Following Princess Luna out of the elegant dining hall, we swiftly parted ways with wishes of a good night's sleep.

The day had been exhausting. Thank goodness Spike was here to help me plan for the wedding, I don't think I could have done it without him, perhaps I should ask Princess Celestia for a few sapphires from the royal vault for him later...

My musings were cut short as I suddenly halted, Princess Celestia? I haven't seen her since breakfast today, and even then she seemed in a hurry to head off to her private quarters. She even missed lunch! Guess her princess duty calls, I think I'd better take a serving of dinner up to her room for her, I wouldn't want her going hungry!

Tracing my way back to the tall, grand doors leading to the very place I had just left, I pushed them open, looking for the only pony who could help me put together a meal in record time,

"Mister Honey!" I called in an attempt to draw the attention of the charismatic head chef.

The enthusiastic stallion had been in the castle for as long as she could remember, always whipping up a special batch of extra sweet pancakes with added syrup whenever the lavender filly had been feeling down in the mornings.

I was bought out of my nostalgia as a cheerful voice greeted me, "Well if it isn’t Little Sparkle! Back already? Maybe it's because you were sorely tempted by my newest creation, La salade du soleil?" Honey exclaimed, eyes twinkling with mirth, holding up a deep bowl with an intricate design on the edges.

"Sorry to disrupt you again Mister Honey, I was wondering if you could bring me a quick serving for Princess Celestia if it's not too much trouble? It's just I noticed she was not at dinner today, probably busy with paperwork again." I asked quickly, not wanting to borrow anymore of his time.

"Always thinking about others eh? It's no problem at all! Actually... How about this?" Holding up the transparent bowl to reveal the same dish he was carrying before, the chef beamed as he received my nod of agreement, quickly scraping a chunk of the leafy mix onto a thin golden plate.

"Thank you so much Honey!" I walked away after giving my goodbye, weaving through the familiar long corridors I had spent hours playing hide and seek in as Celestia's young student.

As I reached the marble doors rimmed with gold and emblazoned with a sun cutiemark with the plate floating beside me held in my magenta aura, I recognized one of my mentor's door guards, Silver Blade, whom had chased me often throughout the Canterlot Gardens when he assumed nopony was watching.

"Silver" I nodded to him in acknowledgement, "and Mister ..." trailing off in search of a name.

"Swift Flight Miss, What can we do for you?" The guard saluted, posture stiff and eyes unwavering.

"Good afternoon to you both, I'm here to bring Princess Celestia her dinner, may I pass?" I questioned, staring at them expectantly as the guards shared a look, waiting for one of them to sa-

"I'm sorry Twilight, Her highness is currently indispos-" Silver Blade winced as his partner kicked his foreleg, "Busy, she is busy, but you can leave her meal with us" The general smiled awkwardly, beads of sweat dripping down his muzzle.

The lavender unicorn narrowed her eyes, the violet orbs fixed of the door guard while said stallion was looking everywhere except at the powerful mare standing before him. "Tell me what's wrong with the Princess. Is she okay?" Concern for her mentor grew as the other lieutenant, averted his gaze for a moment, before bringing it back to the worried unicorn, looking resolute as he snapped, "She is fine, Miss, nopony is to disturb her, so I suggest you leave now before I am required to use force!"

Lieutenant Flight spoke too quickly.

From the many years spent in the castle with the Monarch, I had immediately recognized the alarms going off in her head as soon as the stoic guard mentioned Celestia's desire to be left alone.

"She want's to be alone? From experience, that's never a good thing. Please, move aside or I will have to use force"I spoke in a calm tone, but my eyes were burning with determination.

"Do you hear this mare Silver?" Swift Flight chuckled mirthlessly "Who are you to decide what is a good thing or not? I've known the Princess for five years now, and I assure you she is fine!" before binding he 'deluded' unicorn with magical chains made of his magical substance, "Ma'am, you are restrained under the crown, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Grinning victoriously and failing to notice his 'prisoner's' amused look and his partner's desperate motions to silence him.

"Restrain me?" I smiled sweetly, "I am sorry it has come to this officers of the law, but I did already ask politely..."

Swift was rolling his eyes at this display of obvious overconfidence, he couldn't help but shake his head disapprovingly at Silver Blade, who had begun cowering before the captured mare's gaze. nopony could possibly dream of unraveling his restraint sp-

The lieutenant gaped in awe as I ripped the chains off as if they were constructed out of paper, proceeding to perform an anti-gravitational spell on the two guards, stripping them of mobility as they glanced around in alarm, clearly lost as to what to do.

"You've know the Princess for five years huh? Impressive, I've know my mentor for thirteen." I smirked as the upfront stallion's eyes widened in recognition.

"Tw- Twilight Spa- Sparkle? M- Magical prodigy, S-Sister of our C-Captain?" Lieutenant Flight shivered, gulping when he saw the confirmation from the unicorn. He was in hot water.

