Morning came, and Twilight awoke with her mind full of apprehension.
"Maybe the party wasn't such a good idea." She said to Spike over breakfast. "What if it doesn't work? What if all the ponies just keep bowing and kneeling through the entire party, and never treat me like they used to ever again?!"
"Relax, Twilight." Spike suggested.
"Relax?" Twilight repeated. "This is my entire social future we're talking about. I can't relax!"
Spike groaned. He had seen Twilight act like this before, usually before a big test, or a visit from Princess Celestia. In this state, she was almost impossible to reason with. But he wouldn't be much of a "number one assistant" if he didn't try.
"Easy, easy." Spike held up his claws. "Remember that breathing technique Cadance taught you? Use it!"
Placing a hoof on her front, Twilight breathed in, then breathed out, pushing the hoof outward.
"Feel better?" Spike asked.
"A little." Twilight smiled. "Thanks, Spike."
"It's what I'm here for, sister." Spike shrugged.
"Hoo!" Twilight's pet owl, Owlowiscious, hooted loudly.
"Me, Spike, that's who!" Spike yelled.
Twilight chuckled, her mood lightened further.
After breakfast, Twilight travelled to the town hall, where Pinkie Pie was putting the finishing touches on the party decorations. As she entered, the young princess found herself impressed. The decorations were lavish and attentive. Pinkie must have had her party cannon working overtime.
"Wow, Pinkie." Twilight whistled. "You've really outdone yourself."
"Oh, stop!" Pinkie gushed. "I'm just doing what I do best!"
As the party's starting time drew near, Twilight changed into the dress Rarity had made her for her last birthday. She was hoping it's stark simplicity would convey the message that she really was no different then she had ever been, and certainly no better then the citizens of Ponyville. Spike had dressed for the party too, donning the jewel-encrusted bowtie Rarity had once given him.
Soon, the guests started to arrive. Pinkie had sent invitations to practically every resident of Ponyvile, and they came in droves, partly because it was a Pinkie Pie party (Which nopony in town would miss if they could help it), and partly because they didn't want to incur the disappointment of their new princess.
'Okay.' Twilight thought to herself. 'This is it.'
Stepping onto the podium, Twilight tapped the microphone standing there as a test, cleared her throat, and began.
"Hello, everypony." She began. "Thank you all for coming. I know you might think this party is all about me, but it's really for all of us. Princess or subject, we're all here for the same reason. Now, let's all have fun and enjoy the festivities!"
And with that, the party went into full swing. Stepping off the podium, Twilight attempted to start a conversation with Cheerilee and Caramel.
"So, how are you enjoying the party so far?" She asked.
"Very well, your highness." Cheerilee replied.
"There's no need to call me that." Twilight retorted. "Like I already said, this party is for all of us. You don't need to give me any special treatment."
"Anything you say, Princess." Caramel said nervously.
"Twilight." Twilight said testily. "Just Twilight. Clear?"
"P-perfectly." Caramel stuttered.
"Excuse us, Princess Twilight." Cheerilee quickly moved Caramel away, apparently fearing that he would incur Twilight's royal wrath.
"That could have gone better." Spike observed.
That encounter set the trend for the next few minutes. Nothing Twilight said or did could dissuade the guests of the notion that she required special treatment.
"It's not going very well, is it?" Rarity asked the others.
"Sure ain't." Applejack nodded.
"Well are we just gonna stand here, or are we gonna do somethin' about it?" Rainbow asked.
"Do something?" Fluttershy whispered hopefully.
"Got that right!" Rainbow whooped.
"That's what I like to hear!" Pinkie cheered. "Let's help make Twilight the life of the party!"
"Fluttershy, music!" Rainbow declared.
Turning to her songbird choir, Fluttershy took a conductor's baton in her mouth and started waving it. In response, the songbirds whistled a jaunty tune.
"Come on, everypony!" Pinkie yelled into the microphone. "Let's dance!"
The guests began dancing.
"Hey, Twilight!" Rainbow called from the podium. "Howsabout getting up here and showing everypony your moves?"
"Me?" Twilight gaped.
"Of course, darling!" Rarity jumped in. "Dance like only you can!"
"Okay..." Twilight shrugged, taking her place on the podium.
Twilight began dancing enthusiastically. However, she was unaware of a simple fact; She wasn't a very good dancer. In fact, the dance she was currently performing made it seem as if an invisible creature had dug it's claws into her back, and she was trying her best to buck it off.
The guests looked at Twilight, unsure of what to make of her moves. One, a pegasus colt named Rumble, started snorting with derision, but was quickly silenced by his big brother Thunderlane, who clamped his hoof against the colt's mouth, at the same time whispering "Shhh!"
The Cutie Mark Crusaders detached themselves from the crowd, joining Twilight on the podium.
"Nice moves!" Scootaloo smiled.
"Can we dance with you, Twilight?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Sure!" Twilight smiled. "The more, the merrier!"
The young fillies began imitating Twilight's movements.
"Wait, is that what I look like when I'm dancing?" Twilight snorted, followed by a giggle. "Oh, I must look ridiculous!"
