Rediscovering The Sun

Chapter One

It was not unusual to have a visitor at Silver Shoals’ community. After all, a retirement community was meant to have ponies coming by to check in with loved ones and old associates who’d taken to the quiet life after a long spell otherwise. The fresh faces helped to keep the air around the community from feeling stagnant, a new smile and appearance giving everypony something or somepony new to interact with. They’d often take to the lake to ride out on the boats, or wander about to other locales about the area, all while updating their retired fellow pony of the world going on beyond Silver Shoals.

Having the Royal Crystaller from the Crystal Empire show up at the door of two retired Alicorn rulers did command a bit more curiosity, though.

“No, no, there’s no dire emergency. No event. No return of old villains. It’s just a friend visiting! Please be on your way, thank you!” Celestia called out to the small gathered populace before forcing her door closed and sighing. “If it was an emergency, would I still be in my bathrobe?” she added aloud before turning to her guest. “I apologize, Sunburst. Even with Luna and I being outside of politics and rulership, old habits of the ponies still remain.”

“I-It’s quite alright, your majes...I mean. Um. Miss Celestia. Princess.” Sunburst stammered out before adjusting his glasses and clearing his throat. “I never did ask Cadance how I should address you now.”

“Just Celestia. The old titles and honors are all Twilight’s now.” The white alicorn said before trotting back to her living room. Their house was magically adjusted for the taller alicorns’ size, given the average pony like Sunburst was quite smaller. Thus, while the sofa she chose to lounge upon suited the alicorn’s size quite well, Sunburst looked rather meek in the nearby armchair that could double as a bed for him with ease. “Now, what brings you to our humble abode? I didn’t lie just now to the populace of Silver Shoals, did I?”

“No, no! Rest assured, there’s no emergency.” He told her, waving a hoof before reaching into his saddlebag and pulling out an aged textbook, it’s green cover worn and faded with old glyphs etched into the front and spine. “I found something of the utmost curiosity, but I needed to seek out somepony such as you, Luna, Cadance ,or Twilight to show. As it turns out, only you and Luna are available. Twilight is busy with her work, and Princess Cadance and her husband are off on vacation.” He paused, then flailed a hoof. “N-not that you two are lesser now! Just... you’re retired, I didn’t want to be a bother.”

“Oh, hardly, Sunburst. If anything, it’s been a little while since Luna or I had something unplanned happen. Luna may be enjoying the calm and quiet aplenty, but I do still enjoy the occasional surprise.” Celestia reassured him before waving the book over for him to give. Her own magic overtook his and brought the book forward for her to open. Inside, the faded Olde Ponish text stared back at her, the lettering a little hard to read but still somewhat presentable before her. “Another ancient journal?”

“Not quite. From the translations I’ve been able to make, this is a documented listing of ancient magics particularly involving alicorns like yourself. Old magics that can only be tapped into by a being like yourself or your fellow kin.” He explained to her. “Being a researcher of magic, such a find is magnificent! A branch of magic thought to be lost to time still preserved!”

Celestia flipped through the pages of the book as he spoke, raising an elegant eyebrow at some of the words she could translate. “Yes, well. I certainly hope you don’t mean to try Abyssal Sancticus.”

Sunburst blinked. “Is that a dangerous spell? Can you read it?”

Celestia gave a small chuckle. “I suppose common sense would call conjuring an all-consuming black hole to be dangerous, yes.” Sunburst’s face paled, making the alicorn giggle. “Relax! You would need far too much to try and do it. Even with mine and Luna’s help. I don’t quite see you trying to conquer the world.”

“No, no. This humble Crystaller just wants to learn about magic.” He replied, taking off his glasses to wipe them clean. Celestia just maintained her smile at her smaller guest. The short time since Twilight’s coronation had allowed for many changes, but some things still stayed the same. Sunburst still wore the same cape he always wore, his mane a little unkempt and his glasses having trouble staying on his nose. He even still had the tiny tuft of chin hair one could call the start of a beard, but a full one wouldn’t really suit him in her eyes. Still the same bookish, but charming magic learner as he was back when she had him in her school.

