A human Starlight Glimmer and a human Tree Hugger are roommates. Join them in adventures of forgiveness, redemption and getting wasted on cheap lager.
Alternate realities are a funny thing. The "human world", as top pony scientist Twilight Sparkle coined it, is certainly one of the funniest. A culture obsessed with technology and appearances more than the values of friendship. It's probably why she rarely visits the place now.
However, this is not the story of a purple alicorn princess trying to fit in with a different species, this is about two occupants of this universe, while in Equestria haven't even met, in Canterlot City, they are roommates and good friends. This is the story of a Canterlot High dropout and a stoner living together.
A young, light purple skinned woman struggled to open the door to her shared apartment while holding some groceries.
"Tree Hugger, fancy helping me with this door?" she exclaimed to her roommate, still struggling with the accursed plank of wood. Tree Hugger seemed less bothered about her friend and more with the nearby wall. Again.
"You're high at this time? It's barely noon!" she shouted at the tree masquerading as a woman in her mid-twenties, before giving up trying to open the door normally and instead using her boot to force it open, before walking into the cozy apartment and placing the assorted goods on a nearby counter. The thud seemed to finally get through to the dreadlocked woman.
"Ah, Starlight Glimmer. When did you get back here?" the hippie asked in a slow, methodical way that clearly indicated that she was stoned. As if her glazed look, the stink of marijuana and a conveniently placed joint between her slender green fingers wasn't enough of a clue of her current state.
Starlight Glimmer simply rolled her blue eyes, before taking a seat next to her roommate. After dropping out of Canterlot High due to... Peer pressure, Starlight needed a cheap place to live. Once again, she recalled that day...
A young scruff wandered the streets, her thin jacked barely protecting her against the harsh autumn weather. She seriously needed a place to stay before winter closed in. Preferably somewhere cheap, as her funds were limited.
Finding a telephone pole with a piece of paper attached, she took a look at it.
"Looking for roommate!" The sign exclaimed, "Cheap rent, cool roommate and cozy apartment. Must enjoy trees and Mary Joanna. That means no narcs!"
The young woman blinked in surprise. She knew that the rent in Canterlot City, while not as absurdly high as Manechester or Trottingham, was still quite a bit more than she was comfortable shelling out. The "cheap" rent offered may just circumvent this.
Snatching one of the slips attached, she took off sprinting towards the location listed.
Starlight was thrown out of her reminiscing by Tree Hugger's heavy coughing fit due to the general atmosphere of the apartment being 50% smoke.
"Heh, think I hit the blunt a little hard there, Glimglam," Tree Hugger wheezed, her eyes turning a lovely shade of pink while smoke still billowed out of her nostrils.
Starlight simply sighed and grabbed a nearby TV rswitching resting a button and watching it flicker into life, she pondered on what to watch. Perhaps she could catch some of that show about the princess from another dimension.
Instead, the TV was showing a bacon haired teenager and her group of like-minded individuals blasting a stone held by a strange green woman. "Local Heroes Save The Day, Again!" the headline screamed, while the narration was catching up on the situation in Canterlot High.
"Hey, Tree Hugger? You sure that's a joint?" she asked worriedly, taking a glance at Tree Hugger to ensure she wasn't suddenly a kite or something. Despite being high as a kite, Tree Hugger was still her relatively normal, human self. Tree Hugger affirmed those suspicions with a thumbs up,"Glimglam, please. My dealer is a trustworthy dude, you know this."
"I wouldn't say he's trustworthy, just not the kind of guy who poisons drugs for kicks."
A loud knock at the door interrupted the conversation. Starlight lazily lifted herself off of the sofa in order to answer the door.
What graced her door was a young woman with orange skin and oranger hair poofed around her head. She was wearing a hoodie and tracksuit bottoms which were in the most drab shade of purple possible. Her magenta eyes bore a fury that her listless expression wasn't quite up to scratch with matching.
"You got the rent?" he asked bluntly.
Starlight for her part, knew that rent day was today. Luckily she had the rent situated in a nearby drawer. Reaching in and taking out a stack of notes, she split it in half and handed one of the halves to her landlord. "Here you go, Miss Dazzle."
Adagio stared at Starlight with an incredulous look, before looking down at the pile of cash she had been handed. Sorting through it, she noticed something off. "This is more than you rent, Starlight. As your landlord, I am legally obligated to give you your excess back." she stated flatly.
