“Sunset? Who was that?” Adagio’s voice called out from around the corner as the sound of a door slamming radiated through the house. Sunset stomped over to the living room and collapsed into the sofa, screaming herself silent into the pillow she wrapped around her head.
“Sunset? What’s wrong?” Adagio paused as she watched Sunset get up and fling the pillow against the chesterfield resting across the room, giving another, almost feral sounding scream of pure rage.
“Twilight’s on the Rainbooms’ fucking side, that’s what!!” the girl’s eyes were pinpricks as they shook violently in their sockets, the lead Siren unsure if Sunset even saw her standing there. “Not only that, Celestia showed the Rainbooms that you live here! Now they’re never gonna leave me alone!!”
Adagio remained silent as Sunset continued to tear the room apart without actually damaging anything, the furious Equestrian showing great restraint in that regard, though she would have to return all the furniture to their proper positions. Instead, she turned her thoughts inwards.
She surprised herself when she found that she doubted that Celestia and Luna willingly showed the Rainbooms where they lived. Perhaps they were followed? But that doesn’t explain Twilight Sparkle’s actions. Was she really on the side of the Rainbooms? It seemed suspect, to the lead Siren, who saw firsthand that Twilight really cared for Sunset, when she reached out to the amber Equestrian during the finale of the Battle of the Bands.
Adagio watched as the telltale aura of negative emotion slowly flared to life around Sunset, embracing the girl. The energy crackled with intensity of the girl’s raging state, the Siren ignorant to her salivating maw that sat agape. She could feel herself reaching out towards it, coaxing it to her, only to hesitate. Something was… wrong… It was as if the emotions were bruising, a diseased purple overtaking the sickly green.
“I’m fucking done with all of them!!” Sunset yelled with her cracking voice, breaking Adagio out of her meditative state, her hand snapping back to her side as she heard the approach of both Aria and Sonata.
“Woah there, Sunset. You’re sounding a little hoarse there.” Aria smirked, only to stumble back as a pillow thrown at near mach speed collided harshly with her face, Sunset growling like a wild mongrel as she stared the Siren down.
“I don’t want to hear it, Aria!” she snapped, turning around and once more terrorizing the room.
“Um, what’s wrong with Sunset?” Sonata asked quietly, peeking over at Adagio with eyes full of concern.
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s supposed to look like that…” Aria added, closing the circle the Sirens now huddled in. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it like that before.”
“I agree…” Adagio said, wiping away the drool that had built up at the corner of her lips as her wits fully returned to her. “I don’t know what’s causing that.”
“Something about being done with them?” Sonata asked, her usual ditzy expression returning to her face. “What did she mean by that?”
“Oh, that.” a heavy sigh radiated in Adagio’s mind at her sister’s comment. “Apparently her precious Princess Twilight arrived with both the Principals and the Rainbooms.”
“I thought you told Celestia not to do that!?” Aria hissed angrily, Adagio silencing her with a dark glare.
“I did, and I don’t think they would have. For now, we need to calm Sunset before she ruins our living room.”
It took a little while, but the Sirens finally managed to stop Sunset’s furious pacing and throwing of pillows. However once she started to calm down, her emotions change from fury to sorrow, and she wrapped herself around Sonata, quaking sobs shaking the two of them.
“Hey, we’re still here for you, Sunset.” the Siren said, faking as much of a reassuring smile as she could while patting the taller girl on the back. “We’ll be your friends.”
The three Sirens looked at on another in total loss of what to do with the current situation when Sunset started talking. “I just… I… I know I did some awful things in my past, but I’m trying to change for the better!”
“You’ve been trying for what, like, three months now, Shimmer?” Aria asked, her usual subtly and tack being shown as she looked at Sunset. “You’ve tried playing nice, and what has it got you? Crying in the arms of a former enemy who’s had to take you in because your supposed friends turned their backs on you, and an almost blind eye.”
