Third person P.O.V.
Later that day, Caramel, Soarin, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Twilight came to see Rough Draft and to bring all of Sunset Shimmer's stuff that she left at the school bus. Twilight apologized for letting Rough Draft leave at the mall, but both Sunset Shimmer and Rough Draft told her there was nothing to forgive, and Sunset Shimmer apologized for her attitude in the school parking lot. The whole group stayed and talked about what happened until Nurse Redheart told them that they had to leave, but Sunset Shimmer has permission from Rough Draft's parents to stay, much to her appreciation. Rough Draft's parents also confirmed when they called him that night that Octavia, Vinyl, and Derpy were looking after him when they left to talk to the police and were surprised that they weren't still there.
Sunset Shimmer never left Rough Draft's side the entire time.
On Monday morning the next day, Sunset Shimmer reluctantly had to leave to drop her stuff off at her apartment and get ready for school.
"I wish you didn't have to go," Rough Draft says as he watches her grab her keys and helmet from his hospital bed.
"I do too, babe," she says, giving her boyfriend a sad smile. "But not all of us have the excuse of being beaten and shot by former sirens from another world. Besides, someone's gotta collect whatever homework you're going to miss in all of your classes for the next week and a half, and I don't think Caramel and Soarin have the mindset to be the ones to do it."
Rough Draft groans like a child.
"I suppose you're going to make me do my homework as soon as you get back?" He says.
Sunset Shimmer rolls her eyes before she smirks at her boyfriend and says, "Of course not. I'm gonna go back to cuddling with you as soon as school is over for at least the next few days."
"That's my sunshine," he says, smiling. "I love you."
"I love you too, Rough Draft," Sunset Shimmer replies before pecking him on the lips. "I'll see you in the afternoon."
"I'll be waiting," he calls out as she exits his room.
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The first five periods of class go by without any problems. Sunset Shimmer listens to her teachers' lectures and takes notes like the smart student she is. But every now and again, her attention drifts away thinking about Rough Draft and worrying about this "client" that gave Adagio and Aria their new magic. Finally, it is lunchtime, and Sunset is collecting her lunch from a very happy Granny Smith. She's clearly pleased to hear that Sonata is back in Canterlot and will be allowed to return to Granny and the other Apples later today after the police sort out a couple of things between her and her 'sisters.' Sunset Shimmer smiles at her anticipation before she leaves to sit with Twilight, Applejack, Soarin, Caramel, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity and starts eating her food while her friends start asking questions.
"Hey, Sunset," Soarin says. "I forgot to ask when we were all visiting Rough Draft; do you know how long he's going to be staying at the hospital?"
"They said they are going to keep him there for ten days," she answers, not looking at Soarin. "He's going to have pain in his arm for several months, but they expect the wound to heal by next Wednesday."
"Are you feeling better knowing that he's alright, darling?" Rarity asks.
Sunset Shimmer stops eating her burger and stares at her friend before she sighs in defeat.
"I'm a little better," she says. "It still breaks my heart to see him like that, but as long as he heals, I'll be fine."
"You don't sound fine," Twilight says worryingly. "You sound like you're still -"
"That's because I'm scared!" Sunset Shimmer snaps. "I almost lost him, Twilight! They were going to kill him just like that as soon as they got the information they wanted! I can hardly stand leaving him in the hospital alone knowing that they tortured him because he's my boyfriend, and they somehow knew I would show him where the portal is! How do you think I'm supposed to feel knowing that they could have murdered the love of my life out of vengeance, and I was miles away from stopping them?!"
Everyone stares at Sunset Shimmer, taken aback by her outburst. She realizes their reaction and sighs sadly.
"I'm sorry. It's just frustrating that I couldn't save him," she says.
"You were too far away, and we all thought Adagio and Aria were miles from home, Sunset," Applejack says. "No one had any way of knowing that they were coming back or that they were after him in particular."
"I know, Applejack, but I want to be there when anything like that happens," Sunset Shimmer says sadly. "When I confessed my love to Rough Draft, I told him he is someone that I want to protect. Since then, he's been in danger twice, and I wasn't there or even knew he was trouble. To add insult to injury, it was Octavia of all people who rescued him."
