Chapters "Alright, everybody we are almost there." Principal Celestia announced as she stood and faces the students. "Me and my sister are excited you are able to come to the Canterlot Laboratory Musuem." The students let out various cheers in excitement at that announcement.
"But everyone will need to stay together, the ground is still partially unstable and crews are still excavating areas separate from the musuem." Vice Principal Luna pointed out.
Rainbow groaned. "We already know this." She whispered to Sunset who rolled her eyes in response.
"Safety is paramount, Ms.Dash." Luna called out as some students snickered. The bus groaned as it came to a stop. Granny Smith unlocked the doors and swung open. Luna and Celestia stepped out first.
"Neat line, ya heard?" Granny Smith called out.
Rainbow grumbled as Applejack elbowed.
"Be nice ta Granny, Dash." She scolded as she stepped off the bus. Rainbow rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
"Sorry, AJ." She mumbled and ignored the other girls triumphant look. She and the others followed Principal Celestia inside where their tour guides waited for them. Who the guides were, they had no idea but they soon would.
"Hello, are you our guides?" Cheerilee asked the three girls in front of her.
"We are." One announced and all three stepped into the light. The students gasped and glared at the three.
"You three. Again?" Sea Swirl groaned.
"Yes, us three." Aria agreed and glared at her.
"Sunset got us jobs here. She's pretty nice, unlike the rest of you." Adagio snapped and all eyes fell on Sunset.
"Why would you do that?" Rarity asked hotly.
Sunset shrugged.
"Without the pendants, they are three normal high school girls. They need money to survive." Sunset argued. "Besides, they aren't that different from me."
"You didn't try to hypnotize everyone in the school for no reason." Lightning Dust shot back.
Sunset folded her arms across her chest.
"No, I just mind controlled them into being my own teenage army hell bent on conquering Equestria." She replied dryly.
Aria grinned at Sunset.
"You would make a great siren. Ya know, if we weren't reformed and had our pendants and you weren't reformed either." She told the other girl.
Lyra rolled her eyes.
"Aren't you like a million years old?" She asked.
"Yes, so respect your elders." Adagio replied offhandly. Celestia clapped her hands to get their attention. Everyone turned to her and waited for her to start speaking.
"Alright, everyone enough discussions. If the guides are ready, the teachers are too." She said, nodding at Adagio.
"We are. Right this way, and make sure to stay together. We don't want to lose anyone and have to come searching for your miserable selves. Some areas are made of loose concrete so watch your step." Adagio announced.
"That would be like, the worst to lose someone." Sonata agreed.
"Such a pity." Aria rolled her eyes. "Not like there isn't one hundred other students here to take their place."
Adagio pulled open a door and gestured for the students to enter.
"We just got done excavating this area. This class is the first people to enter other than work crews. Be very careful." She warned. The students filed in and she followed them, closing the door behind them softly. Thunderlane jumped at the sound.
"Do you really have to close us in here?" He asked nervously, eyes flicking around him.
Adagio nodded. "So no kid or anyone else stumbles in and gets lost. We have a key, don't worry." She reassured him. She held her lanyard around her neck with a key on it for him to see and he gave a small sigh.
"I'm claustrophobic as hell." He admitted. Adagio nodded.
"Sonata, come back here." She called out and the blue haired ex siren appeared.
"Yeah sis?" She asked grinning.
"Stay back here and talk to..." She glanced at him.
"Thunderlane." He said helpfully.
"Thank you. Stay here with Thunderlane as we go through. He's claustrophobic, you are as well. You can help each other through it till we get out." Adagio explained
Sonata nodded eagerly and clapped her hands, the sound echoing down the hall.
"You got it. This is gonna be so much fun. We can talk about tacos, our favorite taco toppings and taco restaurants." Sonata said enthusiastically, grinning at Thunderlane. He nervously nodded and jumped at a sound of rock falling and grabbed her arm, hiding behind her. Adagio smirked and headed to the front where Aria was giving a lecture.
"This place opened in the 1800's as a small time clinic. After the clinic shut down, it became a lab to make antidotes for viruses. It was abandoned and went off the radar for years. No one knows who it belonged to, but the city of Canterlot somehow possessed it. It sat for about forty years overgrown till someone decided to make it into a museum two years ago. Some people say it's haunted and you can hear screaming, see ghosts and have items disappear. Some people have been slapped or touched on their head." Aria continued her lecture. "My personal favorite is a little girl. You can play hide and seek with her for hours till she gets tired. She was a victim of a malaria, which was a common illness back in her time."
Octavia looked back and forth cautiously.
"Are any of them violent?" She hesitantly asked. Aria nodded and Octavia gulped as Vinyl put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Only one is. He was a old man who got murdered here by a doctor. Someone people say he is still here searching for the doctor to get his revenge. He slaps people who he deems as rude or disrespectful. He's been known to shove or whisper in their ears. He scared a women so bad, she ended up dying from fear in a hospital." Adagio answered. "As long as you respect the ghosts, they respect you and leave you alone. Mostly. Some enjoy playing pranks on you but that's about it." A clanging sound made Mystery Mint jumped and hugged Watermelody who quietly groaned as she walked on, Mystery's legs dragging behind her.
"What was that?" Fluttershy shyly asked.
Aria waved a hand. "Probably a ghost or you're hearing crews adjacent to us. No biggie."
"Where's this lead?" Lyra asked, pointing at a door covered in vines. Aria glanced to her left and stopped.
