//------------------------------//
// 12. S.U.N.N.Y. 
// Story: Magical Girl Sunny 
// by Jetto 
//------------------------------//

	The city of Canterlot! Even on Saturday, it was still a busy metropolis full of opportunities, commerce and all around fair and prosperous business. Also home of...

"GIMME THE MONEY OR I'LL SHOOT!"

"AND DON'T EVEN THINK OF CALLING THE COPS!"

...those who wished to take advantage of it. The current pair of robbers were concealing their faces with bandanas, were dressed in non-descript jean pants and jackets that defied identification, and decided to rob a gas station by the suburbs with old-time revolvers each, but those were more than enough to convince the store clerk to cooperate. He was just a lowly university student trying to make a living, fully content with packing the bags with cash, instead of dying over few hundred bucks. Once the bags were full, the two robbers ran outside towards their getaway car, thinking they were going to get scott-free.

Except they forgot about one small detail. Canterlot City was home to someone else.

"Sup guys!"

"AAAH" The two yelled, as they stopped right before the fiery-haired teenage girl in a fancy dress. She was waving at them, smiling brightly.

"Watch'yer doing?" She asked innocently, but instead of a peaceful conversation she got two guns aimed at her. Both triggers were pulled multiple times in succession before they realized that nothing was happening! Sunny giggled, revealing a handful of bullets in her other hand. "What's the rush? It's Saturday, you should enjoy yourselves! I mean the weather is so nice and all."

The only verbal reply she got were a few quick swears, after which they threw their guns right at her, which she easily dodged. She sighed deeply. "Guys, come on, you saw the news. You know how this will end."

A single punch went after her, but never connected with her face, as she nimbly leaned away, letting the robber follow through, and tripping him on the way. "Yeah, like that has ever worked before!" She rolled her eyes, then ducked, avoiding the other robber's attempt to bear hug her. As he recovered from the maneuver Sunny jumped up, uppercutting his face and sending him flying right next to a nearby car. She walked to the fallen, moaning robber as he tried to collect himself and stand up. She leaned over him and extended an open palm to his face. "Here's how it works: you play nice, and I play nice. How about it?"

The criminal groaned, raising his head just high enough to look her in the eyes as he said "You can suck my-"

"Sunny Blast!" A small explosion of kinetic energy shot from her palm, knocking him into unconsciousness. She shook her head and tsked. "You'd think they'd learn by now." She shrugged and stood up, turning to the other guy. "Please tell me you are smarter than your buddy over here?" She asked... an empty parking lot.

Facepalm ensued. "Well, he is a bit smarter, I guess?"

Less loot to split! and OHCRAPOHCRAPOHCRAP! were the two thoughts that Battery had inside of his mind, as he sprinted through the back alleys while hugging the bag of stolen money to his chest. Too bad for Assault, but eh, he'd do the same to me! I'll buy him a drink when he's out of jail! But just as he turned around the corner, about to leave the alley between two buildings, a familiar face appeared in his view.

"This is getting old, you know!"

"AAAAH!"

"It was fun the first few times, but now I feel like I'm rewatching the same episode over and over." Sunny made a few steps toward the guy, who stumbled backwards, falling on his back. "At least show some effort! If you can't be a challenge in combat, at least give me a good line, a joke or something. Honestly, I'll take a cringy dad joke at this point over nothing!"

The robber stuttered, crawling away with one hand, still clinging to the bag in his other hand. The back door of the building to his left suddenly opened, and a very confused man in a chef's apron met them with a confused stare while holding two bags of garbage. The robber immediately got up and rushed through the opened door, pushing the cook out of the way and sending him on the ground with all the smelly garbage spilling around the area.

Sunny groaned loudly, massaging her forehead. "Oh for Pete's sake!"

Battery rushed through the backroom into the kitchen area, pushing any waiter, waitress or chef that stood in his way, knocking over a few pots and frying pans full of various pieces of meats and vegetables that will now at best feed the stray cats and dogs. As he was about to reach out for the door towards the restaurant's main area, it opened before him and Magical Girl Pursuer walked in, her face visibly bemused.

"I could've just knocked you out with a single punch and be over with it," she said, walking toward him, as he once again walked backwards, stumbling into a table. "but nooo, I wanted to give you a chance! I thought that maybe, juuust maybe, you'd grow a few brain cells and see how stupid it is to steal, especially now, that this city has a frickin' superhero running around! But naah, why bother?" She stopped just a few feet away from the guy and crossed her arms. "One last chance: drop the money, surrender and I just might tell the cops you learned a lesson, better late than never. It's in your best interest," her eyes narrowed "choose wisely!"

