Mistress - B-Side: The Sunset Side of the Story

by SizeofMT

Rating: teen
Tags: Adagio Dazzle, Adventure, Equestria Girls, Violence, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Profanity, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sonata Dusk, Romance, Drama, Original Character
Length: 55892

On the night of Radian and Adagio's return home from their visit to Equestria, Princess Twilight Sparkle seeks out some clarity of the events that transpired before by way of the injured Sunset Shimmer.

An alliance forged.
The sirens restored.
New friendships made.
An exile welcomed home.
But when you invite as daunting a figure as Adagio Dazzle back to Equestria, no matter how much she seems to have changed, there's always going to be loose ends, so on the same night as Adagio and her human boyfriend return home to the other world, Twilight seeks to question Sunset Shimmer for her side of the story.
What ensues is a look through some of the events seen in Mistress, but through alternative views, as well as more context on the actions and thoughts of those involved by means of new scenes, as well as a chance for some heart to heart talks between two distant friends.

Published 2022-11-26 17:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-12-06 00:52:28 UTC

Part 1: Sparkling Mirrors and Doors

Mistress: B-Side

(Or)

The Sunset Side of the Story
Part 1: Sparkling Mirrors and Doors

A siren above the skies of the Equestria. An event not seen in in a thousand years.

It would be a night Twilight would never forget, and all because of a choice she had made.

Yet she didn't regret a thing.

It brought her hope, as was clear by the newfound light in this stallion's brown eyes that stood before her. He had arrived with ulterior motives, but in his time in Equestria he had changed. He trusted her now, and Twilight was overjoyed to consider him a friend.

“Thanks again, Twilight,” Radian Wave said and gave her one final and firm embrace.

As Twilight hugged him back, she couldn't be more happy or proud. This new friend was a diamond in the rough.

A peer of the sciences, a fast study of magic, a kind heart reawakened after a troubled life, and a steadfast pony (or human, Twilight supposed) who was willing to fight to the bitter end for his beliefs, newfound family and love. Twilight had no doubt he would fit in just fine when he returned to Equestria. And she would continue to not only strive to learn how to make it an Equestria worthy of not only his dreams, but for everypony else as well.

But that wasn't the only pony that made Twilight need to be her very best.

“Better practice your singing,” said the other, gold coated mare in the room, “it would be a shame for you to fail because you can't hold a tune.”

Adagio Dazzle. One of the sirens from Equestria's ancient past, and the threat that had soared the skies just a couple of hours ago.

She stood tall and strong despite her own struggles these evening. Adagio maintained a cool, if forced, indifference as she refused to look at Twilight, but the smirk betrayed her own heartfelt joy.

Twilight had to admit, her bravado was a strong mask for the fact that just minutes ago, she had almost breathed her last.

Adagio continued, “we sirens have our stones once more, as well as our own hard earned talents and each other. I expect you to visit the human world to bolster your connection with the Rainbooms in turn. Become stronger, and shine brighter, Twilight Sparkle! 'Til next we meet!”

The siren was a more complicated than a simple friend, but Twilight was just as proud of her, if still wary. After all, Adagio and her sisters had been a threat so great that even the great StarSwirl the Bearded couldn't defeat them, and instead tricked them through a portal and banished into a world that, at that time, was unknown to ponykind.

She may have once been an ancient foe, and even retained some of that animosity until just a few days ago, but now Adagio had changed. The lack of her siren stone for several years had left her as human as human could be, but for reasons not yet fully understood, Adagio had returned to Equestria not only as an earth pony, but Radian's magic experimentation in the human world also made her an especially large and strong one.

She dominated the library with her presence, even before her famously thick orange and yellow curly mane and tail, which made her seem even grander. Adagio was almost as tall as Princess Celestia, but built broad and muscular, like Applejack. Yet these physical changes were the least important compared to the most triumphant transformation.

Her heart.

Adagio had experienced severe lows when alone as a human but also lofty highs since engaging in her relationship with Radian Wave, even reconciling with her sisters, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk, after a falling out. She now understood friendship and, most of all, love.

Yet, as expected for a soul as long lived as Adagio, 'redeemed' didn't quite fit. The siren still had many of the traits she had stubbornly kept even after losing her powers in the human world.

Sirens were not peaceful. They fed on the negative emotions of conflict, and this reflected in the sirens themselves, as Adagio relished a challenge and still desired to be adored and seen as superior, and that would be true again. Sadly it was a necessary trait, as part of a siren as their own stones once were, but at least now these negative traits would be tempered by a positive outlook on life, as well as Radian's word that he would find a way to sustain them without causing strife.

Regardless of a solution, Adagio would be a still challenge, but Twilight was hopeful that both her own life-learned lessons and Radian's influence would be enough to put their past conflicts behind them.

Besides, Twilight had her own reasons for seeking out this alliance. Or friendship. Or... frenemies?

However this relationship would be known, Twilight wanted Adagio close precisely because of that challenge she represented. Heroes and leaders were only as strong as their foes, and Adagio, Aria and Sonata would be strong foes indeed. Rivals that would pull no punches, yet now had a reason to help Equestria and fight to protect it, thanks to both Radian and Adagio's desires to have a place in this land. They would forge Twilight into a future ruler of Equestria worthy of respect, a path she had already begun to learn.

To prove that, and offer some genuine advice for traversing the portal, Twilight grinned and called out, “remember, just keep walking! I'd hate to see you fall on your gigantic butt on the other side, Adagio!”

Adagio laughed and stepped through the mirror.

Radian's horn lit up amber as he took the box containing the siren's freshly repaired stones. He then wrapped it in a blanket like a bindle. He then looped it around his neck and, with a final smile, walked through the portal as well.

As last traces of his short green and yellow striped tail vanished beyond the rippled, reflective surface, the mirror grew still. The magic powering the mirror faded, and the clock chimed to signify that this adventure was officially over. They would be separate for a time. The whole reason the mirror was in the Crystal Empire was for repairs, and after that, Twilight could power the portal back up, but Radian had said he had much to do in the human world before they would return.

Twilight sighed long and hard, tired but fulfilled. She wondered if she would ever get used to life-threatening, potentially world destroying and utterly outrageous events by now, but no; today they had narrowly avoided unleashing a wounded, desperate and violent siren into Equestria, and who knew what tomorrow would bring? Or the day after that?

The sirens had their restored stones, but it hadn't been a one-sided trade, and not just the friends Twilight had made. She checked the device around her neck, the very invention that Twilight learned had instigated this whole adventure, sitting in its holster. A piece of technology Radian Wave had invented that could manipulate magic.

It was immeasurably powerful, useful and dangerous all at once. It was also a symbol of Radian's (eventual) pure motives that he gave it to Twilight as a sign of trust.

Twilight was certain she could find many, responsible, uses for it, and couldn't wait to put it through its paces in a controlled environment, but it was far too late for experiments. In fact, she wished she could just get a good night's sleep. Or get a nice cup of tea and a little light reading of say, two hundred pages, then sleep.

But there was one pony who she needed to see before that. The one pony who suffered the most from this eventful night, for reasons who would no doubt argue was part of the cause of much of the dramatics over the last week or so. The one pony of which Twilight needed to clear up a few final details, just to settle the last few doubts in her mind.

Sunset Shimmer.

Twilight left the library, locked the door, handed the key to a nearby guard and headed through the Crystal Palace.

“Twily!” A brawny white stallion trotted up beside her, his blue mane fluttering as he slowed to a walk at Twilight's side. “Did everything go okay with Adagio Dazzle and Radian Wave?”

She couldn't help but notice she was only a little shorter than him now, owing to her budding alicorn stature.

“Just great, Shining,” Twilight said with a smile. “I think the gravity of everything is still sinking in. That we've gone from the sirens being an old tale of a threat to all of Equestria, then a threat against the human world, to falling back into obscurity with the loss of their powers, to potentially becoming not only friends, but protectors of Equestria?”

Shining chuckled. “Oh, is that all? You make it sound like ridiculous, as if everypony hasn't already seen you deal with several huge threats in your time as princess. Still, I can't help but feel a little proud such a major event happened in me and Cadance's kingdom. To host a siren and her partner, and for you to convince them to help us? It feels pretty monumental. If there was any question about why you're set to take over Equestria, that's it right there”

Twilight couldn't help but feel a little pride. “I just don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that we won't be able to get back in contact with them for some time. I've given the sirens back their powers with only Adagio and Radian's word that they'll help us in exchange for this trust.”

“Cadence seemed convinced.” Shining gave Twilight a sideways glance. “And you, yourself, said that it was a good idea, back when Sunset first told you the news. It's not like you to second-guess yourself like this.” He then smirked. “Or maybe you're just smitten with that Radian guy and he charmed his way into dooming all of Equestria?”

Twilight stopped dead in her tracks and her cheeks flushed bright pink. “I- no! What- who did- he's with somepony! With Adagio, even!” She cleared her throat and scowled at Shining Armor. “Even if I was interested, which I totally am not, I wouldn't dare spoil what's obviously a fated, deep seated love, not to mention how it's one of the keystones of Adagio's turn from her old ways!”

Shining wrapped a foreleg around his sister's neck and noogied her mane with his other hoof as he laughed.

“I'm just messing with you, sis! I know you're just a little stressed after the whole 'Adagio being corrupted by her damaged stone' thing, but that's been fixed, right? Besides, Cadence told me about your steadfast beliefs in Radian and Adagio and how firm their connection is.”

He released her and turned serious.

“And how you started talking about Radian with a... particular tone as their visit went on. Cadence could feel it from you that you started developing feelings for him. You can talk to me, Twily. I won't say anything to anypony. I just want to make sure you're not going to get hurt about this.”

Twilight retained her blush, but calmed down as her ears folded back and she lowered her head. “I don't know. I can't tell if I have a thing for humans or something. I mean, I did try and start something with Flash Sentry... uh, our Flash Sentry, but just like most humans compared to their pony contemporaries, he wasn't the same.”

They continued walking down the corridor as Shining smiled again. “Yeah, he also kept panicking whenever you spent time with him. He's a good soldier, but I don't think he's ready for a relationship, and that goes double for royalty.”

Twilight pouted and took a moment to organise her thoughts.

She did care for Radian. A great deal, as a matter of fact. They shared some common ground, like formerly friendless backgrounds, their love of research and knowledge, and having an awakening with meeting others that forged bonds stronger than steel. Twilight had her dearest friends, the Elements of Harmony and more besides, and Radian had the Dazzlings. His family, as he now called them.

Yes, he came here with nefarious intent, to repair all three of their stones when the agreement was for just one, and even that was a deal struck under false pretences, but he came clean and showed regret for what he was doing. Just by showing him kindness, and imparting the wisdom Twilight had learned about friendship, he was now in a far better place.

She looked at the device strapped around her again. Radian was definitely a good soul, and if Adagio loved him, Twilight shouldn't doubt herself, or either of them. But even so...

“You're thinking about him again, aren't you?”

She blushed again, but her anger helped to mask it. “Now you cut that out, Shining! If you're going to keep pestering me for an answer, then here it is; Radian and I made a connection, built on trust and mutual respect for each other, and we acknowledged an equally mutual attraction, but we agreed to remain friends! Happy?”

He chuckled. “You sound like you're convincing yourself more than me! But I'm glad you worked things out.”

Twilight huffed. “More than anything, I'm just glad he didn't fall into the same camp as Flash. The human and pony ones. My position put me beyond them. With Radian, it feels like a solid friendship as peers, since I have no doubt he's going to make great changes in the human world with his inventions, just as I hope he will be instrumental in being a positive force of change here. I want him to help me usher in a new, brilliant age for Equestria.”

Shining nuzzled Twilight's cheek. “I can't wait to see what you can do. Remember, you have every one of us to rely upon for support.”

“Thanks, Shining. As for Adagio and her sisters, it will be nice having somepony who won't be at any risk being yes-mares, or being afraid to question me. I don't want to seem unapproachable, especially after how I've been guilty of doing the same with Celestia. I was so afraid of upsetting her sometimes, that I ended up actually upsetting her.”

She then scraped the floor with her hoof and bowed her head at those memories, but that was just it; the past, and lessons learned.

Twilight snorted in frustration before continuing. “Now I've got to deal with my own careful balance of projected authority to instil respect and stability while not alienating everypony who thinks I'm going to send them to the moon for looking at me the wrong way!”

Shining gave her a gentle smile. “If there's anything ruling the Crystal Empire as taught me, is that there's no easy fix for that besides, as cliché as it sounds, just being and trusting yourself.”

“That's the plan,” Twilight said with a nod. “I need ponies like my friends to treat me like they always have, and I want others like Adagio to give me perspective and attack my plans, to scrutinise and question my decisions to force me to justify them and make sure they're as good as I believe them to be.”

“With Radian as a middle-stallion of sorts?”

Twilight pointed with a hoof. “Exactly. He understands and respects me, but he made it clear that, if push came to shove, he would side with Adagio. Being able to convince him and the Dazzlings of my choices will help give me reassurance my decisions will be the right ones. That they're as logical and ironclad as they are heartfelt.”

“I must admit, I'm a little worried about him having potentially that much sway over you without knowing the Radian himself. I get you didn't get to hang out with Adagio, so I guess it would be nice to understand your take on him at least. Not that I don't trust you, but when you let feelings get in the way of detecting duplicity? I mean, do I even need to mention my wedding?”

“Okay, I get it. Let me tell you a bit about Radian.”

Twilight gave Shining as impartial an assessment as she could.

He was a scientist, and a talented one, but one suppressed by a rough upbringing, between trouble at home and a particular bully at school; Sunset Shimmer, even after she began to mend her ways. Radian felt so distressed that, when opposition to Sunset appeared in the form of Adagio and her sisters, he secretly wished to side with them, and became somewhat infatuated with them. Even if to just let their magical songs drag him away from his troubles and bend him to their will. Ignorance would be bliss.

Yet fate had other plans. The Dazzlings were defeated, their magical necklaces destroyed, but magic continued to flow into the human world. When Twilight's human counterpart worsened the tears between the worlds with her own device and transformation into Midnight Sparkle, magic began flowing more freely, Radian detected this had become inspired to learn all he could about this new force.

That eventually led to him seeking out the Dazzlings and finding Adagio, who was alone and down on her luck. They made an agreement: Adagio would use the last of her money, her knowledge and sensitivity of magic to help him, and once he made his device, he would use it to restore her powers. He also made a machine that was more straightforward in converting magic into electricity. Something Twilight wasn't even sure could be done in the human world.

Twilight didn't catch herself talking quicker as the topic came up.

Radian's perspective on magic was completely refreshing! Twilight had once sought to confine magic down into a matter of pure logic and, while it had expanded her knowledge, she couldn't truly get everything down, like Pinkie Pie's... Pinkieisms. Even Sunset had tried to understand how it worked in the human world and failed. That Radian had understood more than Sunset on the topic gave her hopes on some new understandings of magic when he returned.

Twilight noticed Shining was walking along and nodding, but seemed blank. Twilight frowned and stopped.

Shining kept walking. And nodding.

She growled and asked, “were you even listening?”

Shining kept nodding, then blinked, stopped, turned and cleared his throat. “Uh, mostly? Sorry, you went into one of your... you know.”

Twilight snorted. “No, I don't know. Unless you mean you're poking fun at my feelings and passion for science, magic and knowledge. Again.”

“I didn't mean it like that! Honest!” Shining crossed a hoof over his heart. “Just... it's late, we haven't hung out as often as we used to, so I've fallen behind on your... Twilyisms, and how to break them down into-”

Twilight balked. “I do not have 'Twilyisms'! I- you know what!? Forget it. Good night, Shining.”

She trotted off in a huff before she felt Shining's magic surround her, pick her up and pull her back. “Hold on there, sis! I'm sorry! I just miss it being us. I didn't mean to anger you.”

He hugged her, and she sighed as she felt the frustration fade. Her ears flopped down and she said, “I know I get carried away sometimes, but I'm still parsing everything. I don't fully understand my feelings with Radian any more than I understand... some of the aspects I discovered about Adagio. She still wants to have a fight with me.”

Shining backed up. “Wait, really? Do you want me to send some guards to Ponyville?”

Twilight waved a hoof. “No, sorry. Not like that! Let me explain: when the Dazzlings first appeared in Sunset's school, originally there was this musical showcase, but the sirens pushed for it to become a tournament. A Battle of the Bands. And when we began to fight against them, Adagio and her sisters seemed to relish the competitive aspect. It's a siren quirk. I believe she called it 'shining brighter' or something like that.”

“Considering how powerful they were, and I guess are once more, are you sure that's wise?”

“I don't exactly relish the prospect of fighting Adagio, Aria and Sonata again, but if that's what they want for me to prove I'm worthy of their respect, so be it.” Twilight stomped her hoof with a clack that echoed down the corridor. “I'll fight with everything I have, with the power of friendship on my side and every ounce of the power I possess, I'll prove to Adagio that I'm not to be trifled with!”

Shining's eyes were wide. “You're, uh, doing the glowy mane thing again.”

“Oh?” Twilight looked and saw her mane was floating and glittering like a starry nebula. “Oops, sorry. It's getting harder to stop that from happening.”

Shining gave her another hug as her mane returned to its purple, pink highlighted natural state. “It's a sign you're still growing into your role, Twily. I'm proud of you! Anyway, it's really late. And remember, if you need anything, you can always ask me or Cadence.”

“I know. And I will, thanks, Shining. Oh, how's Sunset? I wanted to have a quick word with her before I went to bed.”

“The palace doctors have finished treating her. A broken rib, some torn muscles, a small internal bleed and a lot of bruising. She won't be going anywhere for a while, but thanks to our resident healer and surgeon, she'll make a full recovery.”

Twilight sighed with relief, but still looked troubled. “Just when I thought I couldn't feel any worse about Sunset putting herself through all this trouble in locating Equestrian artefacts, now this? Do you know if she's still awake?”

“No idea, but try not to keep her up too long if she is. She needs rest. Doctor's orders.”

Twilight bid her brother a good night with a familial peck on the cheek, and headed down to the palace infirmary. A few nurses quietly kept vigil over a few of the shared wards, but a familiar mare exited one of the rooms.

A majestically tall alicorn with a beautiful white coat, and with a flowing, ethereal pink, blue and green mane, Princess Celestia smiled at Twilight's approach.

“I was wondering when you would arrive, Twilight.”

“Pri- uh... hi, Celestia!”

Celestia's smile grew wider. “You have no idea how much it means to me to be simply a peer, Twilight.”

“I'm getting there, gradually,” Twilight said, “though I'm still really glad you're staying on for a few more years and I'm eager to keep learning. Seriously, all these small changes are becoming awkward to keep up with, but that's not important now. How's Sunset?”

Celestia glanced at the door behind her and said, “she is in good spirits, and I can't blame her. She was extraordinarily brave tonight, and likely saved many lives by helping pull Adagio Dazzle back from losing control of her siren form. And her bravado certainly hasn't been quelled. I doubt I could be as spirited as she was when it came to facing a siren, no matter Adagio's weakened state.”

Twilight smirked. “She's certainly not shy on getting her hooves dirty, even if it's not always the wisest course of action. But make no mistake; she saved not only the citizens of Equestria and beyond, but also Adagio and Radian themselves. Is she still awake?”

“She is, and is expecting you.” Celestia stepped aside, then said, “I shall see you tomorrow morning, before Luna and I depart for Canterlot. Will you be returning to Ponyville as well?”

“Most likely. I need to get the mirror back and powered up so I can go tell Sunset's friends what's happened. I suppose if Sunset wants to stay here, I'll keep her company for a few days and ask Starlight to go in my stead, but I plan to bring her to Ponyville as soon as she's able to be moved safely. Have a good night, Celestia.”

The two princesses bowed to one another, and Equestria's ruler teleported away in a flash of yellow light.

Twilight approached the private room and gently knocked on the door with her hoof, then peeked inside.

“Can I come in?”

“Sure,” Sunset said in a raspy tone. She grinned weakly but didn't lift her head from the pillow. The bags under her eyes, the messy, fiery red and yellow mane and body bruises visible even through her light orange coat made Twilight stare, even if said turquoise eyes were still shining and vibrant.

Twilight couldn't help but wince. She had to be in a lot of pain.

“C'mon, it isn't that bad, right?” Sunset laughed, then groaned in pain.

Twilight bit her lip. “I just wanted to ask you a few questions about the past week, but maybe this isn't such a good idea... you rest up. It can wait.”

“As if I could even sleep right now,” Sunset said as she struggled onto her belly. “Being hoof-punched by a full sized siren into a tree besides, this has been the most fun I've had in a while: being back in Equestria, getting involved in an actual adventure, meeting all your friends, talking with all the princesses, actually clearing things up with Radian and, most of all, maybe even getting somewhere with Adagio? I'm still buzzing!” She yelped, pressed a hoof into her side and hissed through her teeth.

“And so are your injuries... you have to rest, Sunset. I'm sorry for making you talk, this was a terrible idea. We'll try this tomorrow.”

“No, please! I- ow! Dang it...” Sunset clutched her sides and settled back down.

Twilight couldn't help but worry about how desperate she seemed to keep talking, but Twilight still felt awful. She suddenly had an idea, and pulled Radian's device out of its carrying strap, tapped a few keys with her telekinesis, and pointed it at Sunset.

Sunset's breathing grew stronger and she sighed with relief. “That thing's some seriously amazing tech.”

“I wholeheartedly agree. He made me promise to use it to help you, but I was going to anyway.” Twilight placed it on a bedside table and propped up so it would continue to bathe Sunset in a small but continuous flow of sympathetic unicorn magic.

The machine pulled ambient magic into itself, which powered it, but it could attune the energy into focused formats and broadcast it back out. It resembled a megaphone with a little keypad and spectrograph, some little metal studs over placed over it, as well as some antennae which poked out the end.

Radian's admitted it was based on Twilight's human counterpart's device which led to her corruption, but where that Twilight had became afraid of touching magic and settled into the more focused power of her geode, Radian had strived to perfect the original device, and succeeded. The finished emitter had been instrumental in repairing the siren's stones too, since each stone resonated differently and required very precise tuning to make them whole.

The setting she was using on Sunset was a low powered 'positive' signal, a sympathetic attunement that made the recipient feel better and assist their healing, but Twilight had felt the full power of the emitter first-hoof. It could bolster a pony or weaken them based on their species.

Pegasi could be made faster and more agile, or conversely unable to fly and sluggish. Unicorns could have their magic amplified or, being so core to their being, not only disabled, but it could knock them unconscious. Earth ponies grew stronger and tougher, and while untested it could likely enhance their gifts with growing plants, and the negative form would instead leave the pony enfeebled.

Such was Radian's experience with the precise inner workings of his device that he could even cast these effects as his first unique spell. He likened it to oscillating a simple magic signal with his horn, but at very precise frequencies. Twilight learned a basic version, and could likely refine her knowledge, but she was hesitant. A spell tampering with the very nature of a pony reminded her of Starlight's unique spell to strip a pony of their cutie-mark. It would perhaps be best considered forbidden...

Her mind was wandering from her fatigue, Twilight realised, so she focused on Sunset again.

“Still, as much as this thing will help,” Twilight continued and patted Radian's device, “I'll keep you company as long as you want, but if you want me to leave so you can rest, just say the word.”

Sunset blew a raspberry and rolled her eyes. “Forget that. Come here a sec. Sure, my ribs aren't great, but I've learned this new trick with my empathy powers. Take my han- uh, hoof. Also, maybe get comfortable? This might take a while.”

Twilight cocked an eyebrow, but levitated a chair next to Sunset's bed, climbed on, and offered her foreleg.

Sunset settled back down onto the mattress, hooked her hoof around Twilight's own, and with a red flash of her horn, her eyes turned white.

* * *

“What- what just happened?”

Twilight was still in the private ward, but something was off.

Sunset suddenly stood then hopped off the bed, then climbed onto her hind legs. In a blink, Sunset adopted her human form, dressed in a set of purple pyjamas.

“This is a new thing I figured out with Rarity,” Sunset said as she stretched and sighed with relief, seemingly uninjured. “I saw these really cool looking costumes when I was travelling and struggled to describe them, so I worked out how to replay my memories while inviting someone else inside my mind! It's like I'm showing you my most recent memories, closer to livestreaming my current thoughts.”

Twilight tilted her head. “Livestreaming?”

“Oh, right... so there's this thing we do in the human world where we use the internet to show everyone what we're doing using a computer, like playing video games? When we do it live, we call it livestreaming. This is kind of like that, but with my memories; as I think something, and it becomes part of my short-term memory, it happens for your viewing pleasure! Likewise, since I'm reading your surface memories, anything you think is happening too.”

“That's pretty clever,” Twilight said with a smirk. “I guess when it's the only magic you have can control in the human world, it gives you a chance to really expand on a single concept. It also reminds me that you were a prodigal unicorn before the mirror incident.”

“I'm still out of practice with normal magic though,” Sunset said. “I struggled to teleport consistently when chasing after Radian when he ran after Adagio.”

“Seems to me like you need a refresher,” Twilight said. “I wonder if I could convince you to take up studying magic again, what with you needing a few months to heal. I happen to know a really good teacher who'd love to spend some time with you.” She winked

Sunset's face lit up as she gasped. “Are you saying what I think you're saying? You'll teach me?”

“I am! I cordially invite you to be my student and guest at the Palace of Friendship while you finish your recovery. My home will be your home.” Twilight looked around, then up at Sunset's current form. “Although if I'm currently spending time in your mind-home-thing, I should do as the humans do.”

Twilight focused on those distant memories she of her time in the human world, and her perspective shifted: she wobbled onto her hind legs and sprouted taller. Her forelegs waved about to keep balance, only for them to also extend and her hooves to shift into hands. A quick glance down showed her legs were plantigrade and that she was dressed in similar pyjamas as Sunset.

Finally, they hugged.

“Heck yes!” Sunset's hug turned ever stronger. “This is going to be amazing!”

Twilight bathed in the warmth of her friend and put her forele- her arms around her. The distance she so often associated with Sunset was an ache she never realised how much she hated, but it was soothed in this moment.

“There's so much I can't wait to show you,” Twilight said softly, then waited for Sunset to let go. But Sunset seemed reluctant.

Did she just sniffle?

Twilight asked, “are you okay?”

Sunset broke away and spun around. She then cleared her throat, wiped her sleeve across her face, then turned toward Twilight with a toothy grin. “Sure! It's... just been a long time since we just had a moment like this, you and me, with no looming threats or your friends or mine, that's all. Hah, I probably just made it awkward, didn't I?”

“Not at all. I promise, however long you want, I'll give you my undivided attention. There's so much we can talk about and do that simply can't be conveyed through written words.”

Sunset laughed and playfully punched Twilight in the arm. “Shows how far you've come! No longer relying on words, pages and books to achieve everything.”

Twilight gave a wry smile. “Right back at you, Ms. 'Taking my health seriously, so I'm getting swollen!' We're both pretty far removed from our 'magic and knowledge is everything' pasts, aren't we?”

Sunset clapped her hands together. “Definitely! Oh, and it's 'swole'. I guess it is a bit of a corruption of swollen, but more about getting fitter and stronger And I was... kinda drunk when I wrote that. But check it!” Sunset then made her sleeves vanish, exposing firm, toned arms, which she promptly flexed, then lifted her top and exposed her abs.

Twilight didn't exactly have had a huge amount of reference on the human form, but she'd seen Sunset's pony body. She used to be taller than average but firmly built (if, by her own admission, not in great shape), yet now she looked closer to an earth pony. Unicorns really didn't have the ease of their earth sisters when it came to gainful exercise, but Twilight couldn't help but be impressed

Sunset suddenly sighed and her pyjamas returned to their normal form.

“Ugh... I just realised my busted rib's gonna mean I'm gonna get out of shape again. Seriously, though, I kept thinking about when my world's Twilight poked fun at my unused gym membership. She can be savage when she wants to be, and my lifestyle came back to bite me in the ass when I had to chase that guy with the... oh, what was it called again? That fragment that gave super speed?”

“Oh, the Splinter of Lightning?”

Sunset finger-gunned at Twilight and said, “right, that's the one. Sure, that guy could run like the wind, but I just needed to outlast him since it just burnt him out quicker. That gave me the drive to take my fitness seriously. As great as my geode is for finding the emotional centre of the people who abuse these items, I can't always expect my friends to be there to cover my butt if they're super strong, fast, or can shoot lightning out their eyes or whatever. It may be a last resort, but sometimes some asses need kicking.”

Sunset punctuated her words by punching her palm.

Twilight snapped her fingers, briefly bemused at how naturally the motion came to her. “Speaking of artefacts, that was why I came here to talk to you. Well, one of the reasons, anyway. I know I've written it a hundred times, but thank you, truly, for continuing to dealing with them.”

“Hey, no problem!” Sunset's smile faded and she rubbed the back of her neck. “Kinda my fault they're all there to begin with, so it's my mess to clean.”

“No, it's not- I mean, sure, to begin with, but that's not fair on you,” Twilight said and put her hand on Sunset's shoulder. “I let Radian know about your mission and I know he's expressed interest In helping you. Hopefully you'll be able to not only help one another, but also take turns if either of you need a break.”

Sunset's eyes went wide. “Really? I mean, I really appreciate it, but I never thought I'd see you twist an offer to help someone into doing something dangerous like recovering artefacts... That's kinda messed up.”

“I know,” Twilight said with a sigh and rubbed one arm with the other awkwardly. “Celestia's been making sure I learn that part of being a leader is to know when to be duplicitous, but never cruel. Giving earnestly with one hoof while pushing and guiding with the other and all that. I don't like it, but it's securing the alliance of the sirens power and Radian's technical brilliance, as well as reinforcing all of their wish to live a peaceful life in Equestria, even while intending to use them against threats. I feel bad about it, yet I'm doing good. I... don't know how to describe how I feel about it.”

Sunset shrugged. “No, I guess get it; I can't tell you how often I've dug into people's minds to find ways to convince them to turn over a new leaf or give me something I want... ugh, and I'm still painfully aware about forcing a look into Adagio's head. Twice! You were right to call me out on that second one in her apartment.”

“Like it or hate it, that glance into Adagio's memories became your trump card when things were at their worst.” Twilight closed her eyes, centred her self, and nodded. “I know as well as anypony that things can't always be solved the gentle way. But the important thing to remember is to never let using underhooved tactics be our primary means of doing the right thing. Besides, we knew there was likely some ulterior motives considering Adagio's resistance to changing her ways in since they still hated humans after losing their powers. Which brings me to my main reason for being here.”

Sunset stroked her chin. “Well, if we're getting serious, we might as well get comfortable. Here, take a seat.”

Twilight glanced behind her, and a bed rose from the ground. She sat down, as did Sunset so they were facing one another.

Sunset asked, “so, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Thanks. I wanted to ask about everything that happened since you ran into Adagio. I know, deep down that she's changed, but I'd love to give everything a final check. Just to make sure we didn't overlook anything.”

Sunset ran her fingers through her red and blond hair. “Really? Kinda late to be changing your mind now. It seems a little redundant.”

“I know,” Twilight said, “but despite that, even I'll admit I was distracted with the summit, and dividing my attention between that and Radian meant I still haven't really had a chance to hear your side of the story in full, or have a long enough talk with Adagio to get a measure for the extent of her changes. It's just... you know, crossing the T's and dotting the I's? Leaving no stone unturned? Something like that?”

Sunset blinked and stared. “You're being neurotic about not knowing everything about a situation again, aren't you?”

Nonplussed, Twilight replied, “are we doing this or not?”

“Well, fine, I don't see why not, but why talk when I can just show you?” Sunset said and shrugged.

“I... don't know if I want to invade in other ponies' memories.”

“Are you saying you don't want to see things in a technically first hand way to make your own conclusions?”

Twilight went to protest, but stopped. “Ugh, fine. But I still want your opinion on moments.”

“And feel free to stop me if you want context, or want to stop and skip over any particular moments. Alrighty! Let's see...” Sunset closed her eyes and raised her hands, and the private ward shifted and transformed. The crystal floors gave way to a familiar, worn linoleum, the room stretched ahead and behind them, lockers filled the walls.

It was Canterlot High School's main corridor.

There were four classrooms nearby as well, each labelled with the name, and even strange weather through the window.

Adagio's door, with a dark gloom beyond, Radian's, with heavy rain, Sonata's, fill with a thick fog and Sunset's, with brilliant sunshine.

Twilight asked, “what's going on?”

Sunset stood and gestured around them. “I just categorised my memories for you. Whoever you want to look at, we'll just enter the room and everything I recall is yours to view. Since expanding on my powers, I've learned how to compartmentalise what I've seen, considering how important any brief glimpse of a specific moment can be. Just say what you want me to revisit, and I'll make that appear first and foremost.”

