It was a Friday morning, and The Library of Ponyville was, for a change, full of noise and clamor. Twilight Sparkle was pacing her route around the shelves far faster than she normally would, practically galloping. As she packed away books and quills and such, Spike sat back, still curious what got her so worked up.

"So it's just... studying, but back in Canterlot?"

"You don't get it Spike. It's private, personal lessons-- From Celestia!"

"But you had lessons alone with her all the time."

"Yes, but now I... Um, that is to say, now I'm going to be studying with her. Before, she was just teaching lessons or testing me. Apparently this time we're going to be studying side-by-side."

"Well, I still don't get what the fuss is all about."

Twilight just sighed and continued her staggering run, checking shelf after shelf, packing the occasional tome, even sometimes unpacking a book or two. Eventually, he gave up on his watching and went to make a light breakfast-- Pinkie, being Pinkie, insisted on a goodbye party, even if Twilight was only going away for a weekend. Something snappy and fast, maybe daisies and some vinegar dip, give her plenty of pep to see her through the trip. He knew it wasn't that far, but he always felt the trip could get a bit boring, personally. Twilight usually read while flying.

Before he made it into the kitchen, he felt that stupid tingle-tickle on the back of his throat. A letter was incoming, and a moment later, he belched out a scroll in a cloud of green smoke and flame.
"Twilight! Letter!"

"What? Now? Oh no oh no..."
She rushed over and tore into the letter with unusual speed, her eyes wide. This was really starting to bother him-- He had no clue why she was letting this little trip stress her out so much. And what really got to him was the way her face went totally white after she read what was in the scroll.

"...I. Oh. I think I need to go, Spike. Apparently the Princess needs me to bring formal attire for an event during the weekend."

"Oh wow. I didn't think there was anything big- Did I forget a holiday? Hearts and Hooves isn’t for another week and change, right?"

"Yeah. I don't think we missed anything. I suppose it's just some kind of event at the Castle."

He grinned- That sounded like something less stressful than... whatever had her so worked up.
"Well hey, maybe you can relax during that! Take a break from the studying. But I'm gonna go make breakfast, OK?"

There was no response.
"...Twilight?"

The door was already swinging on its hinges, and there was a familiar purple blur streaking towards Carousel Boutique. Spike sighed, shook his head, and went back to making breakfast-- No matter how stressed she was, she still had to eat. Sometimes, he really did wonder which of them was the one taking care of the other... Sometimes.

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"I'm sorry dear, I must have heard you wrong- You said this weekend? As in, later this evening this weekend?"

Twilight resisted the urge to tug at her mane in frustration.
"Yes! This weekend! Princess Celestia sent a letter just a few minutes ago telling me I'd need to bring 'formal attire' for some kind of event and I don't know what to bring or how to pack it or-"
A hoof to the lips, gentle, stopped her rambling.

"Twilight. Darling. There is no problem here. If anypony can solve a last-minute need for formal-wear, it's me, non?"

She nodded- She knew better than to try and talk around Rarity's hoof. Funny to learn someone who did all that work with their bare hooves could be so ticklish. And thinking back to that night made her blush, which Rarity interpreted as something else.
"Oh, don't fret in the slightest. I have the perfect idea, one fitting to your ideals of dress."

And with that, she fled into the back room, leaving Twilight to sit and wonder just how poorly this was going to go. Certainly, the dress Rarity made her for the birthday party had been fantastic- Even if it had a feeling of 'incompleteness', Twilight felt much more comfortable in that sleek ensemble than she would have in any normal Rarity dress. She couldn't hinge on Rarity making the same decision twice, even if Rarity was working towards the kind of ‘ideal’ that she might actually wear.

"Ta-da!"
She swiveled around to look at what Rarity had brought in, and it... was...

"Rarity that's perfect! It's so sleek, so simple, it doesn't have any unnecessary frills or anything. It's... It's really suited to me."

"Well of course it is- I admit that sometimes I get a bit overzealous, when it comes to designing for my friends. But I know how important making a good impression on Celestia is for you right now, so I decided to rein in my instincts and go for something... minimalist."

Twilight grasped the fabric in her magic grip- It was a sheer black piece, lavender highlights, a very tasteful gold necklace with quartz and amethyst arranged in the shape of her Cutie Mark. She wasn't seeing it on a dressform, so she had no idea how it would really look, but she could tell it would be beautiful. In a way, it reminded her of a darker version of the wonderful sundress she received on her birthday- None of the normal frills and bangles of a Rarity design, just as she had hoped.

"Thank you. I... I will be paying for this one, you understand."

"Dear, as my friend I could not possibly cha-"

She interrupted-- No sense in letting Rarity go overboard with generosity again.
"It would feel wrong to just take this one. I'm paying whether you like it or not. Although... If you think about it, it might make more sense, in this case, for me to just -rent- it from you. I don't know how often I'd have the chance to use it."

"Twilight! Of course you'll want to keep the dress- It's what you'll be wearing for your first date with Celestia!"

She blushed fiercely, trying to come up with a rebuttal.
"But, I... It's not really a date, it's just a formal function, and..."

Rarity smiled at her, trotted over, and gently pushed the dress into one of Twilight's saddlebags.
"How about this: When you get back next week, you will tell me whether you want to keep it or not. We can discuss payment then, either way."

"I... Sure. OK, yes, let's do that."

She already felt much better-- She had the dress, she was prepared (if a bit shaken) and ready to get on a carriage and head to Canterlot. There was some rough weather planned, so she'd have to stop over at one of the Flight Stations, but all in all, it would likely be an easy trip. She could finally relax.

