//------------------------------// // Back to School // Story: Sirens of the Night II // by The Crazed Werewolf //------------------------------// Adagio sat in the Crystal Prep cafeteria, waiting for the school day to start. She felt a shiver of disgust run down her spine and her left eye twitches involuntarily as she watched Blue Blood goof off with his friends across the cafeteria. "I can't believe that we're related to that prick," Adagio muttered to herself. "It is rather unfortunate," Adagio heard Cadence say. She spun around and saw both Cadence and Twilight standing there, Twilight was awkwardly trying to look inconspicuous. "He is so," Adagio searched her mind for the correct word, "revolting. If it wasn't for his father's money, he'd have no friends." "Who are you two talking about," Twilight asked, taking a peek around Cadence. "So," Cadence said looking at Adagio, "what do you think of Grandmama and Papa?" "They are definitely something else," Adagio said, "nothing like I expected." "Yeah," Cadence agreed, "they are different. But they raised me along with Celestia and your mom after my parents passed." "So how was your break," Adagio asked, wanting to change the subject. "It was great," Cadence answered, "even though Twilight spent most of it in her room." "I had to catalog all of my skunk-ape research," Twilight protested, "I'm abandoning my search for now, but eventually I will find them." "Twilight," Adagio said, "you are a scientist, you have to have something to research." "Well," Twilight said, "I have sensors placed all over the city." "Ok," Adagio said, "now I'm scared." "During the break I got some interesting readings from your sister's school." "What kind of readings," Adagio asked hesitantly. Twilight just shrugged. Across town at Canterlot High, eleven girls sat around the Wondercolt Statue waiting for the bell to ring. "I hope nobody knows what happened New Year's Eve," Sunset said, "last thing I need is for people to think that I'm a raging she-demon again." "I haven't seen anything posted about it on any of the local message boards," Rarity said. "Keeping up with the latest gossip ain't ya," Applejack teased. "A lady never gossips," Rarity replied, "I'm just keeping up with the latest news." "So... Gossip," Applejack deadpanned, "gotcha." Rarity realized at that moment that Applejack was teasing her, and her pale skin began to turn a deep shade of crimson. Pinkie was sitting on one of the benches nearby while Sonata was laying down using Pinkie's lap as a pillow. Both of them were laughing at some joke that Pinkie had said. Rainbow was telling Fluttershy and Scootaloo all about her trip to Manhattan with her mother. Most of the students ignored them as they entered the school. The break over the Holidays seemed to have been just the thing that Canterlot High needed to put Anon-A-Miss behind it. There were still a few glares, mostly from Gilda and her lackeys. And Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon still gave the Crusaders the cold shoulder. "Do you think that everyone has magic," Fluttershy asked, "Scootaloo did 'Pony-Up' after all." "That would be awesome," Rainbow exclaimed excitedly. "The rules of magic state that there must be a balance for magic to work," Sunset explained, "but those are the rules for magic in Equestria, who knows what kind of Pandora's Box I opened when I released that magic into this world." "So magic has rules," Rarity asked. "Much like the natural world," Sunset replied, "use too much of it and it could get depleted." As much as Sunset would have liked to continue the discussion on magic, and how it interacted with the surrounding world, the warning bell rang and the girls had to hustle in order to get to their various classes. When the lunch bell rang, there was a stampede of students as they all rushed to the cafeteria. Sunset and Fluttershy both arrived at the table that they and their friends sat at first since the both brought a lunch from home. It wasn't long before Scootaloo also joined them, since she was picking up the habit of bringing a lunch from her sister. Soon the table was occupied by the Dazzlings, the Rainbooms and the Crusaders. There were various conversations going on at the table. "Excuse me," a voice said, "may I sit here?" Each of the girls turned and looked at Gabby Griffin, Gilda's younger sister. While Gilda was a loud bully, Gabby was shy and quiet, if overly enthusiastic at times. "Sure thing," Scootaloo said, "we always have room for one more!" Sunset watched the exchange between Scootaloo and Gabby, and then she glanced at the table where Gabby usually sat, with Gilda and her goons. Both Lightning Dust and Short Fuse were laughing at some obscene joke that Short Fuse had told. Gilda however, was glaring at Sunset, and if looks could kill, Sunset would have been dead. This isn't over. THE END (Until next time.)