Equestria Girls - The Tale of Two Sunsets

After that heartfelt exchange with Twilight, Sunset made her way back to CHS, as she realized there was still the matter of cleaning out her locker. Her plan on returning to Equestria seemed to be coming together rather nicely, and it was wonderful that the rest of the Rainbooms were more than willing to be supportive of her decision. She still had yet to find out where Pinkie Pie was, but figured that knowing the energetic party planner quite well, Pinkie would most likely support this leave of absence, just like the other girls. Despite this feeling, Sunset realized it would still be a good idea to perhaps find Pinkie and let her know of these plans, considering how close they truly were, especially after the events of the Starswirled Music Festival.

As Sunset entered through CHS's front doors, she immediately went over to her locker, once again having a sharp feeling of sentiment in regards to all the memories she's made here. Regardless of what decision she'd end up making in the end, once this week was up, she would be leaving this school behind, one way or another. It almost seemed reminiscent of what ended up happening back at the School For Gifted Unicorns, but unlike her old school, where she focused way too much on being an overachiever, she would instead be leaving CHS with the happiest memories. Everything seemed to be in order, especially after her last visit to Princess Celestia, where the princess herself acknowledged the vast change and newfound strength in her former pupil.

Whilst thinking of her old mentor just then, Sunset coincidentally saw Principal Celestia approaching in her direction, ready to make final arrangements within her office. The principal was holding a clipboard with various documents attached, before bringing her attention towards Sunset, and preparing to exchange a few words with her soon-to-be graduated student.

"Ah, Sunset, how nice to run into you, considering there aren't any classes for the seniors today." Principal Celestia greeted. "I trust you're feeling ready for the grand finale next week? After all, I've been hearing word from the students that our staff assigned too much homework, but it sounds like everyone's persevered enough to get to where we are now."

"I am, Principal Celestia." Sunset nodded, as she reflected her own times here at the school. "It's been quite the journey, but I'm ready to see this through to the end. To be honest, I feel like the luckiest girl in the entire school, considering what happened years ago at the Fall Formal. I'll always be forever grateful that you didn't end up expelling me for that incident."

"Indeed, I'm glad I was able to even see the potential in you back then." Celestia offered a gentle smile. "You've come so far, and it's been a delight to watch your transformation throughout your years here at CHS. But remember, you're not leaving us entirely, you'll be an alumna, and your friends here will always be a part of you, no matter what you plan on doing out there in the real world."

"You've been nothing but understanding and supportive, even when I was at my worst." Sunset said. "I'll definitely cherish the times I've had here, and the friendships I've made, especially considering how much I've learned from everyone, especially my friends. I'm just admittedly worried about... a potential problem that my friends and I have been discussing."

"Hmm, I do have a few minutes before my next scheduled meeting." Celestia took a look at a nearby clock. "Would you like to discuss it with me, perhaps I could give you some advice in regards to whatever is troubling you."

"Well, when I say it's a potential problem, I mean in the sense that... none of us really know for sure yet if this problem's truly lurking around the corner, or if we're all just being paranoid." Sunset began explaining. "My friends revealed a bit of a dark history regarding CHS, supposedly before I even came to the school, myself. And it was during this time that most of the students had one common fear, that being some girl named Gilda. I'm sure you're well familiar with who that is? According to my friends, she was the only student in this school's history who ever got expelled?"

"Normally, I'm not supposed to disclose information that is typically considered confidential across the schoolboard, but yes, I know exactly who you're talking about." Celestia replied. "She was quite the troublemaker back in the day, and while she initially seemed like a very bright and creative girl, she didn't exactly channel her energy in the most constructive ways. I've heard absolutely nothing in regards to what happened to her after she left the school, and even if I did, I wouldn't be allowed to talk about it. Tell me, Sunset, what specifically has you and your friends concerned?"

