Warmth. Comfort. Food.
In Adagio’s chilled and road-weary state, these thoughts were foremost when she and Sunset stepped up to the fireglow-framed doorway. She looked to the sign hanging above, which read, The Silver Key Inn.
A flickering light glowed through the building’s windows, bringing with it the sound of one of the rare happy memories from Adagio’s long years under the influence of her gem—the sound of fast striking, yet masterfully played chords from an upright wooden piano. She closed her eyes with a long sigh. Her mind wandered back to the human world’s old west, just as her hoof found its way to the weathered saddlebag slung over her back. She smiled softly as a fuzzy bubble of warmth grew within her heart and held fast against the cold, nipping wind.
Sunset breathed in deeply through her nose and let out a long exhale. “Oh… my. Why does everything today smell so good?”
The aroma of hot cider, fresh bread and wood smoke swirled amid clinking mugs and the raucous off-key singing of the tavern’s patrons. Adagio tapped Sunset’s belly with a chuckle. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m famished after all that.” She winked. “Might have a little something to do with it.”
“Yeah. You’re probably right.” Sunset laughed and pushed open the door. As she did so, the rolling tune from inside spilled out into the night, its lyrics finally rising above the clamour.
…day and night
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have just one little thing
Oh, would you please finally bring
Me that tiny glass of water?!
A chorus of cheers arose, followed by a round of laughter as mugs slammed down on tables. Upon stepping through the doorway, Adagio’s first aim was to discover just who was bringing the old piano to life in such a delightful way.
She looked up toward the stage. And to her surprise, the musician wasn’t a pony at all, but rather a yellow-eyed gryphon with a white crest of feathers. His brown fur tapered off into a lighter beige toward his paws. With one yellow claw, he raised the aforementioned glass of water in a toasting gesture, eliciting another cheer from the surrounding tables.
Sunset nudged Adagio and then dipped her head toward an empty table in the middle of the room.
“Good catch, my dear.” Adagio wiggled her shoulders with a small laugh, and the two walked over to take their seats.
It wasn’t long before a light brown waitress appeared, her yellow mane bound in a braid. “Welcome to the Silver Key,” she said with a bright smile. “I’m Barley. Is there anything I can get for you two?”
Sunset returned her smile. “Bread, cheese, and some of that spiced cider would be wonderful… Thank you.”
As Barley made her way into the kitchen, Adagio turned to Sunset with a raised eyebrow and a pleasant grin. “Food and cider, hmm?”
“Our first night out on such a big trip? Heck yeah, we’re gonna do this right.”
Adagio gave her a low chuckle and a kiss.
A dark grey gryphon walked onto the stage and cleared his throat. “Another round of applause for our surprise performer this evening.” He bowed with an extended claw. Sunset and Adagio joined the others in clapping their hooves. “It certainly has been a pleasure.” Sitting back again, the apparent innkeeper asked, “And you have more for us yet, I presume?”
The piano player looked out across the inn’s patrons—his eyes pausing for just a brief moment as they passed Adagio’s, she thought. “Oh, indeed I do. Shall we?”
Another cheer went up, followed by the stomping of hooves under tables. Cracking his knuckles, he started into a lively instrumental piece.
Adagio closed her eyes. She wondered… was there something more to that lingering glance? Perhaps it was nothing. Or perhaps it was just my stunning self catching his attention.
A smirk spread across her lips. But then the music caught hold of her again. She took in a deep breath and let it out, allowing her mind to drift back. Back a few hundred years, to when performing in venues like this had been a true pleasure of hers.
She unshouldered her time-worn bag from home and set it on the table. Placing hooves on either side, she rested her nose atop it and breathed in the memories it still held, even after all the distant years. The conversations she’d shared with its owner during their time together had possessed a certain… uncomplicated warmth. Nearly all had been uncommonly free of her ulterior motives and machinations. A peaceful feeling spread through her, and she soon found herself humming softly in tune with the piano.
