//------------------------------// // 2. Of Love And Blackmail // Story: Loved By The Sun // by TCSNxs //------------------------------// Loved By The Sun By: TCSNxs Chapter Two Of Love And Blackmail "Your student?" Luna asked. She rose with a bemused grin. "You are smitten with your student?" "As you are with your 'friend' Applejack," Celestia retorted with a roll her eyes. Luna looked to respond, but found no words. Once again, her sister had her in a logic trap. Sensing victory, Celestia pressed on. "Or is Applejack in on some elaborate effort to play a joke upon me?" "You...have a point," Luna conceded as she sat in front of her sister. "Still though, I have to wonder how many volumes of poetry have you dedicated to the object of your heart." "Luna, I...' Celestia said as she fumbled for her words. Between the indignant position from which she was rescued and the sheer awkwardness of the situation, the Solar Regent needed some space. "I need to be alone for a while." "But are we not to leave soon for Twilight's?" Luna asked as she gave a slight tilt of her head. "Sister, I love you dearly. You were there when there was nopony else after mother and father passed on. You helped guide our realm and safeguarded it against all aggressors. You are my sister, by blood and deed, and will always be held as such," Celestia looked Luna dead in the eyes as she built to crescendo. "But if you do not leave me be, I shall banish you to some place that would take an army of our best astronomers years to find." Luna grinned at her sister's hollow threat. Still though, as any sister would, she decided to give Celestia a little peace before they left on their retreat to Ponyville. Besides, she had desperately wanted to see Applejack and had promised nothing would get in the way of that. "Of course, but Tia," Luna said as she nuzzled her sister, "Should you need to talk..." Luna moved towards the door after that. She decided to let her sister follow the logical course of her words. Celestia had a blank expression as she watched her sister depart. She ensured the hooffalls in the hallway outside had died away before moving off the bed. After she seized a journal she started when Twilight started under her wing, she strategically set it on the desk to avoid the ink and opened it. The Solar Regent, when she accepted Twilight as her personal student, never fully understood why she took the aspirant unicorn under her wing. Her magical potential was obvious given that a 50 foot baby dragon had caused unplanned renovations to the School for Gifted Unicorns, which included a skylight. But something about the glint in her eye and her unabashed enthusiasm prompted Celestia to make the offer on the spot. The alicorn turned through the journal's pages. As the number of entries mounted and time passed, the words she scribed went from an objective journal into those of a personal diary. The Solar Regent paused on a particular page as her memory engaged. ~(o)~ “Now Twilight, concentrate,” I instructed her. Teleportation is usually a difficult thing to master for a unicorn well into their teens. Yet here Twilight was trying while still in her foalhood! Not I could say "no" to that face. I watched as Twilight focused on her destination and seemingly pictured it in her mind. Reaching within her self, her determination was plain for any to see. The idea with Teleportation is to create a portal between two places, link them, and step through. The longer the distance, the more magical energy and concentration that's needed to hold the link between the portals. Yet here I am, teaching even in my journal! Twilight, what have you done to me? Anyway, Twilight’s little horn sparked furiously trying to create the magical manifestations necessary. Once one gets the hang of it, it is easy enough to accomplish as a reflex of thought. The vacuum practically pulls the pony willing it through to the other side without much feeling or even hearing the accompanying "pop". But most unicorns never get beyond the initial stages and here Twilight was trying it while so young. It seemed my young student pictured her destination as vividly as her active imagination could, as her brow was furrowed in concentration. I once suggested to her to picture the place she most wanted to be. She told me that there was no other place she wanted to be then by my side. So naturally, I was with her each time she tried it. For every effort, she’d gotten closer. But she couldn't quite get a handle on maintaining the picture, holding the link, and what have you. Each time we talked about it and she was getting closer. So close... Once again though, it seemed as if her reserves were petering out. But only then, on the edge of defeat, there was the burst of her raspberry aura and that "pop". I quickly looked around only to find her by my side! I can't adequately write down my feelings of elation