While Twilight and Shining had been in a different dimension, things only got worse in Equestria; the war zone had spread from locally in Ponyville and Canterlot, to neighbouring towns. Equestria was riddled with darkness now; the voidling attacks had doubled over the past week, and Luna had her hooves full dealing with the military front. The Changeling's had also joined forces with the Voidlings.
Luna had to find a game changer, somepony powerful enough to change the tide of battle, and she knew just the alicorn that could help her. However, it was risky, but she had to do something; too much Equine blood had been spilled over the past days
Luna walked down to the dungeon hosting Nightmare Moon. she rounded a bend and saw Nightmare Moon in her iron-clad cell. “Well, Well, Well... if it isn't the royal highness herself; honoring me with her presents. How may I serve your royal hind?” Nightmare Moon stated nonchalantly with a hint of bitterness and sarcasm.
“Well, you can start by showing respect,” Luna replied indignantly before continuing in a milder tone. “I did not come here to insult you or be spiteful. The reason I am here is to request your help, and to offer you a way out of your predicament.” Nightmare Moon was surprised at the request.
“Okay, I'm listening. What are you offering?” Nightmare Moon replied to Luna with a raised eyebrow. “For your help, I'll grant you your freedom, your magic and a pardon for the crimes you committed, and you and your daughters may live as official Equine civilians under Twilight and my protection. But in return, you must serve the military, as a Combat General.” Luna replied with nerves weighing heavily on her heart.
“You dare offer me freedom, protection and the dream of being treated equally by all the ponies in Equestria! The same offer you offered me 2000 years ago! Do you know what you put my daughters through?! You expect me to take the word of a traitor, and a LIAR?! Listen here you little witch, my daughters are fine right now, and you want me to drag them into this mess! How dare you offer such a thing?! Let alone putting me in danger!” Nightmare Moon replied, infuriated by the request.
“I'm sorry for ruining your girls' lives, and I'm sorry for manipulating you… I regret every day I caused them to suffer without their mother. I can't ask forgiveness from you, or from them.” Luna replied beginning to tear from the harm she had done with her jealousy 2000 years ago.
Luna continued. “Honestly, we are losing this fight and if you decide not to help, I fear the entirety of Equestria would be enslaved, and coming from somepony who won't ever have a chance to conceive a foal, this is a major issue... If you were a proper mother, then you would not want any danger to come to your daughters.
Nightmare Moon was once an alicorn like Luna and Celestia many years ago; she was the princess of the Everfree, but when the two sisters came, Nightmare Moon received a request from Luna asking for help to take the throne from Celestia. However, Luna was cunning; she knew that she would have to merge with Nightmare Moon using magic, but the thing she failed to account for was reversing the merge.
Nightmare Moon told Luna about how she had two daughters named Skye Mist and Night Shadow. Luna never said it, but at that young age she didn't care about repercussions, she only cared for what she wanted and desired. no matter who, or what the sacrifice was. Luna manipulated Nightmare Moon so that they would become close friends, eventually gaining Nightmare Moons' trust.
Then, she would get her to fulfill her plan to dethrone Celestia. However, her plan didn’t go as planned, and resulted in the banishment of both Luna, and Nightmare Moon, in effect forcing Nightmare Moon to abandon her foals for over a thousand years.
Nightmare Moon pondered the choices she had, however, she had her back against a wall. If she declined, her and her daughters may be able to survive by going into hiding. But on the other hoof if she helped win the war, then she'd be able to have a relatively normal life in a peaceful land, under the rule of two ponies she despised. Both choices didn't seem appealing, but in the end, she opted to help win the war.
“I will help… But on one condition, you must meet my daughters and admit to them, that you were the reason I left for as long as I did, then you can apologize to them personally, but after that, I want nothing more to do with you. Do we have a deal, Luna?” Luna replied, still in tears, “Yes, I will acknowledge your request; it's long overdue. We have a deal. Guards, release Nightmare Moon.”
The guards replied, “Yes Princess Luna, at once.” As the guards replied, they unlocked the door and stepped back. Luna walked over to Nightmare Moon and said, “Are you ready?” When Luna said this, she heard a voice in her head. “I hope you know what you are doing, Lulu.” Luna recognized the voice and replied, “Yes Celestia, I have faith in Nightmare Moon.”
“There is no time to wait. Hurry.” After Nightmare Moon replied, a midnight blue aura engulfed her, and Nightmare Moon could feel her powers returning, and Luna could feel her magic leaving her, and going to Nightmare Moon.
“Your powers have been returned. Thank you, hopefully, one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me.” Nightmare Moon replied, “I don't know, but if you hurt my daughters in any way, I'll kill you. Let us no longer dally; we must stop this war.” Luna replied, “Let's go, I'll fill you in on the military effort as we walk.” Soon after Luna returned Nightmare Moon's power, Luna and Nightmare left the dungeon to prepare to put an end to the vicious onslaught.
Twilight left Garen's office with Lyra. They were headed to the briefing room to meet the team that would be infiltrating the Void, to rescue their friends in an operation named Operation Shatter; the Crimson Elite would team up with Twilight.
As Twilight and Lyra entered the briefing room, the two saw 4 people standing with their weapons in close proximity to them.
“This is my team,” Lyra stated to Twilight before continuing, “This is Ghost, she is our stealth infiltration expert.” Lyra introduced, gesturing to women who wore a completely black suit; even her eyes were covered underneath a black mask. “Hello.” Ghost replied.
Lyra continued. “This is our explosive expert, Rage. He specializes in explosives, and heavy ordnance.” Lyra gestured to a burly looking man with a black beard, with a single cut across one eye.
“It's great to see ya sexy. Want to play with mah bombs?” Rage said, attempting to seduce Twilight, while he lit up a cigar pretending to act cool.
“He also believes he is irresistible to all women, however, he is just another stray.” Lyra winked at Twilight.
“That's harsh, Ly.” Rage commented, pretending to be hurt.
“This is Doc. He is our medical officer.” Lyra introduced, gesturing to a man wearing a standard military uniform with a weird pair of spectacles.
“Hello, Twilight. It is not every day I meet a princess.” Doc commented humbly,
“This is Lance; he is our intelligence officer.” Lyra introduced, gesturing to a young man wearing glasses. “Salutations your majesty, I would love to know how you can use magic and traverse through different dimensions. Do you have a book on it that I might be able to borrow? I'm a sucker for reading and learning things that are unexplained.” Lance inquired.
“Unfortunately, our marksman is not here. She has been captured by the same people... I mean voidlings that captured your friend. Her name is Twilight; I'm pretty sure she is your doppelgänger. She looks exactly identical to you.” Lyra stated, filled with a burning desire to save her.
They had been good friends since childhood, and they even went to the same boot camp for gifted soldiers. “Yes I do know her Lyra, she is my friend too, and we will save her. We will save them all. Then we will stop this godforsaken war.”Twilight responded.
Twilights comment earned a loud cheer in agreement.