A Dazzling Trio

Chapter XIX: Who is Adagio?

Chapter XIX: Who is Adagio?

"It's her!" Holding up the newspaper, everyone looks at the picture with curious eyes. A look of recognition dawns on all of them except Twilight. I can't care less about the other people in the store. The only thing that matters right now is the ad in the paper.

"You're right! That is her! I recognize that face and those bangs from anywhere. Though, I always thought she would look better with a different hairdo," Rarity mentions with a thoughtful look, clearly focusing on how she could help Sonata look better.

"Rares, I hardly think it is the appropriate time to talk about hair," Applejack reminds her with an annoyed expression.

"Yes, yes. You're right, Darling. At least we have a lead now." Before Rarity can look closer at the ad, Pinkie Pie takes it from my hand.

"Ooh! It's a Mexican food ad! I love tacos~" Pinkie Pie mentions, clearly distracted by the contents of the paper rather than the picture of Sonata. Rarity looks at Applejack with an amused face.

"And you thought I was getting off point," she tells the cowgirl with a chuckle.

"Let me see that," Dash tells Pinkie before grabbing the paper, looking down at the letters of the ad. Everyone gathers around Dash's shoulders to look down at the paper.

"There's a phone number at the bottom," Sunset mentions happily, reaching over Dash's shoulder to point at the number.

"Alright. AJ. Get your phone ready," Dash tells her in a commanding tone of voice. Applejack rolls her eyes before pulling her phone out, turning it on. Dash lists off the numbers so quickly that it seems to confuse a few of the girls. Only Applejack, Twilight and I seem to understand every number she said. Applejack dials the number, putting the phone on speaker. The dial tone leaves me in suspense every time it rings, wishing for the phone to pick up.

"Thanks for calling Seashell Empire!" a robotic voice exclaims in the same bland customer service voice that is used everywhere. I had to use that voice for a while when I worked in the nightclub... Faulty positivity. "If you would like to make an order, press one. If you need to talk to a representative or get some support, press t-" before the robotic voice can finish, I quickly tap the number two on Applejack's phone. Sunset pats my back gently to try and reassure me, but the gesture doesn't work. I just need this to work...

"This is customer service, how can I help you today?" a bored woman answers the call, sounding as if she has better things to do.

"Hiya there. We were just calling to get some information about a girl in your promotional advertising," Applejack answers in a professional tone, using some words I didn't expect to hear her say. If anything, I thought she would just say ad instead of advertising.

"Ma'am, there are a lot of people used in our advertising. You will have to be more specific." Again, the woman's tone grinds on my gears, the hairs on my neck stand on end as I can feel my subconscious urging me onward. Applejack just holds her hand out to me, seemingly picking up my anger.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm specifically referring to a girl used in one of the recent newspapers. Her name is Sonata..." Applejack's voice trails off, her eyes looking up to the ceiling.

"Dusk," I quickly tell her, reminding her of the last name.

"That's right. Her name is Sonata Dusk, ma'am. She is on the advertisement in this here paper and she is- well, was a friend of ours. By any chance, could we know if she is still an employee?" Applejack smiles as she asks the question. However, her smile begins to fade as the silence fills the air. The woman on the other end lets seconds pass by without answering the question. Even the farm girl seems a little annoyed now, raising her eyebrow. Before Applejack can say anything else, the woman on the other end clears her throat.