JUNE 21 Thursday.

I slowly sip my tea as I wait and zone out a little at the odd experience. Turns out drinking cake-flavored tea is a little odd, not completely unpleasant though.

I only got it right two days ago, and I had to buy three cakes to taste test it against, but the tea is done and tastes pretty similar. It's not exactly the same as that would be a lot more difficult, but it's about right and is more than close enough considering what I attempted to do.

I smile and put the cup down, continuing to wait in my apartment for my friend to arrive. I sent her a letter asking her to meet me in my apartment after she was done with raising the sun, and her other duties, which should be soon as the sun rose around an hour ago.

I slept early and woke up before dawn, I decided to not go and watch her raise the sun this year, instead I spent my time planning out everything. I have a small surprise for Celestia that goes beyond gifts, but that's for later and I can't wait to see her reaction to what I've already done.

I stopped by a few markets over the past week and was able to get a birthday banner that's now hanging from my ceiling in full view of the front door. I've also added a few basic party streamers all in orange and yellow, along with the cake I made of course.

It's maybe a little too much like a foals birthday party, but I think she'll find the experience novel. When she was a filly, celebrations for birthdays looked far different and she's probably never had one like this. I shift a bit as I get a little impatient while waiting.

I really do hope she likes everything, but I'm also partly just throwing things at a wall to see what sticks so I have a small bit of uncertainty. Well, maybe more than a small bit if I'm being honest with myself. I feel myself focused as I notice that Celestia has arrived, space warping in a small flash.

I didn't tell her how to arrive, so I guess she took the more obvious route. I flip a small switch and activate a second shield on my apartment to block out sound, I don't want others overhearing anything. I am glad I added that a while back, it really does simplify things.

As she appears I quickly notice something both lucky and unlucky. She teleports in facing the wrong direction, looking at the door and unaware of all my preparations while also having her backside facing me without any warning. I blank for half a second before forcing myself to act to distract my quickly wandering mind.

"SURPRISE!!" Both Entropy and I yell out at the same time, her sitting on top of my head and spreading out her wings as she yells. I see Celestia spin on the spot quickly and look around in surprise, only to stop as she reads the banner hanging above my head. Happy birthday Solis.

I sadly couldn't get one with her actual full name, but I felt the second name was good enough. I see her blink in confusion for a moment and look around, taking it all in, before grinning widely.

POV shift Celestia.

I feel myself jump slightly as I appear facing a doorway I haven't seen in a while. The loud and sudden shout made me turn on the spot, only to stop a second later at the sight.

Sitting in the middle of his apartment I see Shade and Entropy, both with large smiles and Entropy spreading her wings like some popup book. I look up to see a string on the ceiling, the string holding colorful letters made from paper. I read it for a moment and feel a smile forced its way past my earlier surprise and onto my face.

I focus more and my smile nearly becomes a laugh as I see Entropy is wearing a small birthday hat, along with Shade having his own hat around his neck so she could stand on his head. I look around at the room, his small table having a few gift boxes and a large cake, along with paper streamers of various hues of yellow and oranges hanging just about everywhere around the small room.

All in all it looks as if I took a wrong turn and ended up at a foals party, but I know it's for me and it feels so... I'm not sure. It feels festive I suppose, a change I was not expecting but am not against. I smile widely at him and can't help but laugh a little, "What is this?" I ask, trying not to dampen his mood but also too curious not to ask.

He takes Entropy off of his head and happily puts on a simple birthday hat. "As your friend I have decided that you are far too serious, you need some silliness. Happy birthday Celestia Solis! Would you like a hat?" He offers one of the simple cone hats covered in colors like it's the most natural thing in the world.

I look in disbelief for a moment before laughing even harder, a laugh mixed with both joy and utter bewilderment. I knew he would do something to surprise me, and it seemed every guess I had was never even close to the beautifully simple reality. And despite the odd choice I can't help but silently agree with him.

Many Ponies don't see it, but I do enjoy just being silly sometimes. I've heard a few of my more trusted Ponies who did know called it my way of relaxing, and maybe that is right. I just enjoy being fun and less serious sometimes, as all other Ponies do. I take the hat after a moment as my laughter dies down and I grin as much as I can. "I would love one."

I happily place the hat in front of my horn as he chuckles, both of us knowing that this was in part him trying to get me to look silly. And I do intend to look silly, because why not? It's not like it will hurt anypony. I smile in a different way, feeling some warmth knowing my friend has given me a place to just be... Silly.

