I've been waiting for you

I've Been Waiting For You
by Neorenamon

…

Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight are the properties of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I claim no intellectual rights to any of those characters.

This is a mature story about mature relationships, lesbian relationships, and may be bothersome to some readers. If this might bother you, please read something else. Thank you.

…

Once Celestia returned to her suite, she left Twilight alone to consider her feelings after she had read several chapters from the Daring Do novel to her. With her kind and regal voice, it almost felt like she was a filly yet again basking in the gentle and comforting glow of the Princess' reading of the book. And when Twilight yawned, the Princess paused from her reading, bookmarked the current page, tucked Twilight into bed, and kissed her cheek good night before she quietly teleported back to her own suite. Even with a wall between them, Twilight could sleep well knowing that her love and mentor was right next door.

It hardly seemed like she had nodded off before she awoke to a gentle rapping at her door. She slowly opened one eye as she asked, “Yes?” She wasn't even sure she was speaking loud enough for her voice to carry to the door, but she was answered.

“Your highness,” said a voice she recognized as one of the stallions acting as her guard, “We shall be arriving at the Ponyville Station shortly.”

“Thank you,” she replied as she sat up. Getting off the bed, she tidied it up, gathered up the sheets and pillows to fold and set aside, and then closed it up. She did it knowing full well that no one was really expecting a Princess to clean up after themselves. The book and other things were packed away into her carry on bag.

As she prepared to leave her suite, she noticed that the train was in the process of slowing down as it approached the Ponyville Station. She looked out the window after she slung the carry on bag over her shoulder just as they were passing a broad banner:

WELCOME HOME, PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE!

The train moved ahead until another banner came into view:

GLORY AND PRAISE TO THE PRINCESS CELESTIA, RULER OF EQUESTRIA!

Then another banner said:

WELCOME LUNA!

The train was rapidly slowing. They would soon be stopped at the platform. She could see the throng gathered to meet them, or at least the herd of ponies that were surrounding the train station. There was band music playing and Twilight could almost see Pinkie Pie playing all of her instruments at one time just for them.

She stepped over to the door, opened it, and walked out into the hall. Celestia and Luna were there already, and the Guards seemed to be preparing to have them disembark to the train station.

“My lady,” said one of her guards, “May I carry your bag for you?”

“No,” she replied, “It's not really...”

“Twilight,” interrupted the Princess, “You should allow him to carry that bag for you.”

“But I'm sure he's got plenty of other things...”

“Twilight,” she replied, “It's not about whether he's busy or not, or even how much that bag might weigh. It's about the perception of royalty.”

“Celestia?”

“The ponies expect us to act in a royal fashion at all times whenever we present ourselves to them,” she said evenly, “Much like celebrities, they don't want to see us performing our own tasks such as carrying bags and the like. They want to see us guarded and surrounded by them. They simply want to feel like we care by allowing them to perform tasks for us.”

“But I don't feel special,” replied Twilight quietly, “I don't feel worthy...”

“Nonsense!” said Luna, “We are the royals, and must present ourselves as such at all times!”

So Twilight levitated her bag over to the guard who asked her first, and settled it over his neck.

“Thank you so much,” he replied as he smiled. He was thanking her for allowing him the privilege of carrying her stuff.

It was something the newly crowned Princess might have a little trouble getting used to.

“Now you shall go first and be announced to the crowds,” said Celestia as much to Twilight as she was talking to the guards.

“But...” said Twilight awkwardly.

“No buts!” snapped Luna, “This is your special day! We shall not infringe on it!”

“Thank you both... so much.”

“Just remember that it is your duty now to walk with your head high,” advised Celestia, “The ponies expect you to be strong, confident, and willing to stand for them. It will be your example that they shall look up to.”

Luna nodded.

“After the crowd has been satisfied,” said Celestia, “Then I shall be announced. And Luna after that. Once we all have been presented, I shall announce my intentions to construct my new mansion on the outskirts of Ponyville.”

“Speak loudly and clearly,” advised Luna, “The people must hear your confidence as surely as they feel the ground under their hooves.”

