Sunset woke to an empty bed, a bed which she was not acquainted. It took moments for her paranoia to set in, rising with a start to look about the room. It took seeing a picture of her three lovers hung on the wall that the events of the night prior slammed back into her groggy mind like a sledge hammer driving a spike into concrete. On the note of heavy concrete work Sunset’s head felt like she’d gone twelve rounds with Luna. “Ugh ok I’ll never drink again till next tuesday,” Sunset said, laying her head back on the soft feather pillow, allowing her eyes to drift closed once more.

It happened suddenly, the images, the song, the dreams, that inky black figure. A fresh headache, stoked by every beat of the heart, every pump of blood to the offending area, Sunset remembered the fullness of what Adagio had presented to her. “Ok so maybe I’m gonna start drinking right now instead…” Sunset placed her head in her palms, noting the near soundless entry of Adagio. Sunset smiled, her senses were by no mean magically heightened, but enough adventures with Luna had taught her the kind of attention to sound that made her the martial artist she was.

“You needn’t pretend you don’t know I’m here, I watch you when you sleep, nothing gets by my Sunny,” Came the soft voice of Adagio, her impressive chest now pressing itself into the side of Sunset’s head. Sunset, ever the kitty cat, nuzzled gratefully into some of the best breasts in the world.

“Morning love, any chance you brought some water? An Aspirin? Perhaps convinced Equestrian Luna to blacken the sun?” Sunset said, her words going from soft and loving to an exhausted groan as she finished her inquiry. The hangover was going nowhere quickly..

“Hmm two out of three, and I’ve been burning greasy bacon downstairs for us with the shades drawn, so almost,” Adagio chuckled as she spoke, moving away from Sunset to get the aforementioned water and pills. Sunset groaned something about missing her pillows as she took the medication and sighed.

“So, I’m guessing that you have this all planned out, today that is?” Sunset asked moving to exit the bed, noting for a second time the large number of framed photos with her three lovers posed in different locations through the ages.

“Not at all. I intend to show you this archive of our lives, to introduce you to the newest room here, and then to relax,” Adagio said offhandedly, placing a plate of bacon, eggs and toast before her girlfriend. The Fluttershy hangover removal system was going to make billions one day, but for now it was just worth that to the two women. To top it off Adagio had fixed coffee slightly stronger than the starebucks blonde blend that Flutters packed.

“Dagi I think you’re trying to seduce me with this whole breakfast in bed, better coffee, and obvious lack of a bra,” Sunset said, chomping into her food. Adagio snorted her coffee at the last item and cupped the generous mounds beneath her silk night gown. A fashion Sunset hadn’t gotten until recently, and now thoroughly enjoyed as her girlfriend toyed with her un-supported chest.

“Oh Sunny, if I wanted to seduce you this morning I’d have worn breakfast instead of serving it,” this revelation made Sunset laugh in between bites of egg. Adagio moved from the bed, letting her hair out of the bun she wore it in when cooking. Even in her current state Sunset couldn’t help but admire the wild beauty that was her lover’s hair. Every curl cascading down her back, the color of fire and the shape of a waterfall.

“You always fixate on these curls dear, why is that?” Adagio mused, not turning to face Sunset.

“Never able to get a thing past you Adagio,” Sunset said with a chuckle, rising to her feet and approaching Adagio, embracing her lover from behind boldly pushing her head into the mess of curls. It was like being submerged into an ocean of softness smelling vaguely of mangos and papaya, at least when said hair was docile. “I think it’s because, while you’re always so calm, composed, almost everything that Rarity is but turned up to ten, your hair is like this crazy wild side of you. It’s hot,” Sunset whispered, finding Adagio’s ear through the have of hair, and nipping gently at it, eliciting gentle moans of pleasure.

“Mmm words like those would have fed me for a month years ago, but now there’s something so much better about them,” Adagio turned, embracing Sunset, focusing her intense red eyes on hers. They stayed that way for a moment, bodies pressed warmly together, the silk forming the only barrier between their sheer nude forms. Sunset could feel the heat rise, prickling at her nethers as angry lightning, but not for a second could she break the gaze of her lover.

Adagio read her, she could feel the lust of her lover growing, the desire, indeed the need to be touched. Adagio allowed her graze to become hungry as she moved in for a deep passionate kiss, slipping a gentle bite onto her lover’s bottom lip enjoying the myriad of sounds that Sunset made. Pulling away Adagio gave a coy smile, loving the redness in her Sunset’s cheeks “Now let’s take you on a tour darling, our ride will be here before you know it, and there’s quite a bit to cover,” Adagio said plainly, stepping back, and draining the remaining coffee in her mug.

