The Second Most Important Chapter
Sunset Shimmer wasn't really sure why she was down at the beach that night. She'd just been taking a stroll.
But as she stared up at the moon over the waves, she smiled to herself. It was beautiful, really. The moon was almost full, and the way the light reflected off the ocean waves was simply amazing. The shimmering mass of foam washed up on to the beach, then slowly retreated, leaving behind a few glittering seashells to be scavenged by beach goers intent on happy memories.
And...also, singing?
Sunset frowned, looking up and around. The singing voice wasn't great, but it was pretty good. If distressingly familiar...
Sunset finally found the singer, who seemed to be striding along the pier at one end of the beach. Though the voice wasn't enough, she recognized that hair immediately.
Adagio Dazzle.
Sunset frowned, staring. She'd been practicing her voice, clearly, but that didn't explain what she was doing out at the pier, striding up to the edge, dangerously close to falling into the waves.
A drop in the ocean, never to be seen again.
A single, magicless Siren, amongst a crowd of humans...
Never to be seen again.
It clicked, suddenly. Sunset was sprinting down the beach, full speed, and let the scream rip from her throat. "ADAGIO, WAIT!"
The singing paused, the shocked Siren turning around as Sunset slid to a stop on the pier, panting. It was a sprint that could rival Rainbow's racing speeds, sand kicking into the air and onto the wooden pier, her shoes squeaking against the boards.
"Wait--Adagio," Sunset panted. "I know...you're upset. You wanted recognition, and you can't get it. It's...tough, I know. I've been there--I've been here, Adagio. It's not the way! Please--"
Adagio smirked, then folded her arms behind her head. Using her feet, she pushed herself backwards off the pier, into the ocean.
Cursing to herself, Sunset ran to the edge and jumped in after her. She barely had time to take a breath before she hit the freezing water, the salt stinging her eyes, as she looked around. The ocean was dark. A stark contrast to the world above, where she'd been able to seen just about anything. Adagio could have been anywhere in those depths, yet Sunset swam deeper, intent on finding her.
A pulse from her geode came at a timely arrival. She looked to her right, seeing Adagio floating confidently in the water besides her, a big, smarmy grin on her face. She wasn't holding her breath--in fact, she seemed to be enjoying breathing very deeply. Sunset stared, as Adagio's hair floated out behind her, the former villain's arms crossed over her chest as she relaxed.
Adagio tilted her head, pointing to her throat, where a set of gills had suddenly appeared.
Oh, right. She's a Siren, you idiot.
The feeling of her lungs beginning to burn reminded her that she, for one, couldn't breathe underwater.
She struggled, the weight of her clothes keeping her from full speed as she swam back towards the surface, but--wait--where was that again? Everything down here looked the same. She should have taken a deeper breath, she was beginning to realize--if Adagio had needed help, she wouldn't have been able to give it.
Sunset hit the pier, and attempted to climb up it. Her arms were feeling like lead, her thoughts slow. Her arms waved through the water, but she'd never been an adept swimmer in the first place. A few forlorn bubbles floated past her eyes as what little oxygen she had left her lungs.
Her fingers slid off of the pier's posts, as she descended. Her eyes focused on the one thing in the entirety of that oceanic landscape--Adagio Dazzle, looking shocked and surprised as her archnemesis drowned in front of her.
Serves her right, for being a dumbass, Sunset thought at herself, before the world faded to black.
Something warm had been pressed up against her face. A sweet flavor, almost, but then--blessed, blessed air.
Sunset rolled over, propping herself up on hands and knees, and began coughing out seawater. She gasped, taking in sweet breaths of air that, at that moment, tasted better than anything Pinkie Pie had conjured up from her miraculous oven.
As Sunset's gasping slowed, she became aware of another sound.
Adagio spit out to her side, then began rinsing her mouth out again with a bottle of water. Sunset stared as she spit it out again, shuddered, then repeated the entire thing.
