Adagio Dazzle slowly opened her eyes as morning sunlight started to shine in through her window.
“Ugh, five more minutes.” She groggily said to no one in particular as she pulled the covers over her face.
Even though the covers provided her with the darkness she desired to try and get back to sleep, she found that it was already too late. She was awake now.
“Damn it.” She begrudgingly remarked as she threw the covers off of herself and greeted the morning.
As Adagio sat up in her bed and looked around the room, she found herself confused and a tad worried. This wasn’t her room in Sunset’s apartment.
W-what the hell? She nervously thought to herself as she tried to figure out where she was.
Just before full-blown panic started to set in, Adagio remembered that she was in her room; her new room, in her new house. That’s right, she and her sisters had finally moved into their new home on the emu farm.
“Oh thank goodness.” She said to herself in relief as she remembered where she was, gratefully that she hadn’t woken up on a cruise ship again like after that time Sonata had given her a slushie made entirely out of syrup.
Still feeling a little groggy, Adagio sluggishly got out of bed and grabbed her phone off of the nightstand. As she checked to see if she’d received any messages while she was asleep, she couldn’t help but notice what today’s date was.
“Oh no.” She timorously stated as she was filled with a newfound alertness.
Wasting no time, Adagio put her phone back down on the nightstand and proceeded to get dressed as quickly as possible. If today really was the day she thought it was, she needed to get out of the house and find somewhere to lay low before Aria got up. She had just finished getting her socks on when all of a sudden her bedroom door went flying open.
“HAPPY FESTIVUS!!!” Aria cheerfully shouted as she stood in the doorway with a large aluminum pole in her left hand.
“Oh damn it all to Hell.” Adagio quietly, and dejectedly, remarked, knowing that it was now too late for her to escape.
Yes, today was Festivus, Aria’s favorite holiday. Neither Adagio nor Sonata knew exactly how their sister had come across the holiday a few years back, only that once she had she’d fully embraced it and made them celebrate it every year. The Airing of Grievances, the Feats of Strength, it wasn’t difficult to see why Aria loved Festivus so much. Which was fine and all, except that, just maybe, she loved it a bit too much.
Every year since they’d started celebrating Festivus, Aria took the holiday’s traditions to the extreme. She’d always spend hours on the Airing of Grievances, going over all the problems she had with her sisters in great and strenuous detail, and when it came to the Feats of Strength…well, let’s just say that on more than one Festivus that tradition ended with trip to the hospital.
“Come on, sis!” Aria gaily said to Adagio with a cheery smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye as she held out the aluminum pole in front of her. “We have to put up the Festivus pole!”
Before Adagio could get a word in edgewise about why Aria needed help putting up the Festivus pole, her sister ran out into the hallway like a giddy schoolgirl, humming an upbeat tune that she wasn’t familiar with. For some reason the upbeat tune caused memories of Festivuses past to invade her mind, which then caused her to dawn a frightened expression.
“I need to get out of here.” She vexingly said to herself.
As Adagio finished getting dressed, she frantically tried to think of some reason, some excuse, for why she couldn’t partake in all of the Festivus festivities. The first thing, and perhaps best thing, that she thought of was to say that it was her day to go to CHS, the only problem with that though it that it wasn’t her day; it was Sonata’s, and Aria knew that.
“Maybe Sonata will let me go in her place?” She pondered aloud, thinking that her sister might not want to go to school since Rainbow Dash would be there.
Sonata and Rainbow Dash still hadn’t made up after the whole Dolly incident a few days ago. Hell, the two of them hadn’t even spoken since the incident, on account of Rainbow Dash asking for some alone time while she thought about their relationship. As much as Sonata wanted to either call or see Rainbow in order to apologize to her for failing to tell her about her daughter, she respected the girlfriend’s wishes and gave her some space, much to her own dismay.
In the time since Rainbow told her to leave her alone, Sonata sank into a deep depression the likes of which she’d never felt before. She spent almost all of her time alone in her room, mostly only coming out for meals and bathroom breaks, and even when she did come out for sisterly activities like watching TV together she was always so gloomy and miserable the whole time. Both Adagio and Aria wanted to help her, but neither felt it was their place to meddle in their sister’s relationship.
