The car ride back to Rainbow Dash's house was that of pure silence. Each of the Rainbooms sat pondering the events that had transpired only a few hours before. When they pulled in front of the house, they got out of the car and shuffled into the house.

Being the first one inside, Rainbow Dash made her way into the living and sat on the floor. She watched as the rest of the girls filed in and grabbed a seat. Not being able to take the silence anymore, she decided to speak up. "So, are we going to talk about this or not?"

"I'm not sure there is much to say," Applejack replied.

Rainbow Dash looked around the room of girls in complete disbelief. "Are you serious?" she asked. "Not much to say? How can those words even come out of your mouth?"

"I'm just saying-"

"Princess Twilight tasked us with looking out for Sunset and showing her the magic of friendship, and today, we failed. Today, Sunset Shimmer acted more like a friend than any of us. Hell, Adagio Dazzle acted more like a friend than us, and that's saying something."

"Dashie's right, we really weren't good friends today." Fluttershy added.

Rainbow Dash flickered a smile at Fluttershy before returning her attention to the other girls. "So what are we going to do to fix this?"

"There's not a lot we can do at the moment, I'm afraid." said Rarity.

"What do you mean?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Sunset doesn't exactly want to talk to us right now. If we try to approach while she's still angry and upset, there's a good chance that we may end up pushing her away."

"Okay, so what are we supposed to do, just sit around and wait for her to come to us?" asked Applejack while she scratched her head.

"Not exactly. We just need to give Sunset some space for a day or so before we try speaking to her. That way, when we do talk to her, she will be more receptive to what we have to say." Rarity explained.

"So what are we supposed to do until then?" Rainbow Dash griped.

"Patience is an art, darling, we simply wait."

Sunset closed the door to her room, flopped face-first onto her bed, and groaned loudly into the mattress. She laid there for several moments before turning over and staring up at the ceiling. There was something bothering her concerning Adagio.

'I just don't get it. If Adagio hates me so much, then why did she stop Aria? Why did she let me join them for breakfast? Why was she so curious about me wanting to befriend them? It just doesn't make any sense...'

Sunset sat up and put her finger under her lip, "Unless, she doesn't hate me and she's just taking her anger out on me because 1) she can't blame Aria or Sonata and 2) it's easier than blaming herself..." Sunset continued her thought out loud. "In that case, I wouldn't be the source of her anger, but rather, her outlet."

At this realization, Sunset scooted off the bed and knelt in front of a chest that was positioned at the foot her bed. She flipped open the lid and rummaged through the plethora of books, articles, and notes that were inside. After a few minutes of searching through the chest's contents, Sunset found what she was looking for. "Aha!" she exclaimed, holding her findings in the air. Sunset whipped her phone out of her pocket and dialed a number while she got up and walked out her room.

"Hi, Principal Celestia, its Sunset Shimmer, but you probably already knew that. Anyways, I have a bit of an awkward request. I know it's not custom for you to give private information on other students out to other students, but after our meeting today, I thought I might try reaching out to the Dazzlings. However, I have no idea how to get in contact with them. So, I was wondering if you could possibly give me the their home address. I wanted to stop by and have a chat with them...yes, I understand...1625 Shady Palm Dr...Thank you...and yes, I promise not to share information with anyone, not even my friends...Thanks again!" Sunset Shimmer hung up her phone and sprinted out of her apartment. Once outside she waved down a taxi and headed towards the Dazzling's house.

It was 12p.m. when Aria was finally able to sit down and enjoy a meal. She poured herself a bowl of cereal, walked into the living room, and sat on the couch. She turned on the t.v. while eating a spoonful of cereal. Just as she about to get comfortable, there was a knock at the door. "Uggghhh, really?" she moaned, as she put her bowl on the side table and got up to answer the door. "I just want to eat, is that so much to ask?" She unlocked the top and bottom lock and opened the door. Her eyes widened when she saw Sunset Shimmer standing in front of her. "S-Sunset?" she asked, looking around outside. "What are you doing here?"

It took a moment for Sunset to register Aria talking to her as she was too busy staring at the sirens attire. Aria was wearing nothing but a purple sports bra and a pair of green boxer shorts. She blinked several times before responding, "Is it alright if I come in?" she asked as she stepped into the house.

"Apparently, it is." Aria replied as she closed the door and re-locked it. "Why are you here?"

"Is Adagio home?” Sunset asked while peering her head into the living room.

"No, she isn't.” Aria replied, walking past Sunset and back to her spot on the couch. “She and Sonata have been gone for the past hour, which means that they will probably be back soon. So, unless you have a death wish, I suggest you leave." Aria grabbed her bowl and resumed eating.

Sunset took a seat next to Aria, "I can't, I need your help."

