The Sun in Your Eyes


                                            >The sun rose earlier than usual today.

                                            >For good reason: today is the summer solstice.

                                            >The longest day of the year.

                                            >The day when all of Equestria gets to truly enjoy the warmth and comfort that Princess Celestia provides to her faithful subjects.

                                            >Her grace is received with gratitude, and that gratitude is expressed by the citizens of Ponyville with a festival that lasts as long as the sun is in the sky.

                                            >Treats and candies are whipped up with a summer theme, games are held, and memories are made.

                                            >All the pegasi in Ponyville ensure the weather schedule allows for a clear day without a cloud in the sky.

                                            >It’s one of the happiest, most highly anticipated days of the year.

                                            >Not so much for you.

                                            >You’ve never been super sociable, although Pinkie Pie is determined to believe otherwise.

                                            >You seldom show up for any of the dozens of birthday parties she constantly invites you to, and she keeps throwing you surprise birthday parties in spite of your repeated, increasingly firm requests that she not.

                                            >So then why are you here this time?

                                            >What motivated you to crawl out of bed, brush your teeth and your mane, and leave your humble home to join in on the summer festivities?

                                            >...It’s the stories you’ve heard.

                                            >When you venture into town to go grocery shopping, you often catch funny, nostalgic retellings of moments from events like the summer solstice festival.

                                            >Stories about how Fluttershy hit the dunk tank target dead center and spent fifteen minutes apologizing to the pony in the dunk tank, or how Pinkie Pie broke the all-time apple bobbing record that Granny Smith had held for decades.

                                            >You’d pretend you didn’t care, but when you’re sitting alone in your home at night, your heart aches, wishing it could have been there to witness those stories be written into the history of Ponyville.

                                            >That’s why you’re here.

                                            >You want to make memories.

                                            >But as you stand just outside the perimeter of the festival grounds, you wonder how exactly it is you go about making these memories.

                                            >They’re so spontaneous, it depends on being in the right place at the right time.

                                            >This would be so much easier if you had friends…

                                            >...But this is a good way to make friends, right?

                                            >Everypony’s in a good mood, surely they’d be looking to make a new friend or two.

                                            >And worst comes to worst, you can fall back on Pinkie.

                                            >Maybe her high-energy everything is just a matter of getting used to her.

                                            >Okay, here we go.

                                            >Onward towards making friends and memories-

                                            >”Excuse me?”

                                            >You turn to face the source of the feminine voice to find somepony you’ve never seen before.

                                            >She’s a pegasus with a cream colored body, ruby colored eyes, and a mane colored like the sunrise.

                                            >”Would you happen to know where Sugarcube Corner’s stand is set up? I’ve been looking forward to their cakes all week!” She asks you.


                                            “Uh…”

                                            >You glance at the festival grounds, then back at her.

                                            “...No, this is actually kind of my… first time coming…” You sheepishly admit.

                                            >”Oh, how exciting!” The mystery mare beams. “We can explore this festival together!”

                                            >Looks like this ‘making friends’ thing is easier than you thought.

                                            “Uh… sure!” You agree.

                                            >The mystery mare smiles and claps her forehooves together.

                                            >”Oh! Where are my manners? My name is, ah, Sunny Skies! And who might you be, if you don’t mind me asking?” She asks you.

                                            >Weird, it kind of seems like she almost forgot what her own name was.

                                            >You’re probably reading too much into it, you’ve spilled your fair share of spaghetti when introducing yourself in the past.

                                            “Uh, my name’s Anonymous.” You introduce yourself, keeping your spaghetti in your pockets.

                                            >”What a lovely name! It’s a pleasure to meet you, Anonymous!” Sunny Skies compliments you.

                                            >You gently blush at the compliment, averting your eyes towards the ground.

                                            “Y-You too…”

                                            >There goes the spaghetti.

                                            >Sunny giggles at your response.

                                            >”Why, thank you! It’s so nice to see the citizens of Ponyville so welcoming.”

                                            >Huh, looks like you didn’t completely ruin the moment.