"Oh Sunset, I'm sure it's not as big of a deal as you think it is," Fluttershy says comfortingly. "After all, it's not like Octavia Melody still has feelings for Rough Draft. I'm sure she only saved him because it's the right thing to do despite their past."
"Indeed," Rarity agrees. "Besides, with Adagio and Aria locked up for good, they can't use someone like Rough Draft or Soarin to get to any of us again. The important thing is that Rough Draft is safe now. Just wait another nine days, and he'll be with us here again, holding you close and blabbering about some nerdy stuff with Caramel and Soarin like nothing happened."
Sunset Shimmer sighs and reflects on her friends' words before she smiles appreciatively.
"You're right," she says. "The only important thing is that he's going to be okay."
"That's the spirit," Soarin says encouragingly.
"What my guy said," Rainbow Dash says, smirking before she frowns suspiciously. "Speaking of Octavia Melody, though, how in the world did she and the other E.M.R. guys even find him much less stop Adagio and Aria?"
"According to Rough Draft, they found out how to deflect and neutralize magic," Sunset Shimmer says. "Guess they managed to succeed in building those weapons after all."
"Wait, Octavia and the who?" Twilight says, confused.
"The E.M.R. or the Evil Magic Resistance," Pinkie Pie answers super fast. "They're a secret group containing Rough Draft's ex-girlfriend, Octavia Melody, Vinyl Scratch, Lyra Heartstrings, Bon Bon, Derpy Hooves and a super-smart guy from Gallophrey High named Doc. They want to fight against magic with radars, tasers, and a whole bunch of super cool stuff. Rough Draft, Caramel, and Soarin were part of their group back when Rough Draft and Octavia were dating until Vinyl Scratch kicked them out after Octavia dumped him. They were the ones who captured Sonata when she, Adagio, and Aria were escaping from the police before Vinyl's parents helped her get an appeal so that she could live with the Apples, and we have hardly seen or heard from the E.M.R. until right now."
Twilight stares at Pinkie Pie, slowly processing every word she just said to her.
"Ooookay," she eventually says. "That just leaves me asking if they are fighting magic, how come they weren't doing that when I was ... well ..."
"Stealing magic and turning into Midnight Sparkle?" Caramel finishes in a sympathetic tone. Twilight rubs her arm ashamedly before she nods, and he continues. "They didn't exactly understand magic enough to figure out how to create these weapons that they were planning to make, and since we never heard from them after Rough Draft and Octavia broke up, most of us assumed that their crusade eventually became a dud. Although Soarin and I were wondering if they were going to help during the Friendship Games before Rough Draft shot the idea down."
"He did?" Sunset Shimmer asks, surprised.
"Yeah, he was pointing out how they hadn't built their weapons yet and all that, but I think he was secretly hoping they haven't because he did not want to see Octavia again," Caramel explains, giving Sunset a small smile. "Whatever the case, he was probably right since they didn't do anything when those man-eating plants popped up or when you became Midnight Sparkle, Twilight."
"But how do they have the ability to fight magic now?" Rainbow Dash questions.
Everyone starts thinking about Rainbow Dash's question before Twilight gasps.
"Do you think they somehow figured it out through my pendant?" she asks.
"How would they do that?" Applejack questions. "It was destroyed when Sunset Shimmer smashed it to use all the magic it had to fight you, wasn't it?"
"Maybe, but Sunset just said that they can not only defend themselves from magic now, but they were able to take the magic away from Adagio and Aria just like my pendant," Twilight points out. "So, either they just got the idea from watching me steal magic from you guys during the Friendship Games, or this Doc guy somehow gained some efficient research when Sunset and I were battling each other, or more likely, my pendant did survive, and they took it."
Everyone stares at Twilight, surprised by her theory.
"Do you really think that your pendant could have survived, and Vinyl and the others stole it during the battle just so that they could build their weapons?" Soarin asks.
"I think it's possible," Twilight answers. "I did specifically build it so that it was strong enough to contain anomalies of mass proportions. It did contain magic powerful enough that I could've destroyed two entire worlds with it after all. Now that I think about it, the only reason we thought that it was destroyed is because none of us saw it after Sunset saved me."
