Cheating the Cycle of Life- A Padded Pony Collab

“Do you have any new information about Adagio and Aria Blaze?”

Sunset felt horrible. It’s been weeks since the end of the battle of the bands concert and the two remaining sirens were nowhere to be found. The aftermath of the concert was a mad scramble to try and locate the three sirens before they could escape town and head to another.

“I haven’t heard anything from the police or any of my friends.” Sunset rubbed her eyes, feeling incredibly tired after coming home from her long search for the remaining sirens. “Rainbow Dash said, she went to the train station to keep an eye out for them but they weren’t there.”

“If they were anywhere near the train station then I would have been informed by the police.” Principal Celestia took a sip of her coffee; clearing out her throat and setting it back down onto the table. “Has…” She stopped, obviously looking nervous for what she was about to ask. “You know, Sonata…”

“She’s been fine.” Sunset replied, “I changed her a few minutes before you arrived but that’s about it.”

“Did she…” The Principal paused, trying her best to think of what to say next.

“Nope,” Sunset disappointingly shook her head.

Principal Celestia sank back in her seat, slowly shaking her head, crossing her arms, “Dang it. And I thought if we waited for a couple of days she would open up and give us additional clues.”

“I don’t think she’ll be able to.” Sunset cringed. “There probably isn’t enough of her left to even recognize their names, let alone a clue on their whereabouts.”

“It’s a shame.” Celestia looked down. “But I must ask,” The Principal perked back up. “How did she get into your garden if she was acting like she is now?”

“I don’t know,” Sunset shrugged, “she must have gotten lucky or something. I’ve never told them where I lived and I have never directly told Sonata.”

“It’s like something drawn her to you.” The Principal took another sip of her drink.

“Whatever the case is,” Sunset leaned back resting herself onto her chair, “we’ve got one of the sirens and that’s good enough for me.”

“Even if…”

“Even if she’s acting the way she is.” Sunset finished.

Sunset and Celestia soon heard loud footsteps coming from the hallway. Sunset glanced at the Principal and mentally prepared for the worst.

Sonata waddled into the kitchen, surprising the Principal by her presence alone; her feet loudly stomped on the cold kitchen tiles resulting in her feet effectively making a slapping sound with each step.

Sunset forced a smile and gestured for the guest to come over to the table. “Oh Sonata!” she called, “Are you feeling okay?”

Celestia saw all that she needed to see. The former siren didn’t respond to Sunsets call and stared into space.

“Do you need another diaper change?” Sunset asked.

Sonata wore a pair of frilly pink socks, the type that only a small child would wear on their first day to school. Celestia inspected her t-shirt and noticed it was the traditional Canterlot High jumper that’s used for the Fall Formal. Underneath the jumper was a white diaper, its thickness had spread the sirens legs outward resulting in her walk to resemble a toddlers.

The charm she wore back at Canterlot High was replaced with a bright pink adult pacifier that dangled wherever she walked.

Sunset tapped her lap and gestured the siren to come over and sit down. “Want to sit down and talk to Auntie Celestia?”

Sonata stared into space for what felt like a good minute before reacting to the student’s question. She continued her waddle and slowly made her way over to the table, placing her padded rear onto Sunset’s lap.

“Sunny…” Sonata whispered, she spoke similar to that of a child.

“What is it?” Sunset wrapped her arms around the toddler, feeling Sonatas head rest on her shoulders.

“I, I gotta… T-Talk to you…” She pulled out the TV remote from her jumper pocket and placed it on the table. Sunset looked at the remote and inspected it in case of any drool or teeth marks. “I w-wanna turn the TV on…” she whispered, pointing over to the door that leads to the living room.

“Silly billy,” Sunset replied with a motherly smile, “You press the big red button, see?” She picked up the remote and pointed to the big red button found in the corner.

Sonata didn’t respond. She sheepishly grabbed the remote with both hands and hopped off Sunset’s lap, making her journey back to the living room.

Celestia watched the two interact; politely keeping her hands together until Sonata finally left the room. Sunset Shimmer instantly dropped her smile and placed her hands on her forehead, resting her arms against the table.

“I see what you mean.” Celestia sighed, “When you spoke about her during the phone calls…”

“Yeah.” Sunset nodded, interrupting Celestia. “Mind of a three year old with the body of a twenty-one year old.” She sighed, “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“But you’re doing something special,” Celestia crossed her arms. “I can’t imagine any other student looking after her. I don’t think I could do that.”

“She was crying for her mother.” Sunset stated.

“I’m sorry?” Celestia blinked.

“When I found her, I mean.” Sunset rested up against the chair. “She was dirty, her pants were soiled and I don’t think she even knew where she was.”

“It’s horrible,” Celestia cringed at the image. “Whatever her sisters did to her is horrible.”

“What makes you say that?” Sunset asked.

“I don’t know.” Celestia shook her head, obviously upset. “I get the feeling she was abandoned shortly after the concert, scared out of her mind.”

“Scared enough to mentally regress back into a toddler?”

“Maybe.” The Principal shrugged. “I know the school has asked a lot from you these past few months during this investigation, but you need to keep Sonata safe.”

Sunset nodded. “I’ve been doing my best.”

A smile came to Celestia before getting up from her seat. She picked up her handbag and slung it round her arm.

“If you need anything, anything at all, just call me on the phone. I’m going back to the Canterlot High to speak to my sister about something.”

The Principal slowly walked out of the kitchen and entered the living room. She poked her head around the corner and noticed Sonata sitting on the floor, staring at the TV as an assortment of loud cartoons played on the screen.

Sonata turned her head, revealing her baby pink pacifier in her mouth and noticed the principal staring at her.

“Goodbye Sonata.” Celestia cooed, forcing a smile. “Have a good night.”

“G-Goodb-buh-ye…” Sonata mumbled from under her pacifier and waved at the adult.