//------------------------------//
// Take a Backseat 
// Story: It Had Worked Like Magic 
// by Comma Typer 
//------------------------------//

Sunset multitasked between phone and steering wheel. "Really, Applejack? You're leaving, too?"

"C'mon, sugarcube, when the Pears call after so long, Ah don't wanna snub 'em. They got problems tryna' come over to visit us for Yuletide, so it's high time we got back together. Ah won't be long; it'll be a week, okay?"

The call ended, and a few swipes deleted coffee time with Applejack from the calendar app. Sunset turned up Saddlefy, scrolling for Pinkie's band to stream. The sheer shrill of metal shreds and the quakes of rapid-fire drums blasted out of her speakers.

The bells of her ringtone had her hand slip, almost drifting the car into a pole but she righted herself enough to take the call. "Ah, uh, hello, Spectral?"

"Hi. This is sudden, but what're the plants we're getting again? I think one of us lost the notes on—"

"Soleynds, native to the Hayseed Swamp, possess some of said swamp's inherent magic which keeps its soil remarkably solid in wet conditions. Get a couple potions or some non-magic method to process both the leaves and soil—or look into its roots—and you could turn dirt into something very malleable, resembling Earth pony magic. Think bendable concrete. Lots of potential for construction, preferably business-to-business."

"Ah, nice! Thanks for it."


~~~


"Oh, hey, what's that?" asked Cosmic.

In her office seat, Sunset put her pen and note to Starlight aside. "Mm, nothing much."

"Nothing much?" He inspected the journal's cover. "Wait, isn't this one of those... like a paper phone?" After Sunset frowned, "Come on! You know this!"

"Really, Cosmic, it's not too much to get hyped about."

"'Not too much to get hyped about?' There's a lot of places out there without electricity, and it's expensive to set up the infrastructure for the whole system! If we could have an alternative way to send information around, like a stopgap to transition into full-on electricity, and interface that magic with modern-day phones or the bigger Internet of Things—"

She stood up, closed her notebook; her jacket and beanie had been hung nearby.

"Uh, Sunset? Where're you going?"

"Just realized it's twelve. I'll go get everyone lunch and coffee."


~~~


Another red light that shone against the dark blue of dusk. Past the café, Sunset rolled, though she bit her lip when a car honked from behind, blinding her through the rearview mirror.

At home, from the dark confines of a dusty cabinet, old video game consoles were taken out for the TV. She stashed the extra controllers back inside, alongside a dusty kite hanging in the cabinet.

Her phone lit up as the last wire and plug were fixed. "Oh, hi, Waffle! What's up?"

"Heya! I know it's your off-hours, but what do you have to say about these names I found online? There's Lavender Breeze—"

"You can trust her. She was a classmate of mine back in Celestia's school. Pursuing post-graduate studies in Bales, right? Worked with a lot of pegasi, figuring out how to replicate their weather magic. You can bring her in for the next FGD."

"That's great! Now, what about Simple Pure from the—?"

"Handled a pyramid scheme back in Equestria. Thought she could get over on Earth without changing her name and fool everyone, huh?"

"Oh, thanks for the heads-up. So... Doctor Boolean Warp?"

"That doesn't sound like the right name for a doctor. Maybe you should look for a Mage or Wizard title or degree? If that fails, check their info with Spectral; he might know."

"Sure! That'll be all. Thanks again, and have a good night!"


~~~


Dinner was homemade mac and cheese, instant ramen over black coffee. On MyStable, Rainbow posted today's results of her game abroad. A hat trick had been her highlight.

There was a text, then a call. "Hey, uh, sorry, Shims, but we're almost back from the away game."

"Oh, yeah, Trottingham's scary talented, right? So—"

"Yeah, Sunset, but we really need to recover from that loss. Coach gave us a hammering at the lockers. Thanks for the encouragement in the DMs, though!"


~~~


She sat down on the metal cold of her chair. Earlier than usual, freezing from bed, Sunset could see the brightening sky. She put her hand against the frosty window, her fingers going frigid.

A hot shower, a hot breakfast, then a hasty walk to her car, bag and all, before clearing up its pile of snow.

Her bag vibrated at the intersection, the tinkling of magic emanating from inside. She rummaged for the journal, stopping by the intersection. No other car in sight but hers; those lonely headlights would automatically turn off at the break of dawn.

Hiya, Sunset! read the words. Long time no see, even though that was just days ago. It's nice to see you're being proactive with them! Enchanting local moss as an energy source can be the start of a breakthrough, I can assure you.

I'm sorry for the late reply, though. School will be back on soon, and I will have to resume my headmare duties in full. Talking a couple students through a friendship problem before the semester starts has been refreshing, albeit exhausting.

But still! Instead of me coming over to you, like you originally asked, I can help you over here in Equestria. Since your friends need some exotic Everfree specimen, why not just take me along for your "business trip"? I'm sure Zecora would like to meet you again, too.

See you soon!

~ Starlight Glimmer