Author's Note

DISCLAIMER: This story includes references to depression, depressing thoughts, insecurities, anxiety, self-harm, blood, depictions or references to sexual activity 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.

AN: After writing a couple of new oneshots centered around Adagio, I've finally gotten around to finishing this newest chapter of A Shimmering Heartbreak~ Right before my semester starts too~ Can't wait to write the next chapter!

Afternoon Surprises

Chapter XVIII: Afternoon Surprises

My mind searches for any excuse that Sunset may have for keeping it from me… I lied to Sunset to keep her happy and I realize that it was the wrong thing to do. Now I find out that she goes behind my back and asks Twilight to freaking study me because she’s worried about my health. I understand her worry, but why couldn’t she talk to me about it beforehand? God, I could have gone to see a doctor about my hallucinations, but she didn’t even consult me. She just decided for me, thinking she knew what was best. Maybe this was all spurred on from my lying, thinking that I’m not in the right headspace to make a decision like that, but I don’t think that’s the case. Other than hallucinations and some migraines, I don’t have any side effects from that stupid injury…

Even Twilight’s notebook said I had fine motor skills and that nothing seemed to be impaired. Nothing seems to be wrong other than that stupid shadow. Other than her… Bringing my hand to my forehead, I can’t help but sigh, trying to stabilize myself before I find Sunset. Not only did I treat Twilight like shit for this, but I can’t help but feel the urge to scream. We just made up last night and now she’s doing this? Why? I usually agree with her on things and I would be a lot more open to listening to her suggestion if she didn’t do this.

Walking forward, I look around the crowds, trying my best to take deep breaths and think rationally. I don’t want to yell at Sunset or cause a scene… That would just cause an even bigger problem than I already have. Talking like adults to try and solve the situation is the best course of action…

“Then again, she didn’t talk to you like an adult,” a whisper stabs at the back of my mind, making me look around my surroundings. Not her again… Why aren’t any of the colors dulled out? And… My eyes widen as I see her sparkling red dress, her eyes staring at me until a few people walk in front of my line of sight, disappearing almost instantly. Not only are the colors still here, she’s not a shadow. Where the fuck did she go?

“Your problem shouldn’t be focused on finding me,” she whispers inside my head, feeling a hand grab my shoulder. Looking behind me, no one is there other than the crowd of people I don’t know. “You should be focusing on the fact that the worm you call a lover lied to you,” she states with a menacing tone, feeling something sharp drag along my cheek. God damn it… I can’t afford to do this right now. Quickly walking past as many people as I can, her chuckle poisons my mind, being practically the only thing I can hear. “Everything I’ve predicted has come true. Sunset’s friends still haven’t forgiven each other, the one you love turned out to backstab you and now you’re wondering exactly what to do. Don’t you wish you would have listened to me?” Her quiet whisper forces my mind to listen to nothing but her, even the sound of my footsteps alluding me. “Being quiet, huh? Why so? People talk to themselves all the time, you know~” The unsettling nature of her smooth voice is what causes me the most distress of all, making me wish she would just leave me alone. “Then again, you might be labeled as more crazy than before. Something I’m sure Sunset would love to exploit just to put you away in a hospital.”

“Will you shut up?” I whisper, looking towards the ground as I walk. “She wouldn’t do that to me. She didn’t lie, she just… didn’t tell me this.”

“Oh, so now you’re defending her? Just a moment ago, you were as rageful as a wasp, ready to attack anything that moved. Don’t you think a little anger is justified in this blatant forgery of the truth?” her voice asks in a striking tone, distracting me even further. “Tell me, Adagio. What is more important to you? Self-respect or letting her walk all over you? This should be an easy question.” Once again, her cackle bounces around my mind, making me grimace. Without fail, my eyes notice her feet walking next to mine, causing me to look up at her eyes. That evil stare is present once more, sending a chill up my spine.

“I will talk to her. She wasn’t trying to be malicious, so I’m sure she’ll take my words seriously.”

“You’re telling me that you’re not the least bit mad anymore? As soon as I show up, you are suddenly fine with what she did?” The red liquid falls off of her dress towards the ground, her red gem glowing brightly.

“Of course I’m mad,” I whisper, looking back towards my feet with a shake of my head. “But I don’t need your help to decide what I will do.”

“You needed my help to realize that Sunset’s dear friends haven’t necessarily made amends with each other. And this day is going just wonderfully, by the way,” she whispers before laughing at the situation, reappearing on my other side with ease. “The way you handled Twilight is exactly what I have wanted to see~ I never thought I’d see you cause fear in someone again, given the path you’re trying to go down.”

“That wasn’t intentional… I didn’t mean to do that.” At this point, I’m given little choice about listening to her words, leaving me with ignoring her as my only option.