"My help?" said Aria through a mouthful of cereal. "With what?"

"Do you think what we could be friends?"

"After this morning?" Aria snorted, taking another bite. "Hell no."

Sunset waved her hands back and forth, "Nonono, I don't mean we as in the Rainbooms and Dazzlings, I just mean you and I."

Aria turned to Sunset and stared at her for moment before looking away. "I...I don't know, Sunset. Hanging out with you was fun and all but, I just...I don't think that’s a good idea."

"C'mon, Aria, don't you guys want to put all this Battle of the Band stuff behind you?"

"I have!" Aria shouted as she put her bowl down again and stood by the window. "But Adagio, either can't or won't get past it."

Sunset stood and walked over to Aria, "Okay so help me, help her get past it."

"How?"

"With this," Sunset said while pulling out her notes from the inside of her jacket and handing them to Aria.

Aria took the notes and read the title, "The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis?" she asked.

"Yeah, I did some research on it back when I was Princess Celestia's student in Equestria. I think this might be what's going on with Adagio. Look at page three."

Aria flipped to said page and read the highlighted area, "Frustration is the feeling of tension that occurs when our goals are blocked, and it can produce aggression which can lead to feelings of aggression and/or aggressive behaviors. Okay, and?"

"Keep going," Sunset insisted.

"Frustrated people will often redirect their frustration onto other people and act aggressively." Aria continued. "What's your point, Sunny?"

Sunset paced the floor as she talked, "My point is, Adagio's goal was to take over the school, when we stopped her, she became frustrated at not being able to accomplish this; which led to her becoming verbally aggressive towards me," she explained.

"So, you think when Adagio was ripping you a new one at breakfast, she was just letting out her frustration about losing at Battle of the Bands?" Aria asked.

"Exactly, I don't think she’s solely mad at me for what happened, I'm definitely a part of her frustration, but I think she's more frustrated at herself than anything."

"You're not wrong," Aria mumbled. "But how do you plan on helping her?"

"Well, when the Rainbooms defeated me, I didn't know what to do. My whole world collapsed...everything that I had worked so hard to build was shattered in an instant." Sunset sighed and took a seat back on the couch. "At first, I was angry, then I felt empty and lost inside...but then the Rainbooms came beside me and helped me to find a new purpose in life. I think that if I can help Adagio in the same way that the Rainbooms helped me, then maybe there's a chance she'd be open to being friends. But I can't do it without you, Aria."

Aria stood in silence, thinking about what Sunset had said. There was no denying that she knew how Sunset felt after being defeated by the Rainbooms, the feelings of anger, emptiness, and hopelessness resonated all too well with not only her, but also with Sonata and Adagio.

'Maybe we do have some things in common' Aria thought. "But why me?"

"Because you're her friend and she trusts you more than anyone."

Aria scoffed and sat down next to Sunset. "I don't know about that."

"Well, it's true. So are you going to help me?"

Aria looked Sunset dead in the face, searching for some hint of maliciousness, but all she could see was warmth and compassion. Sunset really did want to be friends and wanted to help them. Aria rubbed her neck and exhaled deeply, "Alright, I guess we can be friends and I'll do my best to help you get through to Adagio."

Sunset smiled and clapped her hands in excitement, "Yes!" she squealed as she leaned forward and gave Aria hug.

Aria tensed at being touched and chuckled nervously, but didn't push Sunset away. She couldn't explain it but, it felt kind of nice to be locked in someone else's arms besides Sonata's for once. "I think we're good," she said after being held for a several seconds.

"Sorry, I'm a hugger." Sunset chuckled as she released Aria.

"Oh great, another Sonata," Aria joked.

"Speaking of Sonata, where is she and Adagio?"

"I'm not entirely sure, they left shortly after we got home. Dagi felt bad after not getting Sonata breakfast so they went back out."

"Those two always seemed to be joined at the hip."

Aria stood up and stretched, "Pretty much, Adagio has always had a soft spot for Sonata."

Sunset found herself gazing at Aria's body again. Unlike Adagio who was more curvaceous, Aria was more slender and fit. Her muscles we slightly chiseled and her body toned. "So what about you and Adagio?" she asked still admiring Aria's build.

"What about us?" Aria asked as she walked out the living room and upstairs.

Sunset followed Aria up the stairs and into her room. "Well, you said you two were orphans, does that make you guys like sisters or something?” she asked sitting on Aria's bed.

"I guess, I've never really thought about it before." answered Aria as she opened her dresser drawer. "Adagio is a lot of things to me and Sonata, so it's kind of hard to give her just one title."

"How do you mean?" Sunset inquired.

