Luna did come close, looming over him. "Do not tell me to be calm when I have good cause to worry. My sister, who has been alone for centuries, now takes interest in you, and is being less than forthcoming as to why!"

Solaris decided at that moment that honesty was the policy. "I told her everything, every secret. She decided I was still worth a try, so I'm doing my best." He smiled, thinking of her. "And she's worth the effort."

She stared at him hard. "What do you mean, secrets?"

"The fact that I'm a human in a pony's body." Solaris sat on a chair that hadn't been there before his sitting down. "That I came from a whole other world." He waved at Luna. "A secret I now share with you. I probably didn't have much chance of keeping it away from you for long. How long would it have lasted?"

"Long enough." She huffed lightly, but seemed more confused and frustrated than angry. "Sister never acted this way towards me." She pouted. "It's not fair."

Solaris rubbed his cheek slowly, trying to come up with an appropriate response. "She loves you, a lot, but that's a different kind of love." He brought up his forehooves and danced one. "Family love." Then he danced the other. "Romantic love." He gestured with both. "Two entirely different things."

She glared at him as if she wanted to strangle him. He was glad this was only a dream.

"Look." Solaris held out a hoof, offering it to Luna. "I know it can be, you know, rough when someone gets close to someone you like. I don't want to push you away. You're a nice pony. So, maybe, we can be friends? If it ever gets that far, you'll be my sister too, and I'd like to be a good brother."

Luna eyed him with the utmost suspicion. She took his hoof in hers and shook gently. "Very well, but do not think for an instant that I won't have my eye on you."

He laughed at her threat. "What sister doesn't have an eye on their brother, waiting for them to do something worth berating him for?" He hopped down to his own hooves. "Call me out, when I do something silly. It's what a good sister does."

Luna blinked at this. Her expression softened. "If you're going to be sister's mate... very well." She sighed lightly. "You are an odd pony." She turned away, trotting off to her right. She opened a door that hadn't been there. "I should continue my patrol."

He bowed to her. "I hope to see you again later, Luna. Have a good night."

"You as well." With that, she was gone. The dream faded away into a formless void of restful sleep.

***

The next morning, he sat up in his bed and yawned. "Good morning world!" He stretched and smiled up at the ceiling. "Good to be a part of you."

"Someone's in a good mood this morning." He looked to the side to see one of his ponies wandering the room with a maid's outfit on, cleaning and dusting.

"Oh, hello." He slid from the bed with a laugh. "You wouldn't be wearing that, a world away."

"I wouldn't wear much." She flicked her tail at him. "But I like this. I like being able to talk such complicated words to get my meaning across to other ponies." She waved a hoof at him. "I like thinking those complicated words. My world's gotten so much bigger, with bigger ideas. Sometimes it's a little overwhelming, but I like it." She brushed down over her clothes. "I like it. Thank you, Mark."

He nodded to her gently. "I'm happy you're happy. What about the others?"

She made a face, as if he should know better. "They're doing fine. They're just not as eager to see all these new ideas. They're all trying something different, but they're all happy." She fell to all fours, pausing her work. "You know, the stallions became complete, but they don't chase us mares. They are polite and busy." She tilted her head, confused. "Is something wrong with them?"

Solaris slid from the bed to his hooves, laughing along the way. "Civilized males don't chase females as their first priority. Just like you, they're eager to find and explore their place in this new world. But, if you like one, well, let them know. If they feel the same way back, they'll be so happy you did."

The mare nodded, returning to her work. "I'll let the others know."

"Thanks." He walked to the door and opened it, looking out. Ponies were walking around doing their work, each focused on whatever task they felt was theirs to accomplish. He slipped out into the stream of equines and he started the day in earnest. He spotted a small face among the many. "Squire, there you are."

"Sir!" Pepper held up a paper. "You're needed at court! Princess Celestia is judging cases today and wants you present!"

Solaris accepted the paper, which was a short invitation to the court. "Thank you. Do you have school today?"

Pepper saluted. "Not today, sir! I'm ready to serve as you need."

He rubbed the colt's mane. "Thank you." He glanced around the hall and lowered his voice. "Where I'm going may be boring for a little colt, and you have to be quiet. Do you want to come to court with me?"

"Yes sir!" Pepper stood upright and proud. "I'll be as silent as a stone."

Solaris chuckled, leading the way. "That will have to do, then." He looked down at Pepper. "You are free to leave if it gets to be too much. This is not part of your duty, this is just an offer to come and observe the proceedings."

The colt nodded. "As you wish, sir!" He took off at a gallop, racing through the halls towards the court. Solaris felt he had to speed up after him. They both arrived there shortly. The guards nodded at Solaris, even if they had been ready to bar the way for Pepper.

The court room was a massive chamber with a central platform where cases were presented. It had rows of benches for ponies to sit on and observe the proceedings, which were filled with all sorts of ponies. Celestia was there at the center, nodding as a pony spoke their needs to her.

She smiled on seeing Solaris, inclining her head towards her side. He took the hint and tried his most stately walk up towards her to sit at her side in no particular hurry. His attempt was made less stately by Pepper's quick dashes to be at his side at all times and also look around curiously.

There was no room on the throne itself, but a small stand had been placed by the side. Solaris took that spot, sitting down beside her. Celestia glanced down at him with a little smile before focusing forward again. "Your request is modest, and can be done. I will send word to have it be so."

