This is what we do

by Foxgear


Sisters bonding

This is what we do chapter 16
By Foxgear


The school bell rang and the students of Canterlot High eagerly flock away from their educational prison for home. Applejack was no different as she steps out into the cold afternoon. Sadly, her way home would not be expedient as she had to take the bus. Granny was attending a school meeting that involved the lunch menu, so she had to stay behind. From the across the parking lot she saw her little sister Applebloom climb into Sweetie Belle’s mother’s van with Scootaloo, the trio off for of their Crusader club adventures or something. Dejected she walks for the bus line, only to be pulled away before she could even get near the bus.

“What the big idea!” She yells, watching the bus drive away. She turns to meet the person that stole her ride away from home and came face to face with the Cheshire smirk of her sister in law Adagio. She imminently gulps at the sight of it. “Uh… howdy…”

“Howdy yourself little sister,” Adagio says in a sugary sweet tone that made Applejack’s stomach churn. The death grip the siren had on her hand wasn’t helping as Adagio literary drags her away like a mother pulling her child along by the hand. “Oh, stop your struggling Applejack. We going to have fun!”

Adagio leads her to one of the farm trucks, with Sonata and Aria already waiting inside. Adagio stuffing her against the two sirens as she takes the driver's seat.

“See, nothing to worry about,” Adagio said happily relishing in the joy of being given the most room of the seat. “We’re just going to some shopping. As a family and all that.”

Applejack squirms in her seat. Sonata’s elbow hitting her in the boob as she tries to find even just an inch more space. Her brain listening to Adagio in the background. When the yellow siren’s words registered she stops her squirming with Aria’s hand pushing against her cheek and Sonata’s face in her lap. She turns her head to the yellow siren as they pull out onto the street, her eyes wide with repressed horror. There was only one type of shopping a group of girls did and she wasn’t the biggest fan of it, to be honest.

“Ugh… we’re doing what now?”

“Dagi’s boobs are busting her bras, so she needs to get new ones. It’s also been awhile since we’ve just hung out and we could use some new clothes ourselves, so we’re going along and since you’re our sister too, we thought. Hey! Let’s bring Applejack! You know that kind of thing.” Sonata explained rapidly, Aria mumbling a response as they drive towards main street. “Personally, there are few things I’ve always wanted to see you in. I think we could make you into a real siren!”

Applejack blushes, leaning away from Sonata’s invading face, already picturing what the siren had in store for her in Sonata’s pink eyes, “Um… yeah… no thanks. If you could just drop me off at the curb…”

“Come with us, be good and you get your truck back afterward,” Aria said suddenly, making Applejack go rigged and sit up in her seat like a dog offered a treat.

“So, we’re we going?”

Adagio smirks, “A place you can’t tell Granny or Mac we went too.”

“Where would that… oh… right. That’s just for you gals, right?” The sirens smirk, making the farm girl shrink under their giggling smiles as they park in front of Explicit’s store. The siren’s pulling her inside before any further protests could be made on the farmgirl’s behalf.

Once inside the Siren’s quickly scatter to their favorite parts of the store, leaving her be for the moment. Applejack nervously scratches her arm as she eyes all the racy, frilly, see-through, and exotic costumes on display. The sight of which made her blush as other customers parade from the racks to the changing room. A line of scantily clad women forming outside the door. Their privacy ensured by the blackened windows of the store.

Not sure what to do, but not wanting to risk being seen exiting the store. Applejack slowly makes her way around the racks. Looking, but not touching anything. She thought her short shorts risky enough, but some of the items she was perfusing through… if Granny ever caught her wearing anything like this she’d hogtie and drag her to the church to scrub her down with holy water and a steel wool brush.

“This looks kind of cute,” Applejack mutters pulling an apple red tee shirt from the rack. It was light and soft as silk and ninety-five percent decent, safe for the large heart-shaped hole where a good chunk of her breasts would be on display. Carefully she set the shirt back.

