> Gift of the Goddess
>  by Medievalman
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter One - An Amorous Curiosity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“No distractions.”

Magical energy enveloped a nearby pair of curtains, forcing them closed and casting the upper room of the Golden Oaks Library into darkness.

“Today is too important.”

A trio of candles perched upon a reading desk magically lit themselves one by one, each spark dancing to the wicks of other candles placed around the room. Light shined slowly into the room, revealing a purple unicorn standing at its center with a small paperback book in her telekinetic grip. She walked carefully to the desk, scanning the room in all directions for any intruders.

“Much too important...” The unicorn mare sat at her desk and placed the book on top of its surface. She caressed the cover with her hoof, gradually moving towards its side and flicking it open to a well remembered page. She smiled and her eyes lost themselves in its paragraphs...

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...The last of the sun’s dying rays shone through the windows attached to the storefront property as Evening Shine finished up locking down her flower shop for the night. A long day of tedious pruning of the various flowers around the shop left her fairly exhausted, especially when contending with the demands of an especially rude customer not half an hour before closing time. Her complaints still rang in Evening’s ears, every little detail pointed out as a flaw in an arrangement that simply had to be just perfect, or else. It was enough to sour Evening’s mood for the rest of the day. Just be glad you don’t have to deal with her again, she mused.


Evening Shine trotted to the front windows, bringing up a foreleg to shield her eyes from the blinding light. She closed the blinds perched in front of the storefront windows, shutting out the fading light. She turned once again toward the interior of the flower shop and trotted up to the service counter. She untied the apron around her waist and lifted the collar from her head, finally setting it down on the surface in front of her.


The greeting bell above the entrance to the shop sang its welcome ring. Evening Shine shot a glance at the clock above the counter. 5:56 pm. She groaned at the prospect of helping another customer over heading home. Although business had become a lot slower during winter months, she just didn’t want to deal with anypony else.


Evening sighed and shut her eyes in exhaustion. “Welcome to Sunny Flowers, where all your floral needs are simple and easy. Unfortunately, we’re closing down after a very long day and cannot assist you at this time.” 


The intruder shuffled in place for a moment. “Not even for me?”


Evening’s eyes shot open as she whirled around in place. Standing in the doorway was that green earth pony mare she knew all too well. Her deep green eyes met with Evening’s own, filled with longing and sadness. 


Evening Shine felt her heart skip a beat. “Ranch?! W-what are you doing here?” 


Ranch took a step forward, her coat glistening in the sunset. “I... I wanted to see you.”


“B-but your father, he said...”


Ranch stamped her hoof onto the tiled floor, cracking it slightly. “I don’t care what he says! I’m not going to marry that stallion! I want to choose for myself who I want to be with. I-I want you.” 


Evening Shine felt her cheeks heat up and turned back towards the counter in embarrassment. Tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes, struggling to cascade down her magenta coat. Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! She actually wants... wants... 


Ranch advanced toward her lover and set her fore hoof onto Evening. “Evening...”


“He’ll track us down you know,” Evening Shine stated, desperately trying to fight back the sobs. “He’ll scour all of Equestria if he has to. And when, w-when he finds us...” 


Ranch grabbed her by the shoulders and spun Evening around to face her. “He won’t find us! I will never let him take you away or tear us apart. I swear, I will never let you go.”


Evening Shine stared into her lover’s eyes, drinking in the determination that she so clearly lacked. She’s serious. She’ll fight tooth and nail for... for... “Promise?”


“I promise,” said Ranch with a smile. 


Without another word the two mares locked muzzles together in a long embrace. The rays of sunlight receded from the walls of the shop and washed over the two lovers, bathing them in mild darkness. The kiss lasted a minute longer until Evening retreated from her lover’s face.


Evening slowly opened her bedroom eyes. “So, does this mean, we’re together now?” 


“As sure as a marriage itself,” Ranch replied, brushing Evening’s mane back with her hoof. “In fact, why not make it official?” She brought her muzzle close to Evening’s ear. “Right... now...”


Ranch kissed Evening Shine on the neck and began to gradually peck her way down her body. Evening’s blush became even more intense. 


Oh! Oh! This is it! The moment I’ve been waiting for! All this time, all this work, has finally come to this. Very. Moment! 


Evening Shine leaned back against the counter and moaned as Ranch continued her descent. She closed her eyes, impatiently waiting for the wave of euphoria that was soon to come.This is it! I can’t wait! I just can’t—


“Uh, Twilight?”


Evening Shine’s eyes shot open and swifty glared down at the source of the new voice. Ranch was staring her square in the face with a confused expression on her own. She opened her mouth to speak, but the voice that left it was not her own.


“Twilight? Helloooooo?”

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Twilight gasped and whirled around in her seat, catching Spike’s puzzled look. She slammed her reading material shut, careful to bookmark it first with a well placed hoof. “Spike! W-what are you doing here!?”

Spike eyed her cautiously, contemplating what to say. “Uh, you okay Twi?” 

“Uh, yep! Yes! Never been better!” Twilight replied with a nervous chuckle.  Her eyes darted back and forth around the room, searching for anything that could distract her mind from the embarrassment she was enduring.

Spike focused his eyes on Twilight’s face. “Right, what's the deal with...” He waved a claw in front of his face.

Twilight’s blush grew even hotter, her mind struggling to find words. “I-uh, well it's just really... hot! Yes, it's really hot in here.” She half-heartedly chuckled and put on her best smile.  “Maybe you should open a window Spike.” 

“Hot?” Spike asked, looking around the room and testing the air with a wave of his arm. “Feels ok to me.”

“That’s because you are naturally cold blooded Spike. As a dragon, you wouldn’t notice the temperature the way a pony would,” Twilight replied, allowing her academic mind to distract her from her emotions.

Spike opened his mouth to protest, but the argument died in his throat as he mulled over her words. “I guess...”

Twilight smiled at her victory, the awkward line of questioning successfully subverted. “Now, what was it you needed to tell me, my number one assistant?”

Spike snapped himself out of his thoughtful trance. “Oh, right! Rarity is here to see you. She's down in the lobby waiting.”

“What does she want?” 

Spike crossed his arms, recalling the conversation. “Uh, something about some books to donate to the library. She said that you would love them.”

“Alright then. Tell her that I’ll—” Twilight glanced back at her hoof still bookmarking her progress. “—be down in a minute.” 

Spike rolled his eyes and left the doorway, quietly mumbling something about crazy literature obsessions. Twilight, however, failed to hear him despite the fact she was craning her neck to verify that he had left. 

As soon as Spike was out of earshot, Twilight let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and allowed the heat to vent from her face. She looked down at her read. The glitter adorning the title of Hearts in Bloom sparkled in the candlelight, begging the unicorn to continue.

Twilight retrieved a small sheet of purple paper and fashioned it into a rudimentary bookmark, marking her place before setting it back onto her bookshelf. 

“I’ll see you later,” she said before turning toward the open door and proceeding out of the room. 

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Twilight descended down the staircase from her room and into the main auditorium of her library. Inside, Spike was busy unloading the burden of boxes that Rarity had brought. Rarity, on the other hand, was closely examining the bust of a stallion perched on top of the table, staring at it with dreamy eyes. 

“Good afternoon, Rarity,” greeted Twilight with a smile.

Rarity spun around to face her friend. “Twilight, darling! I sincerely hope I wasn't interrupting anything.”

Twilight forced herself to continue smiling. “Of course not, I've always got time for my friends.” 

“Well, I’m glad to hear it," Rarity said, returned the smile. "Because I have something just for you!” 

Rarity craned her neck backwards into her saddlebag and pulled out a fairly worn paperback book. “I was doing a bit of spring cleaning around the boutique and noticed a lot of old reading material that was simply collecting too much dust for my liking. I was going to simply toss them out but thought that you might want them for your library.”

Rarity gracefully used her magic to levitate the book towards Twilight, who promptly took it within her own. She studied the cover, a large red stallion dominating the center, complete with bulging muscles and a rose clenched in between pearl white teeth, cradling a very curvy white alicorn mare in his strong forelegs. The two were perched above a ruined castle, the flowery novel title carved into the stone behind them.

Spike peeked over Twilight's shoulder and took in the book’s features for himself. After a moment, he couldn't stand it any longer and let out an audible gag. Twilight turned and glared back at him. Spike merely waved a dismissive claw and rolled his eyes, promptly jumping off Twilight’s back.

Twilight sighed and turned back to Rarity with a weak smile. “Sorry.”

Rarity giggled. “It's quite alright Twilight, I would not think for a moment dear Spikey-wikey would be interested in such things.” She lowered her face to Spike’s height. “What with him being such a little boy and all.”

“Hey!” Spike yelped in protest. “I’m just not into all that touchy-feely junk. It's just all—” He struggled to find the words to describe it. “—bleg.” 

“Don’t be so sure Spike,” Twilight said. “When you’re older, you might just like to express all sorts of ‘touchy-feely junk’.”

Rarity stifled a laugh. “Ah yes, I can see it now. Spike, little Casanova and hopeless romantic!” 

The two mares burst into laughter as Spike grunted and proceeded to march out of the main room and into the kitchen, mumbling under his breath the whole way. “Mares,” he muttered as he slammed the door behind him.

The two mares allowed their laughter to die down, Twilight resting her eyes back onto the book still floating in front of her. Her smile sank into a frown as she continued to stare at it. “It's really thoughtful for you—”

“You like it, darling?” Rarity interrupted, jarring Twilight out of her sentence. “I simply didn't want such precious works of art to go to waste and your library would make such a lovely home for them.” She levitated her cargo of boxes into the air and gently placed them in between the two mares, opening the lid as it was set down. Inside were stacks of paperback novels, all slightly worn despite years of use. Twilight counted the number of books quickly in her head. 

“This is very generous of you Rarity, but—” Twilight grabbed one of the novels within her telekinetic grab. “— aren't these from your, erm, personal collection?”

“Oh... why yes they—” 

“And this box holds your entire collection, all forty-two of them! Why are you giving all of these to me?” 

Rarity shifted in place and pawed at the floor. “W-well I just thought, since you borrowed one from me, you would like to, uh, have the rest of them!”

Twilight raised an eyebrow and gave Rarity a rather stern look. Rarity widened her smile, but Twilight continued her speechless assault. Rarity’s eyes darted back and forth, desperately seeking a distraction. Finally, Rarity let out a sigh. “Alright, Twilight, if you must know. Something wonderful happened recently that has caused me to simply no longer have any need for such stories.” 

Rarity scanned the room one last time and inched closer to Twilight, motioning with her hoof to hear her secret message. “I didn't want to say anything in front of Spike but...” Rarity bit her lip and brought her muzzle right up to Twilight’s ear. “I have a new colt friend!” 

Rarity squealed in delight as Twilight’s jaw dropped, the white unicorn bounding up and down like an excited school filly. Twilight watched her friend giggle uncontrollably until finally she shook away her shock. 

“W-when did this happen?” Twilight demanded in a hushed tone.

Rarity ceased her bouncing and looked back towards her friend. “Why, it was just another boring day, three days ago to be exact, when the most handsome hunk of a stallion comes striding into my boutique, inquiring about my latest creations. He was simply marvelous, darling, a coat shining of the finest crimson, golden mane wild yet light as a feather, muscles toned to perfection, and a smile—” Rarity closed her eyes, painting her dreamy visage before recounting it. “—that words simply cannot do it justice.”

Twilight pondered over her friend’s words, and furrowed her brow in thought. “Wait, you don't mean... um, Big Mac?”

Rarity’s eyes shot open in horror, but quickly regained her composure and gave a quick laugh. “Eh, no, Twilight, not Big Macintosh. This stallion was much more, shall we say... refined.” She reached once more into her saddlebag with her magic, pulling out a small picture and handing it to Twilight. “As you can clearly see, my dear, he’s very much the epitome of masculinity.” 

Twilight gazed upon the photo and saw that Rarity wasn’t kidding. The photo was of professional quality, its perfect lighting showing off the stallion’s very chiseled features. His yellow mane blew to the one side with his coat following suit, his muscular body posed in triumph. A rose clenched firmly between sparkly white teeth under deep blue bedroom eyes.

Twilight widened her eyes, her mouth following suit. “Wow, he’s really—”

“Dreamy? Handsome? Sexy?!” Rarity exclaimed.

“—familiar,” Twilight finished.

Rarity’s eyes widened. “You've met him before?! Why did you not tell me about him?!”

“What? Wait, no! I’ve never—”

Twilight's protest floundered as Rarity suddenly clung heavily to her neck. “Oh that’s just like you Twilight!! First it's your big brother and now this?! At least your brother was already taken when I heard about him b-b-but this?! This one might have gotten away!! How could you do this to me, Twilight, how could you—”

“Rarity!!” Twilight shouted, silencing her friend’s ranting. “I’ve never seen this pony in my life! I just said he looks familiar, that’s it. I don’t know anything more about this... very, very handsome stallion.”

“Oh,” Rarity said, placing a hoof on her chest before letting out a sigh. “I’m sorry, Twilight. It seems I may have gotten a bit carried away.”

“A bit?” 

“Okay, a lot.” Rarity blushed and tossed her hair back with a hoof. “I guess it doesn’t really matter now, because he asked me out! Now he’s all mine!” 

“Well, I’m happy for you Rarity,” Twilight replied, setting the photo down on the table.

“Thank you, Twilight,” said Rarity. The white unicorn began trotting happily to the door, eyes slipping once again into a dreamy glaze. “Oh, this will be a most wonderful evening. A romantic date with the stallion of my dreams.”

“By the way, Rarity...” Twilight said as Rarity reached the main library door. 

Rarity spun back around to face her friend, her eyes only half lidded. “Hmm, yes?”

“You never mentioned his name,” Twilight said with a smirk.

Rarity continued to open the door with her magic and proceeded to make her exit, but not before swinging back around halfway through the door, flashing a wicked grin. “Did I? Well I’ll tell you, Twilight.” She began to slowly close the door behind her as she spoke. “His name is, Long. Member.”

Twilight took a moment to close her jaw once again as Rarity stepped graciously out the door. That name could mean a lot of things, Twilight thought to herself. Perhaps he has been inducted into a model club for some time now... Yes that's it...

Twilight turned back to the table and eyed the new collection of books that had been given to her. She carefully extracted each book one by one out of the boxes and carefully laid each one on top of the center table. Unsurprisingly, every single book was some form of romance novel, all paperback and slightly worn from use. Many featured pairs of ponies in various locations all staring lovingly into each other’s eyes. 

Eventually, Twilight’s eyes were met once again by the photo Rarity had provided for her of the handsome stallion. Twilight cocked an eyebrow and snapped her attention to the novel beside it. Now she remembered why he seemed so familiar.

The resemblance was unmistakable.

The creak of an opening door snapped Twilight out of her thoughts. She looked up to meet Spike’s inquisitive gaze, happily munching on a bowl of assorted opals and quartz. She was a bit annoyed that Spike would invade his after dinner snack at this hour, but was relieved to see him in a better mood.

Spike gulped down a handful of gems and looked around. “Where’d Rarity go?”

“Oh, she left already. She had a—” Twilight stopped mid-sentence and dropped her gaze down to the photo of Long Member on the table. “—a-an appointment. To place an order! For dresses.” She flashed Spike a wide smile.

Spike shrugged and swallowed down another handful of gems. “So, what was in the box?”

Twilight peered into the box Rarity left behind. “Well, Rarity thought it would benefit the library to have an assortment of fictional novels from her personal collection,” Twilight said, stacking the novels into neat towers.

Spike rolled his eyes and grabbed another clawful of gems. “Ugh, I hope they’re not all those ‘kissy-smoochy-lovey-dovey’-type stories.” 

Twilight giggled to herself. Spike froze before eating his gems and turned to face Twilight. “They all are, aren’t they?”

“Yup! And guess who gets to shelve and catalogue all of them!” Twilight winked at her ill-fated worker. 

Spike groaned and set his bowl of gems on the table. With practiced care, he took a stack of novels from the table and walked over to the desk on the other side of the room. Once there, he set the books down, grabbed a quill and parchment and prepared himself to risk his lunch for the sake of record keeping. He took the first novel on the stack and, with only one look at the title, shuddered.

“And that's why you’re my number one assistant, Spike!” Twilight chirped.

“Yeah, yeah,” Spike replied. “So, are these for stock or circulation?”

Twilight pondered the question for a moment. There were a few titles that seemed interesting but...  “Circulation,” she concluded. “I don’t think I’ll be keeping them around. I mean, none of these stories hold a candle to Equestrian Theories of Thermodynamic Law.”

“Are you sure?” Spike asked, whirling around in his seat.

“What do you mean, Spike?”  

Spike leaned back in his seat and searched the ceiling for a reply. “Well... I mean, what if somepony asks you a question? Like, what would be a good romance story?”

Twilight laughed and waved a dismissive hoof in front of her. “Oh, Spike, why would you be worried about that?”

Spike frowned. “Well, no offence Twilight, but you have never had a coltfriend or, heck, even been in love, at least as far as I know, which is, uh... well all my life.”

Twilight’s smug face devolved into a scowl. “What?! I know a lot about romance! It's, uh—” She brought an apprehensive hoof to her chin as she thought hard for a response. “—i-it's when two ponies love each other, and, a-and, they are, together! See?” Twilight flashed him a victorious smile.

Spike rolled his eyes and turned back to his work. “Whatever you say, Twilight.”

As Spike’s attention returned to his work, Twilight’s triumphant smile began to fade. She shifted in place and traced the floor with a slow hoof. H-he’s right...  I don’t know the first thing about being in love... 

She turned toward the bookshelf to her left, eyeing the photographs that sat in frames on top. She approached the most recent addition, the group photo of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance at their wedding together along with Twilight and all of her friends. Well, if my BBBFF could somehow stumble into a relationship, I suppose it's not that hard...

She smiled and set the picture back where it was. She then began to scan the rest of the photos, each one bringing back old memories of good times with friends. The more Twilight saw, however, the closer she began to see the root of the problem. It’s just difficult to develop one when...

She picked up the last photo in line and held it aloft in front of her. It was taken the day of the Summer Sun Celebration, after the whole Nightmare Moon debacle. In it, she sat with her friends, as per usual, along with the Royal Sisters. When you’re always among friends...

Just friends...

Twilight sighed, set the picture back onto the shelf and paced back toward the table. How am I supposed to know about romance when I never have the opportunity? Friendship has shown me that life outside of study and duty are important, but what about beyond that? What, do I have to date my friends now? 

Twilight shook her head and dispelled the notion with a grimace. The thought of being entangled in a mess of manes and legs with any of those mares sent a chill down her spine. Especially in public, or even alone in a room, or in a bed... with all five of them... at the same time...

Twilight groaned audibly and slammed her head into the table. Spike whirled around to check on the disturbance, but upon seeing Twilight still breathing simply shrugged and returned to his task at hand. Despite her now slightly blurred vision and a now throbbing forehead, her quick actions had the desired effect. 

She slowly brought her head back up, resting her chin on the table and coming face to face again with Rarity’s collection.  She scanned each one until at last settling on the novel Rarity had shown her, the familiar stallion still cradling the white alicorn. Twilight eye’d the alicorn closely. 

She looks just like the Princess, Twilight thought. She smiled and closed her eyes. Well, if any mare could have the stallion of her dreams, Princess Celestia would be the one...

Twilight imagined a castle rooftop, spacious and grand. She pictured the sun goddess herself veiled in regal adornment, artfully dancing across the stone floor. The wind carried both her flowing mane and dress, the elegant movements of the white dancer caressing its currents. Blissfully she danced, danced until the wind died down all around her. 

Turning to her partner, the white mare smiled. Twilight smiled back.

Twilight creaked her eyes open and sighed. She would be the one... 

Twilight slid her eyes away from the cover of the book and set them on the rest of the table, staring at the bust statue, the stacks of books, the quill and parchment. She perked up her ears. Her eyes grew wide. She bit her lower lip as she flared her horn and levitated the quill and paper in front of her. 

She would be the one to ask all about it!

With haste, Twilight unfurled the scroll and dipped her quill into one of the several inkwells scattered across the table. She flicked off the excess ink and brought the pen to the page.

Her quill came to a screeching halt. Wait! W-what do I say? What can I say?! She flashed a glance back at Spike, who picked up yet another novel, gagged at its title and promptly wrote down its name. 

Twilight bit her lip once again, a cold sweat crawling down her neck. I-I’ll just ask her. I’ll just say, ‘Princess I need you to tell me all about your romantic relationships.’

Twilight shook her head vigorously. Wait, what?! No! I can’t say that! Thats intrusive, a-a-and rude!

More beads of sweat appeared under her forehead. Maybe... maybe I should just... forget it.

Twilight shook her head once more and furrowed her brow. No, I have to do this. Come on Twilight. Let’s just... start with the basics. Twilight brought her quill down to the parchment and pressed it down into the paper.

Dear Princess Celestia...

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“Would it be ironic if we were to say that now was our favorite time of day?”

Princess Celestia looked back at her sister standing beside her on the palace balcony. Princess Luna did not return the gaze, only smiling at the sunset with eager anticipation of the coming night. The last rays of the dying sun sparkled off Luna’s starry mane, the glint of each speck only punctuating the energy just waiting to be released within her.

