A collection of short, one chapter fill in the gaps and plot that occurred throughout the Incarnate Series.
While crafting a universe, things are bound to slip through the cracks. Conversations and happenings that occur 'off screen' as one might say. This will be where those side conversations find the light.
Will update periodically as ideas take form. Most chapters will (hopefully) also include art pieces.
It is not necessary to have read Incarnate and its sequels to enjoy, but it would help tremendously since the timeline will likely jump about instead of just chronological order.
Tags and Rating may change as chapters are updated.
Occurs after Chapter 4 of Incarnate. Two days before destruction of the portal to Equestria
The tall hedge bushes of the Canterlot Maze Garden swished about violently as the air near the center was displaced by a powerful teleport exit. The two ponies who had been side by side quickly moved away from one another as if a foulness drove them apart. In truth, one might say it had.
"Star Swirl! That was highly inappropriate even for you. Explain yourself."
"Certainly!" the elderly stallion said, gesturing back to the castle with a hoof. "After you explain to me why I just ran into the Ignis Ferrum Incarnate!"
Celestia gasped. Her eyes had opened wide. Wider than what one would have imagined possible while her pupils shrank. The words he just spoke, she must have misheard them , she thought. He could not, should not have known. Unless... Celestia pushed that thought to the side. She would deal with it later. The pure white alicorn shook her head in recovery and leveled a heated glare at the elder grey stallion with the flowing white beard. Such a powerful gaze would have burned a hole in all but the strongest of metals, but bounced completely off Star Swirl the Bearded. The legendary mage had known Celestia for far too long to be so easily intimidated by something as harmless as a scornful glare. He simply straightened his bell lined chapeau and took a seat, crossing his forelegs. Looking all the more like the grouchy teacher who had grown tired of his student's behavior.
“I am waiting for an answer, princess.”
“You are as brash and conceited as always, Star Swirl,” Celestia hissed through clenched teeth. She closed her eyes and took a breath to calm herself. “You had no right to remove me from the throne room in such a manner. We have procedures and protocols for a reason. I can only hope the guards and Raven are not in a blind panic given your stunt.”
“They are irrelevant and useless as always and YOU are stalling. Now answer me. What did you do? Why is the Incarnate here? Why does it even exist and more so, why is it carrying your heritage markers?” Celestia turned away her gaze, biting her tongue to hold in her retaliatory response for calling Sunset Shimmer an 'it.' “What is done is done, but do you have any idea what you have done?! It was to be made of steel or clay! Not flesh and blood! Do you have any idea h-”
“Mind. Your. Words, wizard." The words were more hissed than actually spoken. "You may be my former teacher and a hero of legend, but I am still the Princess of the Sun and co-ruler of this nation. You will not speak to me with such flippant disrespect on such a sensitive and personal matter regardless of the history we share.”
“Do not threaten me, silly filly. Unlike the fat suckling sycophants that pass for nobility and the ignorant masses, I do not worship the very ground you tread upon in the hopes that you may grant some holy blessing with a wink and a smile because I too have had to move the sun and moon for a time. I know you are not an omnipotent goddess. Not a real one. Like your mother.”
The grass beneath Celestia smoked and then quickly curled over as it scorched black. The bushes behind her began to burn away to ash and embers as well. Once again, the alicorn princess had to count backwards in her head and calm her breathing lest she cause an uncontrollable inferno that the local papers would have a field day with. Despite the turmoil churning in her guts, Celestia fought down her rage. She would not let him win by showing that she was too emotional to handle harsh criticism. He had not been there. He had not seen… Celestia swallowed and it tasted of sulfuric acid. She had made plenty of hard decisions in the past. Many of them she regretted, but a choice had to be made.
Star Swirl narrowed his eyes as he stroked his beard, observing every movement and detail about the mare before him. She was struggling, fighting with herself. He had seen it before. His eyes glazed over as he skimmed information that only he could see. Celestia suspected he was reviewing the information he must have stolen from Sunset Shimmer not long ago. Intimate information he had no right to have. After a minute of muttering, Star Swirl’s eyes regained their focus, but the distain remained.
“Why?”
Celestia paused, glancing to the direction of the city. Somewhere nearby, her estranged daughter was in Canterlot proper, going about her day. It was unusual for Sunset to visit Equestria at all, let along Canterlot. She did not know why and it was making her both curious and concerned, but that answer would come soon enough. No reason to develop an ulcer when only patience was required.
Sunset was likely accompanied by Twilight Sparkle since the mirror was still in Ponyville and she would likely see them at some point before the day was over and they caught the last train out. It would have been unusual for Twilight to visit Canterlot and not at least say hello. Especially if Sunset was in tow. Celestia made a mental note to send a dragon fire message to Twilight if she had not heard anything from the pair by late afternoon.
With her anger finally in check and a plan for moving forward, Celestia put the last of the embers out with her magic and sighed with resignation. The old unicorn did not have a right to know, but he already knew too much. Better that she at least give him context and perhaps he would understand. “As you already know, after you were gone, Luna became corrupted by the darkness of her nightmares. It twisted her into Nightmare Moon and by her own words, she planned to plunge the world into eternal darkness.”
“I am aware, surely you did not go to such an extreme and extraordinary step as this to 'replace' your sister?”
“No, not replace. To defend Equestria against her nightmare… in my absence.” Star Swirl arched a bushy brow. “I had no intention to fight Luna, even corrupted as she was. I fully expected her to come directly for me upon her release and to strike me down with little to no hesitation. I would have allowed it because I would not kill her and I lacked my advantage to banish her once more. Not that I would have even if I could have.
"As time passed and centuries of wait dwindled to only a few decades, Sombra, my Sombra, convinced me that if I was unwilling to fight back then I should at least find a champion to stand in my place. But who could stand against the power of an enraged, corrupted alicorn? An army of my most devout and loyal willing to throw their lives away? My enemies manipulated into doing my dirty work for me? Dark magic? There were no good alternatives. That was when I rediscovered that old journal. I recognized your hornwriting. I recognized some of the inflections as my mother’s words. I knew what it said must be true. The ability to create a perfect weapon at my command. The flaming sword alicorn golem. It was the only alternative I could see at the time.”
Star Swirl removed his hat and examined it, contemplating what to say and how best to say it. He could be compassionate, understanding. However, the large, white alicorn before him was not a naïve, young mare and had not been for a long, long time. She knew better, she must! If not… then perhaps she has no business ruling a nation. He replaced his chapeau, his old eyes full of cold steel once more.
“You are a damned fool, You Highness.”
Celestia glared again. “You have no right to judge my actions. You were not here! I had to fight my own beloved sister! We destroyed Old Canterlot and most of our old castle! I tainted the Elements of Harmony by using them against my fellow wielder and thought I had destroyed them or made them inert beyond recovery! If I had to pay for those sins with my life I was willing, but all of Equestria should not pay for my mistakes! That is what I believed wholeheartedly at the time. The perfect flaming sword was the answer. Then, Sombra suggested the golem be something more than just steel or clay. He suggested a powerful defender that also had a soul. An heir worthy of the throne if my life was unsavable.”
“So, you did give birth to the weapon. But she was not an alicorn, not from what I saw. Something close, but not quite.”
Celestia bowed her head. “No, I did not complete the ritual. She does not know the truth of her design or that she is my daughter. Once I held my foal for the first time, I could not use her as such. I refused to make her a weapon to fight her own aunt who I was too much of a coward to face myself. Instead, I bucked destiny and tried to raise her as a mortal unicorn and my student instead. But even in that I failed.”
“How humbling. To try to fight against fate and destiny and to know the taste of defeat. You are making what I have to do all the easier to decide.”
Celestia’s wings unfurled and her horn took on a bright, golden glow as did her eyes. “Hear me, Star Swirl the Bearded! You will NOT speak to Sunset Shimmer again on this matter. Preferably, if at all possible, you two will never cross paths again. She is to live the remainder of her life by her choices without mine or anypony else’s interference. She deserves that much from me. A chance to grow and become who she wishes to be in this world or the one on the other side of the mirror. This is my royal decree and you WILL OBEY.”
They held each other’s gaze for several seconds before Star Swirl finally yielded and bent his knee. “The choice of which world she wishes to live in must be made soon. I fear the tampering with the mirror by your former students may have already caused irreparable damage. However, I will obey and not seek out the unsheathed weapon.”
“She is my daughter, wizard. And in spite of my many, MANY failures I love her with all my heart. Never forget that. If you somehow do have a moment of clouded judgment and harm befalls to her, you will see how much like my mother I truly can be and how I was able to hold this nation together all alone for a thousand years. Do not test me.”
Celestia folded her wings and teleported back to the castle. Star Swirl stepped to where the alicorn mare had been standing and pawed at the scorched lawn. He felt a pang of pity for the groundskeepers who would eventually find the vandalism brought on by barely contained rage of the sun goddess. The last thing our world needs is another alicorn. Especially not one that can wield the power of an Incarnate Soul Blade. It could quite possibly kill a true god or the world itself. No, I will wait until they depart and after the creature passes back through the mirror. Then, I will destroy it, sealing her on the other side. After which, if I am able, I will destroy all the information I have in the library on how to build another mirror. I will undo my own hubris and see to it that our universe is safe. If I must forfeit my life to do so, then so be it.
Without another thought on the matter, Star Swirl teleported away to plan out his evening and to wait.
One month after the portal to Equestria was destroyed. 22 years before new Lunar Lock Mirror restoration.
Sunset Shimmer pulled into the parking lot of Crabs, We Got’em and carefully maneuvered to the side lot near the lake where signs had been placed to reserve spaces for motorcycles only. Normally, she would have put Shadow in the back somewhere so that no one would accidently strike her baby, but Sunset had been informed ahead of time that the restaurant was a favorite for motorcyclist because of the accommodations. As Celestia had once told her many years ago, one does not refuse thoughtful accommodations.