“The reason I brought it to you, however, is to help with practical application in my research. Of course, we don’t want to try and summon black holes.” He told her. “I’d only want to try spells of good, safe magic, not harmful combat magic.”

“And am I right to presume such spells require an alicorn’s unique magic to make them work?”

“Quite.” Sunburst said. “There’s just not enough prime magic within the average unicorn to try and wield such power. I’ve run some basic calculations, but it would take an ensemble the size of Ponyville with my magic level to even make an attempt. But with one singular alicorn, one gets free reign to try them out!”

His enthusiasm was endearing to the alicorn, a smile forming on her muzzle without thinking. “Well, I suppose one alicorn would do well enough. And wouldn’t you know it, but her schedule for the day allows for a little free time. Though you’d have to come back around about...two o’clock, I’m afraid.” Her teasing tone was lost at first on the smaller unicorn, the stallion fumbling for his pockets to find maybe a timepiece or a scheduling book like her dearest student. “I’m kidding! Relax, Sunburst, please. I have all the time in the world now with Twilight on the throne.”

Sunburst looked relieved, prompting another titter of laughter from the mare before she got up from her seat. “First, we will obviously need space to work…” she noted aloud, horn beginning to glow as her magic reached out to the various pieces of furniture surrounding them. A moment of focus had much of the room rearranged in a heartbeat, some pieces shrunken and stacked on top of one another to allow more maneuverability. Sunburst was left to stare in awe as she worked, her magic also cleaning the immediate area for any contaminants and cleansing it of any residual magics.

“...wow.” He muttered, making her look to him and raise an elegant eyebrow. “I-I can scarcely manage a cleansing spell alone. You’re fantastic!” He declared before catching himself and giving a bashful smile, “y-your majesty. Ma’am.”

“Thank you.” She replied. Even after all these years, it was pleasant to have ponies appreciate the little things and not needing the grandest of gestures to be noticed. “Now, what did we intend to try first?” She levitated the book over to herself, flipping through its pages. “We can skip past the combat and environmental magics. The last time we tried to fiddle with changing the world, we made a whole new ocean. I don’t think the community would like that.”

“N-no, perhaps not. Maybe something...smaller in focus?” He offered. “I-I took the liberty of reading through some of the spells on the train ride here. There is one that seems to be a healing magic. It...it seems to read as ‘body invigoration’ from what I can translate. If only we had more preservation spells in the olden times.” Another lift of his glasses onto his nose was needed before he continued. “It makes mention of rejuvenation, like some sort of advanced restoration magic. No reagents are needed, nor outside elements. It appears to rely solely upon the alicorn themselves and focusing their magic in the right manner.”

Celestia hummed in thought, rubbing her chin with a forehoof. “Rejuvenation...well. That sounds safe enough, all things considered. Perhaps I could do with a touch of that after a millennia of the same old face?”

“B-but you don’t look old at all, Celestia. Hardly so.” Sunburst replied.

“Really? No crow’s feet or wrinkles, you say?” She questioned. “You would think after so many events, I’d have at least something. Still, it’s actually a safer spell to try. I vaguely recall it.” She turned the pages of the book until she found the spell he was referring to, titled “Restitutio in Omnes”. It featured a diagram of an alicorn, looking very withered at the top of the diagram before elaborate runic symbols were positioned under the picture, then leading to the image of a presumably healed and ready alicorn. It humored Celestia that the picture was not of either her or Luna, but just a pony with a horn and wings attached altogether in a plain fashion.

“I will need a little assistance with the runic markings. If you would please, Sunburst?” she questioned.