                                            >”But let’s not delay any further, let’s go find those cakes!”

                                            >Sunny Skies skips ahead of you, prompting you to hastily make pace with her.

                                            >As the two of you walk together, you’re quickly confronted by how big of a deal this festival is.

                                            >It looks like the entirety of Ponyville has come out to enjoy the summer solstice festival.

                                            >Little fillies and colts run about around your hooves, groups of ponies wait in one of the many lines for the delicious foods that tempt you to join the lines with their enchanting scent, and more than a few ponies looking just as confused as you, trying to find where they’re trying to go.

                                            >It’s… overwhelming.

                                            >It’s so crowded.

                                            >You have to be careful with every step you take.

                                            >Everypony’s talking so loudly, you can barely hear yourself think.

                                            >You’re constantly bumping into somepony or stumbling over a small rock or somepony’s hoof.

                                            >You try peering past them to see if you can find the stand Mr. and Mrs. Cake have set up, but you’re fighting an ocean of ponies.

                                            >This isn’t swimming upstream, this is trying to keep your head above the water.

                                            >”Anonymous? Are you alright?” You manage to hear Sunny Skies ask you.

                                            >You would answer her, but with all the townsfolk all around you make that impossible.

                                            >Sunny finds an opening in the crowd and drags you off to the side, in between two meager looking stands.

                                            >Finally, you’re able to breathe.

                                            “Thanks, Sunny. I guess I’m not as built for crowds as I thought I was.” You admit, your voice tinged with shame.

                                            >”That’s alright! Socialization like that can take a lot of getting used to!” Sunny comforts you.

                                            “Yeah, no kidding…”


                                            >”...Say, perhaps we could meet up with some other friends of yours! I’m sure that finding our way around will be much easier as a larger group!” Sunny tries to suggest.

                                            >Other friends.

                                            >Ha.

                                            >Turns out it’s pretty hard to make new friends without making yourself look like a loser.

                                            “Uh… I kinda don’t have… ‘other’ friends…” You admit.

                                            >Sunny gasps in shock.

                                            >”How could that be? You seem perfectly decent to me!” She asks you, rather intensely.

                                            >You shrink back, feeling more embarrassed.

                                            “I dunno, I just don’t really get out much!”

                                            >”Well, that’s terrible! Everypony deserves friends, Anonymous!” Sunny proclaims.

                                            “I know, I know! That’s kinda what I’m out here today!” You say defensively.

                                            >Sunny face brightens up.

                                            >”That’s delightful to hear! Taking that first step is often the hardest step of all, and I’m very proud of the effort you’ve put in thus far! You’ll have plenty of friends soon enough, I’m positive!” Sunny says, heaping praise onto you.

                                            >Geez, this mare sure is intense when it comes to friends.

                                            >”And it seems to me, you’ve already made one new friend.” She giggles.

                                            >Her smile sure is infectious.

                                            >A smile finds its way onto your face as well as you join in on her little giggle.

                                            “Hehe, yeah, I guess so.” You admit.

                                            >But lingering next to the moment with a bad case of hover-hoof is the fact that you don’t really know anything about her.

                                            >You should do something about that.

                                            “...Say, what’s your story, Sunny Skies? What brings you all the way to Ponyville?” You ask her.

                                            >Her eyes widen a little at your question.

                                            >Why, you have trouble deciphering.

                                            >”Ah, yes! I’m visiting from Canterlot for the weekend. It’s lovely there, but I often find myself yearning for the quiet, simple life that a small town like Ponyville can offer. Canterlot types can be so… stuffy.” Sunny answers you, with a tone that sounds like she’s admitting a secret.

                                            >You don’t know why, anypony in Ponyville would say that Canterlot folk are snobby rich jerks.

                                            >”Ponyville just seems so full of… adventure, I suppose!”

                                            “Between Nightmare Moon’s show-stopping return and the town being terrorized by a rampaging horde of Pinkie Pie clones, that’s certainly one word you could use.” You dryly remark.