“Not exactly, dear sister,” Celestia said with a smile. “It would be only natural that you would favor the day’s end.”

Luna looked back at her, puzzled.

“And,” Celestia continued. “I would say it is definitely one of my favorite times as well.” 

“Oh, yes, quite.” Luna blushed at realizing her mistake. “Old habits are difficult to be rid of, even though w-, er, I have worked hard to remove them.”

“It's alright, Luna. You've made remarkable progress in your linguistics. You should be proud to have adapted so quickly. One thousand years of social divorce is hard to overcome.”  Celestia nuzzled her sister and turned her attention back toward the setting sun. “Ready?”

Luna snapped her focus on the horizon. “Yes.”

With that, Celestia’s pearl white horn flared brilliantly with golden magic, reaching out into the heavens. The sun reacted in kind, obeying the commands of the alicorn and slowly slipping beyond view. Luna waited patiently until her sister released her grip on the glowing gas giant. Soon the world was in the darkness of night once more.

Luna bit her lower lip and furrowed her brow. “Now, sister,” Luna said as she stepped forward to the railing. “Watch this!” 

The night princess gave her wings a mighty flap, hovering in the air only a few feet from the floor as her horn flared a deep blue. Within seconds, the great white moon appear from below the horizon, traveling in an arc to its designated position before parking itself in the night sky. As soon as the moon had halted its course, Luna flicked her horn once, and like a great black curtain, unveiled the starry heavens to the world below. 

Luna allowed the glow to fade from her horn and drifted back down to the stone floor below. “Do you see it, Tia?” she asked excitedly.

Celestia scanned the night sky, searching for the surprise Luna had hidden for her. 

The surprise wasn't hard to find. Dominating the sky was a huge nebula, swirling with deep hues of green and magenta. The stars within the hypnotic display shined brightly through the veil, each one unique in its color.

“It’s beautiful, Luna,” Celestia replied with tears in her eyes. “You’ve truly outdone yourself. Thank you.”

Luna smiled in triumph and returned to her sister’s side, looking out towards the rest of Canterlot. “Do you think the other ponies will like it?”

“I’m sure of it, Luna.”

The two Royal Sisters stood out on the balcony a little while longer, watching as various ponies awoke their friends and families, urging them to take a look outside. Most of Canterlot could be viewed from the high towers of Canterlot Castle, and the crowds that gathered to marvel at the night sky were not disappointing. Luna smiled wide as she beheld a scene she wanted so long ago.

Luna shifted her gaze back to her sister, but found Celestia’s attention fixated only on one spot. Luna carefully traced where Celestia was looking, all the way down to a pair of ponies stargazing below. Luna leaned in closer and squinted her eyes. There, in the royal gardens below, were Princess Cadance and her new husband, Shining Armor, both enjoying the heavenly spectacle together.

Luna returned her attention to her sister, just in time to catch a single tear descend from her eye. Celestia sighed. “It’s getting late.” 

She turned back to Luna, who swiftly averted her stare. “Thank you for the wonderful gift,” Celestia said as she retreated into the interior of the tower.

“Retiring so soon, sister?” Luna asked. “We haven’t even had our late night tea.”

More tears began to form under Celestia's eyes. “Forgive me, Luna, but I-I really need some rest. I just—” 

Celestia stopped mid sentence and looked around the room. Faint sparks danced from her horn and within moments, a neatly rolled scroll bathed in green flame appeared before her. The magical fire dissipated and the scroll hovered magically in front of Celestia. “A letter from Twilight?”

Luna approached her sister from behind, eyeing the scroll. “Strange, why would your student send a letter at this hour?”

“I’m not sure...” Celestia replied, taking off the royal seal and unfurling the letter.

Luna peaked at the letter’s contents, but was as puzzled as Celestia by what she found. Almost every other word was scribbled out, some lines being blacked out almost entirely before starting anew. “Twilight is not normally this sloppy with her writing...”

“Indeed.” 

“What does it say?”  

Celestia cleared her throat and, after some minor proofreading, read the letter aloud. “Dear Princess Celestia...

 I’ve learned much from my time in Ponyville about the magic of friendship, but I fear that I may be ill-equipped to research the deepest of relationships with my friends alone. The concept of romance (and its ensuing partnership) has still eluded me. I write this letter to you tonight to formally request your assistance in continuing the study of friendship in this area.

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle

The two sisters sat in silence for a moment, mulling the words the letter providing in their heads. Celestia began to silently re-read the letter, ensuring that she didn’t omit any words that should have been included. She mouthed each sentence, contemplated its meaning, and read it again.

Luna broke the silence. “D-Did your student just—”

Celestia flashed her sister an indignant look. “I am quite certain that is not the reason she wrote this letter.”

“Those nervous scribbles tell a different story, Tia,” she replied, ending her comment with a raspberry.

Celestia rolled her eyes and turned her attention once again to the letter. “The concept of romance...” 

The white pony princess began to pace slowly back and forth across the room, furrowing her brow in thought. Luna watched her sister carefully, analyzing her every movement as she paced.

Twilight, requesting advice on love from my sister. Quite the curious development this has become, Luna thought to herself as she grew a wide smile. It's almost... too perfect! 

The letter continued to levitate before Celestia, but began to sag below her glassy eyed stare as she continued to walk. Her pace slowed to a crawl before finally stopping in the middle of the room.

“I don’t understand,” Celestia finally said. 

“What is there not to understand, sister?” Luna chirped. “Your student is obviously reaching out to you for help.”

Celestia spun around to face her sister. “Luna, you know as well as I this isn't something I can teach her.”

“Perhaps you can, Tia,” Luna replied, her smile only widening. 

Celestia’s eyes widened and she swiftly turned her back on Luna. “T-that would be very inappropriate.”

“Come now, sister,” Luna cooed as she advanced towards Celestia, catching the soft hint of a blush. “Think about it for a moment. Twilight, a reclusive shut-in that has spent most of her life in the pursuit of study, suddenly thrust—” Luna strafed past Celestia, whipping around to face her with wings flared. “ —into the world at large without a shred of social experience, now faced with the terrible wonder of love. I, for one, know just how terrifying that is.”

Celestia stood, unflinched. “She has made remarkable progress ever since she has left, Luna. She has made all sorts of friends, lives a life of independence, and has defeated some of the greatest threats to Equestria to date. She is hardly ‘inexperienced’.”

“Tis true what you say, my sister,” Luna said, her smile only devolving into a smirk. “But the path your student wishes to tread is by far more dangerous.”

Celestia’s eyes retreated their focus to the floor, cracks forming in her stoic stance. “I-I’m confident she would—”

“Would what? Handle the heartache of a lover’s betrayal?” Luna interrupted. 

“No! I would never want her to go through that!” Celestia shouted, a new-found fire glistening in her eyes.

“Then teach her, Tia,” Luna said, softening her tone. “Educate her about love. Tell her everything she needs to navigate the wilds of romance.”

Celestia averted her gaze back to the floor, mulling over Luna’s words in her mind.

“Tia,” Luna whispered, placing a hoof on her sister’s shoulder. “The heart is treacherous and desperate. Without control, it can lead to pain of all sorts. Pain that does not quickly heal and leaves grievous scars. Is that what you want for Twilight?”

"Y-you're right," Celestia admitted with a sigh. She trotted slowly to the doorway, retrieving the sent letter with her magic. "Thank you, Luna, for helping me see the situation as I should have, for Twilight's benefit, and not as, as..."

Celestia felt the words die in her throat. Luna simply nodded in agreement. With that, Celestia turned and left the room, letter in tow. 

Not soon after the door was shut, Luna burst into hysterical giggling. Oh, what joyous of occasions! To see the seeds of love planted firsthand! With some help of course! Oh, Luna how fiendishly clever of you!

She spun in place before twirling like a top back onto the balcony under the night sky. She came to a tired stop at the edge of the railing, with the full vista she enjoyed earlier still glistening as beautifully as before.

But Luna's dreamy gaze was set on only one thing, the newly married couple in the garden. 

A curious thing love is... and they would look so cute together!!
> Chapter Two - Matchmaker's Gambit
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first rays of morning light slowly crept their way into the lobby of the library. Everything within the room was treated to a serene bathing of tranquil sunlight, only to be interrupted by the frenetic pace of erratic shadows of a single unicorn and other small flying objects. Spike sat on the middle table, munching away on a large topaz as Twilight dashed from one end of the library to the other, gathering up writing materials and any appropriate book or research paper she could find.

Spike cleared his throat and set his topaz back on the plate. “So, remind me again why you’re going to Canterlot.” 

The flying books halted their course and floated above the ground as Twilight turned her attention toward her assistant. Not again. “I told you, Spike. The Princess and I are going to be reviewing my studies into the magic of friendship.” 

“Couldn’t you just do that over letter?” Spike asked, grabbing a book from the air and studying its cover with disdain.

Twilight snatched the book away. “No, this requires a personal visit,”  she replied.

Spike crossed his forearms. “But, why do you have to go all the way there?”

Why are you being so nosey?!  “B-Because Spike—” Twilight said, rapidly searching her brain for a reason. “—there are a lot of, private questions that I have that still need to be answered about friendship, questions that Princess Celestia would no doubt know the answers to.”

“Like...” Spike ventured.  

Twilight turned her back on Spike, in part to pack more books into the saddlebag and partly to hide the beads of sweat now forming under her bangs. “L-like, how can friends effectively share one thing very close to both of them! O-or how friendship can evolve into something much more beautiful, much more interpersonal, akin to, to a... true love!”

Spike raised a skeptical eyebrow. “True love?”

“T-that last part is just a theory,” Twilight quickly stammered out.

“So, lemme get this straight," Spike said, inspecting the now over burdened saddlebags on the floor. "You’re going to Canterlot to talk to the Princess, about your friendship lessons... by yourself?”

Twilight swiftly levitated the bags above the little dragon's eyesight and gave him a stern look. “Spike, you should be more worried about how you’re going to organize Rarity’s novel collection.”

Spike looked back at the tower of novels still stacked on the table. He slumped over with a defeated sigh. “Don’t remind me.”

Twilight smiled at her assistant's compliance and set the saddlebags onto her barrel, causing her knees to buckle momentarily before righting herself again. “I’ll be back in a about a week, Spike. Make sure those novels are ready to be rented out by the time I get back.”

“Great, I’m stuck here sifting through sappy romance stories while you get to go on vacation,” Spike said with a grunt.

“Well, why don’t you give one of those stories a chance?" Twilight teased, nuzzling the dragon before turning for the door. "Who knows, you might just like it.”

“Yeah right,” Spike replied as he watched the purple unicorn shut the door behind her.

Spike turned back to the library, its once clean floors now littered with debris. He sighed, began collecting scattered reading material and picked up his unfinished topaz. Spike ascended up the stairway into Twilight's room, neatly placing each book that belonged there back into its rightful place. 

With his hands free, Spike tossed the topaz into the air and opened his mouth wide to catch it. A few seconds passed before a soft thump dashed all hopes of a quick bite. He opened his eyes again only to see the half-eaten topaz dangling out of reach on the top shelf of the bookcase. Spike sighed at his failed attempt at the maneuver and slid a nearby chair into position as a stool.

He grabbed the bright yellow gem in his claws, but not before noticing the paperback novel beside it, the crude purple bookmark jutting out of the pages.  

He grabbed the novel and observed the title. "Hearts in Bloom, huh?"

Spike sat in the chair, twirling the topaz between his fingers as he opened the book to it's first page. "Love is like a blooming flower, closed off until its just time, and even then only to the right pony..."

"...Oh, brother," he moaned, staring blankly at the ceiling. He shrugged. "Well, maybe it gets better as you go."

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The distinct sound of hooves on marble echoed beautifully across the white washed hallways of the palace interior, perfectly announcing the presence of the Royal Sisters as they continued their trek toward the main auditorium. Despite the fact that the wide windows clearly displayed the interior in broad daylight, the area was devoid of pony eyes, save for the few stationary guards and a lone grey unicorn mare diligently following the pair.

"Are you sure you are alright with this?" Celestia asked as she walked.

Luna rolled her eyes, but smiled all the same. "Sister, even after a thousand years, I still know how to rule a country. The adjustments that must be made are... slight at best. And I am sure your skilled bureaucrats will ensure our nation is still run as smoothly as it always has." 

Luna looked back towards the mare behind her, noting the readied scroll in her magical grip and the inkwell perched atop her croup, which perfectly mirrored the image on her flank below. The mare smiled and blushed, slightly bowing her head before rising it swiftly back to keep her glasses from falling off. "Thank you, your grace, but I am but a humble servant," she said. 

Luna winked at her assistant, who bowed once more before leaving the two sisters. Luna turned her attention back to Celestia. "Besides, it is only for one week. I am sure the land will be fine."

"And you are comfortable with the rising of the sun?" Celestia asked, taking on a worried tone. "It's much more difficult to rise than the moon."

Luna gave a quick, haughty laugh, flaring her wings for emphasis. "All that practice would have been for naught if it were not applied!" she exclaimed, folding her wings back against her sides. "Besides, thou were once as young as I when thou oversaw the rise of both!" 

Celestia frowned at her sister and gave a long sigh before perking up a smile. "Well, you do have a point..." 

Luna grinned even wider over her victory and happily skipped further ahead toward the door. The two sisters slowed their pace as they approached the door, the two pegasi guards stationed there standing at attention. Celestia halted her march before the doorway, closing her eyes and releasing another sigh.

Luna placed a hoof onto Celestia's shoulder. "Worry not, my sister. Everything will be fine."

Celestia turned and smiled at Luna. "Alright, but if you need me, I will be here."

Luna gave yet another haughty laugh, but quickly toned it down to a snicker. "Perish the thought, my sister," she replied, waving a dismissive hoof in front of her. "You need only focus your full attention on your faithful student and leave the day to day workings of the nation to me." 

The two guards quickly shot looks at each other, exchanging worrying glances. Luna caught the exchange, but merely rolled her eyes at the misbehaving soldiers. Celestia smiled and returned her attention to the door. She took in a breath, flared up her horn, and parted the large ornate doors, stepped into the room beyond. 

The auditorium was spacious and grand, a glorified waiting room that fit well into the palace it was part of. Wide red carpets cascaded down two flights of violet tinted stairs, continuing onto marble tiled floors until a golden star split it's path three separate ways. It was here that a certain purple unicorn stood, with the heavy load of a pair of overstuffed saddlebags on her back. Celestia couldn't help but stifle a laugh at her student's obsessive need to over prepare. 

Twilight caught sight of her mentor as she entered and, despite the burden, excitedly cantered up to her. "Princess Celestia!" 

Celestia extended a wing, bringing her student in close for an embrace. "Twilight, my faithful student! How are you today?"

Twilight buried her muzzle into Celestia's coat, relishing in the familiar scent of vanilla and rose. She reluctantly ripped herself away and looked up toward her mentor with a smile. "I-I'm doing great! I can't wait to get started!" She reached into her bags with her telekinesis, pulling out various writing supplies. "I packed everything I need! Extra quills, parchment—" 

A scroll of paper quickly unraveled itself and sped across Celestia's hooves, continuing on to catch onto Luna's legs. "S-sorry! Sorry!" Twilight quickly stammered.

Celestia chuckled at her student. "It's quite alright, Twilight," she said, flaring up her horn and catching the rogue parchment. She rolled it up in a golden glow and gently placed it back in its spot in Twilight's bag. "Even I have trouble with these magic scrolls sometimes. It's almost as if they were enchanted with a mind of their own!"

Luna eagerly watched on as the two ponies before her chuckled and laughed. Even as the laughter died down, she beheld them staring into each other's eyes, smiling. A single, solitary moment of connection. The one shred of evidence of a bond that could never be broken. A trance that could last an eternity.

"Twily!"

Twilight swiftly turned to face the familiar disturbance, only to receive a white foreleg around her neck and a hoof in her mane. Shining Armor continued his playful assault, digging his hoof into his sister's head. Cadance strolled in with her own playful smile, watching on as her husband and sister-in-law wrestled with each other.

"Oof! Shining!" Twilight protested, squirming out of his grasp as they laughed. Freed at last, she turned to the pink alicorn. "Oh, Cadance, what do you see in him?"

Cadance let out a giggle. "Well, he keeps the sun shining and the ladybugs awake!" 

The two mares shared a chuckle at their in-joke as Shining Armor looked at the two of them quizzically. Shining rolled his eyes and turned his attention to Twilight. "So, what are you doing here, sis?"

Twilight patted down her messy mane. "Oh, you know, just some—" She halted her sentence, quickly churning her mind for the right words. "Uh, research... with the Princess."

"About your studies into friendship?" he asked.

"Yeah! Yeah, that," Twilight replied, quickly occupying her mind with mathematical equations to forestall the inevitable oncoming blush.

Shining Armor didn't seem to notice. "How long are you here for?"

"Oh, about a week or so," Twilight said, fixating her gaze on the intricate golden weave in the carpet below her.

"Great! Hey, maybe you could have lunch with Cadance and I sometime, make some time to catch up a little bit," he said excitedly.

Twilight's blush was fully active, painting her face red. "I-I'll see if—"

"Oh, she may not have the time to make, unfortunately." Luna interrupted with a half-hearted chuckle. "She will be quite busy with her studies and, well—" She motioned toward the saddlebags with her hoof. "—you know how she gets."

Shining Armor slapped his forehead with a hoof. "Oh, right! I forgot how diligent you can be when you're really working hard." He shrugged. "Oh well, maybe we'll see each other around, Twily."

"Y-yes! Of course!" Twilight quickly blurted out. She turned toward Celestia and shifted in place uneasily, her saddlebags nearly throwing her off balance. "So, um... shall we?"

Celestia snapped her attention back to her student. "Oh! Yes, of course." 

Celestia turned toward the doorway to the left and motioned for Twilight to follow with her wing. Twilight hopped to her mentor's side.  "Bye Cadance, bye Shining Armor, bye Luna!" she said quickly before following Celestia. 

The mentor and her student trotted off side by side toward the study ward, Twilight adjusting her bag as she walked. The remaining trio of ponies smiled at them as they left before Cadance and Shining turned to make their leave.

"Cadance! Wait! A moment of your time please," Luna implored, halting the pink alicorn in her tracks.

The couple gave each other a confused look before Cadance motioned for Shining to go on without her. She turned back and trotted up to the night princess. "Yes, Luna?"

Luna eyed Shining Armor as he left, patiently waiting for him to round the corner into the nearby hallway before turning her attention back to Cadance. "Did you see it?"

Cadance raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "See what?"

"Oh, do not tell me you had not noticed," Luna replied in a sultry tone. "The twinkle in her eye, the quiver in her voice..."  

"I'm not following." Cadance said plainly.

Luna let out a groan. "Love, Cadance! Twilight's love for Tia! It was all over her! Oh, she telegraphs it like an open book!"

"Well, of course. Celestia is her mentor after all," Cadance stated flatly.

"No, no. This is much different," Luna replied, rubbing her hooves together. "It is neither Storge nor Phileo, but Eros! Eros, Cadance!"

Cadance gave Luna a bemused look. "Huh?"

"Twilight is rather 'in love'," Luna explained.

Cadance looked back toward the doorway Twilight and Celestia had left through. Her confused stare only turned into a quizzical frown. "I don't know about that, Luna. She seemed to act pretty normal to me."

Luna huffed at her niece. "For an expert on love, you certainly are naive. Did you not see how nervous she was?"

Cadance didn't budge. "She has always been nervous around Celestia, especially when dealing with her studies. There is nothing unusual about that."

Luna gave Cadance a smirk and waved a hoof at her niece. "Thou simply is not looking hard enough." She circled around the pink alicorn and trotted towards the hallway where she had entered. Luna turned back to face her as she left and gave Cadance a wink. "Watch her closely next time. You will see."

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Watch closely... 

Cadance halted the small trolley she was pushing and double checked its contents. On the tray was the Princess's afternoon tea, placed inside an ancient ornamental tea set, likely preserved by Celestia herself from a few centuries ago. To Cadance, it seemed a bit too lavish to elegantly emboss golden swirls into an otherwise plainly shaped teapot and simple teacups, but the otherwise simple set was pretty well made and thought out. A small, yet complete set for two, with its own sugar cube jar and honey bottle. Really, all one needed for tea.

Cadance pushed the cart ahead, letting her magic take hold of it once it had gotten up to speed. She rounded a corner and proceeded towards Celestia's room, stopping at the doorway and pressing her ear against the door. She heard the distinct soft, regal voice of the Princess, speaking in muffled tones. She took in a deep breath and brought up a hoof to the door.

Ok, Luna, Cadance thought. Let's see what this is all about...

Three swift knocks reverberated throughout the hallway. The disturbance was met with silence, until a soft voice from inside the room beckoned the intruder to enter. Cadance gingerly opened the door and took the tray of tea within her magical grasp. 

Twilight and Celestia sat on cushions across from each other at a small table in the middle of the room, Twilight's saddlebag of writing supplies propped up against one of its legs. The table was literally covered with books, scrolls and Twilight's friendship reports. Cadance eyed the table, futilely searching for a place to put the tray.

"I brought you both some tea," said Cadance. "I hope you don't mind."

