Phoenix

“So why were you girls out so early?”

The three girls jumped with shock as they were greeted by a yawning Fireside as they reentered their home.

“A better question is what are you doing up so early, Fireside.” responded Adagio, in hopes of flipping the conversation to her favour. “Injured girls like you need their beauty sleep.”

“Dunno.” yawned Fireside, stretching her arms above her head. “Just couldn’t sleep, too many… thoughts? I guess? I dunno how to describe it really.”

“Oh.” Sonata’s face flickered for a minute, dread starting to make itself known. “Have you remembered anything?”

“Nope.”

All three girls let out an internal sigh of relief at the nonchalant response. After their meeting earlier that morning they were a little on edge.

“So you still haven’t said what you three were doing out so early.”

Instantly the sighs of relieve got reverted.

“Well, we were meeting with some… old acquaintances I guess would be the right word.” Adagio said slowly, Aria shrugging and Sonata nodding in time with her. “Nothing major.”

“Cool.” Fireside shrugged in indifference, matching the tone of her voice. “I was just wondering where you three were was all. You didn’t leave me a note or anything.”

“Sorries!” Sonata said, rushing over and embracing Fireside. “I told them too, but Aria had slept in again like usual and-”

“I can totally see that happening.” chuckled Fireside, grinning at Aria, only to earn a rather scathing look and comment in reply.

“Stow it, cripple.” the sister jabbed back, grin in mock ferociousness. “Someone had to build that massive canopy bed of yours, and it’s not like either of these two offered to be of any help, like usual.”

“Hey, what’s that cool book you got there, Addy?” Fireside tilted her head as she noticed the rather worn tome in her sister’s possession.

“Oh? This? It’s nothing, Fire, don’t you worry.” Adagio was struggling not to hide 5he evidence behind her back, as it would only make it more obvious that it was the opposite of what she was trying to say. “It’s just something we grabbed from the people we met is all.”

“Hmmm…” Fireside stroked her chin as she studied the book from afar. “Wow, I must be more tire than I thought.”

“Why’s that? Do you need to head back to bed? I can help you!” Sonata went through the full suite of emotions, ending up on her feet and offering her hands to the sofa riding Fireside.

“Nah, I’ll be fine, Sona, thank you though.”

“Then what’s with the…” Aria paused as she dramatically took up a crude recreation of the pose Fireside had just been in, doing her best attempt at a rather nasally mockery of her sister’s voice. “Hmmm…”

“Smart Ass.” Aria let out a short bark as a throw pillow was used as its name intended, flying lazily towards her face. Fireside gave a small chuckle as her sister caught it and lobbed it right back at her.

“Careful you two, I don’t want my living room to become a mess because a cripple fought a wrench wench.” Adagio crossed her arms as she glared darkly at the two girls, both of whom were glaring back at her in fake annoyance. It wasn’t long however until Fireside started to fall into a bout of giggles.

“Anyways, what I was trying to say,” the chuckling teen managed to squeak out between chortles. “Is that I must be tired because that book is seeming to glow just like you three do from time to time, usually whenever I’m tired.”

“Glow, huh?” Aria said, flopping lazily beside Fireside on the large, ornate couch, before suddenly grabbing the girl’s head beneath her arm and delivering a playfully vicious nuggie. “What are ya taking? ‘Cause it sounds like fun!”

Adagio ignored the scene playing out before her, bringing the book up to her face, carefully studying the implications of Fireside’s admission. Thankfully the phone started to ring, breaking the trance and alerting her to the state of her precious living room.

“This room better be spotless by the time I get back you three, or so help me…!” the mass of orange curls followed their retreating master away from the chaos of the living room.

“Ummm…” Fireside looked around lamely at the state of the room, pillows and cushions lying haphazardly all across the wooden floor, the various seatings and furniture askew. Slowly her casted arm was raised up above her head, followed by a simple statement.

“Not it.”

“Not it!” came the instant shout back from Sonata, the girl’s own light blue arm shooting up in a frenzy.

“Wai- what- god damnit! You bitches!” Aria shot a venomous look at the twin smiling faces of her sisters, Sonata having moved to rest beside Fireside. “Why do I gotta be the one to clean up? Glow started it!”

