A more dramatic, powerful, destructive imagining of the story of Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks.
The three Sirens Sonata Dusk, Adagio Dazzle, and Aria Blaze are powerful to say the least. Ancient beings from a time now lost in Equestria, they were banished to a far off land in another pocket of space and time, doomed to wander for all of existence. They have made a home for themselves, embracing their imprisonment as best as one can. Until the night they see the magic, EQUESTRIAN magic. They now see a way to grow strong enough to return to the land they came from. But a vision comes to one of them, showing them what is to be. They will need help to go home, and Adagio might just know how to get it to happen, and prevent themselves from being defeated at the hands of seven good friends.
(In short, this is my own spin on Rainbow Rocks. I loved the movie, but the simple concept of fighting with music and defeating three, what I believe to be, POWERFUL MAGIC FEMALE DEMI-GODS was too much of a buzz kill. In this tale, they have MANY more abilities, as I think they should have. There is more magic, more drama, more fighting, and an OC I am throwing in not as a mary sue, but as a secondary antagonist for plot reasons.)
I have done a few weeks of research trying to get most of my facts together, including appropriate timelines, and as such, this is my first EVER fan-fiction. I'm nervous but ready to stop reading and try and get enough creative juices going to get this out. AS such, any and all criticism is accepted and wanted. And I guess as a thrown in, though it might be assumed, this is non-canon, and takes the place in the timeline that Rainbow Rocks did.
It was loud and crowded in the diner. Outside the moon shown full and bright. Stars filled the sky and the streets were silent. Inside, teens were shouting at one another, some kneeling in the booths to get up close and personal into the faces of the ones their anger and hateful words were directed at. Fights of all kinds were being lashed out from every table, booth, and bar stool. Words of hate, words of frustration, words of pain. Accompanying them were other small booths filled with teens and children. Anger was not the only form the miasma in the air was taking. Some of the patrons were eating lazily from the plates in front of them. Others pushing fries through small piles of ketchup or other condiments. They were looking down, or very depressed. The air was full of negativity and heavy with the weight of unwanted and out of place sadness. In the back of the diner sat three young ladies. They were not young per say, but this was the immediate guise that they assumed. They were dressed in hoodies, all of them the same green color and with hoods pulled over their heads. No one was able to see their heads or faces from under the hoods. The air around them, as well as the aura of the diner, was filled with a green hue; a sparkling magical essence that was only visible to them. Around their necks, just above their chests, hung blood-red jewels. Each one was about the size of ones palm. They were twinkling and giving off a light humming twinkle.
The three girls were chanting. It was a beautiful simple song, it rang out as clear as a crystal chime. If only the teens yelling could hear it, then they would be entranced; moved to show nothing but complete dedication to the ones singing it, with no time or energy to show anything else. As the three girls sang their Siren song, the magical aura hanging heavy on the ground was flowing up into them. Specifically, it was flowing up into their amulets. They sang out the same two verses, three notes each. It would have put any Gregorian chant to shame in an instant, and would have made even the slightest essence of pagan come alive in anyone who could hear. Soon, the air was cleared of the shimmering verde hue, and the fighting had died down to that of a dull roar. Many of the teens had begun to get up and make their ways out of the diner they were seated in. A few even shook their heads, not sure of where they were or what they were doing. The three girls removed the hoods they had pulled up, glaring at one another in an almost angry fashion.
One of the girls, a faint pink skinned human with long pig tails of purple and green held up by silver stared bangles near her head, immediately spoke up. She scowled, and looked like if someone broke her floodgates of angst, it would crush the entire country side. Beside her sat a girl with skin a light grey-blue, her hair flowing into one single aloft pony tail, different shades of dark and light blue made the bluenette look almost innocent and simple, or maybe it was her facial features. She had a sad almost concerned look as she looked at her friend sitting next to her as the emo girl spoke. "That was barely worth the effort Adagio. I am tired of fast food! I NEED a meal..." The girl she spoke to sat alone in the other side of the booth. She had skin of light yellow, her hair pulled up into a LARGE poof behind her, mostly orange with streaks of yellow the same as her skin going down the back. This would be Adagio, there would be queen in this despised kingdom they were stuck in. "The energy is this world isn't the same as in Equestria, we can only gain so much power here." She looked around to make sure they weren't being listened to, and made sure to keep the tone and volume of her voice in check. She tried to read the faces of the others sitting inside the diner with them. Her own face wearing a prideful scowl of dejection.
"AUGH, I wish we had never been banished to this awful place!" The pink girl leaned back and sank down into her seat, crossing her arms and huffing. She fiddled with a little charm bracelet on her wrist. It spelled out the word *Aria* in little silver blocks. It was quite possibly the only whimsical thing about this one. Adagio chimed in with a big smile, saying in the most sickeningly sweet mocking tone, "Really? I love it here!" Immediately following was a face of contempt and disgust.
"...for realsies? Because I think this place is the worst." The girl with the blue skinned bluenette had decided to talk, jutting her thumb out towards the window into the night.
"I think you're the worst Sonata." The one with the purple skin spoke, narrowing her eyes at her dim friend, just a hint of poison on her tongue accompanied that last word. Sonata replied simply, in an almost childish fashion with "Oh ya? Well I think YOU'RE th-"
"UGH!" Adagio had her hand on her forehead, squinting her eyes together with utter disgust for her two lackeys. "I'll tell you one thing, being stuck here with you two doesn't make this world any more bearable." She said the last words through gritted teeth.
*BOOM!*
The night sky was lit up by a pillar of light. Adagio turned her head towards the beam of white blasting up into the now visibly clouded heavens. Her eyes grew wide, the light from the pillar perfectly reflecting off of her eyes and into the window. She stared at it for only a few seconds, but to her it felt like an eternity. Without warning, she jumped up from her seat, startling the others sitting with her. Moving as fast as her unprepared legs could take her, she bolted for the front door of the diner with as much haste as she could muster. Charging almost head first, she extended a hand and pushed open one of the doors, stopping outside just at the edge of the sidewalk. A loud rumbling, like that of a distant and powerful thunder storm filled the air as she gazed up at the shaft of unbridled power still pouring into the sky. The others soon joined her, but at a more leisurely pace. They were unaware of what was transpiring. When they arrived, the pillar was gone, but it had been replaced by an explosion, a sound of chimes and clashing magic. A double helix made of the purest of rainbows flew up into the air that once held the beam of power. It clashed at its zenith, forming an orb of sparkling pink essence.
Adagio blinked long and hard, only once, to make sure her eyes were not playing tricks on her. She could feel her heartbeat pick up, and her mouth was dry with anticipation and fear. She gazed up at the majesty in the air before her as it shot a ray of colors separated by a prismatic effect onto the ground. This made YET another explosion, and as the beam concentrated on its target into the distance from ... where ever THAT was, it again shot a beam of light into the air. This time, one that was made from the same helix of color.
Adagio's mouth was agape as she watched. Her amulet made a shimmering sound and effect, tingling enough for her to feel it through the thick hoodie. She reached up and grabbed it, letting out a gasp as she did. "Did you feel that?!" Her eyes darted around a few times, trying to collect her thoughts. Her mind was going a mile a minute, FILLED with an amazing amount of potential at what was occurring. She focused her vision, an evil smiled crept across her face slowly. She extended a hand up at the blessing she beheld and turned to her two friends. "Do you know what that is?"
The two of them made confused faces before letting out pathetic "Meh" noises, hands slacking against their sides. Adagio made a face of pure rage and grabbed ahold of Aria and leaned in so close their faces almost touched. "That's Equestrian magic!"
Aria gave Adagio a light shove making a face. "But this world doesn't have Equestrian magic." She said this matter-of-factly, and Adagio turned away smiling once again. "It does now..." Adagio spoke in an almost sing-song manner. "And we are going to use it to make EVERYONE in this pathetic little world adore us." Adagio purred out the last few words, hand on her hips as she gazed up into the light filled sky, her two cohorts doing the same. It was as if years and years of endless, painful, and long winded cruel punishment was reaching its very end. Adagio wanted to cry. She wanted to cry tears of an emotion she hadn't felt in so long she was unsure if it EVER existed at all. Nothing could go wrong. Nothing, except...
Sonata's face dropped as her amulet began to shine out a pale light. She frowned and reached out to touch it. She screamed when she did, her hand smoking as the amulet had filled her mind with searing thoughts. Sonata could see...see things that could happen. Can happen. Will happen. Her eyes were filled with tears and flecks of light that danced around and around inside her head. Her brain had been filled, in a single instant, of every important memory she WOULD have had, something that was absolutely detrimental to their survival in some way DIDN'T happen. She could barely hear Aria yelling her name. Aria was gently shaking her bluenette friend on the ground, and she was very close to tears. There were a lot of reasons why, but mostly, it because her friend was in pain. Also because she was trying to share in whatever mental pain Sonata just had to endure, watching whatever fate befell them. "Sonata? Sonata! Are you ok? Talk to me!"
"Ugh...I'm...fine, Aria. Really..." Sonata spoke to her friend while giving her a weak smile. She soon realized she was on the ground upon her knees. She stood up shaking slightly. Aria wrapped her arms around her. Her eyes were filled with concern, but also with fear. A vision after seeing their miracle ticket home, or at the very least a better life here, could NOT be good. Adagio spoke without looking at her. Her fists were already clenched in anticipated anger. "Tell me what you saw." Adagio was hoping...no...PRAYING, that this had to with something else. ANYTHING else at this point.
"I saw...them. They were ponies, but...they weren't ponies. They were like the ones we lived with all those years ago. But at the same time...not like the ones we use to live with. They were, but at the same time were not, but they felt the same anyway. The magic, the rush of power, the sheer force of Equestrian essence. Almost like us now..." Sonatas eyes turned to foggy glass as she spoke, recollecting her vision. She shook her head as she did, Adagio looking annoyed at Sonata's worthless riddle speak she always used when trying to babble out whatever pictures had been seared into her mind's eye. "There were six of them, and we overpowered them with The Voice, our Voice. We had the crowd in command. They were entranced by us, feeding us their energy. They didn't have any choice." Adagio was smiling at this, but she quickly dropped it. The ending of the vision would always be bad. This vision was a warning. They always were. "They had power unlike anything I've seen. We fought them. We won. But...then there was another. A bright orange and yellow star. She was like a phoenix burning out, but...something about her. She was corrupted somehow, darkness still lingering on her soul. She sang out with all her heart. They combined into one force. It hit us like a god smiting the wicked. We...we lost. Our amulets broke! We...we..." Sonata didn't finish as she fell back down to her knees sobbing quietly. She clutched at her heart as it broke.
Adagio clenched her fist harder. Her palm began to drip blood from where her nails were digging in. She closed her eyes. "Aria...", this was spoken slowly, carefully, and as if she was trying not to lash out in rage already at her unsuspecting pawns. The girl spoke fast. "Already on it." Aria was standing, one hand on her glowing amulet, another hand out stretched. It shown with the same ruby hue as her amulet did. She was moving it around like a dousing rod. While Sonata had the uncanny knack for telling them when disaster was going to strike, something they had taken for granted quite often since it allowed them to make it this far in their banishment unscathed, Aria was gifted enough to seek out the answers to protecting themselves against whatever was going to befall them. No mater how vague it might be. She waved her hand around slowly as she turned in place.
She stopped on a dime, opening her eyes as she looked straight ahead. Her pupils had expanded to take up the entirety of her eyes. She was like a predatory cat, taking in everything she could see to plan her strike. "I think I...oh. Oh..." Aria blinked a few times, trying to clear her vision. Had she seen what she thought she did? She licked her upper lip just a bit and smiled. There was slight heat coming to her cheeks. "I found him." She poke this with an exhale.
Adagio turned to look at Aria "...him?" She was confused and raised an eyebrow, Aria had never divined a person before. It was always a place, or a thing. And even once or twice it had been a very specific time. But PERSON? This added a new twist on things. "What can you tell me?" Her hands were now on her hips, and she was cocked at a slight angle. Her eyes filled with matriarchal command, as was her tone. Her lips were pursed together into a thin line. Not quite of anger, but almost worry. This could get messy, and Adagio was never one for dirtying her hands.
"I think...we got a winner. Powerful, strong, but...he won't break easily." Aria's eyes returned to normal as she shook her head and bit her lip. People were easy to manipulate, especially if their emotions oozed from them as most humans did. But there was something different about this one. Something menacing. He was reserved and behind WAAAY too many barriers. Aria was worried. If a human of this caliber had been here for some time now, as she assumed all of the humans in this area had...why had they not known before? Especially if this was something needed for their continued survival? Something was off. Sonata was now looking up at her with sadness. She was even a little bit afraid. The two of them often took the blunt of Adagio's rage when things went wrong or were hard. Sometimes just because she was bored. This time, they were surprised by her answer.
"Oh, is he now? Well maybe he will bend easier than you think." Adagio smiled at them, her eyes lighting up. Her voice was light and mocking. She walked over to them in carful, equal strides. One foot in front of the other, hips swaying as if she was casting a spell. Adagio was getting full of herself, already starting the process she always used when assaulting another humans senses. She hardly felt feminine, but the body she had been gifted made it so much easier to be just that. It had been a while since she had a challenge, a REAL one. "Let's head home...we have planning to do. Aria! Can you get me an exact location?"
"Yes, I can. It isn't too far. We can make it in the morning and catch him off guard...if we don't want to be creepy that is." Aria looked over to Sonata, who was giggling and covering her mouth to try and stifle it. This made Aria relax a little bit. Adagio let out a loud defiant laugh of soon-to-be victory as she watched the beautiful display in the sky disappear, only to have it be replaced with faint, upbeat music almost impossible to make out. The three of them walked off into the night, heading back to the loft apartment they had called home in this city. It would be there that they would begin to plot out their plan to win a fight they were pre-ordained to lose. Aria and Sonata grasped hands as they walked quietly behind their leader. They were afraid, but for different reasons. Aria had seen their salvation....but it would be up to Adagio to determine if it WOULD be there's. And Sonata had seen their demise, their deaths in a way, and had glimpsed just a hint into the future that was set for them if they lost. She let out another tear that was quickly wiped away by the gentle hand of Aria. They gave each other another little smile, then sped up their pace to keep up with Adagio.
*****
Across town, asleep in his bed, a young man tossed and turned. He was covered in a cold sweat that ran down his face and bare chest. His mind had been touched by a devil in disguise. His dreams turned to nightmares, and he let out moans of frustration. His night would be sleepless and un-refreshing. This was good for the ones seeking him, but bad for him. He groaned and turned onto his side. His fists clenched his sheets, his arm muscles flexing outward. On his dresser stood a trophy with a football emblazoned on it. Around his room were scattered clothes, a controller next to a gaming console laid on the floor near a television, and a bag of chips lay empty on the other side of his bed away from the door. A few dressers, a bookcase, and an empty fish tank full of little trinkets. The room itself was unassuming, a typical teenage boy's room. The trophy reflected the lights in the night sky, illuminating two words that had been etched into the front, next to the abbreviation MVP. Two words.
He was dreaming, and everything was on fire. He was burning, but not like everything around him. It was as if he was filled with an inner burning, something of extreme hate or anger. He looked on through the smoke and the collapsing auditorium. In front of him were...whatever was filling him were his hateful passion. There were seven of them, all female as he could guess. They had long hair, pointed ears on their heads, and clenched fists. Their long beautiful hair flowing down behind them were tied up at the ends. Were they super heroes? All he could see were their eyes, each set a different color. Some open in sympathy, others open in anger that could have paralleled his. The room was coming down around them, but he did not care. He had a singular task at hand. He opened his third eye...ok...he had three eyes now. This was good. His other two eyes were full of tears. He began to race at them, snarling. He had a magnificent voice that rocked the burning place he was locked in with these people. His arms ripped apart a beam in front of him. They were full of scales. He was a dragon it seems. This was nice, he had wanted to be a dragon since he was three, but hadn't had a dream as such since he was seven. He smiled as he grabbed one the girls. He was holding her up by her neck, and she was shaking and screaming. This was weird...why would he do this? He had never wanted to do this before, but it felt right. Almost normal in a way...but not normal enough. He relaxed his grip at her struggling, and was kicked in the face for it. That was a kick, DANG! He flew backwards a few feet, only to be blasted forward by a storm of diamonds. Diamonds! This was an odd dream.
