***
Twilight sparkle stood beside her mentor, confident in herself for once. She was about to ask Princess Celestia if they could make their first public appearance as a couple. And she knew Princess Celestia would agree because why not? She had already declared her love to her, why not make it known to the kingdom what they were? Ponies in Ponyville did it all the time.
Twilight cleared her throat and looked up to the tall, white alicorn.
"Princess," she started.
"Celestia." Celestia corrected.
"Oh, um..right .Celestia." Twilight rubbed her fore hooves together.
"Celestia, I want to go with you to the Grand Galloping Gala. As your date, if you would allow me." Twilight bowed her head respectfully.
She looked up at her beautiful mare friend expectingly, but Celestia had turned away from the purple alicorn.
Celestia's face darkened and she did not meet Twilights gaze. Her flowing mane seemed to purposefully cover half of her face when Twilight tried to meet her eyes.
"Celestia, what's wrong?"
The princess stood looking out of the window of the castle corridor , at the sunset. Twilight began to worry and backed away towards the door.
"I'm so sorry Celestia, I shouldn't have come and demanded of you so quickly, I'll just go now if you need time to think-"
"Twilight. Please come here." Celestia drew her mare friend close and kissed her softly.
" I can't remember the last time I was asked to be someone's special some pony. I'm still getting used to it."She stroked Twilights mane with a careful hoof." I'm I'm sorry to have ignored you."
Twilight wallowed in Celestias sweet smelling coat, her beautiful eyes smiling down at her, but with a hint if sadness up hidden within them.
"So, will you go with me?" Something told Twilight Celestia was trying to avoid the question on purpose.
Celestia buried her head in Twilights mane." No, my dearest. I cannot."
"Well. Why not, you have gone with someone before, "
"As a formality,and it was with a colt. I cannot go in public with a mare. Not here in Canterlot, it's- it's not the way things are done,"
Celestias voice shook as if each word she said to Twilight pained her to utter.
Twilight slowly pulled away from Celestia. She was thoroughly confused.
" Celestia, you are giving me mixed feelings. You said you loved me, so why not tell the world?"
Celestia tried to hold Twilight again but Twilight backed away.
"Who cares what anyone else thinks, I'm your mare friend. Don't I matter more?"
Twilight began to tear up, and Celestia looked as if she were in pain, seeing her back away from her.
"Twilight, of course you do, you mean the world to me. But sometimes you have to make decisions for the greater good. For what the ponies out there want. In these times, I need to make the right choices, instead of the expedient ones." Celestia tried to use her best reasoning voice but could tell she already lost Twilight." The ponies here have made it clear that they do not approve of same sex relationships."
Twilight stamped her hoof on the floor, tears streaming down her face. Her heart was breaking at what Celestia was telling her.
"Dearest, please, I'm not saying we cannot be together at all, I did agree to court you remember? But we need to stay secret."
Twilight glared at her love. The only pony she cared for with this kind of burning passion.
"I thought you were different, Celestia. Who cares what they think. You are the Princess you should make whatever decisions you want."
"If they found out that their princesses were- were-"
"What, GAY?" Twilight kicked the floor again and yelled with all her little lungs could manage." No, your scared of what they will think, well you know what? Not that it matters to you, but do you know what i think?"
"Please, your opinion does matter to me, Twilight. I do care-"
All of Twilights emotions boiled up in one big nasty sentence." I think you are a coward! "
With that, a crying Twilight ran off , out of the castle and flew into the air. Leaving a sobbing alicorn princess with a broken relationship to mend.
" I was just trying to do the right thing..."