Adagio stood petrified at the sight. Before she had the chance to do so much as speak or move, everything was over. The men were gone with the wind, and Faithful Servant was now curled up on the ground, a small pool of red forming beneath him as his lifeblood fed the ground. Once it was all over and reality clicked in her mind, there was but one thought which circulated in her mind: Run.
Adagio took tentative steps towards Faithful with the intent of walking past him and taking her leave before things became complicated. She was about to walk past him when she heard the sound of groans and whimpers. Her resolve shook with the might of an earthquake. Quivering, Adagio turned her head down to the man at her feet.
He looked so feeble and meek in this state, a big change from his previous state of being. Yet, despite the sight of the man in this sorry state, it was not enough for her to want to take any risks. Her head screamed at her to make the run for it, to take flight and not look back. Every fiber of her body told her to do so, yet something else told her to remain. Something which showed sympathy, something which looked beyond herself, something that...
Adagio sunk to her knees and grabbed hold of Faith's sports jacket and started to tear it up into a long strand of fabric which she began to try and persuade Faith to take in his own hand. Faith opened his teary eyes to look up towards Adagio, the pitiful look branding itself into her mind. "Take this, try to halt the bleeding. I'll be right back with help, but you'd better be alive when I do." Adagio spoke, her voice absent of any hints of hesitation, but steeled and determined. Faith nodded ever so barely as he took the piece of clothing and held it firmly against his wound.
Adagio rose back up to her feet and started running. She ran as far and as fast as her tired and starved legs could carry her. She hurried through the pathways and crannies until she reached the streets of Canterlot city, looking to and fro, trying to find someone that could be of aid. There were plenty of options, despite the time of the day as it was encroaching upon nightfall. She approached a man, hastily explaining her predicament, yet the man walked on as if he had heard nothing. She knew with high probability why he moved away, yet it still irked her. She turned around to find someone else when she found the prime candidates.
Ahead of her, carelessly strolling down the street, were the very people she could have lived a hundred lifetimes without seeing again, and yet, there they were, and with limited options, she scurried towards them. As she approached, she could see how they had taken notice of her by now, the cyan girl with the chromatic hair readying a stance. As she got closer, she slowed down, hands raised as to try and show that she meant no harm to them.
"You have two seconds to get away this instant, Dazzling." Rainbow Dash spoke calmly, yet hostility dripping at the edges, ever so bluntly.
"Feel free to try that later, but right now Faithful needs your help. Come, hurry."
Rarity was quick to step forward, her words oozing with worry. "Faith is in trouble? What happened?"
"Any more explaining and the pavement will soon be colored thoroughly red. Just hurry!" Adagio shouted as she began to run back towards Faithful. The girls stood hesitantly on what to do, but two of the Young women were Quick to spring to action. Sunset Shimmer and Applejack were swiftly at Adagio's heels, the rest of the Girls right behind them. "You'd better have a good explanation for us later," Sunset spoke.
"Later" Adagio spat back.
Sonata paced back and forth in the living room, all while Aria was spending her time trying out one of the video games on the PS. Aria seemed thoroughly entertained, while Sonata could not for the life of her come to peace, phone clutched firmly in her hand. At this point, the sun had lowered itself beyond the horizon and the moon now stood high upon the night sky. "I don't get it, why hasn't he returned. He’s not answering or anything. Aria, should we be worried?"
Aria simply shrugged her shoulders. "Eh."
"Aria! What if something has happened?" Sonata sputtered, her mind going in all sorts of directions.
"Like anything could ever happen around here. We live in one of the most obnoxiously nice places on Earth. The worst that can happen is that he gets taunted for a bit. Most likely because of us. Now stop your pacing, it's driving me mad."
"I should go and look for him."
"Like hell you are. If he catches you outside during curfew then we are in deep trouble. Besides, why do you even care?" Said Aria.
Sonata turned on her heel,walked up to Aria, and smacked the controller out her hands. "Why do I care? Because we have food, a roof, and clothes thanks to him. Because he’s the only damn person here to care about us! Because-" Sonata silenced herself. She realized that she could not make enough sense in Aria's eyes to convince her of anything. While Sonata had come to care a bit more for the man, why would she go so far as to say such things? She then found the single explanation that made the most sense: "Because we are just his wards. If anything happens to him, then we’re right back out there again."
Despite it all, Aria remained unconvinced, staring intently at the TV screen, controller back in hand. "Sonata, again, this is the nicest city in the country. There is no way that anything or anyone has done something to hurt him. Just sit your ass down and-” Aria turned around, interrupting herself when she saw Sonata with the home phone pressed to her ear once more, dialing Faith’s number. Aria sighed and returned to her game.
Sonata stood in the corner of the room while fiddling anxiously with the phone’s cord. As the beeps from the phone progressed, her anxiety escalated to new heights. Just as she was about to give up on the whole ordeal, there was an answering click on the other end. She immediately pressed the phone hard against her ear. “Faith!?” She cried out before she could stop herself.
“Sonata?” answered a voice, familiar yet not the one she was looking for.
