Phoenix

“Seriously, why are we the only ones ever in here!?” Indigo shouted from the plush leather couch near the wall reserved for watching videos, her arms waving up wildly in the air with her goggles held within.

“Hey, I’m not gonna force them to come if they don’t want to.” Fireside groaned as she looked up from her notes on thermal expansion. “And you don’t have to stay, ya’know?”

“Hey, I’m not gonna pass up the chance to study with the five top students in the school!” Indigo shot up and grinned wildly at the table that Fireside, her sisters, and Twilight all sat around, Sunny Flare and Sour Sweet glaring back at her venomously.

“Some of us are trying to actually study, Indigo.” Sunny said forcefully, her glare deepening. “So why don’t you leave, or come and study, since apparently that’s why your here!”

“Aww, c’mon! You two aren’t bitching about Lemon or SC not sitting near you girls!” Indigo pointed wildy to the audiophile, who was sitting at her desk tapping her fingers to the beat blaring from her headphones, and Sugarcoat, who was in the far corner tapping away on the computer.

“Because they are being quiet and respectful.” Sour Sweet gave a large smile as she nodded towards the two of them, before turning on Indigo and baring her teeth as she growled. “Unlike some moron here!”

“Alright, alright, would ya all chill?” Fireside slammed her pencil onto the table as she looked around the room, all eyes turning to her. “I know we got, like, three weeks, until the Games, but I gotta manage my own studies, as well as help the five of you. I’m honestly estatic that those other six keep skipping out!”

The room grew quiet as most of the eyes shifted down to the ground, a few hands going to raub at the back of their owners head, or to scratch absentmindedly at a cheek. Indigo slowly got up and walked over to the desk, grabbing her binder along the way and depositing it in front of her when she took one of the open seats.

“So, uh… What’re we workin’ on at the moment?” Indigo asked sheepishly, smiling nervously as she looked up at her captain.

***

“Why are we running so much…?” Sour Sweet whined from the floor as multiple sets of feet made their way past her, one set stopping beside her as their owner offered her firm, sweaty arm to pull the girl up.

“Because, the Games aren’t just study related!” Fireside said as she helped the girl to her feet, patting her down and nodding. “I figured all of us could use a little more stamina, but it requires practice and-”

“Am I seriously losing to a girl that just keeps staring at her phone!?” Sour cried out as she watched Sugarcoat cross over the line at a quick and steady pace, sweat barely starting to cover her body as she continued to tap at her phone, only to pause and look at the girl, a single, balled, fist reaching towards out towards Sour, and a single, thin, blue digit slowly rising towards the roof.

“Get Dunk’d.”

“YOU’RE DEAD, BITCH!!!” came the ungodly cry from Sour Sweet as she started a mad sprint after Sugarcoat, Fireside noticing a small grin spreading across the normal expressionless face of the girl.

“Umm…” Indigo paused near Fireside, her feet remaining in motion as they rose and fell onto the wooden floor beneath her in a steady beat. “What’s that about?”

“Hey, Zap!” Aria called out, only to rush past Indigo and slap the back of the competitive girls head, causing it to pitch forward harshly as the purple girl continued on, calling out as she went. “What’s the matter? Lost in my sister’s arms?”

Zap gave an angry growl as she started to sprint after the girl, Fireside chuckling as she walked over to the water fountain, pausing as she leaned over it, and taking long, deep, gulps of the streaming fluid.

“I could die happy…” she moaned, relishing just how crisp, cold, and refreshing the water was, rejuvenating her.

“Not without making us sad.” Fireside turned to look at Adagio, the girl grinning as she held out some kind of wrapped up snack. “I do apologize, but I didn’t quite feel like joining you girls in your endeavours tonight.”

“No worries, I’m just stoked that came to watch us run laps and get super sweaty.” Fireside nodded as she took the bar, some kind of granola, protein thing, and took a bite after unwrapping it, pausing when she noticed Sonata bouncing around and cheering the running girls on, fully clothed in a traditional cheerleader’s outfit, pom poms and all.

“Well, best you get back out there. Don’t want the team seeing their captain slacking, do you?” Adagio winked as she gave the girl a quick swat on the rear as Fireside turned to walk away, only to have her turn around and smile warmly at the orange haired girl.

“Thanks, Adagio…” the girl nodded before heading back to the running track, easily catching up to and passing each other runner in rapid succession.

***

“You will have thirty minutes to answer as many questions as possible, starting…” Principal Cinch looked down at the small, ornate pocket watch in her hand, before looking back up at the twelve students in front of her. “Now.”

The sound of papers being flipped over filled the room, followed shortly by the scratching of pencils as the students started the mad dash to not disappoint the head of the academy.

“How do you think they’re gonna do?” Sonata asked as she peeked into the classroom, watching the various expressions of confusion, befuddlement, and in one case, happiness, that graced the student population.

“Fireside’s gonna place first, then the other five beneath here.” Aria said as she leaned back against the wall, chuckling as she watched the energetic Siren bouncing to and fro as she tried to watch what was happening, only to freeze and wave her hands in front of and start to run towards Aria.