and pride that she did it! She looked down as if defeated once again. It took everything I had not to giggle! Twilight quickly looked around before she bothered to looked up. I think where she was expecting an understanding and encouraging smile, the only thing she found was my big grin. She finally looked back to where she had been and finally put it together. Between the realization of her accomplishment and my grin, she just couldn't hold it together. “I did it! I did it! I did it!” Twilight was practically singing as she bounced around me. After prancing about as if in a great victory (and it was!), I put myself down to her height. She immediately wrapped a hug around my neck. Though she was slightly choking me, but it didn't matter. “Yes you did, my faithful student. I’m so proud of you!” I told her while returning her embrace. ~(o)~ The Solar Regent smiled as she snapped the journal closed. Twilight had grown into a wonderful mare, the "light of her generation" as Celestia termed in one passage. Between her and the other ponies chosen as the Elements of Harmony, they had accomplished what many considered impossible. Given they reunited Celestia with her estranged sister, defeated Nightmare Moon and Discord, and aided in the final victory of Sombra, Twilight and her friends had done much in the span of a few years. But Twilight's accomplishments had a price. Celestia eventually realized her loneliness when Twilight decided to move to Ponyville. The Solar Regent, for all her power, would not stop another following their heart for the sake of her own. In that loneliness, she realized that her sister, while being as close as family could be, was not an adequate replacement for Twilight. Not in the sense of completion that the alicorn was left without. As time passed, the journal entries became more melancholic as if a reflection of the alicorn's heart. The only time they found any upswing was when alicorn spent time with her student. Celestia's life was blessed in many ways, but such things hardly mattered when heartache obscured those realities. The alicorn's hearing caught the chiming of the clock on the far wall of her room. She turned her head, where the time was half past time to depart. "Buck." Celestia quickly rose and grabbed her bags with her magic. She bolted to the door in a rush. However, the awkward position of her rear hoof ensured it didn't quite clear the desk in her dash. Celestia lost control of her magic as she fell forward. The Solar Regent landed hard as paper rained down around her. It didn't slip passed the alicorn that the spill was a perfect metaphor for her day. ~(o)~ Silverhawk, a Lieutenant by rank and head of the Lunar Guard, was going over some final details in Luna's spacious office before the diarch left on vacation. Storm Wind was in attendance as well. A Sergeant Major within the Lunar Guard and the unit's second-in-command in practice, he was the silent barbarian behind Silverhawk's throne. At least that's how the perpetually silent pegasus pictured himself. "So unless Discord himself comes back looking for revenge, Celestia and I are not to be bothered while we are away," Luna instructed. She usually spoke to the head of her beloved guards as an associate. But she wanted to be sure there were no misunderstandings. "Are we clear?" "Yes, Your Highness," Silverhawk said quickly. The grizzled Lieutenant moved to speak further, but held himself in check. "If you have something to say, do say it." Luna said after she noted the guardspony's look. "It's just, Your Highness, I feel it would be better to have a guard or two keep an eye on you," Silverhawk mentioned at length. "Discreetly, of course. Ponyville is hardly mentioned as the safest place in Equestria and should trouble arise..." "This is a vacation," Luna said as she was shook her head. She always appreciated his initiative, but it was hardly an official visit. "As such, we do not wish to be disturbed. Such things hardly require the trappings of our station and neither Celestia nor myself will be 'discovered' in any case." "But..." "Let me put it this way," Luna said as she attempted to appease the devoted pegasus. "Between me, my sister, and the Elements of Harmony, do you really believe something will happen that we cannot address?" "As you wish, Your Highness," the leader of the Lunar Guard said. He bowed deeply as he conceded the point. "Safe journeys." Silverhawk and Storm Wind moved out of the room in short order. Several cover stories for the sisters' absence were devised. Such hardly seemed necessary given the government itself practically ran itself. The diarchs rightfully thought that a week being incognito would hardly lead to Equestria's destruction. At least Luna worked hard to convince Celestia of those facts. Given the Lunar Regent hadn't had a rightful vacation with her remaining family in millenia, it was a