Author's Note

This chapter and the last chapter are SFW, while the three chapters in between are the clop chapters. Tags are in the description and enjoy!

The Fire and the Sun

As the creatures of many different species celebrated Neighsay leaving the School of Friendship, many of them rushed to the doors of the school. Smolder saw her friends chatting amongst themselves, with brighter smiles and spirits now that the school was opened again. She opened her wings to fly over to them when she felt a hoof on her shoulder.

“Are you the dragon student of the School of Friendship?”

Smolder slowly turned around and gasped, looking at the much taller alicorn. The alicorn, with her swan-like figure and multi-colored mane, was a sight unlike anything Smolder had ever laid eyes on back at the Dragon Lands. If Headmare Twilight hadn’t lectured to her students about the white alicorn on many different occasions, Smolder would’ve thought she was an angel. Though the alicorn’s pink eyes and warm smile still indulged Smolder’s theory. Smolder felt heat rushing to her face as she managed to speak.

“Y-Yes,” Smolder gulped. “And you’re Princess Celestia, right?”

“That is me,” Celestia grinned even more, and Smolder’s eyes widened at the magic that sparkled in the pony’s expression. Was this just the effect that alicorns had on every creature? No, then Smolder would’ve felt the same magic from Twilight. This was the first time Celestia had her gaze on the dragon, and Smolder felt changed inside. It was as if the dark and muddy view of the world had turned into something far more colorful, as if…everything that had happened leading up to moving to Ponyville just…was gone in that moment.

“Hello? Don’t be intimidated by me, I’m pretty harmless when I want to be~”

“Oh!” Smolder jolted out of her trance. “Sorry, it’s not everyday that I meet the co-ruler of Equestria.”

“Now, now, don’t see me as this all-powerful goddess,” Celestia chuckled. “Consider this a conversation between two souls, connecting with one another for what is only a brief moment in time.”

Smolder’s jaw dropped as she stared at the alicorn.

“Sorry, a brief moment for me, anyways,” Celestia elaborated. “Come with me, I’d like to have a chat with you.”

“Y-Yes P-Princess,” Smolder blubbered as Celestia turned around and walked away from the School of Friendship. The dragon’s eyes fixated on Celestia’s shimmering tail right as Celestia looked at her over her shoulder, causing Smolder to yelp.

“Enjoying the view?” Celestia smirked for a moment, before her expression softened. “You’re not the first to admire my image, don’t be afraid.”

“I’m not into g-girls like that,” Smolder huffed, crossing her arms as she looked away from Celestia.

“Hmhmm, if you say so,” Celestia giggled. “And Smolder?”

“Yes?” Smolder dropped her arms, slowly returning Celestia’s gaze.

“Please, just call me Celestia~”

“SMOLDER! TODAY’S THE DAY!”

“I’m up, I’m up!” Smolder snapped, her eyes still closed as she recognized Yona’s loud bellow shaking the entire room. “Silverstream, did you let everyone in here?!”

“They’re excited, Smolder!” Silverstream insisted. “Can you blame them? It’s our first Grand Galloping Gala! Besides, we all need to be together to meet Headmare Twilight at the train station!”

“Don’t forget, you need to get dressed!” Ocellus added.

Smolder groaned as she sat up in the top bunk bed she slept in, pushing the blankets off her body as she flew down to the floor where her friends were waiting. They were all dressed, with Gallus and Sandbar wearing tuxes, and the girls wearing dresses. Smolder smirked as she walked past them and opened the closet door, revealing a sparkly pink tuxedo custom-made by Rarity herself. She heard her friends gasping as she slid the outfit on with ease. The dragoness wasn’t originally going to go all out, but when she heard that the Princesses would be at the event, she ran to Rarity’s boutique the first chance she got…

…she could only hope the outfit would catch her eye, even if it wasn’t a dress.

With a bright red bow to compliment her tuxedo, Smolder finished putting on her outfit when she felt the eyes of all her friends on her.

“What?” Smolder huffed as she turned around to look at her friends.

“You tryin’ to impress someone?” Gallus tilted his head. “You definitely got our outfits beat, I’ll say that.”

“Don’t be afraid to tell us when you’re ready, we won’t judge,” Sandbar nodded.

“Even if the pony isn’t a guy!” Silverstream added.

“What if crush not pony at all?” Yona suggested.

Smolder barely noticed a light blue blush appear on Ocellus’ cheeks before she erupted like a volcano, her eyes wide as she stomped the ground.

“For fuck’s sake, I’m NOT GAY!” Smolder blew up before turning to the door and slamming it closed. Feeling tears welling up in her eyes, Smolder flew down the hallway and out of the School of Friendship as if Rocs were after her. Flying straight to the train station, Smolder wiped her eyes just as she was within sight of Headmare Twilight and her assistant Spike.

“Hey, Smolder!” Twilight smiled, before looking around the dragoness. “Where are the others?”

“They’ll catch up,” Smolder shrugged just as Spike walked up to her, giving her a dark purple gem. “Woah, is this for me?”

