"You're late again, Sunset Shimmer?"
"Yes, don't bother me about it!" Sunset snapped.
The man shrugged. "It's just...you don't want to get fired, do you? You told me you're barely getting paid enough already. If you were fired, what would you do?"
"I won't get fired! Just don't bother me about it, Party Favor!" Sunset yelled.
Party Favor shuffled his feet. "Okay then..."
"Hey! Party Favor! Get your butt over here!" An all-too-familiar voice shouted.
"C-coming!" Party Favor faced Sunset. "I gotta go. See you!" Then he quickly walked off.
Sunset nodded a 'goodbye' and then spun around to grab her vest hanging on a hat rack.
"Another day, another dollar..." She muttered.
"More like another nickel." A teenager wearing the same color vest 'reference joked' as she passed by.
I never wanted this stupid part-time job at this stupid supermarket... Sunset Shimmer thought to herself. I wish I was able to get into theater...
Sunset Shimmer remembered when she tried to audition for acting. She completely blew it. She can still remember those disappointed faces staring at her when it turned out she was terrible at acting. After that, she kept switching between different part-time jobs. Right now she works at the best-paying supermarket in town. She also plays her guitar for tips, self-published a few books, and Trixie always lends her some money. It helps pay for her house, taxes, and other living conditions at least.
Sunset Shimmer walked to the backroom of the market to grab the boxes filled with stuff. Her job was placing bought objects in their designated places, and being a cashier.
She was about to lift a large box filled with apples when her cellphone started ringing. She reached into her pocket to grab her cellphone and check who was calling.
It read 'Trixie Lulamoon.' Sunset; slightly annoyed, but also relieved that she had some excuse to not start working yet; pressed the green button to answer her.
Holding her phone up with to her ear, she spoke to her friend. "Heyo Trixie, what's up?"
"Hey Sunset. I meant to ask this when we were talking at the crosswalk, but, I didn't want to make you late for work..." Trixie said; slightly muffled through Sunset's iPhone.
"Eh, you wouldn't have done much damage. I'm already late." Sunset replied.
"What? You ran off with plenty of time!"
"I blame you." Sunset teased. "You made me feel nostalgic for my old friends."
"What? How?" Trixie said, confused.
"You mentioning Canterlot High..." Sunset sighed.
"Seriously? You get nostalgic way too easy."
"It doesn't matter...hey, so what did you want to ask me?"
"I was wondering if we could meet at the café to celebrate me getting the gig after your work today!" Trixie exclaimed.
"Sure! I'm not doing anything later today! So, work is over at six o'clock today...so, six o'clock?"
"Six? Isn't work over at five?" A slightly puzzled Trixie said.
"I was one hour late, and I want my full pay today. So I'm working late."
"One hour late? You were reminiscing your high school friends so much that you were one hour late? What the heck, Sunset!"
Sunset Shimmer giggled a little. "And I'll probably be remembering them at work today too. Yah know, because--"
Trixie cut her off. "--because you like to get lost in thought at work, I know!" Trixie giggled a bit. "I remember when you told me about that...very adult fantasy you had that one time when you used to be a waitress. You told me it in so much detail...like that part when that women came to join you and the man, and you wanted to--"
"Ah-hem!" Sunset said loudly into the phone.
Trixie laughed. "Right, safe for work phone conversation--" All of a sudden, a very muffled background noise came from the phone.
"What was that?" Sunset wondered out loud.
"Oh, that was just the person who offered me the gig. I need to start the show now." Trixie explained. "See you at the café! Bye-bye!"
"Bye." Sunset said; with a little less emotion than she meant to express. Then she hung up.
"Ah-hem. Sunset Shimmer, if your done talking to your girlfriend, you should get back to work."
Sunset turned to her left; startled by the voice. Was it the manager, about to scold her again?
No, it wasn't her manager. It was her "friend" Silver Spoon. She used to attend Canterlot High as a freshman, but her parents moved her to Crystal Prep; a private school; before Sunset Shimmer could even notice her. Now she goes to the most expensive--and best--college in the whole town. She works at the supermarket to earn some extra cash.
"Oh, it's just you, Silver Spoon. Aren't you supposed to be in class?" Sunset said with relief.
"Oh, it's the new semester. My schedule is different. My first class isn't until two o'clock on Mondays. Thirty minutes after my shift is over." Silver explained.
"Thirty minutes? That's cutting it kinda close, isn't it?" Sunset asked.
"I can make it at least five minutes early." Silver Spoon said, confidently. "But, no time for small talk. We should get back to work now."
Sunset looked uneasy. "Heh, heh...right."
Silver Spoon nodded, and then proceeded to lift a box full of many cereal boxes. Sunset Shimmer lifted her own box filled with apples, and then headed out of the backroom to put the apples in the fruit section of the supermarket.
As she was walking there, Sunset began to do what she always does at work: get lost in thought. She wasn't joking when she told Trixie that she was going to try thinking about her old high school friends at work. Trixie just...got her into the mood.