Suddenly he was outside. Was this a concert? He didn't know. There was AMAZING music playing, but the crowd was ... oddly silent. He was sitting alone on a rock drinking a soda. He smiled as he listened to the beautiful tune, rocking back and forth, his hand smacking his leg in time with a beat. This was nice. He felt an odd sense of peace all around him. It was like everything was right with the world and he was at the center of the universe. The peace was short lived however, as a new tune began to fill the air. He stood up and threw down his soda, which was a little sad to him because he liked that kind a lot, but he couldn't focus on that. His attention was drawn to a distant hill top. This new music was good, REALLY good in fact, but to him, he hated it. It made his ears feel like they were on fire, and made his blood curdle and boil in his veins. He walked a little so that the large half-dome building in front of him was just out of sight. He could see six girls. They looked familiar, and they were playing music! But he knew that already...did he? This was even more confusing. He did not like these girls. He was pretty sure he didn't know them, but he was pretty sure he hated them. He was swearing at them. Soon though, it was ok. He saw a red light and a flash flew out over the crowd. He knew it was going to be ok, and sat down on the grass. But what was that flash? Maybe he didn't want to question it, because he wasn't concerned in the least. The sky was full of lights and full of ... creatures. They were part horse, but also part fish? He knew what they were...but the name eluded him for now. All was at peace again for him. He shut his eyes to relax, but opened them right up again. Something was wrong and he knew it. He shot up panicking, his face was already starting to cover itself in a cold sweat. His legs began to shoot him towards the dome building. He had to go faster, this wasn't fast enough. Why was he running though? He had just been so calm, so easy. The air was full of that new music again. The kind he hated and loathed, but it did not make him angry, it made him afraid. It made him worry, and it made his eyes sting. All of the crowd was cheering now as he was closing in on the dome. He felt his arms rip apart as scales covered his body. It hurt like nothing he had ever felt, but right now it didn't matter. He was a dragon again? But that was last time...or was it? Hadn't he always been like this? This seemed just so natural. The sky had turned bright white. All he could think of was to run faster and faster. He reached the back of the building and it was hard to see the ladder in front of him. As he climbed, it became harder to see, he was crying. He reached the roof and kept running. He ran so hard and so fast that his pants tore and dents were made in the roof. If only his old coach could see him like this. He ran to the edge of the roof. Below him were three girls. He saw them for a brief second and it filled him with joy unending. They were his light of lights and his moon and stars. One of them looked up at him with fear. He looked up and saw an angel of demise crashing down upon them from the sky. It was like a majestic equine god. But he had never felt more like he was facing an enemy than a savior in his life. He spread his arms out and then crossed them in front of him. He was become a shield, but for who? Himself? He felt a blaze like he never had before wash over him, and he screamed out in unbelievable pain...then all was quiet.
He was still dreaming, at least he thought, but this felt more natural. He was in a dark room with little around him. There were no windows, and possibly not even a door. He could hear rain, and also faint dripping. In front of him were three pairs of eyes, but these did not fill him with joy. He was shaking and sweaty. He was...afraid maybe? This feeling was not good. He was only acutely aware of a green tinted air around him. It seeped out of his body as if he were a bag of tea floating among boiling water. He looked up at the pair of eyes in front of him. The eyes were fierce and spoke to him. He didn't answer, he didn't know how. Finally the eyes softened and he could make out the details of them. They were a violet-pink color. It was beautiful. They looked at him with such care, such compassion...or at least to him, that is what he saw. He could not get enough of it, but they were speaking and he had to answer. He reached out a hand, and he was aware that he was kneeling in front of the pairs of eyes. They began to take form as a golden arm and hand reached out to him. He took the hand and kissed the top of it so softly, he wasn't sure if contact had actually been made. The eyes flashed once...and then he awoke.
He sat up straight in bed and let out a noise. He was breathing heavy as a loud ringing filled his ears. He turned to the right and saw his alarm clock going off on his night stand. He groaned and smashed the top of it with his palm, making the clock bend a little, but also stopping that annoying noise. He was covered in a cold sweat and the first thing he did was check his arms. No scales, no burns. He rubbed them up and down. How could a dream have felt so real? He had no idea...but this was almost too intense. He had never in his life felt anything like what he just experienced. He looked to the window to his left. Great, it was still dark out. He must have set the wrong time on his alarm. He laid back and put his arms behind his head. He looked up at a poster that had been signed for him by one of his favorite bands. It said "Never give up on your dreams, Magnus. #WRG" Magnus smiled at this, but he immediately frowned. Part of him regretted NOT going to the dance last night, but he knew it had been for good reasons, at the time at least.
In his almost three months of being here in Ponyville, he had yet to make a real friend outside of the few he talked to at school, but they were more...at school friends. Not the kind you would really see outside of school, or text for no reason. Just something so you were not totally alone during the day. Going to a dance where everyone knew each other would have been weird and awkward and he wanted no part in that. It was bad enough that he missed the tryouts for all the sports teams because he had been sick. So much for being a 'star' athlete. Magnus groaned and rolled over so he could look out the window on his side. There had been ONE girl he did want to ask but...he was almost eighty percent sure she was going with a big group of friends. Nothing wrong with that of course, but it did make him feel just a tad bit hollow inside. She was probably unaware he even existed. He sat behind her in history class. Her yellow flowing hair always made him feel enraptured. And her face, her face was so cute. Innocent and full of compassion. His tongue would tie anytime he tried to speak to her about anything that wasn't class related, and with the way she would look at him shyly and say almost nothing back made him KNOW she thought he wasn't worth her time.
So far this year had been a bust, and he was mad his mom had even dragged him to this ridiculous town. He wasn't eighteen yet, so he didn't REALLY have a choice, and he hadn't spoken to his father since he left them almost ten years ago. Most of his other family were states away, and a few even lived over seas. He was completely alone for the most part. His mother worked two different jobs to support the two of them and save up for the school she wanted him to HOPEFULLY go to after his senior year here, which was this year.
He got up to go to the bathroom since the rest of his body was now waking up. He looked at himself in the mirror as he let the shower warm up. He was a mess. Bags under his eyes, face full of grease...he smirked though. He knew if he tried hard enough he could pull it off. Maybe in a ruffian sort of charmish way. He ran a hand over his chiseled, stubble covered chin. He could wait longer before shaving. Only his mom really liked his facial hair anyway. She said it kept him away from his terrible baby-face syndrome that he had. He didn't think that was really a thing though. He enjoyed the way he looked. His dad always had loads of facial hair, and in all the old pictures of him, it made his dad look...threatening. He ran his fingers through his short bronze hair before taking off his shirt, exposing his ab muscles, tight stomach, and built chest. He wanted to get back into some kind of regimen of working out now that he had no sport to do it for him. He was afraid of losing the tight physique he had acquired over the years. Sadly, he knew it was one of his only redeeming, fetching qualities. Part of him was actually terrified to let people really know what kind of person he was, which wasn't much. He was boring almost, maybe even a push over who was mostly just...empty. He hated violence, he was NOT secure with himself or most of his actions, he was constantly afraid people were talking about him and he couldn't do anything right. He was a homebody for sure, and got simple joys out of being alone and doing his own thing, like writing little stories, playing his video games, or maybe reading the occasional book. But this self exile from the world around him was a double edged sword, and as much as he enjoyed it, he HATED it, as it would remind him of how lacking in substance his life was. His mother knew all of this, she was hard to get anything past without her knowing. She worried about him constantly, so he tried to keep up his own little mask of 'don't worry, I'm ok' but it rarely worked. He sighed as he rubbed his hazel eyes one more time. He took off the rest of his clothes and hopped into the shower.
Fully dressed and way more fresh, Magnus stepped out into the chilly, still damp Sunday morning air. He was wearing a light jacket as he took a little walk. His mom was already at work, she hardly ever had a morning to herself, and he was going to need to get some things for dinner. He patted his wallet in his back pocket as he took his cell phone out of his front pocket. He opened up Face-Place on his phone and began to flip through all of the posts and pictures on the social media app that assaulted his eyes. He frowned as he did. Hundreds of pictures and post, hashtags and selfies, all of them about this stupid dance the night before. Also, and oddly enough NOT really posted much about, was a giant crater and missing front half of the school. Magnus raised an eyebrow as he casually read the news report on it. This seemed...VASTLY more important than a dance. He shrugged and put his phone away after placing it on silent. It's not like anyone would really try to get ahold of him anyway. All around him people were starting the day. A few cars drove by as he walked down the sidewalk. Almost no one he went to school with was out and about. Why would they be? They were still exhausted from, apparently, a cataclysmically glorious evening. Magnus stopped at a crosswalk waiting for it to change to a green light so he could cross. What would it have been like if he were there? He probably would have just been in the background anyway. The music was probably terrible as well. He smirked at his poor attempt to cheer himself up. He crossed the street at a lazy pace, he didn't wait for the light. Traffic was super weak and there was no worry of getting hit.
Magnus stopped into a corner convenience store to buy a soda. He was thirsty and had neglected to really get anything until now. Soda was not the best thing, maybe juice would be better, or even some coffee, but he wanted something terrible for him. He went up to pay for the soda, and a very cheerful girl with a long blueish ponytail was more than happy to accept his money. He hadn't seen her before. Man this place had a high turnover rate. He smiled back at her as he took his soda and left. At least she was happy to actually be at work. It was rare to find that these days. Especially with people his age. He was KIND of sure she was around his age, though he had no memory of her at all. Or did he?
It was only about ten more blocks to the little grocery store he usually got everything from. Tucked inside his wallet was the stamp card the grocery store gave out as part of its little promotional this month. He was going to get fifty dollars off this shopping excursion, and he was going to use every bit of it. His mom deserved a good meal every now and then, especially with how hard she worked. Magnus didn't really work, but the child support his father sent him, and had been sending since Magnus was seven, all went into his bank account. His mother refused to touch any of it, saying that it was for the care of her son, so he should have it. In fact...she hardly ever spoke about him. He had never been too weird or irresponsible with the money. He knew better. This wasn't fun time money, this was 'I need to live' money.
The stroll down to the store was uneventful, with the exception of a girl at the hot dog cart on the corner who gave him the most flattering of smiles and batting of eyelashes he had ever seen. Why couldn't he put a face to her? With as friendly as she was he was SURE he would have had to have seen her at some point. He needed to get out more...something about her attitude was almost off putting if you ignored the flirting, but the bangles in her hair were shiny and hard to ignore. He walked inside of the grocery store and waved to a few of the cashiers he knew from school. Some of these teens still had lives to live outside of the drama of a high school. At the back of the store was the freezer with the GOOD meats in it. He walked over to it, hand on his chin as he thought. There was much to display inside the standing freezer. "Let's see....mom has sworn off beef this month, not sure WHY. Maybe chicken? No, last time it had plastic in the wings. Pork? No...not really in a porky mood." Magnus frowned as he looked. His choices were limited.
A girl behind him stocking some chips whispered, "Go for the fish, trust me. Just put it in the freezer." Magnus turned just in time to see a large poof of bright orange hair turn the corner. He shrugged and went down a few sections to the fish. He made an amazed and surprised smile. Sure as the sun, there was the fish. It was stocked high and all of it had very in-date tags. Opening the freezer, Magnus grabbed the choicest salmon filets he could find. His mouth was already watering, and he could smell the lemon zest he would destroy it with later. Placing it under his arm, he went down the spice isle and picked out a few things, making SURE to grab a new container of lemon pepper. He had ran out of his favorite spice trying to help his mom save a roast she had forgotten about in the crock-pot one night a few weeks ago. Maybe that was why she was done with beef for now? It hadn't turned out TOO bad. Just really dry. And crispy. Who was he kidding, it sucked.
Groceries in hand tucked away in a bag, and now enjoying the soda he had to hide in his pocket in the store to make sure no one though he stole it, the walk home was pleasant. The hot dog girl was still there, dreamily staring at him. Magnus felt himself suck in his stomach just a little bit and wink at her as he walked by. She did the same after him, and even blew him a little kiss. He was NOT prepared for this of course and tripped, stumbling over a crack in the side walk that had raised a chunk of it upwards. "Darn city workers...aren't they suppose to watch for this kind of thing?" He turned around just in time to see her hide her laugh before he bolted. "Great job Mag...score another one for being a moron." He picked up his pace hoping no one would see him shake the red from his face.
Home was just how he had left it. The paper-girl was a bit late as he watched her come down the street. It was already nine in the morning. Oh well, maybe she was at the dance? Life can't always start when we want it to. She threw a paper to him as he waited in front of the door, key in the lock. It hit his shoulder, he wasn't ready to even try and attempt to catch it. She cackled as she rode off, sun fire highlights in her hair catching the light. Magnus picked it up and brought it inside. He looked at the front page as he went to put his fish in the freezer. It was talking about the winner of the Fall Formal. REALLY...? Nothing about the explosion or damage to the school?! He wondered if the people who ran this town were in their right mind.
His groceries put away, soda finished, and paper on the table for his mom, Magnus trudged back up to his room. Two months of this and he had never even SEEN the inside of another kids house. Maybe this was just his destiny. The people he had grown up with hardly tried to get a hold of him now. He dropped onto his bed and looked over at his blank T.V. screen, trying to think of something he could do. It was nice enough outside, maybe go for a jog? His mom did want him to sort out the attic above the garage. Magnus winced at these ideas, as they required great effort that he did not possess at this point. He finally settled on a video game or two. It had been a while since he had checked on his pirate colony. And if he kept staying in his usual slump of doing nothing when he was alone, it would just end up being wasted money.
Hours and hours passed, and Magnus remembered that he had a stomach, and that it was very empty. He couldn't actually remember if he had anything for breakfast besides the one soda he drank this morning. He knew he didn't want to waste any dishes yet, and it was a weekend, so there's nothing wrong with treating yourself. He decided on going to the diner that was popular enough with everyone at school, Sugarcube Café. It was around a twenty minute walk to the café; he got there at around three in the afternoon, and the place was packed! He had seen almost everyone inside sitting and eating at least once at school, but as he walked inside not many took a lot of notice to him. He wasn't surprised, but it didn't take any of the sting away from it. There was one open seat at the counter, so he chose it over trying to be awkward and take a table or booth with people in it. He plopped down in the seat with a heaving sigh. Things like this always brought him down, and made his anxiety begin to prick him in the back of his mind. Maybe it wasn't too late to bail and just eat something at home anyway? He was wrestling with this idea when the waitress came over to him. "Something eating at you hun?" Magnus looked up at the light pink skinned lady. Erm, girl would be more correct, and was that a fake southern accent she was trying? "Ah, no...no not really. Nothing to worry about. Just give me a burger and fries. Oh! Add bacon? And nothing but the cheese and ketchup please." Magnus didn't even take the menu she had held out for him. She smiled a big full toothy smile as she wrote down his order. She hung the ticket up by the window where the grill person could see. and placed her pen behind her ear. She wiped her hands on her frilly apron and went to go help someone else. Magnus put his head down a bit and looked around, hoping no one thought his order was odd. He blushed a bit as the waitress poured him a glass of water when she returned, offering him a warm...almost flirty look. He could hear the lady manning the grill shout out something along the lines of "Who doesn't want any of the GOOD stuff on it? Why pay for the whole burger?" He looked up to see her annoyed velvet red eyes look at him, her golden hair tied up into a tight bun. She squinted at him one time, then turned around to face the grill. "Wonderful..." he said to himself.
Magnus had finished his meal quickly. Leaving out a side door without a lot of people near it, he let out a breath of relief. It was some kind of weird torture listening to his school mates talk about all of the fun they had at the dance. It only reaffirmed his self appointed position of a total outcast. He needed something to take his mind off things. Walking off the sidewalk and going through a park, he was headed for a heavily wooded area right outside of town. The past few months, this had been his safe haven when he wasn't doing homework or trying to study for something. It was amazing out there. All of the animals that it had, and the way the untamed trees bent and twisted, it was like he had found a magical little kingdom full of life and peace. He found himself almost running as he recalled his happy place. No matter how high his anxiety or level of panic was, this place always managed to bring him back to a calm state of reality. He wondered whether or not the mushrooms in the clearing had grown bigger since Tuesday. The entire woods was tiny in size compared to the city, but it was dense enough that it could drown out all sounds and sights from the city, including some of the lights. In the center of it was a beautiful clearing with a canopy of trees covering it, and hiding it from the sun. There was a cave here, but he had never dared to enter it. Maybe it was out of fear, but Magnus liked to think it was more out of respect. He always had the feeling this place was special in some way.
