//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Beach Sunsets // by BoredAuthor817 //------------------------------// Adagio laid silently in the bed, listening to the sounds of the night. She listened to the gentle snores of Sunset, fast asleep by her side. She listened outside for the scampering of various animals, the song of the insects. She listened to the waves meeting the shore. If she closed her eyes, she could see it; she could be there. For a moment, not so far away, was the beach where she and her siblings grew up. She could feel the coarse grains of sand on her scales. She felt the warm sun shining down. She could hear the shouts and laughter of her brothers and sisters. She could remember how they played. How they used to venture between the shore and the shoals. The joys of letting go, allowing oneself to be tossed by the current. How they bathed upon the rocks for heat. How they laid under them to cool off. How they hunted in pods for food. Still, even then, in their little paradise, they quickly learned that the world was cruel. If a little siren wasn't careful, it could very quickly become someone's meal. If it ventured too far from the shoal, or got caught up in a strong wave, it could be washed away. Of her generation, not even half made it to receive a piece of Mother's Heart. It was a rough upbringing, but it set them up for the rest of their lives. Alliances were formed. Boundaries were drawn. Survival was everything. And it set Adagio up for her whole life—to survive. Adagio coughed. Something wet landed on her hand and a metallic taste came to her mouth. Alarms sounded in her mind. She suppressed another cough as she jumped from the bed to the bathroom. The moment she crossed the threshold, she collapsed onto the cold tile. Her stomach wrenched, her chest burned, her throat closed. Another cough and red splattered onto the white marble. She coughed and more came. She let out a painful cry. Every part of her body felt engulfed in flames. Her only relief was in the cold floor, though it offered her little. “Please,” she pleaded, “let this be it.” Her vision blurred as her consciousness drifted. She barely noticed two arms wrapping around her. She vaguely registered another body being pressed against hers. Though, as she listened, she caught the sound of a heartbeat separate from her own. Adagio's jaw clenched. Her fingers found a shirt, and held it in a death grip. She wanted to scream, cry, something. But nothing came. Instead, she buried her face into the body and wept. --- When Adagio opened her eyes, she was back in bed. Looking around, she found Sunset standing off to the side with a gentle smile upon her face. She looked tired. Adagio noticed that she was wearing different pajamas. She noticed that she wasn't wearing any pajamas. Adagio looked around some more. There was a faint linger of cleaning solution coming from the bathroom. The exhaust fan had been left on. The door was closed to muffle the sound. Adagio turned her gaze back to Sunset. A small smile came to her own lips. “Guess I'm stuck here another day,” she said hoarsely. Her throat felt raw. “You want some water?” asked Sunset. “Maybe some.” She took a few sips of the glass Sunset provided before falling back down onto the bed. “Sorry to have woken you.” “It was nothing.” “Don't lie to me. I may be three-quarters-dead, but I can see you're exhausted. Did you even go back to sleep?” Sunset said nothing, but her reaction told Adagio all she needed to know. “So,” she said, raising a brow, “you'll sleep when I'm dead?” That got a verbal response from Sunset. Adagio let out a laugh at Sunset's stammering and gestured her girlfriend over. “Now,” she said, snuggling up to Sunset, “care to explain why only one of us is wearing clothes?” “Simple,” Sunset said, “I couldn't find yours.” “Well, that's my fault for only having a few sets. Where are the ones I was wearing?” “In the dryer. They should be done shortly.” “Ooh, now I'm looking forward to warm pajamas. In the meantime,” she rubbed Sunset's back, “Why don't you get some sleep.” “But, the laundry—” “I'll get it. Or, we could just do without it for now.” She playfully tugged at Sunset's shirt. Sunset's smile widened, “Now you're starting to sound like your old self.” --- Adagio gently combed her fingers through Sunset's hair. She loved watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful and carefree. Adagio smiled. In such a time as this, at least one of them could rest. At least one of them was able to rest. Rest has always been a foreign concept to Adagio. The ability to sleep for an extended period of time was always seen as a luxury to her. From her earliest memories, sleep had always been an activity conducted in short sessions. One couldn't sleep alone either—someone had to keep watch for predators. More often than not, the guard role was given to her. She was among the strongest and feistiest. She was a fighter. If anyone needed protecting, she was one to give it. Even when they no longer had anything to fear, Adagio still kept these strange habits. She would stand guard over her sisters. Now, even in her weakened state, she stood guard over Sunset. She continued to comb Sunset's hair. The other woman softly moaned and slightly adjusted before emitting gentle snores. It always amused Adagio how Sunset snores sounded equine. Still, Sunset's snores brought her sadness. It hurt Adagio to see her so exhausted. From across the house, she heard the buzzer from the dryer sound. Alighting from the bed, Adagio donned a robe. Leaning over she tenderly kissed Sunset's temple. “I'll be right back,” she said, though doubtful the other could hear her, “Keep the sheets warm till I get back.” Adagio used the wheelchair as a walker to get to the garage where the washer and dryer were kept. She emptied the drier, setting the warm clothes in the seat of