“SPPPPPIIIIIKKKKEEE!” Twilight bellowed using her ear-shattering Royal Canterlot Voice, rendering everypony within five hundred metres of her temporarily deaf.
Upon hearing the call the purple dragon immediately dropped the mallet he had been using to bash a tent peg into the ground and into the castle. The main foyer was completely packed with a heaving mass of catering ponies. Spike tried to manoeuvre his way through the forest of legs but after his tail got stepped on twice and a heart-shaped ice sculpture almost flattened the poor reptile Spike decided enough was enough. Using his newly acquired wings the dragon hovered above the throng. Now with a birds eye view of the foyer he instantly spotted the lavender alicorn over in the far corner, talking the some of Ponyville’s local flower sellers. At a distance Princess Twilight Sparkle looked as calm and collected as ever but upon closer inspection Spike noticed the dark circles under her eyes, the raggedy edges of her mane and tail and her endless fidgeting habit that only surfaced at times like this. The purple dragon knew the last fortnight had been unbelievably stressful for the alicorn and wished he could do something more to help. He honestly was unsure as to how she hadn’t gone crazy like the last time she was put under an enormous amount of pressure (though it was mostly just her imagination going to far that time). However when Twilight did eventually turn to face him a huge smile was plastered on her face.
“Spike!” she exclaimed in relief, ”Thank goodness you’re here. Would you be so kind as to take my dress back to Rarity and ask her to let it out at the waist by a few inches? I need to be able breathe and tell under no circumstances am I ever gonna wear that corset she gave me. They’re both on the desk in my bedroom.”
“Sure thing, Twi,” Spike drew himself up in a salute before quickly flying towards the stairs.
“Thank you so much!” the princess called after him, an affectionate look on her face. Then, catching sight of a certain poofy maned earth pony Twilight bounded over to her.
“Pinkie!” she called.
“Hiya, Twilight,” her friend chirped back, bouncing in circles around the alicorn.
“I’m sorry to ask you this on such short notice but would you mind baking twenty more batches of vanilla cupcakes? Apparently all of Applejack’s, and yours I guess, extended family can make it after all!” Twilight informed Pinkie worriedly.
“Of course I don’t mind, silly. After all it’s not every a princess gets-“ the party pony was cut off as her entire body began to shake violently.
Twilight paled. “Oh sweet Celestia, not another doozy. Why did have to be today of all days?” she moaned, ”Please tell me it’s going to happen somewhere far, far away and doesn’t involve us getting chased by any monsters.”
Eventually the pink pony stopped shaking long enough to say,” I don’t think it’s monsters Twilight but the doozy is definitely going to happen Ponyville.”
The princess almost fainted at that. “Just breathe, Twilight, just breathe. Remember what Cadence taught you. Keep. It. Together,” she muttered to herself sternly and took a few, deep, long breaths.
“Ok, Pinkie. Thanks for letting me know. I will make sure to tell you about any friendship lessons I learn about trust and unexplained phenomenons today. After all, it worked last time. Hopefully nothing major will come of this because I need tomorrow to be perfect,” the alicorn said evenly.
“But it’s not unexpected if you expect it, duh! Any hoo, I better start baking. See ya later, Twiliagator!” the Element of Laughter giggled before zipping off towards the kitchen.
“I’ve lived here long enough to expect anything. Not much fazes me anymore to be honest,” Twilight remarked drily, mentally going through all the crazy, wonderful adventures she had had since she came to Ponyville all those years ago. Twilight marvelled at just how far she had come. Not only had she become the Princess of Friendship, saved Equestria numerous times, reformed various villains and become Headmare of a Friendship School, but she had also learnt many valuable lessons along the way. However, best of all Twilight had met her six best friends, her student, her idol and become an aunt. And now the princess was ready to embark the next great adventure in her life....
“Um, excuse me, Twilight,” a soft voice interrupted her thoughts. A butter cream pegasus floated down gracefully in front of the alicorn. “Angel’s gone missing. One minute he was stood right next to me will I was rehearsing with my birds, the next he just vanished! I thought he might of come in here, but there’s so many ponies. He could get trampled on, or worse!”Fluttershy explained fretfully, her huge teal eyes glistening with tears as she gazed beseechingly her friend through her soft pink mare. Large crowds still intimidated the yellow pegasus a bit and this one was no exception.
“It’s alright Fluttershy. If he’s in here, we’ll find him. I’ll help you search all day if that’s what it takes,” Twilight stated determinedly.
“Thank you, you really are a wonderful friend but I wouldn’t want you to stop preparing for your big day. I’m sure I can manage just fine on my own,” the yellow mare said, smiling gratefully. Suddenly Fluttershy spotted a blur of white through the crowd. Angel darted confidently through the maze of legs. Unfortunately one mare tripped over him and she bumped into a hefty stallion who in in turn bumped into another unicorn levitating another ice sculpture which fell and shattered. This domino effect continued until at last one of the waiters bumped into a ladder and the pony who was fixing a string of bunting on top of it fell down. The falling bunting caught onto the floral decor it all fell to the floor in a heap.
Twilight’s eye twitched, her muscles tensed and her blood began to boil as she surveyed the once beautiful foyer, now a scene that resembled a battlefield. Then, the Princess of Friendship, bearer of the Element of Magic and one of the most beloved royal figures in Equestria let out an unearthly roar of frustration that sent a tiny white bunny sheepishly edging towards the door.
“Oh my,” Fluttershy murmured quietly.