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// Breakfast in the Gardens 
// Story: In Somepony's Shadow 
// by Whammy 
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As the moon shone for its last few seconds before disappearing below the horizon, Celestia steadied herself for the rising of the sun. Focusing on the celestial object, she reached out to it with her magic, her horn’s glow signaling the dawn of a new day. While many ponies believed that after over a thousand years of rising and setting both the moon and sun such a task would be the simplest of tasks to the alicorn, she knew that it was still required great effort and precision. One simple mistake could send the fields of Equestria ablaze, or plunge the planet into a cold no winter could ever hope to create by itself.
 
Of course, the thousand years of practice did make it a teeny bit easier.
 
At the very least, she was able to perform this momentous task while enjoying a morning cup of tea and taking a glance to the doorway where her dear sister currently stood.
 
“I hope you had a pleasant evening Luna. I take it you’ll be heading to bed now?” Celestia said, giving her a sister a pleasant smile.
 
It was well known that unless her royal duties demanded otherwise, Luna would retire to her chambers during daylight hours. The rumors, of course, said that anyone who interrupted her during such time would face the full fury of an angry alicorn, but Celestia and some of their closest staff all knew the worst that would happen was a pillow to the face from a grumpy little princess. Still, Luna quite rightfully protected her precious time to sleep, so Celestia was surprised to find Luna shaking her head.
 
“Nay sister, instead I wish this morning to enjoy breakfast with Twilight and yourself . There is a matter that I wish to look into that I may need her assistance with.”
 
“Oh, and what would that be?” Celestia said, raising an intrigued eyebrow as her horn dimmed, the sun now set on its path for the day.
 
“Last night while I walked amongst the disturbed dreams of our citizens, I happened upon one that I was forced out of before I was able to intervene,” Luna said, making her way into Celestia’s chambers proper before joining her on the balcony.
 
“Really now? That is a rare occasion indeed; no wonder you’re interested in researching the matter further,” Celestia said, sipping tea, “And just who was it that accomplished such a feat?”
 
“A mare that called herself ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie,’” Luna replied, “I believe she may know our Twilight Sparkle seeing as her dream centered upon her.”
 
Celestia set down her teacup on the nightstand, levitating a drawer open before pulling out several pieces of parchment and handing them off to Luna.
 
“Indeed, Twilight has had several encounters with Trixie, and they have not exactly been the most pleasant ones either. These are the letters she sent me about her. I hope you will find something that will be of use.”
 
Grabbing a hold of the letters with her own magic, Luna skimmed through the reports. Her eyes widened, surprised at some of the contents. Ursa Minors? Trapping Ponyville in a fishbowl? The Alicorn Amulet? Sure, Luna had read Twilight’s friendship reports occasionally, but she had never inquired much into the details behind the events of many of them. This…this did help to add some level of sense to Trixie’s dreams. Yet there was still something else missing to the puzzle.
 
“Yes, these will help, but I still believe talking with Twilight may further illuminate the situation,” Luna said, placing the letters down.
 
“Sounds like a good plan, and at the very least I am sure she will be excited to see you join us for breakfast.”
 



 
“What do you mean Princess Luna is joining us for breakfast!?” Twilight said, her wings flaring out.
 
Even after having them for these last few months, Twilight found that still couldn’t seem to keep them under control when her anxieties flared. She often wondered why she couldn’t have gotten Fluttershy’s problem of having them lock up on her instead? At least that wouldn’t accidentally smack Spike with a face full of feathers and cause the guard-pony to look at her funny.
 
“It means what it means. Princess Celestia sent me to inform you that your visit has been moved to the gardens as Princess Luna wishes to join you,” the guard replied, the exasperation barely hidden under the polite but stern tone of his voice.
 
“Relax Twilight, she probably wasn’t ready for bed yet and decided to eat with you two. It’s not like there’s a national emergency or something  going on,” Spike said, climbing onto Twilight’s back in a futile attempt to push her wings back down to her side.
 
“But that’s just it Spike! Princess Luna almost never joins us, and when she does it’s because there’s some kind of big emergency, or some other royal function! Oh no...,” Twilight said, quickly levitating out an agenda from her carrying case and rapidly flipping through it.
 
