//------------------------------//
// Part 2: All that Shimmers is not Gold 
// Story: Mistress - B-Side: The Sunset Side of the Story 
// by SizeofMT 
//------------------------------//


Part 2: All that Shimmers is not Gold




Sunset would have thought this situation impossible. She was walking side by side with Adagio Dazzle. They weren't arguing, or bickering, or planning each others downfall.

Well, probably not. At least Sunset wasn't.  

Okay, maybe she did have a plan if Adagio tried anything, which involved pulling Adagio's hair and slamming her face-first to the floor before fighting whatever other threat's reared its ugly head, but that was firmly plan B. She wanted Adagio's desire to start over to be true.

Adagio asked, “so, I've said about what I've been up to, but what about you?”

Sunset wondered how to proceed. Just blurting out her real 'job' seemed risky, but at the same time, Adagio was being pretty honest. Like she'd said back at the cafe, bridges needed to be built here. She also needed to project a degree of strength.

She shrugged and replied, “chasing up and dealing with magic stuff for Princess Twilight, earning cash by doing whatever jobs I can, working out, studying, both academically and kickboxing.”

“I guess with your past as a bully, you aren't afraid of getting your hands dirty.” Adagio smirked. “That and if you're dealing with real magical threats, just reading minds isn't exactly going to stop someone dead set on attacking you.”

“Exactly.” Sunset rolled up her jacket sleeves and flexed. “It's a last resort thing, but I've had to kick the occasion ass.”

“Weren't you a student of Celestia or something? Is Twilight like you at all? Princess Twilight, I mean. I didn't exactly have much of a chance to know the pony behind the human form, what with planning the downfall of CHS and all..”

Twilight gave Sunset a glance as they listened and walked beside the humans, but Sunset seemed unconcerned.

“Not really. I mean, you of all people should know she's not afraid to throw down either. She's just a lot better at getting things done without force. There's a reason she's a princess and I'm... well, here. I made this bed of mine by getting too arrogant and short sighted, and I've gotta sleep in it.”

Adagio folded her arms and fiddled with her curly locks. “I find it strange. I know you were a bit of an outsider when we were pulling the strings around the Battle of the Bands, but I know for a fact you seemed to be the girl in charge of your circle of friends afterwards. I also know you started hanging out with Twilight's human equivalent. Did she take over here as well?”

Sunset shook her head. “That's not how friendships work. There isn't a 'leader'. I know you had that dynamic going on with your sisters, and yeah, some people tend to be the instigators of a group, but that's the brilliant part; everyone gets a shot at being the one calling the shots on a given trip or holiday. Our Twilight really came into her own with some real friends, even if she still had a lot of shyness and baggage from her time in Crystal Prep. She's a lot more confident now. I guess a lot of stuff happened around me more than the others if you consider that 'leading' that I had to take care of. I don't mean that in any egotistical way or anything.”

“Says the girl with emotions as her power over superhuman strength or exploding-” Adagio suddenly stopped. Her eyes were wide and she gulped.

“What's up?” Sunset stopped and looked over her shoulder.  

She was eyeing a nearby alleyway, then nodded to the other side of the road. She jay-walked across without another word but beckoned to follow her.

Sunset obliged but eyed the alleyway warily, yet nothing else seemed amiss as they continued on. “What was that about?”

Adagio cleared her throat and wouldn't look her in the eye. “Bad neighbourhood, that's all.”

“Oh, was that where the 'incident' happened?” Twilight looked down the alleyway. It was pretty standard for a broken down area; several overfull dumpsters, trash bags,, broken glass, leaky guttering and graffiti.

Sunset bit her lip as she looked down the narrow gap too. “Yep, the alley where Adagio was mugged and assaulted. More than anything, that was where Adagio was reborn, and not in a good way. That was what broke her pride. That feeling of powerlessness, and when she felt the most human. I hope you don't want to revisit that.”

Twilight shook her head. “No, I don't want to see it either. I see no point in revelling in something so awful. Nopony deserves being attacked like that,” They caught up with the in-the-moment Sunset and Adagio. “She didn't like humans anyway, and a moment like that was probably stay with her for some time. Enough to colour her already tinted perspective. It's why I was so surprised she was still willing to change.”

Sunset hummed to herself and her ears flickered about, deep in thought.

“A bit for your thoughts?” Twilight asked.

“You're right about it affecting her deeper than she lets on. I never had a chance to tell you about the Adagio we dealt with in the forest in the waking world, did I?”

Twilight shook her head. “No, but if I had to guess, I assume it's something to do with why she became feral and violent after her stone forced its way back into her chest. I'm not too surprised; she seemed in incredible pain, even when she returned to us and was lucid again. Extracting her stone so we could stop her suffering and get her back to the human world almost took her life in the process!”

“Yeah, but she didn't stay feral after she first changed. When me and Radian found her in that forest, she was like an angrier version of the Adagio we met back in Canterlot High School.”

“Oh? In what way?”

“You know, trying to bend everyone to her will, even trying to persuade Radian to side with her out of fear of her attacking him. Hmm...” Sunset paused the memory and sat on her haunches. She then rested her elbow on her other foreleg and rubbed her chin with her hoof. “Thinking about it, there's a lot about Adagio that makes a lot of sense if we act like there's two Adagio's.”

“Like the human and the siren aspects? I concur. My friends even noticed that, when they spent time with her on their first day in the Crystal Empire, Adagio was very sweet and good natured. Still sharp witted and with that familiar domineering slyness, but it put everypony at ease. I even asked them to put their best hoof forward with her and forgive any small mishaps, but they didn't need to. Rarity and Applejack were especially fond of her.”

“Yet when I hung out with your friends, Adagio was far more aggressive. She spent most of her time taking jabs at me and ignoring everyone else. I don't know what side was the true Adagio, but the one we fought in the forest was every bit as... well, evil as the Adagio we fought at the Battle of the Bands. What if Adagio broke so much from her assault, that she's coped by making an alternative personality, almost like it's tied to-”

Sunset stopped and her eyes bugged out. “That's what it is!”

Twilight tapped Sunset on the shoulder and said, “what is? What's wrong?”

“I... no, not now,” Sunset said and shook her head. “I'll show you later. I've not been able to interpret what I saw when I looked deep into Adagio's memories, but I think the idea that Adagio is a partially split entity is the key to understanding it. The only problem is I need to spend some time thinking it over before I can show you. I have to put my artist skills into mentally 'painting'  the scene. Anyway, for now let's just say that I'm beginning to think that Adagio's got more going on in her head than maybe even she understands.” 

The street suddenly flickered, and Sunset rubbed the sides of her head.

“Oof. In fact... can we take a short break? Until I really start piecing together these details, I don't think I can focus.”

Twilight nodded. “Alright, sure. Are you sure you don't want to stop for now?”

“No, no, it's fine,” Sunset said as she waved her hoof at a nearby door, which opened to the school corridor, “but I'm not used to having two of us in my memories for long periods, playing another persons memories on top of it and bouncing between a third set of events and hitting revelations like that.”

She led Twilight through the door, and it shut behind them.



*    *    *

*    *

*


“Sunset?”

It was quiet

Empty

A bright spot formed in the distance

Warmth

Towers?

Like a candles, aflame

Or a beam of sunlight

And a silhouette in the light

What was-





The Hub





“Phew, that's a load off,” Sunset said as a couple of school desks appeared. She then adopted her human form and she sat at one.

