Night Watch marched into the darkness outside the tower in the encroaching chill of Hearth's Warming Eve. There was no warmth to be found outside, however. She turned towards Fast Change. "Come on." Fast was slow to keep up, but plodded through the snow as Night led her further and further from the comforts of Twilight's Castle. "We need to talk."
Fast took a few quick steps to catch up. "What about? And why does it have to be out here?"
Night glanced back, her sensitive eyes able to see the faint outline of the then-distant tower. "Fast, let's start by saying I love you, a lot."
Fast smiled a little. "But?"
Night reached out and poked Fast in the chest. "But you left us, again. The first time it was for a greater good, and I forgave. This time..."
Fast's smile faded. "I'm sorry... I said that."
Night spread her wings wide. "Prove it."
Fast glanced around a moment as she grew her own slitted eyes, able to see better in the dim light. "I don't know how... Do you think I'm lying?"
Night leaned in and nuzzled Fast's cheek gently. "I think you don't know. Let's start by telling me why you think it's important we fit some legal definition of a herd before we decide if we love each other enough to stay together."
Fast shrunk back as if burned. "I..." Night gave her a hard look and Fast trembled, looking ready to flee again.
Night softly tapped her with a wing. "If you run... It will be the last time. Face it, and me. Why?"
Fast grit her teeth as her fur faded, becoming its natural dull reddish/pinkish hue. "I... I had a reputation."
Night raised a brow. "Of?"
Fast tilted her head at Night. "You know full well. I was the town bicycle, with fun optional accessories. I... I really..." She shuffled in the snow, looking embarrassed and flustered.
Night moved in and gently kissed Fast along her snout. "Speak. I still love you, Fast. Nothing you say will change that."
Fast gave a shaking nod. "I thought I'd gotten past all that when we became a real herd... I was a wife. I was a mother. I was a respectable mare!" She stomped into the snow, crunching it. "I wasn't a joke..."
Night extended both her wings, shielding Fast from the cold and hugging her gently with them. "If you are a joke, I never want to stop laughing. You are a part of us, herd or no herd. That's just a title. If Twilight is banished tomorrow, she'll still be my princess, and my wife. Don't you love us, for us? Or just the title we bring? We weren't even a proper herd before, the last time Silver danced the female dance." She chuckled softly. "No matter how hotly he denied it before, he wasn't bad at the dance then, or now. Especially now."
Fast shivered softly. "About that! How are you tolerating Silver being so cold? I went at her full force and she didn't even know what I was doing! That's no way for a wife to act. That's no way to live..."
Night nodded. "But it is what she is, for now. She loves us fiercely, just not... sexually. She would do anything to make us happy, and to protect us, but..."
Fast wrinkled her nose. "Have you tried hopping on her and showing her a good time?"
Night tilted her head. "I heard she tried, with Rough Tumble."
Fast's eyes widened. "With him?! I wouldn't have guessed it, but that a crappy choice. I'll get her to sing... I remember her weakness. She's probably long forgotten it herself."
Night softly bopped Fast on the head with a wing. "You're getting distracted. Did we stop being a family because Silver was gone, really?"
Fast shrunk. "No..."
Night spread those wings wide. "Then why?!"
Fast licked over her lips. "I just told you... Look, it was a stupid decision... We forgave Silver for trying to kill himself once... Can I call in my freebie?"
Night folded her wings in tightly. "Silver was punished, changed, and shackled for trying to kill himself. That's how he became a lunar pony, if you recall. Do you accept what I decide for you?"
Fast tilted her head, ears perked. "I don't know why... but I'm actually a little turned on by the idea of--"
Night bopped her.
"Hey! It's true... If you want to push me down and have your way with me, leaving some kind of mark, I won't stop you." Fast shook out softly and returned her fur to the deeper red she preferred. "I'm sorry I ran away. I shouldn't have. I surrender to your justice and care."
Night moved in and nuzzled along her neck before her teeth sank into her wayward wife. She shared her horror and loneliness from Fast's sudden departure, and the joy of her return.
Fast shuddered powerfully with the emotional soup. "Oh! That... Are you thirsty?"
Night drew back suddenly, blinking owlishly at Fast.
Fast smiled. "You can drink, if you want."
Night prodded Fast. "I'm not a vampire."
Fast sat on her haunches. "You can be my vampire whenever you please. Just say I'm forgiven?"
