Time and letters
Celestia watched the sun set through her window, sinking comfortably into her reclining chair. The deep purple hues of sunset still brought her a fleeting moment of anxiety. Would she have to aid Twilight? Was everything still on time? Shaking her head, she banished the practically traitorous thoughts and watched the sun slowly dip beyond the ocean’s horizon.
Her sister would be waking soon.
Since retirement, they’d both gone a little off schedule. Celestia tended to retire early, just after the sunset, and Luna had been sleeping later. They still had plenty of time in the mornings. Celestia was waking up much earlier than the sunrise, and they often had until noon before Luna would retire – if she even felt like it.
She smiled as the last few rays of the sun finally dimmed. Once again, it had been flawless. Twilight was an even more exact timekeeper than Celestia had been. Certainly better than Luna. Celestia stifled a giggle remembering Luna’s ever changing lunar schedule.
Celestia’s eyes drifted from the sky to one of Luna’s many paintings. Her sister had taken up painting in earnest, and their little cottage was covered in the things. Not that they weren’t beautiful. Luna made quite a sum of bits auctioning her pieces, but kept the ones that “spoke” to her. Of course, those were the ones of the night sky.
In the distance, Celestia heard a faint boat horn off the coast, signaling that a fog bank was scheduled tonight. Luna would be displeased, but it’s not like either sister had a say in the matter. If the local weather team deemed tonight a foggy night, then so it would be. Celestia chuckled, happy to have inclement weather.
When she was a monarch her Canterlot weather team always left a perfect bubble of weather around the castle in order for her to properly manage the sky. She’d grown quite bored of it after a thousand years. Now, the occasional fog bank or thunderstorm was quite the treat. Maybe it would still be foggy during the sunrise, perhaps she’d be allowed to avoid her moment of anxiety.
Her moment of distraction gone, she refocused on the book in her hoof. It was a treatise on genetic and thaumatic interference, penned by none other than Her Royal Highness, Twilight Sparkle. Celestia wasn’t much for this type of heavy reading, but she’d found the tone of Twilight’s writing matched her lecturing voice, and Celestia had been feeling nostalgic this evening.
The material wasn’t beyond her comprehension, she simply would usually have preferred a properly trashy romance novel. Something where the prince was grumpy gruff stallion and the princess was a bubbly sweetheart. Perhaps something where they were forced to work together and their romantic, and sexual, tension slowly built throughout the book to a romantic crescendo and a properly tawdry chapter near the end.
She hummed. If only life were as convenient as that. Celestia chuckled, realizing she wasn’t paying attention to her book after all. Perhaps the nostalgia of Twilight’s lecturing simply wasn’t as captivating as it once seemed. At least not when compared to the titillating possibility she was imagining.
Celestia frowned. Of course, that’s what those books usually were. Simply possibility. Rarely were they actually something of note. While Twilight’s prose, as dry as it was, was always valuable and had a real impact on the world.
Her frown quickly turned into a chuckle as she imagined being chastised by the young mare for not paying attention. She had been so adorable as a filly. If she thought you weren’t paying attention, she would quickly address it. Sometimes to her immediate chagrin when Celestia was her audience. Of course she grew out of that habit over the years, and now is far more subtle about redirecting her audiences attention.
Celestia put the book down. It wasn’t getting read, and it was time to make some coffee for Luna. While Celestia preferred things hoof crafted, Luna was still enamored with modern technology. She’d always obsess over the latest gizmo or gadget, and this week it was her “Ultra Deluxe Especial Espresso Extraordinaire”. It had a million settings Celestia would never figure out, but luckily there was a simple button with a picture of a cup of coffee. That’s the one Celestia pushed.
The aroma of warm coffee filled their sitting room, and Celestia wondered if it was pre-brewed. Perhaps it was all a ruse on Luna’s part to help make Celestia feel more useful. They sometimes did little things like that to make the other feel useful. There was probably some timer function already built into it, and even though Luna claimed to prefer the coffee slightly air cooled, there was undoubtedly some arcane temperature setting on the monstrosity.
Arcane. Here she was using magic terms to describe technological wonders. Luna would have glared angrily at her for that slip. And even Twilight would probably have quietly smiled and shook her head in exasperation. It wasn’t that Celestia was unfamiliar with technology, it was simply that she didn’t care. Not like Twilight or Luna did.
Those two kept up with the times. Luna would talk with a wide collection of artists via e-mails, and Celestia preferred dragon fire scrolls to chat with her historian and genealogy friends. Twilight would answer either. Perhaps that was what made her so adept at manipulating both the sun and the moon. She was, in many ways, just a little bit of Celestia and just a little bit of Luna.
Celestia chuckled again at the humor in that fact being more true than Twilight realized. A few millennia ago, Luna and Celestia had both had children. Celestia had followed the lines of her descendants, and Twilight was one such place where they crossed. Of course, the official records had long since been destroyed. Celestia had grown sick of the noble families claiming royal heritage as some sort of perk.
It had been especially disgusting when they used that implied authority to do something devastating to her little ponies. Between ancient bribes, threats, and straight up skulduggery, she was personally responsible for a lot of the lost records of certain families. Not that she’d forgotten. She’d known every one of her little ponies. Well, up until recently.
She supposed it’d gotten away from her in the last few decades now that Twilight ruled. She no longer got a list of all the new births every month, nor a list of the deceased. Celestia frowned again, listening to the arcane machine finish spewing out its piping hot brew.
How many of her little ponies had died? She shuddered, estimating a wholly uncomfortable number based on the years. Celestia banished that thought. They weren’t her ponies anymore. They were Twilight’s.
A magical twinge crawled up her horn, letting her know that a letter was coming. Celestia smiled, catching it in her aura as a rolled up scroll apparated just in front of her horn. The royal wax seal quietly announced that the letter was from Twilight. Occasionally the princess had questions, or had concerns. More often, it was simply a chat to catch up on things.
Celestia unrolled it, smiling with anticipation at hearing from her friend. Unfortunately, the smile quickly turned into a frown. The letter was far too short. That was never a good sign.
“Dear Princess Celestia,
May we talk?
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight”
Celestia’s frown deepened. Twilight had addressed Celestia as Princess, called herself Faithful Student, and worse yet, had only used her first name. Every single letter Twilight Sparkle had sent to Celestia had been signed with some variation of “Twilight Sparkle”. Never as simply “Twilight.”
Celestia quickly summoned her own scroll, and paused. She was unsure of how to address Twilight. The letter had been skimpy on details, so should she address it to “Twilight?” She’d always addressed her mail as “Princess Twilight Sparkle”. Celestia shook her head, the address was unimportant. Perhaps brevity and ambiguity would be favored.
“Dear Twilight,
Yes.
Yours,
Celestia”
The book found itself quickly shelved, and the scroll was similarly put away with magic. Celestia made her way to a little room they had on the side. It was hardly bigger than a closet, empty except for a large purple rug in the middle.
After a quick few moments, a burst of purple magic ignited the air. Celestia was taken aback, the energy output was fluctuating. Twilight never miscalculated. Quickly, she stabilized the output, centering the field in the room and buffering the thaumatic manifestation. The purple field popped, and Twilight was standing unsteadily in the room, her hooves having accidentally burned four horseshoe prints into the rug.
The first thing Celestia noticed was her size. She’d grown again. Twilight was now as large as she was. Hopefully that was it for the young alicorn’s growth spurts. The second thing Celestia noticed was that Twilight was holding a pair of reading glasses in her mouth, and the third thing was the tears running down her cheeks.
Celestia may be absent minded as of late, but she was still sharp when she needed to be. She quickly pieced together what was going on, and rushed to comfort her dear student.
Twilight looked at her, not up, and quietly sobbed. “I thought I’d be ready.”
Celestia held her, wrapping her wings around Twilight and wishing she could protect Twilight like the helpless filly she surely felt like. Celestia whispered to her. “You can cry here.”
