//------------------------------// // Part 3: What Lies Beneath the Wave // Story: Mistress - B-Side: The Sunset Side of the Story // by SizeofMT //------------------------------// Part 3: What Lies Beneath The Wave * * * * * * “Wait, this again?” The light was almost blinding in the otherwise smothering dark. It drew nearer. Or did she will herself closer? That silhouette... A pony... with wings. And a horn. “It's... me?” Closer to the source of light, things were somehow clearer. It was a statue of Twilight Sparkle atop a marble column. One of several, but she couldn't take her eyes off of her likeness. The statue of her stood on her hind legs, reared up, wings spread, in a dramatic and heroic pose. Her horn was the source of brilliant light, drawing in swirls of coloured energy from all around her, while her own pink magical hue dominated the immediate area. She looked how Twilight wished she looked, with no flaws, even the ones Twilight knew she possessed and had grown to accept. She was radiant. Pure perfection. Twilight then looked amongst the pillars, and recognised them as her friends, but just as peerless in their presentation. She took flight and inspected closer, hovering near each. Rarity, surrounded with graceful ribbons and bolts of glittering fabric, festooned with jewels that appeared to be made of ethereal strands. These wondrous threads kept forming all manner of creative, elaborate designs of clothing for ponies, dragons and more. Fluttershy, cuddling an animal in her hooves that shifted from various forms of rodent, mustelid, lagomorph and other critters, and yet she was also within the forelegs, wings and tail of an ever-morphing great beast of fur, scales, spines and more, each mighty yet caring as they protected her. Applejack, bucking a tree. Her forehooves cracked the ground, yet plants grew amongst the fissures, which all fed into the roots of the mighty tree she was kicking. This tree bore brilliant, massive apples, wreathed in vines that coiled around one another, just as her great family was connected by unbreakable bonds. Rainbow Dash, racing a hurricane borne of her wings and filled with strikes of vibrant, multicoloured lightning. In between them was a great formation of tiny pegasi in an ever-shifting formation, all clad in sleek armour. Pinkie Pie, tied with balloons, floated above a crowd of ponies that shifted into faces both familiar and unknown. They all smiled and cheered for her, and their radiance made her glow in turn. Twilight returned to the ground, and now close enough to the light, she recognised the area was a magnificent, ornate garden, with many more columns beyond this central circle and long stairways to other circles of similar styles, but she couldn't make out the figures on the other pillars from this distance. It was all very familiar in some respects, but she wasn't quite put her hoof on where. She headed for one of the garden wings, but heard a sniffle near the top of the stairs. Climbing the steps and rounding a stone wall, she froze as she saw a humanoid figure. Huddled in a fetal position. Who was- * * * * * * “... light? Where are- oh, there you are.” Twilight blinked. Her vision swam and swirled as Sunset offered her a hand up. She reached out with a hoof, focused until she assumed her human guise, then climbed to her feet with Sunset's help. “I think I was in that 'lag' thing again,” Twilight said as she took in the school hall once more. “But I saw a weird garden filled with statues.” Sunset cocked an eyebrow. “That's odd. I've never heard of that before. I mean, if there was a garden in my head, it would be Wallflower's work in the Canterlot City memorial park. She's amazing at colour theory with her plants and has a real green thumb besides. I plan to paint it when I get a chance.” Twilight studied Sunset's expression. She seemed genuine in her confusion. It wouldn't be like Sunset to hide something from her, so Twilight said, “I guess it's not that important, or maybe it's some side-effect of you being in Equestria and under the effects of Radian's device. It might be intensifying certain aspects of your memory spells.” “Could be, it's not like I've had much experience with that thing, or using my magic here,” Sunset said and returned to one of the desks, and took a seat. She leaned forward, only her arm melted through the tabletop for a split second. Then both Sunset and the table crackled, flickered and hazed out, before reforming, with her elbow on the desk, chin in palm. Twilight scoffed at the obvious lapse of focus. “You're definitely tired. It's like you can barely keep this all together.” Sunset snorted, rolled her eyes and and waved the thought away. “Ah, c'mon, no need to be a broken record about it, I'm fine! We're about to get into the juicier stuff. That'll keep me focused.” Twilight levitated another desk so it was facing Sunset's, then sat down too. “It almost feels like you're determined to keep this going no matter what, like you're afraid of me leaving.” Sunset's eyes flicked off to the side for a split second, then she leaned back casually. “I've got no idea what you're talking about. I just need a five minute breather.” Twilight pouted and tried to get a read on her friend, but again found the human aspect was still a bit too alien to her. It was as if Sunset was using her human form to cover her intentions in this hub area because all attention would be on her, as opposed to the spectacle of the memories. Then again, she also realised that Sunset could just as well be using her mental projection to cover anything she desired, and Twilight wouldn't be any the wiser. She couldn't help but think about those distorted voices she had been hearing that seemed separate from Sunset's own. They could be leaving hints, if she could decipher them. With that in mind, she relaxed as well, and decided to focus on the positives. “Can I just say I'm still really proud of you for saving Radian and Adagio? After all the evasion and trickery they put you through, and how tense the situation clearly was, the fact you pulled through for both of them is remarkable. Hay, let's not forget you also put your life on the line for them, when Radian was still stubbornly keeping his grudge and even subdued me, Celestia and the others. Nopony would have judged you for letting him go, but you didn't. It's heroic.” Sunset blushed. “Thanks. That still means a lot coming from you.” “I'm hoping you can build on that with my closest friends too. I know you've had reservations about it because of their similarities to the human world ones you've come to love, but you're in good hooves with them. They'll love you.” “Yeah, I guess I have plenty of time to get to know them better,” Sunset said, but rubbed her side, notably where her broken rib was in the waking world. “I know for a fact I'm gonna put my foot- uh, my hoof in my mouth thinking I'm talking to my friends rather than yours. I might get away with Dash if I replace soccer with buckball, but the rest might not be so easy.” Twilight giggled. “You'll be fine! They're all our friends. They know you well enough and they'll understand if you make a silly mistake like that. I've always been telling them about your adventures in the human world and they had been dying to meet you in a more intimate, peaceful setting. It's just a shame about your time together being cut short thanks to the... unpleasantness with Adagio's siren side taking over.” Sunset tapped her lips. “Speaking of, can we talk about Dagi for a moment? Between catching up with Princess Celestia and Luna on the first day, then then being bullied by her when trying to hang out with your friends on the second so much I couldn't get anything out of her but more insukts, I've wanted to ask a few things.” “Sure, I'll tell you what I can,” Twilight replied. “So I haven't exactly been able to figure out why she's so big over here in Equestria, for one thing. She's huge. In fact, now that I think about it, some of the memories I have of Adagio in the human world appear like she's taller, but whenever we met, she seemed normal.” Sunset stood up and raised a hand up to her brow, then extended her arm upward as far as she could, seemed dissatisfied, then looked at the high ceiling. “Yeesh, if she was that big in the human world, it would be like Juniper Montage with that hand mirror all over again.” Sunset then winced. “Or... y'know, me as a raging she-demon. Evil plus power equals big, I guess. Well, more than alicorns, I guess. Uh, not that I'm calling Adagio evil! Now, at least.” Twilight rolled her eyes, but giggled, then focused on the topic again. “Radian seemed to think it had something to do with how large sirens were, and that some of that mass carries over. There's some potential merit to that, but it was clearly a cover. I believe Radian's experiments in toying with magic, especially earth-pony magic since that's what Adagio was at the time makes the most sense. Also the fact that, being a siren and even despite her stone being broken at the time, Adagio likely has a tremendous capacity for magic.” “Just how much are we talking?” Twilight twirled her hair with her fingers. “Her stone had only just been repaired, and was still in an imperfect state. It also held no charge besides the small amount it would have gained from you and Adagio's fight. On top of that, some of that power had to have been spent transforming her back into a siren. Even despite all of these facts, she was able to shrug off the attacks of four alicorns.” Sunset whistled, impressed. Twilight