//------------------------------// // Sisters // Story: What Princesses Need // by Aegis Shield //------------------------------// What Princesses Need Part 3: Sisters Nightmare Moon watched over Twilight Sparkle all throughout the day, cat-napping quietly next to her. She ached to dig her fangs into her luscious flank in affection, but the sleeping mare probably wouldn’t appreciate that. Twas a very forward lover, one that used teeth, and Twilight didn’t know she still existed. A wild beam of rainbow magic used by a gaggle of random mares could not destroy a goddess, only supress one side of her. Tame her, as it were. It did not keep her from occasionally surfacing, though. Luna’s more carnal interests and thoughts could melt together into a little silver pool until Nightmare Moon poked her head out. Today was such a day. The black mare leaned over the sleeping form of Twilight Sparkle, cocking her head like a curious animal. So this was the mare that had brought her low that day several months ago. She’d not admired such a beautiful thing in a long time, surely there had been selective breeding or something else having words with her genes. It could not just be circumstance. She leaned, scenting lavender petals on her neck. It was a faint of perfume that one would only notice if you hugged her. Or happened to be watching her sleep. The dark alicorn mulled over thoughts of her for a long time. She didn’t deny she was in lust with the purple mare, such feelings were a fact of life. Not something to be repressed. Why, Twilight Sparkle should feel honored to be the object of desire to a goddess! “Hrm.” She said shortly, leaning and slowly exiting the bed. Stretching her long legs, she lifted herself and went to her bedroom door. Poking her head out, she spotted the Lunar Stallions at the end of the hall. Ever diligent, they were. Murmuring in mild approval, she flicked the door closed with magic, and instantly winced. On the other side of the palace, Celestia flinched like an overzealous stallion had just slapped her royal buttcheeks. Her ears turned forward and she stood hard from her throne. A few guards jerked about, startled. “I’ll be right back.” She bade them, teleporting away with a crack of parted air. Instantly, she stepped out of time and space to appear in Luna’s room. “Nightmare Moon.” Busted. “Sister.” Nightmare Moon scowled, stepping back a bit. “Nice of thou to visit us.” “What’s happened to you?” Celestia started forward aggressively, eager to contain the situation. “Shhh.” Nightmare Moon hushed her rather rudely, putting a hoof on her mouth. “Twilight Sparkle sleeps in yon bed.” She nodded to one side. Celestia’s mouth went agape and she looked to one side. “Now, what dost thou want?” the black mare scowled. “What happened to Luna?” “She’s still here. We are just visiting.” Nightmare Moon gestured to the mirror on the nearest wall. Sure enough, the reflection showed Celestia standing next to Princess Luna and not Nightmare Moon. “You’re some sort of… projection.” Celestia said in a whisper, not wanting to wake Twilight Sparkle. If there was a way to keep her out of this, she would take it. “Laid over my sister’s body like a second skin.” She squinted at the rather elegant glamor spell. The flesh and fur was real enough to the five senses, but it was only a fabrication of Luna’s real face twisted to look like the black mare of legend. “Yes, very good. We’ve only used it a hundred times before, didst thou never really look?” Nightmare Moon was annoyed. “Now, what dost thou want, I ask again?” she was more than a little peeved at her sister for barging in like this, more than anything. “I’m here to stop you.” Celestia inflated her chest to prepare for battle. “From…?” Nightmare Moon let the sentence hang. “From… from…” Celestia was suddenly dumbfounded. The solar alicorn recognized Nightmare Moon’s magical signature from across the palace like a bad smell. But she was just sort of standing there, not really doing anything. “Why is my protégé in your bed?” Celestia said, a little flustered. “Luna invited her to a sleepover. We watch over her in the night.” It was a rather creepy thing to say, but not particularly evil. “I cannot allow her to stay with you.” Celestia said firmly, moving to walk past and pluck her student from the bed where she slept. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but I won’t allow it.” Nightmare Moon stood sideways, blocking Celestia’s path. “Really now, sister?” She growled a bit, “Thou comes into my very chambers and thinks to order me around, much less take something that is under my protection for the moment? We think not.” Celestia scowled rather openly, ears turning back into an angry expression. “Move away.” She said with royal authority. Nightmare Moon snorted at her, flicking her tail a bit. “Of all the ponies in the land, Tia, we are the one that you may not command. Get out of our room.” “No.” said Celestia, “I won’t leave without Twilight Sparkle.” She flared her wings. “You think I will just leave her in your possession?” The two sisters argued as quietly as they could, back and forth. Meanwhile in the background, a droopy and wild-maned Twilight Sparkle wandered out of bed. So absorbed were the two alicorns in their arguing they didn’t even notice her. She wobbled along, half-asleep and restfully achy, past them and into the bathroom. After a short while, the toilet flushed and the little purple mare wandered by a second time. Clambering