//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: All's Well that Ends WeeeeeeEEEEEEEEE! // Story: Tooth-hurty // by Justice3442 //------------------------------// Blue shield and yellow lightning bolt gleaming against black paint, chrome shining and spinning amongst rubber tires, and engine purring like an army of cats in a sunny spot, Flash’s Mustang roughly bounced as it hit the curve and pulled into the Dazzlings’ driveway with all the gentleness and grace of a car full of exhausted, panicky people who were actively fighting off being slobbered on. No sooner had the car stopped diagonally across the driveway that the two doors flew open and Flash and Sunset fled from the vehicle. They were quickly followed by Adagio and Aria who opted to squeeze and crawl past the upright front seats to reach the freedom the outdoors granted them. The four bolted for the front door of the house, random buttons undone, jackets hanging off a single arm, and shirts tussled leaving shoulders exposed. The hair of all four former car occupants was in a similarly messy state and bite marks and bruises pot-marked their exposed skin along with the odd, random moist spot on their clothing. Flash and Sunset arrived at the door first, both doubling over as they huffed and puffed in an attempt to catch their breaths. Reaching the corner of the doorstep, Aria turned and stood with her fists clenched tightly as she stared like a hawk at the car everyone had filed out of. A soggy, chewed-on, stress-riddled hawk. In front of the door. Adagio made her way past the group and up to the door and lifted a large purple purse to her face with her left hand. She rustled through its contents with her right hand, her glazed over, tired eyes drifting one way then the other as they examined the contents. Hand on his heart, Flash took a couple deep breaths and looked up. “S-sorry for the close call, girls…” “It wasn’t your fault!” Sunset huffed out as she leaned forward letting her head and arms dangle slightly. “I mean… You deserve credit for not crashing the car and killing us all with Sonata getting all touchy-feely with everyone like an octopus.” Crossing her arms in front of her chest Sunset grabbed her shoulders and shivered slightly. “She was just as slimy and slippery as an octopus too.” The left corner of Aria’s mouth curled up into a small sneer as she took a brief glance at Adagio. “Uh, Dagi?” “Yeah, yeah…” Adagio mumbled as she picked through her purse with all the energy of a sloth, “’credit’… I’ll ‘reward’ Flash when we’re inside and I maybe mix a cocktail or dozen…” “Not that!” Aria snapped. “What the heck is taking so long?!” “Sonata is still in the car,” Adagio pointed out. “I didn’t want to take out my keys too fast and have them jingle. That might attract the attention of her and then she’d be on top of me like a drug-addled cheetah with a toddler’s brain.” Aria raised an eyebrow. “I’m a little surprised that doesn’t appeal to you.” “Big difference between ‘kinky’ and being worried your partner is going bite a huge chunk out of you…” Adagio shook her head. “Trying to have ‘fun times’ with Sonata right now would be like trying to get it on with a great white shark…” Aria pursed her lips. “Though you got it on with a great white…” “Well, sure!” Adagio said. “But that was pre-transformation!” Adagio frowned. “I don’t see that working out so well now.” Flash stared at Adagio in confusion. “Wait… You actually…” Sunset quickly put a finger up to Flash’s lips. “I’ll tell you later,” she said quietly. She sighed. “Guess we should maybe be happy she licked one of the seats, figured out it was leather and started chewing on it like it was beef jerky…” she frowned slightly as she turned towards Flash. “Er... That being said, sorry about your car…” Flash took a deep breath then let it out. “You know? I’m just happy to be alive right now.” A red pickup truck with patches of discolored paint pulled up to the curb, its engine going silent before the driver side door opened and Applejack stepped out. “Uh, hey everyone! Looks like y’all had a rough time…” Applejack greeted as her keys jangled slightly in her right hand. Everyone on the doorstep cringed at the sound of the keys. Adagio’s eyes suddenly widened and her lips tightened as she began rummaging through her purse with desperate vigor. “SHINY!” Sonata exclaimed as she suddenly dove out of the car and started bounding towards Applejack on all fours like some sort of big cat. “A-Adagio…?” Aria stammered in a worried tone. “I know! I know!” Adagio replied. Recoiling