Author's Note

When tragedy falls upon Adagio's happy little life, she struggles to find what was stolen from her partner and herself, but her search leads to unexpected meetings. New facts are learned and some things are a bit clearer. Are things looking up for Adagio? Let's hope so.

DISCLAIMER: This story includes references to depression, depressing thoughts, insecurities, anxiety, self-harm and thoughts based around all of these concepts. If you do not want to read a story with slight references to these, I would urge you to click off.

Author's notes at the end of the chapter~

Back to the Cave

Chapter XII: Back to the Cave

Normally, my long walks across the city would be accompanied by a few pit stops to help me rest my legs and think about my situation, but this isn’t the case today. The nightclub is halfway across the city from the music studio and I sure as hell don’t want to get there late. I never expected myself to even approach that place again, much less have business there, but desperate times call for those kinds of extreme measures. Either way, I am just dying to hear what Rich has to say about what happened last night… Even though he clearly loves his family and keeps his promises like an honorable person, Filthy Rich is still the king of organized crime in this city. Hell, he’s even been trying to get into office as the mayor, which would surely give his profits an even bigger boost. If there’s anyone in this city who knows what happened to Sunset and I’s apartment, it would be him.

On the off chance that he isn’t the one responsible for the act, then he can still help me find our lost belongings, given the network he’s in charge of. It’s unlikely though… Rich always had these sorts of operations to make things look like a simple break-in when it’s really a cash in. That was the sort of ship he ran, even when I agreed to do certain deals for him. Just thinking about his ugly mug makes me want to vomit, the feeling of anger raging inside me. If he was the one who hurt Sunset, I’m not sure what I would do… I guess the only reason I’m willing to talk to him now is because I owe the man the benefit of a doubt. Let’s just say that he and I have both kept our promises to each other… Maybe there’s a mutual sense of respect…

I just wish we could meet somewhere safer. Somewhere better… This part of town always has that stench of alcohol, stained streets, run down buildings and pawn shops on practically every corner. To kick it all off, trash litters the sidewalks, despite the trash cans beside public benches. I wouldn’t want Sunset to touch this place, even with a fifty-foot pole. Fortunately, I still know how this part of town works… Keep your head down, avoid the holes in the walls and only start fights you know you can finish.

Keeping my head down doesn’t necessarily mean letting myself get picked on… Even though I let Trixie do that at the arcade, this is a different story. You need to look like you know where you’re going and like nothing is going to stop you from getting there. If someone looks confident and has a face that screams ‘Don’t fuck with me’, then they look less like a target and they may give you a challenge instead. As much as I’m trying to be a better person now, this is not the time to let people walk all over me.

“Come on, you have to have something on ya.” The sound of a groggy and dazed voice hits my ears as I look up from the sidewalk, surprised at what I see. It’s not abnormal for local drunkards or addicts to harass the passersby for some cash, but the person this guy is bothering instantly causes me to feel uneasy. The woman in front of the disheveled man has a bright green dress that contrasts nicely with her yellow skin, her pink hair flowing down her shoulders.

“I-I’m sorry, but I really don’t have anything on me,” the all-too-caring woman states, trying to de-escalate the situation. Nervously, she backs up and tries to keep eye contact with the man, despite her clear feeling of fear. Normally, I would just walk away from an interaction like this since it’s less likely for something to happen to you if you just turn a blind eye, but I can’t do that this time… Even if this was happening to a different woman, the man seems too irrational for his own good, making it dangerous to argue. What makes this situation even worse is that it’s happening to Fluttershy of all people, a person who wants to avoid conflict like the plague, even if it means letting herself be walked over.

Sighing to myself, I reach into my bag and feel inside for a dollar bill, making sure my revolver is still inside in the process. What is she even doing in this part of town? Wearing an expensive dress as well? Her weak posture, shy appearance, and nice attire practically beg for her to be mugged. Shaking my head, I take a deep breath and clench my fist, preparing for whatever may happen. I really wasn’t looking to do this today, but here goes nothing…

Walking up to Fluttershy as quickly as I can, I grab her arm just above her elbow, causing her to jump and let out a high-pitched squeal, looking at me in surprise. “Here’s a little something. Treat yourself,” I try to say in the least hostile tone I can as I hand the inhibited man a five dollar bill. I was hoping for him to just take the bill and be satisfied with this outcome, but the man looks at me with a confused expression, eyeing the bill in my hand.

“Is that all?” he practically scoffs, inching closer to try and intimidate us into handing over any more that we may have.

“Take it or leave it, pal. I don’t have any more and I’m feeling generous today,” I state in a deadpan way, raising my eyebrow at him. Fluttershy responds to his approach by moving back a little, but I hold my ground, still offering the dollar. After a moment of consideration, the guy mumbles, taking the bill and stumbling away from us, only to sit on a nearby bench. Without waiting another moment, I pull Fluttershy along, walking down the sidewalk as quickly as I can. Why did she have to be here?

Fluttershy stumbles to try and keep up with my pace, trying to talk to me as she does so. “A-Adagio? Why are you here?” she finally asks, the feeling of shock and fear seemingly fading away just to be replaced by confusion.

“I could ask you the same thing,” I state in an irritated tone. I didn’t mean to sound rude to her or to show my fangs in a sense, but right now really isn’t the best time to swoop in and save someone else. “What are you doing in this part of town, Fluttershy? Worst of all, with that dress on?” Bringing my hand up to my forehead, I rub slightly and sigh at my current situation.

“You h-helped me…?” she states weakly, her confused expression still pasted on her face.

“Of course… That’s what friends do, right?” I ask hesitantly. Honestly, I’m still unsure what it completely means to be someone’s friend… I don’t know what’s appropriate to say or do, despite my experience with Rainbow and Apple Bloom. Let’s be honest, though. Rainbow isn’t the best example since she’s… quite a unique person. Apple Bloom, on the other hand, is the textbook definition of a friend. Almost way too caring and helpful at times…

Fluttershy’s expression turns into one of sadness and anxiety, her eyes looking away from me as she tries to catch her breath. “Yeah. That’s w-what friends do…” Her eyes slowly return to me, smiling as well as she can. “Thank you, Adagio~” Her smile and nod cause me to look away, trying to avoid looking stupid again since I don’t know what to say.

