-Canterlot-
For the first time in her life, Princess Celestia felt peace. Her sister has found new life and chose to take a break from the duties of the crown, the Elements of Harmony were now stored in an unbreakable, uncrackable, and (some other word starting with un) vault. Yes, for the first time she could lower the moon without the pang of guilt that resonated within her.
But something still felt "off". The guards followed their regular training yes, the kitchen was never understaffed, and little ever appeared to her in day court that actually called for drastic action. Yet something was not "right".
Was it the strange roar of the Ursa Major? No, quite possibly it's sudden blinking out of existence? Still nothing out of the ordinary, as it is theorized the massive ancients had control over the fabrics of physical reality.
Then what? What was it that still bothered her? Realization drops like a two ton rock:
"Shining Armor! You are needed!"
Bursting through the double doors of the throne room, the amethyst armored colt skid to a halt before his princess.
"Your majesty! Captain Armor reporting!"
The princess chuckled a bit before meeting the colts gaze.
"At ease captain the sun fell not to long ago."
"Heh, so it would seem. Your orders?"
"How long has it been since you exchanged words with Twilight?"
"Before she left of course."
"I meant non-business."
"Two years. Time became a luxury when I became captain."
Smiling at this, Celestia levitated a pouch from behind the throne, setting it before her captain.
"Then YOU, need a break. A long one. Cadence has already agreed to a destination and you will not return until that bag is empty, understood?"
"You can't be serious!" Exclaimed Shining Armor, giving the contents of the bag a double take.
"Train leaves in two hours, and when you get to Ponyville, give Twilight the biggest hug you can...
There is one matter of business though."
"Can't say no."
"The statue I allowed transport to Ponyville, ensure it's continued imprisonment. Now go, don't want to be late."
The unicorn left quietly, the doors closing on the dark room behind him.
She hated doing this, but if it meant continued safety of the world at large then it was something she'd need live with.
But that was for the future, the (currently sole) princess of Equestria needed to focus on the now. Thusly, she pulled a book with the emblem of the sun, opened to an empty page and began to write:
"Sunset, it has been quite a few days since last
we have exchanged words, how are things on
your side?"
Minutes came and went, and only a single word appeared:
'Dandy'.
-The other side.-
"Lay off! Don't you ash heads have anything better to do!?"
Sunset had seen better nights, sure the demons were a bit unnerving but they were actually really endearing. They didn't start showing up until only a few years back, and none had been hostile enough that it called for outright execution, but then the vampires showed up.
Decapitation, a piercing blow to the heart, heck, when the need arose she would don the age old armor given to her by her teacher. This time though, she had left her armor along with her familiar at home, she was all out of magic, and not even a pen knife on hand.
Then there was Celestia and the book. She couldn't have picked a better time...
"Pfft, listen to this bitch. "Ash heads", that's comedy." Joked the front man of the group.
"She's funnier AND cuter than that Summers whore, I wonder how you taste..." Said another vamp groupie, sickeningly licking his lips.
Wait...Summers...Spike used to know a girl by that name!
"You don't mean Buffy?"
The name alone sent them reeling, as if a bullet had just been lodged into their brains.
"Shit! She's one of them, everybody rush her!"
Various other vampires scampered out of the woodwork and began to form an impenetrable wall.
'What's that thing master Azure used to say...oh yeah.'
"Oh crap baskets."
...
To any un-learned sycophants viewing the ensuing chase, it was almost comical if not down right hilarious watching a slim framed young woman running down the street, screaming bloody murder whilst flailing her arms.
But Clem was neither un-learned OR sycophantic. Humans, especially human emotions were an integral part of his continued existence. Add the fact he came to know the woman running for her life personally and it was enough to render the streets dusty.
"Clem?!" Shouted the exasperated Sunset.
"Oh hey Sunny, I noticed the vamps on your tail." Clem seized a vamp with one of his snake tendrils and tossed them aside, eliciting a pained Wilhelmian yelp.
"You should probably get out of here before more pop up."
"But what about you?!"
Two more vamps became ash from having their heads torn off.
"I'll manage. Now get out of here you crazy kid."
Sunset darted the opposite direction, many of the oncoming vamps shifting focus back to their original prey. The lucky ones managed to slip past the loose skinned demon with their lives.
...
Sunset dipped into an alleyway and found herself in what she could only describe as a Speak-easy. Behind the counter was a tall, well dressed, green skinned man with small red horns.
"Sorry sugar booger, we're closed for the night."
"But this is a bar." Replied Sunset.
"Yeah, and if the feds found out we had a minor they'd be down on us faster than you could blink. That and it's past curfew."
"You know getting home sounds great but I'm kind of being tailed by some vamps. They just kinda flipped when I said Buffy."
The barkeep nearly dropped the glass he held in his hand.
"You know the slayer?! Honey, I don't know who you are but you better start singing and I mean now."
"Uh...okay then. When I wake up early..."
Lorn didn't exactly know what had happened to him or how he found himself in this new world, but the minute he felt the first sound of life, he didn't care. He didn't care because the people had the uncanny ability to bring music to life.
Literally.
The girls destiny was big. Bigger than anything he'd seen, but contrary to his original belief, she wasn't a slayer. She was a...a pony. A powerful pony that could probably make most lesser demons piss their collective nethers...but a pony nonetheless
"Oh honey, you are destined for big things, also have you considered a career in musical theater?"
“No, kinda busy with other things. What do you mean about my destiny?”
“Honey, you have magic in a magicless world. Want a drink? Something tells me history is about to repeat itself here in Caritas.”
Pouring a glass of carbonated soft-drink for his patron, the well dressed demon walked from behind his counter and sat next to Sunset almost solemnly.
“I really just hope it's different this time. You have a place to stay?”
“Uh-yeah, no. I mean...my place is a little out of the way, but I've got a vamp problem out the-”
The sound of a door unlocking and opening put Shimmer on edge as she prepared for the worst.
What came through the bar's back door was a fairly young teen, whitish skin, brown mop toppish cut, and missing a shirt.
“Didn't think we had visitors Lorn. Mind introducing me?”
'Lorn' gasped in realization:
“I never got your name sweetheart!”
“Sunset...does he always dress like that?” Sunset asked, face becoming a slightly redder tinge of orange.
“He probably just got out of the shower, Sunset meet Conner. Conner, Sunset. I'll go set up the spare room, you two kids play nice.”
Leaving the two to their own devices, Sunset got back to her book, not noticing the eyes peeking at its pages.
“Dandy, there was a small problem with a mugger,
but I'm okay now. I'm with a friend
so there's really no need to worry.
Best of wishes, until tomorrow.”
“Who you writing to?”
“Gah!”
The voice behind her gave her a heart attack, as she desperately tried and failed to hide her book, said book vibrating in response.
“Something tells me you weren't mugged.” Stated Connor.
“N-no...it was vampires. I kinda got lost and wound up here.”
“Lorn have you sing?”
“Yeah, he said something about my destiny. What's that about?”
“He can read people. It's easier to do when the person he reads is baring their soul. He gives advice, and then he sends them on their way. He used to help my dad back when they were still on speaking terms.”
“What happened?”
“I'll tell you some other time. We open early tomorrow so I'm heading to bed, g'night don't let the vampires bite.”
'A bar run by a demon huh, could be worse.' With that thought, Sunset made her way to her room. It was just one of those days.