>Rarity was unaccustomed to being visited in the late evening; most dresses that were going to be bought after nightfall were not the type of dresses she made a business selling
>So, when she received a knock at the door just after eight o'clock, she assumed it was one of her friends, or maybe her younger sister getting herself into some sort of her usual trouble
>She slipped quietly away from her evening's tea and crossed to the front door
>Outside, the sun had just ducked beneath the horizon, leaving a haze of purple-gray light seeping through the windows and settling on the carpet, pooling around Rarity's hooves
>She opened the door, trying her best to conceal how tired she probably looked
"Good eve--"
>She stopped after the third syllable, and her mouth fell open
>The tall, radiant form of Princess Celestia stood silhouetted by the setting sun, her prismatic hair shimmering despite the minimal light
>Not even a muggy spring evening could dull the princess's beauty, and Rarity could feel something akin to the rays of the summer sun filling the center of her chest
"Cell--" Rarity started, slipping into an old habit
>"...your majesty," she corrected
>"Please, Rarity.  We're outside of court.  You can use the nickname," the princess said with a wink
>Rarity turned a rosy pink
"Yes, your maj-- yes, Celly."
>A soft smile touched Celestia's lips, and she strode into Rarity's boutique
>As diligently as Rarity attended to the plush carpet, it looked horridly drab beneath Celestia's pristine hooves
>Rarity lost her thoughts in a warm haze for a moment, as her eyes preoccupied themselves with trailing along the princess's form, remembering how that warm coat had felt beneath her hooves, so many months ago...
"I, um, never expected you'd be paying me a personal visit."
>"I never thought I would be so fortunate," Celestia said with a knowing smile
"Yes, well, I would never be so presumptuous as to invite you over."
>"Oh, how I wish you had.  I'd have lept at the offer."
"I... I'm sorry."
>"No, no!  Don't be.  I'm sorry if I'm intruding, stopping in like this."
"Your majesty, you never could--"
>"Rarity, please.  No formality, not here."
>The hint of genuine sorrow in the princess's voice was enough to silence Rarity for a solid ten seconds
"Yes.  Right, I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry for, for, um... ah, I'm such a dreadful host!  I forgot to offer you anything!  Hahah, where are my manners..."
>Rarity practically galloped past the princess and into her kitchen
"What would you like?  I have some leftover cake from Sweetie's last birthday party, and I just boiled some tea..."
>Celestia chuckled
>"You know me far too well."
"Oh, but of course I do."
>Rarity turned, finding the princess standing in her kitchen, admiring some of the family portraits hung on the walls
>"I don't think I've ever seen you as a filly," she mused
"I suppose it's too late to beg you not to look at those?"
>"Much too late.  And you shouldn't be embarrassed.  You were adorable," the princess said with a sly smile
"Used to be adorable?  My princess, I think... I mean, you flatter me.  I sincerely thank you."
>Rarity levitated two small plates of cake and two cups of fresh, steaming toy over to the kitchen table
>Both mares sat across from each other
>Celestia's smile had faded now
>Her eyes reflected, in Rarity's mind, the same soft, gray haze of a spring evening
>"Rarity, you really don't have to be so formal.  I wanted us to... to just talk.  Like we used to."
"I'm not entirely sure what you mean."
>"I think you know."
>Rarity sighed
>Outside, the light had turned a luminous, stony color as the last of it began to fade
>A faint breeze brushed up against the windows, rifling the ferns growing just outside
"I'm not sure I still know how to.  It's been so long."
>"It doesn't feel so long to me.  But I suppose nothing much does."
>Celestia looked into her tea, watching the steam curl over the liquid's golden-brown surface
"You told me this was better for us.  And I took that to heart, darling.  I truly did.  I thought that meant it was the end."
>"I did too."
>Celestia raised her head
>"But I can't go on like this.  Something in me has changed.  The reasons I gave you for... for stopping our meetings, I don't even understand them anymore.  I mean, what was I thinking?  Controversy in the royal courts?  What does that even mean?" Celestia said, laughing to herself.  "It doesn't mean much, not compared to the way I feel, when I'm with you."
>Rarity touched her hoof to her chest, which felt swollen and effervescent, like it could burst any second
"Darling, I had no idea you were hurting like this."
>"I'm good at hiding that part of myself," Celestia said with a dry smile
"I don't know what I can do.  I'm so sorry."
>"You don't have to do anything for me.  Just being with you again is more than enough.  Plus, I've always wanted to see your home."
"Well, I suppose I could give you the grand tour, once we finish."
>"I'd like that.  This is delicious, by the way.  It's taking everything I can muster not to pig out and embarrass myself."
"Darling, please.  If you have to pig out, then do so, by all means.  I'll take it as a compliment."
>"A compliment?  You made this?"
"Oh, well.  Yes, I guess.  Technically.  Heheh."
>"You never told me you could bake!"
"I couldn't.  It was something I learned to, erm... well, to surprise you."
>"Color me surprised.  This is fantastic."
>Celestia scarfed the rest of the cake down in three quick bites, leaving a bit of pink icing smudged on her muzzle
"Oh, Celly dear, you've got a little bit..."
>Rarity levitated a napkin over and dabbed at the princess's mouth, without even thinking about it
>Celestia giggled
>"Told you I'd embarrassed myself."
"Please, that's nothing.  You're just lucky you don't have to see how I get around ice cream.  To say I make a mess of myself would be an understatement."
>"Oh?  That sounds like a fun mental image."
>Celestia rested her hand on her hoof, watching Rarity with half-lidded eyes
"A-ah, about that tour!" Rarity sputtered, jumping up from the table

