"Do you have any idea how many laws you broke in there?!"
Every year, the same damn story. Sunny enters unsupervised and disrupts Canterlogic's annual meeting, ending in disaster. As the Sheriff, I do my duty and put her in her place, but as her friend, I beg her not to repeat it next year.
And as always, she makes an empty promise that she would break the following year. It's been the same story for years, and I always let it go because I was the only friend she had left in Maretime Bay. But what happened today, that was the last straw, I can't allow it anymore.
"I'm sure you're about to tell me," Sunny complained, as she closed her smoothie stand.
"Actually, for once, I can't! Because there's so many!" I exclaimed angrily. "I tried to warn you. I can't keep associating with some pony who breaks every rule and causes chaos wherever she goes. I'm the sheriff!"
"Exactly! Other ponies look up to you! You can help!" Sunny exclaimed.
I frowned and passed a hoof over my face, I was tired of always hearing this.
"The law is the law, Sunny, and I'm here to uphold it and keep everypony safe."
"Aha! You just said 'everypony', that includes pegasi and unicorns!" She said with a smile.
And there she goes again with those fantasies of uniting all ponykind. Does she ever get tired?
"Come on, Sunny," I begged her to stop. "What did you think was gonna happen? You give a little speech, and then what? Everypony just, magically welcomes unicorns and pegasi into Maretime Bay?"
She didn't respond, but her gaze fell a little and her smile disappeared. I felt my heart sink and started to regret it, but I told her the truth, and whether I liked it or not, it was time for Sunny to wake up from that dream.
"You keep saying there's nothing to be afraid of. Well, then, prove it."
Sunny remained silent at that, looking somewhat embarrassed at the ground. I sighed regretfully and approached her with tired eyes.
"All that pony unity stuff was just a foal's bedtime story made up by your dad. Like it or not, this is how it is and always will be."
Sunny looked up to me and lowered her ears. I hated myself, but I didn't want her to get into more trouble, I didn't want her to continue being despised because of a children's story, and if this was the only way to wake her up, so be it.
"I'm the last real friend you got in this town. You really want to lose me too?"
And that's when I started mentally beating myself so many times I couldn't count. Her broken expression, her look full of anguish and pain, broke my soul. I crossed the line, even if I did it for her own good, I crossed the line and hurt her. I, her so-called childhood friend, who swore when we were children to protect her no matter what others said, who promised to never hurt her and not to let her be hurt either, I hurt her, and I did not protect her from those hurtful comments like in the previous years.
I sighed heavily and walked away from her, partly because I had to get back to work, but also so as not to hurt her any more than I already had. I broke a promise I had kept since I made it, and now I felt like a monster. I was always the only one who never tried to make her feel like trash just because of her beliefs, I was the only one who accompanied her in her most difficult moments when others turned their backs on her. I even offered her my shoulder to cry on when her father died, and reaffirmed my promise to not let anypony hurt her...
What a "hero" I am, right? In the eyes of others I may have done the right thing, but the way I see it, I hurt a pony full of optimism and hope, a spark that characterized her and that I had taken from her with my words. Should I have stopped when I told her that the pony unity stuff was invented by her father? That might have hurt her, yes, but knowing her she would recover and act as if nothing had happened, but I had to keep talking. Well done, Sheriff Hitch! Excellent work...
Even if that happened a year or so ago, I still feel guilty. All ponykind came together, and Sunny gained an Alicorn transformation, something I've never seen before. That shine in her eyes when she saw the unicorns and pegasi use their magic left me hypnotized. Sunny has always been a very beautiful mare, but on that occasion she felt like someone unattainable, a pony who could never be interested in someone like me...
Even after all the adventures we've been through these past year. Discovering the Earth Pony magic, defeating Opaline, meeting Misty, discovering Starlight Ridge, meeting the Auroricorns, defeating Allura... All those adventures, yet I still feel that Sunny couldn't see me the way I see her.
I wish I was wrong, but I know that Sunny sees me as just a friend, or even sees me as her brother, because of the way I defended her from others, even Phyllis, risking my position as Sheriff many times. All of that only makes me feel worse when I remember everything I told her a few days before magic was restored. She didn't seem to hate me, or rather, she doesn't hate me. So...why does it still hurt me having told her all that?
