//------------------------------// // Ch. 2 The Carrier Pigeon // Story: Moonlight Sonata // by TheronSniper //------------------------------// Not too soon after the strange boy left had Sonata soon devoured most of the little morsel she had caught. It was such a casual thing to do for her, a call back to the days in Equestria years upon years ago. When they were sirens in their natural form, using their dark magic to move across soil from the sea. They would occasionally indulge in good food with their gems supplying all the sustenance they needed which made physical food much of a treat than necessity as Adagio would say. Out of the three, Sonata herself was the one who took such moments with glee in a strange kind of way, one which Aria was always quick to point out in humor. Speaking of the very devilish of the group, Dusk hadn't notice her hoodie covered compatriot stalk behind her. She had purposefully covered up being so close to C.H., no one needed to know they were still in the area and it had to stay that way. Using a large oak tree to hide herself further from the windows of the school peering in their direction before saying anything. Just as Sonata tossed away the neatly picked clean fish corpse, Aria crossed her arms and scowled as usual, clearing her throat to catch the other sirens attention. "You know, when Adagio said to watch the school she meant to stay hidden and look out for the Rainbooms. From what I can tell you're as obvious as can be and even that dunder head Rainbow Dash couldn't miss ya." to which Sonata dropped the acorns she had just then picked up and swung her head to the disapproving gaze upon her. "But I've been doing what she asked! And only one guy has seen me too!?" she admitted ignorantly. With a slap to her own forehead in aggravation, "You can't even listen to a single command and not stuff your face..." Aria groaned as she knew how their glorious leader would blow up in her face instead of Sonata's. A few vehicles passed by on the road, both the girls looked over to see two human guard chariots or squad cars escorting a black armored vehicle. Their loud passing and exhaust filled the air for the moment they journeyed through, the humans inside paying no attention to the girls who looked on curiously. The metal instruments vanished after a few seconds behind homes on to some other destination they knew nothing of. Aria soon continued on her berating of her lesser siren without missing a beat and no Dazzle to stop her. "Listen! Adagio's trying to get our powers back... are you still with me?" like a cat reacting to a new sound Dusk returned her attention as if forgetting the scolding she had taken earlier, "Which means while she does that you and I mean YOU are to make sure that those idiots over there don't get in her way. That you report to us if they start searching for anyone of us!" "Fine, fine I get it. I'm suppose to hid and watching them. But I get huuuunnngrrryyyyy... I can't help it if we don't have bits for food!?" Sonata whined. "Ya don't remind me." Blaze sighed feeling a pang of her twitching growling stomach, "Look just stay hidden, stay... hidden! If we lose this chance then we won't get another! Adagio's said our gem shards only have enough power to keep us alive for only a little while longer. Whatever she's tracking its got magic somehow and I for one don't feel like dying among these apes either. So get your head in the game and do your JOB!" Aria had then surged forwards and gripped Sonata's jacket, pulling her close to her face with a fury that could match a demon on the rampage. Sonata tried to crane her neck as far back as she could with her hands up in submission, yet it only made her superior tug her closer. "Adagio needs me to help get whatever the magic thing is so you'll be left here by yourself." she lets the aloof one go to extract a small plastic object from a pocket in her pants, "Use this phone and call us if they start to look for us. It's called a cell phone, open it like this... and push this button to speed dial me. The battery should last you long enough that we'll be back if you don't use it. Adagio nicked this off some poor sap of a merchant, calls it a ghost phone or something." Blaze shoved the phone into Sonata's chest who then fumbled to grab it as her wonderment at the machine quickly entertained the blue former singer. She eyed every curve and surface of the pink object and even looked at the user interface and digital screen, knowing nothing about it other than how she was suppose to use it. "DON'T use it unless you need to call us. Remember that or otherwise you'll never be able to warn us! Did that sink in?!" Aria warned to the otherwise intrigued girl, who then gazed back with a whimsical smirk and a vigorous nod of the head. "You got it!" she grinned as