Starlight crossed her arms. "And we both know that the agreement forbids illegal substances."
Tree Hugger for her part, attempted to rectify the situation by chipping in. "This is just weed, man..."
Adagio sighed. "As much trouble as your roommate is, she has a point. What else are you hiding, Miss Glimmer?" Adagio flashed a wicked grin, her features finally receiving word that her eyes had fire in them.
"Several firearms, a half kilogram of meth, a taco and two bodies." Starlight stated with as much dense sarcasm as she could muster.
Adagio's grin somehow grew wider. "Alrighty then. I'll take this bribe and your confession and head to the authorities. See you next month, girls!~" Adagio teased, before closing the door behind her.
Starlight headed back to the dingy sofa before sitting down, the television still blaring about Canterlot High's "heroes."
Well, I was in a bad spot for a while. My friends hated me for no explained reason! They forgot who I was and it was terrible...
"Yeah, must be terrible to have your entire life ripped from underneath you because some whore said some mean things about you on social media," Starlight twirled her fingers sarcastically.
Tree Hugger was still conscious enough to notice the absolute hatred in her roommate's voice. "Dude, maybe you should just let go. Sunset's like, a different person now. Look at her."Tree flopping an arm towards the screen to point at Sunset's very genuine looking smile.
Starlight rolled her eyes. "Pfft. As if I'm falling for that. You know our landlord was "defeated" by her, right?"
Tree Hugger was starting to sober up from the sheer buzzkill that Starlgiht was being. "Glimmy, my dudette. I know you might feel that she's some sort of evil mastermind, planning to take over the world with good publicity, but-"
"But what?" Starlight yelled in frustration.
"But like... Couldn't she have taken over already with those gem-thingies?"
Starlight's brain stopped working for a few moments as she processed this line of thinking. Thoughts of a magic fuelled killing spree being broadcast live on television complimented with maniacal laughter as a giant Sunset razed Canterlot City to the ground...
"Hmm, you might have a point. I might to talk to the guys on Eris about this."
Treekicker responded with a hearty sigh and a drag of her joint. "I swear, those guys are making you this paranoid."
Opening up her dusty old SUSA laptop and logging in, Starlight started furiously looking for the popular chatting platform, Eris. With was like the previous most popular Airpe, but... more suited for people who just wanted to talk.
Opening up Eris to find no new notifications, she entered the server known as "Canterlot Central". A hub for all things related to the magical conspiracy that has overtaken Canterlot High... Well, not really, but she tried to steer it towards that sometimes.
Manechat - Canterlot Central
Glimmyglam: Hey guys!
TheGr8&Powerful1:: Hey Glimmy!
FlowerOnTheWall: Hey
SparkplugTheWondercolt: Hello there!
Glimmyglam: So, what are you guys up to today?
SparkplugTheWondercolt: Nothing much. Just working on some uh, science homework. Yeah
FlowerOnTheWall: I'm waiting for my new friends. Because you know, I have friends now, apparently
SunshineTheReformer: And we're very proud of what you've achieved so far, Flower. Just remember what we talked about in the Private Messages
Glimmyglam: That's nice, but have you guys heard about the latest heroic act by our Lord and Saviour, Sunset Shimmer?
FlowerOnTheWall: ?
SparkplugTheWondercolt: Not again
SunshineTheReformer: Come on Glimmy, we talked about this. Your negative feelings towards this Sunset Shimmer aren't healthy for you or Canterlot Central
Glimmyglam: I thought I could let it go Sunshine, I really did. But after hearing that she was seen as a bully again due to this magic stone nonsense really pissed me off. Because you know, being seen as who you truly are is a bad thing these days
TheGr8&Powerful1:: Mmm, I would know a thing or two about that.
SunshineTheReformer: Ugh. Glim, can we talk in DMs for a second?
Tree Hugger was leaning over Starlight's shoulder, watching her type furiously.
"I think Sunshine has a point."
"Your point is noted."
Direct Message - Sunshine#2661
Sunshine: Glim... Can I ask you something deeply personal?
Glimglam: Is it my credit card number?
Sunshine: Nothing like that. Do you know who you're talking to right now?
Glimglam: Sunshine, the founder of the Canterlot Central Eris server?
Sunshine: Well, yes. But I meant the person behind the screen
"You should be careful Glims," Treekicker broke in again"She might be trying to get your address."
"Yeah, whatever Tree. Can you pass me a beer?"