“Anyway, why are you here?” Trying to get back on topic, I drag Fluttershy along with me into an open donut shop. I really need to get to the nightclub soon, so I hope she can make this quick…

The smell of the shop is almost enough to distract me from the pending stress of the morning, the sweet scent of glazed bread and sugar filling my nostrils. Walking over to one of the tables, I motion for Fluttershy to sit on one of the chairs opposite of me. Fluttershy’s anxious expression remains as she sits down, her hands fidgeting with each other for a while. “I um… I’m sorry for getting you involved in this. It’s just a personal issue,” Fluttershy is barely able to say, whispering under her breath to avoid being heard by anyone else in the shop. Honestly, Fluttershy and I are not that close, so I shouldn’t really care what business she has here, but… I suppose Sunset is rubbing off on me. Her inquisitive nature and how she always wants to help when she can. Besides, I… want to be friends with Fluttershy, it’s just hard to think about what to say. She could easily be hurt if she doesn’t know how to handle herself in this part of town, so it’s my responsibility to help in any way I can, right…?

“Look, Fluttershy. You almost got robbed just a minute ago. Your personal issue that you have to deal with here could get you hurt.” A heavy breath leaves my mouth as I try to think of the right words, my eyes connecting with hers once again just for her to look away with a nervous feeling in her gaze. “If you tell me what you are doing here, maybe I could help you. No judgment involved.” For a moment, Fluttershy brings her hand to her chest and looks down at the table, her lips twitching slightly in her nervous state. Despite her awkward and shy emotions, Fluttershy finally grabs her purse, sighing slightly to herself.

“The truth is… I’m here to help a friend,” she barely mumbles before pulling out a Tupperware container from her purse, seemingly filled with some kind of soup. “Her father just… passed on… and she fell sick as well, so I was wanting to help her in some way.” Even though Fluttershy is normally pretty reserved, her statement this time is said in a more direct way with sorrow in her voice, making it sound genuine. “I admit that she doesn’t live in the best neighborhood, but I couldn’t really stand by and not help her, you know?” A strike of pain goes through my heart for a moment, memories of the past being opened from Fluttershy’s words. That day I got injured was… definitely traumatic. If I didn’t have Sunset there to help me, I’m not sure what would have happened. She confidently stepped up to the plate to help me, not bearing to see me in pain or without some sort of support. That helpful spirit of hers has definitely rubbed off on me and… I think it’s the reason I fell so madly in love with her in such a quick amount of time.

“Yeah, I can understand that sentiment,” I slowly respond, bringing my hand to the back of my head with a sigh. “You should still bring someone with you when you come here. It’s better to travel in a group rather than being targeted by muggers.” Looking up to Fluttershy, I can’t help but feel surprised as I see her raised eyebrow and confused gaze, seemingly puzzled about my response.

“You seem… to know a lot about staying out of trouble,” Fluttershy whispers, her finger gingerly playing with her hair. I wasn’t aware she could catch onto that fact from the few things I’ve said so far, but I guess it can be obvious from how I handled the recent situation.

“Well, I used to live in this part of town…” I mean, it’s normal to gain experience from these sorts of situations if you live around them for long enough… It’s hard for me to not watch my back, even during the day. At one point, Rainbow Dash told me that it was ‘too freaking hard’ to surprise or scare me, to which I only replied with a chuckle. Now, there’s only an awkward silence that passes between us, my eyes glancing back down to the table.

“Um, hey?” Fluttershy states in a louder tone, surprisingly more direct than her naturally held back dialogue. Looking back up at her, I see her raising her hand, her attention focused on a young man in work attire for the donut shop we’re currently sitting in. When he finally walks over, Fluttershy takes out her bank card from her purse, handing it to him in a reserved manner. “Um… I’d like a light roast coffee, if you have it. And…” Fluttershy’s gaze now rests on me as she expects for me to order something of my own from the shop.

“Oh, no. You don’t have to, Fluttershy. I had a breakfast earlier and-”

“It’s the least I can do to repay you for your kindness today~” the pink-haired girl states in a happier tone, giving me a genuine smile. Shaking my head, I can’t help but smile slightly, rubbing my eyes. I guess Sunset isn’t the only person with that pushy attitude to help someone else.

“A black coffee will be nice~” After my words are said, Fluttershy nods to the man before he walks back towards the counter of the shop. Even though I need to meet Rich relatively soon, I guess I can spare enough time to get Fluttershy to her friend’s house and such. My conscience wouldn’t let me just walk away now, especially after she went through the trouble to buy me a coffee. “So, how far away is your friend’s house from here?” I ask slowly, pulling out my phone and typing in a message.

“O-oh? You still want to… help?” she asks weakly, putting the soup container back into her bag.

“Of course. And who is this friend, by the way? Is it someone I know?” I ask cautiously, afraid that the answer might be yes. I just saw Sunset and Rainbow before I left the house today, so they should be fine. I haven’t talked to Apple Bloom or Applejack in a few days, but I would think Apple Bloom would tell me if one of them isn’t feeling well. Besides, their parents have already… yeah. Rarity might be the person Fluttershy is talking about, but I’m not sure if she lives in this part of the city. The other Twilight could be another option… What the hell should I even call her? Every time I think of her, I can’t help but confuse her with the Twilight I met almost two years ago. The Twilight I met had straight hair with bangs, but this new Twilight seems to keep her hair tied up and she has glasses now. You’d think that the same person from two universes would have relatively the same eyesights, but I suppose not. Other than glasses Twilight, there’s always Pinkie Pie.

“Oh, um… No, you don’t know her. Her name is Tree Hugger and she lives about half a mile away from here if I remember correctly,” she states nervously, once again playing with her hair as she talks. “You see… Tree Hugger and her dad didn’t really agree on a lot of things, but she still feels awful about what happened. I’m sure most people with parents they love would feel the same way.” Fluttershy’s eyes break from me, looking out the window with a solemn smile on her face. “What are your parents like?” she abruptly asks me, surprisingly without a stutter.

Shaking my head slowly, I look out the same window towards the sky, taking a deep breath as I try to come up with the words. “I didn’t have parents. If I did, they left before I could remember. So, I sorta grew up by myself with Sonata and Aria.” Looking back at Fluttershy, I see a pitiful expression across her face, seemingly sad about my statement. Honestly, it looks like she’s staring at an injured puppy. “What? It’s fine. I still learned from other sirens and strived to be the best I could. I think I turned out mostly fine without them.” After hearing my words, Fluttershy tries to wipe the pitiful look from her face, but the glances still come out every now and again. “How about you? Did you have parents?” I ask in response, trying to still gauge the conversation so that we can avoid another awkward silence.

“Oh yes! I do~ They’re the best parents I could ever ask for~ Although, they sometimes lack the confidence to speak their mind or stand up for themselves.” Honestly, I have to hold back the urge to laugh at Fluttershy’s words just from the sheer irony of them. The fact that Fluttershy of all people thinks someone else lacks a spine is pretty hilarious, but it also makes me think about how shy her parents must be if she’s technically more confident than they are.

