Chapters "Shut up Sonata."
"But Dagi!!"
"Sonata..."
"Dwaaa come on, they are right there! Nobody is looking, I'm So hungry!"
"Tsk, Your always hungry."
"Nuh-uh! Shut up Aria! Your the one with the big butt!"
"What did you say twerp!"
"I swear by Celestia's ugly Mane if you two don't stop talking I am going to smother you both in your SLEEP!"
Even the chilling winter night, wasnt anywhere near as frosty as the state of the recently exhiled and defeated Sirens. "The Dazzlings" for all there pomp and brief glory, where no little more then starving Homeless bums. Thousand year old ones, at that. The Summer had been kind to the Equestrian born Trio. Free of the shackles of school and now burdend with the scars of defeat, the songless Females wanderd the City. Aria had wanted to take over, and start a Gang. And oddly enough it was Sonata who suggested they get Jobs. It seemed the lose of there Magic and Goal in the human world, had changed one from a Bumbling Moron, and only amplified the ego of the other.
Yet, it was the wild maned leader, Adagio Dazzle, whom had changed the most. Her orange fingers came to rest on the glass store front. Even through it and in the howling early winter wind, she could smell the baked goods. Gone where the days of Adagio's grand schemes and her powerful control of her two "Sisters".
These long months had left her empty. Her cruel smirks, powerful hand gestures, and swaying hips had sufferd entropy. For how could one give a cocky gesture with chapped and unpainted lips. How might a Siren deem control with her hands, only to show off frostbite and over grown nails? And of the leaders hipline, only bone poked threw her tattered garment, long having lost her plump femine figure via a limited scavenged diet and homeless shelter offerings. Pride however, still lingerd. Like a beaten Lioness she still found a place within herself to rule.
"Enough!" boomed the bleary eyed Leader, her voice cracking under the cold. Ruby eyes turned to watch her two underlings, and just the sight of them, caused her heart to twerk. The trio where clad in what they could find. The discarded garments, many ill fitting, some where childrens gloves, others mens overcoats. All rags dragged from the trash. Did little but to hide the stink of there unwashed bodies.
Sonata was cowering beneath a thread bare black scarf, her face awash in her own hair, the ponytail look having been discarded as her mane had grown to long and rat-tailed.
A quick glance at Aria, made the Lioness chest flat out cringe. While she and Sonata had scavenged over sized trench and men's style over jackets Aria was squeezed into a bright pink and white little girls down jacket. It barely coverd her bossom let alone stomach. With comical ear muffs, one side missing and being subed out with rags duct tapped on, she met the eyes of her Second in command. And only found hunger there. Not to rule, or lead, or conquer..merely to eat. Turning away from the desperate pair. Adagio returned to the glass, her own reflection cast back from the stores lights, caught in the darkend night.
A gasp ran the tired females throat. It hurt just to breath in the cold, and shock soon turned to hacking coughs. She cringed a bit, her cold was getting worse.
Lifting her gaze again she let out a staggerd sigh. The dog sized bandanna that wrapped her mouth and nose, its ugly bone style pattern and generic orange fade allowed her an eye roll. The brutally batterd, ripped and repaired, button missing and illy threaded mens grey trench coat looked like she was a tiny girl wearing her fathers garments. Frail and lean fingers rubbed at her reflection. Always the one to sport the wildest of hair, it now looked like a rug was stuck to her back. Matted, dirty, and reeking. The recently given black eye from a rather desperate fellow homeless when viaing for a space to sleep in the last spot in line at the local shelter, had forced her left eye closed partially. The fearless Leader of the Dazzlings, sure wasnt shinning right now.
"Adagio, Sonata is right. We could just bum rush in, grab arm loads and hit the streets. We could head to that abandoned..."
"Shut up Aria"
"Wh..what?" the "tough girl" of the group was shocked by her Leaders cold retort.
"I said, Shut up. You know damn well we wouldnt make it back there. And I WONT have us become so pathetic we steal from these, these..these.."
"Humans?" Sonata offered.
"Grrrr...yes" Lowering her hand from the glass, she quickly shoved it into the semi protection of her thread-bare pocket.
"Lets just go home. We can check the dumpster behind the local burger place on the way."
"Tsk! Home, Dagi, come on. It's a run down Gasstation, and the only reason we don't freeze to death is by some miracle the Managers office is insulated and the water still runs in the damn Toilet! Face it, we arent gonna make it the.."
"THE WHAT..WINTER?! We are Sirens Aria Blaze, we are not bound by human weakness. The cold shall not hinder us, we will survive this Winter and be stronger for it!" she boomed, as best she could, taken an old pose with fist raised and knee extended. Only to break down into a hacking fit a moment later. Feeling both purple and blue hands suppourt her, caused her heart to flip again. They still stood with her. Even now. A tear froze on her cheek.
"Dagi, come on, let's get you Home. Aria and I can go check the dumpster! Hey remember last night, we totally found that half box of fries!"
"Bah, which you ate on the way home!"
"Shut up Aria! I was hungry!
"We are all Hungry!"
"Then maybe we should boil that butt of yours, enough to feed us for a week!"
The Tomboy of the group, blushed and lifted her trembling fist. Ever since there defeat Sonata had been pushing her buttons none stop, and was becoming more dareing every day. Her blush clad cheeks releaved the winter chill, if only for a moment.
"I-am-going-to.."
"You are GOING to, get us home. And pray for more then raw meat and discarded pickles." With that her cough over took her again, a daze came to her sight and mind. Fog washed her and only the strong embrace of both of her arms being held, allowed her the ease to slip into darkness."
Dreams rarely came in sickness, but her mind spoke none the less.
"At the very least, your not alone, this time, little Maiden"
"Mother.." she managed to mumble before Darkness truely washed over the illed Siren.
"Let it be..."
Chapter 1
"The home..."
"UGH! Get er..up..no..not like"
"..I am like so trying!"
"Pft..Whatever, get her feet! Damnit Sonata!"
"Ughh..."
"Ar-Ar! She's waking up!"
"Good, lets get her Alpha butt up on the bed, one..two..THREE!"
The softest glimmer of light touched her eyes, but even that was enough to cause the Lioness to cringe. Adagio slunk back into reality, just as she left it. Cold. Sleep starved eyes blearly hunted for what they could find. A stray wisp of purple locks, a flash of snow white, a tinge of rust. A snort ran from her wet nose, quickly shoved away upoun the back handle of her frost bitten wrist.
"Water.."
"Dagi! Oh wowz! We were super worried. Are you ok! Here let me help..uff..ooh! You should like take my blanket, your super shivering! Oh oh! I...ack!" the youngest of the trio was quickly shoved to her Sisters side, as Aria stood over both of her Fellow Sirens, water bottle in hand.
"Adagio..like.." kneeling down, Aria Blaze huffed in the dim street light strewn room, her breath catching the last of the chilling winter air. They had managed, her and Sonata, to half drag, half heave there weakend leader back to what was just called.."Home". Aria parted her lips to speak but was cut off as a rash of Sirens and Police blares burned the front of the Abandoned gas station. Instinct fought hard in that moment and Aria snapped her eyes from her Sisters, to the store front, then back again, all in the time it took for her to open the bottle of water for Adagio.
"Look" taken a stance over the two seated girls, the Tomboy fuffed and yanked at her ill fitting winter coat.
"We can't keep this up! A frozen burger on monday, does not pay a ice cold shower at the local homeless Shelter on friday! What are we doing...shit, I know what YOUR doing! Dagi! We basicly dragged your corpse back here! Look at yourself girl! We gotta make a move!"
Pained eyes snapped to slivers, even as those words left her Sisters throat while her own was being forced to glug snow water. Adagio watched Aria carefully. Her sibling was well on her way to ramp up yet another Rant. She for one was to tired, to hungry,and too damn cold to let it even get off the ground.
"ARIA BLAZE!" the lioness let her roar creep past dryed lips.
"Don't..just..don't. I know what you would suggest, and while we have lived in this land for far to many a year. I will NOT! Have our good names gone to rot, but pathetic theivery..."
Sonata, as always sat to the side. Her fingers now nervously running in grease and sweat soaked locks instead of rose and palm scented, she knew her Siblings well. And this was going to get, bad.
"Ha! Good names, what? The Dazzlings? Our "Band?", psh come off it girl! Listen, all bullshit aside, no like jokes or anything we havent had a Square meal in a WEEK. And without our powers.."
Adagio rose to the bait, as always.
"Oh! And I do suppouse you will contiue on with your "This is all your fault Adagio" campaign! Sorry Sis, but I really don't think..hack..cough..should be, running for office on that Slogan!"
Aria felt her jaw tighten, spinning away she paced the measely few feet of open floor in the back room of the forgotten Gas Station. Fists curling and fingers flexing.
"Okay..ok..So we don't steal, fine, whatever. Tsk, not like we havent done FAR more horrible things just-last-year..sigh.."
Sonata perked up, and ruffled herself out of Adagio's over grown mane. She had taken to gettting perhaps a bit cuddly when she was needy, and with there general lax in hygine, there was more then enough hair to snuggle in.
"Weeeeell, we coOOoouUUuuld.."
"Don't say it Sonata"
"BuuuUUUuuuttt"
"I am going to kill her Dagi, I mean it this time!"
"TheeeeEEeere is aaaaaallways the ooooOOOptiooon"
"Aria, down, no. Sonata, shut up!"
"I meaaaaan if we fooooooOOoor Realzies wanted toooooo"
"Thats it I am getting my Knife Adagio"
"ARIA!"
"Asssskkkkk fooooor heeeaaaalll....pa!"
With the last little flip of her lip, Sonata watched as her Sisters turned into litteral frozen harpies, with eyes to ripe her very throat out.
"Ehhe..what I say?"
"Ugh! Sonata, We are NOT gonna snivel and grub on our bellies back to that Scho..schoo.."
"School?"
"...Shut up Sonata, and Adagio is right! We like can't even go back if we wanted." with a huff the "tough one" flopped down, pinning there
Eldest Sister between them, Sonata and Aria assumed the positions for another night of shivers and hunger pains.
"Dagi?"
"Sigh, yes little one?"
"Cheer up, Spring is soon..and it's ok, Mama never liked the Cold either."
Gently pressing her Sisters into her, Adagio Dazzle drained what remained of her water as the three became a pile of one.
"Huff, thinking about all that again Nota?"
"Aria, let her have it."
With a grumble and a snuggle, the tomboy soaked into the meager warmth of her siblings.
"Yaaaaawwwnnn..Mama always sung so sweet...hmmm.."
With a final glance at the store front, the Alpha of the silenced sirens, drew her kin close and smiled.
"She did, we can hear songs again little one. Sleep now."
Even as her own vision faded into a chilled slumber, Adagio made sure to bring her Sisters in tighter.But even as they shared warmth, an a cold spike sat in her heart, she could have sworn she had heard there Mother just a few hours before. But now only the howl of wind and snow, and the stink of decay and darkness filled her senses. Closing her eyes, the hallowed female sighed. Tonight they would rest, again, to awaken and strive to survive come the morrow,again.
"At least your not alone now, little Maiden.."
"Let it be..."
The First Light
"Ugh..you two reek, get off!"
And one might think, a Saturday Morning could possible start off on a more subtle note? Adagio flat out shoved both of the warm bodies that had given her shelter the night before. With a feline like stretch, the odd pop of joint and the ever present gurgle of an empty stomach, the exhiled Siren was ready for another day...yay.
That depressing thought aside, Adagio Dazzle sniffed at her self.
"Ugh, and so do I..."
"Dagi! Yaaawwwwnnn! Your up! Like oh my Gosh there isnt any snot dripping from your face anymore, UH! YOUR BETTER! HUG!"
Deflecting the incoming gesture of gooeyness, the Alpha female rose from what could only be described as the Sirens nest of old cloths and newspaper. With a flick of her over grown mane, not to miss the stray spray of early morning frost, she rested hands on boney hips.
"And yes little one, I do feel much better! And who was to think, a steady diet of..nothing, a few scant minutes of sleep when the drug dealers down the street arent howling at the moon, and the company of my two best Besties!! No wonder I am "all better!" Adagio made sure to snarl out the thickest of her false tones with glinted eyes glareing a hole down at her Youngest Sibling.
"Like for..."
"NO YOU MORON! Ugh..Aria..up!" with that her duct tape repaired boot slammed into the oddly large bottom of the "Tomboy" of the Trio.
"Wah!! Damn girl, really..Five more minutes."
"Psh, hardly, five minutes out of the cuddle puddle and your going to freeze, move it Purple Grump!"
"UGH!! DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
Snickering too herself, the diminished Alpha again applyed badly worn winter gloved hands to her shrunken hipline. The gesture only stirring another snarl in her midsection. If not for the fact the act would cause her winter worn lips to crack and bleed, the once Siren considerd pouting. Gone where her eye catching Motherly hips, that with curves of girth would sway before thousands, all trapped in her web of movement and song. Instead of lingering on the thoughts of being stuck as just another Mortal in the human world, and a few days away from starving to death, she made better use of her time by picking Sonata up by the nap of her neck.
"Come now Little one, our day begins anew..sadly."
"Geez Adagio, your just full of sunshine today!"
Sonata squited out threw the cracked glass of the Abandoned Gasstations front doors.
"Nu-uh Ar-ar, its like so not even Dawn yet!"
"Guh.." was all that came from the shambles that was the Trios "Tough girl". Picking herself up, Aria Blaze went to what a positive person might consider the Sirens, "Supplies". Really a old worn out "Power Mega Guys" back-pack with a missing strap that held bottles of snow-water and half a bag of frozen Peas, really didnt fit the title.
"Sigh, green slush for Breakfest Girls?"
Sonata bounced over quickly, her one perfectly tailed hairstyle, now an overgrown down pour of faded blue, sheathed her frost bitten face.
"Ohhh!! Ohh! Can I have seconds today, pppwwweeeease!! I only chipped two teeth yesterday on them!"
Adagio glanced over while fumbling with her trench coats "belt", really just a yard of industrial thread.
"Oh well OF COURSE, my Dear. Aria do feed the piggy, she will need her strength!"
The Tomboy glanced over, she had to admire her older Sister. With a face resembling a Boxers bad dream, and figure a Skeleton would give up its last meal too, her Sis really could work the room when she wanted. Tossing the torn bag of discarded Fiber to Sonata, she took a bottle from the bag and warmed it between her legs.
"Really Dagi? Again? Last week they almost called the cops on her?!"
"Tsk, well can you blame them. All she had to do was stand there and hand out that stupid Yellow girls flyers and wear the hat I made for her. That pink haired daisy did'nt even know it was her!"
Muching loudly on the stone hard Peas, the femme in question happend over.
"Mmm, nom..crunch..Big Sis is right Ar-ar, but really isnt like doing her Job for the cutesy puppies and kiddies..kinda like her, hel.."
"Sonata, unless you want that bag shoved down your throat in record time..you wont finish that sentance. Besides, they don't know it's us that is working them for pocket change! So you hand out a few flyers, that butter-fly loving bimbo hands us over five bucks! Boom! Just like the good ol days girls, working the crowd! Ha! Who needs Magic!"
Aria gave a long, dull gaze. Looking between her Sisters the purple fleshed female let out a long sigh.
"Mother would never..."
Adagio silenced her with a look.
With a gentle swallow, washed down by a presently thawed glug of Snow-water, Aria Blaze shifted in her three sizes too small winter jacket and mis matched boots.
"What I ment was..."
"Girls, sigh...Last night, I had a dream, sorta. About Mother."
