Everyone had a rather fitful sleep...if they were even able to sleep at all. They crashed in Tree Hugger's hut, stewing over all Sunset had done. The group remained split on what should be done and so they'd eventually agreed to table it until the sun rose.

Birds chirped outside and sunlight streamed in when some of them started to stir. Their host made them breakfast, which included fruits and vegetables she and Fluttershy picked from her garden, with tea, coffee, and hot cocoa placed in mugs. “Morning babes.” She waved to Flash when he walked through the bead curtain. “You too, sexy.”

He forced a tired smile. “Sunset left last night. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen.” He swiped some steamy coffee and slurped a mouthful down. Right now he hardly cared that it burned his tongue. “I'm worried she'll do something drastic. I messaged her all night, and again this morning, but she still hasn't responded. I don't know what to do.”

Applejack had woken up early, used to it from working on the farm. “That dirty coward! Why I outta-”

“We should hunt her down and kick some sense into her ass,” cried Rainbow Dash, punching a fist into her palm.

Fluttershy rapidly shook her head. “No! Maybe you don't see her as a friend anymore, but I still do!”

“I'm not entirely certain what she is to us anymore,” admitted Rarity. “I'm...trying to sympathize with her, yet-”

Pinkie Pie yawned, having cried herself to sleep. Her face fell when she realized last night's revelations weren't just some horrible nightmare. She tried to break the tension with a joke, then decided it was inappropriate for once.

Moondancer patted Twilight's arm as she sat beside her, sipping at her tea with a straw. Since the rest of your friends already shot their set, you should team up with me. There's still time. Get started soon and we could make a last-minute entry.”

Flash nodded. “I'd better hit the road, get these pictures entered. Call me if you need me, okay? I'll pick up the equipment later.” He made certain he was entirely redressed before he headed out, started his car, and rolled out.

Twilight sighed. “I can't do that. It would mean competing with my friends!”

Dash shook her head. “You should totally go for it! Better to lose to you than someone else! Not that I plan to lose!”

“I must concur.” Rarity stirred a packet's worth of sugar into her coffee. “You two would be lovely.”

“I'm okay with it,” said AJ who was preoccupied with other matters.

“Me too! More fun for everyone!” In contrast Pinkie dumped loads of sugar into her hot cocoa and topped it with plenty of marshmallows. “Hmm, but who else here is good with a camera? I know anybody can take a selfie these days, but-”

“I have a bit of talent for that,” confessed Tree Hugger. “Maybe not up to Flash's level, but I've been practicing recently. I have some excellent study material.” She shared a smile with Flutters who blushed. “Plus, I've been, like, studying to be an art teacher, you know? Get ready, you two. I'll help you lovely chickadees whip up something righteous.”

She fished out her camera and checked to make certain it was in order. “Hey...about Sunset. Let's not judge her too harshly, okay? There's something really off about her aura. Almost like she's not entirely herself.”

Dash rolled her eyes. “I know you're into all this love and peace hippy bullshit, but-”

Flutters leapt up. “It's not bull...crud! You don't know her like I do! She's usually right about this stuff!”

Tree Hugger held her hand. “It's okay. She doesn't have to believe. But I know what I sensed. Her chakras are all out of whack. Almost like someone's been deliberately meddling with it in order to throw her off-balance?”

Twilight lowered her head, lost in thought. “I...dropped by Sunser's before I came here. I'd forgot to return the spare key I'd borrowed when I...crashed at her place, and I let myself in, trying to find some clue about why she'd cheated on me.” She pulled the diary from her purse. “I borrowed this too, hoping it might help me understand why she did it.”

“Looks like Sunset's not the only naughty one,” sang Pinkie with a tilt of her head.

“I talked her into it,” said Moondancer.

“That there's the book she uses to chat with Twilight in Equestraia,” said AJ. “Normally I'm against pokin' my nose in other people's stuff, but in this case it's too important! Let's crack this open and take a gander!”

They crowded around to take a look while Tree Hugger set up another photo shoot, this time with a library background, where Twilight and Moondancer took their places in their usual attire. Rather than go for something flashy, they decided on a cozy, laidback presentation, posing together and disrobing themselves one article at a time. Flashes sounded as Hugs snapped them from every angel, the pair almost twins once they let their hair down and removed their glasses, posing stark naked.

