Cyrus had a happy life. His family was very loving, he did not want for anything, and he enjoyed every moment of every day. He did well in school. He wasnt the smartest or strongest kid, but it was easy enough for him. And he had plenty of friends. His family was very supportive of him, and did their best to make his life wonderful.

His father, Johnathan, worked from home as a graphics designer for a large company, making more than enough to keep his family comfortable. This gave him plenty of time to spend with his family, going on fishing trips and campouts, or teaching his kids how to draw. Cyrus loved his father, and they were close, but his older sister, Sarah, had been closer.

Sarah was a university student, going to one of the more prestigious schools in the area, but lived at home with her family. She was working towards a medical degree in the hopes of someday becoming a neurosurgeon. Always having been the active sort, she would often get her family into games of football or baseball, and on occasion even convice them to play paintball with her, though she almost always won. Their mother, Eester, never joined them in the more intense activities because of medical issue, but she always loved to watch Sarah in her element.

Easter was an author, know quite well locally, and earned enough from it to make every birthday and christmas great. Cyrus always loved listening to her voice, it was calm and motherly, and he'd take any chance he got to make her read him stories. She always called him her little sunshine, and would sing his favorite song to him all the time. They were as close as a mother and son could be.

He had a happy life...

She had gone to the doctor's office for a proceedure. For Cyrus, only 16 at this time, it was just another day. His mother would often go to see the doctor for this or that, or get some small proceedure done, and be home by the end of the day. He thought nothing of it, until his father got a phone call. Tears fell from Johns eyes as they doctors explained what happened. She experienced a major allergic reaction, either to the anethstesia, or the stuff they used to try and wake her up, and caused her to go into a coma, and they couldn't wake her up. Cyrus cried upon entering her hospital room, and refused to leave her side for more than a few minutes at a time.

After three days, Easter woke up. Cyrus was asleep next to her bed, lying his head next to her hands. She placed her hand on him, waking him. Lifting his head to look at her, his face lit up, and relief spread through his heart. he held her hand as she smiled at him.

"Stay strong for me. I love you, My Little Sunshine," she whispered to him, before a seizure struck her. Machines were wailing and footsteps could be heard coming from the other side of the hospital door, as Cyrus looked upon her convulsing form in horror. When the doctors arrived, a nurse pulled him out of the room, and sat with him in a nearby waiting area.

An hour later, a doctor showed up, and declared her dead.

His happy, bright life began to grow dimmer at this point. His mother was everything to him, and it was hard on him, but he still had his family. With their help, and some sessions with a psychiatrist, he was eventually able to move on. He did as his mother had asked, and stayed strong for her. Life was still good, but it didn't feel quite as bright, and there was a hole in his heart. His sister, however, wasn't taking it nearly as well.

Her mother's death had been devestating to her. Her grades began to fall in class, she stopped going out as much, and she didn't spend time with Cyrus as much. She was distraught and angry, and it was effecting her life. Eventually, she dropped out of school entirely, leaving her dream of a medical career behind.

Three years after their mother's death, Sarah decided to join the military.

Her life was falling apart around her, and she needed something to help her pull it back together, and military seemed like the answer. Cyrus didn't like the idea one bit. They were currently at war, and he wasn't about to let her go over seas and get herself killed. But she refused to listen, and their father was supportive of her decision. Cyrus was about to lose another person in his life, and it made him angry.

While she prepared for boot camp, Cyrus grew further from his family. He was angry at her for leaving, and even more so at his father for supporting this insane idea. Two weeks after she left, Cyrus got into a fight with his father, shouting and screaming was heard by the neighbors, and Cyrus stopped speaking to him. Months later, when they got a call from her, she had finished boot camp, and was preparing to go overseas. Cyrus attempted to disuad her, and have her come home, but she wouldn't. A month after, Cyrus had another fight with his father. It ended with broken furniture, and Cyrus moving out to live on his own. His life grew dimmer.

He got a job working in retail for a local super market. It was a nasty place near a the grimy apparentment he lived in, and every day of work was terrible. His boss seemed to hate him for some reason, and was often overly strict and unforgiving when Cyrys made a mistake. He had been suspended from days of work multiple times, and had his hours cut often.

His apparetment was disgusting and gross. Stains on the walls and odd odors were coming from everywhere. Every day he would find one of his neighbors doing drugs outside his door, and would have to either shout at them till they moved, or shove them out of the way himself if they were too out of it to notice him. He had grown angry, and this drove away his friends, but even still, he tried to keep strong, he kept moving forward.

