If there was one thing Sunset enjoyed more than anything else when she was alone, it was simply to spend time with a good book. That was, however, only one of many things that she had in common with a certain pony princess, the one who had helped her walk the path that made her into the girl she is today. In some ways, that love of books was like an unspoken link to the friend who wasn't here by her side most of the time, and as such, she couldn't help but smile as she carried those beloved books out of the school and towards her usual favourite reading spot. The place in question was the steps just at the front of Canterlot High, and while students were, by-and-large, still coming and going from the school, her spot was still pretty much empty. So, still smiling, she got herself comfortable and began reading.

As the minutes rolled on, she found herself feeling more and more relaxed at doing this, which was to be expected from doing a favourite hobby. However, it wasn't long before the relative peace of the moment was interrupted by the unmistakeable sound of somebody grunting in annoyance. Sunset knew that voice immediately, and so looked up from her book to check around the place and see who it was. Sure enough, she soon caught sight of her; Aria Blaze. The middle Siren sister was, at this moment, leaning against a nearby wall, holding a soda can in one hand as she did so. Sunset raised an eyebrow as she saw the girl, especially as she seemed to glare at every passer-by who looked her way. Sighing, Sunset put down her book and, with some trepidation, walked over to her. When she arrived, she spoke, albeit in a quiet manner.

"Hey there, Aria. Rough day?"

At that, Aria turned, having finally noticed Sunset's presence. After regarding her for a while, the girl simply took a gulp from her soda before replying.

"Hey there, Shimmer."

The words were brief and to the point, and it was clear that Aria wasn't in the mood to really talk to anyone. While Sunset was loathe to interrupt somebody when they clearly wanted to spend time alone, she nevertheless felt the need to help in whatever was eating at Aria. So, after clearing her throat a little, she took up position on the same wall, leaning against it just as Aria was doing, before then speaking up again.

"I'm guessing you've got something on your mind?"

Aria turned to her, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Despite what you girls probably think of me, I've always got something on my mind. And as you can probably guess, it's usually the same thing."

Sunset nodded at that, looking away with some discomfort upon her face. It was true, what Aria had said, that Sunset had a good inkling what was on her mind. After all, it wasn't that long ago that Pinkie had come to her, trying to get the Siren to cheer up a bit more. In that moment, the girl's troubles had been laid bare, and it wasn't long afterwards that Pinkie had revealed that to not only Sunset, but the rest of their friends. Aria's defeat, as well as the defeat of their sisters, had been a constant source of discomfort for her, not to mention all the other bad stuff that had happened to them over the years, and no amount of friendly gestures on their part ever seemed to pry those unhappy thoughts from her. So, Sunset simply let out a sigh.

"You know...I understand that you have every right to feel upset, Aria."

The other girl turned to her, letting out a snort before replying to that.

"I'll say. You were in the same spot, remember? Rainbow magic to the face, made to feel low."

Giving Sunset her full attention, Aria frowned somewhat.

"Tell me something...if, after you were beaten, someone were to come up to you and tell you that you should just "get over" whatever bad stuff you were feeling...would you appreciate it?"

After thinking that matter over for some time, Sunset let her shoulders slump in defeat, for she knew what the honest answer was to that question. Seeing that, Aria smirked a little before looking away from her again.

"Thought so. So don't go trying to be all psychological on me, Shimmer. I'm not in the mood!"

Sunset knew, in her heart, that Aria had every right to say what she'd said. Bering beaten was a bad feeling, regardless of what one may have been doing at the time it happened. She knew that all too well. And as such, she felt that, despite Aria's overt aggressive behaviour here, she might, perhaps, be the best person around to talk to her about it. But, she knew that simply, as Aria put it, telling her to "get over it", wasn't going to be an option, nor was it something she'd be particularly comfortable doing anyway. As such, the two girls simply stood there, in silence, for a few minutes, while Sunset thought the situation over carefully. In the end, her expression softened, and she started to speak in a hushed manner.

"You know...I was a lot like you...before my defeat."

Aria slowly turned to her, with eyebrow raised, as Sunset continued.

"I was known as the queen bi...well...I wasn't known as anybody pleasant. I kept people at each other's throats...I was rude to pretty much everyone...and I never let anyone close to me."

Aria frowned at that.

"Don't give me that, Shimmer. I know for a fact that you had a boyfriend during all that. That doesn't sound like something a lonely person would go through."

Sunset nodded before continuing.

"You're right, I did go out with a guy. But he and I...well...it didn't really work. I was only using him and he...he was just with me because he was a nice guy, not the kind to just outright refuse a girl. Bottom line, it was a doomed relationship from the start."

Sunset narrowed her eyes as the memories of her old life came flooding back.

"I was angry...I was bitter...and I lashed out at anyone I could because I knew I could get away with it. And do you know what it made me feel whenever I did all that?"

Aria shrugged her shoulders.

"Dunno. Strong? Powerful?"

Sunset shook her head and looked Aria right in the eye.

"Miserable."

Aria's frown lessened somewhat as she watched the girl continue.

"I may have told myself that all those things made me feel like I was the boss...and I may have been the boss...but in the end...all I was...was unhappy. I had nobody, Aria. No friends. Nothing!"

At that, Sunset looked over to her, her gaze almost piercing.

"I look at you, and I see a lot of what I used to be. There's anger there, and not without cause. But...if you let that become your whole life, your whole outlook..."

Sunset's expression became one of sadness as she spoke her final words.

"...life will be very, very uncomfortable for you."

The two girls stood there together, in silence, for some time, as Aria let her words sink in. Sunset watched her, waiting for her to make some kind of response, and when she finally did, it began by her looking away and letting out a grunt of annoyance.

"Ugh! First Flutters, then Pinks, and now you. You girls are relentless!"

Another silence fell, but this time, it was far shorter, as Aria raised her hand and began rubbing her temples, before speaking in a strained manner.

"...Fine! Maybe I can learn to be a little more...friendly. But I just don't get how you and the other girls can be so hung up on this."

Sunset, knowing exactly how to answer that, put on a small smile.

"Because you're our friend, Aria. And that's all the reason we need. Like Pinkie said, you have every right to feel unhappy if you want to...but what kinds of friends would we be if we let you spend the rest of your life like that?"

Aria considered that for a moment, perhaps thinking over all the previous interactions she'd had with not only Sunset, but the other girls. As she did this, Sunset watched her thinking on the matter, hoping in silence that her words had somehow gotten through to her. In time, her answer came, as Aria looked to her with a far less abrasive look than before, and simply gave a nod. It wasn't outright capitulation to her way of thinking, but it was at least an acknowledgement. And that was something Sunset could live with. Smiling at her, Sunset watched as, all of a sudden, Aria looked away from her, and instead to a pair of girls who were walking by their general area. The Siren seemed to struggle with something for a few moments, before then, to Sunset's surprise, calling out to them.

"Hey there! Nice...nice day...right?"

The girls stopped for a moment and looked at her, at the way she was obviously forcing a smile and a cheerful attitude, and looked to each other with a slight degree of discomfort at it. However, rather than simply walking off an ignoring her, they put on somewhat small smiles of their own, waving back in response, out of courtesy if nothing else, before beginning to continue walking. After Aria had seen them off, she looked over to Sunset, perhaps wanting her opinion on what had just happened. Considering that, the ex-unicorn shrugged her shoulders and let out a giggle.

"Well...it's s start."

At that, Aria just let out another grumble.

"Ugh! Niceness is going to be the death of me, I just know it!"