Sunset was leaning back in the padded booth as she awaited her lunch, the waffles having worn off by now.
"And here we are," Sprout announced, coming up to their booth with a closed pizza box and sliding it onto the table. "The best pizza on the coast."
The red earth stallion lifted the top flap up to reveal a steaming, sliced-pizza with possibly every vegetable in the garden topping the gooey cheese.
"Well, they certainly don't skimp on the toppings, now do they?" Sunset commented as Sprout took his seat across from her.
"That's my favorite part about this place. Probably why I'm one of their regulars. So, you called yourselves the 'Equestria Girls'?"
"I actually don't remember exactly who came up with that, it had to have been either Flash or Lyra. But yeah, that name spread around the school for our circle of friends that handled anything magical from time to time. Well," Sunset began, using the wooden and metal spatula to pull out her first slice, her mouth positively watering at the cheese pull that resulted. "You've heard my story. Let's hear yours."
Sunset passed him the spatula so he could get out his first slice, putting it down onto his plate.
"So, I've spent my entire life here in Maretime Bay, born and raised. I've known Sunny and Hitch for almost as long. When I was younger I always wanted to be Sheriff of Maretime Bay. I often mocked Sunny for her beliefs and views, probably because I, and most of Maretime Bay, sucked up every ounce of what we were taught to believe in history class. Her dad really turned her into an amazing pony, to be so civil and tenacious in the face of all of that."
Sprout paused to take a bite of hot pizza while Sunset sipped at her soda.
"Anyways, I never did make it up to Sheriff, and it was likely only because of Hitch's good graces that I was his deputy. Mainly just had me keep an eye on Sunny when he figured she was going to stage another protest, or try to sneak into CanterLogic again for another demonstration or speech. Her latest attempt was during my mom's annual showcase. After it went about a well as her other demonstrations, Izzy wandered into town, and drove everypony into a panic. Sunny took off with Izzy to go to Zephyr Heights, and Hitch gave chase, leaving me in charge. That's... When things got bad."
Sprout took another couple bites of pizza and a gulp of soda, as he mentally prepared how to explain himself at his lowest point.
"The populace was spooked, they were looking to the police department for answers, mom wasn't doing me or my ego any favors by suggesting that I take charge as acting sheriff, and... I just wanted ponies to trust me, like they trusted Hitch. I took the first pages out of his book, urging everypony to calm down, but I didn't act like him for too long; instead I started playing into their fears, just to hang on to their trust, because all I needed was one taste of it, and before I knew it, it was all I wanted. When Sunny and Hitch came back two nights later, I had everyone whipped into a small, panicky army that didn't last fifteen seconds at staring down a few unicorns and pegasi... And..."
Sprout took another deep breath, finishing off his current slice of pizza.
"...And when I thought they were going to use those crystals to give the unicorns and pegasi their magic back, I went and toppled the lighthouse. Thankfully, after that, things calmed down. The crystals restored everypony's magic, and I, somehow, kept my job. I knew I didn't have the trust of anypony anymore, and I began to realize that nothing I did would ever get it back. So I started splitting my time between the MBPD and CanterLogic, and when Sunny came to us wanting help designing a vehicle to get up north to the Crystal Empire, I decided to do everything I could to help her piece together Equestria's ancient past. We built a heavily modified version of my vehicle to get up to eight ponies and a fair bit of cargo up and back. Now that we've discovered how much is up there, and with how fulfilling I've found it, I've officially resigned from the MBPD, and I'm working in CanterLogic's Research and Development division full time now."
His story now complete, Sprout took another breath and pulled another veggie-filled slice of pizza up from the box and over to his plate.
"Well, it sounds to me like we've both had troubled pasts, but you've made all the right choices lately, Sprout. I know how that feeling; that you believe that you'll never earn their forgiveness or friendship, but I think you've already done that."
The stallion smiled at the unicorn across the table.
