//------------------------------// // Grocery Shopping part 1 // Story: Aria Blaze's series of unhappy events // by Rhulain //------------------------------// It was a quiet morning in Canterlot Heights, the upper class suburbs where the elite of the city lived, mini-mansions lined up in rows to show off their exorbitant wealth. It was the kind of place where poise and pomp were valued over everything else. Immaculate lawns sparkled with morning dew, giving the place an ethereal beauty. Birds chirped and sang their songs to the sun, greeting the morning with joy and vigor. However deep in the neighborhood, at the end of a cul-de-sac, sat a house that stood above the rest. It was a bright white, the entire thing constructed from marble and granite, with columns and arches over every doorway. The imposing three story mansion stood silent, a sentinel standing watch over the sub-division. Silent, that is, until one of the inhabitants opened the fridge. "Sonata?! Did you eat all of my bacon?! Again?!" This was punctuated by the slamming of said fridge's door, the slammer turning and marching out of the kitchen. Long purple hair striped with teal cascading down her back in a tangled mess only added to the anger in her violet eyes. Aria Blaze, middle child of three, was on the warpath. Her anger carried her all the way down the hall, across the foyer, up the stairs to the second floor, and down another hall where everything turned blue and pink. With laser like focus, she stomped down the hall to stop in front of a bright blue door with pink flower stickers all over it. One pale fuchsia fist was raised to pound repeatedly on the wood "I know you're in there! Open up!" She demanded, fuming as she waited for a response. She didn't have to wait long, as a yelp and a thump sounded from the other side, followed by moaning and the sounds of something dragging closer to the door. Eventually the door creaked open, a frazzled blue head sticking out. "Aria? What's wrong?" came the tired, mumbled response. Sonata Dusk, youngest of the three, rubbed her raspberry colored eyes and blearily peered at her older sister. Said sister, however, only pushed the door open the rest of the way and growled. "You know damn well what's wrong you blue idiot! You ate all of my bacon again! I know it was you because Adagio won't eat anything that fatty." She grouched, waving a fist in her sister's face. "Now I have to go shopping before breakfast!" Panting lightly, her anger partially spent, she waited for Sonata's reply. Judging from her blue face gaining a white tinge, Said younger sister was realizing what she did. "Oops? Hehe..." She cringed, pulling out of Aria's reach "Y-you can take some money from Mr. Banky to get some more." This was followed by Sonata pointing at 'Mr. Banky', a large ceramic pig wearing a top hat and monocle that was sitting on her dresser. Aria smirked at this, brushing past her pajama clad sister to get at the aforementioned pig. "Don't mind if I do." purred the girl, as her searching fingers pulled the plug from it's belly. Rooting around inside, she pulled out a wad of crumpled bills. Flipping through the stack of green, she extracted two twenty dollar bills before stuffing the rest back inside. Not bothering to re-plug it, she strode out of Sonata's room without looking back or giving thanks. "And what are you doing yelling this early in the morning?" Came the silky smooth voice of the elder sister from down below on the ground floor. With a groan, Aria strode to the banister, looking down over the railing. Staring up at Aria, eyebrow arched and coffee mug in hand, stood the one and only Adagio Dazzle. Even this early in the morning she was flawless, dressed in a classy white robe that enveloped her frame. Her hair, a giant curly mess of orange was somehow an organized mess. Above her, Aria grimaced and started down the staircase. "What do you think happened?" groused the grumpy girl. "Sonata decided to eat MY bacon that I paid for with MY money! Now I have to go to the store before I can have breakfast!" She jabbed an accusatory finger at the aforementioned bacon bandit's door. Feet hitting the bottom floor with a thump, she marched towards the front door at the other end of the large entryway. "Oh? I do hope you plan on getting dressed before you leave?" The satin smooth voice was lifted in amusement, her gaze looking up and down Aria, who was dressed in pajamas still. The younger sibling had the decency to bite her lip before turning around and heading back to the stairs. "See what she did? I can't even function properly without breakfast! That girl is LUCKY I didn't wake her up with a bucket of ice water!" Muttering under her breath, Aria tromped into her room and quickly changed into a set of formless grey sweats. Running a brush through her hair a few times, she bundled it into one thick low ponytail. She slipped on an old pair of sneakers, tying the laces quickly. Wallet, keys, and