Celestia smiled at the welcome gift. "Thank you, Cadance."

"Uh, here! Lemme make some room for you," Twilight said, quickly calling upon her magic to sweep a number of books back into her bag.

Cadance gracefully floated the tray over to the table and set it down in the middle, levitating the cups into position for the two mares. "Studies going well?" she asked as she grabbed the teapot with her magic and poured the tea into each cup.

"Oh, yes! I've learned a lot so far!" Twilight replied excitedly, reaching for a green notebook. "In fact, I have a question for you..."

Cadance set the teapot down and turned toward Twilight. "Alright. Ask away!"

Twilight flipped open her notebook and scanned her way through the entries. She traced each one with her hoof before stopping near the end of the paper. "Ok, when did you first realize that you loved my brother and wanted to marry him?"

Cadance brought a hoof to her chin as she searched her mind. "Oh, well, where to begin? We knew each other for quite some time while I was growing up in Canterlot, him being the Royal Guard Captain and all," she began. "Over the years, we spent time together and grew close, really close. Then one day, out in the palace gardens, he, well, proposed to me. I was... surprised to say the least...

"I guess I realized that I wanted to be with him all along," Cadance said with a chuckle.

Twilight's face contorted into a frown as she flipped back and forth through her notepad before returning her attention to Cadance. "But, what was the very moment you realized it? How did you feel? How did you... know?"

"The exact moment?" Cadance asked. "Well, uh... hmmm." There was a long pause as she thought hard about her past. He was just... always there. Always by me. Always ready to defend me. Always there to comfort me. Always... "I don't really remember..."

Twilight's gaze dropped to the teacup in front of her, her ears following suit. "Oh..." 

"Why? What are you both researching?" Cadance asked.

Twilight shifted in her seat, her eyes wandering around the room. "Well, my studies into friendship have hit a bit of a snag and I was hoping the Princess would be able to help me."

"So, what's the subject?" Cadance asked, more intently this time. "Friends? Family?"

Twilight began sinking her head lower, a warm flush crossing her cheeks. "Oh, well, it's a bit embarrassing but, uh, w-well, i-it's..." 

"The concept of romance," Celestia chimed in. "As my faithful student puts it."

"Ah, I see!" Cadance replied excitedly. She turned back to Twilight, bounding like a school filly. "Well? Well? What have you learned so far??"

"Uh, let's see..." Twilight said, drinking in her friend's new found energy and delving into her notepad once again. "We went over, dating and courting, oh, oh! And now are moving on to analyzing the various steps toward implementing a regular scheduled relationship within acceptable bounds in regards to the stage of said relationship."

Cadance stared blankly at Twilight's triumphant smile for a moment. "Oh, really?" she asked hesitantly. "I-is that all?"

Twilight gave Cadance a short laugh. "Oh, no! I have tons of notes about it!" She levitated up a large blue binder and set it on top of the table, the resulting crash sending shock waves across its surface. "See?"

Cadance peered into the binder and was immediately assaulted by walls of text. ...the courting process, which, in accordance with established conventions enclosed between spring and autumn months during which time equines exhibit key tendencies indicating the prime occasion to enter said relationship in regards to leading towards more intimate subjects at the tail end of the estrous cycle to which...

Cadance rubbed her eyes with her hooves, desperately trying to rid her mind of the endless stream of bullet points and quickly changed the subject. "So, do you have your eye on—" She leaned in close to Twilight as she spoke. "—anypony special?"

Twilight's eyes shot wide open at hearing Cadance's question. She flashed quick glances between the two alicorns. Her cheeks grew red hot and nearly stumbled backwards. "M-me? N-no! No-no-no-no," she stammered out. "T-this is all just for research! Y-yes, research..."

Twilight averted her eyes away from the other mares and took a sip of her tea. Cadance stared wide eyed at her friend's sudden outburst, watching her mindlessly sip her extremely hot beverage. She snuck a glance at Celestia as well, who sat straight faced and motionless, staring into her own tea. Cadance eyed Celestia closely, the white alicorn resolute in her display of her regal porcelain mask.

"Oh..." Cadance said at last. "Well, if you want, Twilight, I could make myself available for questions later."

Twilight stared blankly at the far wall, tea cup still hovering in front of her, her eyes refusing to make contact. "Huh? Oh, right yes. I'll uhm, I'll consider it." 

Cadance slowly nodded and stood up from the table. "I should get going," she said softly as she walked toward the doorway.

"Thank you again for the tea," a soft voice called out to Cadance. She turned back to see Celestia's soft smile, her regal visage gone. Cadance returned the sentiment with her own and walked out the room, shutting the large doors behind her. 

Outside, Cadance furrowed her brow in thought. She took a step back and placed an ear once more to the door, yet all she heard again was silence. Cadance retreated from the door and quickly trotted down the hallway. 

Inquisitive eyes watched on from a dark corner.

Hmmm...

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Flickering flames danced up the slowly wilting wick of a candle, projecting it's glow across the walls as it was moved into position on top of a stack of books. The dimly lit lab emanated too little light for any significant effort to work to be accomplished during the night, most likely due to it's unnecessarily high ceiling, but Cadance wasn't deterred in the slightest. Before her sat an array of tubes, pots, vials and bunsen burners, flanked on either side by stacks of textbooks. The entire display dominated the large oaken table, save only for the area directly in front of Cadance, where a single book was open and a variety of herbs and other odd objects lay haphazardly strewn about.

She reached out with her magic, grabbed yet another candlestick, lit the wick with a well placed spark from her horn and gently guided it to the large oaken table. She carefully placed the light source between her alchemy apparatus and the textbook, illuminating the page to acceptable levels, revealing it's story and the many additions written over top . She studied the text within, recounting the tragic tale of drunken love and a doomed kingdom, paying keen attention to the portrait of the lovers themselves and the footnote scribbled next to it. See reference MBV-08, pages 625-626...

Cadance turned her attention to the stack to her left and scanned the binders of each, following them down until she spotted the letters pop out from a single white spine. She smiled and gingerly removed the book, steadying the stack so as not to fall. She flipped its pages to the designated spot, skimming through the passage for what she was seeking.

" 'When the war... brings about the world's end... descends from the sky...'," Cadance's eyes wandered further down, sizing up the passage before a single line caught her attention. " 'Guides to bliss, her gift... everlasting'..."

Cadance leaned back, searching the pitch black ceiling for answers. Guides to bliss... a gift of... love? Love... Bliss...  She crossed her forelegs, bringing a single hoof to her forehead. What could possibly capture the essence of...

Cadance gasped as an idea struck her. Aha! I got it!

Cadance closed her eyes, flaring her horn with cyan energy. She swayed her horn back and forth, channeling her magic into a levitating ball. As more magic was weaved into it, the formless ball began to take shape, a small heart. Cadance shut her eyes tighter, focusing her energy into the heart until it crystallized before her.

She opened her eyes, observing her work. Not quite the genuine article, but it should suffice. Now...

Satisfied with her final ingredient, Cadance levitated the collection of objects before her, carefully examining each before moving a large glass pot complete with heat source to the center of the table. The crystal clear water inside the pot churned ever so slightly from the small flame atop the bunsen burner.

Cadance hovered a small, dense cloud above the water, judging it's whiteness before plopping it into the pot. A tuft of cumulus... 

Next, she poured in a vial of prismatic liquid, each color neatly separated into it's own unique stripe, radiating colorful light despite the dimness. A pure rainbow's glow...

Cadance lifted a wing and brought her muzzle between her dorsal guiding feathers, plucking off the longest one. An alicorn's feather...

Armed with her own feather, Cadance stirred the mixture vigorously, yet deliberately, taking great care not to spill a drop. Stir swift, not slow...

The mixture slowly began changing colors as the ingredients were combined, turning the resulting liquid a deep pink. Cadance hovered her last object, the small crystal heart, over the pot, taking one last minute glance at the reference book before she slowly lowered it into the liquid. The mixture reacted in kind, dissolving the heart as it descended and giving the mix a bright golden color. And a touch of love, as they both know...

Cadance smiled at the result of her efforts. She flicked off the burner, tipped the pot onto its side and gently poured its contents into a small glass vial. The potion sparkled with magical energy, popping and fizzing as it sat in its container.

Cadance retrieved the history textbook and read through her notes. "Now, if my calculations are correct, the effects should be..." She turned a page and continued. "...strengthened, while duration stays limited..." She flicked a bit of starry mane from her eyes and kept reading. "...yet dispelled by—"

"Boo!"

Cadance shrieked as she leapt backwards, wings flared and eyes wide. She frantically scanned the room searching for the intruder in the darkness. A certain mare of the night sat giggling on a rafter above. "Luna!? What? Where—"

"It was so interesting to watch thee work. T'would have been quite the shame had I interrupted," Luna cooed, descending from the ceiling and into the candle light. 

"How long have you been up there?!" Cadance demanded.

"Long enough, dear Cadance," Luna stated with a smile. "Though, I still am left wondering about the name of thy potion."

Cadance took a deep breath and folded in her wings. "It doesn't have a name... yet. It's just a custom brew."

Luna snickered at her niece. "All works are iterative, Cadance. The key is to understand what came before."

Cadance trotted back to the desk and placed a hoof on the textbook. "Oh, I don't want to bore you with—"

"Nonsense!" Luna said, quickly sliding the book away and outside the pink alicorn's grasp.

"Hey!" Cadance cried.

Luna hovered the book in front of her and took in its contents, her muzzle forming into a wicked grin. "Delving into a bit of history, are we Cadance? A particular day on which love is spread and expressed? A tale of love and woe? A recipe to exploit?"

Cadance pawed at the floor, a blush forming around her cheeks. "I-It's not what it looks like..."

"Oh come now, dear niece. You need not hide your intentions from me," Luna cooed, returning her attention to the textbook and studying the index of notes that dominated the sides of each page. "I see you have studied this matter intensely." She turned her attention to the vial still crackling on the table. "What is it you have come up with?"

Cadance dropped her gaze to her potion and sighed. "It's only a prototype. I still need to test it..."

"Well, I have just the subjects for you!" Luna exclaimed, gleefully grabbing the vial with her magic and trotting towards the door.

"Wait!" Cadance yelled as she hopped in front of Luna in the doorway, barring her exit. "We don't know what this potion is capable of!"

Luna merely continued to smile. "You should give yourself more credit, Cadance."  She lifted the textbook to her eyes and began reciting the notes within. " 'Reduction of toxicity by way of purified ingredients of significant quality, counteracting acidic components to shorten yet, intensify duration. Addition effects include: temporary amnesia, weakness following dissipation, slight headache...'" Luna lowered the book and realigned her sights on Cadance. "It seems to me thou has improved this mixture tremendously." 

Cadance's gaze dropped to the floor. "I don't know..."

Luna gave her niece a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Worry not, my niece. If what is written is true, whatever effects thy potion has will dissipate in a short while or 'until sufficient rest is taken'."

With that, Luna gave Cadance one last smile and continued out the door, the love potion in tow. Cadance sat in the doorway, eyeing the textbook and all of its footnotes, running the calculations of the process again and again in her mind, desperately ensuring they were correct. She sighed.

I hope you're right...

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Atop the windswept ruins of a long forgotten tower, Twilight watched on as the white mare continued her dance. She sat with rapt attention atop the tower's battlement, following the dancer's body as she gracefully motioned in the wind, contorting her body to match the gusts of wind that carried her mane and accented her movements. The dancer spun, ever so swiftly, ending her twirl facing the purple unicorn. She smiled. Twilight smiled back.

"My, what a pleasant dream this is!"

Twilight turned to her left and beheld the Princess of the Night herself. "Luna!?"

Twilight knew a lot about the night. She was well versed in star patterns and the moon's effects on the world. She extensively studied the phenomenon of dreams and even the one who safeguards them. She was also aware of Luna's power to invade dreams. She even knew her presence was seen by most to be a benevolent blessing.

None of that knowledge helped Twilight keep her balance.  

Before a word could be said in edgewise, Twilight teetered over the edge and lost her footing on the stone below her. She plummeted, screaming the whole way down as ground came closer and closer until finally—

"Ah!"

Twilight flicked on the candle on the nearby nightstand, slowly bathing the guest room with light. Her eyes darted back and forth, scanning the room and taking in its familiar features. She patted herself down, ensuring that she had indeed not been crushed into bits. She at last let out a sigh of relief.

"Boo."

"GAH!!" Twilight shrieked as she flopped off the bed, taking the majority of the covers with her. 

Luna snorted out a laugh. "Oh, you are so cute when you are sleeping!"

Twilight popped her head from under the mound of blankets, slowly untangling herself from the mess. "P-princess Luna?! Wha-what are you doing here?"

Luna ceased her laughing, but only barely. "Little old me? I am here to aid you, dear Twilight."

Twilight sat upright on the bed and gave the princess a confused look. "With what?"

"Your education, of course," Luna said, smiling wide.

Luna lifted up her wing and grabbed hold of of a vial of amber liquid within her magical grasp. With great care, Luna hovered it over in front of Twilight's inquisitive gaze. 

Twilight eyed the vial curiously. "What is it?"

"A potion," Luna stated, allowing Twilight to take hold of the bottle within her own magic. "A brew that unlocks the heart of desire and showers the recipient in blissful love." Luna drew her head in close to purple mare, a twinkle in her eye. "One simple drop is all it takes, no more, no less." 

Luna withdrew her muzzle and stood proudly, anxiously awaiting a response. Twilight eyed the princess, then the vial. "Why are you giving this to me?" she asked.

"Oh, I am sure you can figure it out, Twilight," Luna responded with a smirk.

Twilight focused on the bottle, her brain churning its gears to find the reason. "You... want me to..." Twilight's eyes grew wide and she let out a gasp. "N-no! Oh no-no-no-no-no, no! Use a l-love potion on-on-on Celestia!? I can't do that! Are you crazy?!"

Twilight pushed the potion back at Luna, who was taken aback by the outburst. "Twilight, you need not fear, the potion bestows temporary amnesia and the effects only last for, at most, one night."

"One night is all it takes!" Twilight shouted. "And what if she remembers after she wakes up?! Think of what she'll do when she finds out that I... I...!" Twilight's hooves gave out from under her, her panic attack escalating. She collapsed onto the bed, taking a few short, but deep breaths. "I just... no, I-I can't."

Luna stood in silence for a moment, her face devolving into a frown as she thought of a response. Her smile soon returned, however, and knelt down close to the unicorn. 

"Twilight," Luna whispered. "You have said yourself the concept of romance eludes your understanding, a mystery that baffles your mind. You try your hardest to know, to learn. You seek the answer in the only way you know how...

"But one cannot merely be told what love is, nor can it be truly explored with just words. What I am offering to you now is a chance to experience what you have been missing. A chance to love as you have always dreamed." She brought a hoof to Twilight's chin, raising her head up to meet her eyes. "Listen to your heart, Twilight. What does it tell you?"

Twilight averted her eyes, a sudden redness flooding her cheeks. "I... I just..."

"I understand," Luna said softly, standing up once more and trotting towards the doorway to the hall. She turned before she exited, setting the love potion on top of the nearby dresser and giving Twilight a quick wink. "Should you change your mind..."

At that, Luna left the dimly lit room, leaving the purple unicorn to mull over her words. Twilight stared at the potion, the hypnotic golden glow captivating her attention. She averted her eyes and traced the bed with her hoof. A chance to love...

Twilight shook her head vigorously. S-stop it! It's wrong and you know it! Just...! She snuck a peek at the golden liquid, once again being helplessly drawn in by its mystical allure, its tantalizing promise. Just forget all about it!

Twilight flared up her horn and grabbed the sheets that lied on the floor, flicking them into the air. The blankets snapped into a straight sheet before slowly drifting down onto the unicorn as she plopped herself down, her angry gaze fixated on the golden potion. She crossed her forelegs and furrowed her brow.

She didn't get much sleep that night.
> Chapter Three - A Night to Remember
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A clock heralded the coming of the morning as sunlight flooded into the guest room, its chimes greeting the new bright, cheery day. The light seeped its way across the floor, enveloping the regal furniture and bathing it in its glow. The light slowly encroached on the dresser near the front door, cascading across the golden love potion that sat on top. The potion practically glistened in the sunlight, tantalizing sparkles accenting the projection of a deep golden glow.

Twilight laid on her bed motionless, her eyes bloodshot, her expression unchanged from the night before. Her stare didn't leave the potion for a second, her eyes constantly following the swirls of magic that danced within the vial. The gears in her mind churned endlessly, constantly replaying each and every scenario she imagined could happen should the potion be used, each iteration more terrifying than the last.

The sunlight crept its way across Twilight's body until it shone full force on her eyes. She broke her trance and quickly shut her eyes, shielding them from the sun with the help of her hoof. She snuck a peek at the clock on the wall, struggling to adjust her focus due to the assault of light. Nine o' clock. 

Twilight let out a sigh and slowly shuffled out of bed. She yawned for a moment, stretching her forelegs until a satisfying crack was heard. Her stiff body creaked as she continued on to relieve her back, the consequences of lying on one's side all night being made particularly clear. She shook away her remaining body pain and scanned the room around her.

Her focus, though, returned to the potion on the dresser.

Twilight stood there for a moment, staring at the potion as she had all night, as if under some kind of spell. She slowly approached the potion, running the simulations in her head once again. She pictured herself awaking in a bed, right next to Celestia, disdain and fury plastered across her face, banishment being the only word she mutters. She envisioned a swooning Celestia caressing her, enraptured with her student, until the magic fades and a cage traps Twilight for an entirety. She saw herself being kissed by the Princess, only to see her pull back from her student, tears in her eyes, betrayal in her heart.

Twilight reached out with her magic and grabbed the vial, holding it aloft before her. She peered into its golden depths, searching for an answer. Luna's words returned to Twilight, echoing the promise she had given. A chance to love...

"No!" Twilight exclaimed, shaking her head and purging the thoughts from her mind. "I may not fully understand what love is like, but I know magic when I see it!"

Twilight turned toward the far side of the room and approached the small wicker waste basket that sat there. She held the potion over the bin, staring at it with determined eyes. The swirling liquid glistened, Luna's words becoming clear in Twilight's head once again. Twilight bit her lower lip, a bead of sweat cascading down her forehead. She pictured herself staring into Celestia's eyes, the Princess staring into her own, the two mares oblivious to the world around them, their only focus being looking at each others deep loving eyes. 

Twilight gritted her teeth and furrowed her brow. "The foundation of friendship is trust," she diligently told herself. "Without trust, the bond is broken. This is no different!"

Twilight released her magical grip and turned her back on the basket. The potion dropped in the bin with a soft plop, its fall cushioned by the mounds of paper within. Twilight took in a deep breath. She snuck a glance back at the potion, still projecting its allure. You are doing the right thing! Forcing somepony to love you just isn't right! Don't look back now, Twilight, just... j-just don't!

The purple unicorn shut her eyes and quickly looked away. She released her breath slowly, a slight shudder accompanying it. Twilight gathered up her saddlebag, quickly trotted towards the door and promptly shut it behind her. 

Outside, Twilight leaned her back against the door, slowly sliding down until her bottom hit the floor. She let out a sigh of relief and smiled at her victory. I don't need a love potion to find love. I don't! Celestia will teach me, I know she will! 

"Twilight?"

Twilight opened her eyes and looked toward the regal voice that called to her. Celestia stood in the hallway, her ethereal mane flowing beautifully in the morning sunlight. "There you are my faithful student. I was just about to come wake you up," she said with a smile.

You try your hardest to know, to learn...

"Oh! No need, Princess Celestia," Twilight said, realizing the appointment she had almost missed. "I'm up. I'm up!"

You seek the answer in the only way you know how...

"I can see that," Celestia replied with a chuckle. "Are you prepared for today's studies?"

But one cannot merely be told what love is...

"Of course! Lets go!" Twilight exclaimed, hopping to her hooves.

Twilight took her place at Celestia's side, smiling wide at her mentor. The two mares walked side by side down the hallway, Celestia reciting the topics of the day. Twilight snuck one last look at her bedroom door, but quickly averted her gaze ahead.

Listen to your heart...

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The once bright sunlight yielded its unrelenting glow into soft amber tones as the afternoon wore on. The gas giant sat half crested in the sky, begging to be released from its heavenly boundary. It sank lower and lower, the fading light gently caressing the large wooden doors of Twilight's guest room as it slowly creaked open. A dark sapphire muzzle tentatively peeked through the open crevasse.   

"Hello?" Luna asked into the room. "Twilight?"

Luna's questions were met only with silence. She slowly pushed open the door and quickly scanned around the room for any sign of movement. Aside from the unmade bed, the bedroom was exactly the way she had left it the night before. Clearly the maid service hadn't been doing their rounds diligently enough, perhaps a rescheduling was in order. But Luna wasn't too concerned about the untidy room, least of all if it included management duties. She was much more interested in something else.

Luna snapped her attention to the dresser beside her. She scanned its surface, taking note of the thin layer of dust that had settled on it. Her eyes stopped short of the edge, where an unmistakable dust free circle sat prominently among a sea of fine powder. 

Luna drew a wide smile.

"Oh, what joy of joys!" she exclaimed, bursting into the room and twirling around in circles as she giggled and laughed. "The love struck mare, guiding her lover to her warm, inviting embrace! Truly a most wondrous sight!"

