//------------------------------//
// 3 The Secret Guest 
// Story: Celestia x Rainbow - The Truest Love 
// by Bronyxy 
//------------------------------//

“My dear Sister, I should like to introduce you to Rainbow Dash, probably the most capable flier Equestria has ever seen, and Rainbow I should like you to meet my Sister, Princess Luna.”
“Charmed” boomed Luna in her Royal Canterlot voice.

Rainbow bowed politely, hoping she would be able to recover her eardrums before they were ever needed again.
“Luna is still adjusting to modern day life in Equestria” explained Celestia “Things have changed quite a bit since we last ruled together.”

Luna stared imperiously down on the young mare.
“We remember thee” said Luna “Thou wert among those who did rescue us from Nightmare Moon.”
Rainbow gulped. She hadn’t seen Luna since then and was more than a little concerned how her actions would be received now she had time to reflect on having been stripped of all that power.
“Yes Princess” she said levelly “I was there.”
“Good. We commend thee for thy courage.”

“Luna is doing a good job recovering her magic and will soon be able to raise and lower the moon by herself once more” said Celestia “We are both very grateful to you and your friends for bringing my Sister back to me.”
Rainbow heaved an inward sigh of relief. She had been prepared to take on Nightmare Moon by herself and only stopped in her act of folly by Applejack grabbing her tail, but while her determination burned undiminished, she realised that now it was more important to follow Celestia’s lead in supporting her reformed sister.

After a formal dinner during which she participated in the three-way discussion in her familiar courtly Canterlot etiquette, Luna excused herself to begin a night of study leaving Celestia alone with Rainbow Dash.
“So how do you feel about handing over control of the moon to your sister?” she asked.
“Oh, I shall be delighted as it will mean that she is well on the mend. To be honest, I should welcome somepony coming along to take some of the burden off me. She and I used to work so well together so I am really looking forward to her resuming her full place by my side in a new era of peace and cooperation.”

“You really love her, don’t you?”
“Yes, yes I do.”
“Then that must have been tough to send her to the moon all those years ago. That’s right isn’t it? – I’m not much of an egghead so I may have got it wrong.”

“It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but there was no choice. I would do the same again to protect the ponies of Equestria, but I don’t believe Luna will ever put herself in that position again. I truly believe she is fully reformed.”
“Just talks kinda funny, huh?”
“Well, believe it or not, that’s how we all used to speak at Court – can you imagine?”

The two friends laughed and began to relax more in each other’s company, something about Celestia making this seem like more than just casual conversation between friends.

“I’m leaning on you a lot for this, Rainbow. Would you like to see the horror that has driven me to seek out your services? I warn you, it will give you nightmares.”
Rainbow didn’t need to think twice.
“Hey Princess, my loyalty is to you. You said you wanted to unburden yourself, right? So, I guess a problem shared is a problem halved?”
“Very well then. Follow me.”

Celestia led Rainbow down corridors and flights of stairs until they reached a sturdy looking door protected on either side by guards who sprang to attention at the approach of their Princess.
“Gentlecolts, good evening” bade Celestia “I trust you are well tonight?”
The guards responded politely.

“I wish to escort Rainbow Dash into the chamber. I will close the door behind us and open it again once we are ready to depart. Please ensure that we are not disturbed.”
One of the guards approached the door and inspected each of the two large keys on an iron ring round his belt, selecting the correct one for the lock. He inserted it, looking at Celestia just to ensure she was serious about her request. When she did not flinch, he turned the key and pulled the door open just enough to allow the two guests in.

The white mare entered through the eerily cracked open doorway with Rainbow following in her shadow.
The room was poorly lit and clearly served as an antechamber, a buffer between the sanity she knew and the unknown hell beyond. Rainbow watched as Celestia steeled herself for opening the door on the far side; if an alicorn of her power was as apprehensive of what lay ahead, then what manner of horror could possibly lurk within?

“Are you sure you want to proceed?” asked Celestia.
“I’m with you” replied Rainbow with more bravado than she truly felt.

A white forehoof extended and raised the latch that secured the door. It creaked its protest at being called upon to open, announcing loudly their arrival to whatever lay inside. As Celestia’s body blocked the doorway, Rainbow peered ahead as best she could through the white mare’s legs. She had no reference points to determine just how large the room was, only that it was poorly lit; all she could see was a pink glow, the surface of which appeared to be curved from what little visibility she was afforded.

“Hello Celestia” came a voice that dripped pure malice “I do so enjoy our little chats.”
“I cannot say the feeling is mutual” she replied.
“Oh, I sense you have brought me fresh meat today. How thoughtful.”
Rainbow flinched. For a fleeting second, she wondered if she been brought in as a living sacrifice to whatever it was, before realising that Celestia would never do such a thing; or so she hoped.

