Solaris took a slow breath, gazing into a mirror. "I should stop doing this." The same horse was looking right back at him. It was him. He was that horse. He extended his left wing slowly, then his right wing.

Each time those new limbs moved, he shivered faintly inside. Moving things he never had before was such a strange sensation, tickling at a part of his mind that just didn't quite exist before.

His eyes drifted upwards to his new horn. "Hm." He'd seen unicorns use that horn to pick thing sup. Celestia had even done a few outright spells with hers. But what muscle did one flex to do any of that? Solaris sure didn't know!

"Sir?"

Solaris jumped, turning to face Pepper. "Ah, little squire. You look, hm, happy and unhappy at the same time."

"Sir!" He saluted sharply with an upturning in his face, as if just being spoken to made him happier. "I'm back with the report, Sir." He pointed to Solaris' cutie mark. "That's a cutie mark, Sir. Ponies gain one when they realize their purpose. Um, typically around the time of, um, getting close to adult."

Solaris nodded with this information. "Ah." He glanced back at his mark and back at Pepper. "Very good. You're a little young, Pepper. Of course you don't have one then." The image of Pepper as a little colt sprang to mind, far from being anything one could confuse with an adult.

He gently mussed Pepper's mane, to the child's clear delight. "You did very well. Now, this next one may be more complicated, and involve you quite personally."

"Sir?" He stood up straight. "I'm ready to help!"

"But it is you that may be being helped." He touched noses with Pepper just as he'd seen his horses do countless times. "You are young. Find other young ponies like you. I'm going to bet they go to school or somewhere else. Follow them, don't be rude, and see if you can't get in too. If the school wants to speak to your parent, you fetch me right away. Feel ready for that?"

Pepper looked amazed, floored by the command. "Sir? How does that help you?"

Solaris pinned an ear back. "Pepper, I say this with utmost seriousness, but your safety and happiness should rate as the first thing in your mind. Mine can be a second."

"No, Sir." He looked uncomfortable. "You're my dad, and, um." He fidgeted in place. "Tell me why, Sir."

Solaris put down that conversation for later. "Squire, I want an educated squire. You become more valuable to me with a proper education. Address this."

That got a smile back on Pepper's face. "Oh, of course, Sir!" He saluted and marched off, as if all problems in the world had been banished just like that.

Unseen, a maid scurried away with news of what she had seen.

The discussion with Pepper put an idea in his head. "School isn't just for kids." He cut off a scurrying servant. "Excuse me, have you a moment."

"Oh, hello." She bowed to Pepper. "How can I help?"

Solaris smiled at her. "Don't mean to be a bother, but I was hoping to get a tutor." He considered which kind he wanted. "Involving the use of a horn."

"The use of a, huh?" Her horn glowed sympathetically. "I'll check on that. You stay here." She trotted off with purpose burning in her eyes.

Solaris sat back, watching her flee. "Hope she isn't thinking odd things about me."

"What are you waiting for?" came Celestia's voice. She was coming down the hallway towards him. "You look like you're very busily waiting for something."

Solaris jumped faintly in place. "Oh, hello. I just asked for a tutor."

Celestia smiled at that. "How delightful. What topic were you hoping to learn more about." She leaned in closer. "Or is this for your little squire? I've heard you've been caring for him."

Solaris colored just faintly. "Yes, hm. I want him to be happy."

"I know that feeling well." She sat next to him. "I have many little ponies I would see happy. How did you two meet?"

Solaris thought to the past, when Pepper first spilled free of his mom. "I was there, when he was born. I was in charge back then, and did my best. He used to be a sickly little thing, but he's gotten so much better. It's good to see." He let out a soft sigh, smiling genuinely at how much Pepper seemed to have recovered.

Celestia rest a hoof on his shoulder. "I dare say, in your Squire's eyes, you are still very much in charge. But you're sending him away, I hear."

"To school." Solaris waved where Pepper had gone to. "A child deserves a proper education."

"I would agree." Celestia was quiet a moment. "What did you need a tutor for?"

Solaris flinched. "Right, I hadn't answered that." He pointed up at his horn. "I wanted a tutor for this. To be sure I was... ready."

Celestia inclined an ear at him. "Are you worried you won't move the sun properly? I'm flattered you're already thinking of me, but I said, relax first. We can try exchanging that task when you feel ready. No rush."

Solaris went in, touching noses with her.

Her eyes went wide a moment, but she relaxed. He could feel her breath, softly washing over his snout as she snuffed through her nose. He felt sure she was healthy, female, and a thousand other little hints he was struggling to keep right. She was the mare in charge, and she regarded him in a fond light.

Pepper had smelled of an excited little colt. He hadn't realized, snuffing Pepper, how much was really being communicated until the difference between the two was, well, shoved in his face, literally.

Celestia closed her eyes a moment, enjoying that warm touching of their foreheads. "If you feel the need to have a magical tutor, I have taught classes on the topic. It would be a pleasure to serve as one for you."

"You?" Solaris leaned back in surprise. "That's wonderful!" He stumbled a bit over his hooves. "We can discuss a time for it? If you're interested in teaching me."

