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// Prompt #140: Earnest Love 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
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Princess Celestia, for many ponies, was an easy pony to fall in love with. It wasn’t really difficult to see why. She was seen as kind, forgiving and many other things. She was what many ponies aspired to be, and thus it was not unexpected that she would receive a great many confessions of love, usually through form of letter.

However, winning the princesses’ heart was a little more difficult than simply falling in love with her, as most ponies would tell you. In fact, most ponies would say that it was impossible, that Celestia, for whatever reason they imagined, would respectfully reject all advances of love from her dear little ponies. And for the most part, they were correct. However, Celestia’s heart did not always listen to her mind, which told her that she would outlive every single pony that she ever fell in love with, but that did not stop her from doing so. But the primary thing that Celestia looked for in a pony was an earnest desire to be with her, a desire not born from trying to advance a social agenda, or standing in society, but simply to be with Celestia, not the Princess of Equestria. 

And that, understandably, was much more rare than the other kinds of ponies. But every now and again, Celestia found one who did only want to be with Celestia, and not the princess. And when she did, she could not help but return their love.

And it was one of these rare ponies that she was currently on her way to see. They had met, as perhaps was common, at the Grand Galloping Gala, and Celestia had been immediately taken with the earth pony’s attitude towards life. And clearly, social standing meant very little to her. There was even a muted beauty to her, a subtlety that most other ponies would dismiss as simply being plain or even boring. But after talking to her for a while at the Gala, Princess Celestia had found herself rather taken with the earth pony, and had invited her up to one of the castle’s many private dining rooms for a pleasant lunch, so that they could get to know one another a little better, without the trappings of the Gala between them. 

“Princess Celestia!” cried her secretary, running up behind her.

“Yes, Sunny Day?” asked Princess Celestia, “what seems to be the matter?”

“The griffon delegation is causing trouble. They’re claiming that the restaurants will not cater to their tastes. If they decide that...”
Celestia held up a hoof, silencing Sunny Day.

“They won’t do anything. Garand simply likes to remind me that he exists, sometimes. He likes having all of the attention on him. It makes him feel important, when all he is is a glorified accountant. He does this every time he’s in town for trade negotiations. Ensure that the kitchens are well-stocked with his favourite wine and some of the delicacies from his home, and he will bemoan the fact that there are no good  places to eat in Canterlot, review the agreements, and then leave without fuss,” said Celestia. Sunny Day nodded.

“Now, if there was anything else?” asked Celestia. Sunny Day began to look through her saddlebags.

“Well, I’m sure it can wait until after my lunch anyway. I shall see you in a short while, Sunny Day,” said Celestia, striding off towards her awaiting companion. She opened the door, and greeted the occupant with a smile.

“I do hope that I haven’t kept you waiting long. The affairs of state never seem to cease, and occasionally I am the only one who can deal with them. Our food should be brought up soon enough.”

“That’s fine,” said Maud Pie, nudging a pebble on the table with a hoof, “Boulder was getting hungry anyway.”

Celestia smiled, and took her seat opposite the earth pony.