"Your Majesty..." you say as you bow low in the court of Princess Celestia.
"Anon--thank you for coming to see me. You don't have to be quite so formal, though," she said, remarking on both your choice of attire and your greeting. She giggled in that absolutely musical voice of hers, hiding it regally behind a wingtip. "After you've proven your worth to me, and all of Equestria, many times over--why don't we greet each other as friends? I'm--honestly not quite sure if--well, come. Walk with me?"
"I'd be honored, Princess," you say with a smile, letting the alicorn step off her throne and lead you down out of the throne room and through the halls of the castle proper.
"Hmm. Where was I? Oh yes. Well, after more than a millennium of ruling Equestria, I'm not quite sure I'm comfortable with anypony--excuse me--anyone calling me just 'Celestia'. It's nothing personal, you understand..." You hold up your hands and nod, smiling. "...It's almost that--the title of Princess has become as much a part of my name as has my actual name. In some ways, that's more of a burden than a blessing...what would you think?"
"I'd think, Princess...that were we not in private company, some might question the motives behind such a confession," you murmur gently, wanting to hear more of what she had to say, but also a bit nervous as to where the conversation would go.
Again, Celestia covered her mouth with her wing as she laughed. "Oh, Anon! It's not like I'm actually considering anything like this! It's merely idle chatter between friends. And I would like to consider you a friend...one of my best. May I?"
You gasp, ducking your head away as your cheeks suddenly became very hot. "Uh--well, you're the princess! You can do anything you wish."
"I do suppose that's true," Celestia admitted, pausing in her stroll as she thought for a moment. "But--friendship is always sweeter when given freely, rather than coerced. That's part of what makes it magic." She looked at you, and those lilac eyes seemed to sparkle in the afternoon light streaming through the windows.
You felt the urge to reach up and stroke her cheek--that beautiful alicorn just wouldn't get out of your head, but instead, you clamped onto your thigh tightly and mustered your warmest smile, nodding. Taking a deep breath, you regained your composure. "I agree, Princess Celestia--the magic of friendship is something that you've taught me a lot about in my time here, and I'm learning something new every day. It would be my honor, my pleasure, and would make me very happy to be your friend."
Celestia tilted her head slightly, looking at you with a bemused smile on her face, but said nothing. Did she know? The alicorn princess surely could see right through you--and that hollow attempt at misdirection would surely be caught. But instead; "Please, Anon, won't you join me for dinner tomorrow evening? It will be a private venue, simply the two of us. I'm sure, by now, the novelty of a human here in Equestria is beginning to wear off, and you'd be able to spare a moment for your Princess?"
That tone! There was no way that she wasn't baiting you. How could you say no to a request like that? On so many freaking levels--there was just no way. And those damnable eyes--still beautiful, but if you looked closely, there was mischief in them. "I'll be there," you say, turning to leave. That was really the only thing you COULD say, honestly. But--could you really fault her for teasing you every step of the way? She's been a princess for over a thousand years and was probably bored out of her head. Having fun with the latest novelty that dropped into Equestria was just daily life for her. And, part of that was why you were attracted to her. She was a Princess--without being stuffy. Beautiful, without being haughty. Motherly without being overbearing. And a mischievous streak a mile wide that she hid like a pro. But--that could never really GO anywhere. Could it?
***
Tonight was the night. Tonight, you were going to have dinner with Celestia. No big deal--you've had dinner with other mares before. And you've even had dinner with Celestia before--though that was celebrating your arrival--and then--one year in Equestria as the first human...This would be dinner. With Celestia. Alone. Suddenly your heart leapt into your chest, and you weren't sure about all of this. But you couldn't back down. Not now. It wouldn't be gentlemanly of you--and besides, if you really wanted to see if such a thing were possible--you'd have to start somewhere. Dinner was as good a starting place as any.
*KNOK KNOK*
"Come in, Anon," said a pony guard as the castle's front gates creaked open. "Celestia's waiting for you in the dining hall."
Making your way to said dining hall, you discovered that, instead of the large banquet table that normally adorned the space, a much smaller table was set up, a round table, with room for only a few guests. "I felt this would be more personal than shouting at each other from opposite ends of that chasm of a table, what do you think, Anon?"
Bowing--though not quite as formally as before--you nod, laughing at Celestia's chosen word of 'Chasm'. "I think this fits quite nicely."
"Thank you...please, take your seat? Then we'll have the servants bring us dinner. I'm afraid it's not quite as lavish as what one may be used to in a castle, but I thought that--"
"Oh, it's no trouble at all!" you begin, then immediately clamp both hands over your mouth as you realize what you've done. A princess is NOT to be interrupted. Ever. That's Rule number...well it's up there. And you just broke it.
