//------------------------------// // Arc XII Episode II: Sugary // Story: Family Begins With You // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// So the girls took a walk around the neighborhood--away from Sour Sweet’s…interesting little abode where they could speak and think with clear heads as Sour began to explain the nature of her nighttime terrors. “Alright, so,” she went on with the explanation, “To make a long story painfully short, I’m having these dreams where this weird…demon-looking thing is harassing the hell out of me, trying to get me to accept its power or something.” Aria tilted her head and replied, “Wait…accept its…’power’? What kinda demon is that?” “Sounds to me like something has invaded your mind,” Sugarcoat mused as she looked at Aria, “Do you think it could be Equestrian magic?” “Hm…well it’s not impossible,” Aria replied, “Luna was the one who managed dreams back there, but since she’s not here, it’s likely that something from somewhere has spilled out into this world and caused some shit like that to happen. Not to mention, Sour here isn’t the first case. Though, she is the first case from somebody that’s not from our school…” “Y-you mean it’s spreading??” Sour asked, her voice breaking under desperation, “T-that’s not good! I don’t want anyone else to go through what I’m dealing with…” Sugarcoat put a hand on her shoulder, and a rare, compassionate smile appeared on her face. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re my friend after all.” Sour noted the oddity of her friend’s sympathetic approach and acknowledged it aloud. “I…that’s unexpected of you. Thanks, Shuggs.” “No problem. Now…what can you remember?” she asked, “Do you know what this monster looked like?” “Yeah it’d help if I knew what I was looking for,” Aria commented, “There’s loads of Equestrian monsters that try to corrupt those who accept their power so I’m at a loss right now myself.” Sour did her best to recollect her dream from the previous night. “Okay…let me think…” After a minute of racking her brain, it started to come back to her. “Ah. Alright. I think it was this…weird-looking elephant thing. It was trying to offer me its power for…some reason.” “Hm…” Aria mumbled. The siren already had a hunch as to what it could be, but needed more evidence to assist her theory. “I see. And what do you think it was offering you power for?” “...Maybe something to do with a certain someone you’re not happy with?” Sugarcoat suggested in a knowing fashion. “...Oh…” Sour rubbed her neck. It was fairly obvious once she gave it some thought. “...My aunt. Maybe. I dunno. I just feel so…powerless when she talks to me.” Since Aria wasn’t too familiar with the human customs of family, she was curious. “Why is that? Aren’t you close to being an independent young lady? What power does she have over you?” “It’s…complicated,” Sour replied curtly, then muttered under her breath, “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try to butt in so much…” Sugarcoat cleared her throat. “Ahem. We’re trying to help you out here. And if you can’t explain everything to us, that’s fine, but we need more information, Sour.” The yellow girl’s eyes opened wide--it happened once again. “...Did I say that out loud?” Both the siren and Sour’s friend nodded in unison. “Ugh…” Sour placed a hand on her forehead, “I’m sorry. I just…sometimes those thoughts slip out when I don’t mean for them to. Anyway, to answer your question…” She let out a sigh and continued, “That’s my aunt--Pulp Squirt. She’s been the one taking care of me ever since my parents…were no longer able to. So I kind of…never bothered saying anything to her. I figured I owed her, you know?” Aria didn’t mince words as she spoke her mind. “That doesn’t give her the right to be a total jackass to you for no reason. What kinda stick up her ass does she have to wanna treat you that way in the first place?” “No idea…” Sour answered while breaking eye contact, “But whatever the case, I think it may have to do with my dream.” Aria snapped her fingers. “That’s it. The elephant demon must be trying to appeal to you on a personal level so it can take over. But where could it have come from…Luna’s magic doesn’t reach this far…” “Regardless of where it came from,” Sugarcoat interjected, “We need to help you deal with this problem head-on.” She then looked at Aria. “I saw this movie once where the characters all managed to get into the same singular dream simply by dreaming about each other. Do you think it’s possible for that to happen here?” “I don’t see why not,” Aria replied, and looked at Sour, “Would you want us to jump inside your head tonight and see what we can find? It’s all up to you, of course.” There wasn’t much they could do at the moment, so Sour Sweet had no choice but to agree. If there was truly a way they could help, she was more than willing to accept it. “...Okay. I’d appreciate it,” she replied with a nervous twitch of her eyelid, “But for now, I have to get back home. My aunt’s probably wondering where I am right about now…” And with that, she skittishly turned and walked off, back towards her home… Sugarcoat sighed. “Bleck…it’s a crying shame. But I suppose there’s not much we’ll be able to do until tonight, right?” “I have a sneaking suspicion that everyone else who’s been afflicted with this has gone through some similar crap,” Aria explained as she watched Sour walk away. “It’s like their inner hatred is being turned against them or something.” “...’Hatred being turned against them,’” Sugar repeated, then scoffed, “Hmph. It’s like something out of a psychological horror novel. I can only imagine what the others are enduring. But one thing at a time I suppose.” She looked at Aria and asked, “See you tonight then?” “That’s the plan,” Aria replied, “See ya then.” And with their plan in motion, the girls went off to their respective homes…