Twilight wrote to Celestia the day after the banquet. She and Mayor agreed that, to keep up appearances, the letter would be a friendship report, all the words would be Twilight's, and Mayor wouldn't sign it. Mayor did, however, read Twilight's first draft and write comments on it in red ink. "Because," Mayor said, "red is the color of love."

Twilight wrote her second draft entirely in red ink. "You did say red was the color of love." Mayor laughed.

Twilight and Mayor didn't expect an immediate reply. But the reply came barely an hour later, and its contents sent Twilight into a wordless panic. Her daily planner, her files, even her thoughts, all were now irrelevant. Everything she used to organize her life seemed to be suddenly obliterated. She could operate only by instinct, and instinct told her to go to Mayor at once.

When Twilight reached the doorway to Mayor's office, she was still open-mouthed with shock. Mayor, looking up from a meeting with the Chief of the City Planning Commission, said, "Twilight? It's not a good time. Can you come back in thirty-eight minutes?"

Twilight Sparkle held out the letter she had received. The only sound she could make was, "Uh," a primitive grunt of uncertain meaning that indicated only that the piece of parchment was important.

Mayor said to the Chief, "Will you excuse me for a moment?"

The parchment had royal letterhead and said,

Twilight Sparkle,

You and Mayor Mare are summoned to Canterlot for an immediate audience with Princess Celestia. Do not delay.

"Oh my word," said Mayor.

"What is it?" asked the Chief.

"It might be really good," said Mayor, "but more likely, it's really, really, really bad."

Mayor, like anypony in a crisis, reverted to her most deeply ingrained habits, the kinds of habits that she had no control over and could not have changed no matter how hard she tried. In her case, she took out her to-do list and added, "Emergency meeting with Twilight and Princess Celestia." The letter had instructed them not to delay, so she took out a sheet of paper and made a checklist. "Complete travel authorization request forms," she began. "Complete travel authorization accelerated approval justification form. File travel forms."

In compliance with the Equestrian Civil Service Code, before they went anywhere, Mayor and Twilight completed their travel forms, Mayor approved them, and they filed the forms with the government travel office. Only then did they hurry to the train station. Rainbow Dash, observing their pace, flew down and asked, "Where are you going so quickly?"

"Canterlot. For an emergency audience with Princess Celestia," said Twilight.

"Emergency? I can get you there quicker than the train."

Mayor interrupted, "No, I didn't authorize private winged transportation service for this trip."

"What does that matter? I'll just take you."

"I've already approved our travel authorization request. We'd have to amend it. Which we're not allowed to do once the travel has started. Which it has since we're on our way to the train station."

Twilight said, "Couldn't we submit it as an en route modification of travel plans when we complete our post-travel documentation?"

"If we couldn't take the train, that would be okay. But since we can, we can only be reimbursed up to the cost of the original transportation."

"I'm not asking to be paid!" said Rainbow Dash. "I'm trying to be your friend, not a taxi service!"

"That would be an illegal gift to a government employee," said Mayor.

"You're a good friend," said Twilight, "but this is an important trip, and we need to get the details right. If our paperwork isn't in order, Raven will notice."

On the train, Mayor and Twilight calmed their nerves by determining their mileage allowance for the distance between the town hall and the train station and working out what their fractional day per diem would be if they had to stay overnight. When they reached Canterlot, they went at once to the castle and were shown into the throne room immediately.

Celestia was seated on her throne, Luna was on her right, and Raven Inkwell was in the corner. At the base of the throne, near the royal guards and with a wicked grin, was Filthy Rich.

Twilight had forgotten how long the walk from the door to the throne was. On the occasions when Celestia had wanted Twilight in the throne room, they had entered it together. The comfort of being near her beloved teacher and the thrill of helping with statecraft had made the throne room seem inviting and even cozy. But on this walk, Celestia was far away and never seemed to get any closer.

Twilight and Mayor prostrated themselves in front of the throne. Twilight, keeping her eyes to the floor, said, "We are here as you have ordered, Your Royal Highness."

Celestia tilted her head toward Filthy Rich and commanded, "Begin."

Filthy Rich thundered, "Did you really think you could hide it? Or were you even trying? If you were trying, you're pretty bad at it. It's obvious to everypony. Mayor, you're abusing your position to take advantage of Twilight Sparkle."

"What?" cried Twilight. "That's not what happened at all—"

Celestia, using the Royal Canterlot Voice, roared, "Silence!"

Twilight choked back her words. Celestia never used the Royal Canterlot Voice. Twilight could count the number of times she had heard the Voice using just her forehooves. Both times, Celestia had been so angry that she had nearly annihilated the pony she was talking to. Twilight bowed her face to the floor again. If Celestia was that angry with her, her days as Celestia's student were over.

