The Ever Changing Moon
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Chapter 2
Nightmare Moon’s Return
Part 3 - Acceptance
Rarity rubbed her foreleg nervously, looking away from the eyes of Sweetie Belle while sitting in the corner of the room. Ignoring the ongoing party.
She heard hoofsteps to her right and saw her father, Honcho Flanks, approaching her. He asked warmly, “How are you feeling?”
"Oh, I am feeling just fine, perfectly fine,” Rarity responded in sorrow, her ears and head lowered. “My biggest secret was just revealed in front of the entire town, ruining my reputation. Tis just a minor setback, after all, nothing to worry about.”
Cookie Crumbles approached as well, placing a forehoof on her daughter’s shoulder. “When did this happen and how?”
“The spa,” she mumbled.
“Can you repeat that, please?”
“The earthquake at the spa was caused by powerful magic. It crumbled and almost killed me.” She took a slow breath. “Being turned saved my life.” She was caught off guard by a warm hug as she was pressed into her mother’s embrace.
“My poor poor sweetheart!”
Honcho rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Is this why you got so good at sports, started wearing huge hats and became tired whenever we dragged you to our outdoor activities?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Cool!” Sweetie Belle shouted, jumping onto her sister’s head as she started poking her fangs and rubbing her ears. “So you’re a night mare with super powers. Can I be like you?”
Rarity’s gasped in horror, ears straightened and eyes widened. “You are… not afraid?”
“Afraid of my older sister? Never!” Sweetie belle said, hugging Rarity’s muzzle from above and blocking her vision with her belly. “Mom, Dad, can I have fangs and powers like my sister when I grow up? Pretty please!”
“Sure you can, Sweetie,” Honcho Flanks said, glancing at his wife. “You won’t mind, dear?”
“Of course not.”
Rarity pulled the filly from her face and placed on the floor before raising an eyebrow. Upon hearing laughter, she glanced at her parents and asked, “You do realize she was not joking?”
“Does it matter?” Honcho asked.
Rarity facehooved. “Allowing Sweetie Belle to bowl was one thing, allowing her to explore the Everfree Forest alongside Fluttershy was crossing the line.” She hissed and added, “However, allowing her to become a blood-drinking creature like me is… is… I do not even have words to describe how insane it is!”
Cookie Crumbles shrugged. “Unicorn, bat-winged pony, makes no difference to us, am I right, dearest?” Her husband nodded.
“Say what?” Rarity spoke.
“We would love Sweetie Belle as a thestral all the same,” Cootie said before pointing at Rarity. “You could become an earth pony, pegasus, alicorn or even a timberwolf and we wouldn’t care less. You shouldn’t make such a fuss about it and just tell us your secret from the start.”
Tears ran down her cheeks as she whimpered and grabbed both of her parents in a strong hug. “I love you! Thank you so much for accepting me!” She tightened her hug while causing her parents discomfort they struggled to hide. “And I am really sorry for hiding the truth from you. I was afraid you would fear and hate me, when I should have trusted you, of all ponies.”
"We could never hate you, dear," said Cookie.
"That's right. We're your family, and families stick together, through thick and thin," added Honcho before he freed his foreleg from the strong embrace and rubbed top of Rarity’s head.
"Yea! Besides, you're the bestest sister ever, Rarity!" exclaimed Sweetie as she pounced on Rarity and hugged her neck from behind.
The embrace lasted for half a minute before Rarity released her family and wiped her wet face.
“Wait a moment.” Honcho Flanks asked suspiciously, “If Rainbow Dash didn't save your life, who did?”
Rarity sighed and asked, “Can you keep a secret?”
Fleur struggled to stand on her trembling legs, her vision blurry as blood was dripping from her gaping wounds. With the last of her power, she commanded some of the lost blood to return into her wounds, closing them.
She grit her teeth while glaring daggers at her opponent, who looked back at her from the higher ground. She could still sense reserves of power in him, while her own were almost gone.
She closed her eyes and slammed her foreleg against the stone, causing a quake form the impact, her eyes produce tears. If only I was a century older… if only I didn’t let him provoke me…
“This fight is over,” Moon Shadow said calmly, his face not displaying any emotions. Several whips levitated by his side, each being a mix of blood and dark crystals with a pulsating black aura. “Your husband was weak for his age, lacking skills to face the enemy directly. If not for his incompetence, I would not have enough power left to defeat you. I pity you for marrying such a failure.”
Fleur spread her wings, ready to rush against her foe, only to stop herself. She knew well enough that Moon Shadow always showed respect to Fancy Pants, which meant that it was yet another lie. He was playing her.
