*Caution - This chapter contains explicit sexual content involving a human and a pony.

The living room was silent as Celestia and Daniel continued to cuddle on the couch. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt more at peace. The subtle movements Celestia made, from lightly adjusting her hooves against him, left Daniel feeling indescribably happy.

She let out a contented sigh, and said, “Your breathing is so soothing.”

He chuckled at her warmly, under his breath. “Celestia,” he uttered quietly. Daniel ran his fingers softly along her silky mane. “Your mane is even softer than I imagined it would be.” Tenderly, he nuzzled his cheek against the velvety fur of her cheek, sighing happily.

“Daniel…I’m glad you like it,” she whispered, cuddling him in return. Celestia let out a delicate yawn and lightly smacked her lips.

He looked at a nearby clock. It was almost eleven, and the hour was slowly growing late. “Are you tired?” he asked considerately.

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Come on then. I’ll walk you to your room,” he said, removing his arms from around her.

Celestia gradually rose to her hooves. Standing up, she splayed her wings, giving them and her back a good stretch as she let out another yawn. “Oh my goodness. Excuse me,” she said, pardoning herself.

He chuckled at her again. “That’s quite all right,” Daniel replied, placing an arm around her shoulder.

She rested her head against him as they made their way back the short corridor. Arriving at the door to her room, he politely opened it for her. “Here you are Celestia,” he spoke with a smile.

“Thank you, Daniel,” she replied.

He removed his arm from around her and continued smiling at her. “Oh, would you like to get up early tomorrow, and watch the sun rise?” Daniel inquired thoughtfully.

She smiled grandly at him. “That would be nice…and just imagine…like everyday since my arrival, I won’t have to raise the sun,” Celestia said with a giggle.

“That’s right,” he chimed, still smiling.

The alicorn turned on the light to her room. It sure had changed from before. There were no longer heaps of miscellaneous items strewn about the place. The bed was cleared off and neatly made. The nightstand was set up with a small lamp, a box of tissues, and some of her personal items. Celestia’s saddlebags were resting on a small chair, and her shoes were now tucked under her bed, and her necklace and tiara were carefully placed on the small dresser.

He stood there at her side, surveying the room with her. “Wow, I didn’t think this room would clean up so nice,” he mused with a grin. “Sorry it took so long.”

Celestia placed a hoof on his shoulder. “As I’ve told you Daniel, it’s fine. I’m happy it’s ready, but I understood you needed time to straighten things up,” she said reassuringly.

“Thank you Celestia. Well, I guess I’ll leave you to sleep,” he said.

She smiled thoughtfully at him. Even though he hadn’t said it, she knew there was something else on his mind. Just as he turned to leave, she placed her hoof on his shoulder again. “Daniel, is there anything else?” she asked.

Halting his movement, he turned to face her. His cheeks had turned slightly red, causing him to place a nervous hand behind his head. “Now that you mention it,” he began. “There is one thing…”

“And what might that be?” she asked with intrigue, leaning her head toward him.

“Could we…share a good night kiss?” he asked sincerely. His glistening brown eyes gazed deep into her twinkling magenta eyes.

“Yes,” she happily replied, before even a moment of silence could pass.

Daniel’s smile grew as he wrapped his arms around her elegant swanlike neck. Slowly, he leaned in, until his lips pressed affectionately against hers. Celestia closed her eyes and placed her hooves around his shoulders, pulling him toward her. Daniel’s eyes fell shut and he gently ran his fingers through her heavenly soft hair. Celestia moaned softly as she pressed her lips harder against his. He shared her compassionate moan, while he moved to embrace her tighter.

Several moments passed, and their lips broke apart. They stood there for a moment, quietly taking in a few breaths. Daniel resumed smiling at her, slowly removing his arms from around her.

Celestia shared his smile, and withdrew her hooves from him. “Good night, Daniel,” she bid to him.

He nodded and replied, “Good night, Celestia.” Daniel slowly turned and walked down the hall, toward his own room. He looked back a few times, meeting her glance each time, with a smile. Finally, he disappeared into his room, and silently shut the door.

Celestia turned, and entered her new room. She closed the door, and cast out a heavy sigh. While it was nice to finally have a room and proper bed, she found she didn’t really desire them. The true irony was that she didn’t want to be alone now. But, while they had expressed having feelings for each other, Celestia didn’t want to rush things. Though as she walked over to her bed, a myriad of thoughts began consuming her mind.

Using her magic, she turned down the covers, and gracefully laid down. The soft creak of the bedsprings met her ears as she sprawled across the mattress. She let her head sink into the plush pillow, casting out another sigh. Celestia was very happy, but she was left with a wandering mind.

Laying there in bed, she began thinking intently about Daniel. Just how strong were the feelings he had for her? Could she even hope to think they would ever be anything as powerful as…dare she think it…love? Then she began pondering her own feelings for Daniel. She knew in her heart they were sincere, but how deeply did she feel for him?

As she rested in her room, the answers just seemed to escape her. One thing did pop into her mind. A thought that made her cheeks feel warm and flushed. Even if their feelings were still in bloom, what else could be forming between them? She thought back to the two kisses they shared…especially the good night kiss. It had left her feeling tingly, all over. Celestia began feeling a stirring in her loins, a feeling she hadn’t felt in quite a long time.

She turned over, facing the wall side of her bed. The feeling in her marehood made her start to wonder what would it be like to share a deeply intimate moment with Daniel. Would he even be interested in doing something like that with her? All Celestia knew was she hadn’t been able to find a truly dependable stallion in quite a long time, and she had an itch she desperately longed to have scratched. But she could only speculate if Daniel could help her find the kind of release, she so badly desired. There was of course the implication surrounding the fact that he wasn’t a pony. Yet, the more she continued to think about it, the less she seemed to care.

Letting out another sigh, she left her mind wander for a bit more, until if finally began to tire. Her eyes began to grow heavy, and soon she felt them close. Before she fell under sleep’s lure, she managed to darken her room. Then she pulled up her covers and allowed herself to drift off.

* * * *

Meanwhile, Daniel had entered his room. He dressed down to his underclothes, and crawled into bed. After setting his glasses on the nightstand, he laid back and let his head hit the pillow. He propped his head under his hands, allowing his eyes to stare endlessly at the ceiling.

He sighed there in his room, under the gentle glow of his nightstand lamp. Sleep seemed all but impossible for him, seeing as his head was besieged by an endless salvo of thoughts…all involving Celestia. Slowly, he turned onto his side and gazed out across his dimly lit room, halting his eyes at a shelf filled with assorted collectibles. He wasn’t focusing on anything in particular. In fact the contents of the shelf seemed a blur as his mind continued to race with thought.

He was thrilled that they both shared their feelings for one another, yet Daniel couldn’t help but wonder just how deeply Celestia felt for him. That’s when he recalled the two kisses they shared and the close to an hour they spent cuddling on the sofa, after watching Tangled.

Daniel felt a little light-headed as he thought back to their cuddling. It was wonderful having her so close. The tenderness of her touch, the warmth of her body, and the sounds of her thoughtful words and relaxing breath, made him sigh heavenly.

While he continued to lay there, Daniel softly touched his fingers to his lips. His mind began focusing on the good night kiss they shared. While the first kiss during the movie was great, Daniel felt such an intensity and passion from Celestia during the second kiss. It seemed clearer to him that her feelings for him were quite strong.

He rolled on his back again, and noticed how invigorated he felt following their kiss. It’d been several years since he last felt such a sensation. Daniel quickly found himself thinking even more about Celestia. Aside from her charming personality, he began to think about her elegant white fur, the slender curves of her body, the beauty of her wings, and of course the inviting texture of her mane and tail. He felt a warmth pool along his face as he began wondering what it might be like to spend time with her as a lover. Even though she wasn’t a human, for some unfathomable reason, he found it bothered him less and less. True there was a part of him that sent up a red flag, yet there was something about Celestia that seemed to call to him, in spite of it.

Daniel adjusted on the bed again, and allowed his train of thought to evolve. Come to think of it, he realized he always had an attraction to creatures of fantasy. Admittedly, elves, fairies, angels or girls with wings, and elemental spirits usually bore human-like appearances…nevertheless there was an enchanting quality to Celestia that reminded him of those fictional beings.