Twilight glanced at Adagio's door. “Maybe we should try with your first meeting with Adagio. To see how she acted when you first made contact with her.” She then looked at another. “But knowing your earliest interactions with Radian might be more beneficial.”

Sunset laughed, but it was a nervous one. “If I'm totally honest? I'd rather not go back that far. I was a total bitch to Radian and there's little to learn that I can't just tell you quicker. I wasn't exactly to blame for what happened to him overall, but I get why he put a lot of that on me. All the same, I'm eager to move past that and do right by him now he's forgiven me, especially with his offer of a job and helping me out with artefact hunts.”

“Well, in that case, it sounds like you've got some recommendations.”

Sunset rubbed her chin with a frown, then sighed and said, “look, I guess my first meeting with Radian might give some extra context to what I was dealing with when trying to reconnect with him. I don't like going back that far, but you deserve to know.”

“Your memories it is, then. The day you met Radian at the cafe.”

Sunset suddenly shifted back into her unicorn form. “Since we'll be observing the human world for a while, it'll probably make things a bit less confusing if we're ponies. Seeing two of me is already gonna be kinda weird for you, I'm sure.”

Twilight effortlessly shifted back into an alicorn and nodded. “Lead the way.”

Sunset's door opened, and the pair stepped through into the light.

* * *

Sunset's Door

The light eased and Twilight found herself on a quiet street in the human world. High rise buildings of downtown Canterlot City in one direction and increasingly broken down apartment blocks in the other. A row of stores lined one side of the road, with a laundromat, a mini-mart and other businesses. On the other side of the street was a cafe.

“Not the... nicest neighbourhood,” Twilight said, wary of the disrepair and graffiti on some of the walls and apartments.

“Sure, but the coffee's cheap yet still good. I'm not exactly flush with cash right now so, yeah, that job offer is super well timed. Also this cafe is on the end of my normal run through downtown for a caffeine boost before the run back to my apartment. Anyway, let's get this memory rolling.”

Sunset exited the cafe, iced coffee in hand, and looked for a place to sit to enjoy it. She had reason to celebrate; she'd bested her previous time jogging here by two minutes!

A familiar face stole her attention. A man around Sunset's age, sitting at one of the nearest tables.

He was looking at her for a split second, but he immediately his dipped his gaze behind a newspaper. He had short green hair with yellow stripes. Brown eyes flickered over the paper at her as his brow twitched. He wore a simple buttoned shirt over a slim frame. Not bad looking, baby-faced but hardly memorable. His eyes stood out, soft but filled with intelligence.

Something about Sunset looming over him like this, as he tried to evade her notice, was eerily familiar. She shivered for some reason, and realised she was staring, so she decided to just break the ice.

“Wait, I know you...”

It came to her as she looked deeper into his eyes. One of the smartest kids in school, but a poor attendance record.

She continued, “Radian Wave? Oh wow, it is you!”

Twilight looked around the newspaper and closer at Radian.

“Huh.”

Sunset asked, “what's up?”

“Sorry, I haven't seen him as a human before. That's all.”

“On that topic, brace yourself. He gets pretty heated. I know you're still not used to human curse words.”

Twilight smirked but looked nervous. “Noted. I'm getting used to them.”

Right! Radian! He used to hang out with the other smart kids! Then he didn't, because... oh. Oh no.

Sunset remembered slamming him into lockers and making threats, trying to make him flake out on tests and more, since he was one of the few minds clearly better than her own.

Wow, she really was a jerk, wasn't she?

Now, hold on, Sunset thought to herself. It's been years. You're both older and wiser. Time heals all wounds and all that.

Sunset sat down at his table and said, “you're looking well! Wow, it's been years, huh? What have you been up to?”

Radian squirmed in his seat as he put the paper down on top of something fairly bulky. His eyes darted about and he cleared his throat.

“Oh, uh, you know,” he finally managed to stammer, “t- this and that.”

Sunset didn't need her empathy powers to tell he totally remembered. She could see fear in his eyes for a split second.

“Great,” Sunset replied and looked off to the side as she tried to think of her next move. She barely noticed him stop fidgeting as he sat up straight and gain a presence.

“So, can we talk about Canterlot High?” His tone was suddenly firm and assured as it dripped a snide-energy. “Being tripped in the cafeteria almost every day? Having Snips and Snails fill my locker with fire extinguisher foam? The fucking science fair incident!? You know, reminisce about the good old days?”

Oh hell, the science fair. It came back to her.

Sunset had falling behind on her project, so she sabotaged everyone's, including his, by drenching them all with water.

Radian's was some sort of hand-made calculator. Really well made and clearly from base components. Infinitely better than everyone else's attempts of potato lights, soda and candy volcanoes and such. She only needed to break his, but she ruined everyone else's work to make it less obvious it was her.

There was something else about Radian that came to back to her as well... he started as chipper as most other students, but he became deeply troubled over time. It amused her back then, but now?

Sunset had fought a lot of jerks since those early days of being set on the right path. She'd helped a lot of downtrodden and desperate people too. She'd faced people with justified anger who'd lashed out at her and built lasting friendships from them.

This shouldn't be out of her wheelhouse, but at that moment, she'd never felt so small, but she couldn't pinpoint why. His sudden burst of confidence didn't help, like he was actively using what she'd done to him as a weapon right back at her. Meanwhile, she felt like she was playing with half a deck; he hadn't let go of his memories, and she could tell he was reliving them in his head to keep his anger burning, but while Sunset did remember Radian, she was missing a lot of details because of how distant he'd had been back then.

Sunset had to start trying to build bridges, so she refocused, took a calming breath and answered, “I know, and I can't tell you how much I'm sorry. What I did was horrible, and I never forgot. I did try to apologise back then, but you weren't in school often, and even when you were, you actively avoided me.”

He gripped the table so hard his knuckles turned white. “Of course I did! Do you know what it's like having nowhere to turn? Having your parents fight over taking you out of school when you're at home, get constantly bullied at school and having no friends because you earn a reputation as a loner that nobody wants to hang around with because you're constantly unhappy?”

Oh crap. Sunset bit her lip and recoiled at the raw emotions being thrown at her.

That's what she was forgetting about this guy. There were all sorts of rumours going around the school about Radian's home life, largely being handled by Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna, but it was just ammunition for Sunset when she was an unrepentant bully. She could only imagine having to deal with her old self and a broken home, but she also had her woes from her upbringing. Her ignorant pride in gaining power and alienation of caring figures like Princess Celestia.

She also understood feeling like an outsider and being hated by everyone.

That was it! This was the time to strike. Sunset was the element of empathy, after all. It was time to try and bring up some common ground and start a dialogue. His confidence was obviously new to him, judging by his sudden shift. Build a rapport! Shatter his expectations and recover!

Sunset dug deep and replied, “more than you might expect, but that doesn't change the fact I'm truly, deeply sorry. I know that probably means nothing, but if you'll let me, I want to make it up to you somehow. The thought of letting that pain fester in you-”

“No thanks.” Radian leaps to his feet and bunches his newspaper around whatever it was he was hiding. He sneers and snarks, “it's been great catching up. Seeya.”

“Radian, please wait, I-”

He stormed off.

Sunset slumped in her seat as she stewed in thought.

“I didn't know how to respond,” current Sunset said, “between his change in attitude and how much anger he was holding onto and even just how long it had been since I met anyone who I'd wronged, I was just lost on how to help. It was like Wallflower all over again, only I'd hurt him far worse. I was so caught off guard I didn't even have a chance to try and read him with my powers.”

“I know that feeling. I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten to teleport or fly when I'm in a panic.” Twilight tapped her chin with a hoof. “And he didn't exactly give you much of a chance to try, either.”

“Even so, I wanted a second shot. I kept thinking about it for the rest of the day, and even into my dreams...”

Sunset's memory fast-forwarded until it flowed into a blur, and a new scene appeared.

* * *

“So, making a rare appearance, huh? I was beginning to think you were scared of me. Good! You should be.”

Sunset loomed over the shorter boy, who froze with his head buried in his locker. She was taller by a couple of inches anyway, but his constant slouch just emphasised the point.

She liked standing out, presenting her best to conceal her worst. She deserved greatness, and twerps like this runt were one of two things; fuel for her ambitions like her moronic lackeys, Snips and Snails, or threats to be squashed like most of the rabble in this school.

“Hey, look at Sunset when she's talking to you,” Snips snipped.

“Yeah, Radian, it's rude to not stare,” Snails droned, then scratched his head. “Wait, hold on, that's not right.”

Sunset rolled her eyes, then shoved Radian into the locker, spun him around to face her and yanked him up by his collar.

He struggled against her grip. “Leave me alone.” His brown puppy-dog eyes betrayed his fear, but there was something else there. Something overriding his usual meekness. Apathy?

Whatever, she wouldn't be denied.

She pushed harder and said, “we've got a big test on Friday. You're gonna screw it up or I'm gonna make your life hell, understand? I'm not gonna have anyone upstage me when we're this close to the Fall Formal.”

He may have been afraid, but something deeper made Radian resistant. He just looked away and kept silent.

Sunset snarled, “I said-”

Snips whispered, “V.P. on approach!”

Sunset released Radian and bolted for her locker, opened it and busied herself as Vice Principal Luna walked by. She stole a glance at Radian, who remained silent and still beside his open locker, his collar still creased up.

Snips and Snails went and made use of a nearby drinking fountain, only to bash their heads together as they both went to drink.

Luna stopped and asked, “is everything alright, Radian Wave? You look troubled.”

Sunset made a slicing gesture at her throat at Radian, but he ignored her and just said, “I'm fine, Vice Principal. Just... stuff at home.”

Luna bit her lip. “Oh, yes, I've been informed about your situation. Please, if there's anything you want to talk about, I-”

Radian slammed his locker shut and just muttered, “I said I'm fine.” He then ran off.

Luna reached out after him, but sighed and folded her arms in defeat. She then looked at Sunset, who fussed about with her locker's contents while whistling, before the vice principal walked away.

Snips returned. “Phew, that was close.”

Sunset ordered, “follow him and make sure he knows I'm not gonna tolerate his sob-story crap, I don't care what he's got wrong at home, he's failing that test, and if you've gotta screw with him when he's trying to study, then do it.”

Sunset stomped away and into the restroom as Snips and Snails followed her commands. She entered, took a calming breath and glanced at herself in the mirror.

Soon, if her old journal, the one thing she brought with her through the portal, and her notes within were right, she wouldn't even need to worry about this nonsense. Finally, a chance to get back into Equestria, to get her magic back, or maybe find an artefact that could truly make her unstoppable here. She glanced at herself, and envisioned herself, as she once did, as a princess, all powerful and beloved.

Only to scream as her reflection shifted into the shrieking facade of a she-demon. It punched through the mirror, shards of glass slashing Sunset's skin, and lunged at her with bloodied claws!

* * *

Sunset screamed as she sat up. She was bathed in sweat, and her heart thundered in her chest.

She buried her face in her hands and mumbled, “what the hell was wrong with you, Sunset?”

Twilight and Sunset stood to the side as the in-the-moment Sunset climbed out of bed and paced around, listless. She tapped away on her phone for a while and just stared out of the window for a few minutes with a furrowed brow.

“You really never let go of that old side of you, did you?” Twilight hooked a hoof on her friend's shoulder as she shook her head.

“I thought I'd righted all the wrongs I'd made all those years ago, and knowing that gave me all the strength I needed to keep fighting and helping everyone, but finding one more life so badly wounded because of me? And that I'd forgotten about him so easily because of how afraid and distant he was. That hurt more than Adagio slamming me into that tree. If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that physical injuries tend to heal quicker than emotional ones, and Radian was still an open wound.”

“You weren't the only one to blame, you have to remember that.”

Sunset nodded. “I know. And knowing he's now forgiven me is a huge weight off my mind. I just hope we can become actual friends. But anyway, let's keep moving.”

The scene progressed faster; Sunset bounced between heading to the bathroom, to making and eating breakfast, to checking her phone repeatedly. The scene slowed a little as Sunset headed to her pet's tank.

Twilight asked, “what's wrong?”

Sunset giggled and said, “nothing. I just miss my gecko. You know, Ray? Since I'd be in Equestria for a few days, I was gonna leave him with Fluttershy. I know she'll look after him, but I wish I knew I'd be here for this much longer.”

“Ray, huh?” Twilight smirked. “Funny coincidence, being your pet and Adagio's nickname for Radian.”

Sunset's giggle grew into a full laugh. “Yeah, I noticed that too! I guess Adagio has more in common with me than I thought.”

Past Sunset asked, “and how's my special little guy today?”

The leopard gecko seemed to smile up at her as she reached in, fussed with him a bit, then fed him some crickets.

She watched him with a loving expression as he crunched on the bugs, then felt her pocket buzz. Someone was calling her.

Sunset answered the phone and put on the loudspeaker. “Hey! Good morning, Wallflower! Thanks for getting back to me.”

“Morning! And no problem, Sunset. How's things?”

“Ah, y'know... magical artefact here, portal there. You? I run through the city park every day and I've gotta say, you're doing a great job with the flower garden!”

Wallflower giggled. “Thanks for noticing! We got a few pictures put in the local paper and an award from the mayor! I'm just still surprised you remember to call me these days. This is, what, the third time in a month? People might start thinking we're actually friends.”

“Hey, you know me! Gotta make up for the reason you almost erased me from everyone's minds.”

Wallflower scoffed. “Okay, fine, stick the knife in some more, why don't you? I get it, already! I sucked.”

“Hey, hey! We both sucked.”

“I guess.”

“Just you a bit more.”

“...”

“Okay, a lot more.”

“Hey!”

“I'm just joshing you! Relax. It's just kinda weighing on my mind a lot at the moment, and at least you've moved on. You're doing great at forgetting the past... it's almost like you've got experience in the field of forgetting stuff.”

Wallflower laughed. “Anyway, what was it you wanted?”

Sunset got her grin under control. “So yeah, I've got a serious request; do you have the old files on our yearbooks from CHS?”

“Sure. After what I did, I kinda like to make sure at least I remember everyone..”

“I feel that,” Sunset said and rubbed the back of her neck. “I wanted to ask about someone... do you remember Radian Wave?”

“Uh. That name rings a bell... wasn't he the guy who used to hang out with Micro Chips and the others? Hold on, I've got the backups on my computer.”

There was the sound of tapping keys. Wallflower hummed an off-key version of 'Get the Show on the Road' by the Rainbooms.

“Here we go... uhh, poor attendance record. And something about a ruined science fair project?... oh.”

Sunset sighed. “Yeah, 'oh,' is right You weren't the only one who had a grudge against me. Is there anything in there about him personality-wise? Like, at all?”

“He helped with a few school events, mainly when it came to electronics. It earned him some extra credit with Principal Celestia. Not much else, I'm afraid.”

“Damn it,” Sunset mumbled. “Well, thanks for checking, Wallflower. I'll talk to you later.”

“No problem! Bye.”

The pair watched past-Sunset fret about some more, then get dressed in a familiar short blue dress, with long leggings, boots and topped with one of her favourite faux-leather jackets, and she stepped out of the apartment. As she did, the hallway beyond shifted into darkness, and Sunset led Twilight through it.

“I figured I'd just retrace my steps back to the cafe I'd hopefully find Radian again,” Sunset said. “I even remember thinking that if he wasn't there, I'd just call it off. He made it pretty clear he didn't want to see me or reconcile, though I still hoped someday I'd get another chance.”

Twilight gave Sunset a worried look, but then a reassuring smile. “I guess you figured that if he didn't come back there, then you at least tried. You can't win every friendship.”

Sunset scraped the floor with her hoof. “I really don't like thinking back on it, but anyway, you wanted to know about my meeting with Adagio.”

They re-emerged from the laundromat on the row of stores, and watched as the Sunset from the memory cross the street away from them.

Sunset sighed as she reached the cafe, looked across at the street to the laundromat and other stores, but saw no sign of Radian.

“Guess it wasn't meant to be,” she sighed, and headed inside for a drink. There was no point making it a wasted trip.

Sunset's heart froze as she saw her. That unmistakable thick mass of orange, poofy hair, streaked with blond. Those sinister dark pink eyes. That spiky purple, black and gold ensemble.

It was Adagio Dazzle, sitting and nursing a coffee as she looked up from a magazine and their eyes met.

Adagio said, wide eyed, “oh. Small world, huh?”

The two ponies climbed onto the table and sat down. Twilight gave Adagio a close look as Sunset looked at her past, human self with a troubled expression.

Sunset folded her arms. “The hell are you doing here?”

Adagio nodded down to her coffee with a sway of her thick hair. “I could ask you the same question. I live near here, after all. You familiar with Dressage Avenue?”

Sunset shook her head and the world slowed for a moment. “Considering the van they lived in while on tour, I guess I wasn't too surprised she lived in the low cost apartments nearby.” She bit her lip and hesitated. “But I think I let my old perceptions rule my words...”

Sunset let the smug flow, and she grinned. “A trashy neighbourhood for an even trashier girl. Very fitting.”

Adagio's brow twitched and a little of that old siren attitude flared up. To her credit though, it was a fleeting ghost of her former smug self as Adagio just rolled her eyes and ignored the jab.

Behind the counter, an older lady squinted at Sunset and said, “trashy neighbourhood, eh? You aimin' to get kicked out there, missy? I suggest you stop harrassin' my customers and buy somethin' or get out.”

That took the wind out of Sunset's sails, but suddenly Adagio called out, “it's alright. Sorry, she's with me.” She focused on Sunset again. “What are you having?”

Sunset's jaw almost dropped, but she narrowed her eyes and asked, “what're you trying to pull?”

Adagio shrugged. “I'm 'pulling' at playing nice. I'd think you of all people would recognise that, Ms. Goodie-Actually-Four-Hooves. Now, seriously, what did you want? I know it's hardly going to cover for... what's happened before, but I've got to start somewhere, right?”

With a quick glance at the menu, and the more expensive items, she ordered, “I'll have a triple shot caramel cappuccino with extra cream, thanks.”

Adagio winced as she tallied up the drink order, then emptied her purse to dig out the exact change and stood. “Take a seat, I'll be back in a sec.” She then headed to the counter.

Sunset did so, but immediately started looking around for Sonata and Aria, but they weren't anywhere to be seen. She then watched Adagio, studying her as she waited for Sunset's drink.

“Compared to how she was back when I last visited the human world,” Twilight said, “and even when we just saw her as a pony, she's so... subdued. I mean, I'm no expert on human expressions and body language, but this is almost the complete opposite of what I'd expect from Adagio Dazzle.”

“Right? I didn't see it then, I just kept expecting her to jump me or something, but she was always bombastic when she wanted to be and subtle when she needed to be. She was so broken here. Or, broken and... I guess on the mend since I guess she had started developing at least some feelings for Radian by this point.”

Sunset scratched her cheek with her hoof, then continued, “let me be clear, though; you have to remember I was right in that she was plotting something. I shouldn't have been on the attack, and obviously we know everything turned out alright, but this was another ploy.”

Adagio returned with the coffee, placed it in front of Sunset and sat back down.

“So how's life been treating you? I see you managed to get out of that time loop thing.”

Sunset paused and thought back for a moment, then asked, “how did you know about that?”

“For one thing, I know you've dabbled in magic a bunch since Twilight stopped your attempt to get back into Equestria. It's what lured me to Canterlot High School to begin with. Secondly, you'd be surprised what Pinkie Pie blabbers on about on her blog.” Adagio smirked as she tapped on her phone, placed it on the table for Sunset to see.

It showed Pinkie's blog from years back, talking about the PostCrush concert at the Starswirled festival, and how she was jealous that Sunset had seen the concert a bunch of times despite there only being one performance that night. Also something about a 'timey wimey, twirly whirly twisty thing.' And... crowbar churros?”

Sunset facepalmed. “Damn it, Pinkie...”

Adagio took her phone back and sighed. “It's fine, I haven't been spreading it around. There's a bunch of things I figured out just watching and listening for magic for an out from this stupid world. Like it seems you can read minds by touch, and your friends can do a bunch of weird stuff like explosive sprinkles and super strength.”

Sunset grumbled, “Pinkie again?”

Adagio gave a weak smile. “Give me some credit. I don't begin and end at my lost powers, and while most people assumed magical flare ups were pyrotechnics, swamp gas and other typical human ignorance as they fail to recognise the obvious, I knew otherwise. Especially when I kept seeing you and your friends appearing in these places, be it in trash sensationalist magazines or even local newspapers.”

That was one thing that Sunset knew was unavoidable. The Rainbooms weren't the biggest band in the world, not the least of which because every member was often busy with their own job or hobby at any given time, but they always got together to perform every so often and had enough clout to play at charity gigs, or be the opening act for larger groups. They also usually used the reunions as an excuse to chase down any magic leaks farther afield than Sunset could risk alone or with only a couple of her friends.

The hardest girl to keep on hand was Rainbow Dash. As the face of the band, she also had her professional and national soccer career to maintain, between training and travelling the world for tournaments, she was always busy.

Sunset realised Adagio was staring and reading her.

With Sunset's attention back on her, Adagio continued, “there's only so many times the Rainbooms can turn up at a venue and have strange things go on before people get wise. I always wondered if I could stumble on some magic of my own by looking into these things myself, but eventually I gave up. Karma, or fate, or whatever it is seems determined to keep me here. Everything was a dead end, so I just knuckled down and tried to get on with life as a human.”

“So, just you, Aria and Sonata in an apartment together?”

“Just me,” Adagio said. Her lips trembled for a split second and she dropped her head so hard Sunset honestly thought she'd been struck by something. “We... had a falling out.”

“Okay, I may not be great at human faces, but that's genuine remorse right there,” Twilight said.

“Yeah, I felt pain in that moment that's what got me to start really listening.”

“Really? What happened?” Sunset was surprised again. Petty and conflictive as they seemed back in CHS, there was an obvious bond between them. There was confusion over whether they were sisters, but Sunset remembered they were billed as such whenever they performed.

Adagio's hair covered her expression as she continued, “Sonata figured out how to actually make good at this 'being normal' thing while I still had my head in the clouds. Hopeful and full of old siren pride that I could power through and make us successful. Or, you know, just be stuck up my own ass apparently. I... lashed out. And once she left, Aria soon followed.”

Sunset paused the memory. “Did you want to see that moment?”

“Please,” Twilight said, “I think it'll be important to everything we know about Adagio's motives.”

Sunset gestured to the cafe door, which opened into the hazy fog of Sonata's memory, and the pair stepped through.

* * *

Sonata's Door

The sun wasn't even up as she walked through Canterlot City's streets, and it was the foggiest fog ever. She felt all sleepy and, like, sad, but Sonata had made up her mind. For realsies this time. No take-backs.

She held the business card of the agent she'd met at the Starswirled festival and squinted at it as she made for the talent agency.

Like, she knew it wouldn't even be open yet, probably, but she'd wait. She couldn't stay in the van any longer. Adagio was really mad at Sonata and just being there seemed to make things worse, and made Aria grumpier and, like, everything was just really crappy after the festival.

Sonata sniffled and admitted it was probably, like, her fault again. If things weren't, like, the worste before, they felt like it now. She wasn't smart enough to do anything right. Without her powers, and outside of singing as the Dazzlings, what good was she to anyone? Maybe this talent agency human could help her learn what she could do to make some money, and she could return to Adagio with it as, like, an apology.

The agent that Sonata talked to at the Starswirled venue, Glitz Rhinestone, seemed to think she had some other talents but talking about it to Dagi made her super mad.

Sonata's phone buzzed. She looked at the screen and saw a message from Adagio.

Where are you?

Sonata ignored it, but after maybe a minute, her phone rang, and she answered.

A sleepy, angry sounding Adagio growled, “what did I just ask you, Sonata?”

“I'm not, like, anywhere yet,” she truthfully replied.

“That's not what I mean and you know it! Where do you think you're going!?”

“I'm going to make some money and I'll be back.”

Adagio snarled, “you're going to that talent agent prick, aren't you? You're picking a human over us!? What the fuck is wrong with you!? Get back here this instant!”

She was scared and almost caved. She tugged her ponytailed blue hair and fretted about what to do.

A lifetime of being the butt of the joke, and she had finally realised why: because she wasn't able to, like, follow along with their plans and made a bunch of mistakes. They would be totally better without her.

“I can't do it, Dagi,” Sonata sniffled. “I'm leaving. I'm no goo-”

Adagio screamed, “the hell do you mean you can't!? You know what!? Fine! Get lost and don't come back!! Fucking traitor! Go get screwed by some human filth! See if I care! Useless bitch! I-”

*Beep*

Sonata ended the call as her eyes blurred from the tears. The one time she was right, and it hurt the most. She was a burden on The Dazzlings.

She heaved with sobs all the way to the talent agency. If anyone saw her, they didn't say anything. She just reached the steps to the building, looked at the 'closed' sign and how it wouldn't be open for three more hours, so she sat down and bawled her eyes out for, like, ever. She didn't even notice when the door opened behind her.

“You alright, kid?”

Sonata leapt to her feet and turned. An old human guy wearing overalls. She couldn't see his expression through the tears.

“No,” Sonata whimpered.

The old man didn't move, but just asked, “has someone attacked you? You want me to call the cops?”

“No,” she replied again, “but I've, like, got nowhere else to go...”

The man grumbled and looked up and down the street, then said, “sheesh, there's no way I can say this without making it sound like I'm a creep, but... you wanna come in? Can't leave a poor little thing like you out here in the cold in your state. I could get you a hot cocoa if you want.”

She was, like, totally surprised at how nice he was being for a human. Old lessons Adagio and Aria had taught her since losing their powers filled her thoughts, about how they're not to be trusted, they were beneath the Dazzlings, and stupid and disgusting, but right then and there, Sonata had no idea what to believe any more.

Sonata nodded and wiped her eyes. “Sure.”

He led her inside and through a few fancy corridors and into some room with a bunch of vending machines, two couches, a radio and a TV. He popped a few coins in one of the machines, pushed a button and the machine whirred and made a bunch of weird hissing and swooshing noises. A carboard cup popped out of the slot and filled up with steamy liquid which totally smelled like the best thing ever. Finally he grabbed one of those little plastic flat spoony things and a packet of sugar and placed them in front of her.

“There ya go. Anyone I can call for you, kid?”

Sonata shook her head, then suddenly said, “um... kinda? I was given this.” She fished out the talent agent's business card and handed it over, tore open the sugar packet, poured it in the cocoa and stirred.

The man seemed surprised. “Well, that's a hell of a thing. Sure, Mr. Rhinestone works here, he's my boss. He'll be here in a few hours in fact. You're welcome to stay here while I go finish cleaning.”

Sonata nodded and managed a smile. “Like, thanks. For realsies.” She took a sip of the cocoa.

It was, like, the best thing ever.

Maybe humans weren't so bad after all...

“Um,” Sonata uttered and stood. “Can I, like, help? I'll get bored otherwise?”

“I don't know if the boss would want me making a budding starlet mopping the floors.”

Sonata giggled, “I'm totally an expert at cleaning the old tour-bus! I had, like, so much practice because my sisters wouldn't do it! Lemme try!”

The janitor smirked and shrugged. “I ain't gonna say no.”

Sunset paused the scene. “That's the long and short of it. It's kind of a blur until that Rhinestone guy appears, he makes good on his offer of giving Sonata a position as a singing voice for a few promotional songs for this cartoon, The Guardians of Gale Glade? Rhinestone even lets her stay at the office for a few days until Sonata seriously impresses with her work ethic. We're talking she was there, all day, doing chores on top of everything they asked of her. She soon landed a leading role on that cartoon as a villain turned good guy, a kinda stuck up and pompous but well meaning rabbit. She still sings for a lot of the other characters. Sonata's got some serious vocal range.”

Twilight smiled at Sonata's temporally frozen form. “She always seemed the least dangerous of the three. I guess she was made for that role as well.”

“Yeah, not harmless by any stretch of the word,” Sunset said and sat beside Sonata. “But if you needed proof the sirens were more than just the bad guys, she was the first to prove it. Even to the point that she put so much work in that they forwarded her enough cash to rent an apartment. Adagio never called her back and, knowing what I do now, she assumed Sonata would be the one to call her first and was too stubborn to make the first move. Instead she just let her resentment stew until Radian inspired her to patch things up if I had to guess. A lot of her attitudes change the longer he stuck around her.”

Twilight ears flattened down and she looked upset. “I can't believe Adagio would attack her own sister like that. They fought, sure, but they seemed so unified. I actually feel a little guilty for breaking their gems.”

“Eh, maybe a little?” Sunset shrugged, but then pouted. “I still feel a lot of satisfaction over stopping them before they took over the school. I can't even believe how much pleasure I felt when I saw them living in a crappy van and playing smaller gigs on the road, and even more seeing Adagio alone and moping. I can't say she didn't deserve some humble pie to go with her coffee, though.”

Twilight tapped a hoof on her chin in thought for a moment. “So, we know the breakup was definitely not just a small thing, but a genuine shattering of their group. What about Aria? I think you mentioned she also left?”

Sunset sighed. “Yeah, the very next day after Sonata left, apparently. Far less drama; Aria apparently shut off her phone and just left while Adagio was asleep. She stayed in music, joined a couple of bands before settling on this little group called Salt-Lix. They weren't very good, except for Aria herself; they taught her to play the guitar and, like Sonata, she absolutely ruled with that thing by dedicating herself to mastering how to play.”

“I guess there's something to the sirens that still carries on through as humans. They were born to perform.”

“Like you wouldn't believe! People would turn up just to see Aria thrash her guitar and ignore the others. The band got jealous and kicked her out and, while she could have made a go of a solo act, they didn't pay her and she was homeless. Aria had no choice but to get back with Sonata to help get back on her feet.”

Twilight smiled at the siren beside her. “Heh... okay, Sonata wasn't just the most harmless, she's seems to be a genuinely good person when given a chance.”

“Yep, even if it's out of familial bonds, empathy is empathy. Aria even mellowed out a little. Apparently she was still at odds with humans as a whole, but Sonata kept her in check. The grump played music for the show and even voiced a side character.”

After a few more moments of contemplation, Twilight asked, “alright, that was informative. Shall we get back to the cafe?”

“Yep!”

The janitor walked out the staff-room with Sonata and into the void, and the pair closely followed.

* * *

Sunset's Door

Adagio's voice faded back in, “... or, you know, stuck up my own ass apparently. I... lashed out. And once she left, Aria soon followed, and I can't blame either of them.”.”

Sunset sipped her coffee. It was overly sweet but she didn't care too much. She was more surprised at what she'd just heard. She felt bad for Adagio, who idly swirled her coffee as her shoulders remained sagged.

“I'm sorry to hear that. What have you been up to in the meanwhile?”

Adagio straightened up and took a deep breath. “I took what cash I'd saved from our gigs and tried to run a bar, but that didn't exactly work out.”

Sunset's old snarky side reared its ugly head. “Lemme guess, you hated the customers too much to serve them?” Sunset took a longer drink of her coffee, half expecting some cattiness back

Yet Adagio didn't snap an angry glare. She didn't grit her teeth or scoff in disgust. She just closed her eyes and sighed. “I've... come to terms with living here in that respect. You could say I've turned a corner.” She smiled a soft and whimsical smile. “And... I've got a boyfriend.”

Sunset spat out her coffee. “What!?”

“Ew.” Adagio grimaced, took out a tissue and wiped some caramel cappuccino off her face. “Look, I know you're not going to believe me, but it's the truth. You win, Sunset. At last. Which is why I want to make peace with you. Maybe have a do-over?”

Sunset blinked and stammered for a few moments. “A do-over? I- I don't know...”

Adagio finished her coffee and, while still smiling gently, seemed contemplative. “I don't have anyone else, and I want at least some link back to my home. Just as I'm sure you did when you first came over to this world. You understand what and where we came from. I need to start building bridges instead of burning them.” She turned sombre again. “I'll understand if you don't want to trust me. I probably don't deserve your forgiveness for what I did, but you can ask my boyfriend. I'm not a siren any more. I'm... just a girl. A homesick one who's desperate for some link to where she came from.”

“If you're being one hundred percent honest,” Sunset said and studied Adagio closer. “And if you're in an honest relationship with this guy, and he's not some lackey, I'd... honestly love to make peace. Maybe even make friends? Can I meet him?”

Adagio smiled at her. “Sure. Let's get going then. It's not far.”

The pair stood, Sunset quickly gulped down her coffee, retched a little at the Pinkie-levels of sweetness, and they left for Adagio's apartment.

Part 4: Dark Nights, but a Dazzling Dawn (Ending)

Part 4: Dark Nights, but a Dazzling Dawn

“Obviously it wasn't the first time I'd been in Adagio's head,” Sunset said, and eyed Adagio's dark doorway with a sad expression.