as the blue-skinned woman approached, Applejack raised her fist defensively in front of her as Sonata practically slithered back to her feet an arm’s length away from Applejack. “Applejack… hehehehe… Applejack…~” Sonata warbled in a haunting tone. “Uh, Yeah?” Applejack asked, raising her eyebrow. Sonata took one big step up to Applejack, putting her face mere inches away from Applejack’s. She placed a finger up to Applejack’s lips. “Shhh… Don’t make this weird…” “Uh…” Applejack eyes darted down to take in the lack of space between Sonata and herself then back up as she took in the more-crazed-than-usual look in Sonata’s lilac eyes. “Honestly, It’s already pretty weird…” Sonata suddenly pounced on Applejack, the pair falling sideways away from the truck and onto the uneven grass of the Dazzling’s lawn. “Ew, ew!” Applejack cried. “She’s licking my ear! She’s OW! She’s biting my cheek!” “Delicioso taco de carne de cabeza!” Sonata exclaimed. “Get off! Get—“ Applejack went silent for a moment then let out a pained scream. “¡Y la lengua se encuentra también!” “Adagio… Hurry up!” Applejack tried to restrain Sonata but found the girl was nearly impossible to keep hold off. Soon Applejack found herself crawling towards the door, Sonata latched around her torso and nibbling at her neck. “Help! HELP! This is like trying to wrestle with a pig after it got into Granny Smith’s medicine cabinet!” “Oh, Flash!” Sunset uttered as she buried her head in Flash’s chest. “I can’t look!” “I know, Sunset,” Flash said as he wrapped his arms around the shivering woman and rested his chin of her head. He closed his eyes. “I know…” “Y’ALL STANDING THERE AND AVERTING YOUR EYES IS NOT HELPFUL ONE BIT, YA KNOW! OW!” “Rump asado, yum!” Sonata commented as she pulled her teeth off the backside of Applejack’s jeans. “Got them!” Adagio exclaimed. She quickly brought her keys up towards the lock, unlocked it, and opened the door. Applejack grasped at the lawn and pulled hard, freeing her legs from Sonata’s grasp. Adagio, Sunset, and Flash practically dove inside. Applejack got to her feet and broke into a sprint, Sonata once again breaking into a strange, four-limbed gait. Aria followed the other three inside, slamming the door behind her and locking it. Panic having gripped hold of her features like a taco-hungry woman hopped up on pain meds, Applejack banged her fist on the door. “Let me in!” “There’s no time!” Aria counted. “Yes there is!” Applejack insisted. “Sonata got dizzy while following me and is now rolling around with her arms and legs in the air like a dog that that jus’ found a heapin’ pile a’ dead squirrels!” “What the hell goes on at that farm of yours, hayseed?!” Aria exclaimed. “Can we talk about this when I’m inside?!” Applejack asked. “I’m tired of being chewed on, like a dog chewin’ on a pile of dead squirrels!” “Seriously! What the eff?!” “We kill a lot of squirrels on my orchard, alright?! You’d be surprised-OH, MA GOD! SHE’S GOT MY BOOT!” Applejack desperately clawed at the door as something began to pull her downwards. “WHY IS SHE TRYIN’ TO EAT MY BOOT?!” “Con un lado de los pies encurtidos!” “Way to take one for the team, Hayseed!” Aria yelled at the door. “But Ah don’t want to take one for-EW! EW! OW! OW!” Adagio walked into the living room and plopped down in the center of a purple couch, dropping her house keys and purse next to her. “Well, that was certainly an adventure,” she said, making a somewhat exaggerated grunt as she reached for a controller on an armrest. Adagio pointed the controller at the TV and turned it on. “Now time for adventures that don’t involve me in any way.” Sunset cocked her head and gave Adagio a perplexed expression. “So… What’s the plan here?” “… I watch Netflix until I feel like getting hammered then going to bed?” Adagio said in a somewhat confused tone. “I mean, you’re all welcome to join me…” Aria walked over to the couch and sat down next to Adagio. “What are we watching?” Adagio’s shot Aria an annoyed look. “I was talking about the other things I mentioned.” “No!” Sunset replied. “What is your plan regarding Sonata!” Sunset clarified. “I mean… It can’t be just ‘leave her outside’!” “… It can’t?” Adagio and Aria said simultaneously. “She’s hopped up on pain meds, likely coming off who knows what Dr. Colgate pumped her full of, and I’m pretty sure she shouldn’t be chewing on people and things when she’s just had dental surgery!” There was a knock on the door followed by Applejack’s frantic pleading. “Please let me inside! Sonata grabbed my hat thinking it was