Adagio laughed as she stood on the platform with the trident in her hand, arms in her hands, laughing evilly.
“You poor, unfortunate souls!!” She belowed, enjoying every second of her ‘victory.’
Having been ‘tossed’ to the side and into the stage curtain, Sunset couldn’t help but shake her head at how the former siren was eating up her role. Perhaps a bit too eagerly, Sunset worried.
“Better go put her in her place,” Sunset chuckled, walking out onto the stage behind Adagio, and picking up the foam casted shell.
‘This still feels horrible anti-climatic,’ Sunset thought to herself as she threw the shell to the ground. ‘Then again, at least I get to do something in this version. Oh well. No time to work out something else now.’
There was a crashing sound effect, which was Adagio’s cue to die. Instead, she was still cackling madly. As it became more clear that she wasn’t going to stop—evident from the face palms Sunset caught of Sonata and Aria from the wings—Sunset leaned down and started to pick up a fish prop. However, she paused to think about it, and went for the starfish instead. Hurling it into Adagio’s back. The siren glared an annoyed look at who had dare stop–
Her scowl disappeared at Sunset’s raised eyebrow.
With a sigh, she looked back to the audience and, with the most monotone acting Sunset had ever heard, said
“Oh no, I’ve been defeated by the power of love. Aaaahhhh.” Which was the cue for the lights to flash while Adagio stepped down from the stage.
“Hammy much?” Sunset teased as they got eye leveled.
“Oh can it,” Adagio deadpanned. She shoved the lobster into Sunset’s hands and stomped indignantly into the wings. Knowing this wouldn’t be the last she would hear of this.
Shaking her head in bemusement, Sunset climbed up onto set for her next thing. Her palms grasping tightly onto the rails as she ascended.
The show was almost over. Which meant, her confrontation with her parents would soon follow. For the most part, she had been able to keep her composer. Although there was an incident during the ‘Part Of Your World’ reprise.
She had looked up, and happened to catch her parents staring at her through the stage lights and nearly skipped over her lines. Fortunately, Twilight, being ‘unconscious’ and lying right next to her, peaked open an eye, noticed Sunset’s nerves, took an educated guess of what had stunned her, and gave Sunset’s hand a reassuring squeeze. Which helped in getting Sunset through the scene.
“Doing alright?” Twilight asked the next chance they were in the wings together as the ‘She’s In Love’ number was going on.
“Yeah,” Sunset said. “It was... They didn’t look too judgmental at me. I think.”
Twilight squeezed her shoulder. “Well even if they were judging you and thinking you were doing terrible, then screw them.”
Sunset smirked. “Twilight Sparkle!
“What?” Twilight playfully answered. “I’m a big girl.”
Sunset stuck out her tongue as her cue began. “Sure thing, Sparky.” They then looked at each other, Sunset admiring how beautiful Twilight looked when blushing.
She gave Twilight a hug. “Thank you.” Twilight hugged her tightly back, and then Sunset practically skipped out on the stage.
Later that night, she was commented on how amazing her ‘love struck’ acting was for that scene.
As Sunset climbed into position, waiting for the spotlight to shine on her, she looked through the crowd, and caught her parents who were focused on where the spotlight was as opposed to where she was. Noticing how the two seemed to be smiling and enjoying themselves. Maybe... Then again, it wasn’t too uncommon for them to look happy, and then something would come up, and they would remind her of what they expected out of her life.
Breathing heavily, she looked over to wings, where Twilight was tucking her hair into a bun. She caught Sunset's gaze, and quickly gave her a thumbs up.
Letting out a sigh, she got into her acting mode as the spotlight shone on her.
🎭 🦞 👑 🔱 🎭
Heaving, Sunset dragged Twilight’s unconscious body to the shore a second time. It was a hard fought battle, but somehow, they had survived and came out on top. Deposing the girl being washed up on the beach, the way her tail would brush against the human's legs riled up a lot of emotions. After checking to make sure Twilight was still alive, she swam to a nearby rock to lie down. Far enough to give herself some space, but near enough to keep an eye on Twilight.
“Now what?” Sunset spoke, rubbing her neck. With a sigh, she picked herself up and gazed at her beautiful friend.
