//------------------------------// // Working Day (the new life starts here) // Story: Pursuit of happiness // by Reagan //------------------------------// A week passed by for Sunset. She had been handling well in the same hotel that she arrived in, managing to ask for extensions to her stay. However, she know that she need to find a decent place to stay soon. Using hotels to stay is not a feasible way to start a new life, moreover trying to hide from authorities. The more Sunset think about it, the more she is worried as she walk to work. She just hope that she earn enough money to get herself a decent home to live in before the worse happens. Sunset finally arrived at Bicentennial Park, the first location where she is going to be working at. As she passed through the sign and to the entrance, she can see that it is a large patch of grassland with cement pavements, some stone tables, chairs and benches, along with trees that line up with each other. From different perspectives, people can see this place as either a park which it's supposed to be, a small forest or a makeshift backyard for a mansions. It is a decent place for location shooting, with the only downside being the sunlight that is beating down the land. But considering is the Fall, there is not much sun that can cause too much discomfort. "Mia over here!", a male voice shouted. Sunset turned to her left and saw Sebastian along with 6 other people, 2 males and 4 females. With a smile, Sunset walk towards the group. "Hey Sebastian. Who are these people?", Sunset greeted with a smile before asking him about the 6 others. "This is Chazelle, he's producing most of the parts of the film.", Sebastian pointed to the chubby man with black hair and beard and red skin. His clothing is a dark blue shirt beneath a grey sleeveless vest with multiple pockets, chocolate brown cargo shorts, sneakers with socks that reach up to his knees and black Randolph sunglasses. "And this is Olivia, she designs and handles the costumes and props.". Olivia is a slim girl who has orange skin, brown hair, and green pupils. She is wearing a red coloured polo shirt, knee length denim shorts and sneakers without socks. She is lacking any body accessories aside from a white cap with a hole on the top. "Celia, she will help edit the footage while we are shooting.". Celia is a slimmer young lady with orange skin, purple and short hair on only one side of her head. She is wearing a black tank top beneath a denim vest, short denim shorts and black heeled boots. She has yellow pupils, wears heavy eye shadow and rings with a gold coloured one pierced through a side of her nose and silver coloured ones on each side of her ears. "And these are the crew you will be working with. Marc and Jasmine.". Marc is a medium built young adult with white hair, green skin and eyes with black pupils. He is wearing a plain yellow shirt, jeans and sneakers. Jasmine is relatively fitter than Olivia. She has grey skin, blue pupils and orange ponytail hair that flow down to her back. She wears a yellow shirt that expose her middriff and with ruffles around the collar area and shoulders, skinny jeans and black loafer shoes and white socks. She has light eyeshadow and ear piercings that has a flower symbol dangling with it. Another piercing she had is a silver ring that is pierced through her belly button. Sunset sheepishly waved back at them, and each of them waved back at her kindly. Sebastian smiled as he saw the group get along well. His face then turned serious, "Alright that's enough talking, let's prepare the setups before the actors come here.". The whole group nodded in agreement as they got up from the stone benches and chairs they are sitting on and get prepare to set up their set. "And done.", Sebastian said with a proud smile as he look at the few lights, a camera, sound equipment, equipment box, temporary changing room consisting only a curtain and frame and a resting place consisting of a resting mat and a few lunch packs. A gruff and heavily accented voice patted the filmmaker on the back and said confidently, "Well Seb, I can feel that this film is gonna be a great hit just by the set. You lift me, I lift you, we both will be successful in no time.". Sebastian chuckled at Chazelle's faith in him, while the four crew members are breaking each other's ice on the resting mat while waiting for the actors. "So what brought you ladies here?", Marc asked awkwardly. Jasmine shrugged, "I just feel like doing something on my free time. College's out for a few months for me.". Olivia said cheerfully, "I'm always interested