Author's Note

The first chapter didn't go well. I hope you all will reconsider in these next chapters, at least to remove the downvote. If not, that's perfectly fine.

Current State

That had been four months ago. Sunset hadn't gotten a chance to tell Princess Twilight about it yet. The Changelings had been attacking different cities and growing larger. Maretonia was gone. Trottington was a base, overrun by the monsters, and they believed Queen Chrysalis was there.

She didn't know. All she wanted was to think everything was all right. It had all happened so fast....

Sunset had studied the Changelings as Celestia's student. They fed on love. Which raised the question why they were attacking. That perhaps, fed them, but not enough. They had slaves which fed them a steady supply of love. The news was given to them by the radio. Some smart people were hiding and had a signal. That, and cameras.

She paused to look at her hand. A Changeling had taken a bite out of it in an earlier fight. Fluttershy had wrapped it carefully in bandages. It still made her since at times, but she toughed it out.

Right now she was on a looting run, trying to find supplies. It was hard to harvest any crops at times like this, even with the Apples farming speciality. In the first week, it was seeing the survivors. Trixie, Gilda, Photo Finish and her assistants. Pinkie's family. That was all. Canterlot was overrun.

She didn't live here, but she felt some sadness at the world she knew dead. She glared at the ground as she walked.

"Flaming 1, this is Multi 3. Location? Over." Rainbow Dash's voice came through her earpiece. Twilight had made them for all of her friends. They especially used them for missions like these, when they needed simple communication. Not a phone, where you would need to hold it.

"Multi 3, this is Flaming 1. Location is at Sugarcube Corner. Going in. Over." She looked around the corner to see a Changeling. She reached down into a sheath by her ankle and pulled out a dangerously sharp knife. Sharper than most knives, and would easily slice a throat. She growled and gripped it tighter.

"Changeling in sight. I am engaging. Over." She took a breath before running towards the Changeling. It dropped it's meal and hissed. She didn't shout, not wanting to draw unwanted attention.

She ran to a box, jumped on it, and used the momentum to swing herself on the Changeling. With one smooth move, she held out her knife and sliced it in a big smile on the throat. As she slid down, she pressed a button on her earpiece. "This is Flaming 1. I have killed a Changeling by Sugarcube Corner. Over."

Walking away, she scowled. The Changelings would pay for what they did. She would make sure of it.

Queen Chrysalis smirked. The cowering human in front of her was making her feel extremely powerful. She stepped away from her throne. "So," she said in her slithering voice, "the ponies in a parallel universe had turned to humans. Fascinating. A portal, which Princess Twilight must have gone through. She cares about this world. And that is why we will slaughter everyone and when she comes back...." She grinned.

"This is just perfect."

Sunset headed to the farm. She fully expected the blade that swung to meet her throat.

"Why are you here Changeling?" Limestone Pie growled. She gripped her sword tighter. "Answer quick if you value your head."

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Aaaahmahlahquickchsjsnd." The code word Pinkie made up. They had to repeat it over and over to get it exactly right. However, it would be hard with a forked tongue.

Limestone's expression got no softer but she released her hold on Sunset. "You may pass."

Sunset walked away from Pinkie Pie's violent sister. They were all so different from the pink girl, but you could see they were related.

"Hi Sunset! Heard you got a Changeling. Get any food?" Pinkie Pie, speak of the devil, popped up. "Rarity and Fluttershy got some medicine. Good thing too, we were running out."

Sunset nodded. "Not much."

Pinkie's smile slipped a little, but she shrugged. "Little is better than none!"

The fiery haired girl went to the barn. As she stepped in, she noticed that Twilight was reading to the CMC. Probably teaching them new things, she figured. You could never have too much knowledge, in Twilight's opinion.

Rarity noticed Sunset Shimmer and went to her. "How are you? Did you get supplies?"

Sunset held up the bag with food and drinks so her friend could see. She was so exhausted that it didn't matter. She hadn't been sleeping properly since the Changelings attacked. Rarity saw this and patted her shoulder.

"Don't worry. It's not your shift tonight. It's Rainbow's and AJ's."

"What about the other parts of the farm?" Sunset asked, slightly delirious.

Rarity smiled gently at her friend. "Gilda and Trixie. We might leave Limestone on her watch. Spike is going to help out too. He could tell us if we're under attack."

"Yeah, okay. I'm going to call it a night." Sunset mumbled. "Here, take the food and supplies. Night."

She headed to the room she and her friends slept in. It was Applejack's room, but she shared. The CMC slept in Applebloom's room, along with the people from school. Pinkie's family slept in Big Mac's room.

She collapsed on her spot and fell asleep, knowing that she most likely wouldn't be able to sleep.

Sunset woke groggily. She looked around and saw Pinkie, Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy all sleeping in their spots. She looked at the clock and saw it was 5:30. She groaned. "Great. Another not good sleep." She stood up and stretched. "Better than most nights."

She went to the kitchen. Granny Smith was already there, creating something with an aroma that made Sunset's mouth water. Pinkie Pie's parents were here as well.

"Good morning, Sunset." Granny Smith welcomed her with a gesture of her spoon. "Morning indeed. Up early again?"

"I couldn't sleep." Sunset sighed and slouched.

"Slouching is bad for your back, missy," Granny Smith lectured. She waved the spoon in the air. "Stand up straight!"

Sunset smiled and did as she was told. She walked out to Gilda and Trixie. They looked over at her with worry.

"You two can go back inside. I can take your shift for now." Sunset walked to them and swung her hand to the farmhouse.

"Are you sure?" Gilda asked. Her ego had gone down a considerable amount with everything. She was much easier to speak to when she wasn't bragging or saying that you were a dweeb or loser. She was also more agreeable with fear.

Sunset nodded. "I'm fine."

Trixie didn't say anything, just nodded back with relief. They disappeared and Sunset Shimmer turned to look at the forest in front of her. She sighed once more, knowing she was going to eventually pass out with exhaustion. She accepted this, and made sure to stand rather than sit.

Besides, it was better to be standing if Changelings attacked.