                                            >Sunny Skies bursts into a fit of laughter at your response, even needing to take a moment to catch her breath and collect herself.

                                            >She laughs more than you’d expect anypony to at a little comment like the one you just made.

                                            “Heh, calm down, Sunny, it wasn’t THAT funny.” You say to her with a small giggle.

                                            >”Oh, I know, but it’s been far too long since I’ve gotten to enjoy a conversation like this.” She admits with small giggles peppered throughout.

                                            >You can’t help but giggle along with her.

                                            >It feels really nice to let your guard down like this.

                                            >This whole “making friends” thing really is long overdue.

                                            >And Sunny’s got such a pretty smile, too…


                                            >”Oh, Anonymous! I see Sugarcube Corner’s stand over there! Let’s get going before all the cakes are gone!” Sunny urges you, dragging you along before you can answer.

                                            >The prospect of cake motivates her to almost shove through all the ponies in her way as she makes a beeline to the cake stand, with you in tow.

                                            >You make for a pretty bumpy tag-along.

                                            >While you love yourself a good slice of cake, this Sunny mare goes at it like the slice of cake in her future is the first thing she’s eaten in weeks.

                                            >Yet she moves through the crowd with a certain grace.

                                            >She doesn’t push through anypony, she effortlessly glides through the spaces in between them like a fish swimming in a pond.

                                            >You can’t help but admire it, especially compared to your own attempts to squeeze through the crowd.

                                            >But on the other side of the crowd, Sunny found herself separated from the array of cakes that the folks at Sugarcube Corner had prepared by a line of ponies looking to get some of the cake for themselves.

                                            >”Oh, darn.” Sunny sulked. “Waiting’s always the worst part.”

                                            “Yeah…”

                                            >Judging by the line, you’re gonna be waiting a while.

                                            “But, you know, we could use the time to get to know each other a little better.” You suggest.

                                            >Sunny’s face lights up at the prospect as she turns to you.

                                            >”That’s a very good point! Perhaps we could play a game of some kind!”

                                            “A game, huh?” You ask her.

                                            >”I don’t mean hoofball, we can just ask each other questions!” Sunny clarifies.

                                            >It’ll pass the time better than anything you can think of.

                                            “Alright then, you start.”

                                            >”Hm…” Sunny thinks for a moment.

                                            >”Which of the elements of harmony do you believe you best embody?”

                                            >That’s certainly not what you were expecting her to ask you.

                                            >What kind of answer do you give to something like that?

                                            “Uh…”

                                            >You scratch your chin with your hoof as you think.

                                            >”Anonymous, it’s really not a difficult question. It should be the first thing that comes to your mind!” Sunny giggles.

                                            “My mind’s a complex thing! I’m not impulsive like that!” You jokingly defend yourself.

                                            >This prompts Sunny to laugh louder.

                                            >”It appears to me that your element is laughter!” She deduces.

                                            >You wave off her claim with your hoof.

                                            “I dunno, compared to Pinkie Pie, I’m hardly fit for an open mic night.”

                                            >”Pinkie Pie may bear the element in the defense of Equestria, but the elements of harmony exist within all of us, Anonymous. We all possess the ability to be kind, honest, loyal, generous, and to spread laughter; that’s what makes Equestria such a wonderful land.” She counters your humble assertion.

                                            “Doesn’t that make it a little impossible for me to pin myself down to just ONE element? Like I said, I’m complex like that.” You remark, half-sarcastically.

                                            >Sunny isn’t deterred.

                                            >”It’s a hypothetical question, Anonymous. You could have chosen the element of loyalty for the sake of this matter.”


                                            “But that wouldn’t be very HONEST of me, now, would it?” You slyly rebut.

                                            >Sunny’s a little caught off guard, but she smiles at you.

                                            >”Well played, Anonymous. I believe it’s your turn to ask me a question now.”

                                            “Okay, lemme think…”

                                            >”You seem to do a lot of thinking.” Sunny notes with a sly grin.

                                            >You playfully leer at her, but she speaks up before you can say anything to her.

