"That's...I...I don't even know what to say."

Sunset's shock was plastered all over her face, so much so that she kept her focus on Adagio as they walked. The two had long since moved away from their practise in the music room, and had now taken to leaving the school entirely. Right now, they were walking, side-by-side, down one of the main streets of Canterlot. The air was getting cooler with the setting of the sun, and so Adagio had taken to wearing a large purple coat over her regular outfit. Sunset stared at her, waiting for her to speak, but the latter was clearly deep in thought over the story told thus far. Eventually, the elder Siren turned to her companion, seeing the intrigue there, and so cracked a small smile.

"It interests you that much, Sunset?"

The former unicorn nodded.

"Well...yeah! I mean, I can't believe that you'd be willing to put yourself in a situation like that! Lining up to be chosen, like...like the best cut of meat at a butcher's shop?"

Adagio let out a chuckle.

"Oh, my dear Sunset. You must remember, it was a very different time for this world. Attitudes and feelings shift over the centuries, and I have been there to see them all."

However, a slight frown crossed her face as she considered this.

"While it is true that my sisters and I would have preferred not to debase ourselves, especially for a meek young lad like that...it was necessary."

But Sunset seemed confused by this.

"I don't see how."

For a moment, Adagio turned to her, raising an eyebrow, before looking ahead and letting out a sigh as she answered.

"When we first came to this world, it was clear to us that the energy here was never going to be enough to sustain us in the way that it had back in Equestria. Oh sure, we could start a brawl or two here and there, but to get us the power we wanted, that we craved...we needed to think bigger."

Sunset watched her, intrigued by her words, and so stayed silent as Adagio looked to her once more.

"And so, I hatched a plan. We entered this kingdom with the intent of getting in good with the royal family. The boy was of marrying age, so we'd slip in, get on his good side, and before you know it, one of us would end up with a crown."

Hearing that, Sunset frowned somewhat.

"So it was all a power play then? You never really cared about him?"

Adagio let out a chuckle at hearing that.

"Oh, Sunset. You forget...I know about your past, remember?"

The words had not been spoken with intent to insult, Sunset knew that, and yet, they nevertheless had an impact. Although she felt more than a little indignant at that, Sunset nevertheless exhaled deeply, slumping her shoulders a little before giving a nod.

"Yeah...good point."

Nodding back, Adagio resumed.

"But you're right. It was all just a means of gaining control over others. Becoming the next Queen was just one way. As I already told you, the old King meant for his son to carry on the line. And for that...one of us needed to make certain...changes to our life."

Sunset turned to her, more surprised than before.

"Seriously? You were willing to just get yourself pregnant like that?"

Adagio nodded before turning to her.

"To gain control over others, I was willing to do many things back in the day. And I knew that my child, boy or girl, would one day be the one to sit upon the throne. I could influence the kingdom twofold, first through my beloved future husband, and second, through my child."

Sunset narrowed her eyes.

"So...even your child was part of your plan?"

Here, Adagio turned to her, looking somewhat insulted by those words.

"The story is still early, Sunset."

The former unicorn looked like she was about to respond to that, only to stop when she realised what she must have sounded like just now. Sighing, she looked away briefly, before turning back to Adagio, bearing an apologetic look. The Siren regarded her for a while before giving a short nod, a silent way of letting her know that no harm was done. Looking ahead as the two continued to walk, Adagio placed her hands in her jacket pockets, before starting to speak again.

"We needed negative energy, and for that, there needed to be conflict. The people we'd met up until that point simply weren't up to snuff, so we had to gain influence over an even greater population. Hence, our plan. We'd sow strife in that kingdom once we had the throne in our grasp, and from that...well...it'd be a veritable buffet for us."

Sunset, looking at the smirk on Adagio's face as she said that, couldn't help but feel a slight chill go down her spine.

"You know...I am so glad you're on our side these days."

A slight chuckle escaped Adagio after she'd heard that, but, when her laughter died down, she got right back to business.

"But, as I said, there was a complication. The prince was uninterested, so I had to improvise. If I couldn't get close to him now, the whole plan was in jeopardy. But..."

Her smirk returned to her as she looked to Sunset.

"...by a startling coincidence, I happened to take a wrong turn when going to my bedchambers that night."

