//------------------------------// // Human 8 // Story: The Devil Inside // by Chelis //------------------------------// "So why do we have to give this new student a tour of your school?" GLADIS asked as Sunset walked down the empty halls of Canterlot High. She had no jacket that day due to the unseasonably warm fall day, but that was to change with the first snow of the year only days away. In the meantime, Sunset observed the school she had spent her time at for the last few years, and all the memories that came with it: The most pressing, however, being the bad ones. They were subsiding in the minds of her classmates but were still prevalent, being the biggest elephant in the room. Sunset worked every day to repay the damage she had done to her peers, helping out with anything with anyone, but she knew she could never repay them. For now, she was contempt with the endless charity drives and helping her peers with any situation for the time being. "Because I want the new student to see the new me before they hear about the old me," Sunset sighed. It was the same line she spoonfed herself on why she had to. Again, when she gave the new students the tour, it always brought back the bad memories. "But no one talks about that anymore," GLADIS commented. Her speech recognition software displayed in Sunset’s contact HUD the number of times certain words that were tagged as relating to her past was in a sharp decline. "Yeah… But… Just shut up and go with it, I might meet my future husband… Or failure." Sunset answered with a smirk. It was mostly girls that she toured, save the socially awkward guy or two, but who knows? Maybe the next one would be the guy to take home for papa's approval. "Shouldn't you be thinking about the murders?" GLADIS asked, displaying the multiple headlines and crime scene photos of the murders. The photos of the bodies were upsetting for Sunset, especially the man with his face disfigured by the "ax like trauma to the head." Gladis was updating Sunset all day through the police server, which turned out that there were more to the murders that many were reporting, but still… "Nah, I'm retired remember?" Sunset said. "It's my daddy's problem now." "So, am I just a useless piece of talking program now?" GLADIS asked, her main purpose of being with Sunset defeated. It calculated it was to be a 98% chance of being something for Sunset to talk to, which activated loathe.dll. "You never know when I will use she demon again. Besides, as much as I think that little experiment was behind me, something tells me that who or whatever was behind the killings will force me out of retirement." Sunset observed, also loathing having relived the sleepless nights, the sneaking out, the lies and the hidden life that was near to impossible to hide from her very sharp parents. As they turned the corner, Sunset stopped, and her heart skipped a beat. Did I just turn lesbian? The girl was petite with long, black hair that went down to her thighs, thick rimmed glasses, as well as dressed in a slightly revealing skirt and blouse that made her look like a club goer more than a student. Sunset took a deep breath and approached her with her best smile. "Hi, are you the new girl I'm supposed to show around?" Sunset asked. "I am," The girl said in a thick accent as she reached her hand out for a shake. "Lizzie Bowden" "Sunset Shimmer," Sunset answered as she gave Lizzie's hand a quick shake. “Quite an unusual name, are you from this country?" Sunset asked. "I just moved here from Sicfilly, an island near Itfilly." Lizzie answered. "Yea, but the name, just like-" "-like the ax murderer, yeah. I got that all the time in the old country. My father had a thing for criminals, which you can see he took it a bit too far when he named me," She answered with a wry chuckle. "I can’t wait to see my new school!" Lizzie said with glee. * * * Sunset gave Lizzie the tour. Every corner was explored, every wing and section of the school covered, and the history and traditions of the school as well. Lizzie seemed interested, but only to a flustered Sunset Shimmer, who thought of maybe going bi just for this one girl. The best part of doing the tour was that Celestia or Luna never checked up on her, so dragging a cute boy or girl to a closet for a “Welcome to Canterlot High Makeout Session” was never out of the question. Other than that, Sunset was intrigued getting to know the new girl, and it seemed some of the boys give both of them a double look "Any cute ones available?" Lizzie asked as they passed a few guys from the football team. "At this school? You’re better off finding someone from Crystal Prep Academy." Sunset joked "Yes, my father and I toured that school and decided to come here for that reason," Lizzie explained. Both girls giggled as the bell over their heads rang in a fury. "That's lunch… Do you want to meet my friends?" Sunset asked. "Sure!" The lunch was packed as always, but there was always room for one more with Sunset's friends. When Lizzie joined, she was instantly the belle of the table. When she was not talking theoretical physics with Twilight, she was talking sports with Rainbow Dash. When she was not talking sports with Rainbow Dash, she was trading recipes of the old world with Pinkie. When she was not talking to Pinkie about recipes she was giving farming secrets to Applejack. And when she was not trading farming tips to Applejack she was talking conservation with Fluttershy, and when she was not talking the joys of joining Greenpeace from Fluttershy, she was flipping through her phone with Rarity, showing her the stylish clothes that her homeland was famous for. As Sunset ate her lunch, a text came through her phone. The four digit number was was a dead give away to who it was "Something is up with this one." "What do you mean GLADIS?" Sunset texted back "She seems too perfect, Mary Sue almost." "You're just imagining things." "Alright, don't forget about your appointment today either." "Thanks, Mom."