Twilight was carefully arranging the table in her throne room, as Spike finished cleaning the chairs down, when she heard a loud knocking on the castle door. She was about to turn and get it when Starlight burst out a hallway, and rushed to the door.

"I've got it, Twilight! Just keep doing what you're doing!", she called hastily as she made for the impatient knocker.

Her head tilted in confusion, she stared at where Starlight had ran off. A snap from Spike's claw caught Twilight's attention, and she turned to see him gesturing to the scattered tableware on the map-turned-dining table. She went back to organizing them, and as two pairs of hoofsteps drew closer, she magically placed the rest of the scattered silverware. Turning, she saw Starlight walking very close to her old rival, Trixie. Twilight glared at Trixie, who gave her a smug look back. Twilight started to blush uncontrollably.

Stop that, Twilight! It's Trixie, for Celestia's sake! You don't, likeher, do you?!

Starlight looked from Twilight to Trixie, who was snickering, locking gazes with Twilight. Trixie then gave Starlight a hug, and Starlight happily returned it. Twilight heaved a sigh of relief, happy the attention wasn't on her anymore. Spike had walked up next to Twilight, and was watching Trixie with an expression of suspicion.

"Good luck with her, Twilight.", Spike muttered, casting a glare at Trixie, "Sorry, but I've got places to be."

"That's fine, Spike.", Twilight whispered.

Spike gave Twilight a quick hug, before a speedily walked past Trixie and Starlight, who were talking and gossiping with each other. As she watched Spike leave, Twilight looked back at the pair of friends, and she had an odd feeling in her stomach. Odd, but familiar. Am I jealous? Why should I be? My own friend's coming today as well.

Trixie and Starlight walked to the table, sitting next to each other. Trixie playfully tapped Starlight's muzzle, and the two erupted in loud giggling. Twilight's stomach churned as that familiar feeling sunk in again. Sitting down at the table, Twilight found her own spot across from them.

Trixie gave Twilight a quizzical look as she sat down. "So, do you have a friend coming? Or is the Princess of Solitude on her own today?", she sneered.

Twilight ignored her face that was starting to flush red, and gave Trixie a smug look of her own. "I do. And it's a pony neither of you have met."

Twilight stood with her front hooves on the table, making herself look superior to both Trixie and Starlight. Trixie cocked an eyebrow, and Starlight started to look uncomfortable. Trying to stand taller, Twilight's hind hooves accidentally kicked her chair too far for her to reach, and she fell to the ground with a soft thump.

"That's the best you've got?", Trixie managed to say before she burst out laughing.

"So that's what Spike meant when he told me about their rival-y battles...", Starlight muttered to herself, crouching lower in her seat, her face red in embarrassment.

An opening of a door made everypony at the table turn. Another pony, Sunset Shimmer, walked in the castle door. She walked up to the table, her eyes closed.

"Hi Twilight! How are things?", she said gleefully, then opening her eyes, she took a step back, noticing the awkward scene before her.

"F-fine...", Twilight groaned, pulling her chair in and sitting back down.

Sunset looked at Trixie, and quickly shifted her gaze to Starlight, who looked as embarrassed as Sunset felt. Taking a breath, Sunset took a seat at the table between Twilight and Starlight. She turned to Starlight, giving her a sympathetic glance. Starlight looked back at her, sighing. Clearing her throat, Trixie caught Twilight's attention. Not that she didn't already have it, anyway.

"So... who's this?", she asked.

"Sunset Shimmer.", she retorted. Looking to Sunset, and speaking in a calmer voice, she introduced Trixie and Starlight to Sunset.

Sunset said a quick greeting to the two unicorns, and lowered in her seat at the awkward tension in the room. She looked to Trixie. "S-so... what're you doing here?", she asked curiously.

Trixie tapped her chin with a hoof. "Well, I do like to come in every now and then to make Princess Loner mad... but today, its mainly to see my best friend.", she smiled, first giving Twilight a triumphant look, then looking at Starlight more sincerely. Starlight smiled back.

The pit in Twilight's stomach fumed, and crossing her hooves, she put her muzzle on them, heaving a heavy sigh. Sunset and Starlight looked at the alicorn sympathetically, and Trixie looked her over quizzically.

Sunset looked back to Trixie. "Best friend?"

Trixie and Starlight nodded in unison, glancing at each other and blushing. Sunset smiled. "You seem very close.."

The blue unicorn gave another nod. "Speaking of which..", Trixie pulled her hat off her head with her hoof, then using her magic, pulled a bouquet of flowers out of the star-etched hat. Looking at Starlight, Trixie was about to give her the flowers when Twilight realized what was going on. Jealousy still churning in her stomach, she slammed her hooves on the table, making the other three mares jump, all startled. Trixie looked at Twilight, a challenge gleaming in her eyes.

"Something wrong, Twilight? Is there some feelings about somepony you'd like to let out?", she sneered.

"No! I d-don't! It's just-!", Twilight looked at Trixie, face flushed as red as a tomato.

Sunset and Starlight looked even more awkward than before. Trixie leaned a little closer to Twilight. "Well?"

"Oh, fine! I like-", her last word was cut off by a loud crash coming from Twilight's kitchen. By the sound of it, probably a pan that fell. Off the fridge, most likely. The mares all looked confused, except Twilight, who stifled a loud groan.

"It's that time of the week again...", she said to herself, sighing.

"Oh yes it is!~", Discord sang, walking out of the kitchen, and into the throne room, his arms full of cabbages.

"Discord?", the other mares all gasped in unison.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Yes. Discord. He comes by every week and raids my fridge. For some reason..."

Discord nodded, and with a snap of his claw, the cabbages were all in a hiking pack that was already on Discord's back. "There doesn't need to be a reason when you're Discord, Twiley!", he replied, smiling at Twilight.

"Whatever..", the alicorn sighed again.

"Welp, I'll be off! Oh, and if you're having a 'love problem', I would suggest going to these ponies.", he added, snapping his claw to make a short list of names appear in front of Twilight.

Watching Discord teleport away, Twilight's gaze soon went to his list of names. Reading it quickly, she shook her head. "No, no, and no... Wait, who the heck are these 'rock trolls'?"

Trixie looked curiously at the list. "Wait, who are the other names? And why no?"

Twilight groaned. "Names, doesn't concern you. And why no? Well, let's see, first, I'd rather not get involved with changelings again. Second, the Crystal Empire is too far away, and third, Pinkie Pie knows nothing about love."

"But she's psychic.. Isn't she?", Starlight pointed out.

"That's just her Pinkie Sense, which has nothing to do with relationships.", Twilight countered, dismissing the idea.

Trixie cleared her throat yet again. "Twilight? Who is it that you like again?", she asked, going back on topic.

Twilight stuttered. "U-um..."

"Well?", Trixie gave Twilight a curious look, leaning in closer, causing Twilight to blush again. With no answer from Twilight, Trixie came even closer, until their muzzles were touching.

"Y-you...", Twilight whispered, the word barely audible to Trixie's ears.