“Hmmm.” Adagio muttered as she considered asking Sonata if she’d let her go to school today in her place.
The more she thought about it though, the more Adagio thought it was a bad idea. The absolute last thing Sonata needed to be subjected to right now was Festivus, and if she went to school today instead of her that’s exactly what she’d be subjected to.
“Wait a minute.” She said as a worrying thought came to mind. “If Aria barged in on me, then did she also…oh no.”
Adagio hastily finished getting dressed and ran out into the hallway towards Sonata’s room, fearful that Aria, in all her Festivus-loving madness, may have already done something incredibly callous.
“Sonata?” Adagio said as she knocked on her sisters bedroom door.
There was no answer.
“Sonata?” She repeated, a bit louder this time, as she slowly opened the door.
Still no answer.
As Adagio entered the room, she turned on the lights to find Sonata still in bed, curled up in a fetal position with the covers wrapped tightly around her. Under normal circumstances such a depressing sight would be cause for concern, but in this instance she found it to be a good sign, since it meant that Aria hadn’t barged in on Sonata like she had with her.
“Hey, Adagio.” Sonata morosely said from her curled up position, not even bothering to look up at her sister. “Sorry I’m not up yet.”
“No, no, it’s fine.” Adagio imperturbably assured her as she walked over to her and took a seat on the edge of the bed. “I just wanted to make sure Aria hadn’t come barging into your room is all.”
“Why would she do that?” Sonata passively asked, still not bothering to lift her head up.
“Because today’s…Festivus.” Adagio hesitantly explained, expecting Sonata to have the same reaction she’d had to the news.
“Oh, okay.” Sonata simply, and apathetically, replied.
The lack of almost any emotion in Sonata’s response was very alarming to Adagio. Normally Sonata took the news of Festivus even worse than she did, but not this time. It was a clear sign to her that her sister’s depression was getting worse, which only caused her worry to grow.
“It’s my day at school today, isn’t it?” Sonata flatly stated as she uncurled herself and sat up. “I better get ready to go.”
Even though Sonata sounded completely indifferent about having to go to CHS today, Adagio could tell that she didn’t want to, on account of the fact that she might bump into Rainbow Dash there. Her first instinct was to tell her sister that she’d go in her place if she wanted, but given that she was trying to keep her away from the Festivus-crazed Aria, that wasn’t an option. Go to CHS and chance encountering Rainbow Dash, or stay at home and celebrate Festivus with Aria; it seemed like Sonata’s day was destined to be bad no matter what.
And then there was Adagio herself. As much as she wanted to help Sonata, she couldn’t ignore her own well-being in the process, and if she stayed at home with Aria today her well-being would most definitely be in jeopardy.
All-in-all, both Adagio and Sonata looked to be screwed. It would take a Festivus miracle to make today anything other than anguishing for them.
“Can you maybe give me a ride, Adagio.” Sonata aloofly asked her sister as she got out of bed. “I don’t think I feel up to making the long drive today.”
And just like that, Adagio got an idea. An idea that could possibly turn their lose-lose situation into a win-win.
“Why don’t I just go to school with you, Sonata?” She delicately suggested. “No offense, but you don’t seem very…motivating right now.”
“Yeah, okay.” Sonata indifferently replied just as she headed out the door and down the hallway, presumably towards the bathroom to shower.
Now alone in Sonata’s room, Adagio let out a sigh of contentment. She was happy that she’d thought of a way to get away from the Festivus festivities - for a while at least - without making Sonata take her place, but she knew that today was still going to be rough. And the first thing that was going to be rough about it? Telling Aria that she’d be alone for most of Festivus.
“Well, best just get this over with.” She capitulated as she got up, walked out of the room, and headed for the living room.
Once Adagio reached the living room, she found that Aria was still humming the upbeat tune from earlier as she put up the Festivus pole. This was perhaps the most confusing aspect of Festivus to her. She never understood why you put up an undecorated aluminum pole to celebrate Festivus. However, if she was being completely honest, she didn’t mind it that much since it wasn’t near a gaudy as a Christmas tree would be.
Adagio didn’t much care for Christmas trees on account of the all the tinsel used to decorate them. She found tinsel distracting.
“Teeheehee!” Aria happily squealed once the pole was up, clapping her hands together in delight.