phone went into her pocket and she was out the door again. As she was nearing the ornate front door, a piece of paper suddenly appeared in front of her. A quick glance showed it being held by a yellow hand. "Be a dear and grab these too. Since you're already going." Adagio smirked, quite obviously pleased that it wasn't her having to go. Aria scowled, and opened her mouth like she was going to retort, but simply grabbed the list and crammed it into her hoodie's pocket. Following that, she grabbed Adagio's mostly full coffee cup and snorted "Fine, but I'm taking this." Ignoring Adagio's annoyed look, she stomped to the door, opening it and stepping outside. "Oh, and you're not getting the mug back." She shot back, as she closed the door behind her. +--------------------+--------------------+ Standing under the morning sun, with a gentle breeze pushing large fluffy clouds across a bright blue sky, One would be remiss to not feel uplifted at the prospect of another wonderful day. Aria Blaze, was remiss. Casting a baleful glare at the sun as it shone down, she took a large gulp of the coffee and started down her drive way. Most people would have driven to the store, but as it was less than a mile away, Aria was more then fine walking. As a bonus it lengthened the time she would be away from her sisters. Aria didn't hate them, how could she? She just...got annoyed easily. Sometimes it was better for her to step out of the house and get some space. A few minutes after she left the door, she approached their decorative wrought iron gate, the symbol in the middle their three marks, Adagio's gem being the centerpiece of course. Aria's star was a little lower and to the left, while Sonata's Note was lower and to the right. Aria, however, didn't give the gate a second glance as it swung open at her approach and swung shut behind her. Leaving the large gate behind, Aria trudged down the street, taking occasional sips of coffee as she went. Her mind was fairly blank, the walk having been made thousands of times before. The only thing that stood out, was when she finished her coffee and chucked the mug at a group of pigeons. The flock of birds scattered as the mug exploded in their midst. Cackling with laughter, Aria crossed the street and continued on her way. Her spirits lifted just a little, the rest of the trip seemed to fly by and soon enough she found herself standing outside the 'Canterhorn Grocery Emporium'. Grabbing a cart, she wheeled it inside with a frown. This was the sucky part. +--------------------+--------------------+ "Good morning Ma'am! Welcome to the C.G.E!" Trilled the falsely happy voice of the greeter, an older woman with tangerine skin, and marmalade hair. Aria simply sneered at her and shot her a look of burning death. With that, she was past, and in the store proper. The very first thing she did was wheel her cart to the deli to get her precious bacon. "What?" Came the dark growl as she stood in front of the bacon racks. the empty bacon racks. Her deep scowl snapped up at the man behind the counter, who wisely took a step back. "Where is my bacon?" She hissed, mood quickly plummeting. "W-we're out. There's been a recall of bacon due to salmonella. W-we do have some other hams from before, though?" The poor man swallowed nervously. He didn't know why, but this seemingly teenage girl frightened him to his core. "Out?" She asked, voice eerily calm. If her mood had been black before, now it was firmly in the vantablack "You're out of bacon and you're trying to peddle your ham onto me? do you know what happens when you fry ham? You get Canadian bacon. Nobody likes Canadian bacon!" She panted heavily, face dark purple. To his credit, the deli man only cried for a few seconds. "I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do! It's gone!" He quickly slapped a closed sign on the counter and fled into the back. He hid there and cried as he listened to the girl screaming in rage for a while. Once it stopped, he didn't move till he heard the squeak of the wheels as she pushed the cart away. Once he was sure she was gone, he let out a sigh of relief, and called his family to tell them he loved them. +--------------------+--------------------+ "No bacon! What kinda Tartarus be damned place doesn't have bacon?" Aria Blaze was not happy. She stomped towards the door, intent of searching every store in the city if she had to. With a start she remembered Adagio's list and quickly fished it from her pocket, uncrumpling it. "lets see...Bread, wheat and white. Eggs, two dozen. Milk, two gallons, one whole one two percent. One pound each of carrots, broccoli, apples, and oranges. And lastly, two cases of bottled water." She sighed softly as she finished reading the list. "At least that's it." She stuck the list back into her pocket and wheeled her cart around, heading to the bread aisle first "This day blows already, it better not get any worse. I am not in the mood."