Celestia sat with Green; they watched the mine crumble and fall apart around them. Screams of elks and changelings alike echo through the abyss as they fall to their deaths, their clipped wings and melted husks doing nothing to save them from their fate.
As Celestia looked over the rapidly heating railing, the cracks of the bodies could be heard, making her blink in indifference.
Celestia turned to Green, kissed and nuzzled her cheek, "Shall we go?"
Green nodded, watching the fire below increase in magnitude as a burst of superheated air rushed past them.
Celestia charged up her magic and in a blink they were gone, leaving the rest of the Elks and Changelings to die as their bodies burnt away to nothing but ashes.
Green and Celestia popped back into existance outside the bunker entrance. Celestia looked around and saw no changelings guarding their posts.
She laughed and looked down to her bonded, giving her a hug. "We did it, Green. We're finally free!"
"I knew you would save me." Green pulled Celestia close and mashed their lips together. She moaned quietly and released Celestia to catch her breath, her face flush with crimson. "Ahem, anyway... we should go, no knowing how many might turn up now..."
"Yeah..." Celestia sighed then shook her head, "Hey wait up!" She shouted, trotting over to Green. "Do you know the way?"
"I don't... We should look for a path or something and get out of these rags."
Celestia looked at Green in her tattered, loose fitting clothes and whistled, "I think you look pretty good in them... even though they're way out of date."
"You really know how to charm a cow..." Green replied, chuckling, a hint of sarcasm bleeding through.
"Seriously though," Celestia started, "I think you'd look even better without them..."
"Is that all you think about now?" Green asked, raising an eyebrow and looking back at Celestia.
"No... Not all the time... Alright, most of the time..." Celestia blushed and loomed away, "You know I can't help it..."
Green giggled and fell back, giving Celestia a nuzzle, "I know... and I don't blame you." She looked about and gave Celestia a kiss. Pulling back, she smiled, "Now, help me find the way..."
Celestia nodded and looked around for a path or road leading anywhere, pressing her body against Green's.
"What's the chances of this evil being in Concordia still?" Green asked, glancing at Celestia's finely blossoming antlers with a blush.
"I don't know, but we should hope it is... as strange as it is... It has been a long time..."
Green nodded, "Nine years..." She whispered. "There," she pointed, "we can follow that one!"
Celestia looked over and grinned. Just as she said, a road leading anywhere but here. 'Not hard to find, I suppose...'
"Come on!" Green said, impatiently pulling Celestia along.
"Alright, I can't keep up if you're pulling me!" Green slowed down and let go of Celestia. "Thank you," Celestia grunted, rubbing her ankle. "I don't think a little bit is going to matter after being gone for so long. If it isn't there, we can always find some way to Eden and go home without finding it..."
"I know... But..."
"But what?" Celestia asked, concerned, "I don't care what comes between us and home, I will get you there, that's a promise."
The fire in Celestia's eyes made Green recoil at first, but it wasn't made to burn her. Instead, it was there to shield her, reinforce her against anything that would stand to harm her. It made her feel safe.
She rubbed her tired eyes and smiled, "I know... that's why I love you."
Celestia beamed and trotted off towards the road, her mood lifted. She came to the edge of the path and tentatively stepped on, smiling as her hoof hade contact with the stone.
She jumped on and jumped about. "Woohoo!" She hollered.
"Settle down, you'll alert any changelings nearby!"
Celestia stopped and nodded, "Okay."
"Honestly..." Green remarked, shaking her head. "I dont know why I fell for you..."
"It's because I was the best looking cow in the mine!"
"Or because you're the best with putting up with my Crap?" Green snickered.
"Oh come on, that was only the first few months..." Celestia pushed Green and giggled, "I dont recall you ever complaining about having to be cleaned by me..."
"W-well..." Green stuttered. "I couldn't help it, I was unable to move..."
"Celestia huffed, "This is getting us nowhere... We have to go to Concordia." she was trying to be the better cow and end this playful argument, before It moved into all out tickle war.
"You're right, grandmare." Green whispered.
"Hey, "Celestia giggled, kicking the gravel. "... You know how we've been making this plan for a while now..."
"A while?" Green laughed, "Three years isn't a while..."
"It is when you're my age!"
Green sighed, "Go on..."
"Oh yeah, where was I?" Celestia nodded with a smile, "That's right, the plan!" She grinned, "I know we done have a lot. No food... water... or shelter... but we have each other and I'll find us somewhere to stay."
Green nuzzled and kissed Celestia, "I don't deserve you..."
"Without you, I would have thrown myself off the top level, don't say that!" Celestia stopped, kicking up dust and turned around. "You held me together when Sister died, when Quick died... oh Tartarus..."
Celestia struggled to keep her emotions in and let out a miniscule sob; a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Oh Cells..." Green rushed over and hugged her tight.
Celestia pulled back and wiped away her tears, shaking her head. "We should keep going... Not long till nighttime."
Green nodded and they trotted down the road, savoring the taste and smell of release.
~~~
The two of them reached an abandoned farmhouse and slowed just outside its fence. Celestia looked it over and grimaced. "I don't like the look of it..." she whispered, glancing to Green. "What do you think, go in?"
"Maybe... Should we just go up to it? What if there's elks in there already?"
"Then... We either leave or kick them out," Celestia replied. "I think it's best if I go in first."
Green nodded and kissed Celestia's cheek, "Be careful..."
"I will, promise."
Green sat back and watched the house for signs of movement intensely. Her mind wandered, bringing up memories of the last time she had said that To Celestia.
***
"Be careful, hun," Green said, slapping Celestia's rump for a boost.
Celestia grinned and winked, "Of course... I always am!" She turned back and got into a ready position for the upcoming hit.
The hoof came down and hit Celestia on the cheekbone, splitting the skin and pouring blood down onto the dirt.
