Sunburst & Son


                                            Prompt:


                                            >Be anonymous

                                            >you appeared in a crystal city after going to sleep in your dorm

                                            >the citizens are horses with weird colors, you seem to be one too

                                            >Black mane green fur a question mark in your ass and you're smaller than everyone else

                                            >Your dick's still here at least, that felt really important

                                            >you want to go home

                                            >talking to the other residents, doesn't help much

                                            >either they think you're a kid that's just playing or they think you're crazy

                                            >at least they gave you some information

                                            >This is the crystal empire, ruled by princess Cadence and Shining Armor, north of Equestria

                                            >you have no idea how long it'll take for you to come back, but it'll probably take more than one day, so you should prepare yourself

                                            >Your sleeping spot is prepared in an isolated residential area

                                            >Not long after, the sun speedran to midnight in 10 seconds

                                            >damn

                                            >You try several different poses in the cardboard bed, settling for the least uncomfortable

                                            >As time passes your dreams hug you tighter and tighter

                                            >"hello there"

                                            >As reality Yanks you back, a blurry form of an orange horse seems to be talking to you

                                            >"What is a little colt like you doing here alone at night?"

                                            >He has a messy mane, messier chin-beard, and a stary cape.

                                            >It's a guy, talking to a child, alone, at night

                                            >Shit

                                            >you are not getting raped in your first day here

                                            "I'm waiting for my father"

                                            >His eyebrow raises along with your fears "And where is your father?"

                                            >You're standing and ready to run at his first distraction

                                            "He's in the shower right now"

                                            >He scowls "I see, and where is your mother then?"

                                            >Any moment now

                                            "With my father"

                                            >He scowls even further and lets some air out of his nostrils

                                            >you swear you saw steam go out of them

                                            >He looked down, RUN!

                                            >"How can they be so irresponsible to leave a colt alone at night?! just imagine what could happen to you!"

                                            >you didn't get far as you feel yourself getting levitated in his direction

                                            >"You are coming with me, sleeping in my home"

                                            >Oh fuck


                                            Green:


                                            >You kick and fidget in midair

                                            >The lack of solid ground beneath you is disorienting, and your already racing heart doubles its pace

                                            "H-Hey! Hey! You can't just-don't do this, man! I-"

                                            >"My left hoof I can't! What sort of monster just leaves a colt out to freeze?!"

                                            >The orange horse walks faster, his hoofsteps heavy with frustration

                                            >Monster, huh?

                                            >You're one to talk, you sick FUCK!

                                            "Look, you don't have to do this! S-somebody will be looking for me!"

                                            >"And they'll have a few earfuls from me when they do, believe you me!" The orange horse gives a rueful shake of his head

                                            >Your heart is like a crack-addled jackhammer, your pulse so loud in your ears that you can't hear yourself screaming

                                            "Come on, I-PLEASE DON'T DO IT, PLEASE, GOD, OH GOD!"

                                            >The orange horse stops in his tracks

                                            >Turning his head back towards you, his face is painted with the deepest pity you've seen in your entire life

                                            >The sight stuns you in place, only able to stare back at him

                                            >The horse sighs as the glow of his horn - what the fuck, a horn?! - brightens

                                            >"Sweet dreams, little one."

                                            >That's the last thing you hear before everything fades to black


                                            >It's dark...

                                            >There's warmth all around you...

                                            >And a sound...like singing...

                                            >You sit up with a yawn, rubbing the sleep from your eyes

                                            >Opening them proper, you take in your surroundings

                                            >A bedroom, looks like

                                            >The walls are all hidden behind shelves upon shelves of books

                                            >There's a desk in the corner with a few books of its own

                                            >You look down and-

                                            "Goddammit."

                                            >Still a green little horse

                                            >You lift the starry blanket you're wrapped in

                                            >And your dick's still there

                                            >You're two for two

                                            >And your butthole appears unmolested

                                            >For now

                                            >Your head shoots up from under the blanket at the sound of the bedroom door opening

                                            >The orange stallion from last night steps in, his ears perking up at the sight of you

                                            >His hair looks even messier than it did last night

                                            >"Oh, you're awake! Thank goodness, I was worried I might've made the spell too strong." He trots over to the bedside, beaming ear to ear

                                            >"Sleep well?"

                                            >You stare at him for a moment

                                            >If he was gonna do stuff to you, he'd have done it last night, right?

                                            >Unless he's the sort of creep that likes playing with his food

                                            >Either way, probably best not to try anything quite yet

                                            "Um, yeah, I guess."

                                            >"Good, I'd hoped so."

                                            >The orange horse brings his face towards you, making you tense up and lean away to avoid him

                                            >He flinches back seemingly hurt by your reaction

                                            >He sighs again and mutters something you don't manage to hear before he puts on the same smile from before but it's a little softer now

                                            >"I'm sure you must be hungry. I have breakfast waiting for you in the dining room whenever you're ready."

                                            >With that, the orange horse takes his leave, casting a final glance back towards you before shutting the door behind himself

                                            >Alone again now.


                                            >No point in delaying the inevitable

                                            >You hop off the bed and head out the door

                                            >You feel your ears shoot straight up when the most delicious scent invades your nostrils

                                            >You're not sure exactly what it is, but you know food when you smell it

                                            >With following your nose and a bit of wary wandering down the unfamiliar hallway, you eventually find yourself in what must be the dining room

                                            >The sight is something straight out of a housewife magazine

                                            >Kitschy little kitchen themed decorations on the walls

                                            >Round table draped in a red checkerboard tablecloth

                                            >Licking your chops, you immediately clamber up onto the nearest chair

                                            >And a piping hot smorgasbord of foodstuffs piled in front of you

                                            >Platters of scrambled eggs, english muffins, breakfast sausages! >There's even pancakes!

                                            >Wait a minute, those pancakes look off

                                            >Are those made of...grass?

                                            >"Would you like a plate?"

