//------------------------------// // Chapter 16 // Story: Cafe Dazzling // by brzy //------------------------------// Without Sunny as a buffer, the Rainbooms were unbearable. It was the worst. Name-calling, jokes, pranks, the Rainbooms were as relentless as they were merciless. Doc, having qualified for all her events, was nowhere to be found. “Hey Sonadumb! You dropped something!” teased Rainbow Dash as she knocked the books from the other blue girl’s hands. “Leave her alone, you jerks!” shouted Aria, placing herself between them. “Why should we, darling?” Rarity circled the girls, looking so far down her nose she was looking up. The fact that Aria was a few inches taller than her didn’t help. “Honestly, why are you girls still here at CHS?” Aria found herself wondering the same question, when her thoughts drifted to Doc, Anon, and all their friends they met at their restaurant. “Honestly, daaaarling? I’m wondering why Sunset hangs out with you.” She spat that last sentence out, and let it hang. She helped Sonata pick up her books and they left to go meet Adagio and Anon outside for the walk home. The final bell was a relief, with Aria, Sonata, Adagio and Anon rushing home to the restaurant. The evening shift went well enough, but there was an overwhelming sense of melancholy over the proceedings. It was like the fun had been sucked from their little world. As they finished clean up and started rolling silverware for the next day, Aria asked the question everyone else was thinking. “What the heck is going on with the Rainbooms? There were jerks before, but this is like a whole new level!” “Its strange. I always got the feeling Sunny was holding the leash on them, but it seems odd that they’d go this far while she’s stuck in the hospital,” added Adagio. The Dazzlings, which included Anon, all nodded. They all grew quiet and introspective as the pile of rolled up silverware in the center of the large corner booth table continued to grow. Adagio came to a decision. “I’m gonna go have a talk with Sunny. See what she has to say about her girls going this far.” “I need to go check on Doc. It’s weird she didn’t show up,” added Aria. “I’ll help Anon finish staging the deserts for tomorrow then,” smiled Sonata, getting up from the table and stretching her arms over her head in a loop. Dagi stood and put her hand in the center. The rest of the Dazzlings followed her lead without a word, hands piling up. “On three! Three!” “Team Dazzlings!” Aria and Adagio left out the front door, going their separate ways. The sun was just dipping past the horizon, the last orange rays fading to dusk. Sonata waved frantically after them, Anon’s wave slightly less animated. Aria reached Doc’s lab quickly, her long stride having ate up the distance easily. The large older mansion off to the side was sparsely lit. She ignored it, walking up to the large metal door that marked the entrance to Twilight's large white prefabricated metal and concrete laboratory. She pushed the speaker buzzer to the right. “Doc? You there?” The speaker box crackled to life. Aria heard a familiar but strained voice over the intercom. “Huh? Aria? IaiiiiooOOWW!!!” A high pitched squeal and the sound of collapsing cardboard boxes boomed out of the speaker. Aria waited a moment before speaking. “You okay in there?” “Yeah, kind of in the middle of something. Sorry but I can’t let you in right now. Its not really safe.” “The Rainbooms have really gotten out of hand without Sunset there. Did they say anything to you?” “What?! Damn that Rainbow… I told her you were off limits.” There was a pause as Twilight thought. “Well, its good you showed up. That thing I was telling you about is done.” There was a loud clunk, then a thud, then a tinkle behind the smooth metal panel beside the door. Aria pulled open the tilting door and saw a small wrapped bundle. The hair on the back of her head suddenly stood on end, as electricity ran up and down her skin. She winced, suddenly expecting to feel as if a part of her soul was torn open. There was nothing, no pain. Just a slight hum, a forgotten but familiar lull stirring with the promise of something. “I managed to get all the pieces fused back together. It was a pain trying to figure out how they all went together, especially since I didn’t want you to have to get close to it again after seeing your reaction to it last time. It’s ok now, right?” Aria had stopped breathing. The bundle had come undone, revealing two perfectly formed Siren gemstones. “Aria?” “It’s perfect… I don’t know how I could ever thank you Doc…” “You don’t have to Aria, we’re friends! I promised you I’d make it all better,” replied the scientist brightly. Suddenly Aria’s thoughts drifted to Adagio. The shattered gem she carried around, in spite of the pain it caused her. “My sister, Adagio… her gem was broken too. Is it possible… could you…” The intercom went silent for a few moments. “I’m sorry Ari… the specific events and materials required to repair them are incredibly rare. Those are high level magical artifacts. It was quite fortuitous that I happened to come across them. It could be years before I can get everything I’d need…” “Oh…” “I can keep an eye out, but please don’t get your hopes up too high…” "No, it’s ok. I… thank you so much Doc.” “I’m glad you like them… Now I really need to get back to work.” “Thanks again. Stop by the café again so we can thank you properly!” “I will!” After another pause she quickly added, “Please be careful on your way home!” Aria clutched the small bundle to her chest, deep in thought. She reflected on everything that happened since the Battle of the Bands. Opening the café with Anon and her Siren sisters. Making friends with Doc, coming to a sort of grudging understanding with Sunny. Eating Dagi’s random deserts, snacking with everyone watching TV after an evening of working the restaurant. She didn’t want any of it to end. She didn’t want things to go back to how they were before. Aria reached out to her gem. It felt different than before. Calmer, almost happy. Maybe things were different now? She opened the door to Café Dazzling. Adagio’s short legs had a much shorter stride than Aria’s. Compounded by the fact that she walked with quiet dignity rather than ran, she still had quite a ways to go until the hospital. Suddenly, she heard a large flapping of wings. Much too large to be a bird. Her blood ran hot, then cold, knowing the source of the sound by heart. “Hello Rainbow,” she replied loudly to the night.