With a thud, Sunset felt her journey through the mirror come to an end. Groaning, she took a moment as her stomach stopped doing flip-flops. She hoped the return trip would be more pleasant.

"Ow," she grumbled as she slowly opened her eyes. She was greeted by the sight of a paved street beneath her, and strange appendages where her hooves should have been.

Normally, this might have caused her to panic. But she was Sunset Shimmer, and she did not panic. Before she had left Equestria, she had been able to glean some facts about the world on the other side of the mirror.

1. Wherever this place was, it was not on Equus, nor did magic apparently exist here.

2. The dominant species of this world were called humans, and they were as different from ponies as anything could be.

And last, but certainly not least, she would not be able to return to Equestria for another thirty moons. Or whatever the hay that might mean here. Who knew what that could be in this world?

Sunset had originally meant to present all she knew of the World Mirror and this world as a sort of present to Princess Celestia one day. She knew her teacher had often wondered about the mirror, and Sunset had been more than happy to look into it.

But that was no longer a possibility. Not after their fight. Not after the Sun Princess had denied Sunset her right, her destiny. Just thinking about her old teacher got Sunset's blood boiling.

After a moment though, she shook her head, as she came to a sitting position. Getting mad about it now would do her no good. She was on her own for now, and she still needed a plan.

Looking down at herself, she found herself clothed in what could only be described as a punk look. It suited her, as she took her new look in, she thought with a grin. On her skirt was her cutie mark.

Sunset wasn't sure how she would explain that, as she stood and dusted herself off. But one step at a time. From what she could see, it looked like she had been dumped in an alley. It sure smelled like it, as she pinched her nose. Behind her was a brick wall, and to her front was a street corner.

Something on the ground though caught Sunset's attention, as she bent over to pick it up. But none of what it said made any sense to her. What the heck was a mobile armor? The crudely drawn picture didn't help either. It almost looked like something from one of those anime from Neighpon. Not that she ever watched those of course.

She shook her head as she threw it into a nearby dumpster. It didn't help her in the slightest, so she soon forgot about it as she came to the end of the alleyway. Luckily, no one was close by, so she was able to wander onto the sidewalk without attracting attention.

If it wasn't for the lack of carriages, Sunset could almost swear that it looked like Canterlot. That made her smile in a way she hadn't for a long time. But something stood out, something that didn't make any sense to her as she looked up and down the sidewalks.

Where was everyone? The streets were deserted. Not a soul in sight, and even the windows in the building fronts were closed up.

Looking back, Sunset could just make out the faint shimmer in the air that marked the location of the portal back to Equestria. Unless someone in this world was that lucky or had seen her come through, no one would likely find it.

And as much as she hated Celestia's guts at the moment, Sunset was glad of that. Whatever else she thought of her old home, she didn't want anyone in this world to find out about it or her. Not now, and maybe not ever.

But that could wait for the moment, as she felt her stomach growl. She hadn't eaten before she had come here, and it was showing. The trouble was, she had no idea what a diner around here looked like, and she had no way to pay even if she did. And she would die first before she even thought of stealing something.

Her pride would never allow it. But at the moment, the lack of life of any kind around her was unsettling in the extreme as Sunset walked down the sidewalk. Why was this place deserted?

A brush against her shoe caused her to look down. It was a newspaper. Bending down, Sunset picked it up and looked it over. She was shocked to see that this world and Equestria seemed to share the same calendar. It was March 27 on the other side of the portal, but this paper was dated the 12. But it was the headline that held Sunset's attention.

'Over six million feared dead as Los Angeles falls. Army divisions unable to slow the advance as Hashmal moves on the east coast of the United States.'

Sunset turned green in the face. She couldn't wrap her head around that number of killed. What could do that? Why would anypony ever do that? And for what?

She didn't know what the name meant either. Nothing in Equestria sounded like that or even close. Beneath the headline was what she could only guess was a picture of the city in question, in flames, and what might have been the army in question, fighting whatever this, Hashmal thing was.

Animalistic was the best way Sunset could describe the creature in question if that's what it was. It dwarfed in size everything around it. A long-tail swatted things like flies in several directions, and from what she guessed was its mouth spewed what looked like a beam of magic, one that vaporized anything it touched.

