CRBA, Episode 7: Trouble

>Be Silver Spoon.
>The hallways are just about empty around lunchtime.
>Getting to the auditorium is child’s play.
>You glance over your shoulder at Diamond.
“Sure you want to join?”
>Her reaction’s muted, considered.
>”Yeah.”
>Diamond’s not how you remember her.
>Not in a bad way, either.
>It’s like she’s… more than she used to be.
>Anyway.
>You find them in the auditorium, sitting together onstage.
>The lights are off, but you can't miss their silhouettes.
>They didn't used to stand together constantly.
>Now that you're a Stand user, you can feel the bond between them even more strongly.
>Maybe their Stands work together?
>Either way, the musty dusty mess of the auditorium lets out a creaking echo when you push open the doors.
>They don't react.
>When you walk close enough to make out which is which, they see you too.
>Scootaloo speaks first, around an egg salad sandwich.
>"Look who it is."
>She's not quite looking at you.
>Bloom pipes up.
>"Glad you healed up so quick."
>Diamond doesn't answer.
>Sweetie doesn't turn her head, just staring out into the empty seats.
>"What are you here for?"
>You clear your throat.
“We’re looking for answers.”
>Sweetie smiled a little.
>”Does Care know you’re running around for him?”
>You pause.
>Then shake your head.
>Scootaloo picks up from there.
>”What are the questions?”

>The next few minutes are awash with exposition.
“What happened to Trixie Lulamoon?”
>”She stole something and ran off school grounds.”
“What?”
>”A magical artifact. It’s the only complete one in the set.”
>You’re about to ask how many others there are, but Diamond pipes up.
>“Why was it here?”
>”Safekeeping. Anywhere else would be putting it at risk.”
“Is she in danger?”
>Scootaloo shrugs.
>”Aren’t all of us?”
>Then Belle speaks up again.
>”There’s a battle, a real one, and whoever gets their hands on all three stones wins.”
>Diamond asks another sensible question, even though she’s hovering around your shoulder.
>”Who’s fighting?”
>Silence, looks among the three, then Apple Bloom.
>”We don’t know. It’s about all we can do to keep our grade in order. Not that you two were very keen on helping us out with that.”
>Inside, you wince a little, and you decide not to press them.
>Diamond hmmms.
>”You are working for the Rainbooms, right?”
>Apple Bloom answers.
>”Of course! They’re our sisters, after all.”
>Before you can ask another question, Belle speaks.
>”If you want to help, there’s a house we were supposed to investigate. Maybe you’ll find a clue there.”
”Or something dangerous?”
>All three nod, once.
>You resist the urge to shudder.
>Geez, they’re creepier the longer you spend around them.

>But that’s how you get the address for an abandoned house.
>Derpy’s not going to be in tonight, and Golden’s already skipped half the day to go home.
>You and Diamond wordlessly agree on the plan.
>Calls to your parents asking to sleep over at each-others’ houses go off without a hitch.
>Diamond’s been spending a lot of time at your house anyway.
>And growing up with her hasn’t just taught you about lying, but the finer art of steering lies.
>Navigating through the web, never being caught without a ready response.
>And, of course, padding lies out enough to make people want them to be true.
>You feel downright Machiavellian.
>The lunchbell rang by the time everything was in place, and you both headed back for Civics.
>”Silver…”
>You turned to her.
“Yeah?”
>”Did they have their Stand out?”
>You shake your head.
“I don’t think so.”
>”I don’t trust them. I never liked them in the first place, but...”
“Yeah. I know. They seem too... together.”
>You only barely hear her mutter a response.
>”Maybe because I’m not.”
>You frown.
>Neither of you say anything else on the way to class.

>Be Care Root.
>It's been a little while since anything big happened at school.
>Derpy's been busy for a few days.
>Lots of homework, spending time with Silver and Diamond, and so on.
>You both know it's really your fault, but she never mentions it.
>Things have been cooling off recently, like the focus has shifted somewhere else.
>Every day that you don't need to use your Stand is a victory.
>You almost dropped a few grades in some of your classes, for once.
>[spoiler]You've also glanced around at a couple of martial arts dojos around the city, but you realized that even if you were Jackie Chan it wouldn't help in fighting off a Stand.[/spoiler]
>[spoiler]You've just been trying to think of cheaper ways to use ｢Timbuk Three｣...[/spoiler]
>And today, you're on a date to the movies!
>It's at one of the rich people theaters, too, with the five hours of before-previews commercials and its own radio station.
>The tickets are going to cost you, but you don’t really spend money on anything else.
>At least, besides gas and groceries.
>The point is, you’re due at her house in an hour, and then you’ll be on your way.
>And, more because you have time than out of any real need, you make a detour.
>Candy always tastes better when it’s bought in a chintzy dollar store and snuck into the theater.
>And Canterlot Mall’s dollar store is the absolute chintziest.