"Adagio? Have you ever seen this door?" She asked turning to her sister. "We've been here exploring by ourselves but I've seen never this door." Adagio approached and studied it and shook her head.
Sonata patted Thunderlane on the arm.
"Wait right here, I'll be right back I promise." She told him smiling and he nodded. She walked up to her other sisters and stared at the door. Seeing some writing, she brushed a leaf aside and rested her hand against it reading. Sunset had joined them and read something.
"It's Ancient Equestrian, but how?" She wondered aloud.
Adagio quickly read what Sunset had read and her eyes widened.
"She's right. What the hell." She mumbled.
Sunset kept reading on and her eyes widened in horror. She smacked Sonata's hand away.
"What the heck?" Sonata demanded.
"Do you know what you just touched?" Sunset demanded with a frantic tone. "That symbol you just touched is a international symbol in Equestria recognized by over a dozen languages. It basically means don't fucking touch, illness inside." She stared in fear at the door. "We need to get the hell outta here, now."
Adagio quickly nodded.
"Back the way we came." She ordered. Before anyone could move, the door slid open and a black mist came rushing out. It passed over the students harmlessly, but as soon as it hit Sunset and the Dazzlings, they collapsed on the ground coughing.
"Sunset!" Rainbow shouted before kneeling down with Applejack to help her up. The Dazzlings were coughing as Cheerilee and Bon Bon helped them up.
"What the hell was that?" Vinyl said aloud and some students nodded. Watermelody screamed and pointed a shaking finger into the doorway.
"W-what the fuck is that?!" She exclaimed. A skeleton laid behind the door.
"Sunset, what just happened?" Celestia demanded. Sunset coughed and wiped her mouth.
"It's a virus. From Equestria." She explained, coughing again.
"But how did it get here darling?" Rarity asked, standing a bit away.
"Will we get sick?" Mystery nervously asked.
Sunset shook her head and she gave a sigh of relief.
"It only affects Equestrians." She muttered.
"Which is you and the Dazzlings." Pinkie realized as Sunset nodded.
"We need to get you four to Canterlot Hospital for observation." Cheerilee stated, holding up Sonata who coughed. Sunset weakly nodded as she and the Dazzlings were helped out of the hallway.
Celestia slammed the door shut.
"No one go in there." Adagio weakly ordered as she started to fall but got caught by Lightning Dust. An employee quickly nodded and whipped his phone out.
"I'm calling for medics for you four, you look sick." He looked over Sunset and the Dazzlings.
"A door opened, a mist like came out and hit them in the face. They collapsed and started coughing. None of us were affected, it just passed over us. There's also a skeleton behind the door." Luna said helpfully. The employee stared and stepped back cautiously.
"The paramedics are coming. Just stay back, please. I have no idea what the hell just happened or if you guys are sick with whatever they got." He explained.
Celestia nodded and winced as Sunset and the Dazzlings gave out painful sounding coughs.
"So, any ideas on how this virus got here?" Rainbow asked Sunset. She sat in a contained room in the hospitals infectious disease wing. Adagio, Aria and Sonata were in the same room next to her. She gave a nod. She was surprised to find all the students sitting in front of her window.
"I thought they went home." She admitted.
Bon Bon rolled her eyes.
"We want to ensure you get better. We will stay here till you do. Now tell the story." She ordered.
Sunset nodded and took a breath.
"It was created back during the Lunar War where Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon. Princess Celestia was winning and Nightmare Moon knew it. She was panicking and losing ground quick. Everyday, more and more of her soldiers were killed or taken prisoner. Some even defected. To combat this, she ordered her scientists to make a disease she intended to unleash on Celestia's forces. The lead scientist was named Black Shadow. He successfully made the virus. To test it, she ordered him to unleash it on some of her own soldiers in a confined room. So he did, but it backfired. The soldiers went mad, broke out the room and the virus infected everyone in the laboratory. Nightmare Moon herself got infected." Sunset paused.
"What happened then?" Vinyl urged her on, looking intrigued.
Sunset sighed and continued.
"The virus got out into the public. Over half a million civilians died. Half of Equestria's population." She looked at the students shocked faces.
"How did people not get infected?" Lyra asked. "Vaccine?"
Sunset shook her head.
"There is no vaccine. Nightmare Moon took the only dose with her to the moon when she for banished to ensure all of Celestia's soldiers died. The bodies of the infected were burned and everypony hid indoors. Widespread panic, food shortages. It was a dark time in our history."
"We were there." Adagio's voice came from the next room. "We were supposed to be tested on next, but broke out before they could. We hid ourselves and watched as Equestria was plunged into death. We got banished by Starswirl soon after."
"What are the symptoms?" Mystery Mint asked.
Sunset rubbed her chin in thought.
"First, it's a cough. Then puking blood,
"I'm scared." She heard Sonata whimper. "I don't wanna die." She glanced into the window between their rooms and saw Aria stroking Sonata's hair as Adagio paced back and forth.
"You're not gonna die. None of us are." Aria firmly stated. "We will get over this sickness, get back out there to our job, our home and our dogs."
Bon Bon glanced into the other room that housed the sirens.
"Maybe they are normal people after all," she mumbled to Lyra.
"I guess so," the mint green girl agreed.
Aria gave a sigh as she wiped some blood out of one of her eyes. She gazed at Sonata laying on her back, tossing a ball up into the air and catching it. Her gaze lingered on her younger sister before switching to Adagio. The oldest siren sat with her legs crossed, reading a book.