continued, “As for how much power she could hold with her in perfect health and an equally perfect stone, I wouldn't want to be able to guess, but it's above even an alicorn's might by far.” “Yet you're welcoming three of them back to Equestria? Ballsy, even for you.” Twilight huffed. “In a straight fight, I have no illusions about my inability to fight them, and it wouldn't be something as foolish as a one-on-one conflict. We have a larger circle of friends than most, and we are unified. I think we could best them. Besides, Adagio seemed positive about helping me and Equestria to protect their own stake in living here. Her wish for another Battle of the Bands, notwithstanding.” Sunset sat on top of the desk. “I dread to think if we would have stood even a chance at the Battle of the Bands if they were able to fully transform, rather than project their power loosely under the human world's weird way of handling magic. Heck, she shrugged off a few blasts from me when she was an earth pony. No wonder they were feared.” “Not really surprising,” Twilight said and and folded her arms. “Earth ponies are tougher and stronger on average. If Radian's emitter was just filling her with earth magic, then even her human form may be substantially larger and stronger, if not quite as drastically. I'd estimate she's about five times as heavy as a regular mare. If Radian figured out that connection too, and since we both know he can suppress the positive signals of magic with his emitter, then he must have found a way to disguise Adagio's full human size.” Sunset gave a nervous grin. “I'll get back to you on that one if I see her being large and in charge. Okay next point, and can we just clarify what happened to Adagio and her stone?” “Sure, ask away.” “So this change of personality Adagio suffered. Applejack was the first to speak out about how much she had changed between the days, seemingly just because I was there. She was so angry and violent she struck Radian! That's a serious change, considering we've just spent a good while seeing how much they care for one another” Twilight closed her eyes for a moment, nodded to herself, then clearing her throat. “I suppose we should start from the top. So we both understand that, in spite of losing their stones, the sirens have always a capacity for magic far beyond even myself, or Celestia it would seem.” Sunset shrugged. “Yep. They were legendary threats to Equestria akin to a fully powered Tirek, if not moreso since there were three of them and they worked in cahoots with each other and could theoretically convert ponies to fight for them.” “Exactly. We also know that Adagio had recently reconciled with her sisters, on top of creating a bond with Radian Wave.” “Uh-huh. That's a lot of friendship for someone who used to have... well, whatever you'd call the Dazzlings' deal with each other. Compliance? Tolerance feels too strong, but they've obviously been together for a long time.” “We also are aware of the strength of friendship. That the unseen bonds between us all can lend us power beyond any other force known to pony or human alike.” “We've definitely both rainbow-lasered more than our share of bad guys and misunderstood, corrupted victims.” Twilight nodded and raised a pointed finger. “Then we can safely assume that Adagio, upon creating these bonds, was filled with the magic of friendship as a result.” Sunset stroked her chin. “And, naturally, upon entering Equestria, where the power of friendship is far stronger, this likely transformed all that power into a form of... what, a magical overdose? Friendship toxicity? An overwhelming amount of good vibes?” “Simply put, yes, or such is my theory,” Twilight said and smiled. “And she wasn't used to this feeling. She began singing uncontrollably, crying with joy, being bubbly and chipper. It didn't force her to adopt a positive outlook as much as it amplified it beyond her control.” “But I guess her nature started wrestling with that extreme positivity, huh?” Twilight palmed her chin and stroked the tip of her nose as she tried to work out a likely scenario. “Okay, so hear me out; as the siren's stones began to be repaired, their influence may have been the cause for Adagio to begin succumbing to this darker side again. Instead of the two personalities leaning on one another, they were so far removed that she was shifting between the two based on external stimuli, but they couldn't be completely separated.” Sunset scratched her neck as she nodded. “Seems reasonable. She had strong positive reactions to Radian and seemed pretty sweet with him, though I'd have to ask Radian if that was the case, but our less than ideal past probably flipped the switch when I was hanging around with her. I still find it strange that it happened before Adagio's stone was fixed.” “He did say each stone was similar, yet had subtle variables,” Twilight clarified. “Each had to be repaired with a different gemstone as the fusing material, yet I remember the signals used were very close to one another.” “Yet Sonata's didn't respond that way, nor Aria's. Just Adagio's, flying in like a comet and forcing itself onto her. Like it sensed Adagio considered herself being threatened.” Sunset smirked. “I always wondered if the stones were empathic. I guess we have our answer.” “Sounds like a hypothesis for you to solve,” Twilight said and fiddled with her fingers. “I'm a little jealous. I was always fascinated by their stones, but you're uniquely qualified to look into the matter.” “Like you wouldn't believe... if we're right, it only further supports that little revelation I had earlier about the two Adagio personalities thing, once I finish completing the scene. Anyway, so she transformed, but the stone was misshapen. I imagine the pain and emotional baggage that came with a stone that fed on negative energy made Adagio's forced shift into sirenhood all the harder on her psyche; she was just like the Adagio that Starswirl the Bearded met a thousand years ago. Pure malice, pride and anger, all slathered in pain and desperation.” Twilight smiled once more, “And thanks to you reminding Radian of how important the newfound human side of Adagio was, you managed to give him the push to save his special somepony and brought back her better half.” Sunset grinned and blushed. “I was badly wounded, barely conscious and almost thought I was delirious but I remember that one moment. I'd just shown Radian that meeting we had on the first day. Y'know, when Adagio sang in front of yo? I then drifted in and out of consciousness, but then suddenly Radian was standing firm and proud in front of Adagio, and he sang from his own heart.” Twilight felt a giddy warmth within. A song of love. A serenade that drew the good up from beneath the crushing waves of the siren. In case she needed proof that both of her new friends were worth the trouble, that moment sealed it. The irony of a song defeating a siren wasn't lost on either of them; beating a singer at her own game. Just as it had when the Rainbooms defeated the Dazzlings in the Battle of the Bands, although that was more fighting fire with fire, a war of magical brawn. What Radian achieved was the purist magic; no spells cast, no hostile intent or duplicity, just his heart burning bright and true. Sunset looked at Radian's door, and the rainy weather within. “On the note of the science whizz, we should really see about Radian's place in all this, huh? Let's explore the day I returned to Adagio's apartment and both confirmed what we hoped and what we'd feared in one fell swoop?” “If you feel ready for it,” Twilight said. “All rested and ready,” Sunset insisted again and hopped to her feet. “C'mon, let's start with my memories, and we'll dip into Radian and Adagio's minds when the moment hits.” They both took on their pony forms, and once more entered Sunset's door. * * * Sunset's Door “Whoa! Hey, sweet thing.” Sunset's eye flinched. Everything she'd worried about happening to Adagio in this neighbourhood was potentially about to happen to her as she turned the corner to Dressage Avenue. Three guys leered at her as they sat on the curb: one big and brawny, one short and skinny, and one in between at Sunset's height of 5'10”, with a mean, scar-eyed squint. They had been drinking judging by the empty glass bottles and awful smell of cheap beer in the vicinity. The middle sized of them rolled his shoulders and approached. “Hey. Don't mind me, just visiting someone,” Sunset said and went to walk past them, but they boxed her in against the wall. Not the wisest path, but she had a... particular style of fighting that meant the environment was important. Her hand glanced against her geode belt-buckle, and her magic perked up. She probed their surface thoughts and gave them a deeper study. 'I gonna get a piece of that,' the leader thought. 'Been a while since I had a tall girl. I really hope she fights back. More fun that way.' He was big on ego by the way he walked. He wanted things, and took them however he had to. He was a threat. Sunset glanced at the other two. 'Wonder if she's a screamer,' thought the smaller guy, a slack-jawed jerk that reminded Sunset of Snails from CHS. 'Something about girls screaming... yeah, that's the good stuff!' A wimp and a blowhard. He'd pee himself at the first sign of danger. 