The doors of the throne room burst open. "Princess Celestia!" a pink alicorn yelled franticly, "It's getting worse, I don't think we have much more time."
Shock and fear fell over Celestia's face." Buy as much time as you can, I will not lose her again. I will send for Twilight. We will need her help if things get out of hoof."
Cadence, fully understanding, nodded and left the throne room to return to Luna's room.
“I will have to employ an old method of getting ahold of her. I just hope he’s somewhere close."
With a quill a paper Celestia starts to wright:
My dearest Twilight,
It is of the upmost importance that you get to Canterlot at once....
**********Back in pony Ville**********
"Twilight!? Twilight?!" Spike was looking and yelling franticly through the castle halls looking for Twilight. Where else would she be but the library.
"Spike!?" Twilight asked. It has been many years since they lived together. Years ago Spike out grew his childish love affair with Rarity and moved on to others more his speed and age. For some time he tried dating other dragons, but soon realized he was more pony than dragon, at least on the inside. After several hit and miss dates with fillies in Pony Ville the one that stole his heart was Sweetie Bell, the sister of his childhood love. It took time for every pony to realize this was not just a young fling. It was even more shocking when Sweetie Bell got pregnant. No pony could believe it was even possible, it had never been done before. But there she was, Gem Song, a lavender coted pony/dragon hybrid. If not for her scaly mane and tale and her hooves having claws on them, she looked to be an ordinary earth pony.
It took a long time for every pony to except that this unspoken taboo had happened. The adults, excluding Twilight and friends, shunned the couple. Gem dealt with a lot of bullying in school. Although over time most would come to accept her and her parents all the same.
Spike now lived in town with his wife Sweetie Bell and Gem. He had grown over the years, not into a giant rampaging dragon, but into a taller more defined version of himself. He was now at eye height with Twilight. Not to say Twilight had not grown in to her alicorn embodiment with a longer horn, longer legs and a slimed out figure.
"Spike, what are you doing here? Where's Sweetie Bell?"
"She's at home with Scootaloo. Don't worry I'm not going to just leave my 7 month pregnant wife alone.” Scootaloo has been helping a lot. There's not really much for me to do other than take care of Gem and the house."
With her concern subsided she asked "What had you in such a panic to find me?"
"Oh yeah" snapping back as to why he was here in the first place "I got a letter from the Princess." Holding out a scroll. Twilight used her magic to take the letter from him. Twilight had a look of utter confusion. Ever since Spike moved out Celestia always sent a messenger hawk if she needed to get ahold of her.
"What does it say?" Spike had not read it because ironically the letters sent thru him where not often for him.
Twilights face went from confusion to fear to downright panic in a matter of seconds. Leaping to her hoofs Twilight bolted for the door. "I'm sorry Spike but I have to go, I have to get to Canterlot right away."
"What's going on?" Spike keeping up with Twilight as they ran through the halls of the castle. “Is there something wrong with the princesses?”
"The princess said that she needs me in Canterlot immediately. All I know is that it has something to do with Nightmare Moon returning."
"What!? Nightmare Moon?!" Spike stopped in his tracks. "We need to get the elements..... Wait we don't have the elements of harmony anymore. What are we going to do?" panicking Spike thought of the only thing he could. “We need to get everyone together and come up with a plan."
"Spike we can't, the princess said in her letter "(I don't want to cause an unnecessary panic. The situation is under control for now. We would like your help in resolving things in order to prevent the return of Nightmare Moon)."
"I don't know Twilight, I still think we should at least warn every pony."
"All we will succeed in doing is putting everyone in a panic. Besides, Rainbow dash is still in recovery from her training accident, Applejack is prepping for apple bucking season, Pinky Pie is still on her laugh-a-palooza tour with Cheese Sandwich, Rarity is in Las Pegasus for her fashion show, Flutter Shy is 8 months pregnant, and Discord is not going to let her out of his sight.
