(Three Years Ago)

It was the first year anniversary of Sunset's arrival to the Human World also known as Earth. The first few months being in this mortal plane was quite... a difficulty for the redhead. She came unprepared and without any basic pony- no, human necessities to survive.

She couldn't afford to participate in the school, Canterlot High, which holds the dormant portal to her homeworld, Equestria. She had no stable income to pay for her school supplies and other fees.

Since Sunset was unfamiliar with the world that she was brought into and had no connections whatsoever, she is forced to live the life of an underage vagrant.

However, even if she has the finances to apply, her age and lack of guardianship were another predicaments that the school can't overlook.

When Sunset first tried to administer herself on the first day of her arrival, the receptionist asked proof of permission from her parent or guardian. The girl made a fatal error by stating that she would do the paperwork herself by saying...

"I don't need any stupid adults to just apply to this dingy educational facility."

As a result of that offensive statement, the receptionist called the authorities to escort her out of the school and get information about her background, however, she escaped from their clutches before the police could reach the school.

Which lead her to the present situation.

She was currently squatting at one of the abandoned offices in seedy areas of Downtown Canterlot City in solitude. The building was a perfect location to remain low profile and hide her savings and any other possessions since most of the homeless stay at the city's shelters.

She survived on slightly clean tap water from the murky bathrooms and ate days old bargained fruits and vegetables from a nearby store. She later found a way to grow her own food on the rooftops.

On the streets, she scams adults into handing over either money, decent half-eaten warm food or clean clothes by using her self-claimed 'adorable' appearance and dressing like a dirty beggar. She made multiple attempts at shoplifting but proved to be quite risky as the security around the shops increased with every attempt.

Her views on everything about her current self and predicament were pathetic, made her feel weak, and wished she was dead every time she wakes up and before going to sleep. There were desperate times where she would cry on her worn out mattress bed and feel regret for her decision at rejecting her studies as Princess Celestia's personal student.

But she furiously cast those feelings aside for she sees herself as a prideful girl who can survive any problem with only her own willpower and knowledge, not from the help of others.

She will do anything if it meant that she can see finally the utterly despaired expression on Celestia's face as her former mentor has rued the day for not handing over the true destiny that she undoubtedly believed she deserved.

(December 24, 2014- Winter- Wednesday- 10:23 a.m- Snowing- Downtown District)

It was a dark and cold snow day in the Downtown District, just another regular money earning day for Sunset Shimmer but for others, they were in an auspicious for they were celebrating the upcoming holiday which was Christmas... although, there are some who celebrated other holidays or not all.

Sunset was feeling a little giddy for she heard other beggars that this festive holiday made citizens and foreign tourist feel more pitiable towards the homeless and needy. These people that she calls 'fools' would offer the beggars more paper money instead of loose change and hand over delicious seasonal meals to make themselves feel better and think they have saved the misfortunate but in reality prolonged their miserable lives.

Such selfish opportunities give selfish motives to the fiery-haired girl as it gave her hope of boosting her savings for her upcoming schemes.

She made her usual morning routine; she tended and harvested some poorly grown fruits and vegetables on the rooftops, ate her minuscule breakfast of stale bread and dressed into her ragged pauper attire.

Before she departed from her 'home', she brushed her teeth and gave herself one more look on the bathroom mirror. There was barely any light passing through the bathroom, however, Sunset wasn't using the mirror to check her appearance but to insult herself.

"You look pathetic, you piece of trash. You better make more money than you ever did in these past few months, you pathetic girl. " She harshly shouted insults to her reflection, furrowing her eyebrows and gritting her teeth.

These words were not spiteful criticisms of her current lifestyle but rather a short yet harsh motivational speech for herself to work harder than anyone else and not stray towards the reality of crawling back to her foolish mentor.

After one deep breath later, She departed from the premises and head to her usual begging spot, a street pole sign that said "Sweet Street" and "Solaris Hills". That location was in between the middle-class commercial district and suburban hilltops of the upper-class socialites.

She had to fight for that spot from other older beggars every day until they got the message to stay away in the form of the redhead stabbing one of them in the leg and calling it self-defense in front of the authorities. Some of the veteran beggars knew to avoid the little girl no matter for she only caused them trouble and got most of them arrested or worse. got beaten up by passers-by who took pity on the little demon.

Even when she was wearing a heavy layered snow coat and other appropriate winter gear, Sunset still felt the unforgivable chill and loneliness of the December Winter. She won't stop shivering and breathing cold mist. This gave her a huge advantage in gaining more pity from rich people to drop more money on her. This idea surprised her even now on how underhanded yet so simple to perform. It was a trade secret to all the veteran beggars in this world.

