//------------------------------//
// My Dearest Twilight... 
// Story: To My, Mostly, Faithful Student 
// by StormDancer 
//------------------------------//

Twilight Sparkle jolted awake as the pattering echo of Spike's approach lanced through her slumber. She shook her head for a moment, trying to clear the last vestiges of cobwebs from her mind and turned with a smile as Spike hopped up on a stool and bowed with a flourish.

"You're mail, Princess!" He grinned, the joke almost having lost its shine after a year.

"Spike, you know I don't like that title. It's just silly." She smiled and pulled him in for a hug, "besides, it's just little old me. Nothing special."

After a few moments, the two parted, Spike promising to be back in a few minutes with sandwiches for lunch.... and a napkin to wipe up the soggy part of the book.

With an embarrassed chuckle, Twilight levitated the scroll up before her, popping the seal and looking within.



My Dearest Twilight, 
I heard you were having a little get together this evening, and I find myself somewhat in need of company.
I have been troubled recently, in part from the growing number of events that have thrown Equestria into conflict. I fear I am becoming out of touch with my subjects and am in need of a bit of wisdom from you and your friends.
I know it is short notice, and you might have had plans but... I was hoping you might be willing to play host for an evening. I could come in disguise, a friend of a friend or a distant relative, whatever might set your friends at ease, but please, Twilight, please let me visit tonight. I feel I have misjudged entirely too many things and ponies of late. The wedding, Discord, Sombra... I have even worried myself over you.
Twilight... Princess, please. I see you all so often, smiling and laughing despite everything you've been through, what I've put you through. I see you and I can't help but remember Luna and myself so very long ago. If I had only paid more attention, if I had only heard what troubled her heart, so much pain and loss could have been avoided. I don't want to risk that kind of loss again, Twilight, and I fear I am growing separate.
I await your response.
Your loving mentor,
Princess Celestia



For a moment Twilight Sparkle simply stared at the scroll.

"How does she always know?" With an almost sad smile, she floated over a blank scroll and blinked back a few tears that threatened to fall as she wrote out simply:



Dear Princess Celestia,
I would like nothing more than to have you join us tonight. Please, come as you are, we're all friends here and I hope you never feel like an outsider with us.
You could never be one to me.
Twilight Sparkle
(because you know that whole Princess nonsense is just plain silly)



With a smile and a bit of hope in her heart, she sealed the scroll and set it to wait for Spike to return. She had a schedule to update and, somewhere, she'd have to come up with an extra large pillow for the pillow fight.