> Absolute Power
>  by Zamairiac
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Break Up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely


My life is hell.

There's no other way to describe it really.

Ever since I read that blasted diary of hers, ever since I made that fateful decision…ever since I walked out on her, everything else in my life has completely gone to shit.

I can't escape, I can't make her go away, and I can't do anything to stop her. How does one stop a pony who pretty much rules everything?

…I wish I knew.

I should probably start at the moment I broke up with her. It was then that the side of her…the one I'd barely gotten a glimpse at showed itself. I wished I'd noticed it then and there…it might have at the least forewarned me of what was to come.

No…no nothing could have done that. How could I have possibly known of the things she was capable of?

How could I have ever thought that my once beloved mare was more than willing to whittle my life to…to nothing?

How could I have known what was to come?

…

I…I couldn't think, I couldn't believe what I was reading. How could my Celly be capable of such an act…such a way of hurting me as this?

I was brought out of my thoughts as the sound of hooves clopping along the marble floor reached my ears, the door to our chambers opening shortly after.

And that voice…her angelic, velvety voice calling out for me.

"Honey," Celly called, light amusement in her tone. "Silly, it's in the middle draw. What's taking you so…so…long?"

I turned around and merely stared at her wide eyed expression, dropping the diary onto the floor. Her expression as I did so was…shock…and was that anger?

"Why are you looking at my…" she looked up into my eyes and her question seemed to fade away into nothing, a worried gleam flickering through her magenta orbs.

"T-Toby I can explain," she stammered nervously, walking over to me as she did so.

"Really?" I asked, my throat dry and voice rough from emotion. "Because I'm pretty sure I got everything in there."

Celestia stopped in front of me and gently touched my shoulder with her left wing, gazing at me with an expression I couldn't quite place.

Ashamed…and yet not.

"I'm sorry baby," she whispered. "I-I didn't know if…I didn't want you to-"

"Have you so little faith in me?" I asked quietly, my voice nearly breaking as emotions threatened to spill over.

Celly shook her head and made to embrace me, but I quickly shrugged off her wing and backed away, regarding her with a sort of sad fury.

"I thought you trusted me?" I said angrily.

"I do sweetie-"

"I thought you knew how much you mean to me!" I cut across scathingly, my anger merely a feathers touch from erupting.

"I do baby!" she cried worriedly. "I know how you feel, I do! You mean everything to me to!"

"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE WORMHOLE?!" I shouted furiously, causing Celestia to flinch back in fear. "I could have seen my family, my friends and everyone else!"

"I-I thought you would have chosen to stay with them," she answered fearfully. "I thought you would have left me for them…I thought…I thought that I meant less to you than them. I just…couldn't risk it."

I could barely look at her.

"And what gave you the right to decide for me?" I seethed, shaking in my rage. "What stopped you from thinking about what I wanted, Celly? We're supposed to trust each other with everything, I would never have…"

God damnit…damnit…she was supposed to trust me. I would never have left her, not in a million years.

I noticed her slowly making her way over to me and backed even further away from her. Unfortunately this only seemed to spur her on, a hurt yet determined expression upon her muzzle.

I eventually found my back hitting the wall and stopped moving, much to Celly's apparent satisfaction if her small smile was anything to go on.

"Sweetie, I was so scared that you were going to leave me," she spoke softly. "I didn't think it through, but you mean so much to me…I didn't want to lose you."

If I wasn't so furious at the revelation then I probably would have made a rational decision…but my rage controlled my actions.

My rage caused the terrible future to occur.

"Too fucking late for that," I bit scornfully, all but snarling as I made to walk past her.

Celly quickly snapped out her right wing to block me however, before swiftly moving in front of me with an expression of utmost fear, desperation and…something else.

Something dark…something that I didn't recognize at the time.

I wish I did.

"Toby please think this through" she beseeched quietly, a couple of liquid lines trailing down her face. "I don't want to…please don't do this."

I ignored her…idiot.

"Get out of my way Princess," I snapped irritably, causing her to instantly flinch at her title as though I'd just slapped her. "I want nothing  to do with you anymore."

Her eyes narrowed as yet another two lines trickled down her beautiful face.

"I don't want you to leave me, Toby," she said shakily. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for what I did. Just give me a chance to make this right, please!"

"You can't just make this right," I replied scathingly, my anger threatening to boil over yet again. "Just get out of the way and leave me alone."

She shook her head slowly at my demand, those eyes, those hauntingly beautiful eyes becoming ever so cold as they bored into my own.

I shivered uncomfortably, suddenly reminded of the power this pony had at her disposal. Not that I ever thought that she'd use it on me, but still…

"Don't do this Toby," she whispered, her voice surprisingly gentle. "I'm sorry, I truly am. I should never have kept this from you, but I did and I can't change that. But if you leave me now…"

"What?" I asked warily. "Are you going to attack me if do, imprison me?"

Her eyes widened at my question and she shook her head rapidly.

"Arrest-no of course not!" she denied fervently. "Why would you even think I'd do either? I'd never hurt you honey, never!"

Before I could say or do anything, she securely wrapped her wings and forehooves around me. I tried to struggle and force my way out of it, succeeding if for but a moment.

But she was always one to get her way, and her wings were strong enough to hold a raging earth pony.

Compared to that, I was…uncomfortably weak in comparison.

It took a few minutes but I eventually stopped struggling and relaxed against her. She responded to this by nuzzling my neck and sighing contently, her hooves and wings still wrapped around me.

"Don't leave me alone Tobias," she…nigh pleaded. "I couldn't do it…I can't be alone again, please!"

She moved back slightly and gazed at me tearfully, her lower lip trembling.

But my mind was already set in stone. I couldn't, I wouldn't stay with a woman…a mare who kept such a terrible secret, who could do such a terrible thing so as to keep me to herself and away from but a few hours with my loved ones back on Earth.

I opened my mouth and quickly placed my hand over her muzzle, silencing her pleas as I braced myself for what I was about to say.

"Celly I need this," I began quietly. "I am…so angry right now, and hurt. I had a chance to see my family again and you selfishly denied it…Do you even have any idea how disgusted I am with you?"

The alicorn winced and stepped back as if struck, but her eyes swiftly morphed into cold orbs filled with denial and firm authority.

"You will not break up with me, Tobias."

It wasn't a request, it was an order. And I couldn't help but consider the consequences of dumping the co ruler of Equestria as I realized it.

I have to do this…I can't…I just can't be anywhere near her. Not after what she's done.

I was aghast at her attitude, at the way she spoke as if I was beneath her. But I still retained my determination and turned on the spot, ignoring the way her eyes widened.

"Try and stop me."

There really wasn't anything else left to say after that.

So without further ado, I walked past her and left the room, unaware of the furious shaking my ex-lover was barely managing to keep under control.

…

It'd barely been two days since I broke up with her, now living in a home Luna and Chrissy bought out of sympathy.

Not that I'm complaining, I didn't have anywhere else to go.

Thankfully the life shattering consequences I began to suspect would happen never occurred. Perhaps I was taking her words a little bit too seriously, the mare probably just wasn't used to others telling her no after giving them the look.

Unsurprising really, that cold expression still gives me the shivers.

At this particular moment in time, I'd just finished spraying myself with the usual aftershave and was happily locking the front door when a cough behind me caught my attention.

The pony in question was a light grey pegasus with…interesting eyes, probably from some sort of disability if I was of any guess.

Probably not.

"Can I help you miss?" I asked, smiling at the adorable way she began to nuzzle the inside of her…delivery bag?

The mail mare?

She pulled her muzzle, and a single letter out of the bag, holding it out for me quite adorably if I do say so myself.

"Mhessahge fhor a mhisther Tobias Greenfhield!" she slurred cutely, prompting a light chuckle to escape my lips as I took the letter and thanked her, much to her happiness as she flew…in some sort of direction.

Chuckling still, I turned over the blank letter and opened it quickly, my mood diminishing rapidly as I took the contents in.

17 Whitewood Lane, Noble sector.

Canterlot.

1AM L33T

Dear Tobias Greenfield.

We regret to inform you that your employment with Two Bit Coffees will be terminated on 27/09/3ANM effective immediately.

We at Two Bit Coffees wish you well in all your future endeavours and thank you for the time shared with our company.

Yours Faithfully

Herdona Grapevine.

…

"What the fuck!" I yelled aloud, uncaring of any who would hear. "The date is the twenty seventh, why is the letter so damn late?!"

Someone is going to get fired for this, and not just me!

Just as suddenly as my temper came, it was replaced by a wave of desperation as I realized the consequences of having no income.

I don't have a mortgage thank god, but how am I supposed to pay for food and water? I've put enough away to last me for a while because I had no reason to spend it before…but how long will it last me?

In the end the solution was pretty easy to come by. I needed to find another job, it was simple as that really.

Unfortunately…

As the day went on and morning gave way to the night, every shop and café and bar I asked refused to give me any sort of work. Even the ones with vacancies advertised outside didn't seem to want to hire me.

Even the well-known fact of my once being Celestia's lover held no apparent weight. If anything it only seemed to make them throw me out the door quicker.

And so in the end I was left with naught but my armchair and the crackle of my fireplace to help organize my thoughts.

Something wasn't right here, I knew it, but I didn't know what it was.


Simple bigotry…no, too simple. Maybe they're all pissed off because I dumped their beloved Princess…hmm, maybe…I don't know. Something just seemed off about everyone today, why did I make them so nervous? It's not like they don't know who I am.

I wasn't going to make any sense of it tonight, I just wasn't. I was too tired; too…weary of the world that had greeted me today.

Sleep does sound nice...

Wearily, I got up off of my armchair and trudged over to my room. For the first time in a long while, I found myself simply too tired to have a shower. So it was with little hesitation that I threw all my clothes on the floor and pretty much collapsed on the slightly small bed.

Heh, sleep is a funny thing, we close our eyes and then boom, it's the morning. Well for some people anyway.

Like me for instance. But unlike the previous morning, I awoke not just to the sounds of birds tweeting, ponies talking, and the feel of sunlight fighting its way through the curtains ever so slight opening.

But also to the rather fantastic smell of a cooked breakfast.

Refusing to open my eyes for the moment, I inhaled the wonderful scent and smiled a dopey morning smile.

You know the one.

Did I cook in my sleep? I mused silently.

A sudden pressure, light and slightly warm pressed against my forehead, forcing my eyes to snap open as I sat up, staring at…

She was wearing naught but a blue apron and a loving smile as she held a steaming plate in her golden aura. Hash browns, toast, beans and something that looked rather akin to an actual sausage.

"Good morning honey," Celestia chirped happily. "I hope you like your breakfast, I made it just for you."

...
> The Law
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well here's chapter two, like I promised.

Begin!


The Law


"Celestia?!" I cried, nearly tumbling out of my bed in shock if not for a sudden wave of magic holding me steady. "W-What-how are yo-"

She raised a hoof and used her magic to briefly close my mouth, if but for a second.

"Oh I know you're so very happy to see me sweetheart," she cooed, her smile widening even further as she leaned closer, the plate being carefully placed upon the top of my draws. "I feel the same, but please eat first. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all."

Her calm, if not very cheerful tone were quite effective in rendering me speechless. There were so many questions all dying to be asked, nay, demanded in my mind that it was with surprise that any of them managed to escape my mouth.

"What are you doing in my house?" I asked bluntly, a frown crossing Celestia's face as I did so. "And for that matter, how are you in my house. I locked the door with that anti magic…thingy."

A rather relaxed smile appeared on her muzzle as I asked this, erasing the frown instantly.

"Oh Toby, do you truly believe that any lock could keep me out?" she giggled, holding a hoof to her muzzle somewhat cutely.

"Ah…um…"

I kinda did, yeah…though that's pretty stupid now that I think about it.

Caught in my thoughts as I was, I was quite unaware of how close she currently was to my face. Thus it was quite a shock when the intruding mare pushed her muzzle into my neck and…inhaled deeply.

"What the hell are you doing!" I demanded, pushing her happily flushed face away…with much difficulty.

She took another deep breath and licked the top of her muzzle eagerly, as though she was tasting whatever was so delightful a scent.

"Mhmm…"she moaned erotically. "Your aroma is still so wonderfully-"

She took yet another deep breath, her smile widening into a dopey lovestruck grin.

"You…" she exhaled, her body shuddering lightly. "Oh I have missed you Toby, so very, very much."

Her eyes, locked on mine as they were, darkened as they continued staring. There was a…hunger there, a need, desperate and determined.

Yet I saw little lust. Nay, on the contrary I saw love and just…I don't know. Like I said before, there was a need in her gaze, a hunger, a desire for the one they regarded.

Such a powerful emotion frightened me with its intensity. If I were still completely in love with her, with all the trust and dependency as I had before, then such intensity might have aroused me deeply.

But as we were now…I wasn't so sure.

"Open your mouth baby," she insisted, the plate and fork, now holding a bit of sausage, floating in front of my face.

I wanted to throw the plate and food to one side and demand she leave my property. I wanted to take that bit of sausage and tell her to shove it where her sun didn't shine.

Anger, the anger I felt was still so prominent.

But as I looked into her eyes and thought of all I wished to do…I saw…or was shown the cold power behind those orbs.

And I felt fear.

"Cel…I…I can eat it without any help," I eventually spoke, trying with difficulty not to flinch as her eyes narrowed.

"Oh but honey," she cooed, her voice velvety and loving. "It brings me such joy to take care of you like this. Couples so deeply in love do this all the time after all, and you wouldn't possibly want to deny us that…would you?"

The rapid reply of 'We're not going out any more you crazy mare' fell at the starting point. For the moment I as much as thought of it, the moment I frowned at her words…was the moment I began to feel quite…cold.

As if the temperature in the room had suddenly dropped quite a few degrees.

"N-No," I mumbled, shuddering as her smile widened ever so slightly.

"I know you wouldn't sweetie," she tittered mirthfully. "We've done so much together already, have we not? What is one more when it's such a loving and joyous act."

Deciding to simply roll with it for the moment, I nodded and opened my mouth, regretting it instantly as her own continued to widen to near creepy levels.

"Oh you're such a wonderful boyfriend," she crooned, delicately placing the food in for me to eat. "So attentive and willing to make his marefriend happy."

With each piece of food she placed into my mouth, a coo, giggle, and content humming would follow. Her eyes were alight with delight, as if each chew, each swallow brought unimaginable joy to the mare.

A few days ago this would probably have been as fun for me as it is for her. But now…it's just really fucking creepy.

Only, and only when there was nothing left to eat did she teleport the plate away, leaving naught to keep her in that blissful state.

"Did you like it?" she asked softly. "I made it all with you in mind…though to be honest, I've thought of little else these past few days."

Now that she's happy, I think it's time to ask the twenty pound question.

"It was delicious Princess," I admitted honestly, and it was really. "Everything was perfect…but really, what are you doing in my house? Where I'm from that's considered breaking and entering you know, as in against the…law."

I trailed off slightly towards the end as I took in the…the cold look she was giving me. Not hateful, no angry but just…cold, cold annoyance is all I can think to describe it.

"Prin-"

"Don't you dare call me that."

The words were softly spoken, quiet and collected…and yet so chilling it made me shiver.

"I am Princess only to my subjects, my servants, my guards and foreign leaders," she said slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But to you, to you I am Celly, Cel and Celestia, not Princess."

"We're not together any more Celestia," I snapped, the words flying out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and this time I saw it for what it was. I saw the darkness in those eyes.

"Oh aren't we?" she uttered quietly. "Because Tobias, you see…I very much believe we are."

"It's not a joint decision!" I retorted, adrenaline fighting off whatever fear those orbs once held over me. "I don't trust you anymore, I don't want you anymore. And I don't love…"

Why can't I say it…I can't possibly…not after what she did.

Did love not fade as fast as trust? I'd had no relationship before Celestia…I had nothing to compare it with.

Gentle laughing brought me out of my thoughts, directing my gaze onto a rather self-satisfied looking alicorn.

"You can't say that one, can you?" she asked rhetorically, moving a few steps closer. "I've broken your trust and I've made you dislike me, but…"

Already near the edge of my bed, I had nothing to back away too. Thus as her hoof placed itself on said bed, it was with a light shudder that I forced myself to remain still.

"But you still love me," she continued, a grin wide and confident on her muzzle as she closed the distance between our faces. "Even without your hesitation, I can see it in your eyes. I can…"

She took a deliberate and noisy breath.

"Ahhhhh!" she exhaled. "Taste your arousal in the air, taste it amongst the sweat trickling down your neck."

"Get away from me Celly," I warned, pressing my hands against her barrel and wincing at the absolute pleasure her eyes gave off as I did so.

"And there we go," she continued, ignoring my warning. "Celly, oh…there we go. Am I too close to you Toby? Does the feel of my coat excite you, entice you so subtly that you subconsciously call me Celly without realizing?"

I…I called her that? I didn't even…

Her words were as smooth, as silky and perfectly placed as ever.

"You still find me so sexy, don't you Toby?" she crooned, all but delicately moaning the word.

"C-Celly…you need…need to leave before…before I…"

I can't even begin to explain how difficult it was to concentrate of what I was trying to say. Everything she said was true. The feel of her after what felt like years was…exquisite. And her voice, so sultry. Her body, it's movements so seductive…

Game, set and match.

"Before you call the guard?" she asked, laughing softly at my unfinished threat. "Oh Toby, my sweet, naïve Toby. I came into your home because I had the key. And I had the key because I have all the keys, to every house, every apartment, every bungalow."

I felt her hoof touching my right cheek gently, stroking it lovingly.

"When a law is made," she continued, regarding me warmly. "It is made by the Noble Counsel. But to be put into effect, it must first be read and signed by the Princesses…by me. And if the one who makes the rules, who makes sure that everypony is protected, who in return is so beloved by her subjects chooses to bend one every once in a while…well."

She smiled and leaned close, said smile very…assured of something.

It made me feel a little dizzy, sick even.

"When the Princess breaks the law, heads turn away," she explained, unaware or apathetic to the horror as I began to realize. "And Toby, my wonderful Toby. When the Princess does such for a thousand years. When the Princess IS the law, nopony looks twice, nopony blinks, and nopony…my love, even considers arresting the law."

It took all of about five seconds for all she said to sink in.

She could do anything she liked, break whatever law she wished and get away with it…because she had been the law for a thousand years. And to change that…to even attempt to change that would go against a pony's nature. For if one thing about their kind was true, it was that stagnation was a willing choice.

They hated change. Change meant new, new always came with possible danger and their instincts just wouldn't allow it.

Celestia was the law…and I was powerless to fight against it.

Wait…wait a moment…

"You passed some sort of law to get me fired didn't you?" I asked, aghast at what I was beginning to realize. "Some sort of…of law that stops me from working for anyone here, didn't you?"

Celestia tilted her head and regarded me strangely, almost as if she were a touch amused.

"And on what grounds do you accuse me of such?" she asked, definite amusement in her voice now.

"Oh I don't know," I replied sarcastically. "I break up with you and then get fired, what a coincidence right!"

…she began to laugh.

"O-Oh honey," she giggled. "Why would I ever do that to you? I love you, I'd never do such a thing."

What?

Confusion must have been pretty plain on my face, frustration too. Because she stopped laughing more or less instantly and…well explained.

"Tobias, I would never pass such a horrible law just to get you out of a job," she assured, stroking my cheek repeatedly once more. "The fact of the matter is that your previous employer came to me the day after we broke up and asked if I planned to come into her café anymore. I told her that you wanted me to stay away from you, so no I would not.

"And given that my visits tended to bring in more customers, holding onto you would no longer be as profitable as it once was. And with a zero hour contract…well, it was well within her right to let you go at a moment's notice."

I have to admit, it's a pretty reasonable explanation…for getting fired at least.

"Okay, fine that explains that then. But then why did everyone who was hiring all but shove me out of their place, especially when I mentioned your name?"

"You mentioned my name?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"I was trying to get a job and figured mentioning my being your ex-lover might have given me some brownie points," I muttered sheepishly, before shaking my head and pushing it to one side. "But that's not the point! Why did they get so nervous when I said your name?"

"Well," she drawled, suddenly quite flushed for some reason. "There may or may not have been a rumour around the city."

"What rumour?" I asked, eyes narrowing angrily.

"Oh, only that a certain human was looking to get hired by the crown."

I almost…almost flinched at the sudden, feral gleam in her eyes.

"And that the crown would be very unhappy if anypony else just so happened to hire him first," she finished, an actual smirk adorning her muzzle.

You…absolute bi-

"And why would you ever think that I'd want to be hired by you?" I asked, a laugh escaping from the sheer ludicrously of it all.

"Oh it's not a hard job, Toby," she assured, as if that was the only reason. "It pays quite well. You get a chamber to sleep in and free three meals with yours truly. You wouldn't even have to do much really…just carry my paperwork and look gorgeous."

"I'm not working for you," I growled, putting as much finality as I could into it.

And by the way she narrowed her eyes, by the sudden control to her tone…she understood.

"Then who?" she asked, tone controlled and yet as soft as always. "You saved up, but even then I know how much you have and it won't last much longer than a month or two."

She's right…but I won't take that job. I won't be anywhere near her…I can't.

"Well then!" I declared, surprising her as I pushed her away and stood up. "If I can't obtain work here, then I'll just have to look in other places, Manehattan maybe."

"And what about this house? Sister and Chrysalis sorted this house out for you, will you really throw it back in their faces?"

A guilt trip, really?

"I'll explain why if it bothers them so much," I dismissed. "I'm sure that they'll try to argue the point that you're manipulating other ponies from hiring me just to have me to yourself."

…

The silence that followed this was quite unnerving. Celestia didn't say anything, didn't look at me, just the ground and only the ground.

And then without warning, my legs suddenly gave way and I crashed to my knees.

"W-What's goingggngnggn…"

My tongue rapidly became very numb, all speech leaving as quickly as it happened.

"I'm sorry honey," Celestia's voice, the depressing tone of it all caught my attention instantly. "I would have given you a drink if you'd just accepted me back…but you left me no choice."

I tried to speak, to move…but my entire body was freezing up.

"Fataigo is quite a rare plant you know," she explained, watching with a sad smile as I collapsed onto the floor. "But when mixed with the right herbs it becomes quite a powerful, yet temporary paralytic poison. The eventual effect renders the victim unable to speak or move for a week, and leaves no trace after the first few minutes. In fact all that's left for proof is the trace of false poison, a deliberate mix up from the original, separated but still there in your blood."

I can't move! I can't fucking move!

"To even the most critical eye it would resemble a case of simple poison. And with humans…well, we don't even know what the full capabilities that poison can do. So using any sort of magic, even to communicate could be fatal."

I tried to open my mouth and speak…but nothing happened, my mouth didn't move a single bit.

"And when I came to visit and apologize for my actions, I heard nought but a plate shatter," she continued softly, the plate from before suddenly reappearing…only to be promptly let go and smashed on the floor.

"I broke into your house and rushed to your room, only to find you like this…and after only just saving you from certain death do I prod with careful magic, and discover poison in your food. An attack from someone who must have wished you harm…says the princess, thus everypony agrees, case closed. There's a pony out there who wished you harm, who will be found, but must be out there somewhere…because the princess says so."

Tears, fearful tears begin to leak from my eyes, prompting Celestia to rush over and wipe them away lovingly.

"Shh, shh, shh," she hushes, kissing my immobile lips softly. "It's okay honey, I'm going to take you back home and keep you safe. I'll make sure Chrysalis can replace me for the week so I can look after you. Because I love you, and I'll take care of you for as long as I have to."

Her horn lit up briefly before sending a flare of some sort out of my open window.

"I'll understand of course if you want to leave once you're better," she spoke mournfully, stroking my sweaty forehead gently. "But it could happen again without me there to keep you safe."

I couldn't feel it, but I knew my eyes were widening in fear.

"Although," Celestia continued, perking up suddenly and smiling as she looked down at me. "I'm certain that if we remain true to our hearts and love each other…that the one responsible for such a travesty wouldn't dare to do so again with me so close."

THIS MARE'S FUCKING CRAZY!

Her smile widened as she kissed my nose softly, the sound of many wings and hooves suddenly reaching my ears.

"HELP!" Celestia wailed loudly, sudden tears streaming down her face a moment before my bedroom door was slammed open.

"Princess!" a guard cried, male by the sound of it. "What's happened here?"

"P-Poison," Celestia stammered, her body shaking from a mix of anger and distress. "Somepony's poisoned him…m-my lover."

"It's going to be okay Princess," he consoled, before yelling. "Lieutenant Jorgen, I need a two medics and a stretcher now! Make sure that whoever examines him is careful with their magic, go now!"

"Yes sir!"

Hooves faded away…my poisoner pressed her lips to my forehead.

"Don't worry Princess," the guard comforted. "We'll get Mr Greenfield to a doctor and then we'll find whoever did this, even if we have to search the entirety of Equestria itself!"

Celestia, from what I could see, looked at the guard and smiled sadly.

"Thank you Captain," she whispered. "I know you'll find whoever did this, I have faith in you."

I heard the guard…I heard him thank her, turn around and walk away. And when he was gone for but a moment, she looked down at me…

And smiled.
> The First Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here's chapter three, also as promised.

Warning – This chapter will contain a 'loving' Celestia 'looking after' our poor protagonist. Given that this is written by me, I feel a warning should be given.

Begin!


The First Day


I didn't know where I was, I didn't recognize any of the new voices around me, and as my psycho ex-girlfriend had closed my eyes I had no way of even attempting to look at them.

And about the voices…yeah, there was one I recognized.

Just one.

"What's the poison done to him doctor?" Celestia asked, her voice nigh pleaded for an answer.

"Well Princess," replied a young voice, a male voice, one I didn't recognize. "Whoever did this to him clearly wanted him alive, the effects of the poison are nothing short of genius. Unfortunately the poison is also completely untraceable, but more importantly it left his respiratory system intact."

"And how is that a good thing?" she snapped harshly, her furious expression, her act still so perfect as I heard it. "He's still been poisoned!"

"Yes, I'm well aware Princess," the doctor backtracked, confidence clearly weak even to a blind man. "But its disregarding of his respiratory system stopped him from choking to death, which is a good thing. Not only that but his esophagus somehow has retained enough muscle power to swallow food and drink, something that by all accounts isn't possible in cases of paralysis."

From what I could hear, Celestia was breathing a little heavier than usual. In turn the doctor seemed to breathing shallowly, as if frightened.

"T-Truly a masterful mixture of magic and toxicology…"

He cleared his throat.

"The poison itself does seem to be degrading gradually," he continued informatively. "Unfortunately we can't find any antidote suitable for such a poison; our experts simply don't recognize it."

"Very well," Celestia spoke, her voice tight and controlled, yet quite deliberate…for the doctor to hear maybe? "Have they a timescale for his recovery?"

"Yes Princess, they believe Mr Greenfield will be able to move again within a week at most. Though moving around as he once did afterwards will take a few more in order to regain what tissue the poison will unfortunately wither."

A brief bout of silence was all that greeting that, at least until a sigh, one filled with sadness and hurt rang within…wherever I was.

"Then I shall take care of him personally within my chambers."

The fuck she will! I raged silently, trying desperately to say, to do something! Say something doc, there's gotta be procedures of some sort to stop that!

And as though my pleas were heard…

"Princess I'm sorry, but I have to insist that Mr Greenfield stay with the medical staff," the doctor refused. "I understand your connection to him is a very personal one, but staying with those who can look after him properly will be of a much greater benefit."

They were also unfortunately denied…

"I too am sorry Doctor Lovegood," Celestia replied softly…and yet with coldness now so familiar to me. "But he will be staying in my care, in my chambers and that is final."

"B-But Princess-"

"Enough Doctor," her voice retained its gentle tone, but there was no room for argument as she spoke. "My beloved has been poisoned within his own home for reasons I cannot even begin to understand. I have already taken the proper measures to ensure the throne will stay warm in my absence. I will not have him out of my sight until he is well enough to take care of himself once more, and you will not bring up the matter again, is that understood?"


Please refuse…please…

…

"Doctor?"

"Y-Yes Princess," he sighed, defeated. "I understand. I will not speak of this again."

I could practically hear the smile widen on her face. And if the sudden masculine gasp, ruffle of wings and nigh blissful sigh was anything to go on, the doctor was currently getting a nice warm hug from her as reward for his silence.

"Thank you, my little pony," she cooed, yet another content sigh as a response. "I apologize if I frightened you, I didn't mean it, I'm just scared for him."

"I-It's okay," he replied, voice muffled from what I guessed to be his muzzle pressed against her barrel. "I wasn't f-frightened."

Obviously, I'm sure that's Celestia hooves I can just about hear quaking against each other.

"Of course you weren't, little one," she soothed. "Now why don't you return to your duties, and allow me to take care of mine, okay?"

Her tone was as soft and kind as the day I first met her, so perfectly maternal and wonderful to the ears.

It was little wonder that I believed the doctor never to return again. And by the sound of a door closing, by the sound of a happy giggle soon following…my fears were just as quickly proven true.

"Oh, alone at last," Celestia sighed happily, hooves clip-clopping ever closer to me. "I never thought that he'd argue against me, but no matter. It's just you and I now..."

My nerve endings or whatever having apparently turned back on, I can once more feel the slightest brush against my eyes lids as they are ever so gently pried open. The instinctive urge to shield my eyes flares harshly, but being unable to move I could do nothing to satiate it.