That the city around her was not in ruins at the moment told Sunset that whatever this thing was, it hadn't come here yet, and she hoped it never did. At least while she was still in the city.

"Ya look lost there sugarcube."

Sunset jumped at the unexpected voice behind her. Turning, she came face to face with a girl that looked to be about the same age as her. Blond hair and tanned skin stood out against the rather drab background.

She forced a smile. "You could say that," she replied.

The girl nodded. "Figured as much. Name's Applejack," she said as she extended a hand.

Sunset forced herself to be nice for the moment. "Sunset Shimmer." Her stomach growled at that exact moment, and she smiled sheepishly. "Um. You wouldn't know where a gal could get something to eat, do you?"

Applejack chuckled. "My family runs a place down the street."

Sunset's smile faded after a moment though. "I don't have much money though."

Applejack smiled. "That's okay. Apple never turns away a hungry customer, even if they can't pay. Ya can work, can't ya?"

Sunset bit back a scowl. Work was not something she enjoyed very much. At least not the kind Applejack might have in mind. But then she sighed as her stomach growled again. It was either this or go hungry. She could get back at her later, as she smiled again. "Yeah, I can work."

Sunset swore as she took another bite of the best salad she had ever tasted, that if this was heaven, or whatever the afterlife was called in this world, she never wanted to leave. This put to shame the best chefs in Canterlot Castle and then some.

The Apple Barn, as the restaurant was called, was nice in the homey sort of way. Nothing like the places she had known in the Upper District of Canterlot, but reminding her of her fillyhood in Baltimare. Whoever was the cook here, knew their stuff.

Applejack chuckled as she sat down across from her. "Lands sakes girls. It's like ya never had a salad before. This is just the basic Garden Meal."

Sunset swallowed before she answered. She didn't have to fake the smile that came to her at the moment. "Applejack, if this is what you call basic, I'm a beggar. This is the best thing I've had in a long time."

Applejack blushed as she pulled her stetson down over her face. "Shucks sugarcube, you're just saying that. Then again, the Apple Family has been here a long time. Been cooking even longer. Course we know a thing or two."

Her face soon turned serious, however. "That said, you're not from around here, are ya?"

Sunset shifted in her seat. "You could say that. I don't even know where here is."

"Don't know if it ever had a name, back before all this started," Applejack replied. "Few people still here just call Home. Rest ran east, trying to outrun those, things. Lot of good that did those out west. Killed more than I care to count."

Sunset winced. Her mind returned to the newspaper she had seen. Applejack saw her look and sighed. "Ya saw the paper, right?"

Sunset nodded. "What is that thing?" She asked.

Applejack shook her head as she sat back. "Don't rightly know myself. Don't know if anyone does know much about them. They just showed up one day and started killing everyone. Some said they're made for the war for the Ahab Reactors, and went rogue for some reason. I don't know. All I know is that nothing's been able to stop even a single one of them, and there's more than one of them."

Sunset processed this. It was a start at least. "Are they machines or what? Is there someone piloting them?"

Applejack shook. "Nope. The only thing most do know is that they're all machines. No pilot, no controls, nothing. And no ethics either obviously. We call them mobile armors. No idea who started calling them by the names some do, but they've stuck."

Sunset digested this as she took another bit. This was not what she had expected to find on this side of the mirror. Not by a long shot. There was still a chance she could get back to Equestria before Princess Celestia noticed that she was gone, but that meant admitting she had been wrong, and there was no way she going back like that.

Even if she wanted to, there was no way at the moment she could ditch Applejack without looking suspicious or out of place. She still had time though, but she had to plan it carefully. Her best bet would be at night when everyone would be asleep.

For the moment though she shook her head. "If everyone's left, why are you still here?"

Applejack laughed. "This is our home. We ain't abandoning it just like that, no matter what. My brother Big Mac joined the army to try and help people as much as possible. We haven't heard a word from him since. We promised we'd wait for him here, and Apple's don't break promises."

Sunset could respect that as she finished her meal. She wasn't one to break a promise either, and it had saved her flank more than once in her life, and gotten her into trouble more often than not. Not that she cared either way of course.

