Aria Blaze was screaming as her siren was dragging her by the throat as far away as possible from going to the light. Aria struggled to escape her grasp as she needed to get back to the light.
She knew just how much everyone needed her, from her family, her friends, even Twilight! They all needed her as much as she needed them. As a desperate act, she bites her siren's wrist so hard that the siren screamed in pain. Aria quickly turns the table and starts punching the siren, only for her to counter.
"You can't defeat me! We're one in the same thing! I know all of your moves!" The siren grabs Aria and throws her strongly to the other side, crashing to a rock.
Aria winced in pain as she tried to recover, only for the siren to rush her and quickly locking her into a choke hold. "Face it sweetie, the sooner you let me back into your life, the better for us both."
Never! I don't want to go back to being you again!! Aria shouted in her mind as she grabbed a nearby rock and struck the siren in the head.
Despite the sharp pain, the siren gave Aria a sinister smile as she was preparing to rush her again. "Oh, but why not? We used to be able to get whatever we wanted when we ruled EU with an iron fist. Let me back in Aria and I'll help you convince that little Angel, you like so much to be by our side."
The way the siren expressed her interest in Fluttershy was enough to cost Aria to finally snap and gripped the rock in her hand tightly and rushed at full speed towards her adversary. The siren took a hit and landed so hard on the other rock.
Fluttershy isn't a prize that you can win easily, you CLOD!!!
"What did you just call me?!"
You deaf, clod?! Fluttershy is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I won't let you take over me just so you can use her! I'll defeat you no matter what!!
Aria rushed her again, hoping to land the final blow to end this, but it backfired as the siren moved out of the way, causing Aria to hit face-first against the big rock. The siren took advantage of Aria's mistake as she grabbed the back of Arias head and began to repeatedly smash her face against the big rock.
"That Fluttershy girl must really mean a lot to you, huh? Don't worry, I'll take real good care of her, once you and me are back together as one. Maybe I'll give her some headbanging lessons." The siren laughed at her own terrible pun as she continued to smash Aria's face in.
Aria Blaze soon started to lose hope and just let her siren win against her. Her siren wasn't wrong, they are both one in the same thing. She doesn't have a chance to defeat her. Aria will be joining her parents above the clouds.
"Looks like I won this round. It's over, Blaze. No one will ever mess with us".
Aria!! We still need you!!
Aria's eyes winded when she saw the Sunset and the others were right beside her with the doctors. She could even hear her own heart beating so fast like she was about to be gone. All of them were crying and she was a sucker for anyone who cried in front of her.
You are the best thing that has ever happened to all of us! Things aren't the same without you! Aria started to cry when her heart melted from the thoughts of all the people that cared about her, they still need her in their lives.
The siren had a look of disgust on her face at what was being shown in the light as she put a hold on her assault.
"Look at how weak and pathetic they are, wasting their time by shedding worthless tears." The siren harshly said as she slowly took a glance at each of the girls in the room, before her eyes laid upon a tearful Starlight.
"Especially our sister dearest there. She had everything at the palm of her hands and never shied away from showing off how powerful she was and putting people in their place. Starlight made everyone feel so equal and meaningless, while she stood above them with a proud smile on her face as she was feared and admired by everyone!!" The siren said as she let go of Aria and proceeded to get closer to the light.
"She was our sole reason for what we were, Aria. The pedestal she created just so we could one day take over all the lessons on how to manipulate and hurt people, when we didn't need to use our fists....Then she threw it all away, when those worthless parents of ours died! Everything that made her so special was all gone the very second she decided to step in into mommy and daddy's shoes! I despised her the day she convinced you to lock me away, just so she could try to raise you to be the perfect little girl that the two of you pretended to be in front of mommy and daddy!! Well that's all about the change for the better!" The siren yelled at the top of her lungs as she gave Aria one last look as she continued to get closer to the light, while Twilight's voice once again heard.
Please...come back.... I don't care what you were before.... I care about what you are... today.... If you weren't there to save me... I would have been gone instead of you.... this is all my fault... I won't.... ever show my face to everyone...
The siren was close to the light and was close to touch it. She felt a force wrapped around her body and was sent to the other side, hitting her face on the rock. She looks at Aria who was looking at her seriously, the predator eyes she had before she was back. The siren started to laugh while Aria was walking towards her.
"You finally came to your senses! I knew that you wouldn't want to last another day without me!" The siren said as Aria now stood in front of her. The siren gave her a sly smirk as she placed her hand on her Aria's shoulder.