into the bed without noticing either alicorn, she snuggled up in the covers and stuck her head under a series of pillows. The warm body she’d been pressed up against earlier was gone, aww… oh well… Zzz… Celestia had locked horns with Nightmare Moon, and the squabble was turning more and more childish as they spoke back and forth. “Aren’t you sure that your protégé and her friends cured us?” Nightmare Moon smiled teasingly. “Them and their magic rainbow beam of… friendship? Whatever it was?” the black mare pressed back and forth in a show of strength with her sibling. “Clearly not, if you’re still here.” Nightmare Moon pushed Celestia back. “Clearly not.” She sighed. The night time alicorn suddenly cocked her head, standing erect. Her time was almost up. She could feel Luna stirring fuzzily in the back of her head. “Why do you think Luna never gave up using the Royal We, huhm?” Celestia stared at her, frowning and not knowing the answer. The dark creature leaned close, dropping the illusion. Sweet and innocent Princess Luna’s face swam into view after the mists of the glamor spell vanished Nightmare Moon’s image. “Because there’s two of us in here.” Nightmare Moon gave control back to Luna and went to sleep. The evil presence vanished like a wisp of slow cigar smoke. Luna stood there, glassy-eyed, for a long time. Celestia stared at her, lifting a hoof cautiously. “Luna?” Celestia whispered, poking her chest a few times. Luna flinched as though she’d been slapped. “Huhm?!” she belted. “Oh, sister.” She yawned sleepily. “Why dost thou disturb us? It is not yet evening.” She yawwwwwned, stretching her wings and hanging her head tiredly. “I… erm…” Celestia’s mind was racing. This had just gotten a LOT more complicated than she was ready to admit. Taking any action right now would be hasty. “I was just… checking on you and Twilight.” She finally managed a paper-thin smile that her very sleepy sister believed. “Ohh, how nice, Tia.” Luna yawned, leaning into her for sisterly nuzzles. Celestia gave said nuzzles, a concerned look etched across her brow. “We shall retire again now, we think.” The solar alicorn frowned, troubled, at the Royal We. It really was literal, wasn’t it? In ages past, the Royal We had meant ‘Faust and I’, but now to Luna it meant ‘Nightmare Moon and I’, even if she didn’t realize it. Celestia swallowed thoughtfully, weighing her options. This would take far more thought before she could do anything. She watched Luna sleepily climb back into bed and close the thick velvet curtain. Flicking god-like magic into her eyes, she peered in at Twilight Sparkle. She seemed okay where she was, there was no need to scare the poor thing. When the sleepover was over Twilight would return to Ponyville and Celestia could deal with her sister… or rather, some odd part of her sister. Celestia vanished in a shower of golden sparks, reappearing on her throne before somepony started panicking. She sighed in a troubled way. Luna settled next to Twilight Sparkle, peering at her briefly. Heh. It seemed the purpled mare could not sleep unless she was completely hidden in darkness. She had her head shoved under a pillow to even blot out the light of the stars on her bed curtains. She could appreciate such preferences. After all, the dark was a warm and comforting thing if one learned not to fear it. Stretching her wings out, then folding them for comfort, Luna lay on her side to sleep until evening came. =-----=------=-----=------= The Lunar Stallions were gathered in a track-side restaurant. By track-side, one means that it was near the Canterlot train station. They liked to watch the fancy trains go by. That and it was hard to find a resturaunt that would host twenty-four armored stallions with triangle-shaped teeth and golden-draconic eyes. They looked like they meant business, and any huge gathering scared away all the other customers. It was a good thing, then, that they ate like teenagers to make up for the lost customers. Each of them already had a stack of dirty plates in front of himself, and they kept calling for more. The restaurant owner was more than pleased to bring them more, and more after that. They were paid well, so they ate well. A lot. “To Princess Luna.” Falling Storm raised his glass and the other armored ponies followed, smiling proudly. “We finally found something she really likes, and now she can be much happier.” There was a shout of agreement, and they all drank to Luna’s health. Falling Storm choked on his mug suddenly, though, pulling everypony’s attention back to himself. His eyes were glued to the expansive window that showed the train platform outside. He sprayed cider across the table onto another stallion, who shouted angrily. The burly Pegasus pointed, his irises and pupils turning into pinpricks. Every Lunar Stallion turned curiously, and their mouths fell open. Twilight Sparkle was on the train platform, getting ready to board and leave Canterlot! Instantly every single Lunar guard launched himself out of his chair and ran to line up at the window. Twilight Sparkle, meanwhile, sneezed lightly outside. They pressed their muzzles against the glass, blink-blinking at her with fourty-eight disbelieving eyes. Was that her? Was that really her? How had she gotten away from Princess Luna? They looked at each other, then over to Aegis Shield and Stalwart Hide, their two Captains. “Sweet Celestia’s TEATS she’s getting away!” One of the stallions shouted. One of them tap-tap-tapped the