Love Works In Mysterious Ways

Twilight sat in front of the crackling fireplace, a book in front of her. True to her earlier wow, she’d returned to have some reading time. Celestia had joined her, too, and they’d spent hours sifting through the volumes in the bookshelves.
“If I read a moment longer, my eyes are going to fall out, Twilight. It’s time to go to bed.” Celestia stood up, yawning.
“But-“
“You can read more tomorrow, though I have something else planned for us to do. I expect we’ll spend most of the day outdoors.” Celestia didn’t let up, putting some steel in her voice. The purple unicorn grumbled disappointedly, placing a bookmark in the tome she was reading, and then followed Celestia through the dimly-lit hallways.

“Welcome to my bedchambers, Twilight. Here we shall slumber until morning comes.” Celestia announced dramatically, earning a chuckle from the smaller mare at her side. As Celestia removed her regalia, setting it down on the desk, climbing in the bed, Twilight cringed slightly. It was surreally strange how naked Celestia looked without her gold and jewels. The alicorn turned around, looking at Twilight expectantly.
“Well, then? Get in, Twilight. I don’t bite. Much.” She grinned.
“B-but it’s your bed, pr-Celestia.”
“So? There is enough room for both of us.”
“Don’t worry, Celestia. I’ll just sleep on the floor.” Before the amused princess could say anything, Twilight had curled up on the carpet. A moment later, the stubborn unicorn heard the bed creak and she looked disbelievingly as Celestia joined her on the floor.
“What’re you doing, Celestia?”
“If you’re going to sleep on the floor, then so will I.”
“No! It’s your bed, not mine! I’m perfectly fine where I am.”
“Twilight, I am not letting you sleep on the floor.” All joviality disappeared from Celestia’s voice and a frown appeared on her face. “We shall share my bed tonight.”
“No! I’m staying where I am!” Twilight shouted back, anger distorting her features.
“Fine! Then so am I!” Celestia responded, snorting hatefully.
“Fine!” The two mares glared at each other balefully, before breaking out in quiet giggles. After a while, Celestia smiled happily, moving over to nuzzle Twilight.
“Oh, Twilight. It has been too long since I’ve had a good reason to laugh. But seriously, you can sleep with me. I won’t take offense. After all, is this not the whole point of this vacation?” Before Twilight could protest, she had picked the recalcitrant unicorn up, depositing her in the bed, joining her a moment later, smothering her in feathers as she brought Twilight close to her.
“Do not make me pull rank on you, Twilight. You may be the Element of Magic, but I still am the co-ruler of Equestria.” The purple unicorn sighed defeatedly.
“I suppose there’s no changing your mind?”
“No. We’ll sleep together and that’s that.” Celestia curled up around Twilight, yawning, soon drifting off to sleep. Of course, Twilight tried to liberate herself, but gave up after a couple of moments, on the account that Celestia was very warm and soft. She liked warm and soft. After a moment, she too, fell asleep, snuggled up to the sleeping alicorn.

Celestia pondered silently, looking at the purple unicorn at her side. Twilight still slumbered, muttering quietly on the occasion. The sight brought a smile to the alicorn’s face, yet her heart was torn with indecision.

Dare I fully open myself up to her? I would not want to burden her with my troubles. I should, however, at least try. I owe her that much, don’t I?

Climbing slowly out of the bed, she shook out her mane, heading for the shower. It’d do her some good to freshen herself up.

Woken by the sound of singing, Twilight sat up, stretching her legs, letting out a heart-wrenchingly adorable squeal of a yawn, the sort that would have even the most jaded and bitter pony bellow for insulin. As she shook off her tiredness, she became more aware of her surroundings. She was alone in Celestia’s bed. There was singing coming from shower. Intrigued, she quietly walked over to the half-open door and was immediately treated to a sight she never forgot.
Celestia was there, water flowing all over her body as the blissfully oblivious alicorn washed her royal self.

Oh Faust why are you watching Twilight stop stop stop stop watching sweet mother of mercy I can’t stop watching no no no no no Twilight you turn around and leave her alone this instant

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Twilight screamed internally, frozen in place, drinking in the sight of the alabaster seductress, her eyes wandering all over the alicorn’s toned, shapely, curvaceous, wet, glistening-

NO NO NO NO NO NO BAD THOUGHTS GO AWAY

Twilight shook her head fiercely, trying to back away. She did a terrible job of it. Tripping over her own hooves, she landed face-first inside the bathroom and Celestia whirled around, startled. When all she saw was a dazed Twilight, she blushed. To realize that the purple unicorn had been spying upon her was strangely flattering, if a tad odd.
“Well… good morning, Twilight. I trust you slept well.” Celestia broke the uncomfortable silence.
“That’s it?”
“I’m sorry?”
“You… you’re not going to punish me for spying on you?”
“Why would I? I admit you’ve caught me off-guard, but I’m not angry at you, Twilight.”
“Really?”
“You’re the first pony in many years to look directly at me without fearing to be locked in a dungeon. It’s like they expect their eyes to melt should they look at me too long.” Twilight looked at her, puzzled, and she continued.
“Well, now that you have taken a look at me, what do you think?” Twilight blushed at Celestia’s forward manner, and muttered quietly.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.”
“…you’re sexy.”
“Still not hearing anything.” Celestia announced, smiling impishly.
“I… You’re sexy.” Twilight was blushing fiercely, refusing to meet Celestia’s eyes.
“You’ve been true with me, so I’ll be true with you as well. You’re not that hard on eyes yourself, Twilight.” Twilight let out a breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding.
“Well, that’s, uhh… nice to know, Celestia. I’ll just wait until you’re finished, then.” She backed away sheepishly.
“You’re welcome to join me, Twilight. I wouldn’t mind. At all.” She winked at the speechless unicorn slyly.
“Um… thanks, but no thanks, Celestia. It’s okay. Seriously.” Quickly, she backed out of the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

