This is the end of the story.
The six ponies and one small dragon sat on either side of the tall form of the princess, bunched together on one side of the cafe table as if for warmth. Most of their new dresses were frayed and stained, and splits had opened between the vanes on more than a few feathers, but they had bright eyes above their tired smiles.
"You're right, Princess," Twilight said, a pink-glazed donut in one hoof. "Friends have a way of making even the worst of times into something pretty great."
"Yeah!" Rainbow said, shoving her way between them. "Hanging out with friends!"
"Talking," said Fluttershy.
"Laughing!" Pinkie giggled.
Rarity nodded. "As horrible as that cad Blueblood was... as disappointing as all our nights were..."
"...Gettin' together here with you all makes everything okay," Applejack completed for her, and leaned affectionately against the dressmaker, knocking her own Stetson askew.
"In fact," Pinkie said, jumping up and raising her hooves in the air, "it's made it..."
Everypony looked at each other knowingly, raised their donuts and crullers in a toast, and joined together in repeating their mantra of the preceding week: "The best night ever!"