Black Sun

Not much time had passed after the incident. Celestia dismissed Sunset from her studies for the day and ordered that the window in the suite to be replaced. Right now on the other hand, she was in the castle gardens with Night Light and Viola Chords. She thought that they needed some fresh air to calm themselves down after their new guest had awakened.

“I must say that was rather interesting.” Night said.

“By interesting you mean terrifying, right?” Viola said. “I don’t know what that creature is, but it certainly wasn’t friendly. I’m starting to have second thoughts about talking to it now.”

“One must keep in mind that he came from another world. So of course he would have such a reaction. Much like a frightened animal.” Celestia said. “But I do agree that his reaction was rather, well, shocking.”

Suddenly a pegasus guard touched down near them.

“Princess, you’re guest is here now.” He said.

“Let him approach.” Celestia said.

The winged guard looked in one and nodded. A moment later, the black clad creature approached, with is boots, hat, and belt on, and the bag in his hand.

All three of the ponies turned to it.

“How are you?” Celestia asked. “Are you feeling well?”

The creature cleared his throat.

“Before I either of us asks or answers any questions, I would like to apologize for my behavior.” He said. “What I did was inexcusable. Especially if what I done involved frightening a child. There for I deeply apologize.”

The Princess and the unicorns looked at one another and then at the creature.

“It is all forgiven.” The Princess said, causing a look of surprise to form on the creature’s face. “After all you were frightened and you didn’t know where you were. And no pony was hurt, that is the important part, don’t you think?”

The black wearer nodded.

“Now I believe I owe you an explanation.” She said. Her horn then glowed and a chair suddenly poofed into existence, which almost made the creature jump. “Care to have a seat?”

The creature sat down, still surprised that what he was now sitting on appeared out of nowhere.

Celestia then poofed in several cushions which she, Night, and Viola all sat down on.

“Before I begin to explain, would you care to tell us about yourself?”

The creature cleared his throat.

“My name is Adolf. Adolf Brandenburg.” It said. “Based on your curiosity, I assume that there are no other humans like me here, whatever here is.”

“As far as I know, yes.” Night answered. “Quite honestly, Viola and I thought you were some sort of species of primate that has yet to have been discovered. After all primates don’t usually wear clothing like that.”

Adolf looked down at his clothing.

“Well as member of the SS, it’s a requirement to wear such a uniform.”

Viola cocked her head to one side.

“The SS?” She asked. “What is that? Is it some sort of group?”

“Indeed it is. The SS is sworn to defend the German Fatherland and our Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler. The man who essentially saved Germany.”

“Is Germany the name of your home world?” Night asked. “Or is it a country, like Equestria?”

“It is a country, and the world is called Earth.” Adolf explained. “Speaking worlds, would kindly explain why I am here?”

“Of course. First allow me to introduce myself.” Celestia said. “I am Princess Celestia, the ruler of this land.”

Adolf’s eyes almost popped from his head.

“The ruler?” He asked. “I was aiming my pistol at the ruler of another land?”

“And before you say, yes I do forgive you. I knew you had no true intention to using it against me. But with that aside, how about I explain why you’re hear?” Celestia asked. Adolf nodded. “Very well.” Celestia then cleared her throat. “Several days ago I had discovered the recipe for a spell, the prototype for a trans-dimensional spell created by Starswirl the Beard himself.”

“Starswirl? I remember coming across that book you sent.” Adolf said. “I’m not sure how this spell of yours works but apparently it did.”

“Did all of the items make it?” Celestia asked. “They were a book, a bag of bits, and…”

“A golden goblet?” Adolf asked. “Yes, that made it across. And I’m pretty sure whatever the fourth thing you sent made it as well. I am here, after all.”

“Well that is good, in a way.” Celestia said. “But that is where our problem starts. You see the spell requires the caster to draw a certain symbol on the floor, and certain ingredients are needed to draw the symbol. These ingredients need to be brought over from different parts of Equestria. Fortunately I had recently sent a request for these ingredients. But…”

“But until these ingredients arrive, I am unable to return home.” Adolf said. “Am I correct?”

Celestia nodded.

Adolf sighed and looked up at the sky.

“Well that’s unfortunate.” He said as he returned to looking at Celestia. “What should I do in the meantime?”

“Well, I believe you’ll have to stay here in the castle.” Celestia said. “And don’t worry, you will not be imposing, I insist.”

