Canterlot High School was, barring the odd attack by eldritch or mystical forces of evil, a relatively laid-back and peaceful school to go to. And such was the case today, as there was very little activity amongst the student body aside from their usual classes and just general hanging out with one another. At this present moment, most of them, including their resident heroines, the Rainbooms, were all inside the cafeteria during the lunch break, enjoying each other's company and all-around having a fun time. However, there was one among their number who was not, at this moment, amongst them, and that was, perhaps, their most infamous member, Sunset Shimmer. This native of Equestria had earned quite a reputation for herself over the years, for good and for bad, but lately, she had largely been accepted as one of them, much to her joy. Gone were the days when the students would look upon her with scorn or contempt, and instead, they now welcomed her as a friend. For Sunset, the last year or so had, without question, been the happiest of her life. But, while she revelled in the newfound positive attitude people had for her, even she found time every once in a while to just be by herself. And so it was that this was what she was doing right now, sitting alone at the stairs at the front of the school, quietly reading one of her favourite books. Unfortunately as was so often the case in moments like this, that peace was short-lived.
"Sunset!"
The redhead raised her eyes from her book, and soon smiled when she saw that the one calling out to her was none other than Twilight Sparkle, fellow Rainboom and former student of Celestia. Although the two had started out as enemies, they had become close friends since her failed take-over attempt some time ago. She raised a hand, waving to the lavender girl as she approached, and only now did she realise that Twilight was not alone. There, walking alongside her, with the swagger she was rather famous for, was Adagio Dazzle, leader of the Sirens. Much like Twilight, Sunset's relationship to Adagio had not been a good one when it first started, with the latter having basically taken her role of being Twilight's nemesis during her second visit here to Earth. However, much like the aforementioned girl, both Sunset and the Siren had made amends. Granted, it had taken a full blast of rainbow-coloured magic to the face to start things off, but hey, nobody was perfect. As the two girls walked towards her, Sunset noted that they both looked somewhat serious, prompting her to set her book aside for the time being and stand as they drew nearer.
"Twilight? Adagio? What's going on? Is something wrong?"
The two girls looked to each other for a brief moment, only to then turn back to Sunset, with Adagio speaking first.
"Yes...I'm afraid the young princess and I have come to...an impasse of sorts. And we were hoping that speaking to you could help us."
Sunset raised an eyebrow, looking from Adagio to Twilight.
"Is...is there a problem?"
For a brief moment, Twilight looked somewhat embarrassed, though about what, Sunset couldn't say. In the end, the younger girl finally spoke, though in a rather meek fashion.
"Well...Adagio and me got to talking and...the topic of conversation kind of...strayed towards...you."
At that, Sunset gained a look of confusion.
"Me? What about me?"
There was a silence for a few moments, during which, Twilight and Adagio looked to each other, almost as if they were silently daring one another to be the first to just blurt out whatever it was they were thinking of. In the end, and without saying a word to each other, they simply did so together.
"Which of us do you want to date?"
The simultaneous questioning, as one might expect, caught Sunset completely off-guard, as she took a single step back in shock.
"Wha...date?! What are you talking about?"
Twilight raised a hand and held onto her other arm, looking away from Sunset slight, as if out of shame.
"It’s just...we may...possibly...like you...more than as a friend."
Sunset, understandably, was quite surprised at hearing that, and turned to look at Adagio, who folded her arms and nodded in confirmation of what Twilight had just said. The exile from Equestria took a few moments during this silence to take stock of her thoughts, thinking over what had been said to her and trying to figure out how she felt about all of this.
"Well...this is...unexpected, to say the least. I mean, I'm flattered, don’t get me wrong, it's just...I didn't see it coming."
Twilight looked back to her, her eyes bearing a slight tint of hope.
"Do...do you think that, maybe...you'd want to...?"
She didn't finish her question, but Sunset already knew the gist of it, and let out a sigh.
"Well...I've been friends with you two for some time now...and we do get along pretty well. But as a couple? I..."
Another silence followed, and during which, Sunset thought back to all the times she had spent with these two girls. The good. The bad. All the most notable memories she had of being with them. There had been closeness, that much she could not deny, nor could she deny the very simple fact that, the idea of being together with either one of them made sense for a lot of reasons. In the end, a small smile crept onto her face.
"You know...maybe...maybe we could consider this."
