Author's Note

As I said in the beginning, I'm new to writing something not clop-related. A lot of help with pointing out grammar, punctuation, and elements would be appreciated.

The Ticket Master

"No. Nope. Nope..." Spike threw apples left, right, and center hoping to find something delectable to sing his teeth into.

“Thank you kindly, Twilight, for helping me out,” Applejack said as she hauled heavy baskets full of a variety of apples up a hill. “I bet Big McIntosh I could get all these Golden Delicious in the barn by lunchtime. If I win, he's gonna walk down Stirrup Street in one of Granny's girdles.” She chuckled as she imagined her stronger, older brother wearing something so frivolous.

“No problem at all, Applejack,” said Twilight. “I'm glad the goal is lunchtime. All this hard work is making me hungry.” Her stomach growled, agreeing with with her statement.

“I know, right?” Spike continued to search through the baskets of apples, hitting Twilight in the head in the process.

“Puh-lease, Spike. You've been lounging on my back all morning while we worked.”

“Exactly. You two are taking so long, I missed snack-time!”

Twilight’s stomach growled again, even louder than before. “Eh, I guess we better get some food.” But Spike didn’t pay attention to what Twilight had to say. He continued to throw apples out of the baskets, still looking for the perfect snack.

“Nope. Worm. A-ha!” Spike held up a shining apple unlike anything else in its basket. It was bigger, shinier, and perhaps even juicier and sweeter than the other apples.

Twilight stared at the delicious morsel. She licked her lips as her eyes were filled with hunger. “Oh Spike, that looks delicious!” But she didn’t even get to take a bite as Spike proceeded to ingest the entire apple in a single bite.”

“Spike!” Twilight chastised the little dragon as he licked his lips for any remaining juices

“What?” Suddenly Spike began to cough up green smoke. He kept coughing until a green flame erupted from his mouth and formed into a scroll with a royal seal in the middle.

Twilight’s eyes widened in excitement as she noticed the symbol of the golden seal. “It's a letter from Princess Celestia.

Spike cleared his throat as he began to read the letter out loud: "Hear ye, hear ye. Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce the Grand Galloping Gala to be held in the magnificent capital city of Canterlot, on the 21st day of, eh, yadda yadda yadda, cordially extends an invitation to Twilight Sparkle plus one guest."

Twilight and Applejack gasped in excitement. "The Grand Galloping Gala!" They squealed like little children who were invited to a friend's birthday party for the first time.

Spike burped out some more smoke, producing two golden tickets. "Look, two tickets."

"Wow, great! I've never been to the gala. Have you, Spike?" Twilight asked her assistant, who was actually looking rather annoyed.

"No, and I plan to keep it that way. I don't want any of that girly frilly frou-frou nonsense."

"Aw, come on Spike. A dance would be nice." Twilight nudged the little dragon with a hoof, but he didn't budge nor change his demeanor.

"Nice? It's a heap good more than just nice," Applejack's eyes shone with joy at the thought of going to such a spectacular event. "I'd love to go. Land sakes...

"If I had an apple stand set up, ponies would be chowin' our tasty vittles 'til the cows came home. Do you have any idea how much business I could drum up for Sweet Apple Acres? Why, with all that money, we could do a heap of fixin' up 'round here. We could replace that saggy old roof, and Big McIntosh could replace that saggy old plow, and Granny Smith could replace that saggy old hip." Thoughts of the Gala flowed through her mind one after another. With the amount of ponies attending - especially rich, fancy ponies - attending, the income flow would be stupendous!

"Why, I'd give my left hind leg to go to that gala."

"Oh, well in that case, would you like to—" Twilight couldn't finish her offer as a rainbow meteor seemed to fall down from the sky and land right on top of the two ponies.

"Ugh," Rainbow Dash rubbed her head from the impact but immediately recovered after she remembered what she crash landed for. "Are we talking about the Grand Galloping Gala?"

"Rainbow Dash. You told me you were too busy to help me harvest apples. What were you busy doing? Spyin'?" Applejack asked interrogatively.

"No, I was busy napping," Rainbow pointed a wing at a tree branch right above them with a blanket and pillow on it. “And I just happened to hear that you have an extra ticket?" she asked Twilight with a gleeful smile.