The redhead removed her helmet and shook out her hair, thankful that even with all the other body changes she had recently undergone that her helmet still fit just fine. It had been expensive and custom painted with gold and red flames. It would have been a shame to have to give it up or trade it out. A truth she had been dealing with nearly all her other clothes that were all too tight. At least the girls, especially Rarity, had been eager to assist. She smiled at the memory of their faces after their fashionista friend had taken Sunset's new measurements, dropping her tape measure and whined, "Even supermodels don't have proportions this perfect! It's... it's not fair!." Sunset had shrugged and laughed it off at the time, but the declaration made more sense after they hit a few stores.
Sunset dismounted and stored her head gear and gloves, taking a moment to dust off her casual attire. The black denim jeans were a recent purchase from a thrift shop and the holes in the knees were not as much for style as function because they had been a little on the tight side. Without the holes she would not have been able to fully bend her legs. Her favorite cropped jacket, which had always been a little big, was now snug and did little to conceal her chest that was stretching out her plain green, v-neck tank top. Rarity had donated a pair of old riding boots that had been used for a costume once… by her father. Sunset Shimmer noted she was nearly as tall as him now and could in all likelihood bench press the man if she so felt inclined to do so.
She had only been discharged from the hospital for a week after a remarkably short amount of time under care and observation considering the injuries she had sustained, but not soon enough in Sunset’s opinion. The doctors were asking too many questions and took far too many samples, both tissue and blood, for her liking to run tests on. Twilight Sparkle had been confident and reassuring they would not find any anomalies or discrepancies of note with the equipment at their disposal. Sunset trusted Twilight on that with her life… and that was not just a metaphor. If they did find anything unusual it was likely the FBI or worse would be coming by to ask questions again. And she doubted even Pinkie Pie could run interference all the time… not that she wouldn’t try. And that was assuming an unmarked van did not just drive up and attempt to bag and drug her for an 'off the books' chit chat.
Sunset shook that chilling thought from her mind. None of those concerns really mattered at the moment, however. It was just Sunset’s mind trying to distract her from why she was currently beyond city limits and at a lakeside seafood restaurant and bar to begin with. It was not terribly far from Canterlot City, but she certainly had never been to it before. Though she had been to the lake before, albeit to the camp, miles away on the other side. Sunset pulled out her phone and shot off a quick text to Twilight, as promised, before the thought slipped her mind.
Twilight wanted to come. The two had talked about it for more than an hour, nearly causing the pros versus cons markerboards to come out, but in the end, Sunset had just made the decision to meet him by herself because she was the only one he had asked for. He had even gone as far to text Sunset directly instead of through Twilight. Possibly in an attempt to avoid the back and forth that had occurred. Or, possibly, because he was not ready to see Twilight again just yet. Even if he had assured her and said, ‘no hard feelings’ upon their last conversation. That was something Sunset could ask if she felt it needed to be brought up. Assuming things did not turn ugly or uncouth. My mind is really in speculation overdrive right now.
Sunset’s phone pinged and she read the reply Twilight had sent. It was a simple thank you for keeping her informed and a request for Sunset to call her later no matter how late it was. That brought a warm, pleasant smile to Sunset’s face. Their new relationship was still giving Sunset the ‘warm and fuzzies’ as some liked to call it and it really did feel amazing to be able to introduce or describe Twilight Sparkle as her ‘girlfriend.’ As she had done the other night when the new couple had sat down for dinner with Twilight’s family. Sure, they had eaten together before. Sunset was not one to turn down an invitation from her best friend for free food by one of the best home cooks she had experienced outside of a castle. Mrs. Twilight Velvet was culinary master and that was not even what her degrees were in! Sunset had even gone as far as to tell Twilight's mother she could put most of those chefs to shame on the cooking shows she had seen from time to time. It had been a great icebreaker. One they had both needed.
With Sunset by her side, Twilight Sparkle had taken her girlfriend's hand and kissed the back of it. It was in that moment, with Twilight's father arching his brow curiously that she had elected to come clean to her parents on her sexual preference in case they had any objections or concerns considering the two would be moving at the end of August to California to attend college. Despite some anxiety and concerns and much needed explanations and clarifications, Velvet and Night Light were more than happy to grant their blessings and wished them the best of luck going forward while also reminding them both that school was still their top priority. Not that either girl needed such a reminder.
However, that left one last loose end to tie up before the summer came to an end.
Sunset climbed the wooden stairs to the outdoor bar/table patio where she found Timber Spruce sitting at one of the tables near the rail. At least he remembered that I can’t legally sit at the bar even if I probably look over twenty-one now.
The young man with curly green hair waved at Sunset Shimmer, a dorky smile on his face that eased the anxiety knotting her stomach a few notches. Sunset understood many of the reasons Twilight had been so smitten with the Camp Everfree counselor and co-owner. Timber was handsome, had great toothy smile, a strong, decent build without being ripped like a pro athlete, and was strangely charming in his own quirky way. He had, in truth, managed to help Twilight realize that she was dateable (she had quietly swore more than once no one wanted to date a nerd like her) and helped her realize her own heart and desires better. For those things and the fact that he never hurt her, Sunset would always be grateful to the young man… even if it still kind of creeped her out that he had been hitting on campers to begin with. Thankfully, that uncomfortable ship had long since sailed and was no longer an issue. What was possibly still an issue was why they were meeting. News got around and Timber found out Twilight was no longer single. Twilight’s ex-boyfriend insisted he have a chance to speak with her current girlfriend. And now, they were face to face.
Sunset paused for a moment and considered how she should play this. She had a few options at her disposal. She could do the tough girl/bitch routine, lots of hard glances and piercing stares. She could be aloof and bored, maintain a poker face and see what was Timber’s game. Or…
Sunset stepped up to the table, placed one hand on her hip, arched her eyebrow, and said with a sassy smirk, “You called?”
Timber stood and then paused. His hand went to his chin as he examined the woman before him. Sunset could tell he was clearly caught off guard. “Um… don’t take this the wrong way, but did you have some surgery done recently? You seem… bigger than I remember.”
Sunset arched her brow further. The dude has some balls on him, I'll give him that. “Seriously? My eyes are up here, Timber.”
“Taller! I meant taller!”
“I had a growth spurt.”
“Right, yes. That… wait, really?”
Sunset grabbed a chair, spun it around backwards, and straddled it in a way Applejack would have appreciated. She gestured for the young man to sit, which he did immediately. “Yes, really. Mostly magically related, but you didn’t call me here just to talk about me and my changes I assume.”
“Um, no I guess not.” Timber paused to rub the back of his neck. “Do you want something to eat, or a soda or something? Feels weird to sit here and only have a drink.”
“I’m good. But what I would really like is to get to the point. Your text didn't give me much to work with and I don’t mean to be rude, it’s just Twilight and I have a lot still to do and not a lot of time left to get things squared away before the cross country move.”
Timber’s eyes were suddenly downcast, staring into his bubbling brown drink that may or may not have been mixed with something stronger. Sunset was unsure if that was good or bad. He did not smell drunk and her nose was sensitive enough to pick that up considering all the other scents that wafted by. What she was sure of was that the beverage did not contain the secrets of the universe no matter how hard he stared into it. With a sigh, followed by a sizable gulp of his drink, Timber started over with far less of his chipper, silly charm.
“I knew you two were busy and that Twilight would be moving away soon. Well, both of you, since you are going together, that is. That was why I needed to see you now. I… shit. Let me start over from the top." Another large gulp. "Twilight told you everything, right? You two always talked about everything, like every single day.”
Sunset shrugged. “More or less. I didn't pry for details, but by everything I assume you mean about how your date and night at the hotel went, yes?”
Timber grimaced and nodded. “I… Well, right away I want you to know I didn’t hurt her. I went slow and took my time to make sure she was comfortable. I, I tried to do everything right, by the book, as Twilight would say.”
The mental image that Twilight Sparkle likely had book called, “How to properly have your first sexual experience,” and made Timber read it cover to cover brought a smile to Sunset’s face. The smile must have been pleasant and disarming because when her focus returned to the young man across from her Sunset noticed he was more at ease and smiling too.
“I made you smile,” Timber said with more than a little relief. “You probably have no idea how hard that is for me to do.”
“I’m sorry if I always came across as a stone cold bitch. It's a character persona I can slip into pretty easily. Sometimes without even trying. It's not personal.”
“It’s not that, you were cool, still are. I guess, somewhere in the back of my head I always worried you were the competition, even if you did not realize it yourself. She talked about you ALL THE TIME. It didn’t bother me at first, you’re her best friend and I understood that. But then it started to feel weird. Like she HAD to keep you in the loop even if it was stuff that I thought was 'couples' stuff. She was always concerned what you would think about something she was wearing or if we went somewhere she would say, ‘I bet Sunset would love to see this,’ or whatnot.” Timber paused to take another long sip, glass nearly drained to the bottom. “I loved her. Or I tried to, at least. With all my heart. I have spent so long over the past month trying figure out what I did wrong. I just... I...”
Sunset, without hesitation, leaned forward and reached across the table to take Timber Spruce by the hand. She may have lost her geode necklace and magical empathy powers, but that did not mean she was incapable of being empathetic. Sometimes something as little as friendly touch could convey more than a five paragraph persuasive paper. Twilight might disagree and could write a five paragraph persuasive paper on why if she so felt inclined. Timber, however, jumped. Momentarily surprised by the sudden contact, but then smiled. Taking the fingers inside his own and giving them a little squeeze of appreciation. He took a deep breath that settled his rambling thoughts. These two really did have a lot in common. They would have been a great couple. Perhaps in another universe... but not this one.