"I guess if you speak from experience, I can trust that. I mean, it's not like I turned into a demon form like you did."
Sunset chuckled.
"It's not just my experiences that you have to account for, it's yours too. You got your friends hundreds of miles north and back, safely, and it sounds like you're getting ready to do it again."
"Yeah. That trailer should be assembled in another day or two, then it's just a matter of stress-testing it, making sure it can handle the terrain and the weight; that'll take a week or two, and then I think we'll be good to go. You're more than welcome to come along and see it if you want; our route takes us pretty close to Zephyr Heights, we could pick you up along the way," Sprout offered.
"I'll probably take you up on that, after a few days up there. Just let me know when you guys are ready to go. I might even be able to help with driving. I took an RV up to a music festival for a weekend, so I've got some experience," Sunset answered.
As she started into her next slice, her phone vibrated on the table next to her plate. She lit up her horn and grabbed it, looking at the alert on the lock screen.
Pipp
Hey Sunset. Zipp left for home early, looking like it's gonna be just you and me camping on the way. Meet you at Sunny's in about an hour?
Taking another sip of soda, Sunset tapped in a reply with a mote of magic extending from the tip of her horn.
Sunset
Sure thing. Just finishing up lunch. See you soon!
"Well, looks like I'm gonna be headed out of here in a little over an hour. I don't think I'm gonna be able to finish my half, so since you bought, you can have the leftovers. I'm glad to have gotten to know you, Sprout. Thanks for introducing me to the best pizza place in town. I'm looking forward to traveling with you up north."
Sprout smiled after swallowing his latest bite.
"Thanks, Sunset. That means a lot."
I think I may have accidentally wandered into a pillow factory with all the fluff here!
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It's what I get for being really bad at it for 10 years; I end up doing a story that is going to be almost nothing but fluff.
Hope you're enjoying!
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I'll need to use this line!
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I absolutely am enjoying it, low-plot fluff is pretty much my fanfiction comfort food
Hi there. Once again, you did an excellent job on this chapter. Really enjoyed the exchange, characterizations and future chapter set-up. Sunset's reaction to Sprout's story makes a lot of sense and I appreciate how Sunset acknowledged how hard Sprout has been working to make up for how badly he messed up after Sprout admitted to just how it all got started. Also liked Sunset thinking to ask for a leftover bag so she can finish up the pizza later (and it's not like she would have too much trouble keeping it warm, especially since she DOES have fire magic). And, yeah, I have absolutely no problem with fluff. Considering how some fan fictions tend to get, I actually find fluff to be refreshing.
Anyway, very definitely looking forward to more of this.
Well, they're produbts of their environment. They have that in common.
what a cute first date
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It's always nice to see Sunset and sprout are getting along with each other especially they both have in common with each other with the past mistakes and it looks like pipp will see sunset soon I wonder what they're going to do guess we'll find out next time
Aww, bonding
good chapter
A good chapter. Nice build up to what I am hoping is a camping chapter.
I do get where you're coming from, while there's some nice slice of life stuff to do, there wasn't exactly a lot of conflict to go off in G5 so far.
If you are still looking for ideas, the thought of something dangerous from past Equestria returning now that magic is back could be interesting. Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow could've survived since they were statues, or maybe a new spirit of chaos could manifest now that magic has returned.
It depends on what you're more interested in doing. Purely day to day stuff is still fun, and you're doing fine even without an antagonist.
Ah, fluff. Always a joy.
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Or perhaps a new one may not be necessary...
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One of my favorite pony authors by the name of Admiral Biscuit has a book that consists of pretty much nothing but day to day workings of everyday folk, there was but one or two stories that even mentioned the Mane Six by name or had them in significant roles, the rest were the "fill the crowd" ponies named only by the fans or a singular trading card or toy.
I do agree that perhaps now that magic is returning to Equestria, that it's almost guaranteed that less "harmonious" forces won't be far behind. What that exactly entails is up to the author here or in the show's case the writers and story-boarder's.
