Among Sirens
The day passes without incident at Crystal Prep, and shortly after the final bell, Sunset finishes gathering her books and gets ready to leave.
"Just one more day," she thinks, "and this horrible week is over. At least nothing worse can happen."
Without hurry but without pause, Sunset leaves the academy, keeping her head down with a tired expression, when she raises her gaze... she sees a peculiar sight.
In front of the school gate, among all the uniforms that leave the school grounds, Sunset distinguishes five people, five girls that she knows too well.
"Just my luck," thinks Sunset irritably. "Don’t bother with them, Sunset. The universe hates you, remember? Don’t tempt it to make your life more miserable."
She steels her resolve as a growl escapes her throat.
Those girls, those traitors, stand restlessly, trying to ignore the gazes that some of the students give them. Finally, they realize the presence of the former equine, and all their attention is focused on her.
Sunset thinks again, this time giving herself an order, "Ignore them. Just move on."
With firm steps, Sunset resumes her walk, keeping her eyes front without looking at the five girls.
They watch her approaching. Their nerves are already jittery, but they only get more so the closer the Equestrian approaches.
Rainbow looks askance at all her friends and, swallowing her nerves, takes a step forward.
"H-Hey, Sunset," she begins. "We wanted to talk—"
Her sentence is cut off when Sunset takes a turn and continues walking down the sidewalk without paying attention to them.
For a moment, they watch her walking away, a mixture of surprise and fear on their faces. Eventually, Rainbow rushes to catch up. "Sunset, wait!" The others imitate her, running to reach Sunset. Rainbow walks behind Sunset and says, "Sunset, listen. We... We want to apologize."
There is no response from the former equine; she just keeps walking. Losing hope, Rainbow stops walking, and her friends catch up to her.
Desperate, Fluttershy exclaims in a voice that no one would expect she could use, "WE KNOW YOU’RE NOT ANON-A-MISS!"
That gets it. Sunset stops.
There is silence for a moment, until Sunset decides to speak, although she does not bother turning around to look at them.
"What? The little brats confessed?" she asks evenly.
The question stuns everyone. Rarity asks, "Did... Did you know?"
"What really surprised me was that I didn't realize it from the beginning," says Sunset with some annoyance. "They were the only ones who could have had the access and opportunity to create Anon-a-Miss. I guess I was too hurt to think coherently."
None responds immediately, each looking away, full of guilt.
Rainbow tries to apologize again. "Sunset, we..."
"We’re sorry, Sunset," Applejack finishes. "We... We shoulda believed in ya..."
"Yeah, you should’ve," Sunset responds before resuming her path.
Rainbow comes forward and stands in front of her. "Wait! We know an apology isn’t enough!"
Rarity approaches from behind. "But we want to fix it, really!"
"We'll do anything to make it up to you," says Rainbow.
There is no response, no reaction from Sunset. She simply keeps her silence while looking at Rainbow. Then, Fluttershy approaches from behind, and Sunset turns to her.
"Sunset, we know we did wrong, and we're sorry. We love you, Sunset," Fluttershy says quietly.
Applejack supports everyone in the apology. "We know it’ll take time, but... we want things to be the same as before."
Pinkie shows a friendly smile while taking a pink, plastic container out of her backpack.
"I made this in Home Ec. I know it's small, but I promise that tomorrow, I'll make you a much bigger one and throw you a great party!"
Sunset looks at her for a moment, then takes the container and removes the lid. Inside is a small cream cake with white icing, circular in shape, with a big, pink heart in its center and alternating red and yellow lines on the edges.
Sunset looks up and sees all their hopeful smiles directed at her, waiting anxiously for her response.
Sunset does not say a word. Instead, she flips her hand, tipping the cake out of its box.
The cream, caramel and colors scatter all over the sidewalk. She drops the container into the mess, and in front of the astonished and hurtful look of the others, she turns around and walks away without regret.
Pinkie looks at the remains of her cake. Her legs give out, and she falls to her knees, looking up and watching Sunset leave without looking back.
More tears fell, more laments were spoken. They knew that a scene like this was possible… but that did not mean they were ready to receive it.
*S*A*S*
Sunset did not know how long she was sitting in that soda shop, but she did not care. She just wanted to forget that encounter.
How dare they? After weeks—WEEKS—of harassment, of calling her a liar and a demon, of turning their backs on her, of betraying the friendship they wanted so much to teach her, now they came and wanted to apologize?
Did they believe that she would forget everything? That she would just pretend that none of that happened? That she was going to hug them, forgive them, forgive those snotty brats, and keep being their friends?
This isn’t some Christmas special! It doesn’t work like that!
