The Worst

Someone was going to die.

Adagio just wasn’t sure yet who it would be.

Sonata, the Siren who’d just given her a facial with her dirty diaper was a prime candidate. This was the second time their secret shame had been exposed, and she was the common denominator. They’d barely been padded for a week now. Give it a month, and the whole school would know at this rate.

But then there was Sunset, the wannabe human. Strike one had been foiling their plans and shattering their gems. Strike two was definitely her clingy study buddy schtick. And just now she’d learned the Dazzling’s secret. Strike three. She should be out.

Adagio was definitely going to murder at least one of them.

“It’s not just Sonata, is it?” Sunset asked from her seat. Her back was against the wall, the kitchen table in front of her. Flanking her on either side were Aria and Adagio. They had her boxed in. From her position, Sunset couldn’t just get up and leave without someone stopping her.

Aria grunted, refusing to make eye contact with anybody in the room right now.

Sunset had put two and two together. Not that it was a particularly hard problem to solve. If they were so preoccupied with keeping her here, their own necks were on the line. No way they’d care enough to stop her if it was only Sonata in pampers.

Even if she hadn’t figured it out from that, the silence from the two Siren’s before her spoke volumes.

“Huh…” Sunset’s thousand yard stare did nothing to betray what was going on in her mind. But undoubtedly, the hamster wheel of a brain of hers was spinning double time trying to process this.

“Phew!” Sonata’s voice came from down the hall. She shut the bathroom door, waving a hand in front of her face. A fresh diaper hugged her waist. Infuriatingly, she’d forgone her skirt again. “You girls won’t want to go in there for a while.”

“Put some clothes on for Atargatis’ sake,” Aria wasn’t even looking at her.

“Why?” Sonata asked. “Sunset already knows.”

“I will end you.”

Oh there’s a thought. Adagio tapped her fingers against her crossed arms. Aria can kill Sonata and I’ll take Sunset. Maybe their truce extended to double homicide?

“Hmm, cranky again.” Sonata’s innocent approach didn’t trigger Aria’s guard. She swiped and pulled Aria’s skirt up. A flash of white padding, before a blue hand sank into the crotch.

“Sonata!” Aria threw her skirt back down and held it there, face boiling red.

“I knew it! You are a little wet.”

“SONATA!” Aria’s voice cracked. Her squeak was almost a little cute. Adagio would chase it with a tease on any other day.

Sunset’s thousand yard stare added a few feet. Finally, she shook her head to come to her senses. “So you girls… actually need diapers?”

Aria’s hands kept clutching her skirt. She looked down, humiliation setting in. Adagio couldn’t exactly keep a blush at bay either, but she had the strength of will for an irritated comeback. “It’s not like we wear them for fun.”

“Of course not,” Sunset rushed out. “I just— ...Why? I thought you could eat negative emotions… or something like that?”

“We could.” Aria grumbled. Adagio stopped herself from snapping at her. She wasn’t sure how much they should be telling Sunset. But at this point, was it really going to make it any worse?

She pointed to her throat. “Notice anything missing?”

Sunset’s eyes whipped to all three, just to confirm it. “Your gems…” Realization dawned on her face. “So when we destroyed them…”

“You gave us all a teensy weensy bit of diaper dependency,” Sonata filled in, putting words to a truth better left unspoken.

Sunset’s body seemed to relax and tense up all at once. Some questions were answered, and yet others were definitely bubbling to the surface. You have to wear them all the time? Even at school? How bad is it? Who changes you? And probably dozens more. But Adagio didn’t expect the next words out of Sunset’s mouth.

“I… am so sorry…”

Pity.

For some reason, that was the worst reaction they could’ve gotten. At least Sunset breaking down and laughing at them was expected. At least that would’ve made sense.

But pity? Somehow, that just made her more angry than ever.

“Like you care!” she snapped, her fist meeting the table with a loud slam.

The pity at least drained from Sunset’s face. Hello indignation. “Excuse me? What makes you think I don’t?”

“You destroyed our gems and haven’t given it a second thought all this time.” An accusatory point bared down on the girl. “Haven’t you?”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been trying to reach across the aisle with you three,” Sunset fired back. She’d take gold in the side-stepping Olympics.

Figures she wouldn’t want to be the bad guy, came a bitter thought from Adagio. “Yeah, stalking me and barging into our home. Real nice olive branch there.”

“I wouldn’t have done any of that if—” She started to stand, but Adagio shoved the kitchen table forward. It’s edge caught Sunset in her stomach, and she plopped back down with an “oof!”

“I know why you did it,” Adagio growled. Because I gave you every reason too. Not like she wanted Sunset to remind Aria of that. They had a common enemy right now. Even if she was due for an earful from her later, it would be nice to keep the infighting out of Sunset’s sight. “That doesn’t make it right!”