Blaze's anger failed to gain any footing. The tree above them swayed with a gust of wind that blew by, a couple ravens squawked and flew away disturbed from their sleep. Sonata's pony tail hair picked up slightly still being a tad damp from her dive into the creek. She somehow did not feel cold in her wet clothing, whether it was her unique mind or she simply ignored it the cerulean girl maintained a rather positive outlook and it irked Aria. Seeing that she couldn't do anything more to reassure herself or Adagio that all wouldn't go south with Sonata, she departed without saying a word. Sonata barely noticed the leave and gave a hearty wave of the hand as a send off before reinvesting her being around the cell phone. Human technology seemed to fascinate her very much though she had little understanding of anything non-magical. At least she had something else to pass the time, lately it had become a huge bore between the beginning class period and the ending hour where students were the most frequently seen. Honestly seeing the targets she was suppose to watch were visible only those two times, occasionally the one known as Sunset was the only other of the group who occasionally sat on the front steps to write into a book. Even her dwindling senses picked up the magic it exuded if only lightly. It seemed to spike like a source of heat to her whenever Sunset wrote into it, then going cold and stale once she closed it and left. It was a strange sensation without the pendant, the several slivers of her gem giving her a blind assumption as to where magic seemed to be. Though as always she became distracted by something else and forgotten about it till it occurred once more. The rest of the day was as usual as it always was since she was posted by the school. Occasionally getting a drink of water from the creek and snagging a small fish in the process, once the school let out for the end of the day she was ready and waiting. Putting her head through shrubbery to better hide herself, picking out each boy and girl until a Rainboom eventually came into view. Of all the colorful humans and their diverse clothing, she knew who to look for as the ones who destroyed her pendant. Steeled with excitement at finally doing something besides waiting she pumped herself up as Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash made their first appearance walking in tandem. She could barely make out what they were saying being so far away in cover, but she knew they were up to no good. All she saw when she observed the trio was the group who broke their gems and stole their powers away as well as their lives. Though she had a fraction of Aria's rage to ever achieve, Dusk loved food and to be taken away from many years of enjoying it was a mark on her list. Determined to see any chance that they'd try to foil Adagio's plans, she was met with rather disappointing results. They seemed to just talk and laugh as they walked home, Rainbow had a soccer ball going with each footstep as she coordinated her movement as so. Rarity just talked her mouth of as Fluttershy kept to herself and listened intently while smiling all through it. If they were ever a pack like hers was they had no leader to be in charge, their very behavior betrayed any kind of working relationship. It suddenly got Sonata's brain cogs to start twirling as she wondered who was the alpha among them, if those three were not of the right caliber who was? She took to tapping her chin in thought as the faces came slowly to her, there was the pink one and the strangely dressed girl among them. Yet those two also did not fit the bill, it was the lavender purple girl who attempted to lead the group against them initially at the bands contest. But she too was unable to fight their might at their height of power, there had to be one last one who stood up and helped defeat her group. The image was fuzzy and hard to determine, something yellow or orange tried to form in her forethoughts into a picture that lazily took its time to form. In all this time she never heard the arrival of someone just like with Aria and it took a soft tap on her back for any reaction to come. Feeling the gentle pokes she removed her head from the tightly nit branches of the plants just enough to turn and look behind her. With the rest of her hair stuck in the dense foliage she locked eyes with the boy from earlier as he stood crouched behind her with a weak smile on his face. Yet another puzzling turn of events for the cerulean siren. "Hi, we met earlier today... its nice to meet you, I'm Indigo Wreath and you are?" he asked ever politely as it rolled off his tongue from his time in Drama. Sonata twirled around until she sat on her behind with the grass below her, "Ohhh... oh ya!! You saw me with breakfast!? Coolio...I'm Sonata Dusk, what's