Dagi in Love

Just as Sonata had suggested, we walked down the path to the park. I mostly sipped on my latte while Sonata noisily nommed on her bagel.

"Asashio?" She asked through a mouth full of bagel. "Dom 'u thwink we show' wait fwor Air?" I translated that to Adagio, don't you think we should've waited for Aria?

"Do you think she would've enjoyed the walk?" I asked. Sonata swallowed the bagel and shook her head.

"She doesn't really like anything," Sonata responded. "Not like you. You care about some things." I stopped walking and folded my arms indignantly.

"What makes you think I care about stuff here?" I asked. Sonata grinned in her clueless way.

"Well, you're willing to give this place a chance, 'cause you're eating the food here. You let Mrs. Cake keep the change, and you have-"

"Okay, I think I know enough," I interrupted. "Let's just walk."

"Can we skip?" Sonata asked eagerly.

"Latte. Bagel. Milkshake." I pointed to each item in turn.

"What about them?" Sonata asked curiously. I groaned.

"You can't skip with a milkshake and bagel in your hand!" I explained impatiently. "And I can't skip with a latte."

"Aw!" Sonata stuck her lip out in a pouty expression. "We're almost there, anyway. I think."

It turns out Sonata was right. A little while down was a black gate. As I walked closer, I could see inside.

The park looked like your average park. Benches here and there, birds whistling from the several trees that looked perfect for climbing, and there was even a little stream running through it.

"Wow." I stepped inside the gate. Sonata followed.

"Those birds sound like me!" She giggled in delight as a couple of birds sang in a high-pitched tone.

"Sure, Sonata," I answered. "Go with that." I took another sip of my latte and observed the people in the park. There were several familes, an elderly couple or two, and some Canterlot High students. I spotted a girl with spiky green hair working with a girl with purple pigtails to pick up trash. A girl with long turquoise hair planted flowers next to a tree. A pale yellow girl I noticed talking to her friend with rainbow hair. I couldn't tell what she was talking about, but it involved birds, I could see that by the way the first girl gestured to the birds nest in the tree beside her.

I took a another sip of my latte right before Sonata blurted out, "Hey, it's Captain Planet!"

"Cap," I corrected without thinking. It took a second for the words to register. "Wait, what? Uh, why would you think I'd care?"

"Because he's waving at us, silly!" Sonata explained naively.

Sometimes I think Sonata has problems. I risked a glance in the direction Sonata was waving at. Sure enough, Cap was returning her wave. I reluctantly waved as well.

And then- just my luck! -he walked over to us.

"Hi, gals!" He greeted us in his Southern accent.

"Hi!" Sonata replied cheerfully.

"Hey." I busied myself with my latte.

"I had a doctor's appointment yesterday afternoon, so I didn't hear you and your friend sing," Cap explained. "Green Cycle said it was pretty good." I looked up.

"Well, we do pride ourselves on our music," I responded with a little smirk.

"So, thanks!" Sonata piped up. Cap grinned.

"I'm just sayin' what I heard. Do you gals wanna help clean up this park?" I glanced at Sonata, but I should've known what she was thinking.

"Sure!" She exclaimed.

"What about you, Adagio?" He asked, looking straight at me. I tried not to let my surprise at being singled out shown on my face.

"Me?" I asked.

"Yeah, you. Are you gonna help clean our what?"

"Fine. Just let me throw out this latte-"

"I'll do it!" Cap offered suddenly. What the heck?

"Oookay." I gave my latte to him, leaning backwards in the this-is-creepy-i-am-suspiscious way I felt.

"I'll get your milkshake too, Sonata," Cap offered.

At least it wasn't just me, I thought as Cap ran to the nearest trashcan to throw our drinks out.

"We've been cleaning up soda cans and stuff mostly," he explained when he returned. "So why don't we head over there to check around for extra trash?"

"Sounds like a great idea!" Sonata answered enthusiastically. She hadn't even noticed where he was pointing.

"Let's get this show on the road!" I exclaimed. Wait, was I seriously feeling excited about picking up trash? For once, I didn't really care. The three of us walked over to the area of the park Cap had gestured at. I found a plastic bottle half hidden in some bushes.

"Hey, Cap? Uh, what do we do with the bottles we find?" I asked, holding up my bottle.

"Oh, I forgot about that." He grinned. "I guess you'll just have to hold it."

"Fine." I couldn't help feel a twinge of annoyance I would have to hold dirty plastic in my hands for the next- Minutes? Hours? But I brushed that feeling aside.

Think of this as a spa day, I told myself silently. After a long week of revenge planning and energy absorbing, you totally deserve it! I picked up another bottle wedged between two rocks.

"Is this your first time at the park?" Cap asked me suddenly.

"What? Oh, no. I've been too busy with my work and stuff to come here," I explained. Cap smirked. "Busy with the class work you never seem to do?" I ruled my eyes.

"Look, Cap, I know you want to help me, but I don't need it," I told him. "I promise. If I ever need help, I'll ask you."

"Sounds like a plan!" Cap responded. I couldn't help notice how his amber eyes sparkled when he was s happy.

"Uh, guys? Hello??" Sonata suddenly waved her hand between us. "Guys, I found a bone! There's been a murder!"