Everyone contemplates at Twilight's words before Fluttershy says, "We were pretty focused on showing how great the Magic of Friendship is to you both during and after you and Sunset were fighting."
Everyone nods in agreement before Applejack says, "So let me see if I got this straight; the E.M.R. might have taken your pendant, and used it to create their weapons and track down and defeat Adagio and Aria?"
"More or less," Twilight answers. "But it's great that they did, right? I mean, there's no harm in more people fighting any further magical problems that we're going to encounter."
"Actually, it's a little more complicated than that," Rainbow Dash says, rubbing the back of her head.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asks.
The Rainbooms look away from Twilight, unsure of how to answer her question before Sunset Shimmer decides to answer.
"You see, Twilight, Octavia, and the other members of the E.M.R. made it clear in the past that they are on uneasy terms with us and magic," she explains. "They want to be able to handle problems with magic without our help, which led to us having a very fragile alliance with them when we found out what they were up too after Sonata, Adagio, and Aria's trial. Add that to how they've been quiet ever since Rough Draft and Octavia broke up, and we're only hearing about them now suddenly able to fight against magic without saying a word to us, and the whole thing is concerning, to say the least."
"But the weapons that they possibly made with my pendant did save Rough Draft," Twilight points out.
"And I am more grateful for that than I can put into words, but by making these weapons secretly, they have made it clear that they still don't trust us," Sunset Shimmer says. "The fact that the only reason we know that they've done this is because Rough Draft told me raises concerns about what they're up to."
"Sunset's right," Rainbow Dash says firmly. "We're all glad to have our friend back, but it sounds fishy that those guys don't trust us with what they're doing. I, for one, think we oughta give them a piece of our mind."
"Now, now, let's not be hasty," Applejack says calmly. "For all we know, their reasons for not telling us might not be as simple as that. I suggest we talk to them and set the record straight."
"I agree with AJ," Caramel says, earning a smile from Applejack. "There may be more to this than what we know simply from what Rough Draft has told us. If there's a chance we can settle things peacefully with the E.M.R. guys, we should take it. You girls do represent the Magic of Friendship after all."
Everyone else nods in agreement before Fluttershy nervously asks, "So, should we look for them after school or something?"
"No, I'll talk to them alone," Sunset Shimmer says. "It's probably better that we don't all come together and give them the wrong idea. Besides, I should at least thank them for saving my boyfriend's life."
"But, where can you find them?" Soarin asks. "We don't know where their remaining classes are, or what they're doing after school."
"Octavia and the others normally hang out in the music room when we don't have it reserved for band practice, so I'll start there," Sunset Shimmer suggests.
"Sounds good to me," Rainbow Dash says. "But for the record, if they haven't told us about their new toys for any suspicious reason, then we officially do have a problem."
Sunset Shimmer frowns at Rainbow Dash before she reluctantly says, "Agreed."
*********************************************************************************************
After lunch, the last two class periods go by, though some students and teachers start asking Sunset Shimmer about Rough Draft. The news has recently posted articles that he was kidnapped and shot in the arm by two escaped convicts, but not much else apart from that. Sunset Shimmer doesn't want to have to deal with people asking the same questions constantly while her mind is on talking to the E.M.R., but at the same time, she appreciates that people care about what happened to her boyfriend. Despite that, however, she still misses him during seventh period where his desk is left empty next to her.
When the final bell rings, Sunset Shimmer grabs her stuff and races out of the classroom. She collects Rough Draft's homework from Vice-Principal Luna's office and makes it to the front entrance before she remembers her plan to thank the E.M.R. if they're in the music room. Sunset Shimmer quietly groans, not wanting to delay returning to Rough Draft's side any longer, but reluctantly turns around and heads to the music room, secretly hoping that no one is there.
When Sunset Shimmer makes it to the door of the music room, however, she hears a cello playing on the other side. Curious, she slowly opens the door to find Octavia sitting on a stool in the middle of the room alone, playing her cello with a sad but focused look on her face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oIS78wgHhk
Her phone is playing background music as she plays each note with firm passion. Sunset Shimmer watches Octavia play, moved by the emotion she puts into her music. She debates whether to go in or leave and try to talk to her and the rest of the E.M.R. another day.