"It's just that we've heard whispers and hints that she might be coming back, and with the way she left the school, it's not exactly a comforting thought." Sunset recalled everything her friends had said, regarding this mysterious girl. "I understand that you may have to keep certain pieces of information private, but if I may just ask out of curiosity? After hearing about what Gilda did to my friends and the rest of the school, it still didn't seem like it could compare with what I did, especially becoming an actual demon. I also spent a majority of my time back then, ruling with an iron fist, and bullying everyone to get what I wanted. Based on my past actions, how come you decided to expel Gilda, but not me?"

"Without going too far into details, I can at least give you a brief summary of how I came to that decision." Celestia reflected. "Gilda was always a troubled soul who chose her own path willfully, and without the influence of an external force of corruption. Her actions were her own, and she refused to accept responsibility for the hurt she caused, even when my sister and I both offered to give her a chance to turn things around, before her life would change forever."

Sunset listened on, realizing that Celestia was most likely referring to that ultimatum near the end, to where Gilda still ended up willingly going to prison, rather than taking responsibility for her wrongdoings.

"As for you, Sunset, your case was actually quite different." Celestia continued. "Twilight explained everything to me, shortly following the Fall Formal Dance, and I was admittedly skeptical at first, even after witnessing such a supernatural occurrence, upfront. All I remember hearing is that it had something to do with the crown, and when it was removed, you were remorseful for your actions. You had a genuine desire to atone, which is something that Gilda most certainly did not possess. And despite how tough everything must've been in the beginning, you were still willing to go forward with forming a friendship with those you've wronged, which said a lot about your strength and character."

"I see, so it was more about the intention behind the actions, rather than just the actions themselves." Sunset nodded thoughtfully. "I've learned so much since then, and I'm truly grateful for that chance. Though based on what my friends mentioned about Gilda, she actually recorded herself doing certain misdeeds, and shifted the blame onto other students. She even posted it online to MyStable, so I'm admittedly also curious as to how with even such incriminating evidence against her, it took her that long to get caught?"

"Ah, yes, the digital age brings forth new challenges, doesn't it?" Principal Celestia sighed, her eyes reflecting the weight of past incidents. "The truth is, we had our suspicions about Gilda for quite some time, but her methods of manipulation were subtle at first, and she had a way of turning the students against each other. Sometimes, it's the students who were their own harshest critics, causing the most significant harm to their own mental health and relationships. And considering other unfortunate events related to MyStable, I do believe it was a wise decision to have our school's technician block access to that website on all of our school computers."

"I can see how that would be a problem." Sunset remembered the Anon-a-Miss situation all too well, especially with how it all started on that particular website. "And it's good to know that you had the foresight to protect the students from such negativity."

"Despite everything I just said about Gilda, admittedly... part of me even regrets the decision to expel her from CHS." Celestia opened up. "Back then, I didn't think much of it. A persistent troublemaker being severely punished for their crimes just sounded like the most obvious route to take. But when I gave you that second chance, and watched how much progress you've made, academically and socially amongst all the other students, that was when I realized there was always hope to change somebody for the better, no matter what happened in the past."

"I can't say I'm not curious about what happened to her after she got expelled, but if she's truly changed, I hope she's found some happiness." Sunset continued pondering. "It's just... the idea of her returning is pretty worrying, I wouldn't want any of us to go through that kind of trouble again."

"I share your concerns, Sunset." Principal Celestia nodded understandingly, her gaze thoughtful. "However, we must also be open to the possibility of changing. Sometimes, when faced with our own mistakes, we can find a path to become better versions of ourselves. I've seen it in you, and I've seen it in others, notably that other girl from over a year ago, what was her name again, Mallflower Brush, was it?"

"Wallflower Blush, actually." Sunset corrected. "I wouldn't really blame you for forgetting her name, considering how she ended up making herself invisible, but yeah, that's her alright. I'm still quite proud of helping her turn over a new leaf, and becoming more seen at the school."

