It's been three days, and she still hasn't found either of them.

She's pacing my room now, her hand on her chin, that serious expression on her face. Every now and again, she'll cast a glance my way, and I'll return it with an even look. She'll go back to pacing, and the process repeats.

Since we broke up the Sirens, they've apparently ran into a bit of trouble. She came to me a week or so after the Battle of the Bands... She was sobbing, gazing up at me with desperation. She was so pathetic-looking, like a starving animal... I had to take her in. I knew the others would be surprised, or angry, if they found out... But I didn't care then, and I don't care now. Sonata needed help, and so I helped her.

"We've checked Whitetail Wood, right?" she says, pointing at me. I think for a second. I'm pretty sure my animal friends would have told me something if either one of them turned up there...

"I'm not sure." I reply, shrugging. "I could always head there after school tomorrow and check."

She nods, giving me a smile.

"Thanks, 'Shy." she says, wrapping me up in a hug. I smile at her... and feel a small tingle as she drains me, just a bit, enough to top herself off.

I was surprised, of course, when she asked if she could feed on me. I thought the Sirens fed off of negative emotions, and I'd told her so. She'd shaken her head, and explained.

Of the three sirens, only Adagio fed off of anger. The amulets weren't what allowed them to feed; they allowed them to share their food between the three of them, in addition to giving them their hypnotic powers. After they were shattered, the three of them had to resort to feeding themselves. Adagio... She wouldn't find it too hard to feed, and Sonata hadn't been sure what Aria feeds off of... She's still trying to puzzle it out. It has something to do with music, she'd told me.

She goes back to her pacing, the look on her face growing more troubled by the second... Finally, she turns to me, and I preempt her.

"Yes." I say calmly. "I'm sure they'll at least talk to you."

Sonata sits down next to me and sighs, placing her head in her hands.

"After the way I snapped at them?" she says softly. "Why would either of them even want to see me again?"

I wrap an arm gently around her shoulders, and she leans into me, sniffling.

"I understand how you feel." I murmur, staring at her disheveled hair from above. "You let things get out of hand, and you alienated your closest friends... But you're searching for them. You're trying to make things right, Sonata... And that's something to keep in mind."

She nods, silently nuzzling into me. I assume it's a habit born of her Equestrian roots... Being at least part horse, nuzzling must be fairly common.
Well, either that, or...

She derails my train of thought with a tiny whimper, and I give her shoulder a rub.

"It's going to be okay, Sonata." I murmur, slowly beginning to rock the girl, the motion hopefully comforting her. "It's going to be okay. You'll find them..."

"I was so mean..." she moans softly. "I just ripped into them... I've never seen Dagi so shocked, or Ari so... Broken..."

I say nothing, just rocking her back and forth, gently rubbing, soothing her as best as I can.

"I... I just felt so tired..." she sniffs. "Tired of being ignored... Tired of acting like some ditz, just to try and make them happy... "

She sniffles again, and I give her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"They never cared about me... Why am I even looking for them?"

I pause, holding her at arm's length, giving her an even stare, right in the eyes.

"Because they'd do the same for you." I say, my voiced bathed in the hardness of surety. "The three of you are sisters, Sonata. They love you more than you know... They wouldn't stop trying to find you, so don't you stop trying to find them."

Slowly, Sonata looks away from my eyes... Then her gaze returns to mine as I Stare her down... Taking a deep, gulping breath, she nods.

"I won't." she replies, her voice much steadier. "I promise."

The two of us stand, and she hugs me, nuzzling me with a smile.

"Thanks, 'Shy." she whispers... Blushing, I nod.

We stand there in silence for a few long moments, eyes everywhere but on each other, until a buzzing from my pocket breaks the awkward silence. Eager for the distraction, I fish my phone from the skirt's pocket and read the new text. Strange; it's a mass text, sent to me and the rest of the girls...

My other arm drops to my side. I stare at the screen, tapping it as if touching the text will affirm it as real. I reread and re-reread it, my eyes flicking over the words again and again.

"What's going on?" Sonata asks. Mute, I angle the screen so she can see it, and she lets out a gasp.

Found one of the Sirens. Adagio. She's starved and hurt. Get over here quick.

Sonata looks at me, and nods.

"Let's go." she says. "Which way to the car?"

"You don't have a car!?" Sonata turns to me, disbelief plastered across her face. I shrug, giving her a helpless look.

"I walk everywhere. It's healthier, and better for the environment than even a hybrid car." I reply, giving her an apologetic smile. "If something's really far away, I ride my bicycle..."

Sonata sighs, nodding.

"Okay, where's the bike?"

I gesture to my purple ten-speed, the helmet slung across the handlebars.

"All right..." Sonata walks over to the bike, looking at me. "How are we going to ride this thing together?"

"We're not." I say, grabbing the helmet... And placing it in her hands. "Go. I'll catch up."

"Fluttershy, I can't-"

"You can and you will." I say, giving her a Stare. "This is your chance to make things right. Take the bike. Sunset's place is near the outskirts of town. It's a five-minute ride. Follow the main road east until you see Whitetail Wood, then take Fountain Street until you hit Sunrise Avenue. Sunset's house is the third on the right."

"But how will you-"

"I know shortcuts." I say calmly. "Lots of shortcuts. Now go."

She goes. I sigh, wrapping my jacket around me and looking up at the sky. It's just cleared up; the smell of petrichor is thick in the air.

As I pull out my phone and my fingers slide over the screen, tapping out a message, I let a tiny smile cross my face.
Applejack would be mad at me; I don't know a single shortcut.

Author's Notes:

Kept you waiting, huh?

You're pretty good.