He rose from his bed and stepped over to his bookshelf. Daniel searched it for a specific book, then he carefully un-shelved it. Flipping it open, he turned to a page that featured a beautiful white unicorn mare. Naturally, he always had a fondness for unicorns as well. Yet as he stared at the picture of this majestic creature, it hardly evoked the same response he felt, each time he’d rest his eyes on Celestia. While many works of fiction depict unicorns as having the ability to speak, they appear just as a horse with a horn, nothing more. They may be beautiful in a way, but Daniel felt no romantic attraction toward the picture before him. In fact as he pictured Celestia in his mind, he realized she didn't bare the same physical resemblance to any horse he’d seen on Earth. She only bore a similar appearance.

After promptly closing the book, Daniel placed it back in its home on the shelf. He then returned to his bed and lightly flopped back down. He felt more confident, now that he had allayed the concerns echoing in his mind. He smiled as he thought about their kiss, one more time. A yawn escaped his mouth as he pulled up the covers. Turning on his side, he felt his eyes begin to grow heavy, while his chattering mind finally grew silent. It wasn’t long before Daniel turned out his light and drifted off to sleep.

* * * *

Celestia awoke. Glancing around her room, she saw it was still dark out. Reaching a hoof over to her nightstand, she made use of the small clock, Daniel had given her. Pressing the snooze bar, the face lit up showing that it was nearing 6am. She smiled, realizing there was still plenty of time till sunrise.

Eagerly, she used her magic to toss back the covers. Rising to her hooves, she turned on the small lamp. She stepped over to the dresser and looked at her mane in the mirror. Her appearance seemed more than presentable. Giggling softly, she turned and made one last change before stepping out of her room. Her course led her to Daniel’s room. Celestia figured she’d wake him. Slowly, she approached the door to his room, preparing to open the door with her magic. Before she could grasp the handle, a faint noise from the dinning room met her ears. She turned and followed the sound, feeling a bit puzzled.

Arriving in the dining room, she discovered Daniel standing alone in the darkness by the sliding glass door, bathed in the captivating glow of the moonlight. “Daniel,” she uttered.

Recognizing her melodic voice, he turned and greeted her with a kind smile. “Hello Celestia,” he responded.

“Hi,” she replied. “I was just going to wake you. Though I suppose there’s no need to, now. Couldn’t you sleep?” she asked.

Daniel shook his head. “No, I slept fine for the most part,” he began. “I woke up about half an hour before my alarm. I was excited about watching the sun rise together, and figured it made more sense to get up. While I waited for you, I thought I’d come and enjoy the night sky.”

Celestia smiled grandly at him. “So I see,” she said walking next to him. “I’m glad you had a good night’s rest,” she added, making conversation.

“Thank you,” he replied with a polite chuckle. “Did you sleep well?”

She nodded. “I slept just fine,” Celestia mused.

Daniel turned and made a pleasant discovery. “Hey, you’re wearing your jewelry and your shoes. What’s the occasion?” he asked in a lighthearted voice.

Celestia closed her eyes and giggled softly. “What, can’t a princess look her best?” she replied.

He smiled grandly at her, and took the gambit, placing his hand on her velvety white shoulder. “Of course,” Daniel replied. He continued casting his gaze upon her, causing his smile to grow. “You look so beautiful and enchanting, like something out of a wondrous fantasy.” She blushed from his flattering words, and moved even closer to him. He chuckled softly, seeing the red in her cheeks. “Did I ever tell you, how cute you look when you blush?”

Celestia turned her head away as she felt her cheeks feel even more flushed. Feeling a little embarrassed, she quickly thought of something to distract him from her cheeks. Staring up at the night sky, she asked, “What were you looking at?”

“Nothing in particular. The moon is still up, and looks to be approaching its last quarter. Oh, and there are some constellations visible from here,” he said pointing at a distinct group of stars.

Celestia looked at them, and could see the formation of what looked like a giant ladle. “Oh yes, I see it,” she uttered. A renewed smile formed on the pony’s lips. Turning her head to look at him, Celestia said, “It’s almost time.”

“I know. Come on, if we’re going to watch this, we should have a good view,” Daniel declared, sliding the glass door open.

“Okay,” she replied happily.

The two stepped outside onto the back patio. They were met by the warm caress of the night air. Despite the lingering mugginess and faded warm of the previous day, there was just a hint of a nip in the air.

Celestia felt a brief shiver roll up her spine. “Ooh, hard to believe it’s going to be another scorcher today,” she noted.

Daniel nodded. “Tell me about it. Come on,” he said.

The two walked out across the backyard, passing the two maple trees. They halted their steps just beyond the garden, where there was a beautiful view of the horizon, beyond the surrounding houses and gentle rolling hills.

Daniel looked out and smiled. “Look there Celestia,” he said. “You can just make out the faint change in the sky.”

She joined him in looking and saw the same sight, after focusing for a few moments. “Oh, there…I see it!” she replied with building enthusiasm. Daniel chuckled contently at her response, while Celestia moved closer to him.

“Celestia,” he said.

“Yes?”

“Would it be okay, if I did this?” he asked placing his right arm around her.

She sighed quietly, and leaned her head against him. “It’s perfect,” she uttered back. Daniel sighed, as he rested his head beside hers. Celestia smiled, turning her eyes to toward the breaking dawn. She pointed a hoof forward and declared, “Look, Daniel! It’s starting!”

He moved his eyes to join hers, and just creeping over the horizon came the familiar glow of the sun. A few moments passed, and the majestic orb began slowly rising into the sky. As it rose, the morning sky became ablaze with the hue of a fiery red glow, slowly casting aside the deep blues and dark purples of the night.

As the two stood there, close together, Daniel tightened his arm around Celestia. “Ahhh,” he sighed, allowing himself to be enveloped into the quiet serenity of morning.

Celestia gently nuzzled against him, casting out a happy sigh. “The sunrise on Earth…it…it’s so beautiful,” she spoke, her words teaming with joy.

He chuckled softly at her energetic words, and nuzzled her back. “You’re right…but you know something, Celestia?” Daniel inquired thoughtfully.

She adjusted her head, so that her cheek brushed softly along his. “And what’s that, Daniel?” she replied, the proximity of her cheek to his allowed Daniel to feel the gentle vibration from her spoken words.

“The sunrise is even more wonderful…having someone special to share it with,” he answered fondly, rubbing his cheek against hers.

A dreamy sigh slipped over Celestia’s lips, causing her to cuddle him back. She let out a faint giggle, and finally said, “You’re right. I’ve always wanted to share the beauty of a sunrise…with someone special.”

“Me too,” he uttered. The two stood there, continuing to watch the sun rise up into the sky. Gradually the brilliant blue of day began to spread across the sky as the dawn chased away the ever-fading shroud of night.

Several minutes passed, and the two remained close together, watching the birth of a new day.

“Would you like to go inside and help me fix breakfast…or would you like to stand her for a little longer?” Daniel asked.

“We can go prepare breakfast. But this was really wonderful,” she admitted.

“Then we’ll have to do it again sometime,” Daniel mused, giving her a warming smile.

“Oh, and perhaps we could sit out some night and watch the stars,” she proposed.

“That would be wonderful. Though, we will need to check the weather report,” he added.

“How come?”

“Oh, that’s right. The pegasi tend to the weather on your world. On my world, a red morning sky is often a sign of impending bad weather. It reminds me of the old saying, “Red at morning, sailors take warning.” Something my father told me long ago. He was a real weather buff,” Daniel mused.

“Well then, we’ll be sure to keep an eye on the weather. Oh, but Daniel, what happens if the sky is red at night?” Celestia questioned.

Daniel snickered. “Well the saying for that is, “Red at night, sailors’ delight.” Maybe I should have said that with the other one,” he noted, still chuckling.

Celestia giggled at him. “Perhaps. Now, let’s go back inside. I can already feel the heat building. Your air conditioning is going to spoil me,” she remarked.

He chuckled at her as they arrived at the patio. Daniel slid open the patio door. “So what would you like for breakfast? I’m thinking eggs would nice,” he said.

“Sounds delightful,” she replied.

Daniel snickered again. “Say, you wouldn’t happen to like your eggs, sunny-side-up? Would you?”

“Actually I do, but I’m more partial to scrambled,” she giggled, then adding, “But sunny-side-up would be nice for something different.”

“Okay then,” he said, letting her enter first, then following close behind her.