The night princess hopped and skipped around the room, gracefully acting out a delicate waltz as her smile grew wider and wider. She closed her eyes and pictured the two mares engaged in her dance, each one's eyes locked into their partner's. She at last came to a stop, her breathing heavy yet smooth, slowly opening her eyes.  "No greater tale of love could ever have been told! No—"

The glint of sparkling amber halted her sentence. Luna's smile dropped, her eyes grew wide and a scowl formed on her face. Crowned upon a mound of paper refuse was the golden potion of love, ungratefully tossed into a wicker waste basket. 

"Why that miserable—" Luna huffed, stamping her forehoof against the floor. She shut her eyes and took in a breath, before placing a hoof onto her chest and letting it out. Still cross, she strolled up to the waste basket and retrieved the potion with her magic. "Very well then, Twilight. If you will not see the truth..."

Luna's mouth formed a smirk. "...then I shall show it to you!"

Luna lifted up a wing and gently placed the potion between her feathers. With the potion secured, she trotted up to the open doorway of the guestroom but stopped as she attempted to leave. She turned back towards the falling sun and sighed. I suppose it is time now... 

Luna flared up her horn and began to concentrate. The sun shook and sputtered as the night princess struggled to maintain the star's decent. Finally, though, the bright gas giant gave in to Luna's commands and gently slipped away beyond the horizon. Luna let out a sigh of relief at her victory over the sun. See sister? Nothing to fear, all you must focus on is your lovely little Twilight. Worry not, I shall provide the mood lighting!

Luna smiled and stepped into the open doorway. She looked to her left and then to her right, carefully searching for spying eyes. She stepped into the hallway and slowly closed the door behind her, careful not to cause too much noise. She trotted towards the main auditorium, searching her mind for a plan. How can I do this? Without Twilight's cooperation, covertly administering the potion will prove to be... difficult. It is much too obvious on its own. I must hide the intention, but how?

Luna stepped into the auditorium, but halted her course. Before her, a maid pony gently pushed a small serving cart along, carrying Celestia's favorite one-of-a-kind golden embossed tea set. Luna's eyes grew wide and an idea clicked in her mind. A wicked smile flashed itself across her face. Aha!

The night princess raced down the staircases and quickly trotted up to the maid pony. "Celestia's afternoon tea, I presume?"

The maid pony jumped backwards at the sudden intrusion, but quickly regained her composure. "O-oh! Why yes, Princess Luna. It is."

Luna quickly looked over the cart. Each piece of the tea set was right where it should be. She smiled. "I shall take it from here, good stewardess. You are relieved."

The maid pony stared at the princess quizzically, unsure of how to respond. She complied with the command, however, and bowed down low before dismissing herself. "O-oh, uh, thank you, your grace."

At that, the maid pony turned and left. Luna watched her anxiously as she rounded the corner toward the kitchen. As soon as she was out of sight, Luna checked all around her, searching for anypony else who might be watching. Confident the coast was clear, Luna turned her attention to the tea set. 

Luna lifted the lid off the teapot and took in the aroma of the liquid inside. It had a kick of spice, with even a hint of nutmeg. Bengal Spice, perfect. 

Luna set the lid down and stretched out her wing, retrieving the potion from between her feathers with her magical grip. She set the vial onto the tray and turned her attention to the honey bottle. With great care, Luna unscrewed the cap and lifted out the contents of the bottle with her telekinesis. She frantically searched around for a place to hide the honey, before settling her sights on a nearby potted plant and dumping the sweet nectar inside.

After hiding the honey, Luna uncorked the vial and gently poured the potion into the honey bottle. The amber liquid sparkled and popped as it flowed into its new home, causing the clear container to glow very slightly. Luna screwed the cap back onto the bottle and placed it back down onto the tray. She studied the set, comparing it to the untampered version. Aside from the faint sparkles that popped from the spout on the honey bottle, it was nearly the same.

Luna grew a wide grin once again. At a glance, tis' not a difference!

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The tea cart rattled slightly as Luna pushed it along the marble hallway as she approached the large red double doors that marked the entrance to Celestia's bedchamber. The night princess gave the tea trolley one last look over, ensuring everything was in place before her entrance. The set was just as it should be: the teapot, the twin cups, the sugar jar and the honey bottle. The glint of the potion, however, didn't escape her notice. It was fleeting and faint, barely noticeable, but still it was there. Luna eyed the potion bottle further, biting down on her lower lip. Will this plot... succeed? 

Luna snapped her attention to the bedroom doors, where she noticed that one such door was only partially closed. She swiftly moved closer to the opening, pressing her body against the fully closed door and peering inside the room. Celestia and Twilight were inside, sitting around the small table in their usual fashion in the middle of the chamber. Twilight scribbled furiously into her notepads as Celestia watched on, her eyes centered solely on her student.

Twilight lowered her notebook back onto the table and began scanning through the text. "So, after a period of courtship, one member of either party will make their intentions know to the other as to whether or not they will take the next step in their relationship," she stated, her quill still hovering above the notebook. "What happens after that?"

"Well, at that point, the mare or stallion must make a choice. Usually the choice is presented in the form of a question, a proposal," Celestia replied. "A proposition of marriage, or something similar."

"And, um, what happens if they... refuse?" Twilight asked hesitantly. 

Celestia brought a hoof to her chin, a frown forming on her face. "Well, should events steer in that direction, a number of outcomes can occur. Sometimes, the couple will simply go their separate ways. If there were troubles in the relationship, they may not speak to each other for some time." 

Celestia smiled, however. "But most of the time, the two will just stay friends."

"Oh, ok..." Twilight said as she penned down her mentor's words before flipping the notebook over and drafted a new section. "So! Um, when exactly does, uh—" Twilight's cheeks grew red. "—coitus... normally occur?"

Celestia's eyes went wide for a brief second, frantically searching the ceiling for a reply. "O-oh well, usually, intercourse comes into play—er, effect, a-after marriage vows have been exchanged."

Twilight cocked an inquisitive eyebrow. "Usually? So, it can happen any time?"

Celestia's eyes darted back and forth, before returning their attention to Twilight. She put on a weak smile, desperate to form a proper explanation. "W-well, you see, when two ponies who really love each other are alone together, and have properly consented with each other about their feelings, may decide to—" Celestia rubbed a hoof against her foreleg, averting her gaze from Twilight's eyes. "—engage in..." 

Celestia bit her lower lip, heat crossing her own cheeks. "Oh, where is that tea?"

At the doorway, Luna sighed at her sister, but still put on a smile. She swiftly grabbed the tea cart with her magic and brought it close. Taking the ensuing awkward silence as a cue, Luna threw open the door and sauntered into the bedroom, the tea trolley following suit. "Good afternoon, dear sister!" she announced. "And you as well, Twilight."

Twilight jumped slightly from the sudden disturbance, but Celestia took advantage of the distraction. "Luna! What a pleasant surprise," Celestia said, futilely trying to vent the heat from her cheeks.

Luna took notice, but decided now wasn't the time to tease. "Just thought you two might enjoy a spot of tea."

With a flick of her horn, Luna gently hovered the tray containing the tea set over to the table and set it down between the two mares. The night princess swiftly levitated the two teacups in front of the mares before setting down the sugar jar and the honey bottle. Finally, she placed the teapot in the middle and took a step back, but not before nudging the honey bottle closer toward Celestia.

Celestia smiled and gave her sister a slight nod. "Thank you, Luna."

"Enjoy," Luna said, turning toward the open doorway.

"Um, Princess Luna?" Twilight asked as the night princess ceased her retreat. "Can I... have a word with you?"

Luna rolled her eyes, but turned to face Twilight with a smile. "I am afraid I must return to my duties rather soon. Perhaps you can tell me later. For now, Twilight, simply enjoy yourself."

"A-alright..." Twilight replied hesitantly.

Satisfied with Twilight's compliance, Luna trotted out the open door and into the hallway. She continued on down the hall, taking small glances behind her to ensure she wasn't followed. As she rounded the corner, her pace quickened into a full blown gallop as she raced down the palace corridors. 

Luna came to a screeching halt at a large window and thrust it open. She stepped up precariously onto the edge of the windowsill and looked up at her target destination, a large stone tower across the palace gardens, a simple guest room perched on top. Luna took in a deep breath and flapped her wings, shooting through the skies toward the apex of the tower.

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Cadance tapped a hoof on the stone railing that circled the perimeter of the tower balcony. Her eyes glazed over with boredom as her gaze traveled from the telescope stand to the makeshift bench and finally settling on a sapphire inlaid tea set that sat on the tiny nightstand beside it. The hot steam that had once risen from the pot had long since vanished. Cadance sighed and looked out over the rest of Canterlot, catching sight of a far off clock tower. The large spike of the minute hand lurched forward and struck the end of the hour. 

Cadance sank her head lower and lower towards the railing as the clock tower rang out its bell, silencing itself after the eighth ring. Cadance rested her chin on her crossed forelegs and peered over the castle. Her eyes shifting from each lit room and chamber, before settling on a single bedroom, where a certain mentor and her student sat in clear view of Cadance's vantage point. Cadance smiled. They do look kinda cute together...

The beating of wings grabbed Cadance's attention and she quickly turned to face the disturbance. As if materializing from the night sky itself, Luna's outline slowly sauntered toward her until the light of the room behind them revealed her fully. Plastered over Luna's face was a goofy smile.

Cadance retaliated with a frown. "There you are. We were supposed to meet twenty minutes ago..."

Luna gave her wings a flap and tucked them against her barrel, bowing her head slightly. "My apologies for the delay, Cadance. I had to ensure that our curious little student would cooperate."

"She agreed to use the potion, then?" Cadance asked.

Luna lifted the lip off the teapot and peered inside. "Oh, when she heard of its existence, she was simply—" She place the lid back on the pot and gave Cadance a wide grin. "—ecstatic."

"You told her everything she needed to know?" Cadance hastily implored. "How much to use? How long it lasts?"

Luna waved a hoof in front of her. "Yes, yes. All that relevant information has been given to her."

Cadance took a hesitant step forward, leaning in close as if a spy would overhear. "And Celestia?"

"Oh, she will find out soon enough," Luna answered, still bearing her wicked smile.

Cadance tilted her head with a confused stare, before her eyes grew wide. "Wait, you mean... you didn't tell her? She doesn't know?!"

"Oh right, how foolish of me," Luna said, striding up to the telescope and grabbing hold of it. "I should have strolled right up to Celestia and said, 'Excuse me, sister, I had noticed your enamored affection for your student and thought it would be wonderful if you both indulged yourselves for the night by way of a love potion. Does that sound like fun?'." Luna forced the telescope to nod in agreement, before giving Cadance an indignant look.

Cadance's gaze plummeted to the floor. "It just doesn't seem right..."

Luna trotted over to the crystal princess and wrapped a wing around her. "Cadance, Tia has lived for over a thousand years. One tends to develop a thick skin in that time. I am sure she will be fine. There is very little that surprises her."

"Still..." Cadance said softly, her posture weakening.

Luna nudged her forward toward the railing. "Just think of it as a simple experiment, just a test for one single night."

Luna took station next to the telescope and centered it on her sister's room, giggling slightly as she brought her eye onto the lens. Cadance sighed before grabbing hold of a pair of nearby binoculars with her magic. She brought the binoculars to her eyes and peered down at the two mares below. Just a test... 

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"Now, w-where were we..." Celestia stammered out, grabbing the gold inlaid teapot with her magical grip. "Oh yes, you must remember, Twilight, that while 'coitus' is important and key to any romantic relationship, it should not be the sole focus. Intimacy can be expressed without resorting to such acts if the two truly love each other."

Twilight looked at her mentor quizzically. "But, isn't it the ultimate expression of love to another? Isn't that a good thing?"

Celestia poured the hot tea into her student's cup, her soft vocal tone returning. "It can be, but it can also cause great turmoil in the wrong circumstances. It is something to be considered only when you are ready."

"Coitus can cause turmoil?" Twilight asked, furrowing her brow and bringing a hoof to her chin. "But, but that doesn't make any sense."

Celestia finished pouring the tea into her own cup and sighed. "Unfortunately, some ponies only focus on their own physical desires and don't care for what is truly important. They miss out on all the wonderful things a healthy romance could bring and instead are left with merely a shallow and temporary experience." She set down the teapot, grabbed hold of the honey bottle and centered her sight on Twilight's eyes. "It is wise to be wary of these ones."

"But, if they both love each other, then that's not wrong, right?"

"It isn't a question of right or wrong, Twilight," Celestia stated, setting down the honey bottle and involuntarily stirring her tea with a spoon. "If somepony truly loves you, then they would always have your best interest in mind. They would never ask you to do something you aren't sure of merely for their own benefit. Should anypony goad you to do anything you feel uncomfortable with, make your boundaries clear." Celestia's face grew stern, her eyes focused. "Never allow yourself to just become a tool for their desires."

Twilight stared down at her teacup, her ears following suit. "This is all so confusing..."

Celestia's glare softened and she let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Twilight. I wish I could teach you more about the more positive aspects of romance, but I'm afraid that is something that you must experience yourself. I'm afraid I can only... guide you."

Twilight continued to stare at her tea, Celestia's words giving her little comfort. I wish you could...

Celestia frowned when Twilight gave no response. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words died in her throat. With nothing else to say, Celestia lifted her teacup to her lips. The aroma of exotic spices and nutmeg filled her nostrils. She shut her eyes and took a long sip. Despite the heat of the beverage, Celestia allowed the cup linger close to her muzzle as she slowly opened her eyes, her focus solely centered on Twilight. 

Her gaze failed to falter, her eyes growing half-lidded.

Twilight let out a long sigh and stood up from the table, unable to take the awkward silence any longer. "It's getting late..."

Celestia's eyes snapped to attention. "Twilight?"

"Yes?" Twilight asked, turning to face her teacher.

"There is one thing I wish to show you before you retire for the night," Celestia said, slowly lowering her cup back onto the table.

Twilight gave her a confused stare, her gaze lost in Celestia's sultry eyes. "What's that, Princess?"

Celestia stood up swiftly from the table and slowly trotted toward a small bookshelf near her bed. "Long ago, before the three tribes of Equestria ever set hoof in these lands, an ancient clan of unicorns dedicated their lives to the study of unicorn magic. They were known as the Namere." 

"Namere?" Twilight echoed in a curious tone. "Strange, I've never seen that tribe in my studies."

"Oh, I'm sure you haven't," Celestia replied, browsing the bookshelf book by book. "The Namere were a very secretive group that jealously guarded their knowledge, even going so far as to physically isolate themselves from the other tribes and only passing on their secrets through oral traditions. Eventually, they merged with the common Tribe of the Unicorn before the Great Winter. I do believe it may have been their ideals that inspired Starswirl the Bearded to pursue his interests in spellwork."

Celestia snuck a glance at her student, who sat back down at the table with rapt attention. Celestia giggled and returned to her search. "Anyway, the Namere cataloged entire libraries of spells, from the mundane and utilitarian to the powerful and majestic. They relentlessly studied every school of magic, in all their applications."

"Wow..." Twilight said, her eyes growing wide. "Why have I never even heard of them before?"

"Well, their assimilation into the common tribe wasn't exactly a peaceful one," Celestia replied, a tinge of sadness in her voice. "Most of their wondrous works have been lost to time, forgotten and neglected."

Twilight frowned and folded her ears. "That's awful..."

Celestia looked back at her student and smiled. "But, there are some works that have survived."

Twilight's eyes glistened and she smiled wide. "Really?!"

"Oh yes, there are a few texts that I keep in my own personal collection, carefully preserved for the right time and place," Celestia said, enveloping a large tome in golden magic, lifting it from the shelf and sauntering back to the table. Her bedroom eyes were fixated on Twilight as the purple mare scanned the cover of the old book. "In fact, there is one such text that is very... topical."

" 'Amorous Arcanum', Art of Sensual Magic?" Twilight read aloud. She took the book into her own magic and flipped through the pages. Her pupils shrank and her cheeks flashed red. "O-oh! They really did think of... e-everything. It even has, um, diagrams." 

Celestia let out a small chuckle and trotted over to Twilight's side, peering into the book along with her. "Turn to page three sixty four..."  

Twilight complied and flipped the tome to the right page. Inside was an extensive description of a magical ritual, the diagrams depicting two ponies in various positions, each one weaving streams of energy from their horns through intricate symbols inscribed upon their bodies. A few terms stood out in the midst of the text that only succeeded in intensifying her blush, not the least of which was the close proximity of "mind" and "connection". Twilight scanned through the rest of the instructions, but her eyes kept being drawn to the diagrams of the ponies, her mind filled with both fascination and terror.

Celestia grew a large grin. "Runic Chirapsia, a favorite of mine. Mental relaxation through magically assisted runic nerve therapy."

Twilight's eye twitched. "It looks, um, complicated..."

"It may seem so at first, but with practice, it becomes second nature," Celestia replied, once again giving Twilight her bedroom stare. "Do you remember your question to Cadance? About how you could know who is the right pony for you?" 

Twilight snapped her focus from the diagrams to her mentor, her blush as bright as ever. "O-of course..."

Celestia looked back towards the open book. "Well, this technique is a surefire way to... discover that bond."

"How?" Twilight asked.

Celestia drew her muzzle in close to Twilight's ear. "Let me show you..."

Twilight's inquisitive eyes followed Celestia as the sun princess took a step backwards. Celestia craned her neck downward, tapping her horn against Twilight's cutie mark and surrounding it in a golden aura. Twilight's flank quivered, her mind involuntarily pleading her to react, but the purple unicorn fought off the urge. She dared not move, even as a slight tingle settled into her flank.

Celestia shut her eyes and mumbled a phrase under her breath, stretching out a hoof in front of her and carefully tracing the air as magic enveloped her hooves. With elegant gestures, the sun princess sketched out the markings of an ancient rune, the image of a circle, an eye, crossed with lines and contours from every direction. Celestia opened her eyes and studied the sparkling glyph suspended before her. She gave a smirk and made a small edit with a swift hoof before depressing the center of the rune.

The rune reacted in kind, shining brightly before flowing gently into Twilight's cutie mark. The magical inscription swelled into her flank, producing a soft golden glow before trickling outward in hundreds of streams of sparkling light. Twilight's eyes frantically followed each lay line as they snaked their way across her barrel and down her legs. Each line eventually curled itself into a spiral, save for the few that traveled up her neck. Twilight's gaze became crossed as the streams wrapped themselves along her muzzle and eyes. The last remaining lines curved themselves around her horn, giving off a final spark as their journey ended and a resulting wave of heat shot through Twilight's spine, causing her to shudder.

Celestia smiled at her work and began tracing the air once again. She motioned swiftly with a practiced hoof, drawing a rune of her own in record time. Ripping away her attention from her our intricate runes, Twilight snuck a glance just in time to see Celestia be given the same body treatment. Twilight stared at the sun princess with wide eyes, fully absorbed in the beauty of the intricate body art that now adorned her mentor.

Twilight gave her head a quick shake and averted her eyes. Her heart began to race and her blush returned. Waves of excitement and terror flowed into her brain in equal amounts, a cold sweat dripping from her forehead. She quickly turned her attention back to the book that lay on the table, desperate to occupy her mind.

Twilight swallowed down the lump in her throat. "Princess, t-the procedure calls for both parties to participate. I don't really know what I'm—"

Celestia calmly walked over to her student and casually closed the tome with her hoof. She tenderly rubbed her muzzle against Twilight's neck before speaking softly into her ear. "It's alright, my lovely little Twilight. Just follow my lead..."

Celestia pried herself off of her student and took a step back. She flared up her horn and slowly waved it high above Twilight, glowing hieroglyphs appearing from the golden fog and suspending themselves in the air. Twilight stared up at the ceiling, enraptured by the display. One by one, each glyph descended down near the floor, surrounding the two mares in a magic circle. 

Celestia flared up her horn again, but this time without the golden mist, a small ball of pure white energy taking its place at the tip. Celestia furrowed her brow and concentrated, the white energy reacting to her whims and gently snaking its way from her horn toward the purple mare below. The solid line of magic struck Twilight in her dock, sending a jolt straight through her spine and causing an involuntary gasp to escape her mouth.

Wave after wave of euphoria flooded into Twilight's mind, coaxing her into a trance. The world around her seemed to melt away, her only thoughts being of the sun princess. She slowly lowered herself to the floor, laying on her belly as her mind was overtaken by the experience. Flashes and memories of her life whisked by her, from her fillyhood all the way to the present, each one curiously seen through another pony's eyes.

Celestia struggled to keep herself upright, each breath she took becoming more and more labored. She perched herself over Twilight, towering over her student as she caressed the magical link up Twilight's spine. As the link moved, the white energy flooded its way down the hundreds of streams that snaked their way across both the mare's bodies. The two began to glow brightly; one gold, the other a deep violet.

The magic crept its way up Twilight's neck until finally coming to a stop at the tip of her own horn. Celestia leaned her horn in close, Twilight involuntarily craning her head back to meet her. The magic link grew brighter and brighter as the two horns closed in on each other. At last the two horns touched at the tip, focusing the energy into a tight sphere before flooding the room with an explosion of white light.

