//------------------------------// // Still Waters // Story: Serenading The Fading Light // by Flash Notion //------------------------------// Hours later, the kitchen was spotless and the dishes were put away. The grueling effort was worth it, though. There was more than a week's worth of breakfast cooling off in the refrigerator and freezer. Once the apartment no longer resembled a trash heap, I settled into the couch with my laptop. It was time to take another look at my quest, see if I would have more luck this time. Fixing cars was a great way to bring in cash, but I kind of wanted to do something else with my life in the long run. I loved my music. But us Rainbooms could never become famous; one slip up and we'd reveal Equestrian magic to the whole world. So I've been thinking about my other hobby. Art. Painting and sketching and sculpting, it's all really cool. Especially painting. I have a knack for it, I guess. That's what all my teachers used to say. So I've been trying to find a school close enough to Canterlot that I could study at, get really good. Unfortunately, it hasn't been going well. I clicked out of the latest browser tab, another disappointed sigh escaping. I could get into any of these schools, of that I was certain. But none would let me stay here, with my friends. I flopped back. Maybe it didn't even matter. It wasn't like I was desperate for cash. I didn't even want to be famous- at least no more than any other person. And plenty of artists had gone ahead without schooling. For a while, I simply stared at the ceiling. I may have even dozed off for a bit. But the next thing I knew, the door slammed open. Sonata stomped inside, eyebrows scrunched and teeth grinding. “Home already?” I said automatically. I glanced at the clock- it did seem a little early, but not unreasonably so. Sonata didn't answer me. “Something wrong?” Still no answer. I got up stiffly and wobbled back to the kitchen. Sonata had out a frying pan, a cutting board, and a row of ingredients. I took note of the corn tortilla shells and package of ground beef. “That bad, huh?” She dropped the meat into the pan and poured on the sauce. Then she started chopping lettuce. Finally, Sonata spoke. “You won't believe what Mr. Cumin did today.” “You're right; he was always so nice.” I slid onto my stool again. “What happened?” The knife slammed into the board harder than necessary. “He's been on my case all week. Every little mistake, he just goes off! Like I'm not a person.” “Well...” “You know what I mean! And it's not just him; the customers have been super rude and impatient, too. I mean, I'm only one girl!” She stabbed the knife into the board, breathing heavy. Then she muttered something I couldn't quite make out. “What was that?” “He cut my hours!” Sonata grouched. “I'm not allowed to go back. This week or next week. How am I supposed to afford that cute outfit I saw at the mall?” “The red one, with all the sequins?” “Exactly!” I couldn't help rolling my eyes. But I smiled, too. “You have plenty of cute outfits, and that one wasn't that expensive. We'll figure something out.” She kept glaring at the cutting board. “Besides, now you have more time for your classes! Don't you have that big project you're working on?” Sonata sighed and turned to stir the meat. “Yep- we gotta take a musical and turn it into a different style. Like, from classical to pop or something.” “Sounds fun! Oh, and hey-” I leaned over the counter. “Now we can go to the Nightmare Night Festival! You said you wanted to, but couldn't because of work.” “I did? Oh, yeah. I did.” Sonata started grating cheese onto a plate. “It's perfect,” I insisted. “We can dress up, and have a little fun. Then I can introduce you to my friends, and-” “I don't think now's the best time, Sunny.” I frowned. “But- I can't keep this from them forever. They're my friends, Sonata. I bet Pinkie Pie already knows, and just isn't saying anything. But you know how she is with secrets.” “I know, can't keep 'em. I know, I know. But things just don't seem right, y'know?” Sonata spooned some of the beef up to her mouth, and her face lit up again. “But this is! C'mon Sunny, it's Taco Tuesday!” “But it's Thursday,” I pointed out. “Who cares?” She shoved a perfect tortilla treat under my nose. “Eat up!” I shrugged. Why not? Intestine-rotting or not, Sonata made the best tacos I've ever had. “We are going to Nightmare Night though, right?” I asked. “Yeah, sure.” Sonata waved the question away. “I'll just be a ghost or something. That way nobody will have to recognize me. Kay?” “Er- yeah.” I took a bite of taco. It was good, but there was a slightly bitter taste at the back of my throat. I really wanted Sonata to meet the others, for real. They deserved the truth, and she deserved them as friends. I just knew they'd like her. Sonata started talking about the best way to cut up a bed sheet for her costume. I put on a smile, though my thoughts were still distant. A fact she seemed to pick up on. “Sunny?” She snapped her fingers under my nose. “Hel-looo, Earth to Sunset!” “Sorry!” I squeaked. “What were you saying?” She smirked, but restarted. I payed much closer attention this time. We could deal