in going behind the scenes of movies. Working in one has always been my dream. I also hope that I can become a filmmaker in the future too!", the rest smiled in amusement at the girl's cheerfulness. "Meanwhile for me, I want to become an actress in the future. Starting out somewhere in the film industry in any role is the best approach for me. Maybe I can get to be in one of Sebastian's films if he's lucky to succeed.", Celia claimed in a surprisingly elegant voice for her gothic look. After hearing it, Marc felt that it is his turn to share, "Well I finished college recently. I'm currently doing temporary jobs to earn some money to develop my own game, and hopefully that can get the attention of game companies.". Sunset said nothing at all, just daydreaming in front of them. "Mia?", Sunset yelped as she heard somebody called her. She tilted up and see that her colleagues are giving her odd looks, before rubbing the back of her head and chuckling shyly. "Sorry.", "It's fine, can you tell us why you're here?", Celia inquired. Sunset look around and see them waiting in anticipation, she then immediately recalled what she said to Sebastian when she first met him. Sunset cleaned her throat before saying, "Well I just moved out from my folks and not really sure what to do next,", she shrugged before continuing, "Sebastian and I accidentally met each other and he offered me a job. So, I just took it.". They all nodded at the response. Sebastian look at his watch and saw that it is 7:40. He stood up and clapped his hands to alert his employees, "Alright the actors will arrive soon, be prepared for my instructions.". The 4 crew members stood up and prepare to listen to what their employers wants them to do. Sunset is going to handle the cameras, Marc is operating the boom mic and Jasmine is currently helping to set up the set and sit by the sidelines for any further instructions. By the time Sebastian finished instructing them, a small van arrived outside the entrance. The doors opened, and 3 figures stood out and walked into the entrance. "They're here Seb.", Chazelle said as he look at the approaching figures coming their way. All three of them are wearing equally matching hoodies, jeans and shoes. One hoodie is dark purple, one is dark green and one is dark pink. The one in dark green is a female with purple skin, purple hair with green stripes tied into two extended pigtails and purple pupils. The one in dark pink has blue skin, blue hair with dark blue stripes tied to a ponytail and magenta pupils. Finally, the one in dark purple has yellow skin, a large mass of curly dark orange hair with yellow stripes tied into a ponytail and darker magenta pupils. Sebastian walked up to the three and extended his arm. "Hello girls, nice seeing you again.", the yellow-skinned one look down at the arm, before she extended her's also and shake while displaying a grin. "Nice seeing you again Mr. Gosling.", she politely said. Sebastian chuckled as he said, "I told you, just call me Sebastian.", "Sorry, got too used to politeness.", she shrugged. Sebastian then noticed the blue girl, obviously showing that he did not meet her before. "Sorry but who is that?", he asked. She rubbed the back of her head and said sheepishly, "Sorry about the surprise, that's just our other sister, Sonata. She is special, we just cannot leave her alone.". Sonata, seemingly oblivious to what she really means, nodded proudly. The purple girl just rolled her eyes at her antics. The filmmaker raised her eyebrows, "Will she cause too much trouble?". The yellow girl nodded, "Don't worry, she won't. And if she did, we know how to deal with her.". After moments of pondering, Sebastian sighed and said, "Okay, but next time please just ask me before you decide to bring in more people.". She nodded, and Sebastian lead them to the group. Sunset could not help but just subtly stare at the 3 with curiosity. She don't know why, but she felt an mysterious aura from the girls. She not sure whether to feel scared or comfortable, but she trust that whoever actors Sebastian hired is not going to cause trouble. "So these are the other people you'll be working with. Chazelle, my producer. Olivia, props. Celia, editor. Sunset, Marc and Jasmine, my crew members.", Sebastian gestured to the 6 people, who give nods and waves at them. The 3 just stare at them and nodded, but they seem to dart their eyes at Sunset for a moment there. "And guys these are the actresses you will be working with for now, Adagio and Aria.". The one with yellow skin is Adagio, the one with purple skin is Aria. Sebastian