"Yeah, but—" but Rainbow rudely cut her off.

"YES! This is so awesome. The Wonderbolts perform at the Grand Galloping Gala every year. I can see it now..." she went off imagining her perfect day at the Gala.

"Everyone would be watching the sky. Their eyes riveted on the Wonderbolts, but then in would fly Rainbow Dash! I would draw their attention with my Super Speed Strut. Then, I would mesmerize 'em with my Fantastic Filly Flash. And for my grand finale, the Buccaneer Blaze! The ponies would go wild!" Rainbow proceeded to do some crowd cheering to add some emphasis and some imagery to what she was saying. "The Wonderbolts would insist that my signature moves be incorporated into their routine, and then welcome me as their newest member.

"Don't you see, Twilight? This could be my one chance to show 'em my stuff. You gotta take me! Whoa!" Applejack pulled Rainbow by the tail and out of Twilight's face.

"Hold on just one pony pickin' minute here," Applejack said, spitting out some rainbow tail hair. I asked for that ticket first."

"So? That doesn't mean you own it." Both ponies got up in each other's faces, arguing about who should get the second ticket.

As Twilight watched as her two friends bickered and argued, she noticed a shadow larger than her own. in front of her. She looked up to see Damian flying down with something wrapped in paper towels in his hands.

"Hey, Twilight," he said, giving her a friendly smile. He held out the wrapped object which gave off a mouthwatering aroma. "I heard you were hungry, so I gotcha this little snack." Damian opened the package to reveal a large pastry with white, shining icing on top and strawberry filling leaking out from its side, dampening the towel. But Twilight looked at the snack, then back at Damian wearily.

"How did you know I was hungry?" she asked. "I didn't tell anyone besides Applejack and Spike."

"Heheh, I've got the eyes of an eagle, the nose of a wolf, and the ears of a bat. I heard you all the way from my house." Twilight's face only soured even more as she looked at him inquisitively. "What?" Damian's demeanor was faltering as he read what Twilight was thinking.

"Does that mean you heard about me having one extra ticket for the Grand Galloping Gala?" she asked.

There was a short pause before Damian finally responded. "Maaaaybe?" He looked away, somewhat disappointed that his ploy didn't work. Really? Telling her you've got the ears of a bat? No wonder you moved away from your kingdom! You would've fucked everything up if you stayed!

"Look, Damian, I can't just give these tickets to anyone. You'd better have a good reason for me to pick you instead of..." Twilight looked back at Rainbow Dash and Applejack who were now in the middle of a hoof-wrestling match–and by the looks of it, no one was going to win anytime soon.

"Well, how about the fact that I brought you food when no one else offered?" he suggested, giving Twilight an innocent smile, but she just raised an eyebrow, not impressed.

"Fine. How about the fact that my first time experiencing one of your culture's celebrations was cut short due to some crazy, random villain promising eternal night? This could be my first time experiencing something you ponies do since I've been here!"

Twilight thought about it for a moment and came to a conclusion. "Well, it was unfair what happened at the Summer Sun Celebration. Hm. Sure, I—" but again, Twilight was rudely cut off by Rainbow Dash.

"Wait a minute!" Rainbow dashed towards Twilight and Damian, coming between the two and getting into Twilight's face. And knocking the pastry out of Damian’s hand and onto the dirt floor.

“NOOOO!” Damian yelled in agony as he held the treat in his hands like it were a dying creature. “How could you!” Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes at his immaturity.

"What about me, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash inquired. "What about my chance of fame?"

"And what about my chance at raising money for the farm?" Applejack interjected.

“STOP!” Everyone backed away and Damian stopped dramatizing the loss of the delectable treat. “Look, it’s my tickets. I’ll decide what to do with them, thank you very much.” Twilight walked off, leaving Applejack, Damian, and Rainbow Dash in the field.

“So who are you going to give the ticket to?” Spike asked as he and Twilight walked around Ponyville, hoping to get a bite to eat somewhere.

“I don't know Spike, but I reallycan't think straight when I'm hungry, so where should we eat?” Before Spike could answer, a pink blur crashed into the two, landing in a pile in the middle of the street.