                                            >Your head whips to the side to see that orange stallion seated in one of the other chairs, smiling patiently

                                            >How didn't you see him before?

                                            >Your eyes dart between him and the food

                                            >You are pretty hungry

                                            >But should you really be accepting meals from a stranger?

                                            >A kidnapper, no less?

                                            >Just then, your stomach grumbles loudly, seemingly fed up with your indecisiveness

                                            >The stallion giggles at the sound and you can't help but blush, your ears folding back against your head

                                            >"Here," he slides a ready plate of food in front of you, a pair of utensils floating in from somewhere behind you

                                            >"Eat up."

                                            >Your gaze moves from the stallion, to the utensils, and stops on your hooves

                                            >You shrug and dig your face into the food, chomping up mouthfuls like some sort of animal

                                            >You're basically an animal now anyways

                                            >Right?

                                            >You can barely make out the sound of a disapproving groan

                                            >It does nothing to stop your feasting

                                            >You had no idea how hungry you truly were as you're on your second serving before you know it

                                            >The world is dead to you as you indulge your gluttony


                                            >It's about halfway through your fourth plate that you're forced to sit back in your chair

                                            "Guh..."

                                            >You rub your stomach, letting out another groan from the sheer amount of food weighing you down

                                            >"Someone was hungry." The stallion chuckles

                                            >You look over at him and give a suspicious glare

                                            >"Full?"

                                            >You stare at him for a moment

                                            "Fer now..."

                                            >His smile widens a hair at your answer

                                            >"Good."

                                            >"Now," The stallion places his hooves on the table and leans in cautiously, "How would you feel if we...played a game?"

                                            >Your eyes narrow further

                                            >This son of a bitch

                                            >He fattens you up till you can't move

                                            >Then he springs his sick little trap

                                            >You know what? Let's just get it over with

                                            "What sorta game?" You ask monotonously

                                            >"Oh, just a simple little game. The way it works is that we take turns asking each other questions. How does that sound?"

                                            "...Okay."

                                            >"Great! Now, I'll go first."

                                            >The stallion taps his chin and hums, making a real show of thinking up a question

                                            >"What is...your favorite color?"

                                            "...Green."

                                            >He steals a glance at your fur

                                            >"Right, of course. Now, your turn."

                                            >A mug of what smells like coffee levitates to his lips as you turn his words over in your mind

                                            >Your turn?

                                            >What should you ask?

                                            "...Are you gonna rape me?"


                                            >The stallion sputters and chokes, his mug crashing to the floor

                                            >He coughs and gasps, steadying himself with both hooves on the table

                                            >When he finally manages to catch his breath, the stallion stares at you, horrified

                                            >"Wh-what?!"

                                            "What?"

                                            >He shakily picks up his glasses from where they'd fallen on the table, wiping the coffee splatter off the lenses with his cape

                                            >"Wh-where did you even learn that word?!" The stallion stutters

                                            "Um...SVU?"

                                            >"I-." He returns his glasses to their rightful place, "-I don't even..." His words trail off as he rubs his temple with a hoof

                                            >The stallion takes a deep breath, then gives you a firm yet pleading look

                                            >"Sweetheart, I need you to listen carefully to what I have to say. And I need you to believe it."

                                            >Sweetheart?

                                            >That's a little fruity

                                            >"I'm not going to hurt you. Okay?"

                                            >His tone is gentle and low but most notably, it's sincere

                                            >Sincere enough to give you pause

                                            >This orange horse has taken you into his home, given you his bed, and now fed you to bursting

                                            >Every other horse you met in this place barely even gave you the time of day

                                            >Maybe...

                                            "...okay."

                                            >Your voice is quiet and unsure

                                            >The stallion stares at you a moment longer before nodding

                                            >"Good." His lips spread from a terse line into a gentle smile.

                                            >"Thank you."

                                            >You nod in kind

                                            >The two of you fall into a brief silence until you speak up once more

                                            "It's my turn to ask a question, right?"

                                            >An amused huff escapes the stallion

                                            >"Yes, yes it is."

                                            "What's your name?"

                                            > The stallion's eyes widen before he lets out a chuckle

                                            >"Oh, goodness me! I can't believe I never even introduced myself. My name is Sunburst."

                                            >Sunburst

                                            >Looked more like a Scott to you

                                            >"Now I suppose it's my turn."

                                            >"What's your name?"


                                            "My name?"

                                            >Your brow furrows

                                            >...Jerry?

                                            >George?

                                            >What the fuck is your name?

                                            >Why can't you remember?

                                            >The concern on Sunburst's face deepened as he watched you struggle to recall

                                            >"Do you...have a name?" Sunburst asks carefully

                                            "Of course I have a name!" You snap back

                                            >The words come out more angrily than you'd meant and you wince at your own harsh tone

                                            "I just don't...wanna give it to you?"

                                            >You cross your arms - er, legs, and nod

                                            "Yup, that's it."

                                            >Sunburst's eyes narrow slightly and he studies your face

                                            >You feel your heartrate pick up and try to suppress a nervous gulp

                                            >A beat passes and he lets out a quiet sigh

                                            >"Alright, I understand." Sunburst runs a hoof through his messy mane

                                            >"In that case, what should I call you? I mean, you can't just be anonymous."

                                            "Why not?"

                                            >Sunburst's eyebrows raise incredulously

                                            >"Why not?" He parrots

                                            >Sunburst thinks for a moment

                                            >He shrugs

                                            >"Fine. You're Anonymous."

                                            >Eh, there's worse things to be called

                                            >You give yourself a mental pat on the back for successfully saving face

                                            >Still can't remember your real name though

                                            >"I think it's your turn again, Anonymous."

                                            >That's gonna take a while to get used to

                                            >While you're pondering your next question, a rag and a broom float over to Sunburst's side and you can't help but stare as they clean up the mug he'd dropped earlier

                                            >You can notice an odd shimmer surrounding the cleaning supplies, barely brighter than the morning sunlight filling the kitchen

                                            >A glance back at Sunburst and you can see the same shimmer coating his horn

                                            "How are you doing that?" You ask, jutting a hoof at the levitating objects


                                            >"Doing what?"

