//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Cafe Dazzling // by brzy //------------------------------// Aria met Doc outside the lab. She felt simultaneously relieved then ashamed that she wouldn’t be near her pendant. Aria noticed she looked a little different from before. Not quite as disheveled as she had been. She almost had a glow going. “So, you are gonna show me around the mall today, right?” asked Doc. “Yeah, we can pick out some new outfits, maybe eat lunch at that steak house?” “That sounds great, I’m famished. “ With that, the two girls set out for the mall for a day of shopping and medium rare steaks. Back in Cafe Dazzling, Adagio’s eyebrow twitched. She could feel the migraine building just behind her right eye. It was Sunday, her only real day off, and the Rainbooms were there. “I’m telling you, we were here all day yesterday after we closed. We sat around watching Food Network and eating popcorn.” “Don’t forget the awesome epic pillow fight Adagio!” added Sonata. “Sunset, we never left the restaurant,” stated Anon. “We actually saw the riot on the news, along with you guys. It wasn’t them.” “They looked all weird just like the students before after you guys used your magic on them!” shouted Rainbow Dash. “Not. Us.” said Adagio. “Our gems shattered, and we can’t sing anymore.” “Fine! Be that way. But we’ll be keeping our eyes on you,” glared Rarity. “Guys, cut it out!” Sunset glared at the rest of the Rainbooms. She shook her head. “Look, just keep an eye out and let us know if you see anything. You are the only other ones who would recognize Equestrian magic.” The Rainbooms left. Fluttershy just stared at the floor as they exited, Pinkie gave a halfhearted wave. "Freaking what the heck!" shouted Anon. "Something magical happens and those jerks blame you girls first thing.” He fell back into a big comfy booth, looking at Sonata and Adagio. They were both quiet, their eyes cast towards the deck as their thoughts drifted elsewhere. After a moment, Adagio spoke up. “Well, if we’re gonna shut those Rainbooms up, we’re gonna have to solve the mystery ourselves.” Cut to the mall. There is a sale going on. There is also a small riot as angry shoppers kick and punch one another to get at the rows of clothing. “Holy freaking crap Doc!” shouted Aria as she ducked under a swung purse, then transitioned smoothly to a shin scrape down the side of a middle aged woman’s leg. “What the hell is up with these people?!” "Did you not get the Trot (tweet pun lol)? Someone sent out the info for the sale to nearly everybody in town,” answered Twilight giggling, as she twisted someone’s thrown fist into a behind the back wrist lock. She kicked them in the butt, sending them flying. “Didn’t think this many people would show.” “I don’t think we’re gonna be able to get anything with this crowd. Let’s just go to the restaurant.” Doc looked disappointed, then thumb struck a guy in the ribs. He crumpled to the ground. She looked less disappointed after that. “Yeah, think that’s about all we’re gonna get from here.” As they walked off towards Horseman’s Steakhouse, Aria didn’t notice the confused crowd behind her start to break up. They found the restaurant fairly uncrowded as they sat themselves down. After a few minutes of waiting, they placed their orders: a medium rare 12 oz New York strip for Aria and a rare 16oz Ribeye for Doc. Aria looked a little surprised. “I’ve been really craving a nice juicy steak lately,” offered Twilight. They dug into their lunch, conversation consisting of typical girl stuff. You know, kicking techniques, different types of joint manipulations, and how to get out of a rear naked choke. Just totally normal girl stuff. As they finished up their steaks, they heard a crash. A server had dropped a tray of food onto a pair of customers. The pink and grey haired girls were soaked in what appeared to be French onion soup. The shouting grew intense as the waiter claimed he was tripped by the girls. Aria rolled her eyes at the chaos. “Man, not even Sonata would be that uncoordinated. Let’s beat it.” “Hmm?” Doc asked absentmindedly. “Oh, uh yeah. Let me just get a cheesecake to go.” A few more minutes of waiting and customer yelling and the girls were on their way back to Twilight’s lab. “I had a fun time Doc. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the middle of a riot without being the cause.” “Yeah, it was definitely a trip. I’m gonna be busy all week, but if you want to come by next Sunday I should have a surprise ready for you!” The two girls stared into each other’s eyes. Suddenly, Doc brought her hand quickly up towards Aria’s face. Aria instinctively intercepted it with her hand, then in quick succession, they high fived, low fived, cross fived, then double high fived. “You’ve got some nice moves there Doc.” “My brother’s in the military, so he taught me some stuff,” she smiled. “It was nice getting to use some of it!” “Yeah. Well, take care! I’m gonna head back and check on Adagio and Sonata.” Aria returned to find the restaurant locked up. Not just closed, but sealed with nobody home. As she used her key to unlock the front door, she found a big note stuck to the front hostess station. It had a crudely drawn sketch of Adagio with a deerstalker cap on, with Anon and Sonata wearing bowlers and everyone puffing on pipes. Aria found herself getting a mild headache from Sonata’s diabetes inducing crayon sketch. Beside it she found a neatly written note, its author’s confidence coming through in the crisp lettering. “Aria, The Rainbooms stopped by. Dash and Rarity were bitches. They blamed us for the recent riot in the middle of town. Screw those cunts. We are off to solve the mystery ourselves. If we are not back by the time you return and you wish to join us, head over to city hall. Sincerely, Adagio Dazzle” Written below it in crayon by a more shaky hand: “This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds.”