up?" she replied completely forgetting the whole secrecy plan she was to uphold. The boy hesitantly responded, "I was wondering if... maybe... you wanted to catch dinner with me at a local place I know? Figured you could use more than just raw fish I mean?!!" he jumped at the last sentence hoping he did not appear to be crushing on her or anything, intention was always a big thing. It was an immediate turn of face as the homeless girl's eyes became starry with enthusiasm, bringing her arms close to her chest as she wiggled in place with delight over eating cooked food. Burgers, burritos, pizza, fried foods, and the like swarmed her thoughts and spirit with hunger that even the fear of Adagio could not stall. If the human meant what he said, then she was to be destined with a free meal to which would last her a whole day or until the next day at least. Besides it was not as if the Rainbooms were charging after where ever the others were off to. "You... you mean it?!!?" she gasped. Indigo stepped back a little spurned by her reaction, "Uhhhh... ya?" Immediately he felt her lock her arms around him and squeeze so hard he even felt a few joints pop, thankfully lasting merely seconds of pressure before she released him. Such power from someone living on the streets did surprise him, but her efforts in securing food were anything to go by she certainly had some ability to do well independently. So long as her stomach had any say in the matter With a face sparkling in innocent reverie, "I'd love too!! Where to?" she paused and held her stance awaiting the words of her new buddy. "Ummm... Frank's Noodle House?" he propositioned. The name came as a surprise and found no footing in Sonata's memory, to where she simply starred at his eyes and shrugged without a care. He soon caught wind of what she meant before going off on an explanation. "It's a place that makes their own noodles, kimchi, and broth on site. For the amount of food you get per bit its the best place in town. You wanna come with me?" he asked with uncertainty. She simply sat on the notion for a time before it became clear, her hunger after the catfish begged her on to do what she was not suppose to do. He noticed as she took in a deep breath filled with the aromatics of nearby restaurants as their smokers and grills flowed through the air. Her belly quivered with a need to feed and the opportunity before her was far too coaxing to pass up. "Alright! You got yourself a deal!" she grinned like a Cheshire cat, those raspberry eyes that drew in the boy as he heard her response. "Cool, well then... follow me I'll take the check, I just want to see you eat some... real food ya!?!!" he turned about face from what he was going to say openly. Sonata skipped up to catch a spot alongside him, her mission left to the wind for the time being. The two managed to put enough distance away from the school before the rest of the Rainbooms showed up. Sunset along with Pinkie Pie and Applejack stepped out of the main doors in a deep discussion over the Friendship games coming up, with their attentions away from the main road in front of the school. The group of six conglomerated as one and decided to head somewhere together with the topic of Crystal Prep on the tips of their tongues. 5pm Frank's Noodle House "So what's this house of pasta you were talking about?" Sonata inquired innocently as she looked all about her, for once not among Aria and Adagio to stifle her curiosity. Wreath nodded, "Frank's Noodle House, as in the saying 'to be frank'. The real owner's name is Jiya Fen, he came to this place from his home and started the restaurant where they make their own noodles from scratch, kimchi too. He's a very kind old man and knows his way with his particular cuisine, I'm sure you'll like it." he hoped she would and ease in the idea of working at Sweet Apple Acres he talked about to Applejack. As a few vehicles passed by and a few joggers getting their evening runs in Dusk jarred her head towards the boy with inquisitive eyes, "Jeeya Fean? Sounds like a funny name... he makes his own food for his restaurant? Don't all places do that?" Shaking his head with a grin at her lack of knowledge of the ways prepared food came in, "I'm sorry to burst your bubble but not every place you can go to is really good. I know of this place because of my old teacher when I was a drama major, she loved going to different places to eat and could always strike up a talk with the staff." "What do you mean not the same?" she tilted her head as they turned a corner, her long blue hued ponytail waved with her every movement like a tail of some sort. Indigo tapped his chin to begin, "So you probably go to a lot of burger places or other right?" She brightened up like a new bulb, "Ohhh!! There's this taco hut in another city I