"If we could say the same about Gilda, perhaps we could learn something from her journey as well." Celestia believed. "But if she hasn't, I would still have faith in you and your friends to handle the situation, with the wisdom and grace that you've all shown over the years. The bonds you've forged are strong, and I'm confident you can face any challenge together."

"Thank you for that vote of confidence." Sunset smiled. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind if she does end up returning, as certain incidents have taught me that everyone deserves a chance to make things right. That being said, it doesn't mean I should be a pushover and give absolutely anyone a second chance, of course. It'll definitely depend on their current actions, and my own personal experiences with them."

"Wise words, indeed." Celestia approved of Sunset's mindset. "Now, if you don't mind, I should get back to my office, as I'm awaiting a client who chose to fill in for a role that's been vacant for months now. I'll keep an ear out for any news regarding Gilda, and if there's anything I can do to help, you know where to find me."

With a nod, Principal Celestia turned and walked away, her heels echoing in the hallway as she disappeared around the corner. Having this talk with the school principal had not only given Sunset some further insight regarding this mysterious girl that her friends have had a dark past with, but even a reminder of how to approach certain situations. As much as it would've made sense to fully punish Wallflower Blush back then, especially given the pettiness of her actions, Sunset still took the honorable path in accepting her as a friend, as she still saw the good in the once seemingly invisible girl.

After some further reflection of that one particular incident, Sunset surmised that her actions most likely stemmed from what Princess Celestia had done for her during that time, showing nothing more than forgiveness and compassion. Sunset could still very clearly recall that day she stepped into the throne room once more, feeling quite nervous. Based on her previous actions as her pupil, Sunset was expecting no mercy from the princess, and was fully prepared to receive whatever punishment her former mentor deemed worthy.

And yet despite these concerns, on top of already having to deal with the rest of the girls at CHS thinking quite poorly of her, Princess Celestia still welcomed Sunset back with open hooves, not even showing the slightest hint of anger or resentment, even after the incident with the magical mirror. Bearing this in mind, it made Sunset miss her old mentor that much more, and she was incredibly grateful to have already made amends with her during the Memory Stone incident. With the week-long trip already planned, Sunset knew that she would especially look forward to seeing Princess Celestia, Twilight, and Starlight Glimmer again. However, now that she had more time than ever to fully explore Equestria to a greater scale, the possibilities of making even newer friends just seemed endless.

"Come to think of it, exploring Equestria with my new changed self just feels like a whole new chapter of my life." Sunset said to herself, as she finished cleaning out her locker. "I'm not entirely sure at this point if I'm truly going to commit towards staying in Equestria for good after graduation, but even if I don't, at least I'll always be with the rest of the girls here."

Sunset finally finished gathering everything from her locker, and was prepared to head back to her apartment, as she knew that she'd most likely have quite the busy day tomorrow, including attending Princess Twilight's coronation. On the subject of her apartment, it suddenly dawned on Sunset that she also needed a housekeeper to take care of things around her place, especially to feed her pet, Ray. The adorable little leopard gecko surely wouldn't have a good time being stuck in his glass tank without food or water for a whole week, which prompted Sunset to perhaps look around for a potential housekeeper before she would leave for Equestria.

As Sunset exited CHS's front doors with her bag, her mind suddenly drifted onto what looked like a purple van covered in graffiti sitting in the parking lot, which somehow looked incredibly familiar. After a few moments of recollecting recent events, she soon realized that it was the van that belonged to the Dazzlings, the trio of girls who once came to CHS to start up the Battle of the Bands, and fed off of the negativity from the other students. Sunset recalled recently encountering those girls once again during the Starswirled Music Festival, when she suspected that they were the ones responsible for the never-ending time loop.