"There we are sweetheart," she cooed lovingly, a tone so familiar and once cherished now bringing nought but dread. "Now don't worry, I just need to keep eye contact long enough for this to work."

For what to work?! What else is this crazy bitch going to do to me?!

A soft glow lights up her eyes as they stare down at mine, a thin line slowly leaving them and all but blinding me as they reached mine. The feeling afterwards is quite painful, not immensely so but still…

Groggily, I fight with all my might to blink away the sting in my eyes…but again fail to do anything at all.


What did she do? WHAT DID SHE DO?!

"There's no need to shout you know, I can hear you quite clearly without it."

Horror all but bursting within me as I noticed Celestia's wide smile, a thought, quick and fearful forces its way to the forefront of my mind.


Can she hear my thoughts?

The smile widens on her muzzle as she nods, eyes alight with excited delight.

"That I can my love," she answers sweetly. "Think your words aloud and I'll hear them clear as if you'd verbally spoke."

I…could speak, and although I was filled with fear and distress at my current situation, the fact that the one I wished to YELL at could hear me do so what too much to pass up.

You poisoned me you bitch!

The sheer pain across her face as she flinched back almost…almost made me smile internally. But it was nothing compared to what I wanted right then, right there.

Give me the fucking antidote and let me go!

Those last three words…those last three words seemed to instantly trigger something inside her. I could see it click as her eyes darkened, I could taste it in the air my lungs subconsciously took.

"No," she uttered, voice soft yet clear. "No Tobias, I don't believe I will do either."

She lowered her head and regarded me calmly, that infuriating smile once again adorning her muzzle.

"Can you not see that this had to be done?" she asked, voice genuine…as if she completely believed the crap coming out of her mouth.

What, you HAD to poison me? What the fuck convinced you that doing THAT was…was necessary? Why did you do this to me?

My thoughts were angry and filled with confidence to begin with…but that last question I asked felt broken and distressed. Celestia apparently thought so too, at least if her very concerned expression was anything to go on.

"I-I had to do it Toby," she explained, voice practically pleading with me to understand. "You tried to break up with me, you tried to leave me…alone again. Doing this will make you stay with me again, can't you see?"

What? How could this possibly make me want to be anywhere near you? The moment I recover, I'm going to travel as far a-fucking way as I possibly can.

I didn't bother mentioning that I wasn't going to tell anyone about my being poisoned by her…who would believe me anyway?

And by God…the utter creepiness of the smile on her muzzle would have made me shiver, if I still could have. As if to follow up with that smile, she placed her left hoof upon my right cheek and began to stroke it affectionately…and unfortunately I could still feel it.

"I'm afraid that you won't be going anywhere, my lovely human," she crooned, giggling innocently. "In fact by the time you're fully recovered, you'll crave nothing more than to be with me at all times…just as I do with you."

Unable to move and stop her, it was with silent revulsion that I felt her full, soft lips press against my own, a deep flush quickly spreading across her pristine alabaster cheeks well before she pulled away.

Such as what can be seen when one cannot close their eyes.

"Mhmm, delicious," she moaned, her body actually shivering as she licked her lips. "Oh how I have missed your taste Toby."

Her eyes quickly snapped open as a grin graced her muzzle, loving and…cheeky I think, maybe playful.

"I bet you loved it too, didn't you?" she asked, grin widening as I kept my thoughts to myself. "Silent and mysterious is it, lover? Oh how coy you are, keeping to yourself. But it's okay, I'm here now, there's no reason to hide from me…no reason at all."

Stop it! I snapped. Stop all of this, I will not…I do not wish to speak to you in ANY way. And when I am recovered I will go to whatever kingdom hates you the most and take residence, or whatever the fuck it'll take to keep you away from me!

The hurt in her eyes was so genuine I actually believed it to be true.

"Toby please calm down," she implored, actually making to climb on the god damned bed as she did so. "You don't mean that, you don't mean any of it. I understand if you're angry, but-"

GET OFF OF ME!

I thought the words as loud as I could, hoping, praying for her to actually do I wished. And by the sad look in her eyes, I thought my prayers answered.

And they were…sort of.

She stopped her climbing of the bed and sat back down on her rump, regarding me with clearly distressed, unrealistically wide eyes.

And then she blinked...and then she smiled a crazy smile.

"You must be quite thirsty my love," she said, obvious desperation behind her tone. I watched on as her horn lit up and water filled cup popped out of nowhere. "Yes…here, let me help you my darling."

STOP, I'm paralyzed! I can't swallow!

"Oh, in most cases you wouldn't be able to, yes," she agreed, a prideful smile on her muzzle as she began to tip the cup. "You also shouldn't be able to feel anything either, but the poison was made with this in mind, to still allow you to do so, with MY magic, my power. Do you truly doubt that I could not accomplish such a trivial feat?"

Panic rose through me as the liquid began to travel down my throat, fear of choking all but flooding my mind. In fact I was so terrified of what was about to happen, that I failed to notice the water having already been swallowed.

At least until…

"There we go honey," Celestia cooed, her uncovered hoof gently rubbing my throat. "See, isn't that better? There's nothing to fear from me, I'd never hurt you, I'm here for you!"

You're absolutely insane!

"Insanely in love perhaps," she laughed, an open smile on her muzzle as she bent down and planted yet another deep kiss upon my lips. "Now, I'm going to use the ladies room for a few minutes. But I want you to try and relax, I promise I won't be too long."

Unwilling to say anything to her after…after THAT, I remained silent and watched her enter the toilet out of the corner of my eye.

Perhaps I should just stay silent from now on, I thought silently, trying and hoping that Celestia couldn't hear them when they weren't directed at her. At least until I can move around again. I'm not sure what that crazy bitch will do, but talking to her doesn't seem to make things any better.

The toilet door opening caught my attention and I quickly went back to thinking of…nothing, which is a lot harder than you might think.

"I know you're very angry with me my love," Celestia's voice crooned lovingly, though I couldn't quite figure out where she was talking from.

"I knew when I planned this that you would all but shout your hatred of me," it was closer now, somewhere behind me.

"But what you don't see is the opportunity for us to bond further my sweet," okay it was definitely behind to my left this time.

"You're unable to move, to take care of yourself as you once could. But I can! I can show you how much you mean to me like this. I can show you how wonderful it feels to be cared for, to be doted on day after day. All of which will never end…if you accept that you still love me, that you won't leave me."

I blinked…and there she was at the foot on my extremely large bed.

What…is she wearing? I thought, unaware that I projected it to her.

"Don't you like it?" she asked, a cute, almost sultry smile on her muzzle. She turned around slightly, her eyes never leaving me as she lifted her right hoof.

I have no other words for what she was wearing, black lingerie that covered her from barrel to flank, barely managing to hide the tips of her sun emblem. Her hind legs were also encased in very pink socks…or tights, I couldn't tell. Lastly there was a sort of cloth saddle atop her back…or maybe just a towel, I truly was clueless with it.

"I know you can't move sweetie," she spoke softly, her smile tender and loving. "But this where I come in, one of the…perks if you will, of having a mare who cares so much for her beloved."

She's actually trying to make me love her with…with whatever this is?

Again, I didn't realize that I'd phrased it as a question she could hear.

"Oh no honey," she reassured, much to my surprise. "Like I said, this is just a perk of taking care of you. But if it truly bothers you then I promise it won't hurt me in the least to take it off."

Her words flowed smoothly, silkily. Love or desperation I could not tell, and yet…

I stayed silent.

"On it stays then," she whispered, a smile tugging on the corner of her muzzle. "I knew you would love it."
> The Second Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here's the fourth chapter, as promised.

Please note that this does have a little bit of non-consensual bath time on Toby's behalf (But no foreplay yet!). Also note that I will now point out the obvious and say that one, he is still paralyzed, and two, he still needs to use the toilet.

Nuff said?

Begin!


The Second Day


The room was quiet…

Blinking slowly as I just about managed to turn my head; I looked out of the balcony window and sighed silently at the freedom it teased so cruelly.

The night before…when Celestia changed into that alluring attire had been hellish on my behalf. Oh I'm sure that she loved every second of caring for me, no doubt completely self-assured that her lingerie was the reason I remained silent.

And I'm ashamed to say that a part of me agreed with this assumption. But thankfully, the other part vehemently believed I did so to spite her, to give her no satisfaction.

I chose to stick with this side firmly.

At the end of the day, when the sun gave way to Luna's moon, Celestia crawled into the humungous bed I laid in…a smile so loving yet so…wrong in my eyes, firmly planted on her muzzle.

I couldn't move at all then, and my being silent did nothing to dissuade her from trying out for the big spoon. All I could see was white as she gently placed my head against her barrel.

At least she smelt nice…like chocolate.

Having woken up what felt like twenty or so minutes ago, I quickly found out that I was once again able to move my head, though with greater effort required to do so. Speaking however is still something I cannot do, nought but croaks and groans escape my mouth with each and every failed attempt.

Celestia, to my great surprise was also nowhere to be seen. Her shape was still viewable in the memory foam-like mattress, but she was certainly not in the room anymore.

And so it is that we come to the now, with nothing to do, barely able to move, but thankfully no crazy ex-marefriend to be found.

But if there's a chance for something to go wrong then…

A sudden creaking catches my sluggish attention as the door opens, a lingerie wearing Celestia happily skipping inside with a tray in her golden aura.


She's still wearing that? Wow, I wonder what bullshit story she came up with for that.

"Good morning honey!" she chirped cheerfully. "I hope you've worked up an appetite, because I've brought you a bountiful breakfast!"

Poetic

You could practically taste the sarcasm in the air.

Celestia merely giggled at my dry tone of…thoughts and placed the tray atop a rather large ebony set of draws. The smile on her face still felt so wrong, warm and kind, loving and comforting…as if to say that everything was going to be alright.

It's no wonder she has her little ponies wrapped around her hoof, I thought miserably. I honestly can't think of a single way to prove that she's the one who did this to me.

It all seemed so impossible. How could I ever prove that she did it? How could I show the truth to them when they would either ignore it, or tell Celestia herself that I said so.

A subconscious shiver, barely noticeable wracked my form as the answer came, swift and brutal as the questions I wondered.

I can't…and if Celestia knew that I had accused her of such, who knows what she would do to pacify it.

Given that my thoughts were directed only to myself, Celestia appeared to be none the wiser to my internal struggle, what with that everlasting smile still firmly planted on her muzzle.

But those eyes…calculating and cold if but for a moment. Yet a moment that I caught just before they regained their warmth.

She didn't hear me…she couldn't have…

I had to believe that. The mere suggestion of my thoughts being permanently readable was horrifying. To have my privacy violated so easily…no, my thoughts WERE private, and that was that.

The alternative was unthinkable.

"Oh honey," Celestia crooned softly, a slice of hash brown on a fork floating within her golden grasp. "It's time for breakfast, so open wide and let Celly feed you."


Creepy as f...

It took a few moments, but eventually…

She knows I open my mouth now, how?! I panicked internally.

"Come on Toby," she giggled, prodding the food against my tightly closed mouth. "Open up, I can make this really fun for both of us if you do."

I'm not eating a single thing you give me, poisoner! I snapped, relishing in the hurt expression across her face despite my break from silence. You told that you'd do so again and again if you had too. So if you expect me to open my mouth than you're sorely mistak-

A golden aura suddenly coated my mouth, breaking off my chain of thought as it began to ever so gently pry it open. I didn't hurt in the slightest, even as I tried and failed to fight it back. The best I can come to describing it is that it was like trying to stop water from running between your fingers.

Slow, painless yet inevitable.

"I'm sorry baby, but you must eat," she cooed, her eyes bright and doe like. "The last time you avoided sustenance, you wasted away. I won't let that happen again, so please…open your mouth. For me."

She let her magic fade away, releasing me from her gentle prying if but for that moment.

I have no choice, she'll just open it anyway…at least I get some form of dignity by doing it myself.

Begrudgingly, I opened my mouth and sighed silently, wincing at the sheer level of creepy her smile displayed as I did so.

"There we go sweetie," she said lovingly, her eyes lidding with affection as she placed the hash brown in my mouth. "See, isn't this lovely? A mare feeding her lover when he cannot do so himself. A mare taking care of him, not leaving him but for the most important of tasks…and even then, she does so with the highest amount of reluctance…because she loves him so much."

I'm ashamed to admit that the sheer sincerity in her words and expression…and eyes was enough to make my cheeks flush, though with embarrassment or something more I did not know.

"Oooh, your cheeks are so red honey," she giggled cutely. "Did I make them go red?"

Time to try aggression, I decided, embarrassment flooding through me at her light ribbing. Let's see if she still wants to do this shit when I treat her like shit.

Human ingenuity at its finest I'm sure.

Nodding internally, I looked right in her doe like eyes and said, in the best angry and demanding tone I could think of-

Shut the fuck up and feed me some more hash brown!

I didn't know what to expect if I'm being completely honest. Beyond my breaking up with her and the time before our friendship, I'd never really spoken to her like this before.

To be honest, I was kinda hoping for her to get angry herself and bugger off. Any slaps I received for my language and attitude would be worth it in the end.

"Gladly sweetie!" Celestia complied; her smile never fading as she did what I'd harshly commanded and filled my mouth with the hash brown. "I knew you'd love it, I made it all myself after all!"

What? No, no, no! Get angry damnit!

It took a considerable effort to keep that thought private…hopefully private.


Well…if first one fails, try and try again.

And I did…badly.

I tried again and again to rile her up. But as with the first attempt, every one of them was greeted with nought but happy approval and loving praise.

I was honestly surprised she didn't try to play 'here comes the train'. Eventually it came to the point where there was only a single sausage left, quorn I believe. And as she apparently realized this, Celestia's eyes suddenly began to twinkle with joy.

Using her magic, she placed half of the sausage in her muzzle before leaning down and slipping the other into my mouth, eyes shining happily all the while.

Better play along for now, she'll just make me otherwise.

Reluctantly, I chewed my half off and swallowed it quickly. To my surprise, Celestia followed suit shortly after and swallowed hers, ridding me of my doubt that ponies couldn't eat quorn.

What, I get curious sometimes.

"And there we are sweetie, all done!" she fussed happily, an unwilling kiss being pried as she pressed her lips to mine. I couldn't repress a groan as her tongue flicked around the inside of my mouth delicately. "Mhmm, still so delicious Toby. As you always are."

With a quick flash of magic, the tray and all its contents were whisked away elsewhere, leaving only myself and my psychotic ex marefriend in the room.

"Now then my little human," Celestia cooed gently, her magic once more taking form as it began to lift me out of the bed and into mid-air. "I believe it's time for your bath."

My bath?

The question was pretty much thought aloud, but was rather redundant as I used my recently reusable nose and gave an experimental sniff.

I didn't smell too bad, but neither did I smell too fresh.

And so it was that I found myself happily floated into Celestia's ridiculously large bathroom. I say ridiculously because all that was in it was a single toilet, bath and sink. The rest was just open area for the flower patterned tiles.

"Here we are then," Celestia said cheerfully, smiling as per fucking usual as she stopped in front of the already filled bath. "Now the water's probably cold at the moment, so…"

With yet another display of her power, the water suddenly began to bubble and steam, before calming down into what I suspected was a relatively nice hot bath.

Suddenly, I felt something tugging at my boxers and tried to instinctively grab them with my hands…only to remember that I still couldn't move anything below my neck.

As if sensing my reluctance however, Celestia smiled reassuringly and nuzzled my left thigh soothingly.

"Come now honey, I've already seen you quite naked before," she encouraged, her tone soft and honeyed as she effortlessly pulled them down and threw them into…a washing basket?

I quickly snapped my eyes back onto the mare and blinked at her loving smile. Not that it wasn't as creepy as ever mind you, it was just that she was doing so while looking directly at my stuff.

Thankfully she did nothing more than look for a few more moments, before flicking her eyes up at mine and giggling lightly.

"Okay then Toby, in we go," she said fondly, placing me over the water for a second or two before gently lowering me into it. As I said previously, I COULD still feel despite not being able to move nought below my neck. But it's still a rather pleasant surprise to know just how wonderful the water felt as it encased everything but my neck and head.

"Is the water nice honey?" Celestia asked, concern quickly adorning her expression. "I can cool it down if it's too hot for you."

I was originally going to revert back into my 'don't talk to the crazy bitch' routine. But…I don't know, something kept me talking.

I suspected magic but…

It's fine Celestia, I assured, frowning internally at how receptive I still was to her. The water's just fine.

Evidently I'd said the right thing by the way her face seemed to come alive with delight, if not that then the speed of which a flannel flew into her hooves conveyed as much too.

"Wonderful," she laughed quietly, placing the flannel beneath the water for a moment before lifting it out and squirting some sort of body lotion into it. "Now just relax my love, and let me take care of you."

Not like I have any choice in the matter I grumbled mutely, unaware of the frown on her face as I closed my eyes.

To start with she slowly and gently began to rub the flannel against my neck and shoulders, using her hooves rather than magic to do so.

Maybe she thinks it more personal to do so physically?

The alabaster mare continued her tender motions for a few more minutes, moving the flannel down to my chest next as she began the wash anew. She spent a little more time here than on my neck, washing under my armpits and then along said arms, between each finger and thumb…with such affection that I found myself silent involuntarily.

The feet were next, between each toe much like my hands with a gradual pace. She moved to my legs afterwards, cleaning each one quickly yet efficiently. And finally came…well, you know.

But as if to put all my worries to rest, the mare did nought but wash it. Though I did find that she spent a little bit longer on the entire package then both my legs combined. Then again I wasn't really paying too much attention to the time, I was too busy praying that arousal was impossible as I was.

It wasn't…

She paid it no mind however, only a slight giggle escaping her muzzle as she finished and quickly cleaned my stomach.

And then…came the worst part.

For as she floated me out of the bath and towelled me off, I heard but couldn't feel the unmistakable signs of my needing the toilet.

"I was wondering how long it would take for this to happen," Celestia commented, smiling up at me kindly. "The poison unfortunately affects the use of the bladder and bowels upon consumption, holding in all that needs to be released for a time."

And as though someone had just walked over my grave…

But how am I supposed to… so embarrassed was I that I couldn't even finish the thought.

"Don't worry sweetheart," she said gently, floating my immobile body and manipulating it so I could sit on the toilet seat. "This is what I'm here for Toby, I'll help you."

I didn't even need to form a thought before a refusal left my mind.

Uh, no I think I'll be just fine doing this on my own thanks, I declined, staring and hoping that the finality in my eyes would say enough.

Unfortunately…

"I can't honey, you'll fall without me here to help you," she explained softly. "Please Toby, it's nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of, you're paralyzed, you need help with moments like this."

Before I could think of yet another refusal, she lit up her horn and gently pressed the side of it to my stomach.

And I felt it immediately, all with the knowledge that I was powerless to stop it.

Oh no…

It was by far the most embarrassing and humiliating thing I had ever experienced, but Celestia merely smiled and encouraged me with soft, affectionate words, never once showing disgust at…at anything.

Yet again I was reminded just how mature she was with personal situations.

Once all was finished and I'd stopped subconsciously trembling, I opened my eyes and looked at the alicorn's ever loving expression. She regarded me with those soft, doe like eyes even as she lifted me up ever so slightly and began to…uh…wipe me.

"There we go honey," she said, voice still as devoted and warm as ever as finished up and flushed the toilet. "See, there's nothing to be…ohh no, baby no, no tears."

She spoke…but I couldn't comply. The sheer and absolute depth of how I felt in that moment was incredible, and not in a good way. The humiliation combined with how helpless I felt was simply too much for me in that moment…too much.

"Toby it's okay, it's perfectly natural," she soothed lovingly, nuzzling my neck as a hoof began to rub my back. "Shhh, now sweetie, it's okay. I'm here, it's going to be okay."


Helpless…can't do anything myself…need to get out of here…scared…

Inconsolable as I was, my thoughts simply refused to become coherent, disjointed sentences and emotions all clashing together instead.

And unfortunately…she heard it all.

"Tobias, it's okay," she crooned softly. "This is why I'm here, there's no need to be scared baby. I'll take care of you, of everything, hush now…I'm here for you."

Her words…so soothing, so comforting and ever so easy to cling too. Her being my poisoner all but forgotten…for that moment.

It was only the second day of my paralysis…and I was already a sobbing mess.
> The Third Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here's the fifth chapter, as promised!

Now like I said in the previous author note, this chappy will have some smexy stuff in it. That being said, this smexy stuff is completely non-consensual…as in Tobias doesn't want it for those who can't be arsed to Google XD.

Begin!



The Third Day


It was a little after two in the afternoon…I think. I don't know, I didn't really…care at the time. How could I…how could I think at all with my emotions in such a tangent?

It was the third day of my slowly receding paralysis, and like the day before I found that I could once again move a various part of my body.

Namely my both my arms and hands.

Heh, you'd think that this would be cause for a small celebration. But when I actually tried to move them, use them…I found it immensely difficult. And how they looked…most of the muscle, fat and whatnot had withered considerably, as if they'd been in a cast for months, unused.

Celestia noticed as much long before I did…but she said that…

"Oh honey don't worry," she soothed, stroking my hair as she lay beside me, ready for sleep. "You'll regain what you've lost in time…and you still look so beautiful to me, you always will."

Despite my tirade of spiraling emotions, I couldn't help but soak up the compliment like a sponge. My pride…dignity was at an all-time low, I had to feel something, I had to.

It didn't help however that I was able to move and see just how badly they were affected.

I didn't even want to think about my legs.

In any case, it was sometime in the afternoon that my third day really began. Celestia had once again been absent when I awoke, but took no time at all in returning with breakfast…which she then began to feed me with.

I was barely responsive.

Unlike the previous day however, she didn't take me into the bathroom to bathe afterwards. Neigh, instead she merely chose to lay back down beside me and talk. She spoke of small things, funny and relevant, silly and serious…like she used too when we were together. It's nothing worth mentioning, but the feeling of it all, how the sheer nostalgia of everything made me feel was…unforgettable.

She continued to talk up until around eight minutes or so ago, in which she left with nought but the reassurance that she would return as quickly as she could.

I was puzzled by it all, she never seemed to leave unless it was absolutely necessary after all. She said as much the previous day.

Then again…with her gone for those few minutes…it allowed me to close my eyes and let go, just for a bit…a little bit.

I refused to break down in front of her again, I…I refused, I couldn't do it again. She'd speak, she's soothe and croon words of affection and reassurance, safety and warmth. And if spoken in the middle of my breaking down…my breaking down again, I truly did not know what would happen to me.

I didn't know if I'd be able to shove this horrible dependency I feel niggling in the back of my mind. Its voice is small, barely there…and yet there.

A brief part of me wonders…does she have it too?

Before I can think any more on the subject, a faint rumbling sounds from within my stomach, accompanied with a brief twisting sensation that I barely managed to feel.

Oh god no, please no…

Celestia wasn't here, she wasn't in the room. How was I supposed to do this without…

No…NO! We can do this ourselves, we don't need her. We just need a little willpower is all.

With that determined thought echoing throughout my mind, I looked over towards the bathroom door and grimace, a subtle wave of anxiety washing over me.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I use all the strength in my upper body to push myself to the right, only just grazing my head on the ebony draws as I fall to floor on my back.


Fucking!…Okay…okay, we're out of the bed, now to the bathroom.

Gritting my teeth, I rolled myself onto my front and placed both my arms in front of me. Then, with all the strength I can muster, I grip the floor as best I could and began to slowly pull myself forward.

The effort it took to do so nearly made me cry.

Come on, we can do it! We don't need Celestia; we don't need anyone to help us now. We can do this ourselves!

It took far longer than I would have thought to do so, but perseverance paid off as I eventually stopped just below the door handle.

I would have smiled…but as I tried to prop myself against the wall, a spasm overtook my limbs, causing them to regress to jelly, and I to collapse on my front.

No…come on! Come on!

Letting out an audible groan of desperation, I forced my shaky right arm up to the handle and gripped it with my increasingly lax hand, said desperation rising as its grip continued to fail again and again.

Come on, please!

I gripped…and lost again…

COME ON, COME ON!

The subtle vibration of my stomach intensified, doing nothing to sate my growing fear. It'd been too long, way too long. Celestia would be back any second and if she found me like this and tried, nay, she WOULD assist me…and if she did then…


If there's really a God out there, then please help me. I can't do this by myself…I can't do it, I can't! Please-

An absolute wave of dread overwhelmed me as I hear the door behind me opening, a voice, warm and tender saying…

"Sorry I took so long baby, I was-"

I'd stopped moving, but by the sudden lack of her voice permeating throughout the chamber, I knew that at any moment she would try and help me.

Surprisingly, there was no sudden rant of assurances and manic worry. Nay, instead there was only the sound of light clopping as she made her way to my side. And even though I refused to look, I knew she was staring down at me.

Is this the part where she tells me off or something? I muttered scathingly, and hopefully to myself.

Yet as the moments passed and nothing breached the silence, I found myself looking up at her out of sheer confusion, if not curiosity.

The expression on her face was…patient, extremely so. I couldn't help but recall the exact same expression on my mother's face as a child, normally after lying and knowing that she knew I had.

A patient mother, not a word leaving her lips as she let the guilt do the job for her.

But Celestia wasn't my mother, she wasn't even my friend. She was my poisoner, my captor, my personal tyrant who professed to care but hurt me to show it.

And so instead of breaking the silence myself, I tried once more to reach up and twist the door knob. Yet like before I failed again and again, my hand simply lacking any strength to finish the task…and eventually…I lost the strength to move at all.

As I felt the strength leave me for good…and the constant staring of my crazy ex baring down on me…I experienced something that I'd felt very much the previous day.

I experienced how it felt to be truly helpless, useless even. I felt my pride, my dignity fade away into nothing, tears welling up in my eyes as I attempted to lift my arm.

Lift damnit…just…lift please…let me…p-please…

The handle sudden became enveloped in gold, twisting around and opening the door before my eyes. Looking back at the alabaster mare, I found myself swallowing from…nervousness as I found her already looking down at me.

Celestia?

"If you wish to try and do it yourself then I won't stop you," she said quietly, her eyes, their warmth practically crushing me with its weight. "Go ahead, I promise I won't do anything."

Looking at the toilet and then back to her…I felt my body shake with despair at what I felt coming, what I couldn't stop any more…I had no pride left to deny it. And with my strength what it was, I knew that there was no way that I'd be able to drag myself over, let alone manage somehow lift myself into a seating position.

I was trapped, defeated before I'd even begun. And she knew it, her kind, patronising eyes said as much in her silence.

I can't, I confessed, my thoughts as weak as I felt.

"What was that sweetie?" she asked, her expression the same as ever, warm, loving.

I can't do it myself, I repeated. Can you help me…please?

And there was the smile, widening, becoming warmer, more caring if that was possible.

"Of course I will honey," she cooed, her horn and my body lighting up as she carried me to the toilet. "I'll always be here to take care of you."

Once I was seated and judged comfortable, she lit her horn once more and pressed the side of it to my stomach. And…like before I closed my eyes and tried my best to ignore the humiliation welling up inside me.

I wouldn't cry this time, I wouldn't cry, I wouldn't…wouldn't…

A lone drip slipped down my cheeks, I felt it, all of it….all of the pain that one salty drop carried. But then I felt something else, something warm and soft brushing against my cheek, wiping the tear away ever so gently.

And when I opened my eyes, I was instantly graced with two magenta orbs gazing into them, such love and devotion held within that it made me gasp lightly.

"It's okay honey," Celestia lulled softly, moving forward and kissing the very spot she nuzzled. "I'm here, I'll always be here for you."

I remained silent as she levitated and wiped me, choosing instead to watch her and wonder how that loving…that devoted smile never left her muzzle as she did so.

"You wonder why this does not disgust me?" she spoke suddenly, her eyes flicking up and lidding affectionately. "You wonder why I do not scrunch up my muzzle in distaste, no?"

I didn't say anything back, yet as she continued to smile and wipe, I knew that I didn't need to.

"Tobias…you've no idea that joy it brings me to care for you like this," she crooned happily, sighing in absolute contentment as she seated me once more and flushed the toilet. She then turned to the bath, her magic already twisting the tap, filling the tub with water. "To care for someone you love so much, knowing all the while that they need you so badly, so desperately to help them…"

Smiling warmly, she turned around and and reached out with her right hoof, stroking my hair gently, lovingly.

"You want to deny my help, I know," she admitted, smile not wavering in the slightest. "But you know you need it, you know you want it. Because I can see it in your eyes, I hear it in every stray thought you send in my direction."

I…I've got to get that under control, I thought firmly, trying my best no to wince as her smile widened. Did she hear…

Turning back to the large bath, she halted the water with her magic and stuck a hoof in, evidently testing its heat before nodding and turning back to me, her horn alight once more.

I still didn't have any pants on, Celestia hadn't retrieved any from my house and thus I slept quite naked beside her.

Though that's probably why…

Within but a few seconds I was carefully lowered into the bath, closing my eyes and sighing as quietly as I could when the water began to soothe me.

But then there was a light splashing sound, and to my surprise the volume of said water rose considerably, curiosity causing me to open my eyes and see Celestia's entire body below her neck very much submerged at the other end.

I guessed that her lingerie was somewhere on the floor.

What are you doing? I asked, unable to help myself as the words all but spilled out of my mind.

"Washing with you my love," she replied, smiling warmly as she made her way over to me, ignoring my expression at her term of endearment. "Don't worry, I'll make it fun!"

