Chapter 1: Boredom and Deals
Depression was a miserable thing. Not surprising, perhaps, but very frustrating in the dullest of ways, like something poking you in the back of the head with nothing you can do to stop it.
This was something the Dazzlings could all easily agree on following the loss of their magic, their voices, and the obscurity that had allowed them to use both to get by all this time. All three were lost in the Battle of the Bands, and they were quite down in the dumps about it. Part of it was the complete loss of their ability to sing in a way that wouldn't offend a rodent being stuffed through a pipe, along with their magic and everything else that made them sirens, more or less that which defined them back in their homeland, which they grew to accept they would never see again, and part of it was just a general funk. Whether or not this funk was related to that first reason, none cared enough to riddle out.
The only thing they could think to do now was lay around the house, the one paid for with ill-gotten wealth, nary a care in the world. That is to say, all three of them were strewn about the living room as though dropped like ragdolls, waiting for this mortality thing to kick in. They'd had a discussion on it the other day, how, if the gems were the source of all their magic, and agelessness was a form of magic, then shouldn't they have turned into dust that night on stage? They'd been alive... what, at least a century, prior to their banishment? The prospect of death didn't frighten them now, which might have been a silver lining to the situation if it didn't seem to be taking so long to get here. None of them even had wrinkles yet.
The only sound in the house would have been a ticking grandfather clock, but the trio had smashed that with a hammer, wrench, and crowbar when the noise had gotten too irritating. That had been fun.
Fun, fun, fun.
Garbed in their hoodie-and-jeans ensemble, they laid around nearly motionless. Aria Blaze was balanced on the back of the couch, Adagio Dazzle upside down in a recliner, her head on the footrest and feet in the air, and Sonata Dusk stretched out on the fluffy carpet in the middle of the room, as though sun-tanning with the ceiling light. She thought about getting sunglasses, but why bother?
At some point in the day, Sonata weakly called out to the ceiling. "Hey. Anyone feelin' all... dead?"
"Mmph," mmph'd Aria three minutes after the question was posed, not so much as turning her head.
Twenty minutes later, Sonata decided the matter was worth pursuing. "Didn't really answer the question, y'know."
Six minutes later, Adagio did an upside-down shrug. "How would she even know? None of us have been dead before."
Eight minutes.
"I mean, if one of you two have, share the story?"
Aria spoke up two minutes later. "That might be cool. Breakin' outta Hell or something. Find whoever didja in. Spook 'em good."
The three of them giggled immediately, which was a new record for-
KNOCK-KNOCK!
Startled, all three of them jumped where they lay, Aria falling face-down into the actual seating part of the sofa. "Hrr," she muffled, not moving from where she'd landed, "smmbdy gt tht?"
Opting to do her duty as the leader, whether she felt even remotely suited to the title these days or not, Adagio got up. "'m onnit." Sluggishly, she shifted out of the recliner, landing with a light thud and staggering to her feet, immediately feeling a rush of vertigo as the excess blood in her head returned to its regular schedule.
"Ohh, holy, crap, can't...!"
If either of her fellow sirens cared enough to turn their heads, they'd have likely giggled as Adagio dizzily stumbled her way toward the front door, nearly smacking into it as she rested a hand on the wall by the doorknob and used it to support her own weight. She opened the door and was greeted by a familiar hate-figure.
"Sunshet shimmur. Whaddyou want?"
Sunset, wearing a new, blue outfit with a slightly smaller bad-girl jacket, smiled. "Hi! I wanted to talk to you three about-"
The door was slammed in her face.
Taking a quick breath, Sunset controlled her temper. She had expected this, and possibly worse, but as she wasn't being chased away by attack dogs or covered in bees yet, she figured she still had a chance, and knocked again.
Adagio opened the door again, looking just a little more composed this time. "Sunset Shimmer. What do you want?"
Sunset smiled. "I understand if you don't want to talk to me, but..." She waited, blinking once. Adagio was just staring back at her. The smile turned sheepish. "Uhm... S-sorry, I thought you were gonna slam the door on me right then."
Slamming it the first time had been more effort than it was worth if Sunset was still here. The staring continued. Maybe she could stare her off. Stare like a gorgon. Staaaaaare...
Ignoring the hair standing up on the back of her neck, Sunset noted that Adagio must have at least been healthy enough to still have one of the scariest faces she'd ever seen. So that was nice. She got to the point. "I wanted to talk about a sort of partnership, between your group and CHS in the upcoming Friendship Games. It's a simple arrangement; we can most likely restore your voices if you'll agr-URK!!"