The sight of Aria so uncharacteristically joyful sent a chill down Adagio’s spine. She didn’t have a problem with her sister being happy, obviously, but seeing her this happy was just downright unsettling.
“Oh, hey, sis!” Aria merrily said as she turned around and noticed Adagio standing a few feet away from her. “Sorry I didn’t wait for you, but I was just so excited that couldn’t help myself! Isn’t the pole beautiful?!”
“Oh yes, beautiful.” Adagio tepidly replied, humoring Aria before taking a deep breath in order to break her news to her. “Listen, Aria, I’m going with Sonata to school today so you’ll be on your own for most of Festivus.”
And with that, Aria’s cheerful expression suddenly transformed into one of pain and confusion.
“W-WHAT?!” She dismally asked as she braced herself on a nearby chair. “B-but it’s Festivus! I-I mean I figured Sonata might not be up for it, b-but I thought at least you and I would get to spend it together!”
Admittedly, it broke Adagio’s heart a little to see her sister so distraught. Festivus was a pain in her ass, to be sure, but it was something that meant a lot to Aria and telling her that she’d be spending it alone wasn’t easy.
“I’m sorry about this, Aria.” She solemnly said as she approached her sister and placed both her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “But you know how Sonata’s been ever since Rainbow Dash said she needed a break from their relationship. She’s not in the Festivus mood and she can’t very well be a motivational speaker in the state she’s currently in.”
There was a brief moment of silence as Aria considered her sister’s words. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Adagio was right.
“Yeah, I get it.” She dejectedly acknowledged.
Much to Adagio’s surprise, Aria now looked like she was about to cry. She knew her sister would be upset by her news, but she didn’t think it’d be to the extent of tears.
“Look, I promise that you and I will celebrate Festivus when we get back tonight, alright?” She assured her with a warm smile.
Aria perked up a bit when she heard that Adagio would still spend at least part of Festivus with her. She returned the warm smile and proceeded to swiftly wrap her sister in a jovial hug.
“Alright.” She merrily replied, not quite as merrily as before but still pretty merrily.
Adagio silently returned the hug as she and Aria shared a surprisingly pleasant moment on this Festivus morning. Typically by this point they’d already be on the Airing of Grievances, but this was a much nicer alternative. The hug didn’t last that long though and when it was broken Adagio noticed a single tear flow down Aria’s cheek, but it seemed to be more a tear of joy than a tear of sadness.
“I’m ready when you are, Adagio.” Sonata suddenly said as she walked through the living room towards the front door, not stopping or pausing in the slightest. “Happy Festivus, Aria.”
“T-thanks, Sonata.” Aria hesitantly said back just as her sister walked out the door.
That single interaction between them was all Aria needed to realize just how bad Sonata was still feeling. It pained her to see her sister so sad, and on Festivus of all days.
“I better get going.” Adagio spoke up as she started to follow Sonata out the door. “See you tonight, Aria.”
“Adagio, wait!” Aria called out to her sister just before she left the house, causing Adagio to stop and turn around. “I know you’re worried about Sonata, I am too, but…are you sure she isn’t in the mood to celebrate Festivus? Maybe it’ll be good for her to celebrate it.”
Adagio could tell that Aria sincerely meant what she was saying, that she truly believed Festivus could help Sonata feel better. It warmed her heart to see her so concerned about Sonata like this and wanting to help her, but she wasn’t convinced that making their sister celebrate Festivus would do her any good.
“I don’t think Festivus is the solution to Sonata’s problems, Aria.” She empathetically told her sister.
And with that, Adagio turned back around and walked out the door, mentally preparing for her day with Sonata.
To say that the drive to school so far was uncomfortable for Adagio was perhaps the understatement of the year. Almost the whole trip up until this point had been filled with an awkward silence so tense you could cut it with a knife. The Dazzling leader had tried to get conversation going a few times, but every time she did Sonata had simply given short, uninterested responses that didn’t leave the door open for further communication.
Given that they were only about halfway to school so far, Adagio knew she couldn’t take much more of the silence. She’d considered turning on the radio, but she quickly dismissed that idea after remembering how bad most modern music was. No, the only way to break the silence was through talking, and unless she wanted to simply talk to herself, she needed to find something that Sonata would actually want to talk about.