* * * *

After enjoying a tasty breakfast, Celestia helped Daniel clean up. Once the kitchen had been tended to, they made their way into the living room. He passed the environmental controls. Checking the thermometer, which displayed the temperature outside the house as well as inside, he noted it was getting warmer already.

“Wow, it’s already 82 outside,” he noted. “There we go, that should keep us cool,” he added.

She smiled at him, as the central air unit kicked on, adding a renewed refreshing chill to the air. “So what would you like to do now, Daniel?” she asked, quickly popping in her room, to drop off her shoes and jewelry.

She promptly returned to the living, waiting for his reply. He placed a hand on his chin and gave the matter some thought. There were a number of things that sprang to mind, but he didn’t want to rush things with Celestia, so he opted for an alternative he knew she’d enjoy. He smiled at her, and walked over to the TV. “Would you like to continue where we left off with Lunar?” he asked.

Celestia’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. Since starting it Friday night, she had quickly grown to love the story of this particular game. “I’d love to!” she replied excitedly. She eagerly flopped down on the comfy cushions of the sofa, and waited for him to power up the TV and the PS2.

He brought the cordless controller over, sitting closely beside her. Daniel skipped to the “Continue” screen, so he could load their saved game. The title theme continued to play as he turned to face Celestia. “Are you ready?” he asked.

To his surprise, Celestia moved closer to him and drew him into a hug. “Do you mind if we sit close for a bit and enjoy the sweet melody from the title screen?” she asked.

He smiled, placing his arms around her. There was no way he could say no, even if Daniel had wanted to, which he clearly didn’t. “Not at all,” he replied softly.

Celestia sighed contently as the music played on. A few minutes went by, and then she finally said, “Okay, let’s see what awaits Alex, Luna and the rest of their friends.”

Daniel sat up, and chuckled at her. “Okay,” he replied, remaining close to her. In a few moments, the game loaded and the familiar tune of Burg filled the room.

A good hour went by, and Celestia and Daniel had reached the point in the story where the suave and somewhat arrogant Nash joined Alex and his friends. Though he did come in packing some useful magic, which was a good thing too, seeing as the game’s first boss decided to make its slimy entrance, about half an hour later.

“Daniel, what the heck is that thing?” Celestia inquired.

“Oh it’s the…umm, oh let me check the strategy guide,” Daniel grumbled, annoyed that he forgot the creature’s name. He popped up off the sofa and quickly trekked to the shelf housing his player’s guides. “Here we go,” he said picking it up. Promptly, he returned and flopped beside Celestia. Opening he book, he found the right spot. “Oh that’s right, it’s called the Saline Slimer. And that nasty thing has close to 1,000 hit points, not to mention it can heal itself for 100 HP every turn.”

Celestia gave Daniel a puzzled look. “Hmmm, sounds like a challenge…let me have the controller,” she replied.

Daniel grinned as he handed her the controller, “Okay. Let that thing have it!”

She looked at him and winked. “Don’t worry, I will,” she said with a sinister chuckle.

The battle raged on between Alex’s party and the vicious sea monster. Celestia’s party was on the ropes, but she wasn’t out of tricks yet. “Come on, know when to fall you foul demon!” she bellowed.

“At least it didn’t trap Alex in it’s, ugh, mucus. Oh and thank goodness Luna used that healing spell when she did,” Daniel cheered.

“Yes. But, I think it’s time we ended this!” Celestia declared. “Now taste Nash’s Thunder Bomb, and another of Alex’s Sword Dances.” The two attacks were issued and promptly carried out by Nash and Alex. The beast shrugged off yet another hit of Thunder Bomb, but as Alex slashed his blade furiously into the beast, the resulting hit did the trick. The boss vanished like so many monsters before it, followed promptly by the boss battle victory music!

“Celestia, you did it!” he declared excitedly.

She giggled. “Yes, and I couldn’t have done it without your tips.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her. “Happy to be of help,” he uttered.

Following the victory against the Saline Slimer, Daniel and Celestia continued playing on. Alex and his friends had boarded a ship, and started their voyage to the harbor city of Meribia. A few minor events had taken place on board the ship, but then the scene arrived where Alex and Nall were searching the deck of Hispaniola for Luna. They found her up in the ship’s crow’s nest.

Celestia turned to Daniel, and asked, “Why is Luna in the crow’s nest?”

“She went up there to think. Now just watch…you don’t want to miss this next scene!” he noted excitedly.

A cut-scene began to play, and a truly lovely melody started to play. Celestia sat there with her eyes keyed on the TV screen. Then the game’s lead heroine, Luna, began singing a beautiful ballad.

As the scene continued to unfold, Celestia felt the urge to slide closer to Daniel. She looked back up just as Luna released the firefly she was holding, and continued her song.

(pause to listen to the last of the song or watch the linked video of the scene)

The cut-scene came to an end, and Celestia smiled, deeply moved by the song’s lyrics. She leaned softly against Daniel, resting her head on his shoulder. He turned and smiled at her, placing his arm around her. She gazed at him with her magenta eyes. “That was a beautiful song,” she spoke, taking a deep breath and exhaling into a sigh.

Daniel rested his head along hers. “It is a wonderful song. It’s part of the reason I love this game so much,” he replied.

The song made Celestia think about a question she had been meaning to ask Daniel. Turning to him again, she said, “Daniel, can we take a break from playing Lunar? I’d like to talk, if you don’t mind.”

He smiled at her. “Of course not. Their ship is pulling into Meribia anyway, so I’ll stop by a statue of Althena, to heal and then save our game,” Daniel replied thoughtfully. She smiled as he took care of saving the game. He then stood and turned off the TV and game system.

Daniel set the game controller on top of the PS2. “So what did you want to talk about?” he asked, slowly walking back to rejoin her on the couch.

Celestia sat up and looked over at him. “Well…I’ve been wanting to ask you. Daniel,” she began.

“Yes?”

“Have you ever been in love…or perhaps I should be more specific. Have you been in love lately?” Celestia inquired. There was a slight hesitation in her voice. Daniel turned, focusing his eyes on her, though he didn’t say anything. He simply remained silent as she could see a multitude of thought swirl within his eyes. She felt a momentary wave of nervousness, then she said, “Forgive me for being so forward. It’s just something we’ve never discussed before…I was curious.” Celestia lowered her head, wondering if it would have been better not to bring this up. Her eyes widened as she felt his hand gently touch her shoulder. She turned to see him smiling.

“It’s quite all right, Celestia,” Daniel replied. He let out a quiet sigh, before continuing, “It’s been oh…at least six years since there was someone special in my life. I don’t want to bore you with details. For a time we were deeply in love and I thought it would never end. Then, almost overnight, she began to change. Before I knew it, she wasn’t the same person anymore. To this day…I still don’t know what happened. She went from being so open and honest to bottling up everything and endlessly picking fights with me. I asked her over and over what I had done wrong, but she never gave me a straight answer.”

Celestia looked at him, her eyes flowing with sympathy. “I’m sorry Daniel. I didn’t mean to pry,” she apologized.

He shook his head. “No, it’s fine. In light of the feelings we have for each other, it’s only natural that we’d end up talking about this. But…what about you? Have you been in love with anyone, recently?”

Celestia sighed, shaking her head. “Not recently,” she answered. After pausing to recall the thoughts of her past, she looked back at Daniel. “It was quite a few centuries ago…he was a wonderful unicorn stallion…as well as a member of my royal guard. He was the first one who ever loved me for who I was…and didn’t want to be with me, simply because I was princess and could grant him special status. He was warm, and caring…and even made me laugh. In some ways Daniel, you remind me of him,” she explained.

Daniel sat there watching her with silent awe. Then moving closer to her, he asked, “So what happened to him?”

“Well, unicorns don’t live as long as alicorns, but back then it didn’t matter to me. I was happy to spend as much time as I could with him. Then one day, a fiendish demon attacked Equestria…” Celestia paused as the memories came flooding into her mind, bringing the events of her past to life. Her head and ears dropped as she closed her eyes. “He valiantly saved my life from that horrible monster and succeeded in slaying it, only to become mortally wounded in the process. I held him in my hooves as the life bled out of him. Even in his final moments…he continued professing his undying love for me,” she said softly. Celestia craned her head up, and let out a woeful sigh as a solitary tear rolled down her elegant white cheek.

