//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Three's Company // Story: The Last Dance // by Eggtaro //------------------------------// Sunset Shimmer walked quietly to the back of the library, heading towards a special spot where the tall bookshelves had almost completely block the place from view. Luckily, the school's librarian was very lazy,and rarely appeared around this particular area to clean. Which was good, since she might be in a shock to discover that there were two illegal inhabitants currently occupying the place. As Sunset Shimmer past the last two bookshelves, she spotted the person whom she was looking for. Sunset Shimmer smiled to herself as she approach the girl who was laying on a bed, which was completely made out of library's books. The girl was deeply engage with a book in her hand, reading intensely as her eye darted left and right from the pages. Sunset Shimmer took a glance at the title. The World's Wondrous Wonders she grinned Oh Twilight, you and your books. "You do realize that you are always welcome to stay with any one of us Twilight Sparkle." Sunset Shimmer said, as she stood right next to the book bed. "So why do you always insist on staying here?" she place her hands on her hips, looking down at Twilight. "AHH!" Sunset Shimmer jumped by the sudden yelp from Twilight. The book fell onto Twilight's face as she quickly tried to sat up. The book slid from her face and Twilight started to rubbed her nose, which was becoming red. "Sunset Shimmer! Don't scare me like that! You know I don't pay proper attention when I'm busy reading." Twilight gave Sunset Shimmer a frown, still massaging her now red nose. Sunset Shimmer only laughed. "I didn't scare you Twilight, didn't you hear me knocking on the bookshelf?" She pointed at one of the nearer bookshelves "You really shouldn't stay here in this quiet, old library. You can always come and stay with one of us." Sunset Shimmer took a seat on the book bed next to Twilight, picking up the book that has slid off Twilight's face and placing it on a small table which was also made out of books. "I know Sunset Shimmer, but I don't really wish to be a bother to anyone. Especially since I just normally come to this world for a brief visit." said Twilight. "Well, please let us know if you change your mind." Twilight nodded, "So what brings you to my humble er... abode?" Sunset Shimmer fished out her cellphone from her pocket, "We could use your help Twilight. By any chance is Spike around?" she looked around the small area which Twilight had made into her 'bedroom' "I didn't bump into him while I was making my way here." She scrolled through her phone and showed Twilight a picture of a tiny white bunny. Twilight stared at the picture, "Isn't that Fluttershy's bunny?" she asked Sunset Shimmer who nodded in response. "Angel is missing. Fluttershy was hoping that if Spike could try to pick up Angel's scent and lead her to him." "Sunset, you do realize that Spike is originally a dragon." Twilight said, her eyebrows rising "And he always will be. I don't even know if Spike knows how to use that dog nose of his here in this world." "Well, it is still worth a try don't you think?" Sunset said, standing up "Anyway if you do find Spike, can you both come down to the animal shelter that Fluttershy works at?" "I'll be there, Sunset don't worry." Twilight said standing up as well. "I needed to find Spike anyway. He said he was going to take a walk around the school" "Won't he get thrown out if he were to be spotted?" Sunset said with a worried tone. She was fond of Spike the dog slash dragon, and they have both gotten close over the time when Twilight comes over to visit. "Don't worry Sunset, Spike told me that he knows his way around the school like the back of his cla-- I mean, paw. He'll be fine, you'll see." Twilight place a reassuring hand on Sunset's arm. Sunset Shimmer gave Twilight a small smile. "Anyway, surely you're not here just to let me know about Angel's situation." Twilight gave Sunset a questioning look. "Were you by any chance returning a book?" Sunset shook her head. "Actually, I'm guiding a new student around the school, you know showing him the sights." Sunset puffed out her chest, a sense of pride flowing within her. "It is my duty to meet and greet the new students and to let them get to know the new me!" Twilight grinned "And where is this new student now?" she looked behind Sunset's shoulder, as if hoping to catch a glimpse. Sunset smacked her forehead. "Shoot! I forgot that Bacon is still waiting for me!" Sunset gave Twilight a quick hug and started to head off back to where she left him "I'll see you later Twilight!" And just like that, Sunset Shimmer was gone. Twilight stood there in the quiet spot for a moment, then she said to herself aloud. "Bacon?" ********** Sunset Shimmer quickly headed back to the area where the computers were, hoping to herself that Bacon did not decided to go off without her. She looked down at her watch, she has been nearly gone for twenty minutes. Dang it she thought, quickening her pace. I should've paid attention to the time! as she went by, several of the students who were there reading looked up and grimaced at her, annoyed by the sudden noises in the once quiet library. Sunset gave a few of the students an apologetic smile and wave, mouthing the words Sorry as she continued on her way towards where Bacon was. As she neared the computer area, she spotted Bacon leaning next to one of the bookshelf, she stopped suddenly when she saw that Bacon wasn't alone. Snips and Snails was talking to Bacon, their arms pointing and waving about. Sunset Shimmer froze for a moment, realizing what the appearance of those two meant. She frantically headed towards the three of them No! No! No! Not the two them! Not right now! Sunset Shimmer started to panic What have they told