Celestia chuckled. Twilight was always so easy to goad.
Aaand now I feel bad. Why do I antagonize Twilight when that’s not what we’re here to do?
Answerless and annoyed with herself, Celestia resumed her shower.

Twilight looked at Celestia a tad nervously as she approached.
“I’m sorry, Twilight. It was immature of me, what I said back in the bathroom. I should make it up to you. Name your request and I shall fulfil it.” At that, Twilight relaxed, giving a thoughtful ‘hmmm’.
“Kiss me.” That threw Celestia for a loop.
“Well played, Twilight.” The alicorn chuckled, leaning closer to the purple unicorn and giving her a peck on the cheek.
“You too, Celestia.”
“Well, now that that’s over, shall we proceed? I have something special planned for us today.”
“Really? What is it?”
“A secret, my dear.” Celestia replied mystically, motioning for the unicorn to follow her.

“A picnic?”
“Why, yes. The weather is especially nice today, Twilight. Why not spend the day somewhere nice, quiet and secluded?” Celestia reached out with her magic, grabbing the hefty basket. Twilight found no words to counter the alicorn’s argument and followed her outside, wincing a bit in the bright sunlight.

Celestia unfolded the large sheet, laying it down on the ground. Then, she opened the basket, levitating a wide assortment of food and snacks out, setting them down on the ground and they set to systematically decimating the foodstuffs.
“So, how about we talk, Twilight? Aside from your friendship reports, I know little of what goes on in your life. I don’t mean to pry, of course.”
“Well, it’s not really that interesting. My library’s experiencing a boom of sorts in popularity. Rarity’s always busy with orders from Canterlot. I’ve recently had saved up some surplus bits and gave them to the Sweet Apple Acres.”
“Really, now?”
“Yeah. They always have a debt or another to pay off, but the Apples are stubborn and proud and aren’t willing to accept charity. So I had to do it anonymously. I left the bag with bits on their doorstep, knocked on the door, and teleported away before they knew I was there.”
“They are lucky to have a friend like you.”
“They have been good friends to me as well, Celestia. And to think I once wanted to spend the rest of my life studying.” Celestia chuckled, sipping from her glass of juice.
“You have come a long way since those days, Twilight.”
“I guess. I still have much to l-“ Twilight’s face fell as she remembered Celestia’s stern words.

“…Twilight Sparkle, effective immediately, for one year’s time, you are no longer my student...”

“I forgot. I’m no longer your student, am I?” Celestia’s joviality faded away, too, and she moved, wrapping Twilight up in a wing hug.
“It was inconsiderate of me, Twilight. Can you forgive me? I did not pause to take a grander view of the situation, acting purely on my own feelings.”
“I… I wanted to shout. Scream, break things, just to… spite you, I guess. I was angry. Furious. I was livid with hate. Hate directed at… you, Celestia. Looking back, I can’t believe I was acting like that.”
“I told you, Twilight. Love is not to be trifled with. It will make you do and think things you’d never do normally. It can twist the minds and feelings of even the fairest of beings.”
“Yeah, true… Please, Celestia… Don’t be angry with me. I want to be with you.” Twilight was on the verge of tears, her voice trembling.
“Shhhh… Do not worry, Twilight.” Celestia whispered, hugging the distraught unicorn. How did this day go this bad? She’d intended for the two of them to spend this time happily.
“Come, now, Twilight. I know what’ll cheer you up.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Simply sit still.” Celestia pulled away for a moment, and then rubbed her horn against Twilight’s. The purple unicorn gasped as knowledge flowed in her mind. She could feel Celestia’s presence inside her mind – vast, powerful, and wise beyond years. After a moment, the alicorn pulled back, smiling.
“You now know the spell.”
“Yeah.”
“You may perform it now.”
“B-but what if I do something wrong?” Celestia lifted Twilight’s head up with her hoof, smiling warmly at the nervous unicorn.
“I know you can do it, Twilight. Trust me.” That seemed to work and Twilight took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Her horn lit suddenly with her trademark purple glow as she screwed her face up in concentration. A brilliant white shimmer emerged from her back, slowly, painstakingly taking the shape of wings.

Twilight exhaled, exhausted by the magical drain, nearly collapsing.
“Twilight? Are you fine?”
“Uhhh… I think so. Did it work?”
“See for yourself.” Celestia responded, smiling fondly. Twilight craned her head, gasping in surprise as she saw her magic-wrought wings.
“I did it! I actually did it!”
“Indeed. Now…” Celestia stood up, opening her wings, an inviting smile on her face.
“Will you fly with me, Twilight?”

How could she say no?