SONATA
Hey. Can we talk?

DERPY
Sure. When can you meet?

SONATA
I'm...actually on a trip, remember? But this can't wait. Give me a minute.

DERPY
Okay. Love you bunches!

SONATA
I love you too, Derpy.

SONATA
Are you there?

DERPY
Yeah, I'm here. What's up?

SONATA
Um...well, you remember how I told you how I'm a siren from Equestria? And you know about the whole incident with me and the girls, of course.

DERPY
I know about the siren thing, but what incident are you talking about?

SONATA
When I used everyone's negative emotions to try and take over the world. Even yours.

DERPY
Oh.

SONATA
I still feel guilty about that, by the way.

DERPY
I know. You were afraid of what Adagio and Aria would do to you if they found out you were dating me.

SONATA
Yeah. But about that...I'm...

DERPY
...Sonata? You there? You haven't responded for a few minutes.

SONATA
I'm just trying to say this properly. Ugh, why does this have to be so hard?

DERPY
What? What's hard?

SONATA
I think I'm...what's it called? 'Aro'.

DERPY
Aro?

SONATA
Apparently it means you don't feel any romantic attraction towards others. At all.

DERPY
Oh! Aromantic. Sorry, it took me a minute to figure out what 'aro' stood for.

SONATA
You and me both. At least when I first heard the word.

DERPY
No offense, but that's pretty ironic. You know, since you're a siren and all that.

SONATA
That's...why I haven't told Aria or Adagio yet. If they found out...I don't wanna even think about it. They already hate me because they think I'm so stupid, but I helped them when they tried to manipulate everyone. I went along with them because I felt like I had to. Because...we've always been a trio. If I told them I was aro...aromantic, I'd lose the only friends I've ever had. The only siblings I've ever had.

DERPY
You won't lose me.

SONATA
I know. You're being so understanding, it's kinda frizzy-frazzling my brain, lol.

DERPY
I guess now would be the time to ask about our relationship.

SONATA
Please don't break up with me.

DERPY
I thought you were gonna break up with me!

SONATA
No! I'm just...I'm not sure what I want. I do love you, Derpy. Even before the Battle of the Bands, I knew you were so sweet and kind, and I found myself falling in love with you more and more...and then...we got defeated by the Rainbooms, and...

DERPY
Yeah, I remember. I was the first person to offer a hand to you in forgiveness, you said.

SONATA
...Yeah.

DERPY
Did you ever think of quitting the Dazzlings?

SONATA
You mean when I found out I was aromantic? Yeah. The first week after, I started having nightmares of what Adagio and Aria would do when they found out.

DERPY
I know you said no when I offered a while ago, but...maybe now is the time to break it off.

SONATA
Wait, you mean us?

DERPY
No, silly! I'm talking about the Dazzlings. They aren't really your friends, are they?

SONATA
Not really. They're more like...sisters, I guess?

DERPY
Adagio and Aria may be your sisters, but I can be something better. I can be your girlfriend.

SONATA
Really? Even though I'm aromantic?

DERPY
That doesn't matter. People can love however they please. And...I love you, Sonata.

SONATA
I...I love you too, Derpy. So much. Thank you. I'm crying, like, so hard right now...I don't even know what to say! Or, uh, type.

DERPY
You don't have to say anything. Or type anything. Just...call me as soon as you get back. I miss hearing your voice. I miss seeing your face. We have to plan another muffin-taco party!

SONATA
Of course! Just...don't make muffin tacos again. That was disgusting.

DERPY
Don't worry. I think I have something better in mind. Taco muffins!

SONATA
Eww. That's, like, so much worse.

DERPY
😂

DERPY
Heya! You up?

SONATA
I am now.

DERPY
Oops! Sorry. I should let you get back to sleep.

SONATA
Lol! Don't worry about it. I fell asleep on the couch. But anyway, Derpy, I was thinking.

DERPY
Uh-huh?

