//------------------------------// // In the middle of nowhere // Story: In a time of need // by Small Muffin //------------------------------// Adagio walked back into the main living room of her apartment. She stood next to the doorway for a few moments, and watched Sunset. She was sitting at the table, her stare seemingly fixed down on the table, with that same, unreadable face. Without taking her eyes off Sunset, Adagio began to walk towards a large cabinet. "So... you alright?" she asked. "Fine..." Sunset replied weakly, still staring at the table. No you're not, she thought, now next to the cabinet, "You want a drink, or something?" Adagio asked, opening a section of the cabinet and pulling out a bottle of alcohol and a glass next to it. "No thanks... I'm not thirsty..." Sunset replied just as weakly. Adagio rolled her eyes, "Oh come on, it's not poisonous," she said jokingly as she poured herself a drink. "I don't drink..." Sunset sighed. "Oh, alright," Adagio replied, "Do you want a drink that's not alcoholic?" she asked, to which Sunset simply shook her head. Not in the mood for a joke I see. Adagio walked over to the table and sat opposite Sunset. "So, how have you been?" she asked, setting the bottle and the glass down next to her. "I've been fine..." Sunset replied. "You sure about that Shimmer?" she asked. Sunset didn't bother to reply. "You know, I'm old Sunset." Sunset looked up at Adagio, a tad surprised at the sudden change of subject. "I've been around here for a long time, I've seen all sorts of people, and I know a liar when I see one." "...Your point?" Adagio took a sip of her drink, "Do I really need to tell you?" again, Sunset didn't bother to reply. "You don't have to tell me, but it's as clear as Celestia's sun that you're not alright." "Look can we change the subject?" Sunset asked. "Alright," Adagio replied calmly, "What were you doing out there last night?" "Huh?" Sunset lifted her head off the table. "When we found you last night, what were you doing?" Adagio asked. She saw a glint of pain in Sunset's eye, "Why do you ask?" Sunset asked, as she started looking around the room. "Because..." Adagio gave a soft sigh, "Because we're worried about you, Sunset," she replied gently. Sunset looked back at her with a very questionable look. "Worried?" she repeated. "You don't have to believe me, but we are," Adagio replied, her voice calm and somewhat soothing, it only made her words sound more and more convincing. "So I'll ask one more time. Are you alright, Sunset?" Sunset looked Adagio in the eye for only a quick moment, and what she saw was sincerity, and worry. Maybe she could trust them, after all, if they wanted to do something to get rid of her, they would have just left her to freeze last night. On the other had, these three had taken over CHS with little to no effort. Manipulation and mind control was their thing, but they didn't have their magic anymore, and even if they did, Sunset was immune to it anyway. Could it be that she really was worried about her? Either way, regardless as to whether this was a trap or not, the person, or siren in front of her was willing to listen to her, which was more than her friends had done recently. "You first," Sunset finally said. "Me first for what?" Adagio asked, confused. "How did you find me, and why did you bring me here?" Sunset asked. "You just tell me that, and I'll tell you what I was doing," she continued. "There's not really much to tell but," Adagio shrugged, "Alright," she replied, as she recollected the events of last night. Adagio stood at the front of the counter of the cafe, next to be served. It was the same cafe the three of them would come to all the time for a quick snack, though they hardly ever had to pay for it. She glanced over at her table in the corner, where both Aria and Sonata were sat. One looked rather bored, the other was doing something on a piece of paper. "...Uh, Miss?" Adagio snapped her attention back to the counter. "What can I get you?" the man asked. "Two hot chocolates, and a large milkshake, consisting of five different flavours." she said. "DAGGGIIII!!!" Sonata yelled. Adagio didn't bother to look over to her, but just shook her head and sighed. "And a taco..." she reluctantly glanced at Sonata out of the corner of her eye, "Make that two." "Um... alright, that'll be-" Adagio handed the man a fifty dollars note, "Keep the change." Meanwhile, over at the table, Sonata was stood up, looking over at Adagio. "You think she heard me?" she asked. Aria had her head on the table, "I'm sure she did..." she said bluntly. Aria noticed the front door open, and someone in a blue coat walk in. She was about to stop paying them anymore attention, but when the person took their hood down, Aria recognized her, though, she couldn't think up a name. Adagio walked over to the table, and put her newly acquired trey of drinks down. "Before you ask Sonata, yes, I've got them, and yes, this is your chocolate-banana-strawberry-mint-raspberry flavoured milkshake," she said quickly. "Adagio," Aria began. She pointed to the girl, who was showing a picture to the man at the counter, "You recognize