However, if the van signified that the trio had truly returned, one question kept poking Sunset at the back of her mind. Why would they come back to CHS of all places, especially considering their reputation with the rest of the school, following their ultimate defeat on stage? But before Sunset could even come up with any potential possibility in regards to the sirens making an unexpected return, a familiar pair of spiked boots stepped out of the van, along with a large orange poof of hair. Adagio Dazzle was checking the email invitation on her cell phone, before she turned around and explained everything to her sisters.

"Alright, so this is it." Adagio said to Aria and Sonata. "I know this place most likely sparks some bad memories for us all, but the principal confirmed that she's willing to meet with me to sign this deal, considering how she's been unable to find a suitable band for months."

"Are we really going to do this, Adagio?" Aria spoke up, her eyes narrowed as she glanced around the parking lot. "Not really a wise choice to return to the scene of the crime, so to speak?"

"And the principal didn't even say in the email that she's decided to hire us yet." Sonata added. "What makes you so sure she's willing to have us?"

"Look, I've read between the lines, she's desperate for talent during this graduation ceremony, and we're the best she's got." Adagio folded her arms. "Besides, we're not here to stir up trouble, we're here to make a career out of our newfound hobby, and make some decent profit while we're at it."

"But after everything that's already happened, don't you think they'll see through our charm?" Aria looked skeptical, her hand running through her hair, before turning to Sonata. "After all, we can't exactly use our old pendants anymore to get people to do what we want, isn't that right, you bigmouth?"

"Maybe not." Sonata rolled her eyes at Aria's comment. "But our music still has that little something extra that can turn any frown upside down. Besides, we've got a whole new angle to work with now, we're not just some random band looking for a gig, we're the Dazzlings, and everyone loves a good comeback story."

"Exactly, and if we play our cards right, we might just get the recognition we deserve without needing to resort to our old tricks." Adagio nodded. "Now, let's get this over with, I've got better things to do than rehash old drama."

"Like what, exactly?" Aria continued showing a lack of enthusiasm. "Because last I checked, we haven't had any other major gigs since that festival, and our landlord's been getting on our case about it."

"Relax, he's always been nice to us, remember?" Sonata reminded. "He doesn't seem to mind that much about rent being overdue, since in his own words, we're all so lucky to be quite attractive."

"Ugh, I don't know if that's supposed to be comforting or not, Sonata." Aria replied, groaning at the mention of their landlord's rather unprofessional behavior. "But if we can get this gig at CHS, I'll just be relieved that he won't be expecting us to pay him in other... creepy ways."

"Aria, that's enough, let's not go down that rabbit hole again." Adagio's eyes flashed with annoyance before she took a deep breath and turned her focus back to the task at hand. "Alright, she booked this meeting with me specifically, because as we all know, I'm the most level-headed of us three, and our only hope of convincing her that we're a good fit for this gig. We'll see how this meeting goes, but in the meantime, Aria? You'd BETTER make sure that Sonata doesn't get her guacamole-coated fingers on my credit card again."

"Yeah, yeah, don't you worry, I've got her on a strict avocado diet." Aria rolled her eyes at Adagio's sternness, but couldn't help the smirk that played at her lips. "But in all seriousness, why can't you take it with you?"

"You think I wouldn't if I could?" Adagio began reminding. "These outfits may be all flashy and appealing to the eyes, but not designed very well as far as functionality. No pockets is such an inconvenience, but not as much as the $200 charge I received on my statement, all consisting of purchases from Taco Tuesday!"

"It was just one Taco Tuesday, Adagio!" Sonata protested, her cheeks flushing slightly at the accusation. "Or... was it two? Okay, maybe seven, but it's not like it was that much."

"Just make sure I don't have to have another heated conversation with the credit card company, you're both lucky that I'll be doing all the talking in this upcoming meeting." Adagio straightened her outfit to look more presentable for Principal Celestia. "Now, let's get this show on the road."

