After waiting for many months, Canterlot was finally rebuilt and the castle was good as new. Many of the delinquents who had caused trouble didn't dare to stay in the royal guard, all of them having served their punishment and not risking getting yelled at by their superiors as they actually go through basic training. Some, however, did stay, only this time acting as mature soldiers, vowing to keep their kingdom safe and stop criminal activity instead of cause it. The soldiers now wore the uniforms Princess Celestia assigned: gold for the day guard, and dark purple for the night guard.

As news of the city's reconstruction was complete spread throughout Equestria, those who had lived their flocked back to their rebuilt homes, getting themselves settled back in their newly built houses, manors, and businesses. With some help from a few nobles who were generous enough to spend their millions of bits to fix their home, there was several left over from the materials the soldiers and contractors needed to give to those who had suffered greatly under Lucifer's destructive reign.

Peace was finally back in Equestria, and today is the day of the biggest coronation ceremony in the history of the world: the firstborn alicorn male, Solaris, will be crowned as Equestria's newest ruler, and the world's savior against the dark wizard Lucifer. Kingdoms from across the planet came flocking to Equestria for this event, ranging from those across the seas to those native to the continent, from those who knew the teen to those absolutely clueless of his feats.

At Canterlot Castle, many creatures from across the globe waited impatiently as the ceremony was about to start soon. Inside, however, were those who were worthy enough to see the coronation take place, many of them being close friends to Solaris, family, and some other lucky nobles who would see their prince. Where everyone was excited, one of them was far from excited, practically terrified and nervous.

Solaris stood in front of a mirror, wearing his regal coronation uniform Gemstone personally made for him, which was expertly designed despite her being a ten-year-old filly. He wore a white and gold tunic, studded with a few topaz in the clothing to make it shimmer in the light, and a red cloak with a white trim clasped around his shoulders, held in place by a brooch in the shape of his cutie mark. Stitched along his cloak were the cutie marks of the princesses and the bearers of the Elements, commemorating them for the sacrifices they had made. His mane and tail were neatly groomed to make his appearance presentable to his public, but it was threatened to be ruined by his sweat, his nerves getting to him.

"Ok...Big day. It's your coronation, you're going to rule Equestria, and everypony's going to be here...Every...single...sentient being...from around the world..." Solaris tried to calm his breathing, regretting thinking about the thousands of members in the audience outside the castle, along with the ones inside. "I don't think I can do this..."

"Getting cold hooves?" The alicorn nearly leapt out of his skin as he turned to face the unexpected guest. Standing in the doorway was Gale, wearing a soldier's uniform native to the Griffon Kingdom. "You sound like you're gonna choke for a momentous occasion. Where was that bravado when you fought against me and Berserker with a large crowd?"

"Gale? It's...been a while. I don't think you're supposed to see me until the coronation starts," Solaris said, only growing more nervous as he kept imagining the worst-case scenario.

"Oh, really? I'm not supposed to see you right now?...Oh wait, I can't see anyway." Gale waved his hand in front of his face, reminding Solaris he was blind. "I have no clue what you're wearing or what you look like, so it doesn't really matter, does it?"

"...It's the principle of the matter..." Solaris couldn't really find an excuse. If Trill was able to, she would barge in to make sure he didn't chicken out, but he felt like he was going to at any moment. "I'm so nervous..."

"You gotta relax. If I were you, I would have been more nervous fighting Lucifer than getting up on a stage performing for hecklers." Gale approached the trepidatious teen as he fidgeted in his outfit. "What are you freaking out about?"

"...I...I'm afraid everypony's going to think I'm not fit to be a prince," Solaris said. "I'm a fast learner, but many decisions for Equestria's future will fall on me. I don't know which one will lead to the kingdom's downfall, or destroying ties between other nations. Not to mention I'm going to be living far away from my family in Ponyville. I might not see them again for months because of all my new royal duties to uphold. What if a greater evil worse than Lucifer shows up, and I'm not strong enough to defeat them!? I don't want to let everyone down, and I don't want to fail! I hate having everything I strived to protect be torn away from me, and I don't-!"

