In Sun's Light

Thursday

Canterlot

Twilight Sparkle was having a good time. Sure, she was doing political planning, but Pinkie Pie made everything fun.

“Ooh! Ooh! OOH! Let’s throw the biggest party ever! Everypony likes a party, Twilight! We could definitely win Equestria’s favor with a nationwide party!”

“But Pinkie, we don’t have the funds for that.” Twilight said, chuckling.

Fluttershy spoke up from the corner, just barely heard. “And a political campaign should have more substance. Oh! Not that I don’t like your idea, Pinkie, I really do, just…” She trailed off back into silence. Her plan shot down, Pinkie deflated for a moment before perking back up.

“Okey dokey lokey!” She said.

“Twilight.” Rarity said. “A campaign should be elegant but strong. It should catch a pony’s attention, but gently pull them towards your ideas and alert them that there's something in it for them. Be stylish.”

“Also, be as honest as you can.” Applejack added. “Ah know, politics and all, but ponies value a good bit of honesty.”

Quietly, Fluttershy spoke up again. “Don’t be brutally honest though. Be nice too.”

“Make it fun!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“And awesome!” Rainbow Dash added, then thought of something else. “And be for the ponies.”

All of Twilight’s friends had such good ideas. They were sure to win if they worked together.

* * *

"So you're going to be gone all night?" Sunshine asked, rather soleful.

"I'm taking you with me. And it's tomorrow, not tonight. I'll be home after school." Sunshine was happy to hear that, but it was bittersweet because Gavin was leaving right at that moment. She watched as he left, and then she sat down with a book. The day passed on in silence as she read, absorbing more knowledge. Finally, the familiar sound of the door opening.

"I'm home." Gavin said. He sounded slightly shaken.

"What's wrong?"

"There's a news team checking out that monster. They're examining it. Nobody knows what it is... I don't think it's from around here though..."

"Well where else would it be from? I mean, there's just Earth, right? It's the only planet that can sustain life."

"True... But there are no talking ponies on earth either."

"Except me... but I think I came through a portal to get here. A mean stallion sent me here. I think he wanted to kill me..."

This statement scared Gavin. "Who would want to kill you?"

Sunshine looked at the floor, managing a small "I don't know." before going into the bedroom and lying down. That night she slept until she was woken up by gentle moonlight falling on her face. The moon... Fresh tears came to her. Why did she feel so hollow looking at this moon?

Friday

It was game day, and it would be no easy feat getting Sunshine to school unnoticed. He emptied his bag of all nonessential things, and got his duffle bag ready as well. Sunshine would stay with him as much as possible. He wasn't letting her out of his sight. So he packed her in a spare pocket in his bag. He packed enough food in there to last her a day before heading out, taking his duffle bag along.

* * *

Sunshine was still in a melancholy from last night. She hated not knowing what she missed so dearly on the moon. She stayed still, listening as Gavin went through school, listening to conversations and occasionally lessons by the teacher. History struck her the most. Earth was a world of suffering, so many horrible wars... All sorts of innocent people dead, and more wars still raging. Why was this world like this?

She decided she would ask Gavin later as the final bell rang.

"Almost done." He whispered to her. She could feel him walking for a while before he stopped, and took her out before putting her in his duffle bag.

"Alright. We're almost there. You've been very patient." Sunshine smiled. The next two hours were a bumpy bus ride to who knows where. She sat, nibbling on the food Gavin had brought, when the bus finally stopped.

* * *

Gavin's adrenaline was pumping before he ever got on the field. He was ready for the game. They would win, of course, but he was also slightly worried about Sunshine. Too bad, it was time to play. Gavin played offense, and he was good at what he did. He swerved, dodged, and generally just kept everyone on the opposite team away from the ball. Along with his buddies who were on the attack with him, they made short work of thier opponents without ever having to worry about it.

Even when one of the members of the team's defense got a hard accidental kick to the knee, benching him, there was still no problem. The other team was schooled. They hadn't even scored one goal.

The game was over as if it hadn't even begun. But, he said good game nonetheless, high fiving all the opposite players. The sun was starting to set. Gavin went to get his bag, and Sunshine.

What he didn't know was that a guy named Mark had brought the same kind of duffel bag, but he was on the other team. Sunshine was riding happily in the duffel bag, thinking she was going home, and she couldn't be farther from the truth.

* * *

It was near nine when Mark got home. He was tired after a hard day of being swamped by the enemy team, took his bag down to his room, and haphazardly threw it onto his bed before sitting down there himself. That was when his cell phone rang.

* * *

Gavin had frantically pulled out his cell and made a call as soon as he realized he had grabbed the wrong bag. He was lucky this guy had had the foresight to put his name and number in his bag.

"Hello?"

Gavin was trying not to sound desperate. "Hi. Is this Mark?"

"Yeah. Who is this?"

"My name is Gavin. I was at the soccer game earlier today. I was on the offensive."

"The dude with the brown hair?"

"That's me."

"Yeah, I remember you. What's up?... Wait... How did you even get my number in the first place?"

"That's why I called. I took your bag by mistake."

"Crap, my home jersey was in there!"

"I'm going to come by so we can switch them out."

"That's a four hour drive dude. Can't this wait?"

Gavin was trying his best not to sound frantic at this point. "Nah, it's a Friday. I might as well come pick up my bag and not worry about it later, you know?"

"If you say so. You're a crazy dude." After that was said, Mark hung up. Gavin called another person, because he had a license but his mom was out of town with thier car.

"Hey Eric. Could I ask a favor of you?"

Eric took a while to respond. It made sense, they had never really talked outside of class before. "Sure, Gavin, what is it?"

"I need a ride somewhere."

There was another pause. Eric seemed to be thinking it through. There was talking in the background. Then he came back. "Sure."

"Also, would you like to spend the night at my house? We can binge watch ponies and stuff." There was more talking in the background.

"The parents say that would not be a problem. I'll be over shortly." It was an hour later before he arrived. "So where is this ride to?" Eric had a slight freak out when he realized how far away the destination was. "That's four hours away! I can't do that tonight!"

Gavin knew Eric would say something like this, and he had a desperate card to play. "Okay, Eric. I asked you to give me the ride because I owe you explanations. I plan to explain everything, why I'm a brony, what's come up, but only after you get me where I need to go. Deal?"

It seemed to do the trick. "Deal."

Four hours of brony songs were played in the course of the whole time. Gavin didn't think he heard one song replay, although he heard remixes. Eric kept things lively by talking with Gavin while he drove.

"This must be good if we're driving across the state for a bag. This feels so adventurous!"

Gavin laughed nervously. "Yeah." What would happen if Mark opened his bag? What if he had found Sunshine? He was nervous. Then the GPS in Eric's car chimed "Destination reached." It was two in the morning. Gavin climbed out of the car and went to knock on the door.