To happiness once again

'My head... why does that happen every time I get physically touched?'

Sonata's word echoed into his blank mind. A voice rang through his ears. It was too distant to distinguish, but after a while he made out what it said, “Sonata. Sonata, wake up!” It kept calling him; the voice became louder, "A..J?" The comatose pony mumbled out the name of his new friend.

"yeah, It's me" She looked down at the sleeping pony, "Do ya think he'll be alright?" Applejack asked her older brother.

"Eeyup..."

He recognized the voice of those country folks, the ones that ran AJ’s farm with her. He felt his body waking, wanting to meet them, "Wait, I want to talk to you..." A stallion appeared to his left of his vision, “We've only talked, but haven’t met in... Can I say flesh and blood? It is OUR mind and body after all, so yeah; flesh and blood for quite a while” His last sentence sounded rough, as if it hadn’t spoken in a while.

'System?' Sonata asked

“Yep, and I got something serious to say to... Think to you…" The alter ego corrected himself. "We are not alone, by that I mean Cleff-Note... he's real, and he is very dangerous. So whatever you do, don't let him take your pla.. our place, 'kay?" As much as the egos hated each other, they worked as a team between the two boundaries for their own sanity; or what's was left of it anyway.

*gasp!* the turquoiseunicorn sprung up from the red sofa he was laying on. Sonata panted heavily as he said, "I have to get… back home"

"You're not goin' anywhere" The orange mare tried to put a hoof on his shoulder, but a socked hoof quickly slapped it off.

"DON'T... touch me..." the long manned colt yelled his first word at the helping mare. In shame from yelling at a mare, he turned around and looked down. Two steps away from the door; where his saddlebag sat still,"See ya..." Sonata opened the door with one swift motion and took his bag; then quickly ran away.

Big Macintosh chuckled and said, "Looks like y'rubbed his coat the wrong way there sis" the strong stallion giggled, but it was a manly giggle. *Slap!* "Guh!" Applejack slapped her older sibling over the head.

"big Mac, you're not th’ best for that kinda talk... You're twenty-eight year old virgi-" a red hoof moved over her mouth and bent his neck over her ear; Big Macintosh seemed really annoyed of that fact.

"One. Applebloom. Second, ah'll let ya know you're one too, sis" he took a small vengeful glance at his sister "Three, go talk to him; you're better at that than me." The stallion tapped her on the back motioning to go, "And don't jump on him this time hehehe-" *Spack!*
(editor’s note: That’s gotta hurt!)

***

*slam!* the log house door slammed on it's frame "O.K. what's this about System?" Sonata threw his bag on the sofa and sat on the floor in a meditative stance, "Alright give me a second." A solid concentrated glow appeared from his horn. The colt in his dream reappeared in front of him, this time in a spectral, translucent blue hue

"Remember Seven Heaven? Well, we got the same problem." The halo pony had the same voice as Sonata; but in a lower, rougher tone. Almost sounding like this

David Hayter

"Instead of being a compulsive, suicidal, lying gambler; Cleff-Note might be a bad part of us."

He cocked an eyebrow, "what do you mean?" The real pony sounded intrigued.

"Our pent-up aggression, our left over feelings for Hip-Hop, our hate..." System positioned his front hooves on both of Sonata's shoulder before saying; "We have to kill him Sona; before it kills somepony first." They both looked at each other eyes giving serious glares of fear.

"I can't for the moment; I don't have three months to waste." The barely translucent pony got off of him.

"There has got to be a way to do it without putting the host's body in a coma." The lime green copy of Sonata looked down, trying to think of something that could help them. He took a full minute before frowning and growled, "I don't know what to do!"

"Just tell me, is he a threat to anypony as of right now?" Sonata asked.

"No, he's only a mere egg of a personality; or if you want a stem cell mind that will take the rejected emotions of anger. So, it would be significantly easier to destroy it now than later." System responded in his rough, monotonous voice.

"Than couldn't you do it on your own? If he's that small, he's not a problem, right?"

"I have no power. Your mind is the strongest, that's why you're the main host of the body." The lime green pony looked at it's original counterpart. "your horn... you're getting weak." The weak orange aura on the broken magical instrument was wobbling heavily, "I'll go research the feelings he's draining and find out more about C.N." The illusion saluted and disappeared slowly. “Until we meet again, Sonata.” The musician stood on his hind legs and saluted back.

Further back in the window of the door a familiar Stetson was visible. "Applejack!?" 'Oh sweet Celestia, buck my head! She knows!' Sonata quickly opened the front door making Applejack fall on her side. "Were y-you spying on me?" The turquoise unicorn stallion became very defensive.

The apple farmer replied back, "No, err... yes.. Maybe!" the lying mare scrunched her face looking left and right rapidly.

The long maned stallion walked towards her, looking extremely unamused. "Didn't your parents teach you not to snoop around in somepony else’s affairs?"

