Sonata's Melodick Symphony

The halls of Canterlot High echoed with the rhythmic clacking from a pair of heels, like the hurried beating of a metronome. The strident sounds made the high school students look around curiously, their eyes widening when they saw the red and gold haired girl storm in their direction. Sunset Shimmer didn’t look happy. Not, happy, one, bit. She actually looked quite furious.

The former pony stomped through the corridors, her arms crossed tightly across her leather jacket, her fearsome scowl making the other humans shiver. They knew that look all too well. Her black boots clacked with each step with a crisp *SNAP*, punctuating the murmurs that followed her. Her fellow students huddled together in her wake, urgently whispering to one another, the same question in everyone’s mind: was the queen bee of Canterlot High back?

They had not seen Sunset looking so angry since before her defeat at the Fall Formal, and they had been completely sure she had changed after the battle of the bands, just a few months back. But the way she was marching towards the music hall was definitely reminiscent of her old ways, an aura of intimidation making everyone duck for cover as she approached. One cluster of shivering teens pushed a male student out of the group, urging him to follow the scary magical girl and find out what was happening.

Flash Sentry ran a nervous hand through his electric blue hair, catching up to his former girlfriend, sweat running down his brow. Sunset didn’t slow down as he fidgeted next to her, grinning sheepishly.

“Uuuh, so…” Flash mumbled, trying to get her attention. “What’s up?” He cringed when Sunset shot him a withering glare. “I mean I’m just asking…” His voice got very chipmunky, one hand instinctually protecting his crotch. “You look kinda mad and…”

“Not now Flash!” Sunset snapped.

“Eeep!” Flash squeaked and threw himself on the floor, rolling into a ball.

The rest of the students gasped at his reaction, and silence fell amongst the huddle teens. They looked at one another fearfully, the same look of abject fear reflected on every multicolored faces. A shiver ran through the crowd, someone started weeping, and somewhere a dog howled. Then a pin dropped, and pandemonium broke loose. Screams of “The demon’s back!” and “She has magic powers now!” or “I’m too young to be turned into a zombie!” exploded everywhere in the school, students running for the hills in a panic.

Sunset Shimmer ignored the riot she had caused, her goal just coming into view. She burst through the music hall, punching the double doors open, startling the band rehearsing inside. The Rainbooms jumped as one; Fluttershy dropped her tambourine with a small little yelp, Rarity hugged her keytar for dear life and Rainbow Dash almost swallowed the mike.

“What the heck!” Applejack exclaimed as Pinkie Pie fell from her drummer chair. “What’s the big idea?!” Her indignant frown turned into a surprised look when she saw who had barged in. “Sunset?” She took her bass guitar’s strap off her shoulder, worried about her friend’s livid expression and the sounds of panic coming from behind her.

“You trying to give us a heart attack Sunset?” Rainbows Dash rasped, one hand over her chest.

“Yeah, what gives!” Pinkie emerged from behind her drums, chopsticks poking out of her poofy hair. She tilted her head, listening carefully. “And what’s with the screaming?”

“Never mind that.” Sunset said bitingly. She banged the doors closed, shutting out the clamoring. “What did say do to her?”

“Why, whatever are you talking about?” Rarity asked, confused. She gave Fluttershy a reassuring pat on the back, the shivering girl hiding behind her long pink hair.

“SONATA!” Sunset barked angrily, her rage boiling over; she winced when her outburst made Fluttershy whimper. Rarity swiftly embraced the scared girl, cooing soft reassurances, before turning a dangerously cold stare at the former pony. The fashionista frowned and pointed a finger to her lips, mouthed the word ‘careful’, then she closed her fist with a cracking of knuckles. Lithe muscles flexed all over her slim arm, bulging fiercely under her delicate white skin. The warning was clear: watch your tone, or feel the wrath of a martial arts adept. Sunset exhaled, trying to calm down. “Look, I just want to know what happened between you and my girlfriend.”

“You mean the siren that tried to take over the school?” Rainbow deadpanned, unhooking her electric guitar from her shoulders. “Gee, I wonder why we would have problems with her.”

“I don’t have any problems with her…” Fluttershy murmured, too low to be heard.

“You didn’t have any issue accepting me.” Sunset sighed, ashamed that she had lost control so easily. This wasn’t who she wanted to be anymore.

“Hmm… I think she’s nice…” Fluttershy whispered, ignored by all. “She’s kind to the animals and…”

“That’s cause you felt bad for wut you did.” Applejack came closer, putting a careful hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “But that girl, she don’t even seem to care.”