Adagio Dazzle finally closed the van's door and began heading towards the front entrance of CHS, ready to hopefully have a simple negotiation with the principal for this upcoming graduation gig. Although trying her best to maintain a professional attitude before the actual meeting, this attempt was only short-lived, as Adagio took notice of a familiar girl in the distance. Both Sunset and Adagio's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing each other once more, before mutually giving off a cold glare, as the two girls approached one another.

"Well, I should've definitely expected to see you again, ever since you and your friends showed us the bitter taste of defeat." Adagio reflected. "It's so hard to believe it's already been this long, we haven't seen you once since the Battle of the Bands, and part of me wishes we would've kept it that way."

Hearing this, Sunset was confused at first, but then realized that this particular exchange made sense. Although Sunset still remembered confronting and accusing the Dazzlings back at the festival, it was only an alternative scenario, as a result of the Time Twirler's effects. And given how the final confrontation with Postcrush went before the artifact was smashed up, it meant that the Dazzlings had no recollection of running into Sunset at the festival, only recalling their last confrontation here at CHS. Still though, even if they were merely just a red herring last time, Sunset kept her guard up, trying to get a more clear idea on their intentions by returning.

"What do you mean by that, you manipulative witch?" Sunset put an arm on her own hip. "Why would you be back here of all places, let alone a week before graduation? You're planning on doing something to sabotage the upcoming ceremony, as revenge against me and this entire school, aren't you?"

"I see how it is, always so quick to assume the worst, hmm?" Adagio snarked, rolling her eyes at Sunset's accusations. "You really believe that my sisters and I plan on playing such childish games of petty revenge, when we can barely survive on our own without those special pendants? That being said, even though you were the primary reason for us losing our natural Equestrian magic, not everything went downhill for us. In fact, in a rather unusually ironic way, we actually grew some form of respect for you, specifically because of your actions."

"Respect for me, huh?" Sunset continued remaining skeptical. "That's certainly a new one, especially coming from you. I still remember how you tried to play into my insecurities regarding my past, and I can assure you I'm no longer that same girl who lacks confidence and self-respect. Don't try any of your tricks, buttering me up isn't going to get you anywhere this time around."

"You really don't understand, do you?" Adagio sighed, as she began trying her best to explain. "Well, if you're still so unconvinced that I'm being genuine, I'll just be frank with you. Think about how life was for my sisters and I, when we still had our special pendants. Sure, we were able to get anything our hearts desired, anytime we wanted, and as a result, life almost became too easy and boring. But when we could no longer rely on those pendants all the time, it actually forced us all into getting jobs like normal people, as a means of earning money to survive. Most places rejected our applications, looking past our charm and beauty, since we still lacked actual work experience."

"So you're telling me that your lives of crime and manipulation were over on a whim, just like that?" Sunset folded her arms across her chest. "And now you're looking for a gig at the same school that you've previously tried to tear apart? I'm sorry, but that's a bit hard to swallow, especially after everything we've been through with you and your sisters."

"You can think whatever you want, I really don't care at this point." Adagio's eyes glinted with a hint of challenge. "But we're here to make a living, same as everyone else, and if that means playing nice for a little while, so be it. Besides, it's not like we're here asking for your friendship, just your understanding that we're not the girls you once knew. I can continue my explanation on where our respect for you stemmed from, if you'd like?"

"Go ahead, I'm listening." Sunset continued to let Adagio explain. "I'm having a hard time understanding where all of this is coming from, so I'd very much appreciate some form of context."

"Very well, then." Adagio nodded. "Life became much more difficult without our pendants, but this unexpected change helped my sisters and I realize, we relied too heavily on their magical influence, so much to where we never truly appreciated the merits of singing and performing. I mean, did you remember how awful and off-key we sounded, shortly after our humiliating defeat on stage?"

"I do remember that, it was a stark contrast to the enchanting melodies you had before." Sunset reflected. "But what does that have to do with respect for me?"

