Chapter 1 - A Fated Night In Town
Failure...
It is the greatest lesson and the greatest tool to learn to change one's fate and to change one's self. Though many are not aware of it until the choice to change is made. This is where one's fate, one's destiny, can change to a way of non-believe or of nonexistence. Thus, four shall learn of such and learn that walking the path not alone is the key to experience greatness. But I digress, for the time of moral and advice can come at a different point. For the story is best to give that said advice and moral, not of simple narration from an author. So, without further do, I give you the story... Dazzling A Broken Heart.
{...}
It has been several weeks...
To think that after they had lost their powers, their gems, to the power of friendship displayed by the Rainbooms that they would still be able to do something about the situation they were in. But alas, they had nothing. With their power, they have used it to get what they want, when they want. But also taken for granted of that same said power provided them food, water, money, clothes, and a warm place to sleep and rest.
No more.
For weeks they hungered. Spent the rest of the money they had for a few days in a shelter, food, and clean water. Now, weeks of hunger. They, who were rulers of influential song and wicked pride, in a week have resorted to begging in the streets, drinking unclean water and rain water. Sleeping in boxes, dumpsters, and under store fronts to stay out of the rainy days and nights. They who eat what they can from fresh garbage, only to still remain hungry. News of their deeds did not spread out from Cantorlot High thankfully. But they have not made any money, nor had a roof over their heads. So now, several weeks later, they are here at this point.
At the edge of an alley to the dumpsters, here they lay. Adagio Dazzle, sick with a powerful fever from the malnutrition and recently drench from the previous rain storm. Aria Blaze, the most malnourished of the three, has lost most of her mass and is starving. Sanata Dusk, who is loosing a mental struggle to keep on going, holding a rusty razor blade in her hand. Each of them at an end. Each of them preparing to face death.
{...}
Cody was what one would call strange if you met him. There seemed something off about him that none could quite place. He didn't care, he just went on his business and that was that. Things were normal until a few months ago with that rainbow in the sky thingy. His eyes couldn't stop looking in curiosity and attractiveness but his body shivered and wanted to back away from it on instinct. Whatever it was all that time ago, it wasn't good. Ever since then, he had this feeling of drawn to him. Like something was telling him to go somewhere, but it was never pointing out to anywhere. But tonight, that was different.
After a long day of work, cleaning three buildings in twelve hours, he was exhausted. He just wanted to go home and relax for the night. He had gotten on his motorcycle to head home. He worked in the big city today, so the trip was going to be long since he lived in the suburbs. Its not like the little town he used to live in, they were always social. Here, it was very quite and peaceful. At least on his block.
Riding home, the feeling in him did not stop. Usually, it would pop up here or there everyday, but this was different. The feeling kept going on and on, telling him to search. Search for what? He didn't know. As he was getting near the outskirts of the big city, he hit a road block. Apparently a hole had caved in the middle of an intersection and had blocked off traffic. He then noticed cars turning around and back the other way.
'So that's why there were a lot of cars going back that way.'
Cody thought to himself. He then thought further into a different way home. Usually, he went from wherever work took him as a destination on a way home. But tonight was fated differently. There was two other roots he knew he could take. One on each side of him. Going right seemed like the logical option, when it came to direction to pick, he always went right. But before he could turn the bike right, that feeling stroke him hard.
"Left."
A soft, almost whispered voice fell on his left ear. Cody looked left, wondering what to do. For the first time in the past few months, he finally had a direction to search in. But this feeling was not that pleasant. It was an uncomfortable feeling that one gets from the top of their pelvis to the pit of their stomach. He pondered for a moment. Was this worth his time? He didn't have an answer, not that he expected one. Unknowing what he was fully doing, he lit his turn signal and made a left. Where he is going, he knows it will be nothing but trouble. Continuing the root home, he went down a smaller street to avoid traffic. That was when his bike decided to pop and sputter, before powering off and stopping.
"Shingles."
