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Cielo recoiled a bit at Celestia's harsh tone, cold and spiteful as she asked the question, it was not really considered secretive Cielo had feeling for Luna but he did not think they flaunted it about under her eyes. "W-Working towards her heart!? What do you mean!?" Cielo stammered at first trying to regain the composer Celestia was able to strike from him with such a simple question.

"Don't play dumb!" Celestia scoffed turning her gaze back to the flames "I have seen you two and the way you act towards one another" she paused taking a deep breath and swallowing her anger and frustration with him for the time being "It's been this way since you came back after your first assignment while under her service".

Cielo remained quiet for a moment thinking of how to respond, he was not ashamed of his feeling nor felt them to be wrong however, Celestia was quite protective and he knew butting heads with her would not prove wise for him. "Celestia...I am not actively going after your sisters heart, you make it sound like I'm targeting her for something and I'm not. I did not PLAN any of this, it just kind of happened, I mean how was I to know Luna would develop feelings for me and I for her?"

"Her heart is vulnerable! You know that!" Celestia snapped back still accusing Cielo of targeting her sister Luna

"You speak as if she is some weak minded foal unable to think or take care of herself!" Cielo snapped back causing Celestia to look a bit surprised. "So what you think I just woke up one morning and said, My Luna sure is a weak hearted princess, I bet she would be easy to manipulate. Maybe I will make her fall in love with me and then Celestia knows what I'll do because it's her damn story!"

"What do you expect me to think!?" Celestia asked flustered "I hear of you coming and going from her chambers as she sleeps, I see you two embracing one another, nuzzles, hugs and who knows what you two are doing behind closed doors!"

"ENOUGH!" Cielo exclaimed stomping his hoof down and standing up angrily "You have known me for almost all of my life Celestia and if you THINK in your twisted little mind I would ever do ANYTHING to intentionally hurt Luna then you need more help than anypony can muster".

Celestia was taken back by his sharp tone and sudden anger leaving a stunned look on her face, no pony had ever talked to her in this manner before. Sure she had many a fights with her sister but it seemed different to be yelled at like a subordinate like Cielo "Luna's personal life is her business as is mine with her, what happened behind closed doors is none of your concern not that we DO anything. You want to know why I come and go? Because I care enough to check in on her. I made no secret about going into her chambers as she slept and she knew I would, she trusts me like you used to." Cielo shook his head a bit. "Like you used to... funny, you know it's not just Nightmare Moon your sister needs protection from... it's you."

Celestia stood dumbfounded as Cielo got up and started to walk away "H-Hey! I'm not done with you." she stuttered to her surprise as she got up to go after him. Celestia's legs shook a little as she stood "I-I said s-stop!" her voice cracked and her vision started to blur. A warm liquid ran down her cheeks dripping to the floor below, it took Celestia a moment to realize she was crying. Celestia was not upset with the way Cielo had spoken to her but more with what he said. The stallions words had struck a chord, one that nopony else aside from her sister would dare to strike.

Cielo stopped and looked back at Celestia feeling a little bad hearing her voice and seeing the tears rolling down her cheeks, it was not his intention to hurt her and in fact he was a bit harsh but what he said he felt no guilt for saying. "I'm sorry Celestia, I did not mean to upset you... but I will not apologize for my feeling towards your sister or hers towards me." Cielo turned to face Celestia pinning his ears back to his head showing a bit of remorse. "You do what you feel you have to do, I won't be back to report to you again. Luna is a mare Celestia and it's time you realize that, princess or not the more you try to bind her wings the more she will struggle to fly and trust me she will get free from your grasp." Celestia wiped her tears away and listened to Cielo speak, as much as she hated being talked to like this, her heart told her she should listen. "Once free do you think she will willingly fly back to the very one who tried to keep her from ever spreading her wings? I prefer to help her fly and be there should she need help along the way, to encourage her and show her that she matters to me just as much as she matters to you, that she is free to make her own choices and have her own opinions. I love and respect you Celestia... I always thought of you like a second mother to spitfire, you always made me feel welcome and loved." Cielo paused and looked down "until today... I do still love and respect you and I'm sorry I snapped at you like that but I feel in my heart you're in the wrong here." Looking back into her eyes Cielo spoke sincerely "I will not help you bind her wings Celestia... I'm sorry"

