//------------------------------// // Ch. 12-Singing Shadows // Story: Equestria Girls-Manehattan University // by Burning_Heart //------------------------------// With Sunset and Burning back from Equestria, they hop into both the band bus and Allegretto's van and head back home. But that's not the focus today. With the girls and boys traveling back to Manehattan, let's focus on a small group of three girls, who also happen to be in Manehattan, who are leaving their part-time job at a Mexican restaurant, let's focus on Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze, and Sonata Dusk and the encounter they are about to have. After the defeat they had against the Rainbooms in the battle of the bands and losing their magical crystals, The Dazzlings have been working part-time after part-time job in order to survive. After arriving in Manehattan, they got a job at a Mexican restaurant and have been working there for a couple of months now. After the end of their shift, The Dazzlings are leaving the restaurant and heading back to their apartment taking with them some take out. On the way, Sonata opens up a bag, grabs a taco out and starts to eat it. "Ugh, I still don't understand how you can eat that garbage, Sonata," said Aria. Sonata finishes eating the taco and tells her, "I can't help it. There just so tasty." "Don't you fill ashamed of yourself, we're sirens, we should be feeding off the negative energy of people," said Aria. "Well, we can't help it. Thanks to The Rainbooms, we don't have our magic gems anymore," said Sonata. Adagio staps at the two and yells, "Would you two just stop talking!" Suprised by the sudden outburst, both Aria and Sonata step back from Adagio. "Gezz Adagio, what's up with you," asked Aria. "She's right, ever since you saw that thing on your phone you've been in a bad mood all day," said Sonata. "You want to know what's wrong with me," said Adagio. She pulls out her phone and searches for something until she finds what's shes looking for and shows it to the two, "This is whats wrong with me." Aria and Sonata look at the phone and it's a video from the internet of a certain group of girls performing in front of a cafe. The video ends and all three girls have a sour look on their faces after watching the video. "They have over 100,000 views and it's still going up," said Adagio. "Hey look on the bright side, they have at least one dislike," said Sonata. "That's from me, Sonata," said Adagio. "Can we just go home, I'm tired and now I'm depressed," said Aria. The girls agree and head to their apartment. They get onto a bus and while riding they think about how their lives came to this point. All that The Dazzlings wanted was for people to adore them with their singing but the only way they could survive was to feed off the negative energy around them. But thanks to Sunset and The Rainbooms, they can no longer sing and must work in this foreign world that they were sent to by Star Swirl the Bearded. They arrive at their apartment and get to their door. Adagio puts the key into the lock but noticed that something is off. "What's wrong, Adagio," asked Sonata. "The doors unlocked," said Adagio. "Well that's just perfect," said Aria. Adagio slowly opens the door and quietly sneaks inside followed by Aria and Sonata. They look around their place to see if anything was stolen, they see a mini refrigerator, no dinner table, an empty sink, and a small living room with one old king size mattress, exactly how they left it when they left for work. "It doesn't look like they stole anything," said Adagio. "Not like we have anything to steal anyway," said Aria. "Well, well, I was wondering when you three were going to come home." A mysterious voice talks to them from behind and The Dazzlings jump forward and turn around, with Adagio and Aria getting into a fighting stance and Sonata hiding behind Adagio. "Wow, easy there. I just want to talk," said the stranger. "Who are you and what do you want," yelled Adagio. The stranger steps out of the shadows and it's a man in a black hoodie. He removes the hood and his head looks like a shadowy black flame, it's The Shadow Man. "I'm a friend and I want to help you out," said The Shadow Man. He throws down a few huge sacks to the Dazzlings feet, "Go ahead, open them up." They hesitate at first, but while keeping an eye on them Adagio opens up a sack and saw something she wasn't expecting, "What is it," asked Aria. Adagio turns the sack upside down and hundreds of thousands of dollars pour out. Aria's and Sonata's eyes lite up and they open the other sacks and see that they have money in them as well. "So, do like my gift," asked The Shadow Man. "Okay, what's the catch. It's clear your not from around here so what do you want," asked Adagio. "How right you are, I'm not from here but I also am," said The Shadow Man. Confused by what he said, Sonata said, "I don't get it." "Well I myself am from Equestria, but the person I'm possessing is from this world," said The Shadow Man. "Wait, you're from Equestria too, so are we," said Sonata. "Sonata, hush. So tell me, how did you arrive here in this world," said Adagio. "Oh the same as you three, because of Star Swirl," said The Shadow Man. Them hearing that name sent a wave a hate through them that they haven't felt in a long time since they first came to this world. "So are you going to tell us what you want or not," said Aria. "I just need your help with a little problem I'm having with a certain group of girls you three tangled with before," said The Shadow Man. They thought about it for a second before coming to the conclusion that the group he is talking about is The Rainbooms. Of course, they want to help take care of The Rainbooms after the what happened to them, but there's only one problem. So Adagio tells him, "Look, as much as we would love to help after giving us all this cash." "And trust us, we would love to take care of those Rainbooms," said Aria. "But thanks to them, we no longer have our magic powers," said Adagio. The Shadow Man snaps his fingers as if he just remembered something, "Oh, that reminds me, I come bearing even more gifts." He digs into his hoodie pocket and pulls out a jewelry case. He opens it up in front of them and inside are three necklaces with a dark gem attached to them, "Go ahead, there's one for each," said The Shadow Man. The Dazzlings each take one of the necklaces and put them one. Suddenly, a surge of power courses through them, giving them a familiar feeling they haven't felt in quite some time and decide to try singing once again. 