Gale shoved his hand against Solaris's mouth, silencing his terrified rambling. "No one is perfect. If you make one little mistake, make it up later in the future. Fall against a foe, get back on your hooves and beat the living hay out of them." Sensing the alicorn had calmed down a little, the griffon lowered his talons. "You got what it takes to lead your kingdom and regain what peace and prosperity it had. Don't let your fears rule your life and dread on the past. Look toward the future and learn from any mistakes you made."

"...Are you sure you didn't want to be a soldier and actually become a philosopher?" Solaris asked, making Gale chuckle as he slapped his back, being careful of his talons ruining his cloak.

"Fighting's like an art, and when you fight, there's always some life lessons that can be inspired by struggles. Even for a blind avian like myself." Solaris shook his head, never able to understand how a griffon around his age could make up anything out of wisdom when he's a ruthless fighter when he needs to be. "I'm gonna head back before the others notice I've been gone for too long. Try not to steal my advice when you make your speech to your kingdom, and the others who will witness your coronation." Gale began to walk out of Solaris's room, stopping at the doorway as he held his fist up. "And I still want that rematch, your highness! No special tricks or cheap armor! Just pure skill."

He walked out and headed back to the rest of the waiting audience, leaving Solaris even more nervous at the mention of a speech. "...I-I have to make a speech?"

The time to announce Equestria's newest ruler was right around the corner as everyone awaited their new prince. Cadence was quite eager to announce her nephew to the world, wearing the same dress she had worn for Twilight's coronation. Shining Armor stood next to her, wearing his old uniform as he looked out at the guests who would see Solaris before the rest of the crowd outside. He noticed not many of the noble ponies were fond of seeing changelings, especially Chrysalis and his daughter Trill, both mares wearing dresses that matched their figures, though they don't seem fond wearing them.

Many of the members in the Resistance were here too, some in uniforms from their native homelands, some males wore a suit or a bow for the minotaur's case, mostly for the hulking red behemoth Berserker. Even Discord was here, actually wearing a normal tuxedo and a top hat. As chaotic as he behaves, he's actually been on his best behavior, though after hearing Fluttershy had died, he hasn't been as random as he used to be.

Shining fidgeted slightly, mostly out of discomfort from his forelegs. Even though he didn't have to lose them, they would occasionally shoot out sharp bursts of pain. He wouldn't be fighting again for the rest of his life, but he would gladly retire now that Lucifer was finally gone, his terror nothing but a nightmare now.

"You ok, Shiny?" Cadence asked, snapping the stallion out of his thoughts.

"Yeah. My legs are bugging me, but I can manage." He sighed, looking out to the audience. "I won't be doing much outside of the Crystal Empire after this. And those stupid painkillers I have to take..."

"I'm just happy to see you're still alive." The pink alicorn gave her husband a peck on the cheek. "Now that you're somewhat immobile, we can spend a lot of time making up for some lost time. And maybe finally have foals of our own?"

"Heh...Right," Shining grinned sheepishly, knowing he was going to have a long and tiresome retirement with his princess of love.

Chrysalis mumbled to herself, feeling stuffy in the outfit she was forced to wear. "And I thought that ridiculous wedding dress was annoying to wear."

"Yeah. That courtesan outfit I wore in Saddle Arabia feels more comfy than these dumb...dresses." The queen looked down at her daughter, a brow raised in curiosity.

"You wore what?" she asked, Trill looking at her mother. "Did you even know what a courtesan even means before you wore it?"

"...I was reminded by Solly...when I showed them to him...when we made it to those ruins." Chrysalis shook her head, trying to hold back her amused grin. "How was I supposed to know what they were used for!?"

"It was in the basics to entice your male prey. You studied that lesson a few years ago." Trill tried to remember, but couldn't, making Chrysalis groan in irritation. "You would remember if you didn't keep getting in trouble with your instructors."

It was almost time for the coronation to start, and Solaris waited outside the doors to wait for his cue. He peeked through the crack, swallowing the big lump in his throat at the amount of ponies, minotaurs, griffons, everyone in the room will see him walk down the red carpet leading down to his aunt and uncle on the other end. He could only imagine how many more are waiting outside in and above the courtyard as soon as he stepped out on the balcony. He managed to catch sight of his grandparents, Twilight Velvet and Night Light, sitting in the front row. This would be the first time he would meet them personally, and it only made him more nervous.

