Therapy with Twilight Sparkle

Twilight woke up. The sun was brightly shining outside. A few more times of waking up this late and she would have trouble with her sleeping schedule next week. Spike was still sleeping peacefully next to her, mentally exhausted from yesterday. She slowly wriggled out of the blanket, making sure to not upset his sleep. She looked at herself in the mirror. Horrified, Twilight took a step back. She looked and felt like a cavepony who had just been in a fight with an Ursa Minor. A cavepony with really bad breath. Sighing, she started the long process of making herself smell and look presentable.

Drying her head with a towel, Twilight started descending the stairs to the kitchen. She was not feeling up to the task today. How could she help her friends when she felt so insecure herself today? If only there was somepony other than Spike who could listen to her...

Finally, her brain registered the almost angelic singing emanating from the kitchen. She trotted in.

"Fluttershy?" Her gentle friend was currently working her magic on a cup of tea, making sure it comes out just right.

"Oh, hi Twilight. We've been meaning to get together for a long time now, but I was busy. But today I'm finally free! Oh and Applejack told me you weren't looking so well. And, umm, Rainbow Dash too."

"Ugh, thanks Fluttershy. Yesterday was an absolute nightmare and the day before wasn't much better."

"Now-now. Take a seat and let's drink some nice, tasty tea and then you can tell me everything you want. Unless, of course, you don't want to, but that's okay too."

They settled down and quietly drank their tea. Twilight's body agreed that it was indeed nice and tasty. However, Twilight's mind couldn't stop thinking about her problems. She decided to start off with Rarity.

"... and then we smiled and kissed each other goodbye, " finished Twilight. "So, what do you think, was I too late, Fluttershy? Am I a bad friend? How could I not see this coming weeks ago?!" They were lying on the pillows, side to side. Fluttershy was listening intently. Twilight Sparkle was forlornly kicking dust bunnies around. They were protesting, but she didn't hear them.

Fluttershy extended her wing and patted her friend on the head. A rude and patronizing gesture from anypony else, it was just a genuine display of kindness from Fluttershy. Her care was genuine and Twilight knew it. "You are an amazing friend, Twilight, don't you ever doubt that. And I don't think anypony could foresee this. Rarity is an amazing actor. If she doesn't want a pony to see inside her, she won't let them."

"But what do you think about the whole situation?"

"I think you and I should make other ponies talk their hearts out to us more often. And not just our best friends, but others as well."

"Well, time to tell you about Rainbow Dash then..."

"What do we do Fluttershy? Should we all go see a therapist?"

"Only if we can't help each other completely."

"You've been in flight camp with her. Was she like that back then?"

"Oh yes, Dashie was always a little bit of a hothead –" Fluttershy giggled, but then became serious again "– but she never lost control of herself before. I should seriously spend less time with my little animal friends and more with my big pony friends. My best friends." She smiled again. "Dashie always relaxes around me, so I should really go talk to her. I think I will start today."

"Fluttershy, everypony relaxes around you. Even Discord, for Celestia's sake."

"Oh I know, Twilight."

"Hug me, Shy."

And Fluttershy did. After a few more peaceful minutes, Twilight withdrew. "Thank you Fluttershy. I don't know how you do it, but I think I am ready to talk to Applejack now. Will you check on Pinkie?"

"Yes Twilight. Should we go?"

"Let's do this, Fluttershy!"

And with that, they flew out of the window.