Created: 2014.07.01 13:54:18 UTC
Last modified: 2014.07.01 13:54:18 UTC
Archived from https://pastebin.com/drhgWuqS on 2020.10.25 06:10:07 UTC


>You’ve never felt like this before in your life
>That’s becoming a common theme this week
>Even on the best mornings you still feel groggy
>But this
>You’ve never known such a tranquil, rested feeling
>You are simultaneously relaxed and invigorated
>It surpasses even the sensation you get from Luna’s restorative tonic
>There isn’t a single ache or pain in your entire being
>It’s as though you’ve been reborn into a new body, freed of the cumulative physical damages you weathered during your previous life
>Right on cue, the moon princess stirs next to you
>“Why did you stop dreaming, my love?”
>Her eyes flutter open as she poses the question, her lips pouting slightly
>Goddamn she’s cute
“Well, I uh…woke up”
>You might feel great, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still an inarticulate moron in the morning
>“Morning” being a relative term here
>“Mmm”
>She nuzzles your neck, tightening her grip around you
>“Let’s just go back to sleep, your dreams are better than the waking world”
>Eh, you suppose you could afford to snooze a bit
>It’s not like there are any great demands on your time barring the one now beckoning you back to unconsciousness
>You glance at the ornate wall clock by the door
>What the fuck?
>How is it an hour earlier than when you fell asleep
>Unless…
“Ah, Moons, we’ve been asleep for like, an entire day
>“Two”
“Two days?”
>“Mmmhmm”
>You sit bolt upright
>“Anon? What’s wrong?”
>Luna seems perplexed
“I’ve been asleep for two days is what’s wrong”
>You feel it should be self-evident
>“And what is so terrible about that?”
“Well…because…”
>“Anonymous, I am your princess and the co-ruler of the free world. If I say that you may oversleep once in a while, then you may do so without any misplaced guilt. After all, what else need you do with your time now, other than that which pleases me and yourself?”
>She makes one hell of a compelling argument
>A realization suddenly dawns on you
>If you actually end up with this mare long term – and things look to be going that way – you’ll never have to work another day in your life
>Granted, the concept of work in Equestria is much less rigorous than back home
>But still, it’s an enticing prospect
>Regardless, you don’t want to go back to sleep
>You want to get back into the swing of this party
>Also, you’re really, really hungry
>Luna seems to intuit the majority of your current thought processes
>“Maybe it is time we rise, Anonymous. I shall send for some breakfast”
>She closes her eyes in concentration, and but a few moments later there is a knock at the chamber’s door
>“Enter”
>In trots everyone’s favorite bat
>“Good evening, Nova”
>“A wonderful evening indeed, your excellency, Anonymous”
>Despite her outburst two nights ago, she’s acting much warmer and more comfortable around you
>As if you two actually know each other a little bit
>“I trust that you two are well rested?”
>Luna gives her a good natured nod, then rests her head on your shoulder
>“Quite, however we are also a bit peckish. Would you be so kind as to order us some breakfast? Eggs, pancakes, and something…less vegetarian for Anonymous”
>“Of course”
>Nova gives you both a polite bow
>“Although”
>Her expression is halfway between a cringe and an amused smile
>“I must inform you that Head Chef Amaretto is…not with us at the moment”
>“What happened?”
>“Ah…”
>The bat mare is clearly uncomfortable
>“Without getting into too much personal detail, let’s just say he overindulged, and neither he nor his wife are very happy at the moment”
>Luna chuckles
>“Well, that is unfortunate, but I trust the sous-chef is capable of scrambling a few eggs”
>Nova nods again
>“I shall return within the hour”
>“Thank you, Nova, I will try to make sure Anonymous is decent this time, but I can make no promises, he’s quite the wild one”
>Goddamnit Moons
>The bat mare giggles and then takes her leave
>You look down at Luna, her expression showing no trace of impishness
>You ain’t fooled
“I’m the wild one? Me?”
>She smiles coquettishly, regarding you with wide, innocent eyes
>“Of course, Anon. How else would explain all the scandalous things we’ve done?”
>She puts a hoof to her forehead and mock-faints into your lap
>Yeah, no way you’re buying this
>Anon Jr, however, doesn’t share your reservations, and the princess notices
>Luna drops the act and gives you a lusty grin
>“You know what I haven’t done yet?” she asks, licking her lips and pulling back the sheets
>Oh boy, here we go
>“By my mother’s mane, that is absolutely delicious!”
>Luna stares at you, her eyes wide with disbelief
“Right?”
>“I was sure that the flavors would clash, but they don’t”
>The moment you saw the breakfast feast that the kitchen staff prepared for the two of you, you knew what you had to do
>Luna had eyed you skeptically as you piled eggs, bacon and sausage onto a pancake, topped it off with some syrup and shredded cheese, and rolled it all together into the first breakfast burrito you’ve seen in ages
>At your insistence, she tried a bite, and is quite obviously happy she did
“It’s a culinary staple of my world”
“My home country’s cuisine operates on the simple principle that if you have several different things that taste good, they will taste better if you put them all together and add cheese”
>“You could teach my chefs a thing or two, Anonymous”
“Uh…not really, unless they don’t know how to use a microwave”
>“A what?”
>You aren’t sure whether that indicates Equestria lacks microwaves, or if it’s just Luna’s spotty knowledge of modern culture on display
>You reach for a pitcher of orange juice and pour yourself a glass
>Whoa-ho
>Upon taking a sip you find it’s not just juice, but a rather strong mimosa
>Does she even drink anything that doesn’t have alcohol in it?
“So, haven’t your subjects begun to wonder where you’ve been for the past two days?”
>“Oh, I’ve been about”
“You were with me the whole time, though. In the dream”
>“I was, but I can multitask”
“Isn’t it hard to be conscious in two places at once?”
