Frozen Notes

The Dazzlings and Arctic ate breakfast that morning. Today, the four of them planned on going shopping at the mall to get the girls some things they needed. Ever since the Dazzlings started staying at Arctic's, they had been using his clothes and essentials like shampoo and toothpaste. It was fine for the first few days but the girls, especially Adagio, had been asking to get some of their own things so they didn't have to borrow Arctic's. As the four of them finished eating their breakfast, they got ready and started making their way to the mall.

The Dazzlings and Arctic walked their way toward the sprawling Canterlot Mall. The idea of a shopping spree was already thrilling, but having Arctic—ever the gentleman—offer to treat them made the day even more special. Adagio, Aria, and Sonata exchanged glances, each already plotting out the items they’d look for. It had been a long time since the girls were able to get clothes for themselves and they were looking forward to getting a lot of them. As well as any other essentials they needed, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, makeup, etc.

Once they arrived, Arctic led them into the mall and toward some trendy clothing stores the mall offered. The girls were amused at how huge the mall was, they had never gone into Canterlot Mall before now and they were impressed. Not as impressed as Arctic was when the girls quickly disappeared into different sections. Adagio made a beeline for the racks filled with sophisticated dresses and blouses, her eye for elegance in full force. Aria gravitated towards the grungier section, rifling through graphic tees, jackets, and distressed jeans with an approving nod. Meanwhile, Sonata practically skipped over to a vibrant display of pastel sweaters and playful skirts, humming cheerfully as she sifted through the selections.

Arctic watched them with a warm smile, happy to indulge in their interests. He didn't need to do any shopping so here he was waiting for the Dazzlings to do their shopping while he lounged around on his phone killing time. After a few minutes, Adagio came over with an armful of clothes that almost made Arctic's eyes shoot out of their sockets. “Arctic, what do you think of this dress?” she asked, holding up a fitted, deep blue dress with intricate lace detailing.

“It suits you perfectly,” Arctic replied, giving her a sincere nod of approval. “Elegant and confident—definitely you.” A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek. 'I know I said I would pay for their things but I hope they show me mercy.' Arctic glanced at the clothes in Adagio's hands. 'I can already feel my wallet crying.'

Adagio’s eyes sparkled with pride. “Thank you. I knew you’d appreciate good taste.”

Meanwhile, Sonata bounced over with a pastel pink hoodie and a denim skirt, holding them up with a grin. “What about these? They’re cute, right?”

Arctic chuckled. “Very cute, Sonata. You’ll look great in them.”

With their selections in hand, the Dazzlings continued exploring the store and then moved on to others, each discovering more pieces that suited their unique styles. Aria even managed to find a studded leather jacket that instantly became her new favorite item. As promised, Arctic covered the costs at each checkout, waving off the girls’ attempts to protest. However, he almost took up their offer when he saw how big the bill was. 'By the time this is all over, I'm going to be in debt.' When Arctic paid for the bill and then turned to the girls who were talking and smiling at one another, it made Arctic smile to himself. 'If it's for them then it's okay.' However, looking down at his wallet which was looking dangerously low made him sigh. 'The things that I do for these girls.'

“It’s my treat, besides, you all deserve it.” He would assure them with a smile each time. And each time it became harder and harder to hold it together with how low his money was getting. 'I hope this ends soon.'

After a couple of hours and several full shopping bags later, they took a break to wander over to a beauty and self-care store. Adagio picked up some luxury skincare products, while Sonata and Aria stocked up on some essentials like makeup and haircare items. Arctic was glad to see them treating themselves, encouraging their choices along the way.

Finally, with their arms full of bags and smiles on their faces, the group headed to the food court. They found a table near the window, where Arctic pulled out chairs for each of the girls before sitting down himself, silently crying to himself, the money in his wallet now gone forever. The Dazzlings eagerly scanned the menus, debating between different options.

“This place has the best tacos!” Sonata exclaimed, her eyes wide. “We have to get some!”

Adagio smirked. “Of course you’d want tacos, Sonata.”

Aria shrugged. “I’m with her on this one. Let’s just order a bunch of stuff and share.”