And she…did I suppose, in her own way, using her soaped up barrel to rub against my chest, giggling all the while as I stayed silent and closed my eyes.

You've no idea how difficult it was to stay so, to stop myself from becoming…excited from her enthusiasm.

But I think she knew, she always knows.

After finishing up and I was dried and whatnot, Celestia carried me back to the bed and laid me atop the covers, that secretive smile adorned upon her muzzle all the while.

"I know how hard this is for you to bear my love," she spoke suddenly, a strange hint of…something in her tone. "I can only imagine how difficult it must be so dependent on another person, to need their help, their mere presence every moment of every day."

She fell silent for a few seconds and climbed atop the bed with me, nuzzling her head against my cheek before kissing it warmly.

"But I've been researching and I have something for you, something that will make you feel a lot better," she finished, her smile now very much a grin as she lit up her horn and looked down at my…

Wait no! What are you doi-

A golden aura covered my limp member and began to gradually heat up, tingling ever so slightly before a sort of vibration steadily enveloped it. I knew that arousal was still possible from yesterday, but as the vibrating glow kept up its steady pace I felt something akin and then tenfold.

Unwillingly, a shuddering gasp escape my mouth as it continued to intensify.

N-no, I don't want this, not from her, not from…not…

I could barely think as it continued, and then as if to increase my rapidly declining through process, the mare responsible slowly began to lay kiss after nuzzle, after kiss after nuzzle upon my neck, my cheek and shoulder.

"Does it not feel good honey?" she asked, light amusement most definitely in her tone. "I could stop it now if you really want me to…but only if you really want me to."

Weakly, I raised my right arm and tried to grasp her horn, knowing it to be the only way to stop magic. Unfortunately as I tried to do so, the quietly chuckling mare chose instead to kiss the palm and place it against her left cheek.

"Still so stubborn, even now my sweet?" she ask softly, nuzzling my hand. "Even before all of this you never did let me take care of you in bed. It was always my needs first and yours second, if at all. But now…now it's your turn, and mine to take care of you."

Unable to move, to think or speak aloud, I once again found myself completely helpless to stop her. And yet as the seconds passed me by and her magic grew in intensity…I found all my complaints forgotten.

"Yes…that's it baby," she cooed, a hoof gently moving my face so as to look at her. "Just relax…and let me love you."

My end hit me so abruptly and without warning that a cry, though silent, escaped from my lips. And as it did so, Celestia leaned down and captured them with her own, humming happily as my body subconsciously shook and tried to buck.

W-Wha…Oh fuck!

I'd orgasmed before obviously, but this…it was as if her magic had me do so a hundred times over.

Oh god, Celestia! Christ! Fuck, fuck, fuck, Celestia, fuck!

I barely comprehended what I'd thought, let alone that I was kissing her back. In fact it took the realization of the lack of stickiness to wake me back up, if only slightly.

Why do I still feel…clean? I wondered, apparently aloud if her words were of any clarification.

"The spell is designed to capture any messes and send them to another plane," she explained, giggling as she leaned down once more and laid a kiss upon my lips. "It's very helpful for those who wish to do it more than once."

I'm…not sure if I kissed her back or not, I was still in a kind of stupor.

"Now then," she said, sliding her body against mine as she slowly sat down on the floor. "I do believe that it's time for lunch, no?"

Why did I…

"I was thinking something along the lines of pasta today."

Why did I let her do that?

"What do you think?

I should have yelled at her to stop, I should have said no, I shouldn't have…I shouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did.

"Toby?"

Snapped out of my thoughts, I turned to face her and…for reasons I knew not, smiled.

Pasta sounds nice Celly.

The smile on her face was akin to light of a thousand suns…and at the time I didn't know why, I still wasn't quite coherent. I didn't realize what I'd done by saying that name…that silly little name.

Celly.

It was the third day, but that name sparked a turning point in the week.

And the rest of it became...very fucked up.
> Celestia's Interlude - Why I Must
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Decided to write a little interlude for Celestia, so as to get a feel on her thoughts and reasoning, though without spoiling anything vastly important for the remaining chapters.

Tis only a thousand words, but t'was all that was needed in my opinion.

Begin!


Celestia's Interlude – Why I Must


His chest rises and falls, again and again. So slow, gradual, like a rhythm specifically made for me to enjoy.

The time is a little after one in the morning now, I've been watching my darling Toby sleep for two hours. It's so…addictive, so much so that I place my head against it once more, listening and immensely enjoying the on-going beat of his heart.

I look up at his face and smile at how peaceful his expression is. No pain, no hurt or fear is upon it…a good change from these recent days.

Sometimes I wonder what my sister would say if she knew of my poisoning Tobias. Sometimes I wonder what Chrysalis would do too. Something drastic no doubt, he being her first friend and all.

Thus why I had to lie to them, to convince them that the poison regained strength around magic…all but the magic that halted its progress that is.

My magic.

The excuse felt flimsy at first, and I believe that it was only with an emotional barrier that I stopped Chrysalis from discovering my deception. Luna, bless her soul, simply loves me too much to ever believe that I would lie to her.

She doesn't realize how much I've changed over the years she was gone…and then again when Tobias and I became more, became lovers for life…my life, not his. I will never let him leave me, by any means. Even death will be halted, I know how, I know the magic it would take to share with him my forever.

And I will…I will once this week this done. For he will love me again, I know…no…

He already loves me, I know he does. I can see it in his eyes, feel it in his thoughts and…and our break up does NOTHING to change that.

Bah, what a farce it is. For him to look me in the eye and declare our love done, over to never be what it once was, was…horrible, devastating. Not in the sense that he walked away, but in the sense that he actually believed his own words.

How could we be done just like that, because of a choice I made and would make again with no hesitation. No matter his denials I know…I KNOW he would leave me to be with his family again. And if he were just a friend then maybe…maybe I would have allowed it.

But when he claimed my heart and gave me his, I vowed then and there to NEVER give it back. He is mine forever, my lover, my honey, my sweet, sweet Tobias.

And so when he did leave me, when he believed so strongly that his word was final…I had no choice left but to prove him otherwise. Perhaps it was more than just my choice, perhaps his breaking up with me was something long coming.

Perhaps it was my fault…no, it was my fault, I knew it. But I couldn't let him leave me, I wouldn't, I wouldn't be alone again!

And so I set up a plan, to poison my poor lover into paralysis. Where then I could truly look after him, care for him, love him in such a way that he'd be left no doubt that I was the only one he needed.

Oh I'd still allow him friends; I'd never try to disrupt my beautiful harmony. Of course I'd have to check that they were safe for him, that they wouldn't try to do anything…indecent, like steal him away from me.

Chrysalis will need to be watched discretely, I know how much she adores him from the shadows. I don't need to be an emotional reader to know that.

Luna loves him too; in a sisterly way thank the gods. I know she wishes he spend more time with her, and so once he is better I shall allow them to play together.

Sister does love her pranks after all…

But before all of that, I must enact the third stage of my plan. He has been poisoned and placed within my care and my care alone, that was the first stage. And already his will has begun to weaken, his trust issues being placed aside for moments at a time. He, through my loving ministrations, is already quite on his way to become dependent, to needing my help, my love for him.

He showed little resistance as I pleasured him devotedly.

And most importantly of all…he's calling me Celly again, an affectionate name between the two of us which shows…so much. Oh he might go back to calling me by my proper name again, but he'll slip up and the word will slip out. It'll only take a little persuasion to keep it permanent.

The last stage will conclude my careful planning…and when it does, I can rest easy knowing that he'll be completely devoted to me, completely in love with me, and completely willing to let me guide his life.

Whether he knows it or not.

But for now…I have a spell to consider, an intense spell derived from a book of rituals long forgotten by Pony kind.

I saw no need for them to remember.

The ritual I am considering is designed to further the bond between lovers. It's focused solely on the mare of course, but what it does after is intended for the male, to relieve pain and lessen inhibitions temporarily. But temporarily is all I need, after all I don't plan of using it only once.

Of course the nature of the spell is quite base, and demands that it be drunk straight from the mares fluids. Whether it is blood from a cut or of a more sexual nature…or even something else, something that catches my attention instantly.

…

Oh…oh yes, oh that is perfect. So innocent a reserve, intended for a mares young…but how to convince him to do so?

Perhaps a mild compulsion…or some choice words?

Hmm, yes…yes the former will work nicely as a secondary choice. I want to know how it feels to convince him naturally…and I believe I know how to do it. 

Oh how nurturing this ritual will be, and with the addiction of pain it will lessen…yes, this is the way it is supposed to be.

His face scrunches up in pain as he sleeps, I can see it as I gaze upon him now. But with this ritual, with the way it works, the love and care it shows…

"Hush now sweetheart," I coo quietly, kissing his lips lightly. "When I raise the sun and the morning begins…I will show you how foolish you were to think of abandonment, to think you had any sway in leaving me."

It will be a wonderful day for us both…and as the thought of such runs through my mind, I smile tenderly down at my beloved and begin the spell.



End Of Interlude

> The Fourth Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here's the chappy that's had you lot possibly dreading/salivating in anticipation…only for me to cockblock you! Ha!

So yeah, a warning for those who didn't quite understand what Celestia was talking about in her interlude. The future chapters may or may not contain Tobias drinking Celly's magic milk...maybe…perhaps…XD

Nuff said?

Begin!


The Fourth Day


I felt ashamed.

Not three days had passed me by before I'd given unto Celestia's silky words and feminine wiles. Sure one could say that I wasn't exactly in my best shape of mind, but the mere fact that my will was minute compared to her perseverance was a horrible feeling.

She had poisoned me, taken me against my will, and convinced everyone that I was safest within her care and…and…

And as I awoke this morning and realized what I'd let happen, I finally comprehended all too well just how badly I was at playing the game. Celestia's game, a game of tricks and clever words, manipulation and patience.

I didn't understand I was even a part of it until right then and there.

Worst still, I had no idea what her next play was going to be, let alone whether or not I'd even be able to resist it.

But I can try! I declared to myself…hopefully. I can hold my nerve until I'm well enough and then…and then try whatever I can to leave this blasted country and go somewhere where she can't get me.

Of course…I knew it wouldn't be so easy. But like I'd said, I had to at the very least try and do so.

Celestia was, for once, lying beside me in her seriously large bed. Her gentle snores and light nickering evidently revealed her to be quite asleep…and it was in this moment that I attempted an opportunity.

For although I was very weak and unsteady…my legs and feet were once again under my control. In fact beside my voice, all of my body had freed itself from Celestia's poison three days before everyone else said it would.

It's times like this that I'm really glad I'm human.

I didn't know why it had disappeared so early; I was no expert on poisons after all. But in the end I narrowed it down to the amount being too little when I consumed it.

Carefully, slowly and ever so quietly, I moved my weary legs sideways and used the momentum to swing myself into a sitting position.

It was then that I got a good look at my legs.

Oh my god, they're…no…breathe Toby, breathe. It doesn't matter; it'll all come back eventually. For now we need to get away from Celestia and…

And do what?

It was a good question, what could I do? I had no idea how long I could even walk with my legs so frail. And even then, how far could I get before someone tattled to my sleeping, psychotic ex?

I have to try…I have to.

Lack of clothing was also a problem, but a minor one compared to my greater need to escape. And so with no hesitation in mind, I planted my feet on the ground and stood u-


OH DEAR CHRIST THE PAIN!

The moment strain was placed upon my legs; an absolutely terrible wave of agonizing pain tore through my entire lower body, spreading upwards at an incredible pace.

Needless to say all the strength left me as I fell backwards, my body bouncing off the mattress instantly and propelling me forwards onto the floor, my head hitting it with a sickening crack.

…

My vision wavered, dark pushing against the light heavily, body shaking with spasm after horrible spasm.

I felt the vibrations, heard the clip-clopping of hooves before the voice. A soft voice, honeyed and warm, worried and…pleasant.

"Sweetie! Are you okay?" Celestia cried, physically turning me around so as to face her. And I did, blearily looking through my pain and right into those concerned magenta orbs. "Did you want to get out bed? Oh honey you should have woken me up and told me, silly!"

Effortlessly, I was levitated back onto said bed, swiftly followed by the anxious mare as she lay beside me. Her hoof was on my head before I knew it, brushing my hair aside and pressing lightly against a rapidly forming bruise, causing me to hiss in pain.

"Sorry Toby," she apologized softly. "Here, does this feel better?"

Without any warning, she leaned down and kissed the bruise gently, breathing deliberately heavy breathes upon it, their cold feeling soothing it with ease. She finished off with a light, drawn out lick, before smiling down at me and nuzzling my left cheek lovingly.

"Silly man, you should have woken me up before you tried that," she chastised, a hint of mirth in her tone as she shifted slightly. "I would've told you that you had little strength to stand."

I just about formed a thought to respond, to lie and bluff my way through the truth of wanting to escape. But without any warning a terrible spasm wracked my legs, causing them to twitch and flail on their own.

I couldn't stop them no matter how I tried, and as a second passed by and the pain continued, I felt the all too familiar sting of tears threatening to escape from my eyes.

But then a glow, a golden glow enveloped my legs, halting their uncontrollable movement. And though the pain remained, that I was no longer flailing helped immensely in regards to lessening said pain.

Her eyes…they're so…

I don't know how to describe them, I didn't know then and I don't know now. The way they looked at me with such warmth, such tender love and affection…as if to say that everything was going to be alright.

Oh God, this hurts!

Thoughts jumbled, unorganized, yet undeniable as I tried to keep them to myself.

But as with all I'd tried to keep hidden from her, Celestia knew and responded in very much the same, similar manner as she always did, always had.

"I know it hurts sweetie," she crooned, looking down at my restrained legs sympathetically. "I know…but I'm sorry. I don't dare risk using an intensive and invasive spell such as one to heal; I have no idea what it might do with the poison in your system."

Y-You made it! I cried silently, wishing with all my heart for the pain to disappear. It wasn't as agonizing as it once was, but it still there, constant and raw.

"Yes I did," she agreed softly, nuzzling my nose almost…playfully. "But I only knew of what it did to the kind I know so well, and you…are one of a kind."

She shifted…uncomfortably for whatever reason, but kept the same, warm smile upon her muzzle as she waited for me to…do something.

Then knock me out, put me to sleep, do something!

"I daren't my love," she replied, voice gentle and fretful. "The magic I used last night was only safe because of where it was situated. For me to use any spell upon your brain…no, I'm sorry honey, I can't."

I didn't want to believe her, I couldn't believe her. She was the Princess of manipulation, big or small. But the sheer sincerity in her gaze…well, I made me consider that she might have actually been telling the truth.

C-Can't you just punch me or something? I pleaded, pain though dulled, still very there. Your hooves are strong enough to do-

"Tobias!" she interrupted, voice high and tone strict. "I will NOT hurt you, don't you understand that? How dare you ask me to…to do such a thing!"

I…couldn't help but stare at her. The words and tone she held as she used them was something I'd rarely heard before, and most certainly not on me. If anything the tone was used on certain greedy nobles, or warmongering fools who entered her court.

Celestia was breathing heavily as she glared down at me, hot air hitting my face over and over until…she blinked, and her angry expression seemed to melt away, a remorseful one taking its place oh so easily.

"Oh Toby I'm so sorry!" she cried, her eyes pleading with me to…understand something. "I didn't mean to say that, I couldn't stop…It just came out before I could stop it."

I…was beyond confused.

What are you talking about? I asked…unsure whether or not I was actually concerned. She shifted uncomfortably. And why do you keep moving around like that? What's the matter?

Shit…I was concerned!

Celestia looked at me intensely for a few moments, uncertainty clear within her eyes. But then they closed…and she moved to my left hand side, lying down on her side as she did so.

But I couldn't see anything wrong her. There was no irritation or rash or…anything.

There's nothing there, Cel what are you-

A large smile instantly adorned her muzzle as I said her name, her horn shining for all of a second and then…and then I blinked, the reason behind her irritation suddenly quite visible as it pulled my attention like a magnet.

Or should I say reasons?

O…kay.

Her stomach was as flat and fit as ever, the picture perfect appearance for any model or simply those who desired to be athletic. The fur was only lightly ruffled, and even then it was in an enticing way, one that could easily attract the eyes of any guy.

But it was what was further below that truly caught my eye. Her teats…breasts, whatever the ponies called them were why.

Before I'd broken up with her they were something Celestia all but flaunted for me to glimpse, in private or public she cared little. I gathered that she suspected I rather liked them…and I do, did. And while they were slightly larger than any other Pony's, they were still nicely hidden beneath her coat. But now…it was as if someone had pumped air into them.

They had swelled considerably, enough that her coat wouldn't be able to hide them. And thus her magical concealment suddenly made a lot of sense. Her nipples or teats or…whatever they were, had also become rather prominent and red, as if seriously inflamed.

"I think…that my body is trying to help," Celestia said suddenly, a shy smile firmly planted on her muzzle.

W-What are talking about? I asked, thoroughly confused.

She shifted slightly so as to get into a better position, her gaze thankfully elsewhere as her jiggling twins all but demanded I stare at them.

I hated myself for doing so…but in the end I knew that I was still just a guy. And the sight of that would be enough to attract anyone's attention.

"I told you Toby, we're bonded," she explained softly, her left hoof reaching over and stroking my face lovingly. "My body, it…I've never experienced anything like this before. But I truly believe that my body, my soul knows that you're in pain…and it's reacting accordingly."

I was trying and failing to figure out what she was explaining.

So let me get this straight, I began sceptically, already way to wary of the mare to let her explanation clear things up. We're apparently bonded together in some way I've yet to feel. And because of this bond, your soul or body or whatever can tell that I'm in pain, that you can't use magic to heal me with the poison still in my system, and has for whatever reason up'd your breast size from A to C to help me somehow?

Speaking of pain, another wave of dulled agony wracked my body, hurting enough that I gritted my teeth.

Celestia looked confused at my terminology…and with good reason, seeing that there was no such thing as a bra in the world. But a split second was all it took for the confusion to be replaced by a sort of…tenderness.

"We are bonded Tobias," she corrected, shuffling uncomfortably close. "I know you cannot feel it now, but don't you remember when we were happy together? Do you not recall our moods being similar, or our thoughts mirrored at times?"

I…did remember something of what she was telling me. Back before all of this when we were happy and in love, I did feel something truly intimate when I was beside her, kissing her, or even holding her. Looks would convey entire conversations in the blink of an eye sometimes. And when she was angry at my nearly being strangled by that farmpony's lasso…I remember my own anger only intensifying with every second I thought on it.

Could it really be true that my anger at what she had done to me, the poisoning, the way she lovingly, softly grounded my pride and dignity into nothing…Could it really be true that what I felt now somehow blocked if not cut off our bond completely?

"Toby."

The gentle tone in which she spoke my voice, so loving and tender brought me out of my thoughts with an ease almost scary. But nonetheless…I still looked at her, at her soft eyes and warm smile.

"I think they're for you honey," she said, her voice delicate, devoted.

W-What do you mean? I asked, suddenly very nervous of the implications.

She smiled kindly…she knew, she always knew.

"I can't use magic to heal your pain sweetie," she cooed, a wing brushing against the center of my back gently. "I think whatever part of me did this knows that and has done this to me to compensate…to let me soothe away your hurt."

I was still really confused.

What does she want me do, squeeze them or something?

Celestia giggled not a moment after I'd thought, well, that thought. Evidently I still hadn't quite managed to keep my private thoughts just that, private.

It was only a shy hope that kept me believing it was only the occasional one I practically blurted out.

"Oh come now, don't be silly," she laughed musically. "They're not filled with air my love."

...

I wasn't confused anymore.

Oh…wait, no! I'm not going to do THAT.

"Why not?" she asked, appearing for all pretenses to be honestly puzzled. "It's not like you haven't done so before sweetie."

I felt my face flush rather rapidly at her reminder, something that she seemed to find amusing if her mirthful grin was anything to go by.

Yes, but it was during sex, I said quickly. And in the heat of the moment, I can't really be blamed for what I do.

"Which moment, the first or the fortieth?" she inquired, giggling at my ever reddening cheeks.

The LAST one! I shouted, embarrassment all but flooding my veins, in turn bringing hot anger to the surface. And it WON'T happen again, EVER again, understand?

…I wish the hurt look in her eyes hadn't bothered me as much as it did.

"But…honey please be reasonable," she pleaded, shuffling on the spot in discomfort. "They can help rid you of your pain. If you would just let go of your pride for a moment, then-"

WHAT PRIDE?! I exploded, too angry to relish in her subtle flinch. I have none left, you took it from me! Agh, I'm not doing it Celestia and that's final!

I…I wish I'd noticed the dark look that adorned her face, but alas, a brief closing of my eyes kept this vital knowledge from me. Because then…I might have fought back the strength that suddenly flowed through me.

To be honest a part of me was surprised that I'd managed to retain enough backbone to deny her, a rather large part as well. But given all she'd put me through in the past few days…it shouldn't have really been a big of one.

She hadn't said anything back to me, merely choosing instead to regard me with a morose, forlorn expression. Finally after what must have been at least fourteen seconds or so, she took in a deep breath and sighed heavily, before looking down at the bed she laid on.

"If that's what you want," she said quietly. "Then I won't force you otherwise, but…"

She looked up from the bed and gave me a truly chilling smile, a cold smile with very little of the warmth, the tenderness I'd come to expect.

It honestly made me feel afraid.

"But when the pain becomes too much to bear," she began, an almost feral look to her constant smile. "When it denies you sleep and comfort, when it becomes so terrible that you are denied movement…I, and they, will be here…waiting for you."

A movement so swift that a blink was all it took for her breath to warm my face, making me jump back in surprise and off the bed…if not for her left wing, her strong left wing holding me to her, myself all too aware of what was touching my lower body.

"Because they love you," she breathed, an open smile, loving and warm, yet eyes so…twisted. "And when you nurse upon my love and feel your pain fade, you will finally understand just how much you need me, and how silly you are to deny me."

That everlasting smile twisted into an almost sly grin for all of a moment, before I blinked once again…and the smile was warm, loving as she moved away and lay upon her side, watching me with soft, doe-like eyes.

I had no idea how to respond to her…madness, so I did the only thing I could in that situation. Close my eyes and turn around...and clear my throat.

…

"Your throat sounds a little rough honey. Do you need something to drink?"
> The Fifth Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for the long wait but I've been busy like hell recently. All well, if anything the wait helped intensify your curiosity, however reserved it now may be.

So without further ado…

Begin!


The Fifth Day


It was the fifth day of my paralysis, I knew that.

It was the fifth day of my imprisonment within Celestia's chambers, I knew that too.

The fifth day of the week. A week that had been filled with nothing but pain, loss of pride and dignity…and as of that very day, a week that had brought about a desperation so strong that my thoughts were plagued with it, coated in its sickly grasp.

I realized it the moment I awoke…to a sensation of such pain that my eyes instantly began to sting with tears. My throat felt raw and dry, my mouth felt numb and chapped, and my body…my body felt cold, unbearably so, as if a harsh coating of frost had covered it in its entirety.

Naturally I responded to such a hurt in the only way I could, WOULD do at that moment in time.

With not a sound or thought or action that showed what I felt, was feeling so terribly in a constant cycle.

Pain, cold, desperation, silence. Pain, cold, desperation, silence…over and over until I felt about ready to cry, to wail my distress and agony like a new-born child.

But silent I stayed, motionless I remained…and as I opened my eyes and carefully gazed upon the steadily breathing form of my tyrannical ex-lover, a minute amount of pride flared from within the nigh empty pool it remained, pride because of my will…my strong will.

Pride…full once, all but gone now, because of her!

Merely thinking of it, of how she'd effortlessly brush aside anything I said and do whatever she wanted anyway…

My love…

My head pounded simply thinking about it.

But I would not give her the satisfaction of getting to me, not any more, no longer! I would bear the pain, the cold, the desperation until the week was done and the poison was out of my system.

My limbs would still be far too weak for me to move around as I once did, but with a little hope and a little willpower, I would do all I could to rid myself of the psychotic mare beside me and never return.

I only hoped that somehow…Chrysalis and Luna would find some way to understand why I left. I could try to explain what Celestia did to me but…but I knew deep down that the chance of my being believed was all but non-existent.

Still…I would try.

I have no training in resisting pain, but I am human! My kind fought its way to the top and I'll be damned if a little pain caused by a crazy equine manages to break me down!

That thought filled me up, repeated over and over until I couldn't stop grinning. The first natural grin I'd worn for a while.

But you love her, a small voice whispered, barely noticeable within my mind.

…

What…no, no I don't! Not after all she's done to me, I refuted angrily. Why on Earth would I love a mare who could and would easily wreck my life just to keep me with her?

So angry was I at the treacherous thought that I barely just noticed its reply.

Because you like what she's doing to you, don't you? it asked rhetorically. The way she mothers you and cares for your every need. The warmth of her coat against your terribly cold skin...ohh, can you feel it now? Feels good doesn't it?

I couldn't stop the flush that adorned my cheeks as I realized the cruel truth in its words, though whether embarrassed or angry I couldn't quite tell the two apart.

Shut up, I don't love her!

It's easy to think it to yourself, isn't it, the voice whispered once again. But could you think it directly? Could you look her in the eye and tell her that you love her no longer?

I've already done that! I replied stiffly, my previous happiness now long banished by the whisper.

You denied your relationship, not your love for her, it countered effortlessly. But by all means go on, tell her now. Wake her up and explain away your complete and total lack of love for her. Tell her that your heart is hers no longer and prove me wrong, go on, do it.


Fine! I all but snarled, my terribly shaky, terribly cold left hand weakly touching her face so as to wake her.

The swiftness in her awakening was rather sluggish for a bringer of the dawn. But…as she blearily blinked and looked at me, an open smile slowly forming upon her muzzle as she seemed to realize where my hand was, I felt my angry oncoming rant…waver slightly.

"Mhmm, what's the matter honey?" she asked, yawning softly, her left hoof gently stroking my cheek. "Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

Say it, the voice whispered. Go on, cause her pain, break her heart. Let her know that you love her no more. Let her know that you HATE her, that you DON'T need her anymore!

…

I thought so…

"Sweetie?" Celestia prodded, literally with the tip of her left wing. "Are you okay? You look a bit upset."

That's the understatement of the year…

Steeling myself nonetheless, I looked right into her rose coloured orbs and…and…

Didn't have a clue what to say. The doubt, that lingering, horrible doubt had confused me, messed with my thoughts so badly that I had not a single idea how to rant at her.

A wave of pain shook me out of my stupor, causing me to grit my teeth and hiss in agony. Celestia's expression swiftly changed into the epitome of unhappiness, her ears down and eyes hitting me with wave after wave of worry.

"The pain must be agonizing now," she muttered quietly, her eyes regarding me with concern at first…but then with...love. The warmth in her expression, the love that joined it…combined with the gentle, tender way her wings pulled me close, until her luxuriously soft coat was all I could feel.

She smiled her usual soft, inviting smile. One that promised safety and affection, one that promised everything would be alright. You can trust me, is what it said.

And yet again I was reminded of the absolute power this mare could have, and had, over practically everyone she met and ruled over.

I bet kids love her, I concluded bitterly, wincing and hoping against hope that the sudden lidding of her eyes was random and not because she heard me.

"Tobias," she whispered soothingly, her hot breath warming my left ear. "I know that yesterday shook you, I know that what I said scared you, and I know that both have strengthened your resolve against accepting my help, my love for you. But…"

Oh…my head.

She moved her head away from my ear and left it not a few inches in front of my face, her breath now covering the entirety of my mouth. And that smile, that…bloody smile. The one she gave me from the day we became friends, still so there  on her muzzle.

"But I want you think, to really think of how long you can hold out against the pain."

Until this week is done and over with, I replied, surprisingly calm for how nervous I was inside.

"And what about the three extra weeks afterwards?"

…What?

What are you talking about? I asked, if not demanded. Fear tickling the edge of my thoughts. Both you and that doctor said that it only lasted up to a week. The time afterwards, I would just be recovering whatever the poison has withered away.

"True," Celestia agreed…with a sad glint in her eyes that I didn't very much care for. "But it won't be painless Tobias. In fact I'd imagine the drawn out nature of said recovery would make it more painful than what you feel now."

I paled at this quickly.

But the poison would be out of my system by then, wouldn't it? I asked, receiving nought but a curious glance in return. Without the poison there, you could use a spell to diminish the pain.

Celestia blinked at this in what seemed to be surprise, apparently startled at my reasoning. Or maybe just surprised that I came to that reason to begin with, I didn't really know.

"I…could," she agreed, eyes once warm narrowing in annoyance. "Certainly, I could…but I won't."

Personally, I was annoyed at myself for not seeing her response coming.

W-What, why?

Her trademark smile nowhere to be seen on her face, she looked right into my eyes with her own…her own dark, apathetic orbs.

"Because once I cast the spell, you'll leave me," she explained coldly, her tone nearly making me shiver. "Or you'll try to at least. Personally I don't think you would get any further than Ponyville before…well."

For the first time since she'd poisoned me, a cruel, arrogant smirk lay upon her muzzle as she gazed at me. Contrary to before, her eyes assured me no safety and warmth, but terrible things and dark promises.

"Before," she crooned, her voice velvety and…almost seductive. "You find yourself once again enveloped in my tender, loving hooves."

