After leaving the hospital and getting them back to their apartment building, with the reluctant help of Adagio and trying to listen through Sonata's whimpering pleads to go back, Sunset parked and locked Code's truck before following them inside. Once she was in, she was met by the sight of the sirens being confronted by a cerulean haired teen with a chained cross earring and striking seafoam eyes wearing a black tank top and dark grey Jean vest, their lower half hidden behind the reception desk. From what she could tell, Aria was getting into a shouting match with them while Sonata seemed to curl up into Adagio's back who watched with glazed over eyes. The confrontation only seemed to be escalating as Sunset rushed up to get a grip of the situation.
"I said let us in, Rogue! We fuckin' live here, you can't just keep us out!" She shouted as Rogue crossed their arms.
"And I told you that you're not on the lease and I don't see Cody with you, so without his say or him being present, you're not getting in!" They shouted back before Aria reached over and grabbed the collar of their jacket roughly with a fist risen.
"Don't you dare use that nickname, you fucking peasant! Let us in or I swear to whatever celestial being you stupid apes pray to, I'm gonna--"
"Aria stop!" Sunset said as she rushed over, catching both their attention, "Rogue Wave's just doing their job, there's no need for this!" She said as she rushed over and separated them, grabbing Aria's wrist and Wave's shoulder as their eyes all began to glow. Through it, Sunset saw all the trouble and moments that Aria had with Code.
Going from her belittling and demanding leading to her attacking him, him calling off the police from taking her away and the following months in which Code would fall asleep at his computer only for her to move him to his bed or save his progress in the middle of the night. Other times she'd have moments where they'd be shopping together, in which she'd found herself staring at his hand in which he noticed and took her own. She gasped and growled her protests but did nothing to make him let go as they continued in their way, Code playfully apologizing but nonetheless continuing to walk down the street hand-in-hand.
Finally, her memories lead to the most recent of her memories; the hospital hallway where she and the others were waiting for the news. As she sat there, glaring at her hands with disdain, Sunset heard her thoughts, 'Fuck... This is all our fault. If we never came to this damned world, Code wouldn't be...' She hesitated in her thoughts as she clenched her hands tightly together, the lavender skin of her hands turning lighter from the strength of her grip, 'Maybe we should've just died out there. At least then he'd be safe. From them, from us...' she growled at herself as she could be heard silently sniffling mentally as she held her enraged expression on the outside, 'From me...' She shuddered as her sniffles turned to light weeping to sobbing and then as she grit her teeth on the outside... Wailing. Utter rage and pain as she kept repeating the same phrase.
'This is our fault!'
Once Sunset released them both, she and Aria's faces were trailing with unconscious tears. Before either could utter a word, they heard Rogue whimper slightly as they quickly turned and saw they too were softly crying, their eyes wide, "Code... He's hurt...?" They said as Aria stared questioningly and Sunset gasped with a sudden realization of what she'd just done.
"He... Yeah. That Rainbow Dash bitch attacked him and Adagio. For no reason at all." She said through gritted teeth before she heard the ding of the elevator behind them, the sirens and Sunset looking over at it before looking to Rogue who had pressed the entry button.
"Once he's better... Tell him to add you three to the lease. Okay?" They said with a teary voice turned away from the group of girls as they made their way in, Adagio following them before looking back and watching as Rogue seemed to start gathering their stuff in a hurry. Before the door closed, they turned their attention to the group, "I'll let your brother know that you brought them home. Sorry for the trouble." They said quickly as they ran off, that small tidbit catching Aria's attention.
As they rode up to their floor, Aria glared over towards Sunset and sneered, "Hey Shimmer, got a question for you. How do you know Rogue Wave? You live around here?" She asked curiously which seemed to catch Sunset off guard, "And what was up with that 'brother' comment? Why would any relative of yours care that we got home? Or know we're even here?" She pushed as Sunset sighed and shook her head.
"It's just... I've seen them in passing before. He and Code went to Canterlot High after all. I met him a few years ago, is all." She said a bit hesitantly as they rose to their floor, "Oh look, we're here!" she said nervously as she walked into the hall and left the three watching her confusedly as she seemed to find her way relatively easily as they followed behind and saw her unlock the door with Code's keys which only caused further confusion between them at the situation before them as they entered in behind her.
While Adagio was busy calming Sonata in Code's room, Aria stood in the living room with Sunset who looked at her curiously , "Um... Don't you want to go see if Adagio and Sonata need your help or anythi--"
"How did you know?" Aria interrupted with a cautious tone as she glared at her, catching Sunset off-guard as she looked around a bit shifty eyed.
"How did I know... What?" she asked a bit more cautiously herself, now knowing well that Aria seemed to become prone to random acts of anger and violence from what she'd recently learned from her magic.
