A week later...

The streets of Humanaville, more cluttered than usual, due to people planning their Christmas shopping the last week before Christmas day. Thankfully, I've already done my part of Christmas shopping last week. Even so, it's the jolliest time of year, where everyone is merry and joyful, including myself. The span of my time being here, Christmas is my favorite holiday, it's not because of the gifts, but it's the day that everyone spends quality time with their loved ones.

Sandal Wood apologized to me in person about his strange behavior on our last date night. He claims that whenever he becomes embarrassed, it's his adverse affect by acting sulky. I questioned him why he would be embarrassed to the conception that I wasn't ready to take our relationship to the next step. His answer to that was because he's a guy, and it's in their DNA for men to get all pissy if they don't get what they want. It wasn't an answer I expected, so I had to ask if he's ever going to change that delinquent part of him, and he agreed.

The Christmas music show will be in two days, it was doubly special for me knowing that my friends, my sisters, and Sandal Wood would be there to watch me perform. I've practiced everyday since I finally got my guitar back in good shape. The lady at the music shop made a joking remark when I went to pick up my guitar, informing me that she had placed a bet with a friend about me breaking the guitar for the third time. "So you're making a bet out of my misery.." She laughed at me with words, "Third time will be an unlucky charm." I guess she owns all rights to give me an insult, for all that, I've been getting my guitar repaired free of charge.

As excited as I am to perform, I'm interested as well finding out the performance Sunset and her friends will have that day. Sunset isn't that bad as I thought she would be, considering her audacious behavior a couple of weeks ago since my last meeting with her and Twilight, but I'm not one to hold a grudge on someone, besides, she did apologize.

HUMANAVILLE
4:32PM; TUESDAY
ADAGIO'S APARTMENT

Lately, I've spent a couple of nights at Adagio's place, sharing the same bed with Sonata, taking advantage of my one-week holiday break from school. Adagio, bossy as ever, gave us a list of things to do every now and then: Sonata was in charge of the Laundry, Aria was in charge of food shopping, and I was told to pick out a movie from the Redbox kiosk every night to watch after our usual dinner. After spending a couple of nights with my sisters, I've come to learn their way of life in this human world, it was conventional. I'm well certain they're now understanding how precious life can be. It only took them thousands of years to realize, after their gems were destroyed.

While Adagio was in the kitchen preparing dinner for tonight, Sonata and I sat on the living room couch, supervising me on a video game called 'Grand Theft Auto Five'. Aria was in her room, finishing up her work-related project on her computer. But when she finishes, she promised to come with us to Hobby Lobby and purchase some decorations for the Christmas tree.

"NOO!!! Look what you made me do!" I grunted at Sonata with disappointment, when my character in the game was suddenly sent to oblivion by falling off a ten-story building, "Just what was I doing up there anyway?"

Sonata placed a palm on her mouth, to refrain from laughter, "It's a part of the mission, you were supposed to snipe the guy from the other side of the rooftop."

Adagio in a standard tone from across the kitchen, "Girls, I need you both to keep it down please. Last thing I want to happen is the neighbor to come knock on our door..."

"Okay." Sonata and I replied to Adagio in unison.

While Adagio was chopping shallots on a cutting board, she appointed to me with words, "Clair, don't you have any homework to do?"

Sonata and I exchanged glances, then continued playing the game with a reply, "Adagio, I don't get any homework during winter break..."

Adagio paused halfway from chopping the shallots, "You're not just saying that so you can keep playing that game, are ya?"
"Wait, what the hell?... NOOO!!!" I attempted the same mission in the game, but rather than falling off a ten-story building, a gang member stabbed my character from behind. Sonata covered her whole face with a pillow, and laughed hysterically.

Adagio abruptly dropped her kitchen utensils, "Ok, that does it." She stormed out of the kitchen towards the living room with furious rage, "You girls have been playing that stupid game for eight hours! It's about time you girls go outside and get some fresh air." Adagio unplugged the 'PS4' then eyeballed at us once again, "Ya know, we still have to decorate our tree... And we can't decorate it because..." Adagio urged one of us to finish her sentence.

Sonata with a quizzical expression, "Umm... I don't know.."

"Because we don't have any decorations!" Adagio, loud and clear, had made an obvious point to both me and Sonata.