Sunset wanted to say something, but couldn't manage to stop gasping for enough time to get any words out. Instead, she fell back on to her back, staring up at the sky, and let her lungs do their job.
"Blegh," Adagio commented. "Never. Never again. That was--ugh. No. Next time, I'm gonna let you drown. I swear it. I'm not doing that again."
"Well--huff--thanks for--" Sunset coughed. "The save," she finished, gasping.
The somewhat concerned face of Adagio appeared above Sunset. Her hair, normally a giant ball of curls that gave Pinkie's a run for its money, lay down flat across her back and shoulders. "If you couldn't swim, why in Grogar's scruffy beard would you jump in after me?" she demanded.
Sunset winced. "I--thought you were--"
"Does 'Siren' mean nothing to you?" Adagio snapped. "I may have lost my voice, but that is completely irrelevant from my gills, you imbecile."
Sunset winced. "Sorry, I...I was trying to help..."
Adagio sighed, closing her eyes and tilting her head up to the moon. She sat like that for a long moment. The waves crashed against the beach again, before descending once more into the briny depths that Sunset had nearly just sunk into.
Don't think about that, she thought to herself. Think about anything else.
"As far as you knew, I still wanted to kill you," Adagio finally said.
"To Tartarus with that," Sunset muttered. "I went through...that before. I wasn't going to let you--"
Adagio put a finger to her lips. "I am insulted," she said. "No magic is...painful to live with. But it's better than that." She shook her head. "It stung for a good length of time, I won't lie. But suicide was never on the table for me, Sunset. I think too much of myself for that."
"Well, uh--" Sunset coughed up the last dregs of sea water out of her lungs. "Sorry to insult you, then," she said quietly.
"Apology accepted," Adagio said. She stared at Sunset for a minute, then sighed. She picked up a lunchbox, then slipped her other arm around Sunset. "Come on, up you go," Adagio muttered, helping her to her feet.
"Thanks," Sunset said, leaning on Adagio as the Siren began to walk.
"Thank me by losing some weight," Adagio replied. "Do you think you're light?"
"I'm really light when my clothes aren't full of sea water," Sunset said, forcing her leaden legs to take step after step.
"Then maybe ditch those," Adagio snapped.
Sunset let the pronouncement hang in the air for a moment. "That hungry for another kiss, eh?"
Adagio glared at her. "I could just leave you here," she said.
Sunset laughed, but it was short lived as it fell prey to more coughing. "Okay, fair enough," she admitted.
Adagio lead the way to a decent sized van, with a pair of fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror and several bumper stickers conveying rude messages.
Adagio opened the door, letting Sunset crawl into the backseat. "Take it easy," she said. "And buckle up."
Sunset complied, as Adagio dropped her lunchbox in besides her. Then, the Siren walked around to the driver's side, sliding in behind the wheel.
"How'd you manage to get a license?" Sunset asked. "I'm reasonably certain you're not a US citizen."
"We were here before the Indians," Adagio snapped. "And a lot of things are easier to get if you are willing to..." She hesitated, hands on the keys. "...Mind control anyone who gets in your way," she finished quietly.
"You feel bad about it?"
"Sometimes," Adagio said, turning the keys. The car started up, and Adagio's eyes flicked from the rear-view mirrors to the road ahead of her as she began pulling out of the beach's parking lot.
"That's a good sign," Sunset said. "You've...you're doing good, Adagio."
"I don't need to hear you saying that, Shimmer," Adagio snapped.
"Did you want to?"
Adagio didn't answer that, instead fuming while she drove.
Sunset closed her eyes, leaning back on the seats. "Thanks for the help," she said.
"I couldn't leave you to drown, even if I was tempted to," Adagio muttered.
"You don't have to be driving me to--" Sunset paused. "--Where, uh, are you taking me, actually?"
"Alabama."
Sunset raised an eyebrow.
"No, you idiot, your house," Adagio snapped.
"How do you know where I live?"
Adagio didn't answer.
