Dreams, the visions we often see in slumber was being witnessed by Adagio Dazzle. But this was no ordinary dream, she was back in the seventies when she and the Dazzling's were under a different name and were the opening act for none other than Led Zeppelin. Back then as she surveyed the dreamscape around her, she saw herself kissing Robert Plant himself. Adagio remembered that day so well. she allowed herself to enjoy these memories and although she could see Sonata and Aria fighting over the last chip, she still remembered that the seventies was a happier decade for all of them, in fact, Aria was dating John Bonham and she was never as sour and indifferent as she was in the present day. That all changed when Bonham died from alcohol poisoning at the beginning of the eighties, and led aria to becoming sarcastic, and indifferent. She never truly got over him and claimed she would not repeat the experience. Soon after, Aria ate the last potato chip, much to Sonata's dismay.
"Dagi." she whined pathetically. "Aria stole my food."
The dream Adagio facepalmed herself, in the meantime, the real Adagio fondly enjoyed going down memory lane. " Just go make something mexican to eat and don't burn anything" said the dream Adagio, the real golden haired siren just mimicked the sentence her past self said.
The eldest Dazzling looked back at her boyfriend who was struggling to make a song but could not think of anything.
"I don't know what to write as the lyrics in the first verse, Dagi." sighing The golden rock god threw another piece of paper into the nearby trashcan that was overflowing with scrapped idea's. The band was in the making of their fourth studio album. all the songs were ready except for one and Robert wanted it to be his masterpiece. It had to be absolutely perfect.
The past version looked like she had come up with an idea, a cunning smirk adorned her face as she walked back towards her boyfriend " Oh Robbie, you just need a bit of, inspiration." She crooned in his ear.
Adagio remembered this moment. It was the day she convinced him to make one of the most successful songs of all time. Putting her hands on Robert's shoulders, she massaged him gently while belting out a hypnotic tune that was mesmerizing him into writing a few parts of the song about a woman who was certain all things that glittered was gold. In short the woman was meant to be her. she kept on singing and as she did so, a green mist appeared as if from nowhere and was absorbed into the ruby attached to her pendant that no one but the sirens witnessed. Aria soon came up to her and pulled her sister down the hallway to talk in private.
"Adagio, I'm sick of feeding on negative emotions like this, their not even satisfying enough to curb my hunger." Aria was always like this when it came to feeding off negative emotions . " At this rate, I'm desperate enough to see what Sonata will cook up and eat it."
"Aria," Adagio sighed " you know as well as I do that we can only eat what we can get here." Aria folded her arms in a huff. to Adagio she was just behaving like a little child that didn't get what she wanted. "Its like I keep telling you, the energy we get in this world is not the same as Equestria's, and believe me, I don't even want to know what shes making in there either. Still got to give her points for trying though"
Aria grinned at her elder sister. "Well lets just hope its something good for once, or it looks like we will be having takeout at the diner. Again." she and Adagio laughed. The real Adagio was watching this unfold,they were so close back then. They sang and had fun all the time, they had even shared Aria's stash of coke back then for fun. How it was great to be what sisters were meant to be like. She always liked to look back on the seventies when Led Zeppelin were in their heyday. It was a great decade to be alive and doing what they did best. Singing, and plenty of it.
Adagio wondered why things couldn't go back to how they used be. Life could be very cruel sometimes. She remembered the day a tropical storm had hit the reef that they and their parents lived on and had killed the trios parents. They had hidden in a small cove to protect them from the typhoon that ravaged their home. After the storm had passed over, the three siren sisters, were the only survivors of the tragedy.
Adagio took her sisters with her to look for their parents only to find no trace of them. Who would look after them now that their Mother and Father had passed on. She looked down at the two young sirens who looked back to her in sadness and despair. And that was when Adagio made a very life changing decision. She swore that as Celestia as her witness, she would bring her sisters up like a mother would. She promised that she would never let anything bad happen to them.
"Its okay Aria and Sonata, its alright, your big sister is still here." She had whispered to them softly like a mother.
As this was a lucid dream, she knew she was about to wake up soon. And wake up she did although it was past midnight, however, it seemed she was not the only one awake at this hour. Standing next to her bedside, was Sonata Dusk, she looked like she hadn't slept well and clearly was afraid.
"Adagio," she whimpered softly.
"What is it, Sonata?" she asked irritably "I'm trying to get back to sleep here." Sometimes Sonata was a real nuisance, but she wouldn't be this scared for no reason and looked like she was crying before she sought out the comfort of Adagio, something must have scared her real bad
"I had a nightmare, Dagi." Sonata quietly replied.
