Dating isn't just for mortals...

Celestia and Discord avoided each other for the next few days whilst they reflected on their most recent date. The Princess was admonishing herself for bringing up such an important subject such as foals so early in the relationship. However, deep down, she knew it was important to her and that it was best to end any budding romance now if they weren't on the same page.

Discord was having very different thoughts then he usually had. The draconequus never usually thought more than a day ahead, or even five minutes, which ultimately led to his downfall against Twilight Sparkle. Even the plunderseeds weren't a very well thought out plan, given it took a thousand years and the transfer of the elements from the sisters to new ponies for it to bear fruit.

But now he was being asked to think about the entirety of his future. Discord may be irresponsible at times, but he knew that bringing life into the world was something not to take lightly...it was no joke and thats all he really knew. He would have to devote time and energy to raising a healthy balanced child, something that wouldn't be easy if it took after his inherent character in any way.

But that's perhaps what he needed, something he cared for to keep him out of mischief. It was that of course that led him down the path of reformation - the care he felt towards Fluttershy and her friends, even Twilight. Whilst he still made the odd booboo now and then, he found that caring for things was more rewarding. Caring for a foal could just be what he needed.

Apart from the romantic and passionate side of things, Celestia was also thinking about some of the more practical matters. What would a alicorn pony/draconequus foal even look like? Would it be immortal like them, or would they have to watch as it grew old and die? And would she be able to run the country, or would Luna have to take charge during late pregnancy and the early months.

The other immortal resident of the Castle was a little worried too. She didn't know what had happened between the two, but clearly something had changed between her sister and the jester. And when gently prompted, neither of them wanted to talk about it. They confirmed that they hadn't broken up, but that they had things to work through. And thats all she could get from them.

The younger sister couldn’t be sure, but guessed it may have had something to do with their futures. She knew Celestia was always thinking five moves ahead (and why she therefore always beat her younger sister at chess) and probably things were getting serious quickly. If only my sister would enjoy the moment more Luna thought to herself.

Discord eventually realised that they had to see each other again and that the relationship was on a bit of knifedge. So, at the end of day court, he stood outside and waited for Celestia to leave. Soon enough Celestia was walking by with a couple of assistants, but seeing Discord she dismissed them all to their duties.

Celestia walked up to Discord and gently placed her head next to his. It was slightly more distant than a hug, but still showed affection.

“Hello Discord, long time no see” she smiled.

“Hello Celestia” Discord replied a little nervously

Celestia smile grew a bit wider seeing the effect she had on him “So how have you been?”

“Good, no complaints, just been thinking about things.”

Celestia sighed “Me too.”

“I was thinking, however, that we should spend some time together again”

“I would like that” Celestia replied with a faint hint of blush showing “When were you thinking?”

“Whenever suits you dear, you’re the grand ruler with a country to run, I’m just an unemployed layabout” Discord replied.

Celestia picked up on the term of endearment, but decided not to press it “How about now?”

“Now? Sure!” Discord replied, his face lighting up a little “I don’t have anything planned...what would you like to do?”

Celestia sighed “Honestly, I don’t know. After a day like today I just get away from work for a while. You know, just go for a fly or something…” the alicorn went on, looking out of a window towards where the sun was in a downwards arc.

“That sounds perfect."

Celestia turned around “What does?”

“Why, going for a fly.”

Celestia gasped “I can’t do that!”

“Why not?” Discord replied curiously.

Celestia thought about it for a second “It’s been so long since I’ve just be able to drop everything and go off for a flight...it does sound very appealing.”

“Then surely thats what we should do” Discord replied.

“What about you?”

“I can float as fast as you fly.”

“But would you enjoy it?”

“If i'm spending time with you...of course!”

Celestia smiled again. She called over to one of the guards present and took of her crown, shoes and breastplate, much to the poor guards shock and slight embarrassment.

“Please take these to my chambers and advise the Guard that I’m taking leave of the castle for a while.”

Before the guard had a chance to salute, Celestia lit her horn, opened a nearby window, and within moments had flown through and off out towards the edge of the city.

Discord looked on as amazed as the Guard Celestia being so spontaneous...this I could get used to!” he thought to himself as he started after her.