Daniel bit his lower lip, and felt his heart tighten within his chest. It longed to reach out to her. “Celestia…I,” but his words were interrupted, seeing as she hadn’t finished.

“I wept for weeks after he passed. His presence made it much more bearable for me to watch over Canterlot, during my sister’s absence. It’s been hard all the centuries that followed, while I continued to rule alone. There haven’t been any special ponies in my life…since him. All the others that followed ended up like the rest before him. Only wanting me for their own personal reasons, not because they cared deeply about me,” she said, sighing once more, her voice nearly breaking.

Daniel placed his hand on her back and gently rubbed it between her wings, along her velvety fur. “Oh, Celestia,” he said, a notable deepening in his own breathing.

“It’s not easy ruling alone. True my sister has returned, but I can’t burden her with my troubles. Still…everypony always looks to me for advice and guidance, when they are in doubt,” Celestia remarked. Then turning her head toward Daniel, she said, “If everyone looks to me for advice…then who do I turn to when I am in doubt? Who…” Celestia’s words broke, and her lower lip began to quiver as she unsuccessfully fought back a series of sobs. She began crying and sobbing loudly, as if a dam she had in place finally burst following the timeless trial of holding back the torrent of her emotions.

Daniel moved closer to her and placed his arms securely around her and pulled her close. “Come here, Celestia,” he softly uttered, with a distinct quiver present in his own voice. She buried her head against his chest and continued to cry. Daniel held her as closely and as tightly as he could. Reaching up his left hand, he tenderly caressed her silky mane, hoping to bring her some comfort. “It’s okay…I’m…h-h-here,” he said as his own voice broke, and he felt his face become framed by newly fallen tears, trailing to the base of his neck.

Celestia cried for several minutes, and finally calmed after Daniel gently kissed her head. She began to feel comforted by his presence and caring gestures. He continued to caress her mane, while she slowly lifted her head, and began nuzzling him. Celestia noticed a dampness other than her own tears along her cheek. Pulling back, she looked at Daniel and saw the tear stains along his eyes. “Daniel?” she uttered.

“Yeah,” he replied, giving her the best smile he could manage.

“Why are you crying?” she asked.

Daniel adjusted his arms around her and pulled her close. “Because, your story was so sad, and then you started to cry. Whenever a lady cries…it just stirs a…I don’t know, a compassion within me. So many times I had to hold my ground, but in light of our feelings, I finally had a chance to offer my support. I couldn’t just sit there and let you cry,” he said shaking his head.

Celestia smiled, and placed her hooves around him. “Oh, Daniel!” she cried out in joy.

He sighed contently, squeezing her in his arms. Then the two heard her stomach growl. They pulled back and shared a chuckle at her growling belly. Daniel checked the nearby clock. “Wow, it’s after twelve already. No wonder your stomach is grumbling. Why don’t we go make some lunch?” he suggested.

Celestia leaned against him, then looking up at him she smiled. “That sounds great,” she replied.

The two sat there for a moment longer. She was deeply touched by his compassion, and he in turn was delighted that she felt comfortable enough to open up to him.

After a few minutes, the two of them stood up and went out to the kitchen. There, they happily prepared lunch together.

* * * *

Celestia and Daniel finished lunch, since they had just made sandwiches there was no real mess to clean up. He looked over at her. “I was just thinking. We don’t really have anything for dessert with dinner tonight. You wouldn’t want to help me bake a cake…would you?” he asked.

She smiled over at him. “Sure, I’d love to. Oh, but what type of cake should we bake?” Celestia inquired, placing a hoof to her chin.

“Well, I don’t want to brag, but I know how to make a really great chocolate cake with a delicious peanut butter frosting,” he answered, giving her a big smile.

“Sounds tasty. I just hope you aren’t like the bakers, back at Canterlot. They never seem to put enough peanut butter in the frosting,” she noted.

“Then, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised,” he said, rising from his chair.

Celestia rose to join him, only she walked up closely to him. She placed her hoof on his cheek and kissed him tenderly on the lips. A few seconds passed, and she pulled back. Daniel looked at her half-dumbfounded. She giggled at him. “That was for being so kind, when I was crying,” Celestia said, continuing to smile.

She went to retract her hoof, but Daniel gently latched onto it with his hand. He softly caressed it with his other hand. “I could hardly have done otherwise, my heart wouldn't have let me. I really care about you Celestia,” he professed, feeling his cheeks turn slightly flushed.

Celestia blushed, as she reclaimed her hoof. “I know. I care deeply about you. Now come on,” she said pointing her head toward the kitchen. “That cake isn’t going to bake itself.” She looked back at him, with what he could almost swear was a “come hither” look. Shaking his head, Daniel figured it might have been his imagination.

Upon entering the kitchen, Daniel went to one of the lower cupboards and removed a large glass mixing bowl. “Now let me see. We’ll need the dry and wet measuring cups,” he remarked. “Do you know where those are?”

She smiled and nodded. “Yes, I’ve gotten quite familiar with your kitchen. Each time I did the dishes, I made sure to carefully find where you had everything. That and I started getting a feel for things, every time you let me help you make a meal,” she said fondly.

“Okay, why don’t you get those for me, please. Oh, and it’d be a good idea if I got out the recipe,” he snickered. Daniel walked over by the sink and found the little tin box he stored his recipes in. Opening it, he flipped through, until he found the right one. “Here we go!” He placed the card by the mixing bowl, and saw that Celestia had already brought the large mixing spoon and both types of measuring cups. Daniel smiled at her. “Thank you, Celestia,” he uttered, giving her a big smile.

“You’re welcome,” she replied, sharing his smile. “What do we need first?”

“Let’s see…” he began. Daniel showed the recipe to Celestia, and together they began gathering all the ingredients. He removed his electric mixer and added the sugar, butter and vegetable shortening. Then he began creaming them together. As he worked on that step, Celestia beat two eggs in a coffee mug and added a teaspoon of vanilla.

She cheerfully added the eggs and vanilla to the slowly growing batter. Taking a rubber scrapper, Daniel wiped the sides of the bow as he continued mixing. He paused and looked for the milk and the sifter, filled with the flour, cocoa, and leavening agents. Before he had to search long, she pushed the glass measuring cup, filled with milk, over to him, and then used her magic to gently set the sifter and its contents on the other side of the bowl. “Looking for those?” she asked, lightly butting her forehead against his.

Daniel couldn’t resist smiling as he gently caressed her cheek. “Yes, thank you, Celestia,” he chimed with delight.

“Anytime,” she said, standing close to him.

He moved the sifter to join the milk. “Here, would you add some of the dry ingredients…my dear,” he said completely forgetting himself. Only a few seconds went by, before he realized what he had said. Daniel placed his hand over his mouth, turning to face her.

Celestia greeted him with an affection look, conveying that she liked what he’d called her. “Of course,” she said, using her magic to add some of the dry ingredients.

It wasn’t long, before the cake batter was completed. Daniel checked it one more time, making sure all the ingredients had been added. “Okay, it looks like we’re ready to put this in the oven,” he stated with a nod.

“Good, oh, here’s the cake pan, all greased and ready to go,” Celestia chirped jubilantly.

“Thank you Celestia. Those chefs back in Canterlot don’t know what they’re missing, not letting you help them. You’re a treat to have in the kitchen,” Daniel mused.

“Awww…I’m not really that big of a help,” she replied, feeling her cheeks turn red.

“Don’t be so modest,” he replied slowly scrapping the batter into the cake pan. Once it was ready, he placed it in the pre-heated oven. “I think I’ll use the timer on the microwave for this,” he concluded. “Now would you like to lick the bowl or perhaps one of the beaters?”

Using her magic, Celestia floated one of the beaters over to her mouth. “I’ll just enjoy one of the beaters,” she replied.

Daniel began cleaning the other beater, trying not let any of the batter drip onto his shirt. He glanced up to see if she was enjoying the batter. She reached her tongue out and slowly slid it up the dull blades of the beater, catching the drops of runny chocolate, before they could fall. Not wanting to stare, he finished his beater and then started to work on pushing the rubber scrapper along the batter remnants, still clinging to the bowl.

Celestia had finished her beater, and softly set it on the counter beside the other one. Daniel looked up at her, clearing his mouth so he could speak. There was still a bit of clingy batter, hanging along the sides of the bowl. “Are you sure you don’t want some? I hardly want to be greedy,” he said.