Filthy Rich was as discomfited as Twilight. He had never heard the Royal Canterlot Voice before, and the power and fury behind it made him stagger. His plan had not included being destroyed by a raging alicorn.

Only Luna, Raven, and Celestia herself seemed undisturbed. Celestia inclined her head toward Filthy Rich again. Calmly, as if she were having a pleasant conversation over a cup of tea, she said, "Continue."

Filthy Rich's voice began with a quaver. "Mayor, you're Twilight's supervisor. You can have her fired at a moment's notice. You can stop her from getting another government job. Your position means that no matter what she thinks of you, she can't say no to your demands. You should be ashamed! You've taken advantage of her weakness, of her youth and inexperience. Look at her! She's hardly more than a schoolfilly. Even if she believes she's in love, it's only because you've tricked her." Mayor's skin crawled at the accusation, and Twilight gnashed her teeth. Filthy Rich pulled out a photograph. It showed Twilight Sparkle and Mayor seated on the stage at the Association dinner, almost shoulder-to-shoulder, their hooves touching below the table. "The newspaper couldn't print this, could they? It's practically indecent!" He turned toward Princess Celestia and bowed. "Your Royal Highness, I request that Mayor be removed from office. With her removal, Ponyville will need a new senior executive officer, and I humbly volunteer myself."

"Thank you, Filthy Rich," said Celestia. "Mayor, Twilight, what do you have to say?"

Twilight was about to speak when Mayor touched her hoof. They shared a quiet look, a moment between them alone with nopony else to interfere, before they faced Princess Celestia again. Mayor said, "Your Royal Highness, I confess to violating the Equestrian Civil Service Code, volume 13, chapter 22, paragraph F."

Raven whispered into Celestia's ear, "Prohibition on romantic relationships with subordinates."

"You don't have to remind me. I'm not as bad as that," Celestia whispered back. "Usually. Certainly not now."

Mayor continued, "I didn't intend to fall in love with Twilight. I knew I wasn't allowed to have a relationship with her, and I tried to resist my feelings. But I failed. She's the most beautiful mare I've ever known, and I love her."

"Do you intend to continue violating paragraph F?"

Mayor had been a filly when she decided to become a civil servant. She had entered government service as soon as she was out of school, and she had never left. There had been nothing she wanted more. Nothing until now, when she stood next to Twilight, next to the warmth of her body and the comfort of her soul. She hadn't warned Twilight what she was prepared to do. It would have upset Twilight, and she had wanted to spare Twilight the worry. But it was the only course available to her.

"No. Effective immediately, I resign."

Twilight gasped. "You can't mean it," she said. "Please don't. You don't have to."

Mayor put her foreleg over Twilight. "Yes, I do. Maybe I've spent too long serving the public. Maybe it's time to do something for myself. And for you. Let's go."

Raven interrupted, "Excuse me, but that doesn't resolve the investigation. One of the possible penalties for Mayor's violation of paragraph F is a forced leave of absence without pay. That would affect her final paycheck and retirement benefits. We can't complete her departure from government service until the penalty has been decided."

Celestia said, "Thank you, Raven. Let's continue. Twilight? What do you have to say?"

Twilight looked up at her teacher. Celestia had guided her since she was a filly. For most of her life, Celestia had been a source of wisdom and advice. At times, she had trusted Celestia more than her own parents. She had wanted to enter government service because of her loyalty to Celestia and her hope of making Celestia proud.

"I also resign, effective immediately." She put a foreleg around Mayor, and they hugged.

"Well!" said Celestia. "Thank you, everypony. This is just what we were hoping for. Luna, are you ready?"

"Always, sister."

Celestia gestured to the window, and her horn glowed. "Everypony watch carefully." The sun, which was past its peak in the sky, grew stronger. The shadows in the hall shortened as the sun rose toward its zenith, and they lengthened again as the sun began to fall toward the east. "Twilight, I know you very well. And Mayor, I don't know you as well, but everything you've ever sent to Canterlot is filed here. I don't exactly adore paperwork, as everypony knows, but as Raven is always reminding me, sometimes it's useful. She helped me find some of what you wrote, and I read it. It didn't take me long to make up my mind." The sun was setting in the east now, and the moon was rising.

"I can decree anything I like. I could decree an exception to the Civil Service Code for you. But that would mean a violation had occurred and I was endorsing it, and that didn't feel right. It would be so much more convenient if no violation had ever happened, wouldn't it? But it already has." The sun rose in the west again, streaking across the sky like a bird in flight, and the moon chased after it. "I'm sure everyone here already knows how the Code defines a day. Except you, Filthy Rich. You've probably never thought about it." The sun and moon whipped across the sky, west to east, over and over, each cycle taking only seconds. "One day is defined as one sunrise. Which means that if the sun and moon go in reverse, we go back in time. At least, that's what the Code thinks." The sun slowed, stopping at high noon. "Would you look at that! It's now two weeks ago. Twilight, you're not yet a government employee. You can date anyone you like. You can even get married."

