ACT ONE
The train arrived in Canterlot Station, and before long, the three friends had made it to their reservations at a fancy five-star hotel.
The hotel staff was honored to be having the Princess of Friendship staying with them, even the bellhop, who used his magic to lift all the luggage in one big heap, much to Spike’s annoyance.
“Thank you very much…” Twilight said, and the bellhop smiled and bowed before taking his leave, not wanting to ask the Princess for a tip.
“Wow, what a view.” Starlight said as she gazed out the window. Twilight joined in her admiring everything, “I had almost forgotten how beautiful Canterlot looked.”
Then, while she was looking, she could see Minuette down in the streets below. She wasted no time in teleporting herself out through the glass and then flying down into the street leaving Spike and Starlight in the room.
Starlight could see how happy threw two friends looked to see each other, the way they were hugging and laughing. “I wish I had friends who loved me like that.”
“But you do…” said Spike “And maybe someday you’ll have more, and if Twilight thinks you can, then so do I.”
Starlight smiled at that thought.
Before long, the two of them were joined with Twilight and Minuette at a restaurant for lunch.
“That is so cool, you’ll be here for a whole week.” said Minuette “I’ve got to tell the others. We should have a slumber party, or spend the whole day shopping at the magic boutiques…” she gasped “…Or you could tell us more exciting stories about all your adventures.”
Twilight liked the idea, and she invited Starlight to come along.
“Oh, I don’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense.” said Twilight “That’s what friends do, remember, they share with one another. I practically insist that you join us.”
Starlight smiled again and felt really accepted and part of a whole new thing.
Soon, the friends met up with Moondancer, Lemon Hearts, and the girls were very excited to see Twilight and Starlight again, but even more excited when they mentioned the sleepover plan.
“I may have to study that night though, so I can’t promise I’ll be there.” said Moondancer.
“Ah, come on, Moondancer, you’re always studying, and you have plenty of time for that.” said Lemon, “Relax, put the books down and join us for some fun.”
Moondancer had a look of extreme strictness on her face, but then smiled and said “Okay.”
The girls were giddy with excitement. “Now, all we need is Twinkleshine.” said Minuette.
“This is going to be so fantastic.” said Twilight, but when she and the others got to their friend’s place, they found that Twinkleshine was already having a company, and it didn’t look very happy.
She welcomed them in anyway, and introduced them to her new friends, a married couple of unicorn ponies… they were…
Sandy Beam, a Pink Unicorn with a red mane and tail. Her cutiemark was that of a smiling sun.
Her husband was Shining Hope, a light green Unicorn with a small white spot down the front of his face, and a yellow mane. His cutiemark was that of a golden star with a halo over it.
“Wow, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” said Shining, and he and his wife bowed to her.
Once they were all acquainted, Twinkleshine explained the problem.
Twinkleshine, Sandy and Shining were all old friends from high school; long after Twilight was transferred to be Princess Celestia’s private student, and their High School reunion was coming up soon, which Sandy was hosting, for she was the High School Principal now.
“But what’s the problem?” Spike asked.
Sandy explained, “We wanted all our old friends to come and join us in the reunion.”
“But that’s a wonderful thing.” said Twilight “I’m sure that every-pony who goes will be happy to see each other.”
“That’s just the problem…” said Shining “Not every-pony is going.”
They told them about their old friend Stone Heart, a navy blue unicorn with a light brown mane, and his cutiemark was said to be that of a broken pencil and a book.
They were all best friends in High School, and did everything practically together. It was even believed that the two stallions had a crush on Sandy, which she found cute, and she would often tease the two by flirting with Shining.
Stone was still a cool guy, he wanted to be a story writer, and would constantly use his friends for inspiration, especially Sandy. He would often write stories about her being the charming love interest to characters based on him.
Sandy thought it was cute at the start, but then found that Stone did it so very often that she began to feel embarrassed, and she told him to please stop using her in his stories.
Stone felt very hurt, and he stopped writing his stories altogether, stating that he couldn’t make a story without putting her in it.
He tried not to let it get to him, and let things slide, but then when Sandy and Shining announced that they had officially become a couple, Stone really lost it, for it turned out he had been in love with Sandy as well, and wanted to be with her, which was why he wrote the stories.
After that, Stone found it more and more difficult to control his emotions, and worse… it lead to a fight between the friends. Sandy and Shining had lost their patience and tempers with the way he was acting, and began to point his own flaws and wrongs in attempt to get him to realize his mistakes and learn to grow up and accept…
…Stone completely lost it and he never spoke to them ever again. He never came near them; he never answered their letters or even wished to hear or accept their apologies, and remained as distant as ever.
“We didn’t mean to hurt his feelings.” said Shining “And deep down he’s still our friend and we always had hope that he would come round and be willing to forgive us.”
“…he never did.” said Sandy “It’s been quite a while since then, about five years, and still he won’t accept our invitations to parties, or hang out with us, we even invited him to our wedding.
Now he won’t even talk to us when we approach him.”
Twilight had heard more than enough, “Well, it sounds like we’ve got a friendship problem.”
Starlight agreed and said “We can try and help you.”
“You will?” Sandy asked with excitement.
“Of course they will…” said Lemon “Twilight and Starlight are the best at these things.”
“Why they could even make the most sworn of enemies make-up.” added Minuette.
Twilight and Starlight didn’t know about that, but they agreed to give it a try and see if anything could be done.