pointed to Sonata, "And Sonata is their sister, she's just an last minute audience.". "So darling, do we start now?", Adagio asked. Sebastian nodded before saying, "Yeah we can. Just get your uniforms and scripts first, we will start in 20 minutes.", he gestured to the equipment box and copies of the script. The girls smiled and nodded back before walking towards the items. "All right get cracking! You know your jobs.", Sebastian ordered, and the workers stand at their positions. "Camera.", Sebastian said. "On.", Sunset said. "Sound.", Sebastian said again. "Speed.", Marc said. A clapboard showed up in front of the camera with Jasmine holding it "Take 5, scene 11.", Jasmine closed the board and move it away after saying it. "3, 2, 1. Action!", Sebastian said loudly while looking at the script. Adagio started to walk with the cameras following beside her in a white sleeved dress, golden belt and heels. She is expressing a face of misery and bleakness. "Cut! That's a great take!", Sebastian shouted with a proud smile. Adagio just smirked proudly at her performance. "Action!", Sebastian shouted as the camera lie on the stone bench. Adagio came into the frame, her rear sitting down on the bench. The camera then cuts to below her, her face facing downwards at with a miserable expression. Suddenly, another figure showed up in frame sitting beside a stone bench. Aria then entered the frame, clad in skinny ripped jeans, a baggy black shirt and spiked heels sat down next to her with a paper bag. She aggressively took out a burger and a cup of drink. She then placed the drink on the bench and aggressively munch on the food. Meanwhile, Adagio just look at her with disgust. Not noticing her reaction, Aria just picked up the drink and sip it from the cup. A phone then suddenly vibrated. Aria picked out her flip phone and look at the message. ‘The medicine is not working. Tyler’s fever just gotten worse.’ With a frustrated growl, Aria slammed down the drink so hard that it spilled on the bench, and the puddle reached beneath Adagio’s clothes. With a screech, Adagio jumped out from her chair and turn her head to see the beverage stain on the rear part of her dress more clearly. Her face red in anger, she turn towards the shocked Aria. “You! You’re paying for my laundry!”, she shouted. Aria got up and said, “Oh suck it up, it’s just a stain.”, “This dress cost me $1000!”, “Well sorry that I ruined your dress!”. Adagio’s eyes narrowed, “If you’re sorry, pay me back.”. Aria shouted, “You clearly have enough money to buy a new dress don’t you!? You rich snobs always like to complain about the most minute things to you!”. An ugly pause ensues between both women, then Adagio growled, “You really wanna go there? Do you even know who I am?”. Aria got close to Adagio’s face, “Even when you’re the president’s child, you wont be able to fuck up my life than how it already is.”. “Try me.”, Adagio growled. Aria was about to say something else, but her phone vibrated again. She look at the phone, and sighed in frustration. “You’re lucky that I need to do something else. Good bye.”, Aria pocketed her phone and jogged away from Adagio. “Hey come back! I’m not done with you!”, Adagio stomped her foot on the ground, but Aria did not respond and just continue run further away from the frame. Adagio sighed in frustration, then she looked miserably at her ruined clothing. She yelped when she heard her phone ringing. She pulled out a smartphone and held it to her ear. “Hello mother.”, she chuckled nervously. “Adele, where in the world have you been!? Jack is getting impatient about you coming late!”, Sebastian is playing the pre-recorded audio of him reciting the lines through his phone and into Adagio’s ear bud that is hidden beneath her hair. Adagio flinched as she is shouted at her ear by the audio, “Sorry, lost track of time.”. The next audio started with a sigh, “Just where are you now?”, “I-I’m at the park.”, “Listen, I don’t really care where are you right now. Just get your ass back home right now.”. With a reluctant look, she said, “Yes mother.”, “Oh and that dress that I gave you better be clean. You wouldn’t want to leave a bad reputation on us wouldn’t you?”. Adagio flinched again, and look down at her shirt. She nervously turn back to her phone, “Yeah, sure. I’ll take care of it.”, “Very well then, bye deary.”