"Alright, we're here," Sunset said as she, Adagio, and Sparkle entered her home. It was late afternoon, the sun was in mid-set. The sky was a purplish night above an orange and golden horizon. Upon returning to Earth; Sunset and the others had worked out a plan. Sparkle would spend the night with Sunset. In the morning Sunset would go to Cantorlot High, have her morning meeting with the girls, break-up with Val, come back, then Flash would drop Twilight off here and take Sparkle home.

"Thank you," Sparkle said gratefully. "Are you sure it's not too much trouble?"

"Even if it was, we don't have a choice," Adagio said in a voice that Sparkle couldn't tell if Adagio was being serious or sarcastic.

"Hee-hee. True I guess." Sparkle blushed. She figured her reaction would either placate or play into whatever mood Adagio was in.

"Alright Sparkle, that is your bedroom there," Sunset said pointing to the second bedroom as she laid her purse down on the table.

"Oh, no. I couldn't possibly take Adagios' room. The couch will be fine for me." Sparkle couldn't read Adagio that well. She came across as a grump but that might be just for show. Still, she didn't want to run the risk of getting on her bad side.

Sunset and Adagio exchanged quick glances. Adagio looked amused but Sunset looked awkward.

"That's, uh, that'll be," Sunset stammered before being interrupted by Adagio.

"Sunset and I sleep together."

Sparkle looked back and forth between the two; both surprised and confused. Adagio smiled a big, somewhat vicious smile; while Sunset bowed her head, rubbed her eyes with her palm, and blushed.

"Wait. You two, sleep, together, in the same bed? I, uh, I thought you liked guys?"

"I do. I did. I mean I do. It's just . . . that, well, it's . . . "

"I turned her out," Adagio butted in again; barely able to hold back her laughter.

"It's complicated. I care deeply about Val, the guy I told you about; but I care for Dag as well. This is new for me." There was no way to explain further without sounding like a real jerk. Oh yes, I love Val but he might get killed if we stay together so I'm dumbing him for his own protection. Her? Oh I'm totally fine with risking her life .

Sparkles' face went back to normal and then she shrugged. "Oh, ok, I get that. I thought I had romantic feelings for you as well for a little bit."

Sunset's mouth dropped open and her eyes widened to almost impossible measures. Adagio laughed and gently elbowed her in the side.

"Dang girl! You're a kitty magnet!" Adagio joked.

"When?!" Sunset asked embarrassed and confused.

"Shortly after we became friends. I never had any friends before; plus you were my best friend. I spent more time with you than others. I didn't know how friendship felt in general, let alone best friendship. So I was confused by my feelings. I don't feel that way anymore. Being in Equestria; it helped clear my head a bit. A lot actually. I realized that what I felt for you was just friendship and not only am I not homosexual, I'm not heterosexual either. I'm asexual."

"Wait," Adagio spoke; this time confused. "So you're not into guys or girls? I mean, nada, zip, zero, ziltch?"

"Isn't that cutting yourself off again?" Sunset asked, equally confused.

Sparkle smiled slightly. "No, not at all. I love having friends. I love having deep and meaningful connections with other people. I just don't feel the need to or have the desire for sexual relations with any of them. And isn't that what a romantic relationship is - a best friendship with sex? I have been emotionally intimate with you, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna; I fail to see how stimulating each others' genitals to orgasm would enhance that relationship. As long as I have people whom I love and whom love me; I don't need any more than that." Sparkle thought for a second, then added, "Not that I'm judging you two for needing that."

"Oh we don't have sex," Sunset snapped quickly then looked at Adagio apologetically for saying that so fast.

"You don't?"

"No, we don't," Adagio deadpanned while looking at Sunset, then turned to Sparkle and said, "but it's ok. I understand your point. I even would have agreed with you. Two people who care nothing for each other can hump like bunnies while two others who care deeply for one and other can be celibate. Sex makes no more a relation than a fork makes a candy bar a meal. The only addendum I would add is this; my feelings for Sunset are more than friendship. All friendships, even best friendships tend to fade and pass away over time. We might like our friends to be with us always but don't really mind when they're not. Sunset, she completes me in a way I never want to lose. The idea of not being with her, physically around her, makes me ill. I want to hear the sound of her breathing next to me, feel the warmth of her body, every night before I go to sleep. As long as I get that; then I'm fine with sleeping being the only thing we do in bed."

Sparkle nodded at Adagio. "I can see that. Maybe one day I'll meet someone like that. I just know the idea of sex makes me sick to my stomach. So, yeah. It's not love I'm not interested in, just sex."

"Fair enough," Adagio said with a nod of her own.

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

Adagio crawled in bed beside Sunset. Each was dressed this time in pajamas due to company (although it wouldn't have made a difference even if they had been naked). They laid on their backs beside each other, forming a human "11". Neither one said anything at first, the just laid there, staring at the ceiling in the darkness. It was Sunset who eventually spoke first.

"Dag? You know I feel the same way about you right?"

"I do," Adagio responded quietly.

"And I'm sorry if I said the no sex thing too fast."

"It's ok. It's true. The speed at which you tell it doesn't make it any more or less so."

"Do you want to?" Sunset asked sheepishly.

"What, now, here?" Adagio was confused yet somewhat excited.

"What? Oh, no, god no, not now. I just mean, is that something you want to do, with me?"

Adagio thought for a while. She really looked inside herself to see what she truly wanted. She felt Sunset deserved nothing less. "Yes, I do. I would. It's not a deal breaker though. Not even close. I would say sex is like the icing on the cake, but icing's the best part so that's a bad analogy. It's like the syrup on pan, no, same problem. The gravy on mashed, no, still the same problem. The salt on potato chips. No, potato chips suck without salt."

Sunset laughed. "Are you horny or hungry? I can't tell which."

Adagio laughed too and turned over to face Sunset who did likewise. "Well I haven't had much to eat today. But, no, seriously; neither honestly. I guess the best way to say it is, sex is nice, on a purely physical level. I've had sex before, never with anyone I liked, or didn't hate for that matter. What I have with you, now, is better than any physical sensation. Would I like to? - yes. Do I need to? - no. And, frankly, I'm willing to share you with Val if he means that much to you. You don't have to choose."

"I do. Some people may be polyamorous, but I'm not. I don't think Val is either. I only give my heart, sole, being to one person at a time. It's who I am and it's who I want to be."

"And that person is me," Adagio said it as half a statement, half a question.

"Yes, that person is you," Sunset said. She slowly reached out and started to gently stroke Adagio's cheek. Adagio soon did the same with Sunset and the two began to kiss. Slowly at first, then more passionately. Eventually Sunset backed off. "Not tonight," she said somewhat breathlessly, "but with more of that; it'll be sooner rather than later."

The two cuddled up in each other's arms. Adagio soon fell asleep. Sunset stayed awake all night, filled with dread about what she was going to do tomorrow.