Adagio's shift was just about over. She sat, shivering on the rock where she had talked to Apple Jack, just looking around and thinking. She hadn't decided on who she would get next to take watch. She had thought about Twilight so she could have some time next to Sunset but decided it was best to keep the leaders as fresh as possible. Maybe Rainbow Dash, maybe Fluttershy; probably one of those two.

A soft breeze came up along her left side and made her shiver even that much harder. She giggled a little at it. For much of her time here, this had been her life; shivering in the night. Humans today really didn't know how well they had it. Even the best, most well built houses from back in the day were drafty and cold. Log cabins? - forget about it! There was very little advantage to a log cabin temperature wise than sleeping outside. They were freezing in winter, unbearably hot in summer, leaked during the rain, basically the walls where the only good thing about them. They added an extra layer of protection from bandits and that was all.

She thought over all the things she had done while being here. She (and the girls) were master house wrights, furniture makers, black smiths, tailors, seamstresses, Adagio couldn't cook but Sonata was good at it. They had farmed for a while. All the skills they had acquired through the years because they had to in order just to survive. Sure, they manipulated people into giving them stuff; but that could only last so long. Eventually, because of the need to hide their immortality, they would have to move and usually far away and be on their own. Back then, skills didn't pay the bills, they kept you alive.

She also thought about all the different places she had seen and experienced. At the time she took little notice of them. They were there and that was about it. Yet still with all her contempt of the humans and their cultures; there were still times when the richness and beauty had reached even her blackened heart.

So here she was, like so many times before, shivering in the night on the eve of battle; but this time she wasn't thinking of strategy or survival, but reminiscing over her long, complex life. It felt right. It felt good. And more importantly; she felt at peace.

"Dagi?" Sonata called out softly.

Adagio looked back and smiled at her long time companion. "Just like old times, huh Sonata?"

Sonata sat beside Adagio and shrugged. "Eh, we're not that bad guys this time."

"Good guys, bad guys, just words usually. Most of the time you can't tell the difference. It's all subjective," Adagio said absently, going back to keeping watch.

"Um, we used to people to get whatever we wanted and caused nothing but anger and conflict to do it."

"I said usually, not all the time." Not that long ago, Adagio would have snapped that sentence out as a rebuke. Now she meant it as a gentle tease.

"Point taken," Sonata replied.

"Couldn't sleep?" Adagio asked Sonata, curious as to why she had come down here.

"Kinda. I had to pee. But I was worried about you, so I thought I'd check in to see how you were. After I peed."

"I figured that," Adagio said, annoyed by Sonata's unnecessary details. She then looked down at the ground and started to over turn small bits of it with the edge of her sword. "Do you ever wonder what happened to all the things we made over the years? How much even survives and where it might be now?"

"Eh, sometimes Dagi. I mean, we did make a lot of stuff. The clothes we all wore out. I don't know. I hope somethings are left. It'd be nice to see something we made in a museum somewhere. Why?"

"I was just thinking. That's all. We have lived a life haven't we?" There was both pride and pain in Adagio's voice. Pride for surviving for so long, learning so much, seeing and experiencing so much. The pain came from knowing it was now all coming to an end; regardless of how the battle turned out.

"Sure in deedy Dagi!" Sonata agreed enthusiastically.

Adagio went back to looking at the ground. She stopped digging at and sat as still as the stone she sat on. "Sonata, I just want you to know, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for they way I treated you for all those years. Please know that I don't just consider you my friend; but my sister and I'm glad that if this is my last battle, that you're here beside me."

Sonata looked at her former leader in stunned silence. It was as if her brain crashed. She couldn't think or feel anything. Eventually her surprise gave way to a feeling of joy and love. She put her arm around Adagio's shoulders. "Me too Dagi. Me too." Then she got a sad look on her face. "Dagi, I'm not going back to Equestria. I'm staying here with Pinkie."

Sonata waited for Adagio to start yelling. Instead, Adagio said, "I understand and I don't blame you. You've found someone you love. Why would you give that up? We've also been human longer than anything else we've ever been and I went back to Equestria with Sunset last Sunday and it didn't feel the same; it's changed. Funny. Comparatively speaking, Equestria hasn't changed nearly as much as Earth has. Equestria changed by a few degrees. Earth has changed in kind - practically. Yet, still, it didn't feel like home anymore."

"You're not mad? For realizies?"

Adagio shook her head. "I'll miss you; but how could I be mad at you for finding love? I'm going back to Equestria mainly to be with my love. I'm glad your happy Sonata."

Sonata hugged Adagio who just smiled as she did it. In less than one year she had changed more than in the previous fourteen centuries. She didn't know exactly who the new her was yet; but she knew she preferred it (despite all the pain and fear she now felt).

Sonata stopped and pulled away. "Here Dagi; I'll take the next watch. I'm already here and you need your sleep. Just be careful, sometimes Pinkie dreams about cupcakes and starts to chew on your hair. I think I've already lost three inches in length."

Adagio laughed. "Duly notated. Good night Sonata. May we all cheat death this one last time."

Author's Notes:

This wasn't part of the original story but I felt Adagio and Sonata needed their moment. In fact, much of these chapters were added later because I wanted to explore what each of the girls were thinking and feeling. So, next time, the battle begins.