Adolf looked back up at the sky to think. Moments later he looked back at the Princess.

“Well I don’t have any other options.” He said. “I appreciate your hospitality. But I must say that there is a problem.”

“Really, what is it?” Viola asked.

“I don’t have any other clothes to wear.” Adolf explained. “When I went to the castle back in my world to examine those objects your Princess had sent, I brought a week’s worth of clothing. And as you can see the only thing I have with me is this document bag.”

Celestia thought for a moment. What could Adolf wear?

Out of the corner of her eye she saw another pony approaching, causing an idea to pop into her head.

“I believe I have an idea.” She said. “And part of it is walking over.”

Adolf and the two unicorns looked and saw that a third unicorn was approaching. It was a male with dark gray hide, a short black mane and tail, with red eyes and wore a brown vest which had the silver chain of a watch poking out of a pocket. He also had what looked like a picture of an iron girder on his flank.

The stallion stopped in front of the group and bowed.

“Princess Celestia.” He said as he stood up. “I’ve come to inform you that the window in the royal suite has been replaced.”

“Very good, please send the bill to my office, and you’ll receive your payment.” Celestia said. “In the meantime, allow me to introduce to you our guest."

The gray stallion turned to Adolf.

“Nice to meet you, whatever it is you are.” He then offered in greeting. “I’m Iron Girder.”

Adolf shook Iron’s hoof.

“Adolf, Brandenburg.” He said as he let go of the unicorn’s hoof. “Nice to you, Mr. Girder.”

“Please, just Iron.”

“Anyway, our new friend Adolf has no other clothes to wear.” Celestia said. “Do you think Emerald is available to make him some?”

Iron used his magic to take out the watch from the vest pocket and opened it.

“Her boutique closes at around seven.” He said. “So I think she’ll be available. I must say I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she sees whose she’s making clothes for.”

“What do you think, Adolf?” Celestia asked. “Sound like a plan?”

The streets of Canterlot were bustling with activity. From ponies going home from school and work, to ponies going to their evening and night work. The only thing that stopped some of them was the sight of the strangest creature they’ve ever seen. That creature being an ape-like biped dressed in black walking down the street looking around at his surroundings.

Iron Girder looked up at Adolf, realizing how tall his new friend was. The two were also accompanied by Night Light and Viola.

“Are you alright?” He asked. “You looked concerned.”

“I don’t exactly look like I’m from around here.” Adolf said. “It’s one thing to study abroad in Britain, and then there is traveling to a completely different world.”

“You seem to be handling this quiet well.” Night said as they stopped at a cross walk. “Well, despite your little episode earlier.”

“Granted when I woke up in my dorm in Britain, I remembered going to sleep in said dorm.” Adolf explained. “By the way, when we’re finished here, remind me to tell Celestia to undo whatever she did to me. I can speak English fine on my own.”

“Is that what that language you were speaking earlier is called?” Viola asked.

“Actually that was German, the language of my homeland.” Adolf answered as they were allowed to cross the street. “English is what we’re speaking right now. Well, I’m not sure what you call it here, but where I come from it is called English.”

“How many languages are there in your world exactly?” Iron asked.

“A lot actually.” Adolf explained. “You have English, German, Russian, French, Polish, Italian, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese and so many others that it would take me a long time for me to list them all.”

“Good because, here we are.”

Iron pointed at a store at the street corner in front of them. It had a sign that said “The Pincushion Boutique”.

Adolf followed the three ponies into the store. He looked around at the many clothes on display and at the mannequins which wore the cloths; these mannequins were in the shape of ponies, just like mannequins at clothing stores back in Germany resembled women and men.

Iron rang a bell on the front desk.

“Coming!” Said a female voice from a far.

Out from behind a red curtain came a green unicorn mare. She had a puffy mane and tail of the same color with pink streaks and had a pair of silver eyes. She wore a red ascot around her neck and had cutie mark which consisted of two green buttons and a needle with thread.

“Iron! Hi!” The mare said with joy.

She then ran from behind the counter and leapt onto Iron with a hug.

“It’s so good to see you!” She said. “You really got to get out of the shop more often.”

Iron chuckled as the mare let go of him.

“Sorry Emi, I’ll make it up to you in some way.” Iron said. “This is Night Light and Viola Chords. They’re professors at the Princess’s School. Night and Viola, this is my marefriend, Emerald Button.”