Sonata grabbed at it quickly. "You did! hah! That's why you said "Little Maiden"! Dagi Dagi! You remember!"
Aria forced a weak glare at her Sibling.
"Ahm, duh. Shit girl, we all remember Moms..."
The pea swallowing Ditz tossed her sisters attitude away. "No, no no NO! Ar-ar, don't ya get it! We have like been here for SooOOoo long! I can't even remember Mommys face!"
The Tomboy took that in with a blink, then returned to face there Elder Sibling.
"Uh, ya know..the Worst thing ever over here, has ah Point. Come tah think of it, me either. Dagi?"
The Lioness frowned and took each of her Sisters hands. "She is with us, even now Girls. Give it some more time, I am struggeling too...EWW! Sonata will you wash your hands, you got Green mush all over...ugh!"
"Stop it..."
Sonota continued to toy with her Alpha Females ear.
"I said..."
"Daaawww but, Dagi your all icky!"
"Psh, almost as gross as your face!"
The blue one spun, her small hands falling away from her leaders hair.
"Tsk, like for realzies??? This coming from miss giant purple booty Queen?"
Aria visible bristled at this, her gaunt, unfed figure curling in for a fight.
"Why, you spoiled, little..."
"Enough!"
Adagio growled, her voice spiking to the point it hurt. With a loud swallow the diminished Siren steeled herself, and spun upon her "Sisters".
"Stop it..both of you, you two , too quote Are the wooooorsrt!!! Stop fighting, or bloody damn kiss all ready!"
Aria leaned back from the panting Lioness, never had her role as a Beta Bitch been so pushed. And despite it all she felt a small blue hand, fill her own. With a glance to Sonota, the narrow cheeks, thread bare garments and a sunken stomach, was enough to hold her normal wild retort at there leader.
"Huff...fine, look we are almost there, maybe we should just put Sonny in her custom..."
"Yay, dress up!"
Adagio face palmed, her starved features only showing all the more under the pressure. One shrunken hip pointed out in the old way, even as her thread bare hand gestured.
"Good send her in...that Yellow dyke wont know any better, and soon, soon the ramin noodles will be all our!"
The half starved Alpha made an attempt to strike a pose and gesture. But instead, soon broke down into a hacking cough, even as Aria was dressing Sonota in her disguise.
"Dagi..."
"I'm f-fine.."
".....Sure just like dont get it on me..."
"I hate you..."
"Ya ya, go hack up ah lung will yah?"
Aria took a moment to view her work over her fellow siren, a long predatory grin growing as she turned the skantly clad blue skinned girl to the exit of there recluse abode. "Get the damn Money first time, or your dumpster diving behind the Taco Hut tonigh!"
"Ohhh I love Ta.."
With a harsh shove, Aria Blaze threw her "Sister into the freezing mid-afternoon breeze of Downtown Canterlot. Sonata stumbled, may or may not have found her face bounced off a Post Office Box, and was left alone to fumble with her new garments. A pair of dumpster dived torn jeans, stolen winter boots and a well worn and oh so no earned, Canterlot Lettermans Jacket Issued to a particular Jockess, and Glory Days was born. Having stuffed her greasy Mane of Blue hair, back into a patched "Wonder Colts" Beanie, the Siren in Disguise made full use of the Yellow Girls back being put to her.
She...steathed, in on her prey.
With mouth still coverd in almost vomit filled coughs, the Alpha bitch of the Sirens could do little to hold back yet further Hacks. And with palm to foreheaded Tomboy close behind, the two where victim to watching their "Sister" -Snake it out-. In the past, the Sirens, with power and glory to there voices, had the luxurys of a well furnished Apartment, booze and grease fattend hips and much to Sonata's greay joys, "Samaise Pony" imported "Video Games". While neither of her Sisters took much interest in "Mindless events as a game", the Giggeling Blue girl did love her some "Vids".
And much to her Siblings Horror..she was acting one out right now. Perhaps a passing drunk may have ignored the girl in garments fit for a Spring time Highschool Jock, slowly slinking her way from Trash can to frost coverd Tree. And then again, perhaps a local Police Men might think twice about drawing a bead. Either way, Sonata in all her Siren, Malnurished, and scrawny Glory, had accomplished her Mission.
With a howled "Mission Complete!" she posed behind the fallen, screeching and head sheltering Fluttershy. The Ditzy Siren lowerd her fist pump and pouted a bit at her fallen "friend".
"Oh, like Sorry! Ahm, hey its me Son...Glory Days! Like ahm, work and stuff, right?!"
The most gentle, life giving eyes peered up at the clearly disguised Siren, a weak tear rolled one frozen cheek as she took the offerd blue hand.
"G..Glory..ahem, oh, ye..yer early! TThank you.."
Dusting herself off and tormenting over her snow coated leggings, Fluttershy gave a shy smile to her friend. "I am oh so Greatful for you coming today Glory, I mean, after last week..I can't believe almost every flyer I gave you ended up in the Trash bins on 5th street!"
Sonta, or Glory Days, rubbed at her neck. "Ahhhh...ya...thanks President Zombra..ahem I right Gurl?! So...about dat Gripe?"
Fluttershy blanked at her "friends speech", she knew Glory was some impressive Jock, even without Rainbow Dash knowing of her, but she spoke in such an odd fashion. With a squeek and a nod the yellow girl quickly pulled out a small coin purse, pausing then digging further for a wrapped plastic bag.
"Oh! Of course, of course, it would be dreadful of me to ask you to do something like this for free...but those poor babies do need homes, oh my little furry..oh, right, ahm. Pinkie Pie left me a rather generous supply of Tripple Chocolate Chip cookies the other day, and with my new Diet..oh..well, would you be willing to ta.."
The blur of blue was faster then a humming birds wings, as Sonata...or Glory, snatched up the sugar reeking package and grinned wildly.
"Like for Cereal...damn Gurr! You dah Yellow bomb!"
Fluttershy gave a weak meep and also offerd a small pile of bills to her "helper".
"I Don't have any smaller bills this week, maybe you could, pay me..eep!"
"Back? Sure sure...righto Yell-money, so ahm, dah papers right? Cause I gotta "pass em out?" Word!"
Swallowing the dry barrens of her winter parched throat, Fluttershy trembled under the oddly smaller but clearly more "dominate" girls gaze, before handing her pain staken printed and copied advertisements to the local Animal Shelters adoption fund raisier.
"Be...becareful with them, please Glory, every Furry friend needs a home and.."
"Word Dog, word..I got dis, ahm, gotta Jet right? Big Practice tomorrow...lates gurr!"
With a wink and oddly misplaced cough, the two parted. Sonata found her legs trembling from her performance, the minor muscle that had not been starved out, worked weakly towards the alley she had come, four predatory eyes haunted her steps as she approached, a brief flash of the cash and harvested sugary goodness lowerd there glares, and orange and purple grips soon pulled the weakend Siren into a shadowy hold.
"Mphffm!"
"Sigh, Chew Moron. I swear if I have to ram my fingers down that snake hole you call a mouth again to stop you from...EWWW! NOT ON ME IDIOT!"
"...I hate you two with every fiber of my being, every strand of hair on my head, every single drop of my.."
":GuLp!!!: Dagi! You gonna finish that!!!?"
The Former Siren Alpha growled at being cut off in her mid rant, sharp eyes narrowed upon the frost bitten and now cookie crumb littered features of Sonata Dusk. The Trio crouched just behind a local convenient store, the days harsh wind nipping at there drawn and weatherd figures. Adagio Dazzle peered at the half eaten, still frozen in the middle Gas Station burrito and then back at the youngest member of there cursed Minstrel Troop.
"Fuck you! This is the first square t..h..HACK..cough..ugh..COUGH!"
A sharp blow ran off the gathering snow on the once proud Lioness lean shoulders, Aria pulled her patched gloved hand back and returned to nashing at, and going on to lick out the inside of a beef jerky bag.
"Easy boss, don't let this little morons efforts go to waste. Hurling up that gut bomb you just powerd down would like, ick!"
Her pink eyes swelling in concern, Sonata scrambled in her re-purposed hand bag and quickly moved to kneel besides and apply a soiled rag to her trembling Leaders lips.Aria rolled her eyes and went back to fussing over there haul. With the Money they had managed to swindle out of Fluttershy, and along with the cookies the dumb bitch had given them, they might be able to not have to dumpster dive for a day or two. Sorting through the bag and subtle dropping in stolen candy bars while Adagio was hacking up a lung, the Tomboy of the trio nodded to herself.
With the fall, came reality. It had been hard for Aria to watch Adagio quite literally fall apart before her eyes. With the sudden lose of there powers, the ravaging black hunger that came with it, did not however die. What plump rear ends, ample human bosom and subtle tummies might have pushed the cheap worlds fabrics to sexual favor, had been sacrificed in a matter of mere weeks. While powerless, they still where Sirens, still Equestrians in a strange world, STILL Magical beings. Without the ability to consume negative energy of any kind, their bodies adapted and began to cannibalis, quickly. Once the "bruiser" of the group, the Purple fleshed girl was little more then bones and greasy hair. Glancing away from the plastic bag filled with the cheapst food a person could buy in mass, Aria watched her Sisters in concern.
Sonata, ever watchful was helping the heaving mass of Snow filled hair that was there once proud Alpha Bitch. She watched as the smaller blue girl helped the frail form of her elder lean, then curl with her trying to sooth her aching body.
"We should move, pretty sure I just seen that Store Dude looking at us around the corner"
Adagio at once snapped her head up, a trickle of saliva running the corner of her still coughing lips. Wild eyes snapped from the store, then back to her Second in command.
"Agh..ahem, what? Why? Why would it matter if he...Damnit, Celestia Damnit Aria! I TOLD YOU!"
Jerking from her spot, her frost and grim coverd garments shacking in the wind as she rose, Aria squared her stance, ready for what was to come.
"We need it ok! Your pride is going to get us killed, we.."
"WE! Are better then, then...THEM..I will not have us sink so low as to STEAL from FUCKING HUMANS!"
Adagio struggled to stand, with Sonata's help she jerked her jacket closed, shifted the bandanna she used as a scarf and sneered through sunken, ugly eyes. Adagio was on the frindge of something, and it wasnt going to be good. She could feel her body dieing, almost. As if when your hungry, REALLY hungry, yet never quite get out of that "churn" feeling you get in the back of your throat when that hunger hits. That was her entire world these past few days. Skeletal orange fingers lifted and directed.
"Gather our rewards for another day on this rock, we make for home. Sonata..SONATA! Stop eating! Help me with these bags, Aria get your bloated ass on point. Remember tomorrow the local Market shifts its bread stores, we have to get home now in order..COUGH..hack..cough..grrr, in order to make it there before sun up so we can pinch those loafs!"
"Tsk, gurl you cracra! Talking about Loafs!"
"..........Sonata...I..I Don't..I can't...bah, Aria help me with the bags!"
A long drawn out growl, a tired sigh, and then start of a giggle which turned into a loud yelp, and then pity pouting where all that filled the alleys that cold winters Evening, that, and a few dozen discarded "Save our Furry friends" flyers.
"Ahm, N..no Rainbow, I swear. Glory said she was on both the Track and Swim team, she has Letterd in both!"
The cowardly Pink haired teen hide beneath her curtain of hair, a single timid blue eye peeking out at her Jock of a friend. Before her, locked in the dead grind of between class traffic, Rainbow Dash, Captain of the Soccer, Baseball, and Basket Ball team huffed her boyish mane from glareing pink eyes.
"Tsk! Hardly! Flutters, come on! I am so awesome I practicly rule the Sports of this School, If I knew some blonde Bimbo who talks like a Rich Valley whore, I would know it!"
Eeping softly, Fluttershy fumbled with her Math book, ideal tracing her long fingers over the cute Butterfly and Bunny stickers she brought from home.
"W..well, y..you don't even belong to the Swim team! And she said she was a recent transfer! EEP!"
Snapping her mouth shut as Rainbow slammed a fist into the locker besides her, not ment to scare her friend but a sudden fear washing the over eager Band Leader.
"Transfer? Fluttershy, what did she look like, EXACTLY! Swim team doesnt even PRACTICE let alone compete in Winter, and ahm, its freaking freezing! Tell me Shy!"
Growing silent, she toyed with a few strands of her hair, chewing at her lip and glancing at the floor. The pale yellow girl lifted her hidden gaze.
"Well she is really thin, almost well, kinda sickly. She has rather rough blonde hair, you know like the roots are a differnt shade and the ends curl in a weird way. She is a dusky blue, kinda like you. Her clothing..oh, oh don't tell Rarity, she would have a heart attack if she knew. But the girl is, is.."
Whispering softly, even for her, Fluttershy leaned in.
"Last years fashions...eep."
Rainbow Dash took a long, hard blink at this statement. Her chest lifted, the draw of her Lettermens jacket, heavy medalled and coverd in honours of four years of Sports Glory, fell in exasperation at her friends words. The loud slap of palm to face echoed even in the crowded hallway.
"Okay, Shy this girl DOESNT exist at this school! I would have known or seen her! So what if she cant even dress herself, your paying a STRANGER who claims to be MY friend and all you are finding is the job not even accomplished...Fluttershy, you need to at least tell Sunset about this! After the Sirens...
Grasping her friends strong arm, the timid girl whimperd and leaned in close.
"N.no.. Dashie don't mention them, they where horrible, ugly, brutal girls! Glory Days is wonderful, a bit, well you know quirky but she WANTS to help me, unlike you girls! She is NOTHING like the..."
"Like the who Shy?"
The Jock and the Yellow Mouse turned with heads raised as a leather booted, Biker jacket and helmet tucked under one arm clad fiery haired girl strode up to them. A warm smile on her chilled lips, Sunset shimmer was still dusting off a bit of fresh snow as her hand shifted to move her Motorcycle helmet to one side.
"Girls? What's going on! What did Pinkie do this time!"
Rainbow Dash lightly unclung her shivering friend and snarled, her own arms crossing.
"Miss no self-esteem here is getting USED by some lieing whore. Some for all we know College bitch from the University over is using Flutters for easy cash and worse off, trying to claim to know MY awesomeness!"
Sunset Shimmer looked between her polar opposite friends. A frown forming, first at Rainbow words then there meaning. Sighing and jerking her locker open, she hung up her helmet and unzipped her heavy leather jacket. Even in winter, the Unicorn turned human, turned she-demon who became a Leader, a friend, and well a dare devil, wouldn't be kept from her "baby". Turning back to the pair she crossed her own arms and stepped up to Rainbow Dash.
"Fluttershy is a trusting soul, you should try it. Now Shy, what is this all about some Girl taken advantage of you. We are your friends, if you needed help..wait, is this about that chick who is helping you pass out flyers for the Shelter?"
A meek nod later, Sunset growled in response to her friends admittance.
"Shhhhhhy! I told you, I never even heard of this girl, and I pretty much ran this school under an Iron thumb back in the day. You shouldnt trust her!"
Feeling trapped, Fluttershy whimpered and curled into herself. A few meek mumbles and squeeks later, finally lead to the breaking of her worried friends ice, a double pair of arms took the yellow mousey girl from either side and the tight group hug was ment by soothing apologes.
"Sorry Girl, we..we just worry about you. Aint nobody got a heart as big as yours."
"That's right, but while Dash is still right, we shouldnt judge your choices..we..we just wish you would include us. You must admit you know nothing about this girl and just hand her money. Shy, why?"
Fluttershy sighed inwardly and took in the warm embrace of her "Sisters". Nodding and resting her head into Dashs shoulder, she glanced to Sunset and gave a light smile.
