Trixie had to admit that, strange as the wings felt on her back, they also felt good. Even if they were actually cardboard and the illusion magic was the only thing making them look feathery and tangible.

"Impressive, Trixie," Moonshadow applauded her. "We can almost believe that we are standing in the presence of our queen herself."

"Thank you," Trixie grinned. "But how can Trixie improve her act?"

"Stand more like our queen would," Adagio suggested. "Regal, yet above everypony else. Like so." She struck a pose with her nose held high in the air, legs together, and closed her eyes.

"Oh, you mean like I usually stand? Well, why didn't you just say so?" Trixie asked, and copied Adagio's pose.

"Can you move your wings?" Moonstone asked. She tried to touch them but her hoof batted cardboard instead.

"Not yet," Trixie admitted, and sighed. "I have been reading up on wing anatomy, though, so any day now I should be able to accomplish that."

"Good," said Moonshadow with a nod. "Keep doing that and you'll be a believable copy of our queen in no time."

Trixie beamed with pride, puffing her chest out. Moonshadow frowned at her.

"Now you just look silly," said Moonshadow. "Our queen would never look like that."

"Actually, I disagree," said Adagio. "According to the Journal of the Two Pony Sisters, which we should all be studying religiously, our Princess Luna was once a very playful pony. At least, until The Darkening."

"That isn't the technical term, by the way," said Sonata. "It's just what Dagi calls it." Adagio shot a glare at her.

"Good memory," said Moonshadow. "I must confess, I am most interested in Queen Nightmare Moon."

"Well, she was Nightmare Moon most recently," said Trixie. "It's understandable."

"And it is much easier to find information on her reign as queen," said Moonshadow. "I must do some further research. Adagio, are there any other copies of this journal?"

"I will look for them," said Adagio.

"Good," said Moonshadow. "Well, unless somepony wants to add something else, I shall call our meeting to a close."

"Same time tomorrow night?" asked Trixie.

"No," said Moonshadow. "We can't be seen meeting too frequently. Study up on your wing anatomy and illusions, as well as the Journal if Adagio can find enough copies."

"I will," said Trixie. "When will the next meeting be, then?"

"The same time next Friday night," said Moonshadow. "We are also university students, after all, and our princess loved her knowledge. She wouldn't want us to neglect our other studies in favour of learning about her."

"Yeah, she's a cool princess like that," said Moonstone. She suddenly adopted a serious pose, hooves together, standing up straight. "Education is the most important thing of all." And then she was back to her usual goofy self.

"Alright then. Well, goodnight," said Trixie, dispelling the illusion.

"Luna guide your dreams," said Moonshadow, and everypony repeated the affirmation before they all went their separate ways.

Trixie had hoped that Twilight wouldn't be back yet and, to her relief, the studious purple unicorn was nowhere in sight by the time Trixie got back to her room. Ember stirred on her bed, and Trixie trotted over to give her dragon a quick rub on the head before she pulled the anatomy book out of her saddlebag and settled in to read.

Trixie spent most of that weekend reading about wing anatomy, and practicing moving her wings whenever she got the chance. Twilight never complained about Trixie staying up all night reading, mostly because she did, too. They even fell asleep with their noses in books together, and teased each other about it the next morning.

"Wing anatomy? What are you reading about that for?"

"Huh?" Trixie snapped awake, pulling her head off the pages. She cringed at the drool on them, then frantically rubbed at it with a hoof.

"The book. Wing anatomy," said Twilight.

"Oh, um… I'm working on improving my act," said Trixie. It wasn't a lie. "What time is it?"

"Time to start heading to the cafeteria for breakfast," said Twilight with a giggle. "Come on, you silly filly. You can keep reading there if you want."

"No, it's okay, I think I'd prefer to eat breakfast without a book in my nose," said Trixie, smirking at her friend. Twilight blushed.

"Well, yeah, that's probably better," said Twilight. "I mean, you do like your pancakes."

They trotted off together, chatting as they enjoyed the morning sunlight. Their baby dragons rode on their backs, looking around in the bright sunshine.

"I can't believe I fell asleep reading," said Trixie. "I thought only you did that."

"Happens to the best of us," said Twilight. "But don't worry, I'm sure you'll get used to it."

Over a breakfast of pancakes (despite her teasing, Twilight loved the pancakes as much as Trixie did), the two mares chatted about their night, as well as their classes.

"So your club wants you to work on your illusions?" asked Twilight. Trixie nodded. "That's amazing! I'm sure they'll improve your act so much. But don't forget to focus on your studies for class as well."

"I know," said Trixie. "But you have to focus on your course readings as well, not just reading about your interests."

"Hey!" Twilight protested, and frowned. While his hatcher was distracted, Spike swiped a pancake off her plate, eliciting another 'hey' when Twilight noticed it. Trixie was so busy giggling that she didn't notice her own hatchling stealing a pancake off her plate.

"Looks like we'll have to focus on these two as well," said Trixie.

"True," said Twilight, giggling. "So, do you think you could show me what you've learned so far?"

"Not in here," said Trixie. "I might disrupt other students."

"Good idea," said Twilight. "At lunch, then? I have a class in a few minutes."

"So do I," said Trixie. "I'll show you at lunch."

