Lightning led Melody to the closed door of the room where the surprise was enclosed. The princess' face was skeptical as she did not know what Berry wanted and that today happened to be her birthday due to princess duties that she put all her attention into for the last few weeks. Therefore, she had no idea what to expect.

Lightning said, "Alright, I want you to close your eyes, and I'll lead you in."

The princess looked confused but did as she was told, letting her hoof find Lightning's. The Pegasus blushed and nearly choked as it wrapped in his, radiating it with her warmth. He took a deep breath to recompose himself, and he opened the door.

The princess, with her eyes still shut, let Lightning lead her into the room, where the friends were ready with party hats on. Closing the door behind him, Lightning said, "Alright, on a count of three, I want you to open your eyes." The alicorn nodded and prepared for the counting.

"One…"

The gang's smiles grew big and eyes turned eager.

"Two…"

Berry Treat began to shake from the excitement bubbling in her like fizzy apple cider.

"Three!"

Melody's eyes opened, and her friends did not hesitate for the moment.

"SURPRISE!"

Melody gasped in happiness as her friends jumped out, Sun Streak placing a party hat on her head. The music-themed room took the princess' breath away. It was perfect for a music-loving alicorn princess such as her.

That was when she remembered it was her birthday.

"I knew I was forgetting something today!" she exclaimed.

"That's super!" Berry exclaimed excitedly. "Because if you knew, then it won't be surprise!"

Everyone laughed at Berry's comment heartily. "Thank you so much, guys," Melody said, a smile spreading across her face.

"No prob, Melody," Lightning said. "Now crank up the tunes!"

On cue, Reef took out a record player and played a dance song with an energetic beat.

"Ooh! This is my jam!" Berry exclaimed as she swayed to the beat of the music along with everyone else.

"You go, Berry. Woo-hoo!" Leafly said in a soft yet excited voice as Berry danced like a professional along with her, Apple Jam, and Paucity.

Meanwhile, Melody tried a cup of delicious apple cider made by―of course― Apple Cider. "Yum!" the princess exclaimed. "This is much better than the crystal iced tea back home."

"Well, I'd be darned!" Apple Cider replied. "You know, this here is the traditional recipe made by my great Granny Smith. I was and still am the only other one who knows it."

"Well, in that case, you better hide from my mom," Lightning joked. "Seriously, though. She would kill for it, as far as she's concerned."

"Don't forget your dad," Star Gazer added. "He would do just about anything to get his hooves on the Apple family's apple pie recipe."

"True that."

After more chatting and dancing, Berry seated Melody in a chair in front of the presents. Melody scanned the mountain of gifts and said with a chuckle, "Wow, I feel more spoiled than last year."

"Ooh! Ooh! Open mine, open mine!" Berry squealed excitedly. The princess took the box with the party pony's colors and used her teeth to rip the paper. She opened the box and gasped. She pulled out a cupcake-shaped music box and opened it up, causing it to play a cheery tune (A.N.: the Smile Song).

"Your mom's song!" Melody realized with a gasp.

"Yep! I picked that one 'cause it always makes you smile!" the light yellow pony said.

Melody opened up the rest of the presents and received the following: a sparkly magenta dress from Jewel, a gem-encrusted head band to go with it from Paucity, a bird-calling flute from Leafly, a card from Apple Cider, Apple Buck, and Apple Jam ("We couldn't find anything fancy, so we stuck with this."), a glowing star lamp from Star Gazer, and a pair of earphones from Sun Streak.

Finally, it was Lightning's present to be opened. The blue Pegasus gulped as Melody levitated the slightly grubby-looking package to her hooves. "I wondered what Lightning got me," she asked aloud.

"Maybe an engagement ring," Apple Cider murmured jokingly to Star Gazer.

"Hey, I have ears too, you know!" Lightning snapped, overhearing Apple Cider's words.

Melody, like with the other presents, ripped the paper off, revealing a small black velvet box with the words "Canterlot Jewel Crafting" in cursive silver writing.

"HUH! You got that from the most expensive jewel crafting store in all of Equestria?!" Jewel asked dramatically.

"What can I say? When your parents are the awesome Wonderbolts, it never hurts to ask for a little cash," Lightning said, although he was still nervous about what Melody would think of what was inside the box. He held his breath as Melody's magic lifted the lid upwards. He bit his lip when her eyes widened. She let an aura lift up the present in front of everyone.

They all gasped in astonishment.

A beautiful amethyst surrounded by a silver frame encrusted with tiny magenta and turquoise gems hung from a thin silver chain enclosed inside the aura. The amethyst gleamed from the light penetrating through the window.

Melody gaped at it. "I… I…" she stammered.

"AGH! I knew you'd hate it! I should've stuck with a CD in the first place!" Lightning exclaimed, guessing too quickly of what Melody thought.

"Lightning…"

"I spent a hundred and so bits on that! Mom and Dad are gonna kill me for a waste of money!"

"Lightning…"

"I'll have to work my flank off on the Junior Ponyville Weather Team for weeks to gain back those bits!"

"LIGHTNING!" Melody shrieked.

"Yeah?"

"I don't like it."

Lightning felt a part of him die inside while everyone looked at him in sympathy.

"I LOVE IT!" the princess squealed with an aerial back flip.

The blue Pegasus felt a huge relief inside of him. "Oh. You're welcome. And, uh, forget the last few things I said," he said calmly with a small blush.

Melody carefully placed the pendent around her neck, the amethyst matching her eyes. "Thank you so much, Lightning. That is so thoughtful of you, I could just kiss you!" she exclaimed.

Lightning's eyes widened as a blush spread across his face. "Oh, uh, I…" he sputtered, trying to find the right words.

Apple Cider zoomed to him and hissed in his ear, "Don't blow your chance, man! It's now or never!"

Lightning looked into Melody's eyes as they glimmered on, mesmerizing him. He felt his neck stretch forward to her face, Melody copying his movements. Soon, their noses barely touched each other.

Jewel, Berry, Paucity, and Apple Jam felt their eyes widen, while Sun Streak and Apple Buck covered their eyes, not wanting to see the potential kiss. Apple Cider murmured, "Come on, come on. I know you want to." Star Gazer just watched casually while chewing on an apple fritter.

The two's locked gaze suddenly lost concentration as something slammed down on the roof, causing the room to shake.

"Oh, come on!" Paucity whined at the interruption, while the rest looked up at the roof in shock.

"What in tarnation was that?" Apple Cider wondered aloud.

"Ooh! Maybe Mom installed fireworks on the roof!" Berry suggested while everyone stared at her. She noticed and said, "What? It could happen!"

"Hate to burst your bubble, B.T., but something tells me that wasn't fireworks," Lightning said as cracks appeared in the middle of the roof, proving his point.

Just then, a black hoof with a silver shoe crashed through the ceiling, startling Leafly immediately. She hopped unto Star Gazer's arms, clinging to him like a child would to a teddy bear in the night.

"You know, I thought I'd never see the day a mare wouldn't hesitate to hang on to me for protection," he said in a deadpan tone.

His thoughts were short-lived as more hooves appeared, revealing a giant hole. The gang looked up in shock as the sight before them appeared.

Black bat-winged Pegasi with silver armor and bright green eyes looked down at them ominously, snarling at them. The citizens of Ponyville saw them above the bakery in confusion and fear.

The foals of the group and Berry Treat huddled together in fear as Jewel stood in front of them, determined to protect her little sister and her friends. Lightning shielded Melody while Leafly stayed in her death grip with Gazer.

Apple Cider could only murmur under his breath, "How many surprises are we in for today?"

The answer was to come soon enough…