>She shrugs
>“Not particularly…although at one point you started rutting me while I was giving a speech and I very nearly embarrassed myself”
>You’re not even going to ask how that works
>“Fortunately I think they all simply believed I was drunk, so no harm was done”
>You know she’s being funny, but you also know it’s not an untruth either, and that gives you pause
>The culture that surrounds Luna and her thestrals in these caverns is so unlike the outside world
>You can’t imagine what would transpire if Princess Celestia were ever suspected of public intoxication, especially during a speech
>It would be all over the papers
>Gossip and rumors would spread like wildfire
>Social turmoil and economic destabilization would not be out of the realm of possibility
>The Canterlot nobles who covet her power would call for impeachment
>It would take Equestria a long time to recover from such an incident
>Contrast that with Luna, who considers appearing drunk a convenient way to hide the fact that she was getting her ass dream-plowed during a public address
>This raises a question
“So, what are things like around here when you aren’t in the middle of a giant moon celebration?”
>She pauses in sucking down her third glass of sangria and taps a hoof to her chin
>“Well, not much different, now that I think on it”
>“Understand, Anonymous, that it’s only been roughly four years since my return, so I can’t tell you exactly what it was like before that”
>“But the population of these catacombs is only a small fraction of Canterlot’s, so I am more than able to use my sway to provide easy lives for them”
“It looked like there were quite a few of them the other night in that stadium”
>“Not all of them live here, though. Many of those ponies made pilgrimage to join the festivities. In fact I’d say it’s likely that well over half the thestrals in Equestria surround us right now”
>That would put the land’s entire bat pony population at just a few thousand
“There really aren’t that many of them, are there?”
>She shakes her head
>“No, there aren’t”
>“It was surprising, when I returned from my banishment, how markedly their numbers had dwindled, but I suppose it makes a sad kind of sense”
>“From what I understand, after the horrors I wrought under the name of Nightmare Moon, their association with me practically forced them from mere seclusion into hiding altogether”
>“Of course my sister knew it was no fault of theirs, and she took measures to protect them, but that didn’t change the fact that they were utterly cut off from and shunned by the rest of Equestrian society”
>“They kept their colonies small and out of sight, with very little new stock being introduced into the populace”
>She sighs and finishes her drink in one humongous gulp
>“While my bid to usurp Celestia’s throne was never particularly well thought out, I cannot deny that the effect on my children was one of the most devastating unforeseen consequences”
>“Before I was sealed, they were oddities to be sure, but a thousand years of near-complete isolation relegated them to the stuff of legend and myth, and the distance between the noctae and regular ponies became a chasm that will not easily be bridged”
>So this is what Nova spoke of
>Why she became so furious when you questioned what you now understand to be the one thing that had sustained her people through their darkest era
>“I have been trying, Anon, to be their advocate, but it is difficult when I myself am still seen in an…uncertain light by many”
>“If you’ve attended a Nightmare Night celebration, you know that fear of me has been ingrained into the very culture of Equestria”
>“So it is difficult, then, for me to tell my other subjects to accept something else that they also fear”
>“It is hard for the night to tell the light not to fear the darkness”
“What about Celestia? Can’t she help you?”
>A sad but fond smile crosses her face
>“Of course she can, and does where possible, but though the hearts of Equestrians beat for my sister, even she is not all-powerful when it comes to matters of public consciousness, especially those that have festered over centuries”
>She pours herself another drink, and you get the impression that this discussion is exhausting her in a way that the decadence of the past few days never could
“So,” you quickly steer the conversation in a new direction, “What’s on the agenda for tonight?”
>She relaxes noticeably
>“There will be a concert out there”
>She nods her head, indicating the great hall beyond
>“I took your advice, Anonymous; there is no reason for dangerous sports at this celebration. Morale should not come at the expense of lives, so I’ve endeavored to provide entertainment of a safer nature”
>“That being said, many of my children were quite looking forward to the competitions, as they are an integral part of thestral heritage”
>“Stories of champions have been passed down through families for thousands of years, and those who live during the time of the eclipse are often quite eager to take part”
>“But I am a different mare than I once was, and I am capable of acknowledging the fact that old ways are not always right ways. I do not wish to see any further heartache among my people, even if it be for an arguably noble cause”
>“All the same, I mustn’t disappoint them, so I’ve prepared a show that is a bit more extravagant than what I normally put on”
“So who’s playing?”
>“Nopony I know. The majority of musicians I prefer are ashes and dust. I’ve found a few gems here and there since my return, but all in all the state of music in modern Equestria is entirely alien to me”
>“I’ve let Nova and a few of her kin make the arrangements, providing clout where needed, as this whole thing was admittedly rather last-minute”
>“Still, I think we should attend. I could use a little more exposure to popular culture”
>You haven’t been to a legit concert since you were in high school
>It’s been too long, and you can’t think of anypony else you’d rather go to one with
>Anypony
>Fuck! You’ve been compromised
>You shake it off
“I’m down, baby”
>She smiles mischievously and stands up, trotting over to a wooden cabinet on the wall opposite her bed and retrieving a small bottle from within
>Once back at the table, she pours two fresh glasses of sangria and laces each with a small splash of clear liquid from the pale-blue vial
>She pushes one over to you, and you raise an eyebrow
>“Do you trust me?”
