Sunset Shimmer launched herself out of bed in fighting position when she was awoken by a loud ringing noise. She forced open her eyes and blinked a few times before resting her eyes on the culprit. Just the alarm clock... again. She turned it off and wiped drool off her chin. "Stupid clock." She moved her eyes towards her work desk. "Oh, right. I need to finish my homework." With a yawn and a stretch, she grabbed her homework and exited her room.
After showering and brushing her teeth (she did both at once to save time), Sunset made her way downstairs. On her way to the kitchen, she took notice of her sleeping guest. Sonata was sprawled out on the couch, covered in potato chip crumbs and her mouth stained purple with grape soda. Sunset rolled her eyes and turned off the TV before entering her kitchen, making herself a sandwich while she finished up her homework.
As she worked, her attention was taken by a groggy Sonata staggering into the kitchen. Despite looking a bit out of it, she happily waved at Sunset.
Sunset waved back. "Good morning, Sonata. Did you sleep well?"
"Oh, yeah. I slept like a baby... except this time I didn't have my thumb in my mouth. At least, I don't think I did..."
"Riiiight,"
"So, what'cha doin'?" Sonata practically teleported to Sunset's side.
"Uhh, homework."
"What's it for?"
Sunset raised an eyebrow. "School."
"But then, wouldn't it be called schoolwork?"
"Well, it's for school but you bring it home." Sunset tried to think of a way to explain it. "You do the work at home and then you bring it back to school."
"Oh..." Sonata, not having anything else to say, just stood there; watching Sunset work.
Sunset felt awkward with Sonata looking over her shoulder. "Hey, why don't you go take a shower while I finish working?"
"Okay," Sonata left but came back two seconds later. "Where's the shower at?"
"Upstairs, first door on the left."
"Right," Sonata left for five seconds before returning. "Which way is left?"
Sunset facepalmed. "You really don't know your left from your right?"
"I do... I just forget sometimes."
With a sigh, Sunset led Sonata to the bathroom; giving her instructions on how the knobs in the shower worked before leaving. Once that was done, Sunset continued finishing her work and her breakfast; though she was occasionally distracted sudden shouts of "Cold! Cold! Cold!" and "Hot! Hot! Hot!" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is going to be a long day."
Sunset led Sonata to the Rainboom's practice room. She had instructed Sonata to keep her hood up on the way, expecting that Sonata would not receive a warm welcome from the school after helping her sisters brainwash everyone into hating each other.
Sunset had decided to bring Sonata to school so they could explain the situation to the rest of the group. She had already texted each of them to meet her in their practice room. If anyone at the school besides Sunset would be willing to give Sonata a chance, it was them.
Once they got to the practice room, Sunset closed the door. "Alright, here we are."
Sonata took down her hood and looked around. "Wow! You got a lot of stuff here." Her eyes settled on something. "But, uh, is that guy supposed to be here?"
Sunset then saw that there was indeed someone else there, although it wasn't a guy. "Rainbow Dash?"
A mess of rainbow hair was resting on a desk while the body it was attached to slumped in a chair.
Sunset approached her cocky friend and saw that Rainbow Dash had fallen asleep while writing a song. Sunset assumed it was the same song she had been busy writing yesterday. She put her hand on Rainbow's shoulder and gently shook her. "Rainbow Dash, wake up."
Rainbow suddenly jerked upright. "Wha-What! Who's there!" A piece of paper was stuck to the right side of her face and a pencil was still in her hand.
"It's just me, Rainbow." Sunset answered, hiding her grin behind her hand.
"Oh." Rainbow noticed the paper and unattached it from her face.
"Is that the song you were writing yesterday?"
Rainbow suddenly looked nervous and stood up, hiding the paper behind her back. "Uhh, yeah." She put on an obviously fake smile.
"Were you writing it all night?"
"Pssh, nah. I was just, uh... I was so amazed by how awesome the song was that I couldn't stop looking over it and, before I knew it, I fell asleep. Heh, heh." Rainbow's eyes moved from side to side.
"Really?" Sunset raised an eyebrow. "Well, can I see it?"
"No! I mean, uh... I don't think your ready."
"Ready?"
"Yeah, because... This song is probably the most awesomest song of all time. I don't think you would be able to comprehend it. Yeah..." Rainbow started to sweat nervously.
