From the notes of Twilight Sparkle.
Day 1: I have returned to Ponyville only to find that the entire town has been wiped off the map! The only thing left is my library, perhaps because it is also a tree. Even more alarming, I find that it was Nightmare Moon who was responsible. I thought Princess Luna was doing better. I used Spike to send a message to Princess Celestia, but she is being very tight lipped about what has occurred. The only thing I know is that it is up to Spike and I to rebuild the city. I need to make plans and blueprints right away.
Day 2: A few scattered ponies have reappeared. Hiring out search parties is cutting into the towns tiny reserve of bits, but it is worth it. Some ponies, however, are trapped in the In-between. Getting them out of that limbo dimension will require either gems or heart crystals. The gems seem to allow a unicorn to either amplify their magic or accelerate time in a local environment. I can only imagine how useful this will be, but there are so few of these gems. I will do my utmost to conserve them. Princess Celestia has provided several magical balls to help train everypony in jobs that aren't even related to our special talents. She has also given me a modest sum of heart crystals and gemstones, as well as enchanting what's left of Sweet Apple Acres' orchards to act just like the magic balls. Catching balls and apples may be silly, but if running around helps the newly emerging Ponyville, then I and all my fellow ponies will do it.
Day 15: Pinkie Pie is back. I'm not sure if this is a good thing, but she does seem eager to help. I have managed to collect all the shards of the element of laughter and summon her back to town. At this rate, getting the rest of my friends back will be easy. Also, I'm getting a little tired of the magic ball and apple catching, but it seems to be working. I've been managing a hat store. I had no clue how to manage a hat store, but amazingly now I do. Also, Princess Celestia gave me a super fast version of the flutter wing spell to help manage the weather. I made a sonic Twiboom! Yay for me. Now back to the ball and apples.
Day 29: I secretly suspect Princess Celestia is drinking tea and chortling while watching us pointlessly chase after balls and apples. Over and over and over. Does she enjoy our suffering? Did whatever make Princess Luna turn into Nightmare Moon affect her too? I'm having suspicions. The ball and apples don't seem to have as much effect on Pinkie Pie as they did for myself. I wonder why. Also, good news. We got Applejack back along with her entire family. Well, except Granny Smith. I... I still can't seem to find her. Despite my confident words, I fear the worst.
Day 40: I can't get Scootaloo. I need more heart crystals to free her from the In-between, but I can't get any more. The instructions said that I am supposed to get a heart crystal for each friend I have when our friendship crystallizes, but that isn't happening. Is there something wrong with the spell? Princess Celestia sends a few paltry gems every so often, but it's not enough. It's never enough. With me as interim mayor, the town is running smoothly, but little Apple Bloom misses her friends. I don't know what to tell her. Pinkie Pie is looking more and more frazzled. She keeps mumbling "Gameloft Glitchloft, Gameloft Glitchloft" under her breath. I'm trying to keep it together, but it is getting more and more difficult.
Day ??: That's it.. Princess Celestia sent a quest for me to get Rarity, but I can't get her. It takes too many gems. I don't know where to find them, and neither does any other pony around here. All the shops are taking forever to produce and I'm constantly in need of bits and gems and hearts. My mane is a mess. Pinkie Pie suggested that I go relax at the day spa, but I doubt that will work. I have Snails and Trixie working there and I don't even know why anymore. Every time I close my eyes, I see that ball and those apples. Anypony.. help.. me.
Day it doesn't matter anymore: Pinkie Pie fixed it. Pinkie Pie fixed everything. I'm not sure what she did, but she took the ball away for the day and when she came back, it was changed. Now playing with that accursed thing gives thousands of gems and hearts! All for me! I asked Pinkie how she did it, but her long, rambling explanation did nothing but confuse me even further. What is an internet cheat file anyways? All I know is that things are going smoothly now. Rarity and Fluttershy are here and Rainbow Dash is coming very soon. The Flim Flam brothers are giving out free element crystal shards, etc... in exchange for my plentiful endless gems, so now I can throw away my plan to crush their thieving heads with unicorn magic and take all their stuff. Hooray! Everypony wins.
Day it feels like it's been years: It's over. It's finally over. We used the reconstructed elements of harmony again and turned Nightmare Moon back into an apologetic Princess Luna, again. After Pinkie's party, Princess Celestia was trying to give me a new quest involving my brother and Cadence and a stupid wedding gazebo, but I don't even care anymore. In fact, I have a new goal. I think I almost have enough magic gems to recreate Canterlot Castle and summon Princess Celestia, herself, to my town. Then, I'm going to have her spend her days selling lemonade when she isn't trying to bounce a stupid magic ball on her forehead. Here's a quest for you, your majesty. Watch over the cutie mark crusaders as you all try to manage a joke store without everything ending up in flames. If you have trouble, I'll just send Pinkie Pie right over. And when the day is done and you can't feel your legs anymore, guess what? Go fetch me some bucking magic apples over and over and over and OVER. So with these happy thoughts in mind, I think I'm going to go lie down and sleep for a month or so. I'm so tired. So very very tired.