I would never willingly come back to you! I refuted firmly, glaring at her. At least now I realize who the 'real' Celestia is underneath that motherly façade you throw at your little sheep.

Celestia quirked an eyebrow up in amusement, real amusement. As if I had just said the funniest thing.

"Façade?" she echoed. "Oh Tobias, there is no façade. I do love my little ponies, as if they were my own children. It's just with you that I can…relax a little on it. With you I can be just a mare, a mare that loves you very much. A mare that loves you enough to do whatever it takes to show you that really…she's not a bad pony, she just wants to keep you close."

She leaned forward, talking still.

"All she wants, all she needs…is you, to love her, to care for her," she was but a breath away. "And to let…her…love…you."

Each of those last four words was crooned slowly, sultrily, until the last one was spoken and her lips were upon my own. Though weakened, I put my shaky hands on her barrel and pushed her away from me, much to her apparent shock if her expression was anything to go by.

But then she grinned a very feral grin, her eyes flashing and narrowing hungrily.

"A challenge is it my love?" she asked rhetorically, actually giggling as her entire body tensed. "Oh my, but I do love a challenge…and the prize."

My head throbbed with pain, shortly followed by every other limb pulsating angrily.

And before I could so much as blink, the seemingly feral alicorn quite literally pounced over me, the covers all but flying across the room from her strength alone. As if by instinct, my gaze was forced downwards onto her bigger than normal breasts.

I tore my eyes from them with supreme effort, one I'd previously thought lost…but unfortunately not in time to avoid being spotted by her keen gaze.

"What's the matter honey?" she purred slowly, grinning toothily down at me. "Are my girls too much for you to handle?"

Refusing to say anything, I instead glared up at the smug mare, ignoring the pain as I'd been doing for the past…something. Celestia's grin only seemed to widen further at my reaction, I could practically see the cogs spinning in her mind.

"Or do you find them unattractive?" she asked, pausing for a moment before nodding to herself and lying down…on me. "No matter, you can't see them now. So it's okay, right?"

It was most certainly NOT okay, and she bloody knew it. Whatever I felt towards the scheming mare was something my body and hormones found irrelevant as she crawled up, her body rubbing against my own. Something I was certain she knew as well.

And try as I did to fight against it, imagining all sorts of horrible images…

"Oh my, Tobias," the alabaster mare laughed, smirking innocently. "It seems I was mistaken, you DO like them after all."

I was only a guy.

Still smirking, the manipulative mare leaned down and licked my nose gently yet swiftly, innocently  rubbing her lower body against my own.

"Would you like me to do something about that?" she asked, her voice barely more than a sultry whisper.

It was only with some sort of hidden effort that my reply was as quick and effective as it was.

No, I declined. In fact if you wouldn't mind getting off me to begin with, that'd be great thanks.

Apparently surprised by my words, Celestia blinked thrice and said nothing, her expression a mix of confusion and contemplation.

And then she smiled her all too familiar smile.

"Oh…are you sure?" she pushed, her voice seductive and low. "I could bring you to such pleasure…my love."

...

I…I was going to refuse and yell…demand she leave me be and then stay silent for as long as I possibly could. But…but the pain, the sheer amount of it, of how it hurt and burned every part of my body…

Maybe…maybe a little pleasure wasn't such a sacrifice. I mean even if it was coming from my poisoner, at least she cared…at least she loved me. Just thinking about it made me feel better…my headache calmed down at the very thought of it.

"All I want is to make you happy, Tobias," she explained softly, doe eyes loving and sincere. "And haven't I, if only in the small parts you allowed me? Haven't I shown just how willing I am to do whatever it takes to make you understand just how much I love you? Because I do Toby…I do love you, so very much."

Without any warning, she moved off of my mildly confused and heavily around body, moving herself onto her side with her face opposite mine.

"Let me show you now," she said tenderly, her eyes never leaving my own as she lifted her right hoof and gestured down to her breasts. "Please Tobias…I know you don't trust me as you once did and I don't blame you. But if you trust me in this one moment, I can show that you have no reason to be afraid."

My head aching with pain and disorder, I unwittingly followed her hoof down and looked her slightly enlarged, but otherwise normal teats.

"Drink my love," Celestia whispered lovingly, her warm breath coating my ear. "Let me take away your pain…"

I'm…I'm not sure…

Despite my doubt and reluctant thoughts, my body once again disregarded what I desired and, in but a few blinks, I found myself crawling down until I was but a few inches from them.

No more pain…

I moved closer and placed my mouth around one gently, narrowing my eyes as I considered if this really was truly worth the price…whatever it would be.

And yet this proved to be my undoing, for so lost in my thoughts as I was, I didn't realize my mouth moving by itself around the teat…and suckling tentatively.

Wait, n-no. What am I doing? I don't want-

Warm liquid quickly filled my mouth without warning, the sheer suddenness of it causing me to accidently swallow it down despite what I wanted.

It…didn't taste that bad. Actually, it was good…really good. The milk was thick and creamy, sweet as sugar and…and…

More…

But…I didn't want to…I didn't…

A large shadow darkened my sight for a moment, before I felt something ever so soft pressing against the back of my head, as if encouraging me…

"Go on my love," Celestia urged, her…wing pressing a slight more against my head. "It's okay, you can drink as much as you like. Drink until the pain ebbs away entirely…you'll thank me for it, I promise."

The pain…it was less than it was before, if only slightly. But then I'd only drank a small mouthful…so what was one more…

Thoughts clouded by what could only be instinct, I closed my eyes and sucked on the teat again, warm milk once more filling the inside of my mouth before it was swallowed quickly.

The pain's fading away…but too slowly, I need more.

Backed up by this thought, I sucked twice and smiled to myself as a bigger amount rapidly filled up my mouth. Once swallowed, the pain I felt faded away even more than before...and so I repeated it, over and over, taking a larger volume each time until I could feel…no pain at all.

The wing left my head as I moved off the teat, blinking slowly for a moment before looking back at it…and realizing that both were back to their original size.

I didn't think it worked like that…

"Tobias?"

At the calling of my name, I instinctively turned my head in its direction and found myself regarding a rather triumphant looking alicorn.

"How do you feel sweetie?" she asked, moving her body so as to lean on her right foreleg. "Is the pain gone?"

Yeah…it's gone.

Frowning at my simple reply, Celestia sat up and shimmied over to me, looking right into my eyes with a certain scrutiny.

"Tobias, are you okay?" she asked again, her breath tickling my senses briefly.

…

…

…

And then without a single warning, EVERYTHING I felt became consumed by a raw, powerful urge to…TO-

I blinked once, twice…and snarled like a mindless beast as I grabbed and threw a startled Celestia onto her back. Before she could utter a syllable, I moved atop her and kissed her savagely, ignoring the hooves scrapping against my chest as I thrust my tongue inside. Not a few seconds later a loud moan escaped her muzzle as I continued my rough ministrations, her own tongue suddenly brought to life as it danced and played against my own with abandon.

A sudden blinding light consumed my vision and near blinded me, unfortunately giving the mare beneath me ample time to roll me over, the now heavily panting alicorn glaring…and grinning down at me intensely.

"No inhibitions…good," she purred, before slamming her lips against my own and grinding her heavily aroused marehood against my length with no restraint. Unwilling to take any teasing in that moment, I snarled and pushed my lower body down against the bed, before thrusting up and into exactly where I wanted to be.

Giving no quarter, I pulled back out and slammed back in, over and over, uncaring of any exhaustion or pain my body sent to my brain. No, all that mattered was fucking my mare. Fucking, owning and dominating until her howling and snarling blocked out any thought, any words and anything except to fuck and be fucked.

Her glowing eyes widened in front of my own…and then without warning she roared like an animal and clenched her walls around my member, the sheer sensation of it all causing me to yell as the unrelenting mare dragged one mother of a powerful orgasm out of me.

Breaths…breathing…both breathing as we regain our senses…until yet another raw, powerful lust overcame my mind and body.

I rolled us over yet again and slammed my arousal inside her once again…

"More Toby! MORE!"

…

By the time it was over, the moon was shining bright through the balcony curtains. The cloud of unrefined lust I'd felt overcome my thoughts had left me, leaving nothing more than a very confused if not extremely satisfied human.

What just happened?

"Toby…"

A warm body touching my own pulled me out of my thoughts…lips touching lips shut them down entirely.

"Mhmm…that was wonderful my love," Celestia purred lovingly, stretching and laughing as she looked at my expression. "But when I said you'd thank me for it, I really didn't expect something so…intimate."

Thank her…I didn't though…I didn't want to…did I?

Celestia smiled and kissed me softly, continuing to kiss down before stopping and laying her head atop my chest.

"But then I guess it shows what you really feel," she sighed, nuzzling my chest affectionately. "And that's good…I cannot describe just how happy it makes me feel to know that you still love me."

…what?

I…still loved her? But…she poisoned me, I couldn't possibly…could I?

Was I really that much a fool? Was it foolish?

Do I really love her?

A warm feeling within my chest made any refusal I could think of…fade away.

I…I think I do, but…why?

Why?

Well…like I said, sorry about the wait. But here's a game for you!

Say what you think Celestia is up to in the comments. Whoever's right (You'll find out at the seventh day) will get asked their name and will find it in the story as it continues.

Cya, stay snuggly!
> The Sixth Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well bugger I've been away for a while haven't I? Well, what with being an apprentice Sous Chef for a couple of months (Months of agony mind you, couldn't feel my feet until a few days ago, a few weeks after I packed it in! Travel was a bitch…anyway!)

Ahem, so here is the long awaited Sixth day, which with a bit of luck should have another interlude accompanying it the following day. Now that I've got a thing with fewer hours, more play, I can write, write, write away!

So without further ado…

Begin!

(Warning! Violence is a bit heavy in this chapter, so I hope you don't feel squeamish. Though if you do you probably shouldn't be reading this story in the first place XD)


The Sixth Day


The world was warm…my world…the world that encompassed me, enveloped my very soul. It surrounded my weary, tormented form and grew, with but a soft, feminine sigh…ever tighter, yet still so very protective.

Safe...I felt…safe, for the first time in what felt like a lifetime.

"Wake up sweetie…wake up."


That voice…

My eyes, bleary and weary lifted up ever so slightly, only to become instantly blinded by a sea of white. Moving my head but a tad, I felt my sense of touch become nigh overwhelmed by soft, silky texture.

I buried my head within it ever more, sighing happily as it too seemed to vibrate with joy.

"Honey," laughed the voice, such a wonderful sound. "Oh, am I comfortable baby?"

Unwilling, unable to respond to the heavenly voice, I simply nodded as much as I was willing to allow in such comfort.

"Ohh…okay, you can sleep a little more…my sweet Toby."

…

…

…

Adrenaline rushed through me without the slightest warning, images; emotions so tangled and weaved in an intricate web of love and deception that I, once tired and warm beyond mortal comprehension instantly felt overcome by cold, cruel realization.

I had slept with my poisoner.

I had slept with the one who had cruelly, mercilessly taken control of my life, my body and did it all with a smile.

I had slept with Celestia, my PSYCHOTIC EX MAREFRIEND. And I had done it-WE had done it, come at it like a couple of fucking animals in a savage heat.

But I knew, I KNEW that on my part, I had done it with no control, no reasonable thought or action over any of it…and it was all because I had drunk that…tainted liquid from her.

With strength I knew not I possessed, I all but flung myself away from the safety, the warmth and onto the cold, carpeted floor.

"Toby!" Celestia cried, shock saturating her voice as her wings shot out and propelled her, in one swift move, onto her hooves and towards my general direction.

"Stay away from me!" I yelled, eyes widening briefly at the unexpected return of my voice, rough and worn from disuse and pain…but my VOICE, back again! Unwilling to let the flying mare touch me, let alone reach me, I dashed onto my legs and ignored the sharp rush of pain that accompanied it as I raced towards the door.


Can I make it? I think…I think I'm gonna, I'm gonna make it!

I grasped the knob and turned, all but flinging the door open and-

…made it through?

Looking back for but a brief and slightly insane moment, my eyes widened at the sight of Celestia flying right at me, but with a horn completely void of any glow.

Why wasn't she using her magic to pull me back?

Not taking any further precious time to mull it over, I raced down the almost forgotten corridor, spurred on by the seemingly never ending sound of flapping. Surprisingly there were no guards at all…must have been a Sunday, they never worked on Sunday.

I've got to lose her; if I don't then she'll eventually catch me and…take me back.

The mere thought alone was more than enough to give me the strength to keep running, weaving in and out of the surprisingly empty corridors with nought but harsh breath and the continuous flap of her wings to keep me company.

…and then I hit a dead end, an open window with what must have been at least a thirty foot drop.

"Hon-Honey…" came the ragged, frustrated snarl, so different from the voice I thought I knew. I turned around with gritted teeth and faced my pursuer, taking in the flushed cheeks, heaving barrel and narrowed eyes. "I believe that's quite enough silliness for one day, no?"

I didn't answer, choosing instead to glance behind me through the open window…contemplating my options.

"I wouldn't think of doing anything rash here Toby," Celestia advised, a small smile openly showing her amusement as I continued to glance behind me. "That's quite a fall there…and even if you did survive you must realize where you'd be spending your recovery, don't you?"

I did…and it chilled me to the bone.

Celestia watched me for a few more moments before eventually shaking her head, a gentle smile upon her muzzle as she took a step forward.

"Come on sweetie, you've been playing this game since the moment I brought you home. Do I love her, do I not?" her tone became almost mocking for a moment, if not playfully. "Isn't it obvious what you feel for me? You showed me yesterday…many times."

"That was your freaky milk making me do that, not myself," I growled, my mind racing a thousand miles an hour, desperately searching for any solution that would let me escape.

"I'll think you'll find that all my freaky milk did was lessen your inhibitions," she corrected, grinning at me mirthfully, as if it was all a big joke. "You wanted it Tobias, you wanted it badly. All I did was help you realize it…realize how much you need me, want me. Are you really going to stand there, look me in the eyes after what we did so beautifully and deny any affection, any at all?"

"Stop it," I whispered, backing away as she moved forward. "Y-You're twisting what really happened, you're twisting my words."

"No I'm not," she refused softly, shaking her head as she took another step forward.

"Yes you are," I replied, voice firm yet resolve shaky. "You twist everything I say, everything I think into what you want it to be, and then you try to convince me that it's true. I won't listen to you anymore; you're as poisonous as what you tricked me into eating."

Celestia frowned at my words, her eyes briefly shining with unmistakable hurt as they evidently pierced her mask. But then it was gone and there was nothing left but that smile, loving, warm and yet so cold, cruel and mocking.

I'm not going to lie here…I was scared of her, of what she could do-WOULD do if she had the opportunity.

"You're obsessed with me Celestia," I continued, if not a touch shakily. "You don't love me. Love is about trust and letting things go, even the one you care for above all others. But you didn't let me go, you poisoned me, demeaned me, kept me locked and hidden away from all but yourself. You're possessive and obsessed, not in love…if you ever were."

The mask she wore was fractured, I could see the anger and the pain in her eyes, her very expression all but screamed it at me.

…but then that smile…that horrible, wonderful smile…

"You're right Tobias, I am obsessed with you," she admitted, unashamed. "I want to keep you in my sight at all times. I want to be able to touch you anytime and get that warm, fuzzy feeling that makes me feel alive."

She walked forward slowly, sensually, her eyes displaying an open hunger for me to see.

"I want to steal you and run away, leave all my duties behind and hide from the world with you. I want us to have all of eternity to live a simple life, maybe in a cottage by the countryside with nothing but the sun and open air, or perhaps a house by the sea, or on a beach with nought but the smell of salty air and the laughter of foals playing in the sand. I want to share this dream with you by my side, forever by my side."

Stopping but a few breaths away, Celestia reached out with her right wing and stroked my cheek lovingly, gently.

"I'm obsessive and possessive of you, I know," she sighed happily, smiling contently. "There's no length I'll stray from to keep you with me my love-

A light ache, duller than yesterday throbbed and then faded, its strength apparently gone.

"- you know that now. But haven't I shown you how much I love you through my actions? Obsessed and possessive I may be, but despite what you think…I fell in love with you all that time ago in the hospital."

"And that's how I want to remember you," I interrupted, though not to her apparent displeasure. "The way you were back then, red faced, stammering and as nervous as me…the you I fell for, not whatever you are now."

"I'm the same mare, Tobias," Celestia insisted softly, a hoof replacing her wing as it gently touched my cheek. "All I've changed is how I held myself back from truly being myself with you. When you left it broke my heart, but it made me realize how holding back helped neither of us and that maybe…if I let go and showed you who I was, how far I was willing to go to show how much we need each other-"

"You need me Celestia," I refuted quickly, firmly as I could. "I don't need you."

"The say you don't love me," she asked, tears shining in her eyes. "Look at me and say it…and I'll let you go to any hospital you want to recover. You'll never see me again if you don't want to."

"You poisoned me-"

"Say it," she cut across, voice hurt and a touch rough.

"You can't expect me to say-"

"Say it,"

"I won't play this game with y-"

"SAY IT!" she screamed, both eyes white and shining with power.

"I CAN'T!" I screamed back, furious tears cascading down my face. "And I'm an idiot for it! You've hurt me, you frighten me to death, you poison me and I STILL CAN'T SAY IT!"

"Then say you love me!" she cried, voice vibrating with such power and hurt it was heartbreaking to hear. "You love me, you know you do, say it!"

"No stop it! I will NOT-"

"I've cared for you! I've washed away your pain with my OWN milk-"

"That you put there to begin with!"

"Because I love you!"

"Because YOU'RE OBSESSED!" I yelled, emotions all over the place, too many, too many! "How can you be so old and so childish at once! How can causing the one you're supposed to cherish so much pain be called love?"

"The pain was there for me to wash away, to show that my love is all you need to feel better," she explained, watery eyed and lips trembling. "You walked away from me, you tossed me aside without a second thought. I had to show you that your decision was wrong, to open your eyes to just how much you need me."

So she did it to prove a point?

I shook my head slightly and looked at her for a moment, ignoring the shine in her eyes, the dampness of fur beneath.

"You cut me off from my world forever Celestia," I said quietly. "What did you expect my reaction to be, a thank you?"

She looked down at the ground for a moment, an almost guilty expression crossing her face. But then she looked back up and I saw the resolute, the firm and unwavering expression that many a petitioner saw in her Day Court.

"Time passes differently there Tobias. What if you stayed longer than my magic could sustain, and the next time I'd see you would be years, if not decades later in my time? I couldn't risk it."

"Celestia," I began…but trailed off, sighing. "We're just going around and around in circles here and I'm tired of it."

"Then what are you going to do?" she asked softly, watching me carefully. "Are you going to jump out that window? Hit me and run?"

"I want to hit you," I admitted, ashamed and quietly furious all at once. "You've hurt me so much Celly. I want to strangle you and watch the light fade from your eyes…but I can't because…"

"Because even after all I've done, you still love me," she finished, speaking the words I couldn't, wouldn't. "Would it help to hit me? I won't stop you."

Would it help?

She lowered her head submissively, keeping eye contact as she awaited the possible blow. The one that I could give, wanted to give…but couldn't, I couldn't, no strength left, I couldn't, I…I…

…

…

…

SMACK!

The moment my fist hit her face and she fell to the floor…brought about such a disgusting, elated sensation that for a long moment I knew not what to do next.

…

Until she got back up.

SMACK!

She didn't cry out, not a bit…and it helped, it made it easier to wait for her to stand and then strike again…if I didn't hear the pain escaping her muzzle, her voice.

It was just my poisoner and I…and as long as I kept that illusion, I could keep doing it…I could keep…

SMACK!

She didn't fall this time. She simply turned her bruised face, her blackened eye scrunched up in pain and tears…and looked at me, waiting, the swelling already decreasing due to her incredible healing factor, waiting too for another hit.

"Again," she uttered, her voice pained yet resolute.

SMACK!

I swung again, ignoring the now painful throbbing my knuckles were all but screaming at me. Each hit, each satisfying, horrifyingly satisfying hit counting down every day she'd held me in her tyrannical grasp.

"Again…" she panted, voice ragged, almost unrecognisable as she spat out blood. Her constantly swelling and de-swelling eyes looking right at my own, as if trying to catch their gaze.

But I refused to look back…

SMACK!

I missed her face this time, hitting the side of her long neck instead. Her eyes glanced towards the sky and bulged outward in surprise, a horrible rattling gasp escaping her muzzle as she grasped at it in agony.

"…again…"

Faint, almost inaudible…but her voice was clear, her mantra the same.

I raised my fist for the final time and...and…

"No…"

Burst into tears, unending, unwavering as they cascaded down my face.

"No, no, no! What are you doing to me?!" I cried angrily, hysterically. "I'm not…I'm not like…like THIS! STOP IT!"

Celestia merely looked at me, her expression unreadable behind her heavily bruised, bloodied face and swollen eyes. And though each bruise was fading rapidly, a healthy sheen replacing them, the image of her right then was forever burned into my mind.

Battered, pathetic…expectant for more, ready for more, accepting that there was more to come and gladly sticking her face out for me to…to…

"No…I'm not like this," I whimpered, looking down at my bloody knuckles, anger and despair overwhelming my mind. "I'm not…I'm not…you…I can't…I…I…"

More emotional than I had felt in so many years, logic all but abandoned me as I spun around and climbed clumsily out of the window, ready to push myself off and-

"Tobias NO!"

An agonising pain within my leg jerked me out of my internal suffering, only intensifying as I was tugged back through the open window, my back getting quite scratched up in the process.

"Let me go!" I screamed, looking back at Celestia and wincing at the image of her teeth firmly embedded in my bare skin, pulling me back. I tried to tug it out but was quickly overcome as she used her incredible strength and pulled me onto the floor with her mouth alone. Before I had so much as a second to try something else, Celestia dived on top of me and held me down. I struggled with all my might to get free…but it was useless, I was too weak, I barely had any muscles left from the poisons' effects.

"Get off me!" I cried, flailing with everything I had against her. "GET OFF, I'll KILL YOU, I SWEAR TO GOD I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Tobias, Tobias it's okay," she soothed, the strength in her soft voice quietening mine with little effort. "Shush, shhh, shhh. It's okay, it's going to be okay, shhh."

Relaxing against her…no, I couldn't relax, I couldn't! This was what she wanted, this was what she planned, she had to have! And so I pressed against her barrel, trying, failing, but trying with all I was to push her away from me.

Both hands, all I could, every thumb, every finger, all sixteen of them.

All…

I have eight fingers…

…

…

…

My eyes snapped open as a scream, hoarse and terrible erupted from within, escaping my mouth with such power it nigh ripped my throat open. I was in bed, covers over me for but a second and then…no longer as I threw them from me and-

"NO, NO, NO, LET ME GO!" I screamed, panic and fear fervent and powerful. I fought and struggled against my sudden captor, pushing, using my body, my hands and arms and even my teeth to break free.

"Honey it's me!" Celestia soothed, her voice calm yet frantic. "Shhh, it's okay, you realized and woke us both up. You're okay, I promise you're okay."

She rocked me gently in her grip as I stopped struggling, too confused, too hysterical to do anything but whimper like a little boy.

"Shhh, calm down, breathe with me…in…out…in…out..." her voice was lulling, so…comforting. "Oh I'm so sorry my darling, I didn't realize…I should have expected this reaction, I'm so sorry baby.

I tried…I was…I couldn't…

Hiccupping, breathing, unable to determine dreams from reality. Was this real, was I real?

It was too much…too much for me, for anyone to handle. All I could do was shuffle closer, bury myself deeper against her until I was safe, protected from the world.

Celestia, realizing what I was trying to accomplish spread both her feathered limbs out and around me, covering almost my entire body with her large, infinitely warm, soft wings. Emotions spiralling out of control as they were, breathing so difficult to steady, to keep normal, healthy.

"You were in my dreams Toby," Celestia whispered lovingly. "My milk helped us become closer than ever, don't you see? Yes…you do don't you?"

Her milk? It…made us dream together?

"Oh Toby, my wonderful Toby," she cooed gently, kissing me softly in the darkness of her embrace. "I've never felt as close to you as I do now…don't you feel the same way?"

…

I didn't answer, I just closed my eyes, pressed as close, as safe against her as humanly possible and tried with all I was not to cry anymore.

Celestia simply continued to rock me, hushing and humming, slow and lovely…so lovely, wonderful to hear.

Closer than ever…she can feel…me.

There was no escape now, and the worst part was that the thought of running away, of leaving her…didn't seem so good anymore. I liked how I felt then, protected from the world and only because of her.

I was trapped willingly…I didn't want to leave.

…

Celestia's smile was victorious that night.


Interlude coming tomorrow, tell me what you think please. It'd be good to have some feedback, positive or no.

Cya, stay snuggly!
> Celestia's Second Interlude - I've Finally Succeeded!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Celestia's Second Interlude – I've Finally Succeeded!


I've done it, at long last after almost an entire week…I've succeeded. The spell designed to bring me closer than ever to my precious human has borne fruit.

Oh how it feels to feel everything he does. Emotions not my own suddenly were, as my beloved Tobias soaked my very core, my soul with everything he was, he felt, he desired and waved away. His words in our shared dream hurt beyond anything, but were necessary in order for this to happen…and oh how jubilant I am that it did.

He was honest in the dream. He was scared of me, he wanted to hate me but couldn't, he wanted to run but couldn't see the world beyond me. And why should he, I am his world, all the world he will ever need.

Truth be told I have little idea what to call this plethora of emotion, that he feared, wanted to hate, to run away…but couldn't, wouldn't because HE LOVED ME!

Oh, how I wondered, despaired in agonising thought over whether my actions had caused the opposite to happen. But he didn't, he loved me, craved me as much as I craved him. He DID need me, despite his protesting in the dream world, he needed me so badly.

"And I'm here for you," I cooed quietly, all but lathering his sleeping mind with love and tenderness. "You'll never be alone again my love, I'll never abandon you…not like they did."

Emotions, feelings…and memories, coming slowly so as not to overwhelm my mind. For he did not just share his present…but also his past with our coupling.

And what a lonely life he led…

No friends in childhood, only those who used him in his awkward, easily manipulated teenage years. I can see the hurt, the anger as all those friends he supposedly had abused his friendship for money, for fun, their fun as they left him schoolwork upon heaps of schoolwork, all promising to introduce him to a female human, and more if he did it for them…but all broken!

Then when my beloved finally said NO, did they show their true colours and abandon him.

And then his mother, a kind woman once…now bitter and angry because of loss having the gall to shout and scream, to reprimand him as he yelled back…and then abandon him too.

Tobias wanted to go back to…to this?

No, now I knew with one hundred percent certainty that I was right in closing off his way back to that…horrible world. He belonged with me, how could I protect him in a world of hate and betrayal, where friendship was abused so readily and tossed aside when used up.

And when I allowed him to see the right memories…he would understand that leaving me was very, very silly. But I forgive him, because I love him and know now that he does love me back whether he admits it or not.

Of course some memories, my more…unpleasant war time nightmares are better left in the dark corner I willingly put and did all I could to forget. No, he will not see that, but perhaps…yes, some memories, memories of us together from my point of view.

That I wanted him to see, to feel as I felt, to understand what he was willing to abandon.

Not that I blame him, he choice was simply the result of backstabbing friends and a horrible life. Even as I see the 'break up' from his point of view, feel it as he did…I can see what he read in my stupidly unlocked diary was, in his mind, just another betrayal.

That he feels that way hurts me deeply, that he thinks I'd betray him at all is like a knife in my heart. But again, I understand why…and I swear on all that I am that I will spend eternity making up for him feeling so lonely and abandoned again.

He shuffles in my cradling hold, my wings with just a drop of strengthening magic easily holding him against my barrel, slowly rocking him, easing the shock as I allow certain memories to enter his mind. His earlier reaction was all I needed to remind myself just how unlike his mind is to a ponies. There is no herd mentality lingering in the background, just fight or flight.

It saddened me how his mind had reacted to the slightest touch of something else; reminding me of just how solitary the human race must be as a whole. That a brush of another mind could frighten one so badly…oh how I weep at my blunder.

But it did bring him closer to me.

The memory of him clinging to me, burying his face in my fur as he instinctively sought safety not away, not with another but with me and me alone made me feel more happy, more protective of him than I thought possible.

…but there is something, one thing left to fix.

Within the depths of his emotions, his thoughts was a small, but firm desire to leave me. There was a part of him, minor or no that wanted him to flee, to leave me, to leave Equestria and everything Pony behind. This was the part that feared me, that feared what I would do to keep him here.

I can see the fear in his memories, in the one where I not so subtly suggested that his leaving would result in a repeat poisoning. In the ones where he looked into my eyes and saw only cold, calculating intelligence…something I was unaware I did when I thought of how to keep him with me despite his dislike of who he believed me to be.

A ruthless, sadistic mare that did not love him but rather wanted to OWN him.

All so very mistaken of course. Yes I am possessive, as any mate who loves her male should be, if not then you clearly don't care for him as much as you believe you do. And yes I am a bit obsessed with him, but again what mate isn't a little bit?

I want to share my life with him, just the two of us. I want a wedding of my own with him as my husband, for the thought of my being his wife…oh it brings such joy within me. Children are impossible for an alicorn my age, but there are many ponies, griffons, zebra and many others out there who need a Mommy and Daddy.

But not for a while of course, Tobias needs all of my attention for the foreseeable future. He feels lost, alone, scared and needs me, his mate, his mare to love, care and fuss over him.