Would it even be possible for them to be together? It was clear Twilight cared and loved her back in the same way, but would that even matter? Why couldn’t life be fair and circumstances allow her to be happy? Wasn’t her fault the things she enjoyed caused disdain from other merfolks and that they could let her be.
“You really do love her, don’t you?” As if to mock and make things worse for Sunset’s, a familiar voice spoke from behind her.
“Oh, um, Celestia,” Sunset said with a gulp as she turned to face her mentor/mother figure.
She tried to say something along the lines of if she was okay. Instead, all she could say was, “Why?”
When Celestia didn’t answer, and in the time it took Sunset to realize she needed to elaborate, rage had overtaken her.
“Why? WHY?!” She slammed a fist into the water. “Why did you do that back there? Trade your soul for mind?” She slapped seawater into Celestia’s face. “I know you make dumb decisions all the time, but that seemed to really cross the line of idiotic!” Haggering from her outburst, Sunset tried to make herself small by crossing her arms. “You should have left me to face the consequences.”
“I should have. Yes.” To Sunset’s bewilderment, Celestia nodded in agreement. “Indeed, it would have been the wise thing to do. But I think we can both attest to not thinking clearly when emotional.”
Sunset looked away.
“I had no way of knowing that things would work out the way they did,” Celestia continued. “Still, if I had a chance to do it again, this time for sure knowing things would have ended badly, I still wouldn’t have hesitated.”
Sunset quickly perked up to that. “Really? Even for a stupid child like me who thought she knew better?”
“Especially for someone like that.” Celestia said with a smirk. “Besides, I’m one to talk.” She closed her eyes and frowned. “After all, it was I who’s pushed you into making those choices to begin with.” Celestia let out a sigh and opened her eyes. “If anyone is truly to blame here, it is me for trying to repress your growth out of fear you would get hurt, instead of allowing you the independence you needed.” As she said that, Sunset saw Celestia starting to cry. “I shouldn’t have acted the way I did just because I had convinced myself it was ‘out of love.’ And for that, I am truly sorry for not respecting your lifestyle choice, my dear Sunset.”
Sunset stared agape. Never thinking she’d see, Celestia, of all people, offering such an apology. Not out of obligation or trying to justify her actions, but of genuine remorse for hurting someone she cared about.
“Hey, I was the one who signed that stupid contract out of anger. And I can admit, I’m a bit…. Stubborn headed at times. But… I forgive you,” And Sunset meant it as well. Despite still feeling sore about a lot of things, one she didn’t want to have to regret was ending on such bad terms with Celestia.
Slowly, Sunset reached a hand out. When Celestia didn’t jerk away, Sunset placed it on her shoulder. However, she soon lost herself and threw both of her arms around Celestia, which Celestia did in turn. They spent the next several minutes apologizing to one another while admitting to their faults.
“I am very proud of the strong beautiful independent lady you're become, Sunset Shimmer,” Celestia commented once they pulled away.
“Th... Thanks,” Sunset said, wiping away at her face. “Means a lot.” The two of them paused and looked to Twilight as they heard the sound of the human girl starting to wake up.
“So, what now?” Sunset said, crossing her arms behind her back. “Believe me! I don’t not want you in my life anymore. It’s just, I, what I mean to say is, not that I’m not grateful, but Twilight.” She let out a sigh, looking over her shoulder at the unconscious human. “I’m not sure how it would be possible, but, she really makes me happy, and...
Celestia placed a hand on Sunset’s shoulder, and nodded in understanding. “Well, in that case, I suppose there’s one last problem to solve.”
Sunset tilted her head. “And, what would that be, your majesty?”
Letting out a breath, Celestia answered, “Me learning to deal with how much I’m going to miss you.” With that, to Sunset’s astonishment, Celestia placed the tip of her trident into the water, aiming the tip towards her pupil.
Sunset’s jaw dropped as the magical golden energy made its way towards her. Once she realized what Celestia was doing, Sunset couldn’t help but let out a joy filled glee as the magic encased her submerged half.
Whereas Adagio magic was cold and nearly had ripped Sunset apart, Celestia magic was warm and comforting, as it gently unzipped Sunset’s tail and altered her scales into human skin.
“Thank you!” Sunset cried with tears of happiness, throwing her arms around the queen as she felt her toes touch the sand beneath them.
Celestia held back tears of a different kind.
🔱 👧 ❤️💧🔱