That country girl...Apple Whack? Apple Sack? Apple something... Sunset thought as she dumped the cardboard box of apples onto the table where apples are kept. She was an apple farmer, wasn't she? She lived at Sweet Apple Acres...that's probably where these apples came from.
Sunset Shimmer carried her empty box back to the backroom to put it down and lift a new one. She chose another box of apples; since her old apple farmer friend was in her mind at the moment. Carrying the box of apples, she headed back to the table where apples are kept...only for $1.49 each!
I remember when we practiced Twilight's musical counter spell against the evil band--the Dazzlings--in one of Sweet Apple Acres' barns. That's when I first met Apple Sack's little sister! Apple...and then something to do with a flower...that was her little sister's name. She was so sweet! Sunset Shimmer dumped the apples onto the pile of apples; and then headed back to the backroom to grab one more crate.
Ugh, I feel so guilty for not remembering most of my old friends' names! They probably didn't forget each others' names... Sunset thought with shame as she lifted one last cardboard box filled with kiwis.
Carrying the box of kiwis to their designated place; Sunset kept remembering many memories of her old friends. And that shy girl...all I remember about her name was that the word 'shy' was in there somewhere. She was so kind...which makes sense, since she represents the element of kindness. She loved animals. I remember the time she invited all of us to the animal shelter to help take care of the sick animals. One of the most energetic cats got loose and started running all over the shelter...it took us forever to finally catch that tabby! Sunset chuckled to herself under her breath.
Sunset Shimmer dropped the box off in the backroom and then headed to her register. She worked at register #4. As soon as she got there, she put her right elbow in the counter, and rested her chin on her hand. Now she waits for the supermarket to open.
My most best friend; Twilight Sparkle. She was so talented, smart, nice, and beautiful. I'm surprised the only other person to fall for her was my ex-boyfriend, Flash Sentry. Too bad every time she came, it was either because of a crisis, or I was asking for help. It was the other, human-world Twilight that I got to hang out with more. Sunset giggled a little. She was the same as pony Twilight...yet, not the same. I could never feel the same way about her that I felt about pony Twilight. But Radiant--Remedy? Rare? Whatever that fabulous friend's name was--suspected that human Twilight was crushing on me. Heh heh...I remember my exact response--"Radiant, this is real life, not a shipping fanfic! It seems unlikely that she would crush on me!"
All of a sudden, an announcement could be heard on the intercoms, interrupting Sunset Shimmer's thoughts.
"We will be opening in five minutes! Have a great day at work, everybody!" The announcer exclaimed.
Yeah, like I'll ever have a great day at this supermarket. At least I have my phone... Sunset Shimmer gasped. Her iPhone! Since Sunset doesn't take many pictures (or delete a lot) she might still have pictures of her old high school friends!
Sunset Shimmer pulled out her cellphone and pressed on the app labeled "photos." She searched through her camera roll; swiping her fingers on the screen to look at each and every one. Except for pausing to check if customers were coming in and taking two-second glances at some hilarious pictures and selfies of Trixie and Silver Spoon, she never stopped swiping at the pictures unless she recognized one of her old friends in one of the photos.
"Am I seriously trying to swipe to photos from six years ago? I may not have even uploaded them from my old phone from six freaking years ago onto my new phones!" Sunset grumbled to herself. "Unless they saved and transferred from iCloud or something..." She added.
Sunset kept swiping through the photos, just in case. She quickly deleted a few inappropriate ones that she found on the Internet and saved onto her camera role for some reason. She finally stopped when she recognized a picture of a teenage girl--a very familiar teenage girl--with hot pink hair and light pink skin throwing her head into a cake with the banner 'Happy 18th Birthday!' Behind her. "Oh my God..." Sunset breathed. "I can't believe I found a picture from six years ago! iCloud is a wonderful thing, isn't it?"
Sunset looked at the picture some more. It was from Pinkie Pie's (at least Sunset's pretty sure that's what her name is) 18th birthday. It was such a fun party...Pinkie always threw the best parties, and we wanted to surprise her with an amazing surprise party. She loved it! Sunset grinned a little at the photo. She silently wished to herself that she could go to another one of Pinkie Pie's parties.
Sunset swiped the image away with her finger to see the next photo. It was another photo from high school; no doubt. It was herself wearing a gorgeous gown with six other teenage girls smiling and wearing beautiful gowns as well. They were undoubtedly Sunset's old friends.
"This was the 12th grade prom!" Sunset whispered. "There's me, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow, Radiant, Apple Sack, human Twilight, and Shy..." She pointed at each girl as she stated their name. That prom was so fun...Rainbow and Pinkie danced like insane people in the middle of the gym. Everybody watched, and it turned into a dance competition! Everyone was chanting the name of the girl they were rooting for--Pinkie or Rainbow--as they competed against each other. More people were chanting for Rainbow though, since she was the popular one. But the one who won was Pinkie Pie! Her reward was a free slice of apple pie--made by Apple Sack!