Immediately, the eldest sisters face softened, she got up into a sitting position, and patted the mattress to signal her baby sister to sit down.
"Now, tell me everything about this nightmare, Sonata, I promise, everything will be fine." Said the pale yellow girl, wiping away the tears of a sister in need. Taking a deep breath, Sonata began from the beginning.
"I was dreaming that we were swimming in the oceans of our old home, with our parents without a care in the world." said the blue teenager. "pretty quickly, the scenery changed to when we were singing at the battle of the bands finals". Adagio said nothing, she just patiently listened and waited for her sister to wrap it up. She had a feeling that this was why Sonata was so distraught.
"And what happened then?" Asked Adagio. Taking Sonata's hand in one of her own, she urged her to continue with her nightmare.
"Then that rainbow alicorn appeared and blew our pendants to pieces," She hesitated, feeling a little choked up, nonetheless she pressed on. " And after the blast I could find no trace of you and Aria. It was an endless black void, and then I saw that I was turning into dust." She pressed her head into Adagio's arms for comfort, crying her eyes out. "Please, Dagi don't let this happen to us."
Adagio stroked Sonata's hair and patted her back letting her know that she would protect her, Aria could take care of herself physically, but Adagio knew she too, needed her guidance. "Calm down ,Sonata I promise that as long as Midnight lets us stay here, I won't let anything happen to you and Aria, I promise." Today was the day they needed to go back to Canterlot High School, and face the music as it were. Since it was still early Adagio offered Sonata her bed while she would sleep on the nearby beanbag, and with Adagio in the same room as her, she never slept better.
The sun was just beginning to rise over the city skyline a few hours later, signaling the dawn of a new day.
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Life was good, that was what Sunset Shimmer was thinking. For a time, she was once hated and treated like a pariah by the student body of Canterlot High. But that was all in the past now. She recently helped her friends save the world during the battle of the bands from total brainwashing, and now, she was treated with respect, a few students had each asked her out on separate occasions but all were turned down. In retrospect, she had a lot to be thankful to for, she owed her redemption all to Twilight Sparkle, the former student of Princess Celestia and a princess in her own right. The leather clad teenager stood in line at the serving bench where she could see the lunch lady, Granny Smith dishing out delicious food, including her homemade apple pies that Applejack loved to eat when she was at school.
As soon as Mystery Mint received her lunch, Sunset was next. Granny Smith was mixing up something sweet in her bowl, knowing her it probably had apples in it. It was enough to make Sunset Shimmer want an apple pie to go as a dessert of some kind after she would eat her usual caesar salad. Originally being an equine would make anyone a vegetarian by natural diet.
"Hello, Sunset, ah assume ya'll want the usual?" Asked Granny Smith in her trademark accent that everyone in her immediate family possessed. It was something the old Sunset Shimmer would have made fun of, but the new Sunset was completely different, thinking the accent sounded great, briefly imagining what she would be like if she had such a sound to her voice before shoving that thought out of her mind and pointed to one of the apple pies on the baking tray.
"Yes, and could I have one of those apple pies? Applejack told me you haven't lived until you try the ones you make." Said the redhead rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the Rainbooms. The old woman was delighted to give Sunset an apple pie with her salad. She took great pride in her cooking and loved to hear the students praise her skill. Nobody knew what made the pies so delicious, but most of the students assumed that their creator put a special spice in it or some other ingredient. Using the tongs in one wrinkled hand, Granny smith served the salad onto Sunset Shimmer's lunch tray, following with it, the homemade apple pie.
The cooked pastry sent out a beautiful odor that smelt like cinnamon to Sunset's nose. It was going to be so good on her taste buds, she was sure it was going to be satisfying.Life was finally looking up for her. She had great friends, and an awesome life, she could not ask for anything more. Silently thanking the old lunch lady, she went to find the table she frequented with her friends. Students from all cliques and walks of life were no longer looking at her with contempt but with friendship in their hearts, even Flash Sentry who was strumming his guitar on some random notes was once again on speaking terms with her,and stopped to send her a wave. She smiled at him and waved back. A sudden and pitched voice that sounded like its owner sucked in some helium addressed the teenager.
"Sunset, over here!" The owner of the voice was a teenager with pink skin, and a darker shade of pink for the colour of her hair which looked like it could hide an infinite amount of items in it. Sitting around her at their table, was four other girls. These were Sunset shimmers friends. Applejack, the blonde farm girl whose sister also attended Canterlot High School and worked on her families farm, Sweet Apple Acres. The alabaster fashionista, Rarity who started her own business at her home, and planned to work full time after graduation. The butter yellow teenager was Fluttershy, The only vegetarian of the group besides Sunset and a volunteer at the local animal shelter. At the head of the table, sat a girl whose hair was painted with all the colours of the rainbow, appropriately known as Rainbow Dash. The captain of every sports team in the school and an all around tomboy.