her?" she asked. Adagio turned around and looked at the girl, "She's... from that school, isn't she?" she replied, "So what?" "I thought so. What's she doing all the way out here?" Aria asked. "Why does it matter?" Adagio asked, "We've got what we came for now come on." She picked up her chocolate, as did Aria, while Sonata grabbed her milkshake and her two wrapped up tacos, and put them in her bag. "Excuse me," one of the staff asked, "have you seen this gi-" "Sorry, but we're going now," Aria interrupted. "Have a nice night!" Sonata added. The three of them got to the door when Adagio heard a familiar voice, "Hey, aren't you..." She turned her head to see the girl staring at her. Adagio walked out, shaking her head, "You..." "Sorry Miss, but nobody seems to recognize her, sorry," the man said, passing back the picture he was given. Outside, the three sirens calmly walked down the snow covered street. "You know girls, I think someone recognized us in there," Adagio said smugly, taking a glance behind herself. "What do you think she wanted?" Sonata asked, taking a large sip from her milkshake. "Dunno, don't care," Adagio replied. "You do know s-" Sonata whispered. "Of course," Adagio replied, glancing behind herself again just enough to see the girl from the cafe not far behind. The three of them continued walking around town, and their pursuer was never far behind, and as she tailed them, Adagio soon noticed this girl was constantly looking around for someone else, as if she herself was worried she was being followed. After a good twenty minutes of aimless wandering, hoping that she would attack them, or at least say hi, Adagio decided they should strike first. So when they turned the next street corner, they waited for a moment for her to catch up. Aria and Adagio grinned at each other, and both rolled their eyes. "Although, I do have one question about her..." Sonata began. Adagio quickly turned back around the corner, fist raised, swinging it right in to the girl's face, the force of the hit sent her straight to the ground. "Why is she following us?" Sonata asked. "I thought it was you three!" she said, climbing to her feet. "Hello," Adagio said, "And you are?" "Trixie doesn't see why she should answer to the likes of you!" "Oh, Trixie," Aria said, "I knew I recognized you from somewhere... Wait who were you?" "You three have some nerve still being around here! Trixie thought for sure you three had disappeared back to wherever you came from," Trixie said. "That doesn't answer my question," Sonata replied, "Why are you following us?" "Trixie was simply curious as to what you were up to is all," Trixie replied, glancing over towards Sonata, who was now paying more attention to something behind her. "Uh, hello?" "Hey, is that who I..." Sonata mumbled. "So is that why you came all the way out here? To spy on us?" Aria asked, "Because if it was, then you've wasted your time." "Hey, I'll be back in a sec, alright." Sonata ran past Trixie, who paid her absolutely no attention. "Oh no, Trixie is here for far more important reasons." "Really?" Adagio asked, "What kind of reasons Trucky?" "It's Trixie, and I'm afraid they're reasons that creatures like you could never understand," she replied smugly. As a cold gust of wind blew past them, Adagio saw that Trixie was clearly shivering, "Oh, what's wrong, to cold for you?" she laughed. "Oh please, like you're not feeling it!" Trixie snapped back. "Pfft, this is nothing compared to the frozen ice plains in Equestria. Now why don't you run on home before you freeze, like a good girl." "HEY GIRLS!!! OVER HERE!!!" Sonata yelled. "Ugh, what has she found now?" Aria asked. "I've wasted enough time here, Trixie needs to be going!" Trixie ran around Aria and Adagio, and down the street. "Good riddance." "YOU TWO REALLY NEED TO GET OVER HERE! I CAN'T CARRY HER ON MY OWN!!!" Sonata yelled again. Adagio and Aria ran over to a small alleyway, "What the hell are you on ab-" Aria's words froze when she saw an unconscious girl in Sonata's arms, "Isn't... That..." "Sunset?" Adagio finished, "What the hell happened to her?" "She just fainted. Come on Sunset, your eyes were open like, ten seconds ago!" Sonata said. Adagio quickly removed her coat, and threw it at Sonata, "Put that on her, I'm gonna get us a ride." Adagio ran out the alley, and into the middle of the road, almost getting hit by a car. The driver popped his head out of the window, "Hey! What's wrong with you?!" "Sorry about that, but can you give me and my friends a lift?" Adagio asked. "I beg your pardon?" he asked, rudely. "Please sir!" Sonata yelled. Her and Aria were carrying Sunset out of the alley. "It's not far, I promise!" "Wh- Is she alright?" he asked. "Look, can you give us a ride or not!!!" Adagio shouted. "Oh, of course I can." Aria and Sonata were able to get Sunset in the car safely first, before any of them got in themselves. "Where to ladies?" "The Ponyville apartments," Adagio said, and the car quickly began moving. Adagio looked down at the unconscious Sunset, whos head was resting on her shoulder. "You're gonna be alright, Sunset." After all, we still owe you one.