a taco, or something… Kinda tragic, but Ah’ve got about twenty hats that look just like that one… Anyway, Ah think she’s distracted for a bit, a… Oh my Orchard Supply Hardware, she’s coming back!” Sunset and Flash watched as Applejack sprinted past the large, front-facing windows of the Dazzlings’ house, Sonata once again chasing her down as she bounded around on her hands and feet. Adagio simply nodded in the director of the door. “You’re welcome to go out there and help your friend,” she said. “Please note that I will have Aria get up and lock the door after you.” Aria sighed, leaned across Adagio’s lap to pick up the keys, then got up. “I’d normally protest here, but I agree it’s important to keep Sonata away from me specifically.” “Aaaaaaahhh!” Applejack screamed as she ran back in front of the windows. Sunset and Flash continued to monitor this situation with concerned expressions as Sonata bounced past on all fours exclaiming, “Je tiens simplement à donner à votre visage un peu d'amour lèche!” “I think I see the problem here,” Aria said as she walked up to the window. She reached for the blinds draw-string, pulled it, and let the blinds fall closed. Sunset let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t feel super good about myself right now…” Flash shrugged. “Well, Applejack’s tough…” he mused. “I’m sure she’ll be alright after some therapy.” Sunset took a deep breath. “But… She’s my friend! I can’t just abandon her because I had one traumatic experience in a car!” “Eh,” Aria grunted. “More like a few dozen inescapable traumatic experiences that all ran together… I mean, it like was like being in a more saliva-filled version of Hell.” Sunset stared at the door resolutely. “Doesn’t matter! If it were me Applejack would likely rush out to help provided I lured her with a nominal amount of money!” She turned to face the others in the house. “Come on, guys! I know we’ve had it rough, but it’s time we all got together as friends and overcome a problem!” Aria groaned. “Oh, here we go…” Adagio glanced over from the couch as her eyebrows began to nit together. “I have a feeling you were a lot more fun to be around before you went all goody-goody.” Adagio turned towards Flash. “Didn’t you date her when she was queen of the school?” “Uh, sure? And, uh, it was good sometimes…” Flash frowned. “Though there was an awful lot of being yelled at, called an idiot, and being more or less treated like a personal chauffeur.” Sunset grimaced. Adagio looked at Flash with interest. “You wouldn’t happen to be on the market, would you?” Sunset turned to Flash. “Have I ever apologized for how I acted when we were dating?” Flash smiled sheepishly. “There was a lot of you being ‘sorry that that plate missed your head’ the night we broke up.” Sunset took a deep breath as her body shook slightly. “Right… Well, I’m sorry for how I acted when we were dating and I’m especially sorry for all the dishware lobbed at you when we broke up.” Adagio frowned. “Hey, moron!” she called out. “I’m not hearing an answer to my question.” It was Flash’s turn to wince. “I think I just had a dating flashback.” Sunset let out a sigh. “I’ll make it up to you sometime… but right now Applejack needs our help!” Sunset announced dramatically. “Applejack, who helped us through this strange and oddly fluid-filled adventure of getting Sonata to the dentist and back! Sure, maybe she didn’t suffer as much as some of us, me specifically” — Applejack let out another scream. — “until just recently, but she’s our comrade! Our friend! And friendship is a sacred bond of trust and being there for one another!” “Ugh…” Adagio grunted. “This speech is so sugary, now I need to go to the dentist!” Aria stared off into space. “Is this what that whole ‘slowly dying’ thing you normies gripe about feels like? I think I’m finally starting to feel the weight of my mortality here.” Sunset glared at the two Dazzlings and continued. “Look, friendship is not just about hanging out and having fun, or associating with someone only when it’s convenient. It’s also about supporting your friends when they need your help! Coming to their aid, and even rescue when they’re in trouble. Even when that trouble is especially bitey or slobbery!” Sunset took a long look at Adagio and then Aria. “I mean… what if it was one of you left out there?! Would you want the other one to come out and save you?” “Uh, well yeah…” Aria said. “But I also know there’s no way Adagio would come out to get me. I mean… likewise, I’d just leave her out there, too.” “And you’d be