Twilight paced back and forth outside the examination room of her old school.

Come on Twilight, you saw how confident she was, you are probably worrying about this more than she is. She could not convince herself though, uncomfortably aware of how Trixie managed to feign confidence no matter the situation. Of course she wanted her new marefriend to pass the exam, but she was also conscious of how Trixie's success reflected on herself. Luna had trusted that she would be able to provide the tutoring necessary for Trixie to pass, what would it show if she failed? Would Luna think less of her? How would Trixie feel, would she still want to be with her if she did not succeed?

Twilight stopped and stood perfectly still in the long halls of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. She took a deep calming breath to settle her racing mind. She did all she could do, the rest was up to Trixie. The exam should be nearing its end now anyway, all her questions would be answered soon.

Ten minutes later, the door to the exam room swung open.

"Ah, here already Twilight?" Trixie greeted as she entered the corridor.

Twilight stood dumbfounded, unable to sense any hint of how the exam went in Trixie's expression or demeanor, there was no indication that she had just sat an exam, or indeed had done anything more harrowing than buying some groceries.

"Well?" Twilight asked, almost irritated by Trixie's calmness.

"What?" the magician asked.

"What do you mean what?!" Twilight asked, her voice raised. "How did the exam go?"

"Oh right sure, well, I passed, obviously."

Again Twilight could only stand and gape at the sheer audacity of Trixie's statement. It was clear she never doubted she was going to pass for a moment.

"But... you don't even seem happy, or... or excited, or anything!"

Trixie chuckled.

"How many times did I say this exam was going to be a piece of cake?"

"A few times I suppose."

"Exactly, now lets head home, I do believe this calls for a drink!"

*

"SURPRISE!"

Trixie blinked as a shower of confetti greeted her entrance to the Treehouse. The foyer had been decorated with balloons, streamers and ribbons in an array of various blinding colours. A large glittery, golden sign with the word CONGRATULATIONS hung from the ceiling. Twilight's five close friends were in the room, and Pinkie Pie was standing, arms raised to the ceiling as upon yelling the word that greeted the magician.

"Wow..." Trixie reeled for a moment. "Gotta say I was not expecting this!"

"Twilight told us all about your exam, and when I heard I just knew I'd have to throw a party for you when you passed!" Pinkie explained.

"Well, thank you. Trixie appreciates the effort. Though I must say I'm surprised to see the rest of you here."

"Hey, if you're a friend of Twilight's you're a friend of ours missy," Applejack announced. "So long as you stay in her good books you are alright with us." The rest of the room nodded in agreement. Twilight stood to her left, a smile spread on her lips.

"Sounds like a good deal to me," Trixie replied. "I hope you ponies like a good drink!"

"Hah! I'll drink you under the table loud mouth!" Rainbow challenged.

"I'll hold you that!" Trixie responded, before turning to Twilight. "Thank you."

Trixie closed her eyes and leaned in to plant a tender kiss on her marefriends lips, who responded in kind.

When the two looked back at the room, they were met with four shocked faces, and one with a huge grin.

"I knew you two would work it out!" Pinkie announced.

"So many questions..." Rarity mumbled.

"I gotta agree with Rarity on this one,' Applejack piped in.

"Oh well um, me and Trixie became very close in the time she was staying here, we are kind of a couple," Twilight looked glanced with a warm smile to he marefriend.

"How romantic," Fluttershy said with a smile. "Good for you two."

"Looks like the loud mouth wasn't the only one in for a surprise here."

"Yeah well, now that thats out of the way," Trixie interrupted. "I believe there is drinking to do?" She glanced in Rainbow Dash's direction.

"Your on!" Rainbow responded.

*

Trixie and Twilight sat together on the balcony of Twilight's bedroom, away from the loud music and laughter that still continued downstairs. The cool night air sobered the slightly inebriated pair as they sat under the stars.

"So, have you decided what you are going to do?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to head back to Canterlot, see if I can't take up that magic teaching position in the school now that I'm qualified."

"Do you have a place to stay?"

"Well... sort of. It's a little complicated. I mentioned to you a while back why you probably never seen me while you were at school, and the reason is I skipped a lot of it. I ended up dropping out before I finished because of my mother."

"What did she do?"

"She was intolerable, never happy with anything I did, always expecting me to turn out just the way she wanted. Leaving was my little source of satisfaction. I haven't spoken to her much since I ran away, I just sent her a few letters every so often letting her know I was still alive at least. I was thinking of going to my old house, seeing if she would actually let me stay there again. If not, I'll find something, I always do."

"And what about..." Twilight hesitated.

"Us?" Trixie finished.

"Yeah."

"Well, as discussed I'd like to keep this up, you've grown on me somewhat egghead." Trixie looked at Twilight with a smile. "Canterlot isn't too far from here, we can meet up wheneve we have time."

"And you are always welcome here," Twilight reminded her.

Trixie placed another kiss on her purple marefriend's lips.

"I know... now let's get back downstairs, I have to catch up to that pegasus!"