Surface of the Sun, Part 3 (In Dreams, Truth.)

>Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.
>You stumble backwards, your feet sliding on the transparent floor as you behold the Princess of the Night.
>She's grinning like a predator, her dark blue pinions spread like two great sails.
>"Why do you hesitate, Anonymous?"
>Flashbacks of stocking up for an estrus siege back in Ponyville go through your head.
>That was the plan all along!
>Of course it was, the Princesses were just planning on fucking you to death!
>The wings! You remember when Rainbow Dash did that wing thing! That should have warned you!
>"Anon? Please, don't back away. Together, we shall make this a night to remember~."
>Your eyes dart around as you search for a means to quickly abscond.
>Smooth, gleaming crystal greets your eyes as you realize something important.
>You can go anywhere in the castle from your door.
>...Luna is between you and the door.
>You pray that her desolation of your testicles will be swift and painless.
>But memories of the few times you were caught when the Big E hit Ponyville tells you that this will not be the case.
>"Aaaanoooon? Are you alright, Anon?"
>Your eyes dart to Luna, and you realize that in your blanked-out fear state, you've allowed her to get within arm's reach.
>Your eyes dart around as you watch her wings move up around your head.
>Her muzzle comes in close to your face.
>"Anon~."
>You close your eyes.
>God have mercy on your jimmi-
>"Anon!"
>You open your eyes and stare into the petulantly frowning face of the Princess of the Night.
>"Honestly, Anon, have you never played Batmare? Pip told me it's the most popular game among my subjects! Why are you so...excitable!?"


>A few minutes of explanation later, you no longer have half-masked Princess breathing down your neck.
>Instead, Princess Luna is splayed out on your bed, her hooves clutching her stomach, as she laughs at you.
"It's not that funny..."
>"You thought that I...that we...the costume was...HAHAHAHA!"
>You frown down at Princess Luna as she practically rolls across your new bed.
"Can you blame me!? I told you about...about..."
>Instead of comforting you or offering sympathy, as you expected, she laughs even harder.
>Your frown turns into a full on scowl as she rolls off of your bed, still laughing.
>Eventually, the night princess composes herself and climbs to her hooves, still laughing at your face.
>"I can't believe you...Anon, NO stallion with half a brain would stay in a town during...THAT time of the year!"
"Well I didn't get any warning! SHE didn't even bother to warn me about it when I was dating her!"
>Luna's chuckles die down to quiet snorts of laughter.
>"Well..she...isn't exactly the most...reliable of mares in matters like that. She might have been a bit embarrassed."
"Embarrassed is no excuse for not warning me that the entire town was about to transform nearly overnight into rapists and molesters."
>Luna lets out another giggle as you scowl at her.
>”Anonymous, please! The Royal Sides cannot take such punishment!”
“It's not that funny...”
>She giggles one last time before coming to her feet.
>”I'm afraid we disagree...but enough levity, Anon. It is time to work!”


>"Well, Anonymous, as is tradition when a Royal Butler has been appointed, I will be the one to introduce you to your duties."
>She looks at you and smiles.
>"Break you in,' as a manner of speaking."
>You shudder, and her grin widens.
>"Really, Anonymous, you MUST relax. My subjects are lusty ponies, this is true, but I assure you, as Princess of the Night, I have no such intentions towards you."
>You eye her wearily, and she gives you a careful smile.
"Okay. Alright, Princess. I'll take your word for it. So...where do we go now?"
>Her smile widens, and she taps a hoof on the crystal.
>"Night Court! Where I hear the petitions of my people!"
>Her smile, for just a moment, grows very, very wide.
"...No one comes to Night Court, do they?"
>Her shoulders slump.
>"...No."
>She perks right back up, and then taps once more on the crystal wall.
>"Which brings me to the first of your Royal Duties! As the Royal Butler, it is your duty to always be honest with my sister and I! You are our confidante, our advisor, our-"
"Walking, talking stress ball?"
>"Well...yes."
"Forgive me, Princess, but why is the Royal BUTLER given such liberties?"
>"...The position was not always known as 'Butler' Anon. It has changed many times during the long years. Once, your position was known as 'Wallmare'. You were to be our closest guard. Royal Vizier was one, but Viziers had the unfortunate tendency to turn their liberties to...sinister purpose. There are many names for your new position. Thane, Battle-mare, Confidante, and..."
>Her light blue cheeks blush darker.
>"Courtesan."


