I found Celestia crying on Twilight's bed, her face burrowed in a pillow. Spike was sitting near her, uncomfortably trying to stroke her ethereal mane. I heard him say "It's gonna be alright!" and "Twilight's gonna be back in no time." She either didn't her or didn't believe him, for she continued to weep into the pillow.
I really hope Twilight comes back... If Celestia falls into a trauma and is unable to rule... I don't think Luna is as good at politics as Celestia, she's more about wars and action! It could resolve horribly for Equestria. But when I think about it... Celestia has lived longer then a thousand years, so she probably has dealt with loss before. Uhm, not that Twilight won't come back... Right?
Thankfully nopony questioned my two-hour long absence. Our camp in the forest has already been packed. If plans weren't changed, then it means that the next few months until the first Summer Sun Celebration would be spent in training and pegasus magic use. I still don't understand what Firefly meant by that. Pegasus magic was used only in flight and weather manipulation, right?
At least the owner of the hotel where I slept the night I arrived in this time wasn't that mad about me disappearing for a hole few months! At least not after I payed him.
Well, with a few free days break before we start the routine, I now had this time at my disposal! Literally.
I could... Somepony knocked at the door, before it opened slightly as one of the hotel's housekeeper mares showed herself. "Uhm, miss Twilight? There is someone at the ground floor looking for you. Said' name was Crimson."
I thanked her before I left the room. Crimson stood up from the waiting couch upon seeing me, and greeted me with a smile.
"Hi!" he called out.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yup! Well you know... we have a free day so, wanna hang out?" He stammered. Wait... How does he know that I stayed in this hotel?
"Uhhh, how did you know I stayed here?" He suddenly froze, his face going pale.
"I... kind of.. followed you here. But, you still interested in hanging out?"
Well, there goes my library roaming time. But friends are friends, and you gotta spend time with them."Yes. Just, you lead. I am from Canterlot, so this city is kinda new to me." I said uncomfortably.
"Of course!"
We walked out of the hotel and headed somewhere through the cloudy streets of Cloudsdale. It still is weird to see no unicorns around here, but I was getting used to it.
A few foals ran by us, giggling, and with smiles on all of their faces. I could't help it but smile as well.
We stopped in front of a restaurant named 'The Hurricane'. It looked almost like one of those Canterlot fancy places except... it had a homey feel to it. The name definitely didn't suit it.
Wait... something in my book-reading memory clicked. Going to a restaurant with a stallion... WHAT? Was this some sort of date?!
I blushed furiously, before containing it quickly. 'I am sure it's just a friend thing... right?'
Crimson lead me through the restaurant, to the stairs, up to the third floor and to the building's top. I noticed the roof of the top floor was made out of clouds, unlike the rest of the building that was wooden. We climbed the last set of stairs. The roof top was nice, with some oak tables and flowers. Crimson lead me towards the edge of the rooftop. The sight caused me to gasp.
The Cloudsdale main plaza could be seen right below me. Tall and majestic buildings surrounded the plaza, a fountain of liquid rainbow was in the center of it. A tall statue of a pegasus was on top of it. The stone mare was standing on her hind legs, a forehoof pointing towards the sky. It had a victorious feeling about it. Some parents were teaching their foals how to fly, while some groups of teenagers were passing threw the plaza. Ponies were sitting on benches and admiring the view.
Crimson smirked at seeing that I liked it. "Impressive isn't it?" He said. I nodded. He then sat at a table near the fence, and therefor the edge of the rooftop. After I had my fill of the view, I joined him.
After the servant came and we ordered our foods, we did some chit-chat. It was VERY hard to pretend that this didn't seem like a date.
"So... how are your parents taking the fact that you are participating in the first Summer Sun Celebration?"(1) He asked.
"They actually don't know..." I replied with a sheepish smile.
~~~~~~
(1) Why would someone want to spend months of training for a celebration? The payment was almost as much as I was getting as a princess. (Actually it was one third smaller, and that's not considering the fact that a bit is worth less here, than in the future.)
~~~~~
I mentally facehoofed. 'Applejack is rubbing off on me too much!'
"What? Ha! You should tell them! They will be more than proud!"
"Uhhh... well you see, it's meant to be a surprise!" I praised myself for that answer.
"What!? How didn't I think of that?! That is such a good idea!" He proclaimed.
I giggled. He actually looked quite cute while rambling about how good was that idea of mine.
Celestia shuffled her wings. 'Still no report of sighting the alicorn. Oh, who am I kidding? Of course she or he will stay hidden!'
"Uh, Your Majesty? Are you alright?" One of her guards asked.
Celestia realized that she just spaced out and stopped in front of her chamber's doors. "I'm alright, thank you."
'Why did Star Swirl and Luna have to leave me at such a hard time?' she sighed as she walked into my chambers, closing the door behind me.
'What if it is something important?' The white alicorn bit her lip.
'I suppose I will need to wait and see what will happen... as much as I dislike the idea.