//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Melody's Adventures in CHS // by NgKQ //------------------------------// Meanwhile, back at Sunset Shimmer’s house… Melody was still awake on her couch again. She was thinking many possibilities on the fate of Phoenix Dawn. What if she was kidnapped by some ordinary kidnapper? How much would be the ransom? Will she be sent out of this city? Worse still… Could she have ended up in the hands of Madam Myra? Once more, all these thoughts put her to sleep. She suddenly woke up to find herself in a strange room, dimly lit. “Where am I?” Then the whole room suddenly lit up. From the door across, in came a group of men dressed in an evil way. “Welcome to my fun land…” an evil voice boomed. “I hope you’ll enjoy the fun here…” She recognized the voice. Madam Myra! As she turned around to search for an escape route, she found an old rusty ladder nearby, and quickly rushed to clamber on it just before the men could get her. She managed to reach the top and began crawling quickly through the small tunnel. But then, halfway through without warning… The tunnel floor gave way and she found herself in an empty room. To make matters worse, a strange fluid began flowing towards her and dissolved a tin can lying on the floor. Acid! Melody looked around. There was a door at the distance. She darted towards it. Fortunately for her, it wasn’t locked. She swooped out and closed it straight, just before the flowing acid could engulf her. But things just got worse. Out of nowhere, several men grabbed her. “Prepare to die, lady!” Without warning, one of the men aimed his needle at her shoulder, and pierced it. “AAAAAHHHHH!!!!” Melody screamed as the virus in the fluid began to infect and kill her. It was when Melody woke up, with her whole body covered in sweat and panting. She looked around to find herself in Sunset Shimmer’s living room again. “Oh dear,” she moaned to herself. “I’ve been having nightmares for two days in a row! How am I supposed to cope this over!?? Someone must help me!” “You’ve been stressing too much, aren’t you?” Suddenly, a familiar voice called. At the same time Melody could feel something touching her shoulder. She was frightened, but when she turned back… She saw a light orange stallion pony, with blue hair and a pair of wings, and light glowing around him. He was no other than the spirit of Flash Sentry. The Flash Sentry of Equestria. Flash gave her a smile. “… Dad? Aren’t you supposed to be… a human here?” “Well, magic makes me come here,” Flash explained. “I happen to learn that you’re in the world your mother’s been before, so I managed to get here in my pony form with the help of Princess Celestia!” “But, will Sunset Shimmer hear us talking down there?” Flash signaled his muzzle upwards. Melody could see a barrier made up of magic surrounding them. “I was able to explore everywhere when I came here. When I found you in distress, I was able to cast a barrier which Princess Celestia told me to do so that no one can hear us talking!” Melody listened, amazed at Princess Celestia’s ability. “So, what’s been troubling you now?” “*sigh* You see…” Melody proceeded to tell him about what happened earlier. “Oh…” Flash responded after listening with interest. “Saving someone who’s bullying you all the while?” Melody nodded. “But I just don’t know whether she would change after that or not. That’s the problem. I’m so confused, Dad. What can I do?” “Well,” continued Flash. “Remember the time you were kidnapped when you’re a filly?” Melody recalled. She remembered the day a disguised Queen Myra went up to the door at Fluttershy’s house, then wrapped her up in a sack, and then remembered Chaos Control risking himself to save her, and swore that he would protect her for eternal. Yes, she realized that she and Phoenix are to be in common. A sense of déjà vu conquered her thoughts. Well, she couldn’t let anything happen to her rival. “Err, yeah.” “And you did taught somepony a valuable lesson?” Melody recalled her incident with Pixie Dust again. She gave her advice on friendship and not to be arrogant. Maybe if she could do the same to Phoenix Dawn, the reaction could be the same. “Take my advice, Melody. Just do your