Sunset swiped her finger to reveal the next photo. It was an image of Rainbow, human Twilight, and Radiant looking in the dark hallway that Sunset once confronted pony Twilight in to bully her about 'not fitting in' before Sunset was reformed. "Why did I take a picture of this?"
Then she remembered.
Oh, this is when some jerk stole Twilight's glasses and my phone. We were looking around for my phone and her glasses in the dark hallway. It turns out that the girl helping us look--and took photos of us looking--was the one who stole our possessions. She was using my phone to take pictures, and was wearing Twilight's glasses--that she didn't even need, so her vision must have been blurry with those glasses on--so that's where this photo came from. That jerk took this photo. The girl admitted that she took our stuff and gave them back. She told us her reasons for taking our stuff, but I forget the reason. It was a stupid reason, I remember that. Sunset thought with annoyance.
Sunset swiped to the next photo. It was just a picture of Sweet Apple Acres with Apple Sack and her little sister Apple Flower in front of it, posing for a picture.
"Oh, I remember taking this. I was helping Shy and Radiant with their photography classes." Sunset muttered. "They couldn't be in two places at once, so I took a picture of Sweet Apple Acres while they were taking pictures elsewhere. It was totally cheating!" Sunset Shimmer playfully added.
Sunset Shimmer was about to swipe her finger to reveal the next photo; but someone shouted her name. And they did not sound happy.
"SUNSET SHIMMER!"
Startled, Sunset dropped her phone. She heard a loud 'smashing' sound from the phone as it hit the ground. Sunset would've cursed to herself; since it sounded like the screen of her phone broke; but she just stood there, petrified as she faced the woman in front of her.
It was her manager, who just caught her using her phone during her shift.
Sunset Shimmer blushed and nervously perfected her posture. "I apologize for that, ma'am"
Her manager did not look happy. Scratch that--she never looked happy. The emotion Sunset Shimmer's manager was displaying now was rage.
"Sunset Shimmer, you are not allowed to use your phone during your shift. Didn't you notice at least five customers pass you because they saw you texting or something? You will give us a bad reputation." The manager said, sharply.
"It will not happen again." Sunset said with fake confidence.
"You said that last time. I also noticed that you were late today." She narrowed her eyes. "Again." She added.
"I know. I was sidetracked while walking here. I apologize. It won't happen again, I swear." Sunset felt like her manager, Spoiled Rich, could smell her fear.
"It better not...because if it does, you will be fired."
Sunset Shimmer gulped. She couldn't afford to be fired. She would lose her home--Trixie probably wouldn't give her enough money to pay all of her bills. She was lucky that she was keeping her home now--Spoiled Rich paid a generous amount of money to her employees. The easiness of the job and the amount of pay made this job seem ideal. However, it is actually quite terrible working conditions. Insurance isn't provided, and there are zero breaks. It's mostly heavy-lifting boxes full of stuff, and it's an extremely religious establishment: Closed on Sundays; allowed to not serve gay or lesbian or trans people, can't work here if you are confirmed trans, gay, lesbian, or bisexual (Sunset has to keep her sexuality--bisexual--secret from this store for that one rule), no birth control aloud, and no saying God's or Jesus' name in vain here. It was extreme.
"T-thank you f-for giving me another chance." Sunset stammered. Spoiled Rich is a terrifying manager.
"Don't thank me yet. You will be payed ten dollars less an hour now. I may even demote you...but I'll think about the latter." Spoiled Rich said with such a fierce tone.
Sunset nodded respectively. "Yes ma'am."
"Keep working hard, Sunset Shimmer, and I may just change my mind about lowering your pay and demoting you." Spoiled Rich said, in a slightly calmer tone. She nodded, and then walked away.
Sunset thunked her head onto the counter; barely missing the cash register; and groaned. "Jeez, it's just a freaking supermarket! That woman needs to calm the hell down!" She mumbled.
Sunset Shimmer slowly rose her head and forced a smile onto her face. She needed to look polite for the customers.
Hey, this doesn't mean your day is completely ruined, Sunset! Remembering my old best friends...that was the greatest I felt all month. I can still think of memories while I just stand here.
Sunset Shimmer stood at cash register #4 while thinking of her old friends. She never realized how much she misses them! The fun they had together, the memories they made together...
Then she got an idea.
She picked her phone off the ground. Ignoring the the cracked screen, she pressed 'contacts' and pressed on 'Trixie Lulamoon.' She pressed the button that sent her to the text messages she had with Trixie. Then she typed a new text.
"Hey, Trix, I just got the greatest idea. I think it's time to have a reunion with my old high school friends."
Sunset smiled, and then put her phone back into her pocket. About two hours later, Trixie texted back.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS????!!!!!"
Ignoring the unneeded amount of punctuation marks, Sunset replied with a short message.
"I am completely serious. More on this at the café."
Sunset Shimmer couldn't wait for the workday to end and meet up with Trixie. Sunset already knew where Apple Sack lives; and Trixie can figure out where everyone else is with the power of the Internet.
It was finally time for the 'mane' 7 to get back together and rekindle their friendship.