It was another day in the castle. His days had begun to melt together as they became indistinct in tone. Solaris walked through the halls, nodding to anyone he passed. Few stopped to chat, though he enjoyed when they did. He ran into some of his horses, turned happy ponies. Each and every one was pleased with their new life, and were swift to remind him. One was getting married.

That was a bit of a surprise. As horses, that was thoroughly out of the question. As ponies, there was no rule against it. He'd even been invited to attend their wedding in just a week, a process which had already been in progress before he arrived.

"I hope Pepper gets some education soon." Solaris slowed down, sniffing the air curiously. "Where is he, anyway?"

"Sir?" Pepper came rushing over, darting through the crowd of larger ponies in the hallway. "You called?"

"Pepper!" Solaris swiped him up with a wing, bumping noses with him. "You're adorable, you know that?" He set Pepper down at his side. "Any luck?"

"Sir!" He saluted sharply, but was smiling at the affection. "I am now a student. Thank you, Sir."

Solaris' head snapped up sharply. "Really?! When? You weren't kidding! Do you like it?"

"Sir!" He smiled. "They're all friendly. It's nice being around so many foals around my age. One of them was really impressed I'm a squire." He stood proudly at that particular achievement.

"That sounds lovely." Solaris gazed at him. "I'm glad you found friends, that's wonderful."

Pepper inclined his head slightly. "Thanks." He stood tall, taking a short walk beside Solaris. "Sir. May I ask for your news?"

"News?" Solaris rubbed Pepper between the ears. "I'm learning too. Celestia is giving me magic and flying lessons. It's scary, but I'm learning so much. I don't plan to stop."

Pepper turned to his master. "Sir! You feel that too? I get, um, a little scared at times, or frustrated. I thought it was just me. Hearing even you feel that way sometimes." He danced in place awkwardly. "I feel better, Sir."

"It can be, yes, scary, frustrating, exciting, and rewarding." Solaris hugged Pepper lightly with his wing, careful not to bowl Pepper over. "That's all part of learning, but it is worthwhile."

Pepper danced around Solaris, skipping happily. "Thank you for bringing us here. I like Equestria." His stomach rumbled softly.

Solaris flicked an ear towards that. "Have you eaten recently? We should change that."

"Sir!" Pepper stood proud and straight. "I will get lunch."

Solaris reached out and took Pepper by the scruff, lifting him up off the ground. "Come along, squire. Let's find ourselves some lunch." He turned down the hallway towards the kitchens, grinning as he heard Pepper squeal. The little one pedaled in the air, but was smiling way too big to be anything but delighted.

They found one of many of Celestia's sitting rooms, the table already half-ready for a snack. He sank beside the table and set Pepper at the same. "Good food is needed to keep a pony going, so they can do their best."

"Yes, Sir!" Pepper stomped one hoof. "I wanna learn more! I wanna do lots of fun stuff with the others, and I want to play games, too." His cheeks tinged pink as he said it. "Not that I plan to put aside my duties, Sir."

"I know, I know." He touched noses with Pepper. "You're young. Have fun! Play some games, make friends. Live. Life is precious, Pepper." He stroked Pepper's cheek. "You are to enjoy school, and the friends you make there. That is an order."

Pepper gave his biggest smile yet. "Yessir!" He darted down to a bowl of greens and munched into it. He leaned against Solaris gently. "How did you meet the princess, Sir?"

"She came to me." Solaris lifted an ear. "And we're getting along. She's a nice mare." Memories of other mares her size, horses, came to mind. They were clearly different, but some similarities were there. "I have to see her, in fact, for magic lessons after this."

Pepper finished his munching. "Aw, do you gotta go?" He didn't leave Solaris' side. "Maybe I can watch? Do you think she'd teach me?"

Solaris laughed at that, nosing Pepper's forehead. "You are not a unicorn. You're welcome to watch, if you want, but you'd be better off learning at your own school." He rubbed at Pepper's neck lightly. "Go make friends, learn a bunch."

Pepper fidgeted, rubbing one hoof along the floor. "Yes, Sir." He sounded hesitant, but didn't fight it either.

With his own lunch completed, he stood, prompting Pepper to stand without a word. "Good to check in with you, Pepper. Be sure to come find me every few days, or whenever something happens, good or bad. You are under my care, so don't feel bad coming to me."

Pepper smiled up at him. "Yessir. Thank you, Sir. See you soon!" He scampered off, vanishing down the hall.

Solaris snuffed after Pepper, amused. If there was anything about that crazy sequence that started his life as Solaris that he didn't regret, he put Pepper high on that list.

***

Celestia trotted to a small clearing, turning to find Solaris at her side, matching her steps almost perfectly. She came to a halt and looked over the area, including the ring of guards that circled them. She tossed her head, causing the lot of them to vanish beyond the nearest hedges. She turned to regard him, and spoke quietly, "Today, I am glad to report, you've advanced far enough to try an actual spell." She regarded him carefully. "But I can't teach you spells alone. A teacher can help students refine existing skills. New fields of study must be brought in from elsewhere. I have requested help, from Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Solaris perked up, intrigued. "This is the mare you visited in person last time. What kind of princess is she?"

Celestia waved her wings slowly. "Twilight Sparkle is a gifted scholar who dabbled in all manners of studies. She was also a student of mine. It is only fitting that she lend a hoof. Twilight?" She called the last, and another alicorn came trotting towards them.

The smaller one was mostly a light violet color with hints of darker purple throughout. Her mane was a dark, royal purple streaked with pink highlights. The young mare trotted up to them with a skip in her step. "Princess, what was it you wanted me for? Why didn't you just come to Ponyville?"