“Sorry about this,” Sonata winced, stepping forward. “Adagio gets grumpy when she needs a changie too.”

Pink on Adagio’s cheeks, red in her vision. “I do not need a change right now.” And, fearing she was wrong, suddenly started paying attention to what her pelvis felt like. But luckily it was just dry padding down there. She was pissed but she hadn’t pissed herself. Thankfully, there was a difference.

“I dunno about that.” Sonata’s grabbers went for her skirt. “Lemme just—” Adagio snapped at her wrist and held it up. “Hey!”

“Stop doing that!” She hissed at the idiot.

“Dagi, that hurts…”

Adagio threw Sonata’s hand back to her, letting her waddle back in a stumble. Her rage returned to its earned target. “You are not telling another soul about this. You hear me?”

“Of course I won’t.” That seemed to offend Sunset the most. Were the Dazzling’s not supposed to assume they were about to be blackmailed, or something?

“Yeah, no dice, sister.” Aria crossed closer to her. “We’re not exactly going to take your word for it.”

Sunset crossed her arms, brow furrowed. “I’m not the person I was; I’m not like you. I don’t always look for a way to bring other people down.”

“‘Preciate the sentiment there, Sunny. And, no offense taken, you know.” Adagio put both hands on the table, leaning in. She hoped it would at least scare the girl somewhat. They didn’t exactly have a way to actually keep her quiet on this. “But that isn’t good enough.”

Sunset huffed. Scared, she was not. “Well that’s not exactly my problem.”

Adagio ground her teeth. Sunset was right, of course. She didn’t have to prove her sincerity to the Dazzlings at all. She could just walk out the door right now. What were they going to do, keep her here? That was a disaster waiting to happen. Even toying with the thought for a moment, Adagio couldn’t see them getting away with it.

Maybe her gem fragments? It would be awfully convenient to just put Sunset under their spell. But those things still didn’t work when she tried singing to them. Assuming they even would if she patched them up, there was no way she could figure out how to do that in time.

They were stuck. The only reason Sunset was still here was because she wanted to be. Miss Goody-Two-Shoes didn’t want to give them the impression she was going to spill the beans. And whether that was because she actually wasn’t or not was irrelevant. Because if Adagio couldn’t ensure that her own sanity wouldn’t survive. Let alone her truce with Aria.

But how could they convince her to keep her mouth shut about something like this?

“I don’t see why you two are so worried,” Sonata piped up. She patted her padded behind. “We have an excuse for them. Doesn’t that make it easier to explain them?”

“It doesn’t make them any less embarrassing, you idiot!” Aria snapped.

Adagio suddenly smiled, and backed away from Sunset. “You know, you’re right Sonata.”

“I am?”

“She is?”

“I am?!”

Hands to her hips, Adagio’s smile grew just a bit crooked. “We can at least explain our diapers. Imagine not even having an excuse for wearing them.” Her eyes never left Sunset.

Aria picked up on it first. “Ohohoho boy…”

“Huh?” Sonata was looking from one Siren to the other. Light bulbs had gone off for the both of them, but Sonata’s was still quite dim.

Sunset was at least picking up on it. Her composure shook a little. “What exactly are you implying?”

“Sonata,” Adagio said. “Why don’t you grab another diaper.”

Realization dawned on the slowest Siren’s face. “I knew it! You do need a change!”

“Wha— NO!” The disappointment Adagio was feeling right now really should have been expected. “Just get a stupid diaper already.”

“Okie dokie then. One diaper for a not-change.” Sonata winked at her before scampering off. A groan chased after her.

Sunset tentatively stood up again. When the table wasn’t shoved into her again, she even straightened her back. “Tell me you’re not about to suggest what I think you are.”

“We need some assurance you aren’t going to let the cat out of the bag.” Adagio crossed her arms. “We’re just asking for our own cat is all.”

“That’s a big ask.” Sunset wasn’t wrong, but looking from Aria to Adagio yielded no agreements. “What if I say no?”

“You aren’t going to.” Adagio wasn’t wrong either. “I’m over a thousand years old, in case you forgot.” She took a step closer, her diaper crinkling. It wouldn’t let her forget about it. With a wince, she carried on. “I’ve seen your type too many times. You want us to be ‘fwiends’ don’t you, Sunny?”

She narrowed her eyes. “That may be a bit of a stretch. But I don’t want you thinking we’re enemies.”

“Well then, prove we’re not. Give us a reason to trust you’ll keep our secret.” Adagio pulled out her phone. “Just a few pictures. And hey, if we let them slip, there’s no reason you can’t tell everyone what you know. Then school would be miserable for the both of us.”