Sunset crossed her arms. "Rainbow; I've traveled through dimensions, became and fought against a psychotic demon, and we both have superpowers. I'm pretty sure I can handle looking at the lyrics of a song, even if it is the 'most awesomest song ever'." She said deadpanned
"Well yeah, but... umm..." Rainbow sighed and throw up her hands in defeat. "Alright, I never finished the song! I don't know what's wrong with me! It's like I had the idea in my head, but when I tried to write it down I just... I don't know, I just couldn't concentrate!"
Sunset nodded in understanding. "It seems you have writer's block."
"But I've never had writer's block before! Whenever I've written a song in the past, I finished it in a few hours. Why do I have it now?" She ran her fingers through her multi-colored hair.
Sunset patted her friend on the back. "I'm sure you'll figure it eventually."
The moment was broken by the sound of someone playing the drums. It was very offbeat, like a child trying to play for the first time.
Sunset and Rainbow looked over to find the culprit.
Sonata smiled and waved at them with one of the drumsticks.
Rainbow stared at Sonata for a few seconds before looking to Sunset. "What is she doing here?" She said while pointing her thumb at Sonata.
"She needs our help, Rainbow."
"You do realize she's one of the Dazzlings, right?"
"I'll explain once the others get here."
The two continued to watch Sonata play the drums. Well, not really playing; more like randomly hitting everything without any rhythm whatsoever.
"Does she need help learning how to play?" Rainbow deadpanned.
"Sunset! Rainbow Dash!"
The two looked back to see Twilight shutting the door behind her. Spike popped his head out of her backpack and Twilight set him on the floor.
"Ah, Twilight. You're here." Sunset was glad Twilight had arrived before the others. Since Twilight had been with her when she found Sonata, Sunset wouldn't have to explain much to her.
"I got your text. I'm guessing you were talking about her?" She pointed to Sonata, who stopped playing to wave at Twilight.
Twilight politely waved back.
"Yep." Sunset answered. "She took my offer and slept over at my place last night."
"Wait," Rainbow interrupted. "She slept over your place last night?"
"I'll explain when the others get here." Sunset repeated.
"So, does anyone want to tell me how you know her?" Twilight asked, curious as to what happened between them. All she had gotten so far was that Sonata and her sisters had tried to take over Canterlot High.
"Oh, that's easy." Sonata answered. "Me and my sisters, Adagio and Aria, came to the school and used our siren voices to brainwash everyone into hating each other. And then there was this battle of the bands thing and we finally got your friends to start fighting. And then we turn into these siren-demon-thingies. And then there was this big music battle and..." Sonata's jolly demeanor faded. "And... W-Well, we... split up after that."
Twilight stared at Sonata with a blank expression. "...Okay. Got it."
Sonata's sad look turned confused. "Wait a second, weren't you there?"
"Well, actually..." Twilight turned to Sunset." Sunset, I think you can explain it better."
"Um, okay." Sunset cleared her throat. "This is a different Twilight. The Twilight you saw a few months came from Equestria and was turned human by a magic portal." Sunset made a note to not mention where said portal was. "This Twilight is actually from this world and transferred to this school not long ago. The other Twilight is back in Equestria. And while I'm explaining, I'm gonna go ahead and tell you that all seven of us have superpowers that we got from a camping trip a few weeks ago."
"Yeah, and they also had to beat this crazy forest-demon lady." Spike added.
...
Sonata was staring off into empty face, her mouth a flat line and her eyes unfocused.
Sunset could have sworn she heard crickets chirping. "Sonata?"
No response.
"...Did you catch any of that?"
"...Something about two Twilights and superpowers and a crazy forest-demon lady."
"Good enough."
The door opened and Applejack entered. "Hey, y'all."
"Hey, Applejack." Her friends greeted.
"Ah got ya message, Sunset. What's the problem?"
Sunset motioned to Sonata, who was trying to twirl a drumstick only to hit herself in the eye. "Ow!"
Applejack raised an eyebrow. "...Ah'm probably not the first one to ask, but why is one of the Dazzlin's here?"
"I'll explain once the others get here." Sunset repeated.
"Well, Ah saw Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy on mah way here. Don't know 'bout Rarity though."
"Isn't she making costumes for that school play she wrote?" Rainbow asked. "She's probably really busy."
"Oh, she'll make it here in time, sugar." Applejack assured. "Trust me. Even she has to overbook herself, she'll do it. That girl is stubborn as a mule."