Twilight tried to remember to what Sunset referred, and her ears pricked up as it came back.

“Oh, the music festival?”

“Yeah. I was more focused on my own problems with the time loop. Also I didn't have the skill with my empathy powers I do now. This latest time was... unlike anything I'd ever seen.”

“I'm assuming it's not just a siren thing? You didn't seem fazed by Sonata's mind.”

Sunset nibbled on the nail of her thumb for a moment. “I think Sonata's adaption to human life has enclosed her former thoughts. That or... look, I don't mean to be an jerk about it, but Sonata's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.”

Twilight scowled. “You should know better than to think like that, Sunset. She may lack conventional book-smarts, but she clearly has a maturity that has let her succeed in a normal life, plus she's a passionate creator and artist.”

Sunset sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Right, sorry... I'm getting tired, and a little crabby, even here.”

“Normally I'd say 'I told you so,' and insist we resume tomorrow, but first I suspect my words would once again fall on deaf ears, and even you must admit we're close to the end here. Do you feel up to one last dip into your memories?”

“For you, Twilight? Of course,” Sunset said and stretched. “If I start blanking out, just... poke me or something.”

Tou-h me.

H-ld -e

-ake m- you-s.

That static voice again...

Twilight didn't bring any attention to it this time. She was fairly certain what was going on now; Sunset's subconscious mind was breaking through this 'conscious dreaming' state Sunset used to review memories. At this point Twilight wanted to see this through, both for the final facts she could learn about Adagio, but also dig deeper into Sunset's thoughts. Why she was so insistent on pushing on even as fatigue and her injuries were making it harder for her to maintain focus.

“Let's get to it,” she said. “I want to see the changes in Adagio as things progressed.”

Sunset nodded. Adagio's gloomy door opened, and they entered.

* * *

Adagio's Door

I dreamed of it again. That life. That beautiful, horrible life. Freedom to act and be as I so desired, whilst being desired by the lesser beings. To soar through the skies, dive the depths of the ocean, to be mistress of all I survey, with nothing to oppose me.

Or.. us, I suppose.

To know this feeling, to understand the gravity of being a siren, is to suffer now, to fall from such lofty highs is a curse that no pathetic human can understand.

I am cursed. That's the only way to describe it. Abandoned by my sisters, my powers, my own damn will to even get out of bed.

“I see what you mean by that sense of ego,” Twilight said. “Even now, she holds onto it.”

“You can take the pride out of a girl, but you'll never take the siren out of her I guess.”

My phone rings. Bar Spoon. Tolerable, as humans go. Unassuming, normally obedient. Rich family, yet seems content to run the bar in my place.

I sigh and answer, “what?”

“Sorry to call you this early boss, but you haven't been in recently. Everything okay?”

“None of your business.”

“Huh. Well, all the same, boss, we've got enough to resupply again, but the profit margin is... bleak.”

I sit up and growl. “So you're just calling me to state the obvious? Stop wasting my time.”

“It's that and I've got a thing tonight. You promised you'd cover the bar.”

Fuck. I did, didn't I?

“Yeah, well, I'm your boss, so how about you ignore your 'thing' and do as I tell you? You're closing, that's final.”

He sighed. “I figured you'd say that, so I've got a counteroffer. Look, I don't know what suddenly got into you, boss, but I've gotta go to this thing, and if you won't cover the bar, I'm quitting.”

Story of my damn life. Everything's leaving me. The problem is, the bar's the only thing keeping me afloat.

For the millionth time since that day with that bearded asshole pony, like the absolute loser that I am, I concede defeat.

“Alright, fine! I'll come in!” I end the call.

The gravity of what I just agreed to sinks in, but I force myself to ignore it. I climb out of bed and head into the bathroom, then look in the mirror.

I can see the fading bruise even through my gold skin. The remnants of the black eye I've been nursing for the last couple of weeks since that night.

“Just get going, Adagio,” I say to the human in the mirror. She's pathetic, and I shouldn't be her. But what choice do I have?

I shower, get dressed, put on... less makeup than I'd like (it's getting expensive to put on my war-paint in full), collect my bag and check for the taser I'd ordered. It works, it makes a nice satisfying crackle when I press the button. I feel a little safer holding it. I then head for the door, unlock the safety bolt, and...

My blood's run as cold as the ocean depths I once called home. I freeze in the fear that should be within the hearts of those I prey upon. I sweat and shiver like a coward. My teeth chatter.

This weakness. This is humanity. I'm... human.

So very human.

“No. You're a siren, Adagio! Grab the damn door handle!”

I grab it.

“Turn it!”

I obey.

No, don't! There could be someone out there! You're a human. You're vulnerable and weak.

My hand shakes so hard the knob rattles in my hand. I grab the taser in my bag and clench my jaw.

“Coward,” I hiss at myself. “Open the door and get out there!”

The leaden door handle takes all the strength of a siren to turn. That's right. I'm that strong.

Outside, the corridor is smothered in the usual filth. I step outside. I flinch at the clack of my heeled boots on the carpet that's taken so much crap and abuse it's welded to the floor by the filth. I keep looking behind me in case someone's approaching me again.

Never again. I pull out the taser and push the button. Just in case it's broken in the last few seconds. It still works.

I'm pathetic...

Adagio walked down the corridor, gradually moving quicker as she reached the stairs and out of sight.

“She heads to the bar and it seems like a pretty normal day,” Sunset said. “But this is the first time she avoids that alleyway we passed by earlier in my memories. When she looks at that narrow gap between the buildings, it's like staring into a chasm if you're afraid of heights. A weird sense of vertigo, or that it'll pull her in.”

“Understandable trauma, that's for sure. Like you said, she may have made her bed by alienating her sisters and sticking to her siren mindset by considering everypony else beneath her, but all it did was make her vulnerable to this. I still feel sorry for her. Even if she hadn't changed, I still would have offered a hoof in solidarity, even if she would refuse it.”

Sunset shrugged. “Karma's a bitch, that's the truth.”

Twilight huffed. “... if you want to call it that, then so be it, but the twists and turns of fate cannot be understated. Adagio needed to hit this low to understand just how much stronger she has become by accepting love and tolerance into her heart.”

“On that note,” Sunset said and followed Adagio. “Let's move to the next memory.”

As they reached the stairwell door, the inside instead opened to a messy, broken down bar. Shady types filled it, all drinking and quietly talking to one another in hushed tones.

Twilight looked around and wrinkled her snout. “I'm guessing this is Adagio's former establishment? It's... certainly as expected for a failing business.”

Sunset led the way inside and hopped onto a stool, then the bar.

Twilight leapt and flapped her wings once, making the jump in one go.

At the far end was Adagio. She slugged down a drink, shoved the empty glass into a gathering of its empty brethren, and sighed so hard and heavy Twilight swear she saw alcohol fumes blow from her mouth as she stared at her cellphone.

“So, when is this?” she asked.

“You'll see.”

The door opens but I don't pay it any mind. Street Tough, my hired muscle for the usual assholes who come to my bar to have a fight, gives the new guy a stare, but nothing's said.

It's probably just someone who's car broke down around the corner and they're looking for a phone or some shit.

Does that even happen any more? I still remember a time when it did, back when we used to watch TV at the orphanage and the usual sitcoms and other human refuse that counts as entertainment was on the flickery, faded and bulbous screen and mono-speaker. Back when I didn't even know what I was besides the strange, persistent dreams of flight, talking horses and magic. It was also back in the era of those giant-ass bricks people used to make phone calls, an exclusive right for the high-strung business elites. I marvel at the high definition screen, internet access and absolute freedom of talking to whoever the hell I want from my smart phone and any amusement I find about the progress of technology is lost on the depths of my sour mood.

The booze helps, but for some reason it, like most intoxicants doesn't affect me as much as a human. Small victory, I guess. Or a crappy one. Everything's cursed. I can't even get drunk on the cheap to forget about how awful things are.

“Orphanage, huh?” Twilight tilted her head at Adagio. “Did you get to see that far back?”

“Nah,” Sunset said with a raised hoof and a shrug. “Unfortunately I wasn't given long enough to dig that deep before my spell was broken by Radian's device.”

“That's a shame. I would have liked to have seen Adagio back then. The time dilation of the banishment we know about, but we still don't really know how long the sirens have been in the human world.”

“Old enough to remember ye olden timey tube TV's and O.G. cellphones. That makes her decades old at least, and definitely older than she looks.”

The new figure approaches the bar and quietly asks for a beer and whatever I was drinking. Bar Spoon tells him it's called a Siren's Sorrow, which was just what I called it as a stronger version of a Maneland iced tea cocktail. It's not cheap, either, and he has to pick through his change to pay for the drinks. He's definitely here for me. Interesting.

Well, not that interesting. It's either a fan or a stalker. Either way, I glance at the taser in my bag as the guy approaches, then sits on the stool beside me. I keep focused on my phone.

The guy places the glass in front of me. I bring it closer. No sense letting it go to waste, but I tell him plain.

“Not interested. Get lost.”

He mumbles and stammers quietly to himself as he glances around, unsure what to do.

I hope he'll take the hint.

He then takes a deep breath and sips his beer. He relaxes, as if he's only recently become confident and is trying to break in the new mannerisms.

He says, “how can you tell you're not interested when I haven't told you why I'm here?”

Damn it. So much for just gliding through this crappy day.

I toss my phone on the counter and give him a look. Street Tough also slowly approaches until he's looming over the geek.

He's a skinny, forgettable looking guy. Green hair, yellow stripes, cut short and messy. He looks too young to be at a bar, but also burdened with something, a level of cynicism, that belies a human slapped with how lousy life can be, so he's probably in his early twenties. He's wearing a warm but plain jacket, a buttoned shirt and pants that look like they're part of a uniform for an office job or something... there's a logo on his breast pocket but for what, I can't be sure.

I then notice a roll of paper sticking out of his pocket. One of the posters we had printed for the Starswirled music festival from years back.

I grab his offered drink and gulp it down to help ease my desire to vomit from being this close to a new human.

“No autographs.” I smirk as I anticipate him shrinking away as I add, “you can have Street Tough's, if you want.”

The geek looks at the mirror behind the bar, then gulps as he notices Street Tough's reflection.

I'm surprised as he recovers, focuses again and asks, “why do you think I want an autograph?”

I squint at him. “Because of the poster sticking out of your pants, moron. And that better be the only thing sticking up down there, or I'll once again direct you to my friend, Mr. Tough.”

Like the well trained dog that he is, Mr. Tough cracks his knuckles and is ready for my command.

I go for the coup-de-grace. “And if you plan to leave and follow me later, I'm perfectly prepared.” I take out my taser and push the button. It snaps in time with the geek's flinching brow.

“You heard the lady,” Street growls.

That should get rid of the freak.

But no. He carries on, “I'm here to help you! Or... I need your help, I guess. Both! See, I'm trying to harness Equestrian magic and-”

Equestrian magic.

Equestrian. Fucking. Magic!?

This prick isn't just getting in my space, but he's flat out mocking me about even talking about the one thing I can never have again!?

I grit my teeth and hiss, “get out!”

Tough follows my words and grabs the asshole by the collar, but the geek's still trying. He's determined, that's for sure.

He takes out his phone, a weird model that doesn't look like any phone I've seen before. He rapidly taps the screen a few times and throws it onto the bar as Tough pulls him from the stool. The geek hits the floor at the same time as the stool, and Street Tough's on him before this ass can recover.

I look at the phone and, for one panicked moment, I swear it's a makeshift bomb or something. It's covered in odd pieces of electronics, diodes and whatever else. But it isn't what it looks like that shocks the the most.

I see it! Faint waves of light emerging from the components sticking out the cellphone.

Then I feel it.

Equestrian magic. It washes over me like a cool breeze on a summer's day. Or diving into the ocean after a few days hunting for conflict in arid Saddle Arabia. I feel a little bit more whole for the first time since I was broken. I'd almost forgotten the feeling...

I hear the whooping and hollering of the clients watching Street Tough as picks the geek up and gets ready to throw him out.

He said he wanted to help. And he could actually manipulate magic. Could he really help me?

I doubt it, but I want answers. I want to know how he's able to harness magic like this. Maybe so I can steal it and use it to my own ends, but this phone isn't going to last by the looks of it. The thing smells of burnt solder, plastic and rubber, and the exposed parts are starting to glow red from the heat.

I carefully clutch the phone and call out, “wait!”

Everyone calms down, Street stops and turns, and the geek looks like a deer in the headlights as he stares pleadingly at me.

“Boss?” Street says and asks for the final word. Good boy.

I look at the phone again. Magic bent to my will, even by a human-made device...

I demand, “how? How is this phone giving off magic? Just who are you?”

“My name is Radian Wave,” he says, still pathetically huddled in Street's arms. “I'm a scientist. And I think I can give you your powers back.”

So he's interesting after all.

I pick up the toppled stool, nod to Street Tough and gesture for Radian to sit.

“Explain. Now.”

The scene muted as Radian talked and gestured with his arms about his process.

Adagio watched with rapt attention.

Sunset said, “so he did. He explained it in minute detail. The way he discovered magic the same way as many of Canterlot High School's students did, with me stealing your crown, and my Twilight tearing the veil between our worlds even worse when she became corrupted by the magic she stole with her device. He then goes over his plan to use Adagio help, as someone still sensitive to magic, to help him create and tune the device you now own, and the one more purpose built for powering electronics that you saw in Adagio's apartment.”

“So we know this part,” Twilight added with a nod, “shall we move back to the apartment and continue with Adagio's thoughts throughout Radian's stay?”

Sunset gave Adagio a long, concerned look. “Actually, there's one last thing I wanted to cover. It goes back to Adagio's reaction to the alleyway.”

“As you wish.”

The scene returned after some back and forth with Adagio and Radian.

Radian scratches his neck. “There's just one problem.”

“Oh, here we go,” I groan. I know what he's going to ask before he says it, and I become painfully aware of how quickly I've sobered up over his explanation of what he wanted to do, but my sobriety and his machine both had the same solution.

Money.

“I'm broke,” he says, predictably, “and I can't afford the parts for the more specialised, focused machines. I spent most of my cash building a version of my phone that didn't catch fire... or explode.”

I loathe stating the obvious, but for a smart guy, he sure is stupid. I can't help but laugh.

“Do I look flush with cash? I'll give you a moment, Mr. Scientist, in case the trashy bar doesn't clue you in.”

He glances around my crappy bar, then bites his lip. “Oh. Yeah. I hadn't thought of that.”

“I sank everything I have into this dump. I even had the great idea to turn it into a trendy jazz club or some pretentious cocktail bar to squeeze more cash out of rich idiots, but no. My funds dried up long before I could even start making the necessary changes.” I don't know why I spilled the beans. I guess to hope this asshole would leave me to my misery, only reciting it all just made me feel even worse.

I sigh hard and heavy. I can't even keep myself upright as I lean on the bar. “Story of my life, one failure after another. Everything I do turns to ruin, and what little I have left is tied to this place.”

“Well, maybe we could-”

I slap the bar and growl, “there is no we, idiot!”

With that, I'm so done for the day. I just want to hide.

“Just... get out, I say and stand. “I don't care enough to have you thrown out any more.” It would probably just cost money anyway. Money I don't have, nor will I ever have. “I'm going to go and see if I can balance the books...”

Radian whispers, “balance the books?”

He sounds confused. Not in a way that evokes misunderstanding at what I said, but rather why I said it.

“Watch carefully,” Sunset says.

“Yes, Radian, it's a little thing called living life. All this magic nonsense doesn't mean a thing here, not when there's bills and employees to pay and-”

He slams his fists on the bar, and my heart practically stops.

I'm about to be attacked!

I start backing away.

Please, no!

No! NO!

Not again!

Anything.

Someone, please help me!

He... isn't swinging at me?

I swallow down the panic as he just stares at his fists for a moment.

Twilight's lips trembled for a split second. “Poor Adagio...”

“That isn't the only time either,” Sunset said and pawed the bar with her hoof as her head dropped low. “Just to get it out of the way, there's a moment later where she also has another close-call panic attack, and again related to Radian losing his temper.”

“Some sort of squabble between them?”

“Not exactly,” Sunset lowered her head even farther. “When I first met Radian at the cafe, he returned home so angry at the reawakened hatred he felt for me, he wanted to find where I lived and planned to... I don't know, either attack me or break into my home to find where the Equestrian portal was, or any information about it. He was becoming more confident in what he could do, and he snapped at Adagio over the matter when she suggested keeping away from me. She at least recognised I could be a threat, and that something that overt would lead me to investigate back and become a threat to her since she knew I had access to magic. These are the only two times Radian's ever done that to her. Otherwise, he's so eager to please her.”

“A former fan, and an enemy of an enemy working together,” Twilight said, recalling the what Sunset had told her about his early days in Canterlot High School. “I can see why you were constantly getting conflictive information about whether to help them or not. They both have redeeming qualities at these points, just as they both have goals to work against us.”

Sunset stood upright but still looked disheartened. “That's the long and short of it, sure. As for how Adagio came around?”

The scene resumed.

“You know what?” Radian said, stood and scowled as my heart continued to race. “I gave up everything to chase up a dream I've had since school. Home life and CHS chewed me up and spat me out. I pushed myself as hard as I could to try and make myself something professionally, only to get ground up as some goddamn nobody, working in a side-lab on bullshit! I've had to give up everything I had just to prove my theories! I've sacrificed everything for this! I'm screwed if we can't work this out.”

He's not attacking... okay. I force myself to calm. Street Tough remains nearby and I reform my plan if he gets closer. My taser is within reach, but I still want to get out of here.

I take a short breath and shrug. “Not my problem.” I try to head for the back room so I can fully collect myself.

Then he grabs my shoulder. I reach for my taser and Street Tough approaches.

But the look Radian's got in his eyes. There's a fire in there that's so not what I expected from a skinny geek. And it's not rage at me, but... something else.

Something more. Admiration. Like he sees me as something else, something forgotten and dead, yet he's trying to make me understand. To poke at the embers of what I used to be.

“You just don't know what you are. You've forgotten. You're Adagio Dazzle! A siren! You almost ran Canterlot High and would have run the whole damn world!”

But I'm not a siren any more, am I? I'm just a human. Able to be taken down both like a human, by a human.

But the fervor of his voice. The focus and determination of his gaze. This goes beyond just wanting funds for some machine. Far, far beyond it. I feel a flicker of something inside me.

A gentle flame of my very own.

Left in the gap from my siren stone.

Tender, gentle but promise-filled.

And this soul from it's been instilled.

Did... I just... start forming a song?

Forget it. I need to focus. I don't... I don't know what this feeling is any more. It's not me. Not the me in the now.

I ask, “you know what I am- what I was, and you still want to help me? Why would you do that? Are you crazy!?”

His eyes bug out. He throws his arms up and he screams, “YES!! I'm certifiable! I took my whole life, my engineering PhD, my whole career as a scientist and burned it all for you! You're a goddess, and it's time you remembered that! To hell with 'balancing the books!' You're Adagio Dazzle! It's our time, you just need to believe in me!”

I freeze. Or... the opposite? I feel warm. Hot, and not in a sexual way.

Well, maybe, but... damn it, I'm confused!

That speech! That passion! I used to feel that. It's like he has that spark. Something deep and mighty, an overwhelming force of prowess, and knowing what you're capable of.

Like a siren should be. A self-assuredness that nothing else can topple. The embers spark, and smoulder. I feel a fire.

I... wait.

I snap to. Radian's being taken away by Street Tough after I didn't respond to his...

Seriously, what was all that?

He was worshipping me!

And the other assholes in the bar are laughing at him.

No. They're laughing at me!

I grab an empty glass and throw it at the nearest asshole. It shatters on his dumb, gawping face and slashes his cheek and brow. Then the shrapnel makes others behind him duck and cover.

The hell did I just do?

No, not throwing the glass.

I'm smiling.

Really smiling! That old, familiar grin for when things are going my way. I feel strong. And I don't need this hellhole any damn longer! I'm ready to fly again!

I point my finger, and announce, “everyone, get the hell out of my bar!”

One of the scum storms up to me. No doubt a friend of the dick I just hit with my glass. I snatch up my taser and let him get nice and close.

“What the hell do you think you're doing, you crazy bit-”

I stab him with the taser, right in the neck. I watch him convulse and gibber as his muscles contract and he loses control. It's hilarious.

Once he hits the floor like the filth he is, I get ready for any more challengers, and scream, “I said get out!! We're closed! Forever!”

“I'd be lying if I said it was the most hopeful way to recover her fire,” Twilight said as the patrons left (or were forced out by Street Tough) and Adagio just bemusedly looked around the place. “But it's hard for me not to feel happy for her finding a purpose again. And to inspire her to start thinking in musical lyrics like that?”

“Yep!” Sunset chuckled. “I know humans get it as well, but a real Equestrian native always has that capacity inside them to sing. That and it goes to show that, despite relying on their stones, the sirens knew music. They just hadn't relied on their own talents before the Battle of the Bands.”

Satisfied, Twilight smiled and asked, “so, what's next?”

“Obviously, this being Adagio, while he kicked her butt back into gear, it didn't take long for her to start to factor him into being a tool. A useful tool, and one she didn't want to discard, but... well, you'll see. For now, Adagio sold the bar and assets, paid off her the loan and it left her with enough for Radian's components and a little grocery money, but that's it.”

Adagio walked into the backroom to make some phone calls as she liquidated the bar, and the pair followed, and found themselves in Adagio's bedroom. Lots of pink helped illuminate the room from the small ray of sunlight coming in from the first signs of dawn, and the room was much nicer compared to the rest of the apartment.

Two figures filled the king sized bed, snuggled under the covers. A large mass of messy orange hair came into view as Adagio sat up.

“How long was this after the meeting at the bar?”

“I think two days? They had started to trust each other, but between Radian's mishaps with getting his device working properly and misunderstanding how Adagio's body would respond to magic being blasted at her, things were progressing steadily. Radian was working on the project, Adagio was briefing him on what she knew about magic and Equestria. This was the next big step, though.”

I hate that I enjoyed that as much as I did. I know I could have 'scratched the itch' alone, like the first time, but it's more fun with two people. That and it'll solidify his reliance on me. It may seem pathetic, but I'm only human.

I look over at Radian. He's still sleeping. I was his first.

It wasn't mine. I didn't really care about what humans looked like, they all kinda blurred together, so I'd had casual flings before. Teenage boys and the occasional girl when I was biologically one myself, especially as I came into my powers as a siren. I could sway people to listen to me and give me what I wanted. Money, pleasure, things... whatever I wanted, all I needed to do was ask sweetly and people would melt.

But they meant nothing. I'm sure people would judge me for that, but I always considered my body to be... well, not me. It was a temporary form, and that once me and my sisters had recovered out powers, we'd be back in Equestria and forget all this as a bad dream, or at least rule here and nobody would be able to say a thing against us.

Things changed when we became indisputably human. I hadn't slept with anyone since losing my powers. Suddenly this body felt more sacred in a way. Final and all I was, and ever would be.

When I wrote 'Find the Magic,' it was partially from that revelation, to hold certain things closer and enjoy the little things, since that was all that mattered. Sure, the song was also made to make money and keep the Dazzlings in the public sphere and, yes, me and my sisters still hadn't fully honed our voices and had to just sing a handful of lines well enough to repeat them and auto-tune them with Reincloud, but we were acclimatising to human life.

I was in denial though. Aria was as well, but Sonata was increasingly eager to... please humans for a better life. I certainly wouldn't put it past her.

Twilight grimaced, but Sunset reminded her, “this was before she came around.”

“I know. It still hurts to witness this side of Adagio; to think so low of her own sister like that.”

“From what I could gather, the sirens just had a hedonistic side that they gladly explored. They had flings when they were growing used to the biologically human selves, what with the hormones and all, but even Sonata hadn't sunk so low as to trade sex for favours. The people at that talent agency she joined were stand-up people, who looked after her, and she worked her ass of for them in return.”

I smirk to myself. Oh, sure thing, Adagio! Sonata's the desperate one. I think this while I'm sitting in bed with a guy I've known for a couple of days, and screwing him to keep him on my side.

It's the pragmatic approach. I doubt he can restore my powers, as his experiments have failed to restore what it is to be a siren. I need my stone for that after all. Still, it was fun while I had hope. I'd forgotten what it felt like. Besides, he ran into Sunset; there's a chance she and her annoying friends might find a way to lure him over to their side. This is strategic.

From my bedside drawer, I take out a small decorative box. My old heart. My siren stone. Once the core of my power, as part of me as my hooves or fins. It's still missing pieces and cracked. Still inert and dull, but I still feel a little comfort holding it again. But it will never fuel my songs again.

So no, while Ray... Radian can manipulate magic, I decide it's time to drop the pipe dream. That's not to say it's not worth chasing up on his energy conversion device. If he can make me some money, I can leave him.

I can leave him... can't I?

Sure. Sure I can. I'll take my share of the cash, he'll be rich enough to follow his own dreams. I owe him that much for letting me feel magic-

No... feel hope again. Once upon a time I would just use him and leave him, but-

“Good morning.”

I gasp and quickly return my stone to its resting place, then look at him.

I... find myself smiling. It feels right.

“Hey,” I reply, and stand up. I grab something to put on. An old merch t-shirt and my panties from last night. Feeling a bit more presentable, I ask, “you sleep well?”

Radian smirks and says, “like you wouldn't believe.” The smile changes, becomes more sincere, as he thinks on our night together and he nods to himself. “About last night. Thank you.”

Those teens thinking they'd hit gold came back to me, and I turn around with a a dismissive huff. I remember the bragging, before I told these early jerks to get lost as I left with their cash or I took some embarrassing photos to manipulate them into giving me things.

What was this feeling? Was it because of how I now considered my body as more... me than before? That Radian thanking me for giving of myself, rather than acting smug, means something else?

No. It can't be. He's just more polite than most.

I smirk over my shoulder and reply, “like I said, it was convenient. And more fun than going solo.”

He sits up and gives me this... weird, warm look. “Be that as it may, it meant a lot to me. I won't forget it. Ever.”

The hell is wrong with my heart? It felt... puffy for a second. Floaty. I can't keep looking at him, nor can I think of what to say.

It was convenient. That was all. I had to keep reminding myself this, and he needs to drop this attempt in making me what I used to be. The idiot girl who failed over, and over, and over again.

After calming myself, I face him again and say, “listen, Ray. You know what I am. Or was, I guess.”

He stops that weird smile and answers, “a siren. I don't really know much beyond that, or even what that truly means.”

“We were one of the greatest threats to Equestria. We roamed, sowed disharmony and strife, we fed and demanded attention. Simple as that.” I pace back and forth, but keep looking at him. I need to see his expression. “We were beasts. Intelligent beasts, but beasts nonetheless. We had no grand goal or moral principles; we desired to feed, and we wanted the pathetic ponies to worship us.”

I feel homesick talking about this, and can't hold back the sigh. I need to see the sky, so I head to the window before continuing.

“It wasn't until the gathering of the greatest of Equestria's heroes that we were bested. Even then, all they managed to do was banish us here, to this world.”

“How long ago was this?”

Typical nerd. It's all about the details. Yet I can respect that; the details are ammunition when it comes to manipulating people, and I can't help but chuckle as I realise we share some common ground.

“Isn't that the trick? I have no idea. What I do know is that we sirens, me and my bandmates... no.” I can't call them that. Despite everything, it feels dishonest. I don't know what's wrong, but just trying to distance myself from them like that makes me feel like I'm going to cry.

I correct myself and continue, “me and my sisters are older than we appear. I don't remember when or where we appeared in this world, and at the time, we'd forgotten everything about what we were, but I remember we went through several foster homes and orphanages. We were younger, at least physically. Maybe ten years old or so? I remember no matter where we ended up, little fights and building resentment had us moved from place to place.”

“Are you biological sisters?”

Again with the facts...

“I don't remember that either. Maybe?”

I pause and try to think back, but as it's always been, it's fruitless. Even as Aria, Sonata and I finally restored our powers at the Battle of the Bands, no grand revelation came to us. Maybe it was because we didn't have a chance to contemplate our history before those insipid Rainbooms defeated us, but that's far fetched. It was also beside the point.

I shake my head. “It doesn't matter. We've been together for as long as I remember, so Aria and Sonata are my sisters, and that's that. Biology has nothing to do with it.”

He keeps quiet, so I carry on with my story.

“It came to me last night as I slept. Certain things both here and back in Equestria ring so very similar. I suspect we were just as clueless and driven by instinct as infant sirens, considering how easily we just continued the same behaviour as we grew bigger, stronger and smarter. I remember, when we were juvenile, potent yet still vulnerable, that we would have to coerce our way into villages and towns to let us close enough to use our powers to feed, offering to sing and just let the little ponies enjoy themselves.”

They almost feel like good times, but were they really?

“Later, we could go where we wanted, when we wanted, and do as we pleased. That was our first mistake; our dauntless pride in our powers, once more the source of our failure, just like when we reached our full power at the Battle of the Bands back in Canterlot High.”

That should deter him. He seemed convinced to want to help me when we were back in Canterlot High School, but knowing what I truly am must make him doubt this as well.

Instead, Radian's looking at me, and occasionally off to the side as he considers what I've just told him, but he doesn't seem deterred.

So I head back to my bedside cabinet and take out the box with my siren stone. This time I feel vulnerable, for what I'm even thinking of doing by taking it out in front of someone else.

“My point is that you deserve to know what we are, so there are no doubts. What you stand to unleash if you succeed. For years now, I had given up on even thinking about these memories. I was truly just... adrift, living life as just another human. Until I met you.”

Oh crap. Did I just say that?

He gets a dopey, enamoured look on his face.

I scowl and say, “ugh, don't look at me like that. It's like a lovesick puppy. I'm not about to start fawning over you and whispering sweet, tender nothings in your ear, you creep.”

And now he looks broken.

I sigh as I realise I went too far. I need him compliant and grounded, not crushed.

“And don't go looking all depressed either. I've nothing but contempt for humanity, but... I suppose I like you. Enough, anyway. You're clever, competent and driven. I wouldn't have slept with you if I didn't respect you. But that's beside the point. I need to ask you something.”

He seems satisfied. Time to stick a pin in the situation. Finalise the deal.

I sit next to him on the bed and ask, “you're getting close to being able to finish your main machine, right?”

“There's a couple of parts left, but they'll arrive by the time I need them.” He looks to the side and his eyes dance and dart about, like he normally did when working on his machine; he's working something out. He then nods and continues, “I just need to finish putting it together, test it can produce the power I believe it can, and we can start looking for a buyer. And if we can get your powers back, that will be substantially easier.”

I smirk. I can't help but like his attention to detail. “Right, because I can just tell someone to buy it. It's far easier if there's an actual desire fulfilled too.”

That's a pragmatic way to look at it. I can respect that. He isn't just chasing one tune, he's forming a whole song around his magic manipulation machines.

Stop it! How does he keep doing that to me? Keep making me hope like that?

I have to kill this line of thought. I can't do it.

“What if I told you not to bother with my powers? We just finish your machine, and I can still help you find a buyer.”

He cocks an eyebrow at me. “What changed since last night?”

Twilight tilts her head. “It's so strange to see her bounce between her usual confidence and this broken version of her.”

“Like I said, she's got the ego still within her, but so much of it is fractured. It's a bit like her stone; we know what it was capable of and, despite still looking mostly intact, it's just unable to muster up the power she once held.”

I take the siren stone out of its box and hold it close to my cheek as my mind flashes to Equestrian skies and oceans. I wish I could stop thinking of that blissful freedom/

“I just don't think it's possible without our gems. While I thought about me and my sisters back in Equestria, these were literally as much a part of us as our hearts. Even more important, even... our hearts of stone. They've been with us ever since we got here, separated but we always knew they were dear to us. When we didn't know what we were, if anyone tried to take them, we would become violent and angry. Savage, biting and clawing and kicking until whoever made the attempt relented.”

“Instinct, huh? Like beasts, as you said.”

“And now that I think back, those little conflicts probably fuelled us through these gems. Foster parents arguing over our behaviour, maybe even being influenced by us without us knowing, once more sowing ill will, and we just fed on that energy like always. And the more we fed, the stronger we became, and the more we remembered what we were.”

Ray was absorbing every word I was saying. It was... nice to just let all this out. I was used to keeping everything hidden, either because most humans would think I was crazy, or from people who knew about magic and might use what I said against me. But then I'd also been alone for years. I missed having people around me that understood. That I could be frank with and open.

I continue, “we even grew as our powers were restored, becoming older. I remember the revelation of our banishment not long before we found a diner, where we quietly sang in the corner to feed on the chaos within. We were in our apparent mid teens by that point. Aria voiced her hatred of this world, now that we knew it wasn't where we came from. Then I saw and felt Equestrian magic explode from Canterlot High School, we found a way to get transferred there... you know the rest.”

