//------------------------------// // The Ethicality of "Dibs", and Other Things // Story: Shimmer-Shammer Dizzle-Dazzle // by Shaud //------------------------------// As Sunset Shimmer walked out of Sugar Cube Corner she was greeted by the angry face of Rainbow Dash. "And just what was that?" The tomboy demanded, pointing towards the shop, "Were you talking to Adagio?!" "Looked to be more than talkin' goin' on." Applejack raised a brow and crossed her arms. "Wh-what?" Sunset asked nervously, "The plan was to talk to the sirens, remember? After the battle, we were going to talk to them!" "Yeah, but they bailed. I thought we agreed to just let them flee with their tails between their legs!" Rainbow narrowed her eyes, a smirk forming. "But I guess one of them wanted you between--" Sunset reacted quickly to the jab, pushing Rainbow backwards and into a wall. Her hands formed a death grip on the collar of Rainbow's jacket, successfully pinning her to the wall. Her shoulders tense and her lips curled back in a growl, Sunset said "I dare you to finish that sentence." "H-hey," Rainbow chuckled, "I was just kidding!" Her eyes flicked back to the other two girls for help. Rarity seemed unwilling to get involved, and Applejack was unsure who to yell at. "Alright, both of y'all calm down." Applejack, with a strength Sunset didn't expect, placed a hand on Sunset's shoulder and pulled her away from Rainbow. "Indeed. No need to make a scene." Rarity glanced around them. "Perhaps this conversation would be better at Carousel Boutique?" Sunset scowled once more at Rainbow before relenting. She knew full well she wasn't getting out of this one easily, and she could hardly blame Rainbow for it. So they began walking towards Rarity's store. It was a small store that sold what Rarity called 'Upcycled fashion' or, older clothes that the fashionista modified. Sunset crossed her arms as she walked, wondering how to convince her friends to try and help the sirens again. After they had fled, her friends had been irritated. They wanted to help, but it was obvious the sirens would have none of it. Rainbow had been the angriest about this, and had immediately turned her back on the sirens. The others had similar yet calmer reactions. Sunset never gave up. It was probably because she had been in the sirens' place, but she just couldn't give up on them. They could have outright told her they didn't want her friendship and yet she would have persisted. While she hadn't been vocal about her opinion, the others could tell she wasn't about to give up. Since the sirens seemed to have fled, though, they didn't see a point in trying to change her opinion. Now, however, it was obvious she was going to... erm... help the sirens (or at the very least, Adagio) so her friends kind of had to be involved. The bell above the boutique's door jingled as they walked in, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Why were you flirting with Adagio?" Rainbow, blunt as ever, demanded. "I wasn't flirting." Sunset pouted, a blush on her face. It was a flimsy argument, however, and the other girls knew it. Rainbow and Applejack exchanged a glance while Rarity sent her an embarrassed look. "Darling, there's nothing wrong with you liking a girl..." "But Adagio?" Applejack cut in, "Just what were you thinking??" "I wasn't!" Sunset groaned in annoyance, covering her burning face with her hands. "I didn't know she would be there! I just wanted coffee!" "A likely story." Rainbow snickered. Sunset didn't have the heart to glare. "What did y'all talk about?" "Their living situation, and about them coming back to school." Sunset sighed, sitting down in a chair behind the front desk. Her friends gathered around her, all wearing varying looks of support (with Applejack being sympathetic, Rarity feeling a bit uncomfortable but wanting to support her friend, and Rainbow... Well, Sunset wasn't going to live this one down.) "Are they coming back?" Rarity asked curiously. "They might be. They're afraid of getting caught by the truancy officers, and since they don't have magic they'd just be treated like runaways." "That's dreadful." "Sounds plum awful." "It's their own fault." The three all glared at Rainbow's rude remark. "What? It is!" "How did that lead to flirtin', anyways?" Applejack raised a brow. "I don't know... I think she called me cute or something and I got carried away..." "I'd say." Rainbow got