“Charmed.” Night said.

“Hello.” Viola added.

Before emerald could interact with the two unicorns further, she finally caught sight of the black clad newcomer in her shop.

“Hello.” She said as she approached him cautiously. “Who are you?”

Adolf took a step forward and held out in his hand in greeting.

“My name Adolf Brandenburg. It is nice to meet you”

Emerald shook his hand and looked up and down him.

“I’m doing well.” She said. “And if you don’t mind me asking, can you tell me what you are exactly?”

“I am a human.” Adolf said as he let go of Emerald’s hoof. “And from what your lover has told me, and based on your establishment, you specialize in clothing.”

“That I do.” Emerald said. “Do you need anything in that regard?”

“Adolf doesn’t have any clothes to wear.” Night explained. “And we were hoping you could provide him with some clothing.”

“Of course.” Emerald said. “How many and what sort of clothes do you need?”

Adolf thought for a moment.

“Since that I am not aware of how long my way home will take to be prepared, I would have to say a week at most.” He said. “And before I forget, the Princess gave me this card thing before we left the castle earlier. I can’t remember what she had called it.”

Adolf then opened one of the pockets of his jacket and retrieved what looked like small card like object. The card was light blue and had the picture of Celestia’s cutie mark on one side. Before he could hand it to the green mare, the card was then encased in a light green glow and seemed to float out of his hand and into Emerald’s hoof in which her eyes went wide.

“This is a royal payment card.” She said with shock in her voice. “I’ve never thought I’d ever see one of these show up in my store.”

She then looked up at Adolf.

“You’re staying at the castle?”

“I am, yes.” Adolf said. “Apparently, your sovereign is the reason why I’m here in your world in the first place.”

“And you didn’t bring any clothes did you?” Emerald asked.

Adolf nodded.

“In that case, what sort of clothing do you require? With this card you can ask for any clothing you want.”

“Well, like I said I require a week’s worth of clothing.” Adolf said. “If it is not too much ask I require seven button up shirts, seven pairs of trousers, seven pairs of socks, seven undershirts, and seven pairs of under garments.”

Emerald wrote down what he needed on a notepad.

“Okay, I’ll see what I can do.” She said. “But I do need to take your measurements. After all I’ve never measured somepony like you.”

“Very well.” Adolf said. “Where do you…?”

Adolf was the cut off by Emerald encasing him in her aura, causing him to float off the ground.

“…want me?”

The measurements didn’t take long to get done as Adolf was in and out of the backroom within a span of at least five minutes. After paying for the clothing, Adolf said his goodbyes to Emerald and left the boutique with the other three.

“I never thought I’d ever get measured by a horse.”

The two stallions and mare immediately looked at Adolf who then realized his mistake.

“I’m sorry, pony.”

Iron Girder looked at his watch.

“Huh, look at the time.”

Iron presented his watch and shown that it was a quarter before six.

“Time flies, doesn’t it?” Night asked.

“I better get back to the shop.” Iron said as she tucked his watch away. He then turned to Adolf. “Adolf, it was very nice meeting you. And I welcome you to Equestria.”

Adolf shook Iron’s hoof.

“It was a pleasure meeting you as well, Mr. Girder.” Adolf said. “I hope I see you again since I’ll be here for a while.”

Iron let go of Adolf’s hand before trotting away.

“Looks like it’s almost dinner time.” Night said. “I bet Velvet has this evening’s meal cooking. Care to join us Viola?”

“Why of course.” Viola said. “After all I need pick up little Lyra.”

“Alright then, let’s get going.”

The sun was on the verge of setting when the trio got to Night Light’s house. It was a large, light purple colored two story house.

“A what nice house you have.” Adolf said as he and the ponies walked down the path towards the front door. “I reminds of the house I grew up in.”

“Does it really?” Viola asked. “Was it the same color?”

“No, it was white.”

Night Light opened the front door and entered with the other two in toe.

“Velvet, I’m home!”

Out of the door which led to the kitchen came a unicorn mare with a gray hide, blue eyes, a purple and light gray mane and tail, and what looked like three stars on her flank.

“There you are Night, I was wondering when you’d get back.” She said. “Good to see you Viola and…”

She stopped when she saw Adolf.

“…I see you brought a friend.” She said with an unsure tone in her voice.

Adolf then offered his hand in greeting.

“Adolf Brandenburg.”

Velvet then reluctantly shook Adolf’s hand.

