Author's Note

Shout out to Chains by BookyBrony, the greatest story on FIMfiction that inspired my writing.

Chapter 6: Star Crossed

***Part 1: Triumphant Return***

With their bellies full and their heads heavy, Sunshine and Princess Twilight returned to Sweet Apple Acres, both feeling much happier with full stomachs.

"We have a 'Joe' in Equestria..."

Twilight groaned as she climbed out of the car.

"But he sells donuts..."

Sunshine held her stomach as she closed the car door behind her.

"Oh... Please, don't talk about food... I've had to much already. I can't think about eating. I don't even want to think about eating..."

Sunshine glanced towards the front porch and saw Applejack waving at them.

She then looked back at Twilight.

"Aren't you coming?"

Twilight nodded her head and half walked, half stumbled after Sunshine.

"I'm right behind you... I'm not twenty-one anymore, you know."

Sunshine chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"Aren't princesses immortal? Your age is no excuse for being slow."

Twilight made a sound similar to that of a horse snorting.

Sunshine was sure she would have to bolt to the safety of Applejack, but Twilight began to laugh.

"I'll race you to the steps, Sunshine. Then, we'll see who's slow."

Sunshine glanced at Twilight over her shoulder.

"Race? You're joking, right?"

Twilight shot her a smirk.

"Are you afraid you'll lose to an older woman?"

She shook her head and laughed under her breath, pointing at Applejack.

“No, I'd rather not throw up all over my mom. Besides, I know I'd beat you."

Twilight rolled her eyes.

"You're no fun."

They had reached the porch.

Sunshine didn't know what time it was, but the sun had grown high into the sky.

"Welcome back, you two."

Applejack greeted them with a warm smile.

"How was your breakfast?"

Sunshine groaned as she climbed the steps.

"Can't talk about food... Can't think about food..."

Applejack cocked her head at Sunshine and shot Twilight a confused look.

"It was fantastic. We had a lot to eat..."

Applejack smiled.

"Well, that’s wonderful to hear, then."

Once Sunshine had gone inside, Applejack stopped Princess Twilight at the door.

"Did ya' talk to her about Equestria?”

Twilight nodded her head.

"Yes... I mean, I tried to, but she’s determined to stay here. I don't want to take her by force. I couldn't bring myself to do that, but-"

Applejack looked puzzled.

"She wants to stay? I thought she couldn’t wait to get outta here and go to someplace where she’ll fit in better.”

Twilight nodded her head and leaned against the railing.

"Well, yes. She said she couldn't leave her friends behind. She’s attached. Being the princess of friendship, I must agree with her."

Now, Applejack was really confused.

"Friends? Sunshine has no real friends around here. She only talks to Cider."

Applejack pointed out towards the stallion in the pasture.

Twilight saw the horse, and she shrugged her shoulders.

"That's not what I saw, Applejack. Sunshine was talking to somebody that works at Joe's place, some boy named Dennis. I didn’t hear what they were talking about, but they looked like they had known each other for a long time.

Applejack froze.

"Wh-What was his name?"

Twilight didn’t sense the growing danger in Applejack’s voice.

"Uh... Dennis, I believe. He seemed like a nice boy. Like I said, I didn't speak with him, but he and Sunshine were really getting along well."

Applejack shook her head.

"That... That can't be right."

Confused, Twilight followed after her.

***Part 2: Bargins Kept***

Sunshine let out a frustrated sigh and rested her head against the wall.

"Dennis, I don't know if now is the best time..."

Sunshine snarled into the phone, silencing the boy on the other end of the line.

"It's not that... It's just... My mom knows who you are, and she knows good and well that we are not friends. She knows I blasted you in the chest yesterday. We can't meet here."

Sunshine walked away from the door and sat down on her bed.

The conversation with Dennis had already begun to wear her out.

"Like what?"

She was beginning to sound more impatient.

Sunshine's eyes widened and her cheeks burned red.

"No."

Her response was quick and harsh.

"Absolutely not."

Her thoughts turned to Cider, her champion stallion.

"I... already have a boyfriend... Besides, I think Applejack would find that even less believable."