"What?" Adagio asked as she flipped the page, eyes never leaving the book.
"Nothing, just looking around," Aria said nonchalantly. She glanced into the glass window separating her sisters and Sunset. Sunset laid snoring on a small hospital couch that matched the one they had.
"That girl can sleep anywhere," Aria mused.
"Why do you care what Sunset Shimmer does?" Adagio asked.
"I'm just bored is all," Aria admitted.
"Be more like Sonata. She can entertain herself at least. Look at her," Adagio jerked her head to the blue girl. Sonata had a big grin as she caught the ball again.
"Look! I caught it again. I typically don't after the first four times," she exclaimed excitedly.
"Good job, Sonata!" Aria smiled encouragingly.
"Yeah, yeah. Good job," Adagio grumbled and Aria shot her a dirty look.
"Why are you being more of a cunt than usual?" She demanded and Sonata flinched. She hated when her sisters fought. Adagio groaned and set her book down.
"Gee, I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that we have a fucking disease we were lucky enough to escape from before? Maybe it's the fact all four of us are gonna die here?" Adagio snapped. Aria quickly covered Sonata's ears.
"Shut the fuck up," Aria hissed. "She doesn't need to know that. I've spent the past two days convincing her none of us are gonna die, I don't need you fucking that up."
"You should tell her the truth. No point in delaying the inevitable," Adagio growled.
"She's too young. Tell her and I'll break your jaw," Aria threatened. Adagio quickly stood up.
"Watch your tone when you speak to me. I'm the oldest and the leader." Aria rolled her eyes.
"And where has your leadership gotten us?" She taunted. "Stuck in a God damn room with no magic."
"Would you two shut the fuck up? I'm trying to sleep and you're doing this in front of your sister," Sunset groaned as she rolled over. "It's about two am, go to sleep." She opened one of her eyes and glared through the glass. "It's ridiculous. And don't mention to Sonata that we're all gonna die, or I'll help Aria break your jaw." Adagio glared at Sunset.
"Fine." She settled back down on the floor and opened her book, picking up where she left off. Aria cautiously removed her hands of Sonata's ears.
"Are you two still sisters?" Sonata hesitantly asked.
"Yes. Just because we occasionally fight doesn't mean we aren't sisters any more," Aria reassured her.
"Wish we weren't somedays after our fights," Adagio murmured softly and Aria shot her a quick glare.
"I'm sleepy," Sonata mumbled. Aria stood back up and pushed two of the couches together, making a makeshift bed. She gestured to it and Sonata jumped on it.
"Lift your head, please." Sonata did so and Aria shoved a pillow under it. She draped a blanket over her youngest sister and laid next to her.
"Thank you sis," Sonata mumbled sleepily. She quickly lifted the blanket and covered Aria up too. She snuggled closer to her sisters chest and closed her eyes.
"You're welcome," Aria commented softly as she groped around with an arm till she found another pillow and put it under her own head. She reached out an arm and wrapped it around Sonata, kissing her forehead. "Sleep well, Sonata."
"You too, Ari." Aria let a faint smile cross her face at her nickname. She only allowed Sonata to call her that. Adagio stood up and gazed down at them. She allowed a faint smile to form on her face.
"Pretty adorable how they take care of each other, isn't it?" Adagio jumped and looked behind her. Sunset was leaning against the window with her arms crossed wearing a smirk.
"I guess," Adagio grumbled.
"You know, the tough girl act isn't working that well for you. I can see through it pretty easily. And I always thought Aria was the one who acted that way," Sunset replied.
"It's done me well for thousands of years," Adagio argued. Sunset rolled her eyes.
"You're dying," Sunset reminded her. "You can drop it for your sister's sake. Do you really want them to remember you as the asshole?"
"They're dying too," Adagio snapped.
"And what if you die first? They'll still remember you as an asshole for a bit," Sunset countered. The seconds ticked by as the two glared at each other through the glass window separating them.
"I never thought about that," Adagio admitted, breaking the silence.
"Maybe you should take my advice. I know all about having regrets," Sunset sighed as she laid back down and closed her eyes. "Just something to think about." Adagio turned her focus back to her sleeping sisters and sighed at the happy smile on Sonata's face.
"Tacos," the sleeping girl mumbled. Adagio gave a chuckle that was uncharacteristic for her at that. She cautiously stroked her two sisters hair before sitting down next to them and grabbing spare blanket to cover herself with.
"Good night, Sonata and Aria," she mumbled.
"Goodnight Adagio. I love you," Sonata mumbled in her sleep and Adagio stared in surprise at her. She hadn't heard those words in years.
"I love you too," she hesitantly replied after a few seconds.
"Uno!" Sonata shouted as she slapped her card down. Adagio glared at her playfully.
"God damn it," she grumbled. "Aria, we can't let her win."
"Got that right," Aria agreed with a grin. She placed a card down. "Draw two, Sonata." Sonata grumbled and picked up two cards.
"I hate you somedays," Sonata teased with a grin. Adagio placed a green four down.
"No you don't," Aria commented as she placed a green two onto the pile. Sonata rolled her eyes as she played a reverse.
"You're right, I don't," she agreed as Adagio growled as she picked up a card.
"Having fun, Adagio?" Aria questioned as she watched Sonata placed a card down.
"UNO!" Sonata shouted.
"I never thought I'd say this but yes I'm having fun," Adagio admitted. She picked up another card. She and Aria watched with bated breath as Sonata placed her final card down. The two older girls sighed as they tossed their own cards down.
