"So, is that everything?" Maud asked in her usual dead pan.

Pinkie and Sonata took one last look around Sonata's room and nodded their heads. The two looked absolutely crest fallen. It was July sixth. Maud and Pinkie's parents would be coming in for a visit tomorrow. The stated purpose was to celebrate Pinkie's sixteenth birthday. The real reason was to check up on the girls to see if they were living by their standards. So to get ready; Maud, Pinkie, Sonata, and Big Mac moved all of Pinkie's stuff from Sonata's room and back to Pinkie's. Big Mac even repaired the door and jam Sunset had broken (materials paid for by Sunset of course).

"Why do you two look so sad? You'll only be down the hall from each other," Maud asked.

"AND IT WILL BE HORRIBLE!" both girls shouted, hugged each other, and started crying.

Maud looked at Big Mac who just shrugged. "Thank you for helping," Maud said to Big Mac and gave him a small, one armed hug; her face never showing any emotion. Big Mac whispered something in her ear and Maud shook her head no. Big Mac nodded in acknowledgement.

Big Mac turned to Pinkie and Sonata, waved, and simply said, "Bye." He then left.

Maud looked back at her sister and her girlfriend. "Listen; this is only going to be for two weeks. Two miserable, overbearing, religion filled weeks. After that we can go back to life as normal. I graduate next year so we only need to keep this up for one more year. Pull yourselves together until then and all will be well."

Pinkie and Sonata sniffled and nodded that they understood.

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"There you are Daisy! I've been looking all over for you." Sonata was walking up a grassy hill. The sky was a nearly cloudless bright blue canopy. The sun shone high and beamed it's light all over. At top was Daisy, Sonata's pony self.

"Sonata!" Daisy called and started running over to her. Daisy suddenly stopped and shrieked.

Sonata looked around and saw her demon self. She looked back to Daisy who was now being chased by her Siren self.

Daisy yelled, "Sonata, what do I do?"

Her demon self whispered in her ear, "Yes Sonata; what does she do?"

Sonata was panicked, on the verge of tears when she closed her eyes. "Daisy, stop running!" she called out.

"What? I can't! It'll eat me."

Sonata took a deep breath and yelled back, "No it won't. It is you. Daisy; me, her," she pointed to her demon self with her thumb, "that, they're, we're all you. And you are all of us. It can't hurt you."

Daisy stopped and looked at the Siren. It came barreling down on her; mouth agape, fangs bared, and claws out stretched. Closer, closer it came until there was a blinding white light that engulfed everything, then utter blackness. Sonata heard Luna's voice say, "It's only when we embrace our past, no matter how painful; can we move into the future."

Sonata opened her eyes and realized it had all been a dream. She turned her light on and went over to her mirror. She looked at herself, her reflection for about a minute and then said to herself, "I am Daisy Sonata Dusk - innocent pony, cruel Siren, demon, and human. I am all of these and I will be more before I am dead. My past is done, my future yet to be written, and I will choose who I am today." She then leaned forward, kissed her reflection, and went back to bed. The nightmares, which plagued her for so long, we done.

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Maud and Pinkie's parents showed up right on time at 7am. Sonata was surprised by how they looked. Their father and mother seemed way to old to have children even Maud's age, let alone Pinkie or her younger siblings. They were all plainly dressed, the father looked like he had a perpetual scowl on his face. Bald on top, with a grey beard but no mustache, he was tall, thin, and somewhat imposing. His wife was much shorter, grey, a bit pudgy, and had a face wrinkled by worry and hard work. The young ones looked a lot like Pinkie. And while silent; they had that same devilish gleam in their eyes like Pinkie.

"Mother, Father," Maud simply said.

"Maud," her father replied in a much too stern manner.

"HI mom, hi dad," Pinkie said with actual affection. She didn't get along with her parents, but she loved them none the less.

"Diane." Pinkie's father then looked at Sonata. "Who's she?" he asked in a demanding tone.

"She's my friend. She lost her family so Maud and I took her in. She works at Taco Bell and helps pay the bills," Pinkie said happily.

