//------------------------------// // Solaria // Story: Who we really are? // by FieryUnicorn42 //------------------------------// A knock on the door wakes Sunset, she sits and tries to rub her eyes and the hardness of her hoof makes her remember that she was a pony again. "Ouch, I have to remember to not do this again." "Miss Sunset?" "I'm awake." "Sorry to interrupt your sleep, but princess Celestia is waiting for you for breakfast." "Say the princess that I'll be there in a few minutes, thanks." After her morning routine, she reaches the kitchen and finds her mother and aunt sat at the table. "Sorry to make you wait, aunt Luna, I guess you are pretty sleepy." "It's ok, Sunset" replied Luna yawling, "it's not every day that I can have breakfast with my niece." She sits and Celestia slides a plate of pancakes in front of her, along with a bowl of sliced fruits. Sunset notice that her pancakes were decorated to resemble her face. "Thanks, mom, they look delicious." "You're welcome, my sunshine." "So, auntie, how was your night watch?" Rubbing her eyes, Luna swallows her food before answer. "A bit out of ordinary, more ponies having nightmares than the normal, but is nothing to worry about." "You look more tired than yesterday." "I'm fine sister, but I appreciate your worries." They had a small talk during breakfast, and some minutes later, Sunset grabs a napkin to clean her mouth. "Thanks, mom, the food was really delicious, but if you both don't mind, I'm going to spend the morning exploring Canterlot, I wanna know what changed since I left." "Want some company? I'd love to visit the city with you." "I don't think this is a good idea, mom, you are Princess Celestia, everypony knows you and I was planning to be as much incognito as possible." "Well, I have a trick on my sleeve." "And here we go again," said Luna annoyed, "you know what? I don't care, I'll be in my room, sleeping. Good Luck, Sunset." she then left the kitchen. "Why she is so annoyed? Was something that I said?" "Your aunt is just grumpy because she's sleepy, that's all. As I was saying, I have a trick on my sleeve." Celestia then lights her horn and in a flash, a pegasus with an orange mane and a cream coat appeared in her place, looking closely, Sunset saw that her cutie mark was a sun disguised with a mask. "You have to be kidding." Sunset facehooved "Now I understand why aunt Luna was so pissed." "Come on, this time I have no amulet to be stolen, everything will be fine." "What?" "Funny story, I tell you later." "You don't have royal duties or something like it to do?" "Your sister will be in my place today as part of her training to be the next Equestria's ruler, so I have a free day." "You won't leave me alone, will you?" "Nope. Now that I have you back, I'll stay with you forever, and ever, and ever." Said Celestia with a silly smile on her face. "I really miss the time that you don't have a sense of humor. So, do you have a name for this character or not?" "You could call me Solaria. I was born in a pegasus village near Neighagra Falls, but dad got a job in Cloudsdale and we move on when I was eight. My mom sold bottled clouds shaped like animals. I dreamed to become a wonderbolt but during the tryouts, I hurt my wing and I'm not able to fly full speed since then." "You are doing this for a while, isn't it?" "Some years, in fact." "I guess, you have everything covered with your backstory." "And your sister thought that I'm a bad actress." "She what?" "I tell you later." Sunset and Solaria walk through Canterlot commercial district when she sees a familiar face. "Rarity, is good to see you" "Sunset? what a surprise! Twilight doesn't tell me that you were in Equestria." "Yeah, I came to visit my mom." "And who is this lady with you?" "Hi miss Rarity, my name is Solaria. I work as one of the castle's maids." "Oh, nice to meet you Solaria. So you are escorting Sunset today?" "Yes. The princess said that she couldn't leave the castle so, she sends me to escort miss Sunset." "So, Rares, can I call you Rares?" "Sure thing, darling, we are friends, aren't we?" "Okay, what brings you to Canterlot, Rares?" "Bussiness. I came to visit my boutique here." "I didn't know that you have a boutique here." "Miss Rarity is a very successful mare, miss Sunset. She has boutiques here, in Ponyville and in Manehattan." "Wow, I guess this makes you the fashion empress of Equestria." "May Celestia hear you! but I'm not quite there yet." "I don't think that you are that far from this, you're one of the best fashionistas that I know." Sunset sits and rubs her chin with a hoof. "I mean, I only know two fashionistas personally, and both are you, but I guess you know what I trying to say." "I guess so. Twilight said that she is pretty good." "As good as you, I guess. Well, I won't take more of your time, I guess you are busy this morning." "A little bit, yes. Here, take my card, so you can visit me whenever you want." "Thanks. See you later" After waving their goodbyes, Solaria and Sunset began to walk again. "You are pretty good acting too, Sunset. You not even blinked before following my cue." "Is part of my old skills. I'm not proud of the way that I used this before, but is pretty useful." "So..." said Sunset breaking the silence that started to linger "how much time can you keep this form? I guess that now that you are a pegasus, won't able to change back whenever you want." "I have nearly five hours in this form, after this, I'll become Celestia again." "Nice. So, what you wanna do, Solaria?" "I think visiting Ponyville would be nice. Canterlot is great, sure, but I'm not willing to bump in any noble, even if they can't recognize me." "I never thought that you hated those meetings that much." "When you live long enough like me and have to deal with the same chit-chat for a millennium, you get used to it, but it doesn't make their requests less annoying. You have no idea how many times ponies requested an audience begging me to extinguish the sun, or send their neighbors to prison because a dog pooped on the grass, or even ordering me to leave the throne and make Equestria free from my tyranny or they will put my head on a spear." "You know what? I'm glad that you decided to not make me a princess, I will never be able to deal with these stupidness levels." "Well, your old you certainly aren't suited to be a princess, now the present you, is another story." "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on your horse, princess." "Hold on my what?" asked Solaria lifting an eyebrow "Horse." Sunset then understands her mother's confusion. "Hold on your horse is an expression of my world, it means to slow down or hang in there. I know what are you implying, but, no, I'm suited to be a princess." "You are a truly changed pony, why do you say that you're not suited to be a princess?" "I'm not a good person, I'm a reformed ex villain. I tried to kill my sister and the girls that later became my best friends. Sometimes I have not-so-nice thoughts about people around me, especially when they piss me. I try my best to be good, and I know that they all forgave me, but I'm not worthy to be a princess and to be honest, and I'm happy being just a normal girl, with life so normal as possible." "I guess, we aren't so different. We both try to be as good as possible, but I really think that now you are a better pony, even worthy to be a princess, but I'll respect your choice to not be one if you don't want to." "Thanks, 'Solaria'," Said Sunset with a little smile "you are a really good friend." "Thanks, 'miss Sunset'." replied Solaria bowing her head ironically "So... since you are princess Celestia's daughter, how about talking to her about an increase in my salary? You have no idea how the life cost in Canterlot rises up in the last months." "Yeah, I'll talk with her about reviewing the castle staff salaries." said Sunset laughing.