Under the Blue Moon

Chapter 18 – Blue Moon Sonata

It’s been a week since the Battle of the Bands, and for once, Tidal didn’t have to worry about any problems, magic or not.  This time, he was going to do something for a friend who wanted to enjoy what it was like to have all your worries washed away.  A chance to really feel new in themselves.

Tidal was floating in the pool that was indoors by himself.  It felt like a long time since he did this after all that has happen back at his hometown.  But now, it gave him a chance to fully clear his head while waiting for a few girls to show up and join him.

“Now this is what I needed,” he thought to himself.  “After all that has happen since I got here, it feels like a new experience for me.”  Then his thoughts changed.  “Magic.  I wished I’ve seen it in action.  But it was better to stay out of the way when it happened.  Still, I would like to see the girls, what was it, pony up.  I’m sure it will happen one day.”

He heard a splash nearby and decided to to straighten up in the pool.  “About time.  Ready for your le-”  But he was cut short when he saw a blue girl who was floating in the pool, causing him to turn around, looking away from her.  “SONATA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?”

“Oh hi.  Tidal was it?  I just saw you in the pool by yourself and figured I join you.”

“Naked!?”

“Dud.  Dagi has done that in the past whenever were were near a lake.”

“You might want to get out of the pool and get dressed.”

“Why?”

And it was when three girls were able to come out of the locker room, only to be shocked at what was in front of them.

“SONATA DUSK!  YOU GET OUT OF THAT POOL RIGHT NOW!!!” Sunset yelled.

“That’s why,” Tidal said.

“Tidal, you better not even look at her,” Lyra yelled.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

Tidal started to hear some splashing and could only guess that Sonata was finally out of the pool.

“Come on, Sonata.  You’re coming with me,” Sunset said, and took her back into the locker room with a towel wrapped around her.

“It’s safe to look again,” Bonbon said, causing Tidal to look at the Lyra and Bonbon.

Tidal saw both girls in one piece swimsuits.  Lyra’s was a simple mint swimsuit, while Bonbon was wearing a blue and pink striped swimsuit.  Tidal swam to the edge of the pool where the two girls decided to sit at.

“What’s she doing here anyway?” Bonbon asked.

“Good question,” Tidal replied.  “I don’t think her siren sisters are even around.”

“Maybe Sunset can get some answers out of her,” Lyra said.  “Besides, did you get a good look at her?

Tidal just stared at Lyra.  “You’re not helping.”

“Oh come on.  We know you had a peek at that body of hers to look away,” Bonbon said.

“I must say, she does have a nice body,” Lyra said.

Tidal just shook his head.

Sunset finally came back out with Sonata behind her.  Sunset had a red one piece swimsuit, while Sonata had her hands behind her back, wearing a red two piece.  Lyra, Bonbon, and Tidal were stunned when they saw Sonata in a swimsuit, causing Lyra to let out a catcall whistle.

“Sunset, you had two swimsuits with you?” Tidal asked.

“I wasn’t sure the one piece would fit me,” Sunset replied.  “So I came prepared.”

“Maybe you should have worn the two piece.  Because with a body like hers, she doesn’t need any magic to get any boy to fall for her,” Bonbon said.

“I have to agree.  Any boy would fall head over heels for her with those curves.”  This gave mixed looks from the girls as they stared at Tidal.  “What?  I’m just saying from a boys point of view.”

“He does have a point,” Lyra said.

Sonata wasn’t sure how to react.  “Well, um, thanks?”

Sonata and Sunset went to sit down at the edge of the pool next to Bonbon.

“So, care to explain why you decided to show your face after what you and your sisters did to the school a week ago?” Bonbon asked.

“Yea.  And where are those two?  Watching us in hiding?” Lyra added, looking around the pool.

“I… came by myself,” Sonata sadly replied.

“How come?” Tidal asked.

Sonata was having a hard time answering that, so Sunset decided to answer.  “Somehow, there seems to be some division in the group.  But she wouldn’t say why.”

Tidal decided to swim up to Sonata and place his hand on hers.  “You can tell us.  We won’t judge you for what you did.”

“Unless it was something bad,” Lyra said.

Tidal went on the defensive.  “Lyra, it was Adagio who was pulling the strings in the group.  I don’t think that she had any choice in the matter.  And I’m sure Sunset would agree with me as well.”  Sunset nodded.

