//------------------------------// // Advice // Story: The Regular // by Milo_Chalks //------------------------------// It took approximately two days, one look in the mirror, one slow walk around the block and one call into Princess Cadence’s office to send Sunburst on the train to Canterlot.   ‘It’s just to get my bearings, know what I am getting into… I’m not making a decision just yet, oh, if only… this is a lot harder than I thought.’   “Mister?” Sunburst jumped in his train seat, the droplets of dew on the window suddenly seemed less interesting as he looked down to see a small filly standing next to his booth with a little chocolate bar in her hooves.   “Uhhh hi, what… can I do for you?” Sunburst smiled, trying to de-awkward the situation he was finding himself in.   “Well… Mommy and Daddy got concerned because you were staring out the window for hours on end looking sadder than a…” she paused for a moment thinking of the quote her parents had used, “Sadder than a sack of rotten apples.” Sunburst immediately looked around in embarrassment for the solace of a parent nearby. Little did he notice the couple behind him slowly sinking down in their seat.   “They got worried, so I got you this chocolate bar to make you feel better.” She held out the chocolate bar. It was a cheap one from the confectionary stand nearby, but nonetheless an honourable gesture coming from such a small filly.   Sunburst immediately turned on his tutor attitude after managing to find his bearings. “Why, thank you! You are such a sweet filly, what is your name little one?”   “Ruby Heart!” she exclaimed with gusto.   Sunburst through on a fake gasp and a big smile. “Funny because I know a Flurry Heart and she is just about your age too! Just as nice and sweet too.” The little filly smiled, her cheeks growing rosy at the compliment. She popped the chocolate on the seat and began to step away from the booth.   “Thanks mister, here is the chocolate.” Sunburst smiled, watching the filly go back to the seat behind him. Moving his head around to say goodbye to the filly in the booth behind him, he was greeted to the face of a mare looking right at him.   “Gah!” both exclaimed, the mare falling back into her seat. “Sorry! Sorry! I didn’t mean to snoop, I was just so impressed at how you handled our filly. Someponies just have a knack for those things you know,and it looks like you have it.” The mare smiled holding out a hoof. “My name is Sapphire Heart and this is my husband Granite Heart.”   Sunburst shook and smiled back. “Nice to meet you all, the name is Sunburst.”   “Nice to meet you too! So what takes you to Canterlot, Sunburst?” Sapphire asked.   Sunburst’s smile broke for a moment as he remembered exactly why he was heading there. “Oh, uhh just to, unno, see somepony special,” he choked out the last word, trying to make it sound casual… as awkwardly possible.   “Oh! Oh! I see, yeah. Oh excellent! Is it your first time?” She asked.   “It is, yes,” Sunburst replied, moving into a more conversation worthy position on the train.   “Well, if you are after something truly special, I suggest you go to the Canterlot gardens, it’s the perfect time of year for it.” She winked.   Taken a bit aback, Sunburst smiled and nodded. “Sounds like a fantastic idea! I hope you all have a fantastic time in Canterlot!” Sunburst waved and turned around before quickly flipping back around with the chocolate. “And thanks again for the chocolate Ruby Heart.” A more saddened, pensive look than ever reached across his face at the thought of the decision yet to come.   Arriving at the station in the evening, Sunburst decided to quickly drop off his luggage at the hotel he was staying at.   It didn’t take Sunburst long to find himself walking along the chirpy streets of a Canterlot under twilight. The city was lively to say the least; ponies sitting in restaurants or out for a bit of late night shopping littered the streets, chattering away in the warm night. Streets filled with brightness and loud music from the restaurants and clubs all about the place. Out of any night to be out and about, tonight seemed to be that night.   The noise and general population quickly sent Sunburst wandering towards the quieter, richer parts of Canterlot, and by extension, the Royal Castle. Restaurants were spread few and far between in this part of the city. Yet, among a small lane with a few shops sprinkled about, Sunburst begun to pick up on a strange noise.   At first, he couldn’t quite make it out what it was, but the longer he listened, the more he realized what he was listening to. It was the ghostly strings of a violin. His curiosity piqued, Sunburst silently went to investigate where the music was coming from. It took about a minute or two, but down one of the more quiet, tucked away streets, he found under a low archway, a violinist that was sitting right underneath a streetlamp.   