him? Why are they still doing this to me? As she approached them, Bacon looked up and stared behind Snips and Snails, who they both noticed and spun around. They began grinning to themselves as they saw Sunset Shimmer getting closer and closer, Her eyes piercing them like icy daggers. "Well, well, speak of the she-demon herself!" Snips said loudly while nudging Snails in the elbow who nodded like a bobble-head. "Yeah, here she comes! We better watch out Snips!" the pair of them started to laugh as they headed towards the exit. Heads spun around as Snips and Snails passed the other students. Snips stopped at the entrance and turned to faced Bacon, "Remember what we told you bro!" and he disappeared from sight, laughter still audible from the closed oak doors. The students in the library all turned their attention towards Bacon and Sunset Shimmer, whispers soon began to follow. Sunset Shimmer just stood there looking at her feet, holding one of her arms. Not this again. Oh please not this again Sunset Shimmer felt her cheeks heat up and her eyes were starting to feel watery. Today was going just fine! Why did those two have to pop up and ruin this! She didn't wanted to cry, but she couldn't help it. The tears were beginning to leave her eyes and were slowly rolling down her cheeks. She always tried to ignore this treatment, telling herself that she wouldn't be bothered by any of this. But the pressure was always there, the fear, the anxiety. She hated it. And right now she was going through one of these moments again. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the whispers which were starting to get louder. Suddenly a warm and gentle hand reached out and grabbed hers. Her eyes opened and she looked up to see Bacon holding her hand. He gave her a soft smile and whispered "Come on" and pulled her away gently from the whispers, away from the judging eyes and away from the library. She did not remember how long they were holding hands, but she felt warm and fuzzy inside for the duration they were doing it. Bacon lead them outside from the main lobby, and he headed to one of the many benches which were place around the huge front lawn area. He made Sunset sat down and they both let go of each others hand, Sunset a bit reluctantly. Bacon sat down beside her and handed her a tissue paper, which she accepted with a quiet "Thanks" and started to wipe her cheeks and eyes. Bacon remained silent, staring into the sky, his arms placed on his thighs. Sunset stared up at the sky as well, not a word passed between them for a few minutes, when Bacon began to spoke. "Has it always been like this?" he turned to look at Sunset Shimmer, whose face now tear free. She nodded. "I'm used to it you know." she said quietly, her thumb trying to smooth the crumpled tissue paper in her hand. "Or at least, that is what I tell myself. B-but sometimes it just gets a little be to hard for me to handle." She cleared her throat. "I guess today is one of those times." So much for showing the new me she thought bitterly to herself, biting her lip There goes my chance of making a new friend she sighed heavily. "W-what...what did they tell you?" she asked Bacon, not daring to look at him. "D-did they say--" "Some stuff about you being a bully back in the day, how those two were your underlings and something about a she-demon? I wasn't really paying any attention to any of that." "Seems to meet they told you enough." Sunset eyes began to water again. She shook her head hard, trying to suck the tears back in. Bacon handed her a packet of tissue papers. She manage to give a small laugh. "I'm so pathetic. Here I was telling myself I wanted to give it at my all at making friends." she took a single piece out from the packet. "Now, I can't even make new ones." "What are you talking about?" Bacon asked bending over to look at Sunset's face. She slowly turned to face him. "Didn't you listen to what Snips and Snails been telling you? I'm a bully! A horrible person! A she-- a she-demon!" she stared at the ground "No one would want to be friends with a person like me." Even when all of those are in the past she thought quietly. "Don't be silly." Sunset looked at Bacon, her eyes widening. "The person they were telling me about is nothing compared to whom I met this morning." Bacon smiled at Sunset Shimmer. "And from what I can tell, I haven't seen any of those traits they were rambling on about you." Bacon put his hand inside his pocket, took out a piece of candy wrapped in pink foil and handed it to Sunset Shimmer. "Eat this, you will feel better." Sunset Shimmer took the candy, slowly unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth. The candy was rather sour, but there was a small hint of sweetness. Bacon stood up, "Life is never easy." he said "nor is it fair. Sometimes we will encounter moments where thing might get sour, but if you tried hard enough--" he pointed at the sky "you just might discover some thing sweet as well, hidden behind all those sourness." Sunset's heartbeat began to accelerate, and her fingers and cheeks were starting to heat up. She stared at Bacon, who was grinning back at her. Her lips began to form a smile. Bacon started to head back towards the school building. "I manage to spot the principal's office during our tour, I will head there myself. Don't worry about the rest of the tour, I'm sure we can do it again some other time. You just stay here and calm down for the moment." he waved and began to walk, when he suddenly stopped and faced Sunset again "I'm your friend Sunset Shimmer. I don't let other people be the judge of who I can and cannot be friends with, that is for me and me alone to decide. And when I say this, I mean it. I'm glad to have you as my first friend here in Canterlot High." he smiled again and left, leaving Sunset Shimmer sitting by herself, smiling and blushing.