The blaring red light piercing the veil of darkness begins to blink only following the blaring sounds of anger voiced by the alarm clock. It begins to take on a lighter hue as the encroaching light from the morning sun begins to bleed through the curtains. The cruel morning sun begins to slam its full might against the curtains as a lavender Unicorn awakens, groggily, to the noise complaint of the alarm. A soft magenta glow radiates off her horn to silence the alarm as it envelops the black rectangular block with its identical color. She once thought of spending some of her well-earned bits to buy one of the alarms that can play music. She would have it play one of her favorite songs but thought better of it as her hobby requires her full attention more than simple wants.
The magenta glow dies as silence reigns once more. A yawn erupts from her maw as it opens far enough for a small pop to sound from the lower joints of her mouth. The glow returns soon after followed by the sound of a switch being flicked. Light consumes the darkness, except the shadowed areas that find itself protected by furniture, causing the Unicorn to squeeze her eyes shut and wince.
"Briiiiiight." She complains softly before blinking her eyes a few times to adjust.
She drags herself out of bed reading the clock as 8:45 E.T as she does so. She rolls her neck clockwise as she makes her way to the door. She grasps the handle with her magical aura and opens the door into the cramped hallway of forgotten trash and books she has promised herself she would one day clean. Despite the obstacles in her way, her objective does not elude her as she makes her way into her chaotic bathroom. The shower sounds as she takes in her appearance in the mirror. She grimaces at the figure looking back at her with purple hair with a single magenta streak, moderately sized horn, big purple eyes with even bigger black bags under them, square nose, and plush lips. She wouldn't consider herself bad looking, other than her eyes, but the standard for beauty when it comes to unicorns is so biased nowadays. Unlike what her old life used to be.
She shakes her head at the thought of her old "life". She has to move on from those days or else they'll consume her time once again as they've done in the past. And that's never good for her or her budget. She turns away from the mirror to climb into the lukewarm water cascading down upon the porcelain floor wielding nonslip stickers of stars and bells to prevent slippages and falls in the shower.
Though if she were to have a mishap, she's certain that the only reason anybody would notice she's not around is that she isn't at work. That's the cold sad truth about her current life. That her entire worth is measured but clocking in on time and making sure all the customers are happy and served. It's not a great job, but it's not bad either. Plus Donut Joe is pretty generous when it comes to hours and who delivers what. He tries to make it an equal opportunity workplace, but some ponies need the bits more than others...
As she lathers the soap into her fur she can't help but remember the cruel reality that it's hard out here for a Unicorn. You're better off being a pegasus or an earth pony unless you're of royal blood or have enough schooling to properly wield magic.
Something she regretfully lacks by no fault of her own. Overcharges are cruel things when you're young. They can ruin you. Change you for the worst. They'll turn a normal upstanding young mare who has nothing but worship on her mind and adventures on the horizon into a bitter old mare that curses ever being born or even waking up in the morning.
It's not like she wants to work minimum wage! It's not like she asked to be woken up from her fantasies and dreams! They could've just continued to let her live her blissful beautiful lie away from all the actual changes to the world... All of her friends are gone and there's nothing she can do about it. It's been months now, but she can still feel their lingering touches if she thinks about it enough. Touches that were never real, but real enough to her to matter. To count. To mean something in her-
"Ow..." she mutters as she accidentally slaps her head into the wall of the tiny shower.
She takes a breath and gets out. She's not sure how much time she wasted because of those ever returning thought that haunts her day and night. They're cursed thoughts. They'll doom her if she continues to waver like this. She stops in front of the mirror and opens the center of it revealing rows of empty prescription bottles and one filled bottle. She grabs and pops it open with her hooves before tipping the bottle towards her mouth allowing three of the small blue and white cylinder pills to fall into her mouth. She swallows them dryly before leaving from the bathroom pulling a towel around her barrel as she exits.
Another day another pill. She repeats to herself. Another day another bit. Another day another life. Another day another smile. Another day another donut. Than repeat.