"I need you girls to get your asses up, get dressed, and take Aria with you to Hobby Lobby, RIGHT NOW!"

Sonata and I pouted, "Fine.." We said in unison. Sonata walked straight to her room to get changed. Since I'm already dressed and bundled up for the cold weather, I took my phone out of my pocket to read a text message reply from Sandal Wood.

"Clair, you're not going to die without a phone..."

"Adagio, can you please calm down?"

Adagio reached her hand out, "Nope... Just for that, hand over your phone..."

"What? Hell no!"

"Give.. It.. To.. Me.. Now."

"But what happens if I need to call you?"

"You act like you're the only with a cell phone here.." Adagio raised a single eyebrow and crossed her arms, "Ya know, if you don't hand over your phone, no dessert tonight... It's your call."

Aria from across her bedroom, "Oh my frickin' gawd, Just give her your damn phone, Clair!"

I sighed heavily, "Ughhhh, fine!" I handed her over my phone, "But I need it back as soon as we get home, though."

"I'll give it back when I want to, how's that..." Adagio slid my phone in her pocket, "You girls better get going before it gets late."

I guess some things about Adagio hasn't changed one bit. Being the oldest of us all, she's the undisputed matriarch of our existence as a siren, which she literally raised us like the children of her own. So it came naturally for her to be strict and protective over us, especially for Sonata.

I shouted, "SONATA! Lets go! The sooner we get things done, the sooner I get my phone!"

Aria walked towards me and Adagio from her bedroom, while tying her hair in a double pony-tail, "Let's just go.. She always slows us down..."

Adagio quickly retorted, "No, I need you girls to stick together like glue, and I need you both to keep an eye on her... She's always known to wander off.."

Aria huffed out of laughter, "Just like Clair back in the day when she just needed to get fresh air?"

I looked at Aria in hostility, "That's not funny..."

"I'm ready!" Sonata hastily walked out from her bedroom, all dressed up in her winter clothing. She jumped for joy, "Yay! Lets go! I love shopping for Christmas stuff."

"Hold on." Adagio approached Sonata, then rearranged her scarf that was placed around her neck, "Ya know Sonata, I can't keep lookin' out for you all the time..." Sonata then let out a squee smile.

Adagio with her arms crossed, "You girls better be here on time for dinner."

We all advanced towards the apartment door exit, "We got this, we'll be back on time, buhbye." I replied as Aria and Sonata went ahead of me outside of the apartment door, I then followed after, and shut the door behind me.

HUMANAVILLE
5:30PM; SAME DAY
HOBBY LOBBY

"This is why I hate shopping with Sonata.." Aria rolled her eyes.

I wore a faint grin in response to Aria's words, "Oh c'mon Aria, it's not that bad."

Aria raised her single eyebrow, "Not that bad? Take a good look at her cart again.."

We all sauntered through the long aisle where all various Christmas decorations were displayed. Sonata was leading us with a cart filled with a ridiculous amount of ornaments, wreathes and garlands, and Christmas stockings. She even took eleven tree toppers when we only needed one.

Aria in a standardized voice, "Hey Sonata, who's going to pay for all that?..."

Sonata in a cheerful tone, "Us! Silly..."

"You're not thinking of buying the whole store, are ya?"

Sonata continually hummed to herself, and inspected the small apple cinnamon scented Christmas candle from the candle rack display, "Wouldn't that be awesome?!"

"Oh c'mon!"

I giggled, "That's what you get for patronizing her."

"I don't know how you can deal with her attitude, Clair..."

"Well?... But have you wondered sometimes that the problem can sometimes be you? Not Sonata?"

"Excuse me?!"

"No, I didn't mean it that way.."

"Shut up, you're not helping... You can be a pain in my ass too."

"What I meant to say was.."
"I said shut up, this conversation is over." Aria cut me off with words, she grunted and looked away.

As we finally reached the end of the aisle, Sonata concluded the list of things we needed to get for the night, and led us to the check-out desk.

*Aria's cell phone rings*

Aria pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, then answered, "Yes Adagio."

Adagio's voice was heard from the other side of her phone, "You girls alright?"

"Yeah, stupid Sonata here almost bought the whole store..."

Sonata with her eyebrows lowered, she placed both her hands on her hips with a quick retort in a loud tone, "Hey!"