Sunburst couldn’t tell who it was, because the pony had a wide brim hat that hid most of his face, and a cloak that draped over his form. He sat in front of an open, violin coffin case that, while it looked quite battered, had a modest amount of bits in already. The unicorn quietly approached, taking note of the musician's playing. The humming of the strings echoed off the walls of the arch, the haunting melody of trills and dramatic long notes.   Taking out a bit from his cloak, Sunburst tossed the coin into the violin case and proceeded to walk away. However, the violinist looked up and immediately stopped playing.   “I might be wrong,” he said, “but I do believe that it’s considered a custom that one should bow to Royalty, Sunburst the Crystaller.”   Sunburst’s snout turned ghostly white. “Awabababababawhat now?” he stammered, wanting nothing more than to run down the street and never return, yet, he had a slight inkling of who this might be. He slowly turned around to face the violinist.   “To be fair,” the pony stood up, setting the violin gently in its case, “while I have seen you before, I do think that this is the first time we’ve really been properly introduced.” He went over and taking Sunburt’s hoof, he shook it as the hat glowed a golden, copper color. The wizard’s eyes went wide at who he saw. There before him was a face that he had seen a few times in the Crystal Empire. A… royal face. His mane was black except for the four individual streaks of gray. His coat was of amber color, Eyes that of copper. And when he lit his horn to temporarily lift his cloak to reveal not only his cutie mark of an “F” hole one would see on string instruments, but a pair of a wings! In a heartbeat, he knew who this pony was! “Hello, my name is Harmonic, and your’s?”   “Uhhhh Sun...thing… Sunburst! Sunburst! Your excellent liege… master… lordship…” Sunburst took a large gulp, the shock not doing much for his nerves. “Sorry, I’m a little out of… sorts.” He blushed and quickly bowed, looking away from the prince he was sure he had just insulted.   He heard a chuckle, “Ah, that never gets old.” The Prince smiled. “You can stand now. It’s fine, though I do say that it is rather surprising to see you here.” The unicorn did as he was told. He looked up at the violinist’s face in which he saw it contort into confusion. “Come to think of it… how come we haven’t heard that you were coming? Do you have someplace to sleep tonight?”   “Yes… your Prince, I mean my Prince!” Sighing and taking a moment to catch his breath Sunburst stood up and took a moment before trying again. “I do, but… with all due respects, how in Celestia did you know of me?” Sunburst asked.   Harmonic rolled his eyes, “Just because I had been adopted by Celestia a couple of years ago, doesn't mean that I was born yesterday. Cousin Cadance has written letters to us telling what’s going on in the Empire. So she has told us about you and your accomplishments since you started taking care of Flurry. Plus, I have been invited to visit the Empire a few times. And while I have seen you every now and then, I wasn’t able to get close enough to say hello.” He smiled, “Until now, of course.”   “Huh… w-well… what are you doing out here for?”   “You know how Celestia has her cake and Luna has her electronic games?” Sunburst nodded. “It’s the same with my violin. I’m out here to unwind, just to clear out my thoughts while I play. And before you ask, yes, there are Lunar Guards that are looking over me in the shadows so you don’t need to worry about security.”   “Oh… well, it was nice to meet you, Prince Harmonic.” Sunburst walked on like he hadn’t just cut off a conversation with royalty. Sunburst nearly got to the end of the street without realising that Harmonic was still looking at him. Replaying the conversation in his head Sunburst finally realised he had just completely cut off a conversation with the Prince. Rushing back with a blush the colour of tomato sauce filling his face. “Did you have anything else to say, sorry, I was a little distracted.”   “Well, you still haven’t answered my question,” the Violinist pointed out. Tilting his head, he added, “It’s just that I find funny that neither you nor Cadance had told us that you were coming to Canterlot. I mean, we would have provided you with a room at the palace. So how come you just came unannounced?”   Chuckling nervously Sunburst went on, “It was a bit of a spur of the moment kind of thing…”   The Prince raised an eyebrow, “You’re a strange one, aren’t you? Because, unless you’re a gypsy, nopony just goes someplace without giving a notice of some kind.”   “I guess, I mean… sorry? Sorry… I would have, but I guess it was all really rushed. I just needed to work things…” - a pause of the ages -  “.... Don’t worry about it, just needed to do some thinking.”   “Okay, what’s going on really?” Harmonic asked, completely unconvinced. “I may have just met you and all, but I highly doubt that somepony would have come all this way from the Crystal Empire just to think to think things over.” He folded his forelegs. “Sunburst the Crystaller, what is going on?”   “Nothing, it’s… a whole lotta nothing.” Sunburst looked down, kicking the pavements.   The Prince facedhoof, “Would you please stop trying lying to me? This is clearly isn’t nothing. This behavior isn’t nothing. Whatever is going on, is something.”   ‘Subtle, ain’t ya’ Sunburst thought to himself before looking back up to the Prince. “It’s just a stupid decision I have to make, nothing worthy of a Prince, that is for sure. I’m gonna just be on way now Prince Harmonic, thanks for the chat though.”   Just as the orange stallion was about to walk out on the Prince for the third time, the Violinist spoke up saying, “I’m going to take a shot in the dark and ask if this has something to do with somepony that you really, really like?”   Sunburst stopped dead in his tracks for a moment, his head dropped down and his ears folded inwards. “What gave it away?”   “That look you had… Believe it or not, I am quite acquainted with these sorts of things myself.” Harmonic walked over to him and put a hoof on his back. “Still, I’m only guessing, but I suppose that I might have… as they say… ‘hit the nail over the head’ on it? Have I?” Sunburst didn’t respond. “Look… I don’t exactly know how much I’ll be of help, considering my consort…”   “Consort?” the unicorn raised an eyebrow, “What even is that? You’d be amazed how slow stuff travels in the Crystal Empire...”   Harmonic laughed, “You know, that’s exactly what Prince Shining said to me when we first met. But anyway,” he chuckled, cheeks taking on a touch of pink.”Basicly, by Equestria’s definition, a ‘Royal Consort’ is an official special somepony for those who are… well, royalty. Mine is, what some would consider rare and... unusual…” he trailed off, his cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.   “Unusual? I-I mean, I know that feeling.” Sunburst replied, beginning to blush, “Wanna just say it at the same time?”   Both stallions nodded their head in sink three times before blurting out their response, “My partner is a stallion!” both stallion declared in unison. There was an awkward pause as Harmonic rubbed the back of his neck while Sunburst pawed at the ground.   “So…” the Prince was the first to break the tension. “How long have you been with him?”   “Well… We’ve known each other for over a year, but only got… close about two months. You?” He replied.   “Last week has been our third year anniversary.” He sighed happily, “The most joyful years that I’ve ever had to be honest.” The Violinist then chuckled. “You know… out of all I’ve heard from you, I didn’t know that you had a coltfriend. It’s actually… refreshing.”   “Huh, well... You too I guess.” Sunburst began meandering away from the conversation again.   “So I can safely assume that you’re in Canterlot because… he is here for some reason?”   “Pfft hahaha no… yes...” Sunburst huffed, shuffling back to the Prince. “If I tell you what’s wrong will you stop pestering me about it?”   “Please forgive me, I’m doing this because you’re a hero of Equestria that is in need help, and you’re one of few stallions that I personally know that are anything like me. But to answer your question... Yep! Now I don’t know how good my advice would be, mind you, but I’ll do the best I can from what experience I have.”   Sighing Sunburst slid down the wall, sitting on the cobblestones and began. Sunburst told Prince Harmonic everything, getting together, the dates, Hazel’s scholarship and Ristretto moving away. Finishing his story, the orange stallion looked out of their little corner of Canterlot and sighed. “I just never would have thought that I would become this attached when he left, it’s been one of the hardest things in the world seeing him leave. The decision whether to stay or go has been harder than ever.”   Harmonic hummed, for a good solid minute, he meditated in thought until his eyes spied on his violin. Picking it up with his aura, he gingerly handed it over to Sunburst to hold it. “Do you know what you’re holding?” the orange stallion gave a puzzled look. “Look inside it, I think you would be surprised.”   Sunburst being the lesser of the culture of musical instrument gave it a solid attempt, after looking down there for a moment he came back up. “Uhhhh wood varnish?” He asked.   