"I pay the bills around here. Do not forget that," Pinkie's father reprimanded her. "So what's your name girl?" he asked Sonata.

"Daisy. Daisy Dusk. But you can call me Sonata." Sonata extended her hand for a shake.

Pinkie's father just looked at Sonata's hand then back to her. "I will call you by your Christian name Ms. Dusk."

Sonata withdrew her hand and looked down at the floor.

"While the Bible teaches us to look after our neighbors, I am not running a flop house here. As soon as you get on your feet you must move out."

Sonata nodded.

"Good. I am Igneous Rock Pie. This is my wife, Cloudy Quartz Pie." Mrs. Pie step forward and did a small bow. "And these are my other two children - Marble and Limestone Pie."

"Nice to meet you," both girls said.

"Now, since this house is only three bedrooms; My wife and I will take the spare bedroom. Diane, you'll share your room with your younger sisters. Ms. Dusk, you'll be sleeping on the couch. I will give you a few minutes to move your things out of the bedroom while we unpack." With that, Igneous turned around and walked out; the others following close behind.

Sonata looked over at Pinkie who simply said, "I'm sorry."

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The next couple of days were almost unbearable. Igneous was less like a father and more like a cross between a preacher and overseer. Not since she, Adagio, and Aria had to take shelter in that nunnery back 1282; had Sonata met anyone so dour or heard so much about the Bible. In fact, he was worse in that regard since most of the nuns had taken vows of silence.

Several times Sonata thought about leaving. She even called Luna once and asked if she could stay with her. Luna said it wouldn't be proper and to give Pinkie's father a chance. If things didn't get any better by the second week, then Sonata could stay with her. So Sonata tried her best to put up with Igneous.

On Tuesday, it was Pinkie's birthday, the reason her parents came to visit. The family did nothing to celebrate it. Sonata even asked if they were going to have a party and Igneous told her that birthday parties were sinful because they elevated the self and not God. By that point, Sonata could actually believe what she was hearing. She was really beginning to hate this man.

Thursday, while they were eating supper, Maud spoke. "I have a boyfriend now." It was her same non emotional, almost robotic tone.

"And you are just now telling me this?" Igneous asked annoyed. "How long, who is he, is he Christian, and when can I meet him?"

"His name is Macintosh Apple. We started dating a couple months ago. As far as I know he is. This weekend. He's having a dinner in our honor at his farm."

"Farm boy eh. Good solid country stock. While I wish you would have told me earlier Maud, I look forward to meeting him on, Saturday?"

"Yes. Two o' clock."

Igneous nodded. Then he looked at Pinkie. "Well Diane? Do you have a suitor as well?"

Pinkie dropped her fork and Maud started coughing. "No sir. I don't have a boyfriend. Don't want one either." It was as honest as she could get.

"Good. Keep your mind on the Lord and your studies. Plenty of time for that later," Igneous said in a pleased manner.

Sonata gave Pinkie a quick kick under the table and Pinkie returned the favor.

"Diane, Ms. Dusk; what are you two smiling about?" Igneous asked sternly.

The two looked at each other then at Igneous. "Nothing," they both said at the same time.

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"Is everyone ready?" Igneous asked.

The entire family was in the living room. They were gathered to go to Sweet Apple Acres and meet Big Macs family. Even though Maud said it wasn't necessary, Igneous made everyone dress in their best clothes. When meeting his daughter's suitor and his family, one must always look their best. So everyone put on their church clothes (or as close as Maud, Pinkie, and Sonata could come since they didn't go to church) and were now waiting to leave.

"Ok then. Everyone to the car." Igneous watched as his family passed by him for a final inspection. He stopped Sonata when she got to him. "Ms. Dusk, this is a family affair. You are to stay here."

Sonata looked at Pinkie who was about to say something when Maud grabbed her arm. Pinkie looked at Maud then Sonata. Sonata saw the pain on Pinkie's face. She decided it was best for her to stay behind. She gave Pinkie one last smile before turning around and sitting on the couch. She watched as everyone left. She then went to the window and watched as they drove off. For the first time in almost fourteen hundred years, she was alone.