The Life and Times of Sunrise Shadow: Seeking a Princess

Sunrise Shadow. A young mare from Ponyville who moved from Canterlot after graduating Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. She was nothing special to look at, deep orange coat, two toned blue and purple mane long enough to cover an eye, and a cutie mark of a sun split in two by yellow and purple to signify duality. She was always too shy to make friends though she secretly always wanted some. The princess of the sun herself recommended Ponyville as she knew the princess of friendship made her domain there.

Her biggest problem however was her dual personalities. She had never been close enough with anyone besides Princess Celestia for that side of her to be revealed. But she was naturally both shy and bold simultaneously. Which one decided to be her front line for that moment was sadly uncontrollable.

Princess Twilight Sparkle. Now there's a name Sunrise knew all too well. She saw the coronation, she was there when Tirek threatened the world her own magic somehow being protected from his darkness, not that she knew why. Sunrise knew that Ponyville would be a new beginning for her. Somewhere she could lay her head, dream sweet dreams and not be judged for her choice in partners. Yes Sunrise Shadow in fact, liked mares. But she was too insecure about herself to make a friend never mind find someone she could trust to come out to.

In her first day in Ponyville alone she met countless ponies who all seemed so happy just being together as a community. Some like Lyra and Bon Bon as well as Octavia and Vinyl Scratch not afraid to show off their affection for one-another. But of course she was still alone and friendless at the end of the day. She didn't want to seek friendship instead hoping it could find her.

And find her it did, the second day she bumped into a white mare with a custom-made sunhat and diamond cutie mark which caused her to fall into the mud and get mud all over herself.

"Oh good heavens, I'm so sorry dear I didn't see you there." The mare offered a hoof to Sunrise who took it and rose to her feet again.

"Oh, i-it's ok, I should've been paying more attention."

"I haven't seen you around before, are you perhaps new to town?"

Plucking up the little courage she had Sunrise spoke "Yes, I'm Sunrise Shadow. Princess Celestia recommended i should come to Ponyville after i graduated her school top of the class, she said that it might help me find...some friends." The last part coming out considerably quieter didn't go unnoticed.

"Well darling, my name is Rarity. I own Carousel Boutique, and I must say I want to do something to apologise for dropping you in the mud like that, would you like to come with me for some tea dear? If you're looking to make friends why not start now?"

Sunrise's eyes lit up, she had almost done it, she'd almost made a friend. "Oh yes I'd love to, but uhh I'm a little muddy"

"Think nothing of it you can get cleaned up at the boutique."

Sunrise followed Rarity back to the boutique where she got cleaned nicely and Rarity even picked out a cute scarf for her as an apology gift. The two enjoyed their tea together and Rarity gave her a quick peck on the cheek on the way out the door. Common for Rarity likely she had no idea the effect it had on poor Sunrise who must've looked like a tomato walking through town.

Later that day Sunrise at the recommendation of Rarity visited a small cottage in the woods. Animals were always good company for her, they wouldn't judge you. She knocked the door and heard a small voice say "just a minute" on the other side.

The door opened to reveal a butter yellow pegasus with butterflies for a cutie mark.

"Oh, umm hi I'm Sunrise Shadow, I'm new to town and i met this girl Rarity who said if i wanted to make more friends I should come here."

"Oh hello my name's Fluttershy and I hope she meant the animals because I'm not the best at meeting new people."

"You seem to be doing alright with me so far, I promise I'll be as quiet as a mouse if you want me to. I just, never had the courage to go out and meet new people. So far it's taking a lot out of me just to talk to you."

Fluttershy stared at her and smiled "well i guess we have something in common then, I'm pretty timid too but friends are always there to help you when you need a boost of confidence. I'd be glad to be your friend Sunrise."

Sunrise smiled back and the two embraced. Sunrise blushing ever so slightly at the closeness. Fluttershy introduced some of her animal friends to Sunrise. She got to pet Angel bunny, had a little bird on her hoof and got a big hug from Harry the bear. Afterwards Sunrise bid farewell to Fluttershy and began walking again only to get smacked into by a rainbow colored blur that proceeded to crash into a nearby tree.

"Woah my head, sorry bout' that I guess I should've watched where i was going. You were seeing Fluttershy weren't ya? You came from that direction anyway. She's a good friend of mine, name's Rainbow Dash nice to meet you. "

After taking a moment to un-dizzy Sunrise responded "Oh hi, I'm Sunrise Shadow. I just moved to Ponyville and I guess new friends have been bumping into me all day."

"Bit of a shy case huh? I've dealt with that before, don't you worry your pretty little flank off you got a friend right here." Dash extended a hoof and after a mild blush at her flank being called pretty Sunrise bumped Rainbow Dash's hoof and watched her speed off into the skies.

Sunrise's stomach rumbled as she walked back into town and she looked around for somewhere to get a snack. She spied a small bakery called Sugarcube Corner and inside was a hyperactive ball of pink.

"Hi I'm Pinkie Pie, I've never seen you before, so you must be new! I always make a point of learning about every new resident of Ponyville so i can give them a big smile when they feel down." She placed a rather tasty looking cupcake in front of Sunrise "on the house for my new friend."

Sunrise barely even knew who this pony was and was already being given special treatement and called her friend. But she didn't care. The cupcake was delicious and Sunrise left much happier than she went in, somehow finding confetti in her hair.

"Lemme guess, ya'll are new and Pinkie just gave you her trademark welcome?" spoke a southern accent behind her. This pony was a lighter color than she was with a long blonde mane and a cowboy hat with apples for a cutie mark. "Howdy I'm Applejack, always nice to meet a new friend."

"Likewise, I'm Sunrise Shadow." Applejack looked her up and down before saying

"Not bad, you got a good physique goin' there girl, ya work out?"

"Not really, i just walk a lot."

"I can tell, them hooves are full of strength" as if to demonstrate Applejack began feeling Sunrise's back left hoof up to her butt and gave he a playful slap causing Sunrise to blush.

"So ya made any other friends here in Ponyville?"

"Just a few, this beautiful mare named Rarity, a sweet gal named Fluttershy, a rocking speedster named Rainbow Dash and a funny pink pony named Pinkie Pie"

"Well shoot, they're all my friends too. But we do have one more member in our little group. I'll take ya to meet her sugarcube."

"Oh ok." Sunrise walked with Applejack to a large castle made entirely of crystal that Sunrise couldn't believe she never noticed.

A knock on the door was greeted by a unicorn with a muted pink coat, purple mane with mint stripe and a magical wisp for a cutie mark.

"Howdy Starlight, is Twi about? I wanted to introduce her to my new friend here. She's already made friends with the rest of the gals."

"Oh she's in the library, would you expect anything different?" Starlight chuckled "c'mon in. I'm Starlight Glimmer former student and current friend to the pony you're about to meet."

"Sunrise Shadow, nice to meet you." Sunrise thought to herself "a pony with a castle, a student, and a large group of friends. I wonder who lives here. Wait didn't Applejack call her Twi? No, it couldn't be."

But as the trio made their way to the library Sunrise's jaw dropped. Sitting in all her glory with a good book was a young lavender alicorn with a pair of majestic wings, long blue hair with colored streaks and a pink magical star cutie mark. This was indeed who she was thinking of.