Antsy she looks around for the sirens and spots Adagio right away. Quickly she flees for the elder siren over in the bra section of the store. Bumping into a few other customers along the way, one woman wore nothing but her underwear, which was mostly see-through, and another was wearing a nurse outfit. Blushing she apologizes. The women shrugging her off as they look through more of the merchandise. As she enters the section with Adagio a sign catches her eye.

Applejack reads the sign, “Store policy, to ensure the privacy of all patrons, please see Manager for photos. No cameras or other recording devices allowed and no picture taking in the gallery area of yourself or others. These rules apply to social media too. This is a strange store.”

“Such a sign is necessary, girl.” A sultry voice said. Applejack turns around a tall ebony woman with blue/green hair in a green lingerie staring her down with a predatory eye. “For legal reasons of course,” The woman chuckles. “Explicit is rather well known, that even individuals of my… standing, come to her. Privacy is of the utmost importance and given your virgin doe eye expression, I see it fit I should only educate you on the rules of this establishment.”

“Rules?” Applejack asks, the woman leaning down to smirk right in her face. Along ebony arm snakes around her shoulder as the woman moves beside her directing the farmgirl’s gaze around the store.

“Yes, rules,” The woman says pointing to another tall grey woman with stripes on her skin. “Besides no pictures, another rule is no speaking of the other patrons. That woman there, the one in the tribal loincloth? She’s a college professor, it would very damming if anyone were to find her in such a state, take pictures and blackmail her no? Or that woman there, I’m sure you know her.” Applejack’s pupils shrink back in horror as she saw Mayor Mare across the store. “See my point? So, don’t speak of anything you see here and everyone will do the same. Because remember if you’re a customer here too they have equally as much ammo against you too, understand?”

“Uh… right, lips are sealed.”

The ebony woman pats her cheek, making Applejack’s skin crawl, “Good, such a well-behaved girl.”

“App- I mean AJ, come here!” Adagio said appearing between Applejack and the ebony woman. She quickly grabs hold of AJ’s arm pulling her away from the woman. “I need your opinion on something.”

“Ah… right,” Applejack said stupidly as Adagio pulls her into the corner. The siren quickly throws a bra at her, telling her to pretend to chat. AJ looks anxiously at her sister in law, glancing back at the woman she had just been pulled away from, but Adagio forces her to keep looking at her as she changes bras. “Is something wrong?”

Adagio runs her fingers through Applejack’s hair, peeking through the blonde strains to see if the woman was still standing there. Breathing a sigh of relief once she confirmed she was gone.

“Sorry. We should have gone over how things run here. Also, when we’re here, call me Dagi, Aria is Ari, and Sonata, Ata. It’s not a good idea to use full names here. You should stay away from that woman too.”

“Why? I mean I’m not too eager really converse with folks here, but what’s so special about her?”

Adagio’s eyes dart around, before answering, “She’s the type to exploit people. Take it from the woman that wrote the book on the subject. I didn’t know her name before, we just called her Viper, but awhile ago I saw her on the news. She’s Chrysalis BlackQueen, lawyer, and the State Attorney General. Probably not the worst person you could meet here, but she… has an air about her I don’t like. That might just be her being a lawyer too.”

“I think I’ll just go wait in the truck now,” Applejack says, not wanting to deal with this, but Adagio forces her down on the bench. Applejack not resisting on the count of Adagio’s pregnancy and the fact she could she-demon out… which why wasn’t that happening?

“Look,” Adagio says with a deep sigh, “Sorry to make this first trip here so uncomfortable. I want you to have fun. The best thing you can do is focus on yourself. Don’t worry about the others around you. Looking around nervously just puts everyone else one edge too. So,” Adagio hands her a pile of clothes, or fabric because these could not be considered clothes legally speaking. “Just try some of these on and relax. Now go, I’ll be right here when you get back.”

“Ugh, thanks, Dagi…” Applejack said uncertainly as she walks to the changing room.

