AN: While the wedding will happen in this, I ditched the Changeling stuff for plot reasons.
As Heart's Warming Eve came closer when the autumn left, Twilight became more stressed, but also more excited. The Winter Moon Celebration, which she was tasked to plan, was not even a week after Heart's Warming.
"I am so sorry that we have to organize it already, that it ruins the holiday.", apologized Twilight to her fellow element bearers.
Apple Jack replied, "Oh, don't worry, it is fine."
The only one who really complained was Trixie, despite not really doing much. Trixie was invited to celebrate Heart's Warming with them by Twilight Velvet, who still hadn't shared what she is using the tourmaline necklace for. When the holiday came, so did Family Twilight and Cadence. And the other Princesses. Luna came as Midna and Celestia as a Unicorn with a pale pink mane, named Sunrise. Both didn't want to stress the town on the holiday. They won't officially arrive until Heart's Warming is over and the Winter Moon Ceremony starts.
As they set up the Golden Oak, Shining Armour joked Trixie will be a second sister now. Velvet sure treats her like one. Which is something that just overwhelms the Roami Unicorn.
"Now, if you're done with your flat jokes about my students, I can sense you have something on mind, Shiny.", said Twilight. "What is it?"
"I... have something planned, but I won't spoil a surprise.", answered her brother, "Now... I am sorry that you can't reveal your wings this evening, but..."
"Eh, I don't mind.", said Twilight. "It would be worse if I couldn't use my magic for an evening."
"Mm, fair."
Then something knocked on the door. Spike opened and let in Twilight's friends. Rarity's family was visiting relatives in Canterlot over the holidays, the same for Apple Jack albeit her family was in Manehattan. Rainbow and Fluttershy both just didn't want to be alone, but only Fluttershy admitted that. Pinkie Pie was not there, she was with her family. The group was shocked to see the princesses – not Cadence – there. Seeing their reaction, Lyra and Minuette had to laugh.
"Oh, right! You don't know! The princess always celebrates with Twilight's family!", informed them Lyra. "Looks like Princess Luna joined that tradition."
"Just roll with it, girls.", added Minuette.
Despite what Minuette said, Celestia's presence was so surreal. They were used to Luna, partly due to Crowley, so her presence wasn't that weird. Crowley was busy bickering with Spike about who is the better assistant.
"You two! Stop arguing!" Until Twilight got annoyed.
Soon it was time for gifts. Rainbow may or may not had been choking on a cookie when she saw that Celestia had a gift for her student. Lyra was just cracking up on a chair.
"Like I said, just roll with this." Minuette referring their closeness.
Then Shining Armour gave Cadence her gift. A tiny box with an equally tiny bow on it. Night Light and both Twilight's restrained from calling Shining Armour an idiot. Cadence opened the box, revealing a gold ring with a pure white diamond.
"Mi Amore Cadenza, will you marry me?", he asked. The Twilight's then stopped considering him an idiot and tried not to make a noise in excitement.
"Yes! Yes! Shiny!", answered Cadence all excited, her wings flapping intensely "But you have a real present for me, right?"
"Of course.", he answered as he gave her the true gift. He then was hugged by his parents.
"Oh! This is what you had planned!", said Twilight, realizing what her hunch was about. "And why you didn't tell me."
"Exactly, Twily."
After everyone calmed down from the engagement – and the shock that the princesses were there – Twilight threw herself at the planning of the Winter Moon Celebration. All the while Luna continued to help Apple Bloom with her returning nightmare about her parents.
"Princess Luna, how was the celebration a thousand years ago?", asked the filly.
"Simple. It didn't exist. My sister introduced it after I was banished to the moon.", revealed Luna. "Instead, when the solstices were, we each held a ball. More ponies attended her balls, so I kinda didn't bother the last years. It was only a little party for the Bat ponies and some astronomers and astrologers."
"Sweetie Belle asked me to ask you something, will you change the night sky again?"
"Yes... in fact I have planned the first new constellation for the celebration.", revealed Luna. "I wanted to create it sooner, but I didn't want to shock the astronomers with a new night sky already after over a millennia. The ponies are still processing me."
A Royal Engagement by Quill Snap
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza got engaged to the Captain of the Royal Guard, Viscount Shining Armour of House Stars.
Their wedding is to be set sometime in Spring.
