Author's Note

The dream duel is set to Duel of fates from Star wars if you want to have fun with it.

A Sleepover at Sweet Apple Acres

A Sleepover at Sweet Apple Acres

Dream world

The mountains rose high around the lengthy stone bridge that connected two terrestrial masses above a seemingly bottomless abyss. The white garb wrapped me tightly and secured my wings to my body, I rolled my shoulders but it didn't seem to loosen the body wrap under the garb. Across the stone walk way was the figure in a dark cloak, Luna removed her hood and raised a black saber of magic which ignited with an ominous hiss and gave off dark energy like a dark fog. I raised my own saber and ignited the white blade and slid my feet apart while pointing two fingers and angling the saber downwards at Luna.

She nodded and in an instant she was gone, on habit I tried to detect her through the ground but all my elemental magic had been frozen. I anticipated a strike and rolled back to have my previous location slashed by the saber of Luna. I bounced off two magic circles from excel to try and score a blow to the head or upper torso. She evaded and we both stood upon magic circles of the same spell.

"You were like a mother to me Luna, how could you do this?" We both dashed forward and clashed blades at incredible speeds. I bounced around through the air twisting and turning hoping to catch a hole in her defense but she remained low and was feeling out my strikes for a counter attack. The magic blades hissed as we both pressured in trying to break the others resolve. The saber would only remain on if I continued an uninterrupted flow of solar magic into the crystal in the hilt, Luna had some fashioned in the crystal empire but the engineers up there cant get the things to not blow up so until then we practice during naps.

"You were supposed to be the chosen one Sun." I turned off he blade to catch her off guard but before I could reignite she almost managed to slice my head off. I dashed backwards and raised a glowing hand which unleashed a gold beam at the Lunar princess, she returned her own black beam.

I had a trick up my sleeve I had been practicing since Crimson almost beat me to death in my own head, "Chains of the divine!" The Lunar princess looked shocked as my magic morphed into many golden chains that began quickly eating her dark energy. The chains wrapped themselves around Luna causing her to lose focus and fall to the stone path below. She quickly became annoyed and reduced the chains to glitter with a dark pulse. I pointed my saber down at her, "I have the high ground Luna give up!" I saw a smile spread across her face and the word "Gravitos" walk across her lips as I was immediately crushed against a magic circle as the gravity was increased by a couple hundred times.

"Not yet Sun, not this century at least." I just closed my eyes to end the training session.

Top of the Tower: Everfree castle

My loft had the same chill it always did because of its peculiar altitude which really made it suck to take that first step out of the bed in the morning. It had been two weeks sense the raid outside Las Pegasus and the Intel recovered was taking the team in two directions, direction one was following the money and nobility connections, direction two was my job following the confirmed connection to the Eqestrian club scene and how they are using night clubs to transport their weapons in Hoofington. For this mission Ill be disguised as a pony code name Artemis Moon working with the one and only Vinyl Scratch on her tour. This amazing plan was thought up by Luna and Blood Rain based on the data and Vinyls leg of her tour being the best opportunity to come in contact with the mercs. All things considered Vinyl seemed really excited when me, Luna, Blood, and her sat down to discuss if she was willing to participate, She seemed too excited to have Artemis Moon at her beck and call for a week. Fun stuff aside I was preparing for my next mission and training in stealth and dark magic which was making big strides, I could almost shadow cloak which is basically an invisibility spell using shadows and my dark magic tendrils can hold up a train car so I can start relying on those more. My Solar magic was limited to the chain spell and a spell I created called a hero shot, basically I just charge Solaris up with as much energy as possible and pass out but I'm working on it. Other than that most of the team was spread out across Eqestria leaving my castle to me and the spiders.

There was a pounding on my door causing me to drop my pen that was for a letter to Fleetfoot regarding the Las Pegasus raid. I preemptively checked my cutie mark map to see who was outside the door. The butterflies and Apples signifying Fluttershy and Aj put me at ease. I didn't need Luna showing up in her mistress of darkness costume wanting to dual this early in the morning. I opened the door to a nervous Apple jack and a smiling Fluttershy.

"How's it going you two?" Aj wasn't making eye contact so I looked to Fluttershy.

"All the girls are getting together tonight and we're wondering if you wanted to spend sometime with us before you leave tomorrow." I had been locked up in my room for awhile trying to track down the mysterious knight and unicorn on top of building a case file on the mercenary gang. It would do me good to spend some time with the girls before I spent the week with Vinyl.

"I'm free what's the plan?"

"We are all going over to Apple jacks and having a relaxed night."

"Sounds good to me", Aj moved her eyes to mine

"You should probably bring sleeping stuff." My face got red and I retreated into my room a little bit.

