"She's almost home! There's her carriage! There she is!"

It had been a few days since everypony had returned from Canterlot. A few days since their friend's life had been changed forever. Several ponies from around town, waiting for one special pony.

"I can't believe it! I'm still gettin' shakes!" said an orange mare with a stetson.

"I know! It's positively the biggest change ever!" shouted an off white unicorn.

"Shut up there she is!" shouted a... Pinkie Pie.

A spec from the horizon grew closer, taking shape. It became a pair of pegasus guards, pulling behind them a beautifully decorated golden carriage. Everypony smiled as, from that carriage, stepped a lavender unicorn mare with purple eyes, navy blue mane with pink and purple highlights, and around her neck a collar with a starburst clasp; from it a blue cape, that same starburst adorning it's back.

"Presenting the Royal Adviser and Court Magician, Twilight Sparkle the Radiant!"

Everypony burst into cheers, and before she knew it, Twilight was being flocked by several ponies. Among them were her best friends, of course, but there were others as well; Twilight could pick out Lyra, Bon Bon, Big Mac, the Crusaders, the Cakes, and several other ponies she wasn't familiar with.

"Welcome home, Court Magician!" shouted Rainbow, grinning.

"We've been so eager to see you again!" shouted Fluttershy - as much as the mare ever really shouted.

"Oh my goodness, thanks everypony!" Twilight blushed madly, smiling a big smile. "It's great to be home! I missed you all!"

Spike leaped from the back of the carriage, grinning wide. Much like Twilight himself, he was wearing new clothes as well; a collat with a starburst clasp as well. Rarity noticed him approach and smiled a gentle smile. "Oh my! Does our Spikey Wikey have a promotion as well?"

"Yep!" the dragon grinned and puffed his chest out. "You're looking at the Royal Adviser's Assistant!" He chuckled a bit, rubbing his claw against his chest. "It's sort of like my old position, but cooler! I get my own stipend rather than having to get paid by Twilight, and I get special privelages!"

Twilight giggled, patting Spike's head, turning to her friends again. "Well, I assume Pinkie has a party planned, so does everypony mind if I get home and relax a bit first?"

"Oh..." Everypony's faces fell. Suddenly, they all looked away, as if trying to look at anything but Twilight, who stared in confusion and worry.

"... What? 'Oh' what? What does 'Oh' mean?"

"Well..." Applejack hissed through her teeth, rubbing the back of her neck with a hoof. "We... kinda figured you'd be stayin' in Canterlot... so we... uh... gutted the tree an' replaced it with a trade school..."

"You WHAT!?" Twilight shouted, grabbing Applejack by the shoulders. "You replaced my beautiful library with the lowest form of education available!?"

Applejack stared at Twilight, bewildered. Then the corner of her mouth twitched. And she burst into laughter. Everypony else did as well. Twilight blinked a few times, looking at them, before laughing herself. "Oh... oh you got me good! You really got me good!" Twilight shook her head. "Oh... I was so worried..."

Everypony wound down from the laugh, Applejack wiping a tear from her eye. "Ahh... but seriously? We thought you were gonna stay in Canterlot so we almost turned your tree into a Night school. Luna's suggestion cause she has no idea what a Night school is. Might have to take that up with the ponies who've been trying to reorganize your stuff."

---

"So, what exactly do you do?"

Everypony wanted to know, but Rainbow Dash was the one to actually ask it. The Sugarcube Corner was full of ponies, party in full swing, with a select few standing around Twilight. "Well" said the mare, smiling and nodding, "I do a lot of things! My major role is an adviser to Celestia on all matters, especially those pertaining to magic and it's relation to national security. With my station, I have connections to the greatest magical experts in Equestria and beyond, and have access to libraries and resources that only the Princesses otherwise get."

"Wow!" Pinkie shouted with a bounce. "That sounds super cool!"

"So you really are like a super egghead!" Rainbow chuckled, getting pointed glares from everypony - except for Twilight, who simply giggled.

"I guess that's really not too far from the truth!" She smiled. "My station is important, and a major part of it is knowledge! Whatever I don't know, I can find out!"

Rainbow blinked. "Wow. Sounds boring." Everypony glared at her once again. "But cool for... ya know... you!"

"It's alright" Twilight smirked. "All I know is this. I couldn't be happier! As Court Magician, I'm a major authority in magic, science, and other related fields!" She grinned at Rainbow Dash. "Part of that job means that I may have to be called away on adventures that only skilled magicians can go on, and I might need a little help for those..."