                                            "That! Making stuff float! You made the broom float, you made the mug float. Last night, y-you made ME float!"

                                            >Sunburst tilts his head with a confused smile

                                            >"Well, magic."

                                            "Magic?"

                                            >You may have been turned into a little horse and transported into a society of other little horses, but magic seems a little far-fetched

                                            >"Of course! How else?"

                                            "But, magic's not real."

                                            >Sunburst is quiet for a bit

                                            >He chuckles

                                            >Quickly, it grows into a full-blown laugh

                                            >"Okay, I see now." He says as he calms down

                                            >"Very funny, Anonymous."

                                            >Now it's your turn to be confused

                                            "What is?"

                                            >"Your joke."

                                            >Alright, he might not be a molester but he's definitely a jackass

                                            >Sunburst's expression flees from contentment and to the concerned look you've grown used to seeing on him by now

                                            >"You were making a joke, right? A silly prank?"

                                            >You don't respond, instead looking back at him with equal concern and wariness

                                            >His lips move silently and he stands from his seat, heading down the hall with a quiet "Come with me, Sweetheart."

                                            >Firmly deciding you're not a fan of the whole "Sweetheart" thing, you hop off your chair and follow

                                            >Sunburst leads you to one of the doors lining the hallway and pushes it open

                                            >Your eyes widen as behind the door is revealed a spacious and immaculately clean restroom

                                            >Baby blue tile lines the floor and bottom half of the walls, the upper half painted a soft white

                                            >The rear third of the room is taken up by the largest shower you'd ever seen in your life, big enough to fit at least four full-sized rainbow horses

                                            >The right wall has a set of drawers topped with heaps of what looks like all variety of hair products

                                            >Makes sense, considering all the fur

                                            >The left wall is home to a turquoise counter containing a sink atop it and cabinets below

                                            >Above the sink is a mirror that runs the entire length of the counter then goes a few feet past, turning into a full-height mirror until it runs into a little privacy wall

                                            >You can only assume the toilet's behind there

                                            >The aesthetic whiplash between the warm, rustic house's interior and that of the bathroom is jarring but not uncomfortable

                                            >More invigorating, really

                                            >Your gawking is cut short by Sunburst speaking up once again

                                            >"Go on, Sweetheart."

                                            >You look back at him and he gives you an encouraging gesture with a hoof

                                            >You take a tentative step onto the tile

                                            >Then another

                                            >Soon enough, you're standing in the middle of the room

                                            "What now?"

                                            >"Just go ahead and look in the mirror, Sweetie."

                                            >You shrug and look at the floor-length mirror to your left

                                            >The sight nearly makes your heart stop

                                            >Standing there is a small, green horse, with caramel-colored eyes, and a mop of unruly black hair on his head

                                            >On your head

                                            >You lift a hoof and the mirror...well, mirrors

                                            >It does the same when you put it back down

                                            >You're...a horse

                                            >You knew that already, you just...

                                            >It's a little harder to deny it now

                                            >You rub your face, watching how the furred flesh of your cheek moves beneath your hoof

                                            >Your eyes move a little higher now and you're forced to pause again

                                            >There's a cone protruding from the middle of your forehead

                                            >Your hoof reaches up to tap it and you instantly recoil from your touch

                                            >Sensitive little thing

                                            >But the little clack from your hoof making contact tells you it's as hard as the tile you're standing on

                                            >You're...

                                            "A unicorn..."


                                            >A huff from the doorway calls your attention away from your reflection

                                            >Sunburst is softly shaking his head with a hoof over his mouth

                                            >He lowers it just enough for you to hear him speak

                                            >"Anonymous, sweetie, did you know you were a unicorn before today?"

                                            >You shake your head

                                            >Sunburst draws a sharp inhale as he covers his mouth again

                                            >His stare bores into you

                                            >The concern that had been underlining his demeanor all morning has given way to a passionate sadness now

                                            >His eyes glistening with growing moisture, Sunburst lowers his hoof to speak again

                                            >As soon as he opens his mouth, his ear swivels towards the sound of knocking from another part of the house

                                            >He looks between you and the source of the knocking before putting on a warm smile

                                            >"Sweetheart, do you know how to take a shower by yourself?"

                                            >Jesus, how old are you in horse years for him to ask you that?

                                            >You nod, earning a relieved sigh from Sunburst

                                            >"Perfect. Go ahead and wash up, towels are in the dresser." He nods towards the specified furniture

                                            >Sunburst shuts the door and you hear his hoofsteps move down the hallway until they're gone

                                            >Now you're alone in this massive bathroom

                                            >You look over at the shower and shrug

                                            >Should be simple enough


                                            -=-=-=-


                                            >The bathroom door swings open, a wall of steam pouring out into the hall with you stumbling out close behind

                                            >You're still wet in some spots, even after going through three towels

                                            >You're pretty sure you used the wrong soaps in the wrong places

                                            >And you still don't know what that extra knob did

                                            >But you're clean

                                            >Your ears perk up and swivel around when you catch the sound of conversation from down the hall

                                            >Couldn't do that before

                                            >Neat

                                            >You head towards the voices, soon able to make them out as you near the kitchen

                                            >"-don't know what to do, I-I'm still just reeling from...well, from everything." Sunburst says

                                            >"Yeah, that's pretty intense. Does anybody else know?" A feminine voice asks

                                            >You round the corner to see a morose Sunburst seated at the now clean kitchen table, and beside him is a light purple unicorn with streaked purple hair who's got a hoof on Sunburst's back

                                            >"No, you're the first-Oh!" Sunburst stops himself when he sees you standing at the kitchen entrance, the lady horse noticing you soon after

                                            >He quickly replaces his gloomy air with a bright smile

                                            >"How was your shower, Sweetheart?" Sunburst asks

                                            "Uh, fine, I guess." You answer, your eyes glued on Sunburst's guest

                                            >The stranger returns your wary look

                                            >She glances at Sunburst, who gives her a nod before she looks back at you and forces a friendly smile

                                            >"Hey there, Anomalous-"

                                            >"Anonymous." Sunburst corrects

                                            >"-Anonymous. I'm Starlight Glimmer."


