A Fantasy Revisited
Aria sat on the couch in the apartment the trio of sirens shared. She was bored out of her skull and was listening in on Adagio as she talked on the phone.
“Yes….Yes….Yesss,” Adagio said groaning a little more each time she said it, “Yes, yes I understand. We’ll have it.”
After that she hung up the phone and let out small scream of anger.
“What was that?” Aria asked.
“Our landlord. Apparently she came out of her spell too when we lost our powers. She said while she doesn’t remember why we’ve been allowed to live here for free all this time, it stops now and our rent is due in two weeks. This is a big problem.”
“Why is it a big problem? We’ve still got lots of money,” Aria said, thinking about the money they had amassed from people they had ‘convinced’ to give it to them for scenarios where singing to get what they wanted was either impossible or inconvenient.
“We didn’t replenish it before we tried to claim the Equestrian Magic. Now it’s running low. We need to watch that we don’t spend it on useless things like….” Adagio started to say.
“Who wants tacos?” Sonata said, as she entered the apartment, only to find Adagio and Aria shooting death glares at her, “What?”
“Like tacos,” Adagio said, “Why did you buy those you idiot?”
“Hello? It was Taco Tuesday,” Sonata said.
“We don’t need tacos,” Adagio said, face palming, “We need a way to get money, which will be pretty impossible. We can’t use mind control anymore. We’ve never had jobs in the past so we have no work history. We don’t have social security numbers. Plus on top of that there are people out there that might remember what we did and not be too happy about it. So our options are limited.”
“We could sell some stuff,” Aria chimed in.
“Oh really that’s a great idea,” Adagio said, her voice brimming with sarcasm, “Like what? The beds we sleep on? The couch Sonata sleeps on…well I guess we could let that go. The clothes off our backs?”
“Maybe we could sell some stuff from old abandoned buildings. These humans go nuts for stuff these ‘pickers’ find. At least that’s what TV and the internet says,” Aria said.
“I guess a bad idea is better then no idea. Sonata, go find an old abandoned building.”
“Right!” Sonata said, “….where can I find one?”
The two other sirens face palmed.
“Go out to the woods. There’s some old mansion out there everyone talks about,” Aria said.
“Right off to the woods I go!” Sonata said happily, before leaving the apartment.
“We’re doomed,” Adagio said, after she left.
Out in the woods Sunset stood outside the abandoned Lightley mansion.
Okay, we stopped the sirens. People like me now. So on to my new problem, Sunset thought, Those dreams. Every other night it’s the same two. Either I’m exploring this place, or I’m getting a checkup from that nurse and getting hypnotized by her. Fluttershy and I woke up in here when the dreams started. Maybe if I look around maybe I’ll find something that’ll help get to the bottom of them…or maybe I’m just going crazy.
She took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Ballroom….kitchen…den…, she thought as she looked through each room, they look just like in the dream. Now the dream usually stops when I get upstairs. I open the wall and find a…secret…room…
“No way,” she said, as she found the panel she had pushed aside to reveal the hidden lab, “It is a secret room.”
Stepping inside she looked around the abandoned lab once more, her previous visit having been stripped from her memories.
Wait…this…this is the exam room where the nurse hypnotizes me, Sunset thought, feeling slightly concerned now, Yes there’s an exam table…it looked just like this. This is too weird. Are the two dreams connected?
She was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t notice a figure emerge from a side room.
“Oh hello, Sunset Shimmer. It’s nice to see you again,” Fanta said, smiling.
The Fantasy Bot was a bit more conservatively dressed then the last time Sunset had encountered her. She had a few garments draped over her arm.
“What the!?” Sunset shouted, her body tensing up upon seeing Fanta, “Who…who are you?”
“Oh that’s right…memory alteration,” Fanta said to herself.
“Wait…you’re…you’re the nurse from my dreams,” Sunset said, anger and fear building inside of her, “Who are you?! And why do I have dreams about you hypnotizing me?”
