Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 19 - Party Under the Stars

The time: One month after Photo Finish's visit.

Rarity hums as she's setting up shop, several dresses for sale featured in Photo Finish's latest article.

Rarity: My dress sales have gone up SO high since Photo Finish saw the error of her ways.

Corinne: *enters the shop* A-a-and with those D-D-Diamond Dogs helping out, there's TOOOOOONS of gemstones to use!

Rarity: Really?

The giraffe nods.

Corinne: So, h-h-how else has it been?

Rarity: It's been amazing!  All this publicity has increased my sales higher than I ever thought!  But I'm never gonna leave here, since I want to be around my friends.

Corinne: Aw.

The two nuzzle up, then.....

Corinne: You've b-b-been working on dr-dr-dresses for Nightmare Moon's p-p-party?

Rarity: Indeed.  I just hope no one told Nightmare Moon, this is to be a surprise.

Corinne: She doesn't know.

Rarity: Good.

The giraffe murrs as she heads back out of the boutique.  Rarity hums as she completes the ensembles.

Rarity: Perfect!

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

That night, the royal courtyard was set up for Nightmare Moon's party, Princess Luna looking down at the festivities between scans of the skies for Fryght.  Princess Celestia was overseeing the festivities as Prince Shiftshape flutters in.

P.Celestia: Glad you could make it, Prince Shiftshape.

P.Shiftshape: Glad you could have me, Princess Celestia.

As the two nuzzled up, Nightmare Moon approached the two monarchs.

N.Moon: *laugh* Who set THIS up?

P.Celestia: *laugh* You won't believe it.

N.Moon: ???

Prince Shiftshape points behind Nightmare Moon and the black alicorn looked.  She broke out in a laughing fit when she realized what her friends were wearing.  Although they had their cutie marks on their clothing, there WAS one thing in common: They all looked EXACTLY like Nightmare Moon!

N.Moon: You girls are so funny!

The ponies gathered around Nightmare Moon for a group hug.  Then, the party started.  Princess Morphina flew up to the telescope and relieved Princess Luna so she can join the festivities.

P.Morphina: What am I looking for?

P.Luna: A ghost-white pegasus.

The changeling princess nods as the moon goddess flies down, landing next to her former dark side.  She squeals out in laughter when she notices what Twilight Sparkle and the other ponies were wearing.

T.Sparkle: Hello, Luna.

P.Luna: Hello, Nightmare Sparkle.

Nightmare Moon and Twilight Sparkle laugh at Princess Luna's joke.  Discord purrs as he hears them.

Discord: -Even now, during this time of emerging turmoil, we find a time to celebrate.-

Discord hums as he continues serving up sweets with Pinkie Pie.  Prince Blueblood looks down from his bedroom, notices Nightmare Moon and shakes his head.

P.Blueblood: *scoff*  What kind of friends does the princess have?  Ragamuffins?

????: MUFFINS!

A loud crash, followed by a series of thuds brings the festivities to a standstill.  As the thuds descend, everypony snickers when they realized what just happened.  Prince Blueblood was on his stomach at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes rotating in wild, opposing directions.  On top of him, smiling in a goofy manner, was Derpy Hooves.

D.Hooves: Where's the muffins?

Everypony laughed as Derpy climbed to her hooves, Nightmare Moon tossing a muffin to the mailpony with her magic.

T.Sparkle: Glad you could drop in, Derpy.

D.Hooves: Thanks, Twilight.

N.Moon: You must have super-powerful muffin radar, Derpy.

Derpy Hooves and Nightmare Moon share a laugh.  Rainbow Dash and Pitstop soon take off and put on a mini-airshow.

N.Moon: Pulling out all the stops.

P.Celestia: Of course.  You've gone from being hated to being loved, Discord as well.  The two of you should be proud of yourselves.

Discord: Believe me, we are.

Discord hugs Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon to him, all three laughing.  Virtuna smiles widely as she watches.

Trixie: Those two turned out how you expected?

Virtuna: No. *sniff* *Virtuna smiles at Trixie* They turned out better.

Trixie smiles back, then hugs the little earth pony.  Nightmare Moon heads up to and lays down near her two newest friends.

N.Moon: You know, Virtuna, I actually have *hugs Virtuna to her* YOU to thank for all I am now.

Virtuna: Really?

N.Moon: If not for you helping me get over my apprehensions, I wouldn't have grown to be the mare I am now.  And the proof is all this.  All these ponies here celebrating my birthday.  Before I met you, everypony would've feared me, hated me and wanted me gone, but now, I'm loved almost as much as Princess Celestia.

Virtuna: Aw.

The two hug up, smiling.

Trixie: You know, the Great and Powerful Trixie owes her success in making up with Twilight Sparkle to you.  If I had not ran into you, I never would have had the chance to just... talk.

N.Moon: Even if I kinda tricked you a bit?

Trixie: Trixie is grateful that you brought Twilight Sparkle to Trixie.  There are some teachers in the school who say that Trixie has as much skill as Twilight Sparkle.  Trixie would've never learned that if not for you.

N.Moon: *smile* Glad I could help you, Trixie.

Nightmare Moon gasped as Corinne hugged her from behind.

Corinne: Y-y-you really helped m-m-me as well.  *She gets off Nightmare Moon and lays by her*  I'd've never kn-kn-known that all these p-p-ponies were so nice if n-n-not for you introducing me to them.

N.Moon: *chuckle* Glad I could help.

Corinne murrs as she nuzzles Nightmare Moon.

N.Moon: You girls are the best friends ever!

T.Sparkle: Well, I could've told ya that!

Twilight Sparkle and Nightmare Moon laugh, hugging up.  Princess Celestia smiles as she sees her former enemy and her star pupil bond tighter than she ever thought they could.  Meanwhile, Princess Morphina had called two guards up to act as messengers and extra eyes on the skies when she sees what looks like a white mass splitting the night sky.  Barreling out was a streak of white, a loud wailing heralding the arrival of Fryght.

P.Morphina: Notify the princess.

The two guards nod and fly down to tell Princess Celestia.

TO BE CONTINUED