“Timber, you did nothing wrong. Get that out of your head right now. Neither of you did anything wrong. It is possible to do everything right, to do it to the best of your ability, and still come up empty. That's not weakness or divine punishment or anything to blame yourself for. That’s just life. It's a reality check lesson that was as hard for me to learn when I was young. Even now I sometimes have to be reminded of that. The point is, Twilight needed to figure out who she was and what her heart was telling her. We were just there to help her solve that puzzle and yes, because I can see the question in your eyes, I love her with all my heart and have loved her for a long time now.”
Timber nodded and smiled thinly. He finished his drink and let out a massive sigh of both relief and melancholy. The young man drummed his hands on the table for a moment before slipping some bills under his glass and stood up. “Well, I guess that’s that then. I mean, I thought about yelling at you or blaming you for interfering or sabotaging our relationship, but after hearing you out and listening to it all, you were right. This was Twilight’s choice and I love and respect her too much to be that kind of guy. Just… just take care of her, for both of us, you know? That's all I can ask.”
Sunset stood as well and signaled Timber to come closer. Sunset wrapped the man in a hug. If he enjoyed the feeling of her body pressed to his more than he should, well, he earned the pleasant comfort, she thought. “I will. And it’s not the end, just so you know. I'm certain Twilight would love for the two of you to stay friends, so please don’t just fade away after all of this. Text her, call sometimes, make her laugh like only you can because I know there will be times she will need that and we both know you can do it.”
Timber nodded and straightened his beanie. “I can do that. It’s nice to hear that I’m still wanted and needed and that after I've had some time that we can still be friends.”
Sunset shot him the finger guns. “I completely understand.”
“From most people that just sounds like a throwaway line, but I get the feeling you really do.”
Sunset tapped her chin a moment and then made a choice. She pulled out her phone and shot Twilight a message that she would be hanging out longer and would call her after dark. She then tapped Timber on the shoulder and gestured to the table again. “Hey, if you're up for it how about we order something to eat and drink since we're already here. I’m not ready to leave just yet and I want to tell you a story.”
“You know you don’t have to.”
“I know. But I want to.” Timber nodded and smiled, sitting back down. Sunset took off her jacket and hung in on the back of her chair, flipping it around to sit like most everyone else. “Let me tell you a little story about when I was young and I had my first crush. She was a cutie, that's for sure. She worked for my mom in the castle I grew up in.”
“Wait, what? You lived in a castle?”
Sunset blinked, then grinned sheepishly. Some context was clearly going to be required. “Right, maaaaybe I need to clarify a few things about me that were purposely being omitted for my protection. Don't feel bad, I asked Twilight and all my friends to keep that secret. Since you’re a friend too I should let you in on a few things about me and my past. It will probably give you some much belated clarity about what happened at camp and to your sister a few years ago. Do you want to order a hard drink? You're old enough. You might want one after I get going. Anyhow, let me start at the beginning. Once upon a time in a land far different from what you see around us there lived two Royal Sisters…”
3 months after the portal to Equestria was destroyed. 22 years before the new Lunar Lock Mirror restoration.
Twilight Sparkle entered her apartment and set her keys down in the bowl near the door. Correction, she thought, our apartment. She was not alone. She had a roommate. Not just any roommate, however…
Twilight smiled serenely, took in a deep breath, and sighed happily. She was a high school graduate, valedictorian, with an impressive transcript and list of extra curricular activities, and character references from principals, small business owners and Canterlot City's mayor. Which had all served her well in getting through the door to her selected college and scholarships to help with finances. Still, a roommate helped further with said expenses, plus companionship in case Twilight started to slip back into her old habit of locking herself away in a lab for days on end.
She was now living away from the only home she had ever known on the other side of the country in her first apartment and was living with her best friend who also happened to be her girlfriend. An added bonus like no other, she thought. Those delightful realities combined with the sight of said individual stretched out on their couch with a game controller in hands, eyes still glued to the TV, brought it all back to the forefront that this was all, in fact, real. No pinch required.
Sunset Shimmer paused her game for a moment to glance over, smile, and wink at Twilight. It was not the first time and, fate willing, it would not be the last time she felt her heart flutter and her face flush at such a heavenly, beautiful sight that had eyes only for her.
“Hey babe, welcome back. I cleaned up like you asked, took Spike for a walk, and there is a pasta salad chilling in the fridge. It’s vegetarian, obviously, but if you want to add some meat, I think you still have some salami in the deli tray you can add to yours.”
“Thank you,” Twilight replied. She was not hungry just yet, but after wrapping up college orientation and meet and greet with her campus advisor and student counselor Twilight wanted nothing more than to just sit and relax the remainder of the day. Classes would be in full swing on Monday and though she had some of her basics out of the way thanks to AP High School dual credits there was still plenty to do considering the heavy load Twilight had selected for herself. One did not double major on the road to double doctorate by taking it slow and steady.
Problems for another day. For now, she had the rest of the weekend to rest. Twilight moved to the couch and sat. Sunset curled up to make room while resuming her game. After a moment to wipe her glasses, and let her hair fall from the bun she had it tied up in, Twilight took note of the action and characters on screen. She had seen this one before… more than once, in fact.
“How many times have you played this game?”
Sunset shrugged. “I dunno. I lost count. It’s one of my favorites. I love the characters, the story, the game play is enjoyable, and you can always redesign your main if you get bored. It has great replayability, especially when you kick it up a notch to the harder difficulties like I have it now. Insanity is well labeled. Every one of these bastards has both shields and armor.” As if to emphasize the point, the sniper round struck true, but the target Sunset had intended to obliterate still remained standing. She growled but just prepared to fire again.
“Okay, those are all good reasons, but there must be more to it. You have plenty of other games.”
Sunset paused and tapped the controller against her chin in contemplation. “Hmm... If I have to elaborated, I'd say it is mostly because I can. To be honest, and don't judge, but it’s a bit like a favorite movie or book. I’ve played it so many times I know every line by heart. I know what is expected of me and how to get it done fast and efficiently. It’s… comforting. I like to play it for the familiarity and relaxation it brings. I guess I felt like I needed some of that after the move and getting unpacked and having all your family around asking me so many questions. Don't get me wrong, I love your family, but so much interaction and the questions they were asking really tested the limits of my discomfort threshold. This was already a major change in both our lives and it was right on the heels of so many other major changes I've had to get used to and mental and physically deal with.”
Twilight did not hesitate to wrap herself around her girlfriend and nuzzle close. Their foreheads touched as their fingers interlaced. Sunset smiled and sighed at the delightful touch. Nothing was said for at least a minute until Twilight finally whispered with a slight quake to her voice, “Do you regret it?”
“I’m not sure which ‘it’ you are referring to, but I’m gonna say no to all of them. Am I’m going to miss Canterlot City, sure. But we can always go back to visit. Who knows, we might even want to move back when this is all over and you have every degree you want to get your busy purple hands on. I am going to miss seeing our friends in person, but we have multiple social network accounts and video chat to help hold us over.”
Sunset’s eyes drifted over to the bookshelf where a large tome was sitting, currently disguising itself as an ordinary book and not the magical, two way communication device that it was.
“I’m going to miss Equestria... again. Princess Twilight and Celestia, er, mom. Still getting used to that. But the portal's gone along with our magic and geodes. We're just normal high school graduates just like so many other girls.” Sunset flex her fingers, clenching them into fists. Careful to not accidentally crush her game controller. “I suppose that’s not entirely true. I still have magic in me. This new human-alicorn form I have has taken some getting used to. At least I haven’t accidentally broken anything lately. Those first few days were... awkward.”
“And you got so many new clothes out of it because none of your others fit anymore.”
“And here I thought you would have been happy to see me run around the place naked.”
Twilight smiled brightly before licking her lips a bit. “Life sometimes has its little bonuses.”
All things considered the transition had gone remarkably well. Twilight had left a few things with her parents that were not needed or could be shipped later if desired and Sunset had been given permission to place a few storage containers of items that she did not need or wanted for later in the basement of Applejack’s farmhouse. Granny Smith had not hesitated for a second to say yes. There had been no on road incidents, no vehicle breakdowns, and even the places they had stopped for food had been remarkably accommodating considering Sunset’s vegetarian diet. Three weeks had flown by and here they were, moved in and ready to start their lives as a couple in a new and budding relationship out on their own. Twilight giggled to herself as she moved to go assemble a late lunch.
After making two bowls of pasta salad before returning to the couch to watch Sunset play and eat at the same time, Twilight felt compelled to inquire more about what she was watching as the dialogue options popped up on screen. “Isn’t this one of those games where you can have characters hook up? I'm almost certain I've seen you do that with some of them.”
“Oh, yeah. It’s one of the biggest selling points to these roleplaying fantasy games. You, of course, can design your main, male/females and all that, but then you get options on who you want to romance at some point. I change it up sometimes depending on the character I build. Unlike some other games it’s not so much a Good Guy/Bad Guy dynamic and is more a, you can be super goodie girl scout and save the galaxy or you can be a hardcore badass, who does occasionally bad things, and still saves the galaxy. I know you love your Wars and Trek shows, but this to me is one of the best sci-fi series out there because it is so well fleshed out. Also, unlike the other ones, you get to participate and drive the outcome, which I like.”
“Don’t forget about B5. Also well thought out and fleshed out. Plus, dark and gritty, much like this.”
Sunset nodded, “Absolutely.”