“Whether it was intentional or not, it still serves to show you have what it takes to bring out those old siren tendencies in you. Maybe you have potential yet.” Her chuckle stabs at my mind, making me shake my head out of frustration. “You want your chance to talk to Sunset and ‘try to make things right’? Here she is now.”

Looking up, I see that all too familiar hair, the sun reflecting off of the red leather jacket I bought for her. Her eyes scan the crowd around her before connecting with mine, waving to me with a big smile on her face. She quickly closes the distance between us, running up to me and giving me a big hug, one I return slightly. Despite what usually happens, she doesn’t disappear… “Hey, Adagio~ how did things go with Twilight?” Sunset asks me after letting go of our embrace, the shadow of myself crossing her arms with a smirk.

“They went fine…” The siren queen laughs to herself, drawing amusement from my response as she floats above the ground.

“If you call that scene fine, then sure,” her striking whisper ensnares my mind again, forcing her words to be heard.

“Did something happen…?” Sunset slowly asks me, noticing the clear lack of motivation I have in our small interaction.

“Yeah, actually,” I say quietly, crossing my own arms as I keep my eye contact with Sunset, trying to desperately ignore the siren queen. Taking a deep breath, I sigh, rubbing my forehead slowly. “I found out that Twilight was studying me.” My tone comes across as more annoyed than I had meant it to, but there’s nothing I can do to take it back. Sunset’s eyes open wider as she hears my statement, a nervous expression coming to her slowly.

“Oh…? Did she tell you why she was…?” Sunset asks me slowly, tightly gripping her bag’s strap out of nervousness. Without saying a word, the evil demon just floats there, watching everything happening with an amused stare.

“Yeah, she did,” I say quietly, looking away from Sunset. Words fly through my mind, forming incoherent thoughts and forcing me to try and think harder of what words I want to say.

“I… I’m sorry, Ada-” before Sunset can finish her apology, I hold my hand out in front of me, stopping her sentence.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and try my best to compose the thoughts in my head, holding onto my scarf. That monumental task isn’t exactly helped by the presence of her, the shine of her red dress still distracting me. “Sunset. I lied to you for a while and that hurt you. I just want you to know that you hurt me too… You could have talked with me rationally, but you went behind my back and…” My words trail off into nothingness, trying to think of exactly what to say rather than spouting off whatever words I can because I’m angry… “We made up last night and I thought that would be the end of it, but you asked Twilight to treat me like some study animal rather than a person. I would have considered it if you had talked to me, but it was sprung on me, making me feel like you lied to me too.”

A long silence follows my words as a void fills the space between us, the only sound left being the horrible chuckle of that siren. Gently, Sunset’s hand grabs my shoulder only for me to push it away quickly, seeing Sunset’s pained expression. “I… I’m sorry. I should have talked with you about it,” Sunset quietly states, her eyes averting my gaze and looking towards the ground. “I am just… worried about you, Adagio. You mean the world to me and I… was scared to let this go any further. The hallucinations, I mean.”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to forgive her already,” an evil whisper penetrates my mind, causing me to look over at the siren queen, her eyes gazing downward at me. “I know you ‘love’ her, but she legitimately hurt you. Shouldn’t you give out a bit of the cold shoulder?” Her tone quickly turns into a laugh, her finger twirling slightly as more magical sparks fly, making a picture of a broken heart. “Unless you’re just too weak to actually stand up for yourself. Maybe you’ll be lucky and she won’t step all over you again. I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Adagio…?” Sunset quietly asks me, drawing my attention to her. Her worried expression makes me realize where her concern lies. Her eyes look behind her right at the siren queen, returning to me slowly. “What are you looking at…?”

“Go ahead. Tell her what you see. It’ll only cement her worries and make her go behind your back again,” she hisses in my ear, despite the distance.

“Is it… her again?” Sunset asks me as carefully as she can, the tones of the two people in front of me conflicting with each other.

“By her, she means you, right? Don’t tell me she actually believes I’m just a hallucination,” the siren queen laughs, holding her chest as shadows envelope her. “I am you. There’s no going around that fact.”

“Adagio. Talk to me, please.”

“Go ahead, Adagio. Tell her YOUR darker thoughts. I am no hallucination after all~”

“Adagio…?”

“Adagio~”

Closing my eyes and taking a step back, my hands instinctively grab my head, sighing heavily. “Please stop it. Both of you,” I let out weakly, falling to my knees. Get out of my head… Her voice won’t leave me alone, even in the moments I need her absence the most. Conflicting tones of kindness and hate all intertwined in my head. Why can’t it be any less confusing? It feels like the world is spinning around me and I can’t do a thing to stop it. Even my own feelings keep conflicting with each other. Am I mad at Sunset? Do I forgive her? What do I even feel right now…? Why do I have to ruin everything I touch? I never want to be like I was a couple years ago, but I got mad at Twilight and made her scared earlier today… Is all of my progress worth it in the end when I just end up undoing something so easily?

