And so this story begins. I've had this story floating around in my head for roughly the last five months and I've finally decided to share it.

I’ll be posting this story on FanFiction.net as well. The chapters will be up there earlier than here on FIM.

And remember, Reviews are nice.

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A purple unicorn lay asleep, her head resting on the desk she had worked at all night. An owl perched by a broken window hooted softly, just as the sun's rays shone through the shattered window. As if in response, a young purple dragon with green crest scales walked in the room, carring a tray which had a bowl filled with grain, a steaming cup fill with a dark brown liquid, and a small brown bar.

He carefully cleared a space on the desk, moving books and scrolls alike into neat stacks and piles. After doing this, the dragon set the tray on the desk and gently nudged the unicorn right above the mark of on her flank, that of glimmering lights. As he did this, the owl glided from its perch to the tray, landing just long enough to grab the small bar, then flying back to its perch.

"C'mon Twilight," the young dragon said. "You need to wake up. Owloysius already ate, you need to too."

Twilight Sparkle raised her and looked at the dragon who woke her up.

"Spike? Wha…?" She shook her head, dispelling her sleepiness. "Huh? Oh, thank you Spike."

Twilight pointed the horn on her head towards the tray, slightly narrowing her eyes in concentration. The bowl and cup levitated off the tray and floated towards the unicorn. The rest of her desk suddenly became alive with motion as scrolls and books flew off it into places on shelves around the room. The bowl and cup settled neatly in front of her.

Spike grabbed several of the books flying about the room, checking the titles on them. Scrying and Science, Enchanted Stained Glass, and The Visual Structure of Windows were among them.

"Trying to make new windows?" he said, gesturing towards the shattered window.

"No. Well, yes," was the unicorn's response. "I'm trying to create glass that can transmit image and sound. Well, me and the team I'm working with. If it works, I'll be able to talk with any pony that has one. Can you imagine, Spike? Being able to communicate with ponies all over Equestria instantaneously? We could talk with the girls all the time!"

"Yeah, and put me out of a job," Spike replied sullenly.

"Oh, Spike, you wouldn't be out of a job," Twilight said, playfully nudging the dragon's shoulder with her hoof. "You're still my assistant after all."

Twilight walked to the broken window, horn glowing with magic. She frowned slightly, eyes focusing on the destroyed glass. Tilting her head towards the window, the magic from her horn spread to the glass, causing it to stretch and slide. From where Spike stood, it seemed as if the glass was boiling. After just a few seconds, the magic retreated from the glass, revealing a single pane of glass, as if it had never broken.

Twilight gazed through the newly repaired window over the city of Canterlot. A few ponies were walking in the shadowy streets of the capital of Equestria. She could see the sun rising over the hills on the horizon, its rays beginning to claim the streets from the shadows.

The purple unicorn idly wondered what her friends were doing at that moment. She knew that Applejack was already up, tending her family's orchid with her brother and sister, Big Mac and Applebloom. Twilight knew firsthand how many chores were required to keep Sweet Apple Acres running, as she and her friends had helped out on occasion.

Her thoughts wandered to another of her friends, the energetic Pinkamena Diane Pie, better known to the residents of Ponyville as Pinkie Pie. The pink Earth Pony was likely awake, tending the ovens at Sugar Cube Corner, which she ran with the help of Pumpkin and Pound Cake.

Twilight next thought of her friend Rarity. The self-proclaimed fashionista was well deserving of the title: the last time Twilight had checked, Rarity had cornered the clothing market in Fillydelphia, where the white unicorn lived. Rarity was likely to still be asleep; the glamorous unicorn worked longer than Twilight did.

Her friend Fluttershy was definitely awake; she had to be considering the number of her animal tenants. Twilight recalled when she and her friends had helped the nervous pegasus move to her new home that was practically inside the Everfree Forest; Twilight hadn't realized that so many rabbits could fit in one room. She chuckled at the thought of those bunnies. They certainly kept Fluttershy busy.

Twilight wondered what Rainbow Dash was doing. She hadn't heard much from the blue pegasus. Twilight knew that she had finally been accepted into the Wonderbolts, but after that, Rainbow Dash had been secretive. She had hinted at being onto a huge new job, but wanted it to be kept quiet, just in case something didn't work out.

Owloysius hooted and glided down to Twilight's back, landing without a sound. Spike joined her at the window, gazing out over Canterlot.