a pen thrown at her. "Y'all seem ta be from similar situations, too. Betcha got a lot in common." "We do... That doesn't mean I like her!" Sunset cried indignantly, more to herself than the others. She barely knew the girl! She couldn't be falling for her, could she? "Whatever you say..." Applejack didn't believe her, that was for sure. "Is there anyway we can help them?" Rarity cut in, "I mean, you needed our help. Do they need it?" "They probably will. It's just a matter of getting them to accept the help." Sunset rubbed her temples as she started to get a headache. This whole conversation was so uncomfortable, especially with Rarity giving her weird looks. Admittedly this was similar to her actual plan to come out; get a girlfriend and casually admit to being gay, but... The time, place, and person all seemed poor. "Well, if they are coming back, we'd better help them. We all know how CHS is to students who try and brainwash the school." Rainbow joked, now a bit calmer. "Agreed." Rarity smiled, glad they were on the same page again. "Eeyup." "Mh-hm." "Just remember," Rainbow crossed the floor and stood at the door, "Sunset has dibs on Adagio!" She was out the door before Sunset could throw another pen. "You can't call dibs on a person." Sunset grumbled, crossing her arms. Applejack laughed, but Rarity nodded. "It's quite un-ladylike to call 'dibs' on a person. It is rude and demeaning." "Does a siren count in that?" Applejack asked curiously. "I don't like her!" Sunset pulled at her hair as her friends giggled, "I just wanted coffee!" Later that night, Adagio met up with Aria at their apartment. She had fewer problems than Sunset did. "So, is that diva on our side yet?" Aria asked, her tone and face smug. "She's getting there." Adagio chuckled, "I'm meeting her again tomorrow. If I can have another good conversation with her, she'll be putty in our hands." She leaned back on the dusty old couch she was sitting on. The abandoned apartment they were staying in had a few pieces of broken furniture, but it was better than nothing. "Good." Aria closed her eyes, also leaning back. "Those Rainbooms are the worst. Hopefully we can turn Sunset Shimmer on them quickly, and get them out of the way. Then only that princess will be left." "I have to admit," Adagio smiled at the purple girl, "Letting you finally be in charge has worked out, so far." "Just wait." Aria stood, stretching and yawning, "This is only part of my plan. Once Sunset is with us... Things will change." Her eyes hardened, something Adagio almost commented on, but thought better of. "I have dibs on her, though." Adagio smirked. Her heart sped up a bit, worried of her friend's response. Aria gave her a strange look, but then shrugged. "Sure. Actually, that might help her stay with us. Good thinking." "Hey, I always have a back-up plan." She didn't feel as confident as she sounded, but Aria grinned. "Good night." "Night." Things already have changed. Adagio frowned as her heart thudded at the thought of betraying Sunset. And I don't think they're for the better... She wondered if she could convince Aria to forget the plan. Maybe if she made friends with the Rainbooms, things would work out? No, that was silly. Adagio shook her head. Aria wouldn't give up--not now that she was in charge. But can I really turn Sunset against her friends? She realized she had changed a lot since the battle. Being blasted with the power of friendship had a profound affect on a person. She suspected that it was more the depression of actually failing, though. Her life, as well as that of her friends, had gotten a lot more difficult. She had even, in the heat of the moment, given leadership to Aria. She had been so aggravated at her failure that she decided to let her friend try. And Aria was a pretty good leader. Part of her was actually proud of the girl for how well she had been leading them thus far. That didn't mean that... Well, Adagio already had doubts about her plan. She wasn't in love with Sunset, but she had seen movies with similar plots. This spelled disaster for everyone involved. Maybe for now I should ignore these emotions... She's only one person. I can manipulate her, turn her against her friends, and toss her into the trash. She'd done it before. Sunset was no different. Something in her heart went crazy at that, but she ignored it. Sunset was no different. Sunset was trash. Or maybe I'm trash.