A Sliver Of Hope

Sonata sat on the wet wood of the park bench, tears pooling in her eyes. Her pink skirt had several threads unraveling, which didn't help at all with the cold of the snow. The icy tooth of winter nipped at her like the jaws of a frigid beast, chilling her to the bone.

Had this been a Hearths Warming Eve in Equestria, she would've been sitting at a grand oak table, Adagio and Aria laughing beside her as they feasted throughout the night. But of course, those were only memories, only a little sliver of hope in this cold world.

This year, this year in the human world, no one would come to share there food. Not like their was much anyway. All they had been able to afford was a Danish, which had been split three ways with a shard of there amulets they had once had. No one would come. No one would share their shattered dreams.

"Sonata!" Came the sharp voice of Adagio, a small noise cutting throughout the silence. "Your going to freeze to death." Sonata simply wrapped the piece of cloth which served as her coat tighter around her shoulders. She doubted she'd freeze, but there was the risk of a cold. Like she cared.

Adagio sighed and sat down beside her, her eyes glowing with emotion. "I know what your thinking. Were all thinking it," Adagio's eyes were full of hope as she spoke, "but sitting on a park bench letting yourself freeze isn't going to benefit any of us!" Sonata just sat there, eyes riveted ahead at the street, where warm golden light glowed from the windows of houses. She wouldn't experience the comfort of where her next meal would come from. She'd never experience the smugness of knowing there would always be a roof over her head.  Instead she was stuck living under a tree in the park.

Adagio let loose a sigh and stood up, brushing the snow from her coat. It had several threads sticking out, with ugly buttons and sleeves stretched out so far you could use them as a jump rope. It was the best they could find digging through trash cans. She doubted people threw out cashmere coats wool blankets on a daily basis. "Look, you can stay here moaning and groaning, or you can eat with us." Adagio stormed off, leaving deep footprints in the snow, which were quickly covered.

Sonata sighed and continued watching the snow fall, hope stirring inside of her. Perhaps she could get a job, at Rarity's Carousel Boutique, or Sugar Cube Corner. Then she may, just may, make enough money to afford a decent meal each night. But would the ones who defeated Aria, Adagio, and her, the ones who viewed them as villain scum really let them under there own roof? She doubted it.

The warm smell of the Danish drifted towards her, as if screaming: EAT ME! Sonata shook her head and forced herself up. Adagio was right. Moaning wouldn't get her anywhere. She headed towards the oak tree, where a tattered quilt had been laid out. Aria and Adagio sat there, hungrily devouring there rations. Sonata sat down on the quilt beside them, relieved to feel something beneath her that wasn't snow or freezing wood. She picked up her half of the Danish and dug in, warmth flooding over her.

"Hey, I got something special. For the occasion." Aria pulled out a loaf of bread from her hand-stitched pack. Wisps of smoke curled from the crust. It was still nice and warm. Sonata and Adagio stared wide-eyed as Aria placed the bread on the quilt, slowly cutting it. Sonata was practically drooling. It had been weeks since they had had a loaf of bread, and even then it was old and stale. But a fresh loaf?

"Where did you get that?" Sonata asked, suspicion creeping into her voice. "Did you...steal it?"

Aria looked up from cutting the bread and a frown slowly formed across her face. "Well, no. I saved up some bits." Aria sighed. Her voice sounded dull and distant recently, like all hope had abandoned her. "Were not villains anymore. I hope..." She didn't finish her sentence, but instead looked behind Sonata, her eyes wide as saucers. "Wha?" She shot to her feet, pulling Adagio up with her. Sonata could tell something was wrong, since Aria wasn't afraid of ANYTHING. Besides...

"Hellllllloooooooo!" The bubbly voice, the energy ringing throughout it...yes it could only be...Pinkie Pie. Sonata pulled herself up reluctantly, not wanting to leave the inviting surface of the quilt. Yet she knew she shouldn't show sign she was weak and defenseless. She didn't want to be banished to another world AGAIN, just for good measure.

"Hey...uh...buddies....uh....er...people." Came the voice of Rainbow Dash. She wore a blue coat, with a rainbow lightning bolt design stitched expertly into the fabric. Sonata couldn't stand seeing such clothing, especially when all she had were tattered shirts and skirts. Sonata looked around wildly, expecting to see any of Pinkie and Dash's other friends, but they were no where to be seen.

"What do you want!" Growled Adagio, her voice tainted with aggression. Rainbow Dash held up her hands in a friendly gesture.

"Hey! We all agreed...uh...that even you guys deserve a meal on Hearths Warming Eve...and we were wondering if you wanted to join us..." Rainbow shuffled her feet nervously in the snow. It was obvious she was nervous that they would turn her into a punching bag.

Adagio sighed and muttered something inaudible, but Sonata and Aria just nodded there heads. Pinkie let out a squeal as her and Dash led them to a beaten down Prius, the remains of frost to be seen on the windows.

"This is going to be so FUN!" Pinkie screamed as the five girls piled into the car. Would it really be that fun?