There was a brush on her ear followed by a gentle whisper. “Hey…” When Adagio opened her eyes, she was met with a giggling smile. Sunset asked, “Where have you been? You checked out a little while ago.”
Adagio sighed heavily and rested her chin again on the bag. “Oh, Sunset. Just… memories. So many years ago in our other world. Have I ever told you how much I love the piano? I used to sing, you know… in taverns quite like this one.” She lowered her eyes to the table and smiled. “Aria and Sonata always thought I was such a silly romantic about it. But there was just this… something about the ambience, and the way the crowds of that time adored what I had to offer. Without my magic, even.”
After a moment, she gave a single laugh. “But then… it wasn’t uncommon for those evenings to later end in bar fights and gunsmoke.” When Sunset narrowed an eye, Adagio winked at her with a sideways glance. “What? We did still have to get our fill, you know.”
Sunset returned her laugh and placed a hoof over one of hers. “Mmmm.”
“Though I don’t quite know how he’s doing it…” Adagio said. At Sunset’s questioning look, she added, “Hitting some of those notes so quickly, I mean… With just the claws. Some of those aren’t easy with hands, even. I can’t see how it’s possible.”
“Huh. You really are a bit of a piano nut, aren’t you?” Sunset gave her a nudge.
Adagio countered with a playful, wounded gasp. “You and Aria have your guitar passion.” She sat up straight and lifted her chin. “This is mine. And a few hundred years is more than enough to become masterful at it, I’ll have you know.”
Sunset covered her mouth and snorted just as the waitress returned with their food and drinks. Sitting up again, she turned and said, “Oh, wow… This looks just as good as it smells.”
“Yes, it does,” Adagio added. “I can’t wait to dig into it.” She then perked up and raised a hoof as Barley turned to leave. “Oh! One more thing. What can you tell us about this piano player? The other fellow implied he’s not a regular here?”
“Mmm-hmm. Just showed up a few hours ago and offered to play. Though looking around at everyone…” She passed a hoof across the gathered crowd. “I do hope he comes back for more. That piano’s kind of our thing here, if you hadn’t guessed from the name of the place. Haven’t seen the crowd quite this lively in a while.” She tapped her chin. “He said his name was Sid. But that’s all I’ve got, hon. Sorry.”
“Ahh… Thank you. We’re just passing through, but yes. It is delightful.”
Barley bobbed her head with another smile. “Well then… Safe journey to you. And enjoy!” She turned to move on with her rounds.
Adagio’s mouth began to water as her eyes fell to the herb-flecked cheese. She could smell the butter melting into the crisp, warm bread. “Mmm-hm-hm-hm.”
“I know,” Sunset said with a flick of her eyebrows. “Have at it.”
Matching bites were taken of each, quickly followed by another. And then another. Adagio spent the next few minutes in her own little slice of heaven. She opened her eyes for a quick glance at Sunset, and found her chewing and mmming with her own eyes closed. The food and hot cider swelled a comfortable warmth within her, and it wasn’t long before she was again humming to another instrumental song from the stage.
The rhythm in her throat deepened and spread. As it did so, she felt it reach out and touch that soft light of her source. And in that moment, it felt as if her true song began to once again awaken. Her mind let go, standing aside for her heart take the stage. Seemingly of its own accord, her quiet humming rose into improvised lyrics, matching in time with the tune from the piano.
This went on for a minute or so before she became aware that something in the room had changed. The din from the crowd around her had hushed. Adagio opened her eyes to see that those close enough to hear had turned their attention toward her with smiles, nodding or clapping a hoof along with the cadence of her words.
Sunset sat quietly hugging herself, her wide eyes watering. She mouthed a giddy, ‘Yes!’
Adagio’s own eyes began to glisten. Here she was, in this moment, realizing another small—and entirely unexpected—dream. And as her growing happiness swelled, so did the power of her voice.
A wave of hushed conversations and turning heads rippled through the room, with a number of hoots and cheers following in its wake. She looked up to the stage. The piano player himself laughed with a knowing nod and then brought his tune to a crescendo. The song flowed through its bridge, then another chorus. And with a few cresting strikes, it came to an end.
