Melody POV
Those three old ladies seemed to have a variety of effects in the group. Percy has just shrugged it off, I want an explanation and Grover seems to have one but is so unsettled and jumpy I figure it's not something I want to hear. He knows something Percy and I don't about those old ladies. It faintly rings a bell but that's probably because there are three of them and three is a VERY prominent number in our society. And normal society too I suppose. Three sides to a triangle. A triangle is the most structurally sound shape. The big three gods, the three furies, etc. It's likely I'm missing something huge that has to do with our history as a draconic society. I'll ask mom and dad when we get home. We'd already eaten and Grover had calmed down a little since then but he was still freaking me out and I could tell that Percy was a little bothered through our bond. Not that he showed it outwards though. I overheard Grover asking Percy if he could accompany us home and that was not going to fly. Literally, because I'm 99% certain Grover doesn't have wings. I was contemplating ways of ditching him as we were headed into the subway when,
"Hey," Grover said, "Could you guys wait here for me? I need to use the restroom." Percy nearly replied before I kicked him lightly in the shin. Grover was already in the men's room.
"What did you do that for?!" Percy admonished.
"So you didn't make another promise you can't keep. Come on, let's find a deserted place to launch from. I saw a good possibility a little ways back above ground." I told him and pivoted on my heel back to the stairs of the subway and from Percy's pang of guilt knew he was following. The little alley I saw earlier was deserted except for some rats and flies. I took of the cardigan I was wearing so my wings wouldn't rip it. The shirt I had on underneath already had slits in the back and I put the cardigan in my backpack and unsheathed my wings keeping them folded out of sight behind my back with a soft tearing sound and the now familiar pain of not having used those muscles in a while. An echoing tearing sound and feeling of pain came from Percy and I checked around the corner, no one was paying any mind to the alley but I waited until no one was walking by to take off. I nearly fell flat on my face after take off but quickly regained my balance. I really should've stretched last night with Percy but I had wanted to spend my last night with Sabrina and didn't.
It felt soooo good to stretch my wings after about a week. I did a quick loop de loop in the air before finding a cloud and pulled out my compass. Our neighborhood is hidden using dragon magic so you have to have an artifact with dragon magic to pass through the barrier without being transported to the end of the area we occupied. Namely, my compass and Percy's enchanted Swiss Army knife. My compass had two hands, a red one that pointed North and a purple one that pointed home. The purple one was facing about ESE so We set of that way in comfortable silence. I sent mom a quick text saying we were coming home and then just enjoyed the wind against my skin and the slight spray of water from a cloud above us. It was about 5 mins before I felt the tingle that told me we had entered dragon territory. I got a rush of excitement as I saw others flying around. To my left there were some younger kids playing air hide and seek. I was relaxing more and more until...
Percy POV
It felt great to be flying again. But I knew something that would be even better, annoying Melody while doing it. I figure, I'm probably going to get hammered with pranks now that Melody had her old recourses back as well as Sabrina to brainstorm with so I may as well strike the first blow. I was flying a bit behind Melody and she was quiet, for once not striking up conversation. Not that having one was very easy while going as fast as we were. I could the front of our neighborhood steadily approaching and decided to try something that I'd practiced over the school year. I fell back a bit then sped up to gain momentum until I was flying a little above and to the left of Melody, careful to avoid her wings, and after one more powerful flap of my own rolled underneath her so my back was to the ground for a second, yelled "Race you!" While we were face to face and finishing the roll took off. I looked over my shoulder to see her recovering from being off balance with fire in her eyes.
At that exact moment she let me know how she felt. Subsiding surprise being replaced with competitive rage. I laughed and pushed myself harder. 100 yards as the crow flies away from our front porch I felt a shadow on my legs and a faint tune reached my ears and in that instance I knew EXACTLY what was about to happen and dived, rocketing towards the lawn in hopes to save my skin. I recognized that snatch of music, it was Discord from a MLP artist that my frantic mind couldn't remember at the moment. She's only done it to me once before in flight and I was NOT doing a repeat performance of my limbs having minds of their own and having my own personal biosphere of chaos envelop me. The only chance of escape was if she couldn't focus on me. Suddenly the ground was 10 feet away and I snapped out my wings and went up a full 3 feet before landing lightly on the ground seconds before Melody did. Luckily, the song was on its final notes and Melody had given up now that she had lost. I was completely out of breath.
We sat there on the lawn for a good couple of minutes before Melody grudging said, " Nice trick. You got me good." I smiled. "Thanks, I was practicing rolling and flying on my back all throughout the school year whenever I could. We should head inside, it's not getting any cooler this time of year." She nodded and we both got up and headed for the door.
Before we could even reach for the keypad to enter the code the door burst open and we were tackled by Ralen and Esmond. "We were watching from the roof with Ralen's binoculars! That was an AWESOME trick Percy, where'd you learn it! Will you teach us? It's so good to see you! We might've lost the MarioKart disc but don't worry, we got SmashBro's Brawl! How was school? Mom said you called a few days ago and said hi." It was amazing how much information Esmond crammed into about 5 seconds. The other amazing things was that I could interpret what he was saying. As I played it back slower in my mind while hugging him back one sentence in particular caught my attention. I released the eight year old.