'Goddamn it, I don't need this on my conscience again,' thought the biggest. He was powerfully built and menacing, but his intimidating facade fell so hard the moment he locked eyes with Sunset, he looked away, ashamed. Peer pressure kept him here, probably a long term and unbalanced, deeply unhealthy relationship with the leader. He could be convinced. The leader looked Sunset over like he was grading a piece of meat. “Bunch of douchebags live here. How about I show you somewhere nicer? A place where we can have some fun?” Sunset smiled. “Sounds great! I've just gotta do one thing first. Can we take a raincheck?” 'Smart-ass bitch,' he thought. 'A smack in the face oughtta put her in her place.' Sunset clenched her jaw as he got within arms reach, then he grinned and suddenly lunged. She spun and stepped aside. He slammed his knuckles against the brick wall and yelped. “Oh, dang, a little clumsy there,” Sunset mocked. “That looked like it hurt,” 'That's it. I'm gonna slap the shit out of her,' he thought. He swung his other arm high, so she ducked low and got some distance towards Adagio's apartment building, then slowly raised her fists. The squawk of a police siren blared out once as a warning, and all four of them turned to see a cop car slowly passing by. “Wait, you're using your empathy powers in fights?” Twilight said, looking concerned. Sunset smirked. “I mean, if you can see what someone's gonna do the second they think it and react, why not? Hey, if you wanna complain, I've got a whole list of private property Pinkie Pie's damaged with her sugar explosives. And besides, I didn't hit the guy, I just avoided him.” Twilight sighed. “I guess so.” “For now,” Sunset mumbled. “What was that?” “Nothing! Let's carry on.” The driver rolled down his window and said, “you better not be doing what I think you're doing, Blag Bundles.” The leader, evidently Blag, put on a huge, false smile and turned toward the cop. Sunset didn't have time to work any angles here, so she didn't stick around. She slipped into the apartment complex and hurried up to the second floor, and to Adagio's apartment. She took a moment to re-centre herself, but felt off. It wasn't like she hadn't been in a fight before, but for some reason, that little bit of excitement seemed to make her feel light headed. All the same, she pushed the doorbell. Adagio answered the door in seconds, no doubt expecting her, but she looked... worried, maybe even a little sad. “Hey, Sunset. Come in.” “Hi, Dagi,” Sunset replied and stepped inside. The strange haziness she felt grew more intense, and her vision went pale for a moment. She rubbed her forehead, and thankfully the sensation faded. It was then she noticed another new face. With her two-toned blue hair, tied back in a simple ponytail, and casual burgundy hoodie and pink pants, it was another of the sirens, Sonata Dusk. She gave Sunset an awkward stare, but didn't seem to want to keep eye contact as she awkwardly glanced around the room. Sunset adds, “hey, Sonata. It's been a while.” Sonata waved but doesn't say anything. Then Sunset saw the firm, fixed stare of her former bullying victim, and offered a neutral, “Radian.” “Sunset,” he said, just as terse. Radian's holding a few sheets of paper covered in dense cursive writing and mathematical formulas. Part of the deal, no doubt, in the form of his research. Not wanting to outstay her welcome, Sunset got down to business. “So I've been in contact with Princess Twilight, and she's agreed to let you visit Equestria on the condition you can prove what you said last time. About this whole business about being an earth pony. The portal will only open for three nights, and we're going in two days time.” Adagio's mood flickered. A shadow of a smile. Radian seemed to remain ambivalent. Sunset needed to probe the situation a bit more and try to get a stronger reaction, so she added, “but I'll make one thing clear; there's a summit going on in the Crystal Empire, which means there's going to be Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight, and a couple of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria in attendance.” “No need for the implied threats, Sunset,” Adagio said and put her hands up in a light-hearted surrender, but kept her emotions in check. “I just wanted to see my home again. The open skies, even if I won't be able to fly. Just to breathe the air, feel the ground under my feet. Or hooves, I guess. I'd even like to apologise for my actions from way back when, if anyone's willing to listen. Most of all, I'd like to make travelling there regular thing.” Sunset felt more at ease, despite the ongoing mental haze. It might be everything she wanted to hear, but they sounded like a reasonable desires. “If it all goes smoothly, I don't see why not. And if we stay friends, it would give me a reason to visit more often too. Most of the time I visit, it's because I need Twilight's advice or guidance over some magic issue.” “I'd love that.” Adagio clasped her hands together. “Us putting all the bad times behind us.” She seemed lost in thought for a moment, then turned to her boyfriend. “Speaking of which, Ray?” He took a slow breath, and handed over the papers. “Here. Everything condensed down about my understanding of converting magic, how it correlates to the pony types, as well as how it proves Adagio's an earth pony by her resonance.” Sunset remembered her own failed attempts to figure out how magic worked in the human world. The human world's Twilight had a stronger understanding, but she became resentful of the topic after becoming corrupted by the magic of her magic sensor. She had overcome her understandable phobia, yet she preferred avoiding digging too deep. As Sunset read through the papers, Radian asked, “so this mind-reading thing... does it hurt?” She briefly looked up and shook her head, replying, “no, not at all,” then resumed reading. The two ponies watched Sunset's eyes grow wide as she read the research. “If what he wrote there is half as impressive as what I learned about his device,” Twilight said, “I imagine his formula on magic must have been a revelation.” Sunset smirked. “Like you wouldn't believe. I never even considered how local celestial bodies would affect a type of metamorphic change on Equestrian magic, and the time-dilation between Equestria and Earth's sun and moon even moreso, since proximity seems to impart more or less purity, depending where the moon is at a given moment. I was looking forward to getting my Twilight's opinion on it, but I guess that'll have to wait until I'm better.” Twilight opened her mouth to speak, then frowned. “Something wrong?” Sunset asked. “No, nothing. I was originally going to visit the human world while you recovered, but now I'd feel bad for abandoning you. Just to let your friends know what's going on, that's all. I could always pass on that information in your stead. It usually gets awkward, talking to... well, myself, but I'll ask Starlight to do it for us. That way we can spend more time together.” “Then why the hesitation?” “I was just remembering what Adagio said about spending time with your friends again to rekindle our friendships since she wants to have another Battle of the Bands style fight. I just don't know when it'll be, nor how long I have to prepare.” Sunset put a hoof around Twilight's shoulders. “Adagio's changed. I doubt she'll be so callous as to force a fight before we're good and ready. And you know what? I'm kinda looking forward to it.” “We really shouldn't be celebrating getting into fights, you know,” Twilight said with a frown. “It's less the fight, more the competition,” Sunset said, then pouted. “This is another of those things where me and Adagio have some common ground isn't it?” Twilight snickered and nodded. “So it seems.” “This is incredible, Radian,” Sunset said, still shocked at what she'd just read. “I don't even understand some of these more advanced equations, but I definitely recognise some of these figures about Equestrian magic from when I tried to make sense of it. I never even considered how magic would resonate with the our sun's energy, but would need this 'scrubbing' function here to uncouple it and make it functional. I'd love to give this to Twilight... well, both of them, if you'll let me. They'd geek out over this.” Radian smiled, though it's wasn't convincing, and said, “sure. Like Adagio said, it's time I buried the hatchet. You're helping my girlfriend, after all.” Sunset still found that such a strange concept. Adagio Dazzle is the girlfriend of a human. It's so strange, she expects Adagio to react poorly to the term, yet as she follow his gaze to the siren, he seems so accepting of the term as well, as if it's second nature. For every doubt, a reinforcing placation. This was a worrying game. “Thanks, sweetheart,” Adagio replied to Radian as she walked over to, and leaned on, the device he had made. “So, Sunset, want to check his memories?” “Yeah, sure.” Sunset folds and slips the research papers into her jacket, and she approached Radian as he offered his arm. Sunset gently took hold of his wrist, and her eyes flashed white. “Time to head for Radian's door at last,” Sunset said.”Just so you know, I had to piece a lot of this together. First, I later figured out he was using that bigger device to weaken my magic, and that's the weird feeling I felt when I approached Adagio's apartment. As a result, I couldn't get more than weak shots at his deeper memories, and he was so focused on his hatred of me that I couldn't get much of a read about Adagio and what she was planning, but I at least confirmed a few things looking at his less than stellar past. They weren't good memories.” “I admit, I'm a little nervous. Knowing where he ends up, happy and with