//------------------------------// // Chapter 32 // Story: Eclipse // by Hiver //------------------------------// The midday sun shone above through the leaves of the apple tree. Shadows played across the ground as a wind brushed through them, limited as it was by the walls around the castle garden. “So…” I said, looking up at Celestia where she laid on the blanket next to me. “...So,” she said, looking down at me in turn. “I don’t want to lose what we had,” I admitted, flicking one ear as I rolled onto my back to look up at her before quickly regretting it as the leaves shifted and the sun shone into my eyes, “gah!” Celestia laughed softly and a wing rose to shade me, “Nether do I,” she agreed, “I like what we have. But nothing says we have to rush anything.” I risked opening my eyes fully again, holding my forelegs to my chest with a small smile, “I suppose that’s one pro about the entire alicorn thing. We have all the time in the world.” “Ideally we do,” Celestia agreed with a small smile, “I think taking things slow might be the right idea.” Nodding, I smiled up at her, “I would like to continue my lessons too.” Celestia smiled, “I predict that sanctuary will end up being very useful for that. From what I seen, magic seems to act like it should. I only did some tests however.” “Luna’s testing things now and checking out what I did,” I said and I shrugged, “I’ll join her in a couple of hours. I have to start turning things around right again soon. I fully expect to have gotten some things when it comes to that wrong and have to make adjustments.” Celestia nodded, “Well, I for one intend to visit and explore tonight. I want to see what’s in that forest we appeared in.” “Go west.” There was a river there filled with what I called Flitter Flish. It was a fish that caught and reflected lights like a rainbow with their scales. What more, they could fly as long as they were above water and not too high up. “Maybe I will,” Celestia answered and studied me, “...what are you thinking?” I smirked, “Oh, just remembering a poem. The one with sunlights golden kiss.” “Starting to see the point of poetry now?” she teased with a smile as she eyed me, “I thought it was too shallow and without substance.” “Oh hush.” Celestia laughed and leaned in to touch her nose against mine for a second before pulling back, “I still think you should talk to Twilight about magic lessons,” she said, changing the subject back, “Even if your sanctuary is perfect-” “Which it’s not yet.” Celestia shot me a look for interrupting and I grinned up at her, “I’m sorry miss Celestia. Please continue.” She stuck her tongue out at me for a second before she continued, “Because practicing in reality is always better. Besides,” she then added with a smile, “I think it would be good for her.” “I think she’d enjoy it,” I admitted, “Sparks would make a good teacher.” “With practice,” Celestia agreed, “At the moment, I think there is a risk that she assumes everypony is as smart as she is.” “Oh, don’t worry. I’d very quickly bring her out of that delusion,” I said and batted at Celestia's mane as it flowed above me with a hoof. “Stop that!” I lowered my hoof, “Sorry.” Celestia sighed, “Not that. Putting yourself down!” she said firmly, “You are a very capable and intelligent pony, Page. I don’t like it when you do that and neither does Luna. So I would greatly appreciate it if you stopped.” I glanced away from her eyes, “...I don’t know,” I finally said before meeting them again, reaching up with my hoof to brush along her spread wing shadowing me, “I think I have to continue puncturing my ego. Because with the mares around me, it’ll swell up and you end up raising me in the morning by mistake.” Celestia's cheeks actually blushed slightly before she smiled, “...I have two things I can say to that and I have no idea which is best.” I grinned, “Oh, go on.” “I bet you’d like it if I’d raise you in the morning,” she said with a small smirk. Smiling back, I nodded, “Oh, I very much think I would.” “And the second is that I’m pretty sure we can keep your ego under control,” Celestia teased with a small smile, “if you get too big of a head, we can bring you back down.” “I bet you’d like to deal with my big head.” Celestia laughed, “You can do better than that!” I stuck my tongue out at her, “Oh come on, didn’t give me much to work with here! I’m distracted by your shining beauty!” “Are you now?” she teased, shifting a bit closer. “Most definitely yes,” I agreed, meeting her eyes, “Even more so because I see past this,” I said and brushed a hoof through her flowing mane, “And see you.” Celestia shifted to rest my head on my chest, her wing folding and I closed my eyes in case of errant sunbeams. “You,” she said softly, “Are a very special pony.” “There we go, ego growing again.” “Is that all that is?” she answered and I could hear a smile in her voice. I laughed and pulled her closer, nosing at her closest ear, “I thought we said slow,” I teased. “I’m not doing anything,” Celestia murmured, resting her head against my chest, “In fact, I think staying like this sounds like a rather nice idea.” “You know… me too,” I agreed as I stroked her coat softly, burying my nose in her shifting mane.