Pulling out a chair, Sunset took a seat right next to Applejack and placed her meal on the table. Together, they were the musical group, the rainbooms Applejack was the groups bass player, while Rainbow Dash held the position of lead guitarist and bandleader.Rarity played the keytar and the random Pinkie Pie played the drums and on the tambourine was Fluttershy.
"So how do you like being treated like a hero, it makes you feel awesome huh? Asked Rainbow Dash. "It was so cool how we kicked the Dazzlings sorry asses." Rarity's jaw dropped from the word Rainbow had just used
"Rainbow Dash, there is no need to use that vulgar language." Said the marshmallow coloured teenager in response to Rainbows choice of words. Rainbow just stuck out her tongue at Rarity, who was frustrated at her friends immaturity. Applejack chewed on her apple fritter trying not to choke on her own laughter, seeing Rarity tell rainbow off was amusing to say the least. Swallowing her food, she took this chance to say something.
" Ya'll know its pointless to teach a girl like rainbow manners, Rarity." Applejack got a scowl from Rarity in return for that remark.
"If girls like you and rainbow learned how to act like ladies, then I wouldn't have to try teaching the both of you manners." Rarity shot back looking serious, a few seconds later she and the girls were laughing with each other. Fluttershy decided for change of subject for the time being.
"Um, girls." She said meekly in a voice as sweet as nectar. "Have you heard about the new transfer student that Principle Celestia has been talking about?"
Sunsets eyes widened. She was asked once again to introduce the new student after this morning tea, but she had heard rumors in the school that the Dazzlings would return to Canterlot High as well. What am I worried about. They can't do any harm as long as the girls and I have the ruby shards. Thought Sunset in a positive way. They were completely harmless without those gems. Had Sunset heard the other side of the story, she would have had second thoughts. . While on the topic of the transfer student,Rarity mentioned she had a thing for accents, in more ways than one.
"I heard that the new transfer is from Australia, oh I do hope he has that sexy Australian accent."She said with a dreamy sigh.
"Get a hold'a ya self, Rarity, you haven't even met the boy."the apple farmer cut her friends fantasy down in one blow.
"Well I'm not into dating foreign boys thank you very much, I just happen to like Australian accents." Rarity huffed indignantly. "If I play my cards right, I could make a new friend." Pinkie Pie as hard as it seemed to believe, studied overseas culture as a small hobby, and if the people of Australia were anything to go by, most of them were party animals
"That's great, Rarity." Pinkie squeaked in her high voice, and took a long drink from her fizzy apple cider in one go. She had finished her eighth drink in a row now and let out a sigh of satisfaction. "From what I heard, Aussies are wild party animals and love to down drinks like this fizzy apple cider. Oh, maybe I should throw a welcome to Canterlot High School and we're your new friends party." The hyper teenager said in one go without stopping for breath. At the possibility of the transfer having a passion for for drinking, Rainbow Dash immediately started to get excited.
"So he likes drinking drinks like fizzy apple cider, we should have a drinking game when we see him, I bet he won't beat the world champ though. Rainbow said while gesturing to herself. Sunset shook her head in humor, Rainbow was always drinking the Apple families Cider, but at least it didn't have actual alcohol in it or she would have had a few hangover's.
"So," Sunset started. " anyone doing anything on the weekends? We can hang out at the movies and we can bring our potential friend with us." she smiled with joy. Rainbow Dash knew just the movie that was being re-released in the theaters for a limited time called Kokoda, a pacific war movie. " We can watch a good one that's coming out in a few months, it might as well be a few years though." Rainbow stated whilst leaning back in her chair.
Fluttershy moved a few strands of stray hair out of her face. " Rainbow Dash, what movie did you have in mind? If you don't mind me asking." The timid girl asked her friend. Rainbow spun her cutlery around before giving an answer. She didn't think Fluttershy would like her idea of a good movie but she thought she had to get over this shyness at some point. "Well, its about a group of Australian soldiers fighting the Japanese in a desperate effort to save their country." Said Rainbow Dash with that flair of coolness that she claimed made her twenty per cent cooler.