The smaller unicorn jumped up and nodded. “It’d be an honor, ma’am!” He said. Taking the book, he went to work on tracing out the precise markings needed for the spell, to serve as a conduit of the magic and to direct it towards Celestia as both source and recipient. Taking her half of the circle, Celestia was careful in following the precise trail and path needed. Her breath did hitch when she felt something prod her flank, and looked up to see Sunburst flailing backwards, falling on his behind and stuttering.

“I-I’m so sorry! I lost track of where I was going! I didn’t mean to do that!”

Celestia laughed and turned about, reaching to Sunburst and resting a hoof on his shoulder. “Sunburst, please. You’re hardly the first to accidentally bump into me. I’m a larger mare than most, it tends to follow me. Imagine trying to fit all of this,” she gestured at herself with a foreleg, “into a narrow doorway. There’s a reason I built Canterlot Castle with such wide archways, you know.”

“Oh. I-I thought it was just...part of the grandeur?”

“Well, yes, there’s that. But in my younger years, I did at times feel a touch self-conscious. It happens to all of us.” With that, she resumed her work, Sunburst following suit and checking each marking with the tome’s page for referral. It took only a few more minutes before the job was complete and the pair stood outside the circle to admire their hoofwork. “There we are. Now I just channel my magic into the runes, and we see how it goes.”

“U-uh yes, b-but Celestia?”

The alicorn looked to her guest and saw Sunburst rubbing the back of his head. “Yes, Sunburst?”

“I...please understand I mean no slight to you, Luna, or any of the Royal monarchs. But I have learned a few cautionary practices in studying these magics. There should be a safety of some kind here in case of danger. We could be totally misinterpreting the spellwork, and frankly, I’d like to not be known as ‘Sunburst, Ender of Princesses’.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“There’s a basic spell I’ve thought to use. It will connect me to you briefly while we channel this spell. Or, you channel this spell I mean. But it will also allow me to intervene if something goes wrong during the process. If you feel something is wrong, then I will also sense it, and I can just,” he gestured at one of the nearby markings, “interrupt the process to end it prematurely. The magic will dissolve and disperse through the rest of the matrix and into the ground, instead of harming you or anypony else.”

“That is very astute, Sunburst.” She appraised, smiling at him. “Safety is always a priority in the realm of experiments, you’re right. Though do you speak from forethought, or previous experience?”

“Let’s just say that there’s reasons we don’t try to magically grow crops in the Crystal Empire anymore after the day of Rampaging Rabbits.”

“I feel this is a story worth hearing. But perhaps after we attempt this magic of yours. Or is it technically mine?”

Sunburst didn’t reply, his face scrunched up to focus as his magic flared up. Standing still, the alicorn looked on as his magic took the form of an ethereal cord, running from his chest and extending out in a winding loop to her own. Once it reached her, Celestia was greeted by a gentle, but curious sensation of warmth from the contact. It made the hairs on the back of her neck raise, her wings giving a light flap of surprise before settling again.

“There. Now it’s established, we’re good to go.” Sunburst said when he opened his eyes again.

“An interesting magic. I’d be interested to hear how you came up with it once we’re done. For now, however, stand back outside of the circle. I can recall such spells require only one body within the circle’s confines.” Celestia told him, getting a nod from the Crystaller before he stepped back and away enough to be in no risk.

“Here we go…” Celestia’s magic flared to life and flowed into the runes surrounding her. They assumed a similar glow akin to her magic aura, the room growing brighter by the second. Sunburst covered his eyes from his vantage point, while Celestia allowed herself to be bathed in it. She could still see clear as day despite the vast brightness surrounding her. After all, one didn’t control the sun for over a millenia and not get used to lights in one’s eyes.

The more curious sensation was spreading over her form, starting at her horn and carrying down her neck and torso. It felt like a sort of gel or liquid was being poured over her, but seeped into her very being beyond just her skin and fur. It encompassed her, swirling around her before the magic came to a sudden stop and then burst, particles of magic flashing away from her.