Aria pulled a white wife-beater out her drawer and put it on, "I don't really know how to describe it, it's kind of like; as we grew up, Adagio just became whatever we needed her to be at the time." Aria opened the second drawer, pulled out a pair of long black basketball shorts and black ankle socks, and put them on.

"I'm guessing some of the things she became weren't all good."

"Mostly not," Aria said as she walked over to her closet and took out a pair of black and white sneakers. "Which is partly why she is the way she is."

"I suppose..." Sunset's voice trailed off.

Aria sat on the bed next to Sunset and put on her sneakers. "You have to understand, Adagio isn't a bad person like people make her out to be. She's done a lot of bad things, for sure, but most of the time, she did it with good intentions."

"What about trying to take over the school, what good could have possibly come out of that?"

"That was something entirely different." Aria replied. "It was how we survived in this world." She finished tying her sneakers and stood up. "Adagio is better at explaining it than I am. All I can say is that it was something we had to do." She motioned for Sunset to follow her and together the two walked downstairs and towards the front door.

"Where are we going?" Sunset asked.

"I'm going to play basketball." Aria replied, picking up the basketball that was next to the door. "You can tag along if you like."

Aria unlocked the door and placed her hand on the doorknob. When she opened the door, there stood Adagio. "Uh-oh." Aria said in fear as she stared at Adagio, who no doubt saw Sunset standing behind her.

Adagio slowly entered the house, followed by Sonata. She was about halfway inside when she stopped and folded her arms across her chest. She glanced at Aria, who looked at her briefly before looking away, and then at Sunset who did the same. Adagio could feel the fear emanating from the two girls and she reveled in the fact that her mere presence was enough to do so.

"Well, isn't this a surprise," Adagio finally said, looking at Sunset. "What are you doing in my house?"

"Dagi, she-"

Adagio shot Aria a vicious glare, silencing her immediately. She waved her hand to the side and Aria stepped away from Sunset and stood next to Sonata, who was standing in the living room doorway. She then returned her attention to Sunset. "Well?" she asked.

Sunset's heart was beat fiercely in her chest, she closed her eyes and breathed out, mustering up every ounce of courage she could find. "I came over to talk to Aria-"

"Why?" Adagio interrupted.

"Because I thought she could help me with something."

"That being?"

"Uhm..."

"Aria, why is she here?" Adagio asked without breaking eye contact with Sunset.

"S-She wants to be my friend..."

"Friend?" Adagio asked, turning her head towards Aria. "I thought I made it very clear that we are not going to be friends with her."

"No, you said, you weren't going to be friends with her." Aria pointed out. "That doesn't mean I can't."

Adagio growled and stepped towards Aria, "Are you fucking kidding me? She is our enemy, Aria."

"No, she not. Sunset came to us, Adagio. She wants to be my friend...our friend and she wants to help us."

"We don't need help, we've been on our own for thousands of years, why all of a sudden do we need her?" Adagio questioned.

"Because thousands of years ago, we weren't powerless. She's been where we are, Dagi. She's experienced being the villain, being defeated, and feeling the way we do. Can't you see that?"

"I don't care!" Adagio yelled. "We are not accepting her hand-outs."

Sonata watched as the fight between Adagio and Aria escalated. She had seen them fight like this before and she knew that it was not going to end well. Not feeling safe standing so close to the fighting girls, she moved and stood by Sunset.

"It's not a fucking hand-out, what is wrong with you?" Aria shouted. "Why do you hate Sunset so much? She's done absolutely nothing to you."

"Nothing?” Adagio replied incredulously. “Aria, she's the reason we lost everything!"

Aria shook her head and laughed, "We never had anything to begin with! Everything we ever owned in this world, we lied, cheated, and stole to get."

"We didn't have a choice then and you know that," said Adagio, pointing at Aria.

“Yeah, but now we do.” argued Aria. “Adagio, I am sick and tired of living this way. I’m tired of waking up and feeling like nothing matters, feeling like I don’t matter.” Aria paused and took a deep breath. “Sunset is offering us a chance at a new life, a chance to make new memories, and build new friendships. I want to take that chance, Dagi, and I want you and Sonata to take it with me; but first, you have to let go of the past if you want to move forward.”

All eyes were on Adagio as they waited apprehensively for her to respond. Arms still crossed, Adagio’s demeanor was calm, her eyes never breaking contact with Aria. All of sudden, she started to laugh.

Aria, Sonata, and Sunset exchanged bewildered looks.

“Oh, Aria,” Adagio cooed, regaining her composure. “You, ungrateful…little…bitch.” Her words were at once, seasoned with anger, spite, and hatred.

“Whoa.” Sunset said in shock.

“How dare you,” Adagio said, taking a step towards Aria. “After everything that I’ve done for you, everything I’ve suffered through…”

Aria stood paralyzed while Adagio moved towards her. Sweat poured down her face as she hyperventilated and shook visibly.

