//------------------------------// // The Sun Princess // Story: The Clydesdale // by Ocean Heart //------------------------------// Chance suddenly shot awake, startling Spike who was hovering over him. The dragon yelled out in shock and fled back, rushing behind Twilight again. Twilight leaned forward, concern written on her face...Chance looked around, panting hard and sweating profusely on the ground, the last thing he remembered was falling asleep during Twilight's third lecture; she made it interesting...but his body refused to function without sleep with the sun rising into the cloudy sky. The stallion got to his hooves and yawned, sitting on his flank when he righted himself. "Sorry I fell asleep, Twilight..." He said apolitically. Twilight looked at him in pure confusion, Chance passed out about an hour ago; shifting from peaceful sleep into an agonizing nightmare...he tossed and turned..more writhed...on the floor for hours mumbling to himself. It wasn't until Twilight began using her magic to try and snap Chance out of it that he finally woke up... "Whats wrong..? Do I have something on my face...?" He asked timidly. This wasn't Twilight's department...it seemed more like Princess Luna's. Chance just went though a violent night terror and seemed to have no memory of it...so Twilight resolved to leave it up to the Princess of the night, after all, this might even be an isolated incident. Twilight knew better not to tread into unknown territory, so she put on a wavering smile and let out a cool sigh of relief. "Not at all....are you feeling better?" She asked, Spike peaking out slowly. "Without a doubt." Chance bit his lip and looked at the ground abashed. "But sorry for passing out like that...I wasn't trying to be rude." Twilight found the energy to smile brightly, laughing quietly and sending a calming air out with her soft giggle. It made Spike relax more and laugh awkwardly with her. "It's no problem at all, I was guessing you were running out of steam long before you did end up crashing." Chance looked back up with a soft smile and ears perking back up. Spike tapped her shoulder and whispered up at her in a hushed panic... "What's going on, Twilight...? He was freaking out a second ago!" Chance tilted his head in confusion... Twilight laughed a bit less confidently and tried to dismiss the dragon with a quick step to block him from view. The last thing she needed was for Chance to start recalling that nightmare, if Spike's panic spread to the giant stallion, there was no way of telling what he might do... "What Spike was saying...was...how he was freaking out that the Princess is almost here!" Twilight would never lie...fudging the truth was a different story though.... Chance's eyes widened and he started looking around in panic, wondering just where the princess will show up. "Wait, hold on! I haven't even gotten rid of party mess on me!" Chance ruffled his mane to shake all the confetti out, he rushed around to find a mirror or anyway to be sure he would be presentable...this was a princess after all. Not just any princess, the princess of the sun! The first thing that would put his face to value and determine if he would stay or leave...if he could leave. The giant pony ran to Twilight, nearly running her over when he stopped inches from her with worry glued to his face. "Did I get it all?" He asked hurriedly. Twilight was about to answer, yet she found herself cut off by a soft and warm laugh coming from the balcony. Chance looked up...it was like looking at a pure white pearl's beauty captured in the light of a sunrise, with a mane flowing on a ghost wind and shimmering of every color; gracefully stepping down the stairs and permeating a royal air about her. Not wavering in her step or showing any falter despite her height in the library a she descended. The thing that stood out most...was her wings, giant compared to any bird he has ever seen; with each feather silken and spread the moment she entered the main library. Chance was speechless... Celestia was eye level with the pony, Chance just a hair taller. Twilight quickly rushed to Chances side and bowed, Spike joining suite...unfortunately, Chance didn't catch the hint. "Woah..." He said quietly. Celestia laughed again, Twilight standing back up and looking a bit worried at how the princess would react... "And a hello to you as well." Celestia said..her voice like music. Chance's eyes widened and he realized how rude he was. "Oh! Um...I- Princess-! erm-! ...Hello..." Chance stuttered, lowering his head while he fumbled over his words. Twilight was visibly in pain...Spike simply buried his head in his claws. "I hope my faithful student has been a good host." She said, looking over at all the books and chalkboard with clustered information. Chance looked back up with his eyes, fearful to lift his head again.. "Yea...yes; she was helping me all night learn about Equestria." The princess smiled softly and looked at her student approvingly. Twilight resisted the urge to beam, all her worry fading as she realized the visit wasn't a complete disaster yet. So she decided to try and calm herself, it wouldn't help her situation if she was seen panicking over small things again... "Very good, now what is your name if I may ask." "Jake." Chance couldn't stop himself, it flew out of his mouth before he realized he had said it. Celestia noticed his wince when he said his name and looked at him curiously.. "Jake...a nice name." She said, affirming Chance's fear. With how much he wanted to correct the princess...he couldn't. Already starting out poorly, who was he to correct the princess of the sun... _ _ Celestia sighed in relief inwardly, Jake was friendly, respectful and quite the gentle giant. Everything she had seen...all this worry she had caused herself by delaying the meeting, all of it for nothing. The princess knew now that he would be up for the challenge...and that this stallion would change a lot of things in the small town of ponies. Jake lifted his head back up slowly and smiled when he shook off the idea that she was going to judge him. In truth...it was a lot like last time. "Now Jake, I wanted to speak with you...I brought you here after hearing your plea, it bore a sadness that touched mine and my sister's heart. So your task is to conquer that feeling,only then can you decided where you belong, back on Earth..or here... Go to the castle ruins and open a chamber deep within the catacombs of the ruins...then I will be sure in my decision, and reward you with the one thing you truly desire." The one thing he truly desires..? What else could he want in this amazing world...? It had everything he could ever want or need at his hooftips. Perhaps that was part of the test...What was in the chamber? Better yet, how was he expected to find it...All these questions ran though his head faster than he could begin to think of how to ask. Chance didn't expect to feel a bit off put by the Princess, high expectations were one thing...but this? Celestia seemed to be purposely skipping a bulk of the details...and he hated being lied to; especially when he never expected to be lied to by a Princess... "Uh...well thank you...but I don't understand." He said softly, trying his hardest to not sound insulting. Fear started gnawing at his mind...was she skipping details to send him walking to a terrible fate..? Celestia just smiled in a understanding and comforting way. Chance felt distrust pushing into his view of the solar goddess... "That is why I'm also assigning Twilight Sparkle and her friends to help you along the way. Now I must leave, Canterlot yet still requires my attention. I hope to speak with you again, Jake." Celestia kept that friendly but knowing smile, her horn lighting up in a blinding flash; sending rays of blinding light all about the room and vanishing. Chance rubbed his eyes and looked around, wondering how the princess vanished so quickly...but his mind was more focused on the task thrust upon him. Maybe he was just tired still...so with a silent sigh, he regained his focus and turned to Twilight. "Okay..while that trick was really cool...Is she always as vague as possible?" He asked frankly.