"It's because you showed us that there's more to life than simply using our pendants to manipulate and control others." Adagio further elaborated. "Your actions ended up forcing us to take singing much more seriously, and jump through the many struggles and strained voices we've had to deal with to get to this point in our career. This in turn, helped us all see the true value of hard work, which even made us realize we could find genuine joy and fulfillment in music, not just power and control. Even though we didn't get to keep our magic, we still kept that valuable lesson, even after all this time. When Principal Celestia posted an ad looking for performers at the upcoming graduation, we took it as an opportunity to prove that we've truly changed, and to showcase what we've learned. This time around, we want to use our music to bring happiness and unity, not to cause pain and turmoil amongst all the students."

Sunset took a moment to process Adagio's words, her skepticism slowly giving way to curiosity. The idea that the Dazzlings had truly turned over a new leaf was something she had already considered, especially after their first encounter at the Starswirled Music Festival, where Adagio was telling the truth about not being responsible for the Time Twirler's effects. Sunset studied Adagio's expression, looking for any hint of deceit, but found only earnestness, as the band leader continued giving her piece.

"On another note, it's certainly a relief that we no longer have to feed on negative energy, as if our lives depended on it." Adagio added. "You might've unintentionally done us a favor by destroying those pendants, no longer do we have the urge to feed on this arbitrary form of energy, let alone cause mass turmoil with it. By forcefully teaching us how to be independent without magic at our disposal, it created a more challenging lifestyle, but it should still technically be the very lifestyle we should expect to have, especially considering we don't descend from royalty, or have connections to a rich CEO. And now that my sisters and I have adapted to this new lifestyle, it actually prepared us quite nicely for the real world. I'm sure even you and your friends can understand such a sentiment, since you'll all be headed there yourselves, shortly after graduation?"

Sunset began to internalize this, as she remembered how Princess Twilight had written to her about a similar phenomena occurring with a species known as changelings. She wasn't exactly familiar with changelings, but read from Twilight's journal entry that once their entire colony had fully embraced friendship for the first time in their lives, they no longer had to forcefully feed on love to keep them afloat. Was something similar going on with Adagio, Aria, and Sonata, in the sense that they were never truly doing any of this out of pure malice, but because those pendants had given them no other choice?

Everything else that Adagio had just explained, it sounded like it all made sense, but was it simply a clever ruse, done as a form of manipulation to have Sunset lower her guard and suspicion? Sunset crossed her arms and questioned Adagio on her intentions even further, especially given the Dazzlings' unusual choice of location, as a means of finding another gig.

"All right, fair enough, and I'd say you've gained my respect as well, by having this talk with me." Sunset nodded, giving an approving grin. "But I still have to question why out of all places to book another gig, you decided to go with CHS. Don't you think the students and staff are going to think poorly of you, when they see you performing during the actual event?"

"As much as we've moved on from our past, we're aware that we can't escape it entirely." Adagio admitted, her expression slightly pained. "But we're not here to ask for everybody's forgiveness, we're here to offer them a show. If we can't get past the stigma here with the people at the ceremony, so be it, we still have to take responsibility and face the music, figuratively and literally. If you're still concerned and unconvinced, then by all means, I encourage you to keep tabs on us to make sure we're not up to our so-called old tricks. We're just looking to make music and perhaps leave a positive mark on CHS this time around. Who knows, perhaps our performance could be a symbol of change and reflection for everyone who's ever felt like a misunderstood outcast. I'm sure you specifically understand what I mean by that?"

"I do understand, more than you know." Sunset reflected on her own past, once more. "But I can't just ignore the past, it's shaped all of us, and it's important that we learn from it. If everything you've just told me is true, then I suppose it's worth giving you a chance to prove it. Maybe this is exactly the kind of second chance everyone deserves, but remember, if you cross any lines, I won't hesitate to stop you."

"Think about it for a minute, at least." Adagio insisted. "My sisters and I barely have any money to keep us afloat, we're always desperate for work to keep up with rent in a shabby apartment downtown, and we no longer have any magic that we can fall back on. What do you suppose I would have to gain by lying to you?"