Tears easily flow from my eyes, refusing to look at the world around me in fear of whatever stares I may be receiving. Why can’t I just redo today…? I wish I could just be back in bed and avoid all of this… “She is here, huh…?” Sunset quietly whispers, kneeling down in front of me as she places her hands on my legs, reaffirming me that she’s here. “What is she saying?” I don’t want Sunset to embarrass herself as well… I don’t want her to make a scene with me, bringing everyone’s eyes to us. I usually don’t give any thought to others looking at us, but now? The thought is petrifying… This migraine won’t leave me, just amplifying the sound of her chuckle in my thoughts.

Without even thinking about it, my hands wipe away my tears, pushing Sunset’s hands off of me. Standing up, my eyes open and looking down at Sunset, my face somehow composed itself. All Sunset is trying to do is help me, but… it still hurts in the way she approached the issue. “I forgive you, Sunset. I just need some time. It still hurts…” My words fly out of my mouth without my control… Her evil chuckle is finally gone, leaving a quiet abyss of sound only filled by some idle chatter of the people around us.

Standing up with me, Sunset solemnly nods to my words, trying her best to keep her eye contact with me. “I… understand. I really am sorry and I… I will be here for you,” Sunset whispers, finally looking away towards the ground. “For anything. Including these hallucinations,” she continues, seemingly dropping the scene I just made to avoid any more fighting. Without saying another word, my body turns around, quickly walking away from her. Again, my mind makes my eyes try to cry once more, barely being kept at bay. It would be hypocritical of me to not forgive her for something I did wrong as well, but I still need time to think about it… Until then, I won’t let her into these hallucinations. Not until I can think to myself just a little more.

=========================================================

Walking into a dense crowd, everyone is eagerly trying to get something to eat just as it hits noon. The food they offer has a good variety, giving guests a large number of options for things they can fuel up on before doing some more activities. The strong smell of apples fills the air, temporarily masking any scent of dirt and jeans. Another big reason that everyone is swarming this part of the farm is for the cider, apparently being a good treat that the whole Apple Family enjoys. Hence why I’m here. I know that as soon as the cider is being given out, Rainbow Dash will be there, possibly having a confrontation with Applejack. I don’t know if they talked after our race, but a part of me doubts it. Regardless, if they are here, then I need to make sure they can at least try to make up.

At least, I’ll try to help everyone make up… Before the day is over, I hope everyone can be on good terms once more. Maybe then it will be like Valentine’s Day didn’t happen at all. Sunset can be friends with everyone again and we can move on with our life. The sound of the crowds around me is almost overwhelming, making it hard to concentrate on my goal of finding the two hard-headed women. Walking closer to the house, a prevalent line comes into view, everyone waiting for their chance to get something… My eyes quickly scan the surrounding area, seeing the line end up at multiple tables handing out cider. Despite the fact that I thought Rainbow Dash would be in the line, I actually see her rainbow hair away from the line, seemingly talking with a familiar girl in a cowboy hat. Bingo… Unfortunately, their ‘talk’ seems to be less friendly, leaning towards hostile as Rainbow Dash throws her arms in the air.

“This isn’t even a situation about the cider anymore, AJ! The fact of the matter is that you still seem to have a grudge against me for some reason. I’m not even sure what I did!” Rainbow states loudly as I walk closer, seeing Applejack’s expression turn to one of surprise.

“Some reason? Sugarcube, you never even bothered to call or answer my texts after Valentine’s. I tried talking to ya and making up, but you seemed to drop off the face of this Earth,” Applejack responds with an equal amount of spite in her voice. Dash told me that they haven’t talked in a while, but she never told me that she failed to answer Applejack’s attempts to talk. I had always assumed that both of them were too prideful to even reach out, but now it seems that the cowgirl was actually trying…

“Why would I have answered your texts? You kept insisting that you were right to ‘have your doubts’ about Dagi. Heck. Even after you two got on better terms, you didn’t admit you were wrong or apologize to me.” Just as the two of them are about to break out into a full screaming match, their eyes finally seem to notice my presence. At this point, I had managed to get within arm’s length of them, raising my eyebrow slightly at their argument. Even though both of them have resolved their differences with me, it still seems I’m in the middle of their situation. “Oh! Um… Hey, Dagi. Sorry. AJ and I were just having a talk and all,” Rainbow Dash states slowly, an angry glare being given to the cowgirl within moments of her words leaving her mouth.

