Created: 2014.06.18 06:23:37 UTC
Last modified: 2014.06.18 06:23:37 UTC
Archived from https://pastebin.com/6gEku3M1 on 2020.10.25 06:10:09 UTC

>Oh…
>God…
>OH GOD IT HURTS
>The moment you open your eyes, you desire nothing more than to jump off the balcony and faceplant into oblivion
>Not only did you ingest enough alcohol to slay a manticore, you spent the entire night – or day rather – sleeping on cold stone, outside, naked, in the middle of autumn
>You’re pretty sure that if it were winter, you’d be dead
>As it is, you only feel like death
>No, actually, death would be welcome
>You feel like life
>All the pain that all the beings who ever existed experienced in all their untold lifetimes, crammed inside one cold lump of flesh
>You decide to kill yourself immediately
>Fortunately for the small part of your brain concerned with self-preservation, you can’t move
>First of all, just the small muscle twitches you’ve made in awakening have proved agonizing
>The only movements you make are a few shudders as you realize how positively frigid you are
>Second of all, there is an alicorn on top of you
>Slumbering peacefully
>Through the swimming haze of your bloodshot eyes, you glance down at her face
>She looks…serene
>A tiny smile tugs at the corners of her mouth
>The rise and fall of her breath is slow
>As you study Luna, her eyelids flutter and she yawns, stretching out her neck
>“Mmm…why did you stop dreaming?” she mumbles
“Luna”
>“Mmm?”
“Luna, help me. I’m v-very cold, but I c-can’t move”
>“Anon!”
>You must look real bad, because she’s on her hooves in an instant, and she looks a little freaked out
>She picks you up with her aura rushes you over to her bed, throwing the covers over you
>Her horn sparks again and you feel the mattress and sheets begin to heat up
>Oh man that feels so good
>After a moment, enough warmth is returned to your muscles that they unseize, and you begin to shiver violently
>The princess climbs in and wraps herself around you
>She looks pretty upset
>“Anon, I’m so sorry! Oh, your lips are blue”
>You wonder why she’s in such chipper shape
>Then again she had you insulating her
>That, and the whole immortal demigoddess thing
>Still, you’re feeling better
>After a few minutes you stop shivering and she ceases her spell
>Now that you’re back from your brush with hypothermia, her body heat is plenty
>“We spend one night together and I almost kill you…”
“That wasn’t your fault”
>There’s still a hint of chill in your voice
>She ignores your words
>“Is there any way I can make it up to you?”
>You don’t even need to think
“Anal?”
>She grins at the speed of your reply
>“Something that I wouldn’t have done anyway?”
>You fistpump internally
>Then you frown
>You’re having trouble coming up with anything else
>She kisses your cheek
>“You don’t have to think of it right now”
“How about some aspirin?
>Despite the drastic improvement in your situation, you still have the worst hangover of your life
>“I can do you one better”
>You and Moons share a wonderfully comfortable recliner, watching the technicolor display put on by the setting sun
>You’ve nearly finished another glassful of what in your head you’ve come to refer to as “magic Gatorade”
>This stuff is amazing
>You feel as though you’ve never had a drop to drink in your life, let alone last night
“So, explain to me exactly what this stuff is”
>“It’s a restorative tonic, my own recipe”
“Right, I know that part, but what’s in it?”
>“It’s basically just diluted dragon semen”
>You spit violently
>Judging by the way she’s chuckling quietly, that was bullshit
>If it were true, you’re sure she’d be laughing way harder
>“It’s actually just a lot of mundane ingredients, fortified with vitamins, electrolytes, and a few healing spells”
>“Also my sister’s tears”
>What
>The
>What
>She sees you giving her the kind of look a man gives his wife when she’s on the rag and working with cutlery
>“Alicorn tears have all sorts of remarkable medicinal properties,” she explains matter-of-factly
“Soo…why not just use yours”
>“Because the properties are different for each alicorn”
“So, are you just all ‘hey sis, I’ve got a real gnarly hangover today, could you cry into this cup for me’”
>“Yes…?”
>You find yourself wondering for the first time what the dynamic of their relationship is like, exactly
>Maybe if you’ve known someone your entire life – a life that has spanned untold millennia – asking for her tears to fix your headache might not actually be as off base as it sounds
“So…what do your tears do, then?”
>“If you can keep up with me for the rest of the week, maybe you’ll find out”
>Hrmm hrmm hrmm
>“Anonymous…”
“Anon”
>“Oh just cope with it”
“Fine”
>“I…I was a bit forward with you last night”
>Apparently it is once again time for restrained, reserved Moons
>Her personality is going to give you whiplash
“Hey, we all say crazy stuff when we’re drunk”
>“No!”
“Okay, we’re all completely sane when we’re drunk”
>“I mean no, it’s not that I didn’t mean what I said…”
>“I just didn’t intend to put any pressure on you”
>“And I’m afraid I did”
>You give her a squeeze
“Look, I’m not gonna lie, that was a surprise”
>She winces
“But, I’m pretty sure one of the biggest things we have in common is overthinking things”
>You feel as though you’re on the verge of talking down to her, but she doesn’t seem to mind
“So let’s not. Let’s just do this party of yours and see what happens”
>“Very well”
>“Speaking of which, it is time I proceed with my evening duties. Once the moon rises, we have quite the night ahead of us”
“I can’t imagine it could get much crazier than last night”
>“Oh, Anonymous”
>She smiles at you indulgently
“Last night was only the beginning”
>You are definitely traveling down the rabbit hole now
>Her horn glows, and the waxing moon crests the horizon, steadily rising into the sky
>This is the first time you’ve actually gotten to see her do this
>You’re stricken with a sudden feeling of vertigo
>You’ve never seen something so massive and monolithic move so quickly
>Somehow, in all your time in Equestria, you’ve never once seen the moon actually rise
>You just looked up at some point each night and it was there
>Now you realize why
>She raises it quickly and with relatively little ceremony
>When the great glowing orb is finally fixed in the sky, a ripple of light cascades outward through the stars around it
“That was intense”
>You release a breath you didn’t know you were holding
>“Thank you”
>“Now, what do you say we go rejoin the festivities?”
>Upon exiting Luna’s chambers, you quickly realize that the previous night’s debauchery did not simply pause during the day
>Not that there’s much of a “day” in these caverns
>Two very drunk mares stagger past you in the dim hall
>One of them bows before the princess
>The other attempts to follow suit, but succeeds only in falling flat on her face
>Luna addresses them cheerily
>“Enjoying the celebration, my children?”
