Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Equestria, groaned. “Are you sure I have to do this?”

“Of course! It would be unbecoming for a princess to not attend her own ball.”

“That’s the problem, Rarity. It shouldn’t be my ball, it should be for all of us.”

“Come now, you were the one who saved Equestria, not to mention earned her title as Princess of Friendship and an oh-so-fabulous castle,” Rarity said, and made some minor adjustments to Twilight’s dress.

“Yes, but if it wasn’t for you girls I would never have defeated Tirek.”

“I will not hear another word about it. You will enjoy your ball, and that is final.” As if to make her point, Rarity used an extra bit of force to pin one last amethyst into place.

Twilight sighed. Her friends meant well, they always did, but this was different. Ever since the day they sent Tirek back to his prison, ponies had stopped treating her like regular old Twilight. Now she was Princess Twilight, Her Majesty, Her Highness, or some other title elevating her above ponies she considered friends. It reminded her of the way she used to act around Celestia. She was always so skittish and formal, with just a tiny bit fear of disappointing her. And now her friends were beginning to see her in that same unapproachable light.

Perhaps it was the upcoming Twilight Masquerade Ball that had them feeling this way. They all had a lot on their plates after all. Rarity had predictably taken it upon herself to make their dresses and masks. Pinkie would be providing her party planner services. Applejack would be cross if she wasn’t allowed to cater the event free of charge, of course. Fluttershy, feeling uncharacteristically brave, wanted the honors of singing a song. And Rainbow Dash wanted nothing to do with it but decided to tag along so as not to leave them all “hanging”. Yes, that was probably it, but it didn't make her feel any less… betrayed?

No, betrayed was the wrong word for this feeling. This was definitely hurt.

They had been through so much together, and she wasn’t lying, Equestria owed them just as much as it did her. There was a reason her castle had seven thrones instead of one, a reason all six of their cutie marks lay upon the Tree of Harmony, and a reason why they deserved places beside her and the other princesses.

It also didn’t help that no matter where she went, ponies would go out of their way to pay their respects to her and only her.

“Thank you, Princess Twilight.”

“Bless you, Princess.”

“Thank Celestia for you, Princess.”

She had lost track of how many hooves she had shaken in the previous weeks, how many foals she kissed, even the names of the towns she now had keys to. Yet never once did anypony approach her friends. The upcoming ball was looking to be more of the same no matter how hard she tried to turn it around.

“Now hold still, dear. I want your mask to fit perfectly,” Rarity said, and placed an ornate mask upon Twilight’s muzzle. “And done. Go ahead, take a look.”

Twilight looked at herself in the mirror. Rarity had certainly outdone herself once again. The dress was of a flowing dark navy, yet not overly large. Its exterior sparkled with gemstones, which faded from light to dark and to light again, creating a look similar to Twilight’s namesake. On her head clung a an elegant mask only Rarity could have fashioned. It was firm, yet soft against her head. The fabric melded from lavender on one half to pearl on the other. In the center where the two halves met sat an amethyst six-pointed star of Twilight’s cutie mark. Lost in the brilliance of Rarity’s creation, Twilight could hardly recognize herself.

A light bulb went off in her head.

This ball could be the perfect opportunity to show her friends the admiration they deserve without her getting in the way!

“Rarity, you’re amazing,” Twilight said, gently taking off her new wardrobe, then rushing out the door, but not before giving Rarity a well-deserved hug.

Rarity giggled. “I know.”

The golden doors of Twilight’s castle swung open and impacted with a resounding clang, the force of which sent a certain baby dragon vibrating off his seat. “What was that for, Twilight--urk,” he tried to say before being wrapped up in an aura of purple magic.

“Spike! I’m so glad you’re home,” Twilight said, bringing Spike into a bone-crushing hug.

“Air…”

Twilight looked down and released her captive. “Oops, sorry about that.”

“Jeez Twi, you have to watch it with the bear hugs. That earth pony strength really smarts,” Spike said between long breaths.

Twilight blushed a little.

“Anyways, what’s up? You seem to be in a pretty good mood.”

“I think I found a way to make the dance go better than I could’ve hoped.”

“Really?”

“Yes, by not attending,” Twilight said, crossing her forelegs.

Spike stared at Twilight, his face flat with bewilderment. “We’ve been over this, Twilight. You can’t miss your own ball.”

“Oh, I’m still going.”

“Now you’ve lost me.”

“Remember when we were going over ways of getting out of this mess?”

“Kind of? Nothing really panned out though.” Spike scratched his chin. “Well there was that one clause that stated: ‘A princess may designate a courtier of her choosing to attend any social gathering in their place.’ But you don’t really have a court last time I checked.”

“I know, but Rarity gave me a brilliant idea. Watch this!” Twilight said with hint of excitement in her voice.

Twilight’s horn sparked to life, and her magenta aura sprung forth. With a practiced ease she wove her spell until her magic coalesced around her, covering her from head to hoof. Spike dove for cover as a bright, blinding light bathed the throne room. With a subtle “poof”, the spell finished. Twilight was gone, seemingly replaced by a complete stranger.

“Twilight? Twilight is that you?”

“I don’t know? You tell me.”

“Okay, Twi. This isn’t funny. Is that you or not?”

“It worked! It worked! It worked!” Twilight said, and hugged Spike. “I wonder what I look like!”

Twilight tore through the myriad of halls and stairs of her castle towards her bedroom. There she raced up to her, modest if Rarity were to admit, standing mirror. Her mane reminded her a great deal of her mother's with its alternating bands of white and violet. Unlike her mother, her coat was a shade of purple bordering on pink. Even her cutie mark had changed. Six small, violet stars now sat in the place of the symbol of Magic.

“Do you know what this means, Spike?” Twilight said, while excitedly clapping her hooves together.

Still huffing and puffing, Spike just shook his head.

“It means I can use that little loophole to not only take myself out of the equation and let my friends have some time to shine, but I can also go incognito and make sure everything still goes perfectly!”

She wrapped Spike up in another hug and twirled around before setting him back down again.

“Thanks for putting up with me the last few days. I know I never would have figured this out without you.”

Spike blushed. “Shucks, Twi, you know I would do anything for you,”

“That’s great,” Twilight began to say in an almost apologetic tone. “Because I need someone to cover for me while I’m at the ball. And I know how much you had your heart set on going and spending some time with Rarity.”

Spike let out a groan then zoned out. Twilight could almost see the little hearts fluttering above his head.

“Spike?”

“Of course I can help out, but I want some bits for ice cream and comic books,” Spike said.

“Deal.”

Tonight was the night. A week full of preparing, studying, and most importantly, practicing had come to this. Twilight would have to become a whole new mare. Thankfully, her spell--and her understanding of it--had made great progress. What made it so brilliant was that it wasn’t a plain old illusion. It temporarily transformed anything it touched to the appearance of its counterpart in a close alternate reality.

For every intent and purpose, the “Surface of What Could Have Been” spell worked as a foolproof disguise. The spell had even managed to change Rarity’s dress to something just as fabulous but different enough not to tip Twilight’s hoof. And now she was ready as she would ever be as she stepped outside into the whirlwind of activity that had parked itself at her front door.

Ponies from across the kingdom strolled across the carefully prepared grounds. Twilight recognized Rarity hobnobbing with a few ponies from Canterlot, a lithe white mare and a dapper looking unicorn stallion. Both oozed refinement and class, yet Rarity outshone them all. Members of the Wonderbolts, in their striking blue dress uniforms, mingled with well-to-do ponies and a certain rainbow-maned pegasus. Applejack was busy serving the loads of sweets that she and her brother had carted up from the farm. Pinkie, dressed in a formal gown, was showing ponies around in an uncharacteristic calm. A band of classical musicians played on an elevated dais as their instruments filled the air with upbeat yet refined music. And not a single pony paid Twilight any attention.

So far, so good.

A red carpet had been laid out from the road to Twilight’s castle. On either side, tables had been set with fine tablecloths of alternating violets. Next to those sat Applejack’s pride and joy: bountiful arrays of Sweet Apple Acres produce and baked goods. Pies, apples, fritters, cupcakes, anything that could be made with apples was there. A long table stood at one end of the temporary dining hall, with nine progressively ornate wooden thrones lined up behind it. A little further yet, a throng of ponies had gathered in the central area of shortly trimmed grass.

The ballroom.