“I can see that,” I say with a quiet tone, my eyes switching from both of them before taking a deep breath.

“Hey, Adagio. I um… I don’t think you would like the contents of our little conversation and all,” Applejack admits, averting her gaze from my own nervously.

“I’ve already heard quite a bit. I think I can handle it, but thank you for your concern,” I tell the cowgirl with a smile, nodding slowly. A part of me feels genuinely glad that she and I have become good enough friends that she actually looks out for my feelings, especially since our situation just a week ago wasn’t favorable at all. “You two haven’t talked in a few months, huh?”

Rainbow Dash nervously looks away from the both of us, her eyes trying to find something else to focus on. The cowgirl, on the other hand, crosses her arms and keeps her gaze on Dash. “Not for a lack of trying,” she states in a bland tone, despite her southern accent.

Dash’s eyes dart back at the cowgirl, seemingly upset from the words that come out of Applejack’s mouth. “The reason why we haven’t talked is simply because she refuses to acknowledge she was wrong. Even I admit when I get something wrong and everyone knows I’m kind of stubborn.”

“Pigheaded more like it,” Applejack interjects, causing Rainbow’s mouth to form into a grimace. Bringing my hand to my forehead, I can’t help but take a deep breath, the right words to rectify this situation escaping me for the time being.

“Dash. Applejack already apologized to me and told me she didn’t give me a fair chance,” I say quietly, reconnecting our gaze with a smile. “We’re friends now, so as much as I admire your goal of trying to be loyal and protect your friends, there’s no need to antagonize Applejack in my defense.” The proceeding moment is filled with hesitation from the rainbow-haired girl, a conflicted look gripping hold of her face as her gaze switches back and forth between Applejack and I.

“You’re really sorry, AJ?” Rainbow Dash slowly asks the cowgirl with a hesitant look in her eyes. A part of her question feels like she’s asking if Applejack is not only sorry to me, but sorry to Rainbow Dash, making the moment feel solemn.

Without wasting a moment, Applejack nods looking straight into Dash’s eyes. “That’s why I tried so hard to contact you in the last week. Not just to invite you here, but to say… I’m sorry for treating you and Sunset so harshly the last time we talked.” The previously harsh stare that was once shared between the two of them is now broken by an understanding gaze from Applejack, her hand slowly reaching out to Rainbow Dash. “Do ya want to finally put this stuff behind us and we can be friends again…?”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes look towards Applejack’s hand before returning their locked gaze, hesitantly reaching out and grabbing her hand with a small nod. Before the athlete can even respond, Applejack turns the handshake into a hug, pulling her into a tight embrace. “I missed hanging out with you. And everyone else,” Rainbow barely mutters, trying to play it off as embarrassment, but a part of me can’t help but remember the talk we had a couple nights ago. Rainbow has been kind of alone for a few months now. Maybe it was so lonely that it was deafening…

“I missed ya too. It’s been way too long,” the cowgirl states in as kind of a voice as she can, breaking their embrace while placing her hand on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder. “And now that we’re all friends, we can do things together, I reckon~” Applejack tells Dash referring to all three of us. “Although, I’m still not quite sure what you like to do, Adagio.”

Letting out a small chuckle, I can’t help but find a bit of humor from Applejack’s clear confusion, realizing the both of us haven’t done a lot as of yet. “You two probably wouldn’t like the main things I do for fun. But hey, you were both pretty good at that race back there~” I tease them with a wink, gently punching Dash’s other shoulder. “Too bad you were too slow.”

“Hey! Scoots and I were totally going to win if she didn’t fall into a hedge!” Dash defends herself, causing both of us to laugh.

“Sure, you were, sugarcube. You know my brother and I were right behind your team. All it would have taken is one more slip up~” Looking away from Rainbow Dash, Applejack locks her eyes with mine, giving me a big smirk. “And don’t act like you were so mighty for winning now. You only got the win because my little sis was faster than my brother.”

“No kidding! How fast is that kid anyway?” Rainbow asks Applejack with a confused expression. “I mean, I saw Adagio tag her and she just went zooming off into the orchard. She would have made one hell of a soccer player.” Rainbow Dash brings her hand to her chin, seemingly thinking about something for a few moments before opening her mouth again. “Actually, who would win in a race? You or your little sister?”

Applejack simply shakes her head with an amused roll of her eyes, patting Dash’s shoulder. “That’s a question that can be answered at a later time. Especially since Apple Bloom would swear up and down that she would win, but either way. Would both of you like to maybe have a glass of cider with me? I would say it’s on me, but I kinda think everything about today is on me,” Applejack states with a hearty laugh, all three of us smiling at the clear pun.

