Adagio walked out of the store to see Sunset waiting for her. She tried to smile as best she could. She had never experienced heartache like this. She'd felt anger at being banished, at being defeated, felt depression at being under Chrysalis' thumb, but never this. This was new and it made her feel weak. That was the worst of all. Chrysalis sucked but she was a higher power and higher powers dominate those below them. That was nature. This was just her giving in to her base emotions.

Sunset came up to her, hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Adagio knew that Sunset meant this as a sign of friendship and comfort but to Adagio it was a thousand hot knives being thrust into her heart.

"Hey Dag, I decided we should go out tonight. Just the two of us. I've made reservations at a nice little restaurant in town. They even have a band and dance floor. Totally upscale. I figure we need a little rest. So how about it?"

"I'd rather not," Adagio said in a voice as dark as storm clouds at night.

"Too bad grumble bum; you're going," Sunset said in a teasing but stern voice.

"If I have no choice, why did you ask?" Adagio groused as she opened her car door.

"To give you the illusion of free will," Sunset joked back as she got in the drivers side.

"Witch." Adagio halfway joked back.

Sunset drove off and it wasn't too long before Adagio realized she wasn't going home.

"Aren't we going home to get ready?" she asked confused. While she was dressed nice for work; if they were headed to an upscale restaurant, then she was no where near dressed up enough (and frankly, neither was Sunset).

"We are. Well, we're going to get ready, just not at home. I told you, this is a special night. I have us booked in at Le Trice for the full spa treatment. Massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, hair, and make-up. I also stopped by Roma and picked out some dresses there. They should be at the spa waiting for us."

Adagio was shocked. "Sunset, that must have cost a fortune!"

"Pretty much. But we're going back to Equestria soon and US currency isn't worth anything over there so why save it? The roads going to get tough. Might as well have fun while we can." Sunset looked at Adagio and smiled. Adagio turned away and looked out the window. Slowly, in spite of herself, a smile crossed her lips.

Once they arrived at the spa, the two were separated. Each went with their own personal assistant. For Adagio it was like a slice of Heaven. The constant pampering and fussing over her; it made her feel like her old self. No, better. She enjoyed the attention, the service, but now no longer looked down on those around her. She wasn't manipulating them or belittling them, but was actually just enjoying the experience and the occasional small talk.

At the end, she was dressed (the dress Sunset picked out was amazing and Adagio loved it), her hair, make-up and nails done, and she was lead back to the waiting room where Sunset was waiting on her. Sunset was talking to one of the ladies behind the reception desk when she looked over and saw Adagio. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open.

"That bad?" Adagio joked though still feeling sorrowful.

"Dag. You. Look. AMAZING!" Sunset had always known Adagio was attractive by any set of human metrics; but seeing her now, like this, she appeared almost transcendent.

"Not nearly as good as you." Adagio tried to play off the compliment since allowing for even the hint that Sunset might be interested in her as more than a friend ripped her open anew.

"If you think that, you haven't looked in a mirror yet." Sunset walked over and took Adagio to a nearby mirror and stood beside her.

"Both you ladies look amazing," the receptionist said from behind them.

"You know," Sunset said with a smile, "she's right." Then she curtsied and said, "To the restaurant m' lady?"

Adagio curtsied back as memories of more formal times filled her head. "With you, where ever my love." Adagio suddenly blushed and cursed herself for saying that. She didn't want any hint of how she might truly feel.

If Sunset took what she had said seriously, she made no show of it. Sunset place her hand on her hip and extended the elbow for Adagio to slip her arm through (which she did).

"I am so proud of you young ones," the receptionist, a stately lady in her mid-fifties, said. "In my day, I, we, could have never been as open as you to are. Blessed be you."

Adagio went to correct the lady but was stopped by Sunset. "I gotta show my girl off," Sunset said and then kissed Adagio on the cheek. Adagio just looked at her, smiled, and returned the kiss with one of her own. The lady seemed to well up a little bit at seeing this display of affection, a display she never could have made when she was their age.

Sunset lead Adagio out of the spa. As soon as the door shut behind them, Adagio leaned over and whispered in Sunset's ear, "Why did you do that? She thinks we're a couple."

