Canterlot, 15 years ago.

Winter had descended on Canterlot once more and that meant only one thing. The Winter Moon Festival was about to begin. For most, this marked the longest night of the year.

For Twilight Sparkle, it was her favorite holiday. And this year was the first time she would get to attend the festival's climax when Princess Luna would raise the winter moon. Next to Nightmare Night, it was her favorite night of the year.

This didn't mean she had anything against Princess Celestia or the Summer Sun Celebration of course. Far from it. She loved both princesses. But Princess Luna had a special place in Twilight's heart.

Maybe it was because she knew what it was like being a younger sister, she didn't know. But from what her Best Foalsitter Forever Cadance had said, Luna had a big place in her heart for children.

Plus the festival was one of the few times Luna was in Canterlot at all, the only other major date being the Summer Sun Celebration. For most of the year, she lived in a smaller city deep in the Everfree Forest.

When Twilight had asked why they lived so far apart, Cadance had explained that the two of them had had a big argument long ago. Before it could go too far, Celestia had left to found Canterlot, leaving Luna their old castle.

The two had eventually made amends, but by that time, Luna had grown to love her seclusion and decided to make it her official home. In time a city had grown up around the Lunar Castle, and now the two ruled Equestria from two different locations.

And even though she was technically Princess Celestia's adopted niece, Cadance loved Luna as much of an aunt as Celestia.

***

"Come on Cadance. I want to get a good seat for the ceremony!" Twilight squealed as she hoped along Canterlot's main street, leaving her foalsitter to try and keep up.

Cadance though couldn't really blame Twilight. She had been excited too, going to her first festival. Granted, being Celestia's niece, she had been to a few royal occasions before. But here, as at that first festival, she would be a spectator tonight.

Which still wouldn't stop Twilight Velvet and Night Light from killing her if she lost their daughter. Twilight had pleaded for weeks o be able to see the festival's climax. Her parents had finally said yes but only if Cadance went with her.

Cadance had readily said yes. It was one of the few times she got to see Aunt Luna at all. Which also brought up another interesting point.

During the last Summer Sun Celebration, Luna had pulled her aside and mentioned that she was now looking for a personal student of her own to teach. Aunt Celestia had Sunset Shimmer, and after mulling it over for some time, Luna had decided to seek one of her own.

Thinking of Sunset though made Cadance wince a little. Few knew the truth about her. All thought that Celestia had always had one student for some time now.

It was far more complicated than that.

Deep Magic, what the Unicorn Guild called Elder Magic, had been used recently, and Sunset was tied to it. What worried Cadance though was the caster.

Neither Aunt Celestia nor Aunt Luna, the only two who were powerful enough to cast it correctly, theoretically, had done so. Neither had Sunset, or who she had once been.

That meant someone or something else had. Maybe it had something to do with Princess Celestia turning an even paler shade of white sometime before.

Only the three of them, and Sunset herself, now remembered her as she had once been. But Cadance wasn't complaining too much. She liked the new Sunset compared to the old.

But that was beside the point.

Cadance had been thrilled at the news. She knew how much Twilight loved her and had mentioned it to Luna. She had seemed genuinely thrilled when it had come up.

She hoped seeing Luna in her element would force Twilight to try for the position. The news had already gone out that Princess Luna would be seeking a student and that any and all ponies were welcome to try. The test would be held in six months.

"Wait up Twilight. The ceremony isn't going anywhere," Cadance puffed out, forcing Twilight to stop and wait. But now she began to hope madly in place. Noticing this, she brought out her trump card.

"Besides, Aunt Luna reserved us front row seats. She really seemed excited to meet you when I brought it up to her months ago," She added with a smirk.

That really got Twilight's attention. "The princess wants to see me?!" She squeed. Of course, she knew that Luna was seeking a student. But what would she see in her? She was just a regular old unicorn.

Hearing that from Cadance made her feel even giddier. "Let's go then! Can't keep the princess waiting!"

With that, Twilight rushed off down the street, even faster than before, leaving Cadance to rush after her with a roll of her eyes.

***

A few minuted later, the two of them stood in the front row directly facing the stage. Twilight was still hoping madly in place, her eyes now glued to the stage.

Just as she was about to explode from all the waiting, the trumpets sounded signaling the start. Even as the last note ended, Princess Luna walked on stage. Twilight had never seen a more beautiful sight.

Everything about Luna, from her gentle smile, to the way her coat seemed to sparkle in the evening light, made a huge impression on Twilight's mind.

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, Luna flared her wings and took flight. Igniting her horn she brought the moon up and set it on its nightly course.

Landing to the cheers of the crowd, to Twilight it seemed that Luna looked right at her. Unseen at that moment, something passed between them. In time, it would blossom into something beautiful and magical.

For Twilight, however, her love and admiration for the princess had gone up 50%. And at that moment, she vowed to take that test, and become Luna's personal student.

Author's Note

This should be fun. I'm really messing with G4's canon in this. But I look forward to screwing with it even more as this goes on.

Sunset's bit will be explained in a few chapters. It's going to be a little crazy. More than usual I hope.