“Well, I could try some~ But like I told you before, I prefer other beverages to the cider I’ve tasted before.” Rainbow Dash’s stare instantly centers on me when she hears my words.

“Oh yeah! You’ve never tasted the Apple Family cider, huh? Well, it’s-” Despite her clear excitement to tell me about this drink, she stops herself mid sentence, bringing her hand to her mouth momentarily. “I-I mean, it’s really bad. Like you shouldn’t even try it. I would choke it down for you to spare you from tasting it, if you want,” Rainbow says in such an exaggerated tone that even Sonata would be able to tell she was lying. That, in of itself, is a feat. I have to applaud Rainbow Dash’s bravery to try and steal the cider though.

“Rainbow, you scoundrel,” Applejack laughs while slapping the back of Dash’s head, causing the athlete to pout.

“What?! She gave me the opportunity! If you should be slapping anyone’s head, it would be hers!” Rainbow Dash’s antics never fail to make me chuckle, even on some depressing days. It seems this sentiment is shared between Applejack and I, the cowgirl letting out a giggle at her words.

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t hit my head,” I say with a smile and a slight roll of my eyes, pointing at the back of my skull for emphasis.

“Oh, yeah. Nevermind about that. You can hit Dagi’s stomach though!” Dash says with a snicker, bringing her hand to her stomach from laughter.

“I… don’t get it. Is something wrong with your head or something?” Applejack lets out, clearly confused about the small interaction Dash and I had. Rainbow Dash’s eyes stare at the cowgirl with bewilderment at how she didn’t know what we were referring to before turning her head towards me.

“You didn’t tell her about your accident?” Dash asks me with a slight nod of her head towards my own. The rainbow-haired athlete crosses her arms and looks at me as if it was a shame I didn’t tell Applejack about hitting my head on the concrete a few months back. “Well?” she asks me before I can even form a response, aiming her arm towards the cowgirl in an expectant manner.

“I’ll tell you what. I can talk about it over cider, okay? Let’s just get in line already,” I tell the both of them in a teasing tone, walking towards the end of the line with the other two right behind me.

“Or you could tell her while we wait!”

“Shut up, Dashie.”

========================================================

“So, you were able to convince her to talk to me…? How?” I ask in a cautious tone, wondering how the shy woman was able to accomplish something like this. Someone like Pinkie Pie hardly seems like the kind of person to listen to Fluttershy of all people… It just seems like a miracle that Pinkie is actually agreeing to see me again, especially after what happened the last time we talked. With everything going on, I’m not even sure what to do… I’m not done thinking about what happened with Sunset, so I’m a bit worried my feelings about that experience will bleed over into this. Thankfully, it didn’t seem to affect my meeting with Applejack and Rainbow Dash, but that’s kind of different. They both sorta like me. Pinkie Pie… does not…

“Oh, well, I told her my experiences with you~” Fluttershy says with a big smile, rubbing my shoulder as we walk. “Sunset asked if I could talk to her and I did just that. Talked with her~ She came around to the idea of giving you another chance when she heard how hard you’ve been trying to make things up to Rarity and I~”

“I haven’t really tried that hard…” My head drops a little, thoughts of the past few months I could have been trying to get in touch coming to the forefront of my mind. One main reason I waited so long was to see if Sunset and I would last… I think we will, right…?

“Don’t be so hard on yourself~ You apologized and showed us you genuinely love our friend and you’re trying. In my book, that’s a success~” Fluttershy tells me softly, her smile never fading for a second. I never thought that I would be friends with Fluttershy, but now that I am, it feels really nice… To have friends you can rely on. I used to technically have that with Aria and Sonata, but I never treated them with respect. On complicated days like this, I still wish I could talk to them again. Just one chance to apologize for how I treated them… But that will never happen.

“Thanks, Fluttershy. For all of this. It means a lot to me that you would help a… previous siren.” Then again, it’s still a real possibility I’m part siren after all. That demon’s words have gotten in my head, but she’s right… I could still be a siren…

“It doesn’t matter to me what you are, as long as you treat others with kindness, I believe you deserve the same in return~” For some reason, Fluttershy’s smile makes me believe that maybe everything will turn out alright. Not only with Pinkie Pie, but also Sunset and Twilight. Maybe everything will be alright. If I just do my best…

As the two of us walk towards the tables set up outside the farmhouse, my eyes recognize a pink girl sitting down at one of them alone, her eyes focused on her drink with her puffy hair blowing in the wind. Despite her colorful attire and bouncy hair, Pinkie Pie’s face is solemn, her eyes retaining her stare for quite a while before the two of us get close enough to the table. As soon as she looks up at us, her hair falls into straight strands with her mouth forming a frown. I try to give her a smile to lighten the mood, but even I can tell it barely works. “Hey, Pinkie.” The girl simply waves at me before we sit down, Fluttershy sitting beside me to make sure I don’t feel so alone in this.

