Just outside of Ponyville, a large crowd was gathered, having witnessed the end of the Great and Powerful Trixie's show. They had just seen Trixie successfully perform the Manticore Moonshot Mouth Dive (with a little help from her "Great and Powerful Assistant" Starlight Glimmer), and were bowled over. They were still applauding as the last of Trixie's magical fireworks burst in the sky.
"Not a bad way to start my repentance tour." Trixie smiled, as the crowd slowly dispersed.
"I have to admit, it was quite a show." Twilight chuckled. "And at least nopony was humiliated this time."
"I couldn't have done it without Starlight." Trixie admitted. "She really is something special."
"That's for sure." Twilight smiled at Starlight.
Starlight blushed lightly, glad of the praise.
"By the way, I'm sorry about talking her into ditching that dinner of yours." Trixie apologised.
"I'm sorry, too." Starlight sighed. "I shouldn't have bailed without telling you. I was just so angry about you not trusting Trixie... or me."
"I guess I deserved that..." Twilight frowned... before pulling a smile. "But the night's still young, and Celestia's still back at the castle. The two of you could still come with me for that dinner."
"Really?" Starlight smiled.
"Really." Twilight nodded. "That dinner was meant for you and your new friend, after all."
"You'd really have me?" Trixie asked. "After... everything?"
"Of course." Twilight nodded. "Tonight, you proved to me that you really are Starlight's friend. And any friend of Starlight's is more than welcome in my home."
"Thank you... Princess." Trixie grinned.
The trio made their way to Twilight's castle.
"I suppose I can't blame you for being suspicious." Trixie told Twilight. "Not when I was messing with you from the start. Like that little silverware sculpture I left you."
"I remember." Twilight said flatly.
"And considering you saved me from the Alicorn Amulet's evil influence, I guess it'd even come off as more than a little ungrateful." Trixie sighed. "It's just... well..."
"Well, what?" Twilight asked.
Trixie was having trouble saying what she wanted to. Starlight, noticing her new friend's plight, gave her an encouraging nod.
"The truth is, I... I've been jealous of you for a long time." Trixie confessed.
"You have?" Twilight frowned.
"Of course." Trixie nodded. "You're so good at magic. You showed me up during that Ursa Minor fiasco... you even ascended to Princesshood by creating new magic, for Equestria's sake."
"Oh, right..." Twilight mused.
"In fact, when I first heard you'd become a Princess, I literally screamed." Trixie admitted.
"You did?" Starlight snorted. "For real?"
"Oh, yes." Trixie cringed. "I also said some very unseemly words, ones that I don't care to repeat. I was outraged, disgusted even, at how you had taken such a major step forward. At least before then, we were both Unicorns, which made me feel a little better about the whole thing, but you becoming an Alicorn? I knew flat out I could never compete with that kind of magical ability. That was a dark day for me..."
"I guess that would be more than a little frustrating..." Twilight said sympathetically.
"I know it's petty, but I just really wanted to beat you at something, anything." Trixie sighed. "After I found out Starlight was your student, I thought I'd finally found a way. But it almost cost me my first real friend..."
"It's okay, Trixie." Starlight told. "I did some pretty crazy things trying to one-up Twilight myself. I guess we really are two of a kind."
"You sure are." Twilight nodded. "But I thought that was a bad thing. I thought you'd be a bad influence, Trixie."
"Well, you were kinda right on that." Trixie frowned.
"But you know what? I'm done holding your past against you." Twilight declared. "From tonight onwards, we can have a clean slate. How does that sound?"
"It sounds just fine to me." Trixie smiled.
"Me too." Starlight beamed. "I'm just glad we're all getting along now."
"Hopefully, Celestia won't be too miffed at having to wait so long..." Twilight frowned.
The trio entered their castle, making their way to the dining room. Celestia was still there, a less-than-pleased look on her face. Cranky Doodle Donkey, Vinyl Scratch and Derpy, the "back-up" friends Twilight had tried to provide for Starlight, were nowhere to be seen.
"Ah, there you are, Twilight." Celestia noted coldly. "Your wayward student must have been hiding deeply in the kitchen, if it took you that long to find her. Your other guests grew bored and went home. And I was sorely tempted to do the same. I trust you have a good explanation for all this?"