At the word 'parents' and 'affair', the orange mare cringe in the painful memories of her past. "Don't talk about mah parents like that! They were good parents, great even, they were.. they were always there for me and M-Macintosh…" The more words that spilled out, the more tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Applejack... It's alright... calm down there's no reasons to cry; sit down and relax." 'System... what do you think happened?' Sonata asked his alter ego, 'I don't know for sure, but maybe a past traumatic event concerning her parents? kinda like us? All I know is you have to leave me alone for my research; ‘Thank you...' the smart side of him seemed pissed at Sonata for disturbing him. "I'll get you some coffee, wait here," he said to the third mare he made cry.

***

Several minutes later the two ponies were about drink coffee when Sonata asked, "What do you take in your coffee?" at this the orange mare visibly perked up.

"Two sugars, one cream; and you?" Applejack was a little curious of the stallion before her. She thought the more she knew, the better she'd understand the mysterious stallion.

"Four creams," a white mug with the dark brown liquid floated toward the apple farmer's direction. Jacqueline grabbed the ceramic recipient making the silver spoon inside hit the sides with little *tink!* sounds "I know it's weird, but I like it that way." He said, taking his cup of Joe and sitting parallel to the orange mare.

"Nah, t'ain't weird, ah think that me puttin’ sugar in a coffee is troublesum. Normally you reduce yer dosage ‘til it's black; never done it though." Applejack took a sip of the hot, bitter liquid. "Ah didn't like that taste, and it's been like that since the five years I drank that it" she took another small sip.

"At least you took your first cup five years ago; The young mare's ears raised

"Heart disease?"

"I had cardiovascular slow down. My heart was beating slower that it should have been, so I drink coffee to compensate."

(E/N: That’s not the only thing he’s compensating for. One point for Leaf!)

Sonata took two hard gulps of coffee making the orange mare cringe at the thought of the liquid burning his throat. "My heart is still a little slow, but it's not really a big problem."

"Did your parents care that ya'll had to drink Joe?" the Stetson wearing mare tried to ask about his past.

The musician emptied the contents of the cup down his throat. "My mother left home when I was five, she never came back. I don't want to talk about my father, my little sister's a pothead and my little brother is the best out of 'em. He's the only one with a good job. Does that answer your question?" The turquoise unicorn seemed angry for some reason, as if talking about his past would bring them back up. "Now, It's my turn to ask YOU some questions." Applejack's ears dropped. She’s wasn't expecting that move.

"Tell me, why are you so awkward around me lately?" That wasn't what she was expecting, she’d rather answer that question than talking about her parents.

"It's that special time of the year... ya know... estrus?" Sonata's eyes grew wide.

"Oh..." the colt took off the sock on his hoof. Under the piece of cloth were scratches, deep cuts, and suture points. "Keep this between you and me. It's my ex-wife who did this. We had an argument and she was in her estrus; I came back drunk off my ass, we had an even bigger fight and she tried to stab me. That’s why I cover my hoof with this sock." He put his hoof back into the sock.

"You had a wife!? How old are you anyway!?" AJ yelled in pure confusion.

"Twenty-five"

Applejack looked shocked, "I wouldn't even give you twenty!"

"why thank you..." Sonata sarcastically replied.

***

Some Time Later

"YOU TOO?" Applejack scream worried for the musician.

"Yeah, I don't get why they invite me to go with 'em at the spa. Maybe Rarity and Fluttershy think I'm like their straight gay friend; a bit annoying if you ask me." The turquoise stallion looked at the clock, '8:39!' "Oh buck me! I'm late!" The colt got off the sofa and ran upstairs; two second later he came back down with his hat on "I'm sorry Applejack; I have to go to work."

"It's alright, ah have to go buck apples too; welp, see ya!" the orange mare waved and left.

***
At the statue of Princess Celestia, where the two ponies were suppose to meet

Far away; a brown and green blur tumbled and rolled down, "what the?" Vinyl waited outside for Sonata when she saw the little high speed dot coming straight at her. The dot became bigger and bigger. "Don't tell me... GUAH!" *Bam!* the white mare jumped out of the way just in time avoiding the fast rolling thing. The DJ looked backed at the thing, which was the pony she was waiting for. "What the Hay! You almost killed me there!"

"Sorry Passion," Sonata was backwards; back against the flat side of the statue. The colt turned over and got on his hooves *gurk.* the content of his stomach wanted to come up "I think I'm gonna puke!" He felt the stomach acid rise up to his throat *Gulp!* "Urk*.. Well, that works."

Pushed by the knowledge of her newly opening club, Vinyl asked, "You ready Sonny? The grand opening's in fifteen minutes!" The mare stopped and she rolled her eyes under her heliotrope glasses. "Or are you gonna barf and stay here?" As she said that, Sonata's cheeks inflated "!!!" DJ pon-3 called too fast; that's what she thought before he burst out laughing

The turquoise colt took off his hat; his mane flowed down. He turned the hat backward and replaced it on his head "Can I borrow these?" Without Vinyl even answering he took her glasses.