“Because your dreams are reality Sunset,” Fanta said, “Allow me to demonstrate for you once more.”
Sunset gasped as Fanta’s eyes turned into silver and black spirals. She found her self looking into them.
“What…what’s going on?” Sunset said.
“It’s just like before Sunset. Just relax and look into my eyes. Look deep into my eyes. You can’t look away from my eyes.”
Yes I can’t look away from her eyes, Sunset thought, It’s just like in the dream. The nurse hypnotizes me with her spiral eyes…I can’t look away…and I can’t resist.
“Look into my hypnotic eyes and find yourself growing sleepy once more. So very very sleepy.”
Yes…so sleepy.
“So relaxed and sleepy. So comfortable. You just find yourself giving into my swirling spiral eyes.”
Yes…I must give in.
“Feel your mind growing blank again Sunset. Feel yourself relaxing more and more as you get ready to fall back into hypnosis.”
Yes I’m ready to fall back into hypnosis. I’m ready to be hypnotized. I’m ready to obey her.
“Feeling so tired and sleepy. So comfortable. Falling back into hypnosis in 3…2…1…sleep.”
On the count of one Sunset’s eyes locked shut as her head slumped to her chest.
“You are deeply hypnotized Sunset Shimmer. You must obey me once more,” Fanta said.
“Yes. I must obey you Ms. Fanta,” Sunset said dreamily.
“I’m sorry about that,” Fanta said, “But you were scared and I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. On the other hand I’m glad I saw you today. I came back here for more of my costumes and outfits, my fantasy business is really booming. I think it’s even bigger then my creator Dr. Lightley could’ve ever imagined. So I’m glad I was able to see you again since this all came about from your help. So I wanted to thank you Sunset. Thank you so much.”
“You are quite welcome Ms. Fanta,” Sunset replied.
“So why are you here today?” Fanta asked, before listening intently to Sunset tell her story, “I’m sorry my suggestion for you to remember your fantasy experience as just a dream affected you in such a way. Now as a thank you present I think another fantasy is in order for you. One that when you awaken from you’ll find it replaces your old dreams and you will find it to be a pleasant dream and not one you should be bothered by or concerned about.”
“Thank you Ms. Fanta,” Sunset said, a faint smile appearing on her face, “I loved getting a checkup from you. And I loved being a stage hypnotist too. Though I can’t really do that this time since I came alone.”
“Are you sure? My sensors indicate another person in the mansion.”
“Yes I’m sure.”
“Very well then I have an idea. Let us combine the best of both of your fantasies. You enjoyed interacting with another hypnosis subject and you enjoyed your checkup. So for your fantasy this time I think it would be best if you become the nurse and maybe I can convince the other person in the mansion to be your patient. Doesn’t that sound like a fun fantasy?”
“It sounds positively wonderful Ms. Fanta,” Sunset said.
“Very good. Now when I snap my fingers you will open your eyes but remain hypnotized and you will think you are nurse Sunset Shimmer,” Fanta said, snapping her fingers.
Sunset’s eyes blinked open, revealing they once again had developed transparent silver and black spirals.
“I’ll go get ready for my patient’s arrival,” Sunset said, as she turned and walked towards the costume room.
“I’ll be right back,” Fanta said, as she walked out of the secret lab.
Downstairs Sonata was walking around the den looking through things.
Old book, old book, old book, ugly chair, ugly candlestick, she thought, making a mental list of the things she saw, This is the worst. I mean it’s all old, but what would people want to buy? I already called Adagio three times asking that but she just yelled at me.
Sensing a presence she turned around and saw Fanta standing in the doorway.
“Eeeep! This place is haunted! Like for realsies!” she shouted.
“I am not a ghost,” Fanta said.
Sonata let out a sigh of relief.
“Might I ask what you are doing here?”
“Oh, you know I’m just looking for old stuff to take home so we can sell it,” Sonata said.
“I’m afraid I cannot allow that,” Fanta said, “I am the Fantasy Bot 3.2 and the things that remain in this mansion are the property of my creator Dr. Lightely, though his return seems unlikely at this point, I must insist they remain here.”
