Luna opened aching, bloodshot eyes to take in the stately darkness of her bedchambers. Grumbling softly to herself she rubbed at her burning eyes, contemplating again trying to sleep. Maybe her exhaustion would let her find some peace before the nightmares again woke her. Her fetlock rubbed over her muzzle and face, the Alicorn of the Night giving a sharp sigh as she tried to wake up enough to decide if trying for sleep was a good idea.
When her forehoof brushed the base of her horn, and the snug fel-iron ring that diminished her so, all thoughts of slumber burned away from her mind as she took a springing lunge, rear hooves digging into the softness of her mattress, her forward motion arrested in a clanking jangle of fel-iron chain, the collar digging into her neck as she strained against it with a feral snarl. Yet it held, as it always did. She whirled, catching the chain in her forehooves as she arched backward, her rear hooves soon planted on the wall to either side of the heavy anchor fastened into the wall.
Muscles shaking, straining passed endurance, yet she didn't relent. Tears marking her furious visage as she heaved, and pulled, and strained... to no avail. Collapsing on the bed with a gasp as her exhausted body crumpled upon it, the clanking mockery of her fetters settling with her taunting her with her helplessness. Shaking forehooves working the links through her grasp, methodically testing each one for flaw, for any weakness. Burning eyes examining from every conceivable angle. Even the soft green glow of the runes mocked her weakness.
At some point, her reddened eyes fluttered and closed on their own.. her busy hooves stilling, the chain slipping from between them as she wilted into the comforting softness of the bed. Silence descending upon the dark chambers...
Until her piercing shriek broke that silence. The blue alicorn surging numbly upright, wheezing, sobbing.. she had been melting, breaking once more into cold moonlight and icy stone, forever imprisoned in the moon. And Nightmare Moon had been waiting for her, laughing, mocking... but the laughter had become higher pitched, as a fanged, fiery eyed Cadance had bound her once more in chains and tossed her into the darkness. And she had screamed, and begged, and p-pleaded.. how she had broken in the face of that unending torment.
And then the door was flung open, a shaft of dazzling light burning into the soothing shadows, making her hiss and shield her squinting eyes with a wing against the light. Only for them to narrow further at the false concern in the smoky orange eyes that regarded her, Cadance backlit from the daylight streaming into the hallway.
“I heard you scream.” That voice… so carefully engineered to seem genuinely concerned.
But Princess Luna, She of the Night remembered all too well the demon’s tricks. Turning her back on the stinging light and the perfidious treachery of those eyes, hunkering beneath her spread wings, returning her aching head to darkness. Trapped she might be, but she’d not accept the honey dipped concern of a demon, and find herself stripped of something more in the process. She’d let down her guard for a bare moment, and her bondage was the result.
“Please Auntie… you need to slee-”
“Do not address Us so.” The voice was a cold hiss from the rigid mare on her disheveled bed. “We have no such relation to thee, Demon. And if Our difficulties in the realms of slumber in some way disturb thee, thou shalt remember why We are unable to remedy the problem Ourselves.” So saying, she laid herself back down, continuing to shroud herself from her ‘guest’ with her wings.
The soft sound of approaching hooves made her grit her teeth, yet whether to reign in her anger or muzzle the sob trying to rise in her throat she couldn’t at that moment say. The feel of a gentle wingtip reaching out to lay across her back made her stiffen once more.
“L-luna, please let me hel-”
“ENOUGH!” Whirling and lunging to the end of her chain brought her nearly nose to nose with her foe. Some part of her pleased at the shock on the demon’s face as she backpedaled away from the charge. It was a very convincing display, the wide eyes, the gathering of tears in them. But she’d not be taken in again. Teeth bared, eyes flashing, wings mantling, all she lacked was her Royal Canterlot Voice and she could drive her enemy from her presence with a wall of sound. “Touch Us not, Demon! Offer Us not the treacherous balm of your caress, or to take away Our sufferings in return for a paltry bit of pleasure.”