                                            >“And I’m aware of how complex you are.”

                                            “Here’s a question for you, straight from my complex brain: between Queen Chrysalis, Discord, Nightmare Moon, and King Sombra, who would you most want to have as a roommate?”

                                            >”Oh, that’s easy, Nightmare Moon!” Sunny quickly answers.

                                            >You blink.

                                            “Darn, I was really hoping that would stump you, at least a little.” You admit, earning another giggle from Sunny.

                                            “What makes you so certain that Nightmare Moon would make a good roommate?”

                                            >”It’s simple, really. Nightmare Moon rebelled against her sister because she felt as if her efforts to rule over the night went unappreciated. All she truly needed was an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on.” Sunny answered matter-of-factly.

                                            >There’s something else in her voice.

                                            >Clarity, understanding.

                                            >She’s thought about this before, it sounds like.

                                            >Granted, everypony’s thought about Princess Luna’s brief stint as Nightmare Moon.

                                            >Her turning a new leaf after threatening to plunge the world into an eternal night affected everypony, after all.

                                            >But still…

                                            >”I just couldn’t see myself getting along with the others. Queen Chrysalis would be so needy, her and her need to feed on love, to say nothing of that hive of hers. King Sombra is far too self absorbed to do something as low as basic chores, and… I think we needn’t say anything about Discord as a roommate.” Sunny continued.

                                            >You chuckle a little.

                                            “I dunno, I think Discord could be pretty handy when it comes to getting the dishes clean. He could just snap his fingers and make them all clean.”

                                            >”Indeed, he COULD, but the Discord I know would sooner turn your entire house to dirty dishes than do one meager chore of his own volition.” Sunny remarked.

                                            >Wait, what?

                                            “The Discord YOU know?” You repeat back to her.

                                            >Sunny freezes in place.

                                            >”Uh… w-what I meant was, uh…”

                                            >”Hey, I got a question for you two: do you wanna move up the line?” A stallion behind you and Sunny impatiently asks you.

                                            >You glance ahead to find a sizeable gap between you and the ponies standing exchanging their bits for some cake.

                                            “Uh, yeah, sorry.” You clumsily apologize as you and Sunny shuffle forward.

                                            >This conversation’s gonna be continued later.

                                            >If Sunny’s got some kind of history with Discord, she’s a more interesting character than you first pegged her as.

                                            >”Thank you for your patronage, enjoy the summer solstice!” Mrs. Cake bids farewell to the couple in front of you, inviting you and Sunny forward.


                                            >”Now, what would you two like?” Mr. Cake asks you after placing the bits he received in the register.

                                            >Behind the makeshift counter is an array of cakes protected with transparent covers, each a different flavor and each with a different amount left.

                                            >”I would like a slice of red velvet, please.” Sunny politely requests, clearly having thought about her answer beforehand.

                                            >Maybe that should’ve been a question you discussed together.

                                            >”Alright then, now what would you like, sir?” Mr. Cake turns to you as Mrs. Cake retrieves one of the slices of red velvet cake for Sunny.

                                            >So many colors, so many flavors.

                                            >Darn it, you can never perform well under pressure.

                                            >The line behind you gets more annoyed with each passing second, act fast!

                                            “I’ll, uh, have what she’s having.” You answer as confidently as you can muster.

                                            >”Well, I’m sorry to say, but she got the last slice.” Mr. Cake informs you, motioning to the empty display case.

                                            >Of course.

                                            >The line behind you gets a little more impatient.

                                            “Oh, shoot, uh…”

                                            >”Noooooo he didn’t!” A familiar voice interjects.

                                            >Pinkie Pie soon reveals herself, carrying a display case holding a freshly baked red velvet cake.

                                            >”He got here just in time!” Pinkie beams.

                                            >”Ah, well, there we go.” Mr. Cake says before cutting a slice of the cake and presenting it to you.

                                            “Thank you, Pinkie.” You say to her, relieved to have been spared any further social tension.

                                            >”No problemo, Anonymo!” Pinkie giggles.