John hadn't been doing nearly as well. He was miserable. Though they were still alive, he had lost his children, and was left alone in his home. After his children left, he closed the doors to their rooms and never opened them again. He put all the family pictures in boxes and stored them away where he couldn't see them. He stopped leaving the house for anything other than shopping, and his work began to suffer.

Five years after his wife died, John got a phone call.

His daughter, his sweet little girl, Sarah, had been killed in the line of duty. John broke down crying then and there. He wailed and screamed and cried for his family for hours. His heart had been broken into a million pieces. Hours later, Cyrus recieved a phone call from his father, explaining what happened. Cyrus exploded. He screamed and swored and cursed at his father for an hour, before finally calming down. Before hanging up, his father spoke a hushed, "I'm sorry."

The next day, Cyrus attempted to call him back to apologize, but got no answer. After several calls, he decided to head back home and speak to him in person. He knocked on the door, but got no answer. thankfully, he still had a key, and made his way in, only to find the house in shambles. It hadn't been properly cleaned in months. Furniture was broken and tossed about, bottle of alchol were strewn about, and it smelt of garbage. Cyrus made his way to his fathers room, only to find an empty bottle of pain killers next to his fathers body, and a suicide note on the bed.

His life had gone dark, and Cyrus broke. He couldn't stay strong anymore. He had tried, and did as much as he could, but his family, everyone he had ever loved, was gone. Everything he held dear in his life had been taken from him. He turned to alcohol to try and drown out the pain.

Six years after his mother's death, something strange happened.

He was thrown out of a bar, the owner telling him to either pay up his tab, or never come back again. It was dark, and cold, and everything was wet from the rainstorm an hour earlier. The sky was overcast still, and it was nearly midnight. He made his was home through the dingy streets and alleyways. As he passed an otherwise unremarkable alley, he heard a faint tune. He recognized it. His mother used to sing it to him all the time. He made his way down the alley in search of its source. What he found was nothing like he had ever seen before.

Imbedded in a brick wall was a beautiful, ornate doorway. Through the doorway he could see a world full of color. Gorgeous rolling hills of green, breathtaking snowcapped mountains. The bluest sky he'd ever seen. An awe inspireing city could be seen in the distance, hanging off the side of a mountain, and at the mountain's base was a large village near a forest.

As he observed everything he could of this strange world beyond the doorway, Cyrus felt hope, and happiness. He felt like maybe things weren't so bad. He wanted to go there.

A voice spoke to him. It was the most amazing voice he'd ever heard. It sounded soft, loving, and caring. Like a corus of harps playing a kind song.

"My dear Cyrus. I have watched you for some time now. I have seen the pain and suffereing you have been through. I have seen the loss you've experienced, and the rage that came from it. I've seen you lash out at those you once cared for, and lost them as a result. You once had such a wonderful life, full of love and joy. I wish to give you such a life once again."

Cyrus's eyes went wide. He spun around looking for the source of the voice. No one was around, and there was nowhere for anyone to hide, not even any windows on the walls. This strange voice from seemingly nowhere was talking to him. He didnt know how to respond. Deciding he had finally gone crazy, he simply went with it.

"Wh---Why? Why have you been watching me? Why do you even care? I---"

"I watched you because I was curious. I found you world many millenia ago. I was fascinated by it. You humans have made such wonders the likes of which my world has never seen, and possibly never will. As for you specifically? I'm not entirely sure. I had a feeling, and it drew me to observe you. A feeling that drove me to watch you since the day you were born. I care because I feel you can help me, and my daughter. The voice trailed off and left Cyrus in silence for a moment.

"Your daughter...?" he was cut off before he could speak further.

"I will give you a choice, though you must make it now. I offer you a new life, in my world. A world of wonder and magic. Of adventure and excitement. Equestria. A world where you could be happy again. All you have to do is walk through this doorway into it. But if you do... you may never come back. If you choose to stay, this door will close forever, and you will never hear from me again."

A new life? A happy life? Cyrus was sceptical of all this. you can't just GET a new life, jsut like that. But still, what did he have to lose? He was crazy, so he'd likelyend up walking into a wall, but if the hope budding in his chest turned out to not be in vain... he might get to be happy again.

Without a word, Cyrus walked into the doorway, towards what may or may not be a new life...

"A wise choice, child. I wish you well in your new life..."

The evening sun shone into the throne room, filtered through several grand stained glass windows, depicting many important events and beings from Equestrias history. The great doors of the throne room closed, with the last of todays petitioners leaving, marking the end of this court session.