He nods and strokes his chin. “And with those stones broken, you don't think you can truly restore your powers.”

“I appreciate what you've tried to do for me, Ray. I honestly, truly do. I truly believed you could do it as well, and I can't blame you for failing. But...”

I realise I'm staring him deep in the eyes. I barely even realised how much I'd missed simply talking to someone. And how this human in particular seems to understand me.

It hits me like a freight train. I don't want to let him go. I want- I need him here. With me. He's worth too much.

“... Let's just finish your invention, find a buyer, and maybe we can just... continue as we are, hmm? Work out what happens together.”

That sounds so nice. The freedom to do as we desire. Make the most of this human world.

He fidgets under the covers and suddenly looks restless. Almost angry.

“Addy, I'm not much of many things. I was a wimp in school, I had my ass kicked over and over, and even when free to live my own life, I could never stop thinking about getting to Equestria and studying magic. But I'll say this much; I'm a damn good scientist. I'm proud of what I've been able to do. I don't do shit in half-measures.”

He goes to stand from my bed, but he's still naked. He blushes and grabs a pillow to cover himself, then continues, “I won't stop trying to get you your powers back until I've tried every single thing I know I can. If that means finding how to contact Equestria itself, so be it.”

I can't believe he's not only still going to try, but he's willing to go to these lengths. It's hard not to get caught up in his hype.

“You're certain?” I say and stand up.

“Beyond all reason, Addy.”

“Despite what I am? Despite what I might do?”

He nods. “I swear it. A hundred times.”

“There's that determination again,” Twilight said, and also giggled. “After seeing him so down on himself or angry, it's nice seeing him as I know him.”

“It's hard not to feel inspired, that's for sure,” Sunset said and grinned.

“I've been doing some thinking about Radian's cutie-mark.”

“Oh, that thing that's... oh, what was it? There's the small star and big star either side of a symbol. It's been a while since I studied the topic. I know it's an electricians symbol for a component, which is fitting for his past career as a scientist and engineer.”

“That's right,” Twilight said and sat so she could raise a hoof. “An amplifier, to be precise. But more than that, he's capable of making those around him much greater than they are. That's his real talent. He amplifies ponies, people. Anyone and anything.”

“Huh,” Sunset rubbed her hoof on her head. “I hadn't thought of it like that. Though I guess you'll see it before your eyes in a second.”

Ridiculous. A human willing to try to the bitter end to make me a siren once more? I can't help myself from laughing.

“You're a strange, weird little man, Radian Wave. You stand on the cusp of having everything humanity could ever want; money, fame, actual human power. All these, beyond the dreams of avarice and you don't even really need me any more, and you honestly want to give me, a beast, her ability to twist people and drive them into a fury?”

“We all deserve to Dazzle again.”

He didn't just say that. Sweet, merciful skies and oceans, that was awful.

I roll my eyes and put my stone back in the box. I hope he'll take the hint and stop before he says something even dumber.

Yet, Ray carries on, “but beyond that, I don't think you're going to make the same mistake a third time. You know what I see when I look at you?”

He stands. The pillow falls.

And right in front of me. Just all hanging out.

His penis.

Twilight gasped and covered her eyes. “Oh, Sweet Celestia! You could have warned me!”

Sunset laughed. “Sorry! I guess I've grown used to seeing all sorts of weird, lewd and crazy stuff when looking into people's minds. Besides, that wasn't the big thing I remember from this memory!”

Twilight gave her the most evil glare. “I- what!? Big thing!? Was that on purpose!? I admit I seem to have a thing for humans, but this is too far! I didn't need a biology lesson, Sunset!”

Sunset laughed even harder.

He grabs my shoulders and gives me another of those deep, soulful gazes, even if I can't help but keep glancing down...

“I see a woman who's actually brilliant. A genius. Maybe even peerless. You were held back by your powers, and simply cruised on them. But like you said to me, a few too many victories and you thought yourself invincible enough to screw up. Somewhere, buried behind that 'heart of stone', is your real strength, but you haven't tapped into it fully yet. “

It's becoming very easy to keep focused on his eyes as he keeps going with his speech.

“If you applied yourself in school like you have these last few days, I know for a damn fact you could've been anything you wanted to be. If you had your powers now, with what you've learned, you'd be truly unstoppable. And if you're right, and we can't get you your powers back? I want to be beside you, because with both of us? Together?”

I just- what was this? Again? I feel...

“We can achieve anything we set our minds to. I believe in you, Adagio, whether you're human or siren. If I can harness Equestrian magic itself, just imagine what you could do if you really tried!”

That faintest light, shall my life renew?

Do I have the strength to see it through?

A quickening heart as my soul soars high.

Strike free of the old and tarnished lie.

Is this it?

Could it be?

Am I free of this endless mockery?

Dare I hope?

Or give in?

Is this at last a battle that I can win?

From my heart's arrest, can I break the chains?

Dare I take wing once more, despite these pains?

A fire once more burns, so deep inside.

I will stand above it and never hide!

This is it.

It can be.

I will rise evermore and I'll never flee!

I can hope!

Won't give in!

It's my greatest of vows, I'll once more be free!

I'll be free!

Ooh, ooh,

I'll be free...

Where in the depths did this all come from? How can he still believe in me after all this crap? I'm just a human!

But he makes me believe I'm something more. I don't even realise my mouth's open and I feel it again. My heart's making that weird, fluttery sensation once more. I finally understand why.

Singing is the most important thing I have left. It was a tool when I was a siren, as one would wield a sword, or a painters brush, or a writers quill. I created with my voice as naturally as breathing. After the loss of our powers I found a reason to continue. Especially after all the hard work me and my sisters put in learning to sing without our powers making it as natural as breathing.

When my emotions are at their zenith, the lyrics flow. I create. I weave the words into rhythm and give them the ability to instil my will onto others. It's another way to remember how my songs used to control emotions, but now it takes effort. It makes it seem more fulfilling. I master my heart to also master to master this gift.

It is my strength. Adagio Dazzle at her most superlative. I desire to make others feel my soul through my songs, so that they may better adore me.

Now I realise that Ray is like that too. He's creative, but driven by logic instead of pure emotion. He's my mirror; I feel as I think, as he thinks as he feels. He wants to perfect that knowledge by inventing, leaving a tangible object that people can recognise as Radian Wave just as much as I want to have people remember my words and be affected by them.

He wants to make the world a better place, sure, but he has that pride in him that wants leave his mark too. I care little for altruism for altruism's sake, but I understand his goal. Just as I've longed to do as I've come around to a human life. To leave a legacy.

I was annoyed at the time, as he started ignoring me, but I said something just the other day that helped him solve a piece of the puzzle concerning his machine. He went into this extreme sense of focus. He was determined to note and figure out the solution, and didn't care what happened around him. That was Radian Wave at his utmost. He will fight with every fibre of his being to get what he wants if he perceives it as right.

“Ah,” Twilight said and smirked as she let her gaze wander to the window. “That makes perfect makes sense now.”

“What's that?”

“Do you remember what Radian said, when he used his device to disable me, Celestia, Luna and Cadance? When he ran off after Adagio after she lost control from being forced to transform back into a siren?”

Sunset gasped, then nodded. “Yeah. 'I'm sorry! I can fix this!! I have to fix this!!' Can't fault him for his consistency.”

“Just as well he still had you to bring him back to his senses.”

We are of a kind. I understand him, and his motivations. I adore his strength.

I want him for that reason. I don't know how I should be feeling about that. I can't tell where the selfish or the jealous or the possessiveness begins or ends, nor any of the maelstrom of my heart and mind's complexities begin, but I want him all to myself.

I feel it again. Songs, and lyrics, and... and...

Damn, he smells of musky sweat and sex. After all the fun we had last night, things got messy and very dirty. The best kind of fun.

I bury the fluttery feeling deep down, pull myself in close, and say, “let's have a shower. We're both real sticky.”

It's a deflection though. Something he sparked alight back in the bar still burned, but now I'm aflame. He's so certain he can do this that I can't help but want to see what he does. To see how far he can go. But I need time to think things through.

So we head into the bathroom, and take that shower.

Together.

“I guess that really was when Adagio first genuinely changed,” Twilight said and clopped her hooves together. “Good. That puts me at ease.”

“Yeah, at that point, she formulated the plan to involve me and ask about returning to Equestria, and obviously the clever manipulation that made me believe they were dying only made me more willing to help however I could.”

“Did she change much more from what you saw? I know there were a few days after your last meeting where she apparently got back in touch with Aria and no doubt divulged their plan.”

Sunset shrugged. “Unfortunately, no. There's was a moment where she got drunk with Radian and they had a heart to heart as well, talking about his past but we already covered my involvement and his parents earlier. The fact she was the one who instigated that conversation was a big deciding factor too. She saw his troubles and legitimately cared about his well-being enough to want him to get it off his chest. Empathy. So yeah, all these moments and factors stopped me losing my temper when she slapped me, and made me go ahead with helping her, even if I had suspicions about her motives.”

“Was there anything else you suggest we cover?”

“Well,” Sunset glanced at the door to the front room of the apartment. As she seemed to think it through, it swirled into a void.

“I did say I'd show you some of the more complicated aspects of Adagio's mind. Brace yourself.”

Twilight looked back and forth between the door and Sunset, gulped, then they both entered.

* *

*

* *

*

Twilight was underwater. She panicked, and held her breath, then felt somepony tap her back. She turned to see Sunset wave her hooves in front of her face, raising and lowering them slowly, trying to calm Twilight down.

She relaxed and realised that, despite not being able to breathe, the reality was... this wasn't reality. She didn't need to breathe here, but she couldn't speak either. Opening her mouth, trying to make any noise at all, was muted.

Sunset waved her deeper into the murky depths, as they kicked with their legs into the deep.

Small, bioluminescent jellyfish floated hither and thither and illuminated a path, onward and downward.

Then they found the floor. A grey, placid and dead coral reef. Jagged rocks and stones. The skeletons of long-dead marine life strewn about.

Then Twilight would have gasped, if she were able.

The skeletons of ponies. There were thousands of them. And beyond that, a shine in the light, amidst the murk.

Glimmering gold scales, and a flash of red.

Adagio, as a siren, buried amidst the bones. She was still, with only the ever-so-subtle ripple of water around her neck revealed any sign of life as she breathed through gills, her scales parting and closing as she did.

Twilight looked across at Sunset, who nodded towards Adagio's stone.

They swam closer, and looked within.

There, within the red crystal, was a pony. She was a dead ringer for Adagio, but normal in size and petite in build. A smooth, gold coat and her mane was still orange, streaked with yellow and curly, but tied up in a simpler ponytail and lacked the sheer volume of which Adagio was famed.

Her eyes slowly opened, and she looked through the crystal at Twilight. Or through her since they weren't there. This was a memory, after all. Or was it a memory? Maybe a vision. Or a dream.

The Adagio within the stone scraped her hoof against the inside, trying to escape, and the grand sirens form shuddered and stirred. A dull rumble echoed through the water as the siren bared her teeth, and her eyes flashed open, golden and feral. She writhed and clutched her forelegs around her chest.

Twilight and Sunset both watched as strands of light seemed to pull around the pony inside the crystal, and the pair settled back down as both forms seemed to fall back to sleep.

Sunset tugged Twilight away. A strong current dragged them back upward, then toward the door, and they were ejected from the memory.

*

* *

*

* *

The Hub

The pair were spat out, slid across the floor and crashed into the lockers. It was painless, though a nonetheless shocking.

They both stumbled onto their hooves.

Twilight paced back and forth and screwed up her face. “I don't even know what to make of that.”

“A dream, or a memory,” Sunset said. “If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that was specifically from the siren side of Adagio. You know, after our talk about there being two versions of her, the one associated with her siren past and one that's been formed as a human or a pony, at least once upon a time.”

“What are you saying exactly?”

Sunset sat down and rubbed her head, her snout wrinkling as she took some time to gather her thoughts.

“Allow me to theorise. What if Adagio used to be a pony, and became a siren at some point? And that what we just witnessed was a lurking, buried figment of that siren's past? And that, as she was separated from her stone, the pony version has been allowed out to live again? That this is why she's been able to turn... as crude as it sounds, good? Like, she still has a lot of her experiences as a siren locked within, but the core of Adagio was a pony like anyone else?”

Twilight sat on her haunches and frowned. “It's possible. We know the siren stones have an empathetic affectation of their own. If that was part of their change into sirens, that took over as its own personality? And that the imbalance we witnessed when you tried to get to know Adagio is Equestria was a schism of sorts between the two?”

“Like a parasite.” Sunset glanced around the floor, organising her thoughts. “A really damn powerful parasite, but still. They use the base personality as a template. She's been flipping between the two ever since in a battle between our magic, based in friendship, and the negative emotional stuff, like Starlight uses? Just far, far stronger?”

Twilight closed her eyes as she tried to consider what she saw. She eventually shook her head. “I don't think we can make any real conclusions now, but it's obvious there's a lot more to Adagio to consider. All the more reason to keep her close and get to know her better. And certainly to try and help her however we can, to save the goodness inside her from whatever lingering evil the siren stones present, even if they're now inseparable. Perhaps we can help her awaken to her own past, to discover where she came from?”

“I guess so,” Sunset said and suddenly slumped. “Sheesh, I'm tir-”

* * *

* *

*

???

“I know where I am. Sunset... what are you hiding? And why so fervently?”

Sunset's Inner Garden

Twilight was back at her own statue, but she couldn't see the figure. Instead, she decided to just investigate the trails of light that flowed from her horn, or... to her horn. It was hard to tell. Either way, they weaved to Twilight's closest friends, then split from there.

As soon as she made that connection, other, smaller columns formed around them. She looked closer at Applejack's

They were chiefly of her vast and proud family. Little Apple Bloom, growing up big and strong. She was as tall as Applejack already, though gangly and slim. And Big Macintosh, as rugged and mighty as ever. Granny Smith, ever the spirited elder of the Apple family. Each of them had other strands, and an expansive web formed beyond Twilight's ability to see. She could have studied these forever.

Likewise, Applejack's power co-mingled with Twilight's other friends, and their closer circles also shared this power.

More and more columns, all smaller as they grew farther away, made it appear as if a great garden of statues. Even ponies tied directly to Twilight had a place of prominence, like Starlight Glimmer, who was connected closely to Trixie. Or Twilight's own ties to the Hooffields and McColts... so many individuals and groups across Equestria that Twilight had told Sunset about in their journal conversations.

Then she saw motion. Two statues were moving, as if ships sailing and their masts were atop the fog.

Those depicting Adagio and Radian slowly and gracefully moved in from the dark, sliding between the vast array of statues, only to come to rest near Twilight's column, and more power began to swirl from them and into her statue.

Adagio's shifted between her human, pony and siren forms. Each as beautiful as the next, but all bore the same sinister sneer, but the faces occasionally blinked into a kinder smile. It felt appropriate.

Radian's statue, however, was similar to the depictions of her friends. He stood proud, surrounded by radio towers that crackled with power.

Twilight narrowed her eyes and moved closer to her own statue.

She heard sniffling again.

“Hello? Sunset? I know you're here.”

The voice gasped, and Twilight saw movement as she squinted into the dark.

“I won't hurt you. Come out,” she said.

“I know you won't,” the voice said. “But... I don't know if I have the strength...”

“Of course you do! The Sunset I know is proud and strong. She's hard headed and fiercely protective, yet so kind!”

“I'm not the Sunset you know...”

“Please, I just want to talk.”

This Sunset sniffled again, and came out of the shadows.

Twilight almost gasped, or recoiled, but she resisted the urge.

It was Sunset, but it was a twisted and split form, similar to Discord's draconequus body, only Sunset was part human, part pony and part... the she-demon.

Sunset noticed Twilight's hesitation and smiled dismally as she then stared at the floor. “I know, I'm horrible.”

“No, nothing like that. You're just... not what I was expecting. I'm assuming you're the side of Sunset she tries to hide away.”

Sunset nodded, but continued to stare at the floor. “I'm the refuse of Sunset's being. The example she always thinks of when comparing herself to... well, all of this, but especially you. The parts of her she draws upon whenever she needs to, but buries me back under when she's done.”

She gestured high, at the columns and their heroic ponies. Most floated away, barring Twilight's, and there were the human versions of Twilight's friends. Once more, they were given a heroic appearance, but Twilight noticed something immediately.

Sunset's friends were put on a similar height and sense of importance than Twilight's, just a fraction lower. Then there was Sunset's column.

It was hiding in the shadows of her friends splendour, and in a state of disrepair. The figure of Sunset upon it was filled with flaws, chips, cracks and even without these aspects, it was a crude rendition of the real woman that Twilight knew.

Sunset rubbed her human arm against her clawed, she-demon one. “Yeah, it's kinda ugly. Sorry...”

That she was so down on herself seemed to make sense. Sunset had no problems tackling her anger and pride, but Twilight needed better answers.

Twilight said, “we are our own worst critics, aren't we? All our perceived flaws, amplified a dozen times.”

“Not if it's all true,” Sunset said and sat against her column and buried her face in her knees. “I rely so much on my friends to keep me afloat. I cause them so much trouble...”

“I won't deny it's our friends that keep us grounded as much as they boost us to greater heights, and help assure us that the worst aspects of ourselves are either put in realistic perspectives. I'm certain Sunset knows this, I'm surprised you-”

Sunset cried out in pain, and morphed fully into the she-demon. The deep, dark skin, horns, sharp teeth and claws. The bat-like features like her wings and upturned nose twisted into a hateful scowl and she leapt to her feet.

She screamed, “she denies me! Punches me down as her lowest point! I'm sick of it!”

She then shifted into her pony form and sneered. “She holds herself back and bows down to everypony around her like a weakling, when we should strive for our deserved greatness!”

With one final shift into human form, Sunset grabbed Twilight's horn and wrenched her head around, staring daggers down at her. “All because of what you did to us, you uppity, pompous bitch!” She shoved Twilight's face down into the ground and pushed her over.

Twilight struggled and kicked free, but didn't fight back, instead she retreated.

If this was in the depths of Sunset's mind, it made sense this was the darker recesses of herself she buried away. Buried for so long and only used as tools? No wonder they had become severe and hostile.

All her past flaws; her time as Celestia's prideful and impatient pony pupil, her days as a cruel bully at Canterlot High School and, last but not least, the wrathful creature she had become when corrupted by magic.

Sunset shifted back into her merged form and all the anger, pride and cruelty faded. “I'm so sorry! I can't control it! You probably hate me!”

Twilight shook her head. “I know what you are. I think, anyway. I can't hate you, because you're all still part of what Sunset ultimately became. You are the core from which Sunset has strived to overcome, and the example that she still draws upon. The pony that, even if her earliest days, had such promise.”

Sunset returned to her pony form, and bowed her head.

“Just as you are the remembrance of her former life, that through which she strives to become greater. The old pride, which she continues to borrow to this day, to be the best she can be, to fight for those that cannot.”

Sunset shifted to her human form, and gritted her teeth, even as tears trickled down her cheeks.

“And you're the promise of greatness, once contained and uncontrolled.”

Sunset shifted to her she-demon form and buried her face in her clawed hands.

“But now you have flourished. Your strength, brought to bear as easy as breathing.”

The demoness closed her eyes, and changed. Her skin from its dark red to her natural tan, her features softened and became human. Most of all, her wings and horn remained.

Daydream Shimmer whispered, “you know me so well... but of course you do. I've always wished I could be as great as you are, Twilight.”

“You are,” Twilight said. “If there's one thing I've seen tonight, it's exactly who you are, and you're as great as I am in so many ways.”

“I once wished that was true, but...” Daydream sighed and her glorious form reverted back to the amalgamate of her innermost traits. “Now I don't want it. The mistakes I made are many, and dire. Problems and pain strewn across the human world, the troubles I've made for you in Equestria...”

Twilight shifted to her human form and pulled Sunset into a hug.

“Stop it. You can't keep blaming yourself. The damage and tears between the worlds are what they are, there may never be a way to stop it, but just think of what you did tonight! You faced down a siren and helped bring her back from the brink of either savaging Equestria, or even dying from her flawed stone! You convinced Radian, somepony who once detested you, to forgive you! He cares about you now as well! If that's not absolute proof that you, Sunset Shimmer, are an amazing person, then I don't know what else would. What else do you need?”

Sunset stepped back and stared Twilight in the eye.

“You.”

Twilight's mouth fell open and she frowned. “What?”

“Your love,” Sunset said again with a gentle but pained smile. “And I know I'll never-”

*

* *

* * *

“I'm awake!”

Twilight winced at the half-yelled words, and looked up from the linoleum floor of the hub.

Sunset staggered and shook her head wildly, her mane flowing about. “I'm up! Sorry, I think I almost drifted off for a moment there! What were we talking about? Oh, the Adagio two form thing?”

Twilight stood and cleared her throat. “Sunset? I... went to that garden again.”

“Ah, figures,” Sunset said and used her magic to sort out her mane. “Sorry, I really need to-”

“We need to discuss what I saw. What I heard.”

Twilight shifted back into her alicorn form, pulled up two desks, and placed both herself and Sunset on top of them, face to face.

“Twilight? You're kinda spooking me here.”

“I don't mean to be, but I'm worried about you. The garden seems to be your subconscious arranging of how you consider those around you, as well as yourself in a critical way. There's statues based on how you envision your friends and associates, even mine, at least those of which you're aware.”

Sunset's face sunk, “Oh, heck, who was it? Please don't tell me I think down on Dash or something! I love her so dearly, but she's so rarely around and sometimes she can be so harsh with people.”

Twilight smiled. “No, nothing like that! You're beyond kind with everypony you know! They all look beautiful and true to their strengths. Even me. It's deeply flattering.”

Sunset sighed with relief. “So what's wrong?”

“Firstly, it's how you see yourself. All through this exploration of your memories, you've been showing off, reliving small moments about your friends and how you've helped them. You've demonstrated your ability to fight and reason your way through situations. I thought it was just good humoured bragging. Celestia knows I'm familiar with that with Rainbow. But it's become apparent you still have some deeply rooted issues.”

“Oh. I guess I am still a bit of a mess, aren't I? I can't keep my finances in order, and I know I get into some fights I really shouldn't. I still lose my temper and have those old, negative urges.”

Twilight shook her head. “These are flaws, and you should be accepting of them. I know I get caught up in details all the time. I sometimes feel prideful, and inflate small problems into bigger ones, but none of us are perfect. I met a manifestation of your old selves, the aspects you draw upon at times when you're struggling.”

“A manifestation? Like, of my subconscious?”

“She's everything you've refused to accept about yourself or chosen to bury,” Twilight said. “These aspects of you, like them or not, still have a purpose. Unless you're seeking to damage yourself for some reason. Or make yourself seem worse. She was made up of the prideful mare who fled through the mirror after refusing to make friends back in Canterlot. She's the cruel bully that Radian hated most of all in school, and she's the she-demon, your absolute capacity of wrath and anger.”

“You've seen my at my best and my worst,” Sunset said and stared at the floor. “And you're right, I always think of my self-imposed exile from Equestria, or how I treated people like Ray and the other students in school, or how I lost control because I just wasn't good enough and fell on old habits. I never will be good enough for the one thing I've always wanted, but shoved aside as something that I could never achieve or earn.”

Twilight stepped across the desks and put a foreleg around Sunset's shoulders. “That's fine. But she was harbouring something else that I've never heard you talk about, but I've heard... little hints of it throughout tonight.”

Sunset looked deeply uncomfortable. “Oh... oh no. I didn't...”

“Did you want to talk about it?”

Sunset's tan cheeks burned red and she covered her eyes. “Oh boy. Uh... um.”

Twilight gave her friend a tighter hug. “I guess there's a lesson to be learned that those who dig their way into the secrets of others will eventually have the same turned back on them. I never knew you... felt that way about me.”

“I- it's just a crush!” Sunset's embarrassment turned to a gentle anger. “It's stupid.”

“No its not,” Twilight said. “It's buried alongside all your other disaffected, but hugely important parts of yourself, which tells me its something you've thought about a lot. Now that I know, and only if you're comfortable, I'd like to talk about it.”

“What's there to talk about?” Sunset's eyes grew wet and she sniffled. “You shattered the stupid, arrogant version of myself with your honesty, your kindness, your generosity, loyalty... all the aspects of the elements. You embody them all! You're the perfect pony I've always aspired to be!”

“I'm not perfect. I'm only in a place of self-assurance as I am because of my friends. Something even you recognise, based on those statues I saw. Just as you should, considering you also present your friends in the kindest, most impressive way. And I'm not so foolish as to ignore that the way I've helped others in the past won't affect them in the way they view me, but I've never had anypony have a romantic reaction to me in such a strong way.”

“It's a teenage crush, like I said. And now I feel like an idiot for overreacting about it.”

Twilight shook her head. “All those aspects, your crush included, are at your core. Your earliest aspects. I just wish to help you come to terms with it somehow, because I wonder if your refusal to do so is what's keeping your other aspects feel neglected.”

Sunset bowed her head and tears dripped all over the desk. “Are you surprised? Everything. Literally everything good that's happened to me has a root in how you saved me from myself. Everypony else has had good parts of themselves before, that you've brought to the fore, but me? I was a good study of magic, but never great, like you. And that's it. That's all that's good about Sunset Shimmer without her friends. It's only because of you and the friends you gave me that I've been able to do anything else besides be a massive bitch! Compared to you, who despite your struggles, has come ahead, every time!”

Twilight's tried to find the words, but couldn't as Sunset finally seemed to begin to calm, and instead just sound defeated instead.

“And since you saved me from myself, my corruption... and knowing nopony loves you the way you deserve? I could never shake that desire. No matter what happens, or how long it's been, Twilight. I love you, and I hate myself for never being able to just move on. Because you don't need to tell me. It's stupid! Why would you ever feel that way about me?”

“Sunset...” Twilight bit her lip and carefully considered her words. She needed to play for time to calm her friend, first and foremost.

She offered a gentle smile and hugged Sunset closer as she said, “I guess I understand why you showed off so much. We're in your memories here, and you did your utmost to make yourself as impressive as possible.”

Sunset's tears flowed freely, but she continued, “yeah. Sorry if I came across as egotistical.”

“It's well deserved,” Twilight said. “You are impressive.”

“And I think you was catching on to me as well... I kept pushing on with all this despite how tired I am. It's just that every time we solve a problem together, you leave me. And now you're going to become the ruler of Equestria. I keep feeling like we'll never just have... moments like this any more. Just you and me. We're worlds apart, after all. And I know it's selfish to think that.”

“I...” Twilight gulped and couldn't look Sunset in the eye. “You're right about one thing. I don't know if I can ever feel for you the way you feel about me.”

Sunset managed a smile, but the pain and anguish was clear; the way her mouth creased, and her eyes had a subtle squint. “It's fine. You don't need to spare my feelings. You'll never love me. I doubt you even like girls like that. Heck, I don't. Not really. I had a thing with... you know, the other you, because my Twilight seemed to have the same feelings I had, about being saved, and having a whole new world opened to her because of me, but I couldn't feel for her the same way. I'm just glad it didn't ruin our friendship.”

She reached over with her hoof and gently rubbed Twilight's foreleg before sighing and stepping off the desks.

“Just as I hope I won't ruin ours. I'm sorry all this came out because of my own stupidity. Come on, let's go back to the waking world and... I hope we can forget this ever happened. Besides, the needs of a whole of Equestria matter more than my feelings...”

Sunset walked towards her own door, which suddenly shifted. Within was the medical ward where both she and Twilight were resting, forelegs hooked.

“Wait,” Twilight suddenly said, and stood in the way.

Sunset's pained expression turned into a forced smile. “It's okay! Really. You said it yourself; you can't love me.”

“But that's not what I said, “Twilight insisted. “I said I don't know if I can, because... well, as much as I know you as the heroic girl who faced a siren and lived to tell the tale? The girl who threw herself in harms way to protect her friends when their very memories were threatened? The girl who would fight seemingly unbeatable odds, alone, because it's the right thing to do? I know you're a fantastic person, but I don't know you. So how can I say whether I could love you or not?”

Sunset's pain seemed less intense, and instead she seemed confused. “What do you mean?”

“I never knew you did that living streaming thing. Playing games for the enjoyment of others. I don't know what your favourite food is. Or how you tackle a game of chess. Or if you snore.”

“But that's little, dumb stuff.”

Twilight giggled. “It's the little dumb stuff that matters!” She looked up at her perfect statue. “Look at how you know me. I'm nowhere near perfect. I wonder how you'd change this figment of me in your mind if you knew about some of my quirks? Like how I enjoy food just a little too much. Or how I write lists... about lists I want to make. In fact, with you flattering me with your subconscious version of me, I should return the favour.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow, and Twilight dug deep in her understanding of this dream world.

Sunset's mistreated, statue rose out of the ground, then was wreathed in Twilight's magic and obscured the form for a few moments.

Then she revealed it, and Sunset gasped.

It was Sunset Shimmer, but clad in brilliant, glistening red and gold armour, brandishing a shield shaped like her cutie-mark and wielding a spear of light like an elongated unicorn horn. She stood, triumphant, but her platform was aloft with the supportive hands and hooves of hundreds.

Twilight stepped beside her friend and said, “you're brave, and selfless and strong. That you've dedicated yourself for so long to the good of Equestria and the human world? The way you carefully consider all your friends, keeping in touch with them and pushing them to be better? You're no less than a knight-errant, like the days of old. My knight. A champion of friendship if there ever was one! In fact, if I'm to rule Equestria, the first thing I'll do is name you as such. You deserve whatever power and authority I can give you, because I know you'll do the right thing.”

Sunset smiled a little. “That's... really sweet. And kinda cool!”

Twilight giggled, but kept serious. “Now, as cliché and fitting as a princess and her knight should be, and I'm not saying I'll ever be able to feel for you the way you feel for me, but I do love you as a friend, and I'm willing to give it a shot for something deeper. I want to see where this goes.”

Sunset's eyes went wide. She started crying again. “L- like a date? Really?”

Twilight nodded. “Absolutely. When you're well enough to walk, I'd love to show you Ponyville proper. Or even take a day trip to Canterlot, or Manehattan. I'd love to share meals with you, just to get to know the real Sunset Shimmer, see the things you like to eat and drink, and how you enjoy them. And learn what makes you laugh and cry, and what music makes you want to dance. I don't need to know the you that shows off, or that little you within that you hide from the world with your deepest, darkest secrets. I want to see the real you, in full and unrestrained. And then, when we truly know one another, we'll see where it goes.”

Sunset launched herself back on the desk and tackled Twilight into a powerful hug. “I... I don't know what to say. Thank you!”

“Hey, easy!” Twilight said and giggled. “Heh, you ever the get the impression we're all like this because of watching Adagio and Radian loving each other despite all their differences? I know I'm a little jealous.”

“Pfft,” Sunset uttered and bashfully let Twilight go, stood and blew a lock of red hair out of her face. “Can relate. I was always worried that the way you started feeling for Radian, I'd never stand a chance.”

“Look, Sunset,” Twilight said and became firm again. “I've known Radian for a couple of days. I admit an attraction and a fascination, but I'm through with flash-in-the-pan romances. They never last longer than the event in which they transpire.”

Sunset giggled and nodded. “Yeah, I noticed that too. I look forward to dozen or so dates to figure us out.”

Twilight blushed a little as she looked at Sunset's statue. “Oh, and for the record? I've had passing fancies at my friends too.”

“Really?”

“Oh, completely,” Twilight said as she summoned replicas of her friends' statues, atop desks instead of columns. “And I swear don't mean to sound superficial, but look at them!”

She pointed at each in turn,

“Have you seen Applejack's body, when she's hard at work and you can see every fibre of her muscles flexing beneath her coat, slick with sweat, knowing the motherly and caring pony beneath? Or Rarity's gaze when her passion's in full swing, along with how she emphasises her looks with clever details of her expressions, even above those of her dressses and makeup in spite of her willingness to fight when push comes to shove?

“Or Rainbow Dash, when she puts her bits where her mouth is and proves why she's got an ego, and that she's one of the most capable, brash and heartfelt ponies I know? Or the unfaltering kindness of Fluttershy's soul paired with her actual, effortless beauty, and how strong she can become when the situation demands? And how could people not fall for Pinkie, with the way she makes everypony's heart flutter with how sweet she is? You can't hang out with everypony without having that little part of your mind go wandering.”

“Yeah, but it's not like you go announcing that to everyone!”