“So how’s Dolly.” She eventually spoke up, hoping that the subject of her daughter would stimulate some real conversation. “I didn’t get a chance to really catch up with her when she showed up the other day.”
“She’s fine.” Sonata passively replied as she stared out the window. “She said she’s in her last year of school to become a marine biologist, so that’s good I guess.”
Success. Adagio happily thought to herself, glad she’d finally found something Sonata was willing to talk about.
“Marine biologist, huh?” She said aloud, trying to keep the conversation alive. “That sounds like a tough career to pursue, but if anyone can handle it it’s Dolly.”
“Uh-huh.” Sonata simply said in response.
And just like that, the conversation was in danger of dying again. Adagio frantically tried to think of some kind of comment or remark she could make that would keep the conversation alive. Maybe something about how smart Dolly is? Or how nice of a day it was? Anything to keep the silence from returning.
“I’m a fuck up, Adagio.” Sonata randomly stated before she could think of something to say.
“W-what?” She confusingly replied, wondering where such an incredibly self-deprecating comment came from.
“I said, ‘I’m a fuck up’.” Sonata reiterated, sounding more wounded this time. “I fucked things up so badly with my daughter all those years ago that I drove her away, and even though I’ve reconciled with her I’ve done the same thing with my girlfriend now. All I do is hurt the people I care about most. I shouldn’t be allowed to have loving relationships.”
This was a completely new level of depression that Adagio had never seen before. To hear Sonata, of all people, say such things…it was genuinely heartbreaking.
“You’re not a fuck up, Sonata.” She gently said as she took her right hand off the steering wheel for a moment and placed it one her sister’s knee in a sign of support. “You’ve made some mistakes, sure, but who hasn’t?”
“Normal people don’t make the kinds of mistakes I’ve made.” Sonata meekly retorted as tears started to run down her cheeks, the only visible sign of any emotion on her face. “Normal people don’t tell their child they wish they’d never had them, or keep their child’s existence a secret from the one they love.”
Adagio hated to admit it, but Sonata might have been right on that point. But even if she was, it still didn’t mean that she was a fuck up, or that she didn’t deserve to have loving relationships.
“Sonata, you’re my sister and I care about you a lot.” Adagio solemnly stated as she took her hand off her sister’s knee and placed it back on the steering wheel. “And it pains me to see you beating yourself up like this. I won’t lie to you and say that the mistakes you’ve made haven’t been…big, but I will tell you with 100% honesty that I think you and Rainbow Dash will works things out, one way or another.”
Sonata didn’t respond right away.
“You don’t know that.” She eventually said.
“You’re right, I don’t.” Adagio admitted. “But it’s not about knowing, it’s about believing.”
Adagio’s words caught Sonata completely off guard. She quickly turned her attention from the window to her sister and stared at her with a surprised expression through tear-stained eyes.
“I don’t know what will happen between you and Rainbow Dash.” Adagio continued. “I don’t know if you’ll get back together or break up for good or what. But I believe that you two will be okay.”
It wasn’t just Adagio’s words that surprised Sonata, it was also the level of conviction behind them. She’d never heard her sister talk like this before, but she could tell that it was all completely genuine. Adagio really and truly did believe that, despite all current evidence to the contrary, she and Rainbow Dash would weather this storm in their relationship.
“W-what makes you believe that?” She hesitantly asked, curious about what the reason behind her sister’s belief was.
“Because I have faith, Sonata.” Adagio earnestly answered. “I don’t know exactly what it is I have faith in, but I do have faith in something; call it God, the Will of the Universe, the Force, or just plain Love. Whatever it is, I have faith that it will make sure you and Rainbow Dash stay together.”
Sonata didn’t know what to say. She’d never seen this side of Adagio before, a side that placed her beliefs in something greater than herself. One thing was certain though; she was moved by it. So much so that she started to feel like a great weight was beginning to lift from her mind.
“Thanks, Dagi.” She gratefully said through fresh tears, these ones tears of joy. “If you weren’t driving right now I’d hug you.”
Happy that her words seemed to have reached her sister, Adagio quickly flashed Sonata a tender smile.
“Don’t mention it.” She sedately said. “After all, what are sisters for?”
