The Ever Changing Moon

Chapter 1

Ponyville

Part 4 - Party of All Parties

Twilight and Spike stood in front of a large tree, her base of operations and maybe even her new home. Both were hesitant to go inside as their eyes were now focused on numerous ponies talking with each other, occasionally eating something from numerous tables filled with food.

“Let’s get this over with,” Twilight said, taking her first step. Her assistant ran ahead of her. The ponies waved at her and she returned the gesture, following Spike into the library.

“I was counting on you to come to my birthday party and was really disappointed because of the evacuation. I thought we would never see each other again, or that something had happened to you,” Moon Dancer said with a hint of worry.

Lyra placed forehoof on Moon Dancer’s shoulder. “She was really worked up over it. It felt as if you were the only party guest she cared about.”

Twinkleshine pointed at their manes and spoke in a calm voice, “She always admired Twilight, even to a point of copying her mane-style. Can you blame her?”

Moon Dancer blushed and hid it behind her foreleg before stepping to the side as the rest of her friends surrounded Twilight, Lemon Hearts and Minuette quickly joining in.

Twilight noticed a few banners, some saying ‘Welcome Twilight and Spike’, while others read ‘Happy Birthday Moon Dancer’.

From the corner of her eye she saw a group of ponies talking with each other while sitting in a circle near the dining table. She recognized a few of them from the pictures of the potential Element bearers

“Now that everypony is here, this party can really get started! I’m so excited!” Minuette said, embracing Twilight and Moon Dancer. Moon Dancer reflexively grabbed her glasses in her magic before they could fall to the floor.

Pinkie jumped in front of them and joined the hug, squeezing both unicorns in a vice grip. “And here I thought you’d have trouble making friends, but now I see you have five of them. That's so splendiferous! You’ll have the best of fun!”

Spike jumped onto Twilight's head with a pack of popcorn in his paw and a lampshade on his head. “Now that’s what I call a party. I’m starting to like this town.” He took off his lampshade, revealing a present tied with a ribbon. “Happy birthday Moon Dancer!”

“T-thank you…” she responded, levitating over the gift while struggling free of the crushing hug. After unwrapping it, a blush formed on her cheeks. “You… didn’t have to,” she said while a plush bear now levitated by her side.

“Do you like it?” he asked. “Twilight suggested a book, but what does she know? Speaking of books.” He reached into Twilight’s saddlebag and pulled out another wrapped gift. “I grabbed the gift she got for you before we left. You know how she gets when she's in a hurry; she'd forget her head if it wasn't on one of her checklists."

Not wasting a moment, Moon Dancer unwrapped the present with her magic, ripping off the material that separated her from the precious gift. A wide grin formed on her face as she nuzzled the book about astronomy. “Thank you, Twilight, I love it!”

“Awww…! C’mere,” Pinkie and Minuette spoke in unison as they grabbed Spike in a tight embrace.

Twilight groaned, feeling squeezed as she was trapped between her friends and two hug-lovers, surrounded by nearly a hundred party quests. To make matters worse, her ears barely endured the loud music. Oh, for the love of Celestia, can this day get any crazier?

She looked around, waiting several seconds for fate to throw something unpredictable at her. She was released from the hug, glancing about the library as nothing happened. No princess dropping from the ceiling, no ponies transforming into thestrals or any other race she was unaware of.

A minute went by before she decided to relax a bit and talk with her friends. It seems that my day just cannot get crazier than this.

Applejack and Rarity walked upstairs, as Twilight had requested politely to talk with them in private. They had been already updated by Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash about their interactions with her.

With a mixture of curiosity and worry, they stepped into the second floor and sat on the carpet in front of the waiting unicorn. Applejack was the first to speak, “So what is it ya wanted ta talk with us?”

“If this is about the return of the Two-faced Princess, we were already informed in advance.” Rarity pressed forehoof against her chest and raised her head proudly. “Worry not, darling, we will be on our best behaviour and greet her with the honor and decorum a royal deserve.”

“That’s exactly what I find suspicious,” Twilight said, walking back and forth.