She smiled, walking closer to him. He reached in one of the drawers, and promptly retrieved another scrapper. “Um, here, you can use this one, it’s not been licked off,” Daniel said thoughtfully.

Celestia smiled sweetly at him, using her magic to take the other one loosely gripped in his hand. “That’s okay, I don’t mind using this one,” she said in a lighthearted voice. Carefully, she scooped up some of the drippy chocolate, bringing it to her waiting mouth. Celestia ran her tongue along the rubber surface, allowing the batter to collect. She swallowed the flavorful confection and smacked her lips. “Mmm, I haven’t done something like this in too long. Thank you Daniel, for letting me help you,” she said graciously.

“Anytime Celestia, you know I enjoy cooking with you,” Daniel replied, affectionately running his hand along her mane. She looked at him with joyful eyes. “Well, we’d best clean up,” he added.

She walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Okay,” she replied. “We’ll have what, a little over half an hour till the cake will be ready?”

“Uh…yeah,” Daniel said, feeling invigorated form her brief peck on his cheek. She giggled at him, as they began cleaning the kitchen.

* * * *

While they waited on the cake, the two picked up with their game of Lunar. Before long, the microwave beeped, and the cake was ready. Daniel told Celestia it should be ready to frost after dinner. Checking the time they saw there was still a few hours till supper, so he thought this would be a good time to show her his computer, and introduce her to the wonders of the Internet.

Celestia remained standing at his side, following a brief but informative crash course on how to use his computer. He began acquainting her with his web browser, Firefox, and the various websites he would often frequent.

She placed an intrigued hoof to her chin. “The Internet seems quite incredible. It’s a vast collection of information, and a place where people can communicate with each other and share a wide variety of things,” Celestia noted.

“That’s a good way of putting it in a nutshell, but yes. There are even places known as online communities. I have friends on a variety of sites from all over the world. Though, sadly distance prevents us from interacting in person,” he said to his dismay. “Anyway, you can use the Internet to learn more about Earth. The possibilities are nearly endless.”

Celestia was thrilled that she could use the Web to learn more about his world, but there was suddenly a more pressing thought on her mind. “Daniel, do you have any friends around here? I’ve been meaning to ask more about it. I remember you said there are some people you hang out with,” she noted.

He retracted his hands from the mouse and keyboard and sat back in his computer chair. Daniel let out a lengthy sigh before finally saying, “Not like I used to. I haven’t seen many of my friends since I moved here.”

“How come?” she asked, resting a caring hoof on his shoulder.

“Well, many of them no longer feel like driving the distance to visit. That and a number of my friends have moved on with their lives. They’ve settled down and started families. Even my best friend rarely stops by anymore,” he explained.

“Not even your best friend?”

Daniel sighed again, shaking his head. “No. In addition to him no longer stopping by that much, all he seemed to want to do when we did hang out…was go to bars and drink. He used to be the truest of all my friends. Now, he’s become a drinker…and is slowly ruining his liver. And why, you might wonder? All because he desperately wants to meet a girl,” Daniel snidely remarked. “In the past ten years, I’ve asked out more girls than he has. And while I don’t mind having a drink once in a while, I just don’t think a bar is the sort of place you can find a girl to have a meaningful relationship with.” He shook his head again, realizing just how much his life had changed over the past few years alone. “So, to answer your question…that’s what happened to my friends from around the area. We’ve all gone our separate ways.” For a moment he seemed to shift to a glum state. Then he perked up and smiled at Celestia. “Though, I don’t feel so lonely anymore…not since I met you. It’s been quite a thrill coming home to find you waiting at the door, for me,” Daniel beamed.

She leaned down and nuzzled him. “I know what you mean. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt as happy as I am now,” Celestia mused.

“Well, go ahead and have a seat,” Daniel said, getting up, and pulling back the chair.

“Okay,” she replied, sitting her rump against the chair.

Celestia enjoyed checking out a number of sites showing things she wanted to know about Earth, such as its scenic wonders, and how it’s seasons were similar to those in Equestria. She also enjoyed chatting with Daniel and learning more about what he knew of his own world.

Once 5PM rolled around, the two stopped for dinner. She happily joined him in the kitchen, and together they prepared another wonderful meal.

* * * *

Following dinner, the two cleaned up, and prepared to make the frosting for the cake. Celestia and Daniel gathered everything they needed, then in a matter of minutes, the icing was just about mixed.

Daniel ran the electric mixer through the sugary confection. He stopped the device, and turned to Celestia. “Uh, I think we may need some more milk,” he noted with a grin, lifting the mixer from the bowl. There was a large glob of frosting clinging to one of the beaters.

Celestia chuckled, placing a hoof over her mouth. “Oh my. Let met add a little more,” she said. Employing her magic, she gripped the milk jug in an orange glow. Carefully, she poured a little more into the bowl. “Do you think that’s enough?”

“Yeah,” Daniel answered with a nod. “That should do.” He inserted the mixer back into the bowl of gooey frosting. Gradually he sped up the appliance, noticing the frosting taking on a smoother more uniform texture. Daniel mixed for a few more minutes, then he slowed the device, mindfully clearing the beaters, and making sure the icing didn’t fly out of the bowl. He set the mixer down, and then like all good chefs, he dipped his finger in the side of the bowl, sampling the frosting. “Mmm, that’s perfect!” he asserted, with an approving nod.

“May I try some?” Celestia asked in a very cute manner.

Daniel couldn’t help but smile at her. “Sure,” he uttered, dipping his other index finger into the frosting. “Tell me what you think,” Daniel said, presenting his frosting covered finger.

Celestia stepped closer to him. Carefully, she studied the tasty lump of frosting, clinging to his finger. She slowly opened her mouth, and lightly extended her tongue. Gently she brushed her tongue across his finger, scooping up the incredibly peanut buttery frosting. The taste immediately danced across her taste buds. “Mmm, that is delicious!” she declared, upon swallowing the icing.

“I was hoping you’d like it,” he said, giving her an even warmer smile.

She chuckled, then she noticed Daniel was still holding his finger up, and there was just a little frosting still clinging to it. Celestia licked her lips, fancying another little taste of that wonderful confection. She leaned front again and this time, she very slowly licked the frosting from his finger, savoring every flavorful swipe.

Daniel momentarily froze as he watched her clean his finger with her tongue. He couldn’t stop his cheeks from blushing, while he continued following her movements. Celestia drew in her tongue, and swallowed the last tiny bits of frosting she managed to snatch from his finger. She smiled contently, and momentarily closed her eyes. Then as she opened them, she looked over at Daniel. She saw him standing there, and quickly recalled how she let herself get a little carried away. Celestia also hadn’t realized just how intimate an act that was. She coyly drew back her head, joining him in blushing. “Daniel…I,” she stammered.

He walked up to her and placed his un-licked hand along her white velvety cheek. “It’s okay Celestia. I just didn’t expect you to lick my finger like that,” he said sheepishly.

“I think I may have just gotten a little carried away. Though you were right, that was a very yummy frosting. The cooks at Canterlot could learn something from you,” she mused, cleverly changing the subject.

“Yeah, well I’d better frost this. Then we can wait till our dinner settles before we have dessert,” Daniel mused.

“Okay. Once you’re done, we can get back to checking out the Internet,” Celestia suggested.

“That’d be great,” he replied, coating the cake with the contents of the bowl.

* * * *

It was a little after 7:30. Celestia had continued checking out sites dedicated to the various scenic wonders of Earth. She was completely oblivious that Daniel had stepped out of the room. A gasp leaped from her mouth, as she stumbled onto a website housing a collection of pictures taken from various waterfalls all across the planet. “Daniel, you have to see these! They’re beautiful!” she said. There was no reply from him. Turning in the chair, she noticed he wasn’t in his room. “Daniel, where are you?” she called.

“I’ll be right there, I went to get something!” he called back.

“Okay!” she responded, turning back to stare at the beautiful images of enchanting waterfalls. Celestia heard some quiet clatter, followed by random footsteps. She began to grow a little annoyed waiting for Daniel. Softly, she started tapping her right hoof on the computer desk.

A few minutes passed, and the door slowly started to push open. “Sorry about that,” he said.