There was silence on Dennis' line.

"Yes... Of course, I do."

Sunshine didn't wait for Dennis to respond.

She hit the red button on her phone, ending the call.

With a heaving sigh, she set the phone down on her night stand and stood up from her bed.

Sunshine approached her door and opened it, listening out into the hall.

She could hear the voices of her mother and Princess Twilight in the kitchen below.

Actually, to Sunshine, it sounded less like a conversation and more like a heated debate.

Sunshine listened closely.

***Part 3: Where The Sun May Set.***

"I'm telling you, this boy is the root of all of Sunshine's troubles!"

Applejack sounded furious.

"Last year, he gave her a black eye in a fight at the school. I mean... Sunshine also broke two of his ribs, but that little rascal started it for sure."

Twilight casually took a sip from a glass of water Sunset had just provided her.

"Are we all sure this is the very same Dennis? I know very well what I saw at Joe's place. Sunshine and Dennis were talking..."

She shot Applejack a look.

"Without throwing their fists."

Sunset cracked a smile.

Both her wife and her friend looked at her.

"Why don't we just meet this... Dennis? Before we go jumping to any conclusions about Equestria or Sunshine's choice of friends, I would simply like to see who his is."

Twilight nodded her head.

"I agree. If what Sunshine told me is true, Dennis is the only reason she wishes to stay here and not move to Equestria. It would be wrong on our part to dismiss Dennis without meeting him."

Applejack glanced out the window, towards the stable.

"The only reason, huh?"

Sunset cracked a smile as she placed a soft kiss on Applejack’s cheek.

“Well, honey, what do you think? Should we meet this little menace?"

The cowgirl turned back to face Twilight and Sunset, and she nodded her head.

"Yeah... We should meet him."

Sunset beamed and clasped her hands together.

"Then, we are all in agreement. Maybe Sunshine could have him come over for dinner or..."

There was a knock at the door.

All three women turned their heads and looked towards the source of the sound.

The knocking sounded again.

Twilight was the first to answer the door.

When she opened it, she came face to face with tall, freckle-faced boy with shaggy blond hair.

"Um... Good afternoon."

He spoke as confidently as he could manage.

"I'm Dennis, and I'm here to see Sunshine."

***Part 4: Meeting The Apple Family***

Applejack was fuming with anger, but Sunset Shimmer approached the boy with an open, extended hand.

"Ah... You must be the Dennis I have heard about. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Dennis, with his project book tucked under his left arm, shook Sunset's hand.

He managed a forced smile.

Twilight eyed the book under his arm.

"Sunshine is in her room, I believe. What is that for?"

Dennis held up the novel to show her.

"This? It's a summer reading project for school next year. Um... Sunshine and I were going to work on it together. I'm sorry if I came over unannounced."

Sunset smiled and shook her head.

"Oh... That isn't a problem at all, Dennis. It's nice to finally meet you."

Sunshine appeared at the top of the stairs, her horn pulsing green to show off her embarrassment.

"Dennis!”

She quickly rushed down the stairs and stepped in between the boy and her parents.

“There you are. Let's go upstairs so... we can... start that project..."

Dennis was pulled across the room and up the stairs by Sunshine.

Twilight and Applejack exchanged weird looks.

"That sure was... somethin'."

Twilight shrugged.

"I like him."

"I do too..."

Sunset let our a long sigh.

"He's not exactly the menace you told him to be, Applejack."

Applejack rolled her eyes and mumbled something inaudible under her breath.

"Why don't you make them some cold lemonade? Perhaps you can warm up to Sunshine's friend."

Again, Applejack grumbled under her breath, but she didn't openly object to her wife's suggestion, and Applejack followed her and Twilight into the kitchen.

***Part 5: Operation Project Front***

Dennis let out a muffled yelp as Sunshine pushed him into her bedroom and quickly closed the door behind her.

"I think that went well."

"You're an idiot."

Dennis shrugged his shoulders and set his book down.

Sunshine looked over her shoulder and saw the title.

*The Mare In Gold*
Waffen Pony

"That's the book you chose? Why? I’ve heard it’s awful."