"Courte-"
>Oh.
>Oh God.
>You turn and look at Luna, a look of mounting horror on your face.
>Her blush grows a little darker, and she bares her teeth in an awkward smile.
>"Anonymous, please, do not panic, that was an ancient tradition even before my ba-"
"Nope."
>You turn around and walk away from the Princess.
>"Anonymous! I made you a promise, did I not? You will not be expected t-"
"NOPE."
>You keep walking. You're getting the fuck out of here.
>No matter what cool shit came with this job, you were NOT signing up to be a fucktoy for two immortal deities.
>One of which was proven to be highly unsta-
>"ANONYMOUS! WE COMMAND THEE TO CALM THE BUCK DOWN!"
>Everything goes topsy turvy for a moment as the Royal Canterlot Voice slams into your spine.
>For a few curious moments, you find your feet oriented towards the ceiling, and your head staring at an upside down alico-
>You slam into the wall.
>Then you slowly, slooowly slide down, your head hitting the floor with a quiet thump.
"...Ow."
>Luna comes into your dizzy, blurred vision, and you notice her mortified expression.
>"WE...I...apologize, Anonymous. I...sometimes have problems with...the voice."
>You blink up at her, confused. Dark blue moon butt has a funny face.
>You tell her you graciously accept her apology, but still would like to resign from the position you have been offered.
>Or, at least, you try to.
"Grgfignbamndin wee nambly gitsters."
>Luna's eyes widen.
>"Oh...oh dear. I think I...one moment, Anon. Allow me to..."
>Her horn glows, and suddenly you can brain good again.
>You also have a massive headache.
>"Allow me the chance to explain, Anonymous. You see...Equestria needs you."


>You look up and eye the Princess from your position on the floor.
"Equestria needs a butler? Is their some ancient Chaos dustbunny that's prophesied to return in the next year?"
>"No, Anonymous. You see-"
"Will it come down from the moon and swear to bring about Dirt Time Eternal?"
>"No-"
"Will the cockroaches aid in it's escape?"
>"ANON!"
>You get another Royal Canterlot blast, flipping you up the wall and landing you solidly on your ass.
>Apparently, Princess Luna is not very appreciative of jokes that make light of that whole, "trapped in the moon for a thousand years" thing.
"Okay. I'm done. Sorry."
>She raises an eyebrow.
>"Glad to see you got that out of your system."
"...That still doesn't explain why 'Equestria needs me.' Or why it needs a Royal Butler."
>You struggle to sit up, then yelp as Luna simply bites your wrist and heaves you to your feet.
>"Perhaps I was unclear. Equestria is surrounded by threats, this is true. The changelings, though we have not seen much of them since the wedding. The dragons..."
>She closes her eyes and sighs, annoyed.
>"These are not why my kingdom needs you, Anonymous. We do not require a warrior. Nor do we need some manner of scoundrel. Equestria needs YOU. Anonymous. The 'human.' The devoted friend, the joking, fun-loving, ETERNALLY complaining creature that Twilight Sparkle has written of so often in her letters."
>She looks away from you.
>"And that is, in part, the problem. It is not just Equestria that needs you. It is my sister."
"...What?"
>"Princess Celestia of Equestria, the Undimmed Sun, the Lightbringer, is suffering."
>She sighs.
>"My sister is lonely."


"....Uh...what?"
>Luna grunts at your confused expression.
>Then she kicks you.
>It doesn't hurt, really, but the force of the blow sends you stumbling...
>Right into the wall aga-
>The sicking feeling of teleportation clenches your gut, and you resist the urge to heave.
>As you clutch your gut and groan, the shadows swirl around you, forming themselves into the smirking shape of Princess Luna.
"What the hell was that for?"
>"We're late to Night Court, Anonymous. We can walk and talk at the same time. And don't curse, please. You are a 'human' of class, now. You MUST watch your language."
>The Princess snickers again, and you climb to your feet, annoyed.
"I'm still thinking of walking out. You say you need me, and then your reason is that your sister's lonely? Celestia? Lonely? She's the God-Empress of Ponykind, how could she be lonely?"
>She casts her eyes downward, and you feel a chill run up your back.
>"...How can she be lonely? She is lonely because the sun is bright, Anonymous. She is the most powerful being in the known world, with the exception of Discord or the Changeling Queen."
"That doesn't expl-"
>"She is alone because she is feared, Anonymous. She is feared by her subjects who whisper rumors of Tyranny behind her back. She is feared by those who name her such vulgar things as 'Molestia,' and claims she trains her students for purposes of pleasure, rather than magic."
"But she's always...smiling. Always sweet and-"
>"Always wearing a mask. Always playing the part of glorious, unreachable deity. She cannot be a pony, Anonymous. She has played Goddess for too long."
"So you need me to..."
>"Bring her down to Earth."