Celestia stood speechless unable to reply to anything Cielo had said to her, though her tears had dried already Celestia's heart remained heavy from his words. Cielo walked up to Celestia slowly and gave her a little kiss on the cheek before turning and leaving the room, the feeling of his lips lingering like that of a kiss goodbye. Celestia lay down on her day bed in front of the fire and turned her gaze back to the flames reflecting on everything that had just transpired and worst of all to her the more she thought about it the less angry she could be at Cielo and the more angry she became with herself "what have I done..." she muttered laying her head down on her hooves losing herself in though as the fire crackled before her.

Cielo made his way slowly back to Luna's chambers dreading what was to come, his mind playing over the worst scenarios over and over thinking of Luna's reaction when he came clean to her and explained what was going on with Celestia, why he was called away and his involvement in it all. The worst thought in Cielo's mind was Luna rejecting him, losing her temper and feeling betrayed by him forcing her to cast Cielo from her side. "I have to do this, no matter the outcome. Luna deserves the truth from me... no more can I lie I must come clean" he said to himself in a whisper repeating it over and over again desperate to drive the point home that he must, if he continued to wait especially after such an argument with Celestia it could come back to bite him in the flank. Cielo stopped just outside Luna's chambers looking at the doors as he mustered up the courage he needed before entering with one final hard gulp his fear was pushed down to the pit of his stomach.

Holding his head high Cielo opened the doors and walked into Luna's room being sure to close the doors behind him. "There you are~" Luna looked up from her papers with a smile taking a short break from going over her speech one last time to greet Cielo. She was lying on her bed comfortably, the papers levitated at eye level, her magic giving off a soft light purple glow that was warming to the eyes. "I was beginning to worry you had gotten lost she teased."

"No not lost, things just... took longer than expected and..." Cielo paused for a moment wishing he could turn back time and word things differently "Luna... I need to talk to you, I know this is bad timing with your speech coming up and as much as I would love to put this off I know I really shouldn't wait" Cielo finished, his demeanor changing quite a bit, he no longer looked confident but more worried.

"Sure Cielo" Luna lowered the papers , leaving them in a nice neat stack as she got off the bed and walked closer to him with a look of concern on her face for him "Is everything okay?" Luna asked stopping just short of Cielo and sitting down.

"No it's not... All I ask is you please let me say what is on my mind please princess, after that I will remain silent and listen because I'm sure you will have a few things to say to me"

"Okay?" Luna seemed confused, this was not like the Cielo she had come to know and care for, sure he was serious from time to time but he was never like this. The poor stallion looked differed and in a state of despair, taking her hoof she offered him a little comfort by placing it on his shoulder. "I promise I will not interrupt, you can tell me anything Cielo" Luna smiled warmly letting him know it was okay, she could tell whatever Celestia and him had discussed upset him.

Cielo seemed to lighten up a little and gave her a small smile feeling a bit less worried; with a deep breath he told her everything in detail from the beginning. Cielo explained to Luna why he was first place at her side confessing his knowledge of her dreams, he confessed to reporting to Celestia and every detail Celestia and he ever talked about. Luna listened as Cielo continued to explain how his feeling for Luna had changed and what had happened with Celestia moments before, never once though did he really badmouth Celestia. He made it clear though he felt she was in the wrong he also felt that Celestia believed she was in the right and only trying to protect Luna. She did as promised though her expression did turn to one of disappointment she listened until the very end. Removing her hoof from Cielo's shoulder Luna took a deep breath and remained silent. "Please... say something" Cielo asked almost begging wanting the silence to end, as if her disappointed look was not punishment enough for him "Luna... I swear I never meant to hurt you and I'm sorry I lied to you... please forgive me" Cielo bowed his head in regret.