Twilight nodded.

“No,” said Luna, “Speak to us. Use the royal voice.”

“I understand!” she replied.

“Very good,” she replied, “But it is better in our opinion to use the 'Royal We' when addressing the subjects of Equestria.”

“But don't feel like you absolutely have to,” interrupted Celestia as she looked to Luna, “That was the fashion a long time ago, but things have changed somewhat since then.”

“Things have not changed so much since we returned from our banishment, big sister.”

“So feel free to address the ponies of Ponyville as you see fit,” advised Celestia, “as you shall be the one they shall most look up to while Luna and I are away back in Canterlot.”

The train finally came to a full stop.

“We are here,” said a guard redundantly, “I see there is quite a crowd here to greet you all.”

“Thank you,” said Celestia, “but now it is time for Ponyville to acknowledge it's newest Princess. Go forth and make sure her announcement to the world and Ponyville is adequately loud.”

“Of course, your Highness,” he said as he turned and stepped towards the door that separated them from the throng outside. She could see the throng gathered through the door's window, and couldn't help but wonder just how much of them could see her. Would they see how nervous she looked? Would they accept her as the newest royal?

“Go out and shine,” said one of the guards close to her ear. He was the one standing on the side of the door next to the doorknob. The guard across from him smiled at her confidently as well.

Twilight smiled. She was glad that ponies believed in her. Perhaps even more than she was able to believe in herself at that moment. So he opened the door, and she stepped for into the bright sunlight. The crowd broke out into a massive cheer as soon as they saw her.

“Presenting for the first time in Ponyville,” announced the guard just outside the door, “Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

…

Rarity was a bit upset that she couldn't be at the train station to see Twilight come home after her coronation, but a rush order was a rush order. She knew that her freshly gathered emeralds and rubies weren't going to sew themselves onto those dresses, and that her future may well depend on how well the dresses she was making for the largest Broadhoof play currently running turned out: Bridle and the Beast. But then there was a knock at the door.

“Sweetie Belle?!” she called, “Be a darling and get that, would you?!”

“Okay,” she replied as she trotted over to the door.

“Hello,” said Twilight from the outside as Sweetie Belle opened the door, “Is Rarity busy?”

“Yes,” she replied, “She is.”

“I'm so sorry I couldn't be there to meet you at the station!” called Rarity, “And I can't really spare any time to visit with you!”

“Then perhaps you could spare a moment to see me?” asked Princess Celestia.

“PRINCESS CELESTIA?!” cried Rarity. She was so surprised that she dropped everything she was working on in her hurry to get to the door. Sure enough, she found herself face to face not only with Princess Twilight, but that Princess Celestia was standing just off her right flank, and Princess Luna was standing just off her left flank. “PRINCESS LUNA?!” She stepped into the doorway and knelt down before the three Princesses.

“There is no need to be so formal,” said Celestia.

“We think there is,” retorted Luna, which earned her a sidelong look from Celestia.

“How can I ever serve you?!” asked Rarity with great reverence.

“May we come in?” asked Twilight.

“Oh!” she gasp, “I'm so sorry! Please do come in!” She stood up and backed away from the door.

“There is no need to be sorry,” said Celestia softly, “It's not like you were expecting us.”

“We feel that the Princess Twilight Sparkle requires new dresses so that she can appear properly royal to the citizens of Ponyville,” said Luna in the royal voice.

“Yes, and Luna and I could also use a new dress or three for when we come to visit. We'll be building a new mansion on the outskirts of Ponyville for those times we need to consult with Princess Twilight about the various affairs of state.”

“How wonderful!” exclaimed Rarity.

“I'm sorry for such short notice...” began Twilight.

“No no!” interrupted Rarity, “Think nothing of it! I would be proud so serve the crown in any capacity that I can!”

While Twilight and Celestia were conversing with Rarity, Luna began looking about at the show dresses while Sweetie Belle followed behind.

“Can you get a cutie mark for being a Princess?” she asked of Luna energetically.

