Princess Luna has a daughter before being banished to the moon. Nightmare moon's return brings about a massive change in Twilight's life in more ways then one. How will Twilight handle the changes in her life while trying to save the rest of world from Eternal Night?
Deep in the Everfree forest stood the Castle of the Two Sisters, Celestia sits on her throne with a grimace on her face. It was the middle of the day with the sun shining bright in her eyes. Silently she wondered who thought it was a good idea to put a bunch of windows in this room. Trying to shield her eyes from the sun a little she ushered a guard to send in the next pationer. Walking in with a deep bow, Fancy Rain was nothing if not the heir of sophistication.
“Your Highness,” he said with his smooth voice.
“Raise Sir Rain, and tell thee what thou wish,” Celestia said keeping a smile upon her face.
“Yes of course, Your High-” Fancy Rain was continuing before he got cut off from the noise of the doors swinging open hard.
“TIA! TIA! Thy have the most wonderful of news! Oh thou will be most overjoyed to hear! I am ha-” Luna came running in excitedly, only to wither under the hateful gaze Celestia had given her.
“Luna! This is unacceptable, thou know better than to interrupt during day court.” Celestia scolded.
“Yes, but thee thought thou’d wa-”
“Luna, whatever it is can wait. I am in the middle of helping the good citizens of Equestria.” Celestia continued, interrupting her sister.
“But-”
“No Luna, whatever it is, it can wait. Now go sleep or thou won’t have any energy for the night,” Celestia said with a steel in her voice.
“But thou always say that,” Luna grumbled as she left the room.
“So sorry about that Fancy Rain, she tends to get over excited about the most simplest of things. Thou may continue on,” Celestia said gesturing for him to continue.
“Yes of course, well the good citizens of…” Fancy Rain droned on. As Luna got farther away she stopped hearing them, but Celestia’s words were stuck in her head.
She never listens to me, always busy with everypony else. Where is the sister I used to know so well. The one who cared and always had an ear to talk to.
A Couple Months Later
Long after the night has begun, Luna is hidden in a secret room that she had made solely for the purpose of the new foal that was almost here. Hanging up the latest pictures Luna had painted for her coming daughter, Luna sat down looking over the nursery rubbing her extended belly.
“It’s almost time little one. Just a little longer and thou will be here with thee, my little Nebula,” Luna smiled down at her belly, feeling her daughter already kicking away. Luna stood back up, climbing the stairs back to her room, she put the glimar back on her belly so no one would know she was pregnant.
“Luna!” Celestia exclaimed. “What is thou doing in here? Thou is supposed to be in the throne room helping ponies!”
“Tia? What tis thou doing in thee room?” Luna asked shaking her head.
“Thou needs to get back there now! What if someponies been waiting on thou?” Celestia said, pushing Luna towards the throne room.
“Tis no point, no pony ever comes to my court. They are all asleep.” Luna said, sidestepping out of Celestia’s grip.
“But Lu-” Celestia says, not getting any further when Luna closed the door on her. Sighing Luna turned back around looking over her room. Walking to her bed she pulls out one of the many books shes read over a million times.
“I won’t be alone for much longer, once you get here.” She says well smiling down at her belly.
2 months later
Sitting in her bed reading a book, Luna is quietly humming a lullaby for her coming daughter. She had worked on it for a month to make sure it was perfect, and she could tell Nebula would love it, for already she would stop kicking whenever Luna would sing it. This time though Nebula didn’t stop kicking, instead Luna felt something wet staining her fur and sheets. Springing up out of the bed Luna cried out excitedly.
“She’s coming! She’s finally coming!” Luna hurried down the stairs to her daughters nursery. When she got there she hurriedly casted a couple of spells: a sound barrier to make sure no one heard the screams, a numbing spell to dull some of the pain, and finally an elasticity spell to make it easier for Nebula to come out.
“Come on Luna, now's the time thou’s been practicing this for months now,” Luna encouraged to herself. After an hour of pushing and struggling, Nebula was finally here. Holding her daughter close, she nuzzled her daughters head brushing the fur away from the little horn that was there.
“My Nebula, thou is finally here with thee. So precious is thou, how did thee ever deserve one as pure as thou?” Luna wondered absentmindedly, while cleaning her daughter and lying her down in her crib.
“Hush now, quiet now it’s time to lay thy sleepy head. Hush now quiet now it’s time to go to bed. Hush now, quiet now, close thy sleepy eyes. Hush now, quiet now, my how time sure flies. Drifting, drifting off to sleep the days excitement behind thee. Drifting, drifting off to sleep let the joy of dreamland find thee. Hush now, quiet now, lay thy sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed.” Luna sings the lullaby to her daughter. Slowly Nebula drifts off into a peaceful slumber, letting Luna have a moment to just gaze down at her beautiful daughter. She loved every little bit of her already. The way the moon shone off her midnight blue hair with the pink streak catching a bit of the starry night in it, the way her lavender fur glistened from being freshly cleaned, the fluff of her feathers as they slowly opened and closed, and the light twinkle in her daughter's eyes that shined with life.