"I don't think I like the sound of this movie." Fluttershy was worried about the choice of film that Rainbow recommended. Rarity looked stunned at her friends choice. While Pinkie was confused at the mention of two kinds of people fighting. "Why were they fighting in the first place? They should have been friends and hang out with each other, It's better to be happy about something and not fight over anything." Pinkie said positively. Rarity was impressed by Pinkies always upbeat nature. Nothing ever seemed to bring her down,not even war.
Soon after their conversation, the school bell rang out loud, signaling the end of morning tea."See you in class, girls, its time for me to meet our new transfer, lets hope he's not like the Dazzling's." Said Sunset Shimmer with a wave to her friends. She walked out of the cafeteria thinking the worst was behind her. Little did she know that things were going to get interesting.-----------------------------------------------------------------------Midnight Rider, Art Magic and the dazzling's were at the meeting point where Principle Celestia and Vice Principle Luna said he would meet the guide, Midnight wondered what the girls had done wrong, he had asked the Principle about it but they would not elaborate further. Luna was quite tempted to expel them right then and there until her sister was persuaded to let them by Midnight Rider, claiming that they had no place to go and he was taking care of them, Art vouched for their defense as well, telling them that they needed to come here if they wanted to make things right, which Adagio and Aria silently didn't agree with, Sonata on the other hand was ready to clean up her act, being an airhead. Adagio would talk about this with her later after school. Coming from across the hall, was Sunset Shimmer, as she waved hello to the transfer, Sunset felt a sense of deja vu when she noticed that Midnight was not alone. Standing beside him were the Dazzling's, She didn't know why they came back, but they were harmless now as far as she was concerned.
"G'day, the name's Midnight Rider, are you the student who's going introduce me to the school?" He asked nicely. Sunset on the other hand was glad to see him, but not the Dazzling's. She figured that they were already given the tour.
"Yes, I am, could you excuse me for one moment."she asked, eyeing the dazzling's. " you three already had the tour, you should get to class." she told them a little bit sharper than intended. Adagio was gritting her teeth at her enemy.
"And if we don't?" the former siren challenged back at her rival
"Then I guess we will have to have a talk with the principle then." smiled Sunset smugly at Adagio, who motioned her sisters to follow her This is not over Sunset Shimmer I will have my revenge. If I don't turn to dust before that. the pale yellow teenager thought in fury. Art Magic soon went on her way as well so she could get her things for class. Midnight was confused and curious about what had just transpired.
"What was that all about?" He asked the redhead girl who was his guide. "Do you know them?" She had to get him off the subject, he wouldn't believe her if she told him that they were sirens from another world. He would think she was crazy. Maybe she could compliment his choice of clothing such as his hat. But then again, that might not take away his curiosity.
"Actually, we're just rivals in the music scene here at Canterlot High, anyway, I'm Sunset Shimmer, and who did you say you were again?" she asked him, forgetting his name.
Midnight Rider." Midnight said simply "but you can just call me Midnight." Sunset almost breathed a sigh of relief and showed him around the school, Midnight had to say, he was impressed with this school, everyone from all different cliques were mingling, the jocks and the nerds, the rockers and the drama kids, it seemed completely perfect to him. He was definitely going to love it here. The tour was nice and simple until they came to a poster of Flash Sentry's band Flash Drive hosting auditions for a new lead singer. Midnight knew he could sing very well, in fact some of his old friends told him he sounded a lot like Ronnie James Dio, but he had problems with singing to live audiences the last time he tried ended badly. He was still staring at the poster when Sunset called his attention away from the poster.
"You must be interested in joining Flash Drive." Sunset stated whilst recalling memories when she was dating Flash Sentry. "You must be a good singer if you thinking about joining them." Midnight put his hand behind his head chuckling to himself. Did this girl seriously think he was any good, every time someone complimented his singing voice, he merely shrugged it off out of modesty
"Oh I wouldn't go that far, I kind of have problems facing a live audience."
"Don't be silly I'm musically inclined, so I know talent when I see it." Sunset said earnestly. " I can put a good word in with Flash, he's the guitar player for Flash Drive.
"Well, people say I'm a good singer..." he trailed off slowly "Alright I'll think about it.
Sunset beamed positively. Flash might have a new lead singer for his band after all. "Great, the auditions are tomorrow after school. If you decide to come, Flash will be in the band practice room." A sound came down the hallway. It sounded like a group of people ganging up on someone. Sunset and Midnight decided to see what was going on. The two of them ran down the hall before being stopped by the hall monitor for running inside the building and the both of them got a demerit. After that little delay, the duo went down the hall again and into the foyer to find out what was happening. What they saw was terrible. It made Midnight want to punch one of the many nearby lockers out of anger.