What a Strange New Worldby Uz NaimatChaptersOne - Where am I?Two - Where do I get a job?Three - What’s wrong with this world?One - Where am I?This was a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. I slowly open my eyes and blink a dozen times. I look around and I see this unknown, unfamiliar location. I look up and see the dark blue sky, brightly illuminated by the moon. The sky lacks the beautiful stars that I was used to back home. Home. I raise my hoof in an attempt to stand up. Wait. That’s not a hoof. There’s this weird, claw-like appendage where my right hoof should be. I raise my other hoof, only to discover the same appendage. What are these? I try to feel the rest of my body, and suddenly see the clothes I’m wearing. Where did those come from? My ears are not where they should be, they are on the side of my head. I have this tiny nose, instead of the muzzle I used to have. I raise the appendage to my forehead, and freeze. Where’s my horn? Where’s my horn?! I take a deep breath, trying in vain to stop the incoming panic attack. Okay, so, no magic. I can survive in a world with no magic. Right? A cold wind blows, and I shiver. Magic is my life. I don’t know how I’m going to live without it. I cautiously turn around. I’m at the base of some large statue, large enough to be the size of a door. This must be the portal back to Equestria. I raise the appendage and feel the cold, solid glass. Portal’s closed. Who knows when it’ll open again? And that’s when I stop. The reflective surface of the portal allowed me to take a good look at myself. I can recognize some parts of my body. Amber coat, red-and-gold mane, and teal eyes. I look... Longer, for some reason. My body is fully clothed; there’s a leather jacket, a shirt with my cutie mark on it, a skirt, and two very long boots covering my back limbs. I’m not a pony anymore, that much is obvious. But where am I? I catch a glimpse of the portal’s side, and notice the other creatures here. They all look like me, or rather I look like them. They are walking on those limbs where my boots are, and holding things with the claw-like appendage. I need to blend in here. Slowly and carefully, I raise the appendage and grip the edge of the portal. Then, I raise my body and try to stand. I fail and stumble back. I repeat the process a few more times until I can finally stand without support. I look at my reflection and realize that I am taller. I need to walk. The creatures I saw earlier moved those skinny limbs one in front of the other. I grip the portal’s edge again and take a step. Then another. And another. I’m still shaking, but I can walk without holding anything. Good enough for me. I glance back down and see the satchel I had brought with me. Only, it’s not a satchel anymore, it somehow turned into a backpack. I had filled it with coins, gemstones, food and a few books. I try to bend down to pick it up, but I lose my balance and fall, face first. Great; waaay to embarrass myself. I finally manage to get up and pick the bag. How am I supposed to carry this? Maybe I should just hold this with whatever-replaced-my-front-hooves; it would be good practice on how to use them. I take the bag and repeat the process on how to stand and walk. Of all the times I could’ve jumped through the portal, it has to be a cold, freezing night. I need a place to sleep. And a way to gain money to survive here. I also need to create a plan on how to get back at Celestia. Celestia! None of this would’ve happened if she had made me a princess, like I deserve! Stupid, stupid princess and her stupid humility lessons. As if that matters! I was doing so well with my magic studies, and then she ruins everything by denying me my destiny! I would have ruled alongsi- Another cold wind interrupts my train of thoughts. Right. Sleep first, we can deal with my stupid, former teacher later. I look around and that’s when I spot the large building in front of the portal. I can’t quite make out the color, but I can see it’s rectangular and has large, glass doors to what I can only assume is the entrance. Looks like a castle. Note to self: check out the castle-building first thing in the morning. I walk around the statue. There’s a road, but it’s larger and smoother than any street I’ve seen in Canterlot. There are large wheeled machines moving on the road. Huh. Nothing is pulling these machines; how are they moving? Is it by magic? I get the feeling I’ll be here long enough to figure it out. Where will I stay for the night? I don’t actually have anywhere to go. I slowly walk on the road to get to the other side, and then something happens. One of the machines lets out a loud sound and stops right in front of me. I freeze, and notice the creature get out of the machine. He’s angry, I can tell. He yells at me and tells me to be more ‘careful’. What, am I not allowed to walk on the street anymore? I pay him no mind, and resume walking. I reach the other side, and then I come across a medium-size building. The sign says, ‘Army’s Homeless Shelter’. Ugh, a homeless shelter? I go from living in a royal castle to sleeping with homeless people? But I guess I have no choice. I can’t stay out here in the streets, I’ll freeze to death. Reluctantly, I push the doors open with the appendages and make my way inside. There is only one person inside. She looks older than all the other creatures I’ve seen so far. I tell her that I need a place to sleep and she leads me through a door. The room is very, very large room filled with beds and snores. The creature shows me a bed and wishes me a good night. Yeah, right, “good night.” This has been the worst night of my life! I dump my bag by the bedside and stare at the bed. How am I supposed to even sleep in this new body? I take a look around and try to see how everypon- everyone else is sleeping, but the darkness doesn’t help. Groan. Maybe I should lie down horizontally. I sit on the bed and raise the skinny limbs up the bed. I then pull the sheets over my body and stare at the ceiling. Now we can deal with my stupid teacher. Or rather, former teacher. How dare she? How dare she!? She doesn’t get to decide what I deserve or not, that’s not her decision, it’s mine! And now, because of her, I’m in this weird body, in this weird dimension, sleeping with dirty, homeless people. I suddenly realize that I’ve been gripping the bedsheets so hard that the appendages have nearly turned white. I really need to study the anatomy of my new body. Celestia’s dumb, and it’s because of her that I find myself in this predicament. If she had just did what I told her to do, I would have been in her castle, warm and still magical. Oh, magic. I already miss the ability to levitate things as I please. She will pay for this. I swear right now, she will pay! I just need a plan. A solid, foolproof plan where I gain enough power to overthrow her. But, first, I need to survive and blend in. So, the bits and gemstones I brought aren’t going to last long. I also have the strongest feeling that they have a different currency here. I need food, shelter and clothes too, since the creatures here are all fully clothed. That means, I’m gonna need to a... A... A job. Once I have a stable source of finance, I’ll check the castle-building. Since that was the only building in front of the portal, I’m assuming it’s of importance. Hopefully, I can take control of it, whatever ‘it’ is. And then, there’s the question of the portal. I can’t take over Equestria if I can’t get there. Luckily, I stole a few books form the library right before I fled. One of the books must have some information. I’ll read those as soon the sun rises. I have a plan. With enough time and resources, I should be able to... Execute it... Soon enough... Zzz.. My eyes open slowly and I blink a few times, trying to avoid the bright glow of the sun. Hold on. This isn’t Canterlot Castle. Where am I? Am I lost? Did someone kidna- No, no. None of these happened. I’m in this other dimension because Celestia denied me my destiny. That’s right. I have to overthrow her in order to take my rightful place on Equestria’s throne. I look around and see most of the beds empty. The homeless people must have all left. I reach inside my bag to read one of the books, but my stomach grumbles. Food. I sit up on the bed and take out the apple I had brought. Only it’s rotten, so I throw it through the nearest window. Maybe there’s food outside the shelter. There must be a restaurant somewhere. I close my backpack, making sure I have all my stuff inside, and then get up to head outside. The hallway outside the sleeping area is lined with several, identical doors. I head for the exit, but halfway through, I stop. There’s a very pleasant smell coming from one of the doors. Smells like... breakfast. I turn around and jog for the door. Huh. I’m getting pretty good at walking as a bipedal. It’s really not that hard. I slow down to allow that wonderful scent to guide me. I reach a slim, wooden door and step inside. I wasn’t able to see the homeless people last night, given the darkness. They are all here. In what looks like some sort of cafeteria. There’s a table, full of food, where the creatures (people?) are serving warm meals. Oh, well. Can’t say no to free food. I grab a tray from the pile and make my way into the line. The food here is vastly different from what I’m used to in the palace, but not so different from my parents’. The meal-servers give me porridge, bread, an apple, a boiled egg and some red, mushy stuff. Dunno what that is. My tray almost full, I take a seat at one of the far-end tables. I sit down and stare at the porridge, and at the spoon next to it. How will I eat this? How are the other people eating this? Ugh. I really need to learn how to do things around here. I won’t use the spoon. Simple. I grip the bowl as hard as I can and dump the porridge directly into my mouth. They are all staring at me. I must look like an animal. I quickly finish the porridge and eat the rest of the breakfast. But what’s that red, mushy stuff that was put on my plate? I ask one of the people and they tell me that it’s meat. Wait, what?! They actually kill animals and eat those here? Eww. As soon as I’m done eating (I left the meat behind, no way I’m eating that), I leave the shelter. The morning sun shines over the village(?). I walk along the huge, rectangular buildings. The entire location reminds me of Manehattan, which I’ve visited once. And that’s when I notice that none of the creatures are walking on the street. Must be why that man yelled at me last night. I finally stop walking when I come across a blue building with multiple steps leading to double glass doors. The sign says, ‘Canterlot City Public Library.’ Library, yes! That’s exactly what I need. I get inside and start browsing through the biology section. I select a few books and put them down on a small table. Once I’m comfortably seated, I grab a book at random and start reading. Reminds me of the times I’ve been in Canterlot’s library, studying magi- No! Now is not the time to get nostalgic. You’ve barely been gone for a day. I quickly shake my head and get back to my reading. The sooner I understand this world, the better. Okay, so I’m a human. Humans are always fully clothed. These are hands. And these are feet. Hands have fingers, which are used to grab things. Fingers have nails, which have no real use. It’s two hours later, and my table is filled with much more books. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how this world - the human world - works. I now know the name of every part of my body, and what they are supposed to do. But knowing something and actually doing it are completely different things. I grab the pencil with my right hand. I can do this. I position my fingers around the pencil like the book said, and try to create the letters on the blank paper. A.... B... C... It’s a lot more easier with magic. D... E... I stop and take a look at my new handwriting. Sloppy. Messy. Unruly. Maybe I should try this with my left hand? Nah, one hand is hard enough. I sigh and lean back in the chair. In the past few hours, I’ve learned a lot of things. Magic truly doesn’t exist here. It sends shivers down my spine every time I think about it. But, they have something else to compensate for it. Technology. This world’s technology is considerably more advanced than that Equestria’s. They have this thing called a ‘phone’, which is basically instant communication across any distance. They also the ‘Internet’, which do- My stomach grumbles. Breakfast didn’t last as long as I hoped. I get up and grab my bag. Shoot! I forgot to study the portal's magic. Nevermind, I'll do that later. I turn around to leave, leaving all the books on the table. Someone else will put them back in place. The warm sun hits my face as soon as I step outside, and I squint my eyes to adjust to its light. Must've been inside longer than I imagined. Now, where will I find food? This city is huge, there must be free food around. I get down the stairs and walk aimlessly around town. Should I go back to the shelter? The food there was rather decent, but there’s gotta be something better around here. The streets are very busy with people and the... The... Machines everywhere. Aha! Restaurant! I go inside and head straight for the counter. An employee greets me with a friendly smile. The main difference between the menu here and those back home is that this world seems to like meat. A lot. I finally find a meat-less list and settle for a lettuce and cheese sandwich. The employer nods, types out my order and gives me my bill. The amount I owe him is in ‘dollars.’ Oh no. This can’t be happening. I quickly put my backpack on the ground, crouch down, and find my bits. I then get up and lay the bits on the counter. He’s confused, I can tell. He apologizes and tells me that this currency isn’t accepted around here. He cancels my order and apologizes again. I slowly make my way outside, dejected. As soon as I’m out in the street, I collapse against the building. I’m alone. Broke. Homeless. Hungry. What have I come to? My stomach grumbles again and I simply can’t ignore it anymore. I touch my face, only to find it wet. Have I been crying? No! Sunset Shimmer doesn’t break down! I wipe away the tears and get up. There has to be free food somewhere else. I don’t have a choice: I have to head back to the shelter. I walk slowly along the street, shoulders slumped and face wet with tears. My eyes suddenly catch a neon sign, visible even in the bright daylight. ‘Everyday Store.’ It’s a grocery store! I step inside and take a look around. The is a few number of customers and an even smaller number of employees. I find an aisle full of bread, buns and baguettes. I look at the food , then at the door and then at the food again. I’m alone is the aisle, and nopo- nobody’s looking at me. I can just take the food and leave immediately. Nobody will know. My stomach grumbles again. It’s louder than before. I’ve stolen plenty of stuff in Equestria, this is just another item in my list. More grumbling. It’s now or never. I grab a hamburger and hot-dog buns. I also take a baguette for good measure. I stuff it all in my backpack. I look around. Left. Right. Left. Right. Coast is clear. I sprint for the exit. The door’s right here, I’ll reach it if I continue to run. I can do thi- I stop running. Not by choice, but because someone is holding my wrist. I slowly turn around and instantly wish I hadn’t. He’s tall, large, and has huge biceps. He’s wearing a uniform. A guard’s uniform. He’s frowning, and I can’t break away from his very, very firm grip. He starts walking and drags me with him. I’m most definitely going to be arrested. This was a bad idea. Two - Where do I get a job?Calm down, Sunset. Everything’s fine. The security room is small, cramped, and dark. The guard dragged me here right after I was caught stealing from the grocery store. He told me to sit and wait. And then he left. But I’m not scared. Far from that. Sunset Shimmer isn’t scared of anything. I’m just... Nervous. Yeah, nervous. I shift in the small, plastic chair. I’ve always hated waiting. The guard should be back by now. I’m still hungry, by the way. My stomach is constantly grumbling. I slump in the seat and lean against the wall. How did I come to this? The door suddenly opens, and in comes the guard, followed by a second man. They both walk over to me and come to a stop once they’ve reached my chair. The second man has a tag on his uniform, that says, ‘Manager.’ Greeeeat. Just what I need. The store’s manager is here to chastise me and make sure I never see the light of day again. But to my surprise, they don’t do that. The guard returns my backpack, which he had confiscated, and I immediately snatch it away from him. I open the bag, and quickly peek inside. All my stuff is still here, save for the stolen items. The gems are gone too. The men let me off with a verbal warning, since I haven’t stolen anything of important value. They warn me that leniency will not be given next time. Oh, please. Next time, I’ll make sure I don’t get caught. I get up from the uncomfortable chair, sling my bag over my shoulder and allow the guard to show me the way out. I pinch my eyes shut as soon as I step outside. The security room was far too dark, and I have to slowly open my eyes to adjust to the sun’s blinding light. I make my way to the shelter, slower than I would’ve liked. The hunger has made me weak. I also haven’t showered in over 48 hours and I’ve just been arrested. I really need to establish myself in this world. The shelter seems like an eternity away, even though it was a shorter walk earlier this morning. I certainly hope this walk wasn’t for nothing. I am starving right now. I’m too late. By the time I arrive at the homeless shelter, lunch was already served and eaten. There was almost nothing left in the kitchen for me to eat. But they did manage to get me a piece of bread and some leftover soup. It’s enough to satisfy my hunger, though it won’t last long. That wasn’t a lunch! But my stomach is not grumbling like crazy anymore, so I guess it’ll have to do. What to do now? I may need a job, since I don’t want the grocery store incident to repeat itself. I get up from the bench where I was seated and walk up to the receptionist(?) to ask her some questions. I tell her that I need to a stable source of finance, and she pulls out a piece of paper and scribbles a list. She hands it to me. It’s a (a very long) list of potential jobs around the city I can apply for. It’s titled, ‘Teenager jobs around the city.’ Wait, what? Teenager? That can’t be right. I’m older than that. Did the portal take a few years out of life? I push the question aside; there’ll be time to ponder on that later. I take the list, stuff in my pocket and head for the door. I can hear the woman asking for a ‘thank you,’ but I don’t bother. I step out of the shelter, and the warm air hits my face. I take a deep breath. Time for job-hunting. The first place on the list is this coffee shop called ‘Beans & Cream.’ Fitting name. It’s right across the street where the shelter is. I step inside and my muzz- nose is immediately attacked by the aromas of dozens of different coffee flavors. It’s not bad, actually. But it does make me yearn for a warm cup. I pass by the tables and the counter, where countless pastries are on display. Just looking at them is enough to bring me a sense of nostalgia. Princess Celestia and I would have a lot of cookies and cakes during our tea breaks. She would sip her tea and I would stuff my face with ca- Whoa! Someone has bumped into me, and I fell on the floor. Who has dared bumped into Sunset Shimmer?! They will pay! A hand shows up in front of me, supposedly to help me stand up. I am not accepting this! This person dared humiliate me and now has the audacity to help me up? I look up, eyes narrowed, ready to give them a piece of my mind. And I freeze. He’s a boy, and he’s quite handsome, truth be told. He has orange skin and spiked blue hair, and is dressed like a rocker. Maybe I should accept his hand after all. I rise and struggle to gain my footing. I don’t fall again, though, as he’s still firmly holding my hand. His skin is soft and warm, and I don’t want to let go. He apologizes for the incident (as he should be) and offers to pay for a drink. His voice is so smooth and appealing that I blush. I also accept his offer. I’m not one to say ‘no’ to free food. He pays for an oatmilk latte and I drown the entire cup in a single chug. He apologizes again and leaves the cafe. Hold on, why was I here again? Oh, right. To get hired. I approach the register and ask them if they have a vacancy. They do, and the cashier hands me a form and a pen, and tells me to fill it out. I move aside and grip the pen as hard as I can. My new handwriting is still as sloppy as earlier. I write down my name as best as I can and stare at the rest of the paper. Address? I don’t have one. Age? I’m not actually sure what it is. Identification number? I’m technically an illegal immigrant here and may need to forge some documents to get what I need. I sigh. This is gonna be harder than I thought. I leave the cafe, ignoring the stare of the customers who’ve seen my rather ungraceful fall. I’m going to need a job at a place that doesn’t require being documented. I take out my list. Onto the next business. I never realized just how beautiful Equestria’s sunset was until I saw this world’s. Dusk here is drab, plain and lacks the beauty I’m used to. I make my way to the my next destination, asking for directions at every turn. I soon reach it. ‘It’ turns out to be a retail store with the weirdest name ever. ‘Find Everything You Need Right Here!’ I shrug, open the door and get in. I don’t even make it ten steps inside when two tall and skinny men come up to my face to greet me. They are identical and are... Finishing each other’s... Sentences. Guess they must be twins. I get straight to the point. I’m here to earn money. They immediately agree, saying that they could use an extra hand to help them around their shop. They then proceed to give me a tour. The tour is slow and uninteresting. They give me directions and a brief history lesson on where each item comes from. The ‘tour’ ends, and I’m given an explanation on what the job entails. Hold on, I need to do what? Talk to the customers and be diplomatic to them? Treat the customer as my friend? Yeah, no. I’m outta here. It’s already nightfall by the time I arrive at the next business. Darkness has long since settled in and hunger has again taken the best of me. This business sells gardening supplies and is called ‘Loving Nature.’ Not really my style, but I really need money to survive. And it’s closed. Of course it is. Do humans really go home that early? Home. I still don’t have a roof over my head, and I could really use a shower. I make my way back to the shelter, passing the portal. Has it really been 24 hours since I first got here? Feels like forever. I start the next morning early. Day 2 and I really need to make some progress otherwise I’ll never take my rightful place as Equestria’s ruler. A quick shower and breakfast later, and I’m out into the streets again. ‘Loving Nature’ is the today’s first destination. They must have a job opening. A suitable job opening. I step inside and walk up to the cashier at the front desk. The first thing he tells me to provide as soon as I ask for a job vacancy is my identification. Oh Heavens above. Do you really need to be documented to survive around here? He repeats his question. What do I say? What do I do? I’m, uh,... I’m an... immigrant! That’s it! I’m an immigrant. No, I don’t have my documents. I already told you that. Is it really that important? You know what? Fine! I don’t need your stupid job anyway! That’s a lie. I actually do need the job. I’ve crossed out more than half the businesses on my list. Today’s Day 3 and I still have no source of money. Yesterday was an absolute hassle. I spent all day moving about from store to restaurant to shop, but several problems came my way. Documentation, age, appearance, identification, and my homelessness to name a few. I related my trials to the administration of the homeless shelter, who directed me to this place called a ‘mall’. I don’t know what that is, but she said that are plenty of businesses looking to hire. The mall is a considerable distance from the shelter. The road I’ve taken doesn’t even pass by the castle-building and the portal. I feel like I’ve been walking for ages. I should get a watch. I finally arrive at a building. Wow, that’s a huge one! It’s even larger than the castle-building I found near the portal. The walls are tan-colored with green accents, an there’s a large glass dome above. I make my way up to the door and enter. The inside is even bigger than the outside. I would like to say I’ve seen large, sophisticated buildings before - I mean, yours truly used to live in a castle - but this mall is on another level. A fountain lies in the middle of the space, surrounded on three sides by countless rows of shops and stores. I can see a spot to eat behind the fountain and a second story above. You have to take the stairs. Wait. Are the stairs... moving? Anyway. I’m here for a purpose. I make my way towards the first store I see, where clothes are on display. Hopefully, thisʼll be it. I got it! I got hired! Yes! It wasn’t that hard, actually. The man who owns the business looks middle-aged and rich. He took one look at me, asked a few basic questions and just like that, he gave me the job. I start today itself. The owner gave me a name tag and showed me how to use the cash register. He then told me to wait for customers, then left me to my own devices. I am now standing at the register, ‘cause nobody’s here yet. I must’ve been too early. I’m gonna admit it: I’ve never had a real job before. My entire life’s been catered for by others, whether it be my parents or Celestia. Celestia. Just thinking of her name is enough to make me scream in rage. I grip the counter’s edge harder, almost turning my knuckles white. How dare she? How dare she?! This is all her fault! I desire nothing more than to find her and tell her exactly what I thin-! The door opens, interrupting my tirade. A customer walks in. I take a deep breath, straighten out my clothes and lean on the counter. Cool, calm, casual. Perfect. The customer heads over to the racks of clothes and accessories and a salesperson assists her. I keep on standing here, arms crossed and leaning on the counter. About fifteen minutes later - it seemed like forever - the customer approaches the cash register to make her purchase. She drops her items on the counter and pulls out her wallet. I take the device that scans ‘barcodes’. What did the boss call them again? Nevermind. Numbers appear on the other device on the counter. (Seriously. Why do humans need so many technological devices?) She asks for a bag. I groan, but comply. Then she asks me to put her purchases in the bag. I groan again and stuff her items inside. I hand her bags over to her. She’s turns around to leave, but then she faces me again. Okay, listen, lady. Last I checked, this job doesn’t require to wish people a “good day”. So don’t ask, alright? She finally leaves, mumbling something something along the lines of “rude”. I don’t care. I sigh again. Is the whole day going to be like this? Six hours and eleven customers later, the shop closes. The rest of the day was slow, but not as easy as I originally thought. My boss came by to check on me quite often, and he got uncomfortably close to my body. I leave the shop and the mall, which is mostly empty by now. My boss gave me lunch earlier, but I don’t know how long it’s going ot last. The streets are mostly empty and I start my long trek back to the shelter. I dislike that place, but it’s either there or the streets. I pass by several unfamiliar buildings. The setting gradually shift from a sophisticated town center to let-down buildings that could use some renovation. Hold up. Where am I? I look behind me. I didn’t pass by the portal. That’s my reference point! Oh no. Oh no. I’m lost. Author's Note Itʼs finally here. The long-awaited update. Thank you all for sticking with me and being patient. I Pinkie Promise that the next update wonʼt take that long. See ya around! Three - What’s wrong with this world?Breathe in, breathe out. Youʼll get through this. Let’s review the situation here. I am currently in an unknown street, in an unfamiliar town, in an unfamiliar world. I won’t panic. I can’t, or I’ll never find my way back back to the shelter. The sun has already set by now, enveloping the entire area under a dark blanket. The streetlight is the only source of light. I turn around and walk in the opposite direction from where I came. Yeah, that should work. I should find the shelter back in no time. It didn't work. I'm still lost and more hungry than ever before. I guess I don't have a choice. I have to ask for... help. I pass by several businesses, most of them already closed due to the late time. At this rate, I'll have to sleep on the street. A-ha! I spot an open business. It's a restaurant, I think. I push open the double doors. And they're about to close. I hurry past the tables and head straight for the counter and ask for the nearest homeless shelter. I hope I'm still in the same town. The man who works at the counter scribbles the directions on a nearby napkin and hands it over to me with a large, sickening smile. I leave the restaurant immediately. I got what I need, no need to stay here any longer. Besides, I don't have money, and no dollars means no food. The streets are even darker now. I have to squint my eyes to see what's ahead of me. I pick up my pace. I suddenly hear hoofsteps, I mean footsteps, coming from behind me. Am I being followed? I look back, and that’s when I notice a couple of shadowy figures walking right behind me. Whoever they are, they are approaching fast. I take a deep breath and walk faster. Shelter. I need to seek shelter now. After what feels like forever, I finally spot a dark alley ahead. I break into a run so that those creeps can’t see where I‘m going. Okay, Sunset, you can do this. This is just like the grocery store incident a few days back. Except this time, you’re running for your life. I swiftly turn around into the alley and go to the far end. I lean back against the wall and attempt, in vain, to catch my breath. I don’t dare peak out to see if I’ve lost them. The alley is dark, small, and narrow. Maybe I should just hide here until