//------------------------------// // Beauty of the Sunset // Story: Sunset in the Library // by BradyBunch //------------------------------// ...Hey. D'you, um, mind if I sit next to you? Thanks. This is the comfiest spot in the library and you're also sitting on a beanbag, so I kinda wanted to… yeah. My name's Sunset. I think you already knew that, because of my… you know, history at Canterlot High. Oh really? You went to the Rainboom's concerts? Thanks for supporting us! You're awesome. Fist bump? Fist bump! But anyway. Um, what's your name? Oh, really? Nice to meet you! Hey, are you in here for the biology assignment?... No? Just chillaxing after school? Heh. I can relate. Honestly, I'd rather just kick back and enjoy my free time. But ever since Twilight started to help my work out, I've felt like I need to study much more often. Is your work already done for it? Really? Thanks for lending me your notes! I, ah, didn't know your teacher gave out that assignment a week earlier than mine. Your awesomeness factor just shot up. Oh, my gosh, I'm speaking like Rainbow Dash! Ha ha ha ha ha! I think I've spent too much time around her! Maybe I should spend more time around Fluttershy to make up the difference... … Oh, my back. Mmmm! That pop didn't sound good. Barely sleeping for the past few days won't do you any favors. A massage? Really? Hmm… I dunno, I barely know you. Are you good at it? ...Hm. Might as well take a break to, ah, invigorate myself. Here, let me slip this leather jacket off… This is the best piece of clothing I can imagine. It's even better than bunny slippers! … Ha! Yeah, you just heard that! What, do you think I wear leather to bed? Anyway, whenever you're ready just get started. The floor isn't the best lying place, you know. Mmm! Mmm… that is nice… little higher, please. There we go. Ahh… hmm… ooh! That was ticklish! Hee hee! Work around my spine. Loosen it up. Ah… that's it. The fleshy parts. I love it! You are good at this! Go down a little bit. Lower. Lower. There we go. Straighten out my waist a bit, won't you? *pop* *pop* *pop* Oh! Ooh, that's… mmm, that felt kinda… hey, that feels good now! Didn't feel that way at first, but… I can, like, stand! Don't put your hands on my butt. My butt is fine the way it is. ...Wow. I feel better than I have in months! Thanks! ...Yep. It's been months. I-I don't…Wow, has it really…? Yeah! I'm okay! I'm doing fine! Just- … No. I'm not. Why? It's… my future. Look at it this way. In a few short months, we graduate, go out into the world, do our own things… and we never see these people again. School can be a burden, but the people I've met here… they literally changed my life! I know you feel the same way, but do you have a way to deal with it? I don't. When we all graduate, we'll go our seperate ways. Rarity will take up a fashion design class. Fluttershy will work at the animal shelter until she becomes a vet. Twilight'll probably become an astrophysicist or something. Rainbow Dash is going to try to make it big on  the national soccer team, Applejack's going to run her family's farm in the country, and Pinkie… she'll be Pinkie. Heh heh heh. But what about me? I have no future here. And I don't want to go back either. What… am I going to do…? … Thanks for the hug. But I don't feel better. It's not your fault! Really! But… a hug and a few kind words won't solve this problem. Well, I don't know what will! Friendship usually works, but you're a friend now and it's not working out all that well. Wait, where are you taking me? I'm still being held by you! Don't fall down! Don't fall! AAAH! Oh, that's good… you fell on a plushie. Heh. Should have guessed that! This is… hey, this actually isn't bad. I never knew being held from behind so softly would be so therapeutic. Wait, I've been held from behind before. Pinkie can be very persuasive. So why is it different with you? … Yeah, I like you. You're chill. But that still doesn't explain… how you make me feel… Gaaah, I just want to get away from it all. I don't want to be burdened any more by schoolwork, or my own thoughts, or by graduation coming up, or anything. I just want to run into the sunset and never look back at my past. And not worry about looking ahead either. The future always looked grim for me. A glimmer away, far on the horizon. But the future's there anyway. What are we going to do about it? I just want to melt… and you're doing a good job of it. I don't know why! *sniff* ...You smell nice. Did I just say that out loud?! Forget I said that. I think midterms are getting to me. My mind is all jumbled. Speaking of which, I should get back to work. That bio assignment is hard for me to understand. Human biology is so weird! … On the other hand, I guess my mental health is more important in the long run than some stupid project. Besides, I have your notes. I can afford to stay a bit longer… in your arms… Hey. Look at the sunset. Right outside. It gets dark early this time of year. It's actually really nice. I get to see my namesake through these big windows when I go to the library. And I get reminded somewhat of the beauty within myself. Yeah, it can be hard to continue onward. Being, you know, an overstressed teenager, I don't always feel very good. Nobody feels very good. That's why I have friends. You know who the really strong ones are? The ones who don't have any friends but still have their life together. Those guys don't have a way to cope with it all, but they still get their crap done. Now that's strength. You take the hits even when you don't want to. …Oh? Wow. Oh, I'm so sorry! There's got to be someone. If not, there's me. I'd like to take the hits when you can't stand any more. It doesn't matter that I'm not doing that well. At least I can do a little bit. I didn't always feel this way, if you can believe it. I didn't think I had any inner beauty. I thought I was just rotten to the core. Now I know I'm not. But every now and then, those doubts come back. What if I don't have as much within myself as I used to think? Not just inner beauty?... Wow. Heh heh. That's… really sweet of you. Thanks! ...You like the sunset? I hoped you would. I like seeing other people happy with what I enjoy. You know, you're the first new friend I've made in quite a while. I usually spend most of my time around Pinkie Pie or Applejack or someone like that. It never occured to me to branch out more. Yes, I'm happy I did. Mmm… … Are you going to be here tomorrow? Yes? Yes! I was hoping we could go over those notes a little more. Maybe in case I had a few questions, or just wants to talk, you could… give me your number? What? No, I'm not blushing! That's just the sunlight. But hey, you're correct that I'm red. Heh heh. Great! Let me just type that in… just a sec… and boom! One new phone number in! Thanks for talking to me. I-I really needed that. I'll text you later, okay? Yeah, I can give you a hug! I mean, you've done so much for me. Least I can do for you. Take care. You've got potential inside you that you don't even know! It was the case for me. It'll be the case for you too. Bye! …*giggle* I am so going to text you tonight!