"Okay, Celestia, just remember to smile. These visits don't last forever. Just have him here, say your pleasantries, and then he'll be gone. No problem...no problem...no problem..."
Celestia kept telling herself that, over and over again, and it was clear to any who would have heard her that she was trying desperately to try and feel something other than dismay at this day. Luna, for instance, was just such a person, and after shaking her head at her sister's words, walked beside her.
"You know, you can just say you don't want this to happen, Tia."
Celestia sighed.
"No, Luna. It is the duty of all chief deities to host visitors of other realms. I will not shirk that responsibility...however unwanted it may be."
She forced a smile to her younger sibling.
"Besides, I've endured him before, so I'm fairly certain I can do so again."
Luna rolled her eyes.
"Very well, if that's what you want."
Then, the two sisters looked on in silence as, far away, they could see a gathering of dark clouds on the horizon. The grim looks of seriousness they bore indicated that this was indeed part of events, and Luna cast her sister one final look of concern.
"Do you...want me here?"
Celestia shook her head.
"No. Having two women here would only make him worse."
Luna gave a dry chortle.
"No debate on that one. I'll be with Tantabus if you need me."
With that, the Goddess of the Moon vanished in a flash of light, leaving Celestia all to herself. She watched as the clouds drew nearer and nearer, and a rumbling could be heard right along with them. Celestia's eyes narrowed as, after all that waiting, the clouds burst, sending down a might bolt of lightning, which struck just a stone's throw away from the part of the cloud she was standing on. She did not shield her eyes from it, instead watching as the light faded. When it was over, that spot was now occupied by what appeared to be a man of some sort. He was muscular, though much of that was covered in a clean white toga, and as he stood tall, he stroked a long grey and curly beard, grinning widely to her.
"Tia! So good to see you again!"
Another forced smile from Celestia.
"Zeus, how...wonderful to see you too," she replied through gritted teeth.
The God chuckled, striding confidently towards her.
"How about a hug?"
Celestia arched an eyebrow.
"Only if you promise not to use it as an opportunity to pinch my posterior...again."
A hearty laugh from the other deity, and he sighed soon afterwards.
"Ah, Celestia, as serious as ever."
Celestia glanced away.
"One of us has to be," she muttered under her breath.
Looking back to Zeus, she smiled as well as she could.
"How is your dear wife?"
Zeus grimaced as he glanced away from her, staring down at the mortal world below.
"Oh, you know how it is. She keeps getting on my case. And it's always the same thing, over and over again!"
Celestia folded her arms.
"I take it you got another mortal woman pregnant?"
Zeus pointed an accusing finger to her.
"Hey, I've refrained from that for a whole week already! What more can people ask of me?!"
He grumbled.
"Honestly, it's as if the universe is trying to make me think it was a bad idea to marry my sister!"
Celestia's eyebrow was as high as it could be.
"Heaven forbid!" she remarked sarcastically.
But Zeus simply shrugged, regaining his big grin and looking to her in earnest once more.
"So, how's things on your end? Anything interesting happen lately?"
Celestia giggled, though it was admittedly a genuine one this time.
"Oh, just the usual antics, I fear. We did have a few hiccups here and there with Sombra last week, but nothing we weren't able to handle."
Another shrug from Zeus.
"You know, you lot over here have it way better than what things are like on my end. You should've seen some of the stuff I have to put up with!"
He looked down to the Earth again.
"There was this one kid, Bellero-something. He actually tried to fly up to Mount Olympus! Seriously, the nerve of some of those mortals! So I had to throw him back down again. You know, keep the mortals from getting too uppity?"
He paused, then shrugged.
"I mean, yes, he was technically my brother Poseidon's son, but hey, when has blood ever stopped me from putting my foot down with people?"
Celestia gave him a deadpan look.
"Never, apparently."
Zeus cast her a sly glance.
"Speaking of blood, how's yours?"
Celestia gave an honest smile here.
"Sunset? Oh, she's doing wonderfully. She and Twilight actually decided to try a relationship with one another since the last time you came over."
Zeus seemed genuinely curious about that.
"Really? Well, glad to hear things are working out for her."
Then, after a moment of thinking, he twiddled his thumbs.
"Although, if things don't work out for the two of them, there's always...you know..."
Celestia frowned deeply to his remark.
"Zeus, you are not here to try and seduce my daughter, or anyone else for that matter."
She pointed straight down to the mortal world, specifically the massive ocean that lay directly beneath their cloud.
"The last time you did that, Adagio gave birth to her biggest child yet. That creature still spends most of its time sinking ships!"
Zeus placed his hands on his hips and puffed his chest out with pride.
"Ah, good to know Junior's keeping busy."
Celestia shook her head, but said nothing before Zeus started talking again.
"You know, I never did understand why you never try to get together with anyone."
Slowly, Celestia looked away, staring out into the horizon.
"I...cannot. One lover was enough for me."
Zeus, for the first time during this visit of his, softened in his expression.
"Celestia...how long has it been since Sunset's Father passed?"
The Sun Goddess glanced down just slightly.
"Many years. Mortal he may have been, but he was no less special to me."
A small but loving smile crept onto her lips.
"I wish Sunset could have known him...but those below only live for so long. I will carry his memory with me forever."
Though a thoughtful silence followed, but Celestia was not so overwhelmed by it as to be unable to throw a knowing smirk to her visiting counterpart.
"So do not think me some grieving widow desperate for affection, Zeus. Besides, when you've known as many lovers as you have, will it really kill you to not have one in particular?"
Zeus stood there, pondering that question.
"Huh...don't know. Never met a woman I couldn't bed before."
Celestia raised an eyebrow again.
"Except, most of the ones you've met in this realm of course."
Though most in his own domain would have likely suffered for such a remark, here it only caused the Lord of Thunder to bellow out a loud laugh.
"Haha, oh Tia! It's moments like this that remind me why I enjoy coming to your realm so much!"
As before, Celestia spoke under her breath.
"At least one of us enjoys these visits."
Then, before saying anything else, Zeus looked away from her, walking to the very edge of the cloud.
"This has been nice, but I think that'll be all for now. Besides, I saw this cute little number back home called Alcmene that I've just been dying to introduce myself to."
He tapped his chin.
"I might need to make myself look like her husband before I do though."
Celestia blinked, then looked on as he smiled to her and gave a little wave. With no further words, there was another bolt of lightning, and just like that, the head of the Greek Pantheon was gone, back to his own realm. Celestia stood there for the longest time, though she did hear the sound of her sister walking beside her. The two stood in silence for a while, but after almost a full ten minutes, Luna finally asked the obvious question.
"So...vacation?"
Taking a deep breath, Celestia then sighed.
"Yes. But first, I need to take a nice, long bath. A lady can only speak to that God for so long before feeling unclean."