Sunset became aware of herself in that moment, off balance, completely flushed, and rather humid between the thighs. “Oh so we’re gonna play Dagi? Well then,” Sunset’s internal voice rang as she straightened her body and walked over to Adagio “Of course love, lead the way,” Sunset punctuated her command with a swift, powerful smack to Adagio’s near bare ass.

Adagio took in a quick breath, in the prior weeks Sunset had demonstrated over and over her prodigious skill in the subtle art of spanking. Just enough sting, just enough pressure, it sent bolts of white hot lust coursing all through Adagio. It also had the unique effect of drawing out a submissive blush. “Ah, yes, well shall then let’s begin,” Adagio fumbled, internally cursing at the lack of grace as she proceeded out the door of the second story bedroom.

Sunset smiled, noting for later just how useful a good smack to the ass can be in their little game of erotic cat and mouse. It takes a few moments for the lusty fire in her belly to calm, but as it does Sunset becomes aware of just how old the place is. The woodwork held a veneer that waxed and waned in places, all meticulously made, but obvious flaws express the non-mechanized nature behind its production.

“This house is, as you’ve no doubt guessed, very old. It was the third to be built in this area, and though we renovated it a number of times, the portion we’re in now is older than the city, the state, I believe we may have had it built at the height of one of the first wars in this land actually,” Adagio explained, moving her hand across an older looking desk, holding a few knick knacks and halting at the end of the darkened hallway. The house itself really was rather modest, not some grand old colonial like the town’s governor’s mansion, but still large enough to have been affluent years and years ago.

“How long did you guys live here?” Sunset asked, amazed by the idea that her lovers had actually inhabited this town for so long.

“Oh off and on over the last few centuries, we used to keep numerous properties all about the world, and moved around constantly,” Adagio whispered placing a hand on a framed picture of the three women in large fur coats in a mass snowstorm. The hats they wore emblazoned with a hammer and sickle. “Oh Anastasia, you were far too young,” She whispered sadly, tutting and shaking her head.

“Whoa whoa whoa, Adagio you can’t just imply stuff like that and let it go. The human’s had a pretty crazy history, almost as crazy as back home, and they lack magic. How much history did you really shape?” Sunset asked, somewhat perturbed by the idea that she was seduced by a woman that may have known some of the most evil men ever to live. Admittedly she still wanted to jump Adagio then and there, even if she admitted to having sex with Rasputin or some such thing, but more than sex Sunset was beginning to crave answers.

Adagio smiled sadly and nodded, taking Sunset’s hand, and leading her to the downstairs foyer. True to her words the blinds were drawn, and a warm fire raged in the small fire-place of the rustic family room. “This will take a minute to explain fully, I’ll make more coffee, and give you a lesson in this world’s history,”Adagio motioned to two large overstuffed chairs beside the fire, both looked equally comfortable and Sunset gratefully snuggled into one, enjoying the modest luxury of warm comfort as Adagio fetched the life giving brew.

In this time Sunset took in more of the house. noting a few old human artifacts a compass, a musket, even a distinctively arabian looking rug. “Heh kinda reminds me of the males from the Apple family back home,” Sunset chuckled softly at her own terrible pun, and was stopped suddenly when she beheld what looked to be the most expensive of the little collection of history, a large painting done in oil of the three women. The style was distinctive, swirling colors that gave way to an impression of Adagio, Sonata, and Aria. They stood in a field of sunflowers, but it seemed muted by the beauty in the soft detail of their faces.

“You’ve seen his work before dear, look in the top right corner,” Adagio whispered, placing a mug of coffee, and a large french style press on the table by her side. Indeed Sunset did know the artist, everyone knew of him, Vincent Van Gogh, in a painting dated August 1890.

“Whoa…” Sunset whispered, taking a sip of the elegantly smooth coffee offered to her. Sunset had half expected to see the name of a dictator, so it was refreshing to see such a great artist had been impressed by her lovers.

“He had a fancy for Sonata, called her simple yet elegant, but he was already far gone when we met. He shot himself shortly after we left, even back then it hurt Sonata. She eventually wrote a song about it,” Adagio explained, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Lemme guess, Vincent?” Sunset asked, knowing all too well the soft sad ballad that grew in popularity in the early 1970s. The ladies had influenced every other part of history, why not music?

“Yes, and she kept it secret until she found her perfect singer for it, nearly two centuries. In his first live performance of the song he called it the perfect Sonata,” Adagio grinned at the happy memory. “Our history goes well back, are you certain you want to hear everything? Not all of it is good…” Adagio whispered, her voice laced with deep regret.