>It was a quick tour
>Living room, workshop, showroom, bathroom, and Rarity's own bedroom
>She'd left Sweetie's room untouched, knowing her little sister would throw a fit if she knew Rarity had been in there, let along in the company of royalty
>"I missed getting to see so much of your work."
"Really?  Well, you're more than welcome to any piece that strikes your fancy, of course."
>"Rarity, do you sincerely believe any piece here would fit me?"
"Well, maybe with a little, or a lot of modification.  Heheh.  Okay, I didn't exactly think that one through."
>Celestia laughed
>Both mares were standing near the window in Rarity's room now
>Outside, the last of evening gave way to night
>Celestia shifted her weight ever so slightly, just enough to allow her leg to rest against Rarity's flank
"Will you be returning soon?"
>"I'm not sure.  I think that's partially your choice."
"I'm not sure I get what you mean," Rarity said, despite knowing exactly what the princess meant
>"It's quite a journey from Canterlot.  Even for me.  Perhaps I could rest here?  If I won't be imposing, of course."
"Never!  You're not imposing at all, it's just... oh, Celestia..." Rarity mumbled
>"Hmm?"
"S-sorry, habit I haven't been able to break."
>"That's something I'll never be able to get used to."
>She leaned in a little closer, lowering her voice to practically a whisper that washed over Rarity's ear
>"But it's something I wouldn't mind hearing again, very soon."
"G-gah..."
>Rarity was suddenly aware of the princess's leg against her body
>Every part of Celestia was unnaturally, delightfully warm, like hugging summer itself
"I wouldn't be opposed to you staying.  There's more cake if you'd like and, um, you're welcome to a change of clothes if you'd want..."
>"Oh, that would be *perfect*," Celestia said as if nothing had happened.  "You can't imagine how heavy these get," she said, gesturing to the gilded pieces she wore at her neck, and on her forehead and hooves