🎵Ah, ah-ah, ah-ahh🎵 🎵Ah, ah-ah, ah-ahh🎵 The Dazzlings are shocked by what just happened, after months of not being able to sing and now being able to bring a tear to their eyes. Sonata jumps in excitement and hugs both Adagio and Aria, "We can sing again you guys," said Sonata. Adagio pushes Sonata off of her and approaches The Shadow Man, "Okay then, let me ask you something, Mister-," "Oh, you all can call me Shadow Man." "Wow, how very original," said Aria. Adagio points her finger up, telling Aria to be quite without telling her to, "Mister Shadow Man, why do you have a problem with The Rainbooms." "Oh that's for me to know my dear," said The Shadow Man. "Well whatever, now that we have our powers back let go take care of them," said Aria. Aria starts to head out the door but gets stopped by The Shadow Man. "Now hold your horses there. Why the rush there." "Listen, Shadow Man, thank you for the gifts but no one is going to stop us from getting our revenge," said Adagio. She signals Aria and Sonata to get into position and all three begin to transform into their siren forms, about to attack. "And here I was hoping we could be civil about this," said The Shadow Man. He raises his palm into the air and slowly starts to close his hand. Suddenly, The Dazzlings start to fill a shortness of breath until it fills like their being choked. They fall to the ground, having trouble breathing. Adagio looks up at The Shadow Man and, barely able to talk, ask him, "What did you do." In a total change of mood, The Shadow Man looks down at Adagio with a sinister look on his face telling her, "Fool, did you honestly think I didn't think you lot would try to betray my goodwill, well those necklaces are infused with my dark magic and they can't be removed. So unless you want to see you're 'sisters' parish, I would suggest you listen to what I say. Are we clear." Adagio, with tears in her eyes due to the pain, looks over at Aria and Sonata and sees them raizing in pain not being able to breathe. She looks him and nods. "Oh no, I want you to tell me," said The Shadow Man. So Adagio uses every bit a strength she has to say, "Yes." The Shadow Man releases his hand and The Dazzlings start to inhale, being able to breathe again. Adagio goes to Aria and Sonata to make sure that they're okay. "What in the world happened," said Aria. "Ow, that really hurt," said Sonata. Out of nowhere, Adagio brings the two in to hug them catching them off guard, "Thank goodness you two are okay," said Adagio. Aria just accepts the hug while Sonata hugs her back. "Aw, now isn't this just a sweet showing of sisterly love," said The Shadow Man. Adagio turns around and glares at The Shadow Man. The girls get up off the ground and Adagio ask, "Okay, we'll follow what you have to say, so why can't we go after them now." "Well the thing is, it seems that their gaining stronger powers and are possibly going to be gaining more allies," said The Shadow Man. "Okay, and just how do you know that," said Aria. "Oh I have a mole that doesn't know is secretly helping me," said The Shadow Man. "So how are we suppose to go up against them then," said Sonata. The Shadow Man begins to laugh before telling them, "We build our own army." ____________________ A few minutes passed and The Shadow Man is no longer in the apartment, so The Dazzlings sit down in their tiny living room about to eat some ramen noodles. "Well girls, enjoy these noodles because tomorrow we live the high life," said Adagio. "So how long exactly are we suppose wait anyway," asked Aria. "You heard him, he said he would let us know when the time is right. Until then we just have to wait," said Adagio. An alarm goes off, "Noodles are done," said Sonata. The three start to dig into their noodles and Adagio looks over at the stack of money that The Shadow Man gave them. Aria sees Adagio looking over at the money and says, "Awesome right, must be way over a million. Now we can quit that stupid restaurant job." "Does that mean no free tacos," said Sonata. Aria slaps her face, "Sonata, just be quiet." But unknown to The Dazzling, from across the street of their apartment, The Shadow Man is looking at them from atop of a building, seeing them throw the window of their apartment. "HA, enjoy it while you can girls. You have some hard work ahead of you," said The Shadow Man. From behind the door that leads up to the roof of the building that The Shadow Man is on opens up, he turns around and looks to see who it is and it's someone he recognizes, "Aw, so you made it after all little lady," said The Shadow Man. The girl, who is also wearing a black hoodie, walk up to The Shadow Man. "Shut up. So are they going to help us out," she asked. "Of course, though once they put those necklaces on, they didn't have much of a choice," said The Shadow Man. The girl smiles and starts to laugh, "Hahaha, those dumb fools, just bait them with magic and they'll fall for anything." The girl continues to laugh until The Shadow Man yells, "ENOUGH!" The girl stops and stands there in silents. But to her surprise, The Shadow Man pats her on the head, telling her, "Sorry about that, but for now let's try to get along with them. Soon, we'll have everything that we want." He removes his hand from her head and she removes her the hood from her hoodie, showing short red and yellow hair. "You got a haircut? It looks good on you." "Thanks," she said while blushing. She tries to gain her composer back and asked him, "So? Are we going after the rest now?" "Of course we are." He closes his hands together and slowly opens them up, creating a dark vortex within his palms. He expands it and with a snap of his fingers, it splits it into fourteen smaller vortexes. And acting as one way mirrors, each showing a different person in each one. The girl looks at each one carefully, "I don't remember those six," said the girl. "Oh just found them on my own. I believe they have a lot of promise," said The Shadow Man. "One is wearing a puffy yellow sweater and another is cowering to a sheep," said the girl. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing," said The Shadow Man. And with another snap of his fingers, the vortexes all disappear, "Let's get going, we've got a long road ahead of us," said The Shadow Man. He turns around and opens a shadowy portal and he walks through it. "Right behind ya," said the girl and follows behind him. The portal closes behind them and the two disappear into the night.