After that heartwarming, sisterly moment, the rest of the drive to CHS was spent mostly in silence again. However, Adagio didn’t mind it so much now, since it was no longer awkward.
“Thanks for the ride, Dagi.” Sonata gratefully told her sister as they pulled into the faculty lot at CHS. “Listen, I know you said you’d stay with me today, but I think I’m okay now if you want to go home instead.”
“NO!” Adagio inadvertently shouted just as she’d pulled into an available parking space and put the car in park.
“O-okay then.” Sonata gingerly replied.
Realizing just how loud her response had been, Adagio quickly regained her composure and looked over at her sister.
“I mean, no, that’s fine, Sonata.” She more calmly said. “I’m glad that you’re feeling better now, but I’d still prefer to stay with you today. Just to make sure you’re really okay.”
At first, Sonata was touched that Adagio still wanted to spend the day with her out of concern for her well-being. But then she remembered what awaited her sister at home today, and she felt less touched as she dawned a deadpan expression.
“You don’t want to go home and spend Festivus alone with Aria, do you?” She impassively asked.
“W-well, that’s a small part of it, yes.” Adagio anxiously admitted. “But I’m primarily concerned about you.”
Sonata’s eyes narrowed as she continued to stare intensely at Adagio, as if scanning her for any signs of insincerity.
“Well, I can’t say I blame you for not wanting to go home right now.” She offhandedly said as she broke her intense stare and opened her door. “Come on, let’s go.”
Adagio gave a small sigh of relief as she too opened her door, happy that Sonata wasn’t upset with her and that she didn’t have to go back home.
The two Dazzlings then proceeded to enter the school and made their way towards their office like usual. As they walked through the hallways though, they couldn’t help but notice a few students staring at them and whispering to one another as they passed by.
“Does one of us have gum in our hair or something?” Sonata eventually asked her sister as the number of gawking student started to concern her.
Adagio had a pretty good idea why so many students were staring and whispering; it had to do with Sonata and Rainbow Dash’s relationship troubles. It’s no secret that relationship drama spreads like wildfire throughout high schools, and given how much time had passed since Sonata and Rainbow’s troubles began, it was a fairly safe bet to assume that the entire student body knew about them by now.
The thought that everyone knew about her relationship woes didn’t even seem to cross Sonata’s mind however, and if that was the case Adagio wasn’t going to say anything that might upset her sister.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” She dismissively answered Sonata as they continued walking, trying to ignore all the unwanted attention.
Just as Adagio and Sonata turned the last corner that lead to the hallway where their office was, they both bumped into someone. The resulting collision caused them, and the person they bumped into, to fall backwards and onto their butts.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sor-” Sonata began to apologize before she realized who she’d bumped into.
“Seriously, Sonata?” Rainbow Dash irately said as she picked herself up off the floor. “You’re going to try that old cliché?”
“W-what?” Sonata disquietly asked as she quickly picked herself up as well, followed by Adagio.
“Oh don’t pretend like you weren’t trying to pull the ‘I accidentally bumped into you, can we talk’ cliché.” Rainbow irritably clarified as she started to walk around the two Dazzlings. “I told you not to bother me until I’m ready to talk, and I’m not ready to talk.”
Adagio glared fiercely at Rainbow Dash as she walked away. She understood that the girl was upset, but that kind of attitude was just plain churlish. Once Rainbow was out of sight, she turned her attention to her sister.
“Sonata, are you okay?” She concernedly asked.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” Sonata unemotionally answered, sounding just like she had earlier.
“Are you sure?” Adagio inquired as her concern grew.
“Uh-huh.” Sonata plainly replied as she started walking down the hall. “Come on, let’s just get this day over with.”
Adagio didn’t follow her sister though. She just stood there in the hallway, unable to believe what had just happened. After all the progress Sonata had made this morning in getting over her depression, it only took one bad moment with Rainbow Dash to undo it and send her right back into the void.
The whole thing made Adagio feel…angry. So angry, in fact, that she decided she was going to find Rainbow Dash and give her a piece of her mind, even if it meant she was going to be meddling in her sister’s relationship. Without wasting another second, she turned around and headed in the direction she’d seen Rainbow walking when she left.