And when he awakens, when he opens his eyes and sees only me, feels only me…

His eyes open but a touch, snapping me out of my thoughts and into quick action, quickly placing his face in my fur so as to keep my own face from view.

"Go back to sleep honey," I croon softly in his ear, my mind focusing on nothing but tenderness, affection, love, a deep and powerful amalgamation quickly lulling him back to my sister's realm.

I have no need to sleep tonight, not when I can hold him like this and be the first thing he sees when I judge him ready to awaken.

Yes, he has no need for his home, his Earth. I am all my beloved Toby needs. Marriage will happen when it comes, and children…

Children can wait a few centuries.



(The final day will come…soon)


Like always, do tell me what you think in the comments. Each one just makes me want to write, write and write some more!

Cya, stay snuggly!
> The Seventh Day - Part One
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blimey it's been a while, my apologies for the delay. Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long to do.

Begin!


The Seventh Day



(Part One)


Shock, fear, inconsolable, desperate for safety, for warmth. I had to find it, to find…to find…

…

I opened my eyes only to be nigh blinded by a sea of various colours. Red, purple, green, magenta, pink, blue…so many. Looking down at myself I blinked in surprise at the clothing I was apparently wearing. Not that there was anything strange about the clothing itself, no. It was just some jeans and a black t-shirt. No the strange thing is that up until now I've been more or less completely naked.

Where am I?

I tentatively began to walk forward through the colourful scene, pushing through them with a surprisingly needed amount of strength, especially with the deep, pulsating red-ish pink. My eyes were quickly overwhelmed by a blinding light, only for it to quickly fade away…leaving me without the vast array of colour but instead a series of…coloured doors?

There was a light red one to my far left that seemed to be vibrating somewhat. The door next to it was a far deeper red mixed with pink, it was pulsating…almost like the beat of a person's heart. The door to the right of that one was green, very green. Just looking at it made me feel…needy, for want of a better word. And finally to the right of that one was a light blue mixed with sunny yellow; I could hear…wind coming from it, a light breeze even.

What is this place? I pondered curiously. And what are those doors? Maybe I…no, oh no. I'm not touching them. I am not…

How does that saying go, curiosity killed the cat?

My innate sense of needing to know getting the better of me, I walked over to the light red door and made to open it…only to stop and shudder at the complete and total feeling of rage seemingly emanating from it. Blinking rapidly in surprise, I shook both the feeling off and ever so slightly, my head, before proceeding to grab the handle and pull it open, revealing-

Anger, fury, rage. How dare he walk away, how dare he!

…

"…THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE WORMHOLE?!" Tobias raged, his face contorted with fury. "I could have seen my family, my friends and everyone else!"

"I-I thought you would have chosen to stay with them," I stammered, shock and slight fear all but stealing away my ability to speak normally. "I thought you would have left me for them…I thought…I thought that I meant less to you than them. I just…couldn't risk it."

My beloved human looked away from me in disgust, a knife through my heart. I knew him, I knew his expressions, his body language…everything. He could barely stand to look at me.

"And what gave you the right to decide for me?" he demanded, his body shaking with suppressed fury. "What stopped you from thinking about what I wanted, Celly? We're supposed to trust each other with everything, I would never have…"

But he would have, he would have left me all alone…without him. I couldn't do it, I couldn't, I can't go through that loneliness again. I need him with me, I need to know I can hold him, brush against him…kiss him at any time. Oh I love him so much, I love him!

I tried to move closer, to touch him as I so dearly needed to in that moment…but he backed away from me, to avoid me. He didn't want to touch me.

Please Toby…don't look at me like that, please.

He moved, but so did I. Nearer and nearer until he couldn't move anymore, regarding me with anger and distrust. But it would be okay, he loved me and this was just another argument for us to move beyond. I could convince him, he loved me.

He loved me.

"Sweetie, I was so scared that you were going to leave me," I crooned softly. "I didn't think it through, but you mean so much to me…I didn't want to lose you."

I couldn't lose him, I couldn't. But I wouldn't, he wouldn't leave me, I know him, I know my baby. He would argue, he would be angry, upset…but we would work through it, I would hug him, kiss him gently, lovingly and then all would be well agai-

"Too fucking late for that."

W-What, no. He's not…he isn't going to…is he? My thoughts were panicky, frightened. He was moving past me, trying to…no, NO!

I snapped out a wing to halt his steps before quickly moving in front of him, pleading silently for him to listen to me, to stay…to hold me, to let me hold him and promise that everything would be okay.

He would NOT  leave me, I refused. And if he tried to then…THEN I WOULD-

"Toby please think this through" I beseeched gently, frightened tears sliding down my cheeks. "I don't want to…please don't do this."

"Get out of my way Princess," he snapped…but his rage was forgotten in that moment.

He called me Princess, PRINCESS! No, no, no, no!

He would NOT call me that, I was Celestia, Celly, Cel, never ever Princess to him. Didn't he understand how much that title hurt me when it came from his mouth?

"I don't want you to leave me, Toby," I all but whispered, begged. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for what I did. Just give me a chance to make this right, please!"

Please!

"You can't just make this right," he snarled, his voice bitter. "Just get out of the way and leave me alone."

He…he was really going to do it, he was going to abandon me! I couldn't accept that, I couldn't. Shaking my head at the very thought of it, I narrowed my eyes and stared  at my beloved, watching in silence as he shivered uncomfortably, as if suddenly reminded of the mare he was facing.

Not that I would ever hurt him with my magic! But if it intimidated him enough to stop, to listen to reason and let me explain why, how I loved him so much, too much to let him go.

"Don't do this Toby," I intoned softly, my stare still focused completely on him. "I'm sorry, I truly am. I should never have kept this from you, but I did and I can't change that. But if you leave me now…"

I don't want to hurt you, I will never hurt you with my power…but there are other ways to make you see reason. Please don't make me use them…

"What?" he sighed wearily. "Are you going to attack me if do, imprison me?"

He actually thinks that I'd…harm a single hair on his body? He thinks I would lock him away in some rotting dungeon?! Never!

And so I denied it, fervently to his face, looking into his eyes and imploring him to see the truth. But…with him momentarily lax, I saw ample opportunity to swoop in, to wrap my wings around him and encompass him with my hooves, smothering him with all the love I could give, and more.

He almost managed to force his way out…almost, but with but a tap into my long unused Earth Pony strength there was nothing he could do to leave my hold again. And though it upset me to have to use it at all, the feeling of him relaxing in my embrace was heavenly. The feel of his clean shaven skin against my fur was…exquisite.

And with all that feeling, all that emotion welling up inside me…I couldn't stop myself from begging, pleading…I needed him!

"Don't leave me alone Tobias, I couldn't do it…I can't be alone again, please!"

But with a single look into his unwavering eyes, I knew what his answer would be. And as I tried to yet again plead with him to listen, his soft, yet firm hand gently wrapped around my muzzle, stopping any further speech from me.

Were it not for the situation…I would have grinned and made something loving come of it, but…

"Celly I need this," he spoke quietly. "I am…so angry right now, and hurt. I had a chance to see my family again and you selfishly denied it…Do you even have any idea how disgusted I am with you?"

No…please, I won't…I won't let you!

Staring at him with firm authority and but a touch of intimidation, I spoke the words that finalized his choice…

"You will not break up with me, Tobias."

His eyes narrowed, his teeth bared, his frown set in complete, stubborn certainty.

"Try and stop me," he all but snarled in my face, pushing past me and leaving me in a stunned daze…that all too quickly became a furious rage.

He walked away, he left me! How dare he, how DARE HE!

...

I blinked and found myself watching as the light red door slammed shut in front of me, a feeling of fury washing over and fading away as it did so.

That was…the break up from Celestia's point of view. I could feel everything she did…as if I WAS her.

Looking around at wherever I was once more, I frowned as I took in the almost ethereal world around me, sudden realization coming rapidly as I understood where I was.

I'm in her head, these doors they're…her memoires and emotions? Light red must mean anger, desperate anger at that. It's all I could feel when I opened it.

Looking at the other three doors next to me, I narrowed my eyes as I stared at the mixture of deep red and light pink emanating from the one nearest. It was pulsating in the exact same beat of a calm heart.

Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.

If light red meant anger and desperation, then what can a deeper red and light pink mean?

I reached out to open the door, grasping the handle and-

OH GOD! Oh God, oh. OH!

I completely collapsed against it, a strong, neigh. An overwhelming, fucking intense rush of warmth, hot heat flooding my body, burning me harmlessly from the inside out.

GOD FUCK! OH FUCK!

I tried to break away from the door, forcing my hand off the handle…but couldn't stop myself from all but rubbing against it like a wild beast. The sheer emotion in this door was horrible…and wonderful…and so, so fucking intense! I didn't need to look to know just how hard  I was, rubbing my body against the…bizarrely soft, strange fur-like texture of the door. And the words I could hear, feel coming from it…

"Toby…oh my lovely, wonderful man. Stay with me, be with me forever, don't let go…"

Struggling, panting, rubbing and rubbing so close to release…I had to let go, I had to…let…stay…let…go…

"Love me Tobias, love me, love me. Stay with me! Let me keep you warm and loved and safe forever and ever and ever and-"

I…had…to…let…go!

With all the willpower I had in me, I wrenched myself away from the demonic door and threw myself in the only direction I could convince myself to go.

Forward.

The door opened and I was...pulled inside, but gently, carefully. Almost as if whoever did so was doing all they could not to harm me, to keep me safe and…

The world around me was a deep red, pulsating like…a heartbeat. And listening as I did…I knew whose. I could tell just by listening, breathing in the sudden yet pleasant, chocolate-like tang in the air.

"Honey…"

That one word, that one, loving, gentle word caressed my entire body ever so softly. Celestia's tone, voice as she said it made me feel so…loved, safe, warm…

And with no touch, no imagery to help it, that one word crippled me, cutting my legs out from under me until I collapsed onto my back, body pleasantly numb and oh so comfortable. My eyes barely took the world around me in, becoming glassy and lidded…sleepy almost.

The previous door had held a memory of desperate anger, but this one…this one didn't need a memory. Celestia didn't feel that anger anymore, thus it was but one memory. But this…this was her love, so strong it all but ruined me, reducing me to a willingly weak man, forever weak…if only to continue feeling her boundless love forever.

"Ah!" I gasped, yet another rush of hot energy pounding through me. It felt so good, so wonderful. This was how Celestia felt…for me? And I wanted to throw it away, to one side forgotten forever?

I…I couldn't see her, but amongst wave after wave of her love flowing through me, I could feel her. I could feel her hooves trailing slowly, up and down my skin, touching and teasing so affectionately. I could feel her lips pressing here and there, warming my body ever more.

I could feel her touching, tasting me, tasting my…

"Oh!"

My arousal reached its peak and bloomed, essence leaving me in harsh yet oh so delightful spurts. And then it was over, a good afterglow thrumming through my body.

"I love making you feel this way honey. I love keeping you happy…and you will be, forever."

And within the dream…sleep consumed me.

…

…

…

When I opened my eyes, I was back outside of the doors once more, the two I'd touched, experienced, no longer any colour at all.

Holy…shit. I…I can't…is that how she feels about me? There was so much…oh god, so much love it hurt…and yet felt wonderful.

I didn't move at all for a while, simply choosing to lay there and let myself experience that sensation over and over again in my mind. She was the one who poisoned me, trapped me in her chambers and, whether she meant it or not, humiliated me day after day.

But then the times in which she looked after me, washed me, talked with me…the love in every action she made regarding me was now so clear in my eyes. She wanted to show how her love was all I needed, that her love could wash away every pain…even the one she ironically, selfishly put there to begin with.

I don't know what to feel anymore…

Sighing as I opened my eyes, I allowed for a couple more seconds of bliss before deciding to continue with the messed up memory doors.

Looking at the two still glowing doors to my right, I shakily forced myself onto my feet and glanced at the one closest. It was glowing a sickly green and emanating a sort of…needy feeling in my direction. It was hot one moment then cold the next, on and off constantly.

"You are mine; I won't let you leave me!"

Gasping at the sudden, intense emotion flooding within me, I glanced at the sickly door and backed away in shock at the very familiar magenta eyes staring  at me hungrily as they rested on it, as if a twisted parody of a person's face.

…

Jealously.

The emotion is jealousy…possessive jealousy?

I did not want to touch that door…but with no other way out of Celestia's apparent mindscape, I knew I had little choice but to do just that.

In for a penny and all that.

Grimacing, I took a deep breath and walked forward; ignoring the sensation I was bestowed upon grasping the handle…and opened the door.

…

I did not appreciate the way Herdona Grapevine looked at her employee.

I did not appreciate the doe eyes she sent him every time he wasn't looking.

I did not appreciate the way she overpaid him, gave him the easy jobs deliberately when he could do so much more…I did not like the way she liked him.

Tobias was my coltfriend and future husband (whether he knew it or not), and no pretty little hussy was going to even attempt  to take him from me with some not so subtle actions.

And so…

I walked through the streets of Canterlot with purpose, a small smirk on my muzzle as I neared Two Bit Coffees, a plan already well formed in my mind. Of course with me being who I am everypony I passed decided to make a big show of bowing and, to my annoyance, get in my general direction.

I love my little ponies as dearly as a mother loves her children. Without my gentle guidance they would most likely still be at war and not at peace…but there are times like this where I sometimes wish they didn't love me quite as much back. Still I kept on forward, a smile here and a nuzzle there as I passed them all and finally opened the door to the café.

…And was slightly dismayed by the sight that greeted me as I walked on in to the more or less deserted place.

My love had his back to me and was filling up clear bags with coffee beans of a sort, but it wasn't this that bothered me, oh no. What bothered me was the way his manager was all but leaning against him as she…she asked her silly little questions.

Questions that she had NO right to ask MY man!

"So what do you like most about a mare?" she asked, deliberately using a soft, sensual tone of voice in doing so. "What makes you look twice?"

"Um…her personality I suppose," he answered honestly "Beauty doesn't really do much for me if the mare is ugly underneath it all."

And that's one of the many, many reasons why I love you

Tobias, being his usual observant self when it came to the general female population, didn't seem to notice her sultry tone at all. But I did…and I most certainly DID NOT like it.

And so I walked up to the oblivious pair and coughed.

Twice.

"Oh sorry, welcome to Two Bit Coffees. How can I help you-OH Princess Celestia?!" Herdona Grapevine didn't quite have the aptitude to hide her emotions very well…at all. The shock on her features was of course understandable, but the annoyance, the green in those eyes as my beloved turned and smiled oh so very happily upon seeing me.

No, she had little aptitude for it at all…unlike me.

"Celly?" Tobias inquired, laughing softly in surprise. "What are you doing here; I thought your duties took you up to this evening?"

"Oh I finished them a touch quicker than I thought I would sweetheart," I replied, my simple and maybe not entirely truthful answer appeasing his curiosity instantly.

Of course the soft, sensual tone I used and had perfected over hours upon hours of practice may have assisted me greatly, whilst also bringing me a bout of glee as I witnessed the 'blink-and-you-miss-it' anger on Herdona's face.

"Why, can't a mare come to see her hard working coltfriend as he works?" I teased subtly, relishing in the red flush that began to fill up his attractive face.

"Uh, of course not-I mean yes, yes you can," he stammered, obviously embarrassed and, if my studying of him is as good as I believe it is, he was a little turned on as well.

"Very good," I purred softly. "Then I'll have…a cup of cinnamon spiced tea if you please and slice of chocolate cake too, if you wouldn't mind adding that as well honey?"

A touch of nervousness briefly appears on his face as he takes in my order, but it is quickly overtaken by determination as he smiles and swiftly begins to work.

And like a child shows his mother the picture he worked so hard drawing in school, the hopeful expression on my beloved's face mirrors this scenario to a tee as he places the spiced tea down, and then finally puts the cake on a warm plate.

"That'll be eight bits then ma'am," he requests, an expected yet pleasant change from other stores who try to give me their merchandise for nothing. And so I hoof over a ten bit coin with a warm smile.

"Keep the change my dear," I coo softly, smiling wider still as his hand brushes against my hoof, my concentration almost slipping as I used my magic to place my order on the table nearest to the counter.

Herdona was standing a few feet away, all but forgotten from the moment I placed my order. But a good Princess tries to make sure all her ponies are both noticed and remembered, and so I smile my traditional matronly smile at her…before I look back at my wonderfully clueless lover and all but yank him over the counter for a surprise smooch.

Now of course with Herdona being the manager of her fine establishment, she could of course demand that I leave her employee alone, or even demand that I take my order outside…but…well, she understandably doesn't.

Quite wisely too, I'd hate to have to help Tobias find another job because she's forced to close her café' down. Sometimes I can forget what my opinion can do to a pony's reputation.

And as she wisely stays silent I turn my gaze back to her, my lips still very attached to my lover's, and narrow my eyes, communicating a very clear non-verbal warning.

He's mine, back off!

And by the rapid submissive change in her stance and expression, it is with a savage glee that I deliberately let out a little moan of satisfaction, smirking as Herdona closes her eyes and walks into the back of the café, defeated.

"C-Celly what was that all about?" Tobias stammers, laughing in a mixture of happiness and excitement.

I look right into those gorgeous eyes and give him my best smouldering look, chuckling silently as his legs wobble but a touch, his hands gripping the counter firmly in response. Smirking, I take a sip of the tea he lovingly made for me and smile as I take in no flaws, before staring  at him once more, admiring his struggle to stay upright.

I liked a male who had willpower…but not as much as mine.

Guess I better do something about that then.

"Do you have ten minutes my love?" I ask, keeping my voice silky and warm.

"Um…" he glances at the clock and then at the now completely deserted café. "Sure I guess. We're never too busy around this time anyway. Why do you ask?"

Smiling innocently, I look past him and call Herdona's name, said smile fighting with me to become a fully-fledged smirk as I take in the brief gleam of jealousy in her eyes.

"Yes Princess, is there anything I can do for you?" she asks quietly, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly…one might have missed it if they didn't know what to look for.

"Yes you can," I reply warmly. "I was wondering if I could borrow your employee for a short time?"

"W-What, why do you ask?"

"Well I quite liked the tea I ordered, but as a Princess I believe I need to know if your place of work is staying true to the health and safety regulations in the case that I choose to make this café a regular choice of mine," I explain, effortlessly spinning a reason she simply couldn't refuse. "And so I'd first like to check your toilets, but of course I'd like to have Mr Greenfield with me for questions and such if you wouldn't mind?"

The opportunity to have myself as a regular customer is evidently too much for even her jealous thoughts to pass up, and so it was with little time that she agreed and all but pushed my lover out from around the counter and into the toilets.

Of course a raised eyebrow puts her back behind the counter. I only need Tobias for this, though she's more than welcome to…aha, listen.

We both enter a somewhat large room with sinks and of course toilets, and with Tobias's back turned for that moment I quickly lock the door and approach him as he turns around, confusion evident upon his face.

"Um, so what do you think then?" he asks, adorably oblivious to my true intention in bringing him here alone. "It's not as good as home I know, but I think it's alright. Herdona's pretty tight about regulations and such."

"Well," I drawl, tapping underneath my muzzle in contemplation before moving over to a sink and resting my hooves upon it. "Everything looks quite alright…except for this sink."

Before he can ask me why, I arch my back slightly and push my flank up in the air, my tail moving to one side as I display myself for him. The look on his face when I look behind is something I'll never forget.

Flushed red, unsure, slightly embarrassed even…yet there was a hunger in those beautiful eyes.

"Why…um, what's wrong with it exactly?" he asks, swallowing as I lid my eyes and grin sultrily.

"Why don't you come and see for yourself?" I purr invitingly. "I wouldn't want to be mistaken in my problem with it…"

To be fair he did hesitate before complying, obviously worried by what Herdona would do if he listened to me. But then he obviously remembered that I was his marefriend and had far more sway over his decisions than her.

And so he walked over…and I quickly took charge of the situation by phasing my tail through his trousers and letting my magic do the talking for me.

"C-Cel, what are y-you…oh!"

"You know what's wrong with this sink honey," I coo flirtatiously, my magic undoing his clothing and pulling them down…all of the clothing on his legs of course. "You haven't made love to me over it yet."

Magic is a wonderful thing; it was with magic that I knew of Herdona listening in to our…activity. It was with magic that I felt her jealousy spike dangerously high. It was with magic that I made sure only she could hear what we did, even as customers gradually began to come in.

It was with magic that I amplified the scent, my scent that I'd left all over Tobias…and made sure it was all she could smell when she flirted and asked her trivial questions.

Tobias thankfully remained clueless, unaware of an easily won battle, if you could even call it that, between an ageless, powerful immortal and a silly little mare that would turn to dust in but a few blinks.

To me…and one day soon, to him.

No mare would ever take him from me, the only male in existence that had made my heart skip a beat, that had made my hooves sweat and nerves jittery as I came to adore the sound of his voice in that dreary hospital.

No mare would ever take Tobias away from me.

…

…

…

My eyes opened gradually this time; the previous wave of possessive jealously fading away quickly as I force myself to shake it off. I could still hear the scheming thoughts of Celestia's mind in my own, thoughts that seemed to work at a speed I couldn't even comprehend.

She was highly intelligent, I knew that. But this…my ex-marefriend was a borderline genius when it came to planning ahead. Of course she missed a few things, she was after all only pony.

Why am I defending her? I should feel nothing but loathing for what she's done to me…but…but a part of me doesn't care, why? None of this has affected the way I feel towards her…it couldn't have, right?

Shaking the confusing train of thought away, I climbed to my feet once more and closed my eyes for but a moment, thinking back to that memory from my point of view…and all but snarling at how much of a clueless idiot I was back then. Celestia had known how oblivious I was and had used that for her benefit…and begrudgingly she used it for mine too, in her own scheming little way.

Herdona…liked me? How did I not see that when Cel did?

Sometimes I think the stereotyping of male cluelessness in regard to the female mind is spot on…at least with me in any case.

But it wasn't what Celestia knew that bothered me greatly, not really. It was the complete and total fear I'd felt from her mind as she schemed to show her superiority in not just her being a mare but also in regard to being the only one I truly loved. Herdona had no chance of stealing me away from her, I knew that. But Celestia had been alone for so long before meeting me that she was terrified of being alone again, and had in her own brand of idiocy believed that my old boss had a chance of winning my heart.

I see it now. Celestia was overly possessive even then, and she was and is so because she's terrified. She was deathly scared of some other mare taking me away from her…oh why did it take her poisoning me just to make me notice it? I'm so blind! If I had just realized sooner what she feared the most then maybe I could have stopped her from closing that wormhole to begin with, then none of this would ever have happened.

Practically kicking myself for my stupidity, I look back at the four doors and cock an eyebrow at the only remaining one left. The colour radiating from it was a mixture of light blue and sunny yellow, and as I walked closer I could even hear the soft sound of a breeze coming from within.

It made me feel…happy, dreamy even. And so with a final look at the previous few doors, I take a deep breath and open this one, stepping through and…

…

I curse quietly and blink a few times as sand sneaks its way into them, rubbing my eyes gently to get the grains out.

"Are you okay hon?" The familiar sound of my husband's voice is normally enough to make me smile, but the concern in it as he gently assists my rubbing is more than enough to reward him with a kiss.

"I'm fine baby, it was just a bit of sand," I reassure, kissing his lips softly before nuzzling his clean shaven neck. He looks right into my eyes as he checks, making me blush ever so slightly at the love I can see in his own. "See, all better now."

He grins coltishly and rubs my right ear lovingly, knowing all too well just how much I adore getting his special ear rubs, his grin widening as my wings begin to rise. Sighing unhappily, I use one to gently push his wonderful digits away, but quickly smile once more as I lean against him…and stare out at the brilliant sunset shining a deep red over our balcony.

The fact that I wasn't the one lowering it made it all the more unique to witness.

"Do you want something to drink sweetie, you look thirsty?" I ask softly, worrying as I always do about my lovers' health, no matter how redundant it is to do so nowadays.

"Hmm," he ponders aloud, smiling somewhat cheekily as he replies. "I…think I'll make it myself today, not that I don't trust you with certain liquids…but I don't trust you with certain liquids."

"You're never going to let that go are you?" I deadpan, mock annoyed at his cheek. "I've already apologized a million times or so, why can't you let it go yet?"

"One does not simply let 'their mare poisoning you in a fit of frightened decision making' go my dear."

"Really?" I cock an eyebrow somewhat sarcastically. "Come on baby, it happened four hundred years ago."

"Four hundred and two love…and you really should know me enough by now to understand when I am and am not messing with you."

"Oh, is that what you were doing?" I ask, pinning him with a light glare. "Well thank you dear, you've officially made me feel like shit. Well done, let me give you a pat on the-Mphhh…mphhh…"

Damn him and his wonderful kisses…

"O…Okay, so maybe you're not on the couch tonight," I giggle breathlessly.

…

"I was on the couch tonight?"

The sound of the see-through glass door opening behind us is all the warning I get before a flash of deep blue knocks me down on the ground, much to my husband's apparent amusement if his laughter was anything to go on.

Maybe the couch wasn't such a bad idea for him, being so devious to his wife deserves the proper response after all…

Looking down at the bundle of fur clinging to my stomach, it is with an all too familiar sense of utter delight that I take in the bright eyed, mostly toothy smile of my little baby colt.

"Surprise mommy!" he chirps happily. "Did I surprise you, did I? Daddy said it would be a gr-gre-good surprise!"

"Oh did he now?" I drawl, raising an eyebrow as I look up at my beloved's innocent expression, before placing my son on my back and standing up, poking Toby's stomach in mock annoyance. "Well it looks like we'll both be in our own beds alone tonight sweetie."

"Why isn't daddy sleeping with you?" he inquires, tilting his head ever so cutely.

"Oh, because your father's been especially naughty today and needs a time out on the couch." Looking back at Tobias it's all I can do not to give a full bellied laugh at the almost pitiful pleading expression on his face. "Although if he's a good boy he might still get some snuggle  time tonight…a bath and some chocolate cake might help him…maybe."

And like a good, attentive husband, my lover is all too willing to run back into the house and do just what I hinted at, but not before I snap out a wing to pull him close and kiss him lightly.

Naturally our son lets us know that he still finds kissing icky, but Toby's quick action of both seizing him and throwing him up into the air over and over is more than enough to quell his 'ews'.

The giggling is adorable…and as I look at my husband playing with our son, the sun still setting beautifully behind them, a wide, happy smile spreads across my muzzle.

All of this was a dream come true, my dream. All I had ever wanted from the moment I'd fallen in love with Tobias was this life. No longer royalty, no more duties, no more raising the sun or being bowed at by everyone I meet. Just my husband, our son, a good school and a house near the ocean for us to raise our family in for the foreseeable future.

And I had never been happier.

…

…

…

"…honey wake up, wake up sweetie."

Oh…I am so…

"Tired…"

"I know, it's okay. Just open your eyes…look at me baby."

Despite my body protesting against the action, I groggily forced my eyes to open and blinked away the sleep blurring up my vision.

…and then I could see clearly…and I couldn't speak.

Silky white fur, multi-coloured magical mane, ears pinned back with concern and…and those eyes, those magenta orbs gazing down at me with a love I now knew so…so very intimately.

"Celestia," the name leaves my lips in a breath. "Celly…"

"Yes Toby," she breathes back, the hint of chocolate filling my senses. Her scent. "It's me love."

Choking on emotion, I try to clear my throat to speak, to tell her…I desperately needed to say…to speak…

"Celly…I saw…"

Her face leans down and she brushes her muzzle against my nose, breathing as I breathe. An intimate act between equines that…that I knew not until that very moment.

"Me too," she says, breathing still. "Oh Toby…I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't know how…how bad your life was before we met. I was so ignorant of your past…I'm so sorry."

She saw my past, my memories and emotions too?

"My life on Earth wasn't so bad Cel," I soothe. "You have no reason to apologize for it."

She leans back a touch in disbelief and frowns at my answer…but shakes her head and smiles warmly, leaning down once more and breathing against my own, shaky, tired breath.

"You're a good man Tobias, you really are."

I kissed her…I couldn't stop myself. Not with her tone the way it was, not with the breathing, not with all I had seen and experienced as if I was  experiencing it…when it happened.

She pushed back against my kiss, moaning softly as she lifted the blanket over the two of us and gently laid herself atop me, two legs to a side each. The warmth of her fur against my skin, soothing, so gentle, so…Celestia.

"Mhmm," she moans once more, softly, happily before breaking it off gently and gazing down at me…with such love in her eyes it renders me silent once more. I know that love, I'd walked inside that door in her mind, I'd felt it rush inside of me and knock me down. I'd felt it touch my heart, my soul…with such pleasure that I was brought to climax with so little effort.

And now she spoke it, those words…and I…

"I love you Tobias."

After all she's done for me…after all she did to me, could I…should I?

"I…"


End of Part One

> The Seventh Day - Part Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The time in which certain events happen will be placed before hand, sort of like a short time skip between each important part. All of it is in Tobias's point of view.

Oh, and sorry for the wait. Please enjoy my final story.

Begin!


The Seventh Day

Part Two


8.17 AM – Celestia's Chambers.

"I love you."

Those three words, those three wonderful yet oh so terrible words. Oh how I wished I could ignore them, ignore the warmth that flooded my frail body as what she said, what they meant washed over me. I'd felt her love, all of it. I'd felt it fill me up to the brim and then overflow within, flooding not just on the inside but on the outside too.