“That’s nice to hear~ The only family I have had were Sonata and Aria~ Well, we were close enough to be sisters practically.” As soon as I finish talking, the young man walks back to our table with the coffees in hand, resting them down on the table as well as the card and a receipt. Honestly, I’m surprised this donut shop has this level of service. Most stores like this don’t have people who come up and help with ordering.

“I don’t have sisters, but I do have a brother~” Fluttershy says with a soft smile, bringing her coffee up to her lips. A brother, huh? That’s interesting.

“What’s that like?” I ask quietly, sipping my own drink slowly to not burn my tongue. Instantly, I can feel myself relax as I try to savor the drink. God, I really needed some stress relief today. I guess a good drink or snack can always do that to a person, huh? Sorta like magic sometimes.

“Well, he’s… a character. He always gets in trouble and debt by his own bad choices. Almost as soon as he gets his own place, he loses it by not paying rent and he ends up moving back with my parents. Though, he’s been trying to work harder recently. When I talked to him and all.” A sorrowful gaze envelops her eyes as she stares down at the table, looking into the distance of reality itself. Honestly, I can’t tell what she’s thinking behind those eyes, but I can understand that this topic is quite a touchy subject for her.

“Hopefully, it’s the truth,” I respond, nodding my head slightly. “But hey, we should probably go now,” I tell Fluttershy before standing up from the table, slightly concerned about the ticking down clock.

“Oh? U-um, okay,” Fluttershy awkwardly responds, picking up her bag and drink to follow me.

“You said Tree Hugger’s house is half a mile away, huh? Then how about you lead?” Gesturing my hand towards the door, I try to smile as best as I can, nodding to her. Knowing how slow she walks, something tells me this will be a long walk.

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The convenient thing about our conversation at the donut shop is that Fluttershy forgot to mention how… unique Tree Hugger is. After we got to her house, I got to understand pretty quickly what Tree Hugger believed in. First of all, she didn’t have many electronic devices or things that ran on electricity besides the essentials. The heater, air conditioner and lights were still operational, but even these might be replaced in Tree Hugger’s words. She also didn’t have running water since she thought the city water was tampered with too much. How she takes baths is something I don’t know. I’m not even sure I want to know.

All the food she bought claimed to be organically grown with no preservatives or chemicals added to them, but I still somewhat doubt that. The weirdest thing about her though is that she owns a motorcycle with flame prints on it. Conveniently, there was a ‘for sale’ sign on the vehicle, so I suppose it still fits with her ideals. It’s just surprising that it’s here to begin with.

A loud sneeze wakes me from my thoughts as Tree Hugger sips on some of the soup in her spoon, smiling at the taste. “Like, Flutters~ This really helps, you know?” Tree Hugger slowly responds in a laid back tone, her eyes half opened. Turns out that this is normal for her since she always speaks this way and looks tired, despite it being mid morning.

“I really hoped it would~ I tried my mom’s recipe~” Fluttershy says with the kindest smile that she could make. Even though Sunset’s smile is the best one in my book, Fluttershy’s is definitely close to the top of the list. I can see why she can befriend so many animals easily. Does that speak to my character…? Do I seem mean or ugly to animals? Because they sure as hell don’t listen to me… All the bruises I got from falling down at Fluttershy’s house should prove that. Conveniently, most of them are from that white ball of fluff, sporting a name that is the opposite of his true nature. Angel…

A small breath escapes Tree Hugger’s lips as she tries to shake away the chills she’s been feeling. She still refuses to take any medicine since she wants her body to heal in a natural way rather than relying on drugs made by ‘big pharma’. Honestly, if I got sick, I would probably say “Screw that,” and down a headache relief instantly. Even though I’ve remained quiet for most of the conversation, Tree Hugger’s eyes look toward me with a curious stare, making me feel a little uncomfortable. Honestly, the only reason I’m still here is to make sure Fluttershy gets back home safely. Or out of this neighborhood at least. “What are you thinking about, Flutter friend?” she asks me in that laid back voice again, making me question whether or not she is fully here or not. Flutter friend? I guess it means friend of Fluttershy’s?

“Not much,” I say quietly, nodding to her with an awkward smile on my lips. The only thing I’ve actually been thinking about in depth is the motorcycle she has for sale… I don’t have a driver’s license but… the thought that it could maybe help Sunset and I eats away at the back of my mind. Especially since Sunset often has to take a bus ride and be on her feet practically all day. Maybe it would help her a bit to have a ride directly from our apartment to her school… Looking back at Tree Hugger and Fluttershy, I see both of their expectant eyes for me to say something more, to contribute to the conversation that was mostly existing without me not so long ago. “Um… If you don’t mind me asking, why do you have a motorcycle?” I blurt out, saying the first thing I could think of to try and avoid an awkward silence. Fluttershy’s eyes widen to my question, but before she can say anything, Tree Hugger simply chuckles lightly, trying to avoid another coughing fit.

“It was my dad’s. My old man and I have had a lot of disagreements about things like it, but I still cared about him, you know? So, I guess that’s why he left it to me instead of Mom.” Her eyes slowly turn to peer at the vehicle, a heavy sigh leaving her lips. “I want to sell it, but I don’t have any buyers just yet. I guess it’s because of the problems with it.” Problems? It looks just fine to me… Maybe it’s some mechanical issue.

“What are the problems?” I ask with a raised eyebrow, taking a drink of the tea Fluttershy prepared for us. I have to admit, she’s pretty good at making tea. I should never reject a tea party with Flutters here.

“Well, the engine won’t start and it’s out of oil. I think he also said the clutch was broken, so those fixes would need to be made.” Once again, Tree Hugger’s eyes meet with mine with a curious tone, a small smile appearing on her lips. “Are you interested?”

It could help Sunset and I… Especially since we don’t have a vehicle of our own. The biggest problem is the price. “Maybe. How much are you looking for?” I ask slowly. Looking at the motorcycle. Honestly, I may not be able to afford it, but hey, it’s worth a shot, right?

After looking at Fluttershy, Tree Hugger shrugs her shoulders and takes another bite of her soup. “I was originally looking for eight-hundred, but since you’re friends with Fluttershy, I would be willing to take seven-hundred on it.” Seven-hundred dollars. I guess friendship has its benefits every now and again. I think I could maybe make that in a couple weeks… But would she still have this here by the time I have the money? How much would the repairs cost…?

“I will have to think about it. Would that be okay?” Before finishing my tea, I stand up and take my phone out, taking a picture of the bike for later reference. Tree Hugger nods and gives me a thumbs up.

