When they got into town, Night Light and Velvet noticed something strange. They noticed that the trees were much bigger around and that the unicorns had actually hollowed them out and turned them into homes. They also noticed that there were several trees that had somehow been transformed into one and that it too was hollowed out. They figured that it was likely the residence of the queen.
Once they got into the center of the town square Twilight ordered, "You need to follow us so that you may meet the queen."
The two had a feeling that as they were meeting with the queen, that Twilight likely wouldn't be in the same mindset. Given what they had picked up just from how she and Moonlight were behaving upon running into them. Once they reached the castle door Shooting Star asked, "Princess Twilight, Moonlight Tulip, who are these ponies?"
Twilight replied, "They are my biological parents."
Velvet noticed two things. She noticed how Twilight referred to them as her biological parents and then they heard the guard refer to her as Princess Twilight. Night Light embraced her and congratulated, "Really sweet pea, you're a princess now?"
Twilight replied, "I am but we really need to get you before the queen, she needs to know you are here."
Velvet was not thrilled over the biological parents comment but figured that it would be best to hold her displeasure over the statement until they were away from the palace. After all, the last thing they needed was for them to yell at their daughter in front of the queen, especially given that she was royalty herself.
As they were led up to the throne of Queen Radiant Hope, the two bowed and in unison said, "Your Majesty."
Radiant gave the two a smile and asked, "Who are you two and why did you come to Unicornia?"
Night Light began, "We are Princess Twilight's parents and we have come to see her. I am Night Light, her father."
Velvet stated, "And I am Twilight Velvet, her mother." Velvet paused before continuing, "She was to meet with us in Dodge Junction a couple days back for Hearth's Warming but when she didn't show up, we had to come here." She then turned to Twilight and continued, "I still don't get it, how could you not remember when Hearth's Warming is?"
Radiant confirmed what Twilight had told them earlier, "Ma'am, time is meaningless here so we don't know what day it is, how long we have been here, our ages and we certainly DO NOT celebrate Equestrian holidays."
Night Light seemed more accepting of the idea but Velvet wasn't, "What? Why don't you celebrate Equestrian holidays and how is it that you don't even know your ages or how long you've been here?"
Radiant replied, "I'm certain that Princess Twilight, her mother......"
Velvet flared her horn up in anger and yelled, "What, mother?"
Twilight grabbed her in her aura and ordered, "Calm down."
Velvet calmed down and Twilight added, "Look, it is something that every young mare who comes here does. It was Moonlight who brought me before the queen, she took me in, we developed a mother/daughter relationship and on my coronation day, I simply viewed her as my mom."
Moonlight added, "And I viewed her as my daughter."
Violet again flared up her horn prompting Radiant to say, "Ma'am, such a temper is not allowed here. You need to calm down if you wish to stay and spend time with your daughter." She then turned to Night Light and added, "Sir, I am glad to see you holding your temper."
Night Light had always been a more laid back pony and could easily understand why this was the case. He replied, "Well it is your customs and if my daughter wishes to have two moms, I see nothing wrong with it." He paused before continuing, "Your Majesty, if I may ask, how is it that you have all lived so long?"
Radiant replied, "I'm not sure if you saw that crystal on the way in but it is what gives us our long life spans. It also gives us our pleasant weather, keeps the leaves on the trees and prevents the trees from dying. Basically, it provides us with the cover we desire."
While Night Light was having a calm discussion with the queen, Velvet and Moonlight were having a less pleasant discussion in front of Twilight. Velvet snapped, "Who are you to steal my daughter away from me? How is it that she sees you as her mother now?" She turned to Twilight and added, "Is that why you referred to us as your biological parents instead of just your parents?"
Moonlight was able to control her temper, "Look, every single mare who has ever come here, save the queen, has gone through this."
Twilight gave Moonlight a smile, "And mom, I hope we can remain as mother and daughter for the rest of our days." She then turned to Velvet and added, "Mom, you have to understand our culture." She pointed to Moonlight and continued, "She has been there for me when I first came here, when I felt vulnerable."
Moonlight figured she needed to tell Velvet more of how it was, "When I along with Sunset Shimmer found her in the forest, she was clearly scared. She was terrified that the tyrant...."
Velvet interrupted, "You mean Princess Cele......"
Twilight flared her horn up in anger and yelled, "Do not say that name here, ever. It is because of her and everything she did to us that we came here."
Moonlight then took back the conversation, "You must understand, the tyrant had chased after her as she was fleeing. Like we have brought up, I took her in, I provided her with the safety and comfort she needed at the time."
Velvet still wasn't overly pleased with the whole situation. She turned to Twilight and said, "We know what happened and why didn't you just come home? We could have protected you from her."
Twilight replied, "Look, she would have barged in, took me away and did unspeakable things to me." She saw that Velvet was about to say something and continued, "Look, there wouldn't have been a single thing you could have done to stop her. I came here for a reason, I knew that the tyrant was scared of this place and whether anypony else lived here or not, it would provide me with the cover and darkness that I would need to be safe from her."
Moonlight added, "Your magic would have been no match against hers, she would have come, she would have taken Twilight away and did who knows what to her....all I know is it wouldn't be good."
Velvet stood there for a moment as all that sank in. She was undoubtedly upset that Twilight would consider Moonlight a second mother but realized why she did. She could see that the two had formed a bond and that it was Moonlight who protected her. She approached Moonlight, embraced her and said, "Thank you Moonlight, thank you for protecting my, I guess I mean our, daughter like that."
Moonlight returned the embrace, "It is alright Velvet. I'm sorry if it seemed like I was acting like I was her only moth...."
Before she could finish her sentence Night Light joined them and said, "Well Queen Radiant is perfectly ok with us staying here to visit Twilight."
Moonlight replied, "That is great because I have a spare room for you two to stay in."
Night Light exclaimed, "That is great, thanks so much for going to let us stay."
Moonlight commented, "Well we don't have motels or anything like that here so it would either be that or you sleep out in the town square."
Twilight added, "Well let's get home and get them settled in and then we can get some supper fixed."
Night Light and Velvet nodded and followed the two to their home. Neither of the two were sure how a hollowed out tree would make for a decent sized home but figured that these ponies had been doing it for long enough that they likely had it down to an art form of sorts.