Sunset set her bowl aside and continued to play. Making a poignant mental note to NOT leave it on the table until it started to grow its own life forms. A hard 'line in the sand' that Twilight had pointed out would not be tolerated if they were to be living together. Such “organized chaos” would be reserved to the garage below that was set aside for Sunset’s motorcycle and art studio. Twilight had already claimed the back bedroom for guests and her office/computer lab. It was a tight fit, but the futon mattress was comfortable. She had tested it an accidentally ended up taking a four hour nap on it a few days ago. Sunset had chosen not to disturb her since the sleep was obviously needed.
Unlike Twilight, Sunset Shimmer would be attending community college on Monday and was not expecting a grueling class schedule. Which was just as well. Though she had a decent stack of backup funds, Sunset had full intention to secure a part time job to pad those cushion funds and pay for desired art supplies. Otherwise, she probably would just sit around all day and play video games while snacking. At some point she should get her game stream set up again, Sunset concluded. Some fans were getting restless for new content from the Shimmer Code according to her web blog. Another reason to keep the apartment reasonably tidy. Perhaps even consider getting a backdrop, Sunset considered. With the right color sheet, she could set up an augmented reality background and keep things looking fresh week to week, even if it was fake.
It was then that Sunset had noticed that Twilight had snuck off and not to the kitchen this time. The redhead shrugged and returned her attention to the game. Assuming her girlfriend probably just wanted a shower and some unwinding time with a book or movie in the bedroom. Spike would probably appreciate the company, assuming he was not still sleeping like a loaf. Sunset had a secret bet going with Rainbow Dash on how long they could go before someone accidentally found out he could talk. I better start coming up with quick excuses on how that is a thing before we have to start worrying about Feds again. Maybe a robot dog or ventriloquism act? Bleh. That sounds stupid even in my own head.
Sunset Shimmer heard a giggle from the direction of their bedroom and smiled to herself. She absolutely loved that sound. However, of all the things that Sunset could have anticipated happening next not once would she have expected her girlfriend to run a lap around the living room, including past the TV and double sliding glass deck windows, that were only partially obscured, with a bounce to her step. Twilight giggled again before doing a little hop-skip-twirl, and then pivoted to run back the other direction. The random action was certainly unusual, if not unheard of for the brilliant, young scientist. However, it was the doing it completely naked that caused Sunset's brain to thoroughly lock up.
Sunset Shimmer blinked her teal eyes, repeatedly. Did… did that just happen?
She turned to find Twilight coming around for another lap, still giggling and smiling at her like goofball. Twilight then stopped and shook her bare bottom a few times before running off back to the bedroom without a single word of explanation. Slowly, a mischievous, predatory smile spread across Sunset Shimmer’s face. She quickly saved her game and jumped over the back of the couch, almost faceplanting, making a targeted beeline for the bedroom the mysterious streaker had run back to.
Sunset stood in the doorway to find Twilight spread out on the bed, just as nude as she had been only a few seconds before. It was not that it was anything Sunset had not seen, or touched, but the unexpected spontaneity of it demanded Q&A before her animal brain took full control of the situation.
“You feeling okay, babe? Annnnything you want to tell me?”
Twilight giggled again, the smile never leaving her face. “It just hit me all at once. This is OUR place.”
Sunset smirked. She completely understood. It was Twilight Sparkle's first real taste of adulthood freedom in the safety and security of a home that was just theirs. No parents, no nosey students, no rules beyond what they set for themselves. The care-free freedom that all teenagers desire for at college before the crushing weight of career and whatever the rest of life has in stored.
“Annnnnnd your first instinct was to go natural Equestrian and ditch all the clothes?”
“Yes. Because I can.”
“I approve.”
Sunset, in two swift motions was stripped down to just her underwear. Garments skillfully tossed across the room into the waiting hamper. “Feels pretty good, huh? Adulting doesn’t have to be just work, and pressure, and taxes. You get to do a little bit of what you want. We both have to remember that.”
Twilight nodded and beckoned with one finger for Sunset to join her on the bed. “This is better than anything I could have dreamed. This is everything I want in my life right now. And I love you all the more for sharing it with me.”
Sunset chose to respond by crawling onto the bed provocatively and press her lips to Twilight’s.
“Uuuugh,” came the sound of a small voice from the corner of the room. The kiss was broken and the two young women locked eyes with the purple dog who was giving them his best ‘I just woke up because of you’ deadpan. “Again? If this is going to be a regular thing with you two, I’m moving to the guest room.” Spike continued to grumble as he dragged his blanked in his mouth out of the room. Twilight and Sunset both burst out laughing before resuming their lip lock.
Twenty-four years after old Lunar Lock Mirror destruction. Two years after new mirror restored.
It was almost eleven o'clock at night when Sunset Shimmer spotted the flashing red and blue police lights bouncing off the sides of the brick buildings and glass and then moments later the Canterlot City Police car they were attached to. She felt her wife’s fingernails dig into her right leg even through the denim jeans. No small feat considering Twilight generally kept them short. Normally, Sunset did not like having a hand on her while she was driving. It was an unnecessary distraction and driving in the dark was hard enough even for her sharpened senses, but she was not about to tell Twilight Sparkle no this time, not if it brought a measure of comfort.
“It’ll be okay, babe. I don't see an ambulance or wrecker truck so it can't be that bad, just breathe for me.”
Twilight swore under her breath before taking a deep inhalation to try and calm her growing anxiety. In addition to digging her fingers into Sunset's leg her own right leg had not ceased from thumping on the floorboards. “The only thing he assured me of was that she was okay, but when I pressed for details, he hung up! Why did he hang up on me?! I needed more information!”
“I’m sure Flash had his reasons.” Sunset parked their car and jumped out. Twilight fumbled with her seatbelt because her hands were still shaking and for some reason such a menial task was not cooperating and adding to her frustration. “Let’s find out.”
Twilight practically jumped from their car, forgetting to close the passenger door. Sunset closed it without comment and slowly took note of the situation. There were two vehicles in parking spaces that were currently blocked by the police cruiser. She recognized one immediately as her daughter’s Bronco. The other was an old RX-8 that was currently, or had been for a long time, sand blasted and was a battleship grey primer color. Something about that naked matte grey canvas offended the artistic part of Sunset’s soul. Her mind offering up the fire haired woman a number of possibilities. Sunset made a note to check later on what it would take to repaint a car.
Next, she noted the two teenagers sitting on the curb by the strip center sidewalk. Her daughter, Aurora Shimmer, and a boy about the same age Sunset did not recognize. Neither were restrained. Which was a good sign that things had not escalated after they had been caught doing... whatever it was they had been doing. A moment later another vehicle stopped next to their car and a man and older boy exited. It was probably safe to assume they were here for the boy in question.
“What were you thinking?!”
Sunset’s attention returned front and center. The unexpected shout from her wife beckoning her focus. Sunset marched over to Twilight and put a careful hand on her shoulder to quietly calm and reassure her love that it was all going to fine. Twilight swallowed her next scathing statement, took another breath, and nodded her thanks.
“You okay?” Sunset asked while looking over her wife's head. Both Aurora and Twilight replied with, “Yes,” simultaneously. What might have been comical, however caused Twilight’s hackles to spike once more.
“Do you know what she was doing?" Twilight spat. The question clearly directed towards Sunset Shimmer. "Drag racing! In a parking lot of all places!”
Sunset was thankful for the darkness and long shadows that were thrown around by the mixing red and blue lights. It all hid the smirk that threatened to break her parental neutral expression. Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh. Keep it together, Shimmer. Be the tough, authoritive parent. Especially with others nearby. Seriously, of all the wild possibilities of trouble that two teens, especially a boy and a girl, could get up to at night drag racing was not near the top of my list.
Sunset suppressed her inner thoughts and turned her attention next to the officer who had been leaning against his car while looking at his phone.
“Lieutenant Sentry,” Sunset said with a pleasant smile that was not condescending nor suggestive. Or at least she hoped it did not come across as such given there were persons unknown nearby. “What an unexpected surprise. Didn’t think you were working the streets anymore. Not since your last promotion.”
“Your mom knows the cop?”
Aurora Shimmer squirmed as all the eyes turned towards her and the boy who had spoken. “Just shut up, Middlebrook. This is not a good thing.”
“Actually,” Sunset corrected, easily understanding the side conversation. She silenced both of them with a side eye that was easy to see even in the dark, “it is.” Sunset's attention returned to the blue haired man in uniform who had a few streaks of gray along his sideburns and above his ears. They added to his handsome, distinguished features in her honest opinion. Flash Sentry smiled politely and gestured to the teenagers on the ground.
“Yeah, I’ve picked up a few extra patrol shifts just to make sure all that that desk time doesn’t make me slow and flabby. Plus, you know, the overtime money is nice. Anyhow, I was behind the laundromat at the end of the complex when I heard the sound of squealing tires and revving engines. I come around and see three cars finishing a race. One drove away and these two lined up for another go. As soon as they took off and reached the end again, I turned on my lights and put an end to it before someone accidentally got hurt or worse. I ran both their licenses and found no priors. After staring at the name for honestly longer than I should have needed it hit me that I recognized Aurora.”
“Are they being charged with anything?” asked the boy’s father.
“I thought it best to contact the parents first before moving to standard procedures since their records are currently clean. I could charge them with reckless driving and endangerment as well as exhibition of acceleration. Both misdemeanors, which usually means the cars would be impounded and they would find themselves in lockup until you came to get them. Points on their licenses and fines, sometimes community service. That depends on the mood of which judge you get. It's selfish, but I was hoping to avoid the excess paperwork. But if you think it’s best to make this official to teach them a lesson we can still go that route.”
“I would rather not.”
Sunset nodded, “Agreed. I think, if you are willing, we can handle the proper punishments ourselves.”