“I had a bunch before getting here, I’m already full,” Spike explained, turning around and flying back to Twilight’s side. Smolder smiled and ate the gem as she looked at his newfound wings, remembering that it wasn’t too long since they bonded over the molt and his fake father. Heck, the defeat of Cozy Glow was only a few days ago. Needless to say, a lot of time had passed since Smolder had first met the Princess of the Sun, and she hadn’t gotten to talk to her since. Not even during the play, when Twilight had stolen most of her attention.

“Ooooh! I can’t wait to spend time with Princess Celestia!” Twilight squealed, clapping her forehooves. “Granted, she’s got to greet everypony first, but after that, she’ll be mine!”

Smolder gritted her teeth, storming off away from Twilight and onto the bench nearby. She couldn’t be hidden in the shadows, not again. Especially not from Celestia.

Smolder flinched as she heard the voices of her friends. Refusing to look in their direction, Smolder stared at the train tracks until she felt a hoof on her shoulder.

“Hey, Smolder?” Sandbar said. “We’re r-really sorry for making assumptions about you, it really wasn’t meant to be a confrontation. Someone is just really into you, and they wanted us to see if you swing that way.”

“Who?” Smolder turned to face Sandbar with wide eyes. “Who the fuck is playing a prank on me?”

“Chill, Smolder. Great Celestia,” Sandbar rolled his eyes, not noticing Smolder gasping and blushing after his statement. “No one is playing a prank on you, promise.”

“Well then who-”

“The train is here!” Twilight jumped in the air, watching as the train rolled in. She waited for all the passengers to exit before rushing inside the train. Smolder scoffed, getting up and walking towards the train. As Sandbar galloped to her side, Smolder sighed and placed a claw on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry for being an ass,” Smolder apologized. “But this night is important to me, and I can’t worry about the feelings of someone else.”

Smolder didn’t let Sandbar respond, flying inside the train and to the very back seats in the corner where she laid down, taking up the whole train seat as she closed her eyes, her memories washing over her dreams…

“Okay, Celestia,” Smolder nodded to the Princess’ request, following her throughout Ponyville as ponies tried not to stare at them for too long. “So, pardon my bluntness. But why pull me aside? Why not any of my other friends?”

“Well, Twilight told me about your…situation, at home,” Celestia admitted.

“Ha! If you could even call it that,” Smolder laughed, feeling her body start to get tense at the memories. “Ember didn’t give Twilight a huge sob story, did she?”

“She only told Twilight the struggles of the Dragon Lands,” Celestia sighed. “You’re how old, now?”

“I’m eighteen,” Smolder shrugged. “Why?”

“It’s just, Ember told her about how many drakes persisted about when you were having their eggs the second you became an adult,” Celestia explained.

“Y-Yeah, it’s part of dragon culture,” Smolder stammered, feeling her arms starting to shake.

“Ember is trying to change that, and…please look at me,” Celestia stopped, walking in front of Smolder and crouching down to her eye level, placing a hoof on her shoulder. Smolder felt the touch of Celestia’s hoof, like a cup of hot chocolate on Hearth’s Warming, send a surge of warmth throughout her normally cold reptilian body. She didn’t even know how it was possible, and she stood there with her jaw dropped as she waited for Celestia to speak.

“Smolder, you don’t have to pretend that a bunch of brutes coming onto you is acceptable,” Celestia reassured her. “You’re here now, and I want you to know that we’re trying to spread friendship far and wide for a reason. I’m willing to make a promise to you.”

“What would that be?” Smolder reached her claw out, tempted to touch the flowing mane that was inches away. But she held back, had to for her own sake.

“I promise that they’ll never hurt you again.”

“Smolder! We’re here!”

Smolder’s eyes flickered open as she saw Ocellus’ wide smile. Smolder jolted awake as she processed her changeling friend’s words, and she stood up and rushed past her and everyone else. She had to see her more than anything else, she didn’t even stop when she left the train, instead taking flight and making a beeline for the castle where the Grand Galloping Gala was. Smolder saw Princess Celestia and Luna, greeting the large crowd of ponies with their top hats and fancy outfits. She gulped, landing just a short distance away from them.

There’s no way I can just approach her right away! Maybe I’ll just wait for my-

“Smolder? Is that you?”

Smolder squeaked and covered her muzzle with her claws as Celestia turned away from her ponies to look at the dragoness in the distance. Walking to the bottom of the stairs, it felt like nopony else was between them as Celestia spread her wings open wide, giving Smolder a half-lidded stare briefly before flying over to her.

“It’s so great to see you again!” Celestia grinned, wrapping a foreleg around Smolder and pulling her close. “I’m sorry we didn’t get enough time back at the play, but I promise, I’ll be able to spend more time with all of you.”

“All of…us?” Smolder blinked.

“Of course! I want to know how you and your friends have been adjusting to Equestria,” Celestia told her. “Where are they, by the way?”

“Um, t-they’re catching up,” Smolder admitted, her heart skipping a beat as Celestia gave her that half-lidded gaze again.