They touched each other lightly, fumbling about a bit, too nervous to make any especially sensual contact, let alone kiss. However they were able to bond like old times, partly rekindling what they had lost over time.

“Looks like the magic in this book has somehow stopped working,” called Twilight when she sat next to Moondancer, arms draped around her with a smile. “She probably hasn't been able to contact Equestria for some time.”

“Wonder if her imbalanced spirit affected that,” said Hugs while shooting another picture and repositioning them. The pair laid on their bellies, leaning their chins on their hands with the sunlight gleaming on their pert buttocks. She grinned when a butterfly danced in from an open window, landing on one of Twilight's buns where it rested. She went wide-eyed, then tittered.

They scanned its contents for a couple hours, skipping past recounts of events they were all involved in, eventually flipping about until the entries started to slowly take a decidedly weird turn. The writing became messier, more stream-of-consciousness, increasingly confused and contradictory. She'd apparently been asking Twilight for insight but received no response.

Then came the dark figures that surrounded her when she awoke in the middle of the night, unclear as they however over her, Sunset trapped in bouts of sleep paralysis as she woke up slathered in cold sweat. The intruders would shush her back to sleep, and she'd have nightmares about the geodes spiraling out of control, recalling the she-demon she'd been transformed into, fearing it would somehow resurface in her. Out of increasing paranoia she'd smashed her own, and found that the glittery substance had started to absorb into her skin, somehow attuning to and altering her magic potential over time.

Flutters bit her trembling lower lip. “Poor Sunset's been dealing with this all by her lonesome.”

AJ sucked on a straw of hay. “Maybe we were a might hasty...me especially.”

“Yeah,” admitted Dash. “I just can't stand it when someone makes Twilight cry!”

Trixie yawned wide and stirred, eyes still baggy as she rubbed them. “You morons. It's obvious that the Dazzlings have been messing with her head!” She stared down at herself. “They...they humiliated me! Me, the Great and Powerful Trixie, reduced to a whimpering infant while they assaulted me! Sunset's been kind to me when so few people were! I want in!”

Pinkie shrugged. “Maybe she'll be useful? Stranger things have happened!”

“As you wish, darling. Just try not to cramp our style,” said Rarity with a toss of her locks.

Twilight couldn't help but still feel ambivalent over Sunset's actions; but she felt almost ready to forgive her now. Almost. Her heart still ached at the betrayal. “So if the geode's become a permanent part of her, and is corrupting her, does that mean she'll turn back into something like that she-devil you all encountered? It's power is twisting to suit her old self, after all.”

“I dunno. Maybe over time,” said AJ. “Someone had best make a stop by her house today.”

“It could be dangerous,” said Rarity. “What if the Dazzlings are there? We should go in pairs, at least.”

“If she even bothers to return there.” Twilight chewed on her lower lip. “Ugh, this is so complicated! Oh, sorry Moondancer. Didn't mean to break character.” She fell back into a dignified but sensuous pose where they perched hand-in-hand.

In the end they all decided to go as one. They texted Flash Sentry their plans, just in case something went horribly wrong, and Moondancer collected the photos she'd taken with Twilight, parting ways with them as she rode off on her scooter. It was sometime in the afternoon once they were finally able to set out.

It was pretty much impossible to find an open clothing store at that hour, so Sunset had given Inky Rose and Pacific Glow directions to her house, called them a cab, and claimed they'd lost their clothes after a drunken night of dancing at the club. Not that such an event was far off for the raver girl. There was only room for two on her bike, so she'd decided to take an equally nude and delirious double they'd nick-named Sunny with her, having her hold on tight as she drove directly homeward.

It was almost noon by the time they settled in. She made sure all three of them took a shower, whipped them up breakfast from what she had lying around, and offered Sunny her blue costume which fit her almost perfectly. She offered Inky and Pacific their choice of her spare outfits, but the pair decided to remain naked for now, far more comfortable in this state after all the time they'd spent (Literally) under Sombra. Not that she minded; they were admittedly nice eye candy.