“Princess, I can assure you that…”
 
The guard-pony’s words were lost as Twilight frantically flipped through her agenda not once, not twice, but three times. He glanced up to Spike, who simply shrugged.
 
“You get used to this sort of thing,” Spike said as Twilight finally finished with a relieved sigh, now more secure in the knowledge that she did not in fact mess up the schedule. Combined with the calm of the guard, it was probably a good enough sign that there were no major emergencies to be concerned about.
 
“I guess you’re right Spike; it’s just a friendly breakfast visit,” she said, giving her number one assistant an apologetic grin for not listening to him as her wings finally relaxed and fell to her side.
 
“Told you there wasn’t anything to worry about,” he replied, turning around a little before getting comfortable on Twilight’s back and closing his eyes, “Anyway, wake me up once we get there. That flight cost me a good hour of my morning nap, and I’m going to get back every minute of it”
 
Twilight rolled her eyes but smiled. It wasn’t that long of a walk to the gardens, but she’d let him have his little cat nap. Besides, Princess Celestia always provided a bowl of gems for him whenever he came for these breakfasts. He’d wake up without any issue soon enough.
 



 
“Even after all this time, I feel a little nervous seeing that space empty,” Luna said as she glanced at the base that was once the place where the statue of Discord stood.
 
“I still expect to wake up one evening and find that my moon has indeed been made into cheese, as the foal’s story goes.”
 
Celestia let out a small laugh before taking a sip of her now second cup of morning tea. While there was plenty of fresh fruits and breads on the table, she wished to wait for Twilight before indulging in them, no matter how much the chocolate muffins called to her.
 
“I would not worry much my dear Luna. The letters Fluttershy have sent  me on his progress suggest he had has made many strides in coming to understand the value of friendship. I have no illusions that road ahead will not be tough, but I have faith that he’ll make it someday.”
 
Before Luna could respond, she spotted Twilight and apparently her very comfortable dragon companion walking around the corner of the hedges. She seemed a little nervous, but still she smiled as she approached the table. For a moment she began to bow, but Celestia raised a hoof and smiled.
 
“Twilight, there’s no need for such formalities, remember? This is a breakfast between equals after all.”
 
Twilight sheepishly grinned.
 
“Sorry. I guess I’m still not used to thinking of us as being like that.”
 
“It’s perfectly alright Twilight. Cadence had the same problem when she became an alicorn,” Celestia said, laughing a little at the memories of when Cadence had first ascended and her own adjustments to being a princess, “But for now, we’re simply enjoying a breakfast as friends. Come on, sit, the muffins smell particularly delicious today.”
 
Luna watched silently as Twilight made her way to the table and sat down. The nervousness she showed of not feeling exactly up to the situation she had found herself in was understandable. For now, however, all Luna could offer her was a pleasant smile in hopes it would calm her down a bit.
 
“Was your ride here pleasant Twilight? It seems your companion found it to be quite comfortable,” Luna said, hoping some pleasant conversation would be a more proper way to start things off before diving into her questions.
 
“Oh, it was really good, although Spike here was a little grumpy being woken up so early,” she replied, laughing a little bit as Spike stirred a bit, mumbling something about Rarity, “Although, if he doesn’t wake up soon he might miss the big bowl of sapphires sitting here just for him.”
 
Luna watched with amusement as the dragon’s eyes shot right open. He shifted around just a little bit until he spotted the bowl, mouth open in anticipation for the talonful of them he quickly grabbed. Just before he gorged himself on them, however, he stopped and took a look around.
 
“Heh heh, morning everyone. Uhm, lovely weather we’re having. Boy, those Canterlot pegasi really know their stuff huh?”
 
The whole group of alicorns gave a laugh as Spike put all but one gem back into the bowl. He munched on it as he dismounted Twilight, face reddening as he sat down beside her.
 
“Some things never change do they Spike?” Celestia said as the last of her giggles escaped her. “Now then, there is one matter of business to attend to before we fully enjoy ourselves. If you would, Luna.”
 