Celestia spit out blood and grinned. She dove at the bull that had struck her and pinned him down. He held up a hoof to her face, trying to get her off, but couldn't get enough strength to do so.
Celestia frowned and pulled back her hoof; striking down with enough force to crack his nose. The bull cried out in pain and Celestia kept striking, over and over until he stopped.
She rose and walked away, picking up her food from a nearby table.
"Hey wait!" Ravanov shouted as Celestia started for the door. She turned and rose an eyebrow. "You forgot this." He threw over one more piece of bread and winked at her.
She smiled and turned back to find Green already at her side, looking over her injury.
"Hey, hun," Celestia said, waving her away. "We should be able to eat until we leave now."
"That's great..." Green replied, sighing.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing, it's just that you seem to enjoy these fights..." Green glanced to Celestia and back to the floor, unsure if she wanted to continue.
"I... a bit..." Celestia confessed. "I don't know why..." She looked away, ashamed, "What I know is that we won't go hungry, right?"
"Right," Green replied, her concern rising.
***
Green shook her head and brought her attention back to the present. Celestia was sneaking up to the front door but hesitated. A few seconds later, she carried on and made it to the door, pressing her ear up against it and listening.
Green rose and slowly made her way over, walking quietly as possible, like Celestia had taught her. She reached the door to find it open and Celestia nowhere to be seen.
"Cells!" She whispered as loud as she could. "Where are you?!"
The door creaked open and Grins caught sight of her mare wandering into the kitchen. She bounded in and slowed as she neared Celestia.
"Did you find anything?" Green asked, rubbing up against Celestia. "Anyelk here?"
"Not that I can tell..." Celestia replied, pulling open a cupboard and sorting everything she found into different piles. "One tin, one fork and one spoon..."
"So... Anywhere to sleep?"
"Oh, yeah." Celestia trotted out of the kitchen, closing the door with her magic and walked into the living room. "Here," she said, pointing at one derelict couch.
"That old thing..." Green looked disgusted and looked at Celestia, "Isn't there any better?"
"Not unless you want to sleep on the floor like in that mine?" Celestia groaned.
"I was only asking..." Green looked away and walked over and fell onto the couch, sinking in slightly. "It's... Okay.
"Good, make yourself comfortable, I'll keep looking for stuff."
Green nodded then jumped off the couch and rushed over to Celestia, kissing her on the lips, mashing her lips against her loves. They pulled apart after several seconds and she pecked her on the lisp again, "Come to bed soon, okay. I get cold without you there..."
Celestia chucked, but nodded and said, "Okay, I'll join you in fee minutes. Now, go on."
Green fell back onto the couch and Celestia left the room. She wandered around until she found the bathroom and used her magic to light the line candle on the wall.
She watched as the light flickered across the light blue wallpaper and brightened the room. She walked in and searched through the cupboard under the sink to no luck.
She slammed the door and leaned back up, only to come face to face with herself in a mirror. Celestia smiled and looked herself over with the grin forming.
She was only a calf when she entered, but she left a fully fledged cow. Nine years can change an elk and she is no exception.
Her scrawny legs grew slender and toned, seemingly unending. Her antlers have grown out from stubs into an average size with one offshoot in each.
Celestia's mane had grown from a short and shabby mane-do all the way down to her ankles, threatening to drag along the floor and tangle itself.
She ran a hoof through it, its fiery orange strands flowing off her light yellow coat. She sighed and put down her hoof, taking a note to trim her fetlocks before they enter any town, village or... Anywhere really.
Celestia ran her hoof across a scar on the left hand side of her stomach and frowned; it flared up from time to time.
***
Celestia walked along the catwalk on her way back to her room and turned into the corridor leading to it.
She pressed a hoof to the chitin and the door opened, revealing a bull standing over Green who was sobbing uncontrollably.
"What's going on..." Celestia asked, her muscles flexing and her adrenalin pumping.
"Oh, me and your bitch her were having a little conversation about manners, isn't that right?" The bull glances to Green and holds a small rock, sharpened to a point, to her neck and her sobs pick up.
"You better leave before I hurt you."
"Aww, what's a calf going to do to me!" The bull shouted, laughing as the rock cut Green, slightly nicking her.
Celestia rushed up and kicked the bull in the face, shattering his jaw. He fell back in agony, screaming in pain as Celestia mounted him and kept punching him in the face.
In a moment if clarity, the bull thrusted with his knife and jammed it between Celestia's ribs, getting caught.
She fell back and dragged herself over to Green, "Green..."
***
Her coat had a light sheen on it from the walk and the teleport form earlier and she felt herself grow increasingly tired.
Shaking her head, she walked back into the living room and smiled at the sight that Green left for her. She was hanging off the couch, and drooling on the cushion.
Celestia shook her head and walked over, levitating Green up and placing her properly. She climbed on and wrapped Green in her embrace, nuzzling and kissing her repeatedly, "I won't let them hurt to..."
The night passed surprisingly quickly for the two of them and they only woke once to find the toilet.
Celestia woke up first and looked down at Green lovingly. "My only regret is that I couldn't meet you sooner..."
Green groaned and curled up closer to Celestia, looking for more warmth.
Celestia nodded to herself and smiled. "I really hope we get home..."
She sighed and laid back, pulling Green onto her chest. "So long has passed, I'm not the pony I once was... will I ever be?"
Closing her eyes, Celestia let out a quiet chuckle. "I guess it's time to go," she said, shaking Green gently. "Hey, sleepyhead, time to get up."
Green's sleeping form shook as she came out of unconsciousness, "What time is it?"
"I'm not sure anymore, might be around three though..."
"Okay..." Green rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and leaned up, kissing Celestia. She pulled back, "Good morning..." She thought for a second and grinned, "Out first morning as free cows!"
"It is," Celestia agreed, smiling. "We need to get going If we want to make it to the capital in good time... especially if we're not going the right way..."
