I had been so eager yet so uneasy about returning to the wonderful world I had woven in the depths of the dream realm. A world that exists only between two dreaming minds when they are linked in slumber. At long last, the impossible could be possible between he and I. My beloved was finally within reach. And yet...my timing could not have been worse.

Days... Just mere days after I crafted that beautiful other life for us to begin living, it happened. War. A declaration of war from one we had believed to be banished from the world of Equestria eons ago. Against all odds, he defied even the will of the Elements of Harmony and Humanity to cling desperately to a world he was no longer welcome in. And when word reached my beloved, he was the first to fetch his arms and armor. On wings of enchanted metal, he soared to the east to face the threat. A love for Equestria only one with the heart of a true king could ever hold driving him onward.

I did not allow my beloved to leave on his own. As soon as I leaned of his departure, there was no hesitation. I retrieved my finest armor and a bounty of supplies before rushing off to find him. I was fortunate enough to reach him before even a full day had gone by. And with only each other at our sides, we set off across the long dormant Empty Plains to face the threat.

It was...so tempting to reach out to him when all we had was each other for a time. There was even one moment when we were alone together where...we were on the verge of intimacy. His lips upon mine... His hands masterfully caressing and grasping my haunches... If he had persisted further, I have no doubt that I would have given myself to himself that night. I would have become his mare and queen right there. But we resisted that urge... And...I could have come to regret doing so in the realm of reality. With the threat of war looming over us, I had no choice but to set aside my ambitions for the time being. That world within the realm of dreams forged only for the two of us would have to wait.

And yet...I learned much about my beloved in the coming weeks. So cautious yet so brave, his heart...is like very few who have come before. For his dear wife, the bearer of the Element of Kindness herself, is not the only one his heart pines for. I have learned through careful observation that the bearer of the Element of Generosity herself also has fallen madly in love with him. And he loves her just as dearly. She was the first who became something more. At this moment, she is as much a bride to my beloved as she is a mother to the child that he has sired with his wife. They have become a true family, a term he always insists on using. It is not a product of lust or ego. It is all out of love. And...more have joined that growing family.

My beloved's boundless heart in the coming weeks has welcomed other hearts into his embrace. Beautiful and powerful souls who love him as dearly as he loves them. Even under the veil of war. The majestic yet wild Queen Novo of Capricorn Island. The ancient and serene Rain Shine of the Grove of Silence. Even the fledgling Dragon Lord herself have found such powerful romance with my beloved James. Even...my own sister. Celestia herself desires him.

It still astounds me how my eldest sister fell so madly in love with the man she and Luna brought to this world for such a daring project of reintroducing humanity to the world of Equestria. It was not planned. They were even distant at first. And it was Luna who bonded with the young human early on. But their friendship always remained just that. A friendship. But Celestia... For as much as my beloved adores the night, he has always been my guiding light. The sun to my moon. And like him, Celestia has always been Equestria's guiding light for so very long. They glow radiantly in their own ways. And that radiance...found kinship with each other. The Princess of the Dawn... Such honeyed words she has spoken to my beloved. A desire to crown him as her king if he would have her. Even a desire to mother his child. To bear him an heir if fate would be so kind. Even our Mother and Father defied all expectations by returning from the shadows during this crisis and have become very aware of the love between their firstborn and the bearer of Humanity. Father especially is excited at the prospect of the two of them providing them with grandchildren someday.

And even I... I too had the opportunity to become something more with him. I was reckless... I was determined to win over my fiery mother's adoration. When she appeared before us on the battlefield, I...cowered. I knew she was aware of where I had come from. And in spite of her fiery visage, her words were frigid as the arctic gales. She was correct in stating that I had not been born from her. And while she acknowledged and respected my presence as one of Equestria's true sovereigns, she rejected me as her child. But not Father. He held me and insisted that I give my mother time to contemplate my existence. And yet, I grew impatient. She rejected me again and I took it upon myself to prove to her that I was no demon. That I was as much a mare as Celestia and Luna. I charged into the enemy ranks to lay waste to them. I believed my power alone would be enough to counter their vast numbers.