>You frown and look at the Princess of the Night.
"You...aren't making much sense, Princess. Can you clarify why you think, well, your sister being lonely is such a huge danger?"
>"I know loneliness, Anonymous. It is poison. It can open doors to certain...things. Things that whisper of ways to end such loneliness. Bitterness can poison a heart, Anonymous...."
"Are you talking about...Nightmare M-"
>"Do not say that name in my presence."
>The cold fury in her town gives you enough of a clue to shut up immediately.
>Luna lets out a frustrated breath.
>"Yes, Anon. Yes, and no. My sister's mental health...I was her only friend, Anon. Her only confidante, before...the Nightmare. We went hundreds of years without a 'Royal Butler' after the end of the Pre-Classical era. After I...turned...she spent one thousand years alone. My time in the moon was...it felt like no time at all, once I was cleansed. I still struggle to reclaim the love of my ponies, but my sister..."
>She breaks off, and you look at her, concerned.
>"She has always had their admiration. I once envied her for it. Now I know better. They admire her as they admire a beautiful painting. They love her as they love the sunrise. They do not know her as Celestia. She is Princess to them, forever and always. She is an object, Anon. Did you know my sister has a fondness for cake? There was a royal banquet at the castle around a year ago. She snuck one piece."
>"One. Piece. The scandal from that incident caused a panic in Canterlot's streets. The idea that their Princess, their perfect, unchanging ruler had something as base as a vice was an abomination to them!"


>The rage in Luna's voice causes you to recoil a bit as she continues her tirade.
>"She is ALONE, Anonymous. Utterly, completely alone. We are strangers to one another! She is always so careful not to offend me, careful not to be TOO familiar around our subjec-"
"What about Twilight?"
>Luna closes her eyes and lets out a deep breath.
>"Ah. Her Faithful Student."
>You feel that chill up your spine once more.
>"Do you know, Anonymous, how much Celestia values Twilight? Do you know what happens every time that purple mare sent a letter?"
"Celestia...reads it?"
>"Oh. She does far more than read it. She will suspend Day Court, leave important functions, beg pardon from her subject's concerns, and DEVOUR those letters. She will read them from the first word to the last, memorizing every splash of ink, every twist of the pen. She lives through those letters, Anonymous. The adventures of Twilight and her friends, the happiness and friendship they experience...that's what she desires, Anon. She CRAVES such solidarity."
>Luna eyes you.
>"And then along came a human."
"What did I-"
>"The letters slowed down. Only the story of a miraculous creature reached my sister and I, stumbling, confused and afraid, into the streets of Ponyville. Stories of your life, taken from the words of Twilight Sparkle, reached us as well. Stories of dear Fluttershy and her strange...fetish...guessing. Stories of Rainbow Dash's friendship with you. Stories of Pinkie-"
"I get it, Princess."
>"She wanted to meet you, Anonymous. You were something new, in a world that hasn't changed in a thousand years. She needs you, Anon."
>Luna smiles.
>"She needs you to be her friend."


>You stay silent.
>You stay silent for a long, long time.
>You and the Princess walk through the halls of the moonlit halls of the castle, her silver-shod hooves making a light tapping sound on the stone.
>You think about what the Night Princess has told you.
"...So, she's been essentially...stalking me? Through Twilight's letters? So that's why the suit..."
>"Fits? Yes. It's also why she allowed you to slam into her that first day. It's why she offered you such an important duty. The only way she knew how. Politically."
"Politic-"
>Luna suddenly assumes an imperious, almost Royal tone of voice.
>"THE DUTIES OF THE WALLMARE ARE AS FOLLOWS! TO BE LOYAL TO THE ROYAL SISTERS! TO LAUGH WITH THEM! TO BE KIND TO THEM WHEN KINDNESS IS DESIRED AND TRUTHFUL TO THEM WHEN THE TRUTH IS NEEDED. YOU MUST GIVE OF YOURSELF GENEROUSLY, AND TO BE THEIR ALLY AND CONFIDANTE WHEN NEEDED. THERE SHALL BE NONE TRUER, NONE MORE CARING, THAN THEE. YOU SHALL BE AS A THIRD SISTER, THEIR GREATEST ALLY, THEIR MOST BELOVED SUBJECT. YOU SHALL BE SUCH UNTIL THE END OF YOUR DAYS."
>The Princess swings around and locks your gaze with hers.
>"My Sister has hired you to be her friend."
>Her eyes are pleading, wet, and terrified.
>"She does not yet know it, but that is why she asked you to take on this most sacred of duties. She is crying out, Anonymous. I cannot help her. You must. Please. Take off that dreadful mask of polite smiles and political courtesies."
>She taps you in the chest.
>"Make my sister a pony again."
"I...Princess, you ask me to..."
>You take another look in those pleading eyes.
>You remember Celestia's face the day you ran into her.
"...I'll do it."


