Something that Twilight had discovered in the few weeks she'd been around the Everfree Colony, was the existence of Changelings. Not even recorded as myths in the Canterlot Library, it was possible that Luna's faction were the only Equestrian ponies who knew changelings existed. This came up directly when the new colony member (who arrived not long after the Twilight Family) came with a missive from Princess Luna herself, explaining the situation.
Apparently, the earth pony stallion named Noteworthy was a changeling, and requested permission to join the colony, in the hopes to find someone to fall in love with. He hadn't met the right mare yet, but he was going to be useful when it came to tonight's little show, for the six foals who got their cutie marks on the same day.
Twilight was the only one among them who knew the plan, and even though her parents taught her to always be honest, she and Trixie were going to make sure that Princess Luna (Noteworthy in disguise), would make a fantastic entrance. Luna insisted that it wasn't really fibbing, since she'd given Noteworthy the script beforehand. They were Luna's words, only told with a little extra shock and awe.
When she and Twinkleshine took the blindfolds off of the six, after leading them into the cafeteria, all the assembled colony members called out 'welcome'! And 'surprise!', even the bat ponies, who hadn't been seen by regular Equestrians in over a thousand years.
"Wow! What a welcome party! Can't get started without decorations, though!" Pinkie exclaimed, and pulled a cannon from her mane. Everyone ducked and covered, but were pleasantly surprised when the cannon shot out confetti and streamers, decorating the place in an instant. Twilight's father pulled out the family phonograph, and started to play some music, officially getting the mass-cuteciñeara started. The purple filly made it her job to move through the party and make sure her new friends were having fun.
In one corner, she found Fluttershy talking quietly with Nightblade. Twilight thought that Fluttershy would be afraid of the thestrals, but she revealed to the other filly that she was actually part bat pony herself, and showed her slightly pointed fangs to prove it. Apparently, one of her uncles even had the membrane wings!
Next, Twilight was interrupted as she made the rounds, by the approaching figure of her brother.
"Great job, Twilight!" Shining Armor said, as he cantered up and embraced his LSBFF. "I never doubted you for a second."
"Thanks, Shiny." Twilight grinned, and paused when she felt a nudge on her flank.
"Twi-light~!" Rarity called out in a sing-song voice. "Be a dear, and introduce me to your brother!"
"Shiny, this is my new friend, Rarity." She rolled her eyes. "Rarity, meet my Big Brother Best Friend: Shining Armor."
"The pleasure is all mine!" Rarity giggled, as Twilight rolled her eyes and continued her walk. Could her BBBFF be any MORE dorky?
Next, Twilight encountered Pinkie Pie and Trixie. the former was apparently daring the latter to turn her horn different colors like a strobe light.
"Hah!" Trixie exclaimed, after her successful rainbow display. "How's that for great and impressive party tricks!?"
"Ooh! Ooh! Do another!" Pinkie squealed, and Trixie transformed herself into a breezie. Technically it was a type of polymorph spell, not illusion, but it was one of the simplest transformation spells out there, and you could bet your last bit, she'd learned it from Luna.
"I am the great, and powerful Trixie!" The powder-blue breezie exclaimed in a tiny voice, and Twilight giggled before moving on.
Rainbow Dash was dancing with Applejack, who seemed to be letting go of the tension she'd had since leaving home. Satisfied that all her new guests were enjoying themselves, Twilight sat down at one of the tables (which had been moved aside to create a dance floor). Who knew making friends could be so exhausting?
"Enjoying the party?" Twinkleshine asked, grinning, as she nudged Twilight in the shoulder.
"As much as I can be, I guess." The purple unicorn replied, a little tiredly. Some of the adults had gone back to work, some had stayed to relax and chat, and Nebula was baking some of Harvest's pumpkins into pies for the party goers.
"I know it's exhausting." Twinkleshine nuzzled her friend. "I can do the teleport trick on Noteworthy tonight, if you don't feel up to it."
"I can't ask you to do that, Shine." Twilight replied, and cast a small caffeine spell to hold her over through the end of the party.
"This is the other fillies' first introduction to the Princess. It has to be perfect." Twilight explained, and Pinkie Pie appeared from seemingly nowhere.
"The Princess is coming!?" She exclaimed, loudly, and the other four fillies gasped in surprise. Trixie, who was now a normal pony again, rolled her eyes.
"Twinkleshine, Twilight... Do y'all really mean the Princess is coming here? Tonight?" Applejack questioned, and somehow, Twilight didn't feel comfortable lying too much about it.