"I'm not gonna lie, I was worried about having to take control of our body by force, but now I don't worry that since we are abo-Aghhh!" Siren was interrupted as she was lifted in the air by the throat. She felt fear run through her body when she saw Aria's predator eyes, the very same eyes they had when they were ruling EU.
You don't get to badmouth my friends, especially my family and act like it's not a big deal at all!! Aria kneed her siren and throws her on the other side of a big rock with enough force to knock a person out but it was impossible for her siren.
"It's on, you ungrateful brat!!" They met in the middle of their fist clash, making everything in the water move.
They both crash on a rock but still manage to meet in the middle to beat each other up with a barrage of punches and kicks. After a few seconds, both girls were getting nowhere of winning, due to being evenly matched, until the siren had enough and raked Aria's eyes and tackled Aria to the ground and proceeded to punch the area in the head.
Aria tried her best to protect her head with one arm while trying to regain her eyesight back with the other. After a few seconds however, the impact of her siren's punches were getting slower and weaker, until the siren ended her assault. As Aria regained her vision, she felt something wet hit her cheek, she looked up at her siren and was in complete shock when she saw it. Her siren was shaking uncontrollably as tears were coming out of her eyes and falling onto Aria's face.
"W-Why? Why did you leave me alone? Why was I left behind, so you could have a happy life?" The siren asks with quiet and shaky tone. "I-I am so-sorry for everything, i-it's just... Why would you let people hurt us when you threw me away?... Why would you move on?... I never really meant everything I said.... I just don't want to get both of us to get hurt again..." More tears fell from the siren's face as Aria slowly placed a hand on her cheek.
The siren was startled by the gentle touch as Aria wiped the tears off her face and began to speak.
I'm sorry that you felt that way for all this time, but you have to understand that we were in a dark place that we couldn't be saved from, if I had remained who I was. I don't want to feel weak too, but fighting isn't the way to show it... Starlight made me realize that when she saw the error of her ways. I moved on when she found Trixie to make her happy and feel special. She wants us to become a better person. From meeting Sonata, Timber, and Adagio, to going to CHS and all the new friends I made there, changing our lives and we got something that we never had, an angel that would always be there for us. We need to stop this nonsense and come back to the others. They're not waiting for me, they're waiting for both of us. Aria said with a passion as she managed to get off the ground and held her hand to her siren.
So, what do you say? You ready to become one again face the world head-on? The siren looked at the hand that was offered to her as she slowly hesitated to lift her hand, only to put it back down on the floor.
"I-I can't... What if something bad happens and I make you lose control? Are you willing to risk me attacking people and hurting the ones that love us?" The siren appeared with fear in her voice as a smile appeared on Aria's face.
Yes. Yes I am willing to risk it all, because back then we had no one to truly be by our side, except the ones we made fear us, but now... Aria briefly paused as she looked towards the light to slowly look at everyone in the room crying for her and hoping she would awake, before setting her sights on Fluttershy as she looked back to her siren. We have friends... And an angel that loves us... well, hopefully loves us.
The siren was stunned by her speech as she slowly reached for Aria's hand again, only to stop mid reach, to close her eyes and take a deep breath. "I have a small condition to propose." Aria raised an eyebrow as she was curious at what her siren wanted.
Yeah? What would that be? Aria asked as her siren opened her eyes and nervously scratched the back of her head.
"Could we maybe.... Give Timber a black eye the next time we see him, for causing this whole mess in the first place?" The siren said sheepishly with a nervous grin on her face. Aria stood still for a few seconds at her doppelganger's request until she gave her another smile.
Nah, I was thinking more of hurting his pride by reminding him that he can only catch small fishes, followed by a quick kick between the legs. The siren was quiet for a few seconds, then suddenly she started to laugh uncontrollably.
Aria watched with happiness as her doppelganger was laughing. A real, genuine laughter was coming out of her siren. After a few seconds, the siren calmed down and grabbed Aria's hand as she was pulled up from her knees and gave her a real smile as well.
"Okay... I'm ready to go home..." Aria smiles at the answer she received as they both close their eyes and put their foreheads together. Aria felt that her siren was gone, and she opened her eyes to see her red pendant floating in front of her. She smiles and grabs it, she looks at the light and starts swimming towards it. They're both coming back to their friends.
Aria jolted from her slumber as she gasped heavily in order to catch her breath after everything she just experienced and went through to the back. However, before she could even catch her breath back, she was startled as the room erupted into cheers of excitement and happiness and she was immediately hugged tightly by Starlight.
"Oh Aria! My sweet, sweet, sweet baby sister, you're awake! We are also worried, we are going to lose you!" Starlight said frantically as she proceeded to kiss Aria on the cheek over and over. Trixie hugs her girls with tears coming out of her face, tears of happiness.
