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.
Princess Luna let out a very un-princess like groan as the lastest colt was lead out of the testing room. So far, every foal had been a bust. Not to say that any lacked magical ability. Far from it.
All were gifted. She was also glad that several non-unicorns had even tried. She had given high recommendations to her sister's school to all the parents so far.
One, a rainbow maned Pegasus, had come all the way from Cloudsdale by herself so she could, as she put it, "See the coolest castle ever!" And had got stuck in line. Admiring her spunk, Luna had recommended Rainbow Dash to her captain of the Shadowbolts.
She could still hear the filly's distant woop of "Best. Day. Ever!"
Chuckling, she turned to one of the Chiroptera guards. "All right. Who is next?"
The guard checked the list she was holding. "Last one. A miss Twilight Sparkle."
Luna perked up at the name. Ever since Cadance has mentioned her months before, she had wanted to meet her. They had locked eyes at the most recent festival. At that moment, Luna had felt a connection form, one like her sister had formed with Sunset Shimmer.
Or who Sunset had once been at least. That was something she and Celestia still needed to discuss.
A power that had not been seen for a thousand years had returned to Equestria. A power that still scared Luna half to death. One that, no matter what the Unicorn Guild said, she and her sister had no hope of matching.
But that was beside the point as the door opened and Twilight Sparkle trotted in. Luna could only hope that she was smart as her niece had said she was.
"Good evening miss Sparkle. I take it you are here for the test?" Twilight nodded excitedly, barely keeping herself from hopping excitedly in place. Luna giggled at the sight. "Very well then. The test ends when you open that door," she continued, pointing at the door next to her.
***
Twilight was confused. Was that it? Just open the door and the test was over? She was about to walk over and just that when something clicked in her mind.
"Wait a moment. She said the test ends. Not what the test is. Why?" She thought. After a moment of thinking it over, Twilight had an epiphany. "I hope this works."
***
Luna couldn't keep the grin off her face as she saw that Twilight understood. Just for a split second, she saw a six-pointed star flash in the filly's eyes. Even though she was no longer connected to them, she felt the Elements of Harmony begin to awaken from their slumber.
"The test ends when I open that?" Twilight asked. Luna nodded."Then, how do I pass the test?"
"By asking how you pass the test," Luna replied. "Congratulations by the way. You've passed. I'll need to discuss your room and board as my student with your parents."
Twilight couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a resounding "Yes!"
***
One week later.
Most days, Princess Celestia could sum up her day in one word: long. Very few things were worth her time and the stack of paper Raven Inkwell gave her every morning. And they seemed to be getting bigger.
Today though was an exception. Luna had come up for a visit and had even brought her new student with her. Twilight Sparkle had been in awe when they had first met. Celestia had held back a giggle. Sunset had been the same when they first met.
Speaking of the two, they were in another room at the moment, getting to know each other. It was the first time both sisters had both had students together.
Sunset was outgoing, friendly, and very snarky (Which Celestia believed had much to do with Morning Star and Evening Burst finally settling into their fusion.)
Twilight seemed more reserved and shy. More interested in books than making friends. Luna hoped the meeting with Sunset would change all that.
"So Luna. What is it like having your own student?" Celestia asked, taking a sip of her tea.
Luna slumped in her chair. "Tiring. How you do it day in and day out I'll never understand."
Both had retreated to Celestia's private room to avoid any distractions. The room itself overlooked Canterlot far below.
Celestia giggled. "I have been doing for longer. It does take time to get used to. But it is always worth it in the end. How is Twilight taking it?"
Luna smiled. "Rather well actually. Her parents let her stay in the castle this past week while we finished how her studies would go."
"And how will they go? From what I understand, she lives here in Canterlot correct?" Celestia asked.
Luna nodded. "Indeed. Since she does, I've set up a teleportation circle that connects her home with the castle. I will no take her away from her family, so I will only teach her during the night all week, Weekends optional."
Quirking an eyebrow, Celestia took another sip. "How will that help?"
Luna smiled. "Easy. From what Twilight Velvet tells me, her daughter is a night owl, reading well past her bedtime. So now, she has a reason to stay up so late."
Celestia nodded, but her gaze fell a moment later. "And now we come to another problem."
Luna frowned. "Tia. We cannot fight her. We didn't even make so much as a scratch on her a thousand years ago. And that was with Discord's and the Elements of Harmony's help."
Celestia frowned as well. "I know Luna. But why did she come back? I appreciate the damage mitigation from Sunset's birth. But what did she show to Evening and Morning? They're jumping at shadows now. They never did that before."
Luna shivered. "Do you remember what she showed us? It broke us. I still remember what she said to us then."
Celestia nodded. She remembered it as well. It still haunted her in her darkest moments
Do not make me come back. This universe will not live to see its next dawn if I do, and you two are at fault.
Said in a matter of fact tone. One that had unnerved even Discord. No malice. No threat. Just a plain statement of fact. None of them doubted she didn't mean it either.
She apparently had come back though. But she was apparently in a good mood since Equus was still there.
Author's Note
Yes, Sunset Shimmer is indeed a fusion of two different ponies. It's a Steven Universe style fusion, but with one major change to it.
Morning Star and Evening Burst can't unfuse. At all. The spell wasn't cast correctly. If it had been, then they could return to their normal selves, and Sunset would be something they both share together.
More will be explained in the next chapter.
As for Luna's test, I based it on another story where the idea was the same. It wasn't for Twilight. But the idea is there. I just can't remember what that story is called.
