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Floraverse Fan Fic: Break From Score

Downstairs and behind a red wooden door huffs and puffs of frustration could be heard along with the crumpling of paper. The sound of hooves on wooden steps sounded off as a Satyrbun Imp with snow white fur descended the stairs, a frown set on her face. Arietta had come down to check on her sister who hadn't been out of her study in quite some time, one of her six rabbit ears planted firmly against the frame of the door as she could hear her sister from within groaning and grumbling, the sound of crumpling paper occasionally punctuating the off silence that would happen in between frustrated noises. After a few knocks that went unanswered she decided to brave her sister's workroom with a sigh. Opening the door and stepping inside she nearly tripped over discarded score sheets and books filled with pages upon pages scribbled with musical notes. Carefully she padded over to where her sister was sitting, the sound of her hooved steps muffled by the various pages she was forced to trot on that covered the wooden floor. Hunched over a desk with quill in hand scribbling on paper was her dearest sister, Coda, as focused as ever on her art rather than her own health, "My my sister, your ears are looking lovely as ever, and your work room is as messy as your mood I'm guessing."

Coda raised brow and ear and turned to see that her darling sister was standing there with the most cool expression, those green eyes hiding so much that she herself could not read and never attempt to read as usual, "Well, thanks for the compliment. I'll have you know my mood and my workspace are just dandy." She then noticed the pile of papers, books and more on the ground all around her and she cleared her throat, a finger absently feeling over the red fur of her ears knocking a few pieces of paper loose from her own head which she didn't notice, a bit embarrassed that she had allowed her workplace to grow so filthy, "Maybe I should clean just a bit."

Arietta couldn't help but smile, "And you're sure your mood is just fine? You've been down here for what feels like an entire day and I swear I heard some frustrated pouties from your precious little lips."

Coda snorted and crossed her arms, ink tipped quill dripping onto the black fur of her arms, "Perfectly fine! Never better! I'm in top form at the moment and in the middle of getting close to a breakthrough. I am just so deep in my work that I can't be bothered right now and those noises were the sound of progress, so don't talk about the noises I make with that cute talk of yours."

"Coda dear, you're dripping progress all over your arm."

Coda blinked and took the quill and daintily placed it in the pot before huffing, "Just a little mistake on the journey. Either way I'm almost done with our latest song that we'll be unveiling at the next competition. I just need to make a few adjustments to the lyrics, and to the notes, and well...It'll be perfect when it is done."

Arietta shut her eyes and tilted her head, "Hmm, I actually want to talk to you about that dear sister."

"Oh? You have some ideas you want to share for our performance maybe?"

Arietta shook her head, "No, not that at all dear. My idea is that we skip out on this next competition and take a break from Sonata."

Coda gawked at her sister for a moment. Rather than come out with a rude response she kept her mouth closed and instead tugged at one of her ears, wincing as she did so as she reminded herself of the love she held for her sister. When she was calm and ready, she took a breath and yelped, "Are you out of your mind?! How are we going to make it big if we skip out on competition? Just one single time and we'll be a tiny speck on their memory. Besides, we have to prove our voices are the best and that our songs are the finest. There is no better way to grow than through healthy competition!"

Arietta nodded, "Mhm, I agree to a degree, and you know my drive for competition and improvement isn't as deep as yours, but there is something I am passionate about just as much as you are about music, and that is your health and peace. Lately the competition has been anything but healthy. Tell me, how long has it been since you've eaten something?"

Coda opened her mouth for a moment, before shutting it, again tugging at her ear as she thought of an answer to that, was it...yesterday? And so she muttered under her breath, "Yesterday."

Arietta contained the frustration she felt at that answer and instead smiled reaching to hug her darling sister around the shoulders, "Mhmmm, so you see what I mean, perhaps a break and a vacation would be a good idea, no?"

Coda grumbled, "But, but my music..."

"Consider it a trip for inspiration. You'll never grow if you're set in one place and of one mind. The world outside these walls and outside of Sonata may even give you your next song."