"Well, um, not the Princess..." She rubbed her hooves together awkwardly, before clearing her throat, and taking charge.
"Ahem. I told you all that this operation was funded by the crown. But there's more to it than that." Twilight explained, and displayed an illusion-portrait of Luna. Not in her Nightmare Moon form, but just in her regular Princess form. They'd agreed beforehand that tonight, 'she' would appear in that form, to alleviate the fear among the ponies who hadn't been raised to know the lost Princess.
"This, is Princess Luna, the lost Diarch of Equestria, and Sister to the Solar Regent Celestia." Twilight explained. "She's the one who funded this whole colony, and even though she hasn't been around for the last thousand years, she's returning to meet the public very soon."
"So we get to um, meet her tonight?" Fluttershy ventured, and Twilight nodded vigorously, dispelling the illusion.
"Right. That's the real reason I invited you girls here." Twilight admitted. "Even though I didn't lie about getting my cutie mark on the same day."
"Aw, that's no big deal, Twi." Rainbow Dash declared, diving from the cavern ceiling to ruffle Twilight's mane.
"A surprise-party lie isn't really a lie, silly. And getting to meet a Princess is a huge surprise!" Pinkie announced.
"Thanks for understanding, girls." Twilight sniffled, wiping her eyes.
"So wait a second, sugarcube," Applejack brought up an important point: "Why does a Princess, the Sun Regent's sister, no less, want to visit six little fillies?"
"Easy, darling!" Rarity announced, flipping her mane. "We all got our cutie marks at the same time, on the same day!"
"That must be unusual, don't you think?" Fluttershy ventured to add, to various levels of agreement.
"Well the Great and Powerful Trixie can only say... It's almost time to find out." The blue unicorn broke into the conversation, and Twinkleshine herded the five new fillies into a semicircle on the floor, with Twilight and Trixie on either side. Twinkleshine sat beside Twilight, and Shining Armor and Nightblade sat behind them. Out of the new fillies' line of sight, Shining cast an illusion spell centered around Twilight and Trixie's horns, so that the others wouldn't notice them use spells. Back behind the kitchen curtains, Noteworthy had already taken the likeness of Luna, and Trixie dimmed the lights.
Suddenly, a puff of smoke appeared in the middle of the dancefloor, and Twilight teleported Noteworthy/Luna to the very spot. The blast of magic coincided perfectly with the smoke, and no one noticed it was actually Twilight's magical aura doing the teleporting.
"Greetings, my little ponies." 'Luna' gazed down at the fillies with a smile. "My student Twilight Sparkle has gathered you all here at my request. It was my understanding that aside from dear Twinkleshine, she had no friends in Ponyville. And who better to make friends with, then those who share her cuteciñera?
Pinkie Pie let out a cheer at that, and the rest of the group shouted and stamped their hooves joyfully. Even though the special day wasn't just for her, it somehow seemed MORE special because she shared it with her new friends.
"Now, I want to bestow upon you fillies some gifts, as a measure of my gratitude. I give each of my students an opportunity to grow, and you five deserve this chance, just as much as they do." 'Luna' smiled, and extended a hoof to Rarity.
"You, dear unicorn. What is your name, and talent?" The alicorn asked.
"Oh, your highness! I'm Rarity Belle, and my talent is gem-finding, but I aspire to be a clothing designer." Rarity replied eagerly, with stars in her eyes.
"Well then, Rarity: I offer you a position of great prestige in my court. For now, you are to design accessories, which can be enchanted by Twilight. When I return, I shall appoint thee royal dressmaker." 'Luna' paused with a bashful smile, and Twilight knew it must be part of the script. "If you wish it, that is."
"Oh! Your Majesty! Thank you!" Rarity exclaimed, bouncing with glee. Next, Luna pointed at Pinkie Pie.
"My name's Pinkamena Diane Pie, Princess! I used to be a rock farmer, but now I'm a party planner/baker extraordinaire!" The pink pony exclaimed, and Twilight was left wondering what exactly a 'rock farm' might mean.
"Excellent. For now, Pinkie, there is a job available at Sugar Cube Corner in town. When I return, you shall be the official baker and event planner of my court."
"Sounds like oodles of fun!" Pinkie winked, actually winked, and for a second, Noteworthy almost let his disguise falter from surprise, but luckily no one noticed, and he passed it off with a graceful smile.
"And thou?" Princess Luna pointed to the butter yellow pegasus, who flinched. Twilight might have taken offense on Luna's behalf, but she knew Fluttershy, and probably even Celestia would scare that filly.