Twilight smirked. “Sure, but I haven't whupped their flanks and broke the very core of their being like I have with you, and I know my friends in such deep ways that I can't imagine changing the way I think about them now. I wouldn't want to, and I consider them family. But the way I see it is me dating you is, at the very least, even if it just puts to rest your anxieties about me, it's my way of apologising for a (well justified) blast of friendship. Or at least a way for me to pay you for being such a good friend, and protecting the human world, and being so determined to help me locate all these artefacts. Whether, when you go back home, we end it as romantic partners or just friends, with the air cleared between us? It'll be time well spent.”

Sunset smiled so warmly it made Twilight's heart skip a beat. “It's a date, then?”

“It's a date!”

They held each other, firmer and tighter than ever before, but then the world around them wavered and faded.

“Heh... I'm exhausted,” Sunset said and began to slump. “I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning?”

“I'll be there,” Twilight said, and bowed. “Rest well, my knight.”

“Sweet dreams, my princess,” Sunset replied, and returned the gesture, and they both left through Sunset's door.

* * *

Twilight lightly snorted as she snapped awake and sat up, then yawned.

Before her, on the bed, was the bruised, battered and ailing Sunset Shimmer. She looked so fragile.

But her peaceful and blissful smile would make Pinkie Pie envious.

“I hope I can reciprocate your feelings someday, Sunset,” Twilight whispered and gave her a gentle, friendly kiss on the cheek. “You deserve somepony who'll love you as much as you love everyone around you. I'll try to be that mare.”

Sunset sighed deeply and contently, offered a little wince from her healing rib, and settled into a light, cute snore.

Then she sounded off like a chainsaw.

Twilight stifled a laugh. “Quite the heavy snorer, apparently.” She then increased the flow of Radian's device to help Sunset's healing, climbed off the chair, and left the room.

The nurse mare on duty offered a wave of her hoof, then gestured to a tall, regal but dark figure stood by a nearby window. Her lustrous, flowing glittering mane of dark blues and deep, cyan eyes were unmistakable.

“Luna?” Twilight relaxed and approached, then bowed. “What are you doing here?”

“Twilight Sparkle,” the figure said and offered a bow. “I sensed an unusual dream nearby as I tried to sleep, and came to investigate. When I saw you together, I then felt a strange, hostile intent within. I... infiltrated to make sure you were well.”

Twilight blushed; Luna must have detected her panic as Sunset's innermost, combined self vented her frustration. “Oh. Uh, how much did you see?”

Luna cleared her throat and rubbed one foreleg with the other. “Suffice to say enough to learn my mistake for intruding in a private matter. Forgive the intrusion. But what I witness compelled me to discuss something with you before returning to my chambers. A topic I have been at odds with, ever since my sisters announcement to retire.”

Luna gestured for Twilight to follow, and they headed away from the infirmary wing.

“I understand my sister's desire to be free of the yoke of leadership. She tends to not speak often of her more troubled past, or moments of weakness. I remember well when Starlight Glimmer brought forth her most primal fear of becoming Daybreaker, the alter ego of her darkest thoughts, as mine was Nightmare Moon. Just as she has to bury the sadness of watching those of which she becomes close to passing away. These moments haunt her more than she will ever let on, and her weariness makes her wonder if she is growing closer to slipping and making a crucial mistake. To constantly be in the public eye seldom grants her the chance to cope with these issues as much as she would like.”

“I know, Celestia's confided as much in me as well. And it's not as if I'm free of such worries either.” Twilight looked back down the corridor towards Sunset's room. “I told you about my human counterpart's transformation into Midnight Sparkle. We're alike enough that I've imagined what would happen if I fell.”

“I have no fear that you will succumb, Twilight,” Luna said and offered a gentle nod. “Just as my sister has remained pure, I am certain that you, as her student, will be fine as well. You have come far since Tia's announcement. I have no doubts you would become an effective and wise ruler if you had to take the throne, even as soon as tomorrow.”

Twilight stopped dead in her tracks and stared. “T- tomorrow?”

Luna looked over her shoulder and tittered. “Forgive me, I did not mean to frighten you. I just meant you are far better prepared and, if the need arose, you would be fine without us.”

Twilight sighed with relief and followed again. “I'd like to think I'm ready, but then I have talks like I just had with Sunset and realise there's so much I'm leaving behind. But for the good of Equestria, I understand the personal sacrifices involved.”

“Indeed. I had to learn them swiftly after returning to my sister's side,” Luna said and glanced out of a window at her aspect, the moon, glowing brightly in the sky. “But that brings me to what I wished to talk to you about.”

Twilight stopped beside the taller alicorn. “I'm all ears, Luna. What's wrong?”

“You are yet young, Twilight. As young as my sister was when she first took the throne. But she at least had me by her side, so we could share the struggles of learning to rule a fledgling, unified nation.”

Twilight's mouth fell agape. “Wait, are you suggesting-”

“If you would allow it... I would delay my own retirement. Just as you hold regrets to leaving your old life behind, I hold the opposite problem; I failed the ponies of Equestria for a thousand years, becoming naught but a menacing figure to scare colts and fillies once a year until I was all but forgotten by most. I also owe these very ponies a debt for accepting me in spite of what I tried to do. But I will not take this path unless you desire it.”

Luna gently pressed her hoof on Twilight's chest.

“Twilight, I propose a shared rule of Equestria in Celestia's stead. We would have to work out an arrangement of sharing responsibility, for I do not wish to disregard my sister's wishes for you to take her place, but I would be lying if I said that I thought you were fully prepared for the role. That you have yet to... find love, and adventure with your friends to your utmost. Just as I wish to spend time with Celestia in a more carefree environment. To just be siblings, as we have not been able to for over a millennia.”

Twilight was shocked into silence as she tried to digest what she had just heard.

Luna smiled warmly. “You need not answer now. Merely think on-”

“I accept.”

“Oh,” Luna said as her eyes went wide, then she offered a rare, giddy and unrestrained grin. “I am glad. I feel we have much to give to this land, but also much to learn with this reliance on one another. To a new Equestria, blessed by the Twilight of new dazzling dawns and worry-free dusks.”

Luna held out her hoof to shake.

Twilight shook hooves with her new partner. “To a new Equestria, blessed under the warm blanket of gentle, moonlit nights.”

Then they hugged.

Luna whispered. “I am so glad. I have a new chance to serve alongside you. I have so much yet to give.”

“And there's so much I want to learn and experience before I try my hoof at leading alone. And alongside you? I know we'll do just fine!”

They separated, and Luna said, “just remember that if at any time you wish to rule by yourself, as was Celestia's wish, just tell me and I shall step down. But be it days, months, years or centuries, let us usher in a bright future, together.”

“We will,” Twilight said. “Good night, Luna.”

“Blessed dreams, Twilight.”

They parted with the warmest smiles, and Twilight soon found herself back in her room.

She entered, closed the door, and used her magic to begin boiling a pot of water as she prepared a cup of tea. She then pulled a book on the diplomacy of hippogriffs from her shelf, and placed it on her bed.

Twilight glanced out the window with a carefree smile.

She would fulfil her promises and oaths. But she would also be free to experience what this new world would bring her. With sirens, new friends, the changes of relationships old and new. So many new possibilities lay before her. Twilight would do it with grace, dignity and all the strength she had been trained to represent.

She would be the princess Equestria needed. Regal and wise. Gentle and calm. Just like now.

Twilight took a long, slow breath. Then exhaled, smoothly and steadily.

But then pranced around her room like a filly.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!”

She squealed with joy, wings fluttering frenetically, knowing her adventures would once more continue.

The End

Author's Note

So there's a particular change in Sunset and Twilights dynamic in this that I won't spoil here in case anyone's skipped to the end, but I would be curious to know your thoughts, if you have them. I can maintain the status quo or explore this aspect deeper if people enjoy it. I kept it ambiguous for a reason.
While future stories will be mainly focused on Adagio and Radian, having little changes to the more prominent secondary characters is absolutely something I'll gladly explore if people wish to see more.
If nobody cares, then I'll make a choice.

Part 2: All that Shimmers is not Gold

Part 2: All that Shimmers is not Gold

Sunset would have thought this situation impossible. She was walking side by side with Adagio Dazzle. They weren't arguing, or bickering, or planning each others downfall.

Well, probably not. At least Sunset wasn't.

Okay, maybe she did have a plan if Adagio tried anything, which involved pulling Adagio's hair and slamming her face-first to the floor before fighting whatever other threat's reared its ugly head, but that was firmly plan B. She wanted Adagio's desire to start over to be true.

Adagio asked, “so, I've said about what I've been up to, but what about you?”

Sunset wondered how to proceed. Just blurting out her real 'job' seemed risky, but at the same time, Adagio was being pretty honest. Like she'd said back at the cafe, bridges needed to be built here. She also needed to project a degree of strength.

She shrugged and replied, “chasing up and dealing with magic stuff for Princess Twilight, earning cash by doing whatever jobs I can, working out, studying, both academically and kickboxing.”

“I guess with your past as a bully, you aren't afraid of getting your hands dirty.” Adagio smirked. “That and if you're dealing with real magical threats, just reading minds isn't exactly going to stop someone dead set on attacking you.”

“Exactly.” Sunset rolled up her jacket sleeves and flexed. “It's a last resort thing, but I've had to kick the occasion ass.”

“Weren't you a student of Celestia or something? Is Twilight like you at all? Princess Twilight, I mean. I didn't exactly have much of a chance to know the pony behind the human form, what with planning the downfall of CHS and all..”

Twilight gave Sunset a glance as they listened and walked beside the humans, but Sunset seemed unconcerned.

“Not really. I mean, you of all people should know she's not afraid to throw down either. She's just a lot better at getting things done without force. There's a reason she's a princess and I'm... well, here. I made this bed of mine by getting too arrogant and short sighted, and I've gotta sleep in it.”

Adagio folded her arms and fiddled with her curly locks. “I find it strange. I know you were a bit of an outsider when we were pulling the strings around the Battle of the Bands, but I know for a fact you seemed to be the girl in charge of your circle of friends afterwards. I also know you started hanging out with Twilight's human equivalent. Did she take over here as well?”

Sunset shook her head. “That's not how friendships work. There isn't a 'leader'. I know you had that dynamic going on with your sisters, and yeah, some people tend to be the instigators of a group, but that's the brilliant part; everyone gets a shot at being the one calling the shots on a given trip or holiday. Our Twilight really came into her own with some real friends, even if she still had a lot of shyness and baggage from her time in Crystal Prep. She's a lot more confident now. I guess a lot of stuff happened around me more than the others if you consider that 'leading' that I had to take care of. I don't mean that in any egotistical way or anything.”

“Says the girl with emotions as her power over superhuman strength or exploding-” Adagio suddenly stopped. Her eyes were wide and she gulped.

“What's up?” Sunset stopped and looked over her shoulder.

She was eyeing a nearby alleyway, then nodded to the other side of the road. She jay-walked across without another word but beckoned to follow her.

Sunset obliged but eyed the alleyway warily, yet nothing else seemed amiss as they continued on. “What was that about?”

Adagio cleared her throat and wouldn't look her in the eye. “Bad neighbourhood, that's all.”

“Oh, was that where the 'incident' happened?” Twilight looked down the alleyway. It was pretty standard for a broken down area; several overfull dumpsters, trash bags,, broken glass, leaky guttering and graffiti.

Sunset bit her lip as she looked down the narrow gap too. “Yep, the alley where Adagio was mugged and assaulted. More than anything, that was where Adagio was reborn, and not in a good way. That was what broke her pride. That feeling of powerlessness, and when she felt the most human. I hope you don't want to revisit that.”

Twilight shook her head. “No, I don't want to see it either. I see no point in revelling in something so awful. Nopony deserves being attacked like that,” They caught up with the in-the-moment Sunset and Adagio. “She didn't like humans anyway, and a moment like that was probably stay with her for some time. Enough to colour her already tinted perspective. It's why I was so surprised she was still willing to change.”

Sunset hummed to herself and her ears flickered about, deep in thought.

“A bit for your thoughts?” Twilight asked.

“You're right about it affecting her deeper than she lets on. I never had a chance to tell you about the Adagio we dealt with in the forest in the waking world, did I?”

Twilight shook her head. “No, but if I had to guess, I assume it's something to do with why she became feral and violent after her stone forced its way back into her chest. I'm not too surprised; she seemed in incredible pain, even when she returned to us and was lucid again. Extracting her stone so we could stop her suffering and get her back to the human world almost took her life in the process!”

“Yeah, but she didn't stay feral after she first changed. When me and Radian found her in that forest, she was like an angrier version of the Adagio we met back in Canterlot High School.”

“Oh? In what way?”

“You know, trying to bend everyone to her will, even trying to persuade Radian to side with her out of fear of her attacking him. Hmm...” Sunset paused the memory and sat on her haunches. She then rested her elbow on her other foreleg and rubbed her chin with her hoof. “Thinking about it, there's a lot about Adagio that makes a lot of sense if we act like there's two Adagio's.”

“Like the human and the siren aspects? I concur. My friends even noticed that, when they spent time with her on their first day in the Crystal Empire, Adagio was very sweet and good natured. Still sharp witted and with that familiar domineering slyness, but it put everypony at ease. I even asked them to put their best hoof forward with her and forgive any small mishaps, but they didn't need to. Rarity and Applejack were especially fond of her.”

“Yet when I hung out with your friends, Adagio was far more aggressive. She spent most of her time taking jabs at me and ignoring everyone else. I don't know what side was the true Adagio, but the one we fought in the forest was every bit as... well, evil as the Adagio we fought at the Battle of the Bands. What if Adagio broke so much from her assault, that she's coped by making an alternative personality, almost like it's tied to-”

Sunset stopped and her eyes bugged out. “That's what it is!”

Twilight tapped Sunset on the shoulder and said, “what is? What's wrong?”

“I... no, not now,” Sunset said and shook her head. “I'll show you later. I've not been able to interpret what I saw when I looked deep into Adagio's memories, but I think the idea that Adagio is a partially split entity is the key to understanding it. The only problem is I need to spend some time thinking it over before I can show you. I have to put my artist skills into mentally 'painting' the scene. Anyway, for now let's just say that I'm beginning to think that Adagio's got more going on in her head than maybe even she understands.”

The street suddenly flickered, and Sunset rubbed the sides of her head.

“Oof. In fact... can we take a short break? Until I really start piecing together these details, I don't think I can focus.”

Twilight nodded. “Alright, sure. Are you sure you don't want to stop for now?”

“No, no, it's fine,” Sunset said as she waved her hoof at a nearby door, which opened to the school corridor, “but I'm not used to having two of us in my memories for long periods, playing another persons memories on top of it and bouncing between a third set of events and hitting revelations like that.”

She led Twilight through the door, and it shut behind them.

* * *

* *

*

“Sunset?”

It was quiet

Empty

A bright spot formed in the distance

Warmth

Towers?

Like a candles, aflame

Or a beam of sunlight

And a silhouette in the light

What was-

The Hub

“Phew, that's a load off,” Sunset said as a couple of school desks appeared. She then adopted her human form and she sat at one.

Twilight blinked and realised she was back in the corridor, then glanced back at the door as it closed. She frowned, but shook her head and joined Sunset, changing form and taking a seat too.

“And here I thought I was bushed,” Sunset said as she looked Twilight over. “You okay?”

“Yes. Well, maybe,” Twilight said.

Sunset waved her hand in front of Twilight's face. “You sure you're okay?”

“I just... I don't know, I seemed to get lost somewhere as we headed through the door.”

“Oh, the lag again? Sorry, that happens sometimes.” Sunset relaxed.

“Huh?”

“When things get too heated or I'm trying to do too much at once with my empathy powers, things can slow down when I'm going from one memory to another. It's like lag for livestreaming, like I said earlier. It's being made worse because of that new concept I thought up about Adagio. Anyway, I remember Rarity said it was like a black void and it kinda freaked her out for a moment. It's fine. The worst thing that'll happen is I fall asleep and you'll be ejected from my mind.”

“It was, but I thought there was something there,” Twilight tapped her chin with her hoof, then shrugged. “Never mind, it's not important.” She first tried to climb up onto the school desk, struggled, then instead shifted to her own human form and sat down.

“If you're sure,” Sunset said then stretched. “With Adagio asking about you in my memories, it made me realise we should just talk for a bit. That'll help me settle my mind for a bit. There's so much to go over, especially since you were almost made ruler of Equestria.”

Twilight sighed. “Yeah, that was sudden. Too sudden. You wouldn't believe how glad I was that, after the whole Cozy Glow, Tirek and Chrysalis situation, Princess Celestia decided to stay on for a few more years and properly coach me on being a leader. I know she's always been a fan of letting me figure things out by myself, but I don't want to go on and ruin the lives of so many ponies because I wasn't truly prepared for what was in store.”

“Twilight? About that 'situation',” Sunset said and rubbed the back of her neck. “I'm so sorry I couldn't get there to help out. I didn't find out until after it was all over.”

“I appreciate the concern, but it worked out in the end,” Twilight said and put a hand on Sunset's shoulder. “You're already putting yourself through so much in the human world already, I can't expect you to drop everything for every problem that comes up in Equestria.”

Sunset looked at Twilight's hand, but was still concerned. “Yeah, but still! You were dealing with friendship itself failing! Three of the gravest threats to Equestria at once! I should have been there, by your side, fighting beside you!”

Sunset stood and put up her fists, then shadow boxed, finishing with a smooth, swift roundhouse kick.

“No matter what happens in the future, Twilight, if you call me, I'll be there to fight hoof and horn!”

Twilight giggled and Sunset raised an eyebrow.

“What's so funny?”

Twilight joined her friend and gently put her Sunset's fists down.

“I'm just admiring your spirit and kindness...” Twilight felt her smile grow as she looked deeply into Sunset's eyes. “You've changed so much since that day I helped you out of that crater after the Fall Formal. The more I think about it and the more I get to know you, deep down, the more astonished I am. Your old self is not even a shadow of who you are now. You've always been impressive, as a pupil of Princess Celestia only can be, but now? You're amazing!”

Sunset then looked at Twilight's hands over her own again and blushed. “W- well, of course. That day was the worst and best day I've ever had. I thought I had everything figured out except a way back home, to prove how great I was like a total idiot. Then you come along, with your intelligence, the sheer magnetism you have, and that's before even thinking of how powerful you are... it's no wonder Princess Celestia's picked you to take over.”

Twilight's mood dampened, but nodded as they both sat back down. “It's still a bit of a shock. It's been years since then, but it still terrifies me.”

“I can only imagine, but there is one thing I can't help but worry about... you're an alicorn now. Royalty. Princess Celestia lived for well over a thousand years, and-”

“Stop.”

Sunset recoiled.

Twilight closed her eyes and her lips trembled. “I know what you're going to say, and I know it's something I'll have to deal with eventually. That I'm going to watch my friends grow old and...” Twilight stopped as her voice grew strained, took a deep breath, then continued, “but that's just reality. I don't like it any more than you.”

Sunset asked, “so why accept?”

Twilight's eyes grew wet, but she blinked the tears them away and remained stern. “The real question you should ask is whether Princess Celestia deserves to have to see all those she cares for to grow old and fade away until the end of time? To not be granted her freedom for ushering in a peace for over a thousand years?”

Sunset opened her mouth, but she had no answer.

“And she's been doing this for so long,” Twilight continued as she stood, “yet she's always been there for us. For Equestria.” She paced back and forth before closing her eyes and nodding to herself. “She doesn't deserve to be stuck like this forever. To always be the one who loses everything and everypony around her without being able to just enjoy her own life. She chose me because she thought me worthy, and I shall respond in kind; I will put myself through the same rigours as she has, because I love her as a friend, a mentor. Even like , sometimes. What I desire to see now is her unburdened by her destiny as ruler of Equestria.”

Sunset again remained silent but bowed her head.

Twilight put her hands over Sunset's shoulders. Her eyes lit up, intense and piercing, as her hair fluttered, flowed and sparkled. “Just as you, Sunset, seem to understand; you've let your friends branch apart, to live their lives, yet you struggle on. And why is that?”

“I... b- because,” Sunset stammered and looked deep inside herself. “Because after I met you, I understood what it was to want to protect those I care about, even above myself. It was all my mistakes that brought me here, my mistake that let magic run rampant in the human world, so it's my responsibility. Like your responsibility to Equestria, I guess.”

“Exactly. We do this because we must, for them, because we have the strength to protect them. Just you've put yourself in harms way for me, over and over, I must do this for Equestria, to make the hard decisions to ensure there will always a home to which you can return. A safe place for everypony we love to live in harmony. And now I'm bringing Adagio and the sirens to my side, and Radian's technical knowhow, I feel better than ever that I can do this.”

A tear trickled from Sunset's eye before she nodded. “I don't like it, and I wish there was another way, but I get it. I know I can always message any of my friends and they'll be there. Like I can visit Applejack on her farm, or Fluttershy at the shelter. Or like I can just call Rarity and, despite how busy she is, I know she'll make time for me. Heck, even Rainbow Dash when she's either in a soccer competition, training or on a band tour when I'm elsewhere on my missions for you, she'll do her damnedest to make time, even if it gets her in trouble. Or Pinkie... well, I'm always hanging out with her, but it never stops hurting that we aren't all together any more.”

Twilight smiled. “It's funny how alike they are. Watching our friends flourish and grow is part of our destiny, I guess. We've already agreed we'll need to set aside some time to always meet, no matter where we are. Just as I know you'll always be the one who brings them together.”

They stepped away from one another and collected themselves, before Sunset said, “sorry for making things grim.”

“This is why I want to spend more time with you,” Twilight said. “Things are changing all the time, yet there's only so much I can really write in words without filling up another journal, or making you worry about all the minutiae I have to deal with on a daily basis. Also as one of Princess Celestia's former students, you should be able to express yourself about these changes. Last, and by no means least, there's... well, just you.”

“Me?” Sunset cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean.”

Twilight smirked, but shrugged. “I guess it's not important right now, but we'll come back to this. Now, feel ready to continue the Adagio business?”

Sunset kept her brow raised, but shrugged and answered, “sure. Did you wanna skip to Adagio's apartment?”

“Unless there's something more important about the walk there, please.”

The pair shifted back into their pony forms, and once more entered Sunset's memories.

* * *

Sunset's Door

Dressage Avenue sounded fancy, but the area was anything but. The burnt out car husks in weed-filled community lots, broken glass, graffiti were actually a blessing; anyone who accidentally found themselves here would know to get out as soon as possible. Inside Adagio's apartment complex wasn't any better. The corridors were covered in filth, smelled of garbage, rot, mould, blood and other bodily fluids.

Sunset hated herself for feeling that smug sense of satisfaction that this was where Adagio lived. She couldn't escape the thought of the once proud and dangerous siren dominating the minds of everyone around her, of bending them to hate each other to feed.

Yes, stopping the Dazzlings was necessary. But life changes, and Sunset was now afraid for Adagio's safety. She was just a human now. A 5'5, slim, attractive young woman, known to dress provocatively, and yet lived in one of the worst sections of the city.

“I guess you called it before you even knew what had happened,” Twilight said as they climbed the stairs.

Sunset nodded. “It's places like this that made me learn to fight. Yeah, Canterlot City's a really great place overall, but there's always some jerk who tries their luck. I found out Adagio carried a taser after the assault, but before that, she still felt above humans. I guess deep down I always wondered if anything would happen to her. I mean, it did, but it could have been worse, which just makes me shudder to even think about.”

“I can't believe you live here,” Sunset said.

Adagio took her keys from her purse as they reached door twenty six and opened it. She stepped aside and Sunset entered the cleaner space, though there was a lot of clutter in the form of empty cardboard boxes, loose wires and tools.

A male voice called out, “welcome home, Adagio, I've-”

The room faded away as she saw the boyfriend. The green and yellow striped hair, the slim build and brown eyes.

Radian Wave, dressed in simple slacks and a wrinkled pale blue buttoned shirt with a tech firm logo on the breast pocket. He stared at Sunset with those soft brown puppy-dog eyes, now lit up with an intense focus. He was tampering with something that looked like a makeshift generator, but with aerials, a small satellite dish and a laptop attached to it, but he stopped as his focus was drawn to her.

“It's not much, but it's home,” Adagio said. “And this is my boyfriend-” She stepped between Sunset and Radian, and asked, “oh, is something wrong? Do you know each other or something?”

“I- you- wha-” Sunset raised her hands and finally said, “wait, Radian Wave's your boyfriend!? Seriously?”

Twilight gave Sunset a disapproving look. “Wow, that was pretty judgemental.”

“Hey, don't give me that! I'm pretty sure I heard you treated Starlight Glimmer befriending Trixie the same way at first!”

“That's different! She-”

Sunset scoffed, “it's totally the same! Radian had a beef with me, Trixie had a lingering beef with you, even if she had mostly reformed. Starlight was somepony you were trying to guide towards being better, and Adagio was showing signs of being a better person, and we both had to tackle our former foes to initiate another into being better people.”

Twilight opened her mouth, then huffed and admitted, “fine, you got me there. Ugh, neither of us are exactly showing our best here, are we?”

“And besides, I wasn't being judgemental. It was mostly just shocked at the coincidence rather than her taste in guys.”

Adagio pouted and snipped, “wow, judgemental much?”

Twilight snickered. Sunset just rolled her eyes.

“I can't help it if I like smart guys,” Adagio continued.

Radian gestured between Sunset and Adagio, managed to say, “what the,” before just clamming up.

Sunset had never felt so small, at least not since before she fought to earn back the trust of everyone in Canterlot High School, and the way everyone would see her vulnerability after she'd spent so long terrorising everyone there and fought back in subtle, often passive aggressive ways.

But here they were, face to face; the former bully who made this guy's life hell, and the fact he was apparently involved with one of the gravest threats against Equestria, and the ringleader of the group that almost dominated the very same school they both attended.

It was fate. It had to be. An intersection of several old threads.

Sunset didn't know how to act; did she show that vulnerability again, to try and get Radian to let his guard down? But then, by letting her own guard down, maybe she would fall victim to some sort of plot or trick from Adagio?

Or, hell, maybe Sunset had to put up a strong front to try and steer the room in her favour? Project confidence?

Adagio clapped her hands once and broke the stalemate. “How about I get everyone a coffee?”

“We just had one,” Sunset said, relying on flat logic as she floundered for what to do.

Undeterred, Adagio filled the kettle. She winked back at Radian and said, “well, I didn't get much sleep last night and a lot of human chemicals don't seem to work on me too well. Besides, it's that, water or like, cheap brand cola and, trust me, the water around here isn't great unless it's boiled.”

Radian took a deep breath, looked away from Sunset, then said, “I'll have one, please, Addy.”

Sunset shrugged. “Okay, sure.”

“Take a seat,” Adagio said and gestured to a worn down couch.

Sunset sat, and after a few moments of hesitation, Radian did the same, intently refusing to look at her all the while. She couldn't help but awkwardly look away as well. The tension was as thick as Adagio's hair, so she tried to distract herself with the apartment.

It was... nice, Sunset guessed. No TV, but there was a solid radio, but otherwise it was very plain. Adagio's bedroom door was open, and inside was a much more vibrant pink and purple décor, with a nice dresser and vanity, and the corner of a large bed. The weird device kept drawing her eye though, but she had no idea what it was.

It felt like an eternity before the kettle clicked, water was poured into the mugs and the spoon clattered as Adagio stirred the drinks, then headed to the couch.

“Small world, huh?” she said.

“Thanks,” Sunset said as she took the coffee and sipped it as Adagio went to make herself one.

She was the element of empathy, but sometimes not showing your emotions when dealing with people wielding powerful Equestrian artefacts was just as crucial. Her magic began with understanding and not judging, not just the base idea of reading thoughts with power.

Yet it took her every ounce of this skill to not pull a face as she swallowed the scalding hot, bitter, acidic brown-black water.

Sunset then finally looked across the couch to the bundle of seething energy on the other end. “Radian, I know you don't want to speak to me, but when I bumped into Adagio, we got to talking and she wanted to patch things up. We... have a history too, and when she said she'd turned a corner, I honestly wanted to let bygones be bygones. When she said she'd found someone in her life, I had to come see. I didn't meant to interrupt your life again.”

“I remember you telling me about this,” Twilight said.

“Yeah, I know. It's humbling, reliving it again after... wow, it's only been a couple of days, hasn't it? It feels like so long ago.”

Twilight tilted her head and pondered. “I kind of know the feeling myself. Like it's been six months since we last talked about this.”

Radian's face screwed up. His eyes twitched and danced anywhere but on Sunset. He was furious, but burying it.

Sunset sighed and looked at Adagio. “Maybe I should go?”

Adagio turned, mug in hand. “Please, Sunset, I want to prove to you how I've changed.” She smiled, big, bright and bold, as naturally as one would breathe, yet that made Sunset shiver.

If Radian was an open book, this siren was a dusty tome hidden on a conspicuous plinth, likely rigged with traps as if from a Daring Do movie. Untold riches lay within Adagio's heart if what she said was true, or a deadly scheme would be enacted if it was a ploy, and Sunset felt determined to uncover the truth. A new beginning or a final nail in the coffin of ever trusting this girl again.

Maybe it was the contrast with her old victim, but Sunset felt a rich warmth from Adagio, once a dire enemy, a girl who almost controlled the world if Sunset and her friends hadn't stopped her that day. Yet she once more looked at the only true human in the room and felt his cold rage. It was all backwards, and when Adagio sat between herself and Radian, Sunset felt relieved. Something she never thought she'd ever say.

Well, if convincing Radian wasn't going to work, Sunset realised that she could both test the relationship and probe the situation in one move.

“You're in a relationship, Adagio, that alone tells me you've changed, but if we can come to some understanding, that would be even better. Just how much do you know about me and Radian's history?” She tried to keep winning Adagio over, so she took another sip of coffee and appear comfortable, welcomed and accepting.

“It hasn't come up,” Adagio said with a shrug. “We only met a little while ago, but we really hit it off. He said something about not getting on in school, but my Ray of Sunshine said it wasn't-”

Sunset almost spat her coffee out again. “Ray of sunshine?”

Adagio giggled. “Sorry, pet names. I'm his Addy, and he's my Ray of sunshine!”

“I'm still surprised at how tender Adagio can be,” Twilight said. “I suppose there's something to be said about the sirens and their knowledge of emotions, since they used to toy with them to feed. It's easy to forget they're flesh and blood, in the end, and any sincere feeling will shine through.”

Sunset nodded. “I guess the sirens really did internalise this stuff, even if I doubt they ever would have admitted it. It's very normal, and I was impressed, even if she was playing it up to win me over. I've gotta admit, even though I had my suspicions, it was working.”

Sunset tried to stifle a laugh, but chuckled a little.

Adagio tilted her head, sending her curly hair bouncing. “What's so funny?”

As much as Sunset wouldn't have minded cracking wise about Adagio's boyfriend being compared to a gecko, it wouldn't have been a good call. Things were too sensitive.

“It's nothing,” she said, and whispered, “pet names, huh? Small worlds, alright.”

Adagio gave Radian a quick, confused glance, then continued, “but yes, we've really hit it off since then. I wasn't in a great place for a while, and Ray found me drunk in a bar and recognised me from the Dazzlings. He took me home and looked after me. And before you make any judgements, he's been the perfect gentleman! When I found out he was recently made homeless, I offered him my place to stay and it just kind of came together from there.”

Sunset loved what she was hearing and smiled as the doubts continued to fade.

She chimed, “that's great to hear, Adagio! After your, uh...” She then quickly wondered how to describe Adagio's condemnation of humans as the lowest of the low without making things weird.

Sunset realised there was no way to nuance her way out of this, she soon gave up and just said, “issues with most people and all, this is a really big step. I'm so happy for you.”

“Oh, I've had time to come to terms with my place here, even if it meant having to break up with my sisters. It's not been easy going overall, and we are a little strapped for cash right now, but my Ray is building that machine.” Adagio pointed to the weird device Sunset had saw earlier. “That can make clean energy, and it's going to make us a fortune! The rent's due soon, but I'm confident he'll pull through.”

“This was the point I realised there was more here than just Adagio turning over a new leaf,” Sunset said. “The breakup of the Dazzlings, the failed bar, the apartment and neighbourhood, Adagio's reaction to my expensive order at the cafe. There's nothing more human than paying the bills, I guess. I suppose I should have also seen what she was about to ask coming.”

Twilight looked in thought for a moment. “I do wonder if they would have been alright had you never entered the picture. As wondrous as Radian's inventions were, and I admit my understanding of selling such things in the human world is limited, it's fringe science and you can't just 'sell' something like that easily. Proving it, testing it and whatever else. It's like something the Flim Flam brothers would concoct and, no offence to Radian, but he doesn't seem like the sort of fast-talking, charismatic salespony types who'd be able to pull that off. Adagio can be smooth and manipulative, but there's a certain affectation and flair you need to earn trust to sell, rather than avoid mistrust for a goal.”