“Cinch just gave me one of those looks!” she cried as she rushed around and started to cower behind Aria, the much shorter, stickier girl gave a tired sigh as she was turned about to face towards the door to the room, her mulberry orbs rolling around.

“Well what did you expect? You were practically humping that door.” Aria tilted her head back, bonking Sonata’s forehead.

“I just wanted to watch!” Sonata complained, her hands rubbing the sore spot on her head gently. “What’s wrong with that?”

“You can be very distracting, my dear Sonata.” Adagio sighed as she watched her other two Siren sisters once again start to squabble, before shaking her head as an idea came to mind. “Say, Aria, how’d you like to place a bet?”

“...What kind of bet?” the pigtail wearing Siren was immediately suspicious of her leader, the silky voice hiding a hidden sharpness.

“How well do you think Fireside’s going to do on this test?”

“Well of course she’s going to ace it. What kind of bet is this?” Aria’s suspicion was replaced with amusement at Adagio’s comment.

“If you’re wrong, you have to wear Sonata’s Prench maid outfit tonight at home.” Adagio said as she spun around, predatory grin on her face. “Sans underwear.”

“And how will you inevitably lose?” Aria crossed her arms, confident in her victory already.

“I bet that she will get every question she answers right, but she will miss exactly one due to time. And if I lose?” Adagio’s predatory grin morphed to one of confidence and seduction. “I will do whatever you ask for twenty four hours.”

***

“Wow, Aria, where’d ya get that outfit?” Fireside gave a bemused look as she watched her normally tomboyish sister stomp through the house wearing a rather large-for-her Prench maid dress.

“Why’d ya do it, Glow?” the girl snapped back as she continued cleaning the house, looking over her shoulder to glare at the girl.

“Do what?” Fireside was now confused even more by Aria.

“You didn’t finish the last question, that’s what!”

“I ran out of time…” Fireside blushed slightly, slumping in her chair as she scratches at her cheek. “Sonata was distracting...

“Bah!” Aria fumed as she stomped off to the other room, leaving Fireside to sit in confused silence as Adagio and Sonata started to cackle madly behind her.

“Umm… Should I know what’s happening right now?”

“She lost a bet.” Adagio said, Fireside instantly understanding what was going on. “But I will congratulate you on acing what you did manage to answer.”

“Thanks, Addy!” Fireside beamed in pride at her sisters compliment. “I do feel bad for the others though…”

“Yeah, Cinch sure tore into those six!” Sonata gave a surprisingly dark chuckle, catching Fireside off guard. “Maybe now they will come to your practices!”

***

“Alright, everyone.” Fireside looked around the room, taking in the eleven sets of eyes looking at her as she paced back and forth across the front of the room. “This was our last session together, and I hope you are all prepares for the Games tomorrow. Regardless of past events, or reputation, I don’t want any of you slacking, alright?”

Nods and murmurs of acknowledgement ran through the crowd at Fireside’s comment.

“We are to represent Crystal Prep Academy, and that can only mean one thing. Victory.”

Indigo started to cheer, trying her best to amp up the other ten students surrounding her.

“I want you all to go home and get to bed early, cause we gotta be here bright and early, cause I doubt Cinch is gonna let us be tardy.”

Rolling of eyes and small scoffs. Fireside groaned on the inside, why were the CPA students like this?

“Alright, get lost. I’ll see you all in the morning for the bus ride over.”

Fireside sighed as she turned around, walking towards her school supplies to clean them up.

“For a Prep school, these students aren't exactly preppy.” Aria noted as she watched the other students file out of the room, some quicker than others. “I sure hope ya don't have to carry them in a backpack all day, Glow.”

“Good attempt at the speech, dear.” Adagio nodded, hoping her warm smile would cheer her sister up. “Though sadly I do have to agree with Aria about those students.”

“Just cause they won in the past doesn’t mean they’re going to now…” Sonata said quietly as the last of the other students left the room.

“I dunno, from what I’ve been able to see, the students of CHS have been… weird…” Twilight said, pushing her glasses up her nose. “Every time I’ve snuck over to take readings there seems to be some sort of… divide? I’m not sure how to explain it.”

“The Orchestra girls have been quiet as well…” Fireside sulked as she pushed the button on the side of her phone, notting that she still hadn't received a response. “We haven’t hung out in weeks…”

“I’m sure they have their reasons.” Adagio said, resting a hand on the girls shoulder, before giving a sad smile. “I maaay have told them that you needed to focus on the Games.”

“Addy!” Fireside looked at the girl, an apologetic smile spreading across the matriarchal sister’s features. “...Fine, I know you were trying to help, but maybe let me know next time? That way I don’t start worrying…”

“What do you want for supper?” Sonata bounced over and wrapped her arms around her sister, squeezing tight around the iron like frame Fireside had achieved since starting to work out.

“I’m easy.” Fireside shrugged, only to notice the look Aria was giving her. “Not like that!”

“Suuure…” Aria rolled her eyes as the group started to vacate the room, giggles coming from the girls as they left.