> Once More. > by Strawberri > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Back To School. ( Edited. ) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Why are we going back to that forsaken place again?” Aria asked with a never-changing look of malice across her face. “I liked school! Free meals every day and you could nap whenever you wished! “ Sonata giggled aloud in a vacant manner. “Because Aria if we want that Student Housing, we need to be in school!” Adagio snapped towards her charge angrily. Each young woman dressed in drab and filthy clothing, their hair tangled and messy as a foul stench wafted from each of them. Dark circles hung under Adagio’s eyes from a lack of sleep, Aria seemed as if she were far beyond tense. Sonata just seemed like Sonata, a happy smile across her face and oddly enough a skip in her step. “I think I’d rather be homeless.” Aria rolled her eyes, coming to a stop by a nearby wall as she leaned against it. Adagio dragged to a stop as well, her slender hand gently placed atop her hip. Violet eyes glaring daggers at her friend, who in return just flicked up her middle finger. “I hate this as much as you, but if I have to sleep in a ditch one more night!” Adagio gritted her teeth in anger. “You’ll what?” Aria pouted her lips forming a hateful scowl. “I’ll kill...Sonata!” Adagio rolled her eyes and stomped away in anger. “Awww.” Sonata pouted, following Adagio down the sidewalk in a slump. “Whatever! Good luck swallowing your pride biyatch!” Aria snapped after the two figures in the distance. Sliding down the wall, she hit the ground with a dull thud. Huffing aloud in annoyance, she failed to notice a small black and white kitten walk out of a nearby box in the alley. It was as filthy as herself, softly mewing as loud as it could. Walking over to the young girl it sweetly caressed against her small hand, large bright eyes gazed up in awe and wonder. “Get away from me!” Aria snapped and roughly smacked the cat away with the flick of the wrist. “Mew?” “Phst. I’d get away if I were you, we sirens used to eat dumb felines like you!” Aria smirked wickedly as she flashed a wink to the kitten. “Mew?” “We nearly made a whole race of your kind extinct.” Her eyes glowed like fiery embers as she giggled evilly, using her thin finger to point tauntingly at the animal. Yet instead of running in fear or mewing once more, it bared sharp white fangs and chomped down hard on her wrist. Her eyes widened in shock and pain, barely able to yank it free of her flesh. “You little shite!” She growled in anger, tossing the kitten down the alley. Within seconds two more kittens exited the darkness of the cold alley, both growled in anger while hissing loudly. Aria felt warm blood drip from her wrist slowly, rising to her feet in front of the cats. “You better get out of here!” She stomped a foot hard on the ground. Doing so seemed to summon a group of six kittens from the abyss, each growled or bared fangs. Every feline had sharp claws, eyes burning with an unnatural rage. Aria could feel a cold sweat run down her backside, the cats drew near as she huffed aloud and darted off down the sidewalk after her sisters. Unsure if it were her insomnia, but she could’ve sworn she heard the cursed creatures laughing at her. “Why are we allowing those creepy children back onto school grounds?” Luna asked her sister in slight confusion, standing in front of the half-open window of her sister’s office. “Creepy or not. We did allow Sunset back with open arms, so we must do the same to any other special children.” Celestia spoke in a proper and calm tone. “You call having some kind of magical singing ability special?” Luna snorted. “More a less.” “They almost transformed into Dragons!” Luna flung her arms in the air sarcastically. “Leviathans.” “Tomato world-destroying Ta-ma-to.” Luna smacked her lips in a matter-of-fact tone, as her eyes narrowed to her older sister. “Luna, if they wanted to take over the world or had their powers still, do you think they’d start at a high school?” Celestia slowly massaged her temples in defeat. “Maybe!... I’d hope not though.” Luna rolled her eyes trailing off slightly. “They need a second chance sister. So until we can know for sure they are safe, we will be teaching them in a private class.” Celestia spun around in her chair towards the wall with a playful smirk. “What fool did you find to teach the little witches?” Luna giggled with a smug attitude. “You dear sister.” A soft giggle just as smug replied “No! You got to be…” “Effin' me! I mean effin' me sideways!” Aria rolled her eyes gazing at a cute “Hang In There” poster. “Kitties are cute huh?” Sonata smiled nudging her friend Aria in the ribs softly. “...” Aria watched the cold lifeless eyes of the poster cat, staring deep into her soul ready to devour it whole.  “If you two are done pussy watching!” Adagio snapped her fingers loudly, sitting in a chair at the front of the class with poise. Aria gave Sonata a hard jab to the ribs, striding off towards the front of the class and plopping into the desk to the right of Adagio. Quickly slumping down into her seat, lifting boot-clad feet high onto the desk as she crossed them. Sonata moaned in pain, a small hand held to her chest as she limped over to the front and took a seat to the left. Pouting softly she gazed over to the front door of the room, curious as to who would be their teacher. “Why are we even quarantined anyway?” Aria sneered in anger. “Because the school fears you.” A serious and bold voice spoke up from the door, each girl glancing to the side as Luna entered the room. “As they should.” Adagio gave a grin. “That kind of thinking is what got you three exiled in the first place.” Luna placed a hand atop her hip, as her eyes shifted to an indifferent expression. “I wouldn’t say exiled. More like we just chose to leave.” Sonata giggled sheepishly. “No! You three came to us for help, not the other way around!” Luna slammed down books and folders atop her desk with a thunderous thud.  “So that means you will be following my rules!” The woman glared wickedly down to the three vacant stares before her. “No Sass!” She sneered to Aria, who in return rolled her eyes. “No talking! Unless spoken too!” Luna growled to Sonata who slumped down in her chair. “Don’t you forget! It was I who controlled your mind like a puppet!” Adagio spoke up to the teacher, just as she came to a stop in front of her desk. “Oh. I didn’t forget, if anything it is burned into my thoughts.” Luna placed slender hands atop the desk, lowering to eye level with the leader of this group. “...” “C’mon. Use that magic to control my mind again.” Luna smirked. “...” “I double-dog dare ya,” Luna spoke with swagger in her voice, raising a thin arched brow. “Whatever,” Adagio whispered under her breath. “That is what I thought. You three are no longer Gods or Monsters, just girls.” Luna rolled her eyes and stood straight with elegant poise. “Three pathetic foul scented ladies. Who in my opinion ran out of options long ago.” Luna sighed in annoyance, her voice dripped with sarcasm. “So final rule! My way or the highway!” Luna glared deeply into the eyes of Adagio, as silence filled the room slowly. “Good. Welcome to hell ladies.” Luna smirked in delight, writing her name upon the chalkboard swiftly. Adagio sighed softly under her breath, she knew this day would be a long one. Question was: Could her pride take it? > Class Is In Session. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “This World History is nuts!” Adagio sighed aloud in defeat, violet eyes barely locked onto the history book before her. “Tell me about it. Who takes as long as these Romans to build an empire and destroy civilizations?” Aria blew a raspberry softly, closing her book altogether. “They should be called the “Slowmans” am I right? What did it take us to create an empire and wipe out all those Sea ponies?” Adagio narrowed her eyes in deep thought. “Like two weeks.” Aria yawned. “No. We wanted to wage war on The Flutter Ponies, so we sped things up remember?” Sonata whispered softly, face buried in her book excitedly. “Oh yeah. So about a week boss.” Aria flaunted a hand gently, a wicked smirk upon her face. “I said no talking!” Luna snapped aloud in anger from her desk. “But this history is so damn boring!” Adagio rolled her eyes and slammed her book shut. “I don’t care. You need to know this, in order to function in this world.” Luna flipped her long tresses over her shoulder. “Give me one example, on how knowing who this Caeser guy is will aid me in life?” Adagio smacked her lips in a matter of fact tone. “How about this? Get back to work or on "The Ides of March." I shall come for you Ms Adagio.” Luna smirked down to the annoying brat. Adagio simply frowning in place, unsure what it was that the woman had just suggested. “Just shut up and read!” Aria rolled her eyes at her leader, who gazed