Will You Marry Me?

"I promise, I will strive to become a stallion worthy of you, one who can make you happy. Unless you ask it of me, or you find yourself drawn to another, this I will be my goal."

Twilight thought about the promise Comet had made Princess Celestia. It sounded like an oath, and what amazed Twilight even more was Celestia hadn't just told him to stop. Did she find his visits that amusing, or was it something more?

When he had entered the throne room, Celestia was clearly happy to see him. He was charming for sure, and he was quite handsome. She blushed thinking about that, more so because she thought Celestia might think that too.

It made her feel slightly awkward, it was as if her own mother had commented about another stallion and his looks. It was natural, but it felt strange when it was one's mother who said it.

"Could Princess Celestia actually like this stallion?" Twilight mumbled to herself. She was a mare, even if she was an Alicorn Princess. Twilight had never given it much thought, to her Princess Celestia was, well, Princess Celestia. The wisest, and most noble pony in the world.

Did she really think about romantic encounters? On the other hoof, she had rejected Solar Comet for ten years, over two hundred times, surely that proved she had no such interests.

Twilight groaned, rubbing her head with her hoof, trying to make sense of it. It wasn't as if she didn't want her mentor to find love, but this was just unusual. It was why she was here, instead of at the train station. Twilight had planned on doing a little shopping before returning to Ponyville, but she needed to meet with Solar Comet at least one more time before doing so.

She wanted to understand his intentions.

It had taken her a while, but Twilight had finally managed to track down Comet's shop. It was hidden in one of the smaller side streets, if you didn't know it was there, it was easy to miss. Canterlot was a funny place. Most kept to the large roads and streets, but there were plenty of smaller side streets that visitors would miss, or avoid.

She stared up at the store sign above the display window. "Adventurous Emporium?" Twilight had never heard of such a store. She trotted closer to the display window, and overserved all manners of strange items.

There was a golden compass that kept spinning. A crystal ball with some strange green lights moving inside it. There were a few knives, and what looked like a bird cage with something looking like a glowing orb with wings buzzing around inside. Looking past the other items, she tried to get a view of the store.

It looked cluttered, with large dark shelves, stacks of books, and other strange looking things. Twilight gulped, feeling a little apprehension as she trotted towards the door. Before she reached it, the door opened, and Twilight nearly yelped in surprise as three ponies stepped outside.

A big burly earth pony with an eyepatch walked past her, barely glancing at her. Followed by a Pegasus with a bow, and lastly a unicorn with a cloak. They didn't say anything to her, but they looked kind of rough. Was this the sort of ponies Comet associated himself with?

She looked towards the still open door with apprehension. Then, remembering this was for Princess Celestia, she gathered her courage and trotted inside the shop.

The shop itself was bigger on the inside, expanding to one side, and she could look up to the second floor of the shop. There were rows of shelves, with what looked like a wild assortment of weapons, scrolls, books, potions, and much more. Some things looked brand new, while others looked old and dusty.

Twilight found herself wandering around a little, looking at all the different items for sale. When she passed one of the shelves, a voice called out to her, startling Twilight.

"Hey, you there." A female voice called.

Twilight quickly turned, and spotted a dark wooden counter. Behind it sat a grey unicorn mare, with a white and silver mane. She sat beside an old looking register, lazily turning a spoon in a cup of tea with her magic. The unicorn looked at Twilight with an indifferent look.

"Are you buying, or selling?" She asked.

"Uhm, neither," Twilight stammered, approaching the counter. "I'm looking for Solar Comet."

The mare looked down at an old book she had been reading before spotting Twilight. "That right? Well you're in luck, he's in the backroom." Before Twilight could ask anything else, the mare reached over and rang a small brass bell.

DING!

Only a moment later did Solar Comet come out the backroom door, and stepped behind the counter. His eyes quickly found Twilight's, and there was a hint of amusement in them.

"Hello, Ms. Sparkle. I had a funny feeling I would be running into you sooner rather than later." He chuckled good naturedly. "What can I do for you today?"

Twilight fidgeted a little, not sure how to approach the subject. "Uhm, is there perhaps a place we could talk?"

Comet nodded. "Sure is. come this way." He trotted back to the doorway leading to the backroom, and Twilight followed him inside. He took her to a sort of living room, or break room. It was small, but comfortable. "Want something to drink?" He asked as he trotted over to a small table with some chairs.

"No thanks, I won't be staying long." Twilight assured him as she sat down.

"Alright," Comet nodded and sat down across from her. "So," he said. "I guess you are here to question me about Princess Celestia?" Twilight's mouth opened a bit in surprise, and Comet chuckled again. "You don't need to look so surprised, Ms. Sparkle. From what Princess Celestia had told me about you, I figured you would come knocking at some point."

That took Twilight by surprise. "Princess Celestia has told you about me?"

Comet nodded. "Sure, don't worry though, nothing personal." He quickly assured her. "I've known the Princess for a long time, and we chat when I come to visit her."

"You mean when you come to propose to her."