As he pushed his way past an old barbed wire fence that circled the entire wooded area, he breathed a large sigh of relief. He could already smell a batch of freshly bloomed flowers ready to be pollinated. He took care to step down the path. There were new prints here, some of them looked like hooves. The last thing he wanted was to spook a deer. Off to the right in a dying oak tree was a massive bee-hive. Above him birds chirped happily, and he could hear the small running of squirrels everywhere. Occasionally, a small stray animal would come by. Usually a dog, but sometimes a cat. As far as he knew, no one but him came out here. He spent the first week picking up trash everywhere and clearing up debris. The animals seemed much happier after he had done all of this, and almost seemed content to his presence here. He reached the canopied clearing after a tiny walk. There was a ring of mushrooms directly in the center. A fairy ring is what it is called, if his textbook was correct. They are suppose to be magic in some way. He never really believed it, but the mushrooms never died, and even if they got damaged, the ring was always clear by the next day, and the mushrooms hurt would be fixed. They had NOT gotten bigger, despite his hopes that with the rain they would have soared upwards. He looked beyond the ring towards the cave. The cave was beautiful. Covered in moss and trees, it looked like the earth had just lifted up, hollowing out an entrance into its heart. At the same time, it seemed to have a wind blowing out of it, and the inside was so dark it seemed to drink in the light around it. Magnus looked at the cave, and then away. It was almost on instinct. He climbed one of the trees with extra low branches and settled himself near the middle.
The hours had ticked by MUCH faster than he could have anticipated. Magnus had spent most of his time lying lazily on a branch above a birds nest, watching the baby birds with such fascination. All of the peace and mind numbing elegance of the forest around him had been broken once he felt his phone vibrate. Did he even HAVE a phone? And didn't he place it on silent? When did it switch back? It was rare anyone tried to text him. Pulling out his phone, he tapped on his messages to pull up one. It was from his mom asking where he was. "Crap! The fish!" He had not only neglected to tell his mom where he was or where he would be going, but he hadn't told her about his dinner plans. Magnus began to sprint back home. Running, now there was a thing he could always rely on. It didn't matter what sport he played, or what hobby he enjoyed, he was faster than anyone he knew, and it made him feel so alive and free. Not this time though, now he was in a slight panic. He was able to cross the long distance home in only a fraction of what he had done to get him there in the first place. He stopped and placed a hand to steady himself against the oak tree outside his house in the front yard. After he had caught his breath he was aware of laughing. Did his mom have a friend over? Odd...of course, he didn't tell her what his plans were, and he was PRETTY sure his mom had some kind of life that wasn't just work and watching old movies in her slippers, so if she wanted to have people over in HER house it was fine. He still wasn't sure why this got to him just a bit though. Magnus walked on in saying "Hey mom! Sorry abou-" He stopped. Sitting on his couch was a girl.
His mother and the girl had been the two people he heard laughing, the girl's laugh standing out from his mother's as an almost rhythmic, entrancing chime. They were drinking tea and...oh no...his baby album was out on the table. He had no idea what his mother was getting him into, but he was immediately NOT ok with it. "Mom! What are you doing?" Magnus shouted, snatching the book away. He closed it gently and put it back up in the bookshelf where it belonged. He turned and frowned at his mother, who spoke. "Oh now hun, I was just being nice to your girlfriend here. Which...I'm surprised you said nothing about." Her eyes grew sad, though her voice was stern. "Honestly now...I know you're all grown up and have your own life, but I would have thought you would have told me something like this."
Girlfriend.
Magnus turned to look at the girl, who was giving him a deep stare, mouth hidden behind her glass of tea.
Girlfriend.
She spoke "Right? I thought you loved your mother, that's what you've always told me anyway." The girl was familiar...eyes or ruby, her hair was a golden orange, a few streaks of red. Her sin was almost the same color as the honey that sat on the table in front of them. But he could not, for the life of him, pinpoint it.
Girlfriend.
"Mom I d-" He was cut off by her. "Now, let's just drop it okay? I saw you bought fish. I already have it unthawing. I'll be in the kitchen, I know when you need some private time. I'll have my judge shows on just...keep the door open, ok?" His mother gave him a little smile before she went into the kitchen. Only after he heard his mother sit down and get comfy did he turn to the girl.
He looked at her for quite some time before she stood up, taking a step forward. Everything about her was so certain, so poised. It was as if she belonged here, but Magnus was very well aware she did NOT. And what was this girlfriend business? She was so sure of herself and everything she was. At her chest was a ruby amulet. It was shining faintly. Magnus's mind was cloudy. He shook his head. "Who...who are you?" He said this quietly, he didn't want his mother to get worked up over this stranger. Was she a stranger? Now he wasn't so sure. "My name is Adagio..." she walked over and placed a hand on his chest. He was just taller than her, but only just so. "...and YOU are going to get to know me quite well." She let out a little laugh as he looked down, furrowing his brow.
*****
She gently kicked at some of the rubble out front. She was frowning. Behind her, two boys were packing up whatever they had brought. All three of them were dirty and worn out. They had been working all day to try and fix some of the damage to the school. The school's insurance had bought all of what was needed, but to avoid expulsion, since the three of them had been the ones who CAUSED the damage to the high school, they were told they had to fix things. Anything structural would be handled by professionals of course, but all of the annoying monotonous work would have to be handled by them. The girl wiped sweat from her forehead and took a deep breath. They had done a lot of work, but in the grand scheme of things it had been just a dent in a massive workload against them.
She was tired, angry, sore, and very exhausted, but at the same time, this was ok. In truth, it had been the first piece of real work she had done since she got here years ago. And she was proud of it. The two boys had left without telling her, and she couldn't blame them. She had basically roped them both into this before they ever knew what it was going to entail. Even she herself hadn't been real sure HOW the events of last nights dance were going to play out until it had. She got dressed in one of the temporary work rooms set up and placed her work clothes away. She pulled out her phone as she was walking home. She smiled as she browsed Face-Place. She was seeing happy things for the first time, good things. What's more, her messages were already filling up from the people she had brought into her life just a night ago. For the first time ever, she had REAL friends, and she was hoping she wouldn't ruin it.
Magnus was pacing around the room, hands folded behind his back. For the first time in what he could remember, he had absolutely NO clue as to what was going on. He had more than half a mind to call the police, because nothing about this was ok. He knew his mother knew him better than this, and this girl was a total stranger to him. Definitely not his girlfriend...although...something about her was unignorably alluring. Part of him was telling him she was safe, and that he was very familiar with her. He looked at her from the corner of his eye as he walked. There she was, poised on the side of his bed. Her legs were cocked to one side at a slight angle and her ankles were crossed, giving her a ladylike majestic look. Her hands were folded delicately in her lap. In fact, everything about her was flawless. Her outfit, while not tight or revealing, accentuated the feminine features of herself that she wanted to show off, without looking too brash or too extreme. Her face had a slight glow about it. Every tiny aspect of her facial structure, her contour, even the glitter above her eyes was impossible to not be enraptured by. She herself was as if she was poured into a mold and covered with hair that was liquid silk, and it simply took this form. The hair in question had full body and definition, though...it looked almost simple in its design. He caught himself staring too long, and a slight smile appeared on Adagio's face. He felt heat rise to his face and his palms begin to get sweaty. The one thought he couldn't shake from his mind, is what force rippled through his body when she laid a hand on his chest. He felt the over whelming desire to just....hold her. Protect her. He had no idea why. Finally, Magnus sighed and turned towards Adagio still sitting on his bed, giving him a very expectant look. It was as if she was pulled from the earth and sculpted by the very fingers of the goddess of love. He hated it.
"Well now...do you ALWAYS treat guests like this?" Adagio gave him a little pout. "Not even going to offer me a drink or anything?" She went back to giving him her long, wide smile. Not quite innocent, there was too much malice behind her. He could feel it. "Didn't you already have one?" Magnus said squinting his eyes and approaching her. "Oh that's right, your mother actually knows how to entertain a guest." Adagio covered her mouth to hide a smile.
"Cut the crap, as far as I'm concerned you are NOT a guest, this is basically a home invasion. I have no clue what you did or said to my mother, but it isn't going to work on me." Magnus was angry. Nothing gave her the right to do this. "Why are you here?"
"Finally you ask, I figured you were just going to keep ogling me. This is the first time you've had a girl in here isn't it?" Adagio ran a hand slowly across the bedspread and stretched out, laying on her back seductively. She winked at him and then slowly stood up, enjoying how red he got whenever she made any kind of comment at him. It was adorable. Walking slowly over to him, one foot in front of the other, being seductive but subtle, she ran the index finger of her left hand across her amulet. The blood red stone twinkled for only a second, and her finger became surrounded with only the slightest of a ruby hue. She laid that finger on him and looked up into his eyes. She watched as the aura traveled out of her hand and into him. "I am here...because I need you to do something for me." Adagio spoke this in an almost whisper. Magnus blinked and looked down at her. His eyes flashed that same ruby hue that was on her finger, then disappeared. He said to her "...ok?"
Adagio's face dropped. She grumbled something and went and flopped onto the bed. Seems that he WOULD be rather difficult to turn like any other human. She wasn't even curious why, she was just peeved. She huffed before speaking. "I need you to do something for me, but I'm not really sure what that thing could even be yet." She looked up at Magnus who was raising an eyebrow at her. She rested her chin on a fist she made. She continued. "To be fair, I don't think it wise to really share all the details with you, but just know that you have a lot of ... qualities that I need for some reason. And I want you to let me use those to the best that they can be used by someone like myself." She looked at him matter-of-factly.
"You...don't actually seem sure of anything you just said." Magnus was unamused. "If anything, you've just reinforced the notion that I need to have you escorted away from my house and my mother." By now, Magnus could hear the faint sounds of food being prepared in the kitchen. Adagio's ears twitched in that direction as well, but she never took her eyes off of him.
"Look pretty boy, what if I told you I could do things for you others could not?" Her tone was mocking and smug. Kind of rude for someone who wants him to do them a favor. "Before you get any ideas, no, ew. And also, you are not the first person I have said or done this for, and none of them have regretted any of it. I am a woman of means, I assure you." Adagio now crossed her arms against her chest. Her face was steadfast, she was ready to strike a bargain. Just like she had for thousands of years.
Magnus was taken aback. This was even more off putting than anything else. His mind began to swim with the limitless bounty of possibility. Oddly...his mind honed in on one thing. He spoke it before he had a chance to control himself. "Friends."
"Friends? ... Friends? You're joking." Adagio looked at him with a slightly agape mouth. "Well, can't say it's the most ridiculous request I have ever heard. You ever heard of King Aegeus?" Adagio sighed. "Right...of course you haven't, no one has." She shuddered before continuing. "Fine, if it is friends you want, I can guarantee you friends. So many you'll be sick of them. Now, it's time for my part in this bargain."
Magnus held up a hand. "Wait a second here missy. How can you prove to me you can even do that?" He smiled defiantly. There was no way this person could give him something not even he could get. And what was all that nonsense with a king? This chick was weird.
Adagio put on a resting face of contempt and out stretched her hand. The bag of chips STILL on Magnus's floor flew up into her waiting hand. She dug in and pulled out a chip. Chewing it, she raised her eyebrows at him with a 'see?' expression. Her face never twitched or changed its expression.
Magnus threw himself back into his closet door with a bang. The color had left his face immediately, and he felt like he would drop. He began to stutter a little and wasn't sure if he actually SAW what he did. He eyes instantly went to the old bible his grandfather had given him before his passing. He watched as Adagio eyed him with a cold demeanor. It was as if she herself had expected this, and was used to this kind of reaction. She was one hundred percent neutral, but Magnus looked into her eyes and he thought, if only for a fraction of an instant, he could see sadness. He slowly pried himself from the door. He was regaining his stability and could feel tingling in his palms. He timidly took a few steps toward Adagio. "You...you're a witch?" Adagio's gaze didn't change. "Not in so many words. Also, rude." She frowned. "But no, not a witch. That has such a negative connotation. You wouldn't be inherently wrong mind you, but it's a bit more than that." Adagio went to take a step forward, and Magnus felt himself press up against the wall again. He could see that flash of sadness return. How many times had she seen that? He had to try more. It took what felt like to him ages and took every ounce of power he could muster, but he began to walk himself toward her, even if it was just one step. "So...a demon then?" Again, his eyes would go to his grandfathers old bible, a layer of dust on the top of it.
Adagio's face was almost pained when the words left his mouth. But again, it was to be expected. The sting of a thousand or so years never quite goes away. "No...not a demon. But I suppose that would make things easier right?" She smiled a fake smile, sitting down carefully onto the edge of his bed, one hand going up to her chest. The amulet she touched gave a soft glow. "Why does it matter what I am? I am not asking for your soul or anything cliché like that...just...your help." The last words she said came out with a crack of her voice. The fear that had welled up inside Magnus fell away. He could feel guilt, remorse, and pain. It was almost like she was pleading, begging in a way. She was scared, anyone with eyes could see that. Magnus started to reach a hand out to her, but pulled back. Maybe this was a part of the ruse she was pulling over him and his mother. Some how she had gotten past her, and now was doing this. Ignoring all rational thought though, he went for it. He would worry about consequences later. "Alright. I believe you."
Adagio looked up at Magnus, almost forgetting he was there as she retreated into a mind that expanded far beyond any mortal had been through. For a moment she forgot where she even was, or why she was here. "You do?"
"I do. Now...just...tell me what you need." Magnus gave her a light smile. Still being very careful to not be too close to her. Part of him was still very scared.
"I just need you to come with me. I can explain what you need to know along the way and afterwards. But more importantly, I'll just need you to trust me. I know I haven't given you any reason to, and even doing so would be completely fool hardy. But I would rather be up front with you." Magnus nodded. For all he knew, he was about to be led down the road to ruin, a pathway that would only end at the gates of oblivion, and he was sure he would end up there for helping this ... sorceress anyway. But...there was going to be no denying it would be a fun ride.
"MAGNUS! Dinner is ready!" The two in the room looked to the open door. Magnus could hear his mom setting the table and humming to herself. He looked back to Adagio who already had her hand raised in Magnus's direction. "We won't have time for this. I'll take care of your mom. Get dressed and ready." Magnus watched Adagio poise herself like nothing had happened between them and walked out the door. He could hear her walk into the kitchen and begin talking to his mother. He looked out the window. It was getting dark, he would need to put something at least a little warm on. He grabbed a light blue hoody and threw it on over his white tee shirt. He grabbed his sneakers he was wearing before and pulled them on. He couldn't think of anything else he would need besides his wallet, keys, and phone. Both were on top of his dresser. As he went to get them, something glinted in the corner of his vision. His knife.
His friends had given it to him as a joke going away gift. They said he would need it in a strange new town full of wackos. It was a switchblade, small enough to be hidden in a pocket, big enough to be deadly to someone on the other end. Stoically, he grabbed it, sliding it in to his pockets with the other things he was taking with him. He could hear laughter now coming from the kitchen, probably a good clue that the coast was clear. He walked on in to see the two of them sitting at the table, almost like this was normal. Like she belonged here. Magnus smiled, and then caught himself. She did not belong here. She was not a person. She was a monster...some kind of creature. She was not normal, and should not exist. Why was he following her then? He didn't actually know himself. His mom looked to him. "You could have at least TOLD me you were going to eat with her parents tonight." His mom said this with a smile, she wasn't angry. Which...was odd. She hated when things didn't go according to what her plan was. Magnus shrugged. "Sorry mom, I guess I forgot. The fish was for you though. Wanted to surprise you." He smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. His mom got up and kissed him on the cheek. "Such a good boy, I'm not sure what I do to deserve you." Magnus tried to pull away. "Mom!"
The three of them all laughed before his mother sighed and said "Well...best not keep everyone waiting. You know better than that. Take care of him sweetie." Magnus watched as his mother hugged Adagio like she had been a part of this family for a long time. He knew that she had only been for a little while. Wait, no, not at all! What was going on? Magnus shook his head and tried to remember what was normal. "Don't worry Miss Vi, I'll take good care of him." Adagio winked and gave his mother a honeyed smile. Magnus's mom patted her on the shoulder, then shooed them out the door. They were walking for some time before Magnus even realized it. The sun was just beginning to set, and a chilled wind was blowing in from the west. Most of the houses were lit up, and very few cars went past them as they walked down the sidewalk.
Adagio walked with purpose, but also with the same poise and deity like perfection she used earlier with every action she did before when they were at the house. Magnus kept his hands tucked safely away in the pocket of his hoodie. He was looking straight ahead, but his eyes kept pulling to Adagio. She stayed in front of him as he was blindly led into the downtown area of the city. He could see all of the neon lights in the windows of shops coming on, and hear the honking of random cars as the buildings began to slowly get bigger, and traffic more dense. He felt like they had walked for miles in almost complete silence. In front of him, Adagio made a sigh. Or maybe it was more of a huff. It wasn't a positive noise, that much Magnus knew. "Hey...are you ok?" He asked.