"It's 2 in the afternoon, Glim." Treekicker threw open the fridge anyway in order to place some groceries in.
"It's ten past twelve. Plus I might need one for what's coming up."
Direct Message - Sunshine#2661
Glimglam: It's weird to think that there's someone behind the screen, Sunny. If I had to guess though, with your maturity and the sun related name...
Sunshine: Yes?
Glimglam: Principal Celestia?
Sunshine: What? No! I asked her once if she'd like to be a moderator, but she declined. Too busy.
Glimglam: Luna, then? Just took the Sunshine name out of irony?
Sunshine: No...
Glimglam: Is it someone I know?
Sunshine: Judging by your reactions to me, I guess you knew me back when I was... Less than stellar.
Glimglam: ... Sunset Shimmer?
Sunshine: Bingo.
Starlight stared at the screen. This person she had considered a friend, was in fact the very same teenager who had caused her so much distress in the past?
"Honestly, she seems rather fine about it." Tree Hugger noted, having cans of lager in hand. Passing one to Starlight, she opened the other one and took a sip.
Starlight couldn't believe her eyes still. The bane of her high school days, right there on Eris, pretending to be her friend?
Cracking open the beer, she took a swig. It tasted like garbage, but it was cheap lager.
"So, how are you going to handle this?" Tree Kicker asked.
"Anger and bile?" Starlight asked innocently.
"Don't think that'd be the best solution," she replied worriedly. "I know she caused you some trouble in Canterlot High, but she's a better person now."
Direct Message - Sunshine#2661
Sunshine: You still there? I know it might be a lot to take in, but I can provide proof?
"This is getting weird. Do you think it's getting weird, Tree Hugger?"
"Eh," she nonchalantly replied before taking a large swig of lager. This was going to be a long afternoon.
Suddenly, an image appeared on Starlight's dusty laptop screen. It was of a orange skinned teenager with red and yellow hair, holding the camera in one hand, while having a note in the other.
Hi Glimglam! - Sunshine#2661
It was written out so neatly. That combined with the gleaming, almost adorable smile on her face was actually pretty convincing.
Glimglam: Wow. That is some neat handwriting
Sunshine: IKR? So, do you believe me now?
Glimglam: I'll concede that you are most likely the real Sunset Shimmer, Sunshine
Sunshine: Fantastic. But now what do we do?
Starlight's stomach coincidentally decided to inform her that she had not eaten. Despite the grocery shopping she did earlier, she didn't want to cook either. Tree Hugger was probably too baked to cook anyway.
Glimglam: How about you and me meet up someplace to talk over lunch?
Sunshine: Good idea! I know just the place. Do you know where Sugarcube Corner is?
Glimglam: It's just a few blocks from my apartment. What time do you want to meet?
Sunshine: Funny thing is that I'm already there
Glimglam: I guess I'll head there now. I'll give you a wave when I'm there
Sunshine: Sounds good, TTYL!
"Tree Hugger, I'm going out. Don't burn the place down while I'm gone." Starlight grabbed her jacket from the coathanger near the door before taking about 20 dollars in cash from the drawer and hurriedly exiting the apartment.
Walking down the stairs to the ground floor of the complex, she saw the bubbly receptionist, Sonata. Only noting the fact that she was munching down on her lunch before rushing out of the door into the mid-spring day.
It was overcast and drab, just the way she liked it. No sun blinding her eyes, but no rain soaking her to the bone either. It was a good compromise of weather for this time of year. Reflecting that, the temperature was slightly chilly, but not bad enough for her jacked and shirt combo to be inadequate. At worst she'd get a few funny looks going down the few blocks to Sugarcube Corner.
Walking down the sidewalk, she was definitely hesitant to meet her reason for dropping out from Canterlot High in the first place. The months of mental torment really took her psyche down a few notches, along with her grades and social circle. That along with the threats of physical harm if she told anyone certainly didn't help her and in the end, she stopped attending entirely.
Before she knew it, she arrived at the low-key building. Peeking inside, she saw Sunset playing about with her phone with two beverages on the table she was sat at. There was no point in chickening out now anyway.
Walking in with a confident stride, she walked over to Sunset and lightly tapped on the table.
A small jolt from Sunset indicated that she in fact, heard the tap.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" She hurriedly put away her phone before looking at Starlight. After a moment, she put her hand underneath her chin and gave a pondering look."Starlight? I don't think you told me you were visiting from Equestria."
