“And Bare Knuckles dodges left, dodges right! He’s not letting a single punch land! He’s backing up, backing—oh, but Haymaker’s backed him into a corner. He’s trying to defend himself, but wham! Haymaker’s got him! Haymaker’s beating him with all he’s got!”
Sonata cringed as the sound of leather smacking against flesh echoed from their television, filling the apartment. Aria just moved closer to the TV, scooting forward until she was hanging off the edge of the couch. Ever since that night in the cafe, Aria had gained an appreciation for boxing. She couldn’t help but get a bit angry whenever the fighters didn’t go straight for the throat—apparently it was illegal or something—but it was still two sweaty men beating each other into submission, and she loved every second of it.
She grinned as Haymaker pummeled his opponent into the ropes, smashing his nose apart, sending flecks of blood flying into the air—
The bell rang, and the referee jumped in to separate the two boxers. Aria snorted and slumped into the couch cushions.
It was just after sundown. The apartment was completely dark, save for the flickering of the TV screen. Sonata and Aria sat next to each other, with Sonata scrunched up against an armrest and Aria spread out across two cushions. They had been sitting like this for a few hours now.
As soon as they had walked through the door, Adagio had run to her room and locked herself in. She hadn’t emerged since.
Aria stretched out her legs, taking up another couch cushion and squishing Sonata against the armrest. Her soul ached; the negative energy she had eaten in the cafeteria had tasted delicious, but hadn't been nearly enough to fill her up. She ignored the hunger pangs and focused her attention on the fight.
“Uhm, Ari?” Sonata said, twiddling her fingers. “Can we—?”
“No.”
“But I—”
“Shut up.”
“I bought you something!”
Aria paused before muttering, “What is it?”
Sonata clapped her hands together and let out a scratchy squeal. She sprinted out of the living room, only to return a few seconds later holding a pink plastic shopping bag with a heart on it. She rested it at the foot of the couch before sitting down next to Aria and giving her a calm smile.
“Ari,” she cooed, resting a hand on Aria’s knee. “I think we need to talk.”
“Why are you touching me?”
“I know that things have been getting really crazy over the past few weeks. I mean, there’s been magic rainbows, and we’re in a new school, and you’re the leader of the group now…” Sonata threw up her hands defensively. “Which is totally cool, by the way! Like, Adagio was a great leader, but I’m sure you’ll be just as good!”
Aria grabbed Sonata’s collar. “Don’t compare me to her! I’m a better leader than Adagio ever was!”
“Okay, but—”
“Say it.”
“Huh?”
“Say it!” Aria screamed, shaking Sonata by the collar. She raised her fist high. “Say that I’m a better leader than Adagio!”
“You’re a better leader than Adagio!” Sonata cried, throwing her hands to her throat.
Aria held her grip for a few seconds longer before letting go and shoving Sonata, nearly sending her off the couch.
Sonata adjusted her shirt and tried to smile again. “Uh, anyway… I was just gonna say that with all that’s going on, it’s totally alright to be stressed, and stuff like that.”
“Stressed?” Aria repeated with a chuckle.
“Yeah! ’Cuz, like, you’ve been a little testy lately—”
“I’m not ‘testy!’” Aria yelled. “I’m hungry. How long has it been since we had a full meal? Five, six months? And even when we did, you know that Adagio was hogging the best energy for herself like a pig. Adagio is an idiot—if it wasn’t for me taking charge when I did, we’d be starving right now. Is that what you want?”
“No! I want to take over the world as much as you!” Sonata took a quick glance at the hallway leading to Adagio's bedroom before murmuring, “And I’m not saying you’re wrong, Ari. All I’m saying is that you’ve been acting a bit meaner than usual, and I don’t think I like it.”
“Mean? We’re sirens, Sonata.” Aria clenched her fists. “It’s either be mean or be dead.”
“Yeah, but—”
Aria punched Sonata in the throat. Her anger overtook any pleasure she found in the punch.
Sonata fell off the couch, bumping her head on the coffee table as she went. As she groaned and gurgled on the floor, Aria jumped to her feet and shouted, “And we’d catch even more prey if it wasn’t for you talking back to me every single day, interrupting me when I'm trying to make plans—you're worthless!”
“I’m sorry!” Sonata choked out, covering her throat with both arms. “Stop, please!”
‘DON’T STOP DON’T STOP DON’T STOP’
Aria reached down and pulled Sonata’s hands away from her face, giving her a clear shot at Sonata’s thin little throat. She could end it right now. She could steal Sonata’s voice, make it so she could never whine again. Sure, the Blazings might lose a singer, but who cared? With Sonata’s windpipe crushed and Adagio’s confidence shot, no one would ever question Aria. She would have all the power.
‘DO IT DO IT’
Sonata heaved, sobbed. Aria raised her fist high and took aim.
‘PUNCH’
She brought her knuckles down to Sonata’s throat.
Her fist froze just an inch above Sonata’s skin. Looking into Sonata’s wide, watery eyes, Aria flinched. The pinprick pupils cut through Aria’s skin like a spear, digging through her chest and piercing her heart. She felt a sharp stinging in the base of her stomach—it was enough to force a retreat, sending her back to the couch.
The thoughts still raged, but the headache wasn’t nearly as painful as the look in Sonata’s eyes.
Aria collapsed into a cushion and watched Sonata, who was hiccupping and gasping and trying to rub away the tears rolling down her cheeks. Aria tried to swallow, but a stone had lodged itself in her throat.