right to do it!” Adagio said from the couch. Sunset shook her head. “You two are hopeless.” Sunset turned to Flash. “Uh, you up for this? I’ll understand if you say no, I mean… I sort of deserve it…” Flash smiled. “Hey, Applejack’s our sister-in-arms, right?” He swung an arm in front of his chest. “Semper Friendship, you know!” Sunset smiled slightly. “Thanks, Flash, but I’m going to ask you never to say ‘semper friendship’ ever again.” Flash frowned. “You don’t think it’ll catch on?” Sunset shook her head. “Actually, I think Pinkie will hear it and love it and make our battle cry regardless of what the rest of us think.” Flash chuckled. “Fair enough.” Adagio waved from the couch. “Well, have fun getting taco-mange and washing drool out of your hair. Aria, be sure to lock up after them.” Aria stared at the door for a moment, pursed her lips, then turned towards Adagio. “Actually, I’m going to help them.” Flash looked at Aria in surprise as Sunset’s face lit up. “What?! You can’t be serious!” Adagio said. “You mean my friendship speech actually got through to you?!” Sunset exclaimed. “Naw,” Aria replied. “Your speech was dumb and I think filled me with existential dread a little bit?” Sunset frowned heavily. “Okay, but why though?!” Adagio asked. Aria smiled. “Figured it’d be fun to leave the door wide open and that between Hayseed, these two, and me, we could at least wrangle Sonata and toss her in here before shutting the door.” Adagio glared at Aria. “Oh, you b!%@#!” “You know what? I’ll take it,” Sunset said with a small grin. “Fine! I’ll help rescue Applejack!” Adagio growled out as she got to her feet and stomped on over to the group by the door. “But, for the record, I’m doing this under protest!” Sunset turned towards the door. “Well, sometimes friendship means forcing your friends to do stuff they don’t want to.” Adagio rolled her eyes. “You and I are off to a great start then.” Sunset grimaced. “Okay, now I’m feeling the weight of my mortality. Besides, you brought me into this mess!” Adagio’s grumpy expression deepened. “The irony is not lost on me.” Aria placed her hand on the doorknob. “Well, there’s a chance we all won’t have to worry about our own slow march towards death depending on feral Sonata has gone. You all ready?” Sunset and Flash nodded and positioned themselves behind Aria while Adagio lingered back somewhat. “No!” Adagio answered. “In fact, I didn’t want to—” “TIME’S UP, LET’S DO THIS!” Aria shouted as she swung open the door. “AAAAAAAAAARIAAAAAAAAA BLAAAAAAAA”— With a ‘CRASH!’ Aria was cut off as Applejack rushed into her, knocking both girls back into the group and sending all five to the ground. “Fr-friendship is the worst!” Aria muttered from under Applejack as she slowly raised an index finger up into the air. “I blame YOU for this, Aria!” Adagio snapped from under the pile. “Ow…” Flash mumbled. “I think one of Aria’s metal hair dealies just cut me across the forehead…” “Yeah, they do that,” Aria replied. The group untangled themselves from limbs and hair and began to get back up to their feet. Flash held a hand over his head as a small trickle of blood ran down to his nose. “Applejack?” Sunset said as she rubbed her head. “We were just coming to rescue you.” “Ah appreciate that,” Applejack, now in a state of messy, pseudo-undress like the other three, narrowed her eyes slightly. “Though, took ya long enough…” “Sorry!” Sunset said. She motioned towards Aria and Adagio, the latter being helped to her feet by Flash. “A couple of our team members took some convincing. How’d you get away from Sonata?” “I snuck past her…” Applejack said as she motioned to the front yard. “She’s just been standing in the middle of the yard, rubbing her cheeks.” Sunset glanced through the door, frowning as she noticed Sonata staring off into space and rubbing her cheeks. “Maybe the drugs are wearing off?” Sunset suggested. “Good!” Adagio exclaimed. “That means this nightmare is almost over! Nothing is worse than Sonata on drugs!” “Ugh, yeah…” Aria agreed. “Sonata is already the ‘worst’, but she reaches new dredges of being unbearable when she’s high as a kite that’s been launched into space, for… I don’t know… scientific research, or something…” “There’s no wind in space, moron,” Adagio said. Aria threw her hands up in the air. “Metaphors are hard, alright?!” “You mean ‘similes’,” Sunset corrected. “That was a ‘simile’ you attempted.” Applejack nodded. “Right, and you could have said somethin’ sensible like, higher than a weather vane in a tornado…” Aria narrowed her eyes. “I