“That’ll be fine, gal~ Thanks for bringing Flutters here to see me~”

“Oh, it’s really not that big of a deal,” Fluttershy awkwardly says, finally speaking up after seeing that our conversation about the bike is over. “I just wanted to make you feel better~” The two friends hug each other, Fluttershy completely disregarding the fact that Tree Hugger is sick. Since I have to walk her out of this part of town, I’m now kind of scared of getting sick myself. Ironic, considering that you would usually be more scared of getting robbed here.

After a moment, Fluttershy stands up and smiles at Tree Hugger before walking off her porch. Tree Hugger gives us a small wave and returns the smile, still holding the bowl of soup in her lap. “Take care, okay?” she tells us before either of us start to walk away. It’s nice of her to tell us that, but honestly? I’m not looking forward to the rest of my day. Stay positive, Adagio. Stay positive.

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By the time Fluttershy and I parted ways, the nightclub was closed, leaving me a little more than angry. Of course, I wouldn’t have left Fluttershy where she was, but the nightclub was one of the best ways to get a hold of Rich. He doesn’t have an office there, but I could have found a way to talk to him at least. Now the best choice is to walk across town again… All the way to his house. Hell, I shouldn’t even say house. He has a mansion for him and his family, unsurprisingly. I don’t think I’ve ever had to go to him personally, but I guess I have to now. I just hope the bastard has an answer for what happened to Sunset’s apartment. Our apartment…

Losing her most treasured items was probably more impactful on Shimmer than she admitted… She always tries to put on a brave face and only tells me the things that are hurting her the most, leaving out the smaller details. At times, it’s infuriating when I try to help her, but I suppose it’s a way for her to try and avoid the reality of what happened. I understand that as well, since I usually try to hide from reality under a blanket or something like my scarf. Bringing my hand to my neck, I feel my skin slowly, sighing at the empty air that used to be occupied by a soft purple material. Even if I hadn’t torn it, I wouldn’t have been able to bring it with me today, considering how warm it is today. Honestly, it’s just bearable enough to wear the leather jacket Sunset gave me as well as some of the clothes we bought at the mall. It just sucks that in order to gain something new, we had to lose some things.

I’ll try to get our stuff back though… I even promised Sunset that I would. My only lead is Filthy Rich and I’m not even sure if he will talk or if he was even behind it… I mean, it only makes sense for him to be behind it all. Shaking my head, I sigh quietly, looking down the road and noticing the sheer amount of cars. It’s normal for cars to be on the road, but it seems even busier than usual… Maybe one of the main streets is closed down for construction again. Whatever it is, it forces me to be more aware of my surroundings than usual. I wouldn’t want to be run over by some rogue driver. Especially for Sunset’s sake… The last time I got hurt, she said that she cried pretty extensively, so I would rather avoid causing her that pain again.

Walking past a few people, I turn a corner and smile to myself, happy that I’m getting close to my destination. I’ve only really been to Rich’s mansion once, and that was to tell him about one of the deals we conducted. I didn’t go inside though, so this should be interesting, no matter how this conversation goes. Even if things don’t go super well here, at least I can look forward to hanging out with Sunset later today.

Now that I think about it, I haven’t actually met Rich’s family before either… I’ve heard of his daughter before from Apple Bloom and former students of mine, but I’ve never met her or Rich’s wife. The only frame of reference I have for the both of them is a picture I saw briefly in his wallet. I guess that could make someone feel nervous, but I feel more scared than anything. If my suspicions are correct, Rich’s daughter is pretty sick, so I’m not exactly sure how I will handle seeing that. A sigh exits my lips as I close my eyes, feeling the collar of my jacket with a shake of my head. I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it. I’ll have to since the mansion is within eyesight now. Besides, I’ll probably only talk to her father during the duration of my visit.

The sight of the mansion is technically impressive. All of the walls are either white or a sandstone tan with carved pillars, extending all the way to the roof. The roof itself can’t quite be seen, but its flat appearance makes it look like one could easily make their way to the roof. What you would do on top of a three story mansion is an entirely different question. From here, I can see a large black fence around the property, made primarily of metal with spikes at the top. Knowing Rich, he probably has some stupid automated system at the gate to monitor which people are allowed on the property. Honestly, I’m glad Fancy gave me the day off to let me sort out my affairs. If I didn’t have today off, I probably wouldn’t have been able to have this talk with Rich, which means that our stuff would be ten times more likely to be lost. Thankfully, Sunset helped me make a list of everything that should be stolen instead of broken.

Quickly crossing the street, the gate to Rich’s mansion is finally in front of me, making me shake my head slightly. This better have been worth it. Taking a moment to brush my hair with my hand, I walk to the side of the gate, seeing a big button and a speaker. Okay, so the system isn’t actually automated, but it still fits his standards. Sighing to myself, I quickly press the button, a loud beep emanating from the speaker. The last time I was here, he didn’t have this whole system in place, but that was over a year ago. I guess a lot happens in a year… I mean, I should know that by now, given my current situation with the love of my life. I… can’t imagine being without her anymore.

Another loud beep rings out only seconds later with a static following after. Quickly, a man clearing his throat can be heard from the other end. “My, I wasn’t expecting to see someone like you here,” the man chuckles loudly. “Normally, I’d be more hospitable with the people who come to visit, but you’ve caught me at a busy time, Dazzle.” Rich’s voice is still the same as always, condescending half the time and loud. Needless to say, I didn’t miss it.

“Too bad, Rich. I need to talk to you today. And no, it can’t be postponed,” I state in a slightly annoyed tone, pushing my hands into the pockets of my shorts. Honestly, it’s surprising that Rich could see me, but I suppose that means he has some camera around here.

“Still haven’t changed one bit, have you?” Rich says in a teasing jab, taking a deep breath. After a moment of silence, Rich sighs to himself, presumably annoyed by my last minute drop in. “Alright, Dazzle. I’m feeling quite generous today, so I’ll give you some of my time. But make it quick. I have an election to prepare for.” Before I can respond, the speaker buzzes again, making the gate open in front of me. That was… easier than I thought it would be. And what election?

Quickly walking inside the property, the gate closes behind me, making me feel a little trapped. Regardless, the driveway I’m on leads right to the mansion’s front entrance, small lights aligned on both sides of the cement. The grass is freshly cut with automated sprinklers watering the yard, making me sigh slightly to myself. Sometimes, I wonder what it’s like to have a yard. I mean, it’s just a bunch of grass, true, but it could also offer a nice day outdoors instead of having to go all the way to a park. Then again, it also requires a lot of work, especially with bigger yards. Regardless, I walk down the driveway, my hands still in my pockets.