Twilight blinked and realised she was back in the corridor, then glanced back at the door as it closed. She frowned, but shook her head and joined Sunset, changing form and taking a seat too.

“And here I thought I was bushed,” Sunset said as she looked Twilight over. “You okay?”  

“Yes. Well, maybe,” Twilight said.  

Sunset waved her hand in front of Twilight's face. “You sure you're okay?”

“I just... I don't know, I seemed to get lost somewhere as we headed through the door.”

“Oh, the lag again? Sorry, that happens sometimes.” Sunset relaxed.

“Huh?”

“When things get too heated or I'm trying to do too much at once with my empathy powers, things can slow down when I'm going from one memory to another. It's like lag for livestreaming, like I said earlier. It's being made worse because of that new concept I thought up about Adagio. Anyway, I remember Rarity said it was like a black void and it kinda freaked her out for a moment. It's fine. The worst thing that'll happen is I fall asleep and you'll be ejected from my mind.”

“It was, but I thought there was something there,” Twilight tapped her chin with her hoof, then shrugged. “Never mind, it's not important.” She first tried to climb up onto the school desk, struggled, then instead shifted to her own human form and sat down.

“If you're sure,” Sunset said then stretched. “With Adagio asking about you in my memories, it made me realise we should just talk for a bit. That'll help me settle my mind for a bit. There's so much to go over, especially since you were almost made ruler of Equestria.”

Twilight sighed. “Yeah, that was sudden. Too sudden. You wouldn't believe how glad I was that, after the whole Cozy Glow, Tirek and Chrysalis situation, Princess Celestia decided to stay on for a few more years and properly coach me on being a leader. I know she's always been a fan of letting me figure things out by myself, but I don't want to go on and ruin the lives of so many ponies because I wasn't truly prepared for what was in store.”

“Twilight? About that 'situation',” Sunset said and rubbed the back of her neck. “I'm so sorry I couldn't get there to help out. I didn't find out until after it was all over.”

“I appreciate the concern, but it worked out in the end,” Twilight said and put a hand on Sunset's shoulder. “You're already putting yourself through so much in the human world already, I can't expect you to drop everything for every problem that comes up in Equestria.”

Sunset looked at Twilight's hand, but was still concerned. “Yeah, but still! You were dealing with friendship itself failing! Three of the gravest threats to Equestria at once! I should have been there, by your side, fighting beside you!”  

Sunset stood and put up her fists, then shadow boxed, finishing with a smooth, swift roundhouse kick.

“No matter what happens in the future, Twilight, if you call me, I'll be there to fight hoof and horn!”

Twilight giggled and Sunset raised an eyebrow.

“What's so funny?”

Twilight joined her friend and gently put her Sunset's fists down.

“I'm just admiring your spirit and kindness...” Twilight felt her smile grow as she looked deeply into Sunset's eyes. “You've changed so much since that day I helped you out of that crater after the Fall Formal. The more I think about it and the more I get to know you, deep down, the more astonished I am. Your old self is not even a shadow of who you are now. You've always been impressive, as a pupil of Princess Celestia only can be, but now? You're amazing!”

Sunset then looked at Twilight's hands over her own again and blushed. “W- well, of course. That day was the worst and best day I've ever had. I thought I had everything figured out except a way back home, to prove how great I was like a total idiot. Then you come along, with your intelligence, the sheer magnetism you have, and that's before even thinking of how powerful you are... it's no wonder Princess Celestia's picked you to take over.”

Twilight's mood dampened, but nodded as they both sat back down. “It's still a bit of a shock. It's been years since then, but it still terrifies me.”

“I can only imagine, but there is one thing I can't help but worry about... you're an alicorn now. Royalty. Princess Celestia lived for well over a thousand years, and-”

“Stop.”

Sunset recoiled.

Twilight closed her eyes and her lips trembled. “I know what you're going to say, and I know it's something I'll have to deal with eventually. That I'm going to watch my friends grow old and...” Twilight stopped as her voice grew strained, took a deep breath, then continued, “but that's just reality. I don't like it any more than you.”

Sunset asked, “so why accept?”

Twilight's eyes grew wet, but she blinked the tears them away and remained stern. “The real question you should ask is whether Princess Celestia deserves to have to see all those she cares for to grow old and fade away until the end of time? To not be granted her freedom for ushering in a peace for over a thousand years?”

Sunset opened her mouth, but she had no answer.

“And she's been doing this for so long,” Twilight continued as she stood, “yet she's always been there for us. For Equestria.” She paced back and forth before closing her eyes and nodding to herself. “She doesn't deserve to be stuck like this forever. To always be the one who loses everything and everypony around her without being able to just enjoy her own life. She chose me because she thought me worthy, and I shall respond in kind; I will put myself through the same rigours as she has, because I love her as a friend, a mentor. Even like , sometimes. What I desire to see now is her unburdened by her destiny as ruler of Equestria.”

Sunset again remained silent but bowed her head.

Twilight put her hands over Sunset's shoulders. Her eyes lit up, intense and piercing, as her hair fluttered, flowed and sparkled. “Just as you, Sunset, seem to understand; you've let your friends branch apart, to live their lives, yet you struggle on. And why is that?”

“I... b- because,” Sunset stammered and looked deep inside herself. “Because after I met you, I understood what it was to want to protect those I care about, even above myself. It was all my mistakes that brought me here, my mistake that let magic run rampant in the human world, so it's my responsibility. Like your responsibility to Equestria, I guess.”

“Exactly. We do this because we must, for them, because we have the strength to protect them. Just you've put yourself in harms way for me, over and over, I must do this for Equestria, to make the hard decisions to ensure there will always a home to which you can return. A safe place for everypony we love to live in harmony. And now I'm bringing Adagio and the sirens to my side, and Radian's technical knowhow, I feel better than ever that I can do this.”

A tear trickled from Sunset's eye before she nodded. “I don't like it, and I wish there was another way, but I get it. I know I can always message any of my friends and they'll be there. Like I can visit Applejack on her farm, or Fluttershy at the shelter. Or like I can just call Rarity and, despite how busy she is, I know she'll make time for me. Heck, even Rainbow Dash when she's either in a soccer competition, training or on a band tour when I'm elsewhere on my missions for you, she'll do her damnedest to make time, even if it gets her in trouble. Or Pinkie... well, I'm always hanging out with her, but it never stops hurting that we aren't all together any more.”

Twilight smiled. “It's funny how alike they are. Watching our friends flourish and grow is part of our destiny, I guess. We've already agreed we'll need to set aside some time to always meet, no matter where we are. Just as I know you'll always be the one who brings them together.”

They stepped away from one another and collected themselves, before Sunset said, “sorry for making things grim.”

“This is why I want to spend more time with you,” Twilight said. “Things are changing all the time, yet there's only so much I can really write in words without filling up another journal, or making you worry about all the minutiae I have to deal with on a daily basis. Also as one of Princess Celestia's former students, you should be able to express yourself about these changes. Last, and by no means least, there's... well, just you.”

“Me?” Sunset cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean.”

Twilight smirked, but shrugged. “I guess it's not important right now, but we'll come back to this. Now, feel ready to continue the Adagio business?”

Sunset kept her brow raised, but shrugged and answered, “sure. Did you wanna skip to Adagio's apartment?”

“Unless there's something more important about the walk there, please.”

The pair shifted back into their pony forms, and once more entered Sunset's memories.