Twilight wailed, while Celestia’s mind wandered. She’d comforted thousands of ponies on the deaths of their loved ones. What Twilight was going through wasn’t unique. Unfortunately, as always, it was more complicated because it was Twilight.
Undoubtedly, she’d been regal and royal. She’d done her daily duties perfectly. Even Celestia had noticed nothing even slightly wrong with the sunset. The rest of Equestria, and likely even the castle, wouldn’t know anything at all was amiss.
Her Royal Highness, Princess Twilight wouldn’t allow it.
Celestia knew why the letter was worded as it was. This wasn’t Princess Twilight Sparkle. This was just a lost little filly, who suddenly realized she’d never see her mother again.
She held Twilight tighter.
Twilight started to mumble. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry.”
Celestia put her hoof on Twilight’s horn, ensuring the emotionally distraught alicorn didn’t cast anything – accidental or otherwise. “I’ve got you.”
Heavy breathing, and quiet sobs filled the air as Twilight cried. She leaned heavily on Celestia, and Celestia continued to hold her, quietly ushering her out of the closet, and into the living room. Celestia noted Luna standing by the Ultra Deluxe Especial Espresso Extraordinaire, and sipping her coffee with an inquiring look.
Luna’s expression quietly asked a simple question. “Do you need any help?”
Celestia silently mouthed back “I’ve got this.” before gently corralling Twilight to the couch.
Luna shrugged, still unnoticed by Twilight, sipped her coffee, and pressed the coffee button on the machine once again, this time twisting a little nob. Two cups slid out, and began to fill with the bitter brew. Celestia frowned at the sight. Luna rolled her eyes, and retreated back to her room. Ostensibly, they were for Twilight and Celestia, but Celestia disliked coffee. Carefully, she eased a pitcher of her recent batch of sun tea out of the fridge, and poured a cup of it.
Doing magic across the room and out of site was usually dangerous, but the current situation required her presence. Celestia cheated a little, and used a simple divination spell to observe the task. She settled Twilight onto the couch and sat next to her, levitating the cup of tea and a mug of coffee over for them.
Twilight looked at the coffee like it was a criminal, and then glanced at Celestia with heavy tear stained eyes. “I’m sorry for bothering you with this.”
Celestia smiled softly, offering both. “I’ve got coffee and tea.”
Twilight chuckled through the tears. “You’ve always got a drink for me, don’t you?”
Celestia laughed quietly back. “I’ve got wine as well, if you’d prefer that. Although, I’d invite Luna if we planned to get… as they say, ‘shit-faced.’”
Twilight stared, the crying dwindling as her mind likely ran wild. Celestia had, actively, never sworn around the mare before. She saved her swear words for special occasions, and this cleanly qualified as one. Sniffling, Twilight nodded her head slowly. “Coffee… for now.”
Celestia slid the cup over to Twilight’s telekinetic grasp, noting how her aura had stabilized. That was good. Twilight carefully sipped the coffee, and Celestia smiled as she swallowed the tea. This was going as well as could be expected.
After a few quiet moments, Twilight spoke up again. “This is stupid, I’m sorry.”
Celestia frowned. “Twilight, you know as well as I do that your emotions are never something to be discounted.”
“It’s been over a year. I should be… over it.”
Celestia held her tight. “Not at all. She was with you your entire life. I daresay you shouldn’t be over it.”
Twilight sipped her coffee. “It’s been so long. Why now?”
Celestia paused. This answer wasn’t part of the usual dance to comfort a pony who’d lost a loved one. This answer was unique. “Time… works different for us.”
Twilight looked at her questioningly.
Celestia continued. “Most ponies process death slowly. Maybe a day. Maybe a week. Maybe months. While their mind is busy doing the day to day, taking care of necessities, and the rest, their subconscious is working through the reality. Eventually it arrives at the conclusion that the deceased is gone. And then… this.”
Twilight stared at her, before she started to cry again. “I’ve been fine!”
Nodding, Celestia continued. “Exactly. Your subconscious has worked through it, and now you are not. Like I said, time works different for us.”
Twilight continued to sob, and Celestia picked the mug out of her aura. The couch didn’t need any stains. Through her tears, Twilight ranted. “I hate it. I saw the monthly report for the deceased. Eighty Three Thousand, Two hundred and Eight. That’s how many of our little ponies passed this month. I realized that mom had been on one of these reports, just a number, and over a year ago.”
Celestia stole a sip of Twilight’s coffee while Twilight had her hooves covering her face. Her tea wasn’t cutting it tonight. The coffee was bitter, but surprisingly not as acrid as she’d imagined. She’d have to apologize to Luna for besmirching the Ultra Deluxe Especial Espresso Extraordinaire. It made a pretty mean cuppa joe.
“Yet, you made it through the day. I know those reports come in the mornings. You could always take a sick day. I certainly did every now and then.”
Twilight sobbed. “There’s a wizard, a goat, and a small, but growing, empire that I had to take care of today! I couldn’t take the day off because I suddenly realized my mom was dead! My ponies… don’t deserve that.”
Celestia mentally shrugged. She’d have blamed it on ye olde diarrhea. Nopony asks questions after that. “I see. And do you think you handled the wizard, the goat, and the empire as best you could today?”
Twilight sucked a breath. “I… did. It was better than waiting at least. I used an old spell Starlight taught me to, very temporarily, bottle my emotions while I made those decisions.”
Celestia quietly scanned Twilight for magical backlash. Nothing serious, perhaps a few burns from her teleport. Emotional bottling was an old technique, but it had an incredibly high potential for disaster. Twilight had seemingly pulled it off. Chalk it up to Twilight taking a very calculated, impossible risk nopony else would ever consider safe and handling it as though it was nothing.
“Then you did the best you could have. You are an amazing mare, and an amazing princess.”
Twilight sobbed into her hooves. “My mom is dead!”
Celestia nodded. It was going to be a long night. She drained the last of her sun tea, and surrendered to the cup of coffee that Luna had brewed for her. Even more so, she pressed the brew button again, and watched as another two cups started to pour out of the machine.
Idly she wondered where the wine was.
“Lets ask Luna to cover for you tomorrow, okay? I’ll handle the sun, she can handle the moon and the paperwork, and you can sleep.”
Twilight stared blankly at Celestia in pure confusion.
Celestia ignored her and carried on. “We have an Alicorn sized guest bed we never get to use, and you and I can spend some time together.”
Twilight sniffled. “We can do that?”
Celestia chuckled. “I’m an ancient demigoddess out of a job, and you are the sole princess of the largest kingdom in the world. We can do whatever the buck we want.”
Twilight pursed her lips in thought, as though that had never occurred to her.
Celestia blinked. “Assuming it’s okay with Luna, of course.”
Celestia watched the sun set slowly over the ocean. It’d been decades since the last time she’d felt anxiety from the sight. Nowadays, it brought her a deep feeling of satisfaction and contentment when she saw it. Making the sun rise was easy enough. After all, it liked rising. Convincing the sun that it was time to hide for the evening was a much more taxing job. It didn’t just take magical prowess. It also took pure conviction. She’d spent eons coaxing the sun down, now it was Twilight’s job.
Twilight had never failed at it.
Sometimes she worked herself up into a nervous fit, sometimes she needed a day off, but she never failed to set the sun. Celestia was proud of her one time student. Equestria was proud of Princess Twilight as well – she’d ushered in a new golden age of peace, art, and technology.
Twilight had brokered ironclad treaties with all of the surrounding countries, and half of them wanted to throw their lot in with Equestrian governance, which was something that Celestia was still confused about. The Griffons had as many statues to Twilight and her friends as Equestria did, the buffalo had acknowledged her as a high chieftain, and the minotaurs had been seamlessly integrated as a vassal state.
