//------------------------------//
// Digging Up Dirt 
// Story: Equestria Boys 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

Shining Armor found his way to "class" much easier than he had found everything else so far. Aside from the fact that he had arrived very late into the class period there were no issues. And the teacher for the first period was willing to let him off with a warning since he was a new student.

The next class period turned out to be a study hall, which was normally meant for students to work on any homework they might have. But as Shining had none at the moment, he took advantage of the opportunity for free time and headed for the one place he knew he could go to for research: The library.

The library was overseen by a woman who looked a lot like Mayor Mare, even down to the long, flowing gray hair and yellow glasses over her moderate dark blue eyes. But her name was Ivory Script. "I used to be the mayor a long time ago," She complained as she handed over a pass for one of the computers to Shining (he had unintentionally called her "Mayor" before realizing she probably wasn't one in this world). "To think, one small bookkeeping error was all it took to get me kicked out of office. Doesn't even matter that I said I was sorry."

"Wow, that lady's a real bag of sunshine," Spike sarcastically remarked as he poked his head up from the bag that he'd learned was called a backpack. "So, why are we here, exactly?"

Shining quickly explained as he sat down at a desk with one of these "computers" in a clumsy fashion (he was still getting used to his human body). "We need more intel on this world, and especially on Sunset Shimmer. If what Applejack says is true and those pictures in the principal's office are to be believed, Sunset's been here for quite a long time and has built quite a reputation," And he warned. "And what did I tell you about staying hidden?"

"Sorry, I just needed some fresh air. It really stinks in that backpack!" Spike exclaimed! "I promise, I'll be quiet."

"Just don't let anyone else know you can talk." Shining cautioned. And then he set to work on trying to activate the computer. It proved to be a difficult task since he wasn't used to using his hands.

Unknown to Shining or Spike, two girls only slightly younger than Sunset Shimmer were watching the whole thing from afar and were recording it. They were chuckling and grinning to themselves as one whispered. "Wait 'til Sunset Shimmer gets a load of this. This guy won't stand a chance."





The research session lasted for a considerable period of time, though the absence of a bell ringing signified that the second period had yet to end.

Shining was carefully whispering some of the information he'd discovered to Spike. "It's really strange, Spike. Everyone we know and love back in Equestria seems to have an exact look alike here, even me. Apparently, I've actually already graduated from Crystal Prep, but word hasn't gotten out yet."

"So, where's the other Sunset Shimmer?" Spike inquired. "You know, the one native to this world?"

At that Shining frowned. "That's the thing, there doesn't seem to be any record at all of a Sunset Shimmer existing here until the one from our world fled here years ago. Assuming there is another Sunset, our Sunset made that one disappear somehow."

"You don't think she killed her counterpart, do you?" Spike gulped, shuddering at the mere image of it.

"No, there doesn't appear to be anything that would suggest that," Shining pointed out. "It could very well be that a native Sunset Shimmer doesn't exist in this world at all. At least, not within any means that I can currently access. And time works in mysterious ways here. It's been years since Sunset Shimmer was in Equestria, but she's only aged about a full year or two since coming here. She can't be much older than sixteen or seventeen."

The dog had to resist the urge to let out a gasp. "No wonder she's so scary! She's stuck in a world where she's not supposed to exist, and she's taking full advantage of it," He was quick to suggest. "It's not too late to change your mind about going up against her, you know. I'm pretty sure I can be a distraction if you need to sneak in and steal back the crown. It is rightfully yours after all."

"If I do that I'm no better than Sunset," The disguised prince protested. "I know I'll be cutting things close with the Fall Formal. But I'm confident I can handle whatever Sunset tries to pull. Thunderlane and Applejack are living proof that her grip on this school isn't as tight as she may want it to seem. We just need to convince enough pon.... er people to support me because they're sick of letting Sunset Shimmer control their lives, and the crown should be mine. Once I have it safely back in Equestria, I'm sure Twilight can find a way to stabilize the portal so I can bring my friends back to help capture Sunset."

Just then, a familiar male voice could be heard crying out! "Let me go, and give me back my phone! I need it!"