Coda thought of that for a moment and looked to her sister with wide blue eyes, "You really think so?"

Arietta gave her sister's cheeks a soft squish to which Coda pouted, "Why, yes I really think so. You'll gain a new perspective if we go on a relaxing vacation, just you and I, and I have two locations we could go so you have a choice in the matter."

"What are our choices and how long have you been plotting behind my back?"

"A beach week at Slide, or a peaceful hike through Bluegrass mountains," Arietta answered, ignoring the question about plotting

Coda stuck her tongue out, "Bleh, that first one sounds like there would be a lot of people. Other people gawk and stare way too much and I can't handle conversation for nuts."

Arietta giggled, "They only stare because you're beautiful and your eyes are fantastic darling."

Coda felt a fluster come over her cheeks, "Don't you start trying to flatter me now! You know I hate that."

Arietta smoothed over her sister's ears lightly with a giggle, "So to Foxtrot city to head into the Bluegrass mountains?"

Coda sighed, ignoring her sister's touches, "Maybe that will be fun."

"Ohhh, this will be wonderful I promise. I certainly hope we find plenty of Bweehorses to serenade with our songs."

Coda smiled just a bit and finally returned the embrace, "I'd rather be performing for the masses, but I guess Bweehorses are kind of cute. "

Arietta pinched her sister's cheek lightly, "Not as cute as you when you're smiling!"

Coda gagged, "Stooooooooop, I swear, I will break my non-violent nature."

Arietta giggled and turned from her sister, "Anytime dear, I've always wanted to teach you how to defend yourself."

Coda remained quiet at that while rubbing her sore cheek. She'd rather leave anything violent to her sister, and permanently skip out on that lesson.

With that settled, the two sisters made their plans to head to Foxtrot and into Bluegrass Hills and beyond. During the trip, Coda was reminded of just how much she disliked communication with the masses at the ground level. Performing in front of a crowd was easy. Behind the spotlight, the only thing that she cared about was showing her art, but face to face with another person she became deathly quiet and unable to really do a thing. Meanwhile her graceful and quiet mannered sister found it easy to dance around conversations as if Arietta had been born for diplomacy. As always she stuck close to her sister quietly in thought during their journey through trams heading towards Foxtrot. Not a word was uttered aloud, and yet her sister didn't seem to mind at all. Coda would never understand why Arietta enjoyed the company of others, really she only needed her sister, and perhaps that was unhealthy, and perhaps that was a thought better kept to herself or Arietta would find it in her heart to lecture her on the benefits of talking to other people.

Coda found her eyes heavy, but her heart was still beating quickly from the anxiety she held from being around so many people. A nap would feel nice about now, but she just wasn't comfortable on the ride towards Foxtrot city. She then felt the grip of her sister's hand on her arm. Coda shouldn't have, but she closed her eyes and found herself drifting into slumber almost immediately after the touch. She had eaten before leaving home, but she had neglected sleep and the touch of her sister upon her arm was able to calm her enough to let her sleep. Irritating how her sister knew just how to put her to sleep, she wasn't a child, and yet, there she was on the tram leaning against her sister, eyes shut and a light snore sounding off from her nostrils, Arietta simply smiling as she hummed a small song to her sister on the crowded compartment.

At Foxtrot they checked into a hotel by the name of Take a Hike and rested their legs and heads before planning a trip out into the Bluegrass Mountains. It would be a long hike and they needed to make sure to pack plenty of things to camp out there, but it would at the very least provide Coda an escape from the constant crowds. Once they were out and about and away from the city, Coda found herself marveling at the beauty around them. The titular blue grass seemed to shimmer and she had never seen such forestry before in all of her life. For the most part, she had stuck to Sonata and nowhere else, never thinking that she needed to be anywhere else, and yet it felt so much better here than at home.