Adagio leans back against the wall, hand on her head as she sighs again. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea bring Applejack here.

“Regretting bringing her already?” Aria says through the clothes rack.

“Kind of, but no too. It’s nice to see her flustered to the point of not being able to talk. I think it will help her grow. Nice stocking by the way Ari,” Adagio says as her raspberry sister walks through the rack to sit down where Applejack was a moment ago. Don in nothing but underwear and her new stockings. “They match your hair.”

“Thanks,” Aria says looking curiously at Adagio. “So how is this supposed to make the little Apple grow? I thought we were just going to tease her till she faints.”

“Well that is still the plan, but there can a lesson in teasing. After all, any experience can lead to growth. Applejack is too comfortable where she is, a little shake won’t break her.”

“Yeah, I still don’t get it. I think you're letting those ‘growing motherly instincts’ go to your head.”

Adagio growls lightly, “Do I need to write out a fricken lesson plan! She’s in a new environment and she just needs to deal with it. Is that enough of a summary? Or do I need to get the sexy teacher outfit and a crop whip?”

Behind them, the sound of clothing hitting the floor could be heard as both sirens look too see Applejack in the outfit Adagio had given her, a short black shirt that showed her navel, a simple pair of blue panties. Her own clothes laying on the ground as she stares dumbstruck at the siren, mumbling, “Teacher… crop whip?”

“AJ what you’re thinking right now, it’s wrong, Mac and I don’t do the teacher crop look thing,” A look of relief passes over the farmgirl, making Adagio’s teasing bone itch. “We do much kinkier things like…”

“I don’t want to hear it!” Applejack runs off, running for the bubbly innocents of Sonata. Leaving the two siren sisters chuckling.

“So,” Aria says leaning in, “What do you and Mac do?”

A pink tint appears on Adagio’s face as she turns away chuckling, “Oh you know… stuff.”

“Do tell.”

The girls continue to chatter. Adagio picking up several sets of larger bras, after which she redresses and sits back to watch the other girls try on things. Sonata and Aria mainly try on racy underwear and a few outfits, while they chat about things like what they heard around town, shows they’ve been watching, basically anything besides the farm and monster hunting.

Of course, Adagio wasn’t about to let Applejack slip away. After the farm girl slipped out of her first outfit Adagio hands her more and takes her to the counter so Explicit can let them into the private shooting room. There Adagio had Applejack try one a variety of outfits, taking pictures of each, and with each one, the peach tone of Applejack’s skin turns redder and redder with every picture snapped.

“Are you satisfied?” Applejacks askes after the fifth outfit. A blue Bunny girl outfit of all things. On the floor lay a nurse, police officer, firefighter, and other things. She peels off the leotard, keeping her eyes on Adagio’s phone hanging lazily in the siren’s fingers. “You're going to delete those right?”

“I don’t know,” Adagio says pressing her finger to her cheek. “You look so cute. Come take a look.” She holds the phone up for Applejack to see, sliding through the photos. “Cute, right?”

“Cute is not the word. At least Rarity only puts me in frou-frou crap. This is… tasteless.” She says with disdain as she drops the leotard to the floor and grabs her shirt.

“But you still tried them on.” Adagio counters. “Admit it, you were curious how you would look.”

Applejack sputters unintelligently, “Ugh… no… I didn’t.” she professes as her cheeks turn an even deeper shade of red.

“Aha, and you don’t have any clothes Granny wouldn’t approve of? Say a pair of… extremely short, short shorts to catch some attention?”

Applejack crosses her arms and looks away, “Ah don’t know what your talkin’ about.”

“Oh yeah?” Adagio persists giving her sister in law few playful pokes in the stomach. The girl was tone that was for sure. “So, your closet isn’t full of clothes you just happen to ‘borrow’ from Rarity?”

“They were gifts! Rarity is always giving away things like that.” She defends hotly, much to Adagio’s delight as the siren leers closer, her Cheshire grin on full display. “What’s that look?”