I needed to talk to someone about this, and there was only one pony I could turn to...or rather, a pegasus...
"You love her, Sheriff, and you know in what sense," Zipp said, while he looked at me as if it were obvious.
Who am I fooling? Of course it was obvious. I wasn't even going to deny it, I like Sunny, ever since we were foals I love her that way. When we met, she was alone and friendless. I was the only pony who extended my hoof to her, and who became attached to her. At first, I did love her just as a friend, but time passed quickly and... the more I got to know her, the more I fell in love with her. Her optimism, her stubbornness, her perseverance, her dreamy look made me let my guard down and I felt like the luckiest pony in Equestria to be her friend.
"Of course I love her, Zipp, it's something I don't try to hide..." I retorted.
"If so, why don't you go to Sunny and tell her what you feel?" She asked confused.
"Are you crazy now?!" I exclaimed "Of course not!"
"And now what excuse are you going to give me?" Zipp blurted out, looking at me with an accusatory expression.
"Zipp, I can't just go up to her and say 'Hi Sunny! I've liked you since we were foals, let's live happily ever after!' and wait for her to understand," I commented, frustrated.
"And why not? That totally sounds like something you'll say."
"Zipp, the problem is not what I say, the problem is that she accepts. I know her very well, and I know that she is not going to reciprocate... not after what I told her..."
"Oh, are you still with that? Hitch, whatever you said to her, I'm sure she's over it, I bet she doesn't even remember it!"
I sighed regretfully and shook my head, which only caused a confused expression from Zipp.
"Why are you torturing yourself with something that shouldn't worry you at all?" She asked.
"Because I promised her that I would never hurt her, that I would never let her be made less of for what she believed. And I told her myself that it was nonsense and... and that she would lose me as a friend if she continued like this..."
Zipp didn't say anything, but her drooping ears and shocked expression spoke for her. Surely she didn't expect it from me, and I don't blame her, nor did I expect something like that from me.
"Sunny deserves somepony who truly protects her, who cares about her and who won't let anypony hurt her. Unfortunately, that somepony won't be me," I said sadly.
"...Hitch, that happened a long time ago," Zipp said after a moment of silence, then he approached me. "Sunny is not somepony who holds grudges, and you have known her much longer than Izzy, Pipp and I," She put a hoof on my shoulder. "You are her best friend, and even if you failed her once, she still appreciates you."
That left me thinking a little, and in the end I ended up smiling.
"Go with her, Sheriff. Speak the truth and tell her how you feel. Or, if you prefer, don't be so direct and say something that confuses her at first, and then..."
"She'll know what I'm talking about... maybe it could work... Yes, it can work!" I said happily, finally feeling a stray of hope shining inside of me.
Then, I couldn't contain myself and hugged Zipp as a thank you. She apparently froze at my action, since I didn't feel her react.
"Thank you very much Zipp, really. Talking to you was the best decision I'd ever made...that and firing Sprout," I joked.
I heard Zipp laughing, and then she finally hugged me back.
"It was a pleasure Sheriff," She answered me.
I broke the hug and ran straight to the Crystal Brighthouse, where I know Sunny must be since today was her day off. And what about me, you will say? Well, I announced that I would be having lunch and that my return would be indefinite, so there was no problem with going to find Sunny. As for Sparky, he's been all the afternoon with Izzy and Misty, so I have free room to go with Sunny.
I jogged like I'd never jogged in my life, and I was breaking every law I stood for... but I didn't care that much. I sought to reach the mare that took over my heart, and if I had to tarnish my image just this one time, I would do it without a doubt.
The problem was that, when I was right in front of the door, I slammed on the brakes and started to chicken out. Was this a bad idea? Was it better not to risk it? What would happen if she rejected me? What would I do then? How could we still be friends if she knew what I felt? For a moment, I was about to turn around... however, a spark of courage appeared and I decided to go straight into the house.
"Sunny?" I called her name, almost shouting. "Are you here?"
"Hitch?" Somepony responded, the voice of the mare I was looking for. "Is that you?"
I watched her walk down the stairs at a slow pace, and for a moment I was fascinated by her. Her orange fur, so soft and comfortable; her emerald eyes that hypnotize me. But her mane... oh, her lavender mane that was usually tied up, today was loose, and that rainbow fringe gave it a special touch. She looked more beautiful than usual, or at least that's how I saw her.
