Sonata had always loved to sing. As a Siren back in Equestria, singing was part of her life. She still carried that in the human world. Ever since her pendant, together with that of Adagio’s and Aria’s, was shattered though, she had lost that ability to sing. Or so she thought.
It was a rather dreary Wednesday, having rain outside. The Rainbooms normally would have been outside after classes, but they instead cooped up inside Canterlot High’s music room, waiting for the rain to at least die down a bit, if not completely cease.
They took out their instruments and began to rehearse. Pinkie made some impressive drum rolls, practicing it. Sunset and Rainbow Dash had just tuned their guitar. At Pinkie’s signal, they began a song. It was perfect, lazy afternoon to jam.
Sonata sat on a chair listening to them. Ever since she moved in to Sunset’s house, they went home together. Pinkie often joined them, in part to be close to what she sees as her “sister”. Sonata as well felt the same way, for they shared so much the same things.
On that particular day she was just happily listening to them, She nodded a bit to the sound. After a few minutes the band had a break.
“I’ll go outside and check on the weather”, Applejack said. The others milled about while she was gone. Rarity approached Sonata.'
“Dear, why don’t you join us?” she invited her. Sonata was startled.
“Me? Thankies! I’d love to, but I can’t sing”, she said, a little bit disappointed.
“It must have been so hard to lose that pendant”, Fluttershy said sympathetically, but Sonata just smiled.
“I got used to it by now”, she merely said. Rarity was a bit skeptical though.
“Well dear, you can talk, can’t you now?” she said. “I think we can work out something.” She grabbed Sonata’s hand and led her to the piano nearby. Sunset observed them as she stood with her guitar. Rarity seated herself on the piano chair and motioned for Sonata to stand near the piano.
“We’ll first try some warm-up vocalizations”, she instructed. She began to press C major, and asked Sonata to try the note. They slowly worked their way to one octave, though at just E Sonata stopped.
“What is it, dear?” Rarity asked, a bit concerned. Sonata motioned to her throat, and Rarity gave out a soft laugh, though it’s not to make fun of her.
“I see what’s wrong. You are using your throat for singing”, she observed. Fluttershy couldn’t help hearing them. She approached them both and talked to Sonata in her quiet way.
“Maybe I can help”, she said quietly. She then looked at Sonata and said, “Try to press on your stomach like this”, she said, indicating how to do it. Sonata followed her.
“Do you feel that?” she asked her. “That’s your diaphragm, and that’s where you should be singing from.” She said it so demurely Sonata could hardly hear her, but she understood it in any case.
“Thanks”, Sonata said gratefully as Fluttershy returned to her seat. Rarity and Sonata went through it again, and this time it was much easier for Sonata. Applejack returned just then to announce that the rain has stopped. Everyone began to pack their instruments and put it back to their places.
On their way home, Sonata still practiced every now and then. Pinkie would give her some tips while Sunset walked a little bit ahead of them.
“I think I’m getting my voice back”, Sonata observed. Later, in their house and after Pinkie had left, Sunset talked to her.
“I don’t think you really lost your voice”, she said to Sonata. “It might be that you just thought you lost it, but it’s there all along.”
“Maybe so”, agreed Sonata. She kept practicing in the house, and Sunset had set aside some time for her to practice. She can see that Sonata had a good voice. Even without the pendant, she felt that Sonata could actually sing. She thought about that, since the Rainbooms do need a secondary singer, and since she’s with them she might as well have a part in their band, too.
“So, what do you think?” Sunset asked Rarity the next day about her idea of letting Sonata prepare as the Rainbooms’ secondary vocalist at their rehearsal after school.
“I think it would be marvelous!” she replied with delight.
“How long do you think she needs coaching?” Sunset wanted to know. Rarity thought for a moment, figuring out the days needed for her to teach proper technique.
“If we can do this daily, I believe by next week she’s good enough”, she finally said, “…for practice at least”, she added hastily.
“Sounds good enough for me”, Sunset said. Later, when the others came in, she brought up the issue and they also didn’t object.
“I think it would be wonderful to have her with the band”, Fluttershy said.
“I’m sure she’ll be excited when she finds out!” Pinkie bounced up and down happily. At that moment Sonata walked in from her class. Pinkie ran over to her and told her the news. She screamed with delight, and the two of them bounced up and down with joy. The group were all smiles, watching the two girls’ reaction.
“Welcome to the band, Sonata”, Sunset said to her. The others did the same. Sonata was so happy, though of course there was still the matter of giving her vocal coaching. They did that over a week, with additional practice for Sonata at home. Sunset oversaw her practice there, though occasionally Rarity would also drop by to help and chat.
Finally, a week passed and they got together for another rehearsal. It was a special one since it would be the first time Sonata would join them as secondary vocals, and they’d like to hear how she’d perform. For two days prior to it, Sunset and Rarity went over the song she’d be singing with them to see how she would blend in.
“Well, this is it”, Applejack said to her. Sonata was both nervous and excited, as she had always sung with the pendant. But Rarity assured her that she did well in their practices. Pinkie gave the signal and the band started playing. When her part came, Sonata sang. It was a feeling she hadn’t felt since the time she was with the Dazzlings. She felt happy, her eyes shining.
“What do you think?” Sunset asked them after the number.
“Still needs a little bit work, but good enough”, Rainbow Dash gave assessment.
“We’ll work on it, darling”, Rarity assured her. Sonata though didn’t mind—she was just happy she found her voice back. She and Pinkie excitedly talked in one corner while the group relaxed.
That night, as she was about to sleep, Sunset reflected on it. Sonata still can’t get over it when they got home. She had never been so happy in her whole life. Sunset was just glad to see her like that.
All of us have our voices, she thought. And all of us just need to find that right voice, that right tune. It is out there, and once one finds it, it can be the most beautiful thing in the world. Sonata found hers, and that can never be taken away from her.