It didn’t take Adagio long to find Rainbow Dash. Not surprisingly, she found the Rainboom at her locker getting her things together for first period, thankfully alone. Once she was close enough, she reached out a hand and slammed Rainbow’s locker shut just as the girl removed a book from within it.
“What the hell was that back there?” She asked with a quiet fury as she removed her hand from the locker door.
“Really?” Rainbow Dash blasely replied, seemingly unaffected by Adagio’s asperity. “You still think I’m going to believe that you two just happened to accidentally run into me like that? Well sorry, no dice.”
“That was an accident.” Adagio passionately explained. “Do you think Sonata would try and pull something like that after doing nothing but respecting your wishes for space over these past few days?”
Rainbow had to admit, it did seem unlikely that Sonata would try and pull a stunt like that now of all times. Still though, she couldn’t rule out the possibility that either Adagio or Aria had talked her into doing it.
“Well, whatever.” She said. “I’m still not ready to talk to Sonata again, so don’t bother telling me to do that.”
“I’m not here to tell you to do anything.” Adagio sternly told her. “I’m just here to share my two cents with you, and you’re going to listen to me.”
As much as Rainbow Dash didn’t like that she was being told what she was or wasn’t going to do, she could tell how serious Adagio was and decided it best to just listen to whatever it was she had to share.
“Okay, I’m listening.” She replied, trying to sound as steadfast as possible.
Adagio took a quick, deep breath as she prepared to say her piece.
“I get that you’re upset that Sonata didn’t tell you about Dolly.” She started off. “If I were in your shoes, I’d probably feel the same way. But let me ask you something: When you told Sonata to leave you alone, did you, for even a single second, think about how that would make her feel?”
“Of course I did.” Rainbow bluntly replied.
“And?” Adagio asked.
“And what?” Rainbow Dash asked back.
“And how did you think that would make Sonata feel?” Adagio clarified.
Rainbow had to pause for a moment to think about that. She could remember the phone call when she’d told Sonata she needed a break from their relationship as clear as day, but for some reason she couldn’t quite remember what had been going through her head at the time as clearly.
“Um…bad…I guess.” She halfheartedly answered, both sounding and looking uncertain.
It wasn’t difficult for Adagio to pick up on Rainbow’s doubtfulness. In fact, the Dazzling had been expecting such feelings to manifest as she asked her questions.
“So, you did what you did with the intent of hurting Sonata then?” She quizzically asked.
“Yes!” Rainbow fervidly answered. “I mean, no! I mean…I don’t know!”
At this point, Rainbow Dash was just downright confused, so much so that she grabbed ahold of her head with both hands as she felt a headache coming on. She honestly couldn’t remember if she’d meant to hurt Sonata with her actions or not. She didn’t want to believe that she had, but given how emotional she was at the time it was entirely possible.
Adagio just stared at the now perturbed Rainbow Dash for a few seconds before speaking up again.
“I don’t think you wanted to hurt Sonata, not really.” She told the Rainboom, with a little more compassion in her voice now. “I think you were just feeling slighted by her and, in the heat of the moment, you wanted to slight her back.”
Rainbow didn’t say anything in response at first. Instead, she just made a low groaning sound as she lowered her hands and lightly banged her head against her locker.
“You’re right.” She painfully admitted. “When I told Sonata to leave me alone I did it because I wanted to make her feel as hurt as I was feeling.”
It was then that Rainbow removed her head from her locker, turned around, leaned back against the lockers, and slowly slide down them.
“What the hell is wrong with me?” She asked as she reached the ground, feeling tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes.
“You’re human, that’s what.” Adagio sympathetically said as she sat down next to Rainbow Dash.
Feeling like she was going to start crying at any moment, Rainbow folded her arms across her knees and rested her head against them.
“Despite what’s happened, I still love Sonata and I want to work things out with her, I really do.” She confessed. “But I’m still hurt that she kept her daughter a secret from me, and I’m sure she’s sorry for that, but…I just don’t know if I can forgive her.”
Adagio didn’t know what to do. It was clear to her that Rainbow and Sonata desperately needed to talk about things, and soon, but she didn’t think that taking the Rainboom to see her sister right now would do either of them any good. Forcing either of them into a conversation when they weren’t ready for it could have disastrous and irreversible consequences. What they needed a…parley of sorts, a specified time where they could express their feelings and air their grievances in a safe place.