"Dazzle," Sunset said, firmer, opening one eye.
"So, do you remember that nondescript black van that parked across the street every once in a while?"
"Ah. I think I get it."
Adagio nodded. "Oh, I thought about pulling the trigger, but--darn it, we both know it would have brought me nothing but more trouble. On me, I'd have considered it worth it, but my sisters were just starting to get their feet under them again. I couldn't do something like that, and...risk hurting them."
"And from there, you became--a nice person." Sunset smiled, closing her eye again. "You're doing great, Adagio."
"Can you shut up for five minutes? As a thanks for saving your life?"
Sunset didn't answer. The remainder of the drive--six minutes, if Adagio's radio clock was correct--passed in silence, and Adagio sighed as she pulled to a stop in Sunset's driveway.
"Can you move on your own now?" she asked quietly.
"Probably. I think I could manage getting in on my own, so if you want to head to your own house--"
Adagio sighed, then turned off the car. She got out, then moved to Sunset's door.
Sunset unbuckled her seatbelt as Adagio slid the door open. "Up you go," she muttered again, as she once more supported Sunset's weight. "You have your keys?"
Sunset fumbled in her pockets, before nodding. She pulled them out, but Adagio took them out of her hands. "I'd rather get inside quickly," she muttered, fitting them into Sunset's lock. The lock clicked, and Adagio swung the door open.
Sunset hit the light switch as they stepped inside.
"You should get out of those clothes, or you'll catch cold," Adagio said. "Where's your bedroom?"
"This is moving rather quickly, Adagio."
"I swear to Faust, you make one more joke like that..."
"Okay, okay," Sunset laughed. "Um, second floor."
"Bathroom?"
"First floor."
Adagio nodded, leading Sunset over to the bathroom. Sunset sat on the toilet lid, as Adagio said, "I suppose I'm going to go fetch your sleep clothes."
"Thanks, a bunch," Sunset said.
"It's just me fixing my own stupid mistake," Adagio muttered. "If I hadn't been screwing around with you, I wouldn't be in this mess."
"True, but at this point, you've gone above and beyond the call of duty. You're being nice."
Adagio put a finger to her lips. "Sh. Don't tell."
Sunset smiled. "Don't worry, I won't."
Adagio crept up the stairs, leaving Sunset on her own. Sunset smiled to herself.
It was strange, thinking that Adagio, and her sisters, had simply become better people on their own. Perhaps that was arrogance speaking, assuming that, of course, no villain could redeem themself without her personal intervention.
"Alright, here," Adagio said, dumping the pajamas roughly in Sunset's lap. She then closed the bathroom door. "Please don't slip and crack your skull on your bathtub," Adagio added. "I do not want to try explaining to your friends that no, I actually didn't do it."
Sunset laughed, easing off her waterlogged clothing. "I won't," she said. She coughed again. Maybe a doctor should check up on her? She wasn't actually sure what normal and healthy 'recovery from nearly drowning' looked like.
She paused, one arm through the sleeve of her sleep pajamas, as it began to dawn on her that she'd nearly died.
Sunset shuddered, then finished getting her pajamas on. Her hair was beginning to dry out, returning to its normal, curly puffs that numerous people, in semi-affectionate tones, referred to as 'bacon hair'.
She vehemently disliked the nickname.
Sunset wobbled to her feet, then opened the door. She hesitantly stepped into the main living room, then plopped down on her couch.
Adagio sat down next to her, handing her a mug of hot cocoa. "Drink up," she ordered.
Sunset let out a contented sigh, taking the cup in both hands. "You are a lifesaver," she whispered. "Thank you...just...I...thank you."
Adagio stared at her, then smiled. "You're welcome."
"It's late, so, if you'd like, you could stay over here. It might be dangerous to try driving home at this time."
"I was going to stay nearby anyway, to make sure you didn't slip and fall of your staircase while still in wet clothes," Adagio answered shortly. "Honestly. Who puts their bedroom on the second floor?"
