//------------------------------// // The Secret // Story: Serenading The Fading Light // by Flash Notion //------------------------------// I hesitated briefly at the door to the studio. I'd only been here once... but Sonata needed me, more than ever. I pushed open the door. A blast of warm air greeted me, and I gladly pulled off my sweatshirt. “HEY! Sunset!” The enthusiastic greeting came from Bulk Biceps, seated behind a too-small receptionist counter. I smiled and approached the big lug. A lot of kids had been intimidated back in school, but he was just a big teddy bear. A real sweet heart. “Hey, Bulk,” I said. “Is Miss Coloratura around?” “She's gettin' things ready for her first class,” he replied. “I think you can go in.” “Thanks.” I patted his arm, because it was all I could reach, and pushed through the second door. The air on this side was slightly cooler, more sterile. It could've been a school or an office or a hospital. The same design. A door on the left had the label I was looking for. I pushed open the door and saw a handful of young adults milling around- Blue Note among them- and a slightly older woman moving instruments and tables. Her dark, curling hair made her easily identifiable. “Miss Coloratura?” She stopped and looked up. When her eyes landed on me, they lit up. “Sunset! Oh, it's been too long!” She wrapped me in a tight hug. “Please, you should call me Ra Ra.” “If it's all the same, I'd rather not.” I stepped out of the hug and tried not to seem too awkward. “And... this isn't a social call.” She bit her lip. “Sonata?” I nodded. Miss Coloratura sighed. “I knew something was wrong. That poor girl...” “Wait, what?” I frowned. “Hang on- Sonata said you expelled her.” “What?” Miss Coloratura narrowed her eyes. “I would never! Yes, things have been a little rough lately, but I know she'll turn it around. She's usually such a joy to have in class- and so talented! Why would I expel her?” “For hitting Blue Note?” I watched the gears turn in her head for a moment. Finally, she said, “Excuse me a moment.” She walked over to Blue Note and murmured something to him. He murmured back. Their conversation lasted almost a full minute before Blue nodded and got up. They walked back over. “Sad as it is to imagine,” Miss Coloratura said, “I think Sonata might not have been telling you the whole truth. Blue Note?” “She hit me,” he admitted. “After I shoved her. By I only shoved her because she was right in my face! I dunno what's been going on with her, but the past couple weeks it's like she's become an completely different person. She was so excited when we started the project- I even let her pick the musical we're using. She chose a classic, The Pirates of Penzance. But after a little bit, she started acting really weird. Over-stressing about every detail, second guessing herself. I tried talking her down, but...” “I tried, too,” Miss Coloratura said. “But it only seemed to make things worse. After the- after the incident, I suggested she take a few days off. But I didn't expel her.” I sat down in the nearest chair, a little stunned. “But... I mean, except for this and a thing at work, she's always been fine. I don't understand. Why would Sonata keep this from me?” Blue Note shrugged. “I guess maybe she was too embarrassed. I mean, losing it over a two-song project when you used to be a singing sorceress? I wouldn't want to say anything.” “Wait- you knew?” Blue rolled his eyes. “Like I'd forget one of the girls who tried to take over our school. Like I could forget any of them.” “Okay, fair point, but... Miss Coloratura?” She smiled. “I'm actually close friends with the Apples- our families used to go camping together. I knew who you were the moment you walked in here, Sunset Shimmer. It wasn't hard to figure out who Sonata was.” “Huh.” I paused a minute, trying to center this second revelation. Several deep breaths helped. “Okay, so... Sonata basically quit.” “She's welcome back at any time,” Miss Coloratura said quickly. “I don't think it's just the project. Something has her really stressed, and whatever it is, I hope she figures it out. I'm worried about her.” “You and me both,” I replied. Slowly, shakily, I got to my feet. “Thank you. I promise, I'll do my best to help her.” Miss Coloratura nodded. “I'll hope for you, too. I'll put my faith in whatever I have to to get my best student back.” A few more handshakes and pleasantries, and I was stepping outside again. The sun was far higher in the sky than I thought it should be, but I figured that was a good thing. Coriander did a fairly brisk business at breakfast time. A bit later