Time passed, as it is wont to do, and before any of the women wanted to admit it their excursion to that secluded glen was coming to an end. The trip itself had been wonderful, every day filled with adventure, and each night a party. On the morning of their final full day Sunset awoke to what she considered to be absolute perfection. Her lovers all close to her, all snoozing quietly by her sides. She glanced over to the small clock radio, those bright red symbols forming the hour of 6 a.m. She smiled, early rising hadn’t ever been her thing, but after a week of waking only to party Sunset needed a time where she could get in some bone-breaking exercise without the constant offer of another beer.

It came as a slight surprise to Sunset that, as she surveyed the women she met another set of open eyes. What surprised her more was that those eyes were not the crimson pools of Adagio, rather the light pink shade of Sonata Dusk greeted her. Sonata smiled softly at her lover and silently rose from the cuddle pile, causing Pinkie to roll over and clutch a pillow. Sunset watched with a degree of amazement as her bubbly girlfriend stretched and motioned for her to follow. Thus with a slow movement Sunset moved from Adagio’s death grip, and went to Sonata’s side. Hand in hand they walked out of the door, and as it closed behind them Adagio’s smile widened ever so slightly…

**************************

“So have you ever run before?” Sunset asked, pulling on a thick black plastic shirt, over which she pulled a sweater. The ritual was one Luna had warned her only to use if she felt masochistic, as it would cause her run to be all the more painful. Sunset had taken the advice in stride, and rarely ran without some kind of sweat suit on.

“We all exercise more than ya think Silly Sunny, and once upon a time I was actually a pretty good runner!” Sonata stretched her legs with various quick snapping movements, ensuring that she wouldn’t get a cramp from sudden lactic acid buildup that static stretches brought. Sunset could appreciate the fact that Sonata had wanted to take the run with her, even if she had opted out of wearing weights and a sweatsuit.

“You two scrubs gonna talk all morning and make me run by myself?” came a voice from behind the two. Sunset rolled her eyes at Rainbow’s ever cocky disposition, but had to admit that when it came to sprints there was no matching the blue female. It was no surprise to Sunset that Rainbow had been along the same brainwave, hell before ROTC they’d run together every morning.

“Scrubs eh? Well we’ll see about that soldier girl, how about a 15K? First one to get from that farthest mile marker and back gets to kiss Fluttershy?” Sunset smiled with pure evil in her eyes, locking onto the angry gaze of her comrade in sweat. A passerby might have seen flames around the two staring women, both of whom looked more ready to spar than to go on a friendly fun run.

“Hey silly butts!” A voice came, causing the two competitive women to glance over to Sonata, now running in place. “Let’s go before I end up breaking up some kind of weird fuck fight.” Sunset had to laugh at her chipper girlfriend’s suggestion, and the blush that it had instilled in R.D..

“Okay fine, but if I win you two have to film us next time, and I expect good shots,” Rainbow fired back, suppressing her blush to the best of her ability. Sunset had to admit, part of her might have considered losing, she had no doubt that the not so secret kink of Flutters would be fun to watch in action, but Sunset’s sense of competition was stimulated more, primarily by the fact that her old nemesis would glean too much enjoyment out of it.

With that all three women took position, earbuds in, music blaring, and at a motion from Sonata, the race began. Sunset’s surprise at Dash’s speed was obvious, as the blue woman exploded off her stance, gaining massive ground against them. However after a moment she’d caught up to the blue woman, and matched her stride. What had been a real shock to both women was the fact that Sonata was not far behind, always just ten steps back, smiling like a maniac.

In this fashion the race continued, mile after mile, none of the women stopping the chase. Sunset ran like a fighter, every five minutes slightly reducing her speed, then after the next minute slamming well ahead of R.D.’s constant sprint. By this point neither woman could take true note of Sonata, whom was still just six steps behind, the whole race.

As the two women saw the 7K marker they sped up, blazing around it and quickly passing Sonata by with only three strides. From there it was the downhill trip, and as the minutes passed by Sunset felt her heart slamming against her ribs. Sweat poured from her, her teeth ached from the effort, but her mind was utterly serene. Light seemed brighter, her musical din of hateful guitar and vocals transformed to a raucous bit of celerity in her effort hazed mind as her cardiovascular system worked to keep her body functioning. It had taken a solid hour and five minutes, by no means a world record but still an incredible time, and the house was well within eyesight.