"I'm sure we are," Green said, stroking her cow's chest, "You know... We could stay a few hours..." Green's eyes wandered and made their way down Celestia's body. "We could..."
Celestia grinned, but lost it as fast as it appeared. "I'm sorry..." she whispered, rising from the couch. She made for the door but was stopped by a hoof on her whithers.
"It's okay... I can still wait..." Green gave a small smile and nodded, "I'll wait as long as you need..."
'Even though it's been a year..." Celestia replied in her head, a cynicism worming its way into the thought. She turned her head and nodded, not able to look Green in the eyes, "Let's go."
"Okay."
~~~
The pair walked down the road, a chilly autumn breeze blowing their manes about. Celestia shivered slightly as she looked across the seemingly endless fields of wheat.
She frowned, not seeing any city or structure on the horizon. "I don't understand... we should have seen something by now..."
"Strange..." Green looked to Celestia, "How long have we been walking?"
"I'd say about two hours."
Green turned back forwards and nodded, "Okay."
The pair carried on walking for a few more hours and eventually found a small Inn. They walked up to the entrance and opened the door.
They were greeted by a roaring fire, a couple of guests and an old smell of beer and pie. Celestia took a look around and frowned, "Not a lot of patrons..."
"So?" Green replied, "Eying a minotaur that sat in the corner, nursing a mug. "Less elks to be suspicious of, right?"
"Ri-" Celestia stopped and stared at one of the other patrons. A small grey coated, aqua maned pony.
Green waved a hoof in front of her face, breaking Celestia out of her trance. "Hun... You okay?"
"Yeah... yeah, I'm fine. Just saw a pony..."
"Ahh, yes, a rare one around these parts," A rough voice interjected beside them. Celestia backed off, holding a hoof in front of Green. "Sorry... didn't meant to startle you..."
Celestia looked the newcomer over. He wore a long brown trentchcoat and had a bright orange coat with light red hair. "No harm done..." Celestia didn't know what to make of this elk, but she wasn't taking any chances, not this soon.
"They don't usually come this far south, preferring to stay in the more easily controllable weather systems..."
"Name?" Celestia ordered, standing up straight.
The stranger stood there, staring her down before he chuckled, "The name's Joe."
"Oh..." Celestia said, rubbing the back of her head, "Sorry for that..."
"It's no problem, happens to me surprisingly often." He looked Celestia and Green over and whistled. "You two look right down in the dumps..."
"You could say that," Green said, looking to her own fetlocks.
"Yeah, spent some time away and have only just came back."
"Anywhere I know of?" Joe asked.
"I doubt it..."
"Oh, shame." Joe looked about and found a secluded table in the back, "Care to join a traveller for a drink or two?"
Celestia turned back to Green and saw she had kept the hoof up the entire time. Hesitantly taking it down, she caught Green smiling at her and gave one back. "Sure, we'll join you... although..."
"Drinks are on me, don't worry about it." Joe grinned and walked over to the table.
The three of them sat down onto the uncomfortable wooden seats. Green found herself squirming a bit, partly due to the seat, but also because of her close proximity to the crackling fire.
Celestia enjoyed the warmth and sighed happily when Green wanted to switch. She nodded and sat closer to the fire, enjoying its touch.
Joe smiled as they did and once they sat quiet, he asked, "So, what brought you lovely cows back to civilisation?"
Celestia thought for a second, "Family and... that's it."
Green nodded.
Joe nodded as well and clopped his hooves together. One of the servant cows walked over. "What can I get you, my dear?"
"Can I have three mugs of your finest, love."
"Of course, give me a few."
Joe turned back to his guest and smiled, "I was surprised to see two young, pretty cows, out at this time... don't you know it's dangerous?"
"Dangerous, how?" Celestia asked, swivelling her ears so she could only hear Joe.
"They say the king has killing squads roam the countryside, looking for something, or someelk..."
The atmosphere in the inn dropped and a chilly feeling rang around the room.
Celestia glanced to Green and nodded, "I think it sounds like the Evil, don't you?"
"Indeed, it seems we wern't too late..."
Joe looked between them and frowned, "What did you day your names were?"
"We didn't."
Attest moment, the servant cow returned, carrying three mugs in the aura. Green looked longingly st the aura and sighed.
"Can I know them?" Asked Joe, "I did buy you these drinks."
"Fine, mine is, Sure Fire."
"Mines Red..."
"Funny name..." Joe muttered.
"My parents were strange..."
"Well, that's all taken care of, we know each other!" Joe raised a glass up in celebration. Celestia and Green looked at him weirdly, "What?"
Laughing, Celestia raised her own in her aura and shook her head. Green picked her own up and raised it with a grunt.
They knocked the mugs and cheered, taking a large swig after. "Ahh..." Celestia said after downing her drink.
Joe stared at her in shock, "That was the strongest here..."
"Meh, thapths weap!" She shouted, throwing her mug on the ground, "More!"
Green giggled and place a hoof on Celestia's shoulder, "I think one's enough, hun."
Celestia picked up the second mug that was brought around, her hoof getting wet from the alcohol sloshing about and downed that one.
"Dwam, thees ar goop!" Was the last thing she said before she passed out, hitting her head on the table.
"Is she going to be alright?" Joe asked, looking shocked.
Green sighed, "Don't worry, she's been though worse. The morning will be Tartarus for us both though."
"What do you mean?"
"She gets clingy... The bad kind..."
"Oh..."
"Yup." Green looked about and made sure Celestia was actually passed out. "I hate to ask, but do you have any spare change?" She glanced at Celestia lovingly, "She'd be angry to know I asked..."
"I'll do one better, here's enough for one night." Green looked at him shocked as Joe slid a silver coin across the table, "Think of this as making the morning slightly easier." He gave Green a wink and stood up, pushing the stool out from under him.
"It's about time I left anyway, things to do... Places to be, all that jazz."
