All they really wanted, was to be adored. Then comes the friends and ruined it all, leaving them weak and next to mute. Only it is not the end to the train of woes, but where will they eventually end up? Only Pinkie Pie may know that.
The Sirens ended up at Canterlot High, stirring up trouble and inciting riot as they went. How else could the people react on them?
As they suggested the Battle of the Bands, Celestia and Luna went along. Maybe it could be a good thing? It sure sounded exciting enough at faced value.
Along came the Rainbooms and smashed a dream, cracking up the beautiful gems of their pendants, rendering the Dazlings speechless and distraught.
If it had been the end of things, there had been no story to tell. The friends soon came up with a new plan to move along. Knowing what had made the Sirens so powerful and dangerous.
I had seen the girls who made up the group formerly known as the Dazzlings had broken up. Apparently they were not going along too well. Considering how it had been what they were best at, breaking you up, I guess it should never have been all that unexpected.
Now, they are not quite as good as singers as they had been. Maybe losing their voices had brought them down farther than we had expected, but it had been the only way to stop them at the time. Of course, now they are basically three harmless teenage girls.
Looking closer at the three, I can go as close as I please, they can’t really do anything anymore. Not that they had been too successful all by themselves on me in person. They had managed to get little things between me and my friends instead.
This time I see Aria Blaze, sitting on the lower step of a flight of stairs. She is alone and crying, from what I could see. The two friends nowhere to be seen. Not that I missed them all that much. The problem is to see the girl sitting there, crying, when she should be smiling and laughing. At least; that is my standard reaction when I see a sad girl.
Once she is no longer a danger or a threat, I can pity her and feel sorry for her in the misery I see her dwelling. Maybe I am at fault, but it is the person I am, I can’t escape it.
With a mind made up, I go forth and approach her where she sat, sulking. Maybe I could help her out and bring a smile to her face now? At least, I hope I could do something.
I had helped Sunset Shimmer after Twilight Sparkle told us to help her. Even after everything she had done towards as and against the entire school. Yet, we had brought her around. Now she is a friend, one who doesn’t hesitate to stand up for us and help us when we need her the most.
“Hiya, Aria. You are alone, what seems to be the problem?” I inquired.
“Aside from the obvious, you mean? I am alone and friendless. All I wanted was to be adored!” she responded.
“Yeah, that is why I approached you. I don’t like to see a girl sitting along and cry!” I pointed out.
“Not even me? After all we did?” she responded.
“You are a lone girl I see crying. Just like Sunset Shimmer was alone. You do know what she did, right?” I pointed out, making an example to make the point.
“Oh yeah, we did know of her and what she did. We tried to make her angry about how you left her out back then. It failed, and she spited us for it. Just look at what we are now!” she responded.
“Then you should know me too, right? I was back there on the drums, if you recall!” I continued.
“The Pink girl on the drums? Pinkie Pie? You certainly are a mean drummer. I have never seen such energy before!” she responded.
“You know, you could have been adored as a singer with the voice you had. Too bad you couldn’t capitalize on it here. If you had had a proper Pop group, you would have been stars, the way you sang. Sorry if I am bringing up more sad to depressing memories here!” I pointed out.
“You mean we could have been adored, just for the song? Oh boy, we did ruin it big time!”” she responded.
“And now; that train has left you behind in the dust, once and for all. I guess we will have to find something else for you!” I put forth.
“The way they loathe you in order to just leave you behind like this. The way they were always making you out as the failure, as an idiot. I guess you can leave them, for a change!” I explained.
“You mean I should turn the table on them? Just leave them and never turn back? Just forget about them ever existing?” she responded.
“Well, I guess I would call that returning the favour?” I put forth.
“Oh, I guess I could do that. Where would you have me go, and what would I be doing?” she inquired.
“Away from here, for starters. since you have no voice to speak of, it isn’t as if you could start to sing again in any event. Yet, I know I could find a place for you!” I added.
Of course I was tricking her and I knew of it. yet, if it could make her smile, maybe it was right anyway.
“If you follow me to the second floor of the library, where we could be alone? There are a few things I would like to explain!” I suggested.
“Uh, the library has a second floor? Oh, all right. It takes us out of the line of sight. I don’t enjoy them staring at me!” she pointed out.
“There is a good and a bad way to stare. Now you are facing the back of that coin, I know how much you enjoyed them looking at you, I love them laughing the same way. Only now they are laughing at us, not with us!” I pointed out as a comparison.
What she did not know is how I had built up the frame of a gate, a portal out of the library. I had hidden it out of sight. Now, all I need is for her to go here with me so I could take her to where I had in mind.
“Right this way!” I told her as she followed me up.
