It had been a quiet day at school. During lunch, Vice-Principal Luna had come up to Aria and told her that she had a meeting after school and that she and Sonata would need to find a way home. Aria had asked if it was alright if Sunset and Pinkie could come so that they could work on their homework after school. Luna consented. Rainbow had wanted to come over to meet A.K. Yearling, but Sunset and Aria were able to dissuade their polychromatic haired friend.
"She isn't there Rainbow," Aria sighed, "she had errands to run today."
"Yeah," Sunset added, "afterwards she was going to meet with her agent before the convention this weekend."
"But I wanted to get my copy of the latest Daring Do book signed," Rainbow said.
"Well," Sunset replied, "mom did ask her to come speak at an assembly later this week."
That had ended Rainbow's constant pestering, but she had spent the rest of the day with a pout on her face that put Rarity to shame.
After school, Pinkie had insisted on stopping at Sugarcube Corner to get what she called "Study Snacks", cookies and cupcakes.
When they arrived at Luna's home they were surprised to find that Adagio was already there hard at work on her homework.
"Adagio," Aria said, "I thought you were studying with Twilight this afternoon."
"She had a sudden meeting with Principal Cinch this afternoon," Adagio said as she watched both Sunset and Pinkie enter the house, "where are the rest of your friends?"
"Flutters and Dashie are working on a new song," Sonata said, "A.J. and her brother are volunteering at the local homeless shelter, and Rares had to work."
"Right," Adagio said, "wait, Applejack volunteers at the homeless shelter?"
"Yep indeedy," Pinkie answered, "that's how we learned that Sunset was homeless."
"Sunset was homeless," Adagio said with a grin, "spill!"
"I hoped that I had put my past behind me," Sunset grumbled to herself.
"C'mon, spill," Adagio repeated before looking at her sisters, "have you two heard this already?"
"No," Aria said as she crossed her arms and cocked one eyebrow. Sonata simply shook her head no.
"Thanks Pinkie," Sunset deadpanned, "are you girls really sure that you want to hear this?"
"Yes," the three Dazzlings chorused simultaneously.
"Okay," Sunset sighed, "I had been living on my own since I first arrived in this world six years ago. I thought that I had done a great job in looking out for myself, but the night of the fall formal my life came crashing down."
"Ooh, I need popcorn," Pinkie said suddenly, "anyone else want some?"
"Shhhh," Sonata told her girlfriend, "let her finish."
"Awww," Pinkie said, "I was gonna share with the audience."
Sunset sighed before continuing. She turned around and lifted up the back of shirt, displaying the two prominent scars on her shoulder blades.
"Transforming into a literal demon and then getting blasted by weaponized friendship left me both physically and mentally drained."
Sunset turned around and faced her friends.
"I spent that weekend hiding from the angry mob that I was certain was after me," Sunset continued, "I was terrified to go back to school that following week."
"I stayed put, I refused to leave my hiding spot, even for food," Sunset explained, "eventually the need to eat over powered me, but I was too weak to scavenge anything and I found myself at the shelter."
"That's where A.J. found me," Sunset said as a smile crept upon her face, "she demanded that I go home with her. That night was the first night that I had slept on a real bed in years."
"Granny Smith informed Principal Celestia about my situation," Sunset said, "she told my friends. It was clear that I couldn't stay with the Apples, they simply didn't have the room."
"So I went to stay with Celestia," Sunset finished, "eventually she adopted me and now I call her Mom."
Pinkie wiped a few years from her eyes.
"That story is so sad, and happy at the same time," Sonata said.
Sunset looked at the three sirens, Sonata looked like she was about to cry, Aria looked, well, like Aria. Adagio however was harder to read.
<POP!>
"I guess we do have something in common Shimmer," Adagio said with a laugh.
"I guess we do," Sunset replied with a smile of her own.
"Um, what just happened," Sonata asked.
"They're....," Aria said with a touch of horror in her voice, "bonding?!?"
"Hey," Pinkie said suddenly, "I didn't know that you guys had a pet ferret!"
"Ferret," Adagio asked, "Luna has a pet opossum, not a ferret."
Pinkie pointed to a small creature standing on the couch. It had a serpentine body, mismatched wings and horns, the paw of a lion, a goat's hoof, a dragon's claw and a talon. Recognition dawned in Sunset's eyes.
"Weasel is more like it," Sunset said with a sigh, "what do you want Discord."
"Twilight said that you are a sharp one," the creature said, "I guess I won't pull the wool over your eyes."
Sunset suddenly found herself wearing a blind fold that was made out of tiny sheep. She pulled the blindfold off and looked at Discord.
"Twilight has told me about you," Sunset said angrily, "and I've read Princess Celestia's notes about you."
"And what sweet nothings has Celestia written about me," Discord said.
Sunset rolled her eyes in disgust.
"What. Do. You. WANT," Sunset repeated clearly frustrated.
"Calm down Sunny," Sonata said, "I'm sure he'll tell us."
"Ah if it isn't the eldest of Harmony's daughters," Discord said as he looked at Sonata, "my, my, how you've grown since the last time I saw you."
"You know our mother," Adagio said.
Discord smiled and his eyes narrowed.
"Yes I know her," he said, "in fact I'm here to take you to her."
"Discord don't," Sunset screamed as Discord raised his talon and snapped his fingers. Everything went white. When her vision returned she found herself standing on a beach. Looking to her left she saw a familiar head of pink hair.
"Pinkie, oh thank Celestia," Sunset said in relief. Then she noticed something odd.
"Pinkie," Sunset said in surprise, "you're a pony!"