Frozen Notes

That day at school everyone talked about the Fall Formal later on that night. Everyone was excited, ready to have the time of their lives dancing and partying with their friends or with someone they liked, like a certain someone.

When Sunset and her group found out that Arctic had asked out Sonata to the dance they were happy for him. It was obvious to all of them that Arctic liked her. Knowing that his friends cheered him on made Arctic happy. When Arctic told his mom about bringing Sonata to the Fall Formal as his date, his mom almost hugged him half to death. She was happy for Arctic, but what was most surprising was that she knew Arctic liked her. As she would call it, it was motherly instinct.

The night of the Fall Formal had finally arrived, and Arctic was getting ready. Arctic smiled to himself as he checked himself out, making sure he looked his best for tonight. This would be his first time going to an event like this. The first three years he had skipped prom, after all, why would he go when he didn't have a date or any friends to hang out with? And he didn't want to be the loner who stood by the wall and watched everyone else have fun.

'I would what dad would think of me in this suit. I wonder if he would think I look good.' Arctic messed with his hair one last time and checked himself for the hundredth time that night. 'All right, looking good.'

Arctic was ready well before the others, dressed in a sharp, black suit with a classic bow tie. He checked himself in the mirror, adjusting his tie one last time as it was starting to lean to the side, and paced a bit as he waited for the Dazzlings to finish getting ready. They were taking longer than he expected, and he couldn’t help but worry that they might actually be late. He knew that the Dazzlings, especially Adagio, took a bit to get ready but not this long.

He called out to them from the living room. “Hey, are you all done yet? We’re going to be late if we don’t leave soon!”

From upstairs, he heard Adagio call back, “Hold your horses, Arctic. We’ll be down in a minute!”

Arctic chuckled, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall as he waited. True to their word, the Dazzlings finally appeared at the top of the stairs. They each wore dresses custom-designed by Rarity, each outfit a reflection of their personalities and sense of style. Adagio descended first, her gown a stunning deep red that highlighted her confident poise. Aria followed in a bold, edgy ensemble, a dark purple dress with asymmetrical cuts and silver accents that suited her perfectly.

And then there was Sonata. She stepped forward, her dress a shade of soft blue that matched her eyes, flowing gracefully around her as she moved. Arctic felt his breath hitch—she looked radiant, her natural joy amplified by the elegance of her dress. She noticed him staring and offered him a shy smile, her cheeks faintly pink.

“Wow, you all look amazing,” Arctic said, trying to keep his cool as he looked at each of them. “Especially you, Sonata.”

She blushed deeper and gave him a playful nudge. “Thanks, Arctic. You look pretty good yourself.”

With everyone finally ready, they headed out and made their way to the gymnasium where the dance was being held. When they stepped inside, they were awestruck. Pinkie Pie had gone all out, transforming the place into a glittering spectacle. Colorful lights flashed from the ceiling, the walls were adorned with streamers and balloons, and a massive table was set up with a spread of treats and snacks.

“Wow, Pinkie really outdid herself this time,” Adagio remarked, looking around in amazement.

“No kidding,” Aria agreed, impressed. “This place actually looks… cool.”

They took in the scene, smiling at the groups of students scattered around the room, dancing, laughing, and chatting. Arctic and the Dazzlings drifted apart to greet friends and explore, each excited to make the most of the night. Arctic sampled the snacks, appreciating Pinkie’s talent for baking, and chatted with a few friends. He spotted Sonata across the room a couple of times, laughing with her sisters or friends, her happiness making him smile. He decided he’d find her soon so they could share a dance.

However, before he could start searching for her, a group of classmates approached him with curious, smug expressions. He had a feeling this conversation might not go well.

“Hey, Arctic,” one of the guys greeted, a smirk on his face. “We heard some rumors about you and the Dazzlings.”

Arctic raised an eyebrow. “Rumors?”

“Yeah,” another one chimed in, “like, is it true you came to the Formal with one of the Dazzlings? And that they’re, like, staying with you? What’s that all about?”

Arctic felt his patience thinning but decided to keep it light. “Well, yes, they’re staying with me,” he replied, keeping his tone neutral. “And I came with Sonata tonight, yeah.”

A girl in the group shot him a skeptical look. “Aren’t they, like, super dangerous or something? Why would you even help them out? It’s not like they’re the nicest people around.”

Arctic’s expression soured as he sensed the judgmental tone creeping into their voices. He could tell these classmates were looking down at him for associating with the Dazzlings. The irritation rose, and he decided to take a sarcastic approach to throw them off.

“Oh, right, because obviously, I don’t care about them at all,” he said dryly, rolling his eyes. “I mean, I totally didn’t let them live in my house for months just to help them get back on their feet or anything. And I definitely didn’t put in time to help them regain their singing voices because I thought they had any potential. I just… did it for fun.”

They looked at him in confusion, exchanging glances.

“Yeah, you’re totally right,” he continued, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I didn’t actually come here with one of them tonight. I came with Sunset Shimmer.” Unbeknownst to Arctic, Sonata who had been walking up to Arctic to ask to dance had heard everything. From not caring about them, doing it for fun, and most importantly... going to the dance with Sunset and not her. She hadn't picked up on the sarcasm and believed what Arctic was saying was true.

"I thought he wanted to come to the Fall Formal with me..." Sonata looked down, holding back tears as she ran away from Arctic. Not wanting to hear the rest of Arctic's conversation.

Adagio and Aria were talking when they noticed Sonata run their way. "Sonata? What's wro-" Before Adagio could finish Sonata rushed past her and out of the gymnasium. Aria and Adagio exchanged glances before heading off to Arctic, to give Sonata time to herself, but also to see if he knew anything.

Back to Arctic, one of the guys frowned, clearly frustrated by Arctic’s tone. “Alright, alright, we get it. But you’re seriously saying you like them? You think they deserve this chance or something?”

Arctic’s tone grew serious as he looked them in the eye. “Yeah, I do. I know they’ve made mistakes, but they’re also good people who are trying to change. They’re not the same as they were before, and I actually care about them—especially Sonata.”

As he finished speaking, he glanced around, hoping to spot Sonata so they could finally enjoy their night together. But instead, he saw Adagio and Aria coming toward him, their expressions concerned.

“Hey, do know what happened to Sonata?” Adagio asked, looking worried.

Arctic felt a pang of worry in his chest. “No, I was actually about to find her. What’s wrong?”

Aria folded her arms, looking around the crowded room. “She looked pretty upset and left the Formal a little while ago. We didn’t catch why, but we thought maybe you’d know.”

Confusion mixed with concern as Arctic tried to make sense of this. “Upset? Why would she be upset?”

Adagio exchanged a quick glance with Aria before looking back at Arctic. “I don’t know, but she looked like she really wanted to be alone.”

Realizing that something must have happened—and that he was somehow connected to it—Arctic felt a jolt of panic. “I… I think I know why she might be upset. I need to find her.”

Without waiting, Arctic turned and dashed out of the gymnasium, his heart pounding. He raced through the hallways, searching every corner, growing more anxious with every second that passed. After a few minutes, he decided to check outside, hoping she hadn’t gone far.