got to try, for realzies I fell in love with tacos ever since. Beans, cow, chicken, stuff from the sea..." she touched every tip of the finger she used to count the choices. "Okay okay... well, what if I told you most of the time... well tacos are an exception if they season them differently I guess. That's besides the point, most places have a perfected recipe to be replicated for countless orders so there's no real individuality. Now when you go to somewhere that makes each dish by hand down to the amount of seasoning and cooking time, you can taste the difference. Like cheap cup noodles or a corn dog sitting under a heat lamp I guess is the best way to put it. Not a chef myself but even I know when something's not worth putting in my stomach." he chuckled remembering the one time he had gotten food poisoning from a fast food restaurant. Sonata adorned a deep thought facial expression before chiming up another experience of her own, "Well there was this place called Arrive and Depart, three bits got you fries and a greasy but delicious burger! My tummy didn't like it though and I had to throw it up shortly after we started to leave. Like THE worst moment in my life and I never puke up my food... neeee verrr!!" she proudly proclaimed her usually iron willed constitution. They neared the place to eat following a few more steps down the next street, "Ha haha, I too have gotten that, woke me up at two in the morning to hurl in the toilet. Wickedly bad pizza... so I've taken to the best places like mom and pop shops as they're called. If you eat on the go they're the places to stop by, honestly for a bang for your bit!" Sonata's demeanor seemed to dip upon the mention of bits in such a manner, ever since their pendants were shattered they had no way of finding bedding nor food. Bits were alien to them with their voices having done all the heavy lifting, life was full of free stuff for the duration of their powers. A few days on the streets really impacted them and especially Dusk, they were mortal and new demands were needed to be met with each passing day. They were very unprepared for it and it often made her the target of Aria's anger over it, a bang for your bit was one of her taunts she used often when she happend upon her foraging for a meal. Indigo noticed the affect his words had and he froze up, whatever he said did not end int he way he expected it to end. It did not help that he had a very small circle of friends and little real social interaction that was not scripted, even as they kept walking he tensed up and thought of ways to remedy the situation. Of course he being himself, action did not come quickly and he locked up vocally as the homeless girl dwelled on a thought which she felt no love for. 'What did I SAY!!!' he mentally screamed feeling the pores of his skin start to seep sweat out of anxiety. She kept her face turned away from him with an arm rubbing her right shoulder, a sign of nervousness he knew all too well. The two kept quiet until they reached the front entrance of the noodle place, of course even then Sonata seemed too hampered to even react to the smells of the cooking food which were as fragrant as any major dine in. The actual location was situation inside a more homely looking place than some manufactured template, easily mistaken for a home than a place to eat. With white walls, gray tiled roof, and rustic windows the only thing that gave it away was the sign bolted to the front of the building and a smaller sign by the stairs to the front door. The two stopped before the concrete stairway, Indigo still unsure of what to do as he awaited for her to make the first step upwards. Yet as she still remained unmovable all he could do was await her recovery, she was far unlike any Drama student he'd known and art students were just plain crazy in the head in a good way. They both had a way to obscure their pains or past, letting it out only when they wanted to but never in this manner. It took the sudden appearance of the Rainbooms farther down the road heading to Sugarcube Corner to startle the former siren from her melancholy and actually move. Her vision catching the very colors she knew all too well, realizing she was out in the open as well she did the next best thing. Grabbing Indigo's hand and racing into the restaurant they stood before and immediately escaping detection. As spontaneous as it was, the young man had no way to react as he was whisked away before even a single vowel could be muttered. Nearly sidestepping quick enough and planting his face into the hardwood floor, Indigo recomposed himself before the casually dressed waiter with a hallway into the kitchen behind him. Feeling his nose and forehead throb, his hand in an iron grip of the girl they were soon given the common question, "Table for two?"