But...instead of the expected hellfire and wrathful punishment--Celestia was laughing. Actually laughing, too, not just the reserved, regal giggle you had seen before. "Oh Anon! You should see the look on your face! Let me guess...'Thou shalt not interrupt a princess,' is that right?" She looked at you with a sly grin on her face, as if she could read your every thought. Maybe she could. You never were quite sure of the limits of alicorn magic--or even if there were any.
"Uhh--yes, princess," you say, biting your lip as you feel quite embarrassed.
"Well, Anon," Celestia began, leaning forward a little, "As friends, you can feel free to make your thoughts known any time you wish."
"Well, thank you, Your Highness, that is..." suddenly you trail off as you look back up at Celestia. You realize you've never seen her this--close--before. Well, not like this anyway. Her crown was off, and her mane flowed freely. Her eyes shone like lilac gems, and you found your cheeks coloring with the heat of a blush.
"Anon--Anon, what's wrong? Are you all right? You're all--flushed..."
Fuck, what do I do now? Do I play it off as nothing? Do I tell her everything? There's no way I could LIE to her...wouldn't happen.
"Princessdoyourealizeyouhavethemostbeautifuleyes?"
"What?" Celestia asked, clearly surprised and confused.
Clearing your throat, you try again. "Do you realize--" ahem...maybe if your voice didn't sound like you were still pre-puberty... "I think that...that you have the most beautiful eyes..." you say, every nerve in your body set to spring for the ceiling in case such compliments really WERE a breach of some contract and you'd be banished for life.
Celestia's look softened, and she reached out with a forehoof to touch your shoulder gently. "Thank you, Anon...such a compliment means a lot coming from you. People have told me that they find me beautiful, true--but when you say it--it has another meaning, doesn't it? But--" Celestia held up her hoof. "--I won't inquire further now. Dinner is here, and I'm quite hungry!"
You didn't want to interrupt again, despite the fact that you KNEW Celestia was toying with you; teasing you to see how you'd react--and straight out asking you what you meant when you told her she had beautiful eyes--but then not letting you explain. Was this all part of her plan? Or did she just--make it all up as she went along? You didn't know, but, for the moment, things were going well. Conversation roved many topics over the course of dinner, from life in Equestria to life more locally, in Ponyville and Canterlot.
"...Twilight's still as much of a perfectionist as ever," you said with a laugh, "Even through everything she's done--she's still somehow worried that she'll let somepony down...wait, did I just say somepony? Well, anyway...it's not as pronounced as it was in the past, certainly, but she still wants to please everyone."
"Which is why she makes the perfect Princess of Friendship--not because she already knows everything there is to know, Anon, but because she can learn as she teaches, and she can be humble in a way that someone raised from birth to rule cannot."
In that instant, time seemed to stop, and you realized something else about Celestia. Her deep and vast wisdom, gained from years on the throne--watching lives play out in the lands that she ruled; she would have an uncanny grip on the nature of people, be they ponies or humans, and she was right. Incredibly, infallibly, right. And you loved her for it. But how could you possibly tell her that? She was a princess--practically a physical goddess. And you? Well, last time you checked, you were human. And very, very mortal.
But at that moment, you had no more time to dwell on those thoughts, for the dinner was over and Celestia was pushing to her feet. "Come, Anon--come with me to the castle grounds?"
You nod, and follow Celestia outside, where the moon shone brightly, illuminating the peaceful night over Equestria. You both wave to Luna, standing guard over the night hours from her post in the watchtower. Thankfully, seeing you becoming so close to her sister over the time you were here hadn't made Luna jealous--if anything, it had made her happy. "My sister taught me about the magic of friendship--but other than myself, Twilight and her friends--she has no one of her own. A princess should have many friends--that is my thought."
At least, that had been what she had told you at the time. She seemed to be trying to spur you into getting closer to Celestia. And it had worked--the two of you were friends. But--the closer you got, the more you realized you wanted to be more than "just friends" with the beautiful alicorn. But it would never be. At least, no way that you could see it.
Suddenly you gasped, nearly losing your balance as you felt a nudge from behind. "Anon, you're quite lost in your thoughts...and I don't need any powers of perception to tell me that. What is it?"
There was no running away from it now. The two of you were alone--with no guards, and no dinner to stuff in your face at every awkward question. Just...well it was either lie or tell the truth. And--well...ah fuck it. If you're gonna go out, might as well be in a blaze of glory, right?
Looking at Celestia, you manage a nervous, if slightly flirtatious grin. "Princess...I...I don't know if what I'm about to say has been said to you before, or if it's even proper to approach a princess this way..."