Sunset was seized by the throat, Adagio holding her half a foot off the ground in both hands and glaring at her with the burning hate of a thousand exploding suns. "You. Have. Some. Goddamn. Nerve."
"Wait," rasped Sunset, her hands tugging at the ones on her neck, "ih-hit's t-true!"
The grip loosened slightly, but Adagio didn't let go. Her eyes misted as they glanced toward the living room, unsure if the others heard that sentiment. False hope was a cruel mercy, but if there was even the faintest chance that it wasn't a trick...? She dropped Sunset, muttering the apology under her breath. "S... s-sorry."
Managing a shaky smile as she massaged her own neck, Sunset stayed the course. "D-don't worry about it." Offering their friendship couldn't have been easy for Sunset's friends when it was her turn, and she wasn't about to back out just because it wasn't going perfectly. Think I did something similar to Pinkie once or twice... "Can I come in? I'd like to hear all three of your thoughts on this."
Hesitantly, Adagio stepped aside, pointing Sunset to the living room. Walking in, they found Aria still face-down on the sofa and Sonata sitting on the floor and facing them, waiting for news.
"Hey. What's goin' on, Dagi?"
"Deal prospect."
Aria got up, visibly alarmed when she saw Sunset. "Deal?"
Sunset wasn't sure whether or not stepping out of arms' reach of Adagio would signal a lack of trust before she said this, so she said a silent prayer and stayed still. "I think I might be able to restore you guys' singing voices." She braced herself, but only got two wide-eyed stares and one very annoyed one back. "I've been doing some research on how the magic in this world works, came up with a few theories, and if I can run a few tests, you guys might have your voices back within a day."
For a long, tense moment, the trio was silent.
"A-and," Sonata quietly ventured, "what's the catch? Do we have to give you our souls? Offer a sacrifice? Rip the fingernails out of one hand?"
Sunset blanched. "Ah, eh, wha, ew, no, what?"
Aria facepalmed. "Told you not to watch that show, Sonata." She was answered with half-hearted raspberries.
Adagio cleared her throat, urging Sunset to keep going.
"Um... Well, all we, CHS, that is, all we really want in exchange, if this works, is a little help in the games."
Raising an eyebrow, Aria hazarded a guess. "Sabotage?"
"No."
So did Sonata. "'Roids? Because you've already got that big guy and he's gotta know somebody that can hook you up wi-"
"No."
All present looked at Adagio for a guess, but she didn't offer more than a blank stare while waiting for the actual answer. The big, grumpy spoil-sport.
Actually feeling hopeful, Sunset smiled. "We might need all the help we can get to stand a chance against Crystal Prep, but I think just having someone around to consistently help with morale would be good for us. That in mind, how would you three like to be cheerleaders?"
Dead silence. The sirens traded glances, none of their faces indicating any possible feelings on the proposal, which only made Sunset more nervous.
"And," Adagio inquired at length, "if this doesn't work, or if it does and wears off later, what then?"
Turning to her, Sunset frowned. "Then you have my deepest, sincerest apologies, because I understand what it's like having something precious, something you were good at, torn from you with little or no hope of recovery."
At this, Adagio finally smiled a little. It was like her usual, sinister smile, but with a hint more amusement than malice. "Oh, that's right, you came from Equestria too, didn't you?"
Her voice echoed in Sunset's memory. "We know ALL about you, Sunset Shimmer..." She guessed they really meant it, somehow. "Does that mean you'll accept?"
Still smiling, Adagio looked at her partners in crime, both of whom looked as though they were eagerly waiting for permission for something. "Any objections?"
Aria and Sonata shared a quick look of shock at the question, then both smiled and answered in unison. "No, ma'am!"
Nodding once, Adagio gave Sunset a somewhat reluctant look. "Deal. Lead the way."
Sunset beamed.
What happened to the sirens is kinda messed up, glad to have that particular anvil out of the way. Hence this story existing, I guess. Same goes for a lot of villains, really.
From here, I hope to make things a lot more fun! 
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Will they wear sexy outfits?
Interesting.
Judging by the cover art, Adagio is very short (or at least the shortest one of the trio). I don't know if this will have any impact on the story, but I find this incredibly adorable.
I do have an ability to make comedy AND "feels" in one story. I'm interested.
Oh crap, Adagio, Dagi, Dagi, take a deep breath, let's not get hasty here!
6466093
Dude. Look at the coverart. Then look at the premise. They're CHEERLEADERS. Kinda goes with the territory.