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Fluttershy was currently as high-strung and nervous as she had ever been, and considering she had once fallen over a mile as a filly, that was pretty tense. But she had a good reason: Royal Canterlot Guards. Two of them. At her house- And this time, they weren't looking for a missing pet. In fact, this time, she had no idea why they were there, and that only made it worse. And to make matters so much worse, they were the same guards from the other day-- The pair of Night Guards who had seen her at that store. Her heart pounding in her chest, shaky on her hooves, she darted her eyes back and forth between them.

"I... can... Can I help you?"

They nodded as one, and the left of them- Slightly taller, his hair a bit thinner- spoke.
"Fluttershy of Ponyville?"

"Eep. I mean, um, yes."

He smiled then- It was disarming, strange to see coming from such a somberly-garbed stallion.
"Well. We have come from Canterlot to inform you that Princess Luna is coming to Ponyville and staying the full duration of this weekend. As one of her friends, it seemed reasonable that you would want to be told ahead of time. Please prepare yourself for a visit, likely as soon as this evening."

And without giving her a chance to reply, they turned as one and left. Fluttershy stared at them as they went, mouth slightly open. She had totally let Luna’s suggested date slip her mind, had even forgotten it was the weekend already. And if Luna was coming... Her mind flashed to the guest bed downstairs, and the various accessories on and around it, and she rushed inside so fast that the door was pulled shut by the vacuum.

--------

Two of Canterlot’s finest pegasii, pegasus stallions from impeccable “purebred” lines, pulled the golden chariot to a stop inside the large waystation- They would be taking a break, and a new passenger. Their current charge woke up with a start at the sudden lack of movement, blinking sleep out of her eyes.

“Oh! Thank you both for the fantastic ride- I almost never manage to sleep while flying.”
She placed their payment, and a few extra bits, into the receptacle on the back of the chariot’s frontplate. They nickered their thanks, and the unicorn mare moved on.

Now, how long is it before my transfer onto... Oh, half an hour. Well, I -suppose- I could find it in me to nap again...
Twilight’s thoughts were interrupted by a gentle tapping on her flank- Cold metal, not a soft hoof. She turned her head to see that Princess Luna was right behind her, smiling broadly.

“Good afternoon, Twilight Sparkle- How is Our sister’s most favored student?”
Luna stepped back when Twilight wrapped her neck in a quick hug, beaming at the royal alicorn.

“Princess Luna! I had no idea you’d be here at the Flight Station... I’m doing quite well. I’m actually going to Canterlot, to spend the weekend with your sister.”

The Princess smiled.
“Yes, so We had heard. Our dear sister told us to make Ourself scarce for a few days, and so We decided to make an impromptu visit to Ponyville. I suppose the two of us are trading places, hmm?”

It was a strange thought, trading places with a Princess, and for a split second, Twilight imagined herself in similar garb as Luna or Celestia- Strong horseshoes of dusky rose steel, a crown and necklace of the same, all bearing a six-ray star... She snapped out of the vision.
“Ah... Oh! Do you have a place to stay during the trip? If you need to, feel free to, well, literally trade places with me-- Spike would be -glad- to accommodate royalty for the weekend!”

“We... do not think so. But the offer is gladly welcomed- We will be attempting, however, to find placement with thine... or, our, as it may be, friends.”

This might actually be an opportunity to help Fluttershy out... Let’s go for it, Twilight!
“That makes sense. Hmm... Have you considered staying with Fluttershy? I know she often has the Cutie Mark Crusaders stay over at her home.”

Shockingly, Luna reacted to this with a blush- It was unexpected, but somehow fitting, on her face. She turned her head to the side as she replied, her nervousness slipping the Royal We into her sentences with increasing frequency.
“Oh. I. That is... I had been hoping to do such. Dear Fluttershy has done much to lift Our spirits since we met on Nightmare Night- Motivating Us, We suppose. We were interested in “returning the favor”, if possible.”

There were practically audible quotes around the somewhat modern turn of phrase-- Modern, at least, relative to the speaker. Twilight was only slightly surprised to hear that Luna had been interested in spending personal time with Fluttershy- From what she could tell, they had gotten along well and quickly (that first night aside), which was exactly what they had been angling for.

“Well then! I guess you should probably check with her first- And remember, the Library is open to you if you need it, even if not to spend the night- I’m sure we don’t have Canterlot’s variety, but I have some personal astronomy texts that you, er, might enjoy.”

“Thank you Twilight Sparkle- that sounds wonderful. But We must ask thou a favor, in return.”

“Go right ahead- anything you need, Luna.”

The alicorn’s gaze grew a bit dark, and she leaned in close and conspiratorially, speaking in (relative) low whispers.
“Our sister... That is to say, Celestia... She grows lonesome at night. I do not know if it is a new development since my return, or if she has been this way for longer, but... As I will not be there, I would ask that you spend as much time with her as you can, especially in the long evenings.”

Twilight blushed at the unintentional (she hoped) implications of that, but nodded, her mind now filled with images of her “comforting” Celestia, easing her loneliness... The very idea that she could do something so important for a mare of such stature shook her.
“I promise- Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

Luna looked at her quizzically, and then burst out laughing.
“Ah... Allow Us to guess. Pinkie Pie is responsible for that particular oath, is she not?”

“Ehhehe- Got it in one.”

They smiled, and then cocked their heads in opposite directions- Each was being approached by one of the coach-bearer pegasii. They spoke in almost eerie unison:
“Your coach arrived early, madam- Please, this way.”
Luna rolled her eyes at the display, apparently used to their regimented behavior, and the two of them nodded to each other. Twilight made a small bow, Luna leaned forward and nuzzled her for a moment, and they went their separate ways without saying anything further. After all, friends don’t always need words to say goodbye.