Chapters "I can´t believe it! It just can´t be a week already! It can´t be a full week after our defeat by that freaky Rainbooms! And what we did?! Nothing! We didn´t do anything!" I interrupted the boring film, which choose nobody else than Sonata.
"Dagi, I want to know what is going to hapenned with Romeo and Julie. You know maybe they are going to live happily forever after!"
Sonatas childish voice make me want to kill her and Aria of coure didn´t help. But to be honest what can I expected from my younger sister. I mean she makes things only worse:
For first she just facepalmed (like always) and after that she starts acting like some kind of professor at Hardward. Don´t believe me?! Listen to her! :
"For first Sonata this isn´t any of that yours fairytales and here isn´t any happily forever after. Secondly, what exactly want you do Adagio?"
What?! For Celestia sun! I am the leader here and she can´t act to me like my teacher or whatever.
"And what do you want to do? Sit here and watch this stupid film? Some plan Aria." I smirk and start enjoy that fantastic silence. But like usual Sonata truly shaterred it with that her famous logic . -sight-
"This film isn´t stupid...its drama."
"FILM MAYBE NOT BUT YOU FOR SURE ARE!" I have just a little outburst. No big deal right? So why is she looking at me like she wants start crying? Oh hell, she really starts crying. Only good thing on this all is that fact she ran to the kitchen and let me relaxed a bit.
"Finally is there a peace." I smile and countinue staring at the ceiling.
"You know Adagio, just because you can´t sleep, you don´t have to acting like the biggest bitch in the whole Equestria."
No, not again. -sight- She is like never learn that she can´t acts to me like teacher (this time psychologist).
"For first, we aren´t in Equestria, if you didn´t notice dear Aria. Secondly, stop acting like psychologist cause you aren´t and you don´t know anything abou what happened inside of me." Then my calm voice changed into next outburst. "AND NEVER DARE YOU CALL ME BITCH AGAIN!"
She growls and stormed after Sonata to the kitchen and slams the door behind her.
I sight in relief-finally those two idiots leave me alone. Then I turn off TV and throw in myself next glass of Brandy. Right now I find out what is the most comfortable place in this world -dramatic pause- its our sofa. So I close my eyes and hope I won´t have than nightmare anymore.
...@@@...
I was back in Equestria and walked with my three sisters in Everfree Forest to someone or something (never make sure of that) what called itself Diskord-god of chaos.
"How long are we going to walk Mely? My hooves are trully hurting." Soughts Sonata from behind me and rests on her suspiciously sister, our fourth sister Melody Shine.
"I don´t know Sonata! Because I am not the one who decide to go to some sort of a...creature for sirens rubies! And never again call me by that stupid nickname!"
I was about to break into hysterical laught when I heard Sonatas |I don´t get it| hm sound and few seconds later Octavia facehooved.
"Ask Adagio!" Aria mixed into their conversation. In her voice was echoing tha fact she was truly tired, cause of Sonatas not working brain-maybe
more than I was. But still I wanted to kill her, not only because she sent Sonata to me.
"Are we there yet?" Asked Sonata and jumped right before me.
"No I snapped back and continued walking ahead.
Wave of hapienest washed me when that crazy maniac came back to Melody. I looked at Aria and saw her desirive smirk. I smirked back when I heard Sonatas high pitched voice:
"What nickname did you talking about Mely?"
"This." Melodys tired and bored voice response.
"You mean Mely?"
"Say it one more time and something will happen to you."
"What?"
"Try it and you will see."
"OK then. Mely! Mely! Mely! Mely! Mely! Mely! Mely! Mely!..."
I just looked at her with warning glare in my eyes. Aria said something in style "Im really happy cause I am not you right now."
My head started aching, but I was too powerless to make her shut up. So I turn into our direction again and finally saw the cave, what was Diskord talking about.
"Here we go girls." I said with a smirk. "This is place, where our great future will start." Then back from my evil thouhts I heard Sonatas high voice and Aria how arguing with Melody.
My blood started boil and I exploded: "SHUT UP! I CAN´T EVEN HEART MY THOUHTS!"
Oh, sweet Celestia...its worked! All of them shut up! What a beautiful silence, only sound which shaterring it is that super-loud snuffle. Wait a sec...did I just say snuffle?
