//------------------------------// // The Coming Storm // Story: Father // by Craine //------------------------------// Skin flakey and dry. Muscles sore and weak. Hair frayed and split. The last three days were not kind to Adagio. Normally, if even a skin cell was out of place, she’d shower for two hours and obliterate the electric bill blow drying her hair. Now, she didn’t care. There was no need. Three days of darkness, pacing around her bed, and staring at the only other thing she hadn’t packed: a picture of her and her sisters, smothered by twelve constricting arms. All smiling, even Aria, who had so clearly tried not to. She sat at her bed’s edge, a smile tugging her lips, tired eyes sweeping across it. Strangely, Adagio never paid attention to all the details before. The glaring sun, that Rarity worried had ‘destroyed the quality’. The huddled, unprofessional posses that, again, Rarity fretted over. Even though she was the one holding two fingers behind Rainbow Dash’s head. Adagio’s smile broadened. Then a drop of liquid hit the picture. With a small gasp, Adagio wiped the tear from her cheek and dropped the picture. She groaned quietly and lay on her queen-sized bed proper, arms and legs lazily spread. Knock, knock, knock. Adagio threw her forearms over her eyes, expecting harsh rays of light. Her door opened, and in came soft footsteps. “Close the door,” Adagio said It was gently closed. Those footsteps came closer and stopped at her bed. “Dagi…?” Adagio didn’t respond, she just shifted a little. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.” The eldest siren let her arms flop, and she turned her head to a bedraggled Sonata. The wringing hands, untied hair, and dried tear streaks did something to Adagio. It always did. “It’s oka―” “No it isn’t,” Sonata insisted, hands still winging. “You were only doing what Father asked. I know you wouldn’t tell him about our friends on purpose. I shouldn’t blame you, ever.” Adagio shivered at the memory of seeing her father again, and suddenly remembered how lonely she’d been the last three days. “Come here.” Sonata did something she hadn’t done in over a week. She smiled. She walked over, lay in bed, and pressed herself almost desperately against her older sister. Adagio squirmed only a little, and wrapped an arm around Sonata. “Where’s your sister?” Adagio asked. “Studying.” Adagio blinked. “Hold on. What? Her?” “Yeah. She said it helps her forget.” Adagio blinked again, but settled back down with a smile. “So that’s why she’s been flunking social studies?” Sonata smiled back. “Nah. Pretty sure it’s because she hates everyone.” Adagio had almost forgotten what laughter felt like, yet there she was, trying to quash it down in her chest. She pulled Sonata closer, and the blue girl nestled her head beneath her sister’s chin. There was silence for a time. “I called her, Dagi,” Sonata mutter. Adagio looked down at her. “Did you? How did it―” “I hung up before it rang, though...” “Ah.” Sonata shivered in Adagio’s grip. “I…I wouldn’t know what to say. I don’t know how to talk to her anymore. We used to talk all the time, but now…” “Pinkie Pie only yelled at you because she cares. You know that, don’t you?” Sonata sighed. “Yeah… I know.” The door flew open, and Adagio hissed at the light bursting into the room. “Am I interrupting?” Adagio craned her head up with squinted eyes. “Close the door, Aria.” Aria took a long hissing breath through her nose. “No.” And with that, she sauntered in. The eldest siren’s head flopped back down in defeat, and Aria stopped beside the snuggling pair. Her eyes fell to the floor. She bent down and took a familiar photo in her hands. Her stare lingered on the picture. “So this is what you’ve been doing the last three days?” Aria asked, walking around the other side of the bed. Adagio smirked and said, “Well, I could’ve wasted my time preparing to fail another social studies test.” “Bite me.” Sonata giggled. The bed bounced when Aria sat. Adagio turned her head to the second eldest siren, only just noticing her hair―also untied. Aria stared at the picture in silence. “You know, there’s a ‘take a picture’ joke here somewhere, but that’s beneath me,” Adagio jeered. Aria whipped her head around and frowned at her sister. That frown immediately crumbled into