Applejack doesn't understand what Sunset Shimmer sees in her cousin Braeburn. But then AJ doesn't quite understand what anybody sees in anybody. Romance is nothing but trouble, she's convinced, until yet another random explosion of wild Equestrian magic helps her see the subject in a whole different light.
My entry in Oroboro's 2nd Sunset Shipping Contest, it didn't reach the top 10. The rough draft placed 13th in the 91st round of the contests at Writeoff.me, and thanks to the folks over there and to the inimitable Pascoite for comments and suggestions, both the ones I used and the ones I couldn't figure out how to make work.
Chapters (1)
Claws that pierce the heavens versus the unstoppable Stand of Dio Braeburn.
Oh, and there's shipping too, I guess.
In all seriousness, fantastic work in the characterization, romance, and action. Thank you for it, and best of luck in the contest.
Is it odd that I found the wizard mole the most interesting bit about this story? Because it was pretty cool.
I don't think I've seen Sunset and Braeburn together before!
Also, AJ is extremely dense when she wants to be, and mole mages from different worlds can cause surprising amounts of trouble. All in all, this story was a lot of fun!
9138227
Not odd at all. He's a mole wizard! Who can dig through space!
9138222
9138227
9138253
9138301
Thanks, folks!
As soon as I realized that the term for a Sunset/Braeburn romance would be "SunBurn," I pretty much had to write one. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who appreciates magical moles.
Mike
Interesting fic. It might be brushing up against the edges of the contest rules: those initial flashbacks came a bit close to telling the story of how Sunset and Brae got together, but they were brief enough it's probably fine. More to the point, it felt like this was a romance story, and one where Sunset and Braeburn were together, but it wasn't a romance story about Sunset and Braeburn being together. So it's not so much a Sunset shipping fic as... an AJ-Fluttershy shipping fic where Sunset happens to be together with someone.
That said, I really loved the insight into Sunset's mind at the end. Although it's not explicitly stated in canon, it's definitely perfectly consistent that Sunset would indeed feel that temptation every time she uses her geode. So you could say that Sunset gets the most character development, or her character gets to stand out the most? In a way that made me go "Yes! I'd never considered it before, but yes, that's spot on!" Which is certainly enough to get a thumbs up from me!
9139814
Thanks!
Yeah, pushing boundaries everywhere I go: that's me...
Mike
Sunset's description of what they could use their geodes is something I hadn't seen before. Given me something you think about
Something something, useless lesbians. :V
That was some solid geode analysis in there!
9305241
9306669
Thanks, folks!
I'd never had any desire to write an Equestria Girls story till this contest came along, and I found myself thinking a lot about their geodes. And moles, of course. Can't have too many giant sapient moles.
Mike
Oh so he kind of knew about Sunset coming from the other side of of the universe where she used to came from
Aww well I got to say this was a pretty nice story so apparently Braeburn and sunset are together as a couple but he has a bad reputation when it comes to relationship been playing around and everything but he felt like he really wants to make it up for everything what happened he even tried to apologize to the girls for the way he was acting even though it would take a long time to forgive him but sunset thinks he changed and Applejack still has some doubts about that but wants to give him the benefit of the doubt but he even told Applejack that Fluttershy was in love with her she didn't want to believe it but everything was interrupt when the giant mole attack and Braeburn fell to the ref any others tried to find him but he appeared again and it looks like he has the stone which it turns out it has the power to freeze time which that is a pretty awesome power I would love to have something like that so they had to figure out to Wrangle that giant mole and getting the others but when they unfreeze time it looks like Fluttershy's ability came to the rescue and it calmed down the mold even explained about the situation after he left Braeburn was a little afraid of the stone and how powerful it was but sunset told him the same problem she had before how tempting it can use it for your own being but they never let that Temptation get the best of them and Sunset trust him enough to make the right choice so now he has the power of time spell which is again that's a pretty powerful attack even Applejack admitted about this whole love thing is not for her but she still wants to make it work with Fluttershy it would take a while for her to open up but it's a start this was a pretty interesting story and a very nice shipping as well keep up the good work