And so the search began. Adagio knew her counterpart would be a massive issue with access to the powers of OOO, so sitting down and just waiting for her to reappear was not an option.
Quickly taking the city bus across town, she kept an eye on the local news feeds via her phone. If she knew one thing about her Equestrian counterpart, it was that she thrived on attention and therefore wouldn’t keep to herself for very long.
“Of all of the things that had to get its hands on the Driver, it would have to be my other self…” She muttered to herself. She had to applaud and yet curse herself at the same time for letting Ankh be deceived by someone like that. Then again, how could he not have been tricked, given how both Adagios were exactly like one another. Maybe not in personality, but definitely in appearance.To a certain extent anyways. “How am I going to explain this to Rainbow and Eiji? Yeah, this is going to be a headache to explain unless somehow both me and her end up in the same place and time…”
The local news was reporting on a murder in one of the lower ends of town, with Vignette -of course- on the scene. Apparently, there had been a man sliced apart with a type of sword.
“Now, I’m not one for dealing with crime scenes, but I can say that whoever did this had NCW. That’s no chill whatsoever for those who don’t like the idea of acronyms, by the way.” She winked. In the background, police were dealing with the crime scene. “Whether it was another one of those yummies spawned by the Greeed to spread chaos and misery, or a Rider gone rogue, it’s hard to tell, really. Though, I would imagine that either side would be up for debate in this time and era. Thing is, trust is the most malleable thing ever, these days. Putting too much trust in something is a bad thing. It makes you look like a lapdog so loyal that you would run to the ends of the earth and back just to keep their names intact.
Adagio scowled, hating what Vignette was implying. Maybe she should have listened to Ankh, -loathe as she was to admit it- and not bothered trying to befriend this woman.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, I don’t trust whoever did this, and I certainly don’t trust anyone other than the police to handle this mess. But since there aren’t any witnesses as of yet, there’s not a whole lot this story can go on, so I’m going to hand it back to Starbreak back in the studio. Star?” And with that, the report flickered back to the newsroom.
“So, that’s the story from Vignette,” Starbreak said. “Now, this isn’t the first murder in that part of town but this one is very unusual. Death by the sword, not something you see every day. Now the man, as we’ve learned was a local drug dealer. Apparently, the police have been after him for weeks.”
Now Adagio was far from stupid, given she distinctly remembered being given a sword by Eiji to go with the OOO power set. Didn’t exactly take a genius to figure out who did what with it. She sighed. Well, at least finding out where her other half lived didn’t take as long as she thought it would. “Joy,” Adagio thought to herself. “Wonder how long it’ll take for the police to collect witness statements and learn who exactly was responsible.”
Adagio began taking several frantic deep breaths, imagining police walking up to her doorstep and arresting her on murder charges. Her hands went to her contacts for a brief moment, wondering if she should call work and tell them she likely wouldn’t come in tomorrow. She then took a deep breath, regaining her composure as she calmed herself. The Northern Denver neighborhood wasn’t one of those places most people recommended to live in for a reason. People got offed there just about once a month or so. It was to the point people weren’t likely to talk on who murdered who, even if it was her as the culprit.
“Nice job on blowing the secret of the Greeed wide open Vignette,” Adagio mused her thoughts turning back to the reporter. “Now people will probably start digging and then here comes the mass panic as they realize what’s amongst them.”
She sighed to herself, she supposed she should have been more surprised that nobody had learned about them until now for this long. In this day and age, it was hard to keep a secret under wraps. She certainly could attest to that! Adagio chuckled to herself bitterly. How long was it until there was something like a Riderwatch or some other blog devoted to Denver’s local heroes? She did have to wonder.
“Probably not long,” she continued to think. “Not being narcissistic here, just being realistic. People talk after all.”
In any case, she had far bigger worries than bloggers. Like for example, her other half. From all that she’d heard and all that she’d seen on the internet, her Equestrian half represented the worst aspects of her. Yes, Adagio could be -somewhat- charismatic and certainly knew how to handle people but her other half took it to a whole new level. Sociopathic was probably a good label, given she seemed to see other people only as tools if Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were correct on their observations during that Battle of the Bands.
