//------------------------------// // Arc XXX Episode V: Ghost Factory // Story: Family Begins With You // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// “...I’ll have to think about it,” Sunset admitted after a moment of shock, “I don’t want to jump into it right away, sir.” Aidon nodded with a smile on his face. “That’s the best answer you could’ve given me, Sunset. I can tell you’re shocked and want time to process what I just told you. I merely want to help increase your power to make sure your skills haven’t dulled.” “Seriously?” Sunset folded her arms and feigned taking offense to his statement. “I am perfectly skilled, thank you.” “Come now, I can tell you don’t mean that,” he replied with a grin. Sunset eventually started to laugh, and admitted, “...yeah, you’re right. But seriously, I really appreciate that you’d go out of your way to help me with my magic. Nobody’s done that for me in a while…” she muttered with her expression turning somber. “...not since you had Celestia teaching you, I take it?” Aidon surmised, “It’s alright. I think someone should take on the responsibility of teaching you what you don’t currently know. May as well be someone who’s already tangled with the darkness before, hm?” “...thanks, professor,” Sunset replied with a soft smile, “You remind me a lot of my dad, you know that? At least, what I remember about him, anyway.” Aidon paused. While he wanted to inquire more, that wasn’t something he was quite experienced with, nor did he want to make things awkward for her. Instead, he simply moved forward with the conversation. “...thank you for the compliment, Sunset,” he replied casually, “I’d like to think I could set a good example for everyone here if it’s possible.” “Well I also kinda say that because you’re really the only positive male role model I’ve had,” Sunset explained, “It feels…different, but kinda not? I dunno, it’s hard to get across,” she shook her head. “...forget I said anything.” “I get what you mean, miss. Don’t worry,” Aidon assured her that he knew exactly what she meant. A positive influence had to come from somewhere after all. “I’ll do what I can to continue being that for you.” And with that, he turned and resumed walking down the sidewalk, bidding her goodbye as he went along. “I’ll see you after winter break, hm? Be sure to enjoy it as graduation is approaching for you soon.” “Yeah…thank you, sir. I will,” Sunset replied with a smile as she left. The next day, with the Sirens… With Adagio at the wheel, she drove their mini-van towards the address that Aidon had given her. Next to her in the passenger seat was Aria with her legs up on the dashboard and her arms folded. Sonata was in the back seat lying across with music in her headphones. “Seriously?” Aria complained, “We’re doing this right before Christmas, why exactly?” “Because nobody would expect it,” Adagio replied as she made a turn, “Since everyone is about to take their winter vacations, they aren’t going to be guarding whatever it is that’s powering the research and development of these illegal weapons.” “Right,” Aria snapped back, “And we’re supposed to just casually waltz up in there, take whatever plans they have and leave?” “Precisely,” Adagio answered casually with one hand on the wheel. “After which, we’ll head to the chicken place to pick up our order--” Suddenly, Sonata sat up and shouted, “Hey! I think I see something totally sus going on over there!” “...Where?” Adagio looked around, only to come up confused. “I don’t see anything.” “Park right up there,” Sonata requested, “You’re driving and can’t look up.” Taken aback, Aria blinked and looked outside the window. “Up?” she muttered as she stuck her head out and squinted her eyes to look up at the building. Sure enough, Sonata’s word was correct. The smokestack attached to the building…wasn’t giving off smoke at all. It was something only they could see. Glittery bits of black magic. “...that’s hella abnormal,” Aria commented as her sister put the van in park in a nearby lot. Adagio got out and looked up at the sky, shielding her face from the sun with her hand. “...magic. Dark magic at that.” “I knew it!” Sonata yelped as she got out next, “What kinda corrupt nonsense are they using?” “I dunno,” Aria added as she stepped out and cracked her knuckles, “But I know for a fact that that shit isn’t kosher. Can’t let ‘em abuse that power. It’s on us to take it down.” “Alright, girls,” Adagio stepped forward, “I’ve got a plan. Listen closely.” Meanwhile, inside the building… Parabola stared outside of her window. “...they’re here.”