"what does winter mean to you?"
Sirens always loved the cold in the deep. It would always spark a hunt. The thrill of the chill rippled among their scales as they dashed into the air of the ponies' heaven. Of their next meals home.
Three sirens held such a love of this fright that they would emerge almost weekly! The town had practically been enslaved and or abandoned by their final visit. A visit when the pillars appeared.
Sirens were never particularly liked by the equestrian citizens, seen as monsters who care little to life. That was sorta true, for the siren sisters at least. But the queen of the sirens always held firm to her belief that peace can come across their nation. A peace the three sisters feared.
“No food!” some would cry.
“They will kill us!” others would claim.
And of course, they were right. When the pillars found the abandoned town they took action, banishing and killing any siren who dared show their face. It was brutal, a battlefield. The queen arose from the sea begging for a peace treaty, but all ponies were heartless. She was slain and humiliated even when she rose no hoof of battle. After her death the rest just… fled.
The three siren sisters watched in horror at what they did. The pillars ripped and clawed their way into the silent controlled peace of the nation. At Least the sirens were not actively hurting anyone- but… but.
The sisters didn't have time to think more before they were flung into a portal by the very bearded unicorn who “saved” Equestria.
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A bell echoed in the large school as students shifted in their seats preparing for an hour-long nightmare. The lights shone brightly, almost blinding, down upon the exhausted students forcing them to stay awake. Some turned their attention to the chalkboards as others to the windows to avoid the annoying glow. Adagio was one such student turning towards the windows.
The windows of the large school kept a cold chill from the rapidly approaching winter season. Every now and then the occasional squirrel would chirp its way into view, running on a branch before darting away into the bark again. Bits of snow dotted the trees and floor as if blankets, preparing the world for a peaceful hibernation. It might not have been Adiago's favorite season, but it was way more preferred than English class.
In truth, Adagio didn't really have any grudge against English class. If anything she hated the other classes much more! The only issue with the book filled class was the total lack of idiotic siblings. Adagio planned to take the class with Sonata and Aria, believing they would take it too, but after a few weeks of the class they both moved to a higher level. As much as she hated it she felt a little lonely. No one else in the stupid school talked to her and her sisters other than the Rainbooms, and personally, Adagio would do whatever she could to avoid the friendship infected cult.
Well, she would avoid most of them.
There was one member of the group Adagio saw as redeemable. Fixable one might even say. They were clearly the oddball and held little to show their place in the group. They were more of a slave to the girls if anything. Carrying their stuff, handling their drama, being forced to take the hits in any major battle or simply being dragged around when she was clearly uncomfortable.
But even then she was a Rainboom. The very group that stripped Adagio and her sisters of their rightful power.
Maybe there was something that could be done, though.
Shifting her eyes from the window Adagio turned to face the farmer chick sitting at the front of the class. Her long blonde locks of wheat like hair drifted aimlessly down like a cascading waterfall. The trademark stetson sat firm upon the girl's head giving her an almost unique look. But if Adagio knew anything, it was that all humans were the same.
However something always struck the former siren as odd with the cowgirl. The soft feeling of chill always followed her. Whenever snow fell the blondes eyes always stayed locked on it like she longed to follow it somewhere. But, that made no sense. Right?
Adagio once again turned her attention to something else. Something much more angry. The teacher. Clicking her cheap heels and snapping her fingers to force the kids to quiet down, the old hag of a woman approached the chalk board to start the day's lesson. The large words “Group project” mocked Adagio as students began to pass stacks of paper to one another. Each paper held a variety of choice prompts to consider and write an essay on.
“Students!” the teacher called again, “settle down or I will start sending some of you to detention!” that got the kids. “As you should already know you all are going to work on a group project. I don't want to hear complaints or excuses, you will have a partner and you will pick one of the prompts on the paper. Now since this class has shown to not be trustworthy with picking their own partners, I will be picking for you!” The teacher took a slow long sip of coffee, clearly dreading what was coming next. Groans and complaints fired their way at the lady from all sides of the room.
