The Broken Friendship of the Sirens
“What do you mean you were the demon who trashed the orphanage?” Those words came from a confused Wanda, all while Sunset Shimmer turned her head in shame. The human could only stare at her unicorn sister while the two and Abigail walked down the hallway with Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk.
“I was hoping I would never have to tell you this story, Wanda,” Sunset whispered. “But...I did it. I don’t know how it happened. But I know I was the one who trashed this place.”
Wanda looked at Sunset with a confused look on her face as Sonata took notice.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Sonata said. “You don’t believe her. Unfortunately, it’s true. I saw it with my very eyes.”
“I uhh, will judge with my own eyes,” Wanda said with a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
At the far end of the hallway, everyone came to a stop as Adagio opened the door. Inside, the roof and the ceiling were torn right off. From the ground floor, one could see parts of the second and third floors. Wanda looked up from the torn remains of the room with Sonata taking her side and Abigail right next to her right leg.
“You really want to check that place out, I'll take it,” Sonata said. “Would you like for me to give you a tour?”
“Nah,” Wanda said as her insect wings sprouted, surprising both Adagio and Aria. “I got this.”
Wanda jumped into the air and flew upwards towards the second floor while Adagio and Aria just stood there, staring at Wanda’s insect wings.
“What kind of strange creature is that?” Aria Blaze said.
“That’s my sister,” Sunset said. “She’s supposed to be a human.”
“That’s a human?” Adagio Dazzle said. “I heard they were supposed to be like shaved apes. But nothing like this.”
On the second floor, Wanda peaked inside one of the many rooms that was exposed to the outside. The walls looked like they were falling apart. Some of the furniture looked like it was starting to rot or form a bit of rust. The cloth in the bedding and the drapes had formed holes and was discolored. Wanda picked up a blanket and looked directly at it. She saw cotton coming loose from one of the ends of the blanket. Looking at the bed, a spring was exposed to the elements.
“How could anyone live in a place like this?” Wanda said to herself. “Even more so, how could those three live here at all?”
Wanda flew to the dresser and pulled open one of the shelves. The clothing inside looked worn out despite a lack of use. Wanda pulled up one of the shirts and stared close at it. THe fabric looked raggedy and a bit of the collar area was starting to tear off.
“This is a horrible place,” Wanda said as she placed the shirt back inside before closing the dresser. “I can not understand the purpose of being here at all when there are better places to live in.”
Wanda looked out of the exposed balcony and jumped off, flying away from the room and towards another. She landed her feet on the tile as she looked around what used to be a working bathroom.
“How many years was it before this orphanage went to ruins?” Wanda said to herself.
The floors and walls, despite being decorated in polished concrete, looked worn out and faded as its shine had lost its luster. The toilet looked disgusting, even from the outside. The sink looked like a part of the main base was chipped away. And while the bathtub was still intact, it was overflowing with murky water. Wanda looked right at it and backed off.
“I think I’ve seen enough of this place,” Wanda said as she looked like she was going to be sick.
Back downstairs, Sunset Shimmer, Abigail, Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk looked up from the wreck of a room.
“So that’s the trait of your sister?” Aria asked.
“Somewhat,” Sunset said. “Turns out, she can’t overuse her magic. She’s done this many times and she lost consciousness every time. It takes water to help her back up, everytime it happens.”
“Wow,” Sonata said. “A human who becomes weak when using magic.”
“Well Sunset Shimmer,” Adagio Dazzle said. “Since you’re here, I bet you want to know what happened since your little incident.”
Sunset Shimmer swallowed hard and approached Adagio Dazzle. Nearby, Wanda flew down from the upper floors and saw Sunset and Adagio looking like they were about to talk.
“Now what’s going on here?” Wanda said as she just stood there while Abigail Albright and Sonata Dusk approached Wanda.
“Something that isn’t going to be pretty,” Sonata said.
As Sunset Shimmer approached Adagio Dazzle, the pale apple green filly’s smile turned into a scowl as her eyes squinted hard.
“I take it because I became a she-devil,” Sunset said.
“It’s worse than that, Sunset Shimmer,” Adagio Dazzle said. “Back when we lived in the orphanage, we promised we would be the best of friends for a long, long time. I remember those words you said to me.”
“That no matter what happens,” Sunset said. “Our friendship will never break.”
“That was back when we grew out of being a foal,” Adagio Dazzle said. “I still remember those words, Sunset Shimmer. And I still recall the good old days of when we grew up together. A vow that we made, long before the incident.”
“What happened back then was an accident,” Sunset said. “I never meant to transform into that beast and tear the whole place apart.”
“That’s not the reason why I’m angry at you, Princess,” Adagio Dazzle yelled.
Aria Blaze slowly crept up behind Sunset and whispered “Truth be told, I did not see that coming.”