"Aw yeah!" Rainbow threw a few hoof punches. "That's more like it! Tell me when ya do, it'll be like Daring Do!" Twilight giggled and shook her head, her friends sharing a chuckle with her.

"Anyway" Twilight turned her attention back to all of her friends in general. "Next week I'm planning on visiting Starswirl's Library for a while. As Celestia's Adviser, I have access to all of his materials!" Twilight shook with giddy anticipation. "Starswirl was the greatest magician in known Equestrian history! It's said his library contains texts and spells the likes of which other ponies have never even heard of! Mystical artifacts! Ancient knowledge! It will be so wonderful!"

"But Twilight" Pinkie held up a hoof, "I thought you said you'd be staying in Ponyville?"

"Oh, of course I will!" Twilight raised her forehooves. "Don't worry, it's just a week! I'm just going to be taking time to learn the library's structure, organize things as needed, all that!" She smirked. "It's not going to be my permanent home; just my home away from home!"

"Oh, that's good" said Fluttershy, smiling. "We'd miss you if you left."

"And I'd miss you girls too." Twilight smiled and looked over all her friends. "You've all been so good to me, and you've helped me get to where I am. I could never think of leaving you!"

"Hey! Crazy idea..." Spike added, eating a cupcake. "Why don't they come with us?"

"What?" Twilight quirked a brow. "Really? Let them come with us? Can we do that? I'd figured Starswirl's Library would be extremely limited access..."

"Nope!" Spike grinned. "As the Royal Adviser and Court Magician, anypony you allow in is allowed in! It's advised you choose who you let in wisely, but these are our friends! We can trust them with anything!"

"Oh!" Twilight smiled. "Thank you Spike!" She pat the dragon on the head, and turned back to her friends. "Well then! We'll leave next week! I suggest everypony bring everything they'll need for a week's time!

---

The party had died down after some time, most ponies returning to their homes to finish up their days before bed. In the end, only the six mares, one dragon, and the proprietors of the bakery themselves had remained, with Twilight and gang giggling and sharing stories.

"And then... and then she said 'Baker's dozen? I just wanted to use your bathroom!" Everypony burst into laughter as Pinkie finished her story. Or joke. Sometimes it was hard to tell with Pinkie Pie. Tears were wiped from eyes as ponies tried to reign in their mirth for a respite.

"Oh Pinkie..." said Rainbow with a few post-laughter huffs. "You're so crazy!"

"I'm not crazy! My mother had me tested!"

Twilight looked out of the nearby window to see it was dark outside, and that some houses had even begun to shut their lights out. "Well girls, it's getting kind of late. I think Spike and I should be heading back."

Spike frowned. "What? Why can't we..." The baby dragon stopped, his train of thought interrupted by a long yawn. "... Why can't we stick around just a bit longer?" Twilight simply smirked at him. "Yeah... I guess I am kind of sleepy..."

"I s'pose I should head on back too" said Applejack, looking out the window herself. "Big Mac n' Apple Bloom headed home an hour ago. I figure if I stick around too long they'll worry." She frowned a bit. "An' when Big Mac worries, he eats." With that, everypony said their goodbyes, exchanged hugs, and, naturally, gave Twilight Sparkle another round of congratulations.

Twilight walked the streets with her little dragon friend on her back, smiling as she felt him cling, breathing against her neck with soft snoring. 'I knew he didn't have much time left in the world of the waking.' Twilight giggled a bit to herself, shaking her head. Eventually, she happened upon her library home, her horn glowing and pulling the door open. Stepping inside, she shut it behind herself, taking the time to turn the lights on...

And there was a bathtub in the middle of the living room, it's occupant a massive, serpentine creature with mismatched limbs. "Don't you ever knock?"

Twilight grimaced. Despite his claims of being reformed, she wasn't sure she was entirely comfortable with Discord just yet. "Well, it is my house, so no."

Discord chuckled. "Technically, this place is public property. Your 'house' is the loft on the second floor." He gave a shrug. "But I digress..." Holding up his eagle's claw, Discord snapped his fingers and in that moment, the bath tub disappeared. "I just wanted to congratulate Celestia's latest henchmare on her promotion to elite mook!"

"I'm not letting you get to me" said Twilight, walking past Discord. "This is the greatest thing to happen to me in my life."

"Oh, I'm not saying it's a bad thing..." Discord waved his hoof. "By all means, you're one of the most important ponies in all of Equestria! Some would argue even the Princesses are less important!"

"What?" Twilight frowned, turning to Discord. "Why is that? They're the Princesses."