"Hm? Ya, I'm fine." Adagio said this without looking back at him. Magnus frowned. He knew better than that. "No come on, what's up?" Adagio finally turned her head just enough to make the slightest of eye contact with him. "You haven't said anything to me. No one said you HAD to come, and we both know you are probably still looking for a stake to drive into my heart after my little display that almost made you keel over." She mocked him by clutching her heart, faking a heart attack. She continued "And now you are just...there. Normally you people are asking me loads of questions, begging at my feet...something. ANYTHING." She huffed again. Magnus was uncomfortable by the way she said 'you people.'
"I have a lot of questions, I just don't really know where to start. And to be honest with you, you seemed way more in distress than you wanted to let on. I figured it would be better to wait until we were alone...where ever we are going...before I asked you anything. I was trying to be considerate." Magnus continued to look ahead. He thought he heard Adagio make a noise, but wasn't one hundred percent sure of it. She was quiet for another block or so as they walked. "...thank you..." she said this meekly, almost quietly. Magnus smiled "Hey, no problem. Really." Adagio stopped to turn and look at Magnus. Her face was almost angry. "DON'T even begin to think anything mister. If you had ANY idea how many of you I had been around in my life time, you would know the difference in my tones. I am only happy you have decided to acknowledge me as a person and not a monster. Nothing more. And don't give me that face. You forget, witchy powers remember? I know what's going on in that brain of yours." She waggled her fingers at him with a bored expression. "That, and being around for as long as I have tends to make you learn things. Now come on, we are just about there."
Magnus was taken aback and left dumbfounded. He wasn't ACTUALLY sure what had just transpired in front of him. He hadn't been thinking anything...he thought. Maybe he had? Was he? What was he even thinking right now? Besides keeping up with her, not a whole lot. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she was insane. She was magical, he knew that, but did it go deeper than that? Worse? "HEY! Keep up!" Adagio had shouted back at him. Back at him? Crap! Magnus began jogging to try and keep up with her. Apparently her attitude had spurred her into walking much faster. He caught up to her just as they reached a large, high rise apartment building. Magnus had to crane his neck to see to the top, it had to have at least thirty stories. And this was a nice place. Now that Magnus had a chance to actually look around, he was surprised at where they were. Everything around them was very nice and fancy. Some bars and restaurants were just starting to fill up. Down the way he could hear the chiming and laughs coming from a casino, and right next door to this place was a grand hotel. "You live here?" He asked.
"Where would you think we would live? In a cemetery? A big spoopy castle? Come on, get real." Adagio flipped her hair at him like he had given her a mortal wound on her ego. "...we?" was the only thing Magnus had time to ask as he was lead inside the building. The lobby was impressively sized. It had a back lounge full of people ready to start their evening, and had a small coffee shop and restaurant tucked away. Directly in the center was a grand piano, a large harp, and a few other instruments were several people were playing soft, somber music with their eyes closed. A giant roaring fire was in a round open fire place. This place had an allure to it, that was for sure. Magnus found himself turning around several times to take it all in. The ceiling was covered in giant replicas of real world paintings. It was incredible to say the least. He looked down at the floor as Adagio approached the desk. It was as if the whole thing was taken from one giant slab of granite. Polished to perfection, he could see the beautiful serpentine patterns of the many minerals of the stone echoing out in all directions. He had never seen such detail and elegance.
Adagio approached the desk slowly, her walk was like a dance, and entrapping move to lure in her prey, like she was a snake ready to pounce. The concierge gave her an odd looked and asked "May I help you, Madame?" She grabbed her amulet as Magnus turned to watch her, breaking free of his raptured entrancement. "Yes, It's Adagio. I need you to unlock the Elevator. I don't feel like walking and I have a guest, as you can see." She gestured over to Magnus, who watched in an odd mixture of fear and excitement. The man's eyes became filled with a ruby hue, the same coming off of her amulet she touched. Adagio smiled as she waited. "Of course Madame." The man pressed a button on his desk, and a wall that looked solid opened up to reveal an elevator. Adagio gave the man a big smile and started to walk in. She stopped only briefly to ask Magnus "Are you coming?" The two of them climbed on into the comfortable elevator, and Magnus watched as Adagio flopped down onto a couch as the doors began to shut.
The elevator was very spacious, almost as if it would be a service elevator of some kind, or maybe one that is used to bring cars up and down show floors. At any rate, it was very clear to Magnus that this was meant to be a private elevator. Most of the décor was fitting of people of great age or elegance with a high level of exposure to culture. Adagio relaxed on her fainting couch, one leg lazily hanging to the side as she leaned back, eyes closed, seemingly drinking in her surroundings. As if being away from this kind of comfort was painful for her at some level. Magnus watched her with a wary eye. The doubts he had about this whole thing were starting to creep back. His feet started to inch back towards the wall. Adagio spoke up, not even bothering to open her eyes, "Don't worry, it isn't going to be some creepy lair. I already told you it's not that kind of thing. And could you relax a little?! You're stressing me out. And that's tough to do. I swear...for someone as strong looking as you, you sure are some kind of scared little bunny." She scoffed and made a snorting kind of laugh at this mockery. Magnus wasn't impressed, but part of him actually couldn't blame her for thinking this kind of thing about him.
Magus scratched the back of his neck, he had to say or do something to try and ease out the situation a little. "So...Adagio...have you lived here long?" The question was forced and awkward. Adagio opened one eye to look at him while she answered with a bored tone and face to match it. "For a while now. Not as long as other places, but we do like it here. Big cities are easy. No one cares who or what you are, and you can go about for a long time before people catch on. It's the small places that get ya. It doesn't take more than a few years for people to see you don't age, act normal, and can control anyone you touch. Well...save for you anyway." She winked her open eye at him playfully before returning to her closed eye lounging state. "Of course...maybe I'm just not doing it the RIGHT way." She chortled out a laugh as she could feel the heat rise in Magnus as he turned away.
The elevator gave a satisfying ding as the doors opened up. The hallway before them was simple. It had a plain red carpet, and golden wallpaper. Very unamusing for a place so well defined for the wealthy. Across from them was access to a stairwell. Clearly this is what Adagio had been referring to when she said she was tired earlier. Had she controlled that man earlier? Or had it been just his imagination? He had no idea. They both stepped out, and Adagio stopped in front of the ONLY other thing in the hallway. A very elegant gilded door. She took in a breath and turned to look at Magnus. For the first time all evening, he saw what appeared to be REAL emotion in her face. It was a combination of embarrassment, fear, maybe anxiety? Her face was also slightly red. Was she nervous? Impossible. How could someone like this have any kind of...well...link to the weak humans she so elegantly put down and blasted at each chance she had? "Fair warning now...we don't have, erm...men...over often. That's all I'll say on it. You can put the rest together." Magnus made a face, but nodded. In fairness, this was the first time he was seeing a ladies house in a good deal of time, and a first for a house of ladies that just lived alone. But ,he still could not shake the fact there were plural nouns being thrown all night, and no idea on what it could mean. Adagio produced a key and unlocked the door. She took in a sharp breath and opened the door quickly.
Magnus was impressed. The scents of rich cooking hit him first, followed by the soft, warm, comforting glow of happiness and light. They walked inside as Adagio shut the door behind them. She took off her shoes without looking down, so Magnus did the same. He looked around wide eyed, like a kid who was seeing a toy store for the first time, or animal out of its cage. The room they were in was pleasant. Not real big as he would have expected. It was quaint. The walls were done to look like the inside of a log cabin. The room had several couches, obviously meant to entertain large groups of people at once. The floor of the room was also a solid polished wood, but the center was covered by a rug that was so thick he thought he could swim in it. Simple floor lamps stood in the corners, giving a warm yellow-orange light. On a few tables were lit candles, giving off relaxing, sugary scents. Magnus couldn't help but smile. There was nothing not to smile about. And this was only the entrance, but it didn't seem like there was too much more to this. The serenity was quickly broken by the ruckus that could only come from people that are family.
"Adaaaaaaaaagio!" The most chipper of voices squealed out as a form took flight, bounding off a couch and flying straight up in to the air, arms out stretched. Adagio didn't have time to do more than yell when she was glomped on by another female. Magnus looked at her. She was...vaguely familiar. Her hair was pulled into a simple pony tail, streaks of green and blue going down its length. Her skin its own shade of greenish cyan. Her face was pulled into a large, closed eyed grin. She was smooshing her face up against Adagio's face, whom of which was trying to stand back up. "Sonata! We've talked about this! Gah! GET OFF YOU LITTLE FUNGUS!"
Sonata just giggled and squeezed harder. "But you were gone forever, I thought you diiiiiied." She pulled her face back to show, what Magnus thought, was the most convincing pout he had ever seen. Adagio continued to try and fight her off when another voice made it self known. "What's all the noise? Sonata, did you trip again? Look, I'm running out of Band-Aids today you'll need to- Oh. Adagio." The women then turned to Magnus and made eye contact. Her face did not change it's expression, but only went red. Hard to notice from her already bubble gum pink hue that it had. Her hair was pulled into two equal pony tails at the back. Her face, still unamused, broke eye contact and looked back at Adagio. "Are your hands broken? Can you not use a phone? Sonata has been glued to the windows for an hour or so now. Do you know how annoying it's been hearing 'Aria? Is she coming back?' , 'Ariiiia, can we go look for her?' 'AAAAAAAAARIA, I'M HUNGRY!' No, you wouldn't would you, you've been out fooling around."
Adagio looked back to Aria, still trying to pry the clinging Sonata from her hips. "I was working, you knew this. Don't even start with me, not this soon." Magnus had to hide a laugh. This noise made Sonata stop wiggling and look up at him with eyes as big as plates. He gave her a tiny wave and went to say something to her before he was cut off by a loud "MEEEEEP!" as she bounded backwards, heel catching the back of the couch causing her to trip and fall over the couch. All three of them looked at the couch for a few seconds until they heard quiet little sobs. "She'll be fine. Dinner will be ready in fifteen." Aria retreated back into the other room, Magnus assumed the kitchen.
Adagio rolled her eyes but look flustered after being scolded as she had been. She out stretched her hands in a 'here it is' fashion before cracking her neck and rubbing it. "Come on, might as well get comfy. I will prove a better host than you, as you will see." Adagio lead Magnus into the kitchen.
*****
There was an explosion of fire. Nothing made sense. People were running about and shouting. She turned and saw someone on fire underneath debris. She tried to grab at anything but couldn't. Someone was shouting her name but it didn't make sense. She was running, anywhere that she could. She stopped at the dead end the hall made. She panicked. She turned around and saw him slowly walking forward. He was covered in scales, all she could see were three red eyes. They were unblinking. He pointed a clawed hand at her. It was dripping with blood. He called out her name and the fire around her roared to life.
She sat up in her bed with a start. She was screaming, but she soon got a grip on herself and her surroundings. She was tired, sweaty, and emotionally drained after this weekend. She shook her head and laid back down. There were a number of things she could think of that explained what was happening, but she pushed them aside. She reached under her pillow for her cell phone, and touched it awake. She opened up her messages and sent one to a number that was still so new, no name had been attached yet. She quickly typed out 'Was it still real? Or am I dreaming?' She didn't expect an immediate response, but she got one all the same. It was hard to read, its recipient had probably been roused from dead slumber. 'yez, it wa s. we all meant wut wee said, trust me Sunset. we can hang tomorrow ok?' She locked her phone asleep and placed it back under her pillow. Sunset Shimmer let out a content sigh, and went back to sleep.
Magnus sat at the kitchen table. He was smiling as he looked around the magnificent room he was in. The dinning room and kitchen of the apartment had been combined into one, but it shared the beautiful look of the faux log cabin that the room had going for it. Aria was standing at the stove, stirring something in a pot with a wooden spoon. It smelled heavenly and very milky, like some kind of thick stew. Magnus looked at her for a long time. She seemed very...wifey...for someone who seemed so emotionally reserved from the few moments they had met. She was barefoot, wearing simple clothes, possibly even sleepwear. She had a large purple apron on that was frilly and looked somewhat sexy in its design. Maybe this was intentional? Magnus hadn't really had time to process any of this. Two other women lived in this house with Adagio. Could they all be lovers in a way? Adagio did make a point to tell him they were not use to male guests. Magnus shook his head. It wasn't like something like this was unheard of, but it might answer a few things. Or maybe it wouldn't, but he was starting to realize he was fixated on this a little bit longer than he should be.
Adagio placed a mug of coffee in front of Magnus with a little smile and went over to the fridge. She got out a few sodas and placed them on the table. One of them she opened and poured into a glass. She opened up a drawer in a cabinet next to Aria, giving her a little nudge with her butt as she did. This was on purpose, and the two smiled at each other after. Adagio took out what Magnus could just slightly recognize as a crazy straw. She put the straw in the glass, and placed it in front of Sonata, who had magically bounced her way in once she heard the sound of the soda opening. She sat in her chair drinking her soda through the funky twisted straw, purring as she did. Adagio messed with her hair and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Sonata simply closed her eyes and beamed. Magnus couldn't help but smile at just how adorable she was.
Adagio sat down and looked at Magnus from across the table, her fingers were intertwined as she rested up on her elbows. "So, you've been very quiet since you got here." She had an eyebrow raised and was studying him carefully.
"Have you given him a chance to talk or answer anything? Or is that just you being YOU again and demanding things?" Aria said this at no one in particular as she continued to cook.
Adagio rolled her eyes and made a disgusted noise. "Ignore her, but, DO you have any questions before I start?"
Magnus started to shake his head, and then stopped. "I do have a few, but In the grand scheme of things, they may seem ignorant." He took a sip from his coffee. It was bitter, but very rich. Nothing like the coffee he and his mother had at home. "At any rate...I'm sure I will think of some after you get done. It's always better to hold questions until the end of something. So, go ahead and do whatever it is you are going to."
Adagio nodded slowly. She took a long drink and exhaled. "Ok, so...we can start at the beginning."
~
"How much do you really know about the universe? It's an odd question, I know, but it's a good basis for what I am going to tell you. To say we three come from another world would imply we are alien. Now, we are from a different world, but to us, YOU are the odd ones out. But in your existence, you believe that only you are the things that matter. Right? Right. Now, back on track, we come from the same planet as you, but different. It exists in another plane of existence, possibly parallel to this one. A lot of things are different, but the key things that are the same is the existence of people in almost the same places. Or at least timelines. Now running into someone from another dimension that is you in this one can be terrible for the stability of the world the visitor goes to. I think your scientists have theorized this at more than one time. We of course didn't really have a problem. We are old. VERY old. But our origins are much like anything you would expect, to an extent."
"You call your world Earth, we call ours Equis. There are two major differences in our worlds. The first one is the biggest. Our world is dominated by Equines. Fancy word for horses. But not just horses. We have all manor of creature that only exists in your ancient mythological stories. But at the heart of every story, no matter how farfetched, there HAS to be truth somewhere. Your world is dominated by humans, hordes of them. Our population isn't as big, and we exist more in harmony with our world than you do. The second difference is the biggest one, and the reason I think, that our worlds are as different as they are. Your people don't...really believe in magic. Our world is FULL of it. Actual magic, the kind that can alter reality and break certain laws your science can't, and almost everyone has a way of tapping into it in some way. It allowed our world to advance in a much different way to yours. Our world is simple, low population, vast swathes of pure untouched nature, and things that only exist in the minds of your worlds most skilled readers. Which brings me to myself and my sisters."
"My name is Adagio, Adagio Dazzle. The one at the stove is Aria Blaze, and our little one there is Sonata Dusk. As you already know with me, I am not human. Neither are they. We are all the same type of creature, but in this world we are human. We were known as Sirens. In our world, we were beautiful. I would like to think we still are by human standards, but it is hard to tell sometimes. I don't remember my birth, but I wouldn't expect you to either. We were a powerful race once. There were a large number of us. We had an impressive kingdom near the edge of a large ocean. We were at peace. I can remember sharing most of my childhood with my nest mates. We were closely resembling what your people would have called ... Hippocampi. These, I believe, were Greek. Ancient creatures your 'great' story tellers sprinkled into things to justify their meat heads doing dumb things and 'being heroes'. I digress. We were young by our standards, but even then we were old by yours. Ours was timeless, it comes with being as magical as our race was. Our oldest was thousands and thousands past any other, and even then the ravages of time did not begin to plague them. We thought our own little secluded world would be just that...simple. We were wrong."