Cadence and Shining Armor finally stepped up in front of the crowd, ready to begin the ceremony. Solaris took a few deep breaths, calming his hyperventilating somewhat, but he wasn't prepared for the speech he would give. Hopefully, he'll be able to wing it and not slip up on his words.

"Everypony, thank you all for coming," Cadence started announcing, silencing everyone from their excited chatter. "Today marks the most memorable day for not just Equestria, but for every single kingdom all throughout the world. For fifteen long years, all of us have struggled to survive under the tyranny of the dark unicorn king, Lucifer, a pony with dark magic far more powerful than that of Sombra. But thankfully, he has been defeated, and all of us can rest easy knowing his evil will no longer spread to the other kingdoms."

"We also wish to honor those whose lives have been lost under Lucifer's reign," Shining continued. "And to those in the Resistance who fought to keep the cities of Equestria from being completely destroyed by the Shadow Knights, we would all like to thank them for putting their lives on the line, even though many of Lucifer's army were untrained." Many of the Resistance soldiers present chuckled at that, all of them wishing they had a tougher challenge. "And...some additional help from Chrysalis and her changeling army, helping evacuate Canterlot the day our hero put an end to Lucifer."

Many ponies present still seemed skeptical as the changelings gained their attention, Trill being the only one oblivious to the questionable stares as she waved.

"Now, we have ourselves a new ruler to help guide Equestria," Cadenced continued. "Even though he may by young, he has what it takes to become as benevolent as Aunt Celestia, quick to learn what he needs to in order to keep the peace between us and neighboring kingdoms. Mares, gentlecolts, creatures all across the world, may I present to you all for the very first time, the son of Princess Twilight Sparkle, our nephew, and the world's brave and courageous hero, Prince Solaris!"

Some ponies played some fanfare on horns as they and some of the royal guard stood on the sides of the red carpet, the doors opening to reveal the alicorn in his regal attire. He was able to mask his nervousness, keeping his eyes forward while trying not to think about the audience eyeing him. The royal guards saluted as he passed them, all of them being the soldiers he met in the castle before confronting Lucifer. To him, it felt like the walk down to his aunt and uncle would last for an eternity, his steps wavering, but he finally made it.

"Nervous?" Shining asked.

"Kinda," he replied, daring not to look back at the hundreds of pairs of eyes watching him.

"You're doing great so far," Cadence assured Solaris.

Shining used his magic, levitating Solaris's crown from a pillow nearby. It was made of gold and had his cutie mark for all the world to see, a rising sun with a star in the center, along with six smaller ones at the ends of the rays. The alicorn bowed his head as he felt the crown rest perfectly on his head, the audience applauding as he rose back up. Cadence motioned for him to step up onto the balcony to show the rest of the crowd outside, taking a shakey breath as he stepped up to the railing.

As soon as they saw him, everyone in the courtyard or on the clouds for creatures of flight began cheering, having heard Cadence and Shining Armor with their voices amplified for them all to hear. Solaris nervously waved as the young CMC, all dressed fancy thanks to Gemstone, Discord, Trill, Chrysalis, Gale, Gilda, Shining Armor, and Cadence joined him. The crowd grew silent as they waited for the teen to speak, but he couldn't sum up the courage to even utter a peep.

"He's choking," Gale whispered, feeling the alicorn's body tremble in fear from the air around the newly crowned prince.

Discord snapped his talons, disappearing and reappearing onto Solaris's shoulder, too small for anypony else to see him. "Solaris, imagine everypony in their underwear. That should help your nerves."

"None of us wear clothes," Solaris whispered as he spoke through his teeth. "That only makes things more awkward."

"Then why don't you pretend your family is there in the crowd? And I mean ALL your family." Discord reappeared back to his normal size with the rest of the group, whistling nonchalantly as if he didn't do anything.

Solaris tried to take the draconequus's advice, but his imagination kept fading as his eyes darted across the courtyard erratically. While he panicked, he thought he saw something standing on a lone cloud in the air a few yards away from the balcony's height. His eyes widened as he saw his family sitting on the cloud, including Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, golden halos hovering over their heads. He quickly rubbed his eyes, thinking he was either losing it or it actually worked, but when he looked back, he wasn't imagining things.