                                            "Um. Hi."

                                            >So the guy kidnaps you and then he brings his little girlfriend over?

                                            >Maybe he is a creep after all

                                            >"...How are you?"

                                            >Starlight's voice is stilted and uncomfortable

                                            "I'm alright..." You answer as you narrow your eyes at Starlight

                                            >Something about this chick is...off

                                            >And it's not the whole talking horse thing, neither

                                            >Her hoof is a little low on his back

                                            >She's leaning pretty close to him

                                            >And she keeps glancing at where Sunburst is sitting when he's not looking

                                            >Oh my god

                                            >She wants to fuck him

                                            >Looking at Sunburst, he seems none the wiser, his attention focused solely on you

                                            >He must know, right?

                                            >"So...I'm sure your parents are probably expecting you back soon, right?"

                                            >Damn, the bitch is already trying to get rid of you

                                            >Sunburst gasps and stares in horror at Starlight

                                            >"Starlight, what is wrong with you!?" Sunburst scolds, quickly hopping off the chair and stomping to your side, positioning himself between you and Starlight

                                            >Starlight stammers, holding her hooves up in defense

                                            >"Wh-what? What'd I do?!"

                                            >Sunburst huffs in disbelief, shaking his head at her

                                            >"Starlight, didn't you say you were here helping Twilight with something?"

                                            >"Oh, come on!" Starlight throws her hooves up, "I just got here!"

                                            >"Starlight." Sunburst says sternly.

                                            >"It's been lovely seeing you, but I think you should leave now."

                                            >"I-!" Starlight's incredulous glare darts between you and Sunburst

                                            >Starlight scoffs, shaking her head as she leaves her chair and drags her hooves in what you assume is the direction of the front door, grumbling quietly and shaking her head the whole way until you hear a door slam shut

                                            >"Mares..." Sunburst mutters once she's gone

                                            >He turns to you with the look of a concerned mother on his face

                                            >"I'm so, so sorry about her. Are you alright, Sweetie?"

                                            >That's really getting on your nerves now

                                            >Maybe he is a fruit, seeing as he just kicked a dickhound out of his house for some guy he doesn't know

                                            >Kid he doesn't know?

                                            >Only your body's a kid, right?

                                            >Ah shit, he's still waiting for an answer

                                            "Yeah, yeah. I'm good. She's, uh, she's nice."

                                            >Sunburst gives you a relieved smile, "She tries."

                                            >He looks at you pensively for a moment before nodding

                                            >"Anonymous, I've made a decision." Sunburst announces, his smile wider than the grand canyon

                                            >Fuck, he is gonna rape you after all

                                            >"I'm going to adopt you."


                                            >You gawk at Sunburst, dumbfounded

                                            "You're gonna what?"

                                            >"Adopt you!" His beams

                                            >You think you might've preferred being diddled

                                            "You can't adopt me."

                                            >"And why's that?"

                                            "Because."

                                            >Sunburst doesn't respond, instead staring at you expectantly

                                            >Your eyes wander around the kitchen as you try to think of a reason

                                            "Because, my, uh...My parents!"

                                            >You point triumphantly at Sunburst, certain you've stumped him

                                            >"Your parents?"

                                            "Yep."

                                            >You cross your arm-

                                            >Fuck, you mean legs

                                            >You cross your legs smugly

                                            >The humor falls from Sunburst's face leaving behind a slight frown and a dubious expression

                                            >"The ones who left you out in the cold because they were too busy showering together?"

                                            "Ye-um. W-well, yeah, but that's not-"

                                            >"The same parents who kept you from knowing what tribe you were from?"

                                            "Tribe? What are you even-"

                                            >"The same parents," Sunburst interrupts again, venom seeping into his tone.

                                            >"Who have made you so terrified of other ponies that you won't let them touch you or even know your name?!"

                                            >Sunburst stomps a hoof on the floor, his nostrils flare as his breathing is heavy with rage

                                            >A fiery wrath burns within his eyes, yet you can sense it's not directed at you

                                            >This utter departure from Sunburst's usual self shocks you into silence

                                            >Sunburst must've taken notice of your reaction because his eyes widen and he takes a step back

                                            >"I-I'm sorry, Anonymous." Sunburst coughs in embarrassment then runs a hoof through his messy mane

                                            >"I just..." Sunburst sighs

                                            >He moves in close and you lean away in response, just as before

                                            >Instead of trying to put his face on you, you realize he's only getting to your eye level

                                            >You match his deep stare as he starts speaking again, his voice soft and low

                                            >"Anonymous, sweetie. I know you don't really know me, and I don't really know you. But what I do know is that whatever your life was like before, was wrong. You got used to things that no foal should ever have to experience in the first place. I can't undo whatever happened to you in the past, but I can make sure they never happen again."

                                            "I-I don't-"

                                            >"I'm only asking that you give me a chance. Stay with me for three days. Let me show you that life doesn't have to be that way, that things can be better. If you still want to go back to your parents after three days, then..."

                                            >Sunburst's breath hitches and he continues, "Then I won't stop you."

                                            >Your gaze falls, unable to look Sunburst in the eyes after hearing his plea

                                            "What, um..." You clear the welling emotion from your throat, "I-if after three days, I..."

                                            >"Then I will give you the best life any foal could ask for. Because you deserve it, Anonymous."


                                            >You stare at the ground as those last words echo within your mind

                                            >Because you deserve it

                                            >You've never had somebody say something like that to you...

                                            >Your vision is getting blurry and your breathing hitches

                                            >Goddammit

                                            >You're a grown-ass man, you shouldn't be getting this worked up over what some dumb talking horse has to say

                                            "...okay."

