Chapter 21-A Song For Sonata

Splashfire99: (Only With My Heart by Lena Park does not belong to me. It's a nice song though, you should hear it :3)

Concerto lay his head on his table, feeling bored and feeling empty.

There was a knock at the door.

Sigh...I'm really not in the mood now…Concerto slowly raised his head.

"Who is it?" He called out moodily.

"It's me." Aria's voice was at the other side of the door. "Can I talk to you for a minute, Concerto?"

Despite his reluctance, Concerto really had nothing better to do today. Wearily, he got up, walked to the door, and pulled it open.

"Come in." He muttered, stepping aside for her to enter.

A small part of him wondered why Aria wanted to see him, though.

Aria couldn't help glancing at Concerto with pity. His brown hair was unusually scruffy, as though he had been trying to sleep but couldn't. His eyes were red and puffy, as though he had been crying for a very long time.

"Uh…I need to tell you something about Sonata."

Aria sensed a jolt go through Concerto's body at the mention of Sonata's name.

"Oh…What is it?" He asked, flopping-yes, flopping-down into his chair.

"It's about where she went."

Concerto let out a long, depressed and exasperated sigh.

"Please, Aria, I already know. I saw her in the street this morning."

"You did?" Concerto didn't look at Aria, but he could hear the disbelief in her voice.

"Yes, I did. She was going for an audition. She doesn't need me anymore, Aria. Not even as a friend. So I'm sure you don't need to tell me anything."

Aria stared, speechless.

"What do you mean that Sonata doesn't need you anymore? She needs you more than you know!" She told him softly.

Concerto groaned and turned away.

"Ugh, don't give me that. She told me herself that she doesn't need me!"

An awkward period of silence ensued between the two, both of them avoiding each other's gaze.

Neither moved an inch.

After a few minutes, Aria slowly took her phone from her pocket and took a few steps closer to the violet eyed boy, still slumped in the chair as though he had no backbone.

"There's something I need to show you." She said quietly.

Concerto very reluctantly lifted his head to look at Aria's phone screen. It was playing a video. It showed a small stage, with many people sitting at tables below it, the chatter fairly noisy. His heart sank when he saw the figure walking onstage and realised what Aria was trying to show him.

"Look, I don't want to see Sonata's audition video! If you're trying to help me, Aria, then you're making me feel worse!" He snapped.

"Just keep watching it!" Aria snapped back, a little taken aback and infuriated by his remark.

"But I…" Concerto's voice trailed off.

Sonata was stepping over to the mic, glancing at the audience with a nervous look on her face. For a moment, Concerto's hurt dissipated, his heart speeding up when he saw how breathtaking she looked. She was wearing a pink shirt with dark pink stripes with a dark pink tie. Her cutie mark was on her dark pink denim skirt. Concerto stared as Sonata tapped the mic gently, compelling the audience to quiet down.

"Umm…Hi…" Sonata mumbled, scanning her eyes across the crowd below her shyly. "Before I start my performance, I'd…like to make a small dedication."

Dedication? Concerto thought.

"This song…goes out to everyone with an unrequited love. I know how it feels to fall in love with someone, even if he doesn't return your feelings. And…"

A small tear could easily be seen shimmering in Sonata's eye as she spoke.

"…The person I like, this is to you…" She took a deep breath and sighed. "You probably will never hear this.. but...I hope you'll understand my actions one day. It was hurting too much…so I'll try to forget you, and...I'll let you be happy with her."

In the video, there were some slightly audible sniffles coming from the crowd.

Concerto was utterly confused and stunned. Sonata…has a crush on someone? Until now, Concerto hadn't known that at all.

Sonata gently took the mic with both hands, smiling, and started to sing as the music came on.

Smile brightly, don't worry about me

I'm smiling like this right now

I won't forget, I'll be the only one who remembers us

I won't forget you so that you can smile

This song…Concerto's eyes widened. "She chose such a heartbreaking song to sing?"