"Well..." Twilight said awkwardly. "I-"
"It's not Twilight's fault." Starlight spoke up. "I blew off the dinner without telling her."
"Only because I talked her into it." Trixie added remorsefully.
"But neither of them would have done that if I hadn't been so disapproving of their friendship." Twilight sighed.
"I think I'm going to need more of an explanation." Celestia said, confused. "Please, start from the beginning."
"Okay, it's like this..." Twilight started.
In a matter of minutes, Celestia was told the whole tale, Twilight, Starlight and Trixie sharing the role of narrator.
"My, that is quite the story." Celestia declared, once she'd heard everything.
"I'm sorry about all this, Princess Celestia." Twilight sighed. "I wanted to show you what a good teacher I've become, but it seems I'm not nearly as good as I thought. I was so worried about Starlight being led down the wrong path that I tried to pick and choose her friends for her. That's definitely not what a Princess of Friendship should be doing with her student."
Celestia was silent for a moment. Twilight braced herself for a stern talking-to.
"I understand, Twilight." Celestia said at last. "And while I'm not exactly supportive of your actions, I do feel you are assigning yourself too much blame."
"I am?" Twilight asked. "But... I made such a big mistake, a mistake you never made with me."
"I know what it's like to worry about a student going down the wrong path." Celestia admitted. "After what happened with my previous student, I worried that I might not be able to prevent myself from making the same mistakes with you, Twilight."
"You did?" Twilight frowned.
"Indeed." Celestia nodded. "I feared I would inadvertently stoke a desire for power within you, a desire that could consume you, as it did Sunset Shimmer. I was afraid there would be nothing I could do if you went down the wrong path, that I would be forced to watch, as helpless to prevent it as I was before..."
"Wow..." Twilight mused, surprised.
"But my fears turned out to be groundless." Celestia smiled. "You loved to learn for learning's sake. Power was never your concern, only knowledge. Once I realised that, my doubts and fears melted away. I knew then that I had chosen my new student well, and that you would never stray down the wrong path."
"Thank you." Twilight blushed humbly. "I never knew you felt like that... But still, after I moved to Ponyville, you let me make my own decisions, something I didn't do for Starlight..."
"But I at least had the benefit of already having you as my student for many years." Celestia pointed out. "Starlight has only been your student for a short time. It's only natural that you would be overprotective of her. And besides, just because I gave you the space to make your own decisions didn't mean I wouldn't still worry about you from time to time."
"You did?" Twilight asked. "Well, you never let it show..."
"Only because I didn't want you to think I had somehow lost faith in you." Celestia told her. "But that is something that would never happen. Even tonight, when it looked like I'd been brought here for essentially nothing, I still held hope that there was a reason for the whole debacle. And there was."
"That's a relief." Twilight smiled. "I was worried I might have let you down."
"You never have, and you never will." Celestia assured her. "Now, perhaps you could finally introduce me to our guest?"
"Oh, of course." Twilight nodded. "Starlight, would you do the honors?"
"Princess Celestia, this is my new friend, the Great and Powerful Trixie." Starlight introduced Trixie.
"It's an honor, your highness." Trixie bowed. "Truly."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance." Celestia smiled.
"Now, without any further ado, what do you say we move on to the eating portion of this dinner?" Twilight smiled.
"I say 'yes, please'." Starlight chuckled. "After the day I've had, I could use some food."
"As would I." Trixie added. "Funny, you'd think almost being food would spoil my appetite..."
"I have been feeling quite famished, waiting here all night." Celestia noted. "And it didn't help that one of your guests ate all the muffins..."
"Well, we have plenty of food waiting." Twilight noted. "Just need to bring it out..."
"Perhaps I can lend a hoof?" Trixie offered. "I'll have you know, I'm as Great and Powerful in the kitchen as I am on stage."
"I couldn't ask you to do that." Twilight shook her head. "You are a guest in my home, after all."
"Well, surely a guest can have a say in what she'll be eating?" Trixie countered. "Unless you don't trust me in your kitchen?"
"Should I?" Twilight asked.
The two mares glared at each other for a moment... before bursting out laughing.
