TW for a trans character’s deadname and pronouns being used. this story is about gender euphoria and has a happy ending but be aware that a character is referred to as their deadname because they have not chosen a new one yet.

All of the Apple children were in a flutter, still buzzing with excitement at seeing a production of The Celestial Sunrise, a musical based on Princess Celestia’s first time raising the sun. Coco Pommel, friend to the Apple family, was the lead costume designer for the production, and provided tickets for all who wished to go.

Rarity made the occasion spectacular for the children, dressing them all in fine clothes befitting a meeting with the princess herself, and making a game of it, pretending they were all renowned critics there to assess the production. The last part was mostly to encourage them to be quiet and pay attention.

Pink Lady and Honeycrisp enjoyed themselves most of all, and chatted about the story and sang the songs for the entire journey home from the theater. The other apple children, who also came along, were not as loud about their enjoyment, but they too sang along for at least the chorus when their kin broke out into song.

For nearly three months following the show, Honeycrisp and Azalea would act out the climax of the story, singing the song and taking turns pretending they were the princess, while the other sat to the side and acted as Starswirl, who sang backup in the number. More often than not, Honeycrisp would let Pink Lady play the princess the whole time, as she was younger, and a girl, so it only made sense that she got to be the princess. He would sit to the side and encourage the filly as she twirled and mimed alicorn wings with her hands, secretly wishing that he was in her place.

They played this game in Rarity’s enormous walk-in closet, putting on her clothes as costumes and making a mess of it all. Rarity didn’t mind in the slightest, to their surprise, as she delighted in their game and enjoyed organizing everything when they were done. Honeycrisp especially liked the dress-up part of their game, reveling in his turn to wear girly things and sing the high, melodic song, whose lyrics described truly feeling like a princess.

“Honeycrisp, let’s play princess!” Giggled Pink Lady, getting up from their jigsaw puzzle and scampering towards Rarity and Applejack’s room.

The golden colt dashed after his cousin, passing through his mothers’ room and into his Mama’s closet. The floral scents of her numerous perfumes filled the air, and silken dresses shimmered. Love for his mother washed over him and he turned his gaze to Pink Lady, who was selecting a hat to be Starswirl’s wizard hat.

“Do you want to go first?” asked Honeycrisp, in the voice big cousins always use when talking to their juniors. “You’ve been humming the song all day.”

“No, I feel all droopy today.” Said Pink Lady, in a small voice. The poor filly had inherited their grandmother’s weak composition, and was often ‘droopy’ as she called it. “I want you to be the princess today, you sing the song better than me.” She said the last part with a sincerity only a small child can muster.

“Alright, Lady.” Said Honeycrisp, taking a floppy blue hat with beautiful peacock feathers and placing it atop her dark pink locks. “I’ll be princess today.”

The colt dug around through the closet and selected a few items and made a costume of it, donning a petticoat as a gown and feather boa as wings. He put on his tiara, which was always the same, as Rarity only possessed one that they agreed was the right one for the job.

Once he was fully costumed, he took his place in the center of the room, and Pink Lady sat on the floor as his audience. The golden colt took a deep breath and began the song, singing high and sweet. He danced, twirling and waving his arms, truly feeling like a princess. Something magical and hard to describe came over Honeycrisp, his heart swelling and shining within him like a sun. The song took on its own melody and Honeycrisp sang on, weaving new lyrics about being beautiful and fair like the real princess Celestia, spinning high on one foot like a ballet dancer.

At last this new song came to an end and Pink Lady erupted into applause, grinning with delight.

“That was beautiful!” she squealed. “You should be the princess every time!”

Honeycrisp smiled bashfully and shifted back and forth on his heels. Then Pink Lady gasped in even greater delight, and pointed wordlessly at her cousin’s side.

He looked down to see his cutie mark, shining through his shorts, showing the unmistakable image of a theater mask, both grinning and frowning back at him. Without skipping a beat, Honeycrisp took off in a sprint, running out of the closet and through the house, searching for his Mama.

“I’m an actress! I’m going to be an actress!” She shrieked, knowing the meaning of her words and shouting them nonetheless. “I’m an actress!”

“Yes you are, my princess.” said Rarity upon seeing Honeycrisp , taking her daughter in her arms and squeezing her tight. “My princess!”

Pink Lady heard the exchange from upstairs, and almost exploded with joy. “Like me!” she cried. “You’re like me!”