best to save her, whether she’s your friend or enemy. A good advice would definitely motivate her,” said Flash. “Even just a teen-weeny bit of word will probably move her.” “I guess, you’re right, Dad,” replied Melody. “Seeing you now makes me miss everypony in Equestria.” She hugged Flash Sentry and wept, with him cuddling her. “Don’t be so sad, my daughter,” comforted Flash, kissing her on the forehead. “Trust me, you’ll be home soon. If everything goes well your mother might come into this world.” “… really?” “I’m serious. Also, don’t forget this.” He held her charm, which glittered in the darkness. “As always, it will come in handy when you’re in deep trouble!” Melody held her charm. It really was her father and family’s treasure, and she couldn’t lose it. “I will treasure it,” she promised to him. “I’ll try and save Phoenix Dawn no matter what!” “The rest is up to you. I believe in the power in you so you can do it…!” said Flash before his spirit began to fade away into the darkness. Melody stared at her charm, with determination. “If Phoenix Dawn thinks that this is just an ordinary jewel, I’ll show her and everybody what this thing can do!” she said to herself. Soon, morning broke over the neighborhood. Melody got up, feeling herself full of spirits after a night’s talk with her father. She looked at the clock. “I think I’d better wake Sunset Shimmer up. Or else I’ll be late for school and tell them my ultimate decision!” Melody went into Sunset’s room. Sunset was still asleep, tired after crying all night for her daughter. “Um, Sunset?” Melody woke her. “Oh…” Sunset stretched. “What time is it now, Melody?” “Err, 8 a.m.?” Sunset jolted with a start. “Oh no! I’ll be late for school! Melody, you’ll pack this for me, and this, and this…” At the outskirts of the city, at a building close to Myra’s headquarters… Phoenix Dawn, who had fallen asleep upon injection slowly opened her eyes. She glanced everywhere. “Where… am I?” She tried to feel her hands and legs but alas, both have been tied. She couldn’t move at all. A sting of pain came from her left leg. It was when the door opened to reveal three men. “Aha, you’re awake,” one of them, dressed in red spoke to her. “We’ve decided to keep you in this warehouse for the moment. When night comes we’ll take you for Madam Myra’s final test subject.” “Heck no!” objected Phoenix strongly. “I am not going to be your rat!” “Still defiant, huh?” The other two went up and sealed her mouth with a tape, preventing her from shouting and screaming. “I think I’ll keep you quiet for a while. It’s about time you’re about to say farewell to this pathetic world! Not my words, but I’m merely following Madam’s orders…” he cackled as he closed the door, leaving her in the semi-darkness. Desperate, Phoenix tried to turn around, in a vain attempt to move herself. Suddenly, she felt something hard within her clothes. She tried to drop it. It was her phone! For some reason, Myra’s henchmen failed to search through her clothes and remove her phone! Bearing the extreme pain, she turned around and tried to work on the phone. It was a lot of hard work for her, as she had to use her nose to operate it. She had to send an SOS message for help… somehow! Meanwhile, back in Canterlot High School… The children of the Main Five, as usual, gathered at the band room. “I was wondering,” began Fiji. “How you all guys discussed with everyone at home.” “Discuss what?” asked Chaos Control. “About Phoenix Dawn, of course!” said Greenie Hats sharply. “As I said, nobody would definitely care about her!” “Of course you don’t care! But what about us?” snapped Beryl back. Before anyone could answer, the band room door slammed open and there stood Melody, with a stern face and a gush of wind blowing from behind. “Melody… Aurora…” said Thunder Clash softly and weakly. “I’ve made up my mind,” declared Melody. “I’m going to save Phoenix Dawn.” Everyone in the room gasped. “You… seriously!??” blurted Greenie. “You wanna go and save our bully? Hah-hah-hah! Trust me, she’ll be the same if you rescue her!” “I’m not kidding,” Melody went on calmly. “Don’t you want to give her another chance?” “Another chance? Oh-ho-ho, don’t bluff me, Melody!” guffawed Thunder. “Why