“Wait,” Sunset said. “Are you saying that you’re angry with me because I chose my new family over our friendship?”
“Yes,” Adagio Dazzle said. “At first, I was horrified when you disappeared after that rampage. I thought the Equestrian Royal Guard threw you in Tatarus, or put you out of your misery. When the matrons of the orphanage announced that they were leaving for a new town, I chose to stay behind with my sisters. Why?”
“Why would you?” Sunset said.
“Because I still believed in that vow,” Adagio Dazzle said. “Because I wanted to see you again because of the promise we made.”
“But then,” Sunset said as her voice started to sound a bit scared. “They were going to tear down what’s left of this orphanage. What were you thinking?”
“This orphanage is as much of my home as it is your home,” Adagio Dazzle said. “I didn’t want this home to be torn down because of our promise. So when the building was condemned to demolition, and they sent construction workers to tear it down, we had to interfere.”
“Wait a minute,” Sunset said, freaking out. “You three were the ones who sabotaged the demolition.”
“Yes,” Adagio said as she turned away from Sunset. “We were. We took buckets of water from the sink to sabotage the dynamite. We stole or shredded their plans. We even attempted to scare them by turning their construction equipment against them. Then they decided to use magic to tear the whole building down. And do you know what happened?”
Sunset’s face was completely frozen. She struggled to speak for a bit before she said “You were the ones who dug that trench?”
“Yes,” Adagio yelled as she turned her head back to Sunset. “We did that. When we learned of the spellcasters, we discovered a hole in the back of our orphanage. So we dug underneath and right where the spellcasters were going to destroy our beloved orphanage. We made the ground weak enough for them to fall for our trap. And once we got done, we patched up the hole with mud and a bit of concrete to hide the evidence.”
“I don’t believe it,” Sunset yelled as tears began to fall from her cheeks. “All those rumors about ghosts inhabiting the orphanage….were you three.”
Adagio Dazzle let out a sigh and said “We scared them off to the point where they would never come back. And we did it just because of the promise we made to you. Because we vowed that our friendship will last forever. But it was those months ago that made us realize that our friendship truly was broken.”
“What do you mean by that?” Sunset said.
“You abandoned us,” Adagio Dazzle cried. “I saw you walk down to your new school with your sisters. That was one thing. But as the days went on, we saw you with other youngsters who have it easy. You who call them your new friends. And I know the names you called them: Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell, and now the spoiled daughter of the Banks Golden Lace.”
“It doesn’t mean we’re not friends anymore,” Sunset said as more tears fell from her eyes.”
“I beg to differ,” Adagio Dazzle said as she walked towards Sunset Shimmer and got into that unicorn’s face. “You made us realize that you preferred your new friends to your old friends. That you enjoyed your new royal life with Princess Celestia. That you enjoy those field trips to places like Sire’s Hollow, La Maresa and Mount Aris, from what I heard.”
“And we still had our own problems to deal with,” Sunset said. “Like the Windigo’s Guild.”
“Excuses, excuses,” Adagio Dazzle said. “I’m through with you, Sunset Shimmer. As of now, I no longer consider you a friend. You broke our promise, and you broke our hearts. I don’t ever want to see your face again, even if you became the new prime Princess of Equestria. DO YOU HEAR ME?”
Sunset’s eyes watered down to her cheek and dripped down to the floor. She struggled to speak before she ran through the rubble and towards the big hole in the ground, crying. She cast a spell on her body and jumped up into the air before landing on the ground. Wanda looked at Sunset running off into the distance before she turned around and faced Adagio Dazzle.
“That was the most insensitive speech I ever heard,” Wanda snapped, causing Abigail to freak out and hide behind a nearby chair.
“What do you know about insensitivity?” Adagio Dazzle said. “You don’t even know what I’ve been through.”
“I’ve known far enough,” Wanda snarled as her eyes filled with fire. “The reason why your fellow orphans left was because of your sabotage of demolishing this orphanage. They wanted to live here again in a new building. But they can’t because you chose to be selfish about Sunset Shimmer.”
“Now you listen here, you shaved monkey,” Adagio Dazzle said.
“NO YOU LISTEN HERE!” Wanda yelled, causing Adagio Dazzle to back up and lower her head down. “You threw away your own life because you allowed your own selfishness to get in the way of the needs for the other orphans. And now you want to take your anger out on Sunset Shimmer? She didn’t break the promise. You smashed it open the moment you pulled that stunt and sabotaged the demolition. And because of that, the orphans will not return to Canterlot again.”
Adagio Dazzle tried to open her mouth. But Wanda glared right at the youngling.
“It’s true that she forgot all about you,” Wanda said. “But to even consider the fact that you went and lashed out because my sister was living a new life? Had my mommy knew about your plight, we could have given you a new home to live in, beyond this dumb. But instead, you would rather things go back the way they were, without realizing that you were causing more harm than good.”