Green nodded and smiled up at him. She wrapped a hoof around Celestia's body and pulled her from the table with a grunt. "Thank you, Joe. You have no idea how much this means..."
"Don't worry, red." Joe turned and walked to the door, "I do..."
Green looked down to the unconscious Celestia in her legs and sighed. She hated when she got like this. Celestia always drunk too much.
With a quite uncowlike grunt, she heaved Celestia onto her back and struggled over to the bar, placing the silver coin onto the counter. "One night please!" she said, shaking.
The barkers walked over and placed a rusted and worn key onto the counter, "Here you go, up the stairs and third on the right."
"Thank you," Green said, picking the key up with her mouth. Green trudged across the room and up the stairs, thankful to be out of the company of haggards and drunks. She climbed the stairs almost robotically and once she made it to the top, she wobbled over to the specified door and plucked thr key out of her mouth with her hoof.
She plunged the key into the door and turned, unlocking it and creaking it open. Looking inside, she found a nice and spacious room, not exactly what she expected, but still good.
Green walked in and rushed over to the bed, gently lowering Celestia until she sunk into the sheets. Once free of her cargo, Green felt nature call and ran into the bathroom, closing and locking the room's door on the way over.
She came out with a sigh and brushed her mane out of her face, walking over to the bed. Now she could think again, she could feel the alcohol take effect and felt herself grow a little tipsy.
She made it to the bed and opened the covers, then moved Celestia in, covering her up tightly. "There you go, love..."
Green sighed and kissed her on the cheek, then closer and finally on Celestia's lips. She loved the feel and taste of her lips and stopped to savor them.
Blinking, she pulled back and grimaced at what she had done, "Oh..."
She grabbed a pillow and walked over to the couch. Placing the pillow down, she laid down and closed her eyes, hoping for sleep to go as fast as possible.
On the other side of the room, Celestia was wishing the opposite as she felt her dream slowly come to life.
*** one year ago ***
"So..." Celestia began, "I double checked the dates and got some information... And I hear that I am... of consenting age..."
Green cracked an eye open and looked at Celestia with a smirk, "Is that so?"
"Yes... And do you know what that means?"
"No, what?" Green asked, knowing full well what and loving it.
Celestia closed the gap between them and watched as Green slid off the bed and sat on her rump. "I... I'm going to kiss you," she said, inches from Green's face, feeling her warm breath wash over her.
Green blushed slightly as her heartrate skyrocketed. "I would like th-"
Celestia pushed her lips onto Green's. She felt their warm and inviting texture, the moist surface and most importantly, the cow behind them.
Celestia brought her fore-legs around and held Green. One around her waist and one behind her head, pulling her into Celestia's embrace and keeping her there.
Green closed her eyes and melted. She felt so happy that even a billion stars exploding at once couldn't equal a fraction of the happiness she had.
Green brought her own hooves around Celestia's back, tangling her mane around her hooves. She moaned into the kiss and opened up her lipsnas invite.
Celestia took it and slid her tongue forwards into Green's mouth. Their tongues wrestled and traded fluid, making both blush as they felt each other's bodies.
Celestia ran her hooves down and up, one going to the rump and one going for the regrowing nubs.
Green gasped as Celestia's hooves traced her tail-dock and relaxed as she felt hooves dancing over her rump.
Celestia pulled Green over and fell on the floor together. She then rolled on top of Green, pinning her down.
Celestia pulled back for breath and grinned. "I should have done that a long time ago..."
Green caught her breath and held a hoof up to Celestia's cheek, rubbing it, "Oh you... I haven't done that in almost twelve years..."
"That's..."
"Before all this, yes." Green grinned, "Worth the wait..," she nuzzled Celestia and said, "I bet you have a lot of experience from your two thousand years..."
Celestia rolled her eyes, "Not as much as you'd think... But we're off topic, the topic is us making out."
The two locked lips again, spending the rest of the night exploring each other.
*** Present ***
Celestia awoke, startled. She jolted up and looked about, frowning. "Where... am I?" She asked, calling out to the empty room.
She threw back the covers and stepped down from the bed, "Hello!"
A flush rang out from the bathroom and Green stepped out. She looked over to Celestia and smiled, "Hey, how are you feeling?"
Celestia looked away, abashed and said, "I'm good... Where are we?"
Green trotted over and nuzzled her, "Joe gave me a coin to get this room... he was nice."
"Who?" Celestia asked, trying to remember the night before.
"Oh... Nevermind then..." Green smiled and shook her head, "What time are we leaving?"
Celestia shrugged, "Can we just hang here for a while, I want to cuddle..." she moved closer and kissed Green on the neck, trailing kisses up towards her lips.
"You know... We have a perfectly good bed..." Green said, giving a sultry look to Celestia. "I... Love you... all of you."
"So do I..." Celestia bit her lip. "I want to... But I'm not ready, I told you before..."
Green sighed, "I have needs Celestia, I can't take care of myself forever."
"I know and it hurts me to deny you. But this isn't the right time, or the right body." Celestia stroked Green's mane, "I really want to, but it would be a lie for both of us..."
Green leaned into the touch, her frown that had grown disappeared. "I think we were destined to be together..."
"If unbeliever in that, I would say so too."
Green leaned forwards and kissed Celestia, "If you"d like, we can cuddle..."
"I would..."
The pair jumped up onto the bed and Celestia snuggled into Green's legs. She sighed and inhaled her scent. "Just like the first time..." she whispered.
"You know, I remember everything from the mine... every day..." Green started to shake, "Every beating still hurts, even the ones I don't remember..."
Celestia cupped Green's cheeks and pulled her head down, "You shouldn't forget... you should use them to give you strength."
Green looked away, her eyes watering, "How can I do that... they hurt so much."
"Let that strength empower you, it doesn't hurt once you accept that it wasn't your fault... it was mine..."