Sunset and Rainbow looked to each other then back to Applejack, giving her a 'that's the crow calling the raven black' look.
"...Relatively speakin'."
"We're here!" And just like that, Pinkie Pie burst into the room with Fluttershy in tow. "Hi, Applejack! Hi, Sunset! Hi, Rainbow Dash! Hi, Twilight! Hi, Spike! Hi, Sonata!"
"Hello." Sonata greeted back.
Pinkie suddenly appeared beside Sunset. "What's she doing here?" She whispered behind her hand.
"I'll explain once the others, err, Rarity gets here." Sunset was about to ask Pinkie how she knew Sonata's name, but decided to wait on that.
"Okie-dokie-lokie!" Pinkie skipped over to her drum set, which Sonata was making another disastrous attempt at playing.
Sonata looked to the pink girl beside her. "Oh, sorry. Are these yours?"
"Yeah, but don't worry. I don't mind sharing." Pinkie scooted herself onto half of the seat, letting Sonata keep the other half, and swiped her drumsticks. "Here, let me show you how it's done."
Fluttershy shyly rubbed her arm. "Sorry, if we're late."
"Nah, you guys weren't late." Rainbow gave her best friend a smile and patted her on the back.
Fluttershy smiled back. "We would have been here earlier, but Pinkie needed to talk with me about-"
"Oh, yeah!" Pinkie launched herself out of her seat, leaving her drumsticks in mid-air (Sonata grabbed them), and placed herself in front of her friends. "I was telling Fluttershy about this tingly feeling-"
"PINKIE!"
"...In my neck."
There was a collective sigh of relief.
"I had this little twitchy feeling in the back of my neck. But it was a different kind of twitchy feeling than I usually get. Like yesterday, I had this feeling that Derpy needed my help and then I found her wrapped up in kite string. But today, I got this feeling that someone was watching me."
This caused a few eyebrows to be raised.
"Watching you?" Sunset asked.
"Yeah, like someone was spying on me. I even checked my special hiding places in case someone had found them, but no one was there."
Sunset was about to ask about the 'special hiding places', but decided she didn't even want to know.
"Wait, wait! Hold up!" Rainbow held up her hands. "You mean to tell us that you think someone is spying on you?"
"Well, I don't know if I was being spied on. I just had the feeling that I was."
Sunset was just writing it all of as 'typical Pinkie' when the door opened and a beautiful young lady with white skin and purple hair walked in.
"Sorry, I'm late." Rarity breathed out, evidently having just finished running.
Applejack smirked. "Glad ya could join us, sugar."
Rarity smoothed out her hair. "I apologize, darlings. I was working late last night on the costumes for the school play and Sweetie Belle was having trouble finding her school supplies and I had to check up with the others working on the school play before I could get here and why is one of the Dazzlings playing with Pinkie's drums?"
Sonata once again waved.
"Well, since you're all here now, I'll explain everything." Sunset took a deep breath. "Sonata," She motioned to the siren, who had suddenly appeared beside her. Was she related to Pinkie or something? "Was abandoned by her sisters. She has no where to go and she needs help."
Sonata's cheery, hapless demeanor was replaced by a sad, somber look.
"And we're the ones who are gonna help her?" Rainbow questioned.
"Yes." Sunset answered without hesitation. "You did the same for me and Twilight."
"Yeah, but..."
Sonata looked from the group to Sunset. "Guys, don't worry. Adagio and Aria will be back soon and then I'll be gone. I... I'm sure of it." She didn't sound sure.
Rainbow motioned for a group huddle.
Sonata tried to get in on it, but Sunset sat her down in a chair away from the group. Once that was dealt with, Sunset joined the huddle.
"I don't know about this, Sunset." Rainbow said. "Something about this just doesn't smell right."
"What about it?" Sunset questioned. "None of you had a problem with helping me or Twilight."
"It's not that. Doesn't it seem a little odd that you just happened to find her and the other two just happened to have abandoned her?"
"Yeah, and that ain't all," Applejack added. "The worse ya and Twilight did was while y'all were all crazy with demon-brain. Sonata and 'er sisters were in full control when they did what they did."
"If you think Sonata is faking, that's not true." Sunset defended. "I looked into her mind with my powers and I felt what she felt. Adagio and Aria did abandon her. Adagio even blamed Sonata for what happened to them."