                                            >”Your total comes to six bits.” Mrs. Cake informs you and Sunny as Pinkie rearranges the cake displays.

                                            “I’ve got it right here…” You say to her, reaching into your bag and producing the bits for payment.

                                            >”Are you sure, Anonymous? I wouldn’t mind paying.” Sunny tries to offer, but you shake your head.

                                            “Nah, it’s fine.” You reply, passing the bits over to Mrs. Cake before Sunny can protest some more.

                                            >”Saaaaaay…” Pinkie speaks up again, leering at Sunny.

                                            >”Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

                                            >Sunny takes a step backward and nervously laughs, avoiding eye contact.

                                            >”Well, I can’t imagine so…” Sunny answers.

                                            >”Hmmm… I’m sure I’ve seen you before somewhere!” Pinkie insists, leering even closer at Sunny.

                                            >A moment of tense silence passes.

                                            >”Oh, well! Must be just my imagination!” Pinkie disarms herself, backing off.

                                            >Sunny breathes a sigh of relief and takes her slice of cake.

                                            >”You two enjoy your sweets!” Pinkie wishes to you and Sunny before she bounces off, presumably to attend to more cake related matters.

                                            >”Thank you, we will!” Sunny says to her before she disappears over the hills.

                                            >You hastily move out of the way of the ponies behind you with your cake carefully held on the plate given to you.

                                            >Sunny walks alongside you, but she’s having a little more trouble balancing the plate with her mouth.

                                            >The crowds are still packing the festival.


                                            “Maybe we should step out of the way and eat the cake somewhere safer?” You suggest to Sunny after setting your plate of cake aside.

                                            >”Yesh, that shounds like a good idea.” Sunny agrees through the plate being held in her mouth.

                                            >But when Sunny tries to move through the crowd to join you, she stumbles over a small rock on the ground and falls forward, ending up on the ground with her face smashed into her slice of cake.

                                            >A few of the ponies surrounding you two noticed this and laughed amongst themselves at Sunny’s expense.

                                            >Sunny looks down at the ground with her face covered in bits of cake, visibly humiliated.

                                            >”Forget how to use your hooves, feather-brain?” A snooty unicorn mare mockingly asks her.

                                            “Hey, back off.” You immediately say to the unicorn, stepping forward.

                                            >It’s difficult to say who was more surprised by this act: her, or you.

                                            >You’ve never shown this kind of backbone when it came to standing up for yourself, but your defense of Sunny was so immediate.

                                            >”Pfft, what, are you her boyfriend, or something?” She asks you.

                                            “Why, you jealous?” You shoot back at her, inviting a few “Ooh”s from the small crowd surrounding the three of you.

                                            >The unicorn takes a step back with a sour look on her face.

                                            >”You wish, loser.” She retorts right before turning around and marching off before you could subject her to another one of your witty remarks.

                                            >The crowd disperses soon after, leaving you alone with Sunny, still on the ground her face still a mess.

                                            >Sunny gets back up and cleans the bits of cake off her face, but sadly looks down at the ruined plate that once held the cake she was looking forward to enjoying.

                                            >The sight pulls at your heartstrings, enough to make you want to help.

                                            “...You can have my cake, if you want.” You offer.

                                            >Sunny shakes her head, forcing a weak smile.

                                            >”Oh, thank you, but I couldn’t ask you for that…”

                                            “Well, good thing you’re not asking.” You remind her with a small smile, pushing your slice of cake towards her.

                                            >Sunny remains visibly conflicted.

                                            >”But…”

                                            “Sunny, I live here. If I want some red velvet cake, I can just go to Sugarcube Corner and get some. This is your vacation from Canterlot, you deserve to enjoy your time here.” You insist.

                                            >Sunny looks up at you with a lot of emotion in her eyes before she lets herself look at the slice of cake you offered her.

                                            >She gets back onto her hooves and carefully takes the cake, placing it safely beside her.

                                            >Sunny looks at you with a wide smile and a faint blush on her cheeks.

                                            >”...Thank you, Anonymous.” She softly says to you.