//------------------------------//
// 131. Zinger by Blazeofheat 
// Story: The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab 
// by Fuzzyfurvert 
//------------------------------//


by Blazeofheat


***
	


“I love you Celestia.”

Twilight froze as the unbidden words left the sanctity of her mind into the room. How had she let this happen? Reminiscing how a simple late night study with her mentor progressed into spending the night with her after they both stayed up too late, Twilight cursed her habit of waking up in the early morning whereupon she had nuzzled into her princesses and muttered those treacherous words.

Stupid Twilight. Ok, no need to panic. Deep breaths Twilight, you can handle this. Step one, damage assessment. Celestia’s eyes are closed maybe she’s still asleep, oh crap she’s smiling more than usual. Maybe she’s just having a nice dream, after all, it’s not like the world revolves around punishing me for my every mistake I-

“Twilight.”

Well, goodbye my friends, I'll miss you Spike. Maybe the moon has some nice vacancies.

“Can you please repeat what you said?” Celestia pleasantly queried as her wings pulled Twilight even closer in their embrace.

Ok Twilight, step two, denial. “Oh did I say something? You know maybe the guards were, uh, talking about their jobs again.” 
Twilight nervously stammered as she found her gaze shifting everywhere but Celestia. Why didn’t Shining ever teach me how to lie? Aren't older siblings supposed to foster these kinds of skills? Not that it would have helped; Celestia could read her with almost as much experience as Twilight had reading books.

“Twilight, as much as I trust you, I really would like to hear what you had said.” Celestia teased Twilight with her eyes now open and fully focused on her student as her disarming grin grew.

“You know maybe the guards were…” Twilight petered off as Celestia’s smile shrank in response to Twilight’s continuing attempts to shirk the issue. Bracing herself, Twilight, invoking the full power of Fluttershy’s characteristic whisper, squeaked “I.. I love you Princess Celestia.”

“Now that isn’t quite what you said is it.” Celestia smirked in light of her coming victory.

“I love you… Celestia.” Twilight mumbled as she admitted defeat. Her limbs going limp in Celestia’s grasp as she resigned herself to her fate.

“There. Was that so hard my faithful student?” Celestia playfully teased as she leaned in and kissed Twilight on the nose. “Don’t feel bad Twilight, I’m honestly impressed you went this long with only addressing me as princess. Still, a bet is a bet and I’m sure Prince Blueblood would love to train you in the art of formality with nobles.”