"I'm so glad you're still here with us!" Trixie said it made Aria smile. She hugs her family and was glad that she was back to their arms.
"Come on guys, stop crying". Aria giggled.
"Sorry sis, but we can't help it! You went from just needing rest to nearly dying of a heart attack in your sleep! The doctors try to keep you in stable condition, but nothing works! They weren't sure why that happened, but we're just happy that you're alive!" Starlight yelled as she rubbed her cheek against Aria's.
Aria smiled as she patted both Starlight and Trixie on the head as she looked towards all her friends who were in the room as they eagerly waited their turn to hug and embrace Aria. She even saw the doctor standing by the door with a smile of relief on their face just to see the outcome and happily for her.
"I'm sorry for scaring you all like that, I can't explain what happened to me, but let's just say I'm whole again." Aria responded as she gently placed the hand on her pendant. Starlight and Trixie took a step back for Aria's friends to greet her.
"ARIA!!!" Aria jolted in surprise when Sunset and Vinyl hugged her in happiness, they had tears coming out of their eyes as well, which made her smile and hug back.
"We thought that you were a goner!" Sunset said as she broke off the hug.
"There's nothing in this world that could bring me down!" Aria confidently said as she pointed herself with her thumb.
"I got into so much trouble just to get here!" Vinyl proudly spoke.
"What trouble?" Aria asked.
"She got pulled over by cops because she was speeding". Aria started to laugh which made everyone smile.
"Classic V". Vinyl ruffled Aria's hair back as she and Sunset backed off for the next person to hug Aria, which happened to be...
"ARRRRIIIIAAAA!!!!" Pinkie Pie, who happened to jump a good two feet and landed on top of Aria as she hugged her with all her might, causing the poor girl to quickly lose air.
"OhmygodAriaIcan'tbelieveIalmostlostyouonyourveryfirstdayofcheerleadingpractice!I'msosorrythatIfailedasateamcaptainIshouldhavebeentheretohelpyoufightoffthatmeanieinsteadofwatchingfromthebackdoingnothing!IpromisethenexttimeyouvisitmeatworkyougettohaveallyourfavoritemealsanddessertsonmenopaymentrequiredandIpromisetothrowyouthebiggest"Iamsosorrypartyofyourlife!AndIalsovowtoneverletanyo-"
"Pinkie! C-Can't... breathe!" Aria interrupted Pinkie's frantic speech as she was closed to passing out from her tight bear hug.
"Whoops, sorry Ari." Pinkie sheepishly apologized as she ended the hug and got out of Aria. "I didn't mean to hug you that tight, but I just couldn't contain my excitement and happiness to see that you're okay."
"I think it's fine, Pinks. I completely understand. I would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed," Aria said she was trying to catch her breath again. Coco was next to hug Aria which made both of them giggle.
"I was so worried about you, Aria! While you were asleep in your bed, I was planning a sleepover at my place with the our team! I got scared when your heart monitor went crazy!"
"Calm down, Coco. Once I get better, we can have a sleepover!" Aria said in excitement.
Junebug was next, as she gave Aria a quick hug, then handed her a small bouquet of roses that she had been holding since her arrival at the hospital.
“I’m so happy, you’re going to make a full recovery. I got these roses from my family’s shop, I hope you enjoy them while they last.” Junebug said as Aria gave her a bright smile.
“Thanks June! I’ll do my best to make them last as long as I can.” Aria said, while placing the roses on her lap as Amethyst walked up next, handing her a book that was wrapped up.
“Glad to see you awake, Aria! I’m not much of a hugger, so I hope my present will make up for that.” Amethyst said sheepishly as Aria unwraps the present to reveal a volume one manga of Overlord.
“Wow, thanks Amethyst! I’ve been wanting to read the series for quite some time and don’t worry about not hugging me, I’m getting kinda tired of the hugs myself actually.”
“Well, too bad for you, girl because we’re next!” High Winds responded as she and Fleetfoot rushed to both sides of her and sandwiched her in a tight hug as Aria patted their heads.
“Get well soon Ari, we still need to see what you’re made of on the team.” Fleetfoot said as she and High Winds moved aside for Orange and Alizarin to hug Aria next.
“Oh Aria, we’re both happy that you’re wide awake after that whole scary ordeal. Once you feel fully recovered, you have to hang out with us for some tea.” Alizarin said as she ended her hug, while Orange, on the other hand, leaned into Aria’s ear.
