//------------------------------// // Arc III Episode III: Confirmed Suspicions // Story: Family Begins With You // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// Meanwhile, at the music shop… Adagio clocked in as usual. Thankfully, there were no crazy demons or magical mishaps that prevented her from being on time today. As she went to go manage the front desk, she watched as Wendy zipped past her and into the back room where Blueblood’s office was located. “...What the…” she tilted her head in confusion. “What’s she in such a hurry for?” It was something that the siren wasn’t prepared to hear, that’s for sure. She entered Blueblood’s office and shut the door behind her. “Boss. I found something. Something that may benefit your pursuit of power.” The blonde man stopped in the middle of sorting files, and turned to look at her from his chair. “Oh? What is it?” “The new teacher at the school has Equestrian magic--dark magic to be precise. I can feel it. He’s from there just like me,” she explained. “What should I do? Dark magic is some of the strongest magic known to man--er, pony.” Blueblood leaned forward on his desk. “Does he seem rather devoted to those students? Do they like him?” “From what I can tell? Yes. Easily the most well-received math teacher they’ve gotten so far. And that’s saying something, given the general distaste for the subject.” After carefully thinking over all possible angles, Blueblood decided on what Wendy should do. “...Go drop in and say hello. See if you can sweet-talk him into our side with those charms of yours.” The blue-haired girl raised an eyebrow. “Blackmail, sir?” “Exactly,” he replied. And with that, a devious smile crept up across her face. “I like it. I’ll make it so that he can’t refuse. As a male teacher, his position is far too easy to compromise.” “That’s right. Now get going--we’ll start on this operation tomorrow.” “Understood, master Blueblood.” Once they were done talking, Wendy left the office… And behind the open door, Adagio was standing there. Having eavesdropped on the entire conversation. “That harlot...who does she think she is?” As of that moment, the ball was in Adagio’s court. Since neither of them knew that she had been listening, she could continue to work and get paid as normal while also being privy to information that could be used against others. “First Twilight, now the new girl and my boss. What does everyone have against Mr. Aidon? He hasn’t done anything remotely suspicious.” There wasn’t much time for her to dwell upon it. Adagio had to get back to her position at the register before they noticed she was gone. She simply walked back up to the front of the store as if she had gone to the restroom. And no one was the wiser. “Gotta think of how to explain this to Aria and Sonata. Hopefully they believe me before the rumors…” On the other side of town… “Pinkie!” Twilight cried out in a huff as she dusted herself off, “Where did you--ugh, never mind. Give me a warning next time before you drop in on me like that.” “Sorry! I just couldn’t help but notice you were sitting up there in a tree looking super serious with binoculars pointed at Mr. Iota’s house,” she rambled while making circles with her hands and putting them over her eyes to represent binoculars. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were spying on him like some freaky-deaky creepo. But you’re not that kinda person, right?” she said with an innocent expression as she leaned forward. “Uhhh…” Twilight leaned backwards, and hesitated. “...Well, I wasn’t spying per se. I was just...making sure he got home safely. The city is really big so it’s easy to get turned around...hehe,” she said with a nervous laugh. Pinkie glared at Twilight with a raised eyebrow, but soon dropped the expression in favor of her usual friendly one. “Okie-dokie-lokie! But it’s way easier to just send him an email, ya know? See ya tomorrow!” she replied while skipping off down the sidewalk. “Whew…” the nerd breathed a sigh of relief, and pulled out her tablet. “Now if I can just get a good glimpse of him…” Inside the house… The man had removed his red suit and placed it in his laundry room as he thought over how his first day of teaching went. “Went much better than I expected. Suppose everything is safe at that school.” “Don’t be so sure. I never know who could be out there waiting for me to expose yourself for who I really am. Remember what you were taught. Lesson #1: Always strike first.” “Wait what What am I saying? This place is much more peaceful than where I came from. I don’t have to worry about any wars or persecution just for being a different shade.” “But it’s that very shade that caused me to run from where I came in the first place. I can’t hide forever.” “Tch! Agh!” The man rubbed the sides of his head with his fingers as he felt a sudden surge of pain throughout. “Keep it together...keep it together...you’re better than this…no one needs to know. No one…” Later that evening, at the Dazzling’s home… Sonata was busy playing an online game on a console in the living room, exasperated at her experience. “Ugh. Is it possible to get good teammates that don’t separate from the group?” “That game will only lead to rage and more rage,” Aria commented from the hallway while brushing her hair in the mirror, “Better just give up if you’re expecting any semblance of direction.” “Girls!” Adagio stormed into the house with a screech. “We have a problem.” “Agh!” Aria shouted as she tugged upon her hair with the brush a bit harder than she meant to, “Son of a--gimme a warning next time, would ya? Good thing I finished doing my nails beforehand.” “Oh...sorry,” Adagio closed the door behind herself, and sat on the couch. “Alright, listen up…” Once she explained what she had overheard from her boss and one of her associates, her sisters had their own takes on the situation. “Well that sounds pretty creepy,” Sonata commented with a shudder, “Brrr...can’t imagine what it’s like working for someone like Blueblood and calling him ‘master’ or whatever.” Aria thought more critically. “Master...is it possible that she’s from Equestria and she’s at his control? It wasn’t uncommon for ponies and other folks who lived in that world to have familiars.” “But a human with an Equestrian familiar?” Adagio questioned, “That doesn’t seem quite right. For one, how did he manage to acquire her. And two...why is she following him?” Sonata scratched the side of her head. “Famili--ohhhh you mean demon servants, right?” “Basically, yeah,” Aria said as she brushed the curls out of her hair, “Doesn’t necessarily have to be a demon. But they’re loyal as heck to their masters.” Sonata snapped her fingers upon recalling something. “Oh yeah. I think Princess Celestia had like--a phoenix familiar or something--I totes remember now.” Her expression promptly turned blank as she tried to think of what to do next. “So uh...what now? That math teacher guy doesn’t seem suspicious, does he?” “As far as I can tell, he hasn’t done anything wrong,” Adagio replied, “But as of this moment, we’re ahead of Blueblood and Wendy Goetia. And we need to keep it that way.” That name had some merit in the demonic world. To the point where Aria couldn’t stop thinking, “Goetia….Goetia. So if she’s from Equestria and is a familiar...I wonder what she was before she came here.” “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Adagio said as she turned on the couch so her legs could dangle off the side. “Above all else, keeping you two safe is my priority. So leave everything to me.” “...You sure that’s a good idea, sis?” Aria said with a doubtful tone, “I don’t want you burning yourself out.” “Yeah,” Sonata added, “That’d be like, really bad…” But the eldest siren wasn’t concerned. “Pfft,” she scoffed and waved her hand, “You worry too much. You know I can handle anything that comes our way…..ahh….” she yawned, and started to fall asleep on the couch. Even so, Aria and Sonata exchanged an apprehensive glance with each other. Was their sister really capable of doing everything on top of preparing for the holidays?