“Yay, this is where Twilight Sparkle was sleeping over, when we first met her. They have apparently left the books she used as her bed where she left them!” I exclaimed, giggling at the memory.
“You mean, the time when you defeated Sunset Shimmer? The time she turned herself into a veritable daemon, when she put on Twilight Sparkle’s crown with the embedded element of magic in it?” she pondered.
“Yeah, she was sleeping here that night, with only her dog named Spike as company. Even if we later learned that the dog is actually a Dragon she brought with her!” I explained.
“A Dragon, turning into a Dog? it’s kind of hilarious, if I had been in the mood for it. How utterly embarrassing on the Dragon!” she added.
“I guess you were forced to learn all about how that feels, mind you!” I suggested.
“I was turned to the butt of a joke, if it is what you mean?” she confided.
“An expression as good as any, when it comes to that event!” I put forth.
By now, we are comfortably sitting in the bed of Twilight’s, even if that is merely a pile of books lined up in order for her to be able to lie down and sleep over the night. Not a very comfortable bed as such. Good thing I had offered her to sleep over at my place the next time she was over here.
“Could you imagine Twilight Sparkle sleeping in a bed like this? Just a pile of books?” I added as a further distraction, even if I guess there is a point to the question.
“Uh, you mean she was actually sleeping up here? I can’t believe it. These books are way too hard to sleep on them!” she responded.
What ever did that c0me from? I made my best to ruin her little part, and now she is tending to me as I am sobbing over the uselessly wasted opportunity? Is she for real?
Well, d’oh. I can see and hear her by my side. I have been listening to the explanation she had been giving me. Yet, what is it she is after?
She had been on the spot on how what I had seen as my former friends had been viewing me. They had no love for me, I had been the third wheel, only good when it worked out. It all failed, and now I am apparently nothing to them.
It certainly had felt good to have a shoulder to cry on, someone who was there when I needed her. Not to make herself feel good for her own pointless end. At least it is how I felt right now.
She had taken the time and made me feel better. Maybe I had never quite beamed a bright toothy wolf grin at her. I had never mastered the grin from ear to ear anyway. I had merely been the puppet of Adagio Dazzle all along. Now she had failed.
Little to no comfort in imagining Sonata dusk sitting in another corner, sobbing just like I am. Maybe I had expected myself feeling like that before. Now Pinkie Pie had shown me that it was never the case.
Who is she? And who am I? I have no idea, not a clue. I am lost, fumbling in the dark. Why am I even here?
Eventually, I had tried to follow Twilight Sparkle and sleep for a few hours. I had apparently been tired enough for that to work, even though it is midday and some sunlight flowing in even up here.
As I woke up, I hear a giggling voice from the corner of the room. As I had expected, it is Pinkie Pie, and it is dark outside, only a small lamp lighting up the room up here. Someone had apparently gone to a great length of making this for me.
What I found is a bookshelf moved to the side and an open door. There should have been no door there. I know it is up against the outer wall, there could have been no wall there. Maybe I am dreaming it all?
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead!” she exclaimed.
“How long was I out?” I responded, attempting to play along in the game in which I had found myself, whether it is a dream, or just an elaborate hoax.
“Considering how you missed your lunch, and it is the Taco Tuesday. It is dark outside and the sun has been down for an hour. I would have it to about eight hours at the very least!” she pointed out.
“I should have asked you how you managed to sneak up here after dusk, but that is pointless. Partially after how you explained that Twilight Sparkle spent a night up here. I take it none was asking for me, in my obvious absence? On that matter, there is an absence of food and I am growing hungry!” I responded.
Then I couldn’t help myself, smiling at the absurd situation I had just found myself in.
“Finally. I guess you did need a moment to yourself and a nap to get into the perspective!” she countered.
Only now, she said it in a deadpan voice, and with a stoic manner I had never expected from her. Not this girl of all the people of the school. Although I guess I never saw her sister known as Maud? besides, sometimes it is the contrast that made up the comedy, as well as got the message through. She certainly is no fool, not an idiot, I would have to hand it to her.
“I had some time to think for myself, for a change. You had managed to inspire me, you know. Once left to my own devices, all I needed was that little push!” I pondered quietly, yet audible enough for her to pick up on, apparently.
“It may be night outside and dark, but I am certain I could drum up some food and a meal for you. If you like, I can follow you there and share the meal with you as well!” she prompted, thus inciting me to follow her through the door that could not have been there.
I had seen the building from outside, I know where we are. I just couldn’t let on that I did not trust the door could lead to anywhere. Besides, if she follows me, she would suffer the same consequences. At least, unless it is a dark nightmare. I certainly had had my share of these. Now I want out of it.
She reached out her right hand and took mine in hers, before she walked out the door she had pointed me towards. I still do feel the floor beneath my feet, so I guess I am not falling. For a moment, it looks as if the floor is made out of the same material as it had been on the other side of the door.