"Um, I'm um, Fluttershy, and uh..." The pegasus trailed off, and Dash elbowed her. "My special talent is animal care!" She finally said, in a quick and nervous burst of words.
"Good to know, Fluttershy. I hear you were seeking a home, yes?" Luna smiled, despite the filly's surprised stare. "You may remain here in the colony if you wish, until I take my place at court. At that time, you may be my keeper of the menagerie!"
"Hey, what about me!?" Rainbow Dash cut in, interrupting someone who was, for all intents and purposes, a princess.
"I was getting there." 'Luna' smiled calmly again, diffusing the tension.
"I understand that you came to Ponyville to watch over your friend, and you aspire to the Wonderbolts, but you have also created a sonic rainboom, haven't you?" Luna replied casually, leaving Dash's mouth wide-open at the thought that this princess knew so much about them!
"Back in the old days, just as there was a day-guard and night-guard, there were bright, showy Wonderbolts, and powerful, stealthy Shadowbolts." Luna grinned, a smirk, really. "Rainbow Dash, you may stay here with Fluttershy for the duration of my mission abroad, and follow the training assigned to you. When I return, you will be the first member of the newly reformed Shadowbolts!"
"Whoa! Sweet! That's awesome, Princess!" Dash whooped in excitement, and did a little flip in the air.
Finally, Luna turned to Applejack, the only filly who still wore a frown. The princess tilted her head in the manner of a question, and the earth pony sighed.
"Listen Princess, this is real neat and all. I see how you're grantin' wishes and makin' dreams for these girls, but I got some questions that need answering."
Twilight began to sweat a bit at that. Did Luna predict that someone would question her? Was Noteworthy ready for this? It seemed he was, because 'Luna' only raised an eyebrow and waited for Applejack to continue.
"I'm just a farmer, and my only wish is to go home to my family." Applejack said warily. "I don't want no fancy promises, besides, I ain't certain you can keep 'em."
A little gasp went out at that announcement, but AJ powered on, before anypony could dissuade her.
"It seems mighty fishy to me. I mean, a new Princess we've never heard of? Plus, you don't seem to act like a royal, if'n you catch my drift." Applejack glared a bit at that. "If there's one thing I learned from my family in Manehatten, it's that bits don't mean much if you don't have a horn. Unicorns are nobles, unicorns have Princess Celestia's favor. Wealthy earth ponies who made their own fortunes don't last too long in Canterlot, so why are ya' makin' promises to earth ponies and pegasus?"
"Oh dear Applejack..." Luna sighed, with a sorrowful frown on her face. "This problem is one of many that my sister refuses to address. Fear not, little pony. When I return to Equestria, things will change for the better, I swear it to you, upon my honor as a Princess. If I had better proof than myself, I would provide it."
"Can I... can I just get a hug, maybe?" Applejack asked, teary eyed. It was a good plan, actually. This way, she could feel the princess up close, and know that this whole thing was more than just an illusion. Noteworthy got that too, so he wrapped the alicorn wings around the little foal, reminding her that they were real too. Or you know. As real as possible, for a banished alicorn who hadn't been in the physical realm for over a thousand years.
Satisfied, Applejack gave one last sniffle, and stepped back with a smile on her face, a smile that Luna gladly returned.
"Now, I made this special trip because I needed to meet you all in pony. From here on out, it will be easier for me to contact you in dreams. Don't doubt your importance though." 'Luna' grinned at all the assembled foals. "And not just the six of you whose cutie marks we are here to celebrate. All of you assembled foals are the future of this nation, and I couldn't be prouder."
That night, after the ruckus had died down, the fillies all received a sleeping bag to lay in, and they had a little sleep over in the cafeteria. The colts went back to Twilight's house for the night, and once all the other fillies were asleep, the purple unicorn let herself drift off too, ready to share the good news with her Princess.
"It went off without a hitch, Luna!" Twilight announced proudly.
"Good job Twilight! Currently I'm speaking with the new fillies via dream, and the only one with hesitations seems to be Applejack. I think I can convince her, though."
"You must be one hay of a multi-tasker..." Twilight mused
"You have no idea." Luna giggled. "Anyway, I'm sure you have some questions about those five, so ask away."
"First off, are they really all alone?"
"For the most part, yes. The only one with strong family ties is Applejack. Rarity has a younger sister whom she adores, but I don't suspect it will be hard to get her family on board." The Princess mused. Twilight had only meant to ask if the fillies were ALL runaways, but Luna had added detail about affiliations, almost like the ponies involved were picking sides.