"She reminds me of someone from my youth. A free spirite, wide eyed and bushy tailed, I had a little kitten just like her. The thing was so wild so free, yet would always come when I called and layed on my neck at night purring..I know its hard to understand, but I feel good around Glory."
The Jock and Biker looked at one another with a long silence, a few gears turning. It was Dash who nodded and Sunset who made the choice.
"Then we are going to help you and this...Glory days girl, Dash and I are just dieing to meet her"
The halls began to empty right before the blare of the next period took place. Fluttershy waved to her friends a lightness in her heart. "They are going to love her, I just know it!"
The crack of Rainbows knuckles filled the now silent Hall, and curling of leather clad glove soon followed from Sunset.
"Just...dieing..."
"She isnt alone..."
Dark ruby, haunting, hungry and feral eyes snapped up over the frost coverd, dirty and stinking Purple mane beneath them. Adagio sneered, disgusting teeth showing through almost blue teeth. Aria, casting a glare up at her Alpha's sudden boost at her own expense, the former Tough Bruiser Mare sneered.
"Get your boney ass, ugh off!!"
"Aria, help me with my wig, i think the rats got to it agian!"
"Nata, shut your fucking shit licking hole! Fuck..Is that, t..that?"
Adagio glared to each of her Sisters in turn, before loweing herself off the back of the knelt and scouting Aria Blaze. Lean arms cross over starved chest.
"Of course it's them..More of the Rainbooms."
"Ohh who? Hey! Like gurl, its for Realzies dat Sunset Biker babe! You guys see her ride!!"
Aria rising with bones popping in the cold.
"What?! That Bacon headed cunt? A bike? Are you for real, in winter, crazy bitch has more a Death wish then us...wait, how do you know she has a hog?"
"Ohh ahm, well ya know been around..what?!?!"
"BOTH of you shut your traps, they will hear us. If that is Sunset, then that hooded one is clearly Rainbow Dash, fucking Dyke like her is here for muscle."
"Psh I could take her."
Adagio snorted and leaned further back into the Alleyway the trio had hidden themselves within. Another gathering of useless Flyer hand outs, and another evening with Gas Station cheap shit dinner awaited the growling stomachs of the Lost Sirens. But today was differnt, they appeard to have gotten themselves in a trap.
"Aria, you couldnt "take" a wet paper bag in your state. Unless you sit on her!"
Sonata giggled widly, only to break down into a cough. The winter chill was slowly getting to them all. Her wails and hacks where quickly cut off by patched and holey gloved hand of her Eldest Sister.
"Shh, we are dropping this. They are clearly on to us, your disquise clearly did'nt sell last time or something. Let's go before they spot us, we can swing by the Chinese places dumpster on the way home, its seafood night."
Aria grunted and rose, a low gurgle running from her loins to throat, she clutched her stomach at the mere mention of Seafood.
Shut up.."
"Still? Aria, its been a week, you ruined that pair of pants, and your so pale, maybe..maybe Ari we should go to the Doctor?"
Spinning on her Younger Sister, cheeks ablaze in embarrasment, Aria clutched her gut and shook her snow clad fist at her ill-clad sibling.
"Shut your hole!!"
"Tsk, we both you would SHUT one of yours, dear."
"Says the cow puking up blood..ya, i found the cloths out back. Face it we are sick if not worse, we NEED this!"
Adagio couldnt argue that point, their constant, horrible diet. Was only making already established weakness worse. She glanced at Sonata the smallest of them visable trembling. Leaving the duel of glares with Aria, the once Motherly hipped Siren walked over and wrapped her youngest Sibling in a hug, and extended her coat around the smaller female.
"S..s..o..s..sorr..y..."
Adagio just hugged the stuttering girl, well aware of the two black toes on her left foot, she glared at Aria, but it died as the bowel and innard sick Siren made to quickly take over the other side of her clealy chill ridden Sister, hugging her firmly. Ironic the posture, as the three would be
Trappers, the Rainboom trio but yards out of the Alley bore a similar pose a few days before hand.
"I will go, you two get home. Aria, take my extra socks and gloves from under the Desk, share with Sonata..you know what I mean."
"Wh..at?"
"Your fucking nuts!"
She leaned back and glared at them.
"They are on to us, I won't let them harm either of you in any way, ever again. Either I will talk them down, or..."
The dim light in the Alley was suddenly focused on a long silver object. The repurposed blade, once a kitchen knife, was cruel and bent as its owner. A blood dripped grin forced her cheeks, as another hacking fit was coming but the adrenaline she felt at revenge held it back.
"Go..these little Humans, will taste a Siren, once and for all."
"You have to be fucking..kidding me.."
Rainbow Dash spat her words like a shocked wolf in the sights of a Hunter's sights. For before her, even as a light snow fall began to drip from the grey might morning Winter day, stroad Adagio Dazzle, her unwashed, wild bush of Golden hair, slipping the alley's shadows with each stride of holey patched boots. A feral grin ran malnurished, frost bitten cheeks. Blood shot eyes, more like a boxers blow shaded brows, instead of exhaustion, where cocked and locked on the cringing form of Fluttershy, the fist up in defiance Rainbow Dash, and shocked but firm shoulderd Rainboom leader, Sunset Shimmer.
"No Joke, you sweat sock born whore. Oh my, is that the Yellow Coward?"
Fluttershy only withdrew further behind her Leader, and best friend. The weak little human girl whimpering lightly.
"Well well, it IS..hehe, come here Little Mouse, you owe me and my Sisters something."
"Ha! Ya right. You better get lost Dazzeless!"
Rainbow was immedately cocked and ready, her tomboyish cut of mane bouncing in the falling snow and dim light.
"Flutters aint gonna give you, or your lieing bitch Sirens, anything! You've used her for the last time! You..you pretended to be her friend, for what, hand outs? Pathetic!"
Adagio stopped perhaps a dozen yards away, stray trash dusted between the seperated partys. A hacked cough breaking the sudden silence a moment later, followed by a dozen or so of its siblings. Recovering slowly, the former Alpha Lioness raised her head, blood dripping down the cracked tears on her lips. A wild, crazed grin burning past her pale features.
"Pathetic...PATHETIC!! You, it is YOU, you Rainboom whores, you fucking..fucking HUMANS! Hack..cough.."
Breaking down again, but recovering all the faster she snapped her ruby eyes up and clenched meagerly gloved hands at her boney hips.
"We are SIRENS!"
Snickering and returning to a cocky arm crossed pose, not seeing any threat from what looked like a skeleton wrapped in a matted rug of orange. Rainbow Dash spat at the snowy earth between them.
"Oh please, we Rainbow Zapped whatever Evil she bitchs you might have been right back to Equestria. Sunset here made sure of that, take a hick and go die in a gutter, loser!"
Sunset Shimmer, upoun hearing her name, snapped back to reality. For her eyes had been wide in sheer and utter horror, locked upoun the form of Adagio Dazzle before her. The Rainbooms Leader could make no sense of it. It had barely been three or four months since the battle, sure this Winter WAS harsh and overly cold but..The being before her, couldnt appear more then a dieing cancer patient, a rotting Zombie who managed to hide the decay beneath stolen, ruined and patched garments. Sunset Shimmer felt her mind slip back to past images of the former Alpha Siren.
"Oh..we know all about you Sunset Shimmer"
Sunset had spun, around her sharked a nearly six foot tall women with a mane of Golden and Orange hair like that of a Lions mane. She had shudderd when bossom, fat, heavy and full of Immortal power, barely contained in a purple silken tube top, brushed her elbow. And nearly collapsed in blushing fits when the sheer girth of the most motherly, femine, and fertile hips had slammed into her own.
Shacking the memory away she blinked several times and just took in the image of her former Foe, one more time. Gone was the full lips, the sultry curves, the girth, the power of womenhood and femine allure that only a true Alpha could bare, and in its place stood, or more over, hunched in a sickely agony. Adagio's flesh, once a brazen gold, now looked more like that of a sickly sunfish's, she cowerd not in the finest of silk and leather, but patched, stolen and probly reeking garments. Sunset suddenly felt thankful to be upwind. She seen the cut cheeks, the black eye, the frost bitten fingers, heard the coughs and just wanted to hug the poor girl.
"A..Adagio? Is that, you?"
Rainbow and Fluttershy both looked at Sunset in mute shock, there eyes seeking to understand the curiosity if not horror in there leaders voice.
"Ahh, duh Girl? That is that Siren bitch who tryed to take over.."
"Silence.."
The word came in barely a whisper, but it stung like a wintery blast, drawing all three of the girls eyes back upoun her. Ruby eyes ducked to hide beneath dirty golden locks.
"Is that, pity I hear, Shimmer? Tsk, your a fucking fool. You are more Human now then these skanks you call friends. YOU WOULD DARE LOOK DOWN UPOUN ME! Do you...of course you do. Do you think for a moment I don't know why you and your flat chested thug are here? You figured out our game, and now your here to finish us off.."
With her outboast passing, the former Lioness began to stalk forward like she once had her Ocean born Pride. Closing the distance slowly, with one half dragged limp at a time, she spoke. Her voice as cold as the ice that clung to her garments, and hissing more venom then any of the Snakes in Fluttershy's animal shelter.
"You hurt us, you BROKE US..You won, but you won't touch my girls again, you WON'T HURT THEM EVER AGAIN! DIE, DIE YOU HUMAN SCUM!"
For one so clearly frozen from exposure, sickly...dieing, jerked the hidden blade and lunged at such speed that even Rainbow Dash was caught off guard.
"NO! FLUTTERSHY"
"SHIT!"
"M..MOVE!"
The trio of songstress born Sisters scrambled to shove one another out of the way. But it was Sunset with a shoulder shrug, sent Fluttershy into Rainbow's arms and the pair falling into the gathering snow. Stepping up and into the blade, her hands closed along its edge and life blood spilled. For a moment the former Equestrians just glared at one another. Adagio's lean shoulders, trembling. Sunsets forearms locked like steel.
"Stop this, now. It doesnt have to be like this, their can be forgiveness. Adagio look at yourself!"
A sneer formed as fresh bile and icor dripped from her lips, the Alpha bitch let out a weak snarl, for just the measure of standing and still trying to shove her blade forward, was as if moving mountains to the starved Siren.
"Look..at..me? LOOK AT YOU! Friendship? Magic? What, LOOOVE?! Your..hack..a foo..cough..Sunset Shimmer, this world could have been yours! But It WILL be, MINE!"
With a tired head shack and saddend expression, the Biker leaned forward as if to whisper, before slamming her brow into the weakend Lioness face. Yanking the blade away as the Golden Girl fell away and into a crumbled heap, Sunset looked down at it in pity. Its jagged broken hilt now soaked in her own blood, she hurled it away into the nearby alley and clenched her fists.
"This World is no one's to rule or own. And their can be another day for you Adagio, just like there was for me!"
"Sunny!"
The Yellow mousey girl squeeled and stumbled up to her Leader, as if by magic she had already ripped off the sleeve of her own jacket and then ripped again to form bandages. The pair stood, Fluttershy motherly tending to Sunset's wounds, the Rainboom Leader watching the fallen but still cognent form of the Siren Alpha. Rainbow Dash had quickly snapped to her boots, and was looming over Adagio, her fists clenched and teeth out.
"You fucking Psycho! Who the slag carries a damn Knife! Dead beat..whore..fucking..I'M gonna mess you up for what you did to Sunset!"
"Rainbow! Stop!"
The Tomboy paused, in her left hand held the scruff of the tatterd Dazzlings jacket, her skeletal body daggeling in mid air. She glanced back to her leader for comfirmation. While Adagio just starred up at the cloudy mid day sky, the Sun cut a bit and in that golden beam, her bruised eyes swelled in tears. One limp arm lifting, falling then lifting again to grasp at the sky.
Rainbow Dash turned back, sensing the Siren's movement, her free arm balling into a fist. She was fast, able to run the mile in under Two Minutes, on a full stomach. Rainbow was able to bench two hundred pounds, squat a clean four and easily slam a basket in gym. All this phsyical power and skill however seemed to slip, as a purple fist cracked along her jaw with a desperate force like that of a Mother lifting a car off its child.
"DAGI!!"
Sonata's cry was out of this world. The bubble headed Siren was one to squeel, giggle, and give an evil cackle that would make a witch wet herself. But never had her voice spoke of such horror, as if Tartarus had cracked the earth and was pouring from beneath her. She bolted up to Aria's side, the once Bruiser of the Sirens was still in full swing pose beneath her lay Adagio, and over three feet away curled the form of Rainbow.
"Ha..s..still got it! Cough.."
Leaning back to allow her Sister to tend to their Leader, Aria made the best pose she could, intimidation clear in her stance. If not for the clearly seen ribs poking through her soiled tshirt and jacket, knobby and malnurished legs trembling in the light wind, and sunken cheek, split lip and hooded eyed face, she might actually look like a threat.
"Dagi! Dagi!!"
The youngest of the Trio knelt, and took up her Alpha with both weakend arms, fighting to hold even the diminished weight of her Sister. Her Pink eyes floundering, seeking and hunting for any injuries, hands searching her Leaders body.
"Adagio..Dagi! Where sorry, we wanted to listen, to follow your Orders just like the old days. Dagi, can you hear me?"
Sonata followed her leaders tear filled gaze, and even as the harsh barks of Aria mingled in with the threats and cat calls from a fallen Rainbow, worried whimpers from Fluttershy and proud finger pointed acusations from Sunset, all she could find as she craddled her Sisters head, was that single sliver of the sun, peeking out from behind the cold, freezing winter clouds.
"Celestia.."
"You WHAT!"
Sunset Shimmer just stared slack jawed at the cocky Tomboy. Fluttershy was buzzing about the wounded Biker as her small yellow hands began to thread a needle.
"Oh my Dashy, are you ok? Di..did they hurt you?
"Psh! Are you kidding Fluttershy, I am waaay to awesome for that! And well, errr...I was kinda hiding outside. They are holed up in that old "Blink Strike" station on the south side. You know, across from the old YMCA that shut down a few years ago, man, that place had it all, sick Pool tables, Horse shoes and even..."
"Dash, this is important! Maybe the nostalgia of your past conquers can wait, you said you followed the Dazzlings..OWW! Damn it Fluttershy!"
The Leader of the Rainbooms jerked her head down to watch the meek little mouse of the group begin to tend to her now cleaned and clotted cuts. With an eep, the small yellow girl ducked behind her mane of pink hair.
"S..sorry Sunset, Dad always said to start working on stitches when the Animal is distracted, err, not that I think your an animal or anything, errm..s..sorry."
With a loud sigh, the fiery haired girl gave a slow nod and braced herself. With palms out the turned her full attention to Rainbow Dash, cringing every few words as the needle dug into the well worn flesh of her hands.
"Anyways, you followed them to..wait, did you say the old Blink Strike station? Damn, I almost had a Job there when I was a freshmen. I know exactly where that is!"
Turning away from the rather gross scene of her friend getting her hands fixed, Rainbow instead gave a thumb to the door behind her.
"Right! So let's go finish this, I owe that purple bitch a round house to the jaw for that cheap shot she got on me!"
"Oh Dashy, ar..are you sure. They all look so, so.."
"Sick?"
Sunset lowered her right hand as the stitches and bandage had been applied, taken another chug from her bottle of slowly emptying liquid courage, she gulped and offered her other hand.
