Thirteen years later…

Celestia's sun rose over the small town of Ponyville, sparking a new and very special day in the summer. Ponies young and old were awake and bustling about, setting up business in the market place, enjoying three months off of school, or travelling around Equestria.

The leaves of the Golden Oaks Library glistened with the sun's rays as a sleeping alicorn colt inside on a night-themed bed grumbled, pulling a blanket over him. His light blue and purple streaks of hair spread across the pillow as a trail of drool escaped his mouth unto his mauve coat, which displayed a cutie mark of comet shooting out of a telescope. His name was Prince Star Gazer, son of Princess Twilight Sparkle and former royal guard Prince Flash Sentry.

Just then, a young male dragon sneaked into the prince's room. He had light purple scales with a green spine down to his pointy tail, a teal belly, and emerald green eyes. He was Reef, son of Spike and Marine, the two dragons and assistants of Twilight.

Reef looked at his friend's current condition and sighed before climbing on the bed. He immediately started shaking him. "Star Gazer, wake up!" he urged, but the only response he received was a grumble. The young dragon was not about to give up, so he whined continuously, "Gaaaaazeeeeeerrrrrr…"

Finally, tired of his friend's wails, Star Gazer removed the blanket from his head, revealing his cornflower blue eyes. His mane was all over the place as he groggily asked his friend, "What is it, Reef?"

"Gaze, do you know what day it is?" the young dragon asked.

"Uh… Tuesday?"

"Dude, try harder!"

"National Diamond Mine Day?"

"No."

"Sapphire cupcake special at the Sugar Cube Corner?"

"I wish, but no."

"Bother Star Gazer All Day so He Could Not Go Back to Sleep Day?"

"Not even close, man!"

"Then what is it?!" Gazer by now had lost his patience and levitated Reef off the bed with his magic.

"It's Melody's birthday, you dum-dum!" Reef answered, flailing around as he wanted to land on the floor.

His wish was granted―even though it hurt a bit―as Gazer dropped him on the ground at the shock of the realization. Princess Melodina (or Melody for short) was his alicorn cousin and the daughter of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire. Today was her birthday, and Gazer and his friends planned to surprise her with a party at Sugar Cube Corner, Ponyville's local bakery.

A few seconds of pause passed before Star Gazer asked quickly, "Well, why didn't you say something?" before zooming out of the room. Reef narrowed his eyes as it was obvious why. "Maybe it's because you kept sticky notes about it all around the house!" he argued, holding up his tail. Sure enough, it had a sticky note that said, "MELODY'S BIRTHDAY: DON'T FORGET!"

"That doesn't matter now!" the prince exclaimed as he made it back into the room, his mane straightened out. "I need you to round up the gang to prepare the party, stat!" Reef saluted his pal and chanted, "Yes, sir!"

The two immediately rushed out of the library/house, but they paused in mid-air when Twilight Sparkle called, having overheard their conversation, "Not until you two have breakfast!" The two sped back into the house, Gazer declaring, "After breakfast."

"And cleaning up all the sticky notes in the fridge," Reef added.

"Whatever."

…

After breakfast and a sticky note clean-up, Gazer and Reef exited out of the library to gather up the 'Mane Gang', as Reef called it. The two reached the Town Hall, where Gazer directed Reef, "Alright, you'll get A.C., Jewel, and Berry, while I fetch Lightning and Leafly."

"What about their brothers and sisters?" Reef asked.

"As long as they promise not to eat the food before the party, they can help."

"Aye-aye, Captain," Reef saluted before running off to fetch the named ponies he has to round up, while Gazer flew up into the sky to fetch the first friend on his list.

The prince flew up to a cloud mansion just outside of Cloudsdale, a city where everything was made of clouds. Just as he reached the door, however, a streak of three random shades of blue zoomed past him. Gazer showed confusion on his face before narrowing his eyes, realizing who the culprit was. He perked up his ears and heard a very familiar chuckle coming from behind him. Sure enough, he turned his head and saw his suspect― a young Pegasus with a pale azure coat, a cutie mark of two lightning blasts intersecting, and a spiky navy mane with turquoise blue highlights, laughing like crazy at his small prank. His name was Lightning Flash, son of Rainbow Dash and Soarin.

"Oh, you should've seen the look on your face!" Lightning exclaimed, briefly showing his bright green eyes, before falling on the cloud back-first, clutching his stomach as his laughs continue to burst. Gazer rolled his eyes just as a young Pegasus filly opened the door with a water bottle in her mouth. She had a blue coat a few shades darker than Lightning's, bright blue hair with orange streaks, rose-pink eyes, and no cutie mark yet. Her name was Sun Streak, named after her carroty highlights, also known as Lightning Flash's sister.

The little filly handed the bottle to Lightning, who immediately took it and guzzled the contents into his mouth, thankfully ceasing his laughs. He threw the bottle back to his sister and said, "Thanks, little sis. Huh, I thought for a second I was literally gonna die from laughter." He gave a small chuckle at the thought as he stood up. However, his smile disappeared at the solemn look on Gazer's face, immediately taking the hint that his friend was not in the mood for his games.

The Pegasus cleared his throat and said quickly, "Sorry about that."

Changing the subject, curious Sun Streak asked while her brother ruffled her hair, "So, what's the buzz, S.G.?"

Gazer replied, taking out a list and reading it, "Do you and your brother remember that Melody's birthday is today?"

Lightning's eyes dilated suddenly. "T-t-t-t-to-d-d-d-day?"

"Yeah, it's today. I put you in charge of clearing the weather for the party, remember?"

And just like that, Lightning shouted with a salute, "Yes! Right away!" and dashed to do his job, leaving behind a confused Gazer and a smirking Sun Streak. Noticing her mischievous look and inferring that she knew of Lightning's behavior, the alicorn asked, "What's his deal?"

"I don't mean to say anything out of school, but L.F. has a huge crush on Melody!" the young filly replied with a giggle.

"Shut up!" Gazer said, trying hard not to snicker.

"It's true! Hay, he was out all day two days ago to look for a gift for her!" Sun Streak exclaimed, unable to control her laughs. The colt joined with her briefly at his discovery until he asked, "Do you want to help me bring the gang together at Sugar Cube Corner?"

"Eeyup!"

"Then hop to it, sister!" Gazer announced before taking off while Sun Streak headed to the opposite direction.

Oblivious to them, a mysterious hooded Pegasus spied on them the entire time, sinking in every piece of information. He immediately flew off as soon as they were gone, hoping to reach his master and let him know what he had discovered so far.