"Hey! Those are my identity! Give them back!"

Sonata looked at her emotionless. "Can't I take your sunglasses for one night? You probably have sixty-five pairs rotating each day" The white mare became red with anger, shame and confusion

'How does he know me so well?' She thought her face making tomatoes. "Anyway!" Passion sounded irritated, "Let's go before you scare me more."

***

Inside; before the club opened, Sonata was talking to the bar tenders called Flip-Shots and the bouncer called Baritone. Vinyl Scratch (with a brand new pair of glasses; totally called it) stood in front of the large red doors that lead to the outside
Opened, "LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!" The owner of the club yelled at her customers. Vinyl ran to her turntables and spun some records.

At the bar, Sonata called the pony behind the counter, "Hey Flip-Shot was it?" The snow-white pony with a coal black mane and tail nodded. "Can you make me a crème de menthe?" He asked as he placed four bits on the counter.

"No, no no, you don't have to pay; boss told us that if you needed anything that It would be on the house." The white earth pony took some bottles and poured the cocktail for the privileged colt. Flip asked, "Just curious; what do you do here? Are you miss Vinyl's coltfriend?" He gave the alcoholic beverage to the black-hatted musician.

"No, I'm a sort of father figure to her, and she learned everything about music from me. And as my job goes; I think I'm a music adviser or something" Even he wasn't sure of his job at the club. The four bits on the table were still there.

"Aren’t you going to take 'em back?"

Sonata looked at the bits. "Take it; consider it a tip" With the socked hoof he slid the money toward the bartender and emptied the drink in a couple gulps. "I'll go see what’s going on." At the entrance some familiar voices were noticed. Rarity and Fluttershy were at the entrance begging to enter; mostly Rarity.

"Please big guy, won't you let two beautiful ladies enter?" The white fashionista complained.

Baritone looked behind the annoying white mare to see the butter yellow Pegasus "Your card mam." he asked. She ‘eeped’ at his strong voiced command but took her courage in hoof and gave him her identity card. "You can enter." Rarity beamed. "Not your friend though, she’s still not on the list." her smile turned to a frown as Fluttershy got in the club.

"Oh c’mon! Let me in!" the fashionista pouted.

"I would let you in, but we sell alcohol and you don't have the legal age to drink. Now would you please leav-" a socked hoof got on Baritone's shoulder.

"She's a friend of mine Bari; she won't drink a drop, I promise." Sonata intervened just in time.

A couple of minutes later the three friend were sitting at a VIP table.

"Rarity, I trust you; don't drink anything with alcohol. I don't want this club closing on the first day," Sonata said, putting faith in her, "and don't think you'll get in anytime just because I'm your friend. So don't accept any drink and don't even sip for a taste 'kay?"

"You're sounding like a old man Sonny, why don't you relax?" The well mannered mare tapped the comfortable looking bench.

The retired musician sat down hard next to Fluttershy making her jump both in surprise and from the air release from inside of the imitation leather bench. "I can't; knowing that there is a minor in here." he sighed.

"I am not a minor. I am twenty-one; simply not old enough to drink." Rarity huffed as she turned her head. Sonata rolled his eyes and sighed again.

"I'll go see how Vini's holding; Fluttershy, tell me if she drinks." He got up and trotted towards the stage.

"HEY PASSION! HOW'S IT HANGING?" the colt yell over the loud music.

A devilish grin crept onto her face, "PRETTY GOOD SONNY. WHY DON'T YOU TAKE OVER?" Without letting him answer she left. The music stopped abruptly and everyone looked at him. "GUYS AND GALS! HERE'S CLEFF-NOTE!"

'oh buck...' he thought 'Cleff-Note'had no choice but to play a song. Behind the turntables a brown cardboard box laid there with vinyl records inside. He took one called nice sprite and the other called S.FX and played a sick dub step.

Passion, Rarity, and Fluttershy’s mouths touched the ground in amazement. The popular DJ met Sonata on the stage trying to say words.

"Didn't think the old guy still had it?" he said a in cocky attitude.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" a loud scream priced everyponie’s ears. It almost sounded like...

"Fluttershy!" Sonata gasped and ran towards the VIP seats.

"LET ME GO, LET ME GO!" Tightly squeezed around a shady pony's hooves, Fluttershy screamed atop of lungs.

"DO AS THE LADY SAYS!" The musician firmly said. Looking around he saw the fashionista pony passed out on the ground. The yellow pegasus squirmed trying to breathe from the choke hold. The pony let loose, letting the shy pony fall down. She was knocked out but still breathing.

A wicked yellow smile shined on the unknown pony's face. "You're dead..." Sonata dashed at the mysterious pony with pure anger from seeing the yellow pony he fell in love with on the ground, out cold below him.

_______

Edited by: leafz pegasus

This change of proof reader isn't going to be permanent, trust me!

I like you leaf but I don't like to make my friends that I work with do something for me that I can't repay

Have a good read!