Colors Of The Heart

Be Anon.

Human extraordinaire, the two-legged wonder of Equestria. You are looking up at some of the newfound artifacts from the castle in the everfree forest. The objects lining the walls of the castle's viewing hall. But something catches your attention.

Your eyes drift up to a giant and shimmering tapestry. The fabric shining in the light creeping from the stained glass windows of Canterlot Castle's walls. Upon this tapestry you see an elegant and thin depiction of an alicorn. The alicorn is seen rearing up, her hooves bent at the knees, her wings flaring out proudly and the intricate design of a woven sun behind her head in the far distance.An alicorn that looks kinda familiar. But there is one thing that sticks out to you. Besides the very familiar sun that was blazened on the ponies flank. Why was this mare's hair a different color?

Your hand drifts to your chin as you rub it in thought. The art style was reminiscent of medieval art of earth, the princess seeming to be part of a fairy tale or legend. The pink mane and tail though, is what had you transfixed. Celestia's hair has always been its soft rainbow pastel colors for eons right? Was this tapestry an actual historical account of her? Or was it some pony artisans' attempt at his own design of the princess?

A gentle knock on wood was heard behind you. And a soft clearing of the throat. The dulcet tones of a female pony reached your ears and brought you to your senses.

“Anonymous? I guess Twilight was correct that I’d find you here.”

A soft giggle would make you fully turn around. The white sea foam fur and magenta eyes of Princess Celestia herself is what meets your gaze. You finally turn to the alicorn and give a soft smile.

“Twilight was indeed right. My inner Indiana Jones couldn’t help but check out all these cool historic items.” Your famous movie character reference from Earth is totally lost on the princess for sure.

The pony princess gives a knowing smirk and approaches you.

“Well these items aren’t truly historic artifacts, just things from my past and my sisters I wasn’t ready to part with. Memories are all I have left when it comes to what I've lived through.”

As Celestia stopped in front of you, you see her gazing behind you at the other objects in the room. Her hair is still softly blowing in the unseen wind that always carries her locks of hair. Almost like water shimmering in the bright light of the sun on a summer day. As you lost yourself in thought, you noticed something again. The pink hue of Celestia's mane, wait a minute! You look back at the tapestry and then back to the princess. Her attention is now fixated on you again.

“Is something the matter anon?”

She says with a small hint of confusion in her voice. Seeing the green eyed human now looking back at her with his pupils a bit more shrunken. A finger gently pointing towards the pink strand of her mane and then back to the tapestry.

“Is…this supposed to be you Cel? I don’t think it’s correct if it is. But you do have a strand of hair colored just like the tapestries.”

You say with a bit of an incredulous tone, the tapestry mocking you as if saying this isn’t real and you must be mistaken. You are on the hunt for the truth though, Celestia would probably hold the answers to this question once and for all. The mare before you looks at your pointed finger, drifting her eyes down to her mane and then back to the tapestry.

“I don’t know what you mean Anon. That is indeed me.”

Celestia says matter of factly. She can’t be serious right? You begin to hope that the princess isn’t trying to mess with you, being that she has on some occasions, like the time she told you that Luna's mark was due to a spilled ink pot she sat in as a filly. You learned the real reason, from the confused night princess herself when she noticed you trying to poke at her flank. The mark stayed as dark as ever on her moon crested backside. You raise your eyebrow at the solar princess before you.

“Now Cel, what did I tell you about trying to pull the wool over my eyes again? That can’t seriously be you right? It’s almost like a different pony on that woven fabric.”

The mare cocked her head to the side, a soft lidded expression adorning her face as she stared at you, thinking you must be the one pulling her leg.

“No I assure you, that is me, I can…”

She says as her words died in her throat for a moment. Her eyes drifting to the side, her head angled downwards slightly. The change of her tone picked up by your ears.

“You can do what Celestia?”

The solar princess seemed to be in thought as she looked back up at you. Her smile now is a thin line across her muzzle. Her eyes staring into yours. A soft sigh escapes her as she closes her eyes and opens them up again.

“Can you promise me something Anon?”

The mare says with a slight worried edge tickling at her words. You sense it and then focus on her fully.

“A-anything Cel, what's up?”

