It was a bright, sunny and joyful day in Equestria. The pegasi had cleared the clouds in advance for Princess Celestia's arrival, allowing shining beams of sunlight to filter through to the small town of Ponyville, making all the earth-ponies cheerful and happy.
A procession of royal guard unicorns marched onto either side of the wide path leading to the centre of town, standing and waiting patiently as crowds of ponies began to gather behind them in anticipation for Celestia.
Twilight Sparkle skipped along merrily to the festivities with Spike sitting on her back, enjoying his lazy cruise over. She smiled broadly and couldn't wait for her mentor to arrive. Twilight made her way through the crowds that were already growing thick with ponies and watched the skies for any signs of Celestia.
After a substantial amount of ponies had made their way to the ever-increasing crowd, finally a pegasi-driven chariot came into view in the sky. Soon, it was clear Celestia herself was being carried on the chariot, standing tall and proud.
A massive cheer went up as the ponies' princess landed at the start of the royal guard's organised line. Twilight Sparkle squeaked with excitement as her mentor stepped off the chariot and began to make her way down the pathway.
'It is very good to see you all again, my loyal subjects. I am glad Ponyville has fared well in these rather trying times, and it's citizens are as polite and homely as ever. It is my pleasure to see such a large gathering of good pony-folk here to watch my arrival.' Celestia spoke with a harmonious but loud voice, as she slowly walked along the path.
Twilight watched with awe as Celestia passed through into Ponyville and began to make her way to the town hall. She rushed home to her tree house immediately, noticing that Spike hadn't woke once during the ceremony.
Raising her eyebrow quizzically, Twilight Sparkle sighed and laid him down into his sleeping-basket, covering the baby dragon with a blanket as he snored away. She would have to make sure to wake him up, next time.
Twilight Sparkle gradually prepared a small flower-sandwich meal for herself, and was just about to sit down and eat it when she heard a loud rapping on her door. She grumbled and spoke out loud, 'Who could that be?'.
Gently trotting over to the door, she opened it and looked outside, before being shocked by a hopping Pinkie Pie blowing a party-blower in her face.
'Surprise! It's my birthday! Pfpht!' Pinkie Pie said in her usual hyperactive way, still bouncing up and down. Twilight Sparkle looked down at the floor sheepishly, blushing. She'd completely forgotten it was Pinkie Pie's birthday, and she didn't have a present for her.
'Oh, um, hey Pinkie! Happy birthday!' Twilight said unconvincingly, giving a shy but polite smile to Pinkie. 'I guess you're uh, having a party?'
'Oh yes, of course I am! Real soon! Didn't you receive my invitation a week ago?' Pinkie said, still hopping up and down with apparently boundless energy.
The invitation! Of course. Twilight had forgotten that, too. She'd told Spike to make a special note on the calendar. Why was he being so lazy recently? Whatever the case, she'd have to bluff her way out of this one now, thought Twilight.
'Of course I did... and I got you a special present, too!' Twilight said quickly, grinning foolishly and nodding her head. Pinkie widened one eye, giving Twilight a suspicious and suspecting look, but soon returned to her usual, happy state.
'Well that's great Twilight! I can't wait to see you there!' Pinkie shouted, before hopping away to visit the other ponies.
Twilight wiped the sweat off her brow with her hoof. Well, this was awkward. She had to get Pinkie a present, today, and she had no idea what to get her! Looking down at the floor, Twilight circled around in the tree house's base, trying to think of what Pinkie would like.
Her meandering was soon brought to a halt by a voice from upstairs. 'Twilight! You ok down there? You're looking real worried!' Spike called, peering down from the top of the staircase.
'Yes Spike, I'm fine. But it's Pinkie Pie's birthday and I'd forgotten all about it! I haven't got her a present. It doesn't help that SOMEONE I told to make special note of Pinkie's birthday on the calendar DIDN'T!' Twilight responded.
Spike put a single claw to his mouth as he thought for a moment as to who that could be. Soon realising that it was him being addressed, he chuckled, embarrassed. 'Don't worry Twilight! It's not too late, is it? We can still get her something!' he yelled down the stairs.
'Yes, I suppose to. But we'd better hurry.' Twilight fussed, as she started scrounging through her various books, researching the perfect gift for Pinkie. Before long, something caught her eye. It was perfect. 'The Unpoppable Balloon! Enchanted by Starswirl the Bearded, the Unpoppable Balloon can never be popped! It's located on top of...' Twilight paused, and gasped.
'The Screamskull Peak!' she bellowed dramatically.
'Eh? The Scream-what Peak?' Spike asked in a voice that suggested he was curious, but really just tired.
'The Screamskull Peak! One of the most dangerous places in all of Equestria, said to be haunted by evil spirits! Starswirl considered the Unpoppable Balloon so legendary that anyone who should have it must first get past the mountain's treacherous terrain as a test!' Twilight managed to get out of her mouth, before gasping for air after saying so much.
'Yeah? What's the problem? We can do anything with magic. I mean, and friendship of course. It won't be hard with everypony else, I'm sure.' Spike said, rubbing his head as he yawned sleepily.
'But that's the problem! If I bring everypony else, they'll know that I didn't bother to get Pinkie a present until now, and I'll look like a bad friend. I can't do that!' Twilight said, in utter trepidation.
