Broken magic. A broken home. Three once-Dazzlings still live under the same roof, but drift apart as the weeks following their defeat pass on.

One spirals downward. Another moves forward. And Aria collapses inward—to her head full of dreams, held down by a shattered song and doubts of her own self-worth.

One night, an unwelcome voice finds her and leaves her with a choice to be made.

Thanks to Bookish Delight and Jondor for pre-reading plus feedback.
Big thanks to Holy for editing and critique.
(And uh... thanks to Csquared08 for comma police. Don't laugh. It's more of a thing than you might think.)

Cover art is my own.

As a note: This story's timeline is not in continuity with my others. Think of it as an AU to Open Door.

This story is a sequel to Once Monsters

Gazing out across the ocean has a way of affecting a person. The vastness of the sea might bring peace to a troubled spirit. Its depths can open doors to soul-searching introspection. Its eternity, for some, may evoke the ache of longing for loved-ones lost—and for others, the memory of home.

But then... what is home? Perhaps there's more than just one simple answer.

SunDagio intensifies.

If you haven't read any of the prior stories, you'll want to for the sake of some context for how these two got to where they are now. (An Open Door is the first.) And I'm opting for a slow release of the chapters this time around, unlike the daily cycle for Monsters. The full story is outlined, but the chapters will be prose'd-out and written one at a time.

Editing and idea-bouncing by Bookish Delight.
Additional pre-reading by Theigi.
(If you're into some deep history for the sirens Equestira-side, check out her thing. Seriously. Do it.)

This story is a sequel to Messenger

Sunset Shimmer has found herself spending a great deal of time with the Dazzlings as of late, as they adjust to their new life-after-magic. Though, considering what the four of them used to be, does she really know Adagio as well as she thinks?

A big thanks to Bookish Delight for collaborative help with vetting my ideas, supplying a few, authorial advice, editing, and general encouragement throughout the process here.

And thanks, as usual, to Csquared08 for additional pre-reading and some brief technical input.

Teen for occasional language, alcohol references and light intimacy.

This story is a sequel to An Open Door

After receiving a request from a rather unexpected source, Twilight helps deliver a long-overdue message from Celestia to her former student.

This story is set one month after An Open Door, which itself occurs about six months after Rainbow Rocks.

It's not required to read Open Door first. Just go into this story with the understanding that the Dazzlings have started to befriend the others, and have come to realize there is some joy to be found in their new life-after-magic. If you're interested in how that went down on this timeline from Adagio's perspective, then Open Door is the place to check that out.

Cover art is my own. You may have seen it here already, as another author had created a story based on it some time ago. Drawing this piece is what got me interested in fanfiction. So now that I've had a taste of writing with Open Door, I've decided to come full-circle and write something for it myself.

Pre-reading and brief creative input from Jondor (thanks, man)
Editing, proof-reading and additional input from Csquared08 (I made some small tweaks after the final edit pass, just recently. So any typos are my fault and not something overlooked by C. ;)

When Sunset saw Sonata Dusk return to CHS and experience a very familiar treatment, she encouraged her friends to reach out to the Dazzlings just as they'd done with her after the Fall Formal.

Several months later, Aria and Sonata have come to discover some joy in their new life-after-magic. Adagio, however, has continued to refuse the offer—out of bitterness, spite and an unwillingness to give those 'rainbooms' the satisfaction of seeing her break.

What she has yet to realize is that clinging to this resentment is hurting no one but herself.

Thanks to Csquared08 for main editing, proofreading and bouncing ideas.
Thanks to Jondor for pre-reading, grammar/editing and offering advice on technique.