The soft sound of Sonata’s voice filled the air around them. The Elements of Harmony stared at her in barely concealed fear during the first few seconds of the note. However, as the music continued, they felt an odd warmth spread through them and drew closer together, Pinkie bringing Fluttershy and Applejack into a hug. Purple mist flowed from them and into all three Sirens’ pendants. Adagio and Aria watched it curiously and gasped when it made contact with their gems.
Sunset Shimmer watched in utter puzzlement as the two of them breathed a deep sigh of bliss. Without warning, Adagio scooted closer to the redhead, snaking an arm around her back and pulling her closer. Aria flapped over, snuggling beside Sunset's other side, leaning her head on the amber-skinned teen's shoulder. Once she allowed the note to taper off, Sonata swayed over to Sunset and settled on her lap, nuzzling her head into the taller woman’s chest. Sunset stared at the Sirens in confusion, keeping perfectly still as her eyes flicked between each one nervously.
The group still near the door blinked to clear their minds before turning to the quartet on the bed. “What the heck was that?” Rainbow Dash demanded, rubbing her eyes. “And what are you doing?”
“That was certainly… new,” Adagio purred, burying her face in Sunset’s neck. “The mist has never been purple before. And it certainly never felt like that.”
“It feels like I could bench twenty of Bulk Biceps,” Aria whispered in a husky tone. She gave a slight shudder. “With one hand.”
Sonata remained where she was, head just below Sunset’s chin. “It made me feel so warm,” she mumbled cutely, eyes half closed. “And really safe. What did I even do?”
“That is what we would like to know as well,” Rarity spoke up. “It felt to me like our bond as friends strengthened considerably when Sonata was singing and then went back to normal once her note finished.”
“Maybe they can sing for friendship now?” Applejack suggested.
Adagio tapped her cheek thoughtfully and nodded slowly. “That would make sense. Our song range has probably widened to encompass the new emotions we can now ingest.”
“But now it can affect us,” Fluttershy piped up timidly. “So, if they want us to fight…” The group turned to the three Sirens apprehensively.
“I doubt it works that way,” Aria muttered, lifting her head from Sunset's shoulder self-consciously. “The magic came from an element of harmony.”
Adagio nodded and added, “More likely, it only affects you positively, as a sense of bond strengthening so that your power increases. Fortunately for you, we have no intention of returning to our former source of nourishment to test that theory.”
“Really?” Pinkie Pie gasped excitedly.
“Sunset wouldn’t approve of it,” Sonata yawned. She burrowed further against Sunset and the girls at the door cleared their throats awkwardly.
Rarity took a calming breath and queried, “We know what happened to us, but if you will excuse my frankness, what on earth are you three doing?”
“When Sonata sang, you five released a strange purple mist,” Adagio explained. “Our pendants absorbed it and… the feelings it evoked within us were… sublime.”
“It’s kinda like Sunset was calling us to her.” Aria gave a gravelly purr as her hand slid along a bandaged arm. “There was a force practically pulling us in her direction, similar to how our thralls used to respond to us.”
“That probably has to do with your magic now being connected to her,” Pinkie pointed out. “Whenever you absorb energy you directly cause, it provides a direct link or want to be with Sunset!”
Adagio blinked at her. “You’re not an idiot,” she murmured in mild surprise.
“I get that sometimes,” Pinkie grinned.
“But what does this mean?” Rarity did not like not knowing about this situation, especially since the Sirens weren’t on the same path of redemption that Sunset Shimmer had put down for herself. “Are they sub-elements or something now?”
“Is that even a thing?” Rainbow Dash muttered, scratching her head in befuddlement.
The Sirens looked to one another for a moment and Adagio leaned up, though she kept one arm around Sunset’s shoulder. “I think it may be a possibility,” the lead siren mused. “The Elements of Harmony are the main elements that comprise the bond. Within those, there would be subcategories grouped together. If our magic is linked to Sunset Shimmer, then it is because she displayed a form of her own element in saving us.”
Rainbow Dash held a hand to her head in pain as she grit out, “If her element is forgiveness like you said it was, then how could she have shown it to you just by giving you a pendant?”
“Probably by some of the things grouped under forgiveness, moron,” Aria grunted, glaring over at the rainbow athlete.
Before another argument could break out between the two, Adagio broke in. “Sonata is clearly compassion, similar to your friend’s ‘kindness’,” she explained, fighting to keep her voice level. “While I must be comfort or something similar.”
“What about your sister over there?” Applejack asked as she pointed to Aria.
“The closest I can come up with is… compurgation,” Adagio shrugged. The group frowned at her and the fiery-haired siren rephrased it. “Defense on behalf of another, similar to Rainbow Dash’s ‘loyalty’.” They all nodded in understanding.
