//------------------------------//
// An Eventful Night 
// Story: Pursuit of happiness 
// by Reagan 
//------------------------------//


Walking down the halls of Canterlot High, there is no sound, no proper amount of illumination for any school. It's a ghostly place.

For Sunset Shimmer, she is walking down the halls, only her footsteps can be heard. Despite having some light, she cannot properly deduce the full details of her environment, only walking by her instincts. She did not feel any fear, nor dread, almost like this place is normal for her.

"Look what do we have here?", a sarcastic and distorted voice blurted out from behind Sunset. She quickly turned around, and her adrenaline got kicked into overdrive. There she is, the demon, looking at her arms crossed and a smirk on her face that only reveal two of her fangs protruding out from her lips. "How are you still here!?", Sunset replied. She want to run, but is unable to do so. Chuckling, the demon step closer and closer to Sunset, saying, "You really think a simple blast will purge me from you?", she rolled her black eyes with green pupils as she continued, "Please, as long as you are still on earth, the corruption will still be in you. You are branded with it even before you wore the crown.". Sunset is afraid, but she did not show it. She then argued back, "Well jokes on you, I am no longer that person. I'd changed, and I will never let you take control of me ever again.". The demon laughed again, and she retorted, "But for how long? I am still in you, and you can only deal with it so much. Eventually, you will succumb to the same fate that you are saved from again.". And with the last statement, the demon blast into flames.

Sunset jumped back at the sudden disappearance. Her eyes then widened as she felt a surge of pain throughout her body, causing her to fell onto the ground and scream. Then it happened, wings sprouted out from her back, followed by a tail below it. Both of these actions caused her skin to be ripped and some massive amount of blood to soak out from her clothes, leaving her in further agony. Then, her body got so hot that smoke appeared from her body and her skin started to boil and sizzle. Any part of her body that is in contact with the ground hurt even more, causing her to drop and roll around, crying even louder than before. Then when she opened her eyes again, it appeared to be black and green pupils appeared on it. She then look at her hands, it distorted painfully into a set of claws, and she can feel her feet going under the same transformation too. Then she can feel her ears deform and lengthen, her teeth growing sharper, then an sharp appendage ripping out from her forehead. After that, she saw red pigmentation appeared on the hands, followed by the rest of her body. 

After the agonising process, the pain subsided instantly. Sunset stood back up, then look at her hands, the proceed to feel every part of her body. She was shocked, a streak of black tear coming out from her left eye. Not expecting things to become worst, she then saw the entire school hallway shatter like they are just paintings on glass, leaving her in a black void. Sunset tried to look for an exit, but the moment when she took a step, she yelped in surprise as an object dropped from the sky, revealing it to a rectangular sheet of mirror. She stared at her reflection in horror, then when she tried to sprint towards the opposite direction, another mirror dropped from the sky in front of her again. When she tried to move to her left, two mirrors dropped down and covered the remaining sides, forming a enclosed box with a hole too far to reach above and leaving her trapped. Now no matter where she turn, she can always see her demonic reflection looking back at her, resulting in more black tears dropping from her eyes.

She covered her face, avoiding the reflections, but then felt stiffness around her body. Her body then moved by its own accord, forcing her to stand straight and hands by her sides, looking at her reflection, cannot even even move her eyes. Green flames then engulfed her, changing her into the demon's outfit topped with a hair that floats like fire and a black tiara with a star on top. "Stop it!", Sunset shouted with a distorted voice which she is shocked by, then her wings flapped and force her to float a few inches off the ground. Her hands then got close together in front of her chest, and a green ball of energy as large as a bowling ball materialise in between.

After the energy is fully charged, the mirror box along with the black floor and ceiling shattered. This time she realised she is at the front of Canterlot High School, floating metres from the ground. She saw on the ground in front of her, the six girls that stopped her, ready to put up a fight. Right behind them, a group of mind controlled teenagers and to her right, two of her lackeys Snips and Snails, who also got turned into demons. They did not exchange conversations, but Sunset then felt herself raising up her hands, then the energy ball got larger and she hurled towards the girls unwillingly. "No!", Sunset shouted as the thick smoke dissipate, revealing a shocking sight. The girls, inside a large crater, bloodied, clothes tattered and unconscious. She shuddered as she floated to the ground, then she the stiffness before is gone. She walked right in front of the crater, then knelt on the edge, sobbing out of her heart's content as the brainwashed teenagers surrounded her like soldiers ready to listen to commands. Then not long later, her minds broke, and she lifted her head, showing the most terrifying forced smile ever conceived as she laughed at the sky, the sound echoing through the night.