Twilight's face lit up, and she opened her mouth to speak, only to be stopped from doing so when Adagio cleared her throat, gaining the attention of the other two.
"Well, I'm glad you've come to realise that, Sunset dear. But I'm afraid there is one tiny little issue with all of this. Exactly which of us would you want to be with?"
At that, Sunset's smile vanished, knowing full-well exactly the kind of choice she was now being asked to make.
"I...er...I don't..."
But, yet again, Adagio interrupted when she raised a hand.
"If you're having trouble deciding, don't worry about it. Little Twilight and I have already discussed the matter."
Again, Sunset raised an eyebrow.
"You...you have?"
Twilight, looking somewhat sheepish, nodded in agreement.
"Yes. We discussed it and came to the conclusion that, if you were open to the idea, then we'd have to make our case to you. So, if you're okay with it, then Adagio and I are going to each explain why you should be with one over the other."
Sunset considered that for a moment before folding her arms.
"Well...I suppose that makes sense. I'm not entirely comfortable with just choosing between friends like this, but...if you've already decided that this is what you're going to do, then I guess I can't stop you."
Twilight smiled at that, turning to Adagio and giving a silent nod, which was promptly returned by the elder Siren. Looking back to Sunset, the young princess cleared her throat, a sure sign that she was going to start giving a speech of some kind. Sunset resumed her sitting position on the school's stairs, watching as Twilight began to speak in that calm and intelligent manner she was so noted for.
"Sunset...you know that the two of us share a lot of the same interests. Our books, our studies, our love of science and magic. We had very similar upbringings, you and I, and that shaped us into being similar people. After all, when Celestia partially raised us both, how could we not share such similar traits?"
Sunset nodded, acknowledging her point, but remained silent as she continued.
"Plus...we've helped each other a great deal in becoming better. You lifted me up in a dark time in my life, when I had no confidence in my abilities to help this world when...um...certain people tried to hurt it."
Adagio frowned at that.
"You know, you needn't beat around the bush, Twilight. I do know who you're talking about."
Twilight gave the Siren an apologetic look, before then looking back to Sunset.
"And, perhaps above all else...you are, if you'll pardon me for saying so...perhaps one of my greatest accomplishments in my quest to become a better friend."
That caught Sunset by surprise, and her confused expression prompted Twilight to explain herself.
"We are, in many ways, two sides of the same coin. The same pony...er...girl, just having walked down different paths. That I was able to become a friend to you, and help you realise the importance of letting others into your life...it makes me happy. Being your friend is something that makes me feel joy, Sunset. And if you were to let me become something more...well...I can only hope that I can make you feel that same happiness."
It was, in all fairness, a very heartfelt speech, as evidenced by the softened expression upon Sunset's face. She smiled to Twilight, giving her a nod in thanks to everything that had been said.
"Thank you, Twilight. That was...beautiful."
Twilight blushed slightly, nodding back to Sunset. Turning, Twilight gestured to Adagio, inviting her to begin her own pitch to Sunset. The Siren gave a wry smile and nodded back, walking over and taking the same spot Twilight had been standing in. After a few moments of silence, she cleared her throat, with Sunset waiting in anticipation as to what she might say. In the end, it was not what she had expected.
"I am...amazing in bed."
Immediately, Twilight's head snapped in her direction.
"ADAGIO?!"
The Siren chuckled briefly before rolling her eyes at the younger girl.
"Hey, when I open, I open memorably."
Although they would have wanted to refute that point, Twilight and Sunset, after glancing at each other, shrugged their shoulders, acceding her point. With that out of the way, the Siren continued.
"Twilight may be correct when she talks about the connection you two have, but remember, you and I also have many similarities. We're both exiles from Equestria who sought power over this world. We're both intelligent and somewhat manipulative girls. We both have a tendency to transform into flying magical creatures of evil. And besides...we both know what it's like to get a rainbow strike to the face."
Sunset nodded in agreement at that.
"True...you and I have been in the same place in our lives, haven't we?"
Adagio nodded in return.
“And while Twilight may be right in claiming to have helped you, let's not forget that you have also helped me, as well as my sisters. In many ways, we have just as much of a connection because of that as you do with Twilight."
Sunset paused for a moment, looking from Adagio to Twilight, eventually letting out a sigh.
"Twilight...she's right. I'm as close to her as I am to you. This...this is really difficult for me, girls."
