[Celestia]Cuddling

*original author is Anon*

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There's not much greenery in Canterlot. It's all brick and cobblestone, much to your dismay. When you first came to Equestria, you spent your time in the castle as guest to the princesses, which allowed you free roam of the gardens. Now that you found yourself a place and income, though, you were asked to move out. It was nothing personal, you could tell, Celestia just wanted to make sure you could stand up on your own two feet.

 

Of course, you always missed the gardens, which is why you decided to sneak in just before dusk. The were surprisingly few guards around; you imagined ponies hardly gave the princesses much trouble. All you needed to do was hop the wall.

 

Now you're leaning up against a tree, eyes closed, listening to the birds and the wind as it scrapes across the leaves. This is the feeling you came here for, you think, sighing. Your relaxation is interrupted by a tap on your shoulder.

 

You jolt upward, looking in the direction of the tap, and finding nopony there. Confused, you look to your other side and find Celestia smirking at you.

 

Letting out a breath of relief, you lean back onto the tree. "Geez, you scared me. I thought a guard had found me."

 

"Well, maybe you shouldn't trespass on castle grounds, then," she teases, smirk growing.

 

"Yeah, yeah. I like it here, though. It's peaceful."

 

"That it is."

 

She sits down next to you, following your gaze with her own. You both watch the scenery, taking in the serenity of the moment, not letting words get in the way. Now that you're here, you realize exactly how much you miss this place... and the company. It's soothing just to sit next to Celestia. You look over to her, finding she's taken off all over her usual royal jewelry. She looks much more comfortable without it. Maybe it reminds her of all the duty she carries, or maybe it's just awkward to wear. You wouldn't know; with the grace she moves, she never looked uncomfortable or out-of-place.

 

"Does it ever get tiring, raising and setting the sun every day? I mean, you can never have a day off."

 

"It would be fair to say there are times when I am not quite in the mood to do it, but I am almost always happy to. There's beauty in it, and I feel honored to be the one with a chance to create that beauty."

 

"You would know a thing or two about beauty."

 

"My, my, little human, are you flattering me?"

 

You grin at her, then turn back to the sunset. "Just point out a fact."

 

She snickers, then scoots closer to you, pushing your sides up against each other. Feels like she's actually leaning on you, too.

 

"How is your life outside the castle?"

 

"It's fine," you say with a shrug. "I can't say I ever expected to use my college degree toting carts around and cleaning up after ponies, but a job's a job. The ponies are nice. Certainly can't complain about that."

 

Celestia nods. "You know... there is still a place for you in the castle. It's too empty for its size."

 

You raise an eyebrow. "Weren't you the one who asked me to leave? For my own sake?"

 

Sighing she lowers her head. "I did, but I believe I underestimated how much I'd miss your presence. It's not often I find someone as, hmm, candid as you around royalty. It is nice."

 

She missed YOU? While you certainly enjoyed spending time with her while you lived at the castle, she was often busy and didn't have much time to chat with you. You figured most of the attention was simply a courtesy.

 

"I'd love to come back, but my job..."

 

"There are plenty of jobs in the castle, or at the very least nearby. I'm sure I could find you one."

 

Did she really want you back so much? "Well, if there's a way to make it work, I'm all for it."

 

"Excellent. I'll expect you by tomorrow evening." She raises her head as if sniffing the air. "Is it a bit snippy out?" One of her wings opens and wraps around you, pulling you close. Her body is not just warm and cozy, but comforting as well. "Wouldn't want you to catch a cold."

 

You let one of your arms lay across the back of her neck, lazily exploring her mane and coat. It feels like thick air but for the tiny electric pokes you feel, almost as if your hand was asleep. A harsh wind blows across your exposed skin, sending a chill down your spine as goosebumps pop up. You turn around, wrapping your other arm around Celestia, pulling her into a hug. She's glowing with a heat that calms you and invites your in. You smile, a true smile, the contentment plain on your face, as you lay your head against her neck. Each breath, each heartbeat you can hear as clear as day.

 

"Don't you want to see the sun set?"

 

"Don't need to. I've got my sun right here."

 

Her other wing opens and draws you in closer, the sun princess—your friend—giving her tender smile as she rests her own head on your shoulder.

 

This is how every day should end.