. The phone hung up after the statement that obviously does not represent genuine love from a parent. Adagio then look down at the rear again, seeing the stain is still there. With a sigh, she nervously walk out of the frame and pretending to go home, while attempting to get rid of the stain also. Sebastian look at the finished footage, while Celia is trying to roughly edit the scene on Sebastian’s laptop while writing down small notes. “Okay so I want this part to have more impact, maybe amplify the sound a bit.”, Celia followed the instruction. “Okay Celia, I came up with more parts that can to be the key moments in the scene. Listen to what I say.”, Celia began writing down more notes on her paper. Sunset just finished drinking her bottle of water, then she turned to Sebastian, who is currently still guiding Celia in editing the footage. She smiled at the cooperation of the entire team, but her mind is mainly focusing on Sebastian. She actually started to grew fond of the guy. The charming and pleasant look definitely do the trick of making her like him, but it is more than what is outside that made her have that feeling. No it is not just the looks, it is his calm, nice and pleasant attitude towards others. From the first day to now, she did not see Sebastian lash out and be demanding towards. He always like to give people the benefit of the doubt and let them have their own style of working. Sure they only met each other for a few days, but she could not help but feel that he applies this attitude to his life also. Now moving on to the people who made her feel the exact opposite emotion compare to when she see Sebastian: Adagio, Sonata and Aria. From the start of the day to now, the 3 girls just feel odd to her. Aria has the usual tough girl attitude. Her face does not display at least a small bit of friendliness towards others around her. While she does not outright insult or bully people, her face just indicate that she does not like to talk to people, not that most people come and talk to her. The only ones that willingly talk to her are Sebastian and Olivia. Sebastian because well, he’s the boss. And Olivia because she just seems to like to be friendly regardless. Regardless, Aria still maintain her stoic and tough demeanor. Meanwhile, Sonata is the exact opposite of Aria. She is probably one of the most friendliest people Sunset had ever met only rivalling Pinkie Pie. Her face always have that smile on her, and she always like to be nice to everybody during the set. Not to offend her or all but Sunset also see that Sonata is the most childish also along the group. She sometimes whine about the smallest of things, and often her sisters have to calm her down. Now move on to Adagio. She is by far the oddest in the group. She has the coldness of Aria, but also the friendliness of Sonata. She often like to be the silent one, preferring to not talk to people during breaks. The main person she is friendly to is Sebastian, unlike Aria. However they all have something in common, the interest in Sunset. Frequently, all 3 of them will look analytically at Sunset, then quickly shift away when they are spotted. Furthermore, they look like, especially Adagio and Aria, they want to hide something from others. It was like they are not of the world and is simply hiding in this world. Speak of the devil, Adagio proceed to make a quick glance at Sunset again with the same analytical look. Sunset barely held back a flinch at that, this is just getting more and more uncomfortable for her. “Alright let’s continue the shooting. Everybody back to your positions!”, Sebastian shouted. With that, Sunset put down her bottle and move back to the camera. After a few more hours, Sebastian finally call off the day. He gave a short debrief of what they would do next, when and where to report. Everybody head off to their direction. “Finally I can get off from those girls.”, Sunset thought with relief as she thread back to her hotel with caution. There is nothing she can predict what the girls would do next. It felt slow for her, but eventually she reached the entrance of the hotel. Just when she was about to turn the doorknob, she heard a voice that she did not want to hear for the rest of the day. “Hello Mia.”, Adagio spoke in a voice that lies in between politeness and having an agenda. Sunset felt a chill down her spine, she is not moving a muscle at all. “Oh don’t be so afraid of us, we just want to talk.”, Adagio said in an exasperated tone. With a sigh, Sunset relaxed her muscles and turn to her left where the 3 girls are standing at, but she is still keeping her guard up. Adagio is pressing both of her hands on both her hips, Aria is crossing her arms with the same cold look she always show, while Sonata just narrowed her eyes to look at her while crossing her arms. “Listen. I don’t know who you girls are, but I don’t want any trouble.”, Sunset replied in a firm manner, anticipating the worse those girls can dish out. Adagio chuckled, “We’re at the same place darling. You know, usually we just ignore the people that we considered lower than us.”, she lifted and inspected her nails, “Those simple crew of Sebastian’s, ugh. They might as well be trash collectors.”