"They attacked suddenly one night. Caught us all off guard. Our people didn't know war, but there's did. The Griffons. They swooped in and...and took everything from us. They stole our riches, our art, our statues, anything that could have determined ANY kind of wealth. They took it all. We let them have it because we thought they would leave us alone later if they did, but they didn't. They came back for us. They killed our men first, they tried to defend us...we had no weapons. None of us did, there was never a thing we had to deal with that we couldn't solve with our voices. They were ruthless in the slaughter. We could only hide in the shallows, mostly because we were too afraid to leave our great city in the reef. Once the men were gone, the went after the others...there was no chance. I can remember only bits and pieces. I remember a few of the Nest Mothers move us somewhere, covered us up with seaweed and wood...and then...silence. I didn't move for days, and I kept Aria and Sonata close to me. Mostly we slept, waiting for our caretakers to come back. When we finally emerged from our hiding spot...we were the only ones left. I'll never forget the smell...the death, the destruction, the fires. We walked around the remains of the city for days, picking at what food we could. I wanted to cry, I wanted to die. But...I was older than them. They had yet to shed their first coat of scales. They were still innocent enough to only be confused on what happened. The reality of it hadn't sank in. I had to be strong for them, because they would die without me. Everything about our people was gone. The reef was slowly sinking from the rampage hat had happened. They had destroyed some of the supports we had keeping the city up and afloat. The ocean was pink with the remains of the slaughter, and scavengers had begun to move in to clean up. We saw only some feathers amongst all of the carnage of our people, the only proof of our attackers, an the only proof that we had at least tried to fight them off. I led them out of the city, and into the woods. We took shelter in a cave as I took command as a mama bear."
"We lived in the woods for hundreds of years. I know that SEEMS like a long time, but it is still infantile in our terms. The others had grown stronger, and our powers had finally began to facilitate. We, as sirens, much like in your peoples stories, had the uncanny ability to sing and control. It was just the gift of our people. It was more like...having an influence over the situation a bit better. We were always taught to be peaceful, and to never influence free will. But...desperate times called for desperate measures. It was how we survived. We would enchant the ones who got too close, and then bewitch them into thinking we never existed, and to go far away. After a time, Aria had the idea of making them give us all of there supplies first before we made them disappear. It was how we survived after that unfortunate day, and we did it without guilt or remorse. Any people or travelers that would come by, we would use our voices to witch them away. It took all three of us, we were still so weak and so new and had no teachers to help us. Each day we grew stronger though, I made sure of it. I became our mother, and in time we grew into our own. I knew we couldn't live like this forever though. There was too much fear and too much uncertainty. We needed somewhere with more...magic, since our peoples' essence had been lost. And my desire to do so couldn't have come at a better time. We gathered what few trinkets we wanted to keep from our few hundred years in the woods, and swam west across the oceans. We had heard of a mainland there from the travelers...but we still had no idea for sure. Not too long after we had left, a terrible storm hit. We managed to be far enough out at sea when it happened to not feel any real effects...but we got to watch as it destroyed the woods, and what was left of our homeland, effectively erasing it from existence. I remember there was so much lightning, so much wind. And I could swear that maybe... JUST maybe, I heard laughing and cawing from the clouds above. We were all that was left for real now."
"It took almost a week, but we finally reached a beach. It was populated, covered in ponies of all colors. Ponies! We had never seen another creature like us before. We were exhausted and weak. Worst of all, they regarded us as monsters the moment they put eyes on us. They all fled from us. It didn't hurt me so much, I was already hardened from what had happened. But the others...it broke their hearts. I led them from the beach into the mountains not too far from where we had made landfall. That proved to be fool hardy unfortunately, and we almost lost ourselves to dragons. Dragons! Of all things! I had thought once we began to see them up there, that with our scaly tails...they would consider us safe? Maybe give us refuge. I don't think I have ever been more wrong. They hated everything we were. Abominations I think was the choice word they used. We ran as far as we could from the burning place. We tried settling inside of another forest away from those terrible mountains, but that proved to be EVEN WORSE. It was an odd place that was just...too alive. Too strange and different. Everything was alive in some way. We found weird beasts made of wood, odd thorny vines that couldn't be stopped. There was weather that was only over the forest, and there was the cave...that cave with the crystal tree...there was too MUCH magic there, and it proved to be too much to even be in the same air as it. And don't get me started on the ruined castle. We were not welcomed guests and it made us painfully aware of this fact. We had to flee after only a week. Eventually, we settled on a tiny plateau not too far away from a quiet, serene little valley. It had clean rainbow water, and trees and bushes that could provide us with all the sustenance we would need. We decided this would be our home. And we made it as such."
"I took care of my two sisters as best as I could. I call them sisters but, in truth, we come from different clutches. I couldn't call them children but...in a way they almost were. At least to me, I wasn't too much older, but my outlook was adult. We lived on our little hill side for a long time, we never wanted for anything, and all was at peace for us. IT gave us plenty of time to work on our singing, and on our magic voice. That was of course, until we saw them move in. Ponies, three different types to be exact. The Earth ponies, strong and mighty, they were able to work the land and started to grow food, bounties and bounties of food, and set up a small town called Ponyville. But...they began to tear up and destroy the valley as they did. We lost trees and animals. We simply would move when they got close...but it didn't make it better. The second type came in on a massive cloud city, the Pegasi. Great ponies with majestic wings like eagles, they had command of the skies and the weather, and helped the farming ponies to have suitable lands to farm and cultivate. But...they had such command of the weather, they would often create and make it to whatever they wanted on a whim. And those wings...those feathers...it was like watching our demons from the past come back. Aria and Sonata never would be ok with them. And the terrible weather made us leave our warm sun filled hillside, and we had to YET AGAIN take refuge in a cave like filthy monsters. The last ponies, the Unicorns, were the type that most interested me. They came and built a great city up in the mountains, not too far from us, called Canterlot. They had the ultimate command of magic, and did almost nothing of their own accord, yet they controlled vast untold amounts of wealth. They had the royalty and ruling classes, and also were greatly the most intelligent. Our...well...MY lust for power told me I needed them."
"I won't lie, what we did wasn't right while we lived there, or anywhere close to being moral...but it was what I thought needed to happen. For us, for my family, for the only people I had left. It started out simple enough...our voices had grown in such a way we could more permanently convince people to do what we wanted. I wouldn't call it brain washing per say...more like, extreme cases of long term persuasion. We only had a few at the start, just enough to keep us with a steady supply of food, water, shelter, and the occasional amenity. We lived like this for hundreds of years, living like ghosts of the fringes of Unicorn society. We were safe, we were protected, and we did not want for anything. And then...we became greedy."
"We began to take and ask for more than we could keep. We began to take culture, we took riches, wealth, knowledge. I had them build a library for us, and a music studio. We had caterers come to us and cook fancy meals for us. Service ponies would come and massage us, oil our scales, and polish our hooves. Singers and dancers would come entertain us like we were deities. We were no longer simple manipulators taking the excess before it was wasted...we became parasites in our paradise and in their world. And it wasn't long before they caught us. Oh, and when they did...it was terrible. Horrible. One of them had broken free from our magic spell, mostly because we had been sloppy with remembering to make sure how influenced they were. They came as an angry mob. Pitchforks, torches, bags of feathers, you name it, they had it. But, we learned something else we never knew...we could FFED off of that power and grow strong. In our taking of their wealth, we came in possession of great gemstones. Soul stones I think they were called once. Because of some of our inherent, natural magic, we were able to bond the gems to us, and the results were beyond expectation. They caused us to gain power one hundred times over, but more so, we could store our magic, or magic power around us to be used later, or to even feed off of. At this point, food had just become a gift, or a hard habit to break. When they came to run us off, all of the anger, the hate, the pure NEGATIVITY began to fall from them. And we could see it. We could feel it. We could taste it, and we used it. We pulled it into us, and our voices became unstoppable as we did. We were able to overpower their shields and spells. We screamed loud, and we ran them off. Our lives changed in an instant. We were no longer frail and scared. We were powerful, mighty, magical beasts that demanded equal parts respect and fear. We were as gods now in our own rights and minds. But with great pride...comes a great fall."
"It was simple enough. In Ponyville there was a competition. A musical one of all kinds! My sisters and I were ecstatic. We prepared songs the night before, and went together down to the town to enter. They were so...excited! I think for the first time I actually got to see them as they should have been, excited children enjoying just being young. Normally, this contest was for ponies only. We were...allowed...a one time only exception so they didn't ruin their friendly reputation with us, but more importantly, with the other towns and people around them. We waited hours until it was finally our turn...and it was bad. Like BAD bad. We were booed off the stage and ran out. We were using our real voices, our real talent...which apparently wasn't TOO great on it's own. We didn't want magic to influence us this time, but in only focusing on that, we had forgot how to actually sing. WE ran back to our cave to cower and lick our wounded pride, but I wasn't ready to quit. In a few hours I had fixed our routine into something that hopefully anyone could love, something more with the times and modern. We went back and tried again. They let us back on because people had gotten such a laugh, they were hoping they would get it again. This time, we BLEW THEM AWAY! I still remember the loud, thunderous applause. We were so great that it attracted someone of great importance...a Unicorn by the name of ... Star Swirl the Bearded. I say this with disdain for a reason. He was a pony of unstoppable magical might, but he is the reason we are here, and exactly like we are. He was so interested in what we could do, that he too wanted to challenge us. So he did. We battled for days and days...mind you this wasn't with magic or force, this was with sound. We went down in history for creating every musical genre that Equestria had...and probably still does. In the end, we defeated the greatest magical source in the land. We won, us! Three orphans from a society that was erased. We cried out tears of joy. But only anguish would follow. He was so...angry, so filled with hate, that he did the unthinkable. Rather than admit defeat at the hands of three 'savage monsters' he tore out some...device. A mirror of sorts. He cast a spell and threw us in it. When we came too...we were here. Stranded in a field of grass, locked inside the bodies you see now..."
~
Adagio had finished, her head hanging down low above the table. Her breathing was a little ragged, and it was obvious she was close to losing it. Everything she had just told and admitted was obviously very difficult for her. Aria had stoically passed out plates to Adagio and Magnus pilled high with spaghetti. Sonata was snoring quietly, her head on her arms, drooling slightly. Aria smiled at her, and left the kitchen, only to return after a bit with a blanket, draping it over Sonata. Magnus smiled at this cute display. She really was like the child in this little family. Adagio had already begun to eat, not bothering to look at Magnus. "That was...extensive." Magnus said picking up his fork.
"But do you believe it, is the real question." Adagio glanced up at Magnus as Aria replaced everyone's empty drinks and took off her apron to sit down with her own mug of coffee. She had no plate in front of her, but instead was chewing on a granola bar. "I can tell you honestly that everything was the truth, none of it was made up, and all of it helped make us into who we are today." Adagio looked up again and wiped her mouth delicately with a napkin.
"I...well...while it does seem to be on the border of fantasy, I've seen you do things today that fall into a more believable place with what you have just said. So, yes. I believe you." Magnus looked at Adagio, and then to Aria, who's face was full of concern.
"Adagio, you showed him things? We talked about this." Aria's eyes were squinted in anger. Everyone looked to Sonata briefly as she cooed and stirred in her sleep, pulling the blanket up closer to her and sighing contently.
"Only the simple things, calm down Aria. It was only to prove a point anyway." Adagio gently patted her hand. This eased Aria's face a bit, but her eyes were still full of the worry she had. Or maybe it was placed with mild annoyance at being petted like a cat.
They sat and ate quietly. Magnus tried to think of what to say or ask. His mind was full of everything that was just pummeled into it. Aria eventually got up to start cleaning up, telling Adagio about her day, and some of the trouble Sonata got into. Magnus couldn't help but keep smiling as the two bickered back and forth like an old couple. A married couple. He himself didn't have much memory of his mother and father's married life, but what parts he did have were more angry and distant. This seemed light and aloof, and in some way, seemingly full of love, regardless of the tone used.
Dinner eventually passed, and more coffee was dispensed. Any kind of fatigue Magnus had from the long day was now gone, and was replaced with jitters. The clock up on the wall was getting close to ten in the evening. "So, you told me at length what happened BEFORE all of...this." Magnus waved his hand around. "But, what about after you got here? It's apparent you have lived for a long time, but how much of that was here?" Adagio looked up with a little smile.
"I guess you aren't too scared to want to run. That makes you one of the good ones. The rest isn't quite as interesting, but If you wish to know, I can tell you."
Magnus sat back in his chair a bit, gripping his steaming mug of coffee and nodded as Adagio continued with her tale.
Dinner eventually passed, and more coffee was dispensed. Any kind of fatigue Magnus had from the long day was now gone, and the clock up on the wall was getting close to ten in the evening. "So, you told me at length what happened BEFORE all of...this." Magnus waved his hand around. "But, what about after you got here? It's apparent you have lived for a long time, but how much of that was here?" Adagio looked up with a little smile.
"I guess you aren't too scared to want to run. That makes you one of the good ones. The rest isn't quite as interesting, or at least I don't think so, but If you wish to know, I can tell you."
Magnus sat back in his chair a bit, gripping his steaming mug of coffee and nodding as Adagio continued with her tale.
~
"We awoke in a field of grass, amongst a strange land. I think I remember the smell of nature first. Natural but foreign. We were naked, we were afraid, but most importantly, we were human. I think I was the first one to cry out when I saw my body. The others followed suit soon after. It was horrifying, and something I would never wish on my greatest of foes. We tugged at our hair searching for our manes, Aria kept clawing at her skin, searching for her scales. Sonata and I tried to pull off our toes, only to come to the realization of our fingers. It was like being in the most real nightmare you can imagine. This land had turned us into...abominations. No offense to you, of course. It took us hours to get use to moving, let alone speaking to each other. The day turned into night before we had a chance to really react, and all on it's own. In fact, I think the biggest shock was how nothing had the tinge of magic in it like we were all use to. The first night was the hardest...it always is in anything you do or are. Always. We were cold, huddled under a tree. We heard lightning in the distance, but saw no creatures controlling it. It began to rain, and all I could do was laugh when it came. It kept me from crying like the others. I can remember shaking uncontrollably. It might have been from the cold, that's what I would like to believe anyway, but I'm sure it was fear. I rocked with the other two. After a time, I sang to them. I sang them to sleep with a lullaby. It had worked, and once they were snoring next to me, I was alone with my thoughts. This was it, this was our punishment. This is how we would die; could, naked, and alone, in a world that was nothing like our own. Where would our souls go? What had we done? WHAT had WE done? In the grand scheme of things, were we really evil? Surely our sins were as nothing compared to the one who sent us here, a pony of such magical power, the thought of him losing to us in nothing more than a musical battle caused him to flash us away to a realm of uncertainty and death. We had stolen very little, manipulated few...but it was for our safety, our survival. Was that enough to condemn us to this hell? I...I don't even know anymore."
"Sorry...got a little real for a moment. Anyway... We didn't know much about the world around us...it was strange. Wooded areas with things that grew on their own, small animals everywhere, the weather and the sky itself seemed to have a mind of it's own. We constantly reached out for magic...but none ever called out to us. Ever. We were able to keep our amulets, but I think it's only because they were actually part of us. Not anymore of course...they were around our necks on these...silk bands. I'm not sure what caused them to carry over, but the magic in them was intense. Now we just wear them. We had opportunities to remedy that, but it never came to fruition. It was too painful to try, and since there was no magic to aid it, having the stones be in us was not viable. We weren't sure where to go after we woke up that first morning. I picked a location, and pretended to know that I knew where we were. They believed me, and off we went. I can't give you an honest recap of how long we walked...It may have been months, possibly years. When you have no real way to keep track of time, it just blends. Everyday was the same...wake up, find food, walk. Then find more food, rest, keep walking. Walk until dark, find shelter, and then sleep. I know at one point, we finally reached a shore line to a massive ocean. When we saw it, Aria began to cry. It was the first time I had known her to show emotion. REAL emotion, and to see it was painful. She wept deeply, she pulled at her hair and dug at her skin. It was a hard moment for all of us. We had come from the sea, and now here it was back in front of us. Only it wasn't ours. I'm not sure why she cried...Thinking back now I think it may have been a mixture of homesickness and the fact that none of us ever really tried to settle our feelings on the whole...culture being destroyed thing. We also didn't talk much. We just walked and walked. It left us alone with our thoughts. Sonata would often be lost in nature but...Aria and myself knew what was going on. I know Aria refused to leave the beach for days, so we ended up making a bigger camp there than anywhere else. It was here...we had our first run in with what magic we DID have left. Or rather, what some of our magic had turned into when we crossed that veil."