"Okay, I suppose you can pitch in if you want to." Twilight smiled.
"Don't be surprised if I teach you a few things, Princess." Trixie smirked.
"Or me you." Twilight grinned, as they walked into the kitchen.
Starlight rolled her eyes, both annoyed and amused at their behavior.
"You have made a very interesting friend, Starlight." Celestia declared.
"I sure have." Starlight chuckled.
"And I'm sure Twilight is as proud of you as I am of her." Celestia smiled.
"That's what I'm hoping, at least." Starlight smiled nervously. "After tonight's mess, I wouldn't have been surprised if she dropped me down a few notches on the 'proud' meter..."
"You give your teacher too little credit." Celestia declared. "It wasn't so long ago that Twilight was a student herself. She made her share of mistakes, just as you surely will. But through mistakes, we learn. No student or teacher is perfect, you know."
"I'm beginning to see that." Starlight chuckled.
Shortly after, Twilight and Trixie emerged from the kitchen, carrying the food in their magic fields.
"Here we are." Twilight placed a some okra on Celestia's plate. "I made sure sure to get all your favorites."
"You shouldn't have." Celestia smiled. "But I'm glad you did."
"And you got my favorites too, I see." Starlight took note of a set of radishes.
"Only the best for my student." Twilight nodded.
"I'm partial to radishes myself." Trixie sat beside Starlight. "Think you could save me a couple?"
"What are friends for?" Starlight beamed.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Twilight asked. "Let's dig in, everypony!"
"Gladly." Celestia chuckled. "Not to put too fine a point on it, but I've been waiting to eat all night..."
As hungry as they all were, the two Unicorns and two Alicorns made quick work of their dinner, sharing small talk all the while. Before long, their plates were empty.
"It's getting late." Celestia noted. "I really should be getting back to Canterlot."
"And I have to get back to my wagon." Trixie added. "I'll be continuing with my tour tomorrow."
"You'll come by Ponyville again soon, right?" Starlight asked.
"Of course I will." Trixie grinned. "After all, I now have a reason to drop by more often."
Trixie got out of her chair.
"Thank you for the dinner, Princess Twilight." She smiled. "And for giving me that second chance."
"It was long overdue." Twilight admitted. "Good luck on the tour."
"Luck?" Trixie smirked. "A performer as great as I does not need luck!" She turned to Starlight. "Though I wouldn't say 'no' to my Great and Powerful Assistant lending a hoof the next time I hold a show in Ponyville."
"Just try and stop me." Starlight smirked.
"Until then." Trixie tipped her magician's hat to the others, before leaving.
"Well, Twilight." Celestia smiled. "All things considered, I'd say this dinner was a rousing success."
"With all due respect, I'm not about to agree with you." Twilight frowned. "You wouldn't have had to wait so long if I hadn't acted the way I did. Guess I'm still getting the hang of being a teacher..."
"Of course you are." Celestia noted. "But a good teacher learns just as much from her student as she does from her."
"Really?" Twilight asked.
"Really." Celestia smiled. "I learned much from you over the years, my old student. And I'm sure Starlight can teach you some things too."
"No pressure or anything..." Starlight joked.
"You'll both learn from each other as time goes on." Celestia declared. "After all, none of us ever truly stop learning."
"I guess you're right." Twilight nodded.
"Goodbye for now." Celestia smiled. "I look forward to hearing more of your progress in future. I know you'll make me proud, Twilight."
As Celestia departed, Twilight turned to her student.
"And I know you'll make me proud, Starlight." She declared. "No matter what."
"Thanks, Twilight beamed. "...Guess it wasn't such a boring dinner after all."
"It was a lot more eventful than I was counting on, that's for sure." Twilight admitted.
"Need some help cleaning up?" Starlight offered.
"Sure." Twilight nodded. "And no magic this time."
"Okay..." Starlight said sheepishly.
"In fact, this puts me in mind of a friendship lesson." Twilight beamed. "Let's say the crumbs and leftovers are the things you learned today. The plates are your head, where the memories go, and the kitchen sink is your heart..."
Starlight smiled and rolled her eyes as the lesson continued. Despite Twilight's sometimes-unorthodox methods, she truly couldn't ask for a better teacher.