The Winds Of Change, Season 1: Friends and Enemys, New and Old.

11:45 A.M.

Hot Shot was not amused. Not. One. Little. Bit. He got up from his chair in a calm and almost calculated matter. His counselor's word's made themselves present within his mind. "Slow, Deep, Breaths." He would say.

Despite the old coots' ramblings, Hot Shot paid him some small amount of attention. After all, he might just be a reserve unit for the Wonderbolts, but that didn't give the right to act up. At least not to an excessive amount. And so with all the strength, he could muster he picked the last few shreds of his dignity off the floor and made his way over to the low life of a unicorn responsible for this whole debacle.

As Hot Shot approached the idiot's table he couldn't help but notice his companion.

"Holy Smoke's she's sexy!!" His brain ground to a halt when he laid eyes on her. He drank in every last detail of her body. Her cyan coat was glowing from the sun light pouring through the glass window. Her mane was one of the vibrant hues of every color of the rainbow. Her body was toned and in peak physical condition.

"Just what is this- He stopped groping Rainbow with his eyes and looked at the Stallion in front of him,- loser doing with her?" He snarled at Star who scooched back a tad at the display. With his eye's firmly locked on the one responsible for all of this, Hot Shot stood where he was and cleared his throat. Everypony in the store was giving him their undivided attention. "Good. They at least know who's in charge of this situation." He thought as a smug grin spread across his face.

"Now good Sir." He began setting his gaze back to the Unicorn in front of him. "I do hope that you have a good explanation for the current state my friends and me?" Hot shot said as he wrapped a hoof around the stallion's shoulder's and all but dragged him over to his table. Star was not all too pleased with the Stallion's rough treatment but he didn't try to stop him from dragging him over to his friend's.

"Ah, yes I would like to apologize for my exuberant outburst a little while ago." He said rubbing his head in embarrassment, laughing nervously. Rainbow got from her chair and stood next to the table. Star could feel her emotion's. She didn't trust these guys. Sure they wore the Wonderbolt Uniform but she got the feeling that they were just wrong. Star looked her way and she threw him a nod. He returned it.

"These guys don't sit well with Dash. Better watch my step." Hot Shot took notice of Dash getting from her seat, but after that, his attention was back to Star. He sat down and just as he was about to start talking Pinkie showed up with a stack of towel's balanced on her back.

"Don't you worry one little bit Star. I'll have this cleaned up before you can say Triple Banan Split with Fudge and Peanut's!" She said in that excited tone of her's. In the blink of an eye, and a flurry of motion Pinkie had cleaned up the entire mess, the ponies included. Hot Shot and his group just sat there.

"What. Just. Happened?" He said looking dumbfounded. Star and Rainbow just laughed.

"That's good old Pinkie Pie for you." Rainbow piped up. She was still cautious around these guy's and Star could feel it. "These guys don't like me very much. Understandable." So he did what his gut told him to do he ran with it. Throwing on a smile, he rose from his seat and made it a point to look at the clock on the wall. He gave Dash a nod.

"Well, guys as fun as it's been I really must be going." He said as stretched out his back. Hot Shot was just about to leap from his chair. "Now hold on here-" He was silenced as Star threw up a hoof.

"Don't worry. I'll pay for the drinks and your meal's as well. Wouldn't want you to think poorly of or quaint little town here." He said as he fished through his saddle bags.

"Ah ha here we go." He said as he found what he was looking for. He turned around and walked to the front counter.

"Hey, Pinky will this be enough to cover the damage's?" He asked tossing her the Bit Bag. She caught it mid flight and weighed it in her hoove's.

"Yup! This 'll be just fine." She said as she tucked the bag away in her mane and continued to take a pony's order. Star just chuckled. Then he looked over to Hot Shot and co.

"See you guys later!" Just as he was about to open the door for Rainbow he was pulled over to the counter by Pinkie Pie.