“Nothing,” Adagio quips turning away. “I just find it amusing watching you struggle becoming a girl. Given your family, it’s no surprise. Nico was pretty formal and uptight, your mother well not uptight, wasn’t a loose dresser either and then you moved in with Granny who is ultra conservative in her view of how a lady should dress. Adding to the fact you were always doing chores and working. You didn’t have the finest tastes in clothes, you were Tomboy basically, and know your growing out of it.”

The shock in Applejack’s eyes told her all she needed to know.

“I’m guessing I hit the nail on the head?”

“Well,” Applejack said anxiously. “I have been appreciating Rarity’s view of fashion more recently, I guess. I mean her clothes are so soft and they look nice and I get…” Her blush deepens. “I get compliments. I did before, but lately folks especially boys have been calling me… cute and things like that.”

“Dawww, look at you. Your acting just like Aria did the first time she tried on a dress.” Adagio said ruffling Applejack’s hair. “Don’t worry. I’ll nurture you better than I did her.” She thought back to the girl Aria had been before discovering Punk Rock and sighs in dismay. Still, it was better than when they were all sporting afros and rollerblading.

Applejack looks at her confused, “What about Aria?”

“Nothing. Now I guess we should get going. We need to get over to Rarity’s and I need to call Maddie and see if she’s still coming. Can you put these clothes back? I need to round up Aria and Sonata and pay for our stuff. Don’t worry, I send all the pictures to your phone and delete them from mine. You can do what you want with them afterward.” As she made her way to the door Applejack calls out to her with a request. One that left her flabbergasted as she looks jaw smacked at the farm girl. “What was that?”

The farmgirl turns a shade of pink, looking like steam was going to come out of her ears as she spoke again, “Ah said if I picked out an outfit from here, would you hide it for me?”

The request brought a devious smile to the siren’s face, “Of course, what are corrupting sister in laws for?”


The girl’s rush out of the store and quickly place the black bags with a big pink E on the side under the truck tarp and all pile inside out of the cold. Adagio once again in the driver’s seat as the other three girl’s huddle together shivering as they wait for the truck to warm up.

“Told ya to bring an extra coat,” Adagio chides them as she snuggles into her big fluffy purple coat with a fur collar. “Alright next stop Rarity’s.” She exclaims pulling out of the curb. Explicit’s was always fun shopping. She was most eager to peek at what Applejack had bought. The blonde girl is very secretive about her purchase as she kept it hidden all throughout check out. From the continues redness of her freckled cheeks, it was something Granny nor Mac would approve of.

(I guess what they say about rotten apples is true,) Adagio grins to herself. Mac was bolder and much more fun, though she did miss the days when her teasing would fluster him speechless. She did like his pillow talk. (I wonder what effect I’ll have on little AJ? This should be interesting to watch.)

The corruption of her husband’s little sister aside. Adagio pulls onto the curb outsides Rarity’s boutique on main street. Quickly she checks her phone, finding no return calls or text from Maddie yet. Maybe the mad scientist chickened out?
(Well, maybe it was too soon to ask her out shopping right off the bat and on such short notice. Still, it’s weird she hasn’t called back yet, unless she’s in some place no service.)

Deciding that Maddie was a full grown woman and could take care of herself Adagio opens the door and darts for the curb as the others climb out the other side of the truck. A chilly wind blows through the street and they quickly enter Rarity’s store for warmth. Inside they were treated to an unexpected sight.

Fluttershy of all people was up on a fitting stand in her underwear with Rarity getting very familiar was she snakes her tape around the girl’s thigh. Perhaps the most surreal part was instead of Fluttershy freaking out or crying out or doing anything expected of Fluttershy. The yellow girl just blushed a light shade of pink, cleared her throat and continued to stand perfectly still for Rarity.

(Damn… when did she get some nerves?)