The robber tightened his grip on his loot bag, and as cold and hot sweat (it was quite warm in the kitchen) covered his body, he looked around for one last chance for salvation. His eyes first went towards a nearby waitress who watched in awe as the situation unfolded, then at a large, meat cleaver next to her. He rushed toward it, grabbing the cleaver with one hand and the waitresses' hand with the other, still holding the bag of money as he put the giant blade near her neck.

"D-D-DON'T MOVE O-OR I-I-I-"

Before he finished the sentence, Battery watched as the cleaver suddenly disappeared from his hand, along with his hostage. He didn't have time to react, when all of a sudden Magical Girl Sunny rushed at him with his own cleaver in her left hand, while her right one burned with bright energy as she swung a punch right his face.

"SUNNY PUNCH!"

The sound of cracking bones was heard and felt throughout the building, as Battery fell unconscious on the floor with a broken nose, but still holding onto his bag of money. Sunny sighed, putting the cleaver back at the table where it originally was. She looked around the terrified kitchen staff, including the five second hostage waitress, and shrugged.

"What? I gave him plenty of warning!" She sniffed the air. "Something smells nice... is that beef?"

---

"Y-yes, they t-tried to run, but Magical Girl Su-Sunny appeared and, and, she took out one and chased after the other and she's been gone for a few minutes... no, I don't know where..." The gas station clerk stopped, when the automatic door opened and Magical Girl Sunny casually walked inside holding two bags, one of which had the stolen money. She put the money bag on the counter and waggled a finger towards him. "I-I think she wants to speak with you... yes, here you go..." He handed her the cell phone.

"Hiya, Magical Girl Sunny here... oh hey Officer Shield, what's up? ...Yes, all taken care of, I had to roughen them up a bit... yes, I warned them... yes, multiple times... yes... no, they're cuffed and ready for pick up... you'd be surprised what you can buy on the internet... yes, I'd like them back, they're not cheap... mhm... yeah... cool, awesome, I'll tell the staff," she pulled the phone away and said to the clerk "the police should be here in a few minutes," the clerk nodded, so she went back to the call "...so, how's the wife doing? ...oh, that's fantastic! ...twins? Wow, congratulations! ...boy AND a girl? ...no way... shut up! Wow, I don't know what to say!" She pulled the phone again and approached the clerk again, this time wearing a goofy smile. "He named his baby daughter Sunny Days!" The clerk looked around, and shrugged. "Yeah, I'm still here... uhuh... yeah, sure... kay, gotcha. Do you need me for anything else... 'kay, thanks!" She hung up and handed it back to its owner.

As she was about to leave the room, her eyes scanned a pack of chips on the shelf. She grabbed one bag and put it on the counter, searching over her dress for her wallet. "Did I put it in the other dress or what...?"

The clerk pushed the bag to her. "I-it's on the house!"

Sunny blinked. "Really?" The clerk nodded. She looked at him, then at the pack of chips, then shrugged and took it. "Thanks, you're a sweetheart!" She threw the chips to the other bag she was carrying, then saluted with a peace sign. "Sun'ya!" And then she vanished.

The clerk sniffed the air. "Is this... beef?"

---

"Hoooneeeey! I'm hoooome!" Sunny, back in her civilian clothes, loudly proclaimed as she opened the door to her room. She saw Coco standing in the middle of the room in front of a mannequin that had very few fabric pieces on it, too early to call it a dress. She noticed her roommate with a few pins in her mouth and snorted. "It's a good thing I brought food, you really are starving!"

Coco raised an eyebrow and pulled the pins from her mouth. "Ha, ha," she deadpanned "what did you bring?"

Sunny smiled widely as she lifted the plastic bag. "I hope you like beef, cause I got gifted some and my stomach isn't big enough for it!"

One family sized portion of beef and heroic story later...

"Ugh, that hits the spot..." Sunny announced, patting her belly, as the two finished their meal on the floor, since they didn't have a proper dining table. "... I love being a superhero!"

Coco, who finished the equally large portion despite her smaller size, nodded in agreement. "If I knew you'd be paid in good food, I would've agreed to help you a lot faster."

"So like, a minute before I asked?"

"Oh shush!"

The two shared a good, if slightly pained due to their full stomachs, laughter. They decided the chips would have to wait for later.

After a few moments of blissful, satiated silence, Sunny looked at the prototype dress. At such an early stage, not stitched enough to even pretend to be a full product, she couldn't even tell how it would look like, other than it being a few shades of orange. Coco refused to show her the design, claiming she wanted it to be a surprise. "So, when do you think it'll be done? Dress one and two are getting a bit worn up by now."

Coco turned to her work in progress as well. She sighed deeply. "It would've been done by now, but, well... Sunset Shimmer happened."

Sunny snorted. "Yeah, that put a few wrenches in our plans. Still, at least my copy-pony (that doesn't sound right) was a bit more challenging than the usual thugs." She sighed. "I'm so glad she's not out for my blood!"