Celestia smiled at the servant hurrying back with news, just a look was enough to send them scurrying onwards with a giggle. "I have half an hour before my next appointment. Shall we start?"

Solaris face bloomed into a smile. "I'd love that! Now?" He sat back on his haunches. "Do I need to do anything special?"

Celestia brushed her tail slowly as she stood up. "Come, this hallway is hardly the proper place." She led the way to a small sitting room. "Now, where would you care to begin? Are we practicing spellcraft?"

Solaris tensed, realizing he'd made a mistake. "Can we start with the basics? The basic basics?" He made a rewinding motion with his hooves. "Like using the horn at all."

Celestia inclined her head. "Was the calamity that jarring? Very well. We will start from the very beginning." She directed up at her horn. "You have a horn, as all unicorns do. It is the focus of our power. Focus your will there, feel the warmth, and let it shine. There is little more to do until you can perform that reliably."

Solaris laid his hoof on his head, feeling out where the horn connected to his skull. He flexed his will into his new limb, trying to conjure forth that same glow. "It's not like that for me." He squinted a little, pressing hard with his will.

"You are trying too hard." She leaned in from the side. "You don't glare that hard at your legs, do you?"

"My legs don't do anything cool." Solaris shook his head. "Sorry, this is still new." He pushed a little harder. "Oh." He'd missed something right under his nose. "Right there." The horn felt like an extension of himself, no different than any other part of his body. That moment of connection faded, but he'd felt it once, and scrambled mentally to find it again.

The second time wasn't nearly as difficult. He could almost feel his will spreading out along the horn. It was almost like breathing, though it left him drained for the effort. But the very end of his horn seemed to be glowing softly, his body unable to contain the magical energy.

Celestia applauded gently with her hooves. "I knew you'd find it. What a peaceful glow you have, warm, as a sun pony should have. Focus on that, make it brighter. Practice." She stood up. "I should continue, but that is a fine place to leave you. Tomorrow, I'll come back for another lesson. Hopefully, you'll be glowing adeptly when I return."

Solaris bowed his head. "Thank you so much. I appreciate you teaching me." He drew himself up proudly. "I look forward to continuing our lessons tomorrow."

Celestia mimicked the gesture and nodded. "Don't rush yourself." She trotted down the hallway with her usual purpose.

Solaris settled down, gazing up at the ceiling. He felt a gentle warmth wash over him as he flexed his horn, chasing away the chill of winter. It was effortless, almost like breathing, and nothing like doing anything else in his body. He was flexing a new muscle, like moving his wings. He laughed, thinking of it. "This body has so many new limbs." He spread out a wing, testing how moving a wing and working his horn at once would do.

"Enjoying yourself?"

Solaris near jumped out of himself at that voice. He came down facing Discord, which only made his eyes get bigger. "What? Who?" He certainly recognized that voice.

"Oh, we haven't met properly, have we?" He thrust out a hand. "Discord, spirit of chaos. Charmed."

Solaris considered a moment, then touched the offered hand with his hoof. "Hello, Discord." He looked the odd creature up and down. "Are you the same Discord?"

"One and the same." Discord casually patted Solaris on his pointed head. "We have a deal, and it appears you're making progress with it." He folded his arms with a chuckle. "I've held up my part of it. Money isn't a problem for you or your little horses. Look how happy they are." He inclined his head at a passing pony, one of Solaris' if one had to guess from the bow they made before marching onwards.

Solaris managed a smile. "You did that?"

"Oh, I did far more than that." Discord's face froze in place. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He clapped his hands together and looked up. "We made a deal, and I'm making good on my part of it. Now, let me tell you, I don't make promises often." He tapped Solaris' snout. "But Celly was looking a little down. She needs a little company."

Solaris bounced at the spirit, trying to grab them with his hooves. They phased right through them, disappearing in the effort. "Did you do this to me?"

Discord was back by the wall, fingers spreading wide with a giddy smile. "Which 'this' are you referring to? Make you a prince? Hm, yes. A pony? Yes again. Save you from destitution? Also me."

Solaris blinked. "Right..." He could remember that desperate phone call. "You didn't tell me I'd be a horse."

"You don't like it?" He chuckled as he leaned in at Solaris. "I think you do."

"A little warning would have been nice." He stepped from one hoof to the next. "Everyone seems to think I'm from here with some huge story that nobody told me about! What do they think happened to me?!"

"I imagine they think your nation fell out of the sky." Discord spread his arms wide. "Only so few of your ponies made it out alive. Is it no wonder that you're left rattled and confused?" He winked lightly. "Perfect story, if you ask me, which you just did."

Solaris tossed his head with a scowl. "Well, thanks."

Discord grinned from ear to ear. "Is that sarcasm? You're very welcome." He grinned wider at Solaris' little look. "Oh, you are delightful, aren't you?" He tickled under Solaris' chin. "You just keep getting on Celestia's good side. Nice job, by the way. She adores teaching magic, and having a talented student? You're making her day. Follow her steps and you'll have her in no time at all, my boy! In her heart and bed. You won't believe how far a warm bed can get you."

Solaris narrowed his eyes. "That's kind of a disturbing statement."

Discord vanished with a laugh.

Author's Note

Some background given, some exploration done.

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