"Twilight, you got a letter from your school back in Canterlot!" a purple dragon announced, dashing upstairs from the basement.

"Oh, could you read it out for me? I'm a little busy- oh not there Trixie!" Twilight responded without turning to Spike, organising a mass of various books with her magic. Trixie was also 'helping' which meant she was throwing the books on to random shelves, which Twilight had to then organise afterwards.

"Sure thing Twi," Spike responded, clearing his throat.

"Dear Twilight sparkle, your presence is requested in Canterlot tomorrow for an annual evaluation of your magical studies. The exam will be presided over by members of the board of Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns including the royal Princess Celestia herself. You will be required to stay overnight in Canterlot for the exam as your presence will be required the following morning to recieve your results. The gracious Princess has provided a room for yourself and one guest if you so wish to bring one. Yours Sincerely, Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns."

"Ah, I've been waiting for that letter for weeks now!" Twilight said to nopony in particular.

"Aren't you nervous? It's an exam," Spike asked.

"Oh it's only a magic evaluation. I've done tons of these now, they used to get me quite anxious but they have always gone  well so I'm quite confident with them," Twilight explained, never stopping her arrangement of books.

Trixie on the other hand had stopped moments ago upon hearing the contents of the letter. "So the princess herself is going to be there?" she asked, sounding oddly nervous.

"Oh yes, she's always at my evaluations. It'll be good to see her again, it's been a while!"

Trixie's face took on an expression of discomfort at these words, and she lowered her head to try hide her disdain. Luckily Twilight was too distracted with the thoughts of seeing her mentor to notice. She continued ranting on about Celestia, how she had so much to talk about since the wedding of her brother, the last time they had met in person. Trixie got more and more irritated with each passing second, until she eventually cut in to her rant.

"Trixie would like to accompany you to Canterlot," she announced suddenly.

Twilight was silenced by the request, donning a look of surprise. Trixie rarely showed an interest in Twilight's more studious activities.

"You do?" Twilight asked incredulously. "I'd imagine you would be quite bored Trixie, I'll be busy for most of the time we're there."

"Oh Trixie is sure she can entertain herself in Canterlot. The city is not foreign to her."

"Alright, if you really want to come I'd be glad to have you with me Trix!" Twilight smiled, both confused and pleased with Trixie's offer. "I need to make some preperations. "If you two will excuse me!" Twilight dashed upstairs to her bedroom to pack.

*

Trixie was strangely silent on the train trip to Canterlot the next day. Whenever Twilight enquired if something was bothering her, she shrugged it off and said she was fine. Twilight new better, but she also knew better than to push Trixie when she was in one of these moods, as it usually only ended up making her more irritated, so she left the quiet unicorn to her thoughts and turned her own attention to some revisionary material for the exam, not that she really needed to as she knew the required spells like the back of her hoof by now.

The pair departed the train upon its arrival in Canterlot station, greeted by the pristine tall and white buildings of the regal city shining in the bright sunlight. Throngs of well dressed ponies bustled to and fro. Twilight smiled at the sight, always happy to see home again. Trixie on the other hand still looked miserable.

"Now Trixie, you'll be polite when we meet the princess right? I want her to have a good impression of you."

"Sure, sure," Trixie responded absently, waving a hoof. Twilight wasn't convinced, but decided not to press the issue. What's up with her? she thought with concern, and why did she want to come here if she was going to be like this?

They walked together to the castle mostly in silence. Twilight wrapped her tail in Trixie's as an offering of comfort, who took it in her own and leaned her head lightly on Twilight's shoulder as they walked. Twilight took this as a positive sign. She'll talk to me when she is ready she decided in her head.

Upon reaching the castle the pair were greeted by the palace guards, the large armored stallions greeting Twilight by name. She responded with a cheerful hello and led Trixie inside.

Trixie forgot her bad mood for a few moments as she was stunned by the fantastic interior of the princess's castle. Its sky high ceilings, arched windows, plush carpets and beautiful royal colour scheme took her breath away. She absently trailed behind Twilight as she inspected the regal interior design. She was eventually snapped out of her reverie by a soft yet powerful voice.

"It's good to see you my faithful student."

Trixie looked up to see the tall figure of the princess of the sun standing in front of them, looking ever graceful, her multi-coloured mane shimmering and swaying in a non-existant breeze.

She could feel bile rising in her throat at the sight.

"It's so good to see you Princess!" Twilight greeted enthusiastically, running over to share and affectionate nuzzle with her mentor. Trixie could only stare at the ground during the exchange.

"And this must be Trixie Lulamoon," Celestia observed the uncomfortable looking unicorn as Twilight strolled back to her side. "It's nice to meet you Trixie."