“Sweet dreams, my little Nebula.” Luna said, kissing her daughter under her horn, before walking up the stairs back to her room.
“In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria…” Exclaims Mayor Mare.
“Ready?” Fluttershy asks her birds.
“...Princess Celestia!” Finishes the mayor. The curtains draw back to reveal nopony standing behind them.
“Huh?” Rarity asks, as worried whispers fill the room.
“This can’t be good.” Twilight mumbles.
“Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!” the mayor says, trying to calm the panic setting into everypony.
“Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games! Is she hiding?” Pinkie Pie giggles as she tries to look for Princess Celestia. Meanwhile Rarity goes up the stairs to look on the balcony.
“She's gone!” Rarity exclaims, worry coating her voice. Everypony gasps and starts panicking wondering where the princess is.
“Ooh, she's good,” Pinkie mutters to herself, only to yelp as a purple smoke filled the room. Ponies gasp trying to get away from the purple smoke. Only for all the smoke to collect and form an alicorn on the balcony. This alicorn was definitely not Celestia as she had a midnight black coat, huge bat like wings, and cold slitted blue eyes that could pierce through one’s very soul.
“Oh no... Nightmare Moon!” Cries out Twilight, only for no pony to hear her over the screaming ponies.
“Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces.” Nightmare Moon purrs. Rainbow Dash never one to turn down a fight, quickly flew up to mysterious alicorn.
“What did you do with our Princess?!” Rainbow exclaimed putting her hooves up to fight. Applejack quickly grabs hold of Rainbow’s tail bringing her back down to the floor.
“Whoa there, Nelly…” Applejack muffled through the tail in her mouth. At that moment the mysterious alicorn started chuckling coldly.
“Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?” Nightmare Moon asked.
“Ooh, ooh, more guessing games! Um, Hokey Smokes! How about... Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty,” guesses Pinkie Pie, still not understanding the weight of the situation. Ignoring Pinkie the mysterious alicorn looks around.
“Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?” Nightmare Moon asks.
“I did. And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!” Twilight exclaims. Everypony gasps not believing it to be real. Nightmare Moon smiles stating, “Well well well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here.”
“You're here to... to…” Twilight gulps before cowering back into the crowd. Nightmare Moon looks out to the expanse of ponies.
“Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!” Nightmare Moon laughs as lightning strikes in the background knocking away any guards coming towards her.
Later at the Castle of the Two Sisters
“Come on, Twilight. Isn't this what you've been waitin' for?” Applejack says, trying to encourage Twilight forward.
“The Elements of Harmony, we've found them.” Twilight says, Meanwhile Rainbow starts taking them down laying them on the floor for everypony to see. “Careful, careful!” Twilight says as Rainbow finishes putting the last element down.
“One, two, three, four... There's only five!” Pinkie says.
“Where's the sixth?” asks Rainbow.
“The book said: when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed.” Twilight responds.
“What in the hay is that supposed to mean?” Applejack asks.
“I'm not sure, but I have an idea. Stand back. I don't know what will happen.” Twilight says as she crouches low, her horn lighting up as she starts a spell.
“Come on now, y'all. She needs to concentrate.” Applejack says, before pushing everypony out the door. Slowly a purple mist came in covering over the elements. Twilight opens her eyes to check her spell only to see the mist covering the elements.
“Aah!” Twilight exclaims. Everypony else hears her cry and comes running back in to check on Twilight.
“Twilight!” Yells everypony. As they walk in they see Twilight looking up at the elements being carried the purple mist, about to be teleported away.
“The Elements!” Twilight exclaims before jumping into the smoke disappearing with the elements. Everypony walks up to where Twilight and the elements were just at starting to all talk at once.
Twilight slowly gets back onto her hooves only to hear the chuckle of Nightmare Moon. She looks up at Nightmare Moon disbelief in her eyes as she watches Nightmare Moon look down on her with malice in her eyes.
“Foal, thinking you could defea-” Nightmare Moon cuts off as she finally gets a good look at Twilight. She sees the familiar lavender coat, the midnight blue mane with the pink streak through it, the horn sticking up from the middle. Can this be? No, it can’t be. She should be dead. If Celestia didn’t find her and kill her, then surely she should have starved to death. There’s no way it can really be her… But if it is, then I can finally be reunited with my daughter. Twilight seeing Nightmare Moon in a state of confusion, tries to sneak up and steal the elements only for her to be whisked away in the purple mist again with Nightmare Moon.