"It was just another morning. I was collecting crabs to kill for later so we could have more meat while we could, and Aria was attending the fire. We both heard Sonata scream at the same time. We ran over to her thinking she was just stung by something again or pinched by a crab, so we didn't run fast, and I think I was even smiling, but we were wrong. She was digging her fingers into her skin near her eyes, rocking back and forth and screaming. I froze when I got to her. Her bleeding face, her eyes glassed over, her hair matted and skin covered and sweat, I think she had lost control of ... well...a few things. She was a total mess. I think Aria threw up when she saw it, but my mom instincts took over and I kept heading toward her. We didn't know what to do, so we sat their and held her close, begging her to stop, and telling her we were there. I kept petting her and kissing her face, and at one point just started humming. Her eyes were glassed over and pale white. I think I was the most scared, I always knew how fragile she was...and I had no clue as to what was going on with her. She finally stopped, then tried to scramble away from us. She was terrified, and didn't know if we were real. We had to hold her down as hard as we could, and try and keep her hands away from her face. Eventually she just laid there sobbing...she wouldn't talk to us. It was nightfall when she finally came over to us, whimpering. She told us we had to leave. We asked her why, but that became a mistake. She burst into tears again and tried to dig herself into the sand. Aria lost it, grabbed her, and shook her. When that didn't work, she slapped her...maybe a little harder than she should have. I wanted to stop her but...Aria kept shouting at her to get a grip. It was something I probably wouldn't have done, but it was apparent she needed it. She stopped and fell into Aria's waiting arms, holding her for support as she finally broke."
"She told us about an attack. She said she didn't know from what, they were mostly shadows, but they used primitive weapons to hunt us down, and kill us all. We asked her how she knew. And that's when she told us. She said she felt her amulet act up. She said it was shaking a bit and glowing, and felt on fire. This was weird because it had never had happened before. She touched it, and she said it felt like her mind had been ripped out of her. Shards of fire were embedding themselves into her mind, and all she could do was look on as it happened. She saw us, she them, and then she saw...what they did to us. She didn't go into too many specifics. I think she lacked the words to use, or they were just too terrible for her to try and make real. Whatever she saw destroyed her...and she was a mess. We knew we had to go, but we didn't know where. Her vision had shown her the WHAT, not the WHY or the WHERE. That was when it happened to Aria. She looked off into space, and I watched her pupils grow as big as her eyes. Maybe even bigger than that. She began to look around, she even took a few steps. Her hands were on her amulet, which was acting just as weird as Sonata had described. She finally looked out towards one direction. All she said was '...there...', and then she collapsed. She was cold and wet, and it was hard for her to catch her breath. We all huddled near the fire, and I spent most of the night sleepless. I was concerned something would happen to me. But it didn't. We left as soon as the sun rose. We went in the direction Aria proposed. I led the charge. I still had no idea where we were going but...I knew that I had to be strong for them. They were more uncertain than they were. As we continued our journey, the light came back into the eyes of Sonata, and even Aria began to lighten up and smile at a few things. Things were going back to normal, and it was like we were happy once again, despite all of the new confusion and mystery. Maybe it was weeks, maybe it was months, again, When you have no real way of keeping track of time, it just goes on and on. We stayed as close to the coast as we could to try and give us a sense of direction. Also, I think I did it for comfort. Alien sea or not, the waves still sounded the same. Most of what was off to our side seemed to be desert or endless plains and grasslands, so at least the ocean gave us food. It was intimidating to be honest, there was just so much LAND. Everywhere. More land than we had seen in maps of all of Equestria. The scariest part was, we were the only creatures we had seen so far that weren't just random tiny animals. For the longest time, I think I imagined it would only be us. Forever. That was until we saw the smoke, and then everything changed."
"Now before I say this part, I feel I need to bring back up what I said earlier. We are not evil. We are not bad. All that we have done, we have done for our survival, nothing more. That isn't to say...we are perfect. We are only human. Well, not really, but this fits now. Sometimes even the most caring and pious of people can fall sometimes, or even let things get over their heads. Again, we are not BAD people...but we have done some bad things. Now then, where was I? Oh right, the village. We saw the smoke from far away. We were afraid of it at first, it was just so different from what we had seen up until that point. But it was Sonata who spoke up saying that it was people. PEOPLE, civilization. We weren't alone! All of those nights wondering, all of those tears spent on absolute fear, it was ending. We began to run at what we saw at a full sprint. It was only halfway there that we began to question each other about what the main race of creatures would be there, but soon we didn't care. It as still scary, for all we knew, it was griffons. Maybe we had been sent back in time but were now cursed? We had just assumed it was a new world. But, the fear was trumped by the potential rewards. Just the fact that we weren't in a barren hell zone to die alone forever was like a sprawling oasis amongst a drought ridden land. We slowed down, out of breath and sweaty, when we got to what I imagine was some kind of fence or gate system. The village was small, very small. Maybe fifteen or so huts of straw and sticks. There was one large one in the back, and was surrounded by this barbed thorny fence. All of it looked very organic, like everything had been grown either for this purpose, or had just been applied to the situation. All of the buildings looked sturdy, but crude. A few animals were walking around freely amongst this compound, not really having concern for us or anything else, and there were people. PEOPLE. They looked like us, but were wearing clothes. Well, kind of clothes. Most of what they wore looked like just short flaps of cloth or hide in front of them. This was new to us on many levels. One of them stopped walking and turned to look at us. He looked almost as shocked as we were. He was carrying what looked like a tool of some kind...maybe for digging? He had slung it on his back, but was now brandishing it in his hand like a potential weapon in case we were not friendly. His bronze skin was almost the same color of the dirt around him. That was when we noticed something different about them too. MOST of them were all of the same color. Now, this was nothing new to us really, even back in Equestria, most of a group of creature, no matter the size, would usually have varying degrees of the color and patterns of skin...erm...fur. But these people were VERY similar. All different shades of dark husky browns, and nothing that could be called a pattern. And to be honest, I think that was when we first noticed our lack of patterns and patches. Our colors were different, and much more colorful than these people. Is that why we stuck out so badly? As the man saw us, he began to call out to, we assumed, the others. They didn't talk like my sisters and I did, but then again, we didn't talk like THIS, like we are right now, either at the time. Language has a way of being very odd. We were quickly surrounded by all of the men who had shown up. All of them had sharpened sticks and stone tools in their hands. They were all growling and some of them were shouting. I remember Sonata crying into Aria out of fear. I had gotten angry and began to shout. They backed off a little bit, but they began to herd us like cattle to the back of the compound. We were led into the village and brought into the big hut at the very back. The hut was much larger than the others that I could tell, and was more securely built. All of them looked at us with strange looks once we got into the main building. Some of them fear, others disgust. And it was only then we realized we were REALLY, truly naked. Completely. These people were not. I can remember thinking why this was the case. Clothes were not very prevalent in Equestria, and we hadn't had them when we got here. The women looked at us with hate and jealousy, and those men...they had an evil fire in their eyes. I can remember being a little afraid of what would happen next."
"We were in front of, what I assume to be their leader. He was old, and covered in all sorts of dried plants, jewelry, and dressings. He wore way fancier clothes than the others. The room was very smokey, and it was all coming from a corner where there was a guy huddled over a fire making something. I knew what he was. We had learned a lot about primitive tribes from what we took from the unicorns, some of those things were history books. I still had to give my girls an education, you know. He began to talk at us. I say at, because he was fierce and angry. We were not equal people to him. You could tell just by the...emotion that hung in the air. When we didn't respond, he grew angrier. I saw the spears start to rise up from the back from the men who were blocking us from making a hasty exit. I don't know what was said or what was going on, but I knew I had to do something. I thought fast. If Aria and Sonata still had some kind of power...maybe I did too. I had to, I was in charge. More importantly...I trusted my little ones, and they trusted me. It didn't make any sense to me that Sonata would be wrong and lead us into a trap, especially with one she didn't know about. I grabbed my amulet hanging around my neck and squeezed. Nothing...nothing happened at first. I felt my eyes pinch closed. I was afraid. I couldn't let them know. As my mind panicked and raced...I thought back to our childhood. I thought back to the horrible attack, I thought back to the destruction of everything we had. Their voices...their voices sounded the same. The cawing and squawking. All of the words I did not know struck cords within me. I felt an inner fire growing within the core of my stomach. A terrible loathing suppressed for years. I fed it more and more pain and hate and I began to smile as it became a roaring inferno. I could feel it rising in me, rising up and up. It rose and rose through my body, stopping at my neck. It began to fuel my magic, my inner spirit. My amulet roared to life with a dark red glow. I shouted and everyone turned to look at me. My voice was powerful as I yelled. It blew away the smoke in the room, and made all the savages freeze. The chief's eyes grew so large I thought they would leave his head. Behind me, I heard several of the spears drop to the ground, and heard scurrying as mothers snatched their children. All of them...except the medicine man in the corner. He turned and looked at me from the floor. His face was stoic, his eyes were glassy, but I knew he could see me, see me through his haze of magic and euphoria. I walked over to him and touched his face. I whispered to him. My voice was pleading, my eyes full of uncertainty. He looked up at me and smiled. He could feel my magic, and I his. I asked him to help us. I saw and felt the magic leave my amulet. His eyes shown red for only an instant, then returned to the pale milky color they were. He stood up shouting, he was excited! He walked to the center of the room where my sisters were and started to draw something in the dirt floor with a cane he had. All of the room was looking intently at it. When he was done, everyone in the room was as pale white as our saviors eyes, including the chief. He began shouting at everyone and waving his arms, and they all fled the room yelling at one another. The medicine man was pleased with himself and with what was going on. He simply stood there with folded arms. The chief got down off of his big chair, and got on the ground in front of us. The chief placed his forehead on the ground in our direction. He began to talk fast, and then sob. I knew I was still in complete control of the situation, even though Aria and Sonata were completely lost as to what was up. I walked up to the medicine man and kissed him on the forehead thanking him lightly, and then he walked back to the corner to do his own thing. Then I turned to the chief and told him to stand up. He looked at me. I said it again, angry. This time, I think he got it, and he got up. I touched his chest gently, like a lover to her special one, and whispered 'help us', just like I had done to the medicine man. Again, I watched and felt the magic leave myself and flow into him. The same red glow that had touched the medicine man shown in the chief's eyes, but the glow remained in them this time. He walked out still shouting. Things changed quickly for us."
"Now I will admit...we milked it for a while, but does that make us bad? I don't think so. This was about our survival. Within the hour, the whole tiny tribe had prepared a massive feast. We were led out of a special building, possibly a shrine, and were covered in honey, and had flower petals sprinkled on us. We were still naked, but I think they kept us naked on purpose. I know it didn't bother Sonata any, she was eating all of the attention up. Women kept tying flowers and herbs into her hair, laughing and kissing her as they did. All the little girls were running up to her and playing with her hair and hands. She grabbed their hands and ran in circles with them. laughing and singing old lullabies as she did. To say it was cute would have been a GROSS understatement. Aria was a little more than embarrassed, and chose to stay by he self when the party started. She sat over by the medicine man, who was attending a small pyre of his own by the fence line. For some reason, I think she felt safe near him. I didn't dare disturb her or him, any kind of security she could gather was worth more than it's weight in gold to me. I, on the other hand, assumed the role that I would carry, and have carried for as long as written history, and that is the role of Matron. They began to feast and play drums and a few other banging instruments of wood and hide. One of them played a long wooden flute. It was primitive...but wholesome. The idea a group of people were worshiping and serenading us to the fullest of their ability was empowering. I began to spin myself in circles around the fire, and I was laughing as I did. Soon some of the others decided to join me. Some of the men had joined in the dancing, chanting and shouting up at the amber sky. The women tried to join in as well, but were shouted down by the men. I stopped dancing and glared at them. I shot daggers from my eyes, and raised my hands to my amulet, which had begun to glow with a fiery backdrop. The women were then PULLED into the dancing, and greatly encouraged to join in our worship. I was pleased and started back up my own self indulgent dancing. We had a blast that night. They brought out alcohol at one point. It was raw and unfiltered, I think mostly being made of the grains they grew in fields behind the village. It was great. We partied and ate and danced well into the night, and into the morning sun. As it rose, I began to sing. There were no words, I was singing notes as I felt them come to me. When I did, my amulet began to glow brightly, as did Aria's and Sonata's. They walked up to me slowly, as if in a trance, and we grabbed each others hands and continued to sing. It lifted us into the air slightly as we sang, our amulets glowing like diamond hearts. We were covered in the light of the sun, bathed in its radiance as our own fell among the town. The people looked on in awe. Some of them even began to cry falling onto their knees. We were now their patron goddesses. They were our flock, our people. And we loved them."
"I won't bore you with the details, but we HAVE lived for a long time, and we still do. For the life of me I can't tell if it is our physiology...since we are the last of our kind, or if it is our amulets. Perhaps it is because of this world? Did we indulge in too much magic before our curse? ...where was I going with this? Ah, yes. The people. We ruled our tribe for over one thousand years. That's right, you heard me, one thousand years. Once we began to outlive many of them, the idea we were false gods left the unbelievers immediately. We began to learn their language, and helped to develop it into something les rough, and more fitting of us. They gave us names that we kept for a long time, and we even began to learn of the powers we could truly have as their gods, but also inside ourselves. We didn't need to feed so much off of negative energy because...well...there wasn't much of it. We were learning to adapt ourselves to just the overwhelming happiness of our people. We once thought only evil could sustain us, but in truth, any emotion directed at us can be utilized for our own ways. Aria was given a beautiful name, or at least...I think so. Really we all were. Oh dear...what was it again? They named her after...OH! That's it, they called her Coyolxauhqui. From what I could best get from it, they were naming her in honor of the moon. Aria spent so much time alone, and most of that at night just outside in the moonlight, I suppose it was just bound to happen. She became our moon goddesses, and in time I think she did what she did just to keep up the façade. She would sing to it, she would often sleep through the day, and patrol her kingdom at night. She was the protector of the ones who feared the night. Sonata, sweet little Sonata, they called her Xochiquetzal, I think they attached her to most things simple and beautiful. She adored the children, she adored flowers, mothers, anything pretty and good. She was always showered in gifts, but also the first to cry, the first to be sad or hurt. They loved her and everything she stood for. As for myself...."
"I...enjoyed some of the more...carnal desires in life. One thing that I PERSONALLY have learned is that, maybe due to the fact we are stuck in time, or due to some other factor, we cannot bear children. Yes. It is exactly what you think. They started to call me...Tlazolteotl...I still don't know what it was, but I had a few ideas. If any of them looked down on me, they hadn't the stuff to say it, and for good reason. I would...remove any issues that would arise in our growing city, and without fuss or fluff. I had a contingent of great warriors who were always within ear shot, and I was ruthless in my dispensing of judgement. I was the most sought after thing in our city as it grew, and the most respected and loved. And in turn...I would love our people, often taking a trophy...erm...husband, of sorts, every few years. Now now, don't look down on me like that. We all do things we aren't proud of. Not that I wasn't proud of this mind you but...I was often gifted the finest things. We were soon no longer adorned with sweet smelling flowers and spices, but gold and jewels. We were beginning to settle back into what we were before this whole ordeal when we took what we wanted from the unicorns. Never out of our means but...enough to be comfy. And we responded by sharing our powers, or doing whatever weird rituals they wanted with the rest of their made up gods. More than once, I would be carried onto the field of battle where the soldiers fought for our land. I would see them gaze up at me longingly, all of them the same desire in their eyes. Me."
"Soon, it came time for our mighty empire to merge with other smaller ones. Lest more lives be lost. We absorbed many people into ours, and we all shared one language, one currency, one pantheon, and one voice. We became a great and mighty empire. I of course...set in the notion it be named after myself. Perhaps it was vanity, but I felt that without myself, they would have never rose and aspired to what they DID in fact become, and they got it as close as they could. Your people would call it, in your history books, as the Aztec Empire. But if you are also keen on your knowledge...you will know it soon failed."
"They came from the sea on great wooden boats. Our scouts reported them hours ahead of their landing near our shores. We were more afraid than I think our people were. We went down to the shore to meet them, myself, my two sisters, and a good chunk of our personal guard. They were unlike anyone we had encountered. Groups of them, speaking in a strange tongue, and wearing metal armor. They planted a flag in the sand and sang out and cheered. They began to fall on their knees and pray looking into the sky as a robed man chanted out. Then...they found us. I approached them first. I tried to speak to them, but found I was met with averted gazes and reddened faces. I was still unclothed, but adorned in my war headdress and jewelry, my sisters the same. One of them men handed me a book, which I tossed aside into the sand with a smile. I was not about to show these strangers any sanctuary in MY kingdom. This was NOT a good move, as the robbed man moved in to strike me. His hand was caught, and then broken by one of my guards. This was not an ideal first encounter, but it could have gone worse. I allowed them to stay in our presence, as long as they did not interfere with the everyday lives on my followers."