“Aria!” Sonata exclaimed, looking extremely upset at her sister as she felt Sunset start to freeze up in her arms, only to be prevented speaking further as the purple Siren continued.
“Let me finish, Sonata! Look at yourself, Shimmer! One sight of them and you go from raging to crying like a little child! I thought we agreed to let a fucking badass stay here, not a little bitch!
“When we first showed up at CHS, and you showed us around, we could tell something was up, and we watched as you rolled over for any little snot nosed brat at that school and we thought nothing of you. But when we heard what you had been like, we got interested. When you showed up, injured and lost; when you told me you beat the ever living shit out of Gilda, you earned my respect!
“But if you’re just gonna keep trying to pretend like this hasn’t happened; that this is all some sort of dream, then I’d rather throw you back on the streets, cause you have no reason to stay in our house! I don’t CARE if you don’t want revenge- I really don’t! But you need to fucking grow a pair and get on with your life! Your not immortal!”
Silence washed over the room as Sonata watched her sister in abstract horror, Adagio wore a stony visage as she spectated quietly, and Aria simply crossed her arms as she scowled at the girl whose face was still stuffed into Sonata’s shoulder, her long mane of hair cascading over the girl’s upper body.
There was a loud, almost snort like sniffle as Sunset pushed herself off of Sonata, the girl looking tentatively up at her friend, unease radiating from her every expression as Sunset wiped a hand across her face. When her face was finally visible, the Siren’s could finally see just how swollen and red the girl’s eyes had gotten, even though one still lingered shut, the scab still causing issues opening it. Aria had expected a continued sob fest, perhaps even a fight, but instead, Sunset just gave a small, apologetic smile as she looked at the Siren.
“Thanks, Aria…” her voice was quiet, still crackling as started pulling a hand through her hair to try and straighten it. “I, uh… I really needed a good kick in the ass…”
“Uh… You’re welcome?” Aria coughed as she looked away, confused on what else to do now.
“I promise you three, I won’t let what’s happened get the best of me again. I am ready to move on in life, and it’s time I showed that… By, uh, cleaning up the living room…” Sunset gave a sheepish chuckle as she turned around and looked at where the grinning Adagio was pointing, rubbing the back of her head as laughter broke out from the three Sirens. “Man… Did I really do all that?”
(V):.:(V)
“Sunset! Hurry up already! We’re gonna miss sign ups at this rate!” Adagio’s voice echoed through the house as Sunset raced to finish getting changed. The Sirens had decided to take Sunset out to their favourite activity, karaoke. Sunset wasn’t surprised in the slightest, given their names, but what did surprise her was just how much they had dressed up for it. Or, in some cases, how little. Not to say that they could be mistaken as streetwalkers, but they were definitely leaving little to the imagination.
“Hold your horses!” she yelled back as she finished pulling on signature jacket from her old days at CHS, her fingers tracing along the material affectionately. She was actually starting to get giddy at the idea of going out, the only time she had done so with the Sirens so far was the shopping trip, or runs to get her belongings from her old apartment.
“We would if she were here with us!” Aria sounded quite mad, though Sunset could hear the giggling threatening to break through her voice.
She paused as she noticed her journal sitting on the desk, her previous trepidation starting to wash over her. No! she shook her head, her look turning to one of determination. My past is my past! It’s not my today! She grabbed the book, walking over to her massive closet and tossing it into one of the few cardboard boxes that remained of her things, mainly precious clothes that no long fit her.
“Sunset!” it was Sonata’s time to yell at her, sounding almost angry, or as close as the bubbly girl could get to.
“Coming!” she shouted, shutting her door and scurrying down the hallway, pausing at the washroom to grab a hair tie as she started running her hands through her hair. “Jeez, have a little patience, would ya? You’re the immortal ones here, remember?”
Aria gave a low wolf whistle as Sunset stopped in front of them, nodding in appreciation as Adagio face palmed dramatically. Sonata merely bounded up and started to swat playfully at the ponytail Sunset now wore, making small meowing noises as she did so.