With a bright flash and a pop, Nightmare Moon and Twilight were teleported to a cave. Looking over, Nightmare Moon saw Twilight was knocked out. Inside she was fighting with herself wondering if it was true and how. Walking around Twilight, she started inspecting her. She has the same lavender coat and the same purple and pink streak through her navy blue hair. But she was just a unicorn, no wings to speak of. Of course, if Tia did show her mercy then she wouldn’t have left her an alicorn. There would be too many questions, not to mention the assassination attempts would be countless. No she would have repressed it. She would've tried to hide her in plain sight. But still that doesn’t explain the age. She would’ve noticed the slow age progression of an alicorn. Nightmare Moon thought. Slowly Twilight Sparkle’s eyes start to flutter and blink open. Holding her head she sat up on her haunches looking around.
“Wha-Where am I?” Twilight asks, shaking her head to clear it of the fog. Looking around she sees multiple formation of stalactites above her. Some of the water from one of the stalactites dripped in her eye causing her to blink furiously trying to get it out. After the droplet drains out of her eye, she looks to her side seeing a clump of rocks nearby. The rocks seemed to be laced with some sort of mineral but couldn’t identify them. Odd, I thought I knew most of the minerals that form in caves. I might have to go back and review the names, thought Twilight as she started to sit up. Looking over her shoulder, she sees Nightmare Moon standing there. Startled, Twilight jumps into an attack position, ready to pounce at a moments notice.
“Where are we? What are we doing here?” Twilight demanded to know. Instead she just kept walking around Twilight. After making her way back to her face, Nightmare Moon looked straight into Twilight’s eyes asking, “is it really you?”
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked getting more frustrated.
“You are in the Chamber of Truth,” Nightmare Moon stated simply.
“What is the Chamber of Truth?” Twilight asked, glaring at Nightmare Moon for being Miss. Obvious.
“It is merely a series of caves. Granted they have a special leyline that goes through it, causing certain anomalies to happen, but it doesn’t have anything else special about it.” Nightmare Moon explained.
“So why bring me here?” Twilight asked.
“It’s a quiet space where, ironically, I can find out the truth,” Nightmare Moon stated.
“What do you mean the tru-” Twilight started to ask, but got cut off. Nightmare Moon’s horn flashed and just like that Twilight was out again. This time, however, Nightmare Moon’s horn stayed alight while a thin white string snaked its way from her horn to Twilight’s head.
Blinking her eyes, Nightmare Moon’s vision slowly came to. In front of her stood a long hallway with doors lining both sides. Curious, Nightmare Moon started opened the first door on her left. Blinding white light meets Nightmare Moon’s eyes. For the first few moments she couldn’t see anything besides white lights. After about a minute though, objects finally started to come into focus. Looking around she saw what looked like a whole lot of cradles slowly being rocked by batteries. Above her there’s a mobile slowly spinning around in a circle. What am I doing here? Nightmare Moon wondered. Looking down at herself she was covered in lavender fur with a navy blue mane. Am I-am I, Twilight?. A grey mare with purple and white hair peered over the top of the cradle. Carefully, the mare picked up Nightmare Moon in the form of Twilight as a foal.
“Alright little Twilight, it’s time to go home.” the mare said, smiling brightly down at the filly Twilight. Twilight gurgled happily raising her hooves out towards the mare. The mare put Twilight on her back and nuzzled her gently, carrying her out of the building into the sunshine. After a bit of walking they came to a huge house and opening the door the mare said, “welcome to your new home Twilight.”
The bright white light blinded Nightmare Moon again and she was transported back to the hallway full of doors. So I assume the spell worked. That did seem to be her memory. Now just to find the memory I’m looking for. Nightmare Moon thought to herself as she looked at the many doors in front of her.
Opening the next couple doors didn’t reveal anything of interest for Nightmare Moon. Simple memories that many foals have, such as, filly Twilight learning to walk, Twilight reading her very first book, first day of magic kindergarten, and many more memories that fill any ponies mind. The memories appeared to be going in chronological order. So if the memories are only going up from here I’ll have to go the other way to get back. Turning around, Nightmare Moon started walking back in the memories. Soon the doors disappeared and she was left alone in the white empty hallway. Maybe I was wrong, but I wouldn’t think that it would still keep going. It should just drop off theoretically. Deciding to continue onwards Nightmare Moon walked for what felt like hours until finally seeing a door that was completely pad locked up. Odd using her magic she tried to unlock the chain but it wouldn’t budge.
