The hospital he walked into wasn’t too remarkable. If anything it was like every other hospital he’d seen in his life; it was nothing but sterile white walls and more than a few dozen rooms on every floor.
Walking through the hospital grounds, Noble just sighed to himself as he wandered the halls, his attention not really focusing on anything as he continues on his way.. It’s been a while since he’s wandered these halls specifically, a few months really, and that was only because he was in the hospital for a concussion.
“Yo.” Walking into a room, Noble caught sight of a pair of familiar faces. One of them oblivious to the world, while the other was seated at the edge of the bed.
“Hey.” Aria, her voice had lost that roughness he was used to, but that didn’t really bother him. “What brings you here?”
“Nothing much.” Noble muttered as he parked himself next to a wall as he looked at the hospital bed. “How is she?”
“What you see is what you get.” Aria muttered, gesturing to the hospital bed’s occupant to show a blue haired girl sleeping peacefully.
“How long has it been?”
“Almost four months now.” The girl muttered as she noticed a bit of drool collecting on her sister’s cheek. Without a word she wiped it away, using the bedsheet as an improvised napkin.
“She getting better?” Aria didn’t say anything as she rested a hand on her sister’s forehead.
“Don’t know.” She admitted. “Her skin’s getting some color back and her temperature is rising, but the doctor’s don’t know if she’s gonna wake up.” She stated as Noble made a face, closed his eyes and took a breath.
“Have faith.” He muttered. “She’s bound to wake up one of these days.” He told her. “And when she does, you’re gonna be the first face she sees.”
“Yeah…” Aria whispered, pulling her hand back as she crossed her arms. “Anyway, what brings you here?”
“Nothing much. Just thought I'd pay a visit to the girl you cherish.”
“She’s my sister.” Aria grumbled as she looked at Noble. “I’d die for this idiot.” She paused looking back at Sonata. “Don't tell her I said that.”
“My lips are sealed.” Noble stated a light smile on his face as he looked at the sleeping girl. For a moment silence settles among the two. It was a comfortable one, the kind you don't mind all that much.
Still, they had to break it eventually.
“So~” Aria spoke up, that roughness he was used to coming back. “How's your vacation going?”
“So far? No complaints.” Noble admitted. “Admit; I'm not doing much but it's nice to just take it easy and chill for a while, you know?”
“Yeah.” Aria agreed with a hint of reluctance. ‘Much as I like how I can get a real meal, the calm you can find isn't that bad either.’ She told herself. ‘Still…’ Reaching for her collar, Aria touched her necklace as she frowned.
“You good?” Noble asked as Aria shook her head.
“Yeah.” She grumbled. “I'm fine.”
“Don't sound fine.” Her counterpart remarked. “Don't look it either.”
“Well what do I usually look like?”
“Somewhere between bored, annoyed, and occasionally pissed.” Noble stated. Aria gave him a look. “Right now you look somewhere between the latter two.”
“Oh fuck off.” Aria muttered before resting her hands on her knees as she pushed herself up. “I'm heading out.” She grumbled as she looked at Sonata and ruffled her hair. “I’ll be back later, ok?” Noble watches her leave, before his attention shifts to the sleeper as he made a face. A moment later, and he was following after Aria, jogging for a moment to catch up to the girl.
“You know you can stay if you want.” Aria grumbled as she continued heading down the halls. “Don't leave just because I am.”
“Sorry, but I find that you offer more stimulating conversations.” Noble stated, and Aria made a noise. “Besides, I wanted to talk to you for a moment.”
“Bout what?”
“A few things really.” Noble shrugged as he and Aria continued walking on. “To start, how have you been feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.” He grumbled as Aria glanced back at him. “You look like you haven’t slept well in days.” He admitted. “You good?”
“I’m fine.”
“No you’re not.” He remarked. “I noticed when I first saw you days ago - just didn’t have a moment alone to talk to ya.” He admitted. “What’s going on?”
“My sister is in the hospital.”
“I know.” Noble grumbled. “But that’s not what’s bothering you.” He admitted. “What’s going on?” Aria didn’t say anything for a while, just walking on till she reached the hospital cafeteria and started picking up some food. “Aria…” Noble sighed to himself as he seemed to scratch his cheek. “Nevermind.” He muttered. “Can’t force you to talk, but… I’m here if you want to.”
“I know.” Was all Aria said as she started looking around the cafeteria and continued grabbing food. “Thanks.” Without a word, Noble reached over and ruffled Aria’s hair, an act that nearly resulted in her biting his hand. “Don’t ever do that.”
“Worth a shot.” Reaching for his own food Noble left Aria be for a while, only returning when they crossed paths at the line to pay.
A few bits of spent coam later and they settled down to enjoy their individual meals.
“So… have you heard?”
“Heard what?” Aria just rolled her eyes as she continued to eat. “I’ve only been in town for a few days, Aria, even if I keep my ear to the ground, there’s stuff I won’t hear.”
“Fair.” Aria grumbled as she seemed to think. “There’s this rumor going around… someone saw ‘him’.” Noble stopped eating and froze up.
“What?” His voice was quiet, but rough at the same time.