“That’s because she doesn’t!” Pinkie Pie piped up, suddenly appearing behind Sunset, making her jump. “When I asked if she felt bad about what she did, she said no! She just wishes she hadn’t lost to us, she is sad her pendant broke and she is worried about her sisters doing a dangerous job, whatever that means. No remorse about trying to eat our souls!” Pinkie zipped to her school bag and produced a sheet of paper. “Look! That’s what she drew when I asked her what she would like to do when she’s older. Just look at it!” She shoved the sheet in Sunset’s hands.

On the paper was a surprisingly elaborate pencil drawing, showing a cartoony Sonata with a huge happy grin. She was wearing crude leather armor, and was sitting on a throne made out of skulls and bones. She had a huge sword in her hands, stained with blood, planted between her feet. She looked like a barbarian king ready for battle. And then there was the totally nude Sunset Shimmer sprawled on the ground, supine and sensual, holding on to Sonata’s left leg. Sunset blushed at the lifelike representation of her own naked body, all her proportions perfectly respected.

“I really shouldn’t have shown her that movie…” Sunset grumbled, her cheeks burning. Sonata always managed to impress her with her hidden talents, but the realistic portrayal of her bare frame was a little much. Sonata had even remembered the beauty mark on her left breast!

“Uh. You’re way bustier than I thought.” Rainbow Dash said, looking over her shoulder. She chuckled as Sunset scrambled to hide the drawing. “Do you use sports bras all the time?” She burst out laughing when the older girl avoided her gaze.

“It’s weird having them up here…” Sunset grumbled, looking down at her chest. She tensed when a gentle hand tilted her chin up.

“So, why were you so mad?” Rarity asked softly, holding on to Sunset’s chin. “This little feud between us and Sonata is not new; you know we did our best, but we just don’t get along.” The fashionista released her friend’s jaw, taking a brush from her pocket and fussing with Sunset’s disheveled hair.

“I know, I know.” Sunset exhaled. She perked up when Fluttershy joined the little group with a kind smile. The timid girl put a careful hand on Sunset’s shoulder, putting her at ease. “It’s just that when I got back home to have lunch with her, she looked so sad and withdrawn. She just told me that it was something to do with you girls, so I assumed…”

“We haven’t seen that gurl for weeks.” Applejack interjected.

“I’ve seen her last week-end…” Fluttershy whispered, barely audible.

“Not since she got us kicked out of Sugarcube Corner.” The farmer concluded, crossing her arms

“Banned for a mouth…” Pinkie Pie grumbled.

“Frosting in my hair…” Rarity murmured, her left eye twitching, her fist closing around her brush.

“What was she doing with that crowbar anyway?” Rainbow Dash exploded.

“I shouldn’t have shown her that game…” Sunset murmured to herself. Out loud she said “Look, I’m really sorry girls, but since we started living together I never saw her so depressed. I just don’t know what…”

She was interrupted by the doors opening again, the rusty creak making them turn. A blue haired girl poked her head inside, her ponytail whipping about as she looked around the room. Sonata gasped as she saw Sunset standing there, an exuberant smile blossoming on the siren’s face. She squeed and rushed inside, opening her arms wide.

“Sunny!” Sonata lunged at her girlfriend, Sunset barely resisting the trademark tackle-hug. The rest of the Rainbows retreated to a safe distance, knowing the two of them could get a little… physical. The siren rubbed her nose all over her partner, peppering her with kisses. “I’m so glad I found you!”

“Hi Dusky…” Sunset mumbled, shooting her friends a confused glance. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yes!” Sonata cheered, before rummaging through her jacket. She produced a crumpled paperback novel, the pages creased and battered. “I just finished this piece of garbage, now I can get it out of my mind!”

“Wait, that’s what was keeping you down, a book?” Sunset exhaled; she should have known better than to worry about the eternal airhead.

“Not just any book!” Sonata put the cover on display, showing the image of two white hands holding a red apple on a black background. “This is the worst book I’ve ever read!”

“Hey!” Rarity frowned, looking at the battered novel. “I lent you that book as a sign of friendship!”

“Yeah, and it sucks.” Sonata put her free hand on her hip, watching Rarity with a pitying gaze. She shook her head with a sad sigh. “You have really, really, REALLY bad taste. Like, for realsies.” The siren then nonchalantly threw the book at Rarity’s feet, wiping her hands like she had touched something gross.