He said under his breath. As he was about to try and start the bike, he got the feeling again. Only this time it was not the only feeling. Oh no. This feeling he recognized all too well. The ice cold chills and numbness, the slight bang of his heart hitting his rib cage, the tense stone rock hardened bodily muscle cramps, and the sway of his head and his vision blurring for a moment. Yes, this feeling is unmistakable. Someone is at Death's door... someone is dying. Getting off his bike, he felt his knee give out three times before standing up straight again.
'There are three who are dying.'
He thought to himself, his body and instincts kicking in. He continued to heed those instincts by walking forward and looking down the first alleyway to his right, nothing there. Then his left hand twitched.
'No. To the left.'
His instincts guiding him to his mysterious wonder of a prize. Going further down to the next alleyway, this time the left, he found a sight that would bring tears and dread to those who witnessed the state of the bodies that lay upon the ground. Each of them were thin beyond reasonable, their clothes tattered and dirtied to the point of rags, and the smell that came from the alleyway alone would make one instantly vomit. Cody would not say he was shocked, but he was disturbed by what he sees. Entering the small trash filled alleyway, he went to check the bodies. The first one had light hair and paler skin then the others, this one was still breathing and alive. Cody's head began to pound and his wrists hurt.
'Suicide.'
His instincts told him. Going to the one on the right, the second one seemed to have pigtails.
'A girl?'
He thought. He checked the body, still breathing. But she was bone skinny, even more than the others. For a second, his stomach began to burn and his throat got a little dry and sore.
'Starvation.'
He heard his instincts tell him. Then he goes to the body above the other two. The hair seemed brightly colored in a reddish tinge, but he wasn't sure. He checked the body, and for a second he thought that it was too late, until he felt warmth from the body. Putting his hand on the head, he felt a burning heat come off of it instantly.
'They're sick.'
He thought, before he was hit by a wave of wooziness and nausea for a few moments.
'Sickness'
His instincts tell him on how this one will die. Getting up he grabbed his phone from his pocket. He then got that earlier feeling during the ride over here. Telling him something is off.
'No. No hospital. Whoever they are, they will not be save there.'
His thoughts continued,
'Then where do they go?! I can't leave them here to get help. They're dying.'
There was only one option.
'I have to take them home with me and see what I can do.'
Nodding his head once to confirm his thoughts, Cody leaned down and picked them up one by one over to his bike. Unsurprisingly, each of them were light. None of them awoke, they seemed to be very unstable and on the brink. Lifting his seat, Cody took out some bungee cord and some small woven fabric rope. If he was going to get them to his house, they needed to be secured and safe. After a few quick minutes of problem solving, he had them secured.
Secured in front of him was the one with pigtails. She, supposedly, was facing him with arms around his neck and legs tied to the main body of the bike, while the head rested upon his chest. The light hair one was behind him, having arms tied around his waist and legs to the lower part of the bike, while the head rested on his back. The sick one had legs splayed and tied around the three of them. The arms tied to the exhaust pipes and head resting on the edge of the bike. Plus, extra rope across the body to make sure they didn't slip or moved when he turned. Not that he would turn fast or travel speeds above 25 mph. But a precaution neither the less. With all of them secured, he started up the bike and began the slow trip home.
{...}
After several minutes, they had arrived, and without wasting anymore time, he untied them and brought them inside his house. He took them into the bedroom and laid each of them on the bed diagonally. With a big bed and them being smaller then him, it aloud them to fit. After that, he put his bike away and came back in the house and locked the front door for the night. Taking a deep breath, he went to the kitchen to see what he had for food. Opening the fridge... nothing. Absolutely Jack.
'Shoot! Out of all times to go grocery shopping this week, I picked Friday!'
That was three days from now. Huffing, he closed the fridge and opened the freezer. The only thing left was pizza.
'Better than getting butter.'
He thought, as butter was the only food he had left besides the frozen pizza. Taken it out, he immediately put it in the oven to cook. He prepared glasses of water and got three towels from his clothing storage for the bathroom. After preparation, he returned to the bedroom to see what to do now. As he stood over the three, his feeling of illness died down. Thinking it over about it in his head, he wondered what the situation was. Then his index finger on his right hand twitched once.