“This is how you repay me?” Adagio snarled as she towered over Aria’s shrinking frame, “With…BETRAYAL!!” Adagio punctuated her last word with a back-slap to Aria’s face.

Sunset and Sonata both let out tiny screams as they watched Aria hit the floor.

Aria groaned and slowly propped herself up on her left elbow. She put her free hand to her face to see if she had drawn blood, she hadn’t. From her peripheral, she could see Adagio advancing towards her. “Dagi, please.” Aria begged as she held out her hand and tried backed away. “I’m-I’m sorry.”

Adagio brushed Aria’s hand aside and knelt on one knee next to her. She grabbed Aria by the collar and pulled her close. “Not yet you’re not.” she replied through clenched teeth. Without warning, Adagio jerked Aria up and led her to the still open door.

Sunset and Sonata watched in horror as Adagio stepped out onto the porch and threw Aria off of it like a rag doll.

Aria’s back bounced off the pavement, taking the breath clean out of her. She tumbled some feet away before finally stopping in the middle of the walkway. Her chest heaved heavily as she lay looking up at the blurry sky. With tears streaming down her face, she closed her eyes and tried to sit up, but she was immediately forced back down. When she opened her eyes, Adagio was standing over her. “Ada-arrrgh,” she grimaced in pain as she felt Adagio’s knee land on her diaphragm.

Adagio watched Aria struggle to breathe under the weight of her knee, all while remaining completely expressionless. “If I ever again see your face again, Aria,” she threatened, leaning down to meet Aria’s eyes. “This will be nothing compared to the beating you’ll suffer.” Adagio dug her knee into Aria’s body to accentuate her point. “Do you understand?”

Aria nodded frantically and grunted as Adagio pushed off of her. Still trying to catch her breath, she watched Adagio walk back into the house and slam the door.

Sunset and Sonata couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed. Neither of them dared say a word as they watched Adagio walk upstairs like nothing happened. Sonata waited until Adagio was out of sight before running to the door. She flung it open and saw Aria on her hands and knees.

“C’mon, Sunset!” she cried out as she ran out to aid Aria.

Sunset followed without hesitation. When she reached the fallen siren, her mouth dropped upon seeing the damage that Adagio had inflicted on Aria’s body. Aria’s once flawless skin was now covered in friction burns and bruises.

“Ari,” Sonata said softly as she knelt down beside her friend, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

Aria cried harder when she heard Sonata’s voice. She felt one of Sonata’s hands touch her hand while the other rested on her lower back.

“It’s gonna be okay, Ari.” Sonata reassured.

I…am so sorry, Aria,” came Sunset’s quivering voice from Aria’s other side. “I never meant for this to happen.”

“Help…me…up.” Aria choked.

Sonata and Sunset glanced at each other and nodded. Sonata put Aria’s arm around her neck, then wrapped her inside arm around Aria’s waist. Sunset did the same and both girls grunted as they lifted Aria off the ground.

“SONATA,” a voice rang out.

Sonata looked towards the house,and standing in the doorway was Adagio.

“Shit,” Sonata said under her breath.

Adagio walked over to the three girls and folded her arms across her chest. Her demeanor once again calm.

“Adagio, I-”

“You have two choices, Sonata,” Adagio cut her off. “One, step away from this traitor or two, join her and suffer the same fate if I ever see you again. You have five seconds to decide.”

“Uh..”

“One…” Adagio counted.

“I don’t…”

“Two…”

Sonata bit her lip, not knowing who to choose. Aria was her best friend and she didn’t want to leave her alone, especially now when she was hurt.

“Three…”

But after seeing Adagio nearly kill Aria, she didn’t want to suffer the same fate.

“Four…”

Sonata side-glanced at Aria and then Adagio, “I, uh, I-I…”

“Fi-”

“Go with her, Sonata,” came Aria voice.

“What?” Adagio, Sonata, and Sunset said in unison.

“Adagio needs you more than I do,” Aria winced as she removed her arm from around Sonata’s shoulder.

“B-But…”

“I’ll be fine, I promise.” Aria said, smiling weakly.

Sonata nodded and gave Aria a tight hug, causing Aria to flinch in pain. “I love you, Ari,” she whispered.

“I love you too, Nata.”

Sonata released Aria and ran into the house.

Adagio and Aria stared at each other for what seemed like a lifetime before Adagio turned and walked away.

“Bye, Dagi,” Aria said.

Aria’s farewell caused Adagio to freeze. There was something in the way Aria said her name that was both loving and forgiving. Adagio could feel a lump forming in her throat and she wanted to look back, but didn’t. A single tear rolled down her face as she walked in the house and closed the door.

Author's Note

Damn...