Finding Her Voice Again
by milesprower06

A New Dawn For Dusk

You don't know what you have until it's gone.

Sonata Dusk walked down the hallway of Canterlot High, a dark pit yawning at her heels, filled with the memories of what she and her fellow sirens had done here. What was she supposed to be feeling right now? Regret? Guilt?

It was loneliness. That was it.

Adagio and Aria hadn't accompanied her here. It was probably because she hadn't even asked them to come along. She figured she'd be wasting her time. Even now they were still sulking in their defeat at Canterlot High's Battle of the Band finals. After they had been booed off stage, they returned to their apartment in the city, thankfully still employed. How long were they going to hopelessly claw at their hopes for revenge? Would they ever move on with their lives?

Did they even... Miss it like she did?

She desperately wanted to sing again. Every time she tried in the shower, her heart ached at how off-key she was. Her voice was who she was. Without it, she felt so hollow, so vulnerable. She didn't feel like herself. For weeks, she just went through the motions at her job at the Taco Hole, wondering if she'd ever be able to get her talent back. It hadn't all been the work of their pendants; they had just come to rely on them too greatly. When that power was taken away, their raw ability had diminished. For months, she felt hopeless.

Then, she remembered Sunset Shimmer.

Canterlot High's unofficial ambassador who had shown them the school the first time led her through the hallway. There weren't many students this time of day; everyone had either gone home or were currently involved in their extracurricular activities. First, she had to stop by Principal Celestia's office with Sonata's request while the siren waited outside, no doubt asking permission to escort her through the school.

'We know all about you, Sunset Shimmer.' Adagio had taunted during the Battle of the Bands.

Indeed, in their magic-fueled competitive aggression, the student body was all too happy to tell the trio what Sunset Shimmer had done; how she had come over here from Equestria, and how she had also tried to take over the school for her own ends.

But what they had skimmed over, was how she had been redeemed.

When Sonata had approached Sunset out by the Wondercolts Statue ten minutes ago, she had to admit that she was half-expecting her to mockingly tell her, 'too bad, so sad.' But she didn't. If anything, she was sympathetic, and immediately told her she'd ask Principal Celestia if it was alright. But of course, that was only half the battle. The second was quickly approaching, and Sonata was now wondering if she was up for this.

The two of them turned the corner to the music hall, and Sonata's anxiety continued to climb. As they passed the rooms, she heard muffled horns, flutes, guitars, drums, and voices. Each more on key and harmonic than she had sounded for the past year.

Finally, Sunset stopped, at a set of double doors. It sounded like an entire band was playing on the other side of this one. She simply waited for several moments, and then their song stopped. With her right arm, Sunset gently guided Sonata to the right door.

"Wait here." She said with a soft smile, then she opened the left side door. Sonata couldn't see the occupants of the room, but she knew it was the Rainbooms the instant the members greeted Sunset as she took a step into the room.

"Hey there, ready to join us? Finally done with that report to Princess Twilight, or are you writing an actual novel in that thing?" Rainbow Dash asked her.

"Actually, girls, something has come up."

"Hm? Another magic problem? What is it this time?" Applejack asked.

"Not exactly. I just want you guys to keep an open mind. Principal Celestia told me it would be fine, but it's ultimately up to us."

"So what is it? Spill the beans already." Rainbow urged.

"I think you should hear it from her instead."

The Rainbooms saw Sunset lean back into the hallway, and open the right side door, which revealed Sonata, whose gaze fell to the floor as all eyes fell on her. Slowly, she took a timid step into the room. The siren wore a dark purple hoodie. They couldn't imagine the hood being able to go up, due to her arctic and Persian blue hair drawn up and back into a considerably long ponytail that went down past her waist.

"H... H-hi. I'm... I'm Sonata."

"We know who you are, siren." Rainbow said with contempt.

"Yes, I'm sure you do, I just wasn't sure if you knew my name. I'd like your help." Sonata's raspberry eyes stopped looking at the floor, and met the gaze of the band members.

"Why would we help the three of you?" Pinkie asked, leering at her from the drumset in the back of the room.

"I... I don't speak for Adagio or Aria, but I'm hoping if you help me, that they'll come around. We saw firsthand that your magic can do incredible things. If-if the magic of friendship can help Sunset Shimmer after what she did, then I'd like to think it could help me, and hopefully the other two as well."

The siren took a deep breath.

"I can't keep going on without my voice. It's who I am. Without it, I feel so empty."

She took a second, slightly more confident step into the room.

"Can I get some singing lessons?"