There was even talk of an equestrian federation, consisting of the hippogryphs, the crystal empire, and the rest! Celestia could never have brokered such a massive treaty, even in her prime. It was simply too complicated for one pony to manage. Of course, that was the magic of Twilight. While she likely had the mental focus to manage it, she didn’t bother. Instead, she trusted her friends. She’d made friends with all the diplomats, and convinced them it was a good idea. Then she made friends with their leaders. Then she made friends with the various populations.
The most impressive part was how earnest and honest she was. Twilight actually did want to be friends. There was no scheming on her part. The impending alliance was just her way of being closer with all of her friends.
Celestia sipped her jasmine tea, wondering what wonders Twilight’s new era would bring.
A tingle in her horn let her know that a letter was coming. It had to be Twilight, anypony else would have just called or texted.
She smiled, happy to hear from her glorious leader. Celestia took one last sip of her tea before focusing on catching the incoming spell. The scroll materialized, and she opened it immediately.
Frowning, she noted the shortness. Short letters were never good. The last time had been when Twilight’s mother had died. Or rather when Twilight had fully realized that her mother had died. Celestia focused on the letter.
“Celestia,
We need to talk. I’ll be there shortly.
Princess Twilight Sparkle”
Celestia nearly spat her tea out. Twilight had never addressed a letter simply “Celestia”. She’d always started with something like “My friend”, or “Princess” or something at least polite. If Celestia didn’t know any better, the tone of this letter was… rude. Or at least short. Terse, perhaps? She didn’t even ask for a reply. The letter was merely a statement.
And the content! Nopony said “we need to talk” and intended it to be a good thing.
She decided to start another pot of tea. This might be a long night, and she’d rather be prepared. She drained the last of the tea into a cup for Twilight to enjoy, and restarted the water. While the water was warming in her electric tea kettle, she went to the teleportation room, just to make sure it was clear. She’d caught Luna putting some boxes in there a week ago, and had to chastise her. Luna had told her that Twilight was an accomplished mage, and could teleport around the boxes if she needed to. Celestia hadn’t wanted to take the risk.
The room was safe, empty except for a nice fuzzy purple rug. They’d replaced the one Twilight had burned way back when, and the only strange marks on this one were from running a vacuum over it for the last few decades. Celestia wasn’t particularly fond of vacuums, she preferred magic. Luna, however, tended to the cleaning and of course had the newest model of succu-whatever.
Still, the electric tea kettle was a nice gift, and it was simple enough that Celestia managed it just fine.
Celestia wondered who had come up with the idea. Magic was fine enough for heating tea, she didn’t see the need for this sort of technological wonder. Still, it was nice to be able to set it and forget it. Luna had explained that the vast majority of Twilight’s growing empire of friends were not magical in nature, and had relied on burning wood or gas to heat their tea.
Twilight had encouraged the minotaurs to develop luxuries like the electric tea kettle, and even financed promising projects herself. It didn’t matter to Twilight if the potential inventor was a pony or a love bug. Twilight only cared about the results. Evidently, the minotaurs had developed many new doohickys with financing from Twilight. Eventually, that had resulted in the electric tea kettle on Celestia’s counter top.
Celestia wondered if they’d ever invent a device to ease teleportation. Popping from Canterlot to here had to be taxing on poor Twilight, but she never complained.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a bright purple star formed in front of her, dead center of the room. Celestia took a step back, surprised at how forceful the magic was. The precision was impeccable though, and every layer of the spell work had been quintuply reinforced to support the heavier magic load.
With a snap, Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria stood in Celestia’s closet. Celestia took a sip of her tea, and cocked her head slightly. What she saw didn’t make much sense.
Twilight was wearing all of her regalia. Not just that, but the enchanted bits that offered her magical augmentation. Additionally, her mane and tail were fully ethereal, signaling her higher than usual mana draw. It would be the same as Celestia teleporting into Twilight’s house in full plate-mail with her battleaxe, or Luna with her scythe. Twilight was a mage at heart, and she was outfitted for combat—not combat with a monster or two, but combat with an army.
Celestia took another sip of her tea, contemplating how Twilight never seemed to fail in her tasks. The tea didn’t sit well with her at the moment. Perhaps she should have gone with something more minty? Worse than Twilight’s surprisingly imposing outfit was her stony face. Twilight stood as tall as Celestia nowadays, and was somehow managing to look down at her. Her eyes were squinted in an unfamiliar fashion, and her lips were turned down.
It took Celestia a moment to realize the expression on Twilight’s face, it being so foreign on her friend. Twilight was angry. Moreso, it appeared as though she was angry at her.
Happy at putting the pieces of the puzzle together, Celestia smiled warmly and offered the cup to Twilight. “Tea? It’s Jasmine. I’m heating up another pot if you’d like a different flavor.”
Twilight glanced at the tea, and carefully took it. Her magic was exact, and burning with its intensity. Celestia frowned as she realized that Twilight wasn’t just angry, she was furious.
“Oh dear. Twilight, please calm down a bit. Whatever has happened, I’m sure we can discuss it.”
Twilight continued to hold the tea impossibly still, before speaking slowly, her gaze boring into Celestia.
“I’m not sure how to handle this. Had you been anypony else, I would have you arrested and tried. I wasn’t sure what I would do when I saw you.”
Celestia took another a sip of her tea, and frowned. “I’d hope I don’t deserve particularly special treatment. You know I wouldn’t fight you, Twilight, even over my own life. If you’ve come to end me, at least let Luna say goodbye. It would come as quite a shock if she were to wake up and find me dead!” Celestia chuckled at her joke.
Twilight did not.
Frowning, Celestia stepped to the side and invited her in. “You’ll have to tell me what’s going on, Twilight. I’m afraid I haven’t a clue.”
Twilight didn’t step forward, instead she glared harder. “I found a secret chamber in my quarters.”
Celestia smiled. “How exciting!”
Twilight pursed her lips. “My quarters are your old quarters.”
Celestia frowned. “Oh. I’d imagined you’d found that years ago. Did I not tell you about it?”
“It must have slipped your mind.”
Celestia tried to remember what was in there. There was a diary of sorts. A few dangerous artifacts. Some maps, and a small collection of romance novels that she’d sneak off to read. “I’m afraid I’m still not following, Twilight.”
Twilight snorted. “You left a book. It was labeled ‘For the princess of Equestria’s eyes only.’”
Nodding, Celestia agreed. “I guess I did. It was mostly a diary of sorts though. I never really meant it for anypony else. I don’t mind that you read it, especially due to my unfortunate labeling convention. You have to realize, at the time I thought it was a given that I’d be alone forever. Now there are so many princesses to help manage things, and I’m not even the princess of Equestria anymore!”
Little sparks ran through Twilight’s mane as she held back her apparent anger. “The town of Bandersnatch. The city of Tamberline. Wells Cove. Calypso.”
Celestia considered that maybe she knew why Twilight was so angry. “Oh. I hadn’t realized I’d written all that down in there, let alone anywhere.”
“Oddly, most of those that commit genocide keep meticulous records. You seem to be no different.”
Celestia huffed. “Genocide is a very strong word, Twilight. I don’t think it’s fair to use.”
Twilight’s hoof stomp startled Celestia, and cracked her floor. “Then why are your records the only time I’ve heard of the ghol? You even made note of your hunts, how you dismembered the last one and incinerated it in sun fire. Then you detailed how you meticulously burned all records of them.” Twilight continued to frown, her anger rising. “You did this four times. Four times, with four different races that I’ve never heard of. Not only was there a tremendous loss of sentient life, directly by your hooves, but each time you followed it by…” Twilight sucked in some air, and the ethereal mane around her head briefly caught fire. “Burning books!”
Celestia calmly sipped her tea. She did love jasmine! “I can see how that looks… genocidy.”