" In the years to follow, they tried to convert my people to their people's god. Often when they were met with opposition, it was struck down. My people began to grow sick. The ones from the ocean stole our crops, they dug up our land and stole our riches. This was when I decided it was time we interfered. They broke my rules, and our dwindling population was looking to me for answers. We were now War Gods. The three of us went to their camp, naked, and covered in our finest jewels. We were sprinkled and covered in perfumes and spices, and our faces were painted for war. We came as three beautiful masks of Death. They looked at us with no words to speak as we walked through the open gate, ignoring the shouts and warnings of the gate guard. Their captain came out of his tent as we entered the fort. He began to shout, but no one responded. We had begun to sing a song as he looked at us. We could FEEL the raw evil energy of these people. The greed, the anger, the ignorance, and the hatred. I...I loved it. It filled us, drove us. We drank it in as we sang. The captain watched in horror as his men dropped their weapons and fell to their knees in front of us. Our chant had begun to bewitch the soldiers, removing any free will and self sense of self preservation they had. Outside, my warriors...not our peoples army, but MY personal warriors, were climbing the walls of the fort. They were waiting for me to give the word to strike, the word to end these foreign invaders. I approached the captain, and looked him dead in the eyes. I spoke to him, but in anger he clutched a golden cross around his neck. I think he began to recite something. I remember him looking up and crossing himself a lot. Some of the soldiers began to come out of the daze as he did. I panicked and ordered the strike. In an instant, smoke bombs rained down, covering the ground in a dark black have. My men rained down like spears from the heavens. It was over before it began. We killed them all but...it cost me half my men. Several of the soldiers still had the will to fight when the smoke came. I was angry beyond belief. I took a sword myself to end the captain but...Sonata begged me to let him go. She begged and pleaded not to end him, not to do this. So I did. This one act of kindness and compassion from an angry god would cost my people...and my kingdom...its existence."
"Years later, that same captain returned with a full force. There were so many ships...so many. He came with a holy army to purge the world of these 'false She-Devils'. Pathetic. But...he was victorious. They came in the break of day. Our gates stood no chance, and our weapons couldn't pierce them. I had to stand and watch my city burn. I looked out of my balcony as the fires began, and the screaming started. It...it was like being a child all over again. I had to bear witness to everything I- WE had built, and watch it be burned and torn apart. The shrieking...the smoke...the smell...I was finally pulled from my daze by a screaming Aria. Sonata was on the ground, in the throws of a vision. Something we hadn't bore witness to in a long time. When she came to, she was just as distressed as me. She said we had to run. Aria looked up at me, eyes full of darkness. She uttered one word. 'Boat'."
"We dressed in commoners rags, and ran to the beach. We took nothing with us, and Sonata cried the entire time. A small group of people were pledging allegiance to the armor clad men. They couldn't rely on their gods as their world was destroyed...and I don't blame them. They were being led onto a ship with prayers and blessings. We ... joined them. We tried our hardest to hide our faces and our amulets. We walked straight up to the one who had started this, the old captain I had spared. He looked the three of us in the eyes...and then allowed us onto his ship. I still think he knew, I'll never forget the face he made. It was the face of smug victory. The three of us cried that night as we set sail, the red glow still visible on the open sea from where our whole world was gone. Some of the others came to us, but not many. I know they blamed us. Blamed ME for what had happened to them. We weren't gods after all, we only pretended to be. And it cost us more lives than we know. Their blood was on my hands. It took many MANY days and nights before we hit a shore again. We were in another strange land with more strange people. We began to hide and blend in. Sometimes we would work, other times we would get what we wanted by force. We used our magic in small amounts, and never stayed in one place too long. This new land had cities and cities galore."
"It was not what we were used to, living this common rabble of a life, but we got use to it. We eventually made our way east into more foreign lands. It will never cease to amaze me how someone only a short walk away can speak an entirely different language. We were soon in a land that was FILLED with art, music, song, dance, laughter, and best of all...love. We spent much of our time there, Aria has quite the knack for oil paints you see. In time, distress befell that kingdom and we had to leave, this time going north across a tiny sea compared to the ones we had seen. We arrived in a land that was...again...very different from the ones we were at. The language, the architecture, the fashion, EVERYTHING was new. And once again, we had to learn it anew. We became noble ladies after a time, most in part of me, who was tired of living a beggars simple life. There was always negative energy to enjoy no matter where we went, and it kept us strong and fierce. Soon, we heard rumors of a splinter group, a collective of a religious grouping. A number of people were going to sail back west, to the lands we started in. The choice was obvious. This wasn't home, and it never would be. But the purity of the land we were in before....we had a craving for it again. We went with these pilgrims over the ocean. It was not easy, and life was tougher than we were used to. Using our magic was hard and tiresome. Most times we didn't."
"The rest of this story you know. At least, you would, IF, you paid attention in anything they taught you in your school. We lived with the pilgrims until our magic got out of control. Witch hunts happened. We ended up fleeing further west. We met and saw hordes of indigenous people. Not like the ones we knew before, but many similarities. Over time, the people who had crossed the ocean multiplied and expanded west with us. They fought wars, they made cities, they enslaved and destroyed, they built and created. We watched as this country grew and became mighty. We watched and bore witness to its every flaw. Its every change. Each time hiding when we could, taking pat when we wanted to. We moved often, but always made sure we were happy. When times got rough...I turned to Sonata and Aria who would find our answers for us. And then I would execute them or find a way to make them work. This is how we are here now. And this is how you now are in front of me, in our home, right this second."
~
Magnus was leaning forward, his eyes wide open with the sheer amount of information he had been given. Over to his side, Sonata was snoring quietly like a cat, her blanket pulled close to her, and a small line of drool coming out of her mouth. Aria, who was fighting sleep as well, stood up and walked over to her. She tried to rouse her from her sleep but was only met with weak noises and a pouty face. Aria smiled and whispered to Sonata. She got up briefly, but then climbed onto Arias waiting back. She was carried piggy back style away to her room, Aria singing a little lullaby as she went, and doing a little dance with her, holding her tiny hands. This left Adagio and Magnus alone in the kitchen.
"I...I don't know what to say." Magnus said this while shaking his head. She couldn't be lying, she couldn't be. It was all too specific, all too real. And her face, her face was stoic and genuine. Adagio only smiled.
"Most don't, you see. And I can't blame them, it is a lot to take in."
"But...what does all this have to do with me?" Magnus asked Adagio as she stood up to clear off the rest of the table.
"Everything actually in a way. Out of all we have done, all of it has been to further our survival in this place. The others consider it permanent now. This home, this world, this...life. But I do not. I never did, and I think I have found a way to get us home finally. It has taken almost two thousand years...but it's close. And you are our key ingredient." She looked over at Magnus with burning eyes.
"But...how? I'm just...nobody."
"No, to yourself you are nobody, but to us? Who is to say. I only know that you are our answer."
Magnus thought about her words. He was important in some way to a person thousands of years old. He couldn't help but smile. He felt like he was special, like the ones in all of those cheesy vampire romance books he would NEVER admit to being into. He looked up as Adagio was now in front of him, a small smile on her face.
"It's late dear boy, we should head to bed. It is almost...well...tomorrow." Magnus looked up after Adagio finished talking. Sure as the sun, she was right. It was close to midnight.
"Oh crap! I have to get home, my mom will be worried sick!" Magnus scrambled out of the kitchen, heading into the living room to grab his shoes. Somehow...Adagio was in front of the door. She had beaten him there.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Slow down skippy. What's the rush? You just got here, and what kind of host would I be if I let you go home at a time like this? Stay, be warm. You can head home in the morning." Adagio smiled at him warmly, sensually, almost motherly. Magnus felt compelled to stay...but he wasn't sure if it was her magic or something else. He started to feel warm, maybe even nervous? He finally nodded. "Oh good! I'll get the bed ready then." Adagio walked off into a hallway off of the main room. Curious, Magnus followed her.
Down the hallway were four doors. One of them was a bathroom, and currently had Aria in it brushing her teeth and taking off makeup. She looked at Adagio, then to Magnus with some kind of...sneer maybe? She shut the door with a huff, and Magnus was taken aback by it. "Don't mind her love, she's just...a poor sport." Adagio let out a giggle as she opened one of the doors. Magnus looked down the hall a bit more before following Adagio inside. One of the doors, the one closest to the bathroom at the end of the hall had a name drawn on it in crayon from the looks of it. It said 'Sonata'. Magnus couldn't help but smile. The other door was very plain with the exception of one silver star around the door handle. It had to be Aria's room. But that meant this last one was Adagio's...
Magnus was correct in his assumption as he followed Adagio into her room. It was elegant. Lavish and almost over done to a brash degree. It was modeled after something you would expect in a Victorian Era fancy, noble ladies room. The dominant color was a deep crimson that EVERYTHING adorned in almost every inch of the room...but as much as Magnus wanted to admire the room, he couldn't. He was painfully aware that only one bed was in this room. He was feeling a tightness in his chest. His breathing was starting to pick up and his mind was swirling with vast amounts of nothing. Too many neurons were firing all at once. Adagio went behind a silk curtain she had near her dresser and began to undress. Magnus could make out her silhouette VERY clearly. He know was having a hard time REMEMBERING how to breathe. A few moments later, Adagio came out in nothing but a crimson silk night gown. She had him, and she knew it. She gave him a wicked grin as she went to the bed.
"Um..." was all Magnus could get out as she climbed into the sheets of Egyptian cotton, pulling back the other side of the queen mattress's covers and looking at him. "Did...did you want me to crash on the couch or..." Magnus pointed a thumb back at the door. At this point, Adagio laughed.
"No silly...I want you to join me. I told you we don't have men over often." She twirled a lock of her hair as she looked at him. "What's wrong...do you not want to join me? I thought I was a good host." She crossed her arms and pouted looking away, only to glance back at him quickly.
"No, NO! You were! And I do! Well, I mean...ya I do, but isn't this..." Magnus had no real idea of what he wanted to say. He scratched the back of his neck. Adagio sung out another laugh at him.
"Come now...have you never shared a bed with a girl?"
"No. I haven't. In fact, I haven't shared MUCH with a girl." Magnus felt himself flush with dejection and embarrassment as he recalled all of his past failures with the opposite sex. He looked back at Adagio who was giving him a look he was...unfamiliar with. He gulped. Adagio climbed back out of bed and walked over to him slowly, seductively. She was purring, her eyes half closed as she got to him. Magnus took a deep breath as she started to talk to him, almost in a whisper.
The morning light streamed in through the picture window, and outside on the little sill was a tiny bird greeting that same sunlight. Magnus rolled over on his liquid silk coverings with a pleasant moan. He was surrounded by plush comfort. Everything about him was content and relaxed. He had no stress, no pain, no anxiety, and no discomfort. The feeling was amazing. He turned again, a large smile filling his face. He extended his hands out into the ocean of clouds that held and cradled him. He reached out towards warmth he could feel just next to him. His hand grabbed ahold of it. It was also soft, smooth. Perfectly molded to his touch, but also elegant in it's feel. It was vaguely familiar, as if he had felt legs like this before.
Leg. It was a leg. Magnus's eyes shot open as he went stone cold. He was griping a leg. He was in a soft, plush bed. Suddenly, as the sleep left his mind, all of last nights events came rushing back. The stories he had been told, Sonata causing a ruckus, Adagio being...ADAGIO! He was in Adagio's bed! And...where were his pants?
Magnus turned his face slowly to the left, and met eyes with a sleepy Adagio. "Oh, good morning dearest."
"WAH!" Magnus leapt out of bed, only to realize his exposure. Grabbing a pillow, he covered himself with it and looked at her. At this point, the color of his skin was almost indistinguishable from the crimson all around him. Adagio propped herself up on an elbow. Her nightgown was...gone. In fact, with the blankets over her, he wasn't sure WHAT she was wearing. Adagio couldn't help but laugh. "Oh my, is everything alright?"
"No! Everything is not alright! Where are my clothes? My pants? Where are yours?! Did...did we...?" Magnus couldn't look at her. He couldn't believe this. Why couldn't he remember anything? This didn't make sense. Did she...take advantage of him? He started to feel sick. He knew he never should have gotten mixed up with these witches.
"Easy tiger." Adagio pulled the blankets away from her to reveal a strapless bra covering her chest. It was skin colored. "And by the way, you are still covered."
Magnus looked down for real and saw he WAS still wearing boxers. Which was comforting, but was still concerning in how he got to this point.
There was a light knock on the door, and both people in the room turned their attention towards it. The knock rapped three times, and the door opened. A straight faced Aria leaned in. "Breakfast will be ready in abo- Oh." She made eye contact with Magnus, her face devoid of any surprise or shock. She simply changed her gaze to face Adagio. "About thirty, you two seem like you might need it." She closed the door before Magnus could explain or defend himself. As the door shut, Magnus hung his head and dropped the pillow.
"You alright there kid?" Adagio asked him with a look of genuine concern.
"I...ya, I will be." He sat down on the edge of the bed, oddly feeling a lot more calm about the situation. "What happened last night?" He felt like his head was pounding. Almost like he was hungover. He had only had one experience with that kind of thing, but the feeling was indistinguishable.
"Well..." Adagio had slowly slithered her way up to Magnus, her hands finding their way onto his bare back. He began to pull away at the touch, but stopped when her slender fingers began to work into his back muscles. He sat there, his head hanging a bit down, his eyes closed, and a content smile filling his face. "Last night you were a MESS with stress and fear. I'm not actually use to that myself mind you, especially when I am in here. So...regrettably, I had to calm you down."
Magnus turned his head slightly. "Regrettably?"
"Well, I had to use a bit of my magic. Of course, a bit doesn't cover it. You are very difficult to manipulate. I simply could only calm your mind. Why you blacked out is beyond me, maybe I was a bit to forceful and it through up some defenses. At any rate, I simply had you lay down for me. That's it."
"That's it?" Magnus asked.
"Yes, that's it."
"I feel like there is a bit more to this, especially since I am almost naked?"
Adagio sighed. "Well obviously, but since you are so nosey. You were a wreck, so I offered to help relax you. I had you lay down so I could try and melt away your stress. I started to rub your back but your shirt got in the way. You asked if you could take it off and I didn't mind. I still don't to be fair..." She dug her nails into his back just a bit, enough to make goosebumps rise up all over him. She giggled and continued. "You didn't want me to stop, and told me to keep going. You asked me to rub everything. Your head, your neck, your arms. Honestly it was tiring, and my nightgown wasn't helping. So I took it off and changed into something that could still cover me."
Magnus opened his eyes to focus on her. From what he could see, she had changed into underwear the same color as her golden skin. REALLY similar. It was as if she was completely naked, with the exception of any details, almost like a mannequin. HE nodded and let her continue.
"Then you told me to keep going to your legs and feet, so I had you undress fully. At one point you finally passed out. I don't think I've ever been more relieved. My hands are still kind of tired. Still, that was all. Every time I tried to come next to you under the covers you scooted away, so I gave up. Honestly this was the most boring time I've had in here with a guest." Her voice was definitely full of dejection and disappointment.
Magnus of course, couldn't really care. He was worried about his mother, he was worried about himself and...wasn't today Monday? "Crap...I have school in...what time is it?" Magnus lazily asked this back at the enchantress still working his back muscles. She seemed to snap out of a little daze.
"Hm? Oh. Well let me see." She checked a little digital clock beside her bed. "Six thirty, no wonder I'm still tired."
"What? I almost never get up this early."
"Yes, well...I doubt you've had this much relaxation to pull you into a real sleep before either, hm?"
She wasn't wrong. In truth, Magnus hadn't had a real good night's sleep since him and his mother had moved to this town. Every night was full of nightmares, terror, uncertainty, and terrible, TERRIBLE visions. Mostly of fire. He had been by himself, and without much real social interaction. He had been for the most part alone, outside of casual interactions. The work load and quality of the homework expected at this school was also at a much higher degree than what he was use to, but he had ben told that another school deeper into town was WORSE than this one. He frowned. She was right, but he didn't want her to be.
"SONATA! GET UP!" Aria shouted this all through the apartment. Adagio looked annoyed at the sudden noise. "Aria, don't shout!"
"You know she won't get up if I don't, so don't start." Aria answered Adagio even angrier than her previous shout. Magnus smiled.
"You want me to go get her up?" Magnus stood to find his clothes, of which, they were right next to the bed. HE wasn't as embarrassed as he pulled on his pants. Adagio's presence was becoming more natural. This might have been due to her direct influence...but Magnus still felt off as her eyes watched him with a great intensity as he dressed.
"If you want, saves me the usual hassle. Careful though, she's clingy and like cat. You might get bit." Adagio sat up and fluffed her hair back into a perfect poof. Magnus was amazed. It was probably magic, but he couldn't be sure. Finally dressed, he walked out of the room and was sure to close it. It took him a bit of effort as he saw Adagio begin to completely undress while he was still in the room, but as much as he wanted to look, he just COULDN'T bring himself to do that. It was probably his mother coming out in him. He turned to his left as he exited the door and took the little walk down the hallway to the end. He stood in front of the door with the crayon all over it. He knocked a few times.
