While the Canterlot Gym was not perhaps the town's most popular spot, there was nevertheless a number of people who frequented it on a day-to-day basis. However, as the sun began to set beyond the horizon, even these stalwart users of the gym began to make their way out, leaving the various equipment and exercise rooms largely vacant. But, this was an all-day-and-all-night sort of place, and the lights were on even when almost everyone else had left it. As the darkness of night crept in, only a few die-hard gym-users remained. One such person was, surprisingly, Indigo Zap, noted athlete of Crystal Prep. The girl was, at this moment, busying herself with a bout on an exercise bike, racking up a good pace for herself before finally stopping.
"Yep...that should just about do it."
Hopping off the bike, the teen, who was clad in simple white shorts, vest and sneakers for the occasion, afforded herself a contented look, patting the seat of the bike before starting to move away from it. Before leaving it though, she picked up a nearby towel, moping up the sweat that she'd developed on her brow from her efforts. As she walked out of the bike room and down the hallway, her breathing was just starting to return to normal, and as she passed by all of the other rooms, she elected to look through their respective windows, seeing each of the other gym-users who had remained in these late hours. But, as she passed by one door in particular, she stopped, looking through the window with confusion plastered all over her face.
"Wait, is that...Aria?"
Opening the door, Indigo saw that it was indeed Aria Blaze within. Like Indigo, the middle Siren sister wore a plain vest, though her shorts were of a dark-green colour. Right now, she was busy pounding away at a bright red punching bag, looking at it intently, not to mention working up quite a sweat of her own. While Indigo displayed just a moment's hesitation over this, she soon let out a sigh, closing the door behind her and starting to walk towards the other girl.
"Hey," she called out.
Hearing the familiar voice, Aria stopped her assault of the bag, turning with a raised eyebrow to see her new visitor. After a moment of looking her over, she finally broke the silence between them.
"Huh. You're a long way from the city, aren't you?"
Chuckling slightly, Indigo placed her hands on her hips and gave a nod.
"Yeah. I'm just staying over with a cousin for the weekend. Figured I'd get in some training here while I was over."
Turning, the athlete glanced up at a nearby clock on the wall.
"Eh...I've got time before I need to get back."
She looked back to Aria.
"Need help?"
Taking a moment to look over her punching bag, Aria considered this offer before turning back to Indigo and giving a nod.
"Sure, why not?"
Smiling wider, Indigo made her way over to the other side of the bag, holding it firmly before speaking up to Aria again.
"Okay now, gave it all you got!"
Smirking slightly, Aria did as requested, pulling her fist all the way back before letting out an almighty punch. And then another came. Then another and another, and on and on it went. Indigo did her best to stay put, but the force of Aria's blows was making it hard for her to keep a hold of the bag.
"Sheesh! You pack a wallop!"
Looking over to the girl, Aria maintained her smirk.
"You don't live thousands of years in a dangerous world without picking up a few things, kid."
She finished her words with yet another punch to the bag, which Indigo was only just able to stand firm against. But, as the punches kept on coming, the Crystal Prep girl couldn't help but put on a smirk of her own.
"I'm guessing you had a bad day?"
Aria raised an eyebrow to this, prompting Indigo to continue.
"I mean, you, here, punching this thing to within an inch of its life. That just screams stress to me."
Considering this, the Siren let out a laugh, albeit a dry and clearly forced one.
"Yeah...you could say that. Nothing more than normal though."
Curiosity grew on Indigo's face.
"What happened?"
Letting out a grunt of annoyance, Aria, while continuing to punch, gave her companion her answer.
"You know that shop I work at? The one for clothes? We had some majorly annoying customers today. They kept on whining about everything under the sun."
Another punch.
"I mean, what, is it somehow my fault that they didn't know the clothes would be too small for them when they bought it? Is it my fault that they didn't make sure they weren't allergic to cotton? No! No it wasn't!"
Another punch, and while Aria's bad mood was plain for everybody to see, Indigo, to the former's surprise, soon offered her a smile.
"You know...we all have our bad days. But, well...they pass."
Aria rolled her eyes on this.
"Small comfort, Zap."
Indigo chuckled.
"Yeah, maybe. At least you're taking out your bad day on this thing instead of...you know...people and stuff."
Stopping for a moment, Aria paused, wiping the sweat from her brow before looking back to her training partner.
"You know, you're awfully okay about spending time with me when I'm in this mood. Most would just walk on somewhere else."
Indigo thought on that for a few seconds, before addressing Aria again.
"Wait...doesn't that boyfriend of yours come with you at least? What's his name, Wizzy? Whizzer?"
Aria chuckled.
"Wiz. Yeah, he usually tries to be with me when I'm in a bad mood. Happens a lot, but he stays all the same."
Stepping to one side, Aria looked straight at Indigo before continuing.
"Couldn't be here today though. Got this big math test tomorrow, so I told him he could stay at home and study this time."
After pondering her own words for a time, a smile crept onto Aria's face.
"In all honesty...I don't think he's really one for gym stuff. Basketball sure, but not this. I won't bore you with details, but...let's just say he wasn't as good as you when it comes to holding his ground when I punch these things."
The other girl nodded, laughing briefly as she took in the Siren's words.
"Well...like you say, I'm not gonna budge here. Because...well...you're not exactly the first person I've seen do this."
Aria raised an eyebrow to that, and after taking a few moments to consider her words, Indigo finally started to explain herself.
"You know Sour? Sour Sweet? She's got some pretty deep anger issues too. But then she started talking to Rainbow and all the other CHS girls, and she's been getting much better."
Glancing at the half-destroyed punching bag, Indigo suddenly found herself letting out a more genuine laugh.
"In fact, if you think you give these things a bad time, you should see what Sour does to them. I swear, she lets those things have it so much that she almost gets through a whole one every week."
This time, it was Aria's turn to laugh.
"Now that I'd like to see."
Together, the two girls shared in the laugh, and when it was finally over, they let out a simultaneous sigh. After pausing for a few moments, Aria looked her bag over, before breaking out into a small smile and patting it gently.
"You know what? I think I'm done for the day."
Indigo nodded, looking over at the clock again as she replied.
"Yeah, me too."
Taking a few steps to the side, Aria picked up a duffel bag that had been lying on the floor since Indigo arrived, before promptly slinging it over one shoulder. The two then started to make their way out of the room, making sure to close the door behind them. Eventually, they found themselves in the entrance lobby of the gym, where the man at the front desk gave them both a nod as they passed by. Soon enough, they were outside at last, taking in a breath of cold air as the night-time had truly set in. After glancing around for a bit, and seeing that the streets were more-or-less empty at this point, Aria turned to her companion.
"Well...guess it's goodbye for now."
Indigo turned to her and nodded.
"Yep. See ya around."
Aria nodded, taking a few steps away from the other girl before, suddenly, the latter called out to her again.
"Oh! I almost forgot! Tell Rainbow I'm still on for our soccer match next Saturday!"
Again, Aria nodded.
"Will do."
Indigo nodded, giving Aria a thumbs up before, finally, turning away and starting to head on down the street away from her. As Aria watched her go, a look of thoughtfulness crossed her face, and as she at last began to make her own way away from the gym, she regained her earlier smirk.
"Note to self...ask Sour Sweet to join me for a gym session one day."