“Absolutely we can!” snapped Twilight. “Do you have any idea how worried I was?! How embarrassing this is for me?! Your Aunt Cadance and your cousin are at our house right now! I was just talking about how wonderful my girls are and how you and Sunna never cause any real trouble! Now what is she going to think? That I am a liar! Or worse, a bad mother!”
“Okay,” Sunset turned to Twilight and leaned in close. “I need you to calm down, babe.”
“I AM CALM!”
“Twi, I love you, I respect you, and I trust you with my life, but I think it might be best if you let me handle this one.” Even in the dark and under the shadow of Twilight’s black framed glasses Sunset could see her wife’s disapproving scowl, glassy eyes welling with barely contained tears. She could see her wife was an emotional wreck, both relieved and infuriated at the same time. However, Sunset held up her hands defensively and stood her ground. “I need you to look at this honestly and objectively, Twilight. We both know I have more experience with delinquency and can relate to her better on this topic. I think it would be best if you head home now before Cadence starts to think something bad happened and we’ll me you there. It will give you a chance to cool off and clear your head. Then we can talk punishment, okay?”
Twilight’s face scrunched up and twisted unpleasantly as if she had just bitten into rotten fruit, but ultimately relented. “Fine. You talk to her first. But I will get my say in.”
“Absolutely.” Sunset turned back to find that the boy was already walking away next to his father while the older one, presumably an older brother, moved to the driver's side of the parked RX-8. She returned her attention to Flash Sentry, who had been waiting patiently. He smiled at her. It was warm and honest and brought back memories that she had not visited in many, many years. Sunset always thought he had a great smile. It was one of his best features. “I assume none of this will get you in trouble? You have your own life and career to think about.”
Flash shrugged, but Sunset knew that playful little smile of his. It was flirtatious and yet also fraternal. One that spoke of history between them and no hard feelings. She had seen it on his face many times. The face of the boy who was now a grown man that was still after all these years always happy to help and back Sunset up on whatever she needed. Whether it was fighting out of control toaster robots or providing a lift after an unexpected car break down. It was that honest smile and helping hand that had drawn her to him when they first met freshman year. When her intentions then had been anything but pure. When they had both been young and had a lot to learn.
You are going to be a good husband and father someday, Flash Sentry. I know it.
“Since the others are now out of earshot," Flash said softly, "I think I can safely say I would likely have it much worse if I had to book my captain’s niece at the station. I don’t think either of us would hear the end of that. And then that would get to the media and I know Twilight has reason to worry about her company’s reputation, even if it does not affect you directly as much. Rumors, speculations, social media shit storms, blah, blah, blah. You know I’m not a fan of 'who-you-know' favoritism and this has to be a one time thing, but if the parents can handle this it will be better for everyone, don’t you think?”
Sunset extended her hand and Flash took it and shook. They held their gaze for what some might have considered slightly longer than courtesy required, but their mutual history allowed for it. She owed him a hug and maybe a lunch later when this was all said and done. Perhaps more. They were friends, Sunset reminded herself. They needed to stay in touch. That was a concern for later, however. Flash was doing them all a huge favor and a certain teenage daughter of hers would be made aware of that. Sunset glanced over her shoulder to make sure Twilight was back in their car before holding out her hand to Aurora.
“Keys.” The item in question laned in Sunset’s hand without protest. “Get in.”
With one final wave, Sunset climbed into the driver’s seat, making a few adjustments for her two meter tall frame, and drove away as soon as her daughter was seat belted in. However, she did not turn to head home. Aurora noted the detour immediately.
“Uh, Mama…”
“Okay, to start with you should know I agree with your mom. This was really foolish and I do want to know what you were thinking.”
Aurora sighed and groaned, lightly hitting her head against the window glass with an audible thunk. “I wasn’t, okay? Is that what you want to hear? I was just trying to have a little fun with some friends. The parking lot was empty. No one was going to get hurt.”
Sunset stopped harder than necessary and the sudden, jerky movement shocked the younger Shimmer as the seatbelt locked and bit into her shoulder. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but from what my eyes could see the parking lot narrowed right there at the end where the strip center turned the corner and the back of that Mexican restaurant create a kind of alleyway. And, oh yeah, let's not forget that it's also a BLIND corner. Anyone could have been driving up the other direction while you two were trying to slow down. That’s a head on collision, maybe even worse. Trust me, car accidents are not as fun as they look in the movies. Your mom nearly died once when we got rear ended right into an intersection.”
Aurora just crossed her arms and pouted, slouched in the chair with her eyes straight ahead. Sunset took that as her cue to continue both driving and voicing her thoughts.
“I get it.”
“Uggghhh! Here it comes.”
“No, seriously, mini-me. I do.”
“I hate that nickname. I’ve always hated it. It’s stupid. This whole thing is stupid! I could have been doing so much worse things.” Sunset clenched her teeth and fought to keep her face from twisting, but knew it was still twitching. There was just something about having a teenager snap back that made Sunset want to make incredulous faces and her ears to fold back. “I just needed some stress relief! My head feels like it is going to explode!”
“Like I said, I get it. I had my fair share of problems as a child too.”
Aurora growled and slapped both her hands over her face. Even before her daughter continued, Sunset could feel that the dam holding Aurora's emotions completely broke. “You were not even a child! You were a goddamn pony! My birth mother was a fucking horse from another dimension! And I. I turned into a fucking horse unicorn! I walked through a piece of concrete and found myself in a castle in another universe! That’s so messed! I am so screwed up from all of this it’s not even funny! And I can’t tell anyone, especially not my friends, because who would believe me about magical pony land and magic mirrors and shit! And you are trying to just be the 'I'm the cool mom, it's all good I can relate' about? Seriously?!
“Are you even really my mom? Huh?! I mean, did some guy stick his dick in a horse and here I am? Or was I just adopted by a magical alien? Was that cop my dad? You two were smiling way too much and he has blue eyes like me! I think about this sort of crap every day now! This, all of this, is all so messed up and has been stressing me out for almost two years and you are trying to bullshit me with the ‘you get it’ line?! Who the fuck even are you?!”
“Enough.”
“No! Don’t you get it? I‘m a freak! Because you’re a freak! What even am I, huh?! You have never been fully honest with me on anything! Did I come from a donor or did you just magically spawn me from Hell? Am I a monster? Why was I even born to begin with?! What's the truth, what's a lie? What is anything?!”
“Aurora Shimmer! I said that’s enough!” Sunset raised her right hand, which caused the girl to recoil a bit. Sunset had to stop the SUV again and clenched her fists in air. She had never had to strike either of her daughters more than the lightest spanking or tap on the head when needed. She was honestly terrified to do more for the same reason she had to let go of the steering wheels so as to not risk causing severe damage to the vehicle. Aurora had seen Sunset bend solid metal and other objects with inhuman levels of strength despite her attempts to not 'show off' in front of them. It took several more calming breaths before Sunset felt confident enough to continue driving.
“M-Mama?”
Sunset took the wheel again, her eyes straight ahead. “Sorry. You hit a few nerves there. Also, I am once again going to owe my mother another string of near sobbing apologies.”
“What do you mean?”
Sunset glanced over to her daughter, taking everything in. Her wild pink and red striped hair was currently pulled back into a ponytail and her piercing blue eyes were wide and glassy, filled with genuine concern and all the emotional turmoil that came with being a teenager. She was still wearing her cashier’s uniform with name tag and apron from the small mom and pop grocery store she worked for mostly hidden by her faded blue hoodie. It didn’t clash too badly with her pale golden skin tone that was a lighter shad than her mother’s. Much like a teenage Sunset Shimmer, in more ways than one, Aurora could make just about any clothing choice look fashionable.
Sunset and Twilight had both agreed that if Aurora wanted some extra income for herself to pay for her car and personal expenses, she should understand what it is like on the bottom first. And at sixteen years of age there was no shortage of things Aurora wanted to have, do, or try. The only major stipulation was that it did not interfere with her school grades. School work always came first. Naturally, Aurora objected at first. Claiming that her mom, Twilight, was plenty rich and that the idea was profoundly stupid. (Sunset noted that it was not that BOTH her parents were rich, just Twilight) Sunset and Twilight were united in agreement on the issue and Aurora eventually relented and applied for part-time jobs. The store owners, the Baskets, were good people. Sunset and Twilight had both been pleased that Aurora chose to work at their little store despite the only slightly higher than minimum wage starting pay.
Sunset finally smiled as her attention returned to the dark road ahead. However, it was a sad, melancholy smile that did not sit well on her mother's beautiful face, Aurora thought. Despite being over forty years in age, Sunset Shimmer still appeared to be in her late twenties. Twilight as well. For years, Aurora thought nothing of it, but after learning about Equestria and the world on the other side and what her mama really was...
It was then that she learned that magic was real and that her mom had been constantly monitoring the portal for activity and possible loose radical particles. She had also suspected magic was the reason they still appeared to be in their late twenties physically. Twilight had many theories and hypothesizes, but tests had not yielded any conclusive results. Aurora had always wondered what was so special about those chalk boards in the home lab that were labeled, "DO NOT ERASE!" Learning the truth about what those complexed equations were for and that both her parents had apparently transformed due to magical surge overloads and lived had not helped her psyche. More stories came to light including magical mishaps, super powered geodes that gave their group of friends powers, and of course, learning that the woman that gave birth to her was an all powerful alicorn pony with massive wings and a horn.
“I never really appreciated how deeply words can cut when they are aimed to hurt, coming from people you love the most,” Sunset finally said. “Sure, I’ve had plenty of others insult and try to cut me down over the years. Nobles, snobby upstarts, people or ponies who thought they could get under my skin. Later, I had to deal with other parents who thought that just because I'm an artist and sound engineer they could insinuate that I'm not important and that I'm just mooching off Twilight. But they didn't know me, none of them did. I could take anything they said about me and shrug it off because I knew then and know now that I am better in every way that matters.