“And as you and Adagio constantly like to point out,” explained Fireside with a melodramatic flair. “I, my dear sister, am crippled. Why, I am unable to even move with my crutches which now lay by the window. I wonder whom it was that did that, hmmm?”

“Well what about Sonny? She had a part in this as well ya know.” Aria crossed her arms before her, tapping her foot menacingly.

“Hey! I was trying to help her! I’m not innocent of anything! Er… Guilty, I mean!” Sonata shouted back, grabbing Fireside in a protective embrace.

“Gah! FINE! Get your lazy arses off of the damn sofa so I can clean this mess before Mommy has one her-”

“What was that I just heard?” came the calm voice of Adagio, a calm so deadly even the air seemed to vacate the room.

“...” Aria turned slowly towards the undisputed matriarch of the house, pausing and jerking as if she were an animation missing a third of the frames.

“Is Mommy gonna have to bend you over her knee?” Adagio’s eyes held a malign sheen, a glint radiating that she was not in the mood for playing around.

“Only if you promise to do it in front of Glow here.”

Everything paused, struggling to comprehend what Aria had just suggested. The room itself seem to be trying to sneak away, desperate to hide from what was emanating from Adagio, the curly haired girl staring at her purple skinned sister in unamusement.

“Oh my god!” Fireside suddenly burst out, wild cackles erupting from her as if she were trying to imitate a hyena. “Aria! Are you ever not crude?”

Aria stayed looking at Adagio, a single eye winking as a grin slowly spread across her face.

***

“Oh, stop complaining.” groaned Adagio, resting her reddened hand on an impromptu ice pack that Sonata had provided. “You were the one who literally asked for it.”

“Well I didn’t fucking think you’d do it, ya psychotic bitch!” snapped Aria, the girl reserved to wearing a thin g-string in a vain attempt to prevent as much touching her vividly red rear.

“I gotta admit,” Fireside commented, still giggling slightly in perverse enjoyment. “Red looks good on you, Ria.”

“Shut up, Fire! I don’t need you reminding me- Augh!” Aria cried out as Sonata applied some fresh ointment, the minute friction of the oily goop enough to cause the lying girl to cry out.

“Have to say though, I think I felt the house shaking towards the end though.” a steepled hand rested against Fireside’s chin as she reminisced about what she had just watched.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” muttered Adagio as she sipped from her delicate teacup.

“So who was on the phone, Adagio?” asked the smugly chipper Sonata, looking away from her not as gentle as it should be application of aloe on Aria’s behind.

“Oh, that… right.” Adagio looked up and towards her sisters. “Fireside, the four of us are going over to a friends house tomorrow for a holiday dinner.”

“Oh? That’s awfully nice of them.” Fireside gave a large smile. “Did you tell them about my injuries?”

“They actually knew about it already, Fire. Dean Cadence is engaged to their son.”

“Dean Cadence…?” Fireside had a queer look on her tilted visage, only to have the realization spark in her mind. “Oh! Cadence! It will be nice to see her again!”

“Unfortunately, there is one issue that will have to be addressed.” Adagio said, a mischievous grin coming to her face. “You are going to need to have a proper shower, not one of these sponge baths you’ve been having, and that is going to cause some issues due to your casts and stitches.”

“So what are you thinking of then?” inquired Fireside, fear starting to build in her stomach as Adagio’s smile grew.

***

“Aaaand… there! That should keep the moisture from getting to your cast!” cheered Sonata, the bubbly girl beaming brightly as she backed away from her nude sister.

“I look ridiculous.”

Fireside Glow had every reason to complain glumly. Her body was a mass of bags and waterproof bandages piled on along another, all in attempts to prevent the water from the shower getting to somewhere where it wasn’t supposed to be. Even her short, styled hair had to be kept in a shower cap due to the stitches on the back of her head.

“Was all this really necessary?” she asked as her good hand rose up and started to gently and delicately make its way across her bandaged cheek. It had taken two different bandages to cover the stitches properly.

“Absolutely!” Sonata smiled as she vigorously nodded her head, the rapid motions causing a matching jiggling in her own generous chest, the unrestrained mounds bouncing along in time.

“Whatever… Let’s just get this done…” Fireside sighed as she turned towards the large, empty shower. “The less time I look like this, the better.”

“Don't you worry your bubbly butt!” sang Sonata as the girl crossed around to her sister’s injured left side. “C’mon, let’s get ya into the nice warm shower!”