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Atop the tower, Cadance brought a hoof over her muzzle, a deep red flashing over her face. "O-oh, Celestia..."

A different flash of light interrupted Cadance's shock and she turned toward the disturbance. Luna stood with camera in hoof, clicking furiously as flash after flash shined brightly from the bulb. Luna ceased her documenting and gave Cadance a sideways glance, a sultry smile forming on her muzzle. "You know, I could procure that tome for you, if that is what thou desires."

Cadance's eyes darted from the scene below to her companion standing beside her. She searched the skies above for an answer before averting her gaze away. "U-um, I'll think about it..."

Luna giggled with glee. "Of course."

Cadance snuck a peek back at the two mares below, both crumpled near each other on the floor. Her eyes traveled to where Luna stood, still watching the scene with her telescope, bounding up and down like a school filly. "Maybe, we should give them their privacy."

Luna moaned as she backed away from her spyglass, turning to Cadance and presenting her with a pleading pout. "Do we have to?"

Cadance's indignant glare didn't waver.

Luna sighed and pushed the telescope skyward. "I suppose you are right..."

Cadance smiled at the night princess before trotting off the balcony and into the bright room behind them. Luna started to follow, but took one last look down at the bedroom below, chuckling to herself as she observed the scene. Treat her well, sister. Treat her well...

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Celestia slowly picked herself up from the floor, carefully balancing herself on her tired legs. She stumbled her way onto the bed, collapsing into an exhausted heap. Her eyes fluttered and fought to stay open, her breathing deep and labored.

"It... has been... quite some... time... since I've... done that," Celestia stated in between breaths.

Twilight wobbled slightly as she stood, each contracting muscle still sending signals of euphoria to her brain. She staggered toward the table, leaning her side on its rim. That... that was incredible! It felt so... so... I can't even describe it... gratifying? Relaxing? S-sensual? Celestia... Twilight turned her gaze to Celestia, the sun princess still recovering from the experience. I... I didn't know... that was how you felt... 

Twilight turned back to the table and retrieved her teacup. She grabbed hold of the honey bottle with her magic and poured two drops into her cup. See, Luna, I don't need your silly love potion!

Twilight took a long swig of her lukewarm beverage. Bengal spice tea was a rare treat for her ever since leaving the palace, seeing as the foreign flavors never really found their way into rural town markets. It was a unique taste: exotic spices, toasted nutmeg, the curious taste of blue...

Twilight's eyes shot open as she licked the roof of her mouth. She swallowed hard and felt for the bizarre taste once more. She looked down closely at her cup, the contents of which she discovered sparkled faintly. Her gaze panned down to the honey bottle, where the same distinct trace of golden sparkles popped from the tip of the spout. 

N-no...

Gravity overtook the teacup as Twilight's telekinetic grip dissipated around it. A sudden clang reverberated around the room, the teacup's sparkling contents spilling onto the wooden surface of the table below. Twilight stared at the mess, waves of sheer terror gnawing at her mind. 

The edges of her vision grew cloudy.

"Is... is something... wrong? Twilight...?" Celestia asked, awakened from her tired trance by the sudden disturbance.

A gasp escaped Twilight's mouth as she blinked furiously, desperate to dispel the golden fog that crept into her vision. "W-wrong?! N-n-no! I just—" 

What do I do?! What do I do?! Twilight's thoughts returned to last night, every last terrible scenario she thought of raced through her mind within moments. She recalled Luna's words, the promise, the instructions... the effects.

"I-I, I need to go!" Twilight shouted, turning toward the exit and bolting her way through the closed double doors of Celestia's bedroom. With nopony in sight, Twilight dashed through the palace hallways at breakneck speed. 

She raced past a junction and then another, unsure of where to go. A single command repeated over and over in her mind, one single focus.

Run! Run and don't look back!

Twilight rounded a corner and came to a screeching halt. Two royal guards stood diligently at their posts. 

Twilight gasped and quickly shut her eyes. She turned tail and fled down another corridor. She could see nothing but darkness, but she couldn't risk opening them now. 

She knew what would happen. 

One look was all it took.

Just one single—

A sudden impact jarred Twilight from her frantic thoughts. She crashed onto the stone floors below and skidded to a stop. 

Twilight slowly creaked open her eyes, a blurred figure entering her clouded vision.

"A-are you alright?" 

A gasp was all Twilight could muster before she swiftly shut her eyes again and jumped up onto her hooves. Twilight darted past the stranger and into another hallway. 

She ran as fast as she could. Her legs burned as she pushed them to carry her farther and farther. 

Her pace slowed as her adrenaline ran out. 

Exhausted, Twilight leaned up against the wall, taking heavy, deep breaths. She opened her eyes fully, only to see the golden fog encroaching even deeper into her gaze, blocking out the edges of her vision. She rubbed her eyes with her hooves, hoping they would be banished. She opened her eyes again, the clouds still haunting her sight. Twilight whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks. What am I going to do? 

Twilight looked up at the wall opposite of her and her ears perked up. Before her was a door, an elegant one befitting of a palace, yet ordinary by palace standards. The placard next to the door, however, was far from ordinary. On the sign was embossed a single word. Laboratory...

Twilight cautiously rose to her hooves and slowly approached the door, closing her eyes tight as she walked. She placed a hoof on the door handle and pushed the heavy door until a small crack was made in the doorway. "H-hello? Anypony there?" 

Twilight's greeting was met with silence. Tentatively, she opened one eye, then the other. The room was dark, save for the glow from the assortment of alchemical equipment that sat on a large oaken table. Without delay, Twilight trotted up to the table and frantically searched the area. "Antidote! Gotta find an antidote!"

Several books from the shelves that surrounded the table were enveloped in a magenta glow and levitated down in front of the exhausted unicorn. Twilight opened each book in turn, hastily flipping through page after page for any information. "No. No. No! No! No-no-no-no, NO! Gah!! Where is it?!" 

Twilight slammed her head into the large open textbook in front of her, her clenched hoof following suit. Ok, Twilight, calm down. There has to be something, just something, anything! Relax! Just relax. You'll be fine. Everything is going to be just fine...

Twilight lifted her head up and took a deep shuddering breath. She took another, and then another, looking back down at the textbook on the table. Her gaze was met with the ancient tale of Hearts and Hooves Day, buried underneath a mountain of footnotes and equations. Twilight scrunched up her nose at the sight of it. Oh! How could I be so stupid?! How could I not see this coming!? The eyes, the book, the thoughts! I should have known! I should have known it was that potion!

Twilight furrowed her brow and focused her nearly fully obscured vision on the textbook. "It'll be alright, Twilight... you'll fix this... you..." She let out a large yawn, her eyes half-lidded. "You will... you will... fix... this..."

Twilight's head slumped down muzzle first into the open book, the soft rhythmic breaths of slumber whisking her tired mind away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Twilight?"

Twilight's eyes shot open and she quickly scrambled to her hooves, knocking over loose bits of research paper and sending them flying in a flurry around her. The voice that called to her was soft and tender, yet the hairs on the back of Twilight's neck stood straight. The golden cloud of the potion still lingered on the edges of her vision. 

Her pupils shrank. She began to tremble. Oh no!

"Twilight? Is that you?" Celestia took a hesitant step forward. "What are you doing here? Why did you leave me?"

"P-princess! I... I..." Twilight stammered out, unsure of what to say. She dared not turn around, or even barely move a single muscle.

Celestia hung her head dejectedly, her gaze falling to the floor. "Was... was it something I said?"

"N-no!" Twilight quickly replied.

Celestia traced a fore hoof along the stone floor, before rubbing it against her leg. "Were you uncomfortable? Was I too forward?"  

Twilight sighed and shook her head. "I-it's not that..."

"Please, Twilight, tell me," Celestia softly implored. 

Twilight took in a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "Something terrible has happened..."

"So terrible that you won't even look at me?"

Twilight forced her eyes shut and furiously shook her tears away. "I-I can't!"

Celestia took another small step forward, a slight crack in her voice as she spoke. "Twilight, please, whatever it is I have done, I'm sorry. I'll, I'll make it up to you! I promise! Just please, Twilight, just... just look at me. At least give me that."

"B-but, but if I do I'll... we..." Twilight opened her eyes and fresh streams of moisture flooded their way down her cheeks. The fog of magic crept closer and closer to the center of her gaze. She gritted her teeth. "I-I just can't!"

For a moment, the lab was silent. Twilight froze in her seat and winced, alert for a reply. The candlelight dimmed as the flames died down, but still she didn't look. She cocked an ear toward her mentor, seeking any sign of a response.

All Twilight heard was a soft whimper.

"D-don't cry Princess... I—" Twilight's mind screamed at her to stop, but her heart took full control. She turned toward Celestia, her form being encased in the encroaching darkness of the room. "I..." The golden fog quickly replaced all traces of the darkness, blocking out everything in Twilight's sight, save for the beautiful sun princess who stood before her, still adorned with sparkling violet runes.

Twilight took a step forward, closing the gap between her and Celestia, inches away from her muzzle. Celestia ceased her sobbing and opened her eyes. The two mares locked their gazes on each other, their mouths moving closer and closer. Twilight smiled at her mentor. Celestia smiled back.

Twilight closed her eyes as her lips embraced Celestia's own. I love you...

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Twilight winced after a sharp beam of light pierced straight through her eyelids and into her retinas. Morning sunlight flooded in all around her, bathing her eyes in unwelcome brightness. She closed her eyes, desperately trying to dispel the fuzzy black spots that danced across her vision.

Twilight moaned slightly and stretched out her neck, cracking out the stiffness usually associated with sleeping on the hard cover of a history textbook. She looked down at her makeshift pillow, noticing the faint line of loose drool that hung between her lips and the cover below. She shut her eyes again and sighed, grasping the book within the crook of her foreleg and pulling it close.

It... it was just a dream...

With a contented smile of relief, Twilight rolled over onto her side, aimlessly grasping around her until she caught her hooves on a nearby sheet. She pulled it toward her body, seeking the warmth that it promised her. She tugged at the blanket, but it stubbornly refused to move. Twilight repeated her actions with more force, yet it yielded the same result. She creaked open her eyes, searching for the defiant disturbance.

Twilight's gaze was met with a golden sun, emblazoned upon a pure white flank, a pastel aura flowing slowly behind it. Pearl colored wings lay flat against a magnificent snowy coat, extending down to bare ivory hooves. Violet lay lines inscribed upon her fur still sparkled with runic magic. The white alicorn stirred for a moment, curling her head in and resting them on her fore hooves before continuing on in blissful slumber.

Celestia smiled. Twilight didn't smile back.
> Chapter Four - Unintended Consequences 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

No…

Twilight took an unsteady step back from the bed with a still happily slumbering Celestia laying on top. No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no... NO! This! Can`t! Be! Happening!

She looked down at her body, still painted with rivers of faintly pulsating magic. Her eyes darted rapidly around the room. A bedroom, Celestia’s bedroom. Sunlight beams poked through curtained windows. Afternoon? No, morning? The alchemy textbook laid lazily where she had slept, but the laboratory? Gone, without a trace. How did I get here?! What happened last night?!

Another, more cautious glance around the room provided no answers for her, only succeeding in further hampering her breathing. Her mind raced, trying desperately to piece together the scene before her. The evidence was obvious, yet she refused to believe it. It was clear that she and Celestia...

Her eyes widened. Her breathing grew short. Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh!!

Twilight shut her eyes tight, cringing at the thoughts that flashed in her head.  Horrifyingly plausible scenarios flashed before her mind, each one worse than the last. She tried to purge what little she could from her mind and took in a much needed breath. Ok! Calm down, Twilight! Deep breaths! Just take a deeeeep... breath. 

While it took a few shallow attempts, Twilight's breathing more or less normalized.

She steadied herself and opened her eyes, holding her chin high. Ok, plan! Need a plan of action! I... Her eyes drifted back to the beautiful princess still asleep on the bed. 

I-I gotta get out of here!

Twilight turned toward the bedroom’s exit and crept her way across the room. Each hoof-fall was a silent as a cat’s, careful not to disturb any obstacles on her way out. Her horn flared up as the door obeyed her telekinetic command to open as she stepped out into the—

"Leaving so soon?"

A quiet yelp escaped from Twilight as she spun around to meet the voice that was leaning against the wall. "Luna?!"

"Ohhh my..." Luna said with a grin, eyeing Twilight's glowing body up and down. "Well, how was your evening?"

Twilight’s eye twitched. "H-how was my evening?" She took an involuntary step forward, her back arched up. "How... was my... evening!?" 

"There is no need to thank me," Luna proclaimed, almost with a bow.

"Thank you?!” Twilight practically yelled. “Luna! How could you do this to me?!"

Luna merely kept smiling at her. "I was only giving you what you wanted."

"What?! I never asked for this!" Twilight pointed a frantic hoof at the markings on her body. "I-I didn't want— this!"

Luna rolled her eyes. "Oh Twilight, why must you continue to be in denial of your feelings? Tis plain for all to see, why do you choose to ignore it?"

"No!" Twilight shut her eyes and whirled around, cuffing her ears with her hooves. "T-there are no feelings! None at all!"

Twilight opened her eyes only to find a photograph dangled in front of her. It was her… and Celestia… from last night... right at the moment they...

"Do not be so sure about that, Twilight," Luna giggled. "Judging from last night, those feelings are quite clear."

"T-that’s—"

The photograph flew out of view and was replaced with Luna’s smiling face. "Did you not enjoy the time you spent in my sister's company?"

"I..."

"Be honest," Luna demanded, pointing a hoof at her.

Twilight’s eyes sank to the floor. "Y-you wanted this, not me..."

"Stop lying to yourself, Twilight,” Luna scoffed. “There is nothing wrong with the way that you feel."

"All I wanted was to know..." Twilight said, wrapping a hoof around her foreleg. 

"And now you do!" Luna said, nearly dancing her way in front of the purple unicorn.

"B-but, I never wanted it to go... this far..."

"Twilight,” Luna said, with a soft smile. “You should be proud of yourself! Not just anypony can truthfully say they have had the honor of courting the Sun Princess herself. Speaking of Tia..." Luna crept up to the doorway at stole a peek into the bedroom. She chuckled. "Oh, sister. So tired after such a long night, even her internal clock is overruled.” She looked over at Twilight with a wink. “You must have had quite the effect on her." 

A sad look was all that was given, Twilight’s eyes averting to the floor afterward.

"Well, we cannot have poor Tia sleep through this glorious morning!"

Twilight shot up from the floor. "W-wait! Luna—"

The doors to Celestia’s bedroom flew open as Luna sauntered in. "Good morning, dear sister! Rise and shine!" 

On the bed at the other end of the room, Celestia gently stirred from her blissful sleep. She stretched out her sleep addled body and let the pure white sheets fall gracefully off her body. The morning sun glistened off the runes that swirled across her body, the brilliant shine outdone only by her soft, half-lidded gaze. "Good morning, Luna." She said softly. "And you as well, Twilight."

Luna fluttered next to the bed. "Did you sleep well?"

"Better than I have in a thousand years," Celestia replied with a satisfied moan. She then looked over at her student. "All thanks to you, my lovely little Twilight."

"Huh?" Twilight said aloud.

"Really?" Luna replied with starry eyes and a dreamy smile.

"Oh, Luna," Celestia said with a soft smile. "Twilight and I, we both had such a wonderful time together last night."

Twilight’s eyes grew wide. Luna’s expression vanished. 

"Last night?” Luna asked. “You... remember last night?"

"Of course," Celestia said with a little laugh. "How could I forget even a single memory of my lovely little student? Moments in time I will cherish for eons to come?" She looked over at Twilight with dreamy eyes.

"O-oh..." Luna said, slowly looking back to Twilight.

"Oh Twilight,” Celestia said, rising from the bed and approaching an apprehensive Twilight. “Please, forgive me. All this time, I've been holding back this feeling, afraid of how you would react, afraid of what you might think of me." She reached out her wings and pulled Twilight into her embrace. "I wish I had known..."

"P-princess..." Twilight’s eyes snapped to Luna, pleading for her aid.

"But that is in the past now,” Celestia said, pulling away and looking right into Twilight’s eyes. “Today is a new beginning, for the both of us!"

"W-what?" Twilight stammered.

Celestia hugged her again. "I am so very blessed to have you as my own personal companion, my lovely little Twilight!"

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Tia, are you... feeling well?”

Celestia released her student and put a hoof to her chin. “Well, I do feel the need to freshen up a bit...” She snuggled her nose against Twilight’s. “I’ll be just a moment, my lovely little Twilight.”

Celestia rose and walked over to her personal restroom at the other end of the bedroom, closing a pair of heavy doors behind her. Twilight and Luna merely sat in stunned silence, even after the doors secured themselves tightly closed. Twilight slowly turned back to Luna.

"Luna," Twilight asked. "W-what's going on?"

"I am... unsure..." Luna replied, still staring ahead. "No, no this cannot be right. She should not have remembered. Something is wrong, very wrong."

"I thought you said the potion’s effects were temporary," Twilight stated.

"T-they are…” Luna asserted. “Or, at least, supposed to..."

Twilight’s eyes went wide. "What do you mean, 'supposed to'?!"

Luna grit her teeth. "Well, the potion has not been exactly—" She hesitated, not wanting to finish.

“Exactly... what?” Twilight pressed, worry plastered all over her face.

"Tested, yet..." Luna said, biting her lip.

"Luna!"

"Twilight, calm down!"

"Calm down?!” Twilight exclaimed in a hushed voice, looking back to the room Celestia had retreated to. “Do you realize what you've done? What were you thinking?!"

Luna backed away from Twilight. "I-I realize this looks bad—" 

"Bad?!” Twilight could only barely contain a scream. “Luna, your potion was untested! Who knows what else will go wrong! For all we know, she could start loving anything she sees or start hating everything! O-or maybe the effects last—" She gulped down hard. "—f-forever..."

"No!” Luna proclaimed. “No, it will not come to that, Twilight! I can fix this. I-I will fix this!”

She turned toward the bed and caught sight of the alchemy textbook from the lab. Snatching it up in her magic, Luna frantically leafed through the pages until landing on the problem potion in question. She rapidly scanned the contents, searching for an answer. “I will simply reverse the potion’s effects, a-and everything will return back to normal. Y-yes, it will be as if none of this had ever happened.”

“How?” Twilight asked.

“Uhm...” Luna once again read the book, slower this time. “There must be something here, an antidote or perhaps a spell...”

Twilight groaned. “I’ve already tried that! The potion was a custom brew. There aren’t any known antidotes for it!”

“Then we shall have to develop one ourselves,” Luna stated, placing last night’s photo in place as a bookmark and slamming the book shut. She turned to the exit to the hallway. “Worry not, Twilight. I will gather up Cadance and—”

“Cadance!?” Twilight exclaimed. “W-why? What does she have to do with any of this?”

Luna slapped a hoof into her forehead and gritted her teeth. Cursing under her breath, she turned back to Twilight. “She... uh... has extensive knowledge and experience in this field, Twilight. Her assistance would prove more than invaluable.”

Twilight bit her lip, but nodded her head. “O-ok, but let’s not tell Shining. I would prefer it if he didn’t know...”

Luna nodded back. “Agreed. Nopony else must know of what has transpired here.”

“Ok, let’s go,” Twilight said, approaching the doorway.

“Twilight, wait!” Luna said, barring the purple unicorn from the exit. “I need you to stay with Tia.”

“What?!”

“Please, Twilight!"

Twilight nervously looked over at the restroom, then to Luna. "But Luna, I can't—”

"Twilight, listen!” Luna knelt down to Twilight’s level and looked her right in the eye. “It is like you have said, we have no idea what else has gone wrong with the potion. I need you to keep her safe, to ensure that nothing terrible happens to her before we devise a solution.”

“But—”

“You are the only one I can trust with this,” Luna begged. “Please, Twilight. Promise me you will watch over her. Promise me you will protect her. Please!”

“I...” Twilight tried to finish her sentence, but only sighed. “I promise.”

Luna breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Twilight.” She rose again and trotted out into the hallway. “Now, I must make haste.”

Twilight watched her leave, but she shot up and chased after her into the hallway. “Wait! Luna!”

Luna spun around to face her. “Yes?”

“What if she, uhm...” Twilight shifted in place, rapidly averting her eyes. “...tries something?”

Luna’s eyes widened. “W-well, uh...” She furrowed her brow in thought for a moment. After a moment, she fixed a stern face at her. “Twilight, Tia is a very... dominant mare. Should she attempt to make an advance, strive to—” She grit her teeth. “—limit... your resistance.” 

Twilight’s eyes looked to be on the verge of tears. Luna bowed her head and gave her a stern nod. “Stay strong, Twilight. Stay strong.”

With that, Luna turned and galloped down the hallway. Hoof-falls faded away as Twilight only sank lower to the floor, covering her head with her hooves. She stared off into space, her mind churning with desperate thoughts. Her eyes welled up. No matter how hard she thought, no matter how hard she tried to conjure an escape plan, her mind would fail her. Every possible scenario would only result in disaster... and in only end with...

