Old Empathy

Two month prior:

As soon as Sunset was ordered to pack her belongings, a burst of joy flooded her heart and she rushed to her room, carelessly stuffing clothes, books, and personal items into her bag. When she made her way downstairs, she saw a woman waiting at the counter. The woman had dark purple skin, slightly brighter hair, and a scar running through her right eye. She wore an elegant outfit resembling a military uniform, which made Sunset pause.

Though Sunset had witnessed the adoption process many times before, she suddenly realised that her current situation was nothing like it. There were no introductory talks or supervised visits, and she had never even met this woman before.

“Sunset Shimmer?” the woman asked in a neutral tone.

Sunset nodded, taking a step back. Something was wrong.

“I’m Tempest Shadow. Follow me.” Without waiting for a reply, Tempest turned and headed towards the exit. When Sunset hesitated, Tempest glanced back. “Are you coming or not?”

Sunset looked back at the man sitting at the counter on his computer.

“Do as she says,” he replied, noticing her gaze. “You’re now under her care.”

“Just like that?” Sunset asked.

The man shrugged.

Sunset turned back to Tempest, who impatiently tapped her foot on the ground. With a grunt, Sunset followed after her.

She didn't have a choice anyway.

Sunset's suspicions only grew when she was escorted to a limousine and driven by a chauffeur to the train station. Looking around the cabin, she felt as if she had stepped into a science fiction movie: multiple screens, control panels, and a whole computer setup were present.

“Would you like a drink?” Tempest offered.

Sunset slowly shook her head. Tempest shrugged and pressed a few buttons, after which a slide opened, revealing a plastic cup of hot beverage. Tempest took it and settled into her seat.

“What is all of this?” Sunset asked.

“This is modern—”

“No,” Sunset interrupted her. “What's going on? Why were you able to adopt me like that?”

“I didn’t adopt you,” Tempest replied in a disgusted voice. “I’m moving you elsewhere.”

“To where?” Sunset crossed her arms.

“Manehattan,” Tempest replied.

“Why?”

“How do you know about Canterlot City?” Tempest asked instead.

Sunset tilted her head. “What does that have to do with anything else?”

“Do you have any relatives from there?”

“First tell me why it matters!” Sunset clenched her fists. “And don’t think that just because I’m an orphan I can’t defend myself!”

Tempest sneered. “It doesn’t matter what you’d say, I already know that you have no relatives from there and would have no reason to have heard of it before.”

“Then why did you ask?” Sunset furrowed her eyebrows.

“You caught my attention because you searched for it.”

Sunset leaned her back in surprise. Did Tempest mean when she searched for it on the internet? Why would Tempest care so much about Canterlot City?

“Are you from the secret service?” Sunset asked.

“United Nations,” Tempest replied.

Sunset’s jaw dropped. The United Nations? Wasn’t this an intergovernmental organisation? Why would they care for her searching up Canterlot City? It was just an ordinary city after all, albeit one that was somehow connected to her recurring nightmare.

“Is it now a crime to search for this city?” Sunset asked sarcastically.

“No, it’s not. But what’s interesting is that you searched for it along with the term ‘recurring nightmare’. Care to tell me what happens in your nightmare since we’re already there?”

Sunset didn't reply and instead focused on trying to decipher Tempest's emotionless expression.

“You can tell me now or later, but I'll find out eventually,” Tempest stated, as she gazed out the window. “For now, we need to catch the train to Manehattan.”

When Tempest had told Sunset that their destination was Manehattan, she had expected to arrive directly in the heart of the city. However, they stopped in an outer region and approached what appeared to be an old factory building. She looked around, but the presence of armed guards, who joined them as soon as they had entered the train, made it obvious that she had no chance to escape.

“Don’t fear,” Tempest reassured. “The factory is just a facade.”

Sunset hoped for it.

They entered the building, and Sunset looked confused around. The space resembled an abandoned machine room, with dust covering everything and rust eating away at the metal surfaces. It seemed far from a modern basement funded by the United Nations.

However, the ground opened and revealed a hidden staircase leading down.

“And this is where our tax dollars go,” Sunset couldn’t resist saying.

Tempest didn’t reply.

Sunset was soon escorted to a small room that had all the basic amenities she needed. The door was closed and locked behind her without a word.

She let out a sigh and sat down on the bed, taking a moment to process the situation she was right now. She had been taken away from the orphanage and brought here by what she assumed to be military soldiers or a special task force. Tempest, though emotionless and cold, had at least not mistreated Sunset during the ride here–she just hoped it would stay that way.

She looked at the mirror before her and went to it to press her finger against the surface. She exhaled when she saw no gap between her finger and its reflection, meaning that this was a one-way mirror.

“Whoever is watching me, I know you do,” Sunset said loudly.

She waited, despite knowing that no one would reply.

Was she in a form of prison? A research facility? She had been left alone on the train, so she couldn’t have asked Tempest any more questions. Sunset knew that her presence here had something to do with Canterlot City, and maybe also about her recurring nightmare, but what exactly? She hoped to find it out sooner or later. Nevertheless, she felt no fear or worry at the moment. At least this was a change from her monotonous daily routine at the orphanage.

She unpacked her belongings and placed her clothes in the cupboard. Then she took out a book she had brought with her and began reading it.

She couldn’t do much else anyway.