>“Yush”
>The slightly more sober of the two bat ponies manages to slur out a response
>As you head towards the main hall, you see many others in similar states of intoxication
>One of them, however, seems to have her wits about her, and she falls in beside the two of you
>You realize it’s Nova, and you instinctively stick your hands in your pockets to suppress any potential spaghetti
>“Good evening your highness, Anonymous”
>“Good evening, Nova”
“Sup”
>You somehow manage to drool a little when you speak the single syllable
>You quickly wipe your mouth with the collar of your shirt
>Luna doesn’t see, but Nova does
>She regards you with the same blank, bewildered stare that she’s come to reserve just for you
>“Tonight’s entertainment is ready when you are, your excellency”
>“Thank you, my child. Now stop attempting to work and go enjoy yourself. You look much too well-rested”
>“But…”
>“Away with you!”
>The bat pony mare departs, but seemingly only because she was ordered to
>When you reach the main hall of Luna’s sanctum, you’re awestruck by the absolute wreckage on display
>The tables you were eating at have been flattened
>Wasted food and drink coat the floor and a good portion of the walls
>You can make out a few puddles of vomit here and there
>There are unconscious ponies everywhere
>The princess herself seems entirely unbothered
>She leads you across the decidedly sticky floor and down another passage on the other side
>Aside from the drunken stragglers and the unconscious, the caverns seem empty
>A distant rumble meets your ears
>It starts off slow but increases in volume as you follow Luna on a rather steep ascent
>You take a single switchback, walking out into an open space, and suddenly it’s a deafening roar
>You’re standing in a lavish private booth, looking down upon a crowd of at least a couple thousand bat ponies, all cheering wildly
>One of them notices your arrival – or, more specifically, Luna’s arrival – and blows a long, clear note on an ornate-looking horn
>The cheering increases in volume as hundreds of brightly-colored, slitted eyes turn toward you
>Princess Luna waves to her subjects, but you’re more interested in what you see at the center of what you can only describe as a stadium
>A stadium that seems to be carved out of a valley somewhere in the peaks of Canterlot Mountain
>Below, there is a long, two-laned track lain out in sand
>At its either end are groups of ponies in decorated armor, preparing themselves for the coming tournament
“Wait…jousting?”
>“Indeed”
>Moons gives you an excited smile
>Huh
>How medieval
>Not unlike everything you’ve witnessed up to this point
>Even though Equestria is technologically backward compared to your own world, Luna’s entire domain is anachronistic, even by local standards
>This entire celebration smacks of a bygone era
>In the back of your mind, you begin to understand why her personality is so erratic
>Why she looks simultaneously so ecstatic and at ease now
>This is what she’s used to
>She is almost as much a stranger to everyday modern Equestria as you are
>Out there, she has to try and fit in with a society that left her in the dust
>But here – especially during this time when tradition is the word of the night – she can be exactly whom she knows how to be
>Her horn glows for just a moment, and then she speaks, her voice magically amplified
>Well, not amplified, exactly
>You’ve come to realize that Luna’s psychic ability is an opposing analogue to her sister’s
>While Celestia can read minds, the moon princess can project her voice into the thoughts of others
>“Welcome, my children”
>The screeching, cheering voices of the vast crowd once again assault your hearing
>“Welcome to the second night of this most prestigious and glorious celebration”
>You have to plug your ears again
>“It is my pleasure to bring you a spectacle that is, in this day and age, little known to Equestria but for the Empire to the north and the dark city of Hollow Shades, where many of you and your kin reside”
>It’s like she was born for public speaking
>You’ve seen Celestia give speeches, and while she is the very picture of regality and professionalism when addressing her subjects, Luna is in a league of her own
>As the noise diminishes slightly, she continues
>“Your forefathers took part in games such as this, and tonight we have a new generation of courageous and honorable noctae who wish to risk life and limb for your entertainment and the glory of the pale light”
>She’s grandiose, eloquent, and forceful
>She understands how to pander to the crowd and play off of their reactions
>Her timing and delivery are masterful
>Below, you can see the armored ponies jumping and stomping their hooves at her mention of their participation
>“I implore you to eat, drink, and be merry! When you look back on these nights in your twilight years, you will not wish that you had exercised restraint”
>“Nothing is sacred; everything is permitted. Let our games begin!”
>You hear another piercing note from a horn and two bulky-looking bat stallions who stood at ready on either end of the track begin to charge at each other
>Their lances are fixed to saddle-like armor on their backs
>Their teeth hold both leather straps to guide the weapons, as well as shields
>This looks…kinda dangerous
>Then again so does rugby
>A clatter echoes from the stadium floor as both lances connect
>One stallion’s simply grazes the other’s shield, but his opponent’s strikes home, splintering the buckler into shards and toppling him backwards, head over hooves
>The crowd goes positively batsh-
>Nope, not doing that one, you have standards
>But Christ, that guy could’ve broken his neck
>He seems okay though, just dazed as he sits on his haunches, shaking his head
>His triumphant counterpart raises a hoof to the audience, and they sing their praise in the form of shrieking and hollering
>A challenger appears to be readying himself at the other end of the track
“So”
>You turn to Moons
“What are the rules of this thing?”
>“It’s simple, Anonymous. The victor of each round receives points”
“How many points do they receive?”
>“That is for the judges to decide”
>She indicates a booth populated by ten bat ponies that sits at the side of the jousting lane
>“Anypony can compete as many times as they like. When there are no challengers left…”
>You wince at another jarring collision that sends one pony skidding through the sand on his back
>“The game ends, the points are tallied, and a winner is declared”
“So even if you aren’t the last man standing, you could still win by technicality?”