"Fluttershy is right Dash, sure they got the jump on us, but didn't you see them? Adagio looked like she was a husk with skin wrapped over her, don't you recall her at the battle of the bands, her hips alone was enough to draw the crowd let alone her voice."
Rainbow Dash hopped up on the counter and dug into the Vets candy dish. Hey children watching over a sickly puppy did need distractions. A few dozen kit-kats and chocolate bars later the Jock finally returned her view to the two as the final bandage was overlayed. Jumping down she grinned eager, like a wild dog with a fresh scent.
"Alright, lets go get those Harpy's in their nest!"
"Erm..Sirens Dashy.."
"Uh?"
"ahm..err..they are called Sirens Rainbow"
With a dull blink Rainbow Dash just starred at her pink haired friend. Her stare growing longer as if trying to understand just how neive a girl she considerd as close as a Sister could be.
"Ahm, what Fluttershy means is..never mind, listen Dash. Are you even hearing what I am saying, they look..well, like they are dieing?!"
"Psh, ya, those sea cows dropped a few, aint gonna stop me from shoving my size six up there Pony behinds, errr...no offense Sunny..."
With a slight glare, Sunset flexed her wrapped hands and sighed at her friends attitude.
"I won't condone an "attack" on them, especially in there current state. Sonata almost looked like she was going to bite you!"
"Geez Sunny, how do you even remember their names. Ahm, DUH, Canterlot to Sunset Shimmer, they are THE-ENEMY!"
Fluttershy eeped loudly and looked down, trembling a bit. With a gentle hand, if bandage bound hand on her friends shoulder, Sunset calmed the little mousy girl.
"They may have BEEN the enemy Dash, but..look lets just take this a bit slow, lets get the other girls on page with us, and inform them of whats going on, we are a team after all."
Huffing loudly, the Jock kicked at the tiled floor and gave a firm nod, despite her own ego.
"Your right Sunset...sides, its late. I got a game tomorrow, wouldn't want to ruin my goal rocking foot on those narrowed ass cunts before the big one eh?"
"RAINBOW!"
Blinking wildly she jerked her gaze to the jaw dropped and glaring form of Fluttershy.
"Err...you know what I mean!"
Growling lightly, the tiny yellow girl fussed over Sunset a bit, as the now in pain and slightly drunk Biker was wobbling where she stood.
"If you are SO eager for blood, then we can start tomorrow night, tonight Sunset needs rest and YOU are going HOME! I will call the girls...and then..erm..tomorrow, we..we.."
Flexing her bicep and showing a fist, with a glint of ivory teeth, Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes.
"We hunt!"
"uff! Ok again, on three!"
"R-right!"
"1..2...3!!"
The duo of grunts filled the frosted over gas station, Aria nearly buckling and Sonata barely able to hold her own, between the starved girls hung the barely awake form of Adagio Dazzle. The Alpha female barely more then bones and drawn flesh, her figure ruined all the more by a night spent trembling and shivering in her Sisters arms.
"Dagi? Dagi!"
Ruby eyes blurred between patches of red and rings of dark exhaustion, fighting to find the dim morning light, Adagio glanced from left to right. With a nod to Aria she turned her attention to the gaunt blue Wolfess of the trio, a ruined gloved hand touched her lean chin before her feet found purchase. Righting herself as best she could, the former Lioness used her Sisters to stable her stance.
"I'm here Sonata, I'm here...I see we made it home. What happened?"
The former tomboy of the group frowned and knelt to gather the meager bedding.
"Tsk, those Rain bitches got a few good shots in, lost your knife though. We made it back around dark, psh..fucking bitches."
With a hand to her eyes, Adagio took a better look at her sibling, she took in the large black and blue around her jaw, and how Aria clearly was favoring her left side. When small blue hands found her own, she turned to give a weak smile to Sonata. The youngest of the Trio was trembling from head to toe, and despite the cold of the abandoned building, the Lioness was sure it wasn't from the chill in the air.
"We..we thought, I mean you..Dagi you couldn't stop coughing!"
In a blurred movement, she tugged the smaller girl into her embrace. The hug startled all three of them, Aria knelt and just starred up at the showing of emotion with her jaw slacked. Sonata for her part went ridged, only to slowly relax and take in the rare gift that was a hug from her Sister.
"I will never leave you, either of you. We may be sick, broken and starving...but we are Sirens. WE ARE, Sisters. Look at me Nata..."
Tear filled eyes lifted to take in the stalwart yet exhausted features of her Leader.
"Aria.."
A free golden hand, slipped down and offered to that of her purple fleshed bruiser. Taken her hand and pulling firmly she pulled her Sister into a tight embrace as well, the three girls lingering in each others touch and presence.
"Thank you, both of you."
Such a simple gesture, common to others, was a rare gem in the darkness to the Sirens. The moment lingered, a few shuddered sobs, whispers and more then a bit of cuddling later, the trio broke and Adagio summoned her last reserves to take on her more well known prideful pose.
"Right! So, breakfast!?"
Wipping tears from her cheeks, Sonata bounced back with a gleeful smile and giggle.
"Weeeelll! We do have some pizza left, you know Aria like totally pigged out on it, she didn't even take off the coffee grounds!"
A sneer ran the pig tailed girls features as she grabbed her blue sibling by the collar and got right into the Wolfess face.
"Hey!! I found it, i get to eat it!"
Grinning, Sonata Dusk lifted her nose with one finger and made pig noises, this of course forced Adagio to intervene and catch the in coming punch.
"Alright, killing each other comes AFTER my stomach stops eating itself..hack..cough..."
With a huff, the two separated and returned to tending to more mundane matters. Aria stowed their "bed" while Sonata scrounged for what food they had saved. The Lioness peered around and took a moment to brace her frail figure up along the wall. Her eyes lingered at the hip bones poking out of Sonata's stolen winter jacket. They narrowed at just how many notches Aria was forced to use on her belt to keep her patched pants up. Finally they came to rest upon her own figure, how many weeks had it been since she no longer needed a bra? Even under the layer upon layer of ill smelling shirts and leggings, she could feel her knees knock. Had she really ever worn a size 14 around her hips? With a hiss, the Alpha spied her once fleshy bicep, and cringed as she was able to wrap her hand around it, fingers over lapping.
"We have to do something..."
Sonata perked up from the bag of Convenient store food and frowned.
"Dagi?"
"We HAVE to do something. Maybe..."
Adagio drew silent, her mind slipping into a dark place. They COULD rob a store, it would be best to hit a pharmacy, with Aria's stomach troubles, her own issues as well as the fact Sonata was suffering from frost bite. But as fast as the though came to steal, it was shoved away by pride. Adagio hated humans, they made her sick just to be around them. But she wouldn't lower herself to steal from them. Aria drew her gaze as the tomboyish girl snarled and made a fist in her direction.
"Damn it Adagio! Just let me do it! You wont be part of it if I just.."
Feeling her own mind being read allowed the Alpha to spin on her heels and glare.
"WE are one Ari! What you do reflects on US...I won't let us become worse then gutter trash. We ARE Sirens!"
"No Dagi, we-are-STARVING TO DEATH! You are right, we NEED to do something. Right, fucking, NOW!"
Sonata lingered in her stance over the plastic bag, her jaw tight, and eyes lingering on the floor.
"I am really hungry Dagi..I..I..maybe we could, try the homeless shelter again?"
Pride swelled in her chest, as the Alpha rubbed her brow. She lingerd for a moment, taken in the suggestion before looking around for answers. Her eyes snapped to the door, head cocked.
"Why is the door open?"
Aria snapped to action, her leaned figure stalking like a predator up to the door. She checked the lock, then the handle and frowned.
"We shut it last night, I know it!"
With a jerk she opened the police tap covered door and glared out into the morning light. Her hands turning to fists as the tomboy knelt over tracks in the snow.
"These are ours..."
Being joined by her Sisters, Aria gestured to the duo of tracks, with drag lines between them.
"We carried you in last night but..these.."
Pointing to a new set of foot prints, the pig tailed bruiser rose and sneered.
"We where followed..."
The loud clatter of snow plows ran like a birds song compared to the cruel sound of Adagio Dazzles phenomena fueled cough. From the dark recluse of the abandoned building, the Sirens scouted in different manners through the snow soaked parking lot. The lean frame of Aria blaze huddled over almost hidden tracks, she ran her frost bitten finger tips over the lightning bolt shaped imprint. A snarl forming over her chapped lips, snapping her gaze up the Tomboy of the Sirens called to the stalking form of her youngest Sister.
"Nata what you got?"
The small blue girl spun around, her tiny figure moving like a beast on the hunt. Her once plump and well defined body now spidery and hunched over like a Wolf in the wild.
"Someone was here, the tracks are heavy..they head towards that alley, bitch Jock I bet!"
Aria could only sneer, it was rare for her ditz of her Sister to be so crude. Sonata was clearly having her fur up. Stealing a glance to her Alpha, the rose colored Siren leaned back to take in the figure of her Leader. Adagio had been curled and broken the night before, with blood dripping from her lips and body trembling. Now she strode with narrow shoulders back and eyes locking from hidden tracks to her Sisters posture.
"Aria, Sonata, report!"
Jerking her fingers back from the snow, Aria rose and snapped her neck loudly.
"Tracks, guessing it's Rainbow Dashs..bitch must have followed us when we got you home last night. If she followed us, she knows our Den. Damnit..I should a snapped that cunts neck!"
Sonata neared the pair but appeared distracted as her exhausted eyes kept shifting, and attention moving from one shadow to the next at intervals. Finally stepping up to her Sisters, the blue Wolfess sneered openly showing her stained teeth.
"It was her, I can almost smell her! For like realzies! Ari is right we should a pwned her ass!"
A heavy eye roll and rubbing of frozen hands later, the former Lioness growled and began to look around for herself.
"Damn Nata.."
"What?!"
"Ya'll really got your fur up today."
"Shit, of course I am Aria! Bitch was near our DEN! Our Home!"
"...It isnt our home Sonata."
Adagio mutterd as she knelt over a stray energy drink can, touching the frozen dribble at the lip, and grumbling at its lack of a deep freeze.
With a soft glare at her elder Sibling, Sonata frowned and tucked her arms around herself.
"It...it's all we got though.."
With a sigh, she rose and closed in on her shivering Sister. Aria moved to join them, her ruby toned gaze watching every shadow, the starved Siren on guard.
"Your right Nata. Sigh...of course your right. It is all we have, and we WILL protect it. If the Rainbooms HAVE discoverd our Den then we must prepare for their annoying arrival. The spoiled little bitchs will try and finish us off, I just know it."
"But..but what if they like, you know, don't?"
The doe like stare from the blue skinned girls well known expression, was back in full force. Her Bruiser of a Sister closed in to her side, tugging at multi toned pig tails, trying to work grease and frost out of them as her free hand took Sonata by her shoulder.
"They are the enemy, Nata, just like Dagi said. This isnt the time for your touchy feely bullshit. Those little whores show up here, we deal with it, like we deal with everything! We are SIRENS!"
Adagio just starred into the still early morning light, taking in the birth of a new day. Slow breath washed her blood stained lips, the synch of her blouse hugging exposed ribs and shrunken femine curves. Almost skeletal like features haunted a gaze back at her Sisters.
"We ARE, but we are also out-numberd, and on the wrong end of a defeat...we are..weakend, and must regroup."
As if the voice of reason she once was, Adagio Dazzle lifted her bruised chin and turned to face her Siblings.
"You two should have left me. I would have distracted them, they would have never followed us here! Damnit Aria! It was an order for you too take Sonata and run and.."
"GRAAAH! And what, leave you to be gutted by those fat whores! Celestia forsake you Dagi! That bacon haired cunt took your best move and almost laughed it off!...Adagio, we..we can't keep going like this! We..we gotta make ah move!"
"Gurl! I said that last night, we..we could ask for help! Adagio please, please hear me! Ari is right, we are getting sicker and worse by the day. Without our magic...t..the Darkness in us, its eating us alive! Can't you see whats happening?!?"
The Alpha female turned away from her Sisters, she glanced up at the grey mid morning sky, the winter weather mocking the golden fleshed female. Her jaw tightened, a rotten tooth causing her to cringe before she spat in pain and lowerd her gaze to the snowy floor.
"You want..us to surrender to...THEM!"
The blue Wolfess of the Pack cringed, she glanced to her rose colored Sibling, hesitated then ducked behind the former Tomboy Brusier and eeped out meekly.
"T..they helped the She-demon..they helped Sunset!"
Aria braced her malnourished and starved body for what was to come, strong hands reached back to grip the boney hips of her Sister, protecting her as her own front toughened as best it could to the barrage to come.
And come, it did.
All thoughts of pain, of hunger, of thirst, of weakness in her very heart and soul, left as the proud Lioness spun. Her mop of ruined golden hair, flopped to the side, covering one half of her weather worn face. Like a Demoness herself she began to lurch and stalk towards her cowering Sisters.
"...how..dare you.."
"Dagi, she did'nt mean.."
"SILENCE! You know damn well what she ment, and what you mean by protecting her...Tell me Sonata Dusk. How well is your "Taco Tuesday" going to go, with some pink maned bitch the size of a fattend cow looming over you stealing your treats? Or perhaps some farm buffed bitch, tipping her hat every time you hear a song on the radio and bob your head...they..are..our..ENEMIES! THEY-DID-THIS TO US!!"
The Alpha's rant was cut off by a short bloody coughing fit, it recoverd with both golden hands wrapping her Siblings throats and yanking them close, a trio of eyes, noses and lips parted but a breath apart as rage boiled from bleeding lips.
"They want us dead, destroyed, RUINED..we are Sirens, we WILL be adored, beloved, we WILL LIVE FOREVER!"
"UNTIL SONATA'S FEET FALL OFF!"
The roared counter challenge from Aria Blaze sent Adagio reeling, she nearly stumbled back, her starved frame quivering in the sudden cold of the winter day as the vigor of her own adrenaline left her, at the realization of her glaring Sisters words.
"Or maybe I FUCKING SHIT MY DAMN LUNGS OUT! Or you puke up your fucking GUTS!..Face it "Sis" we are dieing! Our own bodies are fucking eating themselves and we are STILL looking to get some teenagers to swoon over us...we are fucked, shit!"
Waving her hand, Aria leaned away, gripping her stomach and taken deep breaths. She cast a glare at both her Siblings, one of anger, rage..and desperation. Spitting into the snow the Tomboy huffed her words.
"I won't die like a dog...I AM a Siren.."
"We all are Ari! Dagi, please...PLEASE! i..It..hurts so much, just to get up in the morning.."
The Golden, once Alpha, once proud Lioness and fertile breeding bitch watched her fellow Sirens linger in agony right before her eyes. Her own body quivering in pain with every realized truth. Swallowing loudly she turned away and looked up at the grey morning sky.
"Get our things...we move, we...we need time to regroup. Together."
As the sun broke, Adagio closed her eyes. Behind her, Sonata and Aria scrambled for their meager belongings, but it was the ruby eyes that starred at the dry morning light that caused the real choice of that day.
"We won't be hunted Celestia, not there, not here..not ever.."
"Bloody hell..."
"Ouch!"
"Grrr, why you..."
"It aint dat easy!"
"Oh! What do you know!"
"I done know ah heck of alot more then you miss priss, now let me do dat!"
"Huff! This is a job for a Lady"
"Uhuh, well show me one den!"
"TSK! HOW DARE YOU..YOU..you, Ahem..I will not be drawn into ANOTHER taunt fest with the likes of you, Applejack, now let me finish this without any further interuptions!"
"Psh, whatever Rares..."