>That’s all the convincing you need, and you down your drink, as does Luna
>Contrary to your expectations, nothing much happens
>But the night works in mysterious ways
>“Come now, dear heart, I have a concert to officiate”
>Luna’s opening speech was just as electrifying as you expected
>The horde of gathered bat ponies was in a frenzy before the music even started
>But now that it has, the energy in the crowd is so palpable it threatens to choke you
>You’re at the very back of the hall, leaning against the wall
>You spent enough of your youth in mosh pits to know that they only bring regrets and damaged eardrums
>Your princess stands next to you as you observe the writhing mass of bodies moving to some relatively nondescript mixture of rock and electronica
>Still, it’s a pretty nice beat
>Really nice, in fact
>Damn
>You feel an irresistible urge to move
>Your heart is beating oddly fast considering you’re just standing still
>You glance over at Luna
>She’s bobbing her head in time, but upon sensing your gaze she stops and stares at you
>She looks…beautiful
>Absolutely radiant
>You can see a halo of stars dancing about her head
>Not just in her mane, but in the darkness beyond
>You look into her eyes
>Her pupils are dilated to an impossible degree
>The two normally teal-colored orbs are nothing but black
>“How do you feel, Anonymous?”
>Her voice reverberates through your mind, cutting out the din around you
>Your response is lost to the noise, but she gets the gist
>You feel good
>Amazing
>She hops up, hooves resting on your shoulders, and kisses you
>Her tongue feels heavenly as it snakes into your mouth
>Your whole body is beginning to feel warm, and though your mind is becoming increasingly addled, you know it’s not just lust or the commotion around you
>When your lips finally part, she’s salivating uncontrollably, and you’re pretty sure you are too
>“Take me, Anonymous”
>The words ring in your ears
>There’s no way she could hear anything you say, so you arch your eyebrows and pan your eyes back and forth exaggeratedly, saying “here?”
>Despite the visual confusion of the strobe lights all about you, she catches it
>“Yes”
>Normally you might protest further
>But there’s a fire burning in your chest
>Your heart is pounding like a jackhammer
>The blaring music and dancing lights lend an other-worldly feeling of isolation
>Every little movement you make sends shockwaves of ecstasy through your being
>You reach down and cup her warm cheeks, lifting her up and pinning her against the wall
>You can’t hear it, but you can feel the vibration of her cry against you
>Your fingers slide inward, teasing her throbbing sex as you lick her neck and face
>She’s so soft
>So warm
>“Don’t play with me, Anonymous”
>You reach for your fly, but she’s way ahead of you, unzipping it with her magic and freeing the object of her need from its cloth prison
>Without hesitation or ceremony you plunge into her
>The din around you is deafening, but through it you can hear her ragged scream
>You can’t even feel any specific sensations, just an incredible warmth and bliss blooming within you
>You sense a pinch as her teeth clamp down on your neck, but it’s far away, as though you’re feeling it in a dream
>Your hips pump into her as your mind swims with confusion and joy
>The thoughts drifting through your head are becoming disjointed
>The cacophony around you makes less and less sense to your ears
>The mounting sensation of pleasure and pressure within you is bordering on painful
>You’re honestly starting to feel frightened
>“Don’t be afraid”
>Your eyes snap open and lock with hers
>“Nothing can hurt you when I’m here”
>Despite the chaos around and within you, you suddenly feel safe and peaceful
>Well, except for the H-bomb of an orgasm you’re on the verge of detonating
>Luna seems to be in a similar state
>Her eyes are half-lidded and her tongue is hanging out the side of her mouth
>She’s moaning so loudly inside your head you can practically feel her breath on your mind
>That’s…hot
>You still can’t really tell what’s going on down there, only that it feels incredible
>Several times you think you’re about to release, only to find you were wrong
>You’re trembling, and you feel as though you may literally explode
>You look into your princess’s sparkling eyes, seeking her guidance
>“Cum for me, Anonymous”
>She kisses you tenderly, and it’s as though a crate of fireworks is going off in your head
>Your vision explodes with multicolored light
>Your ears ring, all the sounds around you drowned out by a sensation the likes of which you didn’t know could be
>Every fiber of your being is white-hot with elation and abandon
>It’s almost beyond sexual
>A climax of the soul
>You can feel her against you
>Experiencing the same thing
>Her love ensconces and enraptures you, a blanket of silver moonlight
>It fills you as you fill her, lasting for an eternity
>You wonder if the world has turned to dust around you
>When it’s finally over, your knees feel weak
>The deep bass begins to worm its way back into the periphery of your senses
>Her lips touch your forehead ever so gently
“I love you”
>You don’t say it, you just think it
>But she hears
>“I love you too, dear heart”
>Light, sound, and touch blur together into a tapestry of stars, and you sink into her nebulous eyes
>When next you achieve legitimate consciousness, you are once again lying on the balcony of Luna’s suite
>But you aren’t stargazing
>You’re looking up at her
>Stroking her mane
>She’s so lovely
>And you tell her so
>Her cheeks turn red
>It’s not acting this time
>Nothing is feigned
>She actually blushes
>Her eyes are wet and glistening
>You know you’re high
>That stuff she gave you is like super-molly
>But this is real
>You love her
>You knew it in the dream that you shared with her
>The feeling has simply been clarified
“Luna?”
>You don’t want to call her by some silly nickname anymore
>You want to say her true name every day for the rest of your life
>“Yes?”
“Can we be together forever?”
>“Yes”
“Until I die?”
>“Yes, maybe even longer. But do not think about that part just yet”
>“Now, I think it’s time we went to bed, I do not want you falling asleep out here again”
>You’re not sure if you can even move, but she renders your concerns moot by picking you up in her aura and carrying you to her bed
>The sheets are cool, and you shiver a bit
>But when she climbs in beside you, her gentle warmth saturates your body
>The shimmering in her eyes finally manifests into a few tears
>She touches a hoof to the wetness on her cheek, and then to your lips
>You feel a familiar tingling sensation as her essence once again permeates you, promising another beautiful night of glorious dreams
“Did you ever use your dream powers to mess with ponies?”