"However, when I was about your age. I was easy to anger. And when I got angry, I got mean. I used to lash out at my mentor and teacher and I chose my words deliberately. I was angry. I wanted to hurt her. I was quite hormonal and impulsive and arrogant and I thought I could rule the world if I really put my mind to it. At the end, just before I fled Equestria, I said some of the meanest things I could think of just to try and get a reaction out of her and dammit, did she have a poker face. But now I know, despite how cool and collective she appeared, I was hurting her so, so damn much. Just like you did to me.”
“But, didn’t you say that your teacher was also your mom?”
“I didn’t know that at the time… but she did. Still kind of a sore spot. I’m mostly over it” Mostly
“I… I’m sorry. I’m just… I don’t know why.”
“Shhhhh. It’s okay… well, it’s not, but it will be. I just wish you had come to me or your mom about how you felt. Especially since you couldn’t confide in your friends about it. I guess I forgot for the most part about how much of a shock to the system it is to find out we are not alone in the universe and that just across a magic mirror is something most could only dream of. I was so messed up when I first came here. Even after I was taken in and healed up by medical professionals I was still stewing with distrust and full of confusion on how to actually live. I didn't trust anyone. I didn't have anyone to talk to about what was bothering me. The whole world put me on edge and the only way I could protect myself was to lash out first. It was a lonely, dark path. Not something you want to go through.”
Silence hung as Sunset made her way towards their home, continuing to take the longer, scenic route. Twilight would likely gripe about how long they were taking, but at the same time, she was smart enough to figure out what Sunset had been up to. If nothing else, Cadence would be there to help her calm down.
“So, what happens now?”
Sunset glanced to her daughter before turning her eyes back to the dark road ahead. The allegory was not lost upon the former Equestrian. She shrugged and said, “Now, we go home, we hope your mom has cooled off, and we talk about what punishment best fits the crime. If she is still boiling then you let me deal with her and you go to bed and we talk about it in the morning, but either way the talk is going to happen.” Aurora had nothing to else to add to that statement and sat quietly for the remainder of the ride.
Once safely back in their driveway, Sunset took note that Cadence’s car was still parked off to the side. Sunset made a point of not handing the keys back to Aurora. She did not object or throw a fit, which Sunset felt was a point in her favor. Unsurprising, everyone was still awake and in the living room once they entered.
Twilight jumped from her seat, but bit back whatever she was going to immediately say when she caught the pleading look in Sunset’s eyes that was begging for calm and collective the clam and collective Twilight Sparkle. After a taking a deep breath with a swish of her arm, which brought a small smile to Cadence’s face, Twilight asked, “Are you okay?”
Aurora sighed, shoving her hands into the pockets of her hoodie. “You already asked that, but yeah.” The teenager paused and glanced up to meet her mother’s slightly wet, amethyst eyes. The fire of defiance and sharp retort dying in her throat before she finally shrugged. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you or make you mad. I just needed to do something spur of the moment. I… Mom, I think I would like to see a therapist.”
Twilight glanced up at Sunset who smiled and nodded.
“I can make arrangements with my doctor or one of her colleagues as soon as they are available. And thank you for the apology, but that still does not get you off the hook for… drag racing of all things.”
Sunset stepped up and slipped a hand between the pair. “We already had this discussion. I think it might be best, since Sunna is already in bed, if we sleep on it an-”
“Did you win?”
All the eyes in the room turned to the teenage boy who suddenly felt sheepish for speaking up. Sunset could not control herself and began to snicker. Aurora smiled at her cousin, Azure Light, while Cadence and Twilight both looked slightly taken aback by the question.
“Yeah, twice actually,” Aurora answered with momentary pride before remembering that her keys were no longer in her possession and the implications that fact came with. “But, in truth it was stupid. I shouldn’t have done it.”
“Okay, I guess we’re not sleeping on this.”
Cadence clapped her hands upon her son’s shoulders and began steering him towards the door. “Now that we know everyone is safe, we should head out. It might be summertime but some of us still have work in the morning.”
After a quick goodbye, Twilight turned back to her eldest daughter and frowned. “You know you are grounded, right? Please tell me we are on the same page with that?”
Sunset dangled the keys as emphasis. “She knows she made a mistake. Like I tried to say, we talked about this. Aurora, go get changed and ready for bed.”
“Why are we not addressing this right now?” asked Twilight, her voice layered with frustration and pleading concern.
“Because it’s late and we are all tired and liable to say something nasty and hurtful and I’ve already had enough of that tonight.”
Twilight jerked back and quickly glanced back and forth between her daughter and her wife. “What? What did she say?”
“Nothing that can’t wait to be addressed in the morning. Seriously, I did WAY worse things… not that that is an endorsement or a recommendation. I’m just saying, in the grand scheme of 'BAD' it could have been worse and she just has to accept that she is not good at being bad.”
Now it was Aurora’s turn to arch a brow and feel slighted. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Sunset Shimmer sighed and held up a finger. “Remember the time you tried to steal a toy from the drug store under your shirt, but it was painfully obvious?” Second finger. “Or, how about the time you thought you could get away with blaming your sister for the broken glass to Grandma Velvet’s China cabinet?”
“Technically, that was both their faults since they were trying to play baseball in the house.”
“Ohhhh, or time you tried to impress your friends when you stole your mom’s experimental hover board and ended up breaking it because it was not ready.”
“Uggghhhh!”
Twilight rubbed her temples. "You were lucky it did not spontaneously combust!"
Sunset spread her hands and motioned with her hands to try and entice her daughter into making a flippant comeback. “Do I need to go on? I have a few more.”
“No.”
Sunset sighed dramatically but smiled. She stepped up and wrapped her arms around her oldest, who tried to pull away from the hug, but not terribly hard. Twilight smiled at them both and quickly trapped the teenager between them eliciting another groan of rebellious embarrassment. The two adults however did not let go and instead pressed their foreheads together while maintaining their hold.
“Mama! You’re going to suffocate me with your boobs!”
“Well, at least it will be done with love.”
“And we do love you, Aurora. With all our hearts. Never forget that,“ Twilight quickly added.
“I LOVE EVERYONE!”
Twilight gasped as arms from an unexpected eleven year old wrapped around her waist and found their way to further trap her sister in the group hug.
“God! Not you too!”
“You’re supposed to be in bed,” Sunset added, but Sunna just smiled and pressed her face into her mother’s back.
“I’m seriously just going to let one rip if you people don’t let me go.”
Sunset and Twilight quickly backed away and both gestured to the stairs.
“Bed.”
“Both of you,” Twilight added.
Once Twilight heard the two bedroom doors close, she slipped an arm around her wife’s waist and cuddled close. “Were you a terrible filly?”
“The worst. Honestly, we have lucked out. She’s smart, they are both smart. Aurora’s is just trying to process all the different junk going on in her head in addition to growing up. Throwing magic mirrors and other dimension in on top of that didn’t do her any favors. But I think in time she will be okay.”
Twilight nodded. “I was the perfect child. I did not do anything wrong.”
Sunset reached down and grabbed a copious about of Twilight’s left butt cheek eliciting a pleasurable squeak. “Your dad said you blew up the garage when you were ten, burning a chunk of your hair and most of your eyebrows off. That’s why your parents gave you the backyard lab for Christmas.”
“You were not supposed to remember that story.”
Sunset grinned. “Eidetic memory. Works even better when your mom saves the pictures as evidence.”
Twilight jutted out her bottom lip and pouted. “Shit.”
“LANGUAGE!” shouted Sunna before scrambling away, revealing that she was, in fact, not in her room.
“BED!” Twilight shouted before gasping as she was scooped up bridal style by her amazon goddess of a wife.
“As you wish.”
Twilight giggled and happily wrapped her arm around Sunset Shimmer's neck and nuzzling into the embrace. Everyone was home safe. The sun would rise tomorrow. Everything was going to be just fine.
Princess Sunset Shimmer was the first to arrive. As it should be, since it was at her request that the meeting needed to take place. They all had busy schedules, but the subject of this particular meeting had been weighing upon her mind and could be delayed no further.
One moon ago, roughly a month, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, and both their guard captains, Tempest Fury and Fog Gauge, had traveled through the Lunar Lock Mirror back to Earth where Sunset had spent more than half her long life. It had been an exciting and eventful vacation getaway. Fun was had, unforgettable memories were made, they even secured a robotic body for Sunset’s artificial intelligence powered phone she named Raven. However, part of that 'fun' was why Sunset felt this briefing needed to occur.
Regret was not something Sunset experienced often. At least not in Equestria, thankfully. But as a human on Earth, she had done many things that fell into the category of ‘regret’. One particular thing, that at the time had been fun and informative, now weighed heavily upon her mind and needed to be dealt with in the open since said vacation trip had ended with Sunset proposing marriage to her fellow princess, Twilight Sparkle. At least that was something she did not regret.
“I did try to warn you.”
Sunset shook her head and glanced over at Raven, whose robot body was hidden behind a powerful illusion where she appeared as a cream colored earth pony with a chestnut brown mane wig that was currently neatly pinned up. Sunset smiled serenely at Raven and nodded. “I know you did, but I was not thinking straight at the time and after talking to you about this last week I agreed that if I am going to marry this amazing mare, I need to come clean to her about everything. Even the stupid shit I have pulled. I mean, I’m pretty sure I know how she is going to take it, but… one can never be a hundred percent sure.”
“As I asked last week, do you love her?”
“Without a doubt or hesitation. I love her.”