>“Form is just as important as function, Anonymous”
>Suddenly the din and cheering subside, replaced by oohs and ahs
>You look down to see a new pony stepping up to the proverbial plate
>The form is petite, and you understand what’s got everybody’s attention
>All the competitors up until this point have been beefy stallions, but this is a mare
>Her armor is gunmetal blue, and attached to the back of it is a standard
>A spectrum of stars, each a different color of the rainbow, billowing in the cool evening breeze
>“Intriguing”
>Your princess is suddenly much more interested in the competition than her drink
>So are you
>When the horn blows, you can see the as yet undefeated stallion hesitate slightly before breaking into a gallop
>You know that feel; you wouldn’t want to hurt a girl
>Just before they strike each other, the mare angles her lance down just a hair
>It shatters upon the lower half of the stallion’s shield while his strike only grazes hers
>His forward momentum is preserved, and he somersaults in an arc and continues to roll as he hits the dirt
>The crowd erupts at the unlikely victory
>This shit is pretty intense, and you can’t deny you want to see this mare win
>Your fear of her success being fluke is allayed when she annihilates the next opponent, and the next
>She doesn’t possess the same brute strength as these stallions, but she knows just where to hit to throw them off balance
>You know bat ponies can see exceedingly well in the dark, but her vision and reflexes must be exceptional
>She keeps it up, too
>Several stallions face her twice or more, but go down the same every time
>As the game wears on, even Moons is rejoicing in her conquest
>“I’ve not seen a jousting tournament like this in quite some time,” the moon princess tells you, “It was nearly fifteen-hundred years ago when last a mare won the night”
“Do you know who she is?”
>“Haven’t the foggiest”
>When the waxing moon reaches its peak in the sky, only two jousters are left
>The mare, and the stallion who won the first two rounds
>You, Luna, and pretty much everyone present are plastered off your asses and well-fed
>A few hours ago, the princess’s servants provided you with yet another god-tier meal
>You and Moons once again share a chair, with her halfway seated in your lap
>The midnight is pierced by brass, and you both tense as what may be the final showdown begins
>The mare angles her lance down and to the side, striking a spectacular blow to the charging stallion
>But his weapon catches her buckler at an odd angle and her head snaps back
>Her body hits the ground like a sack of bricks and slides to a halt
>The stadium is silent
>There’s a shout, and one pony clamors over the bleachers and into the sand, rushing to the fallen mare
>You can’t be sure from this distance, but he looks familiar
>Several more follow him
>You feel a heat against your skin and hear what sounds like a gunshot going off in reverse
>Luna is gone from your side, reappearing momentarily below
>The gathered audience murmurs in shock
>You’re much too far away to hear anything, but you can see what’s unfolding down there
>He’s begging the princess to help
>She’s shaking her head and telling him she can’t
>He’s sobbing over the limp body
>You realize rather belatedly that the mare is dead
“Moons”
>She ignores you, pacing back and forth through her quarters in agitation
“Moona”
>She gives you no acknowledgement
“Luna”
>Her head snaps in your direction
>Not once have you called her by her proper name
>“Yes, Anonymous?” she snaps severely
“Maybe you should just call the celebration off. Someone died”
>“Do you not think I’ve considered this, Anonymous? She knew it was dangerous, but she competed anyway. It’s happened many times before, and it will happen again”
“Yeah, but…”
>“But what? Many of these ponies have waited their entire lives for this celebration. In nocturn tradition it is considered a blessing to live during the time of the eclipse. When I was gone, the festival did not take place for a thousand years, and the stories passed down from generation to generation only became grander and more impossible. Is this a tragedy? Yes, but whatever setback my people’s morale has experienced, ending the celebration here would be a finishing blow”
“They need this, Anon. It is something that has been promised to them for centuries, and were I to rob them of it, they might forgive me, but I would not forgive myself”
“Look”
>You reach out and put a hand on her cheek as she passes you
>She stops pacing
“I get that, okay”
“Just…maybe tone it down a little. Don’t let them do dangerous things”
>“I will heed you where possible, Anon, but expectations are expectations, especially when they are high. This is a show I must put on, and I must not falter”
>Her eyes are filled with fiery determination
>You remember her words from the other night
>All I can do is love them back
>You don’t feel like it’s your place to tell her what to do
>You’re not even sure what you would do in her position
>You run your hand down her neck and over her back
>Good gods she’s wound tighter than a steel spring
>You pull her into a better position and begin massaging her neck, shoulders, and the base of her wings
>You hear a few audible pops as she stretches under your fingers, releasing the tension in her spine
>She gasps as you grip her wings and pull very gently
>Their tips flutter and spasm as you relieve the tightness in those joints
>You rotate them slowly in their sockets, and she moans and presses her rear into your crotch
>You pull harder, knowing you can’t hurt her
>Her eyelids dance for a moment and then close as she grinds against you, sucking air through her teeth
>Unconsciously your hands move lower, over her ribs and down to her hind legs
>You slide back over her flanks and your thumbs push up to rub the innermost parts of her thighs, kneading on either side of her rapidly moistening lips
>The heat radiating off of her sex almost feels hot enough to scald you
>“A-Anon, I have an address to make shortly,” she whimpers with such expert innocence that you know she’s faking it
>The protest is obviously foreplay, so you decide to one-up her
“Sorry, I’ll stop then”
>You begin to pull your hands away
>“I will strike you down where you stand,” she growls
>That’s what I thought
>You bring your fingers back to her, sliding both thumbs into her wetness
>“Mmm…”
>You work them in and out for a moment before pushing in as deep as you can
>You slowly pull them apart, stretching her ever wider
>Her midnight-blue lips part before you to reveal a pulsing, undulating pink chasm, from which radiates an impressive warmth
>She looks back at you, eyes lidded, and smacks her lips, blowing you a kiss
>You continue to massage her walls with your thumbs, relaxing them and stretching her further and further
>Your other fingers wrap around her posterior, squeezing and mashing her cheeks
>She lets out an “ooh” and a few spurts of honey
>That’s the last bit of arousal you can take, removing one hand and wrapping it around her chest
>You pick her up and carry her to the bed, throwing her down on her belly with her back legs touching the floor
>You fall down on top of her
>“Umf”
>You can’t get your clothes off fast enough, and you plunge into her without hesitation
>“Oh, Anonymous”
>She bucks against you, biting her lip as you kiss up and down her neck
>You stand up and pull out of her, and she whines
>You can see her throbbing in protest of your absence
>You place your tip against her little rose
>She pushes back trying to take you in, but you pull away in turn
>She gives a frustrated huff
>You hold her down and slowly press into her pucker, easing off each time before you actually penetrate
>She squirms every time you slight her
>During happier times you might be able to play this game a bit longer
>But considering her bad mood you don’t want to test your luck
>You begin to slip into her welcoming cavity
>If anyone ever asked you to describe what alicorn ass feels like…
[spoiler]>Spoiler: no one ever does[/spoiler]
>You would describe it as something akin to fucking a pressure cooker, without the associated pain
>She’s so tight back there you can only make small strokes for fear of popping out
>They’re clearly enough, though
>You hear the hissing of her short, sharp breaths, and feel a sticky warmth as she squirts her nectar onto your legs
>You barely last two minutes, and she relaxes, letting you thrust and climax into her
>Despite plenty of restorative tonic, you aren’t fully recovered from last night’s exploits, and you’re starting to feel fatigued
>You lie down on top of her, your head resting next to hers, and she kisses you on the cheek
>It isn’t lustful, it’s grateful and tender
>“Thank you, dear heart, I needed that”
>She whispers those words into your ear
>She sighs as you pull out and lie down beside her, and your already belabored heart beats faster as she rests her head on your chest
>“I truly do hate to leave you, but I have to say something to the public about what happened tonight”
>Your torso vibrates with the sound of her voice as she speaks with finality
>You look down into her eyes
“Aren’t I coming with you?”