"H-Hello Sunny," I greeted a little nervously, although the truth is I wasn't planning on "acting cool", I was just going to be myself.
"Hey, Hitch!" She greeted me back with that beautiful smile. "What brings you here?"
"Speak the truth and tell her how you feel..."
Zipp's words echoed in my mind. Alright Hitch, you're here, there's no turning back now.
"I don't know if you're busy or something, I don't want to take up your time..." I said, still nervous.
"Of course not Hitch! I've been a little bored, to tell the truth. I don't mind having some company!" Sunny replied happily.
"In that case, can I come in? There is something I would like to talk to you about..."
"Sure, no problem! Come in."
She stepped aside and let me pass. I don't know if it was just me getting my hopes up, but I swear I noticed a slight blush on her cheeks. Then again, it was probably just my imagination...
I sat in front of the breakfast nook, while Sunny prepared some strawberry smoothies for both of us. Even if she didn't notice it, I couldn't help but glance at her from time to time. How could I? That pony drove me crazy. I was always natural and confident when it came to talking to ponies, but with her sometimes I can't formulate my words. Sometimes, luckily other times I can talk to her without feeling like I'm going to end up saying something stupid. When she turned around, I snapped back to reality and tried to look away as quickly as possible before I noticed how red I must've been from seeing her.
"Here you go!" She said, extending the smoothie to me.
"Thank you," I replied.
"So, Sheriff," She nudged me playfully. "You have something to tell me?"
I breathe deeply. I decided that it was best to start a normal conversation before being direct with her, it was best to take her by surprise. Maybe then her reaction won't end on her yelling at me and kicking me out... Okay, maybe I'm overthinking this.
"Before we get to that, has anything special happened today?" I asked her.
Sunny looked at me confused as she raised an eyebrow.
"I say this because, well, you never have your mane down, much less completely groomed without having to tie it up," I pointed out.
I knew from her expression that she didn't seem to know anything. She ran her right hoof through her mane for a brief moment, and I noticed how she turned red up to her ears.
"O-Oh my Celestia!" She exclaimed in horror, and I still have to ask her who the hay is Celestia. "How did I didn't realize this?! Oh, Hitch, I'm sorry you had to see me like this..."
I watched Sunny hid her face in her hooves, and I couldn't help but laugh silently at how adorable she looked, so worried about such a silly detail. I got up from my seat and approached her.
"Hey..." I made her lift her face a little. "Don't feel sorry. It's not natural to see you like this, but if you want to know what I think, you look more beautiful like this, I think it makes you even more special."
Sunny slowly sat back up and I noticed a quite noticeable blush on her cheeks. Her ears drooped, but her smile grew wide and she looked at the ground nervously. I felt my cheeks burning and I also smiled at that cute reaction.
"D-Do you really like... my loose mane?" She asked, still with that nervous tone in her voice.
"It looks great on you, you should wear it like that more often," I commented.
"... W-Well... Maybe I'll decide to let it loose... m-more often..." She replied with a nervous giggle.
"That would be great..." I said with a smile.
We stared at each other for a few brief moments, without saying anything, we just looked at each other. However, Sunny started laughing uncontrollably and I was totally confused.
"What's so funny, Sunny?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, haha, remember that time we went to the beach with Sprout? " She asked
"When they gave us both the day off? Yes, I remember."
"Do you remember... hahaha... when he took the... haha... the sailboat and then..."
"Hehe... it's not possible... hahaha... I almost forgotten!"
We laughed non-stop after remembering that. It turns out that that day, Sprout had rented a sailboat that at first glance was in terrible condition. Sunny and I refused to ride that thing, but Sprout insisted it worked. He navigated it in the clumsiest and funniest way possible, to the point where he eventually went flying, but instead of landing in the water, he landed on the sand, and his face ended up completely buried.
"Oh, I had forgotten how fun that show was," I exclaimed, wiping away a tear. "Where did the memory come from?"
"Well... you were looking at me the same way you saw me that day, while I was laughing. It was a sudden memory..."
She... she noticed it. Did she always know when I looked at her that way? I was hoping the answer would be no, but...
