//------------------------------//
// Chapter 19 
// Story: Cafe Dazzling 
// by brzy 
//------------------------------//

Sunset Shimmer found herself on the ground.  How had everything gone so wrong?  There was no light, only darkness.  There were no cheers, only cries of terror.  She sat up, surveying the scene of carnage all around her.  Beside her lay Sonata, in her human form.  Aria was gone, as was Anon.  Only Adagio was left standing, her dress torn as she continued to parry the wild magic energies blasting from the Rainbooms.  Her eyes glowed bright green as she stared at them in defiance.  With a primal scream she finally fell as all six blasted her at once.  Midnight laughed maniacally as her foe fell.  How foolish they had been, reflected Sunny.  Did she really come here expecting to beat Twilight Sparkle in a fight?  How many times was this now, six?  Was this her fate?  Her eyes lids grew heavy as she lost consciousness.

“Sunny?  You ok?” asked Anon.

Sunny blinked.  She was at the diner.  What had just happened?  It had all seemed so real.  The memory faded as she looked at the half rolled silverware in her hands.  

“I, uh, huh?”

“I was saying, it’s four on six with you on our team.”  

“It’s actually five counting me,” added Anon.

Adagio turned sharply to Anon.

“You don’t count.  I don’t want you anywhere near those laser shooting jerks once this starts.  You got that?”

He nodded meekly.  Sunny had the strangest feeling of déjà vu, but the feeling continued to fade as she rolled another group of forks knives and spoons.  It was Sunday night, the night before the Friendship Games.

“Well, I guess I should get going.  My parents don’t like it when I stay out too late.”

“Sure Sunny.  See you at the games tomorrow,” added Adagio as she leaned and stretched.  “Thanks for all the help.  Even with our abbreviated hours it seems like there’s always more to do.”

“Maybe we should take her on full time?” asked Sonata hopefully.

She waved goodbye to her allies as she made her way home.  Her “mother” and “father” were really the only things keeping her here.  Her Equestrian parents had died in an accident.  In a strange twist, Sunset's counterpart had been the one to die instead.  Ready made birth documentation had been a godsend in this land of cards and ID numbers.  It would never stand up to a full blown security screening, but it did give her the chance to live relatively normally.  Entering the house, she saw her mother cooking at the stove.  She hugged her from behind as the last bits of memory from the battle faded away.