The mare that had been asking it bowed low. "Thank you, Princess. Your kindness and wisdom is a light to us all."

Solaris looked at her and smiled. She seemed genuinely grateful for whatever had just transpired. He turned to watch Celestia as she began speaking to another pony. He picked up how this worked quickly enough. The ponies came from the stage, walking down in a line towards the main exit.

Each had a turn to speak what was bothering them, and Celestia gave her answer to each in turn. It was simple enough. "Prince Solaris." He jumped, looking to the stallion that had said his name. They were standing where all the other pleading ponies had stood. "I had a question for you."

Celestia smiled gently. "It would seem one of your ponies has used the line to reach you. Go ahead, Solaris."

Solaris stepped towards the podium and bowed his head. "Ask it, good sir."

The stallion looked over Solaris in his finery. "This is hard to explain exactly." He tapped his hooves together as he swayed in place. "I've heard of other places. I like the sound of them. I want to move out of this city. It's full of so many of us close together. I want a little more space. Will you be upset if I move?"

Solaris smiled warmly at that question, stepping down from his stage to come up to the stallion. "Of course not. I know how it is, being stuck somewhere." He motioned at the city around them. "Canterlot is a dense place, full of people, er, ponies. Some like it for exactly that reason, and some don't. If you're more comfortable out in the country, I won't stop you. I just want you to be happy, and live your best life, whatever shape that takes."

The stallion bowed his head, grinning. "Thanks, Prince." He turned to look back at Celestia. "I'll head out to Ponyville then, I've heard it's lovely."

Celestia gently clapped at that. "A lovely rural community. Do you have the bits to reach it?"

"I do." The stallion reached over his shoulder to pat where saddlebags would be, had he worn any. "And I won't need help from anyone. Thank you both." With that, he headed down the steps towards the exit, looking quite satisfied.

Solaris returned to his seat. "I hope he does well." He glanced up at the princess beside him and smiled. "He's a good one."

Celestia gazed over her gathered ponies. "I hope so as well. The court will adjourn for a few minutes, then we'll continue." With a firm clap, ponies moved, clearing the space for the time. "Glad you could attend. I see you brought your squire with you."

Solaris laughed, nodding to Pepper. "Yes, I did." He waved the colt forward. "How are you doing, Pepper?"

Pepper bounded in place. "This is great!" He nodded at Solaris, then Celestia. "I get to see you both doing your things. I feel honored!"

Solaris patted his shoulder gently. "I'm glad you're happy. Just try and stay quiet when we have another pony here."

Pepper nodded firmly. "You won't hear me while court's in session, Sir! You handled your pony quite well, if you don't mind my saying so. He'll be happier. I like it right here, Sir, near you."

"I like having you around too." He smiled gently. "Go ahead and play while the court isn't running. I think there are others from the palace your age to meet."

Pepper saluted with a hoof, turning to run off.

Celestia caught him with a wing, easily scooping up the little colt. "Your name is Pepper, isn't it? Did you know Solaris, before you came here?"

Pepper stared up at the princess wide-eyed, but nodded firmly. "I did! He took care of me when I wasn't feeling very good. I love him, Ma'am!

She reached down with her muzzle and rubbed the colt's mane slowly. "You are lucky to have found someone so kind." She released the colt, who stood upright and beaming from the affection he'd been given. "You may be his squire, but if something troubles you, I am also available."

He gave her a bow. "Thank you, Princess! I won't let either of you down." With that, he was off to find playmates.

She watched the colt run off, then turned her attention back to Solaris. "You have good taste in squires. I've taken on one or two myself, though I usually call them students. You've met one of them. Twilight was a dear student of mine for quite some time."

Solaris nodded at that, smiling gently. "I hope to meet her again. I'd love to get to know another of your students."

Celestia glanced away. "I would not be able to teach you magic as I did her. My school is made for foals, and you are quite advanced past that point. All the same, your lessons will continue. Some with Twilight, others with myself." She reached up to tap his horn. "In fact, why don't we go over a lesson after court is finished for the day?"

He blushed lightly, but grinned. "I wouldn't mind." He flicked an ear, then gazed in Pepper's direction. The colt was playing with a few other fillies and colts, running around the room in a game of tag. "Do you always have foals in your courtroom?"

"It is always a better day when I do." She smiled at their antics. "I don't always get that wish, but I never turn it away, unless matters turn towards darker tones. I am glad to say that is only rarely the case."

Solaris turned to look at her more fully. "What sort of cases are those?"

Celestia sighed gently. "The worst of our society. Ponies who would harm others. Or beasts and monsters hurting ponies that need immediate action. I don't want to haunt any of them with nightmares." She snorted with a little laugh. "Giving my sister more work would hardly be kind of me. Besides, they deserve only the best dreams, something I know Luna is happy to give."

Solaris glanced over his shoulder at the sun, as if considering his own dream. "She's a good pony. She obviously cares about you, a lot."

Celestia tilted her head to regard him curiously. "I care about her, as well. She is my only sister, and one I hold close. Once, I allowed her to drift away, and it almost cost me everything. I will not fail like that again. Now, we should continue court."

The two returned to their places and Celestia called for the next pony to present herself. Court passed slowly as the ponies filtered through, one by one. A few had requests of Solaris, but most were for the princess, and he was left to watch the proceedings.

Author's Note

Never a bad time for Pepper to show up. Court is in session, and ponies are happy to see the two sun ponies ready to assist them.

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