“Suspicious? Whatever do you mean?” Rarity asked, laying her ears back in confusion.

“Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and the both of you are acting very suspicious.” Twilight started circling the confused ponies who looked at each other, shrugging and shaking their heads. “When I informed each of you about the return of Nightmare Moon, none of you doubted me.” She took a quick breath. “Instead of calling me insane or demanding proof, you act as if you already knew about her return.”

Twilight jumped towards Applejack, her ears back and expression intimidating enough to scare a Timberwolf. “Applejack! You represent the Element of Honesty. Please tell me what you are hiding from me!”

Rarity was about to say something, but was silenced by Twilight’s angry glare. Aside from fast heartbeat and breathing, she sensed magic… a lot of magic.

As a fashionista and thestral turned only two years ago, she wasn’t the most experienced at using her powers and senses. Yet, she could already tell that Twilight’s raw power was enormous, far superior to Fluttershy’s. Her throat dried up and her legs felt like jelly. Messing up with the student of the princess herself was the last thing she wanted to do.

Twilight pressed her muzzle against Applejack’s and said, “Purebloods are planning to take over Equestria while we’re ordered to surrender to Nightmare Moon! If you know something, anything that could help, please tell me!”

She pulled her muzzle back and pressed a forehoof against her chest, breathing heavily. She continued in a pleading voice, “We’re on the same side. We must stick together in the hard times to come, so please, be honest with me.”

Both mares stared at each other; one with pleading eyes, another sweating and tensed.

Applejack glanced at Rarity, who shook her head very slightly so that Twilight wouldn’t notice it. “Sorry, sugarcube. No can do.”

Twilight sighed and lowered her head, walking towards the bed next to the window, bypassing shelves filled with books.

Rarity and Applejack went back downstairs, taking seats in the corner of the room as they whispered to each other.

“Are ya sure we should keep her in the dark, Rares?” Applejack asked. “She’s the student of the princess. She’d be a mighty strong ally.”

“Or she could become our greatest foe,” Rarity interrupted. “Keep in mind that she views thestrals as enemies. Besides me,” she pointed at herself,” our clan has four thestrals and one thestral-pegasus hybrid. Not to mention that Fluttershy is a pureblood.”

“If she turns on us, a few kicks and words will get her back to her senses,” Applejack whispered, only for Rarity's forehoof to land on her shoulder.

“She may be a student, but she is not a pushover. I could sense her raw power and it is enormous, far above Fluttershy’s. Not to mention the consequences for assaulting the student of Princess Celestia.”

Their talk was interrupted by a sudden silence as everypony stepped to the side, forming two lines as they now looked at a tall pink alicorn standing at the entrance. Instead of wearing gold-like shoes, peytral and crown, which were popular royal accessories, she wore a green-gold armor. A heart shaped crystal was located in the central part of her chestplate, with smaller ones inscribed on greaves, which went from hooves up to knees.

On both of her sides were two crystal guards, covered in heavy crystal armor. Rarity noticed that the most protected part was their necks, but was too overwhelmed to care. Applejack grabbed Rarity before she could faint as a sofa levitated inside through the open window, landing on the floor with a weak thump while startling a few guests.

With a roll of her eyes, she placed Rarity on the sofa before joining the group of bowing ponies.

“Please, don’t bow,” Cadence said with a wave of her hoof. “I apologize for interrupting this lovely celebration, but I hoped to talk with the student of Princess Celestia, Miss Twilight Sparkle.” After waiting for the group to stand as murmurs filled the room, she asked, “Is she present in this library?”

Everypony nodded in confirmation while an energetic earth pony jumped from the crowd.

Cadence wore an awkward smile as she stared into the smiling face of Pinkie Pie, whose muzzle nearly reached her face. “Can I… help you?”

“Are you one of Twilight’s friends?” She paused and pointed at the group of unicorns, who waved at them. “She already has five, but to befriend two alicorns? That is so super-duper amazing that Twilight made so many friendships, I could learn a thing or two from her.”