After another 10 minutes of trying Nightmare Moon sat down trying to think. While she was thinking she started to hum a familiar tune. One she hadn’t sung in a thousand years. The locks started to hum loudly and shake violently. Finally, they came undone and the door opened with a loud squeaking noise. Smiling Nightmare Moon got up and walked through the door.
Bright light flashes around Nightmare Moon as she walks through the door. Shielding her eyes she walks forward to see yet another hallway of doors. Sighing she continues to walk forward opening doors. Little did she realize that her coat had turned from midnight black back to her cool navy blue from Princess Luna. Her mane regaining the same soft flow as before her banishment, and her eyes the calming soft blue of a loving mother. Opening the first door she sees herself as Princess Luna singing softly to a filly Twilight in her old nursery. ‘This must be from the time before I was banished. Then why was it locked away?’ Wondered Nightmare Moon as she continued looking at different doors. Ones with her playing peek-a-boo with Twilight, her rocking her precious filly to sleep, and even one of her pretending to be a pig, oinking away to get her daughter to laugh.
“Oh how much I’ve missed your laugh Nebula,” stated Nightmare Moon with a heavy sigh. So much has changed since those happy days. So many dark lonely times with nothing but the icy chill of the moon and its song.
“Mama!” A little Nebula said excitedly. Nightmare Moon quickly turned back to the memory, believing for a moment it really was her. She sees a filly Twilight run up to her, excitedly Nightmare Moon smiled and held her arms out for her daughter, only to have her pass right through her into the arms of Princess Luna. Grumbling, Nightmare Moon looks down at her hooves finally noticing they weren’t the normal black of her fur, but in fact the blue of her old coat when she was Princess Luna.
“What is goi-” Nightmare Moon was abruptly cut of as she was flung from the mindscape. Rubbing her head Nightmare Moon sat up and frantically looked around wondering what had happened.
“What did you do to me?!” Twilight panics, glaring daggers at Nightmare Moon. Meanwhile Nightmare Moon just stares at her completely dumbfounded. “I said. What. Did. You. Do. To. Me?!” Twilight demanded wanting answers. She can’t seem to calm down, frightened by all the images that had flashed through her mind upon regaining consciousness. “What were all those images? What did you put in my brain? Who was that mare? Why is she holding me? What was-” Twilight asked in a flurry only to be cut off by Nightmare Moon.
“It really is you,” she mumbled softly, looking at Twilight with tears in her eyes.
“What in Celestia’s name are you talking about? And why won’t you answer any of my questions?” Twilight asked completely confused.
“It is you! How could I have not seen it before? Oh how I’ve missed you my Nebula!” Nightmare Moon quickly grabs Twilight in a breathe-denying hug. Almost in perceptively Nightmare Moon’s mane turns the slightest shade of blue.
“Can’t. Breathe.” Twilight struggles to get out trying just to get the barest of breaths. Quickly Nightmare Moon lets go of Twilight looking away.
“How is this even possible,” Nightmare Moon wonders aloud.
“What do you mean? I don’t even know what you’re talking about or what happened in there.” Twilight grunts, getting more frustrated every passing second.
“I know this is going to sound preposterous, and even I do not understand how this is so, but you are my daughter, Nebula.” Nightmare Moon states, looking at Twilight dead in the eyes. Twilights stares at her incredulously not sure she heard her right.
“Wh-what did you say?” Twilight stutters out, trying to pretend she heard wrong.
“You are my daughter. You’re name is Nebula Andreas Star.” Nightmare Moon said.
“B-but that can’t be right! My name is Twilight Sparkle. My mother is Twilight Velvet, not you. How would that even work? I’m only 22 not 1000 plus years old! This can’t be possible! I’m not even an alicorn, I’m only a simple unicorn!” Twilight says, getting more and more frustrated as she passes back and forth in the cave.
“I believe Celestia has a lot to do with what has happened to you. She could have easily hid your earth and pegasi magic inside of you, and as far as your age goes if she put you in a cocoon-like sleep it could theoretically halt your aging and make it appear as if you were only 19 years old. For your name and your mother, Celestia simply gave you to another house to watch over you. But why would she do that is what I’m wondering.” Nightmare Moon explained.
“Why should I believe anything you say? You’re Nightmare Moon, for all I know you just planted those- those memories- in my head! None of what you are saying makes sense! Why would Celestia go through all that trouble?! Why would she lie to me! No you are far more likely to lie to me then Celestia! I don’t believe you! I DON’T BELIEVE THIS!” Twilight cries out as her eyes glow a pure white. Magic flows through her horn as the whole cave alights with a purple glow.
A bright purple light is seen outside the cave mere milliseconds before a loud explosion rings out of the walls of the caves. As the trees outside shake, animals start scurrying to hide from the sudden invasion of normalcy in the calm forest. A loud thump is heard as Nightmare Moon slumps back to the ground, wind knocked completely out of her and unconscious from the impact against the wall.