He looks happy as well as he takes a kazoo of all things and hums into it, creating a long note. "And just like that, I've gotten you to do something new! Have you worn a birthday hat before?" I shake my head a little. "Then enjoy pretending to have a horn, just like everypony else. Now come on birthday mare, we have gifts and cake." He jokes with me a little while walking over to his table, I can't bring myself to roll my eyes at how happy I am.

In all my years I've had many MANY birthdays, but never like this. It seems he's once again taken the opportunity to completely blindside me with something I never even considered. I walk over and turn as Entropy lands on my back. "Happy birthday." She caws out, using larger words than she normally does.

That gets another chuckle from me as I move her off of my back and onto the table, glancing at the two gifts as I do so. Both being fairly large boxes, it seems he went with something different this year. "I never thought I'd be getting, this. You really are good at finding the most overlooked ideas." I compliment him a bit as I settle in. "Actually, where did you get the idea?"

He smiles a bit and shrugs, brushing off the compliment even though he should be taking it. "I do try, as for this? Well, have you ever had a party like this? Or even attended one?" He asks and I shake my head, causing him to nod in satisfaction. "Then I have given you the best gift I could, something new and interesting to do." He says with more flair than needed.

I pause a little, I just had the same thought a moment ago, but he really does know me well. Few know the weight of a long life, and fewer think about it often, even though I see new things it is not too often. This is, by far, the largest break from my normal life I've had in a long while. I giggle a little and nod. "It certainly is. Thank you, Shade. It's silly and, perfect." I say with honesty after a second of thought.

He beams with no shame at his reasoning for throwing a very old mare a filly's birthday party and moves over the large cake he brought, the smell of strawberries and cream wafting around. "No problem and this is just the start of today, I have something else planned. But first, you get a wish." He says while casting a series of flame spells to light the ten candles on top of the cake.

I can't help but laugh at his attitude, showing just a bit of his younger side and doing the same for me. Despite the parade and speech earlier, I feel relaxed, completely fine with doing something so utterly foal-like, even enjoying it. I take a deep breath and make a silent wish, a wish I have had for a very long time. :I wish, that you are well, sister:

Even with the sad thought I am beyond happy, happy with my friend and the joy he has brought me. He claps with his hooves and really makes a spectacle of this all, as if trying to make me feel like a foal again. "YAY! ... I would sing happy birthday, but only if you want, I am terrible at singing." He makes a silly and absurd joke.

I roll my eyes but still chuckle at the horrible joke that really shouldn't work, but does anyway. "Fine, be rude to the birthday mare." I use a slightly snooty tone to play alone before quickly dropping it as he laughs, my goal accomplished. "At least give me my gifts so I can be utterly amazed again." I am completely honest and enjoy his slightly bashful reaction to my words.

How a Pony so good at gifts could be surprised I'm excited for them is beyond even me, but I feel my excitement rise more as he moves a gift over, looking excited as well. "Fine, start with this one though, it's the less impressive gift. And keep it upright." He reveals as if it being less impressive would even dent my anticipation.

I move the box wrapped in daisy pattern paper over to me, it seems he even remembers that after a few years. I start to just rip it off, feeling no shame in acting like a filly for the moment, it is my birthday party after all. I'm met with a large box once the wrapping paper is off, a foot wide and nearly two feet tall.

I pull a string that loosely ties the top of the box together watching as all four sides come apart and fall outward. Sitting in the middle, now uncovered, is one of the oddest plants I have ever seen. The colors clash and bend in impossible ways as the beautiful and frankly confusing rose bush sits in front of me drawing my undivided attention.

I pick up a small card at the base of the pot. Rainbow Rose. I raise a brow and look over to Shade for an explanation. "I modified the Prismatic Rose you gave me, I did my best to make it look unique for a good gift. I thought you might like something that truly stands out for the royal gardens, or wherever else you want it. There are also some seeds in there." He points to a small bag that is with the pot at the base of the box.

I smile widely at his thoughtful and definitely unique gift. "Thank you, Shade. It's lovely." I get a smirk in response as he moves over the second gift. I waste no time in moving the pot to the side and opening the wrapped present, deciding to inspect the plant later. I open the second box to see a large amount of familiar tea leaves, I look curiously at him as he brings over his teapot, "New tea flavor?" I guess as it seems obvious.

He nods and brings a few leaves over and spends a few moments cutting up the cake while the tea is boiling. "Yup, this one is a little special though, it might actually go well with the cake too." He hangs the truth over me and passes me a large slice of cake and a fork. "Enjoy."

