Twilight ran through a formless void of dark purple, but it didn't bother her at all. Something else did, though. Something was chasing her, and she just wanted refuge. A golden light appeared, revealing a desk with a stack of books. The sight brought a smile to her lips, and she ran towards it.
“Oh, where do you think you're going, Sparkle?” said a familiar voice. She stopped and looked around. “Those books can't help you now.” The desk disappeared, and a dark figure took its place. A figure with dragon-like eyes in lavender colors. The figure extended a wing out, and Twilight saw a bit on it's edge. The figure started flipping the coin, the noise of it's spin unusually loud. “It's time, Sparkle. It's time to take back what is mine and end your farce of a life.”
Twilight woke up with a start. She sat up in her bed and checked the clock. It was 4 am.
'Seriously, Sparkle, what the buck? Is that how you feel about me?'
'Sorry, Star, but you scare me. I...I just don't know what to do about this.'
She sighed before answering Sparkle, 'I don't know, either. Nothing is as either of us imagine. Get some rest, Sparkle. No doubt, you will be in control again soon enough. I will be out thinking.'
'Doesn't our body need rest?'
'Not as much as mortal ponies, Sparkle. Hence your late night study sessions. If a mortal pony tried to do what you've been doing, they'd be dead on their hooves the next day. But we do need mental rest, which is what I suggest to you.'
'How do you know this?'
'Simple. I had tutoring before everything went to Tartarus. You don't know this, because you were an implant designed not to remember those days.' She felt the hurt Sparkle had at that. She sighed again. 'Sorry, Sparkle, I could have worded that better. Please, just get some rest, okay?' She felt Sparkle give a mental nod, and she felt Sparkle fall asleep again. While it was still dark out, she needed some fresh air, so she quietly got out of bed and, silently as possible, passed Spike. Thankfully, she didn't wake him up, and she smiled at the sleeping dragon. If only she had the peace of mind he did.
Leaving the library, she walked around, heading for a park. Glancing at the sky above, she saw her mother's night and her stars out. Celestia may control them now, but like her mom, she was determined to regain her birthright. Finding a picnic table, Twilight sat on the bench and wondered about the future. Her future, Sparkle's future, her mom's future, her adoptive family's future, and her friends'. She looked down and sighed.
“Twilight?” She sprang up and looked to the voice, and it was none other then Fluttershy. The butter pegasus eeped and cowered a bit when she noticed it wasn't Twilight Sparkle in control. That hurt Twilight Star.
“Please, please, Fluttershy. Don't be afraid of me.” Twilight looked down at the table. “I don't want any of you girls afraid of me; you're my friends.”
“You consider us friends? Even after we attacked your mom?”
“Of course, I do. Mom wasn't right in the head the other day. You try living on the moon for a thousand years alone, and you'd be a bit unstable, too. Before Sparkle was around and my mom was sent away, I had no real friends. I had kind guards that doted on me like a niece. And Sparkle never sought out any friends; studying and pleasing Celestia was all that mattered to her. She had the potential for friends in Canterlot, but she ignored them.” After a pause, she continued, “We really should contact them again. Anyway, you and the other girls got past all of that to be our friends. I need you and Mom for some stability in this world.” She raised her head up and a question formed. “By the way, what are you doing out, Fluttershy? It is an odd time for most ponies.”
“Oh, I sometimes make sure my nocturnal animal friends get to bed nice and safe and comfy. What about you, Twilight?”
“Have a lot on my mind right now. How to deal with my family issue. How will Velvet, Nightlight, and Shiny react to the truth? I'm scared. I fear how they will react to us. Would they reject us? I fear the answer.” She felt a sudden warmth, turning to find Fluttershy hugging her. She felt tension leave her and leaned into the hug. “Thank you, Fluttershy.”
“Anytime, Twilight. As I said before, everypony needs a little kindness.” Fluttershy broke off the hug and looked over at Twilight with curiosity. “So similar yet so different. How do you feel about the other you?”
“Sparkle?” Fluttershy nodded, and Twilight thought on it for a bit. “It's confusing, Fluttershy. She is as much a victim as I am, but she represents something I hate. I will have to deal with her and she with me, as we share this body.”
“Well, in a way, she is your sister. Just give her a chance; she's a nice pony. Also, do you see better in the dark with those eyes?”
A smile graced her lips before she answered, “Yes, I do. It doesn't make sense to have the alicorn of the stars unable to see well at night.”
“Makes sense. I can't wait what the two of you will make in the night sky.”
“Thank you, Fluttershy. That means a lot.” She look up and saw the sky getting lighter. “You better get some sleep, Fluttershy. I'm going to try to get some; I want to find out my foster parents stand on all of this.”