                                            >The word crawls out of your mouth before you have a chance to stop it

                                            >"Thank you, Anonymous. I won't let you down, I swear it."

                                            >You grit your teeth in an attempt to bite back your feelings and do your best to be discreet as you wipe your eyes and nose with the fur of your shoulder

                                            >Looking back to the spot you'd been glaring at earlier, you see a tiny pool of liquid that stirs up shame and ire within

                                            >For God's sake, get a grip, man.

                                            >"Well then!" Sunburst claps his hooves together and looks out a nearby window, "We better get our rears in gear!"

                                            >He passes you, moving in the direction of the front door

                                            "W-wait, where are we going?"

                                            >Sunburst looks back towards you, a manic twinkle in his eye

                                            >"Shopping!"


                                            -=-=-=-


                                            >"But this one would go better with your quilt..." Sunburst mutters

                                            >You let out another bored sigh from your place next to Sunburst, lying on the floor on your side

                                            >You should've known that this wasn't going to be a quick trip when he took nearly an hour to get ready this morning

                                            >For the past four or some hours, the two of you have been hitting nearly every shop in the city, picking out furniture and knickknacks for "your new room"

                                            >You'd tried to tell him it was excessive for what could be only a few days, but he didn't really wanna hear it

                                            >"What do you think, Anon?"

                                            >You lift your head and look over at the two identical crystal lamps floating in front of Sunburst

                                            "The left one." You answer immediately, resting your head back on the floor

                                            >"Really?" Sunburst's muzzle scrunches and he shrugs. "I-I suppose it's your room, so..."

                                            >The other lamp reluctantly lowers back onto the shelf and Sunburst heads off to the store's front desk with the first lamp in tow

                                            >Grumbling to yourself, you drag yourself up to all four feet

                                            >All four hooves, you mean

                                            >Trudging your way after Sunburst, you absentmindedly browse the shelves of product as you pass them

                                            >Blue lamps, pink lamps, brown lam-

                                            "Wah!"

                                            >You yelp as you're thrown to the ground, your hooves slipping too much on the hardwood flooring to break your fall

                                            >"Sorry..."

                                            >You growl and whip your head around to glare at whatever just apologized for knocking you over

                                            >Standing there is a little white unicorn, roughly your size, with pale lavender hair and a guilty look on her face

                                            "The hell's your problem, brat?!" You snap at her as you stand up again, dusting yourself off

                                            >Her remorseful expression quickly shifts to irritated

                                            >"Hey, I said I was sorry!" She squeaked.

                                            >"Maybe you shoulda watched where you were going, ya dumb colt!"


                                            "Watch where I'm going?" You balk

                                            "Why don't you watch where you're going, y-you-"

                                            >"Y-y-y-y-y-y-you what?" The white unicorn mocks

                                            >"Y-y-y-you gonna cry? Huh?!"

                                            >The gall of this bitch

                                            "Listen here, you marshmallow ass." You start, poking a hoof into her chest as you speak

                                            >As soon as you open your mouth to speak again, the wind's knocked out of you and you're lying on the ground once more

                                            >"Don't TOUCH me. I don't want any of your nasty colt cooties."

                                            >You heave in a breath as you look back at the unicorn to see her glaring down at you with a single hoof extended

                                            >Good Lord, how the hell is she so strong!

                                            >You groan in pain as you bring yourself back onto your feet, feeling like you've taken a brick to the ribs

                                            >You're stood up just in time to see a larger white unicorn with a styled purple mane approaching from behind the smaller horse

                                            >"Sweetie Belle~!" The larger unicorn calls out in a saccharine voice

                                            >The small unicorn's pupils shrink to pinpricks at the sound and she spins around to face the other

                                            >"R-Rarity!" She squeaks

                                            >"Sweetie Belle!"

                                            >Jeez, what the hell are these names?

                                            >"I've just caught word of a sale going on a few blocks down and I-oh, hello there."

                                            >The large unicorn, Rarity, interrupts herself when she notices you

                                            >Rarity glances between you and the smaller unicorn - Sweetie Belle, you guess - and a cheeky smirk pops onto her face

                                            >"Oh, my sincerest apologies, Sweetie Belle." Rarity says with mocking earnestness

                                            >"If I had known you were busied with wooing a handsome young gentleman, I wouldn't have interrupted."

                                            >"Huh?!"

                                            >"I-I'm not- He's-!"

                                            >"No no, please, Sweetie Belle. Carry on. Just pretend I'm not here."

                                            >Rarity's smirk widens as Sweetie Belle grows increasingly more embarrassed and frustrated

                                            >Sweetie Belle's eyes dart around frantically, eventually landing on you

                                            >Time slows for a split second when your eyes meet

                                            >A blur of white is all you can process before-

                                            >*CRACK*


                                            >You slowly open your eyes

                                            >You're on the floor again

                                            >Great

                                            >You look upwards, catching an eyeful of Sunburst screaming at Rarity

                                            >You can't hear anything over the sound of ringing in your ears

                                            >Rarity looks like she's apologizing profusely

                                            >Sweetie Belle's cowering next to her with tears pouring down her face

                                            >When you try to lift your head, you're stopped by a shooting pain in your jaw

                                            >Bringing your hoof to your cheek, it's sore and swelling

                                            >You take your hoof away and look at it

                                            >You're bleeding

                                            >It takes quite a bit of effort on your part, but you eventually manage to stand up once again

                                            >As you're struggling to your hooves, the ringing fades enough for you to hear again

                                            >"-pay whatever it costs! I swear-"

                                            >"Oh, now you're gonna try to shut us up with money!? A fan-TASTIC! example for your daughter!"

                                            >"She's not-"

                                            >"Shut up!"

                                            "Fumburft?"

