by Kean
***
"Where are we going now, priestess?" A young filly asked. She rode upon the priestess's shoulders, on her own insistence. Those sworn to guard her would never voice or show their irritation at the risk to her security, but she knew. It was, perhaps a petty, revenge for being kept inside the trailing carriage day and night, but the earth pony mare she rode, strong and sturdy, seemed nonplussed to be her steed. She huffed when the priestess chuckled.
"I have already told you, young Goddess, there are many who wish to bear witness to the new Sun Goddess. We travel now to a nearby earth pony settlement." Her words, soft and sweet, did nothing to quell the young Goddess’s curiosity or boredom.
"But why? If they want to see me, shouldn't they come to me?"
"In time, young Goddess, they will. But times now are difficult for many. Not all are able to travel such distances. If we do not go to them, they may never be able to witness you raise the sun, nor will they be able to directly request their gifts."
"But I can only just raise the sun! And I don't have the means to grant them their gifts..."
"Not now, no. But, in time, you will. And you will remember what was asked of you and grant it when you are able." She chuckled at the young Goddess's huff, but said nothing as she gently held her legs, feeling the filly shift about on her shoulders.
The young Goddess was watching; watching everyone around her, occasionally having to shift to get a better viewing angle, or to move her pink mane out of the way. Advisors, guards, and handmaidens, devout and new, young and old, all were scarred or bandaged just below their hip on their outer thigh, where their Mark should be, where hers was. Turning too far, she nearly lost her balance, her savior being the hood attached to the priestess's robe. With a panicked flap of her wings, she righted herself and replaced the hood, covering the mare's curiously streaked hair, hoping she hadn't noticed.
Feeling the Priestess's grip on her legs relax, the young Goddess sighed inwardly. "Sorry, Priestess, I was -"
"There is no need for you to apologize, young Goddess."
"- of course... I was wondering why they all removed their Marks."
The Priestess's gait, lax and easy, became firm and rigid. "A Mark is a sign of one's destiny. In order to serve you, we swear that nothing will come before you. Removing one's mark is to show that they have forsaken even their God's given destiny to serve you."
"But they don't need to do that! I don't want them to do that!" She kept her shouts whispered, not wanting the more devout to believe they had offended. Already one had thrown themselves at her mercy for failing to move a pebble, which was crushed under hoof, out of the carriage's way.
"Aye, we don't, or didn't, but you will find, in time, many ponies who will offer many things you don't want in order to gain your favor. It will be up to you to decide what earns them that favor. Be it trust, actions, or baubles, the decision will be yours, young Goddess."
"Stop addressing me as 'young Goddess' all the time. I do have a name, you know. Which reminds me, you still haven't told me your name."
"I have."
"No, you said to call you 'Priestess'. That's not a name, it's a title," The young Goddess muttered.
"I have forsaken my name in order to serve you, my Goddess."
"I could make you tell me, you know."
The Priestess laughed, startling a few of the closer guards. "You could, but you would not make me break my oath, would you?"
"No," The young Goddess huffed, resting her chin on the Priestess's head.
"Rest, young Goddess. We will arrive before long, and I know the raising is taxing on you."
"What if they are upset that I cannot grant them their gifts yet?"
“They will understand, young Goddess.”
“What if some of them want to hurt me because of it?” She mumbled, her eyes closing slowly as sleep took its hold, the scent of lavender filling her nose.
"I will protect you always, my Goddess."
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Her eyes reopened at the sound of a heavy thud against dirt. Gurgling out its last breaths, an armor plated changeling reached out for her, only for its arm to fall limp moments after. Not so young any more, the Goddess pulled herself to her knees, keeping in mind the overturned carriage she still resided in. Something had cut the carriage clean through, the center of both sides and the center of the top missing.
Looking out through the shattered top, she could only see a mountain in front of her, the road meant to go around it. The chauffeur and steeds were on the ground, already gone. She made to stand only to pause at a low, "Stay down, my Goddess." from above.
Looking up, she found her handmaiden and personal guard standing atop the fallen carriage, sans the traditional white silk robes. Save for two leather bandoliers crossing the center of her chest saving, perhaps some, modesty, she was nude. Crouched low, her large lavender wings spread wide, she stood sentinel, knives held in a reverse grip in each hand glowed along with their brothers still in their scabbards on the bandoliers, runes etched into each blade pulsing sapphire as their master called upon the magic bound inside.
The Goddess eyed the pegasus's lithe, nude body, particularly her thighs, where a six pointed starburst resided. Trying and failing to remove her eyes from the mare, she let her eyes roam while she spoke. "What attacked us? Changelings, I presume?"