The duel growls and banter from the girls filled the tiny south side apartment, while only a single bedroom it had enough luggage and unpacked clothes it would have served a dozen rooms. Rarity lorded over it all, her lean figure clung to a pair of size 0s designer jeans and cuffed around her near non-existant chest, the silk of her blouse smoothed over exposed ribs and allowed a daring eye the sight of her spinal cord, assuming her quaff of violet hair wasn't in the way of her thin neck. She lifted a frail hand to adjust her ruby red glasses before giving up and removing them with a jerk, one of the arms tucked into her lips as she chewed upon it in thought.
"Hmmm perhaps we should make use of MY designed curtains instead of these, eww..drab, homely ones you brought."
Behind the pixie like girl, stood her polar opposite. While Rarity had the figure and posture of a story book Princess, Applejack towered over her, and filled the frame of the hallway she leaned upon. The farmers girth was hugged in re-patched and well worn jeans, tucked into a dusty pair of cowboy boots, the left hand one missing its spur, the blonde growled at the latest barb from her purple haired friend. Worn and large hands moved to rest upon hips a fertility goddess would envy, like the rest of her, her frame was beyond womenly. Cut with muscles that pushed the limit of her garments the pony tailed women growled.
"Damnit Rares! Those be hand stitched by my Granny herself!"
The Amazon now loomed over the tiny pixie like women, her almost eight feet of height and unlady like posture only added to the scene.
"Hmm? Truely, well then.."
Her tiny hands and finely painted nails danced over the worn cotton a few more times.
"Family is important, upon second thought..I rather like them!"
AJ blinked and glanced down her tanned nose at the Fashionista, the two had purchased the apartment together, with college coming and AJ's need to be near her family, it only made sense to get a place together. This of course was all common sense to the duo, since freshmen year in Highschool they had been a couple, supported by there friends the pair had grown rather close over the recent events of the past year. Pinkie made the joke that it was "Equestrian magic" that Princess Twilight sparkle brought with her. It came up often when the party girl had one to many candy bars or energy drinks, which only caused a tomboyish farmer to blush and hide behind her stetson, and the flubbed and coughed rebuttle from an annoyed red faced Fashionista. And while the years had been interesting, AJ had only now started to take note of Raritys change of personality. For at one point the girl wouldnt budge on her pride or personal opinion, especially when it came to ANYthing to do with decoration and fashion. Shrugging it off, the large female rested her huge hand on Raritys tiny shoulder, the weight of which caused the little pixie girl to nearly drop her glasses.
"Why dat's aful good of ya Rares...Granny would be happy, but shoot, why not put out dat rug ya'll got, same color!"
"Huff...you big ox, take it easy! Ohhh!! You'r right Darling, and I thought you did'nt want anything "fancy shmancy" in our living room."
Turning Rarity let her pale hands slip around the thick waist of her lover, a gleam in her perfect eyes as she grinned up at the freckle coverd farm girl. The two had truely a unique relationship, if they wherent fighting, yelling, or curled up in a puddle of their own love, they where pushing the limit of a stereo typical girl/girl relationship. One clearly the "Butch" the other a "Princess".
"I done never said anything like dat girl, I mean, your here eh?"
Blinking at her lovers joke, Rarity starred up over the heavy crest of Aj's bossom, blinked again then burst into a fit of laughter. The unlady like snort was muffled against the Farmers huge bossom as she curled into Applejacks body.
"You-are-the-worst!"
"Nah, ya'll love it..oh!"
The vibration of Raritys cellphone caused the huge blonde to blush, its position in the tiny pixies pocket caused a interesting sensation due to there close quarters.
"Hmm, oh! I swear if that's Lyra again I am going to strangle her!"
"Dat girl you been texting lately? You two are..getting close?"
Snapping her phone up, Rarity lifted a brow at her lover, before swiping the missed call from Sunset Shimmer away.
"Oh Darling, not jealous are you? She needs my help, coming out to her parents was really hard for her and Bonbon, you remember when you had to tell your Brother and Sister?"
Rubbing the back of her neck, the huge Amazon blushed a bit. For that single event she was almost happy, her Grandmother wasnt around anymore for. With a frown she glanced down at her tiny lover, eyeing the phone.
"Sunny? Shoot, did we miss another lunchen with her?"
"Hmmm, it is only tuesday darling, but after last Friday something tells me she is just keeping us on our toes, we did sort of leave her at the Sushi place."
"Blah, I aint really into raw fish."
"But Darling, I thought you LOVED, my Salmon."
"Wut? Rares you can't cook to save your...wait.."
Her giggle ran like perfume as the pixie like girl made for there bedroom, dodging unpacked boxs and still sealed ones as she tapped Sunset's number.
"Keep your hat on Cow-girl, I gotta ta...Sunset? Wha..hey, no slow down, whats wrong?"
Raritys perfect eyes glassed over as her heavy set giantess of a lover closed in, taken her free hand to stop it from tugging at her pefect mane of hair. She knew well her lovers quirks, and her body langue was enough.
"Whats up Sugar? Rarity?"
Fear filled blue eyes glanced up at Applejack as she lowerd the now silent phone.
"That was Sunset, she couldnt talk long but..their back.."
"Who?"
"The Sirens..."
Silence filled the apartment, even as work worn bronzed hands closed into fists, and a pixie like women curled into an amazons chest.
"Let it be..."
The retreat...
"Move-your-ASS!"
"Get her arm Dagi, I can't..."
"I'm fine you moron, go , move!"
Even in the early light on another painfully frozen Canterlot City morning, the trio of half starved sisters still could make out the flashing of police cherries. With what little the siblings owned, or had stolen, slung over her shoulder in a discarded big box store bag, the once proud lioness hissed her commands from chapped lips.
"Sonata! Get your sisters fat ass over that fence, NOW!"
Before her, the shattered Alpha female watched in mute horror. She had known better then to duck into the alley. She knew it was the last one, and not this one that wasn't sealed. Maybe it was the breaking of her own code, or ego, that had allowed Aria to finally convenience her to turn to petty theft. The spoils of that mornings raid upon the hapless and still confused bushiness mans belongings hung in her chilled grip.
"All this for a stupid, slagging laptop...MOVE IT, THERE COMING!"
Adagio Dazzle, having skirted the chain link via a trash can, left it tipped forcing her kin, i their weakened state to scale the barrier. Cursing loudly she glared at the well furnished leather satchel in her gloved hand. Snow had gathered on its embellished finery the "M.B", its odd white in the back leather seemed almost as out of place as the trench coated mans straw hat, being worn in the dead of winter.
Fifty dollars, maybe. They could score for the stolen electronic. Her heaving breath, both of fear and exhaustion ran the alleys narrow space, bloodshot eyes turned back as her free hand hacked at errant strands of her filthy mass of hair clearing the vision only made her cringe. Passing over a half dozen cuts or bruises on her once perfect face, was enough, but the mere stink of her own mane had the prideful Alpha sickened. Adagio repeated her plea to the almost comical scene before her. If in perhaps another time, another age, she would have fallen to her knees. Squealing in laughter at the sight of her sisters. But that day was not this one.
"Uff..I...I fuc..grrr! Nata I got it! Get your hands off my ass!"
"Ehhh?! Well where else am I supposed to put them for Celestia's sake!"
"Now isn't the time you retard!"
"NO...YOU ARE!"
"GIRLS!...Running from the humans here, MOVE IT!"
The arguing duo of gaunt siblings snapped to attention finally. Aria with a bandaged paw, wrapped in newspaper and a dirty scarf, hanging a few feet from the linked fence. Sonata beneath her, with frozen blue fingers gripping her co-criminals bony hips through grimy garments, nodded and redoubled there efforts. With one final effort, Aria yanked with her good arm, her roar coupled by her Sisters who pushed. "The ol up and over" didn't see worse days as the once bruiser of the trio collapsed into her Alpha siblings arms. Adagio let out a sigh of relief and held her sickened and wounded sister. Snarling the moment away, the lioness moved Aria to her shoulders. Like a stubborn Bull, Aria grumbled about being fine and able to do i on her own. Yet as her ruby eyes locked upon the about facing Sonata, Dagi could feel Aria's exhaustion as the once bovine like female, now a shadow, leaned heavily upon her leader.
"Sonata! W..ha..?"
The Bullish bruiser groaned through a still hurt left eye, the nights at the homeless shelter often having lead to fist fights for a bunk, or because someone looked at her or her siblings wrong. Her oldest Sister followed suit with the gaze, both looking upoun a fist making blue Wolfess. The she wolf of the group turned slowly away from her kin, to stare back down the alley they had come. Almost visable hackles rose, as her scrawny starved form began to hunker into a fighting pose. Aria couldn't help but smirk at the sight of her sibling. Just a few months ago the spoiled, ditzi, and pot bellied little strumpet of the Sirens wouldn't have been able to pick a fight with a hamster. And now..
"SONATA MOON DUSK! YOU WILL...NOT...do what you are thinking, get over here...NOW!"
The roar, born from an often sickly and weak throat these days. Now all the song of a cannon being fired, came from a glareing Alpha bitch. Her tiny form leaned upon by a purple mass of slowly rising anger and pain. The pair watching their youngest sibling through the fence.
"I...I will stop them, y..y...you..two.."
Even at the pinnacle of her out of character action, Sonata Dusk still stumbled at the mention of her full name. Peeking back and letting her tiny fists fall slack she starred at her Sisters, for three long heartbeats. Until she vaulted the fence at the expense of far to much energy considering the Sirens conditions. Helping with Aria's weigh she seemed another element again, tears soaked her frozen cheeks as she nuzzled at the bruisers neck like a lost puppy.
"Ari!..Ari!!"
Her smile came weak, but natural as the dysentery ridden bull of a girl leaned upon her siblings.
"Shh, shh little one, I'm ok."
Throwing a cat call over her shoulder at the fast approaching police, Adagio lead the duo out of the other side of the curving alleyway. If anything these past long months have allowed the Sirens a knowledge of there knew frozen hell home. It was just a few alley cuts and a abandoned factory floor away from their new hideout.
"Come on girls, with this fence we can eat for a week..or a few days for Aria!"
"Ha! This from miss hairball for a head, thought ya hated stealing from the miserable humans."
Sonata gave a almost childish giggle even as she dragged the exhausted weight of her Sister for herself, as Adagio had to lean away for another hacking cough.
Not one to allow her own weakness to break the moment of victory, the lioness slipped back under her bull of a sisters arm and the trio broke out into another alley way.
"Hmmm, yes I do regret the act, it is just so...ugh, pathetic."
"You mean like, ahm, us?"
With a sneer she sighed and looked over at the ragged features of the only two things that mattered on this cursed hell hole of a world, her Sisters.
"Yes...just like us, and honestly, I am starting to think I wouldn't have it any other way!"
Her free hand shot out to slice the air as her siblings laughed, coughed, and spat blood for a few moments, allowing silence. Just like the old days, the action alone enough to bring some hunger and fire to the eyes of her darkened kin.
"Besides, what are we but Sirens! What...would this pitiful world expect us to repent, forget...what, join the RAINBOOMS?!???"
There trio of barks, roars and snorts of laughter was almost, musical despite being off key. Sadly as the night behind them, all good things came to an end. For as the sun rose and spilled into the run down factory the trio where making their way through, a new voice spoke over the weakened females revere.
"Eh! Like we would take you losers anyways!!!!"
All three of the females froze, hearts in throats as they knew well the scratchy voice of the former Rainboom lead Singer. Sonata was the first to turn, her teeth born at the tomboyish winter coat clad jock that had followed them in. Her eyes like daggers, she went to step forward to the threatening female, only to be stopped by Aria, her shoulders squared and the bruiser rose to her full height. A snort leaving her as she glared at the cause of her ruined eye. The two brawlers just glared at one another, even as other feminine figures shifted into the morning light.
Even Sonata could do the math as the odds grew worse by each pair of boots to step out. Adagio let out a low growled sigh, the prideful lioness flicked her near five feet of matted, frozen, filthy and stinking orange hair like a lady of court, one hand rested on bony hip, she took her pose between her Siblings like a ruling matriarch looking down at her pride.
Sonata took her place at her Alpha's left, hunkered low and tongue lashing slowly to wet her frozen lips.
Too the lioness right standing like a half starved brick wall of purple and stolen winter garments, Aria stole the air around her to give the very stink of seeking a fight.
As the six Rainbooms loomed around them in a half moon, Adagio felt her mind swirl. Fight or flight? Could they even make it a block if they ran in their condition. What about Aria's hand, or Sonata's feet or her own...sighing inwardly the Siren grinned. Her drawn cheeks giving an almost skeletal like feature to her ruined face. Lifting her frail hand slowly, her words came not a hum, or a whispered lyric. They hissed out with all the venom her ruined throat could allow.
"Now you need us...'
Sonata spread her arms out wide and lowered her posture all the more, looking to the world like a animal ready to pounce.
"Come and meet us..."
Despite the pain of her hand, Aria slammed her fist into palm and grunted, the winter wind catching her over grown pigtails, snapping like annoyed tails.
"Nothing will stop us...now!"
Adagio spat. The action, un-lady like as much as it was disgusting, but the blood that filled her mouth was growing old in flavor.Nearly as much as the presence of the looming tomboy Rainbow Dash.
"Coward..."
The lioness hissed her words, exhausted eyes glaring up at the sneering human teen. Broken and humbled on her knees, the half starved Siren had a new loose tooth for her trouble.
"What did you say! Why I outta!"
"Rainbow Dash! That's enough!"
The two females ended their game of "glare war, Canterlot edition" as the meek voice of Fluttershy broke the dead lock. Leaning back against her siblings, the trio of former immortals, bound and encircled by the Rainbooms, sat in the center of the abandoned factory. Evidence of what had happened but minutes before lay scattered around the huddled and frozen girls, the fight had been a mess.
"Better go, wouldn't want to ignore the misses, Rainbow Crash!"
Aria snorted her words from behind her Alpha's mane of hair. The second in command had her wrists locked infront of her with some loose police tape and was sporting a split lip, yet out of all the raised fur present, she seemed the most elated by the fight. Her gaunt cheeks where spread in a flush of the thrill of battle, and nose high in the pride of having had to get gang piled on to finally getting knocked down.
"Ya! And like, by the way Crashy! Nobody is into jeggings anymore, laaaaaamoooo!"
Adagio couldt help herself, Sonata's near constant living outside the box mentallity broke more ice then a sledge hammer in a freezer. The cyan skinned jock glared daggers at the captured girls, her jaw shifted, seeking a retort but instead a frustrated bark was all that managed to spurn the Sirens jabs.
"Yes Darling, do help us with Pinkie, the poor dear has a rather nasty cut!"
It all happened rather fast. As in most things, words where never enough. Desperation, fear, adrenaline and just the need to lash out, caused what had been an attempt by the Rainbooms to confront and talk it out with the Sirens, instead became what could only be described as a rat getting cornered. Something clicked within the malnourished Sisters, and as if a Pack on the hunt, the trio attacked.
The former Alpha just sighed, Adagio again felt her lips twitch in a smile at the memory of Sunset Shimmers cocky expression suddenly dropping to stone cold fear. She could feel her bound hands, puffing up from the abuse of the repeated blows she had struck to that biker bitches back and stomach. Adagio...felt... alive. Throwing her head back, her eyes wild at the thought of it, she growled loudly.
"Let us go...so we can finish this!"
"Will you shut up already! For fucking Celestia's fucking flank, I had thought Flash was the height of stereotype. But damn it Adagio will you just....STOP!"