"I get that you and Celestia disagree, Princess, but once you defeat her, it won't matter what the friends of my friends think. You'll be the new ruler, and that's that, right?" Twilight asked the leading question, trying to weed out answers.
"It's never that simple, dear Twilight." Luna sighed. "I have a plan: defeat my sister, and banish her sun, replacing it with my own. There are many problems with this plan, and the biggest is collateral damage. The Everfree you know today, is a result of the last time my sister and I battled.
"The second plan, is to get my sister alone, long enough to have a civil conversation. This is only possible if she does not control the elements of harmony."
"Why, Luna? And what are these elements? Some kind of artifact?" Twilight asked, her curious mind already took hold of the thought and turned it around in her brain.
"The Elements of Harmony are a set of immensely powerful artifacts, meant to be wielded by ponies who exemplify the traits they represent: Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, and Friendship. They only respond to the bearer if they maintain those positive traits. Celestia used them to banish me before, and she shall use them again, no doubt, if she finds she disagrees with me." Luna snarled, the old betrayal stinging just as much as the night it happened.
"Wait wait wait- Is that why she banished you, Luna? Because you DISAGREED with her!? I thought it was because you wouldn't lower the moon!"
"Pfft. History has been kind to Celestia." Luna growled. "That night, I refused to lower the moon, because it was the only way to get Tia to listen to me. She kept brushing me off, and finally, I'd had enough! I would FORCE her to listen to me, and that was that."
"Using the elements to banish your sister... seems kind of like the opposite of what those things represent. Sunbutt wasn't kind enough to hear your honest concerns, after all. Why did the elements let her do that?" Twilight asked, scowling, and Luna had to stifle a snicker at 'Sunbutt'.
"I don't know, Twilight. I really don't know. All I can say is that I hope the elements abandoned her for that." Luna frowned, and shook her head. "I hope they left her all alone in the knowledge of how she hurt me."
"So providing Celestia can't use the elements of harmony against you, what will your plan be?" Twilight asked, cuddling up to the Alicorn in her dreams.
"In a best-case scenario, Celestia will talk with me, and accept that I am still the same sister she once knew, only less likely to listen to her excuses. Then hopefully, I will take my rightful place beside her, and enact the reforms I desire. Worst case scenario, she will insist that I am a monster who possessed her dear Lulu, and will refuse to speak with me at all, or try to 'purge' the monster from my mind." Luna snorted at that, and Twilight wondered how likely either eventuality would be.
"That said, there is another possibility. It's possible that Celestia will not accept that I am fully her sister, but will still offer me a stalemate to prevent war. In the event that my sister and I must fight, I will ask to simply take my ponies, and leave."
That was new, and would explain why Luna's followers were either whole families or orphans. If Luna left Equestria, her followers might not be able to return for visits, or even write letters! That in itself brought a new question.
"Where would we go, Princess?" Twilight asked, tilting her head in question. They couldn't go to any territory which was hostile to ponies, like Diamond Dog, or Dragon lands. The Griffins were overpopulated as it was, and Saddle Arabia and Zebrica had their own issues that made them a poor choice for religious or philosophical immigrants.
"The moon, of course." Luna responded off-hoof.
"T-the moon!?" Twilight exclaimed, surprised to say the least. "I, how, how??" The filly stuttered out, and Luna smiled in amusement.
"Well, part of that is why I need you, Twilight. The moon has much more ambient magic than Equus, because it reflects and channels the light of the sun. If we are to colonize the moon, we shall need a powerful engineer to design enchantments that are powered by the moon itself, and provide fresh air and gravity support for the citizens."
The Princess paused, to let all that sink in. Then, while she contemplated it, Luna dropped the next bombshell casually, as if she were talking about the weather schedule.
"Not to mention, we'll also need enchantments to keep the Everfree Castle intact while I teleport it to the moon as well..."
"You're moving the castle too? I would have thought that there were too many bad memories for you, there." The filly noted, once again leading the Princess to believe she was possessed of a wisdom beyond her years.
"While that may be the case, dear Twilight, I shan't build a new one, when the perfectly respectable foundations are still there for our use." Luna paused for a moment, as if she was thinking of something that piqued her interest.
"I know that Rarity's passion is clothing design, but I wonder if she would be opposed to designing some new tapestries to replace the old ones? That would be an excellent first step towards making the castle my home again."
Teacher and Student talked then, for what seemed like hours, as they lay side-by-side near the fireplace in the dream realm. No matter which eventuality came to pass, Twilight and her Princess would be ready.