Eventually, Octavia finishes playing her song, opens her eyes, and lets out a heavy sigh. Then she undoes her bow tie, reaches under her shirt, and takes out a necklace that she appears to be wearing underneath. Sunset Shimmer stares at the action curiously until she looks more closely and sees the heart-shaped sapphire hanging from the chain. Sunset Shimmer's mouth drops as she realizes Octavia is wearing the necklace that was meant to be Rough Draft's Christmas present to her. Octavia stares at the jewel with a broken-hearted look. She rubs her thumb over its surface as a small tear falls down one of her cheeks. Then, she kisses the jewel and whispers, "I miss you, darling."
Sunset Shimmer stares at her boyfriend's ex in shock. She can't believe what she just saw or heard, but once her mind fully processes what just happened, her shock turns into anger. Without thinking, she pulls the door open, causing it to slam into the wall, making Octavia jump before she turns around to see Sunset Shimmer storming towards her.
"Are you kidding me?" She growls, glaring daggers at Octavia. "Are you seriously kidding me? You're wearing the necklace and kissing it?!"
Octavia looks at Sunset Shimmer, shocked at her outburst before her surprised face turns calm and collective.
"I don't recall what jewelry I wear and what I do with it being any of your business, Ms. Shimmer," she says in an uptight but firm tone.
"When it's the necklace that my boyfriend wanted to give to you before you ruthlessly broke his heart, I'd say that makes it plenty my business," Sunset Shimmer shouts. "And if I didn't know any better, I'd say that looked like you want him back even though he's dating me!"
"Of course I want him back, you twit!" Octavia growls. "I realize my mistake, and I will do anything to get him back!"
Sunset Shimmer looks at Octavia in disbelief.
"Oh, now you want him back?" she scolds. "After months, months of not even speaking to him, you want him back? Well tough luck, Octavia, because he's mine and I have no plans of letting him go! You can kiss it and go back to that Prench snob you so quickly replaced him with!"
"I did not replace him!" Octavia barks. "I wanted nothing to do with Treble Clef. Vinyl practically pushed me into a relationship with him even though I made it clear that I just wanted to be alone, trying to convince myself that I wronged the love of my life!"
"He's not the love of your life; he's mine!" Sunset Shimmer shouts. "And you have no right to be anywhere near Rough Draft. Do you have any idea how devastated he was when Sonata told him you were dating another guy mere weeks after you dumped him? He was emotionally dead for two weeks!"
Octavia flinches at Sunset Shimmer's words and looks down ashamedly as Sunset Shimmer continues.
"He didn't want to do anything, he refused to be near anyone, even Soarin and Caramel, and he would lock himself in his room after school wallowing in all the agony that you put him through. It was a miracle that we were able to get through to him and convince him to move on with his life, and even then, he would show signs that he was still in some way miserable! But then again, you must be too cold and cruel for you to care about -"
"OF COURSE, I CARE!!!!" Octavia screams, standing up and glaring at Sunset Shimmer face to face. "Even when I thought I did the right thing, I was tormented by the image of seeing his devastated face when I said ended our relationship! Even when I acted like everything was for the best, and I was fine with my distant relationship with Treble Clef, I felt it in my body that what I was doing was wrong! I would give away every song I've written, every moment good and bad in Manehatten and every musical instrument my family possesses if it meant I could change time so that I never dumped him, and I wouldn't be wearing this necklace in secret but instead wearing it for all to see with him back by my side!"
"Well, you can't!" Sunset Shimmer snarls. "He is my boyfriend now! He loves me, he does everything he can to support me, and he just proved that he was willing to die trying to protect me and my homeworld! No matter how much you want him back or how often you wear that necklace, the fact is he's happy with me, and there's nothing you can do about it!"
Both girls stare at each other menacingly, not saying a word to each other. Finally, Octavia gives in and sighs sadly.
"You're right," she says quietly. "He is happy with you. As much as I don't want to admit it, I know how much he has meant to you ever since I've turned my back on him. I can fight with you with everything that I am, and it wouldn't be enough. We both want him to be happy, and I can't bear to see him broken up again, even if it would give me a chance to get him back. If you end up being the one who will make him happy for the rest of his life, supporting his writing, raising a family with him, and everything, I won't get in the way."