Sunset spat her words as if venom at the former Siren, with her leather jacket hugged around the trembling shoulders of a fallen Pinkie Pie, the leader of the Rainbooms rose and cast a glare at her prisoners.
"I didn't want this..."
"Gee me either, hey, why not let us go so I can show you JUST how much I agree with you!"
"Listen Adagio, there is a chance now, we can fix things. The power of friendship really has no limit and..."
"Stop..."
"...While a fight was sure to happen between us, I am confident the girls and I can..."
"Waaaah, Ari! Make the butch dyke shut uuuuuppp!"
"...begin to help you, just like Twilight helped me and with further effort..."
"Hey Nata?"
"Sup?"
"You like gonna finish today...this Hitler youth over there is starting to get to me, I think I might actually do the friendship salute!"
"Tsk, I am working on it Ari! Tsk, gawd, like we...grr...spend...uff...months, oof! Eating out of trash cans, eep!!!... almost dropped it!...Anyways, eating like half frozen shit, and stealing coffee cups from jerks at crosswalks on the go, and...eep! n...o no..wait..and you still managed to keep your..."
"Do not poke the bull Sonata...now REALLY isn't the time..."
"..........Nata........."
"...giant, block breaking, shorts ripping, chocolate log slashing, twerk machine..IN-MY-WAY...how I ask you, how."
"Hey! What Ya'll talking 'bout over there!?"
Aria grunted loudly, her bruised features shifting from annoyed to cocky.
"Come on over and find out, redneck!'
"Tehe, good one Ari!"
"Grr..shut up Sonata, your the worst!"
"Nuh-uh...you ar-...HEY!"
The snap of the rope that bound the trio was heard as Sonata jerked her hand upwards, the rusty sliver of metal having done its work in freeing the Sirens.
Having been looking after a groggy Pinkie Pie, Sunset jerked her eyes to the trio, a growl forming in her throat.
"Adagio! Don't do this, we want to help you!"
Exhausted, bruised, and half starved, the lioness managed to her feet. The ramshackle of her winter garments clinging to her skeletal frame, a fresh series of hacking coughs was creeping up on her tired form, yet where held down and back by the sheer pride of the moment. Throwing her disheveled mane back, the Alpha once again took a cocky stands, gloved hands on narrow hips she gave her best signature smirk.
The Rainbooms rallied around their leader, Applejack lifting her fists and Rarity shouldering her chubby friend, the pink haired girl still out of it.
"Miss Dazzle, please! Sunset means what she says, we want to help you!'
"Pah, save it Rarity, those scrubs only understand ah good beating!"
Rainbow Dash fought from Fluttershys weak grip and took an aggressive stance in front of the meek little mouse. Like a loyal family dog defending her pack, the tomboy glared at the Sirens.
"Give it up, you three are beaten!"
"Rainbow is right, listen, we don't want to hurt you anymore...listen, your cold, alone, and frankly you could use a good meal. Let us help you, no strings."
Adagio just flat out sent venom in her gaze at Sunset, the cocky biker thinking she could speak to her i such a way. Only a blood soaked coughing fit interrupted her well timid retort. Sonata's tiny hands supported her leader with a hug and pulled the orange girls head into her neck, allowing her protection as she weak body throbbed in convulsions.
"I think YOU have all done like totally enough!"
"Nata's right, it's your fucking fault we are stuck like this, buzz off Raingoons."
Aria Blaze slammed her bare fist into her free hand, the action enough to reopen frost sealed wounds and allow the brute to cringe in pain. Despite that she stood in front of her Sisters, her posture tall and ready.
"Grrr, you IDIOTS!"
Sunset roared at the top of her lungs. All eyes flew to the Rainbooms leader at this outburst, Adagio's coughing slowed and even she looked in amusement at the rage in the reformed ponies voice.
"Are all of you that over flowing with Pride that you can't see your Dying! Are you that STUPID!"
Taken a step forward, the fiery haired girls posture just reeked of anger and aggression.
"Your powers are gone and no magical creature from Equestria can sustain themselves here without them. Unless they find a new source. Trust me, I know! And that source IS, FRIENDSHIP...these girls put out their hands, and hearts to me. Even after I spat in there vey faces. They SAVED me! This is not about anything but the fact that all of you deserve a second chance...your not alone here, not anymore."
That final line struck a cord in Adagio, and it resonated threw to her Sisters. Aria, then Sonata both looked down at there crumpled leader, mixed messages of fear, anger, desperation all came off as pleas in the eyes of her starving kin. Sunset was right, they where dying..she was killing them. And Adagio knew it. Taken a slow breath, the proud lioness rose to her own two feet and took a step forward. Her heart swelled at feeling her kin take there places at either shoulder, the soft touch of first Sonata's small hand, the wolfess close to her Alpha. Then of Aria's feeling her other with the well worn grip of a bull ready to charge, gave the Leader the strength to speak.
"You are right, Sunset Shimmer...we are not alone."
Looking to her siblings, each in turn, nodding and feeling their hands tighten in her own, she turned back, a soft smile playing her frozen lips.
"Not..anymore."
"........................No............."
"Ari come on!"
"I freaking said NO!"
"Grr, just do it...or that yellow oe is going to like pop or something if you don't."
"Gwaagghh...................fine, give me the...the..."
" Theeeeeeee....?"
"Shut UP Sonata, you are NOT helping!"
"Idiots..."
"Sigh, give me the..t-he... the...I am not doing this Sonata!"
"Awww come on Aria! This is like one teenie tiny thing, for meeeeeee??!??!"
The stubborn bull of a girl grunted, her purple brow quivering in barely containted rage.
"Fine!!"
"Gah, ahem...Fluttershy would you please hand me my bottle of Aki-Trans Ranger bubble soap, so I may join the forces of earth in cleaning up the nasty viles of modern society!"
With a childish giggle, the frost bitten blue Siren burst out of her half of the bathtub and proudly tossed her grumpy sibling the name brand anime inspired shampoo bottle. Much to the growling protest of the glaring Aria.
Adagio leaned back, it had been a long time since she and her Sisters had been welcome in a home. A home with legal plumbing, electric and residents. The half starved lioness lingerd upon what could only be described as "best of middle class" counter top within Fluttershy's families bathroom. The plush house, nuzzled within the ever chilly bushiness districts of down town Canterlot, had an almost out of place sense to it. Running her chipped nails and frozen fingers over the duct tape repaired garments she wore, the Alpha found herself at home, yet a stranger to this well to do home. Her exhausted eyes panned over the very cramped bathroom and hallway, as it had become resident to not one but stuff full of two bands. The Sirens and Rainbooms where elbow to shoulder and hip to groin, with eyes snapping and hands twitching. Yet it was Sonata and Aria, sitting across from one another in the bathtub, ironically that had the most comfort.
"You could have at least tryed to put some spirit in it Ari!"
"Shut the fuck up Nata or I am going to give you a fucking golden shower!"
"ewwww! Dagi!!!!!"
Strength flowed in the husk that was her ruined body, the laughter and sweet words of her siblings hearts filling her with energy. Adagio nodded and gave the prompt soft buffering slap to the back of Sonata's weathered head.
"Both of you hurry the hell up, I would like to shower....TODAY!"
Huffing loudly, her hair down and swirling in the tubs water, Aria shifted her scar and bruise covered figure.
"Gonna have an audience like us, eh?!"
The snarled words jerked out of the cramped room and into the hall.
"oh..ahm..d..did you need mor-"
"Hey! We are just making sure you three are stealing shit!"
The bruiser flared at the tomboys accusation. She screeched threw the door, water splashing as her ragged limbs flailed.
"Steal what?! A fucking dream catcher and coco butter shampoo...fuck you Rainbow Crash!"
"Don't call me that!"
"How about...both of you guys, put your damn dicks back in your pants and SHUT UP!"
Outside the well moderate family income restroom, the gang pile of Rainbooms all turned to stare at Pinkie Pie.
"I mean like gosh, you two are start spitting and talking about trucks next, ohh! Dashie do you think you can get me one of those red neck belt buckles!"
"Pinkie..."
"Ya'll are on some thin ice here..."
"I do say, come now let the Sirens have a chance to rebirth, they should be but at the hands of Soul Washer if possible, sadly the spa is not open, so girls...please, at least let them bathe!"
Sunset pressed the bridge of her nose carefully and sighed. The Rainbooms Leader leaned against her mousy friends wall, and watched as her friends began to jeer and pick at one another over there new focus. Anyone else would find it annoying, upsetting, or rude. But Sunset Shimmmer just found herself smiling. As she starred at the door in front of her, steam slipping beneath its gate a warmth spread in her chest. Yes here was a concern. Here the Sirens where in Fluttershys home, and causing a fight between her friends. Yet as much as the argument prattled between cocky smirks,to hat tugging and of course plenty of whimpers from a ever scared yellow girl, it was all in good nature. For for the first time the Sirens where not starting a fight over pride or ego but instead, friendship.
Friendship.
Smirking the biker ran her leather clad thumb over her brow and turned to watch her five friends argueing. A warm chuckle growing in her chest.
"Twilight is never going to believe this...."
"Grr, you are being stubborn!"
"Try it and she losses a hand Aria!'
"Awww, come on Dagi it's been what like totally six months? Just a little tri-..."
"I SAID NO!"
The chim of midnight had sounded, and in a triangle of dysfunction the trio of immortals all cast different levels of glare upon one another at Fluttershy's dining room table. Aria in her typical fashion, freshly clothed in a pair of the yellow mouses pink and green Pjs sat with her arms crossed and a snort echoing from nose.
"You know after all these years, I thought ding-bat over here was the worse but after tonight Adagio you totally are!"
"Ya!...HEY!"
The now clean, and full stomached hot coffee mug gripping lioness snarled at her second in command. A cruel sneer passed her weathered and exhausted features. It was too early for the Sirens to go to bed, nearly half a year of living in gutters, homeless shelters and starving to death did'nt really allow for "at ease comfort" in a former enemies home just yet. She was thankful the Rainbooms where giving them some space, at least the human five. Sunset stood behind her, her winter gear and leather jacket shed in favor of just a orange tshirt. Her posture and glare however spoke volumes as blue eyes cast a narrowed vision down at the seated Alpha before her.
"Oh please Nata, you lost your brain just like your gonna lose those toes from frost bite!...dork!"
"Nuh-uh! The yellow one said they will be fine if i take care of em!"
"Fluttershy."
"Uh?"
"Her name, moron, is Fluttershy you know the girls house we are IN! Celestia's fat flank, your a complete waste of skin...'
Grinning at the chance for a desperately needed subject change, Adagio took a long drag of her steaming coffee and grinned at her loyal brute of a bull.
"Gee Aria, leave it to you to go soft first and remember her name. Never thought you had it in for the squishy type?"
"What?! Oh fuck you Dagi! It's called not being a cunt to our saviors, you should try it!"
With that the half starved bruiser gestured to the stoic looming figure of Sunset standing behind her leader. Adagio cringed openly and cast a warning glance over her shoulder. Ruby met sky blue in equal measure of defiance, the twos levels of pride dangerously close.
"Hehe get her Goku! Kick that femme Vegeta's butt!"
"Gauh...you are the worse Sonata, I take it back Dags."
The Rainboom leader and Alpha ignored the peanut gallery as the locked stares continued.
"If you try it, I will have your head on a spike, Unicorn!"
"Your dragging on the floor, and parts of it even with your Sisters best efforts in the tub...stink."
"Grrr, last warning!"
Flashing the kitchen scissors she bore, Sunset showed her teeth in defiance.
"Your getting a trim, Siren...one way or another.'
Adagio went to protest when her wrists where locked in purple and blue fingers and she felt her bosom shoved up into her small chin as a strong orange hand shoved her down into the table from behind.
"Your gonna thank me for this..."
"TRAITORS!!!"
The Lioness roar echoed in the silent home, long into the early morning, mingling with threats and sobs along with scissor stroaks.
"Sunset hold still..."
The leather clad biker huffed and fumed as the fashionista fawned over her seated friend.
"That that...ingrate!
"Sunset, darling please if I am not careful why I might make it worse!"
"Grrrr just patch me up Rarity, I am gonna have that skeletons ass for this!"
Huffing her own displeasure, the lean hipped fashion Queen returned to tending to the rapidly swelling black eye that now dominated her friends golden complexion. Rarity took no little amount offense to Adagio's current physique, she herself had more then one eating disorder, as always reminded by her on again off again lover Applejack. The amazon of the troop always willing to poke her mates exposed hip bones and start an argument about "what ah healthy chick should be looken like". Skinny jokes where not high on the purple haired ladies list of tolerated pranks.
"Darling, you assaulted her gorgeous mane with a pair of kitchen scissors...a blunt pair I might add. And even before our recent, ahm..."alliance" you must have known just how much her hair meant to Adagio. And she hasn't lost all that much weight, Darling don't forget she did spend the lions share of the winter living in the cement filled wild of Canterlot.'
'Bah Rarity she looks like a damn ghost...OUCH! Watch it with that stuff, it burns. Don't you recall the Battle of the Bands? Those hips alone could have fed an army, psh Siren powers my foot, those things had the guys of CHS mesmerized. And her hair STINKS, litterally. If they really have been out on the street this whole time, when do you think she washed it as, a homeless shelter, a fast food bathroom. Damnit RARITY! Last warning!'
Lifting her hands in defeat she pulled back and returned to the bathroom sink. leaving her leader to stew atop the closed toliet seat.
'That is all fine and good, and while you may be right dear, you must accept just how sensitive of a state she and her Sisters must be in. Fluttershy was telling me how, hmm, Aria was it? Has a horrible stomach flu and was so hydrated from it, that the poor girl nearly passed out when she sat down earlier. And the small one, the one with the fangs..scary thing really, if it wasn't for my dear AJ's home remedy's the poor thing would have lost those toes to frostbite!"
"Sigh, I know all of that Rarity. And I was the one to convince the girls to give them a chance. And I stand by that, just wow..for a half starved homeless looking cat she packs a good left hook. Kinda jealous really."
Smirking with a warmed cloth in her hand, Rarity returned and pressed her small pixie like hand into her brutish leaders wounded eye.
"Yes yes, and we all support you. Jackie and I especially. Now hold this there for a moment."
"Humph, you would go along with anything Applejack has to say. Long as you get to follow her from behind!'
Scarlet bloomed over the pale expanse of the Rainbooms "lady's" features. She spun on her petite heels and pointed a well manicured finger at her leader.
"What are you accusing me of!?!"
"Psh, easy Rares. Just saying you've a thing for girls with ahem, ahmm "Large storage areas" heheh."
The blush only grew as Rarity shoved her nose into the air and crossed her thin arms in protest.
"I have no idea what you are refering too, and I will have you know Jackie spends more hours in a single day working hard on her farm then you do under your bike in a week! She is in magnificent shape!"
"A shape that brushs on either side of ah doorway when passing through it!"
"Ohhhh Sunset Shimmer you are evil!"
"Not nearly as evil as how many pictures of that backside you have on your phone!"
"wh..ah..wu..what?!?!"
Snickering as she tosses the soaked hand towel into the sink, Sunset got up and adjusted her jeans.
"Hehe, your fetishs aside Rares. We should take some with the Sirens and figure out a plan. Those girls are all half starved, scrawny and sick. If they where human or even ponies they would be dead. I want to help them, but if there leader wont even let me cut the rot and shit out of her hair, how are we supposed to teach them friendship let alone get them to accept our help!"
Tapping her narrow chin in thought the pixie like lady hummed to herself and twirled the end of her magnificent mane in one finger.