Sonata explained.  “Well, after we lost our pendants and ran, we no longer had a place to stay.  So, we found an empty building to for us to hide.  We did our best to get by.  But we started to feel hungry in out bellies and did our best to find food.  Then, Aria started to argue with Adagio about how her plans have failed and that we could no longer go home.  And, well, I just decided to get away from them so I could be by myself.  When I saw Tidal in the pool by himself, I figure he could use a friend, since I heard about what he went through in the past.”

“That was old news,” Bonbon said.

“So, Adagio and Aria are divided about what just happened, and you just… wanted to find a place that felt like home?” Tidal said, which Sonata nodded.

“Man.  That must really suck,” Lyra said.  “If all you wanted to do was go back home, why didn’t you ask?”

“I think because they were once sirens from a thousand years ago, they would have wanted their powers at full before returning.  Maybe an army to follow as well,” Sunset explained.  “I once had those thoughts back then.”

“I guess you have a point there,” Lyra said.

“But, how did you get the pool by yourselves,” Sonata asked.  “All the doors were locked except for the back door.”

“My mother was able to talk to the manager of the pool and let us use it so that I can teach Sunset how to float on the water,” Tidal explained.  “Lyra and Bonbon wanted to join us as well.”

Sonata was surprised.  “Wow.  You’re mother must be really special.”

“She is,” Tidal said.  “She did win gold three times in a row and holds the Olympic and World records in the 1500 meters in swimming.”

That was when Sonata’s eyes went wide open.  “You mean… your mother is Ocean Wave?”

“You heard of her?” Tidal asked.

Sonata nodded.  “All three of us saw her perform on those TVs that were on display back then.  What she did all three times made us wonder if she was a siren like us.  It gave us hope that we could find a way home.  Or at least have someone who would be willing to help us out in this world.  I would have even wanted to try out in those events, but Adagio said that we couldn’t give ourselves away for who we were.”

“How are you able to watch them when any of us weren't even born?” Bonbon asked.

“Remember.  They were sirens, which meant that they were almost immortal, as long as they were able to gather negative energy from others,” Sunset explained.

Sonata started to look down again.  “And now… we’re just… some silly human girls.  We don’t even know how we plan to get by anymore without our magical singing voices.”

“Maybe my aunts can help out,” Tidal said.  “They are in charge of Canterlot High, so maybe they could get you settled in.  I heard that they were able to do so for Sunset last year after learning that she was from another world.  You might be able to attend CHS and learn something from it.  Cooking, fixing, reading, even singing.”

Sonata’s eyes lit up.  “For realsies?”

Tidal gave a hearty laugh and said, “For realsies.”

Sonata jumped into the pool and hugged Tidal, thanking him so much so many times.  Tidal started to show some red in his cheeks from the tight hug.

Sunset giggled and said, “I think that’s enough, Sonata.  You don’t want his girlfriends to be jealous at you.”

Sonata let go of Tidal.  “Oh.  I forgot.  You have two girlfriends.  Can I be your third girlfriend?”

Lyra and Bonbon yelled, “NO!”

Sonata giggled.  “I’m just kidding.”

The other three girls got into the pool.  Lyra decided to swim up to Sonata.

“So, can you swim?” Lyra asked.

“Dud.  I was a siren.  Of course I can swim,” Sonata replied.

“Then how about we race and see what you’re made of.”

“You’re on.”

Lyra and Sonata went over to the other side of the pool, leaving Bonbon, Tidal, and Sunset to themselves.

“Lyra has been known to be a good swimmer,” Bonbon said.  “Not as good and Ocean Wave, but good enough.”

“Well, seaponies have been known to be excellent swimmers back in my world,” Sunset said.  “And since sirens are seaponies with evil magic, Lyra might regret challenging her.”

“Well, while they’re busy swimming, let’s get to work on your lessons,” Tidal said.

While Lyra and Sonata raced each other on one side of the pool, Tidal and Bonbon decided to help teach Sunset how to float.  Tidal told Sunset what to do, and with Bonbon’s help, they got Sunset in position with her arms spread out, while the other two held her up from below.

“Alright, we’re going to let you go,” Tidal said.  “Your lower body might sink for a bit, but that’s common for first timers.  Just take normal breaths and you’ll be fine.”

Tidal and Bonbon started to let go of Sunset.  She felt herself sink a bit, but started to float on the water.

“You got it,” Bonbon said.

“Just about,” Sunset said.  “Just… trying to… make sure… that the water… doesn’t get into… my mouth.”

“Just relax and breath,” Tidal said.

As Sunset was floating, she could see the bars on the ceiling.  Laying down on land was one thing, but in the water felt different from before.