>Be Diamond Tiara, you guess.
>The last few days have been a whirlwind.
>You were in a coma for no time at all, but you feel like it should’ve changed you.
>Your dad’s actually paying attention to you now, and it’s almost creepy.
>No, not creepy, but, y’know, uncomfortable. Ish.
>He used to always react to you instead of trying to start conversations.
>You guess that’s what everyone else’s dads do.
>You don’t even know what you’re thinking now.
>A lot was involved in bringing you back to the land of the living, though.
>And oh, what a land it is.
>All of the other kids are ignoring you now.
>They’re on the Crusaders’ side, of course.
>You can’t really blame them, either.
>Silver’s tougher, too.
>You hadn’t noticed she was weaker before until you saw the way she stands now.
>Stands. Hah.
>It seems like everyone’s changed except you.
>Which is why you’re in favor of going to the creepazoid shack on the edge of town.
>Even if you’re stuck, the only reason you’re not having some nightmare is because of Silver, and her sisters, and Care Root.
>The thought that they saved your life and didn’t want something from you for it makes you feel...
>Guilty?
>It’s a debt, and you can’t stand those.
>So, today, you’re going to save them the trouble and the cost.
>Diamond Tiara always gets even.
>Even though it means riding a public bus.
>Silver’s with you all the way, still wearing her backpack.
>You hope that her Stand gives her some kind of protection this far out.
>She doesn’t act like she’s vulnerable.
>But maybe that’s just because she’s aware of the threats.
>For the whole trip, the two of you laugh about the lightweightiest person in your class, Featherweight.
>”Yeah, and then he did the, the-!”
>You mime the face he made when he tried to do a pull-up in PE.
>She points at your impression and covers her mouth to snicker.
>But eventually the bus lurches, and the door jerks open.
>You glance out the window for the street signs, and Silver nods.
>Quickly, you dispatch yourselves into the afternoon air.

>Be Care Root, hunched over a display of movie-theater candy.
>You also have to buy some zipper bags to put these in, and then stuff them into your pockets.
>Do you dare go with something that could make noise when you walk, let alone melt?
>Or do you gravitate towards more varied but non-chocolatey fare?
>It’s hard to ignore how stained the carpeting of this store is.
>The sign above you says that cameras are watching you.
>You wonder, after a moment, whether you could steal this candy if you wanted to.
>No matter how much you spend, your Stand’s only ever changed your sum total happiness once.
>Are your decisions your own?
>Probably.
>You mean, Derpy has free will.
>It’s not like you could tell, but maybe your Stand only highlights the important things you’ll do anyway.
>It’s not limited by computing power or anything.
>Even if it’s dictating your path to you, you could probably throw off the path by leaving.
>Jump in your car, head in a random direction until you’d never see her again.
>Not that you ever would, of course.
>You have a core feeling that you could spend your whole life looking and never find a girl who would make your Stand change again.
>That day was the start of an incredibly happy moment in your life.
>But...
>Why didn’t ｢Timbuk Three｣ predict the switch in the first place?
>Even if you could have two destinies, one miserable and one bright, shouldn’t it have known?
>”Hey, Kid.”
>You turn your head.
>There are two students whose names you never knew to begin with.
>Lowerclassmen, orange and blue, tall and lumpy, ten feet away.
>The blue one’s got a nasty bruise on his forehead, and he does the talking.
>”Where is she?”
>You want to knock their skulls together for bothering you right now.
>But you just stare at them, quiet.
>Then you point, surreptitiously, to the cameras-are-watching-you sign.
>Blue sours.
>”We’ll talk more in the parking lot.”
>Then they fall back a few feet, and go mill around outside of the store.
>You go back to choosing your candy.