"What do you mean, your fault?"
Celestia sighed, "It's nothing... just some thoughts..."
Green sighed but ultimately nodded and dropped it. "So..." She started, stroking Celestia's foreleg. She looked her deep in the eyes and smiled, "Do you know what you're going to do once you've found the king?"
"King?" Celestia asked, "Why would I see the king?"
"Oh yeah, you can't remember... Joe said that the king was sending out search parties around the country to find something and has basically gone mad."
"That... sounds plausible... we should see what happened to him in any case."
"Okay, any idea on how we'll handle him, if he has indeed, gone crazy?"
"Not really..." Celestia laughed, "You should know, I don't really have a plan anymore, they seem to break."
Green giggled, making Celestia smile, "I guess you're right, even though we need one." She then pulled Celestia closer and sighed, enjoying the warmth of her mate, "If the king is long gone, then it might be time to rethink about everything and go straight to Eden..."
Celestia opened her mouth, but thought better of it. Instead she snuggled comfortably into Green's chest, slowly running her hoof up and down Green's fur.
Soon, their eyes grew heavy and they dozed off, content in that very moment.
***
Celestia opened her eyes to find herself in a field of flowers and she grinned. She rose up, her head cutting through the surface and finding the familiar silhouette of Twilight, the setting sun lighting the sky behind her in beautiful shades of red and orange.
Celestia rushed over and stood beside her on the hill. Twilight looked up and gave her a neutral expression, "You're late."
"Was I expected?" Celestia asked, looking over the slowly healing battlefield. Since the last time she was here, the battlefield had nature reclaim parts of it.
Gone were the skeletons. They retreated back to the ground to help grow the bright green grass that littered the canyon.
Several of the monolithian structures were interwoven with hundreds of vines, easily hundreds of hooves wide. The vines grew directly out of the ground and looked as if they were holding the structures down.
Twilight looked back to the canyon and blinked. "You know, it's rude to keep a mare waiting..."
"Which one?" Celestia asked, catching on. "I'll do it when I'm ready... This isn't my right body..."
"And kissing is okay?" Twilight frowned and glanced at Celestia, "Cells, you have to get over this... She doesn't care about them. They are just another part of you!"
"You know what Luna would say?" Celestia looked down at Twilight.
"What would she say?"
"Boo, fucking, hoo..."
"That sounds like her, but I would know that. I'm part of you, you know that right?"
"I know... It just helps to think of you as a real pony..." Celestia wrapped a wing around her and pulled Twilight closer. "If your part of me, then you know what I'm about to say?"
"I do. But I want to hear you say it."
"I'm sorry for being late."
"That's okay." Twilight smiled and leaned against Celestia. "I'm sure the real Twilight misses you... Or would miss you, or..."
"It's alright... I get it." Celestia smiled and said, "I didn't think we'd escape from there..."
"Me neither, pretty scary, right?"
"That's the most understated thing ever. We were locked up for nine years!"
"I know, I had to watch it, feel it, smell it, taste it... All through you!"
"Then why?" Celestia started, "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I can't interact with you outside here, it's dangerous..."
Celestia knew to let it go and dropped it. "I'm back now... and I need a favor..."
"Like what?" Twilight asked. "We don't do so well with favors ..."
"Well... Firstly, can you change this to a more memorable scene... like my chambers?"
Thr world changed to a more homely area. A crackling fire spitting light out into the room, a large silk covered bed with a sleeping Green laying on top and the window that spanned the whole wall that overlooked Canterlot.
Celestia whistled, "Damn, you know how to make them..."
"Thank you, it's been a while though..." Twilight paced around and ran a hoof over the furniture around the room. A chair, her bed, the table.
After half a minute, Twilight spoke up, "I can understand why you would block me out so hastily after the first time, especially after being taken and working in that horrible place." Looking down at the bright red carpet that overlaid the white marble floor, she sighed, "Believe me, Celestia. I may be a figment of your imagination, as much as that pains me, but I still feel an attachment to you." Twilight sighed and trotted over to Celestia, "If you die, I die."
"I understand."
"No, I don't think you do," Twilight said, teleporting to the bed with a crack. "While you have your consciousness and stuff, I look after your unconscious controls. When you flare your nostrils as you look at Green, or when you feel like kissing her, or when you feel fear... Yeah, that's me."
"If you're doing all that, why would you only now come to me?" Celestia walked forward and Twilight flicked her horn, changing Celestia back into her Alicorn form, "Why did you show yourself back before the mine?"
"I ask myself that question and you want to know the answer?" Twilight waited for Celestia to nod, "I wasn't strong enough."
"Strong enough?"
"Yeah, all of your power was stripped away when you were pulled from your normal shell into this, Elk." Twilight huffed and rolles over, "It wasn't a cade of showing myself, I wasn't even 'alive' back in Equestria. It took you coming here and experiencing everything you went through to fracture your mind enough for me to be born."
"That sounds serious..." Celestia leaned on the bed, "I fractured my mind?"
"Oh, any normal pony would have gone mad, but with me here you'll be fine."
Celestia sighed, "I just don't care anymore..." She turned around, made her way over to one of the chairs and sat down. "I've escaped with Green and there's an entire world that most likely wants me dead, or worse. Can't we just stop?"
"No!" Twilight shouted, using her magic to spin The chair around, "You can't!"
"Why?"
"You don't sense what I do. You only sense your environment, think in your head and occasionally, very occasionally, see what I do." Twilight shook her head, "While you're awake, I sense what you sense but so much more. There's a thousand things you don't pick up, magic being one of them."
She teleported on top of Celestia, wrapping her legs around her neck, "There's dark magic all around us... it matches the nightmare's..."
Celestia looked away, "But..."
"I know..." Twilight moved a leg up to Celestia's cheek, "Enough about this, let's talk about us."
