Author's Note

Welcome back, fans of Waffen Pony! This story has seen some great changes over the past few weeks, and is finaly complete.

I hope readers, returning and new, can enjoy this Waffen Pony 'classic'.

Chapter 1: School’s Out

***A Waffen Pony Production***

***Part 1: Routine Roulett***

Sunshine Harvest kept her head down in class, low and close to her desk, brushing her rose-colored hair out of her eyes.

Unlike the rest of her peers at Canterlot High School, she had a physical feature that set her apart, a golden horn that grew from her forehead.

At home, on the farm, she was free to be who she was in a place where she was loved and adored by everyone, but at school, she was alone, an outcast.

No one talked to her or even looked her in the eyes.

Whenever Sunshine caught somebody looking at her, at her horn, they would quickly turn in the opposite direction, and that was the best part.

The worse was part was Dennis, her classmate in homeroom.

He actively went after her, verbally and physically, calling her names and shoving her against the lockers every chance he got.

Sunshine hated Dennis with a burning passion, him and his dumb friends that backed him up when he bullied her.

The principals were the only people at the school she could tolerate.

She would spend a lot of her free time in the offices with Luna and Celestia.

Together, they would talk about her studies and her life at Sweet Apple Acres.

Because her parents would rarely visit, Principal Celestia would also ask about Sunset and Applejack as well.

Sunshine had finished her final assignment for the year minutes before the end of class and was now waiting for the final bell to ring and end the day.

It was a big moment, marking the end of her junior year at Canterlot High.

Next year, she’d be a senior, and after that, she’d never have to return and face bullies like Dennis.

Maybe then, she’d be allowed to see Equestria for herself.

Sunshine shook the fantasy out of her head and returned to reality.

She wasn’t out of the woods yet.

The moment the bell rang, it would be a race to the parking lot.

She needed to get to her mom’s truck before Dennis got to her.

Her eyes were glued to the clock at the front of the room.

Second by second, she watched the hands travel in a circle until the minute hand reached twelve, setting the time at 3 : 00 PM.

The bell sounded, formally ending the class and the school day.

To make things even better, it was also Friday, the beginning of the weekend.

With her backpack on her… back, Sunshine bolted for the door.

The corridor was already buzzing with activity as other students dropped their books off at their lockers before heading out for the weekend.

Sunshine didn’t need to make such a stop, so she kept her eyes on the entrance of the school, a series of tall, glass doors.

She pushed the doors open and leaped down the steps, landing on the patio that lead to the school lawn.

Before her, she could see the grand statue that decorated the lawn, a majestic horse reared on its hind legs standing upon a huge pedestal.

Her moms always told her the statue was important, but they would never tell her why.

She stared at the stone horse, almost as though she was in a trance.

It was the sound of footsteps approaching from behind that caught her attention.

Her ears twitched, and she felt a rock coming straight for her.

Sunshine sidestepped, letting the rock fly right past her and land somewhere in the grass.

“Nice moves, freak. Where do you think you’re going?”

Her eyes narrowed, and she spun around, coming face to face with Dennis and two of his goons.

The anthropomorphic girl crossed her arms as she stared down the three human boys approaching her.

“Dennis, you’re aim’s getting better. Maybe next time, you’ll be able to hit the broadside of a barn. As for where I’m going… My business is my own.”

He ran a hand through his shaggy, brown hair.

That remark only seemed to frustrate him more, because he held out his other hand, and one of his buddies tossed him another rock.

“Surely, you’re going to be at the graduation dance tomorrow night. Right, freak? Only the biggest loser in the school wouldn’t show up.”

Sunshine put her hands on her hips.

“You’re not graduating this year, Dennis, and neither am I.”

The boy shrugged.

“Doesn’t matter. All students are invited.”

Then, he raised the rock.

“Someday, you’re gonna learn that you don’t belong here, but until then, I’m gonna hurt you and make you feel like the freak you are.”

Sunshine took a nervous step back, but with the statue behind her, there was nowhere else to go.

Even if he threw the rock, and it missed, she wasn’t sure if she could reach the parking lot on the other side of the school.

Then, there was her horn.

She had a wealth of magic at her disposal, power she could easily use to drive the bullies away with their shorts on fire.

It was an amusing idea, but Sunshine had promised to her parents never to use her magic outside of the farm.

Dennis was getting closer, and Sunshine was running out of options.

It looked like making a break for it was her best chance of making it to the parking lot with minimal injuries.

Just as Sunshine was preparing herself to bolt, the three boys stopped.

With wide eyes, they stared at something behind her, but before Sunshine could look to see what it was, she felt a firm hand rest on her shoulder.

She looked up to find a familiar face smiling down at her.

“Princess Twilight!”

The Equestrian beamed as Sunshine threw her arms over her shoulders.

“Mmmm… It’s good to see you too, Sunshine.”

After pulling away from the princess, she turned back around to discover that Dennis and the others had fled.

*Good riddance…*

Princess Twilight must have been thinking the same thing, because she crossed her arms as let out a long sigh.

“It looks like I arrived just in time. I’m sorry to see those boys were bothering you again.”