Sunset bit her lip. “You want a lose-lose situation here.”

“I’m asking if you want a win-win situation here.” Adagio’s negotiator voice could use some work. She was so used to relying on her gem in situations like these. But she was sure the hook was in. Now to sit back and reel. “You go on your merry-way knowing we can’t do anything to you, while we’re safe and secure knowing you can’t do anything to us. I can assure you there’s no way these pictures will see the light of day if there’s a chance you could out our lack of—” Erggh. “—potty training.”

Sunset was torn, it was plain as the look on her face. They both knew she held all the cards right now. If their roles were reversed, there was no way Adagio would do this. But then, Sunset had said it herself: she wasn’t like them.

“Fine,” she whispered under her breath.

Aria, who was still a few chess moves behind, raised her eyebrows at this. “Seriously?”

“Look if it will make you trust me on this…” Sunset shook away a forming blush. “Whatever. Sure. Fine. Get it over with.” She crossed her arms and looked away. So much regret, but she wasn’t going to back down. She didn’t need their trust, but for some asinine reason Adagio couldn’t understand—just exploit—she wanted it.

Adagio breathed a premature sigh of relief. She’d pushed the right buttons after all.

“What are we getting over?” Sonata chirped, back with a crisp white square in one hand, powder in the other.

Adagio pointed at Sunset. “Diaper her.”

There were actual stars in Sonata’s eyes. “Really?” she breathed.

Sunset groaned.

“Really.” Adagio almost wanted to cackle.

Sonata put a hand to her chest. “Be still my heart.”

“Y-You know, I can do it myself.” Sunset squirmed her way out from behind the table. “Just point me to the bathroom and—”

Aria stopped her with a hand to the shoulder. “Oh no you don’t. You get to experience this the same way we do. So lie down.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself. This opportunity might just save her truce with Aria on top of everything. Adagio had never seen the grump so… minimally grumpy.

Sunset seemed to surrender that fight too. Anything to keep the Dazzlings placated, it seemed. She let a gleeful Sonata guide her to the floor. All of them no doubt wishing they could ignore what she was saying.

“You aren’t going to believe how good this feels! Aria and Adagio even got used to it, and they hate everything. You’ll come around to these things in no time. Hey, do you want to borrow a paci? I just got a new one. Hehe, well I guess you knew that.” She set her supplies down and went for Sunset’s skirt. The changie shooed the chang-er’s hands away, opting to remove it herself.

“Could you look away?” she mumbled, wiggling free of it.

As Sunset exposed her orangey-red panties to the room, Adagio merely opened her camera app. Aria went for her own phone. Two definite no’s.

With a sigh, Sunset just leaned back.

“Okay, here we go!” Sonata’s eagerness for a diapering was for once matched by her fellow Dazzlings. “Oh wait!” Her fingers went for the waist of Sunset’s panties.

The girl’s reaction was violent, slapping hand away and covering her underwear. “You don’t have to— J-Just put it over them, alright?” She looked to Adagio with a pleading look.

“Leave them,” Adagio said to Sonata.

“Aww…”

It took an unbelievable amount of self-control to say that. If they could force Sunset into a true diaper change, today would only get that much better. But Adagio had been lucky enough to cajole this much out of the wanna-be pony. Last time they’d pushed their luck like that, it’d cost them their gemstones. Better to play it safe.

After all, Adagio though as she angled her camera for the best view. No one will know they’re there.

“Well fine.” Sonata’s disappointment was noted by everyone as she unfolded the diaper. “Legs up, please.”

Sunset grimaced as she complied. But she didn’t complain as the padding slipped under her. Nor did she so much as pout when Sonata guided her legs back down. She did, however, shake her head as Sonata went for the powder. Again, another delicious layer of humiliation that Adagio let her forgo. They’d have to be content with what they could get.

Finally, Sunset let out a low groan as the diaper wrapped around her pelvis. Her legs shifted as a red blush punched its way onto her face. Sonata just hummed as she taped it down, letting the poofy bulk tighten around Sunset’s waist and push her thighs apart.

“All done!” the idiot was beaming as she stood back up, jazz hands presenting her successful diapering.

“Okay, happy?” Sunset asked.

Cameras flashed. Adagio didn’t particularly need the bright light for each photo, but she wanted Sunset to be able to relish in the knowledge of each one taken. Two, ten, twenty… And Aria was just as fast.

“Okay, that’s enough!” Sunset cried out. She stumbled to her feet, gait spread wide, and tried to cover her padded shame. “You just said a few!”

Adagio snapped a few quick ones of the pinkening face of her enemy. Just for good measure. “Fiiine.” She lowered the device. So many good angles left untouched, but she’d cope.

