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// Chapter 13: You Could Put it to Better Use 
// Story: Equestria Girls - The Tale of Two Sunsets 
// by HumanSunset63 
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As the girl ran out the alley, Sunset rubbed her face to ease some  of the pain she had endured during that fight. She then knelt down to  pick up her saddlebag, and as she did, was hugged by Lily.

"You're my hero, Sunset. Thank you. And to think, mom believes your main specialty is babysitting." Lily said gratefully.

"Well,  I kinda just did that here myself, even though I was not assigned to  such a job tonight. I couldn't simply see you get robbed, or even worse,  hurt by such a thug. I had to do something, even if you're not my  daughter." Sunset replied.

"Really selfless of  you, Sunset! I'm sure you can become a wonderful mother someday  yourself!" Lily said with great enthusiasm. "I feel really lucky to have  people like you in my life. Just having someone to protect you from the  bullies at all times? Such a nice feeling."

"Well...  if I'm honest, I wasn't always like this, kid." Sunset said with a bit  of disappointment in her voice. "You see, what that girl just did to  you, it actually wasn't far off from how I used to be myself. There was  actually a time long ago where I only saw making friends as a waste of  time, and overall acted like a rather manipulative and selfish person.  There's a girl at my school, Fluttershy. I used to steal from her,  intimidate her on a daily basis, or even threaten her myself if I didn't  get what I wanted. It was not a pretty time for me at all back then."

Lily  looked surprised before speaking up. "I never would've guessed that.  You seem like such a caring person, Sunset. Are you sure you were as  mean as that girl who tried to steal my phone?"

"Maybe  not to that extent, but definitely a polar opposite from how I am now."  Sunset responded. "As you begin to grow older, you'll learn that things  change over time. For better or for worse, but it's the important thing  to know how to accept things that have happened, and to learn from  these mistakes. Even though Fluttershy and I have become good friends  since then, I still feel the need to repay my debt to her for all the  times I've bullied her. Although she never asks me to, I sometimes help  her out at the animal shelter at my own choice. Not because I actually  owe her anything, but because my heart tells me it's right to give her  that friend she never had."

"That... sounds so kind of you. I'm glad I have such a caring and thoughtful person as my babysitter." Lily smiled.

"Thanks  kid." Sunset said. "It's not really much, but I learned over time that  it's nice to have this little philosophy. There's no cost to being nice  to others, and every nice thing you do will always find a way to come  back to you. I'm really hoping that as you grow up, you won't make the  same mistakes I did."

Lily looked to herself  first, thinking of how true Sunset's words were, on top of how she  practically saved her life, given how dangerous that girl was. Sunset  then spoke up again before Lily looked up to her again with a soft  expression.

"Come on, kid. Let's get back to your mother, she might be worried sick right now." Sunset said, before Lily tugged on her arm.

"Sunset...  if it wasn't for you, I would've been completely robbed, or even hurt  back there. And that message you gave me about being kind to others, I  really like it. So, here. I want you to have this." Lily took the $50  bill out of her pocket and handed it to Sunset. "I would've lost this  money if it hadn't been for you, but I know you could probably put it to  better use."

Sunset was incredibly surprised,  but on instinct, she rejected. "No, kid, please. I couldn't. I can't  take it, it's your money, and you need it much more than I do."

Lily  kept on insisting. "Please, I insist. After all, someone just taught me  every nice thing I do will find its way back to me. Consider this your  babysitting money on such short notice. Plus, I can see that girl ruined  your clothes when she was fighting you."

Sunset  looked toward her outfit, which did admittedly have noticeable signs of  damage from that girl's tackle earlier. But she still hesitated,  knowing she'd basically be taking money from a child. But Lily pushed  further.

"Please, Sunset. Take this. It's my  money, and I want to give it to you for sacrificing yourself, and your  clothes back there. I won't take "no" for an answer." Lily said with  true insistence.