I turned around to see, what the hell is snuffling like that. When I did, my heart skipped and fall into my stomach. Cause right in enter of the cave were standing two werewolves and were staring at us like at their dinner. We were staring back, because we were totally frozen in place-at least I was.
But like our leader I had to calm down and like always I was successful. In few second I had a great and easy plan: "We will fly over them!" I said with my leader voice.
"But in this place our magic doesn´t work like in other places in Equestria." Melody interrupted me with kind of point...OK really good point.
"I and Aria will carry you-Aria you will carry Sonata and I will carry you." Thanks very much for that applause. I know, I know I always have great plan. -little blush- Now back to the werewolves.
At first everything went like I was planned, but after few minutes everything changed into my worst nightmare-literally.
Melody was heavier, than I imagined she was. I felt how she starts slipping from my hooves. I tried to fly faster, but I have no power to do that.
In one second one of the werewolves jumped up and caught Melodys dark pink tail. In that moment she totally slipped from my hooves and fall down to the werewolves. My heart skipped one more time, when I was staring at dust around my sister and two hungry werewolves. My eyes started weep, when my brain started working again after that shock.
By the sound of unexpected whistle the werewolveslet let go of Melody and ran to person cover in shadows.
But I didn´t care and flew down to bleeding Melody. She looked really terrible-was all scratched and bitten, place in her chest where the heart is supposed to be was bleeding really hard-her blood was going out of her body in red waves. One her hoof was missing, same like part of her neck.
I shook with her and whispered "Melody. Please say something. Don´t leave me." But it was hopeless and I knew it same like my two alive sisters did.
"Its all over My little Sirens." I heard Diskords voice. "I told you, just three of you will get into this cave. But it looked so good for you-I mean like all of you will get to me. Its shame you woke up my pets."
"W-woke up?" I asked with my cracking voice and tears running down my cheeks.
"One of you screamed loud...very loud." He answered me with emotionless tone. "Now wolfies go have your midnight snack." Then he pointed to the Melodys body and werewolves did what he said.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
...@@@...
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" I scream and fall down from sofa.
My everything hurts but not more than my ego, cause my instincts tell me that I am watched. I lift my head and look in kinchen direction. In the kitchen door are standing my two younger sister and hysterically laughing.
But the worst of this all in the fact Sonata-the biggest idiot in the whole universe is laughing at me. At something what was basically her fault. Give me a minute... did I just say that is her fault and not mine? After more than thousand years I because my little longer dream then usual finally find out whose fault is it.
Only thing what I have to do now is kill her for it! And its not going to be any kind of problem. -maniacal laugh-
I jump on my legs and slowly walking to Sonata/murderer of my younger sister. First of all I push Aria away and then I place my finger on the place where Sonatas ruby used to be.
She looks at me with honestly suprised eyes when I yell at her "JUST BECAUSE OF YOU SHE DIED!"
..."JUST BECAUSE OF YOU SHE DIED!" I yelled at Sonata and looked in her eyes with killing glare.
No, here isn´t any kind of irony in this. Cause on death of my younger sister isn´t anything ironical! But back to that murderer.
Sonata is just standing here and crying, but I don´t believe to that fake tears!
I get ready my hand to smack her really hard. But for her luck Aria catch my arm and pulled me off her, with words: "What the hell are you talking about Adagio?"
I released my arm from her grip and in one secon I smack Sonata, in another second Sonata fall to the floor.
Then with a smirk i turn to Aria an with flatly voice answer her stupid question:
"Do you remember the moment, when those werewolves kill Melody?" I ask but don´t let her answer. "After that incident Diskord said, quoting: One of you screamed loud...very loud. That was the reason why those werewolves kill her...killed my younger sister."
"How do you can be so sure about it? Maybe it was some kind of his trap."
Really Aria, really? -sight- On who side is she singing?
But I don´t ask and turn back to Sonata. I lift her to her feets by holding her neck. Her eyes are bloody red and full of tears, but I don´t care. Only thing, what I care about right now is her punishment.
What I going to do with her? Maybe kicked her out or destroy her psychic side? No, both of them! -maniacal laught-
"Sonata Dusk Jewel! How did you can kill her like you did and why?! Wait...why am I asking if I already know the answer? You were screaming so loud because you saw those werewolves before me. And reason for it? I guess it was the fact she was acting to you like you was complete idot."