“Hello,” Pinkie mutters, moving her eyes to her drink. Even though she talked with Fluttershy before, she still seems resistant to talk to me… I suppose it’s understandable after all, but I wish it wasn’t this complicated.

“How about we start with ice breakers? I always like doing something fun when I’m trying to get to know someone~” Fluttershy states in a louder and more confident tone than usual, making me wonder why. I suppose it’s because we’re both friends of hers…?

“No,” Pinkie lets out, looking at the both of us with a serious tone in her eye. “I just… want to talk.” Stirring her water with her finger, Pinkie’s eyes lock with my own, slowly raising her eyebrow. “Fluttershy says you’re really sorry for what happened back… then. And that you helped her in multiple situations. Is that true?” she asks me with an investigative look, causing me to feel slightly nervous. Don’t back down now, Adagio… You’re okay. It’s just talking. Get a back bone.

“‘Help’ is an exaggerated word,” I say slowly, placing my hand on the table. “All I did was wash a couple dogs and all. And I had a spa day with her and Rarity, but that’s about it.”

“Adagio! Don’t downplay it. You helped me out of that bad neighborhood when I was trying to visit a sick friend and your help with those dogs was seriously appreciated~” Fluttershy interjects, once again rubbing my shoulder to my annoyance. I don’t want her to fight on my behalf.

“You helped her out of a bad part of town…?” Pinkie asks me in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. It seems this is something Fluttershy didn’t tell her…

“I was just in the area and Fluttershy was being harassed by some guy. I didn’t want her to get hurt, so I stepped in and helped escort her to and from her friend’s house. That’s it,” I tell Pinkie point blank, trying to skip over that day as fast as possible. To be honest, that day in particular just brings back memories of talking to Rich. The reason why I talked to Rich is because of the robbery and… that isn’t something I like looking back on. Hopefully, Rich can find our stuff…

“We also talked to my friend Tree Hugger and Adagio was thinking about buying the motorcycle that she inherited,” Fluttershy once again steps in, talking about it as if it was a fond memory of hers. I suppose it would be pretty important to her, considering she’s grateful for my intervention.

“Either way, I do want to say that I’m serious about being sorry. For everything I did…” Reaching into my pocket, I slowly take out my phone, pulling up the gallery. My action seems to pique Fluttershy’s curiosity as her eyes watch me set the phone down on the table, all of us looking at the screen. “Just a few months ago, I was exactly how you remembered me. I was bitter, angry, vengeful and power hungry. But Sunset came to me and told me I could be happy too. I didn’t believe it at first, but…” Pulling up a picture of the blanket I bought Sunset for Christmas, I can’t help but smile a little bit, remembering the day fondly. “I ended up trying to find happiness. It took a while, but I ended up getting this for Sunset for Christmas.” Swiping my finger across the screen, Pinkie’s eyes widen again upon seeing a picture of Apple Bloom and I, something the young cowgirl begged me to take. “If it wasn’t for the kindness of some of my close friends,” Flipping to pictures of Rainbow and Sunset, my smile widens. “I wouldn’t have this second chance. It’s due to their kindness that I was able to find happiness in life and that they were there to help me when I got hurt. I owe them a lot.” Pinkie’s eyes avert from the phone for a second to look at me, confused.

“When you got hurt…?” Even though Pinkie has been distant the whole conversation, the tone in her eyes tells me she’s curious about what I mean by those words. Fortunately, I don’t have a picture for this, so I don’t have to exactly relive the… injury.

“Well, I got a new job and I ended up… falling down some icy stairs. I hit the back of my head pretty hard and… Well, I was in the hospital.” Flipping through a bunch of pictures, my hand stops at a picture that never fails to warm my heart, bringing a smile to my face whenever I see it. It’s one I have saved in my phone and even printed into a physical photo that I keep in my bag. The blue light of the television illuminates her face ever so softly, the fire in her hair barely ablaze as she sleeps. We were sharing a blanket that day. Her head rested on my shoulder and I couldn’t resist taking it. We were only friends, yet this picture is one of the things that made me so attached to her. Sunset Shimmer… She… was only trying to help me earlier, right…? I know she didn’t ask for my permission, but… she only wants me to be happy and healthy. She forgave me pretty soon after I lied to her and gave me a chance to make up for it. I really need to talk to her after this… “Sunset was the one who nursed me back to health.” Looking up at Pinkie Pie with a smile, I put my phone back in my purse, bringing my hand to my scarf. “She even gave me this. I wear it almost every day I can because of that.” Holding my hand out and extending my pinkie finger, I lock my eyes with hers, feeling the urge to tear up build in me, but I force it down as best as I can. Apple Bloom was the one who told me how much a pinkie promise means. It’s something that I don’t take lightly anymore because of her influence. “I promise that I mean it when I say this, Pinkie. I am truly sorry for everything I did to you. I would never want to relive that and I wish I could take it all back.” Surprise washes over Pinkie’s face as she watches me extend my finger, not knowing exactly what to do with the unexpected outcome.