Surprisingly, there are a few people close to the front door, standing around tables of supplies. As I get closer, I can hear old music being played on a radio as people put things together. They look like… signs? Honestly, with the whole host of things they’re trying to put together, it’s hard to actually make out what this is for. Some of the people here look at me with a bit of confusion, but that’s probably because Filthy Rich is selective about who he lets near his house. Shaking my head, I walk past all the tables and walk up the tile stairs, putting my hand on the front door.

As soon as I open the door, the sound of people talking becomes even louder, walking into the foyer to see two big rooms to my left and right filled with people. Every now and then, people would walk by to go to the other room with supplies in their hands. Hell, I wouldn’t doubt it if it wasn’t just these two rooms since I can see other people moving around down the hall. In this foyer area, there are two sets of staircases going to the second floor on each side of the main hallway, a big chandelier right above anyone who walks in the front door. The walls are white as always, but the floor is made out of gray marble tiles. Honestly, all of this is a little intimidating, just walking in on it.

“Ah, Dazzle~ I’ll be with you in a moment~” Rich’s voice echoes from the top of the stairwell, prompting me to look up. My eyes open wider and I can’t help but freeze at the sight. Wait… Why is she here…? Why would… I mean, I’ve known her before, but I never really wanted to see her again, just so I could avoid the embarrassment of my actions… Why would Celestia of all people be here? As if it wasn’t enough to screw with me yesterday, the universe thought it was appropriate to make Celestia be here of all days. Her eyes look down the stairwell and make contact with mine, a look of surprise appearing on her face. Her white skin is still as recognizable as ever, contrasting with her multi-colored hair well. Just from this alone, it makes me want to have a hoodie on again, just to try and avoid recognition. Clearly she’s surprised to see me here too, but… it’s for all the wrong reasons. Not for embarrassment or anxiety, but for recollections of my actions before…

Celestia’s eyes move back to Rich as they talk to each other at the top of the staircase, her hand resting on the railing as if she’s about to leave. Her eyes move back to me in small intervals, but she maintains her professional demeanor, smiling at Rich. “Thank you for the proposal, Mr. Rich, but like I said before, I will have to decline your offer.” After that, Celestia takes a couple steps down the staircase, her eyes making contact with mine once more. Honestly, it’s hard for me to even be here, but I… have to remember I’ve changed. At least, I think so… There’s no reason to be afraid of her recognizing me…

“At least think about it a little more before the election, alright?” Rich asks her from the top of the stairs, prompting Celestia to wave a little as an affirmation that she heard him. Rich looks surprisingly annoyed by this, making a part of me feel amused. I didn’t know someone like her could so easily annoy Filthy Rich. Before I can think any more about it, Rich signs for me to come up the stairs just as Celestia makes it to the bottom.

“Dazzle,” Celestia says in a quiet and respectful voice, nodding afterward.

“Celestia,” I try to respond with an equal amount of respect, unsure how I should talk to her. Despite my past actions, the woman advocated for me when it came to getting the job at Fancy Pants’ music studio. That’s something I can’t ignore, so at least she doesn’t fully hate me. I guess she lives up to a principal’s goal of trying to help people, at least in this universe. As she passes me, I can’t help but keep my eyes on her, trying to think if I should say anything more or if I should just leave it be. “Hey, Celestia,” I barely say, catching her attention before she leaves, her eyes returning my gaze. “I just wanted to say… thanks. By recommending me.”

For a moment, a look of confusion is painted across her face, unsure of what I’m talking about until she simply smiles. A nod comes from her, clearly remembering the event in question. “I believe everyone deserves a second chance, Dazzle,” is all she says in a quiet voice before turning around again, walking towards the front door. A small part of me feels like I owe more of a conversation to her, but I just have to shake my head, walking up the stairs slowly. The whole reason I came here is to talk to Rich, so it would be better to get that out of the way now. Besides, what more is there to be said? We never knew each other that well and honestly? It would probably just be awkward for the both of us. I guess the most I can do is carry around a mutual respect for the woman, despite how I felt in the past.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Filthy Rich simply smiles at me offering his hand for a handshake, an offer I don’t accept. Rich pulls his hand back, straightening his jacket and tie. “I must apologize for the… unstately position of my home. I’m coordinating my campaign to run as the new mayor of Canterlot City, so a lot of work needs to be put in.” Rich states in a proud manner, smiling to himself at the thought.

“Sounds ambitious. Moving up the ladder again, huh?” I ask in a monotone voice, looking down at his tie for a moment.

“Ah, but being mayor requires a lot of responsibility, Dazzle. Something you should understand,” he states with a wink before walking away from the stairway. Surprisingly, there’s a big lobby area right in front of the stairs, luxurious couches and glass tables to act as a resting area. Rich starts walking through the area, making me follow behind him. “So, what do I owe this visit to? You said you needed to talk to me today,” Rich asserts with a small smile, looking back at me as we walk through this lounge.

“Could we address that topic in more private quarters? I’d rather keep this between us,” I ask in the same monotone voice I used from before, looking around the rooms and hallways that are positioned around the lounge. Multiple people walk back and forth to presumably help with preparations.

“I thought you’d be more trustful of others after a while, but I assume that hasn’t happened yet,” Rich laughs quietly to himself before we walk into a hallway. “Then how about we talk about something different? What is between you and Ms. Celestia?” Rich asks in a curious tone, looking at me with a snarky look.

“We used to be acquaintances. That’s it.”

“Come on, Dazzle. I know that from what I’ve seen, but how did you two become acquaintances? Was she your principal?” Rich’s tone of voice changes to a teasing one, chuckling to himself as we walk along. Honestly, I don’t know why he’s so interested, but it probably has something to do with whatever proposal he was trying to offer Celestia…

“She was. A long time ago. But we never talked other than a couple times,” I slowly explain, closing my eyes. To be honest, it’s hard to remember whatever I said to Celestia before I controlled her. I’m not even sure if I did say anything. That makes it even more surprising that she would think I’m deserving of a second chance.

“Ah. Then I suppose that means you can’t help me convince her,” Rich mumbles under his breath. Before I can say anything in response, I notice one of the doors to my left is actually open, despite all the other doors remaining closed. Rich himself also seems to notice this as he approaches the door with an expressionless face, possibly being the first time I’ve seen him like this. Before he grabs the door knob, I can see the dimly lit room has multiple medical equipment devices and even a hospital bed inside, a small lump in the blanket still visible. Filthy Rich closes the door as quietly as he can before looking at me with a worried glance, trying to keep his composure. “Disregard what you just saw…” Without another word, he simply keeps walking, expecting me to follow after him.

