Nyx, Cadence and Rarity were making they're way to Sugarcube Corner when they met up with Orion and Dawn.The little filly was skipping alongside Orion with one of the biggest smiles Nyx had ever seen.
"She seems happy." Said Rarity.
"Of course she is, silly willy!" Said a voice from behind the group.
Nyx, by instinct of course, unsheathed her sword as she spun around to face the voice.(1) The owner of said voice then jumped ten feet in the air, gasping at who she just reunited with.
"OMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOSH! Princess Cadence and Nyx are alive, I shoulda known. This calls for a town-wide celebration, I'm gonna need streamers, tons of balloons, and, WAIT!" Said Pinkie Pie, as she reached behind her for something, pulling a turret-like cannon seemingly from thin air. "I have the PARTY CANNON 2.0!" She finished as she turned a dial on the side of the cannon, the label turning from, 'Birthday' to 'GET DOWN'.
"FIND SOME COVER!" Shouted a guard as the entire town went into panic mode, mares pulling their kids inside, unicorns putting up shields, and pegasai flying to the other side of the town to avoid the spinning turret as it prepared to fire.
"IT'S PARTY TIME!" Shouted Pinkie as she pressed the FIRE button.
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A lone alicorn stood on a ledge over Canterlot, from here she could see all the way to the Everfree forest. Her interest had been on Ponyville for the last few days since she received word that the resistance had moved there.
Why did you leave? We were so close to finding you.
As she stood there a large dust cloud suddenly appeared at Ponyville, followed by a loud explosion. The alicorn flew off the ledge and toward Canterlot Palace. My Mistress is going to want to hear about this.
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When the dust cleared from the Party Cannon's blast, it looked like a party fairy platoon(2) had swept in and decorated all of Ponyville for a massive party. Tables had new cloths on them, streamers hung from every object you could hang something on, there were tables with every kind of baked good imaginable on them. Across main street hung a large banner that read 'WELCOME BACK NYX AND CADENCE' in big, red letters.
"How did that cannon do all of this?" Asked Cadence as Pinkie folded up the Party Cannon to a box form.
"Oh, that's easy." Said Pinkie as she pulled a metal rod with a black line running down it. She pressed a small button on the side and a blue-tinted image appeared. "Gyro units in the main section below the gun to turn 360 degrees. Mass converters and teleporter technology transport supplies from Sugarcube Corner to wherever the cannon fires. And blast dampeners keep it from creating a massive shockwave that destroys everything!
"Wait a minute," Said Nyx as she inspected the image, "Hologram pads, mass conversion, and teleporter tech like that was only allowed in the military! How did you get all of this?"
"Stormcloud made it for me."
"Stormcloud?" Asked Nyx, "As in THE Stormcloud? The chief scientist of the Equestrian military's weapons development and research program? How is he even here?"
"He was here on leave when the ambush of Fillydelphia happened." Explained Rarity, "But we can worry about that later. Now is a time for celebration!" She said as she applied a spell to her vocal cords.
"CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE! NOW IS A TIME TO REJOICE! FOR PRINCESS CADENCE AND COMMANDER NYX HAVE RETURNED! THE GUARD WILL REMAIN ON DUTY DURING THE FESTIVITIES, AND THERE WILL BE A COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW TO DECIDE THE FUTURE! BUT FOR NOW, REJOICE!
Nyx's ears pounded as Rarity finished her speech.
"A spell that gives you the Royal Canterlot Voice for a short time, impressive." She said as the party got into full swing.
"I picked it up from a spell book that Sweetie Belle brought home from the library one time. And speak of the devil." Responded Rarity as a trio of mares approached the group.
"NYX!" shouted the earth pony and unicorn as they rushed over to meet their friend.
"Sweetie Belle, Applebloom! you're both okay!" Said Nyx as the three friends embraced. Nyx looked at the pegasus. "Scootaloo? You okay?"
"You slimy, no good back stabber." Said Scootaloo as she approached the alicorn. "You got a lot of nerve coming back here after what you did." Nyx had hurt and confused look on her face.
Does she know about Rainbow Dash?
Scootaloo's stare then broke as she broke down into a fit of laughter. "You should see the look on your face!" She said as she put a leg over her neck. " How ya' doing, you old fighter? So good to see you. Listen, you gotta tell me stories about all the changelings you've..."
Nyx's mind trailed off throughout the party thinking that this was just a calm before a storm.
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"And you sure that they are there?"
"Yes mistress," The alicorn responded, "They would not leave the city unless they had a individual of high importance in their group. Which I theorize to be Nyx and Princess Cadence."
"Hm. So our two biggest targets are celebrating being alive in Ponyville as we speak?"
The alicorn looked up, hoping for a certain command to be given.
"Prepare the troops."
The alicorn smiled.