It only took a few moments for Discord to catch up to Celestia, as she was hardly setting a Wonderbolts pace.

Peagasi had two main types of flight, which could be used for enjoyment as well as work - some pegasi, like Rainbow Dash, found most enjoyment from acrobatic flying where speed and effort was rewarded with g-force, dare-devil dives and the wind in the mane. Other pegasi, like Fluttershy, prefered long steady flights filled with gliding on thermals, using the least amount of effort to simply float around.

With her larger body and wingspan, the short darty acrobatic kind was not Celestia’s cup of tea, although could be deployed during battles and emergencies. So, the pair found themselves gliding along at a steady pace high across the land.

As they flew, Discord thought about striking up a conversation but when he looked over to his flying companion and his heart skipped a beat. Celestia had her eyes closed as she glided along, and was wearing a smile of pure contentment. Rather than disturb his companions thought and feelings of freedom, he floated along in silence... although Discord could also not help but noticed how sleek and attractive Celestia looked when flying.

After an hours or so, the pair found themselves approaching some of the peaks of foal mountains. Celestia’s inbuilt clock could tell that it was time for the sun to soon go down so spotted a flat area for them to land. As soon as they did, Celestia lit her horn to help push the sun down for it’s final part of the day, sensing Luna doing the opposite for her moon.

As the light started to fade, Celestia lay down on the mountain peak and simply watched as her beloved sun set below the horizon. Discord lay down next to Celestia, a small gap between them, and watched in silence. That silence was then disturbed by the rumbling of a stomach.

“Pardon me!” Celestia slightly blushed “I didn’t have much of a lunch and it’s well into dinner time. We should have brought some food with us” Celestia lamented .

Discord clicked his fingers and a large picnic basket, accompanied with the appropriate dinnerware, appeared in front of them. “Where did this come from?” Celestia asked in surprise as she picked up a sandwich in her aura.

Discord smiled “Don’t worry, I’ll go to the store tomorrow and pay them for the goods” as he took a bite from a cupcake.

The pair lay there watching and eating in silence for a while longer, until Celestia spoke “Do we really have nothing left to talk about that we have to be in silence?”

“What do you mean?” Discord asked in reply.

“Well, on the flight here, you didn’t speak at all.”

“I just left you to enjoy the moment” the draconequus explained "You seemed to just want to enjoy the silence, so I left you to it."

This took Celestia by surprise “Why?”

“Because you have a tough life and deserved to simply enjoy something you didn't even realise you were looking forwards to!”

“Yeah, being Princess is so tough, having all those servants pamper me, whilst those lucky earth pony till the fields and the pegasi control the weather.” Celestia replied sarcastically.

Discord moved slightly closer to Celestia, and put one arm around her back “Okay, it may not be physically tough, I’d imagine that the weight of a nation on your shoulders is no easy task.”

As if mentioning the weight lifted it, Discord found Celestia seemed to slightly relax so continued “Everypony knows how hard you work, now and in the past, for the good of Equestria. But’s it’s okay to have time off to do things you want to do every so often.”

“Like what?”

“Like going out for a flight and watching the sunset with a friend.”

“A friend?” celestia replied a little sultry and gently moved a little sideways until her body was up against Discords “Oh, I think you’re more than that!”

Once the sun had set, and the supper eaten, the pair lay there looking at the stars. Celestia had her head rested against Discord and neither of them spoke, just enjoyed the coming night. Suddenly, a shooting star shot across the sky, followed by another, and then more and more.

The pair looked on in amazement as Equestria’s finest meteor shower for more than a thousand years played out in front of them.

As the show started to come to an end, Discord had another subtle look at the pony resting against him and saw the look of joy and wonder on her face. Whilst he enjoyed the shower, somehow he found it even more enjoyable knowing his marefriend had. The pair continued to lay there in silence as the night returned to it’s usual stillness. Discord then noticed that the breathing of the pony next to him had grown shallower, and looking over noticed that Celestia had fallen asleep. At first he was a little surprised, and almost slightly insulted. But then it dawned on him.

Celestia, despite her tiredness, wanted to spend time with him.