“Now your teams are,” the hag started before another complaint could come, “Vinyl and Derpy, Sunflower and BonBon, Applejack and Adagio, Wallflower and…” wait. Did the teacher just say Applejack and Adagio? Great. Just great! Now the siren hated the class.
Adagio huffed and glared outside the frost decorated window. Sure it was childish, but what could anyone expect?! The Rainbooms took the sirens' very life from them and now she had to work with one of her enemies? What cruel irony.
It definitely didn't help that Applejack clearly wasn't paying attention to Adagio's discomfort. Happily sitting near the window seat once the other student moved, Applejack smiled at Adagio.
“So…” the redneck started, “ah know you don't like me so let's get this over with. Ah ain't gonna pretend we are friends now so ya don't gotta worry.”
“At least one of you is aware we hate you.” Adagio snarled back, pushing some curls away from her shoulder.
“Ya, it ain't hard to notice.” the farmer bit back, “now are ya gonna help me or not?” Honestly, that was something the former siren respected the farmer for. She didn't fear talking back. The rest of the Rainbooms always held back fearing they would lose a chance they never got. If anything, the way the farmer treated Adagio, made her feel more respected.
“Whatever.” Adagio sat back pulling free the piece of paper from the desk, “so what prompt, or can you even read?”
“Hardy har.” Applejack huffed, “I like prompt 3, What comes to mind when you think of winter.”
“Is this due to your annoying habit of staring out the window?” a smirk came to Adagio's lips.
“I'm charmed that you stalk me in class,” AJ started with a mocking smile, “But we should really work.” a laugh escaped the farmers lips as Adagio doubled back. A sputter of angry words fought to be said but none came out. Accepting defeat, Adagio just nodded.
The topic wasn't too hard to answer. The two just had to write down things people normally liked and throw it into a PonyDoc. Apparently, however, that simply was not enough. The teacher declared that it was a winter break project and that the girls had to write an essay or short story with 3 or more pages. She claimed she simply wouldn't accept it until the due date so other students didn't have to feel rushed. To be fair, that was very considerate of the teacher, but the two really just threw words together into three paragraphs. Bullshitting their way out wasn't gonna work.
An awkward silence crossed the class as students typed away. The teacher took the silence and sat with triumph as Adagio and Applejack just stared at what they wrote. The sharp feeling of boredom hit both hard as within seconds Adagio began tapping her foot to some inner beat. Applejack slowly turned her attention back to the window watching each snowdrop.
“Why do you keep doing that?” Adagio hissed, “we should be working.”
“Yer one to talk.” Applejack responded with a snarl, “when did you care about your grades?”
“I care about them when it means I don't have to spend time with some rainbitch.”
“You're so nice.” a mocking grin came to the farmer's face as she let out a small laugh. A scowl came to Adagio's face as she turned her attention back to the waiting computer. Though, try as she might, no motivation came to work. At least Applejack was working now.
Tapping her fingers upon the desk's surface Adagio muttered in annoyance. Her mind spun of different things to write, but she just… didn't. The lingering confusion of the farmers' odd behavior towards the cold would not relent! Why did Adagio care so much?
“I always liked the cold.” the farmer suddenly stated. Turning her head to face the farmer, Adagio allowed herself to stare for a little bit. The farmer kept a calm smile as she looked over to Adagio. “You asked, I answered.”
“It's about time you did.” the former siren hissed looking away. Applejack went gingerly back to her work as Adagio just sat in silence. What a vague answer. Deep down Adagio knew it was something more, but she also knew she shouldn't care. She decided to just get back to work.
It was an awkwardly silent hour.
After exchanging phone numbers at the hour's end, much to Adagio's discomfort, the two separated. The cold still stayed firm upon Adagio forcing her to turn and watch the farmer disappear behind the crowd. It was odd, unwanted and confusing. Yet comforting. Visions of the siren's old life in the sea flashed like snowflakes in the December sun. it felt right.