morning. Trying to find shelter is apparently useless. Who knew that nights could be that scary? Evenings in Equestria are so peaceful. I take a few silent breaths and wait. Those creeps' voices are getting louder now. I back away to the end of the alley. They’re approaching. They won’t see. I’m sure they won’t. There’s no way they could- Oh no. I may have accidentally kicked a stray pebble. Sweat is now dripping down my clothes and I’m hyperventilating. The voices are getting even louder. They’re coming. And surely enough, not even two minutes after hearing the noise, they’re here. At the open end of the alley. I turn to look. ‘They’ turns out to be some sort of gang. There are four muscular boys. One of them, I’m assuming is the leader, smiles wickedly and says that he wants to ‘play’ with me. Wait. Does he mean...? Heavens above, humans are evil. I keep backing away until I reach the far wall. Had this been Equestria, I would easily have saved myself with my superior magic skills. But this isn’t Equestria. I can barely use my human body, yet fight others. I’m doomed. But there is no way I’m going to stoop as low as to beg for my life. I’m Sunset Shimmer, for Heavens’ sake! I straighten up and wipe off the stray fear-induced tears off my cheek. If I’m going down, then I’m going down with a fight. The gang is approaching me. The leader extends his hand and just as he is about to touch me, he freezes. And so do I. We froze because someone ordered us to. I cock my head past the gang leader, to look at the mysterious person. And there he is: the guard who’s currently saving my life. His skin is white and his mane - I mean, hair - is of several shades of blue, which match his blue eyes. He’s wearing what I assume is a uniform. But most importantly, he has a weapon - it resembles the pistols I’ve read about in the library - pointed at us. No, wait. It’s pointed at the gang leader. The guard orders the gang leader to step away from me. When the latter refuses to comply, the guard approaches us both, keeping his pistol pointed at the gang leader. All of a sudden, the gang leader grabs me by my jacket. The guard orders him to let go. And then it happened. The guard fired his pistol and shot in the leg. The latter was taken aback and lets go of me. I fall on the ground, on my butt. I close my eyes and let out a long moan. Because, damn, that fall hurt. After a few seconds, I open my eyes and take in the scene before me. The gang leader is sitting on the ground, his left leg wrapped in a red makeshift bandage and his handcuffed behind his back. The rest of the gang is nowhere to be found. The guard approaches me. He had a flashlight in one hand and extends his hand. I take it and he helps me to my feet. He asks if I’m okay and if I need to go to the hospital. No! Anything but the hospital. He accepts my decision and nods. Thanks to the light, I notice a few details I hadn’t quite seen before. His uniform is a dark blue, for instance. On the left sleeve, there’s the logo of Canterlot Police Department. What’s the police? Questions for later, I suppose. The guard also has a silver badge that says ‘Officer S. Armor’. He offers me a ride home, an offer I readily accept because I need to get back to the shelter. I tell him to head to Canterlot’s homeless shelter and he looks at me with questioning eyes, but says nothing. He goes back to the gang leader and pulls him up. I follow them both outside the alley. The night is dark and cold. Kinda reminds me of my first night in this world, which was mere days ago. Armor takes the gang leader inside his... truck? Motorbike? Car? Yes, car. That big, wheeled machine is a car, according to the Vehicles of the World book I recently read. I walk to one of the four doors, only to be stopped by Armor, who tells me to use the other door. I put one foot inside and immediately hit my head with the door frame. My scream is loud. Armor rushes to my side and helps me inside the car. He then ties some sort of leather belt across me that keeps me secured to my seat. I suppose that’s what the book meant by ‘seatbelts’. In front of me, there’s what the book described as a ‘dashboard’, which looks like a control board with hundreds of buttons. Armor sits next to me and drives. We arrive at the shelter faster than I expected. Armor quickly gets out and opens the door for me. I guess he’s afraid I might hit my head again. I step out and head for the shelter doors. Right before I step in, I turn back and mutter a quick, almost inaudible ‘thank you’. I suppose he heard me, because he smiled and then drove away. I enter the front lobby of the shelter and collapse on the one of the couches. I’m exhausted. I feel like I could sleep for weeks. I should really get to bed, ‘cause I still have work tomorrow. The old lady behind the desk suddenly notices my arrival. She looks worried and asks me what happened. There is no way I’m telling her anything. She doesn’t need to know, and neither does anyone else. Tonight’s story makes me seem weak and Sunset Shimmer is not weak. I tell her that there’s nothing to worry about and wave my hand for emphasis. But she’s persistent. She leaves the desk and walks towards me, repeating her question. I’m fine, okay?! Stop asking! I... what? No, I don’t stink! Okay, maybe I do. D’you have showers here? I get up from the couch and she leads me to the showers. She also shows me the pile of clean clothes in the laundry room across the bathrooms. I grab a towel and go inside the bathroom without another word. The shower is small and slightly filthy, but I don’t have enough to take in the place. I slowly remove my clothes and hang them on a a nearby hook. They are dirty and reek of sweat and perspiration. That black leather jacket isn’t really sweaty, though. It’s nice, too. I wouldn’t mind wearing it all the time. I turn on the only faucet in the room and allow the cold water to splash over my face and onto my body. Human bodies are weird. They look like apes. And human skin is so rough compared to soft pony fur. I also don’t understand the need to stay covered all the time. Once I’m done, I turn off the faucet and pat myself dry. I suppose I need to cover up, too. So I wrap the towel under my shoulders, take my clothes and boots, and leave the shower. The clean clothes bin at in the laundry room doesn’t give me a lot of options. I pick up a red T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Simple, but they should do. I drop my clothes, save for the jacket, into the dirty clothes bin and leave, taking my boots with me. I head for the sleeping area and collapse on the bed. That night’s sleep was dreamless. I wake up early the next morning. I rose slowly and rub my eyes. My pilllow’s wet from the shower last night. I get up, put on my boots and my jacket and grab my backpack. I got work to do. I’m off to work right after breakfast. The walk to Canterlot Mall is much shorter than last time, mainly because I know where I’m going. My boss is there of course, opening the store. I step inside and he greets me with a hug. I put as much distance as possible between us two. The rest of the day is mundane. I enjoy the change of pace, given how... interesting last night was. The customers come and go, making their purchases. Nothing major happens. My boss came by and informed me that wages are given weekly, which is honestly a relief, because I can’t imagine waiting an entire month to get paid. I need money and I need it fast. I’m becoming really irritated by my boss’ weird hugs and how close he comes to me when we talk. The work day ends with a rather wealthy customer who decided she wanted almost 40 items in the store. A coworker of mine is called to help register the sales because my boss thinks I can’t handle it alone. The customer ends up spending almost $200. I leave the store at around 04:30, earlier than yesterday. This time, I ask for directions from within the mall itself. I am not about to repeat yesterday’s mistake. Thanks to various people and their helpful directions, I make it back to the shelter in no time and head straight to dinner. When I pass by the desk, the old lady stares at me, a concerned look on her face. I ignore and continue to walk. Dinner is a quiet affair. I eat my food alone, still refusing to consume the meat they serve. The shelter isn’t so bad. I mean, it’s far more inferior than Canterlot Castle and my childhood home in Canterlot, but it’s okay. The bed is comfortable enough, the food is good and they have showers and laundry service. I could get used to staying here until I go back to Equestria. It’s not like I’m staying here for long. This shelter simply eliminates my problem of figuring where to sleep and eat. I finish my dinner and head to bed. Another morning, same routine. Yup, routine. I get up, eat breakfast, head to work, work, then come back and have dinner. I need to find time in between to find out how to regain power so I can take my rightful place as ruler of Equestria. After breakfast, I leave through the lobby. I expect to walk straight past the old lady, but that’s not what happens this morning. Before I can leave, she stops me and tells me to wait. What does she want now? I glance at the clock. I can’t afford to be late. She comes back with the clothes I had left in the laundry room, now fresh and clean. She gives them to me. I ask why. She tells me that I can’t stay here any longer. I’ve been kicked out. Author's Note Hiya, lovely peeps! I know, I know. I did say I would update more frequently, but I can’t, no matter how hard I try. Now, I feel the need to explain a few things. First off, I’m pretty sure the police isn’t a thing in Equestria. Sure, we’ve seen it in Manehattan, but I don’t think Sunset’s ever been there. I know that Sunset being miraculously saved is too convenient (because it is too convenient), but what else is supposed to happen? She's new to her body, on top of being lost, cornered and scared. She can’t run or fight or manipulate her way out. Hence the miraculous savior! In this story, Sunset has really good memory. So don’t be surprised if she suddenly remembers things that’ve occurred a long time ago. That’s all for today. I won’t make any promises, but rest assured that I will update again. Sometime. Enjoy this chapter for now!
