I'm sorry, friendship is what now? How... quaint. Well, we don't believe in magic here. We believe in science. Delicious, magical science!
Twilight Sparkle is (by sheer coincidence to her name) a Spark: someone who is able to use questionable science to create miraculous devices that defy the laws of reality. She's still learning, though, and can't quite get out of a slump that endangers her career. Soon, however, a quintet of mysterious beings will cross her path, throwing her into a battle against an otherworldly foe. Her only hope is to push her talents to their limits, discover what lies beyond the enigmatic Intertwined Gate, and show them... show them ALL!
(This fic is based on the excellent webcomic Girl Genius, taking place several decades after the current time of the story.)