"The end."

The book closed via a violet aura of arcane energy, and the unicorn reading it, Twilight Sparkle, lifted it off the table she sat before and holstered the tome inside the bag hanging off her side. Surrounding her in Pony Joe's donut shop were her best friends, her number-one assistant Spike, a blue unicorn in a star-studded cape and hat, and last but not least, Gilda.

"Brava, brava! Encore!" applauded the star-hatted unicorn.

"It wasn't a performance, Trixie," said Twilight.

"Oh, but it was!" Trixie countered. "Literature is an art form and show in itself, and that was one of the greatest displays of literary magic I've ever seen!"

"This is the only time ya'll will ever see me aggreein' with Trixie," Applejack stated. "That was a mighty good story there, Twi."

"I liked the part with the presents!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, bouncing up and down in her seat. "I always like presents!"

"I like how most of it was actually true," Gilda added. "Past, present and future. I'll never know what made me have that twisted dream, though."

"Maybe it was accurate to the story," Dash spoke. "You felt guilty, didn't you?"

"Every waking moment, Dash," Gilda admitted. "I would never have apologized if I didn't mean it."

"And that's why we're cool again, G. We're all cool here, right?"

"Heck yeah," Applejack proclaimed.

"Definitely!" added Rarity.

"Of course!" continued Twilight.

"Yes," Fluttershy said plainly.

As the girls continued their shouts and declarations of approval, Spike placed a tray of hot cocoas and donuts on the table. "Refills and snacks on the house, courtesy of Pony Joe!"

"Thank you so much, Joe," Twilight said.

"It's not a problem at all, Twilight," the cream-colored unicorn replied from behind the counter, giving a nod to the group. "That story of yours was definitely payment enough. Mind if I get a copy of it?"

"As soon as I finish up the few revisions I have planned for it," Twilight said. "I still feel like I can add a few more things to it to make it better."

"I think you should give Pinkie Pie's character more lines," Rainbow Dash joked. "She didn't talk enough in there."

"Ooh, you're right, Dashie!" exclaimed Pinkie. "I do talk a lot, but I didn't talk a lot in there! I mean, it wasn't really me, but still, it was based on me, and I talk a whole lot, and-"

"Pinkie Pie," Dash interrupted, breaking out into laughter, "you are so random."

The girls laughed and joked even more as they sat inside the nice warm donut shop on the eve of the Winter Festival. The snow was falling lightly outside, just as it had been in Twilight's story. The magic of the season surrounded this group of friends as their night carried on as slowly as possible, almost sentient, allowing them to enjoy every minute of it.

"Gilda," Twilight spoke, "I almost forgot, there's one part of this story that hasn't occurred yet."

"What's that?" the gryphon inquired.

"You never wrote that letter to Princess Celestia."

"Oh, yeah...I almost forgot about that."

"Do you still want to?" the lavender unicorn asked.

"Yeah, sure. Why not? It's not every day I actually learn a lesson like this."

Twilight grinned. "Spike, take a note!" the studious unicorn happily proclaimed.

"Ready to go!" Spike announced, quill and scroll already in his claws.

"Dear Princess Celestia," Gilda began. "I am writing to you because I have finally discovered a great truth about friendship, and it has opened my eyes. You should always know who your truest friends are and know what you should and shouldn't do in order to keep those friends. You never really know just what you have until it's gone, so keep a tight grip on the things you hold dear, and try your best not to lose them. Those kinds of friendships last a lifetime and beyond, and should be cherished with every passing day. Signed, Gilda the gryphon."

Spike finished up the note, and with a burst of green flame, sent it on its way. The night continued its slow progress as the snow began to grow in intensity, covering all of Equestria in its chilling yet soothing embrace. This didn’t bother the girls one bit, as the company of friends created its own unique warmth.