                                            >Your words come out quiet and muffled from the swelling in your jaw and the blood in your mouth

                                            >"-can't even take a single step outside without some animal of a mare-"

                                            "Fumburft, I-" You cough weakly

                                            >You spit out some excess blood onto the wood floor and notice a shiny chunk of white amidst the crimson

                                            >Checking your mouth with your tongue, you realize what it is

                                            >Your tooth

                                            "Fuck..."

                                            >You look around and notice that a small crowd of horses has circled the four of you

                                            >They're staring

                                            >You have to leave

                                            >"-should get you thrown in the castle dungeon! Why, I-" Sunburst halts his tirade when he feels you tap his side

                                            >The fury on his features instantly melts away into painful sorrow at the sight of you

                                            "I wanna go..." You mumble through your injury

                                            >"Anonymous, I..." Sunburst takes in the situation they're in and it seems like he only now realizes the scene they're making

                                            >Sunburst huffs and shoots a glare at Rarity

                                            >"This is NOT over, Ms. Belle!" Sunburst growls, earning a meek nod from Rarity

                                            >"Again, I am so, so, so, so sorry, Sunburst."

                                            >Sunburst doesn't respond, instead turning his nose up and gently ushering you out the store

                                            >You can't help but notice he's still being careful not to touch you

                                            >As the two of you head out the door, you take a final look back to see a few of the female bystanders closing in on a panicking Rarity

                                            >The door blocks your view as it shuts behind you

                                            >Away from the prying eyes of the storegoers, Sunburst takes a closer look at the side of your face

                                            >"Sweet Celestia. Anonymous, you need a doctor."


                                            -=-=-=-


                                            >"The doctor will be with you soon." The nurse says before leaving the examination room

                                            >Sunburst sighs and turns to you

                                            >"How are you feeling, Sweetheart?"

                                            >You shrug

                                            >Sunburst groans and looks at the door again

                                            >"Don't worry, Sweetie. Dr. Stones is the best in the empire. Or so I'm told."

                                            >You'd tell him to quit the gay little nickname shit, but talking hurts too much

                                            >The adrenaline from earlier has worn off now, letting you experience the full glory of your humiliation

                                            >You've had your ass kicked by a little girl

                                            >And you're a tiny green horse

                                            >Is this what rock bottom feels like?

                                            >A knock on the door immediately followed by a turquoise crystal horse in a labcoat stepping through

                                            >The doctor gives a professional smile

                                            >"Good afternoon, Mr...."

                                            >The doctor glances at her clipboard and her brow raises

                                            >"Mr. Flare?"

                                            >Sunburst clears his throat

                                            >"Just Sunburst is fine." Sunburst says, avoiding eye contact with the doctor

                                            >You notice the doctor give Sunburst a once over with her eyes

                                            >"Right." The doctor turns to you and she gives you a disarming smile

                                            >"Hey there, I'm Dr. Stones. Can you tell me how you got hurt, sweetie?"

                                            >Ugh, not you too

                                            >You open your mouth to answer but Sunburst beats you to it

                                            >"A filly attacked him."

                                            >"A filly? Already got the girls going crazy over ya, huh kid?"

                                            >Sunburst frowns and Stones chuckles

                                            >"Just a joke, Mr. Flare." Stones assures as she sets her clipboard on a nearby counter

                                            >Stones steps closer and sits right in front of you

                                            >"Alrighty," Dr. Stones starts as she fishes something light blue from her coat's pocket, "Why don't you open wide? Gimme a good look at what we're working with here."

                                            >You oblige with a pained groan that makes Sunburst hold a hoof over his hear

                                            >You think that's where his heart is

                                            >It's still in the same place, right?

                                            >You watch as Dr. Stones takes the blue object and shoves her free hoof into it

                                            >Huh

                                            >Hoofglove

                                            >Stones' gloved hoof gently pushes the edge of your mouth to give herself a better view and then she uses her teeth to grab a penlight from her breast pocket

                                            >You're left in mild awe when you see her use her lips to expertly switch on the light and flip it around to illuminate the inside of your gaping maw

                                            >As Dr. Stones is humming and hawing in thought at the sight, Sunburst leans over to catch a glimpse for himself

                                            >He immediately regrets it, gagging and turning away

                                            >That's a good sign

                                            >"Mmhm!" Dr. Stones exclaims and steps away from you, moving to the wastebin in the corner of the room

                                            >"How bad is it, Doctor? He won't need surgery, will he?"

                                            >"Oh, no no, nothing that bad." The doctor answers as she disposes of the glove she'd been wearing

                                            >Sunburst breaths a sigh of relief as Stones turns back towards you two with a smile

                                            >"Well, firstly, bleeding's seems to've stopped. Inside of his mouth's a bit mangled, but that'll heal with time. As for the tooth, it's a pretty clean break. A crown should do."


                                            >"Erm, a crown?" Sunburst shoots Stones a confused look

                                            >"Is that another one of your jokes, Doctor?"

                                            >Stones shakes her head, "No jokes, Mr. Flare."

                                            >Sunburst looks quizzically between you and the doctor

                                            >"A crown seems a little...barbaric. Don't you think?"

                                            >The hell is Sunburst on about?

                                            >Now it was Dr. Stones' turn to be confused

                                            >"It's the standard treatment for a broken tooth, Mr. Flare."

                                            >"I thought standard treatment was a restoration spell."

                                            >Spell?

                                            >Again with the magic shit?

                                            >Dr. Stones tilts her head

                                            >"Restoration spell?"

                                            >Sunburst opens his mouth to speak again but stops himself short and shakes his head

                                            >"Nevermind, you're the doctor. You know best."

                                            >Dr. Stones gives a nod and mutters something under her breath before speaking up again

                                            >"I'm gonna prescribe your son some painkillers and some antibiotic ointment for that gash on his cheek. See the receptionist upfront to schedule the crown, and you folks have a good day."

                                            >Son?

                                            >You try to speak up to correct her but Dr. Stones is out the door sooner than you can manage to

                                            >How can she think you're this guy's son?

                                            >You're not even the same color

                                            >...Was that racist?