There hadn't been a wedding of such scale in centuries due to Alicorn's long lives and Princess Celestia never taking a husband. The closest we ever came to such an event of the century was Prince Blueblood's engagement which ended with his fiance breaking it off.
Experts had been discussing how this would change the political landscape, if Equestria were to favor the Kingdom of Roam.
Astrologers and Astronomers are relevant again by Quill Snap
The Royal House had announced that this year's Winter Moon Celebration will be featuring Princess Luna as the Moon Riser. For the first time in the history of the Holiday, Princess Celestia won't rise the moon.
After Princess Luna returned, Princess Celestia revealed the celebration started by accident. Ponies of the past were just shocked to see her rising the moon as they were used to Princess Luna doing so. It was special because Princess Celestia for the first time took over the moon.
We just didn't know that, for our generations, Princess Celestia always controlled both Astral Bodies.
In addition to that, Princess Luna announced she will at this years Moon Celebration create a new constellation, the first in over a millennia! Astrologers and Astronomers have no idea what they are supposed to do when a new constellation appears.
Trixie decided to help Pinkie and Twilight with the planning. That had a reason. Part of the nocturnal celebration was a show, she wanted to be that show. She told her teacher, "I am confident that my abilities can fabricate a nice show to Princess Luna's honor."
Her teacher rolled with it, but that may be the stress of planning this fast. After all, the Winter Moon Celebration was sandwiched between Heart's Warming and the New Year's celebration. Winter is a very busy season for Equestria and Equs as a whole.
The Princesses arrived in Ponyville – well, they were there, but most weren't aware – so as far as Ponyville knew, the princesses just arrived. The sun was setting as the festivities got started. On an outdoor stage, Princess Celestia started, "Ponies of Equestria! Welcome to the first Winter Moon since my sister's return!" The few Canterlot ponies in attendance were still annoyed that their city wasn't chosen for this years celebrations. "This also means, some things will change. From now on, my sister will be center of this celebration, Luna will rise the moon. Luna, you may start now."
Celestia made space for her sister. Luna was looking at the ponies to see how they reacted. She wasn't surprised that the Canterlot ponies didn't like the thought of Celestia not being the core of the celebration, but the others were hyped about this. Luna flew into the air, the moon in its silver shining beauty rising behind her, the sun now making space. As the day became night, and the light vanished in the liminal twilight, the stars became visible in the night sky, illuminating the sky alongside the moon.
Luna landed on the stage and spoke, "Ponies, in addition to rising the moon, there is something else I want to do. The night sky had been the same old art work for millennia, it is time that I change it up." She explained further as the astronomers and astrologers became intrigued by the coming change of stars, "Today, I will unveil the first new constellation, a constellation in honor of my lost daughter, Princess Aurora Dawn." Her horn glowed and new stars popped up in the sky. The constellation was of a unicorn head with wings on the side. "New constellations will follow in the future, of course."
With that, fire works burst in the sky. As the color play ended, Trixie started her show, showcasing her illusion magic. Now as Twilight had been training her, not only carried Trixie herself with real confidence, her magic tricks had been more elaborate. She emulated the crystal shine of the Crystal Empire – Luna showed her old surviving art work depicting the lost empire – a story spreading though Ponyville and beyond for a while now. Ranging from giving the buildings a crystal look, she cast illusions on the ponies, making them appear like crystal ponies.
Rarity adored her glitz and glam, while her sister played with her friends, who thought Trixie's illusion was funny. Celestia was a bit shocked to see these Crystal Empire references on this day, but she saw nothing bad was coming from it. Trixie was basking in the admiration and laughter her illusions made.
As the new year started, winter made way for spring and Twilight was waiting for news. Her brother proposed to Cadence a while ago, they should start with the wedding soon. In the meantime, she was happy there were no dozen holidays back to back for once. Pinkie tended to borrow Trixie to plan stuff, as Trixie' illusions were a popular entertainment for ponies. Twilight noted her student liked to spread happiness and laughter with her magic. Trixie was considered an honorable second element of Laughter now. That, or Pinkie Pie's shadow. Same thing, really.
One day, Twilight received a letter from her friend Moondancer. The mare had been ranting about Canterlot. Well, the ponies in it. "I consider to join you, Lyra and Minuette and leave this place.", she wrote. Twilight replied to her the library is always open. She bet with Spike if she ditches Canterlot for real. He said she won't.