A bubble of purple magic flares up in the middle of the Golden Oaks Library, revealing Twilight inside as she frantically starts pacing around the giant centerpiece of a horse head. Hearing the ramblings of Twilight's panic, Spike starts to walk down the stairs and pounces on her.
“Twilight! Thank Celestia you’re okay! We were so worried about you!” Spike cries out holding onto Twilight.
“We? What do you mean we?” Twilight asks confused. Suddenly a blue blur whisks past knocking Twilight to the ground. Standing on top of her Rainbow Dash grins at her saying, “Us of course”. Coming up behind her at a slower pace was the rest of the ponies she had met that day.
“What are you all doing here?” Twilight asks confused.
“Well when you and that monster disappeared everypony started to panic, we didn’t know where you went so we sent out some other ponies to try and find you. When nothing came up we decided to come here and maybe try to look for some answers.”
“I hope you don’t mind we borrowed some of your books” Fluttershy mutters in the back.
“Are you okay darling? What happened?” Rarity asks while grabbing Twilight’s face to inspect for injuries. Twilight shrugs her off as she starts to pace around the room again, slowly wearing a grove in the wood.
“No I’m not okay!” Twilight snaps as her pace increases.
“What’s wrong, sugarcube?” Twilight sighs and stops pacing, debating if she should tell them. They did look for her and she didn’t know how else she was going to get out of this without telling them.
“After I woke up we were in a cave that I didn’t recognize, she called it the Chamber of Truth. She kept whispering to herself while walking around me, almost as if she were inspecting me. After a bit she knocked me out, and when I woke up there were all these ‘memories’ in my head. I think she planted them there, but she claimed to be my mother.”
“Woah nelly, what do you mean your mother?” AppleJack asks.
“I don’t know!” Twilight shouts, beginning to pace again.
“What are we supposed to do now?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“We need to find Princess Celestia and get the elements of harmony. I don’t know how they work or what they do, but the book said they are the key to defeating her.” Twilight says.
“How are we going to do that?” Fluttershy asks
“Wait. What happened after Nightmare Moon and I left? What happened to the elements?” Twilight asks realizing they were nowhere to be seen.
“Well darling, after you and her vanished the elements started swirling around the floor. They kept going until a blue fog covered over all of them and they vanished.” Rarity explains. Twilight sighs before slowing down.
“Alright well speaking that we have no idea where the elements, Princess Celestia, or Nightmare Moon are I suppose the best thing we can do right now is get some sleep, and come back tomorrow to find some clues,” Twilight says, before looking down at the floor realizing the groove she worked up already. Sighing, she gives everyone a nod before heading towards the stairs. Walking out the door, everypony says their goodbyes to Twilight.
“What do you think she meant by her mother?” Fluttershy asks as the group starts walking towards their respective homes.
“Ah don’t know sugarcube, but ah’m sure we’ll be getting more answers tomorrow when she’s had some time to rest,” Applejack responds, looking up at the darkened sky nervously.
“She better or I’ll make her,” Rainbow butted in.
“Now darling, there’s no need to be rude with her, she’s just as confused as the rest of us about all this,” Rarity remarks, trying to calm the prismatic mare down.
“Did anypony else think it a might odd how she knew about the elements and of Nightmare Moon?” Applejack asks.
“I suppose that is a bit odd,” Rarity responded, thinking back to the town hall.
“Well either way, Twilight’s probably right. We should try and get some sleep so we can be well-rested for whatever tomorrow brings,” Fluttershy says as they all turn off from each other heading to their respective homes.
A soft grunt was heard as Nightmare Moon slowly regained consciousness. Getting off the ground she starts looking around. She realizes that the purple mare from before is missing. Frantically she gets up starts pacing. ‘Where is she? Where’d she go! I can’t lose her I just found her again! To think she’s still alive after all this time! I can’t believe it, but already I lost her again! Wait where are the elements?’ Realizing this she quickly scans the room looking for the rocks. Spotting them scattered around the edges of the room, she quickly gathers them up and puts them in the corner. ‘Thank god they were here, we can’t afford to lose this now. With Twilight in the state she was in I’d end up losing her for good. She doesn’t understand yet but she will. I just have to give it time. I still can’t believe it’s really her though..’ Nightmare Moon thought, as she starts the teleport spell holding the elements in her magic.
“Twilight, help me!” A vision of Princess Celestia wavers in front of Twilight. Instantly she starts galloping over to her mentor. The path extends out seemingly stretching on forever as she tries to reach her beloved mentor. A familiar maniacal laugh could be heard in the background as Twilight kept racing to her mentor.
“Princess! I’m coming, just hold on!” Twilight yells out, reaching out for her mentor.