“No,” she replied evenly as she looked at the dresses, “We know of no Prince or Princess who did not already have their cutie mark before their coronation.”

“Aww,” she moaned.

Luna was looking over one of the ruby encrusted dresses as it was fitted to one of the smaller pony mannequins. It was offset by the black silk material that the gems were attached to. The whole dress was made to look somewhat dark and mysterious for some scene where Belle was going about some part of the Beast's castle where she wasn't supposed to be... or that's what Miss Rarity was told. As such, it was all set up not to be shiny other than the reddish light reflected off the rubies themselves. The cloak was only long enough to reach the loin, but had a neck piece so tall that it all but concealed the mare's head from the side or rear, and that had no rubies on it. The rest of the dress had rubies on it somewhat sparingly to minimize the way the light reflected off them. Then there was several layers to the skirts, and a train that dragged about three hoof-lengths or so behind it. There was puffy shoulder pads and a short sleeves that covered the front legs down to the knee level.

“Miss Rarity?” asked Luna.

She rushed over to the Princesses' side as she said, “Yes?”

“We like this design,” she said regally, “Tailor it to our needs as soon as possible. You definitely must make adjustments for our wings.”

“Of course,” she gulped, knowing that the outfit was made for the unicorn playing the part of Belle, and that was one of the best dresses she had made so far.

“Is something wrong?” asked Twilight as she walked over.

“Oh no!” gasp Rarity awkwardly, “I'm so glad Luna likes it! It should hardly take a couple of hours to...”

“You're making this dress for someone else?” asked Celestia as she followed Twilight.

“No no!” she replied, “It's nothing special! Something I was just throwing together to see if it looked good! Not a problem at all!”

“I can tell that your element is not honesty,” she replied as she raised an eyebrow.

“What ever are you implying?” came Rarity's awkward response.

Twilight was also looking back into Celestia's gaze.

“It is obvious this dress is for a special order,” she replied, “and the fact you couldn't make it to see Twilight at the station proves this is a rush order for somepony very special. The time and detail alone proves this is worth a considerable amount of investment of your skill and efforts, so it must be for a very important customer or event of some sort. If you modify it for Luna's needs, I'm sure it will take days to replace. So perhaps you should look at something else, dearest Luna.”

Rarity laughed just a little nervously.

“Very well, big sister,” she sighed, “We shall look at other things.”

“You are too kind, your highness,” said Rarity softly.

Just then, Discord appeared in the middle of the shop floor in a flash of light.

“Ah, it's good that I found you,” he said of Princess Celestia.

“I see,” said Celestia, “Is something the matter?”

“Well,” he said, “There's no sign of Princess Cadance's arrival from the Crystal Empire. She should have arrived by now.”

“And did you go to the Crystal Capital to see why she isn't there yet?”

“Of course,” he said, “They claimed that they never got any message, and there's no sign of Cadance anywhere. Even Shining Armor doesn't know where she is right now.”

“Perhaps we should go back,” offered Luna.

“Take Shining Armor to Canterlot,” ordered Celestia, “He can run things while they search for Cadance back in the Crystal Empire.”

“I asked him, but he doesn't want to leave while she's missing. He feels it's his responsibility to find her, after all.”

“He really does love her,” said Twilight softly.

“Very well, Luna...”

“Why don't I manage things until she's found?” asked Discord, “It's only a few days. I promise I won't overdo the whole being in charge thing. Everything will be just as neat and orderly as you left it.” His smile was less than comforting to Princess Twilight.

“Very well,” she sighed, “but I better not find Canterlot drowning in chocolate rain...”

“Oh, while that would be most amusing,” he said under Celestia's withering gaze, “I promise I shall keep the amusement... uh, chaos to an absolute minimum.”

“As long as you promise to keep advised by the Royal Council, then you may manage affairs until we return. This is definitely a test of your trustworthiness.”

“I promise you won't be disappointed, your majesty,” he replied with an exaggerated bow. Then he vanished in a flash of light before anyone else could react.

[to be continued]