Sunset Shimmer packed what few belongings she had. She had decided to find a new place of residences away from her current location. Sunset found her old diary and a feeling of uncertainty hit her. She quickly packed it before any doubt could creep in. Sunset then went down stairs to check if the coast was clear.

"Looks good." said Sunset.

Sunset was about to grab her belongings.

"Is that you dear?" asked a familiar voice.

A surprised Sunset popped her head into the dinning room to find Melody.

"I didn't know you where here." noted Sunset.

"Just tiding up a bit." said Melody.

"Of course." thought Sunset annoyed.

"What are you doing?" asked Melody.

"Just wandering around." answered Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer subconsciously walked over to the dinning room table.

"This old house is beautiful." cooed Melody.

"How did you come by this place?" asked Sunset curious.

"My husband and I rented this place in 1945 after the war." answered Melody.

"War." repeated Sunset surprised.

"My Phillip was in the Marines fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. I was a nurse and we met at a USO show in 1943. We got married after the war ended." explained Melody.

"That's sweet." admitted Sunset.

"I'm glad you think so." replied Melody happily.

"Where is your husband?" asked Sunset.

Melody's smile turned into a mournful frown.

"A heart attack took my dear Phillip years ago." answered Melody sadly.

"I'm so sorry." replied Sunset.

"It's quiet fine." said Melody.

Melody decided to change the subject.

"So, how are your classes going?" asked Melody.

"I'm not learning anything I didn't already know." answered Sunset flatly.

"You did strike me as a smart girl when we first met." said Melody.

"She knows brilliance when she meets it." thought Sunset cockily.

"I'm glad you're here." admitted Melody.

"Anyone would be glad to be in my presence." thought Sunset.

"I have a daughter, but she lives far away and isn't able to visit often." said Melody.

"That sucks." said Sunset.

"I don't have any friends or family nearby so I do get lonely at times." continued Melody.

"That would suck." thought Sunset.

"But, when you came here I felt rejuvenated when you arrived." revealed Melody.

"Really?" asked Sunset surprised.

"I felt like there was something special about you." answered Melody.

"Like the fact I should be an alicorn." muttered Sunset.

"What was that dear?" asked Melody.

"Nothing." answered Sunset.

"You've just brought a spark back into my life." said Melody.

"Wonderful." replied Sunset, with fake enthusiasm.

Melody yawned.

"It's time I get ready for bed." said Melody.

Melody and Sunset walked back upstairs only for Sunset to head back downstairs with her belongings moments later.

"Time to leave this dump." whispered Sunset.

Sunset stopped as she thought of what Melody had said.

"She did seem really happy to have me here." mused Sunset.

For a moment, Sunset thought of what Melody said only to shake her head.

"I cannot go soft. There's no going back." said Sunset.

Sunset slipped out and quietly shut the door behind her. Sunset walked away from the boarding house and would not look back. Sunset Shimmer would wander around until she finally came across an abandoned factory. Sunset noticed the gate was ajar and slipped into outside of the factory. Sunset reached the front door and slipped inside.

"This could work." mused Sunset.

Suddenly, a large man in a dirty trench coat popped out.

"Hello." said the man.

Sunset observed the man and noticed something seemed off.

"I haven't see you here." noted the man.

The man was twitching.

"Can you spared any money?" asked the man.

"No." answered Sunset.

The man scratched his arm.

"Maybe I could get do get some cash?" asked the man.

Sunset began feeling uncomfortable.

"No." answered Sunset firmly.

"Please." requested the man.

The man began getting closer to Sunset.

"Back off." demanded Sunset uncomfortable.

"Leave her alone!" cried a voice.

A woman walked forward. She had pink skin with blue hair. She wore a gold button up tube top, navy blue miniskirt, fishnets and black heels. She wore crimson red lipstick.

"Come on Jennifer, you know I ain't gonna hurt her." said the man.

"She doesn't have any money on her." stated Jennifer.

The surprised man turned his attention back to Sunset.

"That true?" asked the man.

"Yeah." answered Sunset.

The man walked away as Jennifer approached Sunset.

"He wasn't going to hurt you. He's not a bad guy." said Jennifer.

"Could have fooled me." huffed Sunset.

As he noted, my name is Jennifer.

Jennifer extended her hand, but withdrew it when it became clear Sunset wouldn't shake it.

"What's your name?" asked Jennifer.

"Sunset Shimmer." answered Sunset.

"Let's go somewhere we can get privacy." proposed Jennifer.

Jennifer led a cautious Sunset up a staircase to an abandoned corridor.

"What was this place?" asked Sunset.

"Used to be a garment manufacturer until the recession." answered Jennifer.

Jennifer popped out a door opened revealing a small room with a pillow and blankets on the floor.

"Welcome to my haven." said Jennifer.

The two entered and Jennifer shut the door.

"You really live her." said Sunset dumbfounded.

"Yup." confirmed Jennifer, with a hint of sadness.

"Canterlot always did a good job of hiding homelessness." thought Sunset.