Coco giggled. "Yeah, me too. I'd rather you fight the same boring thugs every day than ever go through her again."

Sunny pursed her lips, leaning over her own bed as she looked at the ceiling. "I wouldn't mind a bit more challenge, but yeah, she was scary tough. Don't ever tell her that though!" Coco nodded, making a 'lips are sealed' motion. Sunset continued. "It's only been a week since my public debut."

Coco leaned over her own bed as well. "It's been a week."

"Yup, an entire wee-" she started, but gasped mid-sentence as she got an epiphany "ohmygosh, she was there!"

Coco raised an eyebrow. "Who was where?"

"Rarity! She was there at the jewelry store! And so was Apple... Joe?"

"Applejack."

"Thank you. They were both there!" She hummed for a moment, then shrugged. "Not that it changes anything, but it's weird that they didn't mention it yesterday."

Coco shrugged. "Rarity mentioned it briefly to me. She said she owes you for saving her earrings."

Sunny rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "I don't want to be showered with gifts anytime I do something good. I don't want anyone to think I do it for any other reason than because 'I want to'."

Coco nodded. "That's what I told her, but she insisted!" She took a quick glance at the empty tray where their dinner was. "Maybe she can buy you dinner?"

Sunny raised an eyebrow and put a hand to her chin. "Now there's an idea! I don't mind being paid in good food (because magic burns calories, apparently). Or," she smiled slyly, giving Coco goosebumps "she could take you to a dinner, instead?"

Coco's cheeks went all red and burny in an instant. "W-what a-are y-you...?"

"Don't pretend, Coc's," she mustered enough strength to get on all fours and crawl towards her friend, ending up right in her face "I saw how 'chummy' you two were with each other," she got even closer, dangerously so that Coco had to turn to avoid colliding their noses "miss Pommel, would you like to tell me a secret?"

Coco swallowed and avoided eye contact, as sweat poured from her face. "I-I don't, i-it's n-not like t-t-t-that!"

Sunny's smile grew even wider as she sat down before Coco, thus creating a safe distance between them. "Ha, I knew it! You're into her!"

"N-no, I'm not!"

"Come on, you can tell me! It's not like I'll tell anyone that you have a crush on Rarity!"

"I don't!"

Sunny rolled her eyes. "Sure, and I'm a pony princess (I'm not, and neither is my unicorn version)," she shook her head and shrugged "hey, it's not like I don't get where you're coming from. She's smart, nice, you two share the same passion, and she's quite a looker too, it's like you two are made for each othe--"

POMF!

She stopped talking when a pillow hit her face. As it slowly slid down, she saw Coco's face burning red, equally as embarrassed as she was angry.

"Idiot!" She yelled as she took off, locking herself in the toilet, sitting with her back leaning over the doors.

Stupid Sunset Shimmer! She hugged her knees, burrowing her face into them. Get a clue already! She spent a few seconds in that position, until she sighed deeply. Stupid Coco, just tell her already! But, what if... what if... what if she's not into girls? Or if she and Pinkie Pie really have something? She's teasing me a lot, but what if it's just that: innocent teasing. But what if it isn't? Groaning, she buried her face into her knees again. I can't even get mad at her!

She was taken out of her thoughts by the sounds of knocking.

"Coco, are you okay there?" She heard Sunny's gentle voice through the door. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I was just teasing, you know, like I usually do. I didn't mean to go that far, I just... I'm sorry."

Coco raised her head and turned to look at the door behind her. I really can't get mad at her. "It's okay, I'm fine."

"Good. Cool." Pause. "I just want you to know that I wouldn't mind if you... you were... you know, interested in, uh, girls and stuff. Not that I'm pressuring you into anything, just, you know... saying."

Coco couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Good to know."

"It was just innocent teasing, you know how I roll, right?"

"I know all about it." She sighed loudly enough to let the girl on the other side of the door know. "I'm not mad at you!" No matter how much I try. "And I'm not into Rarity."

"Okay, gotcha."

"Good."

She sighed again, this time quietly, to herself and whatever spirits were trapped in the toilet. I don't know how much longer my heart can take. Speaking of which... "Sunny, are you still sitting by the door?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Could you... not? I actually really need to... uhm, use the restroom! And I would appreciate if you didn't listen to me... you know..."

"Oh... oh crap, sorry! Sorry!" She heard some shuffling from the other side. "I'm going, no worries, I won't be listening to your... to you... to you!"

Then she heard a few loud steps. She giggled, imagining the blushing side of Sunny she saw so rarely.

As Coco left a few minutes later, she saw Sunny walking around the room, her phone at her ear.