with it all later, I decided. Coriander wasn't a bad guy; I was sure he'd come around soon enough. In the meantime, we'd be a bit thriftier. And as for my friends, my fellow Elements, well... If they couldn't handle waiting another few weeks to meet Sonata, then I'd really misjudged them. And I'm pretty sure I hadn't. “I'm home!” I called, dropping my keys in the bowl by the door. A bit cliché, but it worked. When Sonata didn't answer, I shrugged and wandered upstairs to my bed. I wanted to collapse into it- Not in these clothes, I winced. Being called in on Sunday wasn't part of the plan, but when Mr. Plugs called and told me there were three wrecked cars and I could get overtime, well... Still, I was glad to be home. I quickly changed out of the greasy work shirt and jeans and into something more comfortable. Better. Now I collapsed into my blankets, letting the springs squeal and bounce me around. I tangled myself up in their softly scented warmth. “Sunset?” The muffled voice barely penetrated the quilt around my head, but it gave me pause. “Sonata?” I stood up, still mostly tangled, and peered over the railing. “Where-” I was tackled from the direction of the stairs; Sonata almost knocked me over. Instead, we tumbled back onto the bed,, and I came up with her literally crying into my shoulder. I winced again- her nose was running all over my clean shirt. Teardrops wet my shirt as surely as any sprinkler. “Okay,” I said. “Okay.” I wasn't sure what else to say just yet. “Hey, you're okay.” Awkwardly, I patted her hair. I noted that it seemed a bit less poofy than usual. “Talk to me.” Sonata snerked and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I- I...” Her bottom lip wobbled. “Bwaaaaaaaah!” She went back to crying, and I tried my best to not get rolled onto my back. “Jeez, Sonata!” I decided a different tactic was needed. “Come on, tell me what's up. If you don't, I'll tickle you!” “You-” Snerk! “-Wouldn't!” I grinned and scrabbled my fingers against her side. Instantly, she squealed and jumped away. “Doooon't!” She squirmed against the bed a moment longer before stopping and glaring at me with puffy eyes. I simply grinned wider. “Meanie,” she pouted. I shrugged. “Now will you tell me what's up?” She nodded. “I was expelled.” “Come again?” Sonata curled her knees up against her chin and rocked on my bed. She wore an over-sized sweatshirt, and had clearly been crying for a while. The shirt itself was a mess of crumbs and candy shards. “You remember that big project we've been working on?” she sniffled. I nodded and waved for her to go on. “Well, Blue Note picked this really complicated thing, something about seamen, I don't even know! But it was way too hard, and they just kept pressuring me; I couldn't get the songs right, and they wouldn't let me take a break, and they wouldn't let me switch, either. And then Blue Note, he- he shoved me!” “Seriously?” My eyebrows shot for the ceiling. I thought about the easy-going saxophonist. “I guess you never really know someone...” “I was so upset, I slapped him back. That's when Miss Coloratura told me to leave.” She frowned into her knee-space. “I know I shouldn't have hit him, but it was just too much!” “I'm guessing the 'he started it' argument didn't work either, huh?” I slid over closer, and offered half the blanket. “Nope.” Sonata pulled the cloth cocoon around herself. It struck me suddenly that this was actually a big deal. “Well... it's their loss,” I decided. She glanced my way for just a second. “I mean, you're a great singer! And they helped you get there. So if they kick you out of their group now-” “They're a bunch of big doody-heads.” I smiled at the childishly spiteful words. “Yeah. So no worries. Here's an idea,” I suggested, “Why not find a job singing?” “Like... at a bar?” “Well- not exactly.” I got up for a moment and retrieved my laptop. “Check it out: Filthy Rich owns that big hotel downtown, right? Well, the other day I saw that they remodeled and are looking for singers in their new lounge.” “Huh.” Sonata peered at the screen. “I dunno...” “At least think about it? You'd be the best one in the house, I guarantee.” “Sure.” She couldn't have sounded less enthused if she'd tried, but it was something. I bookmarked the page and tossed the laptop down the bed. “So,” I held up the remote, “Wanna veg out? I've got Punkin Chunkin on DVR.” Sonata looked at me, and at the remote. Then she looked out the window. “Nah,” she said. She wiped her face again, inadvertently smearing more mucus around. “I'm gonna go to bed. See ya' in the morning, Sunny.” “See you,” I murmured, watching her stumble off. With my quilt, I realized a moment later. “Hey!” “Thanks, by the way!” she called, then latched her door shut. I stared at the closed door a minute, then sighed. Whatever; it was covered in snot anyway. I trooped down to the couch and grabbed all the throws. Then I reconsidered, and trooped back up to grab a pillow, and curled up on the couch, instead. I felt warmer there. In spite of the cold moonlight coming through the window. I got up and closed the curtain. Now, where'd I leave the remote? I wondered. I wanted to watch some pumpkins get smashed.