"Yes..." Discord chuckled. "They are. But that's more or less just a title. Only Celestia plays an active role as a princess. Luna and Cadence are more or less just there to look pretty..."

"Cadence is the ruler of the Chrystal Empire..." Twilight frowned.

"Which, need I remind you, has been annexed by Equestria." Discord chuckled,appearing next to Twilight Sparkle, but having a familiar pink, purple and gold maned wig with a tiara. "She's just there to make sure it runs smoothly. Surely by now you've noticed not even the Princesses have absolute power. They're figure heads."

"What is the purpose of this little chat?" Twilight levitated Spike from her back, setting him on a nearby cushion where the dragon curled up.

"Believe it or not, I sincerely am here just to congratulate you on your success." Discord huffed, crossing his arms. "Just because you had to go on that adventure in monkey-land right after your promotion doesn't mean you have to get snippy with me."

"Yeah..." Twilight rolled her eyes. "I'm taking all my frustrations on Sunset Shimmer out on you."

"You do know she wanted to become an Alicorn right?" Discord smirked. "If you're going to have access to Equestria's libraries, I see no harm in telling you that Alicorns have the ability to make other Alicorns. And I don't mean in the 'when a mare loves a stallion' sort of way."

Twilight blinked. "What? Really?" She hummed, tapping a hoof to her chin. "Fascinating..."

"Not really." Discord shrugged. "It's more or less just a cheap ploy to sell toys."

"What?"

"Anyway" said Discord, waving a claw dismissively. "I'd be careful with what you do in Star Swirl's Library. That old stallion had collected a lot of strange trophies over his many adventures, and some of the things that he had fall into the 'Very Bad News' category in the wrong hooves."

"What?" Twilight frowned. "Really? I figured Celestia would possess those things?"

"She does." Discord smirked. "She's essentially been playing her own court wizard since her last one passed away." He smirked. "I just figured I'd let you know. I happen to know some of your friends like to play with dark and dangerous magic, and I'd hate to see somepony... *coughPinkiePiecough* ... go insane from looking into the mirror of dark parody and start chopping ponies up to make cupcakes."

Twilight frowned. "That's... disturbing..."

"Yeah..." Discord shrugged. "Oh well. Have a nice day." With a flash, Discord disappeared. Twilight stared at where he had been, sighed and shook her head. She turned and trotted towards the stairs up to the loft; in a flash, he reappeared in front of her. "Also, you're about to get a special visitory in three, two..."

There was a knock on the door. Twilight took her eyes off Discord for a moment. "Just a minute!" When she turned back to address him, he had disappeared, leaving only a note in his place.

One not-disappearing-act

Discord

Twilight sighed, levitating the note to a nearby table and trotting towards the door. Her magic grabbed the handle and pulled it opened, to find. She was admittedly surprised by the sight of a familiar blue unicorn in a familiar magician's cape behind the door.

"Yes, I'm sorry, but the Great and Powerful Trixie is going to need her hat back? The one she lent to you at your celebration?" Trixie rubbed her hoof against the back of her head. "Trixie's black cape doesn't really work without the Alicorn Amulet, and it doesn't feel right to wear her more traditional magician's attire without the hat."

---

A teapot tilted to fill a cup with freshly brewed tea, wrapped in a magenta aura before setting down on the table. Twilight watched as her guest stuffed her face with crackers, trying to pretend not to mind. "Trixie is incredibly sorry for bothering you so late..." said the mare through muffled, face-stuffing bites.

"It's nothing..." said Twilight, conjuring a faint bubble around herself to keep crumbs from getting on her or in her tea. "... Although I am quite surprised. You came all this way for just your hat?"

"Yes" said Trixie with a nod, before pausing. "Well... no." Trixie frowned. "Trixie was just wondering... " She gulped a bit, trying to gather her courage. Or dampen her pride. Twilight was sure it was one or another. "... Trixie was wondering... if... if..." Finally, the mare broke down and slammed her hooves on the table, startling Twilight. "Alright! Trixie admits, you're the superior unicorn! You possess magic the likes Trixie would never know, and Trixie wants you to teach her to be at least a fraction of the magician you are!" She glared at Twilight. "And if you ever tell anypony Trixie admitted it, she will punch you in the eye!"