Aria looked at him in confusion. "You mean…judging by the tune?"

"No, the lyrics."

Smile brightly, I'm just thankful

Because I can have memories with you

I can hide them and take them out when I'm alone

It will strengthen me when I miss you

Only with my heart I steal you

Only with my heart I hug you

That's enough for me so don't hurt because of me

Just locking eyes with you makes me shed tears

"But…" Aria was a little confused. "The lyrics are in Korean…do you know the song?"

"Nope." Concerto shook his head.

When time passes and our love grows

There will be times I resent you so it's a relief

Because I will remember you being affectionate

and the days when you hugged me

So it's good

"So…?"

Oh, right, Aria doesn't know. Concerto sighed. "My father is a prestigious lecturer and teacher, so I'm homeschooled. I took up Korean as my second language."

Although she was a little stunned by this new information, Aria managed to nod. "I see."

"Sonata has a beautiful voice, but…"Jealousy and hurt seared through Concerto's chest.

"Who is Sonata singing about…?" He muttered, turning to Aria. He paused when he saw the expression on the violet haired girl's face.

Only with my heart I steal you

Only with my heart I hug you

That's enough for me so don't hurt because of me

Just locking eyes with you makes me shed tears

Aria was looking at Concerto skeptically, raising one eyebrow at him. "Seriously?" Her face seemed to say to him.

"Why are you looking at me like tha-" Concerto suddenly stopped before he could finish. Some wires connected in his brain.

If we meet each other like fate, please pass me by like you don't know me

Even though my heart will cry like it has been torn into two

So I can see you for a short moment while you pass by

I hope you'll understand my actions one day...It was hurting too much… Sonata's dedication echoed in his head. I'll try to forget you…and…I'll let you be happy with her…

"Wait…" Concerto said to Aria. "Sonata…likes…" He pointed to himself with his right index. "Me?"

Aria nodded, her expression unreadable.

Only with my heart, I will want you

Only with my heart, I will kiss you

Don't be sorry, this is my life

Whether you love me or feel sorry, I feel the same way

Concerto's heart dropped, and he almost fell off the chair. "What?" He exclaimed, as Aria stopped the video and kept her phone. "She…she..." He tried to formulate a sentence, but no words came to mind to describe how shocked he was at this revelation.

And how he hadn't realised this sooner.

But that also meant…

Concerto buried his head in his hands. Oh, you IDIOT! He scolded himself. You could've stopped her from leaving if you'd realised this earlier!

Immediately, every single small detail from the earlier days flooded into his head. He recalled Sonata's tears, the dismay she often hid behind her eyes, and her devastated expression when she told him she was leaving. The clues to the truth had been right in front of him all this time, and yet he, blinded by his supposed longing for Cherry Blossom, had chosen to ignore them.

No wonder her explanations were inconsistent: HE was the reason she had left.

His vision was blurred as tears trickled down his face. "How could I have not noticed it?" He asked Aria. "She liked me this whole time, and all I did was hurt her. I even asked her to help me win Cherry back!" He groaned, upset over his own stupidity. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Aria watched him sympathetically.

"It wasn't your fault, Concerto." She said quietly."But I guess since you know the real reason behind Sonata's departure, you can be at peace now… After all, she is trying to forget you. Its for her own good, and yours too."

Almost instantly, the quick tempered Concerto flared up.

"How is that for my own good?!" He protested, his violet eyes ablaze with fury. "Ever since she left, I''ve felt as though half of my life has been drained out of me! And it's barely been a day!"

"I know that, but…I'm sure Cherry could help you…"

For some reason, the mention of Cherry's name just made Concerto flare up even further.

"Cherry?! That girl only cares about herself!"

Aria was completely flabbergasted by Concerto's agitated reply.

"I thought both of you kissed at the Music Festival." She said blankly.

What? How did she know? Concerto shook his head. "We did…but I don't like her anymore, okay? When we kissed, I couldn't sense any love between us. I just went along with it because I thought that was what I'd wanted the whole time! But…"

The boy faltered.

