Goes A Long Way
Twilight hummed softly as she stepped into her special, rather fancy shoes. It had taken her quite a while to get used to wearing them instead of just going around shoeless. And that strange little breastplate that she also wore. She rubbed at it for a moment, frowning, wondering if it was a holdover from some older times, but there wasn't really a long period where Equestria was at war and the princess' would have worn armor so it didn't really make much sense. Then she grimaced as she looked at the crown that had been commissioned for her over her protests. She liked her simple crown but a small group of nobles had protested that she needed something far fancier and had made her this... Monstrosity. She floated the new one and her normal, simple crown to reflect in the mirror.
"There is an elegance in simplicity, darling."
Twilight grinned as she set her normal crown upon her head, and turned, opening the door of her chambers, pacing out into the hall. "Mhmm, when it comes to fashion, always listen to Rarity." Starting to pace down the hall she slowed, rolling her eyes as she could have sworn she heard self-satisfied chortling coming from behind her as she left the room. However, that didn't stop her bright smile, it really was true, the simpler crown was a far better choice than that garish overdone crown.
Twilight smiled gently as she looked over the class full of unicorns running around. She had taken over the teaching for Princess Celestia and it was by far her favorite part of the day. Though this latest batch was a bit of a strain. They would behave fairly well in class, do that work, but homework... They never did their homework and today was no exception. She was ready for a lecture.
"Maybe it was too hard for them? Give them another chance?"
Twilight sighed in exasperation, Fluttershy. Of course, Fluttershy. She always wanted to give everyone every chance. But Twilight knew she couldn't very well fight Fluttershy on the point so she just nodded. "You're an old softie." She tapped her desk for attention but her intent was already set. There wouldn't be a lecture today, and Twilight didn't need to look to see the delighted smile.
Twilight let her head drop onto the desk, groaning loudly as she tried to get through the new law proposal. She had been through eight drafts and they kept changing small things. They were all good changes, but she had to read through the law in its entirety every time. Just to make sure no one misspelled something and changed road to woad, and they suddenly had to plant trees everywhere.
"Anything worth doin's worth doin' right, sugar cube."
Though Twilight groaned again, she nodded. It just had to be Applejack. Twilight shook her head as she raised it and looked back down at the papers before her. "Yeah, yeah, you don't need to lecture me, Applejack. That's my job, I'm the princess." Though there wasn't any response, Twilight could almost feel the satisfied nod at her getting back to work.
Twilight was looking through the newest applications to the royal guard. She didn't actually choose them, technically, but her opinion would carry a lot of weight. Meaning that she could veto anyone that she didn't want in. She shook her head, she hadn't ever done that before, and she'd never been wrong yet. She trusted her guards to make the right choice. Though she had a funny habit of separating off a pile of ones that didn't strike her as good matches until someone always interfered.
"You know, Twilight, everyone needs the chance to be awesome."
Twilight smiled, she'd given up on actually second-guessing any of the applicants. She just set the ones she questioned aside specifically so that RAinbow Dash could canter through and give her that little nugget of advice. Twilight shook her head as she piled the applications back together into one pile. Waiting, giving a certain somepony their chance to do their favorite thing besides flying, gloating.
Twilight smiled as she packed up the picnic basket. She had many ponies that would be happy to do it for her. But she insisted that she always pack up the basket for her annual friend's day picnic herself. For the most obvious of reasons, it was very personal to her. She couldn't very well let someone else take care of it. Though she did grin when she heard the voice pipe up from over her shoulder.
"Don't forget the cupcakes!"
Twilight rolled her eyes a little, she'd never forgotten the cupcakes, they were of the utmost importance. But she did slip a few extra into the basket. "There, happy now, Pinkie?" As Twilight left the kitchen she smiled again at the delighted giggle. She could always eat an extra cupcake, so it was sound advice.
Twilight smiled as she came to the top of the hill. The one she always walked, she didn't teleport, she didn't fly. She walked up with her picnic basket. She set out the six places and sat down at hers. She bowed her head to each of the five gravestones on the top of the hill in turn. But she did so with a smile, and ate her picnic dinner happily, chatting away with no one on the hilltop.
As she descended the hill she was met by her old teacher as always, smiling she gave Celestia a hug, and Celestia shook her head in bemusement. "You always come down smiling, Twilight. I'd expect you to be sad, or at least melancholy."
Twilight shook her head in turn, though her smile didn't falter. "I don't need to miss them, Princess Celestia. Because they never left."
Celestia smiled in return and bowed her head slightly as Twilight set off back to the palace. Celestia looked up the hill and smiled, inclining her head to the unseen stones. "True friendship."