Cae. XXIV 841, late afternoon.

A chilly wind swept through the open hall of the Concordian Castle, moving leaves with it that danced in the wind. The azure colored Crystal shined in a decent glow, barely visible by the sunlight that engulfed the room in a warm atmosphere.

But the Crystal seem to react by an approaching presence, glowing in an intense blue now as the person stepped closer. They seem to know each other well, this wasn't the first time the Crystal talked to the person – in fact the Crystal was close to its l'Cie, they shared a lot of conversations in the past. Though this time it was in person. It wasn't a usual sight that the Queen of Concordia stepped in front of the Crystal to talk to it instead of using the unseen connection a l'Cie and the Crystal shared.

Today was an important exchange, on that might change history.

There was an utter silence in the open room, save of the sounds of blowing wind that rustled faint against the walls – the place was on top of the castle high in the air and only the Queen and two of her closest subordinates had access to the Crystal Room.

So of course she would immediately recognize a person who tried to step close to her. No one dared to interrupt the Queen in such important matters – and yet there were clearly noises of footsteps heard in the distance, coming closer with each passing second. And with the way the person was walking towards her, she knew who it was. It could only be her who was brave enough to interfere anything to get close to the Queen.

She couldn't blame her.

She didn't need to turn around when the footsteps disappeared right behind her, only closing her eyes and smiling when she felt two arms around her middle and a chin digging in her shoulder, though the feeling of it quickly disappeared. No words passed their lips as they stood behind each other, the Queen acknowledging the presence of her subordinate.

"Celestia," the Queen broke the piercing silence in the room, "what a pleasant company."

Clothes ruffled behind her, shuffling a bit as the silence occurred again – Celestia waited for the Queen making the first move before she dared to speak to her. Though the Crystal only glowed more intense, the light quickly fading then when the Queen nodded in its direction.

Her future tasks were settled and edged in her memory now, the l'Cie in her would carry out the path that was chosen for her.

Feeling the intense atmosphere in the room Celestia was now well aware that she just interrupted an important meeting, backing away a bit to make it not too awkward, yet the Crystal didn't seem to mind her presence now.

"I saw the future." The Queen began to speak again, still turned to the Crystal and away from Celestia, "A future that I cannot change. And the cog wheels are already turning for that event."

Celestia never truly understood the Queen's words after she had a conversation with the Crystal, what they discussed was only an issue for them – and yet she caught the glimpse of hurt in her words. If she understood one thing, then it was this.

With a single footstep she came closer to her and the Queen finally turned around then to face her, her blue glowing eyes flashing her for a second before they returned to her normal eye color.

"So, Celestia, I ask that … please don't interrupt me in my actions."

"... I won't, Kaya." Celestia caught her eye then, seeing a little twitch of her lips at the mention of her first name only she was allowed to use. "I know about the dissension between Milites and Rubrum, it gets heated at their border-"

"Please, not now. … Not today."

She nodded and dropped the topic immediately, averting her eyes from her in apology, but the Queen lifted her head up again with a tip against her chin.

"Say, today is the night to the 25th Caelusmens, right?"

"Yes, actually I was here to ask if-"

"I know, I know." She chuckled and dropped the hand then, reaching to Celestia's hand instead. "The goddess' tears will bless out night sky today."

Celestia accepted the invitation and linked her hands with her, reaching it to her lips to place a kiss on the back of the Queen's hand.

"Do you want to spend the night with me?"

Softly the Queen formed a real smile now at this gentle gesture, cupping her cheek with her other hand and stroked a thumb over the skin there.

"Gladly." With a small tuck she stepped forward to the exit's direction, Celestia closely behind her. "... Maybe I can convince Soryu to let us sit on his head this time."

They both couldn't suppress a chuckle together, and Celestia was glad she got her to loosen up a bit, even if it was just a night. The Crystal took more and more of her humanity away the longer she was a l'Cie, but she knew it was the fate of a l'Cie and how she couldn't do anything against it.

So having this one night with her was one of the best thing she had in a while, a night she truly wouldn't want to forget.

Just her and the person she loved the most.