For the second time in a week Sunset Shimmer woke up in someone's arms. The first was Adagio's back in their house. That (to Sunset at least) was just the end to a fun girl's night out. Today it was Valhalen. More importantly, it was she who draped over him, with him just having one arm semi wrapped around her. She smiled and started to kiss and nibble all around his face until he woke up.

Groggily he smiled at her and started to gently rub her back. "Hey, I wasn't expecting that last night but thanks. Although next time, please try to leave a little skin left on my back."

"Um, no," Sunset giggled and went back to kissing him for a bit. "Besides, You needed to be tested," she said slyly.

"Oh, well hopefully I passed. I'd have to take a make-up," Val responded confused but still trying to joke around.

"You did," Sunset replied back playfully. Then she sat up, letting the blanket fall to her waist. There was no need for modesty. She then reached out and held his hand.

"Val, I'm not looking for someone to dominate me. I'm also not looking for someone to dominate. I want an equal. A partner in every respect of the word. When you pulled my head back and kissed me; it did something. It showed me you were strong and willing to take what you thought was yours. I liked that. So I decided to see if you could take it as well as you could give it.

"The two quickest ways to get a measure of someone is to either fight them or the other F word them. Would you just lie there and expect me to do all the work? Would you try get on top of and just pound away `till you got yours then roll off? Would you treat me as just a series of body parts to licked and poked until you were satisfied? How you act in bed is how you act in the rest of the home. So I decided to push you to the limits and see who you really were."

"So what's the verdict then judge?"

"You were in it to win it. You stood toe to toe with me. You took everything I could dish out and gave it right back. You didn't shrink or back off. You didn't take what I was doing for granted. You also didn't try to put me in my place either. That's why you passed. I'm just glad you had some condoms on you." Sunset finished with a laugh.

"Thank my mom. As soon as I hit puberty she bought me some. She always told me she wasn't going to have me do to a girl what my dad did to her. Every so many months - out with the old, in with the new. That way they're always in good condition. Plus she makes me carry one in my wallet at all times. My mom don't play with that stuff."

"Smart woman. Humans have such a weird relationship with their sexuality. You're a strange species."

Val cocked his head. "Humans? What, you're not a human?"

"I told you I was from another dimension Val," Sunset was a little confused, annoyed, and a bit fearful of Val's question. Things were just getting started between them. She'd hate to lose everything now.

"Yeah, but I just assumed you were human there too. I mean, if you're not human; what are you?"

"I'm. I'm what's known as an alicorn. I have four legs, Two wings, like a bird, and a horn that sticks out of my forehead." She told him the truth. She was an alicorn, and alicorns had those features. She just didn't tell him that an alicorn was a type of pony.

"Whoa, four legs? Like human legs, horse legs, dog legs, alligator legs; what?"

"Well, they're kind of like horse legs." This was technically true. Ponies were not horses. At least not true, full sized horses. Spliting hairs, but Sunset was trying to remain as truthful as she could without spilling the full beans.

"So are you like a centaur then?" Val asked in a state of utter confusion.

"Kind of but not quite. It's hard to describe," Sunset was now sure he was going to tell her to leave and not come back.

"Huh," Val said and then paused for a bit. "I'll just have to see it then," he said with a shrug.

Sunset breathed a sigh of relief inside her head. She then yawned and stretched. "I should be getting back home now. Adagio's probably wondering where I am."

"So when's our next date?" Val asked sounding relaxed but with an under current of fear and excitement.

"Well, I got plans for tonight and tomorrow. You have school Monday through Friday. How about next Saturday then? We can spend the whole day together. And possibly night as well," Sunset added with a wink.

"Only if you promise to wear mittens. My back can't take anymore."

"Eh, only if you're a good boy."

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Sunset was surprised when she got home and saw Adagio wasn't there. She wondered where she might have gone when she saw an unfamiliar car drive up and drop her off. The car pulled away and Adagio walked up to the door which Sunset opened.

"Hi. Where have you been?" Sunset asked curious but not overly concerned.

"I decided to spend the night at Shimmer's house. We've become rather good friends. Since you weren't here, why be alone." Adagio pushed past Sunset with just a hint of roughness.

"Oh; ok, I guess. Have fun?"

Adagio shrugged as she walked into her bedroom without looking back. "It was ok," she called out coolly. "You?"

"Lots of fun," Sunset said with a small, naughty smile. "We're looking to go out next Saturday as well." Sunset waited for Adagio to respond but she didn't. Now Sunset was getting worried. "Dag," she called out as she walked to Adagio's room, "are you ok?"

Adagio was getting clothes out of her drawer. "Sure," she said unconvincingly. "I'm just going to get a shower real fast. Get it over with now so I don't have to worry about it later." Adagio's voice was flat with a strong sadness weaving throughout her words.

"Ok," Sunset said softly, still really concerned. "I'll get one after you. We can pack our things for tonight and then, if you want, we can do whatever. You name it?"

Sunset could se a bitter smile briefly curl up Adagio's lips. "I just want to stay here if it's ok with you."

"Yeah, sure. Do you want me to leave . . ." before Sunset could finish sounding out the last syllable of her sentence. Adagio looked over in fear and cut her off.

"No! I mean, no. I would appreciate it if you stayed here with me."

"Sure Dag," Sunset said softly. She then walked over to Adagio and hugged her. "I don't know what you're going through; but I'm always here for you. I'll be by your side forever."

"You weren't last night," Adagio said bitterly and walked off to the shower; leaving Sunset confused.

Author's Notes:

This is a real short bridge chapter to the sleep over. I wanted to set up the emotional tone between Sunset and Adagio going into it because it will pay off and set certain events into motion which will have a major (negative) impact on our main group. I had thought of doing a scene with Shimmer and Adagio but thought I covered that enough last chapter and didn't want to rehash the same old themes.

I haven't focused on the other girls because they're busy doing research into their names and just being girls. As the leaders, Twilight and Sunset's mind set and emotional state are the most important now. I will be focusing on the others here in the next chapter as well as Aria. So hopefully you enjoyed. Please don't think of it as filler. It's slow, but it is important for what's coming next.