Several small steps to her right bring her to the kitchen dirtied and looking rundown with dirtied dishes laying in the sink waiting to be washed, opened food never finished upon the countertop, and a filled trash bag yearning to be taken out. Three cabinets hold themselves against the wall about the cooking area which includes an oven stove top that is powered by crystal energy. Not the cleanest source of energy, but anything better would increase her rent which is a no go for her. Above the fridge are open boxes of cereal, long eaten and forgotten, as well as a set of knives all tapped down with a closed note in front of them.
Connected directly to the kitchen is the living room. A nice small living room arrangement equipped with a love seat, T.V, and a coffee table littered with booze bottles, drink cans, and plastic cups. Which reminds her that she should stop by the convenience store after work to get more of that brandy she really likes. Untouched by the filth around her hanging beside the door that separate living room and the outside world is her Donut Joe working outfit and hat.
It's nothing fancy or stylish. It's a black shirt that wraps around her barrel and neck with a glazed donut on the back and underside. The hat is in a Caravan Driver style with her name etched onto the side for everycreature to read. The duties that come with donning such an outfit will have to wait as she lays across her loveseat.
She turns her head to look at her T.V and PBox. She knows inside of it is Galaxy Sea an adventure RPG she saw while browsing through GamerStop. With some time to spare, her magic starts the boxed contraption and turns the T.V on.
The lavender mare nods her head softly to the beat playing through the muffs of her headset. She pushes her way into the store to find Donut Joe wiping down the counter where the majority of ponies and other creatures sit.
"Mornin Twilight~!" Her employer calls out as she removes her creatures blockers.
"Morning Donut Joe! How are you?"
"O' You know same old same old. How are you t'day?"
"Just getting by as best I can," Twilight says making her way behind the counter and heading for the back while putting her headset and player under the counter, "Has Moondancer already started on the big order for today?"
"Yeah! She's got about half it down. Tell er she can ave a break if she needs it before we open."
"Sure thing," Twilight says fitting her hat upon her head while moving through the metal doors into the back.
The kitchen in the shop isn't too elaborate. Upon entering she can see Moondancer moving about placing glaze and sprinkles on every other donut upon a line of pastries. Both coffee makers set against the back wall are brewing up a storm filling her nostrils with the calming smell of coffee beans. True to Donut Joe's words, Moondancer has filled two of the three prep tables with rows upon rows of donuts. What looks to be left is glazing and sprinkling. And of course the boxing and catering of said pastries.
The pony succeeding in her job is a creamy white unicorn with stripped maroon, lavender, and purple mane and tail. Her mane is tied up to prevent it from falling over her thick brimmed square glasses and her eyes. She moves around easily despite the mess piling up around her while she refills empty glaze dispensers.
Twilight manages to wave her down and relay the message of their boss earning a happy sigh.
"Thanks, Twilight. All that's left to be done is glazing and sprinkling. The coffee should be done in the next three minutes but be sure the check the back of it since it started leaking last night from what I was told. I don't know how Kream Filling messed it up, but it's impressive nonetheless." Moondancer says fixing her glasses upon her nose and muzzle better.
"No problem Moonie." She says the two bumping hooves before moving past one another to do what they need to do.
Twilight makes her way over to one of the unfilled sinks to washes her hooves before moving to finish the order. She grabs a hold of the glazer with her hooves and begins to look over the last batch Moondancer was on to see where she had left off. Twilight begins her work allowing a song to come to her mind causing her to hum to the beat she once heard Rarity sing while in her workshop.
"Glaze by glaze putting it together~"
Twilight sighs as the last customer walk away from the counter donut box in paw. She's not sure what it is about Diamond Dogs, but they certainly love their donuts. The construction crew nearby generally comes in her every other week to order a dozen variety donuts. They make suggestions on what variety means, but she and the rest of the crew have gotten used to which one likes what.
"Alright, you can head on out." Donut Joe says saluting at Twilight.
Twilight chuckles at her bosses antics before saluting back. She grabs her player and earmuffs before heading into the back to tell everyone bye for the day. Moondancer is at one of the prep table currently enjoying her break munching on her favorite cookie dough donut with a cup of peppermint coffee nearby. Across the room from her stands Gertrude watching the deep frier holding the fresh batch of donuts.