Adagio groaned. As if she didn’t have enough problems keeping Ankh under control and dealing with his former partners in crime and their creations. Now she had to worry about her doppelganger.
For a brief moment, she wondered about Ankh. What was he going to do now, really? She swore to herself silently, she’d left the idiot alone to his own devices, and god only knew what he was going to do now. Adagio, now she held no illusions that Ankh was on her side. She would have to have been stupid to even consider the possibility. Every action he took always had to benefit him and him alone in some way. Hell, even giving her access to the Driver was to save his own skin.
Her hand went back to her contacts and she found who she was looking for. Dialing the number, Adagio whispered: “Come on… come on… Pick up…”
She breathed a sigh of relief when Star Hunter finally did answer. Someone she could trust with her life, that’s what she needed right now. And who better than one of her two best friends?
“Hey, Adagio? What’s up?” Star Hunter responded on the other side of the line. Adagio let out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding. This is what she needed, someone to talk to. Someone who she could rely on.
“Star?” Adagio asked her voice a bit shaky. Understandable, really given what she was going through. “How… how long have you known me?”
Stupid question, they’d known each other since High School. Patriots forever and all that. But Adagio felt it had to be asked, just so she could know her counterpart hadn’t gotten to her friend.
“Since we were teenagers. Why? What’s going on?” He asked, completely oblivious to the hung head Adagio was giving. “Adagio, what’s going on?” he repeated this time in a more serious tone knowing something was definitely wrong. Adagio sounded almost… scared? No, that couldn’t be it, could it? She was one of the strongest women he knew. Took quite a bit to rattle her.
“Just… just want to know if I can trust you, that’s all,” Adagio replied with her voice still a bit shaky though you could detect a note of faint relief in there as well. Never change Star, she thought. Never change.
“Adagio, you need help with anything?” Star asked. “Like burying a body perhaps? I’m your best friends, and you know what they say about best friends and burying bodies…” he joked.
“N-Not… Not funny, Star…” Adagio replied.
“Sorry… Just, uh, trying to lighten the mood, ya know?” Star replied sounding quite ashamed of himself. “But seriously, what’s wrong? You sound freaked.”
“Star, I know that this is going to sound weird right about now, but if you see me, don’t try and talk to me,” Adagio clutched the phone not really caring right now about the odd looks the other bus passengers were giving her at the moment. “I can’t really explain it properly, but let’s just say that there’s another me out there. One that has my stuff. It’s going to try and do something really bad but I’m not sure what it is just yet.”
“Um… okay?” Star replied. “Is… is this about the Equestrian you?” he asked.
“Y-yeah. How did you know about that?” Adagio asked, her tone melting like some of the finest butter under heat. “Don’t tell me she found you and is holding you hostage right about now…”
“No… Nothing like that!” Star replied hoping to soothe his friend’s fears. He shuddered, no wonder she was rattled. He could hardly blame her with that loon running around. “Hardly! I just happened to do some digging after that Rainbow girl came to the Aquarium and acted like a right bitch to you. So sue me, I’m a curious sort of guy. YouTube has a lot of stuff on it, you know…”
“Listen. How much do you know about this other me outside of the Youtube stuff? Has she left any clues? A paper trail, as it were? We need to know as much about the other me as possible if we’re going to stand any chance at beating it and getting my Driver back.”
“Whoa whoa, slow down!” Star Hunter said. On the other end of the line, he could hear the bus pulling to a halt and the doors opening with a hiss. “Your Driver? Where’d she even get that? What’s going on?”
“If my hunches are correct, trouble is going on. If you can, speak with Rainbow and Eiji before they find the other me. She might try to tell them that I’m the fake and lead them into trying to fight me in her place.” Adagio clambered off of the bus and into the pouring rain once more. “I don’t want one of those ‘everyone turning against me’ scenarios for something that a fake me did instead…”
“Well, technically she’s not exactly a fake… I mean, the Equestrian you is… well, you for all intents and purposes. Just a you from a different world,” Star replied. He could practically see the glare his friend was probably giving him now over the other end of the phone. “...Okay, I’ll see what I can do. Sadly, I don’t have Rainbow’s phone number, but Eiji came here a few days ago just to check up on you. Real sweet guy, you really should consider dating him after this is all over, just saying.”
