It was a few days later that Sunset received the new. She and Sonata were near the school and were about to go in when Rainbow Dash called out to them.
“Have you heard?” she said when she caught up with them.
“Heard what?” Sunset inquired.
“I heard Inspirio’s running for class President”, she said. Sunset and Sonata looked at each other. Sonata could see the concern in Sunset’s face. For days now she had confided to Sonata about her fears, and now she could see that it seemed to be coming true.
“Isn’t it too soon for him to even think of it?” Sonata piped up.
“He is new”, added Sunset briefly.
“Well, that’s all I’ve learned. Catch you later!” Rainbow Dash ran off towards school. Sunset and Sonata stopped outside it. Sunset faced Sonata then.
“I think you and Pinkie are the ones who can find out about it”, she said to her. Sonata grinned.
“Leave it to me and Pinkie!” she said.
“I know you can”, Sunset said with confidence. “Pinkie knows how to get information in the…most unusual ways.” She said that last one with a mischievous smile, knowing very well how Pinkie can become creative with such things.
“Aye, aye, sir…err, ma’am”, Sonata said with a mock salute. Sunset showed her playfully as she ran off. Alone though, she became serious once more as she thought of the events unfolding.
It doesn’t make sense, she thought as she walked towards class. He hasn’t been even been here for three weeks, and he’s moving too fast. She knew that whatever was up, Sonata and Pinkie can get some information out of it.
She almost regretted getting the information though, since it only made her feel worse more than ever.
“Are you sure about this?” she asked Sonata and Pinkie again, and they both nodded. It was after classes and they were in the music room, usually their meeting place after school before going home. At that time the Dazzlings were also with them. Aria and Crescenda did hung out with them every now and then, though not regularly.
“We really did make sure of it”, Sonata affirmed.
“Yes, it wasn’t easy sneaking around and listening in”, Pinkie added.
“So what does it all mean?” Rainbow Dash asked. Sunset bit the end of her pen as she thought about it. Of course, it wasn’t really much of an evidence: Inspirio had been going around and giving away things. At any other time it might mean he’s trying to influence people, but then it wasn’t until next week until they would choose a class President anyway.
“That I am not sure yet”, Sunset said as she thought more about it, but realized it wasn’t doing her any good. She looked at the Rainbooms, who were there to also rehearse.
“I’m thinking of what we should play for the fair”, she told them.
“That’s still a few months away”, Rainbow Dash said. “I think we shouldn’t worry about it yet.”
“Just to take my mind off Inspirio”, Sunset said. She then began to play her guitar, getting off a few notes, though her mind wasn’t exactly on it. She then snapped out of it, looked at her guitar, and then began to focus on it more. She thought of a song she always wanted to play, though she thought the Rainbooms wouldn’t be up to it.
“Any of you into Goth?” she asked. They all looked blankly at her. “You know, dark and gloomy stuff..”
“Funny, but we don’t know much of what you actually like”, Rainbow Dash observed.
“I really haven’t told you guys yet”, she said simply. She then began to play a few notes, slowly at first, then she went a bit more aggressive. She combined an aggressive and melodic style, which mesmerized those in the room. She then took a small break, then launched again to the opening bars of “Beyond the Pale” by The Mission.
“That’s beautiful”, Fluttershy said softly after she was finished.
“I don’t think it will fit our group though”, remarked Sunset. “Maybe we could try something much lighter in tone…” But she was already looking at Aria and Crescenda while she was still speaking.
“Maybe you would like to try it for your set”, she spoke toward Aria finally.
“But we don’t play any instruments”, pointed out Aria.
“I could back you up, play for you while you sing”, she offered. Aria grinned when she heard that.
“We’ll then learn the song”, she agreed. Sunset nodded.
“At least you have a song then, or a set since I can pull up some other songs from The Mission for you to learn”, she told Aria.
“But what about our group?” Rainbow Dash asked. “We still need songs to play.”
“I already have something in mind”, Sunset said. “We’ll just go over them some other day though, as it’s getting late and we need to get home.” She stood up then to bring her guitar to its case and pack it away. The others also began to put away their instruments.
“You figured out yet what Inspirio is up to?” Applejack asked while they put their instruments back to their places.
“I wish I knew, but we haven’t spoken yet in awhile, so I have no idea really”, Sunset said as she shook her head.
“Maybe you can ask Principal Celestia”, suggested Rarity, but Sunset only shook her head again.
“I don’t want her to know my suspicions, at least not yet”, she reasoned out. “Besides, she seems to trust Inspirio, and I don’t want to look like I am out to make him look bad. We’ll just have to wait what he will be his next move, though I am still keeping my eye on him.”
“Well, whatever it is, we must move fast since voting is next week”, Rainbow Dah reminded her.
That’s right, we do need to act quickly, Sunset thought, though she was stumped as to what exactly to do next. She thought it best to see first what Inspirio would be doing next, just so she might not do something rash that it would alert him and cover up his tracks even more.
They finally headed out of the music room and then out of the school. As was there usual routine, they went their separate ways on their way home. Sunset and Sonata walked their usual route towards home when Inspirio saw them and tagged along with them.
