The Life and Times of Sunrise Shadow: Seeking a Princess

"Oh hi Applejack. Who's this?" Spoke Princess Twillight Sparkle.

"Howdy Twilight, this here's Sunrise. She's new to Ponyville but seems to have already befriended our whole little group."

"Wait, did you say Sunrise? As in, Sunrise Shadow?"

The meek unicorn had been hiding behind her own hair and Applejack the whole time but she finally came out.

"Y-yes Princess, that's me. H-how do you know about me?"

Twilight flew down and placed a hoof on Sunlight's shoulder causing her to blush profusely "I've heard about you from Princess Celestia, she said you'd be moving to Ponyville soon and that you had trouble making friends. It dosen't seem that way to me."

"O-oh, well Princess you see-" Twilight cut her off.

"Just Twilight is fine Sunrise."

"Oh, ok then." Sunrise took a deep breath "the truth is I was always too shy to make friends, meeting all of you today was just a series of happy coincidences. And I'm glad for them don't get me wrong but I don't know what to do now."

"Well, why don't you spend some time here with me? I have nothing planned today and Starlight and I could help you settle in. Do you have a place to stay?"

Sunrise shook her head "I was just going to find shelter where I could until I could find somewhere I could afford."

Twilight spoke sternly "that's not good enough. You'll stay right here in the castle as long as you want to. Ok Sunrise?"

Sunrise's eyes lit up but she spoke "oh no it's fine I'll be ok, I don't want to impose on the princess of friendship."

Twilight sighed "look, I'm offering you the choice to stay here but i can't have one of my friends out on the cold streets at night, so if I have to use my title to keep you here then I will. I won't stand by and let someone I can help be left alone."

Sunrise's eyes widened as she stared at Twilight "y-you really mean it? You want me to stay here with you?"

"Of course I do, I'd love to get to know you better and properly introduce you to our friends since I imagine you haven't seen too much of them in one day have you?"

Twilight and Sunrise spent the afternoon together reading and laughing. Twilight was of course interested in her past and what kind of abilities she had to top the class at Celestia's school. While Sunrise was doing her best to hide a perpetual blush at how close she was to another mare. Not just any mare, the actual Princess of Friendship too.

After a delicious meal prepared by Spike and Starlight who was a really good cook. Sunrise was directed to her new room for the foreseeable future. It was nothing special it had a nice single bed with soft sheets and a soft pillow, a few books Starlight had picked out for her and a little night light shaped like Twilight's own cutie mark.

"Hey Sunrise, can i talk to you for a minute?" Starlight asked.

"Oh uh, sure Starlight. What's up?"

"I'm going to be blunt, I saw that blush never leave your face earlier, I saw you staring at Twilight more than the books you were reading and I just wanted to let you know, Twi swings both ways." With a wink Starlight left her alone her heart beating faster than ever. She climbed into bed and tried to get some rest.

Unfortunately that night a storm took over, the booms of thunder and flashes of lightning scared Sunrise something fierce, she never liked loud noise especially ones so close to her like this storm seemed to be. Another flash caused her to scream loudly, moments later Twilight burst through her door.

"Sunrise, is everything ok?"

Sunrise shook her head unable to muster a verbal response, she pointed to the window and hid under the blankets.

"Are you afraid of storms?"

Sunrise meekly nodded, unsure of what to do. She'd never sleep at this rate.

Twilight then picked up the cowering Sunrise gently with her magic and walked back to her own room. She carefully placed Sunrise on the large queen sized bed before climbing in beside her and enveloping her in hooves and a lavender wing.

"Shh, it's ok I'm here Sunrise, I'll be here all night. Try to get some sleep." Sunrise's heart was beating a mile a minute but otherwise she was calm, she felt safe in Twilight's embrace and was able to drift off peacefully.

She awoke the next morning still wrapped in her lavender blanket of fur who woke herself and gave Sunrise a nuzzle.

"You know you should be thankful, not everypony gets to sleep with a princess."

Sunrise blushed beet red before Twilight giggled "I'm kidding, i know you needed comfort from the storm, I'm glad i was able to give you it. I'll be sure to ask Rainbow Dash when any more are coming so i can prepare the bed for the two of us again."

"Thanks Twilight, I think that's the first time I've ever slept peacefully through a storm."

Starlight chose that moment to come in carrying some tea and toast "hey Twi I noticed you-" she stared at the bed and carefully placed the stack of toast and cup of tea beside the bed "I'll uhh, leave you two alone..eheh."

Twilight was about to call after her but Sunrise lay and giggled "It's ok Twilight, let her think what she wants to. we know the truth."

Twilight had some duties to attend to that day and Starlight had a dinner date with Trixie leaving Sunrise alone with spike that afternoon.

"Gotta say for a dragon you sure are cute." Sunrise remarked patting his head.

"Hey! I know, they all say that. Why don't you go see if one of your friends can keep you company? Better than hanging around an empty castle all day."

"That's a good idea spike, thanks." She kissed him on the forehead and teleported to just outside Sugarcube corner.