. Her head turn back to Sunset, “But you Mia. I detected something…magical coming from within you. Let’s see, don’t you happen to be…out of this world?”. Sunset reeled back in horror, they know that she is not from this world. But how? She had not spread the knowledge of Equestria to strangers yet. “G-get away from me, i’m not who you think I am.”, Sunset tried to talk out from this situation, but it seems to just weaken her defences even more. Adagio just rolled her eyes, “Oh please, my years of experience can tell me that you are lying. This world has full of people with shit in their mouths.”. Sunset back against the door fearfully. “Please, just let me go. Whatever you want to ask me, I don’t know anything I swear.”, she whimpered. The blue one, Sonata looks dismayed and said in a childish tone, “Look Dagi, you scared her. Now she’ll never be our friend.”. Aria just take a quick glance at her before looking back at Sunset, while Adagio just look vaguely annoyed. She then look at Sunset for a few more moments before letting out an exhausted but composed sigh. “Look darling, sorry that we scared you, we just want to talk. So can we talk it out back in your room?”, Adagio look slightly desperate while asking that. Sunset clenched her fist and said threatenely, “One foot in my room and I’ll call the cops.”. Aria is about to step up, but Adagio signalled her to stop. Adagio pinched the bridge of her nose, “I see.”. The girl then snapped her fingers, then Aria and Sonata grabbed Sunset on each of her shoulders. Before Sunset can scream, Adagio covered her mouth and stick a needle in her neck. Sunset suddenly felt drowsy, then she felt her world slowly black out. Sunset suddenly jolted awake from her slumber. She felt herself laying down on a hard and cool surface, like metal. She also instantaneously realised that she cannot move her arms and legs at all, as well as not being able to scream, as a fabric is tied around her mouth. Also quickly, she can see the people in front of her are Adagio, Aria and Sonata. Also the more she scan her area, she realised that they are constrained in a small van. “Oh you’re awake?”, Adagio said visciously. Sunset struggled more and tried to scream, despite the cloth tied around her mouth preventing that. “Quit screaming darling, we are parked in an alleyway between abandoned buildings, there is nobody to turn to.”, the yellow girl said in a falsely sweet tone. Sunset then struggled more, attempting to loosen the bounds she still had. Aria responded to the snapping of fingers, she force Sunset too sit up straight in a corner. Adagio then took out a knife, then pointed the tip towards Sunset. Sunset reeled back as much as the corner would allow. “Listen here Mia, you want the hard way, you get the hard way.”, Adagio said threatenly. “I’m gonna ask you a few questions, and you are going to answer with a nod or a shake in the head.”, she narrowed her eyes, “And don’t you dare lie to me, I can tell if you are lying.”. “First question, do you know Equestria?”, Sunset shook her head. Adagio put the knife closer to Sunset, making her flinch in fear. “Liar!”, Adagio screamed. “Second question, are you from Equestria?”, Sunset shook her head again. Adagio and Aria gave looks of annoyance, and Adagio move the blade even closer, making the tip touch the skin. Adagio the rip the cloth off Sunset’s mouth. Sunset started to tear up and whimpered at the thought of what they are going to do to her. “Last chance Mia.”, Adagio said firmly. “Who are you?!”. Sunset cried out, “Mia Sutherland, I’m from California. I don’t know anything about-”, Sunset screamed as she felt the blade penetrating her skin. It is not deep, but it filled Sunset with extreme pain and fear. “Oh cut the bullshit!”, Aria shouted at Sunset. Sunset shook her head, but the only response was the blade penetrating deeper. Giving up, Sunset cried out. “Okay you all got me, I’m an Equestrian! Is this what you want!?”. Finally getting at least an honest answer, Adagio finally let go of the blade. Adagio’s face formed a smug grin, “See, is that so hard?”, Sunset just continued to cry. Adagio went from a kneeling position to a sitting one. “So, now we know who you are, but not how you get here.”, she moved her face close to Sunset’s, “Answer me.”