"Yes, my Goddess."
"That explains the carriage, but what motive-"
"Diamond Dogs."
"Dogs?"
A howl rent the air, followed by the thrum of armored paws and hooves. "Dogs and bugs!" The guard cackled, nearly toppling over into the carriage. "It would seem the queen bitch did not take kindly to your refusal to allow her brood to mine the Canterhorn, my Goddess."
The Goddess sighed, leaning back against her upright seat. "I did not expect her to, but this?" She looked around the cabin, before rubbing the bridge of her nose with another sigh. "I trust you can take care of this, Handmaiden? I would assist you, but it seems my sword has gone missing."
"Of course, my Goddess. I will protect you always." The guard stood to her full height. Not imposing to a Dog or Changeling surely, but she would have the height advantage with the carriage. "I would advise finding cover, my Goddess. I can do nothing should they target the carriage," She shot over her shoulder with a mad grin.
Surrounding herself in a tight golden shield, the Goddess frowned. I've entrusted my life to a mad pony... Her frown faded while her eyes tracked her guard pacing along the carriage: Chest as she walked toward her, butt as she walked away. Wonderful view, though.
"Come then! You wish to ask the Goddess for a gift, no? Then come! All of you!" She snorted, obviously not getting the reaction she wanted. "Bah! Cowards, the lot of ya’! I believed war Dogs to be studs, yet all I see before me are bitches! And you, bugs, if they are bitches, then you are the bitches of bitches!" She grinned, rolling her knives.
"Very well, if you will not come, then run! Run home and report to the queen bitch that you failed and you will receive my mercy!" Amidst the barking, growling, and chittering, the Goddess could hear the sound of armored boots retreating. Looking to her guard, the knives in her hands pulsed and disappeared, quickly being replaced by their brothers. With each throw, a yelp and a thud followed before the knives returned to their scabbards. "A merciful death for cowards."
The guard let out a cackling laugh before leaping from the cabin. "If you’ll not come to me, I will come for you."
The Goddess moved away from the floor of the carriage, lamenting the non-guard-obstructed view of the sky.
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"You did not need to throw the changeling through the carriage," The Goddess muttered, holding onto the back of her handmaiden, even as the Pegasus's surprisingly soft hands formed a seat for her.
"Apologies, my Goddess."
"You would not need to carry me if he had not damaged my leg."
"Apologies, my Goddess."
"The carriage was salvageable until then. We could have found someone to sell us steeds to pull it. And you would have had another robe to put on. Not that I'm complaining, mind you."
"Apologi-"
"Stop that. I am not scolding you, I am just giving you something to think about should something like this happen again." The Goddess sighed. "I am thankful for your service, Handmaiden."
"It is but my duty, my God-"
"Celestia."
The Handmaiden stopped mid-step, nearly toppling over. "P-pardon, my God-"
"You may call me Celestia when we are alone," Celestia said sweetly.
"I-I could not! It is not proper!"
"Oh? And who decides what is and is not proper?"
"The goddesses," the Handmaiden replied meekly.
"Yes. And a goddess has deemed it proper to be called her name, not her title, in private, by one she trusts."
"O-of course, my G- Celestia." The Handmaiden resumed walking, only to stumble again at Celestia's next question.
"And your name is?"
"I do not have one. I gave it up to serve you."
Celestia chuckled. "Oh? Just as you gave up your Mark?" She whispered, reaching down and lightly brushing her fingers through the marked fur.
With a yelp, the Handmaiden dropped Celestia to her feet and spun, falling to her knees, head bowed and wings extended, tips brushing against the ground. “Forgive me, my Goddess! You – no one was meant to know! I-I-“ She stuttered, her head jerking side to side as if searching for something. Slowly, her hands moved to the bandoliers. Withdrawing two of the knives, she moved them to her thighs, the points resting on the edges of her Marks. “I will remove them, if it pleases you, my Goddess.”
Celestia clicked her tongue. Shaking her head, and ignoring the dirt that would likely stain her white gown, she knelt before the groveling mare and gently gripped her hands. Slipping her slender fingers around the knives’ grips, she carefully returned them to their scabbards. “It would not please me.” Gently, she raised her Handmaiden’s chin and brushed her strangely striped hair out of the way to look into her fear filled eyes. “Never would it please me to see such beauty marred.” She bade her to rise and smiled softly as the fear fled her vibrant violet eyes, replaced with relief.
Seeing the mare still lightly trembling, Celestia reached out and gently brushed a hand along her cheek, careful to avoid the fresh cuts. “Your Mark means much to you, doesn’t it?” The Handmaiden nodded. Celestia pulled her into a light embrace, holding her gently until she stopped fidgeting. Feeling the mare relax and rest her head on her shoulder, Celestia began to rub her back. “Tell me how you got it?” She asked softly.