Sunset was actually shaking a little from the embarrassment. Her eyes darted to each girl in the room, hands fidgeting to try and cover the pillow between her legs. Adagio had to admit; it was satisfying to see someone else put through the same thing she’d been dealing with all week.

“I think we’re done here.” Adagio pocketed her phone. She’d had a pit in her stomach ever since Sonata had used her as a chair, but it was finally subsiding now.

“And you won’t show anyone?” Sunset insisted.

“Not unless we have good reason to,” Aria snickered. That was good; just vague enough to be interpreted in more than one way.

Sunset’s lips twitched into a frown, but she didn’t protest. Now that mutual destruction was assured, how could she? “Okay…” she turned to Aria. “But you need to start working with Rainbow Dash on your project.”

“What?” Aria growled. “No way. It was bad enough you found out about the diapers. I’m not giving that jock-headed jock-strap even a chance to get close to me.”

“Really?” Sunset finally stopped guarding her padded crotch and crossed her arms. “Because if all you want is your diapers to not be exposed, I think I’m the one you’ll want to listen to.”

Aria wiggled her phone, as if Sunset even needed the reminder. “You really want these exposed already over something so petty?”

“I could say the same to you,” Sunset returned.

Adagio’s lips tightened. So that was Sunset’s game. She felt way more comfortable blackmailing them when it wasn’t one-sided. If she was serious about following through on her threat, regardless of the damage it would do to her social standing, then they’d have to comply.

But then, that cut both ways now. And that was the best the Dazzlings could hope for.

“Just work with Rainbow already, Aria.” Adagio stepped between them. “You can’t afford to fail History anyway.”

Aria gritted her teeth, but looked away. She’d relent with a little more convincing.

“And with that, I think it’s time you go,” Adagio turned to Sunset.

“Fine by me.” Her hands went down to remove the diaper’s tapes. But Adagio wasn’t planning to let her off the hook that easily.

She grabbed Sunset’s wrist and yanked her forward, stopping only to scoop up her skirt from the floor before dragging her through the house. Sunset “eep”ed in surprise as she tried to navigate with her wide gait. Her hurried waddles would’ve sent her face planting without Adagio’s support.

“H-Hey, wait a sec!” She cried.

Aria and Sonata followed, at least one of them remembering to grab Sunset’s backpack before they reached the front door. Which was good, because Adagio was already throwing it open and pushing Sunset outside.

“Are you kidding me?!” the girl screamed, now outside with nothing to hide from the diaper on her waist.

“Keep it down,” Adagio warned. “You don’t want the neighbors to come see what’s wrong, do you?”

Sunset’s red face paled, compromising with a bright pink. Her hands again went for her diapers, likely figuring it was better to be caught outdoors in her panties over pampers.

But Aria tossed her backpack out, Sunset catching it instinctively. And Adagio draped the skirt over the bag for her. “See you at school, Sunset.” And she slammed the door.

She laughed to herself. That’d felt good.

And it felt even better when she looked out the window. In Sunset’s panic, she’d decided it was quicker to cover herself before anything else, and so slipped the skirt on over her diaper. Crooked satisfaction welled up in Adagio. Especially when she got a glimpse of worry on Sunset’s face.

Now she was trapped. The girl was far too modest to undress herself outdoors. Even if she thought it was safe to do so, she likely wouldn’t de-skirt herself to rip that diaper off. Not when anyone in the neighborhood could just walk by, or see her through their windows.

Adagio’s face hurt from smiling, especially when the look of realization dawned on Sunset’s face. Her best bet now would be to keep that diaper on until she’d made it home. And that was going to be a long waddle.

She slipped her bookbag on, and lowered her blushing face to stare at the ground, before she finally started toddling away.

Adagio breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her leave.

“Aww,” Sonata moaned. “I was hoping we could play for a while.”

“Don’t think you’d be so lucky!” Adagio snapped. “In case you forgot, you’re the reason that got so out of hand. Now Sunset knows you idiot!”

Sonata just crossed her arms and pouted. “But you handled it.” Aria flicked her head. “Oww!”

“Barely!” she snapped. Another flick. “No thanks to you!”

“Okay okay, I’m sorry.” Sonata frowned.

“From now on, change yourself immediately,” Adagio ordered. “I don’t want another incident like today, got it? That’s three people who’ve found out our secret already. In case you haven’t forgotten, we need to keep that on lock until we graduate.”

“You don’t think it’ll take that long to get potty trained, do you?” Aria asked.

Adagio groaned. She didn’t know, but at the pace they were going at…

She pushed the thought from her mind. No need to think about other unpleasant things after what they’d just been put through. But, at the very least, she doubted Sunset would stop by their house again any time soon.