Adagio fought back a blush and mentally thanked whoever was listening for Eiji even existing, and then made a mental note to thank him later. Maybe a nice dinner when he wasn’t busy. “Man shouldn’t have to go out of his way to help me, and yet…”
“In any case,” Star continued. “As for what I know about your other half… well, it’s not much really. But I can go ahead and speculate if you want.”
“Please, Star. Anything at this point would be good. Is this other me acting evil for the Greeed or is she acting evil for her own benefits and no-one else’s?” Adagio tried not to let her phone get drenched in the torrent of rain by cupping a hand over it.
“Honestly…” Star mused. “I think I’m probably right on the money in guessing she’s doing this of her own accord. From what I’m thinking, she’s like you but with your less than… positive traits magnified. All about her, and only about her. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe she’s doing this for another reason. But I think I can guess she’s probably none too happy with you stealing her thunder if you will. That probably plays into this quite a bit.”
“Alright. Thanks, Star. You’re a great friend,” Adagio let the knowledge set as some of the tension lifted from inside of her. “Now, I’d better find this other me and fast.”
The only question was.. Where was she now?
On the other side of town, Rainbow was currently engaged in a battle with the Fire Ant Yummy in an underground parking garage. Dodging a blast of flame from the giant insect’s mouth rolling to the left to do so, she then kicked a car towards the monster.
“Goddamnit Adagio, where are you right now?” she thought even as thunder rolled. “Seriously, where the hell are you?”
The Fire Ant Yummy leaped over the car and then unleashed another blast of flame from his mouth, Rainbow summoning her shield to protect herself and then bashing the creature upside the head. Cell Medals went flying even as Rainbow brought out the Gold Visor spinning it above her head and catching the Yummy in the stomach with it.
“Sword Vent.” the Visor stated as it opened up like the wings of a bird reading the card before a loud screech was heard and two swords landed in Rainbow’s hands. Dragging the blade of one sword across the other, sparks were created.
“Looks like I’m going to have to fight alone, at least for the time being,” Rainbow thought. Slicing into the Yummy’s armor with strike after strike, she then kicked it in the stomach making the monster stumble back. “However… I do have to wonder. Is this Adagio’s way of telling me she’s pissed at me for the whole Vignette debacle?”
A powerful punch landed making Rainbow stumble backward. “...Cause, if so I get the message!” she thought.
“Advent.” the Gold Visor stated and Goldphoenix flew in slicing into the Yummy with his talons.
Rainbow didn’t even crack a pun or give the monster any sarcastic remarks as the beast got back up. All that she could think about was the interview. Why did Vignette Valencia, the most obnoxious and secret-destroying people need to question her and Adagio? Why didn’t she just keep her fat, lipsticked, Facebook-loving mouth shut and move on with her life? All she did was destroy her career and cause two of the Greeed to seed her at the same time. Job or no job, she didn’t need to go that far or get seeded by multiple Greeed at once. It was partially her own fault for getting her into that trouble in the first place. After all, a reporter’s job was to report, report, and only report, caring not for anyone else or the consequences of press, be it good or bad press. Maybe, outside of the consumerist and commercial world, Vignette was a nice person, she just didn’t see that side of her yet.
Rainbow let out a battle cry and charged the Yummy slashing into it with her swords before leaping over and behind it as it let out another blast of flame. Spinning on her heel, a quick leg sweep knocked it into the pavement.
“But still… did I really have to ruin her career like that?” Rainbow thought to herself. “I mean, yes, she’s horrible at times, but still…” the Element of Loyalty mused. “She’s still a human being like I am. Not a monster.”
Observing this whole bout was another figure. Seemingly dressed from head to toe in leather and studs, dreadlocked. Looked like a refuge from a bad metal band really. He chuckled to himself. Always rely on Uva’s creations be all brawns and no brain. He’d wait and see how this ended. He figured this one had no chance at all against Odin or whatever she called herself now. He’d take her on after the Yummy was defeated, she’d be tired. Worn out. Ripe for the picking. Of course, not even Kazari could anticipate what came next.