good a chance as any. After Luna's office cleared, she allowed herself a smile. It wasn't long before the alicorn trotted towards a bookcase and willed her magic into being. The entire bookshelf glowed as Luna grasped it with her Telekinesis spell. Moving it aside revealed a large steel safe within the wall. A massive combination lock and handle were set within the door. Luna beamed with anticipation as she switched the focus of her magical grasp to the dial. The safe was meant to be nearly impossible to crack. Constructed of the highest grade of steel that Equestria's metallurgists could concoct and warded against all magic save for that of alicorns, the enclosure was the object of speculation and conspiracy within the halls of Canterlot Castle. Some speculated that it contained powerful magical artifacts from the time of the Lunar and Solar Regent's parents. Others believed it contained war plans for each of Equestria's neighbors. Still others believed it held proof of an ancient conspiracy to hide the existence of humans. Luna moved the dial in precise fashion. She waited for the telltale click of each tumbler before she turned dial in the opposite direction. After seven rotations had passed, the final tumbler clicked into place and Luna pulled the door open. Where most ponies had expected jewels or details of military timetables, Luna kept her most prized possessions within its confines. She reached in with her hoofs and pulled out an old wooden gramophone. The wooden box was intricately inlaid with pyrite. The turntable and horn were just as fancy, even if worn of use and time. Though the diarch could have had anything the sisters' limitless wealth could attain, the alicorn would not trade it for anything. Except for perhaps Applejack's. Luna set the box down upon her desk and reached back into the safe. She sorted through the vinyl albums stacked inside until she found the one she wanted. After the Lunar Regent pulled it out, she slid the record from the dust jacket. The alicorn had promised to forever praise Applejack's name for showing her the wonderful device and introducing her to Calypso, if for no other reason. The farmer was, of course, unwilling to relinquish her Harry Belatrote records or gramophone. After all, they were Apple family heirlooms. Being a slave to her whims, Luna had spent months scouring the shops and classifieds in the National Equestrian. It wasn't long before she procured another gramophone and the various Calypso records she possessed. Luna had gone on to buy many records that represented different musical genres. But her preference remained for the particular single she was about to play entitled "Jump In The Line". Luna gave the crank a few revolutions before she set the needle on the edge of the record. The gramophone's horn emitted its characteristic hiss before the music started. Eventually, as the twang of the stringed instruments and beat of the bongos began, Luna closed her eyes. Though the crooner's voice was near perfection and the words were eternally etched in her mind, she'd created her own lyrics. She bellowed as she tapped out the beat. Shake, shake, shake, My Apple, shake your body line. Shake, shake, shake, My Apple, shake it all the time. Work, work, work, My Apple, work your body line. Work, work, work, My Apple, work it all the time. Luna sang as if she were auditioning for a talent show while her body shook and moved with practiced ease. The Lunar Regent's hoofs skipped and crossed, causing her to spin a few times as the song progressed. She continued to croon her improvised lyrics. My mare's name is Applejack-a. I tell you friends, I adore that flank-a. And when she dances, oh brother! She's a hurricane in all kinds of weather! Luna closed her eyes as she lost herself in the trumpets and bongos. Truly, though there were advances in the delivery of music and a myriad of different genres, from Dubtrot to Rockafilly, there really was no comparison to her beloved Calypso. As the musical escapade continued, a pair of magenta eyes watched from behind the slightly nudged door. Luna, in her excitement, had forgotten to lock it. You can talk about Cha Cha, Tango, Waltz, or the Rumba. Applejack's dance has no title. She jumps in the saddle Holding on to the bridle! Celestia quietly closed the door behind her as Luna convulsed about in her ecstasy. The Solar Regent took care to stifle her laughter as her sister moved about the room. The fact she hadn't knocked over the desk or otherwise caused harm to the furniture seemed proof enough of Luna's repeated indulgence. Of course Celestia knew, but she had never caught her sister in the midst of this particular antic—of which the Lunar Regent was prone to many. My Apple, she's a sensation! The reason for my elation. And fillies, you got to watch it. When she wind up, she bottom, She go like a rocket! Luna was fully immersed in