The Prince chuckled, “No. If you looked into the other soundhole, you’ll find that you are holding a masterpiece. One that was made by my father, Cresendo Trotivari. Among all the violins that were ever made by him, that one is the absolute best out of all of them. In other words, it is the most perfectly made violin on the planet. I was told a few years ago that if what you’re holding were to go to auction, that instrument would have the worth of buying three countries, a hooful of islands… and with some leftover to buy an ice cream.”   Sunburst chuckled at the last part, yet, looking down he did notice his stomach grumbling at the thought of food.   “Anyway,” Harmonic continued, “as much as you’re holding a fortune in your hooves, that violin will never, ever be sold. And neither will I ever stray away from my Color Spectrum. Do you know why?”   “No idea.” Sunburst deadpanned.   “Let me tell you something that my mother had told me long ago,” he said as he took the violin back in his hooves. “You have to understand one thing: where I come from, in a town called Cremona, ponies don’t worship alicorns like Equestria does. In fact…” Harmonic paused for a moment, giving a rather sad look. “In the sort of country where I was born, I was thought as something as a demon. A freak of nature. Simply because I was the only one that had a horn and a pair of wings. The only happy memories I had of that place, were from my parents. Well, one day I came home after the foals there head beaten me, again, that mother had found me crying. She did her best to comfort me, (bless her soul).   “She was like that, she was only happy whenever she was trying to cheer me up. I asked her one day why she does that. And to this day, I never forgotten what she told me.” The prince closed his eyes and repeated, “‘Happiness, is the most valuable thing in the world. Because it is as rare as gold, ponies would do anything to get it themselves. You would know when you found true joy is when once you found it, it’ll never leave you. Once you find your own way to be happy, you would walk across the stars, swim across oceans, and drill through mountains to be with it. The reason why it’s so valuable: is that a single day of happiness is worth a lifetime of misery.’”   He then opened his eyes and looked at Sunburst, “That’s why I play my violin. Not because of who made it, but because for a long time, the music it produced has given me comfort, happiness even, especially on my darkest of days. And I found it again in my consort. I would gladly surrender my crown, luxuries that came with it, and even my safety to make sure that Color is happy. Why, he has improve my life so much beyond description that I wish I could marry him right now… except I can't.”   “But… why not?” Sunburst asked.   “According to Equestrian Law, you have to be a minimum of twenty-one to get married. And I’ll be turning twenty in June. So… I’ll have to wait,” Harmonic sighed with a smile, “But Sunburst, for him, I’ll wait forever if I have to.”   “Well I guess you’ll won’t have to wait that long. But thanks, Harmonic sir. It was an honour talking to you and really. I… I have a heck of a decision to make but I think it will be easier to make now.”   The Prince blinked, “You really think so? I mean, Color is much wiser then I am.”   “It was great advice! I hope everything goes well with you and your… cohort? Consort! That’s right. I am starving though, it really was nice meeting you though!”   “Likewise. Say! Two more things: If you are hungry, I know a really good cafe that’s not too far from here. The Copper Pot Cafe, they make my favorite hot chocolate over there as well as some good sandwiches.” While Sunburst thanked him, he asked what the other thing was, “I’m going to have a recital very soon. If you want, you’re more than welcome to come. I’ve been practicing a Moztrot piece in F major, with a slow andante that has a smooth medley, plus, I’ll be playing with an orchestra for the first time.” The prince offered with a broad grin.   Grinning out of nervousness Sunburst nodded his head. “Unno, I’d love to but uhh, there is this thing.. At the place… and it is important I go there.” Sunburst smiled harder, much to the skepticism of the prince. Suddenly Sunburst jumped up, “The Gardens!” He blurted out with a blush. “I was going to visit them while this rare flower bloomed and I am hehe, quite the botanist.”   “Uh-huh,” Harmonic chuckled. “That’s okay, I get it. You have other places to go that need your attention. But still, the invitation is still open to you, just so you know. Have a good night, Sunburst the Crystaller.”   Sunburst chuckled back, “You too, Prince Harmonic.” He waved and made his way from the little street and towards the busier section of Canterlot. “I think it is about time I gave Ristretto a visit.” Sunburst mumbled to himself.