“Well, good luck to both of you. Oh, and your mom.”
Twilight waved to her friend and headed back to the library to get some rest.
* * * * *
Twilight Sparkle woke up with the sun glaring down her. She yawned and stretched, feeling good to be in control again. She was starting to get what Twilight Star was talking about. A glance at the clock said it was ten o'clock in the morning. She walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. There, she saw Luna at the table, while Spike was making lunch. Spike glanced her way and commented, “'Bout time you woke up. What is it with you two? At least I have the excuse of being a baby dragon.”
“We're night alicorns, Spike. Night is our element, and we are the most at home in it, just as our sister is more at home in the day,” Luna answered, and Twilight couldn't deny the logic in that. She always felt better in the night than in the day. Luna looked at her with some concern. “You seem to have something on your mind, my daughter. Would care to share it with us?”
“Well, I did have a nightmare last night--” she started, but Luna interrupted her.
“I am sorry, my daughter. I am still regaining strength after being hit by the Elements, and I can't watch over my domain of dreams.”
“You can watch over dreams?” she asked.
Luna nodded. “I am the Alicorn of the Night.” Luna put a hoof to her chin and looked up thoughtfully. “Though, since you are the Alicorn of the Stars, I don't think I can use that title anymore. But I'm straying from the subject. As night alicorns, we have a domain over dreams, to bring ends to nightmares and help our ponies.” Luna paused, and a sad look came to her face. “That is, if they let us help them instead of cowering in fear of us.” Twilight felt for her birth mother and put a hoof on Luna's shoulder.
“It's okay, Luna. We both are recovering in different things, but some good came out of this. Star let me sleep as she thought on things, and when I awoke, and she allowed me to view her thoughts, and I have to agree. I need to see my parents...well, adopted parents. I need to know where I stand with them.”
“An excellent idea, my daughter. A pony should always know where they stand with their family. We shall send for a chariot from our sister and get there post haste.”
“Um, I rather not involve Celestia at this point.”
Luna looked at her confused. “But, how would we get there? It is much too long and difficult for a walk. Even a carriage would take a day to reach there, and we have yet to see a carriage business here.”
“We take the train.” She saw Luna tilt her head in a way that was absolutely adorable.
“What is a train?” Luna asked, and Twilight had to smirk
“I'll show you, Luna. But let's get some cloaks. I rather hold off of my true heritage for a bit.”
“A wise choice, my daughter.” Luna's horn glowed, and soon, a pair of cloaks appeared. Luna gave one to Twilight, who looked surprised. “What? Just because we are not at full strength yet does not mean we are helpless. Creating a cloak is a simple spell. We should teach it to you sometime.”
Twilight smiled back. “I'll take you up on that.” Turning to Spike, she said, “Spike, please watch over the library while we're gone.”
“AAWWW! Why can't I come?”
“We need somepony to mind the library. We will only be gone a couple days, at most.” That didn't seem to placate the dragon. “I'll get you some gems while we're there.” Now, he lit up.
“Deal!” Both mares chuckled, and donning their cloaks, as well as a saddle bag for Twilight, they left.
The two alicorns were halfway to the train station when they ran into Rainbow Dash.
Literally.
“Twilight, are you alright?” Luna said worriedly. Twilight groaned from under the cyan mare.
“Oops, sorry, Twi,” Rainbow chuckled before getting up and helping her up. “Nice to see you out finally. We were getting concerned.”
“I'm fine, Luna. Not the first time Rainbow ran into me.” That got a snicker from the pegasus. Eyeing said pegasus, she told Rainbow her plan.
“You're coming back, right?” Rainbow asked with a hint of concern.
“Of course, I am. I just need to let my family know what's what. They deserve to know it.” Twilight looked down. “I won't feel comfortable in Canterlot for some time with the history there.”
“Okay, Twi. Just remember that I'm giving you flying lessons. Those wings of yours aren't meant for show, and I definitely want a new flying buddy.”
“I promise, Rainbow, we will get some flying lessons in. This is all still a lot for me to get used to,” she said in surrender, “Rainbow, could you tell our friends where we're going?”
“Heh, sure,” the pegasus said with a shrug. She took back to the air, allowing Twilight and Luna to continue towards the train station.
When they arrived at the station, Luna's eyes bugged out.
“Daughter, what is this?”
Twilight had to giggle at Luna's reaction. “This is a train, Luna. We found a way to power things with steam, and this was invented as a result. It can pull carts of ponies or cargo great distances and in better time than the ships or carts you are likely used to. This will get us to Canterlot in a matter of hours.” Twilight stepped up to the teller and put down ten bits. “Two tickets for Canterlot, please.” The teller took the bits and hoofed out a pair of tickets.