"I was wrong." He muttered sadly. "What I really wanted…and needed…was right beside me the whole time. But I never knew."

Seeing the looks of shock and incomprehension on Aria's face, Concerto sighed and was compelled to go on.

"I don't know if Sonata knows about this, but when she came into my life, she brightened it up as well. All that energy and joy she projected made me look at life in a better way, and I was more than happy to have her around. Before long, I found myself feeling strange with her. I realised too late that that strange feeling…was love."

Okay…wasn't really expecting that, Aria thought. However, seeing how upset Concerto was, she decided that now, perhaps helping Sonata forget wasn't the best thing to do. Clearly, Sonata was still hurting, and so was Concerto. If there was one thing they both needed right now to heal them and change them back to their former, happy selves, it would be each other.

"Hey. Concerto." Aria said, as the boy sniffled slightly and wiped his tears from his eyes. "I know you're upset now, but look on the bright side. At least you know your feelings for Sonata are mutual, right? You can tell her."

There was a defeated, heavy sigh.

"It's not that easy, Aria. Sonata doesn't want to see me anymore. Believe me, I wanted to tell her this morning, but she refused to hear anything from me."

"Well…there's no wrong it giving it another go?"

Concerto processed this for a moment. I don't know… Incidentally, his eye fell upon a small notebook on the table.

That was his songwriting book.

Or maybe... An idea popped into his head.

"The best way for a musician to express himself…is through music." Concerto said aloud, stretching his hand across the table and taking his notebook.

This earned a blank look from Aria. "What?"

"When Sonata found out about my songwriting hobby, she encouraged me to write a song for Triple Rewind. But I had no idea what to write about." Concerto quickly flipped his notebook open. "So I'll write a song for her."

Having been in the dark of Concerto's songwriting talent until now, Aria wondered if Concerto was going to succeed with this attempt. But despite her doubts, seeing his face filled with confidence and energy made her decide to help.

"I'll help you if I can." She told him. "So how does it start?"

Concerto smiled a genuine smile. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to expand Triple Rewind's range of music. Sonata dedicated a Korean song to me. I think it would be good to dedicate another Korean song back to her."

"You're going to write the song…in Korean?"

"It's okay, Aria, I've done it before."

"Okay. If you know what you're doing."

Aria leaned over Concerto's shoulder, watching intently as he took up a pen and poured his emotions out onto the empty notebook page in front of him.

"So…how long have you had a crush on Cheese?" Sonata asked curiously, sipping at a smoothie.

"Oh! Uh…for a week now, I guess?" Pinkie said, noisily drinking her smoothie.

The Mane Seven, and Sonata and the Starlets, were at a cafe together. Sonata was overjoyed. She had finally gotten a job of sorts, and in addition the Rainbooms were willing to accept her as a friend. How could things get any better?

"I don't actually know for sure if he likes me back, but I'm just a little afraid to tell him because he's a very popular party planner. I don't think I'll stand a chance with him." Pinkie explained in her usual chirpy, rapid speaking manner.

"Yep, I hear you." Sonata replied.

"But I just can't believe that you didn't tell us about your crush, Pinkie!" Rarity commented.

Pinkie Pie grinned at her sheepishly, her face turning pinker than her skin. "Eheh…you…didn't ask?"

"I never knew about a fourth member of the sirens." Sunset Shimmer said to Silver Ballad.

"Yeah, many ponies don't know that." Silver replied with a smile. "I left the sirens before they tried taking over Equestria, so I guess when they took that down, I wasn't mentioned."

"And…how'd you give Chandelier and Limelight siren powers?" Applejack asked curiously.

"I transferred some of my siren magic into their two blue gem pendants with the help of science."

Applejack didn't fully understand what help of science Silver was referring to, but she knew that if she asked, there was bound to be a long, complicated explanation filled with peculiar scientific terms. So she decided this short explanation sufficed.

