//------------------------------// // The Talk // Story: Sunset Shimmer the teen no more // by Kingcatalyst //------------------------------// Since I had only one appointment left, I decided to head to Sugar Cube Corner for a quick bite to eat. However, as I was leaving, I realised that I had promised to check in on the sirens, so I decided to get food later. As I was walking towards the shelter, I thought about Rainbow's confession before realising that something I should have noticed earlier—rainbow was another regular client of Luna's, but she never mentioned visiting the consulate during any of the times I was there, which made me "You're the one who helped those girls, good to see you again and not a minute too soon," he remarked. "Why what happened are they okay?!" I inquired in a panic, realising later that I sounded like a parent concerned about their kids. "Sorry about my reaction, continue," I said to him. I realised I should have arrived sooner when he said, "It's fine and they are fine, they were starting to think you won't coming back which made all of them a bit down the one called Sonata being the most upset." "I didn't mean for them to be that most up I'll go see them now, I'm guessing they are still in the same room right," I replied. He gave me a nod. I realised there was a more exciting method to announce my presence as I was about to enter the room. I slammed the door open and yelled, "guess who's back to see you all." As I did so, I noticed all three of them leap up, and Sonata grinned while the others displayed a neutral expression. As Sonata rushed to embrace me, she remarked, "You came back, I knew you would," and I gave her a hug in return. I turned to face Aria and Adagio, who all looked better and were no longer as skinny as when I had first seen them. "Of course, what kind of person would I be if I didn't stick to my promises," I said, grinning. "I see all of you are doing better now unlike when I found you," I said, cheerfully and somewhat tearfully, at the end. Aria began, "You I told you we didn't need help," but she continued, "but still, thank you for helping us" Adagio just kept starring at me, and I was becoming irritated with her for doing it. I remarked, "You know it's rude to stare at someone," and it seemed to make her notice how long she had been doing it. I did a second take when she responded, "Sorry, but I usually can tell what someone wants out of helping us, but you are a complete mystery." "What are you trying to say? Helping people is my work, and I do this because I enjoy doing it for Christ's sake." After using Celestia for so long, I mentioned that using Christ felt strange, but I was unable to reveal that I was from Equestria. "No that isn't it I could tell when people do stuff like this for us well on a less scale than you but that isn't just it," Adagio replied with conviction. "Well you can have fun with that seeing as I will be coming here to see you more and more," I replied quietly. Prior to hearing a recognisable yell from the door I had come through "What are you three doing here" When I glanced around, Rainbow and Fluttershy were the only ones with neutral expressions on their faces, and Rarity was the one who had said it. "They are here for the same reason as anyone else come here for, help and shelter" Calmly, I spoke to Rarity and the bamboos. "Do you have any idea what they have done?" As the sirens moved to defend me behind me, Applejack yelled fiercely. I was taken aback. Were these girls unaware of the siren's condition, or did they not give a damn? "No, Miss Apple I told her firmly before she became even more irate, "I don't know and I don't need to know because everyone deserves help when they need it, defying the idea that makes us the same as wild beasts." With the exception of Pinkie and Rainbow, the others simply gazed at her in disbelief. "I think Miss Skies is right girls, I mean they look in no shape to do anything which just shows how bad life has been for them," Fluttershy stated sympathetically. "Ok if that's what you think how about we hold a vote three of us vote that they deserve the help we will leave them be but if we don't think they do we'll force them out of here," Applejack uttered harsh words with anger. I just looked at her, wondering if she could really have someone removed. They all nodded and cast their votes in Applejack's hat. They nodded, and I continued calmly, "I'll take them out and read them one by one to make sure there's no foul play." "Ok one for leaving them be, another for leaving them be, one for the kick out another for the kick out and the final one is leave them be" Knowing that neither Rarity nor Applejack had voted to leave them alone, I said smugly as I gave Applejack back her cap. Applejack nodded in agreement as Rarity questioned, "Rainbow, why would you vote with them? Don't you remember how much pain they caused." "Because everyone deserves a second chance and you two were acting like Sunset used to before the autumn formal so snap out of your fantasy world and realise the world is in grey, not black and white!" Rainbow yelled at them, and before they all departed, they both gave Rainbow a nervous nod. Rainbow gave me a smile and then left the Sirens and me alone. We all nodded in agreement as Sonata remarked, "Well, that was unexpected."