She had just taken another sip of her tea when her world turned white, and the whole room exploded around her. She and Applejack were far enough back that they survived the blast, but the front of the store was gone.

Sunset's ears were ringing as tried to pull herself up. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Applejack do the same, her calm expression gone as she stalked to the front of the ruined restaurant. Even as she came to what had been the front door, a distant siren began to wail.

Applejack saw someone she knew in the crowd of people running past. "Braeburn, what the hell was that?!"

Braeburn said only one word as he rushed past, but it made Applejack's blood run cold. "Plumas!"

Princess Celestia was not having a good day. Something that was very rare for the Solar Princess. But today was proving the exception. And it all had to do with her student, Sunset Shimmer.

The two of them had finally come to blows over Sunset's demands to be made an alicorn and a Princess of Equestria. Celestia, as she had before, had, of course, refused to do so. Sunset was not yet ready, nor did she deserve it at this time.

But something had changed now. Sunset's demands were the same, but her anger had grown from a mere temper tantrum to outright threats, and when Celestia had once more refused to do so, Sunset had attacked her.

The attack had no effect of course. Even at her worst, it would take a lot more than a unicorn with delusions of goddesshood to hurt Princess Celestia. But the beam of magic had another effect.

Never before, even when she and Sunset had dueled each other with magic, had Sunset done this. Her attack had meant to put Celestia out for some time, or outright kill her.

When the smoke had cleared, and she had seen her magic had no effect, Sunset had stormed off, the Royal Guard too stunned at what had just happened, to stop her.

Celestia had let her go and had given orders that Sunset was to be left alone. Her heart had broken at the sight. The mare who had once looked up to her with awe, who she almost considered her daughter, had attacked her. Not for play, but in anger.

Celestia had wept long into the night, wondering again why those close to her always pushed her away. First Luna, and now Sunset.

She had barely had the energy to raise the sun this morning, but she could not let her own anguish fall on those who didn't deserve it. And then, just as she was about to head down for breakfast, had come the news she didn't want to hear.

Sunset Shimmer was gone. Not only from the castle but also seemingly from Canterlot as well. No guards had seen her leave the main gates, nor even one of the side entrances and nopony matching Sunset had boarded a train leaving the city.

As much as Celestia wanted to deny it, that left only one possible place Sunset could've fled to. The World Mirror had become active the day before, and she knew Sunset knew that as well. Why she would flea through it was beyond her at the moment.

Right now, all that mattered was that they find her, and try to bring her home. Who knew what waited on the other side of the mirror? Celestia herself didn't, but it was possible Sunset did.

At the moment though, her current mood was even sourer as her Seneschal Kibitz once again tried to get her to move on to the day's agenda.

"If you stop this nonsense now, you will still have time to be ready for the Morning Session of Day Court. The Royal Kitchens have been alerted to the change of schedule for the day. I do not see why you waste your-"

A white wing blocked his path, and the heat of the corridor went up several degrees as Princess Celestia turned to look at him. Her eyes narrowed as she stood in front of him and lowered her head to his level.

"Kibitz. I suggest you think about how you plan to finish that sentence. I have put up with your obsession with a strict schedule with no thought of ever-changing it at the last minute because you have done exemplary work for so long," she said in a low voice, on that brokered no argument. "But I suggest you remember who you are speaking to. I am putting my hoof down on this, and I will not be argued with. Understood?"

Kibitz, for the first time in a very long time, nodded meekly. Even he knew that when the princess was like this, there was literally nothing anypony could say that would change her mind.

Celestia nodded as she looked at the door they had stopped at. Opening it with a burst of magic, the group entered what looked like nothing more than a storage room, one with only one item, a large mirror against the far wall.

Only a few knew that this wasn't an ordinary mirror, but a portal to another world. As the group looked it over, Celestia sent a pulse of magic around the room, one that confirmed her worst fears.

Sunset had indeed come through here earlier that morning. Her magic trail leads right through the mirror. Celestia bowed her head. This was her worst fears confirmed. Sunset Shimmer had abandoned Equestria for whatever world lay on the other side of the mirror.