6466355
hover over image
6466149
I think it's more that she's standing a little behind Sonata, with Aria taking up more of the foreground. Note the differences in the sizes of their heads.
6466093
I was more or less thinking they'd be wearing what they are in the cover art. It's a little dark for CHS's color scheme, but I think I've got a decent enough explanation when the time comes. Either way, you won't be able to actually see them dancing in said outfits, I'm afraid.
"Sabotage?
Well, I like the way you write the Sirens though Sunset's motives for offering them their voices back seem specious (perhaps she's really making the offer because she "knows what it's like to have something she's good at ripped away" rather than any real need for Cheerleaders).
6466419 Actually it's not the perspective that created such confusion, but rather artist's take on character's proportions – he/she moved away from traditional EG 75% of height are legs approach, what is very clear with Adagio, but obscured with Sonata's legs being cut off by the frame and dynamic posing, same with Aria crouching. In combination with these new proportions, Adagio's giant poof (main purpose of which is to appear larger, compensate for petiteness and chase away predators) makes her appear a lot smaller and more adorable.
How huge are you planning to make this story?
6466683
Only as long as it needs to be to cover the events of the movie and wrap up accordingly. I don't see it going past 20,000 words at conceivable most.
...Now that I'm thinking about it, the idea of a comparatively tiny Adagio using her fluff to scare away bears and such is weirdly adorable.
Makes me sad that My Little Adagio was canceled. :(
Nice callback to one of Bulk's early 'joke' fandom names,
6466093
Have they ever not?
great start to this fun story. greatidea for a story. this is going to be a great ride!
Looking forward to more, great story.
This looks neat. So is Sunset just offering to magically return their singing talent? Or is she offering to restore them entirely?
6469247
Just the singing is the goal, fully-rejuvenated magical sirens that are probably still sore about having lost their voices wouldn't be a great idea right now.
6469795
Well, shoot!
That picture is extremely adorable for whatever reason...
6470053
Sonata's happy cheering, Aria's little pouty face, and Adagio looking all "I have pom-poms... Now what?" That's part of the reason I went with this image instead of another, the depicted moods here better reflect their depictions in the story, I think.
The sirens' respective expressions, I think.
"Oh, and Adagio?
"Yes Sunset?"
"You understand that, the very moment that you betray us, I will kill you?"
"Heh. When do we start?"
I like the start of this. It's kind of dark, but the Sirens are making the logical assumption that if they have lived longer than normal, and the Rainbooms have taken their magic, then the Dazzlings are basically waiting for the execution to take effect.
The cover image is great, but they look more like Crystal Prep cheerleaders than CHS. I wonder if they could use that when they attempt sabatoge? (you know they will, sooner or later).
6466699 Whenever Adagio feels threatened, her hair stands up like another foot or two, just like a cat arching its back.
6470907
There's a reason for the uniforms, but it doesn't come up for another chapter or two.
Further cuteness accepted!!
6470972 Adorablegio.
Thank you for writing this. Already favorite and put on tracking. I enjoyed The friendship games alot, but for me it made me sad that Adagio, Sonata and Aria were droped out just like that. While still being mentioned we dont know wha happend to them.
Those 3 are my favorite characters in the entire series and i really enjoyed how they interacted with each other and personally they are ones that trully deserve redeption and to not be cast aside, heck i can see them singing and chearing fro the wonder colts, also maybe being the backup singers for rainbow in the rally song.
Another thing maybe some Principal Cinch cheats and 3 of the humane six get injured and Adagio, Sonata and Aria take their place. Like Sonata replaces Rarity or Pinkie, Adagio Replaces Applejack or Fluttershy and Aria Rainbow dash(yeah Sunset will stay)
At least Adagio didn't make an counteroffer involving Sunset.
"Adagio holding her half a foot off the ground in both hands"
-"without their amulets they are just teenage girls" where did the strength came from ? they weight roughly the same, and anger doesn't give you strength boost.
6902080 Human body has a few million unconscious limiters on how much of our strength we actually use. Get pissed off enough, they all amount to a hill of beans.
6902080
They don't longer have amulet magic, but they are from Equestria. That means they still have Equestrian magic.
6902080
You've never worked out enough to lift your own body weight? She did use both hands, it's not that hard. The hardest part would be getting a good grip on the neck to do the lifting that way. It'd be a lot easier if she'd put one hand somewhere else.
Hmm... intriguing...
I shall read this...
Carry on.
Wait wait wait was that a Supernatural reference?
and things go wrong almost immediately. sonata wants tacos, all the tacos.
Let's have them in the fifth movie.
Hell no!
what has Sonata been watching?