In her frustration, Sunset does not realize when she finishes her float until she hears the telltale sound of air through her straw. She snorts in annoyance and bangs her head against the table.
Why? Why did the universe do this to her?
Had she not been punished enough already?
She lost her life, her teacher, her home.
She lost what little she had in Equestria over a stupid decision, and then, when she was finally happy, three brats, five girls, and a whole school destroy the small but comfortable life she had salvaged.
And now, here she was one more time, wanting to start again.
Outside the exams and the strange students, things were going well at her new school. Not as peaceful as she would have liked, but she was getting up in the morning.
But no. She still couldn’t give herself the luxury of being calm. Peace and happiness are privileges that all but she could have.
Every time she tried to have peace of mind, there must always be something to ruin it.
She closes her eyes, immersed in her thoughts, until she feels someone standing next to her. When she turns around, she finds Sonata next to her.
The prosecution rests.
"Umm, hello!" says the blue-haired siren. "Uh, I know it's none of my business and that you’re probably not gonna talk about it, but... I saw what happened. Well, a little bit."
Sunset can just sigh.
"Well, if you want... to talk to someone..." Sonata says hesitantly.
Sunset's only response is another sigh.
"Or, if you want to just keep quiet, maybe I can buy you something? It’s no problem."
Sonata smiles and sits in front of Sunset.
Sunset just looks at her. Sonata looks so happy, so... innocent.
Was she really the same magical creature that tried to conquer the world?
The blue-haired girl continues smiling, waiting for an answer.
"... An orange soda," Sunset finally says.
*S*A*S*
Sunset did not know when, much less how, but soon, she found herself in front of a house. Sonata's house.
"... How did I get here?" Sunset asks herself.
Sonata just giggles and opens the door for the two of them.
"I'm home!" Sonata calls happily.
Sunset takes a superficial look around. It is a rather small house, but the living room does have the furnishings one would expect, like a couple of loveseats, a small table, and a television. There is a door in the back of the room and some stairs on one side that lead to an upper floor.
The door opens, and Sunset recognizes another of the sirens, the one with purple hair.
“Hi, Aria,” Sonata chirps.
Aria ignores Sonata, leveling her gaze at Sunset.
"Oh, good, you’re here." The sarcasm in her voice is clear. "Sit down. I'll prepare something for you two."
With that said, she returns to the room from which she came.
Sunset is a bit confused but does not resist when Sonata takes her and makes her sit next to her on the couch.
"Do you wanna watch TV?" Sonata asks with a smile.
Again, there is no answer from Sunset, so Sonata turns the TV on and flips through a couple of channels until she finds a cartoon.
Sonata giggles like a little girl at the cartoony antics. Sunset continues her silence but finds herself relaxing somewhat nonetheless.
A few minutes pass, after which Aria appears with a tray with two steaming mugs and a plate of cookies. She places the tray on the table and looks at her partner.
"Sonata," the purple-haired girl scolds, "If you're going to watch television, look for something your guest likes."
"But everyone loves cartoons!" the blue-haired girl protests.
Aria takes the remote and changes the channel to looks like a crime show. "She’s a mature girl. Surely, she likes more serious shows."
"Ugh, these shows are stupid! It takes forever for them to find the killer. I mean, look at him! Look at his face! It's obvious he did it! Why make us wait an hour for them to catch him?"
Although she maintains her silence, the sirens’ argument does pique Sunset’s curiosity. However, both fall silent when they hear a third voice approaching.
"Can't you two go ten minutes without arguing?"
Sunset turns. On the stairs that lead to the top floor, she sees the missing member of the trio come down.
Adagio.
The leader glares at her companions, before she notices the visitor.
Silence...
"You didn't tell me we had a guest," she says to the other sirens, no particular emotion evident in her voice.
"Sonata brought her," says Aria. "Yell at her, not me."
The leader looks at the blue-haired girl in the trio, who stands and smiles nervously. "Uh, yeah... Um, Adagio, she’s one of my schoolmates now, and she always seems lonely, so... I invited her home."
"I see."
There are no comments. Adagio simply goes to another room. Sonata returns to her place on the couch and, snatching the remote from Aria’s hand, changes the channel.
Aria glares reproachfully at Sonata but in the end decides to let it go. Instead, she turns to Sunset. "Hey, Summer Shinset."
"Um, it's 'Sunset Shimmer'."
"Whatever. You staying for dinner?"
Sunset did not quite know how to respond to that.
*S*A*S*
Night looms over the city.
Sonata has fun teaching Sunset a strange card game apparently based on some cartoon the siren likes. Sunset doesn’t understand the game very well but doesn’t really make much effort to do so, either.
Aria's voice is heard from the next room.