By the time the bright aura had died down, only a minute or two had passed. Celestia looked to Sunburst, who was rubbing at his eyes to try and clear his vision. As he recovered, Celestia looked at her form, trying to detect any type of mistake or error in the spell’s magic. As far as she could sense, however, nothing had changed. Was it a flawed spell?

“Sunburst? Are you ok?”

“I should be asking you that, I think,” He replied, “after that much light I thought we’d been teleported into the sun!”

“Not quite, I’m afraid.” She replied. “I must confess, I do not feel much different at all. There was an...odd sensation during the spell, but I felt no pain or harm. Did you sense any problems?”

“No, no I didn’t.” Sunburst adjusted his glasses, looking the princess over once before frowning. “No change at all?”

The solar princess shook her head, mane shifting with her motions before stopping. “I’m sorry, but it would seem so. Did we perhaps misread the diagram?”

Sunburst pulled the book to him and inspected the sigils still in place on the floor. “As far as I can surmise, no, we didn’t do that incorrectly. If we had, truly, something would’ve no doubt exploded or caught fire or been turned inside out.” He listed off before sighing. “Perhaps I’m the buffoon. Even in the ancient times, they had their practical jokers. It just took a millenia to get to the punchline.”

Celestia felt a pang of sympathy towards the defeated looking unicorn, and came up beside him. A gentle pat of her wing to his back got his attention, and she smiled down at him.

“I recognize that frown. It was the same one I saw when a similar unicorn tried to take his exams and had trouble scoring the high grade he’d studied day and night for. But, look at him now: a holder of high authority in the Crystal Empire, confidant of the Princess of Love and her husband, the Prince; there is no buffoon in my eyes.”

Sunburst blushed under her appraisal, ducking his head. “Y-you’re too kind, mil...Celestia. I just was kinda hoping for more to show than a bright light.”

“Don’t fault yourself. Ancient magics become ancient because their methods are lost to time and progress. There are countless spells beyond even my memory or Luna’s that have gone to the wayside. Who knows? It could’ve been a magic that works its way in a method neither of us can see.” Sunburst nodded but she could tell he still felt somewhat defeated. A lightbulb clicked in her mind, prompting the alicorn to clap her hooves together. “I’ve got it!”

“What is it?”

“Well, Sunburst. We’ve only attempted one of these magics from this book; why not try others within it? It would give you a project to continue studying, and myself something to occupy me for a time. You could even procure a place here nearby, so we can continue without losing progress. What do you say?”

“Really? You think there’s some legitimacy to this book after all?” He asked.

“In truth, we cannot know without further study. But instinct after these past few years tells me there may be more to this tome than we’re able to see on the surface. We once considered Starswirl’s journal as no more than a recalling of his journeys, and look now: we have not only him among us again, but the Pillars of Equestria as well, all because it took a different perspective to better study the text.” She told him. “But would you like to know the deeper reasoning for it?”

Sunburst nodded slowly, listening to the alicorn before blinking as she leaned in close to whisper.

“It breaks the boredom of being retired.” she giggled when she pulled back, prompting a huff of laughter out of the unicorn before her.

“W-well, I suppose I could take a few days here. The school is fine right now anyway, as it’s summer vacation for all involved. Trixie and Starlight can run things fine on their own. And it has been some time since I actually did take a vacation.”

“Then it’s settled!” Celestia declared. “And I know the best way to celebrate. There’s a small cafe that overlooks the bay nearby. We can grab a small bite there, and you can tell me all about this Rampaging Rabbits day.”

Sunburst’s spirit looked lifted, if his smile was any indicator, as the pair exited the house and walked down the street together. It brought warmth to Celestia in seeing the bookish pony be given the opportunity to talk and just be free to act on his own whim. She knew all too well of his type: the kind of pony to work on a never-ending list of tasks, forever corralled by duty and an unyielding work ethic. She’d seen it too many times in her own self over the years, and was happy to provide relief to another.

Besides, now Luna couldn’t whine at her about socializing with more ponies!