would you want to save someone useless to you?” “Thunder Clash, this isn’t funny!” snapped Chaos. “Melody’s got a point, you know.” “Seriously?” “I’m serious,” Melody continued. “Even if she’s a bully to this school, she deserves a second chance! Apart from that, she does have some common with me.” “What’s so common?” asked Pizza Frenzy, still in disbelief. “She and I don’t have a father,” explained Melody. “Her father left a month after she was born. Mine died on the day I was born.” “WHAT!?” cried Pepper Flake. “And also, I was kidnapped before. Kidnapped by someone who’s greedy for power to control the world, just like Madam Myra.” “Seriously!?” asked Raisin Brandy, his jaw dropping. “That’s why I need to save her,” Melody resumed. “What if she’s in the hands of Madam Myra? If no one comes to save her then this is going to be a disaster! Imagine how horrible everything would turn out!” Everyone gasped. As everyone stood in silence, Chaos went up to her. “Melody,” said Chaos. “I think I have to agree with you on this.” “You’re gonna help me?” “You can’t go and face her alone,” he replied. “With me by my side, we can do this together.” “I’m with you, too, Chaos,” said Beryl as she followed him. “Ditto,” added Honey Drops. “And me, too!” said Malinae quickly. “Hold it, hold it!” called Greenie Hats when she saw four people siding Melody. “Are you gonna sure this will work? I mean, she can’t be trusted!” “We might as well give her a chance,” said Melody. “Perhaps this kidnapping incident might serve as a lesson to her. Besides, I have came across several ones who were arrogant, but after some word of mine, they were able to appreciate what is meant by friendship.” “You really think so?” asked a doubtful Platinum Royale. “She is right.” Out of nowhere, Sunset Shimmer appeared, along with her friends. “Madam Sunset!” “Are you seriously gonna let her save your daughter!?” asked Peanut Butter. “We’ve made a deal,” replied Sunset. “Melody just spoke to me that she had made her decision. Whatever Phoenix Dawn does to me and all of you, she is still my daughter, and I forever love her. I think her inner heart would express her love for me.” “You really think so, Madam Sunset?” inquired Thunder. “A mother’s love for her child is always endless,” said Rarity. “She can even die to protect her child. Don’t you know all of this basic concept?” All of them felt speechless. “Please, I beg you all,” Sunset pleaded. “You all are my only hope…” She went into tears and hugged Fluttershy. The rest all hung their heads in shame. They felt that these words were right. Plus, with someone, not only from another world but also part of a royal family, she might have a point. “I’m sorry, Melody,” apologized Greenie Hats. “I didn’t realize that you can be a person with wise words.” “I am more experienced,” replied Melody modestly. “It’s not that I’m like the best motivator around here or something.” “We’d know we could trust you,” said Beryl. “You’re a princess after all!” “Alright then. We’ll help you,” Fiji gave in at last. “I can’t deny. Looks like I’m in, too,” shrugged Peanut. “Guess I’m joining in,” said Pepper, stepping forward. “Okay, I’m giving in,” said Thunder. “So am I,” replied Platinum. “Guess I ain’t gonna deny,” said Raisin. In no time, all of them agreed to help Melody in rescuing Phoenix Dawn. “I’m amazed,” responded Sunset. “I feel that you all are ready to give Phoenix Dawn a second chance.” “It is important that we see students care for each other, no matter he or she is good or bad,” the principal and the vice principal appeared. “We are trying to prove the society a loving community.” “Well said, Principal,” agreed Rainbow Dash. Just then a beep came from Sunset Shimmer. “Oh, I got a new message! Let me see who it is… *gasp*” “What’s wrong?” asked Pinkie Pie. “It’s… my daughter! But, how could she…” “Forget about how she was able to contact us! Let’s see what she says!” urged Rarity. Slowly, Sunset opened her message, trembling to expect a message demanding a ransom. Then she gasped even more. “What is it?” asked Applejack. “Oh my… I don’t even know how to read it…” replied Fluttershy. Instead, what was displayed in front of them was a series of letters, all jumbled