Sunset met Rainbow’s gaze, they were neck in neck, and both had slowed a bit. That changed in an instant, both women slamming into high gear, moving faster than even the sprinting start to the race. The house blurred with Sunset’s focus to win, and in a horrible moment she saw a streak of blue pass her by, R.D. had turned it on harder, she’d managed to best Sunset as a runner again. The thought alone infuriated her, Sunset felt her legs shift into overdrive, her breaths were ragged, and hellishly painful, but she felt herself catching the blue blur. It ended in a moment, her legs near collapsing beneath her Sunset wobbled over the porch steps of the house.

After a moment Sunset swallowed her pride and looked up from her crouched position, ready to shake Rainbow’s hand in congratulation. “Ugh, R.D. that w-Sonata!?” Sunset shouted seeing her cheerful girlfriend, soaked in sweat and hands on her thighs as she gasped air into her lung. Tugging her earbuds out Sunset felt the silent roar of nature embrace her, or perhaps it was the retching of R.D. off in the bushes across the road.

“I get, the… kiss!” Sonata squealed through gasps, falling onto her back. Sunset couldn’t believe it, but as she replayed the race in her mind she recognized, Sonata had been closing the entire time. After a moment Sunset made her way beside her girlfriend, managing to tune out Rainbow puking and cursing, likely from the moronic amount of pain they had all just put themselves through.

“Sona, what the actual fuck,” Sunset managed, collapsing beside the giggling blue woman.

“Ever the show off, Sona dear, we must teach you to hold back when it comes to land swimming,” came the velvety voice of Adagio from somewhere close. Sunset and Sonata both looked up to see the entire crew, all enjoying a cup of something warm, or an egg sandwich, still in their PJs. Adagio wore her typical smile, and red silk gown, but the most beautiful feature she currently her hands.

“WATER!” Sonata gasped taking a bottle from Adagio and gulping the contents greedily. Sunset threw off her normal composure and mirrored Sonata, though her gulps were more measured.

“Help… me,” croaked Rainbow from the bushes, as Fluttershy rushed to help her girlfriend, water and ice in hand. Sunset sighed, her heart rate slowly coming to a rest from the exertion of the ran. Standing Sunset began a routine of stretches to cool down as the other women approached.

“I’d swear you two have dicks hidden somewhere from watching that pissing match. Well other than the plastic one hanging in the basement back home,” Aria said with a sigh, much to the rankle of Adagio.

“Yes well, ahem, it was quite the display. I don’t remember ever seeing you two run as quickly. Tell me darling just how far did you run?” Rarity asked, shaking the crass nature of Aria off and taking a sip of her coffee.

“It was a 15K, super fun short run, but boy oh boy am I outta shape!” Sonata replied with a smile. Sunset balked a bit at the idea of a sub hour and a half ten mile run being considered ‘out of shape’, but recovered as Adagio and Aria nodded at the sentiment.

“Indeed, back in Equestria Sonata was very nearly the fastest creature we’d ever seen,” Adagio said with a contemplative glance. “To put a point on it the manner Starswirl the Bearded first used to try to contain us involved imprisoning us in a lake, Sonata swam about the small body of water so quickly that she created a water spout, which we rode back to the sea,” Adagio finished the story and shook her head.

“She’s a freak of nature, explains why she can eat like a horse and never gain weight,” Aria chuckled picking Sonata up for effect, and eliciting a giggle.

“Oooooooh, that explains why she goes all wooshy when we cook, and why she never uses an electric mixer. That’s still super neato by the way!” Pinkie chimed, snuggling into Aria and Sonata.

Rainbow had finally gotten her heart down from overload mode and was now a foot away from the rest of the women, leaning heavily on an exasperated looking Fluttershy. “Coulda mentioned you’re a real life Acoustic the Badger before some of us killed ourselves trying to win!” Rainbow whispered dejectedly, earning a kiss from her giggling girlfriend.

That kiss did it, Sunset smiled up at Adagio, and Adagio back at her. Sunset had, at this point, grown to realize just how much Adagio could read a room. “Oh Rainbow darling?” Adagio practically sang, her voice sounding poisonously sweet enough to kill local foliage. Rainbow looked over to Sunset and Adagio, and immediately realized she had, in some way or another, given herself as prey to the most dangerous beings in existence. She prayed to every god she knew of that they may have mercy. “Was there not some wager for your little fun run?” There were no gods, and mercy was gone for Rainbow.