regret helping everyone!” She declared. “‘Cept for Flash there. He’s the only cool one amongst you all.” “Huh…” Flash uttered “I don’t hear that often. Thanks, Aria. Man… Today has been a roller-coaster of emotions for me…” Adagio peered outside. “Speaking of the living embodiment of a roller-coaster of emotions, any guesses on what Sonata is doing?” Aria leaned over Adagio, practically floating atop her poofy mass of curls as she stared outside. “Uh, my guess is she’s trying to will tacos to her location.” Sonata let out a pained, pathetic moan. “I guess that’d be her taco call,” Adagio said with a smirk. “Hah!” Aria exclaimed. “Good one!” Sunset scowled at the two Dazzlings present Adagio and Aria shared a high five. “Don’t you two ever let up on the poor girl?” Adagio and Aria exchanged a confused glance. “Poor girl?” Adagio said. “That poor girl treated everyone here to what I’m sure is one of their most miserable days of their lives!” Aria looked at Sunset in confusion. “Did you hit your head on the floor when Applejerk ran into everyone?” “Yeah…” Applejack spoke up. “Not really sorry for that at this point.” “I’ll admit that I’m not exactly happy that I got dragged into this,” Sunset said. She motioned to Sonata who continued to let out a few pitiful moans. “But Sonata was clearly in pain at the start and looks to be in more pain now.” Adagio rolled her eyes. “She’s clearly just overreacting for attention.” “Uh… have you ever had your wisdom teeth removed?” Everyone turned to look at Flash. Seeing as he now had the floor, Flash continued, “It’s like a constant ache of having knives stuck in your head…” Sunset winced. “And I’m sure it doesn’t help when your girlfriend is constantly telling you to ‘man up’ and ‘get over it’.” Flash chuckled. “I was going to leave that part out. The point is, Sonata’s probably going to need painkillers just to make the next week or two bearable.” “Ugh, whatever…” Adagio said dismissively. “The pain Sonata will endure is likely nothing compared to what she’d inflict.” “Yeah!” Aria said in agreement. She glowered at Flash. “What happened to you, man? You used to be cool!” Flash sighed. “Just trying to give you all some inside perspective, is all…” “Well, stop!” Adagio ordered. “The three of us know suffering well enough!” She turned to glare at Sunset and Applejack. “Like losing our magical gems that were keeping our bodies in a perpetual state of beauty and also keeping us from having to deal with stuff like wisdom teeth coming in!” “You were trying to take over the school!” Sunset shot back, throwing her hands up into the air. Aria rolled her eyes. “Try the world… I mean… It’s not exactly hard for us to take over high schools…” Adagio nodded. “High School Musical? Glee? Pretty much rip offs of our past exploits… Though, toned down for television.” Adagio’s eyes narrowed in anger. “I swear I’d sue someone if it didn’t mean facing life imprisonment.” Aria shook her head. “Tell me about it… Man, these modern laws are pretty draconian when it comes to teenagers and fight clubs.” Adagio sighed. “And forced labor, and orgies…” Sunset, Applejack, and Flash all exchanged glances. “Wow…” Sunset uttered. “Again, not feeling that bad about stopping you three.” Sunset rubbed the back of her head. “Look, maybe I’m just wasting my time when it’s apparent all three of you are conscience devoid monsters…” Adagio and Aria exchanged a quick glance. “Yes? Go on,” Adagio replied. Sunset motioned to Sonata. “Just… Sonata’s one of you! She’s your uh… erm… Actually, I’m not entirely sure what your three relationship is to each other except for ‘partners in crime’.” “That works,” Aria said. “Well, anyways, Sonata is a Dazzling like you two! It sounds like you’ve all been through quite a lot together.” Sunset frowned. “Are you two really just going to let her suffer for the next couple weeks because you can’t put up with a little face chewing?” Applejack raised her left eyebrow. “‘A little?’ Ah’m lucky to still have cheeks.” Sunset turned and gave Applejack a quick scowl. “Shhhh!” she hissed, raising a finger up to her lips. Adagio and Aria exchanged glances one more. “Yes. Yes, we are,” Adagio answered. “Next question.” Sunset closed her eyes and inhaled then exhaled through her nose. She opened her eyes. “Fine. Sonata can stay with me then.” “… What?” Aria replied in disbelief. “Hah!” Adagio exclaimed. “Nice try. There’s no way you can possibly mean that.” “Uh… Sorry, Sunset,” Applejack said. “But Ah’m agreeing with Adagio here. Ah’m not buying it. Not after everything that’s gone on today.” “I’m serious,” Sunset instead. She pointed at her face where her lips remained flat and her forehead was slightly tightened. “This is my serious face.” She turned towards Flash. “Right?” Flash cocked his head slightly and took a long look at Sunset’s face. “Oh yeah, that’s your serious face, alright.” Sunset nodded. “Totally. Totally my serious face.” Aria’s eyes narrowed and her head drifted to the side slightly as she stared at Sunset. Adagio continued to smirk. “You wouldn’t last a day…” Sunset shrugged. “Not by myself, but I have friends to help.” Applejack let out a sigh. “Sorry, sugarcube… Ah’m sure you can wrangle a few of the other girls, but Ah don’t know how much of this I can take.” Applejack placed her palms in front of her. “And don’t think you can just bribe—” Sunset leaned close to Applejack. “I’ll give you $50 for each day you help.” Applejack’s eyes lit up like a slot machine that just hit jackpot. “On the other hand, who can put a price on friendship?” Sunset smiled. “I’m sure Pinkie is in just by virtue of Sonata needing help… Rainbow Dash will help, even if she complains about it… Fluttershy… uh… well… she won’t say ‘no’!” Applejack winced. “Sure, but Ah then we might have a bigger problem on our hand… At the very least, we’ll need someone to comfort and probably revive her…” Sunset snapped a finger. “Rarity!” “Oh, good call!” Applejack said. “There’s no way she’d wanna get involved with ol’ slobber tooth there, but she couldn’t say no to helping a poor Fluttershy who was used as a squeaky toy.” Adagio chuckled to herself. “You two are certainly putting in a lot of effort for this bluff.” Aria pursed her lips into a tight frown as she continued to study Sunset’s face. “This doesn’t concern you, Adagio,” Sunset said flippantly. She turned to Flash. “You in?” Flash smiled. “I’ve been there before, so yeah… Just, uh… Please don’t ask me to drive Sonata anywhere while she’s hopped up on pain meds.” Sunset smiled. “Deal!” Clapping her hands together she turned towards Adagio. “Sonata’s pain medication, if you please.” Adagio’s smile slowly gave way to a tight-lipped frown. “Fine…” she uttered. She turned. “I’ll go get my purse.” Aria’s face tightened as she watched Adagio walk away. She turned towards the others and rubbed the back of her head. “Uh… You guys, like, need some of Sonata’s clothes, or something?” Sunset smiled. “That would be lovely, thanks.” “Right… right…” Aria turned and took a few steps then turned back. “I’ll, uh… I’ll pack one of Sonata’s sippy cups, too. I mean… she’s not so brain damaged she can only drink from a sippy cup, but she likes it more… and, er, it cuts down on messes.” Sunset chuckled. “I’ll be careful when I hand her drinks.” Aria nodded, turned took a single step, then turned back. “Oh, and… Sonata tends to conk out kinda early at night and then get up at some stupid hour of the day… like… sometimes it’s still dark outside, but she’ll usually just turn on the television and watch cartoons, or something…” “Alright, noted,” Sunset replied. “I’m a bit of an early riser myself, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Provided she’s coherent enough to understand human speech, I’ll show her how to work my TV setup when she gets to my place.” Aria turned, didn’t even complete a single step, then turned back again. “Her favorite shows are ones with puppets and also that, like… half Spanish cartoon with the girl who’s always looking for stuff…” “… I’m not sure if that’s pertinent information,” Sunset replied. “But I’ll also keep that in mind.” Adagio stomped up to Sunset. “Here’s Sonata’s stupid ‘happy pills’,” she said, holding out a large burnt orange-colored bottle of pills. Still smiling, Sunset plucked the pills from Adagio’s hands. “Thanks, Adagio. Well, once Aria packs up a few of Sonata’s things, we’ll collect her and be on our way.” Adagio wheeled on Aria. “You’re helping them?!” “Well… I… They’re doing us a favor… I guess?” Adagio threw her hands up in the air. “Don’t help them! They’re the enemy!” Aria glanced at the others. “… Even Flash?” “Especially Flash!” Adagio insisted. Adagio turned and batted her eyelids at Flash. “Unless you’d reconsider whose side you’re on…~” she sang out. “Wow… Tempting,” Flash admitted, “But again…” he pointed at Sonata, “horrible tooth pain and being able to empathize with it.” Adagio turned back to Aria. “Then, YES!” she shouted. “Especially Flash.” Aria raised her fingertips to her forehead and let out a sigh. “Dagi… I don’t like it any better than you, but—” “Who said