I Only Hate You.

The mornings were so quiet. So few people would walk the empty streets of the town that early; ironically making them the empty streets they were in the first place. Aside from the few morning joggers and those with an early commute needed to make it to work, everything outside remained near silent. Which made the library quiet. If no one was filling the streets, no one was making their way to the old library on the outskirts of town. Yet by rare chance, some days would bring the old place a few sparse faces to roam about. They'd skim through books, take the quiet as a cue to study, or opt in to use the vast rows of bookshelves as a place to rendezvous with their lover. The mornings weren't anything to write home about.

The afternoons were so quiet as well. Even as the sound of daily life filled the outside world and thumped against the walls of the library. Inside never had that sort of life to boast about. What few faces came would never stay long for one reason or another. A few quick returns, some fresh checkouts, maybe a purchase if it was a lucky day. But still nothing to impress with. The afternoons were as slow as the mornings without the benefit of the quiet outside. Afternoons just meant someone couldn't take a lunch break because "business would pick up soon".

Evenings were always as quiet as they came. The day was over. Kids were filling the streets only to head back home before mom or dad scolded them, car lights were growing bright so the working man could see himself home, and streetlights flickered on if only to keep the crickets company until daybreak. The only people dipping into the library at that hour were the lazybones trying to return their book right before closing time. They always made it too. Someone wouldn't ever close the shop whenever she saw someone making a mad dash for it. It's the effort that they at least tried to make it that matters; at least that's what they say. All the same, evenings were when the day was done and the night was just to begin.

Looking at it, life at a library was always quiet morning, noon, or night. Never any excitement, never any stress. It was as peaceful as it was quiet each day. And, honestly, that was the life Twilight Sparkle loved. A life encompassed by books and the quiet to enjoy them all. What more could she have asked for? Before meeting all her friends over her life, that would have been enough; to be alone with all the books she could ever read. Now, she'd love nothing more than to share them with anyone who came looking for an adventure, a mystery, a romance, or knowledge.

The library used to be just that: a library. A place filled with old dusty books meant for a scholar to set up shop inside of and maximize their time towards knowledge. And yet, it wasn't long after getting her library from her mentor that Twilight fashioned it into not only a place for anyone to rent out books or buy them, but also her home. She did have to empty out the top level to make enough room for her, but the prospect of never having to leave her 'study' was too good to pass up. Not to mention her assistant Spike needed a place to live.

The original thought was for the two of them to live there and welcome anyone who came to partake of any books they wanted. Even as the years went by, that ideal never faded away. No matter what happened, Twilight and Spike maintained their store and home. A place that freely welcomed anyone looking to learn or just looking for a place to hide from a hot day; friends and strangers alike.

"I'll be honest with you. Not because honesty's my policy or anything. But because I think you need to know," the words she spoke were dry when she addressed the sharply dressed man on the other side of the counter, "We don't want what you're selling, we don't care what you have to tell us, and I don't like your cheap suit."

Even with the face of a beautiful saint and the fiery red and gold hair to go with it, the woman behind the counter's words were like bolts fired from a bow. Sharp, precise, and taking personal shots against the person. The man only made a slew of stuttering objections about how poorly he was being treated while he walked away and out the front door. As the jingle of the door opening and shutting chimed through the empty library, the girl smiled.

Sunset Shimmer owed much to Twilight over the few short years she spent working the library. A place to sleep when no one else would take her, a job where she'd be at her best, and a friendship she treasured more then anything else. She combed one of her loose strands of hair back behind her ear as she thought about everything; resting her hip against the counter she worked at whilst she went into thought. She'd probably get a little scolding when Twilight found out how she handled that guy.

There's no avoiding that. Even as the thought came through her head she still huffed a little sigh as if she had said it aloud. Twilight was far too nice for her own good at times. Both Sunset and Spike could easily recall the time Twilight was on the phone with a telemarketer for two hours because she didn't want to hang up on the person. That was probably a lot of Fluttershy's influence coming through, honestly. Still, Twilight wasn't one to turn anyone away unless she knew them personally as someone that's trouble. Sunset on the other hand, while very much like Twilight in many ways, wasn't so open to accept. If they smelled like trouble, looked like trouble, or acted like trouble, they were trouble. Sunset knew that much.

She was trouble once herself. And it takes a dog to sniff out a dog some times.

"Sunset!" Like a shock to her whole body, Sunset sprung out of her thoughts and looked around the library frantic.

However, when she looked around the empty library, she saw just that: it was empty. That was when she eased up on herself and looked down, knowing now who yelled for her. Sure enough, a little guy near half Sunset's size was standing right next to her and just outside of her frantic field of view. Sunset chuckled a little bashful as she took a few steps away from the little guy. "Sorry Spike. Guess I lost track of time... Your shift now?" Sunset started to rummage through her pocket for the keys to the register.

Spike just as quickly threw his hands up and shook his head. "No, it's fine. Twilight just wanted me to tell you we're closing up early tonight."