up together! “What… was she… doing?” said Sunset. “I… don’t know?” replied Rainbow Dash doubtfully. “Might be someone taking her phone and trying to play a prank on you.” “My daughter would never let anyone use her phone!” “What is it?” Chaos went forward. Fluttershy showed him the message. He took it and examined it. “I don’t think it’s some sort of gibberish,” declared Chaos. “What? How can you tell?” asked Sunset, surprised. “You wait.” Taking out his phone, Chaos began to dial a number from his contacts. “Hello, Drake, you there with your friends? Alright, we’ve got some important work to do right now. Meet me at the tech room now!” “Who’s that?” asked Melody as he ended the call. “Calling my IT team. We’re gotta work on this message. I believe it might reveal us a hidden meaning.” Chaos walked out, and soon everyone followed him. “They’re Chaos’ mates and are part of the electronic club,” Beryl explained to Melody on the way. “They intend on starting themselves a software company!” “Is that so?” asked Melody, surprised. Outside, the others waited. It had been almost an hour Chaos and his team were analyzing the message sent by Phoenix. Sunset was with her face down onto Fluttershy’s shoulders, with a look of despair and anxiety. Melody and the others kept waiting uneasily. A while later, Chaos and his team came out. “Chaos, what does it say!?” Sunset asked nervously. “Well, after an hour’s examination,” announced Chaos. “Phoenix Dawn is calling for help.” All gasped at the revelation. “How did you figure that out?” asked Melody. “Well, first things first, you know what do kidnappers do the first thing they got you?” “Um, tie up the hands and legs?” asked Thunder. “And where will they place you?” “Well, at a dark corner, either sitting or lying down,” answered Pepper. “Correct. At this point I assume that Phoenix might have used one part of her body to operate on the phone. Since it’s less accurate to tap at a point properly on the screen, she would’ve tapped the other keys while typing to send the message. We tried to work out the nearest keys possible to decipher the message.” “So, what does the message say?” asked Melody. “Please help me, I have been kidnapped by Madam Myra and she’s going to kill me tonight,” he read the decoded message aloud. All could not believe their ears. “Whoa, nelly,” croaked Applejack. “No…” said Sunset, her eyes beginning to mist. “My worst fears… have been confirmed…” said an extremely shocked Melody. “What’s more,” reported another boy from the team. “We were able to use some special coding to determine where the message came from. We were able to verify the coordinates and managed to find out this location.” He showed them a map printed with a mark. Everyone came over to see it. “So that’s where Myra’s secret place is?” asked Platinum. “It looks so… remote,” added Honey. “Like I never knew and been to this place before.” “We’re not sure about that place,” another boy spoke. “We assume that the building might not have any location receptors that makes it invisible from satellite view. There are many other possibilities, but it’s hard for us to tell.” “Guys!” Rarity was rushing excitedly towards them. “I got a call from the police! Looks like we’ve got some breakthrough!” “What did they say?” asked Prudence. “They told me that there were others who witnessed the kidnapping and managed to trace the car secretly to a location,” Rarity replied. “And that leads them to a mysterious building!” She showed them pictures the police sent her. The building was small as the person who shot them was far away so that he would not get spotted. All of them gasped at amazement. “Alright then,” said Melody. “It’s time to think of our actions!” “Huh?” asked Peanut. “But you know that Myra’s place is dangerous!” “I know, but let’s discuss this together. We can come up with a perfect strategy.” “Melody’s right,” said Chaos. “If this plan’s carried out well then we can probably uncover Myra’s evil plans!” “Oh whoa, that’s what I call a princess!” beamed Rainbow Dash. “She would definitely show true leadership to everyone else!” “Come on, everybody!” called Melody as she headed to the discussion room. “Let’s try to put an end to Myra’s evils!”