Twilight’s mane cooled while she leveled a disappointed and disgusted glare at Celestia. “I can’t decide whether to bring you in for trial or erase my memory. I wasn’t sure if I’d have to take you down myself.”
Celestia nodded, and smiled. “Please do come all the way in, though, and drink some tea. It’s quite good! I’ll also put some coffee on. It’s going to be another long night, and Luna should be up soon.”
Twilight shook her head. “No. I need answers, and I need them now. I can’t let you disarm me. I need my anger. Hundreds of thousands dead, Celestia. How can you just act like… I can’t even think about it without getting sick.”
Celestia sighed. “If you were younger, I’d suggest you erase your memory.”
Twilight began to channel magic into her horn, preparing to fight.
Celestia ignored her, and walked to the newest incarnation of Luna’s coffee monstrosity. “You’re old enough now I suppose. Older by far than most…” She fiddled with the nobs, and pressed the big blue button. It began to whirr, and she decided that was probably good enough for three ponies.
Twilight kept her horn charged. “Old enough for what?”
Celestia, looked over her shoulder back at Twilight. “To know.”
“This isn’t about sex, and I’m not a foal. Tell me what this was about. Please.”
Celestia laughed. “But it is about sex!”
Twilight narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve mentioned before that Luna and I are demigoddesses, right?” Celestia watched the coffee machine, wondering when the coffee would come out. “I’ve never called you one, have I?”
Twilight’s horn dimmed. “I’m a princess, and an Alicorn.”
Celestia nodded. “You are. You’ve achieved a certain level of divinity, and you of all ponies deserve it. However, your parents are mortals. Luna and I have mortal mothers, but our father… was less so.”
Twilight carefully stepped into Celestia’s living room, “How could your father be less than mortal?”
Celestia sighed. She didn’t like talking family beyond Luna, but Twilight deserved to know. “Father is… a thing. An elder thing. An eldritch thing. But only a thing. He lacks the capacity for higher thought. Or maybe he lacks the capacity of lesser thought.”
Finally sipping her tea, Twilight’s glare had softened slightly. “I am honestly terribly curious about your father, but I need to know that this is related to the…. Events… in the journal.”
Celestia nodded, making her way to the electric tea kettle. It was about to boil. Who knew she would be so busy making drinks when she had electronic machines to do it for her? “It is. Being a divine creature, I have certain duties. Luna does as well. I don’t have to perform my duties if Luna is properly managing hers.”
“What are these duties?”
Celestia turned the boiling pot of water off, and gave it a moment to cool. No sense burning the tea. “Luna prevents our… lesser… relatives from entering our realm. I remove them if they manage.”
Twilight shook her head. “These were towns. They had structure. The beings you killed had higher thought.”
Celestia frowned, pouring the water gently into the teapot, before carefully lowering her tea basket in. “My family tends to be infectious in nature. The towns were originally pony towns, actually. Not the races I mentioned. By the time I arrived, the ponies were already quite dead, and my family had moved in.”
Twilight blinked. “Explain.”
“Take the ghol. I didn’t explain them because the book was for me, and I didn’t need any explanation. The ghol are a hybrid. They are created, not born, by one of my more sinister family members from joining my father and a pony. The pony does not survive the process, and the creature that’s left is… not technically alive.” Celestia didn’t like thinking about those poor creatures, so instead she focused on the tea.
“Why?”
“I told you. It’s about sex. Father is completely indiscriminate with his procreation, and any powerful sorcerer that is capable of contacting him can get him to bestow a boon upon them for a commensurate price. The price is usually some horrid form of sex. It doesn’t have to be with the sorcerer themself, and the resulting child can often be controlled by the sorcerer. It usually results in what ponies would call a monster. In the case of the gohl, they have to be created by someone specific from outside our realm. Someone that shouldn’t be able to be here.”
Celestia sniffed the tea, it was coming along marvelously. “I wasn’t able to keep them out of our realm while Luna was gone. Simple as that. They gained a foothold here and there, and I stamped them out when I found them. If I didn’t, ponies wouldn’t have any chance to live at all. If it makes you feel better, my siblings can’t truly be killed. By destroying their corporeal form, I merely send them back… home.”
Luna walked into the room, yawning as she grabbed a coffee from the machine. Celestia hadn’t noticed that it was done. She wondered if she was distracted by something.
Luna looked between the still angry and battle ready Twilight and the tea watching Celestia before shrugging and smiling. “Greetings Twilight! Pleasure to see you on this fine night. Will you be staying for breakfast?”
Twilight glanced at Luna. “Celestia and I are talking about your family. I’ll be here as long as it takes.”
Luna grimaced. “That’s a most unfortunate topic.”
Celestia smiled sagaciously, her tea was coming along nicely. “It’s time she knew. Also, I’m defending myself over genocide charges.”
Luna glanced between them. “Family and genocide. I see. Ah. Did she find out about those that walked then? They’re gone.”
Celestia shrugged. “No, I don’t think she did. Just some gohl, a shoggoth or two, and a few deep one infestations.”
Twilight blinked, looking quickly between the two. “Wait! Those that walked? What are those?”
Luna looked at her with grave concern. “They walked.”
“What happened to those?”
Celestia frowned. “They’re gone.”
Luna piped up. “You’ve told her that we can’t kill our brethren, right? Maybe the Gohl, I suppose. It depends on definitions. Technically they’re not alive anyways. Certainly not shoggoth or deep ones! You can only send them home.”
Celestia nodded. “I’m trying to explain that to her, but the concept is difficult for one who is not of father.”
Luna paused. “Oh. Yes. I keep forgetting that Twilight is actually… normal. Well, I suppose it wouldn’t do to drive Twilight mad. Properly explaining or worse allowing her to watch you sending one home might have that effect. I’d be quite cross if you allowed Twilight to see that. I’m fond of her and her sharp wit.”
Celestia nodded again. She was getting tired of all this nodding, and wondered if she should fluff her pillow an extra time tonight before bed. “Yes, Luna. I know better, and am fond of her as well.”
Twilight crossed her eyes. “What is happening?”
Luna smiled. “Celly and I are in concordance! Tis grand! You have fun now. I’m off to raid.”
Celestia rolled her eyes. “You have no such gaming event scheduled, Luna. You are just trying to get out of this conversation.”
Luna looked guiltily at Twilight, shotgunned her coffee down like a frat-colt, and backwards flew to her room. “Oh no! I seem to be falling to where my computer is and I cannot partake of this awkward conversation any longer…” Her voice dwindled as she entered her room, followed by a slamming door.
Celestia grumped. “I can’t believe that filly sometimes. Falling backwards. Who’d believe that?”
Twilight took a deep breath. “Setting aside Luna’s poorly executed social escape, do you mean to say that you did not kill anybody in those events?”
“Correct. I simply helped them home. Sun fire is the only way to properly remove them from our realm, and I am particularly adept with it. Their physical bodies are less a manifestation and more of an affliction, if you will. Incinerating their ill-gotten bodies releases them from this realm, and allows them to return home.” Celestia glanced meaningfully at her cutie mark. “It’s tragic for the ponies that they stumbled across. However, by the time I released my brethren, no ponies were left.”
Twilight narrowed her eyes. “How can you say that so calmly? Even if you didn’t kill them, ponies died.”
Celestia sighed, sneaking a longing glance at her trashy romance novel. It would have to wait. “Twilight, I am old and not truly mortal. There are many things that stir my heart, but death is no longer one of them. If I were to somehow be killed, I’d merely go home. My spirit would leave this realm and go to my father’s, much like the rest of my kin. I simply… can’t care about death like you can.”
Twilight frowned, clearly unhappy with Celestia’s answer.
Celestia noted Twilight’s discontent, and sought to ease it. She decided to explain why Twilight was better than she was. Twilight always liked praise. “That’s one of the reasons I needed you to take over Equestria. While you are a princess, and an alicorn at that, you are ultimately mortal. You understand them far better than I ever could. I love them for what they are, but I never properly feared for them. You can, and therefore you can love them even more.”
