Canterlot Castle, 987 years after Nightmare Moon

The days bright blue sky glistened and the halls of Canterlot Castle were quiet. Celestia sat in her study looking out of the window onto the city below. It was a peaceful day with little commotion aside from the occasional Solar Guard, servant or even off-duty Lunar Guard wandering the halls. Despite what happened many years prior Celestia had rebuilt the Lunar Guard ready for what Celestia hoped would be the return of Princess Luna, not Nightmare Moon. But would Luna even be willing to reconcile with Celestia? Even if she was at first when she eventually finds out what happened to Twilight...

Celestia closed her eyes and gave a deep sigh, there wasn't a single day where her thoughts didn't turn to her banished sister and her deceased niece, as well as her own failings that led them down the dark path they took.

Regret and sorrow

These feelings have been Celestia's sole companions since that fateful day. However things had been looking up recently. For one Celestia had discovered a filly with particularly strong magical powers despite her age, Sunset Shimmer, a filly who Celestia plans to make her personal protégé as well as potentially being a future element bearer. There was then also the coronation of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza AKA Cadance, her adopted niece not only now shared the burden of royal responsibility but also provided a comfort to Celestia with the knowledge she once again had family. However whenever she thought of Cadance her thoughts would soon turn to her biological niece, and how Luna might react to Cadance who she might view as Celestia's attempt at a 'replacement' for Twilight, even though that was never the case, nopony could ever replace Twilight.

Celestia's thought pattern was shattered when the doors of her study burst open and a Stallion, Guard Captain Righteous Justice ran in.

"Knocking is out of fashion now is it, Captain?" Celestia joked

The guard paled visibly at Celestia's words, not picking up that she was only joking. "My apologies your highness, but we have received news from Mayor Mare of Ponyville!"

"News? What news?" Celestia's interest peaked, Ponyville was situated on the border of the Everfree Forest which had since grown around the Castle of The Two Sisters, so really anything could be happening.

"Apparently there is a severe magical anomaly forming around the ruins in the Everfree Forest! Some weather pegasi say it originates from the old throne room, the Mayor had asked all citizens to stay way until she receives word from you."

Celestia nodded. "Tell them to stay put, I will investigate this myself"

The guard saluted and left to carry out his orders, Celestia however found the nearest balcony and prepared to take flight to the Everfree Forest.

Two former solar guards, both of them unicorns walked through the Everfree Forest towards the Castle's ruins. Night Light and Twilight Velvet, husband and wife with a son currently in an academy for all aspiring guards had bravely, or foolishly decided to ignore Mayor Mare's request to stay away from the anomaly and decided to investigate themselves.

"Honey, don't you think this may be a mistake?" Night Light nervously questioned his determined wife.

"Come on Nighty! Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I would rather live long enough to see Shining Armor again."

"Oh we'll be fine, just keep your eyes peeled."

The tree's before them parted and the big hulking ruin appeared dead ahead of them.

In the castle's throne room a magical vortex span out of control, if anypony was there to see it they would have seen the distorted figure of a tall alicorn mare at its centre.

The vortex built up more and more energy before finally it exploded with enough force that any windows that had not yet broken over time where finally shattered and a few pillars collapsed after years of erosion.

Nightmare Nova opened her eyes slowly and observed the scene before her. For her only minutes had passed but she knew what had happened to her, she had studied Starswirl's theory of time travel after all.

Giving the area a quick scan with her horn she confirmed what she already knew, the room itself was laced with chronoton particles, particles only produced during time travel.

Nova observed the corrosion of the castle trying to date how long it had been since what to anypony else would have seemed like her death.

"Nine hundred years give or take," Nightmare Nova muttered to herself.

Her attention was suddenly caught by two voices whispering to each other just outside the throne room. Acting quickly Nova used her magic to cast a veil of shadow around her and hid behind her mothers old throne for good measure.

Two unicorns walked in observing the room with caution, the mare spoke first.

"Oh, its stopped," she moaned, pouting with disappointment

"Sorry dear. Maybe next time you go off on a random adventure it will be less anti-climatic?" The stallion said in comfort, but with a hint of sarcasm.

Nova observed the two carefully, she could use this to her advantage! After all she needed a cover while she figured out her next move, and who would hurt a poor defenceless little lost filly?

Nightmare Nova chuckled to herself as her horn glowed softly, her cutie mark and wings disappeared, hidden from the view of anypony who would look upon her. She also began to shrink as her eyes reverted to their original look, her hair lost its ethereal qualities and her teeth turned back to normal equine teeth rather than the razor sharp fangs they had been. When she was finished where the dark alicorn of the stars had been standing now sat a five year old lavender filly.

...

Night Light and Twilight Velvet turned to leave when all of a sudden they heard the sound of somepony sobbing.