I didn’t like it?!” Adagio replied. A smile appeared on Adagio’s lips, the corners of her lips perhaps raised a tad too high. “See!” Adagio said as she pointed to her face. “This is my ‘like it’ face!” she insisted. Aria’s forehead knit in skeptically. “That, uh, that doesn’t look like your ‘like it’ face,” Aria replied. “What would you know?!” Adagio snapped. “You’re a grump 24/7!” Adagio folded her hands across her chest and looked away. “At least Sonata knows how to experience joy…” “Well… Whatever!” Aria cried throwing her hands up in the air. “They want to take care of her for a few weeks and give us a break! It’s not like… they’re… I don’t know… Gonna indoctrinate Sonata into their weird friendship cult or something…” Sunset flashed the tiniest bits of a demonic grin. “Yeah… just keep telling yourself that,” she mumbled. Aria’s amethyst eyes opened wide. “I f#@%en knew it!” Adagio smacked a palm against her head. “Aria, you dolt. This is exactly what Sunset wants!” “Screw you, Dagi!” Aria replied. Adagio rolled her eyes. “I really wish this night was heading in that direction.” Aria leveled an accusatory finger at Adagio’s chest. “Maybe you don’t give a flip about what happens to Sonata, but I… I…” Applejack leaned in closer. Sunset smiled with anticipation. “Yes…?” Sunset said. Adagio just sighed. “Oh, here we go…” “I… uh… I think… Sonata… She’s… ” “She’s sorta beginning to look like she’s dying.” Once again, everyone turned to Flash. Flash nodded towards Sonata. “Yeah, I don’t know exactly what you girls are doing or think you’re doing, but… Uh…” Flash motioned out. “Sonata’s stopped moaning, and just has tears streaming down her eyes. So maybe just figure out who gets custody of Sonata after she gets her dose?” Sunset smirked. “She’s not a child, Flash.” Adagio blew out a dismissive gust of air. “Too easy… Right, Aria?” Aria didn’t reply, her focus set squarely on Sonata. Sonata suddenly let out a sound. A breathy moan that escaped as a quiet whimper before it raised in volume and pitch until it was supersonic levels of earsplitting. “eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” “I was wrong!” Aria exclaimed as she covered her ears with her hands. “This is somehow worser! WORSER THAN WORST!” “Not everything can be the ‘worst’, Aria!” Adagio cried as she used her hair to cover her own ears. “In fact, only one thing can be the worst!” “It’s fine!” Sunset said she took a few steps forward holding the bottle of pills. “We’ll just get her what she needs and she’ll be… well, chewing and things and lick—” Aria sprinted forward, snatching the bottle of pills out of Sunset’s hands as she bolted up to Sonata. Despite being at ground zero for a noise that would make a firetruck a deeper shade of red with jealousy, Aria began struggling with the child safety cap until she successfully pried it off the bottle. She proceeded to dump a modest pile of the pills into her hand. “Aria, you idiot!” Adagio shouted after her. “Screw you, Adagio!” Aria fired back. “I’m not going to let Sonata scream like this until she passes out from pain!” “No, you incredible moron!” Adagio said as she rushed up to Aria. “You need to figure out how many pills to give her otherwise things are going to get much worse!” Adagio snatched the bottle from Aria’s grip and began to read the label. “It says ‘one’!” Adagio shook her head. “I swear, you two would have stupided yourself to death already if it wasn’t for me.” “Oh…” Aria replied as she pinched a single pill and brought it up to Sonata’s wide open, screeching mouth. “EEEEEEEEEWATEREEEEEE!” Aria stared at Sonata in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kiddi—” “WATER! WATER!” Sonata repeated. “Fine!” Adagio growled out. “Just stop screaming!” Sonata clamped her hands over her mouth, muffling the ear-annihilating sound the clearly continued from underneath Sonata’s palms. Grumbling, Adagio trudged back to the house, not bothering to make eye contact with the trio standing just inside as she pushed past them on the way to the kitchen. Applejack turned towards Sunset with an impressed look on her face. “Hey, nice thinkin’ there! A little bit of reverse psychology while playin’ up the girl’s competitive side!” “Yeah,” Flash agreed. “You even had me going there for a bit.” Sunset let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, I am so glad that worked…” Applejack blinked in surprise. “Ya mean to tell me you didn’t know those two would go old ‘mother hen’ on Sonata if you pushed them far enough?” “No!” Sunset said with a smile. “How