“Yeah Dashie, I seem to remember you offering a prize to the winner of the race, now what was that?” Sunset asked coyly, putting her hand to her chin, shielding her ever widening grin as she gave a contemplative and evil look.

“Uh, I-what? No Hablo your language?” Rainbow nervously chuckled, trying her best to make eye contact with no one. After a second of dodging the question R.D. felt her neck begin to heat up. Fluttershy tightened her grip on Rainbow’s side, and with a very nervous chuckle Rainbow looked over.

“What did you do?” Fluttershy demanded quietly, her eyes now dangerously sharp.

“I...I,” Rainbow sputtered pathetically, knowing her doom for betting her girlfriend was moments away.

“MINE!” Came Sonata’s cheerful voice, breaking the focus of the scene on Dash, as she extrapolated Fluttershy from the prismatic haired woman. Bending the formerly shy woman at the back Sonata looked deep into her eyes, giving the most horrendously lustful look she could muster. Fluttershy squeaked, and in that second Sonata closed the gap, kissing the pink haired woman hard on the lips.

Fluttershy's eyes snapped wide, and for a moment she shook in the clutches of Sonata, then all at once a blush spread lightly across her cheeks, and her eyes fogged over. Sonata kept the kiss up for a few minutes, her tongue positively dominating Fluttershy’s as the kiss gained in fire and momentum. After a nip of her lips, andFluttershy’s shivering mewl of pleasure Sonata gave Fluttershy a quick peck on the nose, and winked at her.

“Oh my,” Fluttershy whispered breathlessly, as Aria and Sunset whistled and whooped at the scene. Adagio simply patted Rainbow on the back and shook her head knowingly. As for Pinkie, AJ, and Rarity, they simply stood back and held up cards with the number ‘10’ written on them.

“You taste like strawberries, I like strawberries,” Sonata whispered in an uncharacteristically husky fashion, before licking Fluttershy’s cheek, and whirling the shaking, and internally screaming female back to her full height. Sonata then held her hand out, into which several monetary notes fell, along with a bra and an IOU with a very naked polaroid of Pinkie on it.

“Uhh Flutters?” Rainbow croaked nervously, knowing well what the face of her girlfriend meant. Somewhere between lust and embarrassment Fluttershy was an inferno on the inside.

“Would anyone else care to place a bet on me?” Fluttershy said cooly, causing all present to feel a very slight pang of guilt for their fun. Admittedly it was well intentioned, Fluttershy not exactly being a chaste or secretive woman, but she did seem genuinely offended if her tone was anything to go by. “No? Dashie, what have you to say for yourself?” Fluttershy continued, her voice growing slowly more dangerous.

“I-uh, s-sorry?” Dash squeaked under the intimidating gaze of her lover.

“Apology accepted,” Fluttershy said with a bubbly laugh, closing her eyes and smiling brightly at everyone. Moving past her girlfriend she nodded, “Besides I won a bet too,” Fluttershy stated simply holding her hand out to Adagio, whom smiled with intense gleed. Adagio then motioned for Pinkie to come over, and from their hair Adagio and Pinkie extracted one black leather harness, and a rather intimidating looking piece of pink plastic with two defined ends respectively.

“Buh-huh-wuh?” Rainbow sputtered, now looking to the other women, all of whom gave either looks of sympathy or downright evil glee.

“Go getcha some tight ass,” Aria whispered, giving a lewd hand motion to Rainbow.

“I will admit I abhor parting with the conqueror, but an accord is an accord. I’m just shocked you managed to make everyone squirm like that. The stage may yet have a place for you,” Adagio said, handing the equipment over to the smiling yellow woman.

“Baby-steps Adagio, that’s how I got this far, and that’s about to be the case,” Fluttershy whispered with a fiery look in her eyes. With a slight saunter towards the door Fluttershy looked back, “Cumming dear?” She asked with a wink.

Rainbow shook her head, and followed behind her girlfriend, knowing well she was about to learn a lesson… Again.

***********************

Sunset sighed as she settled into the muscle loosening waters of the roiling hot tub. She was going to desperately miss it once the time came to head home. Closing her eyes Sunset allowed herself to relax fully. She was fully aware of the presence behind her, she knew any semblance of peace she might have had was about to be quashed by the games of her lovers, but she didn’t care, in this moment, all was good.