Waking up in a cold sweat, Sunset gasped for air in the darkness before hyperventilating. She still felt small bits of everything, the lingering words of the demon in her ears, the pain of the transformation, the stiffness of her body from being controlled, and the stress from killing people. Calling it a nightmare is an understatement, it felt too real, like the demon is foreshadowing in her dreams on what will happen next, slowly eating her sanity away.

After calming down, she realised that she is famished. Deciding to check the outside first, she turn behind to the windows, then slightly open the curtains and take a peek outside. It is dark, but it is hard to tell the time. She stepped off from her bed and check her clothes, which are nearly dry by now. Judging by the dried cotton and the most of the denim being dry, she can confidently assume that it is currently in the middle of the night and she had been sleeping for more or less ten hours. Deciding for a walk, she quickly head to the shower, change her clothes, wear her disguise, grab her clothes and exit the room before leaving it locked.





'4:13', the clock in the same booth indicates, indicating that Sunset's instincts of being in the middle of the night are right. She turned her head towards the door and exit the building, immediately stepping towards the cold midnight breeze. Sunset pulled up her hood, and put both of her hands in her hoody pocket, but it is still not enough for her to not getting goosebumps.

For minutes, Sunset is just walking on the street and looking around. Lights, large buildings, LED signs, all the common things in such a big city in this world. She can feel her face get number and colder every second, as it is the most exposed, but none of the eateries she passed are either closed or do not interest her. She had been walking for a while now, but she remembered her routes very easily. 

Then she found a place that interest her. 'Hard Rock Cafe', sandwiched in between two buildings. Through the large glass pane, she can see that the interior is large, and had moveable tables and chairs placed near the walls of the cafe, and the number of it vary with chairs at most 2 and chairs at most 4. She can also see a circular counter in between the cafe covering most of the space, with a kitchen inside consisting of mainly ovens, stoves and hanging shelves. On the counter, there are evenly placed tissue boxes, some condiment packs which consist of chilli and ketchup, and in front of the counter are circular high seats. The colours inside are a shade of soft yellow and some pink, which gives it a relaxing feel. As for the business, there isn't much people now due to the day but those who are inside are mostly working class adults. She can also see about 5 waiters and waitresses wearing pink uniforms and a circular pink hat, the females having an additional waist apron with a pocket in front of their skirts. There are also about 7 chefs in chef uniforms working in the kitchen.

Without hesitation, she walked into the cafe, the door hit the bell above and she is bombarded with the smell of an assortment of pastries and spices. Her stomach made a loud growling, and she quickly look up the menu hanging above the counter and they are quite a few options to choose from for a simple cafe and most of them are made with the same ingredients just in different styles. "Welcome to Hard Rock Cafe, how may I be your service?", Sunset look down in front of the waitress who called her cheerfully. She had black hair, grey skin, black pupils, heavy eyeshadow, and her name tag shows her name, 'Emma'. Her whole outfit and attitude just contrast with her appearance. 

Sunset smiled and just made a wait hand gesture which the waitress replied with a small nod as she look around for anything more important to do first. After a short while, she said, "Give me one blueberry muffin, a vegetable sandwich and a hot Americano.". The waitress nodded, repeated the order the ensure she got it right before writing into a paper. "That'll be $10.35.", Sunset gave the waitress the money and she gave back the change before passing the order to the head chef. She sat on a chair in front of her and patiently wait for her food, while enjoying a soft jazz music that is emitting from the speakers.

Minutes later, another customer walked in. He had brown hair, light caramel skin, chocolate brown pupils and a short beard around his face. He had a slightly muscular build, and is wearing a white buttoned up top, dark red khakis and a brown trench coat. He is holding a roll of newspaper and a blue sling bag.

He went on to sit beside Sunset Shimmer as a male waiter with red hair and brown skin approached him. In a smooth voice, "Cappuccino, decaf and a BLT sandwich for me.", the waiter nodded as she jot down and repeat what the man said before telling him the amount he need to give. After receiving the amount and giving the change, the waiter give the order to the head chef. While waiting, he place his bag on the only empty seat beside him and unroll his newspaper to read the news, starting from the cover page.