Starlight was now confused. "Uh, what's "Equestria?" Is that some sort of foreign European country?"
Sunset had to stare for a moment before regaining composure. "Oh, I get it now . Sorry, I just have a friend from another dime- continent that looks exactly like you," Sunset clarified, glad that she could clear this up with the identical Starlight before things got too weird.
"Ah. Guess I should confirm who I am then," Starlight took a seat opposite to Sunset, before taking the cup closest to her and smelling it. It was tea. Perfect. "I am the same person you was talking to a few minutes ago, Glimglam#6812, otherwise known as Starlight Glimmer. It surprises me that you knew my name already, though."
"Lucky guess." Sunset took a drink of her coffee before setting it down. "But honestly, I don't recall seeing you in Canterlot High, no offence."
"None taken," she coolly replied, leaning back a little in her chair to seem more relaxed than she actually was. "If it's any consolation, I never really had friends at Canterlot High anyway, so that's probably why you don't recall bullying me into submission." The last words came off a little more bitterly than she intended.
"Oh... Well I tried to forget about what I did. It was really guilt inducing when I looked at someone and the first thing that popped into my head was 'Oh yeah, I gave you a swirlie!' or 'I made fun of your mother's death.'". Sunset crossed her arms and looked away with regret in her eyes. "There was a reason I had to earn my redemption, ma'm. There were a few who outright stated that I should just go and never come back. Some said it more politely than others." "Still, without the chance to earn that respect, I wouldn't have become who I am today, so it was a blessing, really." Sunset finished, idly picking up her coffee and taking another sip. She seemed to have brightened up at least.
Starlight was surprised. In her absence, Sunset had gotten the kick in the teeth she had needed in order to stop being a bully. Even if it meant some disproportionate retribution on her end.
"Well, that's good to hear, at least. Also, I forgive you."
"Starlight's unselfish act of forgiveness was rewarded with hot coffee straight to the face." "Excuse me?!"
"I said that I forgive you, Sunset. Seeing you now as a much better person is... Inspiring. It makes me want to improve too." She took a moment to wipe off the coffee with a nearby paper towel. "And as you might imagine, I have a grudge against someone for effectively ending my social life and my high school education. I think you know who it is."
Sunset shrugged, "Not the first time that's happened actually. Broke apart a group of friends with manipulation. They ended up realising it was me with some outside help and eventually thwarted my plans for world domination. Eventually became my own friends, funnily enough."
"So you're just surprised that I don't hold a grudge anymore? I can bring it back if you want." she said, giving a cheeky grin.
"Nah, I think it's best to leave it." Sunset held out a hand. "It's nice to meet you by the way, Starlight. I'm Sunset Shimmer."
"It's nice to meet you too. I'm Starlight Glimmer." She took her hand and shook it hard.
There was an awkward silence after the pair of teens shook hands. Luckily, the reason why Starlight decided to meet up with Sunset in the first place reared it's metaphorical head as her stomach cried out for its next snackrifice.
"Feeling hungry then, Starlight?" Sunset joyfully asked, trying to ignite a new conversation.
For her part, Starlight tried her best to look embarrassed at least, but she couldn't muster more than a light flush across her features. "It might be part of why I'm here, heh."
Sunset playfully rolled her eyes in response as she took out her wallet. "Luckily for you, I usually cover the bill when Rarity isn't around. The job I currently have is a bit of a money maker, so I don't mind it." Sunset causally explained as she stood up out of her chair and headed towards the counter.
While Sunset was ordering something from the energetic looking pink girl who was giving her weird looks every so often, Starlight swiftly took out her brick of a phone and headed to her messages, before typing out a quick message.
Messaging Tree Hugger Hey, I might be a little while. Try not to pass out with a blunt in your hand. <3
Starlight had finished furiously smashing her phone's keyboard before the girl with the crazy bacon-esque hair returned, holding two more cups and two confectioneries. One was drizzled in a strange goldish hue that gave Starlight a toothache just from looking at it funny and the other was a simple cupcake... With whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles covering the entirety of the cream, and not one but two cherries on top.
Sunset noticed the stare from her compatriot. "Here," she handed the golden cake over. "This one won't give you diabetes. Well, it shouldn't, but since Pinkie Pie's on shift, I'd still take it slow."
