She struggled, pushing her way forcefully into the real world. The ground shattered like glass. The other ponies started yelling something but she couldn't hear. Her ears were ringing. She could tell they meant business.

Fine, if this world had no place for her, then she'd make sure no one else could have it either. She began charging whatever was left of her magic. This would be the final act, turning herself into the greatest firework ever seen. More shouting. It was time. She went to unleash the spell, only to find herself encased in a bubble. Time slowed for her. She knew she was only going to hurt herself with her own explosion. They couldn't even let her go out in style. She desperately retreated to the dream as the spell seared her flesh in the real world, separating her mind and body. This wasn't right. She was meant to be...

Flawless jumped awake in shock, panting heavily, sweat on her brow. She looked around her at the much more comforting site of the backstage, just like she left it. She got up the out of bed, poofing her favorite top hat onto her noggin with a small burst of confetti.

"Stupid dream princess. One job damnit! What happened to guarding creatures from nightmares. Apparently Flawless is not a high priority!" She yelled to no one.

She stopped to calm down, summoning a pocket watch so she could see the time. She hadn't replaced the batteries in the only clock in the room yet. It was around noon. She wasn't actually sure if that that was a normal time for ponies to wake up, but none the less began to plan her day.

There was a lot to do. She needed to get some kind of income so she could purchase things like wood, paint, and nails. That way she could construct her own props. Her pride also made her not want to rely on charity, so finding a way to get food was a must. Maybe she could summon it? That would mean a trip to the library.

She went to the uncracked mirror of the group and made sure her mane was flawless. Yup. Looking good. It was time to go.

Stepping out of the back room she made her way to the stage, she paused for a moment, imagining the crowds she would one day have. She hopped down with only a shake of her head and entered the park.

Shockingly there was a completely different cast of characters at the park today. Someone who looked like she was a mother of three on a bench chatting with a friend. Well at least the big city wouldn't be boring: a new site every day.

She turned to the comfort of the familiar vine covered building as she started making her way to the soup kitchen. Passing by more bright signs, though less so under the light of the sun. A dishelved looking man took a smoke break outside of a deli, watching the clouds go. A group of teens ran past her in a hurry to find trouble. Their interruption caused her to pause. A general goods store, and a chain at that. All white and corporate on the inside. She'd seen one in Ponyville for sure. At least she thought. Maybe it was Twilight?

Flawless entered, wondering why she was even there until she felt herself drawn you the games section. There was a whole section for cards. The trading variety didn't interest her but the playing cards did. She smirked and selected a set she thought was pretty.

Flawless pretended to browse shelves for a bit, moving to a spot where she should see the front windows. In reality, she was waiting for something. A slack jawed pony listening to headphones began to pass, and she made her move.

Her greatest trick was that she could swap places with another creature, making it so the were doing what she was just doing and vice versa. So she did! Suddenly she was the one on the street listening to music (though their music taste sucked) and the other pony was inside browsing sleeves. They looked around in confusion, and Flawless booked it before they saw her!

Now she has a music player and a way to make money! She wondered if the soup kitchen had any place to charge it. Skipping through several terrible songs, she settled on one and made her way to the kitchen.

Naturally with her new headphones she was completely ignored by passerbys, which was fine. Your average office worker. Tourists. She passed by them all. She spotted her landmark: a building with extremely red bricks. (That Pegasus had been right) She confidently strode into the kitchen.

The line today was long. Really long. It seemed line there was only one employee. She wanted soup now damnit! She started scheming. Without a word she hoped the counter, poofed up a hair net and took a bow.

"The fanatastical mare in the mirror will aid you in your time of need.. in return for soup."

The older pony working there breathed a sigh of relief, chided for for scaring them half to death, and grateful put her to work.

The air was tense at first but Flawless naturally won her over with her incredible personality. An hour or two would pass. She was graciously washing dishes, trying to get them spotless, when she received a tap on the shoulder.

"Heya hon. Thanks for the help today. I can take it from here, go eat. Y'all must be starving." They gave her such a warm smile that any quip or attempt to deny got caught in her throat. She simply nodded her head and sat down, this time in the much less decorated but much more secluded break area.

She thought about that smile. No one had ever smiled at her yet huh? Not more then a passing nod at least. She supposed she must be doing pretty good if she got her first smile in only three days.

She looked at the music player. A peculair feeling hit her chest. With a sigh, she cast a simple spell. That random pony should find it back in their pockets in a moment.

She was keeping the cards though.

Flawless tipped her hat to the employee as she made her way out.

"Thanks again hon! See y'all tomorrow!"

Not if she had anything to say about it. Next stop: the library! She began confidently marching down the street.

... She had no clue where the library was.

She made her way back to the soup kitchen and peeked her head in to ask. Directions had her on her way to 32nd Street, past the convenience store at the corner. A man exited the store with what appeared to be a bag of marshmallows and nothing else.

Flawless reached the library. Old and rustic, but well loved. Copper statues had been turned a bronze color from many soft touches over time. A group of ponies somewhere between their teens and their 20s hung out on the steps, just talking.

She entered the library, aware that she'd need to put her usual bombast on hold. A quiet conversation with a librarian who gave her a knowing look sent her to the section on spells. She stopped to observe the library. Hundreds of old oak shelves. Ponies sitting in comfy bean bags or at hard wooden tables. She felt a bit of a calling here. She thought perhaps there's no creature on the planet who could resist the quiet peace this place brought.

She passed by someone else browsing. She wasn't quite sure what kind of spell she would need, so she just took down a bunch of books. She stopped when she had a satisfactory pile in front of her, and grabbed the comfiest seat she could.

It would be closing when she finally left, not even noticing the passing of time while absorbed learning so many trivial spells she could cast. She had already found what she needed and kept going anyways.

Flawless gave a small apology to the librarian and made her way home through the now quiet streets. It was much too late to make a ruckus. Tomorrow she would perform her first act for the city.

Familiar sites, signs now too bright against the night gloom. The old building with vines. A playground absent of children.

Flawless sat aside the book she day borrowed in her small make shift home. She settled down, and prepared to debut her newest act: self sufficiency. She began casting the spell, 'create meal'

She got a sandwich.

Flawless let out a sigh, finished her 'meal', and got ready for bed.

Author's Note

Good evening!

Time for a new chapter. Flawless still isn't good at the morales thing yet, give her time!