One - Where am I?This was a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. I slowly open my eyes and blink a dozen times. I look around and I see this unknown, unfamiliar location. I look up and see the dark blue sky, brightly illuminated by the moon. The sky lacks the beautiful stars that I was used to back home. Home. I raise my hoof in an attempt to stand up. Wait. That’s not a hoof. There’s this weird, claw-like appendage where my right hoof should be. I raise my other hoof, only to discover the same appendage. What are these? I try to feel the rest of my body, and suddenly see the clothes I’m wearing. Where did those come from? My ears are not where they should be, they are on the side of my head. I have this tiny nose, instead of the muzzle I used to have. I raise the appendage to my forehead, and freeze. Where’s my horn? Where’s my horn?! I take a deep breath, trying in vain to stop the incoming panic attack. Okay, so, no magic. I can survive in a world with no magic. Right? A cold wind blows, and I shiver. Magic is my life. I don’t know how I’m going to live without it. I cautiously turn around. I’m at the base of some large statue, large enough to be the size of a door. This must be the portal back to Equestria. I raise the appendage and feel the cold, solid glass. Portal’s closed. Who knows when it’ll open again? And that’s when I stop. The reflective surface of the portal allowed me to take a good look at myself. I can recognize some parts of my body. Amber coat, red-and-gold mane, and teal eyes. I look... Longer, for some reason. My body is fully clothed; there’s a leather jacket, a shirt with my cutie mark on it, a skirt, and two very long boots covering my back limbs. I’m not a pony anymore, that much is obvious. But where am I? I catch a glimpse of the portal’s side, and notice the other creatures here. They all look like me, or rather I look like them. They are walking on those limbs where my boots are, and holding things with the claw-like appendage. I need to blend in here. Slowly and carefully, I raise the appendage and grip the edge of the portal. Then, I raise my body and try to stand. I fail and stumble back. I repeat the process a few more times until I can finally stand without support. I look at my reflection and realize that I am taller. I need to walk. The creatures I saw earlier moved those skinny limbs one in front of the other. I grip the portal’s edge again and take a step. Then another. And another. I’m still shaking, but I can walk without holding anything. Good enough for me. I glance back down and see the satchel I had brought with me. Only, it’s not a satchel anymore, it somehow turned into a backpack. I had filled it with coins, gemstones, food and a few books. I try to bend down to pick it up, but I lose my balance and fall, face first. Great; waaay to embarrass myself. I finally manage to get up and pick the bag. How am I supposed to carry this? Maybe I should just hold this with whatever-replaced-my-front-hooves; it would be good practice on how to use them. I take the bag and repeat the process on how to stand and walk. Of all the times I could’ve jumped through the portal, it has to be a cold, freezing night. I need a place to sleep. And a way to gain money to survive here. I also need to create a plan on how to get back at Celestia. Celestia! None of this would’ve happened if she had made me a princess, like I deserve! Stupid, stupid princess and her stupid humility lessons. As if that matters! I was doing so well with my magic studies, and then she ruins everything by denying me my destiny! I would have ruled alongsi- Another cold wind interrupts my train of thoughts. Right. Sleep first, we can deal with my stupid, former teacher later. I look around and that’s when I spot the large building in front of the portal. I can’t quite make out the color, but I can see it’s rectangular and has large, glass doors to what I can only assume is the entrance. Looks like a castle. Note to self: check out the castle-building first thing in the morning. I walk around the statue. There’s a road, but it’s larger and smoother than any street I’ve seen in Canterlot. There are large wheeled machines moving on the road. Huh. Nothing is pulling these machines; how are they moving? Is it by magic? I get the feeling I’ll be here long enough to figure it out. Where will I stay for the night? I don’t actually have anywhere to go. I slowly walk on the road to get to the other side, and then something happens. One of the machines lets out a loud sound and stops right in front of me. I freeze, and notice the creature get out of the machine. He’s angry, I can tell. He yells at me and tells me to be more ‘careful’. What, am I not allowed to walk on the street anymore? I pay him no mind, and resume walking. I reach the other side, and then I come across a medium-size building. The sign says, ‘Army’s Homeless Shelter’. Ugh, a homeless shelter? I go from living in a royal castle to sleeping with homeless people? But I guess I have no choice. I can’t stay out here in the streets, I’ll freeze to death. Reluctantly, I push the doors open with the appendages and make my way inside. There is only one person inside. She looks older than all the other creatures I’ve seen so far. I tell her that I need a place to sleep and she leads me through a door. The room is very, very large room filled with beds and snores. The creature shows me a bed and wishes me a good night. Yeah, right, “good night.” This has been the worst night of my life! I dump my bag by the bedside and stare at the bed. How am I supposed to even sleep in this new body? I take a look around and try to see how everypon- everyone else is sleeping, but the darkness doesn’t help. Groan. Maybe I should lie down horizontally. I sit on the bed and raise the skinny limbs up the bed. I then pull the sheets over my body and stare at the ceiling. Now we can deal with my stupid teacher. Or rather, former teacher. How dare she? How dare she!? She doesn’t get to decide what I deserve or not, that’s not her decision, it’s mine! And now, because of her, I’m in this weird body, in this weird dimension, sleeping with dirty, homeless people. I suddenly realize that I’ve been gripping the bedsheets so hard that the appendages have nearly turned white. I really need to study the anatomy of my new body. Celestia’s dumb, and it’s because of her that I find myself in this predicament. If she had just did what I told her to do, I would have been in her castle, warm and still magical. Oh, magic. I already miss the ability to levitate things as I please. She will pay for this. I swear right now, she will pay! I just need a plan. A solid, foolproof plan where I gain enough power to overthrow her. But, first, I need to survive and blend in. So, the bits and gemstones I brought aren’t going to last long. I also have the strongest feeling that they have a different currency here. I need food, shelter and clothes too, since the creatures here are all fully clothed. That means, I’m gonna need to a... A... A job. Once I have a stable source of finance, I’ll check the castle-building. Since that was the only building in front of the portal, I’m assuming it’s of importance. Hopefully, I can take control of it, whatever ‘it’ is. And then, there’s the question of the portal. I can’t take over Equestria if I can’t get there. Luckily, I stole a few books form the library right before I fled. One of the books must have some information. I’ll read those as soon the sun rises. I have a plan. With enough time and resources, I should be able to... Execute it... Soon enough... Zzz.. My eyes open slowly and I blink a few times, trying to avoid the bright glow of the sun. Hold on. This isn’t Canterlot Castle. Where am I? Am I lost? Did someone kidna- No, no. None of these happened. I’m in this other dimension because Celestia denied me my destiny. That’s right. I have to overthrow her in order to take my rightful place on Equestria’s throne. I look around and see most of the beds empty. The homeless people must have all left. I reach inside my bag to read one of the books, but my stomach grumbles. Food. I sit up on the bed and take out the apple I had brought. Only it’s rotten, so I throw it through the nearest window. Maybe there’s food outside the shelter. There must be a restaurant somewhere. I close my backpack, making sure I have all my stuff inside, and then get up to head outside. The hallway outside the sleeping area is lined with several, identical doors. I head for the exit, but halfway through, I stop. There’s a very pleasant smell coming from one of the doors. Smells like... breakfast. I turn around and jog for the door. Huh. I’m getting pretty good at walking as a bipedal. It’s really not that hard. I slow down to allow that wonderful scent to guide me. I reach a slim, wooden door and step inside. I wasn’t able to see the homeless people last night, given the darkness. They are all here. In what looks like some sort of cafeteria. There’s a table, full of food, where the creatures (people?) are serving warm meals. Oh, well. Can’t say no to free food. I grab a tray from the pile and make my way into the line. The food here is vastly different from what I’m used to in the palace, but not so different from my parents’. The meal-servers give me porridge, bread, an apple, a boiled egg and some red, mushy stuff. Dunno what that is. My tray almost full, I take a seat at one of the far-end tables. I sit down and stare at the porridge, and at the spoon next to it. How will I eat this? How are the other people eating this? Ugh. I really need to learn how to do things around here. I won’t use the spoon. Simple. I grip the bowl as hard as I can and dump the porridge directly into my mouth. They are all staring at me. I must look like an animal. I quickly finish the porridge and eat the rest of the breakfast. But what’s that red, mushy stuff that was put on my plate? I ask one of the people and they tell me that it’s meat. Wait, what?! They actually kill animals and eat those here? Eww. As soon as I’m done eating (I left the meat behind, no way I’m eating that), I leave the shelter. The morning sun shines over the village(?). I walk along the huge, rectangular buildings. The entire location reminds me of Manehattan, which I’ve visited once. And that’s when I notice that none of the creatures are walking on the street. Must be why that man yelled at me last night. I finally stop walking when I come across a blue building with multiple steps leading to double glass doors. The sign says, ‘Canterlot City Public Library.’ Library, yes! That’s exactly what I need. I get inside and start browsing through the biology section. I select a few books and put them down on a small table. Once I’m comfortably seated, I grab a book at random and start reading. Reminds me of the times I’ve been in Canterlot’s library, studying magi- No! Now is not the time to get nostalgic. You’ve barely been gone for a day. I quickly shake my head and get back to my reading. The sooner I understand this world, the better. Okay, so I’m a human. Humans are always fully clothed. These are hands. And these are feet. Hands have fingers, which are used to grab things. Fingers have nails, which have no real use. It’s two hours later, and my table is filled with much more books. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how this world - the human world - works. I now know the name of every part of my body, and what they are supposed to do. But knowing something and actually doing it are completely different things. I grab the pencil with my right hand. I can do this. I position my fingers around the pencil like the book said, and try to create the letters on the blank paper. A.... B... C... It’s a lot more easier with magic. D... E... I stop and take a look at my new handwriting. Sloppy. Messy. Unruly. Maybe I should try this with my left hand? Nah, one hand is hard enough. I sigh and lean back in the chair. In the past few hours, I’ve learned a lot of things. Magic truly doesn’t exist here. It sends shivers down my spine every time I think about it. But, they have something else to compensate for it. Technology. This world’s technology is considerably more advanced than that Equestria’s. They have this thing called a ‘phone’, which is basically instant communication across any distance. They also the ‘Internet’, which do- My stomach grumbles. Breakfast didn’t last as long as I hoped. I get up and grab my bag. Shoot! I forgot to study the portal's magic. Nevermind, I'll do that later. I turn around to leave, leaving all the books on the table. Someone else will put them back in place. The warm sun hits my face as soon as I step outside, and I squint my eyes to adjust to its light. Must've been inside longer than I imagined. Now, where will I find food? This city is huge, there must be free food around. I get down the stairs and walk aimlessly around town. Should I go back to the shelter? The food there was rather decent, but there’s gotta be something better around here. The streets are very busy with people and the... The... Machines everywhere. Aha! Restaurant! I go inside and head straight for the counter. An employee greets me with a friendly smile. The main difference between the menu here and those back home is that this world seems to like meat. A lot. I finally find a meat-less list and settle for a lettuce and cheese sandwich. The employer nods, types out my order and gives me my bill. The amount I owe him is in ‘dollars.’ Oh no. This can’t be happening. I quickly put my backpack on the ground, crouch down, and find my bits. I then get up and lay the bits on the counter. He’s confused, I can tell. He apologizes and tells me that this currency isn’t accepted around here. He cancels my order and apologizes again. I slowly make my way outside, dejected. As soon as I’m out in the street, I collapse against the building. I’m alone. Broke. Homeless. Hungry. What have I come to? My stomach grumbles again and I simply can’t ignore it anymore. I touch my face, only to find it wet. Have I been crying? No! Sunset Shimmer doesn’t break down! I wipe away the tears and get up. There has to be free food somewhere else. I don’t have a choice: I have to head back to the shelter. I walk slowly along the street, shoulders slumped and face wet with tears. My eyes suddenly catch a neon sign, visible even in the bright daylight. ‘Everyday Store.’ It’s a grocery store! I step inside and take a look around. The is a few number of customers and an even smaller number of employees. I find an aisle full of bread, buns and baguettes. I look at the food , then at the door and then at the food again. I’m alone is the aisle, and nopo- nobody’s looking at me. I can just take the food and leave immediately. Nobody will know. My stomach grumbles again. It’s louder than before. I’ve stolen plenty of stuff in Equestria, this is just another item in my list. More grumbling. It’s now or never. I grab a hamburger and hot-dog buns. I also take a baguette for good measure. I stuff it all in my backpack. I look around. Left. Right. Left. Right. Coast is clear. I sprint for the exit. The door’s right here, I’ll reach it if I continue to run. I can do thi- I stop running. Not by choice, but because someone is holding my wrist. I slowly turn around and instantly wish I hadn’t. He’s tall, large, and has huge biceps. He’s wearing a uniform. A guard’s uniform. He’s frowning, and I can’t break away from his very, very firm grip. He starts walking and drags me with him. I’m most definitely going to be arrested. This was a bad idea.
Two - Where do I get a job?Calm down, Sunset. Everything’s fine. The security room is small, cramped, and dark. The guard dragged me here right after I was caught stealing from the grocery store. He told me to sit and wait. And then he left. But I’m not scared. Far from that. Sunset Shimmer isn’t scared of anything. I’m just... Nervous. Yeah, nervous. I shift in the small, plastic chair. I’ve always hated waiting. The guard should be back by now. I’m still hungry, by the way. My stomach is constantly grumbling. I slump in the seat and lean against the wall. How did I come to this? The door suddenly opens, and in comes the guard, followed by a second man. They both walk over to me and come to a stop once they’ve reached my chair. The second man has a tag on his uniform, that says, ‘Manager.’ Greeeeat. Just what I need. The store’s manager is here to chastise me and make sure I never see the light of day again. But to my surprise, they don’t do that. The guard returns my backpack, which he had confiscated, and I immediately snatch it away from him. I open the bag, and quickly peek inside. All my stuff is still here, save for the stolen items. The gems are gone too. The men let me off with a verbal warning, since I haven’t stolen anything of important value. They warn me that leniency will not be given next time. Oh, please. Next time, I’ll make sure I don’t get caught. I get up from the uncomfortable chair, sling my bag over my shoulder and allow the guard to show me the way out. I pinch my eyes shut as soon as I step outside. The security room was far too dark, and I have to slowly open my eyes to adjust to the sun’s blinding light. I make my way to the shelter, slower than I would’ve liked. The hunger has made me weak. I also haven’t showered in over 48 hours and I’ve just been arrested. I really need to establish myself in this world. The shelter seems like an eternity away, even though it was a shorter walk earlier this morning. I certainly hope this walk wasn’t for nothing. I am starving right now. I’m too late. By the time I arrive at the homeless shelter, lunch was already served and eaten. There was almost nothing left in the kitchen for me to eat. But they did manage to get me a piece of bread and some leftover soup. It’s enough to satisfy my hunger, though it won’t last long. That wasn’t a lunch! But my stomach is not grumbling like crazy anymore, so I guess it’ll have to do. What to do now? I may need a job, since I don’t want the grocery store incident to repeat itself. I get up from the bench where I was seated and walk up to the receptionist(?) to ask her some questions. I tell her that I need to a stable source of finance, and she pulls out a piece of paper and scribbles a list. She hands it to me. It’s a (a very long) list of potential jobs around the city I can apply for. It’s titled, ‘Teenager jobs around the city.’ Wait, what? Teenager? That can’t be right. I’m older than that. Did the portal take a few years out of life? I push the question aside; there’ll be time to ponder on that later. I take the list, stuff in my pocket and head for the door. I can hear the woman asking for a ‘thank you,’ but I don’t bother. I step out of the shelter, and the warm air hits my face. I take a deep breath. Time for job-hunting. The first place on the list is this coffee shop called ‘Beans & Cream.’ Fitting name. It’s right across the street where the shelter is. I step inside and my muzz- nose is immediately attacked by the aromas of dozens of different coffee flavors. It’s not bad, actually. But it does make me yearn for a warm cup. I pass by the tables and the counter, where countless pastries are on display. Just looking at them is enough to bring me a sense of nostalgia. Princess Celestia and I would have a lot of cookies and cakes during our tea breaks. She would sip her tea and I would stuff my face with ca- Whoa! Someone has bumped into me, and I fell on the floor. Who has dared bumped into Sunset Shimmer?! They will pay! A hand shows up in front of me, supposedly to help me stand up. I am not accepting this! This person dared humiliate me and now has the audacity to help me up? I look up, eyes narrowed, ready to give them a piece of my mind. And I freeze. He’s a boy, and he’s quite handsome, truth be told. He has orange skin and spiked blue hair, and is dressed like a rocker. Maybe I should accept his hand after all. I rise and struggle to gain my footing. I don’t fall again, though, as he’s still firmly holding my hand. His skin is soft and warm, and I don’t want to let go. He apologizes for the incident (as he should be) and offers to pay for a drink. His voice is so smooth and appealing that I blush. I also accept his offer. I’m not one to say ‘no’ to free food. He pays for an oatmilk latte and I drown the entire cup in a single chug. He apologizes again and leaves the cafe. Hold on, why was I here again? Oh, right. To get hired. I approach the register and ask them if they have a vacancy. They do, and the cashier hands me a form and a pen, and tells me to fill it out. I move aside and grip the pen as hard as I can. My new handwriting is still as sloppy as earlier. I write down my name as best as I can and stare at the rest of the paper. Address? I don’t have one. Age? I’m not actually sure what it is. Identification number? I’m technically an illegal immigrant here and may need to forge some documents to get what I need. I sigh. This is gonna be harder than I thought. I leave the cafe, ignoring the stare of the customers who’ve seen my rather ungraceful fall. I’m going to need a job at a place that doesn’t require being documented. I take out my list. Onto the next business. I never realized just how beautiful Equestria’s sunset was until I saw this world’s. Dusk here is drab, plain and lacks the beauty I’m used to. I make my way to the my next destination, asking for directions at every turn. I soon reach it. ‘It’ turns out to be a retail store with the weirdest name ever. ‘Find Everything You Need Right Here!’ I shrug, open the door and get in. I don’t even make it ten steps inside when two tall and skinny men come up to my face to greet me. They are identical and are... Finishing each other’s... Sentences. Guess they must be twins. I get straight to the point. I’m here to earn money. They immediately agree, saying that they could use an extra hand to help them around their shop. They then proceed to give me a tour. The tour is slow and uninteresting. They give me directions and a brief history lesson on where each item comes from. The ‘tour’ ends, and I’m given an explanation on what the job entails. Hold on, I need to do what? Talk to the customers and be diplomatic to them? Treat the customer as my friend? Yeah, no. I’m outta here. It’s already nightfall by the time I arrive at the next business. Darkness has long since settled in and hunger has again taken the best of me. This business sells gardening supplies and is called ‘Loving Nature.’ Not really my style, but I really need money to survive. And it’s closed. Of course it is. Do humans really go home that early? Home. I still don’t have a roof over my head, and I could really use a shower. I make my way back to the shelter, passing the portal. Has it really been 24 hours since I first got here? Feels like forever. I start the next morning early. Day 2 and I really need to make some progress otherwise I’ll never take my rightful place as Equestria’s ruler. A quick shower and breakfast later, and I’m out into the streets again. ‘Loving Nature’ is the today’s first destination. They must have a job opening. A suitable job opening. I step inside and walk up to the cashier at the front desk. The first thing he tells me to provide as soon as I ask for a job vacancy is my identification. Oh Heavens above. Do you really need to be documented to survive around here? He repeats his question. What do I say? What do I do? I’m, uh,... I’m an... immigrant! That’s it! I’m an immigrant. No, I don’t have my documents. I already told you that. Is it really that important? You know what? Fine! I don’t need your stupid job anyway! That’s a lie. I actually do need the job. I’ve crossed out more than half the businesses on my list. Today’s Day 3 and I still have no source of money. Yesterday was an absolute hassle. I spent all day moving about from store to restaurant to shop, but several problems came my way. Documentation, age, appearance, identification, and my homelessness to name a few. I related my trials to the administration of the homeless shelter, who directed me to this place called a ‘mall’. I don’t know what that is, but she said that are plenty of businesses looking to hire. The mall is a considerable distance from the shelter. The road I’ve taken doesn’t even pass by the castle-building and the portal. I feel like I’ve been walking for ages. I should get a watch. I finally arrive at a building. Wow, that’s a huge one! It’s even larger than the castle-building I found near the portal. The walls are tan-colored with green accents, an there’s a large glass dome above. I make my way up to the door and enter. The inside is even bigger than the outside. I would like to say I’ve seen large, sophisticated buildings before - I mean, yours truly used to live in a castle - but this mall is on another level. A fountain lies in the middle of the space, surrounded on three sides by countless rows of shops and stores. I can see a spot to eat behind the fountain and a second story above. You have to take the stairs. Wait. Are the stairs... moving? Anyway. I’m here for a purpose. I make my way towards the first store I see, where clothes are on display. Hopefully, thisʼll be it. I got it! I got hired! Yes! It wasn’t that hard, actually. The man who owns the business looks middle-aged and rich. He took one look at me, asked a few basic questions and just like that, he gave me the job. I start today itself. The owner gave me a name tag and showed me how to use the cash register. He then told me to wait for customers, then left me to my own devices. I am now standing at the register, ‘cause nobody’s here yet. I must’ve been too early. I’m gonna admit it: I’ve never had a real job before. My entire life’s been catered for by others, whether it be my parents or Celestia. Celestia. Just thinking of her name is enough to make me scream in rage. I grip the counter’s edge harder, almost turning my knuckles white. How dare she? How dare she?! This is all her fault! I desire nothing more than to find her and tell her exactly what I thin-! The door opens, interrupting my tirade. A customer walks in. I take a deep breath, straighten out my clothes and lean on the counter. Cool, calm, casual. Perfect. The customer heads over to the racks of clothes and accessories and a salesperson assists her. I keep on standing here, arms crossed and leaning on the counter. About fifteen minutes later - it seemed like forever - the customer approaches the cash register to make her purchase. She drops her items on the counter and pulls out her wallet. I take the device that scans ‘barcodes’. What did the boss call them again? Nevermind. Numbers appear on the other device on the counter. (Seriously. Why do humans need so many technological devices?) She asks for a bag. I groan, but comply. Then she asks me to put her purchases in the bag. I groan again and stuff her items inside. I hand her bags over to her. She’s turns around to leave, but then she faces me again. Okay, listen, lady. Last I checked, this job doesn’t require to wish people a “good day”. So don’t ask, alright? She finally leaves, mumbling something something along the lines of “rude”. I don’t care. I sigh again. Is the whole day going to be like this? Six hours and eleven customers later, the shop closes. The rest of the day was slow, but not as easy as I originally thought. My boss came by to check on me quite often, and he got uncomfortably close to my body. I leave the shop and the mall, which is mostly empty by now. My boss gave me lunch earlier, but I don’t know how long it’s going ot last. The streets are mostly empty and I start my long trek back to the shelter. I dislike that place, but it’s either there or the streets. I pass by several unfamiliar buildings. The setting gradually shift from a sophisticated town center to let-down buildings that could use some renovation. Hold up. Where am I? I look behind me. I didn’t pass by the portal. That’s my reference point! Oh no. Oh no. I’m lost. Author's Note Itʼs finally here. The long-awaited update. Thank you all for sticking with me and being patient. I Pinkie Promise that the next update wonʼt take that long. See ya around!
Three - What’s wrong with this world?Breathe in, breathe out. Youʼll get through this. Let’s review the situation here. I am currently in an unknown street, in an unfamiliar town, in an unfamiliar world. I won’t panic. I can’t, or I’ll never find my way back back to the shelter. The sun has already set by now, enveloping the entire area under a dark blanket. The streetlight is the only source of light. I turn around and walk in the opposite direction from where I came. Yeah, that should work. I should find the shelter back in no time. It didn't work. I'm still lost and more hungry than ever before. I guess I don't have a choice. I have to ask for... help. I pass by several businesses, most of them already closed due to the late time. At this rate, I'll have to sleep on the street. A-ha! I spot an open business. It's a restaurant, I think. I push open the double doors. And they're about to close. I hurry past the tables and head straight for the counter and ask for the nearest homeless shelter. I hope I'm still in the same town. The man who works at the counter scribbles the directions on a nearby napkin and hands it over to me with a large, sickening smile. I leave the restaurant immediately. I got what I need, no need to stay here any longer. Besides, I don't have money, and no dollars means no food. The streets are even darker now. I have to squint my eyes to see what's ahead of me. I pick up my pace. I suddenly hear hoofsteps, I mean footsteps, coming from behind me. Am I being followed? I look back, and that’s when I notice a couple of shadowy figures walking right behind me. Whoever they are, they are approaching fast. I take a deep breath and walk faster. Shelter. I need to seek shelter now. After what feels like forever, I finally spot a dark alley ahead. I break into a run so that those creeps can’t see where I‘m going. Okay, Sunset, you can do this. This is just like the grocery store incident a few days back. Except this time, you’re running for your life. I swiftly turn around into the alley and go to the far end. I lean back against the wall and attempt, in vain, to catch my breath. I don’t dare peak out to see if I’ve lost them. The alley is dark, small, and narrow. Maybe I should just hide here until morning. Trying to find shelter is apparently useless. Who knew that