in the day, and I might be able to pull him away from the crowd. Hopefully. “Welcome to The Tasty Tre- ah, Sone-set!” Coriander Cumin stepped down from behind his podium and wrapped his thick arms around me. Since he was a bit on the short side, it meant they wrapped more around my body than my shoulders. For a full minute, he squeezed like his life depended on it. I think I was lifted off the floor a bit. Finally, he stepped back and took in my wheezing face. “Out for a run, I see. That is good, you young folks are always on your computers and internets. Like my daughter- she is not cooking, she is on her cell phone! I threaten to take it away, but she does not listen.” He shook his head. “One of these days, I will follow through, and she will rue the day! Curse my soft old heart. But no matter!” Coriander grabbed me and pulled me deeper into the restaurant. “You simply must try the latest recipe- a lentil stew, seasoned with my own garam masala and fenugreek, over top delicious fried rice!” My stomach rumbled at the mere thought of it, but not in a bad way. Still, I latched onto a pillar and halted us. “I'm sorry, Coriander, but this is important. It's about Sonata.” He slowed, but didn't stop. My fingers barely gripped the surface. “Oh? And what of her?” “I was just wondering when exactly she'd be able to come back to work.” Coriander plopped me into a booth and folded his arms. “She can come back to work the moment she is ready to actually work, as is normal!” For the second time that day, I was brought up short. My train of thought, thoroughly derailed. I summed up the feeling in one word: “What?” Coriander shook his head. “I don't know what has been going on with her, but she is not acting like the same sweet girl I hired. I gave her far more chances than any other employee! I did so because of you, Sone-set. And Saffron seems to enjoy her company.” He shrugged. “She convinced me to give your friend unpaid leave, instead of firing her. Not that it took much. I am a soft old man!” he sighed again. “You were going to fire Sonata?” I asked. He raised a thick eyebrow, then wedged himself into the opposite side of the booth. Coriander leaned in conspiratorially. “Your friend, she was a good worker. But last few weeks, not so much. She seems... distracted. Not all there in the head, but more than the usual.” He whirled a finger next to his own curly hair, as if I never met Sonata. “She would be late, or would not even show. And then there were the accidents- so much food spilled. Is almost like her hands, they were on the wrong arms!” I winced. “I am sooo sorry,” I said automatically. “I don't know what's been happening. She never told me any of this!” Coriander huffed. “Of course not. And why should she? She does not take responsibility for it. Every time, she always blamed whatever customer happened to be nearest. Whenever anyone interfered, she would begin crying. At first, I thought perhaps it was just, ah, 'that time'.” He winced. “But it kept happening. And she showed no respect for the rest of us, either. She shouted at me several times! Finally, I tell her, 'Go home. Take the week off, and only come back when this,'” he waved his hands up and down, “'Is over!' And then she leave, very upset. I have not seen her since.” My frown now seemed etched into my face. None of this matched with what Sonata had said. And yet, it made a certain kind of sense. Something was very wrong, though. “Thank you for telling me, Coriander.” He patted my arm. “You are sweet girl, too, Sone-set. There is always room for you at The Tasty Treat. Now, about the stew-” “I'll take it to go,” I told him. He nodded, and signaled to a nearby waiter. “Savoir! A double order, to go!” The man nodded curtly, and made for the kitchen. Coriander turned back to me. “I hope you can put some sense back into Miss Sonata. She was a great waitress. I would get so many compliments about her work- 'Oh, she is so funny, I cannot stop smiling! Oh, Mister Cumin, where did you find such a hard worker?' I miss that girl,” he admitted. Now it was my turn to put a hand on his arm. “I've already made this promise once today: I'm going to figure out why Sonata's been acting like this, and help her get better. I want her back, too.” “Your meal,” Savoir intoned. I jumped slightly- I hadn't noticed him come back. He held out a platter with a large paper bag on it, the top folded over. A ticket was stapled into it, but Coriander tore it off. “It is on the house,” he told me. “Good luck to you, figuring out Sonata.” “Thanks, Coriander.” I took the bag and stood up. “I think I know just how to start.”