Sunny, a golden colored unicorn, lay down in his favorite spot in the whole meadow, against a large oak tree just enough into the shade where no matter what time of day it was Celestia's sun couldn't reach his eyes but can warm the rest of his body. His cutie mark being a star wing wings on either side. He found this quite intriguing being a unicorn and all. He would come out here to think mostly, but on days like today he would just sit back and enjoy the birds chirping in weather just warm enough to feel like his lower half was wrapped in a nice thick blanket on a cold winter night.
Usually he would be working with the rest of Starset, the town he lived in, to finish the countless daily jobs that needed to be done. But everypony had everything under control today, so he thought he would give himself a little break. 'I deserve this.' He thought to himself. And boy did he. He has been working his flank off all week for the princesses Equestrian wide tour to choose the new proctor for the school for gifted unicorns, since the old one, Spell Nexus, Retired. They wanted everything to be perfect for their visit, after all. According to their schedule they would be arriving at Starset on Saturday. Today being Thursday, they didn't have much time left. He wanted nothing more than to get that job, his dream since colthood was to work alongside the princesses.
Most of the time he would be doing hard time magical training. But he felt as he had this in the bag. So he continued to do what he had done for the past four hours, nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"Hey Sunny, your sure enjoying your time off." Said a certain pegasus flying in. His cutie mark being a tornado slinging clouds around, which suited his job as a weather pony. Causing just enough wind to move the leaves from the tree, making the sun shine through and hit Sunny's eyes.
Sunny leaned up and squinted his eyes from the unexpected solar rays. "I was, you sure know how to ruin a good time."
Sunny said laughing. He didn't mean it for real, they have been friends since grade school. The best of friends in all of Equestria. Maybe even more so than the famous elements.
"Your to kind." He said playfully. Moving over to lay down next to Sunny, finding that certain sweet spot where the sun wasn't in his eyes.
"What are you up to this time of day?" Sunny asked, lying back down and closing his eyes again. Leaning farther up the tree.
"I just finished my shift early and thought what better way to spend the rest of my day with my dear friend." He said, also closing his eyes along with Sunny.
"Now what makes you think I want your company. Juzo." He said as they both laughed. They missed times like this, ever since they had graduated and got jobs there just wasn't any time to hang out anymore. They took every moment of their time together and cherished it, not knowing how long it would be before they got another chance.
"I remember when they first planted this tree." Juzo said. He did, he remembered like it was yesterday.
"Yea, the day I got here, wasn't it?" Sunny asked.
"19 years sure sounds like a long time." Juzo said. Tapping the tree with his hoof.
"Juzo, your making me feel old." Sunny told him, giving a light chuckle. He was no where near old. Twenty five and counting. But the sight of this tree did bring back memories.
The colt Sunny looked at the schoolhouse in horror. Anypony would be if it was their first day. He glanced around nervously, seeking refuge somewhere or with somepony. His eyes locked on a few stallions planting an oak sapling. He sighed, realizing there was no way out of this and started to walk regretfully to the school house.
He saw multiple fillies and colts gathering outside of the building, conversing, playing, and just all around having a good time.
"Whats your name?" He heard a voice ask from behind. It was a male but it was kinda high. Not squeaky. Just higher than a normal male.
"S-Sunny." He said turning around. Standing their he saw a blue Pegasus colt with a red mane and curly red tail.
"Well Sunny, are you new here?" He asked.
"I just moved here." Sunny told him as they both started to walk toward the schoolhouse. 'Maybe it won't be so bad if I have somepony with me.' He thought.
"Nice, since your new how about I give you a tour of the school." He told him with a sincere smile on his face.
"For me?" He asked tilting his head curiously.
"Yea, what else are friends for." He told Sunny, extending a hoof with the same smile. Sunny has never had a friend before, all he ever had was his brother who he never knew because he left to join the Wonderbolts before he was born.
Sunny boded furiously and shook his hoof.
"Well then its settled. I think this is the start of something amazing. Names Juzo." He said as they both started trotting to the school happily.
Sunny was anxious, his first friend. He didn't know what to make of this friendship thing. Most of the other colts and fillies thought of him as socially awkward. But this is a new place with new opportunities.
"So when did ya move here?" Juzo asked. With the same sincere smile on his face.