Twilight continued to frown. The explanation hadn’t worked. Celestia sipped her tea before continuing, and so decided to keep talking. Surely she’d say something that would cheer Twilight up. She usually did.
“The great unknown, the final breath, the afterlife, all apply to you. I know what will happen when I die. I’ll turn into a spirit, be whisked away to father’s realm, and slowly work my way back to here over a few centuries or so. I’d never co-opt a pony’s body, like my brethren, but I’m not against a ritual blood resurrection to speed things along. Assuming, of course, it doesn’t kill anypony..”
Celestia actually didn’t really care if it killed anypony, as long as it wasn’t anypony she knew in particular. She was aware that Twilight might not like that, so Celestia decided to sugar coat it a little. Everypony likes a little sugar with their strange.
Twilight opened her mouth, and then closed it as she worked through the deluge of information Celestia had dumped on her. Celestia quietly sipped her tea, watching Twilight flounder. At least Twilight didn’t seem angry anymore.
“So if I were to kill you…”
Celestia nodded, smiling. “You likely couldn’t, but this will make a good thought experiment. Please continue.”
“Then you’d simply… travel dimensions? Then you’d come back?” Twilight’s eyes were narrowed in concern.
“Dimensions is an inaccurate word. It’s just… home. I can’t explain it really. The space between space? No… It’s more like the not space that surrounds the space that is between the space, but isn’t this space because it’s not space, and it’s not here.”
Twilight’s eye twitched. “Because it’s nowhere?”
Celestia nodded happily. Yes, she would fluff her pillow extra tonight, her neck would thank her later. “Yes! Now you are getting it!”
Twilight’s eyes continued to narrow. “If it’s nowhere, then it doesn’t exist?”
Celestia beamed. “Of course! If it existed then that would be troublesome. End of times and all that. So it’s very important it doesn’t exist.”
“And it drives ponies mad?”
Celestia sipped her tea. “Well, again this is about definitions. Mad is merely the easiest means to describe what it does. Really, being aware of it in any meaningful way makes you susceptible to its influence. Hence why I did my best to erase any events concerning it from history. Being susceptible to its influence means one of my brethren can… contact… you. In the event that they do, most mortals will surely die. Or at least become them. It’s not a pleasant ordeal, and especially uncomfortable as I’d have to send my brethren back.”
Twilight took a deep breath. “So let me get this straight. There is no record of these thousands of incinerations by your hoof because of a place that is nowhere and doesn’t exist, but thinking about it makes ponies go crazy, and some otherworldly being, that you are somehow related to, takes over the pony’s body?”
Celestia smiled as she added a simple correction,”Taking over the ponies body isn’t the bad part. There are plenty of monsters here that can take over your body or kill you. With my family, the pony actually becomes an extension of that entity. It’s all very complicated, but ultimately they are no longer ponies at all and are in fact simply an extension of my brethren. Think of it like the pony is… consumed. It doesn’t get to die anymore, and now exists only as my family. It’s quite terrible.”
Twilight face hoofed. “Okay. Fine. I’m going to assume that you don’t want me making an official record of this, as that would only encourage ponies to seek out this place that doesn’t exist, and possibly draw the attention of your brethren, who also don’t exist, or worse your father, thereby causing you to have to incinerate more… things?”
Celestia sipped her tea. Incinerating was a lot of work, be it a pony or a monster. She much preferred sitting around reading smutty romance novels. “Yes.”
Twilight glared at her, then relaxed on to the couch. “I need to think about this.”
Celestia smiled happily. “Then think. I know it’s a bit much, but I’ll answer any questions you might have.”
Twilight seemed to relax, sipping the cup, and letting the tension melt as tears began to well up. “I don’t know what to think. I felt so… betrayed when I read that.” Her eyes glanced up at Celestia. “I’m still not sure how I feel. I want to believe you. I have to believe you, I have to. But it sounds… improbable.”
Celestia nodded in understanding. “I’m terribly sorry you found out like this. I meant to tell you some of this at some point, but time sort of… slipped away.”
Twilight let her head lower. “I was ready to fight you, you know. I don’t know if I would have won, but I was ready to try. Everything about this makes me feel sick.”
Sitting next to her, Celestia put a wing around her to comfort the poor dear. “It’s fine, Twilight. I’ll have you know that I’m incredibly proud of you. You were ready to strike down your oldest mentor in defense of your little ponies. You’re growing up, and I know it hurts. But can I tell you another secret?”
Twilight looked up, tears still in her eyes.
Celestia’s voice tinkled with mischief, “You look sexy when you’re angry.”
Twilight’s eyes went wide. “Excuse me?”
Holding back her smile, Celestia continued. “When you popped in, ready to wage war with a fire in your eyes and covered in battle charms, you didn’t look like my student. You looked like a full bodied mare, easily my equal or more. I wouldn’t have fought you simply so I could watch you destroy me. I daresay I will remember you in this outfit when my nights need a little warmth.” She waggled her eyebrows.
Twilight’s cheeks flushed a dark purple, and then she grinned. “Oh. He. That’s.. pffff. Thank you, I suppose.”
Celestia smiled warmly, carrying on the fun. “No, thank you.”
Twilight laughed.
Celestia smiled at the letter. It was warm, and inviting, reminding her of how much a good friend Twilight was. Every few years now she sent one like it, and Celestia always enjoyed the following meetups they’d inevitably have.
“Dear Celestia,
I was thinking we might spend some time together? I have the evening free and was working on a book or two. Maybe we can compare notes? I rather enjoy studying together with you, even if it’s not like old times. We all grow up someday, I suppose, and I’d be glad to grow up a little with you.
Yours,
Twilight Sparkle”
She sipped her iced tea, noting that the sun was still high. Twilight had sent this early in the day, likely thinking about her evening during her duties.
That wasn’t the best use of her time, but Twilight was due a little frivolity now and then. Still, Celestia would have to free up her time as well, and the early notice had been gracious on Twilight's part. It would put her one trashy romance book behind on her schedule, but spending a little time with Twilight would be absolutely worth it.
Maybe she’d grab some of her old notes, from back when she was spending too much time researching exo-thaumic barriers? Twilight would love to read over them, and Celestia could sneak in a little side reading while Twilight was distracted by the actually arcane texts.
She’d also need to bring tea! Twilight was an attentive host, but her taste in tea selection was lacking at best. All she kept was that breakfast blend of black tea and Earl Grey. Something to wake her up, but nothing to help soothe her nerves.
Those nerves certainly needed to be soothed! The last time Celestia had visited, Twilight had been more nervous than a first time courtier presenting a case for some reason. Luckily, as the night went on and they got absorbed into their respective research, she’d relaxed a little. The pastry selection had been divine, though.
Celestia licked her lips, pondering what treats Twilight would have. Lately the mare had upped her baked goods game significantly, and Celestia quite enjoyed the show of confectionery force. For some reason she’d been on a red kick, not that Celestia minded. Roses were one of her favorite snacks.
Luna would have to be notified. Celestia couldn’t just leave without letting her know. She had a few hours before Luna woke up, and right now she was simply sun-bathing. Maybe she could work in one of her books now? That way she could stay on schedule.
Yes, there was plenty of time to read. She could sun bathe and read at the same time, although the simple resting had been quite lovely. Back when she was in charge, she never had time to simply sit and think with no urgency while she lay in the sun. It was one of the most relaxing activities she’d recently taken up.
Maybe tomorrow, after her study time with Twilight and a good nap, she would empty out the whole day for sun bathing? Luna would scoff, but not truly care. She was wonderful like that. Always teasing Celestia about one thing or another, but ultimately appreciating that Celestia did what she enjoyed.