Trixie continued to stare at the floor, ignoring the princess. Twilight's face donned a nervous look, and she prodded the mare with an elbow.

"Nice- nice to meet you princess," Trixie spoke begrudgingly, followed by a half-hearted bow. She never looked up at the princess during the process. Twilight's stomach was a knot of tension.

"Er- Trixie, I have to go with the princess now. I'll see you later in our room ok?" Twilight explained, half concerned but also half anxious to escape the tension of the situation.

"See you later Twilight," Trixie responded dejectedly, turning and walking out of the castle, her head still hung low.

*

Twilight's head was racing upon her return to her room in the castle. How could Trixie act so rude in front of the princess? Why did she ask to come if she was just going to be so inconsiderate. She knows how much the princess means to me! Her mind had been fuming due to Trixie's behaviour since the exam finished, and it had built to a crescendo.The exam itself had been long and exhausting, but it had gone fine as she expected. The cool night air ran through her mane, the white marble steps that wound thier way up to her chambers glowed bright in the illumination of a full moon. What would have been a lovely night was shrouded in the gloom of Twilight's angry mind. She almost shattered the door to the bedroom when she threw it open, startling the blue unicorn who was lying on the rooms large four poster bed.

"Trixie, what is your problem?!" she yelled upon entering the room. Trixie leapt off the bed and opened her mouth to speak, only to be drowned out by Twilight's continued shouting. "You asked me to bring you here today and you couldn't have been more rude to the princess. What were you trying to pull."

"Don't shout at me princess's pet!" Trixie responded angrily. "Do you have any idea how unbearable your attitude is around Celestia? 'Oh Princess its soooo good to see you'," Trixie mocked in a whiny voice. "It's even worse than when I have to constantly listen to you ramble on about her at home."

"Why are you getting so mad over this, so I talk about Celestia a bit ...." Twilight responded defensively.

"No, you talk about her all the time. Hardly a day goes by that you don't mention her. You even go on about how beautiful she is! I can only imagine all the twisted little fantasies you had, and probably still do have about her!"

That last comment hit hard, because it was true. Twilight had dreamed many a time about her and Celestia in more than platonic circumstances. It had always been something she kept to herself. She had always been quite shy in the area of love to begin with, and the thought of telling anypony that she felt that way about the ruler of Equestria was too embarrassing to ever admit. She had always felt deeply confused by it, and Trixie's rant had struck a sore nerve. She felt a lump in her throat, and a rush of pressure to her eyes. She could not hold back the tears.

"How can you be so cruel Trixie?" Twilight managed to splutter before the tears began to flow freely. She turned and bolted out of the room, crying loudly as she went.

*

Princess Luna gazed lovingly into the clear, star-filled night sky. Her ancient friends winked brightly at her, and the moon beamed it's luminous glow through her perpetually flowing mane, causing it to twinkle and glow in it's presence. She smiled, happy to see her beautiful night through her own eyes, still deeply appreciative of being able to feel the living earth beneath her with her own hooves. She sat basking in the perfect scenery, surrounded by the aromatic flowers of the palace gardens, until a sound pierced the absolute serenity of the night.

It was a subtle noise, only audible due to the perfect silence of the palace's gardens at night, but it was unmistakable. A low sobbing, followed my sniffling. Some pony was crying in her garden, in the middle of the night! Luna's ears perked up at the strange sound, and she followed it to the source. She was shocked by what she discovered there.

Laying down with her head in her hooves, sobbing fiercely was none other than Twilight Sparkle, one of the very ponies responsible for the fact that Luna was able to enjoy this perfect night, and she was crying! Luna could not bear the sight.

"Twilight Sparkle!" Luna spoke a little more loudly than she intended, the surprise of the situation causing her to forget to observe the volume of her voice. It caused Twilight to recoil a little in surprise.

"Oh P-Princess Luna," Twilight managed between sniffling and recovering from her surprise arrival.

"I apologise if I started you Twilight Sparkle, it was not my intention," Luna responded in a much lower voice. "You are crying, may I ask what is the matter?"

Twilight sniffed again and looked up at the princess of the night. Her face was filled with genuine concern. She felt oddly comfortable around Luna, perhaps a result of helping the princess herself fit in with the modern world. She saw no issue with sharing her problems with her.

"It's ... it's Trixie," Twilight began, rubbing her damp eyes with a hoof.

"Trixie is the unicorn you arrived here with correct?"

"Yeah we're well ... we're in a relationship together you see. I really like her but, she said some really horrible things tonight."

"I would be very willing to listen if you wish to share."

So Twilight regaled the entire tale of the last day to Luna, describing how Trixie requested to come here herself, her rudeness to the princess and the nasty words they shared only minutes ago. She told Luna how confused she was that Trixie wanted to accompany her only to act so horribly. When Twilight finished re-counting the events she looked up at Luna who, for some bizzare reason ... smiled!