Taking a deep breath, Princess Celestia, controller of the heavens, and previously the sole ruler of an entire nation, descended from her throne. A gorgeous creature she was. She was tall, standing a two heads and neck over even the tallest earth pony, and her long, grand horn made her even taller than that. She had a pearly white coat that seemed to shine like the sun in the light. Her long, ethereal mane and tail were a pastel rainbow of green, pink, blue, and purple, flowed with a wind that was not there, giving her a mystical look. Two large, well cared for wings were snug to each of her sides, but when opened showed a large and impressive wingspan. Upon her hindquarters was an image of her glorious sun, her cutie mark, showing the world her special talent.

Her most striking features, many would say, were her eyes. Violet pools that showed nothing but kindness, wisdom, and love to everyone she looked at. Many who looked upon her were stricken dumb, unable to speak properly or control their motor fuctions. She found this to be quite silly, and enjoyed teasing and flirty with ponies simply to see this reaction. When she laughed, it was usually a small giggle held behind her hoof, but when she laughed, It was loud, and filled a room with mirth and joy. It would ring out through halls and rooms, filling the castle with happiness, and even making it's way outside at times. It was a wonderful sound.

She made her way through her castle, aiming for her favorite place in the gardens which were quite at this time of day. A soft breeze weaved through the trees, making a light, calming rustle. The animals were beggining to fall asleep, the groundskeepers and most of the guards were making there way home for the day, leaving the place empty. and the sun was making its way down, ready for Celestia to pull it below the horizon, to make way for the moon. This was Celestia's favorite place, at her favorite time of day. Celestia found her favorite spot, a hill in the center of the gardens that allowed her to look out ever the top of the foilage at the horizon. Her horn lit up, and surrounded the regalia that adorned her. She placed her peytral and crown in a neat pile nearby, before lightly tugging on her hoofshoes and pulling them off, setting them in the same place. She daintly sat down on her haunches in the grass, givng a long, satisfied sigh, before she lied down fully, tucking her forhooves under her.

Philomena, her beloved companion and pet pheonix, flew down from the open window of her room to join her, landing beside her and nuzzling her cheek. Celestia smiled and nuzzle back, before turning her attention to the sun, which was just tickling the horizon, ready to be put to rest for the night. Lighting her horn, Celestia guided her charge downwards, her magic briefly mingling with her sister Luna's magic as she brought up the moon. Since her sister's return from a 1000 year long banishment, this became her favorite passtime, and a very enjoyable part of her day. As the sun fell, Philomena took off, taking in the last rays of the descending sun, and made her flight back to Celestia's balcony.

Finally, the sun dissapeared completely, and the last rays of twilight flickered and dissapeared, leaving the stars and moon to dominate the sky, ending the grand display, and Celestias favorite part of the day. And now begun her least favorite part of the day. The touch of her sister's magic dissapeared as she brought her touch away from the sun, leaving her hollow and alone in the middle of an empty garden at night. For a thousand years, it was at this time, in this place, that Celestia would find herself at her lonliest, no one for her to be with and talk to. No one to care for her and show her affection. Logically, she knew there were many who would gladly give her the companionship she needed, and give her lover and friendship she craved. She knew they loved and cared for her, and many would do anything for her in such a regard, but it just wasn't the same. There was a hole in her heart, one she knew how to fill, but was afraid to do so.

The alicorn gazed at the night sky, observing her sister's night sky, as tears fell from her eyes. She watched the twinkling of a thousand stars, the soft glow of the moon, and the flight of nocturnal creatures as she let loose her loneliness. The Guardian of the Sun cried, as her heart heaved. She had once filled the hole in her heart with love. With a stallion named King Sombra, from beyond a magical mirror in another world. But many things happened, and for the better of both their worlds, he was lost to her forever. And it hurt. She had lost many who were close to her over time. Her farther died protecting her when she was but a child. Her mother disapeared when she and her sister earned their cutie marks. Other siblings she had either left one day and never came back, or simply grew old and died. Friends withered away with time. Even her sister was taken from her for a thousand years. But his loss had hurt her the most. His loss had taken much from her, and she had no way to fill the void.

It caught Celestia's eye. She always loved wishing upon them, somthing she had done since her childhood. So far, every one of her wishes had come true, even if it did take many years before it did. She hoped that this time would be no different. With hope in her heart, she closed her eyes and whispered a small wish to it.

You are my Sunshine

by Mirenheart

My only Sunshine