How I wish I could just ignore this feeling, this distrust and…not quite hate, but close. How I wish I could just forget all that she did to wound me like she has, and only recall the good she's done for me, to me…but I can't can I, I'm just too fucking stubborn.

I loved her, LOVE her...but she betrayed me, poisoned me, and humiliated me. Almost every part of me wanted to forgive her, to understand her and stay with her for the rest of eternity. I saw her dream, the dream of a simple life, the dream of a wonderful, loving family. It's a dream, but it's a good dream. A dream I myself am not entirely against happening.

But I won't let it happen; I've played with staying and leaving, loving and hating this mare for what seems like forever. It's a story that refuses to conclude...but it will tonight. Because I'm going to fool this mare, I'm going to manipulate the manipulator with her own broken, twisted love for me. I don't know how yet, but I WILL find my way out of her reach…no matter the cost.

I looked up at her, crippled, practically dying in this bed as she too looks into my eyes, awaiting a reply. A reply that I knew she needed oh so desperately to hear from me…a reply I would use as the first step towards freedom.

"I love you too," I replied, truthfully, completely and totally truthfully. The way her eyes light up with utter joy, utter love and adoration show the first victory of that day, the seventh day of a hellish paradise.

Her kiss, long and drawn out is returned as such in turn. And with a little luck…removing any doubt from Celestia's mind that I don't want to stay.

A part of me does want to stay, a large part. But what I feel...I won't let blind me to what she's done. It's a tiny part of me that wants this, the rest is yelling at me to stay with her forever.

...I can't, I won't. It's all that's left of who I was before she poisoned all of me, body with liquid and soul with her love.

I will break free from her. I'm going to escape tonight. I'm going to flee into the dark with nothing, and somehow, someway...I'm going to escape Equestria and find a place so far out of Celestia's grasp that even if she finds me, there's nothing she could do to take me back. And maybe…somehow, I will find a way to ignore the terrible ache in my heart when I look and see her smile.

10.02 AM – Celestia's Chambers.

We had been cuddling together for near enough two hours, Celestia being on top of me the whole while…she was so warm, so light. Her incredibly large wings were splayed over my arms and legs, warming them with a remarkable comfort given they had pointy feathers. But her feathers were as soft as the rest of her; it really shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did.

Okay…it's time to move.

I turned my head slightly and looked at the mare atop me, a warm, happy smile on her beautiful face as she snored softly against my chin. It was almost enough to make me consider not waking her.

Almost.

But with a forced reflection on all she had done to hurt me, it was with only a moderate amount of effort that I carried through with my plan and woke her up…in a way that I knew would help towards my goal.

I gently extracted my right arm from her wing and placed it upon her back, rubbing it up and down in a way that could easily be realized as loving, as was the idea. But a step is more often than not followed by another, and so it was with reluctance that I leaned forward ever so slightly and kissed her on the lips. It didn't happen right away, but as a few seconds ticked on by I felt the co ruler's lips forming into a smile as she slowly kissed me back.

"Good morning honey," she whispered warmly, the sheer depth of love in her voice more than enough to make me smile back. Celestia's eyes soon became quite visible as she pulled back, lidded with all that I'd felt when I opened the second door in her mind. "I must say that I didn't expect such a lovely wake up call, but I must also say that it was more than welcome."

"I used to kiss you all the time when we woke up," I replied, grinning of my own accord as she leaned down and we kissed again.

"True," she admitted happily, shuffling as she repositioned herself into a little more comfortable position. "It just feels like an age since you kissed me with such open affection. It feels wonderful to have it again."

Looking at her almost ecstatic expression, a thought found its way into my mind, my plan. It was thought I almost disregarded instantly, thinking it far too revealing of my nigh desperate intention for her to trust me completely. But as I thought on it some more…I wondered if perhaps it was just enough of a step in the right direction to accelerate my plan a little.

And thus…I went forward and carried it out.

"Do you remember the morning after I'd tripped and banged my head against your throne?" I asked, a coy smile worming its way onto my face at the confusion on Celestia's.

"Yes, you worried me half to death when you didn't get up," she answered, an upset expression rapidly coming to pass. "Why would you ask me such a thing sweetie?"

"Well," I began, shifting myself ever so slightly as I continued. "Do you remember when I woke up the next morning with you practically on top of me, and you wouldn't stop fussing over me until I…did something?"

"What are you…" the way her frown morphed into an open smile was almost comical as she realized where I was going with my tale. "Well, yes I do. If I recall correctly then you soothed my fussing with a very forward…thrust."

"Best morning sex we'd ever had."

"Was it?"

"I think so."

"Hmm, care to change that?"

"Maybe I do."

The sultry grin on her face as she leaned down, the way she moved her body as it warmed up considerably, the way she manipulated her tail to touch and tease my own was far more than enough to…get me started, so to speak.

"Don't worry baby," she crooned lovingly, nibbling on a lobe ever so softly. "I'll be really gentle."

…

It was the definitely the best morning sex I could remember having.

11.13 AM – Celestia's Bathroom.

I took a long, deep breath as I fully relaxed against the tub, smiling happily as the perfectly warm water soothed my aching form.

This feels nice.

It was only with slight hesitation that I admit Celestia leaning against my chest made it turn from nice to pleasant. It was strange really, to see what to her subjects was an almost god-like figure, to see her lying against me so blissfully, as if without a single trouble to be had. Like…a girlfriend, a lover. For the first time in a while, I saw her as something other than a crazy ex, and something more like she once was to me.

It made me feel quite sad.

"You're troubled sweetie," Celestia said suddenly, her voice quiet yet no less warm than it usually was. She opened her eyes and looked up with concern etched all over her face. I could feel her right hoof stroking my thigh lovingly and the action…well it made me feel all kinds of everything. "You feel tense. What's the matter?"

Mind racing to find the right answer to placate her, I glanced down and wrapped my left arm around her, my hand stroking her stomach reassuringly.

"I guess I'm trying to figure out where to go from here," I replied, a half-truth being more than enough, or so I figured. "Everything's happened so fast and I'm not too sure what to do now."

Celestia smiled warmly and leaned up to kiss me chastely on the lips. "You stay with me, Tobias. You stay with me and we plan it out together."

"But I don't even have a job now," I pointed out, mind throwing out ideas and questions that would hopefully work in my favour. "I'm jobless, can barely walk and-"

"Shhh," Celestia nuzzled my neck and wrapped her tail around my leg in what I assumed was a comforting manner. "Stop worrying so much honey. You still have to heal before you move normally again, and you don't need a job Tobias, You never needed to pay any rent, both Luna and I have said this many times you know."

"I know," I admitted. "But I don't like living off someone else's charity, and I like working. It gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning; you know I don't like doing nothing Celestia."

Frowning slightly at the full use of her name for but a moment, Celestia pursed her lips and apparently contemplated on something or other for a few seconds, before smiling widely and glancing up at me with an almost hopeful expression on her face.

"Then you can work for me," she decided, nodding her head with finality, as if that was all that needed to be said. "I offered you this before remember?"

Oh yes…I remembered all right. What she said and what came of my refusal.

"Vaguely," I replied, drawling the word deliberately. "Something along the lines of carrying your paperwork and…"

"Looking gorgeous," she finished, a cheeky smirk on her muzzle. "Not something you ever really need to put any effort into doing."

"You flatter me," I chuckled, closing my eyes as a pang of hurt tremored through me.

"I try," the mare laughed softly, her barrel vibrating pleasantly against me. I smiled at the feeling, and then frowned as I fought to repress it…but with her sighing contently, with her expression, the light in her eyes more happy and bright then I could remember…

"Everything is going to be alright my love," she said, her voice confident, reassuring even. "Together we can do anything. And I'll always be here for you."

It was overwhelmingly difficult to accomplish.

12.10 PM – Celestia's Chambers.

After we'd both dried off, though most of it was done with Celestia's magical guidance, I found myself facing a problem in my plan. You see I needed to get out of Celestia's chambers in order for it to even start to work, but in that was the problem.

I needed to get out, Celestia on the other hand seemed quite content to cuddle with me for the rest of time. And thus I found myself struggling to figure out just how to get out, not just out of her chambers but also out of her sight.

And after struggling valiantly to figure something out for a good while, my brain finally decided to kick in and I actually managed to come up with something a little…clever.

"Cel?"

"Hmm?" the response was clear despite her muzzle being buried in my chest.

"I…never mind."

The deliberate longing in my tone was apparently more than enough to make her lift her head and look at me, with a rather bizarre mix of both curiosity and worry intermixed in her expression.

"What is it honey?" she asked, tilting her head as she did so…it was weirdly adorable.

"It doesn't matter," I dismissed, or tried to in any case. But as I knew, Celestia was extremely persistent when she wanted to know something. And when it was something to do with me, well…her urge was amplified.

She moved her head from my chest and leaned on her side, smiling at me in a way I'd only really seen her use on children and unhappy individuals, some of which she got in her day court. Ha…it was one of the things that made me fall completely in love with her to begin with.

The expression was welcoming, as if to say that you could trust her. Warm and kind, loving even…like a mother I suppose. I don't even know if she realized that she was doing it, because it made me feel bloody weird.

"Toby you can tell me anything, you know that," she said soothingly.

"I know," I reassured, making sure my tone was just the opposite. "I just…well I don't want to upset you is all."

Celestia smile persisted as she laughed softly, before she moved forward and…well, sort of nose booped my nose. "I might get sad sometimes baby, but you could never truly upset me. I promise you that."

I made sure to give a subtle show of hesitating, before eventually smiling back and nodding, conveying with all the skill I possessed that I trusted her.

"I want to get out of here today, maybe go and see Luna for a bit," I almost said Chrysalis instead of Luna, but remembered all too well just how cautious Celestia was around her, believing her to have more than friendly affection for me.

Celestia frowned at my request and bit her lip nervously, clearly unsure of whether or not to comply with it. And just when I felt the horrible wave of defeat wash over me, the frown and bit lip turned into a happy expression with a smile.

"Okay baby," she agreed, nodding as if to emphasize that fact. "I'll get a wheelchair sorted out for you and then we can go and see Luna, okay?"

The wheelchair bit wasn't really what I wanted. What I wanted was to go out on my own, but I guess doing so was a bit too farfetched given my frail body.

Don't think I didn't notice how you missed Chrissy out of your plan Cel.

I still couldn't understand why Celestia felt so threatened by the ex-Queen. Maybe Chrissy did like me as more than a friend but I didn't return those feelings, I just didn't. It wasn't anything to do with looks or personality, because to be honest I kinda found both of them really attractive.

But not attractive enough to tear me away from my once beloved Alicorn. No one could ever do that…except the mare herself. Not that she would ever understand either.

Forget the past Tobias, the future is all that matters now.

"Thanks Celly," I said, relieved as she sighed happily and nuzzled my neck. "I know you probably don't want to do this, but it means a lot to me that you are."

"I'm just worried about your health Toby," she replied, honesty surprisingly noticeable in her tone. "The poison has more or less worn off now, but you're still going to be very weak for a few weeks and I just don't like the idea of you doing any more than is healthy."

"I'll be fine Cel…you'll be there with me."

The way her face morphed from concerned to tearful and joyful was almost, if not beautiful. In fact…it was very beautiful, and I was worried by how easy it was for me to say those words…say and mean them. I didn't want her anywhere near me, hell I wouldn't touch her with a ten foot pole if I had a say in the matter.

But then why does this fucking plan hurt me so much?

Ignoring the doubt creeping up in me, I smiled at Celestia and gracefully accepted the loving smooch I was apparently being rewarded with for my brilliant compliment.

"You always did know just what to say honey," she all but purred tenderly. Her hoof was rubbing my right thigh absentmindedly as she spoke, her entire attention focused on staring into my eyes. "And you're right, I will be with you the entire time. I'll protect you, I'll…I'll keep you safe."

From who. The only one I need to be protected from is…

"I know," I replied, smiling as she got off me and trotted over to the door.

"Now don't go anywhere baby," she said, grinning coyly as she winked at me. "I'll be right back."

And with that said and done, she opened the door and left me completely alone, her hoofsteps slowly but steadily becoming quieter and quieter as she walked away.

"Fuck…"

I covered my face with my hands and sighed heavily into them, finally allowing my emotions to get the better of me. I felt like…like shit to be honest, not ill but simply as if was a piece of shit, doing what I was going to do.

The plan, leaving her…I hadn't figured it all out yet, but with each second that ticked on by I felt my resolve to do so waver. Already I could feel the urge to fess up what I was trying to do to Celestia, to hold myself to her, to bury my face in her fur and apologize for even thinking about it over and over and…

"Fuck…this isn't fair, I shouldn't feel like this." Whispering made it easier for me to say out loud, and I did need to say it out loud, thinking it only made me more mixed up. "I should hate her, I should WANT to do this…but the more I think about it the less I do. God…do I really love her so much? So much that I WANT to ignore all she did to me?"

Suddenly, a thought came to me from nowhere, bringing a shiver that wracked my body as I mulled it over.

"Or…is it more than love? This need, this…dependency, this…sympathy I've felt in the back of my mind. The urge to be with her all the time. Is this why I'm fighting my decision? Do I actually feel sorry for her?"

Another shiver came and went as I realized the truth of my realization.

"I do sympathize with her," I said, aghast at the understanding. "She was all alone for so long before I came, even Luna has only been here a short time and before that Celestia was left with nothing…she told me as much when I was in the hospital."

And as if a switch had been flipped, I remembered her words all that time ago.

I was alone once," she admitted softly. "For a thousand years I was alone, the only one of my kind in all of Equestria and it…hurt so much."

I blinked in surprise at her apparent confession. It was not that I knew nothing of her sister's banishment, for I did…but I had never truly taken Celestia's side of the banishment into account.

"You had your subjects," I rebuked, a part of me trying desperately to dismiss her honest understanding.

"True," she agreed. "But they weren't Alicorns Tobias. They were Ponies of the Earth, Sky and Spirit, and had only just recovered from the Discordian Age. To me they were not just my subjects, but also my children…and a child never truly understands the emotions of their parent, no matter how old and wise they may become."

She looked down at me as I lay in my bed…and for the first time I gazed into her eyes and really saw just how old she was.

No, not just old but tired…so tired.

"I was alone for a thousand years Tobias, do you not think that it ever occurred to me how easy it would be to take my own life?"

It hadn't at the time, not when I was too busy trying to take mine. But that loneliness, her loneliness and how she'd described it so easily, so…wearily. Thinking back on it now I could truly understand how my attempt to leave her alone again had caused her mind to snap, to go to a dark place and come up with the plan to both poison and cure me, all in the name of her love for me.

I couldn't help but wonder what she would do if my plan worked and I made it to a place out of her reach, where she could never touch me again, where…where we would never see each other again. Where we would never kiss, never smile at each other, never hold each other, never sleep together and feel so happy as we kept the other warm and safe.

Never again…

A lone drop of wetness trailed down my cheek, shocking me out of my thoughts. Unfortunately I was too late to realize the door being opened before I could wipe it away…and unfortunately it was the first thing she noticed as she came back in, with a wheelchair and some clothing floating alongside her in a golden aura.

"Hey sweetie, I've got your chair for you," she said, smiling widely as I turned to look at it, only for her smile to instantly twist into an expression of worry, her eyes shining with it. "Oh honey what's wrong?"

She placed the chair and clothing to one side and all but dashed over to me, encompassing me with her immensely large wings and pulling me close. She then…well, kinda licked the tear away. It felt weird yet also quite pleasant.

"I'm sorry Celly," I apologized hastily, the reasoning for the tear unknown to me too. "I didn't mean to worry you. I just…missed you."

My choice of wording was yet again apparently quite brilliant. Her eyes lidded and shone with happiness as she pulled me even closer, until my face was quite literally buried in the fur of her barrel.

"Please don't apologize Toby!" she said somewhat frantically, nuzzling my hair lovingly as her wings squeezed me gently. "It's my fault, I was too slow getting you something to wear. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

The panic in her apologies was amazing in what it showed. She believed herself the reason behind my distress because I said I missed her. My being distressed was something that I knew she absolutely hated and would do anything to cure, but with HER being the reason behind it, in that moment she hated herself…and believed that I might hate her because of that too, thus the panic.

And before when I'd asked for the wheelchair, it was obvious that she really didn't want to comply. But when I felt defeated it must have shown on my face. My apparent distress made her change her mind instantly, because she really, truly wanted me to be happy at all times, and never to be upset because of her.

Did she think my hatred before was only anger talking? It makes sense if that's the case, but now…

Now, it didn't take me too long to realize how I could potentially use this to my advantage. Of course I'd have to be sparse when using it and subtle whenever I did do so, but still this was a win for the hour.

"It's okay," I soothed, rubbing her back comfortingly. "You're still my favourite mare, promise."

Yet again the right words just seemed to slip from my lips, causing the once panicked mare to calm and squeeze me softly. From the position I was in, I could just about hear…

"Love you…"

"Love you too," I mumbled, unable to move and say much more.

By the time I was let go, it was to a smile of utmost happiness. A smile…that made me feel so disgusting and wrong, which made my plan feel so disgusting…and wrong.

Why do I feel this way?

12.49 PM – Canterlot Castle (Dinning Area)

It didn't take very long for me to get dressed and then wheeled into the grand dining area. Celestia was smiling and making small talk the entire way, about how Luna would be so happy to see me, about how they had my favourite lunch (a vegetarian one mind you) being cooked to perfection as she spoke.

As the small talk continued and I once again noticed that Chrysalis was left out, I contemplated on doing something a little daring to advance my plan some. It was risky and potentially very dangerous, yet with all that in mind I still mentioned the ex-Queen and noticed once more, another emotion aside from utter joy on Celestia's face.

Loathing.

"Is Chrysalis going to be there?" I asked curiously, internally debating on the use of getting a psychotic mare potentially riled up against keeping her passive and chipper.

"I imagine she would be, yes," she replied curtly. The smile was still ever present on her muzzle, but it was certainly forced if the jealous glint in her eyes were anything to go by. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh I've just missed her is all," I admitted, carefully mind you so as not to go overboard and make her suspicious at my reasoning. "It's been a long week and although you are a wonderful bit of company, I do miss talking to others…you know?"

She nodded but remained tight lipped, the forced smile not ever there anymore, a neutral expression replacing it. Her eyes were…cold and powerful, internally I winced at what could be a disastrous result of my wording.

If I was Chrysalis then I would be very afraid right now.

A few moments later I was wheeled into the dining area, instantly noticing two of my closest friends and smiling a true, happy smile at seeing them again. My smile however was nothing compared to the one on their faces as they spotted me, the both of them instantly leaving the table and dashing over swiftly.

"Tobias! Tis a joy to see you again!" Luna cried happily, the mare reaching over with her right wing and gripping my left arm with it gently. It was one of her outdated signs of affection, a friend using their wing or tail to grasp the other's hoof being to her the ultimate sign of friendly warmth.

"You too Luna," I replied, grasping the wing weakly and smiling somewhat wearily. "It's been an ordeal, but it's good to see you again."

She smiled and squeezed my arm once more before letting go and looking up at Celestia, who in turn was smiling at the scene warmly. "Hello Tia, I trust you remembered to leave your…clothing in your chambers this time, yes?"

Her clothing…does she mean that she actually walked around in that thing?

I'd thought that Celestia had spelled it to look different or something, but that she had actually kept it how it was was bizarre and surprising.

Celestia's face was only slightly flushed at the question and she did laugh along Luna…but the glint in her eyes, the intelligence…they told another story, a story of Celestia wearing them publicly and doing it with the knowledge of everyone remembering it.

But why…why would she do that?

I caught the smile and secretive wink as she looked down at me, those calculating eyes all but confirming another agenda to her accident.

"Tobias," a duel toned voice spoke my name, effectively quietening the laughter on the spot. She sounded angry, very, very angry. "Who did this to you? Do you know, do you remember?"

Looking at the once Queen's eyes with the knowledge I'd gained from Celestia's, I realized instantly just why she was so wary of the Changeling. The way she stood, the sheer concern and love in her eyes as she looked at my frail form with righteous anger…in that moment I found her more beautiful than I'd ever considered before.

And her question…how was I supposed to answer that? I knew who had poisoned me, she was right behind me. But I knew if I admitted to such that one of two things would happen.

Chrysalis would believe me and attack the solar monarch, most likely getting tossed around like a rag doll in the process. And with her word against the law the Changeling had no chance of winning any trial. I wouldn't even put it past Celestia to fucking execute her just to remove a supposed romantic rival. The ruler could weave a tale and make even her bloody sister believe it.

The other potential consequence would be that Chrysalis didn't believe me at all. And who knew what would happen after that. Would Celestia punish me for trying, or would she play along and recommend me professional help. I mean after all, how could the beloved, benevolent Princess be responsible for my poisoning. She loved me and would never do that, ever, ever, ever.

Basically either way, I was fucked and fucked hard.

And so with no choice but to lie…

"I don't know, I don't remember," I lied, hating myself more and more for my inaction. But I had no choice, I had to lie to protect her and me from Celestia…maybe in time I could prove Celestia to be what I knew her to be, but today was not that day. "I was eating and then…I don't know, I just collapsed."

Chrysalis was fucking staring right into my eyes the entire time I bullshitted my way through the explanation. I couldn't tell if she believed me or not, normally I'd say my emotions would've given me away but Celestia had already protected me from that.

And yet for a whole five seconds of silence something in the Changelings eyes told me she knew I was lying anyway. They narrowed and then for but a moment flashed in realization…but what she'd realized I did not know. I wasn't going to let myself hope for something that wasn't going to come true.

She moved closer and put a hoof on my knee, her eyes flashing once again as I tried to hide my fear…fear of Celestia all but frying her where she stood.

"I will punish the one who did this to you Toby," she vowed, the intensity in her gaze making my cheeks go red. "If it takes me the rest of my life, I will use all I have on the one responsible and I will kill them."

I couldn't even begin to formulate a response and thus simply nodded, reaching out and grasping the holed hoof. She smiled warmly at me, flashing her fangs and for a brief moment leaning over to nuzzle my cheek.

"I know," she whispered, so softly that even right next to my ear I had trouble hearing her. But once I did…once I understood what she'd said…

She squeezed my thigh gently and kissed my cheek, only moving back a second or so after moving before smiling up at Celestia and walking back over to her seat.

Know what? I thought frantically, staring at the mare as she sat down and took a sip from her cup. What does she know, she can't possibly…can she? Celestia's far too manipulative to be found out so easily, Chrysalis isn't even in her league…right?

I hated hope. When it was taken from you, you ended up feeling useless. But her whispering, her words…even with the deck so heavily stacked against me I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of that hated emotion.

I looked up at Celestia only to already find her gazing down at me, an expression of clear jealously right there in her eyes. But then it was gone and only the warm smile of Princess Celestia remained.

"Come honey," Celestia spoke suddenly, her voice smooth and silky. "Let's get some lunch down you shall we, you must be starving."

The rich and honeyed tone all but confirmed my suspicions. Something had gone wrong in Celestia's plans and she knew it too. Unfortunately the one that had caused it was also the one Celestia would have her eye on the most, She hadn't said it in her mind but it was still there, and the Changelings actions today had done nothing to cool her paranoia.

I knew in that one moment that Chrysalis was the only one I could trust here. I couldn't tell her what Celestia had done, not openly at least…but maybe, just maybe I could still find a way to explain my predicament. Maybe it wasn't so impossible that I could escape Canterlot and Celestia after all.

I could only hope that her feelings for me didn't get her hurt…or worse.


End of Part Two


It's all coming to a close now, with but one last chapter left. I had hoped to get everything done here but I just couldn't find a way to fit everything in the same part. The final hours of Tobias's story will happen and end…soon.

So here's to the final part, let's hope I can get it finished before Christmas eh?

Cya next time folks.
> The Seventh Day - Part Three
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well it's certainly been a while hasn't it?

A lot's happened to me, a lot that I can't really see the lot of you wanting to know about, so I'll keep it short. I finished my apprenticeship in Childcare and have now moved away from my mother's to my fathers. It's a weird feeling, but I'm getting used to it.

So now here I am, finally finishing up this story. I can only hope you are satisfied with it, for I am writing this note before I write anything else, so I honestly don't know.

In any case, enjoy my final story friends.

Begin!


The Seventh Day

Part Three


13.03 PM – Canterlot Castle (Dining Area)

Fear.

That was the only word, the only emotion I can think to use, to describe what it was I felt as a fork wrapped in a golden aura slowly made its way towards me, carrying with it a part of the exact same meal that doomed me.

FLASH!

I remember the sensation of falling.

FLASH!

I remember the feeling of helplessness as I my limbs stopped responding to my will.

FLASH!

I remember the pain of betrayal as Celestia told me what she had done, a sad smile on her face as she explained it all.

"Honey?"

FLASH!

I remember the rage that overtook me as she fooled her very own guard with ease.

"Tobias, Tobias are you okay?"

FLASH!

I remember the despair that filled me as I fully came to realize how trapped I was.

"Tia, what's wrong with him? TOBIAS!"

FLASH!

I remember wanting to die.

…I blinked and the world swam into focus. The fork that once approached me was upon the plate it came with, golden aura gone.

"Tobias?"

I looked up away from the fork and blinked in confusion, befuddled as to why Celestia, Luna and Chrysalis were staring at me with great concern.

"Uh, yeah?" I said, the words difficult to say through the tightness of my throat.

The three of them looked at each other once, a silent agreement seeming to pass through their gaze before Chrysalis looked back at me and said it for them.

"You froze up, Toby," she said, a worried gleam shining within her eyes. "You just…stared at your fork and wouldn't listen to us."

"I…" I didn't know what to say to that, I didn't even realize that I'd froze. "I…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you it's just…the last time I ate this meal it didn't end too well."

Understanding shone through the duo in front of me before I looked elsewhere. I didn't want their pity, I wanted to…to leave, to run, to hide, to get away from-

"Sweetie," a voice all too familiar became known all too quickly as but a light touch of air tickled my right ear. "Are you okay, if this is too much too quickly then I can take you back to our room?"

It was all whispered, but as I'd come to realize Alicorns had a pretty top notch set of ears. So when Luna's perked up and twitched, I knew straight away that whatever her reaction was, Celestia was planning on it being in her favour.

"You don't have to have lunch just to please us, Toby," Luna said softly. "Chrysalis and I are more than pleased to have just seen you."

But I'm not having lunch because I want to please you. I'm having it here because I need to speak with someone other than the one who poisoned me!

Of course I couldn't ever say that. Luna wouldn't believe me and even if Chrysalis did, she would likely attack Celestia and end up becoming the first executed in over four centuries.

"No, I'm fine now," I replied, shaking my head and smiling as best I could. "It was just a momentary relapse, I'm over it."

I was lying of course, staring down at my meal I wanting nothing more than to throw it away from me, or better yet smash it over Celestia's head and run for it. Though with my current frailty I doubt I would have made it very far, and certainly not before Luna or one of the guard had stopped me.

No, for the moment I had to play it cool. I had to be exactly as I was before the week had begun.

I had to be Tobias Greenfield, lover of Princess Celestia, friend to Princess Luna and Princess Chrysalis. I had to be perfect with this act, for if not then…I doubt I'd ever make it out of the palace, let alone Canterlot at all.

To be honest, I wouldn't put it past Celly to break my legs in the name of protecting me, of loving me.

But then again…Chrysalis seemed to know something, she'd said as much before. I just had to figure out how to talk with her without anyone either watching or listening in, but how?

How was I to shake my lover when she was all but trying to smother me with her affection?

And as if she knew what I was thinking…

"Don't worry honey," Celestia crooned, her voice liquid silk. "We'll go back to our room after lunch and have a lie down. I'll wrap you up in my wings and keep you safe." The last part was whispered so quietly that even I could barely hear it…yet as the last word was softly spoken I felt a part of me relax…and become elated, a smile threatening to overcome my face as I-

NO! Don't listen to her, if you let her make you feel like this then you will NEVER ESCAPE! FIGHT BACK FOOL, RESIST HER!

I blinked and looked around, stopping only as I looked into Celestia's eyes. The sheer love and care, the adoration and protectiveness was clearly there, the feelings behind them all but washing over me the longer I looked. I quickly turned away, unable to stop the warm feeling as my cheeks became flush.

A quiet laugh was all the conformation I needed to know my efforts were futile.

14.29 PM (Celestia's Chambers)

I'd stayed as long as I could, as long as I believed I would be able to manage before Celestia became suspicious…or I simply broke down and wept. But eventually the time came where conversation became muted and Celestia nuzzled my neck, telling me and in turn the other two that I'd had enough excitement for the day, that she didn't want me to lose rest and become weaker…

That it was time to return to our room, my prison, where the walls seemed to close in on me every waking moment.

Luna was practically helping her sister steer me towards the door as she quickly believed Celestia's worries, and Chrysalis…Chrysalis got up, moved towards me and kissed my cheek as she wished me a good rest and a good day.

The longing in her eyes before I was turned around was palpable…

Celestia really was right about her…she truly does care for me, maybe even as much as…

But in the end it didn't matter what she felt, Celestia would likely kill her if she ever suspected that she'd make a move on me. I knew as much from the jealousy; the overwhelming need to protect me I'd felt in her memories.