>Be Silver Spoon.
>You get off the sidewalk once you see your destination.
>The house hasn’t been touched by anyone in years, one of those that isn’t brought down because no one can muster up a good reason to trash it.
>The grass is up to ridiculous heights, and the structure itself is all wood.
>Darker splotches decorate it, some of the stairs are splintered, but everything’s locked and closed.
>It’s the yard you don’t want to lose your frisbee in.
>With Diamond behind you, you duck into another empty backyard and survey the house from another angle.
>Still two stories, but on the back of the second floor there’s one of those weird doors that goes nowhere.
>The front had a porch of some kind, but here’s it’s just a backdoor and the grass, staved off from where you’re standing by a sturdy fence.
>You try to get a look in through the windows, but it’s all dust, curtains and darkness.
>There’s a sudden creaking.
>”Get down!”
>Diamond hisses at you, pulling you into the grass.
>Through the slats of the fence, you see the backdoor open.
>Someone blue lingers in the doorway.
>Trixie?!
>...No.
>No, Trixie doesn’t have hair like that, you’re just getting excited.
>She giggles, and it’s the wrong register, too.
>Then she leans in and kisses someone.
>When she comes closer, she has something hovering over her shoulder like a ghost.
>Except… it really is a ghost.
>Translucent, grey, wispy.
>You turn your head slightly to Diamond and mouth words.
“Do you see that?”
>She doesn’t answer.
>The ghost turns and surveys the area.
>You can see her better as she walks up to the front yard.
>Blue-raspberry hair against dull clothes.
>You saw this girl when you competed in the Battle of the Bands, everyone did.
>Diamond’s looking at you now, eyes serious.
>You remember the name from the tournament list.
>Sonata.
>One of three.
>You whisper, half to Diamond and half to yourself.
“Why here…?”
>Sonata abruptly stops walking.
>Diamond’s eyes widen.
>You shut your mouth.

>Be Care.
>When you leave, bags in tow, they’re still waiting for you.
>They’re both almost solemn.
>They don’t even speak, and you walk past them towards the parking lot.
>You could definitely get away from them if you were willing to shell out the price.
>But you don’t even try to run.
>Their footsteps pad after you on the linoleum, and soon the parking lot’s upon you.
>You wait until you’re a good distance from the door.
>Closer to the horizon, cars drift in and out of view against the sunlight.
>You stand between it and them.
>”We know you’re going to meet her. Where and when?”
“...”
>”Fine. Be that way.”
>A sudden headache affects you, and Orange darts forward, his Stand hovering out of his arm.
>It’s purple, bumpy, ogrelike.
>You throw up a hand-sized barrier, and it simply passes through it.
>He’s holding a tiny vial of something, and suddenly it passes through your skin and into your arm.
>It doesn’t even hurt.
>｢Timbuk Three｣ appears and roundhouse kicks him.
>Those purple arms appear again, crossed now, and he grunts as he’s pushed back.
>Your migraine subsides.
>”That’s poison. Real bad stuff. I’ve got the antidote, but it’s unmarked and there’s a lot of nasty stuff on me, too. If you want to live, you have to earn it.”
>Your heart rate and breathing start increasing.
>It’s like there’s something on the verge of your senses...
>The headache returns, but it was there before, so it wasn’t caused by the poison...
>Something in your stomach does a flip.
>Where the hell are these kids getting poison from?!”
>Blue takes your silence for an answer.
>”Tch. Tell us or don’t. But you don’t have very long to make up your mind.”

>Be Diamond Tiara.
>Sonata Dusk, the finalist in the last Battle of the Bands, is only a few feet away.
>Listening.
>You cover your mouth, trying not to hyperventilate.
>Silver, next to you, is staring out through the fence.
>You see sweat on her face.
>Both of you are wondering whether it’d be best to run away right now.
>Could you pretend to be kids who lived in the neighborhood?
>Would she know if you were lying?
>Damn it, you should’ve been ready for this!
>Without any change in volume, Silver speaks again.
>”I mean, there’s not even a pool back here.”
>You slice a finger across your throat, but she doesn’t react.
>“And it’s next to a freaky Goosebumps house. What kind of party could some dork like Rumble throw here anyway?”
>Then she nods at you, eyes like dinnerplates.
>You realize it’s your cue.
“Y-yeah, what a loser. ...I bet his parents aren’t even leaving.”
>”Yeah.”
>Behind the fence, Sonata shrugs and keeps walking.
>Your face trembles as you hold in a sigh of relief.
>She walks across the street, gets into a sleek blue car in their driveway, and drives off.
>Only when you can’t hear the sound of it any longer do either of you move.
“Okay. What’s our plan from here?”
>Silver looks surprised.
>She was probably expecting you to tell her.

