//------------------------------// // Every Morning After // Story: Luna's Librarian, Twilight's Moon // by TheLastBrunnenG //------------------------------// In the star-domed bedchamber of the Night Princess on a massive silk-sheeted bed lay an indigo alicorn, her hooves held close and her head downcast. Her hooves seemed to hold particular interest as she avoided the ferocious gaze of the lavender unicorn standing opposite her. “I am so sorry, Twilight,” said the alicorn ruefully, “Please believe me, I did not mean for this to happen.” The younger mare glared at her. “What, you mean you never wanted last night to happen at all? Ever?” Tears clouded her eyes but her voice remained venomous. “So now you… I… I can’t believe this, Luna!” Luna looked up tentatively, fear written in her great azure eyes. “No! I mean, Yes, I … Twilight, I would not have changed last night for all the stars in the heavens. I dreamed of it since the moment I realized you meant more to me than anything else. More than my throne, more than my moon!” Tears streamed down her muzzle, staining the disheveled sheets. “Please, you must believe me.” Twilight held a fierce stance for a few moments then exhaled defeatedly and sat back on her hindquarters. “I do believe you, Luna. And I still love you. You’re the first and only pony I’ve ever dated. Or kissed.” She lowered her voice to a whisper to add, “or… slept with.” Her growing blush faded quickly as she looked up sternly. “So I hope you can understand why I’m a little upset at this development. It’s like I’m doomed - the most perfect night of my life couldn’t end with a happy sunrise, waking up in your hooves. You couldn’t have mentioned last night that sleeping with a Princess results in instant marriage?“ Again Luna was avoiding looking at her lover. “I hope you will forgive me, Twilight. In the throes of passion, such ancient laws were not the first thing on my mind. You – you do still want to get married, do you not?” “Yes, Luna, one day. The right way.” Twilight walked slowly over and lay next to the Princess, barely noticing the tear-streaked sheets. “But not like this. Assuming we can still get married normally. Actually, is that what we are now, Luna? Married?” The chastised ruler sighed deeply and lay a great wing across the smaller mare before finally looking ashamedly at her. “Not precisely. I believe the law states that having physical relations with a Princess results in your becoming” – she swallowed deeply before continuing – “my Royal Concubine. Officially, that is.” Twilight recoiled and nearly shouted, “Concubine? Royal Concubine? You’re joking. Oh, no, you’re not joking, are you? I can see it now, ‘Here lies Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic and Princess Luna’s Royal Concubine’.” She sighed, the barest of grins starting to find its way to her muzzle. “I suppose there are worse titles to have. So how do we fix this?” Luna covered her eyes with a hoof and winced. “We, ah, don’t. Rather, we can’t. The law comes not from the lower courts but from the Sisters themselves.” Twilight looked sideways at her moon-marked lover and arched an eyebrow. “You wrote it, didn’t you?” “Yes, I did, which makes my forgetfulness all the more embarrassing. Celestia had a persistent suitor who believed he could become a Royal Prince by bedding her. She had no intention of admitting him to her bed, and she led him on for her own amusement. I was more concerned than she regarding this wretched stallion's schemes and plots, so by decree I passed a law which stated that laying with a Princess outside a marital union would result in Concubinage, which precludes any future marriage. It was rash and ill-considered. That was over a dozen centuries ago, my beloved. Can you forgive me?” Twilight reached up to nuzzle Luna’s cheek. “Of course. So there’s really no way to change this? One night – and just so we’re clear, one truly amazing night – and I’m a Royal Concubine forever?” Luna put a hoof to her chin and pondered for a moment. “A pronouncement from Celestia or from me would alter future encounters between citizens and Princesses but would not reverse our current situation. If I recall, the decree did not apply to ponies who were already members of the extended Royal family, only to those seeking a shortcut into it. If you were royalty, then the Royal Concubine title would not apply and we would be free to continue our relationship. Sadly, being Celestia’s student does not count, nor does bearing an Element of Harmony.” “My Brother is Captain of the Royal Guard – is that close enough?” “I fear not, love. But if he were to attain a Royal title of his own, even by marriage, then you would be freed from my,” and she broke into a sultry grin, “service.” Twilight smiled a devious grin of her own. “Then we’ll just have to see to it that he finds a Princess of his own, won’t we? And Luna?” “Yes, Royal Concubine?” “Can we keep my, er, ‘title’ just between us?” “As you wish.” She chuckled and added, “Though I admit, announcing the Entrance of Princess Luna’s Royal Concubine would make the Grand Galloping Gala far more interesting.”