>“Only my sister”
>You and Luna sit in the middle of the grassy field that you willed into existence, gazing up at the moon and stars
>Two moons, actually
>One is fixed in the sky
>The other one is slowly rising to meet it
>She looks at you quizzically
>The second moon comes to rest right next to the first so their edges touch
>You then begin to shape the surrounding stars into a pair of legs and a tail
>When she finally realizes what you’re doing, the princess bursts into raucous laughter
>When you are finished, you gesture grandly toward your work
“Forever immortalized”
>“It’s lovely, Anonymous. This is truly your calling. Should anything ever happen to me, you shall succeed me as princess of the night”
“Then Equestria’s gonna learn to love your ass as much as I do”
>“There aren’t two moons in the waking world, dearest”
“That’s right, there are three. The one in the sky and these”
>You squeeze her cheeks and she chuckles
>“If I didn’t know better, Anon, I’d say you’re becoming increasingly fixated upon my posterior”
“Is that a bad thing?”
>“Not at all, it’s very…flattering”
>She blushes again
>That’s twice in one night
>She’s being oddly coy all of a sudden
“What’s gotten into you? You weren’t so bashful when we were fucking in front of a room full of bat ponies”
>Her expression becomes a bit more severe
>“I will not lie, Anon, I’ve had countless sexual partners in my lifetime, not because they were overly frequent, but simply because of the span of time in question. But nearly all of them were just that: sex and nothing more”
>She smiles sadly and stares at the ground
>“It has been literal aeons since I’ve simply had a stallion – or man, rather – say nice things to me that weren’t in the throes of passion or due to my status. It is a feeling I hardly remember, so forgive me if I act a bit girlish”
>You reach out and put your finger to her chin, raising her face until your eyes meet
>You kiss her on the tip of her muzzle
“I’ll do my best to help you remember, my beautiful princess”
>Her shimmering eyes are full of gratitude
>Full of hope and a little bit of uncertainty
>You pull her close, holding her tightly upon the green, green grass of your dreams
>You think you hear her sniffling
>Your suspicions are confirmed when you feel a few drops land on your arm
>She’s trembling in your arms, trying to hold it in
>You whisper in her ear
“It’s okay, I won’t let you be alone anymore”
>Her body jolts slightly in your grasp, and you hear a soft whine escape her throat as she nestles into your embrace
>She weeps
>It’s nothing dramatic or grandiose, just plain, earnest catharsis
>A few shudders and sobs wrack her frame before she finally calms
>Her final guard has been let down before you
>You just hold her, and as she snuggles into your chest, you finally realize what she is
>Not a pony
>Not a princess
>Not an immortal alicorn
>She’s just another soul who feels joy and despair
>One who loves you and needs you, right here and now
>You love her and need her too
>And that’s all that does and ever will matter
>When you awaken you once again feel incredibly refreshed
>Whatever that crazy rave juice Luna gave you last night was, it seems to have worn off completely
>If you could ever make it back to Earth – and you find yourself reflecting on how suddenly unappealing that prospect sounds – just the recipes for the restorative tonic and whatever the hell that other stuff was could make you a rich man
>Assuming they could be replicated with ingredients available on your home world
>Home
>Normally when you think back on it, you think of it as “your life”
>The life that was put on hold when you were thrust into this bizarre world of pastel ponies
>But now it’s starting to feel more like “your old life”
>Something that’s over
>Something that you’re willing to leave behind
>You turn to your right
>Your princess slumbers
>You’re a bit surprised she didn’t wake up the moment you left the dream world
>Maybe she’s getting some real rest
>It must be exhausting being fully conscious even when you’re asleep
>When you get up and look around for your clothes, you find them sitting on the chest at the foot of the bed, washed, pressed, and neatly folded
>If you never have to do laundry again, you’ll be a happy dude
>You wonder how this is going to work
>Is Luna going to ask you to live with her?
>Will you return to Ponyville at all?
>What’s Twiggles going to think about it?
>You haven’t thought about Twilight for a minute, and you feel like a dick
>She may be an emotionally repressed spazzbucket, but for better or worse she’s still your best friend up in this piece
>You wonder if she’s thought about what you told her on the train
>Actually no, you know she has
>Overthinking is Twilight’s wont to the point of being a curse or a disorder
>The question is whether or not she can buck up and act on it
>But you’ll worry about that when you see her
>Right now you’ve got more pressing matters to attend to
>Namely the fact that you’re hungry as fuck, and Luna isn’t awake to mind-tap one of her servants to come and bring you food
>You figure your legs could use a stretch anyway, so you decide to try and find the kitchen
>Shouldn’t be too hard, right?
>You open the door to the royal chambers, and are greeted by the unconscious form of a bat pony stallion, the guard you saw the very first time you were led here
>He’s slumped against the wall, an empty jug of wine at his side
>One hell of an operation this is
>Then again, what creature in Equestria could possibly assail Luna that she couldn’t handle herself?
>What could a mortal pony protect her from?
>Knowing what you do of local culture, you figure the guard’s post must be purely ceremonial
>You have a bit of trouble getting the much larger, outer door open, but you manage
>Once outside in the catacombs, you are acutely aware of the fact that you have no fucking clue how this place is laid out, and the recollections of what little you have seen have been washed away by liquor
>You pick a direction and start walking
>The caverns are oddly empty save for the occasional pony you find passed out in a corner
>You’re pretty sure you’ve fucked up, because you should’ve been in the main hall right now, and you’re fairly certain the kitchen would be connected to it somehow, if not directly adjacent
>But you continue your stroll, because why not?