Celestia lowered her head slightly, eyelids closing bit-by-bit until she was staring at you from beneath her sweeping mane, her smile matching yours, though without any tinges of nervousness. "Yes Anon...continue...please..."
"I...when I first met you, I was in awe of your beauty. Your radiance. Where I come from, the sun and moon are natural processes that occur without human intervention. But here--one of your many royal duties is to raise the sun each morning. Such--power...I don't even know if there are words to describe it. But--partly that was because of your status as a princess." Now going full-tilt, there was no way you could stop, even if you wanted to. Somewhere within the fog of your love-addled brain, you realized that mid-speech, your hand had drifted up to Celestia's cheek--though she didn't seem to mind--in fact, she was actually nuzzling your palm slightly. "But," you continued, "The more I got to know you, the more those feelings grew. I watched as you helped teach Twilight, and help her become accustomed to her new role as a princess. I heard the stories of how you and your sister reconciled, and now Ponyville, and all of Equestria can rejoice anew at the Summer Sun Celebration. I saw as you ruled Equestria fairly and justly. But more than that...I saw a beautiful alicorn that was unparalleled in every way."
Celestia stepped forward slightly and looked into your eyes. It was only then that you realized she was trembling. Trembling--with what emotion? Nerves? Fear? Excitement?
"Anon...please..." she said again. "I--" her gaze darted around as she tried to find the words. It was uncharacteristic of Celestia to flounder for words, and it threw you off your guard. Seeing the princess so--vulnerable--made your heart melt. You wanted to do everything to ensure perfection for her--as illogical as it seemed that a human could protect a magical mare, you wanted to protect her. "Tell me your thoughts. I want to know them all."
"Well, really..." you murmur, now gently cupping her cheeks with both hands as your thumbs stroked through her fur. "There's just one more. And that is to say--I love you, Princess Celestia."
Celestia bit her lip, seeming for a moment unsure of how to respond. Or rather--thinking of how her response would be perceived. Then, suddenly, she closed the distance between you and pressed her lips to yours in a passionate kiss. "I love you too," she murmured as she nuzzled into your shoulder.
Well, okay--so now you thought the hard part was done. Turns out that was only the beginning--though love can make people think and do strange things. A few days after your mutual declaration of love, it hit you. She's a princess. She's an alicorn. You're a human. You're not even royalty! And, you're still mortal. Thankfully though, for now, that was the extent--if such watershed issues could be called an "extent"--of your problems. Your relationship was so new that neither of you had really told anyone yet, and so questions from the outside weren't overwhelming just yet.
Several days had passed since then, and you decided to ask Celestia about your thoughts the next time you were able to spend some time alone with her, which was, fortunately, tonight. There was to be a faire in Ponyville, and while it was Celestia's duty to kick off the celebrations and start the festivities, everyone would be too busy actually having a good time to inquire about royal matters. It would be one night that Celestia could be out in public without completely being swamped--though it would also be where your relationship would potentially be made public, depending on how it all went.
***
That night, once the festivities were well underway, you actually did manage to pull Celestia aside. "Celestia...Can I ask you some questions?"
"Of course Anon..." Celestia said with a smile. God...that voice...it could melt frozen hydrogen--every time she spoke, you felt like your heart could burst with joy. And now--she was talking directly to you, not as a subject, or even a friend, but as a lover.
"Oh boy..." you said, feeling a bit nervous now, but not quite as nervous as that night. "Where do I begin?"
"Slow down," Celestia murmured soothingly. "Take a deep breath. Everypony is having a great time here at the party, and they're all too busy to worry about other things--even their princess, for tonight."
She COULD read your mind! Well--now you knew. On one hand, you were relieved. On the other--you could never hide anything from her. Ever.
"Well," you begin, more calmly now. "If we're going to be together...I know this is something that is way way WAY far down the road from now...but it's crossed my mind and has had to have crossed yours, at least once. I'm not an alicorn--for all that represents. I'm not royalty--what would people say? I'm not even a stallion...and, I won't live nearly as long as you..." You sigh, looking down. "I mean, like I said--that is a long long time from now, and I might be planning for things that might never come, but..."
You suddenly were cut off as Celestia gently placed her hoof to your lips. "Shh...Anon, did you not think that maybe...maybe I have thought about this? About all the points you bring up? Do not worry, my dearest love. Alicorn magic is powerful. And I know of a spell. An incredibly powerful and ancient magic that links two hearts as one. So that true loves can be together, forever. However, it can only be used once--and only on one's truest and deepest love...so you see it's not something that can be used lightly."
