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// Sunrise 
// Story: Siren Night 
// by MetaSkipper 
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	Sonata stood. Aria crossed her arms. Adagio leaned her head back into her hands. It had been days since the sirens’ impromptu party. The whole school had assembled for some ridiculous sunrise watching. It seemed like an incredibly contrived school spirit event. Aria had been more than happy to express her distaste at being here. Thought the pink-haired girl was probably behind this. Didn’t help that Sonata had insisted, dragged them to the front of the damn thing.
Still, they were here. Not that much of the student body paid them much mind. If they were, they were doing a good job of hiding it. Not even associating with the six had salvaged their reputation, and it was mostly Sonata doing the associating. They still got shifty looks in the hallways, nasty words behind their backs, unpleasant comments to their faces. 
Sonata started hopping, near jumping in excitement. At what, her companions couldn’t tell. They’d accepted Sonata was a little out of it long before that day, but she had only gotten more unpredictable, as if that had been possible. They could only shake their heads and smile as she started twirling.
How could she not? She saw beauty everywhere, in the most unlikely of places, ever since her mind was uncluttered from plans of world domination and hypnotic singing. She knew only one way to express that beauty. So she did. And she sung.
It started as a spark. A spark that blew into a flame. A flame that dispersed into cosmic dust. And somewhere in that cosmic dust, a star was born. 
Aria tensed. Adagio caught her breath. They felt every last person behind them bristle, back away in wariness. Their lost powers didn’t translate into lost memories of the afflicted. Their eyes shot back to Sonata. Assuredly the sunset wasn’t this important to her?
Her mind’s eye stared at that lone star. Even she was a little confused. Why had she been drawn to that ball of fire? Her vision expanded; she now saw not one but countless stars. And suddenly, she understood.
Aria now dared turn around, dared face the crowd. Before her stood a crowd, judging her, picking her apart. The light of dawn slowly cast her shadow over them. She could not, would never understand what Sonata had seen. But somewhere, Sonata had seen a song, and Aria would be damned if she would be left behind. She would not. And she sung.
She had dreamed this dream before. Even in harsh reality, the shimmers of fantasy swam in her eyes. She had not failed in her dreams. It had crossed her mind once, to be put out, never to be seen about. She took Sonata’s tune, built upon it, decorated it. She grasped Sonata’s vision, and by sheer force of will and song made it reality before her.
Adagio cursed her companions. What part of letting this blow over had they not understood? The incompetent – had they no foresight? Her eyes cast over the crowd. She saw intent in their eyes. She made out a distinct six rushing forward. Her mind cast back to her ceiling. Those two were going to be the death of them all. She had seen how the path they were on ended.
She was just going to have to lead them down a different path. She knew only one way was going to work. She stepped up. And she sung.
She felt the tugs of Sonata’s and Aria’s songs. They were hardly new sensations. But here she took them in. She guided them, pulled them together. She took Aria’s song and lifted it. She held Aria’s reality and molded it. She burned it, refined it. Aria took her reality back, rebuilt in, built it better. Adagio took Aria’s reality, and by mind and heart shared it with the world.
They hadn’t tried. All they had done was step in with their own song. But they fell into place, each part a piece of a puzzle.  
Realization burst in Adagio. Sonata had not been singing about the sunset.
Sonata was the spark. The reason they had to keep singing. Their connection to a vision only she could see. But vision is meaningless without action. Aria was the fire. The push they needed to keep fighting. A movement that could not be ignored. But movement is meaningless without purpose. Adagio was the wind. The guidance they needed to keep living. The touch that could blow them on or cool them down. But purpose cannot exist… without vision.
Sonata gave them foundation. Aria gave them momentum. Adagio gave them direction. They were the Sirens. And they sung.
Sonata turned around. It suddenly dawned on her that she had been singing in front of a crowd. She faltered. She stumbled backwards. Her voice stopped, her mouth hung open. Aria saw her, vocally caught her, pushed them both forward. And Sonata found her voice again. Aria kept singing, singing higher and higher. Suddenly, she found herself alone, out of harmony with her companions. She stood, frozen. Adagio heard her, lyrically nudged her, pulled her back. And Aria found her song again. Adagio led the song. Within an instant, her mind went blank. Her mind’s eye could only see darkness. She stepped forward. Her foot landed on air. She fell forward. Sonata felt her, shared her revelations with her, showed her solid ground. And Adagio found her life again.
They closed their eyes, and fell into the song. Their voices rose as one. They raised their hands, lifted up something, some vague concept. Behind them, the sun rose.
Their song ended. They looked out into the assembly before them. Silence. Uncertain eyes. Nervous cast-about glances. Adagio let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. At least they weren’t trying to – 
One clap. One set of hands clapping. Now two, no, three. Now it was seven. Eighteen. Twenty five. Whistles. Cheers. Applause. It took Sonata a while to realize they were applauding for them. She grabbed the two, pulled them in for a hug, went on about how they didn’t need any magic. Aria managed to be more dignified amidst Sonata’s for-realzies and waves to the crowd, but she loved it all the same. Adagio let out a chuckle.
Someone called, chanted for an encore. Adagio’s eyes widened. She cast her eyes about for that voice. She saw. She nearly gasped.
Now two calls. Three more. Another eight. A crowd. She looked back. She caught a wink.
Adagio felt two pairs of eyes look at her. She smiled against the backdrop of the rising sun.
Tomorrow morning, the sirens will wake up. They will go to school. Sonata will hum a little diddly. The three will break apart at the intersection. They will sit down in their respective classes. Aria will stand in front of the class, give a presentation on cell division. They will meet for lunch. They will find themselves sitting with a particular group of six. They will go home. Adagio will do her homework. Someday, Sonata will open a blank document. Aria will stand on a stage. Adagio will find herself looking at a poster for a Spring Fling.
But for now, they sing about a sunrise. And they remember what it is to be a siren.