>You focus on your arm.
>Your Stand shines a powerful light through it.
>It’s like holding a flashlight to your fingers to see the bones.
>You make it out.
>”Don’t die for her, Kid.”
>You ignore him.
>You feel sweaty, like you’re about to vomit.
>Something’s… ringing?
>You don’t pay attention to it.
>A thought, and then a tiny glowing casket envelops the vial.
>Another, and it’s completely annihilated.
>It singes your muscles a little, but you’ve never been one for working out.
>Blue sees this.
>And he sees the look in your eye, now.
>“Snails, get him!”
>Orange comes towards you again, his Stand’s arm apparent.
>You throw up another shield, and the Stand goes straight through it.
>He smiles.
>You smile back, and push the shield past his Stand and onto his arm.
>His fist gets jerked backwards, and its knobby counterpart never reaches you.
>While he’s stunned, ｢Timbuk Three｣ smashes a foot into his face.
>Man, your Stand’s pretty good at kicking, isn’t it?
>He hits the ground, and he’s out.
>You turn to Blue.
>”...eep.”

>Be Diamond Tiara.
>It took a few tries to jump the fence, and you tore a line in your yellow jacket.
>There’s no helping the rustle of the grass, but you don’t think anyone’s listening.
>You keep an eye out for traps, or mosquitoes.
>Silver takes the lead, checking the door.
>There aren’t any locks on it, or a screen.
>When you stand just outside of it, your palms feel sweaty.
>She grips the doorknob, because she’s closest, and turns it all the way before she makes any move.
>The thing nearly screeches when she pulls it outward.
>She cringes with you, waits for someone to call out.
>No one does.
>Gently, gradually, you both test the limits of the hinge.
>She eventually makes an opening big enough for the both of you.
>Hoping you don’t wind up on the news, you slip inside.

>Be Care Root.
>Leaving two unconscious students behind, you take your candy and go on your way.
>Even if it melts, chocolate is the shit.
>Gosh, look at the time.
>You make the drive efficiently, paying attention to the encroaching moment of brightness in your immediate future.
>It’s big enough to be worth something, too.
>Swinging by to pick up Derpy takes only a couple minutes.
>She’s wearing a black shirt with gamepad arrows on it, and little red earrings that glint in the light.
>You hadn’t known you were tense until you just relaxed.
>She smiles and climbs in.
”How are the girls?”
>The way you say it makes you feel like you’re their dad.
>Shudder.
>”They’ve done some growing up, but they’re alright. How have you been?”
>Should you really mention being injected with poison at the start of your date?
>No, that would definitely nuke the mood.
>You shrug.
“Same old.”
>”What movie are we seeing?”
>Uh…
>Shit.
“I, uh, guess we still need to pick one.”
>She looks for starting times on her phone while you drive.
>You don’t know whether you should rush or waste time, so you try some kind of compromise.
>If you pay attention, you can hear her reading the names under her breath.
>”Fifty... La La Land, Hidden... Ohmigosh! John Wick 2!”
>You take your eyes off the road to look at her like it’s the first time you’ve seen her.
>”You’ve seen the first one, right?”
“Of course!”
>”Then we’ve gotta see this one! The showing’s in… thirty minutes!”
>You step on it.

>Meanwhile.
>Sweetie says what you’re all thinking.
>”I still think it’s dangerous to send Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon out there.”
>You shrug, although neither of the others can hear that over the phone.
“It is. But no matter what happens to them, it’s still better for us.”
>You’re not lying.
>If they break in and take another gem-shard, even if they don’t hand it over, things are still better.
>And if they’re never heard from again…
>Well, that’ll only bring the present situation to a boil even faster.
>Bloom speaks.
>”I agree. No point in worrying when it’s no skin off our backs.”
>”Do you really feel that way?”
>...
>Neither of you answer.
>After a little more discussion, you all hang up and enjoy your evenings separately.
>There are things you wish you could tell the other two.
>That it all really is for a higher goal.
>That it’ll all be okay in the end.
>But then she’d erase their memory of the conversation.
>You doubt even you’ll know the truth for much longer.
>What matters for your future are the gems.
>And making Care Root stay desperate.

｢To Be Continued｣

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APGJM37aRy0 [Owner of a Lonely Heart (Stulp Phiction)]