The two golden tickets floated down gently and landed on Pinkie Pie’s about, startling her and causing her to scream. “Gah! Bats! Bats on my face! Help! Wait.” She snapped out of her fear as she saw what landed on her in the first place. “These aren't... tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?!”

“It's the most amazing incredible tremendous super-fun wonderful terrifically humongous party in all of Equestria! I've always always always wanted to go!” Pinkie began to dream of her ideal time at the Grand Galloping Gala: streamers, snacks, games, cakes, games, ponies, cakes, games, all sorts of fun activities. But mostly cake and games.

A random tune bagan to play out of nowhere and, Pinkie being Pinkie, she broke out in song.

“Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me.
Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me.
Hip hip! Hooray!
It's the best place for me,
For Pinkie...”

“With decorations like streamers and fairy-lights and pinwheels and piñatas and pin-cushions. With goodies like sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes and sun-beams and sarsaparilla. And I get to play my favorite-est of favorite fantabulous games like Pin the Tail on the Pony!”

“Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me. Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me. 'Cause it's the most galarrific, superly-terrific gala ever In the whole galaxy!
Wheee!” As Pinkie finished her song, she ran up to Twilight, hugging her tight and shaking her hoof vigorously.

“Oh thank you, Twilight, it's the most wonderful-est gift ever!” she said with a cheery smile.

“Um, actually—“ again, Twilight was interrupted by a gasp from behind her.

“Are these what I think they are?” Rarity appeared behind Twilight as she noticed the pair of golden tickets in Pike’s claws.

“Uh—“

“Yes, yes, yes! Twilight's taking me to the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot!” Pinkie Pie interjected.

“The gala? I design ensembles for the gala every year, but I've never had the opportunity to attend. Oh, the society, the culture, the glamour!” Rarity went on about the formality, the royalty, the fashion, and all of that frou frou nonsense.

“It's where I truly belong, and where I'm destined to meet him.” Her eyes had a romantic look to them and her face melted as she thought of the pony she was destined to meet.

“Him! ... Who?” Pinkie asked, not having the slightest clue who Rarity was talking about.

“Him,” was all she responded as she went off into her own world.

“I would stroll through the gala, and everyone would wonder, "Who is that mysterious mare?" They would never guess that I was just a simple pony from little old Ponyville. Why, I would cause such a sensation that I would be invited for an audience with Princess Celestia herself, and the princess would be so taken with the style and elegance that she would introduce me to him, her nephew: the most handsome, eligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot. Our eyes would meet, our hearts would melt. Our courtship would be magnificent. He would ask for my hoof in marriage, and of course I would say, "Yes!" We would have a royal wedding, befitting a princess, which is [giggles] what I would become upon marrying him, the stallion of my dreams.

“Twilight, I simply cannot believe you would invite Pinkie Pie so she can... party,” Rarity said, nearly gagging at the idea, “and prevent me from meeting my true love. How could you? Hmph.” She turned away in a huff, like the pompous, fancy, stubborn pony she is.

Spike just stood there wanting to explode after hearing Rarity’s thoughts for another pony. While he was distracted, a Snow White rabbit snatched the golden tickets right out of his grasp. “Hey!” he yelled after the little fluff-ball, but no one else seemed to notice.

The bunny sped through a flurry of hooves as ponies walked by and ran up to Fluttershy who was just walking home from a nearby store.

“Angel, these are perfect.” she congratulated her little rabbit as it presented her with the tickets.

“Uh, listen guys,” Twilight announced to Pinkie and Rarity. “I haven't decided who to give the extra ticket to.” They both looked at her with shocked expressions.

“You haven't?” they both yelled in unison.

“Um, excuse me, Twilight,” she barely noticed, but she could barley make out someone calling her name. She turned around to see Fluttershy walking up to her with the tickets being held by Angel, her pet bunny. “I would just like to ask, I mean, if it would be all right, if you haven't given it to someone else...”

“You? You want to go to the gala?” Rarity asked in disbelief.

“Oh, no.” Fluttershy replied, but Angel tapped her on the hoof, reminding her about the real reason they should go. “I mean, yes, or, actually, kind of. You see... and now Fluttershy went off imagining her ideal time at the Gala.