“Mmm Dear Sunny, if you didn’t look so peaceful I’d be forced to toy with you,” Adagio whispered softly into Sunset’s ear as she gently embraced her lover from the side. Sunset peeked open her eye and smiled, “Oh come now that’s cheating!” Adagio demanded shaking her head, smile widening with every passing moment. Before it had been the perfect moment, but somehow now it was even more sublime. Then the explosions began.

Sunset and Adagio’s eyes shot open as the sound of ten explosions ripped through the back door of the house. They reacted in the same way, running at full speed directly into whatever chaos their friends and lovers had created. Sunset managed to just beat Adagio, and diving into the living room Sunset beheld… A very large television, with all of the ladies playing a game.

“WHAT IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA WAS THAT!?” Sunset screamed, her eyes bulging with a mixture of fear and rage that only the thought of losing friends to explosions could bring. Adagio, having realized exactly what had happened simply stood behind Sunset, her eyes cut dangerously as she took in the room, it took roughly half a second for her eyes to soften, her sneer fading to a smile, and then a chuckle.

In the room all of the women sat, Fluttershy stroking Dazzle on a plush armchair, Pinkie, Rainbow, Aria, and Sonata on the floor, game controllers in hand, Rarity in A.J.’s lap. This is what the room had looked like 30 seconds before the explosion. Now the women on the floor were frozen in place, hair straightened to a ridiculous angle. Fluttershy had been pushed into the chair, the plush cushions having all but absorbed her. AJ and Rarity had gotten it the worst, as their chair hadn’t been beside a wall, and thus had been blown back, throwing them into the kitchen.

“WHAT?!” Pinkie screamed at Sunset, her hair straighter than it should ever be. “I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” she continued, waving her arms wildly. “WHY ARE THEY LAUGHING?” Pinkie asked, or rather, shouted at the still shellshocked room.

After Sunset and Adagio had managed to pick themselves off the floor, and regain the ability to breathe through laughing, and the game had been turned well down everyone sat comfortably in the room and watched the game commence. The girls were playing some variant of a shooter game that put them on a team locally on an entire battleship, fighting against another team online. The explosions that they’d heard had been the first volley of fire from the boat’s cannons.

“This is rather an interesting departure, normally such games are a simple matter of having better aim, but this looks considerably more detailed, Sonata where did you find this?” Adagio questioned, her nose deep in the game’s manual.

“I went out yesterday, and the little game shop in that town had it as a new release, kinda reminds me of the stories Grandpa Dewey would tell us,” Sonata explained, never taking her eyes from the screen. Sunset had to chuckle at the ability for the game to suck the least attentive of the group in, each of them fulfilling specific roles with Pinkie firing the cannons, Rainbow assigning airstrikes, Aria aiming guns and firing rockets, and Sonata taking the role of the captain of the ship. It was a fairly realistic little experience, but there was enough brevity from what likely be a boring process in real life to actually give the experience plenty of action.

Sunset watched with minor interest and sipped a protein shake, just enjoying the recovery and kinship. Adagio had finished reading the manual and was watching the match like a hawk, and occasionally pointing out poignant weakness in the other team’s strategy. Sunset chuckled and shook her head, standing to grab herself a slightly harder beverage as a reward for her earlier run.

As she opened one of her last beers Sunset took a moment to admire her reflection in the sleek black finish of the refrigerator. She had stayed in the buff after the explosion incident, and as such she could marvel at the body she’d managed to sculpt for herself. Her flesh lacked the pure definition of Rainbow’s, but her muscles were far larger, at this point just behind the mass of A.J.’s. Her calves moved seamlessly up to her well rounded butt sloping smoothly up to the toned back wrought in the flames of many training sessions with Luna. Setting the beer down Sunset admired her tight abdomen, and struck a pose to show the tightness of her chest while flexing her arms. She gave a cocky smile, and held the pose for just a moment.

“Jeez Sunny, I knew you were, like, strong as a horse, but I didn’t expect a free show,” Sunset blanched, turning quickly to see Sonata sitting at the kitchen’s bar counter. Her girlfriend gave a cheeky wink, sticking her tongue out as she balanced her chin on her palm, but something about her look made Sunset feel more naked than she was, which was completely. “Aww you look totally skittish, you do remember that I’ve put my face pretty much all over you right?” Sonata asked giggling at the blush her comment elicited.

