My Dearest Dusk

by CrackedInkWell

Chapter 13

“What are you doing?” Dusk asked. “And why are you dressed as a butler?”

Solaris looked down at the clothes he was wearing. “At the moment,” he answered, “I’m helping to serve us dinner. I thought that it would be best if I was the one who served it to you personally. Of course, I could have gotten any servant to do this, but knowing you, it would have made it seem… distant, I suppose.”

Dusk blinked. “Huh. That’s actually… very thoughtful of you.”

The elder alicorn smiled. “Thank you. So, could I get you anything? Perhaps a spinach salad? Or possibly some stir-fry? Maybe I could bring up a honey dandelion sandwich.”

“You’re not telling me that you’re actually going to cook anything, are you?”

The Sun Prince chuckled. “Of course not. You know that I hardly know how to cook. There’s a kitchen below deck, and the chefs are waiting to hear what you want.”

“Oh, okay then.” Dusk put a hoof to his chin and thought for a moment. “What are you going to have?”

“I was thinking of some pasta, a carrot, and broccoli in fettuccine with an alfredo sauce.”

“That… that actually sounds good,” the violet bookworm said. “Would you mind if I have that, too?”

“Of course,” Solaris nodded. “I’ll go down for a moment and tell the chefs to double the order.” Dusk saw him exit through a door for about a minute or two. Soon enough, the taller alicorn came back up, taking a seat across from the young Prince.

“They said it’s going to be about a twenty-minute wait,” his old mentor said. “So I guess in the meantime, perhaps we could talk while we’re here.”

Dusk nodded, “Solaris, where are we going?”

“Let’s see,” the elder alicorn looked around them. At the clouds, the direction of the winds, the position of the sun, and even the landscape that was moving beneath them. “Judging by where the sun is, the eastern winds, and by the look of things, we’re about between Foal Mountain and Hollow Shades. Tell me Dusk, where do you think we’re going?”

His former student looked at the signs around him too. It didn’t take long to figure out where they were headed towards. “Manehattan! We’re going to Manehattan?”

Solaris clopped his front hooves in approval. “Well done. Yes, this airship is merely a taxi, with a meal for us, going to the actual place of our date.”

“In Manehattan?”

“Well, why not? Since this is my first real date with somepony that I care deeply for and since I have all the resources (within reason) to do so, then why not make this date memorable for the both of us?”

Dusk thought for a moment before replying. “To be honest, I didn’t really think that I would be going to Manehattan for a date. I just thought we were-”

“Going to have a quiet, relaxing evening together?” Solaris finished his sentence. “Oh, don’t worry too much, Dusk. For a rare occasion such as this, I promise you that I have not only thought of that but everything else as well.”

The lilac Prince tilted his head a little. “You did?”

Solaris couldn’t help but laugh a little at this, “Of course I did. I-In truth, I have somewhat… daydreamed about how something like this would happen.”

“Really?”

Nodding, his old mentor responded. “Oh yes. For a long time, whenever the court was slow and dull, I might have had a few ideas to show how much I care for you if such an event were to occur. I have narrowed down some of those ideas off the fact that you’re more of a relaxed, intellectual pony that would prefer some quiet moments. Am I correct?”

“Well, yeah,” Dusk confessed, taking a drink from his glass. “Even after all the adventures I had with the guys and the monster attacks that threaten Ponyville or the world at large, I just want to sit down somewhere and read a good book.”

“Like old times?”

Dusk nodded.

“Which is why we’re going to Manehattan,” Solaris explained. “Except for being known to have the second highest population of rich ponies, it’s also a major cultural center and crossroad of Equestria, as well as most of the world. When we get there Dusk, I have a few quiet places to visit, as well as a few surprises, too.” Dusk took another drink of his ice water before the Sun Prince used his magic to fill it up once again with the pitcher.

“To be honest,” Dusk started, “this is actually the first time I’ve been on a date with another guy, so I really don’t know what I’m doing here. I think I’m really unprepared.”

Solaris shook his head. “Nonsense. I know ponies would like to tell you that there’s some form of etiquette when it comes to dating, but from personal experience -- as old fashioned, I maybe -- it’s actually much simpler than you expect.”

“It is?”