“Sure. Don’t worry about it,” I barely say, looking towards the floor as I follow him. Within a few moments, both of us walk towards another set of stairs that lead to the third floor. Unlike the first set of stairs, these were smaller with red carpet, only allowing one person to walk up or down it rather than two or three. “Hey, Rich?” I ask quietly, walking up the stairs behind him. Even though he may have been involved with… that, I somehow doubt it by now. Hell, I shouldn’t doubt it. I’m talking about Filthy Rich here. Of course he would do anything to make a quick buck, but… a part of me hopes he wouldn’t strike me or anyone else he remotely knows. Maybe that’s just Sunset’s attitude rubbing off on me… Having hope for even the most hopeless, huh? That’s something she would always do.

“What is it?” Rich asks after clearing his throat, not bothering to look at me.

“You know you’re not alone, right?” This time, I use a more caring tone than before… I’m not even sure why, but I guess it felt right. This isn’t my problem, so I don’t know why I’m even inserting myself into it. “There are a lot of people with… ill family members.” As soon as I say this, Rich’s eyes look behind himself and at me with an angry tone in them.

“What is your point, Dazzle?” he asks, stopping in the middle of the stairway.

“I was just… observing. There are people out there who you can talk to. Maybe it’s-”

“Maybe you should stop observing situations that are none of your business, Dazzle.” Rich looks away in an instant, taking a deep breath as he straightens his tie. “This is not your concern, Dazzle… You know nothing of what’s going on and I would prefer it if you keep out,” he states in a calmer voice, turning around again to walk up the stairs. A small sigh exits my lips, following after and looking towards the ground. The first room to our right is the one Rich decides to walk into, opening the door for both of us quickly. “What we can talk about is whatever you needed to see me so urgently for.” The click of his door closing can be heard before he walks around to the other side of his desk, his eyes looking into my own curiously. “What is it you want from me, Dazzle?”

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The dirt road never fails to make you feel like you’re alone. Dirt roads are usually less traveled by definition, but I suppose it really depends on where you live. Regardless, it provides an atmosphere that promotes thoughts, even if you don’t have much to think about. Even if you’re just walking to do some mundane errand, you don’t usually have a shortage of entertaining things to think about. Today is not much different since the long road to the Apple Family farm is quite boring. I suppose you could bring a book with you, but other than that, you’re pretty much left to yourself. Unless you bring someone with you. Today, I don’t have anyone with me other than the constant buzzing of my phone.

A smirk comes across my face, opening my phone again to answer a text message, sent by a particularly colorful girl. “You should have seen it! We scored like 12-2 on those losers! I did offer some of the sports drinks we had in our cooler though,” the text message details in the same old excitement that Rainbow carries with her in almost every facet of life.

“How is offering the opposing team sports drinks supposed to help?” I type in with a short laugh to myself, shaking my head at Rainbow’s bizarre message.

“It’s obvious! God, you’re hopeless, aren’t you? It’s supposed to be a sign of sportsmanship and to say ‘good game’ to the other team~” Rainbow texts back quickly after, using a smiling emoji at the end of her statement. Despite the intent of the emoji, it still sorta creeps me out.

“Given, I don’t play a sport, Dashie,” I text her back with another chuckle. Honestly, I debate using the laughing emoji, but I decide against it since I’ve never used them before.

“Says the girl who can bowl like there’s no tomorrow!” her text comes in immediately after I sent my own, Dash applauding our last match together. “Seriously, we need to bowl again sometime.”

“I’ll think about it~ But I was wondering something. Do you know anything about motorcycles?” I ask her with a curious smile, despite the fact that she can’t see me. It doesn’t take long for me to see the same old symbol to show the other person is typing, making me think Dash has nothing better to do than to text with me. Either that or she is texting while doing something else. If that something else is driving, then I may not talk to Dash much longer.

“Yeah, why do you ask? Do you want to know something?” her message asks me in just a few seconds, promptly being followed by a moving image of a confused duck. What the fuck, Dash?

“Actually, yeah. I was wondering what you think is a good price for a motorcycle like this.” Right after I send my message, I attach the photo of the motorcycle I had taken earlier, sending it to her as well. “Apparently, there are a couple problems with it as well, so take that into account.”

For a few seconds, nothing pops up onto the screen, but this radio silence doesn’t last long. The texting icon finally shows up and disappears multiple times over. “Huh, a Royal Enfield Classic 500, huh? Nice~ Do you know what year it is?” Rainbow asks with a confused emoji.

“Um… Dash, if you don’t know the current year, I think you should see a doctor. And possibly stop playing soccer.”

“No no no! Not like that! I mean, do you know what year the motorcycle was made?” Rainbow almost instantly responds, making me feel a little stupid due to my confusion.

“No, I don’t. But that doesn’t really matter unless you’re trying to sell it, right? I’m trying to buy it.” Even though I feel confused about the whole process, I’m still glad that Rainbow can at least try to help me.

“Well, the year kinda does matter if you want to know a good price. I could do some research for you if you want?” Research, huh? This is possibly the first time I’ve ever heard of Rainbow Dash voluntarily doing research instead of having to do it against her will.

“That would be nice, Dash. Though, I do have to go now. I’ll talk to you more later, okay?” I text into my phone, closing it right after sending the message. Despite the buzz of a response, I ignore it and look out in front of me, finally seeing the farm house in the distance. It’s been a couple of days since I’ve seen Apple Bloom and her sister, so I want my visit with them to be uninterrupted before I meet Sunset.

Walking faster along the dirt road, I can’t help but smile at the thought of Apple Bloom. Even though it’s only been a couple days, we haven’t seen each other all that much in the last few months, so it’s nice to imagine seeing her. Even if she has some weird story to share with me, it’s fun to see her enthusiasm and her clear belief that everything will be alright. I suppose that belief also extends to me, huh? She believed without a doubt that I had changed and she wanted to help me with that process all that time ago… For that, I can’t really repay her, no matter what I do. Her sister, on the other hand, is still a bit awkward around me, but I think we’re getting to a point where we can honestly say that we have fun hanging around each other. I’m really glad about that too since it means I have another friend and I get to see Apple Bloom more often.

Walking through the opening in the fence and down the driveway, I notice a big wagon in front of their big barn with one of its wheels on the ground. Unlike the one Apple Bloom drags along with her everywhere she goes, this one is big enough to be attached to a truck, looking like it can hold at least fifteen people on it. Even though I have limited knowledge of how families like Apple Bloom’s do things, I can take a couple wild guesses as to what the wagon would be used for. Upon closer inspection, I can see Applejack inspecting the wheel on the ground while Apple Bloom sits on top of the wagon.