“Uh… Sonata?” Sunset mumbled, looking at Rarity. The fashionista’s face was twitching madly, her fist quivering. “I think we better get going…”

“No kidding.” Sonata smiled wide, taking hold of Sunset’s hand. “Let’s go home, leave the kids to play with their little rock band.”

“Hey, who you calling kids!” Rainbow Dash shouted, taking a step forward. Pinkie Pie grabbed her shoulders, restraining her. “We’re all over eighteen now!”

“So? Sunny is almost thirty.” Sonata said offhandedly, not seeing her girlfriend trying to shush her.

“WHAT!” Pinkie exclaimed, letting Rainbow Dash fall on her face. She looked at Sunset Shimmer accusingly.

“Well yeah…” Sunset grinned sheepishly. “The Sunset Shimmer of this world is your age, but back in Equestria…”

“I invited an older adult to my slumber parties?!” Pinkie Pie whispered fearfully.

“Actually it’s two…” Sunset said with a forced smile. “Twilight is in her twenties...” She flinched when Pinkie screeched.

“I broke a PINKIE PROMESS to my parents! TWICE!”

“And what are you, six or something?” Rarity said caustically, staring at Sonata. Applejack discreetly prepared to grasp the furious girl around the waist.

“Dunno. I stopped counting after my one thousand one hundred and first birthday.” Sonata shrugged, not caring when Rarity almost fainted, falling into Applejack’s arms dramatically. The siren tugged on Sunset’s hand, dragging her girlfriend to the exit. “Sooo it’s been fun, but I really want to go home and bang my Sunny, if you don’t mind.”

“Sonata!” Sunset barked, shooting an apologetic look at her shocked friends. “We talked about this!”

“Whaaat?!” the siren whined, tugging harder. “It’s not like I told them I would stuff you with my dick!”

“You just did!” Sunset hissed. She didn’t dare look back now.

“Well hurry up or I’ll tell them you like it hard and roug…”

“NO!” Sunset yelped. “I’m going, I’m going!”

The former pony rushed to the exit, hiding her face, while Sonata followed with a bouncing step. Sunset threw the doors open, not stopping as she fled from her friend’s gaze, but Sonata did. The siren looked back, snorting at the Rainboom’s astonished faces.

“Hey, Flutters!” She called, startling them. “I’ll be coming to the animal shelter this week end, will you be there too?” She beamed when the timid girl nodded hesitantly. “Great! See you there!” She then slammed the door shut.

The Rainbooms looked blankly at the double doors, thinking about Sonata’s words, the horrible implication sinking in slowly.

“Did she just say she had a…” Rainbow began.

“Nope.” Applejack interrupted. She grabbed her bass, strapping herself. “Don’t want to know. Let’s play.”

“Agreed…” Rarity mumbled, taking her keytar. Her white cheeks were reddening madly.

“Waaait…” A look of horror was spreading on Pinkie’s face. “Remember when Sunset came to school with a bunch of gooey stuff in her hair?” The girls shot her curious glances. “I don’t think it really was shampoo…”

A chorus of *EEEEWs* and *EEEEKs* or *I CLEANED HER HAIR WITH MY BRUSH* reached Sunset and Sonata as they sped away from the music hall. The former pony facepalmed, knowing she would never be able to look the young girls in the eyes again. Even so she couldn’t help but smile when Sonata grabbed her hand, skipping happily at her side.

“You’re hopeless.” Sunset sighed, squeezing Sonata’s hand playfully. The two of them marched at a hurried pace, traversing the deserted school

“Why do people keep telling me that?” Sonata hummed, one finger on her chin.

“It’s a mystery.” Sunset chuckled, pushing the glass door leading out of the school. “Do you want to go to the mall first or…”

“Nope, home.” Sonata pointed at her skirt, a suspicious bulge curling across her thigh. “Mister Spurty is really horny.”

“I swear…” Sunset snorted with humor. “Let’s hurry before someone sees it.”

The two girls picked up the pace, crossing Canterlot High’s deserted courtyard, their hands still intertwined. The unlikely pair was unaware of the watchful eyes observing them, hidden behind the tinted windshields of a black car. The suspicious vehicle rumbled as Sunset and Sonata got into a bus, pulling out as the bus sped away. The criminals hiding inside prepared their weapons, ready to begin the mission, and two other black cars followed closely as they tailed their targets. A team was already waiting for the targets at their house, but they couldn't risk losing Sonata Dusk and Sunset Shimmer. It was time for them to disappear.