Thankfully Twilight had taken dance classes after her birthday last year. She didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of the nation, and her old dance moves would give her away faster than Pinkie could devour a cake. Something else that had caught her interest, beyond how posh everything was for a Pinkie Party, were the several glass display cases containing masks dotted across the entire venue.

The trumpets of the Royal Guard sounded as Twilight approached the two ponies she respected--and now feared--the most.

“Now introducing Starshine, emissary of Princess Twilight Sparkle,” bellowed a guard, his voice cutting above the din of chatting ponies. A hush fell over the crowd, but was quickly replaced by a renewed fervor of whispers and gossip.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna together in their collective radiant glory and finest dresses, turned and faced the new pony.

Twilight gulped.

Celestia approached, and Twilight watched with rapt attention. This would be her spell’s greatest test, and she hoped with her entire being that it would withstand her former mentor’s inspection.

“Miss Starshine, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Celestia said in her usual bright demeanor.

Twilight bowed before the three assembled princesses. “Thank you, Princess. I’m sorry Princess Twilight could not be here to meet you. She contracted the feather flu the other day, and did not want to risk spreading it to her guests tonight.” Twilight pulled Celestia a little closer and whispered, “Between you and me, I think she forgot she wasn’t immune to it anymore.”

A half truth, Twilight would never outright lie to Princess Celestia. She had forgotten about how she was now part pegasus and could catch the flu, and she payed dearly for it a few months back.

Princess Luna studied the disguised Twilight, and looked her over with what Twilight assumed was the very definition of a trained eye.

Luna smiled. “I was wondering when Twilight would find some dependable ponies to help her. Yes she has her friends, but I doubt any of them would want to deal with the many rigors a princess must face behind closed doors,” she said, and bowed. “Well met, Lady Starshine. ‘Tis a shame Princess Twilight could not attend. I wished to ‘catch up’ with her.”

Shoot. I should have known they would want to see me. Especially Celestia. Twilight frowned. We hardly get to spend time together anymore.

Get it together, Twi. Tonight is about your friends.

The princesses are your friends.

Ouch. She got herself there. Then what was this whole night really about?

Letting your friends see they just as important as you are.

She was right. She could always make some time for the princesses later this month, or maybe year if she was lucky.

“I apologize on her behalf. Trust me when I say she desperately wishes she was here.” Twilight looked to Celestia. “She misses you all dearly.”

Celestia smiled. “It’s okay, Starshine. Thank you for taking her place on such short notice.”

Twilight bowed again. “It is my honor, Princess. Though Princess Twilight had a great suggestion.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“She said even though ponies couldn't meet one of the heroes that defeated Tirek, there is no reason they can’t meet other five in attendance.” Twilight paused for a second, tapping her chin. “Well maybe four of them. I don’t think Fluttershy would appreciate the extra attention.”

“That is a splendid idea. We’ll let everypony know who they can give their thanks to,” Celestia said. “Now I believe those heroes also need to be informed of Twilight’s absence,” Celestia said, motioning over to the buffet table and the busy Applejack working feverishly behind it.

Twilight immediately perked up. This would be the perfect opportunity to see how her friends were fairing. “It was a pleasure meeting you,” she said, and waved goodbye to the princesses.

Phew. That went better than I could’ve hoped. Maybe I was worrying too much about the whole--

Wham.

“--night.”

“Twilight, Twilight, Twilight,” shouted a hyperactive pink blur. “I got so worried when I heard the big guard pony say you weren’t coming. And now you here and that’s great!” To emphasize the point, the pink blob enveloped Twilight in a big hug.

Huh, so this is what Spike meant when he said “tone it down”.

“Pinkie Pie,” Twilight said, and put a hoof on Pinkie’s lips. “I need you to calm down and listen carefully.”

“Oki doki!” Pinkie managed to muffle out.

“I need you to Pinkie Swear that you won't tell anypony who I am, or that I am here.” Twilight pulled her hoof back. “Please Pinkie, I really need this.”

Pinkie cocked her head to the left. “But why? Why don’t you want to party with all your friends and the princesses?” She looked down, a small frown having replaced her smile. “It’s my decorations isn’t it? You don’t like what I did?”