Sunset shrugged with a mischievous grin. "So what? Heck, if I were gay, I'd loved to have a girlfriend like you. No, scratch that, I'd love to have you as a girlfriend. Besides, while we were talking, I got the feeling she was trying to see if we were lesbian and that she was as well. Her generation went through so much; I thought it might be nice for to think the struggle had been worth it."

"Trust me, I live through those times. Humans are so much better now. I almost don't find them disgusting anymore." Adagio ended with a slight laugh to make sure Sunset knew she was joking.

"Oh stop!" Sunset playfully responded and slapped Adagio's arm. "Besides, what do you care what she thinks anyhow? You're not homophobic are you?"

"Uh, far from it," Adagio responded as best she could.

"So, then don't you think I'd make a good girlfriend? Embarrassed of me?"

"No! Never." Adagio cursed herself again as to how serious and emphatic she had sounded.

"Ok then. Why worry?" Then got to Sunset's car. Sunset opened the door for Adagio and motioned for her to get in. Adagio curtsied once more and got in. Sunset closed the door behind and got in her side. They then left for the restaurant.

The restaurant was beautiful. It had a classic 1940's elegance. It took Adagio right back to that decade. She and the other Sirens watched the world burn around them. For the second time in a generation the world was at war. Sonata had actually suggested they get involved somehow. Maybe enchant the Axis powers to stop the war. Aria argued it was none of their concern and the humans had always been killing each other. Sonata said that this was worse though.

Adagio understood the point Sonata was trying to make but said such a plan was infeasible. They did do some things for the war effort though. Including a couple USO tours. Instead of enchanting the soldiers to follow them, they sang to give them extra strength in battle. It was a strange role reversal for them but even Adagio knew that Hitler and the other Axis powers were a threat to even them.

"You ok Dag?" Sunset asked a little concerned.

Adagio smiled. "This place just brought back some memories; that's all."

"You've been here before?"

"No, no. The décor takes me back."

"Oh, yeah, sorry. I forget how old you are sometimes."

"Sometimes I wish I could."

Sunset took Adagio's hand and squeezed it. Adagio smiled and a waiter led them to their table.

The rest of the night went great. The food was amazing, the band was terrific. They played both period pieces and modern day ballads. Sunset and Adagio talked, laughed and joked. Adagio shared stories from her time on earth and some of her most memorable moments like when The Sirens had almost been executed as witches about half a dozen times. For Sunset it was entertaining, for Adagio it was almost like therapy.

At the end Adagio got really quiet. "Thank you Sunset Shimmer. You don't know how much I've loved tonight. May I ask why though?"

Sunset smiled. "I knew something was bothering you this morning. I don't know what, and I'm not going to ask. If you want me to know, you'll tell me when you're ready. I just hated seeing you sad. So I skipped work and arranged all this. It was a bit of a pain, but if you're happy, it's worth it."

Adagio smiled as a few tears ran down her cheeks. "I am."

Sunset felt herself start to cry at seeing Adagio so appreciative. Then she heard the band start to play Lorena McKennit's The Two Trees. "Oh my god I love this song."

"Ah, so do I. It's a master piece."

Sunset then got up and put her hand out. "Care to dance my lady?"

Adagio looked up in surprise. "Sunset, that's a ballad."

"So? You never slow danced with a girl before? I thought you said you weren't homophobic?"

Adagio felt crushed. Sunset had know idea how this was messing with her emotions. It was like some unintentional cosmic tease. Then she figured to hell with it. She might not be able to have Sunset as she wanted, but, tonight, she could pretend.

Adagio took Sunset's hand and the two began to dance. At first it was a more formal stance. Then slowly, the two got closer until they were barely moving, just holding each other close in what was basically a hug.

"If you were gay," Adagio whispered in Sunset's ear, "I would love to be your girlfriend. Just incase I hadn't made that clear earlier."

"You did Dag. Too bad we're not gay; we'd make a great couple."

"We would."

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

From outside the receptionist stood with her partner of 27 years. She had gotten off shortly after Sunset and Adagio left. Feeling good, she had asked her partner to go for a walk. As if by destiny, they had come to the front of the restaurant in time to see Sunset invite Adagio to dance.

"That's them," the receptionist whispered to her partner. "The ones from the spa today."

"You're right; they do make a beautiful couple," her partner responded. "If only we could have done that."

"It's ok because they can. And we can now. Dance?"

"Here? On the sidewalk? With no music? You're crazy," she replied and then danced.