We were waiting for a long time at the check-out line, some people leered over our direction with grimaces on their faces. Aria has the tendency to talk loudly when she's on the phone, and hardly even notices it. Which therefore prompted me to halt her with words to lower her volume, "Aria, you're too loud... You gotta keep it down... I would like to come back here sometime.."

Aria waved me off, and continued speaking with Adagio on the phone with the same volume of tone, "We're at the check-out line now. People here are taking so frickin' long!"

Everyone in the store suddenly stopped in motion, then bore into us after Aria's loud words. That was that, I don't think I'll ever come back to Hobby Lobby again, at least not for a long time. Aria and I apprehended that Sonata would be the one to cause a scene, but alternatively, it was Aria.

An hour and a half later, Adagio slack-jawed on how much decorations Sonata had bought as we finally arrived at the apartment. Aria exclaimed as to never shop with Sonata again during the holidays due to that reason. As the moments pass, we all agreed to decorate the tree after dinner. Those two hours spent at Hobby Lobby, sure made me hungry. Adagio made her special honey baked ribs with a side of french fries, and a salad. We gathered around the table, and enjoyed our dinner as we conversed.

HUMANAVILLE
5:02PM; FRIDAY
CHRISTMAS MUSIC SHOW

There was still twenty-eight minutes left to spare before the introduction. I was astounded to see the amount of people showed up. The performance was held in an auditorium at the public library of Humanaville, the eighth largest library in the world. Even so, the place was totally packed. My confidence began to diminish whether I made the right choice to perform in front of this many people. If I only knew, I would have never came, but since I'm already here, I may as well wing it to the end and get it over with. "Clair!" I heard a familiar voice from where I stood on the side-stage, noticing both Cuddle Bug and Moon Dancer with their casual attire, approaching from a mid-distance. They both then gave me a hug, Cuddle Bug with a melodic tone, "♫There's like so many people here♫" Cuddle Bug with an expression of delight.

Moon Dancer joined in with a grin, "Are you nervous?"

I laughed nervously, "Are you kidding me? I've never performed in front of this many people before..."

"Aw c'mon, Clair, it's like you do this in your sleep. Just picture everyone naked when you're on stage."

Cuddle Bug barked out of laughter, "Remember that one time, Clair went to that little social group: Putting your foot down with Iron Will?"

I looked at Cuddle Bug blankly, "Yeah... That group was just terrible..."

As I surveyed beyond the front door of the auditorium, three of my sisters appeared from it, then stood by a nearby pillar. They looked a little confused and lost. "Hey girls, would you excuse me for a minute? I have some people I need to introduce to the two of you." I scampered from the side of the auditorium, headed towards my sisters. "Adagio, Sonata, Aria!" Sonata turned to my voice, then she gave Adagio and Aria a nudge, pointing to my direction. They were also in casual attire.

"Clair!" Sonata jumped in a hug as her usual sisterly greeting, with her weight that I can barely even hold for another second or two.

"Sonata, if you hurt me, I won't be able to perform tonight.."

She let out a squinty grin, "Oh, sorry again!"

Adagio crossed her arms, "So just how long is this performance going to take?"

"I'm not sure, probably two hours maximum?.."

Aria feeling annoyed, "If I still had my power, I can fast-forward time.."

Adagio chuckled, "Even if we had our powers, we wouldn't be able to anyway... So I don't know what you're talkin' 'bout..."

I looked at Aria with a single eyebrow raised and crossed my arms, "Aria, could you at least be prideful of your little sister for once?... I mean c'mon... I'm performing in front of so much people.."

Adagio deliberately gazed on my neck with words, "Where's your gem?.."

Suddenly Cuddle Bug and Moon Dancer verged upon us unexpectedly. Cuddle Bug reached out to Adagio for a handshake, "Hi! I didn't know if Clair had forgotten to introduce us, so we came here instead. I'm Cuddle Bug!" Adagio stared at her blankly, then me.

A moment of pause, I then began the introductions, "Oh, by the way, these are my sisters: Adagio, Aria, and Sonata."

Moon Dancer's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped, "Sisters?!"

"Hello there!" Sonata in a delightful tone, she then took the initiative to give Cuddle Bug the handshake instead.

I continued, "And these are my best friends: Cuddle Bug and Moon Dancer."