"Closing up early?" Sunset drew her hand up and scratched her cheek, "That's... Strange. Usually she's fussy when I suggest we close up early. Remember that time the snow was up to the door frame?"

The two of them were already snickering, but Spike managed an answer. "Yeah. 'Someone might come looking for that new addition on how to survive the arctic!'."

Someone did in fact come looking for that book the after; but the snow was already melted at that point. Sunset swung one leg over the counter, voiding any need to walk around. As she went to lock the front door and turn the little neon sign Twilight was sure about bringing people in to closed, Spike started to fiddle with a little portable box TV Sunset kept at the front counter. Rain, shine, or snow, Twilight would keep the store open. So, Sunset had taken to watching TV at her workplace to help pass the time. "I thought you said we were closing." Sunset called back to Spike.

"Yeah," Spike managed a reply with what little attention he was giving to Sunset while he turned the little box on, "But Twilight didn't want me watching TV upstairs right now."

"So you're hijacking mine?" Even if Sunset was prodding him, it didn't really matter to her. She took to leaning against the other side of the counter to watch whatever it was that Spike was trying to tune into.

"Sorry," Spike peaked over his shoulder to give his friend a sincere look before returning to working the TV, "I just really wanna see this episode. They've been hyping it up for weeks."

Sunset frowned a little from the look she got. Reaching out over the counter, she ruffled Spike's prickly green hair and sighed. "Alright, use it. But I'm going to watch with you. And I warn you... I'm known to critique while the show's on."

For a second Spike turned and looked like he was going to protest. But, before he could, the screen flickered on and sound started to fill the empty library. "Oh! Oh! It's starting!" Spike abandoned whatever he was going to say and glued himself to the screen.

Sunset only shook her head and gave a playful roll of her eyes before joining Spike in watching whatever his show was. Whatever it was it was going to at least pass a few minutes of the day. And anything was better then minding an empty store... Just don't tell Twilight she thought that.

"We interrupt this scheduled showing of 'Planet Rises' for this breaking news! Just three months ago, the filming of the well-anticipated movie 'Les Miserables: A Story Javert' had started; boasting with it the record breaking budget of two-hundred million. And while filming was well off and scenes had been placed and planned out months ahead, the filming has come to a screeching halt just days ago. We asked the director who's name escapes me right now about this stunning development."

"Sir, why are to cancelling production of your film? Was the workload too much for everyone involved?"

"Uhhh... No. No it wasn't that."

"Then why? Why put a stop to a film so many have been anticipating as the next Summer blockbuster?"

"L-Look, can we turn off the cameras for a minute?"

"Is the truth that bad? Are there scandals behind the scenes of such a big budget movie? What are you hiding, sir?"

"I mean... We'd like nothing more then to continue filming. But... We can't."

"Why? Why can't you? The people want to know."

"We... Ummm... We were told not to film for a few days."

"I'm sorry, what? Someone told you not to film?"

"Yes."

"And you listened?"

"Yes."

"Did the studio tell you not to?"

"No... No-no. It was just one person. One of our workers."

"A worker told you to stop, and you did? You dropped all production because of one person."

"That is the gist of it, yes."

"Why didn't you tell them 'no'?"

"They were... Very persuasive."

"Well... Do you know when filming would continue?"

"Again, only a few days. They said they were going to see someone."

"Wait-wait-wait...! They stopped you from filming because they wanted to go visit someone?"

"Again... They were VERY persuasive."

"What did they say that was so persuasive?"

"The rest of the interview cannot be shown due to request from the director and fellow crew. However, he did allow us to tell you all what it was this member of the crew had to say which they found persuasive enough to halt production of all filming. He had but one stipulation: don't tell her I told you... I just now realize that I have divulged that information on live television. That being said, if you are watching this, that did not count. Now, to the message: 'stop filming or the Great Trixie will walk out. Don't think for a second your film will float without my raw acting talent'. We are currently attempting to ascertain the name of the worker who threatened the filming. Now, we return you to your scheduled programming. This is--"

They did not wait for the news broadcast to end. They did not wait for the show to come on. Sunset and Spike simply shut the television off with silence between them. Briefly they exchanged looks to one another; looks of worry in their eyes and faces holding back annoyance. Sunset beat her nails rhythmic against the counter-top she leaned against, biting her bottom lip as she thought. Spike on the other hand heaved a hissing groan between his teeth after a short inhale. "So..." Spike finally spoke up for the two of them.

"I wonder how long it'll take her to get here..." Sunset mumbled.

"Don't know, don't care," Spike walked off towards the spiral stairs leading to the upstairs and his room, "All I know is I'm gonna go make some calls. You gonna stay down here?"

Sunset gave a little nod and drew herself away from the counter, giving a deep stretch upward as she glanced over to Spike. The boy needn't any more information then that and vanished up the stairs. Sunset personally never knew Trixie, but she heard horror stories from Twilight and her friends. That was reason enough not to like the girl. And it was that reason that was why Sunset knew what was going to go down the moment that woman arrived: Trouble.

And this girl was one Sunset was sure Twilight would have no problem with her throwing out on her ear.