"Us?" Celestia asked, leaning into the hoof, "I'm sure I've gone mad..."
"That's one possibility, but I'd rather think that you've surpassed whoever made us." Twilight caressed Celestia's cheek and leaned down, locking lips, "I'm sure you wouldn't want to remember Twilight like this..."
A flash of light later and Celestia opened her eyes go find a younger Green sitting on her lap, "How's this?"
"I... don't know how to feel about this." Celestia admitted taking in an eyeful of Green's thick thighs and long silky mane. "Why are you a perfect match?"
"Is there something wrong, sweetie?" Green answered, a small blush on her face. "Was I a bad mare again, oops..."
Celestia looked away, her own face heating up, "Wake me up, now!"
"As you wish, but remember that she doesn't care if you're mortal or not, there's only so much time you'll have with her even if you two get back to Equestria."
Celestia's expression fell and she blinked, feeling herself thrown very quickly in all directions. She opened her eyes and found herself back in the bedroom, with Green snuggled up by her side.
Sighing, she snuggled closer and nuzzled Green's cheek. "I... Guess I could give it a go, in this body..." she whispered to herself. "It's not like don't get those urg-"
Green breathed deep and squirmed, waking up. Yawning, she looked up and smiled upon seeing Celestia's face. "Good morning... Or is it afternoon now?" Green giggled and rose up so they were the same height, "How did you sleep?"
"It was alright... Yours?" Celestia replied, her nervousness rising. She felt she needed to say this, do this for Green. If only to show how much she loved her.
The talk with Twilight opened her eyes to the things she was too blind to see: time, aging and mortal needs.
Celestia didn't need sex. She didn't need a lot of things as an Alicorn; but that didn't mean she didn't enjoy them.
She didn't know how long she had managed without realising this and it hurt her for relying on her immortality instead of learning basic things that all beings learn.
"I'm a terrible pony..."
"Hmm?" Asked Green, stopping mid sentence, "Did you say something?"
"Oh no..." Celestia replied, wiping away a stray tear, "I'm just happy you're still with me..."
"Of course I would be," said Green, leaning in to nuzzle Celestia's cheek. She leaned back and hovered her lips over Celestia's, "I love you too much..."
"I've been a horrible pony to you..." Celestia said, kissing Green. "I've been selfish and haven't given you what you needed."
She kissed her again, this time more passionately and wrapped a leg around Green's body, pulling her closer. They broke apart and Celestia grinned, "You helped me through all of my stuff; now it's my turn to help you through yours."
Celestia rose and pulled Green over until she was laying across the bed. She stood over her with a loving smile and traced a hoof down her stomach using a feather touch.
Green laid there, looking up with a crimson glow adorning her face, "Be gentle... It's my first time..."
Celestia leaned down and kissed Green's cheek, "As if I would do anything else."
~~~
Celestia closed the door to their room and followed Green down the stairs, two fat smiles on their faces. They walked side by side up to the counter, bumping flanks along the way and exchanging glances.
"I see you two enjoyed yourselves!" Boomed the gravely voice of the bartender, different from the night prior. "Leaving?"
"Indeed we are," said Celestia, placing the key on the counter. "thank you for the room."
"No problem yer fine cow," The bartender winked.
Celestia smiled and turned with Green towards the exit.
Once outside, Green took a deep breath and sighed happily. "I... Thank you..."
"No, Green, thank you." Celestia shuddered and barely held a grin back, " I know why my ponies were active so much..." Green tilted her head. "It's because it's soo much better as a mortal..."
Green giggled, "I don't know about that, but you were amazing!"
"Heh, I guess... I had to learn a lot to keep it interesting. After a thousand years, the normal stuff got boring..." Celestia scratched the back of her head and grinned sheepishly.
Green closed her eyes and sighed, "I could imagine." She moved closer and asked, "To Concordia?"
"To Concordia."
~~~
The pair travelled down the beaten path, the day passing surprisingly quickly for them, until they reached a small hamlet just outside Concordia.
They could see the massive city on the other side of a thick, dark forest and quickly rushed for the hamlet before it became too dark to travel.
"I'm telling you, I'll think of something!" Assured Celestia, shaking her head.
"I hope so, otherwise we won't have anywhere to live," Green paused for a second and took a breather, "I won't sleep in some crumbling house again."
Celestia nodded and followed Green through the gate that separated the hamlet from the forest. It ran the entire perimeter of the village and rose past even thr second story houses, casting a dark shadow across the village square.
A large number of Elks were walking about, chatting and bartering for food or items. Most of them looked run down; looking like they hadn't eaten in a long time.
The pair walked into the square, the eyes on the guards above and beside on them, then looked for the nearest Inn.
Celestia moved around a group of chatting Elks, who ignored her questions, then carried on with Green down the road towards the square.
Celestia noticed that the square was filled with mostly muted colors on the elks; no vibrant colors anywhere to be seen.
They easily spotted the village Inn but decided to take a look around first. "I don't think I like this place..." Green whispered into Celestia ear, "It's strange."
"I know it is, but we have to stay here somehow," Celestia looked over to the top of the forest sticking it's head over the wall. "We can't go through the forest at night, if it's anything like the one back home, it will full of things that won't think twice about eating us."
Green shuddered, "Alright, you know best here." Green nuzzled Celestia and felt her lean in. "Love you," she whispered.
"Love you too." Celestia thought on how to get a place to sleep and the only thing that came to mind was the inn, but how were they going to do that if they had no money?
Celestia glanced at Green and saw her smiling. Pushing her nervousness down, she knew they had no money, no food and no proper skills. She was a former princess and Green had only looked after her.
The only thing going for her, was her strength that she got from working hard enough in the mines for two people. Either she killed herself keeping them fed, or they were both turned into drones.
That gave her an idea, but she didn't know if Green would accept it. "Hey, hun?"
"Yeah?"