"L-look, I'll let you through to the princess' chambers and your brother doesn't have to know, deal?" Swift Flight stammered hopefully, knowing it to be a futile effort when I facehooved, pointing at the marble doors leading to their sovereign with nopony to stop her from entering.

"Don't worry, We'll keep this between us" The Lieutenant was in shock upon hearing these words, the unicorn could easily blackmail or threaten him, but instead he was met with a genuine smile on her part while his own features were still contorted into one of shock as the Twilight Sparkle trotted into the room, her face once again determined and full of concern.

Turning to Silver Blade, the other stallion merely stated "I told you so."

As I pushed open the door which I knew would reveal the Princess' bed, I was disappointed to see, surprisingly, no sight of the tall, majestic alicorn I had come to know, turning around to pursue my search, but stopped dead in my tracks when I heard a small disturbance to the peaceful silence.

My ears flicked around in alarm as I swiveled around quickly, I heard something I had never wanted to hear from my beloved mentor -- sobbing.

It was then that I knew I had underestimated the problem, the last time she had heard the Princess Celestia break down was... well never!

I hurried to the bed where I could make out a figure, trembling and body heaving with sobs. To say I was shocked was an understatement... the high and almighty ruler looked... vulnerable...

I bent over to comfort her, placing a hoof on her shoulder, causing her to whip around to face me.

Staring into her magenta eyes, I could see uncertainty, fear and doubt, what had happened?

"Tw-Twilight?" The way she stuttered my name, full of apprehension, made me want to force her into revealing the problem, but I stayed quiet as she turned away, hoofing at hair desperately and breaking eye contact,"Wh- What are you doing here?"

"You weren't at dinner, so I thought I'd bring you something to eat, when your guards said you were not to be disturbed, I knew there was something wrong..." I replied, eyeing Celestia with concern "What is it? You trust me...' I suddenly remembered how nopony had believed me at the wedding rehearsal, nopony had trusted me then, does my mentor even trust me? "Right?" I added in hope of confirmation.

This only made her weep harder burying her muzzle in her forelegs as she trembled. I held her and whispered words of support until she calmed down enough to provide me with an answer.

"I- I'm useless and a complete utter failure!" I froze and my blood ran cold at her words, leaning forwards and nuzzling her to hide my own tears. Her crestfallen expression and resigned tone showed she truly believed her statement, it hurt me to see her this way, miserable and discouraged, I couldn't stop my tears in time as they ran down Princess Celestia's matted white fur, dampening it even more.

She tensed up and I could feel her heartbeat accelerating, as she bent down to meet my gaze, my eyes were now filled to the brim with tears I refused to let drop.

"Don't cry My Faithful Student! What's the matter?" I tore my gaze away, furiously rubbing at my eyes with the side of my forehoof.

"I'm sorry... It's just it hurts me to hear you saying those things about yourself..." I whispered faintly, knowing she received my message with the way her eyes widened to the size of saucers.

Finally clearing any traces of tears, I looked to meet her gaze before asking resolutely "What's really bothering you Princess?" I questioned once more, determined to receive an answer.

"..It's just... you idolize me, and look up to me, because I have the power to protect all my little ponies... but I was struck down by Queen Chrysalis almost immediately, not to mention I constantly force you and your friends into danger, after all that, you still respect me and trust me... but at the wedding rehearsal, wh-when you needed me most, I- I--" I watched as my idol faltered, once again shielding her head with her forehooves as she was bombarded with tears, flowing freely down her muzzle.

I smiled. despite her heart wrenching tears, I couldn't help but feel relieved that she cared about me, the last few days had been torture, my dreams had been constantly plagued with her harsh words, causing the need for Luna to step in every night to end my nightmares.

I gently caressed her mane, listening as Celestia's sobs slowly subsided into silence. When she lifted her head back up to see my reaction, she was met with a gentle smile, before I started speaking.

"Oh Princess... I don't idolize you just for your power, beauty, or your grace, I adore you because of the affection you constantly show all your subjects, when you put me to bed, read a story, or look after me when I'm upset, I admire you because as a leader, you genuinely love your subjects, not just the power it bears.”

“You don't force my friends and I into danger, we help fight because we love this land and everypony in it! If I thought about revealing my concerns rationally, like send a letter to you in private instead of barging into the rehearsal, there would be no doubt you would take my warnings into mind. You expressing your sorrow right now, shows how much you care for Equestria, for all your subjects..."I paused for a second, wondering if I should add the last part, before staring at Celestia sincerely with a reassuring smile and continuing, "and also how much you care for me."

I watched as Princess Celestia's ears pricked up upon hearing my last statement, before regarding me with a weak smile filled with motherly affection, the first she had given that evening.

"Thank you..." My surrogate mother murmured, exhausted from all the tears, before drifting into a deep sleep, her dreams filled with the intimate moments she had spent with the lavender ball of fur now snuggled under her wing.

Author's Note

This was just a small change in perspective, plus a few moments with the Chef and Guards!

Hope you liked it!