“So you’re all by yourself?” Celestia smirked, before giving a deep giggle that sent shudders throughout Smolder’s body. “Oh my stars, were you that excited to see me, that you rushed here before everyone else?”

Smolder gasped, and felt herself heavily blushing as Celestia’s eyes widened at the reaction, her smile never leaving her face. No, Celestia couldn’t think she had a crush on her.

I just n-need to figure out why I feel this magic from her, why she gives me these sensations. But what if it is…no, my family wouldn’t let me hear the end of it. I can’t be anyone else for them, this was a mistake.

“Hey Celestia!”

Smolder saw Gallus and Silverstream land beside the Sun Princess, the latter eagerly waving at Celestia as if she was part hummingbird. Celestia turned to the two and smiled.

“Wonderful to see you two again,” Celestia nodded. “I trust that your studies are going well?”

“Never better,” Gallus responded, narrowing his eyes at Smolder. “Hey Celestia, could we have a moment with Smolder here?”

“Oh! Well, of course!” Celestia turned away, but not before glancing at Smolder over her shoulder one more time. “See you all inside?”

“S-See ya,” Smolder stuttered before Gallus stood in front of her.

“Smolder, why didn’t you tell us?” Gallus asked.

“Tell you guys what?” Smolder chuckled, averting her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That you wanted to impress Celestia!” Gallus smiled, placing a talon on the dragon’s shoulder.

“What?” Smolder felt her voice farther away, cold and crippling fear sinking in her body as Silverstream got in her face.

“Trust me, this is totally normal,” Silverstream placed her talon on Smolder’s other shoulder. “You won’t believe how many of my friends back home get off to pictures of Queen Novo. We don’t judge.”

The two bird creatures smiled at her, each moment passing by making it harder for her to breathe. The more creatures that suspected anything, the more likely it would get back to her parents…

…oh no.

“I need to go to the bathroom!” Smolder blurted out, pushing past her friends and flying into the castle until she landed in a crowd of ponies. Waiting a few moments until she realized none of them went after her before resting against one of the pillars. Smolder gasped and tried to stop hyperventilating.

Just…focus on the conversations around you…

“So you think she’s porking her student?”

“Former student, technically.”

“I’m sure Celestia would be quick to point out that technicality.”

Smolder felt the tornado of thoughts in her mind cooling off as she heard two stallions conversing with one another.

“I’m sure being a Princess has its perks, what with whoring yourself out to anypony and no one can openly judge you,” the previous voice continued.

“You’d…think that she’d limit herself to ponies?” the second voice asked.

“Hey, you got a point. She’s probably fucked every creature under the sun!” the first voice laughed. “Heh, see what I did there?”

Smolder gritted her teeth, feeling her insides boiling as she stood up and walked to the stallions, a dark grey one and a brown one.

“How dare you?” Smolder hissed, her eyes turning to slits. “You think you can just insult your Princess like that?”

“Wow!” the brown stallion laughed. “Guess she just lets anyone in here now.”

“Doesn’t that purple bitch have a dragon too?” the dark grey stallion laughed as he nudged the other stallion. “Maybe this is Celestia’s pet dragon!”

“Do you serve her needs every night?” the brown stallion taunted Smolder.

“Cut it out!” Smolder snapped, ignoring the tempting images coming to the surface. “Celestia is not whoring herself out!”

“Dude, she’s right,” the dark grey stallion said. “That would imply her ugly ass is even getting some to begin with.”

“YOU FUCKER!” Smolder screamed, curling one of her claws into a fist and slamming it into the grey stallion’s face. The stallion dropped like a sack of potatoes, and everypony around them gasped.

“What is going on here?”

Smolder turned around, and felt everything around her stop as she saw Celestia’s firm stare right on her.

“Y-Your Highness!” the brown stallion gasped, bowing to Celestia. “This dragon just punched my friend, for n-no reason!”

“He called Celestia ugly! And you said she was whoring herself out!” Smolder snapped.

“Is this true?” Celestia glared down at the brown stallion.

“N-No! She’s lying!” the brown stallion got up from his bow. “Please, I’m b-begging you to believe-”

“Get out of here, you and your friend are permanently banned from anymore events hosted by royalty,” Celestia spat, before turning to Smolder. “And I will be escorting you out of here myself.”

“Celestia, please, I’m so sorry,” Smolder croaked, tears coming to her eyes.

“Not another word,” Celestia’s expression softened. “Follow me.”

Smolder nodded, keeping her eyes glued to Celestia as she followed the alicorn out of the castle.

“Fly with me, I’ll make sure no one sees you,” Celestia explained, covering Smolder with her wing. Smolder did as she said, and when Celestia took off, Smolder flew directly under the alicorn’s wing until they flew into an open window nearby. Celestia landed on the tile floor without a sound, and Smolder tripped and fell. Celestia lifted her wing off of Smolder, and Smolder got up and looked at the purple rug beneath her, as well as the fireplace and queen-sized bed in the distance.

Am I in…Princess Celestia’s bedroom?

“Come join me over here,” Smolder turned around, and saw Celestia sitting at a small table with two tea cups on it. “We have much to talk about.”