>After an indeterminate amount of time, the passage you’re navigating becomes ever so slightly brighter, and you feel fresh, cool air lick your face
>After a few turns, you emerge into the open
>The solid stone beneath your feet transitions into brick
>You’re walking on the ramparts of what appears to be something akin to a fortress
>You can see battlements in the distance
>Looking about, you wonder why Canterlot would require such a stronghold this high up
>It’s not exactly a good defensive position
>Then a thought occurs to you
>What if its purpose was not to protect the city, but rather Luna’s domain alone
>If the spire of Canterlot Mountain were to be assaulted, this structure could certainly serve as a formidable defense
>It’s not too hard for you to imagine a few regiments of bat ponies manning…er…ponying these walls, weapons at the ready
>It’s not even hard to picture Luna standing atop a parapet, whipping them into a frenzy, telling them to steel their nerves and prepare the coming assault
>Her way with public speaking would certainly be a valuable asset in a battle
>As to why Luna’s sanctum would have its own fortifications within the walls of Canterlot, you can think of one good reason
>You’ve seen a few pictures in Twilight’s books
>Depictions of the princess when she took up the mantle of Nightmare Moon
>While you very much doubt even the most formidable artist could do justice to the night alicorn’s full, unbridled fury, it’s quite apparent that she was something to behold
>You only know the story of Luna’s rebellion and sealing in the most basic terms of legend
>Was it simply one battle, or was it a war?
>Your thoughts are interrupted by the hissing of voices
>The kind of sounds people make when they’re in the midst of a heated argument but are trying to keep quiet
>A distinctly male voice meets your ears first
>“I get it. It’s just a celebration, but try telling that to the rest of the city. Canterlot is freaked out”
>“I don’t understand how that has anything to do with us”
>The female voice that responds is very familiar
>“Because my family lives down there, and they’re just as terrified as everypony else”
>“And just what is it that they’re so worked up about?”
>You know that indignant growl
>It’s Nova
>“Look, I don’t expect you to get it,” the stallion replies coldly
>“What’s that supposed to mean?”
>“Nova, the music is practically shaking our walls and we can hear that weird screeching thing you ponies do”
>“‘You ponies?’ Did you really just say that?!”
>“They’re scared, okay? Nothing like this has ever happened as far back as anypony in Canterlot can remember, and they’re afraid. There’s all this noise, and they can see bat ponies circling the mountain at night. I heard someone say they saw some of them walking the streets the other night”
>“And why shouldn’t they be? We’re citizens of Canterlot! We have as much a right to it as you!”
>Unconsciously, you’ve been moving closer to the source of this impassioned exchange
>Your path leads you through a small tower
>When you round the next corner, you freeze, nearly walking into the stallion’s line of sight
>You swing yourself back into the confines of the structure, tripping into a narrow staircase that leads to its upper level
>You make your way up as quietly as you can, crouching atop the turret and looking down at the two ponies below you
>Nova’s gray coat and moss-green mane make her nearly invisible against the moonlit bricks
>Before her stands a pegasus stallion of a bluish shade that isn’t quite discernable in the pale light
>You lost a bit of the conversation in your bid to remain unseen, but it’s pretty easy to pick back up
>“I don’t control any of this…what do you want from me?”
>Nova sounds wounded and tired
>“Look, I just can’t come up here anymore, not until this ‘celebration’ is over,” the stallion says
>Silence falls between him, her, and you
>“Then go away, and do not return”
>“W-What?” he stammers uncertainly
>“Leave me, day pony”
>“Nova…I didn’t…I still–”
>“No”
>“Get away and stay away”
>“I am tired of being that…thing that you have to excuse and explain to your ignorant, bigoted kin”
>She turns and walks away, but he pursues her
>“Nova, wait…”
>Her posture changes, becoming low and dangerous as she wheels around to face him once more
>Her lips curl back, baring her fangs
>You hear a strange, high-pitched clicking sound emanating from her throat as she takes a few slow steps toward him
>He backs up nervously
>“I said leave” the bat mare snarls
>With no further hesitation, the pegasus turns and breaks into a gallop, diving off the wall and taking flight
>When he is finally out of sight, Nova’s deflates like a punctured balloon
>She sinks down onto her haunches, head hung low
>“You can come out now,” she says after a moment
“Who, me?” you reply instinctively
>Damn it Anon
>You had one job
>Since you just threw any pretenses out the window, you make your way down the stairs and to her side
“How’d you know? I was really quiet”
>“No, you weren’t, and I can echolocate”
“Well, sorry for eavesdropping…I just kinda wandered up here”
>“Don’t worry, I don’t blame you, Anonymous, just like I don’t blame him”
>She almost sounds like she’s happy that there’s someone here for her to talk to
“Hey, you can patch things up, right?”
>You give her a hopeful smile
>She sighs forlornly
>“It might be possible, but I’m not going to try. It’s better this way”
>You roll your eyes
>Fortunately she doesn’t see as she’s taken a great interest in the ground
“C’mon, nobody who says ‘it’s better this way’ actually means it. That’s just you telling yourself you don’t deserve something that you really do”
>“No, Anonymous”
>She looks up at you with bloodshot eyes that are tainted by anger and frustration
>“I deserve not to be feared. I deserve to be with somepony whose family I can meet. I deserve to be loved for who I am, not in spite of it. I deserve better”
“Can’t you find another bat pony…?”
>“I could, yes, but I haven’t, because I don’t want to be with somepony because they’re my only option, and believe me, Anonymous, the pickings are slim”
>“We are quite few in number. Then you have to consider all the stallions who are already taken, and then the ones I’m too closely related to, of which there are many”
>“In the end, the prospects are grim”
>“And besides, should I ever choose to have children, I want them to have at least half a chance at not being bat ponies. I would not wish this curse upon an innocent”
>You’re not sure what to say
>She hates her life
>She hates what she is
>How do you respond to that?
>“I apologize for laying all my problems upon your shoulders”
“Hey, if you need someone to talk to, I’m happy to be that guy”
>“Thank you, Anonymous. You’re a strange person, but you’re kind”
>That’s progress if you’ve ever heard it
>She sniffles just once before her expression hardens into one of stoic resignation
>“Anyway, enough of my wallowing. What brings you up here anyway?”