“A little conservative, but I like the look, Shimmer.” Aria said with a crude chuckle and a sly wink before starting to make her way to the door, her boots clunking heavily against the floor. “Though what’s with the hairstyle change?”
“Oh, heh… I’ve always loved ponytails.” she chimed in as she finished putting on her own boots, the high heels adding a few more inches to her already spectacular height. “Even back in Equestria, whenever I saw a mare walk by with a ponytail I would just…”
The Sirens started giggling, certain that the shiver Sunset had just given was not due to the slight chill that had fallen over the city as night did the same. They entered the garage, the car giving a small beep as it started up, the darkness of the outside world starting to seep in through the opening garage door.
“So where are we going exactly?” Sunset asked as she slipped into the back of the car alongside Sonata, the girl purring happily as she leaned up along the taller girl. “I didn’t think there even was a karaoke place in Canterlot!”
“It’s a bar, actually.” Adagio said as she leaned around the side of the driver's seat as she started to back the car out of the garage. “The Storm King’s Cellar over in the college district, to be precise. It’s a frankly obtuse name if you ask us, but we have a bit of a reputation there for our performances.”
“...You sing in front of a bunch of drunk as hell frat boys for fun?” Sunset stared blankly at Adagio as the car paused it’s rearward motion, the Siren rolling her eyes and groaning.
“It’s the only place with proper acoustics in this whole damn city.” she said, shaking her head as the car finished pulling out and started to drive forward instead, Sunset chuckling at the Siren’s annoyed response.
“Hey, whatever floats your boat, Adagio. I just thought you Sirens would have a higher standard for your crowd.”
“What, like kids at CHS?” Aria snarked, looking back at Sunset through the rear view mirror as she sniggered quietly.
“God, a majority of that school wouldn’t know quality if it- I mean, you remember the blonde girl with the wall eye, right? I mean, no offence, but a saw? In an event titled the “Battle of the Bands”? At least Octavia had a proper instrument!”
“Octavia… You mean the girl with the cello?” Adagio’s brow furrowed as she tried to remember every little student at that school.
“Yes, that’s right.” came Sunset’s response, the amber girl nodding slightly.
“Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have her locked up in our house. I think she’s the best cellist that I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to.” Sunset was amazed at the high praise the Siren was singing, an actually feeling of awe radiating from her voice. “I’ve always had a spot for the classics, and I dare say that she has a bright future ahead of her.”
“You should hear what her sister does, then. Some of the remixing Vinyl does with Octavia’s and Lyra’s works are spectacular.”
“Those two are sisters!?” Aria seemed like she was attempting to tear the seat she sat on out of the entire country with how much she was trying to turn and look at Sunset. “But they are total opposites!”
“I could say the same about you and your sisters.” Sunset giggled as she stuck out her tongue at the scoffing girl. “Your sisters have a sense of tact that put you to shame. Hell, I think even Rainbow Dash beats you.”
“As if! That girl couldn’t play her guitar well enough to save a burning orphans life!” hyena-like laughter erupted from Aria as street lights continued to pass at a steady pace.
“Hey! What’s our song list for the night?” Sonata butted in, Sunset noticing a small music player in her hands, its screen glowing brightly.
“Oh, probably do some of the pieces that Sunset heard at the Battle of the Bands.” Adagio said in an uninterested manner. “Hopefully she remembers enough of them to be a proper background singer with you three.”
“Oh! Oh!” cried the amber girl, reaching around and gently jabbing the shoulder of the now chuckling Adagio. “Is that where you’re trying to go with this!?”
“I’m just saying, Sunset. Music is in our very being, I wouldn’t expect the same standards out of you as I do us.”
“I don’t know what it was like back when the rocks in Equestria were soft, ya old hag, but in modern Equestria it’s almost a goddamn law that you have to break out into stupid songs at least once every half an hour!” Sunset shot back as returned back into her seat. “Don’t forget who it was that had to come in and sing the song that beat your weak asses!”