“Um-hum,” the white alicorn nodded, taking a drink from his glass. “All you need to do Dusk is to be polite. Be courteous to whom you’re dating. Be honest with them. Make sure you talk with your date and not at them. And most importantly of all, have some fun.” Here, Solaris took a small pocket watch from out of his vest. “I think we have a few more minutes before I bring up the food. Is there anything else you would like to talk about?”

One of Dusk’s mental notes came back to him. “Solaris, could I ask you a very personal question?”

“I don’t mind at all,” he said, putting the watch away. “What is it?”

“Just remember, you don’t have to answer this if you’re too uncomfortable about it. However, I wanted to ask you since I… found out yesterday… Does anypony else know that you’re… you know?”

“Oh…” Solaris paused, looking around the empty dock to see if anyone was listening. When he couldn’t find an eavesdropper, he said in a low voice. “Outside of you and my brother, only the most trustworthy of the palace staff know. In particular, the ones who serve in our private dining room where I can speak freely to Artie. They’re under oath – that being whatever they hear in there, stays in there. Dusk, as far as I’m aware, there have been a few guesses and theories about my sexuality, but I’m careful enough not to leave any solid evidence behind.”

“But, how come you’ve never, you know, come out in the open?”

The Prince of the Day suppressed a chuckle, “Come out? Tell the whole world that the pony they’ve been looking up to, the one they tried giving the title ‘Great’, the one who has to deal with powerful nobles with unchanging bigoted views, the one who is the expected to take wifes to produce heirs, the pony that could never do anything wrong in the eyes of his subjects, is in reality attracted to stallions? Dusk, I’m not stupid. I know what would happen if I had the audacity, to tell the truth.”

Dusk sat up in his seat. “Solaris, with all the respect I still have for you, and the wisdom that I revere so much… you’re wrong.”

The white alicorn looked up in surprise, “Come again?”

“Look,” Prince Shine deadpanned, “you were the one that decreed a bill of rights for ponies that are homosexual, right? And ever since then, ponies all over are no longer fired, or denied housing, or prohibited to get married, or kicked out of their homes under eighteen. They have the means to take care of themselves, and even the youth are protected by harassment and abuse. And this has been around for nearly a century! Ponies now don’t really view gay ponies as any different from anypony else. Solaris, even if you came out, I’m willing to bet you my new home that most of Equestria wouldn’t even care if you’re gay. Besides, you’re the embodiment of the Sun, so I think the nobility might gripe, but they will leave you alone.”

His old teacher sighed. “Dusk, that was exactly one of the reasons why I decreed those rights, to begin with. The idea that if I free ponies that were like myself from fear, prejudice, insecurity, hatred, then maybe, just maybe, I might be free as well. But after I signed it, I quickly found a paradox: the more ponies that are freed, the more I had to suppress myself just to keep this nation together. I may control the Sun, but I still have to earn and keep some ponies’ trust in me.” Here, Solaris sad sighed, “Oh Dusk, what I wouldn’t give to come out to everyone without fear or worry of what would happen next. I would give the crown, the capital, even the powers of the Sun just to not only to be free but to be with you in the open as well.”

The former student pondered this social problem, trying to think of something to make him feel better. “You know,” he said cautiously, “I’ve heard Applejack tell Applebuck, when he was caught lying about cheating on a test just so his family could appreciate him, that: ‘It’s better, to tell the truth, and get punished, than to carry a lie that will end up eating you alive. Because even if you did tell the truth and got yourself into trouble, the ponies around you would respect you more because you were willing to get yourself into trouble, rather than forever denying that you’re something you’re not.’ Solaris, even if everypony wanted you overthrown, and would call you a huge list of insults, there’s one name they won’t give you.”

“And what’s that?”

“A liar,” Dusk answered, and Solaris was speechless. His mouth opened and closed as if trying to make a comeback to that wisdom but couldn’t. For a few minutes, there was only the sound of wind and the spinning of the propeller that carried the silence. Eventually, the Sun Prince took out his pocket watch.

“I think the food should be ready,” he said getting out of his seat. “I’ll be right back,” he said before he walked away below deck, carrying the words that his beloved had spoken.

Comments

[Lord Solaris]

i am now going to wait for the big reveal