He also serves himself a slice and I take a bite, enjoying the mix of strawberries and cream while he pours some tea for me. He moves a cup over and waits for me to drink it, visibly anticipating my reaction. I decide to make a show of sipping it slowly but stop as I taste something completely and utterly out of place.

He chuckles at my confused look while I take a few more sips, each one remaining the same but still being so very odd. I give him a demanding look as this is far too odd not to have an interesting answer. "Did you add this to the tea leaves? And if you did, why cake? How cake?" I ask, sharing my befuddlement after placing the flavor. It's the perfect but still startlingly accurate for tea of all things, it also does go well with the cake.

He just laughs and takes a big bite of cake, refusing to answer for the moment. I huff and take a deeper drink of the odd tea, something that tastes far too similar to chocolate and vanilla cake. What has he made now? I wonder as we eat, my eyes trailing to the side in amusement as Entropy digs into her own piece of cake in a messy display.

POV shift Shade.

I hold in my amusement at not telling her immediately and letting her try to figure it out as she continues to drink the cake tea and I enjoy the regular cake.

Once I'm done with my piece I finally answer her, no need to hold it over her too much after all. "Actually, I used my method. I got some Cocoa and Vanilla plants, the tea is that flavor now, even if you grow it. You can have dessert without eating it and not feel guilty." I say with a slight bit of pride, it was hard getting the flavors right but it seems to have come out well.

She gives me an amused look for a moment and just laughs once again. I can safely say the party has been a success as she seems to have enjoyed it. She's been smiling basically nonstop and as far as I can tell she's thrilled with her gifts, and I'm thrilled to make her day.

She finishes her cake as well before speaking up again. "Because of course you'd make a plant for cake-flavored tea, I can't even imagine where you got the idea. Not that I'm complaining." She looks at the ten-pound box I've given her for a moment. "You do get the best gifts, two seemingly impossible plants, and a fun little party on top of it all." She says happily while moving the tea over to her.

I shrug a little and move past the compliment. "It's not hard for me, and I thought you might like something out of the ordinary for once. And that's where the second part of today comes in." I say vaguely as I move my plate to the side and stand up. "I need to grab my things, if you want more cake go for it, it's your birthday and I demand you don't feel guilty doing so." I walk away as she looks curious while laughing at the bad joke.

I do see her pile two more pieces of cake on her plate as I walk into my workroom and put on my saddlebags, getting ready for our little trip quickly. A few minutes later I'm ready and I walk back out to see she's already finished her second plate of cake. She is standing up while looking over to me as I walk back over. "So, what do you have planned? Something at Gaia's Eden?" She guesses.

I take my party hat off and she does the same, placing it under her wing and moving it wherever she puts things. "Nope, get your disguise on, we're going somewhere." I give her some vague instructions as Entropy activates her band and flies over to my back after throwing her hat somewhere, or losing it when devouring cake.

I watch as she raises a brow before doing as I asked. Her horn glows for a moment as there is a small flash of light, a second later a different mare stands in front of me. The same color coat, but a light blue mane and a cutie mark of the sun in a different form, along with her wings being gone. "Is that an illusion? Or some type of transformation?" I ask as my curiosity gets the best of me.

I mainly ask because she's now a fair bit shorter, shorter than me by a few inches actually. She looks up at me and smiles, "The latter, it's a very complicated spell. I am basically a powerful unicorn at the moment, even my wings are absent instead of unseen." She ruffles the fur on her back with her magic to demonstrate. "It is very complicated though, and horribly inefficient." She adds as I lead her to the front door.

I nod and open the door. "Can you use that one spell? The one to make sure we can talk without others understanding us?" She nods and a moment later I walk over the door. "To finally answer you. We're going to the park to do... Well, whatever you want." I reveal and she pauses for a moment, stopping mid-step. I look a bit concerned, "If that is fine with you?" I ask gently.

She smiles widely and nods. "Very much so, I rarely get to simply, sit, especially in public." She agrees but I can tell this is a surprise to her. "It has been a long time since I've just walked around, thank you." I raise a brow as she could do this without me, but I choose not to question it as we walk down the stairs.

As we step out onto the busy morning streets Celestia just looks around for a moment. "Actually, I think the last time I walked around disguised was the first time I came to your apartment." She comments and smiles as we see a few foals run past playing some game. "It really is nice."

