Oil slicks and drying tears
Author's Note
I haven't gotten the hang of this site yet, so this took way longer than it needed to. Also, it's very bitty as I was told every time a different character spoke, I needed to start a new paragraph. Now it looks messy.
Oil slicks and drying tears
It was a crisp winter morning in Canterlot City. The sharp wind chilled residents to the bone as they went about their daily routines. Businesses started to open to allow half-asleep school students a chance to get what they needed for the day and as usual, one shop that stood out from the rest, was open too.
The owner, a small dark green girl, sang as she did her task, head buried in the engine of a car. She was swaddled in oversized, dirtied blue overalls and a heavy pair of boots. This was Petrol Head, Canterlot's walking vehicle encyclopoedia. "I'm the girl that makes the thing that drills the hole, that holds the ring that drives the rod that turns the knob, that works the thing-ummy-bob. I'm the girl that makes the thing that holds the oil that oils the ring that takes the shank that moves the crank
that works the thing-ummy-bob." She paused her song upon hearing a clanging from her scrap yard.
Grabbing the jack handle from her wall rack, she marched outside, grumbling at the need to leave her warm workshop to chase what was probably just a rat. She tapped the handle firmly against the brick wall of her workshop to alert whatever it was, hearing a muttered "Sh*t..."
"Who's there? Get outta my yard!" She barked fiercely, seeing a sickly purple face poke above a scrap pile. Her magenta eyes locked with deep purple. The stranger stared back, shivering as the wind blew. In her frail arms was an almost new supercharger.
Petrol saw the fear in the girl's eyes and put her weapon down. "Get down before ya hurt yourself." She coaxed, helping her down to solid ground. She heard the stranger's stomach rumble and realised she was probably homeless, judging by her poor condition. "Put that down and follow me." She said softly, watching the girl do so and leading her into the warm.
The tough girl had every right to be furious, but she couldn't be mad at someone this desperate. She found a blanket and made her a hot drink while she tried to find some food for her.
The purple girl sat in silence, watching the small workshop owner take care of her. She was soon presented with an underwhelming, but welcome bowl of porridge(oatmeal for American readers). Smiling softly at her, Petrol returned to her work before hearing sniffling from her frail guest. Turning to her, she saw her wiping away tears as she whispered, "Thank you...!" Before having a violent coughing fit.
Petrol helped her recover from it before smiling warmly. "Don't mention it. I couldn't leave you to freeze to death now, could I?" That earned a chuckle from her ill companion.
"I like you." The stranger croaked, her throat sore and swollen.
"I like you too, missy." Petrol replied, leaning on the car. "You need cash, or food, or shelter, just ask. Always happy to help." The purple girl gasped as she remembered something.
"My sisters are still out there!" She rasped, trying to stand.
"Woah. You stay here in the warm, tell me where to look and what to look for and I'll get them. You're already sick and I am not letting you get worse." The mechanic said firmly. The girl filled her in before introducing herself.
"And everybody knows who you are." She smiled weakly at her new friend. "Pleasure to meet you, Aria. Just wish it had been under better circumstances." Both girls chuckled.
"While I'm gone, feel free to make yourself another drink. I'll be back soon." She said as she wrestled with the wind to open her door to go searching for the missing sisters.
She recalled where Aria said to go, peeking into an alley five blocks away, seeing two equally frail girls cowering behind a dumpster in hopes of being shielded from the frigid air. "Adagio Dazzle and Sonata Dusk?" She asked, kneeling in front of them as it started to snow. Adagio glared at her.
"What do YOU want?" She growled.
"Your sister found me. I'm here to help." She smiled as a wounded Sonata lifted her head.
"Ari was caught?" She croaked.
"It's okay. I never hurt her. I'm here to get you warm and well."
Sonata looked at her big sister pleadingly. "Beats freezing to death..." Adagio sighed, slipping on the ice until the good samaritan helped her up. Sonata held her badly bandaged, cut hand up to slow the blood flowing to it. The small girl kept the pair close and let them into her workshop, where their middle sister waited, huddling in her blanket. They hugged her and got the same treatment she did. They were all in tears, so happy to finally be safe.
Once their frozen bodies completely thawed, the trio hugged her, Sonata even nuzzling her cheek as she was closer to her height than the other two.
"You girls get comfy and help yourselves to food and drink while I'm at school. Tomorrow, I'll take you shopping for new clothes." Petrol said before heading upstairs to slip into a neater outfit and grab her stuff.
The trio nodded, Sonata skipping into the kitchen and making herself and her sisters pancakes, perky as ever. Adagio lounged on the sofa and took a nap and Aria watched TV after taking some medicine.
"Keep an eye on your sisters, yeah?" Petrol smiled as she walked towards the front door.
"You got it. See you." She coughed. "Later..." She rested as Petrol went outside and headed off to school, her mind on the short girl. Petrol was thinking about her, too.
Sonata suddenly popped up next to Aria, startling her. "For the love of Tartarus, Sonata..." She huffed.
"You like her, don't you?" The Pinkie Pie clone asked teasingly, smirking when Aria blushed.
"Shut the hell up..." That only fueled Sonata's teasing until Aria shoved her tiredly.
"Alright. I won't tell her, I promise. It's Adagio you need to worry about." She resumed cooking as Aria's tear streaks finally dried.