Shining got up from the desk and quickly rushed to the source of the cry. He soon spotted a very familiar looking boy with grayish-purple eyes, a dark grayish blue hair style cut short and light bluish gray skin. And he was being held at bay by a glasses-wearing, light gray skinned girl while a pink skinned girl with a pale, light grayish violet and white colored hair was holding up a strange, brick like object. The glasses wearing girl had a pink shirt with a silver spoon stitched onto it, while the other girl had a plain yellow shirt. The boy had a plain blue jacket that looked like it had a familiar lightning bolt symbol on it.

"What should we do with this old hunk of junk, Silver?" The pink skinned girl asked in a mocking tone. "It doesn't look an outdated model like this will be of any use to anyone."

The glasses-wearing girl shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. You're the boss, Di. I'm more worried about what this snitch caught us doing. Only we are allowed to spy on people here."

The boy whined and groaned as he continued to be held at bay by the two girls. "Come on! That phone is the only way my brother can stay in touch with me! I swear, I didn't see anything!"

The pink skinned girl wasn't convinced. "You can think I'm stupid, Rumble. Just don't talk to me like I'm stupid. You were spying on Silver Spoon and I, and for that you must be punished," An unusual grin formed on her face as she added in an ominous tone. "You wouldn't want Sunset Shimmer to find out that your brother still sleeps with a nightlight on, do you?"

Rumble protested. "The nightlight is for me. And it's because our house gets really dark at night, and Thunderlane doesn't want me getting hurt. Mom and Dad always get home really late from work, so he's the boss."

The glasses-wearing girl just laughed and taunted. "Wow! No wonder you like to hang out with those immature crusader crybabies!"

"That's not their real name!" Rumble hissed even though he was still not making any headway against the girls.





Having heard and seen enough (and recognizing the two girls from the many accounts in his world of similar ponies with similar appearances giving that world's Rumble and his friends a hard time), Shining Armor stepped forward to confront the two bullies. "Hey you two," He sternly remarked with narrowed eyes. "Don't you have better things to do than pick on your fellow classmates?"

Diamond Tiara did her best to feign innocence. "Who, us? No no no, you've got it all wrong, mister. Rumble just dropped his phone, and Silver Spoon was checking it to make sure it didn't break."

Silver Spoon promptly handed the phone back to Rumble. "See, it works just fine. There's nothing on there that interests us anyway. We got what we came for."

Diamond growled and pulled Silver by the braids in her hair. "Silvy, you gave it away! Now he knows we're onto him!"

"Actually I didn't, until you pointed it out that is," Shining commented with a frown. "But I did hear you mention Sunset Shimmer. So I'm guessing you two 'bad girls' work for her."

"If it keeps her off our backs," Diamond replied in an unconcerned tone. "But we haven't done anything yet, so you can't do anything to us. In fact, this whole conversation never happened. Let's go, Silver Spoon. It's almost time for our next class anyway."

Silver couldn't help but taunt while sticking out her tongue. "See you around, loser! Just wait, you'll get what's coming to you! Sunset Shimmer will make sure of that." And the two girls quickly left, laughing and giggling to themselves.

Shining didn't know what Diamond and Silver were up to as he watched them depart, and even if he had known he wouldn't have cared. He was more concerned with tending to the human Rumble. "Do those two always pick on you like that, Rumble?" He asked.

Rumble nodded in shame. "All the time, unfortunately. Ever since I started hanging out with a group of girls who call themselves The Crusaders. They're trying to be these internet celebrities, whenever they're not ending in detention anyways. It's mostly Scootaloo's doing."

"Well, if Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon ever give you any trouble again while I'm here, you can tell me," Shining told Rumble. "I happen to be a friend of your brother's. And if there's one thing I can't stand, it's seeing po... people getting picked on because of who they choose to befriend," And then he chuckled. "As for your Crusader friends, you should tell them to stop trying so hard to get into trouble and be famous. An education is a terrible thing to waste, and where I come from it's all too easy to end up becoming famous for all the wrong reasons."

"I'll... keep that in mind," Rumble slowly replied. "And I'll be sure to tell them and my brother how nice you were to me. You're the new guy running for Fall Formal Princess, aren't you? If so, you've definitely got my vote!"