Sunset Shimmer looks at Octavia, a little surprised by this and then smiles kindly at her.
"Thank you, Octavia," she says calmly. "I appreciate that you -"
"I'm not finished," Octavia interrupts sharply. "I may not pursue him as long as you are together, but that doesn't mean I won't pounce on the chance to get him back. If you do anything to hurt him or if by chance, something happens that leads to you two breaking up, I will do everything within my power to make him mine again. I will run over to him, I will show him my necklace, I will tell him everything I have just told you, and I will work hard to repair our relationship and prove that my love for him burns brighter than before. And when the day comes that he takes me back, I will kiss him fiercely, I will hug him tightly, and I will never let go of him again."
Sunset Shimmer stands there taken aback by Octavia's words. Octavia glares at her, showing the sincerity of everything she said. Finally, Sunset Shimmer speaks with a menacing voice.
"I came here to thank you and your friends for saving the guy I love and try to talk peacefully about you suddenly having weapons to fight magic, but now I don't care what your reasons were for hiding things from us. It's clear to me that as far as things between both the E.M.R. and the Rainbooms go, we officially have a problem. As for Rough Draft, you have my undying gratitude for saving his life, but as long as he's rightfully mine, I don't ever want to see you anywhere near him again."
And without waiting for Octavia to respond, Sunset Shimmer slams the door open and storms out of the school.
*********************************************************************************************
Sunset Shimmer drives her motorcycle with anger still flowing through her veins. She cannot believe that Octavia wants Rough Draft back and is waiting for Sunset and Rough Draft's relationship to end. She parks her motorcycle at Canterlot General Hospital's parking lot, walks into the hospital, and takes the elevator with frustration covering her face until the elevator opens to the floor of Rough Draft's room, and she hears a high-pitched giggle that unmistakably sounds like Sonata.
Sunset Shimmer's curiosity takes over her mind as she walks over to find the door to Rough Draft's room slightly open. She leans to the opening to see Sonata sitting on Rough Draft's bed as both she and Rough Draft laugh out loud. Sunset Shimmer smiles at the sight as Rough Draft speaks.
"Seriously, it's uncanny how Caramel has been getting so confident on how things are going between him and AJ that he kept calling her his 'hope-to-be girl' in the middle of the games right as Twilight was stealing her magic. It's just one of those things that drive us insane with how they've been keeping their dates a secret."
"Oh my gosh, I can't wait to hear Granny, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac's side on what's going on between those two," Sonata giggles like a little girl. "So then what happened?"
"Well, Twilight's pendant got knocked out of her hand, and a bunch of portals to Equestria started popping up with giant man-eating plants coming out of them," Rough Draft says. "They started attacking Sunset, Rainbow Dash, and the two girls that were in the motocross race with them. Then Rainbow Dash transformed and started fighting the plants until Sunset Shimmer won the race, and Twilight closed her pendant, so all the portals disappeared. Everyone at CHS was going ballistic that we won the race, and I was kind of cheering too, but I was also all 'why are we cheering when they almost got eaten by plants?' It was insane how not even Soarin and Caramel were worried that someone could've gotten seriously hurt."
"Sounds like something Sunset would say," Sonata says, giving Rough Draft a playful smirk.
"I - well yeah, it does," Rough Draft says, bashfully making Sunset Shimmer smile warmly. "Anyway, we had the last round of the Friendship Games, and I was all worried about what was going to happen next. Suddenly, there was a big explosion, and Twilight turned into a she-demon. She destroyed the CHS statue and then opened a whole bunch of portals. Everyone, including me, Soarin, and Caramel, were running for our lives, but as I'm following Soarin and Caramel, a portal opened right in front of me. I backed away, but then another pops up right underneath my feet, and I almost fell through, falling a hundred feet above Equestria's version of Canterlot to my death."
Sonata gasps loudly like a child hearing a story from her grandpa, which makes Rough Draft laugh, and Sunset Shimmer giggle quietly.
"How did you survive?" Sonata asks, intrigued.
Rough Draft scratches the back of his head with his uninjured hand as he reluctantly answers, "Octavia saved me."