Her paintings had gotten marvelous lately. Almost a century of practice would do that. Celestia wondered if she should start a hobby of creating? She briefly pondered writing. Twilight was quite the prolific author, and had treatise upon treatise upon encyclopedia published under her name. She likely had a whole wing's worth of scientific literature published for other ponies to devour.
Celestia really did try to read them, but it was so much. It also cut deeply into her personal literature time. Twilight was far and away the scientist, but her works really didn’t have the soul of a romantic. Each text was long, ranting, and ultimately incredibly accurate. Why, Twilight probably wouldn’t know romance if it came up to bite her!
Now that might be fun. Celestia smiled at the thought. She could spend the evening suggesting they study romance books, and cuddle up next to Twilight for a good read. She’d have to be careful not to read anything too spicy, she certainly didn’t want to scar the poor innocent dear, and sometimes Celestia got a little hot to touch when she got hot under the collar. Sun fire could sneak in at the most inopportune times.
How cute little Twilight would blush in embarrassment. It might be worth it, just for that alone. Luna had been teasing her lately about seeing somepony, and even suggested she make a move on Twilight of all ponies. Like Twilight would be interested in an old bag like her. Twilight even knew that she wasn’t quite mortal, that she was half monster at heart.
The thought brought a frown to Celestia’s face. No, Twilight loved her as her mentor and friend. Nothing more, even if Luna teased her about it. She’d go find that exo-thaumic barrier text and use it to start the evening. Twilight would enjoy that, and Celestia could indulge her while enjoying the inevitable pastries.
Now, which teas should she bring?
Celestia frowned at the seemingly eternal sunset. It had been hanging in the sky too long. She hefted her battleaxe over her heavily armored shoulder as she glared at the castle in the empty city. She should have known.
Twilight wouldn’t have let it go.
She had thought that Twilight was wiser. Strong enough to heed her warnings. Smart enough to leave the things that should not be alone. Of course, Twilight’s curiosity had won out. It always had. Decades ago, Twilight had seemingly dropped it after that night. Then a question came here and there. Little ones that didn’t amount to much on their own, often during their study sessions.
Over the years, those little questions had added up. Time had passed, and Twilight’s knowledge had grown. A week ago, the sun had stopped, anchoring itself just before sunset. Locking the sky in what seemed to be an eternal Twilight. Luna and Celestia had tried to contact her, but to no avail. Luna had left to see what the issue was in what would have been two days ago. She hadn’t returned. Celestia had finally found her ancient armor, and was channeling the sun through the edge of her axe, turning the rim into a bright and scorching edge of infinity.
She had received a letter. A notice, of sorts, through dragon fire. It had Twilight’s signature, but it was distinctly not Twilight.
“Dear, Sweet Celestia.
I’ve found it. I am it. I have it. Your father is ecstasy. He is sweet. He is eternal. He fills. I am filled. I am eternal.
I am Twilight.”
Celestia shuddered at the memory of the awful thing. She couldn’t tell if it had been Twilight calling for help, or the new thing gloating to her. The news was insufferable either way. Twilight had been found not by one of her siblings, but by her father. Her horrifying, rapist of a father.
Celestia drew more sun fire into her axe, her anger growing as she stewed in thought.
Unlike her siblings, father didn’t consume the ponies he found, he procreated with them. Twilight was powerful enough to become or create something truly dangerous under his efforts. Father would know what she was capable of the moment he found her. She might have begged, or tried to flee him if she realized what had happened, not that he’d let her escape. Worse, she might not have realized what she’d found and faced it with a smile.
Twilight had probably smiled when he descended upon her. When he took her and…
Celestia growled, her heart beating heavy and drowning out the empty city. If Luna had been defeated, she’d return eventually. Celestia was the one who sent their brethren back. She was the enforcer.
There were no bodies. No corpses and no spirits to be seen. Had the new thing turned them into monsters? Or had it consumed them? She would be immune to such a thing. Walking through the castle gates, she had flashes of nostalgia.
This had been her home for centuries. Now it was Twilight’s. Or was Twilight’s. She’d have to take over Equestria again. She’d have to wait for Luna’s return. They’d spend forever, waiting for another break. Another perfect pony to take their places.
Why had she told Twilight? Why hadn’t she destroyed the book or been more careful? She’d placed too much trust in the mare. Of course, that was the crux of it. She really had trusted Twilight. Celestia had grown complacent in her trust, feeling as though Twilight was strong enough to handle anything on her own. The idea of Twilight failing at this point had been so alien that she hadn’t considered it.
Ever since that night, she’d thought of Twilight like an equal. She’d even done exactly as she’d joked, and warmed a few cold nights with the memory of Twilight in her battle dress, imagining the mare having taken her in combat. Celestia growled, and slammed her axe angrily into the floor, leaving a trail of molten rock in her wake.
Today, a thing would burn.
She knew where it was. She felt the otherworldly energy, the taint of her father. The new thing was strong, stronger and more dangerous than her brethren usually were. It didn’t matter. Her anger, her grief was stronger. She yearned for a note from Twilight, a warm romance novel and a cup of tea. This thing had ruined her bliss. This thing had ruined her friend.
Celestia paused, her cheeks wet under her helmet. Her friend was gone.
She kicked the door to the throne room open, and looked upon the thing that would burn.
It was a monstrosity. Violet and purple streaked across the floor like living color. The beast was vaguely pony shaped, but seemed to fade into the very architecture, slipping in and out of reality. It was both here and nowhere, still in the place that could not be. It turned to look at her, one eye glowing and the other purple and calm. It still partially looked like her, like she was held within its unholy grasp.
Celestia inflamed, seeing nothing but white hot rage as she screamed, slicing the purple wafts of magic that streaked the floor, leaving a golden rolling fire in the wake of her battleaxe and her body as she advanced through the quickly melting stone.
It tilted its head, focusing on her with the eye that looked like Twilight’s, then it smiled. “Heellooo… Ceeelllleeeessstiaaa…”
She didn’t answer, instead throwing herself towards it. The tendrils of color underneath coiled up, wrapping around Celestia and slamming her into the wall, the stone melting around her as she screamed. She channeled sun fire into her axe, preparing to cut them, only to find her weapon was gone.
The thing was holding it, ignoring her as it slowly inspected the edge. It spoke slowly as she struggled to free herself from the strange magic that wrapped around her, seeming to drink from her flames. This wasn’t how it went. Sun fire burned them. Sun fire cleansed them. This thing didn’t care. “Sharppperrr… stroonggerr…. Betteeerrr….”
It held her battleaxe, and levitated a scythe out, comparing the two weapons.
Celestia paused, realizing that it was drawing strength from her fire. She looked closer at the weapons, confused and angry as she realized it was Luna’s scythe. A tired voice came from the side.
“I blame you for this, sister. I want you to know that regardless of how this turns out, I am incredibly cross about it.”
Celestia turned, and saw Luna wrapped in strands of vibrant lavender color, pinned against the wall, practically melded to it just as she was. “Luna! It hasn’t… harmed you?”
Luna rolled her eyes. “Not as much, sister. Perhaps tortured me by making me watch it hurt her. She cries out in pain every so often, and it is most distressing. It also easily overpowered me, as you see.”
Celestia’s mind raced. Father’s offspring were always dangerous. Always hostile. Always enemies. Her eyes glanced at Luna, then at the thing.
Weren’t they?
“Beetttteerrr… Shhhharrrpperrrr.” The thing gently placed Luna’s scythe to the side, and began to channel magic into the battleaxe.
Celestia watched in fascinated horror as her battleaxe filled with sun fire. Her sun fire. The thing held it above it’s head, and Celestia’s heart thumped.
No.
The axe fell, the burning solar might ripping through the thing’s body with ease, carving it. Horrifyingly, the axe didn’t simply fall to the floor, it danced through the body, slicing and cutting seemingly at random. It looked at her, babbling as the magic holding her to the wall faded.