You stood there, dumbfounded for a long moment. Of course Celestia, Celestia of all ponies would have a plan. And it was a plan that made complete sense to you. If you went around blessing every crush you fell in love with with the power of immortality, well pretty soon the world would be quite overcrowded. Or, the spell may not work at all--given that most magic revolved around friendship and its related qualities here. So it was quite possible that even WITH alicorn magic, the spell would only be strong enough to actually work if two ponies were so in love that it was an unbreakable bond.
"That is exactly how it works, Anon." Celestia's voice startled you out of your thoughts, and you turned to look at her with an eyebrow raised.
"So can you actually hear what I'm thinking, or just the general idea?" you say.
Celestia laughed, and again, it was the reserved giggle with one wing out, covering her mouth. The reserved Celestia. The professional Celestia. The royal Celestia. But...there was also a twinkle of mischief in her eye that couldn't be mistaken for firelight. That--that was the playful Celestia. The Celestia that chased you through the castle grounds at night when everyone else had gone home. The Celestia that teased her subjects as often as she supported them. And underneath it all there was the beautiful Celestia. The Celestia that raised the sun. The Celestia that ruled Equestria. And the Celestia that captured your heart.
"I 'heard' all of that, Anon..." Celestia said, one wing going out to wrap around you momentarily in a brief display of affection. "And, I love you," she murmured for your ears alone.
"I love you too," you murmur just as softly.
In the brief moment of intimacy, you hadn't realized just how close Celestia was getting to you. You should really have paid more attention to that mischievous glimmer you had spotted in her eyes earlier. "And," she continued, "I think I have just the way to deal with how the public will deal with our relationship.”
"Oh really?" you ask naively. "How's that?"
Even if you had realized what was going on, it would have been much too late to do anything about it. With a loud STOMP of her hoof, Celestia signaled her guards to do--something. You weren't entirely sure of what, until you heard the bugles begin to sound--for the tune that meant the Princess had a royal proclamation to make. Only half-formed thoughts started to make their way to your lips, but they were lost as Celestia immediately kissed you long and hard, in full view of everypony, whose eyes were locked on you--and her, as, well naturally, all attention was on the princess when she made a proclamation. THIS was her proclamation. Her declaration of love for you--in front of all of Equestria.
There was a pink streak that shot into the sky, and your eyes shot open through the kiss to watch as Celestia launched a magical firework from her horn that exploded into a giant pink heart, two rings interlocking inside of it. It so startled you that you actually broke the kiss, staring at Celestia for a long moment. She, for her part was entirely unrepentant, returning your gaze with a playful smirk.
Just then, all time seemed to slow, and all sound seemed to fade, until all you could hear was the rush of blood in your own ears. Then, through the haze... 'Anon...Anon do you like it?' Celestia was doing more than just hearing your thoughts now--she was projecting herself into your mind.
'I...I love it,' you project back to her. 'I suppose this is certainly one way to get the public's attention...'
'And--and yours,' she murmured, almost shyly as she inclined a hoof in the direction of the firework. It was only now that you noticed that the two interlocking rings inside the heart weren't simple circles, but wedding rings.
You gasp in surprise as you realize just what all this was. Celestia had planned all this, down to the very last detail--and she wanted to propose to you in a way only she could. 'But...we've only been together for a few days...' you say, even though your heart yearns to say yes, and Celestia knows it.
'But that's not all there is to our story, is it Anon?' Celestia says. 'It's been a while since someone made my heart stir the way you did--when you first came to Equestria, you were unlike anything I'd ever seen before. And that--knowing that I DIDN'T know something, that intrigued me. I wanted to know more, and so I watched you...I watched you interact with all my subjects, and Princess Twilight. And the more I knew about you, the more I came to love you...I loved how gentle you were with everypony, and how much love you had in your heart. I knew...even from those early days, I think I knew...that I wanted to spend my life with you, Anon. You are my true love...will you marry me?'
Suddenly everything got quiet. There was no more ethereal, hushed sounds of telepathic conversation, and time moved at a normal speed again. It was then that you realized that last sentence--Celestia had asked you that publically, as well as in your head. All eyes were on the two of you, nopony speaking and hardly breathing as they waited for your response.
Grinning, you broke out laughing as you wrapped your arms around Celestia's neck. "Of course I'll marry you, Celestia!" you exclaim, pulling back to kiss her amid the exclamations of the cheering crowd. "Though if I do--I guess I'm going to have to get used to more--surprises, like these, huh?"
"Of course!" Celestia said, laughing. "Anon--my handsome love...I should think you'd know that about me by now!"