But I was wrong. There were just too many. My focus was spread thin. Them pounded away at me even as my armor remained intact. I remember the world going dark as I fell with their armored boots stomping away at me. Beaten to within an inch of my life, I came to and beheld a ghastly sight. My beloved held aloft by the throat in the grasp of the one remaining soulless soldier under the control of our enemy. With what little strength I had left, I impaled and dissolved the enemy with a strike from below. When his eyes fell upon me... My beloved was in tears. He was alone with no allies at his side. Distraught with the rest of the enemy army gone... Did he do that all on his own? What did he do when he saw that I had fallen? Gone mad with grief? Laid waste to the enemy in bitter vengeance?

I tried to defy my injuries, but failed. I was on the verge of death, fearful that I may very well die that day. But Mother... She finally relented. She mended whatever wounds she could in my body before leaving the rest to the medics of the militia. And as soon as my condition had stabilized, he came to me. My beloved was the first to visit. And it was then that I had to acknowledge the possibility of death that constantly hung over us all. Even an immortal like me was not immune to murder. And I could not bear the prospect of leaving this world without telling him what was in my heart. So I did. I told my beloved the truth that had become real the night he returned to me and gave e all I could have ever wanted.

And...his response was mutual. He told me that all along, his heart longed for me too. He simply hid it, not certain if it was meant to be. And he was more right than he knew. He offered me a place in his family. A desire to see where things go once the war had come to an end. He was offering himself to me and I could have become his at long last.

But...I did not. I could not. I love him with every fiber of my being. I will always be his, but...I could never see myself being his while he belongs to others as well. I had to accept then...that I am selfish. Too selfish. If I were to accept his offer...I would be living a lie. I would not be happy if I was not the only mare who was his bride.

Perhaps it is just my nature as a nightmare. I was not born. I was spawned through a dark curse with origins that remain unknown to this day. I may be a mare, but I am still a demon. My very being remains permanently stained with shadows. And they are not benevolent shadows. To be selfish... To be aggressive... To be violent in times of crisis... It is who I am. Even if the love in my heart is pure, I am a mare of darkness. And darkness is tied too closely to evil. Perhaps some of that evil still lingers in me to this day. I am the Princess of Dreams. I am Equestria's ruler alongside my sisters. Ad yet...I am still tainted. For I love him. But I cannot give myself to him if he cannot be all mine.

That did not stop us. While we could never be truly together... His love for me and mine for him remained unchanged. And I do believe he has come to terms with this situation. For when we are alone and away from the eyes of the public... The way we hold each other... With every kiss upon our lips... It is always a moment of solace for us. For just a moment, we can cast aside the facade and reveal our hearts to each other.

And now that the war is over... Now that we have all healed and resumed the lives we had to leave behind for a while... I can finally resume making our dream a reality. My dear James can welcome as many wonderful women into his family as his heart will allow. More and more brides can find love with him. They can give him as many children as they desire. They can have each other. But in that world I have woven for us, he will be mine and mine alone.

As night falls over the land and my spell is in place, I suddenly recall one last detail that has come to pass during the war. Something that could potentially derail everything I have set in place. For some time, my sisters and I have partaken in an intriguing training regime with our dear James in the depths of his dreams. Every once in a while, a fictional being of great power and danger would be summoned from his deepest memories. And these mighty foes have always provided an ample challenge for the four of us. A machine warrior wielding a sword of purple light. A demonic knight in azure armor wielding a massive blade of flesh and steel. A dark devil wyrm combating us in a sky of crimson clouds. And yet... With that last one... We were joined by an ally.