“And maybe you can teach us how to be flexible like you, we could use the lessons.” Orange Quietly whispered as her face turned beet red, remembering what happened at the gym much earlier.
Aria was a little confused by Orange’s request, but shrugged it off and nodded her head as she let the girls know that she’ll be interested in hanging out with them whenever their schedule clears up.
Fleur brushed past Orange, unable to contain emotions as she embraced Aria with a deep hug as her coconuts were clashing with Aria's.
"Oh my dear! I am so relieved to see your beautiful eyes again, my heart nearly stopped when you almost did! Never again will I let anyone hurt you the way that monster did! You have my vow!" Fleur said with a passion, while Aria frowned at Fleur's choice of words towards Timber. Despite what happened, deep down she knew it was just a big misunderstanding that still needs to be corrected.
Before she had the chance to defend Timber and his actions, Fleur kissed her just a few millimeters from her lips as the kiss itself lasted a good 10 seconds. Once the kiss was done, Fleur began to stroke her beloved's hair as she placed another kiss, this time on her forehead.
"I hope I just made you feel a little bit more better." Fleur said in a soft, gentle tone as Aria decided to just smile at her and not bring up Timber for now.
Everyone was stunned by Fleur's bold actions towards Aria, with the exception of Fluttershy who looked like she was about to place Fleur in a hospital bed of her own.
"Oh my stars, sis! You actually snag two girls!? Who knew you were such a Casanova with the girls!" Starlight said with a wink as Trixie gave her a thumbs up.
Everyone in the room, minus Aria couldn't believe what Starlight had just implied as Twilight, who had been in the back of the room, was starting to panic. "Snag? What are you talking about Starlight?" Aria said she tilted her head in confusion. Trixie smirked as she decided to answer for her.
"You know what we mean, Aria. You have a pretty girl standing by your side and you have a cute little ne-" Trixie was suddenly cut off, as Twilight rushed to her to cover her mouth and even covered Starlight's mouth, just for extra measure.
"Nothing! Nothing at all, it's just a big misunderstanding that happened while you were asleep! It's nothing I need to be brought up at this time!" Twilight said loudly as her face was a bit red and struggling to keep the older ladies mouths covered.
Aria would normally shrug this off or laugh at what she was witnessing, but she was very concerned about Twilight. The girl had been very distant and quiet and the rest of the group, the exact moment she woke up. While she understood why, but she knew, it was wrong to let Twilight believe she was still at fault as she decided to call to her.
Just before Aria could get Twilight's attention, she jolted in surprise when she was greeted with a powerful hug by Fluttershy. She blushed super red and her brain was processing everything, while her heart was beating crazy from the contact of an angel. Sunset and Vinyl smirked and approved of what was happening while the others saw how adorable the moment was, except for Fleur, Starlight, and Trixie. Fleur's left eye began to twitch uncontrollably when she clenched her fists tightly. Starlight analyzes what was happening and still didn't get what it is, Trixie on the other hand, had finally got it.
"Fl-Fl-Fluttershy!"
"I miss you so much, Aria! I couldn't bear the thought of losing you, you don't understand how much you mean to me!" Fluttershy shouted with a passion and kissed Aria's nose which made her explode from the sudden touch of her angel's lips.
K-Kiss me-me... Fluttershy kissed me! My angel finally kissed me! Aria's brain could no longer process what was going on, as she began to twitch and stutter uncontrollably, while Fluttershy continued to show her love and affection for her, unaware of what she was doing to the poor girl. Starlight smiled at what she was witnessing as she wrapped and held her girlfriend's hand.
I remember mom said that dad was a Casanova to women. I guess Aria got that from him... He would be so proud Starlight thought to herself as she quickly wiped away a small tear out of her eye before anyone noticed.
After a few seconds of Fluttershy's constant smuggling of Aria, everyone started to become concerned when Aria started to speak gibberish as her twitching got worse and her face became even redder to the point where it looked like her face is on fire.
"Hey Shy, you might want to tone it down and let go of Aria. I think she needs some space." Vinyl spoke in a concerned tone for her friend, however it fell on deaf ears as Fluttershy pressed her face against Aria and snuggled her even more.
Then, as a final act of love and kindness, Fluttershy once again kissed her on the nose, which was the final straw for Aria as she completely passed out once again, unable to handle the Fluttershy's love.
"Look what you did to my beloved, you selfish hog!" Fleur shouted at the top of her lungs as she violently pulled Fluttershy out of Aria as doctors were called back into a room, while everyone else was in a panic. Trixie and Starlight, as well as the doctors, backed away slowly at the chaos that was happening.