Oddly enough, nopony behind him even noticed them, only he being the only pony to see them. They all smiled at him, all of them proud of his accomplishments. He still didn't know if it was a hallucination, but seeing them again calmed him, taking in a deep breath and clearing his throat as he enhanced his voice using the same spell Shining and Cadence used.

"Uhh, sorry about the awkward silence, everypony. I'm brave enough to face a being of pure darkness, yet I get stage fright as if I was performing in a play." Solaris chuckled at the irony, though no one else seemed to laugh except for Cherry, who would laugh at anything funny. "...Ok, shouldn't have opened with a comedic intro line with so much silence...Anyway, I really don't have the words to express this honor. I still feel so inexperienced with the world after more than half a year being outside of the mountain caverns I was raised in for all my life.

"I was kept isolated from the world, not only to protect me from the terrible reality happening, but to keep my existence safe from the pony who wanted to hunt me down. The only knowledge on the outside world I knew about were from the words of the five mares and dragon I was raised by, as well as the books I was given to further my studies everypony commonly knows...My whole world turned upside down when I discovered my mother, Princess Twilight Sparkle, had been...gone ever since I was a foal.

"Along with learning of my mother's fate, I was suddenly thrust into the world as Lucifer had discovered where I was hiding...and my Uncle Spike sacrificed himself to save me." Solaris looked up at the cloud his family was sitting on, all of them assuring him it wasn't his fault. "As I ventured out through the kingdom, traveling to different cities and climates, I suffered more losses as I struggled to pass the trials my mother left for me to prove my strength to finally face Lucifer and save us all from his tyranny...I was told I would have to suffer with each test I pass...and I have. My aunts, the remaining bearers of the Elements of Harmony, have met unfortunate fates, killing Equestria's well known heroines and putting the kingdom in more danger...

"It couldn't be helped, even if I tried to save them." He looked back at his friends and family, all of them understanding his pain. "But the best thing I could have done was try, even if I was beaten to near death or greatly exhausted. I passed my tests, I was lost, but I'm glad to know that I have friends and family that never gave up on me and reminded me of my kingdom's future." He looked out to the crowd, growing confident as all his trepidation disappeared. "So I fought with all my strength, and vow to keep Equestria as the peaceful kingdom it used to be many years ago.

"I may be an alicorn to everypony present, but I'm still just a pony. I'm not perfect. I'm not an all powerful deity. But I promise to keep this land from falling under the darkest of foes that threaten the safety of my subjects. Though I am young, I am willing to learn everything I can, even from the mistakes I may make in the future. I swear to you all that I will follow in the princesses hoofsteps as best as I can, and help any who need it under the darkest of days. For I, Solaris, am Equestria's shining light, the hope everypony needed to save you all from the wrath of Lucifer, prophesized by my mother! I thank you all for putting all your faith in me, and I will not let any of you down!"

Everyone burst out in applause as Solaris stood on his hind legs, raising his forehooves in the air as lit them with white flames. He shot a small ball of fire up into the sky, and as it reached it's peak, it exploded like a firework as the embers burned out in the shape of his cutie mark. Solaris breathed out a sigh of relief, his improvised speech going a lot better than he feared. When he looked back at the cloud, he was disappointed to see that his family and the princesses were no longer there.

He was snapped out of his sadness when he felt Cherry and Prism bouncing around him. "This calls for the biggest party ever!" Cherry shouted.

"And I can assist with the planning," Discord said, appearing behind the excited filly and lifting her up. "A little dash of chaos will definitely liven this castle up. Who's with me!?"

As the foals were excited about the wild party Discord had planned later this evening, running off with him as they passed the crowd, Solaris was immediately pounced on by Trill, nearly knocking his crown off his head.

"All hail Prince Solly! Allow me to be the first of many mares in your future herd," she said, nuzzling his cheek.

"Trill, you really are incorrigible." Solaris gently pushed his marefriend away, fixing his crown. "I didn't really think everypony would accept me as a prince so quickly."

"We'll help you as much as we can until you get used to the royal lifestyle," Cadence said as she and Shining approached them, along with Solaris's grandparents. "Now that your coronation ended with great success, I think we can now introduce you to your grandmother and grandfather."