Our main opponent that night was not the first we had to face. He unleashed a devoted pawn onto us first. A dragoness held captive by a dark curse that I sensed within her almost immediately. And so we set out not to slay her, but to free her. I tore that curse from her body while my companions annihilated it once it was removed from her very being. The poor little thing... Freed from the curse, she regressed to a much smaller and fragile form. That little wyrm... I saw so much of myself in her that night. A pawn shackled by the shadowy chains of another for so long against her will...

While we did succeed in slaying her vile master that night, he still had the last laugh. The sky temple we had dueled him upon in the end plummeted to the planet below. And I witnessed the end of a world. Wracked by volcanic cataclysms, the world none of us knew exploded in our very faces. The only way to survive was for Luna and myself to wipe the slate clean. Reduce my beloved's dreaming mind to a blank canvas. And yet, that little wyrm remained.

We did what we could to soothe her. Luna and I wove a beautiful enchanted vale for us to rest in after such a harrowing ordeal. And he remained by her side. My beloved was most kind to her in her time of need. He barely even knew anything about her, yet did what he could to ease her fractured soul. As did we. The poor child had no world to return to. No one to be by her side. But we all told her kind words. Did whatever we could to ease any lingering guilt in her heart. And I do believe we succeeded. For she then went for a stroll to clear her head. But not to be alone. She beckoned my beloved to follow her. So he did while we remained behind to merely speak amongst ourselves. Wherever it is they went, we did not see them again before the dream ended.

That would have been the end of that story. Or so I believed. And yet, not that much later, I joined my beloved in his dreaming mind once again to provide him with solace during a night of calm in the war. But...I sensed a presence. An actual presence at the edge of his dreaming mind. And it was longing for him.

I signaled the presence to approach us. And it did. And it was her. The little wyrm, with no world to return to, had become a vagabond adrift in the mind of her dreamer. Barely aware of anything until called to his side. They were...nearly overjoyed to be together again. And his heart was in a fragile state. So I entrusted him to the little wyrm to watch over him that night. A role she eagerly accepted.

I left them to their own devices that night, but I did keep watch from a great distance. And I could see why she longed for him so dearly. They adored each other. Just so happy to be together. And at the very end... She took hold of him. The poor creature knows nothing of her existence as a mere product of her dreamer's mind, yet...she desired. She sought to follow him wherever he may go. This dream wyrm...was becoming alive.

I could not watch idly. The instant the dream ended, I took hold of her and retreated to the nexus between all dreams within the dream realm. With her dreamer's awakening, she had begun to slumber again. And I felt such a profound sense of solidarity with the poor soul. So different...yet so similar. I could see and sense it within her. She wanted to be with him. To be his. Yet it could never be.

I awoke from that realm and found my beloved crestfallen over awakening without his dear companion by his side. I spoke kindly to him to try and lift his spirits. And the discussion turned to a very bold topic. The concept of dream entities being drawn out of the dream realm and into the realm of reality.

It is a concept Luna and I have been researching heavily in recent weeks. And while the means to achieve it is currently out of reach, we believe it is possible. And I wish to see it happen. I feel a connection with that little dream wyrm. I see so much of myself in her. And I see how fate has conspired against her to deny her what she rightfully deserves. If I have found a means to defy fate to attain my heart's desires, then I wish to see hers become reality too.

And yet...not long after the war ended, complications arose. That little wyrm had returned to his side once again without my knowledge beforehand. And one night, I sensed that my beloved's dreaming mind was in turmoil. A most wretched nightmare was plaguing him. Luna and I swiftly came to his aid to rescue him from the shadows. But the source of his pain...was the little wyrm.

She knew. She had learned of how his heart functions and the many lovers that have become part of his family. But instead of inquiring further or allowing him to reveal to her the beauty of such a bold relationship, she assumed the worst. Worse than any had ever done before. And through that bitter sense of false betrayal, she corrupted herself. As large as when we first found her and shrouded by a shadowy aura, she had already maimed my beloved by the time Luna and I arrived. Even when I explained my own heart to her, she refused to even entertain the notion of such love being possible. With the sudden arrival of our father, we successfully subdued her. And only then did she allow herself to listen. She dearly wanted to be proven wrong.