>“Please don’t, Anon”
>That hurts more than you wish it did
>“No, it’s not like that”
>She plants a quick but decisive kiss on your lips
>“I cannot – and do not wish to – stop you, of course, but I ask this as a personal favor”
“Why?”
>“Because there will be much sadness, and I want to have something happy to return to”
>“Could you stay happy for me, Anonymous? I won’t be gone for too long”
>You pull her close to you, the idea of her absence suddenly haunting to you
“Yeah”
>She nuzzles your face
>“Thank you. Now, I must clean myself up if I am to appear before my subjects”
>She gives you one more peck, then gets up and heads for the shower
“Hey Moons?”
>Luna pauses, looking over her shoulder at you
“I think…”
>You’re uncertain of what you’re about to say, but she waits for you
“I think I…”
>C’mon Anon, be smart
“You know what, it can wait until you get back”
>She nods, the smallest hint of disappointment flashing across her graceful features
>“Very well”
>Luna nobis providet
>The moon provides for us
>Luna provides for us
>But what does she provide?
>When you awaken, there is no sign of your princess
>You were probably only out for an hour at most
>You notice, with some measure of amusement, that there is a mug of mead resting on the bedside table
>She really does know you better than you know her
>After having a drink you put your pants back on
>You’re pretty sure the past two days have been the first time in your life you’ve had them off more often than on
>What are you even doing, Anon?
>You nearly told a girl you’ve scarcely known for a week that you love her
>You’re breaking your own rules
>You decide you need to take a walk to clear your head
“I swear I’m a crazy person,” you all but shout as you throw open the door of the princess’s private quarters
>“Okay”
>You look down at the source of the voice
>Oh, of course
>Hello, Nova
>She stares up at you, looking a bit frightened, but she speaks
>“Her excellency told me to wait here in case you needed anything”
“You must think I’m insane”
>She shifts uncomfortably
>That’s a yes if you’ve ever seen one
>That’s it, you’re going to sit her down right now and convince her that you aren’t a moronic spazzcase
“Luna said to give me anything I want? Well, I want you to come in here”
>She begins to tremble
>Oh god, that didn’t come out right at all
>You bury your face in your hands
>This situation is already beyond salvageable
>“O-Okay…j-just please be gentle”
>What
>What?!
>She seriously thinks something like that could be part of her job?
>That it should be?
>That she should accept that?
“What is wrong with you?!” you shout in vicarious indignation
>“I don’t know!”
>Tears are streaming from her eyes now
“Why would you let me rape you?!”
>“Please just get it over with!”
“No! I would never do that! That’s fucking horrible!”
>“I’m sorry!”
“Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault!”
>“I promise I’m not, just please don’t hurt me!”
“I’m not going to hurt you!”
>“Then why are you yelling?”
“Because I don’t want you to think I’m crazy!”
>“It’s not working!”
“I know!”
>She collapses into a confused, gibbering heap, sobbing into her hooves
>You drag your fingernails over your face, shouting in frustration
“Arrgh!”
>“Aaagh!”
>She echoes you, but with slightly more mortal terror
>You slam the door closed
>Welp, that was fucked up
>After about ten minutes you open the door again
“Sorry”
>Nova looks like she’s calmed down, but she’s obviously not happy to see you
>“Is there something I can get for you?”
“Look, I promise I’m not going to hurt you or do anything crazy, will you just come in and have a drink with me?”
>“I can’t, I’m on duty”
“Hey, the princess told you to loosen up and have fun, and even if you won’t do that, you’re on duty because you’re attending to me, and I’m asking you to loosen up and have fun”
>She glowers for a moment, trying to find a way out of that one
>Finally she sighs and walks across the threshold
>Score one for Anon
>In the process of closing the door you stub your toe
“FUCK!”
>Nova raises her eyebrows
>Score is back to zero
>“So…”
>The bat mare takes a sip of ale
>“You’re not weird or crazy, you just accidentally act like that whenever I’m around?”
“Yes, it’s been a baffling series of coincidences”
>You’re finally relaxing as she seems to be buying it
>“Anonymous, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you had a crush on me”
>She giggles coyly
“Nah, man, it’s not like that…I mean not that you aren’t pretty or anything, but I’ve kinda got a thing going on already with someone else”
>“I’m not dumb, Anon. As I said, that’s what I would think if I didn’t know better”
“Okay, yeah, with Luna”
>You take a healthy swig of your drink
“What about you? Got a boyfriend?”
>“You mean coltfriend?”
>You roll your eyes
>Fucking ponies and their linguistic tics
“Sure”
>“I do”
“So where’s he at?”
>Her eyes fall
>“He…doesn’t come around here much”
>Oh god, is she one of those crazy chicks with the awesome boyfriend that nobody ever sees?
“Yeah?”
>“He’s a pegasus, you see”
“Oh…ohhhhhh”
>“He’s very accepting of me of course, but he gets a bit skittish around my kin”
“Does he think they’re gonna bite, or what?”
>You chuckle
>“That’s…not as outlandish a concern as you might think…”
“Wait, what?”
>“I’m not implying anything ridiculous like vampirism, that’s legend, myth, and nonsense, but our diet consists of mostly meat. It’s a trait that evolved out of necessity. If you’ll notice, there isn’t much grass in these catacombs”
“Yeah, well humans eat meat, but we don’t eat each other”
>“Never? Is it unheard of?”