"Hey, you know what?" Spike said suddenly.

"Hmm? What is it, Spike?" Twilight asked, turning from the window and walking back to her desk to eat her breakfast.

"It's been almost ten years since we left here for Ponyville!" The purple dragon seemed ecstatic. "We should celebrate!"

Twilight smirked at her assistant. "If this is just an excuse to use your 'Spiked' joke again…."

"No," Spike said, looking at his feet bashfully, "although it is a good joke. Maybe we should try getting everybody together, maybe even head back to Ponyville."

The unicorn nodded slowly. "Maybe we should. It would be nice for a change of scenery." Twilight levitated a spoon from her desk and began to eat her cereal. Thoughtful expressions crossed her face as she chewed her food. After swallowing, she said, "But I do have a lot of work to do for the Summer Sun Festival coming up too. I'll write a letter to the princess and see if I can get some time off."

Twilight quickly finished the rest of her food, then levitated her cup to her lips. A quill and paper shot in front of her, the quill dancing across the parchment, fueled by her magic. Just as she finished her drink, the paper rolled itself into a scroll and a wax seal appeared on it.

The scroll fell into Spike's waiting hand. He pursed his lips and let loose a small green flame. The scroll was consumed by the fire and crumbled into ash, which then flowed out the door of the room.

"Should I start packing now? Or should I meet with the team first? Or maybe a letter to the girls? Or-" Twilight said rapid fast, pacing the room.

"Calm down, Twilight. Maybe we should-" Whatever Spike was going to suggest was prevented as he belched forth a green flame. The fire spun and coalesced into a scroll, which fell towards the ground. Owloysius flew down and caught the scroll, then turned and glided over the desk, dropping it before returning to her perch.

"It's from the princess!" Twilight said excitedly. Using her magic, she quickly opened the scroll and read it.

To my faithful and former student, Twilight Sparkle,

Has it really been ten years since I sent a young unicorn who lived in the library to Ponyville? So much has happened in this last decade, my sister's return, the return and fall of Discord, even my protégé's training.

I know how much that journey affected you all those years ago, and I sincerely wish that you could go. However, if you do go, I fear that without you management skills the festival might not occur on schedule.

Twilight's heart sank as she read this. 'Not able to visit my friends?' she thought. She willed herself to read on.

I do believe, however, that I have an alternate solution to this predicament. In one month's time, coinciding with the Summer Sun Festival, there will be a ball in honor of my sister's return. How better to honor her, then to have those who brought her back attend?

What I am saying, my student, instead of going to Ponyville, how about we bring Ponyville to you? All of your friends have been invited to attend this event, this glorious celebration. I know you were set on going to Ponyville, but I hope this is a good alternative.

Have faith, my little pony, and everything will turn out alright.

Princess Celestia

Twilight was practically jumping around the room, too excited to speak. Spike seized the letter; by the time he finished it, a wide smile adorned his face.

Suddenly, his expression changed to that of alarm. "They're coming here!" he shouted. "I have to go get the rooms ready!" Spike ran out of the room into the hallway from which he had entered.

Twilight managed to cease her bounding in order to make it back to her desk. Body quivering with joy, she levitated a sheet of paper and a quill to her and began writing.

To my dear friends,

Princess Celestia has informed me that a grand celebration will be occurring here in Canterlot in one month's time, coinciding with the Summer Sun Festival, in honor of Princess Luna. My teacher has sent invitations to you all, and I hope that you accept. You can all stay with me, Spike, and Owloysius; in fact, Spike is already renovating for your arrival.

Always yours,

Twilight Sparkle

The paper and quill fell softly to the desk as Twilight released her magical hold of them. Then, focusing on the paper, her horn glowed and a thin beam of light shot from her horn, touching and engulfing the paper. With sharp pops, four more sheets came into existence.

"Number 37, if I'm not mistaken," came Spike's voice from the doorway.

"I didn't know that you still kept track." Twilight rolled the sheets into scrolls and sealed them. "Can you send these to the girls?"

Spike went to the small stack of scrolls, lifted them, and blew a single gout of flame. The scrolls vanished amongst the fire.

"Soon," Twilight said. "Soon, we all will be together again.

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In the immortal words of Fluttershy, "yay."

Bets on first pony to show up? Anyone?