“You pinkie promise?” Pinkie Pie asks me sincerely, her eyes no longer displaying anger or sadness, instead being replaced with a simple look of wishful wonder. It looks like she wants to believe me, but there’s just the smallest bit of her still holding back.

“I pinkie promise~” Wrapping my finger around her own, the first genuine smile I’ve seen comes to Pinkie’s lips, the poof coming back to her hair gradually.

“Alright. I forgive you,” Pinkie whispers before her bright blue eyes look up at me, happy about this outcome. I’m still unsure how her hair works like that…

“Can we do ice breakers then?” Fluttershy asks in her usual shy tone, her hands patting our shoulders slightly. Both Pinkie and I look at each other briefly before nodding at the yellow girl.

“Do you like pastries? I love them~” Pinkie Pie quickly jumps in without giving Fluttershy a chance to give us a prompt. I can’t help but chuckle at her action, slowly seeing Pinkie’s energy return to her.

“Well, I do like a slice of cherry cheesecake every now and then~”

=====================================================

The area in front of the barn is absolutely packed with people around this time for some music and dancing, making it the ideal place to try and find her. My hair is still a little soggy from a water balloon fight I had with Pinkie and Fluttershy. It was the party girl’s idea, so I wasn’t exactly to blame for it. Thankfully, I still had the change of clothes from before, so only my hoodie and my jeans got wet. Not my good clothes. This area is almost daunting to enter, considering the sheer amount of people I don’t know. The music in the air is composed of high strung notes from guitars and tambourines, making the music sound Western in nature. Personally, the whine of the guitars in most Western songs doesn’t appeal to me. If anything, it sometimes grinds on my ear drums, making me feel kind of sick. Of course, it has to be popular with some people or else it wouldn’t exist. Unless every Western person just has a torture pact with each other to relish in the pain together. Regardless, the people around me dance to the music with gleeful excitement, leaving me in an awkward state of not knowing what to do.

Walking through the people dancing on the dirt ground, I make my way to the edge of the crowd, trying to look for her. My mind still tells me I should feel a little mad, but… with everything that’s happened, it feels petty to keep this cycle going. Sunset’s always there for me and I’m always here for her. This was just one big fight, so I’m sure we can get through it if we try. Especially since I’m trying to repair her social circle with her friends. I love her… More than anything. I know she loves me too, so… I just want to fix things before the end of the day.

Bringing my hand to the soft scarf around my neck, I sigh out of anticipation for the upcoming interaction, the words I should say avoiding me for the time being. Despite the music all around me, I can’t seem to hear it. My mind focuses on the wind gently brushing past my face and the smell of the dirt. It’s almost… peaceful in a way. Maybe that’s why the Apples love this way of life. Before I can think any more about it, a small tap presses against my shoulder, causing me to turn my head around. “Hey, alligator,” her voice is practically the only thing I willingly listen to, hearing her kind tone. Her eyes connect with mine and for a moment, everything feels alright. She tries her best to give me a smile, but it fades away a little too quickly for my liking. “Do you maybe want to talk again…?” Her question is hesitant, even though she’s usually pretty confident and determined. I guess she sometimes gets nervous in my presence like I do in hers.

“Yeah. I-” Sunset quickly brings her hand up, stopping me in my tracks as she shakes her head.

“I have something I need to say, alligator. Please. Let me talk first…” Her chest heaves a little as she takes a deep breath, closing her eyes before she lets herself open her mouth. “I know I was kind of… acting like a hypocrite earlier. I got so mad at you for lying to me to try and keep me happy, but I ended up doing something similar to you.” Her eyes open slowly to look into my own, a dejected smile still on her face as if she thought it was already too late. “For that, I’m sorry. I really am and I didn’t want to let another second of the day to go by without me saying that.” Without wasting a moment, Sunset’s hand comes up to my cheek with a singular tear forming in her eye, her expression remaining the same. “I just end up worrying so much about you that I sometimes forget that you can take care of yourself… Maybe I just feel protective, I’m not sure,” Sunset says in a solemn tone, her eyes looking away from me with guilt. Sunset has done so much to take care of me already… She’s always here for me and I love that about her. She’s loved me more genuinely than any creature has before and I can never repay what she’s done for me. It’s like she feels like she has to nurse me back to health whenever I fall, but I suppose that’s really… nice in a way.