over to her in shock. “Et Tu Aria!?” Sonata gasped aloud in shock towards Aria’s outburst. Adagio growling under her breath, swung back open her book and began her research reluctantly. A soft knock coming from the door of the classroom, Luna motioning for the guest to enter. Celestia walked in with a bright colorful smile, her heels clicking upon the tiled floor softly. Luna sitting up with more poise in her seat, rather than the slumped over form she had taken all morning. “How is the first day coming along?” Celestia smiled a small giggle escaping her lips. “It is going just fine. As you can see all is under control.” Luna flaunted her slender hand over the room, all three girls silently reading. “That is great sister! I for a moment was worried, I might have overburdened you.” Celestia spoke in a chipper and almost condescending tone. “Nope. In fact I think we are all becoming friends here.” Luna spoke with a confident tone. “Phst! Yeah it would take about sixity of your kind to take me down!” Adagio yelled from her seat in anger, as she lifted away from her book and sneered. Celestia gazed to Luna with a raised brow in confusion. “Hehe. Just a small joke I shared with the ladies.” Luna giggled nervously. “Mmmhmm. Well do take care and here is the item.” Celestia nodded politely as she handed Luna a strange silver item swiftly. “Lovely to have you all here again. Take care ladies.” Celestia gave a delicate wave to the teens in the room. “Bye Ms.C!” Sonata waved bye happily. “Don’t go falling down any stairs now.” Aria whispered under her breath, returning the wave with a faux smile. “...” Adagio never even lifting her gaze away from her desk. Suddenly the loud bell rang high above, its high pitched ring spreading all across the large building. Sonata suddenly squealing aloud in joy, her eyes lighting up, much like the shimmering sun outside. “Lunch Time! Oh I do hope it’s Taco Tuesday!” Sonata smacked her lips loudly. “It’s Monday fool.” Aria rolled her eyes and stood up. “So! I can still hope it’s tacos today!” Sonata replied in a dunce tone, quickly springing up to her feet. “Whoa! What do you think you’re doing?” Luna asked in confusion, her gaze locked on the three girls. “Going to lunch.” Adagio replied in a bittersweet tone. “Nope! I hate to say this, but you three have lunch in here with me.” The teacher replied in a slight hiss. “Sooo. Do you go, get us our food?” Sonata tilted her head to the side confused. “Nope. You eat what my sister made you for lunch.” Luna rolled her eyes as she bent over, taking out three crunched up bag lunches from under the desk. “And trust me, you are not going to like it.” Luna snorted aloud with a smirk. The woman lifting up from her chair and tossing the bags harshly onto each desk before the girls. Right before swiftly making her own way towards the door. “Just so you know. It’s Sea Food Day!” Luna giggled aloud, the door to the class swinging open. “Oh! Glad I caught you, before you left.” Celestia poked back in, pushing a new brown bag into her sister’s arms. “You can’t leave the students unattended.” The Principal gave her sister an “Oh You!” look, quickly leaving as soon as she entered. Luna stood there in silence, gazing down to the warm and crumbled bag in her hands. Snickering lifting into the air from the students behind her, she could feel those wicked violet eyes burning into her back. “I so hope we don’t like it, that means you won’t either.”  Adagio smirked much like a cheshire cat, full of mischievous glee. After a less than wonderful lunch, which consisted of a few bland fruit cups and a horrible homemade salad. The girls suffered through a few more hours of learning, from the abyss that was math to the confusion of chemistry. It would seem like a sweet release, when the clock slowly counted down to their freedom. A joyous time when the girls would finally see their Student Housing they scored, a whole apartment that belonged to them, no wicked forces to choose anything for them. “When we get home, I call the shower first.” Adagio sighed in a dark smile, tilting her head back in relief. “Go ahead. I’m going to raid the fridge into submission.” Aria licked her lips much like a hunting predator. “I just can’t wait to sleep on a bed!” Sonata smiled happily, her voice ringing aloud. Luna shook her head side to side, standing beside her desk and collecting all the papers of the day. Sliding them all into her large handbag, that delicately