"Hold up." I said, narrowing my eyes. Melody had also finished hugging Ralen and was now paying attention to Esmond and I, "What did you say about LOOSING MARIOKART?" I asked him. Melody looked appalled and personally offended.
Esmond backed away a step from her before replying, "Wweeellll, we didn't exactly LOOSE it per say, we just, can't remember where it is in the house or possibly at the Chase's (Insert smiling devil emoji, everything has a purpose in this story) house?" He smiled somewhere between impishly and sheepishly and then turned and ran into the house. Melody gave chase but I was too tired and instead greeted Ralen and went inside. Esmond hadn't gotten far. Melody was currently tickling him in the front room behind the couch. This was the punishment she had started instigating a few years ago because technically she wasn't hurting us, just tickling us and so couldn't get in trouble for doing it although, for this big of an offense she just might be ruthless enough to go until he peed. Then she might get in trouble. Though, if they really DID loose MK I whole heartedly agree with this punishment.
Just then mom turned the corner and Esmond's punishment was temporarily suspended. "MOM!" Melody and I shouted in unison before hugging her, or in Melody's case squeezing her because she doesn't know how to turn off her strength.
"Oh, I was wondering what had gotten the boys into such a rush. I didn't think you'd be home so soon! I put cookies in the oven and they should be done in a few minutes. Are you guys happy to be out of school?" She asked, releasing us from the hug.
"Yes." We both replied.
Melody had more though. "I think the only part I'm going to really miss is the few friends I made." She said. I had to agree with her even though the only friend I made was Grover. One thing I was not going to miss at all EVER was Nancy Bobfit.
Mom addressed us again, " Well, that's what happens when a school year ends. I do have another surprise for you all though! We, dad included, are going to the beach at your aunt's beach house she owns at Montauk beach tomorrow! Its only going to be an over night trip so all you'll need is your swimsuit, PJ's and a toothbrush and for goodness sake Esmond PLEASE don't bring anything explosive this time." She told us.
Esmond tended to have instances of pyromania. Such as the last time we visited the public beach, he brought homemade "grenades". I don't know how he made them but he was filling them with dried seaweed and throwing them around getting smoldering, bad smelling bits of seaweed on everyone within a few feet of where the bombs detonated. Thats the last time we went to a public beach. Now that I think on it we have quite a diverse family.
Me, the adopted one from the streets, Melody the nerdy prankster, Ralen the jock (if I had to stereotype him) and Esmond who dabbled in a little bit of everything. There was also Mom, who was a stay at home mom who did all sorts of crafts and life "hacks" and Dad who works for the government but loved to play/rough-house with us whenever he was home. But I guess that all our diversity is what makes us such a happy family that we can embrace each other's uniqueness. To varying degrees. Mostly.
Anyway! I couldn't wait for the beach. Its always been one of my favorite places to go, I always get a sensation of peace and security there. Like the one I get at home. It feels familiar.
Esmond mentioned the Chases earlier, I'd have to go over and ask them if they had MarioKart if we couldn't find it here in the house. The Chases were kids that Esmond played with at recess at their mortal school. I'd been to their house a few times, Melody and I had babysat them before. There was Bobby and Mathew Chase were twins and loved to play with Lego's Mr. and Mrs. Chase were also pretty cool. Mr. Chase or Fredrick as he told us to call him, loves wars although, every time we've gone to their place there has always been this other scent there that has faded over time. Eventually we heard something before the adults left on a date that they used to have a girl around our age to babysit but we didn't find out what happened to her, we haven't brought it up. Its none of our business.
Just then mom came out with a tray of cookies. They had the word CONGRATULATION written across them, one letter on each with the frosting starting blue at the C and gradually shifting into purple by the N. I took the C and Melody took the N and we dug in. Sooooo good! We had a few more before I yawned, thus setting off a chain reaction. It was about 9 at this point so we said goodnight and went to our separate bedrooms. AAhhh. The familiar, unique smell of my bedroom made me that much sleepier. I changed into PJ's and brushed my teeth. I went to bed dreaming of cookies and the beach.
AN: MWAHAHAHAHA! HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! Surprise I updated EARLY for once! For those of you who didn't know, I am ABSOLUTELY a pegasister. Also, if you hadn't noticed I love to throw in references to other fandoms, songs, and even TV shows. I own none of them. Just to clarify. The writer of Discord is Eurobeat Brony. Anyone notice what I threw in there? That'll come in later. I'm a little disappointed in you people to be honest. I and all the rest of you can see that this thing has 93 followers and only TWO of you have gone to my soon to grow collection of one shots for this. About that many reviewed as well. Believe me, I understand the need to be lazy but I adore getting reviews. It honestly makes my day, and I love you all and hope all of you have a superb day!
P.S. Like my little impending plot twist there? I thought you would. Leave your real thoughts below!