"Get up," Aria said. "And stop crying. You look like an idiot." She wrung her hands and managed to say, “What’s in the bag?”
Sonata stared at Aria for a moment with bleary eyes before rising to her feet, balancing herself on wobbling knees. She grabbed the shopping bag and handed it over. “I got you a present,” she croaked, sniffling. “I thought it might calm—I thought you might like it.”
Aria reached into the bag, only stopping when her fingers brushed against something soft and fuzzy. She wrapped her hand around the first firm part she found and lifted it out—it was a big brown teddy bear, wearing a shirt that read ‘I Love You!’
“What is this…?” Aria turned it over in her hands.
“He’s your present,” Sonata said, managing a weak smile. “When we got out of school, I went down to the Teddy Bear Hospital and adopted him, just for you. His name is Mister Softpaws, and he loves hugs.”
Aria held the bear far from her chest and returned its beady black gaze with a hesitant glance, as if expecting it to come alive and bite out her eyes. And yet nothing happened. The bear just sat there, smiling, with its soft fur—so, so soft. Its short brown hairs were silk and velvet’s lovechild, caressing her hands like feathers. And so warm; Aria felt like she could bury herself in its arms and survive a nuclear winter.
Her mouth hung open. "Why?”
“What do you mean, silly?” Sonata dared to touch Aria’s arms, bending them so Aria would press the bear against her chest. “Because you’re my friend, and I hate it when you get all depressed like this.”
Aria gripped the bear, digging her jagged nails into its fabric flesh. A whirlwind of emotions whipped through her chest. She wanted to hurt something, to ruin something, to put out the fires building in her arms—
And yet, whenever she glanced up at Sonata’s bright smile, lodged between two tear-stained cheeks, everything seemed to… stop? For just a second, the tightness in her chest vanished, replaced by some sort of airiness, some sort of lightness. There was no energy in her veins. There was no itching in her knuckles.
It took a few seconds, but Aria returned Sonata’s smile. “Thanks,” she murmured. “This… this is nice.”
“Yes!” Sonata cheered. She grabbed Aria and pulled her into a tight hug, which Aria didn’t resist. “Oh, I’m so happy that you like him! I really hope that he makes you feel better. It’s no fun taking over the world when you’re so gloomy!”
Warmth ran through Aria’s chest. She nodded and leaned into the hug, even as it brought her closer to Sonata’s beaten throat. The two stayed in that position for nearly a minute before Sonata pulled away and stood up.
“I’m gonna let you two get acquainted,” she said, winking. She skipped out of the room, doing her best to hum a tune. Aria waited until her voice had faded away before turning back to the bear.
It was a nice present, wasn’t it? Certainly better than any gift Adagio had ever gotten for her. Adagio would only ever buy joke presents—things that were meant to mock, or to point out some sort of flaw. Like the diet plan she had bought for Sonata, or the hair salon gift card she had gotten Aria. Like she’s one to talk.
But this? This was thoughtful. Innocent. Sonata wasn’t trying to hurt her.
…At least, Aria didn’t think so.
What had Sonata said? She bought the bear so Aria would ‘calm…?’ Calm what? Calm down? What did that mean? Aria was always calm. She was calmer than any of them—that’s what made her the leader. Just because she punched people in the throat didn’t mean that she was upset. It meant that she was smart.
What, did Sonata think Aria had gone crazy or something? That she couldn’t handle being leader without some stupid stuffed animal to keep her company? Was Sonata trying to mock her?
‘She’s no better than Adagio. They’re all trying to mock you.’
The warmth in Aria’s chest turned to sludge. If Sonata wasn’t trying to insult her, what was she doing? Trying to win Aria’s favor? She had always been the manipulative one, using her innocence to trick humans—and now she had tried to trick Aria, as if Aria were but a filthy human!
Did she really think that these worthless presents would keep her safe? They wouldn’t. Sonata could make Aria the most powerful woman in the world, and she’d still get her throat punched in.
Aria wriggled her hands around as the itch jumped across her knuckles. It was too strong to get rid of with any sort of hand wringing.
Aria punched Mr. Softpaws in the throat.
Her fist was enough to rip Softpaws’ head clean off, sending a flurry of stuffing across the couch. His soft, silky head rolled along the floorboards and under a bookshelf.
Breaths shallow, Aria stared down at the mangled teddy bear and could have sworn she saw Sonata’s tired eyes looking back at her from the sea of loose stuffing. Her own eyes stung—she closed them tight and threw the carcass across the room before jumping off the couch and running to the bathroom.
She slammed the door behind her and nearly collapsed onto the sink. She stared into the mirror and cringed. She saw something in her eyes—a something dark. Something alien.
‘You’re overreacting,’ said the strange voice. ‘It’s late. You’re tired. Calm down and go to sleep.’
Aria took a long breath, then listened to the voice and headed to bed.
But sleep never came. No matter how hard she clenched her eyes shut, no matter how many times she beat her head into the mattress, Aria couldn't get the memory of Equestria out of her mind. Even wrapped up in bundles of blankets, Aria felt the freezing ocean water around her, heard the echo of countless songs floating from the lips of countless sirens. She saw a vision of herself, huddling at the bottom of a dank grotto, trying her damnedest not to cry, don't cry, crying is for weaklings and if Adagio finds out she'll never let you live it down—
Sonata's bright blue scales glinted in Aria's eyes. Algae clung to her fins, just as it always did.
And the wound in the pit of Aria's stomach just festered.