What followed was a genuinely lovely time atop a sea of clouds beneath the night sky. My beloved requested the arrival of his wife as well as Novo and the Dragon Lord herself. They each explained in great detail how they had found love with my dear James. Such beautiful tales... And she was moved. She understood then and there. And...she understood the folly of her actions and beliefs.

I learned later that the little wyrm was not under the influence of a lingering curse like her form had led me to suspect. Her actions that night, the lies she told herself that were easier to believe than the beautiful truth, were entirely hers and hers alone. The sins carried out that night and the resulting remorse belonged only to her. My beloved could no longer trust after her attempt on his life. At least for now. I am convinced that she will eventually return to his side when the time is right. For I know...that she longs for him. She desires him in a manner not dissimilar to how I desire my beloved.

She remains in hiding at this moment. But not exactly adrift like before. The little wyrm... The dream dragoness is not simply existing in accordance to the whims of her dreamer's mind. She is alive. She survived the destruction of her world and has now lingered long enough to develop her own will. At this moment, I do believe it is only a matter of time before Luna and I cross the threshold and find a means to drag her out of the dream realm and into the realm of reality.

But until then...she remains tethered to the dream realm. She can come and go from my beloved's dreams as she sees fit. Which means that when my dreaming mind links with his to restore the world I wove for us, she could invade at any time. And if that little wyrm resembles me as much as I suspect she does... I do believe that she would be fiercely protective of him if she believed he has been wronged.

I know that what I am doing is selfish. And many would condemn this ambition of mine. I fear that should she discover the world that exists only between his dreaming mind and mine, it would only be a matter of time before...

It is not only for our sake. It is also for hers. She must not know the true nature of her nonexistence as a dream entity. Not until it is time for her to enter the realm of reality. The consequences of her learning such a bitter truth, especially upon learning of this other world he and I reside in during our shared dream... They would be most dire. For her sake and for ours, I must take steps to lock her out of our world when he and I dream together. And I must redouble my efforts to find that breakthrough in bringing her into the real world. For once that little wyrm is out of the dream realm, she no longer be able to interfere with us.

I have mused over this enough. I must sleep and return to my beloved. And so I rest. My magic is ready. Once my mind begins to dream, I find myself within the nexus of my domain. I know where I must be. His mind is so easy to locate. It resonates a unique presence. The only dreaming mind at the time that belongs to a human. But rather than enter, I bring his dream to my own. And they merge once again. And I can see it... The other Equestria that is not Equestria.

It has been too long since I was last here... I forgot how...uncanny this world feels. Alive and real, yet not quite. I nearly falter as I stand in my chambers. Nearly no different to how it looks in the waking world. This world nearly feels indistinguishable from reality. But...I must persevere. I know he needs me. I know he wants me. And there is no other way to make it happen.

The night is young. I did not spend goodness knows how long weaving this world tonight. I should have ample time to spend with my dear. Now that this world has come out of stasis for the first time in weeks, I must wonder what has occurred... Has time flowed here despite my absence and the lack of my beloved's awareness?

I avoid the guards within the palace where I can. And I must evade the attention of my sisters. Even if they are not quite the sisters I am most familiar with. After so long away, there is only one place I wish to be. The sky is clear and the sun shines bright in the late morning. I spread my wings and take to the air. Ponyville lies below.

I recall... My beloved James does not reside in Fluttershy's cottage in this world. He resides with the bearer of the Element of Generosity. Was that how it went for him shortly after his arrival in Equestria? I could certainly see why. Out of the six Elements of Harmony, James has always resonated with Generosity the most. He always has had a mutual bond with the bearer of Generosity. Not simply a man of boundless love, he is also privy to the arts like she is. Oh dear... What if something has changed between them during my absence from our world? Has his dreaming mind found love with her? I certainly hope not...