"A-Ah, w-well! I-I was looking at you like that because you looked very pretty that day, just like now... Yes, that's why!" I managed to reply.
"I see... is that why you always watch me like that when I'm not looking at you?" She asked with an arched brow.
Damn... she knew it. She knows it! But how has she noticed it? I always thought she wasn't paying attention in those moments...
"Speak the truth and tell her how you feel..."
Zipp's voice again... could it be time? Maybe I should do it before I regret it...
"W-Well... yes," I was honest, I didn't even try to find an excuse. "I always look at you because I think you are very beautiful, Sunny..."
The blush on her cheeks became more noticeable than before. Alright Hitch, it's now or never...
"You know? Since we were foals, I always worried about you. I was the one who protected you, who defended you and who encouraged you to continue fighting for your dream. Yes, sometimes I made fun of you too, but I always stayed by your side..."
"And I thank you Hitch," She leaned on my shoulder, making my heart race like crazy. "You always had faith in me, despite everything..."
"But... I failed you... I promised not to hurt you and... I threatened to no longer be your friend if––"
"Hey Hitch, leave it, that's already over. There's no need to live apart anymore, and I know you were saying all that because you were still actually protecting me."
I'm sorry, what now?
"The way I see it, you said all that because you wanted others to stop putting me down, and even if you hurt me, I could never hate you Hitch. I can't do it... because I love you..." She blurted out.
That brought me a feeling of peace that I hadn't had in months. I know Zipp said Sunny didn't hold any grudges against me but... hearing it directly from her makes me feel better. It was now, there was no better opportunity...
"Sunny..."
"Yeah?"
I didn't say another word, and I placed a fleeting kiss on her lips. Despite how short it was, I could feel that her lips were soft, and perhaps because of the smoothie they had a slight strawberry flavor. When I separated from her, I noticed that she was in shock, and she seemed to be trying to tell me something, but she didn't react. Therefore, I decided to be the one to speak...
"Sunny, I have always taken care of you because I care about you, and not as a friend, but as something more. You are so happy, so positive, so dreamy, and although sometimes you can be somewhat clumsy or although you get sad easily, you always smile again and move on. Sunny, since we were foals I considered you my friend, but I love you... I love you as more than a friend."
Sunny blinked and then shook her head, as if she was still trying to process what had just happened. At least, that's what I wanted to believe. For a moment I thought she was upset, and that she wouldn't tell me anything... but she finally spoke.
"H-Hitch!... I... ah..." She nervously tried to say.
"Hey, if you don't feel the same, don't worry, I understand––"
"I-I also love you more than a friend!" She exclaimed.
This... this is a dream. This must be a dream, right? Because if it is, I will kill whoever dares to wake me up.
"Hitch, I-I always loved you that way, maybe I didn't realize until... until after magic returned to everypony's lives. You have been there for me at all times, and... I like you, I really like you..."
The feeling of happiness that ran through my body... was indescribable. Did she feel the same? Although a part of me always told me that was the case, I doubted it anyway... and now she reciprocates.
"C-Can I...?" She asked, looking straight at my lips.
"...Sure, go ahead," I encouraged her with a smile.
She approached me slowly, and with some awkwardness she kissed me, and I gladly reciprocated. I felt like I was in a dream, but if at this point nothing had yet happened to indicate to me that everything was product of my imagination, then it was real. She was reciprocating... and I couldn't be happier. Although I would've liked to continue forever, lack of air forced us to separate, but when we saw each other, we smiled like two crazy ponies in love.
"I love you, Sunny Starscout," I whispered happily.
"I love you too, Hitch Trailblazer," She whispered back, and then we kissed again.
THE END
Author's Note
Well, here we are, guys! My very first one-shot non-Sonic related!
I honestly wanted to make something like this as my first story in the platform, but the "Sonic x MLP" saga's idea came afterwards, so I delayed this... And now it's finally out!
Honestly, the fact that the saga's over gives more creative freedom regarding making stories, and I can't wait to release all the other ones I have in store!
Also, yes, I decided to release this on G5's third anniversary. Definitely intentional and not a coincidence I just realized. How could you tell? 
Constructive criticism is appreciated. Thanks for reading! See ya! 