“Been a long time since we talked”, he said as he joined her and Sonata on their way home. Sonata was just quiet on Sunset’s side.
“Yeah, we were busy”, she said nonchalantly, trying to act normally and at the same time not trying to be aloof.
‘I’ve been busy myself”, he said, “helping out Principal Celestia. I’m also trying out for class President”, he added casually.
“That’s good”, Sunset simply replied.
“I have something here for you”, he said as he rummaged through his bag, and then brought out two pens, giving one of each to Sunset and Sonata. Sonata gave a big grin as she got hers, but Sunset was quiet as she got the pen. She looked at it and saw printed on the pen the words, ‘Inspirio for President’. She noted that but didn’t say anything to him.
“I hope you like it”, he said. Sonata nodded happily, but Sunset remained quiet as they walked on.
“You know, we look good together”, Inspirio said after a brief quiet interlude, “Imagine how it would be if we go out together. I think we’ll make a great team.” He smiled as he said this to her. Sunset stopped walking. Sonata looked at her. She could see that Sunset wasn’t happy with what she just heard. But Sunset kept her composure as she faced him.
“I am not even sure what you’re trying to imply”, she began, “I hardly even know you, and we’ve barely talked. I don’t mind being friends, but I am just not up to going out with anyone yet”, she said to him straightly. He didn’t back off, but remained where he was, which was quite near her.
“Hey, I was just trying to be friendly”, he said, his smile still on his face. “But just think about it—with your personality, we could have the school at will.” He looked intently into her eyes. She looked back, not flinching for one bit.
‘Well, I have to go home now”, he said to them finally. “Just think about it. See you both tomorrow.” He then walked off towards his home. Sunset and Sonata stopped walking to see him off, then when he was far Sunset turned to Sonata.
“Definitely something is up”, she said as she turned the pen over on her fingers. “You and Pinkie have to find out more on what he’s really doing, especially since campaign will start on Monday.” Sonata nodded.
“I’ll talk to Pinkie tomorrow”, she said to Sunset. “I thought he was being nice, but he was creepy when he said that.” Sunset shivered as she recalled his words.
“There’s more to him”, she said. “I am not sure what yet, but what he said shows what he’s after.” She wasn’t sure exactly what to make of what he just said, but she had some suspicion as to some of his motives, and she could see it would be more trouble unless she could somehow stop it.
“So you’re saying that he has other motives for running?” Rainbow Dash asked as the group was again in the music room that Thursday afternoon.
“I’m not sure yet, but I have a feeling it’s not exactly to help out in school”, Sunset admitted.
“It must have been creepy the way he talked to you, darling”, Rarity said. “I wouldn’t let him talk to me like that!”
“I was surprised he did speak like that”, Sunset replied. “I didn’t expect him to be like that.”
“Do you think he’s like that to others?” Applejack wondered.
“Hhmm…I wouldn’t really put it past him at this point”, Aria said.
“But why would he do that?” Fluttershy asked.
“Maybe he thinks every girl he meets will fall for that”, Sunset surmised. “I’m not sure if it works though, but it didn’t work for me.”
“Darling, if his approach is like that we needn’t have to worry about him then”, Rarity said.
“He might have other tactics though”, Applejack thought up after a brief pause. “You did say that he gives out things.” Sunset nodded.
“He has more than one way of getting people, so we should still be prepared just in case”, she said. “Pinkie and Sonata will monitor his activities until election time.”
“Oh, I just have the thing for that”, Pinkie said as she went for her pocket to pull something out. Applejack quickly went to her side and grabbed her hand.
“Oh no, you don’t”, she said as she stopped Pinkie. “You’re not pulling a gadget out!”
“We need to be discreet about it”, Sunset said as the two continued to tug it out. “If he finds out we’re spying he might make it hard for anyone to catch him.”
“So we’ll just tail him?” Sonata asked for clarification.
“Not too closely”, Sunset advised. “Maybe a good distance. Pinkie”, Sunset called out. Pinkie and Applejack stopped as Pinkie turned her attention to Sunset. “You know how to go about it.”
“Yup!” Pinkie said enthusiastically. “Lots of places to hide and not be seen!”
“I really don’t want to do this”, Sunset said to them, “but then there’s something that’s bothering me on the way he tries to about it.”
“We’re behind you here”, Applejack vowed and the others nodded in agreement. Sunset smiled. She knew she could count on their help, even if she also knew that what they had so far about Inspirio was too thin and so few. She also wanted to make a recording device for Pinkie and Sonata, but with only a few days to go before the campaign, she realized there wasn’t enough time for her to put that much attention into a project like that. She sighed.
I guess I’ll just have to improvise, she thought while the others continued to chat around her. She stood up then and called Pinkie and Sonata over to her.
“I’ll have to buy you both a small recording device”, she said to them. “It might come in handy. Anyway I have enough money from the writing job I have. Sonata, you have saved some as well?” Sonata nodded.
“I can buy my own if it’s okay”, she said.
“I think we should buy together then”, Sunset suggested. Sonata agreed to the suggestion, and they set the weekend the recording devices needed.