a bright future ahead of him, and knowing what he confided in me? Seeing him at his worst doesn't sound... especially appealing. It's been bad enough seeing him so bitter and angry here.” “It's even worse than that, but you'll see.” The bedroom door of Adagio's apartment suddenly blinked, and the room beyond switched to a rainy street. Twilight and Sunset entered the door, and passed into the memories of Radian Wave. * * * Radian's Door You wonder why you come here every time. Actually, scratch that, you know exactly why you come here; despite one particular waitress' association with her, this diner serves the right mix of cheap and good food and drink, as well as the fact it has an inoffensive, non-distracting aesthetic. Also the rain outside is soothing. That and it's not too far from your current home. Hell, it's not too far from your old one either, but that's just a bad memory now. There's nothing left for you there. Not a detail that's especially positive for why you're still in this diner, you suppose, but less time walking means more time studying in the dry. It's a fairly classic 50's style affair (largely because that's when it was established and they've just kept the aesthetic), but that's not important. Studying is. Anything to just forget the world, ignore what's going on now and try to make something better in the future. “Whoa, what's with this weird inner monologue?” Twilight said. “It's unlike anything else you've shown me so far.” Sunset rubbed her horn with her hoof. “I think it's just the way Radian handles information and aspects of his surroundings. He treats it like he's looking at his life from the outside, or maybe he steps away from everything to be more analytical. It's also likely it's a way of coping with how much he hated his life at this particular point. I wonder if he's still like that now. Heck, it'll probably be reinforced, since that's what earned him his relationship with Adagio.” “That's kind of sad, actually,” Twilight said and chewed on her lip, then stuttered, “n-not the relationship thing! Just... having to so split his psyche from how most anypony else handles life.” “This isn't the first type you've seen an unusual style of inner monologue. You saw Adagio's memories before, back when I showed you a couple of days ago; she's the opposite. She's got such a strong sense of self that she hyper-associates herself with everything around her. She may have changed, but she's still used to being selfish deep down. I hope that how she acts becomes more natural. Anyway, let's get back to Radian.” It seems you're always doomed to suffer from noise at home. Years ago it was Dad yelling at Mom when you were a kid, and in your current apartment, it's the noisy as all hell neighbours. They're so loud you can feel them through the floor, walls, ceiling... everywhere. Alright, enough distractions, Radian. Get this damn formula down. Perfect it. Make something of yourself, damn it! Prove your mom's faith was right! Remember the influence of the Langmare waves on the magical bleed against- “I won't drag this out,” Sunset said as the scene sped past, “but this is what I saw when it came to proof that his inventions were exactly as advertised; he could capture and convert magic and turn it into other forms of magic, or flatly transform it into raw electricity.” “But, of course, you then delved deeper,” Twilight said. “Yep,” Sunset said, and the scene flickered. The tile floor remained, but morphed in shape, and each square shrank. The counter and tables changed styles. Radian Wave shrank subtly and he became younger, and two more figures appeared. A pale woman with brown eyes, gold hair with a long blue streak was preparing breakfast, and a tired man with sunken blue eyes and green hair sat at the table, reading a newspaper. Radian kept giving him sideways glances. Mom turned around and handed you a bowl of oatmeal with a smily face made of fruit and syrup. You're too old for the gesture, but you couldn't help but smile at her back. “Thanks, Mom.” She gently ruffles your hair and replies, “you're welcome, sweetie.” You have a spoonful. It's delicious, as always, like nothing anyone else could make. Dad cleared his throat. “So... given any thought to what we talked about yesterday? About moving out west with me? It'll be better, son, I swear it.” Mom sighed as she returned to the dishes. “Is this really the best time, dear?” “Of course it is, Carrie,” Dad said. “We can't keep pushing this back. This city's choking all of us. You'd see that if you weren't being poisoned by your damn sisters.” She put up a strong front, but her slumped shoulders spoke volumes to her illness. “You leave them out of this. Money isn't as important as happiness.” Dad folded his newspaper and slapped it down on the table. “Is that why our son is constantly coming back home miserable? He's gotta suffer under whoever's making his life hell so you can stay, with those incompetent sisters in charge of the school unable or willing to protect him? Just so you can stay close to the rest of your family? Is it about The Pigeon's family happiness over the Wave's?” Mom sighed with a harsh wheeze on her voice. “It's not just about that, Crest! I-” “Stop fighting!” You plead. Mom looks at you and the anger fades for a split second “That's exactly what it's about, Carrie! You barely care about our family! It's all about yours!” They begin having a face-to-face screaming match. You blank out the words; it's just the worst kind of white noise. You can't watch this again. You do what you always do as you take your breakfast, leave the room and put on some music, and bottle up the tears. It only makes Mom even more upset. Dad just wants to chase some job worth more money, no matter how much moving will make mom's condition worse from the strain and stress. You're gonna stick around for her, and that's it. Dad can go screw... “Enough, Sunset,” Twilight said, frowned and faced away. “I get the idea.” “Okay, no problem. I didn't get much more anyway. Let's get out of here,” Sunset said as the memory faded, and they were left in the void. * * * The Hub The pair remained in pony form as they settled back into the school hallway. Sunset's doorway opened as Radian's closed, but Twilight raised a hoof. “Hold on a second. I appreciate the thoroughness, but that was uncomfortable. And unnecessary.” Sunset shrugged. “Sorry, I wasn't sure how much you needed to understand why I acted the way I did. Knowing I was even part of the arguments Radian's parents had was just horrible.” Sunset bowed her head and her ears folded back. “It's one thing to have been a monster to everyone, but at least almost every other student could escape me outside of school. Ray had nowhere to go.” Twilight shook her head. “Enough. You're not that girl any more. And I suppose if nothing else, it tells me a great deal about how much Radian will dig his hooves in when it comes to fighting for those that show him kindness.” “Guess I can't deny that. Between Adagio acceptance, and you welcoming him and... heck, maybe even me now he's forgiven me, I know I'll get plenty of chances to prove we're friends. I know I'll fight 'til the bitter end for him. As will Adagio if she's able to be brought down from her worst by him serenading her.” “And I fully intend to prove he belongs as well,” Twilight said, then turned towards Sunset's door. “Shall we? I guess we go from one uncomfortable scene to another.” “Ugh, I guess...” Sunset blew an errant lock of fiery hair out of her eyes, then mumbled, “yay, I get to see me abuse my powers and weak trust in front of the very pony who taught me to not to...” Oh n-. S-e's gonna –te me... Gue-s you'll ---er ch--ge That's why she'll never tr---y l--e yo- Twilight winced at the static-like sound. She whispered, “there it is again.” “Beg your pardon?” “Tsk.” Twilight remembered she had to try and keep that under wraps. “Never mind. Let's carry on.” Sunset seemed less sure as she trotted through her door, and Twilight followed. * * * Sunset's Door Sunset released Radian, and tried to arrange the memories she had acquired. It was all fragmented and scattered, but at least it proved that he had in fact made a magic conversion device, and that he had learned the magical frequencies that the three pony races resonated with, meaning that Adagio really would be an earth pony if she entered Equestria. Not to disparage the sturdiest of ponykind, but her not having access to spells or flight was a huge comfort. Score one point to going ahead with the Equestria visit. “Weird, it came through all broken and skewed but yeah, I guess what you're saying is true; Adagio really is an earth pony now. And I, uh... saw about your parents, Ray.” Sunset awkwardly scratched the back of her neck and couldn't meet Radian's eyes. “I get your anger, and I'll say it again. I'm sorry about what I did. All I can offer you is I'll do everything I can to help you and Adagio from here on out. I'm not the same person I was back then, and I'll prove it to you if you'll let me. I want to make things right.” “Now that you mention it,” Adagio suddenly said with a far more classic grin; dark and troubling. “There is something else. Something I've been too worried about bringing up, but if you really want to offer your help, I shouldn't be stubborn and just ask.” Sunset put her internal guard up. She figured this would be the big sell. All smiles and sunshine, then now comes the real meat of the issue. Adagio walked behind the couch and Sonata, then leaned down and rested her hands