The Handmaiden shook her head. “It is improper,” She muttered.
“Oh? It is improper to tell stories? If that is the case, I will have to throw the nobility in the dungeons when we return.”
The Handmaiden chuckled. “No, my G- Celestia, I was doing something improper when I received my mark.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“I was… I was watching you.” She tensed, only relaxing when Celestia hummed lightly. “Not you, specifically, but one of your raisings. You passed through my home, a small town in the north, when I was young. You were just passing through to a coastal town, and your raising wasn’t to be public, but I had never seen one and wanted to see you raise the sun so… I hid in a cloud and watched you. I was young and had stayed up all night without preparation, so I didn’t see more than the sun break the horizon.
“When I woke, I found that I had my Mark. I couldn’t make sense of it, so I asked my family. After being – rightfully – scolded, my grandfather told me that a bursting star was a sign of the sun.” She tensed again, feeling Celestia’s hand running over her thigh, brushing the marked fur. “He- he said that the Old Gods tethered a wandering star to warm and give life to our world, and so, to show its displeasure at being bound, it is constantly exploding in attempt to destroy itself or this world in its madness.”
“Well, that explains the way you fight, I suppose. But I would not call it ‘mad’,” Celestia said wryly. “It is more like a petulant child, doing what it can to spite us at any chance it gets. Did you know that it even refuses to rise when it should in the winter months?” Smiling softly, she pulled away just enough to hook her fingers underneath a bandolier. “I see much of that in you, as well. Though I would not call you a child. But enough of that.” She gently squeezed the Handmaiden’s thigh and trailed her hand down the bandolier, brushing the back of it against her breast. “Tell me, did I promise you a gift when I visited your town?”
“N-no. As I said, you were just passing through. I was too young to ask one of you-” Her voice caught at the touch of Celestia’s lips on her cheek and, with a yelp, the Handmaiden jumped back, covering her cheek and blushing furiously. “My Goddess! Celestia! What are you- why are you- why did you do that?”
“Ask of me anything, Handmaiden, and I shall grant it, should it be within my power.”
The Handmaiden stuttered and sputtered, Celestia’s tone becoming serious, catching her off guard. “I- I am at your side, I protect you. There is nothing else I want, my Goddess, other than for you to be happy.” She made to bow, but nearly lost her balance when Celestia spoke, a mischievous tone to her words.
“Then lay with me.”
“W-what?!”
“When we return home, lay with me in my chambers,” Celestia said nonchalantly. “It would certainly make me happy to bed a mare such as you.”
“B-but I couldn’t! It wouldn’t… I’m not… you’re-” Celestia gently placed her hand on her Handmaiden’s shoulder in attempt to quell the coming panic.
“It was not a command; it was not even a request. It was an offer and no ill will come of it should you decline,” She gently affirmed.
With a terse nod and a timid “I will think on it”, the Handmaiden turned and continued down the road, Celestia close behind, watching the mare’s wings twitch at the thoughts running through her head.
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The wings faded away, trees, mountain, and sky replaced by sturdy stone walls and ceilings, dirt by stone floors, quiet, soft hoofsteps replaced by heavy, commanding thuds. In front of her, the nude, cautious mare was replaced by one who carried herself with the authority of her station, a freshly bloodied broadsword held at her side. The mare had not gotten shorter, yet still Celestia was more than a head taller. She followed this mare, adorned with a royal blue cape embroidered with a violet star burst, until they came to a cross. The mare paused, calling more magic to her horn to light what the fires in the sconces could not. “Your majesty?”
“My sister: Where is she?”
“The throne room, your majesty.” A wave of her hand called forward the guard that trailed them. They filed into the left corridor in advance of their commander and princess, both who followed once the final soldier passed. Examining the plates protecting her arm, silver trimmed with gold, Celestia’s guard captain spoke, malice clear in her words. “I cannot believe I must wear this, a gift from your sister. Were it not a gift of yours as well, I would melt it down into a spear and run it through her black heart.”
“Do not speak ill of her, captain. Just because you are of my guard does not mean you may speak freely against her,” Celestia chided.
“You still care for her? After what she has done?” Stepping past three fallen guards, one clad in gold and white, one black, the last in blues, the captain looked over her shoulder, her eyes, vibrant violent and filled with anger met Celestia’s. Celestia nodded. Her captain snorted. “Her Guard, I understand. We would follow the same orders should you give them, but the Lulamoons? That she would bring common houses into this… it is not right, my Princess.” They stopped at the end of the hall, two large doors barring their path. On one were engravings and carvings depicting the moon and its princess. The other was bare, all markings of the sun or its ward burned or etched away.