Hearing the insistence of genuinely wanting to earn an honest buck, Sunset recalled that the last time she used the Geode of Empathy to read Adagio's mind, her geode's power revealed that she was indeed telling the truth, and not fabricating a story. Coupled with the fact that Adagio wouldn't even have any memory of this occurrence, to the point of coming up with convoluted half-truths to cover up her 'true' intentions, Sunset eventually came to the conclusion that perhaps this was all a mistake, and Adagio was truly being genuine.

"Alright, in that case... sorry for jumping to conclusions like that." Sunset apologized. "I guess I've just been on edge with everything happening lately, and I'm not used to seeing you three as anything but troublemakers. But if you're telling me that you've truly changed, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt this time around."

"I appreciate that, Sunset." Adagio smiled, having a newfound form of respect for Sunset. "It hasn't been easy, but we're doing our best. I'm not saying we're perfect, but we're certainly not the same sirens that once plagued this school. Though, just between the two of us, Aria and Sonata still need to work on their behavior. I genuinely wish Aria would take the things I say more seriously, and Sonata... dare I even mention how many receipts for tacos and grape juice, that are scattered throughout the back of our van?"

"Well, everyone has their quirks, I suppose." Sunset thought back to her own friends, who had their fair share of peculiar habits. "Good luck with that upcoming meeting, and if Principal Celestia agrees to have you, I'm sure you'll get the chance to show CHS a different side of the Dazzlings."

"Glad to hear you're willing to put some faith into us, even after everything that's happened." Adagio's voice had a genuine note of gratitude. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should get ready for the meeting, hopefully we'll all be able to have a budget for the next few months."

"Hey wait, before you go, you mentioned that you're all desperate for work, correct?" Sunset began proposing a solution that would solve her own problem as well. "I know we've had our differences, but I've got a bit of a dilemma on my hands, too. I've got this upcoming vacation, and while I'm away, I'll need somebody to look after my house, and especially to feed my pet leopard gecko. Would you or your sisters be up for that?"

"Given how I'm already barely able to take care of Aria and Sonata, I'm afraid I'd have to pass on that, if we want to be realistic." Adagio turned down the offer. "Knowing my sisters quite well, I can honestly foresee them doing an even shabbier job than I ever could. Sonata especially, when you account for how much of a slob she is, forcing Aria and I to pick up all her Taco Tuesday wrappers. If you expect to come back to a clean home and nurtured pet, you'll have to look elsewhere, I'm afraid."

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised, but I appreciate you being straightforward with me." Sunset replied, somewhat amused. "I still desperately need a housekeeper for about a week, do you at least have any other recommendations for somebody else who can get the job done?"

"Hmm, I don't know much about the local talent for housekeeping, but I saw some girls hanging around the main square's gazebo." Adagio recalled. "I overheard them talking about their luxurious homes and house pets, before I drove over here. If you're interested in perhaps hiring one of them, I'd say go for it. Oh, and just for the record, the second reason I turned down your offer was simply because I didn't want you to think we'd be up to anything, such as robbing your house while you were away. I hope that makes sense, even if we weren't considering such a silly idea to begin with."

Sunset nodded, understanding Adagio's concerns. She had to admit, it was a bit awkward and out of left field, asking for help from someone she had previously considered an enemy.

"Well in that case, I'll look into those girls you mentioned." Sunset said, as she began walking away. "Hopefully Principal Celestia is also in a forgiving mood, but going off of a conversation I just had with her earlier, I'd say you should be good."

Adagio grinned, watching Sunset walk away, as she couldn't help but feel relief upon hearing this.

"We were all just so caught up in our own worlds, that we couldn't see the damage we were causing." Adagio reflected, as she finally entered through CHS's front doors. "I just hope that one day, we can be... well, not friends, but at least not enemies anymore."