"Don't give me that, Shimmer. How the hell did you know where Code's apartment was? Cause I know damn well that none of us told you and there's no fucking way you just made a lucky guess. So how. The fuck. Did you know?" She growled as she punched the wall next to Sunset's head and making her shout in surprise as she stared with startled, wide eyes at the seething siren before her. Sunset stuttered and looked around as she clenched her eyes shut, "I said--"
"I just got Sonata to sleep, Aria. Can you not?" Adagio said walking up from behind them as she had her hands in her pockets, "Besides, maybe if you stopped to think for a moment it'd come to you instead of questioning her like she's a common criminal. There are quite a few questions that might become one obvious answer we've all been missing." She stated solemnly as she looked at the two, "Am I right, Sunset?" she questioned knowingly as Sunset looked off to the side.
"Adagio, what in the hell are you..." Her voice lowered slowly as she began thinking as she'd been told. She thought about the last few months and what Adagio could've been talking about. It slowly began to make the wheels in her head turn as she remembered the things that began to stick out to her, "A well-cleaned second bedroom full of girl's clothes in a single guy's apartment... The feminine hygiene products, the vanity mirror, the make-up..." She spoke aloud as Sunset continued to look more and more guilty before it seemed to finally click, "... No fucking way..." She said as she looked towards Adagio, "... He's a crossdresser?" she commented as Adagio and Sunset both stared in confused and almost disappointed disbelief.
"... Aria, just because Sonata is asleep doesn't mean you have to take her place." She groaned as Sunset sighed in relief, "Try again. And actually think about how all that connects to Sunset this time." She said in a tone befitting an annoyed teacher trying to talk a hard-headed student through an equation.
"Fuck you, all those things have nothing to do with--" She once again cut herself short as her eyes widened to pinpricks as she slowly turned and looked back at Sunset, "Wait... All that stuff... It's yours?" She said as Sunset was halfway out the door, stopping short from leaving as she groaned and backed up into the apartment again, shutting it as she placed Code's keys in a nearby small silver bowl on a small table.
"... I guess this means I've got some explaining to do, huh?" She said turning to look at them as Adagio and Aria looked at each other and then towards her, "Well, I guess get comfortable... This might take a while." She said as she walked over and sat on the far end of the half-moon couch and waited for the other two to sit with her.
It was a little while after I'd first appeared in the world after running away from Equestria. I was confused, I fumbled around and was full of so much anger and spite. I wasn't thinking clearly at all and I didn't know what to do once I was here. Tartarus, I didn't even know where here was. All I knew was that I was in a completely unfamiliar world in a completely unfamiliar form, surrounded by a bunch of unknown and unseen creatures that looked, from their point of view, saw a stumbling little girl on all fours trying to run like a pony.
Before I knew what was going on... He found me.
"Hey, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you, little sis." He said it with the brightest, warmest smile I'd experienced in such a long time. He pulled me up onto my feet and took my hand, telling everyone around that I was his little sister visiting from our hometown. Of course, it was a lie and I had no idea what he was talking about, but I just wanted to get away from all the curious and judgmental stares. After that, he brought me home.
He set me up in his extra room that you all are staying in now. He gave me food, clothes, shelter... And he didn't ask for anything in return. He didn't question where I'd come from or why I was scampering around his campus like a little lost bear cub. He was able to get me into the school system, got everything that I needed to thrive as a student and he was everything I had once I came to this world. Even with all the things he did for me, I took advantage of him for so long.
"Hey Sunny, how was school today?" He'd ask that every time and I could tell he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep from the bags under his eyes when he'd pick me up. But I didn't care what he was going through or if he was tired, I'd demand things of him all the same. 'I want pizza for dinner,' he would do it. 'I want a new outfit from the store in town' and he would simply nod and take me to try it on with the accessories and all. That entire walk-in closet was bare before I got here, if that gives you any idea of what he's done for me.
He spoiled me willingly and I just ate it up. He treated me like family. Like his dear little princess of a sister. And I never once told him 'thank you' or acknowledged his efforts to make me happy. I just took and took, demanded and ordered... The only time I'd ever even taken his existence into account was when he'd ask how I was doing. How I was feeling... Like his day and what went on with him didn't even matter.
"You can be a little bratty sometimes, sure. But that doesn't mean you're not a good person, Sunny. It just means that you can improve. That's what it means to be human, y'know?" He was right of course, but I didn't see it that way. I thought I was above everyone, that a world like this without any innate magic would bend to someone like me without effort. And for a few years, I was right.
I started taking what I wanted when I wanted, using people like pieces on a board, like tools to build my empire. Until one day, some upperclassmen had had enough of me. As a matter of fact, it was Rogue Wave's brother that initiated it. He didn't rat me out to Principal Celestia or Vice Principal Luna, he took matters into his own hands and began bullying me back. Desecrating my locker, shoving me around in the halls, even throwing food at me... One day it'd gone too far and they cornered me after school.
"Fucking brat, think you're invicible'a somethin'? We'll show you!" I was scared for the first time in a long time and even thought they might attack me until he stopped them himself. Even after all the terrible things I'd forced upon other students and the awful things he'd known I did to them and even to him... He threw himself at them and told me, in the calmest voice, "Get out of here and get home, Sunset. Go ahead and order whatever you want. I'll be home soon. You know what I like, yeah?"