on her sister's shoulders. “I've been trying to reconcile with my family. I didn't want to be angry and alone any more, so I figured it was time to eat humble pie and confess my failings. After the joy my Ray of sunshine gave me, having Sonata back has really made things feel right again... except something else has come to light.” Sunset tried not to be too judgemental as Adagio's expression sank. She looked dour and solemn. What was the ploy? All the same, Sunset asked, “what's wrong?” Adagio lowers her head, and her orange curls obscure her face. “I can't be sure whether Adagio doing that head-dip is a tell, or whether she's enforcing that piece of body-language to obscure an even deeper tell,” Twilight said as she flicked her mane back. “Especially since dipping the head is such a natural move when somepony's upset. I remember reading about personalised, self-aware control of body language in chapter fourteen of 'The Las Pegasus Guide to Amateur Gambling: Letting the Pony Ride.'” Sunset snickered. “Any particular reason you was reading a book on gambling?” “Applejack had some of her family over, and they were big on Apploosa Hoof'em poker as a socialising tool. I just wanted to at least give them a fair game to appear friendly, but that's beside the point; what Adagio's doing is an equivalent to wearing sunglasses or a hat to hide a twitchy or squinty eye.” “Well, duh,” Sunset said and rolled her eyes. “Big hair to hide a big, fat liar.” “That's the interesting thing. As a social creature like-” “Creature? Really?” Sunset winced. “I still hate that term. It's so demeaning.” Twilight sighed. “Agreed, we've stopped using words like 'everycreature' in favour of just 'everybody,' but you've misinterpreted my context. I meant it metaphorically. Anyway, a socially focused entity like a siren should be a better liar than needing such a simple, physical shield for hiding her true motives.” Sunset tilted her head. “So why do you think she's doing it?” “If I had to guess?” Twilight sat and pointed a hoof at Adagio. “She's cutting so close to her true feelings that she's vulnerable. I think at that juncture, she was carrying guilt for letting her sisters down, but also for turning on them at all. The fact that Sonata was then used in her ploy meant she was even going against her own desires for the good of her plan to get Radian to repair their siren stones.” “Well, this was the moment I fell for it,” Sunset said and snorted, “so I guess it worked.” Twilight patted Sunset on the head with a wing. “You were experiencing your own guilt as well over your treatment of Radian. It's only natural. Yet another aspect you share with Adagio.” Sunset's brow furrowed deeper. “Don't remind me. It's getting spooky.” “I fear we may be living on borrowed time,” Adagio continued. “I wanted to take a closer look at Sonata's broken siren stone and... well, take a look. Feel it for yourself.” Sunset bit her lip. That wasn't on her list of likely Adagio Dazzle schemes. But having clear access into Sonata's mind was a heck of a way to ease her fears. Nonetheless, she frowned and approached Sonata, who looked uncomfortable, but offered her hand. Sunset gently held it and used her empathy powers. Sunset nodded as the bedroom door opened into the foggy shroud of Sonata's mind. “Shall we?” “Sure.” Twilight gulped, and they entered. * * * Sonata's Door For Sonata this was, like, the best! Adagio was super sorry for being the worst ever, and even meaner than Aria after missing her morning coffee. They hugged and hugged some more, and then Radian threw up in the sink, but it didn't matter. Hugs! With big sis Dagi! She's better again! She even found herself a pet human named Radian, or just Ray, which was easier. Sonata put a lot of her success down to realising humans weren't as bad as Adagio first thought, even if, like, they were still really weird. Plus Adagio and Ray they were for realsies interested in The Guardians of Gale Glade! T-triple-G was amazing, and deep! And fun! It was kinda warm in the apartment though, so Sonata took her hoodie off. Despite all the fun she was having catching back up with her sis, Sonata couldn't help but, like, notice Adagio suddenly looking at her busted siren gem. Then she sighed. “I'm surprised you're still wearing it,” she said. Sonata nodded. Though it wasn't important any more, and despite how great everything was in the human world, she still missed Equestria. She told the T-triple-G guys it was her lucky charm. “Yeah. It makes me feel a little happier. I almost never take it off.” Adagio made these weird little faces. Not, like, actual small faces, that would be freaky, but little adjustments to her expression as she looked at Sonata's stone, then Ray and his weird energy machine thing. Then she made a big, toothy grin. Just like she always used to when, like, she figured something out, and was glad to see her doing that again. Sonata had kinda missed it. “Sonata, could I see your necklace for a second?” Sure, it didn't work any more, and Adagio had always told her to never let anyone else take it because it was, like, totally important but something was weird. Maybe it was how long it had been since they had been together, but the way Adagio asked for it... Sonata clutched her necklace and asked, “uh... why?” “I just want to see it,” Adagio said, still grinning. “For old times' sake.” This didn't feel right to Sonata, but... she wanted to trust Adagio. She still felt the pain from how angry she was when Sonata left her sisters. But, like, she remembered episode sixteen of The Guardians of Gale Glade, where Tantra's father tried and turn her against her new friends, and how he was totally being sneaky at making them all seem like they were betraying her! Tantra had to learn the hard way that, like, family and friends can turn you against one another, but that if you don't at least try to trust others and take chances, you'll never find out for sure or experience life, even if it hurts. Tantra's father was a jerk and, while her new friends weren't perfect, they at least weren't just using her. They respected her wits and bunny-quake powers! Sonata took that step as she removed her necklace, and handed it over. “It's still broken and stuff.” “I know. Hold on one second.” Adagio turned to her human. “Ray, why don't you tell Sonata about your device?” Ray shrugged, but smiled at Sonata. “Sure, I guess? It's a little complicated though.” Adagio gestures to him and said, “see, he's building this machine that's going to make us a fortune. He'll explain it. He's better at it than I am.” She headed into her bedroom while Ray stepped beside his weird machine and, like, seemed a bit unsure what to say for a while. He then looked over to Adagio's bedroom again as she appeared and, like, put something on the table behind Sonata, then stood to the side. Sonata suddenly felt awful. It was the literal worst! She felt light headed, and sick, and her vision was all wobbly. “I guess it affects people differently to some extent,” Twilight said, “and it goes to show that humans probably do feel a little magic to some extent, although obviously Sonata's hardly a normal human. Either way, having that light magical influence disrupted is still a horrible feeling.” Sunset tapped her chin with her hoof in thought. “Wait, if my stealing of your crown, and our Twilight's ripping of the dimensions, made magic so common over here, how come everyone didn't feel energised or whatever before? We didn't have magic to feel. That makes no sense.” Twilight replied, “while true, I had a very interesting conversation with Radian about string-theory.” “Oh, the interdimensional connection thing? Like one particle can exist in two places at once, so affecting one can affect the other.” “Precisely!” Twilight smiled. “I surmise that, where humans have a counterpart in Equestria, our dimensional similarities may actually have always allowed a small amount of magic into their lives. I suspect this connection allowed many of our quirks to pass between worlds, even if environmental uniqueness still holds true. Naturally this is only going to grow stronger as magic continues to seep through, and that likely means Radian's idea to use it to power electrical devices might help prevent it growing worse.” “I wonder if Ray actually even knows if his device is capable of half the things it really is, or whether he just got lucky.” Twilight looked at the emitter Adagio had placed on the table. The very same that Twilight now owned. “I suspect he knows what he's doing.” She blushed. “I really enjoyed our talks. He's as passionate about the science of magic as Rarity is with fashion, and it's hard not to feel his excitement.” Adagio went bolt rigid. Her head twitched and unevenly turned to Twilight, and her eyes went black, like the void doorways Sunset had created when returning to the hub. “You love him, don't you?” Twilight gasped and paced back away from Adagio. “What? Why is she looking at me? Sunset? What's-” “No!” Sunset looked between Twilight and Adagio, and buried her head under her hooves. “No, stop it!” “It's not fair!” Adagio cried out, tears of void streaming down her face and her voice muffling and shifting until it sounded like she was talking over herself. “You were the only one who I-” * * * * * * The Garden? “This again?” The statues, the heroic figure of Twilight looming high like a heroic figure, the beautiful garden. She was reminded of... that was it! It looked a bit like the Canterlot gardens. The platforms with statues of various historic