“I presume you are Night Light’s wife?”

“I am.” Velvet said as she let go of Adolf’s hand. “Twilight Velvet. Nice to meet you.”

She then turned to her husband.

“First a griffon and then a…” She then turned back to Adolf. “…I’m very sorry, but what are you exactly?”

“I am a human.” Adolf answered. “Essentially I am a guest in your country due to the actions of your sovereign, Celestia.”

Velvet was surprised.

“So you’re from a different world entirely?” She asked. “That’s…”

She was then cut off by the sound of a timer from the kitchen.

“I’m sorry I have to check on the roast, right quick.” She said. “Make yourself comfortable. And, well, welcome to Equestria.”

“Thank you.”

As Velvet trotted back into the kitchen, Viola made way into another room, the living room. Night and Adolf followed the white unicorn into the room where she sat down on the sofa next to what looked like, at a distance, like a bundle of cloth. Upon closer expectation, this bundle was an infant unicorn. It was aquamarine in color with a cyan and white mane. As Viola picked it up, her eyes began to open.

“Hey Lyra.” Viola said sweetly. “Mommy’s here.”

The infant then smiled and began to wiggle, emitting the heartwarming sounds of an infant.

“It’s good to see you too, baby.” Viola said as she held the infant close.

Adolf smiled, remembering the days when he first became a father.

“Well I have some papers to look over.” Night said. “Make yourself comfortable, Adolf.”

“Very well.”

Night then trotted out of the room and up the stairs to his office.

Adolf sat down on one of the armchairs in the room and let out a quiet sigh. He looked around at the walls and saw a lot of pictures, many of them having Night Light and Twilight Velvet. While several of them had other ponies in the photograph such as Viola and what appeared to be a shorter stallion that had a white hide, blue mane and tale, and a pair of blue eyes.

Before he could ponder on the identity of this pony, he heard that a newcomer had entered the room.

“Whoa…”

Adolf turned and saw that it was the same unicorn from the picture.

“…what are you?”

Adolf stood up and approached the colt.

“I assume you’re the son of the house, yes?”

“I am.” The colt said. “I’m Shining Armor!”

Adolf bent forward and stuck out his hand in greeting.

“I’m Adolf.” He said. “Adolf Brandenburg. It’s nice to meet you young… …stallion?”

Before the two could continue speaking, the colt started to sniff.

“Pee yew!” He said. “What is that?”

“Ooh, looks like somepony needs a changing.” Viola said as she set her infant down onto the sofa. “Shining I think the diaper bag is in your parents room, could you go and grab it please?”

Shining sighed.

“Okay…”

The white colt trotted upstairs and returned with what looked like a sky blue satchel.

“Thank you dear.” Viola said as she took hold of the bag with her magic. “Would you mind helping me?”

Shining cringed.

“Uh… …no thank you.” He said. “I think Mom needs help with dinner, see you in a bit!”

The white colt then scurried into the kitchen.

Viola sighed but knew that the colt meant well.

“Do you mind if I help you?” Adolf asked as he stood up and took his hat off.

“It’s alright, Adolf.” Viola said. “I just asked him only to mess with him. But I much appreciate the offer.”

Viola un-wrapped the blanket from around her daughter and laid it on to the sofa before setting Lyra down on it. She then undid the diaper, and spread it out between the infant’s legs. As she pulled out a small package of wipes and opened it, she saw that Adolf was looking over.

“I’m sorry; this is probably a little unsettling, isn’t it?”

“Don’t mind me; I’ve seen things much worse than an infant in post defecation.” Adolf said. “After all, I’ve assisted in performing such an act when each of our children were babies.”

This caught Viola’s attention.

“You have children too?” She asked. “How many do you have?”

“I have three boys and two girls.” Adolf said. “We’ve been debating on having a sixth. We’re not sure when or if we want to do so at all.”

Viola’s eyes went wide as she began to wipe her child.

“Six? That’s amazing.” She asked with surprise. “I can never picture myself having that many foals.”

Adolf chuckled. What made it seem more funny is that he was having such a conversation with someone, or somepony as they said, who wasn’t even human.

The evening’s dinner consisted of what Velvet called a “hay roast”, which looked like a standard beef roast back in Germany, but was made of hay, bread rolls, carrots, peas, with lemonade to drink.

“Everypony eat up!” Velvet said.