"Sonata! Come and set the table!"
"Aww! Why me?" Sonata moans.
"You brought the guest! I already cooked, so everything else is your job."
In a childish gesture, the blue-haired siren inflates her cheeks in irritation. Then, she smiles at Sunset.
"I'll be right back."
She leaves the cards on the table and leaves. Sunset remains seated and silent, unsure of what to do or say.
"I'm sorry for the screaming," Adagio says from behind her.
Sunset turns to the leader siren, sitting on one of the couchs, reading a book. When had she come in?
"Those two just can't stop arguing. Younger sisters, right? But, even if they don't say it, I know they love each other."
Sunset does not respond but nods in understanding.
What was she doing here? This is the house of the sirens, the same ones who not long ago tried to kill her and turn all humanity into zombies.
Now, she's sitting in their living room. She had watched television with them, played cards with them, and had even agreed to eat with them.
What was she thinking?! These were the sirens! They could have poisoned the food! Or worse, they could capture her and keep her locked up, torturing her in ways she never imagined.
So… why did those thoughts not scare her?
How stupid had she become? Did she not care about her own safety? Did she not care about dying?
Sonata leans into the room and looks at both girls in the room with a big smile.
"Adagio! Sunset! Dinner time!"
The orange-haired siren puts her book down and gets up. The former equine stays in place for a moment but finally follows her.
... Or is it that... she trusted them?
*S*A*S*
Like the living room, the kitchen is rather small. There is barely enough room for the sink, a refrigerator, a small shelf, and a rectangular table with a capacity for six people.
Adagio sits at the head, Sonata sits on her left, and Sunset sits next to Sonata.
Aria approaches and leaves a smoky tray on the table. "I guess you don’t eat meat," she says to Sunset. "So, I decided to make some ravioli." With that comment, she takes her place to the right of her leader.
Before Sunset could stop herself, she's already scooped some pasta onto her plate.
“DO NOT EAT IT!” screams something in the back of her mind. It has poison! A parasite! Drugs! Poison! You already thought that. Now you’re getting confused! Get out of there!”
She takes the first bite and allows herself a smile.
The dinner continues.
*S*A*S*
Thirty minutes later, Aria’s sitting in the couch, entertained with something on her cell phone. Sonata is forced to wash the dishes. Sunset stays on the long couch, watching something on television.
Adagio goes down the stairs, dressed in a winter vest. "I’m going out. See you tomorrow."
"Good luck," Aria says without taking her eyes off her phone.
Sonata dries her hands and runs towards her leader to give her a hug. "Good luck. See you tomorrow. I love you!"
The leader gives a small smile and an almost maternal kiss on Sonata’s forehead. Then, she approaches Aria and pecks her on the forehead.
"Ah, come on!" she complains, wiping her forehead with her hand
The orange-haired siren gives a mocking smile before walking to the door.
"You’re such a tsundere, Aria," Sonata teases.
"I told you to stop reading those Chinese comics," Aria scolds.
“They’re Japanese, Aria,” Sonata retorts.
While the two girls launch into another argument, Adagio walks over to Sunset. “Do you want me to accompany you to the bus stop?”
Sunset seems doubtful, but in the end...
*S*A*S*
Both Sunset and Adagio walk towards a nearby bus stop. Their silence had lasted since they left the house. It was somewhat uncomfortable, forcing the former equine to start a conversation.
"So, where are you going, so late?"
Adagio looks at her, but she takes a while to answer. "I have a night job. We’re not exactly hurting for money, but as a leader and a responsible older sister, I can't support the idea of not doing anything useful."
Sunset can just nod in understanding. "And the others?"
"I want Sonata to finish school so that if something happens to me, she can take care of herself." She speaks in a serious but calm tone. "I wanted Aria to do so too, but she said that she would rather tear her own brains out than set one foot back in a school."
"Wow... That’s pretty extreme."
"We agreed that she would not go to school but that she would have to take care of the house and the bills. We take turns cooking and washing the dishes, but she handles cleaning and calling for repairs.” Adagio sighs. “Well, I hoped to have the whole world praising me and an infinite supply of magical power. But, shit happens, and... it is what it is.”
Sunset identified almost uncomfortably with those words.
The conversation dies because neither knows what else to say. The silence accompanies them until they reach the bus stop. Both maintain their silence as they wait, Sunset facing the street while Adagio leans on one of the posts.
"... Hey," Adagio says after a while. Sunset turns to looking at the siren. "Thanks for talking with Sonata."
Sunset does not know what to answer, but her surprise is evident on her face.