figures, or even Discord, had been replaced with these columns, but it was definitely similar. This was probably how Sunset remembered them. Twilight eyed the stairway and trotted over in search of that voice... Sure enough, she heard the sound of gentle sobbing. A female voice. “I don't deserve it. I don't deserve her.” Twilight cautiously approached, hiding behind the column supporting Applejack's proud statue. “I'm such an idiot. Why do I still hold on like this?” The figure was humanoid, and had her head buried in her arms, but was cloaked and her features were obscured. “She's almost perfect,” the figure said between sobs. “You're deeply flawed, you moron. Just stop torturing yourself and just let it go! Why would she pick you? She's going to move on, and forget you...” Twilight approached and asked, “are you alrig-” The figure screamed and raised her arms, and there was a flash of light as the area hazed over. * * * * * * “Oh, ow!” Sonata groaned. “What the heck? I feel all icky?” Twilight glanced around. They were back in Adagio's apartment. Sunset was watching proceedings as if nothing had happened. Twilight glanced around, and focused on Adagio as she subtly smirked at Sonata. “Sunset, did you feel that?” “Feel what?” Twilight frowned, then shook her head. She was getting closer. Ray looked, like, really angry, and he headed to Adagio, but she pushed past him to stand near Sonata. “Oh? What's wrong, Sonata?” “I don't feel well,” she replied. Adagio gasped and seemed to figure something out. “It must be because I took away your stone! Hold on, I'll get it back!” She then nodded to Ray, who walked behind Sonata while she continued struggling with the bad feelings, then they faded. She still felt dizzy, but it was, like, getting easier to deal with. Just then, Adagio returned and handed Sonata back her stone. “It's worse than I feared! What little power is left in our stones is keeping us from... degrading further. Maybe even dying.” Dying? For realsies? Sonata squeaked, “what!?” Adagio wrapped her hand around Sonata's, who clutched her necklace out of desperation, and said, “Do you feel better now?” “A little,” Sonata said and sniffled. “That was, like, the worse thing I've felt in forever.” The scene faded as Radian gently grabbed Adagio by the arm, said something to Sonata, and pulled his girlfriend into the bedroom. Twilight asked, “do you know what they discussed in there?” “Sure,” Sunset said, and changed the scene to Adagio's bedroom. A stern faced Radian and a blasé looking Adagio were discussing something face to face, but nothing was moving. Sunset stood beside the pair and said, “so basically Radian called Adagio out for manipulating Sonata, especially so soon after a heartfelt reunion. It was pretty clever, however cruel, so that when I looked into Sonata's memories, she honestly thought she was dying to trick me into getting a stone repaired, knowing I couldn't just let them die. As for Adagio, she swore blind that she was just being pragmatic about getting what she wanted and didn't mean any real harm. It was definitely in service of getting their stones repaired, so I guess it's in-keeping with the 'better' Adagio, even if the method was... well, cruel and manipulative.” Twilight grumbled. “That could be her middle name, for ponies' sake. Adagio 'Manipulative' Dazzle. Hay, even with her turning friendlier, I suspect I'll be dealing with her ploys when she returns to Equestria, but I hope the worst will be trying witty schemes to drum up business for that juice bar my friends said she wanted to make.” “So long as it's savvy stuff rather than... y'know, Flim-Flammery?” “True. I do believe Adagio's a bit like that; she tried to run a bar, so she obviously quite likes the idea of running a business. That's probably why she got along so well with Applejack and Rarity. They're both successful businessmares. Adagio and Rarity share a certain high society affectation, while Applejack's pretty no nonsense and family orientated, which I imagine rings close to Adagio's newfound acceptance of her sisters and practical methods. Anyway, let's move on.” Twilight and Sunset headed into the front room alongside Radian, while Adagio busied herself with dressing to head out and applying makeup. “Oh, and before you ask, she's getting ready to go buy breakfast burritos.” Twilight smirked. “Sonata?” “Sonata,” Sunset answered with a chuckle. “In fact, we don't really need to see anything else besides Ray bonding with Sonata. It's sweet, but not hugely important. That and if we needed to know how much Sonata was happy to be back in touch with Adagio, she sent her a bunch of cash to help with their rent troubles.” “I'm starting to really look forward to introducing Sontata back to Equestria,” Twilight said as her smile grew wider. “She seems really nice after her time away from her sisters and having learned that humans aren't bad. And I'm glad Sonata didn't carry and grudges. I wouldn't have blamed her, considering she was right to seek another job and she even did it to bring money back to her family but Adagio just snapped at her..” “Yeah, Sonata's pretty happy-go-lucky about life these days. A little human spirit for the siren does them some good, it seems. Anyway, where were we? Oh... right, back to my visit... yeah. I worked out some of the plan later when I thought back on them, but in the moment? The fact Sonata believed she was dying to be true? That was my big takeaway because of how shocking it was.” The main room blurred as Sonata, Adagio and Radian moved, and that moment's Sunset reappeared. Sunset released Sonata's arm with a gasp. “I don't believe it... that's horrible!” “I know how this probably sounds sounds,” Adagio said and squeezed her hands into fists as she looked at the floor; awkwardness, but... was it feigned? “And even I wouldn't trust myself if I were in your shoes. Like I said, I was worried about bringing it up at all, because I know what you'll think, considering our history. We need our stones repaired.” There was no way Sunset could let this happen. There were punishments suitable for most situations, but even if it was obvious Adagio was trying to use this detail to her advantage, the idea of the sirens dying because of the breaking of their stones was too far. There was no other choice, Sunset needed to help, but she needed to try and see what sort of angle would be played. Sunset said, “which you know is something that I doubt anyone would agree with. But there has to be something we can do.” “Exactly,” Adagio replied, “and I've been racking my mind for a suitable solution, and I think I have a compromise.” Adagio squeezed Sonata's shoulder. Reassurance. Forced sympathy maybe. She continued, “Ray's been working on making a replication of the energy we need to sustain ourselves, and I think if we have even one stone repaired, we can use it to feed without harming anyone. I've been okay for now, but you saw it; the moment I took Sonata's stone away for a closer look, she immediately felt unwell. I was always the strongest of us, so it's probably only a matter of time before I also start to suffer. I intend to get in touch with Aria as soon as I can to see if we can help her too.” Sunset could only hope that Aria had kept her stone as well, just in case she'd discarded it. She always seemed the most uncaring, apathetic and least sentimental. She breathed a small sigh of relief as she delivered the good news. “You're in luck. The Crystal Empire is the best chance we have to repair that stone. Their whole city is made with crystal, and they've taken to repairing artefacts I've sent back to Equestria where I've had to... well, get heavy handed with some of the people tampering with forces they don't understand. I figure a siren stone wouldn't be out of the question. This changes things, though... You're asking to potentially unleash a siren back on Equestria.” Adagio bowed her head, once more obscuring her full face. “Please, don't let my past mistakes cost my sisters their lives! I beg you! We won't even need my stone, you can take Sonata's! She can remain here and use Ray's machine to keep herself well; it should be fine so long as she doesn't leave the apartment if it's only a couple of days. That will keep Sonata safe and healthy while me and Ray visit, and you can see about repairing the stone. And you even said, there's all those alicorns and and powerful unicorns there. What hope would I have fighting against that?” Alarm bells rang in Sunset's head. The devil's bargain was just offered. Adagio was giving a lot for the chance to get back into Equestria. Too much, almost. Yes, Adagio had changed, but so much as to give this much thought to a plan that seemed perfectly safe meant it was anything but. Any and all trust she had been building just careened off a ledge and was hanging on by a thread. Sunset paced back and forth as she tried to work out what to do. “Please,” Adagio said, a hint of desperation in her voice, “you can even take mine as collateral!” Sunset turned around and, sure enough, Adagio was holding out her own necklace. The very core of her old powers. Sunset remembered when she first met the Dazzlings back at Canterlot High, and they were seeking to infiltrate and locate Equestrian magic, her curiosity led to her reaching for them for an innocent look, but it almost broke Adagio's carefully smooth persona. Sunset remembered the feel of Adagio's fingers digging into her skin. The subtle panic. Siren stones weren't given flippantly. Adagio pleaded, “a sign of good faith. I'll endure the pain if it starts to happen to me. Our lives are in your care, Sunset. Please, you have to help us!” Sunset clenched her teeth and gritted them as she slowly reached out. To take the stone would feel like sealing the deal. It would also feel mean-spirited, as if the sirens' lives needed collateral to make saving them worthwhile to save. Even without touching the stone, it had weight. Almost like it had power. To hold a siren's heart in her hand... Sunset couldn't do it. She wasn't that petty any more. She closed Adagio's fingers back around her stone. 