“No, I guess not…but still, that’s a dumb reason to be afraid of people”
>“So you’re saying that if you, as a human, suddenly found yourself among a race of strange-looking bat-humans that you had been told your entire life were evil, blood-sucking vampires that could hypnotize you or crunch through your bones with a single bite, you’d be entirely at ease?”
>She’s got a point
>Is that really how the rest of Equestria sees them?
>You get the feeling this isn’t the first time she’s had to justify her coltfriend’s attitude
“You got me there, bat horse”
>She smiles, giving you a small nod and taking another dainty sip of her ale
>She clearly doesn’t drink often
>You find it odd that Luna, a girl who clearly advocates indulgence and practices what she preaches, would pick such a demure, straight-laced little pony as her right-hoof mare
>Then again maybe that was the very intent
>As the silence grows longer, you try to think of a topic of conversation to stave off any further pasta spillage
>You realize you’ve never really noticed her cutie mark
>Cutie marks
>Ponies just love talking about theirs
“So, how’d you get your butt tattoo?”
>“Pardon?”
“How’d you get your cutie mark?”
>She shifts uncomfortably in her seat
>“Oh…”
>You’ve haven’t met a pony alive that doesn’t love to tell their cutie mark story
>So of absolute fucking course it stands to reason that Nova would be the one pony on the planet that has some cutie-mark-related baggage
>“There’s not much of a story there, I was born with it”
“Is that a bat pony thing?”
>“No, it’s just a me thing”
>Well, this is interesting
>“My parents told me that the night I was born, a new star appeared in the sky – a nova – and its image was emblazoned on my flank, so they named me accordingly”
>“I don’t know what it means or why it was there from the moment of my birth, but I try not to think about it”
>“My talents lie in organization and direction, hence my employment by her grace as an assistant of sorts. I just do what I’m good at and leave it at that”
“Hey”
>You try to sound jocular
“At least you never got teased for being a blank flank, right?”
>She is not amused, and gives you severe look
>“No, Anonymous, I got teased for being the only filly in primary school with a cutie mark she didn’t know the meaning of”
>You just can’t catch a break with her
>No breaks can be caught
>When they check the nets for breaks, there are none, and the break-fishers must go home to their wives empty handed
“I’m sorry, that sucks”
>“It’s alright, Anonymous, I did not mean to sound harsh, it’s just a bit of a touchy subject for me”
>You give her an apologetic half-smile and fall silent
>She nurses her drink and nibbles on a bit of leftover chicken that hasn’t been cleared from the table yet
>After a moment she pipes up, clearly trying just as hard as you are to bridge the gap of awkwardness between the two of you
>“So, how are you liking the celebration? We are fortunate to live during this time, are we not?”
“I’m not gonna lie, dude, this is the craziest party I’ve ever seen in my life”
>“I’ve never been to a party, but even if I had, I’m sure I could agree”
“I’m kinda depressed about that jouster who died, though, not that I knew her”
>She gives a heavy sigh
>“Ah…yes. As am I”
“Did you know her?”
>“Everypony in the catacombs knows each other, Anonymous. Spectrum was my second cousin, as a matter of fact”
>Wait
>Wait
>You know that name
“Spectrum? As in Light Bender’s wife?”
>Her eyes narrow inquisitively, searching your face
>“How did you know that?”
“I met them the other night, at the opening ceremony concert thing”
>“Ah”
>She looks quite forlorn
>“We weren’t overly close, but certainly on good terms. I’m sad I will never be able to know her better”
>You can’t believe this
>That was her?
>That tiny, tiny little mare with the big eyes
“What in the seven hells was she doing competing against those guys? She was so small, even for you ponies”
>“If you hadn’t already guessed it, Anonymous, tradition plays a large role in this celebration”
>Yeah, you figured that out
> “The stallions of our bloodline had a long tradition of taking part in the rebirth’s various tournaments. Yet the males in my family are all too young or too old. Rum took it upon herself to represent us this evening, and did so quite exceptionally in my opinion”
>You take a long draught of your beer, trying to fight off the growing weight in your chest
“You say that like you’re okay with it”
>“I am”
>She frowns slightly
>“She was a noble competitor, and a fierce one at that. Rum’s talent was her perception and reflexes, she was practically born for something like this. I’m proud of her”
>This feels wrong
>Very wrong
“You’re proud of her for getting herself killed?”
>“I am proud,” the corner of her lip curls up in a snarl, “that she honored our family, and honored the princess”
>You run your hand through your hair in exasperation
“What is it with you people?”
>“What is what?”
>You can feel mounting fury radiating off of her, but you’re too sloshed and angry to stop your mouth from moving
“All your talk about tradition…why would you cling to something like that at the expense of your own lives? Why would you let…”
>“Because it’s all we have!”
>Nova’s shout is accompanied by her hoof slamming down on the table
>You shut up
>“Look around you, Anonymous. What do you see?”
“I…”
>“Stone. Cold, gray stone. My people live and die in these caverns, and many of them never leave their walls. There are other pockets of bats around Equestria, and they are all just as isolated, simply because the day ponies fear us and avoid us. We are an entire society of recluses, living right under the nose of the rest of the world, unseen”
>“Does that sound appealing to you, Anonymous? Is that a life you would choose? I certainly wouldn’t, and I’ll bet you bits to bridles that nopony else would either”
>“All we have is our tradition. All we have is our pride. All we have is our princess”
>“You have no idea what it was like before the princess’s return. After a thousand years of steadily fading into obscurity and isolation, we were languishing. Tradition and pride can…”
>She’s blinking back tears now
>“…can only take you so far in the face of the inescapable fact that you are a freakish, unwanted, unneeded outcast”
>She stands up in her seat and leans toward you
>“These past years since the princess’s return have been nothing short of a renaissance for us. We’ve returned from the brink of despair, and this celebration – the literal stuff of the legends that we have revered and remembered for a millennium – is a boon to my people”
>“If a few of my kinfolk – even myself or my own flesh and blood – have to die to keep that spirit alive, then so be it, because I would rather die than have us return to the black depths of Tartarus that we had fallen into before”
>Cold, determined fury smolders in her eyes
>You see a touch of midnight blue beyond Nova’s irate visage, and she follows your wandering eyes
>The night princess stands in the open doorway
>“Your highness…I–”
>Luna strides over and silences her with a hoof, gazing intensely into her eyes, her own brimming with sorrow
>“Silence, my child”
>She pulls Nova into a firm but tender embrace, gently stroking her mane
>“I will not leave you ever again. You do not have to hurt anymore”
>The little bat mare suddenly chokes and shudders
>She lets out a mournful wail that sounds something like “I’m sorry”
>She begins sobbing into Luna’s chest
>The princess kisses her on the top of the head, then looks up into your eyes
>Her expression is somber and speaks to you wordlessly
>Now do you see?