hung over her shoulder. The clock slowly edged towards the bell, each girl watching the time ease on by agonizingly. “Aria give me the keys!” Adagio demanded to her right hand. “I thought you had them?” Aria sneered in confusion to her boss. “...” Both girls snapping their heads to Sonata. “I didn’t even know we needed keys?” Sonata replied in fear and confusion. “Ahem.” Luna dangled the silver keys in the air, from beside her desk. “...” Adagio felt her heart racing in her chest wildly. “I fear due to past actions, you three are required a Housing Guardian.” Luna could feel a headache forming already. “Guardian?” Sonata asked politely. “Like a House Mother…” Luna groaned as she thought back to the bomb, that her sister threw upon her this morning. “No! No!” Adagio screamed as she lifted from her seat. “Until a proper House Mother is found, I shall be taking the mantle.” Luna frowned in anger, looking away from the girls and up to the clock. “Son Of A Bucking Fu..” Adagio screamed even louder as the bell went off, drowning her out with ease. Indeed this slice of heaven, had become hell. > Welcome Home. Part.1. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The young ladies had to wait for the whole school to empty out slowly, the rush of the crowd in the hallways echoing for what seemed like hours. After the noise died off, Luna rolled her eyes and swung open the class door. Each young woman shuffling out into the empty hall in annoyance, Luna following close behind them, her eyes blank and slightly angry. “No offense. But do you have to be on our asses?” Adagio asked with a flip of her long vibrant hair. “As long as you’re in my charge, I’m never letting you three out of my sight.” Luna rolled her eyes softly, her oversized purse slung around her shoulder. “I just can’t wait to get home and then hit the streets!” Aria smirked to herself in slight enjoyment. “Nuh-uh. No hitting of any type of streets with me.” Luna snapped back in a swift and stern manner. “What!?” Aria glared in growing anger. “We get to go shopping for new clothes maybe?” Sonata asked, remembering she entered them on the financial aid forms. “My sister had already done that in advance. The rest of the funds will be in my charge.” Luna smirked as she pulled ahead of the girls, swinging open the school doors and heading out. “Great! We get damn loser clothing!” Adagio pouted and punched a nearby locker in a swift strike. “Phst. Trapped inside as well.” Aria scowled and kicked open the front door. “At least we have each other!” Sonata smiled with a giggle walking ahead of Adagio, who simply kicked the young girl on her backside hard. Outside Adagio allowed the cool crisp air to flow across her hair, the sun was hidden behind a couple of grey clouds and the parking lot was near empty. Violet colored eyes scanned the area, before spotting Luna near the bike locks. “Phst. You ride a bike?” Aria giggled aloud wickedly as she rushed over to Luna’s side. The woman rolled her eyes as she kneeled down beside a black ten speed, adding in a combination to the lock before it clicked open. “My sister and I, share one car at this time.” Luna spoke in a serious tone. “Soo. How do you decide who gets the car? Gambling? Please say gambling.” Aria crossed her arms over her chest with growing interest. “In a way. We both guess a number, the one closest gets the car.” Luna flaunted a slender hand towards the girls. “I assume she always wins?” Adagio rolled her eyes sarcastically. “Most of the time. I’m not sure how she does it.” Luna spoke through gritted teeth. “Is she the one picking the number?” Sonata asked sweetly, her head tilted off to the side. “...” Aria raised a brow to Luna. “...” Adagio slowly turned her head towards Luna as well. “...” Luna felt her lips purse tightly. In silence their blue haired teacher took off down the parking lot. Never saying a word as she spun around the corner and nearly vanished from view. “I assume we’re walking then.” Adagio growled and rushed off. “A little cardio never hurt anyone!” Sonata smiled and skipped off as well. “Please strike them all down.” Aria spoke to herself in a whisper, shuffling off wearily into the distance. “Welcome.” Luna sighed and flicked on the lights to the small cramped apartment, the area looking dim and less impressive than expected. All three girls entered the living area in awe, it wasn’t much, but as the memories of the past slowly sank in, each girl knew at least it