>Rarity set the princess's jewelry on the finest pillows she had, treating each piece as if it were fine glass
>Celestia herself had practically chucked the stuff off, but Rarity couldn't risk even the slightest bit of harm coming to such fabulous and incredibly ancient jewelry
>She was tempted to admit it, but she found herself drawn back towards the princess, who was lounging quite un-princesslike on the couch
>Celestia watched Rarity enter the room with warm, full eyes
>"This really is a lovely place you have here."
"I'm delighted to hear that.  Is there anything more I can offer you?"
>Celestia shook her head
>"I'm feeling pretty satisfied.  Though I think I'd feel a bit better if you would join me."
"Ah.  Of course."
>Rarity gingerly sat at the other edge of the couch, squished against the armrest
>Celestia sighed
>"Am I doing something wrong?"
"N-no, of course not.  Why do you say that?" Rarity asked, knowing exactly why the princess would say that
>Celestia sat up, watching Rarity intently
>"Rarity, I'll make this as clear as I can.  I want you.  I want us to talk, no royalty business, but like normal mares.  I want to hold you again.  To wake up next to you.  And so much more."
"I... I know."
>"Do you not want me in return?"
"I..."
>Rarity found her eyes were burning, and she squeezed them tightly shut
"I want you more than anything."
>"Then why?  Why not enjoy this together?"
"Because you'll leave again soon.  And it'll tear me apart.  I can't live like what we have is a lie."
>"I won't ask you to do that.  That's why I... I'll abdicate the throne.  And because of that, I'll give up my power, my immortality.  I want to stay here with you, Rarity.  Not Celestia the princess, just Celestia the pony.  Living a mortal life with the mare she loves."
>Rarity could have dissolved into pure sugar and glitter right then and there
"Abdicate the throne?  For me?  Darling, that's... you could never... really, for me?"
>"For you."
>Celestia took Rarity's hoof
>"I can't bear eternity without you."
"But, what about the sun?"
>"It will rise.  If not by me, then by... by something.  So many ponies need it, it couldn't abandon us, simply because I myself am gone."
"Do you know this for sure?"
>"I... I don't.  But I need it to be true."
"Darling..."
>Celestia met Rarity's gaze, and Rarity could see an iridescent tear shimmering in the corner of the princess's eye
"I can't ask you to do this for me."
>"But I will.  For you, Rarity, only for you would I ever consider something like this.  I know it would hurt Equestria, and my sister most of all, but..."
>Celestia squeezed her eyes shut, and a miserable smile stretched across her lips
>"I truly am horribly selfish, aren't I?"
"You aren't, darling.  Not at all.  I wish there were something I could say.  I wish there were anything I could do."
>"Just let me hold you again."
>Rarity let Celestia pull her against her chest, and she felt the princess's forelegs close around her
>Warmth folded around her, and for a moment Rarity was somewhere else, in the princess's own bedroom, first hearing Celestia's confession
>"It's a stupid plan.  It's the worst, most selfish idea I've ever had," the princess said.  "But if you ask me to, I'll leave everything for you."
"I can't ask that of you, darling."
>"I know.  It was a foolish hope."
>Celestia ran a bare hoof through Rarity's mane, her touch so gentle that not a single strand ended up out of place
>"But maybe, tomorrow morning, the sun will still rise.  Maybe the heavens will decide to let us be together.  Maybe, somehow, this can work"
"You think so?"
>"There's always a chance.  But maybe, for tonight, we could..."
"Oh?"
>"...like we used to..."
>Rarity wasn't sure who started the kiss, it just happened
>Suddenly her mouth met Celestia's, and the princess's hooves were wrapping tighter around her, cradling her as a series of impossibly soft, warm kisses met her lips
>She opened her mouth, letting herself taste the princess's tongue
>Rarity's whole body seemed to thrum in delight; she'd wanted to experience this again for so long, in the secret parts of herself
>They kissed in a frenzy, until Rarity was panting
"Celly, please."
>"I'm sorry.  If this is too much, I can stop."
"No.  I want to do more."
>"Oh, thank... me, I suppose," Celestia said, looking relieved.  "I was terrified to push things that far."
"I was hoping you would."
>Celestia giggled

>She lifted Rarity up in her magical aura and carried the unicorn up to her bedroom, where they fell in bed together
>Like the kiss, everything simply seemed to happen
>Love flowed freely between the two mares; their mouths met again, and their tails curled around each other's legs
>Rarity lost herself in the princess's scent, in her taste
>She forgot about any notion of Celestia leaving her again, letting herself be filled by Celestia's cries of pleasure as Rarity trailed her mouth down the princess's body, towards the sweet spot Rarity had dreamed of for months since the two had parted
>Rarity's mouth was watering when she finally let her tongue meet the princess's sex
>Beneath her, her lover writhed, her godlike power useless against Rarity's gentle touch
>And when Rarity received her reward, and licked the princess's wet love from around her muzzle, she found herself rolled over and pinned down on the bed by magic, while Celestia's hot breath washed between her buttocks
>Rarity let out a yelp that gradually built into a moan
>It was a sin, she was sure, to enjoy how it felt to have the princess's own tongue on *that* unspeakable part of her body
>Rarity writhed in the magical bonds, nearly losing her mind as such filthy pleasure rolled through her
>Only when she was a weak, shuddering mess did the princess release her
>Weakly, she crawled into her lover's forelegs, and they lay shuddering and exhausted, together, trading kisses

>They slept as they had only a few times before
>Celestia awoke first, still holding a gently snoozing Rarity
>Outside, the night sky was still a deep, velvety purple, dark except for the stars and the light of her sister's moon
>Celestia was terrified to look at the clock
>She shifted slightly in the bed, and Rarity's eyes fluttered open
"Celly?"
>She looked confused for a moment, then settled down, snuggling against the princess's soft chest
"This is wonderful."
>"Yes.  It is."
"Is it morning yet?"
>"No.  But it will be soon."
>Celestia kept her eyes on the window, watching for any hint of the sun coming over the horizon
>She made a silent wish that it wouldn't abandon her
>She wanted to see it rise, to fill Rarity's bedroom with warm, friendly light for the two to share
>She wanted to spend another day with the mare she loved, walking into town like a regular couple
>She wanted to buy Rarity something stupid, like a teddy bear or an impossibly large sandwich, just because she could
>She wanted them to have a date together
>Or even just a day together, free of the subtle innuendo and secrecy their lives required of them
>Most of all, she wanted to know that this relationship wasn't temporary
>Celestia stared desperately at the horizon, begging the heavens for a glimpse of sunrise over the horizon
>Rarity stirred, mumbling something in her sleep
>To Celestia, this moment seemed to stretch infinitely outwards, perfect in every way, yet marred only by her own desperate desires that it would never have to--

End