Rarity stepped up beside Applejack and inquired, “So, all of you are subsets of Sunset Shimmer’s element because she gave you those neckpieces?”
“Sounds about right!” Sonata affirmed.
The room remained silent for a few moments before Rarity breathed a soft sigh. “Well, if that doesn’t prove that the three of you are on some path of reformation, I don’t know what would. Thank you for taking care of Sunset for us. I suppose we were so caught up in our bond with the five of us that we didn’t take her pain into account at all.”
“Yeah, Sunset, sorry about that,” Applejack agreed. “We’ll be better about payin’ attention from now on. And please don’t be afraid to speak up from now on. You’re our friend, so we don’t wantcha hurtin’.”
Fluttershy turned her gaze to the window. “We’ve been here long enough that school will be over by the time we return. We should probably get going if we want to get back in time to head home.”
“I should be getting home, too,” Sunset murmured, standing and scratching behind her head. “It’s a long hike…”
“Where do you stay?” Sonata asked in puzzlement. At the question, it occurred to Sunset’s friends that they had no idea where Sunset lived. Surely she couldn’t be somewhere conspicuous because her counterpart was still in this world, but it had to be close by, right? Turning to the orange woman, everyone waited for the answer.
Sunset took in the looks from her friends and chuckled nervously. “Ah, I live in an abandoned cottage in the forest just outside of town. There’s a lake nearby for me to bathe in and I know how to make a fire for cooking food, so…”
Both groups stared at her in abject shock. “You camp in the woods?” Aria exclaimed incredulously.
“No wonder you’ve got such nice legs,” Sonata murmured, making Sunset blush. “You’ve gotta hike a long way to get to school every day.”
“Not anymore,” Adagio stated, standing and brushing imaginary dust from her jumper. “You’re staying with us from now on.”
Now, the band turned to the Sirens in confusion. “What?” Rainbow Dash huffed.
“Well, she certainly can’t continue living in an abandoned building outside of town,” the yellow siren sniffed and flipped a hair from her face. “That won’t do at all. We’ve enough spare rooms in the manor for her to choose one of ours.”
“You really don’t have to do that-,” Sunset mumbled lowly, but was cut off by Aria.
“Isn’t that what ‘good’ people do?” the purple siren sister queried with a raised eyebrow. “We’re supposed to offer help to those who need it. Besides, it’ll be better driving than running all the way to school from the woods. If you wanna run every morning, just join me on my workout.”
This made Rainbow Dash perk up. “You work out?” Aria rolled her eyes and didn’t even deem to answer the question with more than a jerky nod.
Sunset made to rub her arm before remembering the bandages. “Well, if you’re sure…”
“Oh, Sunset,” Adagio teased, placing a hand under Sunset’s chin and gazing at her with a decidedly seductive smile. “We insist.”
A blush colored Sunset’s cheeks and she nodded dumbly. Rarity and Applejack shared knowing looks at the orange-skinned woman’s reluctance to argue, but said nothing. Rainbow Dash and Aria simply glared at one another while Pinkie Pie tried one of Sonata’s smoothies. Fluttershy watched the others around her with a small smile, happy they were all getting along, relatively.
“Welp,” Applejack called, grabbing Rainbow Dash. “Guess we better be headin’ out. See ya tomorrow, Sunset! If ya need help moving any of your possessions from that cottage, just lemme know.”
“I demand a rematch!” Rainbow Dash shouted to Aria. “We will arm wrestle tomorrow at three!”
“Count on it, Rainbow Head,” the purple siren smirked, waving sarcastically. “Not that you’ll win, either way.” Rainbow Dash growled back as she disappeared.
Rarity looked to the Sirens and turned to Adagio. "I suppose I must apologize for not giving you a proper chance until now," she said calmly. "Given how you have looked out for the well-being of a dear friend, I will do my best to support the three of you going forward." Her eyes narrowed just slightly. "So long as Sunset does not come into harm?
Adagio smirked at her. "Of course, we'll do our best to take care of Sunset."
Rarity smiled and nodded. "Then I look forward to seeing you all at school tomorrow. And please don't be shy. I would love to have someone new to design a wardrobe for. I'm certain we can come to an agreement."
The siren leader merely waved as the fashionista dragged Pinkie Pie away from accepting another smoothie. Fluttershy thanked Sonata for the smoothie and promised to stay in touch. Once the door finally closed, the three Sirens converged back in Adagio’s room. Aria shut the door as Sonata leaned against the dresser and Adagio moved closer to Sunset Shimmer.
“Now then, Shimmer,” Adagio purred, her hand on Sunset’s cheek. “About asking you out…”