@Background Pony #7BA4  
lol XD

@Background Pony #7BA4
 
yeah this fandom is pretty rabid about shipping
 
but I think Starburst is an exception because these are the only two characters in the show that have been shown in canon to be mutually obsessed with each other and utterly terrified of losing each other on a level that transcends their current (weak) friendship. There is some reason that they keep coming back to each other and crossing that huge distance gap between their places of living despite the fact that their lives have gone in very different directions. A sense of obligation to correct a wrong from their childhood? No, they seem to have forgiven each other on that front. It’s something else…
 
Starlight has a group of friends now, but Sunburst is the only one she gushes about to random ponies. Sunburst seems to not have any friends at all given his initial presentation as a social recluse… except for Starlight. They are both mutually the most important ponies in each others’ lives.
 
Even though they seemed to not have anything in common, Starlight was so desperate to be close to him that she did something kinda messed up by reverting them back to their childhood bodies and wanting to play their favorite game. After Sunburst reacted poorly and made her run off, Sunburst felt utterly crushed by his own behavior towards a pony so important to him, and himself started panicking because he couldn’t think of anything they had in common. He wanted to be close to her, but didn’t know how. Sunburst’s desire to be close to Starlight made him quickly forgive her questionable choice of bonding activities and instead focus on other things they could do to bond. He had to find a way to make it up to her, even though she’s the one who messed up.
 
Plus, Sunburst is quite literally Starlight’s entire character arc at this point… this show seems to be intentionally setting these two up for shipping, which is not something I can say about any other pair of characters that aren’t explicitly stated to be in a romantic relationship.
 
_{^{I am such shipping trash. Look at what these two have done to me. I’m using my literary powers for evil…}}

When a screenshot of Sunburst hugging Starlight gets vectored and tagged as shipping, nobody panics. But when Spike does it, EVERYONE LOSES THEIR MINDS!!!

@G.S.  
You win the internet for one day.

@G.S.  
Awwww cute :3

“It was really great seeing you, Starlight. Thanks for having me,” Sunburst said, smiling at his childhood friend. Just as he was about to turn to leave, he felt her hoof on his shoulder.
 
“Wait. Before you go…” Starlight smiled, moving closer to him and planting a lengthy, affectionate kiss on his cheek. When she pulled away, her face was redder than a cherry. “Please come back soon. The Crystal Empire is so far away…” She brought him into a gentle hug. It lasted a lot longer than Sunburst was expecting, enough to make his heart beat faster.
 
Behind Starlight, Trixie looked like she was watching two adorable puppies playing together.
 
And Trixie loved puppies.

Whoaaaa! Sunburst brushed his hair! :O