The pair slowly and steadily made their way into the massive stall, which could have easily held all four of the sisters and then some. The floor was covered in a nicely grippable material, which helped Fireside feel confident in slowly making her way towards the outcropping that was waiting for her to sit on.

“And to think,” she muttered humorously, “this is nothing compared to the master bath. That thing is massive! Like, it’s bigger than any room in the entire house!”

“I know! Isn’t it, like, the most awesome thing ever!” Sonata exclaimed as she helped her sister to sit down. “Now! We will start with a quick running over by the shower head to get you nice and wet!”

Fireside swore she could hear Aria burst out in snarky laughter, a rough idea of the crude sister’s comment percolating in her mind. She merely nodded, watching as Sonata went to retrieve the shower head, noticing just how much of a natural sway her sister’s hips had. At least she hoped it was natural.

“Okies! How how do you want it?” Sonata held the metallic device in her grasp, innocent smile on her face even as the numerously segmented cable ran down between her generous bust. “Nice and hot, or cold and soothing?”

“Hot I guess? I dunno, who has a cold shower?” questioned Fireside, who watched as her sister gave a weird look, her unused hand coming to rest on her hip.

“Cold it is! You are gonna love this!” Sonata turned her back to Fireside as she moved over to the the front of the shower.

“But I just said-” Fireside never got to finish her statement as suddenly a stream of cooling water was rushing across her. She gave a small yip and shiver as her body was suddenly assaulted by the change in temperature.

“W-wait a minute…” Fireside brushed a stray bang out of her face. “This isn’t actually that bad.” She felt like she was at a swimming pool, the temperature of the water pleasantly cool as it sprayed over her.

“See! No one trusts me when it comes to these things.” pouted Sonata as she continued to spray down her sister. “Whenever I say “cold shower” people seem to think I mean frigid, icy water. Like, who would do that!?”

Fireside was groaning happily as she remained seated, basking in the rivers of refreshing water that covered her now glistening body. Even the thoughts in her head seemed to quiet down, her entire being focusing on enjoying herself.

“Though that’s one of the quirks about cool showers…” Sonata said slyly, chuckles intermixed between, as her eyes focused on the erect nubs pointing proudly away from her sister’s chest.

“Sorry, what were you saying, Sonata?” flecks of water sprayed from the moist tips of Fireside’s mane of hair as her head shot towards her sister. “Sorry, this shower is just too good.”

“Nothin’!” sang Sonata as she hung the shower head back into place, her hands shooting out to grab a childishly shaped looking bottle. “Are you ready for the soap?”

“Oh! Um, sure?” the teen’s amber hand reached out slowly towards her sister, palm cupped in preparation for receiving the cleansing goop.

“You put that hand away! I’m here to pamper you, so you just sit there and let your sister soap you up!” Sonata playfully slapped away her sister’s hand as she skipped closer, before squeezing a large handful of the body wash into her hand. “What’s with that look?”

Fireside seemed to have frozen up, a small blush coming to her face when she realized what was about to happen.

“Um, the disinfectant wipes are one thing, but don’t you think this is a little… weird?” she asked, watching as Sonata tilted her head in confusion.

“What do you mean? I’m just going to rub you all over your body with body wash, what’s weird about that?”

“Er… I guess it’s between sisters and all.” Fireside felt her blush deepen as Sonata approached, then walked around behind her. The heat in her cheeks was suddenly replaced by ice in her veins as the seemingly subzero goop in Sonata’s hands was slathered over her shoulders.

“Oh? When did you get these scars?” Sonata muttered, pausing as she traced a delicate finger over one of the dark lines on Fireside’s back, just on the inside of her shoulder blade. A second mirrored the first on the other shoulder blade, with a third scar catching Sonata’s magenta eyes down towards the base of her sisters spine.

“Hm? What did you say?” the flat mane of red and yellow shifted around as Fireside attempted to look back at her studying sister.

“Oh! Nothing, don’t you worry! Now, where was I?” Sonata resumed her task of soaping up Fireside’s back, her delicate hands softly massaging her sister as she applied the body wash, taking in the soft definition of the muscles on the girl’s back. She giggled as the seated girl shivered, her hands starting to reach the lower back of the amber skinned girl, the pale blue fingers gently putting pressure on the girl’s ample hips and firm, yet squishy, backside.

