Frozen Notes

Dinner at Arctic’s place was quiet at first, each of the four lost in thought. The day at Canterlot High had been rough, to say the least. It hadn't been a good return back to Canterlot High for the Dazzlings. Arctic knew that there would probably be kids who still harbored grudges toward the Dazzlings for what they did. But he didn't think someone would actually do what they tried doing to Aria and Sonata. As they sat around the table, the Dazzlings picked at their food in silence. Even Sonata who was normally always optimist, tried to brighten the mood by talking about how delicious the food was, but even she looked tired from the day’s events. She was probably still scared after what happened at school, and then again when Adagio and Aria got into that argument with one another.

Arctic glanced at each of the girls in turn, feeling the weight of their struggles and the determination they still held beneath the exhaustion. He didn't know why he was so nervous to bring this up to them but if there was a way to help the Dazzlings then... Finally, Arctic set down his fork and cleared his throat, catching their attention.

“There’s something I want to talk to you all about,” he began, his voice steady but a bit hesitant. “I know today wasn’t easy, and I can’t imagine how hard it must be to face everything you’re going through right now.” He paused, looking at each of them seriously. “But I’ve been thinking… about something that might help you feel better. I know how much you miss your singing voices, how much they meant to you, how they were a part of you, and I want to help you get them back.”

The Dazzlings looked up, their expressions a mix of surprise and disbelief.

“You… you’re serious?” Adagio asked, her voice soft, almost vulnerable.

Arctic nodded. “I am. I know your voices were a huge part of who you were, and losing them was like losing a part of yourselves. I thought maybe if you got them back, it could help you feel more like yourselves again.”

Sonata’s face lit up with a bright smile, and before Arctic could react, she pounced on him, wrapping him in an enthusiastic hug. “Oh my gosh, Arctic! You’re amazing! Thank you so much!” she squealed, hugging him tighter.

Arctic’s cheeks turned a shade of red as he returned the hug awkwardly, aware of Adagio and Aria smirking at the scene. He pulled back a bit, clearing his throat to hide his blush.

“You really want to help us get our voices back?” Aria asked, her usual tough demeanor softened with curiosity. "How would you even be able to do that? We don't have magic anymore and I doubt Sunset's group can just give our magic back to us."

Arctic nodded, his gaze sincere. “Yes, I do. It’s not something you can just forget about. I mean, if I lost something that made me feel like myself… I’d want someone to help me get it back too.” He then turned to Aria. "And don't worry Aria, I have just the plan to get your singing voices back."

Adagio, ever the one to notice everything, leaned forward with a playful smile. “That’s very generous of you, Arctic. But why are you doing this for us?”

Arctic hesitated, his mind flashing back to his conversation with Sunset earlier that day.

Earlier That Day

After the first day’s ordeal, Arctic had confided in Sunset over the phone, explaining his plan to help the Dazzlings. Sunset had listened thoughtfully, her expression curious and understanding.

“Arctic,” she’d said, “you’re putting a lot of effort into helping them. And don’t get me wrong, that’s amazing. But… is there another reason why you’re doing this?”

Arctic had hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. “What do you mean?”

Sunset raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eye. “Oh, come on, Arctic. I’m not blind. You’re close to them, especially to…” She let her voice trail off with a knowing smile. “Do you have a crush on one of them?”

Arctic had felt his cheeks heat up, and he knew he couldn’t hide it. “Well… yeah, I guess I do,” he admitted, glancing away. “But it’s not just that. I care about all of them. They’re all struggling, and I want to help them in any way I can. They’re my friends, and they deserve to feel whole again, even if it’s in a way that doesn’t involve magic or causing harm. I want to see them smile again, without any regrets. You and I both know how much their singing voices meant to them, having that back will make them feel better, feel more like themselves.”

Sunset had smiled at his confession, her eyes warm. “That’s sweet, Arctic. And I know they’ll appreciate it. Just… make sure you’re ready to be there for them through it all. This isn’t just about getting their voices back—it’s about helping them heal.”

Despite her not seeing it, he’d nodded, his determination only growing after their conversation. Sunset was right, this was more than just them getting their singing voices back, this was to also help them heal. Heal from all the pain they had gone through, heal from losing something that meant so much to them, and heal from their past mistakes.

Back to the Present

Arctic cleared his throat, repeating the sentiment he’d shared with Sunset. “I… I do have feelings for one of you,” he admitted, looking away momentarily, his cheeks slightly pink. Adagio and Aria smirked at one another, knowing who it was while Sonata tilted her head wondering who Arctic liked. “But it’s not just that. I care about all of you. You’re my friends, and I want to see you happy. I don’t want you to feel like you’re missing a part of yourselves anymore. And if I can help you get your voices back, even without those pendants… then I’m going to do everything I can to make it happen.”

The girls exchanged looks, each of them visibly touched by his words. Aria was the first to speak, her usual sarcastic tone softened with gratitude. “That’s… actually pretty cool of you, Arctic. I didn’t think anyone would care that much.”

Adagio gave him a warm smile. “Thank you. Really, it means a lot to us. We’ve never had anyone go out of their way to do something like this for us before. We… we appreciate it.”

Sonata, still beaming, reached out to take his hand. “You’re amazing, Arctic! Thank you so much for doing this for us!”

Arctic felt his blush return but squeezed her hand, giving her a reassuring smile. “Of course. And don’t worry. I’m here for you all the way.”

“So… how are we going to do this?” Adagio asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

“Well, it’s going to take some work. Getting your voices back won’t happen overnight, especially without magic. But there’s a music therapist I know who specializes in vocal recovery. We’ll be working on strengthening your voices and finding new ways for you to use them. It may take a while but I doubt you care how long it takes, as long as you can sing again.”

The girls shared a glance, nodding in agreement. They were ready to put in the effort, no matter how challenging it might be.

“Thank you again, Arctic,” Adagio said, her voice filled with sincerity. “We’re willing to do whatever it takes.”

Arctic smiled, feeling a surge of determination. “Then let’s do this. We’ll start in a few days. I’ll make sure everything’s arranged, and we’ll take it one step at a time.”

For the rest of the night, the mood around the table was lighter, each of the Dazzlings filled with renewed hope. As they talked about their plans and shared memories of their singing days, it was clear they were ready to move forward, embracing this chance to reclaim their voices in a new way—one that would reflect who they’d become.

When dinner was over, Arctic watched them with a quiet smile, happy to see the spark of excitement in their eyes. He knew this was just the beginning, and the road ahead would have its challenges, but he was ready to support them every step of the way. As the Dazzlings hugged him goodnight, he felt a warmth spread through him, knowing that he was making a difference in their lives.