Saddle Up, Sunshine

***Part 1: Princess Sunshine***

Sunshine Harvest must have spent an hour in front of the mirror, looking herself over.

In the dress Rarity gave her, she looked like a princess straight out of a fairy tail.

The gown hugged her curves and exposed a generous amount of her chest without being too revealing.

This was a school function, after all, but there was no doubt that she’d turn heads.

A firm knock on her bedroom door pulled Sunshine out of her thoughts and back into reality.

“Sunshine, baby, are you ready to go?”

It was her mother.

She quickly stuffed her breasts into the dress so they’d fit more comfortably and rushed to the door, opening it and coming face to face with Sunset Shimmer.

Applejack was in the hall too, standing behind Sunset with her arms folded across her chest.

Apparently, she still wasn’t too happy about her going to the dance.

“Yeah, mom… I’m ready.”

*I think…*

Her thoughts betrayed her, but Sunset didn’t know that.

With a kind smile on her face, she made a ‘follow me’ gesture with her head.

“Come on, then. I’ll drive you to the high school.”

***Part 2: Arm’s Length***

Being at School past the final bell was unusual, but walking through the entrance after the sun had fully set was a whole new kind of experience that felt surreal.

After her mother had dropped her off, Sunshine walked cautiously towards the school’s main entrance.

She could already hear music thundering inside, and purple lights flashed through the windows.

Sunshine spotted a few of her teachers in formal attire, talking amongst themselves while drinking from plastic cups.

Standing at the door was Principal Celestia herself, who greeted her with a bright smile.

“Good evening, Sunshine. I must say that I didn’t expect to see you here… You look gorgeous.”

Sunshine blushed at the compliment and flicked her red hair from her eyes.

“Th-Thank you, Principal Celestia… This was a gift from Rarity.”

Celestia pursed her lips and nodded her head understandingly.

“I should have known. Only Rarity could pull off something so stunning.”

Then, she leaned in close, and her voice lowered almost to a whisper.

“Tell me, Sunshine, do you have anybody in mind that you’d dress so nicely for?”

Sunshine thought of Dennis.

She wanted to see that brat’s stupid face when he saw her light up the dance hall.

“No… Nobody special. I’m just here to dance.”

Celestia cracked a sly grin and let out a chuckle.

“I see… Well, I hope you enjoy your night, Sunshine. Have fun in there.”

She waved to the principal as she entered the school.

*Oh, I will… You can count on it…*

As she walked past the rows of lockers, down the corridors that would normally be bustling with student activity during the day, Sunshine caught the attention of every one of her peers.

None could help stopping and staring at the Equestrian as she glided through the hall, towards the gymnasium.

She paid them no attention in return, though.

Keeping her head forward and her eyes on gym, she left a dozen fallen jaws in her wake.

The source of the music and lights was just ahead, as well as the source of all of her troubles.

Each step she took that brought her closer filled her with confidence.

If she could turn on every other student as easily as she had by walking by, then showing Dennis that she wasn’t just a freak to kick around would be no problem at all.

Sunshine stopped at the double doors that lead into the dance hall.

The blackened room was alive and thundering with beat-heavy music.

All around her, students laughed, danced, and moved to the beat.

The flashing lights overhead would sweep over her, and several boys stopped and stared.

One student’s date had to take him by his hand and remind him who he was dancing with by viciously stomping on his foot.

Sunshine stepped into the gymnasium and into the dance floor.

The power of the music was something else, because she couldn’t help swaying her hips to the beat as she drifted through the crowd of dancers.

Sunshine began to turn on her heels, spinning around and around and around.

She didn’t really care who saw, but a large grin displaying her enjoyment came over her face.

The smile didn’t last, because as she spun back around, her eyes landed on Dennis, and he looked back at her.

Her eyes narrowed, and her lips curled into a snarl.

Dennis didn’t look like himself.

Instead of his rough, messy appearance, he actually looked combed and dressed for the occasion, dawning a black suit and bow tie.

Then, there was the puzzled expression on his face, like he wanted to say something but the words were caught in his throat.

Sunshine had no such troubles.

She had made it to the dance, looking better than anyone else for that matter, and now, she was going to rub it in that little brat’s face.

Broiling with a combination of anger and joy in anticipation of the satisfaction of telling Dennis off, she stormed towards him, brushing occupied dancers aside as she zeroed in on her target.

She fronted Dennis, getting close enough to hear his deep breaths, and opened her mouth to unload her arsenal of insults.

At that moment, the music stopped, and a husky voice came over the loudspeakers.

“Now that’s the kind of energy I want to see, Canterlot High! I can see your Vice Principal in the back by the punch bowl giving you guys two thumbs up for that enthusiasm, but y’all are looking a little worn out, so let’s slow things down a little…”

The mood lighting changed immediately, going from a pop-like dark blue to a warmer pinkish-red.

Only too late did it dawn on Sunshine that a slow dance had just begun.

All around her and Dennis, couples were holding each other close and swaying from side to side.

She needed to retreat, to get as far away from Dennis as possible.

Dennis must have been thinking the same thing, because he too tried to back away, but they were both trapped in the center of the gym, standing awkwardly as the other students danced around them.

Sunshine watched for an opening, but no opportunity came.

Instead, the opposite happened, and a pair of dancers far too interested in each other to notice anything else. bumped into her, sending her straight into Dennis.