*    *    *


Sunset's Door




Dressage Avenue sounded fancy, but the area was anything but. The burnt out car husks in weed-filled community lots, broken glass, graffiti were actually a blessing; anyone who accidentally found themselves here would know to get out as soon as possible. Inside Adagio's apartment complex wasn't any better. The corridors were covered in filth, smelled of garbage, rot, mould, blood and other bodily fluids.

Sunset hated herself for feeling that smug sense of satisfaction that this was where Adagio lived. She couldn't escape the thought of the once proud and dangerous siren dominating the minds of everyone around her, of bending them to hate each other to feed.

Yes, stopping the Dazzlings was necessary. But life changes, and Sunset was now afraid for Adagio's safety. She was just a human now. A 5'5, slim, attractive young woman, known to dress provocatively, and yet lived in one of the worst sections of the city.

“I guess you called it before you even knew what had happened,” Twilight said as they climbed the stairs.

Sunset nodded. “It's places like this that made me learn to fight. Yeah, Canterlot City's a really great place overall, but there's always some jerk who tries their luck. I found out Adagio carried a taser after the assault, but before that, she still felt above humans. I guess deep down I always wondered if anything would happen to her. I mean, it did, but it could have been worse, which just makes me shudder to even think about.”

“I can't believe you live here,” Sunset said.

Adagio took her keys from her purse as they reached door twenty six and opened it. She stepped aside and Sunset entered the cleaner space, though there was a lot of clutter in the form of empty cardboard boxes, loose wires and tools.

A male voice called out, “welcome home, Adagio, I've-”

The room faded away as she saw the boyfriend. The green and yellow striped hair, the slim build and brown eyes.  

Radian Wave, dressed in simple slacks and a wrinkled pale blue buttoned shirt with a tech firm logo on the breast pocket. He stared at Sunset with those soft brown puppy-dog eyes, now lit up with an intense focus. He was tampering with something that looked like a makeshift generator, but with aerials, a small satellite dish and a laptop attached to it, but he stopped as his focus was drawn to her.

“It's not much, but it's home,” Adagio said. “And this is my boyfriend-” She stepped between Sunset and Radian, and asked, “oh, is something wrong? Do you know each other or something?”

“I- you- wha-” Sunset raised her hands and finally said, “wait, Radian Wave's your boyfriend!? Seriously?”

Twilight gave Sunset a disapproving look. “Wow, that was pretty judgemental.”

“Hey, don't give me that! I'm pretty sure I heard you treated Starlight Glimmer befriending Trixie the same way at first!”

“That's different! She-”

Sunset scoffed, “it's totally the same! Radian had a beef with me, Trixie had a lingering beef with you, even if she had mostly reformed. Starlight was somepony you were trying to guide towards being better, and Adagio was showing signs of being a better person, and we both had to tackle our former foes to initiate another into being better people.”

Twilight opened her mouth, then huffed and admitted, “fine, you got me there. Ugh, neither of us are exactly showing our best here, are we?”

“And besides, I wasn't being judgemental. It was mostly just shocked at the coincidence rather than her taste in guys.”

Adagio pouted and snipped, “wow, judgemental much?”

Twilight snickered. Sunset just rolled her eyes.

“I can't help it if I like smart guys,” Adagio continued.

Radian gestured between Sunset and Adagio, managed to say, “what the,” before just clamming up.

Sunset had never felt so small, at least not since before she fought to earn back the trust of everyone in Canterlot High School, and the way everyone would see her vulnerability after she'd spent so long terrorising everyone there and fought back in subtle, often passive aggressive ways.

But here they were, face to face; the former bully who made this guy's life hell, and the fact he was apparently involved with one of the gravest threats against Equestria, and the ringleader of the group that almost dominated the very same school they both attended.

It was fate. It had to be. An intersection of several old threads.

Sunset didn't know how to act; did she show that vulnerability again, to try and get Radian to let his guard down? But then, by letting her own guard down, maybe she would fall victim to some sort of plot or trick from Adagio?

Or, hell, maybe Sunset had to put up a strong front to try and steer the room in her favour? Project confidence?

Adagio clapped her hands once and broke the stalemate. “How about I get everyone a coffee?”

“We just had one,” Sunset said, relying on flat logic as she floundered for what to do.

Undeterred, Adagio filled the kettle. She winked back at Radian and said, “well, I didn't get much sleep last night and a lot of human chemicals don't seem to work on me too well. Besides, it's that, water or like, cheap brand cola and, trust me, the water around here isn't great unless it's boiled.”

Radian took a deep breath, looked away from Sunset, then said, “I'll have one, please, Addy.”

Sunset shrugged. “Okay, sure.”

“Take a seat,” Adagio said and gestured to a worn down couch.

Sunset sat, and after a few moments of hesitation, Radian did the same, intently refusing to look at her all the while. She couldn't help but awkwardly look away as well. The tension was as thick as Adagio's hair, so she tried to distract herself with the apartment.

It was... nice, Sunset guessed. No TV, but there was a solid radio, but otherwise it was very plain. Adagio's bedroom door was open, and inside was a much more vibrant pink and purple décor, with a nice dresser and vanity, and the corner of a large bed. The weird device kept drawing her eye though, but she had no idea what it was.

It felt like an eternity before the kettle clicked, water was poured into the mugs and the spoon clattered as Adagio stirred the drinks, then headed to the couch.

“Small world, huh?” she said.

“Thanks,” Sunset said as she took the coffee and sipped it as Adagio went to make herself one.  

She was the element of empathy, but sometimes not showing your emotions when dealing with people wielding powerful Equestrian artefacts was just as crucial. Her magic began with understanding and not judging, not just the base idea of reading thoughts with power.

Yet it took her every ounce of this skill to not pull a face as she swallowed the scalding hot, bitter, acidic brown-black water.

Sunset then finally looked across the couch to the bundle of seething energy on the other end. “Radian, I know you don't want to speak to me, but when I bumped into Adagio, we got to talking and she wanted to patch things up. We... have a history too, and when she said she'd turned a corner, I honestly wanted to let bygones be bygones. When she said she'd found someone in her life, I had to come see. I didn't meant to interrupt your life again.”

“I remember you telling me about this,” Twilight said.

“Yeah, I know. It's humbling, reliving it again after... wow, it's only been a couple of days, hasn't it? It feels like so long ago.”

Twilight tilted her head and pondered. “I kind of know the feeling myself. Like it's been six months since we last talked about this.”

Radian's face screwed up. His eyes twitched and danced anywhere but on Sunset. He was furious, but burying it.

Sunset sighed and looked at Adagio. “Maybe I should go?”

Adagio turned, mug in hand. “Please, Sunset, I want to prove to you how I've changed.” She smiled, big, bright and bold, as naturally as one would breathe, yet that made Sunset shiver.

If Radian was an open book, this siren was a dusty tome hidden on a conspicuous plinth, likely rigged with traps as if from a Daring Do movie. Untold riches lay within Adagio's heart if what she said was true, or a deadly scheme would be enacted if it was a ploy, and Sunset felt determined to uncover the truth. A new beginning or a final nail in the coffin of ever trusting this girl again.

Maybe it was the contrast with her old victim, but Sunset felt a rich warmth from Adagio, once a dire enemy, a girl who almost controlled the world if Sunset and her friends hadn't stopped her that day. Yet she once more looked at the only true human in the room and felt his cold rage. It was all backwards, and when Adagio sat between herself and Radian, Sunset felt relieved. Something she never thought she'd ever say.

Well, if convincing Radian wasn't going to work, Sunset realised that she could both test the relationship and probe the situation in one move.