"We have two options... we either break into the inn... or we use other means of getting a room..."
"Other means?" Asked Green, not understanding.
"Seduction..." Squeaked Celestia, hoping Green wouldn't be angry.
"Oh... I'd rather not do either, but seducing the owner wouldn't put us in jail." Green sighed, "We'll have to seduce him or her..."
Celestia blinked, "Wait, you're seriously okay with this?"
"I know you love me, it's not like you'd run off with him or her. Plus, it's only for a room, as bad as that sounds." Green kissed Celestia on the cheek and walked towards the inn. Turning back, she asked, "Coming?"
"Uh... Y-yeah!" Suddenly she felt even more nervous, she had only felt safe enough to do anything with Green.
Green was the first to enter the inn. She moved out of the way to let Celestia in and looked around. "No elk in here."
"Looks like it." Celestia spotted the bartender and swallowed her nervousness. "Come on... I guess..."
Green giggled and followed her mare towards the bar, "No need to be nervous, dear, it's not like we'll actually so anything with him."
"I... knew that..." Celestia lied, badly, making Green chuckle.
The two made it to the bar and hopped up onto the stools. The bartender turned around and smiled, "Hello, w-what can I get y-you two t-today?"
Green and Celestia glanced at each other and the corners of their mouths turned up. Celestia put on her best seductive voice and went for it, "Hey... We were looking for a room for tonight, it's awfully cold and I don't want my flank to get cold..."
She saw the bartender gulp and knew it was working, "The only thing is, we lost our bits on the road and I was thinking we could pay you back some... other way..."
"O-other way?"
It was Green's turn, "Oh yes, I'm sure it gets awfully lonely for a growing bull... we can entertain you..."
"I..." the Bull nodded shyly and looked about, "I f-finish at f-five..."
"Of course, deary, come on up. We'll be waiting."
The bartender nervously handed Green the key and watched as they walked up the stairs.
As the pair entered the room, Green was pounced by Celestia. "You said we wouldn't so anything!"
Green struggled by ultimately failed under Celestia's strength. "Fine, I lied..." she looked away, "We got thr key didn't we?"
Celestia huffed, but nodded anyway. She looked down and smiled, "Speaking of doing something..."
Green closed her eyes as Celestia's lips touched her own and her breathing picked up. The two mashed lips, trading fluids and moans as the pair ground against each other.
They broke apart to catch their breath and Celestia grinned, "I am so lucky to have you..."
"Same here..."
They waited until half five, having had a shower together and brushed each other's manes. The door's handle clicked and opened slowly.
"H-hello...?" The bartender asked, shuffling into the room. He looked around nervously in the darkened room and found Celestia sitting on a deep red couch in front of the fireplace, her mane in a loose ponytail which hung down her front.
The curtains were pulled open slightly, allowing a beam of moonlight to illuminate her features and let crucial light into the room.
"It's just us tonight," Celestia said, half turning her head back towards the adolescent Bull. "My love is downstairs, I'm sure."
"S-she is..." The bull said, closing in on Celestia. The nearer he got, the more of her he could see.
First it was her smooth back, covered in finely brushed fur, then her toned flank with her tail neatly nestled in between her rump. His eyes finally rested on her long, strong legs, laid out across the couch.
He gulped and moved around the side of the couch. Celestia's eyes never left his as he did so and she held no smile.
The bull seemed as nervous as he would ever get in that moment. He broke eye contact first and looked about, "Are w-we going on the bed?"
"Yes... I suppose that would be best." Celestia rose from the couch effortlessly and walked around towards the large double. She looked back and thought, "I really have to do this, don't I?"
Pushing her guilt down, she was about to jump up on the bed when the door burst open and Green shouted, "Celestia, don't you dare!"
"Green, we talked about this..."
"No, I don't care if we stay on the rain, or in a palace!" Green rushed forwards and embraced Celestia, pouring every ounce of her love in the hug, "As long as it's with you."
"We got away from that life though..." Celestia closed her eyes and leaned on Green, "I don't want to go back to the dirt."
"Me neither, but I wouldn't mind as long as your with me..." Green paused and thought, "Well, if some elk forced us... I wouldn't want you to live in the dirt if you didn't ha-"
Celestia pulled back and kissed Green. Electricity pulsed through their lips, tingling their senses and making Green's heart soar.
Green melted and let Celestia hold her as the bartender silently tiptoed out of the room, awkwardly.
The pair broke apart with a gasp and nuzzled each other. Neither spoke until they were in bed, Celestia over Green.
"I can't beli-"
Green took her hoof away from Celestia's lips, "Shh... No more talking." She then placed a hoof on Celestia's rump, "Just, no more."
Celestia nodded and lowered herself. The sound of giggles, moaning and screams of pleasure could be heard throughout the night.
~~~
"So, thank you for the room..." Green said, winking to the bartender who blushed.
Celestia walked up and smiled, "I'm sorry nothing happened, you seem nice..." An idea popped into Celestia's head, "Come with me."
The bartender nodded hesitantly, then went around the side of the bar and followed Celestia over to the front door. She opened it and stepped outside to see the square full of elks.
Green asked her, "What are you thinking?"
"I'm going to make his day," She thought back. Celestia spotted a group of young cows and grinned, just as they were walking past, she turned to the bar-keep and kissed him.
Pulling apart, she thought to Green, "Help me out here..." "You were so good last night." Celestia cupped the young bulls cheek.
Green bit her lip and said, "You know how to treat a mare!" She then kissed him on the other cheek, giggling after.
The bull went bright red and rushed inside, leaving Green and Celestia to stand there smiling. They turned around to find the young cows staring at them.
"Hey Green, he really was amazing last night, wasn't he..." Celestia said, dreamily.
Green nodded, "He really was..."
The group looked to each other and slowly walked away, some looking back at the pair and biting their lips.