Sunset nodded. “Pretty much what I thought. I think Adagio was playing the desperation card with me rather than any hair-brained scheming. Again, on the back of her tenderness with Ray, it was working on me.”

“Look, Adagio,” Sunset said after realising that wasn't going to work. She felt like she was winning, but had to play this safe and not talk down to Adagio's hopes and dreams. “I'm sure he's going to come through for you. We didn't interact much, not in a friendly way at any rate, but I know he's smart. All the same, it's amazing to see you happy, Dagi, especially after how angry you used to be at your situation. Plus, I kind of owe Radian for all the misery I put him through in school. I don't have a ton of cash, but I'm sure I could help with your bills or something if you'd like.”

Adagio turned away, and her thick curls obscured her face as much as Radian's. Was it surprise? Maybe some inner turmoil about the charity being offered?

Twilight put a hoof around Sunset's shoulder. “That was so noble of you.”

“Hah! Yeah,” Sunset said and nibbled her lip. “I totally wouldn't have had enough for my own rent if they actually accepted, but at least I have a good relationship with my landlady. I've told you about her, right? Ms. Konik? She's a tough but fair old lady, that one. I doubt I'd have been kicked out, but trust me, you don't want to invoke her wrath.”

“I thought you said she knew you had your reasons for not being able to stick to a job?”

Sunset sighed. “She does. She was the one who let me stay there when I first arrived in the human world because she's a total sweetheart and I took advantage of her at first, but I've done my best to make it up to her since we first met. Ms. Konik just likes to make sure her lessons are ironclad and memorised. Every time I screwed up, she'd be there with a tub of her famous potato salad and a long, fiery lecture. I dare say she's a sterner teacher than you.”

Twilight pouted. “Great, like I needed competition in trying to be a wise teacher on top of being an effective ruler...”

Sunset hugged Twilight. “You'll always be my number one!”

Twilight cocked an eyebrow and smirked. “And where does Celestia fall with this Ms. Konik on the table?”

With a wide-eyed panic, Sunset coughed and said,“aaand moving on!”

After a pause, Adagio turned back, still smiling, and said, “Well... there is something. You see, Ray's machine gets its power from wild, untapped Equestrian magic.”

Sunset couldn't see Radian, but he made a little gasp. He must have been trying to keep that quiet, and she wasn't surprised; while it had spread around a little, Equestria was still mostly a fairy tale to the public at worst, and still unknown at large.

“Wait, hold on a second,” Sunset said and waved her hand to interrupt, “I know we went to the same school but does he know about...” Sunset once again tried to think of what to say. “You know? The incidents?'”

Adagio patted Sunset's knee. “You don't need to dance around the issue. I've told him all about us Equestria girls.”

“Really?” Sunset poked her head around Adagio's mass of hair to get a look at Radian.

He seemed to slump and said, “Unicorns, sirens and all sorts. Sure.”

Sunset hid her shock. She had been Princess Celestia's student and prided herself on her intellect, but that pride was wearing thinner on the claim of Radian just flat out being able to use magic like this, something she had never been able to work out.

“And you can just... use it? How?”

Adagio looked at her boyfriend and said, “maybe a demonstration's in order, Ray?”

“I remember you telling me about your attempts to study how magic worked in the human world,” Twilight said, looked distant for a moment and chuckled. “It was about as fruitful as me understanding Pinkie's senses.”

Sunset blew a lock of her mane out of the way of her face as Radian showed the in-the-moment Sunset about the machine. “I'd like to see him and my world's Twilight go toe-to-toe in a contest, or collaborate on something. She's got a really broad understanding of the sciences, but Ray's got that laser focus on this field of electronics and manipulating magic, but I don't really know how wide his knowledge goes.”

“He's certainly got a unique perspective, and I think I could probably learn a thing or two from him for having something of a clinical understanding on the matter. At any rate, I look forward to helping him learn more about magic as a whole, alongside Starlight and Sunburst.”

Sunset couldn't believe it. “This is huge! How are you able to just harness magic like that? I've tried studying how magic works, even both Twilight's have, and it's only understandable to a certain degree. Certainly not enough to just control it on a whim.”

The machine, as he had shown by the program running on the controlling laptop, was literally drawing in magic and recycling it into electricity. Yet the machine made no sound from any sort of combustion generator, or moving parts for a kinetic charge, it had no wires leading to the walls or solar panels propped up on the window and it was far too much power for an induction loop. To anyone not aware of the Equestrian leak, this power was coming from nowhere and charging a set of heavy duty batteries on the device.

After being sufficiently smug for a while, Adagio said, “Did I mention I like smart men? My Ray of sunshine's a genius. In fact, I'm sure he'll happy to share his findings with you as a sign of good faith.” She looks at her boyfriend. “Right, Ray? You'd bury this old feud for me, wouldn't you? So we can live our best lives?”

Radian gritted his teeth and offered the weakest, most insincere, “I guess?”

Adagio finally seemed taken aback and winced before propping the smile up again.

Things weren't going to plan and some truths were becoming known. Sunset just hated that it took Radian's animosity to draw it out. It started to put her on guard but Sunset wasn't ready to call it quits yet, whether to try and learn more or salvage this potential new friendship. It was time to get down to business.

“I'd like that,” she said, “but what do you need from me?”

Adagio took a slow breath, leaned forward on her knees. Her eyes sparkled and narrowed. The classic Adagio deviousness flickered in for a moment, yet it still didn't prepare Sunset for the calm, almost unassuming words.

“We want to visit Equestria.”

Sunset and Radian both yelled a shocked, “what!?”

Adagio didn't flinch. “See, as much as Ray has helped me through a rough patch, I'm still not especially happy here. I'd like to see my home, even if just once more. Not to mention Ray was saying he'd love to see the other world as well, ever since we talked about it, since it might give him an idea about perfecting his device. If he could scan the portal directly, that would help both of us a great deal.”

This was all way too much. Sunset folded her arms and said, “Adagio, you realise what you're asking, right? I can't send a siren back into Equestria.”

“You don't need to worry about that.” Adagio sat back and bridged her fingers. “Because of the destruction of my necklace, it would seem I'm not only unable to use Equestrian magic myself, but the world itself has seen fit to turn me into an earth pony. It's like I said back at the Starswirled festival, I made a mistake and it cost me my magic, and I had no idea how right I was.”

“Wait,” Twilight said, “now that I think about it, and it didn't register when she mentioned knowing about your repeating day of the festival before because of that band using the Time Twirler, but didn't you say you never interacted with the Dazzlings on the final loop?”

“I didn't,” Sunset said, “but when I asked my friends about it afterwards, they all told me they remembered parts of that festival that technically didn't happen. I think as a result of breaking the Time Twirler, unique aspects of my three weeks spent repeating the same day got scattered around, especially to those sensitive to magic or in possession of a geode. Obviously being sirens, that meant The Dazzlings remembered me sneaking onto their tour van”

“I thought it was called a tour bus.”

“Van, bus, whatever,” Sunset grumbled, then sighed as her ears folded back and she dipped her head low. “Pinkie confided in me about how hurt she suddenly felt. Y'know, the times I blew her off because I let the repetition and her simply trying to have a good time got to me? She also knew I made good on that with her on the later loops, but I still apologised and made it up to her for doing it in the first place. Besides, I had bruises the following day too, so it's not like I came away unscathed either.”

“Bruises?”

Sunset smirked and blushed. “On my ass. Apparently the released magic made those dozen or so times my ass got slapped by Rainbow Dash's paddle compounded together.”

Sunset clenched her fists. “You honestly don't expect me to believe that, right?”

Adagio nodded to Radian. “Tell her, Ray. About the signatures.”

He gave a small shrug, as if going with the flow. “Ever since discovering about the species of Equestria and their relevant reflections either side of the portal, I've been scanning people to help guide my experiments in harnessing magic. It turns out each person, and their correlating species type, have a differing energy resonance. For example, you're a unicorn over there, right?”

Sunset wasn't exactly thrilled with being delved into, but ultimately nodded.

Radian gestured to himself. “So am I, if the data is to be believed, because we resonate the same energy. Adagio here now resonates the same as an earth pony.”

Adagio leaned forward on the couch again. “So you see, I won't represent a threat. Not against you, not Twilight... I'm a non-issue.”

“Detecting a little down-her-snout snootiness there,” Twilight said with a frown. “I guess she saw her position as an earth pony as a temporary one, and considered them lesser in some way.”

Sunset's own snout wrinkled. “I guess she doesn't know about Cozy Glow at this point, and how a pegasus filly almost brought Equestria to its knees. We all react to magic in similar ways, and can become empowered or corrupted by it, just as humans can in my world when they stumble on an artefact. Who and what someone happens to be is irrelevant, it's what they do that matters.”

“Truer words never spoken,” Twilight concurred.

Sunset changed gears. It was no longer a matter of yes or no. It was obvious that if she turned them down now, odds were they would find another way to try and infiltrate Equestria. A plan began to form.

She needed to keep them on board, but get more information, so after a moment to think she laid it out plain.

“I'll need proof. I can read thoughts. If you'll let me read yours, that'll go a long way to convincing me this is even remotely a good idea.”

Adagio narrowed her eyes and took a slow breath. She seemed pensive, but still determined. A counteroffer was coming.

“I'll tell you what. This is a lot to process already. You probably don't even know if Twilight, or Celestia or whoever's in charge will be alright with this. Let's take a rain-check on this for today. I'll have Ray get his notes together about the Equestrian magic flow, the energy types for people to ponies over there, and I'll also talk with him about forgiving you. How about you come over tomorrow afternoon, and we'll have a big meeting and discuss all of this, and you can read Ray's thoughts to confirm everything, okay?”

Sunset wondered whether to try and pressure the issue right then and there. She palmed her chin and walked to the window, staring outside through the grimy glass and wondered how much initiative to show.

Then she realised that, no matter what, Twilight would need to know about this. She would know what to do, and this was too big a decision for Sunset to make by herself anyway.

She turned and said, “okay, deal. I'll contact Princess Twilight.” If honesty was on the table, Sunset realised she should be pretty open about what to expect as well. “I'll also need to contact Princess Cadance too.”

“A lot of princesses over there these days, huh?” Adagio said, and looked confused. “Celestia and Luna I knew, then of course Twilight's a new one... I've never heard of this Cadance.”

“Yeah, they seem to be multiplying,” Sunset said; long gone were the days of just the two sisters. “Anyway, the receiving portal is currently undergoing repairs in the Crystal Empire, and-”

“The Crystal Empire?” Adagio's calm demeanour shifted further and she gasped. She leans forward, mouth agape. “It's back?”

Sunset hadn't expected that. “What do you know about it?”

“I used to ask about the goings on across Equestria when I was a siren,” Adagio said and shrugged. “Ponies that were under our spell would tell us all sorts of things, and we'd use them to figure out easier targets. The news that the Empire had fallen was somewhat recent when we were around. Some king made it vanish.”

Twilight rubbed her chin with her hoof. “Interesting. I guess the sirens probably weren't big on sharing land or potential feeding grounds with the likes of King Sombra. It makes me glad that their general pride and animosity towards one another generally prevents them from teaming up, especially after what happened with Lord Tirek, Queen Chrysalis and Cosy Glow.”

“No thanks to Discord,” Sunset said with a scowl.

Twilight shared the expression but bit her tongue. “Let's just move on.”

“That was a long time ago,” Sunset mused. “I knew you had been banished by Starswirl the Bearded, but it's easy to forget you three really are ancient.”

Sunset barely registered the accidental jab before Adagio's eye twitched and she snapped, “excuse me!?”

“Sorry,” Sunset waved her hand and tried a disarming smile. Down on life but not above reacting to being called old. Sunset was only kinda sorry though. “That's not what I meant. Look, we're getting off track here Anyway, Princess Cadence's in charge of the Crystal Empire, along with her husband Shining Armor, so if anyone's going to need to be informed about any potential visits, it will be both of them.”

Adagio recovered her cool and replied, “if that's what it takes, then so be it.”

Sunset sighed, and made sure she had covered everything, and it sunk in just how monumental this could end up being. Sirens in Equestria once more? And potentially reformed ones at that?

“Look, if you're telling the truth? And you want to become a better person? I'm game. You have no idea how happy it would make me to see you as a friend. I'm sure even Twilight would agree, so I'll message her as soon as I get home.”

“That's all I ask. Thank you!” Adagio's switched back into that saccharine smile again.

A false one, that was becoming increasingly plain as things went Adagio's way, but this was a two way street of duplicity. Ensuring this technology was made known to Twilight (both of them) would be imperative. Meanwhile, if Radian's research proved true, and Adagio could be brought to Equestria as an earth pony, where she could be kept under watch, this could work. Sunset once more hoped that was just a precaution.

“More than anything,” Adagio continued, “I'm just glad we've have a chance to settle our grievances, and I'm sure once we have a heart to heart, you and Ray will get on as well. I hope, no matter what happens, even if Twilight refuses, we can be friends. I've... been alone for a while. It's time I started making some changes to how I live my life.”

It was all Sunset wanted to hear. One less bitter person in the world was always a victory, no matter who it was, but Adagio was one of those loose strands that Sunset had always worried would come up again, but empowered by one of the many wild artefacts of Equestrian magic.

Was it pragmatic to secure Adagio and keep an eye on her? Sure. But Sunset also realised she owed Adagio one thing; she was the one who helped clue Sunset into how to break free from the Starswirled music festival loop. To be the one who changes, rather than trying to change everything else.

The irony wasn't lost on her; Adagio now wanted to change too. It made Sunset even more determined to cling to that hope that the Dazzlings as a whole could become better people.

They both watched as the then Sunset parted ways, and the door became another void upon her exit.

“From there, I ran straight home to contact you,” Sunset said.

“Okay, so we have a pretty good idea of Adagio's thought process here,” Twilight mused as the scene within the apartment froze.

She had odd opinions on the human form. It was so unlike anything she had seen before Sunset stole her crown, not long after she had become an alicorn, but if there was anything her few excursions into the human world had taught her, it's that either Twilight seemed to have a thing for humans, or maybe she just had a scientific fascination with non-ponies.

“Something wrong?”

Twilight almost didn't hear her, but turned her head and uttered, “huh?”

Sunset smirked. “You seem a little distracted there.”

“Ah? Oh. Right. I know we saw him earlier, but... it's just interesting seeing Radian as his old self. That's all. He had already changed quite a bit when I met him in Equestria. Fuelled by his past bitterness as he is now, and how he's become so optimistic when I saw him not that long ago as he returned to the human world.”

“Largely thanks to you, Twilight. Though clearly he obviously left an impression, considering you gave him what he wanted when he came clean.”

Twilight blushed. “He's... intriguing. I won't lie. I think given time we could have even had something deeper, but his relationship with Adagio is probably the most crucial part of what made her turn good to start with. Although...”

She thought back to Adagio just before they parted ways. Her sudden kiss... just what was that? It was almost like the kiss of death, like from those Shadow Spade novels that Rarity enjoyed so much, where the organised criminals would place a kiss on those they would mark for their goons to dispose of. Yet Adagio seemed utterly sincere. She seemed to admire, if not become excited, by Twilight's strength, on top of her gratitude in giving the sirens back her powers.

“I'm losing you again, aren't I?” Sunset sat beside her. “What's wrong?”

Twilight grumbled. “Just... take a look in my memories. I don't want to talk about it.”

“Oh?” Sunset's eyes flickered white, and she blushed as well. “Holy sh-... wow. Wow! What the hay!? That was an intense kiss.”

“Yeah,” Twilight sighed. “I was expecting Radian and Adagio to be sneaky. I was expecting Adagio to push against me and challenge me. I was expecting Radian to do anything he could to help his special somepony. I was not expecting Adagio to literally get aroused at... well, me!”

I'- n-t su-pr—ed.

-'m je-l--s

“Huh?” Twilight looked around. It was like static interference through a microphone. “What was that?”

“What was what?” Sunset's ears flexed an spun around trying to catch what Twilight had heard, then shrugged. “Forget it, probably just more of that lag. I guess it's true that Adagio gets pretty excited at powerful people and ponies, huh? Anyway come on, there's another moment I wanted to show you, back when I reached my apartment.”

“After you.”

Sunset led the way through the open door, and after a brief moment of darkness, found themselves back in Sunset's studio apartment

Sunset finished writing in the journal. She'd listed everything that had happened, her opinions and any subtexts she had read, but she wasn't expecting an answer any time soon. With something this important, and having to contact Princess Cadence and Celestia as well, Sunset was eager to hear what they thought yet the gravity of everything meant it probably needed some lengthly discussion.

She needed a distraction, so she went to boot up her games console, and-

Then her phone rang.

Sunset pulled out her phone, and cocked an eyebrow at the caller before answering.

“Hey, Trixie! How's tricks?”

“Bored! Ignored! Unable to get a foot in the door... ed? The Great and Powerful T-rrrixie hasn't landed a gig in weeks!”

Sunset sat on her bed. If there's one thing you could count on with this girl, it was a distraction. “Sorry to hear that, Trixie. Any idea why?”

“The Listless yet still Powerful T-rrrixie was hoping-”

“Trix, c'mon, you're not selling yourself to me here. We're friends, remember?”

With a sigh, Trixie continued, “fine. I was hoping you could help me. I called Rarity, like you said, because she was looking for entertainers for her fashion thing. She told me she would get back to me, yet she never did!”

Sunset took a deep breath. It wasn't that she didn't trust Trixie, but...

“How long has it been?”

“Maybe a week?”

This was total baloney. Rarity needed entertainers for her big 'Celebration of Canterlot City' fashion parade with Sunny Flare, one of the Crystal Prep students she'd met back during the Friendship Games, and Trixie would have been perfect for a parade float entertainer. “When you say 'called Rarity', are we talking once, or...”

“Um, six...”

“Trixie.”

“...teen times.”

“Trixie!”

“But I'm getting desperate here! She blocked me and nobody else is hiring! Please, Sunset! The Great and Powerful T-rrrixie has a Deep and Imposing r-rrent payment soon!”

Sunset pinched her brow and shook her head. “I'll help, but I'm not going to do everything for you . Let me put you in touch with Juniper Montage. She's been probing the talent agencies on Rarity's behalf after she got hired for a float as well. Be polite and tell her I sent you. Then I want you to call Vignette Valencia who's been taking care of scheduling. You've still got her number, right? Call her, tell her to drop a line to Rarity to fast-track your application and tell her she still owes me for 'the incident'.”

“The Great and Appreciative T-rrrixie thanks you! You're a life-saver, Sunset!”

“Oh, and Trixie?”

“Huh?”

“Apologise to Rarity for being a pain in the butt, okay? And be patient. She's not ignoring you, she's just being meticulous, as always.” Sunset's journal started to glow and shake, so she quickly said, “I'll send June's number in a second, something came up. Talk to you later and knock'em dead, Trixie!”

“Thanks again! Bye.”

Sunset immediately tapped out a text message.

'Got a friend about to call you. Trixie Lulamoon. She's perfect for Rarity's parade as entertainment. Be huge favor if you took her on. Just make her work for it.'

She sent it to both Juniper and Vignette, and moments later received two responses.

Juniper's said, 'lol, i know her. surprised didnt ask sooner. k. ttyl'

Vignette responded with a thumbs up symbol.

Sunset smirked and sent Juniper's number to Trixie, then smiled at a job well done.

“I know you've been a bit down from not being in touch with your closer friends,” Twilight said, “but you've made up for it with just how many seem to be in regular contact with you.”

Sunset smirked as the past-her read Twilight's message. “It helps a lot, I've gotta admit. I'm always talking to someone, even when I'm halfway across the country chasing down some magical mess.”

Twilight wrapped a foreleg over Sunset's shoulders. “I'm impressed. Maybe even a little jealous. While I've been stuck meeting and greeting the diplomatic types who are only playing nice for clout, you're still making and keeping friends! I could probably learn something from you at this point.”

Sunset's cheeks flushed. “Like I always say, I have a great teacher. And, c'mon, be real here; it's networking. Not exactly 'friendship' as it much as helping their businesses.”

“Seems to be pretty common for humans. Very cosmopolitan. It reminds me of Rarity's current circle of friends, like Sassy, Coco, Kerfuffle and Pistachio; she's their mentor and partner in the Ponyville fashion collevtive, but they're always busy, separated yet deeply supportive of one another whenever one has a creative shortcoming. Anyway, what was it exactly you wanted to show me?” Twilight gave Sunset a cheeky smirk. “Besides showing off how good a friend you are?”

Sunset finished checking Twilight's message. The princess seemed optimistic that Adagio was a changed woman in the face of even associating with a human, let alone if they really were romantically involved. She said this was too strong an opportunity to pass up and to let them know they could visit Equestria, where Twilight wanted to try and extend a hoof in friendship and build bridges. The only precaution was she also wanted Sunset to be thorough in reading and learning what she could when she next met with Adagio, and to report back to her, just in case.

While Sunset wanted to agree with Twilight's optimism she still had deep doubts, and they continued to grow by the second. Yet she also knew this couldn't have come at a better time. The mirror was currently unpowered and going to the Crystal Empire to be repaired, coinciding with the thirty moons between its natural activation. It also happened to be at a huge political summit at the Crystal Empire.

Every friendly race across Equestria and beyond was going to be in attendance in Princess Cadence and Shining Armor's home, as well as the soon-to-retire Princesses Celestia and Luna. Twilight was there to learn more about her role as leader, so naturally she was present, but so were her closest friends, the Elements of Harmony. There was also Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst, who would be there to help repair the mirror. Sunburst wasn't especially powerful, but if Adagio was bringing any magical artefacts with her, or found any he'd likely know their origins and weaknesses, and Starlight was an immeasurably powerful unicorn.

This meant with all of these important ponies present (and other allies, like the leaders and elites of the dragons, hippogriffs, yaks, griffons and more, as well as their personal guards), they surely had the power to subdue Adagio. If she was truly just an earth mare, no matter what sort of plan she had in store or artefact, they could stop her, and Radian may be a unicorn over there, but he had no experience casting magic himself.

She had to remind herself again this was a worst case scenario. Best case, they walked away as new friends, but scepticism wasn't a bad thing to keep close to heart, so long as it never quite infiltrated it.

Sunset stopped and stared at the journal again. Were they really doing this? Letting Adagio and, likely in time, the other sirens back into Equestria? For pragmatic reasons, bringing Adagio back into view of Princess Twilight made sense. Besides, she seemed genuine about her feelings for Radian, a human. She couldn't let that detail slip away.

But Sunset also knew this was a human with a grudge against her. If they were planning something... and how did Radian's power conversion device play into this?

Sunset groaned in frustration and slammed the journal shut. This was too much! There was so many variables! So many unknowns! If only-

*Knock knock*

Sunset gasped, then put the journal away and, after taking a deep breath, opened the door.

Bright pinkness saturated the room, along with brilliant blue eyes and an intoxicating wave of pure joy. “Hey, girlfriend!”

“Pinkie!” Sunset pulled her friend into a deep hug.

For all the changes these past years had brought, Pinkie simply hadn't; still full figured, still on the shorter side so Sunset's chin could rest on top of that thick, curly mass of curly pink hair and still just relentless in her positive energy. She was in one of her more vibrant dresses and wearing a backpack.

Sunset said, “holy smokes, I wasn't expecting you today!”

Pinkie wriggled herself free, punched her arms up and yelled, “nobody expects the Pie-ish Pink-uisition! My chief weapon is surprise. Cinnamon rolls and surprise!” She produced a box of her chief weapon from her backpack.

Sunset giggled and took one. “Thanks, Pinkie. What brings you here, anyway?”

As Sunset took a bite of the rich, dense treat, Pinkie said, “oh, nobody's really doing any parties for a little while and my diner's being fancified for Rarity's equally fancy fashion parade! We're on the main route, so we're gonna be doing a lot of take-out deliveries, and I'm getting some new roller skates for deliveries on the go. But since we're closed for the day, I said, 'Pinkie? You can either mope like a dope or get with the 'set!' So here I am!”

“Why are you still doing deliveries? You own the place and have staff for that,”

Pinkie blew a raspberry. “C'mon, Sunset, you think I'm gonna miss out on skating around a giant street party!? That and we could use a few more people with the expansion, and between you and me?”

Pinkie leaned in and whispered, “I'm beginning to think some people find me a little bit overbearing, but you didn't hear that from me.” She then winked.

Sunset giggled. “Your secret's safe with me, Pinkie.”

They both sat on the couch, then Sunset said, “I'm really glad you're here though, I needed to tell you some stuff anyway. In fact, I wonder if I could pick your brain on a few things.”

Pinkie took a roll as well, chomped half of it, and mumbled, “shure. Whatsh up?”

“You remember Adagio Dazzle?” Sunset took another bite.

“Uh huh,” Pinkie said and gulped. “Thin, mean, half her weight in hair and sings like a garbage disposal after we whooped her butt?”

Sunset snickered. “And you had her cell number, right?”

Pinkie nodded. “She may be mean, but I keep trying to get her to reach out.” She suddenly seemed quite sad. “Sure, she never got back to me whenever I invited her to parties and stuff, but I kept hoping. If she could just let herself have some fun, I bet she'd be able to make friends and enjoy life, instead of just live it.”

“Aww. That was sweet of her,” Twilight said. “I doubt anypony else would have kept trying to reach out for that for years.”

“That's my Pinkie Pie,” Sunset said and beamed a proud grin.

“It does make it clear that Adagio wasn't beyond saving if Adagio never blocked Pinkie either. I know her positivity is infectious, but everypony has their limits.”

“Yeah, I just wish I'd kept that in mind too, instead of constantly expecting the worst from Dagi.” Sunset grumbled to herself, then said, “that and your optimism that you'd get through to Radian, considering how things ended up. Maybe if I'd relented a little, none of that mess at the end would have happened.”

“It was a tough situation and we still don't know if anything could have been done better. Nopony's perfect and we live and learn.”

Sunset finished her snack, then said, “so I saw Adagio earlier today.”

Pinkie gasped like she hadn't taken a breath in a week. “Really!? How is she? Has she found any more magic? Does her poofiness still trump mine!?”

“You're really worried about her?”

“Duh! I'm worried about everyone. Just because I like to be all, 'light'er up, ladies,'” she suddenly yelled, then calmly continued, “it doesn't mean I don't care. Most of the time when we do that, we become friends afterwards! Adagio, Aria and Sonata are the ones that didn't. Which is kinda convenient since... they were the fishes, right? The singing fishes? The singing fishes that got away?”

“Uh, right,” Sunset said and couldn't hold back the smirk. “and I guess so? She's got a boyfriend now.” She snickered. It still seemed absurd.

“What!? So meanie-meanie pants Adagio gets a boyfriend and I can't?”

“Uh, Pinkie? Since when have you been looking for a boy-”

Pinkie snapped back in with, “wait, is he in danger? Do sirens eat the head of their guys after 'double stress testing the whoopie cushion' or-”

“Pretty sure that's a praying mantis.”

“Oh,” Pinkie said... disappointedly? She perked back up again and tried, “oh! Fishes! Like, maybe he'll attach himself to her and withers away and becomes one with her!”

Sunset fought back the laughter as she shook her head. “Last time I checked the sirens weren't anglerfish... although, I guess if they're in a relationship, they'd better be careful if they got into a life of crime together, otherwise he'd be accused of-”

They both said, “sleeping with the fishes,” at the same time and laughed, then they sighed.

“I'm gonna miss you when you go to Equestria,” Pinkie said as her mood dropped. “I love the party planner scene, but it's pretty stressful sometimes, so when I have you to talk to afterwards, I feel like I can take on anything.”

“It's only going to be three days, tops,” Sunset said and squeezed Pinkie's shoulder. “And I'm sure you could always go see Fluttershy, Applejack or even Twilight. I think she said she was taking it easy this week after that trip to that big international science symposium in Trottingham. I bet she'd love to see you.”

“I know,” Pinkie sighed and leaned against Sunset. “It's just we're the only two who still meet a bunch, and I guess Applejack during winter, after the harvest stuff, and even then you keep vanishing because of the leaky magic stuff. I guess I still miss the days we all hung out together.”

“Ironic, considering I was the one who drove you girls apart back in school. But you were always the one who kept me in check.” Sunset rested her head against Pinkie. It was bittersweet, as always, contemplating the old days when school was the perfect way to hang out and just have fun together. Sunset hated how sad it made her feel; it didn't matter what happened, or how dire the situation, they had each others backs.

Besides emergency meetings about magic, the annual reunion week and rare days when the stars aligned and they were all free, it tended to be moments like this; one to one, maybe three on occasion, but when they were together, the rekindling of their friendship was thankfully easy.

It almost made her wish the Time Twirler was still around. Apparently in the hands of someone who knew how it worked, it could have allowed her to relive a lot longer than just one day, but whole months and years. Sunset wished she could relive a few semesters back in CHS Maybe not the times she was an unrepentant bully, or when she almost lost all of her memories, or even when the Dazzlings almost-

Sunset blinked. Wow, they got way off-topic.

“Say, Pinkie. About Adagio again... I want your honest opinion on something.”

Pinkie sat up and tilted her head.

“This whole thing with her and her boyfriend... she seems to have changed, become nicer, but her boyfriend's one of the guys I bullied back in school, but someone I never had a chance to apologise to what I did. He's kept a pretty intense grudge against me. See, he skipped classes a lot, was a science whizz, and-”

“Oh, Radian Wave?”

Sunset's eyes went wide. “Wait, you know him?”

“Uh-huh! Well, kinda. He used to visit my diner pretty late some nights to study. He was a smarty-pants, kinda like Twilight, except a lot grumpier. Oh, and I know he used to work on a lot of the electronic stuff at school for extra credit, like one time he fixed the P.A. system and he did a lot of the lighting and stuff for the school stage, classrooms and junk.”

“Oh. That's good to know. If he went to your diner, did you talk much?”

“Not really. I guess because we hung out,” she said and gestured to herself and Sunset, “so he avoided talking to me. Well, except for ordering? He always had a diet soda. He'd then just sit in a booth, reading his books while listening to music.”

Sunset scratched the back of her neck; nothing like another reminder of how unhappy the guy was at home when she was attacking him at school. And if he was in deep with Adagio, working out the exact nature of their relationship would be even more important.

Radian Wave; willing lackey or gullible victim? Adagio Dazzle; reformed human-hater eager to reach out but struggling with learning friendship, or an even more cunning, subdued foe seeking a way to get the better of humanity?

With no revelations forthcoming, Sunset continued, “well, as I was saying, I don't know if we can trust Adagio, but she seems the most changed. Radian Wave, on the other hand, with all the crud I put him through? I feel like I owe him for how I treated him, but he's pretty hostile to me. When we met earlier today, they told me they both wanted to go to Equestria. I've told Princess Twilight, and she seems on board,but I think it might be a good idea to prepare in case they're trying to pull a fast one... like, we lay a trap in Equestria?”

Pinkie gasped and turned serious. “You can't do that!”

“Look, I hardly like it either, but this is Adagio Dazzle we're talking about. You know, the girl who's a siren that nearly took over the school? The girl who, even after we kicked her ass, still called humans scum?”

“Yeah, but... but!” Pinkie stood and paced around. “What if you being all sneaky and paranoid makes Adagio even more sneakier and paranoid-ier? What if she freaks out because you're freaking out!? What if your paranoid freaking out over her paranoid freaking out double para-paranoid freaky-freaks out Princess Twilight!? Think of the paranoid freakout-fest!”

Sunset shrugged and tutted. “Well? I'm open to suggestions.”

“Can't you just use your mind reading powers? She doesn't know about them, right? Like, even the long-distance stuff?”

Sunset frowned. “She does, actually. We're already making plans for me to read Radian's mind, with Adagio's blessing. And I can still only catch brief surface thoughts with my remote reads.”

Pinkie palmed her chin for a moment. “Then just do it?”

“Huh?”

“She wants into Equestria, right? Do you really think a little thing like you reading her mind will peeve her off that much? Even if it does, you pretty much have the final say in letting her in since you can just tell Princess Twilight that if she's trying to trick you, Adagio can go lick dumpster cake frosting. It wouldn't be the first time you had to be an meanie-pants to beat another meanie-pants.” Pinkie covered her mouth and awkwardly added, “no offence! Sorry!”

As much as Sunset hated to admit it, Pinkie was talking a lot of sense. Sunset always used force as a last resort, but ultimately she held all the cards. She could break the deal and explain it to Twilight that Adagio was trying to pull a fast one and just apologise if there was nothing to glean. What's the worst she would see? Radian naked? That Adagio was going to try and steal some artefact and return home? The pair whispering sweet nothings into each others ears?

Whatever she saw, she'd seek it out and dig up what she had to in order to help Adagio or put a stop to her once and for all. If it came down to it, Sunset would kick Adagio's ass herself. She wasn't some golden good girl. She was a protector. She didn't mind getting a little dirty.