“You're in a relationship, Adagio, that alone tells me you've changed, but if we can come to some understanding, that would be even better. Just how much do you know about me and Radian's history?” She tried to keep winning Adagio over, so she took another sip of coffee and appear comfortable, welcomed and accepting.

“It hasn't come up,” Adagio said with a shrug. “We only met a little while ago, but we really hit it off. He said something about not getting on in school, but my Ray of Sunshine said it wasn't-”

Sunset almost spat her coffee out again. “Ray of sunshine?”

Adagio giggled. “Sorry, pet names. I'm his Addy, and he's my Ray of sunshine!”

“I'm still surprised at how tender Adagio can be,” Twilight said. “I suppose there's something to be said about the sirens and their knowledge of emotions, since they used to toy with them to feed. It's easy to forget they're flesh and blood, in the end, and any sincere feeling will shine through.”

Sunset nodded. “I guess the sirens really did internalise this stuff, even if I doubt they ever would have admitted it. It's very normal, and I was impressed, even if she was playing it up to win me over. I've gotta admit, even though I had my suspicions, it was working.”

Sunset tried to stifle a laugh, but chuckled a little.

Adagio tilted her head, sending her curly hair bouncing. “What's so funny?”

As much as Sunset wouldn't have minded cracking wise about Adagio's boyfriend being compared to a gecko, it wouldn't have been a good call. Things were too sensitive.

“It's nothing,” she said, and whispered, “pet names, huh? Small worlds, alright.”

Adagio gave Radian a quick, confused glance, then continued, “but yes, we've really hit it off since then. I wasn't in a great place for a while, and Ray found me drunk in a bar and recognised me from the Dazzlings. He took me home and looked after me. And before you make any judgements, he's been the perfect gentleman! When I found out he was recently made homeless, I offered him my place to stay and it just kind of came together from there.”

Sunset loved what she was hearing and smiled as the doubts continued to fade.  

She chimed, “that's great to hear, Adagio! After your, uh...” She then quickly wondered how to describe Adagio's condemnation of humans as the lowest of the low without making things weird.

Sunset realised there was no way to nuance her way out of this, she soon gave up and just said, “issues with most people and all, this is a really big step. I'm so happy for you.”

“Oh, I've had time to come to terms with my place here, even if it meant having to break up with my sisters. It's not been easy going overall, and we are a little strapped for cash right now, but my Ray is building that machine.” Adagio pointed to the weird device Sunset had saw earlier. “That can make clean energy, and it's going to make us a fortune! The rent's due soon, but I'm confident he'll pull through.”

“This was the point I realised there was more here than just Adagio turning over a new leaf,” Sunset said. “The breakup of the Dazzlings, the failed bar, the apartment and neighbourhood, Adagio's reaction to my expensive order at the cafe. There's nothing more human than paying the bills, I guess. I suppose I should have also seen what she was about to ask coming.”

Twilight looked in thought for a moment. “I do wonder if they would have been alright had you never entered the picture. As wondrous as Radian's inventions were, and I admit my understanding of selling such things in the human world is limited, it's fringe science and you can't just 'sell' something like that easily. Proving it, testing it and whatever else. It's like something the Flim Flam brothers would concoct and, no offence to Radian, but he doesn't seem like the sort of fast-talking, charismatic salespony types who'd be able to pull that off. Adagio can be smooth and manipulative, but there's a certain affectation and flair you need to earn trust to sell, rather than avoid mistrust for a goal.”

Sunset nodded. “Pretty much what I thought. I think Adagio was playing the desperation card with me rather than any hair-brained scheming. Again, on the back of her tenderness with Ray, it was working on me.”

“Look, Adagio,” Sunset said after realising that wasn't going to work. She felt like she was winning, but had to play this safe and not talk down to Adagio's hopes and dreams. “I'm sure he's going to come through for you. We didn't interact much, not in a friendly way at any rate, but I know he's smart. All the same, it's amazing to see you happy, Dagi, especially after how angry you used to be at your situation. Plus, I kind of owe Radian for all the misery I put him through in school. I don't have a ton of cash, but I'm sure I could help with your bills or something if you'd like.”

Adagio turned away, and her thick curls obscured her face as much as Radian's. Was it surprise? Maybe some inner turmoil about the charity being offered?

Twilight put a hoof around Sunset's shoulder. “That was so noble of you.”

“Hah! Yeah,” Sunset said and nibbled her lip. “I totally wouldn't have had enough for my own rent if they actually accepted, but at least I have a good relationship with my landlady. I've told you about her, right? Ms. Konik? She's a tough but fair old lady, that one. I doubt I'd have been kicked out, but trust me, you don't want to invoke her wrath.”

“I thought you said she knew you had your reasons for not being able to stick to a job?”

Sunset sighed. “She does. She was the one who let me stay there when I first arrived in the human world because she's a total sweetheart and I took advantage of her at first, but I've done my best to make it up to her since we first met. Ms. Konik just likes to make sure her lessons are ironclad and memorised. Every time I screwed up, she'd be there with a tub of her famous potato salad and a long, fiery lecture. I dare say she's a sterner teacher than you.”

Twilight pouted. “Great, like I needed competition in trying to be a wise teacher on top of being an effective ruler...”

Sunset hugged Twilight. “You'll always be my number one!”

Twilight cocked an eyebrow and smirked. “And where does Celestia fall with this Ms. Konik on the table?”

With a wide-eyed panic, Sunset coughed and said,“aaand moving on!”

After a pause, Adagio turned back, still smiling, and said, “Well... there is something. You see, Ray's machine gets its power from wild, untapped Equestrian magic.”

Sunset couldn't see Radian, but he made a little gasp. He must have been trying to keep that quiet, and she wasn't surprised; while it had spread around a little, Equestria was still mostly a fairy tale to the public at worst, and still unknown at large.

“Wait, hold on a second,” Sunset said and waved her hand to interrupt, “I know we went to the same school but does he know about...” Sunset once again tried to think of what to say. “You know? The incidents?'”

Adagio patted Sunset's knee. “You don't need to dance around the issue. I've told him all about us Equestria girls.”

“Really?” Sunset poked her head around Adagio's mass of hair to get a look at Radian.

He seemed to slump and said, “Unicorns, sirens and all sorts. Sure.”

Sunset hid her shock. She had been Princess Celestia's student and prided herself on her intellect, but that pride was wearing thinner on the claim of Radian just flat out being able to use magic like this, something she had never been able to work out.

“And you can just... use it? How?”

Adagio looked at her boyfriend and said, “maybe a demonstration's in order, Ray?”

“I remember you telling me about your attempts to study how magic worked in the human world,” Twilight said, looked distant for a moment and chuckled. “It was about as fruitful as me understanding Pinkie's senses.”

Sunset blew a lock of her mane out of the way of her face as Radian showed the in-the-moment Sunset about the machine. “I'd like to see him and my world's Twilight go toe-to-toe in a contest, or collaborate on something. She's got a really broad understanding of the sciences, but Ray's got that laser focus on this field of electronics and manipulating magic, but I don't really know how wide his knowledge goes.”

“He's certainly got a unique perspective, and I think I could probably learn a thing or two from him for having something of a clinical understanding on the matter. At any rate, I look forward to helping him learn more about magic as a whole, alongside Starlight and Sunburst.”

Sunset couldn't believe it. “This is huge! How are you able to just harness magic like that? I've tried studying how magic works, even both Twilight's have, and it's only understandable to a certain degree. Certainly not enough to just control it on a whim.”

