Escape from Arora Ridge Quarry

Sugar Moonlight grinned brightly as she led Lily and Rosedust through downtown Zephyr Heights. All three were exhausted; it had been a long trip from Maretime Bay, and they were looking forward to a rest. However, as Sugar guided them using her phone, the streets she led them down became increasingly grottier and rundown.

Then, as they approached a large tower block of flats, Rosedust stopped as she stared over the top of her sunglasses in disgust. “Are you sure this is the right place, Sugar?”

The multi-floored building looked like its glory days had long passed. The exterior cladding may have once been white, but it had faded into a dark grey. Streaks of black mess ran down it from every horizontal surface. Green streaks also ran down the sides from various outlets. Graffiti was daubed at different places around the building.

Sugar grimaced slightly but quickly put on a brave smile. “Don’t judge a book by its cover. This is a huge opportunity for us, remember.”

Rosedust sniffed. “Well, it had better be better inside."

“I think we wait and see,” Lily smiled optimistically. “It’s the only place we could get.”

"Exactly, don't shoot a gift pony in the mouth," Sugar beamed. "Come on, everypony."

First impressions inside the building were no better than the outside. The entrance was dank and had an odd smell. Litter was scattered all over the place. The lift clearly saw better days and had a notice saying it was out of order.

Therefore, the trio headed towards the stairs. The stairwells had an even more pungent smell. They were concrete and utilitarian, with piles of rubbish gathered in the corners. More graffiti was also daubed around, and they looked worriedly at some of the anti-Unity slogans.

“The apartment itself will be better,” Sugar promised.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Rosedust muttered.

When they found the apartment, Sugar opened the door with excitement. She entered first, followed quickly by an equally excited Lily. However, as they looked around, their excitement melted away.

“Knew it,” Rosedust sighed.

The apartment was furnished, but there was a musty smell. Upon inspection, the walls had dated wallpaper, which had black damp marks in the corners. The kitchen was just as dated, too, with an oven that looked like it had come out of the previous century. However, it seemed relatively clean, at least.

Rosedust looked disgusted as she looked at the three single beds in the only bedroom. “So, tell me why we left Maretime Bay again?”

“Because the Twinkle Sky Modelling Agency is the best in Equestria,” Lily responded. “We need to live in Zephyr Heights to make it big with them.”

“Lily’s right,” Sugar added optimistically. “This place is just a stopgap. Thanks to all our hard work with social media, we’re one hoof away from the big leagues.”

“And you’re sure we’ll make the big leagues?” Rosedust frowned.

“Of course we will,” Sugar grinned. "Once we get some work, we’ll all be able to afford our own places.”

Rosedust frowned and turned her nose up doubtfully. “Oh, and how do we get work?”

“We do what our agent says,” Sugar smiled brightly. “Trust me, he’s the best there is. Before we know it, we’ll all be moving out of here.”

Lily grinned as she put a hoof over Sugar’s shoulder. “Sugar’s right. She’s not led us wrong since CanterLogic closed.”

Rosedust sighed and finally looked a little more positive. “Okay, forming the Filly Four to take on social media together was genius. Even though we kept having to get to know new ponies for the fourth slot.”

Sugar held a hoof to her mouth as she giggled, “I can’t even remember the name of that last Unicorn.”

“I think it was Minty,” Lily replied. “Wait, no, Milly.”

“No, that wasn’t it,” Rosedust chuckled. “I thought it was Marcy.”

“It was something like that,” Sugar laughed. "It doesn’t matter. Whoever she was, she’s a nopony to us now. Let’s try to make this place a little more habitable. Then, we’ll find out what we need to do and move out of here as soon as possible.”

However, the trio's first months were hard. The agency paid them a basic rate for just being on their books. The problem was that even by combining all three paychecks, they couldn’t make the rent payments. Therefore, all three were forced to use their savings to make up the shortfall and pay for essentials.

They were walking together on their way back from the castle, having been lucky enough to be in the Together Tree Garden when Sunny and her friends defeated Opaline.

“I can’t believe we got to see the Queen up close,” Rosedust smiled.

“I know, right,” Sugar grinned. “I thought it was great to meet our agent face to face, too, finally.”

“Oh, that was brilliant as well,” Rosedust giggled. “I knew he was going to be a hottie.”

“He’s married, you know,” Lily sighed.

Sugar laughed and shook her head. “From the sound of it, it shouldn’t be too long until we get some modelling work.”

“You’re right there, Sugar,” Rosedust smirked.

“Fortunately, I’ve still got enough savings to cover my contribution to this month's rent,” Sugar continued. “By next month, we should be on our way to getting out of that horrible apartment.”

“I hope you're right, Sugar,” Lily agreed.

Rosedust started hanging back as they continued walking. She nodded at Lily, indicating she should do the same.

“What is it?” Lily asked.

“Just to let you in on a secret, I’ve already been getting lots of work,” Rosedust smirked.

“Y…You have?” Lily gasped. “Well, I did get a little work last week. I’m worried; I don’t think Sugar’s gotten any yet.”

“Trust me, we’ll be out of that flat way before Sugar,” Rosedust advised. “If you wait for her, you’ll be stuck there for moons.”