'One more day...'
His instincts told him,
'...One more day before they encounter death.'
Realizing he had at least another 24 hours before it would be too late to help them, he took an extra bed cover and covered up the three on the bed. Afterwards, he pulled up a rocking chair, more like his reading chair, and sat down with a relaxed sigh. He decided he was going to wait until they woke up before he started aiding them physically. As he leaned forward to look at the three. One by one, and then all at once. He thought to himself,
'What have I gotten myself into?'
Chapter 2 - Saved At Death's Door
Author's Note
Notes for read:
"Pink" = Sonata Dusk
"Purple" = Aria Blaze
"Yellow" = Adagio Dazzle
"Regular black" = Cody
Chapter 2 - Saved At Death's Door
Throughout the night, Cody kept an eye on his three guests. When the oven dinged, he went and got the pizza out and left it on the counter along with glasses of water. Now it was simply the waiting game. Sitting back in his chair, Cody folds his arms over his chest and got comfy. He wants to make sure to get some rest but not fall asleep. He needs to be ready for immediate action when they wake. So closing his eyes, he waits...
{...}
Many hours pass. The sun begins it's morning rise. Cody opens his eyes, at least he got some rest while keeping his ears open for any sounds of movement that would alert him. Time to time he would peek open an eye to check on his guests and see if any of them woke up yet. Now that the sun is up, the relax feeling seems to melt away by the sun's light hitting his eyes. Though he is awake, he still wanted to stubbornly get some more rest. That all changed with the sound of a moaning growl that came from the bed. Cody closes his eyes again but makes sure to keep them slightly open; not enough for anyone to notice, but just enough for him to see. He keeps his focus on the bed, mainly his guests.
Now that light is coming in through the window, he can see them a lot more clearer. The one on the far left has a ponytail. It seems to have a pinkish color, but with it being dirty, it was hard to fully tell. The one in the middle has hair with a reddish color to it. They, or more importantly, she was wearing a choker necklace and a crown. The third one on the far right, with the pigtails, seems to have a dark purple or blue hair. He really could not tell.
'I Wonder if they are all girls?'
He thought. Before he can think further, he hears the growling of a stomach.
'Yep. They are definitely waking up.'
Seeing he was still save to move, he got up from his chair and stretches. He walks into the kitchen and grabs a few slices of pizza and puts them on plates. Taking them to the microwave, he heated up the slices one at a time. After heating the three plates, he brings them into his room and places them on the tall dresser next to the bed. After putting them down, he went back for the glasses of water and put them on the dresser as well.
After bringing in the food and drinks, he got an idea. Just for the fun of it, and because he still wants to get as much rest as possible, he sits back down on his chair and rests himself in his resting spying position. After a minute or two, there came movement to the right.
"Ugh..."
Sneakily opening his eyes, he sees the one with pigtails sitting up and has their right hand on their forehead. He hears to his left a grown from the one with the ponytail. The pigtails then sniffs. They sniff again several times before opening their eyes. Their eyes pop open in surprise, not unexpected. The pigtails one is staring at him and looking at things near him. They then turned their eyes and became glued to the dresser, spotting what they smelled, food. They then turn and look him and then back to the food. They began to very slowly stand up, while also reaching for a plate of pizza. At the same time, the one on the far left groaned louder than before, coming out of sleep. Cody internally chuckled to himself.
'What better time for introductions?'
"You know, it's bad manners not to say your name and take food first."
The pigtails froze dead in their tracks, like a deer in headlights. The ponytail one, still laying on the bed, quickly sat up and screeched. The pinkish one grabs their knees and looks with terror. Cody opens his eyes fully, he looks straight at the one who attempted to grab pizza. He notes that the pigtail's lips are quivering, like they are trying to say something but just too much in shock to respond. Cody smirks at this and continues.
"Welcome to the land of the living."
He spoke, looking between the two who are awake. Though the pigtails one is still in shock, the pinkish ponytail one was the first to try recovering.
"Who-oo -oo ah-ah-are you?"
'Apparently female.'
