//------------------------------// // Sunny Days // Story: Fire and Reign // by Shakespearicles //------------------------------// "I know." "Um, what?" Twilight asked, surprised. "I know you love me." Celestia repeated, "Everypony loves their princess. And I love all my subjects as well." "But Princess, I love you." Twilight emphasized. "I... know, Twilight." Celestia said with a sigh, she began walking with Twilight away from the others. "You aren't particularly subtle in your affections. I had hoped it was just a young, misguided phase but..." Celestia looked back to her castle, "As Luna tells it, barring any details, your dreams are..." she looked back at Twilight, "quite telling." Twilight blushed. There were many a nights she dreamed of her mentor. Many a mornings that followed requiring her to change the sheets. "She... she could she... those dreams?" Celestia nodded, "What... what did she tell you about them?" "She wasn't specific," she answered, "but she said that it was clear to her that you were... oh, how did she put it... romantically inclined towards me." she smiled. Twilight was silently grateful at Luna's discretion. "So what now?" "Now... now I return to Canterlot and make sure everything has been set right that was once wrong. I will send for a team to collect Discord and return him to my garden. I need to make sure he wasn't lying when he claimed nopony was injured in the dragon attack." "I mean, what now between you and me?" Twilight asked again. "Oh, that 'what now'." she said, hoping to have avoided this talk. "Well let me tell you what now." Celestia looked back at Twilight, "I think you'll find the answer is but a step forward." she said, motioning for her to do so. Twilight looked at the ground in front of her. It was nothing special, just more grass. She lifted a hoof to take a step forward. In a flash, the ground beneath her hooves became cobblestone as she planted her step. She looked up. Beside her was the Princess. Beyond her was all of Canterlot. She had teleported Twilight with her back to the city. They were in front of Canterlot Castle. The troops who were busy re-opening the great doors. They took notice at her majesty's arrival, taking a knee. "Carry on." Celestia called out to them, ascending the steps, Twilight close beside her. Celestia's horn glowed. The great doors shuddered as the barricade was disassembled with ease. They creaked open before them as they passed through, and then closing behind them. "Princess?" Twilight asked. "Hmm?" was all she said back as they made there way down the hall. "Princess, you still haven't answered my question." Twilight pressed. "Quite right." Celestia sighed. She stopped her walk, turning to speak to Twilight directly. The stained glass windows behind her filtered the sunlight pouring though. The different colors danced in Celestia's ethereal mane. The warm happy sight contrasted her somber tone, "Twilight, we can't. I can't. There's just no way." She said, frowning. "Why not!" Twilight said back, standing firm. "We just can't. I'm a Princess. The ruler of all of Equestria. I am ever in the spotlight. I can't have it upon you as well." "I don't care." "My enemies would use you to get to me." Celestia pleaded. "I don't care!" "Your enemies could try to use me to get to you, the Element of Magic!" "I DON'T CARE!" Twilight shouted, tears streaming from her eyes. "Twilight! Have you ever considered for a moment that I have wanted to be romantically involved with somepony in the past? Have you ever considered that I have been romantically involved with somepony? My immortality is as much a curse as it is a gift! Do you have even the slightest notion of how hard it is to watch the one you love, the only one you thought you would ever love, slowly age and die by the uncaring hoof of time? Not ONCE, but again and and again through the centuries!?" Celestia turned away to hide her tears, "Do you think I've never considered it again? Or do you not care about that either?" Celestia now leaned down, close to Twilight's face in emphasis, "Tell me Twilight, if you can; What is it exactly you DO care about?" Twilight did not answer. She said no words. She simply leaned in and kissed Celestia. If it be a crime to love, she pleaded guilty. If it be a crime to love her princess, she was guilty. If it be a capital crime to kiss the princess, she would happily walk to the gallows for this. one. kiss. Of all the times she had faced death before, she feared not the grave, no. Only the regret. The regret of things left unsaid. Of things left undone. If she had to die tomorrow, hell, she'd die laughing knowing she had done this one thing right. And if this meant her death, she welcomed it if only to save her from the princess's rejection. But no such thing came. No harsh words. No retreat. Twilight kissed the princess. And she kissed back. The two melted into each other. Celestia had mourned the possibility of their relationship so many times. With each hug of Twilight's that lasted just a little too long. Celestia silently considered their relationship and dismissed it as impossible. 