She had to learn the source.
Three days till Christmas and Adagio still found herself leaving from school. The days at least went faster that week and with Applejacks, annoyingly helpful, help so did the project. Of course every now and then Applejack still gazed absentmindedly at the snow but the habit began to grow more acceptable.
Stepping through the sea of snow to finally get home, Adagio allowed the silent beauty of the world to fill her heart. Whispers of old siren songs echoed in her ears to follow the upcoming holiday. Swifts of wendigos' breaths floated past her in a melodic beat. Snowflakes landed happily upon the waiting cushions. Ice hung firmly and powerful to the world as if protecting something it held dear. It was always so beautiful.
Though as lovely as it got it always held a haunting danger. White blended with gray and brown, decorating the rocks and trees in an unending bind. The trees themselves looked dead as their rotted arms reached helplessly ahead. It was a lovely season, but it was a dead season.
No animals came to wish Adagio a good day. No shining sun arrived to bless the world with its light. It was just white and gray. It was just cold.
For a second Adagio turned her gaze to her phone looking at the number of the farmers. It was simple and direct with no cut corners, it was a normal phone number! But nevertheless Adagio felt an odd joy seeing it. It was hers. It was something she had left to control.
The walk home was perfect.
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Bright Christmas lights decorated the large mansion as preparation for the upcoming holiday. Sounds of cheer lined the streets as cars rushed by playing annoyingly overplayed Christmas carols. Warm lights showed from the mansion as the night hung overhead tiredly. The figure of a girl approached the front of the mansion, swigging her backpack to her side.
Adagio swung the red painted door open and casually tossed her backpack to the side as she walked inside. Her sisters waited stubbornly upon the nearby couch, sometimes turning their gaze to her just to turn away to portray a fake anger. It had been like this for weeks. They blamed her for their failure, they blamed her for everything! And how couldn't they?
It was her fault after all. She should have been better prepared.
“Good evening.” Adagio called absentmindedly, getting no response as expected. Grunting in annoyance, Adagio stepped towards the kitchen only to be cut short with one word.
“Wait.” Aria spoke, “we have a suggestion on how you can make things up.” Adagio turned curiously towards the sisters as small hope grew in her. They spoke before in the past weeks, but it was never this promising! Deciding not to wait, Adagio quickly sashayed her way over.
“I knew you would miss me.” she smirked, getting an unamused look.
“So how's your project coming along?” Aria hissed.
“And you've been stalking me!” Adagio joked back, a blank stare was all she received.
“Ugh, look, we know you're working with Applejack.” Aria spoke.
“We want you to keep us up on how it's going! Oh and let us help maybe!” Sonata added quickly.
“You want to… help?” Adagio asked, her mind spinning wildly. Obviously there was a plan in all of this, but what? Why aren't they telling her! Should she even ask?
“Well obviously you have a plan to get our magic back!” Aria scoffed, sitting back on the couch as Sonata bounced next to her. “Right?”
“oh-” Adagio retorted as she spun in her heels and bit her thumb. “Of course.”
“Well? Don't keep us waiting! Tell us, fearless leader!” Sonata squealed with joy beside the suspicious Aria. Great, now Adagio had to make something up. Studying the wooden floored living room, Adagio allowed her eyes to scan for something. Anything! No such luck.
“You're not just saying this because you want our respect back, right?” Aria snarled with a wicked grin.
“No!” Adagio hissed, “if i wanted your respect in the first place i would have it back by now!”
“Sure!” was Arias' reply, “now are you gonna tell your stupid plan or what?”
“I can easily get that pathetic redneck around my finger! I was planning to use her to get closer to the others and hopefully find how they get their magic!” Adagio spun to face the other sirens, “then we can take said magic for ourselves!”
“And what do you want us to do to help?” Sonata tilted her head.
“Just follow my lead.”