“It's not so much the Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wondrous private gated garden that surrounds the dance. The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom... and that's just the flora! Don't get me started on the fauna. There's loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays and pink flamingos!”

“Gee, Fluttershy, it sounds... beautiful...?” Twilight said awkwardly.”

“Wait just a minute!” A voice called out from behind the three ponies. Rainbow Dash was flying towards them at high speed.

“Rainbow Dash! Were you following me?”

“No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe. Look, it doesn't matter. I couldn't risk a goody-four-shoes like you giving that ticket away to just anybody.”

“Wait just another minute!” Apple jack called out from behind the rest of the group.

“Applejack, were you following me too?”

“No. I was followin' this one to make sure she didn't try any funny business.” Applejack glared at Rainbow, who just rolled her eyes. “Still trying to take mah ticket.”

“Ahem, your ticket?” Damian randomly appeared out of nowhere behind Applejack, startling everyone. “If anyone deserves to go it should be me!”

“What? But Twilight’s taking me!” Pinkie complained. Everyone started arguing and debating who deserves the ticket, but Twilight couldn’t take it anymore.

“QUIET!” She finally exploded, silencing everyone and leaving them in surprise. Except for Pinkie...

“And then I said, ‘Oatmeal, are you craz—‘ oh.” Pinkie finally shit her trap realizing no one was talking over her.

“Guys, there's no use in arguing.”

“But Twilight—“ Rarity tried to interject but Twilight abruptly cut her off.

“Eh! This is my decision, and I'm gonna make it on my own, and I certainly can't think straight with all this noise...” her stomach growled, giving her another excuse. “Not to mention hunger. Now go on, shoo.” Everyone walked away in disappointment. “And don’t worry! I’ll figure this out... somehow.”

Twilight and Spike sour outside of a local restaurant, hoping to finally get something to fill their stomachs.

“Spike, what am I gonna do?” Twilight asked her assistant with worry. “All six of my best friends have really good reasons to go to the gala. Applejack, or Rainbow Dash? Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy, Rarity, Damian... Oh, who should go with me?” She plucked a flower, each petal representing one of her six friends. As she laid her head on the table, she couldn’t help but lick up the petals she plucked, hoping to fill herself up in someway.

“Have you made your decision?” the waiter politely asked.

“I CAN'T DECIDE!” Twilight yelled, catching the waiter and all of the other patrons off guard.

“Twilight, he just wants to take your order,” Spike assured her.

“Oh. I would love a daffodil and daisy sandwich.” Twilight said in embarrassment.

“Do you happen to have any rubies?” Spike asked the waiter, hoping to get a yes, but he just returned an annoyed look. “No? Okay. I'll have the hay fries, extra crispy.“ The waiter took their menus and left with a small huff at their rudeness.

“What do you think, Spike?” Twilight asked.

“I think we have to try another restaurant. I mean, I like grass just fine, but would it hurt anybody to offer some gemstones?” That was not the response Twilight was looking for.

“I mean about the Gala and the ticket and who I should take.”

Spike just rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Oh. You're still on that?”

“Spike, listen. How do I choose? And when I do choose, will the other five be mad at me? I mean, I could give up my ticket and give away two, but that would still leave four disappointed ponies. What if I—“

Twilight was abruptly cut off as something positive finally happened. “Ah, your food.” The waiter returned with Twilight’s daffodil and daisy sandwich. It’s aroma and look was mouthwatering, even though it was just flowers smushed together between bread.

“Oh thank you. This looks so good. I'm sure everything will be much clearer once I eat.” Before Twilight could take a bite of her meal, she noticed a herd of ponies running in different directions.

“Em, madam? Are you going to eat your food in ze rain?” the waiter asked, holding the door open for any pony wishing to come inside the restaurant.

“It's not raining...” but when Twilight looked around, it was raining... just everywhere but in her area.

“What's going on?” she asked, bewildered. Twilight looked up to see a certain cyan Pegasus peeking her head out from the hole in the large patch of storm clouds.

“Hi there, best friend forever I've ever ever had. Enjoying the sunny weather?” Rainbow asked with a cheery, innocent smile.

"Rainbow Dash, what are you doing?" Twilight asked. Despite having a clear spot to eat, she was skeptical of Rainbow Dash's intentions.