Twilight looked around her. If she didn't know better, she wouldn’t even guess that this was a Pinkie Party. It was too formal, too organized, too high class. Not that Twilight was a snob, but it just wasn’t Pinkie. She then took a closer look at one of the many display cases strewn about the grounds. Inside were masks, some she recognized from her days in Canterlot, some from the history books she read, and others from the museums she would take her mom to on the weekends. Then it dawned on her, Pinkie had somehow managed to make the ball into an exhibition on masks!

Over there was the death mask of King Tutancamel, further down were actual Masquerade Masks from Celestian era Prance, there was even a welder’s mask from the construction of the Colt Tower in Manehattan. And right in front of her was that demonic form of an ancient Zebra shaman.

“Gah! Pinkie, where did you get that?”

“Oh the mask? I talking to Celestia about how much you like learning and teaching others, and I thought to myself, ‘What would Twilight do for a party all about masks?’ So I asked her if I could borrow the Royal Canterlot Museum’s masks for the night.” Pinkie’s smile was back with a vengeance. “So you do you like it? Do you, do you, do you?”

If it could reach it, Twilight’s jaw would be buried in the grass. “Yes Pinkie, I love it!”

“That’s awesome! Now you can go around and teach ponies about all these creepy masks!”

“Pinkie,” Twilight said, becoming serious once again. “I really meant it when I said I need you to keep my identity a secret tonight.”

Pinkie groaned. “But the learning and the teaching.”

“Any other night I would. But tonight isn’t going to be about me, and revealing myself would only make things worse.”

“But, but, but--”

“No buts, Pinkie. At least some ponies are looking at your exhibition, right?”

“I guess.”

“Now imagine if I was around. They would only care about getting my attention, not some masks from lands they never heard of.”

“But you would care, and that’s all that matters to me!”

She went into all that effort for just for me...

“And I do, but can you please, please, please keep this a secret?”

Pinkie stared at Twilight for a while. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

Twilight hugged Pinkie. “Thank you. I will talk to you girls after the ball okay?”

“Okay.”

Twilight watched as Pinkie trotted off towards the bandstand. Though now it looked like her eyes weren’t nearly as bright as they were before.

By now the ball had swung into high gear. Ponies had begun to dance on the large, lantern-lit courtyard, while others lined themselves up for a chance at the Apple family’s home cooking. This is where Twilight found herself.

This is almost as bad as cider season. It’s for the best though, at least half these ponies would still be in line trying to shake my hoof.

Minutes felt like hours as the line progressed. She looked to the couples occupying the dance floor, her eyes drawn to the overwhelming beauty of a certain white unicorn mare.

Rarity was always one to shine in a crowd, but in her sparkling crystal dress and mask, this was her domain and she knew it. Apparently Twilight wasn’t the only one to notice, as a line of stallions had formed to get the next dance with her.

The sight brought a smile to Twilight’s face. If she wasn’t disguised, those stallions would surely be fawning over her instead, and denying the admiration Rarity so rightfully deserved.

Suddenly Rarity tossed the poor pegasus she was dancing with away in a high speed spin, and galloped up to Twilight.

“Where did you get THAT!” Rarity began looking all over Twilight, ignoring any pretense of personal space while doing so. “The colors, the gems, the flawless stitch work.” She pulled back the neck of Twilight’s dress, exposing the tag with an elegant rainbow-colored ‘R.D.’ emblazoned on it. “R.D.? I don’t know of any R.D. in Equestria. Well I know of one, but she couldn’t possibly create something like this. Tell me, where did you find such wonderful work of craftsponyship?”

“A--a friend made it for me. Do you like it?”

“Like it? I LOVE IT! The style, the grace, the way it reflects off your mane! Why any other night you would be belle of the ball, Miss…”

“Starshine. And I presume you are Lady Rarity,” Twilight said, and curtseyed. “Princess Twilight has told me so much about you.”

“Indeed I am. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Miss Starshine,” Rarity said. “You know Twilight? My, my. A dress I would be proud to call my own, and connections to royalty? I’m surprised we haven't met sooner.”

“That’s my fault, I’m afraid. I’ve been cooped up in Canterlot taking care of Princess Twilight’s more tedious responsibilities. I’m only here because she needed somepony to fill in for her tonight.”

Rarity’s eye twitched as she grew dim and distant, like someone had flipped a switch in her from sparkling socialite to brooding goth.

“Rarity, is everything all right?” Twilight asked.