her own world. So immersed that she breezed past Celestia a few times without stopping. Celestia watched Luna's horn flare to life then. The Lunar Regent's large office waved and shifted into an old style night club. The gramophone was replaced with a live band, complete with horns, strings and a conductor. Of course, all the musicians wore the flamboyant, frilly shirts typical of the genre. Luna was fully involved in her chorus by then as she crooned like nopony was watching. Jump in the line, rock your body in time. OK, I believe you! Jump in the line, rock your body in time. Somepony, help me! Jump in the line, rock your body in time. OK, I believe you! Jump in the line, rock your body in time. Whooooa! Despite Luna's rather emphatic whoop, Celestia was actually impressed with her sister's feat. Illusions were never the forte of the Solar Regent, while her sister always proved apt in that particular area of the arcane arts. While Celestia could conjure fake fruit with the best of ponies, Luna managed to create even the cigar smoke and heavy moist smell of whiskey. My Apple dances Calypso, Left to right is the tempo. And when she gets the sensation, She go up in the air, come down in slow motion. Luna conjured a long red silk dress for herself, one that flowed easily and complimented the Lunar Regent's angled features. A few times during her show, Luna flapped her wings for a little extra lift when she leapt into the air. She turned full circles as the illusionary band played on. Even as late as they were, Celestia simply didn't have the heart to interrupt her sister during her big finish. Shake, shake, shake, My Apple, shake your body line. Shake, shake, shake, My Apple, shake it all the time. Work, work, work, My Apple! Luna finished with a forehoof out perpendicular to the floor and her head arched back as if presenting her long horn in a salute. The Lunar Regent heard clapping and knew she didn't will that as part of her illusionary indulgence. She let the intricate illusion drop. The office quickly resumed its normal decor as the spell winked out. The alicorn opened her eyes to see her sister clapping slowly with a cheesy smile across her face. "How much did you see?" Luna asked. "Enough to feed the National Equestrian's gossip columnist for months," Celestia grinned as she spoke, "Should the need arise, of course." "Perhaps we can compromise?" the Lunar Regent asked sheepishly. "Perhaps we might." ~(o)~ After she checked to make sure the guest room was ready and stowed away the evidence of her poetical endeavors, Twilight hopped into the shower. Though she had time before her guests arrived, it felt like there never was enough of it. Thankfully, Applejack was bringing over some of her family's "special recipe" cider, which was held in reserve for such occasions or when any of the elder Apple's felt the need. Between the dinner, the cider, and her guests, the evening promised to be splendid. The fact that Celestia was staying over was a glorious bonus. If that was the case, then why, Twilight wondered, were the butterflies in her stomach rioting. While the water cascaded off her two-toned mane and washed the shampoo down her body, the unicorn wasn't having the same luck with her anxiety. Twilight had long ago given up on how to tell Celestia the truth of things. As she calculated it, any scenario she ran through ended in either a gentle let down or maniacal laughter—neither of which was acceptable. Twilight appreciated the irony of her situation. She had figured out many new variations of time tested spells and even invented a few new ones. She could research any subject within 48 hours and become an expert. She had time and again bested those that could be rightfully called gods. But for the life of her, she could not figure out how to tell Celestia that she loved her. Twilight continued to stumbled through her memories as she ran the conditioner through her mane. She wasn't exactly sure when she first realized her feelings for the Solar Regent, but such things hardly seemed to matter in the face of nearly certain let down. She had decided to run through a few more scenarios in her head, just in case she missed some variable that would change the prospective results. Each one ended much the same as before. She shook her head, as much in frustration as to clear the water from her mane. Just as she realized the water was running cold, the door creaked opened. The librarian wasn't sure how long she was in the shower, but for once, it didn't matter. "Twi?" Applejack called out as she stepped into the bathroom. "Ya decent?" "Hey A.J.," Twilight answered as she shut the water off. She looked up to see a towel flung over the shower rod courtesy of the farmer. "Yeah. I just needed to freshen up." "Ya hopin' to smell like daisies or somethin'?" "Doubt that'd help," the librarian muttered. "Beg pardon?" "Nothing," Twilight