"Whaddya mean? I just saw the smartest, most generous pony about to get rained on, so I thought I'd kick a hole in the clouds to keep her dry so she could dine in peace, that's all."

"Rainbow, you're not trying to get extra consideration for the extra ticket by doing me extra special favors, are you?"

"Me? No no no, of course not."

"Uh-huh." Of course, Twilight knew better. Now she knows everyone is going to be working on doing her favors to bring

"Seriously, I'd do it for anypony." They both looked around as ponies ran in the rain trying to find shelter. "Heh heh."

"Rainbow, I am not comfortable accepting unwanted favors, so I'd appreciate it if you close up that rain cloud right now."

"Ugh, fine." Rainbow Dash complied by zipping up the hole in the clouds and letting Twilight eat in peace -- but not before she was drenched in the downpour.

"Twilight, it's raining." Rarity just so happened to be passing by with her stylish umbrella with her. Her "observation" didn't seem to help in brightening Twilight's mood.

"No, really?" Twilight asked sarcastically.

"Come with me before you catch a cold." Rarity dragged the starving, tired, and now annoyed unicorn to her boutique to dry herself off and stay safe from the rain.

Twilight shook off every drop of water like a dog until her coat and mane were completely dry, however she noticed Rarity was drenched because of her actions. "Heh heh, oops, sorry."

"Oh no, it's quite all right." But Rarity, being a fancy and uptight pony, was not all right. "After all, we are... the best of friends, are we not? And you know what the best of friends do?"

"Uh..."

"Makeovers!" Rarity pulled Twilight behind a changing curtain and began to put together something special for her.

"Ugh, Rarity, ow, this really isn't fixing it. I mean, thank you but, ooh, that's too tight." After a few minutes of tying and measuring and patching up, Twilight appeared with a beautiful corset with blues and greens and all sorts of bright colors.

"There. Oh, you're simply darling." Rarity complimented.

"Uh, yeah, it is kinda pretty, isn't it?" Both unicorns adored the outfit, but Spike just gagged at the girliness of the whole thing.

"Oh Spike, I have a dandy little outfit for the dashing gent." The little dragon tried to escape Rarity's grasp, but he was too late and ended up wearing a tight, blue gentleman's uniform.

Twilight just giggled at the her assistant looking so cute. "Oh, Spike."

"Now you just need a hat." Rarity placed a large black hat on Spike's head, obscuring his vision.

"Ugh, I told you, I don't want any part of this girly gala gunk. See you back at the library." He dashed off, stripping off all his clothes in the process.

"Oh, who needs him anyway," Rarity scoffed. "This is all about you, and how fabulous you'll look at the Grand Galloping Gala."

Twilight stopped admiring herself in the mirror after hearing those three words. “Wait, the Grand—“

"And oh, my goodness, what a coincidence. I happen to have an ensemble of my own that matches yours to a T. We would be the belles of the ball, you and I. Everyone would be clamoring for our attention. All eyes would be on us, and then everyone would finally know, the most beautiful, most talented, most sophisticated pony in all of Equestria is Rarity the unicorn." She noticed Twilight's irritated face and quickly corrected herself. Ah, heh heh, and Twilight Sparkle, of course."

"I see what's going on. You're just buttering me up so I give you the extra ticket. Well it's not gonna work. You're going to have to wait for my decision just like everyone else. Now if you'll excuse me, I've been trying all day just to get some lunch!" As soon as Twilight opened the door to leave, Applejack appeared, waiting for her, somehow knowing she was in the Boutique.

"Did somepony say lunch?" Applejack asked, revealing a massive cart filled with apple treats galore.

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"I got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisps, apple crumblers, and apple Brown Betty. Uh, the dessert, not my auntie. What do you say there, best friend?"

Twilight simply didn't answer, instead her anger was building up inside and was ready to explode.

"Is that a yes?" Unfortunately, Applejack couldn't read the room.

No. No. I don't know who I'm giving the ticket to, and all these favors aren't making it any easier to decide. In fact, I'm less sure now than I was this morning. Ugh!" Twilight ran off towards her home yelling in frustration.

So, that's a maybe?"

"Ugh, I never thought being showered with favors would be so aggravating." Twilight walked through the doors of her library home, only to be met with Fluttershy and her animal friends cleaning it. "Fluttershy, not you too?"

