by Ultra1437
***
After being rescued, any of the wounded crew, including Twilight, were ushered into the medbays, despite several insisting they were fine. Twilight ended up with her wing wrapped up, forcibly pinned to her side so it could heal properly. Her other bruises and cuts were cleaned and bandaged as well.
Back on the ground, most of the Celestia’s crew was dropped back off in Canterlot Spacedock, grateful to just be alive. Those left behind were overseeing repair crews on the ship itself, or rushed to better-equipped hospitals. Celestia never left Twilight’s side, despite knowing she was foolishly afraid if Twilight left her presence, she’d be gone forever.
“Hey.” A poke from her side interrupted Celestia’s ruminations. Twilight spoke, “How about we go see how the repairs are going tomorrow evening…” Her free wing twitched. “We could even… make a date of it?”
At the suggestion, Celestia smiled warmly. “I would love that, dear.”
Twilight’s ears perked and she nuzzled up against Celestia’s neck. “Excellent! I’m sure you’ll just love to see the syzygy that should happen, too!”
“Sizz-edgy? I’m sorry, Twilight, I’m not sure I know the term.”
Sitting down, she drew three circles in the ground, in a line. “A syzygy is when three or more things, like planets, in a solar system, line up. It’s quite the sight to see, from the last few I’ve seen.” She smiled softly. “Each time there is a solar or lunar eclipse, that is a syzygy with the sun, the moon, and Equus.”
Celestia nodded, following Twilight’s logic.
“Well, this one will involve four objects: The sun, our nearest neighbor-planet Snare, and two of its largest moons.” Twilight looked up to the sky, watching a few ships take off into orbit. “The orbit the Celestia is in around Equus should make the spectacle quite the view for Snare and its moons. I’m sure Luna would love to see it, if she has the time.” Twilight settled in next to her marefriend, leaning against the slightly larger mare.
“I’m sure it will be lovely, Twilight.” She leaned down and kissed Twilight softly. “It’s a date.” She wrapped her wing gently around Twilight, being careful of her wing, as the wind kicked up, and both ponies contentedly watched the ships coming and going from Canterlot’s busiest port.
Celestia and Twilight found their small shuttle waiting and prepared for them the next evening. A call to Luna earlier had let the pair use her personal shuttle, with a promise to record the event from their perspective.
“Tia, are you ready?” Twilight motioned to the basket Celestia had prepared. “Is that for us?”
Celestia nodded, stepping over. “It is. I know you’ll enjoy it.” The shuttle’s interior was impressive, rich mahogany made up the tabletops and cabinets, while the seats were actual clouds from Equus, the shuttle’s weather control system keeping them in place and fluffy. There were other chairs, just in case any guests couldn’t sit on a cloud.
‘I hope you love what I got you too, Tia.’ Twilight thought ruefully. Shaking her head, she took the pilot’s chair and started the craft up. While she wasn’t as good as Helm, she still knew how to fly a small shuttle.
Watching Twilight work, Celestia sat down on a nearby cushion, setting the basket on the table next to it.
Leaving Canterlot’s airspace for orbit was a quick affair and the shuttle closed in on the Celestia. Various ponies and other creatures in protective suits flitted about the ship, their tools working hard to bring the blasted battleship to working order. A few frigates loitered nearby, cargo holds open with replacement equipment ready for installation.
As the shuttle stopped, Celestia watched in awe as a massive, multi-ton armor plate was slowly settled into position by a crew of five pegasi. Two broke from the formation to secure it against the superstructure, their welders making the job seem easy. After it was attached, the crew returned to the nearest frigate for another plate.
Twilight, meanwhile, retrieved an item she'd hidden within her broken wing's sling. She checked to make sure it was still there before hiding it back in the sling.
"So, Tia, the syzygy isn't for another hour yet," Twilight broke the silence, shaking her marefriend from her awe.
Celestia turned and looked back at Twilight, smiling softly. "Then there's plenty of time for our meal." She opened the basket and pulled out two candles. Setting them in the table's center, she lit them and pulled out a pair of plates and silverware to match. As Celestia set the table, a heavenly aroma filled the shuttle's cabin. A bottle of wine was lifted out as well as two small wine glasses.