“I’m a mite busy at the moment girls, please, look around yourselves for a bit. I’ll be right with you.” Rarity said switching to measure Fluttershy’s waist. Aria and Sonata shrug going for the racks and racks of Rarity’s custom clothes. Adagio and Applejack stay at the door, looking curiously at the two. “Is there something I can help you two with? If you're looking for a custom fit I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until I’m done with Fluttershy here.”

“No, we’re fine.” Adagio replies glancing at the surrounding clothes, taking quick peeks at barely clothed Fluttershy. The shy girl was wearing a rather bold set of underwear, dark green, elaborate design. Dare she say they look like something that came from Explicit’s. She would never have thought Fluttershy would step foot in there again after the last time.

From the opposite side of the stand Applejack spoke up, “So Shy, you getting some new duds?”

“A whole new wardrobe!” Rarity said excitedly. “Fluttershy please suck in a bit, thank you. Yes, now, where was I? Oh yes! Fluttershy came to me this afternoon during school saying she wanted to reinvent herself. I’m happy to say and by no means is this meant to offend, but Fluttershy is ditching the ugly tank top and skirt to something much more eye-catching and in her own words, bolder! It’s really quite exciting. She even made the designs herself.”

Rarity paused in her measurements to hold up a stack of papers for Adagio and Applejack to see. The two took the sketches. A bit taken aback by the bold designs.

“That’s a lot of leg you have showing here Shy, you sure you're comfortable with that?” Applejack asks with concern, examining the drawing that was basically an extra-long sweater that barely went past the thighs.

“Don’t worry about it,” Fluttershy replied hotly with puffed cheeks.

“Ok, sorry.” Applejack said quickly backing up a bit. “It’s just a huge change. What brought this on?”

The expression on Fluttershy’s face was perplexing as about fifty different emotions ran across her face in an instant before returning to neutral. “Nothing major. I just thought it was time to grow up a bit. You’ve been changing too Applejack; did I question you why you suddenly want to take home everything Rarity makes you at camp?”

“Agh…ah… I concede your point.” Coming to the recuse Adagio grabs Applejack’s shoulder and leads her away to the racks.

“Come on, let’s find you something tasteful this time. I’ll buy.” Adagio says letting Applejack loose. She quickly checks her phone, disappointed to find no messages from Maddie. Ducking behind a rack in the corner she calls the mad scientist again. “Hey, it’s me. Look it’s ok if you decided to skip out, I’m not mad or anything. Ok, I’m a little annoyed your not returning my calls, but don’t mind that. We’ll try again some other time. Just make sure you keep us up to date. Wouldn’t want Sixes' seal to burn you alive, right? Heheha… yeah, just call us ok?” She hangs up the phone.

“Hey, Adagio come check this out!”

“Coming Applejack!”


The halls of Canterlot High were dark, most if not all the staff had gone home already, but yet there remains one light on in the building. The computer room. Where the faint blue of the computer screen glows softly in the darkness. Two people, one male, one female, sat in the dim room typing fiercely at their computers. They were Bright Idea and Velvet Sky. The two were playing a game. They controlled their characters, giggling beside themselves as they glance at each other exchanging in-game texts with each other. They had stayed after school to help fix some of the computers in the computer lab and they did. When they got done they just so happen to reward themselves by playing a few hours on their favorite MMORPG, League of Ponies, a game created by a certain student Techie club after a certain incident.

Bright Idea smirks as he moves his character across the screen. Having it playfully smack Velvet’s character on the butt. She sticks her tongue at him and returns the favor. Prompting them both to laugh. Their laughter came to end when a sound came from the hallway.

“What was that?” Velvet asks fearfully. Fearing one of the teachers decided to come back for some reason.

Cautiously Bright Idea gets up from his seat, turning his monitor off. He gestures for Velvet to do the same and they walk out of the way of the door. A shadow passes by, but it was too short to be a teacher.