"So, what brings you here?" asked Jennifer.

"I left my group home. I was suffocating." answered Sunset disgusted.

"What I would have given for that." mused Jennifer.

Sunset noticed a collection of burned spoons.

"You've found my dirty little secret." sighed Jennifer sadly.

Jennifer showed a number of track marks on her arms.

"I'm a heroin addict." said Jennifer.

Sunset became uncomfortable.

"I feel in with a bad crowd, dropped out of school and got addicted. I wish I could take it back." explained Jennifer hurting.

Sunset backed up, only to knock over a box full of condoms.

"There's my other secret." said Jennifer, tears in her eyes.

"You're a prostitute." realized Sunset.

"Gotta make a living somehow." sighed Jennifer.

"Have you thought about not selling your body?" asked Sunset bluntly.

"When you apply for a job there's a background check." answered Jennifer, "When employers see arrests for 'prostitution' and 'drug use'..."

"They reject you." said Sunset.

"The only way I can get money is by prostituting. It's a vicious cycle." said Jennifer sadly.

"What about your family?" asked Sunset.

"I came from a broken home. That's the whole reason I fell in with a bad crowd." answered Jennifer.

"Shit." muttered Sunset weakly.

"Enough about me. Tell me about you." requested Jennifer.

Sunset tensed up a bit.

"I had a teacher who I used to be close to, but we had a falling out." explained Sunset.

"Sorry to hear that." said Jennifer.

"I didn't need her." spat Sunset.

"Well, you can crash here with me if you want." offered Jennifer.

"If I don't want to get beaten or raped that might be a good idea." thought Sunset.

Sunset nodded her head.

"I'll do it." answered Sunset.

"I can make some room." said Jennifer.

Jennifer began moving things.

"So...what was this room anyway?" asked Sunset.

"Used to be someone's office." answered Jennifer.

Jennifer finished.

"Cool." said Sunset.

The two laid down.

"Night." said Jennifer warmly.

"Night." replied Sunset dully.

Sunset Shimmer did not have a comfortable night sleep. She considered going back, but decided it was for the best. She was getting soft and couldn't let that happen. She awoke the next morning groggy and doubtful, but convinced herself it was the right choice. Luckily, there was a YMCA nearby where she showered. Sunset then headed to Canterlot High. She went to the cafeteria to take advantage of the school breakfast program. She grabbed toast, an apple and milk. Sunset then sat at a table.

"Okay, this can work." muttered Sunset.

Sunset tore off a large bite of toast and ate it.

"Sure, I'm surrounded by bums and my roommate is a junkie hooker..." continued Sunset.

Sunset trailed off, but she shook her head.

"No. I've made my decision." said Sunset.

"Hey." said a male voice.

Sunset was surprised to see a boy with blue hair standing next to her.

"I don't mean to interrupt you..." began the boy.

"But, you want something." mused Sunset suspiciously.

"I was wondering if I could sit here." said the boy.

"He could be useful." thought Sunset.

The former unicorn quickly changed her demeanor.

"Sure." said Sunset chipper.

The boy sat down.

"My name is Sunset Shimmer." noted the girl.

"I'm Flash Sentry." replied the boy.

"Sorry if I came off as rude, I just don't want people taking advantage of me." said Sunset sadly.

"Sorry to hear that's happened." said Flash sadly.

Sunset had to suppress a devious smirk.

"I guess I'm just to nice." sighed Sunset.

"If you ask me that could never be bad." said Flash.

"Thanks." smiled Sunset.

The two ate for a few moments while talking idly.

"So, I had a bad run-in with that Gilda." noted Sunset.

"I heard." replied Flash, "She's not a nice person."

"Why is she like that?" asked Sunset.

"I don't know." answered Flash.

Sunset mumbled to herself.

"I think she needs a friend." stated Flash.

Sunset Shimmer rolled her eyes.

"Other than Rainbow Dash that is." added Flash.

"I take it she was the one who intervened the other day." said Sunset.

"Yup, they got way back." confirmed Flash.

Flash finished his breakfast first.

"I gotta go. It was nice talking to you." said Flash.

"You too." replied Sunset, with a fake smiled.

Sunset kept her fake smiled until Flash left.

"He was useless." sighed Sunset.

Suddenly, another student stormed over to him.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie saw you talking to Flash Sentry." said the girl annoyed.

"We where just talking." noted Sunset annoyed.

"Don't give Trixie that! Trixie knows you're trying to steal one of the most coveted boys here!" accused Trixie.

"I seriously wasn't." said Sunset.

"Trixie has warned you." stated Trixie.

With that, Trixie turned and marched off.

"Maybe that idiot can be of use." muttered Sunset sinister.

Author's Note

A/N: That is where we'll end this chapter. I havenotforgotten Melody and shewillbe important down the line. Itwillcontribute to the plot latter. Jennifer is an important character and an original character of mine. Her being a prostitute is the reason for the 'Sex' tag. Next time, Sunset plans to seduce Flash. Please review.