“Well it’s about time you…” Celestia froze in mid sentence as she saw Daniel enter the room. Her mouth fell open, in response to what he was carrying. Daniel was holding a small round serving tray, containing two modest pieces of cake, each accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Too her surprise, one of the pieces had a green and white burning candle, shaped like the number “1”. “Daniel,” she gasped, “What’s all this?”

He smiled as he continued entering the room. “You were busy checking out those websites, so I figured I’d prepare our dessert,” Daniel answered.

“But what’s the candle for? It’s not my birthday,” she noted.

Daniel chuckled, and said, “I know, but tonight is still a special night. It’s been a little over a week since you got here. This might seem like a bit much, but I wanted to do something nice for you…especially since you were feeling a little blue before lunch.”

Suddenly, Celestia lost all interest in waterfalls. She rose from the desk chair and walked over to him. Her magenta eyes glistened in the soft light from a glaze of freshly formed tears. “Awww…Daniel, that’s so sweet,” she said smiling happily at him.

He smiled back at her. “Here, blow out the candle and make a wish,” Daniel said, offering her the plate with her piece of cake and the candle.

Celestia gently wiped her hoof across her eyes. “Okay,” she replied. Then, continuing to smile, she moved toward the plate. She licked her lips, and closed her eyes for a moment. After nodding, she blew out the candle. The flame whisked out, replaced by a faint trail of smoke, rising up from the glowing embers on the candle’s wick.

“Did you make a wish?” he asked.

Celestia used her magic to set her piece of cake back on the tray. Then she set the tray down on his dresser. She returned her glistening eyes to him. “I didn’t need to…it’s already coming true,” she said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. Daniel felt himself starting to get a little choked up. Seeing the look in his expressive brown eyes, Celestia moved closer and gave him a big hug. “Thank you Daniel,” she declared with a voice overflowing with gratitude.

He returned her hug, and softly grunted. “You’re very welcome, Celestia,” Daniel replied. As they continued to hug, he deeply inhaled, and noticed that heavenly scent, which always seemed to cling to her. “Celestia, I’ve been meaning to ask you…”

“Yes, Daniel?”

“What is that delightful fragrance you always seem to be wearing?” he asked.

She giggled softly. “That’s just my perfume. I have some in my saddlebags. It’s made from the nectar and blossoms of the Solaris Rose. They can be found growing in many places across Equestria,” Celestia explained.

Daniel smiled. “The scent certainly suits you,” he commented, lightly caressing her mane.

“Daniel,” she sighed. “I’m glad you like it.” She spied their dessert, resting on the dresser. They pulled apart, and she smiled at him. “Come on, we’d better eat our dessert, before the ice cream melts,” Celestia mused.

“Yeah,” he said gazing deep into her eyes.

They sat together on his bed, holding their plates. Daniel waited eagerly for her to take a bite of the cake. Her neck flexed softly as she swallowed the first spoonful. Celestia smacked her lips, and savored the bold flavor of the frosting, followed by the moist chocolatey taste of the cake. “Mmm!” she expressed. “Daniel, this cake is delicious. You weren’t kidding!”

“I was really hoping you’d like it,” he replied, gazing at her happily.

They continued enjoying the dessert, and once they had finished, Celestia asked him to join her at the computer. She thrilled in sharing the breath-taking images of the waterfalls. He told her that he really loved waterfalls, and that he always regarded them as a thing of beauty. She told him that her world boasted a number of enchanting ones, she knew he’d enjoy. Then he suggested that some weekend they could travel to some of the nearby waterfalls, that way she could see some in person. Celestia marveled at the idea.

They spent a few more hours together, enjoying the wonderful images of waterfalls and chatting, before calling it a night.

* * * *

Even though Daniel and Celestia were growing closer with each passing day, they were still leery about rushing things too much, so they decided to sleep in their own rooms. As ten o’clock rolled around, neither one found themselves remotely close to slumber. Daniel’s mind was consumed with thoughts of her, and Celestia fared no better.

He laid there on his bed, feeling a strong unyielding pull to her. Daniel didn’t want to spend another night alone, not when she was only a matter of feet from him. Part of him still felt a little hesitant, but his heart cried out for him to go to her, no matter what the night would yield. The idea alone of being with her offered to quell his unrelenting anxiety.

Finally, after having had enough of mentally debating the matter, Daniel sat up in his bed, turned to the side and placed his bare feet on the soft carpeted floor. He was going to see her!

Then, as Daniel went to stand up, he heard a faint tapping at his door. A familiar orange glow encompassed the knob, turning it as the door slowly opened. Celestia quietly entered his room. “Daniel,” she spoke. Looking over at his bed, she saw him gazing back at her.

“Celestia,” he said, giving her a delighted smile. Daniel reached over, put on his glasses, and turned on his nightstand lamp. A gentle glow illuminated the room, allowing them to see each other more clearly.

She walked over to his bed, using her magic to shut the door behind her. “Can’t you sleep either?” she asked standing before him.

He shook his head. “No, in fact, I was just about to go see you,” he replied.

Celestia smiled at him. “You were?”

Daniel rose to his feet and placed his left hand on her slender shoulder. He gazed deeply into her magenta eyes, while she stared back in quiet awe, awaiting his reply. Again, he smiled. “Yes…I can’t bear the thought of spending another night without you…especially when you’re only a few rooms away,” he answered.

Celestia blushed from his touching words, momentarily lowering her head. Then, as she raised it to glimpse his eyes, she smiled. “I’m glad to hear you say that…because I missed you…even though we’ve spent most of the last two days together…I don’t want to be parted from your side, tonight. In fact, that’s why I wasn’t in a hurry for you to finish cleaning your spare room,” she confessed.

“Oh, Celestia,” Daniel said, feeling a profound warmth in his heart. He tenderly placed his right hand along her cheek, caressing its velvety texture.

She lightly nuzzled his hand, savoring his caring touch. “Daniel…” she uttered softly. “It’s been so long…since someone touched me this affectionately. It’s just like the way you stroked my mane last night, during our good night kiss.” He kept his eyes focused intently on her beautiful face. Again, Celestia rubbed against his hand. “You don’t know how badly I wanted to come to you last night. My mind swirled with nearly a thousand different thoughts, all about you…just like tonight,” she admitted, with a sigh.

Daniel continued gingerly stroking her cheek. “I know how you feel. Part of me wanted to go to you last night as well…but I was afraid of rushing things,” he revealed, still running his hand along Celestia’s cheek.

She smiled at him again, her eyes glistening in the pale lamp light. Celestia leaned against him and said, “Hold me, please.”

Daniel couldn’t possibly deny her. He tenderly embraced her, and held her close. “I have you, Celestia, I have you,” he whispered.

“Don’t let me go, Daniel,” she pleaded with a sigh.

“Never…I’ll never let you go,” Daniel replied, sounding a little choked up. He held her tightly, gently squeezing her in his arms, resting his head against hers. “Stay with me tonight…I don’t want to leave your side either.” He sighed softly, running his fingers deftly through her heavenly mane.

Celestia sighed and whimpered, savoring his gentle caress of her mane. Slowly, she moved and placed her hooves on his chest. Her eyes stared dreamily at him as an endearing smile curled up on her lips. Daniel shared her affectionate look, while his fingers continued to dance through her mane. He moved his hand to rest under her chin. A rosy glow encompassed her cheeks as he leaned in to kiss her. Celestia let out a delicate moan, feeling every ounce of tenderness pour out over his lips as he pressed them firmly against hers.

Her hooves moved from his chest, encircling his neck, drawing him nearer to her, while he held her securely, in his loving embrace. Feeling emboldened by his gesture, she tightened her grip on him and pressed her lips back in kind, hoping he could feel the affection and desire she felt for him. Another moan muffled its way past her lips, adding to her growing pleasure.

Daniel sighed and moaned tenderly, in response to her excitement. He felt an incredible amount of bliss, causing him to move his hand back to her mane, in response to her added affections.

A few more moments passed, and the kiss ended. Daniel and Celestia stood there for a moment, trying to catch their breath. Softly, he stroked her mane again. She placed her hoof along his cheek, and smiled. “That was wonderful,” she expressed, looking at him half-eyed

He chuckled softly. “I couldn’t resist the lure of your lips any longer, and felt overcome with desire. I long for you, Celestia,” Daniel professed.