'Never again.' she resolved. She would not be fooled again by love. To love and lose. ----- Long ago, Luna had consoled her on the matter of love. 'Better to have loved and lost than to have never have loved at all." she would chime. 'Try it some time.' was all Celestia could answer with, as she mourned her latest lost love's grave. ----- All the jaded feelings melted away in Celestia as she felt Twilight kiss her. For the first time in centuries, Celestia felt something in her heart long absent in the arena of personal, romantic, love... hope. She forgot about loss and sorrow. Twilight reminded her what it meant to be in love in the first place. That no matter the cost, in the end... it was worth it. _________________________________________________________________________________________ - Some time later - Twilight and Celestia sat on the picnic blanket. It had been so long since she had dined outside of the castles culinary artists. It had been so long since she had deigned to sample amateur foods. Twilight's selection for their picnic buffet was certainly above average. Celestia could not remember the last time she had eaten hay fries. The events of the days prior had been a tiring affair. Twilight saving her friend's destinies, becoming an Alicorn, the Princess Coronation. Twilight insisted that she and Celestia take some well deserved time off together to celebrate in their own way. Lately that meant lots of smooches. Today it was smooches and a picnic. Celestia had rarely ever taken such time to herself. But she heeded the new Princess's advice about all work and no play. Each of them enjoyed the various snacks and playfully fed one another in cute, romantic gestures. Celestia laid down on her side with Twilight beside her. It was such a perfect day, all that Twilight had dreamed for. She turned to Celestia, kissed her and asked, "So Tia, was this your plan all along? For me to become an Alicorn so that you would not have to worry about losing your lover to time?" Celestia nuzzled her neck, "No, it was not my intention for you to become an Alicorn for that purpose. Not originally anyway." she wrapped her wing over her, "But it is a very pleasant side effect." She smiled, kissing her again. Each of the lovers talked of trivial things, and just generally enjoyed the simple pleasure of each others company. The sun made its way across the sky as the day went on. It crept closer to the horizon. Twilight frowned. "This day has been so perfect. I just wish it could last forever..." "Nothing lasts forever my dear." Celestia said, her voice tinged with somberness. Twilight leaned into her alabaster lover, "Can't it last just a little longer?" "Twilight, time is something that you and I will have in abundance now. There will be more perfect days for us like this one." she whispered. "But not just like this one. This one is special." Twilight pouted. "Yes. It is special." Celestia turned to the setting sun, "Every new day is special. For somepony somewhere." "Can't this be my special day?" Twilight asked. Celestia smiled at her, "This one can be you special day, yes." "Just a little longer?" Twilight whispered, as though afraid that someone might hear the lone pair, out in that warm field. "Please?" Celestia squinted at the sun as her horn came alight. The sun pulled slightly up away from the horizon and hung there, motionless. Twilight hugged her tightly, looking around them, trying to remember every detail of the scene. She had a long life ahead of her for sure. But she wanted to remember this moment for all time. _______________________________________________________ Twilight fell asleep in Celestia's embrace not long after. A deep blue Alicorn flew in from across the field. As Luna was about to speak, Celestia put a hoof to her lips, to shh her, motioning to the sleeping Twilight beside her. Luna nodded, but remained stern, speaking in a hushed tone. "Sister, you must lower the sun so that I may bring forth the night and moon." Celestia nodded. She carefully disentangled herself from Twilight, leaving her on the soft blanket. They were far from the castle high on the mountainside. So each of the royal sisters flew high into the sky to properly control their heavenly objects. Celestia set the sun as Luna brought forth the moon into the starry night. Luna bid her sister farewell, "Take care my sister. As always I will guard the night. We will see you in the morn." She flew into the night sky to rule all she surveyed. Celestia hovered there, high in the dark sky, and whispered to herself, "Until the morn." She glided back to the earth, making her way back to field to pack up the picnic. A cold chill ran up her neck The blanket was alone in the field. Twilight was nowhere to be seen. A note was attached to the basket. We have taken Twilight. If you want her, come to the Changeling Hive alone and claim her. - Queen Chrysalis