As she closed the door behind us, I noticed how the floor subtly changed into something very different. A feeling I never had had before, but I went with the notion of a dream. Cold or warm, light or dark, but a dream all the same.
There was a dark shadow of indescript but unlikely form of mishmashes behind us. I could barely make out the outlines, but then the door was gone. The shadow vanished as well. With that, the way back to where I had come from is gone, and with it any chance of returning. Maybe this is still one of these dreams. The one hunting you in the night, the kind you couldn’t wake up from.
“Here we are, the Royal kitchen. I will fix you something to eat, I hope you will enjoy it!” she spoke up, as if in order to pull me out of the funk.
“The Royal kitchen? We certainly are not at Canterlot High, then?” I gasped, unsure as to any further reaction at this point.
“Best food around, can’t beat the Royal kitchen, you know. Not unlike you crave meat; that is!” she prompted.
“Meat? Oh yeah. I guess I could make due with a nice and fresh, stylish salad?” I suggested.
“The fresh and stylish salad is coming right up!” she pointed out, spilling the vegetables into a bowl and sticking a crisp fork in there for me.
“That looks like a treat!” I responded as I saw the bowlful of cut to size vegetables.
“Yeah, it is. I know, Celestia loves these!” she merely explained, as if she had been intimately close to the Princess herself.
“Then Celestia is the Princess, owning the castle in which this Royal kitchen is? And you know her?” I inquired.
“Yeah, it is. Of course. There isn’t a living soul I don’t know!” she responded.
While I stabbed the first vegetables in the bowl, she filled up a large plate with pastries, and promptly chewed down as I enjoyed the meal she had so generously handed me.
“Uh, how many of these have you had by now?” I inquired curiously as I saw her picking up yet another of the muffins she piled up on the plate.
“How many? But, I am hungry!” she merely responded, stopping long enough to pronounce the words before returning to the pastries and resuming what she had been doing; gorging herself on royal treats for the next party.
“That is up to your belly to suffer, I guess!” I just responded.
She nodded vigorously but never stopped eating. Although she was done at about the same time I had finished my salad.
“How ever can you eat that much?” I then added.
That only resulted in giving her a hysterical fit of giggles, lasting her several minutes.
“I guess I should never have asked?” I pondered.
“Sounds like a good deal, but now I need to take you to your new room. You need somewhere to stay, you know!” she pointed out.
“Oh yeah. A room with a bed I could sleep in, right?” I nodded with a weak smile.
“There will even be a mares’ room, you know. Oh, the girls’ room in your case, right?” she teased me freely.
“Yeah, the girls’ room could be a nice facility to have close by. Though, what did you mean by Mares’ room?” I responded, looking funny at her, almost as if she was not the girl I had seen there a moment before.
“That is the local word or expression for your girls’ room!” she pointed out with a wide grin.
“Okay, here we are!” she exclaimed as she opened the door to where she had intended for me to stay.
I followed her into the room. The bed was in a small room with only a bed stand and a night light. On the other side I found what she had referred to as the mares’ room. Of course, there is also a wardrobe.
“I hope the room will be okay for you. I will be back with a friend, you can explore the room and make yourself at home while I fetch her!” she pointed out.
I saw her go out and close the door behind herself, just as I heard her walk along the hall. Or rather, she was clearly bouncing away in a strange manner I have never seen or heard before. Or even heard off, for that matter.
Once I could no longer hear her steps in the hall, I turned towards the bed. It is clearly a bed, even if it is a bit off. Maybe it is how these Ponies were used to sleep. Otherwise, I guess it is the best bed I had ever had.
There is a girls’ room, and everything apparently looks the same, just enough off to be strange, while still working perfectly for me. At least, I couldn’t imagine how anything could possibly go wrong here. There are three light purple towels with a mint border as the only detail. I guess she had been planning ahead. The towel even had my name embroidered into it in a deep purple. Her eye for detail and insight scared me. This was not the girl you like to be on the wrong side of. She had been planning this way too far in advance to be funny or comforting.
I exited the room in order to see the wardrobe. I got as far as to enter the bed room. I could clearly see two pairs of sliding doors as the door went up. Her friend had apparently returned.
“Greetings, Aria. Welcome to your new home!” I heard her say, before I turned around to see her.
I clearly recognized her voice, I had seen and heard Twilight Sparkle speak before. She had been singing at the Battle of the Bands.
I had just opened the door to the room Pinkie Pie had led Aria Blaze to. Then I had greeted her and welcomed her. She had been surprised to see me, even after she had recognized my voice before she had turned around to actually see me.
