Surface of the Sun, Part 11 (Dreams within Dreams)

>You feel something light and feathery at the back of your head.
>Her white wing pulls you close and she presses her lips against yours.
>You don't want to resist.
>You really don't.
>But in the time since your first kiss until now, you've begun to realize a few things.
>First, this is your boss.
>Second, this is EVERYONE'S boss.
>No, really, you were kissing pony God.
>You decide to linger a bit in the second kiss before pulling away.
"...Okay. Uh."
>"...Right. Yes. Anonymous. That."
>Celestia blushes, and you look away and rub the back of your head.
>Luna rolls her eyes.
>"About time, I say."
"What!?"
>"What are you implying, sister!?"
>Luna lazily waves a hoof.
>"Mistress of Dreams, remember? I knew how you two felt about each other before you did."
>That shuts both of you up.
>While you and Celestia look at the ceiling, the floor, and anything but each other, Luna paces back and forth.
>"I'm more interested in understanding what just happened. For example, how Anonymous, a magic-less being, just cast a spell."
"...Uh...long-dead wizards work in mysterious ways?"
>Luna scoffs.
>"Don't give me that. Starswirl was a genius, but he wasn't mysterious. He never did anything without purpose."
"...Okay, then what did he do this time?"
>Celestia clears her throat, her cheeks still a bit red.
>"Ahem. Well. Obviously he...left some form of magic in his works for his...successors to utilize."
"...He can do that? Just...leave magic for other people to pick up and use?"
>"Nopony's ever done such before...but this is Starswirl we're talking about. In essence, you've been...enchanted, Anon. I'm...not sure -how-, but more important than that, why? To return us from a state of fillyhood? Unreasonably specific."
>Celestia's blush clears up as she thinks.
>"...Anon, try...casting another spell."

>You hold out your hands in front of you, concentrating.
>Or, at least you try to. What you really end up doing is holding out your palms towards the Princesses and looking like a doofus for about ten minutes.
"So...is this...uh...do I have to say some words? Throw guano, maybe?"
>Both princesses look at each other, then at your hands.
>Luna speaks first.
>"...Perhaps the trick is in some particular formation of the hands? Maybe he only imbued you with the power to cast one spell? But...why -THAT- spell? Why now?"
"Maybe it was an accident?"
>"Starswirl did not -do- accidents, Anonymous."
>Celestia flaps her wings and glances at you.
>"How does your head feel, Anonymous?"
"Kinda...empty?"
>Luna grins.
>"So nothing has changed."
>You glare at the moon princess, and she giggles.
"Yeah, laugh it up, 'Woona.'"
>She glares at you, and her horn glows.
>"Use that nickname again, and I'll gladly send you running with another terror spell."
"Yeah, try that again and I'll knock you on your-"
>Celestia coughs.
>"Ladies, please, you're both royalty."
>Luna scrunches her nose and stops talking.
>You just glare.
"I'm not a lady or royalty!"
>"You're wrong on one count, Anonymous, and it's simply a saying. Please, be calm. Now, I am inclined to believe this was simply a...freak accident. But my sister is correct. Starswirl never cast a single spell without purpose in mind when he did it. So there must be -something-, anything else."
>You shrug.
"Sorry Princess, I got nothin' here. No magic words, no energy flow, no big bang boom super spell. I'm just gonna organize these books, and we can put this behind us.
>You turn around and start organizing Starswirl's books and scrolls.
>You hear two gasps behind you as you continue organizing.
>"Anon."
"Hmmm hmmm...?"
>"ANON!"
"What?"
>You turn around, and notice Celestia pointing a trembling hoof at your pile of books...
>The pile of books that you're organizing without touching.

>You look at the floating stack of books, held aloft by your unconscious mind, and utter the only phrase suitable for the situation.
"Fgsdgs."
>Celestia echoes your sentiment in expression, if not in words, her jaw having dropped to hover somewhere around the floor.
>Luna, however, is glancing at the books, her expression transforming from one of horror to absolute disbelief.
>"That's...his...Anonymous. You are manifesting Starswirl's...you're using his magic!"
"Abuhabuhuwhuwhua?"
>Luna and Celestia turn to look at each other, their expressions unreadable.
>Something unspoken passes between them before Celestia speaks to you.
>"Anonymous, this is...I didn't even know such a thing was possible..."
>She gives you a serious, scary look that you've only ever seen one other pony.
>It's a look that says 'study time,' when it really means 'prepare to have your mind and soul violated.'
>It's a look you've only seen on one of your good friends. Twilight Sparkle.
>You now know where it came from.
>"We have to test this. We have to see what you're capable of. If...if Starswirl could -pass on- even a smidgen of his magical talent...-after- his death..."
>Celestia's wings flutter in excitement.
>"Anonymous, do you -know- what this means for the magical community at large!? Do you have any idea!?"
>Celestia's wings flutter again, and her eyes are racing in her head as she mutters to herself.
>You settle on backing away slowly.
>"I wouldn't recommend that."
>Luna's voice comes from your left shoulder.
>You turn and see the Moon Princess grinning at you.
>"It's been a long time since I've seen her this excited! You've sparked her curiosity."
"...Is that good?"
>"Why, Anonymous, from your dreams, I assumed the chance to inflame my sister's passions were all you ever wanted~."
>You let out a quiet squeak of fear.