Heels clacked up against the concrete just as Rainbow pulled out her Final Vent card and readied it.
“Well now, isn’t this a sight?” a low seductive murmur asked. Followed by a powerful strike with Adagio’s sword, slicing the beast in half. Following that, she took off her helmet, revealing her face and the forest of golden follicles beneath it. “I kept you waiting there, didn’t I?”
“...Oh, now you show up. This is punishment for earlier, isn’t it?” Rainbow groaned hanging her head in defeat. “Seriously, it is isn’t it?”
“Well, if you want to call it punishment, yeah. But hey, I’d say that’s another beast in the books,” Adagio sheathed her sword and approached Rainbow Dash, who de-morphed seeing as how the danger had passed. “Come on, admit it, you were struggling with that Yummy, weren’t you?”
“Had it well in the bag, actually…” Rainbow replied, her eyes briefly darting to the left as she took notice of a figure moving about in the shadows.
“Then why did you let me land the finishing blow, then?” Adagio smirked and playfully nudged Rainbow’s elbow, playing her for the fool that she was. She could always tell when Rainbow’s brawn overpowered her brain.
“Oh, I was about to deal with him,” Rainbow replied holding up the Final Vent card. “Final Vent, I mean come on! That sorta says it all doesn't it?”
She ignored Goldphoenix’s mental sniggering, even if by all rights she figured she probably shouldn’t. She somehow got the feeling -no thanks to the bird’s general demeanor- that there was something he wasn’t telling her about that card in particular.
“In any case, dinner’s on me tonight. Hope that’s alright with you.” Adagio wrapped her arm around Rainbow Dash’s back.
“...Wait, since when did we get dinner together?” Rainbow asked. “Last I checked we were barely even frien-WATCH OUT!” she suddenly cried as Kazari leaped out of the shadows claws extended.
“Okay, really?” Rainbow snapped transforming back into her Odin armor. “How long were you waiting in the shadows like that? What, are you my stalker or something?”
“Same, Kujira, Ookamiuo: Sa-Ra-Mi-Uo! Sa! Ra! Mi-Uo!” Adagio’s belt called as she transformed as well.
“Stalker, no. Destroyer, yes. You’ve been working yourself much too hard, Odin. Perhaps it’s time that we put you and your little friend out of business for good.” Kazari chuckled to himself as his claws splayed outward. Slicing forwards with his claws, he sent powerful slices of wind towards the two, with Adagio thrusting forwards with her Wolfish spear sending a wave of water towards him in turn.
“Guard Vent. Sword Vent.” the Gold Visor stated as Rainbow summoned a sword and shield. Striking forwards, she watched as Kazari turned into a pile of cell medals and then reformed behind her striking her in the back.
“Double team?” Rainbow asked as she looked towards Adagio. Even now, Kazari was collecting all the cell medals from the destroyed Yummy. “Figure we’re going to need it with this guy…”
“Yeah. Double team.” Playing Rainbow Dash and taking revenge for Canterlot High could wait. For now, this was the immediate threat. Or more like an opportunity, given Kazari had a few Cores on him as well. Cores she could probably make great use of. She slipped the helmet back on and re-drew her sword for battle.
Even as the whole area glowed with an intense light, Rainbow threw her shield forcing Kazari to duck before the shield took his head clean off. The light faded as the shield impacted a concrete pillar and Adagio went on the offensive. Striking a few times with the Wolfish spear, Adagio whirled around and impaled Kazari in the chest causing a few cell medals and more importantly the Lion Core to leak out.
“Perfect…” Adagio smirked in a downright evil manner under her helmet. Grabbing the Core, she slammed it into her driver.
“Lion, Kujira, Ookamiuo!” the Driver shouted as Adagio used a new combo.
“Ngah… You filthy vermin!” Kazari stumbled backward as he tried to grab the Cell Medals back up again, not paying Adagio or Rainbow any attention as the Lion Core glimmered brightly in Adagio’s belt.
“SCANNING CHARGE!” Adagio’s belt shouted as she slid along the ground, creating a miniature tidal wave behind her even as the Lion helmet created an immense blinding light. Kazari was sent flying backward by the sheer force of the kick before Rainbow leaped forwards seizing her chance. Slicing clean through and through with her sword, the Cheetah medal was sent flying to the ground.