Soon, they had a spread of pizza, tacos, fries, and milkshakes laid out in front of them. The group chatted and laughed as they ate, recounting the day’s highlights and trying on different accents just for the fun of it. Arctic found himself genuinely enjoying every moment, glad to be surrounded by their infectious energy and friendship.

As the day drew to a close and they headed home, the Dazzlings thanked Arctic profusely, their voices filled with gratitude and joy. He gave them each a warm smile, assuring them it was truly his pleasure. After they finished eating, the four of them made their way to the exit and headed back home.

That night, Arctic was in his room winding down for the night when his phone buzzed. Seeing it was his mom, he picked up quickly.

“Hi, Mom!” he greeted, smiling. Though they didn’t speak daily, he was close with her, and they often shared updates about their lives. She had been so busy at the hospital ever since the two of them had moved to Canterlot that she often stayed the night sometimes or stayed over at a coworker's.

“Hello, sweetheart,” she replied warmly. “Just wanted to let you know I’ll be home tomorrow. It’s been a while since we caught up properly.”

“That’s great, Mom!” Arctic replied. “Looking forward to it.”

“Oh, and don’t forget about the offer I mentioned,” she added gently, her voice curious but understanding. “Take your time, of course. Just thought I’d bring it up.”

Arctic stayed quiet for a minute, thinking about the offer. “I know, I’m still thinking about it,” he replied, feeling a bit of weight in his words. He knew his mom was just looking out for him, but the decision she’d brought up wasn’t an easy one. It lingered in his mind as something he needed more time to sort out.

“Alright, honey. Just wanted to remind you. Have a good night, and see you soon!” she said warmly before hanging up.

As he put down the phone, the reality set in—this would be the first time his mom would meet the Dazzlings. A mix of excitement and nervousness washed over him. The girls were incredibly important to him, and he wanted his mom to see them as he did: friends who brought light into his days. She didn't need to know about their past, but she was going to have to know that they lived with him. The only question was: how would he tell her that?

After a moment of thought, Arctic headed to the living room where the Dazzlings were watching a late-night movie. He approached them, and they looked up, sensing he had something to say.

“So, I just got off the phone with my mom,” he started, taking a deep breath. “She’s coming back tomorrow. And… this will be the first time she’ll be meeting you.”

The Dazzlings exchanged curious glances, a bit of apprehension crossing their faces.

Adagio spoke up first, giving him a confident nod. “We’ll be on our best behavior. She’s important to you, so it's only fair we treat her with respect.”

Aria leaned back with a smirk. “We can handle it. Meeting moms is easy.”

Sonata, on the other hand, looked slightly nervous but gave him a determined thumbs-up. “Yeah! We’ll make a great impression. We promise.” She then looked down, hugging Adagio. "But what if we don't and she kicks us out? She doesn't even know we've been living here."

Arctic smiled at their reassurances, feeling a bit more at ease. “Thanks, girls. I know you’ll be amazing.” He then turned to Sonata. "And Sonata I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. We'll just be honest with her and tell her that you guys are friends from school and I found out you were homeless, simple." Sonata smiled and nodded her head while Arctic turned his head so she didn't see his face. 'I hope.'

Once the conversation wound down, the Dazzlings headed to their rooms to prepare for bed. Arctic lingered in the living room, feeling an urge to talk to someone else, someone who might have insight into the situation or who might ease his nerves. He picked up his phone again and dialed a number.

As it rang, he felt a familiar rush of reassurance. The person he was calling always had a way of grounding him, offering advice that felt clear and supportive.

Finally, the call connected, and Arctic spoke in a low, cautious tone. “Hey, it’s me. I need some advice… My mom’s coming back tomorrow, and she’ll be meeting the Dazzlings for the first time. I think it’ll be fine, but... you know how much I want it to go well.”

The person on the other end replied, their voice soft and understanding. Though their words couldn’t be heard, Arctic’s expression softened, and he nodded, grateful for their support. They continued talking for a while, with Arctic growing more reassured and ready to face the upcoming meeting.

After he hung up, he headed to his room, feeling a renewed sense of calm. Tomorrow was going to be an important day, and though there were unknowns, he knew he wasn’t alone. With the Dazzlings by his side and the support of his loved ones, he felt ready for whatever came next.