"Sonata? You up?" His answer was a serious of mumbles, and a soft thump as something plush hit the door. He smirked bit as he opened up the door. The inside of this room was like a little girl's paradise. The walls looked as if they were hand painted. A beautiful mixture of pastel pinks and purples, swirled all together in what look like actual hands dipped in paint in places. One wall was covered entirely in what seemed like chalkboard paint, a little bucket of chalk below it. The wall was full of scribbles and doodles. Tiny rainbows, hearts, flowers, and a giant tea party scene that would have made the best of artists lose their breath. Above him, on the ceiling, were giant fake clouds made from cotton and cloth, a large moon was in the corner giving off a soft light, and the window was closed and covered by big thick curtains. All over the floor were stuffed animals of ALL shapes and sizes, thrown in haphazard places. Magnus couldn't help but chuckle to himself softly. For being thousands of years old, to her, age was just a number that didn't keep her from enjoying the simple things in life she actually enjoyed. One whole wall of the room held her giant dressers, also a mixture of pastel blues and yellows, and a large toy box with a few stuffed animals sticking out. Apparently she was bad at picking up her things. In the center was a large circular bed in the guise of a sunflower. And in the middle, sucking on her thumb lightly and snoring like a tiny kitten, was a scrunched up Sonata. Magnus slowly inched his way towards her, being careful not to step on any of her precious creatures. "Hey, Sonata." Magnus whispered as he got closer.
Magnus couldn't help but notice how breakable and fragile she looked sleeping. It was like she didn't have a single care in the world. He sat down on the edge of her bed, and gave her shoulder a gentle shake. She scrunched her face and made a small noise, but otherwise didn't stir. She was wrapped up in a soft plush blanket, on sheets of pure silk. Her pillows were all around her, and her one giant pony tail was fanned out into loose hair all around her head in a soft halo. It spread out into a beautiful ocean of greens and blues, all mixing together in gentle waves. He gave her another nudge, this time just a fraction harder. Her face scrunched up a bit harder, and her eyelids opened up only a bit. Her eyes looked up at him as she gently whined. Magnus smiled and brushed a bit of her hair. "Hey there sleepy, it's time to get up. Aria has food cooking." At the word food, Sonata smiled and smacked her lips. Her breathing stopped almost immediately. Her eyes opened fully, and she slowly rose them to look up at Magnus, who had tilted his head at her. He was curious at her sudden change but wasn't given close to enough time to try and figure something out.
"BOY!" Sonata shouted and let out a high pitched scream as she stood straight up in her bed, pelting him with stuffed animals. Magnus had to raise his arm to try and block the incoming missiles of fluff as she grabbed the sheets to try and hide herself. "OUT OUT OUT OUT GET OUT!" Magnus fell on his way to the door and have to crawl out on his stomach. He managed to grab the door with his foot and pull it closed as he tucked himself to roll the rest of the way out. He could hear more screaming noises and the pelting of animals against the door, which then turned into quiet sobbing. Magnus sat up and faced the wall opposite the door, completely unsure of what had just happened, or what he had just done. He heard muffled footsteps beside him. Aria was looking down at him with a face with a slight amused look.
"Adagio warned you, she's a pain to get up in the morning."
"But...why the freak out? I didn't do anything!"
"Yes you did." Aria had her arms crossed and was looking at Magnus like a grumpy babysitter, waiting for him to admit his mistakes. But he just couldn't figure it out. He looked at Aria and simply shrugged, prompting her to let out an exasperated sigh followed by a mumble that sounding a lot like 'men' and went to the door, she opened it up, only to be hit square in the face by a medium sized stuffed poodle. This prompted a "Meep!" from Sonata which was accompanied by a "DID YOU JUST HIT ME WITH THAT!?" from Aria. Her expressionless demeanor gone, mama bear stomped into the room holding the poodle like a weapon. The door slammed as sounds of fighting were being heard, most of the crying coming from Sonata.
"Magnus, could you come here?" Adagio was summoning him from the kitchen. Magnus of course obeyed, he WAS still a guest here, and he left to let the chaos in the bedroom happen unheeded. Adagio was reading the paper when he got there, her slippered feet resting up on another chair she had pulled over. "Magnus, I have something to ask of you."
"Of course, what's up?" He asked as he sat down in a chair not to far from her. Again, all boundaries being almost dissolved after what had happened.
"I need you to find someplace for us, someplace quiet and secret."
"Ok...can I ask why?"
Adagio put her paper down to look at him. "You have been told our story, shown our power, and even spent a night with us. Do not forgot we are a coven of witches here, dear boy, we have upheld our end of things as would be expected of us but more, and now YOU must keep your end." She picked her paper back up to keep reading. "Find us somewhere quiet and safe. Tonight, you give us your oath, and we bind you to us to fulfill our contract."
"Wait, you still haven't pet up your part." Magnus said this with a tiny glare, crossing his arms as Adagio lowered her paper slowly to stare back at him with a raised eyebrow.
"...excuse me?" Her voice was annoyed with a hint of authority in it. Magnus watched as red came to her cheeks, but not in an enjoyable way. "Would you...like to repeat that?"
Magnus was now no longer sure of himself. With the way she stared into his soul and then out the back of him with those eyes that shined with a white hot intensity of insult, he wanted to just die. Or look away, but he was more afraid of her striking like a cobra if he even so much as gazed away from her. "Y-yeah. Remember, you said you would...give me my request." Magnus looked down at the floor. The hardwood of the kitchen was seamless and stained a beautiful multitude or red and brown.
"Which was?" Adagio had re-raised her paper and turned a page. Magnus could almost sense her smug face.
"I asked for...friends, remember? Friendship, respect, loyalty, acceptance, popularity, love...these were what I wanted, and you PROMISED if I followed you here, and did all of whatever it is you wanted me to do, you would grant this. You promised." In a way, he was right. She had promised all of this, but only after his allegiance. But...he was not patient. All he could think about were things changing for him. Not being alone, and maybe, making his mother less worried and more proud of him.
Adagio didn't lower her paper. "It's already done child. What, you think a trio of witches can't make a simple request like that happen? We didn't sleep all night." Magnus couldn't believe it. Already? No flashy show? No display of power. Something didn't add up.
"How?" Magnus was on the edge of a lot of emotions right now, but for the life of him he couldn't grasp which ones.
Sighing, Adagio put her paper on the table. Aria then walked into the kitchen, hair just a bit disheveled, with a bouncing and happy Sonata trailing behind her. She pulled out her own chair and sat down next to Magnus, smiling big and happy at him, as if the incident just a few minutes prior had been some kind of fever dream. "We got up early this morning while you slept, went to the roof, and performed our ritual. Why do you think we are exhausted? Your request took ALOT from us...which is why you WILL comply and keep your promise. Or...well, you do you I suppose." Adagio made no face at Magnus, but he could tell this was a very serious choice of words she was using.
"PANCAKES!" Sonata cried out as she dropped her head hard onto the table, pouting when it hit too hard.
"What did I tell you about hitting your head? And we are out of pancake mix, you know this. What else can I get you?" Aria was busy moving from the pantry to the fridge, an apron already on to keep her pajamas clean.
Sonata looked back up. "Pancakes?"
"No Sonata, no pancakes."
"But...it's Monday." Her face looked like it was about to break, tears already welling up in her eyes. Adagio was the one who spoke up. "Sonata, sweetie, we don't HAVE any more pancake mix. And it's too early to make some from scratch. What else do you want?" Her voice was level, but with hints of annoyance.
Sonata scrunched her face and yelled. "Pan. Cakes." Adagio growled at her, causing her to lower her head. A single tear escaped her eye.
"Hey...how about I bring some here after school, hm? We can have late night pancakes, it'll be an adventure." Magnus had looked over at Sonata and smiled. He couldn't see her like this, it was devastating. Her eyes grew large and she nodded at him with a big smile on her face, showing off all her teeth. The other two sisters were impressed, both of their expressions relaxing just a bit. The next half hour passed by as Adagio and Aria discussed some of the stories in the paper, and the weather changing into something cold. Sonata was rambling off to Magnus about a dream she had while she chowed down on a bowl of cereal that she had been given. Magnus had asked for some toast, never being much of a breakfast guy, and for just a moment, it felt like they belonged together. Like this was just...right.
Breakfast done, and with everyone cleaning themselves up for the day, Magnus was looking up on his phone how to get to the school from here. He frowned, it seemed he would be late. "Go downstairs, talk to Winston. Ask to be taken there. Place it on our account." Aria had appeared behind Magnus, she had a paper bag in her hand.
"Oh, are you sure? I mean..." Aria simply nodded at him. "What's in the bag?"
"Lunch."
"Oh, erm...thanks. You don't have to you know." Aria only blinked at him.
"I am aware."
Magnus felt a little stupid at this statement. He knew that, and so did she, and so did the rest of them. For the first real time since yesterday, he actually believed these three truly saw him as important to them. Either as a tool, or a person, Magnus wasn't sure, but he also didn't care. Magnus took the bag and nodded. As he went for the door to put his shoes on, he felt arms wrap around his waist.
"Have a good day at schoooool!~" Sonata had surprised him and gave him a little sing song farewell. Magnus smiled and hugged her back, messing with her hair and telling her to behave. These words were met with an angry face, followed by "DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" She went to run away, only to hit the back of the couch and tumble over it. She began to cry as Aria yelled at her from the kitchen. "DAMNIT SONATA. EVERY MORNING!?"
Magnus got his shoes on, left with a little wave at Adagio, who had appeared in the doorway to the kitchen to watch him leave, and made his way back to the elevator. Inside, he felt his pocket go off. Surprised, he checked it. He had a text from Glass Vial, one of the few guys he spoke to at school. He opened it up. 'Yo, are you going to get here? You are never this late. Everything alright???' Magnus was confused. He had twenty minutes to get to school. More importantly, why did it matter?
Realization dawned on Magnus. The ritual. It had already started.
~~~~~
The car ride had been quiet and uneventful, which was good, because Magnus had his hands full. His Face-Place page had blown up with comments on things he had posted through the past months, and he was no wading through upwards of fifty or more sudden friend requests. At the same time, he realized apparently more people had his number than what he remember, and was now fighting off a wave of text messages. He had remembered to send a long one to his mother, giving her an update on everything that had happened. This was overwhelming! Never before had Magnus dealt with this level of sudden desire from anyone. Even when he lived back in his old town, nothing like this had ever come up. When he finally got to school, he had thanked the silent driver...who responding by coughing, and Magnus made his way into school.
"Yo Mag!" Glass Vial, a boy around the same age as Magnus, started toward him. He had been waiting by the horse statue outside the main doors to the school. Most of the front of the school was a giant construction zone right now, mostly from that damage that had been done this weekend, and remnants of the Fall Formal still were laying about the ground. He walked up, his short silver hair blowing slightly in the wind. He was a head shorter than Magnus.
"Hey Glass, why aren't you inside yet? Don't you use this time to...eat your chemistry book or something?" Glass Vial laughed.
"Hey now, I do way more than read, and you know that. Sometimes I try and get ahead on all my homework." He straightened out his button up shirt, and pushed his small rectangle glasses back up his nose. "Well come on man, you miss a SHIT TON at the dance, everyone want's to know why you weren't there."
Magnus honestly thought he was in some bizarre lucid dream at this point. Everyone? Who was everyone? He spoke to maybe four people at all times. And he never really fit in with any of the cliques that the REALLY mean girl who goes here had created. The two of them walked through the temporary side entrance for the school, since again, the main entrance and most of the front area were still a giant crater.
When they got through the door, Magnus felt as if he was having a stroke. The sight before him was unlike anything he had seen in the previous months here. The groups that had been made to further pull all of the students apart had been dissolved. He found multiple people from multiple groups laughing, having fun, enjoying themselves and joking. But all in a playful manner. It was incredible. What else was incredible, is that people were looking at HIM. Some were waving, some were just looking and smiling, but there was no mistaking that all of their eyes were on him. Magnus was beaming. Everything about this was...overwhelming. People were saying his name, people were slapping his hands as he walked by.
"No, but for real, why didn't you go? I have it on good authority that a ... 'certain special cow-girl' " Glass Vial winked at Magnus as they walked, " would have totally taken you for a ride on that dance floor."
"Glass stop man, it's not funny." Glass Vial looked hurt.
"Hey...I was serious bud." Magnus just looked at him and shrugged. He stopped as his locker and grabbed his book bag. It was the only thing in his locker really. He kept all of his supplies, his books, and his notebooks inside his book bag, and just took that everywhere. It was way more efficient then constantly running back and forth, and it always bothered him how no one else seemed to think so. He snuck a peek down the hallway. Standing by her locker, books close to her chest, was the one. She had her hat on, something not allowed in most classes. It was an old, almost beat up Stetson cowboy hat. She was wearing a slightly pink button up flannel shirt, something out of character for her, and she had plain blue jeans on, accompanied by her usual cowboy boots. She was looking annoyed at one of her friends, the one with the bright pink hair fluff. She squealed about something, and then confetti flew from her hands. Next to her, that prissy, purple haired fashionista covered her mouth to laugh.
"So, let me get this straight Glass." Magnus had swung his backpack over his shoulder and had turned to face his friend, shutting his locker. "You mean to tell ME, that a girl who, up until apparently this morning, who didn't want so much as to speak to me at any time, said she would have, and I'm quoting you on this, 'taken me for a ride on the dancefloor' ?" Magnus had an eye of disbelief, but a stomach of desperate wanting.
"Yes." Glass said this flatly, like there should have been no questioning of his logic. "And, you have her in math this morning right? Sit next to her, give her a look. See if anything happens." With that, Magnus's friend gave him a bit of a wave and had ran off to get his own things to make it to HIS class on time. Magnus looked down. Was he right? Did his fantasy girl decide to like him? But why?
"It worked...it had to. This just doesn't happen. They kept their promise."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Magnus had walked almost late into his math class. Normally this would have been met with an angry look from his teacher, but this time she only smiled and welcomed him to the room. Most eyes were on him, but one set stood out the most. One set, the prettiest he had seen. Normally, they were half shut and full of disdain. This time, they were open wide and taking him in. Like two perfectly cut, sunburst emeralds. She blinked slowly at him, and then was aware of his eyes on her. For Magnus, time slowed down. The second their eyes locked, everything stopped. The color from every living and unloving thing around them faded away to shades of gray. He could make out every one of her perfect features. Her long blonde hair, now free from her hat, fell along her back and shoulders in a cascade of blonde perfection. He noticed her light pink button up had the top few buttons loosed, and he could see the faint, yet well defined, lines of her collar bone. She was giving him the most gentle and light of smiles, as if she was letting him know if some passive lady-like way that she was, in fact, giving him her attention. He could just make out the light crisp scent of apple blossoms around her, and...was that just a hint of makeup on her cheeks? It was giving her a small blushed tint. This was very out of character for this girl, as she wouldn't be caught dead in ANYTHING girly in the slightest. Magnus took his steps with the speed that his timeless aura would allow...and then slammed his knee into a desk.
"Ah! Son of a bit-" was all he was able to get out until the class had picked up his mistake and began to laugh. Magnus's face turned bright red. He quickly took his seat, which just so happened to be next to her. She had dodged his look and was facing ahead, pretending not to notice his accident, but her cheeks were flushed as she was aware she had caused it. Magnus realized as he was taking out his book and pencil, that...the laughter was different. He looked up, and several people were making faces at him, but ones that were fun, and not really mocking. This laughter was more...with him, and not at him. Something he had become all too familiar with. He looked up at everyone and gave them a half-hearted wave, which was returned with nods and smiles. He was happy, they were happy. Everything was...just good!
His teacher had begun her lecture on finding lines or...something. Magnus didn't really care. He hated math. His mind was also on something much more important. He was writing furiously on a piece of paper, trying to make it perfect. He must have spent fifteen or so minutes scribbling out exactly what he wanted. When it was finished, he ripped it out of his notebook and folded it into a nice, neat, small square. Waiting until the teacher was turned away, he nonchalantly tossed it onto her desk. Coming out of a daze of sorts with a slight jump, she quickly snatched the note giving a sideways look at Magnus, who was smiling and focusing on the board. She unfolded it, and went a bit red again as she read it. She quickly scribbled something and handed it back. Magnus read the note.
Where he had written the line 'So, what was this about you and me riding at the dance?' , underneath was a simple script.
'Missed you there. Sit with me at lunch?' Magnus smiled. He turned to the girl and gave her a little wink. Deep in his pit, he knew this was not himself. Deep down, he was already changing. The sirens serpentine spell was working it's way through existence, forming it into something it wasn't. Perverting the way things were. Magnus...couldn't have cared less.