And so it was that I ended up, once more, lying in Celestia's bed. The white mare was returning my wheelchair to wherever she got it from. I could have pretended not to know why, but it was all too obvious that she simply didn't want me to leave without her guidance.

Testing my strength, I pushed myself up into a sitting position and grimaced as my arms shook.

Evidently I'm not anywhere near recovered, so Celestia wasn't lying about that one. Maybe it is going to take a couple of weeks to regain my full mobility…but I don't have a couple of weeks.

And really, I didn't. For I knew that if I continued to stay there under Celestia's loving care, then eventually I…I wouldn't want to leave.

No, if I stay any longer then I won't want to go. I have to leave…and I have to leave tonight!

Even as the thought crossed my mind, I could feel a large part of me screaming its refusal to comply. I shook my head, ignoring the pleas until they withered away inside me.

Still, I felt disgusting, I felt horrible. I felt…like if I stayed then it'd still be okay, I'd be okay. Because Celestia would never stop loving me, she would never stop caring for me, protecting me, holding me…I felt so pathetic.

But a part of me didn't care.

The sound of the door opening caused me to look up and smile unwillingly as my lover walked through it, her famous smile aimed solely, lovingly at me as she trotted over.

"You should be lying down sweetie," she scolded softly, crawling on the bed over to me and gently biting my top, pulling me with down into a comfortable laying position with an unbelievable amount of ease. "There we go baby. I wouldn't want you to hurt your back, your muscles still have a lot of recovering to go before sitting like that is okay again."

"Sorry," the words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. I wasn't sorry, and yet…a part of me felt bad for having caused her to worry. "I just wanted to…try it."

Celestia smiled at me warmly, before nuzzling my neck and breathing in my scent. "I know baby, but please don't try anything like that without me here first. You're still unwell and I'm worried, that's all."

"I won't do it again without you here, I promise." Once more the words just seemed to leave without my say so…and once more a part of me didn't care that I cared.

Celestia kissed my neck and closed her eyes, the complete and utter enjoyment of having me close clear for me to see. "Good, I'd hate to have to…persuade you."

It took all I had not to freeze up, or scream…or cry. I knew she meant it in a completely different way to what I thought, but at that moment all I could see was the image of Celestia forcing poison down my throat, a sad smile on her face as she explained that it was for my own good, that I shouldn't have disobeyed her.

Her hoof stroking my right thigh dispelled the image, but the mood of it remained.

"Sorry Celly, I'm…I'm a bit tired," I mumbled quietly, a feeling of relief flowing through me her hoof stopped moving.

"It's okay," she crooned gently. "We can just sleep…I love holding you with my wings."

Indeed, as she said it, her wings snaked under and over me, deftly removing my top and flinging it away before they wrapped around my bare body. I couldn't repress the happy sigh, nor could I resist moving my head and placing it under her muzzle. Her own blissful sigh was enough for me to guess just how much she loved this too.

"Just sleep against me, Toby," she whispered, her voice low and warm. "In my hold you'll always be safe, I promise. And when you recover, I will gift you with all my love can give."

Sleep rapidly began to claim me…the world was growing dark as love and warmth washed over me.

"I will give you…"

I fell…into sleep.

"Eternity."

19.47 PM (Celestia's Chambers)

"Tobias, psst, Tobias!"

I opened my eyes and blinked blearily, the world slowly coming into focus as I turned around and noticed a pair of green eyes staring down at me. It was only as I felt Celestia still breathing that the gravity of the situation became apparent.

"Chrysalis?" I whispered, somewhat harshly I admit but in all honesty I was expecting Celestia to wake up and gut her. "What are you doing here?"

"Getting you somewhere safe, hold on a sec." Her horn lit up and enveloped my frail form, lifting it from under Celestia and into…a wheelchair? "There we go, now be quiet for a bit. I've knocked out everyone here with an overpowered sleeping spell, but I don't want to take the chance that I missed someone."

I…was pretty unresponsive as she quietly wheeled me out of Celestia's chambers. I remained so even as we passed a good few snoozing guards, because…well, to be completely honest I was struggling with whether to yell in protest or yell in confusion.

After leaving the day wing and wheeling through the night wing, we eventually made it into a recently built part of the palace, namely Chrysalis'. The door opened with but a flash of her magic and I was quickly wheeled inside.

"Right, the door has a silencing ward on it so we should be fine to speak normally," she said, before turning to face me and smiling at my apparent expression. "You seem confused, Tobias."

"Confused, yeah that's a word for it. Why did you sneak me away from Cel for?"

Her eyes flashed with anger at my lovers shortened name. "Why I should think it was obvious, Toby. Because she POISONED YOU!"

"What?" I whispered, shocked. She couldn't have known, how could she know, how? "I…I don't know what you're- "

"Don't," she growled, closing the gap between us as she stared into my eyes. "Don't you dare lie to me again, not now, not while we're alone."

I had no idea what to say to that, the fact that she knew I was lying before when she questioned me shouldn't have surprised me really, but it did.

"I'm the Queen of the Changeling race, Tobias," she spat angrily. "Celestia can block your emotions all she likes, but I've been lying to others since before you were even an idea. So do NOT think that you can lie to me about this."

The passion in her duel voice was unmistakable. And even though I was shocked at what she knew, at how easily she had known that I was lying, I couldn't help but smile a small smile because of it…because of how much she cared about me.

"How did you know?" I asked, curiosity overriding my sense of shock with ease.

Chrysalis looked at me and smiled, pleased that I didn't continue to try and defend Celestia.

"Celestia may believe herself to be a master manipulator, but the fact of the matter is that I'm simply better at it, and certainly better at noticing emotions that shouldn't be there."

"She's blocked off her emotions," I pointed out, which in turn Chrysalis smirked at.

"True, but I don't need to feel emotions to know what someone is feeling. All I needed to do was look at her face. The eyes, the twitching of her muzzle, the flaring of a nostril, the flicker of an ear. All of these can tell a story, and though she may believe her mask to be impervious, for someone as well versed in the arts of manipulation as myself, reading that overconfident fool was child's play."

"So how did you know?" I asked once more, a sense of nervousness washing over me as I began to wonder what would happen if Celestia woke up…or worse, if she already was and was listening right then and there.

"It was the end of the day when you were brought here," she explained, sitting down on her rump and putting a hoof on my leg in…sympathy I believe. "The moment I'd heard what had happened to you, I ran over to Celestia's chambers and tried to get in, but it was locked and nothing I did would open it. So I was left with the only solution of finding her and getting some answers.

"I found her explaining the situation to Luna, and of course the naive fool was lapping up every single damned word that came out of her sister's muzzle. But when I asked her to explain it to me…well, barely anything that she told me made a lick of sense. She explained that she'd gone to visit you and broke into your house after she heard the sound of you choking, but the thing is that she COULDN'T have heard you because when Luna and I purchased that house I made sure that it was suitably protected with various different wards, including wards intended purely for comfort…like a soundproof ward."

A soundproof ward? I didn't even know the house had one.

"So," she continued, a grimace on her face as she remembered what came next. "The fact that Celestia heard you chocking was the first sign that something was up, because there's no way she should have been able too, even with her admittedly brilliant sense of hearing.

"The next thing that made me doubt her was when she appeared later on wearing clothing that no Princess should ever wear outside of her chambers, because any intelligent Princess would know that Ponies would do nothing but chat about it endlessly for weeks, if not months. And they did, the fact that her lover was poisoned became second to the fact that Princess Celestia, the practical mother of Equestria was skipping around the palace in lingerie with naught but the excuse of 'I must have forgotten, silly me'."

So that's why she wore it out of her chambers. With Equestria focusing on her instead of my being poisoned, eventually Ponies simply…forgot about me.

"I must admit that Celestia is pretty adept at controlling the way her subjects think, but I guess she forgot that I am not one of them. So the entire scheme was fairly obvious to me, even if it escaped everyone else's mind…even her own sister."

"So that was it?" I asked. "That was how you knew?"

She shook her head. "Not at that point no. It was only this afternoon that I put the pieces together."

Realization struck like lightning as I too put the pieces together. "When you questioned me earlier, I thought I saw something."

"You saw me as I realized the truth of it all," she admitted, her ears pinned back in some emotion I knew not. Shame perhaps. "When I asked you if you knew, the first thing anyone would have done would be to look to a loved one for support, to lean back and touch them, to know that they were safe. But you only looked at me, and not for support from a friend…but in fear. And when you lied it became all too apparent that you were doing so. Your body tensed up and your eyes were twitching, as if they were trying their best not to look up…to look up behind you at Celestia."

"You said when you found out who it was, you would kill them," I said uneasily, not really liking the way her muzzle twitched into a brief snarl.

"I needed to get a read on her reaction as well," Chrysalis spat, angry though not at me. "Celestia has a lot she doesn't know about my kind. Our eyes can see a great deal more than any type of Pony, and when I declared what I would do to the poisoner…she looked away and sneered, as if my words were nothing to her, when she should have at the very least scolded me for resorting to violence."

"And that's when you knew?"

"Yes," she nodded, the snarl replaced by a tender look. "I don't know why she poisoned you though. Care to explain that for me?"

Guess it's my turn.

"Because she loves me."

Chrysalis blinked at me once, twice…before responding to my answer.

"She poisoned you because she loves you?" she echoed. "Do you want to run that one by me again?"

"I mean it, Chrysalis!" I snapped, in no mood whatsoever to say anymore then I had to. I had no desire to tell her all that Celestia did to me…that was my shame to bear. "She poisoned me because she believes, truly believes that taking care of me when I cannot do so myself will somehow make me love her again."

"That's insane," Chrysalis whispered, horrified at my lovers twisted logic. "Does she actually believe that it'll work?"

…I remained silent, my eyes closing as hers widened in greater horror.

"You…don't actually love her again," she whispered. "Because if you do then…I don't have a fucking clue what to say to that other than what the FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"Shut up!" I screamed, startling her before she could continue. "You don't know what she's done to me! You don't have a fucking clue so don't fucking stand there and lecture me while I'm sitting here frail and broken. You don't have a FUCKING CLUE!"

Tears began to stream down my face as I screamed the truth of it all. I was broken, inside and out. I wanted to escape and leave Celestia behind but I couldn't even begin to think of a day without her love and warmth.

"Y-You don't k-know what she's done to me," I sobbed. "She didn't just poison me, she broke me. I'm broken, Chrysalis. I can't fight her anymore, she's too much…I don't have any strength left to do it."

I could barely feel it as she wrapped her hooves around me and buried my head in her barrel, tears clouded my vision and left my skin numb as they trickled down my face.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you," she said softly, her duel tone emphasising this with ease. "You are right; I have no idea what she's done to you. But what I DO know is that you need to leave this place, and you DO have the strength to do it."

"I…I can't," I whispered. "There's barely a spark of fight left in me. The rest of me…it wants to stay with her, it can't imagine waking up without her beside me…I can't imagine it, I can't."

She moved back and gently grasped my head, forcing me to look at her eyes as she spoke.

"You can do this," she declared, a true strength in her words. "We can, together. I can help you escape the city, escape the country."

"No, no, no. If you help me escape then she'll know, your children will suffer because of it."

Her eyes softened at my refusal. "Then as soon as I've gotten you on that train, I'll return here to keep up appearances. Celestia will never know I aided you."

I looked up at her, my eyes watering as but a spark of hope began to ignite. "She'll figure it out eventually."

"Then I'll simply plan for an alternative until then," she countered, smiling as if she'd sensed her victory. "In the meantime, we have to get you out of the country and I know exactly how to do it."

I watched in fascination as the Changeling Queen moved away and turned around, her horn alight for but a few seconds before a crisp snapping sound filled the room, followed quickly by a hiss of pain as a few long, thick strands of her hair were pulled out of her scalp and out of sight.

Before I knew it, the mare turned around and presented me with what appeared to be some sort of necklace. The necklace carried a small round shape, green in colour and somewhat reflective. It was only as I looked at it a few seconds longer than I realized what it was I was looking at.

As if she could read me like a book, she smiled and explained. "A piece of any Changeling carries certain magical properties that can be manipulated if one knows how to do it. This is a piece of my plating, filled with a manipulative form of magic, manipulative enough to keep attention away from you whenever you wish it."

Carefully, as if afraid to hurt me, she wrapped the necklace around my neck and fused the thick strands of hair into one. "There, as long as you wear this you will never be given more than the barest of glances. You could even…steal aboard a train out of the country and arrive without anyone noticing."

I grasped the necklace gently and looked at Chrysalis with…with hope, true hope.

Could I really escape now?

And as if she knew what I was thinking…

"Come, put this on and let us get you to the train station," she said, passing me the top Celestia had flung away earlier, as well as a pair of socks and my old trainers.

"You went to my house?"

"Of course. It's likely that I'll never see you again so…I wanted to make sure you'd be as comfortable as possible."

Something burned behind my eyes, but I blinked it away and put the various bits of clothing on.

"I'm ready, let's go."

Chrysalis wheeled me out of her chambers and through the palace, passing many a guard on our way. Yet as we passed, none did more than glance at her. It was as if they couldn't see me at all. Eventually we found ourselves out of the palace and on the way down towards the train station, the smell of smoke becoming ever more pungent the nearer we got.


This is it, I'm really going to make it out of here. Celestia's asleep, and I'm out of the palace…out of her grasp.

Yet as that thought passed me by, another one forced its way to the forefront of my mind.

Wait a moment and think about this Tobias! We're leaving Celestia, CELESTIA! Our lover, our soulmate, the only one who truly loves and cares for us. If we catch this train now, then we'll likely never see her again. Imagine it, waking up without her, without her love and warmth, without her wings surrounding us, without her kiss and touch. Before we catch this train, think! Do we truly want to do this…when we could simply refuse and ask Chrysalis to take us back to her?

Despair began to consume me as that question burned at my emotions. It hurt to even think about leaving her. The fact that I was in the middle of doing it almost made me choke back a sob.

And yet…

Yes, I want her. I want to go back and hold her, let her hold me and love me forever. But if I do it then I'll be trapped, unable to ever leave her again. I'll be stuck in her madness and no amount of love can make me truly forget what that madness has done to me…so escaping…this is for me, my choice. The first of many I'll make without her guidance. And something to make all this suffering worth something in the end…so listen to me, because I'm leaving her for good this time. You hear that, WE'RE THROUGH CELESTIA, SO LEAVE ME ALONE!

I didn't know if she could hear my thoughts, I never could. But I have to admit I kind of hoped that she did in that moment…for just that moment alone.

The Ex Queen was looking at the station timetable for some place I had never even heard of when the bells started ringing from the palace. I'd only ever heard them once and that was when there was some sort of criminal roaming around inside it, which in the present moment didn't take long to pin to my not being in there.

Chrysalis quickly came back over to me and wheeled me towards the train furthest down the station, not stopping her pace until I was physically inside it.

"This is bad isn't it?" I asked, the question pretty much rhetorical.

"Very," she agreed. "Celestia wasn't supposed to wake up so quickly, and she certainly wasn't supposed to ring the damn alarm. The whole city is going to be blocked off the moment she declares what the emergency is."

"Then this train better get moving already," I muttered, my breathing becoming steadily more panicked as the alarm grew in volume. But then without more than a breath after I'd finished speaking did the train whistle, signalling that it was about to depart.

Chrysalis bit her lip as she looked at me, her eyes startlingly shiny with emotion. And before I could say anything, do anything…she moved closer and kissed me full on the mouth.

"Chrissy…what was," words were beyond me, I simply couldn't think of anything to say.

"In another life we could have been beautiful," she said, her duel tone thick with emotion. "Goodbye Tobias, don't forget me." She moved back out of the train just before the door shut, her bright green eyes looking at me fondly…before they blinked and disappeared entirely.

The train began to move, slowly at first but quickly picking up speed as it made its way through Canterlot. The alarm sounding throughout the city was still quite noticeable but as the train continued its journey, the sound gradually began to quiet down.

I didn't know where the train was taking me, only that it was out of Equestria and rather far away. Hopefully far enough that she could never find me, or even better be unable to cross the border of that country to do so.

A few hours later, the conductor announced that we were leaving Dodge Junction, the last stop in Equestria. And as the train moved and the desert gradually changed to show the sea and open sky did I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

I was free.

09.48 AM Taurostaur (Nine Months Later)

Nine months…nine long months since I'd fled the country and my crazy ex marefriend. I wish I could say that a lot had happened to me since then, that she'd found me, tracked me down and we'd had an epic battle of wills until one of us gave out.

The truth however is that she simply never managed to figure out where I was. Oh not for lack of trying mind you, the Equestrian paper was delivered even here and it had long been my face somewhere on the front page.


TOBIAS GREENFIELD STILL MISSING!

REWARD FOR LOCATION INCREASED TO TWO MILLION BITS

It has been almost nine months since the partner of our beloved Princess Celestia vanished without a trace.

Could it be that the Human has gone back to his own world, or that perhaps he has been stolen?!

Find out inside where an anonymous tip has disclosed where they believe the young male to be!


So yeah, it wasn't particularly fun knowing that most of the world was looking for you. Still, if there was ever a place to hide then Taurostaur was it. No one cared who you were here, and with Chrysalis's necklace nobody gave me more than a second glance. Of course I'd had to take it off every now and then to get work and food and whatnot, but the moment I put it back on it was like they forgot who I was.

It made picking up my pay difficult sometimes.

There had been nothing on Chrysalis or her children in the paper, so I took that to mean that she had yet to be found out. It was only a matter of time mind you, Chrysalis is good but Celestia plays the long game and is incredibly patient. Her mind revealed as much to me when I was trapped inside it.

I worry about the Changeling a lot, but if I'm to have any sort of life then I needed to put all my focus into having a full one. And so far I have, it's not so different from before I came to Equestria in that I support myself independently. I pay my bills, buy my own food and clothing, that sort of shit.

It isn't perfect by any means, but it's still a life I can enjoy. A good life, a full life, one without pity or sympathy. I won't deny that the week I was poisoned was horrible, traumatic even. It gave me a unique perspective on those who have no freedom, who's choices are made for them and are punished for defiance.

But still, it's over now. So if you feel sorry for me, don't.

Be happy for me, and all who are free.
> Alternate Ending One (Celly's Game)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Huh, I guess I AM set on adding in an alternative finish to the story. I don't really know why, but I just can't quite get the urge to do so out of my head.

Perhaps I'm not as finished here as I thought…hmm.

In any case, for those who wanted Celestia to 'Win', here's one alternate chapter for you. Short and dark, but long enough to make sense considering that it starts nine months later in Taurostaur.

I hope you like this, to be fair I kind of like this more than the other one I'm going to write. But then again I am a special kind of sadistic with my poor protagonists.

Begin!


The Final Chapter – Alternate Ending.

(Celly's Game)


09.48 AM Taurostaur (Nine Months Later)

So yeah, it wasn't particularly fun knowing that most of the world was looking for you. Still, if there was ever a place to hide then Taurostaur was it. No one cared who you were here, and with Chrysalis's necklace nobody gave me more than a second glance. Of course I'd had to take it off every now and then to get work and food and whatnot, but the moment I put it back on it was like they forgot who I was.

It made picking up my pay difficult sometimes.

There had been nothing on Chrysalis or her children in the paper, so I took that to mean that she had yet to be found out. It was only a matter of time mind you, Chrysalis is good but Celestia plays the long game and is incredibly patient. Her mind revealed as much to me when I was trapped inside it.

I worry about the Changeling a lot, but if I'm to have any sort of life then I needed to put all my focus into having a full one. And so far I have, it's not so different from before I came to Equestria in that I support myself independently. I pay my bills, buy my own food and clothing, that sort of shit.

It isn't perfect by any means, but it's still a life I can enjoy. A good life, a full life, one without pity or sympathy. I won't deny that the week I was poisoned was horrible, traumatic even. It gave me a unique perspective on those who have no freedom, who's choices are made for them and are punished for defiance.

But still, it's over now. So if you feel sorry for me, don't.

Be happy for me, and all who are free.

…

I smiled as I finished the last line, elated that I had managed to put everything to paper with such detail, given how badly I just wanted to forget it. I didn't believe for a second that I could ever publish this, or show it to the authorities, or even the local newspaper. No one would ever believe me, and besides it would lead Celestia right to me.

Still, that I managed to write it all down with nary a pause was enough to make me smile with confidence.

'Knock' 'Knock' 'Knock'

The sudden though gentle knocking on my door snapped me out of my thoughts and out of my writing chair. It was strange that anyone was knocking to be perfectly honest, with Chrysalis' necklace no one ever really seemed to bother me, let alone pop around for something at this time of night.

It was this thought that stayed my hand as I reached for the handle.

What if it wasn't some random guy knocking on my door, what if it was worse than that?

What if it was…

I took a deep, shuddering breath and peaked through the Peephole I'd had attached to my door. Through it I could see…a Donkey? What was a mule knocking on my door for?

I reached for the handle and opened the door.

"Yeah, what do you w…"

One look was all it took for me to slam the door and lock it with all six locks, two of which were crafted so as to be impervious to magic.

Fuck! How, it was a fucking Donkey, HOW!

I looked out of the Peephole again, only to flinch back and fall on my arse as a large magenta eye stared right back.

"Leave me alone, go away!" I yelled, fear wracking my form as I struggled to get back up. Nine months it had been, but physical activity was still difficult for me, just not as crippling as it once was.

There was a sudden flash and the familiar sound of teleportation was all I needed to run to the only other entrance to my home, namely the back door. I reached it just in time to flick the first three locks, deadlocking the whole thing entirely.

"Fucking hell, fuck…" my breath was shallow and my heart was pounding in my ears, but I knew with both doors locked she couldn't get in. I'd learned from my past mistakes; my home was completely impenetrable. "How did she find me, fucking hell. How did she find me?"

'Knock' 'Knock'

Without thinking, I raced into the front room and froze, the cause of the knocking standing not a few feet away from the large window. She stood there on the clean cut grass, the moon making her appear almost ethereal. There was a wide, warm smile on her muzzle as she lifted a hoof into the air and waved at me…but her eyes, her eyes betrayed a sort of madness I couldn't comprehend.

Her muzzle opened and words escaped it…but I couldn't hear anything.

The soundproofing ward, I forgot about that one! She can't hear me and I can't hear her.

I visibly relaxed as that thought ran through me, for if I could not hear her then there was no way she could twist me back into her hold with honeyed words. And so, feeling just a little bolder I grinned at the mare and pointed to my ears, signifying with but a melodramatic wave that I couldn't hear her.

However, instead of getting visibly upset or angry, the mare merely gave off a silent laugh before…bowing down at me, almost as if…

"Are you congratulating me?" I asked, the words leaving before I could stop them.

And even though it was impossible for her to have heard what I had said, Celestia nodded and smiled. Her muzzle opened once more as she slowly mouthed out three words…it was difficult to understand what she was mouthing with a muzzle, but after a couple of moments I suddenly understood.

"Well done honey," I muttered quietly, shivering as I came to a rather unwelcome conclusion. "This is all a game to you, isn't it?"

I don't know if she read my lips or what, but that patient smile on her face was all I needed to decide that I had seen enough of her. Moving forward quickly, I grabbed the curtain on the left and closed it, before moving onto the right and shutting that one to.

I could no longer see her.

"Okay…" I breathed uneasily. "No such thing as a phone here, and I don't have a post owl yet…so, I need to somehow make it out of my house and to the nearest guard tower without Celestia catching me…fantastic."

"Tobiasssssssss"

I froze, the hauntingly beautiful sound of my old lover's voice gluing me to the spot.


"Did you forget to do something, Tobiassss!"

I turned around and looked in horror at my fireplace, realization dawning as her voice came through it yet again.

"You didn't ward the fireplace," she sang, her voice playful and chipper. "Oh, and you were doing so well. But it's okay, everyone makes mistakes dear."

Thin wisps of gold began to slither through the open grate, slowly and steadily forming into something…someone.

I ran out of that room like the hounds of hell themselves were chasing me, reaching the back door and yanking on it…only to realize too late that it wouldn't open, not for a good hour.

I deadlocked it…fucking hell!

Turning away, I ran to the front door and tried that one instead. I hadn't deadlocked it which was a risk in itself, but I was grateful none the less because give or take a few locks and it was open and I was-

The door slammed itself shut, nearly chopping off a bit of nose in the process.

"Oh you can't leave now, the game's just getting started my dear!" I couldn't see her, but I could definitely hear her. She was inside my home with me…I was trapped.

"What do you want?" I demanded, trying and failing to hide my fear. "Why haven't you just knocked me out and dragged me back to Canterlot yet?"

Her laughter permeated the air, soft and somewhat melodious as it echoed around me.

"And why would I take you back to those stuffy nobles when we can have a bit of fun first?" she crooned, her tone as soft as velvet. "No my love, I wish to play a game with you. There's even a reward if you win."

"What game?" I asked, trying to turn the handle as I did so and gritting my teeth when it didn't budge.

"Why, it's a mixture of games!" she chirped, giggling madly the entire time. "First we'll play Question and Answer, mixed in with a little game of Hide and Seek!"

She sounds completely insane…but maybe if I can make it upstairs I can climb out the window in my room.

"Okay then dear," I agreed, my words coming out a lot braver than I felt. "Let's play then."

The sound of hooves clapping together was all the warning I got before I felt something whisper in my ear. "Good boy."

I almost leapt out of my skin.

"Now here's how this game works. I ask you a question and if you answer it correctly, I count to twenty and you have to hide from me. If you manage to do so for more than five minutes then you win the game and consequently, the reward!"

"And what if I answer incorrectly?" I asked, already dreading the answer as she began to giggle again.

"Well…if you answer my question wrong or I find you, then I'll break one of your fingers!"

WHAT THE FUCK?


"B-But you promised that you'd never hurt me!" I cried, tugging on the handle over and over.

"You promised that you'd never leave me," she countered, and this time I could feel the fury behind her otherwise cheery tone. "But like you leaving me, the breaking of your fingers will only beeee temporary!"

"N-No Celly, sweetie, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Please we don't have to play this game, I'll come back home with you and I'll never leave you again, I swear!"

There was only silence for a while, and for a moment I began to think that I had gotten through to her…but then-

"First question baby. What is my favourite thing to do every Sunday morning?"

I shook my head, refusing to answer her question as I pleaded with her once more. "Celly, please! We don't have to play this game, we can go home and AHHHHH!" I fell to the floor and screamed in agony as my right index finger was snapped backwards, a brief tint of gold flickering around it before vanishing.

"Wrong answer! You realllly need to play the game properly sweetie. The correct answer is the same as every other morning. To wake up and kiss my loving boyfriend!"

Tears were fighting against me to stream down my face and only sheer determination stopped them from flowing. "C-Celly please stop!"

"Next question!" she sang merrily. "What is the one thing my mate for life did…that HE SHOULDN'T HAVE?!"

"L-Leave you," I stammered out, gritting my teeth in pain.

"Correct!" she cried happily "Oh, now you better go and hide. One, two, three, four…"

I knew nothing I said would get through to her, and if I tried to stay and plead again then she would likely just ignore me until the countdown was up and break another finger for finding me.

So I ran up the stairs and looked around for somewhere, anywhere to hide.

"Eleven, twelve, thirteen…"

Seizing the moment as best I could, I ran into the guest bedroom and dove into the wardrobe, pulling clothing after clothing over me in my best attempt to hide underneath it.

"Nineteen, TWENTY! Ready or not, here I come!"

I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears, I could hear it. After a few minutes or so the stairs began to creak, the sound of hooves clopping against them ever so slowly as they grew nearer.

"Where's my Toby?" Celestia asked, her voice childlike and oh so fucking creepy. "Tobyyyyy?"

The sound of her hooves quietened as she veered off in the direction of my bathroom. Alas, it was only a bare forty seconds later that those hooves became noticeable once more. Worse still, they had clearly entered the room I was hiding in!

"Hmm, now I'm not one to cheat my love. But your scent is pungent in this room, spicy and sweet all at the same time. Oh how I cannot wait to breathe it all in once more."

A few more seconds passed as I heard the distinct sound of someone ruffling around with my guest bed.

"And five minutes have passed, well done my love!" Celestia declared, her voice happy and chipper again. "You won the game sweetheart, come on out now!"

I didn't move a bloody muscle; I didn't even breathe.

"Tobias, I said you won. Come on out…now!" her voice wasn't quite as chipper this time, but instead carried the tone of a scolding mother. But still, I didn't comply with her request. I stayed completely still, breathing as quietly and sparingly as I possibly could.

"You're not being very fair Tobias, so I'm going to say this one more time before I have to use my magic. You've won, I have your reward. So come and get it."

…

"Now."

What do I do?

A few more moments passed before an irritated snort caught my attention. "Very well, I guess if I must then I will simply have to get you. But I expect many kisses for putting up with this!"

The familiar sound of a horn lighting up with magic was all the warning I got before I felt myself being pulled out through the wardrobe, banging my head on the top shelf on my way before I found myself facing a cross looking Celestia.

"You didn't play very nicely, Tobias," she said, her lips drawn in a thin line. "One would almost think you didn't enjoy my game." She looked down at my broken finger and narrowed her eyes, her horn lighting up for but a brief moment before the finger seemed to snap back into place…painfully.

I hissed in agony as I felt the full brunt of the aftereffect, before my face was forcibly turned to look at hers.

"That was barely a spark of the pain you've caused me since you left," she whispered, her eyes flooding with angry tears as her lower lip trembled. "But…But I really…I've really missed you Tobias."