Wait a minute. She thought as she suddenly got an idea.
“Rainbow Dash, have you ever heard of Festivus?” She asked the girl.
“Festiwhat?” Rainbow confusingly said as she lifted her head up and looked at Adagio with a befuddled expression.
“Festivus.” Adagio reiterated. “It’s this holiday Aria always makes us celebrate. It’s toady, and there’s a part of it called the Airing of Grievances where we all express our dissatisfaction with each other.”
Rainbow’s confusion only grew stronger as Adagio explained Festivus and the Airing of Grievances, finding it hard to believe that anyone would celebrate such a holiday.
“I know this is going to sound crazy.” Adagio continued. “But I think you should come celebrate Festivus with us tonight and tell Sonata how you feel during the Airing of Grievances.”
There was a few seconds of silence before Rainbow Dash responded.
“Huh?” Rainbow simply said in her bewildered state.
“Just…just please think about it, okay?” Adagio practically pleaded with the Rainboom.
There was another few seconds of silence that was only broken when the bell for first period rang, causing Rainbow to stand up from her spot on the floor.
“I’ll think about it.” She sincerely said to Adagio just before heading off to class.
As Adagio watched Rainbow leave, she got up from the floor as well and gave an exhausted sigh, hoping that she hadn’t made a mistake by inviting Rainbow Dash to celebrate Festivus with her and her sisters.
“This is crazy, Adagio.” Aria said as she and Adagio set the table for Festivus dinner. “I mean, I’m all for Festivus miracles and everything, but this idea of yours is…a little out there.”
“I know it is.” Adagio acknowledged as she finished placing all the utensils on the table. “But it may be the only way for Sonata and Rainbow to get past all this. They need to get everything they're feeling off their chests, and isn’t that what the Airing of Grievances is all about?”
“Well, yeah.” Aria admitted as she finished placing the plates. “But are you sure that the Airing of Grievances is the best way to go about that?”
“No, I’m not.” Adagio admittedly replied as she looked over towards Sonata, who was wistfully sitting alone in the living room. “But I have to believe it will work.”
Aria gave a defeated sigh as she too looked over towards her mopey sister.
“And Sonata’s okay with this?” She asked Adagio.
“She wasn’t exactly thrilled when I told her about it, but she didn’t object or anything.” Adagio replied just before a knock was heard at the door.
All three Dazzlings immediately turned their attention to the front door, but none of them moved to answer it. A second series of knocks were heard a few moments later, prompting Adagio to reluctantly be the one to go and answer the door.
As Adagio approached the door, Sonata silently got up and made her way into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table as she prepared to celebrate Festivus. Aria did likewise and took a seat at the table as well.
Just before she opened the door, Adagio took a deep breath and silently prayed to whatever might be listening for a Festivus miracle.
“Hi.” Rainbow Dash flatly greeted her once she’d opened the door.
“Hi.” She a bit more warmly greeted backed as she stepped to the side to let her guest in. “Thanks for coming.”
“I just hope you’re right about this.” Rainbow said as she entered the Dazzling household.
“You and me both.” Adagio muttered under her breath as she closed the door.
Seeing Sonata and Aria sitting at the kitchen table, Rainbow Dash headed over that way, figuring that that was where the festivities would begin.
“Hey, Rainbow.” Aria awkwardly greeted her friend as she entered the kitchen.
“Hey, Aria.” Rainbow awkwardly greeted back as she took a seat at the table next to her and opposite Sonata.
Sonata didn’t greet Rainbow, nor did Rainbow greet Sonata. All they did was exchange pained looks with one another for the briefest of moments.
“Okay now that we’re all here, we can begin.” Adagio said as entered the room and took her seat opposite Aria and next to Sonata and Rainbow. “Aria?”
Aria gave an acknowledging nod as she stood up and prepared to speak.
“The tradition of Festivus begins with the Airing of Grievances.” She announced to the room, just before turning her attention to Rainbow Dash. “And since we have a guest this year, we’ll let her air her grievances first.”
And with that, Aria sat back down and yielded the floor to Rainbow.
