From Dusk Till Dawn

Canterlot High's campus was quiet one Friday afternoon. The serene silence was soon interrupted, however, as a bell rang out into the courtyard. The doors of the school swung open and out came dozens of students eager to get home for the day. Among the droves of students stood one girl in particular. Unlike the rest, the blue-haired girl walked briskly down the hallway, her face buried in a little notebook. The girl wore a soft pink shirt with a short blue dress and had on a pair of new blue sneakers to match. She moved slowly but clumsily, swaying from side-to-side as she made it through the open doorway. Anyone on campus could have told you the blue-haired and clumsy girl was none other than Sonata Dusk.

To anyone not from Canterlot High or the surrounding areas, Sonata looked like your typical, average teenage girl. She had good grades and a fun personality, and she always seemed to bring joy wherever she went, but to those who had been around for a while knew she wasn't exactly average. The students and staff of Canterlot High knew all too well the events that happened only months ago: The infamous Battle of the Bands. It was this grand spectacle that exposed the blue-haired girl and her sisters as the Sirens, mythical beasts from another world. While not fully understood by the students, they soon came to accept the revelation in the vast array of weirdness they had just experienced.

After that day, the Sirens were shunned and mocked for their attempt at taking over the school. They were just another trio of bullies that got their comeuppance as far as anyone was concerned. But as days turned to weeks, Sonata and her sisters began to change for the better. In time, with Sonata taking the lead, the sisters regained some semblance of dignity and trust from the students of Canterlot High.

Sonata came to the front steps, but she was too focused on her book to notice where she was going. Sonata stepped forward and felt nothing but air under her foot. Missing the step, she stumbled and began to fall. Time seemed to slow in an instant as Sonata fell toward the ground. In an attempt to dampen her fall, Sonata let go of her notebook and held her arms in front of her face, bracing herself...but no impact came. The next thing she knew was a pair of arms reaching out to grab her. The arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her back onto the stairs before moving to her shoulders, steadying Sonata on her own two feet. As Sonata tried to catch her balance, she heard a very familiar voice.

"Sonata!! Hold on, I've got you! Please, you have watch where you’re going!” said the voice.

Sonata regained her senses and turned to face the voice she knew all too well. "Shade! Hiii!" Sonata giggled.

"Hello to you too, Sonata." Shade smiled. The person that caught her was none other than her BFF, Shade Midnight. Shade was a standup guy. He was kind, loyal, and smart, among other things. Shade was one of, if not the first person to give Sonata and her sisters a second chance. He saw the good in them when many others couldn't, and for that she was forever grateful. They had been friends ever since that day all those months ago, and here he was again to help Sonata out of a jam.

Sonata practically tackled Shade into a hug. "W-woah! Sonata, you're going to push ME over now." Shade returned the hug with vigor. As Shade let go of Sonata, he spotted her notebook sitting on the ground. He walked over and picked it up. "This must be pretty important for you to not pay attention on where you're stepping. So, what is this book anyway?”

Sonata's eyes went wide as she snatched the book from Shade's grasp. "It's...nothing. Just a song book, hehe." she giggled nervously. Shade could tell that something was up, but he ignored it. "That's cool. So, what are you doing tonight, Sona?

Sonata giggled at his use of her nickname. "Well, nothing really. I was planning on just relaxing at home or something."

Shade smiled back. " Well, since you have nothing special planned tonight...why don't we do something, just the two of us?"

"Sure. What did you have in mind?" Sonata asked.

"Well, I was wondering actually, if I could take you out on...a date?" Shade squeaked out.

Sonata's face flushed red, and her smile faded into a blank expression. 'What did he just say!? He wants to take us out on a date!? Like, a date date!? "Y-you want to go on a d-date??" Sonata asked nervously.

"Y-yeah. I mean-! I-it doesn't have to be anything fancy! A dinner date between friends, r-right?" Shade's mind was racing. 'Why did I do that, why did I do that!!?? Ah, she's going to think I'm weird for asking out my best friend on a date! M-maybe I can salvage this somehow...' Shade was lost in thought as Sonata replayed the words over and over again in her head.

Finally, Sonata spoke. "Y-yeah, actually that sounds nice. I'd love to." 'Oh my taco, did I just say that!? I'm such a nervous wreck. I need to get out of here to think before I go crazy!'

Shade stopped his inner monologue and looked at her. "R-really!? Okay, uhm, should I pick you up at your place? 'Is this really happening right now?'

Sonata nodded. "Sounds good. Does seven sound like a suitable time?" Her heart was still beating fast.

Shade, having calmed down, also nodded. "Seven it is then. Well, I better get home and freshen up. I guess I'll see you tonight."

Sonata giggled once more as Shade gave her a small wave goodbye and began walking away. Once he was far enough Sonata took a deep breath in and out before grabbing her head in a frenzy. 'What did I just agree to? There's no way this is an actual date right? I-it's like he said, just a dinner between friends. But...' Sonata began to sheepishly grin. "Real date or not, I get to spend a night with Shade! All alone, just the two of us! Oh, I better get home and start getting ready!" As Sonata raced home, Shade was still lost in thought as he too made his way back home. The two lovestruck teens had no idea how the night would go, but they were both determined to make the most out of it.