“Goooodddbbbyyeee… Celllessstiaaaa…”
She fell to the ground, afraid to look. Luna rested next to her, and they both heard the sounds of macabre gurgling and cutting, searing sunlight beyond Celestia’s control cleansing the room of father’s horror.
Luna wrapped a wing around her, and then there was silence.
Celestia couldn’t look up. Couldn’t think. This was far more terrible than she’d imagined. Twilight had stayed… somehow. She’d fought and struggled. She’d suffered all of Father’s assault, all of his mindless lechery, and still managed to be… that.
Celestia puked, unsure of what the feeling was. She didn’t think she’d ever been nauseous before. She’d done worse, physically. She’d maimed and slaughtered as needed. She’d led wars. But this had been Twilight, her little Twilight. Twilight had fought. All the way. Every single step.
Luna spoke first, her humor hiding her quivering voice. “Well. I shan’t be forgetting this any time soon.”
Celestia couldn’t look.
A tired voice replied, “Yeah. Didn’t think I was going to make it till the end there. Thank you, both.”
Celestia looked up, confused. There was Twilight. Covered in blood, body still burning, but flesh re-wrapping around her skull. Slowly the form coalesced into the purple alicorn.
She didn’t have words. “What?”
The still reforming Twilight lay down. “Excuse me, I’m pretty tired. It turns out fighting an outer entity’s corruption for a week is pretty draining.”
Luna asked first, “But how…”
Twilight yawned, seemingly exhausted. “Well, I wanted to learn more about you two. Ever since Celestia mentioned that I wasn’t a demigod like her, I’d decided to do something about it.”
Anger flared up in Celestia. “How… you… That is far more irresponsible than I thought you could be.”
Twilight smiled, softly. “It was a little risky, but I knew that if I messed up then you’d take care of me.”
Celestia was crying. “Take care of you? Twilight, do you have any idea how scared and angry I was? I thought I’d lost you.”
Twilight seemed surprised. “I… you always seemed so distant, just a little distracted. I thought you didn’t care. That even if I failed I’d just be another… thing to send home.”
“Twilight, I’m distant, but I’ve always cared about you. Losing you, especially like this, would scar me forever.”
She lazily flopped on her side, letting the underside of her flesh stitch back together. “Huh… Well, I guess you don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
Celestia stared with watery eyes. What exactly had Twilight just done? What had she become? She couldn’t heal that quickly. Neither Celestia nor Luna could heal wounds like that, and Twilight’s body was knitting lethal wounds back as though they were nothing. “Twilight, are you saying that you fought Father off for a week? That he didn’t…”
Twilight blushed. “Oh, no. He did. I uhh… it was… something. I can see how it’s… corrupting. You kind of forget what’s you and what’s… not. I had a really hard time maintaining me and not melting into… uhh… everything. I also understand what you mean about him being lesser. I don’t think he’s evil, exactly, just… needy. And dangerous.” Twilight muttered to herself quietly, “Very, very dangerous.”
Celestia frowned. She didn’t need to think about the specifics of that. “Then what were you doing for a week?”
Twilight sighed. “Trying to escape. He kept… you know. And I couldn’t get away. It was just… a lot. So I called for help.”
Celestia and Luna looked at each other, and Luna raised an eyebrow. She spoke first. “A week? Father was with you for a week?”
Twilight rolled over, inspecting her newly healed form closely. “Yes. That’s why I needed the axe. I remembered what Celestia said about sun-fire and all. I… got what I’d needed from him, and then needed him to go home, but he’s kind of clingy.”
Celestia spoke up, feeling the nausea again. “So, he was here, just now?”
Twilight blinked, then blushed. “Oh. Yeah… I guess that is kind of awkward now that I think about it. I kind of wasn’t thinking very straight at the time. I was sort of in survival mode, as much as I could think at all.”
Luna’s frown deepened. “I spent a day trapped on your wall… I thought those were moans of pain.”
Twilight’s blush deepened, and she laughed. “I supposed a few were. He wasn’t particularly gentle.” She stood up, stretching her reformed body.
Celestia watched closely. There was no sign of taint. None of Father’s corruption. Even still, Twilight had gained power, incredible power. She was probably significantly stronger than Luna and Celestia. Father was a foul entity, but he always held to his side of the bargain.
Twilight looked taller now, leaner. She had an inner glow, a formless energy that Celestia could feel. It felt like Luna’s, and hers. Twilight had… become family.
Luna spoke carefully, “Twilight… what was your intent with… courting our father? One does not contact him without reason.”
Twilight flicked her hair about, seemingly distracted by trying to force it out of being ethereal. “I was being selfish, I admit…” She was struggling to suppress the glow in her mane, and failing.
Celestia's stomach turned. Only corrupt, foul sorcerers contacted father. Almost always for purely selfish and vile reasons, “Twilight… I need to know exactly what you were thinking. I’m very distraught right now, much as you were decades ago when you visited, ready to strike me down.”
Suddenly, Twilight’s attention was on her. Twilight’s softly glowing purple eyes focused intently on Celestia. “Yes. You are. That was the start of it, you know. You teased me…”
Twilight stepped comfortably towards Celestia, her hoof prints leaving arcane residue. She was burning the floor again, this time raw stone was stained in pure purple magic instead of scorch marks.
Luna stepped to the side.
Twilight continued. “Ever since that moment, I couldn’t get it out of my head. You and I weren’t equals. Not even close. But you still considered me attractive, at least. I tried, you know. To approach you. Many times, actually. You either never noticed, or worse…” Twilight’s voice dropped low, almost to a purr as she approached, “laughed it off…”
Celestia stepped back, slightly concerned. Luna was glaring at her, cross. “I told you that she was serious.”
Celestia was stunned. “I never meant to slight you… I truly… you are…” What could she say? She had discounted Twilight’s advances out of hoof at worse, and as jokes at best? Just little call backs to the humor they’d shared that night.
Twilight’s grin was warm, strangely easy going as it grew into a smirk. “I was never the center of your attention. You were always thinking about so many things, and I was just there. Just another little observation in your world. What about now Celestia? Have I caught your attention?” She stood just in front of Celestia, and Celestia noted that she was taller now. Not much, but noticeably so. Not just taller, also sleek—strong, even. The way her shoulder blades cut under her neck was distractingly striking.
“I… You have, yes.”
Twilight leaned down, whispering in her ear. “Good. I’ve evacuated the castle. It’s just us, and Luna’s about to leave, isn’t she?” Twilight glared sidelong at Luna.
Luna scoffed, grabbing her scythe with her telekinesis while she hid an amused smile. “Really, you two… All this fuss had me actually worried. I have missed a raid over this nonsense, and that was far too gruesome a scene to witness, Twilight. You’ll both owe me later, I suppose.”
Twilight draped a wing over Celestia, pulling her in gently. “Don’t worry, Luna. I’ll get to you later. For now, I’m keeping your sister. She and I owe each other some things, and I intend to make sure we are settled.”
Celestia was surprised at how utterly helpless she felt in Twilight’s grasp. It’s not that she wanted to struggle, it was that she couldn’t. Twilight was… overpowering. She blinked at the thought. Her little Twilight was stronger than she was. Holding her still like it was nothing. Gently, Celestia pressed against Twilight’s wing to find that it was more immovable than the foundation of the castle. Twilight’s wings felt like a force of nature, and she didn’t even notice Celestia’s hoof.
“I’ll make sure we are very, very comfortably settled. I’ll bring her back… sometime next week, perhaps? She owes me as much, at least, for several decades of teasing. Maybe even centuries… though I doubt that much was intentional.” Celestia stayed meekly quiet, feeling like a pet or some bauble being discussed as Twilight possessively stroked her back. The pressure was gentle, but firm as it ran down the length of her spine.
Luna rolled her eyes. “Make sure to let her see the sun every once in a while. I know it’s tempting, but don’t keep her cooped up the whole time. She needs a little fresh air to feel herself.”