I didn't even give it a second thought. I ran as fast as I could and left him to deal with them all on his own... He didn't get home until the middle of the night. He was beaten up badly, his lip was busted, his clothes were muddy and ripped. He was an absolute mess... But he still smiled at me, his 'sweet little sister' like nothing had happened and asked me how my day at school was. That was the first time I'd ever regretted my actions even a little while I spent that night cleaning his wounds and getting him ice.
"My little sister is gonna be the Fall Formal Princess again this year? That's awesome! You know you'll always have my vote! Though I don't know how much an alumni's vote counts." Even after he'd graduated he kept tabs on me through Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna, often coming in as my guardian since our 'parents' are both out of town usually. He'd never explained that part to me, but I never asked cause I guess I never cared. Regardless, he drove me to the school the night I planned to take Twilight's crown. He didn't know about the plan but he stayed for it regardless, against my wishes.
You likely know what occurred through newspaper articles and other such means, but after all that'd happened: My transformation, the battle that took place, my defeat, the destruction of the school entrance and such... He found me shoveling the debris with Snips and Snails. I was so angry and upset and I broke down right there in front of him.
I was scared that I'd be alone again after seeing me as the monster I was. Instead of scolding me or a disappointed glance, he just hugged me and said, "I don't know what just happened, but... A princess shouldn't be forced to do grunt work. I'll take care of this, you head home and order whatever you want, okay?" Even after everything I'd done to the students and faculty, he stood by me, hugged me and told me to head home. As if nothing ever happened.
Sunset held her hands tightly as she bit her lip and stared at the ground, "After that, I did my damnedest to get out of here. Not because I resented Code for anything or he ever tried to kick me out. Pretty much the opposite, actually... He'd tried to do everything he could to get me to stay, but... I refused. Once he finally took the thousandth 'no' as a sign I wasn't going to cave, he helped me find a new place and I actually moved in pretty recently. It's not too far, of course, but it's a nice enough place... But I never came back here." She said as she ran her hand over the couch cushion and sighed, "... It reminded me too much of all that I'd done and that I don't deserve to call someone as caring as him my brother. I'm the last person that deserves his kindness." She admitted freely as she soon had tears flowing down her cheeks, a solemn smile stretched across her lips as she looked back at the two.
Aria sat with a judging look on her face as Adagio had her eyes closed in thought, neither one saying a word for a long time. Sunset stayed silent as well, figuring the two needed time to take in all the information she'd just dumped on them suddenly as Adagio opened her eyes and looked directly at Sunset, "That does explain a few things... I understand why you'd wish to keep this all to yourself."
"Why does any of this matter? All this proves is that you're a bitch." Aria retorted with annoyance.
"Aria, that's uncalled for."
"Oh come off it, you're thinking the same damn thing! She was a cunt to Code and now she's trying to, what? Reconcile for it by being nice to us? Well, I don't care how sorry you feel, you're still an--"
"Important person to Cody..." said a soft voice cutting off Aria as they all turned to see Sonata in the shirt Code had given her, clutching to the bottom of it as she walked around and sat next to Sunset. She looked her in the eyes as she reached forward and took her hands, "... Do you still love Cody? Is that why you never wanted to come back?" She asked as Sunset hung her head and nodded. "I love him too... A lot. Cody's been so sweet and caring with us, but he's never been the type to hold a grudge. Even in the little bit of time we've known him compared to you, I figured that out. Especially after Ari tried to..." She trailed off a bit to glance over towards Aria who looked down before Sonata shook her head and smiled.
"Cody is the greatest... And I'm sure he'd be happy to see you again, Sunset." She said before making an angry, huffy face, "Don't even think about trying to steal him away from us though! Cody's ours!" She said as she crossed her arms, letting go of Sunset's hands before giving a cheeky smile, "Okay?"
Sunset blinked staring at her before chuckling a little and wiping her tears, "I won't... He's my big brother after all, that'd be kinda weird." She said as Sonata began giggling herself as the two laughed, leaving Adagio and Aria to stare in bewilderment before Adagio began laughing herself, only making Aria's confusion grow as she watched the three girls laugh at seemingly nothing. "Oh, I've got to tell you about the time he tried to teach me how to cook. I nearly set the kitchen on fire!" She said through the laughter as Sonata broke out laughing harder.
"I'm sure we'd love to hear more stories, Sunset. I can speak for at least myself when I say that we want to know more about Code and your time with him. I think... It'd make us all feel a bit better until he returns." Adagio admitted as she looked to the others for their input. Sonata nodded with a newfound excitement, seeming to be her bouncy, bubbly self again while Aria turned her head and scoffed a bit.
Sunset blinked with surprise at this but smiled nonetheless as she nodded, "Yeah... I'd be happy to sta--"
"Not to mention you're the only other person with a licence in which to take us to visit him, of course." Adagio swiftly added in her old condescending tone with a smug grin which she quickly dropped and began laughing heartily to herself in which the other three quickly joined in, their spirits lifted.