>In your mind that wasn’t an adequate amount of wallowing, but she clearly wants to change the subject
“I went looking for the kitchen and I got lost”
>“Well then, let’s get you back to her majesty. I’m sure she’s missing you”
>Her words carry the slightest hint of bitterness
>You aren’t even through the door to Luna’s chambers and she’s all over you
>She jumps up and kisses your face and neck
>“Anonymous, where were you? I’ve been worried”
>When she spies Nova she relents a bit and drops back to the ground
>It seems she’s more inclined to conduct herself with some degree of modesty now that the drugs have worn off
“I wandered off and got lost. Nova found me”
>It’s not a lie, you just leave out some of the more personal particulars
>“Good evening, Nova”
>The princess gives her a genial nod
>“Thank you for returning him to me”
>Nova bows but says nothing
>“Is everything alright, my child?”
>Nova’s eyes are still slightly red, and her voice cracks when she finally speaks
>“O-Of course”
>“Nova, tell me, what’s the matter?”
>Luna turns to you crossly
>“What did you do this time?”
“Nothing, I swear!”
>“Please, your excellency, he is not at fault for anything, and the matter is unimportant. Now, why don’t I bring you two some food? I know Anonymous is hungry”
>“That won’t be necessary, Nova. You look like you need the night off”
>The bat mare looks more than a bit distraught
>“That is gracious of you, princess, but there is no need”
>The alicorn holds up a hoof, as if to silence her
>“I insist”
>Luna seems pretty adamant about this
>“With respect, your highness, I…would like to do my job right now”
>C’mon Moons, just drop it…
>“Not another word! Go eat, drink, and be merry with your friends and family”
>Nova just stares at her for a moment
>You may be imagining it, but you detect a momentary flash or resentment in her gaze
>“Thank you, your grace”
>She genuflects with just a bit too much exaggeration and then takes her leave
>Luna closes the door and hops back on you again, giving you a long, sloppy kiss
>Her tongue plays your teeth like a xylophone
>When her lips finally leave yours, she pouts slightly
>“Spending time with other mares, Anon?” she teases
“I really did get lost”
>“What happened to her? Do you know?”
>You aren’t sure how much you can or should say, so you take the safe route
“Um…it’s some personal stuff that I kinda just found out about by accident”
>“It’s fine, Anonymous. If I get overly curious I can always walk through her dreams”
“That’s…kinda fucked up, you know?”
>She scoffs
>“I said I can, I didn’t say that I would”
>You furrow your brow
“I hope not”
>“Oh, Anonymous, do you really think so little of me?”
>Her lower lip quivers
“Oh, stop it”
>You kiss her on the tip of her muzzle and she grins
>She knows she’s got you wrapped around her hoof at this point
>Her starry mane feels cool as you run your fingers through it
>You caress her cheek, and her eyelids flutter as she leans into the touch
“So, what’re we doing tonight?”
>“Anything we desire”
“How about more of whatever the hell that stuff we had last night was. And while we’re on the subject, what the hell was that stuff we had last night?”
>“Just something I whipped up especially for us. A few of the stronger aphrodisiacs I have in my collection, some stimulatory herbs, and just a dash of a mild love potion”
“Love potion, eh?”
>You make a point to sound overly suspicious
>She huffs
>“I thought you said you trusted me”
“I do”
>You give her a small peck for emphasis
>“It wasn’t nearly enough to bend anyone’s will. Love potions have a much poorer reputation than they should due to a long history of misuse. However, I was there when such elixirs were first invented, and their original purpose was precisely what I use them for: not to make ponies fall in love, but simply to enhance the experience for those who already have”
>“They can mend strained relationships or reignite passion in those who’ve lost their way. But if given to two lovers who are already passionate…well, you saw what happened”
>She gives you a seductive smile
“I still feel a little weird about having sex in public, though”
>Luna snickers
>“There’s no need for modesty during this celebration, dear heart”
“Welp, I guess you make the rules, don’t you?”
>“Indeed I do. Now, I decree that our first order of business is breakfast”
“As your loyal subject, I fully support this motion”
>You and Luna decided to stay in this evening
>But the walls of her chambers shake with the blaring music that emanates from the great hall
>However, you aren’t concerned with that at the moment
>Her thighs are clamped around your head like a vice, blocking out any sound
>After your meal, you decided you wanted a little blueberry muffin for dessert
>You’ve spent the last half hour trying to touch her cervix with your tongue
>Thus far your efforts have been rewarded with several torrents of her sweet, sticky love
>Her hips are jerking uncontrollably to the point that you’re afraid she’s going to break your neck
>Still, if you were going to die, doing so buried between her wet, pulsing lips is the best way you can think of to go
>You pull away for a moment and she whines, her forehooves reaching down frantically to push you back in
>You grab her hooves and hold them down
>You have other plans
>She gasps and spasms as you gently chew on her clit
>You feel it throb between your teeth as you flick your tongue back and forth
>Even with her legs acting as earmuffs, you can hear her screaming your name
>She bucks harder and once more drenches your face with warm honey
>She rides out the climax, grinding against your chin
>After a few moments she’s still
>You release her from your bite, planting a long, suckling kiss on her hot little nub
>She twitches and releases another spurt
>You rest your head on her stomach, feeling her dripping sex thrumming against your neck and radiating heat
>She moans softly, stroking your face with a hoof
>“Thank you, Anon, that was…”
>She shudders involuntarily
>“That was lovely”
>You kiss her belly and her whole body tightens and then relaxes, giving you one last little splash of affection
>You climb on top of her, grabbing her hind legs and pushing them up until her hooves rest by her ears
>She holds them there for you as you press your tip into the midnight-blue pucker just below her marehood, and the tight canal beyond
>Her cavity welcomes you, sucking you in and massaging you with love and appreciation
>You’re already so aroused it only takes a few thrusts before you cum
>She coos and blows you a kiss as you fill her up
>You tell her you love her
>And it’s not just the orgasm talking
>She tells you the same, eyes closed in bliss
>Drained, you collapse on top of your princess
>She laps at your face, licking her own juices off of you
>You grip her mane and press your lips against hers
>Every time you tug at her hair, you feel her ring tighten around your shaft
>When you finally roll off of her, she doesn’t let you get far
>Her hooves wrap around your neck and she presses against you
>“I don’t recall giving you permission to dismount me, Anon”
“You’re not the boss of me”
>“True, I am the princess of you”
>Fuck, she’s got you there
>You kiss her horn and she jolts, crying out
>You feel several squirts of hot ecstasy splash against your stomach
>Wow
>No wonder Twiggles always got so hot and bothered when you tried to grab her horn
“This is really sensitive, isn’t it?”
