She wrapped a silk robe around herself and crawled into bed as a book floated down from one of the shelves. As for myself, I was already curled up at the foot of the bed, nuzzling into what were without a doubt the world's softest pillows and covering myself in the thick purple and gold blankets. Celestia watched with an amused smirk on her face. Clearly she was completely oblivious to the fact that her bed was the most comfortable thing in the known universe. "I take it you've never slept in an actual bed before?" she asked with a chuckle as she began to flip through the pages of her book.
"Nuh-uh! It's magical!"
"Actually, it's a mattress, but it is awfully comfortable." At last, after twisting and turning and purring in delight, I fell over on my side with a contented chuff and curled my tail around my feet in preparation for what I hoped would be a deep sleep. But before my eyes could even close and my legs could go limp, I felt the princess's hoof touch my shoulder. I rolled over and looked up to her. "I have this book here that tells all about the animals that live in the Everfree Forest. I was hoping to learn some more about your species. You're a draconequus, if I'm not mistaken. And it says here that draconequi are capable of some of the most powerful magic known to Equestria." She gently closed the book and looked me straight in the eye. "Do you know how to use it properly?" I shook my head no. Quite frankly, I didn't even know I was capable of using magic of any sort. Certainly would've been good to know earlier in life. If I could have learned a few spells to maybe change the weather from freezing cold to warm or to maybe create food out of nothing so that I wouldn't have to live off of moldy scraps. Ha. As if.
Celestia grabbed another book off the shelf and had it fall onto the bed. She lifted it back up and turned it towards me. I couldn't understand the writing, but I could see the illustration of an old bearded unicorn in a robe and hat just fine. "That's Starswirl the Bearded. He was one of the most powerful unicorns in existence. He invented countless spells that many of us use to this day." She turned the front of the book back to herself and admired the illustration. "He was amazing." To be honest, her pointless rambling was a bit boring, but I happen to be a very polite being, so I allowed her to keep talking.
"Anyway..." She set the book back down on the bed. "He wrote a heap of books before he passed away. He's taught basic levitation, merging, teleportation. He's also taught weather control and shape-shifting, but that's only for really advanced unicorns." She smiled. "My father teaches me magic whenever he's here and not, well, asleep. How about during my next lesson, you can tag along and learn something, too?"
It was an offer I couldn't refuse. Not too sure exactly why I couldn't refuse it. Guess it was just some tiny voice in my head that said, "Dude, you should totally accept the offer." Obviously it's the only explanation. She told me that the next lesson was scheduled the following week. "I was supposed to have one today, but other things came up." The books flew back to their respective shelves, and Celestia rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. "So, next week then."
"Next week." I confirmed.
I decided to roll onto my back as well and lay beside her. We stared at the top of the canopy in complete silence for a quite some time. Time passed, and finally, I spoke up. "Princess Celestia?"
"'Tia' is just fine."
"Tia..." I felt like I had been granted the highest of honors. "Tia, is your mother ill?"
"What?"
"She didn't look too good. Tired... Big."
Celestia immediately fell into a fit of laughter. I could only raise an eyebrow in confusion. The princess took several deep breaths and did her best to hide the smirk on her face. "You're rather ignorant. It's adorable." 'Adorable' is a word I never would have thought would ever describe me. But apparently she thought it worked. "No, she's not sick. She's going to have a baby in a few days. It's taken a lot of energy out of her." She laughed. "My nannies say it's going to be a colt, but I'm still thinking it's a filly."
"How would you know?"
"I can sense it. It's a filly."
"Sense it?"
"I just know."
Tia used to be so strange. I loved it about her.
For another hour, we just laid there talking. We talked about our foalhoods, Canterlot, Everfree, Starswirl. Hell, we even spent a ludicrous amount of time staring at the sky out the window. Even through the black clouds, the rain and the lighting, a crescent moon still shone brightly. Celestia explained to me that her mother controlled the moon, and her father the sun (though her father had taken control of both to allow his wife some rest the last few days.) She said that someday she'd be taught how to control them both so that she may rule the kingdom.
"All alone?"
"Well, hopefully my new brother or probably-sister will be able to rule with me, but there's no guarantee they'll have the capability. Not all alicorns are as powerful as my mother and father."
"But you are?"
"I have the potential." She really was something.
Soon, a servant opened the door to wish the princess a goodnight, and to flash a glare at me. Word travels fast. Celestia blew out the few candles that had illuminated the room. She then crawled under the blanket and rested her head on a pillow.
"Goodnight, Discord."
"Goodnight, Tia."
For a few moments, I sat there on the bed. There were no thoughts running through my usually busy mind. The lightning flashed outside, making her white coat appear luminous. Her eyes were shut tight. She looked so relaxed, so peaceful. Normally I wasn't one for peace, but it looked so beautiful here. At first I hesitated, but soon I was resting my head in the crook of her neck, my tail curled around her. The room may have been dark, but I swear I saw her lips curve into a content smile.
