The party went as Moondancer had hoped for: All of her friends were there, even if Twilight was awkward & tried her hardest to remember everypony's name, but it was fun, nonetheless. The real exciting part was when Moondancer opened her gifts.

"Which one should I open first!?" Moondancer asked, hopping excitedly

"Open mine!" Minuette spoke "You're going to love mine!" Moondancer held up a blue box with her magic and shook it, listening to it and taking a guess what was inside. She opened the package and took out a black sweater with pink buttons on it. "You told me how much you loved going to the library but hate the cold in there. I hope this helps."

"This is perfect! Thanks!"

"Well put it on!" Twinkleshine spoke "Then open mine!" Moondancer took off her glasses and put on the sweater. She was in bliss as she put it on.

"~So~... ~comfortable~."

"...Moondancer?" She shook out of her bliss.

"Oh! Sorry." she blushed as she opened Twinkleshine's gift: a new pair of glasses.

"Your glasses are pretty beat and you need a new pair." Moondancer took off her glasses and placed the new one on. she looked around, gasping.

"I can see much better! This is really helpful!"

"Open mine!" Lyra suggested "You're going to love it!"

"Ten bits says it's a human thing." Spike whispered to Twilight. Moondancer opened the gift and pulled out a drawing of all of them as weird creatures.

"...Uh... thanks?" Moondancer spoke.

"It's my predictions of all of us as humans!" Lyra replied "One of us will see them, I'm certain of it."

"...I think this will help." Lemonhearts said. Moondancer opened her gift but gasped. She held up a golden ticket.

"I-is this what I think it is?" Moondancer stammered

"...A golden ticket?" Spike asked

"That's not just a ticket!" Twilight gasped "That's a ticket to-"

"THE GRAND GALLOPING GALA!!!" Everypony cheered at the same time.

"And I don't want you to go alone," Lemonhearts continued "because I brought six more!"

"Six more!?" The crowd shouted in shock. Lemonhearts nodded with a smirk, pulling more tickets out and handed them all a ticket, including Spike.

"How did you get these tickets!?" Twilight asked

"I work in the Canterlot palace, remember?"

"...Oh... you did. Um-"

"Here, Moondancer." Spike spoke, walking to her with his & Twilight's busted present "the box is jacked up, but your gift is intact." Moondancer opened the gift & help up a portrait of all of them sitting together. She stared at the picture for a moment, but smiled and teared up.

"It's perfect." She gave Spike a warm hug. "This has been the best birthday ever! I'm so glad I have friends like all of you, especially you, Twilight!"

"Me!?" She asked. Moondancer released Spike and gave Twilight a hug.

"Of course! You're practically like the big sister I've always wanted!"

"... I didn't-!"

"Twilight Sparkle!!!" Celestia's voice boomed. Moondancer screamed and released Twilight. Down from the sky, flapping her powerful wings, was Princess Celestia herself! She landed roughly on the floor and ran to Twilight. "Twilight! Why aren't you in Ponyville right now!? You're suppose to be making friends!"

"Princess!" Twilight hastily bowed to her mentor "I-I never got any letter from you! Was I suppose to be doing that? I'm so sorry if-"

"Hold on a second!" Minuette interrupted "Twilight's our friend! Doesn't that count at all?"

"I'm sorry Minuette," Celestia answered "but this is different. Twilight needs to leave you all to-"

"She had to leave us!?" Moondancer asked, tearing up "S-so you wanted Twilight to leave my most important day ever!?"

"I'm sorry, Moondancer, but the fate of many is more important than-"

"Hey!" Twinkeshine interrupted, holding Moondancer in a hug "That is SO messed up, even for you, Princess!"

"Yeah!" Lrya added "Twilight has friends right now, but you're telling us that she has to leave us and make new friends because you want her to!?"

"It's nothing like that!" Celestia answered "The fate of Equestria lies in her-"

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" A loud cackle stopped them. The warm daylight of Celestia's sun was quickly replaced by the cool night sky of the full moon. Celestia dropped her student and looked around in fear.

"What's happening!?" Twilight asked in panic. "Celestia! What's going on!?" Her answer came when the silhouette of another Alicorn landed right behind the group. The alicorn wore dark blue armor, matching it's nearly invisible mane & tail It's eyes opened, revealing it's pupils were slit like those of a cat, and that it's coat was black.

"Oh no." Celestia spoke, taking steps back & trembling in fear.

"It's been a long time, sister," the Alicorn spoke, showing it's razor sharp teeth. "Surprised that I'm here?"

"No... I thought you'd arrive late."

"Well you thought wrong." Her horn glowed blue and six balls of stone floated around her.

"What!? How did you-!?"

"Let's see how you like it in the sun!!!" She fired a beam from her horn, blasting Celestia away! The six mares only wtched in shock as Celestia was easily defeated & gone. They turned to the Alicorn who stood victorious. "Let this be a lesson for you ponies: The nighttime will last forever!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!" She flapped her wings and headed towards Canterlot's castle. The sic stood and stared with their mouths open.

"What... just happened?" Twinkleshine asked.

"I... think I have an explanation for this." Twilight answered.

"This has got to be the worst birthday ever." Moondancer commented to herself.

"Call me crazy," Spike retorted "but this may be my fault."

Author's Note

Going in with the Alternate Universe thing. I decided to let Nightmare Moon out a couple of hours early. If nothing goes exactly as planned, then why not change other things as well?