“Sunset Shimmer? Where is Faith? Why do you have his phone?!” Sonata exclaimed, catching the attention of Aria, who suddenly became rather interested.
There was a silence on the other end, only audible sound being murmurs. Then Sonata heard a sigh. “Sonata, do you have a spare key laying around somewhere?”
“What? Yes, there is, but how is that important!?” Sonata shouted back, growing aggravated by the lack of a proper answer.
“I figured that you might want to be with Faithful at this time. Listen Sonata, Faith has been in an accident and is currently at the emergency ward in Canterlot Hospital. It’s a bit off, but I’ll send Rainbow Dash to pick you up, ya hear?”
Hospital? Emergency Ward? These words circulated through her head and almost sent her reeling. Sonata leaned up against the wall, quivering with fear. What could have happened? Was it too serious? Would he-?
Apparently she must have stood like that for some time, as she heard the rustle of the phone changing hands before a very familiar voice spoke to her. “Sonata, pull yourself together and get yourself over here this instant.”
The voice snapped Sonata out of her fearful stupor. “A...Adagio?”
Adagio’s voice audibly softened. “Yes, Nata, it’s me. Listen, you and Aria need to hurry here right away. Grab the key, lock the door, and get moving here. These girls will provide transport. Once they arrive, get in and follow, OK?”
“Y-Yes Adagio.”
“Good. We’ll see you soon.” She replied, and with that, there was the click of the other phone hanging up. It took a bit for Sonata to respond. A minute after the call had finished, Sonata took determined steps towards the hall, getting dressed for the cold night, Aria not far behind, while not having heard all of the conversation, figured out enough to just go along with what was happening. The two girls quickly scurried outside, locked the door and awaited Rainbow’s arrival.
It did not take long for the chromatic haired girl to appear. The way to the hospital was silent. Rainbow made attempts with herself to try and speak up, but always decided against it. As they arrived, they hurried through the large, winding corridors until they reached the emergency ward. Once there, they met up with the other girls, and more importantly, Adagio. Had it been under any other circumstance, this could have been a pleasant reunion. Alas, fate had other plans.
“Dagi, please tell me, what happened to Faith?” Sonata Asked.
Adagio stepped forward and placed a soothing hand on Sonata’s shoulder. Without a word, Adagio led Sonata to one of the nearby seats and signaled for her to take a seat. Hesitantly, Sonata complied.
“Sonata, I am going to be blunt with you, Faith has been injured quite badly. Now, before you freak out, you’ll be happy to know that the nurse have reported that the wound is not too severe and he will live through this.”
“What kind injury? How did it happen?” Aria butted in.
The very moment the words left Aria’s mouth, something shone in Adagio’s big fuchsia eyes. Something which neither Aria nor Sonata had ever seen in her before. However, while they had never seen it before, they knew what it was. “He… He was stabbed.”
“S-Stabbed?! How?” Sonata cried out.
Adagio looked back and forth between her sisters and the girls behind her, and as she did, the glint in her eye grew. “He tried to help me. There were these two jerks who approached me, trying to get to me. He stepped in and tried to help me out of it. Then they-”
“Ladies?”
Everyone turned their heads towards the voice. Before them stood a grown woman, pink hair tied into a bun and a petite nurse cap resting on her head. She approached Sonata and Aria and extended her hand. “Hello there, I am nurse Redheart. I assume that you are friends of Faithful too?” Aria and Sonata tentatively shook the nurse’s hand and nodded in confirmation. “Pleasure to meet you. I am here to inform that Faithful has been moved to PACU. He is conscious, well, maybe a bit tired, and he may receive visitors now.”
The girls rose from their seats and began to follow Nurse Redheart. Then she stopped. “Actually, if I may ask, is there a woman named Adagio among you?”
Adagio stepped forward. “That would be me.”
“Would you mind staying here for a bit?”
Adagio’s eyes grew in surprise. “I am not allowed to visit?”
“You are, but Faithful asked for the chance to speak with you in private. Just remain here and we’ll eventually come back for you.” Spoke Redheart as she led the other girls onwards.
Adagio stayed put, simply following the other girls with her gaze until they were out of view. Slowly, step by step did she return to her seat. It did not take long for her to grow impatient. Bored. Worried. What was she supposed to say to the man? What could she do or say that wouldn’t prompt an agitated response?
He may appear to be a kind individual, but take into account all which has transpired: The loss of his bank account, a knife to the gut, and almost left for dead . With everything piled up together, how could his life get worse than it currently was for him? Would it reflect in his words? She began to pace. She could’t explain it, but she was legitimately concerned for what would transpire. Was it because of her sisters?
No, of course not. They would not be too affected by this. At worst they might just get some stricter rules to live by. So why was she so affected by this? Adagio looked down the hallway which led out from the hospital and her gaze lingered there. Unmoving, nothing coming to mind or tongue, the subtle, distance sounds of the active hospital being the only thing keeping her from drifting in nothingness. “Perhaps… Perhaps I should...” the sole words that escaped her mouth, her eyes still glued to the corridor.