could I? Adagio and Aria have been pains all day! I had no idea how much they actually cared about Sonata…” Sunset shook her head. “I mean… they cared enough to call me and stay with Sonata the entire time, but that wasn’t really enough to tell if they’d go out of their way to make sure she wasn’t ‘taken away’, possibly permanently.” “So, you’d have really put up Sonata, screaming, face eaten’ mess that she is, if they let you have her?” “Well, of course!” Sunset said as Aria rushed past holding a sippy cup. Sunset continued, “I mean… I’m only occasionally a monster.” Still grumbling to herself, Adagio once again made her way past the group and walked outside. Huddled up by Sonata, Adagio and Aria pulled away her hands and quickly got a pill then water into the pained Dazzling who swallowed both. Sonata went silent. Aria let out a sigh of relief. “Alright, nutbar,” she said to Sonata. “Just try to remember this the next time you start to think either of our faces are edib—” “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Adagio and Aria covered their ears. “Why didn’t that work?!” Aria cried. “Because it takes 20 to 30 minutes to take effect!” A familiar woman’s voice called out. Everyone turned and looked with surprise as Dr. Colgate sauntered up to Sonata, produced a syringe full of some clear liquid and quickly jabbed it into Sonata’s neck before depressing the plunger. Sonata’s eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed into Sonata’s and Aria’s arms. “However that takes effect pretty much immediately!” Dr. Colgate said. She turned towards the trio staring at the sight in front of them in shock. “Would someone kindly hold this for me please?” Sunset, Applejack, and Flash all walked up, Sunset gently taking the emptied syringe into a hand. “The hell did you come from?!” Aria exclaimed. “I mean… I’m thankful for you showing up to knock out Sonata, I really should add you to my cell phone contacts, but seriously… The hell?!” “I show up where and when I’m needed,” Dr. Colgate replied. “That doesn’t—!” “Hold her steady, damnit!” Dr. Colgate demanded as she produced a penlight and tiny mirror on a handle in her gloved hands. Adagio and Aria let out strained grunts, holding Sonata up as Dr. Colgate expertly propped open Sonata’s mouth with her pinkie, ring, and middle fingers while she used her others to hold her tools. She peered inside and let out a sigh. “See, this is why I really wish you all didn’t take off as soon as I brought out Sonata….” Adagio scowled at Dr. Colgate. “We can’t see because you’re making us hold up Sonata as you perform your back-alley dentistry! Also, we were trying to get Sonata home before the knock-out gas wore off and she went crazy in the car.” Aria likewise shot Dr. Colgate a glare. “Mission failed there, by the way…” “You all look alright,” Dr. Colgate replied simply. “However…” Dr. Colgate returned her mirror to a pocket and pulled out her sonic scaler. “Sonata should stick to soft foods until her mouth has healed somewhat.” “She hasn’t actually eaten anything!” Adagio insisted. “Not fer lack of trying,” Applejack quipped. With a high-frequency hum, Dr. Colgate smiled and retrieved her sonic scaler. “There… all fixed up.” “When do you-oof-When do you think she’ll wake up?” Aria asked as she repositioned Sonata. Dr. Colgate grinned. “Hopefully a bit after I’ve left.” Dr. Colgate looked over the group. “Well, everyone it’s been…Hmmm….” “Weird?” Sunset suggested. “Objectively terrifying?” Flash added. “Messy?” Adagio said. “A royal pain?!” growled Aria. “Painful?” Applejack said. “A day!” Dr. Colgate said with a nod. “Quite a day! Anyhow, please don’t hesitate to call if Sonata has any more tooth-related problems.” The group looked at Dr. Colgate in disbelief. “You’ll… you’ll actually treat her again?!” Adagio said. “Of course!” Dr. Colgate assured. “What’s life without a little challenge now and again?” Dr. Colgate smiled and handed Adagio a card. “Call me if you or your friends ever need to be strapped to a chair.” Adagio took the card, losing her grip on Sonata much to Aria’s audible protest. Still smiling, Dr. Colgate turned and began walking towards the street, whistling to herself as she went. “Sunset…” Adagio said, her eyes fixed on Dr. Colgate’s backside as she silently cursed the doctor’s coat that was blocking her view. “Uh, Yes, Adagio?” “Is this what love feels like?” Sunset stared at Adagio for a moment, then turned to watch Dr. Colgate as she disappeared into the dark evening. “You know… I don’t think I could tell you that…”