"Good game," Sonata said with a big grin.
"You too," Adagio grumbled. Aria watched the two with a faint smile.
"Having fun I see," Sunset smiled.
"Yep," Aria agreed. "I don't know what you said to Adagio, but thanks."
"No problem." Sunset retreated to her couch and started reading. Adagio collapsed on the ground and started having a seizure.
"Uh, what's happening?" Sonata nervously asked she edged away. Aria knelt down and hugged her.
"It's a seizure," she admitted. "It'll pass." Aria carefully wiped away the pinkish froth off Adagio's mouth. She turned Sonata's head away. Sunset gazed into the room and sighed as she watched. Adagio sat up and groaned after a few minutes. She pressed a hand against her head and wiped her mouth.
"Jesus fucking christ," she moaned. "That was awful." Aria cautiously hugged her and was shocked when Adagio returned it. "Thanks Ari."
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"I'll be fine," Adagio insisted. Aria released her with a nod.
"If you're certain," she said worriedly.
"I am." Adagio carefully hugged Sonata. The blue girl eagerly hugged her back and squeezed. Adagio grunted as she felt her sister squeeze her hard.
"I need oxygen, Sonata." The blue girl released her.
"Sorry," Sonata mumbled sheepishly.
"Its....okay," Adagio carefully admitted.
"Hey, Sunset!" Rainbow exclaimed as she and Applejack came into the wing of their hospital. "We brought your TV and video games. And your xbox." The girls set their respective items down. Nurse Sweetheart sighed as she set her book down. She stood up and opened Sunset's door.
"Thank ya, kindly." Applejack tipped her hat as she picked up the tv and carried it inside. Sunset stood up and smiled.
"Thanks you guys." She gave a yawn. "I've read the same book four times."
"Egghead," Rainbow snickered as she started plugging in the console to the wall. She brushed her hands and stood up.
"Shut up, Rainbow. You read too," Sunset spit out some blood and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Applejack and Rainbow exchanged worried looks.
"You need to get better, you idiot," Rainbow growled. Sunset rolled her eyes dramatically.
"I'm trying. I'll get over this," she lied. Applejack narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She grabbed Rainbrow and lead her out the room.
"Well, we'll get outta ya hair so ya can rest. We will play video games later," Applejack promised. Sunset gave her a tired smile.
"Sounds good," she mumbled as she flopped onto the couch. She closed her eyes and passed out.
Sunset's eyes shot open to the sound of screaming. She shot to her feet and stared through the glass. Adagio was on her knees screaming, while Aria and Sonata were huddled against the wall hugging each other. Both wore terrified expressions. Adagio slammed her head against the floor and grabbed her throat. Bon Bon jumped and covered her mouth, turning green. Lyra covered her ears as nurses shoved past the two lone girls wearing infectious disease suits. A nurse shoved a needle into Adagio's shoulder and the girl calmed down, falling asleep in a pile on the floor.
"W-what the hell did you do to her?" Aria shakily demanded.
"We gave her a drug. It'll help her sleep. It also has morphine in it to help with the pain," Redheart calmly explained as she wiped some blood off her suits visor. Sonata nodded as she gazed at the nurses face.
"Why do you look like an alien?" She asked nervously, looking at Adagio. Aria knelt next her older sister and grunted as she dragged her to the bed. Redheart gave a faint laugh.
"We don't know what you have. We know it's not contagious to us for some reason, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Plus, none of us want blood on us," she explained and Sonata nodded as she moved to help Aria. Sonata wiped some blood out of the corner of her mouth as she tugged Adagio onto the bed.
"Makes sense," she mumbled as the nurses left the room. Aria sighed and wiped her head. "Is Dagi gonna be okay?"
"Adagio is tough. She will be fine," Aria reassured her. She slumped against the wall.
"That was scary. And loud," Sonata whispered. Aria nodded as she hugged her.
"It was pretty scary," Aria admitted. "It's been four days, maybe it advances faster for some people. I've only had two seizures, you've had none and Adagio has had five."
"Maybe," Bon Bon agreed. The color returned to her face and Lyra removed her hands off her ears.
"My head hurts from that," Lyra whispered to Bon Bon.
"Mine too," Bon Bon quietly agreed. They glanced at Sunset who was staring at them. Her knees gave out and she fell to the ground and she started having a seizure of her own. The blood from her throat started mixing with the froth from her mouth, turning it a bright pink color. Bon Bon looked away as Sunset continued shaking after the seizure passed. Sunset pulled herself to her couch the hospital gave her and she laid down on her back, groaning.
"This shit sucks," Sunset groaned as she cleaned herself up. She pulled her shirt off and tossed it to ground. Lyra and Bon Bon turned faintly red at the sight.
"It does," Sonata agreed quietly. She looked away as Adagio started shaking in her sleep. "What's happening?"
"It's another seizure," Nurse Sweetheart sighed as she entered the room. Adagio started dripping from between her legs and onto the floor. She quit having her seizure and laid still.
"Uhm, Adagio?" Sonata asked as she pushed Adagio gently and the girl didn't move. Nurse Sweetheart pushed her aside gently and checked the older girls pulse. She sighed and stood up.
"I'm sorry. She's gone." She glanced at the clock above the door. "Time of death, eleven thirty three. I'll call Nurse Coldheart to come get her." Sonata hugged Aria as the now oldest stared at her dead sister. Sonata let go and glared at her.