“You mean Twilight isn’t coming tonight? To her own ball no less? The first ball to be held in her honor? In the dress I spent weeks working on in secret for an occasion just like this?” Rarity was barely looking at Twilight now. “No, everything's not all right.”

Oh Celestia.

“Oh, Twilight. I know only something drastic would keep you from your commitments, but tonight of all nights…” Rarity sighed. “This was to be my chance to show you the ropes.” Rarity stamped the grass with her front hooves. “She was going to be brilliant! Ponies from Canterlot to Vanhoover would be talking about the magnificent debutante who stole the ball.” Rarity’s voice cracked. “If even one pair of eyes were not fixed upon her tonight it would’ve been a travesty!”

“Rarity--”

“I’m sorry, but I must excuse myself. Good evening, Miss Starshine,” Rarity said, slowly trotting off. “Now where can a lady find some ice cream in a place like this…”

“Boy-howdy I haven’t seen Rares that miffed since we screwed up one of her fashion shows.” Applejack shook her head. “It took us a week to coax her out of her room. Oh where are my manners, I’m Applejack, and you are standing before some of the best food in Equestria, Miss...”

“Starshine,” Twilight said, and curtseyed. “I must apologize on Rarity’s behalf. She didn’t take the news of Princess Twilight’s absence very well.”

“Ahh shoot, Twi--err I mean the Princess ain't coming tonight? Me and the rest of gals tried really hard to make this a special night for her with the whole saving of Equestria and all. I even spent a couple days making her a cake--well it's kind of a cake,” she said, and pointed to an enormous triple-layered monstrosity of a desert. “Don’t tell anypony, but the secret ingredient is the applesauce in the cake batter.”

Twilight stared at the caramel coated perfection before her. Besides the icing, it had little slices of apple that rounded its top while its sides were sprinkled with cinnamon streusel forming a nice layer of crunchy goodness. Her mouth watered, and she licked her lips. “Whoa, Applejack, that must be one of the best looking cakes I have ever seen.”

“Shucks, I’m not one to boast, but I sure am proud of it. Shame Twilight won’t get to try it,” Applejack said and brought her front hooves to the sides of her mouth. “Alright everypony, come and get it!”

Suddenly there was a blur of twin white and pink streaks, and the cake vanished.

“Well would you look at that,” Applejack said while tapping her chin. She let out a defeated sigh. “All that work for nothing."

"I'm sure Princess Twilight would've loved it."

"I suppose so. Still stings to see something so special go to waste like that." Applejack sighed again. "Well I should get back to work. Maybe if I keep busy it will take my mind off it. I'll see you around, Miss Starshine,” she said, and trotted off.

Twilight stood alone in a stunned silence. This wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go at all. All she wanted was for her friends to he happy. To be out of her shadow for once. Instead she had only succeeded in ruining three of her friends’ nights for little or no gain.

Twilight stomped her hoof. It was time to end her charade before things got even more out of hoof and somepony else got hurt.

As if right on cue, the PA hissed into life.

“Ladies and gentlestallions, may I direct your attention to the center stage and the one, the only, Miss Fluttershy!”

The song.

“Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.” Twilight said, on the verge of hyperventilating.

Fluttershy stood alone on the main grandstand, dressed in a lacy, yet elegant floral garment full of flowing greens, blues, and pinks. A Rarity classic to be sure. Dancers stopped dancing, carousers stopped carousing, and a certain disguised pony princess wished she had stopped breathing. Every eye was on Fluttershy, and for once, she didn’t have a care in the world.

“Excuse me everypony,” Fluttershy began. “Tonight we are celebrating a pony I am deeply honored to call one of my best friends. She taught me so much about not only myself, but that with my friends behind me, not even the meanest, scariest creatures in Equestria can make me back down.

“This is for you, Twilight Sparkle, and thanks for showing that I have the music in me~”

Twilight tried to get through the packed throngs of ponies. Tried so hard to get the stage and stop Fluttershy. She had made it to the front row when she heard the first beats start playing, but by then she knew it was over. She watched on with mounting horror as Fluttershy sung her heart and soul out just for her.

“Yeah! Go Fluttershy! It’s your birthday!” a familiar scratchy sounding voice said.

Twilight turned and saw Rainbow Dash rocking out and bobbing her head to Fluttershy’s performance.