“Yeah.” Aria grumbled. It’s just a rumor, but someone said they saw the Breaking Dawn.”
“Shit…” Noble grumbled as he rested a hand on his head. A moment later he seemed to think before reaching for his phone and started texting a message. “You got any spare AC?”
“Got two.” Aria shrugged.
“Mind if I borrow one?” Noble asked. “I get the feeling I’m going to need it until the Obelisk gets shipped into town.” Aria made a noise.
“If the Breaking Dawn really is in town, you can use it, after all…”
“If he is in town, something bad is bound to happen soon.”
Aria wished he was wrong.
More trash.
Worse, it was one of those leaking bags.
Sunset hissed at that fact, and did what she could to carry it back to her truck before tossing it inside. “That’s gonna seep into the gloves.”
“Eyup.” Applejack made noise as she continued working. “Just be glad it’s the gloves and not your clothes.”
“Yeah…” Sunset grumbled as she helped Applejack continue tossing in bags. “Bet it take forever to get this gunk out.”
“Eyup.” Was all Applejack said before tossing another bag into the truck before walking to get back on the truck. “Ready for the next stop?”
“No.”
“Too bad shuga.”Wass all Applejack said as she patted the truck before making a gesture. “Come on.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Sunset grumbled as she hopped onto the truck before it started off. “So, how Applebloom?” She asked after a while. “Haven’t seen her sleep in your bed in a few days.”
“Yeah well…” Applejack muttered. “Can’t sleep with her big sis forever.” She shrugged, trying to play it off. “She’s good though.” The young woman admitted. “Slowly brighten up as the days go by.” She admitted. “Still, she ain’t nowhere near as bubbly from before all this happened, but she’s opening up, a bit anyway.” Applejack admits looking at her counterpart. “She’s… she’s tryin to help out a anyway she can” She paused. “She doesn’t want to feel like burden.”
“Is she?”
“Course not.” Applejack whispered. “I even told her that, but… i guess she don’t really believe me.” She paused. “She’s been feeling that way ever since Mac died.”
“Mac?” Sunset paused as she tried to think back. “You mentioned him before, that your brother?”
“Eyup.” Applejack nodded her head as she seemed to think back.
“If you don’t mind me asking…” Sunset paused. “How did he… you know.”
“Protecting us.” Applejack admitted. “Just like daddy taught him.” Sunset seemed to fall silent, shifting for a moment as she waited for Applejack to continue.”
“What happened?”
“Our farm got hit.” Applejack admitted.
“A farm?” Sunset raised an eyebrow. “You had a farm?” Applejack chuckled weakly.
“Sounds crazy, don’t it? Farm land in this day and age, but yeah, we had a bit of land.” She admitted. “It was a gift to great grandpapi, something he got for his service back during the previous war.” She stated. “We made good coam back then, selling fresh fruits and eggs to those who wanted a taste of the real thing instead of that synthesized stuff.” She admitted. “It was… nice.” A pause. “Growing up there, away from all the fightin… things were so simple back there.” She paused.
“But something happened.” Sunset asked.
“Yeah, some fightin spilled over into our neck of the woods, burned everything to the ground. Mac told me to take bloom and run while he grabbed great-granddads old AC from the barn and tried cover’in us.” Applejack admitted. “That night was the last time I saw him, and since then it’s just been me and Bloom.”
“Applejack…” Sunset paused as she seemed lost for words. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, it was a long time ago.” The girl admitted as she looked ahead, watching their ride carry them across the streets. For a while, neither said anything as Sunset looked elsewhere.
“I have them too…” She muttered. “Siblings.”
“Oh?” Applejack looked at her. “Sister or brother?”
“Both.” Sunset admitted. “Well… I had both.” She corrected herself. “I had an older sister named Daybreak.” She admitted. “She… passed away a long time ago.” She paused. “As for my brother, I’ve never actually met him, but I think he’s still out there.”
“You never met your brother?”
“Half brother.” Sunset grumbled. “My… father… he was a real piece of work. Was fooling around with my mother while being engaged to somepo- someone else.” She admitted. “Mom thought he loved her but when she found out she was just a side piece…” Sunset’s eyes started to cloud before she closed them and shook her head. “Forget I said anything.”
“Shuga…” Applejack made too say something, made too say anything but stopped herself. “Come on, we’re here, let’s get the trash.”
“Right…”
It looks like its going to be a quiet day.
should that really come as a surprise though?
The Sphere really was quiet around this time of day. With the city police patrolling as they did there was little issue presented in the city. As for what went on beyond their city borders…
Everything was peaceful.
As for Dawnbreaker
Locked in the room provided by one of the Sphere’s Hotels, the middle young man took a moment to hum a tune to himself as he cracked his fingers, taking the time to get the stiffness out of them as he took a seat before the piano situated nearby.
As some would say, if you don’t use a skill, you run the risk of losing it.
Opening his piano up Dawnbreaker glided his hands over his keyboard before taking a glance at the music book that was waiting to be opened.
“Not today.” He decided, taking a moment to close his eyes and smiled. “Now~” He paused. “Let’s… be…gin.” the moment his fingers hit the keys, the note played was drowned out by an explosion echoing in the distance.