>You trace your finger around the bony protrusion
>She buries her face in your neck and rubs against your leg as you tease her
>You resolve that at some later time when you aren’t so sexually exhausted, you’re going to explore this avenue thoroughly
>You cuddle her for a long time
>Her eyes are closed
>She almost looks like she’s falling asleep
>You kiss her lids and wish her sweet dreams in a whisper
>suddenly she speaks, looking a bit apprehensive
>“Anonymous?”
“What is it sweetheart?”
>She pauses a little too long
>“Do you…do you think I’m a good princess?”
>You chuckle suggestively
“Oh yes…very good”
>“I’m serious”
>“Do you think I do right by my subjects?”
>The truth is, you haven’t seen much of her princessing in action aside from the bombastic displays of the last few days
>But what you have seen has surprised you
“Yes, I do”
>“Are you just placating me?”
“No. The other night…with Nova…that was really sweet”
>Luna smiles
>“She is the best hoofmare I’ve ever had – as loyal as they come, organized, driven, and competent in everything she attempts. Sometimes I think she’d be a better ruler than I”
“Don’t say that. You do what you can for them. What else can they expect from you?”
>“I suppose”
>She’s not convinced
“Hey, don’t worry about it, not tonight. You’re a wonderful princess. You’re my princess, and a better one than I ever could’ve hoped for”
>Yeah
>You said that
>Real men ain’t afraid to say nice things to their best gals
>“Well, if you can think of something to ease my troubled mind, I’d be most grateful”
>You tease your finger along her horn once again, eliciting a shudder
“Yeah, I’ve got a few ideas”
>You feel a tingling against your hand as her horn sparks
>As if reading your mind, she uses her magic to open the cabinet across from the extravagant bed on which you lie, levitating a familiar little bottle over to you
>Luna hovers it to her lips and takes a sip, and then offers it to you
>You down the rest of its contents
>A warmth begins to build in your chest, and you feel a need that threatens to rip your mind and body apart
>You need her
>You need every last part of her
“Luna”
>You say her name just before your lips meet hers
>She pulls you into a frantic embrace
>It seems like a millennium passes, and yet when you finally part it feels as though a thousand years could never be enough
>You know she feels the same, as mere seconds later she’s kissing you again
>You feel her wetness rubbing against you
>As if responding to your thoughts she slides down and guides you into her
>She sits up on you, her body rising and falling, giving you shocks of pleasure
>Her wings are spread as she rides you
>Like an angel
>Not a minute later you’re already right on the edge
>But the gentle, affectionate smile on her face tells you not to resist
>She just wants you to feel good
>She moves faster
>Your princess pounds herself against you as your world becomes a swirling spectrum of starlight
>She doesn’t stop until you’re spent to the last drop
>When you’re finally sated, she lays down on top of you and kisses your neck
>You wrap her in your arms, twining her flowing mane around your fingers as you press her against you
>You can feel her heart beating in time with yours
>When she finally speaks, her voice is full of earnest conviction
>“I love you so dearly, Anonymous”
“I love you too, Angel”
>You wake up
>Luna is slumbering peacefully beside you
>She doesn’t stir
>You must not have been dreaming
>You plant a kiss on her cheek
>Her legs wrap around you, unconsciously pulling you close
>A soft hum emanates from her throat
>When you finally extricate yourself from her grasp she groans, but then settles back down
>You grab a half-empty glass of beer from the nightstand on your side of the bed and take a swig
>Your thoughts stop for a second
>Your side of the bed
>Are you already that deep into this?
>You’re not one of those punks who’s afraid of commitment, but damn
>But hey, whatever
>You’ve never been one for questioning things either
>Just roll with it
>As you look around the room, you do a double-take when your eyes fall upon the balcony
>Or don’t rather
>The archway that leads outside is occluded by what appears to be thick, black smoke
>Upon reflection, it makes sense
>It must still be light out
>You wondered why the sun never woke you up in the middle of the day
>Magic hardly even fazes you anymore
>Your best friend is one of the most powerful mages Equestria has ever known
>You’re…dating? Seeing? In a relationship with? Another one
>You get up and put your pants on
>Luna does not like your pants
>She gets you out of them at every available opportunity
>Being that this particular pair is one of the few things you have from Earth, you’re quite attached to them and she’s just going to have to deal with it
>You stand in front of the nebulous black fog that blocks out the daylight
>You reach your hand out and…
>Ow fuck!
>It gives you a really nasty electric shock
>Not enough to do any damage, but Christ that smarts
>Once again, however, it kind of makes sense
>If some drunken bat pony accidentally wandered into this place, getting zapped would deter her from wandering out into the light
>You actually kinda wanted some sun
>It’s been what, five days since you’ve seen daylight?