Wanda turned around and started to walk off as Abigail ran out from behind the chair and right by the side of the Man’s Cub. Wanda bent her knees down and picked up Abigail before standing right up.
“You have a lot to think about,” Wanda said as her wings formed and she flew off with Abigail in her arms.
Adagio Dazzle was at a loss for words as she just stood there with her jaw hanging down. Aria Blaze walked over to Sonata Dusk, who stood there looking like she was about to cry.
“Go to Sunset Shimmer, Sonata,” Aria whispered. “Something tells me this will be the last we’ll see of her.”
Sonata nodded at Aria Blaze before she ran through the rubble and towards the gate. She leaped over the giant pit and ran off.
Down the street from the abandoned orphanage, Sunset Shimmer was crying her eyes on the base of a fountain. Tears flowed from her eyes and dripped down onto the pavement of the street.
“This is my fault,” Sunset cried. “I never should have left that orphanage. I never should have become Princess Celestia’s adopted daughter.”
“No sister. It’s not your fault.” Sunset Shimmer got up and looked to her right as Wanda Young flew down from above with Abigail in her arms. The man’s cub touched the ground and allowed Abigail to leap from her arms as her wings disappeared.
“Wanda?” Sunset cried. “But you overheard everything Adagio said.”
“And I know she’s wrong,” Wanda said. “I never truly knew about your friends from the orphanage until you told me about them. But at the same time, you’re not at fault.”
Sunset wiped the tears from her eyes and said “How so?”
“Adagio Dazzle’s biggest flaw was her own selfishness,” Wanda said. “She prevented a new orphanage from being built, even though she was waiting for you. The orphans and the matrons moved away and resulted in the mess she and her sisters are in. They could have had a new orphanage or a new home to live in. But instead, they chose this route.”
“You really mean it?” Sunset said.
“Yes,” Wanda said. “I wish I didn’t have to yell at Adagio Dazzle. But I didn’t like how she treated you. I rarely get angry because I wanted to set an example for mommy.”
“And for a little sister of yours, she put on quite a show.” Wanda, Sunset and Abigail turned their heads to see Sonata Dusk walk up to them.
“Sonata?” Sunset said. “What are you doing here?”
“I came here to apologize to you for what my sister said,” Sonata Dusk said as she approached Wanda and Sunset. “Also, your sister is right. We have been selfish for staying behind when all the other orphans were waiting for a new orphanage.”
Sunset got up on her four hooves as she cracked a smile.
“Apology accepted, Sonata,” Sunset said.
Sonata smiled back as she reached out and gave Sunset a hug.
“It’s too bad we can’t be friends anymore,” Sonata Dusk said. “I am going to miss you, now that you and your sister are now princesses.”
“Are you kidding me?” Sunset joked as she raised her head to Sonata’s face. “Of course you’ll always be my friend as long as you want. And if necessary, I may ask my mother to let you live with me for a while.”
“I appreciate the offer,” Sonata Dusk said. “But I don’t think I’m ready to live with Princess Celestia, or in a royal palace.”
“Why not?” Wanda asked. “At least you’ll have a roof over your head and you’ll never have to go hungry again.”
“It’s not that,” Sonata said as she turned her head and closed her eyes. “I don’t think I can forgive myself because I helped my sisters scare off the demolition teams. Because of that, I won’t be seeing any of the other orphans again.”
“I see,” Sunset said. “If you ever change your mind, you know where to look.”
“I will,” Sonata said as she bowed before Sunset Shimmer. “And know this. Even if my sister has sworn off of you, I will always be your friend. But for now, I guess this is good-bye.”
“May we meet each other again in the future,” Sunset replied.
Sunset Shimmer and Sonata Dusk raised their hooves up and bumped them together before Sonata Dusk turned around and ran off in the opposite direction. Wanda and Abigail stood next to Sunset Shimmer as she looked proud.
“Are you alright, sis?” Wanda asked.
“I think I know they’re at least alright,” Sunset said. “Come. Let’s head home.”
Sunset Shimmer, Wanda Young and Abigail Albright turned around and ran off in the opposite direction. As she was running, Wanda looked at her necklace and at the alicorn symbol hanging from it.
“No matter what happens,” Wanda said as she looked at her necklace. “Our friendship will never break.
As Wanda, Sunset and Abigail ran off in the distance, Adagio Dazzle stood atop the roof of the orphanage ruins. But her face was not of scorn. It was sorrowful. As she looked down, a tear fell from Adagio’s eyes as she closed them shut.
“You were right, little human princess,” Adagio cried. “Sunset didn’t break our friendship. I did. It’s all my fault.”
To Be Continued in….
Arc 15: The Hay Fever Virus
The pressure of being a Princess