Raven approached Mayor and Twilight with a sheet of parchment and a quill. In ornate script across the top of the sheet were the words, "Certificate of Marriage."

"You've already admitted to a romantic relationship. But if you get married right now, then you're already family at the moment Twilight enters government service. Paragraph F never applies and there will never be any violation. But in a moment, Luna and I are going to move time back to the present. So this is your only chance. Not getting married now will violate the Equestrian Civil Service Code."

Mayor took the quill first. She jotted her name on the certificate with a flourish and passed the quill to Twilight. Twilight said, "Wait. Can I practice my signature first? This is kinda important and—"

"Twilight," Mayor said in a soft, familiar tone. "I love you no matter how your signature looks." Twilight's heart swelled with happiness. She signed.

Celestia and Luna signed as witnesses, and Raven stamped the certificate with her notary seal. "Congratulations," said Celestia. "And now. Luna?" The sun and moon moved again, this time from east to west as they usually did. Days passed in seconds. "And here we are, back in the present. Twilight, you're a government employee again. Or you were until you and Mayor resigned. Speaking of which, I refuse to accept your resignations, and I command you to continue in government service."

Filthy Rich had gaped in confusion throughout the wedding. He recovered himself enough to ask, "What happened just now?"

"Just now, they got married two weeks ago."

"But that's absurd! It doesn't make any sense at all!"

"It does in the eyes of the law. And so does one other thing. Raven?"

Raven presented Filthy Rich with a sheet of parchment. "Sir, as you can see here, you're guilty of making a false police report. The fine is one hundred bits."

"She admitted she broke the law! You can't fine me for that!"

"Your report was true a few minutes ago, but now that they've been married for two weeks, it was always false."

Filthy Rich stamped his hoof and began, "I have a right—"

An enormous magical hoof appeared and kicked Filthy Rich's behind. He sailed across the throne room, and halfway to the door, he crashed into the carpet.

Luna proclaimed in the Royal Canterlot Voice, "Get thee out, thou miserable insect! Thou art unworthy to be our subject!" Filthy Rich fled at a gallop.

Celestia said, "One more thing. Now that you're married, you need to abide by the Code's rules for family members. Raven, their wedding present."

Raven presented Twilight and Mayor with a thick stack of paper. "The rules are rather complex, and there are a lot of forms involved, but we're sure you'll have a good time."

As Twilight and Mayor took the stack, their eyes shone with anticipation. "Do you mind—" began Twilight. "—if we—" continued Mayor. "—started right now?" they finished together.

"Not at all," said Celestia.

Raven retreated to the side of the throne. "When you sent Twilight to Ponyville, were you trying to hook her up with Mayor?"

"Not exactly. I only knew Mayor by reputation, but I had an inkling they would like each other. Do you remember that sick day I made you take? About three years ago?"

Raven muttered, "Two years, ten months, and seventeen days ago. My only sick day ever."

"You could barely stand on your hooves! You needed to rest. And you never did let me tell you what happened."

"You had Twilight fill in for me. I thought you were going to replace me, and I didn't know where I was going to go or what I was going to do, and—"

"Raven! I would never do that." She touched her muzzle to Raven's cheek and let a wingtip brush against Raven's flank. "You're special to me. You know that, right? But that one time, you weren't there, and Twilight was so eager, and I wondered, 'What's the harm in letting her try?' So I asked her for a cup of tea. Twenty minutes later, she came back. Not only did she not have my tea, she had drawn up a 'tea requisition form' that she wanted me to fill out."

"What?" yelped Raven.

"Oh yes. With little boxes to check for the variety of tea and whether I wanted milk and sugar."

Raven looked over at Twilight and Mayor, who were gesturing at some form and jabbering excitedly at each other. She burst out laughing.

Celestia continued, "When I wanted another cup, I made up an excuse to get her to go away, and I brewed it myself. She's a smart filly, but she can be overwhelming."

"Even so, are you sure it's a good idea for them to get married so quickly?"

"Well, just look at them." They were snuggling as they checked boxes together. "If they ever try to get divorced, all the paperwork will make them fall in love all over again. Besides, it's their only chance. Do you think there's another pony in Equestria who would touch either of them?"

"Not a chance in Tartarus."

A few weeks later, Twilight and Mayor went on their honeymoon. Twilight, still Celestia's faithful student, didn't neglect her duty to send friendship reports. Celestia wrote back to Twilight, "Thank you for your latest friendship report. I know you like to be thorough, but you're on your honeymoon. You don't need to include tables, charts, or diagrams. TMI."