- >When you stopped by Twilight's library today, you found Spike waiting for you outside, scroll in hand
- >You gave him a fistbump and a couple bits as thanks for dealing with being a glorified mailbox
- >You sat on a nearby bench outside the library as Spike walked back inside, probably to clean up after Twilight, again
- >The seal on the scroll bore the unmistakable symbol of Princess Celestia's cutie mark
- >You broke the seal and gave it a read
- >Apparently, Princess Celestia had taken your request to heart
- >She was going to visit you today, and this letter was your heads-up
- >You exhale a breath you didn't realize you were holding in
- >Guess you got some planning to do
- >You figure a salad would probably be alright for dinner
- >Maybe boil or scramble some eggs
- >You could bake an apple pie for dessert, even
- >It's a damn shame it's so tough to get other fruits in Ponyville
- >The Apple Family doesn't exactly deal with fruit-based competition well
- >After about an hour of running the fuck around the Ponyville marketplace, you're finally done
- >You've gathered all the ingredients you need to make a pretty fuckin' awesome dinner
- >Okay, so it's probably not going to be as good as the shit the palace chefs come up with, but you don't care
- >And the best part was when you hit the fruit section
- >You bought your Apple Family Apples, yeah, that was a given
- >But you managed to make a stealth purchase without catching Applejack's attention
- >A smile on your face, you checked your precious cargo once more
- >Motherfucking strawberries! You fucking love strawberries!
- >How goddamn long has it been since you had some good strawberries?!
- >Finding these, and at a decent price, it was like you won the fucking jackpot
- >Had to get these fuckers home pronto, if Applejack saw you with them...
- >You shivered a bit, and picked up your pace
- >You heaved a relief-filled sigh
- >You made it home without running into any Apple family members
- >Your precious strawberries were safe!
- >Oh, and all the other shit you bought, too
- >Speaking of which, the Princess is supposed to be here in a few hours
- >Time to get dinner ready
- >The salad was easy enough that you could wait a while longer
- >Same deal for the eggs, really
- >So you decided to get to work right on that apple pie
- >Good thing a few of those odd jobs you did put you in Sugarcube corner
- >Even if they weren't directly helping with cooking, you still learned quite a bit
- >That knowledge proved to be useful in constructing the apple pie to rule them all
- >This steaming behemoth of deliciousness would launch a vicious assault on the Princess' tastebuds
- >There would be no survivors
- >Right, that's the pie taken care of
- >The salad and eggs followed shortly thereafter
- >You decided to just hard-boil the eggs
- >That way, they'd be great just on their own, or as part of the salad
- >Which also happens to be done, and none too soon
- >There's a knock at your door
- >You answer it to find Princess Celestia standing there, though she looks a bit nervous
- "Hello, good to see you, Princess. Please, come in."
- >"Thank you, Anonymous. It's good to see you, too."
- >She smiles, a bit awkwardly
- >She makes her way inside, and you check the porch
- >...No guards this time
- >You briefly wonder how she managed to pull that off
- >You shrug
- "So, Princess, are you hungry? I hope you don't mind that what I've got isn't too fancy."
- >You head toward the table
- >"Anonymous, do you think..."
- "Hmm?"
- >"Could we... perhaps... drop the formality tonight? Just call me Celestia?"
- "Uh... sure. I think I can do that, Celestia."
- >She smiles
- >"Thank you, Anonymous."
- >She takes a spot at the table, you take your seat
- >Dinner goes by, uneventfully
- >You wind up giving her your friendship report and crack a few jokes
- >She actually laughs at some of them
- >It's pretty nice, really; seeing her relaxing like this
- >You get the feeling she doesn't have much time to relax from day to day
- >Before long, it's time to bring out that pie
- >You bring it to the table for her to get an eyeful
- >"Oh? I didn't know you were a baker, Anonymous."
- >You start slicing it up
- "It's not exactly my day job, but I guess I picked up enough to bake once in a while."
- >"Well, I'm sure it will be wonderful. If I may... what flavor is it?"
- "Apple, of course. It's not too easy to find much else, here in Ponyville."
- >You offer her a slice of the pie, which she levitates to herself
- "Would you believe how hard it is to find strawberries here? It's nearly impossible!"
- >Her eyes go wide at the mention of "strawberries"
- >But... she's not saying anything
- "What, is there something wrong with strawberries, Celestia?"
- >"Huh? Oh- oh, no. Nothing's wrong. It's just that, well..."
- >She glances to the side
- "Well?"
- >"Promise you won't tell anypony, Anonymous?"
- "Uh, okay. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
- >You jab yourself in the eye that time
- "Gah!"
- >Celestia laughs at your misfortune before clearing her throat
- >"Well... strawberries are my favorite fruit. Not many ponies know that."
- >She starts eating her slice of pie
- "Heh. You've got good taste. Strawberries are my favorite, too."
- >She nearly chokes on her latest bite
- >"What- really?"
- >You nod, digging into your slice of pie, as well
- >"You are just full of surprises, Anonymous..."
- >The two of you finish dessert in relative silence
- >"Anonymous, I was wondering..."
- >[Yes! Go on, ask him!]
- >[...Why aren't you asking him?]
- >[What's wrong with you?]
- "Yeah, Celestia?"
- >[You can pass it off as idle curiosity!]
- "Celestia?"
- >"Uh- um- I mean, yes, Anonymous?"
- "Are you alright? You were starting to ask me something and then you just kinda... stopped."
- >"O-oh. Ah, yes. Well..."
- >[You are squandering your chance, Celestia!]
- >[Stop being so afraid and JUST. ASK. HIM.]
- >Celestia swallowed the lump in her throat
- >"Anonymous, do you have a special somepony?"
- >You stare blankly at Celestia for a second before the question really registers in your head
- >"Anonymous?"
- "Uh, n-no. No, I don't. Why do you ask?"
- >It was Celestia's turn to fumble verbally
- >"Ah, oh, I-I was merely curious, as- um, as Hearts and Hooves Day is coming up in a few days."
- >You nod
- "Yeah, I remember. Probably not going to do anything for it. I don't really have anyone I've got my eye on."
- >Celestia gasps
- >"Really? Nopony? I was certain-"
- >She stops mid-sentence
- >"Anonymous, I... I'd like to know something else. A few weeks back, at your last report... that song you sang, and..."
- >She glances downward
- >"...That, that kiss you gave me. Why?"
- "Oh... right, about that."
- >You rubbed the back of your neck
- "That, uh... that was..."
- >"It was... what?"
- >Oh damn
- >You don't really want to say it
- >But you have to tell her
- >You sigh
- "It was just a bet."
- >"A what?"
- "A bet. Rainbow Dash bet me I wouldn't do it."
- >"I... see..."
- >Princess Celestia stands up and walks over to the door, slowly, her head hanging
- >"Thank you for a lovely evening, Anonymous. I must be going."
- >Before you could say anything else, she had already closed the door and left
- >You know you really fucked up.
- >When Celestia arrived at the palace, Luna was there to greet her.
- >Luna could tell something was wrong, but any question she asked was answered with silence.
- >Celestia lowered the sun and retired to her chambers.
- >[Why do you even try anymore, Celestia?]
- >[How many thousands of years has it been, now?]
- >[You've been alone for so long, maybe it's your destiny.]
- >"It was foolish to think that he might..."
- >[He's just a friend.]
- >[Nothing more.]
- >[At least you don't have to regret not asking.]
- >"Even if it would have been better, had I never asked at all."
- >Celestia's vision blurred with tears.
- >She closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
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Just a Bet (Part 3) [Anon x Celestia]
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