Cody surmises.
"Do you want the long answer, or the short one?"
Cody could not help adding sarcasm. There is no answer at first. It became pigtails turn to speak.
"Sh-sh-short."
"The names Cody. I am a Death Seeker."
Both of them seem to freeze even more and their eyes wide in horror.
"Wondering why you're here?"
He continued, they both nod their heads twice.
"I found you in an alley, you were all in bad shape. I knew you were not normal by any standards, so I had no choice but to get you here to get help."
He ended his explanation. Neither of them blink or move. Cody reaches behind him and grabs a plate with a slice of pizza.
"Now, listen very carefully..."
He says slowly to get the pigtails attention, even though he already has it.
"... You are currently starving to death. You need to eat. But only take one bite for now and wait five minutes. If you eat too fast, you will die."
The pigtails one got what he said loud and clear, nodding before loosening their muscles a bit, they take a plate. Grabbing another plate, Cody hands it to the pinkish one.
"Same for you ponytail."
'Shingles! I said that out loud!'
Each of them takes a bite and slowly eats it be fore swallowing.
'Now that I said that openly, might as well...'
"So, am I suppose to call you pigtails or what?"
This startle the pigtails one for a moment before answering.
"Ah-ah-Aria. Ah-Aria Blaze."
"Girl, I take it?"
She nods.
"And what about you? I take it ponytail is not a nickname?"
He jokes a little.
"Nn-no. It's, Sonata. Sonata Dusk."
He definitely likes the ring in that name.
"And I am a girl too."
She states. Cody then points to the one still laying in the middle.
"She?"
They nod.
"She's..."
Aria got cut off by the moan of the girl in the middle, which followed by two soft coughs.
"wha... what's going on?"
She says in a very soft low groggy voice.
"Dagi, we were taking off the streets by someone. We are at his house."
Sonata fills her in.
"Wha?!"
Before she could finish the word, she coughs and hacks, struggling to breathe. Cody got up from his chair and steps to the edge of the bed to look down over her. After her coughing fit, she looks up at him in surprise.
"Cody."
He says, reaching out a hand. She meets it with her own and shakes.
"Adagio. Dazzle."
With introductions out of the way, Cody pulls Adagio up to sit proper on the bed. He turns and grabs the glasses of water and passes them to the girls.
"Here."
He says, giving the final glass to Adagio. Then he grabs the final plate of pizza and gives it to her.
"Take one bite and wait five minutes before taking another. Your body needs to adjust to having food again."
Adagio looks at him with a sad, watery eye look.
"I will go make you some herbal tea. It will help with the sickness."
Cody says, before walking out of the bedroom and heads to the kitchen.
{...}
After Cody left, the girls look at each other in surprise.
"How did he know where we were?!"
Sonata questions as soft as she can without yelling.
"I don't know! How did he get us here?!"
Adagio responds with a question of her own.
"And why is he helping us?!"
Aria finishes off with her question.
Each of the girls got lost in thought, they did not understand what is happening. All they know is that the end was near and then they woke up here. Adagio thought about Cody for a moment. He is very tall, taller than any person she saw in this world. He isn't brightly colored like everyone else. He seems pale and gray, nothing like the others. He is wearing all black. Shoes, pants, shirt, and light jacket all colored black. But his hair is the strange thing about him. His hair is a light golden white color. His face is strange too. His eyes are WAY too small and his face seems more prominently bony. Whoever he is, he seems strange and an 'out of this world' type of person.
"Wha-what was his name again?"
Adagio asks her siren sisters and long time friends.
"Cody."
Sonata answers.
"He... he said he is a Death Seeker."
This makes both Aria and Adagio tense up and freeze. Something about that term scares them to the bone. The sirens were immortal due to their magic. Now that it is destroyed they have lost their immortality. So hearing that he calls himself that means he is not to be trusted until further questions are answered. Perfect timing too, Cody is now coming back to the bedroom. Coming in, he sits down in his chair and claps his hands together.
"Okay. Waters boiling for tea. Ladies, if you have questions, now is a good time for me to answer them."