It doesn’t take long for Apple Bloom’s eyes to look around towards Applejack, only to notice me walking down the driveway, a big smile appearing on her face. Instantly, the young girl jumps off the wagon and starts running towards me, prompting her big sister to look up. “Adagio!” Apple Bloom yells before colliding right into me, punching the air out of my lungs. It doesn’t help that her head reaches the upper portion of my stomach and that her head is as tough as a pile of bricks.

“H-hey, Apple Bloom,” I weakly let out, petting her head and returning the hug. Given, my hug wasn’t nearly as tight as hers. Good lord.

“How are ya doing? You doing alright? Ooh, what’s with the new outfit? Are you trying out a new style?” Apple Bloom asks a billion questions all in the span of a few seconds, her hands quickly feeling the leather jacket I have on and observing the jean shorts and tights I have on. What seems to catch her eye the most, however, is the fact that I have my hair up, something I haven’t really done since Sonata and Aria left. “Well, I guess it ain’t technically new, but it’s certainly a nice change!”

“I’m glad you like it. Sunset wanted me to try something new out to help with my confidence since it’s been an issue lately.” To humor the excited girl, I do a quick little twirl to show her the outfit in its entirety. It seems the desired effect is easily achieved as Apple Bloom looks awe struck by my appearance.

“It looks really good on you, Adagio~! I’m glad you’re trying it out~ Do you like it though?” A concerned look comes over her face being quickly replaced by confusion after I let out a small laugh.

“Of course I like it, Apple Bloom~ I wouldn’t wear it otherwise.”

“I don’t know. You do have a history of doing whatever Sunset wants ya to~” Apple Bloom quickly responds with a wink, jabbing me with her elbow. I can’t help but raise my eyebrow at Apple Bloom’s statement, but before I can say anything, Apple Bloom quickly grabs my hand and drags me towards the wagon. It’s nice to see that Apple Bloom never changes~ Despite how much someone may dread being dragged around by her, she does it out of the best of intentions and her happy smile just makes you deal with it rather than complain. “Also, why are ya here? I wasn’t expecting to see you for a while~” Apple Bloom asks excitedly, walking past some apple decorations set up along the driveway. Honestly, these apples remind me pretty quickly that the Apple Family reunion is only a few days away, making me smile at the thought.

“Well, I have some free time today, so I figured I would visit you. Is that such a bad idea?” I ask her in my own tease, both of us laughing slightly.

“Of course not! In fact, I was kinda missing you.” Another happy expression comes across Apple Bloom’s face, a nice contrast to the annoyed look I saw the last time we met. “Oh! We have another science project coming up in my class, so would you maybe like to help my big sis and me make something?” Apple Bloom quickly asks me with a childish excitement that doesn’t fit her age, but her personality.

“Apple Bloom, don’t bother her with that sorta thing,” Applejack states as we get close enough to the wagon, wiping her hands of grease and oil with a rag. Standing up, Applejack walks closer to us, extending her hand out to me with a nod. “It’s nice to see you again, Adagio~” Taking her hand in my own, I nod at her statement and return a smile, bringing her in for a hug. From the way Applejack reacts to the action tells me she wasn’t expecting to be hugged by me or get that sort of affection in this way, but nonetheless, she returns the gesture in a tight hug as well.

“It’s nice seeing you too, Applejack~ But I really wouldn’t mind helping you two with Apple Bloom’s science project,” I state after our hug, looking down at Apple Bloom. Without warning either of us, Apple Bloom grabs us in a hug and giggles to herself.

“Well, if ya don’t mind, then I suppose you can. Apple Bloom and I don’t really have an idea of what we’re going to do as of yet,” Applejack confesses with a nervous grin, taking off her hat and scratching the back of her head. Judging from the sweat on her head, I can see that the two sisters have been working for a while.

“Don’t worry about it~ But if you don’t mind me asking, what’s wrong with the wagon?” I ask, nodding to the wheel that Applejack had been working on until recently.

“Oh, that damn-” Applejack stops mid-sentence after looking at Apple Bloom, only to compose herself by clearing her throat. “I mean, that dang wagon had a rotten wheel, so Apple Bloom and I needed to buy a new one. And then make adjustments because it’s apparently too big.” Applejack quickly brings her hand to her face, sighing at the hard repair. “We could always use the extra hands~”

“I could help~ I have a couple hours before I have to go, so it wouldn’t be a problem,” I tell Applejack with a friendly smile before giving her a thumbs up. Surprisingly, Apple Bloom grabs a hold of my arm tightly with her hand, an excited expression coming to her quickly.

“Oh! Big sis! Could I maybe show Adagio the pictures of the water park trip the girls and I went on yesterday? Please? We’ll be right back~” Apple Bloom pleads with her sister with the same puppy eyes I’ve seen all too much. I think I can understand why Applejack gets annoyed by it at times, but it’s hard to say no to her.

“Alright, fine. But come back in fifteen minutes, okay? I ain’t going to fix this by myself,” Applejack states with a small hand gesture, promptly getting a big hug from her little sister.

“Thank you, big sis!” Apple Bloom quickly responds before grabbing a hold of my arm again, full on sprinting to the front door and dragging me along. If there’s one thing I don’t miss, it’s the dangerous trips at mach one speed that Apple Bloom drags me along on. I guess this is what I got myself into, daring to be friends with the small titan. God, have mercy on my soul.

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Despite how most modern appearances look these days, Rarity’s shop gives off a warm feeling while also sporting the newer models of how shops should look. I suppose it’s a combination of tiles with colorful drapes and even artwork on the walls. Regardless, the warm aura of the shop almost makes it feel intimidating to enter, feeling like a place I probably shouldn’t visit, especially just to ask her a favor. Honestly, it feels greedy to come to Rarity in such circumstances without visiting her just for fun beforehand. I mean, I’m trying to be her friend, right? How would it look to have someone trying to be your friend while also saying ‘hey, I need to buy something from you’.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly open the door to Rarity’s shop for the first time. This isn’t the only time I’ve seen her store, but I haven’t actually entered the establishment before, the only time I’ve ever been this close was when I had to pass it to go have coffee with Sunset. In fact, that was the first time Sunset and I ever hung out together as friends, wasn’t it? I don’t think Rarity even knew I was going to meet up with Sunset.

A ring of a bell signals my entrance prompting the familiar purple-haired girl to look up from her magazine at the counter, red glasses on her face. Before she can even say anything, Rarity’s eyes widen as she takes the glasses off, seemingly surprised to see me. “Adagio? Um, how are you doing?” she asks with a smile, quickly rushing around the counter to take my hand in hers, rubbing my shoulder. “Been a while, hasn’t it?”