Sunset stood, walking over to her lover, and cuddling into her, crowding slightly the chair. “Tell me a story Adagio,” Sunset whispered preparing herself for the entire history of the Dazzlings.

Adagio smiled softly, petting Sunset’s glorious flaming red hair, “We arrived in this world in their year 1500, our home country in Equestria was the land of Lipizzano, thus we landed in Italy. Wonderful time to be around, we turned the hearts and minds of men from their pious studies, or their academics. Did you know the original draft of that drab Mona Lisa had slightly more robin egg tint?” Adagio began, to a stunned Sunset.

* * *

It took a full three hours, moving occasionally to look at paintings, old weapons, photographs, and even listening to some music on an old phonograph. The ladies had met fifteen famous composers, twelve famous painters, ten infamous dictators or tyrants, and over two-hundred authors in their time amongst the world. Adagio had explained that the love of strife had often drawn them to the crucibles of history, but that artists were often drawn to the same places, thus for every terrible story where the ladies had a hand in plunging the world into a terrible conflict, there were myriad stories about their adventures .
“Ok so I get the adventures, I get the fact that you guys sorta changed history in certain places, but why does everyone outside of this country have such… Odd names?” Sunset asked, sipping gently from a cup of tea. The change in spirit had become necessary after Sunset nervously finished off the whole pot of coffee during Adagio’s story about sneaking messages to the French army for Joan of Arc, and then betraying her to the French as a heretic.

“You know I have no idea. Probably something to do with the fact that this whole town is just a bit more connected to the pony-world than the other portions of this world. It’s this way in every town that shares a name with the pony-world, but I have no idea as to the magic behind it,” Adagio mused, partially speaking of the subject to herself.

“I guess, but really what kind of stupid name is Tom or Harry? That doesn’t tell you anything, heck doesn’t mean anything. Silly humans,” Sunset chuckled at the idea of having some short meaningless name. Adagio chuckled at the sentiment, rising and directing Sunset to do the same.

“One last thing I must show you here, it’s really the only reason we kept this old place,” Adagio said, moving to Sunset’s side and directing her to a door a short distance away from their perch in the living room. Sunset took the direction, and silently moved to the brass handle, opening the door and releasing the somewhat stale air.

“Oh… Adagio,” Sunset stammered, again dumbstruck by the size of the room she’d just entered. Had she been considering the floorplan of the house this whole time she’d likely have figured out that such a grand room existed, but it wasn’t the size of the room, nor the decor. As glorious, and extravagant as it all was there was something more to it.

“Do you like it?” Adagio asked, leading Sunset to the four ornately framed pictures at the end of the grand room. The room itself was indeed plush, filled with artifacts, but less of the historical variety, more of the artistic. There were grand old instruments in cases bearing names of their makers. a few paintings by the Dazzlings, none perfect, but all likely significant to the artist who created it. As Sunset approached the four frames she noted the wooden floor on which she stood, and her fair musical ear picked up the acoustics in the room. It was artistic overload, and managed to evoke a certain desire that Sunset hadn’t felt since the Rainbooms farewell show the summer before college. More to this feeling Sunset noticed the more modern instruments as they approached the, now obviously very large, frames.

“Adagio, it’s beautiful…” Sunset breathed, placing her hand on the frame of the picture she’d been direct towards. It lay between twin guitars, both a copy of Sunset’s own, and the frame itself, upon close inspection actually told Sunset’s entire life story. However it was the canvass within, the image of Sunset, hair down on a hillside with the sun sinking behind her, her body clad in a stunning white dress. It was the look in her eyes, the entire scene a love story to what she’d become, and to top it off the artist had seen fit to adorn Sunset with glorious flaming wings, like that of a phoenix bursting forth from death itself.
“This portrait is our tribute to you, our most dazzling lover, our Sunset Shimmer, and we decided to hang it here, in our own shrine to the artistic light that shone even when our souls were at their darkest. It serves to us as a reminder of the woman that has helped to rekindle that flame.” Adagio stepped behind Sunset, wrapping her arms around the waist of her lover.

Sunset remained lost, the awe of such a thing simply leaving her speechless. For a time she studied the beautiful photo, and she could identify the brush stroke of each woman. Aria’s harsh strokes in the landscape, Sonata’s gentle taps filling in the most detailed pieces of Sunset’s frame, and at every shadow the skillful hand of Adagio, blending all of the work into one harmonious piece.

Sunset didn’t know how long she looked at the picture, she didn’t realize that she’d begun to allow tears to fall openly. It took Aria and Sonata walking into the ballroom, and joining the hug to finally snap Sunset out of her haze. “It’s beautiful” Sunset sobbed, her voice cracking slightly as she turned, planting her head firmly into Adagio’s chest, sobbing freely now. Aria, Sonata and Adagio all wore misty smile.

