Songs of Power
Chapter Three

Disclaimer: Don't own anything you recognize. Do own Mia, Ally and the plot.

Shout-outs:

Lalaith-Cat: Not deeply-detailed or intelligent, eh? Don't worry, neither am I.

mattb3671: Glad you like it! Thank YOU!

MuggleBuddy: No, she's not albino (red hair, remember?) but people make fun of her because they're idiots. People are like that. At one time I suppose people just figured she looked like a victim, or she was handy, or said the wrong thing at the wrong time... There could be any number of reasons.

Now for the actual chapter!:

The next day passed uneventfully. As before, Ally came home with Mia after school, where they proceeded to have a long, involved gossip chat about /everything/ that had happened since they had left.

"I'm thirsty," put in Ally. "I'm going downstairs to get a drink. Want anything?"

"No thanks," said Mia. "If you'll give me a second I'll find that sheet music for you, though."

"Great, thanks!" she said, and with that she was gone, going down the stairs happily. But some muffled noises behind a closed door piqued her interest. She was a nosy one, she was.

"You see, there's this girl I really like, but she won't look twice at me…" came Freddy's voice from behind said door.

Scott's voice, sounding slightly tense, came next. "How do you know, Freddy? You never know until you ask." The unspoken words that didn't follow, out loud at least, were 'but, in all probability she isn't interested in you and we both know why'.

"Who is the girl?" came Kurt's voice, curious.

"Mrrmph," came the muffled reply.

"Speak louder," sighed Scott, massaging his temples. He didn't like Fred.

"Ally," said the voice, embarrassed, though louder this time.

"Ja, she is nice." Said Kurt, voice much warmer than Scott's.

"It's just, when I look at her it's like, like, she really cares but I know she doesn't… and I love her, but I know that I don't deserve her, and I feel all hopeless but hopeful at the same time, sorta."

At this, Ally had heard enough. Barging in she commanded, voice firm, "Follow me, Freddy. Scott, you stay there. Fuzzy, come." And with that walked back out again, the two boys trailing behind her in a state of befuddlement on Kurt's part and embarrassed horror on Freds'.

Ally marched into the kitchen, grabbed two bottles of water and marched back upstairs, to Mia's room, which she knocked firmly on and then entered, grabbing a stack of music off the bed, telling Mia that "Something had come up," before leaving again, minus Kurt.

"Any idea vhat is going on?" he asked her.

"Hurricane Ally," said Mia. "Watch out, and hope it blows over. What happened?"

Ally marched outside, Freddy in wake, and into the woods, eventually choosing a smallish clearing next to a small stream. Sitting down she finally said, "So. You have something to tell me?"

Fred blushed heavily, mouthing "…no…"

"Well then. Want to go out on Friday evening?"

"What!?" he said, looking up in surprise.

"You heard what I said. Do you?"

"Why do you care?" he muttered sullenly, openly suspicious.

"Because I heard you talking and I don't know you. And I won't not get to know someone because of what they look like. And if I don't want to go on another date-ish-thing it'll be because of your character, not appearance. And I don't know you so I don't know if I won't like you. It makes sense."

"Why did you bring the music?"

"Because I'm obsessed. Also because I think that you can really get to know someone by their singing. The sheet music is a last resort. What songs do you know? Christmas carols are good. Yeah, that'll work…know the lines for the twelve days of Christmas?"

"Umm… I know the tune…but not the words…"

"Here you are. Oh dear," said Ally. "This is a bit of a surreal experience for you, isn't it? Well, that's the way I am. I have no problem with not liking someone. My problem is with not liking someone without knowing them. Have a hug," and with that she walked over and hugged him.

"Ally…" sighed Mia, who had just walked into the glade, a still-confused Kurt following. "You're confusing him. You're confusing me who's known you for who-knows-how-long, for the considerably detriment of my sanity."

"No, it's fine," said Fred, ducking his head again.

"Meinn Gott," muttered Kurt. He was stuck in the woods with crazy girls. This wasn't good for his peace of mind.

A silence fell for a few minutes. Then, "Let's try that singing now," put in Mia. "I haven't done my practice for today. Okay, Freddy, here's the rundown: we'll try to get one song right. You were going to start on the twelve days of Christmas because you all knew it? Fantastic. Okay, here's the words. Sing them so I can get a gauge on your range and skill."

"On the first day of Christmas," he began, shaky, then joined by Ally, her voice soaring above his as he gained confidence, Mia listening to both with a careful ear. About halfway through the song she stopped them.

"Okay. Let's see, pronunciation needs work, good range however, quick breathing course is all that's needed, but mostly all you need to work on is volume. I'm impressed. Almost nobody has this sort of form naturally…you're very gifted. Great voice that might even stay a tenor as you get older, which is quite a special thing, you know. Tenors are always in demand, followed by altos. There's always plenty of basses and sopranos."

"Breathing," put in Ally. "You breathe from your stomach area. That's where your diaphragm is,"

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," said Mia. "Its diaphragm, with a silent g."

"But it's so much more fun with a hard g…diaphragm, diaphragm!"

"There's something wrong with you, dear," put in Mia with a odd look at her friend.

"Continuing," said Ally breezily. "Always breathe from there, otherwise you sound all high and squeaky…like this. Better breathe control is important! You shouldn't feel your shoulders rise when you take a deep breathe. Hold them still…there, that's it! And that should be enough for tonight… But I have to go now! See at school tomorrow!"

And...End! Another chapter soon. Reviews make me deliriously happy. Consider it a special holiday gift to me if you do.