nights could be that scary? Evenings in Equestria are so peaceful. I take a few silent breaths and wait. Those creeps' voices are getting louder now. I back away to the end of the alley. They’re approaching. They won’t see. I’m sure they won’t. There’s no way they could- Oh no. I may have accidentally kicked a stray pebble. Sweat is now dripping down my clothes and I’m hyperventilating. The voices are getting even louder. They’re coming. And surely enough, not even two minutes after hearing the noise, they’re here. At the open end of the alley. I turn to look. ‘They’ turns out to be some sort of gang. There are four muscular boys. One of them, I’m assuming is the leader, smiles wickedly and says that he wants to ‘play’ with me. Wait. Does he mean...? Heavens above, humans are evil. I keep backing away until I reach the far wall. Had this been Equestria, I would easily have saved myself with my superior magic skills. But this isn’t Equestria. I can barely use my human body, yet fight others. I’m doomed. But there is no way I’m going to stoop as low as to beg for my life. I’m Sunset Shimmer, for Heavens’ sake! I straighten up and wipe off the stray fear-induced tears off my cheek. If I’m going down, then I’m going down with a fight. The gang is approaching me. The leader extends his hand and just as he is about to touch me, he freezes. And so do I. We froze because someone ordered us to. I cock my head past the gang leader, to look at the mysterious person. And there he is: the guard who’s currently saving my life. His skin is white and his mane - I mean, hair - is of several shades of blue, which match his blue eyes. He’s wearing what I assume is a uniform. But most importantly, he has a weapon - it resembles the pistols I’ve read about in the library - pointed at us. No, wait. It’s pointed at the gang leader. The guard orders the gang leader to step away from me. When the latter refuses to comply, the guard approaches us both, keeping his pistol pointed at the gang leader. All of a sudden, the gang leader grabs me by my jacket. The guard orders him to let go. And then it happened. The guard fired his pistol and shot in the leg. The latter was taken aback and lets go of me. I fall on the ground, on my butt. I close my eyes and let out a long moan. Because, damn, that fall hurt. After a few seconds, I open my eyes and take in the scene before me. The gang leader is sitting on the ground, his left leg wrapped in a red makeshift bandage and his handcuffed behind his back. The rest of the gang is nowhere to be found. The guard approaches me. He had a flashlight in one hand and extends his hand. I take it and he helps me to my feet. He asks if I’m okay and if I need to go to the hospital. No! Anything but the hospital. He accepts my decision and nods. Thanks to the light, I notice a few details I hadn’t quite seen before. His uniform is a dark blue, for instance. On the left sleeve, there’s the logo of Canterlot Police Department. What’s the police? Questions for later, I suppose. The guard also has a silver badge that says ‘Officer S. Armor’. He offers me a ride home, an offer I readily accept because I need to get back to the shelter. I tell him to head to Canterlot’s homeless shelter and he looks at me with questioning eyes, but says nothing. He goes back to the gang leader and pulls him up. I follow them both outside the alley. The night is dark and cold. Kinda reminds me of my first night in this world, which was mere days ago. Armor takes the gang leader inside his... truck? Motorbike? Car? Yes, car. That big, wheeled machine is a car, according to the Vehicles of the World book I recently read. I walk to one of the four doors, only to be stopped by Armor, who tells me to use the other door. I put one foot inside and immediately hit my head with the door frame. My scream is loud. Armor rushes to my side and helps me inside the car. He then ties some sort of leather belt across me that keeps me secured to my seat. I suppose that’s what the book meant by ‘seatbelts’. In front of me, there’s what the book described as a ‘dashboard’, which looks like a control board with hundreds of buttons. Armor sits next to me and drives. We arrive at the shelter faster than I expected. Armor quickly gets out and opens the door for me. I guess he’s afraid I might hit my head again. I step out and head for the shelter doors. Right before I step in, I turn back and mutter a quick, almost inaudible ‘thank you’. I suppose he heard me, because he smiled and then drove away. I enter the front lobby of the shelter and collapse on the one of the couches. I’m exhausted. I feel like I could sleep for weeks. I should really get to bed, ‘cause I still have work tomorrow. The old lady behind the desk suddenly notices my arrival. She looks worried and asks me what happened. There is no way I’m telling her anything. She doesn’t need to know, and neither does anyone else. Tonight’s story makes me seem weak and Sunset Shimmer is not weak. I tell her that there’s nothing to worry about and wave my hand for emphasis. But she’s persistent. She leaves the desk and walks towards me, repeating her question. I’m fine, okay?! Stop asking! I... what? No, I don’t stink! Okay, maybe I do. D’you have showers here? I get up from the couch and she leads me to the showers. She also shows me the pile of clean clothes in the laundry room across the bathrooms. I grab a towel and go inside the bathroom without another word. The shower is small and slightly filthy, but I don’t have enough to take in the place. I slowly remove my clothes and hang them on a a nearby hook. They are dirty and reek of sweat and perspiration. That black leather jacket isn’t really sweaty, though. It’s nice, too. I wouldn’t mind wearing it all the time. I turn on the only faucet in the room and allow the cold water to splash over my face and onto my body. Human bodies are weird. They look like apes. And human skin is so rough compared to soft pony fur. I also don’t understand the need to stay covered all the time. Once I’m done, I turn off the faucet and pat myself dry. I suppose I need to cover up, too. So I wrap the towel under my shoulders, take my clothes and boots, and leave the shower. The clean clothes bin at in the laundry room doesn’t give me a lot of options. I pick up a red T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Simple, but they should do. I drop my clothes, save for the jacket, into the dirty clothes bin and leave, taking my boots with me. I head for the sleeping area and collapse on the bed. That night’s sleep was dreamless. I wake up early the next morning. I rose slowly and rub my eyes. My pilllow’s wet from the shower last night. I get up, put on my boots and my jacket and grab my backpack. I got work to do. I’m off to work right after breakfast. The walk to Canterlot Mall is much shorter than last time, mainly because I know where I’m going. My boss is there of course, opening the store. I step inside and he greets me with a hug. I put as much distance as possible between us two. The rest of the day is mundane. I enjoy the change of pace, given how... interesting last night was. The customers come and go, making their purchases. Nothing major happens. My boss came by and informed me that wages are given weekly, which is honestly a relief, because I can’t imagine waiting an entire month to get paid. I need money and I need it fast. I’m becoming really irritated by my boss’ weird hugs and how close he comes to me when we talk. The work day ends with a rather wealthy customer who decided she wanted almost 40 items in the store. A coworker of mine is called to help register the sales because my boss thinks I can’t handle it alone. The customer ends up spending almost $200. I leave the store at around 04:30, earlier than yesterday. This time, I ask for directions from within the mall itself. I am not about to repeat yesterday’s mistake. Thanks to various people and their helpful directions, I make it back to the shelter in no time and head straight to dinner. When I pass by the desk, the old lady stares at me, a concerned look on her face. I ignore and continue to walk. Dinner is a quiet affair. I eat my food alone, still refusing to consume the meat they serve. The shelter isn’t so bad. I mean, it’s far more inferior than Canterlot Castle and my childhood home in Canterlot, but it’s okay. The bed is comfortable enough, the food is good and they have showers and laundry service. I could get used to staying here until I go back to Equestria. It’s not like I’m staying here for long. This shelter simply eliminates my problem of figuring where to sleep and eat. I finish my dinner and head to bed. Another morning, same routine. Yup, routine. I get up, eat breakfast, head to work, work, then come back and have dinner. I need to find time in between to find out how to regain power so I can take my rightful place as ruler of Equestria. After breakfast, I leave through the lobby. I expect to walk straight past the old lady, but that’s not what happens this morning. Before I can leave, she stops me and tells me to wait. What does she want now? I glance at the clock. I can’t afford to be late. She comes back with the clothes I had left in the laundry room, now fresh and clean. She gives them to me. I ask why. She tells me that I can’t stay here any longer. I’ve been kicked out. Author's Note Hiya, lovely peeps! I know, I know. I did say I would update more frequently, but I can’t, no matter how hard I try. Now, I feel the need to explain a few things. First off, I’m pretty sure the police isn’t a thing in Equestria. Sure, we’ve seen it in Manehattan, but I don’t think Sunset’s ever been there. I know that Sunset being miraculously saved is too convenient (because it is too convenient), but what else is supposed to happen? She's new to her body, on top of being lost, cornered and scared. She can’t run or fight or manipulate her way out. Hence the miraculous savior! In this story, Sunset has really good memory. So don’t be surprised if she suddenly remembers things that’ve occurred a long time ago. That’s all for today. I won’t make any promises, but rest assured that I will update again. Sometime. Enjoy this chapter for now!
