***
"Coffee." Celestia said the words with a careful measure, unsure of what to add to them. On any other day, in any other context, she would have laughed away Twilight's awkward smile. She of course would have come to the introvert's rescue. Corrected her on her form. For some reason, today of all days, her voice seemed to be trapped. She had wished it had been tea Twilight had asked her for. Tea was safe. Calming. It would let her come to grasps with...this.
"From a teacher to a student?" Celestia gave an offering of peace. A chance for them to return to status quo. A quiet hope that she could stay precisely as happy as she was, vain though it might be. A hope that was dashed by the look on Twilight's face.
"O-oh...yes...of course, your majesty. I was just...maybe there's a better time for this. I have a project for, uh, Ca--" She swallowed on nothing. "For Cadance. I-I'm sorry, I w-wasn't--" her voice broke. "Thinking." Celestia's attempts to say something, anything were cut off by the sound of teleportation. What was going to be an empty reassurance came out as a curse.
----
Celestia did her best to maintain a brave face. There had been worse moments in her existence. She had smiled through the victory banquet celebrating the defeat of Nightmare Moon. No matter how much her intestines felt like they were attempting to eat themselves, or how clenched her throat was, or how much it felt like soap had splashed at the corners of her eyes, she still had all the makings of a genuine smile. It would take careful inspection of her hooves to see how clenched she truly was, her wings tucked firmly into her sides.
Her eyes softened at the "closed" sign that loomed like a lasting judgement in front of her. She knocked on the door. Her mane floated in the breeze. Birds chirped. Steam rose from the mugs between her feet. At last the door opened a crack. Celestia knew the sound of muffled sobbing far too well to miss the noise drifting through the narrow slit. A draconic eye looked up at her, then narrowed. "We're closed." The door shut in her face.
"Yes, I suppose I deserve that."
...
"Spike?"
...
"Can you tell Twilight I brought the coffee? She and I have much to discuss."
...
"Spike...please. Tell her I'm sorry. She put me on the spot, and I didn't react well. I want to--talk. Nothing more, nothing less. But that's something, isn't it?"
...
"I'm going to stand outside until you let me in, Spike."
...
The door opened again, this time to reveal a scraggly, dull eyed librarian.
"I'm sorry about the mess, Princess. I--"
"So am I, Twilight. So am I. Here." Celestia levitated over the cup of coffee, settling it on the floor. "I am many things, Twilight. One I am not is unfair. So." Celestia gave a bittersweet smile. "You and I have always loved a good problem. Let's tackle this like we always do. Step by step."
The door closed behind Celestia.