"You lied to me," Sonata sniffled as she wiped a bloody tear out of her eye.
"What?" Aria focused on her with difficulty.
"You said none of us would die. Adagio just died!" Sonata slapped her and Lyra gasped as Bon Bon continued her throwing up into a trash can. Aria rubbed her cheek and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Sonata."
"Don't talk to me right now. I want to be alone," the other girl demanded as Nurse Coldheart entered the room with a body bag and a stretcher. She gently rolled Adagio into the bag and onto the stretcher, zipping up the bag. She didn't say a word to the grieving sisters as she left the room as quietly as she has entered with their sisters body. Sonata stared into Sunset's room as the other girl played her video game, oblivious to the other room. She didn't hear anything because the speaker that allowed the rooms to communicate with her was off. She glanced behind her and jumped at Sonata's heartbroken yet longing expression. Sunset paused her game and stood up.
"Hey nurse?" Nurse Redheart looked up.
"Yes?"
"Can you bring the others into my room? We are sick with the same thing, after all. I want to play video games and watch TV with Sonata, Aria and Adagio."
"Okay. We can only bring the first two."
"Uhm why?" Sunset nervously asked.
"Adagio just died," Sweetheart sighed as she opened the sirens door. "Come with me you two." Sunset stared into space as the words washed over her. The two remaining sirens entered her room and she instinctively hugged the two.
"I'm so sorry," Sunset whispered into their ears.
"I know," Sonata mumbled into her shoulder.
"Thanks," Aria mumbled.
"We should sit down and talk for a bit," Sunset suggested as she walked the two to her couch bed.
"I'll sit away from her," Sonata announced as she sat down next to Sunset. Aria sighed as she sat on the other side of Sunset. She hated her sister being mad at her but she was determined to fix it.
No matter what.
Sonata smiled as she watched TV with Sunset. It was her favorite baking channel.
"I love this channel," she mumbled and Sunset smirked.
"Is that so?" Sunset teased.
"I'm the cook of the household. I used cooking and baking shows to gain inspiration. Some of the stuff I made was liked, some wasn't. Adagio really liked shellfish," Sonata sniffled at the mention of her sister and Sunset rubbed her back.
"We can change the topic if you want," Sunset suggested. "Or you can go spend time with your sister. She's just as heartbroken as you are."
"No."
"Sonata please," Sunset rubbed the bridge of her nose. "You got only one sister. Might as well spend time with her. Siblings are important. Trust me, I know."
"She lied to me. She said none of us would die." Sunset sighed in frustration.
"She only said that to make you feel better. She knew you were scared and did with siblings do. Try to make their younger sibling feel better," Sunset argued. "Look at her, does she look happy?" Sonata glanced over at where Aria was huddled against the wall. Aria coughed out some blood and ignored the blood dripping off her chin onto the floor. She fixed her hair and sighed, wiping a bloody tear out of her eye.
"No, she doesn't look happy," Sonata finally said. Sunset nodded.
"So it's your turn to do what she tried to do for you. Make you feel better," Sunset coaxed.
"Okay." Sonata stood up and walked over to Aria. Sunset smiled triumphantly as she kept the channel paused, sneaking glances over to the pair. Sonata slumped next to Aria.
"Hey Ari," Sonata mumbled. Aria jumped and glanced up at her sister.
"Hey, Sonata," Aria greeted softly.
"Are you uh okay?" Sonata asked. Aria gave a faint smile.
"Yeah. I'll be fine," she said and Sonata stared at her intensely.
"You're lying," Sonata pointed out. Aria groaned and rolled her eyes.
"I hate how good you are at telling when I'm lying," Aria grumbled. "I'm not fine. I watched my oldest sister die. I never even really got to say goodbye." Sonata nodded.
"You remember the one time I had to walk home down that alley from work before the battle of the bands and you two were at home sick and that one guy tried to get me to join him for some fun time? And you two came and beat him up when you both realized I wasn't home on time and came looking for me right as I was about to say sure to him?" Sonata shivered at the memory.
"I remember that. We both were afraid," Aria gave a faint laugh. "Adagio would never admit it, but she was terrified." Sonata pressed her head against Aria's shoulder and Aria carefully wrapped an arm around her.
"I never got to say thank you to her," Sonata sniffed. "She got mad at me that night about being late and her having to go out searching when she was sick." Aria hugged her with one arm.
"You know Adagio showed her love differently than you and me. She would get mad when she was afraid rather than admit it," Aria pointed out. "She may not have been the greatest at showing it, but she did care about us. Especially you."
"I never thought about that. She did get mad often whenever I failed a test back in Equestria before we decided to run off and do our own thing." Sonata coughed out some blood and Aria wiped it off with her shirt sleeve. "Ari, you got blood on your sleeve."
"It's a possession. It'll wash out anyway, you're more important," Aria shrugged. "I never really liked this shirt anyway to be honest." Sonata gave a strangled gasp.
"Ari! Adagio got you that for Christmas," Sonata chided.
"I know. It's why I wore it all the time and never told her I didn't like it because she spent the money on it."
"Fair enough," Sonata smiled. The two sat holding each other for a while in silence. Sunset smirked at the sight before stretching out on the couch.
"Remember you're fifth birthday party?" Aria suddenly asked and Sonata smirked.
"I remember jumping out of the cake Adagio bought and her just staring at me in shock at how I did it. You were laughing your butt off," Sonata recalled with a fond smile.