"Did you..." was all Twi managed to say before a covered bowl was lifted from the basket.
"Mhm. I made that alfredo pasta you love so much. It seemed only fitting." Celestia set the bowl next to the candles and the last item came out, some homemade breadsticks, wrapped in foil to keep them warm.
Twilight's mouth salivated in anticipation. "It smells delicious." Taking her seat, Celestia sat across from her. The couple tucked into their meal eagerly, savoring each heavenly bite. As they ate, Twilight slowly built up her confidence.
It was finally time for the syzygy. Twilight trained the ship’s view-scanner onto the right coordinates, zooming in to a proper level. Almost as an afterthought she tapped the recorder, starting it.
Celestia moved to sit next to Twilight, wrapping a wing around her. On screen was a massive cloudy-white planet. A half-dozen smaller objects were visible around it, but the two largest were nearly obscuring a section of the planet. “So, is this a syzygy?”
“Almost!” Twilight tweaked the view slightly, zooming in or out only slightly, trying to set up a perfect view. Seemingly satisfied with her work, she pointed to one of the large objects in front of Snare. “This one’s Chaoria, the smaller of the two moons involved today.” She pointed at the other. “And that one’s Aecliea. Aecliea’s a third larger than Chaoria. Our perspective makes them seem much more different in size, though,” Twilight’s eyes shone brilliantly as she explained. “In a few minutes they’ll be aligned completely, but the event has begun.”
Celestia nodded, watching intently as the event took place. As she watched them align, she still didn’t quite understand what got Twilight so excited, but the view was nice, and the company even better.
Twilight, meanwhile looked up at Celestia, confirming she was watching the syzygy and not paying too much attention to her at the moment. Deciding the time was right, she slipped the item she’d looked at earlier out. She asked, “Tia?” as she lifted her head up.
Celestia looked down at Twilight, only to have Twilight meet her lips in a loving kiss. It lasted a full minute before they separated, eyes lidded and panting softly. “Yes?”
Twilight shook Celestia’s wing off her, standing up. She moved in front of the screen. “I’ve known you most, if not all of my life. In all that time, I was your student, then equal as a princess, and even in the last decade we’ve grown closer than that, our friendship blossoming into love.” Twilight’s horn lit and she kneeled down. Celestia’s eyes widened as a small ivory box lifted from Twilight’s sling. “Celestia?”
The box opened, revealing a beautiful gold-platinum horn ring, with an amethyst star inset into a topaz sun.
Celestia knew what was coming, and a few tears sprung to the corners of her eyes. Her ears perked up, listening like her life depended on it.
Twilight looked down toward the floor, closing her eyes. Her nerve was fading, fast. “You’ve made me the happiest mare in the universe, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Oh, Twilight…” Celestia gasped. “Of course I will.” Her horn lit and Twilight was suddenly scooped into her now-fiancée’s hooves. The box, and the ring within, clattered to the floor as forgotten as the event they’d come to witness as Celestia bombarded Twilight with kisses.
Twilight was understandably shocked as Celestia tried to smother her with her love and affection. As the hug tightened, Twilight found it harder to breathe. She squeaked, “Tia… air!”
Almost immediately Celestia’s grip lessened, and Twilight gulped down air. She looked into Celestia’s eyes to find her crying, but smiling giddily. After a moment to catch her breath, Celestia leaned down and nuzzled Twilight lovingly. “Yes, Twilight, I would love to marry you.”
Twilight eagerly returned the nuzzle and let her joyful tears flow freely. It felt like a great weight had lifted from her withers to hear Celestia accept, and she wanted nothing more than to shower her with her love and affection.
She lifted the ring from the box and caught Celestia’s eye with it. “May I?”
Celestia nodded. “You may.” Celestia lowered her horn, and Twilight slipped it on.
All-but-forgotten, the syzygy finally ended as the pair basked in their love for one another.