Celestia, his marefriend, found him comfortable to be around.

Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria and ancient warrior of this great nation trusted him, an old nemesis, enough to let down her guard completely.

Discord lay there watching Celestia, his Princess, sleep snuggled up against him for a while, in a totally not creepy way. But the air was cold up in the mountain and Discord thought it was best that Celestia slept in her comfy bed - the cold may not be a physical threat, but a warm bed is much nicer to wake up in.

Using his magic as gently and softly as he could, he gently peeled his sleeping companion off of him and levitated her in the air. As she hang there slightly, he smiled at just how cute she looked. Channeling his magic slowly he was able to teleport them both all the way back to Celestia’s bedroom without waking her.

He gently laid his love down on her bed, and pulled a blanket over her. Then, noticing a large plush figure of a phoenix lying on the floor, he placed it between her hooves and the alicorn instinctively cuddled into it. Before his blood sugar crashed due to the incredible sweetness of what he was seeing, he crept slowly out of the room.

As he stepped out of Celestia’s bedroom, the two guards at the doors jumped in surprise. Before the pair had a chance to talk, Discord placed a finger up to his lips as he gently closed the door. “The princess is asleep in her bed, please don't disturb her.”

“How?” one of the guard stammered “How did you get into the room?”

Discord rolled his eyes at the pegasus guard “Magic, dur!”

With night court finished, Luna decided to have a quick lunch before heading off to her room to do some dreamwalking. Upon entering the royal dining room at one in the morning, she was surprised to see another creature in the room.

Luna walked over to where Discord was sat drinking some chocolate milk. It surprised her to see him drinking as normal, rather than some sort of reserve gravity situation, but clearly something was on his mind “I hope the two of you enjoyed the show?”

Discord put down his glass “You put that on for us?”

Luna sat next to him and ordered her supper with a waiter that appeared and disappeared in a manner most formal “You make my sister happy, she deserves that. Whilst I have taken on some of the duties of running this country, I cannot imagine what it was like running it alone for a thousand years, rebuilding a nation, and this capital, after that terrible fight.”

“She is a wonderful mare” Discord sighed a little.

“Indeed my sister is, and she deserves the very best in life” Luna’s voice changed slightly as she spoke, taking a slight edge.

Discord studied the face of the younger alicorn “You don’t like me.”

“The memories of your terrible reign are much fresher for me than my sister. She had a thousands years for the horror to fade, but for me it seems only like a few decades have passed.”

“I cannot change the past, but surely you know I have changed?”

“If anypony round here understands the importance of second chances, it is me” Luna sighed slightly “But unlike me, the dark magic within you is still there as it was returned to you when Twilight beat Tirek...after you assisted him.”

“My magic isn’t dark” Discord protested “It’s the same as any alicorn.”

“But you’ve chosen to use it in dark ways many times” Luna’s tone grew more serious.

“In the past yes...but perhaps...Celestia is the light that can dispel the darkness within me?”

Luna smirked slightly “You do speak with a silver tongue, but our Prisons are filled with ponies that can do the same.”

“Oh...what kind of attitude is that to have to your future brother in law?” Discord had, booped the younger alicorn on the muzzle.

Luna smiled at this, suppressing a giggle. Ever since that trip to Ponyville, she had loosened up and did appreciate that Discord could be an amusing jester when he wanted to be “I’m just making sure my sister chooses wisely.”

“Oh loosen up Luna!” Discord replied with a fake exasperation “Look, I know I have a lot to prove to everypony, but I think it’s worth it to be with your sister.”

Luna looked at the former enemy and found his reply was genuine. “I can only hope to find a stallion someday who cares about me as much as you do for Celestia” Luna sighed.

“Or mare?” Discord replied a little cheekily.

“Indeed, I have seen many a dream where that is the case” Luna half giggled, half blushed.

“Include a certain Princess of Friendship no doubt” Discord replied with a eyebrow waggle.

Luna tapped her nose with a hoof twice “Now that would be telling!”

The two shared a smile with each other, an understanding forming between them. They were far from best of friends, but for Celestia’s sake they were going to try to get along. She deserved that.