a tired pout, though. “Shut up and make room.” Aria lay in bed, rolled closer, and nestled viciously against the yellow woman. Adagio’s breath hitched for but a moment. She relaxed, opened her free arm, and let her sister nestle in closer. There the three lay, the eldest holding her sisters close. Their breaths quiet, synchronized. “We should go back to school.” The younger sirens shot Adagio a look, both seeming prepared to protest. They relaxed back into her embrace. “What’s the point?” Aria muttered. “We’re probably suspended for being gone all week.” Adagio said nothing. “Besides,” Sonata added, “we’d be up to our necks in makeup work. And I’ve already been skipping algebra. Did I ever mention how much I hate math?” Adagio closed her eyes. “That’s not what I meant, girls…” Again, it was quiet, both Sonata and Aria tensing in their sister’s embrace. “You think...you think we should tell them?” Sonata asked. “About father? “No,” Adagio replied. Aria frown into her sister’s chest. “Then I reiterate; what’s the point?” Adagio realized, right then, that she hadn’t thought the proposal through. At all. “Today. Tomorrow. Weeks. Months. Decades? We don’t know when he’s coming, and neither do they. They’re… happy. And they should stay that way until…” Sonata looked up at her sister, nestling more into her chin. “What are you saying, Dagi?” The yellow siren closed her eyes. “I don’t know.” Aria kept her frown at Adagio’s chest. “You want to spend time with them before they die. That it?” Adagio opened her eyes and glared at the ceiling like it was to blame. “That’s not what I meant.” Aria grabbed her sister’s white T-shirt and squeezed. “Might as well, ‘cause we’re never gonna see them again.” Adagio felt Sonata’s breaths quicken. “Don’t say that, Ari…” the blue girl whispered. “Oh, wake up.” Aria said. “You heard Adagio; he’s gonna kill them all and take us away. Even if, by some miracle, they survive, we’ll be long gone, stuck in the Great Sleep for who knows how many eons. Again.” Sonata started to shake, and Aria slumped even further into Adagio’s embrace. “We’ll never see them again…” she repeated in a whisper. “Quit being so naive.” The moment she saw Sonata frown, Adagio stifled a sigh. “At least they still call me,” the youngest siren argued. Aria squeezed tight on her sister’s shirt. “That’s because some of us have the stones to pick up, and tell ‘em to lay off.” “Yeah?! Well―” “Enough!” Adagio barked with a jerk of her arms. The younger sisters jolted from their squabble with wide eyes, then relaxed. “Tomorrow may very well be the last time we see them,” Adagio said. “We’ve avoided them all week, packing our things and dreading to answer father’s call. We owe them at least a day.” Aria closed her eyes. “We don’t owe them a damn thing,” she muttered. “Then let me say this in a way you’ll actually understand, Aria.” The purple siren rose from her sister’s grip,and scowled down at her. Adagio stared back tiredly. “What the Hell else are gonna do?” Aria scowled until it became obvious how hard she tried to keep it. With a gusty sigh, she fell back onto Adagio’s chest, and dropped a fist on her ribs. “You’ll thank me later,” Adagio said. “Whatever…” The yellow siren turned to Sonata and asked, “Are you in?” Sonata just lied there, holding her sister, her eyes staring at nothing and everything at once. She silently nodded, and Adagio smiled. “Good. We’ll all go tomorrow morning.” With that, the sirens remained in each other’s arms. In time, Adagio’s smile grew contagious, and her sisters smiled too. “Hey, Dagi?” Sonata peeped. “Hm?” “I just realized something.” “What?” Sonata’s smile curved. “You really stink.” Something like glass broke in Adagio’s head. “Left the door open for a reason,” Aria said, her own smile curving. Yellow arms flung out and tossed two yelping siren to the floor. With brows furrowed and face burning hot, Adagio marched to her bathroom to wash three-days-worth of filth from her body. “We’ve really missed you girls.” Those words meant more to Adagio than she could ever admit. Yet, it tightened her chest with a guilt she didn’t know she could feel. She leaned back on the stone stairs she sat on, and turned to girl sitting beside her. “Sunset, we didn’t want you to worry―” “Tell that to Pinkie Pie,” Sunset