"That wasn't smart." Solaris had barely had time to enter his room before his benefactor casually dropped in. "We had a good thing going. Why would you drop the act right now?"

Solaris sighed gently, facing Discord. "Because I am not a liar, and she doesn't deserve to be with one. I will tell her tomorrow." He took a deep breath, collecting himself. "And it will go from there."

Discord huffed in displeasure, but made no attempt to sway him otherwise. "Just know that we have a deal." He casually folded himself more times than anything had a right to be folded into, vanishing from sight.

That left Solaris to flop onto his bed. "Tomorrow." With fatigue of a day of dancing, and the confession he planned to give, he surrendered to sleep.

***

The sun rose, as it was wont to do.

Celestia and Solaris trotted beside one another, walking with a casual pace that allowed them time to think. They walked together to one of Celestia's many sitting rooms. Solaris hadn't quite figured out why she had so many of them, but she did, and they settled across from one another at its table.

The table had treats and drinks, ready to host any visitor casually. He didn't feel hungry, so he left them alone. "I know you have a busy schedule. Sorry to draw you away from it."

Celestia gazed upon him. "I am not upset to have a good reason to set them aside for a moment. But I would rather you intrude in more pleasant ways. Solaris, speak. Tell me what you have been hiding form me until now."

Solaris nodded gently. "Princess. The truth is, I'm not a pony. I was once a human." He pointed at the window, looking out at a pair of pegasi flying by. "I wasn't born with these wings, which is why I didn't know how to use them. Where I came from, I was the caretaker for all the ponies you've met that look up to me. I love them dearly, and I'm so happy they're doing so well now. That wasn't a lie, not one word."

He sighed softly. "Discord offered to change me, because I wanted my ponies, no, my people, to be safe. They were going to die if I hadn't made a deal with Discord. Worse, they'd have been scattered, away from each other, some into better homes than others." He shook his head clear of those distant memories of his failing ranch. "But he had a condition."

Celestia tensed at those words. "Which was?" She kept her face neutral, ever the politician.

He took a deep breath. "To court you, and bring a part of my world here with me." He stood and strode across the room towards a window that faced the sun. "He wanted me to make you fall for me." He raised a hoof. "Before you ask, that doesn't mean I was being insincere, um, about everything. I started for a bad reason, but I really do think you're wonderful. A bright and warm sun." He dared a little smile. "That's why I'm fessing up. I don't want to continue under this lie. I want us to move forward, if you're up for it, with every card on the table."

She sat upright, tail gently flicking behind her. "So, this whole courtship was nothing but an arranged scheme to fulfill a draconequus' request?"

Solaris winced at how flat she sounded, almost monotone. "To start." He shrank a little. "To be honest, all he said was 'get in good' with you. Nothing more specific than that. That got me to at least consider it. Your charm pulled me the rest of the way. I'm sorry if this hurt you."

Celestia gazed out the window. "I cannot fault you for your intentions. I am a princess. My life is one of duty before self. You are not the first to come here seeking favor, or an edge, or an agreement."

Solaris' ears perked. "I didn't want any of those, besides getting them all taken care of, which you did before you even met me. You're dang nice." He smiled with some fondness. "The only favors I've gotten were knowing how I worked." He lit his horn gently and gave his wings a little nervous flutter.

Celestia nodded. "I see. What are your thoughts on Discord? I have my own, but I would hear yours as well."

"Discord? Discord's a trickster, the master of all things chaotic and strange." He sat up. "I've asked around, done some reading. He has quite the past, and his powers are a little terrifying. I think I got lucky, getting his attention and ending up where I did." He turned to face her. "But he hasn't done anything malicious, if I was being watched. I'm not really qualified for that." He shrugged lightly. "Honestly, it kinda sounds like you two used to know each other more than just princess and enemy."

Celestia waved that away. "He does act in unpredictable ways." She sighed out, but there was a little smile on her face. "That idiot. This is not the birthday present I had requested." She reached a hoof, sliding it under Solaris' chin. "But, perhaps, one I could learn to accept?" She held him there, keeping him from hiding his face.

He swallowed, hard. "Yes, ma'am." He felt heat on his cheeks and ears that wasn't her touch.

She nuzzled against him, a hoof resting on his chest. "Very well then." She drew back from him and stood. "If you are willing to trust that I will not have any hard feelings, you have your permission to court me."

Solaris perked. "You'll forgive then?"

"Consider my options." She gently shoved at him. "I could cast you out, but I would be punishing a pony for falling into Discord's schemes. and rejecting the first glimmer set before me. He is a foal at times, but he did what he set out to do. He wanted to give me a potential romantic partner." She rolled her eyes. "If I deny you only because he was the one to give me that opportunity, I would be being petty."