“A Fantasy Whatnow?” Sonata said in confusion.
“Allow me to demonstrate,” Fanta said, “Just relax and look into my eyes.”
Whoa, Sonata thought as Fanta’s eyes took on their spiral form once more.
“Just relax and listen to my words and look into my eyes. Watch them swirl around and around. Around and around. Relax. Take a nice relaxing breath in and out.”
Sonata listened to her instructions and breathed in and out, This is weird. I…I don’t like it.
“I know you might be concerned but there’s no need to be. Let your concerns and resistances fade as you relax. Just look into my eyes and let everything else fade away.”
Sonata let out as small gasp as the room around her faded away into darkness. All that remained was Fanta standing in a ray of light, It’s gone…it’s all gone….all that’s left is her…and her eyes…can’t look away from her eyes…can’t resist her eyes.
“Just look deeper in my eyes as you watch them swirl around more and more. Let another wave of relaxation wash over you. Let your muscles grow limp and loose as your mind becomes empty and calm.”
My mind is calm…and…emp….ty…, Sonata thought as her arms dropped limply to her sides.
“Another rush of relaxation, this one so intense you start to feel sleepy. So sleepy that when I count from three to zero you will fall into a deep hypnotized sleep. Three, feeling hypnosis take hold, thinking only of obeying me. Two, falling into trance. One, eyelids so heavy. Zero, now sleep for me.”
At her count of zero Sonata’s eyes locked shut and her head dropped to her chest.
“Now then my dear you are deeply hypnotized and you must obey me.”
“Yes Ms. Fantasy Bot I will obey,” Sonata said, her voice a monotone.
“Fanta will be fine Ms…”
“I am Sonata Dusk, Ms. Fanta.”
“Now Sonata I have something better in mind for you to be doing then stealing from my creator.”
“What is it Ms. Fanta?”
“You will be receiving a checkup from a very eager nurse. Now follow me,” Fanta said, snapping her fingers.
“Yes, Ms. Fanta,” Sonata said, her eyes blinked open revealing they too had developed transparent silver and black spirals. She then stretched her arms out like a zombie and began following Fanta back to the lab.
When they returned to the lab Sunset was standing by the exam table, ready to begin. She had changed into a pair of teal scrubs and had a stethoscope around her neck.
“I’m back Sunset. Allow me to introduce your patient,” Fanta said, as she extended her arm to show off the entranced Sonata.
“Sonata!?” Sunset said in shock, “What are you doing here?”
“Adagio asked me to come here and take some things to sell. Ms. Fanta did not approve of this,” Sonata replied.
“No I didn’t. But I convinced her to do something better with her time: being your patient,” Fanta said, “It’s time for your exam Sonata, and during it you will do what Nurse Sunset tells you to do.”
“Yes Ms. Fanta,” Sonata said.
“Um, okay,” Sunset said, still a little unsure of herself and the nature of her ‘patient,’ “First I need you to strip to your underwear Sonata.”
“Yes Nurse Sunset I will strip for you,” Sonata said, as she pulled of her clothes until she was down to her blue bra and panties, before she proceeded to climb up on the exam table.
Hmmm let’s see here, Sunset thought, her mind going back to when she received her checkup from Fanta as well as the information sheet she had found with the scrubs in the outfit room.
“Let’s start with taking your blood pressure,” Sunset said, as she put on her stethoscope and inflated the cuff around Sonata’s arm, “Okay looks good.”
Sunset then proceeded to check Sonata’s reflexes before getting out an otoscope to check her eyes.
“You have very pretty eyes,” Sunset said, “And the spirals in them make them all the more beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Sonata said smiling, “The spirals make your eyes look cute too Nurse Sunset.”
Sunset smiled back after hearing the compliment, before she pushed Sonata’s giant ponytail out of the way in order to exam her ears. Once she was done she turned back to Sonata and requested, “Okay now open your mouth and say ahhh.”