"T-The end of summer." He told him shyly, looking at the ground. Juzo immediately noticed something was wrong, and gave him a reassuring pat on the back.
"Hey, there's no need to be shy. Just to prove it to you, wanna hear one of my secrets?" He asked, his sincere smile now becoming more of a plotting one. Leaning inward.
"Sure." Sunny told him, becoming more enthusiastic now. He always loved it when he learned something new. Most ponies would get a kick out of skydiving or other athletic events like that. But his 'turn on' so to speak was knowledge.
"You see that filly over there." Juzo pointed his hoof over by the school yard. Sunny's head cocked up and saw one of the most beautiful sites he has ever laid eyes on. A filly with light red fur almost pink, with a golden mane and tail styled beautifully into luscious curls. Blue eyes and an amazing set of wings. Sunny subconsciously started to drool.
"I know right. Not many ponies know this but I asked her out once." He told him leaning back into his normal happy self.
"Did it work out?" Sunny asked excitedly, wanting to hear the new information.
"Well, if you count being rejected and a glass of punch being thrown in my face as 'working out' then I guess so." They both started laughing as they trotted their way to the schoolhouse. Sunny knew this was the start of something special.
"It does bring back memories." Sunny said yawning. "But do you know what I like most about this tree."
"What?" Juzo asked, enjoying the beautiful day before them.
"It sure knows how to block out the heat." Sunny told him, erecting small giggles from both of them.
"Is it time, my queen." A changeling asked her majesty, Queen Chrysalis. Bowing in a regal position.
"Almost, almost my changelings." She said starting maniacal laughter after. She has long awaited this day. The day she would take her vengeance.
-------Two Days Later---------
"Are you one hundred percent positive this is the town that the royal sisters will be visiting?" Queen Chrysalis asked from her lookout post high upon a hill that overlooked the town with her advisor Quick Step.
"Yes my queen, I am certain. They will be arriving any moment now." He told her bowing as he always had.
He hated working for her, but whats a changeling to do, you know. You cant just walk down a street in Equestria and expect everyone to like you. He has been waiting years for a chance like this to over throw her.
"Good, are the changelings in position?" She asked him.
"Yes my queen." He said plainly.
"Excellent, begin the invasion!" She commanded.
Sunny strolled through the streets of Starset without a care in the world, waving to bystanders trotting happily by him. Enjoying the scenery that he has seen so many times before.
The whining colt throwing a tantrum over something he didn't get, the couple affectionately striding through the middle of Starset, and the restaurant vender desperately trying to get some sales in during the lunch rush. He loved everything this town had to offer, even the bad things worked in his favor sometimes.
"Hey pretty mare, how about we hang out sometime." He heard a familiar voice come from somewhere next to him. Quickly turning and seeing his best friend and his new scheme to get a mare-friend.
"As if!" The pink unicorn said as she turned and swished her purple tail in his face, walking off and laughing with her friends.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Sunny said walking in Juzo's direction.
"Oh, here comes the expert in romance." He said mockingly.
"You should be getting ready for the princesses not practicing new pickup lines." He scolded, starting to walk with him.
"Relax, everything's ready." He said reassuringly. Sunny looked sarcastically over to the few mares and stallion earth ponies struggling to hand the 'welcome princesses' banner.
"Maybe not everything." He said with a small laugh.
"It's not funny, they'll be here anytime now." He scolded, levitating the banner and attaching it with his magic. Electing a few waves from the earth ponies.
"Oh stop being so worrisome, mom." He said sarcastically as the royal chariots started to rise over the horizon.
"There here!" One stallion shouted as everyone started to line up in the fashion they've practiced so many times before, but something was off.
The first thing was the beating of insect wings. A few moments later it started to get really dark, and I mean really dark. Everypony looked up to a pitch black sky that was filled with thousands of changelings.
"AHHHHH!" A mare screamed as everypony scattered. Sunny not being an exception.
"Come on Juzo, don't be stupid!" Sunny yelled to his best friend.
"No, this is my chance to finally prove my worth!" He yelled of the screaming voices of Starset.
"I know you've always wanted to be a royal guard but nows not the time!" He shouted back.
"Nows the perfect time!" He bolted toward the landing chariots, what choice did Sunny have but to go after him, so he followed his friend as the changelings started to pillage and destroy the town.