Out of curiosity, Sunset Shimmer took a quick glance at the contents, but something caught her in the eye and she look back. 'Missing, Sunset Shimmer' with the below displaying her photo like the one shown on the news. It is expected actually for her to be on the papers, but she did not expect to see herself on it now. All she want is to peacefully eat something, but now she have to ponder how long before she will be founded. She had to get more serious in hiding now, but she did not know where to start.

Without realising it, she saw the man is already looking at her with a blank face, causing her to grow nervous inside. She quickly turn her head to the front again, staying as calm as possible. Then suddenly, the man talk to her, "You know I can show you where the newspaper box is if you want to read one yourself.", she turn her head, seeing that he is giving a generous smile. Trying to keep her composure, she smiled back and said, "Sorry, sorry. I don't really read the newspaper, it's just I saw something interesting on the page you are reading now.". The man nodded, and turn back to the paper before replying, "Yeah I can understand. I mean, a missing person report? This is not really a common subject for the press, and this one's a high schooler. And no family? Damn it must be hard for her to be an orphan. Wonder if this is why she became a delinquent?", "Yeah maybe.". Sunset shrugged at the statement, feeling slightly stressed at it and trying to keep her cool down.

"Food's ready.", the waitress placed the food down the table. Blueberry muffin, vegetable sandwich and Americano, all the thing ordered in front of Sunset right now. Her stomach did the calling again, and she immediately grab the sandwich from the plate and devour it in big bites. As she was chewing down the assortment of lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes, she realised the man is looking at her with that expressionless face again. She immediately look away, blushing before the man let out a snort, looking away himself too before saying, "Oh don't need to be embarrassed, it's just rare for me to see a girl eat the way you did.", "I guess i'm just really hungry.", "I guess you haven't ate a proper meal.", "Haven't had lunch nor dinner since yesterday.". Then man is surprised at her statement, "Why?", "Just arrived to Manhattan yesterday afternoon, got an hotel and just slept in for the rest of the day.", "Are you a tourist?". Shaking her head, Sunset said, "No, just moving away from my hometown.", "For what?", "I don't know yet, just wanting to start my own life from California.", "You're from California?", "Yeah, great place if you ask me, but I just don't get along with my folks well. So after I earned enough money, I left that place.". "You know, I was from California too, although I don't think I see you around before.", the statement cause Sunset some unease, but she still stay calm as he continued, "But again, that is a very big place so it is sensible that I don't see you.". Again, Sunset felt relieved.  

Minutes of awkward silence, the man and Sunset just enjoyed their meal, while occasionally glancing at each other. It felt comfortable for Sunset to have somebody to interact with after years of loneliness. Sure even before the Fall Formal she had cronies like Snips and Snails, but she seldom really connect with them, just slurs of insults and orders. Just thinking about her past deeds made her cringe inside, but now she had changed, and she will not fall into the old habits again. By talking with this man, she felt that she just took the hardest small step with ease, by talking with him as a human and not someone who she can manipulate into her crony.

"So, what are your plans now?", the man asked again. Sunset stopped sipping her coffee and look at him, before looking down at her legs again and replying, "I don't really know. I only consider moving on, but no other goals interest me yet.", "So you're just a nomad now?". Sunset snorted at the reply before saying, "You could say that. Hey, at least I had enough money for a few months?". The man rubbed her chin in thought before saying, "You are unemployed right?", "Yeah.", "Are you planning to look for a job?", "Yes but let it be something simple and basic, not really wanting a career for now. Not that I can do it without any college degrees.", "Well I think I can help you with that.". Looking up curiously, Sunset ask, "You can?". Nodding and smiling, the man reach for a piece of flyer from his sling bag and gave it to Sunset. 

'Crew members needed for a film directed/written by Sebastian Gosling, limited up to 3, no prior experience or education needed'. Sunset scanned through the key contents, and her face lit up. The man continued, "Name's Sebastian, I am a director and screenwriter for an independent film. So far only one person has called me to apply for this job, but hurry up and consider quickly.", "Yes, thanks for the opportunity. I'm Mia Sutherland.". The man smiled again and they continued back with their meals.





Sebastian and Sunset walk out of the cafe together. Sebastian rubbed the back of his head before saying, "So I guess just call me if you want the job?". Sunset shrugged, "Yeah i'll do that.", both then waved goodbye to each other as they leave in opposite directions.

As she is walking, Sunset noticed that she felt less colder, and much happier. It might be the temperature change, but she felt something else also doing it for her. The feeling inside her, light and warm, spreading throughout her body and soul. "Is this what friendship feels like.", Sunset thought to herself as she continue her walk back.