>Luna's mouth stretches into a wide smile.
>You offer a tentative smile to her in return, befo-
>"HUZZAH!"
>You receive a blast of Royal Canterlot right to the face.
>This time, however, you managed to brace yourself, and only slide backwards instead of slamming into a wall.
>Luna blushes and puts a hoof to her muzzle.
>"...My apologies."
>You stand up straight, brushing your clothes off.
"S'allright, no harm done."
>She giggles and lowers her hoof at your now-disheveled state.
>"Come, then, Anonymous. If you are to perform your duties as the Royal Butler, you simply MUST attend night court."
"But I thought none of the ponies attended Night Court?"
>She frowns, ever so slightly, and you feel you might have broached a sensitive topic.
>You open your mouth to apologize, before she cuts you off.
>"No, Anon. Nopony does."
>Her tone sounds sad as she leads you towards the massive doors that lead into the Throne Room.
>She places one hoof on the door, then pauses.
>"Anonymous, I am not as...politically inclined, as my sister. Even before the...Nightmare...I was somewhat of a stranger to politics. The Sun is solid, Anon. Imposing. Eternal. The Moon...it flows. It changes. It inspires. So no, I am not a successful pony of politics. I never have been."
>She opens the door.
>"Yet I have always been a patron of the Arts. For the moon has always been the Muse. Just as I shape the night sky, ponies shape works of art under it's shadow."
>Sweet sounds reach your ears. Soft tones of song, the rustling of paper, the quiet speech of ponies.
>"So yes, I hold Night Court. Yes, nopony attends it. Instead..."
>She gestures with a hoof, and you step into the Throne Room.

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd9qQiwhP5U
>Sound, beautiful and glorious, makes it's way to your ears.
>You see ponies on instruments, lost in the throes of musical creation as they perform.
>Ponies painting works of art.
>Ponies reciting poetry to one another.
>Ponies writing, seated on their haunches, pens in their mouths as they struggle to create, to spin some tale worthy being read by their peers.
>This is not a Court.
>It is a Symphony, a Night gathering dedicated to the creation of Art in all it's forms.
>You step into the room, and everything falls silent.
>The ponies eye you curiously, one or two writers dropping their pens as their jaws gape.
>The Princess steps in behind you, and the silence deepens.
>Luna does not speak.
>She simply steps beside you, making her way to the throne past the furiously creative ponies.
>You follow her, and as you move, the music resumes.
>Slowly, at first, quietly, it builds, a sweet, sweet tone that plucks at the heartstrings.
>Luna takes her seat and gestures to you with a wing.
>The music rises as you make your way to your side, gazing in awe at the ponies before you.
"Do they...?"
>She smiles.
>"Every night."
"They come to you to..."
>"To sing. To write. To create. They dream, Anon. Dreams are the substance of Art. And it is under my night that dreams form."
>She leans forward in the throne, smiling at you.
>"My sister is a Princess of the Sun, Anon. She is the uncrowned Queen of Equestria. But I am the Mistress of Dreams, and Queen of the Arts. And I am not alone."
>She lifts her wings, the music rises with them.
>You can only listen, and know awe.


>Time passes for you in a daze as you listen to the ponies ply their arts.
>Paintings of breathtaking beauty are crafted before your eyes.
>Songs and serenades are composed and sung for the Night Princess.
>Poetry is recited, and ponies share pieces of stories and tales they have written.
>As would be expected, there is much coffee being passed around among the creative ponies.
>None dare approach you, although many of them come to speak to the Princess, asking her opinion on their works of art.
>You hear them refer to you more than a few times.
>Apparently some of them have expressed interest in including you in a few of their creations.
>Luna offers praise and disapproval in equal amounts, giving her honest, well-thought out opinion on each creation presented before her.
>She only laughs at their mention of you, introducing you as the Royal Butler.
>They accept this with sagely nods, although a few of the more scholarly among them look upon you with concern.
>After a while, you ask Luna about it.
"What the hell are they looking at?"
>She scolds you.
>"Language, Anon. You are our representative, even in this. And you are a curiosity. An alien. AND the Royal Butler. That position has not been filled for...some time."
>You furrow your brows in concern.
"...Why?"
>Luna suddenly seems uncomfortable.
>"...Anon, it must be getting late. Humans, I understand, are not nocturnal. You should sleep. After all, it is part of your royal duty to wake 'Tia on the morrow! You need your rest!"
"...Luna, why has that position gone unfilled?"
>"'Tia is NOT a morning pony, Ano-"
"Princess. Please."
>She sighs.
>"...The Last Royal Butler...I...I killed him, Anonymous."