“Who was that?” Velvet quietly asks, clinging to his shirt. He hushes her to be quiet and leads her through the dim standby lights to the adjoining room. Quietly and carefully opening the door they sneak into the teacher’s office/supply room where the spare parts are kept. Feeling around in complete darkness they find the door that leads to the hall. Opening the door, they peer out into the hall, where the dim glow of the safety lights reveal that the mysterious person was nowhere to be seen.

“I don’t know how they got in, but let’s get out of here.” Bright whispers pulling Velvet by the hand. His blood running all over this body as they quickly jog down the hall. He was embarrassed by how flustered he was getting, but he was holding the girl he fancies hand. And acting semi-heroic in this creepy situation they were in.

Rounding the corner, they head for the door Mr. Gizmo left open for them to their cars. A loud crash comes from behind them and they run faster, as fast as nerds can run, for the door. Bright Idea reaches forward, ready to push the door open only for them to end up crashing right into the door! Velvet crashing into his back.

“What’s wrong?” She cries as he tries the door again, but it wouldn’t unlatch, it was locked!

“We’re locked in! Let’s try another door!” He quickly suggests, his heart racing. Then he hears it. The rhythmic footsteps of the other late-night interloper. For a second Bright thought, they should just calm down and see who else was here. After all judging from the shadow, the intruder had to be another student. They could just talk to them and be on their way, but as the footstep drew closer, a chill ran down his spine. The very air became cooler and Velvet held herself against his body shivering. Their breaths visible in the air.

“Bright, I’m scared,” Velvet shivers.

“Don’t worry, quickly into the old gym!” Barreling through the side door Bright Pulls Velvet inside. Only for her suddenly scream as her hand slips from his. “Vel!” He screams whipping around as the door slams shut. He hurriedly opens the door running back into the hall with his fist clenched tight. He looks around for Velvet but doesn’t see her. Then he hears the showers running.

Carefully he approaches the locker rooms. The noise coming from the girl’s side. He enters, eyes darting warily as he enters the first part. So far nothing, so he proceeds to the showers. Tiptoeing he enters the showers and sees… Velvet wrapped by a giant black snake!

“Vel!” He screams running into the showers. He tries to pull the snake off Velvet, but it snaps its jaws at him, hugging the girl tighter. She lets out a haggard cough as the snake coils around her torso. The snake was coiled entirely around Velvet’s body, it’s long black body coiling around her limbs before wrapping around her torso and around her neck, the last two feet hovering hover her head, keeping him at bay. The damn thing was twenty no maybe forty feet long! “Let her go!” He grabs for the head, but the snake’s jaws snap at him, making him pulls his hand back.

“Careful, the last person to do that is dying on the floor.” A voice says behind him. Bright’s head whips around, but the person speaking was on the other side of the wall. He get’s up, walking towards the voice. “Stop, don’t come any closer or your little girlfriend will be strangled to death.”

Bright stops. Shakily he looks to Velvet who looks at him with tear-filled eyes. He gulps, turning back towards the voice. “What do you want?”

A black hand appears through the entrance, holding a USB drive. “I want you to look at whats on this for me. Do it and you and the girl walk out of here. Answer quick, my pet gets hungry.”

Trembling Bright clenches his fist and glares at the hand. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Excellent, come to the computer room. I’ll be waiting there.”

Not wasting anytime Bright Idea races for the computer lab. A cold shiver of dread rising in his stomach as he eyes gaze at the darkened hall. The owner of the black hand, there was no sight of them! They weren’t behind him nor did he hear any footsteps racing ahead of him, they were just gone! Skidding to a stop at the computer lab door, Bright Idea sees the computer he had been playing on earlier with the monitor on. Cautiously he enters the room, finding the USB in question already resting on the keyboard. Yet he saw no one else in the lab. Inserting the hard drive into the USB port he waits for the files to load.

(There’s so much data on this thing.)

“Ok, now what?” He asks aloud. From the shadows his torturer’s voice speaks, making him shiver. He couldn’t determine the sex of the person in the shower because of the water running, but he could hear a feminine tinge the voice now, overlaid with another deeper more sinister voice as if two people were talking at once.