Sunny looked blankly around the kitchen and living room. “Nice pad. Reminds me of my own. Any of you got a smoke? No? Shit.” She found Sunset's hidden wine bottle, popped the cork, and took a heavy swig. “Good stuff.” With a sigh she wiped her mouth on the back of her arm. “So, now that we can have some R&R, maybe you'd all care to explain why I have a twin?”

“It's a...long and complicated story.” Sunset had trouble meeting her eyes, laying out plates with bacon, eggs, and toast, and then glasses of milk. She took her own seat and sawed into her meal with a fork and knife. “Hope it won't bore you.”

Sunny shrug and squeezed a bunch of ketchup onto her sunny-side up eggs. “Hit me, girlfriend. Last thing I remember I'd just gotten home. How long was I out? Couple days? A week?”

“Quite a bit longer than that. I'll do my best to explain it.” She recounted all that had happened, including all the grisly details, and Sunny forked chunks of food into her mouth, chewing messily as she listened. She would furrow her brow, or blink several times, but only stopped to ask for clarification when necessary, trying to take in all that she heard.

When she finished Sunny mumbled, “That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard. Elements of Harmony? Power of friendship? Demons and magical bands? Not to mention some alternate dimension with talking horses!” She burst into laughter, but when no one joined her, she soon sobered up. “Sorry. But you have to admit it sounds pretty far-fetched, even in a world where candy-colored people have ridiculous stripper names.”

“Yeah. When you put it that way...” Sunset finally broke into laughter with her twin. “But I...I still almost killed you. Not to mention I stole your identity and years of your life.”

Sunny shrugged. “I would've wasted it, anyhow. My parents kicked me out the moment I turned eighteen. I've always been a loser with no real direction in life.” She looked away to stare at nothing in particular. “No friends, no plans, just flying by the seat of my pants, wasting the days away drinking, smoking, drugging, and otherwise feeling sorry for myself.”

Pacific Glow wandered up and squeezed her shoulder. “That sounds like my life! You sure you're not my twin?”

“'Fraid not, girlfriend. But I wouldn't mind hanging out with you guys. Got nowhere else to go now, to be honest.”

“We're in the same boat,” admitted Inky. “All my stuff and petty cash likely burned up in the fire. On the upside Sombra pays us directly out-of-pocket, so maybe we won't be traced back to the blaze? Not sure what we should do now.”

“You can all crash here,” offered Sunset. “It's not very roomy, but...”

“We couldn't do that for free!” Pacific strolled over, and sat an incredibly cushiony and ample bottom in Sunset's lap,wrapping her arms about her as she pressed equally soft and heavy breasts to her. “I do have one way I can pay my way, though...”

Inky nodded. “We don't mind. It's just flesh. No need to feel nervous or ashamed. Think of it as an exchange.” She too approached just close enough to let her feel her body heat. “Feel free to use us however and whenever you like. We're used to it.” She traced both hands over sumptuous curves layered with spiderweb tattoos she'd become addicted to.

“I could never do that!” Unbelievably hot as she thought the pair of them were, the idea of them prostituting themselves to her make her skin crawl. But would the bad girl she really was truly care if she was taking advantage? Even at her worst she'd still had her limits. Still wanted desperately to believe she wasn't a monster. “If you must do something for me, you can, um, tidy up the place on occasion, or something.” She brushed Pacific's heart-tattooed cheek, who beamed wide back at her.

She'd have to return to the Dazzlings soon or they'd likely come for her. After the stunt Aria pulled she had reservations. Would what they were up to continued to escalate? Moreover, why did she still care? She'd killed off the good girl, hadn't she? No. Perhaps a part of her would always be there no matter what she did. For now she'd simply relax and get to know her new pals better. They weren't overly goodie-goodie like most of her former close circle. Hopefully they could understand her better.

Adagio had finished the necklaces that resembled their lost amulets. She wasn't as certain whether the magic stored in the geodes would take to the sirens, even after the spells she'd layered into it under instructions from Sombra, so they would wear them for now and hope their mysticism would suffuse them over time. They would only have one shot at reclaiming their former abilities and she wasn't willing to take any chances. No, she'd have to be patient, unlike her sisters.

The sirens were immune to each other's powers by their nature, and that would likely soon include Sunset, so she had to be carefully manipulating and pulling her to their side. She'd taken the first step, but would she be willing to go all the way? Would she eventually break and fold once their actions escalated? Better to start small and build to a climax.