It was then that an image came to mind. The sight of Faith. On the ground and bleeding, meek and pitiful… helpless. Her body shivered, as if frightened by the memory. Another image followed. It was of her, standing over Faithful’s curled up body, pondering the possibility of running away. It was as if something stabbed her in the chest. The pain lingered and even escalated. Adagio closed her eyes and turned away from the hallway, returning to the corridor which led to PACU and leaned against the wall, and as she did this, she felt the pain subsiding. What is going on with me? She thought to herself.
Adagio was thrust back into reality when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Nurse Redheart who beckoned for Adagio to come with her. “He is ready to see you now.” she spoke as the other girls returned from their own visit. Adagio nodded in answer, her heart’s pace quickening. She followed down the corridor, the scent of sanitizers growing heavier with each step. Adagio stepped through the doorway and walked down the aisle until she came to the window, a hospitalk bed positioned by it where Faith rested, looking out to the horizon. He turned his gaze and head towards her. He still looked weak and not so little tired. She could not bear to look at him, so she looked down to her feet. Silence passed by the two of them, before Adagio spoke up. “I don’t know what to say to you right now. I don’t even know why you-”
“Are you well?”
Adagio raised her head and looked at Faithful. His disposition was soft and his eyes shone with nothing but concern and kindness. Did he seriously just ask that? “What?”
“Are you well? You seem distraught.” He repeated.
Adagio was stunned. Here he was, stabbed in much due to her, laying in bed with a bandaged stomach, and he was concerned for her? She tried to scour him once more for any signs of deceit or trickery, yet she could find none. “Heh, shouldn’t I ask that?” she asked with a fake laugh.
He smiled. “You could, but we both know what the answer would be.”
A small grin spread across Adagio’s features. “Jokes, huh?.. I’m sorry for what happened.” She spoke before she could halt herself.
“Nothing to be concerned about. I live, and so do you. Nothing unfixable has occurred. All will be well in time.”
“What about your money? How will you support yourself, much less my sisters without that?”
“That wasn’t my only account. I have more, with substantially greater sums contained. I’m just glad that you are safe now. Glad that you didn’t go through with it.”
So much concern for her. It was maddening for Adagio. “You should never have intervened… You wouldn’t be here, no injury, the girls wouldn’t have to worry and I could have lived on for some time longer.”
“And allow the great Adagio Dazzle to lower herself to such levels? Never gonna happen.”
“It is not for you to decide what I do or not.” Adagio spoke in a low tone, more of shame or sorrow rather than anger.
“True, though it doesn’t stop me from being concerned or caring.”
That stabbing sensation returned for a moment. “You shouldn’t care so much. It is not in a person’s nature to care so much about strangers. You could have just trotted on without a care in the world and just leave me.”
“Call me a freak of nature then. I would have done it again. I would do it again.” He spoke, his smile and kind eyes never fading for as much as a second, but also making room for confident determination.
Adagio didn’t know what to say. There was but one word that stuck out: “Why?”
“Because you are valuable, Adagio.” That was it. It was all. He spoke of it with such ease and simplicity, as if he was talking to an ignorant child who didn’t know better. Words as such had never been uttered to Adagio before. Not unless they were under her control like back in the olden days. Unlike those brainwashed fools, this was genuine, this was sincere.
“So… What now?” Adagio asked, uncertain of where to carry it from here.
“Well, Sonata and Aria will still live in my home, though I have asked the other girls to keep a bit of an eye on them. I won’t be able to return home for at least a week. The doctor’s here wants to keep an eye on me so I don’t develop an infection. Until I can leave, they’re on their own.”
“You’re just leaving them to their own behests?”
“Not fully. Like I said, the other girls will help me keep an eye on them. All the same, I need to establish some form of trust with them if they are going to live beneath my roof. Call it foolish if you wish.”
“It is foolish.” Adagio spoke, a wider smile plastered to her face, arms crossed beneath her chest. “But it’s also astoundingly kind and thoughtful.”
“Which part?”
“Everything… Perhaps it was foolish of me to leave them behind too.”
Faithful’s features grew curious. “What do you mean?”
“That it was foolish of me to leave my sister behind, that it was stupid of me to turn my back on your help. That I was dumb to walk away from it all. That-”
A short chuckle interrupted her. “Alright, that’s enough self-loathing for a day.” They both shared a little laugh out of that. A few moments passed of comfortable silence, everything ill and vile having left the room, leaving only the two of them to feel satisfied with their exchange of words. Then Adagio’s feature grew a bit more serious, as did the tone of her voice. “Faith, if the offer still stands, I’d like to take you up on it.” she spoke finally.
Faithful’s eyes grew wide for a moment before relaxing and softening once more. “I’d be happy and honored to house you, Adagio.” He spoke as he extended his hand to her. She grabbed hold of it in her own and shook it lightly. “I look forward to getting to know you, Miss Dazzle.”
“As I do you.” Adagio answered, letting go of his hand. It was then not long until the doctor finally arrived and told Adagio that her visiting time was over and that she had to leave. Adagio and Faithful said goodbye and Adagio took her leave. As she returned to the girls, she quickly received a hug from Sonata and a curious look from Aria. “I’m coming home, girls.” Adagio announced.