Twilight stared at the blue mare a few moments. "Wow... Trixie, I don't know what to say." The lavender mare rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. "I mean... I'm honestly flattered... but... why do you want to learn from me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Trixie frowned. "You learned from Celestia. You're her prized protege. No offense, Twilight Sparkle, but Trixie has no hint of doubt in her mind your power comes from having a good teacher. If Trixie is to be as Great and Powerful as she deserves, she needs only the best teachers!" The mare frowned. "And Celestia rarely takes students...." She seemed to slump more. "... And Trixie can't afford schooling."

"Wait..." Twilight raised a brow. "Have you ever gone to a magic school?"

"A little while..." Trixie frowned. "... Trixie just... didn't like Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Too much discipline."

"Why not go back?"

"Trixie was...." Trixie paused. She lowered her head, and said something unintelligible.

Twilight stared at the other unicorn for a moment. ".... Run that by me again?"

"Trixie was mm-mmf..."

"One more time?"

"Trixie was expelled, alright!?" The mare slammed her hooves on the table again.

"Can you stop doing that?" Twilight furrowed her brow. "You'll wake Spike up."

"Sorry..." Trixie snorted. "... Trixie was expelled, because as Great and Powerful as Trixie is, she and her teachers didn't often see eye to eye. They wanted her to write theses and recite magical formula and Trixie just couldn't stand any of it."

"Well, you have to learn." Twilight sighed. "Trixie, you can't just go in and expect to become a master-level Unicorn on the first day. Magic is a lot of things, but most of all it's volatile." Twilight's horn glowed, lifting up a cracker. "Practice is one thing, but understanding how magic works allows you to practice more cautiously, turning the spell to second nature. These two things combined make all the difference, deciding if a spell works..." The cracker flashed in magenta light, suddenly shaped like a duck, though decidedly still a cracker. "... Doesn't work..." Another bright flash, though this time the duck looked halfway between being a duck and an amorphous shape. "... Or goes completely wrong." The cracker began to shake violently, before bursting into magenta flame. Twilight was quick to snuff it out, tossing the burnt cracker into a nearby disposal bin. "You remember what the Alicorn Amulet did to you right?"

Trixie frowned. "Trixie will not forget the rest of her days."

Twilight nodded. "That amulet was a good analogy of what happens when you can't control magic. You didn't know what you were dealing with, and as a result, you weren't ready to deal with it's effects."

"So wait..." Trixie hummed, tapping a hoof to her chin. "Are you saying if Trixie was ready for it, the Alicorn Amulet wouldn't corrupt her?"

"No." Twilight furrowed her brow. "Don't get ideas. Zecora hid it away expertly, and I'll never trust you enough to let you touch it again." Twilight noticed that Trixie seemed surprisingly hurt by that statement, so she sighed and relaxed. "... But that's not your fault. A strong enough will might be able to resist the corruption of the amulet... but it works so subtly that it's difficult to tell if one is controlling it or not."

"I see..." Trixie sighed. "... So Trixie will never be good at magic?"

"What?" Twilight frowned, suddenly feeling a great deal guilty. "I didn't say that! I'm just saying if you want to be good at magic, you have to take learning it seriously!"

"Of course!" Trixie looked into Twilight's eyes, a surprisingly determined fire in hers. "And that is why Trixie came to you! You are the best magician Trixie knows! Surely you'd be willing to help her become a master of the magical arts?" Trixie's expression shifted suddenly to one of a sad, pouty face. Twilight stared at the other mare a few moments as she tried her hardest to seem pathetic.

Finally, Twilight rolled her eyes. "Fine... I might be able to teach you a little..." She pointed at Trixie. "But with a few conditions."

"Which are?"

"One... you have to take me and anything I ask of you seriously." Twilight watched Trixie, who seemed to still be paying attention. "... Two, you have to be careful. All magic has the potential to do harm, and if I find you doing anything I'm not comfortable with, you won't get help from me anymore. Finally, you have to be respectful. I think that speaks for itself."

"Trixie agrees."

"Excellent." Twilight nodded, clapping her hooves together.

"Can we begin tomorrow?"

"What?" Twilight frowned. "But... I just got back home and...." Once more Trixie was giving her quicering lips and sad eyes. The mare sighed. "The day after. I need at least one day to rest up from all the stress of the past week."

"Excellent!" Trixie beamed, clopping her hooves together. "See you then Twilight Sparkle!" The mare immediately hopped up, ran around the table, hugged Twilight, and rushed to the door. "Trixie must go sleep now, it's getting late, goodnight bye!" With that, the door slammed, causing Twilight to wince. She stared at the door, turning her attention to the tea set on the table before her, placing a hoof on the bridge of her nose and sighing.

"Things just don't get any easier, do they?"