Night Light and Twilight Velvet approached him, though Solaris's gaze fell on his grandmother. Velvet and his mother were practically alike, knowing exactly where she inherited her looks. He was speechless, but he didn't need any words to express his feelings, tears welling up in his eyes as he smiled at them in joy. He hugged his grandparents and they hugged him back, both of them happy to see their grandfoal again after nearly fifteen years.

Chrysalis watched as the alicorn was united with his mother's parents, noticing Shining Armor and Cadence approaching her. "Chrysalis, you don't seem to be as excited as the rest of your subjects that wanted to watch this moment."

"I am holding back my enthusiasm. Even if your nephew is in control of Equestria now, I'm wondering if things will actually change for the better," the queen said. "Not many ponies around us seemed safe with our presence."

"I have a feeling the future for all of us will be a lot brighter," Cadence said. "After all, they say the youth of our generation will pave the way forward for the next to follow."

"Depending on if any of them turn out evil." The three watched Solaris with his grandparents, Trill cutting in on their time as the alicorn assured Night Light and Twilight Velvet she wasn't dangerous. "I do not want to jinx this, but I dare ask how 'perfect' everything will be in the next few years with him in charge?"

1000 years later...

Equestria has remained at peace from serious threats of pure darkness for the past millennium. The world had changed in the many years that have gone by. Cities across the kingdom have grown, new inventions in magic and technology to help improve the growth of the citizens, and now, changelings are living among Equestrians in peace, with some special shops made for the bug ponies to feed off of the love of other ponies without impersonating and stealing love from their victims. Solaris had kept his promise to Chrysalis and Trill, both their kingdoms united as one, and with a few rough bumps around the new change, it all worked out well as the years passed.

In Canterlot, the castle has made a few renovations that changed along with the expanding city around it. Inside Solaris's royal bedchambers, the stallion snored as the morning sun slowly began to rise on the horizon. Laid out on the long side table next to his bed were pictures of the memorable moments of the past: the first starting from the left was the old pictures of him and his family, next was his coronation day with his cousins, grandparents, his aunt and uncle, and Trill, the next showing him and Trill together, the young stallion wearing his royal outfit sans the cape, the changeling princess wearing a white wedding gown, the two sharing a kiss at the alter where they were wed, followed by a picture of an exhausted Trill lying in a hospital bed with a tired Solaris standing next to her as they both held a white filly foal that was also half changeling, sharing the same crooked horn, holes in her tiny forelegs, and green eyes her mother had, and several more in an open scrapbook of the hybrid filly.

Solaris squinted his eyes as the sun shone in on his face, stirring him out of his sleep. He sat up, starting to wake and as he yawned, his body having grown since the last several centuries. He was as tall as Princess Celestia used to be, though a few inches taller since he was male and his mane and tail were now ethereal after many years honing his magical prowess, waving in an invisible wind. He stretched as he moved the covers off of him, rubbing his stubbled chin, cringing at the rough texture of his facial hair.

He climbed out of bed and headed out to the hall, heading straight for the royal bathroom. He greeted the guards stationed at their posts, their armor changed from the heavy and bulky model of the past to a slimmer style, imbued with magic to act like the old armor without the added weight of the metal gear. Solaris entered the expansive bathroom and headed straight for the shower, passing by the circular tub that continuously spouted hot spring water like the one back in Trill's hive.

Since nopony other than him is allowed inside this room, there was no need to have a door or curtain to shroud the pony showering. He turned the water on as more steam rose in the bathroom, the stallion sighing in content as the water streamed down his weary body. He didn't notice a figure sneaking through the steamy fog, crawling down from the ceiling and headed straight for him. The black equine-like figure snuck up on the unsuspecting stallion, opening its maw to reveal its sharp teeth. Its mouth began to target the alicorn's neck, but Solaris heard the faint hissing noise it made, quickly spinning around, grappling the yelping figure, and slamming its back into the wall.

"...Why am I not surprised?" Solaris held a changeling queen under his powerful strength, her body soaked from the water as she grinned. The queen was Trill, looking almost identical to her mother, Chrysalis, the only difference being her shorter mane. He was about a foot taller than her, almost towering over her. "I was wondering why you weren't sleeping in this morning, Trill."

