//------------------------------//
// How to Tame a Wild Heart  
// Story: Twilight's Guide to Extraterrestrials 
// by Eventual Perception 
//------------------------------//

Twilight walked over to her bed and lowered herself beside the sleeping form beneath the covers and her tail went limp behind her. She rubbed her hands across her head, running her fingers through her hair and let out a sigh, and then the form beside her shifted and the bead squeaked and Starlight was awake. Twilight looked at her form and could see her peeking from the covers at her. 

"How did it go?"

"Were you asleep the whole time?"

"Yes. I've been tired. How did it go."

"I think it could have gone better, honestly. There's not a lot of ways to say very simple things." 

"Karellen didn't give you a lot to go on, did he?"

"No, he really didn't." 

Starlight sat up in the bed, her tail wrapping around her and intertwining it with her legs. She reached out and took Twilight's arm, and looked at her, her ears pressed against her head. "Lay down with me?" Twilight looked at her, locked eyes and smiled a little smile. The sight of her calmed her. "Lay down with me. Please." Twilight gasped in a mocking way. 

"Are you telling me to do something, Starlight?"

"Maybe I am, Twilight. Maybe I am." She ran her finger up and down Twilight's arm, her fur soft to the touch, beautiful, amazing. Starlight felt a warmth in her chest as neurotransmitters flooded her brain at the touch. She looked Twilight up and down, and her smile turned into a frown. "Twilight, please. You need to lay down. You look like you haven't slept at all since they appeared."

Twilight sighed. I really haven't, she thought. Still, she lied. "No, Starlight, I'm fine. I promise.... I'm fine." 

Starlight ran her hand up to Twilight's face, cupped it lovingly, and pouted. "Don't lie to me, Twilight. I may be new to this friend thing, and even newer to this love thing, but I can tell that you're lying. I'm not stupid, you know."  

Twilight kissed Starlight's palm. "I know," she said. "I just.... I'm scared of how tired I am." 

"Why, Twilight?"

"Starlight, if I'm this tired, and all I've done is meet with Karellen once and send out one message, then..... I don't know, how will the others feel? How will you feel?" She looked down, her hands clasped together so tightly that her fingers turned white beneath the fine fur. "If I'm this tired, how will the average pony feel? A colt or a filly? They must be terrified by all of this. I can't..... I don't want to do this to them, Starlight. I can't."

Starlight looked at her, cocked her head to the side and was quiet for a moment. Then: "But you can't worry about that; you're going to something great, Twilight, I can tell. You've already done so many great things. I mean, you saved me. Of all ponies, you saved me, Twilight, and then you let me into your kingdom. Your heart. After all I've done, you saved me." She was quiet. "Saved me, Twilight. How can you do harm to anybody?" She kissed Twilight's cheek. "Lay down with me, Twilight." She pulled the other mare down onto the bed beside her and took her in her arms. "There. Is that better?"

"The hug is awkward, but the bed is divine." 

"Twilight!" 

"I'm kidding." She snuggled against Starlight, against the sheets and against her tiredness. "It's almost perfect." 

"Almost perfect?!" 

Twilight outstretched her wings and wrapped herself and Starlight up in them, feeling the heat trapped beneath them radiate between the two, warming her and pulling her towards sleep. "There," she cooed, "now it's perfect." She was quiet, and her eyes were closed, and Starlight thought that she had fallen asleep when Twilight spoke: "I'm sorry." 

"Why?"

"I haven't been..... good..... to you."

"No, no, Twilight, you've been very good to me."

"No..... no......" Twilight became quite agitated then, almost twisted, her face contorting into a scowl. "I should have...... saved you....... sooner......."

"It's not your fault, now hush!" She put a finger to Twilight's muzzle, and Twilight's face relaxed, smiled. "I'm very proud of you, Twilight, you've tamed a wild heart, you know." She kissed Twilight's muzzle gently as the first snores escaped her lover's lips. 





As night fell again over Equestria, Celestia found herself in her study, staring at a blank piece of paper, twiddling a pen in her fingers. Twilight was right. Karellen was right, she had decided. She had to be the bigger person and open her arms and her kingdom to peace and to foreigners, however their relationship may have been in the past. Candles burned in their holders and her shadow danced on the wall beside her, and the spices and the last of the warmth rose form the plate of rice she had not touched at dinner, yet had for some reason brought with her. 

Its funny, she thought, how hard it is to do something which, knowing it is the right and proper thing to do, should be so easy. She scribbled on the paper, then read what she had written aloud: "Queen Chrysalis, You are hereby cordially invited to Canterlot Royal Castle for dinner with Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and delegates from across Equestria." She was quiet and thought about it. "No, that just doesn't sound quite right." She tore the paper up and tossed it into the bin beside her. 



 

Trixie hugged Twilight closely in the hotel room, hugged her for a good long time before she released her and kissed her on the cheek. "Twilight looks amazing today! Twilight has been sleeping better?"