“Lion, Kamakiri, Cheetah!” the belt sang before Adagio took use of her new combo to absolutely blitz both Kazari and Rainbow knocking them to the ground and slicing into them with the Kamakiri blades.
As Kazari took his leave, Rainbow coughed out: “Adagio… what… what the hell?”
“I’ve been wanting to do that for so long, Rainbow Dash. For a number of reasons, in fact.” She held her blades out, the energy from the Lion Core coiling around it all the while. “And I think you know damn well exactly what I mean!”
“...Who…” Rainbow whispered going for her shield plucking it out of the pillar as she realized which Adagio she was dealing with eyes widening in abject horror. “...Wait, it can’t be… Can it?”
Rainbow swore to herself, she knew she should have searched harder for those three. They all should have.
“Canterlot High. The Battle of the Bands. Ring any bells yet?!” Adagio snarled as she sent another wave of energy towards Rainbow Dash with the combined powers of the Lion and Kamakiri Cores, making her airborne for a brief instance. “You saw me with two others, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk. You ruined our lives just because of your little light show, because of your puny Magic of Friendship nonsense. Well now, I’m returning the favour!” She stood on the tips of her feet and darted towards Rainbow, sword ready for another strike. “Tonight, the Rainbooms LOSE their lead singer and guitarist!”
Rainbow dodged the strike and then deflected the next with her shield. “Adagio…” she pleaded. “It’s been five years. Five! I’ve moved on from that, so why don’t you? Give it up. You created this situation for yourself, nobody else! It wasn’t me who made you walk into Canterlot High and decide to try and take it over. It was just you, nobody else!”
“Thing is, you haven’t moved on, have you? You’ve been waiting for the day we could meet again.” Equestrian Adagio channeled her power in a new way, creating a spiritual manifestation of her Equestrian Form, while still retaining control of her own body. “You, the western stereotype, the ditz who makes dresses, the pink-haired bimbo, the shy butter-girl, and your little princess and her protege. You and your Rainbooms never gave up, did they? Speaking of which, how are they doing? Still gawking and babbling over their stereotypical interests? Get real and get some new friends.”
“Hey, we seem to have worked out well enough,” Rainbow asked. “Which is more than I can say for you Adagio. Why are you doing this? I mean, I know you’re petty, but going after me now? After five years?”
“Now, I actually have something I can kill you with. Seeing as how your Magic of Friendship makes you immune to our songs, perhaps it’s time I dealt with other means of dealing with the competition. Never underestimate the power of the seas!” Adagio roared further perverting her counterpart’s deeds with the butchering of the catchphrase. She twirled the Medajaribur, causing the ghostly sea-horse to dance with the tip, creating a whirl of golden energy. “For Aria Blaze! For Sonata Dusk!” She ran towards Rainbow, letting out a scream as her blade readied itself for another onslaught, accompanied with the roars and charge of her hippocampus accomplice.
Rainbow just barely dodged the blast but was sent sprawling. As she picked herself up back off the ground, blades met again and again for a brief moment causing sparks to fly. Rainbow kicked Adagio in the stomach before pulling out the gold visor and slamming a card into it.
“I’ll tell you this for starters… My soul burns bright today!” Rainbow stated even as Goldphoenix let out a screech slicing into Adagio’s armor. Then, flew back to Rainbow golden energy gathering around the two. He screeched again in a challenge to the Siren.
“Final Vent.”/“SCANNING CHARGE!” both drivers exclaimed.
Goldphoenix picked Rainbow up and tossed her before Adagio leaped forwards her foot glowing with energy. The two powerful kicks met in midair, energy colliding and slamming into each other before both users were tossed backward. Both slammed into the ground rolling along it as they were knocked out of their transformations.
Adagio, picking herself up off the ground clutched her chest in pain and staggered off unknowingly being watched by a red-handed figure.
“So Adagio wasn’t crazy… there really are two of them…” Ankh thought to himself before taking off.
