It was a foggy night in Canterlot, and everypony was gathered at Canterlot Castle for The Grand Galloping Gala. Everypony was laughing and having a good time, all except for Princess Twilight Sparkle. The four princesses were on the thrones at the Gala, welcoming the guests as they arrived.
Princess Celestia noticed the sad pony, and asked her, "Are you alright, Twilight?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Twilight remarked.
Princess Cadance replied for Celestia, "Well, you just seem really depressed lately. Is something bothering you?"
Twilight responded, "N-No..."
"Do not be dishonest, Twilight Sparkle, I sense a negative energy in you. Whatever you need to say, speak it. We are here to assist you in your time of need." Princess Luna stated.
"Ugh...okay, I...I don't like being a princess!" Twilight blurted out.
Princess Celestia was surprised, "Why not? You seemed quite pleased the last seven years being a princess."
Twilight sighed, "I guess I just miss being a regular unicorn. I mean, I've been seeing my friends less and less since I became one. They couldn't even show up tonight because they're all busy...Fluttershy has her animals, Applejack has the orchid and her family, Rarity is working on an important client's dress, and Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie forgot about the Gala and planned pranks for tonight."
"It may be rare you see your friends, but your duties as a princess to serve Equestria must come first." Princess Luna replied.
Twilight growled, "I'm going to get some punch."
Princess Cadance watched as her sister-in-law walked away, then spoke, "Tia, don't you have a spell that can help her return to a normal unicorn? You saw how upset she was."
"She has to learn to adapt to her new life as a princess, Cadance. It was rough for Luna and myself as well, it gets easier. The sooner Twilight can learn that, the better. Just let her blow off some steam for a while." Princess Celestia responded.
Twilight levitated a glass and poured punch into it. She was about to drink it, when it nearly fell on a mare's dress, but she caught it with her magic. The reason she had nearly dropped her beverage was because of a unicorn who looked almost exactly identical to her. That's when she had a plan.
"Hello there." Twilight smiled.
The pony gasped, "Hi, Princess Twilight! It's such an honor to meet you! Oh, where are my manners?!" The mare quickly bowed before her.
Twilight grinned, "You don't have to be so formal, you can just call me Twilight. What's your name?"
"Paige Stardust, ma'am!" The mare said.
"Well, Paige, how would you like to be a princess for a while?" Twilight questioned.
Paige gasped, "That would be the most incredible thing ever! Too bad I can't though...I'm not an alicorn..."
"I think I can solve that, just stay here for a moment." Twilight said, walking away. She went to the library for a quick second, using her magic to break into a forbidden part of the library. Twilight levitated a yellow book with a pink star on the front of it, containing a lock. She used a spell to crack it open. "Aha...perfect!" Twilight had memorized an alicorn-transformation spell, and placed the book back, secure and locked.
Twilight asked, "Paige, would you come with me for a minute?"
"Of course!" The unicorn followed Twilight to a room where no pony was around. "What exactly are we doing here?" Paige asked.
Twilight answered, "To cast the spell to turn you into an alicorn, I need to be able to concentrate, plus, no pony, and I mean NO pony can know about this."
"My lips are sealed!" Paige smiled.
Twilight preformed the spell, and within minutes, Paige grew wings, and a bit taller, looking EXACTLY like Twilight, even sounding like her. Twilight had also returned into a normal unicorn in place of Paige.
She gasped, "Thank you, Princess Twilight!"
"Nope, you're Princess Twilight now." She smiled.
"What exactly am I supposed to do?" Paige asked.
Twilight sighed, "The truth is, I want to see my friends, it's been nearly eight years since I have. I'm surprised I can even remember their names. I just wanted to make you into a clone of me so I could return to a normal unicorn, like I am now, and go see them. I just need you to act as me for a couple days so I can go visit Ponyville for a while."
Paige smiled, "Well, I always have wanted to be an actress!"
"Now's your time to! I should be back in about two to three days. Have fun being an alicorn! Oh, and you're supposed to be on the throne right now greeting guests." Twilight said before darting off.
Paige ran for the throne room, and Princess Celesita scoped the room, "Has anypony seen Twilight? It's taking her an awfully long time just to get some punch."
"I hope she's okay, the Gala won't be as much fun if she just stays in her room all night." Princess Cadance added.
Princess Luna saw Paige run up the throne's stairs, and had a straight face on, "Twilight Sparkle, where were thou?"
"Oh, um, yes, I'm Twilight, 'cause that is my name...that's what it says on my birth certificate. Oh, and I was at...the punch bowl getting a drink, but then I had to pay a trip to the little fillies' room." Paige grinned nervously.
"Okay, then...well, come join us!" Princess Celestia smiled.
Paige sat where Twilight would on the four thrones. She was a bit nervous that the princesses would find out who she really was. Good thing the spell didn't wear off until commanded to by the same pony who had done it. For the rest of the night, she greeted ponies as they came in with the princesses.
Princess Celestia stood up a couple hours later, "Everypony could I have your attention?" After they all turned to face her, she continued, "I would like to thank everypony who was able to attend this year's Grand Galloping Gala. It was fun, and all of us had a blast, but alas, every good thing must come to an end. This is the dismissal of the Gala, but before you all go, I want to wish you all safe travels back home, as some of you have come from the farthest parts of Equestria. Until next year, I bid you all goodnight." Everypony was chatting as they walked away, heading home.