"Psst. Here you go!" She said a loud whisper that every pony could hear. Star and Dash chuckled. They both took an envelope from Pinkie and exited the shop. Hot Shot just stood there.

"The hell just happened?" He muttered to himself. One of the other reservists stood up.

"Hey, Hot Shot you ok there?" He asked. Hot Shot turned around and gave him a nod.

"Yeah. Fine." He said as he looked over to the door.

"Just who was that Mare?"

12:00 P.M.
Twilight Sparkle was tired.

"Oh, Spike please tell me we don't have any other pony's to go and visit." She begged as she dragged her hoove's along the ground. Spike checked the list he was given once more.

"Nope. The last pony was Fluttershy. She has the music all covered so we're good to go." He said as he crawled atop her head and used as a lookout tower. Twilight gave him a slight scowl but it dissolved into a smirk as she saw how happy he looked.

"That's good. At least now we can head back to the library and get in some research before the start of the celebration." She said as her mind began to race. "I only hope we can find a solution." She said as she laid eye's on her temporary home.

"The Golden Oak's Library." Spike read off as they got closer. Twilight's eye's lit up.

"Oh thank you, Princess Celestia!" She said as she shot over to the door, nearly throwing spike off.

Star And Dash continued to trot and talk. Eventually, they both stopped as they heard the Clock-Tower chime 12 time's signaling that is was noon. The two turned and gave each other a small smile.

"It was good seeing you again Star," Dash said as she hovered a foot off the ground. He nodded.

"Likewise Dash. See you later at the Party?" He asked. She smiled. "Sure will. Wouldn't miss it for the world." The two shared a hoof bump and went their separate ways.

6:00 P.M.

Rainbow cleaved through the air as she made her way over the Golden Oak's Library.

"Can't wait to get me some grub." As she touched down she noticed the light's were out.

"Must be here a little early." So she did something she hated to do. She began to wait. Luckily she didn't have to wait long, however. As she sat there thinking of a new trick she heard somepony humming. She looked around and a smile came to her face.

"Hey there Fluttershy !" She said as she trotted up to the buttercream Pegasus. Fluttershy looked around for a bit and as her eye's settled on Dash a smile crept over her muzzle as well.

"Oh hello there Dash. Were you invited to the party too?" She asked. Dash just shrugged. "Psh, Of course. It would.t be a proper 'Welcome To Ponyville' without the most awesome pony in Ponyville!" She said as she flew into the air, hoof pumping as she did so.

"Careful there Dash. Wouldn't want your head to pop from all that ego." Came a voice from behind Fluttershy. Both mare's turned to see that Shooting Star was making his way over to them. Dash lit up.

"Hey, there Shooter." She gave him a smug grin. "Still jealous of my awesomeness?" She struck a pose in mid air. Star just snickered.

"Oh, what ever shall I do for I shall never be as cool as you." He said as he exaggeratedly fell to the ground. The group all shared a laugh. Then Fluttershy went over to help Star off the ground. His face lit up with a grin.

"Flutters!" He said as she embraced him in a hug which he reciprocated. "How have you been?" He asked as they were joined by Rainbow on the ground. The three friend's sat underneath a nearby branch of the Library and talked. Soon they were all caught up. Star beamed.

"I'm really glad for you Flutters." He said grinning. Fluttershy just blushed and looked to the ground, a small smile adorning her face.

"Oh T-t-thank you Star," she said as she raised her head. Soon More and more ponies began to show up for Pinkys surprise party. Eventually, Pinkie herself showed up to get thing's started.

"Alright everyponie as soon as I can get the back door open we can start setting everything up." She said as she went around to the back of the library.

Soon all of the ponies were inside and the party equipment was set up. The only thing left was to go and grab the guest of honor. Pinkie had a special plan in mind for her. Soon she began to giggle. Said giggle then turned into a chuckle. Then it became a laugh. It soon escalated into maniacal glee as she roared to the heavens. Everyponie present backed away from the mare in question.

