Sunny Knight: a Pony's Tale

by TheothersideofSunny968

Return of the Prince

After faint image of the mayor vanished from sight, Sunny looked to his friends, then to Cadence and Shinning Armor and back and asked them "did anypony know his name? Ah feel kinda bad that ah never asked."

"It wasn't really a 'formal' meeting" Octavia commented stepping forward.

"You ok, bro?" Thunderlane asked. "I mean, not every day some pony swears revenge upon you."

"Unless yer Twilight" Sunny joked. "Let's see… Chrisalis, Discord at one point, Anypony else I missed?"

"None I can think of" Big Mac joined in, chuckling to himself a little. "But it's early still."

That made Sunny start to laugh hardwr, and his laughter was soon joined in by the rest of his friends. It had been a while since they all could relax and joke like this, and it might be a while before they could relax enough to do it again, so they inteded to enjoy it.

After several moments, Sunny wipped away a few years and gathered himself. "Maybe we should get down ta business. Like what we originally came here to do."

"And maybe figure out what we're going to do with all of those"Cadence notioned to the heavy set iron armor that was thrown away by the Villagers from Iron Hill.

"Oh! Dibs!" Thunder jumped into a pile of the armor and emerged in a flash wearing a suit of it. "Nice! I look good!"

"Me too!"Big Mac Jumped in and threw on a suit before anypony could stop him.

As he and Thunderlane struck poses in their newly acquired armor, Sunny chuckled again and told Cadence and Shinning Armor "I guess we'll take them with us. I have a way to get them back home."

"I think there's one more thing to address before we head back to the castle, Sunny" Cadence caught the yellow unicorn's attention, motioning to the crowd.

A smile spread across his muzzle, wider then any he ever had before, Sunny spoke once again in that deep, loud, commanding voice, so that everypony could hear him. “CITIZENS OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE! I MAY NO LONGER BE YOUR PRINCE, BUT I WILL NEVER STOP PROTECTING AND AIDING PONIES IN NEED. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR STANSING BESIDE ME AND SHOWING THE SUNNIER SIDE OF ME. IT MEAN SO MUCH TO ME THAT YOU ALL SPOKE SO FONDLY IN MY BEHALF. I HAVE FAILED YOU ALL IN THE PAST, BUT NEVER AGAIN! YOU ALL WILL ALWAYS BE UNDER MY PROTECTION, AND MAY SEEK ME OUT IF YOU EVER NEED MY HELP. LONG LIVE THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE! LONG LOVE EQUESTEIA!"

“You’ll always be a prince to us, Prince Soleggiato” Flawless Arrow called out with a humble grin, then bowed to Sunny. The guards on both his sides followed suit, bowing and lowering their heads in respect for Sunny, while the crowsd of Crystal Ponies eurupted into a sea of hoof stomps and cheers, all mimicking Flawless's words 'Prince Soleggiato!'

Not knowing how to react, Sunny first turned to Cadence and Shinning Armor, But they simply smiled and nodded. Looking to his friends now, Sunny begged them with his eyes for some help. But before he could do anything, Doctor appeared on his right and Derpy to his left.

“Stand up tall and proud, old friend” Doctor said under his breath. “You’ve more then urned their respect.”

“I can’t think of anypony kinder and more giving then you” Derpy said with a small chuckle.

“I couldn’t agree more” Octavia stepped forward, taking a place beside Derpy.

“For sure!” Thunderlane locked eyes with Sunny for a moment, trying to pass of some of his gusto to his yellow friend.

“We all think so.” Big Mac put a hoof on Sunny’s shoulder.

.

Taking a deep breath, Sunny spoke once again, but this time, without the deep commanding tone. “If ya’ll want, ya can just call me Sunny.”

The thunderous applause broke out as everypony was now chanting even louder then before “PRINCE SUNNY! PRINCE SUNNY! PRINCE SUNNY! PRINCE SUNNY!”

