"I'm so glad you could come visit me for lunch, Twilight." Said Celestia, as the two trotted down one of the grand hallways of Canterlot Palace. "Although, you did arrive slightly earlier than I expected." She said, with an amused giggle.

Twilight Sparkle chuckled a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Princess. I got all flustered this morning and mixed up my schedule, so I took the early train without realizing it."

Celestia giggled. "Oh Twilight, I understand. Don't worry about it. I am just glad you are here, and enjoying your new life in Ponyville. But, I still have to perform day court. You're welcome to join me if you want to."

"Oh! I would love to, Princess!"

Twilight Sparkle had been Celestia's personal student for about ten years now. In the later years, Twilight had come to stay at the palace full time, with her parents permission of course. Now she was living in Ponyville, and had made five amazing friends.

It had put Celestia's mind at ease, having been worried Twilight would be too preoccupied with books, and her studying, that she would never have the joy of experiencing the magic of friendship. But now Twilight had taken a massive leap forward, and as an added bonus, Celestia had gotten her little sister back. Yes, everything was finally settling into place, and for the first time in years, Celestia finally felt like she could allow herself to relax.

Of course, Luna still had a lot of adjustment to go through. Equestria had changed in the one thousand years she was gone, and she was still recovering, slowly regaining her magic. Celestia had been supportive when Luna had asked her to travel for a time, insisting she was well enough to travel.

Celestia had wanted to come with her, but Luna had wanted to do it alone, for now. Celestia understood, and while Luna wrote very often, she still wished she could join her. But oh well, everything was looking up, so she had little reason to complain. Besides, it would not be long before her sister returned, and when that happened, they could catch up on all the missed time!

They came to a set of doors, with two royal guards opening them for the mares. Celestia nodded gratefully to her guards, and trotted over to the throne. "You can sit beside me, Twilight." Celestia assured. "If some Pony is uncomfortable, I might have to ask you to step outside, but I don't think it will happen."

Twilight nodded understandingly. Celestia knew well and good some ponies might be too nervous to speak their mind if too many were present, but that was rare, so Celestia didn't foresee a problem. As Celestia made her way up the steps to her throne alongside Twilight, her ears perked up as she remembered something.

"Oh, It's the first Monday of the month, isn't it?" She asked as she sat down.

Twilight looked a little confused, but answered right away. "Yes, Princess. It is."

Celestia smirked just a little. "Then I believe you're in for a treat today, Twilight." Twilight looked at her Menor, wanting to ask what she meant by that, but before she could, Celestia raised a hoof, and the grand doors were opened. Celestia watched as the first petitioner trotted down towards them.

Twilight noticed Celestia's smile grow just a bit warmer as the petitioner approached. She studied the stallion. He was a tall muscular Pegasus. He almost reminded her of Applejack's brother, big Mac, but he was not as big as that. His body was more athletic. He wore a sort of dark blue west, and leather belt, with a white undershirt.

He approached the throne, and smiled right up at Celestia like they were old friends. The stallion bowed, and Celestia put up a hoof in front of her muzzle and giggled. "It is good to see you again, Solar Comet."

Comet stood back up, and smiled even brighter. "Now as happy as I am to see you, Princess." His expression became more serious, but his eyes never lost their warmth. "I am happy to see you are doing fine, and that your sister has returned to you."

Celestia inclined her head, sensing his sincerity. "Thank you, Comet. If it wasn't for the elements of harmony, that day might have ended differently." She said, her tone a bit more. But she perked right up, and nodded towards Twilight. "I believe you haven't met my student, Twilight Sparkle."

"No, I never had pleasure." Comet said, and looked at Twilight. "Thank you, Ms. Sparkle, for saving the Princess."

Twilight was taken aback, feeling her cheeks flush a little as she hadn't been prepared to be included in the conversation. Much less be thanked for her role during the return of Nightmare Moon.

"Oh, uhm, I'm just glad I could help Princess Celestia bring her sister back, and I couldn't have done it without my friends."

Comet nodded, understanding as if understanding perfectly. "Sounds like friends worth sticking close to." Turning his attention back to Celestia, he winked at her, and Celestia giggled.

Twilight had never seen Celestia like this. She seemed amused for sure, but also so relaxed with this stallion. The way they talked made it clear that they were friends of some kind, but Twilight could swear she had never seen nor heard of him.

"So," Celestia then said, looking a little pleased. "What brings you here today, Comet? Do you have tales of your latest adventures?"

"Not today, Princess." Comet simply said. "Today, I just came to see if you were alright. I know a lot must have been going on, and I simply wanted to see how you were."

Twilight glanced at Celestia, who's smile seemed to have grown a little, and if she was not mistaken, her feathers moved a little.

Celestia took a deep breath, as if to calm herself a little. She smiled down at the stallion, and Twilight had a feeling that their eyes were locked on each other. "Thank you, Comet. It is very kind of you, and I am happy to inform you that I am doing well. I have my sister back, and my student is doing amazingly in Ponyville. I am happy, and proud."