"Oh, well, hello Twilight. I hope you don't mind, but we're all doing a little spring cleaning for you." Of course, with Fluttershy being the most innocent of the group, she's basically doing this out of kindness and not just for the ticket. Maybe.

"It's summer," Twilight corrected her.

Oh, well, better late than never, right? It was Angel's idea." Fluttershy pointed to her little bunny preparing a nice, healthy salad for the starving unicorn.

"You're not doing this for the ticket, are you?" Twilight asked skeptically.

"Oh no, I'm doing this because you're my very best friend. Right, Angel?" The little bunny returned a look that could only be translated to: "You've got to be kidding, right?" "Oh, yes, we are just doing this for the ticket." Fluttershy was so naive and innocent, she didn't seem to realize what she just said.

"No, no, no! Well, this was all very nice of you and Angel, but I'm not accepting any extra favors until I've made my final decision, so I'm going to have to ask you to --"

"Not accepting favors?” A voice called out from behind one of the bookshelves. Damian poked his head out from a shelf and walked towards Twilight with a pile of books.

“Damian? What are you doing here?” Twilight knew the answer, but she wanted to know what favor he was doing.

“Well, knowing you’re the studious type and you like to learn new spells, I thought I’d fill your library with my own collection of assorted spell books, potion guides, and a little history mixed in.” Damian gestured to the piles of books with different runes imprinted on their covers just lying on the floor.

But Twilight was not in the studying mood. “Look, as much as I love learning about new things, and yes learning about your kind would be very interesting, I know you’re just trying to get to my ticket.” Twilight opened the door signaling for the two to leave her home while she sits in peace.

“SURPRISE!” A crowd of ponies were waiting on the other side of the door, with Pinkie Pie being the ringleader. They cheered, threw confetti, and played an assortment of instruments for Twilight. She was indeed surprised, but not in a good way.

“Twilight is my bestest friend. Whoopie, whoopie!” Pinkie brag to sing a song commemorating Twilight for her her best friend. Unfortunately, Twilight was not in the right attitude to celebrate.

“Pinkie...” Twilight tried to interject, but she was cut off as Pinkie threw her into the air.

“She's the cutest, smartest, all around best pony, pony!”

“Pinkie.”

“I bet if I throw a super-duper fun party, party!”

“Pinkie!”

“She'll give her extra ticket to the Gala to me!”

“PIIINKIIIE!!” Twilight screamed Pinkie’s name one last time, causing everyone in the crowd to back off and leave an opening, leaving Twilight to land flat on her back on the hard ground instead of the soft hooves of the ponies around her.

“Yes, Twilight?” Pinkie asked, fluttering her eyes innocently.

“At least the other ponies tried to be subtle about the ticket.”

“Wait, what ticket? What gala?” a random pony asked.

“Oh, you didn't know? Twilight has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!”

Only one thought passed through Twilights mind as Pinkie Pie made the announcement: Oh crap.

The Grand Galloping Gala?! everyone shouted in unison, and immediately they began to ask Twilight to let them do favors for the right to have the ticket.

“Have I ever told you how much I love your mane?” one pony inquired.

“I'll wash your dishes,” another offered.

One by one, ponies gathered around Twilight, closing in, casting out favors they could do “for Twilight”.

“What are we gonna do?” Spike asked.”

“We're... gonna... run!” Twilight and Spike ran through the town, trying to escape the horde of ponies trying to chase after them, but every turn they made led them to another pony willing to offer a favor in exchange for a ticket. They hid behind carts, inside stores, in bushes and ponds, but there was nowhere they could go where they would be safe from the mob of ponies.

Finally, the two were cornered in an alleyway. Ponies began to block heir escape, throwing out suggestion after suggestion after suggestion. But Twilight couldn’t take it anymore. She generated a spell with her horn and disappeared from the spot, leaving everyone in shock and awe, and wondering where she could have gone.

Twilight and her assistant landed inside the library, dazed and burnt from the effects of the teleportation spell.

“Ugh... Warn me next time you're gonna do that.” Spike said, wheeling over and tripping over his own tail.