"I see." She said.

"So, what do you like doing, Limelight?" Fluttershy asked softly.

Limelight fumbled in her bag. "Oh, uh, besides singing, I like writing songs." She said, holding up a book. "Triple Rewind used one of my songs before. That song was a hit."

Fluttershy looked at her in astonishment.

"Is it 'Amp It Up'? I don't know Triple Rewind so well, but I love that song!"

Limelight blushed slightly and nodded. "Yeah, I wrote that. They credited me in the CDs and Music videos."

Sonata was staring at her in surprise. "You really remind me of someone…" She said, thinking of Concerto for a few seconds.

As everyone was talking, Twilight stood up. "Hang on for minute guys, I need to do something." She said.

With some nods of acknowledgment here and there, the purple haired girl stood up and walked out of the cafe.

Twilight, carrying her slingbag walked out into the alley just behind the cafe, where the cluster of trash cans to throw away rubbish were situated. Looking around carefully, Twilight reached into her bag and took out a few sheets of blueprints, and quickly threw those blueprints into the trash. The blueprints were promptly followed by numerous broken pieces of plastic, metal and glass.

Sunset's right, Twilight thought to herself, closing the lid over the can. I can't keep these things any longer. The device was too dangerous for me to try and rebuild.

Just seconds after Twilight had left the alleyway, a shadow fell across the ground.

A hand opened the lid of the trash can, quietly surveying the blueprints and broken pieces which the bespectacled teenager had thrown away just earlier.

"Perfect."

That Night

Concerto had just finished the last line of the song at ten forty five. Aria and the other two members of Triple Rewind stood behind him, having pitched in some ideas and suggestions during the course of writing.

"Okay. That should be good enough." Concerto said.

"You sure about this, Concerto?" Aria asked sleepily, having almost dozed off on Cleffis's shoulder minutes earlier.

"Well, I'm sure it's enough." Allegro said, patting his friend on the shoulder. "Sonata is bound to like it."

"I hope so." Concerto replied nervously, closing the book.

"Well, we should go off to bed now." Allegro said. "It's late, and don't forget that we have that press conference tomorrow to deal with. Good night, guys."

As Allegro headed out, Cleffis turned to Concerto.

"I guess I'll get going too. Good night, Concerto."

Concerto nodded.

"Okay."

Cleffis gave Aria a shy grin, giving her a small kiss on the cheek before leaving, causing Aria to blush slightly as she talked to Concerto.

"See ya, Concerto. Good luck."

With that, Aria left the room.

Concerto waited, hearing the footsteps outside his hotel door fade, before turning to open the notebook again.

Reading the lyrics several times again to make sure they sounded good, Concerto got up from the chair and took out his laptop. Turning on the device and setting it on the table, he plugged in a small microphone to the laptop before opening the Garageband App. Plugging in a small keyboard and a pair of headphones as well, he got to work recording the song demo.

Concerto looked at the lyrics thoughtfully, before experimenting with several notes and chords to figure which key would the song sound best in, and whether a major or minor key would work better. He also had to vocalise and sing a couple of the lyrics to ensure that the tune of the main vocals would meld perfectly with the music.

This was Concerto's first time actually writing a song for his group, and he needed it to be a good first effort.

Also, the song was meant for Sonata: he would put every last ounce of energy and effort into finishing the song as soon as possible for her before she could drift any further from him.

His heart jumped as her sweet voice resonated back through his ears, filled with emotion. Though the melody was heartbreaking, it also kept him going, encouraging him. Now that he knew Sonata had liked him this whole time, he wanted to make it up to her. He had to heal all the hurt he had unknowingly inflicted on her. And, as an extra effort to keep himself awake, he kept a few mugs of drinks by his side as he worked.

Of course, it took a while, but eventually Concerto completed the song demo.

Sonata…Concerto thought. I hope this song will reach you…

As he drifted off to sleep, the song's melody continued to echo in his ears.