Sunset Shimmer frowns while Sonata looks at Rough Draft, surprised.
"Tavi?" She asks. "How in the world was she able to save you?"
"Just happened to be in the right place at the right time, I guess," Rough Draft answers shrugging with his good arm. "She got me out of the portal, and then we heard another explosion, and I turn around to see Sunset transform into some phoenix-angel thing with a horn on her forehead, and this pink and aqua dress."
"Oooo, sounds cool," Sonata comments.
"Yeah, I gotta admit, even though this was a battle for two worlds, I couldn't help but notice how she looked pretty hot," Rough Draft says, smirking, not knowing Sunset Shimmer is raising her eyebrow and giving him a flirtatious smirk. "Anyway, she and Twilight were fighting, and it looked like Sunset Shimmer was going to die, so I shouted out her name in fear. But then Twilight's dog, Spike, called out her name, and that distracted her long enough for Sunset to get the upper hand and change her back to normal. Then they and the other Rainbooms, the Crystal Prep team and both Vice-Principal Luna and Principal Celestia told Principal Cinch off, and then Twilight decided to transfer to CHS."
"Wow," Sonata says. "The Friendship Games sounds like fun, magical stuff aside. I wish I was there to see it. The skating sounds like it would've been fun with Pinkie Pie."
"I'm sure you would have loved it, Sonny," Rough Draft says with a smile.
"But it sounds wrong that Tavi was there to save you instead of Sunset," Sonata says with a frown. "I mean, I told her to watch over you while I was hunting Adagio and Aria with the cops, and yet it's Tavi who has saved you twice since then."
Sunset Shimmer looks down at the ground sadly as Sonata's words hit her like a brick.
"Well, in a way she still did," Rough Draft says. "I mean Octavia saved me from falling to my death, but it was Sunset who stopped Twilight from destroying the world and everyone in it including me. So if Sunset hadn't stopped Twilight, all of us would have died anyway, therefore technically both girls saved my life."
"That's true," Sonata admits scratching her chin in thought.
"And besides, even though Octavia saved my life with Vinyl and the other E.M.R. guys, it doesn't change how I feel about her," Rough Draft continues. "I'm still pissed that she's been dating that Treble Clef, and even then, the fact remains that I'm with Sunset now, and I'm happier for it. Octavia may have saved my life, but she didn't save my heart when she had the chance. That is all on Sunset."
Sunset Shimmer smiles warmly at Rough Draft's words until she feels a tap on her shoulder. She turns around to find Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom standing right behind her.
"Snooping on your guy, are we?" Granny Smith says with her eyebrow raised.
"Oh, no, no, nothing like that," Sunset says sheepishly. "I just didn't want to interrupt Rough Draft telling his story."
"Uh-huh," Granny says unconvinced. "If you got a problem, dear, you best confront Rough Draft about it. Meantime, I'd like to use that door to take Sonny home."
Sunset Shimmer moves away from the door, still a little bashful as Granny, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom open the door and let themselves in. As soon as they start to enter the room, Sonata and Rough Draft turn their heads to see them. Immediately, Sonata's eyes light up as she squeals, "GRANNY!" and runs over to hug Granny Smith.
"Hey, we're here too," Apple Bloom pouts before Sonata comes over to hug her and Big Mac.
"Oh, we're so glad to see you safe and sound, Sonny," Granny says in relief.
"Eeyup," Big Mac says.
"Heya, Rough Draft," Apple Bloom says, walking over to Rough Draft's side. "How're you feeling?"
"My arm is still in pain, and I can't open my eye yet, but otherwise, I'm better," Rough Draft answers with a smile.
"Now, where in the world are your folks during all this?" Granny Smith asks skeptically. "I would think at least your mother would be here all day."
"Dad still had to go to work, and my mom was here all day," Rough Draft answers. "She went to the police station not long before Sonata came. She's determined to make sure Adagio and Aria never see the light of day for a long time."
"Now that sounds like a mother," Granny says with a smirk. "I've heard from some of my friends how your mother is angrier than a nest of hornets. Course, I know Sonny wanted to get some closure over her sisters, so I hope we can do that before they're locked up for good."
Rough Draft's smile fades as he looks down and sighs before looking at Sonata.