I nod as I can see how hard it would be for her to find the time, or even the will to do so. What's the point in walking around in public if you are in disguise and have nopony to talk to beyond strangers who can't know who you actually are? Sure it could be fun but I feel as if she would instead spend her time doing something more private. "I thought you might like it, you don't seem to get out much." I am honest with my reasons.

She nods slowly as we walk through the streets. "Yes, I try my best to connect with my little Ponies, but it can be rather hard to keep up with them, they move rather quickly." She is also honest with me as we see the edge of the park a minute later. "I do prefer quiet places though, I often get my fill of celebration at events." She gives me some interesting information about herself.

I nod and give her a slightly apologetic look. "I didn't mean to drag you out, but time outside does me some good." She shakes her head and waves away my concern. "I hope you liked the little party, I did try to make it all new, but it is rather silly and maybe even stupid," I admit with a relaxed tone as we enter the park.

Celestia watches a few other Ponies filling a pothole in the cobbled road, watching them as we pass by. "Maybe, but I think silly is what I needed today." She seems content as we walk down a path in the park, ending up in a familiar area that I can't place. "How about we just sit? I think it would be nice to watch things up close for a while." She offers and I nod.

We both take seats on the closest bench, one that's overlooking a small pond. I think for a moment and chuckle as I remember where I am, breaking our short silence. She turns to me with a questioning look and I shrug. "This bench is where I met Shining and Twilight, both by accident. It's been a long time since then." I find some humor in this spot being where we ended up.

She looks around, eventually settling on watching a few ducks swim in the pond. "And such a short time all the same, it's only been five years." She states and I nod, letting that fact sink in. "You really have changed so much so quickly." She says with a little pride, hinting at my inventions as well as my personal growth.

I try not to let my mind drift to thoughts of an uncertain future and just enjoy the day. "Maybe, but the world has changed infinitely more than anything I've done." I get a little philosophical as I don't have a good response to her words. "I do wonder sometimes what life would be like if I never sent you that light spell, what would I be doing now?" I ponder as we both simply sit and relax as Ponies walk around and have fun on this lovely day.

She giggles. "Knowing you? You would still be involved somehow, you truly have a talent for finding yourself in interesting and crazy situations." She teases me slightly. "Or maybe it's your luck? Who knows?" I shake my head with a chuckle and lean back on the bench fully, letting Entropy jump on the bench in between us.

I roll my eyes at her last words. "My luck is some forsaken mix of wealth and misfortune. I got a Life Gem, but only after I agreed to hoof fight a Dragon by trying to help. Or maybe that's just my choices?" I voice my thoughts as a Pony walking past, carrying a pet hamster. I shake my head, "No, definitely my luck." I say with a confident tone.

She just giggles. "That is an old question, far before my time at least. Ponies have always wondered what was behind the events in their lives, or if anything was behind it at all." She looks down as a few ducks apparently think we have something to give them to eat and waddle over to the bench. "Maybe these ones have it all figured out, swimming and eating all day." She adds to what is becoming a lightly philosophical conversation.

I actually think about that for a minute, deciding that some philosophy is just what we need for her birthday. "Maybe, but they probably look at the world with a far different view. Sapience can be a gift and a curse, to see all the beauty in the world, along with all the sorrow." I add some beliefs from my past life that may hold more meaning in this world than my last.

She stays silent after that, simply staring at the Ponies and animals in the park. After a minute of silence, she looks at me with a very content smile. "Thank you." I just nod. "This is nice, to just be. Maybe it's something I will do more often. If I find the time, of course." She jokes slightly at her own busy job.

I scratch an itch on my back leg as I answer. "Well, if you do, you can always stop by my apartment, even if I'm not home." She raises a brow at that. "You are already keyed in the shield around my apartment, just in case you ever needed to enter without teleporting for some reason," I reveal a change I made earlier this week.

I realized it would be good for her to be able to get inside if needed without teleporting, so I made the change a few days ago. She smiles softly at that, "Then I have another to thank you for. Seriously, Shade, today was amazing. You once again outdone yourself, I can't wait for next year." She says with such a genuine tone that I can't help but grin widely.

I take the opportunity and reach out to hug Celestia while she's smaller than me, accidentally sandwiching Entropy between us. Entropy just joins in and hugs Celestia as well. Hugging this form of her is odd as I'm able to fully reach my forelegs around her, but I'm just happy as she hugs me back.

I pull back after a few moments, "Well, Sunny." I use a little nickname. "We have a few hours still, anything you want to do?"

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :}
Current year is 996

Happy new year!! And here, have a nice long Celestia perspective to celebrate.