"Oh Twilight Sparkle, you are so lucky!"

Twilight's head spun. She looked incredulously at Luna. Maybe a thousand years on the moon has made her loopy she thought. "E-excuse me princess, lucky? Did you listen to what I just told you?"

Luna chuckled lightly in response. "Tell me Twilight, is Trixie the kind of pony who is in touch with her emotions?"

Twilight still looked quizzically at the princess, but decided to answer the question to see where if the princess's bizzare train of thought had a logical conclusion.

"Well ... she does have trouble expressing herself," Twilight explained.

"Mmhmm, and how does she usually act when she is upset about something?"

"Well ... she tends to either pretend nothing is wrong if you ask her, or she will act really irritable."

"That sounds quite a bit like what you explained to me about her behaviour today, but the difference here is that she really lashed out at you."

"She did, I've never seen her act so horrible ...."

"And why do you think that is?"

"She must be really upset about something."

"Yes, and I believe I know what it is. She is scared Twilight."

"Scared?"

"Yes, she is scared of losing you, to my sister."

The words hit Twilight like a brick, knocking sense into her confused mind.

"She's jealous of Celestia ...."

"Not just jealous Twilight Sparkle. Only a pony who loves you so deeply would get so upset over some compitition. I believe Trixie would do anything to have you keep her, but how can she possibly compete with the princess of the sun? The ruler of all Equestria? I imagine she see's it as a battle that she could never win. She's terrified Twilight, and in my experience ponies who are not in touch with their emotions tend to lash out when fear grips them. I believe that is what Trixie did tonight. You are lucky Twilight Sparkle, you are with a pony who cares deeply for you, only she needs some help expressing it."

Twilight was taken aback by Luna's incredible wisdom. It made so much sense. It felt as though Luna knew Trixie better than she did. Twilight forgot that Luna would indeed have decades of wisdom from before she was sent to the moon. Twilight even felt a pang of guilt that she could not recognise the behaviour in her marefriend. It seemed so obvious now.

"Wow Luna I- I think you're right," Twilight responded, her mood lifting. "You're so wise princess, thank you so much!" Twilight jumped up and embraced Luna in a tight hug. Luna hesitated, feeling slightly awkward at the sudden social contact, still adjusting to life back on the ground. Eventually she calmed, and put a re-assuring hoof around Twilight's back.

"Anytime Twilight Sparkle. I owe you a great debt after all."

*

Trixie lay on the bed with her head buried in her hooves. You suck Trixie, she mentally berated herself. Some marefriend you are. It's a wonder Twilight hasn't told you to get lost long ago. She sat on the bed stewing silently in her own self-loathing when the bedroom door suddenly swung open, revealing the unicorn she loved.

"Oh Twilight!" Trixie jumped of the bed. "I'm so sorry!" She dashed over to the purple mare and wrapped her hooves around her.

"It's ok Trixie, I know you are," Twilight said softly, placing a hoof around her. She gently stroked Trixie's mane. "But we need to discuss something. I know why you acted like you did."

"You do?" Trixie looked up into Twilight's stunning violet eyes.

Twilight took Trixie's face in a hoof. "Listen to me Trixie. It's true that I have a close relationship with the princess. She's a role model for me and my mentor. She has thought me so much and is responsible for shaping me into the pony I am today. I deeply respect her, but I chose you Trixie. I did not choose to become Celestia's understudy, I simply accepted it. I did not choose to go to her school, I was offered it and I took it. It may be incorrect to say I chose to fall in love with you Trixie, but I did choose to explore it with you. You can't keep worrying about what might happen."

Trixie's eyes had welled up during Twilight's speech, and tears were flowing by the end of it. "I- I love you so much Twilight," she sobbed into Twilight's shoulder.

"I know Trixie, I love you too."

"But you don't know Twilight, I love you so much it scares me. What would I do if I lost you?" she looked back up at her.

"You would survive Trixie, I know you would, but like I said you just can't go on thinking like that, expecting every terrible possibility."

"How did I get so lucky to have you Twilight?"

"That's another thing, you put yourself down without realising it. You say you're lucky as if you don't deserve it, but you do. I'm just as lucky to have you. You're strong, confident and beautiful, but you need to talk to me. When you're upset you need to tell me what's wrong. I know you have made it on your own most of your life, but I'm here now. Take my help."

Trixie sniffed, taking in Twilight's words. "Thank you Twi, I will."

"Alright then let's get some sleep, I'm exhausted."

The pair jumped up onto the bed and snuggled under the plush, warm blankets. They fell asleep wrapped in each other's hooves.