The further they hiked into the wilderness, the less noise she heard as well. Voices of other people began to disappear until all that was left was the steps of her sister and her own, along with the occasional sound of another hiker somewhere near them. She barely registered the time as they walked along the various trails leading deeper and deeper into the region. They stopped along Lake Simile and Coda stared with bright eyes at the great bodies of water. When they were ready to move along, Coda had her journal out and was scribbling fiercely with a pen on the pages.

"Sister? Are you really writing music now of all times?"

Coda replied to her sister with a shrug of the shoulder as she jotted down some notes, "No, well, it is music related. You said this was for inspiration, and I love the beauty surrounding us, that calm that I can't shake. It is inspiring and I want to write these feelings down, so keep your skirt on."

Arietta giggled, "Coda, you're being a busybody while on vacation."

Coda smiled, "Nope! I'm just doing what makes me happy right now. A few notes here, a few notes there, all of this will be used when I actually sit down to write music. Already ideas are filling my head for something great, something pretty and a bit more serene than usual."

Arietta sighed happily, "How can I be mad when I see you passionate, without the grumbling and cute pouting."

Coda huffed and rolled her pen in the air, "I was not pouting, and in no way was it cute."

"You didn't even realize you had pieces of paper stuck in your hair dear."

Coda felt her cheeks fluster at that, "Well, I was focused, but stop teasing already. We're on vacation right?"

Arietta answered with a smile, "We certainly are, and you're going to miss all the sights if you keep your nose planted against the pages of your journal."

Coda shut her journal just in time for her to nearly stumble into a bush and yelped as she struggled to catch her balance, "W-why didn't you warn me I was about to fall in a bush!?"

Arietta shrugged as she sauntered on by with a giggle, "I did, unfortunately now I missed the sight of your silly tush falling in a bush."

Coda fumed and followed her sister with a stomp. Teases and jokes were fine, but that would have ruined her dress if she were to have fallen in that bush. She knew that Arietta meant no harm, though, forgive and forget, at the very least for now. Still, she found what little anger she held for her sister fading away among the trees, flowers, and wildlife of the area. She suddenly heard a strange squeak sound off from Arietta and she rushed to see that her sister was being circled by two creatures shaped like black notes with little tube mouths and fluttering wings that kept them afloat. As Coda approached the sound of her sister's excitement was accompanied by those creature's little, "Bwees."

Arietta's voice came out jolly, "Coda darling, look at them, they're adorable these little Bweehorses. Their noises are simply divine as well. Listen to them, do you think they want to sing for us?"

Coda giggled, "Well, maybe, and maybe they just want to hear your pretty voice sis."

Arietta sighed happily, "Either way I would be happy. These little things are adorable, I really wouldn't mind having one for the house, but that wouldn't be right. I'd have to let the poor things go once they are satisfied.

Coda blinked as one of the Bweehorses coiled around her horn gingerly. She looked up to see and hear the Bweehorse look down at her and let out a series of bwees and noises that seemed to form some sort of song. At the moment it didn't match her mood or tastes so she only stared with a tilt of her head, to which the Bweehorse tilted its head and began trying a different series of bwees.

Coda couldn't help but smile just a bit. Certainly the music wasn't to her exact taste at the moment, but the Bweehorse wrapped around her horn was trying its best to make something that she would enjoy. While she herself seemed so neutral about it, Arietta seemed so very ecstatic about every little noise that the little ones made. It felt a bit awkward to be the center of attention for anything, other people especially, but even this little Bweehorse fixating on her so much, trying so hard to entertain her so much, it brought on just a bit of an anxious sensation to her body, so instead she focused on the music that the little one was playing. The notes were strange and the tone wasn't exactly uniform, but as the Bweehorse continued to try and serenade her, the song became calmer, more soothing to her ears. Bringing her hands together she began to clap politely for the little performer on her head, figuring that was the best way she could show her enjoyment. To the clapping, the Bweehorse fluttered off of her horn and instead wrapped around her wrist to bwee happily and stare at her, "Oh? Done with your performance? Well, why are you staring at me like that though?"