Before I could even think to stop her she moved forward and wrapped her wings around me tightly, her muzzle buried in my neck as she breathed and shuddered.

"I'm sorry baby, I hurt you again didn't I," she mumbled sadly, moving out of my neck and looking at me with tears in her eyes. "I…I just wanted to…"

Whatever she wanted didn't matter to me in that moment, I wasn't going to let her hurt me again, no matter how frightened I felt.

And so...

"I don't care what you want, because you're not having it if it involves me."

'SMACK'

I punched her in the side of her face, the shock or pain causing her to loosen her hold on me, enough for me to run as fast as I fucking could downstairs into the hall, where I ran full tilt into the door and prayed my thanks to every god out there that I managed to somehow break the damn thing down. A sharp snapping sound confirmed that I'd done something nasty to my shoulder, but I was far too pent up on adrenaline to concern myself with it then and there.

Unfortunately…

I barely managed to make it to the end of my pathway before something tripped me up and I fell to the ground, before something else began to pull me back towards the house.

I was screaming in terror as my freedom became a pipe dream, my fingers bloody from clawing at the ground.

"You don't want me, you don't want my PROTECTION, fine! But If I can't have your love…"

A sudden intense pain in my chest caused my vision to turn grey. Blood began to seep from my mouth and ears, my eyes becoming sticky as they too wept red tears

...the world was fading…

"Then no one can…"

"C-Cel…ly…uhh…"

…

…

…


End

> Alternate Ending Two (Addiction)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Final Chapter – Alternate Ending Two.

(Addiction)


09.48 AM Taurostaur (Nine Months Later)

So yeah, it wasn't particularly fun knowing that most of the world was looking for you. Still, if there was ever a place to hide then Taurostaur was it. No one cared who you were here, and with Chrysalis's necklace nobody gave me more than a second glance. Of course I'd had to take it off every now and then to get work and food and whatnot, but the moment I put it back on it was like they forgot who I was.

It made picking up my pay difficult sometimes.

There had been nothing on Chrysalis or her children in the paper, so I took that to mean that she had yet to be found out. It was only a matter of time mind you, Chrysalis is good but Celestia plays the long game and is incredibly patient. Her mind revealed as much to me when I was trapped inside it.

I worry about the Changeling a lot, but if I'm to have any sort of life then I needed to put all my focus into having a full one. And so far I have, it's not so different from before I came to Equestria in that I support myself independently. I pay my bills, buy my own food and clothing, that sort of shit.

It isn't perfect by any means, but it's still a life I can enjoy. A good life, a full life, one without pity or sympathy. I won't deny that the week I was poisoned was horrible, traumatic even. It gave me a unique perspective on those who have no freedom, who's choices are made for them and are punished for defiance.

But still, it's over now. So if you feel sorry for me, don't.

Be happy for me, and all who are free.

…

I smiled as I finished the last line, elated that I had managed to put everything to paper with such detail, given how badly I just wanted to forget it. I didn't believe for a second that I could ever publish this, or show it to the authorities, or even the local newspaper. No one would ever believe me, and besides it would lead Celestia right to me.

Still, that I managed to write it all down with nary a pause was enough to make me smile with confidence.

'Knock' 'Knock' 'Knock'

The sudden though gentle knocking on my door snapped me out of my thoughts and out of my writing chair. It was strange that anyone was knocking to be perfectly honest, with Chrysalis' necklace no one ever really seemed to bother me, let alone pop around for something at this time of night.

It was this thought that stayed my hand as I reached for the handle.

What if it wasn't some random guy knocking on my door, what if it was worse than that?

What if it was…

I took a deep, shuddering breath and peaked through the Peephole I'd had attached to my door. Through it I could see…a Donkey? What was a mule knocking on my door for?

I reached for the handle and opened the door.

"Yeah, what do you want?"

The Donkey looked up at me and smiled, before handing me a letter from his pouch. "Letter from the Royal Empire young master."

"Letter from what?" I asked, taking it from his mouth and opening it quickly.

"The Royal Empire, young master," he repeated calmly. "I would never presume to know the Empire's business, but I suspect they would wish to inquire as to your…disappearance from Equestria."

"My disappearance is no one's concern but mine," I growled. "Not that it matters, in a few moments no one will remember me, and whatever is in this letter will be forgotten."

The Donkey raised an eyebrow at my words but in the end did naught but shrug and wish me a good day, before eventually making his way to the next house along my street.

Shaking my head, I closed the door and took the letter out of the envelop.

Mr Greenfield

Within this letter contains a chain teleportation spell that will activate within eight seconds of you reading it. I apologize, but all will be explained when you arrive.

Emperor Crow 6th

My eyes widened. "OH FUCK N-"

The world around me exploded into various bouts of light, spinning and spinning until I thought I could take no more…and then it stopped…and I opened my eyes.

"Greetings young one," said a deep, powerful yet somewhat young voice. "I do apologize for bringing you here without any true warning, but it was believed that a simple invitation would do nothing but cause you to panic, and I to forget where you lived."

In front of me was the largest Minotaur I had ever seen in my life. Decked from head to hoof in royal regalia, he sat upon the highest chair on a round table, an imposing if not terrifying figure.

But not as terrifying as the one sitting beside him.

"No…NO, do you realize what you've done?!" I shouted, respect for royalty completely forgotten as Celestia herself looked at me with those unforgettable eyes. "You're insane if you think I'm going back! I ran, I'm free. I'm not going back, I'm not, I'm not!"

The Emperors guard gripped their spears and snarled as they began to approach me, only stopping when the Emperor raised a hand as a silent order for them to back down.

"It is as you say then Princess, he is…afraid of you."

Celestia looked down at me sadly, her eyes shining with unspent tears before she nodded and looked at the Emperor. "It would appear I was right, yes. Thought I wish it were otherwise."

"Do not blame yourself Princess. The true culprit behind his confusion has been found, though I do wish I could understand your reasoning for forgiving her. In my empire one like she would be executed for manipulating a royal consort."

Celestia smiled sadly and shook her head. "My kingdom does not have the death penalty anymore, it has not been used since before your great, great, great grandfather took the throne. Forgiveness is a far greater punishment for one who can feel remorse…and she does, truly."

It took no more than a couple of seconds for me to figure out who she was talking about…and when I did.

"What did you do to Chrysalis?"

Celestia looked back at me and smiled, moving off of her chair and making her way towards me. When I instantly began to move away however, she swiftly stopped and regarded me with doe eyes, her ears pinned back in distress.

"I forgave her for betraying my kingdom, for betraying me and manipulating your mind to steal you away from me. She has been placed under my sister's eye until she has regained my trust once more…no more has been done to her, she is unharmed."

I didn't believe that for a second.

"Unharmed?" I spat, disbelieving of anything she said to me. "Yeah, I'm sure she's just peachy after the mind rape you likely did to her."

Her ears already pinned back, it was her eyes that displayed her shock at my insinuation.

"Tobias, I would…I would never do something like that to anyone."

"Yeah right, and the sun doesn't burn when you look at it," I sneered. "Let me guess, you couldn't get anything out of her with an old fashioned beating so you ripped it out of her mind and made her a willing servant of Equestria. Am I right?"

There were visible tears in her eyes now. "Toby…honey I would never hurt her like that. I would never hurt anyone like that. Please you have to believe me, everything you think you hate about me is because of what Chrysalis placed in your mind. Before she did this, I was helping you recover from an assassination attempt, don't you remember?"

"Assassination attempt, is that what we're calling it now, eh?" the sarcasm was thick in my voice and it evidently hurt Celestia to hear it, but I didn't care. "Why don't we just go ahead and call it what it really was. A twisted, completely fucked up form of love from you. You poisoned me so you could show me how much you cared about me, all because I broke up with you and told you NO when you demanded I change my mind."

As if I had struck her, Celestia took a step back and covered her muzzle in shock. There were silent tears trickling down her face as she regarded me, only the subtlest shake of her head showing me her denial.

"What has she done to you, Toby?" she whispered, moving forward once more, not stopping once even as I moved away…until I hit a wall and could no longer.

"Get away from me," I breathed, clenching my fists in fear and rage. "If you touch me…"

My ex marefriend stopped and looked back at the Emperor, nodding once and receiving a nod in return as he got out of his chair and left the room, signaling every guard within to do the same. A brief flash of her horn was all the warning I received before the distant sounds from outside ceased to be.

Soundproofing ward.

"What now then, eh? Going to try and convince me some more?" my words were filled with about as much confidence as I felt, which is to say none at all.

A few moments slipped me by before Celestia turned to look back at me…with a smile upon her muzzle that instantly set alarm bells ringing in my head.

"It wasn't you I needed to convince sweetie," she said softly. "Emperor Crow is young, barely out of early twenties and is all too eager for advice. I suspect he sees me as some sort of maternal figure in his life, which I suppose as he has none is understandable, I'm quite flattered in all honesty. And who knows, a few more words and nuzzles behind closed doors and the death penalty here could be abolished, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"I knew it was an act," I growled, clenching my fists in anger.

"But of course it was, honey," she said, smiling widely. "I doubt the young Emperor could ever understand my methods, not yet anyway, maybe when he's a bit older…"

Here was the mare I had tried so hard to escape from, the mare that I once loved. The mare that was all too eager to poison me in some twisted attempt to make me all but devoted to her. The mare that apparently had no qualms manipulating a young, and apparently inexperienced Emperor with nothing more than a maternal act.

If the words Chess and master combined, there would be a picture of Celestia right beside it.

"But enough about him, I want to talk about us."

"There is no us!" I snarled, pushing away from the wall and sliding around her, though it did naught but amuse her if her small smile was anything to go on. "I am free of you here, you have no authority to take citizens of Taurostaur, and I am one!"

She chuckled at this and began to circle with me, her smile morphing into a grin as she spoke. "On the contrary my love, a quick word in Emperor Crow's ear is all I need to take you back with me, with force if need be but I do not wish to."

"Yeah, and why's that then?"

"Because we're going to talk calmly here," she said simply, her tone akin to one mentioning the weather as still we circled the other. "You cannot leave this chamber until I unlock the doors, and I will not unlock them until you understand that leaving me again was a very silly thing to do."

"Then we're going to be here for a very long time, because I'm never going to change my mind on that."

Celestia cocked her head at my words and smiled, the warmth of it penetrating my armor for but a moment before I forcibly ignored it.

"Do you remember what it felt like to crawl into bed together?" she crooned, her eyes lidding as she looked at me. "Do you remember how warm and comfortable you used to get, how safe I used to make you feel?"

Yes.

"No, I don't," I growled, circling with her still. "Every moment we once had I threw into the deepest, darkest part of my mind and forgot about."

Instead of eliciting anger or sadness as was my goal, instead Celestia's grin widened and her eyes flashed with mirth.

"Liar," she sang melodiously, giggling as my face became slightly flush. "I know you still remember how it felt to be held by me, Tobias. It was all over your face when I described it. You ache for more; I can see the longing in your eyes."

It took all my willpower not to flinch as I tried and failed to refute her instantly.

"Believe whatever you like, Princess," I said, my sneer feeling a little more forced to my irritation.

"Oh I shall," she agreed, grinning happily, as if she'd won a great conquest. "And I can prove what I believe too. What do you think would happen if I were to hold you now? To wrap my wings around you and lull you to the best sleep you've had in nine months, what do you think would be your response?"

"I'd never let you get that close and even if you somehow did, I'd…I'd have to resort to violence."

Eyebrows rose at my response, though that grin never diminished. "You would hit me Tobias? You truly believe that you could actually bring yourself to cause me harm?"

"Why not, you've done so to me many times over," I replied, victory flooding through me as I saw her grin finally weaken.

"What I've done, I've done to show you how much I care for you," she explained patiently, as if speaking to one of her eager students. "Once you can finally bring yourself to look past the act, you would be able to see that as well."

"The act as you call it, left me paralyzed in your wonderful care, where you humiliated me day after day until I finally got a break and got as far away from you as I possibly could."

"What you call humiliation, I call loving my mate," she countered, smile back in full force as she described it. "To wash you, to care for you when you could not do so yourself, to hold and protect you day after day. Where is the humiliation in that?"

"The care you gave me was only necessary because of you poisoning me," I snapped angrily. "I had to suffer the humiliation of being cleaned when I could not do it, the shame of being watched as I used to toilet and then wiped because again I could not do it by myself."

Celestia stopped moving and eyed me with genuine surprise, only for said surprise to be taken over by a sort of sad understanding.

"Caring for you made you feel ashamed, and shame breeds humiliation," she spoke, her voice genuinely upset as she finally seemed to understand. "I should have known from what I learned of your past, I understand that now. You've never really been cared for before have you, you didn't and still don't understand that the act of being physically cared for by another is okay."

Before I could cut in and deny her explanation, Celestia quickly strode towards me…and I found myself literally unable to move back, my trainers surrounded by a golden aura.

"Get away from me!" I yelled, swinging my right fist in her direction and yelping as both my arms suddenly glued themselves to my sides, fear beginning to flood me once more as she unfurled her wings.

I leaned my head away as much as I could, but the tip of her right wing touched my cheek anyway. and stroked it tenderly, a similarly tender smile appearing on her muzzle.

"You always took care of my needs, all of them," she murmured. "Grabbing me a cup of tea when I was busy with paperwork, massaging my hooves after a stressful day of work, focusing on making me finish before you when we made love. Everything was focused on me, but you never let me take care of you, even before we broke up. You fear being taken care of don't you?"

"S-Sure, when it's a crazy psychopath taking care of me who wouldn't," I stammered, gritting my teeth in frustration when my words did nothing but make her smile widen.

"I'm not psychopath my dear, I just want you to be happy."

"Then let me go and never come near me again."

"Is that truly what you want?"

I opened my mouth to declare to the world that YES, I wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with her…but I…

Unable to say anything, I looked her right in the eyes and nodded firmly, watching carefully as her horn lost its glow and I was able to move again.

"Very well then," she said, her smile more of a grimace as she…complied with my request? "If you truly wish for solitude then I will grant it. I will never darken your doorstep again, and I will never bother you with letters or the like for the rest of your life."

"W-Wh-What?" I was unable to say much more, truly my mouth felt numb from shock.

"There's just one catch," she continued, smiling once more as I quickly regained my senses.

That's more like Celestia.

"What catch?"

Her smile, already wide widened further as she took a step back and sat down on her rump, her wings spread and her forelegs wide open.

"One last embrace from my…ex-lover before I leave him for good. One last hug…and you will never see me again unless you want to."

"And what's to stop you from teleporting me back to Canterlot if I do?" I asked, rightly wary of her 'catch'.

Celestia laughed loudly at my accusation. It was as if I'd said the funniest thing in the world. "O-Oh that's funny honey, but I'm nowhere near powerful enough to teleport over twelve thousand miles. To attempt to do so would likely lobotomize me, and as I do so enjoy having all my senses I'm afraid there will be no teleporting from me today."

Still chuckling at my words, the mare shook her head and smiled beautifully in my direction, her forelegs and wings still wide open for an embrace.

"So…a hug, sweetie?" she asked, her voice as sweet as honey and smooth as silk.

I was looking everywhere I could for the hidden hook, but the longer I did the quicker I seemed to realize that maybe this really was all she wanted. I didn't want to believe it because it made me feel like a fool, the mare was a mare who had plans for her plans. There had to be a catch…but I just couldn't think of one she would use.

"One hug, and then I never see you again," I finally said, the words escaping my mouth with great effort.

"Yes," she said, nodding. "Short of writing me a letter saying otherwise, you will never see me again."

I hesitated for a few more moments, my brain still working overtime to find a catch…but in the end it came up with nothing, and so I walked forward and slowly, hesitatingly, wrapped my arms around her back.

Her forelegs claimed me first, gentle yet strong as they pulled me closer, until our necks were touching and my chin was on her shoulder. The wings came next, enveloping me with ease, touching my bare wrists and tightening around me comfortably. Finally came her head which she gently placed upon my right shoulder, her muzzle pressing against my neck, breathing in my scent, her lips upon my neck…

The hug held for what felt like an eternity, but time eventually returned and the embrace ended, the both of us stepping away from the other.

Celestia smiled at me, her expression as happy as I'd ever seen her. "That was wonderful Toby, thank you." She reached with her right hoof and touched my face lovingly, before sighing and dropping her foreleg to the ground. "Whatever you think of me, know that I'll always love you, and my chambers will always be open should you wish to return one day."

I swallowed the lump that had appeared in my throat and ignored the surprising amount of loss I felt as she turned away from me, as well as pain on my neck. I rubbed it gingerly and felt better when the painful tingle faded away.

"Goodbye Princess."

Celestia didn't stop as she made her way out of the room, but the quiet sniffle told me that my use of her title had hurt her.


She's gone…she's really gone, I'm free, truly free.

The sound of hooves coming up behind me was all the warning I got before someone placed their hand on my shoulder. "I take it the Princess has alleviated your confusion?"

"She-"

It was only as the question was asked that I realized the opportunity I had. I could tell the Emperor what she had done to me, I could plead for him to use a memory sphere to watch what had just been said, what Celestia had said about using him. About how she DID poison me…

But then another thought came to me…

Celestia had to have known that I'd have this option, yet she did nothing to stop me. She didn't bind me to an oath, she didn't erase my memory…she didn't do anything other than ask for a hug. What's her game this time?

I couldn't think of anything she could use this time, nothing at all…and all it did was make me wary of her true intentions. For what if she was relying on my telling the Emperor to further another one of her plans?

What if she had already informed the Emperor that I might try to do this, or that my confusion was capable of twisting memories to suit what Chrysalis had obviously put there.

What if my pleading did nothing but make the Emperor force me over into Celestia's hold once more?

"Yes," I lied, feeling more helpless than ever. "She did…and we've decided to stay apart for now until I get my head around it. C-Chrysalis's lies have…well, I just need some space, and time alone."

"I understand," he rumbled, his voice sympathetic. "The letter that brought you here will also take you back to your home if you touch it again. I wish you peace, Tobias Greenfield."

"Me too…" I whispered, moving back to where I'd dropped the letter and touching it once more, the world spinning instantly as it exploded with color.

…and I landed in the downstairs hall…and fell to my knees as helplessness enveloped me once more.

I was free, Chrysalis wasn't. Celestia was going to get away with it all again, and I could do nothing to stop her. The only satisfaction I had was that I would never see her again. Nor would I have to wear Chrysalis's necklace, there was no point now that Celestia knew where I was.

Perhaps the magic died when Chrysalis…

I didn't know what Celestia had done to my old friend…but the sad fact was that I didn't want to know. What could I do if I found out that she had indeed brainwashed the Changeling?

Run back and try to rescue her?

She did for me…but what can I do for someone that's been brainwashed?

The answer was simple, nothing. I couldn't do a damn thing, not while Celestia still had absolute power.

Sadly, I chucked the letter onto the floor and climbed up the stairs, my bed sounding all the more promising the further up I got.

Sleep sounds good right about now; I don't want to think anymore.

My head hit the pillow and I was out like a light.

…

02.40 AM (Two Weeks Later)

She held me, her hold strong and comforting. I felt wanted, protected and loved, oh so loved. Smiling at the bliss of it all, I buried my face in her barrel, the silky soft texture of her warm fur pleasing me greatly.

"Doesn't this feel nice?" she crooned, laying kiss after kiss upon my shoulder and neck. "Ohh, holding you is one of life's great delights. I'll never tire of it…ever."

"I know the feeling," I admitted, such happiness flowing through me as we both snuggled closer still. "It's like…an addiction, I don't want to let go…I don't want to wake up."

Celestia laughed softly and nuzzled my nose playfully, her eyes alight with joy and affection. But then…she let me go, she moved away!

"No, no! Come back!" I cried, bliss replaced by powerful loss as she began to fade away. "Don't leave me!"

She was fading…no she was walking away…wait, she was leaving the hospital…the diary, the betrayal, the poisoning. I felt trapped, I felt…I felt…

The ecstasy gradually faded into nothing…and I felt truly alone…I was lost.

My eyes shot open, body covered in sweat as I sat up abruptly and threw up over the side onto the floor. The smell was disgusting, but all I cared about in that moment getting my body to stop shaking.

But it wouldn't, the shaking became worse, my teeth tapping together rapidly in a foolish attempt to stave off the cold. But no matter what I tried it never worked, it hadn't once since I'd come back from the final goodbye with Celestia.

The sense of loss never stopped…it only got worse the next night, and this had been happening for around two weeks.

"Come on Toby, we're fine, breathe, breathe," I was muttering like a nutter, but I couldn't stop, I didn't dare."We're fine, we're fine, we're f-fine, we're…w-we're…Ahh fuck!"

I tumbled out of bed, my knees scraping along the throw up on the floor. But I didn't care, I needed to get to…I needed to…I needed…NEEDED!

Fumbling around my desk, I reached into the top draw and pulled out some paper and a pen, writing the moment I placed it down.

Celestia.

I need help, I can't stop dreaming about it, about you. The pain won't stop, please help me! I need help, please help me, help me help me help me me memememeee

My words were all of the place, misspelt and messy. But I didn't care, I needed her, I needed the pain to stop, I needed to send this now…I needed…

"NO!" I screamed my anguish to the high heavens, grabbing the fucking letter and tearing it to pieces before I fell to the ground, my back leaning heavily against the wall as I sobbed bitterly, my body shaking, crying with me as it lost its fix.

My fix…I needed Celestia…I needed her to hold me and make the pain go away.

What has she done to me?

04.58 AM (Nine Days Later)

All paper and pens had been removed from my home…all but the two that sat on my desk, waiting for me to break.

But I had survived for nine days. I…as long as I stayed awake, the pain lessened. Dreaming about her, about her embrace, her touch made it worse…thinking about it made it worse!

"Stop it!" I snapped, voice shaky with pain and withdrawal. "I can do this; she won't break me again. I can beat her; I can beat this and be rid of her for g-AGH!" Like a knife in my chest, the pain continued in short but powerful bursts, random so I would never know when they would strike.

"S-Stop…please," I begged. "Write the letter, be free of this agony. AGHHHH!"

"NO!" I denied, screaming it to the world. "I won't let her win; I won't let her have me…AGAIN OH FUCK THE PAIN!"

I held my head in my hands, squeezing harder and wishing for peace that would never come.

"CELESTIA! MAKE IT STOP, CELLY! PLEASE! AHHHHHH!"

Blood trickled down my hands as my nails penetrated my skin. But I couldn't feel that pain, not when far worse was already wracking my body with terrible shakes.

Thoughts of somehow making it outside and screaming for help were prominent in my mind, for no one could hear me behind my wards. But getting up was impossible, the shaking wouldn't let me stand for more than a second.

And so the pain continued.

"CELESTIA!"

23.38 (One Day Later)

I had gotten so close…but the pain won out and I had written for help.

Already I could feel the shame flooding through me, the pain not helping in the least as I crawled into the kitchen. Each effort was pure agony, but I had to lock the door, it was the only way left for Celestia to get in. I still had time, my letter couldn't have reached her yet, it couldn't have, owls weren't that fast.

It took at least twenty minutes…but I felt a small measure of satisfaction as I managed to deadlock it.

There was no way anyone could get in…now if I could just manage to recharge the Soundproofing Ward…

Preparing myself for the pain, I crawled slower than a turtle towards the hall, only to stop and cry out in agony as pain flooded in every part of my body.

It was going to be a long night.

09.43 AM (The Next Day)

I failed.

I had failed again and slept the night away, dreams of being in her embrace overwhelming any sense I had left. I wanted to wake up straight away, but the moment her forelegs were wrapped around me and I breathed in her scent…I lost any will to fight against it, against her.

But I regretted it when I woke up, agony and powerful emotions flowing through me all at once, more than enough to make me throw up stomach acid. I hadn't eaten a thing for over a week.

Worse still…was that I never managed to recharge the Soundproofing Ward, and thus the sound of something large and heavy landing just outside was all I needed to know that her carriage had arrived. That she had gotten my insane letter filled with gibberish and a plea for help...and arrived.

"Tobias honey!" her voice quelled the pain tormenting my body and mind, if only for a moment. "Tobias I'm here, I got your letter, it's me sweetheart! Open the door please!"

I tried my hardest to stay silent, to not answer her in any way, shape or form…but the pain shot through me like a chain of bullets and forced me to cry out in pain.

"Tobias!" she cried, my door visibly shaking as I watched the shadow of her hoof banging against it. "He can't get to the door. Cursebreaker Timmins, take down these wards at once!"

"Right away Princess!"

Good luck with that 'Cursebreaker'. There are enough wards on this house to hold back an army of Unicorns. You have no chance-

The most horrible sounding screech forced me to cover my ears in pain, it was like a thousand children scratching on a blackboard one after the other, but all at once. And unfortunately it seemed to be working wonders against my defenses, I didn't need to have the barest knowledge on warding to understand what the glass-like shattering sound meant.


My wards are coming down; I need to hide!

With all the grace of a slug, I pulled myself over towards the cupboard under the stairs and yanked the door open, before forcing myself in it and locking it from the inside. The horrible screech stopped barely a few seconds later…my wards were destroyed.

The sound of the front door all but slamming open was all the warning I received before Celestia called desperately for me again. "Tobias, where are you? Baby I'm here, I can help you!"

I remained silent as I listened to her running around the house, from the front room to the kitchen, to-

Ahh, no! The pain…NOT NOW!

The pain was back, stronger than I'd felt it all morning. I grit my teeth and began to breathe through my nose, exhaling through my mouth in an effort to stave it off.

THE PAIN IS EXCRUCIATING! GOD, FUCK!

I was fighting it with all I had, my hands were bleeding as my nails dug into them. Only the sound of Celestia running around outside the cupboard managed to keep me going.

"We can't find him Princess, but we did find some vomit in a room upstairs, a couple of days old by the smell of it. There was some dry blood on the floor as well."

"I found some in the kitchen too, he is clearly very unwell but where could he be? We all heard him yell in pain so he must be here. Search again upstairs Lieutenant."

"Might I suggest tracking him with magic, Princess?"

"No Lieutenant, not after taking down so many wards. You would risk a backlash powerful enough to take out the building. We must find him without magic. Tobias, where are you?!"

…

I was practically biting my tongue to stave off any sort of noise, but I couldn't stop a quiet moan from escaping me.

"Unhhh…"

…

"Did you hear that, Princess?"

"Yes, I believe it came from over there somewhere." The sound of hooves getting closer to my cupboard almost made me moan some more, but I held it back.

"This cupboard is locked, Princess."

"Yes it is…and from the outside it looks big enough to-" there was silence for a few seconds. "Lieutenant, go back upstairs and pack as many pieces of clothing you can find up there. I believe I know where he is."

"But…okay Princess."

Dust fell from the ceiling as the apparent Lieutenant raced up the stairs, falling onto my agony wracked body.

"Tobias…I know you're in there," Celestia's voice echoed inside the cupboard, the gentleness of it all making my stomach feel all kinds of funny. "Open the door honey, I can help take the pain away."

She did do this to me! I knew- Aghhh…damn it!

"I could rip this door clean off its hinges, but I don't want to take a chance that I'll hurt you baby," she crooned lovingly, her voice like liquid silk. "Please unlock it. Once we touch, the pain will fade away, I promise."

There was no use in pretending I wasn't there. "W-What p-poison did y-you use this t-time?"

"It wasn't a poison sweetie, it was a potion applied to the lips, to be used on the skin of a partner. Cadance created it," she explained, her voice sounded miserable. "All it does is amplify your feelings for the one you love the most…I was hoping it would help you calm down enough so you would consider visiting. I had no idea it would cause you such pain, but it must react differently with your kind, I didn't know, I'm so sorry!"

"You w-wanted me to feel p-pain!" I stammered, the words literally forcing their way through my gritted teeth. "For defying y-you!"

"No! I would never wish you pain, not without me there to soothe the hurt straight away," she explained, her voice desperate in its pleading. "It was different last time honey, I was there right away to soothe you, to take care of you. I know you have no reason to, but you have to believe me…I would n-never wish y-you this p-p-pain."

She's…crying?

Pain seized me again, forcing a cry of agony to rip through my throat.

"Tobias! Cover your eyes now!"

Maybe it was the command, or perhaps the desperation that made me do what she said. Whatever it was, I'm glad I listened to it as the door was ripped off and wood splintered everywhere. Only once the shredding noise stopped did I remove my hands and…

Her face…she looks…

Her fur was matted with tears as she looked at me, her body flat on the floor so as to be level with mine. As she continued to look, a smile overcame her face, her eyes sparkling with emotion.

"Hello," she said, her voice shaky and higher than usual.

"Hello," I groaned, pain forgotten for but a moment…before it came crashing back down on me. "Hnggg!"

I wrapped my arms around my sides and grit my teeth as the pain retuned, worse than I'd ever felt it, and somehow I knew it to be because of how close Celestia was to me.

I felt like I was about to die.

Can't…let it…end…like this!

…

…

…

But then it stopped…and I realized far too many moments later that it had only stopped because of the lips pressing against my temple.

"Pain…is going…" I mumbled incoherently.

"It's over Tobias," Celestia murmured, her lips still but a breath away from my skin. "I'm here now love…it's over. I'll take you home and hold you until this becomes but a memory…and if you still want to afterwards, I will prepare a carriage to bring you back here. It's only right…it was my fault."

The words registered…but I blacked out before I could think on them any more than that.

…

"But somehow, I think you'll stay."


End