Saddle Up, Sunset

***Part 1: School's Out***

The bell sounded loudly, signaling the end of a school day and a school week. It was Friday. Students cheered as they quickly gathered their books and their bags. They charged the door, nearly plowing through the teacher, who had just narrowly missed the stampede to open the door for them. Sunset Shimmer sighed contently as she dropped the last of her books into her backpack. It was a satisfying feeling, ending the week on such a high note, and a high note it was.

"Are you ready, sugarcube?" A familiar voice asked her.

Sunset looked over her shoulder to find Applejack and Rainbow Dash standing behind her. A large grin took its place along her lips as she hoisted her backpack onto her shoulders.

"You know I am." Sunset replied with a light chuckle. "I've been looking forward to this for weeks!"

Giving a 'fare well' wave to the teacher, the three friends began making their way out of the classroom and into the bustling corridor.

"I'm in mind with ya', Shimmer." Said Applejack. "It has been a mighty long while since I've been back to Sweet Apple Acres."

"Yeah..." Rainbow Dash agreed. "It will be nice to get away from it all for a little while. I can't wait to saddle up one of those stallions and ride across the southern fields, just like we used to, A.J."

Applejack chuckled as she recalled the happy memories. The three friends exited the building and step into the cool fall air. Confused, Sunset turned to her head to face Applejack.

"Wait, you girls ride horses, like, on their backs?" She asked, completely shocked.

"Well, where else are we supposed to ride 'em?" Applejack replied.

Rainbow Dash turned to Applejack and nudged her arm to get her attention.

"Hey, Applejack... she's a pony. You know, from Equestria."

Applejack's cheeked flush bright red, and her face burned with embarrassment and shame.

"Oh, sugarcube, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to offend ya none. There will be plenty more to do at the farm besides ridin'."

Sunset quickly shook her head.

"Oh, it isn't that, Applejack. I've known about the taming of horses in this world. I have seen quite a few 'western' movies... I didn't know that you could ride a horse."

"Shoot, Sunset, I've been ridin' them majestic creatures since I was a little lady. The bond a rider shares with her horse is a special one."

They trio came to a halt as they reached the bus stop. All the while they waited for their friends, images flashed through Sunset's mind. She could see her friends riding the kind of animal she used to be. Her chest felt heavy.

"Do you think we could get Twilight to ride one?" Rainbow Dash asked.

It was an honest question, but Sunset detected sarcasm in her voice. As if summoned by the calling of her name, Twilight responded.

"Do you think you could get Twilight to do 'what'?" Twilight asked as she approached bus stop.

Fluttershy and Rarity were right behind her. All three girls had their duffle bags handing from their shoulders.

"A.J.'s farm has horses." Rainbow Dash explained to her. "We were just considering getting you to ride one."

Twilight shook her head and held her hand up in a 'stop' motion.

"I don't think so. Those animals are dangerous. Statistically, they cause more annual deaths than sharks. I don't want to be another number in that statistic." Twilight said flatly.

Rainbow shrugged as she shifted her duffle bag. The bus approached, and everyone readied their things. Sunset took a quick look around, and she noticed they were short one member.

"Wait, where is Pinkie Pie?" Sunset asked. "Is she not coming?"

"She'll be at the farm tomorrow mornin'." Applejack explained to her. "I think she said somethin' about helpin' the Cakes with a massive order."

Sunset nodded respectfully. Pinkie Pie was such a hard worker. After school, she would take off, leaving a trail of dust leading to the bakery. Sunset watches as her friends begin to board the bus. Fluttershy was the last on. As Sunset prepared herself to board the bus, a sickening feeling washed over her, resonating from her crotch.

*Dammit... Not now...* She cursed silently. *I can't be in heat now...*

Sunset grabbed a hold of the railing as she tried to pull herself up the steps. As she reached the top, the uncontrollable feelings of lustful feelings began to subside, and the fog in her minds cleared. Trying to ignore the strange looks from the bus driver, Sunset hobbled to the back of the bus and joins her friends.

"Who's ready for the best weekend ever?!" Rainbow Dash shouted.

Everyone in the bus cheered and launched their hands in the air. Some even hammered their fists on the windows as the bus began to pull away from the school. Sunset tried to smile, but she couldn't. The feelings of her pony instincts returned. If she could not find a way to satisfy her urges... Well, Sunset tried not to think about that scenario. It was time to enjoy a fun weekend at Applejack's farm with her friends, and nothing would stand in her way.

***Part 2: The Stallion***

The sun had already begun to set by the time the girls got to Sweet Apple Acres. The golden glow the sun cast across the sky captivated Sunset as she tried to disembark the bus. Her foot missed the last step, and Sunset tumbled head first into the dirt below.

"Easy there, quick hooves." Rainbow Dash said jokingly as she helped her friend up. "I'm eager to ride, too."

Sunset gathered up her fallen duffle bag and began dusting herself off. After observing her body, she noticed a few small scrapes from the fall.

*Well, this weekend is off to a great start...*

"Come on, y'all." Applejack said as she ushered the girls down the dirt path. "Granny Smith's place is just up this way."

Sunset could see light emanating from the windows in the distance. The walk wasn't a far one, but the Equestrian was already feeling worn out from the long day. Falling out of the bus didn't help either. Sunset quickly found herself interested in the scrapes on her elbows, and she failed to notice that her friends had stopped walking. Sunset then walked straight into Fluttershy, extracting a surprised 'yelp' from her.

