//------------------------------//
// Sunset P.I. 
// Story: Aria Ignite 
// by Third Brony 
//------------------------------//

The best way to get information out of Aria was to have Sunset do it. 
The ball to the head had unlocked what camaraderie she felt towards Sunset and the two were even sitting at lunch that Wednesday. Judging by the smile that Aria gave me whenever I looked over at her, I was welcomed at the table as well but I stayed with Snips and Snails. They were arguing about Snails' interest in Sugar again so it was easy for me to block them out while I formulated a plan to get Sunset to prying the information out of Aria without either of them realizing what I was doing. 
By the end of lunch I still had no ideas. I ambushed Sunset on her way to math class. I figured Common Sense would help me out if I just improvised.
"Hey Sunset," I started out real smooth-like.
"Oh hey Lost," she returned cheerfully. 
"Can I talk to you about Aria?"
"No problem," she replied.
I bitterly thought back to how she was when I'd first asked her about Aria all those weeks ago. I guess she really was just bitter that Aria wouldn't talk to her. Now the two were friends and she was open to being my wingman... woman. That had to wait though. 
"Aria's new guy, can you find out who he is?" I requested.
Sunset smirked. "It took a bit longer than I thought it would but there's the jealousy," she said.
"Jealousy? No, no, no," I corrected. "It's just that... I think I know who it is."
Her smirk turned to pity. It irritated me.
"One of your friends?" she said. "Would Snips or Snails really go out with Aria behind your back?"
"Those jokers?" I almost laughed. "No, not them. It's... someone I know about. Could you find out for me?"
"Sure," she agreed as we entered Ms. Cheerilee's class. "We're going to the mall today so I'll bring it up. I'll give you the report tomorrow."
"Cool."
Great. Now that I had my own detective on the case, everything would be okay. I could only hope that Sunset would receive answers vague enough for her to remain in the dark while I could decipher Aria's involvement. It was a huge gamble but having Sunset do it would increase my chances of getting what I wanted by at least 70 percent. It was a scientific fact that girls could not keep their mouths shut around other girls when it came to a hot guy. I suppose Silver passed for that in some countries. 
From the moment I took my seat to the moment school ended, I was distracted trying to think of all the ways it could go wrong. I tried thinking of all the ways it would go right but the list ended before Ms. Cheerilee even entered the classroom.


   
"Sorry Lost."
It was early, a couple minutes before the first bell started off the school day. Sunset had found me on the field behind the school getting in some extra track and field practice. She relayed the previous afternoon's events and concluded by saying she still had no idea who Aria's new boyfriend was. She'd purposely asked vague questions to not look like she was snooping and Aria had responded with even vaguer answers.
"I said 'You've been out with your new guy for a couple days now, you met him at the competition, right?'" Sunset told me. "She replied 'Yeah' So then I asked 'He sounds like a real catch. Where could a girl like me find a guy like that?' and she laughed and said 'On the field'."
"Yeah, that's pretty vague," I admitted. "I wasn't sure what I expected."
"I could try again," she offered. "We're going out again today."
"Please," I pleaded.
"Get Snails' phone though," she told me. "I'll call you and let you listen in on the convo. If you hear anything that tips you off..."
"Alright, cool," I answered as the bell rang. "Thanks Sunset, I really appreciate this."
"Anything for a friend," she replied and walked ahead as I stopped.
Sunset had been very friendly towards me lately (I mean, she invited me to one of Pinkie Pie's parties) but I really never considered her thinking of me as a friend. I wasn't any less human than any of my schoolmates, but I could somehow tell that it was Sunset saying that and not just the magic.

Snips was only too happy to snatch away Snails' cell and give it to me. When Snails protested, Snips reasoned that he didn't have anyone to call anyway and then he dared him to say he was going to call Sugar. 
We were at Sugar Cube Corner and my two best friends gave me room while I listened in on Sunset's date with Aria, secret agent style. I felt like Hetacon from Iron Gear listening in Solid Salamander's adventure. 
"So, Aria, doing anything tomorrow?
laughter "I told you already, Sunset. I'll be out with... him.
girlish giggling "He must be real special."
"I really want you to meet him one day, but he says he's not ready to meet you guys."
"You guys? I thought I was your only friend."
Silence, possibly Aria playfully punching Sunset or something.
"My sisters count. And probably that guy Lost."
"Lost?"
"Yeah?" I misread her question as being directed to me.
"What was that?"
"What was what?"
I knew that she shouldn't have been able to hear me from inside Sunset's pocket. The fact that I was struggling to hear their conversation was testament to that. Maybe it was a siren thing. 
"You must be hearing things. What does Lost have to do with this new guy?"
"Nothing much. It's just... well I kind of figured we could be friends. He helped me out when I was in the nurse's office."
"And your new guy didn't want to meet the mighty hero who rescued you?" Sarcasm.
"Screw you too, Sunset," I murmured.
"What IS that?"
"I didn't hear anything."
"It sounded like it was coming from your denims."
"Probably just a text message. Your guy didn't want to meet us." Sunset seemed to have noticed that Aria could hear me as well and was directing her back to the conversation.
There was reluctance in her voice but Aria went on: Yeah. He was especially against Lost."
"He knows Lost?"
"Yeah, they were both at the Competition."
"Oh yeah, he saw him on the winners' stand."
"Not just there, they were in the race together."
NO!
I could almost hear Sunset putting all the pieces together. She was going to figure it out!
"Aria, what's your boyfriend's name?"
"NO!" I screamed. Everyone in The Corner looked up at me, but I ignored them. My plan was falling apart. Considering that it barely existed in the first place, it didn't have far to fall.
"Okay, I definitely heard something coming from your pants."
There was the sound of brief struggle.
"Lost? Why's Lost on your phone?"
"I must have butt dialed him. I'll cut the call, but what's your boy-"
The call was cut off. I sighed. That was it, Sunset knew.
Sure enough, ten minutes later, she burst through the door.
"SHE'S GOING OUT WITH SILVER!"



After I'd shushed Sunset, I admitted that I knew that Aria was going out with Rainbow's boyfriend but I followed by asking her what I wanted to know.
"Does Aria know that he's already Rainbow's boyfriend?" I asked in a hushed tone.
Sunset looked at me gravely and replied...