"Adagio didn't buy that cake," Aria admitted. Sonata stared at her in shock.
"She didn't?" Sonata asked in surprise. Aria shook her head amused.
"Nah, she didn't. She spent all morning while you were at school trying to figure out how to make it. She refused to let me help her too. Said she wanted to do it alone," Aria rolled her eyes. "She always was a stubborn one."
"And I destroyed the cake accidentally in my excitement," Sonata mumbled sadly.
"You were five. We kinda expected it, just not that fast. Besides, we were gonna cut it and eat it anyway," Aria reminded her with a grin. "I never thought strawberry and vanilla would go well together."
"Strawberries go well with anything. Trust me," Sonata gave a laugh. "I love them more anything."
"More then me?" Aria feigned sadness as she gave a cough. Sonata's eyes widened.
"No! I love you more than life itself, more than my clothes, my video games and TV. And my cooking shows and-" Aria placed a finger on her mouth, stopping her midsentence.
"I get the point," Aria smirked. "I love you too, by the way." Sonata yawned and Aria stroked her hair. "Ready to go to bed?"
"Mhm," Sonata mumbled sleepily. Aria stood up and lifted Sonata up, carrying her to the proper hospital beds they were given. She laid her down and joined her, kicking her shoes off. "Why do you still wear your shoes in this box?" Aria shrugged.
"Habit. I hate walking in socks and I hate going barefoot. So I just wear my shoes. Plus there's blood in some spots we haven't cleaned up yet," Aria admitted.
"I'll get on it," Sonata tried to get up and Aria pulled her back down to bed.
"Sleep," Aria whispered. "I'll do it tomorrow." Aria yawned and covered her mouth.
"Can you sing me a song, please?" Sonata asked quietly. Aria sighed.
"My singing is bad still remember?"
"Mine is too," Sonata reminded her.
"Okay," Aria agreed and took a deep breath. "Hush little sister don't say a word, Aria's gonna buy you a mockingbird. If that mockingbird doesn't sing, Aria's gonna buy you a diamond ring. If that diamond ring don't shine, Aria will buy you a taco. And if that taco isn't good, she'll get you a taco truck. And if that taco truck doesn't roll, Aria will give you a great big hug," Aria sang softly off key. Sonata's quiet breathing came from her left and Aria smiled faintly.
"You're a good sister," Sunset startled her. "It didn't really rhyme at the end but it was good." Aria turned red slightly.
"I'm not that good at rhyming. Adagio was the one who wrote all our songs. All I care about is that it got Sonata to sleep."
"Fair enough," Sunset chuckled. Sunset lost her balance and stumbled to the ground. Aria sighed and scrambled to help her up. She wrapped Sunset's arm around her neck as she strained to help her up.
"God damn girl," Aria groaned. "You're heavy." Sunset glared at her.
"Did you just call me fat?" Sunset demanded.
"Sorry. Don't be so heavy then," Aria teased her as she helped Sunset into her bed. Sunset rolled her eyes as she pulled Aria on top of her. "What the hell are you doing?" Sunset gave her a quick kiss.
"I don't know," Sunset admitted as she slid her hand down Aria's pants. Aria grabbed her hand and gave her a look.
"My sister is in this room. We've literally never even had sex before. Why me?"
"I don't know," Sunset repeated. "I need this to get my mind off of dying. Please." Aria groaned. "And I refuse to do this with Sonata, that's gross."
"Fine, but just this once. Don't tell any one this ever happened or you're gonna die," Aria threatened and gave a gasp as Sunset's hand brushed against her crotch.
"Fine," Sunset smirked as she kissed Aria again.
Aria groaned as her eyes opened. Sonata stood above her with a confused expression. Aria's eyes widened and she quickly covered her chest.
"H-hey Sonata," she stammered out.
"Hey Ari. Why are you sleeping with Sunset?" Sonata asked innocently.
"You know I sometimes sleep with you when are lonely and want your sister to cuddle you?" Aria asked.
"Yeah. Was Sunny lonely?" Sonata questioned.
"Yeah."
"Why are you not wearing a shirt?" Sonata asked.
"Uh, it was accident," Aria quickly lied and Sonata nodded. "Turn around please." Sonata did so and Aria quickly put her bra and shirt back on. "You can look at me now." She slipped off the bed and groaned. She sighed and worked her way to the shower to clean off the sticky feeling she felt. She shut the bathroom door and smiled at the shower.
Sonata paced back and forth as she tossed a ball up into the sky, catching it.
"You know what I don't get?" Aria commented.
"What's that?" Sonata asked.
"Is how this prison cell like place has a bathroom inside it."
"Probably because the hospital staff don't want to risk anyone else getting infected by other diseases this world has so they put everything in one room," Sonata guessed. Aria stared at her with her mouth open slightly.
"I never thought about that," Aria admitted.
"I'm big brain," Sonata eagerly announced and Aria rubbed her head.
"Got that right," Aria proudly agreed.
"Hey Sunset. Princess Twilight wants to see you," Octavia announced. She was taking over watching over the three for Lyra and Bon Bon after Adagio died. Twilight slowly walked into the room and stared at the three, wearing the same suit the nurses wore.
"Hello Sunset," Twilight greeted her quietly. She gazed at Aria and Sonata. "Hello you two. Are you feeling okay?"
"No," Aria stated gruffly, quickly switching from the protective big sister to aggressive. "We're sick." Sunset shot her a dirty look that screamed shut up.