They ran and ran until the princesses came into view, dogging a few changelings, Sunny saw Queen Chrysalis and her advisor land next to them.
Juzo knew, this was his moment, everything he ever wanted rested in his ability to succeed in this task. Which was very small.
"We meet again Celestia, Luna, Twilight, it's been so long." She said in a maniacal tone. "You don't have your precious lovebirds to save you this time!"
Juzo flew as fast as he could at the changeling queen. She saw this and instantly dogged.
"What are you doing, my little pony, RUN!" Celestia yelled.
"No, I can't stand by and let the rulers of my home be hurt!" He barked at her, all of her other guards turned out to be changelings in wait and sprung out as soon as the invasion began.
"Oh, we have a hero here." Queen Chrysalis said as Sunny caught up.
"Juzo, don't do anything stupid!" Sunny yelled, catching the attention of the princesses and Queen Chrysalis.
Juzo took his opportunity to charge the Queen and strike her dead in the center of the chest, or thats what would've happened if her personal guard hadn't stepped in and broke Juzo's hoof mid strike.
"AHHHH!" He laid on writhing in pain for a moment before standing back up, limping.
"JUZO!" Sunny screamed, starting to cry feeling Juzo's pain.
"Oh, I see how it is. Your friends." She said with a sinister smile on her face. "Hold him down!"
A few changelings ran over and held Sunny in place to watch his friends decent into death.
"Make his death, slow and painful." She ordered her guard.
"YOU MONSTER!" Twilight yelled, starting to cry herself.
Juzo started to fly again strait toward the guard, who stepped to the side and drove a hoof up through his chest.
Celestia ran over to help but was blocked by the queen.
"No, I'm going to make you watch every second of his agonizing, excruciating, cringeworthy death." Queen Chrysalis ordered. "I am still more powerful than you, one wrong move and this entire town is wiped off every map in Equestria."
Juzo coughed up blood as he slammed onto the ground, ribs broken, barely breathing.
"Release him, let him hear his friends last wishes." She started to laugh maniacally.
The changelings released Sunny and he bolted over to his friend, tears streaming down his face. He slid over to his friends body.
"Juzo, Juzo dont die on me!" He demanded, wrapping his hooves around his friends cold body. Holding him close.
"Sunny." He said weakly. Sputtering a bit.
"Save your strength, don't talk." He told him.
"No, it's to late for me." Juzo said, his eyes cold and hard. His lungs filling with blood from his broken ribs puncturing them.
"You always were one for the dramatic." Sunny said laughing, still crying.
"Promise me one thing." Juzo requested.
"Anything, anything in Equestria." Sunny said sadly, knowing his best friend wouldn't be with him much longer.
"I've done some bad things in my life, but I have no regrets. I realized, yea that might be pretty bad. But if I hadn't done that then I wouldn't have got the opportunities to get where I am today. Promise me that you'll live by those words, and that my death wasn't in vain." He pleaded, letting go of his last life fiber.
"Yes, I promise with my life!" He shouted, still in tears along with the princesses.
"Ha, to bad you won't have one for much longer." Queen Chrysalis joked.
He stared into Juzo's dead eyes and looked at the smile on his face. He used his hoof to shut his eyes then stood up slowly.
"Now bow to your new queen!" She commanded.
"No." Sunny said, the tears stopped flowing from his eyes. Replacing them was pure anger.
"You dare talk to your queen like that." She said in disgust.
"Your not my queen." He turned around and looked her directly in the eyes. "The only true rulers of this land are princesses Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and Cadence!"
"Kill him." She commanded to her guard.
The guard ran at him at full speed with death in his eyes. A blinding flash of light appeared and Sunny floated into the air, eyes pure white and the guard was slung backwards. Queen Chrysalis looked on in horror.
A golden necklace appeared around Sunny's neck which ceased when a dark purple gem the same shape as his cutie mark appeared in the center.
"The seventh element." Celestia mumbled in amazement. "Love."
"Queen Chrysalis, for you unspeakable crimes against Equestria I hereby banish you to whatever hole in Tartarus you crawled out of!" Sunny yelled as a large purple beam blasted into the air and slammed into Queen Chrysalis. The only thing that could be heard were her screams for help.
Within a moment she was gone and all the changelings fell dead on the ground. And Sunny blacked out.