Quietly, I nod to her statement, looking down to the floor. “Yeah, it has been. I have been wanting to see you again,” I respond with as kind of a voice as I can, returning the handshake. For a moment, I look around her shop, impressed at all the decorations around the main room, complimenting the clothes for sale.

“Oh, darling, it’s quite alright. I know you have the best of intentions~” Rarity reassures me, leading me over to a small dressing room area to the left of the store with chairs beside it. “Would you like some tea and a conversation~?” Rarity asks with a smile on her face, trying to offer a welcoming environment.

“That sounds really tempting, honestly, but I can’t… I have to go soon to meet with Sunset.” A guilty expression comes across my face, unable to hide my feelings for just dropping by without so much as a decent visit before I have to go again. “Of course, I’d love to stick around and talk tomorrow if you can, but I can’t really afford to do that today.” Rarity’s eyebrow raises slowly, her mouth slightly opening in confusion.

“If you can’t stay, then why are you here, Adagio? Do you need something?” she asks me with a concerned look, her body now aimed at me once more. Her statement just makes me feel even worse for dropping by with a request of all things, rather than genuinely trying to have a good day with her…

“The truth is… I was wondering if you could fix something for me? It’s very special to me and it was kind of ripped recently.” Once again, my eyes avoid hers as I look towards the floor, feeling guilty for asking this of her.

“Well, it really depends on how badly its ripped and what item it is. Could I see this damaged piece?” Rarity requests, urging me to show her whatever I wished for her to repair. Honestly, I feel bad for asking her to fix something so badly damaged, but I didn’t really know anyone else I could go to… Pulling out a lump of purple fabric from my purse, I set it in Rarity’s hand. Almost instantly, a horrified and confused face comes over her, inspecting the fabric.

“Oh my god… Is this your scarf?! It’s unrecognizable! What did you do to damage it this badly?” I’m pretty surprised Rarity remembered the fact that I had a scarf. ‘Had’ being the optimal word…

“A skateboard accident… It wasn’t my idea. Rainbow Dash brought me along and I was… stupid enough to not take it off before we skated.” Before I can say anything else, Rarity rolls her eyes, bringing the fabric to the counter and promptly putting her glasses back on.

“Of course it was her fault. Rainbow Dash is kind of a… brute.” Clearly, Rarity’s frown is caused by her thoughts of Rainbow, but what those thoughts are remain a mystery to me. “If you had torn this any more than you did, then I probably couldn’t have fixed it, but I can probably work with this.” Turning to face me with a smirk, Rarity taps her finger on the counter with a thoughtful expression. “My services aren’t free, so how about you treat Fluttershy and I to a spa day tomorrow?”

Spa days aren’t my specialty… I don’t know any good spa places to go to nor what treatments are worth buying. For some reason, I think Rarity’s already got that part of the trip figured out, but I’m still not sure if I can necessarily afford it… “Can I take Sunset with me?” I ask her hesitantly, but my worries are quickly relieved when I see her nod to my question. “Okay, I’ll try my best to do that~” Let’s just hope I can hold up my end of the deal…

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“Apple Bloom was excited to see you, I take it?” Sunset happily asks me, taking a bite of a snow cone she got for herself. Honestly, I shouldn’t be surprised when Sunset buys me a treat as well, but each time she does, it’s still a happy little surprise, something I can smile at besides Sunset herself. Every time I look at her, I still see that beautiful face and fiery hair, filled with such passion for life itself~

“Yeah, she was happy that I went to visit her~ Apparently, she went to a water park with her friends yesterday, so she really wanted to show me the pictures they took together.” Sunset giggles at my response, almost spitting out the piece of her snow cone in her mouth.

“Apple Bloom shows you a lot of things, huh? She trusts you a lot~” Sunset smiles in almost a dreamy way, looking at me in an affectionate way.

“What? I don’t know why she trusts me. She just decided to talk to me one day and now we’re here.” My cheeks flush to Sunset’s intimate stare, looking towards the concrete we walk on, shaking my head slightly.

“Still, it makes you even cuter~ Such a trustworthy and kind person~ I guess you could say I caught the best fish in the sea~” Sunset coos with a smile, leaning her head against my shoulder as we walk.

“I-I’m not the best fi-”

“I love you, Adagio~” Sunset interrupts me with a small whisper, grabbing a hold of my hand. “You’re the best in my eyes~”

Instantly, my cheeks flush again, my face feeling hot from the embarrassment or intimate feeling in my soul. Honestly, I can’t help but lean my head against hers, liking the feeling of us being so close to one another. “I-I… I love you too, Sunset~” It doesn’t matter who sees us in the world today. It doesn’t matter what people think of us or our past. Honestly, I just wish I could watch a movie with her right now, inevitably falling asleep in her arms with nothing else in the world mattering anymore~ I can’t wait until we can do that again~ Unfortunately, it seems we probably won’t be able to do that until we fix the locks on our apartment, so we can only really focus on today. “By the way, you never told me who we’re going to see today. If you don’t mind me asking, who is it?” I ask quietly, not moving my head from hers.

Suddenly, Sunset giggles quietly to herself, squeezing my hand gently. “Sorry, I forgot to tell you, huh? I figured we could spend some time with Twilight today~” The words flow out of Sunset’s mouth in a soothing tone, but the content of her words does the opposite effect. We’re going to be spending time with Twilight, huh? I’ve never met the girl before… How should I act? What should her first impression be?

“I just hope everything will go alright…”

Author’s notes: Hello, everyone! Sorry for the really late upload! I hate to keep everyone waiting to read the next chapter of my story, but honestly, it’s been a really hectic time in my life recently. Dealing with finals, breaking up with my significant other and a falling out between my two best friends has been pretty hard for me mentally, so I’ve kinda been on and off writing for the past month. Due to everything that has happened to me recently, I have been less motivated and inspired to write anything, not just this story, but in the past couple of days, I finally decided I would write some more~ It’s been a hard time for me, but in no way am I stopping this story. There may be long breaks, but I still love this story with all my heart and I have every intention to finish this story~ I hope everyone still loves this story as well and that this chapter holds up to your standards of quality~ I especially tried to make this chapter have an extra bit of oomph to it since I wanted to give a bigger reading, so I think I accomplished that due to this chapter being the longest chapter I’ve ever written. I can’t wait to write the next chapter as well~ If you have anything you want to say about the story, make sure to comment and I want to give a big thanks to my friend, Mon668, for being my friend throughout this hard time and for being my beta reader for this story~ As with everything, though, stay special, everybody! I’ll talk to you all again later~