The town square spreads out below me as I descend. And I see my destination. The local spa. He has always been good with using his hands and the locals of Ponyville do appreciate how his fingers and palms can soothe their bodies. Some of the locals see my arrival and bow to me. Even here, I am still the Princess of Dreams and these are my people. But enough delays. I am certain he waits within the spa.

Even in this other Equestria, there is still a society at work. A society that runs on its own economy. I cannot simply barge in. I must have a reason for being here. With a quick weaving of my magic, I produce a cluster of bits and provide them to the mare at the front desk with a request for their massage services. They wish me well and send me in and...

There he is. Like any other day in Ponyville, he stands by the massage tables and notices me immediately. And he is quite surprised, as am I. It has been much too long since I last visited the spa for their services. But I must remain professional for now. Patience, Nightmare Moon. Even I cannot force this man to love me. Nor would I want to. Such trust must be built gradually brick by brick.

Nothing but small talk at first. Act like nothing is amiss. This is a world where we shall live another life all to ourselves. But I did pay for his services, so now his must oblige. I rest upon the massage table and he starts with my wings... Oh yes, I did not realize how much they needed this. Many do not realize how strained the wings can become with extensive use.

Bit by bit, he tends to my body. I inquire about how life in Ponyville has been to him and he replies happily. Nothing but good friends around him. And it sounds as if none of those friends are advancing beyond the veil of platonic desires. He is still mine for the taking.

His hands masterfully knead the muscles in my neck and face. Pressing into my shoulders... Oof, I forgot he had learned how to do that. He has learned to utilize his elbows where the muscle on my body is thicker. Splendid results!

Now he is atop me. Some areas are best dealt with from above. I do believe all that remains are my flanks. His fingers press firmly into my powerful haunches. And he carefully dances around my cutie mark. But the results are not the same while avoiding so much. My cutie mark has always covered a sizeable portion of my flank despite how sensitive it can be. The way he skirts about the edges... He wants to give me the full treatment, yet does not wish to be indecent about it.

There is no need to hold back, my love. In this world, my body is yours. I give him permission to do what he must to satisfy me. And so he does. His fingers... Mmph, such a fine touch. Every contour of my flanks kneaded by the fingers of an artist. My nerves alight with every prod. Compose yourself, Nightmare Moon. There are other customers about. Do not draw attention... Ah!

That was... His touch for just a moment was...too firm. Pressed too deeply into my... There! Again! James, what are you doing? You know those are sensitive... Again! No, he is not making mistakes with how much pressure he is applying... This is deliberate. He is...pleasuring me.

James, it is not like you to do this. I know you would not take advantage of your customers like this... Oh heavens, his caress... He knows exactly what he is doing... And I welcome it. Why give me such pleasure, my love? What has changed since I last saw you in our world? Does your love for me...permeate into your dreaming mind even now?

Now...he is not relenting... Massaging me so deeply... Deeper than necessary... All for the sake of giving me pleasure. He does not speak... And I must not squeal. I must contain myself... James, please! No more! I do not wish to expose you here! I...can't...stay quiet...

Too close... He finally relented. By the stars, I hope my scent has not spread too far through the air. And now he dismounts me. And...my goodness, such a timid look on his face. He knows what he did. Gently now... I did not reach climax. That would have been most unbecoming of me to let that happen in a public space.

My body desires more... Not here. Not yet. Oh dear, that face. He knows what he did. Perhaps I should jest with him for a moment. Yes, why apply so much pressure to my royal cutie marks for so long? You cheeky yet wonderful man.