In Advanced Spell Mechanics, Trixie felt something appearing in the saddlebag at her hooves. She glanced under her desk and saw that another book had appeared in it. The Journal, she assumed. Looking up, she saw Moonstone waving at her. Trixie was immediately confused. What was an earth pony doing in a class for unicorns? Furthermore, how had she even gotten the book in that bag?

"Don't question it," another pony in her class whispered, seeing Trixie's confused stare. "None of us do. You'll only get a headache."

While Twilight had another class after Trixie's, Trixie had some free time before lunch now. Settling down beneath a tree in the courtyard, Trixie decided to use her time wisely by reading the Journal. She was fascinated to learn a bit more about the mare behind the myth. Twilight, she knew, would also be delighted to learn a little more about her idol. That is, if she didn't know all this already. Well, if she didn't, Trixie could just lend the book to Twilight and watch her delight as she read it. That would be wonderful.

Trixie found herself getting drawn in to what she read. She'd never even seen a zebra or griffon before, at least not outside that book Twilight had gotten her. Maybe she should read up on some other creatures to disguise herself as, or some stories to retell through her shows. Maybe she could retell some of these stories in this Journal. Trixie grinned as she read through the book, trying to imagine how she might tell these stories. First, she'd have to choose a character to make herself into. Celestia would be the obvious choice, though it would obviously be Luna for the Society performances. Trixie smirked. Literally night and day. Although she didn't really like having to keep secrets from the mare of her dreams. But maybe Twilight would come around.

By the time the more advanced classes let out, Trixie had finished reading the journal (though she'd been paying more attention to the stories and knew she'd need to reread it for Society meetings) and was back onto the wing anatomy book. Trixie attempted to form the wings from the bones out, but the sight of bones protruding from her side made her feel nauseous. Instead, she dispelled that illusion and instead tried to just imagine the way the wings and tendons would move.

"Why don't you ask a Pegasus?" Trixie nearly jumped out of her skin, the illusion of wings poofing away into nothing. She shoved the Journal deeper into her saddlebag and leaped to her hooves, turning to look at who had spoken.

"Oh, Ember, you frightened me," said Trixie. Ember giggled.

"A Pegasus might be able to tell you how wings work better than a book can," said Ember.

"You're right," said Trixie, trying to get her heart to beat at a normal rate again. "But I haven't seen any pegasi around here."

"Hi, Trixie." Trixie turned to beam at the purple unicorn trotting across the courtyard.

"Twilight," said Trixie, her tail swishing happily. "How was class?"

"Oh, it was wonderful," said Twilight. "I learned so much, and then Celestia took me aside to give me more personalised lessons. That's why I was so late."

"Oh, I didn't notice," said Trixie. She looked around for the big university clock tower and, upon finding it, discovered that it was only just past midday. "You're not late."

"Really? But lunch is at noon," said Twilight. "Now it's 12:03."

"Twilight, it's fine," said Trixie, smiling at her friend's worry. "I got a little caught up reading anyway."

"Again?" asked Twilight.

"I just really want to nail this illusion," said Trixie.

"Well, show me what you've got so far," said Twilight. She sat down beneath the tree, and Trixie wondered which form to take. She wanted to see how Twilight would react to seeing Celestia in her presence, but she wanted to save that for later. Instead, Trixie concentrated, her horn glowing. Soon, a pair of wings the same colour as her coat appeared on her sides. She opened her eyes with a smile when she heard Twilight gasp.

"What do you think?" asked Trixie, spreading her wings and puffing her chest out with pride.

"It's incredible!" said Twilight, reaching a hoof out to touch the wing. She felt only Trixie's side, though.

"Yes, and it's also just an illusion," said Trixie, smirking at Twilight's blush.

"Can you fly?" asked Twilight.

"No, I don't know any self-levitation spells yet," said Trixie. "But I still have a Showmare class this afternoon so who knows, maybe I'll be able to 'fly' soon."

"She also needs to know how wings work," said Ember. "Do you know any pegasi?"

"No, but Cadance used to be a Pegasus," said Twilight. "Maybe she could give you a few pointers. Have you tried forming the wings from the inside out?"

"Yes, and it was gross," said Trixie. "But I have the look right, don't I?"

"Yes, they look so real," said Twilight. "Well done, Trixie!" Trixie blushed and smiled at Twilight's praise.

"Do you think Cadance would be able to tell me how flying works?" asked Trixie. "I mean, she's a princess, doesn't she have better things to do?"

"Celestia still hasn't told her what her role is yet," said Twilight. "I'm sure she could spare a few hours to tell you all about flying."

"I'd love that," said Trixie.

"Great, I'll tell her in my next letter home," said Twilight. "So, have you really been reading that all morning?"

"Well, no," said Trixie. Her horn glowed, and she withdrew the Journal from her saddlebag. "I was also reading this."

"No way," said Twilight, her eyes widening as she took the book with her own telekinesis. "The Journal of the Two Pony Sisters? How did you get this?"

"One of my friends from the Society," said Trixie. "She thought that it would be great for my act."

"Oh, I'm sure Celestia would just love to see some of these stories performed," said Twilight. "Could I read it?"

"Sure, I'm sure it won't take you long," said Trixie. Twilight squealed and hugged her.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Twilight squealed. Trixie grinned, blushing under Twilight's affections. She wasn't sure if Limestone had meant for her to lend the book to somepony else, but right now, Trixie didn't care. Anything that got affection from Twilight was worth doing.