Rarity looked confused. "And how was it Sonata's fault?"
Sunset narrowed her eyes. "Exactly. I think Adagio put all the blame on Sonata so that she wouldn't have to take responsibility."
"That's awful!" Fluttershy stated.
"Yeah," Twilight agreed. "And you should've seen her when we found her. She was all jumpy and eating out of a trash can."
"Eww." The others retorted.
"Why that is simply dreadful!" Rarity looked like she was about to faint. "There will no longer be need for discussion. We must help her however we can."
"I agree." Fluttershy nodded. "I could never live with myself if we just left her like that."
"Hold on, everyone." Applejack butted in. "Now, Ah ain't sayin' that Ah don't wanna help her, but what about Adagio an' Aria? What if they do come back an' try to get revenge? Y'all saw how Sonata is still loyal to them. That could cause everyone a whole heap of trouble."
"Surely, you're not suggesting we throw her out on the streets, Applejack!" Rarity replied with disgust.
"Ah ain't sayin' that! Ah'm just sayin' that it could happen."
"I have that tingly feeling in my neck again." Pinkie said out of the blue.
Sunset thought for a moment. "Then we're going to have to get her on our side. We'll show her what it's like to have real friends. She may have spent her entire live with Adagio and Aria, but all they ever did was hurt her. I think we can make it work. Who's with me?"
"I'm totally with you!" Pinkie answered. "Being friends with people is what I do best!"
"I as well." Rarity answered.
"Me too." Fluttershy answered.
"You know I'm with you all the way." Twilight answered.
"After all we've been through, this'll be easy." Rainbow bragged. "Count me in."
"Me too." Applejack answered.
Sunset smiled and nodded before braking the huddle. "Alright, Sonata... Sonata?"
Sonata had evidently decided to entertain herself by sticking her head into a tuba. Wait, why was there a tuba? Meh, probably Pinkie's. "Um, I'm stuck." Her voice was muffled but clear enough.
"Oh, dear." Sunset rushed over and took a hold of the tuba, trying to get it off of Sonata's head. "How did you get like this anyway?"
"Aria dropped me on my head when I was a baby." Sonata answered.
Sunset paused to stare at Sonata, looking a bit disturbed. "I meant, how did get your head stuck in a tuba?"
"Oh... I wanted to see the inside of it."
Sunset facepalmed.
"Allow me." Pinkie stepped up and moved Sunset to the side. She took a hold of the instrument and took a deep breath. A second later, Sonata crashed into the opposite wall while the sound of a tuba sailed through the air.
Sonata peeled herself off the wall and shook her head. "Maybe I should stop sticking my head into things..."
Sunset walked over to Sonata and put her hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"
Sonata looked a bit confused, maybe even surprised, by the question. "Umm... Yeah."
Just then, the school bell rang.
"Oh, shoot! We're late for class!" Rainbow ran out the door.
Sunset looked to Sonata. "You stay here with Spike. We'll get you two when school's over."
"Okay," Sonata nodded, but then looked confused... again. "Wait, who's Spike."
"That would be me." Spike said as Twilight finished hugging him goodbye.
Sonata eyes widened and she practically teleported towards Spike with a big smile on her face. "A talking dog!" She snatched Spikeright out of Twilight's hands. "Aaaah, and he's so cute too!" A gave Spike a tight hug (perhaps too tight). "Don't worry, I'll take good care of him."
Twilight looked unsure, both with leaving Spike with Sonata and who was taking care of who.
Sunset smiled and patted Sonata on the back. "Welcome to the madhouse, Sonata."
"I thought this was a school." Sonata said with genuine confusion.
The last one to leave the room was Pinkie Pie, who stopped in the doorway when she felt that tingly feeling in the back of her neck again. "I still feel like someone's watching us..." She muttered. "Oh, well. Probably nothing." She smiled and shrugged as she left.
The pink one had just left the room, leaving Sonata and the little purple dog to their own devices. None of the girls had ever spared a glance out the window. Though even if they had, they wouldn't have seen her as she was well hidden in the bushes. She had watched the entire scene through binoculars, from each girl entering to the girls huddling together while Sonata stuck her head in a tuba like the idiot she was. It seemed they had made Sonata their newest friend.
Lowering the binoculars, Adagio Dazzle smiled and stifled a chuckle. "Perfect."