“I- ok you caught me I was totally flexing, by the way when did Adagio teach you her magical evil stare powers?” Sunset asked, taking her beer and downing a generous portion.

Sonata smiled deviously and moved beside Sunset, getting into the refrigerator for a bottle of Apple Family hard cider “Who says she taught me that silly?” Sonata whispered smacking Sunset’s ass. Sunset gave a slight squeak as her girlfriend’s cold hand struck her, causing Sonata to giggle a bit more. Sunset simply sighed and gave her winning smile, enjoying another, smaller, sip of beer as the sounds of the other ladies getting into the game echoed in.

“Get bored with ship combat babe?” Sunset asked, slightly confused as to why Sonata would have given up on the game as opposed to Rarity or Adagio.

“Dagi wanted to play, I figured I’d keep you company, maybe get ya into something less comfy and take a walk?” Sonata suggested flippantly, pointing to a neatly folded set of clothes on Sunset’s shoes.

“Again with the insane level of plotting, Sonata sometimes I fear what will happen to chess if you ever start playing,” Sunset said with a sigh as she kissed Sonata, and moved to put on the clothes.

“Pfft Kasparov was boring, and chess is too, I like mouse trap better,” Sonata said standing to get a better view of Sunset’s butt. “Plus chess isn’t half as fun to look at,” she said lustily, as Sunset wiggled her bum slightly.

“Well duh, few things are as amazing as this ass,” Sunset chuckled tossing her sports bra and hoodie on, now ready to go out to enjoy the autumn afternoon.

“Huh, ya know Dagi says the same thing,” Sonata said, striking a contemplative pose as she moved out the side door. Sunset had to admit the afternoon was sublime. The sun was shining, the breeze was just enough to give the entire environment a crisp feeling, and the colors of the leaves were stunning. The whole countryside was awash with warm oranges, bright yellows, and stunning reds. “The forest is actually just your hair Sunny,” Sonata marveled, lacing her fingers with Sunset’s.

Sunset chuckled and kissed Sonata on the cheek, “I did always have a thing for fall,” Sunset whispered. Both women smiled as they took off into the woods. Sunset picked up on something as they walked, Sonata was being quiet. Now while this wasn’t unheard of, there was something to this silence, a strained feeling that Sunset could just perceive.

“Sunny, I love you a whole lot,” Sonata whispered, Sunset smiled looking again to Sonata as they walked. Eventually the two of them crested a small hill, and below them lay a long field of grass and flowers. Here Sonata smiled, and nodded her head near imperceptibly. “This will do,” Sonata whispered softly, stepping slowly away from Sunset turning to the field.

“So I’m guessing this isn’t just a walk is it babe?” Sunset said, giving a soft smile to Sonata. In reply Sonata simply shook her head, sitting on the ground and motioning for Sunset to do the same.

It took a moment, Sonata seemed lost in thought, emotions played across her face as she searched for memories, and words to describe the feelings those memories brought back. In the end she simply nodded her head, a bit more vigorously this time, and began. “A long time ago before the time of the Princesses, before Starswirl, heck I think before the first of Equestria’s dragons were born, the whole world, at least as far as we knew, was a giant sea.” As Sonata spoke Sunset felt the magic in the air begin to coalesce, much like Adagio’s song Sonata’s storytelling, her abilities were awakening the hidden magic of the world.

“In this ocean, there was a kingdom,” Sonata’s tone took on a form that, as best Sunset could determine, sounded almost like it was in water. “It was our kingdom, it had no real name, and our culture was a lot more simple than the Equestrian’s, but it was this way for thousands of moons. At the very end of that kingdom’s life, as the waters of the planet began to recede and give way to land I was born,” Sonata’s spell seemed to suck Sunset in, and at that moment the entirety of Sonata’s kingdom, the majestic undersea world lost even to Equestrian history, only a fable in the oldest tomes was before her. The entire world faded into a roiling haze as the ancient kingdom became more and more clear, Sunset was now lost inside her mind’s eye, guided only by Sonata’s voice.

“Our people saw the land as a threat, but we shrugged it off, until our food supply began to run low,” Sunset now clearly saw the form of Sonata, different than the aberration that had erupted from her during the battle of the bands, this form lacked the sharp teeth and monstrous hooved legs, instead looking a great deal more like a large breed of seahorse. Sonata sat small beside the others, some as large as Earth’s own whales. “We were old creatures, Sunny, we needed lots and lots of plants to sustain us, and as the world’s climate changed we lost that, and our society began to starve,” Sonata’s tone, even while watery, took on a dark tone, and the seas seemed to dim.