Heavy in thought Twilight was right Spike thought of how things had changed over the years." hmm, I guess your right well then I'm coming with you."
This caught Twilight off guard. now standing at the door of her castle " sighing, very well but you have to tell Sweetie Bell where we are going and tell her there nothing to worry about. We don't need her worrying herself in to an early labor."
The two shard a laugh then went their separate ways.
"I'll meet you at the train station ASAP."
Spike knew it was not his wife he had to worry about if gem found out he was going to see the princess without her she would be furious.
He knew if Nightmare moon was involved this could be dangerous but he couldn't tell them that. All he need to do is in form his wife and avoid his daughter. Easy right?
*****45 mins later at the train station*****
"Where is he?" the purple alicorn was talking to herself, drawing in attention from by stander.
"The Train to Canterlot will be leaving in 10 min's". The anointments was well received by every pony within ear shot. Twilight wanted to wait for Spike. But she had to be on this train.
"TWILIGHT! TWILIGHT I'm Here" Spike came running around the corner with hast.
"Spike, Thank Celestia you made it, now let’s get going." Twilight turned to get on the train when spike stopped her.
Spike looking guilty. Like he just had gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar tried to speak. "All ready to go Twilight," the dragon bit his lower lip. "Only one small problem".
Twilight stopped in her steps, "Problem? What kind of problem?"
The shamed dragon turned his head as not to look Twilight in the eye. “Well I Told Sweetie bell I was going to see the princess and that nothing was wrong so......"
"Grandma Twilight!"
Catching Twilight off guard a lavender Drakony jumped to lock her hooves in an embrace only a child could muster.
No one actually knew why gem called Twilight Grandma. Spike never referred to her as him mother and as far as any pony knew no one had told her otherwise. Secretly Twilight Loved it.
"Spike Why is Gem Here" Trying not to sound like she did not want to see her Granddaughter but still sound concerned at the same time.
"Well I told Sweetie Bell There was nothing to worry about and gem wants to meet the princesses so here we are" Spike said still not making eye contact.
"It's ok Grandma Twilight I will behave really well, I promise."
Thinking to herself, she did not actually know if there was any danger to avoid and she just like Spike could not say no to that sweet little smile. In a sigh of defeat Twilight Gave in. "Very well but you have to do exactly as we say no fussing. Deal?"
The little filly got up on her hunches "Cross My Heart Hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye".
Knowing the filly would likely still be a filly twilight and Spike looked at each other with a look that said ("Yeah right....We are going to have to keep an eye on her").
"The train To Canterlot Is now leaving all adored"
Twilight looked at the conductor giving him a nod then back at Spike and Gem. "Well that’s us let’s get going."
"Yeah train ride, I Love trains daddy.”
"This is going to be a long trip." Spike already looking tired
One energetic little filly and a long train ride later Twilight, Spike and Gem arrived in Canterlot. Now it’s was time to make their way to the castle and the princesses.
"Twilight!" an orange Pegasus was making his way to the small group.
"Flash!" Twilight took off fly off to meet him midair. Hovering in the air embracing each other and make out in an unfiltered expression of P.D.A. Since Twilight and flash got marred flash rotates in his guard duties from home in Pony Ville and Canterlot as the current captain of the royal guard.
Twilight and Flash broke away from there embrace looking into each other. Then Twilight remembered they were not alone looking down at Spike and Gem. Embarrassed twilight and flash hovered down to the ground.
"Grandpa Flash"
"Gem, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see the princess"
Flash took a second to look at Twilight in a moment of confusion. "Princess?"
"Ah yeah princess Celestia sent a message that she wanted to see me."
"Yes, I know that's why I am here when I heard you were coming I wanted to see you in fallow me."
Making their way to the castle Twilight had to ask.
"Flash do you know what's going on what's wrong with Luna ....." flash put his hoof over Twilights mouth.
"I am sorry but not here the princesses will explain."