"Hello, Twilight. How are you?" Sunset smiled as she wiped some blood off her chin. Twilight stood in front of the glass.
"Don't worry about me. How are you three?"
"I'm okay, just sick like Aria said," Sunset mumbled. Sonata stepped forward and grinned, waving.
"Hi! I'm Sonata!" she said eagerly. Twilight couldn't but chuckle at the girls eager demeanor.
"Hello Sonata. It's nice to see you both again," Twilight greeted. Aria folded her arms and nodded.
"Likewise," she replied.
"How did you even know we were sick?" Sunset questioned.
"Rainbow broke into your locker and used the journal. I'm so sorry this is happening to you three," Twilight carefully avoided the topic of Adagio. Rainbow had already filled her in on the older girls death.
"We will manage," Aria pointed out. "We're a strong group, especially Sonata here." She smiled at the blue haired girl drawing at a table. "Stronger than me and Sunset. She's kept her optimistic attitude this entire time."
"That's always good," Twilight smiled. "She is a strong one. Is there anything I can do?" Sunset shook her head and Aria looked at Sunset, then her sister and her gaze lingered on her sister.
"Actually, there is. Can we go to the next room?" Aria suddenly asked. Twilight nodded, looking confused. Nurse Snowheart opened the doors to each room. She shut the door to the old room the sirens inhabited and Aria checked to make sure both speakers were off.
"Making sure they can't hear us," she explained to Twilight's confused expression. She coughed out some blood onto Twilight's visor and Aria wiped it off. "Sorry about that, can't control it."
"It's fine," Twilight reassured her. "What can I help you with?"
"Is there any way you can use magic to transfer Sonata and Sunsets sickness?" Aria asked.
"No?" Twilight asked in confusion. After a few seconds her eyes lit up. "There is one way, but i need someone transfer their illnesses to." Aria took a deep breath.
"Give it to me," she demanded and Twilight stared at her in shock.
"What?"
"Give me their illness," Aria repeated.
"But you'll die!" Twilight argued.
"I'm already dying," Aria reminded her. "I don't want my youngest sister to die nor Sunset. So give me it, I'll keep fighting you till you do. This is my choice, so respect it. Please."
"I don't like this," Twilight admitted. "But fine. I admire you doing this for someone you love. I'll make sure you're remembered, Aria."
"I don't give a damn about that," Aria growled. "As long as my sister is still alive, I don't give a shit about me." She paused before hesitantly adding. "And my friend."
"Okay, okay." Twilight held her hands up.
"When can you do it?" Aria asked.
"Now," Twilight admitted. "I have the necklace that can allow me to use my magic." She focused on Aria. "There's no going back after this. Are you absolutely sure?"
"I've never been more sure than anything in my life," Aria firmly stated, maintaining eye contact with Twilight. Twilight nodded and closed her eyes, focusing on her magic. She opened her eyes a few minutes later. Aria collapsed to her stomach and gave a loud cry.
"It's done," Twilight said sadly as she stared down at the siren holding her stomach in pain as she fought back tears. Twilight knelt down and helped her up.
"I know," Aria yelped out in agony. "Thank you."
"Ari! I'm feeling better!" Sonata shouted happily as she stared down at her sister. She and had Sunset had no idea why they were forced to wear the nurses suits, but they grudgingly obliged. Aria shakily stood up and kissed the visor of Sonata's suit.
"I-i'm happy sis," she stammered out. "I love you."
"I love you too!" Sonata happily hugged her sister and squeezed. Aria gave a exhausted smile as she felt the oxygen squeezed out of her. Sunset placed a worried hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Sunset asked. Aria wiped the blood out of her eyes.
"Yeah," Aria moaned. "Just sleepy is all." She laid down on the couch and stared at the urn she and Sonata got given earlier that day that had Adagio's ashes. She knew she would end up in one similar soon enough. Sonata laid next to her pressed the visor to her sisters head. "Ow!"
"Sorry," Sonata apologized sheepishly. "Tried to kiss your forehead to make you feel better like you did when I was little seahorse."
"It's okay, sis," Aria wheezed out as she violently spit out some blood. Sonata lovingly wiped the blood off her chin. "Thanks, Sonnie." Sonata smiled at her nickname. Sonata snuggled next to her and started to snore. Aria focused on Sunset. "Hey Sunset?"
"Yeah, Aria?" She asked.
"If anything happened to me, would you keep Sonata safe for me?" Aria asked. Sunset narrowed her eyes and gazed at her worriedly.
"Of course I would. Why do you think something is gonna happen to you? If we are feeling better, then you are probably next." Sighing, Aria admitted what she forced Twilight to do.
"Are you fucking insane?" Sunset hissed in anger. "Give me yours, hers and mine now. She needs her sister. I'm not immortal, you are." Aria shook her head adamantly as she vomited some blood.
"It's already done," Aria grumbled as she started to fall asleep. "Leave it alone." Sunset watched as the two fell asleep then turned to Twilight.
"Give me it. Now," she ordered in a tone that left no room for arguing. Twilight sighed.
"I hate to do this. You're putting me in an awful position but fine. Go to next room." Sunset left her room and into the hallway where Octavia nervously stepped back. Sunset stepped into the sirens room after it was opened for her. She dropped to the floor and screamed as she felt all three girls illnesses enter her body. She had no clue how Aria managed to keep ip the tough act for three days. Twilight and Octavia looked away as Sunset continued to scream. The screams stopped and Sunset slumped dead against the glass with a small smile on her face.