                                            >"A crown." Sunburst scoffs

                                            >Looking to him, you see he's glaring at the door

                                            "Whaf's wrong wid a crown?"

                                            >Sunburst turns his attention to you, shaking his head softly

                                            >"A dental crown isn't like the crowns that princesses wear, Anonymous. It's a metal cap made to look like a tooth that goes over your real tooth!"

                                            "Uh-huh." You nod

                                            >Sunburst stares at you dumbfounded for a moment

                                            >"That...that doesn't bother you?"

                                            "Thaf's jusf how if's done." You shrug

                                            >Sunburst shakes his head

                                            >"Sweetheart, it's an utterly outdated procedure. I mean, it hasn't been used in almost 1000..."

                                            >Sunburst's words trail off and an expression of realization grows on his face

                                            >"Oh my goodness." He chuckles, bringing a hoof to his forehead in astonishment

                                            "What?"

                                            >Sunburst shakes his head and waves a hoof dismissively

                                            >"Nothing to worry about, Anonymous. Come on, let's get going." Sunburst says as he heads to the door, standing next to it expectantly as it swings open

                                            >What a fucking weirdo this guy is

                                            >You exit the examination room, Sunburst trailing close behind

                                            >You hope the receptionist gives you a lollipop


                                            -=-=-=-


                                            "Tho, uh, whath's next, Thumburth?"

                                            >Sunburst snickers at your attempt to speak around the oversized lollipop in your mouth but you're not bothered by it

                                            >Nothing bothers you

                                            >You've got a big ass lolly

                                            >Sunburst taps his chin in thought, glancing around the busy street

                                            >"Well, the whole fiasco with Rarity put a bit of a raincloud on our plans..."

                                            >Sunburst shakes his head and grumbles

                                            >"That mare. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. I mean, the absolute audacity for her to-"

                                            >As Sunburst segues into a rant about Rarity, you take the opportunity to take a look around while the two of you walk

                                            >The street is filled with crystal horses going about their day

                                            >Heading in and out of shops, greeting one another as they pass

                                            >You don't see any crystal horses your size

                                            >Where are they?

                                            >School?

                                            >Should you be in school?

                                            >God, you fucking hope not

                                            >"Anonymous?"

                                            >You're brought out of your musing to see Sunburst looking at you expectantly

                                            >"What do you think?"

                                            >Think about what?

                                            "Um...sure?"

                                            >Sunburst smiles widely at your answer

                                            >Hey, what's the worst that could happen?


                                            -=-=-=-=-


                                            >"Here we are!"

                                            "...Huh."

                                            >You're at a loss for words as you study the building before you

                                            >Pink and pale yellow stripes, it reminds you of a cheap circus tent

                                            >But in the place of aged canvas, is freshly placed brick and mortar

                                            >Above the entrance, a sign reads "HAYBURGER" in pink block lettering with a yellow horseshoe behind it

                                            >You look at Sunburst again

                                            >He's grinning widely, anticipating your reaction

                                            "Is this...fast food?"

                                            >Sunburst's smile deflates but doesn't leave completely

                                            >"You know what that is?"

                                            >You nod, and the rest of his smile goes

                                            >"Oh." Sunburst plops down on his butt and idly scratches his cheek with a hoof

                                            >"I figured this would be a bit more momentous for you." Sunburst states disappointed

                                            >Shit, now you feel bad

                                            "A-actually, I've only really heard about it!"

                                            >Sunburst's ears perk up

                                            >"Oh?"

                                            "Yeah! Never, um, never eaten it."

                                            >Seems like he bought your lie because he instantly regains his prior excitement and claps his hooves together

                                            >"Perfect! Just you wait, Anonymous. I used to eat here all the time back when I was in-" Sunburst cringes before he can finish his thought and clears his throat.

                                            >"Eh, nevermind. Come on!" Sunburst heads for the entrance

                                            >You shrug and follow


                                            >Stepping inside, it looks about how you expected

                                            >Tables make up most of the furniture, and a mix of chairs and booths fill the rest of the space

                                            >A decent number of horses are in the restaurant, eating and talking amongst themselves

                                            >One side of the restaurant is home to the front counter with the menu hanging above it

                                            >Everything is some shade of light pink or pale yellow, bringing that same sort of misplaced circus feeling everywhere you look

                                            >You follow close to Sunburst as he walks up to the front counter

                                            >Manning the register - or is it horsing the register? - is a lanky lime-green crystal horse with braces

                                            >She's a bit shorter than Sunburst, but definitely taller than you

                                            >"Welcome to Hayburger, home of the hayburger. May I take your order, Sir?" The lanky girl asks in a bored monotone

                                            >She looks kinda cute in that uniform

                                            >...Why did you just think that?

                                            >You don't wanna fuck horses, do you?

                                            >"That'll be thirteen bits."

                                            >You're brought out of your internal conflict just in time to see Starburst levitate a bunch of gold coins out of a little clamshell purse and float them to the cashier

                                            >Did he order for you?

                                            >Rude

                                            >She taps a few buttons on the register, earning a chime from the machine

                                            >"Here's your table marker, we'll bring your order out when it's ready, Sir."

                                            >Sunburst thanks her and the two of you take a seat at an empty booth near the middle of the establishment

                                            >"So! Anonymous," Sunburst starts, "Whaddya think?"

                                            "It's..."

                                            >Exactly like every other fast food place

                                            "...cozy."

                                            >"Isn't it?" Sunburst beams and admires the surrounding interior

                                            >"I just love how they make every location look the same. Really gives you a sense of familiarity when you walk in." Sunburst nods at his assessment, continuing to take it all in

                                            >Sunburst's eyes then widen in recognition, his ears perking up

                                            >He thrusts hoof in the air, waving ecstatically

                                            >Following his eyeline, you see what he's focused on

                                            >A table in the far corner of the restaurant bearing a massive pile of empty burger wrappers

                                            >But you don't see anybo-

                                            >A head pops out from behind the pile, along with a hoof that waves back at him

                                            >It's a purple unicorn


                                            >The purple unicorn steps out from behind the trash pile and into full view

                                            >Your eyes widen as you watch her spread out her wings

                                            >Dear God, why does it have wings?