Making their way thru the castle they were not heading to the throne room as Twilight had thought. They made their way to a room in the Sothern tower with a moon crest on the door.
Stopping at the door flash spoke. "Twilight, Spike please make your way inside the princesses will be waiting for you.” Flash looked at Spike trying to converse with his eye's (you do not want her in there). Hoping Spike got the message. Flash looked to Gem. "Gem how about you and I go see if we can find some ice cream I'll bet I can even find some rubies to go with It.?"
Gem did not look as if she was even the slightest bit interested in ice cream. "But I wanted to meet the princess." She said
There it was again flash had caught what none of the others had. Gem was a smart girl she knew including Twilight there was 3 other princesses But She crept saying princess as in one in particular but maybe it was just a slip of the tongue.
"Now Gem me and Twilight have work to do I told you that at home." Spike had to put on daddy mode as to sway any arguments from the little filly.
Sigh.......”ok daddy" Looking at Flash now. "I want a lot of rubies and sapphires too."
"Ha ok I'll see what I can find for you, let’s see if we can find some of your dads old secret stashes"
With those two on their way to find treats for Gem, Twilight and Spike made their way in to the room before them. What they saw upon entering was concerning, confusing and scary to say the least. Celestia and Cadence standing over a passed out Luna on her bed. As they entered the room and approached the 3 at the bed. Twilight and Spike took notice of Luna. When they got in the room Spike closed to door behind them prompting the others to take notice to their presence.
Celestia and Cadence noticed them and Cadence made her way to twilight. "Twilight thank you for coming.
"It’s nice to see you, But Cadence why are you here and where's Shining Armor?”
"Shining Armor is still in the crystal empire there been some problems as to who my father might be, But that's for another time. Right now I need you and Spike to prepare your selves for this."
“For what?"
"Well......"
"Cadence she’s wakening up." Celestia spoke with a mix of concern and hope in her voice.
Cadence did not react immediate, instead looking back at Twilight and Spike. "Don't freak out everything is under control........Kind of"
Her words did not reassure them. But they chose not to question it and made their way to the end of Luna's Bed.
Luna was sitting upright in her bed at this point she still looked like the same old Luna. Then as anyone would do, she yawned revealing half of her teeth sharp, one eye slit as a predator focusing in on its prey.
Twilight and Spike Panicking at first "Nightmare Moon!" Twilight taking notice of the look of sadness on Luna's face at their reaction and taking note that no one else was freaking out. Looking to Celestia for an explanation. "What's going on? Why is Luna Turning Back into Nightmare Moon after all these years?"
Spike still in freaking out making it hard for Twilight to Concentrate. "Ahhhhhh!!!!!! We have to get out of here, we have to warn everyone, what do we do? We don't have the elements of harmony and .......omg Gem! Gem is in the castle we have to get back to Pony Ville and panic there not here panic at home yes...."
"SPIKE!!!"Twilight got his attention now
Spike only now noticed he was floating dew to Twilights Magic grasping him.
"Let’s hear out the princesses before we decide to panic." Spike looked around to see no one else was panicking. Looking a little embarrassed he calmed down. With Spike calm Now She put him down looking back at Celestia “Please continue princess."
"Thank you Twilight, So as you may or may not know Luna and I Recently returned from an extended trip to Saddle Arabia. We were called to help with a monster causing nightmares to come to life and with Luna's abilities to filter nightmares out of dreams we had a lot of work cut out for us. 3 weeks in is when things started to get bad we had yet to find the monster and Luna was getting over whelmed with the demand but oddly enough she was getting better at it. She was getting stronger at first I thought this was great. Then I saw the first sign of Nightmare Moon. She started to like the fear she took from the pony's so much so she started to cause some just to take it. After we dealt with the monster. We returned to Canterlot but Luna had locked herself in this room, because well…... I'll let her explain the rest. Luna are you up to explain why you wanted them to come?"
"WHAT!" Twilight and spike yelled in unison
"But princess I thought you sent for us." Twilight said not understanding the situation anymore.