6:30 P.M. Twilight was having a nightmare. As she tossed and turned her eye's snapped open and her body jolted up.

"Ahhhhh!" She screamed as she clung to her pillow. Her breathing was fast and ragged. Soon she calmed herself down using her old foal sitters advice. She brought a hoof to her chest, breathing in. Then she let the limb drop, breathing out. She did this a few more time's eventually calming down enough to think clearly.

"Uh, I need a glass of water." She said, untangling herself from her blanket. She got to her hooves, stretched and let out a groan of satisfaction as her various part's of her body popped and crunched.

"Ahh." She sighed as she was now more awake. "Ok. Just have to go downstair's and find the kitchen." Twilight's horn lit up, a faint purple aura, not enough to illuminate the whole building but just enough for her her to see her way down to the kitchen on the first floor. As she passed through the archway to said kitchen she swore she heard a soft rustling noise. She spun around on the spot her horn glowing just a bit brighter as to illuminate more of her surroundings.

"Hello?" She called out, panic etched into her voice. She frantically looked around for any sign of intrusion. Finding none she carefully scooted back into the kitchen. Twilight grabbed a spare glass from the cabinet and quickly went to the sink.

"Maybe it's just residual audio effects from the nightmare." She reasoned. "Not as awake as I thought." Finished with her water Twilight set her cup in the sink and made her way to the stairs. Halfway through her library however she stopped.

"psst! Is everything ready?"

"Yeah! We're good to go!"

Twilight froze. Her horn flared to life blazing through out the treehouse.

"Who's ---" Her speech was cut off by a blinding flash of light and then a deafening Boom! filled the Tree, cutting off all hope of hearing just what and who was assaulting her. Twilight cast a shield up out of reflex. Her senses came back to her a little while later and she lowered her shield to survey the damage. As she opened her eyes they were met by over 2 dozen more with smile's to match. All at once they shouted,

"SURPRISE!" This left the mare baffled. "What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On. Here?" Twilight stood stock still taking in just what was happening to her. As her brain finally caught on it was bombarded by a wave of pink. Not realizing she had been charging a spell she fired it off instinctually at the pink pony, quickly noticing her mistake she tried to warn her.

"Look out!" Pinky just hopped right over the purple bolt and let it whizz out the window behind her. Twilight's jaw dropped. Then pinky began to speak.

"TWILIGHT!! Are you Excited!? I know I am!" Pinky continued to stream word's from her mouth like a waterfall let's water flow. Twilight finally having had enough, of everything, just shook her head and went upstair's muttering to herself.

"Is everypony in this town crazy?" She stomped up to her room, slamming the door behind her. Pinky looked to every other pony.

"Do you think she liked it?" She asked. Star shook his head, a soft smirk on his muzzle. "She didn't know what to feel." He whispered to Dash and Fluttershy. "She flew through so many emotion's I couldn't keep up." Then his face solidified into a mask of sadness.

"We should probably go up and apologize." He said nodding to Pinky. She gave out a soft sigh and lead the way up the stairs. Everypony else got back to partying the night away. The four pony's all nodded in agreement. Slowly they all ascended the stair case to see if they could comfort the poor mare. As they drew close Star's ear's twitched.

"I hope the Princess was right. I hope it really is just an old mare's tale." Twilight huffed she sat down on her bed, staring at the moon. She was jolted out of her introspection by a knock on her door.

"Hey, Twilight are you ok?" Came a familiar voice. Then it clicked. A small frown crossed her feature's. Against her better judgment telling her to pretend to be asleep she answered.

"Yes, Star. I'm..." She paused. "Fine." She said as she walked over to the door and opened it. She stepped back as she saw he wasn't alone. There stood Pinky, Rainbow, and Fluttershy. She nodded to the group. Star could feel her anger dissipate a little.