Luna watched as Twilight’s face contorted into a nervous grimace. Aware of mare’s propensity for anxiety, Luna swiftly moved to prevent her imagination from spiraling out of control.
 
“There is nothing to be worried about Twilight. I simply wished to inquire about a pony you may have met by the name of the Great and Powerful Trixie.”
 
“Pfff, that blowhard?” Spike said, throwing another gem into his mouth as Twilight glared down at him.
 
“Spike!”
 
“Sorry,” Spike replied, rolling his eyes a little bit. Luna took this rather blunt response as a confirmation that the past encounters the duo had with Trixie were indeed rather unpleasant.
 
“You’ll have to forgive him, he’s still a little mad about how Trixie treated all of us during the incident with the Alicorn Amulet, which of course we both remember had corrupted Trixie’s mind,” she said, her tone sharpening and glance gazing in Spike’s direction as she emphasized the corruption part.
 
“Yeah, but she still sought it out in the first place. I get that she apologized and all but I still can’t see why that means I have to like her,” Spike replied, huffing a little before eating another gem.
 
Celestia and Luna simply sat back and watched as Spike and Twilight began to devolve into an argument about apologies and forgiveness, Luna paying particularly close attention. Was this the kind of attitude that Trixie had to face? Ponies who, while she had clearly wronged them in a fit of madness, refused to accept her apologies and continued to mock and scorn her? Or was this simply a result of Spike’s protectiveness of Twilight clouding his judgment? In either case, getting to the bottom of it would require a bit more activeness on her part.
 
“ENOUGH!” Luna said, using a diluted version of the Royal Canterlot Voice to get their attention, although the look of surprise and fear on Twilight and Spike, and simply a raised eyebrow from Celestia, made her regret doing so. She quickly coughed before speaking up again.
 
“I mean, there is no need to bicker like this. Spike, I empathize with the sentiments you have expressed. Trixie’s actions with the Alicorn Amulet were indeed rash, and it is also true she wronged many ponies as a result of her poor decisions.”
 
Spike smiled triumphantly, but Luna wasn’t finished. She took a deep breath to shore up her own strength for what she was about to say. Celestia looked as if she was about to intervene, but Luna gave her a glance to let her know it would not be necessary.
 
“There have been many ponies, however, who have made similar rash and unpleasant decisions, and it cost them dearly. True, many of them have no regrets and instead simply continue as they were before. Some, however, truly regret what they have done.”
 
While Luna thought she could finish without any issue, she found herself looking away from the others.
 
“F-for example, not a night goes by that I don’t remember becoming Nightmare Moon, and as you recall from that Nightmare Night I visited Ponyville, plenty of other ponies haven’t forgotten my actions either.”
 
Spike’s look of triumph quickly deflated as he remembered how the ponies of Ponyville had initially treated Luna that night, the fear that was on their faces every time Luna had looked at her. More importantly, he remembered Twilight describing how hurt Luna had been at the rejection.

Luna, of course, had hoped that such memories would be invoked by her speech. The emotions she saw on Trixie’s face in front of that crowd were eerily reminiscent of her own emotions from that Nightmare Night. Unlike Trixie’s nightmare, however, Luna’s situation eventually reached a happy conclusion. What was left to determine, then, was whether Trixie’s story went the same way.
 
“Yeah yeah, I guess I get your point,” Spike said, crossing his arms and sighing. He smiled as he felt Twilight give him a gentle nuzzle.
 
“Forgiving somepony who has done you a great harm can often be one of the most difficult challenges a pony can face,” Celestia said as she finally joined in, calmly sipping her tea, “And in fact, I set this breakfast here right by where Discord’s statue used to be, just in case a little reminder of that lesson was needed.”
 
It was now Twilight’s turn to look away embarrassed as everyone at the table knew quite well that Twilight still wasn’t exactly happy about Discord’s being free and taking up the occasional residence at Fluttershy’s. She perked up, however, as she suddenly realized a rather obvious question that needed to be asked.
 
“So…why did you bring up Trixie anyway?”
 
“A fair enough question Twilight,” Luna replied.