FOUR HOURS LATER
>"Alright, Anonymous, I need you to adjust your arm forty-five degrees to the right."
"Celestia."
>"Hush, I'm -sure- this will work."
"Celestia, there's-"
>"Shhhhhhh. Everything is going to be fine. All I'm going to do is hit you with the teensiest, tiniest lightning bolt, and that will be sure to jump-start your-"
"Uh uh. Nope."
>You start trying to tear yourself free of the impromptu lightning rod Celestia's strapped you to.
>This wasn't even the craziest experiment she'd tried on you recently.
>Not a single one of them had discovered any magical capabilities within you aside from the weakest form of telekinesis.
>And Celestia was growing frustrated.
>As you free yourself, she paces back and forth, floating a swarm of notepads and pens around her head and writing things down.
>"After -countless- experiments, all testing proves negative! No teleportation, no more magical abilities, no nothing!"
>She scowls and tosses her notes.
>"I just don't understand it!"
"Look, I don't get how I can even do the floaty thing."
>She grumbles something.
"Huh?"
>"It's not a 'floaty thing'. You have a piece of STARSWIRL'S magic at your command. Do you even realize the implications!?"
"...No. I don't...-get- magic, Celestia. I told you that."
>She sighs, and you walk over, putting your hand in her mane and giving her ears a scratch without really thinking about it.
>She leans over and nuzzles your arm with a sigh.
>"It's just...this is so..Anonymous, this could revolutionize magical theory as even -I- understand it. A pony able to preserve his magical knowledge beyond death?"
"Celestia...I get that it's a big deal, but...we've got other things to worry about. That diplomatic visit to Saddle Arabia, remember?"
>Celestia lets out an exhalation almost like a grunt.
>"...Diplomacy can -wait- for something like-."
>She pauses, and you stop scratching her ears.
>You both look at each other, grimace, and swiftly move apart.

"Sorry."
>"No, no, that was my mistake, I shouldn't have-"
"I mean I just did it with my last girlfriend to calm her d-"
>You both look at each other.
>"...Last girlfriend?"
"...UHHHH..."
>"Anonymous, that would imply...well...I mean...ahem."
>Celestia coughs, her cheeks red.
>You turn your head and blink at her.
"Well...is there a problem with that implication, Princess?"
>Her cheeks turn even redder, and she glares at you.
>"Anonymous! I am Princess of the Sun! It would be unseemly for...well..*She coughs again.* You obviously fell under the influence of some odd component of Starswirl's magic, and-"
"That doesn't explain you kissing me back, Princess."
>Celestia's face looks about as hot as the sun she commands as she looks away from you, mane hiding her features.
>"I...I have no idea what you're talking about, Anonymous."
"Don't."
>"...Don't what?"
"Don't try to pretend. Don't beat around the bush with this. I know, you know, your sister knows better than both of us. So..."
>You trail off, and she remains quiet, looking over her balcony past the hastily built lightning rod, into the city below.
"...So what do we do?"
>Celestia is silent for another few moments as her blush slowly fades.
>"...We keep calm, Anonymous. We have responsibilities, you and I. I must raise the sun, and you must aid my sister and I. So we must act as if the world continues to spin on."
"Even if we'd both rather it stop?"
>"...Our wants do not come into it, Anonymous. We have our duty, Anonymous. To Equestria. To my little ponies."
"Then what about..us? You and me?"
>She shudders, ever so slightly, and looks out at the city of Canterlot.
>"We do not put a name to it. We do not consider it. It is. and it is enough that we know it is....for now."