"Will do. Any chance you girls want to come in for a little while?" They both nodded, heading into my inner sanctum ahead of them the embarrassed mare wouldn't pick up her head even as I packed a small bag and pulled the cuff of my jeans over my wonderbolt boots. "I know we are having a relaxed night but I have a request."

Fluttershy cocked her head at me, "What is it Sun?"

"I want to go sledding!" My brain had already made the switch from planning to fun and I wanted to make the most of this peaceful moment before its gone. Both of the mares smiled and Apple Jack perked up.

"I know the perfect spot." I gave her a big smile as I slung the bag over my shoulder.

"Why wait then lets go now." They informed me that the rest of the girls would be busy until later tonight.

Ponyville Sledding Hill

We had left my castle for Fluttershy's house so she could grab some thicker coats and pants, we did the same for Apple jack and I dropped off my bag at Sweet Apple Acres. I was dragging the sleds as the two ahead of me where chatting about not sledding in ages. The fillies and colts of Ponyville were enjoying their day off school and where surprised to see us. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell, and Scootaloo ran up to the mares ahead of me. The three fillies question the older girls why they are here.

"I actually made them because I have never gone before." Their eyes popped wide and I was basically dragged up the hill to the amusement of the mares. I found myself at the top of the hill where everyone aside us four had stopped part way up. "So why are we so much farther up than everyone else?" Applebloom made a face like I was dumb.

"See this hill has only been conquered top to bottom by Rainbow Dash and we need you to do it." I looked at the distant forms Aj and Fluttershy at the bottom of the hill. I had no fear of heights but the prospect of wiping out in front of the girls was embarrassing. I went to protest but the three fillies gave me a push and I was now off down the hill on my back and upside down. I rolled to my stomach to get a nice few of the ever approaching bottom, as I hurtled down the slope many ponies jumped out of my way to not get run over. In the blink of an eye I passed the area where the other sleds stopped and was sent up a drift and into the air. My wings popped wide in surprise and before I could think I was face down in the snow. A couple moments passed and I felt gentle prodding from a boot, rolling over I was in the company of AJ, Fluttershy, and the three fillies.

"How nice of you guys to visit me and my snow drift here." Two big smiles formed on the mares faces and propositions to go down again were thrown at me by the other three. I stood up and put my arms around the two mares, "So who's going down with me?" They both turned a little red but Fluttershy beat Aj with a raised hand. I clasped her yellow hand and charged about halfway up the hill the same way the younger girls did with me. She took the front part of the sled and I sat behind her and as soon as we began to move she gripped the sides of the sled with a death grip. I could only imagine her stressed out face as we went down the hill with considerable speed. We came to rest and she jumped for joy and gave me a hug.

"Thank you Sun that's the highest on the hill I've ever been I can finally get Rainbow to stop picking on me."

"You are welcome, honestly I forget how much of a scaredy cat you can be." She just smiled still in the euphoria of her triumphant moment. I was interrupted from the touching moment as my legs were swept out from beneath me as I came to rest on my back. "Well that was sudden," I looked over and AJ and her sister had collided with me on purpose as they were snickering at my sprawled out form. Without moving from my back I pointed my right hand at them and their smiles turned to dread as a grey ball of wind magic formed and then released spraying a mound of snow on the two. I began laughing hysterically as the two popped their heads out of the snow. "Mess with the Sun you get the burn." They both cringed and Apple Jack grabbed the sled and attempted to bonk me on the head with it. I moved a little too fast for the mare and I slapped her right leg in front of her left causing her to fall on top of me. Her face fell right between my legs and I was blessed with her toned legs not gently coming to rest on my face, like a cat to water her whole body lurched and as quick as she came into contact with me she was on her feet blushing profusely.

"Sun you are such an idiot I swear." It was reasonable to not be amused after something like that. Fluttershy was standing anxiously off to the side and went to say something as a large commotion could be herd by the pond. Diamond tiara and Silver Spoon strangely enough came running up to us destroying the awkward tension.

"Sun, some pony fell through the ice!" I stopped a mental gulp at the thought of water especially cold water as I hopped up and ran to the crowd. As I hurried I pulled of my top layers to try and lessen the chance of drowning my boots also came undone at the waters edge as I was informed the colt Snails was the one who had fallen through the ice playing hockey. There was a couple bubbles right where the hole was and that's all I needed to jump in head first. The water immediately stabbed into me as if a million frozen needles grazed my skin at once. There was a moment of panic before I noticed the orange jacket of the colt. I grabbed the hood and pulled him closer as a blue magic circle stopped my descent in the water, excel went into effect and we both came bursting out of the water into the air. The crowd had grown much larger and panicked. I moved over to the still unmoving form and began expelling large amounts of heat from my body to hopefully warm up the colt. I checked for breathe but he definitely wasn't breathing.