“I-I wasn’t…” Cadance had taken another half-step back, eyes pleading, so deep and soulful despite their corrupted mein.. Luna broke that gaze, she’d not be manipulated by them. “Of course thee weren’t, Archmaiden of LUST. She of all carnal delights. Mistress of base fornications.” Luna’s voice rasped out such titles as she could dredge up, taking pleasure in seeing Cadance wilt slightly under them. “W-whorequeen of the Pits. Forgive Us if We deign to mistrust thy motives. Mayhap one day We shall fall into thy web of lies and sweet promises. But today is NOT THAT DAY! BEGONE!”
Her bloodshot eyes followed Cadance’s hurried departure from her chambers, chest heaving as she slowly relaxed her aching body. The wretched sob she heard from without as the door closed tore at her heart. And she swallowed, feeling the rage draining out of her. To be replaced by regret… and perhaps a hint of shame at resorting to such base slanders, especially if there was some part of Cadance still in there to feel it. No… NO! She clutched at her head, shaking back and forth as she charged up her anger again. No weakness! She was a prisoner in the clutches of an enemy she knew not how to fight, yet fight she must!
It was with the fresh examination of her memories of that treacherous attack before her eyes that they again flickered shut, even her rage bowing before the extreme exhaustion of her body.
Only for the voices to start again, whispering and taunting, and with them the nightmares returned, and again she woke screaming.
This time it wasn't Cadance who swung open the door. Deep maroon eyes in a sky blue face regarded her silently for a moment before stepping inside and shutting the door. The return of darkness soothed Luna's eyes, though she returned the pegasus' regard coolly as she fought to get her breathing under control.
"If this keeps up, you're gonna have a psychotic break y'know." Rainbow Dash mentioned offhandedly, eyes holding a hint of challenge. Luna gave a soft, derisive snort in response. "Oh, how ignominious an end that would be, laid low by something as pedestrian as lack of sleep." She rolled her eyes before feeling the bed shudder as her 'guest' hopped up on it. Turning back only to find herself snoot to snoot with the now angrily glaring pegasus.
"Don't be so flippant. You've just returned from a prolonged banishment, immediately brawled with an archdemon, been drained of your magic and now can't rest for more than a half hour before lurching awake with a scream! Celestia has been pretty much sleeping like the dead and eating when she's not. I think she's had four 'breakfasts' today. You're falling behind on sleep and sustenance, and beyond that you're being rather a bitch about everything."
Luna's glare only grew colder, her ears laying back more and more as Rainbow's monologue progressed. To be dressed down by an underling.... "Dost thou think We are not aware of Our state? Prithy tell Us who is responsible for Our Plight?" Her eyes narrowing as the insufferable pegasus eyerolled at her. Her! The Alicorn of the Night!
"Oh can the thee's and thou's your 'Highness'." Rainbow snarked. "Yeah yeah, we kicked your flank, and yeah, it wasn't a particularly fair encounter. Get over it already. Or is your pride so important that you'd have preferred standing triumphant over our broken bodies before getting whisked away back to your little cell on the moon by the assholes who put you there the first time? You wouldn't have had a Twilight to throw herself into the grinder for you then. I bet the victory would have stayed real sweet when you figured out that you were now a personal attack goddess for the bastards that held your leash, huh?"
Luna could not have telegraphed her strike more if she'd even been aware that she intended to cuff the jumped up pegasus. All she saw was a red haze, her memory casting back to that terrible moment, vanquished beside her sister as they both felt the tug, and knew they were betrayed. That indescribable agony as she realized her shackles hadn't been broken, only loosed for a time. The utter despair had drowned her into an unfeeling grey haze as she waited for the oblivion that was her prison. Knowing that when next she was released, it would be under the threat of that cudgel, she would do as ordered, or be returned to her chains. And desperate for sensation, starved for the interaction of the mortal world, she would obey, do whatever it took to prolong her stay of imprisonment for as long as possible.
Gravity inverted, and it was only as she was slammed to the softness of the mattress with a growling pegasus pinning her to it that she realized her actions. She rallied to fight, but weak as she was, with no magic to draw upon, her physical body was no match for the strength and skill of her assailant. And with a sudden terrible wrench in the pit of her stomach, she realized how helpless she truly was.