"Hello everypony." She said in a somewhat shy voice, looking down at the floor. She gave out a deep breath and looked back to the group. They all had a small smile on their face.

"Hey, it's ok," Rainbow said waving it off. "I remember my first Pinky Pie Party. I sent one pony to the hospital." She said chuckling at the memory. Star's eyes went wide. "Wait? what!?" He said giving her a look of shock. Rainbow shrugged it off.

"Don't worry. After his wing's healed he was good as new," she said grinning at his face. Fluttershy meanwhile was regaling Twilight with her first party, albeit in a soft low voice.

"Oh yes my first party was, um loud to say the least," she said as she looked around. As the group continued to talk a small smile began to spread across Twilight's face. "Is this what the Princess meant by make friend's?"

5:00 A.M.

After several hours of Partying, everyponie went back to their home's for the night. Star, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Pinky all bid Twilight a farewell and told her they would see her at the town later. That time was now as Twilight's alarm spell blared out its obnoxious fog horn, startling the poor thing right out of her bed. feeling a little groggy after having joined the party last night she stifled a yawn as she got to her hooves. Afterword's she went over to Spike's basket.

"Hey, Spike?" She said giving him a soft rub. "It's time to wake up!" She said in a soothing motherly tone. The little dragon's eye's fluttered open then closed. "Nuh, one more minute mom." He said still fast asleep. Twilight chuckled and continued to rouse the dragon from his slumber. Eventually, she got Spike up, and the two ate a hasty breakfast. Twilight looked at her clock.

"5:14." She muttered to herself. She went and packed a few thing's into her saddle bag's while Spike ate the rest of his food. When he was done Twilight came into the dining room.

"All set?" She asked. He gave her a nod, then stifled a yawn. "ready to go Twilight." He said giving a half hearted salute, no doubt still a little tired from the early hour. Twilight levitated Spike onto her back and the pair set out from the library to town hall.

5:15, Town Hall.

Star looked at his hoofwatch. "Still have a half hour before the Ceremony begin's." He looked around the town hall. He spotted his two old friends right away. Fluttershy was setting up her bird quire. Rainbow had brought in a cloud to lounge around on. He chuckled shaking his head. "Same old Dash."

He smiled as he looked around once more. Pinky was zipping around making sure all the tables were fully stocked with food. "How does she do that 24/7?" He wondered. He looked around and found a nice spot at the back to sit and wait for the rest of Ponyville to show up. With nothing else to do his mind began to wander. "Wonder what mom and dad are up to?" He knew his parent's lived in Ponyville but he hadn't seen them in quite a while. Hence his visit. Now here he was about to celebrate the biggest festival in the history of Equestria and his parents were nowhere to be found.

"Oh well. Better luck next year." He told himself. "Hey Star!" He heard from up above. He smirked looking up.

"Hey, Dash." He said waving to her. She sat there lounging on her cloud. "Care to join me?" She asked pointing to her cloud. Star looked at her then he looked around the Town Hall. Everyponie was too preoccupied with setting up the place. Star gave Rainbow a wink. "Be right back." He slinked off to a nearby bathroom.

Once he checked to make sure he was alone, an emerald glow enveloped his body. When it subsided where once there stood an amber colored unicorn there now stood an amber colored pegasus. His coloration was the same but with everyponie preoccupied he was certain that no one would notice. Checking to make sure the coast was clear he trotted out the bathroom. No pony was the wiser. Soon he trotted over to Dash's cloud lounge and with some effort, he got himself off the ground.

"Want some help?" Came Dash's voice. He snickered as his pride welled up. "Nope. I got this." She looked over the edge of her cloud and smirked. "Sure you do." She said holding a hoof to her muzzle trying to stifle the fit of giggle's threatening to burst to the surface. Star was struggling to get any higher than ten feet.