the chair and checked the washing machine to make sure there was nothing left. She made her way back into the main house and towards the bedroom. Crossing through the living room, something caught her eye. Sunset had left her book bag open on the coffee table. Normally, not a big deal. Sunset had often taken to borrowing books from Equestria to help keep her magic skills sharp. There would be long study sessions from time to time, absorbing the latest in magic theory. Adagio sometimes found herself drawn into the conversations and random experiments Sunset wanted to try. Yet, something about one of the books in the bag that seemed different from the usual texts Sunset would have. Something about it was off; almost wrong. If Adagio held any such beliefs, she would have called it evil. With grave curiosity, Adagio reached into the bag for the book. What she pulled out made her blood run cold. She'd only heard of such tomes, but never seen one before. Given what she had been told about modern Equestria, she thought for sure they had all been destroyed. Yet, here she was, holding a book which only held the most unholy of magic. One that summoned only the most unnatural of forces. It perplexed her as to what Sunset was doing with such a grimoire. Sunset had admitted that she studied some texts, but it was purely academic. She was also adamant that she would never bring such books into this world. Yet, one was here. Adagio turned the book as she looked at it. Stuffed among the pages were bookmarks and various loose-leaf pages. Adagio opened the book to where Sunset had apparently been studying. As she glanced upon the pages, if she hadn't known fear before, she certainly knew it now. The loose pages were filled with Sunset's notes. Research from other sources, diagrams, spell circles. “Sunset,” she gasped, “what are you planning?” Her heart leapt to her throat when she heard a sleepy voice. “Are you coming back to be—” Adagio slammed the book shut, turning quickly to face Sunset standing in the bedroom doorway. “What is this?” she demanded, holding up the book. Sunset froze. “Adagio, I...” Adagio remembered before they left Canterlot City, Sunset had wanted to do some last-minute shopping in Equestria. “You didn't just go 'for shopping', did you?” Sunset hung her head. “... No.” “Whatever you are thinking, forget it.” “But,...” “Drop it, Sunset Shimmer.” “I can't!” cried Sunset, “I can't bear to see you like this! I can't stand what is happening to you. You deserve better!” “You don't know what you are getting yourself into.” “You're forgetting I was Princess Celestia's personal student and a magic prodigy.” “Then you know why I can't let you do this.” “I can't just sit back and watch you die!” “Then you had better leave now!” Sunset stood silent. For a moment, she appeared as if she'd break down into tears. Instead, she turned back into the bedroom and emerged fully dressed. She pulled on her leather jacket as she made her way to the front door. “I'm going for a walk,” She said, simply, and shut the door behind her. --- She fell onto the bed with a grunt. Why had she done that? It didn't make any sense. She'd been given an opportunity—an opportunity to survive. And she turned it down. It confused her. She'd never done anything like that before. “Am I going soft?” she wondered, “Have I just given up? No, it can't be that.” She reviewed what was going through her head. “It's the spell”, she frowned, “It requires a sacrifice—one Sunset is eager to give.” Her features deepened. “Why did I stop her?” Many had made sacrifices for her in the past. Each time, she'd accept them and move on. This was how she lived. This was how she survived. Everything was so she could survive. What was stopping her this time? She grit her teeth as a word entered her mind. Love. But, even that made no sense. Of all the things, how could it be love? She'd been loved before. Many had done things for her out of love. Adagio stared at the ceiling as the realization hit her. Many had loved her, but, had she really loved anybody? “No,” she rationalized, “there had to have been someone.” Her sisters. Surely, she, in some capacity, loved them. She'd certainly suffered them long enough. Could their relationship, born from necessity, have died in love? She was certainly grieved when she lost them, one after another. But, was it through love that she mourned? She searched through her memories. There must have been some other creature down through the ages that she had some fondness for. Anyone who may have tickled her fancy. Yet, as Adagio searched, she found none but one—Sunset Shimmer. How could she know it was love? How could she be sure this wasn't just another means for survival? When she and Sunset crossed paths after so many years, she'd already lost one sister. Sunset was by her side when she lost the other. Even in those days, Sunset was strong, compassionate. She'd been Adagio's lifeline. She'd looked after Sonata when she couldn't. She saw to it that they were comfortable. She cleaned, cooked. It puzzled Adagio how someone whom she had hated for years was willing to do so much for her. When confronted, Sunset would just smile and say, “I know you'd do the same for me.” What did she mean by that? Did this idiot pony lose her mind? Of course she wouldn't do the same. If anything, she would do anything and everything to make it worse. She would mock, jeer, tell her she deserved it. And she'd expected to Sunset to do the same. Instead, she got the opposite. She got comfort. She got pity. She got love. Adagio growled as, again, that word floated in her mind. Their time caring for Sonata had brought them close together. She remembered the night they first held hands. She remembered the burn of her cheeks as Sunset's lips touched hers. She remembered the way the stars shone when Sunset said “I love you.” Adagio had no idea how to