She sighed, leaning against him. “You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say that…because I want you Daniel. I’ve been wanting you,” Celestia confessed.

“I’m glad. Since Friday, I’ve been yearning to caress your captivating curves, wondering what it would be like to spend a night of passion with you,” he spoke in a sincere voice.

Celestia employed her bedroom eyes, smiling seductively at him. “Then, why don’t we find out…that is…if you don’t mind our being from different worlds,” she replied.

He shook his head. “Our bodies may be somewhat different, but why should we deny the growing feelings and desires in our hearts?” Daniel asked in an almost profound voice.

“I can’t think of a reason,” she replied, with a strong yearning in her voice. Celestia secured her hooves around him, and kissed him deeply on the lips, casting out a gentle moan of pure desire. Daniel, placed his arms around her elegant neck, and returned the intensity of her kiss.

They moved closer to his bed, slowly sitting on the side, still sharing a tender lip embrace. As their desire continued to mount, Celestia wanted the kiss to become even deeper. She opened her mouth and lightly prodded her tongue against his lips. Feeling a rush of intrigue, Daniel happily parted the way, allowing their tongues to join for a spellbinding embrace. They both began to moan softly, in response to the rising levels of passion burning within them.

They relished the kiss for just a few moments more, then parted their mouths. Each panted quietly for air, feeling incredibly invigorated. They held each other by the shoulders, sharing the fondest of glances. “Oh, Daniel,” sighed Celestia, feeling her breathing begin to calm.

“Celestia,” he whispered, smiling affectionately at her. “You said it’s been a long time, since you were with someone special?” She nodded. “Then you must really be in need,” he concluded.

She looked at him with hungering eyes and nodded. “Yes, I am…so badly,” she said, turning her blushing face to the side.

Daniel placed his hand on her chin, softly coaxing her to look at him. Her gaze met his, and she saw him leering happily at her. He smiled as he started running his hand along the side of her neck, down across her shoulder, where he stopped. “I want to caress every inch of you,” he whispered, planting a gently kiss on her neck. Celestia shuddered from the kiss and his words. She hungered for his touch, anywhere…everywhere along her elegant white body. Her desire was beyond anything she could imagine. As she had mentioned, it’d been too long since she was last tended to. Daniel, leaned over to her ear and whispered, “Lay back.”

Celestia wanted to respond, but words failed her. She simply let out an anticipatory shudder of delight, while she happily complied, laying back across his bed. Daniel moved close to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. Slowly, he leaned down and rejoined his lips to hers. Celestia let out a faint lusting moan, trying to maintain her elegance as her body cried out for stimulation.

Following the short kiss, Daniel began running his fingers down her shoulders, savoring the velvety feeling of every inch of her body. His hands tenderly caressed, her forelimbs, then he moved them in to glide over the fur of her chest. Feeling the grip of a romantic idea, he moved both his hands along her right forelimb, slowly grasping her hoof. Daniel brought it to his mouth and gingerly kissed it. Celestia sighed and blushed from his chivalrous gesture. Then he started tracing the length of her swanlike neck, slowly returning to her chest, where he ever so tenderly savored the velvety texture of her fur. She could feel her breath deepen with each affectionate motion of his fingers. Celestia couldn’t remember the last time she felt so relaxed.

Daniel coaxed her to turn on her side. Happily, Celestia did so, looking at him with a playful smile. He smiled back at her, as he began caressing the fur along her back. He adjusted his position, and placed his hands along her shoulders, tenderly working his fingers along the years of collected tension, still present. A pleasant moan left her mouth, as she whispered his name. Daniel leaned down and lovingly nuzzled his cheek along her incredibly soft mane. Celestia sighed, moving her head to nuzzle him back. He softly kissed her cheek, then moved to her folded wings. Delicately, Daniel slid his fingers along her amazingly soft feathers, causing shivers to roll up her back.

Daniel lowered his hands to her flanks, and gently began massaging her cutie marks. Celestia lightly rolled her head back and forth, in response to the intoxicating feeling his tender touch gave her. She placed her hooves around his waist, pulling him down beside her. Then, placing her hooves on his cheeks, Celestia locked him into a kiss of pure ecstasy. Daniel placed his arms around her, allowing himself to become absorbed in the tender moment.

Celestia urged him to sit up with her, as they moved to the center of the bed. She placed her hoof on his somewhat hairy chest, happily encircling it. Her boldness increased along side her desire. Celestia’s hoof slowly trailed over his belly, heading for his groin. She gave him a seductive smile as she arrived at the elastic of his underwear. “Do you mind losing these?” she whispered.

He shook his head. “Not at all,” he replied softly, repositioning himself to quickly remove his cumbersome undergarment. Daniel then heedlessly tossed it to the floor. He placed his arms around her shoulders, and smiled at her. “How’s that?”

Celestia placed her hooves on his shoulders. “Perfect,” she replied, softly kissing him on the lips. She placed her hoof on his belly and lightly brushed it along his bare skin, causing him to shiver with anticipation, before she resumed her course downward. With no obstruction, Celestia was able to gaze upon his excited manhood as her hoof slowly bumped into it. Her eyes took in the welcoming sight of his masculinity, making her smile gleefully. Gently, she began running her hoof along his length. Daniel sighed and softly gasped from her intriguing touch. She looked at him with a sly smile, as she started caressing his smooth underside. He firmed his grip on her shoulders, letting out a very pleasant moan. Celestia leaned over to his ear and whispered, “Do you like that?”

Daniel sighed and quietly uttered, “Yes, it’s heavenly.”

She giggled softly, and responded, “Good. Now, why don’t you touch me?”

He shuddered, and thrilled at the idea of touching her. Celestia repositioned herself slightly, making sure her tail was tucked out of the way. Daniel placed his left hand on her velvety chest, affectionately working his way down across her belly, and beyond. His eyes trailed down, taking in the enticing sight of her beautiful crescent. He placed his fingers along her folds, causing her to lightly shiver. Celestia began to sigh, while he traced the curves of her fruit. She whispered his name, feeling an intense level of pleasure slowly take hold of her. Daniel ran a lone finger along her slit, feeling a noticeable moisture gradually coat it. She lightly whimpered from his touch. “More…” she muttered in between sighs.

Daniel leaned over to her ear and whispered, “Of course, my lady.” She shivered from his enthralling words. He pulled back to her face and kissed her very deeply on the lips. Celestia continued to softly whimper as she closed her eyes. The kiss ended and she let out a swift gasp feeling two of his fingers enter her marehood. In a fashion beyond tenderly, Daniel massaged her moist inner walls, allowing her to savor every motion of his touch.

Celestia planted her free hoof firmly on his shoulder, steadying herself. It had been so long since she felt the sensual touch of a compassionate male; she hardly knew how to react. Her eyes snapped open and widened in response to a sensation she’d not felt in years. To Celestia’s amazement, her wings began rising on their own, fully extending. She let out a blissful sigh as she closed her eyes and left her head drift back.

Daniel felt momentarily curious about her wings, but before he could think to speak, he felt his own eyes drift shut. Her hoof resumed its vigorous, yet gentle, movement along the underside of his firm shaft. He sighed and softly moaned from her endearing touch. Feeling his fondness for her continue to evolve, Daniel added just a little intensity to the motion of his fingers, causing her to tilt her head back more. Celestia freely cast out a series of moans teaming with ecstasy.

They continued touching each other, filling the room with their delighted moans and pleasant sighs as they savored every passing minute. Then, in an almost instinctive fashion, they paused, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes. They drew into a tender hug, sharing another rapturous kiss of pure delight. Celestia ran her hoof along Daniel’s hair, while he once again caressed her mane.

A few moments passed, and their lips parted. He stared lovingly into her glistening magenta eyes, while she in turn gazed back into his expressive brown eyes. Celestia gave him a very affectionate look, and said, “I’m ready to move on…if you are.”

Daniel smiled at her, and replied, “I am…nothing would make me happier.”

Her face overflowed with joy. She placed her hooves on his shoulders and shared another heavenly kiss with him. Then straddling her hind legs over his, Celestia brought her yearning loins closer to his. Their kiss broke, just as her marehood brushed against the tip of his spire. The sensation set shivers up their spines, causing them to share another loving glance with each other. Daniel gently placed his hands on her flanks, slowly pushing upward. The tip of his masculinity slowly parted her delicate flower. Feeling her desire burn even stronger, Celestia pushed down, bidding him entry inside her. He slowly guided her down completely. The feeling from their merger made them both gasp and shudder.