“Oooooooooh!” Sonata’s egging call echoed throughout the call as Sunset crossed her arms in smug victory.
“Besides. I even have a song ready for tonight myself.” she added, her smirk widening. “Something I’m expecting you to record for me.”
“When did you possibly have the time to write a song?” Aria asked incredulously, barking with laughter. “I haven’t seen you at your table aside to write in that journal!”
“Oh, just, ya know, earlier today. Something sort of popped into my mind after I threatened to call the police on those annoyances that stopped by earlier.”
(V):..:(V)
Yup, this place was your typical college style bar. Sure, it was a step above the rundown joint that she had occasionally stopped by back near her old apartment, but it wasn’t near the level of culture and class that she expected the Sirens to prefer. There was the noise associated with drunk frat boys, as well as the guaranteed scent of that disgusting body spray they like to use for some reason; prove that advertisements worked on those with pea sized brains.
“Hello, Reginald. I hope we have arrived in time to sign up for tonight?” Adagio purred as she lent onto the small desk manned by a massive brute of a man, muscles rippling through the tight embrace of his comically tight, and out of character, tuxedo. He seemed to look down at the Siren, though the aviators he wore hiding his eyes almost as much as the shadow that his top hat cast upon his upper face. He gave a small nod, uncrossing his arms as he thrust a sheet of paper forward upon a clipboard. “Thank you, dear.”
Sunset watched as Adagio started to fill in the sheet, a mess of scribbles was all she could see from the top portion, as well as the absolute giant of a man looking at her, his face complete unreadable as her reflection played off his glasses as she gave an uneasy wave. “Um, h-hi? I’m with them.”
“Oh, don’t mind him. He’s just checking you out.” Adagio said, causing Sunset’s cheeks to erupt into flames as Aria and Sonata giggled antagonistically. “So just the two songs for us tonight, keep it short and sweet, and leave them wanting for more. Here you are Sunset, why don’t you -snrk!- fill out your application?”
“Oh ha ha, skank.” Sunset snickered as she snatched the clipboard away, quickly scribbling in her name and the request of 1 song as Sonata handed over her music player.
“Here you are, just play them in order. Love me some Regi!” she waved happily as Sunset returned the clipboard and started dragging the Sirens into the bar.
“Ya know, I didn’t see many registrations.” Sunset commented as they made it into the bar proper, a small stage situated to the side that obviously was where they’d be performing.
“A lot of the students are probably home for the holidays still. Canterlot University draws students from all over the country.” came the response from the lead Siren as she slowly sashayed her way over to the bar. “Hello, Charlie. Long time no see. Our usuals, please. And whatever ponygirl there is having.”
“Whatever the hardest whiskey you have is. Neat, and as full as the largest glass you have is.” Sunset groaned as Adagio jerked her thumb back at her. The bartender, a heavyset, but not obese, man with a greyish pallor and angry, heavy set eyebrows nodded slowly before starting off to make their drinks. “So why is it that you like this place? I mean, acoustics is a weak reasoning.”
“That man is certainly a unicorn back in Equestria, cause what he can do with booze is nothing short of magical.” Aria seemed salivate at the thought before turning at pulling at the collar of her vest. “Plus it helps that we’re the best looking motherfuckers in here.”
Adagio’s snide streak returned as she leaned up against the counter. “Whiskey, huh? I took you as more of a cooler girl myself.”
“Wow, nothing but rude from you two tonight.” Sunset shook her head as she rest her hands on her hips. “I dare say I could pull up my top and everyone here would be eating from my hand. And coolers are fine if I want something fruity, but I think I’ll take something that might put a buzz on me if I keep drinking all night.”
“Heh, with the height and fat you’re storin? I’d think you’d need to down a kilo of absinthe for that!”