Comet smiled, and he gave a single nod, looking satisfied. "It shows, Princess. Your glow burns brighter, and your mornings and evenings are more hopeful and beautiful than ever."

Twilight couldn't but blush at Comet's words, and at the complete sincerity at which he spoke them. Celestia giggled, cocking her head to the side and regarded him for a moment.

"Ever the charmer."

Comet made an elegant bow, like an actor on a stage. Celestia giggled again, he let out a small chuckle as well. "I speak only the truth, Princess. Which is why I once again, after so many years, come to ask you something important." There was a moment of silence, and anticipation. "Will you marry me?"

Twilight almost blacked out from the shock, but as she turned to look at Celestia, she found Celestia just sitting there. She was completely relaxed, and with the same warm smile as before. There was no trace of shock, or surprise. Twilight though, she could barely close her mouth.

Comet chuckled, and winked at Celestia. "I think I might have broken your student."

Celestia shook her head, giggling as she nudged Twilight, who finally managed to close her mouth. "She will recover, she always does." She said, and looked back at the stallion. "My dear, Comet. Is it not time for you to find another mare to cast your devotion? Whoever that might be, I know she will be very lucky to have a stallion like you."

Twilight almost expected to see Comet hurt, and embarrassed by the gentle rejection, but he just smiled calmly, and shook his head. "It would be false, because I cannot give what you have already taken."

"Your heart?" Celestia asked, although it sounded more like a statement. "Could I not return it?" The question almost sounded like a quip, but Twilight sensed a hint of sincerity behind it.

Comet just shook his head again. "You cannot return something like that, Princess, and I would not take it back. It is yours to keep, now, and always. And until the day you accept my proposal, I shall strive to keep my promise to you. Until then." Comet bowed one final time, and then turned around. Without looking back even once, he left the throne room.

When the doors to the throne room closed, Twilight looked at her mentor, not sure what to say. Celestia still smiled, but something in her eyes made Twilight want to ask if she was alright, but she knew this wasn't the place, and decided not to bother Celestia now.

It wasn't until day court had ended, and Twilight found herself in the garden with Celestia, that she dared to ask about Solar Comet. The two had just sat down at a table, with a small picnic set up for them.

"He is quite something, isn't he?" Celestia said as she levitated a slice of grapes and a cream cake onto her plate.

Twilight hesitated, but only for a few moments. "Who is he?"

Celestia glanced at her student, chuckling a little. "His name is Solar Comet, he's been coming to my day court for about ten years now."

"Ten years?!" Twilight exclaimed in shock.

Celestia just nodded. "Yes, and he has been asking me to marry him ever since the first day he stepped into my throne room." She giggled at the memory, looking away as if recalling the memory. "Trotted right in with that same confidence as you saw today."

"How old is he?"

"Oh, a little older than your brother, not by much." Celestia said thoughtfully, chewing on a grape. "You should have seen him, a young stallion, barely leaving colthood behind trotting right up to the Princess of Equestria and asking her to marry him!" She had to stop levitating the grapes for a moment, and lifted a napkin to her lips as she started to laugh a little.

"I'd never seen anything like it before, or since." She said warmly, clearly remembering the day fondly. "I rejected him then, as I did today, but he kept coming back. Every first Monday of the month, for ten years." She hummed as she calculated. "This will make it his... 121 proposals to me."

Twilight tilted her head to the side, finding all of this very strange. "But you haven't seen him outside of day court?"

Celestia shook her head. "No, I only ever see him at day court. But he keeps me informed of his doings when we meet. He tells me about his life, and what he has done, and then he asks me to marry him."

"What does he do?"

"Oh, he used to travel the world a lot, go explore. He now owns a small shop in Canterlot. I've never been there, but I've heard it is pretty specialized."

Twilight frowned. "I don't understand, Princess. Why does he keep coming back when you reject him?"

At that question, Celestia went a little quiet, her smile fading just a little. Slowly she levitated her tea cup to her lips. "I've wanted to ask that, but never been able to..." She said, and took a sip, then put down the cup. "Maybe it is just pure hope?" She suggested, although sounded less than convinced. "But, I am not about to turn him away. His proposals are not bothering me, in fact, I admire his resolve."

"Admire?" Twilight still looked confused.

Celestia nodded. "Yes. He told me once that he would only stop asking me if I told him to, or if my heart found another." She chuckled, and took another sip.

"So, why not just tell him to stop?"

Celestia paused. "Perhaps because of the promise he made to me long ago, when we first met."

Twilight leaned forward in her chair. "What promise?"

Author's Note

Hey guys, hope you enjoy this chapter!

I'm so glad I managed to write this today, I've just returned to work, so I am feeling the whole getting back to work pain one does after a vacation.

But yeah, got some more ideas for this story, so I have a few extra things planned. It still won't be a huge story or anything, but it will be a bit longer than what I originally had planned. I hope you guys will enjoy it!