"How long has it been since you last flew?" Dash asked as she leapt from her cloud and hovered just a few feet above Star. He grimaced as he tried to flap his wings even harder but he soon found it too exhausting and with a sigh of defeat he landed back on the ground.

"Apparently it's been too long." He said as he looked around. Thankfully no pony was watching. As quick as he could he make his way to the bathroom. Soon he came back out now a unicorn once again. Dash was sitting down on the ground this time a bemused look on her face.

"What's so funny?" Star asked, feeling his cheek's burn in embarrassment. Dash just smirked. "You know what this mean's right?" She asked that dumb grin never fading. Star thought about it. Then his eye's went wide.

"Oh no. Not going to happen." He said waving a hoof at her. "I do not need drill sergeant Dash on my ass." He said causing Dash to burst out in laughter.

"Oh yes, you do Mr." She said giving him a smirk. "From the look's of it you need all the help you can get." She said as she brought her cloud back over to them. Then she grabbed Star underneath his forehooves. "Wow!" He exclaimed at the sudden sensation of weightlessness. He looked up to see Dash was taking him up to her lounging cloud. Soon the two of them were on the cloud, Star shifted the flow of his magic to his hooves allowing him to walk on said cloud, nice and comfy sitting there and chatting away. They were joined by Fluttershy a little while later and the three friends were soon lost in their own little world.

5:30 A.M.

Twilight had gotten to town hall a little while ago. Once there she immediately took up her position as Celebration Organizer and began to coordinate the various pony's jobs. It didn't take long before the whole of Town Hall was done and ready for the Princess of the Sun. Twilight wiped some sweat from her brow and went over to a refreshment table to grab a drink. As she grabbed her cup full of punch she caught a pony out of the corner of her eye. Looking over to said pony she saw Pinky Pie waving her over. Twilight shook her head, chuckling as she made her way over to Pinky. However, she noticed that Pinky wasn't alone. Standing with her striking up a conversation was an orange earth pony and an alabaster coated unicorn.

"Well howdy there Y'all!" Applejack said as Twilight made her way over. Twilight nodded and soon Rarity looked over to Twilight as well.

"It's a pleasure to see you again." She said as she shook Twilight's hoof. "Yes, it is," Twilight responded as she felt a sudden pressure on her head. Looking up she noticed that Spike was now wide awake. And that he was making googly eyes at Rarity. She rolled her eye's. "Easy there, Spike. Remember why were here in the first place." She said as she looked around. Her gaze was drawn to Fluttershy's song bird's who began to play their tune just as she had rehearsed. Then Twilight's gaze was drawn to the stage were Mayor Mare was giving an announcement.

"Dear Filly's and Gentle Colts." She said eliciting a round of applause from the whole of town hall. When the applause died down the mayor continued.

"It is my greatest pleasure to inform you that in just a few short moment's this year's Summer Sun Celebration will officially start!" As she said this crowd roared again. Twilight meanwhile starred at the moon. Soon she gasped.

"What happened to the star's?" She muttered to herself. She looked on as one by one all of the star's in the sky began to vanish. Soon not a single star stood in the sky. With a flash, the moon glowed and then the silhouette of the mare that had adorned it since twilight was a little filly had to vanished.

"Oh no!" She gasped. She began to look around frantically. Up above Star had stopped chatting. He looked down sensing that something was amiss. "Hey Star you in there?" Rainbow's voice shook Star out of his trance.

"Huh, What? Oh yeah. I'm just.." He trailed off, once again looking down to the floor below. He pinpointed the emotions to Twilight.

"What's got her so spooked?" He asked out loud.

"What?" Rainbow asked. He gave her a frown. "Something has Twilight half way scared to death down there." He nodded down. Rainbow peaked out over the cloud. "So." She said giving Star a head tilt.

"She's really scared of something. Think we should go help her?" He asked. Rainbow thought about it for a split second.

"Sure why not." She shrugged her shoulder's. Soon Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Star were back on the ground once more. The trio waded through the sea of ponies until they came upon the distraught looking unicorn. Fluttershy was the first to snap Twilight back to reality.