“Consider yourself part of our reborn family,” Adagio whispered, patting Sunset’s back. It took a moment for all four women to compose themselves, the emotional moment not lost even as the four women spread apart, holding one and other’s hands in a line as they looked up to the brass placard above all four paintings.

Sunset finally had a moment to take in each painting, Adagio looking stunning in a red ball gown, microphone in hand. Aria looking bold in a black suit, cut to slightly accentuate her bust, almost looking to be some kind of lounge singer. Then there was Sonata, looking much the queen in her green and blue stage piece, a mix of contemporary meeting with classic. Half dress half bustier, taking her normal position on stage. The paintings were brilliant, all in the same combination of styles, making it clear that the love of each woman was in every frame.

“Well I guess she likes it,” Aria said brazenly, handing a grinning Sonata a few bills, and earning a fake angry stare from Adagio and Sunset. The tension broken all four women laughed, pulling into a hug again.

“So this means you’re a part of the family in the biggest way Sunny, we’ve never shown anybody else these paintings,” Sonata explained pointing to the large purple curtain that would easily shield the entire wall from view. “Plus we put in guitars for you, and Adagio used to hate guitars!” Sonata exclaimed, Adagio placing her face in the palm of her hand.

“Well I love it, and I love you, all three of you. Thank you so much for all of this,” Sunset paused, moving to give a gentle kiss to her three lovers. “I still have some questions, but this more than helps me get everything, even the secrecy before. I appreciate you all so much for choosing to include me in your lives, and to be honest you brighten my day just as much as I brighten any of yours,” Sunset caught a few protests from this statement, but after a few kisses everyone was smiling again.

“Regardless, there is one last thing that needs to be done before we leave, and take a luxurious bath in the master bathroom,” Adagio said, noting the light in her lady's eyes as she mentioned more time in the Siren’s monstrous bathroom. “We need something to hang up there,” Adagio said flatly pointing to the blank bronze placard above the paintings.

“Hmm how about the bad-ass bitch quartet,” Aria said, earning three separate slaps upside her head. “Oh the fuck that was cute!” She said, earning a collective laugh from Adagio Sunset and Sonata.

“I’d suggest something, but I’m hungry, and tacos don’t make for good names, sooooo,” Sonata let her statement hang in the air, giving a goofy look to her girlfriends.

“You guys are silly. How about the Dazzling Muses?” Sunset suggested, earning an appreciative look from Adagio, and matching smiles from Aria and Sonata.

“Muses? The givers of artistic creativity? Older than the gods or the titans? I rather like it, a bit of old a bit of new, yes Sunny that’s brilliant,” Adagio said, moving to kiss Sunset greedily, a move copied by Sonata, and then Aria. The effect left Sunset delirious and fully hot and bothered.

“Buh… Bath… Now,” Sunset muttered stupidly, dragging her three girlfriends out of the room, and into the car. Only just allowing Adagio to lock the door.

As the ladies left none of them could be happier, their futures brighter and more open than ever, and in the back of Sunset’s lust addled mind she considered that it might be fun to venture back to the old cove of the Siren’s, and once again take up the guitar.

“Hey Sunny, how about we get dirty back here before we get clean at home?” Sonata whispered, bringing a deep red blush to Sunset’s cheeks. The blush only deepened as Aria moved in to the left of her, leaving her in the middle of an Aria and Sonata sandwich.

“Oh my, I do seem to remember a lovely scenic route home. Try to keep it reasonable ladies,” Adagio hummed, starting the car and backing away from the old house of memories, and the hill of magic.

As the lust filled vehicle pulled away none of the ladies would have noticed the shadow in the bedroom window of the old house. They would not be there to hear the soft laughter, or perhaps the subtle rustling of trees in the cool October air. “In time,” a voice would ring out, in the empty halls of the house, across the hill, and over the well guarded honeycomb of magic.

Author's Notes:

Yaaaaay! I almost continued with the chapter, but I kinda felt it had a good solid end, so despite the slightly shorter update I think it ended on the right note. Speaking of notes I chose not to try an detail the Dazzling's entire history in our world, or to bullshit you smart folks with fake "not names" for people in the human world. I think I did an ok job, but if I didn't throw my ass to the mat, and suggest improvements. Also if anyone wants to hear more of the Dazzling's history, which is like the SIlmarillion of my silly story, lemme know, I wanna branch into the fun little one-shots occasionally that I see so many folks do. regardless lemme know what you thought, make critiques and have a wonderful day. I'm gonna go sleep now, because I'm holding down three jobs.