Celestia's Love Game

“Oh! Princess Celestia!” Rarity said, startled by the sudden appearance of the princess in the dining room she and Applejack were sitting at.

“Hello my little ponies, sleep well?” Celestia asked as a pony brought her coffee.

“Yes we did, thank yuh very much.” Applejack replied swiftly.

“Good. So what were you doing to pass the time?” Celestia asked.

“Oh we were just chatting about rudimentary things.” Rarity replied. Celestia caught the slight blush on her white cheeks, but pretended not to.

“Well nothing is rudimentary when it comes to friends, my duties do not officially start for an hour or so so I have time.” Celestia said with a smile.

“Um...I don't know...I guess it wasn't really that unimportant...” Rarity said softly.

“She might be able tuh help...” Applejack suggested.

“...Fine. Princess, Applejack and I were discussing a more...personal matter. We think we might have feelings for each other that far exceed friendship.” Rarity explained. Celestia smiled and tried her hardest not to let it become a grin.

“Oh that is wonderful! You two make such a perfect pair! I don't think I understand the problem. If you think you have these feelings then experiment with them. And by the way, Love isn't that far off from true friendship. The only difference is that love is a tad higher on a personal level.” Celestia explained.

“Really? Yuh think we'd work out?” Applejack asked.

“Of course. You two are some of the best friends I've seen, rivaled only by the others. Some times your best friend can be an even better lover. Be bold, enjoy your lives. Hearts and hooves day is nearing.” Celestia said, her smile breaking into a grin.

“You make an excellent point...I guess we can at least try.” Rarity said.

“That's the spirit.” Celestia said with a giggle.

“Well Yer Majesty, we already ate so Yuh can enjoy yer meal. We have some things tuh work out.” Applejack said as Celestia's usual breakfast was brought out. Celestia nodded and the two left.

Halfway through her breakfast, Celestia was surprised by somepony taking a seat next to her. Her surprise turned to happiness as said somepony wrapped her forelegs around her in a hug.

“Hello Twilight, enjoy your extra sleep?” Celestia asked.

“I did...and I had a strange dream.” the Lavender unicorn replied as she stole an apple slice from Celestia's fruit salad.

“Oh? Strange as in strange strange? Or strange as in relevant to last night strange.” Celestia asked.

“Strange as in super relevant to last night...” Twilight replied.

“Oh pray tell!” Celestia exclaimed, lightly clapping her fore hooves together.

“Well...it wasn't anything exciting...or bad...or anything for that matter...we were just sitting in the observation tower watching the sunset...but it was closer than that...I don't really know how to explain it...” Twilight tried to explain.

“I think I might understand.” Celestia said with a smile. Twilight looked up to her expectantly, but received a very unexpected answer. A kiss, full on the mouth. “You're falling in love.” She whispered.

Twilight shivered at the whispered voice and the unexpected kiss. Her mind had gone blank. Well, mostly.

“Y-you...I...Does this mean?” she stammered.

“I don't know, what could it mean?” Celestia asked with feigned confusion.

“...does this mean...you love me?...like...in that way?” Twilight whispered. Celestia grinned and nodded.

“...well then you're wrong...” Twilight said.

“Huh? About what?” Celestia asked, this time genuinely confused.

“you said I'm falling in love...to be perfectly honest...that time has passed and gone long ago...” Twilight said, leaning into Celestia. “The dream just made me more sure of it.” she continued. Celestia looked down at her, and this time she met the Alicorn halfway with the kiss.

Literally the second they resumed eating, Fluttershy and Luna appeared.

“Good morning Luna, you're up early.” Celestia said.

“Oh, I guess so.” Luna replied.

“Oh..um...I didn't wake you up early did I?” Fluttershy asked, worried she was harming the princess.

“Oh don't worry Fluttershy, you did nothing wrong.” Luna assured the shy mare.