"Look at that, girls!" Applejack said, pointing to a pasture just left of the dirt path. "Have you ever seen such beautiful creatures so close before?"

There was seven of them. Seven tall, lean, equine mammals in the pasture. Some stood in an exclusive circle while others pranced around.

"It looks like Granny Smith left 'em out for us. What do ya' girls say? Anyone up for a quick ride before the sun goes down?"

The girls cheered, obviously very eager to get straight to the action. Holding on to their bags tightly, they dashed up the dirt path to the homestead. Only Sunset Shimmer remained. Sunset placed her hand on the fence separating the path from the pasture. One horse was making its way around the border of the fence, and it stopped right in front of her. For a brief moment, she wondered if she could communicate with the animal.

"Um... H-Hello..." Sunset said to the horse.

To her surprise, the horse snorted loudly, flaring its large nostrils and knocking its hoof against the fence.

"Hehe... You're a lot bigger than we are, where I come from..." Sunset said jokingly.

Then, she noticed something underneath the horse.

"Oooh... You... You're a stallion..." Sunset stammered as she tried to look away from the horse's member, which swung freely.

She tried to look away, she really did, but in the end, she failed stop herself from looking on. Memories flooded into her mind like a broken dam. They were good memories, ones of past coltfriends in Equestria.

"W-Wow..." Sunset moaned, her throat cracking.

"Sunset, are ya' comin'?" Applejack called from up the dirt path.

Sunset cursed silently.

"Uh... Yeah! I'm coming, A.J.!"

With that being said, Sunset Shimmer tightened the strap of her duffle around her shoulder, and she took off down the path to catch up with her friends. She looked back one last time at the stallion.

"You fancy that stallion?" Applejack asked with a chuckle.

Sunset blushed bright red.

"That stud right there is called Chief. He is used 'round here for knockin' up the mares."

"W-What?" Sunset asked her.

Applejack looked at her with a confused expression.

"You do know what a 'stud' is, right?"

Sunset shook her head. It was not a term she had heard in Equestria.

"That there is a stallion made for... well, you know. He has 'playtime' with all of the mares, gettin' 'em pregnant so we can have little foals in the spring. He's very big, strong, and he carries a mighty big package, if you get what I mean." Applejack says jokingly.

Sunset chuckled nervously.

*Yeah... I know exactly what you mean...* She thinks to herself.

They neared to the homestead. Now, Sunset felt more excited than ever to get more acquainted with 'Chief'.

***Part 3: Now, We Ride***

No one found it strange or raised any eyebrows when Sunset raced to be the first one to ride Chief. With Applejack's help, she got the saddle secure. Now, all that was left was for her to mount the stallion.

"How... do I get on?" Sunset asked Applejack sheepishly.

"It's easy, sugarcube." Applejack said. "Put your left foot through that thing right there... Good. Now, push down with your left foot and throw your right leg over the other side. Don't worry, you won't hurt Chief none."

Sunset did as she was instructed. After a few tries, she managed to successfully mount the horse. It was a strange feeling, to ride an animal she was so similar to at heart.

"Wow... You're a lot taller than you looked from the ground..." Sunset said uneasily as she struggled to retain her balance.

The horse let out a proud whinny, almost as though he was responding to her compliment.

"Hehe... I think he likes ya', Sunset. Go on. Rub his neck."

Sunset reached forward and stroked the stallion's long neck. The fur felt smooth as silk.

"Now, hold on tight to those reins. To get Chief movin', give him a little kick. When ya' wanna slow him down, gently pull back on the reins. Do anything aggressively, and Chief may not appreciate it."

Sunset nodded. Ready to take off, she gently nudged the stallion's side with her boot. Nothing happened.

"You gotta do it a little harder than that, Sunset."

Sunset Shimmer tried again, and she kicked the stallion's side with greater force. Nothing happened.

"Uhg, Chief... Stop tryin' to embarrass Sunset, and get your butt movin'." Applejack said.

With those final words, she slapped the stallion's flank, sending him and Sunset racing across the pasture. Sunset's grip tightened around the reins as she desperately tried to slow the horse down, but Chief had no intentions of slowing. No, he felt ready to impress her.

"Yeah! Go, Sunset Shimmer!" Rainbow Dash calls from the other side of the pasture. "Ride 'em, cowgirl!"

On top of the stallion, Sunset felt bold, brave, and powerful. The wind blew through her hair... The aroma of the pasture filled her nose... The golden rays of the sun lit up her face... Everything felt... like home, like... Equestria. Sunset found herself in tears when Chief finally slowed his gallop to a trot, and then to a slow pace. Applejack, now mounted on her own horse, raced to meet up with Sunset.

"Well, I'll be! You looked amazin' out there, Sunset!" Applejack sais as she pulls up along side her. "Chief must really like ya' if he took ya' on a ride like that."

Sunset's heart still raced furiously, and a smile was plastered on her face, stretching from ear to ear.

"We'll keep 'em out a little while longer. Then, Granny Smith wants them back in the stable before it gets too dark."

To Sunset, that sounded like a solid plan.

"We should... do this more often..." Sunset says shakily as she caressed Chief's mane.

"Oh, don't you fret, Sunset. We'll have the whole weekend ahead of us. There will be plenty of time for you and chief to get more acquainted."

***TO BE CONTINUED***