Twilight smiled. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure she feels herself plenty.”
Celestia’s heart tried to leap from her throat as Twilight slowly dragged a feather down her neck. She couldn’t tell if it was meant as a threat or a promise.
Luna laughed as she flew away, leaving Celestia to her fate. Silently, Celestia couldn’t decide whether to curse her or thank her.
“Twilight, you didn’t have to do… all this.”
Twilight squeezed her, gently, lovingly and inevitably. “Oh, I didn’t have to. But I did anyways. I’ll admit that I didn’t realize how deep I was going to go. Your father did things to me that I’d rather have done with you, and truth be told I have gone a little mad over the whole thing.”
Celestia lowered her eyes, her heart still threatening to escape her throat. Of course. This wasn’t entirely Twilight, this was the new thing. The new thing that Twilight had built, and was part of. “I’m sorry… I never wanted you to meet him…”
Twilight surrounded her, melting lovingly into her. “I know. It was my choice, Celestia. Mine alone. I’m not yours to protect anymore, and I haven’t been for a long time.”
Celestia felt Twilight’s heart beat, her feathers stroke, and her love rain down. “Father is dangerous. I really had thought I’d lost you. I was ready to burn… everything.”
Twilight snuggled her tightly. “Don’t worry. We’ll still burn, but we’ll do it together. It’s my sun, too.”
Celestia gulped, her body shaking. “I suppose it is. I watched you channel it into my axe. I don’t think… I don’t think I could fight you, even if I wanted to. What are you going to do now?”
Twilight nibbled on her ear. “To you? Whatever I want…”
Celestia smiled, watching the sunset. Perfectly on time, like always. Maybe long ago she’d been worried, but she knew without a doubt there was nothing to worry about. She had to catch up on her reading, her collection of romance novels had been growing ever since Twilight had started writing them for her.
They weren’t just for her, of course. Twilight published every one publicly, and not even under a pen name. They sold quite well, supposedly. But Twilight had started writing them because Celestia had come very clean about her reading habits. While she had always tried to read the research books that Twilight had written, her real passion had always been tawdry, obscene little smut novels. Twilight had wrung that confession out of her as a something approaching a desperate scream, with a surprisingly light touch.
She snuggled down, comfortably into her recliner. Luna would be awake soon, and she wanted to get to the end of this one. Of course, she knew how it ended. She knew how all the ones Twilight wrote ended. She wasn’t a mare in it for the mystery, oh no. Celestia enjoyed them for the memories.
Every single book ended in a steamy, sweaty encounter that eerily mirrored one of their… dates? Was that even the right term for what Twilight did with her? Celestia chuckled happily. Twilight had made it known that Celestia was hers, both privately and very, very publicly. Based on the stories she wrote, Twilight obviously knew how to romance Celestia. Of course, she never actually bothered. She could take what she wanted, after all.
Celestia bit her lip, feeling an ache rising. That was her favorite part, to be honest. The fact that she could do absolutely nothing about it.
Oh, she had been angry. She had been furious even, when she’d stopped to think about what Twilight had done. What Twilight had risked and what she had gone through. Her righteous fury meant nothing. Absolutely nothing as soon as it met Twilight’s confident, hungry smile. Celestia would stammer, stutter, and then melt in the heat that was Twilight’s touch.
After a few decades of this, she’d simply given up. Twilight had won. Twilight had become more than Celestia had ever dared. Secretly, she wondered if Twilight would tempt father once more. This time, Twilight might… win, if such a thing was even possible.
Celestia shook her head. It wasn’t worth worrying about. Twilight was already close to an immortal goddess, and Celestia her loyal demigoddess. Luna as well, if not quite as physically. If Twilight wanted to ascend further, there was nothing either of them could do to stop her.
Twilight always payed her mind, and actively kept her happy. Comfortable. Focused even. She smiled, thinking things over as she realized that she was getting distracted. Her book was just about to get good. Suddenly, her horn warmed in a familiar way. Only one pony used dragon fire to send her missives nowadays.
“My Dear Celestia,
You’ll be coming over tonight. I’ll be summoning you in half an hour. It’s been a long couple of days since I’ve seen you, and I’m hungry to watch you be mine. Do let Luna know you won’t be home for a good, long while. You’re going to be helping me write a book, maybe even two. We’ll just have to see where our inspiration takes us.
Love,
Twilight”
Celestia warmed in her chair, feeling her cheeks flush. Just enough time to finish her book, and let Luna wake up. Twilight was always considerate to the details. Suspiciously so.
The sun slowly set as Celestia finished her book, each and every line teasing her along and causing her blood to flow hot. Luna interrupted her, pausing her stumbling to the coffee maker.
“I see you’re burning another recliner to cinders. Twilight’s summons, then?”
Celestia looked up through the smoke and flames. They really needed to purchase some fireproof furniture.
“I’ll be out late, Luna. Don’t wait up for me.”
Luna smirked. “Oh, I know the rules. I’ll not interrupt you two. That’s a mistake you make once, and then Twilight makes sure you never make it again.” Luna licked her lips. “Though, sometimes I wonder.”
Celestia laughed. “You could try your luck tonight. She’s looking for inspiration. I can’t promise you’ll enjoy it, but I can promise that you’ll remember it.”
Luna frowned. “No thank you. I’ll be content enough with my computer for company tonight. While I’m happy that you two are happy, your… eagerness… to play her game slightly unnerves me.”
Celestia’s smile was easy. Other ponies didn’t understand, not even Luna. What Twilight and her had, it wasn’t a game. Twilight had been brutally clear about that in their first week. Over and over again. Celestia had understood it intimately. They loved each other, fully, but there was a hierarchy. A very real and very important one with Twilight on top.
During that week, it had become blindingly obvious that Twilight had been corrupted. Twilight hadn’t let the corruption own her, oh no. Not Twilight. Twilight had taken the corruption and turned it around on its head. She had owned it, and it belonged to her. It was her toy, her plaything. Then she had taken Celestia. Oh how she had taken Celestia…
Celestia nervously gulped, nodding to Luna. “Of course. Each to their own.”
Twilight had become a… thing. A monstrous, powerful, possessive, and loving eldritch thing—not just willingly, but eagerly. Celestia loved that thing. Celestia loved that thing like nothing else, and that thing loved her back with a furious intensity not possible from anything else in creation.
It wasn’t that she liked being brought low, or denigrated. Twilight never did that, exactly. She always allowed Celestia to shine. Twilight just shone brighter. Celestia liked looking up to the mare and admiring her beauty, but that wasn’t the reason for it all. The reason, the core of her admiration, was that it was Twilight. Her little Twilight, all grown up and oh so powerful. Her Twilight who held her down, taking her whenever and wherever she wished. Her friend, her student, and her lover who had no qualms about bending her over the balcony and making her beg.
Celestia never struggled. Why ever would she? She fully understood just how powerful Twilight was. Twilight had conquered the unconquerable. She had carved out her victory from her own body, facing one of the most cruel and uncaring eldritch gods on her own strength alone. Most of all, it had all been for Celestia. Every single excruciating moment of agony that Twilight had gone through had been to become this glorious thing that loved Celestia down to her very core.
Celestia felt the spell calling to her, the gentle arcane request that would slowly become an urgent and resolute demand. The loving purple magic that would pluck her, with her consent even if it wasn’t needed, to the thing she thought most about.
“Goodbye, Luna. Twilight’s calling.”
Luna eyed her over the cup of coffee. “Goodbye, Celestia. Good luck with your book.”
As she let the magic overwhelm her, she shivered. It crawled over her, measuring her every hair and crevice to prepare for teleportation. Celestia smiled, amused and excited with Twilight’s completely and wholly unnecessary show of power.
Tonight Twilight was going to show her exactly and specifically how much more of a goddess she’d become.