To say that the prince was feeling down would have been a great understatement, as his steps were slow and ponderous throughout his journey. Up and up he went, through the various floors of the castle, heading to his chambers for the evening. As per usual, there were guards every so often, and each would salute him as he passed. The prince was distracted though, his Father's words repeating themselves over and over again in his mind, leading to a long and tiring sigh on his part. Eventually though, he happened upon his destination, a large ornate door that led to his personal quarters. A small smile crept onto his face, for he knew that, at least here, he could have a reprieve from the stress of the day. With a single push, the door opened, and he made his way within.

"Well...that day could have gone better."

Closing the door behind him, the prince allowed himself a moment to stretch, after which he got down to the business of removing his ceremonial armour, placing the chest-plate to one side for the time being. With his burden gone, he moved over to a nearby table, preparing himself a small glass of water. But, as he took his first sip, he turned, ready to look upon his bed in preparation for a good night's rest.

"Are you well, my prince?"

The boy immediately allowed shock to overcome him, and he spat out the water. Before him, sitting quietly at the edge of his bed, was none other than one of the very maidens his Father had prepared for him. He recognised her from her voluminous orange hair, as well as the confident look she bore as she looked to him. Needless to say, he was rather taken aback by seeing her here, and as he fumbled his words, he looked from her, to the door and then back again.

"How...how...how did you get in here?"

Adagio, flipping some of her hair aside, looked to the boy with a look of sheer innocence.

"Why...I was making my way to my bedchambers, when I made a wrong turn. I tried finding my way back, but instead I found myself here."

While a more world-weary person might have suspected that the Siren was putting on an act here, the prince was, sadly, not such a person. Although, to his credit, he did at least seem just a touch incredulous over the story that had just been presented to him.

"Why didn't my guards bar you from entering?"

To that, Adagio, feigned a look of confusion.

"Guards? But, my prince...there were no guards."

The prince opened his mouth to speak, only to find realisation crossing his face. Immediately, he spun around, rushing to his door, opening it with an almighty yank before poking his head outside. The girl was completely right, as there was not a single person outside his door, something which he had utterly failed to notice as he'd passed through the first time. No guards or soldiers or anyone who would have been expected here. The prince, stunned by this, re-entered his room, closing the door and turning to the girl with a shocked look.

"But...but...there are always guards here! Why would they leave like that?"

Adagio shrugged her shoulders.

"Who knows? Perhaps they simply had...other things on their minds tonight?"

Her mouth twisted into a devilish smirk as she said that, with her pendant glowing slightly more than usual, but she did well to hide her face from the prince as she did so. And speaking of whom, the boy now paced up and down the room, showing clear nervousness. The Siren watched him, and in some instances growing somewhat impatient about it. However, she nevertheless kept her cool, waiting until just enough time had passed, before finally speaking in that faux-innocent tone of hers.

"My prince...does my presence upset you? Is it your wish that I leave?"

The boy turned to her, seeing her get up from the bed, perhaps in readiness to do just that. But, after seeming ponderous for a few moments, he raised a hand.

"No. No, it's just...just been a difficult day for me. I bear you no ill will, Lady...?"

He left the question open, and to this, Adagio formed a smile far sweeter than who knew her would expect her to bear. Gripping the top of her skirt, she pulled on the fabric slightly before giving a slight curtsey.

"Adagio, your highness. Adagio Dazzle."

The prince nodded, bearing a slight smile of his own.

"A pleasure. You need not leave, not if you are simply here by mistake. No harm done. Can I...can I offer you some water perhaps?"

But Adagio placed her hand upon her chest, letting out a fake gasp at that request.

"Heavens! I would not be so rude as to impose!"

The prince chuckled at that.

"It is no bother. Truth be told, I could do with some company right now, even if it is just somebody to talk to."

Adagio looked to him, and at the glass of water he so readily prepared for her. It took a few moments, but eventually, she calculated just the right moment, and accepted the glass from him, bearing all the appreciation one in her position was expected to show.

"I thank you, your highness. It is a welcome gesture."

The boy nodded, turning to prepare a glass for himself. And as his back was turned, Adagio's smirk returned.

"And I promise you, if company is what you desire...then that is what you shall have."