She again breaks down crying and I know I am the winner-like always.
"B-but I didn´t want to." She says between sobs.
"I don´t believe you and the same way Aria doesn´t. Right Aria?" I turn to look at Aria with killing glare in my eyes (again not even the smallest irony).
She just glups and then nods.
I turn to Sonata again with my emotionless face and in flatly voice I say: "So, now leave this place-leave us! And never dare you come back! Forewer!" I say and point to the front door.
Her sobbing change into hysterical crying and Sonata run out of our house and after her runs her husky Hugo.
I go to the door and look down the street, but she already isn´t there and Hugo desappeareds with her. I just with smile of win slam the door when I walk back to the living room.
Aria is standing at the bottom of stairs and staring at me with blank expression. "Are you happy with yourself now?" She hisses at me an makes her way upstairs.
"Remember that you helped me with it!" I yell after her, right when a door to her room shuts with a loud bang.
I can´t keep myself under control anymore, I have to laught. So what I am doing right now is standing in the middle of the living room and laughting like some crazy maniac or whatever. And feel really good for what I did with murderer of Melody.
Four days after Sonatas leave and I feeling more than great. Cause there is finally peace and I can’t smell that her stupid tacos.
It’s something around midnight. I sitting on our purple sofa and trying hard not to fall asleep. That’s all just because if I see that horrible moment again I’m like for sure get crazy. And I thought when I punish of who is responsible for this, everything will be normal again…but I was wrong.
“You aren’t sleeping?” I heard Arias tired voice.
“No.” I answered by my emotionless voice.
“I see.” She mirrored my voice and continued into kitchen. And I continued staring into darkness.
Aria is so grumpy from the time I kicked off Sonata. And she thinks that everything is just my fault-what of course isn’t true. I just wanted us to be power-
What the hell was that strange sound?! All of my anger in one moment changes into fear. I start getting up and my heart starts racing. -Creak- I froze in place and whispered: “A-Aria, what was that creaking sound?”
“Creaking?” She asks back and I can see her outline in kitchen doors. “I didn’t hear any-”
-Creak-
Dead silence fall on the room…the whole house. But however it was shattered by other strange sounds…like a clutches hitting the floor.
Then the moon starts from behind clouds illuminated the living room. I looking around to see what was doing that horrifying sounds. But I can’t see anything what can do sounds like this.
We changed looks with Aria. Her look to my terror fast change from relaxed to panicky, when she looked somewhere behind me.
In first moment I thought that she was just joking. That of course changed when I look behind me and see what she saw: In the middle of room was standing on four legs small figure and its eyes shine in silver moon light crimson red. Wait a sec, I already saw something like this, it looks like a…a werewolf!
Before I even have a second look it jumps on me and I hit the ground. I am trying fight with it, but it’s too strong. Right now it truly traps me-I lying on my stomach and IT standing on my back.
Then I heard someone (I guess Aria) switches the lights on. But it didn’t help me with IT. On another note she did-I can’t believe it, but she really help me, by lifted that werewolf of me.
What I heard after that truly surprised me, because it was this question:
“Hugo?! What are you doing here?”
“Are you talking about that stupid dog, Aria?” I ask while lifting myself up.
“He isn’t stupid! But yes, I’m talking about that dog.”
Oh my gem! Aria is changing into Sonata. And this is THE WORST! …Wait, what am I saying?! I am-
-Yow-
…Stupid dog. But seriously where was I? Oh, I know.
“Didn’t he left with that idiot?” I ask in fake interest.
Only thing, what get my interest is that fact, he looks like he just murders someone. I mean he has a blood all over him and he is all mess, too.
“Where did you get that dirty Hu-”
Aria starts talking with that dog…seriously? But I interrupted her by my face-palm and my (like always) great idea:
“What about you shut up for now and go upstairs to clean him?”
“If is that your wish. So OK you bitch.”
“Don’t dare you call me bitch ever again!” I yell at place, where she was withount minute standing.
“Fine…” She ironically responds. “…you bitch.” She insolently finishes as makes her way upstairs.
I want to respond back, but she already disappeared in bathroom.
So, I just take a deep breath and again sit down at sofa. Then I try to fight my last battle with sleepless, but I failed and fast asleep.
…@@@...