SONATA
It's really weird how I told you I was aromantic through text. I can't really explain it, but I feel like I should've waited to tell you in-person.

DERPY
You said you couldn't wait, though. I didn't mind!

SONATA
Derpy...you're so easygoing.

DERPY
That's my middle name!

SONATA
Lol. But anyway, I suddenly got this urge to text Adagio and Aria about how I was aromantic, and...well...

DERPY
Oh. It didn't go well, did it?

SONATA
No. They kicked me out of the apartment.

DERPY
Well...crud. I'm really sorry.

SONATA
It's hard to see your messages through the tears. I wasn't, like, hoping to cry when I went into the group voice chat or anything...but it still hurt to hear Adagio and Aria yell at me. Call me all those names. Tell me how I'm the worthless weak link.

DERPY
Sonata, they don't even know what being aromantic is. Just like how you didn't know what being aromantic was. They're lashing out 'cause they're all confused.

SONATA
You really think so?

DERPY
I may look stupid

SONATA
You're not stupid!

DERPY
Oops, I hit Send too soon. I meant to say that I may look stupid to most people, but I'm not. Especially when it comes to you. You can stay at my house, if you want.

SONATA
Really?

DERPY
Yeah! I mean, it's either that or...stay in a hotel. Or live on the streets. Again.

SONATA
Ugh, no. I'm not doing that again.

DERPY
I figured. That's why I'm inviting you to stay at my place! You can have all the muffins you could ever want!

SONATA
Okay, but only if you make something other than muffins.

DERPY
Muffin casserole?

SONATA
Haha. You know what I mean.

DERPY
Was that a sarcastic "haha"?

SONATA
Maybe?

DERPY
Darn it, Sonata! You're lucky I stocked my fridge the other day!

SONATA
With muffins?

DERPY
Shut UP! 🤣

The first thing Sonata did when getting off the bus was go to her apartment that she used to share with Adagio and Aria. Perhaps unsurprisingly, her stuff was sitting on the stairs, tied in white garbage bags. Some had small holes in them, exposing some clothes.

Her memory became a bit of a blur after that. She faintly remembered getting into someone's car -- a friend of Derpy's, most likely -- and taking a ride to her girlfriend's house with all of her stuff. Consoling words fell on deaf ears as she cried and cried.

When Sonata got to Derpy's house, she rushed into her arms and continued to cry. For what felt like hours, a comforting hug and a rubbing of her back brought her comfort, even through the blubbering nonsense she uttered.

A kiss silenced her. Long and passionate, drying her tears and making her feel a level of warmth she hadn't reached since the Battle of the Bands incident. She wanted it to last forever, but as Derpy reminded her, her stuff was still inside the car.

Sonata carried two trash bags into the house, and her eyes widened as she spotted a flag hanging over the couch. It spanned nearly the entire length of the furniture piece, an eye-catcher to any incoming guests.

She didn't need to know what the flag stood for. The sentiment was more than enough.

She was an aromantic siren, and that was okay. She had a loving girlfriend, and that was all she needed.

With a smile, she turned to Derpy as she carried in the final two bags and gave her a peck on the cheek. Derpy giggled, in that sweet and high-pitched way that was as harmonious as the music Sonata once sung for the sake of powering up. The pair moved to the couch, where Sonata sat on Derpy's lap and looked into those loving eyes, the windows to her kind and accepting soul.

The ensuing make-out session, initiated by Sonata as a final jab to the ones she once called her sisters, lasted long into the night.

Author's Note

It's not the LGBTQ+ story I wanted to write...but I'd say it's good for a first try. Rare be it for me to enter a romance-related contest (since, y'know...I don't really write much romance...because I suck at it), but hey, I knocked "make a double-contest-entry story" off my writing bucket list. May it stand immortal.

And a disclaimer: this story is not accurate to my own aroace awakening, but I did a fair bit of research on aromanticism anyway. Love is love is love.