Under normal circumstances she would fight defensively while waiting for an opening to attack. Making up for her power disadvantage and close range with skills and speed.
This time however she let her enemy to provoke her on many occasions, rushing to attack when she should wait, lowering her guard just to deliver more blows. Her opponent however didn’t seem distracted by anything.
A chill went through Fleur’s spine. If Moon Shadow was expecting that his brother would die, he would probably stay calm and collected even if she’d killed him.
She had lost this battle of minds and she was now paying the price.
Moon Shadow grinned. “No need for mental games any longer, time to claim my victory.”
Fleur stood on her rear hooves, shattering two whips with her forehooves, only for more to restrain each other her legs. She no longer had the strength to free herself.
Wound after wound, her white elegant fur was covered in her own blood. She grit her teeth, refusing to give her enemy any satisfaction by screaming.
“Surrender to your master! To the master of all purebloods!”
The moment he was close enough, Fleur spit blood onto his face as it started burning it. Moon Shadow ignored the pain and spoke, “You are the most skilled warrior among our ranks, surpassing even me. Letting you die would be a waste I cannot afford.”
“I will not serve you! Not after you killed my husband when you could’ve spare him! Not after you decided to take actions behind back of our newly returned queen!”
“I would have forgiven you even if you didn’t spare my brother, while your husband was the unfortunate sacrifice I had to make to attain this victory. As for our queen, she is too slow to act, something that may lead to her downfall.”
Fleur frowned, her body becoming heavy and weak. “You were the most dedicated and willing to serve our returning queen, have more faith in her. If she said she will need time to learn more about ponies of this time before taking action, you should respect it like the rest of us.”
“She is making a mistake! I am going to protect her even if it means going against her wishes. I will punish Celestia for her past transgression and bring her down,” he responded, stomping, his whips tightening their grip as blood burst from Fleur’s legs. “Only after I put chains on Celestia and gift Nightmare Moon with Equestria, only then will she not be endangered by two alicorns, two armies and the Elements.”
He took a deep breath before raising Fleur’s tired head and asking, “Answer this. If you refuse to serve me and die, who will take care of your son?”
“You…” Fleur coughed up more blood, her life now at his mercy. She glared venomously at her foe and hissed, “You wouldn’t dare!”
“Your talents are too valuable to be wasted. If I have to use your son as hostage, so be it, and unlike the last time, it won’t be a mere trial.”
“You pathetic, despicable creature! Have you no shame, no pride as a pureblood thestral? Your mercy is as false as your loyalty to our queen!” She burbled a response, yet carried on with her words despite the pain her wounds gave her. “You cry about having your own parents killed in the purge, yet you have slaughtered countless thestrals, many of them children and parents! You consigned your own brother to die just so you could win! You are worth less than the dirt on my hooves, less than a parasprite! When something doesn’t go your way, you throw a tantrum like a small foal that didn’t get the toy she wanted!
“I didn’t hear you. Would you mind repeating yourself?” He narrowed his eyes. “And I would suggest you to consider your words carefully.”
"I will... serve," she said, spitting the bit of long-rotted apple mush out.
Moon Shadow grinned, releasing his captive. “I prepared huge reserves of blood in my chariot, enough to restore our power and vitality. “His eyes flashed as his magic closed Fleurs wounds. “You are strong, surely you can still walk, or should I carry you?”
Fleur hissed and walked towards the nearest cliff wall, climbing with her trembling legs, her eyes closed, teeth grit, and her face covered in tears and sweat.
“That’s the spirit,” he spoke before closing his eyes, mentally communicating with his servants. The time has finally come. Begin phase one of ‘Operation: Eternal Night.
This situation keeps getting worse...oh boy. I hope Fluttershy appears soon.
Rarity's family certainly took it well But alas! Trouble brews over the horizon! What the heck is Phase One??? I shudder to think
In theory, Fleur don't need to obey, just tell her queen about what happened and see if she like someone that disobey her. As she could even take care about her son.
I really want to smash his skull in... not the quick way either, but the slow repeated skull bashing way.
7254983 With something made of silver.
7255034 Maybe a spiked maul, with silver tipped spikes and some liquid silver poured onto it.
While it is cruel in some sense, Fleur should have refused to serve, no matter the consequences, that or only say she will serve and stab him in the back later
7244789 I really liked Fancy Pants in the story. Guess some parts are not my cup of tea, and that is okay. You can't please everyone all the time. I wrote that when other things were getting to me, and I am wanting to see how things end.