Starlight analysed the cupcake laid before her, the golden sheen glinting off sunlight while the caramel slowly climbed down the sides. As she was closer now, she could make it very small pieces of fudge interspaced within the bounds of the cake.
Taking one of the two steaming plastic cups of liquid as preperation to wash down this sugar coma-inducing delicacy, Starlight took a small bite. As expected, the combination of caramel and fudge rushed throughout her mouth, covering every inch of the muscle in pure sugar.
If it wasn't for it filling her mouth already, Starlight would have let out a euphoric moan. Instead, a muffled one would have to do.
"Yeah, it's pretty good." Sunset said, suppressing a laugh. "There's a reason why some call this place Sugargasm Corner."
"Mmmm... Gross." Starlight swallowed the first bite, before setting the treat down on the table. "So uh... What do you do for a living?"
Sunset leaned one of her elbows on the table, striking a thinking pose. "Aside from part time High Schooler and full time hero, I do have a job on the side. Low-key sort of work though, can't really tell you much."
Grabbing her phone again, Starlight typed something into the small rectangular device, before handing it to Sunset.
Sunbreakers!
Do you have a website with holes that need to be plugged? Do you need a hacker to tell you what ways your data can be breached? Are you too lazy to hire a full time I.T. department?
If the answer to any of those questions was "Yes!", then Sunbreakers is for you!
Our independent white hat hackers will break into your website and detail a report on how exactly they got in! They will even offer solutions to your security holes for a small additional charge!
Why have a broken lock, when you can have a lock that can't be broken? Contact us today!
Sunset gave a half-liddled stare to Starlight. "That obvious, huh? I didn't even tell you that I did do that sort of thing."
"Well, someone must have gotten a hold of my personal details at some point, considering how I ended up on the streets in the first place." Starlight handwaved while staring right into Sunset's eyes.
Sunset withered under her gaze. "Geez, I said I was sorry. I didn't know you managed to put two and two together on that."
"Eh," Starlight took her phone back nonchalantly. "I figured that those ads would be you after the Anon-A-Miss scandal. Who else would leak personal info for the kicks?"
"Ugh..." Sunset placed her head into her hands. "So you managed to gather that much, but not how I managed to sniff out Anon-A-Miss?"
Starlight took another bite of her baked good, before taking a long drink of coffee. "Because while I know it happened, due to the massive outcry on the student forums-"
Sunset put her hands back onto the table before looking at Starlight. "You know, with them not deactivating your student forum privileges after leaving, it's no wonder Anon-A-Miss happened like it did."
Starlight rolled her eyes. "I know, but they did shut it down after the incident. Point is, there was a lot of hear-say about it before it was resolved. When I tried to ask Principal Celestia about it afterwards, she just said that the "matter was none of your concern." and that was that."
Sunset sighed, as she dipped a finger into her lukewarm coffee and started moving it clockwise. "I know that might be frustrating, but it's due to legal issues and all that sorta thing. If I knew who they were, I wouldn't have done what I did to find out who they were... Desperate times back then."
"Huh." Starlight replied, her eyes widening. "Didn't know you had a reason behind your part time job aside from needing the money."
Sunset dried her coffee soaked finger before downing the rest of the cooling brew. "I mean I'm good at it, might as well use my talents for something while making some cash on the side," Sunset pointed to the young woman across the table. "Speaking of, what do you do?"
Starlight choked on her coffee a slight bit. "E-excuse me?"
The bacon-haired teen reeled back in surprise. "I mean you don't have to answer..."
"Well, I'm not exactly under employment."
"Oh," Sunset simply stated. "I'm sorry, then."
"Eh, I do get some compensation from it. Helps pay for the basics, like Internet, beer and cable." Starlight tried to put a positive spin on things.
Sunset gave a flat look. "That's not "the basics", you know."
"That's what roommates are for," Starlight put her hands up defensively. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. My roommate's a stoner so I tend to take care of the financials and what not. How do you get on with things?"
Sunset pulled herself out of her chair, before grabbing the various pieces of garbage. "Why don't you come along? I haven't have anyone visit my place for a while and it's only a few blocks over."
"Sure!" Starlight leapt out of her chair, before gently placing it back for the next customer.
Sunset put the stuff in her arms in the bin before waving to the pink-haired girl at the till. "See ya Pinkie, hope you have a nice day!"
Pinkie Pie waved back, before Sunset opened the door to let Starlight out into the mild May day. The sun was starting to peek through the previously overcast sky.