Moon Dancer let out a nervous laughter, then waved a hello, "Nice meeting you, Um, Clair has a lot to tell me about you girls, I had no idea she had sisters..."

Aria with her same usual expression, "Yeah... She doesn't talk about us much.." She fiddled at her own fingers.

Cuddle Bug leered over to Aria's direction, and made a random comment, but in a cheerful tone, "So uh, you must be the girl version of the grinch or something?"

Aria clenched her fist with teeth-grinding anguish expression. I knew Aria would be the first to implode, and I knew it would be at Cuddle Bug because she and Sonata are so similar in many ways. "Aria, please don't take it to heart, Cuddle Bug sometimes doesn't know how to use her filter." I lowered my eyebrows at Cuddle Bug.

Cuddle Bug shrugged and tilted her head, "What?!"

I face palmed through out this awkward moment, and wished that I could just rewind time and forget about introducing my friends and my sisters.

"Hey Clair." A familiar voice was heard behind me, I turned, and there stood Sandal Wood smiling right at me with a cute teddy bear and a box of chocolates for me. He approached in a peck on my lips, he held my hand, and we smiled at the girls. They all stared back at us in complete deadpan.

Another moment of pause, Adagio re-initialized, "So uh, are you going to tell us who this guy is, or just smile and look stupid..."

My thoughts lingered for a bit, then my brain finally clicked, "Oh! This is my boyfriend, Sandal Wood!"

Everyone in flat unison, "Ohh okay..."

Sandal Wood's eyes widened as he familiarized the three girls who tried to manipulate him, along with the other students at Canterlot High School a month ago. His grin began to deform to an irritable expression on his face, "You girls again..."

I was perplexed at Sandal Wood's words, "Huh? What's wrong, sweetie?"

"These girls... They were the ones who tried to control our minds a month ago!"

Adagio and Aria raised their eyebrows at Sandal Wood.

*Introductory fanfare music*

Sonata was amused by the sound of the medieval fanfare music, "Ooooo! This music brings me sooo much nostalgia!"

I hushed Sonata, then made everyone aware that the show will start right after the introduction, "Ok guys, the show is about to begin, ya'll better sit down."

Sandal Wood looked a little bothered at the fact that my sisters were here, which prompt him with words, "Clair, we got a lot to talk about..."

"I know, and I promise to talk to you after the performance, honey." I swung around, then ran towards the backstage of the auditorium, and permitted myself through the stage curtains.

Meanwhile, The Rainbooms had sat there instruments at a theater right above the crowd, across the auditorium stage where the music performance is held. The Rainbooms sneaked into the theater on a high-point just for one purpose, and that is to defeat me. All the members of the Rainbooms, with the exception of Twilight Sparkle, readied their instruments to prepare for an ambush of their melodic sounds. They waited.

Sunset fixated on me from up above as I walked towards the back stage, "There she is.." She pointed her out to The Rainbooms, "She's the fourth siren, girls."

Apple Jack, while tuning her bass guitar, "Are ya sure?.. She looks innocent to me, Sugarcube..."

"I'm telling you... She is the fourth siren, she has that gem around her neck... It's only a matter of time when she will plot her attack... Deja Vu, anyone?.." Sunset peered around her Mane five friends, trying to prove a point.

Rainbow Dash strummed a random note on her guitar in a low volume, "Well, if she is indeed the bad guy, our music will still kick her siren butt, isn't that what the magic of friendship is for?.."

"Right, but we gotta time it right." Sunset reputed.

Rarity fiddling her own fingernails, "Girls, it's getting really stuffy in here, if I sweat enough, these clothes will get ruined.."

Sunset looked at Rarity blankly, "Rarity, I don't think it would matter, no one knows we're here anyway..."

As the introduction fanfare ended, the stage curtains opened to an immediate music performer who sat on a high stool with a unique instrument that's made out of an actual vegetable carrot, an ocarina. She made a short speech of introduction explaining how the instrument was made, and why she made it. As she concluded her explanation, she played the rendition of a song called Chandelier by Sia.

An hour had passed, and there were numerous of performers before me, but I'm next in line. My thoughts lingered on Sunset and her friends. I could've sworn she told me that her band was going to perform tonight, or maybe I heard wrong. Maybe her organisation for this Christmas show had worn her out and decided to take a rain-check for tonight, I can only imagine considering the amount of people that are present.

