Sunset walked across the floor of Sugarcube Corner up to the counter, admiring the displays of cakes in differing hues. The smell of coffee wasn’t overpowering, but nonetheless struck her, having spent several weeks away from it. She grinned at Mrs. Cake, asking for a medium-sized tea and a small slice of chocolate gateaux. Her friends queued up behind her, chatting amongst themselves as she ordered. Mr. Cake readied her tea and cake and brought it over on a tray, while Sunset sorted out money with Mrs. Cake at the till register. After collecting her change, slipping it into her purse, and depositing that back in her pocket, she smiled at her friends in line behind her. Figuring that six trays would crowd the table they chose, she elected to leave it at the counter, picking up her cup and saucer in one hand and her small plate of gateaux in the other. She turned to face into the room, intending to pick a table for them all, and froze.

It was a small miracle she somehow didn’t drop her tea, imagining the white china shattering on the hard floor. No muscles in Sunset’s body moved, even those used for breathing. There, at a table in the far corner from the door, sat someone with their back to her; someone Sunset recognised instantly, though all she could see were tight black jeans and heeled black leather boots, with everything else concealed behind a gargantuan mass of curly orange hair with yellow streaks running through it. Two other familiar forms sat on the sofa on the opposite side of the table, and although that meant that Sunset could see their faces, they didn’t hold her attention as much as the first.

“You!” she exhaled, forcing her lungs into operation once more, the word carrying despite its low volume, thanks to its intensity. This caused her friends to look around; those that turned to her looked puzzled, while those who looked in the same direction she herself did reacted in the same way she had, all motion ceasing.

The orange hair shook and then swung around as its owner turned in her direction, and magenta eyes locked onto her own, revealing a face she thought and hoped she’d never see again. Adagio’s expression was a flat stare, and the world felt as if it had gone silent for a few seconds, not daring to interrupt the tension in that held look.

“Sit down,” Adagio commanded, jerking her head towards the table behind her without breaking eye contact, her voice like steel in its hardness, and holding less warmth than the depths of space. Neither Sunset nor her friends made any motion to respond or move, though thankfully all breathing and cardiac functions had resumed, albeit well above their normal rate.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about,” Adagio announced in the same tone, and then turned away, back to her table, the expectation implicit that the Rainbooms would do as instructed without her supervision or persuasion. Sunset took a deep breath and put one foot in front of the other, starting the reluctant walk over to the sirens’ table, cake and tea still in her hands, and after a few steps she heard her friends moving to follow. Once their leader had turned away, Sunset’s gaze had fallen to the other two sirens. The blue one watched as the Rainbooms approached, although her expression was grim. The purple one didn’t even look up, but sat with her arms crossed and her jaw set.

Sunset lowered her tea and her cake plate to the table in the spot next to Adagio, all thoughts of eating forgotten, and slowly sat down. Adagio continued to look ahead, not having moved since she’d turned back around, her face unchanging, as Sunset’s friends warily approached the other seats.

<The end. Fade to black>.

Author's Notes:

If only, right?

I was talking with a friend of mine on here about whether there'd be a fifth Equestria Girls film, given that the usual October release time is taken up next year by the big-budget MLP Movie with its widespread theatrical release. At which point my friend said that he might have heard a spoiler for Legend Of Everfree, but had no idea if it was true or not. He then said that if it were true, "then A.) We’ll definitely be getting EQG5 and B.) Me and you are going to enjoy it."

That, to me, meant exactly one thing, and suggested that they'd be returning for the fifth film rather than the fourth, but if it's something Legend Of Everfree spoilers could ruin, then the implication is that their arrival must be hinted at or announced in that film somewhere, for which my best guess was the post-credits scene, so it didn't distract from film 4 itself. So this was what popped into my head that very instant. If anyone wants to write a story based on their idea of the film that follows, then please, be my guest. After all, Legend Of Everfree didn't include the scenes here, but it didn't contradict them either, so they could happily follow on from it.

Also, I know I did that big blog post about how the sirens shouldn't come back. They shouldn't, really. The two most recent films have shown that Rainbow Rocks cannot be topped, or even approached. It's best if their one appearance is their only one, as any other would surely end up disappointing in comparison. But as I said, I heard the above possible-spoiler, and I was so excited I approached this site with my hands covering the main bit of the screen for a week, until I had watched Legend Of Everfree, looking only at my Read It Later list and inbox. On that basis, I wouldn't have complained for an instant if this scene really happened and the sirens did return.

Newly added September 2017!

This story ends on a cliffhanger, with the intention of setting up the next Equestria Girls movie. It's left up to the reader to decide what that might entail, what the sirens wish to discuss, what happens next and so on. But one possible answer might be my new story, Haunted Wasteland. Hopefully that's open enough that this story can serve as a prequel to that one, while still keeping the allure of its ominous open ending.