Twilight slammed a hoof on the floor and hopped to her hooves, determination in her eye. You can do this, Twilight. Just remember what you were taught. Make your boundaries clear. Yes, clear boundaries…

With a slight push, Twilight eased open the bedroom doors and cautiously walked inside. The room was eerily quiet, not a stir anywhere. Twilight stole a glance over at the restroom only to see the its doors wide open and unlocked. She bit her lip and darted her eyes all around the room. Not a thing in the room was disturbed. All was as it was before she had left.

“P-princess? Princess Celestia? ” Twilight asked. She crept into the room, mindful to keep the door still open. She pushed herself to take each shaky step, constantly keeping the exit in her periphery vision, craning her ears in every direction to catch even the slightest disturbance. She advanced almost to the center of the room.

Twilight's voice lowered to a whisper. "A-are you there?"

A single white feather landed squarely on Twilight's snout. 

“Gotcha!”

Twilight jumped straight up a clear few inches right into Celestia’s awaiting clutches. Twilight squirmed in her grasp and fell back down on her rump. She whirled around and scrambled back onto her hooves, awkwardly smiling and attempting to create some distance between them. “Princess! I-I was just looking for you...”

Celestia floated down from the ceiling,  giggled at her student, and fixated on her with sultry eyes. “Were you, now? Seeking me out all alone? For what purpose, might I ask?”

Twilight's backpedaling grew more frantic. “I, uh...”

“Well, you found me,” Celestia cooed, following her student step by step. “And here we are, all alone...”

“Princess, I—”

Celestia put a hoof on Twilight’s lips. “Words are not needed, Twilight. Simply relax...” She whisked the little unicorn in her magic and floated her onto the bed. “...and enjoy.”

Twilight’s eyes grew wider and wider as Celestia towered over her, helplessly on her back with no hope of escape. Her mind screamed at her to take action, to do something, anything! Her body was paralyzed, frozen, shivering with fear... and anticipation. She screwed her eyes shut and cringed. Oh no. Oh no! Oh no! Oh princess, p-please... 

Be gentle...

A burst of air hit Twilight’s belly. 

Her eyes shot open. Her mouth curled into a smile. “P-princes-eh-ess!” 

Another loud burst of air rippled its way across her belly. Twilight couldn’t suppress her laughter. “Celestia! Stop-p! S-stop! S-sto-p! T-that, that tickles!”

Celestia ceased her assault for a moment, watching her giggling student squirm. “Is my lovely little companion ticklish? Oh, what fun!”

Celestia unleashed another barrage of raspberries on Twilight’s stomach. Twilight tried in vain to halt the tickle attack, but couldn’t divert her strength away from her laughter. Her eyes teared and her legs tensed up. She curled up as tight as she could, but this too proved to do nothing to stem the tide of the tickle attack. Her futile struggle ran out of steam, and she ceased all resistance, letting her laughter overtake her.

At long last, Celestia finally stopped, laughing and giggling along with Twilight.

The two mares allowed their laughter to slowly die down. For the first time that day, Twilight held a genuine smile on her face. She locked eyes with Celestia, who also wore her own soft smile. Her bedroom eyes, however, did not change. Despite her mind commanding her not to, Twilight kept her smile regardless. 

A low growl escaped from Twilight’s belly. “Oh, uh...” Her cheeks went red. “Looks like I’m a bit hungry...”

“Well then,” Celestia replied, playfully rubbing her snout against Twilight’s. “Let’s go get some breakfast!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

The light shafts of a new morning flooded into the royal guest chambers through the lazily closed drapes at the far side of the room. They rose sharply as the sun greeted the sky, pushing the light all the way to the bed where Cadance and Shining Armor were sleeping. Cadance stirred from her sleep as morning light bade her to wake up. She responded with a hoof over her eyes and rolling away from the assault, clutching at her husband who lay beside her. Shining Armor merely yawned and turn to meet her. Both sleepy eyes locked on one another.

“Good morning...” Cadance said.

Shining Armor rubbed his eyes with a stiff hoof. “Hmm? Oh...” He smiled when he caught sight of her. “Didn’t notice you there. Up late last night?”

Cadance blushed. “Yeah, sorry. Luna and I kinda lost track of time.”

“That’s why?" Shining Armor gave her a little pout. "I feel kinda left out.”

“If it makes you feel any better, the matter was really important," Cadance said with a frown, twirling at the sheets with a timid hoof. "You understand, right?”

Shining Armor laid on his back and shrugged. “I suppose...”

Cadance looked back up at him with bedroom eyes. “Well, how about I make it up to you?”

“Oh really?" Shining Armor asked with a cocked eyebrow. "What do you have in mind?” 

Cadance drew her head closer to his. “I’ll think of something...”

Shining Armor gave her a smirk. “You sure you don’t want to go grab Luna at all?”

“I much prefer stallions for this... particular idea,” Cadance replied, drawing closer and closer to her husband’s snout.

Shining Armor mimicked her advance. “Aren’t I the lucky one...” 

The bedroom doors flew open in a thunderous crash. Luna skidded to a halt as she frantically looked all around the room, finally fixating on Cadance. “Cadance! Quickly! Something terrible has—”

Cadance and Shining Armor stared back at her from the bed.

Luna’s cheeks flushed red and she whipped around till her back was to them. “F-forgive me! I was unaware that the two of you were currently engaged in intimacy.”

Shining Armor scratched the back of his neck with a nervous smile while Cadance brought a hoof to her forehead, rolling her eyes. “What is it, Luna?” Cadance asked through near gritted teeth.

“An emergency has arisen that requires your immediate attention,” Luna hastily explained, her back still pointed at the two ponies.

Cadance let out a sigh and turned to her husband. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright," Shining Armor replied, waving a dismissive hoof in the air. "We’ll have plenty of time later.” 

Cadance nodded at him and got up from the bed. She circled around and gave Shining Armor a kiss, who returned it in kind. Cadance gave him a smile and turned to the door, where Luna was already exiting the room from. She followed the moon princess out the doorway and into the hallway beyond.

“Luna, what—” 

A swift hoof jerked Cadance out of the doorway and Luna shut the door behind her with her magic. Cadance spun around with a cross look. “Luna! What's going on?”

Luna shushed Cadance with the tip of her hoof and looked up and down the hallway, searching for signs of anypony else. Satisfied, she returned her attention to Cadance. “It is about Twilight and Celestia.”

“What happened?”

Luna bit her lip. “I am afraid there has been a slight... complication.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Inside the famed palace library, Luna's assistant Raven Inkwell worked diligently to organize the royal schedule. The renowned silence of the state-of-the-art sound proofed room really helped her stay productive throughout the day. It was so nice to work in such a clean library with very little distractions, something Raven was very proud of, since she herself had to keep it in order. She allowed herself the indulgence of humming a cheerful tune as she scribbled away on scroll after scroll.

“Signed, Miss Raven Inkwell.” Raven scratched the last bit of her signature into the bottom of the page and placed her quill back into the inkwell on her desk. She retrieved a seal along with a ball of wax from inside her desk, careful not to disturb the large stack of sealed scrolls that were piled on top. “Well, that should do it.”

With a slight flick, she reviewed her handiwork. The flow of the paragraphs was fine overall, but she wasn’t sure if the request was clear enough not to receive questions. She frowned and looked up at the stack of letters to be delivered. Another draft, but she should have it done before—

The door to the library flew open. 

“But that’s impossible!” Cadance shouted.

Luna stormed into library with a confused Cadance trailing behind her. “I had seen it with my own eyes, Cadance.” 

Cadance firmly shook her head. “No-no-no, no. It should have already worn off. There simply isn’t enough power left from that kind of—”

Luna whirled around and nearly stuck her snout into Cadance’s face. “Then explain why she is still referring to Twilight as ‘lovely’.” 

“Well… uh, maybe…” Cadance bit her lip, her eyes darting back and forth searching for a thought. “But she slept didn’t she? The potion should have flushed out of her system by now. There is no way that potion is still in effect.”

Luna gave her a deadpan look. “Twilight most certainly did not agree with that assessment.”

“But…” Cadance plopped her rump onto the floor, her long stare lost in confusion. “The recipe was simple. The doses… there couldn’t have been… too little could it? No, too much? But it was so small… was I wrong?”

“Pardon me, your majesties.”

Both Luna and Cadance watched as Raven meekly passed with a bow, a wad of floating letters behind her. Luna rolled her eyes and turned back to Cadance. Her eyes went wide, however, and she whirled around.

“Wait!” Luna called out to Raven. “What are all those scrolls?”

Raven faced the moon princess and bowed down low, careful not to let her cargo or her glasses hit the floor. “The weekly duties, your majesty. I have everypony’s schedules planned out in—”

“The palace staff!” Luna exclaimed. “If Celestia...”

Raven gave her a confused look. “Er… yes…?”

Luna tapped a hoof on her chin for a moment, but stood in regal grace afterward. “Ms. Inkwell, I have a new decree.”

A parchment, quill and inkwell were swiftly readied. “Yes?” Raven asked.

“All palace staff are to have a full week of leave and may not return until exactly 7 days of time has elapsed,” Luna commanded.

Raven jotted down Luna’s instructions. “All non-essential staff, your majesty?”

“No, everypony.”

Raven nearly dropped her writing tools. “E-everypony?! Even the guards and the—?”

“Everypony!” Luna practically yelled.

“Oh uhh, r-right!” Raven quickly finished her note taking and set the mound of letters onto a nearby table. “I understand, no exceptions!”

Luna smiled and nodded at her. “Good, now run along.”

Raven bowed again and again as she retreated out of the library exit. Luna breathed a sigh of relief and wiped her brow. With another potential crisis averted, Luna turned to continue her conversation, only to find Cadance frowning at her. Luna raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Cadance asked, pointing to the huge stack of letters on the nearby table.

Luna waved a dismissive hoof. “Just taking precautions is all. The last thing we need is for this situation to spiral out of control.”

“Like it already isn’t…” Cadance quipped, rolling her eyes. 

A book flying straight into Cadance's face silenced her sarcastic response. She retrieved the open book from her face and read the title. Grave Concoctions and Snake Oils. She gave Luna a mean look.

Luna merely kept pulling book after book from the shelves, tossing a few of them in Cadance’s direction. “Cease your condescending remarks and start searching for a solution.”
> Chapter Five - Food for Thought
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The marbled hall of the palace echoed the sound of two sets of hoof-falls as Celestia and Twilight made their way to the royal kitchen. Celestia had a slight hop in her step as she walked, while Twilight trudged along with her head hung low. The hallway was eerily empty, devoid of the normal guardsponies that stood diligently at their posts. Instead, all that stood to witness her embarrassment were the abandoned spears of the guardsponies leaning casually against the walls. Twilight cracked a small smile and made a mental note to thank Luna for her foresight. A nice breakfast where nopony would be around to see them like this.

Celestia halted in front of a plaque labeled “Kitchen” and pressed the large door beside it slightly open. She stuck her snout inside the crack. “Hello?”

There was no answer. 

Celestia cracked the door open further, peering into the dark room of endless cupboards, cooking equipment and storage space. “Hello?" The greeting echoed into the room with no response in return. "Hmmm, nopony here either…” 

Twilight made a mental note to disregard her previous mental note. 

Celestia let out a huff as she stepped inside the empty kitchen, whirling back around to face Twilight with a frown. “Well, this simply will not do. We can’t have you go hungry all day, my lovely little Twilight.”

Twilight scratched the back of her neck. “I could just grab a snack or… maybe…” She pawed at the floor and grit her teeth. No! Think of something! Something that would occupy her for at least an hour or two. Keep her mind off of… 

“Why don’t we try to make something?” Twilight asked.

“Hmmm, tempting…” Celestia replied, tapping at her chin with her hoof. “What do you have in mind?” 

“H-have in mind…?” Twilight stammered. Oh no. Think! What do you know how to make? Uhhhh… Grr if only Pinkie were here! It needs to take long, be very complicated! ...But should also be tasty. No! C'mon, Twilight! Focus! Breakfast… breakfast… perfect breakfast…! 

“Uh, pancakes?” Twilight answered. Pancakes? Seriously?

Celestia mulled over Twilight’s words. “That would take a while to make…” Twilight winced a little when she said this, yet Celestia only gave her a warm smile. “My lovely little Twilight is positively famished, and I will not tolerate you starving in agony as we struggle to create a meal. But...” Her eyes wandered down the hallway and her warm smile turned into a sharp smirk. A twinkle sparkled in her eyes as she refocused her attention on Twilight. “They are not the only cakes we could enjoy...”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Celestia ushered her student further down the hall with her wing. “Follow along, my lovely little Twilight and you shall see.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Gah! Useless!”

Luna tossed yet another textbook over her shoulder into the massive book pile that formed in the middle of the library. The book dislodged a few others, causing an avalanche of jumbled parchment and hard book covers to tumble straight into the neat stack of unread books that were beside a diligently studying Cadance. Cadance looked up from her unfinished book and gazed upon the devastation of the once well organized library. She gave Luna an annoyed look.

“That book is as old as you are, you know,” Cadance quipped.

“We are very well aware, dear niece,” Luna replied through gritted teeth.  “We even recall the small doodle we had drawn in the corner of the inside cover. It has just as much use as it did in the past.”

Cadance rolled her eyes but set her sights on the one section that was still thankfully untouched. “Well, there is one more shelf to go through. I wouldn’t give up hope yet.”

Luna slammed her hoof on the floor. “We have already nearly scoured the entirety of this collection and still no answer! What are we overlooking?”

Cadance sighed. “I… I don’t know. I was sure that the Botanist's Guide to Advanced Alembic Techniques would have had at least some kind of clue…”

“What have ponies been doing these past thousand years? Have they learned nothing new about the arts and sciences?!” Luna cried out, kicking over another stack of books.

“Well, alchemy isn’t exactly a science.” Cadance replied with a smirk.

Luna wrapped a nearby book in her magic and took aim at her snarky niece. “If thou only wishes to sling biting remarks, then thou shalt—!”

A sudden knock came from the doorway to the library. Both alicorns silenced themselves and turned their complete attention toward the entryway. There was a small cough on the other side, followed by the sounds of nervous shifting. Luna dropped the book onto the floor with a resounding thud as she cleared her throat. “Enter.” 

Raven slowly opened the door and took a hesitant step inside, her approach only growing slower as she took in the sight of the disorganization before her. Her jaw dropped as she continued inside, but snapped closed when Luna jumped to the door and slammed it shut behind her.

Luna now gave her an annoyed look. “Well?”
 
Raven bowed low as she usually did. “F-forgive the intrusion, your highness, but—”

“Yes?” Luna interrupted with an impatient tone. “Has the palace staff vacated the premises?”

“Uh, yes,” Raven replied. “All members of the staff all took the news with… enthusiasm, but there is the matter with your scheduled audience with certain members of the Red Velvet Society as well as the meeting with the leaders of the Artisan Miners Union who—”

Luna groaned and slapped a hoof against her forehead. “Just… clear the schedule for the next week. We will not be taking any visitors in that time.”

“Yes, your highness. Should I send them a letter or would you prefer to see them in person?” Raven asked.

“Just send a—” Luna’s eyes snapped open. “A letter? Letters?! Cadance! That is it!”

Cadance raised an eyebrow. “Wha—”

Before she could say anything else, Luna jumped over to Cadance and wrapped a wing around her, forcing Cadance to her hooves. “Come! Quickly!” Luna commanded as she bolted out the doorway.

Cadance sighed and chased off after her, leaving Raven in the library.

Raven raced to the doorway into the hall. “B-but—! Princess, what…!?” The two princesses had already disappeared behind a corner before Raven could get another word out. With a dejected sigh, she returned to the center of the library, where the mound of books had overtaken her work desk. A few moments of digging later, she fished out a quill, an inkwell and some blank parchment from the pile. She let out a small sigh. “Letter it is then…”

Down the hallway, Cadance struggled to keep up with Luna as she galloped along. “Where are we going?!” she cried out to Luna.

“Celestia’s room!” Luna exclaimed as she continued to run. “She keeps a collection of Twilight’s letters there!”

The two mares continued on their way until finally reaching Celestia's sleeping quarters, where Luna’s pace began to slow. Cadance caught up to her, nearly out of breath. “Twilight... sends her letters? What about?”

“Friendship lessons, requests, advice. Subjects of that nature,” Luna replied as they both came upon the door to Celestia’s bedroom.

Cadance merely cocked an eyebrow at her. “So… this helps us… how exactly?”

Luna creaked open the door to Celestia’s room. “When one is not chained to castle walls, one finds many interesting individuals in their travels.”

As the door opened, Luna gleefully trotted over to her sister’s personal bookcase and rapidly riffled through it’s contents, spotting the collection of Twilight’s friendship reports fairly quickly. She pulled them out, one by one, scanning through the contents of each one before shaking her head and putting the scroll back in it’s place. Cadance approached with apprehension, but still a little bit of curiosity. 

“Oh? She knows somepony who can help?” she asked Luna.

Luna kept a letter open after reading it and shoved the letter she would have read next back into the shelf. She turned and smiled at Cadance. “Not somepony, Cadance. Some zebra.”

Cadance let out a low whistle. “A zebra? That’s kinda rare, but how is she going to help?”

Luna wrapped up the letter tight and tucked it under her wing. “Cadance, it is about time we consult with an expert.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ah, here we are,” Celestia stated proudly as she came to a halt in the middle of another empty hallway.

Twilight looked around. The two of them had been walking for the better part of an hour, traveling all the way to a far off corner of palace and her stomach had given her nothing but grief the whole way. She scanned up and down the hallway, but saw nothing.

“I…” Twilight tried once again to search for what Celestia was talking about. “I don’t get it. What’s here?”

Celestia giggled at her and leaned in close, bringing her voice to a whisper. “A very special place.” She pointed a hoof at the wall next to them.

Twilight’s hunger-addled mind studied where Celestia was pointing long and hard, but it was still to no avail. The wall was beautifully carved white marble in the middle of the hallway, perfect for an entrance to somewhere. Yet, that was the critically missing component. No doors, no room plaques, nothing. “It’s just a blank wall.”

Celestia smiled and sauntered up to the edge of the wall. She pressed an ear to it’s surface and lightly tapped on it with the edge of her hoof. “Only to the untrained eye, my lovely little Twilight. For beyond this very wall lies the legendary—” She spun around with sparkles in her eyes. “—Cake Vault.”

“Cake... vault?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow. “Why… why is there a…”

“Why, to store all our cake, course!” Celestia said with glee, clasping her forehooves together. “To protect them from the thieving hooves of renegade cake snatchers with a craving for cake of the highest quality. Some of these cakes go for hundreds of thousands of bits each. Everypony wants a piece of the action.” She closed her and licked her lips, letting out a moan. “The soft, velvety action.”

Twilight’s eyes were wide with both amazement and apprehension. “Wow, I never realized the, uh... ‘cake scene’ was so… cutthroat.”

Celestia gave her a firm nod. “Indeed. Only two ponies in the whole kingdom are aware of this secret.” Her face grew stern and her wings flared out. She towered over a now somewhat cowering Twilight before she continued. “What I am about to show you must never leave this hallway. Is that understood, my lovely little Twilight?”

Twilight meekly nodded at her. “O-ok…”

“Excellent!” Celestia said as she returned to her bright, cheery self.

Celestia flared up her horn and raised a hoof into the air. Bright golden magic enveloped her hoof as she carefully traced several runes into the marble wall. Twilight recognized a few of them. Lock. Secure. Forbidden. Very strong magic, considering what was beyond. Celestia finished drawing the last rune before taking a slight step back. 

The runes together resonated a low hum. A ring of golden energy erupted from the center of the symbols and spread out to form the profile of a large door, similar to all the other doors in the palace. Celestia cheerfully hopped up to the door again and gave the locking runes a sharp tap. The three runes fell to the floor like a bundle of unlocked padlocks. As the runes fell away, the golden doorway solidified into a tangible entryway. The newly solidified doors cracked free from the marble wall around them.

Celestia gave Twilight a wink and pushed open the new marble door. Twilight craned her neck to peer into the room, but it was too dark to see anything. With an outstretched wing, Celestia pushed her student into the room. Twilight gave token resistance as she skid along the floor, her curiosity outweighing her fear of the dark. Celestia followed her inside, giggling on her way in. Once inside, she sat on her rump, brought her two forehooves up and clapped them twice in rapid succession.

Spotlights from the ceiling burst to life. One by one, rays of light shone down from high above onto evenly spaced display cases placed throughout a sprawling vault complex. The cake cases were arranged as if in a museum, and would have passed for one too despite the spartan surroundings. Inside each case were cakes so beautiful and ornate that even the Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness couldn’t hold a candle to. With each reveal, Twilight’s eyes grew wider and her stomach grew louder.

“Whoa...” Twilight blurted out.

Celestia sat proudly with her head held high, gesturing to the cake fortune before them. “What do you think of the collection?”

“I’ve never seen anything like this before.” Twilight replied, her mouth watering and her belly becoming more unruly. Her eyes drifted from one fabulous dessert to the next. “If only... Pinkie were here to… to see this...”

“So, my lovely little Twilight, which cake would you like?” Celestia asked.

Twilight snapped to attention. “W-what?”

“Which one would you like to eat?” Celestia repeated.

“Which one!?” Twilight’s eyes darted back and forth, her mind screaming no while her belly simply couldn’t decide. “No, I-I couldn’t!”