“Here you go, ma'am. Enjoy the ride.” Twilight nodded, guided Luna into one of the cars, and directed her birth mother to a bench. Luna had such a look of curiosity on her face as Twilight directed her to a seat.
“We have never thought such a thing could exist. An extended carriage. We thought it impractical, yet here it is. 'Tis a wonder.”
“Luna, why do you refer to yourself in plural form. It makes sense for me and Star, but are you Luna and Nightmare Moon?”
“Nay, Nightmare Moon is not another personality but a mindset. We use the royal 'we' and address our subjects in the Royal Canterlot Voice because tradition demands it.”
"It doesn't anymore, Luna. I never heard Celestia use them once. She barely raises her voice and always refers to herself as 'I'. I believe the tradition fell out of favor not long after what happened to you...us.”
“Daughter, you and I cannot change the past. We can only learn from it. Now we...I have been out of touch for a thousand years. It would please me if you taught me how the world has changed.”
Twilight smiled at that. “Well, I didn't bring much but I will teach you what I know.”
* * * * *
Near the end of their journey, Twilight was oblivious to her mother, as she was in pure lecture mode. Luna's eyes were spinning around as she was overwhelmed with the information.
'SPARKLE, STOP! PLEASE STOP!' she heard Star yell in her head. It got her to stop her lecture. 'Look at Mother. That was too much at once. Hay, it was too much for me and we are joined together.' Twilight looked at Luna, whose eyes were still spinning. She blushed at her mistake.
“Sorry, Luna, I sort of get into lecture mode at times.”
Luna shook her head, and her eyes returned to normal. “It's okay, my Little Star. It seems you inherited Celestia's mentor mindset.” Twilight's mood dropped when she heard that. She didn't want anything to do with Celestia, and Star agreed fully with that sentiment. She then felt a hoof under her chin, her head was lifted up, and she looked Luna in the eyes, eyes filled with love and care. “We have issues with our...my sister, but that does not mean that all her lessons were bad. We had ruled for several centuries before everything went to Tartarus. Now the train, as you called it, has stopped and I want to see these ponies that added you to their family.” Twilight nodded, and the two departed the train.
Twilight lead Luna down a familiar path. While Luna looked curiously over the city, Twilight was buried in the past. The bookstores and Donut Joe's brought smiles to her lips. However when she approached the Armor Manor, she felt fear. As far as she and her family knew, she was their daughter, and Twilight Velvet gave birth to her. They lived a good life and were happy. But how would they feel when they learn all of that was a lie. She feared rejection so bad. Luna seemed to sense her unease and nuzzled her, and Twilight even felt support from Star. With this reassurance, she walked up to the door and knocked. It took a minute before the door opened to reveal her adopted father Nightlight, his dark blue form illuminated by a nearby light as the sun was sinking torward the horizon.
“Hi, Dad,” she said with some sheepishness. But Nightlight just smiled at her, and before she knew it, she was in a hug.
“Oh, my Little Light, it's so good to see you.” Her dad then looked at the cloaked Luna. “And who is this, Little Light?"
“This is Princess Luna, Princess Celestia's sister. She and I have something important to tell you all.”
“Well, come on in. Your brother and Cadance are here, as well.”
Twilight lit up when she heard that. “CADANCE IS HERE!?” She let out a squee after that.
As they walked in, she heard a familiar voice ask, “Is that Twilight?”
“It's me, Cadance.” A pink blur appeared, and for an instant, Twilight thought that Pinkie had followed them, but it was too big. In no time, Twilight started their greeting. "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” The two then hugged, and it helped make Twilight feel better. Cadance barely walked away when Twilight spotted her mother.
“Hello, Twilight,” Velvet said with a smile, and the two mares also had a quick hug. “How have you been, dear?”
Twilight's smile faded. “Could be better, Mom. Please, everypony, let's head to the living room.”
“I'll get us some snacks,” her mother said and disappeared into the kitchen.
As they gathered in the living room, Twilight heard the sound of the toilet flushing, and a minute later, she saw her brother come into the living room. He was shocked at first, but a smile soon followed.
“Twily!” he cheered, and the two hugged before taking seats. Velvet came out with a tray of drinks and snacks, and her dad broke the ice.
“So, my Little Light, you said you had some news about you and Princess Luna here?”
“What, that you have fallen in love with each other?” her mom asked.
Luna did an epic spit take after hearing that.
Twilight just facehoofed at the idea.
“No we are not in love in that kind of way.” Twilight looked to Luna, who just nodded. “The truth is that I am not your daughter.” She undid the clasp of the cloak and unfurled her wings. “I am the daughter of Luna,” she said to the shocked faces of her family and her old foalsitter.