The Discussion
"Can you imagine how dull it would have been if I hadn't invited Discord?" Princess Celestia used her wing to push Princess Twilight Sparkle onto the dance floor. "Come on, the night is still young!" Celestia laughed.
As Twilight was being shoved along, she asked, "Princess Celestia, before we dance, do you mind if I have a word with you?"
"Of course, Twilight," Celestia said, "you can tell me anything."
"Could we speak in private?"
"If you desire. Perhaps my private garden? It should be unoccupied."
Twilight headed for the door that led to the royal gardens, with Celestia close on her heels. As they walked, Celestia made several attempts as small talk, but they were generally met with one word answers. She soon let the conversational attempts lapse into silence.
Once they reached the private garden, Celestia opened the gate, allowing Twilight to enter before her.
Upon reaching the center of the garden, Twilight turned to face Celestia and then took a deep breath before beginning the conversation. “It really hurt that you laughed when Discord insulted me tonight.”
“Oh, Twilight—” Celestia began.
“I almost expect him to have so little consideration for my feelings, but you?” Twilight gazed down at the floor. “I never thought you'd laugh at me.”
“Twilight, look at me.” Celestia lifted Twilight's head with a hoof until they made eye contact. “I wasn't laughing at his joke. I just thought your outburst was amusing. You're so cute when you're angry.”
“I... Uh... What?”
“And when you get flustered, you're so adorable, I could kiss you!”
Twilight's wings immediately snapped to full extension.
“Oh dear, did I say that out loud? Now everything's going to be awkward...” Celestia muttered.
Twilight Sparkle put on her best “come hither” face. “Only if you don't follow through with it.”
Celestia's wings suddenly sprung from her sides. She slowly stepped closer to Twilight, until their breaths were mingling. “Are you sure you want to do this, Twilight?”
“More sure than I've ever been about anything in my life.”
“This will totally change our relationship – there's no going back.”
“Oh, for the love of...” Twilight lunged forward, bringing their lips together.
After a few moments, Celestia pulled back from the kiss, giving a warm smile to Twilight.
"Wow. If I had known how good that would feel, I would have done it years ago!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Kissing me, or just in general?" Celestia asked with a sparkle in her eye.
"Um, both?" Twilight chuckled sheepishly. "I mean, by the time I was interested in doing anything like that, I knew you were the pony I wanted to do it with, Prin—"
Celestia stopped Twilight's speech with a hoof. "Only in public. I dare say you've earned the right to call me by my name rather than my title after what we just did, at least when we're alone together."
"Okay. Celestia. I love the feeling of calling you that."
"So you were saying you wanted me to be your first kiss, Twilight?"
“Definitely! I love you, Celestia. I have for years. In fact, my friends helped me realize it shortly after I arrived in Ponyville.”
Celestia leaned forward and hugged Twilight with one foreleg and both wings. “Thank you, Twilight. It has been a very long time since anyone has loved me as a mare.”
“You're welcome.” Twilight returned the hug with her wings, but soon pulled away. "Wait. You didn't say anything about how you felt about me." Tears began to well up in her eyes. "Does that mean you don't love me?"
"No, Twilight, at least, not yet," Celestia answered.
Twilight sighed, looking very distraught. Then she suddenly perked up. "Wait, did you say 'not yet'?"
"Yes, I did. While my feelings are not yet strong enough that I would qualify them as love, I care for you deeply, and you're certainly an attractive mare. If we go forward with a romantic relationship, I have no doubt that my feelings will soon blossom into love," Celestia reassured her.
"So does that mean you want to pursue a romantic relationship?"
"As long as you do, too, Twilight."
Twilight began jumping around in a circle while chanting, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" However, when she was in front of Celestia again, she stopped herself, gazed sheepishly at Celestia, and said, "Um, I mean, that would be wonderful, Celestia."
Celestia chuckled. "Twilight, you don't have to hide your exuberance for my sake. I think it's adorable." Then she leaned forward and captured Twilight's lips in another kiss, more passionate than their first.
After far too short a time to both of their minds, Celestia broke the kiss and moved her muzzle up to whisper into Twilight's ear. "I think we should get back to the Gala. They're probably wondering where we are." She followed her comment with a quick nibble to the tip of Twilight's ear.
Twilight flushed at the sensation before saying, "Yes, we should go back in," and beginning to walk away.
Celestia stopped her with an outstretched hoof. "Not yet, Twilight. Your cheeks are positively red. And you still look so kissably flustered."
"You're right." Twilight lifted a foreleg to her chest and gently pushed it outward while exhaling in order to calm herself. She then repeated the action several times. "Do I look presentable now?"
Celestia appraised her new partner with a long stare. "Yes, I think so. I doubt anyone would be able to tell you got a new girlfriend while in the garden with me."
Twilight beamed. "Girlfriend, huh? I like the sound of that. Will you dance with me when we get back into the Gala, Celestia?"
"Of course, Twilight. You only had to ask."
Walking side by side, they left the garden in comfortable silence, occasionally brushing up against one another gently as they went.