“Did it work?”
>Moons looks up at you with a sweet smile, her eyelids heavy
>“Mmm…yes”
>She kisses your neck, the cool breeze that flows in from outside licking away the moisture
>Needless to say, Nova was mortified at having a complete meltdown in front of the princess
>After she was finally consoled, the bat pony mare quickly took her leave despite Luna’s insistence that she could stay
>Your princess’s heart was heavy
>This had been an emotionally taxing night
>“Could you cheer me up, Anon?” she’d asked
>You did the only thing you could think of and fucked her silly
>You’re pretty sure that’s what she intended
>A sudden gust of wind sends a chill through your body
>You grab the down comforter that rests at the foot of the bed and pull it over the two of you, holding her close
>She sighs and pushes her soft plot into you
>You snuggle gratefully into her body heat, especially that radiating from between her legs
>You kiss her on the cheek
>She’s as much of a messed up hedonist as you are
>Probably more
>Definitely more, in fact
>But there’s an oddly beautiful soul behind those lustful eyes
>You lie there spooning her for immeasurable time, soaking in her warmth
>At one point you feel your arousal building again, but after a few more quick thrusts you empty the last of your desire into her body
>After a moment she shifts around to face you, nibbling on your lower lip and teasing your tongue with her own
>You kiss her horn and then her forehead, and a little shiver runs through her frame
>“How do you feel, dear heart?”
“Sleepy”
>“I’ve half a mind to wake you back up so we can have more fun”
“Can’t we have quiet, lying down fun? Just this once?”
>“Very well, I suppose I can’t expect a mere mortal to match my stamina”
>She gives a tiny chuckle
>Something twinges in the back of your mind, and you frown pensively
>“Oh Anonymous, I was only joking”
“Nah, it’s not that”
>The severity fades from your expression and you boop her on the nose
“I had a thought, though”
>Her big, gorgeous teal eyes gaze up at you questioningly, but you can detect the barest hint of dread in them
>She has to know what’s coming
“You’re…going to live forever, aren’t you?”
>That look of doubt changes to defeat, and she sighs softly, tiredly
>“Yes”
“I’m guessing this isn’t the first time you’ve had this conversation”
>“No. Though it’s happened much less than you might think”
>“There have been few with whom I’ve considered it worthy of discussion”
>“I cannot assuage your concerns, Anon, for they are real and have no easy reconciliation”
>“But what I can tell you is this: we’ve only just begun this journey; there is nothing to gain right now from contemplating its end”
>You pull her closer
“I guess you’re right”
“For now”
>She nuzzles into your chest and breathes deeply
>“I know such reasoning can only ring true for so long, but…”
>“Please, don’t make me think about it tonight”
>She wraps all four legs around you
>As though if she holds on tightly enough, even death might not take you from her
>You’ve never felt anything like this before
>A week ago, you didn’t know her
>And now here you are, worrying about how short a time to spend with her your life seems
>She came to you in dreams before you even knew you knew her
>And though brief, your time together has burned brighter and more madly than anything you imagined life could offer
>You could almost imagine this is true love
>But for one undeniable fact
>You aren’t the first
>But that doesn’t matter so much
>It’s that you won’t be the last
>Her limbs move fitfully around your body
>You have no doubt she can sense your unease
>You look down into her eyes once again, and her expression speaks both an apology and a plea
>I’m sorry I can’t grow old with you
>Please try loving me anyways
“I’m not worrying about it, Moons”
>You kiss her again
>“What possessed you to start calling me that, anyway?”
“Your glorious ass”
>She snickers
>Then she gives you an expertly crafted pout, complete with sparkling eyes
>“Do you only like me for my body?”
“Of course not. You’re also rich and horny”
>That earns you a good chuckle from her, as well as a tap to the back of your head
>“Such a flatterer, Anonymous”
“And a great dancer too, I know”
>“No, you’re an atrocious dancer, though now I can see how all that practice at thrusting definitely has its benefits”
>You reach down and give her plot a squeeze
>“Mmf”
>You both just lie there silently for a while, listening to each other’s breathing
>You can feel her heart beating against your chest
>Slow
>Forceful
>Reverberating through your own body
“Can I ask you something?”
>“Of course”
“What is the Lunar Rebirth, exactly? I mean I get the concept, but what actually happens? What happens to you?”
>She looks thoughtful for a moment, as though trying to put into words something that is second nature to her
>“At its simplest, it is a spell, an ancient spell”
>“It was crafted to aid me in my duties as princess of the night”
>“When the eclipse reaches totality, it is cast, and I am renewed”
“So, a healing spell?”
>“Oh, it is much more than that, Anon”
>“The Rebirth can heal injury and ailment, yes, but it also expunges corruption”
>“That which is tainted is cleansed. If something is twisted or maligned, it is made whole again, recreated as what it is meant to be”
>“Its purpose is to restore me to my purest state, so that I may rally and continue the battle to guide my subjects away from sin, and purge it from those who cannot be swayed by suggestion”
>You can hear the fervor in her voice
>The anticipation
>She wants this
>She needs it
“I’m confused”
>“What about my explanation perplexes you?”
>She seems a little irritated
“No it’s not that, it’s just…if you get this, uh…hard reset every two hundred years, why didn’t it fix you up when you went all queen of darkness a thousand years ago? There must have been like four or five of these things when you were imprisoned in the moon, right?”
>She falls silent and avoids your eyes, blinking rapidly
>“Because…”?
>She takes a deep breath
>“Because Nightmare Moon was not a daemon to be exorcised. She was me”
“But Twi told me that you were possessed by some kind of ‘nightmare force’, right?”
