Sunset Shimmer woke up with a start as she felt her head bang against the hardwood floor of the caravan she was riding in. “Darn it. How’s a girl supposed to get some shuteye in a place like this?” The caravan continued to rock for a while longer, until coming to a sudden stop. Voices outside told Sunset that they had likely reached a town of some kind and she hurried to look outside the back of the caravan to confirm this.
“Alright folks! Let’s start unloadin’ them apples!”
Sunset Shimmer grinned as she saw buildings in the distance, and she worked her magic to perform a teleportation spell over to a tree that she could see in the distance. “Sorry guys, I think I may have eaten some of your profit,” she said quietly before a flash of light enveloped her.
She appeared beside the tree, startling a few nearby ponies before they continued about their days. “Now to find a library,” Sunset muttered to herself as she moved towards the town. “This might take some time. Perhaps I should stop and ask for directions.”
“You there!” Sunset jumped and looked around cautiously. “Yes, you with the fiery look in her eyes!” Sunset Shimmer turned around and gasped as she saw a tall, muscular beast walking towards her. She recognised this being only by one picture she had seen in a textbook as a filly. He was a minotaur. “That’s a good look you have! I bet you never let ponies push you around!”
Something about him seemed familiar to Sunset Shimmer. “W-What do you want? I’m terribly busy right now, so if you don’t mind… Actually, perhaps you could show me where this town’s library is? If it even has one, which I doubt based on how small and simple-looking it is.”
The minotaur put a hand to his chin and grinned. “Oh, yes! Very nice! I can tell just from looking, you don’t need any of Iron Will’s assertiveness lessons!”
Sunset’s eyes widened. “C-Coach Iron Will?!” She took a step back, but then calmed down and mentally facehooved as she realised this was this world’s version of her Gym coach. He certainly wasn’t here to give her extra classes for the ones she had been skipping.
“‘Coach’?” Iron Will asked, smiling soon after. “I like the sound of that! But anyway, I was wondering if you would like to make a few bits? Iron Will is holding an assertiveness workshop this afternoon, but his two assistants have fallen ill!” Iron Will pointed to two goats lying on their back, hooves either stretched towards the sky or clutched against stomachs as they ‘baa’d’ weakly. “How about it? You seem like just the type of girl Iron Will needs for his-”
“Pass,” Sunset said, not even allowing the minotaur to finish.
“Now hold on here!” Iron Will shouted. “At least let’s talk numbers! I’m willing to offer you fifty percent of today’s earnings if you-”
“Look, I’m really busy right now,” Sunset said with a bored look on her face. “Either tell me where I can find a library, or kindly stop bothering me.” ‘Man, it feels good to talk back to this oaf for once. If he tries anything, this time I can just use my magic to show him what for.’
Iron Will sighed and pointed down one of the nearby roads. “Library’s down that way, pass two turns then go right and it’s the third building to the left,” he said in a flat tone. “But are you certain that you-”
“Yes,” Sunset said, narrowing her eyes at Iron Will.
“Oh well…” Iron Will said, scratching the back of his head as Sunset Shimmer began to walk away. “Guess I’ll have to cancel my workshop then… Hey, ma’am, wait!”
“My name’s Suns-” Sunset stopped herself, deciding that using her real name was probably a bad idea. “… Sunburst. And what do you want now?”
Iron Will caught up to Sunset and walked alongside her into the town of Fillydelphia. “Well, since Iron Will’s afternoon is now free, Iron Will thought that he could help you with whatever it is you’re so busy with.”
Sunset Shimmer raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And why’s that?”
Iron Will curled his hand into a fist and beat it against his chest. “Iron Will is a true gentleman among minotaurs! When Iron Will sees somepony in trouble, Iron Will helps that pony out!”
Sunset rolled her eyes. ‘Yeah, should’ve figured. Chivalrous dork who can’t keep his nose out of other people’s problems, and always finds the time to bother me. Just like our coach.’ “And what makes you think I’m in trouble?”
“If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have stowed away on the back of that caravan.” Sunset Shimmer stopped, soon followed by Iron Will. “At first Iron Will was going to question you about it, but then Iron Will saw that something was wrong when Iron Will looked into your eyes. You’re in some kind of trouble, so you’re trying to remain hidden. I don’t know the details, and I won’t pry, but at least let Iron Will help you before you move on.”
“… Whatever,” Sunset said as she continued walking, Iron Will following after her. “Fine, do what you want. Just don’t get in my way.” A grin spread across Sunset’s face. ‘He might actually be useful. At the very least, I can use him as a distraction so that I can flee if the Royal Guard finds me.’