Night fell over Denver once more, the rain finally clearing up. Lights for every single shop lit up, with the only others accompanying them being the streetlights and those in the bedrooms of the houses nearby. Most of the people had finished their day’s jobs and were winding down for a much-deserved rest. Except for Adagio, who prowled the streets with her coat wrapped tightly around herself and her Driver and her medals on hand.
“Okay, that’s another thing to add to my list as well as these supplies for my sisters. Getting rid of Rainbow Dash and her puny band.” Adagio murmured to herself as her eyes locked onto a store at the end of the road, with a bright green plus sign on it, flashing in the darkness. “Of course, that shouldn’t be a problem. The Magic of Friendship or no, they can’t hold their own in physical combat. These new powers should be enough to leave them as bloody, messy pulps…”
For a moment, a brief moment Adagio considered Rainbow’s words. Should she just move on? After all, she’d spent five years away from the Rainbooms and hadn’t exactly cared to bother with them until now. So why was she? They’d moved on with their lives evidently, so maybe she should do the same.
But then again, they were why she and her sisters were in such sorry states. Their leftover Equestrian magic had finally run out a couple of years ago, and now it was just a daily battle to survive. One day, it was whoring herself out to creepy old men in their apartment block -Adagio had to hide her smirk at remembering how the Medajaribur had dealt with him easily enough- just to get medicine or pay the rent. The next, it was scrounging for scraps in the dumpsters. How low they had definitely fallen. And to think, Adagio laughed bitterly once more, they used to be at the top of the heap!
Also, Rainbow was right as much as she hated to admit it. It was her, nobody else. It was her who had decided to just waltz into the school that day and decide to grab that raw magic for her and her sisters. Still, it was the bed she had made and now had to lie in. With nothing else to survive for, Adagio entered the pharmacy, readying her medals if she needed to go lethal on her opposition.
For a brief moment, she swore she heard something landing behind her, like feet touching the ground before brushing it off as just her imagination. Stupid paranoia, thinking that everything was against her ever since that day at CHS. It had played with her ever since that chorus of boos and jeers washed over her; a constant reminder that she had failed, that she had been bested by a group of primitive humans. Nothing else mattered. Her life was in tatters and she was left to pick up the pieces, no matter how ridden with blood and destruction they were.
“So… This what you wanted… Starswirl?” Adagio thought thinking of the old mage and laughing bitterly. He may or may not have known he was making a mistake sending her here. Or maybe he didn’t care. May have been too caught up on the glory of being a ‘hero’ to actually stop and listen to her problems. Probably wouldn’t have believed her in raising up a resistance against the Fangire race. Nope, all he saw was just three sirens causing chaos.
But then again, considering the Fangires barely left any evidence of their hunts behind… Adagio shook her head, clearing herself of those thoughts and let out a growl. No reason she should start thinking of the past and that old fogey now. She’d put it behind her. Now, right now? She needed to think of her siblings, and not old grudges.
“Hang on for just a bit longer, girls. Big sis Adagio’s coming with the goods…” Adagio gathered up everything in the store that the Sirens would need to stay alive, taking it in triplicate, quadruplicate, even quintuplicate. She didn’t want to keep having to make multiple runs for Aria and Sonata’s condition, potentially risking everything.
A shotgun cocked, and Adagio turned to see an old man with weapon in hand aiming it right at her.
“Oh goddess, what happened to you? Family problems? Mental health condition?” Adagio asked the man, barrel shaking as he pointed it at her nose. “Either way, there’s no need for this kind of stuff. I’m just a simple girl getting some stuff for her friends, alright?”
A snicker from somewhere nearby. Adagio ignored it before darting out as the sound of a shotgun went off. Running out of the store with the stockpile of drugs, she took to the alleyways and found herself face to face with a man. Blond-haired, with his hair in a frankly rather messy style. Reminded her of a bird’s head. She sighed, she remembered this idiot from a few nights back.
“Well, Adagio Dazzle is it?” Ankh asked crossing his arms. Adagio took notice of how his left arm was more feathered than anything else. “My my, seems your human counterpart was right on the money with you. You really are an ambitious sort, remind me of myself in a way. Tch. Such a pain…”
“Back off. This doesn’t concern you. I just want to get these drugs back to my sisters and leave you in peace.” Equestrian Adagio instinctively went for her medals. She knew that Ankh would be a force to be reckoned with in the wrong situation. “Whatever you want… You keep doing that. I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and keep my sisters alive. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that,” Ankh remarked with a small shrug. “I can respect that. Fact is, birds of a feather as they say… should flock together. I should know, I invented that phrase after all!” he chirped in this sorta snide way.