As Spike send the letter, he sneezed out invites to Shining Armor and Cadence's wedding. As well as for her friends. Apparently their parents asked a lot if Trixie comes. As Twilight gave the date for the wedding to her friends, she decided to ask Rarity for a new dress. The gala dress is too much for a wedding.
Weeks later, they made their way to Canterlot. At the station, they were greeted by Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine and Shining Armor. He was a nervous mess, but hey, who isn't before their wedding?
While Twilight and the Canterlot gang asked Moondancer, if she commits to leaving, Shining helped Rarity to levitate her dresses to the castle. Shining counted them and pointed out, "Huh? There is an extra dress..."
"Oh, that! I just have made a backup dress, in case Twilight decides to wear a different necklace to her brother's wedding! Her necklace is just so, so daily! Nothing special.", explained Rarity.
While Shining knows his sister would like to switch things up – he remembers her eyeing a necklace when they passed a jeweler once – he knows she just can't. But he also realizes how fashionable conscious Rarity is. "Eh, I would prefer if she wears her necklace to my wedding.", lied Shining Armor, something he normally doesn't do. "While the necklace may not be special to you, it is to Twilight."
"How so? She wears it every day.", chimed Apple Jack in. "My daily hat ain't special to me anymore."
"Well, you see, remember the Galloping Gala? If you haven't noted, Twily is adopted.", said Shining, not lying. "The necklace is all she has from her biological parents." While they haven't proven that, they had no other explanation how a filly had a necklace, other than it being given by a parent.
"Oh... right. That explains it.", answered Rarity, buying what Shining Armor had told her. "I better stop pushing that issue, then."
"Finally.", muttered Rainbow Dash. "Albeit… if she always wears her parents necklace, no wonder your mom's a nervous mess as soon as adoptions are mentioned."
Shining shook his head. "No, that is because of Veil and Amethyst."
While Twilight stood by as a bridesmaid – bridesmare – or best mare for her brother, her friends were under the spectators. Then the music started and Cadence was walking in in a dress designed by Rarity. She tried not to faint as she saw that one of her dresses is worn on a royal wedding. Not many designers can claim that feat! Then again, Equestria doesn't see that many royal weddings and the royals of other nations prefer to wear their home designers.
The pair exchanged vows and Celestia pronounced them as married. After that, Velvet and Night Light welcomed her in the family fully. Twilight's new friends then got to meet Night Light's extended family. They were so different to Amethyst and the others! For once, Night Light's uncle forgot to say his noble status, something Amethyst won't forget to mention. His brother – Night Watcher – was a Pegasus. And an astrologer. And an air head according to Velvet.
Twilight also spotted some relatives from Velvet's side… well, one that may not count. Easy Light, an elder unicorn and Radiant Twilight's widower being one relative to be here. Twilight considered to greet him as he was one of the few who took no issue with her being adopted, but she rejected his wife's necklace, maybe he would be offended?
Twilight decided to not talk to Easy Light. Even more so when she saw a cousin – Amethyst's daughter – talk to Easy Light. Considering Amethyst wasn't invited, it was weird her daughter Lilac Twilight was invited.
Cadence's parent's were nearly exploding with happiness – her brother's dropped their suspicion of Shining Armor (after Cadence threatened them) – the Queen of Roam cuddling her new family a lot. When it was Twilight's turn to be squeezed by the Pegasus mare, Twilight could only wonder, 'Are all Roamian Pegasi so affectionate or is that just Cadence's family?'
As Night Watcher decided to approach Princess Luna – to ask about the constellation Aurora – Twilight and Moondancer got to talk. Moondancer asked bluntly, "Is there still room in your library?"
"Yes! In fact, Trixie moved out now.", said Twilight. "Is it that bad here?"
"At least in my borough, landlords won't even look at you unless you have noble title.", complained Moondancer. "So yes, it is that bad. Not to mention, most of my friends and family moved away, so nothing holds me here."
"Mm, fair." Twilight can't beat that logic.
So it happened, Moondancer came with them as they returned to Ponyville, while Cadence and Shining made their way to their honeymoon, somewhere in Roam.
We have a new prince now, folks! By Quill Snap
With the marriage to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza of Roam, Captain Shining Armour of House Star is now Prince Shining Armour of House Star. For the record, he ranks higher than Prince Blueblood. Prince Armour will remain Captain of the Royal Guard for now.
Experts consider this to be stupid, as the job of the Guard is to guard the Royals. A Prince requires protection themselves, after all!