“No, it is not, captain Sparkle,” Celestia sighed, placing a hand on the captain’s shoulder. “I do not believe my sister is of sound mind at the moment. I do not believe – do not want to believe that she would do this otherwise. I will speak with her.” She made to move to the doors, only to stop when her captain clasped her arm. She followed her own golden plated until the silver overlapped, indignation from being stopped, even by her, rising in her throat, only to die a quick death when she met eyes filled with worry.
“And if she does not want to speak with you, Celestia?”
Celestia bent low and smiled, but bit her lip, at a loss for words. Gently, she reached out and toyed with her captain’s cloak’s brooch, an emblem of her starburst inside the princess’s sun. Quickly, she pressed her lips against the captain’s and brushed her tongue softly against her lips. Pulling away before she could reciprocate, she stood to her full height and smiled sadly. “Then I will do what needs to be done.
“Captain! Guard this door with your life! Let no one through, not even any of our own. We will not have your blood on our or our sister’s hands. No matter what you hear, these doors are to remain sealed. Is that understood?”
Stunned by the abrupt kiss, and the sound of the princess’s Royal voice so close, it took the sound of doors down the hall crashing against the walls and the sound of armored hooves on stone to snap her out of it. With a grin, she crossed an arm over her chest, fist closed over her heart and bowed. “Of course, your highness. I will protect you always.” Rising, she looked to Celestia. “Besides, it would seem we have others to distract our own prying eyes.”
Nodding, Celestia turned to the door, her captain’s voice ringing throughout the hall. “You heard your princess! No one gets through those doors! A hundred sapphires to whoever who kills the most traitors! Die yourselves and I will-“Mad laughter cut through the sounds of battle.
“Interrupt me before I finish, will you? Backstabbing, snake-eyed demon! Die yourselves and I will find your worthless soul, drag it back to your rotting corpse, and kill you again myself! To arms!”
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“That’s enough, I think.”
Celestia blinked, turning away from the crystal playing the scenes out above them. Lying next to her, Twilight Sparkle stared at her, visage unamused. Gently, she ran her fingers through her marefriend’s hair. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one who asked me what I knew of your ancestors before genealogy was properly recorded.”
“Yeah, and so far I’ve seen that my ancestors were devout, insanely devout, or just plain insane!” Twilight huffed.
“I wouldn’t call them ‘insane’. They had an… unorthodox way of fighting, yes, but so do you.”
“I am not like them!”
“Twilight, you destroyed how many acres of land in your fight with Tirek?”
“Okay, but-“
“You charged headlong at Nightmare Moon-“
“I planned that-“
“You let Pinkie Pie use you as an automatic cannon-“
“I can’t control what Pinkie does!”
“You effectively held your friends down and forced them to attempt to use the Elements on Discord-“
“I didn’t have a choice!”
“And you used the Elements on him again, even after they didn’t work the first time.”
“And every single one of those worked out in the end!” Twilight finished with a huff. She blinked and blushed, looking down at Celestia and feeling her hands on her hips. In the midst of the argument, she had climbed on Celestia’s chest and was now straddling her, hands pressed against the larger mare’s shoulders and wings flared.
Celestia grinned up at her. Using one hand to push her hips lower, the other trailing up her back and dragging her nightgown with it to pull her down, she spoke softly, sweetly. “And it always turned out well for them in the end, as well. There is nothing wrong with it; it is just unorthodox, as I said.” She pulled her into a kiss, holding it until she felt the smaller mare relax fully on top of her.
“’Nothing wrong with it’ except the repair bill, right?” Twilight mumbled into the kiss.
Celestia chuckled, mumbling, “That, we could do without, yes.” She let her hand travel back down Twilight’s side, her fingertips gently brushing the fur as she moved to caress Twilight’s cutie mark. She stopped short when Twilight pulled away with a worried gasp. “What is it?”
Twilight turned her head, not meeting Celestia’s eyes. “S-sorry! I, ah… there’s no chance that you’re my great-great-great-great-“
Celestia smiled softly and gently placed a hand on her cheek and turned her to face her. “No. There is no chance that you are related to me in any way. I’m sure I would remember giving birth, and none of the mares I bedded birthed any, either.”
“That’s good,” Twilight sighed. Her ear twitched. “Wait, mares? How could you and a mare…?” She stared down at Celestia, head cocked slightly to the side.
A wolfish grin spread across Celestia’s muzzle. “I could show you, if you’d like.”
Twilight nodded mutely as Celestia pulled her down into another kiss.