“In that time fights broke out, our beautiful kingdom was now just a huge collection of scared, dying creatures,” the vision played out before Sunset of the kingdom becoming more and more ruinous as the massive sea creatures fought over groves of plants that once grew in abundance underwater. “That’s when I met it, one day out looking for food, hoping that I might just fade away in the deepest darkest caves of the sea peacefully.” A powerful feeling of dread gripped Sunset as the story followed the aquatic form of Sonata into an all encompassing inky darkness.

“There the darkness approached me.” With those words the world exploded with light, and Sunset watched as the massive hippocampus form of Sonata stood before her, and with a nod of the young sea creature’s head, merged with her. “I accepted a chance to live, and for the first time in our kingdom there was a great magical being,” Sunset watched as the newly made siren moved out of the caves, and back to the kingdom of the great sea creatures.

“Inside of me there was a plan, to plunge the world again into water, and rebuild our kingdom with newfound magic, but I needed help.” Sonata’s massive form seemed to speak with the other creatures. “Some resisted,” at once three of the most massive of Sonata’s people moved on her, and at once were subdued by a powerful magical blast from the Siren’s mouth, “they didn’t last, and those that remained feared and worshipped me,” Sonata’s image faded, along with the entire kingdom, leaving the human form of Sonata before her.

“The darkness gave me the knowledge that I’d need more like me to complete the spell, and so the last remaining children of our society were given to me, and after a trip to the cave we had an army of incredible magical siren.” With that Sunset beheld a vision of them, at least twenty frighteningly powerful forms all crackling with terrible magic. Sonata’s voice seemed to waver for a time as the vision played out. The forms of the magical creatures gathered in a circle around what had been the glorious center of the aquatic kingdom.

“We all poured our magic into the spell, trying to take our world back,” light erupted from all around them, and a blinding red flash exploded forth. “We failed, for reasons I still don’t understand our plan backfired, and instead of saving our magnificent home, destroyed it.” Somewhere beyond the flash, and Sonata’s now cracking voice, there was a terrible dark laugh which chilled Sunset to her core. “In the end Adagio, Aria, and I were the only ones left, but whatever force gripped us replaced our sadness with hatred. All we knew was hunger, fear, and hate for the ever growing land, and so we set out to wage war on it,” Sonata’s form flashed into existence once more, and behind her the ancient history of the Sirens played out across what seemed to be the pages of a dusty old tome.

“You know the rest from there, we discovered our ability to feed on negativity, and worked to instill as much of it as we could in the ponies, until Starswirl banished us.” Slowly the haze around them faded, and Sonata’s body, formerly shining with an eerie iridescent luster returned to normal.

Sunset sat silent for a moment as Sonata looked off into the sky, looking so very empty. It wasn’t the look of the fear an immortal has when facing loneliness, it was somehow more solemn, more empty. “That’s why you always take such care when you plan things… Why every single hiccup, or possible mistake seems to make you so upset,” Sunset whispered, awestruck at what she had just been exposed to.

“Yeah… Aria and Adagio eventually forgave me, but I’ve never been able to. Sometimes when I dream I still see the last minutes of our kingdom, just before we destroyed it,” Sonata sniffled and hugged herself, shaking her head as if to toss the images from her mind.

Sunset took her time, moving slowly over to Sonata, finding that her body was somehow even more exhausted than the run had made her earlier in the morning. In time Sunset found herself embracing Sonata, and at the first touch her lover’s composure shattered like glass. Sonata wept heavy sobs into Sunset’s chest. Sunset simply sat, working through her thoughts on how she might console Sonata, running a hand through her hair.

“Sona… I know that it doesn’t make up for what happened, but somewhere along the way you made yourself the woman I love.” At this Sunset tipped Sonata’s chin up, and wiped away her tears. “Nothing I can say can ever make that better, but that isn’t you anymore, you go to such amazing lengths to spread love, and every morning without fail you make us all smile. I don’t think I realized just how much I loved that about you,” Sunset smiled at Sonata, and Sonata gave a small smile back in kind.

“I know Adagio gave you some of our history here, but I figured you deserved to know what really made us,” Sonata said with a sniffle.