With that, Rosedust picked up speed to catch up to Sugar. Lily blinked with confusion, feeling very conflicted. However, she grunted as she felt a tickle in her throat. A tickle she’d been feeling since they’d moved into the apartment and was getting worse. She sighed as she realised she didn’t have a choice. She had to get out as soon as possible.

Time passed, and despite Sugar’s optimism, she found work wasn’t forthcoming. She sighed as she exited the Pawn Shop. “I’d better get some work soon,” she muttered. “I don’t have much left. I really liked those sunglasses.”

She sighed as she arrived back at the block. As she entered, she found the lift once again out of order—not that she trusted it anyway. She grimaced as she avoided the pile of rubbish in the stairwell, which was clearly getting bigger. As she reached the apartment, she couldn’t help sighing with relief.

“Lily, Rosedust, you here?” she called as she opened the door.

Sugar stepped inside and gasped as she nearly tripped over a pair of saddlebags. She frowned in confusion before calling out again. “Lily? Rosedust? Where are you?”

Lily gasped as she appeared from the bathroom, clutching several toiletry items. “Oh, Sugar. I didn’t think you would be back yet.”

“W…What’s going on?” Sugar frowned. “Where’s Rosedust?”

Lily sighed as she headed to the saddlebags, depositing the toiletries inside before closing the flap. She gulped before looking back at Sugar with a guilty expression.

“Truth is, we’re both moving out,” Lily admitted. “We’ve both got enough money to afford our own places.”

Sugar’s eyes widened as she stepped backwards in shock, “W…What, how?”

“Well, we’ve got enough modelling work to pay for our own places,” Lily replied. “I’m sorry, Sugar, I can’t stay here a moment longer. You were right about needing it, but something’s affecting my health here, and I need to get away before it gets any worse.”

The colour drained from Sugar's face, “B…but I’ve not done any work. I call our agent daily, but he says nothing is coming up for me. He tells me what to put on the socials, but nothing changes.”

Lily sighed before coughing and trying to clear her throat. “I really don’t understand why not. Honestly, you’re a brilliant model, Sugar. I’m really sorry, but I can’t stay here anymore. It’s not doing my throat any good.”

“B…But, Lily,” Sugar pleaded. “I won’t be able to afford the rent on my own. Please, you’ve got to help me. C…Couldn’t I maybe move with you? I…I’ll cook and clean and do all the shopping and… and…”

Lily sighed as she shook her head. “My new place is only for one pony. That’s how I can afford it.”

“Lily, please, we’ve been through so much together,” Sugar begged. “You’ve got to help me somehow.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t afford to pay your rent as well as mine,” Lily replied. “To be honest, I only really became your friend in the first place to get noticed in the modelling world. But you’ve been a great friend, Sugar. I honestly really like you, and I’m sorry I can’t help you. If our friendship ends here, I’ll understand.”

Sugar blinked and looked on with shock as Lily picked up her saddle bags. Without another word, Lily walked out of the apartment. Then, with a final sorrow-filled look, she closed the door behind her.

Sugar sat down in shock, her mouth going dry as she stared blankly at the door.

After Rosebud and Lily left, Sugar called her agent daily to ask for work. She didn’t want to sound desperate, but as time went on, that was what she became. Eventually, this seemed to pay off, as she finally got on a photo shoot. However, it wasn’t modelling anything fancy, just household cleaning products.

Sugar wasn’t sure they’d even include her face in the advertisements. It was the kind of thing that she had told herself she’d never model for. However, it meant she could pay her next rent payment with the last of her savings.

Then, after phoning her agent, she got the worst news possible.

“What do you mean I’m being let go!” she exclaimed.

“Sugar, sweetheart, it’s just you’re not wanted by anypony.”

“But…But we have a contract.”

“No, we had a contract. Check your copy, darling. Paragraph 14, subsection 2A. It states that the agency will regularly review the models on our books. Anypony not receiving enough work will have their contract terminated.”

“You don’t understand. I need this work. There’s no way I can even afford the rent without it. I did everything you told me to do. How can you just drop me like this?”

“Listen, Sugar. Sweet name ‘n all, but someponys have it and someponys don’t. It’s a cutthroat world out there, and we ain’t payin’ you for doing nothing.”

With that, the agent hung up, leaving a mortified Sugar holding the phone to her ear as the dial tone played.

Knowing full well that she needed money, Sugar immediately began searching for a job—anything that would allow her to pay the rent.

She searched newspapers, websites, and social media, applying for anything and everything she could. However, she never got a response from any of them. As a result, the next rent payment day came, and Sugar could not pay.

She reassured herself that there would be some leeway. It would be a few months of non-payments before she’d face eviction. However, she returned late one evening to find a letter on the doormat.

Frowning, she picked it up and opened it. Then, her blood ran cold as she read it was an eviction notice.

“No, that can’t be right,” she said to herself. “It can’t be.”

She hurried to her bedroom and opened one of the drawers in the bedside cabinet. She searched through it until she found the rental agreement. Desperately, she read through it. Her eyes widened as she read the confirmation she didn’t want to see.

“How?” she gasped as her mouth turned dry. “How can they just evict me like this?”

Feeling numb, she looked around the flat. Confirming what she already knew, everything she could see had come with it. It wasn’t hers.

“I…I need some air,” she decided.

With that, she headed out the door and walked towards a nearby park. She had no idea what adventure was ahead of her.