It took a moment for Rainbow Dash to steel herself before she was ready to stand up and speak. Both Adagio and Aria focused their attention on the girl as she did stand up, but Sonata just stared at the table.
“Sonata.” Rainbow started off, causing the pony-tailed Dazzling to blench. “I…I’m mad at you for not telling me about your daughter. You chose to keep such a monumental aspect of your life from me, and it makes me feel like you don’t trust me. It makes me feel like…like you don’t love me enough to share every part of yourself with me.”
Rainbow’s word were like daggers piercing Sonata’s heart, which caused her to start crying.
“I shouldn’t have been so mean to you though.” Rainbow continued as she too started to shed tears. “No matter how much I felt hurt by you, I shouldn’t have hurt you back the way I did, so I’m sorry for that.”
This unexpected apology caused Sonata to quickly bring up her head and stare at Rainbow Dash through tear-stained eyes.
“I love you, Sonata, more than anything.” Rainbow said as she stared back at her girlfriend. “And I want to forgive you because I know, deep down in my heart, that you didn’t mean to hurt me, but it’s hard for me to do that. I’ve never been hurt like this before and…and I just don’t know if I’m capable of forgiving this level of hurt.”
And with that, Rainbow Dash sat back down.
“O-okay then.” Aria awkwardly said. “Sonata?”
In a heartbeat, Sonata stood up and began to speak.
“Dashie, I admit that I was hurt by the way you acted towards me.” She solemnly started to say. “But I’m not mad about it for two reasons; one, because I’ve learned that nothing good comes from holding onto anger, and two, because I know that you love me and that you only acted that way because you were upset.”
The emotion in the room was so heavy now that even Adagio and aria started to feel like they were going to tear up.
“I’m sorry I never told you about Dolly.” Sonata emotionally continued. “Even if she hadn’t been a part of my life for so many years, I still should have told you about her. I know that I hurt you, and if you feel that you can’t forgive me I understand, but even if we break up I…I just need you to know that I’ll always love you.”
By now, Sonata was so overcome with emotion that she felt like she could barely remain standing. She was just about to sit back down when Rainbow Dash all of a sudden got up on the table, knelt down, and quickly embraced her in a hug.
“Oh Sonata.” The rainbow-haired teen wept as she held the love of her life. “I forgive you. With all my heart and soul, I forgive you.”
“Dashie.” Was all Sonata could say before she too began to weep uncontrollably, returning her girlfriend’s hug and feeling a joy she’d never felt before.
As the reunited couple shared their emotional moment, Adagio and Aria just looked at each other and silently agreed to give the two girls a moment. They each got up from their seat and quickly made their way down the hall, deciding to duck into Adagio’s room.
“Well I’ll be.” Aria commented as she wiped a tear from her eye. “A genuine Festivus miracle.”
“Thank heavens.” Adagio said in relief as she sat down on her bed, slightly hyperventilating. “For a few moments there I thought things were going to go south real quick.”
Sensing her sister’s mild distress, Aria took a seat next to Adagio and placed a sympathetic hand on her knee.
“You’re a good sister, Adagio.” She warmly said. “Happy Festivus.”
“Happy Festivus, Aria.” Adagio warmly replied back as she gave her sister a quick hug, which Aria returned.
After their little sisterly moment, Aria got up and walked a few feet in front of Adagio.
“Okay, now it’s time for the Feats of Strength.” She casually said.
“Wait, what?” Adagio perplexingly asked her sister as a sense of dread came over her.
“Come on sis, you know how tradition goes.” Aria said as she cracked her knuckles. “After the Airing of Grievances we do the Feats of Strength, and since Sonata and Rainbow are having a moment, that just leaves you and me.”
Adagio couldn’t believe it. After everything that just happened, Aria wanted the two of them to wrestle?
“M-maybe we can just skip the Feats of Strength this year?” She timidly suggested.
“No can do.” Aria casually answered as she got into a wrestling stance. “Festive can’t end until you pin me, Adagio.”
It would have been easy for Adagio to just get up and leave, but instead she decided to be a good sister and wrestle Aria. She got up from the bed and assumed a stance similar to that of her sister’s as she prepared to perform the Feats of Strength.
Damn Festivus. She thought to herself just before she lunged at Aria, wishing that this holiday would end quickly.