"That too." Comet smiled. "She is really proud of you, I can tell. Must be weird for you to live in Ponyville now, after so many years living in the palace."

"Y-yeah, it is, but I'm happy where I am now."

Comet nodded understandingly. "I'm glad. Change can be scary, luckily you can always reach out to Celestia to ask for advice, right?"

"Right... Uhm, if you don't mind, I would like to ask you some things." Twilight said, trying to get the conversation back on what she had planned. Comet just nodded.

"Shoot."

Twilight was a little surprised by how open he was, but then again, he had proposed to Celestia without as much as flinching an eye. "What are your intentions for Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked flat out.

"Marry her," Comet answered back readily, which made Twilight stumble a bit at his bluntness.

"Y-yeah, I got that, but what for?"

Comet raised an eyebrow. "To live my life with her?"

"But I don't understand," Twilight sighed. "Why do you want to marry her?"

Comet leaned forward in his seat, looking her more directly in the eyes. "Because I love her." Twilight almost threw her hooves up in the air, but Comet held up a hoof. "Twilight, what you really want to know is if my intentions for Celestia are pure. They are."

Twilight was about to say something, but again, Comet beat her to it. "I can't explain my feelings for her in a way that will satisfy you. Love isn't something that can be measured, or proven with words alone."

"But how can you love someone you don't know?" Twilight asked, feeling a little more embolden.

Comet didn't flinch. "But I do know her," he said simply. "I've known her for my entire life, and I've gotten to know her more over the past ten years." Seeing Twilight's growing frustration, Comet continued. "Look Ms. Sparkle, I understand why you are confused. I know these visits must look pretty crazy, right?"

Twilight nodded.

"You're not the first, or the last, I imagine." He chuckled. "I never imagined she would agree to marry me when I first stepped hoof in all those years ago, I just knew it was what my heart told me to do."

"Your heart?" Twilight asked.

Comet nodded. "I can't tell you the whole story, but I met Celestia years before I asked her to marry me for the first time. Back then, she showed me who she truly was, what kind of Pony she was. I didn't know it at the time, but I knew I wanted to make her happy, like she had me."

Twilight frowned, she didn't understand what he was talking about. She couldn't make sense of it. "So, you just knew you had to marry her? But why do you keep coming back?"

"I do."

"But why?"

Comet sighed, leaning back in his seat, taking a moment to consider his words. "Because she deserves love..."

Twilight's frown deepened. "What? Everybody loves Princess Celestia."

Comet inclined his head. "Yes, but it isn't that kind of love I mean, Ms. Sparkle." He smiled a little, understanding why it was all so confusing. "I'm not saying we are fated to be together, and if she ever told me to stop these visits, I would comply. If I sensed I was making her uncomfortable, I would never bother her again."

The stallion closed his eyes, letting a moment of silence pass before he continued. "But while she has not agreed to marry me, I can tell she enjoys my visits."

Twilight thought back to when she saw him enter the throne room, and how Celestia seemed to almost glow brighter when she saw him.

"I wouldn't come back and ask again and again, if I didn't feel a connection, if I didn't think there was a chance." Slowly he opened his eyes and looked at Twilight with a warm smile. "Maybe the day I become worthy of her, she will say yes. Or maybe, she will find some pony else that will capture her heart, like she captured mine."

"What if that happened?" Twilight asked. "Wouldn't you be sad?"

Comet tilted cocked his head to the side, and gave her a puzzling look. "Why? I mean, sure, a bit. I would be sad at what could have maybe have been, but I would be happy she had found some pony that would make her happy. If that isn't me, then that is how it is. Life goes on."

Twilight wasn't sure how to take all this. she almost wished she had Applejack here to judge his words. He seemed to mean everything, and Twilight felt inclined to believe him. Could he really let her go so willingly? Twilight didn't understand this at all. Friendship was confusing enough, and now love? Was this what it would be like for her?

Comet chuckled. "I'm sorry, I am not really making myself clear, do I?" Twilight looked at him, unsure what to say. "I wish I could explain myself better, but I don't really think I can."

Twilight thought about it for a moment. "You said when you met her, you fell in love with her right?" Comet nodded. "What happened?"

"That, Ms. Sparkle. That is something for Celestia's ears only. I'm sorry."

Twilight frowned, but decided not to push it. Really, she didn't really have any business here. She still wasn't sure of any of this, but she didn't think Comet was a bad pony. So she nodded, deciding to respect his privacy.

"Alright, I guess that is all then. Sorry for bothering you."

Comet shook his head. "You didn't, Ms. Sparkle. It's good to know she has ponies like you looking out for her. I wouldn't have it any other way." He chuckled and stood up. "Let me see you out."

Twilight thanked him, and the two made their way back to the front of the store. The two said their goodbyes, and Twilight made her way back to the main street. She glanced back over her shoulder, back towards the shop. Solar Comet, he was a strange Pony for sure.

But, he had a point. Celestia did deserve to be loved. If Celestia ever did fall in love with some pony, then Twilight would do everything she could to support her.