“Twilight!” Princess Celestia yells out as she starts to fade.
“MOM!!!” Twilight yells out as she reaches Princess Celestia, just a moment to late. The laughing gets louder as another figure appears in front of her. Black as night with gleaming silver armor, Twilight looks up at the slitted turquoise eyes of Nightmare Moon. Panic fills her heart as she turns around to run, only to be confronted by Nightmare Moon again.
“You will never see your precious sun, or your princess ever again. The night shall last FOREVER!” Nightmare Moon booms out, lightning cracking down from the darkened sky.
“No!” Twilight cries, lashing out with her magic. As the magic strikes the Nightmare Moon clones, another continues to appear beside it. “Please Mom, make it stop!”
“Oh sweetie, why would I make it stop?” More Nightmare Moons appear all laughing that same maniacal laugh.
“No!” Twilight breaks down crying, as she huddles up trying to drown out the laughing.
“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash crashes in through the window as glass shatters and scatters around the room. She quickly stands on her back hooves holding up her front hooves in an attack position. “I won’t let you hurt her!” Rainbow shouts, before looking around the room realizing that it was just the two of them. “Oh,” quickly scanning Twilight seeing she was fine. The door to the library crashes in as splinters and wood chunks get flown across the room, the orange mare responsible running in first. Four sets of hooves thunder up the stairs, as they quickly rush into the room.
“Twilight, darling, are you okay?” Rarity asks, as Fluttershy runs over checking for any injuries.
“Yeah, I’m fine. What are all you doing here?” Twilight as confused, as Fluttershy grabs her face and tilts it back and forth.
“We were on our way here to discuss what we were going to do, when we heard your screams.”
“Why were yah screaming, anyhow?” AJ asks, as she looks around the now crowded room.
“It was just a nightmare, I’m fine.”
“Didn’t sound like it from outside, dearie. Are you sure you’re okay?” Rarity asked glancing over at her with concern all over her face.
“Yes I’m fine.” Twilight huffed getting out of the bed.
“Alright, well if yah say so. But what are we gonna do ‘bout the whole Nightmare Moon problem?” Everypony following Twilight downstairs, waiting for an answer.
“I don’t know, but the book I was reading about the legend said something about the Elements of Harmony. I still don’t know how they work, but I have a feeling if we find out more about them we can defeat her.” Twilight sighed as she started looking through the books for anything about the elements.
“Are yah sure yah want to defeat her?”
“Why wouldn’t I? We need to bring Princess Celestia back and end this eternal night.” Twilight asked incredulously as she continued to look, huffing. “Why can’t I find anything on the elements? This library has such little variety of books.”
“Twilight, she’s your mother. Do you really want to defeat your mother?” Fluttershy asked meekly. Twilight stiffened a little at the mention of her supposed mother. Her ears drooped down as she muttered, “that’s not my mother, my mother is Twilight Velvet. What Nightmare Moon is, is a monster that needs to be stopped.”
“Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide,” Pinkie says, before getting shoved out of the way abruptly by Twilight.
“How did you find that?” She asked grabbing the book.
“It was under E,” Pinkie sang out as she pranced around. Huffing, Twilight opens the book beginning to read out loud.
“Oh. There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now the Everfree Forest.”
“Well we already knew most of that,” Rainbow huffed out.
“We may have known where they were yes, but we didn’t know about what they represented. Maybe this is the key to unlocking their powers. They said a spark would cause the sixth to appear, so already we know what the five elements are and how to get the sixth.”
“But your spark idea didn’t work last time dearie. What makes you sure it’ll work this time?” Rarity asked.
“I don’t, but we have to try something. We can’t just let her win,” Twilight said hanging her head low.
“Are yah sure ‘bout all this? Ain’t yah the slightest bit curious if she really is your mother?” Applejack asked, sliding her hoof over her neck in a comforting hug.
“No, I don’t even want to entertain the idea that monster could be my mother.” Twilight said before shrugging the hoof off her neck.
“Don’t you think we should talk about this a little before going out there again? I mean this is pretty big issue.” Rarity suggested.
“I said I don’t want to talk about it!” Twilight huffed out, getting frustrated quickly.
“Ya come on guys, it’s completely absurd anyways. Like Twi could ever be related to that monster.” Rainbow said, trying to get everyone else to lay off Twilight.
“But what if she’s right Twilight? This shouldn’t be glossed over,” Applejack asked, trying to push the issue.
“I said I don’t want to talk about it and that’s final!” Twilight said, clearly frustrated at this point.
“Yah don’t have a choice Twilight, this concerns all of us and the rest of Equestria for pony’s sake!” Applejack said starting to get in Twilight’s face.