"Simple Darling, you offer them the other hand. Offer them friendship with one, but the reality with the other. If they don't change, don't accept our help..they will die."
"Rarity!!!"
"Those are facts my dear. Adagio may be a spite fire, and her growling sisters always a deadly threat. But they know they need us, and in a way we need them. They are what we all used to be, if it was our she-demon side, to our own selfish demons. I...I know I have problems, obsessions with my diet. I have trouble seeing it in myself. But when I look at those girls, how there cloths hang, bones stick out. The huner in there gaunt eyes...I can see it. If I can help them, perhaps they can help me! We must try Sunny."
Smiling she envelops the smaller girl in her rough arms, nuzzling a bit at the fashionistas cheek.
"We will, no matter what, Celestia bless us, we will...lets get started on that plan."
"What do you want bitch?"
Aria Blaze stood before the rain soaked window that lead out to a small patio at the rear of Fluttershy's home. The bullish girl snorted and out of the corner of her cruel eye she spyed the lean athlete of the Rainbooms, her arms crossed and a glare on blue features, watching the bruiser of the Sirens.
"I'm onto you, you and your like total loser Sisters"
Her winter worn arms crossed under bosom but over a very stuffed tummy. Aria smirked and turned away from watching the storm, the grey of the day enhancing her demeanor.
"We are aful close to a window to be throwing rocks you steroid pumping, monster guzzeling, flat assed dog. We are here because Adagio is willing to trust your butch of a leader."
"Psh! Ya right! Your just gonna get a gut full then rob poor Flutter's, I know your type!"
"Really? Tell me dyke, spend a lot of time in Equestria have you?"
"err, no?"
"Know a lot of Sirens?"
"Grr, I know you three whores and that's ENOUGH!"
Storming up to her stalker, Aria loomed nearly a foot over Dash's petie height. While the well groomed athlete had weight over the half starved immortal, Aria still dominated the space between them. Her confidence soared, what a large meal, and warm bath wouldn't fix after all.
"Listen you runt of the litter, my Sisters, my pack are EVERYTHING! Adagio says we trust your...ugh, smattering of lesbians, then so be it. Unlike you, I TRUELY know what Loyalty means. So why not go and whimper back to that yellow mouse of yours and get the FUCK out of my face before I mess up YOURS!"
A purple fist lifted to rest beneath the now on guard Rainbow Dash's chin.
"Y..y..you, you...you speak of Loyalty, my friends are EVERYTHING to ME."
Bumping chests with the bullish bruiser, the jock sneered openly, throwing Aria's own words right back at her. Suddenly the air between them got much tighter as two proud brows slammed into one another, the duo growling but an inch apart.
"Yes, friends. Just friends. Tell me about your friends, do they go to your little games? Cheer you on as you act like some wide hipped boy? Friends?! Try FAMILY you mindless mutt! Here I have an idea you piss off right now and I wont shove your tail so far up your narrow ass that your cunt of a girl friend wont even be able to find it."
"Don't you talk about Shy like that! A fatass like you wouldn't or cant even GET a girlfriend let alone be close to her like we are. And my friends ARE my family!"
The bruiser leaned back, her arms crossing and face turning away. A sharp blush ran her cheeks and a growl purred still healing lips.
"Whatever..."
Rainbow grasped at the exposed weak point of her foe quickly.
"OOOoooOOO...that's it isn't it? What's wrong bubble butt? Little lonely eh? Know what they say, pants in the double digits never get thrown over the head board."
"Slut!"
"Bitch!"
"If it wasn't for my Sisters needing this I would snap your scrawny neck and hang you up by your dyke hair cut!"
"Well if it wasn't for Shy and my friends your lard ass and those two "things" you call family would be six feet under!"
"That a threat jock?"
"No, its a damn promise thug!"
"STOP IT!"
The ego pumped duo spun towards the small kitchens entryway. Jaws clenched as rain patterd against the patio door. Standing there in her Pj's was Fluttershy, the pink haired mouse bit her lip at her own outburst. Besides her in a borrowed pair of green and pink Pajamas was Sonata, the garments hung limp off her starved form. The youngest Siren looked between her Sister and Dash then back to the trembling Shy.
"Flutters...I..I.."
"No Dashie! No! I can't deal with this, not in my own home! Pinkie is up stairs right now with a bad cut, Sunny has a cracked rib and now a black eye and Miss Dusk here nearly lost part of her foot. How much longer is this going to go on, how much longer Dashie!"
Sonata narrowed her eyes and slightly stepped forward.
"Ari, she is right."
"Shut up you moron, the enemy can't be right!"
"This "enemy" just fed, clothed and bathed us...aahm hellloooOOOoo, Equestria to Aria Blaze!"
Grumbling loudly the bullish girl spun around and snapped her arms up in her signature cross pose, her over growl ponytails snapping.
"Whatever..."
Closing the distance between them, the blue she wolf of the pack wrapped her arms around the beta female, pulling the much larger female in tight and whispering into her ear.
"I know why ok, your like protecting us, you've always been there to take a blow for me or Dagi. But Ari, we don't have to fight anymore. Raise your horns up this time, just for me ok..Ari, please?"
With a sigh that could fill a room with stress, Aria turned in her sisters small embrace and wrapped her in her own bear hug.
"Your the worst, you know that?"
A genuine almost at peace smile crossed the scar clad face of the purple grump. Sonata grinned showing her fangs and nuzzled into her Sisters neck.
"You wouldn't have it any other way."
"It...it isn't that bad..."
Adagio Dazzle, Alpha of her pack, was wrong. It was worse. The eldest Siren starred into Fluttershy's family home upstairs bathroom mirror with a grimace. Stark naked and in the nude as she was, it was clear, her body was near death. A half dozen ribs clung to her brazen golden flesh like wet tissue, the subtle pokes of a spinal column shown through when she turned, hip bones exposed as a naked babe. A low growl purred from her starved chest.
"Damn it..."
"Adagio?"
Spinning with arms flinging up and down to guard her private areas, the look of disappointment became one of shock and embarrassment as the Alpha realized she had left the door open.
"Sorry, I just...wanted to talk with you, I didn't realized you where ahem..ahmm..."
"What? Naked in the privacy of a bathroom? What do YOU want bacon-head?"
Sunset Shimmer reset her gaze and locked a death glare on the Alpha of the Sirens.
"I really...really...do not like that name."
"Gee, and I do not enjoy being gawked at by some dyke bitch!"
"Maybe you shouldn't strip in someone elses house! Your lucky Flutters folks are on vacation!"
"Maybe you shouldn't have brought us here!"
"AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST ASKED FOR HELP BEFORE NEARLY KILLING YOURSELF AND YOUR SIBLINGS OUT ON THE STREETS!"
The two grew silent at the outburst, Adagio still gripping her bossom and nether area turned away showing just how scrawny and shrunken her once double take rear had become.
"....My Sisters need this..."
"You, you need this Adagio."
Turning back she let her arms drop to a defensive stance, showing off her almost skeletal features in full.
"What do you know about what I need. You transplated Unicorn whore!"
Sunset stepped into the small bathroom and shut the door, adjusting her leather jacket with a show of power she opened her stance and softened her gaze at the defeated lioness.
"I know what it is like to live in this world without magic. Celestia damnit Adagio, magical beings can NOT function in this world without magic. We need it, you, me, your Sisters. Friendship IS magic here...look at yourself, look what has become of you. Damnit, talk to me!"
Adagio shrank under Sunset's words, she glared at her for only a moment before the quiver of tears shatterd the hate in her gaze.
"We ran..."
Blinking rapidly, Sunset shimmer felt the moment and stepped up with a towel, she wrapped the exposed siren in it and helped her to sit upon the closed toilet, she herself sat across from her on the edge of the bath tub.
Adagio took a moment, shifting her thinned jaw and eyed the leader of the Rainbooms. She was about to expose herself, not in flesh, but perhaps in emotion...and it was hard.
"Do you know what a Siren is, Sunset Shimmer?"
"Please, just Sunset. And I do, Princess Celestia taught me all about many if not all of the rare mythical creatures of our home, why?"
"One, one in a thousand beings born in Equestria, are a Siren. You are correct to call us rare. My Sisters and I are a "blue moon" if you will. My entire existence is bent around them, protecting them, loving them, keeping them safe and happy...so we ran."
Sunset felt her shoulders drop, and a lump form in her throat.
"You, YOU, broke us. If we had that battle in Equestria, the shattering of our gems would have left us dead. But here..here in this pathetic world, it just left us powerless. And as you so freely state, no magical being can survive without magic here."
Adagio leaned back, firmly holding the towel around her shrunken bosom, a glare appearing only to drop as she looked away.
"After the battle, we returned to our home. South side Apartments. Our spell had been broken, and I was rather shocked at how fast the land lord had realized we had been using them. An eviction notice was up on our door before we even could realize what had happened. Sonata...Nata wanted to get her toys, her electronics, Aria wanted her work out equipment..we couldn't take any of it. We HAD to run. What things we had of value I took, over the next few weeks we spent in a hotel, trying to coup with what happened, pawning off what we could...then the hunger came."
"The..hunger?"
"Yes Sunset Shimmer...the hunger. It was no subtle thing. We have always taken of human food..snort..Sonatas pot belly and Aria's fat ass are signs of that. Not all our feeding came from negative energy."
"Says the gal with hips that filled doorways?"
"Ahm, says the girl who was LOOKING!"
Sunset blushed wildly and flicked her hair.
"You where saying?"
"Yes, the hunger. Without the draw of negative energy from humans, we became gluttons if you will, on human food. Our bodies demand constant satisfaction, perhaps the human term "high metabolism" is warranted here. Yet as our funds diminished, we were forced to less sustaining foods. Our last meal at the hotel before they kicked us out, was a dozen pots of instant noodles...it only got worse."
The well fed leader of the Rainbooms blinked and made a face.
"Ugh, you ate those things, they are horrible!"
"Not as horrible as a half frozen hamburger out of a fast food dumpster!"
Sunset felt her skin prickle and turned green at the mention of such a task.
"Adagio..I..I had no idea!"
"Shut up and listen you dyke, I am not repeating myself...Sigh...Summer went well for us, despite leaving on the streets, homeless shelters and finally that accursed abandoned gas station...pan handling was easy. Sonata came up with the idea to get a job to support us, which oddly enough a local café hired her, my guess is because of her smile..and tits..that said, she did well for a few weeks. But with out a place to wash our cloths she started, well...showing up "unwashed" and lets just say she lost her job based on a odder factor."
"She showed up to work, stinking?"
"Ever live in a run down shell of a building, you don't get a lot of hot water there...shut up I'm talking here."
With a blink and a sneer, Sunset obliged.
"After that, and the remainder of her tips and paycheck spent...the hunger returned. It was Aria we noticed first to suffer. Tsk..girl is built like a brick wall. Thick, wide, powerful. Sonata enjoys ribbing her over her girth, but when her pants began to slip, and shirt no longer caught like a second skin...well...it went all down hill from there."
Adagio leaned back, adjusting the towel around her modesty and sighing openly. Her sunken eyes looking at the floor.
"I am sure you can guess the rest of the story."
"Adagio..."
"Silence...I did not tell you this for your pity, you horned sow!"
Jerking to her feet, the Alpha glared with knocking knees, her half starved legs trembling under the meager weight of her body, a fist raised she glared in earnest.
"I am Adagio Dazzle, and you are nothing more then some grease monkey dyke, you will not look down at me!!"
Sunset was on her in an instant, despite the pain of her recently puffed and blackened eye curtsey of one Miss Adagio Dazzle, she was hugging the skeletal remains of the once mighty Siren in earnest, holding her in her embrace and whispering softly.
"You are, you are...and no one will ever look down at you, not again."
Taken aback by the show of emotion, Adagio felt the stress of her burden slip and she took the embrace of the Rainboom Alpha, the two sharing a moment, if only that, in solace.
"Why..."
"Hmm?"
"why are you...you...doing this?"
Glancing up she leaned back, but Sunsets arms still firmly around the non-existant waist of the Alpha Lioness.
"Guess I got a chip on my shoulder, ya know. Twilight saved me, the girls...they gave me a home, family. I never had that in Equestria...wait...You spoke of Celestia! You...you cant possible know of her, your banishment here was like forever ago."
Jerking from the embrace she glared at the starved Siren and put hands upon hips.
"Sunset Shimmer..."
"No! Answer me, what do you know about my teacher!"
Adagio sighed and reached for what serviced as her bra.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you...I knew her as a filly, before her wretched needy Sister was even born..."
Sunset felt the hackles on her neck raise.
"Answer me..."
"Sigh...fine. Do you recall what I said about one in a thousand beings in Equestria are born a Siren? We are a, to use your friends name, a rarity. The King and Queen knew this, also knew of our songs. Sirens are NOT evil creatures despite what lies you've spewed to your human...friends...At a young age my Sisters still hatchlings, I was summoned by the Queen to...to..teach her first born."
"You...you..."
"Yes, I taught the Princess how to Sing..there are you fucking happy! Now get the hell out of here so I can dress!!"
A slam of the bathroom door later and Sunset was alone in the upstairs hallway, her face pale and eyes wide, the shock and realization of what had just been exposed to her like an anvil on her mind. Glancing back at the bathroom door, the lump in her throat grew. Suddenly she realized all to well the pain in the eldest Siren, the hate in her heart, and more over...why her distain lingerd on the turned human, unicorn.
"Adagio..."
"Nine...t...t...te..e...n!"
"Your not ready for this!"
"Shut up!"
"No, for real, like stop!"
"El...el...e..."
"Damnit your stubborn as a bull!"
"And..y..your like the family dog, don't make me kick you!"
Rainbow Dash stood over Aria blaze, the bruiser of the sirens layed out in sit up formation, attempting in her half starved shape to work out. The proud lead guitarist of the Rainbooms stood with hands on well trained hips and glared down at her rival.
"Look I said I would help you get back in shape, but its been like one damn day since you had a good meal and a bed to sleep in! You can't do this now!"
"DO NOT TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN NOT DO YOU FUCKING BLUE CROTCH LICKING WHORE!"
Lifting her nose at the exhausted Siren, Dash snorted loudly.
"Why Sunny is wasting her time on you three I will never know, now get up you need rest."
Flopping back against the downstairs "home gym" floor, Aria weezed in exhaustion. She was out of shape, she knew that, hell if she was even "in a shape" she would be shocked. Once over two hundred pounds and with biceps larger then her ankles, she was the backbone of her group, a brawler, a thug, a fighter. Now...now she felt like nothing. She couldn't protect her Sisters, she couldn't do what she loved. Tears formed in the proud Sirens eyes and she blinked them away with a grunt and returned to trying to do the most basic of exercises.
"I wont stop, I cant...I cant...quit!"
"For them?"
"Uh?"
"You cant quit, for them? Tsk, come on girl you aint that secretive. You love your Sises I get that. Sure you grunt and snort like a damn ox..."
"Bull!"
"What?"
"Nevermind..."
"...right, anyways...You act all tough, and closed off, but your close to the family. I get that. You are there shield, the one who stands in front and takes the shots, starts the fights and finishs them. That aint no bad thing, be proud of that, but damnit girl...ive lived in a gym since I was like ten years old! I know what I am talking about when I say...your not ready!!"
Aria blaze looked away, already her starved form was dripping in sweat, the over indulged meal sitting heavy in her stomach. She layed back with a heavy sigh and looked up at her rival with a soft expression.
"Would you..."
"Would I what?"