Night let out a slow sigh and bumped noses. "I'm not a vampire, but you are forgiven. I'll think up something for you, tomorrow. I will be sharing this conversation with Twilight. She deserves a chance to share ideas on your punishment." She flicked her tail. "I'd tell Silver, but she'd probably just suggest we forgive you and forget about the whole thing."
Fast grinned. "That sounds like them. I'm glad some things never change. So... any objection to my trying with her?"
Night raised a brow. "You mean topping her?"
Fast bobbed her head. "I'll show her everything she's missing. It may not work, but I have a few ideas."
Night snorted softly. "There's one lesson she seems to have retained. She has no particular fear of being topped, but no desire either. If you simply ask her, she'll probably agree, wanting to be a good wife. Just know that she doesn't feel anything, and if she thinks that bothers you, it will hurt her, badly. Please be careful with her."
Fast raised a hoof to her heart. "I swear. I'll treat her like the delicate flower she is, and help encourage her to blossom for us. Even if it doesn't work, I'll claim to have had the greatest time of my life and sing her praises. Silver's been there for us, I have to try."
Night began to return to the tower. "Then try, just be mindful. She's in a delicate place, and she knows it." She leaned over and kissed Fast suddenly. "Welcome back."
Fast smiled at the kiss and moved to quickly get it back, deepening it into a much more complete version as she softly moaned into the exchange. "I missed you... My smart eyes, please keep me from the cliffs I wander towards."
Night snorted softly. "That sounds about right." She rubbed along Fast's side as they walked. "I'll do my best."
When they arrived in the tower, Fast looked Night over in the improved light. "Why are you still wearing your full combat suit?"
Night tilted her head. "It feels right. It cleans itself, fits just so." She shook herself lightly. "We paid such a terrible price for it..."
Fast nodded a little. "I'd think that'd make you want to stuff it in a closet and forget it existed."
Night frowned. "No... I won't run from my mistakes, just learn from them. I failed Silver when they needed me most. Never again. If I was wearing this at the time, I would have saved him, easily."
Fast tilted her head. "Is it that powerful?"
Night plucked Fast up with her wings almost instantly and began tossing the unicorn up and down carefully. "I... I'm finally worthy of you all."
Fast twisted around to face Night as she was bounced. "Worthy? You were worthy from the start... I was the one that forced my way into this family. He would have been happy just having you in a nice and normal family."
Night tossed Fast even higher. "If it wasn't you, somepony else would have caught his eye and distracted him. The chance to do anything about that is long gone."
Fast squeaked as she sailed higher in the air without the use of wings. "My... point... doesn't change! You were never not worthy, Night."
Night caught Fast and set her down gently. "You have magic, and a shapeshifting talent none can challenge save Chrysalis herself. Twilight is the damn Element of Magic, and a princess on top of that. I was just a lunar pony... Hay, I have to wear glasses." She fiddled with them nervously. "I didn't have anything!"
Fast leaned in and nuzzled at the tabard covering Night's form. "And now you have super strength. But you were very super before, Night. You are my Smart Eyes, and I meant that."
Night spread her wings. "It's more than that... It's incredible. I can fly faster, harder, and longer. I can do the emotional bite, or earth pony magic. All the tribal magics are open to me, and they all feel so powerful." She shook her flank lightly. "I... even feel like I could have a foal whenever I wanted to have one."
Fast colored and burst into laughter. "Seriously? We should test that out."
Night softly bopped her with a wing. "No. One foal is enough... But I feel like I could. Of any tribe I wanted to have. I have full control, of everything. I'm still getting used to some of it, but I've never felt more alive, or powerful."
Fast raised a hoof. "Just remember, Silver felt powerful too, just before all that." Night winced and recoiled. "I'm just saying to not forget who you are. You are Smart Eyes. Look, evaluate, and decide. Don't start leaning on your strength first."
Night cracked a bit of a smile. "This is some day, getting lectured wisely by Fast Change. What are we coming to?" They gently rubbed noses, gazing fondly into one another's eyes.
Twilight appeared with a pop. "Ah, there you are. Spike said he saw you two heading outside and I got worried. Everything alright?"
Night and Fast both turned to Twilight, then glanced at each other before they attacked from both sides, kissing a cheek each and nuzzling at her. Twilight colored swiftly, but smiled at the sudden affection. "I guess that's a yes."
Night nudged both with her wings. "Let's get back to the others. We still have some traditions to finish the day with that I'm sure Silver will enjoy."
They walked off, trotting side-by-side.