Celestia had told Twilight that Nightmare Moon had returned. She did not say for what reason, but Twilight took this as a sign of trouble. But her friends were not close at hoof and she couldn’t spare the time to send them a letter.
Nightmare Moon was upon their doorstep. And with the Elements of Harmony back on the Tree of Harmony, she had no other choice but to use her own magic that she now possessed as an Alicorn.
Lighting her horn, she used a tracing spell and located the mare she was seeking was in Luna’s room.
With Nightmare located, she galloped off to find the dark mare, not even giving Celestia time to explain the situation. She barrelled through the halls, dodging around corners, before remembering that she could teleport.
Lighting her horn again, Twilight blinked out of existence, only to reappear in the night-themed room belonging to the Princess of the Night. At once, the Princess of Friendship found herself face to face with the Mare in the Moon once again.
"Ah, Twilight Sparkle, the famous prized pupil of Celestia who was able to defeat me four years ago. I see you've grown and become an Alicorn princess yourself. Very impressive," Nightmare Moon complemented as she stood in the centre of the room.
"I don't know how you have returned, but I will fight to get the Luna we all know and love back to her good self again," Twilight warned, growling and stomping a hoof.
The black mare before her raised an eyebrow in slight confusion. "Luna? Twilight, she is no longer a part of me. Trying to get rid me won't somehow reveal Luna in front of you again. Your judgement is misplaced."
Twilight shook her head. "I refuse to believe that. I will defeat you whatever it takes."
"Oh Twilight, even though you are fully grown, you have the mindset of a child right now," Nightmare Moon shook her head.
"This coming from the mare who wanted to plunge Equestria and all her neighbouring kingdoms into Eternal Darkness!" Twilight snapped.
Nightmare Moon sighed, shaking her head. "Twilight, you only know half the story. You don't understand what went on a thousand years ago. You may have seen fractions of the past, but you don't know the whole past."
The purple mare snorted. "I know enough. While Celestia was trying to keep the nation together, you were just feeling nothing but jealousy and contempt for your sister. I will not allow you to bring back the night again.”
For the first time since their meeting, a flicker of worry entered Nightmare Moon’s eyes. "Twilight, please, don't force my hoof. You don't know what you are going to cause.” She took a few steps forward. “Please, I'm not back because of my own interests. I am here for the interests of my sisters'… and my daughter's.”
Twilight blinked, taken aback. "Your daughter?” A moment later, her scowl returned. “You can't tell me that Princess Cadence is related to you. Nowhere in the history books does it state that. Nor would it even make sense!"
Nightmare Moon nodded. "You're right, Princess Cadance is not my daughter... but I can tell you who is. She is a very bright mare, one Celestia has kept close for a long time.”
"LIAR!!" Twilight bellowed, not wanting to believe a single word Nightmare Moon said.
Before Nightmare Moon could say another word, she charged the larger mare and had her horn lit too maximum with the forces of her magic.
Nightmare Moon closed her eyes and mumbled."Oh, Twily, you force this on yourself."
As Twilight drew closer, she saw Nightmare Moon's horn light up with her magic, followed by everything being engulfed in a bright flash. When Twilight's vision came to, she gasped. A moment ago, Nightmare Moon had just been a head taller then her, but now...... she was a giant.
Nightmare Moon lowered her head down to Twilight's eye level. "I told you not to force my hoof, sweetie. But, I felt if you were gonna act like such a little foal, might as well have your physical age match, my little one.”
Twilight tilted her head. The words Nightmare Moon spoke sounded..... motherly. Her tone was nowhere near what it had been four years ago. It made no sense.
Nightmare Moon giggled. "You didn't give me any time to explain, dear. I'm your mother... well, one of two... actually three, now that Luna and I are no longer one being. It is a bit confusing to those who were not around a thousand years ago."
Twilight was about to ask something, til she saw Princess Luna glide next to Nightmare Moon. "See, this is why I told you to wait for me while I finished my spat with Prince Blueblood. Don't worry, I gave him a fitting punishment,” the Lunar Princes said casually to the dark mare. She glanced down at Twilight, a small smile coming to her lips as she giggled. “Though I see somepony had a "little" misunderstanding.”
"Indeed,” Nightmare Moon shook her head. “Wouldn't even let me explain the situation. You know she gets that stubbornness from you, sister."
"Hey, you're just as much at fault for that as I am," Luna reminded her.
"I never said I wasn't partially to blame," Nightmare Moon admitted with a sly smirk.
The two had a chuckle, though Twilight was still confused.
"Well, let's get our little Princess back to the throne room,” Luna said as she picked up Twilight by the scruff of her neck and trotted over to Nightmare Moon. “Celestia will want a lot of explaining as well as have a lot of explaining to do. Good thing you remembered to add the padding part to the spell, or we might have an accident in the throne room."
Twilight looked down at her flank area, and saw the padding Princess Luna must have been reffering to wrapped around her as the blue Alicorn gave her to Nightmare Moon, who took her by the scruff of her neck as they made their way to the throne room.
'I thought the ground had felt softer than before', Twilight thought with a frown, crossing her forehooves in what to other would’ve been an adorable sight. Don't know how I didn't see this one coming. I’ve seen Age Spells before. Never thought I’d end up being effected by one myself, though. But how can Luna and Nightmare Moon both be my mom? And she said one of three. What did she mean by that? How can there even be a Nightmare Moon without Luna? I need some answers, and I have a feeling I’ll get them once we get to the throne room."
As she wondered about what was going on, many of the castle staff saw her new from, and many dawwed at how cute she was. Upon realizing this, it made her blush like crazy. Earlier today they looked to her for friendship guidance, but now, it looked like they would be having to keep an eye on her. She didn't even want to ponder how her friends would react once they found out about this.
And what about Shining and Cadence? She wasn't sure how they would be reacting to this?
The trio soon made it to the throne room, where Celestia and another important guest of the Royal family was waiting. They trotted in, and the guards closed and sealed the doors, and soon after a Sound Concealment spell had encased the throne room from unwanted ears, the conversation that was about to commence.