“I already said I forgive you, Sunset,” I whisper to her, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her in for a hug. The woman in my arms takes a hesitant breath in response to my action, gingerly wrapping her own arms around me. “I love you too, Sunset. I… I know today has been really hard for us, but… how about we both promise to not lie to each other anymore, okay? Not just me or you.” Her eyes look into my own with her guilt slowly being replaced with happiness, her smile showing how she feels entirely. Pressing her forehead against my own, she slowly nods, sighing in relief at the situation.

“You really don’t have to forgive me, you know… You’re allowed to still be mad,” she whispers to me, her fingers gingerly playing with my hair as we listen to the music.

“We’ve had enough strife this week as it is. I just want today to end off peacefully and for us to be given a break, you know?” As soon as everything seems alright, it all goes to hell again later… Why can’t we just have a day to be happy? A week without too many hardships to struggle over? Is it penance for my past actions? Holding her in my arms right now makes me worried for the future… What if something else happens to separate us…?

“You’re so thoughtful and caring, Adagio. Despite what you like to think of yourself,” Sunset slowly whispers, her embrace becoming tighter. I can’t help but feel surprised by Sunset’s words, a blush coming to my face even though I try to resist it. “You always think about how you can make someone’s day better, even if it causes more trouble for you. I’m… so glad I came to know you.” Her hand slowly reaches up to my cheek, moving her head back to lock our eyes once more. Her warm smile comes back to her face as a tear slides down her face. “I love you, Adagio. So much. I promise to not lie to you as well.” I can almost feel my own eyes tear up as I take her hand in mine, thankful that we can try our best to avoid any more trouble. If anything, this night needs to end off on the right note.

Without giving me a chance to respond, both of us notice the drastic change in sounds around us. The music changes from a Western square dance song into a more romantic tune, seeing multiple people pair up for a dance. Even though the sun is still out, they’re playing a song like this which makes it feel a little contradictory. Usually, romantic songs are played to end a night, but I suppose it’s a nice change of pace. Actually, Sunset and I have never really… danced before… Not that I know how to dance, but the thought sounds… nice. If it’s with her… “Would you… maybe like to dance?” I ask her in a quiet tone without reconnecting my eyes, my body feeling a little ashamed of the request for some reason.

“We haven’t danced yet, have we?” Sunset asks me in the same quiet tone, a small chuckle coming from her lips. “Have you ever danced with someone?” Other than what we did last night, I can’t quite say I’ve ever danced. Even in a playful sense. Sonata sometimes danced to pop songs that we would hear, but I never dared to make a fool of myself in that way. If you dull down the definition of dancing to the most bare minimum state, one could squint and say that I possibly danced when I was working at the nightclub, but all I did was move my hips a little.

“I’ve never danced at all,” I whisper to her, my blush coming back to my face upon revealing that truth. Unsurprisingly, Sunset giggles at my words, making me frown slightly. It’s not supposed to be a joke.

“That’s actually kind of cute~” Her hand gently presses against my cheek as she stares into my eyes with the same kind look she always gives me. “Would you like to learn~?” Her question, as gentle as it is, strikes my heart and makes me hold my breath slightly, despite her action posing no harm to me. I played that dancing game at the arcade with her, but I lost tremendously and I wouldn’t even call that dancing. Why is it so nerve-wracking to dance with her? Maybe it’s because I’m afraid of looking stupid… Another explanation is that I’m not quite sure whether I will be good enough. Regardless, I’m nervous about it.

Gently, she holds my hand and brings it to her shoulder, smiling at me with a small nod. “Don’t worry~ I can lead, alright?” Her hand moves to my waist, sending another nervous charge through my body, our hands intertwined. “Just follow me and you’ll do fine, okay~?” Even if I wanted to, I don’t think I would be able to resist, simply nodding with the blush still present on my cheeks. I can’t help but smile with a nervous and embarrassed tone as Sunset slowly drags us a step to the side in tune with the music. From here, I can feel the phone in my bag vibrate, but my hands are busy holding onto Sunset, relying on her to keep me safe in these unsafe waters. This is something I’m not accustomed to, yet I feel completely okay in her arms, our eyes connected as the music fills my ears. I should really check that text… It could be something important. “Trust me,” Sunset whispers before letting go of my waist, spinning me around while still holding my hand, our fingers twisting around each other. Without giving me a warning, she gently pushes me over, my eyes widening as my body falls. Her arm wraps around my lower back, catching me without letting go of my hand. A smirk comes to her lips as she raises her eyebrow to me, seemingly confident in this dance of ours.

Standing up, I let her take full control of the dance, following every action she takes blindly and fully embracing the music. I can always answer the phone later. Just… let me have this moment with her.