respond. How could she respond? She thought, maybe, it was some sort of trick. Maybe, she had inadvertently cast some sort of spell over Sunset. Yet, there was something within her, however minute, that hinted that this may be real. Had she truly fallen in love with Sunset? Even so, if this were all true, why now? Why must she experience true love now? Her fist clenched, whether in despair or anger, she didn't know. “Is this some sick joke?” she hissed, “I'm dying, and now I experience love?” She was pulled from her thoughts by the shutting of a door. Sunset had returned. Adagio wasn't afraid she wouldn't. Even as much as she tried to push her away, Sunset always returned. “Adagio?” Adagio looked up to see Sunset in the doorway, book in hand. This was a different book from earlier, but one that Adagio recalled also seeing in the book bag. Sunset shuffled slightly before continuing, “That book wasn't the only one I brought from Equestria.” Adagio raised an eyebrow, “Oh?” Sunset opened her book and began reading: I look to the waves, the doorway to my home Below them lies a world much unknown Many have scratched the surface, though many have tried To go below, to where I live, no land dweller can survive. And, though I can live both on land and sea, I call the water home. It is where I was born, from where my kind comes. It is where Mother is; it is where our life lies... “And at the end,” finished Adagio, “it's where everyone dies.” She gestured for the book. Taking it, she flipped through its many pages. “Where did you find this?” “It was in the archaeological section of Princess Celestia's private library.” Adagio nodded slightly. Sunset had been making frequent trips to help catalog the former rulers' extensive collections. “It would appear,” Sunset continued, “at some time, someone did find your civilization. Many of your writings had been found and translated into Old Ponish. I asked Princess Twilight to have them translated into Modern Ponish.” She cocked her head slightly, “By the looks your giving, I take it you remember them.” “Most of them, yes. Many I've haven't heard in centuries. Some of these I'd almost completely forgotten. Have you read them?” Sunset shrugged, “A few, just to get a feel for what was what.” “They sound a lot better in their native language.” Sunset laughed, “They sounded worse in Old Ponish!” Adagio took Sunset's hand in hers. “I'm sorry,” she said, “I shouldn't have blown up on you like that.” Sunset shook her head. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been meddling in that spell behind your back.” “Let's just forget it, okay? We're both very emotionally overcharged.” “But—” “This is my fate, Sunset. I've accepted it, and I'm okay with it. I hope you can be, too.” Sunset nodded. “Now,” Adagio smiled, tugging at Sunset's arm, “get back into bed and I'll read you some of these.” “In a minute,” Sunset pulled back with a slight giggle, “Let me get some lunch first. I'm starving!” “Okay,” she let go, “but make it quick.” “Just gonna make a sandwich and come right back. You want anything?” Adagio shook her head, “No. I'm good. Maybe bring me a glass of water, though.” Sunset smiled, leaning down for a kiss, “You got it.” --- Adagio turned the pages of her book. She'd been through it several times, but each time she found something new. She laid back in her beach chair, her toes enjoying the cool evening sand. Not far away, a fire slowly died. Next to her, Sunset reclined on her own chair, slowly strumming her acoustic guitar. She had found the rhythm of the surf. Adagio listened as the waves and strings played in perfect harmony. She let out a sigh and watched as the sun slowly descended into the water. Sunset stopped playing to stoke the fire. “You want another marshmallow?” “Do you feel like eating another one?” “Why do you think I asked?” Adagio smiled, taking the stick with an impaled sugary puff, “I still don't know how you can eat a whole bag of these things.” “When you have a friend like Pinkie Pie, you'd be surprised just how much sugar you can actually eat. The key is to take it in slowly.” “You speak from experience?” Sunset chuckled as she resumed her strumming, “Let's just say, I've been sick more than a few times.” “Speaking of Pinkie Pie, I've been meaning to ask you. What do your friends think of all this?” The guitar took a sadder tone as Sunset let out a long sigh. “They were a little confused at first. I think as I explained the situation more to them, they slowly started to accept it.” “So, they know... about...” The chord faltered. “Yeah... I'm sorry, if I—” “No. It's okay. They should know. Not if it really means much to them.” “They were saddened to hear about Aria and Sonata. We'd speculated what'd happened to you after the battle of the bands. No one had ever thought that.” “Yeah, well, it was a bit of a surprise to us, too. No one really knew what happened to a Siren that lost its gem. There'd been stories, but they were all legend.” She checked on her toasting marshmallow. Not satisfied, she returned it to the fire. “I anticipate I'll have another episode tonight.” “Yeah... I've been thinking that, too. I'll have a bucket by the bed so you don't have to go all the way to the bathroom.” “That's twice now they've come at night.” “It does seem odd that you're fine during the day. Actually, I've noticed that you've been doing better since we got here.” “Think being by the ocean has something to do with it?” Sunset shrugged, “Maybe. Where's my marshmallow?” Adagio laughed, “Coming right up.” She gently removed the evenly golden brown ball of gooey sugary goodness from her roasting stick and popped it into Sunset's mouth. Sunset turned her eyes to her namesake, “It's beautiful tonight, isn't it?” “Yeah.” “This has always been my favorite time of day. Sometimes, I wish it could just last forever.” Adagio looked to Sunset. “...Yeah.”