The machine, as he had shown by the program running on the controlling laptop, was literally drawing in magic and recycling it into electricity.  Yet the machine made no sound from any sort of combustion generator, or moving parts for a kinetic charge, it had no wires leading to the walls or solar panels propped up on the window and it was far too much power for an induction loop. To anyone not aware of the Equestrian leak, this power was coming from nowhere and charging a set of heavy duty batteries on the device.

After being sufficiently smug for a while, Adagio said, “Did I mention I like smart men? My Ray of sunshine's a genius. In fact, I'm sure he'll happy to share his findings with you as a sign of good faith.” She looks at her boyfriend. “Right, Ray? You'd bury this old feud for me, wouldn't you? So we can live our best lives?”

Radian gritted his teeth and offered the weakest, most insincere, “I guess?”

Adagio finally seemed taken aback and winced before propping the smile up again.  

Things weren't going to plan and some truths were becoming known. Sunset just hated that it took Radian's animosity to draw it out. It started to put her on guard but Sunset wasn't ready to call it quits yet, whether to try and learn more or salvage this potential new friendship. It was time to get down to business.

“I'd like that,” she said, “but what do you need from me?”

Adagio took a slow breath, leaned forward on her knees. Her eyes sparkled and narrowed. The classic Adagio deviousness flickered in for a moment, yet it still didn't prepare Sunset for the calm, almost unassuming words.

“We want to visit Equestria.”

Sunset and Radian both yelled a shocked, “what!?”

Adagio didn't flinch. “See, as much as Ray has helped me through a rough patch, I'm still not especially happy here. I'd like to see my home, even if just once more. Not to mention Ray was saying he'd love to see the other world as well, ever since we talked about it, since it might give him an idea about perfecting his device. If he could scan the portal directly, that would help both of us a great deal.”

This was all way too much. Sunset folded her arms and said, “Adagio, you realise what you're asking, right? I can't send a siren back into Equestria.”

“You don't need to worry about that.” Adagio sat back and bridged her fingers. “Because of the destruction of my necklace, it would seem I'm not only unable to use Equestrian magic myself, but the world itself has seen fit to turn me into an earth pony. It's like I said back at the Starswirled festival, I made a mistake and it cost me my magic, and I had no idea how right I was.”

“Wait,” Twilight said, “now that I think about it, and it didn't register when she mentioned knowing about your repeating day of the festival before because of that band using the Time Twirler, but didn't you say you never interacted with the Dazzlings on the final loop?”

“I didn't,” Sunset said, “but when I asked my friends about it afterwards, they all told me they remembered parts of that festival that technically didn't happen. I think as a result of breaking the Time Twirler, unique aspects of my three weeks spent repeating the same day got scattered around, especially to those sensitive to magic or in possession of a geode. Obviously being sirens, that meant The Dazzlings remembered me sneaking onto their tour van”

“I thought it was called a tour bus.”

“Van, bus, whatever,” Sunset grumbled, then sighed as her ears folded back and she dipped her head low. “Pinkie confided in me about how hurt she suddenly felt. Y'know, the times I blew her off because I let the repetition and her simply trying to have a good time got to me? She also knew I made good on that with her on the later loops, but I still apologised and made it up to her for doing it in the first place. Besides, I had bruises the following day too, so it's not like I came away unscathed either.”

“Bruises?”

Sunset smirked and blushed. “On my ass. Apparently the released magic made those dozen or so times my ass got slapped by Rainbow Dash's paddle compounded together.”

Sunset clenched her fists. “You honestly don't expect me to believe that, right?”

Adagio nodded to Radian. “Tell her, Ray. About the signatures.”

He gave a small shrug, as if going with the flow. “Ever since discovering about the species of Equestria and their relevant reflections either side of the portal, I've been scanning people to help guide my experiments in harnessing magic. It turns out each person, and their correlating species type, have a differing energy resonance. For example, you're a unicorn over there, right?”

Sunset wasn't exactly thrilled with being delved into, but ultimately nodded.

Radian gestured to himself. “So am I, if the data is to be believed, because we resonate the same energy. Adagio here now resonates the same as an earth pony.”

Adagio leaned forward on the couch again. “So you see, I won't represent a threat. Not against you, not Twilight... I'm a non-issue.”

“Detecting a little down-her-snout snootiness there,” Twilight said with a frown. “I guess she saw her position as an earth pony as a temporary one, and considered them lesser in some way.”

Sunset's own snout wrinkled. “I guess she doesn't know about Cozy Glow at this point, and how a pegasus filly almost brought Equestria to its knees. We all react to magic in similar ways, and can become empowered or corrupted by it, just as humans can in my world when they stumble on an artefact. Who and what someone happens to be is irrelevant, it's what they do that matters.”

“Truer words never spoken,” Twilight concurred.

Sunset changed gears. It was no longer a matter of yes or no. It was obvious that if she turned them down now, odds were they would find another way to try and infiltrate Equestria. A plan began to form.

She needed to keep them on board, but get more information, so after a moment to think she laid it out plain.  

“I'll need proof. I can read thoughts. If you'll let me read yours, that'll go a long way to convincing me this is even remotely a good idea.”

Adagio narrowed her eyes and took a slow breath. She seemed pensive, but still determined. A counteroffer was coming.

“I'll tell you what. This is a lot to process already. You probably don't even know if Twilight, or Celestia or whoever's in charge will be alright with this. Let's take a rain-check on this for today. I'll have Ray get his notes together about the Equestrian magic flow, the energy types for people to ponies over there, and I'll also talk with him about forgiving you. How about you come over tomorrow afternoon, and we'll have a big meeting and discuss all of this, and you can read Ray's thoughts to confirm everything, okay?”

Sunset wondered whether to try and pressure the issue right then and there. She palmed her chin and walked to the window, staring outside through the grimy glass and wondered how much initiative to show.

Then she realised that, no matter what, Twilight would need to know about this. She would know what to do, and this was too big a decision for Sunset to make by herself anyway.

She turned and said, “okay, deal. I'll contact Princess Twilight.” If honesty was on the table, Sunset realised she should be pretty open about what to expect as well. “I'll also need to contact Princess Cadance too.”

“A lot of princesses over there these days, huh?” Adagio said, and looked confused. “Celestia and Luna I knew, then of course Twilight's a new one... I've never heard of this Cadance.”

“Yeah, they seem to be multiplying,” Sunset said; long gone were the days of just the two sisters. “Anyway, the receiving portal is currently undergoing repairs in the Crystal Empire, and-”

“The Crystal Empire?” Adagio's calm demeanour shifted further and she gasped. She leans forward, mouth agape. “It's back?”

Sunset hadn't expected that. “What do you know about it?”

“I used to ask about the goings on across Equestria when I was a siren,” Adagio said and shrugged. “Ponies that were under our spell would tell us all sorts of things, and we'd use them to figure out easier targets. The news that the Empire had fallen was somewhat recent when we were around. Some king made it vanish.”

Twilight rubbed her chin with her hoof. “Interesting. I guess the sirens probably weren't big on sharing land or potential feeding grounds with the likes of King Sombra. It makes me glad that their general pride and animosity towards one another generally prevents them from teaming up, especially after what happened with Lord Tirek, Queen Chrysalis and Cosy Glow.”

“No thanks to Discord,” Sunset said with a scowl.

Twilight shared the expression but bit her tongue. “Let's just move on.”

“That was a long time ago,” Sunset mused. “I knew you had been banished by Starswirl the Bearded, but it's easy to forget you three really are ancient.”