The two of them bumped into each other and into a forced embrace.

Sunshine’s spine shook as chills arched across her body.

She looked down in horror to see that Dennis had his arms around her waist.

*Let go of me… Let go of me…*

The words in her mind couldn’t make it past her lips, and to make matters worse, her horn did all of the talking.

What should have been a blood-red glow to signify her unbridled anger instead shined hot pink.

Dennis stared at her, eyes wide as he looked at her horn.

“Su-Sunshine?”

She shook her head, her lower lip quivering.

“I… I don’t…”

They were swaying from side to side, slowly and to the beat to the gentle music.

The drift from right to left grew deeper until Sunshine was being fully pulled by Dennis, almost following his lead as his arms guided her.

She bared her teeth and snarled like a beast.

Raising a foot, she tried to kick him, but as her leg came down, his moved, and the two of them fell into a spin.

They were locked together, and neither could budge from the other’s grasp inside the tight quarters of the dance hall.

The music was also picking up pace as they moved faster and faster.

Sunshine could feel her hair flowing behind her as Dennis spun her in circles.

With their hands clasped together, he threw her outwards, out stretching their arms before pulling her back in.

The Equestrian’s horn was pulsing now, flashing pink and even beginning to spark.

She was dancing…

With Dennis...

Worst of all, she was enjoying it!

*What am I doing?*

A circle had opened up around them as the entire student body watched in awe.

Holding onto Dennis’ hand for dear life, Sunshine leaped into the air, spinning completely before landing gracefully on her feet.

This time, it was her who pulled Dennis close, but he fired past her, and she fell back on her heels.

Before she fit the gym floor, he caught her with an arm around her back.

Sunshine felt hot where his fingers touched her skin, and a sharp gasp escaped her lips.

He then pulled her back up and twirled her in a circle before stopping right in front of her.

The music was in full swing now, and a fast-paced rhythm laced with heavy beats thundered throughout the gym.

Sunshine threw her head back, bending backwards and kicking a leg into the air as Dennis held her by the waist.

She then wrapped her leg around him and pulled herself back up, throwing her arms over his shoulders just as the song came to its climatic ending.

Silence filled the gym, but it was far from quiet.

Blood rushed to Sunshine’s face, and her heart pounded in her ears.

Taking deep, rapid breaths, she brushed her now messy hair out of her eyes to meet those of Dennis.

The two stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, not once breaking eye contact.

Then, the entire gymnasium broke out onto cheers and applauds.

Even the DJ enjoyed their performance, clapping and laughing from his booth.

“What a sight! Everyone give it up for our two dancers in the middle!”

The stage lights above fell on them, and Sunshine suddenly felt very uncomfortable, but Dennis still didn’t let go.

Like her, his arms are still locked.

She needed a quiet place, somewhere to be alone.

Sunshine willed her arms to move, and she quickly shoved the boy away from her, putting distance between them.

Not saying a word, she turned around and made for the door, breaking through the wall of students that had surrounded them and leaving Dennis alone in the center of the gym.

Now that her heart had settled in her chest, she became more aware of how exhausted she was.

Dizzy from her irregular breathing, Sunshine stumbled through the hallway leading away from the gym.

As she passed the lockers, she spotted a couple of students making out in the corner.

Her thoughts shifted to Dennis, and turned to disgust.

When she realized they had seen her looking, she moved on quickly.

Finally, she reached the entrance to the school and stepped outside.

The cool air refreshed her immediately, and Sunshine found a bench to sit on, providing much needed respite to her aching legs.

Never before had she moved so quickly and vigorously.

She needed to think, and there was far too much for her to think about.

*What just happened?*

Sunshine didn’t have the stomach to stay any longer and thought about calling her mother to pick her up.

As she reached for the phone tucked within her dress, she didn’t notice the school doors opening up behind her or the sound of high heels approaching as they hit the sidewalk.

“Sunshine?”

She jumped out of her skin, almost throwing her phone over her head.

“Ah! Vice Principal Luna…”

The older woman looked down at her and smiled.

“I didn’t mean to startle you. I wanted to commend you on your dancing, but you ran off in such a hurry, I was afraid something might have been wrong.”

Sunshine smirked and shook her head.

“No… Nothing’s wrong, I’m just… very confused…”

“About Dennis?”

Sunshine’s eyebrows raised and she looked up at Luna.

“How did you know?”

Luna chuckled as she took a seat next to her on the bench.

“I was there, remember? I saw the whole thing. I thought your dancing was spectacular, by the way.”

Sunshine’s eyes narrowed as she replayed the events in her mind.

“I didn’t go in there to dance with him… He thought I wouldn’t make it to the party, so I wanted to show him up and prove that I’m not a freak… that I’m a person like everyone else.”

Luna pursed her lips.

“I know he’s treated you unfairly, Sunshine, but maybe you don’t know him as well as you think. What I saw in there was something special, and I think you both realized, if only briefly, that there is more to each other than you thought.”

Sunshine heart felt heavy in her chest.

“What are you saying?”

Luna smiled and brushed her skirt off as she stood up from the bench.

“I’m saying maybe you should talk to him. The party’s not over, you know.”

Then, she turned to walk inside, leaving Sunshine alone by the school.

Sunshine took a deep breath.

*You're right, Luna… This party is just getting started…*

Then, she rose to her feet, turned to face the doors, and walked back inside.

***Up Next: ***