Twilight and Adagio looked to each other, both silently trying to figure out some way of trying to make this easier for their mutual friend. But, after some time had passed, Twilight watched with some concern as Adagio gained her infamously-amorous glance, as the latter then began to walk towards Sunset. Eventually, Sunset herself looked up and saw her coming.
"Adagio? What are you...?"
But she didn't have the chance to finish, as the Siren, to the shock of both of the other girls, grabbed onto Sunset's jacket, pulled her up to her feet, and then planted a kiss upon her lips. Although taken aback, Sunset soon found herself very much into this impromptu moment of intimacy, kissing her back. Twilight watched with a fierce blush upon her face as the two girls did this in front of her, wanting to turn away, yet finding that she just couldn’t stop staring. Sunset, throughout the kiss, found that Adagio was very much in control of it. More forceful and forward. Eventually, the two parted, with Adagio giving Sunset a wink, before then turning to Twilight.
"Top that!"
Twilight opened her mouth to speak, only to stop, instead looking to Sunset, There was an uncomfortable silence, during which, Twilight seemed deep in thought over what she was planning. She was still blushing, poking her two index fingers against one another. Sunset, seeing this, knew exactly what the younger girl was thinking, and walked over to her with a smile, gently placing a hand upon the side of her face.
"Don't worry, Twilight. I'll start it off."
Before the young princess could react to that, Sunset's lips were upon her. Immediately, Twilight's blush grew more red than before, which was saying something, yet she nevertheless found herself lost in the kiss soon afterwards, closing her eyes. Sunset too was enjoying it, finding this meeting of their lips far gentler with Twilight than it had been with Adagio. There was uncertainty and inexperience there on Twilight's part, as well as a shyness. But, like with Adagio's the kiss soon ended, and the two former students of Celestia parted, smiling affectionately to each other as they did so. However, they turned, seeing Adagio, who had taken a seat on the stairs and was very much enjoying the show between the two girls.
"Well...that was just adorable."
Sunset frowned slightly at that, but was prevented from saying anything when Twilight spoke up first.
"Sunset and I have far more in common as a potential couple. I mean..."
She then turned to Sunset.
"Remember that one night we had? You know, when we were in our pyjamas and there was all that whipped cream?"
Immediately, Adagio raised an eyebrow, showing clear shock on her face, which then morphed into a kind of perverted amusement.
"Oh my! I never knew you could be so raunchy, princess."
Twilight, as expected, turned with a fierce blush at that.
"Wha...oh…no! It's not like that! We were just...!"
But Adagio raised a hand, stopping her.
"No need to fret. I can keep a secret, even one as saucy as that one."
Twilight tried to explain things, and all the while, Sunset raised her hands to her temples, rubbing them to alleviate some of the stress she'd been feeling during all of this.
"Ugh! How am I going to decide this?"
As if the universe itself had heard her question, there was a tapping at her shoulder. Turning, Sunset gained a look of surprise to find that it was none other than Pinkie, who was smiling as she stood beside her.
"I know what you can do, Sunset!"
"Wha...Pinkie?! How long have you been here?" Sunset replied.
The pink girl merely shrugged her shoulders.
"Meh. Who knows how long anyone has been here?"
Sunset, as was usual when Pinkie was involved, just shook her head to get rid of that confusing thought.
"Whatever. Anyway, you said you have a solution?"
Pinkie smiled widely, nodding in confirmation, before then leaning close and whispering in her ear.
"Just date them both!"
There was a pause for a moment, after which Sunset raised her eyebrow at Pinkie.
"Pinkie...no offense, but I don't think those two would agree to that."
"Agree to what?"
Turning, Sunset saw that Adagio and Twilight had finished their talk and were now paying full attention to her, prompting her to explain, with a slight degree of embarrassment on her part.
"Oh...Pinkie here was just suggesting that we solve this problem with some kind of three-way relationship between us."
Adagio and Twilight turned to each other, silently looking into each other's eyes for a moment. Sunset watched them with a slight sense of worry, before then seeing them smile and nod to one another, after which they turned to face her again.
"Alright...let's do it," Adagio replied.
"Agreed. I can live with that," Twilight added.
Sunset watched them with her mouth agape, trying to understand what had just happened. And as for Pinkie, she placed her hand under Sunsets jaw and carefully closed her mouth for her, before marching off with a big smile.
"Well...my work here is done. You're welcome!"