“Getting, uh… getting a little too “hands on” there, don’t you think?” Fireside stuttered out as a third minute passed of Sonata focusing on her shapely hips and rear.

“Huh? Oh, sorry, Fireside! Let me get onto your arms!” Sonata said as she snapped out of her fugue, gently lifting up her sister’s good arm. “Jeez, you really got to working out, huh?”

“I, uh, I dunno? Am I really that fit?”

“Are you kidding me? Look at this!” Sonata raised up Fireside’s arm, slowly curling the forearm towards its owner, the bicep becoming further defined the whole time. “See!”

“I, uh… Sure?” her eyes watched as Sonata continued to flex her arm, only starting to lather up the limb after Fireside gave a noticeable cough. Her sister slowly ran her soapy hands up and down the firm limb, ending by gently running her pale blue fingers through her sister’s amber digits.

“Jeez, you really seem tense, Fireside. What’s up?” Sonata had gotten to her feet after finishing with her lathering up of her sisters injured arm, making her way back over and acquiring a new handful of body wash.

“No-nothing!” her sister stuttered back, shaking her head and smiling dismissively.

Sure, nothing. Just a normal bath between two sisters, one doing her best to care for the injured one. Completely normal… right?

“-o the next bit will be your front!”

“What? Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention, Sona.” Fireside gave an apologetic smile to her energetic sister. Sonata’s response was to playfully boop her sister’s nose, and once again describe what was about to occur.

“You big silly! I said that next up to be soaped was your front, starting with your chest!”

The blush which had slowly been dieing away from the amber skinned girl’s face returned with a vengeance as a pair of slimy hands landed themselves on Fireside’s prodigious bust. Fireside’s arms shot up in surprise, a small shriek threatening to escape her lips.

“Alrighty, got them mostly soaped up, but just need to take care of the most important part! Underneath!” Sonata’s hand split, one grasping as best as possible to hold up one of the large mounds of flesh while the other soaped up the underside and rib cage underneath, only to let it fall with a splat as they moved onto the next one.

“S-S-S-Sonata! I can do that myself!” even as Fireside did her best to wiggle free of her sister’s grasp, the pale blue girl deftly repeating her previous actions on the other breast, giggling as Fireside fought.

“Alright, alright! It’s all over now! You can calm down now. Only have your tummy and legs left and then we can do your hair. Now sit still you silly horsie!” Sonata playfully clapped her hand on the uninjured cheek of Fireside.

“Just… Fiiiiiine…” Fireside groaned and sighed at the same time as she deflated. Sonata was her sister, and just wanted to help out in her own silly ways, so why was she being so uneasy?

And why did she call me a horsie?

“Jeez! Better be careful not to wear too short cut of a shirt.” Sonata said as she rubbed up and down the firm amber abdomen in front of her. “Aria’s already freaking out enough about your arms, and if she saw this-”

“She’s really into fit girls then, huh?” Fireside looked down at her sister, watching as the lather was applied to her stomach.

“Mhm!” Sonata nodded as she finished up, only to pause. “I guess I should have brought the shaving gear, huh?”

Fireside froze as Sonata looked up with a naughty grin. “H-hey now! I’ve been a cripple, okay? It’s kind of hard to take care of stuff like that with only one hand!”

“Ya, alright, firebush. We’ll take care of grooming that later.” chuckled the pale blue girl as she moved onto the leg to her left.

“God damnit, Sonata! I thought Aria was the crude one!” Fireside gave a mighty harrumph as she crossed her arms and looked away.

***

“What took you two so long?”

Adagio had her hands on her hips as she stared at the pair of damp girls that stood before her. Sonata had her hair all wrapped up in a towel, the long tower hanging off her head awkwardly, giving her typical smile. Fireside, on the other hand, looked exhausted as she leaned on the other girl.

“We took a long time?”

“Yes, Sonata, you did. Unless you think that three hours is normal?” Adagio felt a small bit of pity for Fireside, knowing full well that she had wanted it to be quick and done.

“Was it really that long? I guess I lost track of time.” she gave a self conscious, arm grabbing around Fireside a little energetically. “Was it really that long?” Fireside slowly blinked, her head turning towards Sonata, the thousand yard stare boring through the bubbly sister.

“What day is it?”