Sonata Dusk was generally a happy-go-lucky eldritch horror. She didn’t let anything get her down… except when she screwed up a cartwheel, which she did just now. She fell on her butt in the middle of the park.
Sonata winced and rubbed her butt, then waved at Ari and Dagi, who smiled and waved back. Sonata stood up and beamed, then did another cartwheel, successfully this time. She was so proud of herself.
Suddenly, a little pink girl with yellow hair wearing jean shorts and a blue tee shirt walked up to her holding a big dog on a leash. The little girl smiled and waved at Sonata, who smiled and waved back.
“Hi, little girl, my name’s Sonata Dusk! What’s your name?”
The little girl giggled. “My name’s Starry Rhythm! Nice to meet you, Sonata Dusk!”
Sonata knelt down and ruffled the big dog’s neck. “And what’s this cute little guy’s name?”
“That’s Edward! He’s a Great Pyrenees.”
“Well, he’s the cutest Great Pyrenees I’ve ever met!” Sonata said as she hugged the big dog by the neck. The dog nuzzled Sonata, who nuzzled him back in return. “He’s so fluffy!”
Starry walked up to the dog and rubbed his back. “He’s the bestest, fluffiest dog I know!”
“I can see that!” Sonata said as she pulled her head away from the dog. “You’re a good dog, aren’t you?” The dog barked in response.
“Starry Rhythm, get away from that woman!”
A mean orange man walked up to Starry Rhythm and pulled her away, the dog following. “But why, Daddy?” Starry asked. “She’s a nice lady, and Edward likes her!”
“She’s just not a good person, Starry. I don’t want to see you speaking with her again.”
Sonata blinked. Not a good person? She smiled. Well that was a relief! She wasn’t a person, she was a siren! She proceeded to tumble in the grass.
Adagio surveyed the scene that had just transpired in front of her, a frown crossing her face as she watched Sonata tumble in the grass.
“She’s getting worse, isn’t she?”
Aria lit the cigarette in her mouth, threw away the match, then took a drag without removing it from her mouth. “You’ve said that several times over the past few months, Adagio. What do you want me to do about it?” She took another drag, then pulled the cigarette out of her mouth.
Adagio clutched the empty space where her amulet used to rest. “Nothing, It just… hurts, is all.”
“Look, I don’t see what the issue is.” Aria took another puff of her cigarette. “She was already getting wacky two hundred years ago. I don’t see how this is any different from before.”
“You don’t see it?” Adagio asked. “In just a few months, her mental faculties have deteriorated to that of a child’s.”
Aria hummed. “I see what you’re getting at… she’s been getting crazier quicker ever since that day.” Aria tapped the cigarette, knocking off the ash column that had built up.
“Yes,” Adagio growled through gritted teeth. “The day our amulets were destroyed by Sunset Shimmer.”
“You know,” Aria said as she inhaled the thick smoke, “I really thought we had them. Especially with how much power Sonata had absorbed.”
Adagio’s eyes watered as she smiled. “I know. It was beautiful feeling the bloodlust coursing through her veins, wasn’t it?”
At this point, Sonata ceased her acrobatics and waved at Adagio and Aria.
“Hey, Ari! Hey, Dagi! Look what I can do!” Sonata bent her knees, did a backwards tumble, then held her arms into the air. “Yay! I did it!”
Adagio applauded as tears dripped down her face. “That was wonderful, Sonata. Well done.” Aria waved and took another drag of her cigarette.
“Whoo-hoo! I’m wonderful—oooh!” Sonata said as she laid her eyes on a flock of geese. “I wanna play with the geese!”
With that, Sonata crept towards the geese, careful to not let a single movement make a sound.
Aria dropped her cigarette butt to the ground and stamped it out. “You know, I’m having trouble remembering what made Sonata snap. I think it was when she was set on fire… no wait, that was me. The villagers threw me into a lake after that because I wouldn’t burn.” Aria chuckled. “So many memories to sift through.” Aria turned towards Adagio. “Do you remember what it was?”
“It was when she was entombed in the wreckage of that bank,” Adagio said as she sniffled. “She thought she had caught a whiff of power, but it turned out to be dynamite. She was trapped in the debris for a month while we dug her out. She was never the same afterwards.”
“Oh yeah, I remember that,” Aria said with a grin. “Good times, huh?”
Tears dripped off of Adagio’s chin onto her lap. “The only thing holding her mind together was the constant influx of negative energy, apparently.”
“Adagio, are you all right?” Aria asked as she arched an eyebrow, studying the crying siren's face.
“I’m fine, don’t worry about—”
Adagio was cut off by the sound of vicious honking.
“Hey! Stop it! I just wanted to make friends! I don’t want to play anymore if you’re going to be mean!” Sonata said as she batted away several geese that were biting and pecking at her.
“Damnit, Sonata!” Aria shouted as she buried her face in her hand and stood up, running into the fray and scaring the geese away. Sonata cheered and hugged Aria, who pushed her off.
Adagio wanted to enjoy the sororal display in front of her, but was hampered by her worry over Sonata, becoming dizzy as she imagined the face of the one who had placed her in such a hopeless position.
Adagio’s mouth curved into a snarl as she saw Sunset Shimmer’s disgusting smile in her mind; her hand instinctively clawed up as she fantasized about squeezing the life out of the girl.
Mark my words, Sunset Shimmer. When I get the chance, I will make you fucking pay.