"...yeah, that sounds awesome, I don't see why-ah, she's back! Gimme a sec, I'll ask her," she put the phone to her chest and turned to Coco, smiling widely "are you doing anything tonight?"

Coco blinked, tilting her head. "N-no, why? Who are you talking to?"

"Oh, it's Sunset Shimmer, gosh it feels so weird saying it out loud, she's inviting us over!"

"Inviting us over to what?"

Sunny snorted while shaking her head. "What else? Diane is making a slumber party!"

---

I could've said no, Coco thought I could've said I wasn't in the mood, or that I was on my period (she wouldn't buy it), but how do you say no to that face? She sighed heavily, walking just a few steps behind Sunny from the bus stop through the calm, early evening row of suburban houses, with only a small handbag with spare clothes, toothbrushes and miscellaneous 'girl stuff' in them. She heard Sunny's humming all the way and couldn't shake the goose bumps from imagining how different her mood would've been if she decided against the sleepover at Pinkie 'Diane' Pie's house. How sad Sunny would've been from losing the opportunity to hang out with a girl from her dreams and her unicorn copy, as well as how heavy Coco's heart would've been from the guilt she would've felt. And yet, it was still preferable than letting her come alone.

It's not like I think those girls are up to no good, but... She looked up to take a look at Sunny, except she wasn't there anymore. She blinked, then looked around to find her roommate had stopped a few steps ago.

"Sunny?"

"I know this place!" She said, looking at the small playground consisting of few swings, a seesaw and a round sandbox, with a few benches installed nearby. "It's all coming back to me!"

Coco looked at the playground, then back at Sunny. "What's coming back?"

"This is where we met, Diane and I! That day I sneaked outside the house and looked around the neighborhood. Alone, with nowhere to go and nothing to do, I stumbled here and I sat at that swing," she pointed at one of them "I don't know how much time passed, but eventually Diane found me. I still can't believe it's real!"

"Yeah, me too."

"I can only imagine how life would've been, if I didn't have the accident. We would probably keep in touch, by phone, letters, e-mail, then MyStable. Maybe I would've been able to visit her once in awhile, and maybe my family would move to Canterlot so we could hang out regularly. I wouldn't be the outsider. Heh, imagine how confusing Unicorn Sunset's Reign over CHS would've been if I was around!"

"It would've been a riot."

"Yeah," she sighed "yeah, it would've been." She looked around the streets, and her smile suddenly disappeared. "Somewhere out there is the house of my relatives. I could probably still recognize it, even after all these years."

Coco looked at Sunny, then asked. "Do you... want to go look for it?"

Sunny opened her mouth, but closed it soon after, shaking her head. "No, not really. I don't even know if they live there anymore and it would only reopen old wounds," she finally turned to Coco and regained her smile, at least partially as bright as usual "I'm happy where I am now!"

The two stood in place for a while longer, just looking at each other with small, but honest, smiles. Until they heard some sound coming from afar.

"SSSSHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMM-"

As she slowly turned to the source, Coco only managed a quick 'what' as a super fast pink blur went past her, making her hair dance on the backdraft wind.

"-MMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

GLOMP!

Sunny grunted, suddenly hit by something very pink glomping into her, the momentum forcing her to make a few steps back to regain her balance, but she stood firmly on her own two, albeit shaking, legs, except now there was a pink mass of hair and happiness attached to her neck. Pinkie Pie looked Sunny in the eyes.

"You're here! I was worried you got lost while coming here so we all went around searching for you, we split up in teams of two, I went with Sunset Shimmer by the way, and as we were searching Sunset was all like 'they're just late, it's not like anything happened to them' and I went all 'GASP', what if they were mugged or attacked by a magical being from another world, I mean we all know monsters exist in Equestria and they can sometimes slip by the inter-dimensional barrier, so I rushed out to find you, but on the way I realized that you were a superhero with powers, which is a bit redundant since superheroes imply that they have powers already, except a few famous ones that don't so it's okay to say it, and so I slowed down and calmed down, but then I saw you and I was so excited to see you in the place we first met that I couldn't help myself and jumped at you and here we are!" She paused. "Hi Shimmy!"

Sunny blinked, but smiled anyway. "Hi Diane!"

Pinkie let go of Sunny's neck and landed on her own legs to turn to Coco. "Hi Coco!" The girl in question only managed a shy wave back to her, before Diane went back to Shimmy. "Come on, my house is super duper close, everyone is already waiting... actually, they're still looking around the neighborhood, we should call them, but once we do, we're gonna have So. Much. Fun!"

Sunny smiled brightly as she followed her childhood friend. "I could use some fun!" She briefly turned to Coco. "Come on, Coco, let's have some fun already!" Then she followed Pinkie Pie.

Coco sighed deeply and started slowly walking after the two. "Well, here we go..."