The curtains hung in front of the balcony and gracefully danced as the breeze pushed its way through to the large and extensive study that laid beyond them. A purple alicorn sat at a desk and used her magic to write as she glanced to and from books and lists of names from previous galas held by the Princesses of the Sun and the Moon. The princess sitting at the desk was hunched over and intent upon the task given to her by none other than the Princess of the Sun, Celestia. Her task was simple, but complicated nonetheless; she was told to write out the guest list for this year's Grand Galloping Gala, the largest annual celebration in all of Equestria.
Ponies from near and far would be invited to attend this grand ball-- whether they were rich or poor, musicians or players, alicorns or not. Twilight knew that the guest list was one of the most difficult things to put together, because they couldn't just invite anypony. Everypony that was selected to receive the royal invitation would have to be special in one way or another.
Upon putting the quill down on the desk, she slowly sat back and stretched her wings and let out an uncomfortable groan as her wings crackled as the joints were released from their constant place against her backside. She felt a stir of magical power in the air just as the curtains blew open as if a great gust of wind had caught them. The alicorn stood slowly and awaited her former teacher and now fellow princess to come to a graceful landing on the expensive rug that graced the floor of her study. Both of the alicorns nodded to each other as friends before they immediately got down to business.
"I assume that you have finished with the guest list for the Grand Galloping Gala like I asked?" Celestia asked in a kind and motherly tone of voice that could make anypony want to come near and simply bask in her goddess-like presence.
The young alicorn nodded and used her magic to levitate the list over to her former mentor and said, "I've done just that, Princess. I have invited everypony from last year's list as well as the few ponies that you asked to be added. Although I have crossed off many ponies that I know will not be able to make this year's gala."
The solar princess' eyes scanned over it lightly, as if she recognized virtually every single one of the ponies and stallions whose names were listed on the immense scroll. Despite the length, she managed to read all of the names and nodded with approval as she rolled it up slowly. The elder princess looked to the younger and saw the glimmer of anticipation in those violet hues. There was a moment of silence as the elder finished rolling up the scroll with her own magic before addressing the single flaw in that guest list.
"I am impressed by the amount of time and energy you spent on this list and am proud of how thoroughly you scoured former guest lists for this year's list." There was a sigh of relief from Twilight's lips before the princess continued slowly and without slight disappointment. "Although... you have forgotten a very special somepony."
Twilight's mouth dropped and she tore the scroll away from Celestia's hold with her own magic as she began to search the list frantically. "I could've sworn I've invited the guests that are always invited as well as those that you specifically asked for to be added! Who could I have missed?!"
Celestia used her magic to gently take the scroll from Twlight's hold and set it aside. "It is a mistake that is made on an almost yearly basis. You are not the first to forget this single pony and you won't be the last unless we can change her attendance."
Twilight sighed with some relief before the younger sat down on her stool yet again and waited for an explanation to her single mistake. Finally, she realized that she had to ask the elder about it. "But who could I have missed?"
"You simply forgot about Princess Fabricia. That's it."
"B-but... Who is she? I mean-- I've never heard of her and I've not read of her in any of my books! If she's a princess... then how come she is never heard of?"
"Fabricia is the princess of creativity and invention. Despite her great importance to Equestria, she made me promise that I would not crown her and make her known as I did you and Cadence. She wished to be left forgotten, but I fear that it has harmed her more than it has helped her. We need her again, Twilight. Equestria is being held back from progressing as it should have since granting her the powers of an alicorn."
"Even though she's shy... why should she hide away like she has?"
"Simply telling you about her is not going to be enough. Perhaps you should visit her and ask her yourself? I'm fairly certain she has not had any visitors or friends since she hid away in the Whitetail Woods. She is very much like you were back before you found the power of friendship. Now, I would like for you to pass it onto her."
"But what if she turns me away?"
"Then I will have no choice but to allow our world to continue to fall behind in technology unless she grants us her knowledge and trust."
At that moment, Twilight knew that she couldn't just ignore this predicament. She had to get Princess Fabricia to come to the Grand Galloping Gala whether she had to drag her there by her tail or not.
End of Prologue.