                                            >She gives them a mighty flap that lifts her into the air and sends a flurry of burger wrappers flying

                                            >The purple horse holds her wings out, gliding across the restaurant's airspace and landing directly next to your table

                                            >You immediately scoot away, wedging yourself into the corner of the booth furthest from the winged unicorn

                                            >You're still staring at her when she speaks

                                            >"Sunburst! Funny running into you here."

                                            >"Twilight! What are the chances!" Sunburst stands up from his seat to give the purple freak a hug

                                            "What in God's name are you?"

                                            >Twilight's eyes snap open and she breaks the hug to look at you proper

                                            >"Hello there. Who might you be, little guy?" Twilight smiles warmly

                                            >You open your mouth again, intent on demanding an answer, but Sunburst cuts you off

                                            >You feel like that's been happening a lot lately

                                            >"Twilight, meet Anonymous. Anonymous, this is my good friend, Twilight Sparkle."

                                            >Twilight puts out a hoof to you

                                            >"Nice to meet you, Anonymous. I never knew Sunburst had a nephew. Or a sibling, now that I think about it."

                                            >You spare a brief glance at her hoof and look her in the eye again

                                            "We're not related."

                                            >Twilight looks between you and Sunburst a few times

                                            >"It's a long story." Sunburst explains

                                            >Twilight nods and slowly withdraws her hoof

                                            >"So...Have you seen Starlight?" Twilight asks, clearly trying to change the subject to subvert the building awkwardness

                                            >Sunburst nods

                                            >"She visited this morning, but she left in a hurry. Said something about needing to go help you, actually."

                                            >Huh?

                                            >That's not how it went down

                                            >Twilight quirks a brow

                                            >"Really? I haven't seen her since we arrived last night." Twilight taps her chin with a hoof, looking off in no particular direction, concern written all over her face

                                            >"Hope she's alright..." Twilight mutters

                                            >As Twilight is busy worrying about her friend, the bored cashier girl walks up to your table and sets down a tray of food she was holding in her mouth

                                            >"Here's your food, Sir. Have a hay of a day." She rattles off

                                            >It takes a disconcerting amount of effort for you to tear your eyes away from her as she walks away

                                            >Sunburst lick his chops and the food on the tray hovers over to sit in front of their respective owners

                                            >Looks like Sunburst got you a little burger, a small order of horseshoe shaped fries, and a soda

                                            >No wait - it's a milkshake!

                                            >Score!


                                            >You must've been grinning like an idiot because Sunburst lets out a pleased little chuckle

                                            >"Eat up, Anonymous. I'm sure you must be...oh, dang-it!"

                                            >Sunburst's smile flips to a frown as he scrutinizes the inside of his burger

                                            >"I told her no pickles. Just a moment, Anonymous. I'll be right back."

                                            >Sunburst exits the booth, burger floating beside him as he heads back up to the front counter, leaving you and your food alone with the abomination named Twilight Sparkle

                                            >"Sunburst, do you think she'd be- oh, he left." Twilight slumped a bit when she noticed Sunburst's absence

                                            >Her gaze shifts from his empty seat to you

                                            >Your eyes squint suspiciously at her

                                            >Keeping watch of her, you grab for your burger only for your hooves to meet the wood of the tabletop

                                            >You whip your head to look at your food

                                            >It's gone

                                            >Darting your head every which way, you quickly find your burger floating above you, coated in a pinkish shimmering

                                            >You watch in disbelief as the wrapper curls off the sandwich, dropping to the table

                                            >The burger hovers over to Twilight, who casually takes a bite of it, half the small burger disappearing behind her ketchup covered lips

                                            >Twilight barely notices your dumbfounded glare and swallows the food in her mouth before speaking

                                            >"I'm annexing this for...royal fueling purposes. Yeah." She finishes her decree by tossing the other half into her greasy maw

                                            >"Welp, I gotta go. Hey, Autonomous, right?" She starts, not bothering to swallow the meal she just stole.

                                            >"Do me a favor and let Suburst know to let me know if he sees Starlight. He knows where to find me."

                                            >Twilight quickly heads for the front door and leaves the building, the double doors swinging closed just as Sunburst returns with a new burger

                                            >"Goodness, you ate it already? Someone was hungry!" Sunburst chuckles again

                                            >As he digs into his own food, your head hangs miserably

                                            >My fucking burger


                                            >Sunburst sighs contentedly as the two of you step out of the Hayburger

                                            >"That really hit the spot! Wouldn't you say, Anonymous?"

                                            >You grumble and shrug

                                            >At least the milkshake was pretty good

                                            >You trudge behind an oblivious Sunburst, making your way down the city street once more

                                            >As you walk, you watch the passing refractions of the noonday sun shining through the crystal horses

                                            >Looks kinda pretty

                                            >"Starlight?"

                                            >Your ears perk up at Sunburst's voice and you look ahead

                                            >There, halfway out of an alleyway, is Starlight

                                            >She's grimacing, her mane is as messy as Sunburst's, and it looks like she's muttering to herself

                                            >"Starlight!" Sunburst calls out and jogs over to her

                                            >Thanks to your little legs, you have to sprint to catch up

                                            >Sunburst gasps once he's closer, and you soon notice why

                                            >At this distance, you can see she's got dirt in her fur and scrapes all over

                                            >And her nose is bleeding

                                            >"Sweet Celestia, Starlight, what happened to you?!"

                                            >Starlight shoves off Sunburst's attempts to examine her wounds

                                            >"I'm fine, just, um...More of a fight than I thought..."

                                            >Starlight's eyes were bleary and unfocused

                                            >That is, until they land on you

                                            >As soon as they do, they sharpen with a chilling focus that makes the fur on the back of your neck stand on end

                                            >"You..."