It was a sunny day in Ponyville and for once, there didn't seem to be any friendship problems. Twilight strolled the road of Ponyville from her new castle, happily looking at all of the familiar sights: Rainbow Dash, sleeping on the job (again), Fluttershy helping a flock of geese and Rarity fussing over some cloth that'd been knocked into the mud.
"Twilight!" Spike called. "Twiiiliiight!" Twilight sighed, and turned around to face the little dragon.
"Yes, Spike?" she said.
"Princess Celestia sent a letter," he said. "She wants all of you at the Crystal Empiret as soon as possible."
"Oh no!" Twilight exclaimed. "What's wrong?"
"She didn't say," Spike told her. Twilight quickly called out to Rainbow, Fluttershy and Rarity, who were nearby and then gathered Applejack and Pinkie Pie. The ponies barely had time to throw a few things together (or a few suitcases in Rarity's case) and hopped on the first train to Canterlot.
"What could the princess possibly need?" Fluttershy whispered, or said. She was so quiet, it was hard to tell sometimes.
"Maybe some super scary monster that needs a good kick-in-the-butt!" Rainbow grinned broadly. Fluttershy shuddered and hid herself under the seat. Rainbow and Applejack rolled their eyes.
"Hopefully, it not too bad," Applejack said. "Besides, what problem has the magic of friendship not fixed?" The other ponies nodded in agreement. After night's sleep and a day in worried silence, the train slid to a stop.
The Mane Six scrambled off the train and ran up to the formidable castle. While they were running, as Pinkie Pie stopped for a bit of crystal cotton candy, she noticed that there didn't seem to be much going on. The sixsome made their way up to the throne room where Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Princess Cadance sat, all looking very grim.
"Twilight, I have some bad news," Princess Celestia said grimly.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity are to be sent away."