“I didn't even know it was gonna happen. Now quick, lock the doors!” They both immediately locked every door, shut every widow, close every blind, and make sure every entrance was sealed.

"Phew." Twilight could finally relax in peace. Until she turned around to see all of her friends eerily smiling at her. “Yaaaargh!” Twilight began to breakdown. She couldn’t handle he stress of disappointing anyone. “I can't decide, I just can't decide! It's important to all of you and I just can't stand to disappoint any of you, and giving me gifts and doing me favors won't make any difference, because you're all my friends and I wanna make you all happy and I can't, I just can't!” Everyone looked at Twilight with embarrassed and shameful expressions. They couldn’t believe what they were putting their friend through, and they didn’t even bother to talk to her about it in the first place.

Applejack slowly approached the sobbing Twilight, laying a hoof on her soft, little head. “TwilightTwilight, sugar,” Applejack began, “I didn't mean to put so much pressure on you, and if it helps, I don't want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. I won't feel bad, I promise.”

“Me too,” Fluttershy quietly chimed in. “I feel just awful that I made youfeel so awful.”

“And me too. It's no fun upsetting your friends.” Pinkie Pie added.

“Twilight, it was unfair of me to try to force you as I did.” Rarity said.

“Yeah. It wouldn’t be fair if you just took one of us. It was rude of me for trying to take the ticket for myself.” Damian apologized.

“Yes! That means the ticket is mine. Ha ha!” Rainbow Dash was the only one who was not feeling any remorse for her actions and started celebrating. “I got the ticket, I got the ticket—!” But she immediately stopped in mid flight after seeing everyone’s annoyed faces. “You know, I haven't perfected my signature moves for the Wonderbolts anyway. I don't need that ticket either.”

“We all got so gun-ho about going to the gala that we couldn't see how un-gun-ho we were making you,” Applejack added with remorse.

“We're sorry, Twilight,” everyone apologized in unison from the bottom of their hearts.

“Spike, take down a note,” Twilight commanded. Her assisitant immediately pulled out a quill and paper and got ready to start writing.
“Dear Princess Celestia,
"I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“What?!” everyone shouted in shock and surprise.

“If my friends can't all go, I don't wanna go either,” Twilight ended off her letter with this closing statement.

“Twilight, you don't have to do that,” Applejack tried to intervene, but Twilight shushed her.

"Nope. I've made up my mind. Spike, you can send the letter now." Spike blew a green flame that burned the scroll and sent it away into the night as it made its way to the princess.

"Now you won't get to go to the gala either," Fluttershy said.

"It's okay, everyone. I couldn't possibly enjoy myself without my best friends there with me..."

Everyone came together for a group hug, laughing in agreement at Twilight's resolution.

"So I would rather not go at all."

"Hgh... hgh... urk... urk..." Suddenly Spike began to choke on something. He hurked and gagged as he tried to get something out of his throat.

"Hey bro, you okay?" Damian asked. "I understand you getting sick of all this sentimental stuff, but still."

The little dragon threw up some green flames and procured another scroll from the princess.

"A letter from the princess? That was fast," Twilight said with surprise.

Spike cleared his throat and began to read the letter: 'My faithful student Twilight,

"Why didn't you just say so in the first place?' Seven golden tickets protruded from the letter in shining brilliance. "Seven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala."

"Now we can all go!" Twilight exclaimed with joy.

Everyone cheered and laughed, but they were rudely cut off as Twilight's stomach began to growl furiously. All the purple unicorn could do was laugh nervously.

"Allow us to treat you to dinner," Rarity suggested.

"What a great way to apologize," Rainbow Dash added.

"And to celebrate!" Pinkie Pie chimed. "Come on everyone, the cupcakes are on me!" Everyone walked out of the library and headed to Sugar Cube Corner for a bite to eat. Finally.

"How come I don't get a ticket to the gala?" Spike asked gloomily. He felt alone until he started gagging again. "Hurk!" He let out another green flame, procuring one last scroll. 'And one for you, Spike.' The little dragon squealed and laughed with joy as he was finally able to join his friends to the Gala. But he stopped as he saw some of the other ponies staring at him and chuckling. "I mean, gross, I have to go too?" He couldn't hold it in anymore. He just laughed along with his friends as they headed out for the night.