“Prince Sunny” another voice spoke the name, but from behind the group known as the new Guardians of Harmony. Turning around to face the one who spoke the name, almost everypony was shocked to see what was standing before them. The creature was easily triple the hight of even the tallest pony, walked on two legs looking much like an ape, but was covered in white fur. “I request an audience with you and your party.”

Narrowing his eyes on the ape like being, Sunny swore it was him. “Charles?”

The tall hairy creature cleared his throat, speaking in a civilized and well educated tone. “I beleave you are referring to my grandfather, Charles Glacierbreak the first, I am Charles Glacierbreak II. It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, your majesty. My grandfather speaks fondly of you and your diplomatic authority, as well as your cunning wisdom, and bravery.”

Trying to hide his slight embarrassment, Sunny adjusted his Stetson hat. “Your grandfather speaks too fondly of me.”

“From what I just heard, you deserve every one of them.” Charles II started to say. “But kind words aside, may I please speak with you and your fellow Guardians in private? It's of great importance."

Looking to his friends for their responses, most seemed unsure of how to answer, but the looks Sunny did get from some of his friends were positive. Turning back to Charles II, Sunny shot him a smile and said “Of course.”

“You can use the meeting room in the Crystal Castle” Shinning Armor added in. “I think you might know the way.”

“Thank you, Shinning Armor” Sunny tipped his hat to the prince and began to lead his friends and Charles II into the castle.

After a few twists and turns, the party consisting of the New Guardians of Harmony and the large yeti arrived at the Crystal Castle’s royal meeting room. Shinning armor was right, Sunny could have found that room in his sleep. Stepping inside, though, filled the yellow unicorn with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. He remembered when he was in his adolescent years attending a few meetings with his father, learning to take over for him should the time come. Sunny was more then willing to listen in on the meetings and prepare for the position, but deep down he still held onto the hope that Princess Amore would be found. Then his father could retire from being king and Sunny could be just a normal pony. That time never came, and Sunny forced himself back to the present by shaking the thoughts from his head. He was a prince aga n, and had to take care of royal issues.

After everypony and yeti were inside, Sunny shut the door then cast a protective spell over it, making it so no pony could ease-drop on their conversation. Once the spell was complete, he took a seat across from Charles II. “First I’d like to say it’s an honor to meet the grandson of my old friend, Charles.”

“The pleasure is all mine, your majesty” the polite yeti replied with a small nod.

“I don’t mean to sound rude, though, but we don’t have a lot of time for pleasantries” Sunny’s expression turned firm like castle wall stone. “Why did you seek me out? And how did you know I would be here?”

“I am here for the same reason you are, Prince Soleggiato” Charles II started off, his tone also becoming forlorn. “Some of our scouts have observed heavy storms brewing in the western mountains. Horrible cries echo off the mountains themselves as images of horses seem to run from cloud to cloud, causing the storm to worsen.”

“Sounds like Windigos” Thunderlane batted a hoof against his chin.

“Exactly like Windigos” Sunny agreed.

“There are worse things...” Charles II continued. “We smell the smoke of Black fires burning from the tallest and most dangerous mountain to climb. We know some pony based structure lies atop it’s peak. But it was only a short time ago that dark grey clouds surround it, accompanying the Windigos. Our elder leader is concerned and seeks your aid, should you choose to help us, Prince Soleggiato.”

Levitating a map of Equestria from one of the book shelves, Sunny unrolled it and began to skim over it until he found his target. Putting his dominant hoof on a certain mark on the map, Sunny asked Charles II “are these the mountains?”

“Indeed” Charles II confirmed, his expression hardening even further.

“Then your elder was right to worry...” Sunny took a while explaining the situation to Charles II; about his father, him taking over the prison, and possibly raising an army with brain washed prisoners and criminals. As well as their plan to stop whatever he was plotting and bring his father to justice, hopefully, shedding some light to his actions 1000 years ago.

