"Wait a minute, you're going to take Spike to the Library with you?"
Sunset Shimmer saw that Twilight Sparkle had packed her backpack and then put Spike on her back. Thinking she was just bringing Spike along, she kindly reminded her.
After all, taking a dragon that could breathe fire at any moment to the Library was not a wise decision; usually, when Twilight Sparkle had to go to public places like the Library, Spike was temporarily looked after by them.
But Twilight Sparkle nodded and replied:
"Yes. In order to cultivate his self-control, I made a deal with Spike some time ago. As long as he can persist for a whole day without breathing fire or high heat, I will take him to the Library with me next time."
Hearing them talking about him, the little Spike sitting on the horse's back proudly raised his head, looking like he was begging for praise.
"Wow, looks like there's a little dragon here making rapid progress!"
Sunset Shimmer reached out her hoof and smoothed the scales on Spike's body, praising him in accordance with his wishes.
"Be careful, he might get carried away."
Twilight Sparkle teased Spike unceremoniously, but in reality, from the look in her eyes when she looked at Spike, it was clear that she also felt a great sense of accomplishment regarding Spike's growth.
"Then Spike and I will get going. Flying Light, I hope you have fun tonight!"
Seeing Twilight Sparkle run off decisively, Aurora cast her expectant gaze onto Sunset Shimmer.
"You know, Flying Light, I would be very willing to go to the celebration with you..."
Sunset Shimmer said, pulling a forced smile on her face, which made Aurora want to roll her eyes.
"I also know you're about to say that annoying 'but'."
"Ahaha... but it's really unfortunate, I've been really too busy lately. I've taken leave for tomorrow to go to Ponyville to investigate the mysterious rainbow explosion, so I have to finish some of my future schedule in advance today."
Sunset Shimmer had already determined that the location of the Sonic Rainboom incident was Ponyville, and as a woman of action, she definitely had to go there herself to investigate.
"Sigh... busy, everyone's busy. Being busy is good..."
"You don't have to make such sighs like an old woman."
Watching Aurora's suddenly lonely back, Sunset Shimmer couldn't help but retort. Sometimes Aurora just liked to deliberately put on such exaggerated performances.
"Why are you so resistant to attending the Grand Galloping Gala? You know many ponies would love to go but don't have the chance."
"Hmm? Hasn't Princess Celestia ever taken you?"
"It's not like you don't know that I never participated in social activities before, let alone one of this scale."
Sunset Shimmer said this as a matter of course; it seemed she was much more closed off than she had imagined.
The Grand Galloping Gala was an annual royal celebration used to celebrate the completion of the Central City, Canterlot, after the founding of Equestria, so the main participants of the celebration were mostly ponies from the upper class.
Thinking about having to face those noble ponies who liked to look down their noses at others, Aurora felt her scalp tingle.
Although her family could be considered noble, Aurora avoided those so-called high-society pony gatherings whenever she could, spending most of her time holed up in school or the Library.
In short, she felt that compared to engaging in commercial banter with noble ponies, it was more practical to read a few more books.
"I can only say everyone has their own preferences; I don't think such activities are fun at all. You have to keep greeting all kinds of ponies you don't know, and then chat about some very superficial topics. If you don't appear to fit in with them, you'll be secretly looked down upon, right?"
"Oh... that sounds suffocating."
Hearing Aurora's description, Sunset Shimmer immediately showed a look of disgust.
If it were her, she definitely couldn't stand that kind of oppressive social activity; Aurora might be able to fit in, but her mood definitely wouldn't be too wonderful.
"Honestly, if you don't want to go, you should be able to choose to refuse, right?"
"If I could turn it down, I wouldn't be this troubled right now."
Aurora sighed.
Although she got along well with her pony parents, Aurora was, after all, not a normally born Foal. Tendency toward adulthood psychologically, she couldn't act like a normal child and fawn over her parents. Especially after she started systematically learning magic, communication with them became even less frequent.
Aurora often felt that as a child, she owed them something. Helplessly, she had no experience in becoming a qualified child. She only felt that she had taken this pony's identity but hadn't been able to let them feel much of the joy of being parents. Therefore, regarding invitations like this, no matter what considerations she had, it was hard for her to refuse.
"That's really a pity..."
Sunset Shimmer muttered in a low voice.
Actually, if it weren't for the Grand Galloping Gala, Sunset Shimmer would have wanted to invite Aurora to go to Ponyville with her for an investigation mission. But now it seemed that it would be difficult for Aurora to find time...
Wait.
Sunset Shimmer thought that she was going to Ponyville tomorrow, and she had seen Aurora's class schedule; tomorrow she happened to have no elective courses to attend.
Perhaps she could invite Aurora to accompany her under the name of taking a break?
Sunset Shimmer swallowed her saliva, feeling restless in her heart. But she had never taken the initiative to invite Aurora to go out together; usually, it was Aurora who invited her.
And in the brief moment Sunset Shimmer hesitated, Aurora had already packed her things, walked to the door, and said goodbye to her.
"I have to go too. Before attending the celebration, there is still a lot of preparation work to do, at least that's what my mother said. Good luck with your investigation tomorrow."
"...I also wish you can have a happy evening."
"I'll take your word for it."