"Do you hear that?" Velvet whispered

"Yeah, its coming from behind the blue throne!" Night Light responded

The two slowly and cautiously approached the throne and looked behind the towering chair. Both their eyes widened in shock as they saw a small crying unicorn filly of about five years of age.

"Hello there..." Velvet said softly

The lavender filly recoiled and seemed to cower behind her mane in fear.

Twilight Velvet slowly walked up to and sat next to the filly, "There there little one, there is no need to be afraid, I'm Twilight Velvet and that is my husband Night Light, what's your name?"

The small filly looked up slowly. "Twilight," she sniffled.

"That's a wonderful name, the same as mine in fact! What about your last name?"

The filly seemed to think for a moment before responding. "Twinkle, Twilight Twinkle" the filly lied to an unknowing Twilight Velvet.

"Well Twilight Twinkle, where are your parents?"

"I don't have any, I've lived on the streets for as long as I can remember, I wandered into this forest following the pretty light but there were monsters so I ran and hid."

Twilight Velvet and Night Light shared looks of horror. "You've never had a family?" Night Light inquired.

The small filly shook her head.

Velvet left the filly's side and walked up to her husband. "Oh, the poor thing. What are we going to do Nighty?"

A warm smile crept onto the stallions face as her turned to look at the young unicorn, "Well Shining had always wanted a little sister..."

"Are you suggesting we adopt her?"

"Why not? Its not like we haven't got the room being from nobility and all that, albeit minor nobility. We would have to contact the
authorities and make a case for it, but considering her circumstances I think they will agree this is probably what's best for her at this point."

Velvet thought to herself for a few moments before nodding in agreement. She then approached the timid filly and gave her an affectionate nuzzle. "Twilight, would you like to come with us?"

The filly seemed to light up and gave a quick nod in confirmation, Twilight Velvet then lifted the filly onto her back. The group then began their trek back to Ponyville and from there, Canterlot.

Neither noticed the filly's pupils briefly turn into slits as she gave a small, sinister smile.

Celestia descended onto the Castle right into the throne room. Looking around the room she couldn't see any sign of the magical anomaly that was reported. Celestia sighed, realising she had arrived too late. She gave the room a quick scan with her horn and found a few fading particles that were now unidentifiable due to their decay.

Slightly annoyed she would likely never know what happened here this day Celestia spread her wings and began the journey back to Canterlot Castle.

It had been a few weeks since Night Light and Twilight Velvet had found Twilight Sparkle (or Twinkle as they knew her) in the castle ruins. The two had gone to an adoption agency who found no record of Twilight anywhere, after some drama they had finally approved the adoption. Shining Armor was overjoyed that he got a little sister and had rarely left her side when he was at home, much to Twilights hidden annoyance.

The family had contracted a 'friend' of Shining Armor to foal-sit Twilight every now and then, at first Twilight despised Cadance on the revelation she was Celestia's adopted niece, but on spending some time with her she had legitimately began to like her.

The differences between their time periods had also been an obstacle, but she was adapting quickly.

Now Twilight sat in bed looking out the window at the nights sky, specifically her mothers moon. She had been back weeks now but she still had no idea what to do and so far the whole 'play the innocent filly' act had been a bit of a struggle, but she was easing into the role. She had started to grow fond of her adopted family, but they could never fill the hole in Twilight's heart.

Eventually Twilight drifted into a deep sleep, when she did she began to dream.

Twilight was floating in darkness, completely alone.

"Twilight..." a voice whispered out

"Hello?" Twilight called out in alarm

A bright blue light appeared and from it emerged the form of Nightmare Moon.

"Mother!" Twilight shouted running into Nightmare Moon's waiting embrace.

"My little star, I have missed you greatly, I had believed for so long you were dead but then I sensed your presence on the planet below!"

Twilight chuckled. "What can I say? I'm a time traveler now."

Nightmare Moon laughed warmly, happy to be reunited with her daughter, if only briefly.

"Twilight listen, I don't have long, I'm using much of my strength to enter your dream and I shouldn't do this again unless I want to cause myself serious bodily harm."

"What? But then..." Twilight looked way dejectedly, only to have a hoof gently turn her head back to her mother.

"But we won't be apart for long, for on the thousandth year since my banishment the stars shall aid in my escape, until then I want you to stay safe, do not let Celestia find out about you, I do not want to lose you again..."

"Don't worry, I've placed myself within a tight family unit and they haven't a clue who I am."

The dreamscape they were in began to collapse as their connection to one another was lost.

"Don't be afraid Twilight, I will be there soon," Nightmare Moon gave her daughter one last nuzzle before disappearing.

Twilight awoke with a start, quickly turning to look out of the window she could see her mothers silhouette still lining the moons surface, a wave emotion hit Twilight like a speeding train as she began to cry.

Author's Notes:

I will only be updating stories at the weekends due to collage having started, next week I will be updating 'A Mare Called Missy' before returning to this.