"I do forgive you..." Luna replied softly with a hint of sorrow on her voice. "You have been honest this far so now I hope you will continue to be, is the only reason you have been so nice to me is because of my sisters order?" Luna asked looking up at him.

"No Luna just at the start... I admit at first I was following orders, I mean you did treat me like garbage but then you started to change. You started being nicer to me as your dreams started to subside, then when I was returned from dealing with that storm after being away for a few days... that's when I really started enjoying myself, I got a glimpse of the real you, the princess of the night. You were so kind and caring towards me, you showed compassion and concern for my well being. Shortly after being around the real you is when you started seeing the real me, the reason I tell you all of this, the reason I went against your sisters orders is the same reason I stand here before you now... afraid. I like you Luna" Cielo blushed slightly leaving it at just like for now though his feelings for her were a bit more developed than that. "My biggest fear walking in here was losing what we have... losing your trust or worse... losing you completely" Luna felt her cheeks warming up a bit listening to Cielo speak "I know where I want to be now, by your side" Cielo's eyes met Luna's as he finished his thought, his eyes reflecting the sincerity in his voice. "Luna I can't imagine myself ever being happy again if I were not at your side and that's the truth"

Luna felt her heart skip a beat and her breath shutter a bit, her feelings a mix of anger, sorrow and love. she was indeed angry at him for deceiving her though she did forgive him yet could not believe the kind words from Cielo's mouth, no stallion or pony for that matter had ever uttered anything close to that to her before.

"Did I say something wrong?" Cielo asked looking a bit worried again Luna shook her head no and gathered herself slowly, her throat felt dry and she found speaking next to impossible for a moment. After a few more moments of silence Luna managed to ask the only other question she could think of "Do you mean all of that?"

"I do Luna, from my heart I do. If you doubt me give me any test you see fit, I know you are still upset with me and you might not even trust me right now but my words are true. I don't care if you even have some sort of punishment in store for my betrayal of your trust just please all I ask is you not cast me from your side"

"I'm not going to Cielo" Luna replied a little breathy and flustered, her body a bit warm "As much as I don't like that you tricked me I honestly see why you did. If not for you and my sister's plan I don't know what would have become of me, the fact you stood up for me and came clean is proof enough of your loyalty and..." Luna could feel herself blush a bit as she let a bit of honesty leave her lips "To be honest I would not be happy either if you were not by my side" Luna kept her gaze to the floor to embarrassed to look at Cielo.

"Really?" Cielo was a bit shocked to hear her say that but not in a bad way, it was flattering and a big relief as well to know she was not going to make him leave or replace him.

"D-Don't read too much into it!" Luna snapped a little out of embarrassment.

"Yes princess." Cielo replied instantly not taking it personally, Luna did have a lot on her plate at the moment anyway and him poking a touchy subject of their affection was not helping.

"A-As far as punishment goes I don't think it necessary either, just never lie to me again"

"I won't Luna, from here on out I give you my word you will get nothing but honesty from me" Cielo said gratefully as he crossed his right wing over his chest and bowed to her.

Luna turned around and started back to the bed while Cielo picked his head back up "If you would be so kind to bring me some tea I could really use it Cielo, I thank you for being honest with me but I must get back to rehearsing and I need to be relaxed before facing the media"

"Yes Luna, I shall return in just a moment" Cielo quickly headed out the door to fetch Luna some tea to help her nerves.

Getting back on the bed she smiled a bit "Thank you~" she said softly after Cielo had left, she was unable to say it to him but she was more than grateful to have somepony care for her so much. Luna knew Celestia would have never said a word about it to her so Cielo could have kept it a secret from her and she'd never know. "You really have no idea how much you have done for me and how much you mean to me, I hope one day I can follow in your hoof steps and gather the courage you have to tell you just how I feel about you" Levitating the papers back to eye level Luna continued to run over her lines but no matter how much she tried to concentrate her mind kept circling back to Cielo's words "Luna I can't imagine myself ever being happy again if I were not at your side and that's the truth" replacing the anger and sorrow with happiness and hope "I'm glad I make you feel the same way you make me feel... I'm lucky to have you Cielo~"