Sunset, seeing how Lily was  feeling genuine about this, and how she was following the message she  had spoken about earlier, finally took the $50 bill before patting Lily  on the head for her selflessness in return for her own. "Thanks kid, I  always knew you were a good girl." As the two girls smiled toward each  other. But Sunset then realized something she had forgotten to ask much  earlier.

"By the way, Lily, what happened  exactly? I'm guessing you were eating out with your mother, before that  girl snatched your phone as your mother went to use the restroom?"  Sunset questioned.

"Yes, I was so shocked when  that happened." Lily responded. "But that girl was right, I don't know  how I'm going to come forward to mom after she saw I disappeared from  the restaurant to chase that girl. She might ground me for this..."

Sunset  looked at the $50 bill Lily gave her, as Lily moped about how her  mother will confront her about running off. She then knelt down to Lily  and reiterated what she said earlier.

"Every  nice thing you do finds a way to come back to you, right? Come on, I've  got a plan." Sunset winked to Lily before they started to head back to  the restaurant.



Outside the restaurant, Lily's  mom was about ready to call the police to report her daughter missing,  before Sunset and Lily both appeared behind her. She immediately looked  back and confronted them.

"Lily, what is the  meaning of this!? I thought someone had kidnapped you! And Sunset, why  did you take my daughter out of the restaurant alone at night? You know  you're not babysitting tonight!" She also looked at Sunset's damaged  state. "And why do you look like you just got out of a fight, Sunset? I  demand an explanation, now!"

Sunset tried her  best to cover for Lily, so she told her what happened in a slightly  different way. "Well, I'm afraid the issue here is, you were not there  to protect her, Ma'am. As soon as you went to the restroom, some  stranger really did kidnap her. The only reason she's back in one piece  is because I was luckily outside and noticed this happening, so I put a  stop to it immediately. The stranger did end up fighting me, but I was  able to protect Lily, even though you hadn't hired me tonight."

Lily  then spoke up. "It's true, mom! Sunset just saved my life! It was that  girl who was here and acted rude to us earlier. I tried to say  something, but you didn't listen."

Lily's mom  looked at Lily's eyes and saw she was genuine about it, and that this  wasn't simply a tall tale. Plus, Sunset did look like she had legitimate  injuries, to where she eventually concluded they most likely aren't  lying. Besides, Sunset has a reputation at being a good babysitter, so  she did have some clear reference on her being a person she can trust.

"Oh  my gosh, I am so sorry!" Her mom apologized. "I should've figured  leaving Lily alone at the table for a few minutes could've had something  like this happen.  I really shouldn't have snapped at you two like  that, I think it was a momentary buildup of stress in thinking I lost my  child. Sunset... thank you. From the bottom of my heart. If I ever need  a sitter in the future, I'll be sure to call you first, and I'll make  certain to double your pay."

"Happy to hear, Ma'am, but really, I'm mostly happy I could make a difference in the world." Sunset replied.

"Absolutely.  Come on, Lily, after this experience, I think we'll mostly stick with  at-home dinners from now on." Her mom said as she took Lily's hand and  began to walk home together.

As Lily walked  back home with her mom, for a moment, she looked back at Sunset and gave  a wink to her. Their plan had once again worked. Lily no longer had to  worry about eating out and encountering this type of danger, nor the  possibility of being grounded for running out of the restaurant alone,  and Sunset had a new job opportunity for her legitimate kindness and  care for Lily, even when she isn't on the job.

Now  after going through this whole ordeal, Sunset decided to perhaps call  it a night earlier when she got home. She'll pack her things first thing  tomorrow morning, and likely change out of her vest out after the  damage done to it by that fierce girl earlier. Sunset had to wonder who  exactly that girl was. Was she a juvenile delinquent? Or just some bully  who likes the roam the streets at night? She decided to forget about it  for now, thinking that she's at least been dealt with, and won't bother  anyone for the time being.