“No. She is a friend and you will not get into her mind.”
“I am disappointed Celestia. It is so lonely down here. Perhaps you would consider letting me out once in a while? It has been a very long time, after all.”
“No! I will never allow it to pass.”
“I wonder if your young friend knows how evil you are in keeping me locked away like this, not even able to see daylight or feel the sun on my body. How long has it been now, Celestia? How many hundreds of years? And no company except for your occasional visits; even caged display animals have more rights.”

Rainbow watched as the black coloured creature slithered menacingly behind the glowing pink magical force field, manoeuvring for a better view of the unexpected guest.

“So pretty. What lovely colours, what a fine spirit …”
“Enough! Do not start on her!” ordered Celestia.
“I was only trying to be friendly. You should try it some time.”
“I know too well what friendship with you means! Do not dare to try your tricks on her!”
“Or what?” came the goading response, hanging in the air like sticky treacle.

“Come Rainbow, our visit has served its purpose. Let’s go.”
“What do you mean it’s served its purpose? We haven’t done anything” she enquired quizzically.
“We have” said Celestia “It has been fed.”
Rainbow looked puzzled but asked no further.

“I am tired, and it is time for us to leave.”
With this, they turned, Celestia nudging her guest gently ahead of her.
“Goodbye Rainbow” said the voice thick with a tormenting lilt “I can't wait to meet you again.”
“Go Rainbow” said Celestia “I will follow.”

Rainbow did as she was told and once back in the antechamber saw a flash of light spatter round the partially opened door and heard a scream that made her fur stand on end. She froze, eyes wide as the door creaked further open and a pony edged through, only releasing the breath that she didn’t know she had been holding once she saw the reassuring white form of Celestia.

The Princess secured the door and took a moment to compose herself before making eye contact with Rainbow. For a moment, neither spoke.
“What was that?” asked Rainbow.
“The closest thing to a devil in pony form” replied Celestia.

They opened the door back to reality and emerged, Celestia looking haggard and Rainbow distinctly shaken. The guards caught sight of their expressions and quickly secured the door behind them. Whatever was in there, they didn’t want to see getting out – ever.

“Thank you, Sirs,” managed the Princess, but all present could tell it had been an effort and she was drained.
Celestia walked slowly towards her private chambers, Rainbow, concerned, close by her side.
“I must rejuvenate myself now. Would you care to join me?”
“It looks like you could use some company” confirmed Rainbow.

They approached another door with two more attentive guards stationed either side, both snapping to attention as their Princess came into view. She engaged them briefly in polite discourse and then one opened the door for her and her guest to enter.

Inside, Rainbow gasped at the grandeur; white painted walls, porticos, lots of gleaming gilt, framed portraits and mirrors. It was like somepony had hit the opulence overload button, in fact she could quite see her friend Rarity feeling completely at home in such a stately and imposing environment.

“When I need to recuperate I have certain facilities at my disposal” said Celestia opening a door and walking down a short corridor “This is my favourite.”
She opened another door and immediately Rainbow was hit by the smell of various scented oils and creams carried to her on a wave of steam.
“Er, Princess …” stammered Rainbow “I’ve never been in a spa before.”
“Well, in that case you’re in for a treat” said her exhausted hostess “And don’t worry, nopony need ever find out.”

Rainbow wrestled inwardly with the potential for her hard-earned machismo to appear undermined. Even if her friends didn’t know, she still would. However, it wasn’t easy to turn down the most powerful Princess in Equestria, so she followed on tentatively.

As she lay in the jacuzzi, she felt herself drift away from aches and pains she had lived with and never consciously considered before; she never knew she had them, but now they were gone she felt amazing. With every treatment, she felt herself being rejuvenated; perhaps Rarity was right to recommend spa treatments so highly after all. She wouldn’t tell her of course, just in case her snooty friend thought she was going soft, but she might just sneak in to see Lotus Blossom and Aloe when she knew nopony would see her.

“I am grateful you came with me this afternoon” said Celestia “You see now what I am faced with and why this exercise is so important for me. You are only the second pony to ever see my special guest, but I had to show you to reinforce just how important it is that I succeed. If I fail, then eventually I will no longer be strong enough to keep it secured and it will get out.”

Rainbow shuddered. There had been something horrible about the way the creature had been sizing her up, not just physically, but somehow emotionally too, like it had reached out with an ethereal claw of the purest evil to rob her of her happiness. She suddenly realised what Celestia had been putting up with in secret for so long and felt a wave of genuine compassion for her stoicism.
“We’ll succeed Princess.”

“Thank you, Rainbow Dash; you have no idea how grateful I should be to focus on more pleasurable activities instead of this dreadful duty.”