"I guess I hit a nerve then?" Rainbow growled in her ear, efficiently pinning the larger alicorn to the bed. "Don't like being hoodwinked I take it? If we hadn't stopped you, you'd have turned it all back over to the Nobles." Luna arched and squirmed, and gasped as Dash's teeth clamped onto the scruff of her neck, a confused shiver coursing down her spine. Worn passed her burst of angry energy, she slowly collapsed beneath the pegasus, gasping for soft sobbing breaths.
That prickling clutch at the base of her neck relaxed, and that sent a shiver through her as well, the Lunar Alicorn hiding her blush against the bed, frantically trying to control her reaction. She'd never been... m-marehandled.. like this. The pegasus now almost laying atop her, the rise and fall of their breathing moving their bodies against each other. And then teeth clamped softly against her ear and she gasped at the pleasing shock of it, and the gentle tug that followed.
"Goddess I want you." Rainbow husked in her ear. "I-it's so hard to be near you like this." She growled softly. "But it's even h-harder to see you h-hurting yourself." Luna stiffening is surprise, and.. a strange gratification... her blush deepening as she drew breath to respond, only for a gentle hoof to cover her mouth, the alicorn falling uncharacteristically silent. "Hush, no more words... we've so much to figure out, but right now, all I want you to do is sleep."
"Sleep Luna, and let me guard your dreams for now."
Luna felt her body relaxing, she knew not if it was some subtle compulsion from the other mare, or just her body finally surrendering to the inevitable, but the warm weight against her, the draped wings about her sides, the clutch of forelegs wrapped against her barrel. They all combined to gently enforce the command, and her heavy eyelids fluttered once in defiance before settling closed once more. She slipped into the waters of sleep without a ripple, and blessedly no nightmares rose to torment her.
Rainbow Dash felt Luna go limp beneath her, and gave a soft shudder, teeth clenching as she fought her instincts, fought the powerful desire she felt for this beautiful creature. Since she'd first met Luna after her return, she'd done some sighing over the more active and physically capable goddess. Seeing her throwing down with Cadance, just pulled out of the moon and able to drive the powerful and well rested archdemon into defense had been like watching poetry. And now she could scarcely think about the Alicorn of the Night without her thoughts flowing into eroticism.
And here she was, laying atop the gorgeous creature. Every instinct she had afire that this was the time, this was the moment to make the lovely Luna hers. She longed to hear her name moaned from those beautiful lips. But one did not serve the mighty Archdevil of Power without being able to control oneself when necessary, as hard as it might be.
Twilight insisted that the Royal Pony Sisters would bow in time, and her word was law. So Dash nestled against her softly slumbering charge, fantasizing about all the things she wanted to do as she buried her snoot in Luna's soft blue mane, breathing in the goddesses scent. It would suffice, until she could have more, and it would make what would come all the sweeter for her restraint.
*****************************
When Luna again awoke, blinking sleep heavy eyes, she was once more alone. Yet no nightmares had assailed her and she at least felt somewhat recovered from her desperate exhaustion. Oddly, she felt a certain disappointment to the pegasus being gone and a small swell of gratitude for the peaceful slumber she had garnered... And that alone was enough to sour her somewhat improved mood again. And yet… she could not deny that her treatment at the mare's hooves, while damaging to her ego, seemed exceptionally honest. She had needed rest, and… well… perhaps her prideful rejection of aid had been somewhat foalish.
Now able to concentrate to some extent, she mulled over the words of the devilish pegasus. Had she not been ignominiously ambushed, she would likely have been able to overcome Cadance somehow. And had she done that, she might have been able to halt the assault that drained Celestia of her power. Even at half strength from the banishment, the two of them would likely have been a match for Twilight, and likely would have halted the invasion right there.
She clenched her eyes tightly. And then their re-banishment would have neatly sealed them away again without even a chance at escape… so yes, having considered it, this was likely a much better outcome than otherwise, regardless of the blow to her pride. Still, that made them no less her enemies, for she highly doubted it was charity on their part to save the two of them from return to their respective charges.
She rubbed her eyes roughly with a foreleg, nnnngh.. not enough sleep, but it was hunger that kept her from it now. She needed sustenance as much as she needed further rest. She gave a short, distasteful huff. If only meeting that need was not another blow to her ego, yet… she could handle it. She had to. She clambered out of the wreck of her bed and approached the door, her usual bellpull had snapped in her flailing struggles, and since she… had been being a bit of a hateful terror, usual checks and service visits had been halted. So she would just have to gain attention and make a request.