Twilight smiled, embraced Trixie again, this time with her wings as well as her arms. "Yes, I have been, Trixie. It's amazing, I've been sleeping so much better." 

"So Karellen's elixir has helped." 

"Oh, so much." She let go and sat down on the bed, and Trixie sat beside her. She leaned against Trixie. "Things have been wonderful with Starlight." When Trixie was quiet, she continued, hastily: "But it's nothing compared to when I'm here, with you. It's the happiest I've been in a long time. I love you, Trixie."

"Trixie knows." She leaned against Twilight, their naked forms against each other, their fur rubbing against each others. "Lay down with Trixie." Twilight allowed herself to be pushed down on the bed as Trixie climbed on top of her, her light blue mane falling down over both of their faces. Trixie kissed her deepy; very, very deeply. Twilight's wings extended as her hands ran up and down Trixie's back.

"I'm so terribly sorry to have to do this, Princess Twilight, but it is time again for an audience. I have some things which I must reveal to you." Karellen's voice echoed through the room as Trixie and Twilight broke their kiss. Twilight sighed as Trixie rolled off of her, and Twilight stood. 

"What do we need to talk about, Karellen?" 

"It is time to reveal the next phase of the plan for your planet, Princess Twilight. Great dangers draw near, closer than ever before, greater than anything you've yet faced. It's amazing how much effort your planet has put it, and yet there are out pockets of resistance against the plan for prosperity. You must speak to them. But, more importantly, you must talk to the two greatest leaders of your world - Princess Celestia and Queen Chrysalis. They both command mighty armies, and must not be aligned against one another."

"And they'll listen to me?"

"Like so many others, yes, I believe they will."

"What's coming, Karellen?"

"Armies, monsters, aliens, but perhaps you could call them problems. Tests. Trials. The names are, for now, irrelevant. But your planet must know what is coming for them, if and only if it will force them to work together."

"They'd trust me if they saw your face."

"That, I insist, cannot be rushed. Again, I insist this must not be rushed."

"Can I see you?"

"Twilight," Trixie spoke behind her, "it is not yet time for that, yet." 

Twilight stared intently at the mirror. "Please, show yourself to me. I believe the people are ready to meet you, I believe it will be beneficial."

There was silence from behind her and in front of her, and then, from behind the mirror, "as you wish." Without a sound, the windows were darkened as the curtains slid down, and silently mirror slide open, revealing shadows beyond. Twilight's eyes adjusted to the darkness, until finally she saw a figure - large, imposing, something like an insect or a cosmic robot. The figure stepped forward from the gloom, it's wings outstretching themselves as the tail coiled aimlessly behind it. It walked somewhat stiffly, yet awkwardly fluidly, in a way Twilight had never seen before. It looked at her with glowing red eyes. "Hello, Princess Twilight Sparkle. I am Karellen."

Twilight took a deep breath, steadied herself. Behind her Trixie came up and took her in her arms comforting her as she saw the visitor move forward towards her. Karellen spoke: "Do not be afraid, Twilight Sparkle; I mean you no harm, and am only here to help you help yourself." He held out a long hand with too many fingers and one thumb two many. He balled it into a fist. "I've studied your cultures; I believe this is how you say hello. I believe you call it a 'bro-hoof.'" Timidly, Twilight returned the gesture. Unsure of what to do, confronted as she was with Karellen face to face. "You're right," Twilight said. "They are not ready to see you. I was not ready to see you."

"I frighten you because I am different. I understand, it is the nature of most living things." He was silent. "Can you deliver the message for me? The coming danger, and the message to your greatest leaders?"

"Yes. Yes I can."

"Good. I will leave you alone, now, unless you have any further questions?" 

"No..... nothing for now." 

"Farewell, Twilight Sparkle. Until next time." Karellen turned and walked behind the mirror, which slid across the room again. 

Trixie hugged Twilight harder. "Are you alright, Twilight?"

"Y-yes. I'm f-fine." 

"Do not lie to The Great and Powerful Trixie, Twilight. It's alright to be afraid."

"I am afraid."

"Them come love Trixie, Twilight. Love Trixie and let your fears fade away, then we can sleep." Trixie took Twilight's hand and led her toward the bed, where she again pushed her down and straddled her. "Do not worry, Twilight Sparkle, Trixie is here to fix you. Trixie is always here to fix you. Trixie and Twilight are one. There is nobody else."

"There is nobody else," Twilight echoed. 

"Only Trixie," Trixie kissed Twilight's neck. Twilight shuddered with ticklish delight; "only Trixie," she echoed. 

"Our hearts belong together," Trixie said between kisses, moving down Twilight's chest. 

"Our hearts belong together." 

"You will save the planet. Trixie knows this. You will do great things." She reached Twilight's abdomen, kissing and licking the shivering mare. "You will deliver Karellen's message, and they will listen to you, and you will save the world." She pulled at Twilight's pants. "And then Trixie and Twilight will be together, forever."

"Forever." 

Behind the mirror, Karellen watched, and stretched his wings.