“Wooooow!” Sunset reared back in laughter at Aria’s continuing streak of sass. “Seriously, Aria. I get you want to be choked out in these arms of mine, but don’t go trying to provoke me now.”
The quartet continued to share banter and laughs, even after their drinks arrived. It wasn’t until a younger sounding voice called out over the boisterous twenty somethings that the four Equestrians finally quieted down.
“Ladies and gentlemen- If there are even any of you in here!- It is time that we start introducing our contestants for tonight’s karaoke showcase! Those of you who are regulars- Okay, so all of you- I am certain that you will love to hear this! Our very own mavens of the voice have graced us once again with their presences, and this time, they brought a new friend! Please welcome to the stage, The Sirens!”
To say that the applause, catcalls, clapping, and whistles, was deafening would be an understatement. Sunset swore that the place was about to fall down thanks to the exuberance from the half drunk humans threatening to rampage through the bar.
“That’s our cue, newbie.” Adagio said, dragging a digit along Sunset’s chin before making her way to the stage, obviously relishing in the attention she was getting. Sunset let them have their little moment before slamming back the last of her drink and giving a loud whistle, silencing everyone and gaining the attentions of the three girls standing up on the stage.
Sunset gave a victorious smirk as she felt all eyes shift to her, giving a quick nod to the girls on the stage before slowly pulling off her jacket and slinging it onto the counter. She heard some idiot call out for her to take more off, so instead she grabbed the hem of her tight tank top and hoisted it up, up, and further up her body, until it sat tantalizingly shy of her prodigious bust line, and started tying it off, as her firm core showed itself to the crowd. Numerous wolf whistles called out from the crowd as Sunset reached back and grabbed her jacket, flinging it across her shoulder as she started her own slow walk up to the stage, her hiphuggers fulfilling their title perfectly as she watched Aria start to grow weak in the knees as Sunset approached.
“Aren’t you missing someone?” she asked victoriously, cocking her hip as she rested her hand on it, eyes looking down at the fellow members of her group.
“Well…” Adagio said, obviously struggling to regain control of the situation, only for Sunset to purse her lips and start shushing the girl, placing her finger delicately against the Siren’s plush lips.
“Shhh… Don’t you worry your big brain there, Adagio. I’m here for you.” for once, it was the Siren’s turn to blush in embarrassment, her eyes dilating dramatically as she stood there in shocked silence, her cheeks aflame. “Why don’t we go ahead and start singing?”
Adagio looked lost as she looked around, the whistles from the crowd more focused on the implications of Sunset’s actions. Indeed, her intelligence that she so vastly prided herself on was seemingly missing as her mind was rebooting, completely at a loss for what Sunset had just done to her. The closest thing she could think of was what Aria always described upon seeing Sunset’s musculature.
Adagio paused and took a deep breath, centering herself before her eyes shot back open and she glared at Sunset in annoyance, though the keen eyed Equestrian could easily make out the hint of confusion still glittering in their corners as the lead Siren swatted back at her.
“Play the first track!” she called out, walking to the front of the stage with an even more emphasized swing to her ample hips, glaring back at the trio to get into position. “Remember, Sunset, you’re backup. Just follow Sonata and Aria. And no fancy choreography, girls. Sunset would just mess it up.”
Sunset smirked and shook her head, as Adagio turned back to the front of the stage, the lights almost flickering out entirely as a deep, instantly familiar beat started. It thrummed heavily, filling Sunset with the memories of that night those many weeks ago as the crowd grew silent, the lights slowly fading into existence and casting their growing lights onto the four of them. This wasn’t her song, this was the Siren’s song, the song of their victory, but it still echoed in her mind, and as if on instinct, she opened her mouth in time with the other three Equestrians.
“Ah, ah-ah, ah,
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah,
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah,
Ahh, ah-ah, ah, ah-ah,
Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah,”
The crowd remained silent as the voices of the four girls washed over them, soaking into their very beings as Adagio took a step forward. Sunset hadn’t even noticed that the four of them didn’t have microphones, but that didn’t matter. The Sirens had millennia of experience, and all she had to do was follow them as best as possible.
