//------------------------------//
// Danger, Water Rising 
// Story: Open Your Heart 
// by Gpizano 
//------------------------------//

	"Come on, come on, come on..."

'Yo this is Jackie, you know what to do at the beep.'

"GOD. DAMMIT!" 

Frustration overtook Sunset and she nearly chucked her phone down the alleyway. She was on break from her part time job as a waitress, on a break and calling her girlfriend for what had to be the fiftieth time since she woke up two days ago with no sign of Jackie anywhere. Her car was missing, no one had seen her and she wasn't picking up! Running her fingers through her hair so harshly that it came out of it's pony tail, Sunset took a deep breath and tried to calm down. After putting her hair back up, she sent off a couple of texts, checking in to see if anyone had seen Jackie before her break was over.





Although she knew the police were perfectly capable of handling the situation, Fluttershy felt that maybe perhaps they would have a better chance of finding Jackie if they kept looking. Pinkie Pie was doing a great job in asking people as they went around, going from Jackie's neighborhood and spreading out. Granted she was a little up in other people's faces, just a little bit, but she did get that little bit of info out of the nice man at the liquor store. But that really didn't tell them where Jackie went, or if she was okay since she had purchased a lot of alcohol the night she was gone. And now Sunset was sending them a text saying she still hadn't heard word from Jackie and if they had found her...

"Your aura is gettin' funky ShyShy."

While there was no small sound of surprise, there was the slightest tensing at being caught. Only slightly though. Fluttershy turned and gave a small, reassuring smile to Treehugger, the normally mellow young woman's easy going features were moved to a noticeable look of worry. 

"I'm... well, worried. Sunset is worried and... we can't stay in Los Pegasus for much longer..."

She'd learned not to lie just to make her girlfriend stop worrying, that wasn't right. Not to mention Treehugger could see right through her. But after everything had happened that urge to want to lift other people's spirits was nagging at her to do something. Especially when it seemed they weren't even close to finding the guitarist. Treehugger gave a small nod and moved in, wrapping an arm around Fluttershy's waist as they continued down the block, Pinkie Pie ahead of them with Jackie's picture on her phone to show to random people.

"I know. I'm worried too. Jacks's always had troubles so like... I know her aura is way bad right now."

"And all that alcohol probably isn't good either..."

"Yeah... but don't worry, we'll find her. And things'll get better."

"Mm-hm..."

It was easy to trust Treehugger on this matter, maybe it was because it was her girlfriend or just the way she said it. Still, she glanced over to the other, a little nervous but a question in mind.

"And... are you still okay?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine Shyshy." 

"... really?"

It was easy enough to read that the young woman in dreadlocks was still a bit off. Those aura reading lessons that Tree gave her were really paying off. Although it could of been that she'd been around the other for so long... either way, Treehugger gave her a tired smile in turn and a light shrug.

"Death happens. And like, I don't say it to be cold just more it's a part of life. It's like... this cycle, you know? We're born and we live on this far out planet that gives us all the righteous things we need for our life. I'm still sad when I lose someone of course but like... I'll be fine, take it in stride, and know their energy is back with the planet and all around us, you know?"

"Right..."

The gentle smile on Fluttershy's face dropped when she spotted Pinkie chasing a businessman down the street, shouting for him to look at her phone.

"P-Pinkie Pie, wait!" 



				

'And in news tonight, another victim was found in an alleyway, barely conscious. Reports are that five previous victims in the hospital are fine but still incredibly weak, doctors-'

The newsman was cut off as Aria flipped the channel, the siren relaxing on the couch, short hair still damp to show she had showered not long ago. She'd already looked at her phone and tossed it back onto the coffee table after a quick, one word reply. It had been a long day training at the gym and she just wanted to relax before she was made go out looking again. Unfortunately her rest would not last long, the door flew open and Sonata stormed in, fliers in hand with Adagio following in right after her.

"Ari! I got the fliers! Come on and let's get going!"

"Dammit Sonata, I just got home, can we give this a few minutes?"

"But what if Jackie's in trouble?!"

"Well what the fuck can we do about it then?"

At this point, Adagio stepped between them with raised hands, casting them a warning look before speaking.

"We'll take ten minutes to get ready. We'll drop off a stack of these fliers at Sunset's place and then go out looking. Understood?"

Both knew that when their eldest sister was serious like this not to talk back, so they grumbled out their agreements as Adagio headed back to her room to change out of her work clothes. The normally flirtatious fluffy siren was quiet, her facade completely neutral now as she slipped into some more comfortable clothes. She'd been a bit more severe since everything that had happened... falling back into a habit of imagining herself with her siren powers again. Except instead of taking over the world, she'd gut the man that shot Poppy. Once she had finished dressing, she was pleased to see that her sisters were on their feet, heading out and leaving her to bring up the rear and lock the door behind them.





"Sunset, you need to rest! Plus Sonata and the others are going to come over with the fliers, shouldn't you wait?"

"I've got Jackie's photo on my phone, I just... I can't just sit here and do nothing Bobby! Just stay here in case Jackie comes back, alright?"

Without another word, Sunset, out of her work clothes, was on her bike and putting her helmet on, with Bobby helplessly standing aside as she revved it up. Soon she had pulled out and took off, hellbent on expanding her search to find Jackie. Bobby meanwhile just shook his head with a sigh, heading back in and letting the back door to the apartment building swing shut.

Unfortunately someone had quietly come up and stopped it from closing, the figure in the black hoodie slipping inside soon after...