“Last night I visited her nightmare, but before I could intervene to assist she awoke, forcing me out of the dream. I will keep the contents of her dream a secret for the sake of her privacy, but it was my hope that by asking you about your encounters I may gain more insight as to how to best help her.”
 
“Oh, of course!  What did want to ask me about?” Twilight replied, the look of concern on her face quite clear, a thought that comforted Luna greatly. At the very least, whatever had happened between Twilight and Trixie in the past, it seemed that the two mares had indeed forgiven one another. Still, more information would be needed.
“Based on your assistant’s reaction, the first question I have is this; did she seem sincere in her apologies after you relieved her of the Alicorn Amulet?”
 
Twilight quickly nodded a yes.
 
“She seemed quite sincere to me, in her own way of course. If it was anypony else, declaring themselves the “Great and Apologetic” anything might have made me a little unsure, but that’s about what I would expect her to do. She even added her own fireworks to the show I was putting on the for the Saddle Arabian diplomats as an apology gesture.”
 
“I see. And the incident itself, if your reports were accurate, started because Trixie wished to defeat you in a duel after being humiliated by you in a prior engagement with an Ursa Minor?”
 
Seeking out an artifact like the Alicorn Amulet was a particularly strong reaction in all but the most dire of situations. Twilight’s report about the Ursa had mentioned both Trixie and Twilight had attempted to stop it, with Twilight proving successful. Was there something in the details that would explain why in the aftermath of a challenging but over all minor situation she had taken such drastic steps?
 
“Twilight didn’t humiliate her, she saved the whole town after Snips and Snails lured it there! And it was totally awesome too,” Spike said, having regained his nerve to join in the conversation. Twilight gave him a disapproving look, but otherwise she let the statement slide.
 
“Snips and Snails, two foals from Ponyville, brought the Ursa Minor into town after a certain someone,” Twilight glanced over at Spike,” told them not to believe anything Trixie said without seeing it for themselves, which included a claim of having defeated  an Ursa Major. In Trixie’s defense, she did attempt to subdue the Ursa.”
 
“Did she now? And how successful were her attempts to subdue the beast until you arrived?”
 
“They sunk faster than a boulder in a river,” Spike chimed in. When Twilight rolled her eyes, he simply shrugged. “Hey, just telling the truth; nothing she did even slowed the thing down.”
 
Twilight simply sighed.
 
“...Anyway, she left after that, and we didn’t see her again until she came to Ponyville to challenge me to a duel. Apparently word had gotten around about what had happened and began to mock and harass Trixie about it. I guess eventually she had enough of it and decided to put all the blame for it on me.”
 
Luna nodded; that seemed to be the missing detail she had needed to explain the jump to the Amulet. Twilight been successful in defeating an Ursa Minor that Trixie had failed to even phase. The result of that was a loss of reputation as a magician and subsequent harassment that eventually drove the mare over the edge and drastic measures to ‘correct’ the perceived injustice done to her only to yet again be defeated.

So what did that mean for her current situation? Considering the reaction of ponies to simply failing to stop an Ursa Minor, a perfectly understandable failing even in the best of conditions, it would not be much of a surprise to her if they weren’t exactly forgiving about the Amulet either. Twilight’s new status as an alicorn probably did not help to soften things, serving as yet another possible reminder of her supposed “superiority” to Trixie. It seemed, then, that Trixie’s dream could have arisen from particularly strong case of jealousy mixed with the a sense of frustration of being rejected by others that Luna found herself feeling almost uncomfortably familiar with.
 
“Yes, well….I think I have begun to get an understanding of the situation. Your assistance is much appreciated Twilight, Spike. I will let you know how my attempts at helping Trixie fare. For now, however, let us enjoy this delightful breakfast that has been prepared for us,” Luna said, sweeping a foreleg over all the food.
 
However, Luna couldn’t help but notice that several of the chocolate muffins were missing, and that Celestia was currently wiping her mouth with a napkin until all eyes settled on her. Luna raised an eyebrow, and all Celestia had to offer was a small laugh.
 
“Sorry, but the temptation was simply too strong to resist any further.”