Kibitz looked at the mirror with some interest, while the Royal Guard showed no sign they even cared at all. "Where did this even come from?" Kibitz finally asked. He knew of the mirror only in passing, but it was still something.

Celestia smiled fondly at a long-ago memory. "Starswirl and I found it not long before the Pillars were formed. We only know for sure that it opens to another world, and that remains open for three days, before closing for another thirty moons."

"And Sunset Shimmer went through it?" One of the guards asked.

Celestia nodded. "Yes. But why she would flee to the other world, I do not know. I myself do not know much about it, and I fear what may happen if I follow her."

"So what is to be done now?" Kibitz asked.

Before Celestia had a chance to reply, a hot wind blew outward from the portal, blowing all of their manes wildly. On the breeze came another thing as well. A stench that made everypony cough and wretch at the sheer unpleasantness of it. Not even the guards could hide their sick looks. Celestia knew what it was, though it had been a long time since she had smelled it.

It was the smell of burning flesh.

"What. What is that?" One pony finally asked.

Celestia shook her head. "Death. The smell of death."

She bowed her head, as her tears flowed now. "Oh, Sunset. Please. Be careful. Come home. Please."

Sunset's ears were still ringing by the time Applejack ran back to her, her expression one of pure panic. "We gotta go. Now!" She yelled, pulling Sunset to her feet and dragging her to the back of the building.

As they came to the back room, Sunset finally pulled herself together and pulled herself out of Applejack's grip. "I can walk on my own, thank you. What was that back there?"

Applejack shook her head as the two of them came to the back. "Pluma. Darn varmint machines. One of them shows up, and you're in trouble. Run ahead of them mobile armors they do, and the momma machine ain't far behind usually. And there's never just one. One of them shows up in your town, ain't nothing living ever comes out of it."

Sunset tried to make sense of that, but even then, she could hear the distant sounds of further explosions and people screaming. "So, what then? We run? I've never run from a fight in my life Applejack."

Applejack chuckled. "I hear ya. But unless ya got some superweapon in that jacket of yours, running is all we got now."

That shut Sunset up. She didn't have anything tucked away like that. If this was Equestria, she'd march out there and teach that Pluma a thing or two herself. But this wasn't Equestria, and her magic might as well have been on the moon for all she could use it now.

But that didn't mean she had to like it, as Applejack pushed open the door and lead her out into an alley that ran behind the building. The stench of garbage was overshadowed by the smell of smoke and destroyed buildings, and something else. Something that made Sunset want to vomit right then and there.

The stench of burning flesh.

She swallowed, trying to keep her lunch where it belonged, but it was easier said than done. "So where are supposed to go then?" She asked as she steadied herself on a nearby wall.

Applejack shook her head. "I still have friends in the city. We all agreed to meet behind the restaurant. I ain't leaving without them or my family."

"Where is your family?" Sunset asked.

"Don't rightly know myself. Granny had knitting with some of her friends, and who knows where Applebloom ran off too," Applejack grumbled. "Darn kid gets into more trouble than she's worth."

"What about your parents?" Sunset asked.

Applejack shook her head. "Died a long time ago now. They were lucky I think. Didn't have to live through any of this."

Sunset bowed her head. "I'm sorry."

Applejack chuckled. "Nah. Don't be Sunset. Sure I miss em, but I ain't gonna waste time wishing for something that ain't gonna happen. I got my life, and I plan to live it. Not living in the past."

That got a smile out of Sunset. That was a way of thinking she could respect. Her own family was something she tried not to think about. She hadn't seen her parents in a long time, and that didn't seem to be something that would change any time soon.

Applejack gave her a look. "Ya got family Sunset?"

Sunset shrugged. "I'm an only child, and I haven't seen my parents in years. We didn't exactly get along the last time we met either. They all but disowned me after our last fight, and I never looked back."

Applejack looked appalled at the very thought, but a sound from down the alley stopped whatever she was going to say. Pulling Sunset down with her, the two of them hid behind a dumpster as something stomped by their hiding place.