'Fine then... I'm sure it'll be fine once we get there.' Spike said, looking at Twilight with a rather bored, and still very sleepy expression.
'I hope you're right Spike... I hope you're right.' Twilight gulped. She allowed Spike to clamber onto her back, puffing under his weight. Why don't they make baby dragons lighter? She thought to herself.
After a short and uneventful journey, Spike and Twilight Sparkle found themselves at the bottom of a spiralling ramp up Screamskull Peak. It certainly looked like an intimidating place. Grey, jagged rocks covering the place with a rocky, unsteady looking path was quite uninviting. Circles of mist spun slowly around the very peak of the mountain - supposedly where the Unpoppable Balloon was.
'Well, every journey starts with one small step!' Twilight joked in an unconvincing manner as she put one hoof onto the rock-littered pathway, shaking and wobbling about, almost falling over.
'W-whoa!' Twilight gasped, as she eventually managed to place all four hooves on the pathway. So begun the slow and difficult ascent up Screamskull Peak, with Twilight being forced to an almost slug-like pace due to the thousands of uneven little rocks covering the road.
Around half way up the mountain, Twilight decided she couldn't carry Spike on her back any longer. 'Spike, you're going to have to get off. This is hard enough, let alone with you weighing on my back.' she said, in as polite a way as she could, as she gently lifted him down onto the ground.
'Aw, but Twilight-!' Spike was caught short as he almost fell over from standing on the loose pebbles. He looked at her and gave a disapproving scowl, but decided it was pointless to argue, and continued with her up the mountain on claw.
After a painfully long trip up the mountain, the duo finally made into the very peak of Screamskull Peak. There, tied to the tip at the top of the mountain was a string, which in turn was attached to the most shiny, pink balloon Twilight had ever seen.
'Finally, we made it!' Twilight panted triumphantly, as she lurched over to untie the string binding the balloon in place. However, before she could, a booming voice resonated from behind her, shocking her and almost making her lose her balance.
'You there! That balloon is property of Starswirl the Bearded, and only the worthy may take it from where he put it!' bellowed the voice.
Twilight Sparkle trembled and slowly looked around, to see where the voice was coming from. However, as she turned, she saw no one but Spike. Once again, the voice boomed, addressing her.
'Leave Screamskull Peak at once!' the voice commanded her.
Twilight frowned, and determined to get Pinkie's present, began to undo the string. Before long, the voice spoke again, but it seemed much more quiet and timid than before.
'I didn't expect anyone to actually try and take the balloon after I gave THAT performance! You must truly be worthy. Very well then, take it. I'm sure Starswirl the Bearded would be happy for someone of your capability to have it.' the voice called out meekly.
Finally untying the balloon, Twilight nodded appreciatively at the mysterious, seemingly source-less voice, before beginning her troublesome journey back home. By the time she and Spike had made it back down, they were more than exhausted, and it was late.
'It's getting dark! I hope we can make it to Pinkie's party in time...' Twilight said, in a worried panic. She broke into a gallop and Spike was forced to run as fast as he could to keep up with the rushing Twilight.
Eventually, they made it to Pinkie Pie's. Knocking her hoof against the door, Twilight gritted her teeth as she hoped that they weren't too late. Thankfully, Pinkie opened the door, beaming at them with a giant grin.
'Come in, come in! You're just in time to join the fun!' Pinkie yelped in excitement. Spike and Twilight made their way into the house.
A disco ball was hanging from the centre of the room, projecting a cascade of blocks of light onto the floor around the ponies. Several tables were laid out with buffets and refreshments on each. Twilight was happy to see all her friends already there.
'Ok then! It's present time! Whee! What'd you all get me?' Pinkie yelped in excitement as she hopped up and down.
'Here y'go, partner!' said Applejack cheerfully, as she gave Pinkie a fresh apple pie. Pinkie was overjoyed and thanked Applejack heartily, placing the pie on the table beside her.
'What about you, Twilight? What'd you get for me?' Pinkie asked with bursting curiosity.
'I got you this, Pinkie!' Twilight said in an exhausted, but happy tone. She held up the Unpoppable Balloon to Pinkie.
'Eh? It looks just like an ordinary, plain balloon!' Pinkie said, trying to conceal her disappointment.
'It's unpoppable, Pinkie! It's enchanted so it can never pop!' Twilight said encouragingly.
'Ooh, it's so shiny!' Pinkie said, now in awe, as she pulled down the balloon. She stomped on it with her hoof, and to her surprise, it just bounced right back up. The balloon truly was unpoppable.
'Thank you Twilight! This is such a great gift!' Pinkie said appreciatively.
Twilight gave a sigh of relief. It was over, and Pinkie had liked the present. Suddenly, Twilight realised with shock that Spike had disappeared. She looked around frantically.
'Spike! Has anyone seen Spike?' she called out desperately.
'Here he is!' Pinkie said, laughing, as she pointed to Spike. He was on the floor, fast asleep.
Twilight smiled, relieved once again. Now that she'd finally done everything, Twilight wanted to go to sleep as well.
The party soon finished, and Pinkie was wished happy birthday, before all the ponies went home. Tucking Spike into bed, Twilight decided to write a letter to Princess Celestia before she went to sleep herself.
'Dear Princess Celestia. Today I learnt something very special about friendship. While getting great gifts for friends is brilliant, you shouldn't always rely on others to tell you to get those gifts in advance.
-Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle'