To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.
-George MacDonald

Sunset left her front door open as she moved between her flat and Ms. Pascale’s as she had been kind enough to allow Sunset use of her oven and stove. It was impossible to cook a whole turkey in the microwave, even a small one. Not to mention the rest of the small feast. Ms. Pascale had even made the stuffing before heading off to her son’s house for Christmas dinner. Sunset decided to get her something for Christmas as well to thank her. For now though, she still had a few things to get ready for her guests. She had watched a Gordon Ramsay YouTube video on Christmas turkey out of recommendation from Flash, who often took up the cooking when Jade was out of town. Thunder was even worse when it came to cooking as he had a tendency to forget that the stove was on and burn the food in the process.

She remembered him saying that Ramsey was a big hard-ass on his show, but Sunset thought he seemed to be a decent enough person from his video. Sure, his self-confidence could use some reigning in, but other than that he seemed to be a cool guy. In any case, his advice was spot on as Sunset’s turkey came out wonderful and she felt proud of herself. While the turkey rested, Sunset drained the potatoes and began to mash them. Cooking was a ton of work and she was wasn't too sure if she enjoyed it, but she followed the recipe she had found regardless. She then added condensed milk, butter, thyme and rosemary to the potatoes and whipped them until they were fluffy. She also flowed another for the gravy when she heard a familiar voice call out.

“Hello? Sunset are you in here? Both doors are open,” Sonata called into the apartment she was currently in.

“Yeah, just getting the food ready. Go on in and make yourselves at home.”

“Ok Sunny! We bought pie, alcohol, and of course presents!” Sonata called cheerfully into her neighbour’s flat.

Sunset smiled to herself as she poured the gravy into a bowl, she couldn’t remember ever enjoying the season for what it was meant to be. She started bringing over the food saving the bird for last, locking the door behind her. Sunset had keys to all the apartments and she would return
later and do the dishes despite what Ms. Pascale said about not needing to.

“It smells so good!” Sonata told her as she piled food onto her plate.

Aria rolled her eyes and said, “Just make sure you leave some for the rest of us.”

Sonata stuck her tongue out before shovelling food inside her awaiting mouth.

“Try to be civilised for dinner you two,” Adagio chided while pouring the wine into four glasses, “The hard stuff iss for later. Let's just have a nice turkey dinner with some Pinot Noir and save the crazy times for opening gifts.”

“I bought peppermint schnapps! Schnapps is such a fun word, especially when your drunk.” Sonata said in between bites.

Sunset chuckled. “Glad you three are on top of drinks. I forgot all about them, I think I have half a thing of almond milk and a can of beer.”

Aria snorts. “And you call yourself a hostess.”

“Hmm, you know I never once called myself that. Besides Flash, you three are the only ones who have ever been here.” Sunset told them before taking a sip of wine.

Sonata looked up at her with large shimmering eyes and a large grin on her face. She swallowed then spoke. “Does that mean your old lame friends have never been here? ‘Cause if so, that means we're better friends than they were! And we used to be bad,”

Sunset smiled at Sonata. “Well we do have more in common. After all I used to be a horrible person, though I’m still not a great person now, but I digress. Besides, all four of us are from another world. We're older than we look.”

“Speaking of the other world, how is that bastard Starswirl? Has he kicked the bucket yet? He must have been ancient when he had his hero gang banish us.” Aria inquired.

Sunset raised an eyebrow, “It's been a thousand years or so since he vanished, and what hero gang? From what Twilight said it was just Starswirl that banished you.”

“Wait a second, a thousand years? It's only been a year and half since we've been here!” Aria said looking over at her sisters.

“You mean to tell us that all we knew about Equestria has changed?” Adagio asked with a shock expression.

“I'm afraid so. If I had known, I'd have told you sooner.” Sunset said in an apologetic tone. This was a horrible way to find out but unfortunately there was nothing she could do.

Aria chugged her wine, much to the disgust of Adagio. “Well good thing we brought booze, I'm gonna drink until I forget and not worry till tomorrow.”

Sonata, who had been suspiciously quiet, decided to follow her sister’s example and downed her wine the same way. Adagio sighed and shook her head as she followed suite. The three pairs of eyes the turned towards Sunset.

“All right alright.” Sunset join them and chugged the rest of her wine.

“You never did tell us what you are or what your doing here, so how about you illuminate a few things.” Adagio told her as she poured more wine for all of them.

Sunset took a sip of the wine before responding. “I was a unicorn, and a damn good one too. That combined with my inflated ego and dislike of most other ponies was a dangerous combination from the get-go. In the end I fled through the portal in an attempt to gain power.”

Aria snorted. “Please, how dangerous could you have possibly been? Let me guess, you were a whiny brat who wanted mommy and daddy to let you stay out late or some lame bullshit like that.”

“Well i did destroy a few buildings showing off. I also threw a book at Princess Celestia's face and demanded to be made an alicorn,” Sunset recounted bluntly and without much emotion. “Needless to say, she was angry with me, so after dismissing me as her student, I ran threw the portal, which I was also demanding to know about. I mean she showed me the damn thing and then refused to tell me anything about it, after getting rid of the guards that were escorting me out. All she would say was that I wasn't ready. If you looked into a magical mirror that you're mentor showed you and you saw everything you've been working for and they’re just disappointed in you and refuse to explain a single thing about it, you'd go behind their back too.” Sunset was getting worked up and agitated thinking about the past. “Then they replace you like you meant nothing to them.” The words were spilling out of her mouth and she couldn't seem to stop them. ”And then said replacement becomes what you had worked so long and so hard for. It's as if you never existed at all.”

The Dazzlings now felt sorry for Sunset as they all gathered around her for a group hug. It felt warm and comforting being this close to others who could relate to her and understand where she was coming from. Trust never came easy for her, especially now with her former friends, but trusting them felt right. With that, Sunset reciprocated their hug as tears started to fall from her eyes. “Sorry about that,” Sunset told them while trying unsuccessfully to wipe the tears away.

“Don't apologize Sunny, we don't mind,” Sonata told her as she tightened her embrace, “We care about you.” Adagio and Aria agreed and followed suit, eliciting more tears of genuine relief and happiness from the bacon-haired victim.

“Besides, I do love a good cry. It’s rather tasty,” Aria teased while dropping her uncaring facade, earning a slight chuckle and a sniffle from Sunset.

The girls held their embrace for a while before moving to the living room to relax. They all then decided to turn on some Netflix and watch a movie while they finished their food and 2nd bottle of wine. They were starting to get tipsy as they giggled at the movie they watched.

After Aria downed the rest of the wine, she reached into her bag grabbing a bottle of whisky. “Sunset gets the first shot!” she shouted drunkily.

“Did you remember the shot glasses?” Adagio asked.

“Nope!” Aria said proudly popping her p similar to her uncle, before realizing what she just said.

“Don’t worry girls,” Sunset told then, “Ms. Pascale should have some shot glasses in her apartment. I’ll go get them.” Sunset struggled to stand up and she stumbled a bit en route to the door, but she made it inside and found exactly what she was looking for. When she made it back, Sonata had a white and red striped bottle of peppermint schnapps while Adagio had a large cream and gold bottle of rum chata out on the coffee table, which was in an old trunk she had found. Sunset put the four shot glasses down on makeshift table. Aria immediately filled one up, spilling a bit in the process.

“Drink up,” Aria grinned as she handed Sunset the the whisky. Sunset took the glass and tipped it back, the alcohol burning down her throat.

“Mine next, mine next!” Sonata exclaimed quickly filling Sunsets glass with the schnapps. As she downed it, Sunset found that it tasted much sweeter and burned a bit less, allowing her to appreciate it more. She held out her glass for Adagio to fill it with her drink choice without prompting. It was milky, cinnamony, and rummy. This was definitely Sunset’s favourite, it reminded her of the milk from Cinnamon Toast Crunch with rum. She licked her lips and held out her glass for more.

“I know which is my favourite,” Sunset told them.

Adagio looked smug and bragged, “I told you Aria, I told you she'd like mine best.”

“Well I guess that means more for me,” Aria shrugged as she took another shot of her whisky while revelling in the burning she felt in her throat.

“If you puke on Sunset’s floor, you’re cleaning it up,” warned Adagio as Aria down another shot.

Aria sneered, “I've never puked, so how about you mind your own business.” She then reached for a bigger looking glass and filled it with more whiskey.

“But what about St. Patty’s day? It was so green and nasty,” Sonata asked earning her a glare from her purple-haired sister while Adagio smirked and Sunset stifled a giggle.

“Sonata, you promised you'd forget that ever happened! Besides, it doesn't count; that was the green brees fault, probably just the dye.” Aria told the group her face flushed from the alcohol and from embarrassment. “Besides, your one to talk Sonata; what about you and the tequila incident?”

“We definitely need to here that one.” Sunset said laughing.

Adagio smirked deviously as she began to tell the tale. “We were at this bar that Sonata claims has the best deep fried taco…”

“And that's all! There's nothing more to tell!” Sonata quickly interrupted.

“Tequila makes her clothes fall off~,” Aria sang making Sonata flush with embarrassment as she tried to bury her face in Sunset’s hair. Aria chuckled evilly as she gained vengeance upon her blue-haired sister.

“What about Adagio? Any embarrassing stories about her?” Sunset asked while petting Sonata’s head.

Adagio looked slightly offended. “Of course not! I'm perfect and would never do anything the embarrass myself.” She denied the very idea of such an accusation.

Aria snickered. “That's not what I heard.”

Adagio lunged for her across Sonata and Sunset with a livid expression, scrambling to get to Aria before she could say anything else. Aria jerked away, falling off the sofa in the process. She laughed. “Look, I'm drunk Adagio,” she imitated, much to Adagio’s ever-growing anger, “At least I only fell off a couch and not a stage.”

“Well at least I had a soft landing via a person and not the hard floor,” Adagio snapped at the girl on giggling on the floor.

“Sunny, do you have any drunk stories?” Sonata asked removing her face from Sunset’s hair.

“No, I don't usually drink this much, if at all. Couldn't afford to dull my mind whilst scheming,” Sunset said with a shake of her head. “Just a beer here and there, nothing too much or too often,”

Aria plopped herself back down on the couch and nudged Sunset. “Well we'll just have to change that starting tonight, and then for New Year’s we’re going to a bar,” she declared before falling flat onto Sunset’s lap, much to the amusement of Adagio and the chagrin of Sonata.

“All right, sounds like a plan,” Sunset laughed while running her fingers the Aria’s hair.

“Good. The one we frequent has a karaoke bar, so we will drag you up with us,” Adagio declared with a grin.

“Me first!” Sonata yelled as she wrapped her arms around Sunset, pulling her closer, and sticking her tounge out at Aria.

Aria sneered back and snuggled deeper into Sunset’s lap and said, “Well I call second then. Adagio will just have to be last.” The aforementioned siren pouted at the prospect of being last for anything, especially something like karaoke.

“How about we all sing together for the first round? That way you go first at the same time.” Sunset suggested with an amused smile on her face.

Sonata nodded and hugged her tighter. “We should practice now!”

Sunset closed her as she began to remember the song her grandmother, Sunset Blush, had once sung to her as foal, that single Hearth's Warming had been wonderful, her parents hadn't been there and it was the second to last time she had seen her grandmother before she had died. Sunset began to sing slowly, feeling the magic swell within her.

She could feel her ears and tail grow and a slight pressure on her forehead that reminded Sunset of how her horn felt. Warmth spread from her back.

The sirens began to join in harmony as the magic touched them, causing them to grow ears, tails, and the same wings from the battle of the bands.

Theis three had quickly become her family, she trusted them more so than any other. They didn't judge her because of her past.

They finished their song as the magic continued to swirl around them.

“I like the new wings and horn you got going on there, much better look on you.” Adagio purred.

“So pretty. They'd look great with the presents we got you!” Sonata said excitedly using her wings to carry herself over to the small tree and grab all the gifts. “Presents, then desserts!” she shouted

Aria rolled her eyes at Sonata/s enthusiasm, but held her hands out for her gift nonetheless.”So what lame gift did you get me?”

“Open it up and see. I can't just tell you,” Sunset told her, grateful they weren't discussing her wings. They seemed to be made of glowing light and were quite beautiful.

Aria tore into the paper while grinning wickedly as she took the gloves out of the box and put them on. “Sweet! Now I don't have to borrow the crappy ones from the gym,” she said happily as she mock-punched the air, weaving and ducking an imaginary opponent.

Sonata followed suit as she tore into her gift and squealed with joy. “A quesadilla maker! And it's blue! Ooo a recipe book,” she yelled as she began to flip through it.

Adagio opened her gift. Upon seeing it, she glanced up at Sunset with a genuine smile. “You have good taste Sunset, this is my favorite brand,” she said as she quickly applied one of the lippys while using her phone as a mirror. She put her hand under Sunsets chin and pulled her close for a kiss. “Now it's your turn to open your gifts.” Adagio said with a purr after licking her lips.

Sunset mentally shook herself, that was the second kiss Adagio had given her and she couldn't help but wonder how many more the siren would give her. “Alright, let's see what you three got me.” Sunset opened up the first box pulling out from Sonata. It was a new leather jacket it had a flame pattern along its hem. She quickly put it on the leather was buttery soft and warm. “I love it Sonata,” Sunset pulled the blushing siren in to a hug. She opened the next from Adagio. It was a pair of leather pants black and her size.

“Sonata works at a small leather clothing store and I knew you'd look hot in tight leather pants.” Adagio said with heat in her eyes and a hand on Sunset’s thigh.

“Shove off Adagio, she's still got to open my gift.” Aria said removing her sister’s hand. “Here, and ignore her, she's an attention hog.”

“She's not the only one,” Sunset teased as she opened the gift. It was a pair of motorcycle boots with flames up the sides. She put them on once again they fit perfectly. “I love them all, thank you so much.” Sunset felt warm and connected as three pairs of arms wrapped themselves around her once more.

The sirens ended up staying the night, much too drunk to walk home. The four girls were there the next morning, snuggled up together in Sunset’s bed found by the kind neighbor lady.

Author's Note

As always a big thank you to speculore
Hope you all have a good Christmas
https://youtu.be/XjkPH6sZM_o