Twilight Sparkle woke up with a smile on her face. Today, one year ago, was the day she had met all her best friends! They were throwing a party at Applejack's today, and she was determined as ever to be prompt! She got out of bed, carefully brushed her hair, and put on a simple purple dress and flats.

Oh! She had almost forgotten to wake Spike. She climbed the ladder to the loft and looked at him. He was curled up in his little bed, sleeping soundly. It reminded Twilight of the day she had hatched him. When Rainbow Dash had performed the legendary sonic rainboom for the first time, the magnitude of Twilight's magic was unlocked and went berserk! Celestia was able to calm her and help her out of the trance, and in one moment so many things happened: Twilight passed her entrance exam into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, became her protégée, earned her cutie mark, and adopted Spike. Twilight was not quite seven when she hatched him and knew nothing about being a mother, but something special happened in her heart when she held Spike in her arms for the first time. He was small and warm and fleshy, much like a baby Pony, but like all Dragons he had a scaly tail and pointy ears. As she held him in her arms, she felt a bond form between them. Celestia must've seen it, because she allowed Twilight to adopt him with her parents' permission. Trained Ponies took care of him while she was in class, and she'd always go to see him between classes and during breaks. When she moved to Ponyville, he came with her. They had never spent a day apart. Sometimes they took each other for granted, but when it counted… they helped each other stand.

Twilight smiled at Spike and walked up to him. "Spike?" she greeted softly. She gently shook him. "Wake uuup…." She shook him a little harder. "Good morning, Spike!..."

He stretched and yawned, baring his sharp canines. "What?" he mumbled, pulling his blanket over his face and rolling over.

"C'mon, Spike, wake up! Remember, we're having breakfast together today?" When he didn't respond, she assumed the "assertive mom" role. "I expect you to be prompt. Now get dressed and come downstairs!"

He groaned. "It's too early. Can't we do it later?"

"Well… I'll be at Applejack's later. Remember it's our one-year anniversary of living in Ponyville?" She strung the words out. "If you get up now, we can eat a well-balanced breakfast and still get to the party on time!"

"I don't wanna get up now—I'm tired! I'll get up later, okay?"

"B-but… the party…"

"I don't wanna go to the party."

He doesn't want to go to a party celebrating us moving here? He doesn't even want to see Rarity? He doesn't want to spend time with me? Hurt and confused, Twilight backed off. She tried to cover up the pain with indifference. "Okay! Whatever. I'll just eat by myself! And… go to the party by myself! It's no trouble! Really. Just don't mind me… down here… by myself…." She climbed down the ladder as she rambled.

"Can you just do it quietly?" he grumbled.

Twilight swallowed back tears and muttered to herself, "Sure! That's fine. I'll just shut up."

Once she had finished quietly eating her meal, Twilight Sparkle left for Applejack's party without so much as a "goodbye" to Spike.

At the party, Twilight forgot her pain as she observed her friends from one corner of the barn. Applejack was pensive, chewing on a piece of straw. Pinkie Pie, looking very agitated, excused herself to use the restroom. Rainbow Dash had been hovering over Fluttershy almost the entire time. And Rarity was sitting alone on a barrel, isolation unbecoming of her.

But wait—something was happening! Fluttershy was twirling in front of Rarity, showing off the dress she was wearing. It wasn't very practical, but it was beautiful.

Rarity smirked and suddenly had that familiar, haughty air about her. What was she saying to Fluttershy? Twilight strained to hear, but she could feel the air getting tense. "What I want to know is why you didn't consult me before you bought it!" Rarity cried with a laugh.

How rude! Fluttershy was instantly in tears, as evidenced by her wiping her eyes. Rarity tried to make amends, but Fluttershy ran out the barn before she could finish.

"Rarity!" Applejack scolded her for her behavior, which turned into a quarrel between the two.

Oh, dear, Twilight thought. This party isn't going too well.

"You don't all agree with Applejack, do you?" Rarity was clearly offended.

Rainbow Dash looked tense. She flew out the barn without a word.

"Wow, this is awkward and embarrassing!" Pinkie declared. She seemed to regret her words.

Twilight looked at her friends. Applejack was bitter, Rarity obstinate, and Pinkie Pie uncomfortable. The party was a disaster. If no one could agree and just get along… why did they have the party in the first place? Twilight cast her eyes downward, hopeless. "Maybe we should all just go home."

"What?" Rarity defended. "Is it wrong to give your friends advice? Is it wrong to be right?"

Applejack scoffed. Pinkie was oddly silent. Twilight didn't look up.

"Well! Since my friends don't even want me at their party, I'll just go home!" Rarity's boots beat against the dirt all the way out the barn and down the road.

"What a snob!" Applejack snorted in contempt. "She doesn't even hear the words comin' out o' her mouth!"

"What a party pooper!" Pinkie agreed.

Twilight hugged herself, but it brought no comfort. This party was supposed to be celebrating her moving to Ponyville and the six becoming best friends, but it seemed no one cared about their friendship. It was like there was no harmony.

"Well… I guess that's that, then," Applejack was saying.

"Yeah… I should probably get back to Sugarcube Corner." Pinkie's voice was still as high-pitched and cheery as ever. Did she even care about what had just happened? "Catch ya later, Applejack."

Twilight Sparkle looked up in time to see Pinkie Pie skip out the barn. Typical Pinkie.

Applejack sighed. "I'm mighty sorry 'bout the party, Twi. I'd offer you some desserts to take home with ya, but…" She sighed as she looked at the table.

Twilight followed her gaze. All that was left in the boxes were crumbs.

"Pinkie Pie's such a glutton!"

Twilight frowned at her, surprised by her comment.

Applejack crossed her arms. "It's the truth, Twilight. You know I always tell the truth, even when it hurts."

What a hypocrite! She had just gotten onto Rarity for giving an honest—albeit rude—opinion of Fluttershy's dress, then turned around and "told the truth" about Pinkie Pie. Disgusted, Twilight shook her head and left without a word.

Back at home in the Golden Oak Library, Twilight's pain resurfaced. "Spike?" she called, wincing in anticipation for a cross response. When he didn't respond, she searched the entire library to find him, calling his name.

But the pain gave way to worry when she realized the library was empty.