snapped. “Do you have any idea what this past week has done to her? I’ve never seen her so scared.” Adagio looked away. “Sonata just… needed time, was all. And it all worked out didn’t it? Principle Celestia allowed us to return with only week's detention to make up our absences. And Pinkie forgave Sonata in a heartbeat. Though, I still wonder how Sonata survived such a hug. Thought I heard a few ribs crack.” Sunset shifted closer to the siren, her tone gentler. “What did she need time for? You never really explained what happened.” Adagio looked up at the blue sky, the afternoon sun shine over the houses, cars, and people. There was but one dark cloud in the sky. She ignored it. “Beautiful afternoon, isn’t it?” Sunset crossed her arms. “That’s the fourth time you’ve changed the subject, Adagio. What’s next? Puppies? Wall Street? The Apocalypse?” Adagio offered a woefully forced laugh. “Apocalypse. Oh, you’ve still got it, Sunset Shimmer.” The former unicorn stared flatly at her, and she looked away again. “Look… it’s nothing alright?” Sunset shot to her feet, arms uncrossed and locked at her sides. “I was here for ten days―ten days―wondering what happened to you. I had to watch Pinkie Pie write hundreds of apology letters just to rip them all up every time Sonata ignored her calls. I had to think of advice I couldn’t even validate just to calm our friends. I couldn’t get in touch with Princess Twilight. I had to listen to everybody thinking you quit school, or moved away, or died, or…” Adagio sat right up, unable to look away from Sunset’s moistening eyes. “So don’t sit there and tell me this is nothing!” This was the exact opposite of what Adagio wanted. When they stood before Canterlot High School that morning, the day had so much promise. Pinkie and Fluttershy nearly killed Sonata with love. Aria was tackled to the ground by Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Adagio herself was serenaded with relieved chatter from Sunset and Rarity. It seemed they could all spend their moments―indeed there final moments―in peace and happiness. Then they asked what happened, and everything fell apart. Adagio was running out of subjects to change to. In fact, she didn’t even know why she brought Sunset outside alone. “I’m sorry…” Adagio whispered. Sunset finally relaxed and wiped her eyes dry. She sat down and gripped her own arms. “Just…just talk to me, Adagio. Please, just let me be a friend.” Adagio sighed and looked back to the sky. That little dark cloud had grown just a skosh. “We got a call last week.” Sunset twirled her wrist. “It was… someone close. We hadn’t spoken to him in ages.” “Who was it?” Sunset gently pried. “Someone close,” Adagio said with some warning in her tone. Sunset jerked back a bit, then nodded. “He’s… decided it’s time to leave.” That is not what she meant to say. “Leave? But… I don’t―” “It’s his decision. That’s all.” There was pregnant silence between them, Adagio watching the passing cars and trying her damndest to ignore Sunset’s prying eyes. “You’re leaving us?” Adagio frowned at that shaky tone. “Don’t do that. Don’t talk like we wanted this.” Sunset frowned back. “Well, didn’t you? Sure as Hell shut everyone out, no problem.” Adagio whipped her head to the other girl with narrowed eyes. “That’s not why―” “Save it. I know exactly why you waited until the last minute to tell us,” Sunset replied. Adagio grit her teeth and gulped. “What, you thought this would make it easier, huh? Show up like nothing was wrong, give us one last rip-roarin’ good time, and bale before we even knew what happened?” Adagio’s jaw dropped, she barely recovered. “You don’t understand.” Sunset looked away. “Yes I do.” “No you don’t!” Sunset flinched and whipped her eyes back to Adagio. “We can’t deny him! We can’t disobey him! One way or another he’ll come for us, and we’ll have to go with him!” She cursed her welling tears. “We just didn’t want you to be afraid.” When Sunset raised a hand to her own lips, Adagio knew the tears had escaped her completely. “I never wanted this! I never wanted any of you to worry, to feel anything but joy before we left! Before Father came to this world and… and…” Finally, after holding it for ten days and nights, Adagio cried. She swiped her tears away like they were acidic, and stared at her