Dennis chuckled.

"Really, Sunshine? Of all people, you should know not to judge a book by its cover."

Sunshine opened her mouth to respond, but she found that she had no reply.

Instead, she had a question.

"Me, of all people?"

"Yeah, you."

Dennis kept his eyes on his book and tried to avoid her glare.

"The... Uh... The horn, you know. Some people might misjudge you..."

Sunshine's glare softened.

"Some people?" Like... you? Are you saying you misjudged me?"

Dennis shrugged.

"Maybe... Maybe not. It's too early to tell, but after the dance last night, I’m starting to think I did...”

Sunshine nodded her head as she took the book from Dennis.

"Thats... probably the nicest thing youve ever said to me...”

She shook her head, quietly reminding herself to get back to the topic at hand.

“Now, what exactly do you need my help with? The book seems kinda straight forward.”

Dennis shot her a mean look.

"Har Har.”

He snatched the book back.

“I've read most of it already. It's just the ending that really has me stumped. It's like... the story isn't completely finished. I mean, it’s like it cuts off right before the climax."

Sunshine hummed softly as she looked at the pages Dennis was showing her.

"That's weird..."

Dennis closed the book and looked at the cover.

"I would choose a different one, but I feel like I’ve already committed to this story. What book did you choose?"

Sunshine reached over to her school bag and unzipped the top, pulling out a thick novel.

*Chains*
BookyBrony

"I started reading as soon as I got it a week ago."

She passed the tome-sized book along to Dennis.

"It's got me hooked. I mean, the guy who wrote it is amazing. I don't think I've ever read a more convincing story."

Dennis flipped through the pages.

"Is this a romance?"

Sunshine blushed and nodded her head before she took the novel back.

"It has some... Anyway, did you want to sit down, or did you plan on standing up the whole time?"

They both laughed, and Sunshine sat down on her bed while Dennis took a seat in a chair in the corner of her room.

"So..."

A sense of awkwardness filled the space between them.

“Do you think our fake friendship is working?"

Sunshine's chest instantly felt heavy.

*Fake...*

"Um... Yeah... I think it might be working."

Her voice sounded shaky and uncertain.

"I think my mom likes you. One of them, anyway...”

Dennis smiled meekly and cuddled with his hands.

"What about... What about you?"

Sunshine stayed quiet, and she pretended not to hear him.

*What about me? Am I starting to like him? I don’t know...*

At that moment, Applejack knocked on the door.

"Sunshine..."

She poked her head inside.

“I brought you two some lemonade."

*Oh... Thank you, Momma Applejack.*

Sunshine stood up and walked towards the door.

*You could not have arrived at a better time...*

She opened the door fully, and sure enough, Applejack stood in the hallway holding two glasses filled with a pale liquid.

Applejack looked in and eyed Dennis.

"Could I talk to ya' in the hall for a minute, Sunshine?”

Sunshine looked back at Dennis, who waved encouragingly.

She then nodded her head and followed Applejack into the hallway.

"What is it, Mom? Is something wrong?”

Applejack let out a heaving sigh.

"Sunshine... I'm sorry about your new... friend, but your mother and I still believe it would be best for you to join Twilight in Equestria."

Sunshine's heart sank into her stomach.

"I know this must be upsetting to you, but you must keep in mind that you have an ability no one in this world has, and that is dangerous to you and to everyone around you. Equestria is the only place you can feel... normal."

Sunshine almost dropped the glasses Applejack handed to her.

"You'll have all summer to spend with him."

Applejack tried to keep an encouraging tone.

"Princess Twilight can also help ya' arrange letters through the portal."

That didn’t sound like a good deal at all, spending the rest of her life in a land she wasn’t familiar with at all, far from the first human friend she’d ever had.

"Thanks..."

Sunshine cursed the day under her breath as she retreated back into her room.

She couldn't bare herself to look Applejack in the eyes.

She then closed the door, shutting her mother out.

Dennis took the glass Sunshine offered him.

"What was that about?"

She sat down on the bed, and she told him the story from the beginning.

***Up Next: One Final Effort***