Back in Equestria, even the word beggar was foreign to all pony settlements. Everypony had a well-paid job due to the Cutie Mark Career Clause that was established by Princess Celestia and the Equestria Education Association a thousand years ago.

Sunset gritted her teeth as she began to reminisce her old homeworld as if it was a warm nostalgia. But she refuses to relive a single moment over there as it only reminded her of her old mentor who denied her of her destiny and easily discarded her status as the princess' personal student.

"No no, she has no control over you anymore." She muttered to herself, making sure nobody who was passing by could hear her. She let out a deep sigh. "Let's just get this over with it."

(A Few Chilling Hours Of Begging Later)

Sunset was feeling quite smug of herself. She achieved in making a lot of money in one day than she ever did in the past months. She decided to buy her very first warm meal in a restaurant that provided a wide array of vegan meals.

She purchased some foreign delicious delicacies from the distant eastern continent, something Sunset has always wished to experience delectable meals such as vegetarian spring rolls, stir-fried vegetables, tofu soup, and a favored side dish called 'rice'.

Unfortunately, she couldn't stay inside the restaurant's warm environment for even a few minutes due to her ragged appearance and receiving complaints and disgusted glares from other customers.

She had no choice but to bring her meal to her hideout. Just holding on to her meal made her stomach rumble, drool with anticipation... and feel slightly anxious that the food might go cold quickly or she might drop them before she reaches her destination or some idiot will snatch it. She speed walked through the streets and avoid bumping at the crowds of annoying jolly people.

She felt some relief as she approached a familiar alleyway that acted as a convenient shortcut towards the abandon office building. However, as soon as she set her foot in the path, she had an unfortunate encounter with two kids who were close to her implied age which was thirteen years old. Sunset let out an irritated groan as she cursed the fates for she has confronted her most hated demographic in this world; ignorant and immature children.

She made a quick examination of these two children. One was a tall rowdy girl and the other one, who was shyly behind the girl, was a sheepish looking boy. Both of them had golden yellow eyes and white shoulder-length hair and complexion.

"Hey, what's up, Flamebrain?" The girl calls out Sunset, who in turn just ignored and continued to walk away from the duo before tensions escalate. However, the girl would not have any of the redhead's attitude.

"Hey! The fuck's wrong with ya?" She shouted and placed her right hand on Sunset's shoulder. "Has anyone ever taught ya any manners? If not, then I'll show ya. Name's Gilda Griffonstone and this here's my loyal right-hand, Griff."

She gestured her right arm at the boy with long white hair. He had a meek expression as if he didn't want to be introduced to strangers.

"Yeah, hey. Goodbye." Sunset nonchalantly greeted back with no care at all before continuing to head to her destination.

But Gilda was not taking any attitude from a scrawny beggar girl. She moved slightly to block Sunset's path and start an intense stare off.

"What's the rush, Flamebrain? Ya runnin' back to your smelly hole to count yer dirty money? Are Ya? Are Ya?"

She repeated her childish question over and over while slowly inching her face towards Sunset's, who was losing her patience by the second and was about to sucker punch the fool who was in her way until...

"Hey, Big G. Calm down." The boy named Griff grabbed Gilda's arms from behind and intervene her mockery on the girl. "She looks like she's only carrying pennies and nickels. She's not worth mugging."

"Hey, let me go, Griff." Gilda struggled to be free from the boy's hold on her. Sunset saw this unusual scene as an opportunity to make a hasty retreat to home (after making some short route changes to prevent the rowdy girl and her lackey from finding out her hideout).

Gilda notices the redhead leaving. "Hey, come back- Let me go, Griff." She whined to her friend to free her.

"Fucking weirdos," Sunset bitterly muttered to herself as she climbed over a metal fence. She continuously looked behind every minute to see if she was being followed. She just wants to go home and forget the awful encounter she experienced.

After making cautious maneuvers in the alleyways, Sunset finally reached her hideout without anyone on her metaphorical tail. She moved a heavy desk to block the only entrance into the building and climbed up to her room to get her well-deserved meal and rest.

Sunset was a little disappointed since her meal got cold after making many detours. She decided to heat up some tomato soup in a can.

She went over to the makeshift fireplace and, after a few attempts on igniting the flames, she began to cook tomato soup over a slightly rusted pot.

While she waited for her soup to be done, Sunset counted today's profits. She got over two hundred and twenty dollars worth of pity change. Adding to her current savings, she had over two thousand and one hundred twenty dollars, not including the jars filled with coins and a small pouch of Equestrian bits that she has yet to pawn over.

Sunset unveiled a devilish smirk as she repeated her counting of the profit she's holding. She had enough money for the required educational fees and to... to... ummm...