"Does anypony know CPR?" I got no response I cursed mentally before hovering a glowing blue hand over the colts lungs. If I screwed this up just the tiny bit the blood in his heart would also stop moving and he would certainly die. I slowly moved the hand towards his face and he began coughing up the water most of it ending up in my face, luckily for me he rolled over before dumping the contents of his stomach. I sat back onto my ass as Aj and Fluttershy wrapped me in my own coat. I was basically already dry besides my hair as a result of my magic but it was still so cold. They were both rubbing my arms trying to heat me up with some friction but my shivering persisted. In a moment of clarity I raised a hand towards the water and a small ball of white light formed and my eyes could of deceived me but part of the hole I had just came out of froze over a little. I was snapped from my day dream as the two mares hugged me.

AJ had a strange pride in her voice, "What would this place do without you Sun." Fluttershy gave a reaction to the statement by squeezing me tighter. "Well Sugar cube we should probably get you to Sweet Apple Acres before you go on and turn into a Sunsicle." I mentally noted I was on sugar cube status for the day.

"Ill be fine don't worry I just need to get a little warmer." I hopped to my feet and took a couple cautious steps back before I allowed the orange and red flames to dance up my body rendering me hypothermia proof for the time being. I dawned my coat once again and noticed the crowd was still not dispersing but actually looking at me expectantly. " We can't throw a huge party every time I do something." The crowd of mostly teenage ponies deflated and begin walking off, I was probably the best thing to happen to all these young ponies that want to party all the time. I turned to my friends who were smiling at me.

Fluttershy spoke up, "You mean no public party." I grinned at the yellow mare

"I guess you're right. Why don't we start heading over to AJ's, it would suck for the others to beat us over there."

` Sweet Apple Acres

I had come to rest in the living room couch as soon as I had arrived which was over an hour ago. Everyone was gathered in the living room which included all of the elements, Granny, and Mac. The noise over todays heroics came and went, with the current topic being the secret that Rarity couldn't tell me but wish she could. Everyone was either rolling their eyes or they were Rarity. I began shoveling an Apple fritter in my mouth from off the coffee table as she was excitedly explaining how she had outdone herself. I looked over at Mac who must of felt my gaze as I motioned with my head to go to the other room. As we got up the mares gave us little attention besides granny who also got up and followed us into the kitchen. I turned to face the two ponies as we were out of ear shot. "Hey Mac, you ever have a girlfriend?" He wasn't expecting the question and actually began chuckling.

"Eeyup."

"How about multiple at one time." Granny was also beginning to grin.

"Eeyup" I mentally smacked myself for asking the least talkative guy I know, I could of asked Crescent but I would of got a bogus story about how he laid 17 bat mares in one night or something, and Shinning was out of the question. "I'm one of the only stallions around these parts and especially when the heat happens I'm approached by a lot of mares." My eyes went a little wide getting such a long response from him.

"Is it ever overwhelming?"

"Eeyup." I smacked myself and granny chuckled. I could put off my romantic issues until I got home. Granny could tell I was struggling and finally gave her 2 sense.

"Sun you are a man, a prince, and quite popular. I'm sorry to say it but you are going to be expected to wed quite a bit of mares but you do need to get some experience and this one on one time with a mare might do you some good." I was dumb struck.

"What do you mean by experience?" She didn't say anything but gave me the I'm stupid look. "I'm not a ...."

"With mares you are and if you are gonna end up spending the rest of your life with some of the mares in the next room over you should at least know how to please them. I know my granddaughter is one of the front runners in your heart but I'm also looking out for you when I say figure yourself out romantically before you tie yourself down to a harem, wouldn't want you losing that spot in playpony so soon after getting it." I died a little bit and she laughed rather heavily as she expertly pushed the right buttons to get the reaction she wanted.

"How do you even know that?"

"I always listen to their gossip, like right now they are talking over how they feel about you going away with Vinyl and why Rarity made such flashy clothing for a guy her friends like, oh didn't mean to spoil the surprise." I guess it makes sense that Luna would contract Rarity to make a new wardrobe for my Artemis form. I pressed my ear to the wall to hear Rarity defending herself from the onslaught of the other mares.

"Hot guys make cloths hot even if I gave him a dish rag when he turns all mysterious and handsome there's no way mares wont notice, you all just need to calm down and realize there's a special place in his heart for all of you and you might have to share that with a couple more mares." I couldn't hear what the response was but it was probably better I didn't know. Granny just pointed me back into the room and I sunk my headed and waddled my way back getting an encouraging smack on the back as I passed Big Mac.