She nodded to Pinkie, and said, “none taken, and thanks, I'll think about it,” as she settled on her plan and turned on her games console. “So, how about a sleep-over, like old times? Pizza, video games and there's that really awful Daring-Do sequel's on tonight?”

“Heck yes!”

All of Sunset's worries melted away for a time as she sat down beside one of her closest friends, and just wiled away the hours.

* * *

Part 3: What Lies Beneath the Wave

Part 3: What Lies Beneath The Wave

* * *

* *

*

“Wait, this again?”

The light was almost blinding in the otherwise smothering dark.

It drew nearer.

Or did she will herself closer?

That silhouette...

A pony... with wings. And a horn.

“It's... me?”

Closer to the source of light, things were somehow clearer. It was a statue of Twilight Sparkle atop a marble column. One of several, but she couldn't take her eyes off of her likeness.

The statue of her stood on her hind legs, reared up, wings spread, in a dramatic and heroic pose. Her horn was the source of brilliant light, drawing in swirls of coloured energy from all around her, while her own pink magical hue dominated the immediate area. She looked how Twilight wished she looked, with no flaws, even the ones Twilight knew she possessed and had grown to accept. She was radiant.

Pure perfection.

Twilight then looked amongst the pillars, and recognised them as her friends, but just as peerless in their presentation. She took flight and inspected closer, hovering near each.

Rarity, surrounded with graceful ribbons and bolts of glittering fabric, festooned with jewels that appeared to be made of ethereal strands. These wondrous threads kept forming all manner of creative, elaborate designs of clothing for ponies, dragons and more.

Fluttershy, cuddling an animal in her hooves that shifted from various forms of rodent, mustelid, lagomorph and other critters, and yet she was also within the forelegs, wings and tail of an ever-morphing great beast of fur, scales, spines and more, each mighty yet caring as they protected her.

Applejack, bucking a tree. Her forehooves cracked the ground, yet plants grew amongst the fissures, which all fed into the roots of the mighty tree she was kicking. This tree bore brilliant, massive apples, wreathed in vines that coiled around one another, just as her great family was connected by unbreakable bonds.

Rainbow Dash, racing a hurricane borne of her wings and filled with strikes of vibrant, multicoloured lightning. In between them was a great formation of tiny pegasi in an ever-shifting formation, all clad in sleek armour.

Pinkie Pie, tied with balloons, floated above a crowd of ponies that shifted into faces both familiar and unknown. They all smiled and cheered for her, and their radiance made her glow in turn.

Twilight returned to the ground, and now close enough to the light, she recognised the area was a magnificent, ornate garden, with many more columns beyond this central circle and long stairways to other circles of similar styles, but she couldn't make out the figures on the other pillars from this distance. It was all very familiar in some respects, but she wasn't quite put her hoof on where.

She headed for one of the garden wings, but heard a sniffle near the top of the stairs. Climbing the steps and rounding a stone wall, she froze as she saw a humanoid figure. Huddled in a fetal position.

Who was-

* * *

* *

*

“... light? Where are- oh, there you are.”

Twilight blinked. Her vision swam and swirled as Sunset offered her a hand up. She reached out with a hoof, focused until she assumed her human guise, then climbed to her feet with Sunset's help.

“I think I was in that 'lag' thing again,” Twilight said as she took in the school hall once more. “But I saw a weird garden filled with statues.”

Sunset cocked an eyebrow. “That's odd. I've never heard of that before. I mean, if there was a garden in my head, it would be Wallflower's work in the Canterlot City memorial park. She's amazing at colour theory with her plants and has a real green thumb besides. I plan to paint it when I get a chance.”

Twilight studied Sunset's expression. She seemed genuine in her confusion.

It wouldn't be like Sunset to hide something from her, so Twilight said, “I guess it's not that important, or maybe it's some side-effect of you being in Equestria and under the effects of Radian's device. It might be intensifying certain aspects of your memory spells.”

“Could be, it's not like I've had much experience with that thing, or using my magic here,” Sunset said and returned to one of the desks, and took a seat. She leaned forward, only her arm melted through the tabletop for a split second. Then both Sunset and the table crackled, flickered and hazed out, before reforming, with her elbow on the desk, chin in palm.

Twilight scoffed at the obvious lapse of focus. “You're definitely tired. It's like you can barely keep this all together.”

Sunset snorted, rolled her eyes and and waved the thought away. “Ah, c'mon, no need to be a broken record about it, I'm fine! We're about to get into the juicier stuff. That'll keep me focused.”

Twilight levitated another desk so it was facing Sunset's, then sat down too.

“It almost feels like you're determined to keep this going no matter what, like you're afraid of me leaving.”

Sunset's eyes flicked off to the side for a split second, then she leaned back casually. “I've got no idea what you're talking about. I just need a five minute breather.”

Twilight pouted and tried to get a read on her friend, but again found the human aspect was still a bit too alien to her. It was as if Sunset was using her human form to cover her intentions in this hub area because all attention would be on her, as opposed to the spectacle of the memories.

Then again, she also realised that Sunset could just as well be using her mental projection to cover anything she desired, and Twilight wouldn't be any the wiser. She couldn't help but think about those distorted voices she had been hearing that seemed separate from Sunset's own. They could be leaving hints, if she could decipher them.

With that in mind, she relaxed as well, and decided to focus on the positives.

“Can I just say I'm still really proud of you for saving Radian and Adagio? After all the evasion and trickery they put you through, and how tense the situation clearly was, the fact you pulled through for both of them is remarkable. Hay, let's not forget you also put your life on the line for them, when Radian was still stubbornly keeping his grudge and even subdued me, Celestia and the others. Nopony would have judged you for letting him go, but you didn't. It's heroic.”

Sunset blushed. “Thanks. That still means a lot coming from you.”

“I'm hoping you can build on that with my closest friends too. I know you've had reservations about it because of their similarities to the human world ones you've come to love, but you're in good hooves with them. They'll love you.”

“Yeah, I guess I have plenty of time to get to know them better,” Sunset said, but rubbed her side, notably where her broken rib was in the waking world. “I know for a fact I'm gonna put my foot- uh, my hoof in my mouth thinking I'm talking to my friends rather than yours. I might get away with Dash if I replace soccer with buckball, but the rest might not be so easy.”

Twilight giggled. “You'll be fine! They're all our friends. They know you well enough and they'll understand if you make a silly mistake like that. I've always been telling them about your adventures in the human world and they had been dying to meet you in a more intimate, peaceful setting. It's just a shame about your time together being cut short thanks to the... unpleasantness with Adagio's siren side taking over.”

Sunset tapped her lips. “Speaking of, can we talk about Dagi for a moment? Between catching up with Princess Celestia and Luna on the first day, then then being bullied by her when trying to hang out with your friends on the second so much I couldn't get anything out of her but more insukts, I've wanted to ask a few things.”

“Sure, I'll tell you what I can,” Twilight replied.

“So I haven't exactly been able to figure out why she's so big over here in Equestria, for one thing. She's huge. In fact, now that I think about it, some of the memories I have of Adagio in the human world appear like she's taller, but whenever we met, she seemed normal.”

Sunset stood up and raised a hand up to her brow, then extended her arm upward as far as she could, seemed dissatisfied, then looked at the high ceiling.

“Yeesh, if she was that big in the human world, it would be like Juniper Montage with that hand mirror all over again.” Sunset then winced. “Or... y'know, me as a raging she-demon. Evil plus power equals big, I guess. Well, more than alicorns, I guess. Uh, not that I'm calling Adagio evil! Now, at least.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, but giggled, then focused on the topic again.

“Radian seemed to think it had something to do with how large sirens were, and that some of that mass carries over. There's some potential merit to that, but it was clearly a cover. I believe Radian's experiments in toying with magic, especially earth-pony magic since that's what Adagio was at the time makes the most sense. Also the fact that, being a siren and even despite her stone being broken at the time, Adagio likely has a tremendous capacity for magic.”

“Just how much are we talking?”

Twilight twirled her hair with her fingers. “Her stone had only just been repaired, and was still in an imperfect state. It also held no charge besides the small amount it would have gained from you and Adagio's fight. On top of that, some of that power had to have been spent transforming her back into a siren. Even despite all of these facts, she was able to shrug off the attacks of four alicorns.”

Sunset whistled, impressed.

Twilight continued, “As for how much power she could hold with her in perfect health and an equally perfect stone, I wouldn't want to be able to guess, but it's above even an alicorn's might by far.”

“Yet you're welcoming three of them back to Equestria? Ballsy, even for you.”

Twilight huffed. “In a straight fight, I have no illusions about my inability to fight them, and it wouldn't be something as foolish as a one-on-one conflict. We have a larger circle of friends than most, and we are unified. I think we could best them. Besides, Adagio seemed positive about helping me and Equestria to protect their own stake in living here. Her wish for another Battle of the Bands, notwithstanding.”

Sunset sat on top of the desk. “I dread to think if we would have stood even a chance at the Battle of the Bands if they were able to fully transform, rather than project their power loosely under the human world's weird way of handling magic. Heck, she shrugged off a few blasts from me when she was an earth pony. No wonder they were feared.”

“Not really surprising,” Twilight said and and folded her arms. “Earth ponies are tougher and stronger on average. If Radian's emitter was just filling her with earth magic, then even her human form may be substantially larger and stronger, if not quite as drastically. I'd estimate she's about five times as heavy as a regular mare. If Radian figured out that connection too, and since we both know he can suppress the positive signals of magic with his emitter, then he must have found a way to disguise Adagio's full human size.”

Sunset gave a nervous grin. “I'll get back to you on that one if I see her being large and in charge. Okay next point, and can we just clarify what happened to Adagio and her stone?”

“Sure, ask away.”

“So this change of personality Adagio suffered. Applejack was the first to speak out about how much she had changed between the days, seemingly just because I was there. She was so angry and violent she struck Radian! That's a serious change, considering we've just spent a good while seeing how much they care for one another”

Twilight closed her eyes for a moment, nodded to herself, then clearing her throat. “I suppose we should start from the top. So we both understand that, in spite of losing their stones, the sirens have always a capacity for magic far beyond even myself, or Celestia it would seem.”

Sunset shrugged. “Yep. They were legendary threats to Equestria akin to a fully powered Tirek, if not moreso since there were three of them and they worked in cahoots with each other and could theoretically convert ponies to fight for them.”

“Exactly. We also know that Adagio had recently reconciled with her sisters, on top of creating a bond with Radian Wave.”

“Uh-huh. That's a lot of friendship for someone who used to have... well, whatever you'd call the Dazzlings' deal with each other. Compliance? Tolerance feels too strong, but they've obviously been together for a long time.”

“We also are aware of the strength of friendship. That the unseen bonds between us all can lend us power beyond any other force known to pony or human alike.”

“We've definitely both rainbow-lasered more than our share of bad guys and misunderstood, corrupted victims.”

Twilight nodded and raised a pointed finger. “Then we can safely assume that Adagio, upon creating these bonds, was filled with the magic of friendship as a result.”

Sunset stroked her chin. “And, naturally, upon entering Equestria, where the power of friendship is far stronger, this likely transformed all that power into a form of... what, a magical overdose? Friendship toxicity? An overwhelming amount of good vibes?”

“Simply put, yes, or such is my theory,” Twilight said and smiled. “And she wasn't used to this feeling. She began singing uncontrollably, crying with joy, being bubbly and chipper. It didn't force her to adopt a positive outlook as much as it amplified it beyond her control.”

“But I guess her nature started wrestling with that extreme positivity, huh?”

Twilight palmed her chin and stroked the tip of her nose as she tried to work out a likely scenario.

“Okay, so hear me out; as the siren's stones began to be repaired, their influence may have been the cause for Adagio to begin succumbing to this darker side again. Instead of the two personalities leaning on one another, they were so far removed that she was shifting between the two based on external stimuli, but they couldn't be completely separated.”

Sunset scratched her neck as she nodded. “Seems reasonable. She had strong positive reactions to Radian and seemed pretty sweet with him, though I'd have to ask Radian if that was the case, but our less than ideal past probably flipped the switch when I was hanging around with her. I still find it strange that it happened before Adagio's stone was fixed.”

“He did say each stone was similar, yet had subtle variables,” Twilight clarified. “Each had to be repaired with a different gemstone as the fusing material, yet I remember the signals used were very close to one another.”

“Yet Sonata's didn't respond that way, nor Aria's. Just Adagio's, flying in like a comet and forcing itself onto her. Like it sensed Adagio considered herself being threatened.” Sunset smirked. “I always wondered if the stones were empathic. I guess we have our answer.”

“Sounds like a hypothesis for you to solve,” Twilight said and fiddled with her fingers. “I'm a little jealous. I was always fascinated by their stones, but you're uniquely qualified to look into the matter.”

“Like you wouldn't believe... if we're right, it only further supports that little revelation I had earlier about the two Adagio personalities thing, once I finish completing the scene. Anyway, so she transformed, but the stone was misshapen. I imagine the pain and emotional baggage that came with a stone that fed on negative energy made Adagio's forced shift into sirenhood all the harder on her psyche; she was just like the Adagio that Starswirl the Bearded met a thousand years ago. Pure malice, pride and anger, all slathered in pain and desperation.”

Twilight smiled once more, “And thanks to you reminding Radian of how important the newfound human side of Adagio was, you managed to give him the push to save his special somepony and brought back her better half.”

Sunset grinned and blushed. “I was badly wounded, barely conscious and almost thought I was delirious but I remember that one moment. I'd just shown Radian that meeting we had on the first day. Y'know, when Adagio sang in front of yo? I then drifted in and out of consciousness, but then suddenly Radian was standing firm and proud in front of Adagio, and he sang from his own heart.”

Twilight felt a giddy warmth within. A song of love. A serenade that drew the good up from beneath the crushing waves of the siren. In case she needed proof that both of her new friends were worth the trouble, that moment sealed it.

The irony of a song defeating a siren wasn't lost on either of them; beating a singer at her own game. Just as it had when the Rainbooms defeated the Dazzlings in the Battle of the Bands, although that was more fighting fire with fire, a war of magical brawn. What Radian achieved was the purist magic; no spells cast, no hostile intent or duplicity, just his heart burning bright and true.

Sunset looked at Radian's door, and the rainy weather within. “On the note of the science whizz, we should really see about Radian's place in all this, huh? Let's explore the day I returned to Adagio's apartment and both confirmed what we hoped and what we'd feared in one fell swoop?”

“If you feel ready for it,” Twilight said.

“All rested and ready,” Sunset insisted again and hopped to her feet. “C'mon, let's start with my memories, and we'll dip into Radian and Adagio's minds when the moment hits.”

They both took on their pony forms, and once more entered Sunset's door.

* * *

Sunset's Door

“Whoa! Hey, sweet thing.”

Sunset's eye flinched. Everything she'd worried about happening to Adagio in this neighbourhood was potentially about to happen to her as she turned the corner to Dressage Avenue.

Three guys leered at her as they sat on the curb: one big and brawny, one short and skinny, and one in between at Sunset's height of 5'10”, with a mean, scar-eyed squint. They had been drinking judging by the empty glass bottles and awful smell of cheap beer in the vicinity. The middle sized of them rolled his shoulders and approached.

“Hey. Don't mind me, just visiting someone,” Sunset said and went to walk past them, but they boxed her in against the wall. Not the wisest path, but she had a... particular style of fighting that meant the environment was important. Her hand glanced against her geode belt-buckle, and her magic perked up. She probed their surface thoughts and gave them a deeper study.

'I gonna get a piece of that,' the leader thought. 'Been a while since I had a tall girl. I really hope she fights back. More fun that way.' He was big on ego by the way he walked. He wanted things, and took them however he had to. He was a threat.

Sunset glanced at the other two.

'Wonder if she's a screamer,' thought the smaller guy, a slack-jawed jerk that reminded Sunset of Snails from CHS. 'Something about girls screaming... yeah, that's the good stuff!' A wimp and a blowhard. He'd pee himself at the first sign of danger.

'Goddamn it, I don't need this on my conscience again,' thought the biggest. He was powerfully built and menacing, but his intimidating facade fell so hard the moment he locked eyes with Sunset, he looked away, ashamed. Peer pressure kept him here, probably a long term and unbalanced, deeply unhealthy relationship with the leader. He could be convinced.

The leader looked Sunset over like he was grading a piece of meat. “Bunch of douchebags live here. How about I show you somewhere nicer? A place where we can have some fun?”

Sunset smiled. “Sounds great! I've just gotta do one thing first. Can we take a raincheck?”

'Smart-ass bitch,' he thought. 'A smack in the face oughtta put her in her place.'

Sunset clenched her jaw as he got within arms reach, then he grinned and suddenly lunged.

She spun and stepped aside. He slammed his knuckles against the brick wall and yelped.

“Oh, dang, a little clumsy there,” Sunset mocked. “That looked like it hurt,”

'That's it. I'm gonna slap the shit out of her,' he thought.

He swung his other arm high, so she ducked low and got some distance towards Adagio's apartment building, then slowly raised her fists.

The squawk of a police siren blared out once as a warning, and all four of them turned to see a cop car slowly passing by.

“Wait, you're using your empathy powers in fights?” Twilight said, looking concerned.

Sunset smirked. “I mean, if you can see what someone's gonna do the second they think it and react, why not? Hey, if you wanna complain, I've got a whole list of private property Pinkie Pie's damaged with her sugar explosives. And besides, I didn't hit the guy, I just avoided him.”

Twilight sighed. “I guess so.”

“For now,” Sunset mumbled.

“What was that?”

“Nothing! Let's carry on.”

The driver rolled down his window and said, “you better not be doing what I think you're doing, Blag Bundles.”

The leader, evidently Blag, put on a huge, false smile and turned toward the cop.

Sunset didn't have time to work any angles here, so she didn't stick around. She slipped into the apartment complex and hurried up to the second floor, and to Adagio's apartment.

She took a moment to re-centre herself, but felt off. It wasn't like she hadn't been in a fight before, but for some reason, that little bit of excitement seemed to make her feel light headed. All the same, she pushed the doorbell.

Adagio answered the door in seconds, no doubt expecting her, but she looked... worried, maybe even a little sad.

“Hey, Sunset. Come in.”

“Hi, Dagi,” Sunset replied and stepped inside. The strange haziness she felt grew more intense, and her vision went pale for a moment. She rubbed her forehead, and thankfully the sensation faded. It was then she noticed another new face.

With her two-toned blue hair, tied back in a simple ponytail, and casual burgundy hoodie and pink pants, it was another of the sirens, Sonata Dusk. She gave Sunset an awkward stare, but didn't seem to want to keep eye contact as she awkwardly glanced around the room.

Sunset adds, “hey, Sonata. It's been a while.”

Sonata waved but doesn't say anything.

Then Sunset saw the firm, fixed stare of her former bullying victim, and offered a neutral, “Radian.”

“Sunset,” he said, just as terse. Radian's holding a few sheets of paper covered in dense cursive writing and mathematical formulas. Part of the deal, no doubt, in the form of his research.

Not wanting to outstay her welcome, Sunset got down to business. “So I've been in contact with Princess Twilight, and she's agreed to let you visit Equestria on the condition you can prove what you said last time. About this whole business about being an earth pony. The portal will only open for three nights, and we're going in two days time.”

Adagio's mood flickered. A shadow of a smile. Radian seemed to remain ambivalent.

Sunset needed to probe the situation a bit more and try to get a stronger reaction, so she added, “but I'll make one thing clear; there's a summit going on in the Crystal Empire, which means there's going to be Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight, and a couple of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria in attendance.”

“No need for the implied threats, Sunset,” Adagio said and put her hands up in a light-hearted surrender, but kept her emotions in check. “I just wanted to see my home again. The open skies, even if I won't be able to fly. Just to breathe the air, feel the ground under my feet. Or hooves, I guess. I'd even like to apologise for my actions from way back when, if anyone's willing to listen. Most of all, I'd like to make travelling there regular thing.”

Sunset felt more at ease, despite the ongoing mental haze. It might be everything she wanted to hear, but they sounded like a reasonable desires.

“If it all goes smoothly, I don't see why not. And if we stay friends, it would give me a reason to visit more often too. Most of the time I visit, it's because I need Twilight's advice or guidance over some magic issue.”

“I'd love that.” Adagio clasped her hands together. “Us putting all the bad times behind us.” She seemed lost in thought for a moment, then turned to her boyfriend. “Speaking of which, Ray?”

He took a slow breath, and handed over the papers. “Here. Everything condensed down about my understanding of converting magic, how it correlates to the pony types, as well as how it proves Adagio's an earth pony by her resonance.”

Sunset remembered her own failed attempts to figure out how magic worked in the human world. The human world's Twilight had a stronger understanding, but she became resentful of the topic after becoming corrupted by the magic of her magic sensor. She had overcome her understandable phobia, yet she preferred avoiding digging too deep.

As Sunset read through the papers, Radian asked, “so this mind-reading thing... does it hurt?”

She briefly looked up and shook her head, replying, “no, not at all,” then resumed reading.

The two ponies watched Sunset's eyes grow wide as she read the research.

“If what he wrote there is half as impressive as what I learned about his device,” Twilight said, “I imagine his formula on magic must have been a revelation.”

Sunset smirked. “Like you wouldn't believe. I never even considered how local celestial bodies would affect a type of metamorphic change on Equestrian magic, and the time-dilation between Equestria and Earth's sun and moon even moreso, since proximity seems to impart more or less purity, depending where the moon is at a given moment. I was looking forward to getting my Twilight's opinion on it, but I guess that'll have to wait until I'm better.”

Twilight opened her mouth to speak, then frowned.

“Something wrong?” Sunset asked.

“No, nothing. I was originally going to visit the human world while you recovered, but now I'd feel bad for abandoning you. Just to let your friends know what's going on, that's all. I could always pass on that information in your stead. It usually gets awkward, talking to... well, myself, but I'll ask Starlight to do it for us. That way we can spend more time together.”

“Then why the hesitation?”

“I was just remembering what Adagio said about spending time with your friends again to rekindle our friendships since she wants to have another Battle of the Bands style fight. I just don't know when it'll be, nor how long I have to prepare.”

Sunset put a hoof around Twilight's shoulders. “Adagio's changed. I doubt she'll be so callous as to force a fight before we're good and ready. And you know what? I'm kinda looking forward to it.”

“We really shouldn't be celebrating getting into fights, you know,” Twilight said with a frown.

“It's less the fight, more the competition,” Sunset said, then pouted. “This is another of those things where me and Adagio have some common ground isn't it?”

Twilight snickered and nodded. “So it seems.”

“This is incredible, Radian,” Sunset said, still shocked at what she'd just read. “I don't even understand some of these more advanced equations, but I definitely recognise some of these figures about Equestrian magic from when I tried to make sense of it. I never even considered how magic would resonate with the our sun's energy, but would need this 'scrubbing' function here to uncouple it and make it functional. I'd love to give this to Twilight... well, both of them, if you'll let me. They'd geek out over this.”

Radian smiled, though it's wasn't convincing, and said, “sure. Like Adagio said, it's time I buried the hatchet. You're helping my girlfriend, after all.”

Sunset still found that such a strange concept. Adagio Dazzle is the girlfriend of a human. It's so strange, she expects Adagio to react poorly to the term, yet as she follow his gaze to the siren, he seems so accepting of the term as well, as if it's second nature.

For every doubt, a reinforcing placation. This was a worrying game.

“Thanks, sweetheart,” Adagio replied to Radian as she walked over to, and leaned on, the device he had made. “So, Sunset, want to check his memories?”

“Yeah, sure.” Sunset folds and slips the research papers into her jacket, and she approached Radian as he offered his arm.

Sunset gently took hold of his wrist, and her eyes flashed white.

“Time to head for Radian's door at last,” Sunset said.”Just so you know, I had to piece a lot of this together. First, I later figured out he was using that bigger device to weaken my magic, and that's the weird feeling I felt when I approached Adagio's apartment. As a result, I couldn't get more than weak shots at his deeper memories, and he was so focused on his hatred of me that I couldn't get much of a read about Adagio and what she was planning, but I at least confirmed a few things looking at his less than stellar past. They weren't good memories.”

“I admit, I'm a little nervous. Knowing where he ends up, happy and with a bright future ahead of him, and knowing what he confided in me? Seeing him at his worst doesn't sound... especially appealing. It's been bad enough seeing him so bitter and angry here.”

“It's even worse than that, but you'll see.”

The bedroom door of Adagio's apartment suddenly blinked, and the room beyond switched to a rainy street. Twilight and Sunset entered the door, and passed into the memories of Radian Wave.

* * *

Radian's Door

You wonder why you come here every time.

Actually, scratch that, you know exactly why you come here; despite one particular waitress' association with her, this diner serves the right mix of cheap and good food and drink, as well as the fact it has an inoffensive, non-distracting aesthetic. Also the rain outside is soothing. That and it's not too far from your current home. Hell, it's not too far from your old one either, but that's just a bad memory now. There's nothing left for you there.

Not a detail that's especially positive for why you're still in this diner, you suppose, but less time walking means more time studying in the dry.

It's a fairly classic 50's style affair (largely because that's when it was established and they've just kept the aesthetic), but that's not important. Studying is. Anything to just forget the world, ignore what's going on now and try to make something better in the future.

“Whoa, what's with this weird inner monologue?” Twilight said. “It's unlike anything else you've shown me so far.”

Sunset rubbed her horn with her hoof. “I think it's just the way Radian handles information and aspects of his surroundings. He treats it like he's looking at his life from the outside, or maybe he steps away from everything to be more analytical. It's also likely it's a way of coping with how much he hated his life at this particular point. I wonder if he's still like that now. Heck, it'll probably be reinforced, since that's what earned him his relationship with Adagio.”

“That's kind of sad, actually,” Twilight said and chewed on her lip, then stuttered, “n-not the relationship thing! Just... having to so split his psyche from how most anypony else handles life.”

“This isn't the first type you've seen an unusual style of inner monologue. You saw Adagio's memories before, back when I showed you a couple of days ago; she's the opposite. She's got such a strong sense of self that she hyper-associates herself with everything around her. She may have changed, but she's still used to being selfish deep down. I hope that how she acts becomes more natural. Anyway, let's get back to Radian.”

It seems you're always doomed to suffer from noise at home. Years ago it was Dad yelling at Mom when you were a kid, and in your current apartment, it's the noisy as all hell neighbours. They're so loud you can feel them through the floor, walls, ceiling... everywhere.

Alright, enough distractions, Radian. Get this damn formula down. Perfect it. Make something of yourself, damn it! Prove your mom's faith was right! Remember the influence of the Langmare waves on the magical bleed against-

“I won't drag this out,” Sunset said as the scene sped past, “but this is what I saw when it came to proof that his inventions were exactly as advertised; he could capture and convert magic and turn it into other forms of magic, or flatly transform it into raw electricity.”

“But, of course, you then delved deeper,” Twilight said.

“Yep,” Sunset said, and the scene flickered.

The tile floor remained, but morphed in shape, and each square shrank. The counter and tables changed styles. Radian Wave shrank subtly and he became younger, and two more figures appeared.

A pale woman with brown eyes, gold hair with a long blue streak was preparing breakfast, and a tired man with sunken blue eyes and green hair sat at the table, reading a newspaper. Radian kept giving him sideways glances.

Mom turned around and handed you a bowl of oatmeal with a smily face made of fruit and syrup. You're too old for the gesture, but you couldn't help but smile at her back.

“Thanks, Mom.”

She gently ruffles your hair and replies, “you're welcome, sweetie.”

You have a spoonful. It's delicious, as always, like nothing anyone else could make.

Dad cleared his throat. “So... given any thought to what we talked about yesterday? About moving out west with me? It'll be better, son, I swear it.”

Mom sighed as she returned to the dishes. “Is this really the best time, dear?”

“Of course it is, Carrie,” Dad said. “We can't keep pushing this back. This city's choking all of us. You'd see that if you weren't being poisoned by your damn sisters.”

She put up a strong front, but her slumped shoulders spoke volumes to her illness. “You leave them out of this. Money isn't as important as happiness.”

Dad folded his newspaper and slapped it down on the table. “Is that why our son is constantly coming back home miserable? He's gotta suffer under whoever's making his life hell so you can stay, with those incompetent sisters in charge of the school unable or willing to protect him? Just so you can stay close to the rest of your family? Is it about The Pigeon's family happiness over the Wave's?”

Mom sighed with a harsh wheeze on her voice. “It's not just about that, Crest! I-”

“Stop fighting!” You plead.

Mom looks at you and the anger fades for a split second

“That's exactly what it's about, Carrie! You barely care about our family! It's all about yours!”

They begin having a face-to-face screaming match. You blank out the words; it's just the worst kind of white noise.

You can't watch this again. You do what you always do as you take your breakfast, leave the room and put on some music, and bottle up the tears. It only makes Mom even more upset.

Dad just wants to chase some job worth more money, no matter how much moving will make mom's condition worse from the strain and stress.

You're gonna stick around for her, and that's it. Dad can go screw...

“Enough, Sunset,” Twilight said, frowned and faced away. “I get the idea.”

“Okay, no problem. I didn't get much more anyway. Let's get out of here,” Sunset said as the memory faded, and they were left in the void.

* * *

The Hub

The pair remained in pony form as they settled back into the school hallway. Sunset's doorway opened as Radian's closed, but Twilight raised a hoof.

“Hold on a second. I appreciate the thoroughness, but that was uncomfortable. And unnecessary.”

Sunset shrugged. “Sorry, I wasn't sure how much you needed to understand why I acted the way I did. Knowing I was even part of the arguments Radian's parents had was just horrible.” Sunset bowed her head and her ears folded back. “It's one thing to have been a monster to everyone, but at least almost every other student could escape me outside of school. Ray had nowhere to go.”

Twilight shook her head. “Enough. You're not that girl any more. And I suppose if nothing else, it tells me a great deal about how much Radian will dig his hooves in when it comes to fighting for those that show him kindness.”

“Guess I can't deny that. Between Adagio acceptance, and you welcoming him and... heck, maybe even me now he's forgiven me, I know I'll get plenty of chances to prove we're friends. I know I'll fight 'til the bitter end for him. As will Adagio if she's able to be brought down from her worst by him serenading her.”

“And I fully intend to prove he belongs as well,” Twilight said, then turned towards Sunset's door. “Shall we? I guess we go from one uncomfortable scene to another.”

“Ugh, I guess...” Sunset blew an errant lock of fiery hair out of her eyes, then mumbled, “yay, I get to see me abuse my powers and weak trust in front of the very pony who taught me to not to...”

Oh n-. S-e's gonna –te me...

Gue-s you'll ---er ch--ge

That's why she'll never tr---y l--e yo-

Twilight winced at the static-like sound. She whispered, “there it is again.”

“Beg your pardon?”

“Tsk.” Twilight remembered she had to try and keep that under wraps. “Never mind. Let's carry on.”

Sunset seemed less sure as she trotted through her door, and Twilight followed.

* * *

Sunset's Door

Sunset released Radian, and tried to arrange the memories she had acquired. It was all fragmented and scattered, but at least it proved that he had in fact made a magic conversion device, and that he had learned the magical frequencies that the three pony races resonated with, meaning that Adagio really would be an earth pony if she entered Equestria.

Not to disparage the sturdiest of ponykind, but her not having access to spells or flight was a huge comfort. Score one point to going ahead with the Equestria visit.

“Weird, it came through all broken and skewed but yeah, I guess what you're saying is true; Adagio really is an earth pony now. And I, uh... saw about your parents, Ray.” Sunset awkwardly scratched the back of her neck and couldn't meet Radian's eyes. “I get your anger, and I'll say it again. I'm sorry about what I did. All I can offer you is I'll do everything I can to help you and Adagio from here on out. I'm not the same person I was back then, and I'll prove it to you if you'll let me. I want to make things right.”

“Now that you mention it,” Adagio suddenly said with a far more classic grin; dark and troubling. “There is something else. Something I've been too worried about bringing up, but if you really want to offer your help, I shouldn't be stubborn and just ask.”

Sunset put her internal guard up. She figured this would be the big sell. All smiles and sunshine, then now comes the real meat of the issue.

Adagio walked behind the couch and Sonata, then leaned down and rested her hands on her sister's shoulders.

“I've been trying to reconcile with my family. I didn't want to be angry and alone any more, so I figured it was time to eat humble pie and confess my failings. After the joy my Ray of sunshine gave me, having Sonata back has really made things feel right again... except something else has come to light.”

Sunset tried not to be too judgemental as Adagio's expression sank. She looked dour and solemn. What was the ploy?

All the same, Sunset asked, “what's wrong?”

Adagio lowers her head, and her orange curls obscure her face.