Its middle of the night, moon is in a full moon. Whole scenery is a little bit scary, too. But of course I’m not scared. I look around to see on both sides forest, under my feet road. Everything looks like it was raining not long ago.
But I have to ask myself: Where the hell am I?!
Clacking heels on the road wake me up from my thoughts. Not even ten seconds passed and around me run something, what looks like some kind of animal and after it rushed some person.
I didn’t know who it is until she spoke: “Hugo! Wait for me! Please!” It was Sonata.
The whole situation is really awkward, maybe more than that. But I decide to do something-something like go after her, or just speak with her.
“Sona, Sona wait!” I yell in her direction, but she didn’t respond…like she didn’t hear me.
I did few steps to the forest, but then I feel something like equestrian magic. But not one I felt in that café. It was another type of it-more free and powerful. It feels like…discords magic.
It’s possible? What it means? I ask myself. But screams are get me back into reality.
For my total horror something runs not more that five steps behind Sonata. And that something was for sure one werewolf.
Sonata run few seconds, before she turn around to see how much away is that werewolf. Right then she lost her footings and fall into big puddle. Drops of water hit my spiked boots and run down them like Sonatas tears run down her cheeks.
So here I am standing like a statue and staring at werewolf, who want to kill my sister.
But I deep in me believe that she can make it-she is strong, maybe more that I am and I believe her and love her no matter what. And there coming next question: Why I was so cruel to her?
I open my mouth and want apologize her for it but I just scream. Cause the werewolf bites her in her throat and snatched her heart out. Blood tears fall at me and mix with my own tears.
…@@@...
“SONATA! NOOOOO!” I scream when I wake up at the sofa in our living room.
“What’s up with Sonata?!” Aria asks with fear in her voice.
“It was just a nightmare Aria. Nothing special.”
“But that nightmare about Octavia really happened in our past.”
“You call this a point?”
To be honest she has a point-very good point. And I start worry about what can happen with her too.
@20 minutes later@
I and Aria are sitting and looking at morning news. Which are more boring then they used to be. This was until moderator says the last new:
“And now the latest new of this news: Between town Canterlot and village Ponyville in the place named Everfree forest. Police found a body of dead girl in age between fifteen and twenty years. Only thing what we know about it right now is the fact the heart of girl is missing.”
I just stare at photos of Sonata lying in her own blood on the round, where I was standing in my nightmare and didn’t even try to help her. My brain in that moment stop works.
“You know this happened?! Aren’t you?!” Aria half yells and half cries.
I want to answer her, but I just open my mouth withount any sound. And then I fall apart crying, because I know that this all is my and just my fault.
Its night and darkness is all around me. Only stars and full moon are dazzling on the dark sky. Cold night wind is messing my dark purple hair. I sitting on windows frame and staring at nothing in particular.
Somewhere in town someone else is crying. But I don’t care, because I know that it can’t be one of my sisters.
I don’t mean that Melody was crying much. I remember just one time she is been crying, it was when her boyfriend Tirek…I guess, was lock in Tartarus. Sonata on the other note was crying much…really much-when she got hurt or even when she had a nightmare.
And about Adagio I don’t want to think. She threw everything on Sonata. And now she likes for sure going throw everything on me-you can’t imagine how much I hate her for it.
…
Don’t get me wrong I didn’t mean that I wont forgive her, but she didn’t do anything-not even a apologize. But what I can expected from someone like her.
More than anything I worry about myself. Because whether that something going to kill me too, I cant fight it-not alone and Adagio will for sure help it and not me.
I know that looks like I want to Sonata died but I don’t and I will never do. All what I told her I told her just because anyway she can recognize how much I am upset cause what has happened: one last time saw Sombra, death of my sister, got kicked off Equestria…
…
I jump from window and switch on small table lamp. I look into mirror and saw my pony-version. I ignored staring and upset lavender pony and dissolved one of my ponytails. I stared at my hair rubber band with white stars-flowers, which copying my cutie-mark perfectly. After few seconds flash back came on:
…@@@...
I and Melody sat on big stone near ocean. Only sound were waves hitting stones.
After some minutes Melody shattered the piece:
“Rii, you know that you are my favorite sister, right?”
“I guess so.” I answered and point of her question didn’t hit me.
“And so I want to get you something.” With last words she handles me by her crimson red magic small box.