"Aww. Did you miss your cuddly wife, Solly?" the mare teased. "I was gonna give you a wake-up call, but I felt like jumping you when you hopped in the shower. I can never seem to get you though. You always know where I am."

"Well, I almost didn't notice...until I heard you hiss." Solaris pressed himself closer to his beloved changeling wife, gently pressing his lips against hers as they kissed. Trill horn glowed as their kiss deepened, their tongues playfully wrestling against each other as they both moaned. The changeling rubbed her hoof sensually along her husband's muscular chest, slowly dragging itself lower to meet her prize. Before she got any closer, Solaris pulled away. "Ah. No. Not this morning, hon."

"You big tease," Trill whined. "Is it cause I'm getting old? Or maybe my butt looks big?" Trill turned around, shoving her rump in Solaris's face. "Or is it not big enough?"

Solaris smacked her plot, making the grown changeling yelp, not entirely flustered at Trill's teasing. "Trill, nothing's wrong with you. I still love you, and you're still beautiful." She blushed, sitting down in front of him while averting her gaze from him. "I'm just saying not now because I have an important meeting to attend to in Ponyville."

"Oh. I forgot about that." Solaris shook his head, his love's forgetfulness something he had to learn to tolerate for a few more years in their relationship. "Ok then, later this evening. This time, you're being tied up while I take charge. Also, can you please grow a beard? I love the rugged look."

Solaris scratched his scraggy chin, groaning at the annoying facial hair. "No beard. It always itches if it grows too long."

"Awwww...No fair." Trill pouted. "Then I'm gonna put that 'special' ring on you while you're tied down."

"Fine. Now, can you help wash my back, please?" Solaris turned to face the shower head as he used his magic to levitate some soap and a washcloth to Trill. She reluctantly agreed to help him, washing his back and feathers. Sighing at his wife's gentle massage, he suddenly gasped in surprise. "Not that low, Trill!"

"Well, you said to wash your back. You didn't tell me which back: your back where your wings are, the back of your head, or your backside," Trill smirked as she corrected Solaris with his lack of specifications.

Solaris sighed, sitting down while making sure to keep the front of his lower half given any access to his perverted lover. "Just help me wash up."

Down in Ponyville, not much of the town had changed too much aside from the many apartment complexes that housed many more inhabitants, either tourists or locals. Far from the town, at the foot of the mountain Solaris was raised in, a group of foals were led by their teacher as they took a field trip toward the location. The group of schoolponies were a mix of ponies, griffons, and changelings, many of them eager to make it to their destination. They soon stopped at the beginning of the path leading up the mountain.

"Ok, class, we're here," the teacher said, quickly silencing the excited students as they relished one of their days where they don't have to study. "Now that we're here, we must wait for our tour guide...though I don't see him anywhere."

As the teacher looked around, everyone gasped in surprise as green flames suddenly combusted nearby, revealing Solaris as the embers died out. His face was cleanly shaved as his coat gleamed in the sunlight, the students getting even more excited at the sight of the alicorn.

"Sorry I'm late, everyone. Had a little situation with the missus. She can't keep her hooves off me." Some of the foals giggled as most of the kingdom knew of Trill and her flirty nature and annoying Solaris. "Now, how about we begin the little tour and get some first-hoof knowledge on some of Equestria's greatest heroes?"

They all cheered with excitement, not through the knowledge they'll receive, but because their ruler was going to guide them around his old home. Solaris led them all around the side and to the cavern he made a thousand years ago, finally known as a shrine to commemorate his family and the previous sovereigns of the kingdom. After walking through the long pathway, the students all gasped in awe as they witnessed the lifelike statues of his family for the first time.

"Whoa!" one of the students said, a colt looking up at the statue of Celestia. "Who is this?"

"This is Princess Celestia, the previous ruler of Equestria over a thousand years ago," Solaris replied. "And before you ask, these statues are sized to scale from head to hoof. She actually was this tall, though, as you can see, I'm a bit taller than Celestia since many males of all species are genetically bigger in height compared to females."

"So, you were taller than your mom?" another student asked, this one being a young griffoness.

