//------------------------------//
// Short: "Contrivance" 
// Story: Domain of Friendship 
// by Cold Bolt 
//------------------------------//

"That was an unmitigated disaster."

"Well, I still had fun!"

"Of course you did."

"My dress is ruined...!"

"Yeah, but did you see the ball room?"

"I'm just glad we're not in trouble..."

Twilight stifled a giggle as she overheard her friends chattering behind her. There wasn't enough room at any of the booths in the Canterlot donut shop for all ten of them, so she and Princess Celestia decided to take one adjacent to the rest of the group, which suited her just fine; she'd been waiting all evening to have an uninterrupted one-on-one conversation with her mentor, and now she finally had her chance.

"Should I take this to mean the evening wasn't a total loss, then?" Celestia's smirk was almost uncharacteristically impish.

"Oh! W-Well, I mean, um..." Caught off guard, Twilight could only stammer in reply.

Celestia chuckled. "You needn't worry about the palace, Twilight Sparkle. The damage will all be repaired and cleaned up before long."

Twilight bit her lip as she glanced over her shoulder at the eight ponies in the booths behind her; if any of them were listening, they betrayed no hint of their awareness. "Are... you sure it's really okay, Princess?"

Celestia nodded slowly. "I've seen so many Grand Galloping Galas in my day that they have all begun to blend together in my head. While I might have hoped for perhaps a bit less mayhem, I was betting that inviting the nine of you this year would... liven things up a bit, and I am far from disappointed."

"Well, in that case..." Twilight slumped a little in her seat as the tension finally began to leave her body.

"There we go. There's no need to be nervous." Celestia tilted her head subtly, the better to encourage her pupil to make eye contact. "I'm proud of what you've accomplished so far, and I hope you are as well; I wasn't expecting you to progress this quickly."

"Neither was I," Twilight admitted. "I'd probably still be at square one if not for that book you sent me."

Celestia's smile broadened. It was just like Twilight to find the answer in a book. "I'm glad I could help. Which book was it, may I ask? I might like to have our scholars examine it more closely once you're done with it."

Twilight fiddled with the collar of her dress. "It was that weird one. 'Filgaia Fables,' I think? I meant to ask why you sent it separately by courier instead of in the royal mail with the rest."

Celestia blinked. "I... didn't send you any books by courier."

"W-What? I thought for sure..." Twilight's eyes widened as she reflexively glanced about the room. "But if you didn't send it, then who did? There was no return address on the package; even the courier herself didn't know where it had come from."

"How strange..."

Celestia's brow furrowed. Normally, her instinct would have been to exercise caution... but if the delivery of this mysterious book carried some ill intent, surely it would've made itself known by now? Even setting that aside, it sounded almost too convenient to be true, but...

"I'd still like to have a look at it later on, but in the meantime... if it has brought you success so far, then I don't think there's anything to worry about." That would do then, wouldn't it?

Sure enough, Twilight relaxed once again, causing Celestia's smile to return.

"Joe? Another round of donuts, if you please. Make mine glazed."