"Um excuse Twilight but is everything ok?" She asked in her soft shy voice. It did the trick and got Twilight to calm down. She looked over to Fluttershy and gave a soft although fake smile.

"Oh um yes. Everything is just fine." She said more to herself than the group. "I can't get them involved." She thought. She thought her mind was safe from prying ears. She would have been correct if she were not in the presence of one particular pony.

"What can't we get involved in Twilight?" Star thought. He wasn't going to push the issue. He knew better than to snoop and pry where he wasn't wanted. But after her intense spike of fear he was having some doubts at to just what this pony was up to. His thought's on the matter came to a halt as a scream rang out amongst the town hall. Every pony ground to a stop and all eyes were focussed on the now empty stage. At least it would have been empty save for the swirling dark cloud of smoke that gradually began to build and build.

"Ahahahahahahaha!!!!" The laughter cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter. Every pony present shivered with fear as a chill made its way down their spines. Soon a howling wind accompanied the evil laughter and the dark cloud began to condense and contract until it formed the shape of a huge pony like creature. In a bright flash of light, a figure stood before the town hall.

"Oh, how lovely it is to finally be free!" She shouted as it took its first steps in over a millennium. A few pony's up front fainted. A few more scrambled back from the stage as the tall imposing figure strode up to the edge.

"Oh, my beloved subject's." She sneered, causing the whole crowd to flinch back. "It has been so long since I have gazed upon you precious little sun loving face's!" She growled as she leapt from the stage into the air, causing the crowd to recoil and scream in fright. Rainbow wore a scowl upon her face for the whole world to see. she did not like this mare and she had no qualms letting her know.

"What have you done with our Princess!?" She shouted as she reared up to kick the ever living daylights out of the shadow mare. She never got the chance however as she tried to rocket off but was held back by a strong force tugging on her tail. She looked back to see her tail enveloped in a green glow.

"What?" She looked down to see Star's horn ablaze with the same emerald light.

"What give's?" She asked as she was yanked down and sat on the floor. Star spit her tail out and nodded his head.

"Take a good look at that mare Rainbow." She did, and her face fell.

"Wow!" she said as she took in the picture of just who she was about to go beat to a bloody pulp.

"She's an alicorn?" She muttered to herself. Then her face visibly paled. "I could have been torn to shred's." She thought. Then her gaze looked over to Star. He wore a scowl like she had earlier but unlike her, he was keeping quiet.

"What do we do?" She asked getting his attention. He gave her a smile. "I don't know." He said. Then he pointed a hoof over to Twilight. "But she doe's." He said.

"Do none of you know who I am?" The Blue Alicorn screamed in rage. "Did none of head the sign's?" She bellowed. Twilight had had enough.

"I do!" she screamed. Instantly all eyes were on her. She continued now more than ever aware of all the looks she was receiving. She shrank back as Nightmare's gaze drifted to her.

"Oh, someponie who remember's me." She laughed in maniacal glee. Twilight took a breath before she continued.

"Your Nightmare Moon," she said growing silent as the eyes left her and wandered over to Nightmare. She screamed in glee.

"So then you must know why I'm here?" She shouted over the crowd. Twilight's courage faltered.

"You--Your--here-tt-to." Twilight stammered. "Go on. Say It!" Nightmare commanded. Twilight felt a hoof on her shoulder. she looked over to see Rarity, Pinky, and Applejack all giving her look's of comfort. With her new found group support, Twilight steeled herself.

"You are here to bring about nighttime eternal." She finally got it out. The whole Town Hall gasped. Nightmare laughed in demented glee.

"Yes! Remember this day you little ponies. For it will be your last!" She said taking t the air. "For now I have returned and with my ascension, the night shall last forever!" She said as thunder ripped through the town hall and lightning lit up the night sky outside.