“Rainbow, you have to stop Fluttershy!”

“Umm. No?” Rainbow said, before flying away from the obviously insane unicorn.

Twilight tried to take off after her, but forgot two simple facts about her current situation, namely wing one and wing two.

“Rainbow! This is Twilight!” she tried to shout, but by then Rainbow was already on the other side of the stage. Twilight sighed as she saw her last hope of salvaging tonight fly away.

A thunderous roar of cheering and applause erupted across the ball. Ponies stomped their hooves, whistled, and some ambitious ones even professed their love at the top of their lungs.

“Thank you, everypony. Thank you!” Fluttershy said, waving to her adoring fans. “Now I hope you are all just as wonderful for the next pony up here. Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

Twilight felt a cold spike bury itself deep down within her chest. She couldn’t go up there like this, and she couldn’t dispel the illusion in time--all she could do was watch her friend melt in front of her eyes.

“Twilight?” Fluttershy called out again. “Has anypony seen Princess Twilight?” Her only response was a couple coughs and the chirping of a nearby cricket. “Twilight…”

A blue blur landed next to Fluttershy. “Hey Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said in a half giggle while scratching behind her head. “I might have forgot to mention Rarity dropped by and said that Twilight wasn’t going to show up tonight.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Sorry about that.”

“That’s okay, Rainbow. Everything is okay.”

“Uh, Fluttershy? You don’t look so good.”

“Everything is going to be okay…”

“Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked, poking her friend. Fluttershy toppled over, and like a plate, started wobbling back and forth on the stage floor before finally settling. “Huh, that's new. Even her mane is stiff as a board.”

Twilight jumped up on stage, and made her way to her fallen friend. “Come on, Rainbow, let's get her out here.”

Rainbow let out a huff. “You again? Didn’t you get the hint earlier?”

“Rainbow, it’s me, Twilight.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Oh sure, and I’m Spitfire!”

“I’ll prove it. Remember the day I became a princess, and I walked in on all of Fluttershy’s animals stuffing you into a pot--”

“Okay! I get it,” Rainbow said, holding up her hooves.

A purple aura surrounded the pitiful pile that was once Fluttershy. “Can you get all the girls and meet me at the royal table in about fifteen minutes?”

“Sure. You gotta explain the getup though. You look ridiculous.”

Twilight nodded. “It’s a long story, one I’ll tell once you round up the girls.” And with the hum of magic, both Twilight and Fluttershy vanished.

Rainbow only shook her head. “It’s never a dull night when my friends are around.” She smiled. “And that’s what makes them so awesome.”

Rays of light and energy blossomed forth from the twisting form of an otherwise normal unicorn. The telltale hum of powerful magic permeated the air, causing some nearby ponies’ manes to become frazzled in the same way an approaching storm would. In a sudden flash the magic stopped. There stood Twilight Sparkle, her wings outstretched.

“I knew I should have researched a proper counterspell,” Twilight said, her voice cracking as her body started to remember its old self.

Celestia giggled. “Indeed. I remember when Luna pulled a similar stunt. I believe she had taken the form of a bat to get out of cleaning the old castle one night.”

“Now Celestia, these ponies aren’t interested in ancient history,” Luna said.

“Unfortunately the maids ended up finding her hiding in the closet, and thinking she was just vermin, they chased her around with brooms until the spell wore off!” Celestia said between fits of laughter.

“Yes, but that is beside the point. I believe Miss Fluttershy still needs our help,” Luna said, and pointed to the comatose pegasus.

Rainbow Dash huffed. “Oh, her? She’s fine. One second,” she said, zipping off into the night sky. A second later she returned with a rain cloud, and with a couple quick bounces, she quickly emptied its contents upon the frozen form of Fluttershy.

“Huh? What? Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, shaking the water out of her mane, and the cobwebs from her mind.

“I’m here, Fluttershy,” Twilight said, hugging her friend. “And I saw your performance. It was amazing! I didn’t know I meant that much to you.”

Fluttershy smiled. “Thanks, Twilight, I’m so glad you got to hear it.”

“Darling, you have to be blind if you can’t see how much you mean to all of us,” Rarity said.

Applejack nodded. “Darn right!”

“Yeah, what were you thinking, Egghead?” Dash asked.

