I woke the next morning with a great and powerful yawn, wincing slightly as my not-so-great morning breath left a foul taste dancing on my tongue. Slipping out of the bed (after five minutes of wriggling out of Silva's grip.), I walked into the bathroom to brush my teeth. After two days without doing so, at least an hour would be spent by that sink.

Approximately an hour and a half later I walked out of the bathroom, stretching, and groaned in delight as my back popped in several places. Silva was humming to herself, sitting at the desk and brushing her hair in the mirror. She looked up and smiled, which fell away as soon as it had appeared.

"What?" I asked, worried. I started looking down at myself, self-consciousness taking over my actions.

"It's eight o'clock." Silva replied, pointing at a clock mounted on the wall behind me. It was a unique design, half resembling a sun and the other resembling the moon.

"So? What's so bad about…” I started, then remembered Celestia's orders before we even went clubbing. "Horseapples!"

I ran to a wardrobe that I was sure wasn't there yesterday and searched it for something formal, finally settling on a plain black suit with a white shirt and a blue tie. Running on autopilot, I quickly changed, only looking up when shrugging on the blazer.

Silva was stood there, holding a beautiful black dress with what looked like diamonds lining the edge running along the chest. Her mouth was hung open as she drooled slightly, her eyes mere pinpricks.

I realised what had happened and blushed.

"Silva?" I asked, uneasiness dripping from my words.

"Yeah?" The mare replied, wiping the drool away but still staring.

"I am so, so sorry."

"It's fine."

"I'll just go and let you change."

I started for the door, only to be stopped by a wall of silver energy. Looking to Silva, I saw that her horn was glowing the same colour.

"No, don't. I don't mind."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We skidded to a halt outside the doors to the library. Pushing them open, I saw something that I couldn't help but expect.

Celestia, in an elegant white sundress with golden trims, was trying to pull Twilight from a book - merely one in an entire mountain constructed out of literature. The purple princess was wearing a gown that looked almost too poofy, but I instantly recognised it as her coronation dress.

"Please Twilight!" Celestia yelled, yanking once more at the struggling mare's body. "It is essential that you are at this speech!"

"Why? All your doing is introducing Thunder Rift as Luna's son!"

I dropped the book I had began reading, mouth hanging open and eyes wide as plates. Celestia froze, obviously noticing my presence for the first time.

"What!?" I yelled.

"Oh, hey Thunder Rift!" Twilight smiled and waved at me.

"What!?"

"Now Thunder Rift, I understand you're confused…"

"Damn right I'm confused! Luna's son?!"

"Please, do try to calm down…"

"LUNA'S SON!!!!"

"What son?"

I whipped around, coming face to face with the princess of the night.

"Did you know about this?" I asked, motioning behind me to where Celestia was stood.

"Know about what?" Luna replied, confusion painting her face.

"Well, Mom, apparently Tia thought it was a good idea to introduce me to the public as your son!"

"So?"

I stared at Luna as if she had gone crazy. Well, the whole room had gone crazy, but still…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I sat on a small wooden chair on a large podium in the castle courtyard. To my left sat Silva, and to my right was a rather prudish looking unicorn unmistakable as His Royal Snobishness, Prince Blueblood. When I sat down he had given me a side glance and sneered, almost as if he was repulsed by me presence alone. I was almost tempted to 'accidentally' spill red whine on his pure white suit.

Oh, why must I have a conscience sometimes?

Twilight had eventually agreed to attend at the promise of a well-earned holiday to visit her friends in Ponyville. She sat beside Discord, who had actually worn something normal for once, and Luna, who kept waving to me. Celestia was at a microphone stand, making sure the equipment was wired correctly. I think.

Within the crowd I could make out a few distinct faces. Vinyl and Octavia were there, stood near the back. Filthy Rich was there with Diamond Tiara and, surprisingly, Scootaloo. Huh.

Other well-known faces in the crowd included Sapphire Shores, Photo Finish, Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee. I tried to spot others, but was distracted as Celestia cleared her throat, catching everypony's attention.

"First of all, I must thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend today." She started, smiling warmly across the crowd. "This is truly a momentous occasion, as it introduces a new resident of our fair Equestria."

Hushed mumblings spread across the sea of ponies, many concerning who this new person could be. I had to laugh at a few of the suggestions, though. A griffon? 'Much too barbaric!' Was the reply to that. A dragon, perhaps? 'They would sooner destroy our homes for a few petty gems.'

