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// Story: And It Was a Tiresome Dream, But Only Because She Wished It So 
// by Ditherer the Fussbudget 
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The school halls were empty. So were the streets. Sunset left voicemails on every phone she could, and got no answers. She’d woken up that morning feeling alone, like her world had just become much, much smaller. 

There weren’t any teachers, or custodians. She snuck into Canterlot High through the same route as the food got into the cafeteria, and the lights weren’t even on. She checked to make sure it wasn’t a holiday, and then went door to door through the nearby houses, waiting for the moment she could feel embarrassed and explain “No, I’m sorry, it’s just that I thought everyone in town vanished.” 

It never came. She checked a dozen at random before ditching the idea, and headed on her motorcycle to the next town over. The driveways had cars on them, but not the roads, and she made it outside of her “hometown” for the first time in her life. 

No matter how far, she didn’t see anyone. Once she’d reached two towns over and moved past a series of orchards, she turned around and sped back to CHS; she had to tell Princess Twilight about this. On the journey she brainstormed what could make so many people disappear, and couldn’t come up with anything. 

After she reached her locker and sent the message out, she spent two hours waiting, pacing the halls and eventually wandering back outside, hoping for someone to jump out and surprise her. She checked her phone compulsively, and nothing new presented itself. She told herself not to panic, and told herself again a few minutes later. 

Finally she couldn’t stand to wait any longer, and she approached the portal. It was still there, she could feel the energy crackling out at her, but it felt like it would bite her if she got too close. It kept her away for a couple minutes, until she ran out of excuses and rushed for it, jamming her hand inside. 

The next day, when she’d recovered, found a painkiller and bandaged herself, she got close enough to peer inside without touching it. On the other side of the violent swimming magic was white darkness, grainy with distance. 

Princess Twilight never came.