Celestia laughed and waved a hoof at Twilight. “Go on, choose! Pick your favorite!”

“Well, I...” Twilight bit her lip, her mind now totally dominated by her hunger. She timidly perused the selection, eyeing each cake for a shallow glimpse at what they might taste like. Every flavor under the sun was represented. Fruit swirl, white wedding, orange chocolate, angel food, velvet marble. The list was near inexhaustible. Cake after cake she passed by, each one more ornate in its construction than the last. The towering red velvet caught her eye, but so too did the elaborately decorated pound cake. There were simply too many choices, too many possibilities. Which one is my favorite? Carrot cake was always the standard, but favorite? I haven’t even tried half these flavors! Maybe the chiffon… Wait! Which one is Celestia’s favorite?! Gah! She never told me! Uhhh...

Unable to decide, Twilight closed her eyes, spun around in circles and stopped, pointing a hoof directly in front of her. “How about this one?”

Celestia smiled. “Lemon Cloud Velvet.”
 
Twilight opened her eyes and gazed at her choice of cake. It was tall and slender. The fluff of the pastel frosting resembled clouds so closely one couldn’t tell the difference from sight alone. It was completely to-scale, every detail carefully hand-picked to resemble the genuine article as close as possible. To perfectly mirror the royal body into a cake-like form was not merely a technical marvel, but a true expression of a love for the craft and deep respect for the subject at hand.  

Twilight rubbed her eyes. It looked just like her.

Celestia strolled up to her culinary mannequin and stood proudly beside it. “You certainly have good taste, my lovely little Twilight.”

Twilight blushed. The resemblance was uncanny.

Despite this, Celestia wasted no time in unlocking the magic barriers around the display case. The runes were not as complicated as before, but still required a delicate touch. Twilight could see that she wasn’t the only one who wanted to dig in, but something about eating a cake that looked just like—

A siren blared and a cage fell from the ceiling over the display case. 

The two mares jumped a good few feet in surprise. Twilight looked around the room frantically. “Wha- W-who- How—?!”

Celestia merely cocked a smirk at the cage. “Ah, so she did have it installed.”

“What?! What installed?”

Celestia sat on her rump and took on a posh tone. “‘Foolproof security measures of the utmost quality to ensure the continued safety of our cake fortune’, as Luna so eloquently put it.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “But… I thought you said only two ponies know about this place.”

“Exactly,” Celestia said with a smile and a nod.

With that, Celestia approached a different display case and observed it closely. She slowly waved a hoof above the glass only to retract it once the same siren blared. Another cage slammed into place, barring any further attempts to free the baked prisoner.

Celestia gave a slight frown but continued her search, approaching another nearby display case. She looked over the case carefully, examining every working mechanism. She tested the rune locks on the case. As she did so, the magic chains that bound the runes there displayed a foreign line, a trigger that lead straight to the alarm. 

“Aha! It seems that my dear sister has only poured half her heart into this endeavor.” Celestia stated proudly. In one swift motion, she cut down the line and unlocked the case. There was no alarm. A triple-layered red velvet cake with snow white frosting and hard red candy hearts stood in the center of the display, ready to be plundered. “Now we shall feast!”

“Are you sure?” Twilight asked.

“Why of course, my lovely little Twilight.” Celestia replied as she slid the cake’s platter toward her. 

A jostling of mechanical equipment reverberated from above. Twilight’s gaze shot up to the ceiling where a familiar looking cage dislodged itself from its housing. “Princess! Look—”

Red confection splattered in all directions as the cage crashed into the cake below.

 “...out.” Twilight whimpered.

The cake was decimated. White frosting had splattered itself a good 5 feet in every direction. Candy hearts peppered the floor. Large chunks of cake clung lazily to the cage that had cut it clear in half, while the rest of the cake found itself all over the floor and an unfortunate princess. 

Celestia opened her eyes, bits of cake falling to the floor. She took in a short breath, despite the fact that her muzzle was completely covered in white frosting. “Seems… I was mistaken.”

Twilight cringed at the sight of her mentor. Sitting there, covered head to hoof in mangled cake, totally foiled by her own arrogance, the sheepish position she must be in, the embarrassment of a nice breakfast ruined so spectacularly. Anyone would have a hard time not feeling sorry at the sight. Twilight had a hard time trying not to laugh. 

“A-are… are you alright, Princess?” Twilight asked, barely stifling a giggle.

Celestia looked down at herself and wiped away a little cake from her snout with her hoof. “Covered in cake like this? Why, it’s a most wondrous feeling.” 

“T-that’s—” Twilight swallowed down another urge to laugh and gave Celestia a broken smile. “That’s good to hear.”

Celestia balled the mangled cake inside the golden glow of her magic and gave Twilight a sideways glance. “Indeed, my lovely little Twilight. You should really—” The ball shot forward. “—try it for yourself!”

Twilight slowly opened one eye as frosting dibbled down her cheek. Shock and horror flashed across her face as Celestia laughed heartily a few feet away. Her look of shock turned into a playful smirk and her horn flared to life. “Oh! Now you’re gonna get it!”

Another barrage of mushy cake flew towards Twilight as she charged toward Celestia. She dipped and dodged, scooping up ammunition of her own as she ran. Cake bullets lit up the vault as each pony jockeyed for position, desperately searching for a clear flank on their opponent. Display cases became makeshift cover and soon the mess spread all over the vault.
 
Twilight stole a peek out from her temporary fortification, a ball of cake goo ready to be fired. She spied the still brilliantly flowing pastel mane of her mentor from across the room. Too far for a clear shot. 

Rapid cake fire splattered towards Twilight’s position. 

Suppression!

She searched for options. A security cage to her left. No good, too exposed. 

Another case to the right. The angle of fire was too close. She’d never make it.

Twilight blindly tossed what little cake she had back at her attacker, yet the barrage remained relentless. She looked down at the floor under her. Barely any cake scraps left. She scooped up what she could and braced herself against the display case. She listened carefully for any sign of a break. Splattered frosting still spilled over the display. Her mane was only further caked in sugary goodness. 

Cake ball after cake ball. Fast flying goop. The sounds of splattering dessert still ringing in the air. The assault was relentless. No room for error. The slightest lapse in concentration could spell disaster.

Twilight shut her eyes. She perked her ears. She crouched down low.

Begging for reprieve. You gotta run out of ammo sometime! 

A pause. A stillness. A moment of silence. 

Twilight leap into action. She wound up her shot, bursting from cover. “Aha! Take tha—”

A sudden impact stuck Twilight’s open mouth and she tumbled to the floor, her confectional ordinance plopping onto the floor. She rolled to a stop flat on her side, skidding through a mass of decimated cake. After a brief moment of dizziness, her vision cleared.

Across the room high in the air, Celestia hovered above with a near pristine white cake beside her, a single piece cut out of it. Twilight looked down at her muzzle and spied the missing piece between her teeth, perfectly shaped as if it had just been sliced away. She was a good hundred feet away, too. At a moving target no less.

“Gotcha,” Celestia said softly before letting out a giggle.

Twilight bit down on the cake and gave a sheepish smile. She let out a satisfied moan as she chewed. Lemon Cloud Velvet, just like she picked. It was little wonder why this cake was kept here. The impeccable taste, the excellent texture, the profound lightness. It was second to none.    

“It tastes… really good…” Twilight said through closed eyes.

Celestia fluttered down to where Twilight laid and sliced out a piece for herself. She put the large layered cake down and held the piece before her to admire. “Wonderful, isn’t it? One of my absolute favorites.”

Celestia took a delicate bite and revealed in ecstasy as she chewed, her wings fluttering ever so slightly. Twilight watched her enjoy the cake and devoured her own piece as well. Their eyes locked together as they finished their well deserved meal. Despite the huge mess around them, Twilight couldn’t help but smile at her. Celestia gave a warm smile back. 

“Whoa…”

The two cake covered mares whipped around to the doorway of the vault, where a very surprised captain of the guard stood. 

“Shining!” Twilight blurted out as she shot up from the floor. “We—! I-I, uh...!”

Shining Armor scanned the vault, half with amazement and half with befuddlement. “Looks like you two are having fun…”

Twilight pawed at the floor. A bit of soggy cake followed her hoof. “Sorry.”

“Oh, so much fun. Alas, now it’s time to clean up.” Celestia let out a short laugh and enveloped a surprised Twilight in golden magic. She hoisted her struggling student into the air and trotted toward the exit. “Shining Armor, would you be a dear and call for the maids. Don’t worry about this little mess. I’ll take very good care of her…” She gave Twilight half lidded eyes. “...myself.”

Twilight’s expression was swiftly replaced with dread. Helpless in her grasp, she floated along as Celestia trotted off down the hallway. 

Shining Armor waved after them. “Yeah, no problem. See ya, Twily.” He turned his attention to an approaching sound behind him. “Oh, Raven! Perfect timing. We’re gonna need some help in here.”







 

> Chapter Six - A Dip into the Unknown
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The light of the mid-day sun was barely able to pierce its way down to the forest floor below, where a pair of tall, plainly cloaked mares walked along the ever winding paths of the Everfree Forest. Trees rustled all around the two travelers as wild winds crashed against the dense wooden palisades, yet only the faintest of breezes could be felt along the path, shifting fallen leaves ever so slightly as they continued on their way. The sounds of untamed creatures echoed in the distance, sending a shiver down Cadance’s spine.

“A-are you sure this is the right place?” 

“Positive,” Luna stated. “Twilight is very meticulous when it comes to describing her friends.” 

“It’s just kinda weird, living in the Everfree Forest like this,” Cadance said, keeping a careful eye on her footing. “Why doesn’t she live in Ponyville? It’s only half a day's hike from here.”

“From what I have gathered, it has something to do with issues regarding a difference of cultures,” Luna said, brushing aside a spider’s web with a flick of magic. “Besides that, I have a feeling she prefers the isolation.”

“Why do you think that?”

Luna stopped and turned to face Cadance, stretching out a hoof in front of her. “Imagine for a moment you were an accomplished alchemist, who could wield power on par with the greatest magicians with only the sip of a potent mixture of your own design, benign or malicious.” She grabbed hold of Cadance with her wing and drew her in close, flaring up her horn and enveloping her outstretched hoof in increasingly wild magic. “Now imagine that... along with the addition of the general pony population.” 

The volatile ball of energy rattled all over her hoof. Luna cocked an eyebrow. “What is the worst that may happen?”

The ball burst into harmless little sparks. 

“Alright, alright. Point taken,” Cadance said with a sigh. 

Luna gave Cadance a satisfied nod and the two mares continued their trek. Another howl in the distance caused Cadance to shudder again. Gnarled roots and sizable boulders dotted the path, and the overgrowth of plant life tried its best to obscure the way forward. Yet, even then, fallen logs had been moved aside and recently filled pot-holes were a common sight. 

“What was her name again?” Cadance asked.

“I believe she was called ‘Zecora’,” Luna replied.

“How did Twilight meet her?”

“It is an interesting tale,” Luna said, smiling wide as her trot picked up steam. “Twilight and her friends had thought that she had cursed them all and hidden away a sibling foal. What had actually transpired, however, was that they had instead all been afflicted by a sub-species of the poison joke plant and the ponynapping was all just a  misunderstanding.” She let out a short chuckle, kicking a stone off the pathway. “Amusing to say the least.”

“I guess living out here really is a good idea,” Cadance said.

They continued along the path in silence for a little while longer.

“Look!” Luna said, pointing toward a faint light source over a small hill. “I believe we are now close.” 

The two shrouded mares quickly ascended the earthen obstacle and stood at its peak, looking over a small bog with a simple hut at its center.  

“The Zebra’s hovel,” Luna said.

“Pretty modest place for a master artisan,” Cadance quipped.

Luna gave Cadance an annoyed look, but merely rolled her eyes. “Let us go.”

Careful to avoid the swamp water, Luna and Cadance hurried over to the the sod built hut. A bright light shone through the open hole that served as a window and the faint sounds of boiling liquid echoed from within. Cadance clutched at her cloak as the two mares approached, but Luna stood up tall and rapped her hoof against the front door.

A slight rustle came from inside. “A visitor knocks at an unexpected hour, a stranger to this forest who did not cower. Speak out you who has traversed this way, why have you made this journey today?”

“We wish to speak to Zecora. It is urgent,” Luna answered.

After a brief moment, the door to the hut opened. Zecora stuck her head outside and flashed a look of surprise as she caught sight of her visitor’s faces. “Do my eyes yet lie about what they see, or is it true that two princesses stand before me? Do please come inside and tell why you’ve come, before the dangers of the woods you succumb.”

Luna and Cadance followed Zecora into the hut. The walls were filled with exotic decorations from a far off land, yet at the same time, the floors and workspaces within were kept simple and utilitarian. Tribal charms were hung from the ceiling and ancient masks were prominently displayed among an assortment of large foliage. At the center of the hut was a large cauldron, still bubbling with its latest mixture. Luna eyed the extensive alchemy desk off to the side, perusing the ingredients and tonics that were neatly stored there. “We have heard that your knowledge of alchemy is quite vast. Is this true?”

Zecora let out a chuckle. “From whomever you have heard knows me well. I could point out a potion from the faintest smell.”

“Then perhaps you may indeed be able to aid us,” Luna said. “Cadance?”

Cadance tore her attention away from the cauldron and cleared her throat. “We have a really big problem.” She pawed at the ground for a moment before pulling out the alchemy textbook from under her cloak. “There’s this potion... a love potion, like the ones in the old stories. It was a bit more potent than that, b-but with no real sustaining ingredient. It was supposed to burn out fairly quickly and dissipate when the… erm… affected slept, but… one of the inflicted ponies had an... unexpected reaction.”

Zecora found a nearby seat and leaned back against the wall, pressing her hooves together and resting her chin on them. “Your problem, it seems, is simple to guess. I would venture to say the effects were in excess?”

Cadance sighed. “Basically. We just don’t know why this is happening to Celestia—”

Luna gave Cadance a sharp jab in her ribs and she winced in pain. Cadance turned to her attacker and bit down on her lip. Luna only returned a cross stare.

Zecora merely smiled. “Ah, so the plot thickens to a whole new degree. It’s no wonder you are here with such a great plea.”

“Please, do not speak of this to anypony,” Luna said.

Zecora placed a hoof on her chest. “Princess of the Moon, of this you can be sure, this tale, with me, shall be secure.” She leaned back in her seat again, this time with her forelegs crossed. “Yet this problem of yours is sure to astound, please tell me where this potion may be found.”

Luna pulled out a half-filled golden vial from her cloak and passed it to Zecora. “Here.”

Zecora studied the vial as she held it. She uncorked it and took a whiff, pursing her lips as she descended into deep thought. Her study was cut short when the aroma hit her, causing her to recoil as if she had eaten something extremely sour. Turning to the cauldron, she poured a single tiny drop into the boiling liquid. “Now we shall see what—”

A golden explosion erupted from the pot, billowing a cloud of golden vapors into the room.

The three mares inside coughed and tried in vain to wave away the smoke. Zecora grabbed hold of a large leaf fan and purged the vapors away, waving it into the open windows to the forest beyond. When she finished, she snatched the textbook from Cadance and quickly leafed to the bookmarked section. Cadance reached out to stop her, but was far too late.

Zecora took note of the photograph inside. “This story is more nuanced than it first did appear. The mistakes of the matter are becoming quite clear.” Her eyes scanned through all the notes and additions to the text. “A brew to infuse passion as if it a game. A potion misused that would bring great shame!” She slammed a forehoof into her forehead. “A sly way of love for one to force out. A scheme concocted by fools no doubt.” 

Cadance’s posture shrunk. “I… I didn’t…”

Zecora slammed the book shut and pointed a hoof straight at the two princesses. “Of anyone else I’d expect less, for this crazy plan to wholeheartedly bless. It is unthinkable you two would not know. I’m genuinely shocked you would stoop so low!”

“Enough!” Luna cried, slamming a hoof into the ground. “We know! We…” She lowered her head and sighed. “We made a mistake.”

A moment passed in silence.

Zecora let her face soften and grew a warm smile. “Yet, there is still good news to be had, for this grave mistake may not stay so bad. These harmful effects can indeed be quelled, thoroughly purged and forever dispelled.”

Cadance perked up, but still raised an eyebrow. “How? There isn’t an antidote...”

“Such toxins are made to cut the cost, for the alternative method is quick to exhaust.” Zecora stepped over to the alchemy desk. “When indeed no antidote is found, a counter-potion can instead be propound.”

“How do we make one of those?” Luna asked.

Zecora retrieved a book from the shelf above the desk and cracked it open. “As with any product of alchemy, there isn’t much needed for this remedy. The heart of the cure is in amenity, to ruin the potion’s identity. For each ingredient that you had once brewed, its exact opposite is what must be accrued.”

Cadance took hold of the book with her magic and held it up for the two princesses to read. Inside was a reference guide, pointing out various alchemical substances along with their neutralizing agent. She let out a sigh. “This is going to be tough…”

“We will find a way, niece,” Luna said.

Zecora moved over to her alchemy bench and fished around inside the drawers. “One last thing before you leave, or else your goal you won’t achieve. While the tonic itself is made to oppose, there is still more you must compose. The method itself must too be reversed, or else the effects will not be dispersed.”

She turned back to the two princesses and held out a small round canister in front of her. 

Cadance raised an eyebrow. “What is…?”

“A smoke bomb?” Luna asked.

Zecora nodded at them. “Your sister needs only to breath real deep, and at that moment will fall asleep. After some time, no matter the cause, your sibling will return to the way she once was.”

Luna took the contraption from Zecora at stuffed it into her cloak. With a smile and a nod, she motioned for Cadance to follow her to the doorway. Before they left, she turned back to face Zecora. “Thank you so much, Zecora.”

“We are in your debt,” Cadance added.

Zecora bowed down low. “I’m honored to have you both as my guest, and I wish you luck on your troublesome quest.”

Outside, the two princesses started their long trek back out of the forest. Cadance breathed a long sigh. “Well, that was enlightening.”

“At the very least, we now know what we must do,” Luna said.

Cadance kicked a stray rock off the path. “So, what do we need to get?”

Luna fished out the reference guide from her cloak and tossed it to Cadance. “Nothing too difficult to find.”

While leafing through the book, Cadance couldn’t help but frown. “Thundercloud… Cockatrace feather… monochromatic ichor? Are you sure about that?”

Luna snatched the book back with her magic and gave Cadance a firm look. “It matters not if we need to acquire even a pink sequin saddle!” She looked up towards the midday sun and frowned. “We will gather what we must.”

“Yeah…” Cadance replied. She turned her eyes back toward the long, winding path. “Well, we better get going if we want to get back to Canterlot before dark.”

“We are not going back to Canterlot.”

“What?”

“It is like you have said, Cadance,” Luna said as she stuffed the book back into her cloak. “It will take far too long to return. We do not have the time to waste.”

Cadance brought a hoof up to her forehead. “Okaaay… where are we going, then?”

Luna smiled. “South. To Ponyville.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Birds chirped and leaves rustled in the wind right outside the bounds of Canterlot city as Princess Celestia and Twilight journeyed up a winding forest path. The heat of the midday sun didn’t hit the forest floor in all its intensity, but it was enough to bake on the soggy remains of the cake massacre into the two pony’s coats. Celestia trotted along the path with carefree grace, seeming not to notice the horrible mess that covered her. Twilight trudged along after her, hanging her head low to avoid the sun’s rays. With each step, she tried in vain to shake off any excess cake from her body, but all she accomplished was tiring herself out and becoming more uncomfortable. 

The cake between Twilight’s legs was starting to chafe. “Princess…” she called out in between labored breaths. “...please, can you at least tell me where we’re going?”

“It’s not much further, my lovely little Twilight,” Celestia called back to Twilight, still happily trotting along.

“That’s what you said a mile back…” Twilight groaned, looking back at the trail behind her that wound down a steep mountain back toward Canterlot below. “Before we started going uphill…”

“Just a little bit further, I promise,” Celestia replied, giving her a wink.

Twilight whimpered under her breath but commanded her legs to keep moving. She tried her best to ignore the confection being scraped against her legs with each step and took in the fresh air when she could. The path was narrowing ahead and the forest was becoming thinner and thinner, eventually opening out to the edge of a shear cliff into a great valley. The two mares continued on, ascending a staircase carved into the face of the cliffside. Twilight hugged the safer side of the steps, being sure to follow Celestia as close as possible lest she fall. Celestia, however, trotted along at the same graceful pace.

A roaring sensation grew louder and louder as the pair rounded the mountain pass into a small open tunnel. At the other side, a raging waterfall poured out from the side of the mountain, out towards a serene lake surrounded by forests and rolling plains thousands of feet below. Celestia stood proudly near the edge of the cave, looking out toward the vista before them, the waterfall mere feet away. Twilight plopped down on the cold stone beside her.

“Here we are!” Celestia exclaimed.

Twilight’s eye twitched. “You… dragged me… all the way up here… for this?!”

Celestia smiled at her. “A gorgeous view isn’t it?”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Yeah, lovely…” She sighed and lifted herself back onto her hooves, looking back toward the path they had just entered from. “Can we go back now? I could really use a bath right about now.”