“I hope for Celestias love that this isn’t a ring.” I laughed and took the box.
“No worries about that sis.” She matched my ear-to-ear smile.
I carefully opened the box and saw two hairclips which matched my cutie-mark. “Wau they are perfect!” I gasped and hug Mel.
“I know right?” She smiled and hugs me back.
…@@@...
I look from clip to the mirror and saw my red eyes and running mascara mixed with dark purple eye shadows.
…
I finish removing mascara and pick up my hair brush. I lift all my mentol stripes and one shot them with the brush. Then I let them fall down. Most of them fall over my face. In mentol gloom another flash back came on:
…@@@...
I stood with Sonata before big cupboard with shelves full of potions.
Without warning Sonata rushed to the cupboard and started studies potions. This was all right, until she careless push the cupboard which dangerous shake.
I took a deep breath. “Just don’t smash anything!” I ordered and flew to the ceiling.
I tried to focus on potions but I heard Sonata like read etiquette on every potion and that was making me crazy.
“Yuk! That tastes terrible!” I heard her voice.
“What did you drank?!” I ask in terror and flew down to her.
“Just something what give me more magical power.” She smiled. “There’s nothing to worry about!”
I stood on the floor with angry clatter. “Yes there is. Dag is going to kill you, no wait-US!”
“Oh, calm down Ari. She doesn’t have to know.” Sonata smiled and tried to make a pirouette, but failed and clash in to cupboard, which started to fall down fast…very fast.
Sonata teleported away but I can just gasped and close my eyes. But I was lucky because there was a hole in back of the cupboard and I stand right in it. But on the other side I wasn’t lucky, because I felt some potion hit my head.
After few seconds I opened my eyes and looked up on Sonata, who was holding by her magic big mirror. I looked in mirror and to my surprise I saw stripes in my hair, but they weren’t light lavender anymore, they were mentol.
“What the hell?!” I asked none in particular.
“LANGUAGE!” Adagio ordered and walked in door.
When she saw what happened with her potion she just gasped and Sonata started to run away.
…@@@...
My flash back was shattered by Adagios heel steps along my door and then her angry voice:
“I don’t let you win. Get ready for your death!”
I collapsed on my bed. Throw my hair brush somewhere in door direction. And muttered “But I didn’t do it.” And tears start running down my cheeks.
After that I listen peace…peace before storm…
Next day is here…day when I avenge Sonatas death…day when I will kill Aria.
She right now open door from next room…her room. Follow steps downstairs and soon will follow her death.
…
“Good morning.” I say with my fake sing-sang voice.
Aria didn’t response and continuing search in a fridge.
I take few steps toward cupboard and pick up the biggest knife we have. Then I start slice bread, but keep staring at her.
After minute or something she finally gets off the fridge and looks at me then at knife, at me and knife…
“What are you staring at?” I asked with my innocent (of course fake) voice.
“At that kni- I mean nothing!” She panicked and I know now that I am not the only one who knows what is coming.
“If you say so.” I rolled my eyes. “Anyway what are you gonna do today?” I continue with my small play.
“I dunno, but for sure not die.” She says when sits at kitchen table and starts study her defatted yogurt.
“Well, you have to change you plans.” I said and stab knife into her yogurt. “And next will be your heart.” I darkly whispered.
She just throws the yogurt at my face and run to the front door.
“Don’t make it more worse for yourself, darling.” I yell after her and waiting for moment when she find out that the doors are locked.
When the expected sound comes I walk to enter of small hall and so I corner her. She now can’t do anything, just wait for her end.
“Trapped, ehm?”
“Not at all!” She says with courage and show up her gun.
How couldn’t I saw that gun?!...Forget gun! I have to finish this!
So I do, jump to her with ready knife and one target-stab it into her heart. But to my surprise she dodges aside and I stab knife with all my power into wall.
Aria closes her eyes and whispered: “I am so, so sorry Dagi. But you don’t give any other chance.” Then one single tear fall down from her deep purple eye. Not even one second later she fired the gun.
I in that second jump aside and it didn’t hit me. I take a deep calming breath, stand up, get my knife from wall and for her big and painful surprise I jump to her and stab knife into her throat.
She yelped in pain and fall on her knees.
I rip knife off her and let her red blood flow on the carpet.