Aria woke up not too long to see everyone panicking. Everything in the room was a mess of Aria's room. Sunset and Vinyl were struggling to keep Fluttershy and Fleur separated, before things got out of hand with the cheerleading team that had made themselves into some sort of barrier, standing between the two angry girls. Lastly, the doctors, Trixie and Starlight, had left the room before anything got crazy. There's a problem, someone in the room is missing.
Twilight? Where is she? Aria looks frantically all around the room and between the girls, double checking to confirm her suspicion.
Dang it Twilight! Where did you go to hide this time? Aria thought to herself as she debated not whether to ask the girls for help.
I know I could easily end this bickering between them and have them help me find Twilight, but Twilight is already scared and upset about everything that's happened. Plus I think it's best for Fleur and Fluttershy to resolve their issues without forcing them to drop the issue. Aria took a deep breath as she quietly got off her bed and silently crouched her way out the door.
Once she was a few feet away from the door and completely out of sight of the girls, Aria took off running as she began to search hallway to hallway in hopes of finding Twilight soon.
Come on Twilight, where are you? Searching for you is a bigger pain now, then it was back at school. Aria thought to herself as she felt her body still in minor pain.
After a few more minutes of relentless searching, Aria suddenly heard someone crying out in the distance as she slowed down next to a door that was half open. Aria took a quick peek inside the room and was immediately saddened by what she saw. It was Twilight, she has found herself alone in the room with the lights off as she was trying to wipe tears off her face while holding her phone in her hand.
Aria hung her head down in shame as she knew Twilight was crying, because she knew that Twilight was solely responsible for everything that has happened to her.
"Why? Why was it that when she was unconscious, I was willing to be by her side and call out to her when she had a heart attack.... I couldn't even give her a simple hug when she was wide awake and healthy again?" Twilight asked herself as new tears fell down her face.
"Maybe because you and me didn't have the room to ourselves." Twilight let out a small yeep as the lights turned on and was shocked to see Aria standing across for her with the door closed behind her.
"A-Aria!? W-What are you doing here, why are you out of bed!? We need to ge-"
"Twilight." Aria interrupted her with a calm and soothing tone as she held out her arms wide and spoke again.
"I won't let you leave this room or say another word, until you come over here and give me a hug, so I can tell you that I will never be upset with you, I will never abandon you, and none of this was ever truly your fault." Twilight was stunned at Aria's words as she began to cry even harder and ran towards her you, embracing her and a hug that she desperately needed.
"I'M SORRY!!! I'M SO, SO SORRY!!!" Twilight shouted as she pressed her face into Aria's shoulder, while she was having her back rub as Aria returned to hug and placed the side of her head on top of Twilight.
"Shhh, it's okay Twi. It's all going to be okay. Just take a deep breath and let it all out," Aria said as she held Twilight, just like Starlight held her on the day they lost their parents. A few minutes have passed as Twilight had finally finished crying her eyes out as she looked up to meet Aria eye-to-eye.
"Better?" Twilight nodded as she released Aria from her embrace and led her to sit down next to her on the empty bed in the room.
Twilight took a deep breath as she nervously began to speak. "Aria, I appreciate everything you did to make me feel less guilty about everything, but there's still so much we need to talk about and yet, not enough time."
"I know Twilight, I know. As long as we talk it out, the better we can, the better we can move on from this whole mess. Besides, this whole thing was all my fault in the first place and don't interrupt me, cuz you know it's true!" Aria told Twilight, who wanted to say it wasn't true.
"I know you don't want me to say that about myself, but you know it's true. I let my temper get the best of me and I almost hurt you. Had I just listened to both sides of the story about you and Sunset in the first place, then maybe things would have been different, that was then and this is now." Aria finished as Twilight was amazed at how much Aria was taking the blame without any shame or guilt as she gave her a smile.
"Aria, you are truly an amazing girl for taking so much responsibility for everything. I wish I was half the girl you are right now." Twilight said as Aria blushed and sheepishly scratched the back of her head.
"Aw shucks Twilight, you're making me blush."
"But it's true, not everyone is willing to take responsibility for events like these at all.... However, despite your kind and wise words, I can't let you take the responsibility all to yourself, someone needs to take some of it from you." As if Twilight planned it perfectly, there was a knock on the door as she walked to it and opened the door.
"Oh good, you're here now. Change of plans, someone else is joining us to talk." Twilight said in a harsh and sarcastic tone as she stepped aside to let the person in. After a few seconds of hesitation, the mystery person walked into the door as Aria stood up in shock to see who had walked in.
"Timber!?"
Timber nervously waved to her as the fear ran through his body.
"H-Hey Aria..."