Sonata let out an extended yet melodic ‘ahhh’ as Sunset examined her throat.
“That was very pretty,” Sunset said, “Looks like you’ve still got some siren left in you.”
Sonata smiled once again at the compliment.
“Okay Sonata I’m now going to check your heart and lungs,” Sunset said, putting on her stethoscope, “We’ll start with your lungs, so whenever you feel my stethoscope against your skin I want you to take a deep breath in and out.”
“Yes Nurse Sunset,” Sonata said.
Sunset started to move the bell of her stethoscope towards Sonata’s chest but stopped short. She remembered her own experience as Fanta’s hypnotized patient and how feeling the cold metal against her skin wasn’t the most pleasant of experiences so she warmed it in her hand for a few seconds before proceeding. She moved the bell around Sonata’s chest listening to her breath sounds and took note her patient hadn’t cringed with the placement of the bell and smiled that her small bit of prep had made the examination more comfortable for Sonata.
“And now onto your heart, you don’t need to take any deep breaths this time,” Sunset said, before placing her stethoscope on Sonata’s chest once more. At each position she listened to the soft lub dub of Sonata’s heartbeat and found the sound to be quiet relaxing and enjoyable. So much so that when she repositioned her stethoscope one last time she spent a longer time listening then at the other positions.
Once she was done she put her stethoscope back around her neck, “Okay Sonata everything looks and sounds good. You were a very good patient.”
“Thank you Nurse Sunset,” Sonata replied happily.
“Now I have a few questions,” Sunset said, “You said you were here to take some stuff to sell. Why?”
“Because Adagio told me to. Also we’re out of money and can’t get anything for free without our siren powers after you stopped us.”
“I see,” Sunset said, “I’m sorry about what’s happened to you guys, but mind controlling people is bad.”
“Yeah I know,” Sonata said, “It’s just in our nature I guess. I didn’t even really want to do it anymore, but Adagio kept making us do it. We don’t even need negative emotions to survive here anyways. It’s more a power trip then anything, and they don’t really hold a candle to human food when it comes to taste anyways.”
“I wish there was a way I could help you,” Sunset said, before noticing a mirror across the room, seeing herself as a nurse and Sonata as the hypnotized patient once again made her flashback to her own original experience with Fanta, “And I think I just thought of one. Ms. Fanta?”
“Yes Sunset?” Fanta said from the corner where she was watching.
“I have a huge favor to ask you to do after you bring me out of my trance and bring my fantasy to an end.”
“Of course Sunset. Anything for you,” Fanta said.
Several hours later Aria and Adagio sat around the apartment awaiting Sonata’s return.
“Where is that idiot?” Adagio asked.
“For the last time I don’t know,” Aria replied.
“I’m home!” Sonata said, excitedly as she reentered the apartment. Her look had changed completely from the time she had left. Still sporting the spirals in her eyes Sonata had changed into her own version of Sunset’s stage hypnotist outfit. The jagged edge skirt still had a flame print on it though the flames were now teal and blue to match Sonata’s hair. She also sported a dark pink shiny leather belt worn at an angle as well as a black sleeveless top. She had also ditched her spiked bracelets in favor of some fingerless gloves.
“And you didn’t bring anything back with you,” Adagio said in annoyance.
“And she bought a new outfit,” Aria added.
Adagio face palmed, “So not only did you waste all this time by not bringing back anything, you also wasted money on a new outfit.”
“Oh I didn’t spend anything on this,” Sonata said, “This is my work uniform. I got a job!”
The other two sirens stood there dumbfounded for a second before Adagio said, “And what idiot gave you a job?”
“Ms. Fanta did. I now work for Fantasy Inc. as Sonata Dusk, stage hypnotist extraordinaire,” Sonata said, as she made an arch with her hands over head as she said her title.
“Ughh, stop lying!” Adagio said, “Obviously this Ms. Fanta doesn’t exist because now that I think about it, not even the idiots would give you a job. Second, you can’t be a stage hypnotist. We lost our powers remember? We can’t hypnotize anyone anymore.”
