I don't own any of the songs used in this chapter. They all belong to their respective creators.
Canterlot Central Park
Shadow followed Sunset, Juniper, and Wallflower to the park where the Dazzlings were said to be performing. As they walked through the park, Shadow noted how many people were walking through the park to get to a clearing in the center of the woods. Shadow gently tugged on Sunset's sleeve.
"Are the Dazzlings... popular?" Shadow asked.
"They're pretty popular singers. Ever since their gems got destroyed, they've lost the dark magic their voices had, but they've made a comeback as local celebrities," Sunset replied. "I've actually heard some of their songs without my friends knowing, and their songs are straight bops!"
Shadow smirked at Sunset at her mentioning that she never told her friends about their songs. He crossed his arms as he looked to Sunset.
"I'm guessing your friends would have reservations about you listening to songs from your former foes?" Shadow asked.
A very obvious blush appeared on Sunset's cheeks and she scratched the back of her head. "Eh... maybe."
"Maybe they don't understand the concept of separating the artists from the art," Wallflower interjected.
"Regardless of their past actions, they are great singers," Juniper said. "I even have an entire Spotify playlist with just their songs alone!"
The other three looked to Juniper.
"Are you perhaps a fan of the Dazzlings?" Shadow asked.
"I'm a huge fan! I'd like to ask them for their autograph while we're there!" Juniper replied.
Juniper wouldn't have to wait long as they followed the crowd to the forest clearing to see a stage that was set up on the far side with a large crowd in front it. The group worked their way to the front of the crowd and waited for the Dazzlings to appear. After a few minutes of waiting, a girl with poofy golden hair appeared on stage with dazzling purple eyes and a happy smile. Sunset bent down to whisper to Shadow.
"That's Adagio, the older sister of the Dazzlings. She masterminded the whole world domination plan a while back," Sunset said.
Shadow kept his eyes glued to Adagio. He could feel a leader's confidence oozing from her, and her golden hair reminded him of the time he gave Maria's hair a blow-dry. It turned out just as poofy as that, too. Shadow had a feeling that he would somehow like these Dazzlings if he met them.
"She definitely seems like the leader type. It might make convincing her to join us a bit more difficult," Shadow said. "Her sisters might be a different story, though."
Adagio walked onto the stage like a queen walking to greet her subjects. She walked up to the microphone in the center and spoke enthusiastically.
"Hello, Canterlot!" she greeted. "Are you all ready from some sonic relief?!"
The crowd erupted in excited cheers to reply. Adagio was about to speak into the microphone again when her eyes fell on the familiar sight of Sunset Shimmer in the crowd. Her eyes narrowed slightly in a glare until her eyes met Shadow's. Adagio's expression turned to extreme confusion until she remembered that she had to address the crowd. With a few glances back to Sunset and Shadow, Adagio spoke to the crowd again.
"Well, then. Without wasting any more time, me and my sisters are happy to get this concert started!" Adagio said. Shadow looked to Sunset with a shrug.
"I get the feeling that we won't have to ask for permission to meet with them after the concert," Shadow said.
Shouts and cheers blared as the rest of the Dazzlings appeared on the stage. Adagio stood in the middle with her sisters Aria and Sonata by her side. The colorful lights came on as the girls started their performance.
By the end of the concert, Shadow was more than impressed by the musical talents these sisters possessed. Juniper was jumping up and down in absolute elation. Shadow gave a small smile at seeing her like that. It made him happy knowing that Juniper was having fun at this concert. He then turned to his new friends.
"I think we can try to get backstage to talk to the Dazzlings, now," Shadow said.
The group snuck around to the back of the stage and saw the Dazzlings actually waiting for them. As much as they didn't seem happy to see Sunset, they were genuinely surprised to see Shadow the Hedgehog with her, and their faces switched to those of curiosity. Aria let out a sigh.
"I'm not even going to ask why you have an anthropomorphic hedgehog with you. I've seen too much to let this bother me," Aria said.
Sonata let out a squeal and suddenly scooped Shadow into her arms in a hug. Shadow was surprised, but decided to let her hold onto him, as she wasn't squeezing him like a python.
"Who's your new friend?" Sonata asked Sunset. "He's soooooo cute!"
"That is Shadow the Hedgehog. And he's obviously from another world," Sunset said. "But that's not why I'm here. I wanted to talk to you about a proposition."
Adagio looked suspicious of her former enemy. She and Aria looked to each other in suspicion while Sonata was blissfully hugging and petting Shadow. She looked back to Sunset with her arms crossed.
"What do you want, Shimmer?" Adagio asked with a small dose of venom in her voice.
Sunset cleared her throat to begin her little sales' pitch. She was sincerely hoping that the Dazzlings would like to join her group and put the past behind them. The flame-haired girl spoke in a friendly voice to really drive her point home.
"I'm starting up a group, a group of friends that used to be villains. I'd like for you to join us as new friends," Sunset said with and outstretched hand and a smile. "We'd love to have you as friends."
The Dazzlings were surprised to hear that Sunset, their former enemy, was inviting them to join her in a friend group of has-been villains. It was a bizarre thing for them to hear. Adagio walked up to Sunset with her arms crossed.
"Let me get this straight: you beat us in a battle, took away our magic, force us to scrounge around her meager earnings, and you expect us to join you in a group of friends as if that never happened?" she asked.
"Well, it sounds pretty harsh when you put it like that, but what I'm saying is that I'd like for us to move on from this and start over as true friends," Sunset replied. "I don't want us to be enemies anymore."
"Why would we want to hang out with the girl who humiliated us?" Aria asked.
It was at this point that Shadow managed to gently pry himself from Sonata, who was smiling at Sunset.
"I actually think that we should join," Sonata said, earning surprised looks from her sisters. "Look, ever since we lost our powers, we've actually grown closer as a family than ever before. Aria actually helped me with my hair yesterday and you gave me a compliment about my new skirt, Adagio."
There was no denying the truth about Sonata's claims as they looked away with red faces. Adagio turned back around in an attempt to save face.
"Th-that was because you have surprisingly good fashion sense! That's all!" Adagio said.
"Y-yeah, a-and your hair needed better b-brushing, Sonata!" Aria said.
Now, Shadow took this time to step in. He looked to the Dazzlings with a similar pleading look.
"It may not be my place to say this, but I think you should take Sunset up on her offer," Shadow said. "I know what it's like to use power to hurt others, and it doesn't always feel good. You don't have to be alone in this world anymore. You and your sisters can be happy with those who can get where you're coming from."
At least Sonata seemed to be on board with the idea, as she hugged Shadow again. "As long as I get to snuggle Shadow every now and then, I'd love to join!"
The other two sisters looked to each other uneasily and then back with Sunset with stern looks. Adagio spoke first.
"I... suppose I can't refuse if my youngest sister wants to join your club," Adagio said with a sigh.
"Someone has to be there to keep Sonata out of trouble and my older sister could use my help, so... I guess I'll play along with you," Aria said.
With the Dazzlings on board with Sunset's group, the rest of the group minus Shadow swallowed the Dazzlings in a huge group hug. Adagio looked away from Sunset's smiling face.
"D-don't get the wrong idea! We're not friends, yet!" Adagio said. "We are just joining a group and that's it!"
"That's fine. We can work on being friends later," Sunset said.
Shadow watched the loving display with his gaze turning upwards towards the sky. As much as he loved his new human friends he wondered if his friends were working on a way to bring him back home. All he could do was hope that he'd be able to find a way back to Mobius as soon as possible.