Very carefully, Sunset stuck her head out and looked down both ways. She felt her breath hitch as what looked like a huge mechanical animal moved past the alley. To her horror though, the machine stopped, as if it sensed something was watching it. Slowly, it turned its head around and began to move their way.

Sunset pulled her back as fast as she could as the machine's head pushed its way into the alley. A red light shown from looked like an eye as it scanned the entire area.

Sunset and Applejack held their breaths as the light fell around their hiding place. For a moment, it held over them, before moving on. After a moment, the light winked off. A mechanical growl echoed off the walls as the machine pulled its head out of the alley and continued on.

The two of them sat there, holding their breaths for a moment more, hoping it didn't come back before they let out a collective sigh of relief. Sunset turned toward Applejack. "What was that?"

Applejack shook her head. "That's a Pluma. Luckily it didn't see us. Don't think this dumpster would've done us a lick of good against it. Except maybe to make it mad."

Sunset couldn't argue that as the two of them stood up. Both ends of the alley were clear now, but off in the distance, the sounds of screaming went on as before. They seemed to be getting louder as well.

Sunset looked back to where the Pluma had stuck its head in the alley. "I say we don't go that way."

Applejack nodded. "Good idea. Come on," she said, as she ran off in the opposite direction, Sunset soon right on her heels. Coming to the end, they looked in both directions. Nothing was in sight but for a few left behind pieces of luggage, people had dropped in their flight.

Smoke still rose in the distance from burning buildings, and the stench of burning flesh was overpowering now, so much so that Sunset had to steady herself again the wall for a moment.

Applejack too looked green in the face, but she was able to keep a stoic expression. "Yeah. I don't blame ya. That's a smell I never wanna smell again."

Sunset couldn't agree more as she swallowed heavily. After a moment, her stomach settled as much as it ever could and she pushed herself from the wall. "So now what do we do? I don't think we can avoid those things forever."

Applejack nodded as the two walked onto the main street. "I reckon we just gotta avoid them till we get out of the city. Come on. Rarity's place is-"

The building behind them exploded, masonry and debris flying everywhere. Yet somehow, none of it hit the two of them, though the building behind them was torn to pieces by the rubble. But that would've been a mercy compared to what loomed out of the smoke.

The mobile armor seemed to look down directly at the two of them. There was pure malice in its gaze as its beak opened, and its mono eye glowed brightly as it gathered its power.

Sunset watched the attack that would end her life, as a million thoughts ran through her brain In that last moment though, one thought was clearer than the others, as she clenched her eyes shut and felt her tears fall.

"Princess. I'm so sorry."

...

...

An explosion rocked the mobile armor's head, but only enough that it turned its attention away from Applejack and Sunset to look at whatever had shot it. Which was more than enough for the girls at its feet.

Applejack grabbed Sunset and pulled her away, even as another shot rang off the machine's armor. It let out an all too real-sounding screech as it fired its beam weapon up the street at something neither of them could see.

The shock of almost dying, and then being saved, was enough to knock Sunset out of her addled state, and was soon running alongside Applejack on her own two feet. Looking back as the two of them passed down another street, Sunset felt her heart drop.

The mobile armor wasn't even slowing down and showed absolutely no signs that it had been hit in the head. There wasn't even a scratch on it. It seemed to be after something other than them, and Sunset thanked her lucky stars it seemed to have forgotten about them for the moment.

Over the sound of further hits, she could just make out the loud rumble of engines coming back from where that first shot had come from. Whoever was shooting that thing was either very brave or very stupid.

Sunset liked to think it was the former.

Applejack must have thought the same thing for she shook her head. "I give my hat off to them. They're brave to fight that darn thing with just tanks. Lota good that'll do them though."

Sunset gave her a look. "At least they're fighting. I've never run from a fight in my life."

Now it was Applejack's turn to give her a flat look. "Unless ya got something underneath that jack of yours that'll take that thing down." Sunset's silence said it all, and Applejack's look softened. "Look. I ain't more fond of running than you, but what else can we do?"

Sunset sniffed, all of her adrenaline rushing out of her as she slumped against the wall and the realization of how close she was to death. "I hate this. I've never felt so powerless in my life. I don't even know why I'm here now."