“I said NO!” Twilight shouts before teleporting back to her room away from everyone else.
“Jeez AJ, who’s side are you on?!” Rainbow huffed out before going to check on Twilight.
The sound of crying can be heard from outside the door, as Rainbow comes up the stairs to check on Twilight. Rainbow’s hoof hovers over the door to the room hesitantly.
“It just can’t be, I can’t be her daughter. She’s a monster.. If I was her daughter, what would that make me?” came the muffled voice of Twilight, as a loud grunt was heard and the sound of a pillow being thrown across the room.
“Twilight?” Rainbow asks as she knocks on the door. Hearing a sigh and the sound of hoofs clopping on the floor, Rainbow backs up while Twilight opens the door. “Ya can’t listen to her Twi, she doesn’t know what she’s talkin’ about,” Rainbow says, trying to cheer her up.
“But what if it’s true? What if she is my mother? What would that mean for me?”
"What would it matter? You are still our friend even if you don't want to admit it and if you want to talk we'll listen alright."
“Thanks Rainbow, but we need to bring an end to this eternal night and bring Princess Celestia back,” Twilight says, heading down the stairs with Rainbow to regroup with the others choosing to think about what she said at a later time. (lovemuffin)
“Ah’m just worried about her, this whole mother situation is a big deal and should be sorted out,” Applejack stated.
“I know, but this is clearly something she’s not ready to talk about yet, and we do have more pressing matters right now AJ, for example an eternal night and a missing princess.” Rarity replies.
“Yea ah know that, but-” AppleJack stops as she and the rest of the group hear hoofsteps coming down the stairs.
“Alright everypony, we need to come up with a plan to end this eternal night, anypony have any ideas?” Twi asks
“Don’t forget about finding Princess Celestia too,” Fluttershy mentions.
“And finding Princess Celestia,” deadpans Twilight. Applejack walks up to Twilight cautiously.
“Sugarcube, we really should talk about-”
“I don’t want to talk about that right now AppleJack, we have bigger issues to deal with right now.”
“I know, but-”
“No AJ, if we don’t take care of this eternal night we’re going to have massive issues on our hooves...”
“Fine, what’s the plan then?”
“I’m not sure, but I do know that we need the elements before we can do anything, without those we have nothing against Nightmare Moon. So I’m going to the Everfree forest in order to locate the elements”
“What’d’ya mean you’re going to the Everfree? If you go we all go.” Rainbow states
“I agree, we can’t just let you go on in by yourself,” Aj replies.
“No, I’m going to find them alone.” Twilight retorts in annoyance.
“Then we can’t let ya do that sugarcube. Plus we’ve already gone with you before.”
“But I didn't know the danger it was putting everypony else in before. This is my responsibility to take care of and I’m not going to let anypony get hurt because of it.”
“Twi, it’s no longer just your responsibility. As soon as she had come back and thrown our whole world into chaos, it became our responsibility to fix it as well as yours. Now if you know a way to fix this, then we’re going to do whatever we can to help you.”
“Fine, but please don't do anything brash, especially you Rainbow Dash.”
“No promises,” Rainbow remarks with a smirk on her face.
“So what’s the plan now, Twilight?” Rarity asks.
“Well now that we know what the elements represent we need to figure out how they apply to getting the 6th element and what the spark really is.”
“And how are ya plannin’ tah do that?” Applejack questions.
“Well if the elements represent honesty, loyalty, kindness, generosity, and laughter then we need to figure out how those elements tie into the 6th. Which means more RESEARCH!” Twilight squeals at the end. A collective groan sweeps across the room as they realize that this was going to be a long night. "I'll get the books." Spike says as sighs.
6 hours later
"Aughh we are getting nowhere." Rainbow exclaims, throwing down her book.
“Says the one that’s barely read any of the books,” mutters Applejack under her breath.
“Say what?! You take that back,” Rainbow yells out, getting in Applejack’s face.
“Why would I do that when it’s true!” Applejack questions, pointing to the few books the pegasus had managed to read.
“GIRLS! Fighting’s not going to get us anywhere.” After splitting the two up, Twilight sits back rubbing her temples.
“Well what do you suggest we do then? These books aren’t getting us anywhere either.” Rainbow huffs out. They all sat around for a moment, looking at one another, pondering ideas of where to go next.
“Why don’t we try and find some information at the castle?” Pinkie suggests.
“I’m in!” Rainbow does a quick flip in excitement ready for any excuse to stop reading.
“We might have some better luck finding something useful,” Rarity states.
“Maybe we can find an old library or something,” Twilight smiles.
“A’right, so I guess we’re going back to the castle then.” Applejack says.
