Welcome to the apocalypse.
Sunset Shimmer dug through the pile of old tools in the junkyard. Rusty, broken, and useless parts looked up at her as she threw them to the side. "Aha!" The young women exclaimed, pulling out a few non-rusty nails. She carefully put the nails in her satchel, and started looking in the next pile of junk. A broken wrench, bent screws, crumbling gears, tiny shreds of cloth, pieces of rubber, nothing good. She sighed and tightened her ponytail. The rest of the hot afternoon was the same thing. Look in junk, find junk.
She ended up with eight screws, two not-to-bent plates, one spool of brown thread, and five nails. She slipped her satchel over her head and started the one mile walk to the market. Rotting apartments and businesses line the beaten and pothole filled road. The looming skyscrapers stared down at her, the ivy covering them looked like snakes. She stepped on broken glass and walked past graffiti lined walls. Everything smelled like mold and rusting metal.
Sunset grew up with this. A few of the elders talked about a time before the outbreak started. It was hard for them since they had been mere children at the time. More than half the population had been wiped out, resulting in mass chaos.
She soon could see the makeshift tents up head and sped up a little. Forty to fifty booths were set up some small while others were pretty darn big. Small booths selling everything from wire to rags. Huge booths selling everything from tables to teapots. Little kids giggled and played Hide and Seek around the booths. She breathed in the sweet smell of baked goods and sweat. She was looking on buying some more food for the cold winter to come and a new shirt or even some socks would be nice. She still had a spool of blood red thread, one wrench, four spoons, and a china plate with no cracks from the last two trips to the junkyard in her bag. She knew she could get a great deal with the spools of thread and china plate from Rarity. That girl was always looking for something fancy. Sunset didn't understand why she wanted pretty things, when she should be spending her money on food. She'd probably keep one or two screws and the wrench for herself. Spotting Rarity's booth, Sunset headed over.
"Evening darling." Rarity said as Sunset set her bag down on the table. "How are you today?" The purple haired beauty smiled and tapped her long and surprisingly clean nails against the table.
"Fine. I've got a few things I think you'll like."
"Let me see darling." Sunset pulled out the brown spool of thread, followed by the red one. "Good good. The brown looks to have eighty yards, which is alright. The red one has two hundred yards in it. Wonderful. So what do you want for them?"
"Got any socks or gloves?"
"Hm. I think so." Rarity went and rummaged through one of the boxes. "Yes." She said and pulled out a pair of wool socks. Wool! That was hard to come by.
"I want more." Sunset said, crossing her arms over her chest. Rarity sighed.
"Most of my winter clothes are gone. Everyone's been demanding them. Can I interest you in something else?"
"No."
The purple haired goddess sighed and pulled out a box marked with the words 'WINTER'."I have gloves for a child, a hat with holes, another pair of wool socks, another hat with holes, and a sweater." Rarity responded, as she pulled her purple hair into a bun.
"I'll take the socks." Sunset replied. Rarity slammed the socks down on the table. Sunset slipped them into her bag. "I have another thing that might interest you." Rarity raised an eyebrow. Sunset pulled out the china plate. Rarity's eyes became the size of the plate.
"You-where-what- where did you find this?!?!" Rarity exclaimed.
"In the junkyard."
"Oh darling, what do you want for it?" Sunset shrugged her shoulders. "I have, lets see... oh!" Rarity began pulling out boxes marked with things like 'UNDERSHIRTS', 'MEN'S SHOES', and three boxes with the words 'MISCELLANEOUS'. "I have a few pairs jeans and a bunch of undershirts, um," Rarity went under the table to pull out more clothes. "A hooded cloak, men's size ten and eight combat boots, ski goggles, a leather belt-"
"I don't want you rambling all day. Give me the cloak, belt, the size eight boots, and an undershirt." Rarity quickly handed over everything.
"Come again!" Rarity said apsetmindedly, as she stared at the beautiful plate. Sunset shuck her head as she walked toward another booth.