“Indeed, you do.” Celestia said, eyeing Twilight up and down. “As do I, in fact.”

Celestia turned toward the waterfall and shifted in place. She popped off a golden horseshoe and balanced it aloft from one of her forelegs. Twilight raised an eyebrow, but before she could say anything, Celestia flicked it into the waterfall.

Twilight’s jaw dropped. “W-wait, what are you doing?”

“Can’t exactly leave these up here,” Celestia responded, tossing the rest of her horseshoes into the waterfall and unhooking her golden breastplate. “They’d get lost.”

“Lost? How would they…?” Twilight’s eyes shifted from the waterfall, to the lake below and finally to Celestia herself. She paused for a moment, fitting the pieces together in her mind. Her eyes went wide. “Whoa, whoa, hold on. You aren’t… seriously going to…”

Celestia giggled. “Why not? Have you ever tried?”

“Jump down a waterfall?!” Twilight’s body shook uncontrollably. “No, I really, really, really can’t say I have!”

Celestia leaned in close and spoke in a hushed tone. “Are you… scared?”

Twilight gave her an exasperated look. “Y-yeah, just a little.”

“Oh, my lovely little Twilight, you have nothing to be afraid of. I’ll be right here with you.”

“I… I don’t know.”

“What’s the matter, my lovely little Twilight?” Celestia’s face formed a pout. “Don’t you… believe me?”

Twilight scratched the back of her head and rubbed the back of her cake encrusted legs. “O-of course. It’s just… I just… I-I’m not really sure I’m ready f-for...”

“Twilight,” Celestia interrupted, placing a hoof on Twilight's shoulder and wrapping her wings around her, pulling her into a warm, comforting embrace. “I’ll be right there with you the whole time. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. It’ll be fun. I promise.”

“O-okay,” Twilight replied with a nervous smile.

Celestia smiled back at her. “That’s my lovely little Twilight!”

Twilight crept over to the edge of the cliff and snuck a peak. The lake at the bottom of the valley below was fairly large, even from where she was standing. It was also a good few thousand feet of a drop. She gulped down hard. “So, uh, what’s uhm... w-what’s the best way to do this?”

“It’s quite simple really,” Celestia said, tossing her crown over the edge. “The water below will be thoroughly churned when we enter, so there is not much needed in the way of technique. Just ensure you land bottom first.”

Twilight took in a deep breath. Then another and another. Finally she positioned herself right next to the edge. “Okay... okay,” she said, her voice nearly cracking. “On three?”

Celestia parked herself right next to her. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“O-one…” Twilight began. What am I doing?! This is crazy!! “Two...” she stammered. I can’t do this! It’s too high up! Not for the first time! Why is she doing this to me?! I can’t! I can’t! I just…!

“Thr—!”

A strange feeling of weightlessness and the subtle touch of feathers jolted through Twilight’s mind as she found her hooves no longer planted on solid ground. The horizon before her tipped up beyond her vision. A look of shock flashed across her face. Ready she was not, and yet here she was, in empty space at the mercy of gravitational forces. A cold rush shot through her spine as her body instinctively reached out for a solid surface. 

Sadly, all she could find was empty air. 

The wind roared in her ears. The air rushed past her face. The mist of the waterfall surrounded her.

Her eyes went wide. The valley drew closer at an exceptional rate. She had already hit maximum velocity. At this rate of fall, there was only sixteen, no, fourteen seconds of airtime at most. With her current trajectory, she would land straight into the churning water, perhaps a few feet under water. She would need at least a half minute of air to reach the surface. A full lung’s capacity of air just to be safe.

Unfortunately, her body wasn’t exactly heading her mind. Her legs flailed uselessly. Her lungs evacuated all her available breath into a terrified scream. Her body tumbled and flipped in the air. She wasn’t prepared.

White wings wrapped themselves around her. 

Twilight tore away her attention from the approaching lake to a very excited Celestia, who pulled her tight to her chest. She was laughing, hollering, clearly enjoying the experience. It’s no surprise that someone like her would find this fun, she did have wings after all. Even so, Twilight couldn’t help but feel puzzled by that fact. Having the ability to fly is one thing, but the sensation of plummeting down to the ground wouldn’t necessarily come as natural a thrill as—

Displaced water towered high above as the pair splashed into the lake.

Whirling waters pushed and shoved. All sound was muffled out, only replaced by the low hum of the never ending cascade. Despite her terrified screaming, Twilight found that she had a surprising amount of air still left in her lungs. Even so, her mind focused on her immediate goal of breaching the surface of the lake. She opened her eyes to get a better sense of her surroundings.

The water was crystal clear, the light of afternoon sun dancing at the bottom of the near white stone of the lake bed. Twilight glanced toward the surface, only a short swim to reach it. Yet, even as her body plundered her limited supply of air, she couldn’t bring herself to swim. Her mind told her to move. Her eyes commanded that she stay.

Twilight’s complete attention was grabbed by the display before her. With majestic grace, Celestia glided up from the depths, her pastel mane flowing all around her. The waters forbade the hair to blow in their ethereal wind, and yet in response they glimmered and sparkled along each and every stand in the refracting sunlight. All of Celestia’s golden ornaments found themselves freely floating all around her, heralding her beauty and dancing to her praises. She smiled at Twilight. Twilight stared at her, a single bubble escaping her snout.

Celestia snatched Twilight up into her hooves and bolted for the surface.

Twilight took in a fresh breath. Her lungs were already at their breaking point, and with such sweet release, they failed her momentarily. Her head sunk under the water before once again surfacing, her ragged breathing accompanied now by a slight cough. After a moment to regain her composure, she searched for the royal culprit who had pushed her over the edge.

She found her princess only a few feet away, giggling and pointing at her.

It took a moment before Twilight realized the source of her amusement. Not until the heavy water seeped out from her mane did Twilight notice what was on her head.

It was her tiara. Celestia’s tiara. Slightly off-kilter but otherwise planted firmly in between drenched layers of mane. It was also a bit too big for her.

The tiara sank down over Twilight’s eyes.

Celestia could no longer suppress her laughter. As she laughed, Twilight found her own mouth curling from a frown into a smile and then into laughter of her own. A hearty laugh, from deep down in her lungs, the belly wrenching kind where you simply cannot stop.

Their laughter gradually died down. “See?” Celestia said. “I told you it would be fun.”

Twilight bit her lip, but still smiled. “Alright, I admit it.” She lifted the tiara from her head and floated it over to Celestia. “Can we do it again?”

Celestia took hold of the tiara within her own magic and collected up the rest of her ornaments. “Another time, my lovely little Twilight. For now, we must clean this matted fur.”

In a splash of water, Celestia dove under the surface. Twilight took in a deep breath and followed her under, doing her best to keep her eyes open under the cool water. She spotted Celestia gliding towards the coastline, her wings giving off an incandescent trail of sparkles in her wake. Twilight did her best to paddle after Celestia. Spoiled confection released its grip on Twilight’s coat as she swam and the runes still etched on her body gave off their own shine under the water.

Twilight broke through the watery surface and strode onto dry land where Celestia was waiting for her. The princess observed her student, pouring over her form for any hint of fouling material. Twilight chuckled with a nervous smile, her coat completely soaked and soping into the sand. 

After a diligent search, she gave Twilight an approving nod. “That should suffice.” She turned toward the forest wall, her ornaments following her in a cloud of magic. “Now come, follow me.”

Twilight tilted her head to one side, cautiously following her. “Where are we going?”

“To a little secret of mine,” Celestia replied. “Nothing scary this time. I promise.”

Twilight eyed her for a second, but she relaxed her posture. With a heavy sigh and a shrug, Twilight followed after Celestia into the forest. It was unlikely to hide any further waterfalls.

The two mares walked only a short hike before the forest grew thick around them. Celestia continued to trek into the wilderness, far beyond any trail that Twilight could see. Thorned bushes and low hanging tree branches obscured the way forward, presenting an impassable barrier to any normal sized creature. Celestia brushed it all aside, confident in her sense of direction. As they treked deeper and deeper, Twilight found herself lost within the unfamiliar terrain. She clung closer and closer to Celestia, desperate not to be separated among the foliage.

Celestia halted her advance, Twilight nearly bumping into her. Before them sat a literal wall of trees, vines, leaves and all manner of dense foliage. With a tap of her hoof, another rune lock jutted out from the wall. After a swift gesture, the glyph faded from view and the living wall softened in response. Celestia dug her hoof into the foliage and gave Twilight a wink. “In here…”

The first thing she noticed was fog. A deep, thick fog. No, not fog. Shifting a whole cloud layer into such a small space would be either impossible to naturally generate, or take far too much work to maintain artificially. It was also warm. Humid. More like steam.

Which only made sense as she noticed the pool of water dominating the center of the space. Thick wafts of steam rose from its surface, filling her nostrils. Geothermal activity. It was so obvious. A hot springs, surrounded by trees, enclosed within a sanctuary of nature.

But that alone could not explain the scent that lingered in her snout. The familiar scent of lavender and rose, of sweet elyssum and wisteria, of lily and jasmine. Flanked on all sides of the sanctuary were those bright bushels of flowers, radiating color in the dim light of the fireflies hovering about, giving off vibrant reds, soft whites, and deep purples. Thin shafts of sunlight poked through the dense canopy above, yet faint shadow dominated the misty room.

Twilight’s eyes went wide as she stepped inside. “Wow…”

“Do like it, my lovely little Twilight?” Celestia asked, closing off the wilderness behind them.

“It’s so beautiful…” The warm mist enveloped her. The soft chirping of the fireflies tickled her ears. The pool captured her attention. “So perfect…”

Celestia giggled. “Well, not yet.”

Spreading her wings wide, Celestia descended into the pool. Twilight watched her, completely enthralled, stock still. The runes still covering Celestia flared up in glowing contentment. “Come on in, my lovely little Twilight.” She beckoned her with a hoof. “The water is simply perfect.”

“O-okay,” Twilight replied, approaching the edge of the pool and testing the heat with her hoof. The water was warm, as expected, yet experienced no fluctuations in temperature. Twilight soon found out why, as convection currents snaked around her legs under the surface. As she delved into the water, her own runes started to glow. A smile curled onto her lips as she let out a breathy sigh. “Feels so good…”

“Doesn’t it?” Celestia said, craning her neck back and soaking her hair in the warm water. “Free time is always a luxury for a princess, but whenever I spend it here, it’s always worth it.”

“I never knew this was here…”

Celestia stretched a waterlogged wing into the air, allowing the water to dribble off her feathers back into the pool. “We all have our secrets,” she said with a wink.

Twilight averted her eyes, a frown forming on her face. “Y-yeah…”

Silence hung inside the sanctuary.

“My lovely little Twilight?”

“Yes?”

Celestia turned her back and splayed out one of her wings. “You wouldn’t mind helping me preen these feathers, would you?”

“P-preen?” Twilight stammered. “I, uhm…”

“Pretty please?” Celestia asked with a pout.

Twilight bit down on her lip, eyeing the princess carefully. “Uhm… s-sure, no problem.” She took a few hesitant steps toward Celestia’s wing. The long remiges were free of spoiled cake and seemed to be immaculate. Upon closer inspection, however, it was clear that some of her feathers hid haphazardly disorganized underneath the surface.

Twilight took in a deep breath and went to work. The key was to apply enough pressure to the feather whilst not pulling or tearing, using her incisors to realign the barbs with the rachis on each feather. The next step would be to readjust the feather itself into place along the wing. That part was the most difficult. Only the slightest of twists from her neck would be necessary, too much and the feather would be plucked right out. The motion itself could be done well with practice, but without wings of her own, she could not hope to be so skilled. Complicating matters was also the fact that broken and useless feathers among the mix had to be extracted using the reverse process. One misstep could lead to pain, possibly even crippling flight. Not to mention the pain associated with sloppy preen work.

Or at least, that was what she remembered. 

Twilight reached the end of Celestia’s wing and looked back at her work. A contented moan and a quick examination from Celestia was all Twilight needed to know.

“Yes…” Celestia said, shaking off slight jitters. “You’re… pretty good.”

“T-thanks…” Twilight replied, sheepishly scratching the back of her head. “I uhm… I read a book about it a while ago.”

“A useful skill to have, my lovely little Twilight.”

Celestia smiled at her. Twilight smiled back.

A ray of light passed over Celestia’s head from the canopy above, striking an unblinking eye as the room grew darker. “Never enough time…” Celestia said with a sigh. She made for the water’s edge, beckoning Twilight to follow. “We should head back. There’s a nice cozy fire waiting for us.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...The greeting bell above the entrance to the shop sang its welcome ring. Evening Shine shot a glance at the clock above the counter: 5:56 pm. She groaned at the prospect of helping another customer instead of heading home. Although business had become a lot slower during winter months, she just didn’t want to deal with anypony else.

Spike shoveled a clawful of lesser precious stones into his mouth. “Oh, c’mon. She can barely afford the shop as it is and she needs every sale you can get. Why’s she acting like this?” His eyes shifted back and forth, absorbing the prose of the novel. While he skipped over some of the more flowery prose, one could hardly say he was merely scanning through it. 

...to Sunny Flowers, where all your floral needs are simple and easy. Unfortunately, we’re closing down after a very long day and cannot assist you at this time.” 

The intruder shuffled in place for a moment. “Not even for me?”

He yawned. “Perfect timing there, Ranch. Nothing like pestering your crush right when she gets off work. Totally romantic and not annoying at all.”

...whirled around in place. Standing in the doorway was that green earth pony mare she knew all too well. Her deep green eyes met with Evening’s own...

Evening Shine felt her heart skip a beat. “Ranch?! W-what are you doing here?”

Spike rolled his eyes. “What’s with the stammering? What, can she suddenly not speak when her crush is around? Did the author even research this before she started?”

Ranch took a step forward, her coat glistening in the sunset. “I... I wanted to see you.”

“B-but your father, he said...”

...Ranch stomped on the tiled floor, cracking it slightly. “I don’t care what he says! I’m not going to marry that stallion! I want to choose for myself who I want to be with. I want you.” 

“Yeah, let’s try and escape the clutches of a diamond mogul, who most likely would have not only the means but the time to track you both down. Excellent plan there genius. For crying out loud...” 

...turned back toward the counter, her cheeks beginning to heat up. Tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes, struggling to cascade down her magenta coat. Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! She actually wants... wants... 

“Wants what? She’s tripping over so many ellipses that she can’t even—” A knock at the front door jostled Spike from his reading. He leaned over from his chair and looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost ten o'clock. “Who could that be?”

Another series of knock pounded on the door. Spike groaned and set his reading material aside. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming, jeez.” He shuffled out from his desk and sauntered over to the front door, his bowl of snack gems under his arm. He opened the door. “You realize what time it—!?”

Two cloaked princesses stood before him. “Greetings, Spike.”

Spike nearly dropped his bowl. “P-princess… es?! What are you two doing here?”

Luna and Cadance exchanged shifting glances. 

“We’re… uh...” Cadance began.

Luna bit her lip. “We are here to… uh...”

“To help Twilight!” Cadance exclaimed, nodding at Luna. A sharp glare from quickly killed her enthusiasm. “Uh… yes, help w-with… s-something…”

“Yes, indeed…” Luna replied in a restrained tone, digging a hoof into her forehead. “So here we are.”

Spike gave them an inquisitive look. “Wait, what? What’s wrong? Is Twilight okay? ”

“Nothing is wrong,” Luna said. “Nothing at all. She merely forgot to… pack a few items before she left for Canterlot.”

“She did? What’d she forget?” Spike asked, scratching his head as he tried to recall what he packed.

“It is a secret. We promised not to tell anypony.” Luna said in a hushed tone.

Spike cocked an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

“You know how she gets.” Cadance replied, nodding knowingly.

“Yeah…” Spike said, scratching the back of his head. 

Silence hung for a moment. Luna cleared her throat. “May we come in?”

“Huh?” Spike asked. “Oh yeah! Come in, come in. Make yourselves at home.”

Spike opened the door wide, bowing low as the two princesses entered into the library.

Luna swiftly searched the room. “There is nopony else here, correct?”

“No… just me,” Spike replied.

“Excellent,” Luna said, lowering the hood on her cloak and letting her flowing, starry mane hang in the ethereal wind. “We will require lodging here in order to complete our task.”

Spike cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, you’re staying here?”

Luna examined the vast library atrium, scanning the contents of the bookshelves until finally settling on the doorway to the basement laboratory. She smiled. “Indeed. The items that Twilight requires are in located within town. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to acquire them today.”

“Well, uh, I’ll set up the guest bedroom for you two. I know it’s not exactly a palace here but…”

“These accommodations will be fine, Spike. Thank you.” Cadance said with a smile.

Upon seeing her smile, Spike skipped off toward the stairs. “I’ll get to work then! I’ll send a message to Twilight that you’ve arrived.”

“Oh, no-no!” Luna yelled, jumping in front of Spike and blocking his path. “No! T-that will not be necessary. Her current studies are… entangling her at the moment. A simple status update will only distract her.”

“Um, okay…” Spike replied, somewhat deflated. “I guess…”  

Luna smiled and patted him on the head. “Do not worry about Twilight. She is fully aware of our mission here.”

Spike shrugged. “Well, can I get you two anything? A refreshment or two? You both must be starving after such a long trip.”

Cadance brought a hoof to her chin. “Come to think of it, I am kinda—” 

“No, no!” Luna interrupted, pushing Cadance toward the doorway down to the laboratory. “We will be quite fine. Just nevermind our presence here. We will be down in the basement for the time being. Goodnight Spike.”

The door to the basement slammed shut, leaving Spike all alone again. He walked over to the door, cupping his claws to his mouth. “Okay, just call if you need anything!” He took another gem from his bowl and munched on it. He took his time milling through the stone, churning his thoughts at the same time. Huh… that was kinda weird…

Spike wandered back to his desk and sat back down, opening his reading material up. Wonder why they’re here. Must be really important if both princesses are here on behalf of Twilight. He flipped the pages of the novel back and forth, not really paying the printed words any mind.

A claw scratched at his chin. Luna rarely travels away from Canterlot... and isn’t Cadance supposed to be on her honeymoon?

Spike looked over at the door to the basement. I wonder…

As quietly as he could, Spike crept across the atrium and eased the basement door open. Once he had enough space, he squeezed through the doorway. The tunneled stairway snaked around the corner to the lab below, the doorway separating the lab and the stairway still open, with light shining through. Spike gingerly tested every step along the wooden staircase, searching for stress points that would give away his position. His journey down the stairway was arduous and slow, but he eventually made it to a point where he could hear voices from below. He perked his ears.

“...wouldn’t you tell him? He could’ve helped us out.”

“We must keep any knowledge of what has transpired at the palace to an absolute minimum! Nopony can find out before we have everything ready.”

“What? You think he would tell everypony else?”

“I am convinced of it. Put yourself in his position. Would you not spread such terrible news if you found out such a horrible thing happened to Twilight and Celestia?”

Spike’s eyes went wide and he leaned in closer. Horrible thing?!

“Well, I personally wouldn’t overreact like that.”

“Perhaps, but all the more reason to keep it a secret from him. It is unthinkable what he would do should he learn what occurred.”

Shuffling could be heard as lab equipment was moved about. Spike moved to the edge of the doorway and snuck a peek into the lab. Not find out? Find out what?!

“Well... maybe you’re right.” Cadance said, moving some of Twilight’s lab equipment onto a nearby desk. “But can we at least ask him to point us in the right direction? Some of this stuff might be hard to find.”

Luna gave her an indignant look and lifted the alchemy guide into view. “Do you jest? Have you not seen this list? Do you not think that it would raise questions?”

A list…?

“We don’t have to tell him exactly what is it,” Cadance said.

Luna stuffed the guide back into her cloak. “I do not think it is a good idea. The less he knows, the better.”

Spike backed away from the doorway, clutching at his chest. Oh my gosh… What’s going on here? What are they talking about? What happened to Twilight?! Is that why they didn’t want me to send a message? He stole one last look at the two princesses, studying them carefully before pulling back into the stairway. He bit down on his claws. T-this isn’t like them at all! Why would they hurt Twilight and Celestia?! H-how could they even—?! Unless…

His eyes went wide. He clutched his head. His jaw dropped. Unless they’re really Nightmare Moon and Queen Chyrsalis in disguise!!

Absolute silence hung as the horrifying revelation sunk in.

Spike blinked himself out of his ramblings. He shook his head, frowning at himself more than anything. What? What am I saying? That’s ridiculous! There’s no way. Essh, Spike, you’ve been reading too many of those thriller novels. I mean, c'mon, really? Really??

He waved a dismissive claw and proceeded back up the stairs to the atrium. Ahh hahahaha… Queen Chyrsalis and Nightmare Moon… psssh no, nooooo… hehehe… Like, why would that even…? How could that even happen?

As Spike hopped over the last step and closed the door behind him, he chuckled to himself. I mean, that’s just about the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever thought of. He walked back to his desk and sat down, searching for his place again on the open novel in front of him.  

His eyes wandered to the quill and parchment. Maybe… maybe it wouldn’t hurt to send just one message… Yeah, yeah. I’m sure everything is just fine in Canterlot.

With a quick grab and a flick of his wrist, Spike went to work on a new letter. Juuuuuust fiiiine...