“Yes, this is me. I am Twilight Sparkle. To the point, I am an Alicorn princess, if I am to be exact!” she then filled in before I had the time to ask.
“If you are a Pony here, how come I am still the same girl as at Canterlot High?” she responded.
“Oh, that is simple. You see, Pinkie Pie made you take a different route into the castle. I used the portal, while she had a Draqonicuus friend of ours by the name Discord open a rift between the castle and the library. She has already gone back to school, thanks for asking!” I responded.
She merely opened the wardrobe in hopes to find what she was to wear. What she found is two lines of garments matching her very own, skirts below and tops above. Simple as that.
“How about you try them on?” I suggested.
“I guess I could as well do as you said and try them on. I will have nothing else to wear here anyway, right?” she responded, pulling out the first top she put her hands on.
“There are a dozen of each. These should last you more than long enough. I will make ascertain the wardrobe filled up, if and when needed!” I prompted.
She slipped the top off of her and slipped the new on.
“So smooth and elastic!” was all she could say.
“Yes, they are. Yet, I have been assured that they are your size, which they clearly are!” I pointed out.
“I can feel that!” she pointed out.
“Now, if you put the skirt on, I am certain it will fit. They should be quite comfortable!” I continued.
She slipped out of the old cotton skirt and stepped into the new skirt, even if she felt rather sure it had not contained as much as a fiber of cotton. Of course it came with integrated panties as well. With that, the suit is made out of only the two garments. All she would need while in her own room.
“There is something strange about the skirt, I can feel a hole at the back, just where my spine ends. Why is that? I certainly do not have a tail, right?” she pointed out in a more worried voice.
“No, I guess you didn’t have a tail when you entered the room, but you do now!” I explained matter of fact as the tip of my horn lit up and was covered in my usual purple glow as I performed a spell, making her sprout a two inch thick tail that soon grew to a length of three feet.
“Uh, what was that good for?” she responded as she noticed what happened, only to make the tail move into her field of vision.
“What? You look good with a tail!” I told her, while I continued to add the next change to her; this time making the nails of her fingers grow to a total length of an inch and thicken while turning a deep purple and shiny as if just polished.
“Why are you doing this? What are you making me into?” she exclaimed as worry slowly started to cloud her mind.
“I am just making a few minor adjustments to make you fit into your new role here at the castle. You see, I figured Princess Celestia could enjoy a good scratching, from time to time. Her job can be very stressful, being the Princess of Equestria and all!” I replied.
“Scratching, like you scratched the dog behind his ears?” she inquired.
“Something like that, yes!” I told her with a sly grin.
“I guess I should be honoured to work for the Princess?” she prompted.
By now, I had almost finished the intended adjustments. Her hair is now reaching down to her knees, while glistering brightly in the manner Celestia’s mane looks in the sun. Of course, the nails on her toes had gone to the place where you look for yesteryear’s snow. Who needs them? Just pointless effort to keep track of. When you can change her in order to save her the time and effort, why not?
“By the way, try on your new shoes, please!” I told her.
“I guess I could as well try them on. I will be wearing them, if and when I leave the room, right?” she responded, looking down at her feet.
“Considering the effort put into making them for you. I know they will be just as comfortable as the top and skirt is. Besides, the suit does fit you quite well!” I told her.
Her shoes looks like a pair of knee socks, but with a few details added to them. The glistering material eagerly clinging to her legs. To be exact, she looks as if she is wearing deep purple sandals, but with mint details along the rim.
“These are not what I am used to, but I guess I can walk in them!” she responded as she looked up after slipping her feet in the boots I had given her.
“I hope so. Just skin tight, but not too tight to be a problem for you!” I added.
“Strange, I can barely feel them on my feet. Not that I can say that the top or skirt is bothering me in any event!” she concluded.
“I hope you can enjoy yourself and your new job here. I know Celestia will love having you here. On that note, I am afraid I am the last Pony to hear your voice. Oh, and I hope you enjoy the pads on the tips of your fingers, should help you in your new job!” I told her.
Only now, with the last adjustment out of the way, she is effectively mute. She wouldn’t even be able to moan or sigh. yet, I gave her a little gift in my parting; she will be able to make sound equivalent to Ponies sounds from the other side of things. yet, none will understand that, so I guess that would be some fun.
I turned my back on her and opened the door, went out of the room and closed the door behind me.
Now I walk down the hall, leaving the new scratcher formally known as Aria Blaze. Of course, I had been the last to hear her voice as the Human she had been. Her Human voice had never been adorable or worth admiration, but she could speak as well as any Pony. Now she is as a Pony is to a Human. The tables are turned, as you said.
Of course, by tomorrow she would have forgotten all about how she could speak, even if she will understand what she is told. I guess it is the final blessing. She will be adored, but in the fashion one adores one’s pet.