“My father will want to hear of this news” Charles II began rubbing his chin, thinking how outrageous this might sound to his father. Putting those thoughts aside, the well mannered yeti returned his attention to Sunny and his friends. “If you storm this strong hold, you’ll need help to bear the storm. We yeti thrive in such environments.”

A little taken back by the statement, Sunny wanted to tread lightly, not wanting to misinterpret Charle’s words. “Wait... are you?... offering your help?”

“Indeed I am, as well as the aid of every worrier yeti in my clan” Charles took a deep breath. “We yeti try and remain civil and diplomatic, but we believe in training the body as well as the mind. We all are more then capable to hold our own in combat.”

“I too shall offer my claws and wings!” A voice came from above. Before anypony could figure out where it was coming from, a swift white blur swooped down, landing right in front of Sunny and the rest of the New Guardians. Wings and head covered in feathers white as snow, the creature raised his head to reveal it was very much owl in appearance. But as everypony got a better look at the party crasher, they realized he had the body, tail and hind legs of a lion, with his front claws, wings and head strongly resembling an owl.

“Where did you come from?” Doctor asked as he and Derpy looked to the ceiling.

“Did we leave open a window?”Derpy thought outloud, often forgetting when she left a window open or closed without thinking.

“I am a gryffin worrier who specializes in stealth tactics” the new comer started. “My name is Silent, Silent Wingbeat.”

“You... Also look familiar...” Sunny spoke half under his breath as he narrowed his eyes on the griffin.

“You know my ancestor, ___\____” Silent exlained, a small smile in his beak.

“REALLY?! You’re his descendent!” Sunny was taken back a little, but after hearing it, had to admit they did look a lot alike.

“I had ventured here on a small errand, when I was hit with a magical blast of energy” Silent explained. “When it did, a flood of memories rushed to me, but ones that were not my own. And from that, I had the answers my ancestor longed to have. Why you didn’t show up for his wedding, why he couldn’t find you or your Empire, and where you had disappeared to all those years ago.”

“Well, I’m glad-“ Sunny started to say when something Silent Wingbeat said just hit him. “Wait, WHAT WAVE OF MAGIC?!”

A long, awkward pause filled the room. Sunny’s friends and fellow guardians knew they would have to tell him about all that happened, all of what they saw, which would explain the sudden loyalty and forgiveness from the entire empire. But it would still be a lot for Sunny to take in.

As Big Mac and Thunderlane sat their shocked friend down, Doctor did his best to explain exactly what happened, Octavia fetched him some nice herbal tea to calm his nerves. Silent Wingbeat already knew everything that had gone on, but Charles II was intrigued and captivated by Doctor’s exploration. Derpy could see that tea alone wasn’t really calming Sunny down, and as if by her own magic, placed a freshly backed muffin on Sunny’s lap.

“And that’s the jist of it” Doctor finished up, leaving the story at the point where Sunny went to go face the army of Iron Hill.

“Are you ok, Sunny?” Big Mac asked, concern plastered all over his muzzle and heavy in his voice.
At that moment, the yellow unicorn couldn’t quite pinpoint the exact emotion he was feeling, his head became extremely light like a balloon as Big Mac steadied him in his seat. After a few deep breaths and shaking his head clear, Sunny pieces his thoughts together. “Well... that explains why I wasn’t thrown in jail.”

“I doubt anypony here would do that to you” Octavia reassured her friend.

“Oh! I almsot forgot! This came for you!” Derpy remembered something from earlier and passed a letter off to Sunny.

Taking it in hoof, Sunny opened the letter and began to read it’s contents in his mind. A thick silence fell upon the meeting room as everypony leaned in closer, as if trying to hear Sunny’s mind reading the letter. As the letter neared the end, a smile grew across the yellow unicorn’s muzzle. Folding the letter and putting it in the rim of his Stetson hat, Sunny looked to his friends, Charles II, and Silent and told them “We need to sit and talk with Shinning Armor and Cadence. It’s time to act. And we're getting a lot more help then I thought...”