I tossed my knife and pick up her gun then lift her by her neck and hit her to the nearest wall. Then I lifted gun to place where her heart is beating in panic and smile evilly.
“Adagio y-you are-” She gasps for air. “-just heartless monster.”
I smiled, because her words mean nothing to me. In fact she is the one who killed Sonata not me, or someone else-just her. “Not more than you are sis.”
I get ready to fire the gun, but then it hit me-little drama wouldn’t hurt. So I say:
“Now look carefully because I will be the last thing you’ll see, blow from gun last thing you’ll heard, my perfume last thing you’ll smell, this wall last thing you’ll touch and endless pain last thing you’ll feel.” -Maniacal laugh-
“Dagi-” Was all she said before bullet hit her heart. From small hole in her throat splash wave of fresh blood.
For moment I feel great, but it changed when I see myself in mirror, I have messed up hair, tic in right eye and whole face splattered with her blood and in hand I hold gun which I gave her when she saved my life.
…@@@...
It was something past midnight and I went home from one of my solo concerts. To our house it wasn’t more that ten kilometers, in fact not more than this forest.
So I drove my car, drummed my fingers on steering wheel to the rhythm of one of my songs and tried not to get hypnotized by wipers working on max speed.
On dark sky flash lightning and after it few seconds later blow loud thunder. Everything was fine-just normal storm.
I focus on road on which I in shock saw dark and quite big silhouette. Two green eyes spark, when I crash into one of lot trees.
Every light in my (expensive) car like by flip switch off and radio stop play. Only sound was for moment drumming water on capote.
I take a deep and irritated breath and took my hand-bag from back seat. Well I didn’t in fact take it, because it wasn’t there. So I take another breath and carefully open driver’s door.
Just one step was all I needed to know, how hard it walking on high-heel shoes in mood is. After few slow steps full of not-so-good language I finally make it to the trunk. I opened it, but snuffle shattered my concentration and I fell backwards.
That thing-wolf, I guess came closer and I can smelt its breathing (it smelt really awful).
I tried to stand up, but failed. When I thought that my days are numbered loud bum echoed in forest and wolfs head explode in bloody parts.
In next lightning I saw Aria and with thunder she’d help me on my legs.
…@@@...
I look back at mirror and in my perfect reflection was now tear mixed with my mascara, too.
My brain then start working like it normal does and I withount second thought jump to my dead sister and hug her tight. I know that this is hopeless and she will never wake up, but in that moment it feel so right…so wrong.
Tears falling down my cheeks when I pick up gun again, but this time I turn it against me. In my last moment mysterious, deep, serious but melodic voice says: “Enough!” I look up and see dark blue magical portal sparkling next to me…
Sun set is coming and I standing on terrace. In my head I still heard that stupid nickname Sonata long ago gave me Dagi. I never thought that I will miss it, but when none call me like that I fell so strange…so strange alone. When I think about this I feel even more despair, because Melody and Sonata are gone and Aria hates me for this.
…
Now I feel bad like never. Neither when we got kicked off Equestria or when we lost our magic. I have literally nothing in my head. For sure I know just one thing and that is the fact any death of my younger sisters wasn’t my fault. But Sonatas and Arias fault.
…
In fact I’m happy that Aria doesn’t talk with me, because she was the one who killed Sonata not me or someone else-when she stood on my side she broke her heart. And just because of it Sonata-my youngest sister run away and got murdered.
…
Actually is good that Sonata isn’t here and doesn’t bothering me…So why I want cry?
…
Sun is already gone behind the horizon…same like my hope for happy life.
…
I need to recover, because I can live happy life with my sisters or withount them. Just think about it now is there finally peace, none is arguing, none is watching some stupid cartoons. In fact I am lucky person!
…
Darkness is all over me; on sky are shinning millions of stars.
…
Down my cheeks are running tears…first tears after super-long time. My heart is beating stronger every second. I breathing hard and closing my eyes. Now I feel just despair…killing despair. I collapsed on cold floor.
…
Its feel like someone stabbed knife into my heart. Someone likes Aria, because I never let her sing main vocals so she wants me to be despair or more than that. Now I got it: She was the one who killed them not Sonata or werewolves. Of course she is now just acting like someone who is sorry for them, but she is happy when I am on bottom.
…
Only thing what I have to do is kill her before she will kill me too. -Maniacal laugh-