The rattle of the chain falling to the floor shook her newly acquired calm, being bound in any way was nearly intolerable and she paused a moment to regather her frayed reserve. Taking a slow shuddering breath as the collar tugged against her neck as she approached the exterior door, lifting a hoof and steeling herself to knock gently, suavely, like Celestia would..
“L-luna?”
The voice was hushed, hesitant, and muffled by the wood of the door, the side door, the one that lead through private passages to her sisters apartments. It was also entirely recognizable. “T-tia?” A stunned swoop of excitement flooded her chest. Her sister had found her! “H-how did you escape? Can you get me out!?”
“I can’t, Lulu… I’m sorry.. T-twilight wouldn’t like that.”
“Twi… Tia… what’s wrong?” Startled by the uncharacteristic response, she set hoof to the knob, still locked tight. “Just unlock the door, let me see you!”
“I can’t do that… Mistress has made it p-plain… I m-mustn’t free you.”
Mistress...
Mistress?!
“Tia… what have they done to you? W-why are you acting like this?” She fought the stubbornly locked knob, feeling the pricking of panicked tears in her eyes. It was her sister’s voice, yet, the words used were dropping like ice into her belly, stealing away the tiny sense of stability she had achieved and casting her into a heaving spiral of dread.
No no no no no…
“I’m sorry Lulu… I’ve not been specifically instructed not to talk to you… and I n-needed to hear your voice. M-my lessons have not been… pleasant. But mistress says I’m nearly passed the need for harsher correction. Oh if she knew I was here she’d be so angry…”
Luna’s jaw worked but no sound came out. Hot, bitter tears of horror streamed down her cheeks, Celestia… her elder sister… sounded like a disobedient foal contemplating a birching.
“You mustn’t let them know I’ve spoken to you! Y-you s-still have a chance! Rainbow Dash… s-she has a bit of a c-crush on you… remember that… i-if you’re clever like I know m-my baby sister is… you can use th-that to get out of the castle… once free of the walls, y-you’ll be able to get away… I know it.”
Th-that sounded more like her Celestia…
“I’ll g-get you out too!” Luna hissed raggedly, trying to salvage some shred of her poise. “I’ll a-ask to see you! Together we can-”
Even as she pressed herself against the door, straining to get through the barrier between her and her sibling, Celestia’s voice began to quiet, and then grow distant. “No Lu! You c-can’t! I won’t b-be able to admit that we had this talk… I’ll deny it. They CAN’T know…. you have to get away! While you h-have a chance! I know y-you’ll come back for me when you can. I’ll b-be waiting.”
“Tia?”
“Tia?!”
No further response came, and releasing the knob from her now shaking grasp she sank to her haunches, trying to… absorb the ramifications of this.
Th-they had their talons into Celestia… using some means of torture to break her will. Yet there was enough left of her sister to try to help her… Yes. She needed to get away, before they considered her strong enough to start her on the same path. She had a chance. She curled in on herself, teeth bared in a soundless pained snarl. She would have to leave Celestia here and make good on her one chance of escape. A-and to do that… they could suspect nothing.
A short time later, her gentle knock brought a near immediate response. A rumbled query as to her health. Her reply was courteous and respectful. A request for a meal, for a change of bedsheets, and perhaps a chance to clean up if that were permitted. All polite and quite reasonable. Heavy hoofsteps in the hallway as the guard went to inquire after her request. And she smiled, a cold, venomous smirk, the sort of outward expression of her seething inner anger that she could not let show even for an instant beyond this point. She had to look her best after all, if she was to woo her ticket out of here.
Deep in the shadows that cloaked the corners of her room, another muzzle also smirked. Unseen and unsensed, wrapped in layers of cloaking magic to distort perceptions, rendered completely unremarkable so long as no direct action was taken. Fortunately, the use of ventriloquism didn’t fall in that category. Such a shame the devil bitch had stopped him from driving her ‘highness’ mad with whispers, yet this was another delicious opportunity that might turn out even better.
Now properly spurred to action… he could count on Luna’s wiles to get herself safely in the clear of the damnable wards layering the castle, where she could be quickly and easily put back where she belonged.