“Help, he won't stop moving!” Sonata scream out as she try to hold the puppy down to give him a bath. “What do I do?”
“Here, give him this squeaky toy. It should calm him down long enough to clean him.” Fluttershy said, tossing Sonata a toy bone for the puppy.
Before Sonata could grab it out the sky, the puppy jumped up and intercepted it midway. With the bone in his mouth, the puppy laid down, happily chewing on the toy. This gave Sonata the moment she needed as he was finally staying still long enough for her to clean him.
“Thank you again for helping me out today.” Fluttershy said once more, taking three kittens out of their cages to clean them.
Grabbing the shower head, Sonata effortlessly rinse the puppy down as she looked back to Fluttershy. “It’s fine.” Sonata said, picking up a nearby towel. “You and your friends are helping me, so,” picking up the puppy in her arms, Sonata gently began to dry it off. “So this much is fine.”
Fluttershy looked at Sonata, frowning a little. She wanted to tell Sonata that she shouldn't feel like she was in debt, but it was the fact that she was willing to help that kept Fluttershy quiet. Sonata wanted to work off her pay, Fluttershy could tell that much and knew it would be rude to her to say otherwise. Turning her attention back to the kittens cages, she stayed quiet, cleaning them out.
“Ahh! Stop!” Sonata screamed, throwing her hands up in front of her face to block the stray water.
Fluttershy almost hit the back of her head on the cage, the sudden scream startling her. Back paddling away, Fluttershy looked to Sonata in concern. What she saw had giggles filling up inside her as she put a hand over her mouth to stifle the laughing. She watch as Sonata reeled back from the puppy as it was shaking ferociously, self drying itself and the water flying everywhere.
Sonata finally lower her hands, soaking wet from head to toe, water dripping off of her as she just look at the puppy, frowning. “That wasn’t nice…” She mumbled, pulling at her wet shirt.
“There’s a… change of clothes in the back… when we are done.” Fluttershy said in between giggles.
Sonata nodded, grabbing the towel to dry the puppy off properly this time. Though she didn't like getting wet from all the shaking, she found herself having a bit of fun helping out. Maybe I should help here more often.
***
With a fresh pair of dry clothes on, Fluttershy and Sonata walked out of the animal shelter, having a chat about the animals. Neither of them notice a fluff of orange hair walking by on the other side of the street as they were too engrossed in their conversation.
“So people just leave the poor animals out on the street, even the baby ones?” Sonata asked, feeling sad for the abandon kittens that was recently brought into the shelter.
Fluttershy nodded her head sadly, keeping her hands in her pockets. “Sometimes it’s too much to take care of them, or in other cases, nobody wants them. Some just find having them to be a problem and would rather just leave them out on the street.”
A twinge of sadness and depression filled Sonata’s heart, knowing how it felt to be cast aside and left alone. She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt like the stray animals in the shelter. The pride she once had now gone, only to be replace by the sheer fact of dependency. Like the animals in the shelter, she needed help, and she needed a place to call her own. She was nothing more than an abandoned kitten or puppy. That realization brought fresh tears to her eyes, but she manage to hide it as she wiped them away.
“At least some of them find a loving home.” Fluttershy added, not noticing the emotions coming off Sonata. Pulling her phone out, Fluttershy looked at the time. “Oh my, we’ve been out so long and we still have school tomorrow.” She said, looking to Sonata. “Want to stop by somewhere to get something to eat?”
“Umm…” Sonata put a finger to her chin, looking around the street before lighting up and pointing to a nearby restaurant. “Oh, let's get a sandwich from subway.” Sonata beam, wanting a warm toasted sandwich to eat.
Fluttershy nodded, heading in the restaurant direction. Going inside, both girls stood at the counter, ordering their food with their prefer topping. Fluttershy got her usual veggie sub with cold cuts, stack with cucumbers and pickles. Sonata got a mixed sub, it was mostly veggie but with a few meat on it like pepperoni and salami. After paying for their food, though Fluttershy did the paying while Sonata felt ever bit more useless, they headed back home to eat.
Once inside the house, Sonata went to the living room and sat down on the couch to eat, turning on the TV. While she wasn't use to the house or living with someone other than Adagio and Aria, she did, however, enjoyed the peace and quiet from Aria’s bullying given the few days she has been here. Taking her sub out the bag to eat, Fluttershy came over and sat down near her.
“So… Are you ready to head back to CHS?” Fluttershy asked, taking her sub out as well. “It won't be easy from the start, but you should be able to fit in soon.”
“Do you think so? Everyone chased us off after the music event thing, I don't think they will be too keen on having me back.”
“Actually…” Looking away, Fluttershy took out a knife to cut her sandwich into smaller pieces. “As long as you don't do anything bad, the students would be willing to give you a chance. You already know about what happen to Sunset, so maybe, things would be easier for you.”
“Maybe…” Sonata mumbled, also knowing that Sunset had done a lot of apologizing. She didn't want to apologize for what she’s done, both Aria and Adagio already told her she had nothing to apologize for. They did what they had to do, there was nothing wrong with that. Sure it may have been bad, but, it’s what they do, it’s also who they are.
As she thought more on it, she wonder if there was something to apologize for at, surely not. Yet, she knew if she didn't, she wouldn't have a good time at the school. It was surprising how much you could learn while messing with a person under your spell, Sonata knew just how much Sunset got teased and bully when she was trying to change. All Sonata had to do was avoid the apologizing and things should go better for her.
This time, I’ll prove my worth, prove that I can do things on my own. Next time we meet Adagio, Aria, you will see a new me. A more reliable Sonata Dusk.