"Nu-uh!" Sweetie Belle replied. "You look good!"
"Yeah!" Scootaloo added.
"Well, maybe we should try another dance, just to be safe." Twilight suggested.
Standing on her hind legs, Twilight began tapdancing. The CMC followed suit, and were joined by the rest of the mane six.
"Yee-haaw!" Applejack cheered.
"Woo-hoo!" Fluttershy yelped, just a few decibals higher then normal.
The ponies in the crowd started clapping along to the beat. One of them actually called out "You go, princess!"
"Alright, I will!" Twilight replied, emboldened by the crowds' support. "Watch this!"
Concentrating hard, Twilight charged up her horn, and released a one-pony fireworks display into the air. The magic bursts formed all sorts of shapes, such as a dragon, and a diamond. The crowd "oohed" and "awed" appreciatively.
"That's for all of you." Twilight smiled. "The residents of Ponyville. My friends, one and all!"
The crowd smiled and/or blushed with pride.
"Let's hear it, folks!" Rainbow called out. "Twi-light! Twi-light!"
"Twi-light! Twi-light!" The crowd roared.
"Come on, everypony!" Pinkie yelled. "All together, now!"
Under Pinkie's urging, the guests joined Twilight and the others, forming a massive conga line.
"Da-da-da-da-da, hey!" Pinkie sang."Da-da-da-da-da, hey!"
The ice had officially been broken. From that moment on, the guests were far more open with Twilight, enabling her to talk to them on equal hoofing.
"...And the griffon said: 'It's very beak-coming!'" Twilight finished.
As, the surrounding ponies laughed their heads off, Twilight smiled. That was one of Pinkie's best jokes, guaranteed to get big laughs.
"'Beak-coming!'" Mayor Mare chortled. "Good one, prin- I mean, Twilight."
"Pinkie Pie told me that one." Twilight declared. "The first time I heard it, I couldn't stop laughing!"
"Who wants cupcakes?" Pinkie called as she wheeled in a big tray of the confections.
The assembled ponies practically stampeded over to her.
"Please, allow me." Twilight declared.
Using her magic, Twilight lifted up the cupcakes, and distributed them to all the guests.
"Wow!" Pipsqueak said gleefully. "You're my second-favorite princess ever!"
"Thanks, Pip." Twilight chuckled, knowing full well who the young colt's favorite was. She turned to the rest of the crowd. "And thank you all. I know it hasn't been easy for you to adjust to the new me, but I'm glad you did, even if it did take longer then I thought."
"Let's hear it for Twilight!" Spike piped up.
The crowd cheered Twilight on, as she waved bashfully.
Eventually, the party wound down, and the guests departed. Twilight, Spike, and the rest of the mane six were the last to leave.
"You were right, Pinkie." Twilight admitted. "A party was the way to go."
"Isn't it always?" Pinkie giggled.
"You were awesome tonight, Twilight!" Rainbow declared.
"Indeed you were, darling." Rarity agreed.
"No question." Spike added.
"Boy, howdy!" Applejack chipped in.
"It was the most incredible thing I've seen since I helped deliver those baby otters last month." Fluttershy smiled.
"Thanks, guys." Twilight grinned. "You're the best!"
The group entered into a seven-way hug before they each departed for their respective home.
On their return to the library, an exhausted Twilight dictated a letter to the sleepy Spike:
Dear Princess Celestia,
This week, I learned how change can affect your friendships. It can be hard for others to adjust to your new self, and that can become frustrating. But as long as you keep trying, and always be yourself, they will remember that you're the same pony that you've always been, and your friendship with them will be stronger then ever.
Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.
The writing done, Spike rolled up the letter and breathed his magical fire on it, sending it to Princess Celestia.
"You really were great tonight, Twilight." Spike smiled. "Maybe from now on, we should call you 'the princess of partying'!"
"An impressive title." Twillight chuckled. "But somehow, I doubt it will catch on."
Twilight climbed into bed, Spike flopping onto his basket beside her. As she slipped beneath the covers, Twilight felt more at ease then she had all week.
'Maybe this princess thing will work for me after all... She mused drowsily.
As Twilight fell asleep, many miles away in Canterlot, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were reading her letter.
"Good for you, my faithful student." Celestia whispered.
"Perhaps Twilight could give you some pointers, big sister." Luna teased. "She, myself and Cadance are all capable of socialising with our subjects, leaving you the odd one out. Maybe you should take lessons from us!"
"Very funny, Luna." Celestia smirked. "But you have to admit, Twilight handled things a touch better then you did. Remember your first Nightmare Night?"
"Vividly and ashamedly, yes." Luna grumbled, recalling the events of that night.
"But you figured it out in the end, didn't you?" Celestia smiled. "And I was so proud of you for doing so, little sister."
Celestia gave Luna a hug.
"And now your student has done the same." Luna chuckled. "I'm surprised your heart can hold so much pride."
"There's still plenty of room to spare, Luna." Celestia declared. "I know, without a doubt, that Twilight will only make me prouder still."
The two alicorns looked in the direction of Ponyville, both wondering what Twilight's next accomplishment would be.
The End.