"I didn't build the house," Sunset snapped back.
Adagio opened her mouth, but...seemingly, couldn't think of a response, so she just shut it again. "Well, just give me a minute. I'm going to explain this to Aria and Sonata."
Sunset winced. "This is going to make me look bad, isn't it?"
"Well, I assume you were going to tell your friends the whole thing anyway, when they ask why yo didn't show up to school tomorrow?"
"I can still go to school," Sunset argued.
Adagio raised an eyebrow.
"...Probably not," Sunset conceded.
Adagio smirked, then pulled out her phone. She called her sisters--then tapped the arm of the sofa while waiting. "Dammit, Aria, just pick up the phone already."
After another minute, the phone crackled, and a sleepy voice answered, "Yeah?"
She grinned. "Ah, there you are. I won't be coming home tonight, Aria. I met Sunset on the beach--she seemed to be under a mistaken impression, of sorts, and dove into the water to 'rescue' me." Adagio smirked at her.
"Is she dead?" Aria asked in a bored and completely disinterested tone.
"No, she's alive. Swaddled in blankets and nursing hot cocoa. I had to carry her. She's not light, and I'm tired, so I'll be staying over at her place."
"...Are you sure that's the best idea? They don't really like us."
"She jumped into the river to save me. Whether or not I needed it, I think I'll be fine for the night. I'll be heading home sometime tomorrow--no, I don't have a plan as to when."
Aria sighed. "Whatever, 'Dagi. Just call me if you get mad and murder her, 'kay?"
"If I decide to do that, I'll send you photos," Adagio snapped. "Ugh. You are insufferable. Try and see about getting Sonata a phone tomorrow so I can talk to her instead of you."
"That sounds like work."
"Is it worth it if you don't have to talk to me?"
Aria let out a sigh as she thought it over. "Fine," she relented, hanging up without further ado.
Adagio smiled fondly as she closed the phone. "Goodnight, Aria."
"That was adorable," Sunset said, letting out quiet, "Squee!"
Adagio glared at her. "This thing does have a camera, so you are aware," she hissed.
"Okay, okay," Sunset said placatingly. "You win."
Adagio turned to the TV in front of them, then picked up the remote. She didn't push any of the buttons, though.
"I do have cable," Sunset said. "So, like, it won't embarrass me if you open it up and--"
"You said, 'I've been there'," Adagio interrupted. "Sunset. Are...are you okay?"
Sunset winced. "Yeah. Nowadays. The girls...it was shortly after the Fall Formal. I was feeling...really, really badly about everything I'd done, and no one was getting over it. But...they caught on. They went and talked to me, and set me to seeing a therapist. It helped. A lot."
Aria put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm...ugh. I'm not good at this. I know the things I said to you probably didn't help anything on that front, did they?"
"It's fine, Adagio. I got through it. We all did." She smiled. "I still threw myself off a pier, but it was for quite the opposite reason as that."
"Sunset," Adagio said chidingly. "I'm saying I'm sorry here."
"And I'm saying it's okay. That's the scripted response, isn't it?"
Adagio stared at her, then flicked on the TV. "Alright. Let's find something to pass a little time until you wind down enough to fall asleep, okay?"
"Gee, alright, Mom," Sunset muttered, sipping from her cocoa.
Adagio smirked. "Any preferences?"
Sunset nodded. "One or two, maybe."
Adagio tossed the remote into the air, caught it, and then dramatically pointed it at the TV. "Well, make your choice."
Author's Note
Hello, again! I got a little bored and spent last Sunday writing this one-shot real quick. I'm glad it came out to my liking, and I hope you guys enjoy it! I might make more of this, with just Adagio and Sunset being buddies with each other, because honestly, I really like reformed Dazzlings, and it's kinda sad that we didn't get more with them in it.
In any case, I hope you enjoyed this one. It was fun to write and motivating to publish! Well wishes, and see you next time!