//------------------------------//
// Bernie Sanders 
// Story: The 2016 Presidential Campaign Goes to Equestria 
// by Admiral Biscuit 
//------------------------------//

Bernie Sanders

Feel the Bern signs had been popping up all over Equestria. Mostly in front of dragon lairs. But his campaign manager didn't tell him that, just that the signs were incredibly popular.

Early research had indicated that Bernie's message would go over well in Equestria, so it was with some confidence that he drove his '72 VW Westfalia Bus along the bumpy dirt roads towards Ponyville.

As he got close, he noticed pegasi flying down to get a close look at his van, and then zipping off along the road, no doubt to send word that he was coming.

When he finally drove across the bridge into town, scraping a bit of paint off his van in the process, there was a whole mass of ponies gathered to see him. They were lining either side of the road, waving signs with his name on them, and a few of them were even sporting bumper stickers on their rumps. One enterprising Earth Pony had painted his coat to look like an American flag, and two of his friends were trying unsuccessfully to wave him in the air.

Bernie screeched to a stop in the very center of the crowd and jumped out of the van.

Ponies thronged around him, and he tried his best to keep up with handshakes. He didn't need to deliver a message; he was the first candidate to arrive. It had been worth skipping Nebraska for this.

His first shock came when he discovered that the ponies didn't want handshakes; they wanted hugs. Mayor Mare went first, wrapping him in a semi-sincere politician's hug. She was followed by Princess Twilight Sparkle, and then the rest of the Element Bearers.

Bernie barely made it to the end of that line. When he saw Fluttershy peeking at him curiously around her adorable mane, he clutched at his chest but gamely wrapped her in a hug. He had a moment to recover when Zecora gave him a stoic nuzzle on the cheek, then he turned back just in time to see Sweetie Belle stand on her hind hooves and hold her forelegs up.

It was too much concentrated cuteness for his heart to take.

Resuscitation was entirely unsuccessful. Nurse Redheart knew CPR, and briefly revived him, but when he opened his eyes and saw the lock of pink hair which had come loose from her bun and hung over her blue eyes, he had another cuteness-induced heart attack, and that one finished him.

It was a great disappointment to the whole town, but they all got together and did what Ponyvillians do best: pretend like it never happened, and go on with their lives.