Arietta giggled, "Perhaps now it's your turn to sing."

Coda snorted, "I don't know about that. I haven't even done any vocal exercises."

Arietta smiled, "I'd gladly join you if it made you feel better...You can lead every step of the way."

Coda had to give some thought to that one. She enjoyed nothing more than performing with her sister, and perhaps singing on the fly would help her in the long run. With a sigh, she looked to the little one upon her hand and tilted her head, "Would it really make you that happy to hear me sing huh?"

As if in response it let out a series of trill bwees that brought a giggle to her lips, "Fine then. I guess it's only fair."

Coda cleared her throat and shut her eyes as her sister took to her side. She breathed deep and let out a single high note to begin, her sister followed along to harmonize and they both paused before belting out the same note in sync. When they stopped again, both of their eyes were closed, Coda's free hand raising to bring bubbles into the air as she began to sing her song, the notes of her voice traveled through the bubbles in the air and distorted both the song and the bubbles. At the same time, Arietta followed along with softer notes in between, her own voice bringing vines that coiled around the bubbles and sprouted with flowers, their magic, and music combining into one. Both of the Bweehorses that were with them began to make little noises along with the music, fluttering about in excitement while more of the little creatures began to show up. At the end of the song, Coda let out a single sharp note that popped each and every single flower sending off little petals here and there that covered the area in a colorful array of blooms that had the Bweehorses fluttering about happily.

Arietta giggled as their performance ended, her hands clapped together as she watched the spectacle of the Bweehorses gathering around to the sound of their music. She cherished the attention they were getting from the adorable little creatures and wondered how her sister faired with the attention.

Now that Coda wasn't distracted by her performance she was being swarmed with curious Bweehorses, some of them trying out their own performances. Coda looked from side to side to each Bweehorse that was trying to perform and could only giggle as she brought out her arms to receive the little ones, "Arietta can we camp out here tonight? I don't think I've ever been so happy to chit chat with the audience after a performance." Arietta only sighed with delight as she saw her sister smiling brightly.

With some trouble due to the Bweehorses gathered around, they set up camp and sat around a small fire. Coda sat with journal out and pen in hand, scribbling quickly on page after page, a big smile on her lips as she ignored the various Bweehorses that coiled around her horns and shoulders. Occasionally she would look up at one of them and chuckled as they made a noise in response to her attention, but other than that she simply focused on her work.

Arietta sat close by, watching her sister and lavishing in the attention of the little Bweehorses that fluttered nearby. Perhaps it would be difficult to sleep, but Arietta was certain that this little trip was worth it, even if they would lose sleep this night while the Bweehorses continued their noises. Coda wasn't angered or flustered while creating, she was smiling and giggling. Even if at times she tore a page from her journal or scribbled something out, she continued on with only a look of determination, and above all else, peace. Arietta valued that look in her sister's eyes, that determination that drove her to do better for the love of her art and the acclaim she believed it would bring them eventually. Perhaps she'd force Coda to take a break more often.

Coda noticed that Arietta was staring and raised a brow, turning from her scribbling for just a moment, "Is something wrong?"

Arietta blinked, "Hm? Oh! No, just, you look so serene there. At home you seemed so stressed."

Coda frowned, reaching to tug at her ear, "Maybe I was. I've been so focused on winning, on making something grand, that I stopped having fun with what I loved. All of those sheets that were crumpled on the floor, ugh, I was just trying to appeal to people, but I don't really get people."

"Hm, why didn't you talk to me about this?"

Coda grumbled as she looked away, "I didn't want to bug you. Besides, it's embarrassing. You're so good with people and I can't even understand how to say hello to someone new."

Arietta scooted closer to her sister to give her a gentle embrace, "And? You could have asked still. You know I don't judge you."

Coda sighed, "Yeah, but I would have judged me."

"Well then stop being so silly. Besides, if you need public speaking lessons I'd be glad to help."

Coda huffed, "What? No, I just wanna understand people. I don't wanna talk to them."