Darkness surrounds the group of mares walking along the trail, thick trees covering any light the moon would give up. Rocks scatter under the hooves of the five ponies, a constant reminder off the looming cliff edge. A rainbow maned mare hovering nearby those who were walking. Rarity comes up beside Twilight as best as she can brushing up against her slightly as they walk.
“So, I’m aware the plan is to look for clues when we arrive at the castle, but what are the details of said plan? What if Nightmare Moon is hiding out there, or if we can’t find any information?” Rarity asks.
“If Nightmare Moon is there then we will have to try to sneak around her for now, or we can try to find some information elsewhere, but we need that information if we hope to end this eternal night and bring Princess Celestia back,” Twilight responds. Up ahead, Twilight hears Rainbow talking to the rest of the group, waving her hands around in a spooky manner.
“Nopony knows. You know why?”
“Rainbow, quit it,” Applejack chastises. Meanwhile, a purple wisp flies beside the cliff seeping into the edge itself, right in front of the group of mares.
“‘Cause everypony who’s ever come in has never come OUT!” Rainbow shouts at the end. Suddenly a crash is heard as the ground beneath the ponies crumbles. Four of the mares started to scream as they slid down the cliff edge. Instinctively, Fluttershy's wings expand to catch her from falling like her friends. In a flash, Rainbow hurriedly flies to try and catch her falling comrades.
“Fluttershy! Quick!” Rainbow calls back, trying to catch Rarity.
“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness,” Fluttershy panics as she flies over to catch Pinkie pie. Applejack, thinking quickly, grabs onto a hanging branch slowing her descent. Looking down she can see Twilight hanging off the edge screaming out for help. Considering her own safety for a moment, she decides to let go of the branch and slowly skid down to the edge Twilight hung from.
“Hold on! I’m a-comin’!” Applejack calls out, making it to the edge grabbing hold of Twilight.
“Applejack! What do I do?” Twilight exclaims, freaking out while her hind legs kick out trying to find any sort of purchase. Applejack looks at her friend panicking before catching a blue blur fly below her.
“Let go,” Applejack states resolutely.
“Are you crazy?” Twilight bites back in shock at her friend's statement.
“No I ain’t. I promise you’ll be safe.”
“That’s not true!”
“Now listen here. What I’m sayin’ to you is the honest truth. Let go, and you’ll be safe.” Applejack says firmly. Twilight looks up at Applejack with fear in her eyes. Seeing her friend's resolution, Twilight gives one final pleading look to her friend, praying to Princess Celestia for her safety, before letting go of her friend screaming all the while. She doesn’t fall for very long however as two ponies catch her and slowly bring her to the ground. Twilight feeling the ground beneath her hooves opens her eyes, and looks up at the two ponies hoovering beside her. Realization dawns on her as she stares at Applejack leaping down the side of the cliff, her friend knowing the whole time.
Everypony starts to walk ahead as Twilight lingers for a moment looking up at the cliff edge as if lost in thought. Applejack, noticing Twilight's odd behavior, encourages the others to go on ahead a little ways as she walks towards the pondering mare.
“Hey,” Applejack states simply, seeming to jerk Twilight from whatever was plaguing her mind.
“Hey,” Twilight responds.
“Are ya’ a’right there?” Applejack asks sitting beside Twilight. Looking up, Twilight hesitates as she considers if she should tell her about the memories that seem to hover in her mind. Looking back at the cliff edge and sighing, she looks back at the pony who saved her from that fall.
“Honestly, I don’t know. It’s strange all these memories that feel foreign to me. It feels more like I’m watching somepony else’s life than that of my own. One moment I was sure about who I was, and my past, then the next the rugs pulled beneath my hooves as these memories opened up. I was the star student to Princess Celestia, daughter to Twilight Velvet and Night Light, sister to the captain of the Royal guard, and now..” Twilight pauses as she gathers her thoughts. “Now I’m not sure who I am.”
Applejack sits quietly listening to her friend as she expresses her struggle. After a few moments pause to think it over Applejack says,
“Ah can’t pretend to understand what yer goin’ through Twilight, but what I do know is that family is family. It may not feel like yer memories, but they are. It might not be what ya were looking for, but it’s the truth nonetheless. The sooner ya accept it, the easier movin’ forward will be for ya,” Applejack states putting a hoof on Twilights shoulder, trying to comfort her. Before Twilight can even have a chance to respond to Applejack's words, Rainbow comes flying towards them.
“Come on, you guys! Everypony is waiting for you!” Rainbow exclaims, before flying off ahead. Applejack looks back at Twilight giving her a sympathetic smile.
“Let’s go, ‘fore she comes back again,” holding out a hoof to Twilight helping the mare back to her hooves.
“Yeah I suppose we should,” Twilight says back as she and Applejack start walking towards the other mares ahead of them.