'Then just do it?' She clenched her jaw tighter. Pinkie... 'It wouldn't be the first time you had to be a meanie-pants to beat another meanie-pants.' What was she doing? Sunset felt awful. But would it be worse than endangering Equestria? No. No it wouldn't. Just do it. Being a full bitch was always going to inside of her. It was a weapon to be drawn and wielded as needed. To protect others as demanded. For the sake of her friends and loved ones. Sunset grabbed Adagio's wrist, and her eyes flashed white. “Let's come back to this, a little later” Sunset suddenly said. “I just think there's a lot more to discuss about Adagio's mind compared to what happened afterwards. I'd rather not get caught up on unfinished business of this visit to her apartment when we get into the really deeper implications of Adagio's memories.” “I...” Twilight wondered whether to argue, but she decided against it. “Alright, I guess.” Sunset fast-forwarded the memory. The strange weakness Sunset had felt earlier kicked in extra hard all of a sudden and completely disabled her magic. She heard a disturbance elsewhere in the apartment, someone falling over, but she was too focused on keeping her own balance as she clutched her head. But even that didn't reduce the facts; someone had physically assaulted Adagio! An attempted mugging. It wasn't even successful; the man wanted Adagio's cellphone, but it fell underneath a nearby dumpster, but that wasn't important. All that siren pride. All that animosity and hate. All that power and selfish desires... all cast away in that one, singular moment. It was the moment Adagio broke. Everything that made Adagio who she was, shattered. First her stone, then her ego. She was in denial all the way. She even headed for an overpass with a broken fence and, for a split second, considered taking a step off into traffic. She didn't even know what to do as she walked home, nursing a bruised rib and a black eye, and just laughed. Then, when she got home, frantic laughing changed to tears. She locked her door to everything and everyone. She barely ate, didn't answer her phone and let the battery drain. Adagio Dazzle, the devious, wicked singer ended that day. To hell the carefully laid out plans that Adagio or Sunset had. This was a girl who had been traumatised, even if she refused to admit it or confide that in her sisters or in her new boyfriend. Just an isolated soul, her fire doused, her spirit strangled. She had given up, and even if Radian had relit her passion, and drawn her back to a more normal sense of self, it didn't change the fact that Adagio had faced this horrible situation alone, with nobody to confide in. Sunset felt the tears well up as she grabbed the siren by the shoulders and said, “Adagio... why didn't you call us!? You have Pinkie's number, I know you do! We would have helped! Did you at least call the pol-” If she needed proof that Adagio's spirit was alive again, it arrived in the raw, punishing fury in Adagio's voice. “Shut up!!” Sonata looks at Adagio and Sunset, then asks, “what's going on?” Sunset glances at Radian. He looks as surprised as anyone here. This wasn't anything except untamed, raw hatred swelling from within Adagio. She kept her arms down by he sides, twitching and flashing her teeth. She was trying to hold it back, to not break her cool persona, to try to end this amicably. It didn't hold. Sunset was too distraught to see it coming and her powers were still acting strange. Adagio's arms flew up and shoved Sunset's own away. She then brought an open palm as hard and as fast as a freight train across Sunset's face. Stars. Sunset saw stars as she spun and crashed into the wall. Everything sounded fuzzy, but Adagio's volatile shrieking stabbed Sunset's mind like a bullet. “How fucking dare you!? Don't you dare pity me!” Fire turned to water as a tear trickled down Adagio's cheek. She stormed off into her bedroom and slammed the door shut. Sunset was as confused physically as she was mentally. For all the rage and fury. For all the unrelenting anger, the assault wasn't the strongest emotion inside Adagio any more, even if it was the most harrowing. It had been toppled. A revolution of the soul. A despotic darkness overthrown by one emotional flame of brilliant light and warmth. Radian Wave. Adagio loved him. He inspired her. He had talked her out of her carefully constructed and hateful downward spiral of debt, misery, angry neighbours and apathy. Pulled free from the mire of being attacked and defeated casually by the very humans she once thought herself above and given a purpose, a goal to strive for. He had shown her how to fight once again, to be Adagio Dazzle once more. He had picked her up with his words in a way she had never felt in all her life; encouraging and supportive, no strings attached. The days once more had colour, and flavour, and sounds and smells. Radian had made her sing again! Adagio had forgotten how much she actually enjoyed singing, and his teasing and pressure forced her to remember how much the lyrics just flowed from her. And in that moment, Sunset knew what she had to do. If Adagio could love a human with this depth, Sunset had to nurture that feeling, and bring it forth. She had to help the Dazzlings repair one of their gems so they had a chance to live. The gain far outstripped the potential loss. But that didn't change the fact that Sunset was absolutelyseething at being cheap-shotted with that slap, however justified. She had to get outside and breathe out the fire in her lungs before the images of busting Adagio's nose bubbled over into action. Sonata didn't deserve Sunset's fury, and her guilt to Radian helped her keep it in check, however complicit he was with Adagio's schemes. She turned to them as she clutched her cheek and said, “I'll let Twilight know, and try and get them to repair Sonata's stone.” “What did you see?” Radian asked. He was being honest, and even his clear hatred of Sunset had been overridden by his worry about Adagio. Sunset looked at Adagio's door and realised she could have had some petty revenge by revealing those secrets. But... “I guess Adagio has her reasons for covering this up, and it's not my place to betray that. I just had to be sure about something, but I never expected...” She shook her head; she had to stop before she made things worse. “Please. I believe she wants to be better. Just look after her, okay?” Sunset left the apartment and was into the dingy, trash-strewn stairwell that smelled deeply of urine and faeces before she snarled under her breath. She punted a half-empty beer bottle into a frothy, glittering mess on one wall, pulled out her phone, and used the front-facing camera to check her cheek. A big, red mark and possibly a bruise for her efforts. “Remind me to kick her ass,” Sunset muttered to herself, and stormed out of the building. A crash. A sharp pain. Cold shards down her neck. Stars in her eyes again. Someone just cracked a bottle over the back of the head. She staggered, and arms locked around hers and held them behind her. “She's a slippery one, so hold her tight,” said a voice... Blag. “Now, where were we, you bitch?” He grabbed her hair and pulled her face up to his. Ugly jerk, small nicks and scars, crooked nose and a shaved head of what looked like dark purple hair from the stubble. He stank of body odour and beer. Her eyes flickered white. It wasn't a perfect glimpse of his mind, but it was enough. Blag Bundles; more than one girl was nursing a scar from this asshole, and not just physically. “You might have to refresh my memory,” Sunset said with a sneer. “You didn't leave much of an impression on me. Maybe because you can't hit shit.” He turned her head and stared at her reddened cheek. “Guess someone did. What, you visiting a boyfriend and he slap you for being a smart-mouthed whore?” “Nah, he was just softening me up for you, because you're a pitiable, limp-dic-” He slapped her on the same cheek, pulled her head up, and raised a fist. “Exactly what was the plan here, Sunset?” “Get him mad enough to make mistakes. Relax, I've taken a few hits in my time.” Twiight gave Sunset a worried look. “You could have at least tried diplomacy.” “Just watch.” Sunset screamed bloody murder, and the three all flinched. A few window blinds opened, a few walkers stared down at the road at their group and Blag scowled at the growing attention. “Get'er to the usual place and keep a tight hold, Arch. Shiver, if she tries to run, do what you gotta. I'm gonna go make sure nobody's gonna be a hero and follow. Besides, I'm gonna want some privacy with this one.” Sunset was pulled down an alleyway and around a few corners. The weasily guy, Shiver, walked in front, meaning the brawny, troubled one holding her was Arch. Fewer and fewer windows, until the only ones in sight were boarded up and they reached a dead end. Shiver pulled out a flick knife and toyed with it for a bit while eyeing Sunset, before he collapsed it again and