“Then hold to that and explain your actions, your reasons, and why you feel this needs to be said. The rest will be up to her.”
Before Sunset could comment, the door to the royal chambers opened and Twilight Sparkle walked in. She smiled brightly at Sunset, only to arch a brow questionably at Sunset’s timidness and rare inward turning body language. She had assumed that her fiancé had wanted to push for this short notice meeting in their shared chambers for something fun and possibly risqué. She had even asked her assistant, Isabella Windsong to go ahead and begin to prepare for the next work meeting so as to sneak away. However, seeing Raven made Twilight question the nature of this calling.
“Oh, so, this is a REAL meeting not a *ahem* quicky. Um… I can message Isa and call her back.”
“No!” Sunset shook her head quickly. “No, that's not necessary. Raven will be on her way to assist Isabella as soon as…” Both princesses turned to the sound of an armored hoof knocking on the door. Twilight opened the chamber door with her magic and was not surprised but only more confused to find her solar captain, Tempest Fury, in the doorway. What she had not expected to see was Tempest’s husband, the lunar captain, Fog Gauge, right behind her. Twilight had questions. Several of them.
“Gauge? Shouldn’t you be resting before your shift?”
“I was summoned, by my princess.”
Tempest nodded and glared at Sunset. “As was I. Schedules are important and no matter what the bat ponies tell you, they need sleep too. What is this all about, Shimmer?”
If it had been anyone else, such disregard of title would have been seen as a punishable insult of the highest order. However, Sunset and Tempest had that kind of friendly, occasionally confrontational, relationship. It was one of the reasons why this subject had not been brought up and why they were in the most secure room in the entire castle if not all of Canterlot.
Sunset sighed and turned back to Raven, gesturing to the door. “I will not be far. Clear the air, make this right. And if need be, talk with me later before you hit the bottle, agreed?”
Sunset nodded. “Yes, agreed.” The door closed. The three remaining ponies turned back to the goldenrod alicorn who then used her magic to seal the room. “Soooooo... I have something I need to tell you, Twilight. A… small confession, but one that I really need to be honest about. It's been eating away at me and it's important that I get it out there.”
Twilight arched a brow for a moment, sat back on her haunches and gestured. She schooled her emotions and held her tongue on what that could possibly mean, keeping her the rest of her expression as neutral as possible just like she would in court dealing with petitioners and nobles.
“Right,” Sunset began, glancing to Tempest and Gauge. It was the first time since returning from their vacation that the four of them had been in a room together. Sunset knew time was limited and just jumped right in.
“Sunny?”
“While we were on the other side of the portal I touched Fog Gauge. Intimately.”
Twilight blinked a few times. That statement could mean any number of things. Not counting the incalculable number of subtexts that often were unwritten. More data was required. “Could you elaborate?”
Sunset once again glanced to Fog Gauge, who said nothing and remained still. Then to Tempest, who gestured with her hoof for the princess to continue. Sunset, felt her cheeks flush like a filly caught investigating her own bits for the first time. “Um… first off, I can explain most of my behavior as me just being me, but also part of it was the human monkey hormones that run rampant when we are on the other side. I spent years, decades there learning to control them, but sometimes they just override logical thought in the moment.”
“I understand. I’ve felt it too and remember becoming infatuated with Flash Sentry after only just meeting him. Which was both exciting and scary now that I recall. Wait, so when you say touched intimately, do you mean that you had sex with Captain Gauge?”
“NO! No, nonono. I assure you we, er, I did not go that far.”
“You can say we, my princess,” said Gauge, quietly. “I was doing what you asked, but also what my own body desired. I will accept my share of the blame if we are bringing this event to light.”
It was Twilight’s turn to glance to the two captains. She noted that Tempest did not seem surprised or upset by the comment in the slightest. That pointed towards that only Twilight had been in the dark about this particular occurrence. “Sunset Shimmer, just spill it. I’m getting all kinds of horrible ideas in my head so just, you know, paint me a picture for me.”
Sunset slumped and turned her head to the ceiling. Then, with an exasperated sigh, said rapidly, “Gauge woke me up early on the second morning with an important question and before my brain was fully functional, I noticed that we were both in the bathroom, completely naked. I had a sudden desire to measure the size of his dick because I was curious and then played with it a little bit before teasingly grinding my wet vag on his shaft until I stopped, but there was no penetration! I regained some sense of control, pushed back from him, and finished myself off with my hand before shoving the juice covered fingers into his mouth so he could taste me and lick them clean... Wow, that sounds really lewd out loud.”
Twilight blinked a few times. Then, once again glanced to Tempest to see if her captain had any sort of reaction. A simple, possibly sour distaste expression crossed her face before returning to neutral. Twilight shifted so that she too was sitting more comfortably before finally tapping her chin in contemplation. “You measured his… dick? I assume that is his stallionhood. I’m sure I’ve heard others call it that before.”
“There are like a thousand different names for it. Most of them more terrible than the one before. I could compile you a list if you like?”
Sunset had said the remark with a smirk and a playful, toothy smile, but Twilight was not going to give in so easily to that smile she loved even with the promise of a new compiled list to read. Oh no, her fiancé was not getting out of this predicament that she dug herself in. Not without more explanation beyond, “stupid human hormones.” However, when Twilight glanced to Captain Gauge, her eyes inadvertently started to wander down his armored covered body and she had to forcibly avert her gaze before it continued farther south than what was appropriate in the company of others. Twilight was once again reminded that the bat pony was more than just an exceptional guard. He was an exceptionally handsome and fit stallion as well.
Focus, Twilight!
“I would like to see that list some time, but right now I would really like a better understanding as to why you did this at all? How did it come to touching his…”
“Shaft?”
“Yes.”
“Shlong?”
“Sunny.”
“Pleasure rod?”
“Sunset,” Twilight said with a warning tone and narrowed eyes.
“Seriously, now you are just making this weird,” grumbled Tempest.
Sunset shrugged. “Like I said, I’ve got a whole list. Anyhow, it all came about because Fog knew he wanted to spend some intimate time with his wife and was unsure if the changes that were made by the mirror to his body were normal. I assured him they were and… well… I let my curiosity get the better of me and I went too far. I’m sorry. Let me go ahead and get that out of the way first.”
Twilight grimaced and tapped her chin. She then turned to her captain, who still did not seem near as upset as one would have expected from a married mare. Further investigation was required. “Tempest?”
“Yes, Twilight?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you not more upset about all of this? Another mare touched your husband's... naughty bits.”
Captain Tempest Fury removed her helmet and set it on the hook build into the side of her armor. She next took a moment brush out and fluff her pink and white mane that was styled primarily to the right of her horn on top and short along the back of her neck. Finally, the stout unicorn turned her jade eyes to Sunset Shimmer, then to her husband, and lastly to Twilight Sparkle. “I know I touched on this briefly before, but I think an example might help you better understand, Your Highness. Captain, Gauge?”
“Yes, Captain Fury?”
“Please state for the princess the order of your unquestionable loyalty.”
Gauge straightened to full parade attention, eyes forward, wings snapped rigidly to his sides. “As a thestral Lunar Guard my loyalty to the Princesses of Equestria is unwavering and without question. The princesses always come first. I accept their clear wishes and orders without hesitation or compromise. Next, I am loyal to my Mistress of the Night, Luna, Goddess of the Moon, Mother to all those who live by the cover of darkness. My brothers and sisters of the night. Our mistress selected us for her guard and put us through rigorous trials and training. We were reborn through ritual magic, reforged into bat ponies. We live to serve. I would then place my next loyalty to the chain of command, which for me is fortunate that she is my equal in rank and my wife.”
“And which princess do you place above all the others?” Tempest continued.
Gauge took a moment to bow to Sunset. “She who sits up the lunar throne and is the current keeper of the moon. Princess Sunset Shimmer.”
“Well, that makes sense,” commented Twilight. “He is her captain.”
Tempest smirked but then schooled her expression back to hardened professional. “And if your princess ordered you stand at attention and to allow her measure your stallionhood to satisfy her curiosity, would you do so?”
“Yes.”
All the eyes turned to Sunset. The goldenrod alicorn rolled her eyes and shrugged. “I didn’t word it like that exactly. He just took my comment AS and order.”
Tempest continued without skipping a beat. “And if she ordered you to pleasure her and penetrate her and breed her, would you do it?”
Twilight’s jaw hung open and Sunset’s eyes went wide, her wings nearly snapping all the way out, but she held them in check if only just barely. “Say WHAT?”
“H-Hold on,” Sunset stammered, “I-I didn't s-say that… I would never-”
“Yes,” Gauge interrupted. His only reaction to the question was to glance back and forth at the three mares. “However, I would feel guilty afterwards and confess said orders to you, my wife, so that you would understand why I committed such a deed.”
Tempest smiled and gestured with a hoof. “And that’s why I’m not terribly upset. Because he was following orders as any good solider does and it could have been far more. Sunset is a princess. More so, she is HIS princess and if she so wanted to, she could have him do whatever she wanted. And not just with Fog Gauge. All the bat ponies are like this, in case you did not know that. That is her right by rank and station. But even temporarily blinded by lust, she didn’t do that. Now on the other hoof, just to make things clear, if she were still just ‘Lady Shimmer’ the mysterious wandering daughter of Celestia with no rank, title, or crown like any other noble and had fooled around with my husband through magic or manipulation, you can bet a shiny new bit I would have smashed her upside the head and taught her a lesson about boundaries. Alicorn or not.”
“So,” Twilight began after several seconds of consideration. “Sunset and Gauge found themselves in the bathroom one morning and you both touched and inspected each other’s genitalia. There was some mild sexual contact, but nothing serious and he reported all of this in detail to you, his wife.”