answered more harshly than she intended. The curtains thrust open just then. Applejack, her face full of concern, looked to the librarian Twilight buried her face in the folds of the towel. as much to dry off as to hide from the farmer. "What's wrong, sugarcube?" the farmer asked. "Nothing," Twilight's answered, her voice muffled by the towel. "Twi, ya've been like this for weeks," Applejack said. The farmer paused for a second as an idea struck her. "Ya in love or somethin'?" "NO!" Twilight bellowed from the folds of her towel. Applejack felt those telltale signs of a falsehood. Being the Element of Honesty wasn't without its benefits. The farmer broke into a grin as she continued. "Who is it?" "Who's what?" "Is it Rarity? Dash? Pinkie Pie?" "No!" "Twi." "What!?" "It ain't me, is it?" Applejack blanched for just a second as she spoke the words. "No!" Twilight said again, peering through the folds of the towel. "Then who?" Twilight weighed her options. She knew getting into a discussion with the Element of Honesty had its pitfalls. Regardless, Applejack would pester her to the end of time until she confessed. "Celestia," Twilight said as she withdrew back into the folds of the towel. Applejack smiled sweetly as she waited for Twilight to come out from the fabric bastion. Many minutes passed before the librarian peeked out, seeing only the farmer's genuine expression. Where Twilight somehow expected ridicule, she only found honest curiosity. "How long?" Applejack asked. "I don't know," Twilight responded as she moved the towel from her head. "Ya told her yet?" "No." "When are ya?" the farmer pressed. "Probably never," Twilight sighed. "Ya gotta tell her sometime," Applejack said, happy she surmised the source of the unicorn's recent attitude. "Like you did with Luna?" Twilight said. "Sometimes Ah wish Ah didn't," the farmer muttered. She cleared her throat before continuing. "Didn't happen exactly like that, but Ah think ya get the point." "All too well," Twilight responded,. She tamped her body dry with the towel suspended in her magical grasp. "I don't think it would work." "What's the worst she'll say? No?" "Yes!" Twilight nearly yelled. She glared at her friend as if the consequences were obvious. "So what? It ain't like she'll put you in 'Magical Kindergarten' or whatever." "Preschool actually," Twilight corrected. The unicorn figured the consequences for any confession was worse than being tardy. "Look," Applejack said after she shook her head. "Celestia's staying with ya for a while, right?" "Yeah," Twilight looked to her friend while she put the towel back on the rack. "Ya gotta come clean sometime, sugarcube," the farmer explained gently. She kept a compassionate look on her face. "Ya can't keep goin' through this funk." "But. How. Do. I. Tell. Her?" Twilight said in staccato to spell out her frustrations. "Ah don't know," the farmer replied honestly. "Ah figure it's different for everypony. Regardless, the seed's already been planted. Now ya gotta water it or else it won't grow." "Look A.J., I know that," Twilight stepped out of shower and towards the wash basin. The librarian paused for a moment as she looked in the mirror. She grabbed a brush with her telekinetic grip and ran it through her mane. "But it's just not that easy. Every time I think that it's the right moment, something always comes up. And this isn't something you can just write in a letter or put at the end of an essay." "Why not?" Applejack said with a shrug. "It's how ya talk to her, ain't it?" Twilight cleared her throat as she moved to her tail. She raised her usual pitch an octave. "Dear Princess Celestia. I've loved you since who knows when. Do you want to go on a date? Please check yes or no," the unicorn made a few square outlines with her hoofs before she resumed work on her tale. "Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. P.S. Applejack put me up to this." "Ah see your point," the farmer conceded. "Ya might have to do that though. Ya can't keep goin' on like this." "We all have our secrets, A.J.," Twilight said with remarkable nonchalance, "Maybe I will just keep this one." "Uh uh," Applejack emphatically said. "Ya can't let this sit." Twilight absently kept brushing her tail, apparently oblivious to the farmer's words. The brush moved gently as if the librarian were running it through her Smarty Pants doll. The two held their silence for a moment. Applejack, though patient in many respects, had decided enough was enough. "Look Twi, you're my friend and Ah can't see stand to see ya this way," the farmer said as she put a hoof to the unicorn's shoulder. "Ah'll help ya anyway ya need, but you gotta come clean. Ah figure ya got a week to figure it out." "Or else what?" Twilight said evenly as she slowly turned to her friend. The brush stopped in mid stroke. "Ah'm gonna tell her for you," the farmer finished with a grin.