"I did twilight but only because Luna insisted on it. She said to send for you if she showed no sign of getting better. She said only you may be able to save her from herself."
"We are sorry to mislead you Twilight sparkle." Luna spoke with a raspy echoed voice. She was obviously fighting to stay in control. "Let us explain why we needed you. When we take away the fear and nightmares from the pony of Equestria. We do not simply get rid of them we take them into our self. It makes us strong, as long as they can be controlled. But there is our artifact that helps when we have too much power it turns the raw emotions in to what you know as Star Dust."
Twilight was somewhat lost trying to take everything in at once. "So you need this artifact to stop Nightmare moon from returning?
"Yes it is the only thing outside of this room that can help"
"There's still something's I don't understand one Why didn't you send Celestia or one of the royal guard or even just go get it yourself?"
"We do not trust in our self to make the journey and stay in control. This room is actually a prison of our own designee, as long as our power remains evil we will be put to sleep in an endless nightmare so as not to cause harm to any pony else, like last time. As too why we did not ask our sister or sent our royal guard.” Luna looked as though she was trying to pick her words carefully. “They would not have been able to reach it.”
"I see and two why haven't anyone asked why Spike and Gem are here?"
Celestia and Cadence looked at each other in a moment of (oh yeah). But Luna sat there and smiled then she spoke softly. "So she was able to make it."
"What!?" Spike spoke out of concern for his daughter involvement in this crisis. "What do you mean she was able to make? You knew she was coming?"
Looking to give the fearful father an explanation that would set his mind at ease she spoke softly. "We have not been completely truthful with you, you see........."
(BANG)....someone was banging at the door. (BANG - BANG). The door flung open and in came a lavender flash bolting past Twilight, Spike, Celestia and Cadence. Tumbling on to the bed only to be stopped by Luna's hoof. When everyone realized it was Gem the first thought was ("This is bad, She's going to cry and scream in fear") But what they heard next was so unexpected it took them all a moment to processes.
"Hahahaha.......Princess Luna I Made it See I told you I would get my daddy to bring me along"
"You did indeed young one but we think everyone else here is confused and we believe your father is still afraid of us."
Gem looked back at her dad who was standing in shock with his mouth hung open. "Daddy you’re not being mean to Luna are you?"
"Me?...Her, but She's......Gem what's going on please explain."
"Princess Luna asked me to come along to help her. She said I was the only one she could ask for help and she's my best friend."
That line caught everyone off guard spike had to ask. "How do you even know the princess?"
“This is where we cut in you see Spike.” Luna said, “When Gem was dealing with the bullying at school she got a lot of nightmares about it. We helped her get thru them and have been talking every night since. But this is not why we asked her to come. We need her to..."before she could finish talking Luna collapsed into her bed barley keeping conscious. "We do not have long, Go to appaloosa look for anyone named Moonshard. They are the only ones who will be able to get you to our Moonstone. Find one of them tell them what is going on." Slipping in and out of consciousness Luna was trying her best to finish talking before passing out. "You must take Gem with you they will not help you without her. My children can be so stubborn. One last thing you must tell them this first to get where you need to go ("there is a fallen star here looking for a home"). Only then will they know we sent you personally." With Those last words Luna passes out."
"Don't worry don't worry princess we will get the Moonstone I promise. Right daddy?" Gem looked at her dad for an answer.
"Well I guess there’s only one thing left to do"
"What's that daddy?"
"No one tells Sweetie Bell"
"haha, ok daddy"
Calestia standing at Luna's bedside. Twilight makes her way to talk. “Princess Calestia do you happen to know why Princess Luna said Her Children?”
"No, but I think you will soon find out. This time it is not Equestria in danger this a request from me to you twilight. Please do what you have to get this Moonstone and get back. If it is the artifact I think it is only she can use it. So u have to get back before she sleeps forever.
"We Will princess."