Princess Celestia stared at Starlight, her eyes welling with tears. Starlight had been dating Twilight for the past five years and Celestia had prayed it would happen. And now her prayer had been answered. Starlight had come to ask her for her daughter’s hoof in marriage.
Celestia had watched as Starlight had caused her daughter to glow with an unbridled joy. Though originally a criminal, Starlight’s character had only grown and evolved. Her past had long since been laid to rest, and she had even gotten the Headmare position in the School of Friendship.
A bittersweet smile graced the Alicorn’s lips. It was only a matter of time. Gesturing at Starlight with her hooves; she signaled from the unicorn to come closer. Starlight walked over and soon found herself in the warm feathery embrace of Celestia’s wings.
As Starlight felt the soothing comfort of the hug, Celestia leaned down and spoke softly to her.
“I would be honored to have you as my daughter-in-law. You have my bl-”
Celestia’s voice cracked and then faltered. The tears that had pooled in her eyes, held back no longer; she broke down crying.
Starlight paused for a moment as the Alicorn cried upon her shoulder as she said.
“I’m sorry if I offended-”
“No. No that’s not it. I’m very happy for my daughter and she couldn’t have chosen a better partner.”
“Then what-”
Celestia gave a heartbroken smile as she simply whispered.
“I loved her first.”
***
25 years ago
***
Celestia lay in the horsepital bed, nine months pregnant. The foal was due and it would be coming any moment. Beside the bed sat her sister, Luna; doing anything she could to keep Celestia calm.
“I know it’s uncomfortable but-”
Uncomfortable was an understatement. It was sheer agony. Her stomach was being kicked relentlessly by the life within her. Celestia let out a scream.
“She wants out now, Luna!”
Placing a hoof lightly on her sister’s head, Luna spoke in a forced, even tone.
“Tia, you have to stay calm.”
Celestia merely roared in response, breathing rather rapidly.
“Luna, you tell me to stay calm one more time I swear I will take your beloved moon and ram it in your-”
Looking extremely relieved, Luna saw the doctor had entered the room. Interrupting her sister’s rant, Luna called out.
“Oh, thank the moon. Sister, the doctor is here!”
Quickly running over to the doctor she whispered frantically.
“Thank goodness you’re here! She’s a little cranky-”
From behind her, the angry rant continued.
“-With a cake knife!”
Luna looked back at her sister and turned to stare at the doctor pleadingly.
“Help me.”
Smiling knowingly the doctor gave her a reassuring pat.
“Don’t worry about a thing, Princess Luna, your sister is in good hooves. I do have to ask you to go to the waiting room though if you don’t mind.”
Luna took one last look at her sister; who was now sobbing hysterically and left the delivery room.
As the door slid shut, the doctor could be heard.
“Nurse, grab some warm water.”
It was a nerve-wracking thirty minutes but finally, the doctor left the room to go get the Lunar Princess. When they re-entered the room, Celestia was sitting in the bed, looking completely drained, but happily cradling a little foal wrapped in a tiny pink bundle of blankets. She was staring down into the little babe’s eyes, which were fixated on her as well.
Luna peered at the little foal in amazement. Looking at her sister, she asked her.
“What are you gonna name her?”
Celestia gently booped the cooing little babe on the nose, causing it to giggle. Smiling with overwhelming joy at her sister, Celestia gave her reply.
“Twilight. Twilight Sparkle.”
***
Starlight just smiled at the Princess. What could she do? Celestia was right. The two just stood there in silence, before the shutting of the castle doors could be heard.
“Mom! I’m home!”
It wasn’t long before the heir to the throne; Princess Twilight came walking into the room, calling out to Celestia.
“You would not believe the-”
She stopped mid-sentence seeing her mom in tears while Starlight smiled at the royal Alicorn. Twilight looked from one to the other before stomping up to Starlight and demanding to know what happened.
“What did you do? Why is my mom crying?”
Starlight taken by surprise gave a knee-jerk reaction.
“I didn’t-”
The two began to argue and Celestia just stood there. She stood there watching her daughter, arguing with Starlight as Starlight desperately tried to explain. Celestia didn’t see Twilight as a mare though. No, that was her little miracle; her baby. The one she had tucked into bed every night, the one she had watched say her first words. She grew up so fast, didn’t she?
“Starlight I swear you better tell me-”
Celestia snapped out of her reverie and gave a small laugh.
“Twilight, Starlight came here to ask you something. And-”
No longer crying, Celestia wiped a hoof across her still somewhat watery eyes. Staring at her daughter with bittersweet emotions she proclaimed.
“You have my blessing, Starlight.”
“Blessing? Mom what’s-”
Twilight froze in shock as Starlight sat on her haunches and gently lifted Twilight’s hoof with her own. Smiling into Twilight’s eyes, Starlight spoke.
“Twilight, being with you these past years, has made me the happiest mare on Equus. This feeling you’ve given me is something that no book could ever explain. You saw the good in me when others didn’t. And you gave me hope when I had no light left to give. Even at my worst, you saw my best. And now I’m asking, no, begging you to give me the chance to do the same for you; for the rest of our lives.-”
Celestia saw the shine in her daughter’s eyes and she knew. It was time to let her little girl grow up.
“Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?”
Without hesitation, Twilight shouted excitedly.
“Yes! Oh yes, Starlight, I will!”
Celestia knew she couldn’t stand in Starlight’s way. She knew Starlight was the right match. Still, giving her blessing was a bittersweet moment. She was proud of the two mares. She was overjoyed Starlight would become her daughter-in-law. At that moment though, she shed a single tear of happiness. It still hurt letting Starlight propose to her daughter. It hurt because she loved her first.