“Yes,” Tempest said.
“And you felt guilty about it since WE are in a relationship and you were planning to propose to me,” Twilight continued, her hoof moving to the engagement stone that was in her left ear.
“Yes,” said Sunset, her own engagement stone hidden under her turned and flattened ears, head bowed slightly.
Twilight sighed. She made several more faces that Sunset would have laughed at, but fought it down given the circumstances. Finally, after nearly a minute of contemplation, Twilight nodded. “Tempest, would you and Sunset please step out in the hall? I would like a moment with Captain Gauge to clarify a few things.”
The other two mares exchanged glances but then nodded and did as Twilight asked. Tempest returned her helmet to her head and followed Sunset out before slowly closing the door. The magic dampening seals immediately snapped back into place. It was as strong was before and if Twilight was currently screaming at Captain Gauge or blowing him to tiny bits they would not be able to hear a peep of it. Or smell it for that matter. Twilight Sparkle rarely ever did anything in half measure.
“Soooooo, this could be bad.”
Tempest glanced over to Sunset and, much to the princess’s surprise, she simply shrugged in a manner that her husband was famous for. “Don’t get yourself worked up. I think it will be fine. Twilight is probably just cross referencing the story and processing the information. It will likely end with her thanking him for his honesty and asking him to not to ever do that again, which is useless since that was the entire point of my list the loyalty speech. But bad? Nah. That big purple mare loves you too much and I know you love her.”
Sunset let out a relieved breath and smiled genuinely. “Thanks. I think I really needed to hear that right now.”
Tempest nodded. “Though if I’m allowed to be frank for the moment. Just between the two of us, no crowns or stripes, I would appreciate if this never happened again. Neither of us need this kind of complication in our lives.”
Sunset nodded. “Yeah. I’ve done some dumb things in my time when I let my other senses get the better of me, but this one could have broken some relationships and that is just not acceptable.”
“Good. Glad we have an understanding.”
Sunset side eyed the solar captain, a smirk creeping across her face. “He is so freaking loaded though. I can’t believe you can handle him like you do. I’d love to hear your secret.”
Tempest groaned and shook her head. “Annnnnd you had to go and make it weird again.”
* * * * *
Captain Gauge was not sure what else needed to be said on the matter, but would gladly answer any questions Twilight Sparkle had for him if it meant putting this all to rest. The brownish gray bat pony stood at attention while the purple alicorn paced back and forth through the lounge space. Finally, after a full minute of pacing, Twilight came to a stop and turned to him.
“Should I be upset by this? I think I should. But, for some weird reason, I’m not and that in of itself is upsetting!”
Gauge simply blinked his eyes while Twilight once again resumed her pacing.
“I knew what I was getting into when I pressed for this relationship. I made the first move. Did you know that? I did, yes I did… at least, mostly. It was still mutual, but she never would have made the first move. Still, I have known Sunset Shimmer for a long time and I knew she was a bit wild and adventurous. She has never been afraid to try something new. I, on the other hoof always feel I need to analyze the variables from every perspective. But am I overthinking all of this? Not thinking about it enough from all the angles perhaps? Did I miss some crucial data? There is just so much to consider!”
“May I speak freely, Your Highness?”
“Oh, please do! I am in need of frankness I think.”
Gauge removed his helmet and set it to his side. He cleared his throat and then smiled brightly, golden yellow eyes seeming to glow in the low light. “Princess, your fiancé is one of the most amazing ponies, nay, one of the most amazing beings I have ever had the pleasure to meet. She is a goddess. And like gods from myth and fable they are difficult to predict, difficult to stop, and most certainly, difficult to fathom. You, Twilight, have an advantage on all these fronts over mortals such as myself. You are a goddess as well, in body and spirit. You need not examine all the variables save for one. Are you willing to test your resolve against such a powerful storm of a being that is Sunset Shimmer? For if there is one other in this world that can step into such passionate flames and calm it, it is you.”
Twilight blinked several times, finally tapping her chin and arching a brow exclaiming, “Well, thank you for such eloquent words, but how does that help me decide how to handle this situation?”
Gauge rolled his eyes before stepping closer to Twilight. “Remember, you are a Princess of Equestria too. You stand neither above nor below Princess Sunset Shimmer. Prove to her and to yourself that whatever she can do you can do as well and that together you can both do anything, including cooling those wild flames and keep each other in line.”
Twilight considered the words. “Equal?”
“Without question.”
“So…” Twilight’s gleaming purple eyes took on a mischievous glint as her smile became quirky, “if I asked you to show me what you and Sunset did on vacation and thus recreate the scenario, you would?”
Gauge paused for just a moment before he saluted and bowed his head. “If that is the wish of the princess, then yes. However, are you certain you wish to recreate it… exactly?”
Twilight lit her horn and all the straps and buckles on the bat pony’s armor came loose. A surprised gasp escaped his lips when he felt telekinetic magic in a place on his body he was not expecting. Gauge’s entire body stiffened to attention.
“Tell me how it started, captain, and do not miss a single detail. I am very detail oriented and I want to see it all.”
“O-Of course, princess. It’s just that…”
“Equal? Right?”
“Y-Yes, princess. After a brief discussion about our... human bodies, Princess Sunset said she wanted to check… something.” Gauge could feel the magical sensations growing in intensity, stroking, as it were. He kept his eyes on the princess and continued. “T-That there was something… she had to check, t-to know for certain.”
“Mmmhmm. And what did she want to check?”
Gauge shuddered from what he was feeling below as well as from the unflinching gaze of the alicorn before him.
* * * * *
Sunset tapped a beat onto the stone. Tempest stood and waited patiently with only the barest of shifting movement. A guard was trained to stand still for hours and even as captain she still considered herself one of the guard. The guard captain was certain that unless it were a matter of life or death that the Lunar Princess was incapable of sitting still. Tempest laughed to herself. Sometimes it was hardly believable that the goldenrod alicorn was more than a century old. She certainly did not act like it sometimes. Tempest briefly wondered if Celestia had been the same way when she was still wearing a crown. She had only known the sun goddess in her later years in retirement and even then not well.
“Doesn’t this strike you as taking a bit too long for a one-on-one conversation?”
Tempest gave Sunset her best glaring side eye. “We both know Twilight demands details.”
“Yeeeeah, but about this?”
“If it makes you uncomfortable maybe next time keep your curious, grabby hooves to yourself.”
Sunset was about to further retort when the door opened and Captain Gauge quickly exited. He bowed politely to Sunset and said, “If there is nothing else I wish to return home and rest until my shift begins this evening.”
Sunset blinked a few times before her brain restarted and interpreted that he was asking his princess for orders in her official capacity. “Oh, right. Yes, captain, you are dismissed.”
Gauge bowed again and quickly turned to Tempest Fury, pausing for a moment to stare intensely into her eyes before whispering, “Come home early before I start.”
Sunset arched a brow and flicked an ear. She was probably not supposed to hear that, but the quiet of the hall and her sensitivity made it easy. However, what she found more interesting was Tempest Fury’s reaction. Her lips parted slightly and her jade eyes were shining and wide. There was even just the slightest hint of flush redness to her cheeks that could only just barely be seen under her helm. Tempest spied Sunset’s gaze and turned away.
“Welllllll…” Sunset and Tempest both turned to the purple alicorn who was standing in the doorway, her crown slightly askew, an erratic wave to her flowing mane, and an unmistakable scent of sweat and arousal about her. “That was… informative.”
“Uhhh, Twily? You okay there? Got everything you need?”
“Need? No. But I learned a few things,” Twilight practically purred with a lopsided smile.
Sunset glanced to Tempest who was maintaining her stoic composure. Once again reminding the goldenrod alicorn to never play card games with her. “So, are you and I good? No issues moving forward? I mean, I can apologize again and again if you like. I can promise this will not happen again.”
Twilight continued to smile. “I know. I love you and I trust you. I can see the whole picture now and everything is fine with you and I moving forward from this. Perhaps in the future if you are feeling you need to ‘liven things up’ or whatever just keep me in the loop. We are going to be both married and ruling together. Right? Equal partnership.”
Sunset nodded eagerly, a grin spreading across her face. “Absolutely. No secrets or going behind the back on impulse. All out in the open.”
Twilight beamed. “Good.” The purple alicorn leaned over and kissed her fiancé on the cheek. “And as far as this story goes, we’re even.”
Sunset pondered the words for a moment, putting all the pieces together. Teal eyes went wide before she finally barked out a laugh. “Seriously?!”
Tempest groaned and shook her head before returning to parade rest position. “Ugh. You are both terrible, I mean that. Congrats, you’re made for one another.”
Twilight paused and glanced to her left at the solar captain with half lidded eyes. “Tempest,” the vermilion unicorn paused her movement, “go home and assist your husband. Now.”
“Uh, I mean there are still a number of things I still need to t-”
“That’s an order. I will be fine. I have other things I need to take care of. Raven and Isabella can deal with my schedule changes for a few hours.”
“I guess that means I should probably head off as well.”
Sunset felt her hooves glue to the floor. An impressive feat of magic considering her hoofguards were made of magic resistant ferronite, but then this was Twilight Sparkle. The Solar Princess and Element of Magic was capable of almost anything she put her mind to. Sunset felt both her excitement and anxiety spike simultaneously like only Twilight could do.
“Sunset?”
“Yes?”
“Is there somewhere you need to be?”
“Well, I’m not really tired so I figured I would just go do some art or work on music in my other room until this afternoon.”
Twilight grinned. “The answer you meant to say was, ‘no, I’m free and I’m all yours. Have your way with me'.”
Without waiting for further reaction or response Sunset felt herself being dragged back into the royal chambers and the door sealed behind soundproof magic.