PLEASES DEUS EX MACHINE Moon Shadow TO A FIRER DEATH,
KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM
DO IT
7255159 I bet that is what she is planning.
Just wait until NMM lears of his duplicity...
I don't believe he sufficiently understand WHO he is currently betraying ...
7255506 No, don't kill him, that's too nice.
Introduce him to a certain, very insane, Pinkie Pie who wants his help making cupcakes.
Say cheese!
great family you have there, rarity.
and moon shadow? tch, your a real monster. it's probably thestrals like you that give your kind a bad name.
7254941
She will appear in chapter 3, so before that, there's still chapter 2 and part 4, which will focus on Nightmare Moon.
7254944
Considering that "Ethernal Night" stands for "Thestrals ruling over the world," Phase one can be nothing good.
7254954
Well, in practice, she needs to follow Moon Shadow's orders, or else other purebloods will turn on her (this was the agreement of their fight), but you're right that she can somehow inform Nightmare Moon of what's going on. She may have hard time doing it behind Moon Shadow's back though, since he's often thinking ahead and make prepartions in advance.
7254983
7255126
7255506
Why do I end up making villains so hated? First hunters, next Shackles and now Moon Shadow. Everyone wish them painful death.
7255159
First, she agreed to terms that the winner of the duel will take charge of all purebloods, and purebloods are very strick in terms of promisses and fights for leadership. Regardless, as angry as she is, Fleur wouldn't let her son become another victim. Even if she refuses, Moon Shadow would still take charge, so joining him seems the best course of action for her.
7256074
Well... He did went behind Nightmare Moon's back by fighting for leadership and planning to fight Celestia, yet Fancy Pants and Fleur warned Celestia about possible invasion, so in a sense, they both betrayed in some way.
7256565
To be fair, he wouldn't be doing any of that if Nightmare Moon made a decision to seek a peaceful solution from the get go. From his point of view, wasting time to judge her subject, Nightmare Moon is putting herself into too much risk. In the past, hesitation and lack of unity among purebloods lead to their downfail as Celestia took down strongest ones one at a time. He fears that Nightmare Moon is giving the enemy too many openings to strike her down before making decision (army can capture her, Elements can take her down), and should that happen, he would lost the only opportunity where Celestia is weakened without access to the sun.
I suppouse Moon Shadow view hesitation in making a decision as weakness. He's more of quick and decisive actions kind of guy.
7256770 He need to follow his order or the pureblood could get angry, but in theory for the Purebloods, Nightmare is more important, if he is doing treason to her, then she have a reason to disobey and tell her princess about a traitor
7257149
Correction, Nightmare Moon/Luna was more important 1000 years ago. Yet her long absence and Moon Shadow's rise to power, it would result in power strugle.
The issue is that Nightmare Moon didn't claim her leadership over purebloods in official matter, so all Moon Shadow needs to do is explain his reasons why he is doing it. Keep in mind that everypony except Moon Shadow doesn't know Nightmare Moon personaly, so they would be hesistant to turn against their leader. (Purebloods know Nightmare Moon/Luna from the legends or from what they learned from their parrents before they were killed, but never had the opportunity to accept her rule).
7257246 But they know also that they can't just go against Nightmare, even if they are Purebloods, she is a alicorn and not a simple alicorn but the alicorn of Night and the only defense if Celestia move
A. A. A. A. A. A. A. A. A. A. A A. A. A. A. A. A. A. A. A.
I am screaming very slowly.
7257388
If Fleur will question Moon Shadow's motives now when he won the fight for leadership, he can easily convince others that what he's doing is for the best for Nightmare Moon, and he have enough influence and power to gain support of others. Unless Nightmare Moon will start quesiton his motives directly, there's not much Fleur can do.
7262582
And which part made you scream?
7263271 the ending.
Huh, that's right, threaten the family of the Thestral you just admitted is stronger than you. I hope he's got some serious mind control magics, because her loyalty isn't worth shit. Considering his character, her only option is to murder him when she gets a chance.
You notice, she said "I will serve." She never said who. Or what. Moon's arrogance never let him question that. So she is not bound by any promise of loyalty to him.
7256770 It's because your villains and their successes make these stories less enjoyable. If nothing undoably bad ever happens, I tend to be totally happy with a fic. Conflict is like salt. You can have way too much, and there are more ways to add flavor.
Well, now a were-timberwolf version of either Rarity or Sweetie Belle has to be out there somewhere..... If not, I kinda wanna make it, lol.