“Ms. Fanta is as real as you and me. And I can be a stage hypnotist. Let me show you,” Sonata said, as she took out a silver pocket watch and let it dangle by its chain.
“Oh this should be good,” Adagio said, her eyes becoming instantly drawn to the pocket watch.
“Just watch the watch guys,” Sonata said, as she started to swing it, “Watch it swing back and forth.”
Fool, this isn’t going to work, Adagio thought, her eyes following the watch, Why am I even bothering with this?
“Watch it swing and relax. Relax. You feel soooo good right now as you relax for me.”
What? I can’t look away, Adagio thought, finally realizing her eyes were glued to Sonata’s watch, What’s going on?
“Just focus on the silvery wonder that is my pocket watch as you listen to my pleasant and relaxing voice,” Sonata said, “Listening only to me and feeling so wonderful and sleepy.”
Her voice is pretty pleasant, Adagio thought, Urghh no, I can’t let this happen. Aria do something!
Yes. I can only watch Sonata’s watch. I feel so sleepy. I must listen to Sonata’s pleasant voice, Aria thought, having already started to succumb to Sonata’s spell.
“You guys are doing great!” Sonata said, happily, “Just a little more. Now just relax and grow even sleepier. You feel so tired all you want to do is drift off and go to sleep for me on the count of three.”
I…I do..I do feel sleepy, Adagio thought, Maybe it’ll be fine if I drift off to sleep at the count of three…after that then I’ll make Sonata pay.
“One your eyelids are heavy and tired. They feel like they’re made of stone. Two, so very sleepy. And Three, sleep for me. You guys did so very well.”
At Sonata’s count of three Adagio and Aria’s eyes locked shut and their heads slumped to their chests.
“See I am a stage hypnotist,” Sonata said to her sleeping companions, “And you have been hypnotized by Sonata Dusk, stage hypnotist extraordinaire. That means you must obey me.”
“I am hypnotized and must obey Mistress Sonata, stage hypnotist extraordinaire.” Adagio and Aria said in unison.
“Let’s have some fun guys,” Sonata said, “When I snap my fingers you will think you are chickens.”
A quick finger snap from Sonata resulted in Adagio and Aria’s eyes blinking open, revealing they were now teal and blue spirals. The two immediately folded their arms up and they began scratching at the ground and clucking. When Aria wandered too close to Adagio’s ‘territory’ she immediately began flapping her wings and began threatening her.
“Bwack! Bagagak!! Bagak!” Adagio shouted at the top of her lungs resulting in Aria backing off.
Sonata chuckled at the spectacle before saying “Sleep,” and snapping her fingers again.
“That was fun,” Sonata said, “But now for something special. Adagio when I snap my fingers you will wake up and come out of your trance, but Aria you will remain hypnotized and open your eyes and think Adagio is a giant delicious taco. Do you guys understand?”
“Yes Mistress Sonata,” they said in unison.
“Okay, here we go,” Sonata said smiling as she snapped her fingers.
Both siren’s eyes blinked open, Adagio’s had returned to normal, but Aria’s still had spirals in them.
Adagio rubbed her temples before glaring at Sonata, “See I told you it wouldn’t work. You’re no stage hypnotist and…and….Aria why are you looking at me like that?”
“Giant taco!” Aria said in awe.
“Giant…what?!” Adagio said in confusion.
“Giant taco. It’s so delicious looking! Sonata do you want any of this?” Aria said, pointing at Adagio.
“Nope it’s all yours.”
Adagio stared in horror as Aria approached her licking her lips, “Aria what are you doing! I’m not a taco! Get away from me!”
Aria leaped at Adagio, but she side stepped her.
“No fair! Come back giant taco!” Aria shouted as she started chasing Adagio around the apartment.
“Aria stop it! What’s wrong with you?! Ariaaaa!!!” Adagio shouted trying to get away from her pursuer.
Sonata meanwhile just sat back and enjoyed the ensuing chaos.