//------------------------------// // Arc XXI Episode III: Fishtakes Were Made // Story: Family Begins With You // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// Meanwhile, across the city… Having followed the card he was mysteriously given, Aidon took a drive down to the inner city where he previously had tea with Luna. “It can’t be her,” he thought to himself while driving, “She’s at therapy. So who could this possibly be from?” Of course he wasn’t aware of the fact that Sonata had given it to him as a setup to meet Parabola for a blind date. Nope--he was under the impression that there was something far more sinister going on that he was unaware of. “Let’s see…same place,” he muttered as he parked his vehicle outside of the shop and got out. Then he checked his watch. “4:45PM. So I’m right on time with it. Whoever this is, whether it’s a prank or a threat, I can’t just stand idle.” As Aidon approached the cafe, he’d notice a familiar face from the corner of his eye--one that called out to him. “Oh, professor! I didn’t know you came here when school was out,” Twilight spoke up, “Come say hi, Spike.” And moments later, the humanoid canine of a boy walked up next to her and added, “Yo.” “That’s right…you’ve become human,” Aidon muttered and replied, “Hello you two. How have you adapted to walking on two legs, Spike?” “Could be a whole lot worse. I could be on two legs, and look like you,” he said with a chuckle. Aidon glared at him for a moment and replied, “It’s a shadow-thing isn’t it?” “N-no! It was a joke!” Spike tried to clear up his point with a nervous stutter. But then the shadowman started laughing as well. “Ah, I’m just screwing around with you, kiddo. I’m glad you’ve managed to adapt to walking around. Do you plan to enroll in school?” “Uhhh…” Spike mumbled as he looked towards Twilight for an answer. And she responded, “...baby steps. He’s still got the intellect of a talking dog--not a regular human male.” Then she decided to change the subject as she adjusted her glasses. “So--what brings you here today, sir?” “Hm…don’t want to risk getting her involved at the moment,” he thought to himself, “Whoever left me this note could be watching…” So Aidon gave the best answer he could come up with on the spot. “I’m just here for a quick bite to eat before I head home. Don’t mind me, hm?” “Oh--you don’t want us to join you?” Twilight asked. “NO!” was his knee-jerk mental reaction, but he kept a relaxed facial expression on the surface. “Nah. It’s alright. You two go on ahead and enjoy yourselves.” “If you’re sure--c’mon, Spike.” Twilight beckoned her canid-friend to follow her. “Hope we see ya at the festival, teach,” Spike said as he walked off, following Twilight. “I just might…” he replied aloud, then mumbled under his breath, “...If I can live to see it.” As per the instructions, Aidon went to one of the outdoor tables at the nearby cafe. He took a seat and waited patiently for the person who sent him the card to appear. “What is it that you want exactly…?” Well, it wouldn’t be long before he had his answer. About five minutes later, Parabola appeared wearing more casual clothing--jean shorts and a small, black fur coat with white fur on the inside. She raised the sunglasses she had been wearing off of her face and tilted her head. “...Mister Iota?” It took a moment for Aidon to register her appearance. “Wait a minute…did she send me this? Is she secretly plotting something? Better address this carefully.” Then he answered, “Oh…Ms. Parabola? Did you invite me here?” “No…” she shook her head and reached into her coat, pulling out an identical red card to the one Aidon had received. “...Did you?” “No…” Aidon responded plainly, “That’s quite odd…I was certain that--...never mind.” He paused, and started to think some more. “Well at least this means it isn’t another evil threat, which is good.” Similarly, the zebra-striped woman thought, “...That puts me at ease. However, I should tell him right away to avoid confusion.” From a nearby bush, Sonata had been watching with a pair of binoculars. “Yes! I’m a total genius! And my sisters think I can’t function on my own…hmph. Well I showed you guys!” And the couple sitting at the table next to her reacted with confused stares. “...Is that a talking bush?” the girl asked. “Just ignore it,” said the boy, “that’s easily the least insane thing that’s happened in the last few months in this city.” At Aidon’s table… “I’m afraid someone must have misunderstood us and tried to set us up on a date,” Parabola explained with a giggle as she placed her hand against her forehead. “Ah, how adorable…” “...And awkward,” Aidon added with a forced grin on his face, “This is not how I expected this situation to go at all.” “Well, since we’re here, I may as well lay it all out on the table,” Parabola took a seat opposite of Aidon and began to explain. “I’m…not interested in you, sir. Don’t take it the wrong way, but I simply don’t harbor any attraction to anyone. It’s not you--I’m simply not interested in that sort of thing.” Aidon nearly bit his tongue as sweat rolled down the side of his head. The rejection struck him hard, but he was willing to accept it. “Ah…okay. I completely understand. Thanks for clearing it up now.” “But don’t worry,” Parabola looked at him with a smile, “There may be someone else out there that could have interest in you.” “...I suppose you're right," was all Aidon could manage to speak through his stiffened tongue and neutral expression. But before Parabola could say anything else, she felt her phone buzz, and she took a look at it. “Shoot…I have an appointment with my sister I need to get to. Sorry, but I can’t stay to chat any longer.” She hurriedly got up from the table and started hustling towards her car. “Hope you have a nice rest of your day.” As she drove off, Aidon waved, “You too, miss.” But once she was gone, he put his elbow on the table, and sighed with his face buried in his palm. “...How embarrassing.” Moments later, Derpy approached him--ready to take his order one moment, but then her crossed eyes gave off an impression of concern the next. “...Are you okay, Mr. Aidon?” Aidon replied without looking at her. “Honestly, Ms. Muffin? I don’t really know.” And from the bush she was sitting in, Sonata could easily read the situation as she grit her teeth. “...Aw, fishpaste.”