"I put her in that school because it has high marks for education," Adagio continues. "But... she used to come home sad." She shoots a contemptuous look at Sunset. "Don't think that we care about making friends or pleasing people. It’s just… I realized that Sonata felt a little lonely and bored. But recently, she looks more animated. I never asked her why, but now, I think I understand."
Sunset couldn’t help but remember Sonata’s behavior when asking to sit with her for lunch. She seemed nervous, but… there was an almost pleading quality to her posture.
Sunset looks down, unsure of what to say. "I..."
"Sometimes, we just need someone to listen to us."
Sunset looks up again. The women stay silent for a bit, although there are no emotions on their faces.
"I know we're not friends," Adagio says finally. "And I don't expect us to be, either, but we are both beings from another world, trapped with a life we didn't choose. If you ever want to talk, we can listen to you."
The silence is resumed, and seconds later, the bus arrives, ending the conversation. They look at each other, give each other a casual farewell, and the former equine gets on the bus. Adagio watches the bus leave, and in the distance, sees the lights of her own. She releases a breath that she did not know she was holding.
*S*A*S*
Sunset remains seated, her eyes fixed on the city whizzing by, her mind calm.
"If you ever want to talk, we can listen to you."
Maybe it was that she trusted them... or maybe... it was just that she could understand them...
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It will take time for the hurt to go away.
JC: sigh Do I have to make the obvious reference here?
Sunset: Just do it.
JC: Fine. 🙄
The pink girl gives Sunset cake for an apology.
What you want her to do with this, eat it?
APOLOGIES TO THE GROUND
She dropped the container down too.
WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD, JACKASS!
8772328
At least no cellphones were broken.
I knew something like that was gonna happen
8772328
8772328
So many things to throw on the ground, like this, and this, and that, and even this! I'M A UNICOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORN!
Five high school phonies try to give me an apology BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM! No one wants your apology, phonies!
The scene with the cake totally reminded me of this:
(Hopefully it starts at the 6:27 mark...)
8772328
I guess someone had to.
Really? RRREEEEEAAAALLLY?
8772307
And I might as well demonstrate the ability to reply to more than one comment at a time.
Damn... I feel so bad for Pinkie & the girls, but they did stab Sunset in the back. They couldn't really believe that she was willing to even listen after what happened... Right?
P.S. Excellent job on Sunset bonding with The Dazzlings
If I was Sunset and the Humane 5 asked for my forgiveness, I'd probably be less savage and say this:
"In time.....I would forgive you. Not now but..... in time"
When is the enraged princess going to show up. The portal is working again please hurry up with princess Twilight part.
8772307
the wounds heal, but a scar is forever
8772328
ha ha the truth yes it looks good with the scene
8772447
and I still have plans later *evil laught*
8772722
It's not a fairy tale, this is real life
(?)
there are not always happy endings
8772731
maybe Sunset can forget the anger, maybe
there's still story ahead
8772796
do not worry, eventually she will come
)
(ups, that was spoiler
Holy shit; that was beautiful!
Upupupu...DAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
That cake scene is very similar to what I have in my first stories.
Sunset! No wasting cake! You eat it and then tell them to go to hell.
Now I'm curious about how the Raimbooms were able to find Sunset - Celestia only mentioned about the transferring, but not where to; maybe Flash told them?
Then again, excellent chapter.
8772731
your a better person then me...
Yikes, just got past the rewritten chapters, and I think I'll wait for all of it to be done before continuing.
8773905
Bold is used for often words spoken in anger or a intense line
8774278
Well, I like to use bold letters like that
The Rainbooms got a taste of their own medince: They refused to listen and pushed her away. Now they’re the ones being ignored and pushed away.
Not so nice now, isn’t it Rainbooms? She doesn’t want you guys. Now why don’t all of you get lost and let her live in peace?
pls tell me Sunset is gonna hate the Traitors and Anon-A-Miss for life! TELL ME TWILIGHT IS GONNA GIVE EM A MIGHTY EARFUL!!!
8774634
Play with fire, you burn
Play with Sunset, you burn, IN HELL MUAJAJAJAJ*cofcof sorry*JAJAJA
8778403
I do not want to give spoilers, but I assure you that this is not the worst thing that will happen to the Rainbooms
8772989
thanks
8773116
It would have been a good idea too
very nice, glad to see sunset didn't let it go like that.
They can apologize all they want but Sunset doesn't have to listen
I feel this is one of the most realistic depictions of the Sirens.
Quiet commiseration really hits home with me. Sunset mentally beating herself up but quietly going along with things with the Sirens made me sad but oh so hopeful for her mental health's eventual improvement.
That scene with the Sirens was wonderful.
Great chapter
Yugioh?
I…no one can object against this in any human or non human way