“Daniel,” she whimpered, feeling indescribably happy.

He smiled at her, and felt a blush fall across his cheeks. Daniel tenderly caressed her cheek, while he gazed at her. “Celestia, you’re so beautiful.”

“Aww,” she muttered, blushing from his kind words.

The couple drew into an open-mouth kiss, feeling their desire burn on. Celestia started lightly moving her hips on him, resting her hooves on his shoulders. Her wings remained outstretched, while her mane fluttered as she kept softly bucking her hips. Following their kiss, Daniel placed his hands along her sun cutie marks, so he could guide her movements. She looked him in the eye, and continued to smile as she added more speed. Celestia felt a heavenly pleasure began radiating throughout her body. It caused her to lightly part her mouth, while sigh after sigh passed over her lips. As the motion between them continued, she slowly closed her eyes and began to freely moan with sheer delight.

Daniel kept his hands firmly, yet gently, placed on her flanks, continuing to aid her movements. He’d periodically thrust upward in contrast to her bucking hips. Daniel began to feel the overwhelming bliss of their union absorb him into the moment. Never could he recall feeling so much intense pleasure jolting throughout his body. The feelings burning in his heart for Celestia only added to his elation. He shut his eyes and joined her in moaning with blissful pleasure, feeling his breath begin to deepen.

Celestia felt her body form a heavenly rhythm that made her feel deeply intoxicated. Her breath was growing faster, while she let her head roll back and forth as her eyes closed. Her mane began fluttering vigorously as the movement between them continued to escalate.

Daniel opened his eyes in time to see her manage to open hers. They glanced at each before their lips met for another exchange of fiery passion. Their lips broke as Celestia began to sigh and moan more frequently. He could feel her body begin to tremble and quake, from the endless pleasure they were bringing each other.

A powerful tingling and warmth began to spread through Daniel’s loins. His breath had become even shallower, as he joined Celestia in a rapturous symphony of sighing and moaning.

Then all at once, Celestia’s body seemed to tense up, as her back lightly arched. She cast out a series of heavenly moans, as Daniel noticed a delightfully warm dampness cover his manhood. Then his eyes widened as he felt his own body tremble with pleasure. He let out a pleasured moan as he released his warmth into Celestia. He moved his hands from her hips and threw them around her slender neck, pulling her close as the two continued to experience the ravaging throes of passion. She secured her hooves around his shoulders, holding him tightly. A momentary feeling of weakness gripped them both as they toppled onto the bed. There, they both gasped violently for air. Daniel looked over at Celestia, and reach out for her hoof. He gripped it tightly, smiling at her. She placed her other hoof over his hand, sharing his affectionate expression.

Gradually their breath began returning to normal. Slowly, they moved apart, but remained at each other’s side. Daniel ran his hand along her silky mane, continuing to look at her affectionately. She moved closer to him and draped her hind leg over his.

Celestia blushed and smiled at him. “That was incredible,” she remarked.

Daniel smiled back. “You were wonderful, Celestia,” he said, lightly panting.

“So were you, Daniel,” she said, caressing his hand gingerly. “I’d almost forgotten what it’s like to be with someone that really cares about me,” she mused.

Daniel looked at the corner of her eye and saw a solitary tear roll down toward her cheek. He reached over and caught it in his hand. “For me?” he asked.

“Mm-hmm, yes,” she sighed. “Because you’re so caring.”

“Aww, Celestia…you’re such an incredible alicorn,” he replied, still tenderly caressing her long silky soft mane.

“Daniel,” Celestia sighed, again. “Say, would you mind, scratching my ear?” she asked, while enjoying his touch along her mane.

“Of course not,” Daniel replied, continuing to smile at her. He moved his hand over to her left ear. Slowly, he began running his fingers along its velvety fur, ever so gently applying his fingernails. “How’s this?”

“Mmm, that’s perfect,” she sighed. Celestia slid closer to him, and gently planted a caring kiss on his lips. “Thank you…for everything.”

Daniel placed his arms around her, gently giving her a squeeze. He returned her tender kiss, and said, “You’re very welcome, Celestia. I can’t remember the last time I felt so happy, so at peace. Thank you for being here.”

She sighed, sliding down to his chest. Celestia left her head come to rest on his bosom. “No problem…it’s my pleasure,” the pony replied, running her left hoof along his bare chest. Lifting her head partially, Celestia looked at him dreamily, still smiling. “What a wonderful day.”

“Yeah,” he uttered, running his fingers through her colorful locks.

She felt totally at peace and very relaxed. Celestia let out a quiet yawn, and laid her head back on his chest. “Mmm,” she murmured.

“Are you getting sleepy too?” he asked, yawning and stretching his arms.

“Yeah,” she mumbled. “I feel so…so very relaxed.”

“Come on then, let’s get up. I’ll turn down the covers and we can get some sleep…together,” Daniel said, his very words echoing in his mind, adding to his smile,

The lovers slowly rose from the bed, standing on the carpeted floor. Celestia still felt the emotional high from their deep bond, causing her to playfully bump against him. Daniel chuckled, reaching back and placing his hand along the side of her neck. He then reach out and pulled back the sheets and blankets on his bed, turning them down. “This is only a full-size bed, so it might be just a tad cramped, but it will certainly be cozy,” Daniel mused to her.

Celestia wrapped her hooves around him, and nuzzled his cheek. “That sounds lovely…resting closely by your side,” she replied, in a dreamy voice.

“I usually sleep on the side by my night stand. You don’t mind sleeping on the wall side, do you?” he asked, showing concern for her comfort.

She giggled softly. “As long as I’m with you, it doesn’t matter,” Celestia remarked.

“Then ladies, first,” he directed, politely gesturing her toward the bed.

Her cheeks reddened a bit. “Oh my, you’re making me blush again,” she rambled. Then the regal mare sighed, “But I know you said I’m cute when I do, right?”

He nodded, continuing to smile. “Yes, you certainly do, my lady.”

Slowly, Celestia crawled into bed, and beckoned for him to follow. Daniel climbed in beside her, and pulled the covers up over them. While it may still be quite warm outside, the central air left it nice and chilly inside.

Daniel made sure to share one of his extra pillows with her. Celestia let her head come to rest along her pillow, enjoying its firm, yet gentle softness. He joined her in getting comfortable. Slowly, he placed his arms around her, and held her close. “There, I have you in my arms again,” he declared with a quiet chuckle.

Celestia giggled, bringing her hooves to rest along his chest. “You sure do...and I’ll happily stay by your side…all night,” she replied.

He leaned over and nuzzled her cheek softly. “Heaven,” he replied. She giggled again, then let out a contented sigh. Daniel felt a slight start at first, as he felt like he almost forgot something. “Oh yeah, should you need to get up for any reason, don’t hesitate to wake me, I’ll move so you can get out.”

Celestia snuggled against him. “Ever the gentlestallion or should I say gentleman,” she mused, exhaling onto his neck.

He sighed from the feeling of her gentle breath, grazing his neck. “Yeah,” he muttered, letting out another quiet yawn. “I hope work doesn’t drag on too long tomorrow.”

They cuddled some more and she brushed her cheek against his. “Even if it does…I’ll still be here, waiting for you,” she avowed.

He half whimpered form her caring response. “Celestia…I…I…oh, I’m so glad you’re here,” he replied.

“I know Daniel, I know, and so am I,” she whispered, feeling so relaxed in his caring embrace. Then as she began to feel sleepier, she said one last thing. “Daniel, would you…um, do you think…do you want to be my very special somepony?”

He smiled as he nuzzled close to her mane. The term was still fairly new to him, but he remembered what she had said about it before. Daniel sighed, and squeezed her one more time. “I’d love to…but only if…you’ll be my, very special somepony,” he said with a lighthearted chuckle.

“Of course,” she replied.

The two shared a short but tender good night kiss, and then laid their heads down again. “Good night, Celestia.”

“Good night, Daniel. Till morning,” she sighed.

They each let out another yawn, feeling their eyelids grow heavy. Before too long, they had both drifted off, secure in the knowledge that they were at each other’s side, and felt so strongly for one another. It might not be love just yet, but the feelings between them were more powerful than ever.