“Decrypt the files, and organize them into the following folders, ingredients, formulas, maps, artifacts, and profiles. I had to rush downloading these, so everything is in such a mess. I’m sure someone with your skills can figure this out, in oh, twenty minutes?”

“Twenty minutes? No one can do that! What do you think all nerds are like hackers in the movies? We just randomly hit keys and stuff happens?” The shadowy woman growls making him freeze up. There were some mumbles as if she was talking to someone else.

“Fine, what is the minimal amount of time you’ll need?”

Bright ran the calculations in his head. If he could identify which file type needs to go where he could run a program that would automatically sort the files. It would be faster than doing it by hand at least. “An hour or less give or take.

There was more growling in the corner and some hissing, something slithers across the body of the shadow. Was it another snake? Bright wonders as he already begins setting up the program. He might as well start.

“What is the fastest you can get it done?” The voice demands.

“About thirty minutes to an hour? Depending on how fast my program can sort the files.”

“Program?”

“Yes, I created a sorting program for the teachers a while ago to help them organize the network's files. It works the same way as ANTI-Scan does by reading through the file codes. Files of the same type or category will be placed into the same folder and…”

“You don’t need to explain the damn thing for me to understand you just made yourself useless.” From the shadows out flies a snake, knocking Bright Idea upside the head and sending him crashing to the floor unconscious. Out from the darkness the snakes’ master, Rainbow Dash, emerges as she gleefully watches Bright Idea’s program organize all the information she had stolen from Maddie’s hard drives. It wasn’t just Maddie’s data either, but her father’s, Madhoof’s.

With a twirl of her finger Rainbow connects to the computer via magic and mentally sorts out the information she desired most. Thanks to Bright Idea’s program it was like the computer was part of her brain turning what would have been a thirty-minute job into seconds as five folders appear on the screen before her. Eagerly she opens the artifact and maps folders. Her grin widening as she obverses the information before her.

Ejecting the USB Rainbow playfully tosses in her hands as she walks out into the hall. Passing the locker room, the other part of Ebony slithers out and crawls up her leg, rejoining with the other half. Outside the school, she holds the USB up to the moonlight in victory.

“With this, we’re ready.”


Maddie stirs, her body stiff and sore, it hurt to even wiggle. Still, despite her pain, especially the pain in her right hand, she was warm and snug as a bug in her bed. Which made her double take because the last she remembers she was lying on the cold floor the lab, overdosing on magic narcotics. How did she end up in her bed?

“The fuck happened after I passed out?” Raising up from the bed, which hurt, like a thousand needles were poking her spine and the needles were on fire. Maddie leans against the wall, the act of sitting up too taxing on her body at the moment. Curiously atop her sheets was a jacket. A heavy tawny color jacket with a fur collar. Slowly and carefully she picks it up, lifting it closer to her face. On the sleeve was a patroller patch and the sign for infinity.

A voice comes from the kitchen, “Hey, you’re up.”

Maddie looks towards the doorway, tears welling up in her eyes, “What are you doing here?”

Moondancer smiles as she fully enters the bedroom, smiling warmly as she kneels beside Maddie’s bed. Taking the mad scientist’s hands, she inspects Maddie’s injured hand, a huge scar running down between her middle and ring finger to the wrist.

“Hmm, seems the damage was too great to heal in one go or maybe something is wrong with your nerves. Can you feel anything when I do this?” Moondancer squeezes Maddie’s hand, the mad scientist wincing as more tears roll down her cheeks. “Oh, sorry, did I squeeze too hard?”

Maddie shakes her head, sending tears flying everywhere, “No,” She sobs, now actually crying. “It’s not that. It’s… it’s you didn’t answer my question. Why are you here? How did you know I was here?”

“Oh, well I got a strange call saying you were in trouble, so I came to see if you were alright.”

“You did? Really?” Moondancer nods. “Why?”

“Because I’m your friend.”