Sunset barely registered the accidental jab before Adagio's eye twitched and she snapped, “excuse me!?”

“Sorry,” Sunset waved her hand and tried a disarming smile. Down on life but not above reacting to being called old. Sunset was only kinda sorry though. “That's not what I meant. Look, we're getting off track here Anyway, Princess Cadence's in charge of the Crystal Empire, along with her husband Shining Armor, so if anyone's going to need to be informed about any potential visits, it will be both of them.”

Adagio recovered her cool and replied, “if that's what it takes, then so be it.”

Sunset sighed, and made sure she had covered everything, and it sunk in just how monumental this could end up being. Sirens in Equestria once more? And potentially reformed ones at that?

“Look, if you're telling the truth? And you want to become a better person? I'm game. You have no idea how happy it would make me to see you as a friend. I'm sure even Twilight would agree, so I'll message her as soon as I get home.”

“That's all I ask. Thank you!” Adagio's switched back into that saccharine smile again.  

A false one, that was becoming increasingly plain as things went Adagio's way, but this was a two way street of duplicity. Ensuring this technology was made known to Twilight (both of them) would be imperative. Meanwhile, if Radian's research proved true, and Adagio could be brought to Equestria as an earth pony, where she could be kept under watch, this could work. Sunset once more hoped that was just a precaution.

“More than anything,” Adagio continued, “I'm just glad we've have a chance to settle our grievances, and I'm sure once we have a heart to heart, you and Ray will get on as well. I hope, no matter what happens, even if Twilight refuses, we can be friends. I've... been alone for a while. It's time I started making some changes to how I live my life.”

It was all Sunset wanted to hear. One less bitter person in the world was always a victory, no matter who it was, but Adagio was one of those loose strands that Sunset had always worried would come up again, but empowered by one of the many wild artefacts of Equestrian magic.

Was it pragmatic to secure Adagio and keep an eye on her? Sure. But Sunset also realised she owed Adagio one thing; she was the one who helped clue Sunset into how to break free from the Starswirled music festival loop. To be the one who changes, rather than trying to change everything else.

The irony wasn't lost on her; Adagio now wanted to change too. It made Sunset even more determined to cling to that hope that the Dazzlings as a whole could become better people.

They both watched as the then Sunset parted ways, and the door became another void upon her exit.

“From there, I ran straight home to contact you,” Sunset said.

“Okay, so we have a pretty good idea of Adagio's thought process here,” Twilight mused as the scene within the apartment froze. 

She had odd opinions on the human form. It was so unlike anything she had seen before Sunset stole her crown, not long after she had become an alicorn, but if there was anything her few excursions into the human world had taught her, it's that either Twilight seemed to have a thing for humans, or maybe she just had a scientific fascination with non-ponies. 

“Something wrong?”

Twilight almost didn't hear her, but turned her head and uttered, “huh?”

Sunset smirked. “You seem a little distracted there.”

“Ah? Oh. Right. I know we saw him earlier, but... it's just interesting seeing Radian as his old self. That's all. He had already changed quite a bit when I met him in Equestria. Fuelled by his past bitterness as he is now, and how he's become so optimistic when I saw him not that long ago as he returned to the human world.”

“Largely thanks to you, Twilight. Though clearly he obviously left an impression, considering you gave him what he wanted when he came clean.”

Twilight blushed. “He's... intriguing. I won't lie. I think given time we could have even had something deeper, but his relationship with Adagio is probably the most crucial part of what made her turn good to start with. Although...”

She thought back to Adagio just before they parted ways. Her sudden kiss... just what was that? It was almost like the kiss of death, like from those Shadow Spade novels that Rarity enjoyed so much, where the organised criminals would place a kiss on those they would mark for their goons to dispose of. Yet Adagio seemed utterly sincere. She seemed to admire, if not become excited, by Twilight's strength, on top of her gratitude in giving the sirens back her powers.

“I'm losing you again, aren't I?” Sunset sat beside her. “What's wrong?”

Twilight grumbled. “Just... take a look in my memories. I don't want to talk about it.”

“Oh?” Sunset's eyes flickered white, and she blushed as well. “Holy sh-... wow. Wow! What the hay!? That was an intense kiss.”

“Yeah,” Twilight sighed. “I was expecting Radian and Adagio to be sneaky. I was expecting Adagio to push against me and challenge me. I was expecting Radian to do anything he could to help his special somepony. I was not expecting Adagio to literally get aroused at... well, me!”


I'- n-t su-pr—ed.

-'m je-l--s


“Huh?” Twilight looked around. It was like static interference through a microphone. “What was that?”

“What was what?” Sunset's ears flexed an spun around trying to catch what Twilight had heard, then shrugged. “Forget it, probably just more of that lag. I guess it's true that Adagio gets pretty excited at powerful people and ponies, huh? Anyway come on, there's another moment I wanted to show you, back when I reached my apartment.”

“After you.”

Sunset led the way through the open door, and after a brief moment of darkness, found themselves back in Sunset's studio apartment

Sunset finished writing in the journal. She'd listed everything that had happened, her opinions and any subtexts she had read, but she wasn't expecting an answer any time soon. With something this important, and having to contact Princess Cadence and Celestia as well, Sunset was eager to hear what they thought yet the gravity of everything meant it probably needed some lengthly discussion.

She needed a distraction, so she went to boot up her games console, and-

Then her phone rang.

Sunset pulled out her phone, and cocked an eyebrow at the caller before answering.  

“Hey, Trixie! How's tricks?”

“Bored! Ignored! Unable to get a foot in the door... ed? The Great and Powerful T-rrrixie hasn't landed a gig in weeks!”

Sunset sat on her bed. If there's one thing you could count on with this girl, it was a distraction. “Sorry to hear that, Trixie. Any idea why?”

“The Listless yet still Powerful T-rrrixie was hoping-”  

“Trix, c'mon, you're not selling yourself to me here. We're friends, remember?”

With a sigh, Trixie continued, “fine. I was hoping you could help me. I called Rarity, like you said, because she was looking for entertainers for her fashion thing. She told me she would get back to me, yet she never did!”

Sunset took a deep breath. It wasn't that she didn't trust Trixie, but...  

“How long has it been?”

“Maybe a week?”

This was total baloney. Rarity needed entertainers for her big 'Celebration of Canterlot City' fashion parade with Sunny Flare, one of the Crystal Prep students she'd met back during the Friendship Games, and Trixie would have been perfect for a parade float entertainer. “When you say 'called Rarity', are we talking once, or...”

“Um, six...”

“Trixie.”

“...teen times.”

“Trixie!”

“But I'm getting desperate here! She blocked me and nobody else is hiring! Please, Sunset! The Great and Powerful T-rrrixie has a Deep and Imposing r-rrent payment soon!”

Sunset pinched her brow and shook her head. “I'll help, but I'm not going to do everything for you . Let me put you in touch with Juniper Montage. She's been probing the talent agencies on Rarity's behalf after she got hired for a float as well. Be polite and tell her I sent you. Then I want you to call Vignette Valencia who's been taking care of scheduling. You've still got her number, right? Call her, tell her to drop a line to Rarity to fast-track your application and tell her she still owes me for 'the incident'.”

“The Great and Appreciative T-rrrixie thanks you! You're a life-saver, Sunset!”

“Oh, and Trixie?”

“Huh?”

