Can't Sleep by Tumultuous https://desuarchive.org/mlp/thread/23221451/#23356585 https://desuarchive.org/mlp/thread/26029095/#q26232578 https://poneb.in/u/Tumultuous --- >Walking to the balcony, you take some time to absorb the view in front of you, while allowing the luxurious night breeze to blow through your hair and ruffle your pyjamas. >From the corner of your eye, still a fair distance away, you see a patrolling batpony making the rounds. >Perhaps bored with their assignment, and seeing as nopony is likely to be watching (technically true), they do a barrel roll and pose themselves in a way that makes you think they're trying to expose themselves and moon the sleeping inhabitants of Canterlot. >Not exactly the most professional behaviour, but so little happens around here that you suppose it's excusable. >It's been a trying day, with an unusual night. >One of those nights where you wake up partway through and just can't seem to get back to sleep. >Hopefully, a few minutes of contemplation and some fresh air can assuage this wakefulness your body seems to be stubbournly holding on to. >This high up above the city, there's plenty of fresh air, but also the faint yet still noticeable smell of the smoke from wood fires that some of the more old fashioned ponies used to heat their homes. >You have no idea why they don't just use magic or coal, but you're not complaining. >The muted clip-clop of calm hooves sounds behind you, but you pay it no mind. >It's a sound you've gotten used to over the past few weeks. >"Your dreams are troubling, Anon." "Boundaries, Luna.", you reply, without turning your head from the sights. >It wasn't the first time she'd done this. >They weren't exactly bad dreams. >More like pseudo-nightmares. >Enough to make your body refuse to return to sleep, at least. >"Bah. I am the mistress of the realm of dreams. Boundaries are meaningless to me." "I'm sure I could find ways to stick it in you that'd get you to change your tune." >"Is that a fact?", she asks, with a goading smirk in her voice. >She breaks eye contact, putting her hoof to her mouth to make a show of pretending to ponder what to say next. >"I think the phrase they use nowadays for these situations is something like "put up or shut up"." >Finally, you turn your head and make eye contact. >Her smirk widens. >"I can expect you inside in a moment, I assume?" >She seems to know just what to say. "Make sure you clean out and lube up. You're going to need it." >"My, my. What new depths will we explore this night?~" >Turning to walk back indoors, she makes sure to put an extra sway in her steps. >After a moment's pause, you check back on that patrolling night guard to see if they're still slacking off. >They've taken up a perch on a guard tower's rooftop to-- >Well, then. >You're now /very/ sure that that's a female nightguard. >Looks like there's just something in the air tonight. >Taking one last breath of the night air, you turn to head back inside to your happily-busy concubine, just finishing up the last few steps to get ready for an active session of trying to find new boundaries. >You could think of worse ways to spend the night.