>She shakes her head
>Her mouth turns down and contorts in an expression of immeasurable pain
>When she speaks again, you can tell she’s forcing back tears
>“No, Anonymous. That is a delusional narrative, masterfully crafted by my sister”
>“The story, as she tells it, is that I went mad, stricken by grief and jealousy”
>“And that in my darkest hour, I was overwhelmed and corrupted by an outside force that sought to exploit me for its own gain in my moment of weakness”
>“This is a lie”
>She grits her teeth for a moment before continuing
>“Oh yes, it is true, I went quite mad, and I joined with and absorbed many fell entities to create the monstrosity that was Nightmare Moon. Her power and deeds were beyond the scope of what I myself am capable of”
>“But that doesn’t change the fact that the entire travesty was shaped, orchestrated, and brought to fruition by my own will”
>“I did not need to be possessed to commit the atrocities that I perpetrated; I wanted to do evil”
>“There is a grave difference, Anon, between that which has been tainted by malice, and that which has willfully, deliberately embraced it. The rebirth was powerless against me during that time”
>“This business about ‘nightmare forces’, while somewhat true by the barest definitions, is ultimately nonsense. It is a falsehood that Celestia tells her subjects, and – more importantly – herself. As strong as my sister is, I do not think she can face the fact that I attempted to murder her, usurp her throne, and bring ruin to our kingdom all of my own accord. It would break a part of her that might not be reparable”
>You’re not sure what to say
>She basically just admitted to at one point being a genocidal, megalomaniacal psychopath
>What’s more, she takes full responsibility for it
>You can see her attempting to divine your thoughts, so you press on
“What finally stopped you?”
>“Did Twilight not tell you this?”
“Well, she said that she and her friends did it with the Elements of Harmony, but I don’t really know how that works”
>“Yes, it was the first time the Elements had been used in a thousand years, and the first time in much longer they had been used properly”
>“My sister and I used them to defeat Discord the first time, and she used them herself to banish me”
>“But a mere two entities, let alone one, cannot unlock their full potential, no matter how powerful the bearers may be”
>“It is only when six interconnected beings of pure heart and immaculate virtue wield the elements that they become more than a weapon”
>“It is only then that they truly live up to their name”
>She speaks of this great power with reverence and awe
“So what happened?”
>“A millennium ago, when Celestia used them against me, it was the most painful thing I’d ever experienced. They augmented her power beyond anything I had ever known, and she was able to strike the final, decisive blow in our battle. My physical body was torn apart, atom by atom, annihilated and imprisoned within the very moon that I refused to lower”
>“But this time was different. It did not hurt, to the contrary in fact. The Elements forced no change on me, they simply spoke to me”
>“Though I am told I was only under their effect for mere seconds, it felt like an eternity”
>“They showed me two things: a feeling, and a vision”
>“When the light of the Elements first engulfed me, I felt…peace”
>The look in her eyes is distant and unreadable
>“My aching heart was soothed, my fractured mind calmed. It was the first moment of tranquility I’d known since time immemorial”
>“Then I saw images and flashes of countless ponies from the past, my sister and many others I knew, as well as many I didn’t”
>“It was like a nightmare as I was shown how I had destroyed their lives, how by my own selfishness and lack of control, I had robbed them of the very same soothing peace that I was experiencing right then”
>“Finally, I saw a glimpse of myself, and what I could be if I atoned and came back to the light”
>“But I also saw what I could not be”
>“I could not be Celestia”
>“It was in that moment that Nightmare Moon died and her veil dissipated from my soul”
>“It was when I realized that not only were my efforts under her name wicked and repulsive, but also futile, for I could never have the thing I wanted”
>The tears she’s been warring with for so long finally win out and begin to flow freely, though her tone does not falter
>“I accepted my place. I am not Celestia’s equal, but her complement. I am not just meant to live in her shadow, but to be her shadow. I will never be the beacon of hope and light that she is, because I am not supposed to be. I must be the princess of the night, because that is what Equestria needs”
>“By the time I’d accepted these truths, I had awoken in the smoldering remnants of my fell regalia, and my sister was standing over me, already waiting to forgive”
>Her voice finally cracks on the last word, and you feel her shudder against you
“Luna…”
>“I didn’t deserve it, Anon, I never will”
>You kiss her damp cheeks and brush away her tears
“Luna, that’s not true”
>She whimpers
“You said it yourself, nobody is beyond…um…”
>You feel light-headed and sleepy
>A delicious warmth is growing in your chest
>There is a strange, pleasant tingling in your lips and fingers where you touched her face
>She gazes up at you curiously, and even as your eyes begin to force themselves shut, hers go wide
>She touches her own cheek, staring at the wetness on her hoof in a moment of realization
>You try to say something, but your own voice seems like a distant echo, as does her muffled response
>You feel so good and so tired that you can’t even bring yourself to worry about what’s happening as you slip from the waking world
>You are Anon
>Blearily you open your eyes and rise sluggishly from your repose, seating yourself on the edge of the bed
>The sheets feel rough against your skin
>You really need to invest in a higher thread count
>You feel a twinge in your arm and look down to see a needle still lodged in it, the surrounding flesh bruised black and blue
>Gingerly, you pull it out and undo the accompanying tourniquet
>It’s just an instrument cable you tied above your elbow
>You reach over to your night stand and grab a half-drained bottle of beer and a cigarette, taking a swig and then lighting up
>You exhale the first drag of butane-flavored smoke, blinking and letting your room shift into focus
>The walls are a lifeless, soiled gray
>The absence of light streaming from the cracks around the shutters tells you night has already fallen
>You pull on the wadded-up boxers that you left on the floor and shuffle over to the bathroom, kicking a few stray cans out of the way
>The face that greets you is gaunt and covered in stubble, with huge bags under its eyes
>You decide there’s no point in shaving or brushing your teeth, and head towards the kitchen, a trail of smoke lingering behind you
>Steam rises and wakes you up a bit more as you crack two eggs over a pan and reheat a pot of coffee that should’ve been tossed out a few days ago
>You finish your beer and then flip the sizzling eggs over
>They’re already burnt on one side
>“Why do you keep dreaming of this, Anonymous?”
>You look to your right, where Princess Luna is suddenly standing
>You’re hardly even surprised
“At least this isn’t one of the bad ones,” you tell her, still going through the motions of cooking the food that you never ate and never will
>Despite her presence, your mood stays with the somber atmosphere of the dream
“I found a friend of mine right where you’re standing. It was just a few weeks before this night, I think”
>You gesture broadly, indicating not an object, but the point in history itself
>“I know, Anonymous, I’ve seen it a hundred times. One hundred and twelve, to be precise”
“You keep track?”
>Why do you feel so distant from her?