“Ah. Sunset,” she said seeing the girl enter. “I was just thinking about my favorite sister.” They kissed. “Aria, Sonata, get your asses in here.” Her sisters entered. “Tonight is when the contest results will be decided. We should pay you-know-who a visit.”

Aria looked to their newest addition who simply nodded. “Uh,” she whispered. “About last night...”

“Some other time,” said Sunset who accepted a necklace to match theirs from Adagio. “Right now I have to earn my stripes.” Aria and Sonata put on their own necklaces. She sucked in a breath, ready to take the first real, proper step.

“Ooh! Pretty!” Sonata toyed with the crystal made from Pinkie's crushed geode.

“Yeah, they are nice.” Aria studied her own made from Rainbow's and AJ's stones.

Adagio had made hers from Rarity's and Fluttershy's geodes, hoping they would add immensely to her seductive, manipulative allure. The four sisters wrapped arms around each other. “Next stop; Equestrian Suicidal Girls headquarters.”

Taking the last car Aria had stolen, the Dazzlings rode there with Sunset close by on her bike, evening starting to fall over the mostly quiet town. They made their way past Moondancer who sat at the desk, a small look exchanged between her and Sunset, before making their way up to the furthest room on the second floor. The foursome strode into the office.

“Welcome, ladies! Come to see an early preview of the winners? All the entries should be in!” Flim-and-Flam covered the walls and ceiling with photos of all the contestants which came in from all over town. Some had teamed up, such as the Shadowbolts, Trixie and the Illusions, or those who'd paired off, such as Lyran and Bon Bon, or Vinyl Scratch and Octavia. Then there were single entries, like Somnambula, who'd wore a full mummified costume, stripping the bandages away starting from the head.

Sunset had never seen so many nude women in her life, not in the girls' locker room, the showers, a trip with Pinkie and Rainbow to a strip club where they'd all gotten drunk off their asses, or even when she'd went on a porn binge out of curiosity. Adagio gently patted her ass, and that was her cue, as she swayed her hips and confidently strode towards the twins.

“Sunset Shimmer?” Flim leered. “Yes, we saw your pictures with your friends. Unbelievably sexy stuff!” She brushed her fingertips over his chin and cheek, and he shuddered, breathing in her perfume, soaking in her body heat.

Flam noticed his brother was spellbound, and moved to intervene, only to freeze up when she brushed his hand. “N-now...”

Sunset wasn't entirely aware of her new power, but it came naturally to her, the application of her will and she could convince others they were doing exactly what they secretly wished when she directed their decisions. The contact of flesh made it even easier to seduce her prey. She felt like one of the sirens already. She started to dance snake-like before the pair, careful to touch the brothers on occasion, slinking out of her costume layer-by-layer, which slid into a pile at her feet she then kicked away.

Soon her sisters joined her, shimmying and stripping, synchronized to her lead, the precious stones in their necklaces glowing, including Sunset's own despite the fact that it was a fake, drawing power from the magic now innate to her. Flim-and-Flam's eyes glazed over as they started to fully lose awareness. “Listen to the sound of my voice,” they sang in harmony. “Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh. Soon you'll find you don't have a choice.” The foursome surrendered to a primal sensuality.

She told herself Flim-and-Flam were sleazes, that they deserved whatever they got. More importantly this all came so naturally to her. She felt more confident and sexier than ever, complete, like she was someone important who would have the love of her sisters who could understand the darkness in her. They smiled, dacing around and upon the brothers, watching the last traces of their free will bleed away, unable to resist the pleasures of the flesh they teased them with but ultimately never provided.

She made the Dazzlings do her a favor, rigging the contest so that her friends would win. Not that she cared about the money now. She'd give it to them after all she'd put them through. She owed them that much, at least. Besides, other than the Shadowbolts she doubted any of the other models were likely to take top prize, but she had to make absolutely certain.

Now that everything was in place the twins were no longer needed. Under their control they would sign over their holdings completely to the Dazzlings, confess their crimes, and turn over all the evidence they'd collected on the twins, sending them off to likely lifetime imprisonment where they'd be eating a steady supply of sausage courtesy of other inmates for the rest of their lives. It was almost too easy. All their money and resources would be theirs to serve as the first real step in their power base.