"The matters of today demand the strictest confidence." She pointed to Solaris. "This is Solaris, I am courting him, and he is courting me. He is an alicorn that forgot, or never knew, magic, and I seek to remedy this. He's learned the alphabet, and is ready to proceed to his first actual spell."

Solaris dipped his head at her, unsure what else to do. "Uh, hi there." He stumbled on the words. "Sorry to bother you. But I appreciate the help."

Twilight studied him with an intensity he found unnerving. "Interesting." She stepped around him, circling slowly. "We will definitely begin with something basic, an easy starter spell that any foal can do." She put on her usual warm grin. "Ready to start?"

Solaris flared his wings with a growing smile. "I certainly am. What am I casting?" He kept glancing towards Celestia, as if to draw strength from her.

Twilight began the lesson with a board she had brought with her, marking with chalk the runes involved. "Done properly, you can change the color of any object. It does work on living things, but you should ask before you do that. The spell does not last forever, or even terribly long. So don't worry too much about messing up."

Solaris giggled with a huge smile. "Sorry, sorry. I was thinking of painting Celestia's cheeks, is all."

Twilight chuckled at that, looking around nervously. "Please do not prank Princess Celestia."

Celestia, on the other hoof, looked only amused. "You are welcome to try."

Solaris got back to focusing. He cleared his throat, studying the runes intently. He repeated it in his head over and over, picturing the marks until they flowed effortlessly in his thoughts.

After twenty minutes of concentration, he finally looked up and tried again, flexing his horn with the intent behind it.

Twilight sparkled, as her name demanded, then turned a bright green.

She squeaked in alarm and leapt right behind Celestia, hiding behind the massive form of her princess. "Did you have to test that spell on me?!"

Celestia merely nickered with amusement. "You should have given him something specific to target, my lovely student. Still, he accomplished the spell. It worked, he simply was uncertain whom to paint. My apologies, dear Twilight."

Solaris swallowed nervously at her anger. "Uh, sorry. Didn't mean anything by it, honest."

She peeked back out at him, still bright green. "Pranksters aren't appreciated." She stuck out her tongue at him a moment. "Still, congratulations." She emerged from behind Celestia. "Your first spell. You should be proud of yourself, even if I don't approve of the target. Was it on purpose?"

"Sort of?" Solaris shifted his hooves awkwardly. "I tried to think of your face when I cast, since you're teaching me. But, well." He waved over Twilight's green fur. "It doesn't look awful?"

Twilight huffed at that. "Yes it does." But she smiled. "I'm glad the spell actually worked. Would you like to know more?"

Solaris nodded rapidly. "Oh, absolutely. I love learning these kinds of things. This is amazing."

She smiled up at Celestia. "Permission to continue?"

"Granted." Celestia inclined her head at Twilight. "That is why I summoned you. Please, teach him as much as you and he care to do."

Solaris bobbed on his feet, eyes locked on Twilight. "Are you certain that won't be a problem? You're the local expert, so to speak?"

Twilight hummed at that, amused. "I am a wizard. That is a specific term, that means a pony that is particularly skilled and focused on the workings of magic." She returned to the instructions board and erased it. "Magic isn't just throwing fireworks and changing colors. There is so much to it than that. If you are truly interested in magic as a concept, that requires an instructor."

"But who could do such a thing?" Celestia sounded amused, not annoyed.

"Well, I can try." Twilight sat on her haunches. "Let's try a more serious spell, a mending spell! Have a tear in some cloth? This will put it to rights."

Solaris stretched out his wings, studying the pattern intently. "Why wouldn't a tailor work, if it was fabric?"

Twilight lifted an ear. "There are few spells that can't be done with enough skill and effort. But the spell allows it to be done without the same preparations and time. I don't need a needle and thread to mend a tear, and there won't be any visible signs of repair." She finished writing and sat back, motioning to the spell with her wings. "Shall we begin?"

The day melted away with Twilight leading Solaris from one spell to the next, none of them overly complicated. It was approaching dinner by the time Celestia declared it was time to wrap up the day.

Solaris stood to face her, giving the board a curious look. "One last spell?"

Celestia shrugged lightly. "You've learned many, dear Solaris. You and Twilight both look like you could use a break. Don't wear him out, Twilight. Tomorrow is a whole new day. You could pick up lessons then."

Twilight nodded with a gentle sigh. "As you command, Princess Celestia." She tucked her board away and focused on Solaris. "Now, what's this about courting Princess Celestia?! Fill me in, Solaris!" She darted towards him. "I didn't hear anything about this!"

Solaris blushed heavily. "No, wait, give me a chance to explain." He backed away a little bit, tail flicking.

"I want every detail!" Twilight followed close, waving her board at him. "Tell me everything, leave nothing out."

Celestia followed behind them, amused. "Yes, Solaris, do tell her everything." She gave the pair an amused little chuckle, before slipping out to check on other matters.

Solaris flared his wings out. "She needs company, and I'm willing to give it. She seems nice, wonderful even. I'm doing my best to be worthy of that, which is part of why we're here, teaching me magic. Thank you, um, for that. Today's been great."

Twilight laughed a little. "Okay, okay. Tell me more about yourself. Like, what are your favorite foods, books, movies?"

Solaris flicked his tail gently. He saw no harm in sharing that. "Let's see where I can begin with those. Well, the first food that comes to mind is strawberries. Oh, so good. Freshly picked strawberries in spring."

Twilight gave an appreciative hum. "Very nice." She prodded him for more details, walking along with him as she got the information she wanted.

Author's Note

Twilight had to show up to see who's courting her teacher and goddess. Also Pepper's doing good yay!

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