“Apologise to Rarity for being a pain in the butt, okay? And be patient. She's not ignoring you, she's just being meticulous, as always.” Sunset's journal started to glow and shake, so she quickly said, “I'll send June's number in a second, something came up. Talk to you later and knock'em dead, Trixie!”

“Thanks again! Bye.”

Sunset immediately tapped out a text message.

'Got a friend about to call you. Trixie Lulamoon. She's perfect for Rarity's parade as entertainment. Be huge favor if you took her on. Just make her work for it.'

She sent it to both Juniper and Vignette, and moments later received two responses.

Juniper's said, 'lol, i know her. surprised didnt ask sooner. k. ttyl'

Vignette responded with a thumbs up symbol.

Sunset smirked and sent Juniper's number to Trixie, then smiled at a job well done.

“I know you've been a bit down from not being in touch with your closer friends,” Twilight said, “but you've made up for it with just how many seem to be in regular contact with you.”

Sunset smirked as the past-her read Twilight's message. “It helps a lot, I've gotta admit. I'm always talking to someone, even when I'm halfway across the country chasing down some magical mess.”

Twilight wrapped a foreleg over Sunset's shoulders. “I'm impressed. Maybe even a little jealous. While I've been stuck meeting and greeting the diplomatic types who are only playing nice for clout, you're still making and keeping friends! I could probably learn something from you at this point.”

Sunset's cheeks flushed. “Like I always say, I have a great teacher. And, c'mon, be real here; it's networking. Not exactly 'friendship' as it much as helping their businesses.”

“Seems to be pretty common for humans. Very cosmopolitan. It reminds me of Rarity's current circle of friends, like Sassy, Coco, Kerfuffle and Pistachio; she's their mentor and partner in the Ponyville fashion collevtive, but they're always busy, separated yet deeply supportive of one another whenever one has a creative shortcoming. Anyway, what was it exactly you wanted to show me?” Twilight gave Sunset a cheeky smirk. “Besides showing off how good a friend  you are?”

Sunset finished checking Twilight's message. The princess seemed optimistic that Adagio was a changed woman in the face of even associating with a human, let alone if they really were romantically involved. She said this was too strong an opportunity to pass up and to let them know they could visit Equestria, where Twilight wanted to try and extend a hoof in friendship and build bridges. The only precaution was she also wanted Sunset to be thorough in reading and learning what she could when she next met with Adagio, and to report back to her, just in case.

While Sunset wanted to agree with Twilight's optimism she still had deep doubts, and they continued to grow by the second. Yet she also knew this couldn't have come at a better time. The mirror was currently unpowered and going to the Crystal Empire to be repaired, coinciding with the thirty moons between its natural activation. It also happened to be at a huge political summit at the Crystal Empire.

Every friendly race across Equestria and beyond was going to be in attendance in Princess Cadence and Shining Armor's home, as well as the soon-to-retire Princesses Celestia and Luna. Twilight was there to learn more about her role as leader, so naturally she was present, but so were her closest friends, the Elements of Harmony. There was also Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst, who would be there to help repair the mirror. Sunburst wasn't especially powerful, but if Adagio was bringing any magical artefacts with her, or found any he'd likely know their origins and weaknesses, and Starlight was an immeasurably powerful unicorn.  

This meant with all of these important ponies present (and other allies, like the leaders and elites of the dragons, hippogriffs, yaks, griffons and more, as well as their personal guards), they surely had the power to subdue Adagio. If she was truly just an earth mare, no matter what sort of plan she had in store or artefact, they could stop her, and Radian may be a unicorn over there, but he had no experience casting magic himself.

She had to remind herself again this was a worst case scenario. Best case, they walked away as new friends, but scepticism wasn't a bad thing to keep close to heart, so long as it never quite infiltrated it.

Sunset stopped and stared at the journal again. Were they really doing this? Letting Adagio and, likely in time, the other sirens back into Equestria? For pragmatic reasons, bringing Adagio back into view of Princess Twilight made sense. Besides, she seemed genuine about her feelings for Radian, a human. She couldn't let that detail slip away.

But Sunset also knew this was a human with a grudge against her. If they were planning something... and how did Radian's power conversion device play into this?

Sunset groaned in frustration and slammed the journal shut. This was too much! There was so many variables! So many unknowns! If only-

*Knock knock*

Sunset gasped, then put the journal away and, after taking a deep breath, opened the door.

Bright pinkness saturated the room, along with brilliant blue eyes and an intoxicating wave of pure joy. “Hey, girlfriend!”

“Pinkie!” Sunset pulled her friend into a deep hug.  

For all the changes these past years had brought, Pinkie simply hadn't; still full figured, still on the shorter side so Sunset's chin could rest on top of that thick, curly mass of curly pink hair and still just relentless in her positive energy. She was in one of her more vibrant dresses and wearing a backpack.

Sunset said, “holy smokes, I wasn't expecting you today!”

Pinkie wriggled herself free, punched her arms up and yelled, “nobody expects the Pie-ish Pink-uisition! My chief weapon is surprise. Cinnamon rolls and surprise!” She produced a box of her chief weapon from her backpack.

Sunset giggled and took one. “Thanks, Pinkie. What brings you here, anyway?”

As Sunset took a bite of the rich, dense treat, Pinkie said, “oh, nobody's really doing any parties for a little while and my diner's being fancified for Rarity's equally fancy fashion parade! We're on the main route, so we're gonna be doing a lot of take-out deliveries, and I'm getting some new roller skates for deliveries on the go. But since we're closed for the day, I said, 'Pinkie? You can either mope like a dope or get with the 'set!' So here I am!”

“Why are you still doing deliveries? You own the place and have staff for that,”

Pinkie blew a raspberry. “C'mon, Sunset, you think I'm gonna miss out on skating around a giant street party!? That and we could use a few more people with the expansion, and between you and me?”

Pinkie leaned in and whispered, “I'm beginning to think some people find me a little bit overbearing, but you didn't hear that from me.” She then winked.

Sunset giggled. “Your secret's safe with me, Pinkie.”  

They both sat on the couch, then Sunset said, “I'm really glad you're here though, I needed to tell you some stuff anyway. In fact, I wonder if I could pick your brain on a few things.”

Pinkie took a roll as well, chomped half of it, and mumbled, “shure. Whatsh up?”

“You remember Adagio Dazzle?” Sunset took another bite.

“Uh huh,” Pinkie said and gulped. “Thin, mean, half her weight in hair and sings like a garbage disposal after we whooped her butt?”

Sunset snickered. “And you had her cell number, right?”

Pinkie nodded. “She may be mean, but I keep trying to get her to reach out.” She suddenly seemed quite sad. “Sure, she never got back to me whenever I invited her to parties and stuff, but I kept hoping. If she could just let herself have some fun, I bet she'd be able to make friends and enjoy life, instead of just live it.”

“Aww. That was sweet of her,” Twilight said. “I doubt anypony else would have kept trying to reach out for that for years.”

“That's my Pinkie Pie,” Sunset said and beamed a proud grin.

“It does make it clear that Adagio wasn't beyond saving if Adagio never blocked Pinkie either. I know her positivity is infectious, but everypony has their limits.”

“Yeah, I just wish I'd kept that in mind too, instead of constantly expecting the worst from Dagi.” Sunset grumbled to herself, then said, “that and your optimism that you'd get through to Radian, considering how things ended up. Maybe if I'd relented a little, none of that mess at the end would have happened.”

“It was a tough situation and we still don't know if anything could have been done better. Nopony's perfect and we live and learn.”

Sunset finished her snack, then said, “so I saw Adagio earlier today.”