Solaris chuckled at the assumption. "No, no. Celestia wasn't my mother. I never really met her when I was your age." He walked up to Twilight Sparkle's statue. "This was my mother. The youngest royal alicorn before me, Princess Twilight Sparkle."

"...But you really are taller than your mom, then," she said.

"Yes, I know...but, the sad thing is, this was her exact height...before she died," he said sadly, still remembering the pain after all these years.

The students all gasped in shock, none of them ever knowing the painful events of the past, a past they will be grateful never to experience in their life. "What happened?" another student asked, the others wanting to know too.

"...Well, have they learned any history on the evil unicorn king, Lucifer?" Solaris asked the teacher, who nodded her head. "Ok...I guess I can tell you all. All of you are raised by your parents, and you knew them when you were little, right?" They all nodded. "Well, I never really knew my mom at all when I grew up. She was...killed by Lucifer when I was only a few months old, slain along with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna when they tried to stop him. I was raised by my aunts, the other mares you see here, and my Uncle Spike, which happens to be the dragon statue next to Aunt Rarity."

"A dragon for an uncle?" one of the colts asked as all the male students looked up at the adolescent dragon statue. "That is awesome!"

"Yeah. It was," Solaris admitted. "And I was mostly raised by him. I never really saw my mother when I was growing up, always told by my family that she was too busy with ruling a kingdom. I had no idea what really happened to her until I was fifteen, what age they all considered me old enough to understand what's really happened outside this mountain. The reason why was because they didn't want me to be discovered by Lucifer, and they didn't want me to see how much turmoil Equestria was in with him in charge.

"But I actually met my mother, the day after my fifteenth birthday, as I had finally set hoof outside the home I grew up in." Though the foals were entranced by Solaris's sorrowful tale, they were confused when he said he met his deceased mother. "I know. It's impossible to believe that, but it is true. You could say she came down to see me, as an angel. She gave me the first test I needed to take that started my journey to save not just Equestria, but the world from Lucifer's tyranny. She believed in me, having seen a vision about my heroic efforts in a premonition several times, and I had succeeded in making her clairvoyant vision come true. I've learned that, no matter what happens to my family, their memory will never leave my heart.

"And as the years passed, I had gained new members of my surrogate families from my aunts, watching as more of my cousins from Ponyville grew bigger, keeping true to their ancestor's way of life to keep their memory alive for everypony's sake. This is an important lesson all of you can take to heart too. You may lose somepony you hold dearly, but you can't let your past haunt you for the rest of your life. Look forward to a brighter future, move on from the worst of your memories, and even if the pain is still there, it only strengthens the fondest of moments you've had with your loved ones."

Solaris looked down at his young subjects, seeing they will follow his wisdom, and eventually pass it on to their children in the future. As soon as he looked up, his eyes widened as he saw his mother standing near the entrance of the shrine. He rubbed his eyes and looked back, finding no sign of her. He looked around, but seeing nopony else aside from his young class he was temporarily teaching and their teacher.

"Prince Solaris? Are you ok?" Solaris looked down as one of the students noticed his fruitless search.

"...Uhh, yes. I'm fine," he assured the filly. "Being a thousand years old, I tend to go senile from time to time." He hunched his back as he pretended to act like he was old, his mane and tail drooping slightly. "Ooooh! My aching back! You foals stop playing that accursed loud music!" That got the students to laugh at his silliness, Solaris sometimes thinking he inherited the randomness either from Pinkie Pie, Discord, or Trill. He sat back up, his mane back to its normal, flowing state. "Ok, young me is back. Now, who here wants to hear some epic tales of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony and their heroic efforts to stop the villains who threatened the peace of Equestria?"

He soon began to get bombarded with requests from the young ones, all of them wanting to hear one story over the others. As he began to tell his favorite story he was told by his aunts about them and his mother saving the kingdom, Twilight watched him as the schoolponies listened. She nodded her head as she began to disappear, her halo blinking above her. Equestria was at peace, the world was saved, and the lavender alicorn was proud of her son for making their kingdom a better place than it had been before. Though Solaris had gone through so much, he had the help of her friends, their children, and even the unexpected relationship between him and Trill to always be there for him, to be his strength to fulfill his destiny and save the world from an evil stallion known as such by the unfortunate life he was led so long ago.