>Still, you’re not stepping through an entire laundromat’s worth of static electricity
>Fuck that noise
>And you’re not going to wake the princess up just to have her dispel it
>But hey, there’s that giant wall where Nova and her boyfriend broke up
>You could catch some rays up there
>You pull the covers over your dozing marefriend before quietly exiting the room
>The antechamber beyond is empty
>Seems that guard finally abandoned all pretenses and just pissed off
>You sort of know where you’re going this time, so it doesn’t take as long
>When you finally get up there, the sun is just disappearing beyond the horizon
>So much for working on your tan
>A couple years ago that would’ve been a joke, but seeing as Equestria doesn’t have an internet, you’ve had to learn how to not hate being outdoors
>It’s been hard
>Still, it’s a nice evening
>There’s a pleasant breeze, and you can already see a few stars twinkling
>You don’t like that smell though
>The wind changes and your nostrils are flooded with the odor of cooked flesh
>And not the kind that makes you hungry
>The kind that makes you nauseous
>Further along the wall, beyond the small turret you hid in last night, you see a thin trail of dark smoke wafting up from a small heap on the ground
>You don’t know why but you’re running towards it
>When you reach it, you realize your subconscious was way ahead of you
>Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck
>The charred form of a bat pony lies before you
>Her skin is blackened and cracked, exposing tender pinkness beneath
>She’s so burnt you can’t even make out a cutie mark
>She’s little more than a pony-shaped lump of charcoal
>The unfortunate soul must’ve been so drunk she passed out up here and never woke up
>And so the Lunar Rebirth festival claims another life
>Or does it?
>As you look closer, beyond your squeamishness at the sight of the fissures in her flesh, you can see that her chest still rises and falls
>Weakly, but she breathes
>You panic
>You’re not even sure if she’d survive being moved, but you don’t know how much longer she has
>She must’ve been out here all day, or at least a good portion of it
>Or that’s what you assume
>You know little of how bat ponies fare in the sunlight beyond Nova’s cryptic words when you first arrived and the disturbing spectacle before you now
>But inaction is your worst enemy at this point
>If you stand here overthinking things she’ll die
>Removing your shirt, you lift her as gently as possible and wrap her in it
>A weak, agonized sound escapes her throat
>Like metal dragged over gravel
>You move as quickly as you can without jostling her too much
>Once you’re back inside the catacombs you scream for help at the top of your lungs
>About halfway back to Luna’s chambers you’re greeted by a reasonably sober-looking bat pony guard
>He stands at attention and salutes you
>Light Bender was right, word travels fast around here
>“Sir Anonymous, w-”
“Go get Luna now!”
>“Wh-”
“Go motherfucker!!”
>He wheels around and takes off at a full gallop
>You gently lower the scorched mare to the ground
>You hope the cool stone relieves some of her pain
>If she can even feel anything
>There’s no need to move her further
>As soon as Moons gets here, she’ll know what to do
>Not five minutes later you feel a warmth against your skin as a blinding flash of light makes you shield your eyes
>“Anonymous, what is the mat–?”
>Luna stops short as she sees the still-breathing corpse at your feet
>Tears well in her eyes, and in a second burst of magic and heat she’s gone, as is the bat pony
>You have no idea where they went, but if this place has some kind of medical facility, you figure that’s your best bet
>You’re drained and not paying attention to where you’re going, so it takes you nearly an hour before you find your way back to Luna’s chambers
>The outer door is open, and the stallion who fetched the princess for you is standing guard in front of her room, along with a mare who looks somewhat familiar
>You can’t tell for certain since she’s facing away from you
>They’re conversing in hushed voices
>You hail them
“Yo, do you guys know where Princess Luna went?”
>The mare turns, and you do recognize her
>Eggshell white with a straw-blonde mane and green eyes
>She led you here that very first night after you spazzed out over that steak in front of Nova
>The look on her face then was one of dutiful indifference
>Now, however, it’s very different
>Her eyes look puffy, as though she’s been crying
>Her expression is grim
>“Anonymous”
>She addresses you
>“Her grace told me to bring you to her. Please follow me”
>She trots past you and beckons
>She leads you through some more winding passages, avoiding the noisy great hall.
>You almost trip over her when you realize she’s stopped under one of the torches that line the walls
>She turns around and looks up at you
>Her eyes are damp and her expression pained
>“Is…is it true you’re the one who found her?”
>“Uh, yeah, I did”
>“How bad did she look? Please be honest, the doctors wouldn’t allow anypony in and the princess wouldn’t say anything”
“Uh…”
>“Oh, I’m sorry…where are my manners? My name is Nebula, I’m her sister”
“Oh…uh, nice to meet you”
>Her gaze pleads with you
>If that pony is her sister, you don’t want to tell her how bad things are
“I couldn’t really tell…”
>“Mister Anonymous, please…”
>You sigh and hang your head in defeat
“Pretty bad. Like, really bad”
>Her eyes glisten and her chin trembles
>She chokes and begins to sob
>Oh god you just made her cry you fucking piece of shit
>You kneel down and put a hand on her shoulder
“Hey, she’s got the princess looking out for her, Luna will make sure your sister gets the best doctors in Equestria and she’ll be fine, don’t worry”
>“Y-you think so?”
“I know so”
>In truth you don’t know jack, but this really isn’t the time for brutal honesty
>“I c-can’t lose her, we just lost our cousin the other night”
>Jesus, everyone in this place is related
>“Spectrum was your cousin too?”
>“Well yes, s-second cousin, actually”
>You feel a sinking in your stomach as your mind begins to connect the dots
“Nebula, what’s your sister’s name?”
>Through her tears, she gives you a look of bewilderment
>“I…I don’t understand”
>She sniffles and blinks in confusion
>“I thought you knew Nova”