So demure and timid when backed into a corner. Beckon me closer for a whisper? Very well then... Ah... Simply desiring to make me feel...happy? My love, I know you would not do that for just any mare. Such a deliberate caress would only be reserved for the mares who have become your brides... Our experiences on the battlefield... Do they still blanket your heart even now? Such a tender touch... Is the love we found even then seeping into your dreaming mind? Are you desiring me as I desire you?

Compose yourself, Nightmare Moon. Not too fast. And I must say that his services truly did wonders. I can feel every little kink loosened up as I flex and stretch my body. Mm, yes! No wonder his 'magic fingers' are so sought after. Although...I see his eyes watching me. Observing me. Admiring the results of his craft? Or...something more?

Perhaps an opportunity has revealed itself. Perhaps...he desires an evening with me? Once his shift ends? Is that what your gaze is telling me? Perhaps we could...spend an evening at the café together tonight? Would he...want that?

He does... Be still, my heart. He wishes to join me this evening... The pieces are falling into place. But I should not linger here for too long. Even after working to insure that this dream does not end too soon, I must spend my time wisely. But still... Candlelight dinner? The two of us? We have not engaged in such cozy intimacy since before the militia reached us on the Empty Plains. And even then, I had to hide my heart from him until the proper time. But for now, I must depart.

Drat, my body... So flustered from his caresses... He knew what he was doing, that clever man. Trying to bring me pleasure of the finest ecstasy. But...I cannot ignore it... Where do I go? I stand out too much in Ponyville. Celestia and Luna will surely give me a scolding if I return to Canterlot to retreat into my chambers...

Wait just a moment... Perhaps... Where it all began. Yes... Far from prying eyes. And so I take to the sky. But instead of flying east towards Canterlot, I soar west. Out and over the vast green canopy of the Everfree Forest. I know it is out there... I never looked back once after leaving that ancient obelisk behind. It is so quiet out here... The perfect place to be alone with my thoughts. And my needs...

Did I fail to recreate it when I wove this world? Does it simply not exist in this world? No, I distinctly recall the very night I came to exist. It was deep within the forest... There! It still stands! Or rather whatever is left of it.

The first castle Celestia and I reigned from while Luna and I were still one. So little remains, but that clearing is impossible to miss. As I circle it... By the stars, even the scars remain. The gaping hole at the back of the hall I blew my beloved through with sheer force... Nothing has changed since that day.

I departed this hall through that gaping opening and now I return through it. Everything has come full circle. This great hall... The remnants of our throne room served as my prison for some time after that fateful night. The Elements of Harmony should have erased me. And yet, they showed mercy. Reduced to a shadow, I was separated from my former self. And with every passing night, I regained a glimmer of my strength. To think that this room... This empty chamber is where I became whole and my own mare. And...where he first came to me.

He spoke kindly to me that night. A lost soul seeking shelter from the wild denizens of the Everfree Forest. I knew nothing of how a human could even be in Equestria after they went extinct so long ago, but I did not question it. There was no wariness in those eyes and voice even as he showed that he knew of my legacy. The first human in eons and he showed me kindness. It was...the first time I ad ever received words of appreciation for my beautiful night. As myself or Luna. And...I wanted to protect that precious man. Even with what little strength I had at the time, I wanted to keep that kind soul safe. And when I finally regained enough strength to become more than a shadow... To become a mare of flesh and blood... I summoned him back to me by gifting him a night that never ends. And he came.

What a mess of a night that was... He opened my eyes to the dark truths of what a world without the sun would experience. And in spite of his kind words and adoration of me, the Elements of Harmony still arrived. What followed was...

I just wish to put that day behind me. We all do. But I still so dearly wanted him by my side. I was falling so dearly in love with that wonderful man. I wanted him. And...I still want him... I need him...

My body craves him... He knew what he was doing when he pressed his hands so firmly into my flanks. Such pleasure... Just like the one and only time we became something more. A beautiful shared dream that I made certain he could not remember. It was a moment of selfish weakness, but a night without consequence. Only now... Now, it can truly be in this other world. An Equestria all to ourselves where what could not have been shall be. He will be mine and I will be his and...