Aria and Sonata stood in front of a grave next to Twilight. Aria wrapped a hoof around her sister and hugged her. After Sunsets death, the sisters accompanied Sunsets body back to Equestria. They had asked Twilight to turn them into ponies instead of their original form so they could blend in better. It took a lot of magic from Twilight but soon enough they were a light purple earth pony and a blue earth pony.
"I'm mad at her still," Aria grumbled. "It was supposed to be me."
"I know. She didn't want me to be alone. She knew she wouldn't live forever," Sonata argued.
"I guess," Aria admitted. Sonata turned to trot to their house and glanced behind her.
"You coming, sis?" She asked in confusion.
"Give me a minute and I'll be right there," Aria promised and her sister smiled at her as she trotted down the hill. Aria gazed at the gravestone and traced Sunset's name with a hoof. "Thank you for everything, Sunset." With that, Aria turned and followed her sister who was waiting patiently.
Author's Note
Originally I was gonna kill off Aria and leave only Sonata alive. I realized that Sunset wouldn't allow that so I killed her off instead. I'll probably release the original chapter as an alternate universe ending thing.
Chapter IV (alt universe ending)
"Sonata! Time for school!" Sunset shouted up the stairs. It had been two years since they had gotten over the disease they had. Two years since Adagio and Aria died. Sunset sighed in frustration. Taking care of Sonata like she promised Aria was harder than she thought. "Sonata! Tacos!" The girl shot down the stairs in a blue blur and squeezed Sunset's cheeks, making her vaguely resemble a fish.
"Where are they?" The blue girl demanded. Sunset gave a chuckle and removed her hands off her face.
"That's for dinner. We have waffles for breakfast," Sunset replied. "You're a hard girl to wake up."
"I like my sleep," Sonata grumbled as she tried to sneak back upstairs. Chuckling, Sunset carefully grabbed her and carried her to the dining room. "Hey! Put me down!"
"No," Sunset groaned as she carried the girl. "Quit fighting or we will both fall down." She set the girl down at the table. "Now eat." Sonata grudgingly bit into her waffle and reached for her coffee. Sunset sighed as she walked upstairs to do their laundry. Sonata finished eating and took her plate and cup to the sink. As she put them in the sink, a white envelope on top of the fridge got her attention. Confused, she reached for it and read her name on the front of the envelope.
"Why is my name on this envelope?" Sonata asked and Sunset froze as the girl held up the envelope.
"I shouldn't be surprised you found it," Sunset sighed. "It's from Aria. She gave it to me so I could give you it. You can open it, I guess since you found it." Sonata nodded as she tore it open and unfolded the paper. She recognized Aria's cursive writing and traced her finger over the beautiful calligraphy. She quietly began to read.
"Sonata,
If you're reading this, I'm gone. I'm sorry I can't be there. I hope Sunset is taking good care of you like I asked. I hope you're doing well, in life and in school. I hope you don't hate me for what I did. I hated seeing you suffer with the same illness I had. I did what I had to do.
Listen to Sunset. Don't give her a hard time, she's only doing what I asked and I'm sure she's doing a damn good job. She won't live forever, so you're gonna have to take care of yourself one day. I know it seems hard to do, but you can do it. I believe in you and so does Adagio. She would tell you to get your ass in gear and focus on doing what you need to do to survive. I can't help but wonder what earth will look like a few hundred or thousand years from now. Is it beautiful? It is in my dreams.
I'm sorry I'm missing a lot of your life. I'm sorry I can't be there for your birthdays. I'm sorry I can't be there to watch you grow up. Or get married, or have kids. We will be reunited some day, just not now. Don't do anything stupid or I'll kick your ass. I don't know how, but I'll figure it out. You have a lot of potential, use it. I love you so much. Adagio does too and I know Sunset does as well. If there had been another way for me to be alive with you today, I would have taken that option. I don't know when you're reading this or if you ever will, but take care of yourself Sonata. I love you. I hope your life is as full of love and adventure as mine was. Till we meet again, Sonnie.
With love, Aria." Sonata wiped her eyes as she tried to ignore the brown stains on the bottom of the page and Sunset gave her a big hug.
"Are you okay?" Sunset asked after a moment.
"I'm not sure," Sonata admitted. "Can I stay home from school today? I don't want to go. I'll have Bon Bon bring me my school work."
"Sure, kid. I'll tell the school when i go," Sunset agreed after thinking it over.
"Kid?" Sonata scoffed. "I'm older than you."
"Fair enough," Sunset admitted with a smile. She hoisted her backpack up onto her back and waved before walking out the front door. Sonata gazed at the two urns above the fire place with the words Adagio and Aria on them. She never thought she would be the last of her kind but here she was. She would never admit this to anyone but she was ready to die. She hates being alone, especially without Aria. She had made such a turn around in her life just to be gone like that. Sonata stroked the two urns before marching up the stairs and flopping down onto her bed. She pulled out her phone and checked her calendar. She was supposed to start a weekend of baking with Bon Bon and Pinkie. She had connected a lot with the two over their shared love of baking and movies. She slumped in bed and started to snore.
Aria stood above her sisters sleeping form and tried to stroke her hair but her hand went right through her head.
"Damn it," Aria grumbled. "Good night Sonata." Aria watched over her sisters form till she awoke later that day. Sonata rubbed her eyes and stared where Aria had been sitting.
"Feels like Aria was just here," Sonata mumbled softly as she fell back asleep.