Pinkie gasped like she hadn't taken a breath in a week. “Really!? How is she? Has she found any more magic? Does her poofiness still trump mine!?”

“You're really worried about her?”

“Duh! I'm worried about everyone. Just because I like to be all, 'light'er up, ladies,'” she suddenly yelled, then calmly continued, “it doesn't mean I don't care. Most of the time when we do that, we become friends afterwards! Adagio, Aria and Sonata are the ones that didn't. Which is kinda convenient since... they were the fishes, right? The singing fishes? The singing fishes that got away?”

“Uh, right,” Sunset said and couldn't hold back the smirk. “and I guess so? She's got a boyfriend now.” She snickered. It still seemed absurd.  

“What!? So meanie-meanie pants Adagio gets a boyfriend and I can't?”

“Uh, Pinkie? Since when have you been looking for a boy-”

Pinkie snapped back in with, “wait, is he in danger? Do sirens eat the head of their guys after 'double stress testing the whoopie cushion' or-”

“Pretty sure that's a praying mantis.”

“Oh,” Pinkie said... disappointedly? She perked back up again and tried, “oh! Fishes! Like, maybe he'll attach himself to her and withers away and becomes one with her!”

Sunset fought back the laughter as she shook her head. “Last time I checked the sirens weren't anglerfish... although, I guess if they're in a relationship, they'd better be careful if they got into a life of crime together, otherwise he'd be accused of-”

They both said, “sleeping with the fishes,” at the same time and laughed, then they sighed.

“I'm gonna miss you when you go to Equestria,” Pinkie said as her mood dropped. “I love the party planner scene, but it's pretty stressful sometimes, so when I have you to talk to afterwards, I feel like I can take on anything.”  

“It's only going to be three days, tops,” Sunset said and squeezed Pinkie's shoulder. “And I'm sure you could always go see Fluttershy, Applejack or even Twilight. I think she said she was taking it easy this week after that trip to that big international science symposium in Trottingham. I bet she'd love to see you.”

“I know,” Pinkie sighed and leaned against Sunset. “It's just we're the only two who still meet a bunch, and I guess Applejack during winter, after the harvest stuff, and even then you keep vanishing because of the leaky magic stuff. I guess I still miss the days we all hung out together.”

“Ironic, considering I was the one who drove you girls apart back in school. But you were always the one who kept me in check.” Sunset rested her head against Pinkie. It was bittersweet, as always, contemplating the old days when school was the perfect way to hang out and just have fun together. Sunset hated how sad it made her feel; it didn't matter what happened, or how dire the situation, they had each others backs.

Besides emergency meetings about magic, the annual reunion week and rare days when the stars aligned and they were all free, it tended to be moments like this; one to one, maybe three on occasion, but when they were together, the rekindling of their friendship was thankfully easy.

It almost made her wish the Time Twirler was still around. Apparently in the hands of someone who knew how it worked, it could have allowed her to relive a lot longer than just one day, but whole months and years. Sunset wished she could relive a few semesters back in CHS Maybe not the times she was an unrepentant bully, or when she almost lost all of her memories, or even when the Dazzlings almost-

Sunset blinked. Wow, they got way off-topic.

“Say, Pinkie. About Adagio again... I want your honest opinion on something.”

Pinkie sat up and tilted her head.

“This whole thing with her and her boyfriend... she seems to have changed, become nicer, but her boyfriend's one of the guys I bullied back in school, but someone I never had a chance to apologise to what I did. He's kept a pretty intense grudge against me. See, he skipped classes a lot, was a science whizz, and-”

“Oh, Radian Wave?”

Sunset's eyes went wide. “Wait, you know him?”

“Uh-huh! Well, kinda. He used to visit my diner pretty late some nights to study. He was a smarty-pants, kinda like Twilight, except a lot grumpier. Oh, and I know he used to work on a lot of the electronic stuff at school for extra credit, like one time he fixed the P.A. system and he did a lot of the lighting and stuff for the school stage, classrooms and junk.”

“Oh. That's good to know. If he went to your diner, did you talk much?”

“Not really. I guess because we hung out,” she said and gestured to herself and Sunset, “so he avoided talking to me. Well, except for ordering? He always had a diet soda. He'd then just sit in a booth, reading his books while listening to music.”

Sunset scratched the back of her neck; nothing like another reminder of how unhappy the guy was at home when she was attacking him at school. And if he was in deep with Adagio, working out the exact nature of their relationship would be even more important.

Radian Wave; willing lackey or gullible victim? Adagio Dazzle; reformed human-hater eager to reach out but struggling with learning friendship, or an even more cunning, subdued foe seeking a way to get the better of humanity?

With no revelations forthcoming, Sunset continued, “well, as I was saying, I don't know if we can trust Adagio, but she seems the most changed. Radian Wave, on the other hand, with all the crud I put him through? I feel like I owe him for how I treated him, but he's pretty hostile to me. When we met earlier today, they told me they both wanted to go to Equestria. I've told Princess Twilight, and she seems on board,but I think it might be a good idea to prepare in case they're trying to pull a fast one... like, we lay a trap in Equestria?”

Pinkie gasped and turned serious. “You can't do that!”

“Look, I hardly like it either, but this is Adagio Dazzle we're talking about. You know, the girl who's a siren that nearly took over the school? The girl who, even after we kicked her ass, still called humans scum?”

“Yeah, but... but!” Pinkie stood and paced around. “What if you being all sneaky and paranoid makes Adagio even more sneakier and paranoid-ier? What if she freaks out because you're freaking out!? What if your paranoid freaking out over her paranoid freaking out double para-paranoid freaky-freaks out Princess Twilight!? Think of the paranoid freakout-fest!”

Sunset shrugged and tutted. “Well? I'm open to suggestions.”

“Can't you just use your mind reading powers? She doesn't know about them, right? Like, even the long-distance stuff?”

Sunset frowned. “She does, actually. We're already making plans for me to read Radian's mind, with Adagio's blessing. And I can still only catch brief surface thoughts with my remote reads.”

Pinkie palmed her chin for a moment. “Then just do it?”

“Huh?”

“She wants into Equestria, right? Do you really think a little thing like you reading her mind will peeve her off that much? Even if it does, you pretty much have the final say in letting her in since you can just tell Princess Twilight that if she's trying to trick you, Adagio can go lick dumpster cake frosting. It wouldn't be the first time you had to be an meanie-pants to beat another meanie-pants.” Pinkie covered her mouth and awkwardly added, “no offence! Sorry!”

As much as Sunset hated to admit it, Pinkie was talking a lot of sense. Sunset always used force as a last resort, but ultimately she held all the cards. She could break the deal and explain it to Twilight that Adagio was trying to pull a fast one and just apologise if there was nothing to glean. What's the worst she would see? Radian naked? That Adagio was going to try and steal some artefact and return home? The pair whispering sweet nothings into each others ears?

Whatever she saw, she'd seek it out and dig up what she had to in order to help Adagio or put a stop to her once and for all. If it came down to it, Sunset would kick Adagio's ass herself. She wasn't some golden good girl. She was a protector. She didn't mind getting a little dirty.

She nodded to Pinkie, and said, “none taken, and thanks, I'll think about it,” as she settled on her plan and turned on her games console. “So, how about a sleep-over, like old times? Pizza, video games and there's that really awful Daring-Do sequel's on tonight?”

“Heck yes!”

All of Sunset's worries melted away for a time as she sat down beside one of her closest friends, and just wiled away the hours.



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