Twilight knocked several times on the door, trying repeatedly, but no one answered. She looked to her friends who shrugged. Finally she gave in, inhaled, and unlocked the door with her spare key, quietly pushing it open. “H-hello? Sunset?” She spotted her seated at a table drinking, along with a pair of nude women she didn't recognize. “Tree Hugger's right. You do move fast!”

“Who the hell are.... Oh, right. You must be Sunset's friends,” said Sunny.

“What kinda' nonsense are ya' up to now,” said AJ. “We're in no mood for more malarkey!”

“It's no game,” said Inky Rose. “Meet the Sunset of this world.”

“Yo.” Sunny raised a hand in a wave. “As you can see rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated, or something. I never paid much attention in English class. Any o f you got a smoke? It'll help me relax while I explain all this nonsense. Better take a seat, maybe stand and stretch so your butts don't get sore, because my tale's a long and convoluted one.”

“My name is Pacific Glow by the way. And this is Inky Rose. Think of us as friends!”

Pinkie beamed. “Wow, she looks a lot like me! Well, if I was a lot sluttier! Um, sorry, no offense!”

Pacific snickered. “None taken! Hmmm, maybe we should have some private time later...” She looked her over in approval.

Rarity studied the bared women. “Do you...wander around in the buff often?”

“It's not that unusual,” said Fluttershy. “Um, Tree Hugger and I like to do it all the time when we're alone at the hut.” She let her hair fall to obscure her pink cheeks. “It's kind of like getting back in touch with nature. Nudity's not always sexual.”

“But it sure is when you and Hugs get together,” said Rainbow with a nudge to her ribs.

“Focus,” reminded Inky. “Fun can wait. We have business to take care of.”

Trixie rifled through the cupboards. “Where is Sunset Shimmer, anyhow?”

“Off running with the Dazzlings,” said Inky. “They were cutting deals with our boss, Sombra.”

Sunny waited until most of them were seated before she recounted her tale. Tree Hugger had decided to tag along, and offered her hands to Sunny. “Mind if I, like read your spirit while we talk, babe? Not that I doubt you, quite the opposite. But I think they'll understand your story better if I can help confirm it, you know?” She wiggled her thick eyebrows at her.

“Sure. Whatever makes this quicker.” She told them what she knew, including the information her counterpart had shared, confirming that it was indeed likely the Dazzlings had been messing with her mind, how her body had been preserved between a state of life-and-death by Sombra, and that The Shadow Dimensions had burned down. Of course Sunset had conveniently left out that Aria was responsible, not having the heart to tell Inky and Pacific why Sombra had been murdered.

Once she finished Rarity asked, “So what now, darlings?”

“We find Sunset Shimmer and the Dazzlings,” said Twilight with determination burning in her eyes. “If we can. From what I've heard they like to move around a lot. Wait, Moondancer let slip that they like to visit the Equestrian Suicidal Girls headquarters a lot. For all I know it's in the Dazzlings' pockets. Maybe we should head on over there and check it out?”

“Yeah. I reckon we should save Sunset before she makes the worst mistake of her life,” said AJ. “You were right, Fluttershy. She is still our friend, no matter what she's done. Better we whoop some sense into that cute butt of hers!”

Dash was instantly on her feet. “Now you're talking! Oh, right. Less talking, more action!”

Sunny finished off the bottle with a burp. “I'd like to come, too. How about you two? Of course you'd have to get dressed.” Inky and Pacific nodded. They rifled through Sunset's spare clothes, the former choosing a gothic black dress that was most likely used for a Halloween party, the latter picking a tube-top and hot pants that showed off most of her ass cleavage, probably a costume Sunset planned to use to spice up the bedroom rather than something she'd ever dare wear in public.

They were a rag-tag, oddball bunch, piling into Tree Hugger's spray-painted van like they were about to solve a spooky mystery. Or end up breaking down on the road and running into a family of inbred cannibals. Hugs took the wheel, singing to herself when they headed out, while Sunny, Flutters, Pacific, Inky, Pinkie, Trixie, and Rainbow passing a bong between them. AJ waved it away, while Twilight and Rarity politely declined, the ride bumpy as they raced down pavement to find a friend.

Author's Notes:

Closing in on the climax, I hope!