hands like they were alien to her. She tried to quash her sobs, but they hacked out of her like knives through paper. More tears fell. “I begged him not to,” Adagio continued. “I asked him to spare you but he won’t. He’s going to kill you all!” Strong arms snaked around her and didn’t let go. “Adagio, stop it,” Sunset whispered. “I’m sorry―” “I tried to save you, Sunset,” The siren’s face fell into her hands, tears soaking them. “I tried.” Adagio couldn’t tell how long she’d cried. Her sobs came deep, every convulsion zapping her strength and numbing her heart. She was barely aware that Sunset was even there never mind holding her. After shushes, caresses, an eternity of regrets replaying in her head, Adagio finally calmed. She stared straight ahead, stared at nothing really. There were no more sobs, only tears falling on Sunset’s arm. The fiery haired girl released Adagio and dried those tears. “You okay?” she asked gently. “No.” Sunset nodded and remained silent for only a minute longer. “What you said about your dad…” Sunset rubbed her own elbow. “Is he really coming to…” Adagio closed her eyes. “How much time do we have?” Sunset rolled up a leather sleeve and glanced at her watch. “Lunch ends in five. Everyone should be heading to class by now.” Adagio straightened her magnificent hair, stood on her feet, and turned toward the doors. “Let’s get the others. We have much to discuss.” With an urgent frown, Sunset jumped up, marched up the stairs and through the doors. Adagio turned back to that little storm cloud in the sky. Except it wasn’t quite as little anymore. “Well, we’d better head back,” Aria said. “What? But you practically just arrived, dear,” Rarity replied. “We have much of your absence to make up for.” Aria scooched from the round table and rose. “Personally, I can’t believe you, of all people, could stand for a tardy.” “Guess we’re all makin’ sacrifices today,” Rainbow Dash said, leaning back on her chair. “Well, that makes five of us,” Aria replied taking her tray. “Come on Sonata.” “Aww! Pinkie and I were about to play I Spy!” Sonata argued. “Do you have any idea how fun that is in a lunchroom?” Applejack frowned. “Last time y’all did that, the cafe broke out in the first food-fight since freshmen year.” Fluttershy tapped her fingers on the table. “But, Applejack, didn’t you, um, you know… throw applesauce at Octavia?” Applejack threw her hand up. “Oh come on! Uppity tramp threw an orange in my soup. An orange! It was self defense.” Rainbow Dash smirked. “Didn’t stop you from flipping the table over and pelting everybody with melon slices.” Applejack crossed her arms. “Self. Defense.” Aria scoffed. “Well, you won’t have to worry about that today. Let’s go, Sonata.” “No fair, Ari! We’re having so much fun and… Wait, I thought you had Social Studies after lunch.” Aria took a hissing breath through her nose. “I do.” “Then shouldn’t you be the last one out like every other time?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Quit making this difficult.” Pinkie and Sonata shouted in unison, “Quit hating people!” Everyone but Aria broke out in laughter. And despite her formidable attempts to frown, a smile pulled at her face. She shook her head and turned to leave. Her almost-smile vanished when she saw a frowning Sunset Shimmer and a tired Adagio. The laughter stopped, and all eyes found them. Aria stared between the two for a few seconds, eyes narrowed. “You didn’t…” Aria hissed. “After all that big talk?” Adagio’s eyelids fell lower than they already were. “I know what I said.” Sonata’s smile completely vanished. “But Dagi… I thought―” “I know what I said!” Adagio took a breath, fist against her forehead. “But there’s no use hiding it. There never was.” With a tired sigh. Aria turned back to the table, set her tray down, and sat. “Uh, what exactly are you three talking about?” Rainbow asked, leaning forward now. Adagio took another breath and approached the gang, Sunset on tow. They took the two reserved seats. The yellow siren crossed her legs and folded her hand. She looked up through the large cafeteria window, her eyes narrowing on the storm cloud she most certainly recognized. No longer dark, but pitch black. And growing evermore. “Father’s coming to visit.” Lighting and thunder were all too happy to clap.