"And not wanting to be petty, that's why I get my second chance?" He stood carefully, keeping himself within range of her shoves.

"Amongst other reasons." She pulled back slowly, considering her options. "Last question, are there any other lies that have tumbled from your lips? Now is the time to speak them."

Solaris rubbed his chin, trying to think. "Nothing comes to mind."

She leaned in and brushed her nose to his, kissing him gently. "Thank you." She drew back from that, gazing out the window. "I still have to process this, emotionally. As much as I would like to claim I am above those, I am not. Allow me some time, then our courtship can resume." She turned to regard Solaris. "Is that fair?"

He bobbed his head enthusiastically. "Yes, thank you." His tone was so heartfelt that she smiled.

She nuzzled his cheek slowly, affectionately. "We still have a flying lesson later today. You'll be there, I trust?" Her tone had just enough amusement he knew it wasn't a real question.

Solaris bowed deeply. "I will, Princess Celestia." He stood tall and proud, giving off his own smile. "I'm glad we can put this behind us." He relaxed in a way he hadn't realized had been tense for a long time.

"What was your name?"

Solaris blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Huh?"

"You had one." She circled him. "You said you weren't a pony. You had another name, what was it?"

"Oh!" He cleared his throat. "Mark. Mark Greaves."

"Greaves? Like the injury?" Celestia blinked, as if not sure what else to say.

"Greaves, as in an ancient form of battle armor." He shook his head. "I'm alright being Solaris."

Celestia advanced, nose to his ear. "But we have a secret to share with one another. Only your little ponies and I know your true name," she whispered, a little smile on her lips. "I will not share it. That will be between the two of us, and the other ponies who are already in on this secret."

He swallowed, cheeks heating from her being so close. "Thank you, Celestia."

"Don't be so stiff." She turned away, gently slapping him with her tail. "I will see you for your flight lessons." Without pause, she strode from the room in a stately walk.

Solaris remained where he was, watching her go. "Wait for me." He felt some confidence in himself as he headed out to make good on his promise.

***

Celestia was already in the courtyard when Solaris arrived. "I hope your wings are ready for practice." She spread them to their fullest extent, showing off how massive they really were. "We're going to be practicing precision flying today."

Solaris bobbed in place, eager to start. "Do you do this often?" He flapped his own wings carefully, keeping from getting too much lift under them.

"Actually, no." She lifted into the air and waved with a toss of her head for him to follow her. "You are an excuse to get some air time without being carried around on a cart. It's nice to stretch out my wings again."

He lifted into the air and laughed, happy to be up with her. "That sounds pretty restrictive."

Celestia snorted, flaring her wings as she came to a halt, hovering. "A princess is not free to simply do as she pleases. It is not as if they forbade me from flying, just that they're eager to provide, so to not have a carriage ready? Unthinkable."

Solaris flew where and how she did, doing his best to keep up with her instructions. Flying exactly where one wanted and how one wanted too more practice and effort, but he was learning to adore the new body Discord had gifted him with. "I'm glad you didn't reject me earlier." He blushed faintly.

"Because being rejected is terrible, or something else?" Celestia gave him a sidelong glance.

The way she said that, the tone and warmth in it, had Solaris flushing even hotter. "Because I love what we have, between us." He waved a hoof between Celestia and himself. "I didn't want to give it up, but I didn't want to stand on a lie either."

Celestia hovered gently in place, motioning for him to come to her. When he did, she reached around him, drawing him into an embrace. "You are my sun, too."

There, hovering, the two drew as close as they could get. It only lasted a few moments, but both were warmed for having spent it. "Come." She started for the ground. "You did quite well. Let's rest and catch up." They settled beside one another and she nipped his cheek gently. "I look forward to getting to know you better."

Solaris rested against her side. "Me too, Celestia."

She glanced away and back. "Call me Celly, when we are not in an official function."

Solaris bumped into her side with his own. "Thank you for the lesson, Celly." His heart fluttered a little just from being able to say it.

They stood and she leaned against him. "You're welcome, Solaris."

That night, Solaris fell asleep with a smile on his face, certain he'd made the right choice in coming clean.

At least until Luna arrived in his dream, banishing that dream away to have his full attention. "What did you do?!"

Solaris flailed in place. The dream was like some sort of void, featureless. But Luna, oh Luna was there, and even as a ghostly form she looked quite angry. "Luna?"

"Do not 'Luna' me." She stomped a hoof on the void. "Sister is behaving strangely, and she's mentioned you a few times. What has transpired between the two of you?" Her horn glowed. "What did you do to her?!"

He shook his head, clearing out of the flailing he was doing. "Calm down, Luna. Please." He raised his hooves in a gesture of peace, hoping it'd work. The way she was approaching implied it wasn't.

Author's Note

He said it, and she didn't immediately kick him out, yay! Luna though...

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