“I know exactly what made you Sonata, you made you. We make ourselves more and more every day. You’re not the same Sonata as two years ago, and you’re sure as hell not the same Sonata that made a mistake,” Sunset whispered sliding her hands into Sonata’s and raised them. “We’ve both been there, seen what our really dark pasts have brought us, so why don’t we both walk away from it into a better future huh?” Sunset gave her best cheesy smile as she finished.

Sonata was silent for a moment, then she snorted, and finally broke down into full blown giggles. Sunset just held the cheesy grin, loving every time Sonata looked at her and burst into a fresh fit of laughter. “Sunny, you can’t do that to me!” Sonata giggled, “it’s too much cute when I’m being all emo and stuff.”

Capitalizing on Sonata’s growing smile Sunset pounced on her girlfriend and looked deep into her eyes. With no warning Sunset’s head disappeared from Sonata’s view, and her shirt suddenly flew up over her head pbbbbbbbbt Sunset’s mouth made that very noise as she blew loud raspberries on Sonata’s exposed tummy. Sonata screamed and burst into wriggling laughter. “Noooooo! Not the raspberries!” Sonata half screamed half laughed.

“The raspberries!” Sunset yelled tickling her girlfriend and blowing yet more raspberries. A few yards away, seven women held onto each other, tears staining their eyes, but smiles on their lips as they silently watched the display.

******************************

A few hours past, Sunset and Sonata had made it home, both knowing full well that they’d been watched during their little session, but it didn’t matter. As they made their way back to the cabin, hand in hand, Sunset and Sonata were all smiles. “Smells like those voyeurs totally beat us back,” Sonata said sniffing at the air like a puppy.

Indeed the cool November air was alive with the scent of a barbeque, and as the cabin came into view all of the ladies had gathered on the porch. Aria, Rainbow, and AJ were preparing delicious smelling grilled meat, the other ladies were preparing tables and side dishes, with the exception of Pinkie who was clearly responsible for the delicious sweet smell wafting out of the kitchen.

“Wow damn they’re quick…” Sunset marvelled as they approached the porch. The spread was more a feast that a last evening meal. Steak cooked to varying degrees of doneness, mashed sweet potatoes, grilled corn, a massive salad, several excellent bottles of wine, and even some steamed seafood laid before the ladies.

“Course we’re quick, we’ve had forever to practice silly,” Sonata explained with a wink as Adagio approached them.

Without a word Adagio embraced her two lovers, and hugged tightly as if she were desperate to keep hold of them forever. “Oh my sweet old soul you two have no idea how precious you all are to me. Thank you Sunset, and Sonata? I love you,” Adagio’s normal demeanor was set aside, her voice near to cracking. A collective “awww” issued from behind them, and for Sunset that moment would forever stay in her mind as one of the most singularly perfect in her life.

“Are you saps quite done? I wanna eat!” Aria whispered as she joined the embrace, and as a hearty laugh issued forward the meal began.

************************

The sun sank low into the west as the ladies all sat in the hot tub, full and happy. “I can’t imagine a better vacation, thank you all so much for making this incredible,” Adagio said with a smile.

“Silly Dagi, we’re not done yet!” Pinkie and Sonata giggled in tandem. This made everyone go just a bit paler. “Ready Pinkie?!” Sonata yelled.

“Ready Sona!” Pinkie responded with an equally impressive yell. With that both women produced remote controls from nowhere, and pressed the large red button at the center.

“Oh no…” Sunset moaned as a loud rumbling sounded from all around the house. Then all at once, as Adagio was internally screaming, a ball of light shot into the sky, and burst into a mass of brilliant red pyrotechnics. With that all the ladies laughed, and cuddled in as the show raged on in the night sky.

Far away in the deepest part of the forest an angry groan, or perhaps just the howling wind sounded. The lights of the fireworks occasionally became so brilliant that one might see the overly large cobra, looking quite out of place in the woods. “This isn’t over, it’s never over, and you will pay for casting me aside,” the snake hissed as it fled deeper into the darkness of the forest. From somewhere beyond the darkness, somewhere cold there was a hearty laugh, as the snake, scorpion, and spider continued their treks to the right location.

“I’ll be waiting here, in the darkness, when the pain becomes too much,” a voice whispered through the trees, with such cold malevolence that had anyone heard it they might know true fear.

Author's Notes:

It's finally here folks! expect slightly more frequent updates very soon!