After everypony found a seat at the table, Adolf, who sat next to Shining, put both of his hands together and bowed his head.

“Bless us, O Lord!” He said. “And these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

He then used his two fingers to sign the shape of the cross on his chest.

When he looked up, he saw that everypony was looking at him.

“A custom from my homeland.” He explained, knowing what they were thinking. In which everypony nodded in understanding. “Anyway, how about we all eat?”

Night Light, who sat at the head of the table, have everypony, and human, each a decently sized slice of roast, and then each a serving of peas and carrots. When the latter got to Shining’s plate, the colt let out a sigh as the orange colored slices were served onto his plate.

“Do I have to eat these?”

Night sighed.

“Shining, you really need to eat your vegetables.” He said. “You can’t just eat snack cakes and chocolate milk all day.”

“And please don’t deny it, dear.” Velvet added. “I’ve seen the wrappings and bottles.”

Before Shining could protest further, Adolf, out of all of them, intervened.

“I’d listen to your parents, young one. A person, or pony, at your age needs to eat this sort of food to grow strong.” He explained. “And if not for your health, keep in mind of how these carrots got here. Who planted the seeds and watered them and picked them once they were grown? Do you think his work was wasted only for his carrots not to be eaten? Or how about the grocer who sold them? Do you think the time he took to price and sell the carrots would be wasted? Or your mother, what about her? Do you think her time was wasted after purchasing and cooking these carrots, only for you not to eat them?”

Shining was quiet for a moment as he absorbed what Adolf had said before looking down at his plate, with a look of regret on his face.

“I’m sorry.”

Adolf put a hand on the colt’s shoulder.

“Don’t fret on it too much, dear boy.” He said. “You were merely ignorant of the subject, something that can be easily forgivin.”

He then turned to Velvet and Night.

“You forgive your son, right?”

“Of course.” They both said.

“See, young one, all forgiven.” Adolf said. “And you can redeem yourself by eating the carrots. What do you say?”

Shining looked at Adolf, at the carrots, and then back at Adolf.

“Okay.”

He then took a fork, picked up several of the pieces of carrots and began to eat them.

“These are good carrots, mom.”

“Thank you, dear.” Velvet said.

Adolf smiled before realizing that he essentially scolded another person’s, or pony’s child. When he turned, he saw that the two parents, along with Viola, were smiling in approval.

“With that aside.” Viola said. “How about we all make sure this food doesn’t go to waste?”

Adolf’s boot steps echoed through the halls after he returned to the castle. His stomach was full of carrots, peas, buttered rolls, lemonade, chocolate cake, and, of all things, cooked hay. How Twilight Velvet was able to cook hay, Adolf could not figure out. Even so, he knew that his next trip to the washroom was going to be uncomfortable.

As he turned the corner, he saw somepony he recognized form earlier from today. The red and gold maned filly.

“Excuse me?”

The filly turned and looked at Adolf with her cyan eyes.

“O-Oh, hello.” She said. The incident from earlier that day was still in her mind. “How are you?”

“I am doing well.”

Adolf saw the look in the filly’s eyes, the look of appeared to meet a mixture of anxiety and fear.

“I’m actually glad I ran into you.” He said, causing the filly to look up at him with curiosity. “Because I would like to apologize for frightening you earlier.”

“You, you do?” The filly asked.

“Yes. What I did was rather uncalled for.” He said. “If I had known that a child was in the room, I probably wouldn’t have reacted in such a way.”

“It probably would’ve been better if Viola didn’t mess with that thing on your belt.”

Adolf chuckled.

“By the way, I didn’t catch your name.” He said. “What is it?”

“Sunset Shimmer.” The amber filly said. “If it’s alright with you, can I hug you?”

Adolf didn’t see this question coming.

“I don’t see why not, go ahead.”

Sunset the trotted up and wrapped her front legs around Adolf’s leg, causing the former to chuckle.

“I’m not so scary now, am I?”

Sunset shook her head no after letting go of Adolf’s leg.

“By the way, what are yo doing up this late?” Adolf asked as he pulled a silver pocket watch from his pocket and checked the time. The time was nine o’ clock. “Aren’t you going to bed soon?”

“I was on my way to Celestia’s office.” Sunset explained. “I have some notes I’d like to share with her.”

“That reminds me, do you mind if I tag along?” Adolf asked. “I’m hoping your Princess will undo whatever it was she did to me when I woke up earlier.”