Pinkie Pie was now wearing what Twilight assumed was the original mask from The Specter of the Symphony. “Yeah!”

Twilight pawed at the ground. “I was scared.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “What in Equestria were you afraid of? You went face to face with a super powered centaur for land’s sake.”

“Well that’s part of the reason,” Twilight sighed. “Ever since we, and I do mean we beat Tirek, you all have been so distant. I was afraid you girls were starting to see me as only Princess Twilight, Savior of Equestria.” Twilight brought a wing to her hoof, and looked back to her castle. “While these are very much a part of me now, they don’t define me.” Twilight pointed to her friends. “It’s you, my best friends who make me who I am.

“I thought if I could hide from the limelight for a little while you would come to see that you are just important to Equestria as I am--crown or not.” Twilight held her head low. “Instead, I ruined everything.”

“Oh,” Applejack said.

“Oh my, I had no idea you felt that way! I guess we may have let all this castle and princess stuff really go to our heads,” Rarity said.

“That still doesn’t excuse me for making a mess of your plans, or lying to your faces, or scaring you half to death,” Twilight said, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I let my own selfishness get in the way. I forgot what makes our friendship strong enough to conquer beings the like of Tirek.”

Twilight brought all of her friends under her wings. “It’s when we are together that our friendship is strongest, and hiding behind a mask, even with good intentions, only succeeds in darkening something that is otherwise so bright.”

Her friends hugged her back.

“I’m so sorry I screwed everything up, but the night is still young, and I have much to make up for--if you would let me,” Twilight said.

“Oh course! We still have a dance floor to set aflame!” Rarity said, and pirouetted in place.

“I still want to learn more about these masks!” Pinkie said while hopping up and down.

Applejack laughed. “If you want to make up for that cake, how about you show up at the farm tomorrow and help me bake a new one?”

“I think I’m going home if you don’t mind. Singing in front of everypony may have been just a little too much for me.”

Twilight smiled. “That’s okay, Fluttershy. Thank you again for the song.”

Everypony then looked to Rainbow Dash. “What? I didn’t have any plans for Twi to mess up,” she said, and shrugged. “Though this will be a pretty good story to embarrass her with in the future. Not quite as good as that time with the doll, but then again what is?”

“Rainbow!” Twilight shouted above Rainbow's rancorous laugh.

Rumble. Rumble.

Everypony turned to the blushing Twilight and her rippling belly. “Heh, heh. Maybe I should get some dinner first.”

Applejack chuckled. “C’mon girls. I’ve got some fresh fritters waiting for us back at the cart.”

Celestia and Luna giggled as they watched the six friends leave.

“She still has much to learn,” Luna said.

“That she does. Then again, if there is one thing that Twilight Sparkle has taught me, it’s that even I have much more to learn,” Celestia said.

Out of the corner of her eye, Celestia spotted a pink blur zipping from display case to display case before finally settling in front of one. Inside sat a rather plain looking wooden mask. Pinkie opened the case and took the mask in her hooves. Her eyes widened as a green sheen flashed across the inward part of the mask.

“Oooo,” Pinkie said, before bringing the mask to her face.

The crack of thunder echoed across ball. “Pinkamena Diane Pie, for the sake of Equestria do not don that mask!” Celestia shouted. But she was too late. Pinkie had already fixed the mask upon her head, and storm clouds began to roil above. With another crack, Celestia appeared next to the pink party pony. “My poor little pony, do you understand what you brought upon us all?” she said, shaking her head.

Suddenly the clouds cleared, the lightning stopped, and Pinkie Pie looked up towards to Celestia. “Nope! But I did find this scary mask! GRR!”

Celestia was taken aback. That was the Mask of the Trickster, a kindred spirit of Discord. How had Pinkie not succumbed to its power? She then remembered an old letter from Twilight telling her never to question anything about the nature of the pink mare beside her if one valued their sanity.

“Never mind, Pinkie Pie. Carry on,” Celestia said.

“Oki, doki, loki!” Pinkie replied before bouncing off back towards her friends.

Celestia laughed. “Much more to learn indeed.”

Author's Notes:

Figured I would try writing an episode-like story with this one. I hope I succeeded.

As usual I would like to thank my proofreaders and you guys for taking the time to read this drivel! Please leave questions/comments/corrections below. Thanks again!