"Die for them?"
"Whaaaaaat??"
"Your friends, your band..stay with me jock for brains, stop thinking about your six pack abs and focus...Would you die for your friends?"
"I..I..hell ya I would!"
"Good, then you understand why I have to do this...now leave me the fuck alone you blue lesbian cunt."
As Aria began to count off her sit ups again, Rainbow Dash crossed her arms and snorted. If her ears could they would be pinned and aggravated like any dog.
"...Your form is wrong, your only going to work the lower abs like that, here..."
Fluttershy watched from the stairs, a warm smile playing her lips. The heavy busted mouse like girl watched as her girlfriend helped her most hated foe, in earnest. Retreating up the stairs her chest burned in warmth, everything was going to be alright...at least until she stepped into her kitchen to find Pinkie Pie and Sonata coverd in flour, as well as the whole of the kitchen itself.
"oh..my..."
"Re..really Miss Dusk, I..it's fine!"
"Aww, like I am so damn sorry gurl! Here I can help!"
"Easy back wolfy. Shy is right we got this."
"No, here!"
Kneeling down wasn't the hard part, it was trying to lift the meager weight of her torso with atrophied legs. Knees trembling, her thighs burning, Sonata had to use the flour coverd counter top to steady herself. Sucking in a deep breath the youngest of the Sirens rose back to her stance.
"Wolfy?"
Glancing to the quick to knick name Pinkie Pie, Sonata gave her best fake smile and flipped her freshly washed ponytail back. A small trim later she felt like a new women. Unlike her Sister, Adagio, Nata was all to happy to get a trim. Giving the best big eyes she could the she wolf of the trio scratched behind her head.
"S..sorry, I didn't sleep well last night, forgot what a pillow felt like. Well like, if you discount Aria's huge butt! Teheh!"
Fluttershy just starred up at the girl as she worked a slightly damp cloth in attempt to clean up the mess her fellow Rainboom and the Siren had made.
"Ohh, I thought it was because of your hard time out side and diet. S..sorry."
Pinkie perked up and sprang to her feet with a bounce, the "fat girl" of the group yanked Fluttershy into a crushing hug and grinned madly from ear to ear.
"Shy you like totally nailed it! What we need...are cupcakes!!!"
The blue skinned Dazzling felt herself go a little green. While her figure was still skeletal from the long winter, her stomach was rounded and over packed with way to many of the culinary genius treats.
"Ahm like, wasn't that what we where making?"
"Duh silly, but a smart Pie always has a back up bakers dozen!"
With that the large girls fingers dug into her massive bloom of hair. If a hair war was to begin between the Alpha lioness and the chubby pie...it wouldn't end well. Yanking free from her massive of frosting pink curls, Pinkie offered a perfect platter of assorted flavors of cupcakes.
"This one is lemon zest (ha!), oooOOOoo and this one is double chocolate...urp..well it was, hehe, oh try my "mint road" its the best."
The now chocolate lip covered Rainboom grinned wildly and shoved a pair of cupcakes into either of Fluttershy and Sonata's hands. A low overly stuffed gurgle left the cringing she wolf at the sight of more baked goods.
"Ahm, Pinkie...you know I am on a diet."
"Psh! Come on shy you only wear a size 12! Come on its triple berry your fav!"
Peering down at herself, Fluttershy cringed at the valley of cleavage and girth her bosom held. "Blessed" as she was, for one so meek and homely as her, it was a curse more then anything. But being best friends with the schools most renown baker...wasn't helping.
"Well maybe just one..."
"Or two!"
Sonata shoved her own offerd treat into the yellow girls hand and stepped back patting her stuffed belly.
"I really had to many earlier, about this mess..."
Having finished off the rest of the dozen treats, Pinkie stowed her platter in its hairy home and patted her chin in thought.
"WeeeEEEeell, It is kinda messy. Don't you worry, let ol Mama Pinkie pie clean it up!"
"Ahm, like I totally think I got a few HUNDRED years on you gurl."
Fluttershy raised her finger to say something but stopped and found herself along with Sonata being pushed from the kitchen.
"Nah thems just immortal years, your already like my little Sis Marble in my eyes, you two go warm up the video games..."
Pinkie took a "dragon ball z" pose her fists at her sides and eyes narrowed.
"I shall defend my title of race track MASTER!!"
And with that, like a burst of chubby pink wind, she was back into the kitchen.
Fluttershy gulped at her friends antics and offerd the left over cupcake to Sonata.
"Are you sure, really, you should eat more."
Another gurgle struggled from the blue wolfess over packed paunch.
"Nah, heeh, I'm good!"
With a hair tuck behind her ear and a gesture to let the Siren go first, the two made there way into the living room. The antics from the now three day extended sleep over evident. A pile of empty energy drinks, a half eaten apple pie, piles of dirty cloths and way to many dvd cases scattered about.
"Oh...my, we really should clean up."
"Aint those folks of yours out of town till...?"
"Oh yes, Mother and Father are both lecturing over in Manehatten, the city is also home to our familys "summer house". Mother comes from money you see. They have taken a bit of a sabbatical since I will be starting college soon they thought I should have the spring off and time to myself and you girls."
"Us..girls? Think your jumping the gun dog. Ahm, Hellllloooo. A few months ago I was lying and using you for pocket change. Your just like, going to forgive that?"
Hiding behind her hair a bit, the mousey girl cup her hands in her lap as she sat on the magazine coverd couch.
"Well, of course. I can't hold a grudge, the position you three where in was just dreadful. Me holding a grudge would be like like...ohh..hurting a lost dog because it growled at me. And that is just, awful. "
Sonata rubbed the back of her head and took a seat as well.
"Dagi...she."
"Sonata?"
Taken a slow breath the small she wolf of the pack looked out the window at the mid morning melting, the winter seemed to be wrapping up rather quickly.
"You Rainbooms stole our magic, broke our pendants...and then there is the hunger. We still feel it, even now. I isn't the brains of this show, but I can tell you I know my Sisters. Aria is a noble soul, ya ya don't give me that look she really like totally is. She only wants to keep us safe...she will kill herself to get that power back. But Adagio. Dagi...she, she sigh...nevermind. I am like sure your Alpha will get through to her."
"Alpha?"
"Ya that bacon haired girl, Sunny setter."
"Ahm its Sunset Shimmer...Sonata can I ask you something?"
Having reached for the pile of video games, she dug for the one Pinkie loved.
"Uh, sure gurl!"
"Well, ahm, it isn't my place but..but why do you girls refer to yourselves with feral terms? Alpha, Beta, pack, etc. I only ask because well I love animals! And the more time I spend with you, I am starting to see the resemblance in each of you. I..I'm sorry, that was rude."
Sonata blinked, her immature brain struggling with an answer.
"Ahh, like I don't really know. In Equestria each of us where like big giant Sirens, we rocked shit hard! But here I don't know, it's almost like coming her we took on persona's or whatever of other creatures that aint human."
"Yes, but you have fangs. And I recall Aria Blaze at the battle of the bands, she was huge. And your Sister Adagio has an almost regal air about her, I always feel like she is looking down at everyone and everything like from atop her pride."
"Your killing it girl! Hehe"
"Ahm thanks...?"
"Think about it this way alright? Look at you and your own, your all different and stuff but kinda like us. Jock for brains is like the family dog, loyal and quick to bark. That farmer is like a freaking Amazon..trust me, ive met some in my time. Rarity seems almost like a fairy, her movement is far to "mythic" to be fully human. You girls maybe from here but find me another set of five that can use magic."
"I...I suppose your right. Your sisters give you to hard a time, talking with you is very enjoyable."
"Uhh? Naaaah, that's just how Ari is, she loves me and her butt really is a great pillow!!"
The two shared a giggle.
From down stairs now in push up position, Aria felt her gaze snap to the ceiling as if having a six sense.
"She is so fucking dead..."
Seated on a weight bench nearby chugging a monster, Rainbow Dash cocked an eye brow.
"Whats up?"
"Oh, nothing, just plotting the painful death of my moron of a Sister."
"Tsk, Sonata. Eh I don't know, she seems harmless to me."
"Says the neutered dog. Listen up abs for brains, Nata has more notch's on her belt then Dagi and I combined. I maybe the one to shield my Sisters but she is the sword."
"...Damn, could have fooled me she is kinda well..."
"An air head?"
"You said it not me."
"You'll change that tune when you hear her howl...and frankly while I cant stand you, I would honestly hate to see you suffer such a fate."
"Gulp...fair enough."
IF the abandoned gas station could look any more dark and cold then it already had, it would this evening. Sonata Dusk stumbled, she heaved and tugged, freezing drops of sweat washing her starved blue face. Over one shoulder, she dragged the form of her fallen Alpha, the former proud Lioness groaning and whimpering the same word over and over again in the dieing light of the day. Before the hunched duo, stalked Aria Blaze. Lost of her former glory, but still strong enough to slam a duct tape repaired boot into the rusted side door of the Sirens "Home", she ushered her Sisters in before giving a hateful glance into the now near nightfall filled weather. The snow had haunted them all the way home, just as much as the bruise and bloody lip she had suffered from a renewed Rainbow Dash. It was only the shoulder tackle from Sonata and the bloody grip of Sunset that had allowed them an escape from the howling Jock. Spitting blood that froze in mid air, the Tomboy jerked the door closed behind them, the shuffling of a chair to its handle the only sound of a secure lock.
"That was so fucking stupid Sonata! You could have been hurt, that Butch Dyke would have strung you up by your tits! What where you..oh give me her!"
With an insane amount of gentle ease for the brazen Siren, Aria took the weight of her almost skeletal leader onto her own starved frame. This action alone allowed Sonata to slunk to the floor, gasping and wheezing her tiny figure trembling as pink eyes glared up through frozen eye lashes at her Sister.
"F..fu..fu.."
Rolling her eyes firmly, the once Bruiser of the team laid Adagio out on their shared, "bed", the pile of needing body warmed old rugs, stolen coats and discarded towels, she promptly rose, every joint in the purple fleshed girls body popping at once. Her own fatigue was growing, darkness crept in the corner of her eyes, having not eaten anything all day, instead sharing her ration with Sonata and Adagio the two having little more then a cheese and cracker between them, welcomed the beef jerky. Swallowing deep gasps of air, she turned in the former Managers office of the gas station and knelt beneath the ruined desk.
"Please Nata, just go to sleep, Dagi needs you right now. Like your good for anything.."
"FUCK YOU ARIA BLAZE!"
The howled cry rang through the tiny room like a gun shot, startled eyes met fiery tear filled orbs as the two starred at one another. Her jaw lowered to speak, then snapped shut, then repeated. Aria was aghast at her Younger Siblings outburst. Never, well perhaps a few drunken times in this many, many decades of life, had ever the Youth sneered in such desperation and anger. Having been reaching for a plastic bag with a hidden new Blanket, eager to warm the frost bitten golden flesh of her Leader. But cloth wrapped hands froze at the words barked in her ear. They then shot up in utter desperation as Sonata all bet lept upon her, like a Wolf finding prey.
"I HATE YOU! I FUCKING HATE YOU..WHY DO YOU ALWAYS KICK ME, SPIT ON ME, YELL AT ME PUT ME DOWN..I AM AS MUCH A SIREN AS YOU, YOU..YOU..BITCH!"
Again the howled words from the tiny Pup of a blue furred Wolf lorded over the struggling Aria, her mind washed in fresh adrenaline, burning away the darkness of exhaustion.
"S..So..na..ta, stop! STOP! What do you think you're do..AGH!"
The punch landed over an already bruised jaw of the Purple Siren, she was knocked for a loop and slammed her head into the side of the desk.
"You..you..BITCH! You think you can, can just do ANYTHING better then me! Damnit Aria, damn you.."
Sobs now broke the snarls of anger, and her fangs withdrew. The youngest Pup of the Sirens began to tremble in sheer emotion, and for once not of the cold that lingered each breath in the abandoned room.
"We, can't make it like this..not like this..Adagio is dieing! I found a rag this morning she carries, its covered in blood, you know the one, she coughs into. We have to do something, we have to ask the.."
This time it was the Bruisers turn to snarl, with what little muscle her starved body still had, she heaved up and slammed the smaller siren in a return pose, and mounted atop her.
"Do NOT say it, you little twerp. Adagio would NEVER ask us to fall to such a state of weakness. They are our ENEMIES! THEY DID THIS TO US!"
Sonata struggled for a moment and glared up at her Sister, tears dissaperd for a moment as hate returned. But as the two shared frozen breath in the darkness, she felt Aria's grip on her wrists slacken, her own struggling died, and when hands freed she pushed herself up only to wrap her older Sibling in a tight embrace.
"I..I..you're right Ari, you always are. S..sorry, the Pup in me let out. I didn't mean to bark at you like that."
Leaning back just enough she admired the damage she had done to her siblings ruined face, with a oddly tender moment Sonata leaned up to drag her warm tongue over the bloody and frozen flesh, as if a Mother trying to clean her Pup's wounds.
"Nata..d..don't..we..Dagi.."
The Blue Wolfess sighed and leaned back she helped her larger Sister stand and retrieved the hidden bag, with a gentle nod she took her fellow Sirens hand as the two made for the groaning form of their Leader. The trio soon turned into a puddle of filthy blankets, and slowly warming flesh.
But it was the fourth presence just outside the ill repaired broken Windows that cast a true chill over the dark room.
"Sunny, tr..try not to move. Let me see."
The sweet, soft voice of Fluttershy washed over the closed Vet's office dimly lite operation room. College still a few months off, Fluttershy had taken up her Father's teaches rather well, and been allowed to serve as his nurse at the local Vet's office. This of course allowed her a set of shop keys, which had proven a life saver for the badly cut Sunset.
"Flutters, really it's ok, its just a scratch.."
The Biker of the Rainbooms, her Alpha persona in full throttle, snarled like fourth gear as she tried to ignore just how ruined the centers of her palms where. The duel cuts from gripping that jagged kitchen knife of Adagio's had cut her meet almost to the bone. Already she had hissed at the cleaning and was now eyeing the needle and thread the most tender of the RB's was preparing to stitch her shut.
"Nonsense, let me help, or you're never gonna play your guitar again, let alone grip "Olga's" reigns.
The mere mention of not being able to mount her beloved Hog "Olga" caused the sometimes stubborn Leader to submit. She closed her eyes and suckled at the bottle of Vodka Rainbow had snagged for her when the Trio piled into the Jock's car and made for Fluttershy's Dad's work. While thankful it was after hours, Sunset felt her mind drift as the fog of Alcohol washed it away.
"Rainbow..w..where is that brawler? Hehe, we barely got her off that Siren, hic..damn fine left on her, eh Shy-shy?"
Fluttershy only gave a tender nod and an affirmative noise, trying not to provoke the slowly getting drunk patient of hers. It was well that Rainbow had something to ease the pain, as she hadn't yet been taught about Pain killers by her father.
"She just gave me her keys and told me she would meet us here, I think she stayed to get that knife, because, oh my..imagine if the police found a blade with your blood all over it, oh..I hope she alright!"
Slugging loudly from the bottle again, the fiery hair girl gestured with the bottle and was about to speak when the side door of the Vet's office slammed open. Both of the girls sent wide eyes as the gust of a full winter storm washed the night filled doorway. Filling it was the Tomboy Jockish form of Rainbow Dash, a death glare on her narrowed eyes as the door slammed behind her. She strode into the room with little pomp and glamour save three words as her finger gloved hands slammed upon the operating table Sunset sat upon.
"I followed them..."