Sunshine tried to play it off cool, shrugging her shoulders as she and the princess walked away from the statue and around the school together.

“I can handle Dennis.”

Deep down, however, she was relieved the Equestrian came to her rescue.

Then again, Princess Twilight’s sudden arrival left Sunshine with more questions than answers.

“Not that I don’t like seeing you or anything, but why are you here? How did you know where I was?”

The princess smiled, but kept her eyes forward.

“I… have a few things I need to talk about with your mother, Sunset. I just happened along you on my way to Sweet Apple Acres.”

“From Equestria?”

Twilight bit her lower lip.

Sunshine knew all about the magical realm of ponies, dragons, griffons, changelings, and more, but the existence of the portal was a closely guarded secret that her parents and the princess kept from her.

She hated not knowing about the place Princess Twilight and her mother came from, but she knew she’d get to visit one day, maybe even stay there.

She’d do anything at this point to get herself as far away from Dennis as possible.

Then, a rusty, orange pickup truck came into view.

At the far end of the parking lot, her mother was waiting for her.

***Part 2: Daydreaming***

Applejack greeted them with a smile and a wave.

“Howdy, Sunshine!”

She looked back at the country woman and smiled.

“Hey, mom.”

Applejack’s gaze shifted towards the princess.

“Twilight, I wasn’t expectin’ to pick ya’ up from school today.”

Princess Twilight smiled sheepishly as she her old friend embraced her.

“I didn’t mean to drop in on you like this, Applejack, but I need to talk to Sunset.”

Then, her voice softened dramatically.

“It’s pretty urgent…”

Sunshine overheard them from inside the back seat, spiking her curiosity.

Moments later, Applejack and the princess joined her and climbed into the vehicle.

With a turn of the key, the engine roared to life, and a billowing cloud of smoke escaped the exhaust pipe.

They pulled out of the school parking lot and onto the main road, one that would take them all the way to Sweet Apple Acres.

While the grownups talked in the front, Sunshine rested her head against the window and looked out at the passing city.

The further they drove, the smaller the buildings were until eventually, the city of Canterlot thinned out completely.

It was replaced by rolling fields and pockets of thick forest that dotted the countryside.

Now that Summer vacation had begun, Sunshine had a lot to look forward to.

She and her moms had planned several family trips around the country.

Those were fine and all, but what Sunshine was really looking forward to was a visit they hinted at to be Equestria.

Her thoughts shifted again, and she found herself thinking about the school.

There were the principals, Celestia and Luna, but other than them, Sunshine didn’t feel like she’d be leaving anybody she cared about behind if she chose to stay in Equestria.

Then, there was Dennis, her worse enemy.

*Surely, you’re going to be at the graduation dance tomorrow night. Right, freak? Only the biggest loser in the school wouldn’t show up.*

Would she go?

Sunshine still wasn’t sure.

She had no reason to go, but the challenge set by Dennis seemed to call her, bringing out her inner desire to defy him at every opportunity.

She knew he was baiting her.

He’d be waiting for her like a tiger, ready to pounce at any moment.

Part of her almost looked forward to the confrontation that was bound to happen.

That settled it.

Now, Sunshine only needed a dress and one of her moms to drive her to the school.

*Alright, Dennis… I’ll play your game, and I’ll beat you at it, too.*

***Part 3: Home Sweet Apple***

The truck pulled off of the main road and turned onto a familiar dirt path.

The path was neighbored by a thick line of trees on the right and a horse pasture on the left with an old, wooden fence separating the path from the pasture.

From her window, Sunshine could see several of the equine beasts running and playing games of frantic chase.

She wanted to join them.

No saddle would be needed, just her favorite stallion and enough open field to let loose.

Then, she saw him, a massive hunk of a horse.

His name was Cider, one of Sunshine’s only friends since she was a little girl.

He was a foal when she was.

They grew up playing together, and there was nobody in the world she cared about more.

The stallion hugged the fence that bordered the dirt road and jogged alongside the truck.

Sunshine smiled and waved until the fence ended, forcing Cider to stop.

They were nearing the homestead now, and Sunset was waiting for them.

She looked up at Applejack.

“Mom, I want to go play with Cider. I’ll catch up with y’all later.”

Applejack had no objections, and she waved as Sunshine took off towards the pasture they had driven by on their way to the house.

Her feet kicked up dirt as she sprinted towards the fence.

Cider was already waiting for her, standing on his hind legs with his front hooves hanging over the fence.

He whinnied with excitement, a greeting.

Sunshine reached the fence and stopped in front of Cider, shaking her head and snorting loudly.

“You’re looking good today, Cider. You wouldn't believe the day I’ve had…”

The stallion stared her down through his big, black eyes and nickered affectionately.

“It’s a human problem. Even if I told you about it, you wouldn’t understand. It’s just… There’s this awful boy, and he’s been a jerk to me ever since I met him.”

Cider whinnied softly and fell from the fence, showing her his side.

“That’s a great idea. You know me too well, Cider. I’m always up for a ride.”

***Up Next: A Cup Of Cider***