“Get to the point…” Adagio grumbled having no time for this nonsense. “Or do you want me to kick you in the balls again?”
Ankh flinched at this, making Adagio fight back a smirk. So he did remember.
“See, trouble with my Adagio is… Well, she’s too… well, she’s just too damn human!” Ankh whined. “Has too many things holding her back. Doesn’t give a damn about the medals, not one bit you see?” he asked tossing the Kujaku medal up in the air and then catching it, absorbing it back into his Greeed arm.
“And you think I do?” Adagio asked narrowing her eyes.
“Well, from all that I’ve heard about you, you crave power do you not?” Ankh enticed tracing a finger along her jawline making Adagio practically purr. “Am I not wrong?” he asked.
“Singing magic. Something I can’t get any more thanks to a bunch of bratty teenagers shattering my crystal.” Adagio cocked a brow. “But, then again, these Kamen Rider powers are a pretty acceptable replacement. I could do some real damage to Sunset Shimmer and her rag-tag group of infants with this.”
“And… that’s it?” Ankh asked resting himself on top of a nearby dumpster. “Revenge? Just plain and simple revenge? My my, you are petty…” he said sounding almost impressed.
“That’s only the first step. Seeing as how that fool Rainbow Dash also has some Rider powers of her own, I feel that I should steal them away from her too. Then, I should find more of these riders, strip them bare, and give their powers to my sisters.” Adagio flashed the widest, toothiest grin she could muster. “Three Siren Riders, ruling the earth with voices of gold and weapons of utter destruction. The greatest comeback story ever for the likes of the Dazzlings, don’t you think?”
Ankh threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, I think I’m going to like you…”
Come morning, the other Adagio was shaken awake by her phone buzzing. Sleepily, she went for it.
“Hmmm… what?” Adagio murmured as she grabbed her phone off her nightstand. “Star… what is it?”
“Adagio, turn on the news right now!” Star Hunter shouted, and from the urgency of his tone Adagio didn’t waste any time in following through on that request. What she saw made her eyes widen.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a SCOOP!” Vignette spoke on the TV as images appeared on the right-hand side of her. “Last night at around 11 PM, this pharmacy was raided by one particular individual. Goes by the name of Adagio Dazzle, according to our sources.” A CCTV shot of Equestrian Adagio with the drugs in hand was shown. “Not only that but if my sources are correct, then she is also rumoured to be one of the Kamen Riders who have been supposedly protecting our town from monsters. What a petty attitude, don’t you think? Heroes when it suits them, but brats the rest of the time.”
Adagio’s eyes widened even further as her mind raced. This was exactly what she had imagined, her worst nightmare coming true. Her counterpart with her powers and knowing exactly how to use them.
“Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!” Adagio’s entire body heated up as she dashed around the room, trying to take the situation in. Right now, she was being framed for everything that her other self was doing, and it was only a matter of time before the police came crashing through her front door to arrest her wrongly. “Damn her! That other me is just… RRRGH!” She yelled, hands now like claws slicing through the newspaper on the breakfast bar.
Taking a few deep breaths, she calmed herself. There had to be a way out of this… didn’t there? Of course, there was. There always was. Now, her Equestrian counterpart had only committed one crime that the police actually knew of, and right now she just had to get out ahead of these rumors and squash them.
Adagio swore to herself silently, a fine time for Ankh to go ahead and take off and do god only knew what. She needed to put a leash on that man, or give him a phone and find a way to track it or something. In any case, now was not the time for panic. Right now, she had to do something and do something fast. She didn’t care about her reputation, that could be worried about later. Right now she needed to deal with her counterpart. Trouble was, her Equestrian half had the powers now. So that meant challenging her would not be easy. Not easy, but doable.
Once more, she went for her phone and dialed another number.
“Eiji…?” she asked her voice shaky. “I… I need your help…”