Sunset sat in the silence, unsure how to break it. She noticed Adagio glance between different pictures on the wall with a lamenting stare. Each frame held photos of the sirens looking happier than ever before, even Aria had smiled in some of them. Sunset then examined the former siren quickly, noticing Adagio’s ribs were evident under the thin shirt she wore.
How could she let herself get to this point? Sunset knew she had to do something, but how? Getting Adagio to accept her help was a whole different dilemma. Suddenly a loud growl broke the silence, followed by a loud cough to try and cover the growl which Sunset had unhappily noticed.
Alright, guess it’s going to be a bit of a challenge to earn her trust.
“Adagio?”
Adagio turned her head to Sunset, before responding, “Yes, Sunset?”
Sunset pursed her lips, and looked at Adagio. “Maybe we should get some dinner, my treat?”
“I’m not that hungry so I am going to decline.” She looked down and sighed. “But thanks for offering.”
“That growl I heard says otherwise,” Sunset stated simply.
“It’s just a stomach, it can be wrong once in a while.”
She’s so prideful she’ll starve before accepting help. I need a different approach.
“Look, Adagio, you’re a strong girl, there’s no doubting that, but even the strongest of us still need to eat.”
“I’m eating fine.”
She’s soooooo in denial.
“Your body would beg to differ. I can already see your ribs.”
Adagio didn't respond immediately, but soon turned around with a smirk.
“Oh? So you like looking at my chest, do you?”
“Wha—I—bu—” Sunset stammered, a blush threatening to light up her face. ”Tha—no! That’s not it at all!”
Sunset went quiet and pursed her lips. She looked down, away from Adagio.
“Hey it was just a joke.” Adagio let her smirk fade and placed a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “Alright I’ll go with you to dinner.”
Sunset silently stood up and held her hand out to Adagio. This was met with Adagio shaking her head and standing up on her own. Sunset noticed Adagio tremble as she stood. She starts to reach out to catch Adagio if she falls but puts her hand back down in apprehension. What if me interfering causes Adagio to push me away?
But what if not interfering causes her more harm?
Sunset looked at Adagio and sighed quietly. She stayed close enough to Adagio yet still at a distance so she wouldn't catch on to Sunset’s worry. “So where would you go like to eat?”
“Anywhere but a Seafood joint.”
Adagio’s face looked as if she was violently ill. Sunset was quick to respond when she heard this. “Alright, no seafood.”
“And definitely not Sugarcube Corner,” Adagio stated quietly, “Sonata might find out about my situation through her friends from college that still go there.”
Sunset silently nodded at Adagio before she spoke again, “Alright I have an idea.”
Adagio looked at her with one of her hands on her hip. “Oh, and what is this idea you have?”
“There’s a pizza place not far from here.” Sunset grinned and moved towards the door.
Adagio looked down, trying not to show the limp in her step or the pain on her face as she trudged along after Sunset. What she didn't know was that Sunset noticed everything. Sunset smiled softly and held the door open for Adagio.
They were soon out of the house, and the door closed with a creak followed by a click of the lock.
Adagio and Sunset strode down the decrepit street in a silence broken only by their steady steps. The full moon overhead managed to break through the fog, providing a slight, but welcome illumination among the dark ruins. Sunset would regularly cast a glance at them, but Adagio seemed completely indifferent about the hollow homes. She must be used to them by now.
How long has she lived in this abandoned neighborhood?
She looked to her side, about to voice her question, but she paused when she saw Adagio holding her gut with a slightly pained expression.
“Are you okay?” Sunset asked before she placed a hand on Adagio’s shoulder, only to have it brushed off.
“I’m fine.”
Sunset didnt press the issue but she kept watch on Adagio out of the corner of her eye.
“Sooo… how long have you been out here in no man’s land?”
Adagio looked up at the moon before she let out a sigh. “Before even the battle of the bands. To be honest, I saw it and it was… quaint and not to mention they gave it to me for a cheap price when I still had my powers.”
“We didn’t care for it much at first. It was nothing like our home back in Equestria, but it was the best we could get around here. It only stood out from the rest of these ruins by having a roof with no holes and mostly intact windows. It took weeks of playing the hearts and minds of the natives enough to fix it up properly. We grew to like it with time, despite the sea being leagues away. “
Sunset listened intently as Adagio spoke of her home, a smile lighting up her face. However, she could see another wave of pain had washed over Adagio. Sunset didn’t want to pressure Adagio into telling her what was wrong, but she was becoming increasingly worried. Though this didn't stop Adagio from continuing.
“You remember when that carnival came to town a while back?” Sunset nods in response. “Well, Sonata dragged us to that one day. She just kept yapping about how fun it looked. Eventually we decided to humor her, if only for our ears’ sake. When we got there I wanted to take advantage of the crowds to feed our magic, and Aria was with me. But Sonata… she was adamant about having fun, and didn’t want us to ruin it with our feeding. It was the first time she stood up to us. I was impressed, if peeved. But it was that pleading look she gave us that sealed it. It’s impossible to say no to a sad Sonata. Aria still wanted to go through with the feeding, but I sided with Sonata, and even let her lead our little foray into fun, sans magic.”
Adagio smiled as she paused for a moment before continuing her nostalgic ramble. “She took us all around the place, stopping whenever something loud or colorful caught her eye. We played games to win little cheap prizes, like tossing a ring onto a bottle, or using a hammer to hit a lever to send a metal cylinder to fly up a pole to ring a bell. Heh, they sound a bit silly to say out loud. But it was actually fun, and it turned out Aria was the strongest of us, and she only got the cylinder half way up the pole.”
“There was lots of food around too. I knew it was bad for us, but I still couldn’t resist. Although it was rather foolish to go onto the rides right after, since most of them involved a lot of spinning. We were lucky we kept our junk food down. I still think the highlight of the visit came after a few minutes rest to get rid of our green faces.”
“I suppose it was inevitable that Sonata would find the fun house, it was too big and colorful for her to miss.”
Sunset smiled lightly as she quipped, “She does seem like a blue copy of Pinkie Pie.”
“She is kind of. Just not as extreme,” Adagio responded, chuckling lightly. “Now… where was I? Oh yes the Fun House.”
“My favorite part was the distorted mirror maze, although with the random jets of air going up my skirt it was kind of uncomfortable.” Adagio shivered lightly, though Sunset wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or if it was from the memory.
“Though when we got to the ball pit…” Adagio’s eyes go misty as her voice cracks. “that was the most fun we had, throwing balls at each other, pretending like we were back in the waters of Equestria…”
“I… I miss them.” Her voice quiets down fading into the memories. “I miss my sisters...”
Suddenly, Adagio goes quiet and her eyes close. “Adagio-” Sunset begins to speak only to stop abruptly at the sight of Adagio starting to stumble.
oh crap! I knew something was very wrong.
This didn't last long because a moment later Adagio was on the ground unresponsive to Sunset’s voice calling out her name.
Oh shit what do I do?!
“A-Adagio!”