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While I do know where this story is going to end up (in no small part due to the suggestions and discussions by all my readers here), the only question is how much is going to take place in between.
I can almost promise at this point that there won't be anything "epic" going on in this story, as this primarily serves as Sunset acclimating to the new Equestria that surrounds her. If I can find ways to do more sensible callbacks to G4, I will almost certainly do so.
Because honestly, I believe my headcanon of what happened between G4 and G5 is going to be severely damaged or outright shattered when the specials and episodic series begins to release. For the record, I don't have a problem with that; it happened repeatedly when I was writing stories based strictly on Season 1 and 2 canon of Friendship is Magic. It just means this glorious cycle of coming up with new fanons and headcanons will merely begin again.
Or maybe the writers for G5 will truly leave that gap alone, and it will only take minor adjustments on my part as more content comes out to supplement what we got in the movie.
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The biggest issue I found with G4 as an overarching "whole" is something I refer to as "too many cooks syndrome" and that played a big part into the wreckage of many fine ships and head canons.
I happen to enjoy slice of life stories, so the fact that nothing "epic" will happen doesn't bother me, just like it doesn't bother me when a story doesn't have "hot steam-powered ships" if you catch my drift. I won't deny I enjoy epic stories, I also enjoy the steamy stuff, but I can get just as much enjoyment in a story about how a unicorn displaced by time makes herself a new home.
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Aside from Sunset's fate being left ambiguous, my biggest complaint about G4 is probably closely connected to yours; not clearly and concisely showing a passage of time.
I honestly thought that 2-3 years had passed with Twilight in Ponyville from Seasons 1-3. Then Season 4 premiered and said "oh yeah, it's only been a year."
Plus the episode order doesn't make sense some of the time; like you had Winter Wrap Up in one episode, then one episode later you had the Running of the Leaves. Huh? So did those get produced out of order or what?
Don't remind us.
That you also almost crashed during the time loop incident. 😒
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Shh. You can't prove that.
If you're still open to suggestions, I've got another one for you.
As you may recall, a second portal between the two worlds was discovered in the Spring Breakdown special, which opens to the human world in a sandpit on a deserted island and to Equestria inside a cave in the Everfree Forest. Perhaps after some time, Sunset might start to get curious if that cave still exists and if the portal within it might still work. It might take quite a bit of searching through the now greatly expanded forest, and even if Sunset and her new friends do manage to find it and even if they are able to pass through it, they would still not be able to travel anywhere beyond that small isolated island (the only signs of civilization they might encounter would probably be some debris on the shore from that sunken cruise ship). If all of those big ifs are really possible, then at most, the G5 ponies would probably just make a brief visit through that portal, if only to satisfy their curiosity of what they might look like as humans.
Since you just mentioned that you apparently have an ending planned for this story, I don't know if it would be possible to fit in something like this, but I figured it would be worth at least sharing this suggestion.
Friendship win!
Don't you mean "Sunny and Hitch"?
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I'm gonna be confusing those two for all of G5, I swear.
Thanks for the spot.
Well I finally caught up which is kind of bittersweet because I spent the last couple days reading all the stories that lead up into this and now I don't have anything to read, I really enjoy what you've done here so far, I kind of have a feeling that G5 isn't really going to be well thought out when they do eventually make more things so I'll probably be super disappointed that your version of characters is better.
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I know the museum carving is a replica but it would be really funny if Discord just popped back into existence and finished signing his name right in the middle of the museum with everybody freaking out and screaming while he looks around confused.
Ha, considering how much time she had on that 'weekend' I wouldn't be surprised if she ended up knowing all the in and out of that RV.
And once again you've made Sprout much interesting character than Canon, especially considering he seems to be nothing but a background pony now.
But we also got Misty instead..... Actually thinking about it now might have been a better trade-off.