was theirs. Luna wasted no time plopping onto the couch in defeat and glaring to the young women. Her hair once bouncy and full, now flattened and frazzled. “Ok. You three shower up! You all stink something fierce.” Luna did her best to hold back a faux gag. “Afterwards go to the room with a “S” on the front and get dressed.” She continued in a half hearted speech. “Whoa! Just one room?” Adagio asked in shock. “Well it’s a two room. But the other is mine, inside the one you’re sharing are two beds.” Luna smirked with a sly attitude. “Two of you will just have to bunk up.” She finished with a hidden giggle, behind her slender hand. “I get a bed! ALONE!” Adagio snapped in anger. “I get the other bed.” Aria growled under her breath. “Ari…” Sonata gazed to her friend, who slowly shook her head side to side. “I’ll just sleep on the couch.” Sonata sighed. “After you’re all dressed. Aria you are on dinner duty.” Luna nodded to the girl, who just scoffed aloud. “Sonata you will be in charge of the dishes.” Luna smacked her lips slowly. “And you Miss Queen of the Serpents. Will be on cleaning duty.” Luna narrowed her eyes to the leader in suspicion. “You are not acting very much like a teacher!” Adagio snapped in growing anger, her fist clutched at her side tightly. “I’m off the clock. As of now I’m just your worst nightmare.” Luna growled back, kicking off her shoes to the floor in front of Adagio. The leader of the group gazed toward the teacher in uncontainable rage. Her eyes slowly began to glow a dark crimson color, hands un-clutched to reveal clawed hands. Adagio lifting high into the sky before the scared woman, the teen letting her rage flow through her. “You dare push me around!” Adagio hissed wickedly and shot a beam of red energy into Luna, she screamed in terror her whole body stiffening. Her pale blue skin becoming that of lifeless stone, cracking near the sides as she fell to her knees, the stone prison locking her into place forever. Adagio floating over slowly, dark wings spreading from her backside as she giggled in delight. “Don’t go falling to pieces on me!” Adagio giggled, swiping a clawed hand over the statue and shattering it to thousands of pieces. “Hahahahahaha!” Adagio hissed with glee, thunder striking outside as storm clouds gathered over the building. Her two comrades kneeling before her in respect. “Adagio! Hello!? “ Luna raised a brow to the young girl, she was standing in place alone, her friends already off to fight over the shower. “Hmm?” Adagio blinked in a daze. “I said go and check out the room.” Luna scrunched her nose up slightly, the teen walking off in silence. “Oh boy! This is going to suck.” Luna moaned, her head tilted back in defeat.   > Welcome Home. Part.2. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adagio growled under her breath, wearing a odd lime green blouse, covered top to bottom in frills. A small purple skirt hugging to her hips as new yellow boots clicked loudly on the floor of the third level hallway. She dragged a large bag of trash behind her, left by the last tenants who had been evicted. She tried to fight Luna over why she had to do such a chore, but in the end it was more simpler to just toss it down the chute. Slender hand grabbing the knob of the chute, she gave it a hard pull, only to feel it not budge at all. A eerie cold chill running down her lower backside, followed by a icy cold hand placed atop her shoulder. Spinning around in shock as bangs fell over her eyes, she could see nothing around her but emptiness. Yet deep inside she could sense something, a type of energy that was long forgotten. “A..dag..io.” A voice whispered into her ear sweetly from behind. “Watch it!” Another voice screamed louder, Adagio snapping back into reality just in time to take a soccer ball to the face. The siren flung backwards and landed right onto her bag of trash with a dull thud. A large red mark planted in the center of her face, eyes glowing in anger through the dim light of this cursed building. “Oh my! Are you ok?” A soft spoken girl came into view, she had elegant pink colored hair stretching down her lower backside. “I might have sprained my ankle with that kick.” A loud mouth of a girl sprung into view as well, her hair was multicolored and wild in style. The soft spoken girl shooting a gaze of disapproval towards her. The polite girl wore a white blouse and a yellow skirt, her cream colored boots complimenting her style perfectly. The