Frozen Notes

After his therapy session, Arctic felt a new sense of clarity. It was strange and even a little uncomfortable, having opened up about his dad and the weight he'd been carrying. But somehow, that hour of talking had left him lighter. His Mom was right, it did feel nice talking to someone about how he felt. He had gotten a message from Sunset earlier that the Rainbooms had left while the Dazzlings stayed behind to wait for him. As he made his way to Sugarcube Corner to meet the Dazzlings, he took a deep breath, preparing for whatever the next chapter of his life would bring.

Looking through the window to see the inside of Sugarcube Corner, Arctic saw that the Dazzlings were waiting, each looking a bit tense from their encounter with the Rainbooms. Adagio sat with her arms crossed, her usual confidence somewhat dampened; Aria looked irritated, while Sonata fidgeted nervously, glancing around. Judging by their body language he wasn't sure if the meetup with the Rainbooms had gone well. Arctic decided to walk in with a smile on his face, hoping to make the Dazzlings feel a bit better. Even if things didn't go well, at least he could say they tried.

When Arctic walked in with a smile on his face, the girls perked up, visibly relieved to see him. Sonata smiled brightly, waving him over.

“Hey, Arctic,” she greeted, her voice a bit chipper. “How was… whatever you had to do?”

“Not bad,” he replied, managing a small smile. “How did things go with the Rainbooms?”

Adagio sighed, rubbing her temples. “It was… tolerable, I suppose. I still don’t like them, and I don’t think they like us either, but… maybe there’s a chance we won’t try to tear each other’s heads off this time.”

Sonata nodded in agreement. “Yeah, we even… kinda promised to try being… friendly-ish?”

Aria scoffed but gave a slight nod. “Yeah, whatever. It’s a start.”

Arctic chuckled softly. “That’s more than I hoped for. Look, I know it’s hard, but at least you’re taking the first steps. Proud of you for that.” Arctic nodded to himself. 'Good, at least it's a start. One step toward the right direction, that's good for now.'

As they left the Sugarcube Corner, Arctic led them back to his house for the night. The Dazzlings were a little quieter, each seeming lost in thought after their conversation with the Rainbooms. They were also nervous, Arctic could tell by their faces. They were probably nervous about this new life, about being part of a family again, and especially about going back to Canterlot High. Sonata looked like she was about to cry from the nerves, while Aria tried to look calm but Arctic could tell she wasn't looking forward to going back to Canterlot. Arctic looked over at Adagio who looked to be thinking, as the leader of the group she was most likely trying to figure out a plan once they went back to Canterlot High. But Arctic knew that they felt a little more hopeful now, with him by their side he would help them in any way he could.

When they arrived home, the smell of cooking wafted through the air, warm and inviting. Arctic’s mom was in the kitchen, finishing up a delicious-looking spread. As they walked in, she turned around, beaming at them.

“Welcome back, everyone! I thought we’d have a little celebration meal,” she said, setting down a platter of lasagna on the dining table, alongside a salad, freshly baked bread, and a fruit pie. “Consider this a ‘welcome home’ dinner!”

The Dazzlings exchanged surprised looks, their expressions softening. It had been a long time since anyone had prepared a home-cooked meal just for them. Sonata’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the food, a bright smile appearing on her face.

“Wow, thank you, Mrs. Ace! This looks amazing,” Sonata said, eagerly taking a seat.

Adagio and Aria joined her, still a bit reserved but grateful. Arctic sat down beside them, giving his mom an appreciative nod. “Thanks, Mom. This is… really nice.”

As they ate, laughter and conversation filled the room. The Dazzlings slowly opened up, sharing stories from their past, though keeping things vague about their time at Canterlot High and being sirens from another world. Arctic’s mom listened attentively, happy to see her son surrounded by friends. Even Aria seemed to relax, the hard edges of her personality softening under the warmth of the meal and company.

“This… this is really good,” Aria admitted, glancing away as she spoke. She wasn’t used to this kind of comfort or kindness, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

“Thank you,” Arctic’s mom replied, smiling back. “I’m glad you like it. You girls are welcome here anytime. This is your home now too.”