saying, “gotta take a leak. Don't fuck up in the meanwhile, Arch.” Sunset glanced over her shoulder at Arch, then reached out with her fingers and had them glance against his, and activated her powers. Broken Arch. He had a girlfriend, and they had a daughter together. Two years old. Arch liked to cook for them. His mom was a chef and taught him everything he knew, and that's how they bonded. They all meant the world to Arch, and his mom and girlfriend kept telling him to leave Blag to his own downward spiral, but he didn't know how to break free from Blag's grip. They were old friends, and as he sank lower and lower, Arch tried to help him, and felt obligated to keep trying, even as his own life fell to ruin. He was on probation. Another arrest and he was going to be locked away for long time. Sunset said, “you don't have to do this, you know?” Arch sighed and said, “stop talking.” “I mean it. You don't want your daughter growing up without you to look out for her.” “How'd you know about that?” “And ask yourself this, Arch; guys like Shiver and Blag? What do you think they'd do to a woman like your girlfriend? Alone, without someone like you looking out for them? How vulnerable your daughter will be close to the influence of jackasses like them? When they have to walk to the store, without you, what do you think'll happen?” Arch's grip softened. “They wouldn't...” “Really? Are you sure? They wanted a piece of me just for passing by. Or do you want me to be another notch on that guy's belt?” Arch's grip weakened further. Sunset could have broken free, but didn't. “Listen. The only way Blag's going to learn is if you stand up to him. To stop being complicit in getting his way. Just step back and leave. Please.” “I...” Arch let her go. “I just wanted to try and help...” Sunset slowly turned around and gave him a smile as she shook the glass shards out of her jacket. “Listen, Arch... you cook, right? There's a diner on the corner of Sugarcube and Pastry street. Ask for Pinkie Pie, and tell her Sunset Shimmer sent you. I'm sure she'll be glad to give you a job. They're planning for a big event for this fashion parade coming up soon and I know she'll look after you.” Arch shrugged. “Why're you helping me?” Sunset winked. “It's what I do.” Arch couldn't look her in the eye. “C- can you help Blag? He used to be nice as a kid...” Sunset put a hand on Arch's shoulder. “You'll do that already by showing him how much better you'll be when you're not enabling him, that you won't allow him to get his way. Now get going. I'm gonna give him a reality check.” Shiver emerged from behind the dumpster and drew his knife. “Hey, what the hell're you doing?” Arch scowled at his 'friend'. “Leave it, Shiv. Get lost.” Shiv ignored Arch and approached, only for Arch to get in the way and shove him back a dozen feet. “What did I just say?” Shiv tried his best to be intimidating, but it wasn't convincing. “Blag ain't gonna be happy.” “That's his problem,” Arch cracked his knuckles and loomed over his friend. “Now buzz off before I lose my temper.” Shiv squinted at Arch, but relented. He glanced around at Sunset, then raised his hands in submission and walked away. Arch then followed him. “Thanks, Sunset... corner of Sugarcube and Pastry, right? I hope I don't screw up...” Sunset nodded and waved. “You'll do fine! Pinkie's really nice.” “Hey, guys!” Blag called out as he rounded the corner. “What the fuck?” Arch gave Blag a look, then shook his head and walked away. Blag went to follow, but Sunswt called out. “your problem was with me, asshole.” Sunset limbered up as Blag snarled at his lost cohorts, then back at her. “Pfft. Fine. Your funeral,” he said and marched up to her. Sunset's geode flickered again. He was going to remove his jacket, throw it at her and go for a sucker-punch. She let him pull his arms out of his jacket, and he threw it, obscuring him. Sunset stepped back, and raised her guard. The punch emerged the second the jacket fell. She batted it away and jabbed him in the nose. He took another swing, she dipped to the side, twisted and drove an elbow into his eye. His attacks were getting more frantic. He tried a body-blow, she twisted with the blow glanced off of her side harmlessly. She kicked his leg and threw him off balance. Then he caught his feet, stood up and swung way too high. Sunset hooked her arm around his and pulled it down. It locked his limb her neck shoulder, and she threw her weight down on his elbow. Not enough to break it, but enough to make him cry out and fall to one knee. She pulled him and kept twisting his arm, and he staggered, unable to balancen. She then hooked his other arm so he was facing the floor and bent over, then she slammed a knee into his face. “You listen to me, shithead,” Sunset snarled as she dug up the old Sunset Shimmer. The monster bubbled to the surface and brought with it all the anger she had felt from Adagio's slap. “There's two ways this ends,” she continued. “Either you apologise and we go our separate ways or I keep bashing your face in until it's a fine paste. What's it gonna be?” He was going to protest, then try to pull free. “Get fu-” He tightened his muscles, pushed forward to free his limbs. She dragged him at the same time as he pushed, and he stumbled again. Sunset then threw out another knee to his face. His nose cracked and seeped blood. “I won't ask again!” “Get offa me!” Two more knees. He couldn't see straight. He was afraid. The pain was mounting. “Alright! Alright! I give up!” Sunset released him and stepped back. He stumbled. Injured, but his pride flared up. He was going to take another wild swing. Sunset stepped back as he staggered and raised his undamaged arm. She slammed a boot between his legs with every ounce of her strength. Blag whimpered and fell to his knees as he grabbed his crotch, then slumped over, face first onto the floor. Sunset squatted beside him. “Here's a new offer; if I see you acting like a douchebag in the future, I'll kick your ass again. I have a friend who lives near here. If I hear from them that you've been doing stupid shit, I'll kick your ass again. I'm also gonna be in contact with your friend, Arch. If I hear from him that you've been doing stupid shit, I'll kick your ass! Again! You hear me?” He just grunted in pain. Sunset slapped him on the back of the head, grabbed his collar and pulled him back up face to face with her, and roared, “do. You. HEAR ME!?” He was petrified. “Yeah, I hear ya! I hear ya! Please don't hurt me any more!” “Good.” She let him slump back down again. “I hope I don't see you soon, Blag. Next time I you won't be able to walk.” Sunset stood and left, glad to have vented her anger. She felt the back of her neck, only to feel something sticky and warm. She was bleeding from the broken bottle he hit her with. “Damn it,” she grumbled. She pulled out her phone and made a call. “Good afternoon, this is Meadowbrook Veterinary practice,” said a familiar, gentle voice on the other end. “This is Dr. Fluttershy speaking, how can I help you?” “Hey, Fluttershy!” “Oh, Sunset! Is- is Ray alright? I've got his enclosure all ready for your trip.” “He's fine! I'm just more impressed you took my advice; addressing yourself as doctor? Nice! That'll make people respect you more. And answering the phone yourself? You didn't even stutter!” “Oh, my receptionist caught a cold, so I had to step in for her. I was so worried about her health... um, but anyway, what can I do for you?” Sunset didn't need to use her empathy powers to know she was about to annoy Shy. “I need a favour...” “Please tell me it's not another fight injury.” “It's just a small cut! Back of my head and no debris that I can feel. It just needs cleaning and maybe a stitch or two?” Fluttershy sighed. “Look, I did it last time because you were nearby, but go to a hospital!” “Ooh, look at you, being all firm! You're kicking butt and taking names these days, huh? I'm so glad you're standing up for yourself!” Shy raised her voice a little. “Compliments won't change my mind, Sunset.” “Aw, c'mon, Fluttershy! You do realise I'm technically a pony, right?” “That's not how it works! Oh, for goodness sake...” She was beginning to relent. Shy continued, “look, I don't want to keep enabling you getting into these fights!” Okay, less relenting, more digging in her heels. Sunset had to admit, she was proud of her for sticking to her morals, but it was time to bargain. “Didn't you say it's inoculation week for the shelter? And if you're without your assistant, doing that alone's gonna be a lot of scratches and bites, no matter how well you handle the animals. I'll tell you what, you treat my scratch, I'll take all of yours for you from the critters.” Fluttershy sighed, this time easing down. “Okay. But please stop doing this, Sunset. I keep worrying about you.” “Promise I'm not taking any unnecessary risks. I'll see you in ten minutes, okay?” “If you find a mini-mart or something, get some clean water on the wound, and some gauze if they have it, then apply pressure. The last thing I want you to get is an infection. You've got to take more care of yourself.” “Sorry, I let that run long,” Sunset said. “I just wanted to hear Fluttershy's voice.” Twilight gave Sunset a look. “And show off your martial arts, no doubt.” “I mean... were you impressed?” Twilight pouted, then sighed. “A little. Anyway, back to Adagio?” “Sure. Lemme just take a quick break first.” The human Sunset stepped over a manhole cover, which swirled into a void, into which the two ponies hopped, back into the hub. * * *