Arietta had a bit of a giggling fit at that, which only further added to Coda's embarrassment. On and on her sister continued to giggle and laugh without stop until Coda blurted, "What? Why? W-why are you laughing at me? Did I really say something that dumb?"

Arietta wiped a tear coming down her cheek from the laughter that she was just calming down from, "Ohhh, oh no dear. Just, I expect nothing less than for you to want something for all the wrong reasons."

Coda huffed at that, "Wrong reasons? Is it so wrong to want to improve my art and understand what people want instead of just what I want? I mean, I'll still be doing what I want because that is just how I am, but still."

Arietta leaned against her sister and let out a trill sigh, "Darling sister, you should talk to people rather than try to use them. Maybe you'll learn something."

Coda crossed her arms and turned away, "What do I have to learn from others?"

"What do I have to offer you then?"

Coda blinked looked back at her sister, "What? No, that's different. You're my sister and my equal in voice and even creating music when you put your heart to it."

Arietta smiled, "Mhm, and you think no one else in this world could possibly prove to be of use?"

"Well, no, but, I just hate it. Why should I have to talk to anyone else who might not be worth my time?"

Arietta replied simply, "Because you might find another me."

That earned a snort and a chuckle from Coda, "What? No one could ever be what you are to me, or replace you. You're my sister Ari, no one could be another you."

"How will you know if you never talk to anyone else?"

Coda shut her eyes and tugged at an ear while thinking of a way to respond to that. She knew that Arietta had plenty to lecture her about on this subject. It wasn't as if they hadn't already had this conversation before, and it was one that she was never really wanting to repeat, but now that it was brought up Arietta wouldn't stop so easily. For a while she remained quiet, the Bweehorses watching with some interest but remaining oddly quiet before Coda finally let out an exasperated sigh, "I can't beat you, but I can't really just go up to someone and talk to them. You've seen how I am in public."

Arietta giggled, "Then I'll introduce you to people."

Coda huffed, "Oh? You planned on this then?"

"Oh, I maybe had a few ideas if I ever got you out of your workroom for more than a few hours and on the street level, so since you've agreed to this, there are plenty of places to visit that I can bring friends along with, maybe one or two to introduce you."

Coda shuddered, "What? Another vacation? But this one is just fine with just us two."

"Not now silly, sometime in the future, after we have a few dinner dates maybe."

Coda leaned back against her sister dejected, "Vacation ruined."

Arietta giggled and began to smooth over her sister's ears, "I tease I tease, but really just maybe one or two people invited over to the house, you don't even have to talk that much, just a quick hello and I can help introduce you. These friends of mine love music too."

Coda raised a brow, "Huh? You think their tastes are good?"

"I enjoy what they enjoy dear."

Coda crossed her arms, "Hm, well, I guess I can at least be around them for a little bit and let you introduce me."

Arietta chuckled, "It won't be so bad. You might even make a friend out of it, or a lover."

With two ears springing up, Coda sat up, her fur frazzled, "Lover?! You just said I was supposed to be meeting friends?!"

Arietta gave her sister a squeeze while laughing, "It doesn't mean they aren't attractive, now relax! It isn't as if this is meant to be a matchmaker, things may just happen."

Coda relaxed from the squeeze and shut her eyes, leaning back with a breath to calm herself, "I guess."

Very gingerly, Arietta took the pen and journal from her sister's hands and set them aside, "Come now, let's sleep underneath the night sky, and tomorrow we'll enjoy the rest of our vacation. We can think of the future later, and you can even make more music if you like tomorrow. Plenty more to be inspired by I'm sure."

Coda sighed and mumbled as she found herself already drifting, "Fine, we'll do some voice exercises tomorrow morning at least, just in case more Bweehorses want us to sing."

Arietta shut her own eyes and held her sister gently as she began to drift as well there in the cool Bluegrass air. Peace, happiness, it was all she ever wanted and all she ever needed and so long as her sister was at peace as well, her life was complete.