“Welcome to the show…” Adagio sang, Sunset certain that her smug smile from that night was once again plastered on her face as she held her hands out towards the crowd, and right on cue, the trio of Aria, Sonata, and herself added their small part, and would continue to do so.
“Ah-ah-ah-ah, ah,
We're here to let you know... (Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah,)
Our time is now... (Ah-ah-ah-ah, ah,)
Your time is running out... (Ah, ah, ah,)”
Sunset was amazed at just how the crowd was reacting; or rather, weren’t. They were wholly and solely engrossed in the four of them, and Sunset could feel the small hairs across her body start to stand up on edge. There was a small taste on the back of her tongue, what she could only describe as… tangy, yet it was there, hidden just away, but minutely noticeable. Before she could start to ponder it, the chorus started up again, all four stepping forward and swaying in time with each other.
“Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah,
“Feel the wave of sound,
As it crashes down,
You can't turn away,
We'll make you wanna stay!”
Sunset felt a slight step from Adagio on her toe, the girl’s eyes flitting to the Siren who just gave a small nod without looking back, striding forward powerfully, her majestic voice sending chills down Sunset’s spine.
“We will be adored!” she cried, the eyes of the nearby crowd members glazing over as Sonata strode forward, Sunset catching a hint of the devious smile that she wore on occasion.
“Tell us that you want us!” her higher pitched voice rang out, Sunset almost falling prey to it, the words carrying a mix of both command, and begging.
“We won’t be ignored!” Aria was the next one up, her powerful voice sending shock waves through Sunset, just as much as her earlier words that finally broke her from her funk.
Sunset strode forward, more like a marionette on its strings, she hadn’t even realized that the Sirens had split to allow room for her, and if she had a mirror, she wouldn’t recognize the hungry, almost predatory look spreading across her face as she reached the front of the stage.
“It’s time for our reward!” the crowd went wild as Sunset finally got a chance to stand alone, to project her melodic tones to them, and though the back of her mind called out for more, she told it to wait, as all four formed up and joined back together as one.
“Now you need us!
Come and heed us!
Nothing can stop us now!”
“Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah,”
“What we have in store, (Ah-ah,)
All we want and more, (Ah-ah,)
We will break on through, (Ah-ah,)
Now it's time to finish you!”
“Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah,
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah...”
The music slowly started to die off, the four Equestrians standing proudly on the stage as the applause rang through the hall. Sunset was breathless as it all washed over her, panting slightly as the Sirens waved and giggle to one another as they gather Sunset and took a few steps back.
“Well, not bad for a newbie.” Aria said, playfully slugging Sunset’s shoulder. “We may make a Siren out of you yet.”
“You read the clues easily enough, though I may have had to draw you to them first. Either way, I am impressed.” Adagio gave a small smirk as she peered up at the immense height of Sunset. “Take thirty seconds to catch your breath, we have a more lively song coming up.”
“It’s the one from the start of the actual brackets!” Sonata whispered, Sunset instantly understanding why Adagio mentioned lively. It started as soon as the music did if Sunset recalled, and judging by the slow dimming of the lights, those thirty seconds were going to be a luxury. The music started and barely a fraction of a second later, all four burst into their final song.
“Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh,
You didn't know that you fell...
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh,”
Adagio once again strode forward, the swaying of her body still a spectacle to Sunset as the lead singer brought her mic up to her mouth, the beat starting to thump in time with her singing once again.
“Now that you're under our spell.
Blindsided by the beat,
Clapping your hands, stomping your feet.
You didn't know that you fell...”
And once again, Sunset fell in time with the other two Sirens, providing the small bridges for Adagio to draw the crowd in, as she had done countless times before.