“I can't be sure whether Adagio doing that head-dip is a tell, or whether she's enforcing that piece of body-language to obscure an even deeper tell,” Twilight said as she flicked her mane back. “Especially since dipping the head is such a natural move when somepony's upset. I remember reading about personalised, self-aware control of body language in chapter fourteen of 'The Las Pegasus Guide to Amateur Gambling: Letting the Pony Ride.'”

Sunset snickered. “Any particular reason you was reading a book on gambling?”

“Applejack had some of her family over, and they were big on Apploosa Hoof'em poker as a socialising tool. I just wanted to at least give them a fair game to appear friendly, but that's beside the point; what Adagio's doing is an equivalent to wearing sunglasses or a hat to hide a twitchy or squinty eye.”

“Well, duh,” Sunset said and rolled her eyes. “Big hair to hide a big, fat liar.”

“That's the interesting thing. As a social creature like-”

“Creature? Really?” Sunset winced. “I still hate that term. It's so demeaning.”

Twilight sighed. “Agreed, we've stopped using words like 'everycreature' in favour of just 'everybody,' but you've misinterpreted my context. I meant it metaphorically. Anyway, a socially focused entity like a siren should be a better liar than needing such a simple, physical shield for hiding her true motives.”

Sunset tilted her head. “So why do you think she's doing it?”

“If I had to guess?” Twilight sat and pointed a hoof at Adagio. “She's cutting so close to her true feelings that she's vulnerable. I think at that juncture, she was carrying guilt for letting her sisters down, but also for turning on them at all. The fact that Sonata was then used in her ploy meant she was even going against her own desires for the good of her plan to get Radian to repair their siren stones.”

“Well, this was the moment I fell for it,” Sunset said and snorted, “so I guess it worked.”

Twilight patted Sunset on the head with a wing. “You were experiencing your own guilt as well over your treatment of Radian. It's only natural. Yet another aspect you share with Adagio.”

Sunset's brow furrowed deeper. “Don't remind me. It's getting spooky.”

“I fear we may be living on borrowed time,” Adagio continued. “I wanted to take a closer look at Sonata's broken siren stone and... well, take a look. Feel it for yourself.”

Sunset bit her lip. That wasn't on her list of likely Adagio Dazzle schemes. But having clear access into Sonata's mind was a heck of a way to ease her fears.

Nonetheless, she frowned and approached Sonata, who looked uncomfortable, but offered her hand. Sunset gently held it and used her empathy powers.

Sunset nodded as the bedroom door opened into the foggy shroud of Sonata's mind.

“Shall we?”

“Sure.” Twilight gulped, and they entered.

* * *

Sonata's Door

For Sonata this was, like, the best! Adagio was super sorry for being the worst ever, and even meaner than Aria after missing her morning coffee. They hugged and hugged some more, and then Radian threw up in the sink, but it didn't matter.

Hugs! With big sis Dagi! She's better again!

She even found herself a pet human named Radian, or just Ray, which was easier. Sonata put a lot of her success down to realising humans weren't as bad as Adagio first thought, even if, like, they were still really weird.

Plus Adagio and Ray they were for realsies interested in The Guardians of Gale Glade! T-triple-G was amazing, and deep! And fun!

It was kinda warm in the apartment though, so Sonata took her hoodie off. Despite all the fun she was having catching back up with her sis, Sonata couldn't help but, like, notice Adagio suddenly looking at her busted siren gem. Then she sighed.

“I'm surprised you're still wearing it,” she said.

Sonata nodded. Though it wasn't important any more, and despite how great everything was in the human world, she still missed Equestria. She told the T-triple-G guys it was her lucky charm.

“Yeah. It makes me feel a little happier. I almost never take it off.”

Adagio made these weird little faces. Not, like, actual small faces, that would be freaky, but little adjustments to her expression as she looked at Sonata's stone, then Ray and his weird energy machine thing.

Then she made a big, toothy grin. Just like she always used to when, like, she figured something out, and was glad to see her doing that again. Sonata had kinda missed it.

“Sonata, could I see your necklace for a second?”

Sure, it didn't work any more, and Adagio had always told her to never let anyone else take it because it was, like, totally important but something was weird. Maybe it was how long it had been since they had been together, but the way Adagio asked for it...

Sonata clutched her necklace and asked, “uh... why?”

“I just want to see it,” Adagio said, still grinning. “For old times' sake.”

This didn't feel right to Sonata, but... she wanted to trust Adagio. She still felt the pain from how angry she was when Sonata left her sisters.

But, like, she remembered episode sixteen of The Guardians of Gale Glade, where Tantra's father tried and turn her against her new friends, and how he was totally being sneaky at making them all seem like they were betraying her! Tantra had to learn the hard way that, like, family and friends can turn you against one another, but that if you don't at least try to trust others and take chances, you'll never find out for sure or experience life, even if it hurts.

Tantra's father was a jerk and, while her new friends weren't perfect, they at least weren't just using her. They respected her wits and bunny-quake powers!

Sonata took that step as she removed her necklace, and handed it over. “It's still broken and stuff.”

“I know. Hold on one second.” Adagio turned to her human. “Ray, why don't you tell Sonata about your device?”

Ray shrugged, but smiled at Sonata. “Sure, I guess? It's a little complicated though.”

Adagio gestures to him and said, “see, he's building this machine that's going to make us a fortune. He'll explain it. He's better at it than I am.”

She headed into her bedroom while Ray stepped beside his weird machine and, like, seemed a bit unsure what to say for a while. He then looked over to Adagio's bedroom again as she appeared and, like, put something on the table behind Sonata, then stood to the side.

Sonata suddenly felt awful. It was the literal worst! She felt light headed, and sick, and her vision was all wobbly.

“I guess it affects people differently to some extent,” Twilight said, “and it goes to show that humans probably do feel a little magic to some extent, although obviously Sonata's hardly a normal human. Either way, having that light magical influence disrupted is still a horrible feeling.”

Sunset tapped her chin with her hoof in thought. “Wait, if my stealing of your crown, and our Twilight's ripping of the dimensions, made magic so common over here, how come everyone didn't feel energised or whatever before? We didn't have magic to feel. That makes no sense.”

Twilight replied, “while true, I had a very interesting conversation with Radian about string-theory.”

“Oh, the interdimensional connection thing? Like one particle can exist in two places at once, so affecting one can affect the other.”

“Precisely!” Twilight smiled. “I surmise that, where humans have a counterpart in Equestria, our dimensional similarities may actually have always allowed a small amount of magic into their lives. I suspect this connection allowed many of our quirks to pass between worlds, even if environmental uniqueness still holds true. Naturally this is only going to grow stronger as magic continues to seep through, and that likely means Radian's idea to use it to power electrical devices might help prevent it growing worse.”

“I wonder if Ray actually even knows if his device is capable of half the things it really is, or whether he just got lucky.”

Twilight looked at the emitter Adagio had placed on the table. The very same that Twilight now owned. “I suspect he knows what he's doing.” She blushed. “I really enjoyed our talks. He's as passionate about the science of magic as Rarity is with fashion, and it's hard not to feel his excitement.”

Adagio went bolt rigid. Her head twitched and unevenly turned to Twilight, and her eyes went black, like the void doorways Sunset had created when returning to the hub.

“You love him, don't you?”

Twilight gasped and paced back away from Adagio. “What? Why is she looking at me? Sunset? What's-”

“No!” Sunset looked between Twilight and Adagio, and buried her head under her hooves. “No, stop it!”

“It's not fair!” Adagio cried out, tears of void streaming down her face and her voice muffling and shifting until it sounded like she was talking over herself. “You were the only one who I-”

*

* *

* * *

The Garden?

“This again?”

The statues, the heroic figure of Twilight looming high like a heroic figure, the beautiful garden.

She was reminded of... that was it! It looked a bit like the Canterlot gardens. The platforms with statues of various historic figures, or even Discord, had been replaced with these columns, but it was definitely similar. This was probably how Sunset remembered them.

Twilight eyed the stairway and trotted over in search of that voice...

Sure enough, she heard the sound of gentle sobbing. A female voice.

“I don't deserve it. I don't deserve her.”

Twilight cautiously approached, hiding behind the column supporting Applejack's proud statue.

“I'm such an idiot. Why do I still hold on like this?”

The figure was humanoid, and had her head buried in her arms, but was cloaked and her features were obscured.

“She's almost perfect,” the figure said between sobs. “You're deeply flawed, you moron. Just stop torturing yourself and just let it go! Why would she pick you? She's going to move on, and forget you...”

Twilight approached and asked, “are you alrig-”

The figure screamed and raised her arms, and there was a flash of light as the area hazed over.

* * *

* *

*

“Oh, ow!” Sonata groaned. “What the heck? I feel all icky?”

Twilight glanced around. They were back in Adagio's apartment. Sunset was watching proceedings as if nothing had happened.

Twilight glanced around, and focused on Adagio as she subtly smirked at Sonata.

“Sunset, did you feel that?”

“Feel what?”

Twilight frowned, then shook her head. She was getting closer.

Ray looked, like, really angry, and he headed to Adagio, but she pushed past him to stand near Sonata.

“Oh? What's wrong, Sonata?”

“I don't feel well,” she replied.

Adagio gasped and seemed to figure something out. “It must be because I took away your stone! Hold on, I'll get it back!”

She then nodded to Ray, who walked behind Sonata while she continued struggling with the bad feelings, then they faded. She still felt dizzy, but it was, like, getting easier to deal with.

Just then, Adagio returned and handed Sonata back her stone.

“It's worse than I feared! What little power is left in our stones is keeping us from... degrading further. Maybe even dying.”

Dying? For realsies? Sonata squeaked, “what!?”

Adagio wrapped her hand around Sonata's, who clutched her necklace out of desperation, and said, “Do you feel better now?”

“A little,” Sonata said and sniffled. “That was, like, the worse thing I've felt in forever.”

The scene faded as Radian gently grabbed Adagio by the arm, said something to Sonata, and pulled his girlfriend into the bedroom.

Twilight asked, “do you know what they discussed in there?”

“Sure,” Sunset said, and changed the scene to Adagio's bedroom.

A stern faced Radian and a blasé looking Adagio were discussing something face to face, but nothing was moving.

Sunset stood beside the pair and said, “so basically Radian called Adagio out for manipulating Sonata, especially so soon after a heartfelt reunion. It was pretty clever, however cruel, so that when I looked into Sonata's memories, she honestly thought she was dying to trick me into getting a stone repaired, knowing I couldn't just let them die. As for Adagio, she swore blind that she was just being pragmatic about getting what she wanted and didn't mean any real harm. It was definitely in service of getting their stones repaired, so I guess it's in-keeping with the 'better' Adagio, even if the method was... well, cruel and manipulative.”

Twilight grumbled. “That could be her middle name, for ponies' sake. Adagio 'Manipulative' Dazzle. Hay, even with her turning friendlier, I suspect I'll be dealing with her ploys when she returns to Equestria, but I hope the worst will be trying witty schemes to drum up business for that juice bar my friends said she wanted to make.”

“So long as it's savvy stuff rather than... y'know, Flim-Flammery?”

“True. I do believe Adagio's a bit like that; she tried to run a bar, so she obviously quite likes the idea of running a business. That's probably why she got along so well with Applejack and Rarity. They're both successful businessmares. Adagio and Rarity share a certain high society affectation, while Applejack's pretty no nonsense and family orientated, which I imagine rings close to Adagio's newfound acceptance of her sisters and practical methods. Anyway, let's move on.”

Twilight and Sunset headed into the front room alongside Radian, while Adagio busied herself with dressing to head out and applying makeup.

“Oh, and before you ask, she's getting ready to go buy breakfast burritos.”

Twilight smirked. “Sonata?”

“Sonata,” Sunset answered with a chuckle. “In fact, we don't really need to see anything else besides Ray bonding with Sonata. It's sweet, but not hugely important. That and if we needed to know how much Sonata was happy to be back in touch with Adagio, she sent her a bunch of cash to help with their rent troubles.”

“I'm starting to really look forward to introducing Sontata back to Equestria,” Twilight said as her smile grew wider. “She seems really nice after her time away from her sisters and having learned that humans aren't bad. And I'm glad Sonata didn't carry and grudges. I wouldn't have blamed her, considering she was right to seek another job and she even did it to bring money back to her family but Adagio just snapped at her..”

“Yeah, Sonata's pretty happy-go-lucky about life these days. A little human spirit for the siren does them some good, it seems. Anyway, where were we? Oh... right, back to my visit... yeah. I worked out some of the plan later when I thought back on them, but in the moment? The fact Sonata believed she was dying to be true? That was my big takeaway because of how shocking it was.”

The main room blurred as Sonata, Adagio and Radian moved, and that moment's Sunset reappeared.

Sunset released Sonata's arm with a gasp. “I don't believe it... that's horrible!”

“I know how this probably sounds sounds,” Adagio said and squeezed her hands into fists as she looked at the floor; awkwardness, but... was it feigned? “And even I wouldn't trust myself if I were in your shoes. Like I said, I was worried about bringing it up at all, because I know what you'll think, considering our history. We need our stones repaired.”

There was no way Sunset could let this happen. There were punishments suitable for most situations, but even if it was obvious Adagio was trying to use this detail to her advantage, the idea of the sirens dying because of the breaking of their stones was too far. There was no other choice, Sunset needed to help, but she needed to try and see what sort of angle would be played.

Sunset said, “which you know is something that I doubt anyone would agree with. But there has to be something we can do.”

“Exactly,” Adagio replied, “and I've been racking my mind for a suitable solution, and I think I have a compromise.”

Adagio squeezed Sonata's shoulder. Reassurance. Forced sympathy maybe.

She continued, “Ray's been working on making a replication of the energy we need to sustain ourselves, and I think if we have even one stone repaired, we can use it to feed without harming anyone. I've been okay for now, but you saw it; the moment I took Sonata's stone away for a closer look, she immediately felt unwell. I was always the strongest of us, so it's probably only a matter of time before I also start to suffer. I intend to get in touch with Aria as soon as I can to see if we can help her too.”

Sunset could only hope that Aria had kept her stone as well, just in case she'd discarded it. She always seemed the most uncaring, apathetic and least sentimental.

She breathed a small sigh of relief as she delivered the good news.

“You're in luck. The Crystal Empire is the best chance we have to repair that stone. Their whole city is made with crystal, and they've taken to repairing artefacts I've sent back to Equestria where I've had to... well, get heavy handed with some of the people tampering with forces they don't understand. I figure a siren stone wouldn't be out of the question. This changes things, though... You're asking to potentially unleash a siren back on Equestria.”

Adagio bowed her head, once more obscuring her full face.

“Please, don't let my past mistakes cost my sisters their lives! I beg you! We won't even need my stone, you can take Sonata's! She can remain here and use Ray's machine to keep herself well; it should be fine so long as she doesn't leave the apartment if it's only a couple of days. That will keep Sonata safe and healthy while me and Ray visit, and you can see about repairing the stone. And you even said, there's all those alicorns and and powerful unicorns there. What hope would I have fighting against that?”

Alarm bells rang in Sunset's head. The devil's bargain was just offered. Adagio was giving a lot for the chance to get back into Equestria. Too much, almost. Yes, Adagio had changed, but so much as to give this much thought to a plan that seemed perfectly safe meant it was anything but.

Any and all trust she had been building just careened off a ledge and was hanging on by a thread.

Sunset paced back and forth as she tried to work out what to do.

“Please,” Adagio said, a hint of desperation in her voice, “you can even take mine as collateral!”

Sunset turned around and, sure enough, Adagio was holding out her own necklace. The very core of her old powers. Sunset remembered when she first met the Dazzlings back at Canterlot High, and they were seeking to infiltrate and locate Equestrian magic, her curiosity led to her reaching for them for an innocent look, but it almost broke Adagio's carefully smooth persona. Sunset remembered the feel of Adagio's fingers digging into her skin. The subtle panic. Siren stones weren't given flippantly.

Adagio pleaded, “a sign of good faith. I'll endure the pain if it starts to happen to me. Our lives are in your care, Sunset. Please, you have to help us!”

Sunset clenched her teeth and gritted them as she slowly reached out. To take the stone would feel like sealing the deal.

It would also feel mean-spirited, as if the sirens' lives needed collateral to make saving them worthwhile to save.

Even without touching the stone, it had weight. Almost like it had power. To hold a siren's heart in her hand...

Sunset couldn't do it. She wasn't that petty any more. She closed Adagio's fingers back around her stone.

'Then just do it?'

She clenched her jaw tighter. Pinkie...

'It wouldn't be the first time you had to be a meanie-pants to beat another meanie-pants.'

What was she doing?

Sunset felt awful.

But would it be worse than endangering Equestria?

No.

No it wouldn't.

Just do it. Being a full bitch was always going to inside of her. It was a weapon to be drawn and wielded as needed. To protect others as demanded. For the sake of her friends and loved ones.

Sunset grabbed Adagio's wrist, and her eyes flashed white.

“Let's come back to this, a little later” Sunset suddenly said. “I just think there's a lot more to discuss about Adagio's mind compared to what happened afterwards. I'd rather not get caught up on unfinished business of this visit to her apartment when we get into the really deeper implications of Adagio's memories.”

“I...” Twilight wondered whether to argue, but she decided against it. “Alright, I guess.”

Sunset fast-forwarded the memory.

The strange weakness Sunset had felt earlier kicked in extra hard all of a sudden and completely disabled her magic. She heard a disturbance elsewhere in the apartment, someone falling over, but she was too focused on keeping her own balance as she clutched her head.

But even that didn't reduce the facts; someone had physically assaulted Adagio! An attempted mugging. It wasn't even successful; the man wanted Adagio's cellphone, but it fell underneath a nearby dumpster, but that wasn't important.

All that siren pride. All that animosity and hate. All that power and selfish desires... all cast away in that one, singular moment.

It was the moment Adagio broke. Everything that made Adagio who she was, shattered. First her stone, then her ego.

She was in denial all the way. She even headed for an overpass with a broken fence and, for a split second, considered taking a step off into traffic. She didn't even know what to do as she walked home, nursing a bruised rib and a black eye, and just laughed.

Then, when she got home, frantic laughing changed to tears. She locked her door to everything and everyone. She barely ate, didn't answer her phone and let the battery drain. Adagio Dazzle, the devious, wicked singer ended that day.

To hell the carefully laid out plans that Adagio or Sunset had. This was a girl who had been traumatised, even if she refused to admit it or confide that in her sisters or in her new boyfriend. Just an isolated soul, her fire doused, her spirit strangled. She had given up, and even if Radian had relit her passion, and drawn her back to a more normal sense of self, it didn't change the fact that Adagio had faced this horrible situation alone, with nobody to confide in.

Sunset felt the tears well up as she grabbed the siren by the shoulders and said, “Adagio... why didn't you call us!? You have Pinkie's number, I know you do! We would have helped! Did you at least call the pol-”

If she needed proof that Adagio's spirit was alive again, it arrived in the raw, punishing fury in Adagio's voice.

“Shut up!!”

Sonata looks at Adagio and Sunset, then asks, “what's going on?”

Sunset glances at Radian. He looks as surprised as anyone here. This wasn't anything except untamed, raw hatred swelling from within Adagio.

She kept her arms down by he sides, twitching and flashing her teeth. She was trying to hold it back, to not break her cool persona, to try to end this amicably.

It didn't hold.

Sunset was too distraught to see it coming and her powers were still acting strange. Adagio's arms flew up and shoved Sunset's own away. She then brought an open palm as hard and as fast as a freight train across Sunset's face.

Stars. Sunset saw stars as she spun and crashed into the wall.

Everything sounded fuzzy, but Adagio's volatile shrieking stabbed Sunset's mind like a bullet.

“How fucking dare you!? Don't you dare pity me!”

Fire turned to water as a tear trickled down Adagio's cheek. She stormed off into her bedroom and slammed the door shut.

Sunset was as confused physically as she was mentally. For all the rage and fury. For all the unrelenting anger, the assault wasn't the strongest emotion inside Adagio any more, even if it was the most harrowing.

It had been toppled. A revolution of the soul. A despotic darkness overthrown by one emotional flame of brilliant light and warmth.

Radian Wave.

Adagio loved him. He inspired her. He had talked her out of her carefully constructed and hateful downward spiral of debt, misery, angry neighbours and apathy. Pulled free from the mire of being attacked and defeated casually by the very humans she once thought herself above and given a purpose, a goal to strive for.

He had shown her how to fight once again, to be Adagio Dazzle once more. He had picked her up with his words in a way she had never felt in all her life; encouraging and supportive, no strings attached.

The days once more had colour, and flavour, and sounds and smells. Radian had made her sing again! Adagio had forgotten how much she actually enjoyed singing, and his teasing and pressure forced her to remember how much the lyrics just flowed from her.

And in that moment, Sunset knew what she had to do. If Adagio could love a human with this depth, Sunset had to nurture that feeling, and bring it forth. She had to help the Dazzlings repair one of their gems so they had a chance to live. The gain far outstripped the potential loss.

But that didn't change the fact that Sunset was absolutelyseething at being cheap-shotted with that slap, however justified. She had to get outside and breathe out the fire in her lungs before the images of busting Adagio's nose bubbled over into action. Sonata didn't deserve Sunset's fury, and her guilt to Radian helped her keep it in check, however complicit he was with Adagio's schemes.

She turned to them as she clutched her cheek and said, “I'll let Twilight know, and try and get them to repair Sonata's stone.”

“What did you see?” Radian asked. He was being honest, and even his clear hatred of Sunset had been overridden by his worry about Adagio.

Sunset looked at Adagio's door and realised she could have had some petty revenge by revealing those secrets. But...

“I guess Adagio has her reasons for covering this up, and it's not my place to betray that. I just had to be sure about something, but I never expected...” She shook her head; she had to stop before she made things worse. “Please. I believe she wants to be better. Just look after her, okay?”

Sunset left the apartment and was into the dingy, trash-strewn stairwell that smelled deeply of urine and faeces before she snarled under her breath. She punted a half-empty beer bottle into a frothy, glittering mess on one wall, pulled out her phone, and used the front-facing camera to check her cheek.

A big, red mark and possibly a bruise for her efforts.

“Remind me to kick her ass,” Sunset muttered to herself, and stormed out of the building.

A crash. A sharp pain. Cold shards down her neck. Stars in her eyes again.

Someone just cracked a bottle over the back of the head. She staggered, and arms locked around hers and held them behind her.

“She's a slippery one, so hold her tight,” said a voice... Blag. “Now, where were we, you bitch?”

He grabbed her hair and pulled her face up to his. Ugly jerk, small nicks and scars, crooked nose and a shaved head of what looked like dark purple hair from the stubble. He stank of body odour and beer.

Her eyes flickered white. It wasn't a perfect glimpse of his mind, but it was enough. Blag Bundles; more than one girl was nursing a scar from this asshole, and not just physically.

“You might have to refresh my memory,” Sunset said with a sneer. “You didn't leave much of an impression on me. Maybe because you can't hit shit.”

He turned her head and stared at her reddened cheek. “Guess someone did. What, you visiting a boyfriend and he slap you for being a smart-mouthed whore?”

“Nah, he was just softening me up for you, because you're a pitiable, limp-dic-”

He slapped her on the same cheek, pulled her head up, and raised a fist.

“Exactly what was the plan here, Sunset?”

“Get him mad enough to make mistakes. Relax, I've taken a few hits in my time.”

Twiight gave Sunset a worried look. “You could have at least tried diplomacy.”

“Just watch.”

Sunset screamed bloody murder, and the three all flinched. A few window blinds opened, a few walkers stared down at the road at their group and Blag scowled at the growing attention.

“Get'er to the usual place and keep a tight hold, Arch. Shiver, if she tries to run, do what you gotta. I'm gonna go make sure nobody's gonna be a hero and follow. Besides, I'm gonna want some privacy with this one.”

Sunset was pulled down an alleyway and around a few corners. The weasily guy, Shiver, walked in front, meaning the brawny, troubled one holding her was Arch. Fewer and fewer windows, until the only ones in sight were boarded up and they reached a dead end.

Shiver pulled out a flick knife and toyed with it for a bit while eyeing Sunset, before he collapsed it again and saying, “gotta take a leak. Don't fuck up in the meanwhile, Arch.”

Sunset glanced over her shoulder at Arch, then reached out with her fingers and had them glance against his, and activated her powers.

Broken Arch. He had a girlfriend, and they had a daughter together. Two years old.

Arch liked to cook for them. His mom was a chef and taught him everything he knew, and that's how they bonded. They all meant the world to Arch, and his mom and girlfriend kept telling him to leave Blag to his own downward spiral, but he didn't know how to break free from Blag's grip. They were old friends, and as he sank lower and lower, Arch tried to help him, and felt obligated to keep trying, even as his own life fell to ruin.

He was on probation. Another arrest and he was going to be locked away for long time.

Sunset said, “you don't have to do this, you know?”

Arch sighed and said, “stop talking.”

“I mean it. You don't want your daughter growing up without you to look out for her.”

“How'd you know about that?”

“And ask yourself this, Arch; guys like Shiver and Blag? What do you think they'd do to a woman like your girlfriend? Alone, without someone like you looking out for them? How vulnerable your daughter will be close to the influence of jackasses like them? When they have to walk to the store, without you, what do you think'll happen?”

Arch's grip softened. “They wouldn't...”

“Really? Are you sure? They wanted a piece of me just for passing by. Or do you want me to be another notch on that guy's belt?”

Arch's grip weakened further.

Sunset could have broken free, but didn't.

“Listen. The only way Blag's going to learn is if you stand up to him. To stop being complicit in getting his way. Just step back and leave. Please.”

“I...” Arch let her go. “I just wanted to try and help...”

Sunset slowly turned around and gave him a smile as she shook the glass shards out of her jacket. “Listen, Arch... you cook, right? There's a diner on the corner of Sugarcube and Pastry street. Ask for Pinkie Pie, and tell her Sunset Shimmer sent you. I'm sure she'll be glad to give you a job. They're planning for a big event for this fashion parade coming up soon and I know she'll look after you.”

Arch shrugged. “Why're you helping me?”

Sunset winked. “It's what I do.”

Arch couldn't look her in the eye. “C- can you help Blag? He used to be nice as a kid...”

Sunset put a hand on Arch's shoulder. “You'll do that already by showing him how much better you'll be when you're not enabling him, that you won't allow him to get his way. Now get going. I'm gonna give him a reality check.”

Shiver emerged from behind the dumpster and drew his knife. “Hey, what the hell're you doing?”

Arch scowled at his 'friend'. “Leave it, Shiv. Get lost.”

Shiv ignored Arch and approached, only for Arch to get in the way and shove him back a dozen feet.

“What did I just say?”

Shiv tried his best to be intimidating, but it wasn't convincing. “Blag ain't gonna be happy.”

“That's his problem,” Arch cracked his knuckles and loomed over his friend. “Now buzz off before I lose my temper.”

Shiv squinted at Arch, but relented. He glanced around at Sunset, then raised his hands in submission and walked away. Arch then followed him.

“Thanks, Sunset... corner of Sugarcube and Pastry, right? I hope I don't screw up...”

Sunset nodded and waved. “You'll do fine! Pinkie's really nice.”

“Hey, guys!” Blag called out as he rounded the corner. “What the fuck?”

Arch gave Blag a look, then shook his head and walked away.

Blag went to follow, but Sunswt called out. “your problem was with me, asshole.”

Sunset limbered up as Blag snarled at his lost cohorts, then back at her.

“Pfft. Fine. Your funeral,” he said and marched up to her.

Sunset's geode flickered again. He was going to remove his jacket, throw it at her and go for a sucker-punch.

She let him pull his arms out of his jacket, and he threw it, obscuring him.

Sunset stepped back, and raised her guard.

The punch emerged the second the jacket fell. She batted it away and jabbed him in the nose. He took another swing, she dipped to the side, twisted and drove an elbow into his eye.

His attacks were getting more frantic. He tried a body-blow, she twisted with the blow glanced off of her side harmlessly. She kicked his leg and threw him off balance. Then he caught his feet, stood up and swung way too high.

Sunset hooked her arm around his and pulled it down. It locked his limb her neck shoulder, and she threw her weight down on his elbow. Not enough to break it, but enough to make him cry out and fall to one knee. She pulled him and kept twisting his arm, and he staggered, unable to balancen.

She then hooked his other arm so he was facing the floor and bent over, then she slammed a knee into his face.

“You listen to me, shithead,” Sunset snarled as she dug up the old Sunset Shimmer. The monster bubbled to the surface and brought with it all the anger she had felt from Adagio's slap.

“There's two ways this ends,” she continued. “Either you apologise and we go our separate ways or I keep bashing your face in until it's a fine paste. What's it gonna be?”

He was going to protest, then try to pull free.

“Get fu-” He tightened his muscles, pushed forward to free his limbs.

She dragged him at the same time as he pushed, and he stumbled again. Sunset then threw out another knee to his face. His nose cracked and seeped blood.

“I won't ask again!”

“Get offa me!”

Two more knees. He couldn't see straight. He was afraid. The pain was mounting.

“Alright! Alright! I give up!”

Sunset released him and stepped back. He stumbled. Injured, but his pride flared up.

He was going to take another wild swing.

Sunset stepped back as he staggered and raised his undamaged arm.

She slammed a boot between his legs with every ounce of her strength.

Blag whimpered and fell to his knees as he grabbed his crotch, then slumped over, face first onto the floor.

Sunset squatted beside him. “Here's a new offer; if I see you acting like a douchebag in the future, I'll kick your ass again. I have a friend who lives near here. If I hear from them that you've been doing stupid shit, I'll kick your ass again. I'm also gonna be in contact with your friend, Arch. If I hear from him that you've been doing stupid shit, I'll kick your ass! Again! You hear me?”

He just grunted in pain.

Sunset slapped him on the back of the head, grabbed his collar and pulled him back up face to face with her, and roared, “do. You. HEAR ME!?”

He was petrified. “Yeah, I hear ya! I hear ya! Please don't hurt me any more!”

“Good.” She let him slump back down again. “I hope I don't see you soon, Blag. Next time I you won't be able to walk.”

Sunset stood and left, glad to have vented her anger. She felt the back of her neck, only to feel something sticky and warm.

She was bleeding from the broken bottle he hit her with.

“Damn it,” she grumbled. She pulled out her phone and made a call.

“Good afternoon, this is Meadowbrook Veterinary practice,” said a familiar, gentle voice on the other end. “This is Dr. Fluttershy speaking, how can I help you?”

“Hey, Fluttershy!”

“Oh, Sunset! Is- is Ray alright? I've got his enclosure all ready for your trip.”

“He's fine! I'm just more impressed you took my advice; addressing yourself as doctor? Nice! That'll make people respect you more. And answering the phone yourself? You didn't even stutter!”

“Oh, my receptionist caught a cold, so I had to step in for her. I was so worried about her health... um, but anyway, what can I do for you?”

Sunset didn't need to use her empathy powers to know she was about to annoy Shy. “I need a favour...”

“Please tell me it's not another fight injury.”

“It's just a small cut! Back of my head and no debris that I can feel. It just needs cleaning and maybe a stitch or two?”

Fluttershy sighed. “Look, I did it last time because you were nearby, but go to a hospital!”

“Ooh, look at you, being all firm! You're kicking butt and taking names these days, huh? I'm so glad you're standing up for yourself!”

Shy raised her voice a little. “Compliments won't change my mind, Sunset.”

“Aw, c'mon, Fluttershy! You do realise I'm technically a pony, right?”

“That's not how it works! Oh, for goodness sake...”

She was beginning to relent.

Shy continued, “look, I don't want to keep enabling you getting into these fights!”

Okay, less relenting, more digging in her heels. Sunset had to admit, she was proud of her for sticking to her morals, but it was time to bargain.

“Didn't you say it's inoculation week for the shelter? And if you're without your assistant, doing that alone's gonna be a lot of scratches and bites, no matter how well you handle the animals. I'll tell you what, you treat my scratch, I'll take all of yours for you from the critters.”

Fluttershy sighed, this time easing down. “Okay. But please stop doing this, Sunset. I keep worrying about you.”

“Promise I'm not taking any unnecessary risks. I'll see you in ten minutes, okay?”

“If you find a mini-mart or something, get some clean water on the wound, and some gauze if they have it, then apply pressure. The last thing I want you to get is an infection. You've got to take more care of yourself.”

“Sorry, I let that run long,” Sunset said. “I just wanted to hear Fluttershy's voice.”

Twilight gave Sunset a look. “And show off your martial arts, no doubt.”

“I mean... were you impressed?”

Twilight pouted, then sighed. “A little. Anyway, back to Adagio?”

“Sure. Lemme just take a quick break first.”

The human Sunset stepped over a manhole cover, which swirled into a void, into which the two ponies hopped, back into the hub.

* * *