“I can see why you like to do this,” Sunset said to Tidal.  “It’s… relaxing.”

Both Tidal and Bonbon grinned at each other, seeing Sunset’s progress.  It was almost quiet.  Well, except for the splashing from the other side.

“I WIN!” Sonata yelled.

“Aw come on,” Lyra replied.  “Best two out of three.”

Bonbon giggled.  “I guess you were right.  She’s a better swimmer than Lyra.”  But her mood changed.  “How are you going to be able to get her back to attending school?  No doubt the rest of the school would be against the idea.”

Tidal had a smug grin on his face.  “If I can send a message about how they were treating Sunset back then, I think I can do the same with the other three.  All they need to do is give them a chance.”

“Well, Sonata would be willing to come back, but what about the other two?” Bonbon asked.  “One of them has sass, and the other has an attitude.”

Sunset decided to get back upright from floating.  “Let me deal with that problem.  I just want to hear what Principal Celestia has to say about this first.  And I might need to have the girls with me, just in case.”

“So you’re saying that you want Sonata and her sisters to attend school?  After all that they did a week ago?”

Celestia was sitting on one side of the kitchen table with her hands together, thinking about what Tidal had to offer.  Sonata was sitting across from her, what Tidal, Sunset, and the rest of the Rainbooms were there, watching over them.

“Sonata was merely a… pawn in the group,” Tidal said.  “I think she, alone, deserve a right to have a second chance.”

“How do you think the students would react when they see her there?” Celestia said.

“She does have a point,” Rarity added.  “They had a hard time giving Sunset a chance since the Fall Formal.”

“That’s true,” Applejack added.  “But Twilight wanted us to help her.  And after what she did to stop the sirens, she’s finally getting some proper respect that she needed in her life.”

“Plus, they didn’t do any damage to the school like Sunset did,” Pinkie added, then looked at Sunset, seeing the irritated look on her face.  “No offense.”

“None taken.  Somehow I’m never going to stop saying that.”

But Rainbow Dash had her own view.  “Well the only damage they did was more emotional than physical.  They tried to get the students against each other with their magic.  Not the mention what they were trying to do to my… I mean, our band.”

“Rainbow Dash, we were almost divided before they showed up,” Applejack corrected.  “They just pushed us over the edge.”

“Fluttershy, dear.  Don’t you have anything to say about this,” Rarity asked.

“Um, well, I now what they did was wrong, but I’m willing to get Sonata a chance.  I think she’s more of the nicer ones in the group.  I’m… not so sure about the other two.  I mean, Aria can bee mean, and Adagio can be, well…”

“Rude?” Rarity said, finishing Fluttershy’s sentence, to which she nodded.

It was Sonata’s turn to defend herself.  “I know what we did was wrong.  All we wanted to do was find a way home.  We all thought Adagio’s plan was going to be easy.  But now…”

The room went silent, until Tidal spoke.

“I think they deserve this chance.  If they were hopeful when they saw my mother in action, then I think we need to give then this hope to make a better life for themselves.”

Celestia took a moment to take it all in.  The she made her decision.

“I’ll make an exception.”

Sonata started to feel glad for Celestia’s decision.

“But on one condition.”

Sonata’s expression slightly changed.

“The girls will have to take extra classes, under our guidance.  This includes summer school.  They will also have to do some volunteer work for the school in order to pay for housing.  My sister can set you up with that.  If they can do well in their classes and hold up to their end of this deal, then there can be a chance that they will graduate from CHS with some knowledge that can get them by in the real world.  I can’t guarantee they would enter college, but that’s for them to decide.”

Sonata stood up and started to bow saying, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” until she banged her head on the table.  “Ow.”  She started to rub her hand on her forehead.

“Sunset Shimmer.  Can you see to it that these terms are given to the other two.  Then report back to me on their decision,” Celestia requested.

“I’ll do my best,” Sunset replied.

The girls started to head out of the house.  Sonata started to join them, but was stopped by Tidal.

“Tell them about my mother,” Tidal whispered.  “I’m sure that would help them understand why I’m doing this.”  Sonata nodded and joined the group outside.

With the girls making their way to see Adagio and Aria, Celestia looked at Tidal and said, “You really starting to use the family status to get what you want.”

“I’m using it to give others a chance to do something good for once,” Tidal said.

A smile broke out on Celestia’s face.  “I’m grateful for that.  I just hope I don’t regret this decision that I just made.”

“Don’t worry, Aunt Tia.  I’m sure I can keep those girls in line… with Sunset’s help if I need it.”