"Now, now. He is a pony, a Pegasus in fact, and is here with us today. Thunder Rift, would you please join me?"

I stood up and made my way over to Celestia, brushing some dust from my sleeve as I did so. Every pair of eyes were on me, watching my every move and making me feel extremely uncomfortable. Celestia stepped back and gestured to the pedestal, so I took the position.

"Thank you, Princess. May I first say what an honour it is to be here. Since my… arrival two days ago, I have been delighted to indulge myself in what Canterlot has to offer. I am… well-read on the dangers to this land, and I promise to do my part in protecting this fine land from all future invasions, despite my slightly younger age of a mere sixteen."

I bowed to Celestia and made my way back to my chair, leaving her slightly flabbergasted. I had only recognised my age this morning after… circumstances.

"Many thanks for your words of encouragement, Thunder Rift. Now, I'm sure my sister would like to say a few words."

Once again, Celestia stepped away from the pedestal, this time making way for Luna and taking her sister'a seat. Luna smiled at me before addressing the crowd.

"Citizens of Canterlot, it delights me to inform you that I have decided to adopt Thunder Rift as my own son!"

An understandable gasp spread out over the crowd. Luna merely shook her head, though, clearly un-fazed by Canterlot's elite and their oppinions of her. She opened her mouth to speak again…

When Discord cut in.

"I hope you don't mind, Luna." The Draconequus said, clearly not cared if my 'Mom' cared or not. "But I have something to say too. Not about Sparky, though."

"Hey!"

"Whatever. Canterlot Elite, I know you don't like me. In fact, I have heard from a very reliable source of some of your more 'daring' fantasies of what you would like to do to me." Discord reached into his blazer, producing a small felt box.

"However," he continued, " I do not care. And I'd like you to know of a mare who is extremely special to me who also doesn't care."

Looking over to Twilight, I saw a faint blush growing on her purple cheeks, turning them a deep burgundy.

"And today, I'd like to make a commitment to that mare. Princess Twilight Sparkle, could you please join me?"

Twilight stood up slowly, making her way to the smiling chaotic being at the front of the stage. I motioned to a nearby guard, then told him to retrieve something from my room and be extremely careful with it. He nodded and left with a 'Yes, my Prince.'

Discord had lowered himself to one knee during this time, and was now presenting the opened box to Twilight. Tears ran down the mare' space as she beamed down at the surprisingly romantic Discord.

"Twilight, you make a boring life bearable. You taught me the magic of friendship, which lead me to fantastic talks with your brother. You taught me that I didn't need Chaos to be happy. All I need is you, my love. And so, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic…

Would you marry me?"

"Yes!" Twilight cried, throwing her arms around Discord's neck. Surprisingly, the entire crowd applauded, starting from the back with, I assume, Vinyl and Octavia.

The guard returned with my guitar, holding it like it was the most fragile foal in the world.

"Your instrument, Prince Thunder Rift."

"Thank you. And please, call me Thunder."

I stood up, placing the strap over my shoulder, and cleared my throat. Discord looked up and smiled at me, nodding his head. I then heard his voice in my mind.

'Nice choice. Thanks for the lyrics.'

I shrugged and began to play a few cords, Discord standing and holding Twilight's hands in his.

~

Beauty queen of only eighteen

She had some trouble with herself

He was always there to help her

She always belonged to someone else

I drove for miles and miles and wound up at your door

I've had you so many times but somehow I want more

I don't mind spending every day

Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

Tap on my window, knock on my door

I want to make you feel beautiful

I know I tend to get so insecure

It doesn't matter anymore

It's not always rainbows and butterflies

It's compromise that moves us along, yeah

My heart is full and my door's always open

You come anytime you want, yeah.

I don't mind spending every day

Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

I know where you hide alone in your car

Know all of the things that make you who you are

I know that goodbye means nothing at all

Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls

Yeah

Tap on my window knock on my door

I want to make you feel beautiful

I don't mind spending every day

Out on your corner in the pouring rain, oh.

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

And she will be loved

[in the background:]

Please don't try so hard to say goodbye

Please don't try so hard to say goodbye

Yeah, yeah.

[softly:]

I don't mind spending every day

Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Please don't try so hard to say goodbye

~#