"Sonata, there's something I think you should know," he says hesitantly, making Sunset Shimmer curious as she peaks through the door again. "While Adagio and Aria were interrogating me, they were telling me that..."
Everyone looks at Rough Draft concerned before he reluctantly finishes his sentence.
"...that you three aren't sisters, and they only wanted you with them because they needed you for your siren magic."
Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac gasp at this news. Sunset Shimmer stares at her boyfriend from afar, unable to believe what she just heard. Everyone looks at Sonata, who stares at Rough Draft for a moment but then looks down at the floor.
"I know," she says sadly.
"What?" Everyone shouts.
"You knew that they weren't your sisters?" Apple Bloom asks, surprised. "But Sonny, you've been calling them that ever since you started living with us."
"I know," Sonata says in a glum tone. "But the truth is we were created by something or someone that we've never met. All we knew or cared about was our power and survival, but even at our worst moments ever since we were banished from Equestria, I wanted to believe that in some way, the three of us were a family. I guess I never really started to accept that I was fooling myself until Adagio abandoned me, and even then, I wanted to believe there was a good reason behind that. I know it sounds childish, but the fact is the two of them are the only family I have."
Everyone looks at Sonata sadly before Granny Smith places her hand on Sonata's shoulder.
"No, they aren't, Sonny. Not anymore," she says. "You have us now; the Apples, the Rainbooms, even Rough Draft, Caramel, and Soarin. We're all your family now. In fact, we were coming over to take you home now. Your blanket is waiting."
Sonata gives Granny a heartwarming smile before she says, "Yes. I would like to come home now. Though speaking of which, where's Applejack?"
"Oh, she's gonna meet us at Sweet Apple Acres," Granny answers. "She had something to do with Caramel after school first."
Rough Draft and Sonata give each other smug looks before Sonata turns to Granny Smith and says, "How very interesting."
Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom give their own smug looks in response before Granny Smith says, "Well, we best get going. Heal well, Rough Draft."
"I will," Rough Draft says as the three Apples and Sonata walk out the door. Sunset Shimmer quickly backs away just in time for Sonata to open the door without hitting her.
"Hi, Sunset. He's been waiting for you," Sonata says with another smug look, which makes Sunset blush.
"And I've been waiting to get back to him," Sunset Shimmer manages to say, trying to act like she just arrived.
Granny Smith raises her eyebrow at Sunset Shimmer as she escorts Sonata, Big Mac and Apple Bloom down the hall. Once they are out of sight, Sunset Shimmer sighs before she collects herself and finally enters the room. Rough Draft watches her approach him with a loving smile on his face.
"I thought I heard you over there when they were leaving," he says, sitting up. "I was wondering what was taking you so long to -"
But before Rough Draft can finish his sentence, Sunset Shimmer sits next to him, wraps her arms around him, pulls him in, and smashes her lips together with his. Rough Draft's eyes widen as his girlfriend kisses him fiercely with her eyes closed. His purple cheeks turn deep red as Sunset Shimmer lets out a moan of pleasure before she lets him go, and he falls back on the bed with a plop. Rough Draft stares at the ceiling as Sunset Shimmer helps herself back to her cuddling spot, pleased with her handiwork.
"Wha...the...ju...I...where did that come from?!" Rough Draft manages to ask, making Sunset Shimmer giggle.
"Oh nothing," Sunset Shimmer says, acting innocent. "It's just that the last time I looked, I have the most wonderful boyfriend in two worlds who was almost taken away from me by two evil girls, and I would be devastated if that ever happened."
"Uh, okay," Rough Draft manages to say, still in shock. "Message received."
"Good," Sunset says with a pleased smirk. "Now put your arm around me. We have much cuddling to do while you're healing, babe."
"Um, as you wish, my sunshine," he says bashfully as his arm robotically wraps around Sunset Shimmer. She, in turn, rests her head back on Rough Draft's chest, wraps her arms around him, and lets out a delighted sigh, happy to be back by his side again.
But as she holds Rough Draft, her smile turns into a frown as she thinks about what has happened in the last couple of weeks. How will she be able to protect her boyfriend if his ex of all people is always there to help him and she isn't?