“Well I have acquired a bit of a vacation until after Hearts and Hooves day, courtesy of my assistant.” Celestia said as she rose from her seat.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, Shining Sun somehow arranged things so that I wouldn't be needed for a few days...No idea how she did it, I've been trying to get a vacation for years...” Celestia replied.

“Well enjoy it. I don't know how tiring all of your duties are, but just the way you're always exhausted tells me a vacation is much needed.” Luna said.

“Wait you don't have any royal duties?” Twilight asked Luna.

“No not really. I have taken back my duty to Raise the moon again, and I occasionally help Tia with some of her duties but the system has yet to even try to give me an important role in the politics. Frankly I don't think I want it, I still only barely understand any of it.” Luna explained.

“That would be my doing. I make it clear I am capable of continuing the duties I have had alone and tell them that you'll do it when you're ready, but it won't be for a bit.” Celestia said.

“Well then I'd have to thank you...but enough wasting your valuable free time here bantering, go enjoy your vacation.” Luna said and quite literally pushed Celestia out of the dining hall.

“That was...odd.” Twilight commented as she followed Celestia.

“Maybe a little bit. But let's take her advice.” Celestia said.

“What should we do?” Twilight asked.

“Well last time I had free time, and I wasn't in Ponyville visiting you, I went to a few shows.” Celestia said, putting a hoof to her chin in thought.

“On our way over we heard one of the drivers talking about a really popular music performance at the Sun and Moon theater today. I think he said it was at noon” Twilight suggested.

“That sounds wonderful, we have a few hours until Noon though, let's go see if we can get tickets and then think of something we can do to pass the time.” Celestia said.

“I think they'd let you in even if you came without warning.” Twilight said with a laugh.

“Hm...you're right...I'd rather not exploit my role, nor would I want special treatment or unnecessary attention. Oh! I know!” Celestia said and her horn glowed gold and she changed. Celestia had shrunk down to just a bit taller than Twilight, her cutie mark was different than what it normally was and her mane and tail no longer flowed. In fact, they were a soft pink instead of their normal rainbow coloring. Most pronounced though, was the lack of wings. She looked a lot like a Mare she remembered was named Fluer de lis, but much less fancy.

“Wow...” Twilight said.

“Well, how do I look?” Celestia asked with a smile, even her voice was a bit different. It went up a pitch or two.

“Amazing...I wouldn't believe you were really princess Celestia if I didn't know you so well and you just walked up to me on the street...” Twilight said.

“Good. Shall we?” Celestia asked.

“We shall.” Twilight replied with a smile. Celestia giggled and they walked side by side. Once they left the palace and were in the city of Canterlot, Celestia was genuinely happy she could walk around without ponies gawking or bowing left and right. They quickly found themselves in front of the theater.

“Can I help you?” the Mare in the booth asked.

“Yes, is the Noon show filled?” Twilight asked.

“Uhm, the Opposites Attract duet?” the Mare asked.

“That's the one.” Twilight replied.

“Let me see...” she said and flipped through a booklet. “Yeah, there's some spots left. So that's the Noon showing for two?” she asked.

“Yes please.” Twilight replied and took out a bag of bits. She paid for the tickets and put them in her saddlebag.

“Hey you're Twilight Sparkle aren't you?” the Mare asked, a twinkle in her eyes.

“Um yeah, do I know you?” Twilight asked with a smile.

“No no, I just had to ask. It's so nice to meet you! Everypony is always talking about the amazing feats you and the elements of harmony have done!” the Mare exclaimed.

“Really? I wouldn't really call them 'amazing feats'...” Twilight said, backing away slightly shyly.

“I hear you got rid of an Ursa Minor all by yourself and faced down a Hyrda just help a friend. If that's not amazing I don't know what is” The mare said.

“Oh...um thank you, but really...I just do what I can.” Twilight responded.

“Sometimes, just doing what can be done deserves the most praise.” Celestia said with a smile.

“Oh I like that!” the Mare said.

“Well, we should probably get going...bye!” Twilight said and quickly snatched Celestia up and practically bolted straight away.