>You frown at her, then move out to join her at the balcony.
"...Are you saying I'm your dirty little secret?"
>Her wings flutter again, and she coughs.
>"Anonymous! There is nothing dirty about...us! We simply shared a kiss! And..mayormaynotfeelcertainthingsforeachother."
"...May or may not?"
>Celestia looks resolutely over the balcony, her wings spasming in consternation.
>"...Alright. Yes. I...care for you. It's...Anonymous, we simply can't..."
>You step up next to her and give her ears a reassuring scratch.
"...Hey. Princess. It's...look, it'll be okay. We'll...keep -us- quiet."
>She sighs and leans into the ear scratching.
>"...I am sorry, Anonymous."
"Hey, hey, it's okay."
>"...No. In no way is this...'okay'. This shouldn't..."
>Celestia reaches a hoof to her temple and massages, grimacing.
>"I'm sorry. Anonymous, I'm so, so sorry. We-"
>Her grimace intensifies, and you turn her around, grabbing her shoulders.
"Hey, are you okay? Something wrong?"
>"Just...I have a headache, Anonymous. I think I'm going to...sleep. Yes...sleep. After all...busy day tomorrow..."
"Planning for that trip to Saddle Arabia?"
>She nods, still massaging her temple gently.
>"I think I'll just...turn in early."
>She turns from the balcony, her horn glowing as she absentmindedly lowers the sun from the sky.
>You vaguely register the pulse of magic that radiates from her with such a monumental act as you walk beside her into her chambers, closing the entrance to the balcony and drawing closed the blinds.
>You hear her shuffle under the covers as you draw her blinds closed and prepare to retire to your own room.
>"Anonymous?"
"Yes, Princess?"
>"...Will you join me?"
>You freeze, your hand on the light switch for the room.
"Uh...we're...err...I thought we were keeping this secret."
>"Nop0ny would dare enter my private chambers while I slept...and it would just be...sleeping we'd be doing, Anonymous. I promise~."
>...Well when she put it like that...

ELSEWHERE, IN CANTERLOT CASTLE.
>Princess Luna was troubled.
>Something...something wasn't right.
>Well, now that she thought of it, it was more accurate to say that nothing was right.
>She was pleased her sister and Anonymous were finally...coming out in the open about each other. She wasn't sure how much more dream-born pining she could take.
>Honestly, out of all the myriad types of dreams she'd encountered in her long life, wet dreams were the absolute -worst-.
>She smirked as she thought of Celestia and Anonymous together. Oh the teasing she'd do to both of them. The rumor-mongering...this was going to be -fun-.
>A frown creased Luna's face as she trotted past her balcony and stared out the window.
>As happy as she was for them...something was wrong.
>Starswirl being able to preserve not simply a spell, but his -actual magic- for that long? Magic anyp0ny could use?
>She didn't know he could do that. And she'd known -everything- about Starswirl.
>Everything.
>She glances up at her Moon, troubled worry creasing her brow as she watched that lunar orb float gently in the sky.
>Celestia had ended the day early, today.
>She'd never done that. Never. Not in all the centuries they'd been together.
>Something wasn't right. Luna turned and began to pace again, her mind working frantically.
>That day in the library...something happened, something...wrong.
>She tried to think back to the source of that pervasive -wrongness-, but could not. It was like there was a hole in her memory, and that troubled her.
>And on top of all that, on top of all her recent woes, one thing troubled her the most.
>She could not access her sister's dreams.
>That had never happened before. It felt like she was being...blocked. Kept out and away, as if she were unwelcome in her sister's mind.
>And while she is blocked...other ponies suffer.
>That night, everyp0ny in Canterlot suffered from bad dreams.

>This...was pretty nice.
>You slowly turn over in the satin sheets of the bed, wrapping your arm around the divine shoulder next to you.
>She was sleeping quietly, her head resting on your chest.
>You had to admit, this was...nice.
>She was warm, heat rolling off her in a slow, gentle motion that lulled you towards sleep yourself.
>A white wing curled up over your chest and gently tickled the side of your face with its feathers.
>There you rested, wrapped up with one another, caring and being cared for.
>It was...bliss.
>Or it would have been.
>But something was wrong with Celestia.
>She did not sleep peacefully.
>Her teeth and eyes were clenched, and she slowly writhed against you, making the occasional quiet whimper.
>You did your best to calm her, scratching her ears and running a hand through her mane, but that only made her clutch you tighter.
>Something was wrong with her, and your best efforts were no comfort.
>You held her close to you and kissed her forehead as she slept, the Princess of Equestria, held tightly in your arms.
>The thought made you smile as you drifted off to sleep, holding your....holding -her- close to you.
>That night, you dreamt of sunshine, wings, and happiness.
>As you slept, her night terrors intensified. Her hooves pawed at your slow-rising chest, fearing for the worst...
>That slow breath could end at any moment, she thinks. At any time, you could be still. Horribly, horribly still.
>And so she tossed and turned, whimpered and sweated, woke during the night with a gasp, and sighed with relief to find you still there.
>That night, Celestia did not dream.
>Instead, she found herself wrapped in a Nightmare without end.