“Oh-whoa-oh-oh,”
“Now you've fallen under our spell,”
“Oh-whoa-oh-oh-oh,”
This time, there was no breaking apart for single line solos, each of the four pouring there efforts together to leave the crowd in a frenzy, Sunset noticing that the movements of the four where reaching a near perfect sync.
“We've got the music, makes you move it,
Got the song that makes you lose it.
We say "Jump!"; you say "How high?"
Put your hands up to the sky!
We've got the music, makes you move it,
Got the song that makes you lose it.
We say "Jump!"; you say "How high?"
Put your hands up to the sky!”
“Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh,
You didn't know that you fell...
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh,
Now that you're under our spell.”
“Listen to the sound of my voice… (Oh-oh, whoa-oh!)
Soon you'll find you don't have a choice… (Oh-oh, whoa-oh!)
Captured in the web of my song... (Oh-oh, whoa-oh!)
Soon you'll all be singing along... (Oh-oh, whoa-oh!)
“We've got the music, makes you move it,
Got the song that makes you lose it.
We say "Jump!"; you say "How high?"
Put your hands up to the sky!
We've got the music, makes you move it,
Got the song that makes you lose it.
We say "Jump!"; you say "How high?"
Put your hands up to the sky!”
“Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
You didn't know that you fell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Now that you're under our spell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
You didn't know that you fell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Now that you're under our-”
Adagio stepped in front of her three backup singers, emphasizing the last word she would sing that night.
“Spell…”
Only for what Sunset could only describe as heartless, villainous laughter to radiate out of Adagio, reminding her of the terror she had felt during that event. The crowd loved it however, the hollering and cheering shattered the dark memories, only doubling when she watched the Sirens grab her and walk her forward, before taking a step back and bowing to her, clapping their hands and grinning.
That was yet another something the Sirens wouldn’t normally do, but every action they had taken had proved that they had decided to treat her as a member of their group. As a friend. She could only smile and wave at the crowd, laughing at the situation as the male voice from earlier rang back out over the crowd.
“Let’s hear it once more for the Sirens! And I hope you liked their new friend, because she’s our next showcase!”
“Hey! Adagio!” Sunset called out as the three Sirens started to depart the stage, their leader pausing and looking back at Sunset. “I want you to record this for me! I know your phone is capable!”
“Why?” the girl called back as a microphone was brought up to the stage, an Adagio worthy grin spreading over Sunset’s face as she grabbed the mic off the stand.
“Because I don’t want you to forget this!” Sunset’s voice radiated through the hall thanks to the microphone, her cheeks flushing before she turned to the crowd, her mental reflexes keeping her on her feet. “This is the first time any of you have seen me here, and I’m not sure when I’ll be coming back, so I hope you’re all ready for a night you’ll never forget!”
Sunset drowned out the sound of everybody cheering her on, instead focusing on the fire that had been lit inside of her those hours ago, when the world seemed ready to crash down upon her once again; when her only friend had turned her back on her, and revealed who her real friends were. There was no way that this could make it to Equestria, but it didn’t matter. It was time to show the world that she was done with its bullshit trying to keep her down.
“Before we start, I want to preface this song. It’s an original piece, I’m actually going to be shooting from the hip so to speak. I had my world turned on its head earlier today, everything I had strived for pulled out from under me. I owe this song to the Sirens, for standing by me, and dedicate this song to those that had tried to ruin everything for me…”
Sunset grew quiet as she pulled the mic up to her mouth, the crowd growing quiet, waiting with bated breath to the goddess on the stage to start. No heavy thrumming or upbeat music filled the air as Sunset opened her mouth, a sombre, melancholic tone washing out over the crowd.
“It's past time I learned this lesson…
It's past time that I understood…
Be careful who it is you count on…
In this or any other land…”
Sunset opened up her eyes, a sad smile playing at her lips as she looked down at the Sirens. The light left them as nothing but shadows, hiding their expressions from her sight, but she knew they were watching her, just as the rest of the crowd did as she continued on in a dour voice.