Unlike Twilight and Moondancer, Gertrude is a griffin. Her primary feathers along her back and wings are dyed a deep crimson while her crown is neon blue. When she's not working, she generally wearing a chocker with a bell on the front and a leather jacket with her current flames name on it. She's a true piece of work, but she does what she does pretty well. She's been around for a long while after international borders were fully opened. Which means she's been here longer than Moondancer or Twilight.
"Alright I'm heading home guys," Twilight says looking at the two, "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Okay, Twilight," Moondancer says raising a mug
Mm'kay." Gertrude says right after waving a claw without giving a glance.
Twilight nods her head at the two before turning back around while putting her earmuffs connected to her player back on. A few flashes of magic later and she has her music roaring into her ears once again as she exits out onto the streets of Canterlot.
The sun is bearing down again and every creature seems to be out and about trying to keep cool or head into work. A group of kids, pups, and foals run by all carrying shaved ice and ice cream of various flavors. They happily talk amongst themselves, or probably yell, as Twilight stops to let them pass. Across the street from the shop is a park where she sees all sorts of creatures ranging from griffons to protesting Kirins and Deerkins.
Around them are buildings made of stone built within the regulation to help keep the heat down. Certain sidewalks and streets have already been remade and painted over in order to help absorb or reflect heat in certain areas of the capital. She begins her walk briskly a certain brandy on her mind waiting for her at the nearby convenience store.
Two blocks away from her start point, Twilight finds herself with a problem. Before she stands a Minotaur preventing her from advancing towards her goal. Apparently, something has happened nearby that is preventing anybody from going further into the market district. Twilight removes her people blockers and listens in to several conversations.
"I think it's another terrorist attack by the Horses of the east. Either that or the Donkeys have done something to anger the populace again. I swear Celestia should've never opened the border to those dirty creatures. It was bad enough that some of them were getting in illegally, but now we have to actually put up with them! The never of her!" A pony nearby hisses into the ear of another mare quiet enough to not allow authorities to hear but loud enough to have nearby ponies hear in order to raise some doubts and anger.
Some of the other ponies nearby nod their heads in agreement while some other roll their eyes or give disapproving looks.
"You'd be wise to watch your mouth." A nearby Goat speaks out, "Next thing you know you'll be saying that none of the creatures should've come here."
"You said it, not I." The mare snarks back, "It's not like any of your kind have really done anything great for the country of Equestria. Your ancestors came for migration purposes and the lot of you decided you didn't want to leave. Now you think you have as much of a right to walks these lands as us natives! And that's what I'm appalled about! As should anypony!"
"You're nothing more than a crazy bigot." The Jack says growling.
"She speaks the truth!"
"You can't hide behind your empty words!"
"Yea."
Twilight proceeds to realize where this is headed and begin to make her way away from the area only to be stopped by a fellow pony. A Pegasus to be precise. She keeps her head low but finds the wing stopping her.
"Sister equine. Where are you going? Don't you agree with the blessed ways of our kin? When we were so much more peaceful and happier when there was only one true race upon the lands of Equestria." The light brown Pegasus questions.
"Away from here. Out my way." She says through gritted teeth pushing forward past the wing.
"One would think a true patriot would stand for their country. And if you don't, well. The less said the better. Know where your alliance lies Sister." The Pegasus speaks after Twilight.
Twilight ignores the words while trying to keep herself together after the choice encounter. She doesn't do well with new ponies. Especially not these ponies. Bigots, but she would never admit it out loud, and the sorts. Honestly, they're just as bad as the terrorists. They practically feed one another.
Twilight steals a glance at the ever-growing grand palace of the Princesses where there is most likely a council being held. A council of all the races to discuss and delegate the world's politics.
"Friendship and peace is nothing but a fleeting dream..." Twilight mutters to herself wondering if she should return home or just go to one of the other stores for a drink or two.
Author's Note
Call out any mistakes you see or anything you think doesn't fit along with the overall mood. I'm only one guy after all