I rounded the corner to a room only containing the single smile of Pinkie and a whole lot of serious faces. "Come on everyone lets be in a good mood before I'm gone for a week." Everyone tried to play it off but even as I resumed my spot on the couch between Apple Jack and Rainbow the two shifted their weight to lean against me, in response I put my arms along the back of the couch, no more being on the defensive around these mares. They noticed the gap seemed to fill it gradually. Everyone seemed to be a little surprised by my boldness, I looked at all the faces in the room "So who told Granny about me being ranked in playpony?" Just like that the powder keg that was this living room erupted,

Twilight with a red face stood up, "Sun we don't think its a good Idea you going away with Vinyl!" She was even surprised by her outburst but was immediately backed up by the mares to each side of me.

"What does Vinyl have to do with anything?" Twilight seemed like she was going to double down.

"She's just not one of us okay and it feels like we are gonna lose you to her." I paused before responding and really thinking over my words.

"Twilight this is work just like what you have to do, it just so happens I'm doing it with a friend whos also a mare. You guys aren't going to lose me in any shape or form. She doesn't even have feelings like that towards me." Rarity shook her head

"Yes she does Sun, Vinyl is quite the smitten kitten especially after your little singing number, she was even stopping in trying to help with designing the surprise Luna had me make for you."

"Stop pulling my leg." She narrowed her eyes at me.

"Stop being so dense, you are a male and you have to pick up these things and by the time you are back from Hoofington you should be ready to court some of the mares in your life.

"I agree." the room went silent and faces were burning, "With that said though Vinyl makes me feel at home just like the rest of you and she deserves a chance to express her affection if I'm really expected to have multiple partners. The girls began looking around at one another, I couldn't get a good read on any of them.

Granny poked her head into the room, "Before the night is ruined, I think we should all look at the situation from different perspectives some of you have all made it painfully obvious how you feel while others haven't but no one has made an honest confession, as great as he is Sun isn't your typical stallion/man so we can't expect him to just know how this works. You should all take the time to think about how you really feel and figure out how you want to convey it when he gets back.

"With that said lets please try to have some fun before I leave tomorrow."

Rainbows head shot up from deep thought, "snowball fight!" Everyone present looked at her confused as she busted out the front door. It was starting to get dark out and as I looked out from the well lit house into the dark I couldn't see the mare. Suddenly a ball of snow and ice came hurtling towards me from the black and was narrowly dodged but hit Big Mac in his chest. He huffed and charged outside reaching into the snow and hurtling a massive glob of snow at the mare. I joined big mac reaching into the snow and hurling my own ball at the mare. She laughed as she easily dodged our attacks. I felt an evil smile spread across my face as I filled my hand with snow and the blue magic formed beneath my feet. The flyer didn't see it coming as I bounced off my circle to shove the snow in her face. I landed on the ground to a high five from Mac and suddenly more snowballs flew from the girls coming out of the house to protect Rainbow. The night was filled with laughter and a couple magic spells exchanged between me and Twilight. The earlier tension melted into a truly wholesome moment. About half n hour passed before we were all shivering and went in to hot coco already made by Granny. Highlights like Rainbow burying me using a cloud or Fluttershy almost knocking Mac on his ass were discussed and laughed over, the night had finally became what it was meant to.

We found ourselves back in the living room watching a scary movie called Attack of the Changelings. All the girls had a run with them at Cadences and Shining's wedding a couple years back. I remember hearing that their colony bordered the badlands and Eqestria and unlike what the girls experienced they snatch people to drain them of their emotions in their colonies the thought genuinely made my skin crawl. I was laying on the ground as the girls sqeezed onto the couch and were oohing and jumping at every scare, I was suddenly joined by a yellow visitor who dug herself between me and the couch to hide from the movie. An orange foot was shoved into my head and I looked up to see AJ horribly acting like she didn't just do it. In response I pointed to the spot in front of me and that got her attention, she began looking at the other girls before back to me and as she went to move Rainbow slid off the couch and began sitting leaning against my legs. The movie continued and after a decent jump scare there was a purple flash and my head was in Twilights lap her trying to act like she didn't just teleport under my head. The purple princess began rubbing my head and I felt myself being towards sleep but I fought it off. The movie was reaching its climax and my hand at my side was grasped by AJ from the couch. I tried to look back at her but Twilight was in the way of seeing her, all I could see was Fluttershy completely asleep behind me.

I felt the clutches of sleep begin to take me and before I completely was out I felt the lips of the princess above press against my head. "Sun we all care about you so much and hope you make it back safe." I turned to look up at her.

"I'm sorry I stress you guys out so much but I do look forward to deepening my relationship with everyone when I get back from Hoofington."

"We are too, get some sleep you are going to need it."

"Gladly", I shifted around to get comfy in her lap and retired to sleep.