//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Cafe Dazzling // by brzy //------------------------------// Twilight was confused. She’d done everything by the book. The eye contact, the physical contact, then lean in for the kiss. Aria hadn’t seemed completely mad, but she definitely slammed the brakes after the kiss. After Twilight admitted it had been her first kiss, Aria calmed down and forgave her. “Note to self: you don’t kiss people you just met in a diner half an hour earlier.” She sighed and spun around in her swivel chair as she ran another scan on the shattered red gemstone. Aria’s gemstone, she said to herself. Another sip of “coffee.” At least she hadn’t ruined everything. Aria agreed to hang out again Sunday as long as she promised to not pull any more crap. She really thought she had read the mood right. You befriend the antihero character first, then her rival the princess and the younger sister character join your harem. She sighed again. She raised her arms in frustration. “Tenchi, I trusted you! How could you steer me wrong!” Another sip. Her short little argument with Aria hurt. She spit out the coffee as it hit her. “EUREKA!!” She grabbed her wig and pulled up the sleeves on her hoodie, which she had thrown on after Aria left. Clean room, hah. Carefully she packed the gemstone shards into a secure clear sample case and attached it around her neck. She just had to find a place where people fought and argued. After a minute of reflecting, it hit her: City Hall! --- Aria laid on her bed, arms behind her very confused head. She really didn’t swing that way, at least she never thought she did. Kisses are nice, so it’s only natural to initially reciprocate on instinct. What kind of dork just kisses someone they just met? Well, that kind she guessed, as her brow furrowed with grumpiness. “Aria! You okay?” Blue haired forever branded taco girl walked in. “Yeah Sonata. Lotta stuff happened, still trying to work it all out. First I suppose, that girl is Twilight Sparkle.” “Whaaat?!” “Well, this world’s version. Also, she has our gem fragments.” “WHAAAAT?” “And then she kissed me,” Aria added quietly. Sonata got the biggest, stupidest grin on her face. “Aria and Twilight, sitting in a tre…” Her song was interrupted by a pillow to the face. As she seized the pillow in her hands and braced herself to retaliate, Adagio walked in. “What are you two arguing abou…!” Sonata wacked her across the face as she spun to launch it back at Aria. With that, the great pillow war began. Anon, concerned over the shouts and crashes walked in. Alas, he was the first casualty as a pillow caught him in the jaw. He fell back out the door and rolled back into the hallway. “Hah, you’re out!” called Sonata. Anon was confused. Also sad that he was now missing out on a pillow fight with the Dazzlings. He reluctantly turned and left the room, defeated. Sitting on the couch of defeat, he turned on the TV to the local news. It was with horror that he learned there had been a riot in town. Apparently a group disagreed with a proposed zoning ordinance and things turned ugly. The mayor had been carried off by the unruly mob like a crowd surf gone terribly wrong. “Geeze. People take politics way too seriously.” He caught a brief glimpse of the Rainbooms as he turned the channel to the Food Network. Sweet, “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” was on! He quickly threw a bag of popcorn in the microwave then noticed the shouts had died down. A battered but unbroken Adagio strode out victorious. Her two vanquished foes followed quietly behind. “Pecking order has been reconfirmed!” shouted Dagi. She plopped down on the couch, then reached into the popcorn bowl as Anon sat. She and Sonata were in sweatpants again, Aria still in her jeans. “Now what pray tell were you all fighting about?” she asked. “Well, Aria found out that girl was actually Twilight and she has our gems and then Aria made out with her.” Aria’s jaw drop as she turned from Sonata, to Adagio, to Anon. Adagio put up her hands to stifle the immediate shouts and questions. “So this world’s Twilight?” Aria nodded. “She has you and Sonata’s broken pendants?” She nodded again. “And then you thought the proper course of action was to start making out with her.” Dagi did not phrase it as a question. “Nooo! She kissed me! It was only for a second…” Anon had nothing to say. He had actually momentarily stopped breathing. His eyes stared blankly as he was using every bit of brain power trying to burn the image of Aria and Twilight making out into his mind. “…So, you got close enough to feel it, right?” “Yes. We couldn’t feel them at the concert after they broke, but they are quietly crying in pain. How can you stand it Adagio?” Dagi sighed as she stared Aria in the eyes. “Because it’s a part of me. I can’t just leave it alone in pain like that. To abandon it.” Aria lowered her eyes, unable to match Adagio’s intensity. Being near the shattered pendant had been like having an open wound. It had thankfully gone away once she was more than 10 feet away from it. Now she found herself ashamed. She also found herself more impressed by Dagi. “What does she want?” “She studies magic. She’s a scientist who studies magic. Magic stuff has been happening so she’s studying it. With science.” Aria seemed a bit unsure as she said it out loud. It still sounded weird. Adagio looked unsure. “So you’re sure she’s not gonna dissect you?” asked Sonata. Aria glared at Sonata. It was hard to tell whether she was kidding or not. She decided to ignore the question. Sonata continued her blank stare. Anon finally spoke up. “Do you like her?” “Well, as a friend, yes.” “Then it probably won’t be a problem. Have fun hanging out with your new friend.” Anon and Adagio each took another handful of popcorn and threw it in their mouths.