The princess, the familiar stoic and motherly visage of Equestria, is gently rubbing her leg with one of her hooves. Nervous energy is felt through the air between you two. The mare looking at you again.

“I have a secret that most scholars of the land don’t know about. My…appearance hasn’t always been the way ponies see me now. My sister is the only one alive that knows what I look like. This…”

She says as she gently waves a hoof over her chest, mane and her face.

“...Is my magic affecting my form. The magic of the sun, the elements of harmony, has changed me over time, my duty, my calling has morphed me into this new…colorful visage.” The solar diarch gives a soft frown. “I have wondered why it happened. But I think it’s just a side effect. Nopony has seen me in my natural state for generations. I can…show you if you wish to see?”

The princess offers as she looks at you hopefully. She looks like she's looking through you, this secret that she is willing to part with, hanging heavy on her heart. Her eyes are looking longingly, hoping to hear an answer from you.

You release a breath that you've been holding on for quite some time. The seriousness of the conversation makes you seem nervous for some reason. This is your friend Anon, you scold yourself, Celestia is needing some solace. You should at least give it to her, especially if she's kind of begging you to with her gorgeous eyes.

“I would be honored to Cel. I honestly thought you've always looked this way.”

The solar mare smiled and turned on her hooves. She looked over her shoulder at you.

“Follow me to my chambers Anon, I can demonstrate there. For more privacy and comfortable surroundings.”

She says with a small titter. You eagerly follow behind the monarch as you both make your way up the long stairway to Celestia's private quarters. The golden doors swing open to reveal the homey room.

Soft lines of filigree are lining the wallpaper of the room. Painted lines like gently swaying vines growing from a garden. A soft but crackling fire, surrounded by golden bars of a hearth, seated within a stone and marble housing. The fire had a soft warmth and orange glow reaching across the carpet in front of it. Large and plush pillows adorn the floor of the room, an inkwell and quill sat near a stack of papers near one of the cushions. At the far end of the room is a glass door covered by a long veil-like curtain that leads to Celestia's private balcony. A giant king sized bed covered with the same veil of curtains surrounding it. The princess gives a soft sigh as she takes her place against a cushion on the floor. Gently laying down, her eyes looking at you to join her.

“Please make yourself at home Anon.”

You approach the reclining mare as she sits and watches you. You take a seat near her and facing her front. Your eyes glancing about but still returning to the princess's gaze. She gently pulls off her peytral from her neck, the golden neck armor gently laid to the side. She then looks at you.

“For this to work I need you to remove my crown Anon. Just gently lay your hands upon it And repeat these words.

For duty, lie, and honor kept.
May you be released from your honors sect, for no mere creature accept.

For no power, thee shall sought
For the colors of your heart, will Be brought. The sanctity of your station will be for nought.

For come what may, oh honored sway.
Look upon thee and say, tomorrow shall bring another day.”

The words echo in your head like a poem. A transcribed word of promises that the princess must have heard so many years ago. Years that must be distant memories. The soft smile on her face is keeping you transfixed but you do as she says. Your hands gently touching the metal of the crown, your mouth uttering the words of the princesses vow given to her. As you do, you gently remove her tiara from her head.

The effect you see is almost unbelievable. The soft colors of her mane are slowly draining out of her locks. The only color taking their place is the familiar pink hue. Slowly inching its way towards the base of her head. The pink becomes more vibrant and sparkly in the glow of the fireplace. Her mane stops flowing in the magical unseen wind. The strands of hair gently hanging loose to the side of her head. Her tail is also laying on the floor and splaying out like ribbons.

The strawberry mane depicted in that tapestry. It was indeed real and right in front of you.

The magic continues to leave her mane, then across her face. Soft little dots of freckles appear on Celestia's cheeks and near the bridge of her snout. Sun kissed freckles also could be fitting for the solar princess.

The princess let's lose a breath she's been holding. Her eyes gently open as she gives a soft coo of response. The magic leaves her body almost like a weight being pulled off her shoulders. Her soft magenta iris’s looking back into your eyes. The princess…no mare in front of you looks so…captivating. Like a field of sunflowers adorning summer Plains as far as the eye can see. A youthful and energetic pony mare is sitting in front of you. The only signs of age being the small creases under her eyes.

The sight before you. Leaves you awestruck.