Drat, I cannot ignore this need... No one around to see or hear... I need release. I...must...

Oh yes... Let my thoughts wander... Let me mind think of only you, my love. Your kind words and touch. Your patient heart. Even when things between us were much more platonic, you always adored being by my side. And now... Under the veil of war, that friendship...blossomed into love. I know you want me, even if I cannot have you. Not in the realm of reality. But in our own reality...

I can...already feel him inside me... Yes, my darling James... My future king... Mm, yes... I will be your mare at last. I will be your queen of the night. No matter what happens in the waking world, we will always have each other here. Eyes only for each other. I can feel his caress... I can still remember his hands upon my royal haunches...

He was...so good to me the one time it happened in a dream he will never remember. It was the one time he showed what was truly in his heart. He could have broken me right then, but he held me. And he...made such sweet love to me. I can still feel that pleasure even now... Thrusting deep within... Filling me with his blessing... Oh, if only I was deep in my heat at the time...

My heat... When I am... Oh, my love... If only... Will we be so blessed in this world that we can go even further? Will you sire me an heir? I cannot be a proper queen unless you bless me with children...

I want it... How I have longed for that beautiful fantasy to become reality... I would gladly bear him sons and daughters...

So...wonderful... This pleasure... James, my love... Yes, please... Be my king... Sire my heirs! I will gladly bear your legacy! Let me mother your child... A darling colt, a precious filly, it matters not which! Fill me, my love! Breed your queen! Make me yours! Fill me with our beautiful heirs!

So...intense... Collapsed to the floor, I can barely move... Oh, I will give that man such beautiful foals... He will be overjoyed when we are finally blessed with children... Beautiful royal children... I know he desires to be a father... To have a family... And I...will give him that royal family in due time... My love. My king. My husband... Just need to be patient...

Look at me... How scandalous. The mighty Princess of Dreams lusting so hard after my beloved on the first day back into this world I wove for the two of us... I wonder... Does he lust for me all the same? I would gladly open my loins to him if he wished it... And yet...I was not the first of the Equestrian royal family that he claimed in the bedroom...

Celestia. Such sweet honeyed words you have spoken to that man. And the love between you is true. Your love has been blessed by Mother and Father. You seek to crown him as your king should the opportunity arise. And even more than that... You seek to bear his foal. To bear him an heir and make him the father of the next generation of the royal family.

No... No, sister. Not this time. You will not take this from me. This will be the one time you will not precede me. You will not be blessed with the honor of being the first to bear his royal children. That honor will be mine and mine alone. No matter what happens in the waking world, I swear that I will be the first to conceive an heir with him. The firstborn of the next generation of the royal family will be mine, not yours.

Patience, Nightmare Moon. Patience. With how much power I possess in this realm, it is so tempting to just rush ahead. But I cannot control him. He is the one thing I hold no sway over in this world. Like with every beloved he holds in the waking world, each different love required ample time to build and in the correct circumstances. I must be patient and let things come naturally. I will have what is rightfully owed to me. But as they say, the journey is the destination. And I will be journeying with him by my side.

So then... What now? My beloved's shift has not ended at the spa. I should not return just yet. I shall arrive at closing time. Perhaps walk him home as the sunset begins. But until then... I shall return to Canterlot to pass the time. Tend to my duties there to keep my two false sisters from suspecting anything is amiss. I wish to avoid forcing any direct control onto anything or anyone here. This is meant to be a world for us to live the life we both desire. Not a toy for me to get what I want on every whim.

I soar to the east with that mountain on the distant horizon. And upon arriving, I am beset by the Celestia who reigns over this world. She is annoyed yet cracks a quip here and there, more than likely too aware of exactly who I ran off to see. I must keep up appearances for the moment.

