The Great Hall of Canterlot Castle has been the site of a variety of significant events and celebrations. It was where Shining Armor and Princess Cadance were married. It's the site of the annual Grand Galloping Gala. Twilight Sparkle even managed to pull some strings and celebrate her nineteenth birthday here a couple of years ago.

But today she, her friends, her family, a host of well-wishers, and the three crowned Princesses of Equestria are here for a very different reason.

"We are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion," Princess Celestia begins. "My most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, has done many extraordinary things since she's lived in Ponyville. She even helped reunite me with my sister, Princess Luna." She gives Luna a fond smile before she continues. "But today, Twilight Sparkle did something extraordinary. She created new magic, proving without a doubt that she is ready to be crowned Equestria's newest princess. Fillies and gentlecolts, may I present for the very first time, Princess Twilight Sparkle!"


"Say something, Princess," murmurs Celestia, giving Twilight a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Oh. Um..." Twilight clears her throat, steps forward so she can better see the throngs of ponies in the plaza below, and begins. "A little while ago, my teacher and mentor, Princess Celestia, sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which is something I didn't really care much about. But now..."

She looks back over her shoulder toward the five ponies watching from the doorway.

"...on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you." She beckons them out onto the balcony with her. "Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful. Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends. Thank you, everypony!"

The crowd erupts into cheers once again.

"Twilight!" Shining Armor breaks free of the crowd in the Great Hall and gallops up to his little sister. "I'm so proud of you!"

Twilight reaches out to hug him, but hesitates when she sees the expression on his face. "...are you crying??" she says, suppressing a giggle.

"Of course not," says Shining Armor, hastily dabbing at his eyes. "It's--it's liquid pride. Totally different thing." Then they both burst into giggles as they give each other a proper hug.

"Way to go, Princess!" cheers Apple Jack.

"Best coronation day ever!" whoops Pinkie Pie.

"We love you, Twilight," says Fluttershy, before she and the rest of the Ponyville ponies grab Twilight up in the biggest group hug they can manage.

Now Twilight's the one blinking back tears--sorry, 'liquid pride.' "I love you too, girls."

A mark of one's destiny, singled out alone, fulfilled...

Twilight gasps and pulls out of her friends' embrace. "Wait a second, that's it! I understand now. I know how to fix the spell!"

She doesn't bother trying to explain. She just gallops back to the library, with five very confused ponies following in her wake. She picks up Star Swirl the Bearded's notebook from where she left it on the table, summons a quill pen, and starts writing:

From all of us together, together we are friends.
With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end.
As she writes the final glyph, she can already feel power building. The Element stone on her tiara flares with a brilliant light, sending a pulse of magical energy through the room. The other Elements flare in response, each sending a beam of magic back toward Twilight. The sheer force of it leaves the ponies powerless to move--all they can do is stare in shock and confusion.

Twilight, surrounded by an increasingly powerful aura of magic, is likewise paralyzed and shocked--but only for a moment. It's okay, says a wordless voice inside her. This is meant to be. She closes her eyes, and waits for whatever is coming next.

The light increases to a blinding flash.

Then, abruptly, it's gone.

And so is Twilight.

===>

Sneaking Fluttershy back into Ponyville was, fortunately, a lot easier than getting her out. After that, Twilight and Zecora spent the rest of the night fine-tuning the unicorn's plan, while their friends on the other side of the wall carried out the instructions sent with Fluttershy.

It's nearly noon when Twilight and Zecora walk up to the borders of Ponyville. She has to squint, but Twilight can just barely see the strip of red cloth tied to the peak of the Carousel Boutique--the agreed-upon signal that the plan is ready for execution. She looks back at Zecora, briefly, and the zebra gives her an encouraging nod.

Nix your magic. Use the six.

Twilight walks up to the edge of the forcefield and raps her hoof sharply on the wall. Rings of blood-red light ripple out from the point of contact. That ought to get Trixie's attention.

The last train station on the northern line barely even counts as a station. It's just a platform with a path leading to a tiny Royal Guard outpost in the frozen wastes.

At least, it was until two days ago. Now it has a rather more significant purpose. Which is why Twilight and her friends are here, after all.

The doors open and, as one, they all cringe against the sudden rush of cold winter air. Well, almost as one. "Hah! And you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves," says Rarity smugly as she trails behind the rest of the group.

"I didn't say a word," grunts Spike, staggering under the weight of Rarity's luggage.

So. It turns out Shining Armor had a good excuse not to break the news about his wedding in person. And his bride-to-be is someone Twilight actually knows.

...no, not knows. Knew. She's not convinced she knows Cadance anymore.

How could she not remember me, after all the time we spent together as fillies? And what was with that look she gave me? It doesn't make sense...

It's nagging at the back of her mind even as she and Apple Jack go down the checklist for the catering.

"Cake, check. Ice sculpture, check. Best darn bite-sized apple fritter you ever tasted..." Apple Jack shoves one of the fritters into Twilight's mouth without any prompting.

"Mmm, check!" Twilight brightens a little. Nothing like one of Apple Jack's treats to cheer a pony up.

Autumn may have already begun in Equestria, but the warmth of summer still lingers. It's no longer blisteringly hot, but still warm enough to have an afternoon picnic with one's friends in the meadow on the outskirts of town. Cake, tea, sandwiches, and your five best friends in the world--what could be better?

...well, not being interrupted by your baby dragon assistant running up and collapsing on the picnic cloth might be a plus.

"Twi--light," Spike pants. "I--have--lemme just--" After a few more deep breaths, he belches out a burst of green flame, which coalesces into the shape of a scroll.

Twilight picks it up and begins to read. "'Dear Twilight, I am sure you are as excited as I am about the upcoming wedding in Canterlot.' ...Wedding?" Twilight exchanges a bewildered look with her friends, then continues. "'I will be presiding over the ceremony, but would very much like you and your friends to help with the preparations for this wonderful occasion. Fluttershy, I would like you and your songbird choir to provide the music...'"

Tornado duty training has been progressing smoothly, despite the absence of a certain yellow pegasus. As the last day of workouts draws to a close, it's time for one last speed check before the big day.

So far, the news has been good.

"That's wonderful, Flitter," calls Twilight as Flitterheart zips past. "Much better than yesterday."

"This is crazy awesome!" Rainbow Dash pumps her forehooves in the air. "We're gonna smash that record!"

An excited chittering noise rises from the vicinity of Twilight's ankle. She looks down to see a squirrel tugging urgently at her fetlocks and pointing toward... something.

"What did he say?" asks Spike.

Twilight gives Spike a dubious look. "Do I look like I speak Squirrel?"

The dragonlet squints in the direction the squirrel is pointing. "...what's that?"

The sun is getting low in the sky over Ponyville. No one, not even Princess Celestia herself, is more aware of this than Twilight Sparkle.

"Clock is ticking, Twilight. ClOcK. iS. tIcKiNg."

She paces back and forth in front of the window. "Keep it together," she mutters to herself over and over and over again. She can do this. She has to do this. The alternative is too horrible to contemplate.

But how? Rarity doesn't need help, Apple Jack doesn't need help, none of her friends need help...

Unless...

"If I can't find a friendship problem," she says to herself, "I'll mAkE a friendship problem!"

She rubs her forehooves together in glee as she opens up her old toybox. She knows just the perfect tool for this job...