“She is indeed a friend of mine. Celestia brought her to the Crystal Empire quite often, sometimes even leaving her in my care,” Cadence said while scanning the crowd in search of Twilight, only to be assaulted by confetti, which was shot from… a cannon. She spread her wings, stopping her guards from destroying the miniature artillery and slamming themselves into the energetic assassin.

"We're having a birthday party and a welcome party at the same time, wanna join? The more the merrier and I’ve never made a welcome party for a princess. I’ll just get another banner and write your name... oh, silly me, I forgot to ask for your name?"

“My full title is Empress Mi Amore Cadenza, however, I prefer to be called Cadence. I’m not a fan of formalities.” She rubbed the top of Pinkie’s head, bending down to her height while displaying a cheerful smile. “I would love to join in this celebration, once I talk with my friend. Deal?”

Before Cadence could react, she was pulled upstairs by her foreleg. She blinked in confusion, glancing between a reading unicorn and bouncing earth pony.

“Have fun,” Pinkie said before dashing downstairs, vanishing from her sight in less than a second while spreading dust from the older books.

The alicorn waved her foreleg to disperse the cloud of dust, only to see her bowing friend. She rolled her eyes before saying,” What did I tell you about not bowing to me?”

“Ummm… to never do that unless we’re in front of important dignitaries?”

Cadence nodded as she sat and spread her forelegs. As she had hoped for, Twilight jumped into her embrace. “That’s more like it,” she said, adding her right wing into the hug.

“Would you like for us to perform our special greeting?” Twilight asked, her voice slightly muffled as her muzzle sank into the soft fur.

“I just wanted to see how my favourite scholar is doing before things get… complicated.”

The unicorn sat and chuckled, holding forehoof to her mouth. “Interesting way to describe the end of Equestria.”

“Aside from that, I am here to tell you that your parents should arrive here tomorrow morning. Your fine specimen of a brother still assists with evacuation, but if everything goes according to plan, he will join you in a few days.”

“Would you please call him by his name for once… wait, what plan?” Twilight asked, standing on her rear hooves.

Cadence recognized those eyes, curled forelegs and drooped ears. Those knowledge-hungry eyes were irresistible as it melted her heart. Even as an adult, her stare could make the most hardened hearts into mush.

She took a deep breath and said in no longer cheerful tone, “When the enemy invades Canterlot, Celestia will challenge their leader. Obviously he wouldn’t agree to a duel as he would be greatly outmatched, but…” She sighed. “Celestia will propose a fight between leaders. Alicorns versus purebloods. No armies will be involved in order to avoid… how can I put it delicately? To avoid the casualties of war.”

Twilight's eyes became plates and her throat a desert. Her voice shook as she spoke, "You will participate, too?"

She nodded. “Celestia wished to face them alone, but she’s no ruler of mine. She’s my ally, and I demanded to participate in the battle that will decide the future of ponykind.”

“And… if you both lose?” Twilight asked, her head lowered as she held back the tears in her eyes.

Cadence embraced her again, this time with one wing as she stroked her head with a hoof. “Celestia believes that her corrupted sister will become a merciful ruler, should we surrender willingly.”

"Please, don't worry about the future of Equestria. The Crystal Empire has maintained a well equipped army for situations such as these." She took a quick breath. “One year ago, after talking with Celestia, I ordered it to be expanded further in case of war." She looked down at Twilight with an encouraging smile. “The combined might of two armies will retake Equestria's freedom.”

“After months or maybe even years of war?” Twilight asked, withdrawing from the Empress’s embrace. “Something Celestia is trying to prevent.”

After a moment of silence, Twilight walked towards the bed, gesturing for the empress to lie on it. Cadence rolled her eyes at the special treatment she was receiving, perching herself on the bed while her friend sat on the small pillow on the floor.

The empress paled as bad memories floated through her mind. She took a deep breath and composed herself on the bed. “Have you ever heard of an evil king?”

Twilight shook her head before levitating over a notepad and pen from her saddlebag, her ears straightened upward.

The Ever Changing Moon

by CommanderX5

Ponyville - Party of All Parties