glass to get her attention. Twilight turned, and saw the ridiculous sight of two-dozen stallions with their noses pressed up against the window, staring at her. She leaned back, her brow rising and lifting a hoof. Uh oh, she looked ready to bolt! The Lunar Stallions knew they had to act fast. “Don’t just stand there, go get her!” Aegis Shield thrust out an authoritative hoof. With all the subtlety of a bomb going off the entire gaggle of dark-armored, golden-eyed stallion EXPLODED through the window and ran at Twilight like they would eat her! The explosion of showering glass was like something out of an action movie, and the herd dashed like mad to get Princess Luna’s plaything before she got away. Twilight turned and galloped for her life, “AHHHH! Not this agaaaaain!” Kiosks got launched into the air, the crowds parted and the poor purple mare teleported forward over and over to try and gain some distance. But no, it was no good, some of the Lunar Stallions were pegasi. They could keep up with her no matter how fast she teleported. Suddenly a magical aura seized her and held her aloft. “Meep!” She’d been caught. =-----=-----=-----=-----= Luna was deep in thought over a thick scroll, sitting on the throne of the Midnight Court. Somepony from Trottingham was petitioning for bits to build a new children’s playground in the city park. He was asking for a donation. The royal coffers were always tight, however, so she was contemplating how exactly to move money to such a simple cause without causing a big stir. Perhaps a fund-raiser? If she put her royal endorsement onto something like that, surely it would draw the bits of a few nobles and others that wanted to do good. Well, also to try and gain Luna’s favor, but the ends justified the means. Smiling, she picked up a piece of blank paper and began to write just that. About two-thirds of the way through her letter, she became aware of movement very near to her left. How had somepony come so close to her and not been stopped by the guards at the base of her dais? Princess Luna looked over, and found Twilight Sparkle! “Uh?” she said, eyebrows launching upward. Twilight was laying on her back, plush belly exposed, tied up once more in scarlet ribbons with a bow around her neck. She was on a royal purple pillow, laid next to Luna like she belonged there. “Oh for heaven’s sake!” Luna stood quickly, then saw the culprits. A gaggle of Lunar Stallions stood grinning with their chests out beyond where Twilight lay. They looked very, very proud of themselves. Luna opened her mouth, then shut it, then opened it again. She couldn’t… she just couldn’t find words for this! “This isn’t funny.” Twilight said, scowling when Luna had removed her velvety gag. Luna fought a grand smile, alicorn mischief dancing in her eyes. “It’s NOT!” she squawked. The dark alicorn quickly undid her bonds, and Twilight wrenched the inhibitor ring off of her horn. “You can’t keep doing this!” she turned to angrily address the herd of Lunar Stallions. She flushed red when she saw they were looking past her at Luna for approval. Had they done good? Luna face-hoofed slowly, a very rare royal face-hoof. “Lunar Stallions, thou cannot keep binding Twilight Sparkle in ribbon and presenting her to us like a gift. She is not ours to keep. We--” she paused, for the entire herd of armored ponies wilted like she’d struck them with a rolled up newspaper. They hadn’t done good? Their eyes were big and soft, and a few lips quivered. “I… erm…” Luna’s lecture was lost in her throat for a time, for she couldn’t concentrate under such pathetic gazes. “I can come and go as I please! I’m not the Princess’ dog!” Twilight shouted at them. They flinched back, pressing together like a herd of scared puppies. “I’m going home! Good night!” the grouchy purple mare started down the dais, turned and bowed to the Princess, and then left the throne room in a huff. A couple of the Lunar Stallions made to give chase, but some of the smarter ones held them back. No no, they had to let her go. Some of them almost whined, looking to Luna for guidance. “We appreciate thy efforts to please us, Lunar Stallions.” Luna said, finally gathering herself. “But pony-napping and… and… all of that,” She gestured at the pile of ruined ribbon and the inhibitor ring, “Is not acceptable. Return to your posts.” She bade them. They hung their heads, moving as a group to the door and shutting it behind them. Panzer Hoof, the invulnerable earth pony stallion, was the one to move the massive doors. Even he looked distraught that their plans had fallen through. Off to one side, a Pegasus scribe leaned over to his neighbor in the court. “I wish I had a group of ponies to deliver hot mares at my hooves.” He chuckled a little. His partner grinned wryly, shaking his head and trying to get back to work. She’s so adorable when she’s angry! Luna looked up sharply, scowling. There was that voice again. She needed to find out who that was, and why it was so interested in Twilight Sparkle. She had a vague feeling of dread coming from deep inside, but she didn’t know why. Sighing and picking up her unfinished letter about the playground in Trottingham, she began to write again. She felt very badly for how her guards had treated Twilight Sparkle. She would need to visit and apologize very soon. Such brash actions were not how she wanted her branch of the royal guard to be seen. It was a good thing her sister Celestia had not seen such a travesty. End of Part 3