Applejack smiled slightly. "Not exactly what ya thought it would be?"

Sunset shook her head. "No. I don't even know what I thought it would be. I can't exactly go home, and I have no place to go here."

Applejack winced, as another explosion went off in the distance. "Least you're alive. Has to count for something."

Sunset laughed, but there was no mirth behind it. "Yeah. For how much longer though? We can't run and hide forever. That thing won't stop, and they're just pissing it off."

Applejack nodded, no matter how much she hated to. Luckily, she knew where they were. "Lucky for us then, Rarity's place is just over there," she said, as she pointed at the next house down the street. It didn't look any different from the rest of the houses.

Applejack though didn't care as she ran up the front steps and pounded on the front door. "Rarity! Get your prissy rear end down here! We gotta go, now!"

Sunset wasn't sure what she was expecting when the door opened, but the ivory white teenager, whose accent was so fake that even Sunset could see through it, was not what she thought Rarity would be.

"Goodness Applejack, you look a mess. And what's all the commotion?" Rarity asked as she stepped out of the entryway. "It sounds like a warzone out here."

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Whadya think's going on?" She asked, pointing at the smoke rising a few blocks away.

Rarity's eyes shrank in horror. "But. But they can't be here. No one said a thing about a mobile armor this far east. How did they miss it?"

"Ya wanna go tell it that?" Applejack asked with a hint of annoyance.

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Fair point." Here she finally noticed Sunset, who had stayed out of their way so far. "And who is your new friend?"

Sunset tried to smile, but it came out forced. "Sunset Shimmer." She winced as another building exploded not far away from them. "And I really don't feel like dying today if it's all the same to you."

That at least got a chuckle out of Rarity. "I could not agree more darling. Luckily mother and father took Sweetie Belle out of town for the weekend, so they should be safe."

"What about the rest of the girls?" Applejack asked.

"I'm here," came a new voice, a girl that looked to be just a bit older than the rest of the group, her pink hair standing out next to the others. "Rainbow Dash said she was trying to find Pinkie and Scootaloo, but that was the last I heard from her."

Rarity tossed her hair. "And some people wonder why they don't allow Ahab Reactors in cities like this. Then again, mobile armors don't seem to care much about such things."

There was that name again. Something told Sunset that whatever an Ahab Reactor was, it was important in some way for this world. But that was something she could wonder about later, as the immediate problems came to mind. "Shouldn't we worry about getting out of here?"

Rarity nodded. "Indeed. We can't stay here. This is not how I wanted to spend my weekend, but a lady must make do with the situation at hand," she said as Fluttershy joined the girls on the walkway. "Normally I'd lock up. But I somehow don't see the need at the moment."

"Then we need to leave," Sunset said, pointing down to where the sounds of battle had ended. None of the girls thought it meant anything good, and the same metallic screech from the mobile armor only confirmed their worst fears.

Applejack shook her head. "I ain't leaving without Granny or Applebloom."

Rarity placed a hand on her shoulder. "Darling. Granny Smith is too stubborn to let a little something like this get in her way. She'll be fine. And if Applebloom is anywhere, she'll be with Scootaloo. Those three are inseparable."

Applejack didn't look fully convinced, but she did relax and tried to smile. "You're right Rarity. Just worried about them is all. I can't help it."

That got a chuckle out of the group as they began to leave. But Fluttershy looked back one last time with worry. "What about Rainbow and Pinkie?"

Applejack's smile grew. "If they're smart, they're already trying to get out of the city." She placed a hand on Fluttershy's shoulder. "We'll find them sugarcube. Dash is too stubborn and pigheaded to let this beat her."

Fluttershy did smile a bit at that, but the booming footfalls of the mobile armor put an end to any further talk. Without a backward glance, the girls ran, never once looking back the way they had come. Further down the street, they cut through a side alley and kept going.

They didn't stop running for a long time.

Author's Note

Oh. This chapter made me remember how much I hate Bitch Queen Sunset Shimmer from Equestria Girls 1. It won't last long of course in this time period. People will be more than happy to leave her behind for the Mobile Armors or Pluma drones. They have no reason to trust her that much. Yet.