“I once had hoped for friendship...
To find my place, among this kind...
But those were the childish wishes...
Of someone who was blind…”
Sunset paused for a moment, looking up at the crowd as flashes of the Rainbooms surrounding her after the Battle of the Bands passed over the crowd like a mirage, of Twilight Sparkle reaching down into the crater to pull her out. A single tear started to build up in the corner of her eye as whispering could be heard. Not judging, questioning whispering like she had dealt with during Anon-A-Miss, but of concern. A defiant smile erupted from her face as she strode forward, powerfully belting out in a more victorious tone.
“You’ve opened up my eyes!
See the world from where I now stand!
Me among the wicked!
You turning traitor behind my back!
You’ve opened up my eyes!”
That caught the crowd’s attention, the dramatic shift into action and ferocity spreading among the crowd as they started to cheer Sunset on, even as she took a few steps back and drew back into herself, her tone turning cool and bitter, a snarl coming to her face.
“Give up your sweet fantasyland!
It's time to grow up; and get wise!
Come now little Princess!
Open up your eyes!”
“We all start out the same...
With simple naïve trust.
Shielded from the many ways,
That life's not fair or just.”
The crowd had grown somewhat quiet again, engrossed on every word coming from Sunset’s mouth. She knew not where the words were flowing from, only that they were fueled by her anger and her disappointment, her feelings of total betrayal.
“But then there comes a moment...
A simple truth that I’ve now faced.
If you depend on others...
You'll never find your place…”
Her voice grew quiet, like a whisper compared to the bombastic bellowing of her third verse. It was time for her to start anew, and this was her way of telling it to the world, to those that sought to trap her in a cage of her past failures.
“And now as I take this first step,
Upon a path that's once again is all my own...
I can see it all so clearly...
Friendship is a tool and nothing more!”
Her pitch returned to its explosive pitch, drowning the crowd in the sea of her emotions, only to pull them right back up as she surged with new purpose in life.
“You’ve opened up my eyes!
See the world from where I now stand!
Me among the wicked!
You turning traitor behind my back!
“Open up your eyes!
And behold the setting sun!
It's time to grow up and get wise,
Come now little Princess...
And open up your eyes!
Like you’ve opened up my eyes!”
Sunset stood there on the stage, breathless and panting. A single feeling washed over her as the mic dropped from her numb fingers, her eyes wide and sightless as she stumbled slowly to the edge of the stage, grabbing her jacket and weakly fiddling with it before pulling it onto her back as she staggered her way out of the bar and into the cold winter night, the single feeling keeping her warm from the freezing embrace of the air.
Vindication...
(V):..:(V)
“What the hell was that…?” Aria asked as the Sirens exited out into the cold, Sunset leaning emotionlessly against the wall, staring blankly up at the cloudy sky.
All three of the Sirens had been rendered speechless by Sunset’s performance, of the raw emotions that had flown out of her. As beings that thrived on negative emotion, they had been consumed by the flurry of conflicting emotions that had flowed freely from the girl.
“The ending of a chapter…” Sunset said quietly, looking over and giving a small, lazy smile to her new friends. “And I have you three to thank.”
The three Sirens looked around at each other in confusion. The tone that was carried by Sunset’s words was different from all the previous times that the girl had thanked them for their actions. She had thanked them honestly for their good deeds, for their assistance in stabilizing her life.
This time she was thanking them for something more.
“Did you record that like I asked?” Sunset asked, starting to walk towards the car, the Sirens following behind with dumb looks.
“Uh, y-yeah.” Sonata said, her brain utterly frazzled. She had held the phone eerily still during the whole show, centered on Sunset as she sang her heart out, her emotions catching and consuming everyone in the crowd in their raging current. “Why did you…?”
“I have some people to send that to…” Sunset replied without looking back, pausing to look up at the sky as the clouds slowly parted as if for her, revealing a small collection of twinkling stars to match the small smile on her face.