The words hit them all deeply, the idea of a home, a real home, stirring something in each of the Dazzlings. They were no longer alone, fending for themselves. They had someone who cared, and the knowledge was overwhelming but comforting.

After dinner, the Dazzlings excused themselves to head to their room, feeling the weight of the day’s events settling on them. They had school the next day—a return to Canterlot High—and the thought alone made them feel a magnitude of different emotions. But as they headed upstairs, Arctic stayed behind with his mom.

“So,” she asked softly, turning to him, “how was the therapy session?”

Arctic leaned back, shrugging slightly. “It was okay. Weird, I guess. I didn’t think it’d be that hard to talk about… things.”

His mom gave him a gentle look, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “It’s never easy, but I’m proud of you for going. It’ll help, I promise.”

Unknown to them, Adagio had paused just outside the door, overhearing the conversation. Neither she nor her sisters knew anything about Arctic's past as he kept it to himself but hearing that he was going to therapy made her worried. Hearing this now added another layer to her understanding of him. She quietly slipped away before she could be noticed, heading back to her room.

Later that night, Arctic was sitting in his room, trying to wind down from the day. He was flipping through a book when a soft knock on his door startled him.

“Come in,” he called, surprised to see Adagio enter. She looked hesitant, which was unusual for her.

“Hey,” she said quietly, shutting the door behind her. “Can we talk?”

Arctic nodded, gesturing for her to sit. “Of course. What’s up?”

Adagio hesitated, glancing down before meeting his gaze. “I overheard you and your mom talking… about well, the therapy. That's where you went today, didn't you? I don't mean to pry, but you've helped my sisters and me a lot, so I just thought I'd repay the favor.”

Arctic looked away, feeling a bit vulnerable but knowing she meant well. “Yeah… it’s something I’ve been dealing with for a while. My dad passed away a few months ago in a car crash, right before the end of Junior year. It’s just been so hard to move on, I feel lost.”

Adagio softened, empathy flickering in her gaze. “I get it… I mean, I can’t imagine how it feels, but I know what it’s like to feel… lost.”

Arctic listened as she continued, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “After the Battle of the Bands, everything fell apart for us. We lost our powers, our purpose… no one wanted us around. We were basically homeless, wandering from place to place. But then we met you.”

Arctic smiled softly. “You’ve always got a place with me.”

A small, appreciative smile appeared on Adagio’s face. “Thanks. We… well, we’re not exactly used to having people care about us, but… we want you to know that we’re here for you too. If you ever need anything.”

Her words warmed Arctic’s heart. It was strange seeing Adagio, the once-intimidating leader, showing this side of herself. But it also meant so much more to him knowing that she and her sisters were trying to change, trying to find a new path. “Thank you, Adagio. That… that really means a lot.”

They exchanged a smile, the silence between them comfortable and understanding. Eventually, Adagio rose to her feet. “Good night, Arctic. And… thanks again, for everything.”

“Good night, Adagio.” Adagio smiled as she left, closing the door softly behind her.

Back in their shared room, Adagio found Aria and Sonata already preparing for bed. They looked up as she entered, sensing that something was on her mind.

“What’s up?” Aria asked, raising an eyebrow.

Adagio hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “I just… I was talking to Arctic. He’s… he’s been through a lot. And he’s still willing to help us. We really lucked out with him.”

Sonata smiled, her eyes softening. “Yeah, he’s really nice… and cute.”

Both Adagio and Aria glanced at her in surprise before chuckling.

“Of course you’d notice that,” Aria muttered, smirking. “But yeah… he’s a good guy.”

As they settled into their beds, their thoughts turned to tomorrow and the inevitable return to Canterlot High. The prospect was daunting, but having Arctic by their side made it seem a little more bearable.

“Think we’ll survive?” Sonata asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adagio sighed, but her tone was hopeful. “Maybe. It’s time we make a fresh start… for real this time.”

They drifted off to sleep, feeling a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, this could be the beginning of something better.