She facepalmed at her own stupidity as she completely forgot to add in one important factor that would succeed in securing her future plans.

After long months of begging and surviving, she forgot to perform one duty that would initiate her plan to enroll to Canterlot High, which was that she had made no sort of connections of adults to be her temporary guardian.

"Celes-... no, I mean GODDAMMIT!" The redhead roared in infuriation but took a momentary pause when an idea pops out of her mind. She literally bit her tongue when she almost muttered her former mentor's name.

She figured that she could easily forge many mature confidants over the few months as a beggar. However, reality dropped on her head when she remembered that she antagonized most of the homeless community and had not left her hideout as much, except for when she starts her begging scam or scavenge for nourishment.

Sunset devise on using a bit of her hard-earned fortune to hire an adult, however, her paranoia and twisted logic had persuaded her that the hired help might assault her and steal the rest of her money or worse, she will be taken away and sold to an unknown group that she heard from the countless rumors in the streets.

The levels of her anger and frustration have risen to new heights that she thought were impossible. Her hands trembled and eyes became bloodshot. These intense emotions became too overbearing for the little girl that when it finally blew out, Sunset went to the nearest desk and attempted to flip it upside down but failed due to her frail malnourished body. Instead, she grabbed a loose metal pipe from the bathroom and repeatedly slammed it on the desk while screaming indescribable grunts.

Sunset didn't stop her relentless bashing on the office furniture until she smelled her soup burning. After taking a deep breath and removed the soup out of the fire, the girl set up her meal at an undamaged desk. Sunset decided that she'll continue her venting after eating her dinner.

"This is fucking delicious," Sunset growled when she took a bite of the vegetarian spring roll with some rice. She was conflicted between her anger and sating her hunger. She wanted to vent more on the innocent abandoned office furniture but she hasn't eaten since breakfast and might collapse from excessive physical activity.

She excessively munches her meal without taking a moment to savor the flavor. Tears started to well up in her eyes yet quickly wiped them off for she refuses to admit defeat at a single folly in her plan.

"No, I can still fix this." She muttered to herself while there was still food in her mouth. She grabbed the handle of her pot to drink her warm soup. "I might not get any support from those useless homeless pon- I mean, people anyway. Yeah, all of them don't even look the part to be my pare..."

Sunset paused her soliloquy before she said that last word. Her mind began to be filled with regret and melancholy. Even if it was a vital part for her facade, Sunset felt uneased mentioning that word for she was completely estranged with those ponies to the point that she barely knew their existence.

Sunset's depressing train of thought was put to an abrupt halt when she heard a metal screeching noise emit close by.

"Well well well, so this is where you are?" Sunset flinched when she heard an annoyingly familiar voice ominously exclaimed. She dropped the hot pot of soup as she turned towards the origin of the voice and saw the Gilda girl, who was wielding a metal which was dragged slowly on the ground to create the ominous metal screeching noise.

"We would have a hard time findin' ya if it weren't for your really really loud bitching up here." The golden-eyed girl explained with a smug grin that perfectly complimented her threatening composure.

Sunset learned many forms of close quarter combat techniques during her time as the Princess' personal student, however, that knowledge was completely useless to her for it was suited to a pony's body, not to a human's even if she gets on all fours. When she arrived at the Human world, she had to learn self-defense through second-hand books and distant observation on the daily low light muggings in the alleyways.

Sunset retrieved her own metal pipe and prepared a poor sword fighting stance. Her legs were bent down and knees facing each other. She had a weak grip on the pipe and looked like it was going to slip any moment.

"What the fuck!?" Gilda laughed when she saw the redhead's poor attempt at defending herself. "Can ya actually fight back, Girly? Well, it doesn't matter since I'm gonna kick yer ass for ignoring me." She raised her pipe and placed it on her right shoulder. She then bent down and leaned slightly forward, facing at the fiery-haired girl.

"YOU'RE DEAD!" She roared before she rushed towards Sunset like a speeding train. Sunset had little time and weakened reflexes to anticipate the attack but somehow, blocked the girl's first swing. However, Gilda did predict the guard as she raised her right leg and, with full brute force, fiercely kicked the redhead's belly. This caused her to collapse to her knees, knocking the wind out of her and almost vomiting her meal.

Sunset tried to push back the thuggish girl but the feint attack caused all of her strength to dissipate and only made the girl stumble a few steps back.

"Seriously?" She shouted, furious at the girl. "Is that all you got? How the fuck did you even lived this long?"