Not that I ever had much love for the legislative side of leadership to begin with, but these meetings are so much more dreadful than they ever were in the waking world. I simply cannot focus. My mind is elsewhere. I cannot stop thinking about him now that there is so little to interfere between us... Just a little longer...

My false sisters are a little too aware of how distracted I am. And they allow me to take my leave earlier than usual. So kind of them. Even here, they are still the Celestia and Luna I know. And they let me depart at a good time. The sun is setting. He will be heading off for home soon. And so I descend upon Ponyville again.

The spa does not seem vacant... Although I am certain they are no longer accepting customers at this time. Should I enter? No, not the door opens. And there he is. I made it just in time.

Hello there, my friend. Or so I say. I know we have been much more than friends for some time now. And we will be even more than in due time. But for now, just along. Baby steps, as they say. He is certainly surprised to see me again on the same day, but does not reject me. Such a look of joy. And he swiftly steps forward to put his arms around me. You have always adored me, my love... And it shines through even now.

I fear it may not be much longer before the dream ends. I still have not perfected the correct flow of time here. Night has not fallen yet and the sun could be rising upon my sleeping body even now. Luna handles the movements of the moon, not me. We likely do not even have time for an evening meal together like we had planned. With so little time left, I offer what little I can. I insist I escort him home. And he accepts.

The streets of Ponyville are quiet at this hour. Not as many are about as before. And those who are seem to be giving us a wide berth. Perhaps they can see that the two of us are here for each other and not them. He is staying close to me, but has little to say. Is he troubled? At a loss for words? You always did listen more than you speak, my love.

Ah, I see now. He keeps fidgeting with his hand that is nearest to me. He wishes to hold me. His body betrays what is truly in his heart. Then hold me, my love. Hold me as I hold you. His arm drapes across my shoulders while I wrap him in my sable wing. The air is a bit cool right now... I appreciate the warmth of his embrace.

It is most quiet near Carousel Boutique. The southeastern edge of town is one of the least populated corners of Ponyville. Peace and quiet for an artist such as Rarity. With the sun so low on the western horizon now, we turn to face each other in farewell. And yet...I can see the hesitation in his eyes. He does not wish to let go.

I do not wish to depart. But our dreaming minds will not remain asleep for much longer. I can already feel the ripples of awakening quivering through the air. So I promise him... Vow to see him again very soon. And we rest our brows against each other. Eyes closed... Quiet breaths... Savoring a moment longer together.

It is best that you leave me be now, my love. Before the veil lifts. He enters Carousel Boutique and looks back at me one last time. And not too soon. I can see the horizon fading into a white void.

I now awaken in my bed. And with such a sense of relief over me. It was the first full day in our own little world after having weaved it for us. And...it went well. Very well. The only question now is...when should we meet again?

I must pace myself with this. Perhaps...in a week? Same time next week? It would be wise to keep our visits to that world infrequent. Heaven forbid Luna or Father enters it while it is manifested. And that little wyrm... She must be kept out as well.

It is another new day in this corner of Equestria. And I feel...confident in this endeavor. But the guilt is still there. I have created not simply a dream for us. That world...felt too real. I had forgotten how lucid it feels just being there. Even more so than the usual lucidity of a shared dream. This is a selfish deed I am doing...but it harms no one. His memories of each visit remain safely locked away upon awakening. Our experiences there will not impact his daily life if he cannot recall the other life he is living once in a while.

Perhaps this guilt will fade in due time. I am still uneasy, but perhaps the repetition and settling into that second life will soothe my heart. I know we will be happy together. He is not being harmed by this, nor is anyone else. But what to do next time? Perhaps...candlelight dinner? Yes, I really must see to it that the flow of time is adjusted to allow that next time. I was so looking forward to sharing a bottle of wine with him...

With that world buried for now, I must return to my duties. And I feel...so fulfilled knowing that I am on the right track with this. It has begun. I shall return to you soon, my love. We will belong to each other someday. I swear it.