other seemed to be dressed in a soccer uniform of some kind, covered in dirt and grime. “I’m fine!” Adagio snapped in anger sitting up, glaring towards the filthy girl a banana peel hanging from her once clean hair. “In my defense, I did yell out to you.” The tomboy giggled and held out a hand. Adagio slapped it away rudely, standing up on her own. Both girls staring at her for a few seconds, before each came to the same realization. “Phst! You’re that siren Atario!” The tomboy spat aloud in shock and awe. “Sure why not? And you two are Flutterdee and Rainbowdum.” Adagio spoke politely with a faux smile. “Please let’s not fight.” Fluttershy asked politely as she placed a gentle hand atop her friend’s shoulder. “I’m not looking for a fight anyways.” Adagio added on and started to pick up the torn bag of trash behind her. “Phst. We would so win again.” Rainbow spoke under her breath, with a soft roll of the eye. The pink haired girl kneeling down beside Adagio, helping her scoop up the fallen trash swiftly. Rainbow pouting before doing the same and helping out, the siren flashing her former foes a suspicious stare. “So why are you two here?” Adagio asked, tying the bag back into a makeshift knot. “We’re planning a night out with Sunset.” Fluttershy spoke up, her slender hand brushing away a fallen lock of hair from her eyes. “Yeah! Daring Do’s newest movie, just hit the theatre!” Rainbow dash let out an excited squee. “Sounds like a good time.” Adagio spoke in a lackluster tone, tossing the trash down the chute with a little effort. “Why don’t you and your friends come out with us?” Fluttershy asked with a sweet smile. “Phst. Friends? Oh you mean those two…” Adagio rolled her eyes slightly. “I’d sorta not like to. But we’re grounded here at the moment.” Adagio quickly made up an excuse. “Too bad.” Rainbow scoffed. “Maybe next time. Well see you at school then.” Fluttershy spoke in an innocent tone, walking off down the hallway as Rainbow followed close. “As if.” The siren crossed her arms over her chest, a sneer forming over her lips. “So. What took you so long?” Luna asked in a suspicious tone at the cramped dinner table. Adagio sat in between her two charges in silence, Sonata wearing a pink tee with a puppy on the front and blue shorts. Aria had on a plain white blouse and black pants, each girl wouldn’t say it, but loved the long overdue shower session. Atop the table were half burned BLTs on plates, a strong scent of charred bacon wafting through the air. “Cheap bag broke.” Adagio sat down and slumped over slightly. “Mmhmm. So that was the bag, you were chatting with out there?” Luna added with a raised brow. “Hmmm. No ma’am I also spoke to a few girls from school.” Adagio added through gritted teeth. “Huh.” Luna just shrugged and took a crunchy bite from her BLT. “You talked to some girls from school?” Aria narrowed her hues to her leader. “Yeah. Rainbow and Flutter.” Adagio spoke as her finger poked the side of her plate. “Phst. Way to go! Making friends with the enemy!” Aria pushed her plate away in anger, Adagio casting a glare to her side. “I just spoke a few words! Not like I was groveling at their feet!” Adagio hissed loudly. “Ladies.” Luna spoke up. “I know you Adagio, you are all about The Next Big Thing!” Aria glared and flashed a sneer to her leader. “Settle down!” Luna snapped. “Ha! If that’s so, then why am I dragging you two idiots around with me!” Adagio asked in a cruel polite tone of voice. “Take that back!” Aria clutched her fist in anger. “LADIES!” Luna stood up in anger, yelling down to the two girls. “The only thing I wish I could take back, Is when I took you two in all those years ago.” Adagio whispered in a cooing fashion. Aria gritted her teeth and slung up from her seat. Eyes glowing darkly like fiery embers, yet no scream or punch came, instead she walked off in silence the slam of the bedroom door following soon after. Luna glared to the young woman in disappointment, quickly walking off from the table as well, heading towards the back of the apartment just as quiet. Adagio slowly let her gaze fall onto Sonata, the silence growing ever more within the room. The young blue skinned girl looking down in sorrow, taking a small bite from her BLT and standing up. “I. Never regretted meeting either of you…” Sonata sighed and shuffled off towards her couch. Adagio frowning in anger, slammed both fist against the table. Before sliding down onto the frame and sobbing.