Gilda soon glared at the redhead. "I've been watchin' ya for a few weeks now and I've got to say... You're such a fuckin' disappointment." Her delinquent-like accent seemed to thicken with every second she speaks. "You've got some nerve ratting on my homeless friends with your fake cryin' and lies. I've been tryin' to catch ya but yer one slippery leech..."

"Gilda, wait up..." A meek boy's voice called out at the girl. It must be the Griff kid who was following Gilda. He sounded panicked and scared. Both girls face towards the voice and witnessed the boy weakly approach his companion and sweating like crazy.

"You shouldn't have left me alone like that. That's so mean of you." He whined while he wiped away the sweat from his head with his right sleeve.

"Goddammit, Griff. I told ya to go home, didn't-"

While Gilda was distracted with talking to her companion, Sunset took the chance by hastily reaching for the still hot pot, toss the soup onto her assailant, tackling her to the ground and relentlessly slapped her face. The redhead was meant to deliver a flurry of punches as she tried to form fists but was not used to her human body.

Fortunately, the second-degree burns and slapping were effective enough for Gilda to yield into submission. She let out painful cries as tears flowed out of eyes and feeling the agony of the hot soup. She tried to sweep away the redhead's ruthless slap but the pain was too unbearable for her to perform any movement. Under her thuggish persona was actually a weak girl who only had intimidation and brute strength to not appear weak in public.

"S-stop... p-please." Gilda cried out, her eyes closed shut as to prevent the soup from damaging her eyes.

Griff, her partner, seemed hesitant to help her or grab hold of the redhead as he was scared that he might get caught in the assault.

"Oh now you're begging me to stop," Sunset growled while continued to slap the girl as she spoke. She let out a fiendish smile as she relished her vengeance on the girl who kicked her stomach. "What happened to "you're dead"? Are you just all talk? This is what you get for kicking my stomach." She inflicted the hardest slap she could muster onto Gilda's left cheek.

"N-no, p-please... I-I'm sorry," Gilda muttered, her speech became a little indescribable as bruises on her face began to swell and bleed from the endless slapping.

Sunset halted her assault, not due to the girl's cries for mercy. Her hands began to feel sore and saw that some of the small cuts that she got from the past few months reopened. The redhead weakly raised herself off the girl's body and reach a metal pipe that Gilda previously wielded. The golden-eyed girl wouldn't stop squirming and begging for mercy as Sunset performed a few more intimidating hand pats with the tip of her weapon.

"So, this what you truly are." Sunset looked at the sniveling pile of tears and lukewarm tomato soup with a pitiful yet annoyed expression. "I thought you were some two-bit thug trying to steal from my hard earned money but in fact, you're just a pathetic stalker. You might intimidate me but when it comes to conflict, you're weak."

Sunset delivered multiple blows of blunt and harsh taunts that hurt the girl's self-esteem more than the physical bruises on her face. Gilda could do nothing but continue to whimper like a defenseless animal.

"Y-yes y-yes. I'm s-sorry. I'm s-sorry" The white-haired girl repeated her apologies as she covered her eyes.

Sunset didn't care about what the girl had to say for she was about to end everything on the helpless delinquent kid when a sudden wild inspirational thought brightened in her mind. She raised her iron pipe above her head and quickly slammed down hard but it didn't hit the girl's head rather on the floor. Some of the damaged rubble sprinkled on to the girl's left cheek.

Sunset's sadistic trait appeared to have awakened as she stared down at her defeated foe's pathetic and battered up face. It was hard to distinguish which liquid on her face was bleeding or tomato soup but the redhead didn't care one bit. She decided to continue to torment the girl since the partner seemed to not intervene and remained silent during the assault. Gilda flinched as she stared at the fiery-haired girl's demonic-like eyes and continues to hear small tapping sounds of the iron pipe hitting against the moldy floor tiles.

"Okay, I'll stop but if you want me to stop beating the ever living crap out of you and your friend over there, then listen to what I've got to say." She said as she slowly raised the pipe up and rest it on her right shoulder. Gilda's confidant flinched and hid behind a recently wrecked desk when he was mentioned in the threat.

"Yy-twou tt-thunk I'm just godda l-listen two pwhat ya-"

Gilda's protest was cut off as Sunset inflicted another intimidating slam of her metal pipe, inching closer to the girl's face.

"That wasn't a request. It' s a demand." The redhead growled. "Now listen carefully, I want you to..."

Ring

Ring

Ring

Sunset's eyes slowly opened up and clumsily reached for her phone.

She just missed a call.

"Oh no!"

She exclaimed in a panic as she noticed what time it was. She scrambled out of her bed and grabbed her clothes from the floor.

It was her first day of cleaning up her mess.

Author's Note

Sorry for the late update.

Just got a job that I was focused more on that I forgot to take care of my work.