>You’re asleep in her arms as you speak
>“Yes”
>The gloom separates you
>The residual numbness of this memory deadens your love
>“You needn’t be a prisoner in your own dreams, Anon”
>Your arms move mechanically, carrying out motions dictated to you by the recollection you are currently living
“I can’t control them, Moons”
>“You can now”
“No, I can’t”
>“You can”
“No I can’t!”
>You shout at her, slamming your fist down on the stove
>It strikes the pan, sending it clattering to the floor as you nurse your burn
>But you forget the pain and look down at your feet
>The pan is on the floor
>Half-cooked eggs are strewn around it
>That’s never happened before
>True, sometimes you can move about freely in these recurring dreams when you achieve a certain measure of lucidity
>But this is the first time you’ve physically changed anything aside from your movements
>You reach over to the spatula you left on the counter and pick it up, snapping it over your knee
>“Now do you see?”
>You’ve been locked in this repetitive cycle of nightmarish flashbacks ever since you set foot in Equestria
>Now, for the first time, something different is happening, however small
“How?”
>“Remember what I told you of alicorn tears?”
>You pick up the fork you had laid out for yourself
>With some effort, you bend it, something you could never have done to its real-life counterpart
>“Think bigger, Anon; you can do so much more”
>You look into her eyes and see gentle encouragement
“I want to be free of this place. I never want to see it again”
>She smiles
>“Then tear it down”
>You start as the walls of your apartment begin to rattle
>Plates and glasses are knocked free of their perches, clattering and smashing upon the kitchen floor
>You wheel around nervously, backing slowly towards Luna
>The ugly gray drywall begins to crumble
>Cracks are forming in the tiles beneath your feet
>“Don’t be afraid”
> Suddenly, the room shatters, cast away into the aether by an invisible blast of which you are the epicenter
>Around you is a pure, white nothingness
>You turn toward the princess
>She is the only thing left in this world with you, her starry mane billowing in an unseen breeze
>“I was planning on wait a bit longer for this, Anon, but fate and love decided differently, and I believe you are ready”
“Ready for what?”
>“I’ve seen you relive the same sorrows every night since I first began watching you, and it has gone on long enough. Believe me, you cannot change the past”
>“It’s time to take back your dreams”
“How?”
>“However you wish”
>Your eyes scan the emptiness around you
>It is infinite, simultaneously oppressive and inviting
>You don’t know what you’re supposed to do, but you take a small step in no particular direction
>Something tickles the bottom of your foot, and you pull away, kneeling down to see what it is
>A few small blades of grass have sprung from the blank canvas upon which you stand
>You look back at Luna, and she nods
>You touch your finger to the ground and trace it in a circle
>Green sprouts follow its path
>You stand and take another step, and then another
>Patches of verdant growth spring up beneath you, snaking between your toes
>A patch of violets springs to life in front of you
>You begin to walk, each footfall bringing with it new life
>The dreary fog of your memories lifts from your mind, and you grin as you break into a run
>The princess keeps pace beside you, a lush path of green unfolding as you press on
>You glance to the side as you move, heart pounding
>Your gazes meet
>“Don’t stop now, Anonymous”
>You draw on both your own strength and that which she has given you, and put on a burst of speed
>You feel wind whipping at your face, and the wild growth darts ahead and outward, expanding all around you
>Gardens of flowers are raised, even as you dash past them
>Faster and faster you go, moving at speeds you could never achieve in your waking life
>Rolling hills consume the whiteness around you, and when they reach the horizon, a flash of light sends a clear, blue sky sweeping into the heavens, manifesting like a dome whose edges meet and complete at the point directly above your head
>Luna is next to you, breaking into a full gallop to match your long, effortless strides
>She laughs joyously, and so do you, barely noticing that the grass beneath your feet is thinning, giving way to cool, rough stone
>When you once again train your eyes forward, you feel a pang of anxiety
>The upward slope before you ends abruptly in a plunging cliff
>You contemplate stopping, but you hear her voice
>Not inside your head like usual, but echoing all around you
>“Don’t be afraid”
>Armed with nothing but trust, your feet leave the rocky surface, and you plunge into open air
>You’re in freefall
>But just for a moment
>You will yourself to rise, and you feel your heart hammer in your chest as you arc upwards
>A whoop of elation escapes your throat as the princess takes flight behind you, and the two of you soar over a vast, emerald ocean
>Together, you ascend into the blue, speed limited only by that of your own imagination
>The sky begins to darken, fading from azure to midnight blue
>All around you, above and below, the twinkling pinpricks of stars emerge
>A full moon glows in the distance, and you wonder if she is raising it, or if you are
>Ahead of you, a single, rocky plateau juts up from the clouds, and you steer towards it, with Luna just behind
>You land with a gentle tumble, falling on more soft grass, and she follows closely, landing on top of you when you finally roll to a stop
>There is a radiant grin on her face as she peers down at you
>You’re quite sure your own expression is the same
>You pull her head down and kiss her deeply, and she sighs into your mouth
>Once more you taste red wine and chocolate, losing yourself in her lustful, loving embrace
“Hey Moons”
>“Mmm?”
>You feel the vibration of her response against you neck
>You twist her ethereal mane around one hand
“Can you move these stars?”
>She follows your pointing fingertip upwards, then turns her soft, glimmering eyes upon your own
>“No, Anon, these are your stars. Only you can control them”
>You decide to test that hypothesis, and are astounded when the tiny points of light begin to move at your urging
>Suddenly, the night sky feels like a canvas, and you are overcome with the desire to create something upon it
>Luna’s heart quickens against your body
>As you paint a picture in stars, you are feeling a sense of fulfillment that only she is supposed to know
>You do not possess her expertise, but this is your dream, and the twinkling pinpricks slowly coalesce into an image
>She watches with wonder as you work, gasping as the picture begins to take shape
>It is nearly an exact copy of the constellation that she made for you
>Two hands – complete with their tiny scars – cradling a heart
>But there is one important difference
>At the heart’s center is the same crescent moon that adorns each of her flanks
>You turn toward her once more, caressing her cheek and raising her chin so that you are face to face
>Your lips touch again for the briefest moment
“Luna?”
>Her wide teal eyes are full of hopeful anticipation and uncertainty
>“Anon?”
“I love you, my princess”
>She sighs, her countenance bursting with so much joy that it almost looks like she’s in pain
>Almost
>“And I you, my dearest heart”