Hour of Twilight

Twilight hadn't even finished closing the door to her personal quarters before Luna appeared in a flash of Midnight Blue light.

"Please wait a second," Twilight said, as she cast a Magical Barrier around the entire suite. Finishing, she turned to Luna, "Now it's safe to talk. Tell me, how did your meetings go?"

"You should have seen the loggers at the Everfree Forest when I teleported right into the middle of their camp. Priceless," Luna said, laughing, "They were quite quick to leave the Everfree after that. I believe they were screaming something about ghosts and demons as they ran away. Needless to say, I don't think that they'll be returning there anytime soon. I took the liberty of enchanting their equipment so that it would follow them all the way to wherever they're going."

Twilight was glad she had sent Luna there, and not gone herself. It probably wouldn't have been as quick or as easy to get them to leave. "And what of the Changelings? How did that go?"

"They have agreed to help us, but there was one more condition than just them becoming part of our society."

"And what was that?"

"Do you remember the ruins in the Everfree where you found the Elements of Harmony, and cleansed the evil from my soul?" Luna asked, waiting for Twilight to nod her head, "They wish to rebuild the castle that was there, so that they may live where they won't be bothered."

"I can understand their request for privacy, and the location is superb, but I sense that you have a problem with them living there. Care to explain why?" Twilight asked, a little bit curious as to why Luna was hesitant to give them the ruins.

"Those ruins have great significance to my family, Twilight," Luna explained, "Those lands have been in my family since the creation of Equestria, some 65 million-odd years ago. That castle was where both Celestia and I grew up, and where our parents grew up, and their parents before them. It's where all of our family ruled from, until my banishment, when Celestia had the capital moved to Canterlot. And it should hold significance to you as well. It's where you learned the true Magic of Friendship, which started you on the path towards becoming the Princess you are today."

Twilight was surprised. She had always assumed that Equestria had only been around for as long as Celestia had ruled, not that it was older than even her. But her reasoning mind quickly found a solution to her and Luna's problem, "Luna, since you are acting as Queen Chrysalis, you would be required to live there as well, to watch over the Changelings, and show them how to prosper. This would allow you to rule from the rebuilt castle, just as your ancestors did before you. Would that not be acceptable?"

"Twilight, you don't understand. I don't have a problem with the Changelings joining our society, but I simply cannot allow them to live in the castle where their ancestors killed my parents. It would not be right," Luna stated, her voice beginning to crack as ancient memories, long suppressed, began to surface.

Twilight had only ever seen the Lunar Princess cry once before, when Celestia had just forgiven her and brought her back to Canterlot so they could rule together, as they had 1000 years ago. And Twilight knew she had to point something out, no matter how dangerous it might be, "Luna, I know this may not be the best thing to say right now, but you have to hear this. When I was transferring the Changeling Magic to you, along with Chrysalis' memories, your entire body changed. Not physically, mind you, but on a cellular level. I hadn't counted on what the combined transfer of both her memories AND her magic to you at the same time would do."

"What are you saying, Twilight," Luna said, steel edging her voice.

"What I'm saying, Luna, is that, when I transferred those things to you, it changed you into, well, a Changeling. Only a half Changeling though, seeing as how you weren't born a changeling. But what's more, you aren't just any changeling. You are Queen Chrysalis, in more ways than just her memories. Her ancestors are now your ancestors, which means that all Changelings are now family to you. So that means -" Twilight was interrupted by Luna finishing the sentence.

"The Changelings have already become part of Equestrian society, even if no one knows it yet."

"Well," Twilight said, "That isn't exactly what I was going to say, but you seem to have grasped most of it. So, now that you know this, do you still wish for them to find somewhere else to live?"

Luna straightened up to her full height, barely as tall as Twilight (For she had gone back to her adolescent form after Twilight explained why she killed her), and locked her piercing green eyes on the Princess of Magic, "No. They will receive what they have asked for. I intend to show them a better way of life than they have ever known. And truly, if the Equestrians can forgive me for what I did to them, than surely I can forgive these Changelings for what their ancestors did over a thousand years ago. It is not right to blame the children for the actions of the parents. If you will excuse me, I must deliver 'your' answer to them as soon as possible. By your leave, Twilight."

"You are excused, Luna. I cannot wait to hear when the reconstruction is complete. Please keep me notified"

Luna disappeared in another bright flash of Midnight Blue light, leaving Twilight alone with her thoughts.