. Afraid for her life, Sunset relented and admitted, “It was through a mirror, I jumped into it.”. The three girls’ eyes widened in shock. “Mirror?”, Aria blurted out. Adagio asked, “Starswirl the Bearded’s mirror?”, Sunset nodded, “From what I read yes.”. The three look at each other before turning back to Sunset. “Where is it?”, Adagio asked. “Canterlot High School’s front entrance, there’s a statue there.”, Sunset replied simply. Adagio asked with hopeful eyes, “How do we open it?”, “You can’t.”. The three girls’ faces paled at the reply. “The mirror only open every thirty moons for three moons. The last time it happened was a week ago.”, Sunset replied simply. Aria’s right eye twitched, “Do you know how to open it by force.”, “Fuck if I know.”. Aria did not like the answer, so she charged up and punched Sunset right in the face. Sunset fell to the ground, and groaned in pain at the impact. Focusing her vision, she can currently see Adagio pulling back Aria, who is struggling to break free. Sonata said in a pleading tone, “Ari please, don’t-”, “Hell no! This bitch is hiding something, and I want to-”, “Aria stop!”. Aria’s anger, although not completely gone, lessened a bit at Adagio’s warning. “She’s telling the truth.”, Aria relaxed after the claim from her leader. Although still remain slightly skeptical, she let go of the grasp, and walk to the passenger seat at the front of the van. Adagio sighed and pinched the bridge of the nose, “We are stuck for another two years, by Starswirl’s beard help us.”. Sonata look at Sunset, and asked in a cheerful tone, “So can we keep her?”. Adagio look annoyed at her partner’s question, then turned back to Sunset. “No, let her go. She done her job.”. Adagio faced her with contempt, “Don’t even try to call the police on us. We are like you, we cannot be tracked.”. Sunset just turned away from the leader, but asked without facing her, “Who are you?”. Adagio narrowed her eyes in annoyance, then said, “None of your business darling.”. The leader then go to the driver’s seat, and drove away from the scene. “Remember, this never happened.”, Adagio warned Sunset why untying her bonds, “See you at work tomorrow.”. She then opened the truck’s back door, and pushed her out of the vehicle. As the vehicle drove away, Sunset got up, dust her clothes, and stare with contempt at the vehicle truck driving away. From Sunset could tell, they dropped her off in an alleyway. With an exhausted sigh, Sunset walked out from the dark area. She then recognised that she is at the area nearby the hotel. She could tell from the exploration she did while staying over here. Minutes later and Sunset came back to her hotel room. She washed her clothes, took a bath, then poured hot water in a cup with the oatmeal packet she just opened. She then get the bandage and alcohol wipes that she bought previously among the basic supplies when she got here, and patch her cut wound. In her birthday suit, she sat on the bed and eat her supper. Like what happened with eating the bread during a break of her bus trip before, Sunset cannot seem to enjoy what she is eating, but this time it was for a different reason. She briefly become a kidnap victim by her colleagues, and those people like her are Equestrian also. She cannot call the police on them or risk having her world be exposed to the government. Worse of all, they need to continue to work with each other for god knows how much more. Just thinking about them makes her nervous. Thanks to none of them willing to answer the question, Sunset still does not know who the girls truly are. Are they just normal citizens of Equestria, or evil villians trying to take over the world when they get home. The only confirmed thing she know now is that they did not come her willingly, and they know about the mirror’s existence. Sunset shook off the idea. Good or bad, she decide to just turn a blind eye on what the girls might do. Whatever they are going to do, she trust that Princess Twilight and her ex-mentor Princess Celestia can deal with it. “Princess Celestia.”, Sunset echoed the name in her head. The memories of her happy days with the princess flashed instantly in front of her, along with the betrayal she committed towards her. If she had just listened to the advice, and not letting her ego wash over her, then she will not be in this situation in the first place. Wiping a stray tear off her face, then rubbing her neck where the bandage is, she continued back to eating her oatmeal, this time it felt completely tasteless to her buds.