"The next performer we have for tonight, is a high school student from Humanaville: Clair De Lune!"

The loud speaker that surrounded the auditorium had called out my name as the next performer, everyone eased in an introductory applause. I was very nervous. I took a deep breath, then slowly walked while I held my guitar with a shoulder strap on my right shoulder, towards the high stool positioned at the center. I sat on it without a quiver, hoping that I wouldn't have to break my guitar the third time. Otherwise, the lady at the music store wins the bet. I pulled the mic closer to me, and made an introductory of words, "Hi everyone, I will be singing a song I made up just for Christmas, it's called Christmas time is Here. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoyed composing it." I counted with a metronome of beats; 1, 2, 3, 4:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfJuy6wrA9o&feature=youtu.be

The reaction of the crowd was predictable as always; a short moment of silence, then a single clap was heard from the large crowd, the second followed until it all developed onto a loud, but long round of applause. People began standing up, continuously applauding for my performance for a long span of time. I bowed in appreciation for giving me the moral support, and smiled brightly. Sunset's rage grew when she noticed that I didn't have the gem worn around my neck, she couldn't hold herself back so she finally revealed herself in front of the audience, then shouted out my name with an insult. The audience suddenly stopped clapping, and turned their heads around to the sound of the voice up above them, "Clair! Nice try, you know you can't get away with this, once a siren, always a siren, show us your true form!" Sunset drew in a little closer to the edge with confidence, "Stop trying to hold back!" The audience turned their heads back, quizzically gazing at me. I blushed, and my eyes began to gloss in humiliation. I was puzzled as to why Sunset would shout out those words of profanity in front of the whole crowd, as if I've done something so morally wrong. The loud whispers within the crowd was heard right before me. I wasn't sure how to react, but there was one thing to do, which I'm really good at: Is run away. I positioned my guitar to my backside, carrying it like a cross body backpack, and ran out of the exit through the backdoor of the auditorium. It was very cold and snowy out. The ground was all covered with thick layers of snow, so it took some effort to keep up on my own pace. As I was distanced away from the library, I stopped for a minute, noticing a little weight around my neck. To my complete horrific surprise, my gem magically appeared. "What the?! Impossible! I know I hid my gem in my jewelry box back at home!" I held my gem, and inspected it.

"Clair!" Sonata's voice was heard in a mid distance. I turned around and saw the rest of my friends and my sisters approaching near. "What happened back there?!" As my eyes were still fixated on my gem, the gem glowed instantly, sending rays of light haphazardly in every direction. The effect of this unknown magical power sent an indescribable pain through my heart, causing me to scream.

"Clair!" Adagio's voice was too soft. The light gleamed brighter and brighter, then seconds lapsed, the illumination had stopped instantly. Adagio drew near a couple of inches from me, and placed her palm on my shoulder, "Clair... What was that?... I've never..." Adagio's sentence was cut off short to a sudden thrust of my palm against her chest with incredible power, causing her body to knock back in a far distance. She faltered to the ground, covered in snow. She vomited blood and fell unconscious.

"Adagio!!!" Sonata cried out loud, then the rest of my friends and my sisters ran quickly near to provide aid.

Aria with a worried look on her face, she knelt down beside Adagio and cuffed both her palms on her face with trembling words, "Adagio, snap out of it." Aria's eyes shined with tears, "Adagio, tell us what we need to do, dammit, we still need you!" With no words of response from Adagio, she was completely knocked unconscious. Aria looked up at the rest of my friends, "We need to go to the hospital now."

Sonata sobbed heavily while hugging Adagio. Moon Dancer, Cuddle Bug, and Sandal Wood, had no clue on what just happened. But Moon Dancer was the first to notice my transformation. My eyes appeared glowing red, with no color separating from the pupil. After a minute or two, my transformation dissipated. My eyes turned back to normal once again, but my body collapsed on the ground.

Author's Notes:

Phew... I decided to take a break for a week of writing due to the holidays. I don't know about you but damn, I am beat!... My patients demand for their stupid viagra prescriptions right before Christmas... Ain't that a bucket of sunshine... Newayz, Oh btw! I know my writing needs a lot of work, but just so you know, I'm no avid writer, nor am I an avid reader. So I apologize in advance that the stuff I type in here is not as clear as I thought they would be, with that aside, I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Cheers!