Green and Celestia looked to each other and burst out laughing. "I'm sure he's a bit more popular now..."
"Probably the inn as well." Green added. "Either way, it's early and we should get going If we want to make it to the city on any sort of schedule."
Celestia took a look at the trees poking over the wall as a bit of nervousness welled up inside her, "Yeah, we should... I hope it isn't hard to go through the forest..."
"Hey," Green said, nudging her, "We'll be fine. It's not like before the mine..." She smiled, "What I'm trying to say is, we're not weak anymore, we can do anything now."
"I guess, but we can't do much until we know what the king is affected with."
"Of course, but it won't be like Quick, I promise."
Celestia looked away and stiffened up, "That..." she sighed, "Let's go." she started towards the gate with Green close behind.
Green rushed up and glanced at Celestia with sympathy, "I'm sorry..." she mumbled.
"It's alright..." Celestia replied, "It shouldn't make me feel like this anymore, it was nine damn years!" Sighing, she looked at Green, "It seemed so long ago... At the same time it felt like a blink for me..."
"Maybe I've been alive too long... I'm sure someone like Twilight could take over to a bit... If not her, then Luna. She'd love to be queen..."
"You don't mean that!" Said Green, stopping in the road. "You sound crazy; too long?"
"Twelve thousand years is a long time, Green."
"Yeah, but I'm with you now..." Green walked up to Celestia and placed a hoof on her shoulder, "Just a bit more, then we'll be together in Equestria. The place you say is paradise..."
"I never said paradise..."
"The point still stands, it's better than this place and we can live in peace."
"Alright, if it makes you happy... It makes me
Happy." Celestia leaned her head on Green's and sighed, "Let's go, we need to stop talking like this in the middle of the path."
Celestia chuckled and gave a sheepish grin, "Maybe we shouldn't..."
The two followed the trail towards the forest, eyeing it carefully. After everything that Celestia had said about the Everfree, any forest sounded scary, meaning that the pair were having second thoughts.
"I'm sure there's another way around," Greeen said, slowing.
"Oh no you don't, We have to get to Concordia and fast!" Celestia grunted, pulling Green along by her leg. "We have to go through by nightfall or we will get lost."
"But it's scary!" Green whined, "What if we get lost!"
"We won't if we keep to the road, it can't be too hard..." Celestia then realised she wasn't making any progress and let Green go, sighing. "Green, we have to go through... If we don't, we don't confront the king, we don't find a way to our true home and we don't live happily ever after like we deserve."
Celestia looked away and kicked a small pebble off the path, "This might not be a fairy tale but for once, can't the Princess live without something putting her in danger."
Green giggled, then it turned into full blown laughter, "Oh, that was so bad... Plus, you go me to look put for you. You're my mare and I know how to take care of my mare..."
Green moved closer and kissed Celestia on the neck, making her coo. "I'll follow you anywhere. I might whine, but I love you too much to see you go in there yourself."
Celestia closed her eyes and leaned into the next kiss, which landed on her cheek. "You have no idea how that makes me feel."
"I think I do, because I know you would do it for me as well." Green moved her lips again and her next kiss landed on Celestia's lips, sending bolts of electricity through their systems and making their fur stand on end.
Celestia leaned in and opened her lips, allowing Green to enter. Green's tongue slivered past Celestia's mouth and playfully wrestled with her mates own, making each other moan.
Celestia brought a hoof over and gripped Green's hoof, holding it tightly. green couldn't help but feel her heart leap from that simple gesture and tightned her hold on Celestia's own.
The world around them collapsed and they were the only two that existed; their attention focused on the other and every sense was finely tuned to measure the others pleasure.
Green had to pull away to catch her breath and gasped for air. "W-wow..." she said dreamily, "Can you always kiss me like that..."
"I thought I did?" Celestia replied, frowning slightly. "I love you, Green."
"As do I, darling."
The pair rubbed noses and stared into each other's eyes for a couple of minutes longer before they broke apart with extravagant grins on their faces.
Celestia coughed, "We should get going, daylight and all that..."
"If we must go in there, fine," Green said, holding back, "But in one condition," Celestia nodded, "I want to stare at your rump, so you go ahead..."
Celestia rolled her eyes and made for the forest, the wiggle in her hips exaggerated for her mare. Green was basically drooling at the sight before she realised that the massive tree trunks were among her and she looked up and gulped.
"I..." she mumbled, scared.
Celestia rushed up and said, "If you love me, you'd do this."
Green narrowed her eyes and stared at Celestia, "You would use that against me?"
"I shouldn't have to..."
"Touche."
"Now, stick behind me and maybe, just maybe, you'll get a little extra..."
Celestia let that hang before she turned and entered the forest. Green's smile slowly grew before it turned into a grin and she rushed in after her.
~~~
The pair travelled along the dirt path through the first for a couple hours before boredom kicked in. Thr light beams from the canapé lit patches of darkened forest floor around them, making it seem like magical... safe even.
Green was growing Increasingly paranoid about her environment and had slowly snuck up upon Celestia and clamped herself by her side before she could say anything.
Without missing a beat, Celestia used her magic to preen Green's hair, cleaning it of dirt and debris that had made their way in from the forest.
Green sighed then smiled, "Thank you, that feels amazing."
Celestia didn't respond, only keeping her attention on her magic. After about half an hour, she cut her magic and smiled, "Thank you."
"What for?" Green asked, looking confused.
"I never thanked you for teaching me elk magic," Celestia explained, a sombre look on her face. "Without you, I would never have escaped that mine."
"Well, I couldn't have let you not have horns and not use them..." Green brought a hoof up and felt her stubs with a small sight.
Celestia nudged her, "Don't worry, they'll grow back."
"I know, it's just hard... I can't use magic for another two months..."
Celestia didn't know how to respond and instead simply carried on walking and letting Green lean on herself. They didn't know how long they had to go, but they would make it though no matter what.