The final note of Adagio’s voice hung on the charged, vibrant air.
She huffed breathlessly as a cheer went up, marked by a few more hoots and hollers. Covering her mouth, she choked out a joyful sob.
Sunset leaned in against her and said softly, “Wow… How did that feel?”
“Oh, Sunset…” Adagio shook her head, unable to manage more than a quiet laugh.
A few tittering keys from the piano slowed the clapping crowd to a hush. Adagio looked back to the stage, and Sid again nodded to her. “That was wonderful, my dear.” He motioned to the space beside the piano. “Do you think you might have just one more in you?”
A few more whistles came from the surrounding tables. Adagio turned back to meet Sunset’s eyes.
“This is what you want, isn’t it?” Sunset asked. “Go. Seeing you this happy right now is just…” She placed her hooves over Adagio’s.
Adagio gave a very quick nod and a kiss. She looked all around her and then directed her attention back to the stage. So many wonderful memories tonight. Standing, she took the first few steps with a deep, shaky breath. And here I thought memories were all they could ever be.
All eyes in the room trained on her as she walked. Genuine, adoring eyes. Gazes not clouded by magic. And now, a chance to actually live those memories again? She ascended the steps and turned to face the crowd. And then another long, slow breath. In… and out.
Sid spoke up. “Time to tone things down a bit, folks. This one is my take on Thellion’s Adagio for Strings. Adapted for… piano.” After a round of chuckles from the crowd, he shrugged. “Eh. I do what I can.” He tapped a trio of keys to emphasize the punchline, drawing a few more laughs.
Turning to Adagio, he asked, “Are you familiar with this one, m’lady?”
She scarcely heard his question. Her mind was still caught on the title of the piece. And this was not just any common tune. Thellion had been an ancient classical unicorn composer, predating even Star Swirl’s era. As she slowly became aware again of her breathing, she took note of the silence that had settled across the room. Blinking twice, she turned to Sid. “I… am, actually. Yes.”
They exchanged a nod. He then set into the slow, melancholy tune.
Adagio closed her eyes. The heavy weight of this particular piece brought in a tide of sadness, carrying with it vivid images from her past—and the words to convey them. Her thoughts took the form of a small boat drifting amid a calm, moonlit ocean. She took a deep breath… and then set those images free.
Far~ away,
Soft keystrokes from the piano lapped against her like gentle waves.
Long~ ago,
Memories drifted in from her time of youth, and the heartache of innocence lost.
Three voices rang bright
In an endless blue.
A deep connectedness to the world around her began to take root—through her memories, and through their expression in song. She heard a wave of quiet gasps roll across the room.
Too proud,
So blind,
So foolish in kind.
Their debt couldn’t be scoured from those seaside stones.
She opened her eyes to see graceful trails of magenta-colored light swirling around her. Her first thought was, Sunset? But then no. When she glanced over, Sunset had her nose buried between both hooves on the table, looking up at Adagio with tears streaming down her cheeks. Adagio struggled to keep her voice steady as the depth of those loving eyes struck her. This moment. Her music. After so long…
No water so pure
Could wash them away.
But with time they did learn.
With age they did grow.
Though their hearts~ so heavy~ remained.
That empathetic look of joy in Sunset’s eyes. Adagio’s ache of longing for her lost ocean dreams. The freedom and beauty of the sea. All together, it finally overwhelmed her. Everything she’d been yearning for so long to experience again. Yet it still felt so impossible. So far away. And it hurt so much. She closed her eyes as a choked-up tremble gripped her voice.
Can you hear my~ mother calling her
Lost daughter home?
Lifting her eyes again, her mind gasped when she found her own horn aglow with the same wine-colored light that was swirling about her. It was there. Magic. Through this deep, ethereal moment, she truly had connected once again with her ancient power of song. Uplifting thoughts flooded in from her life before the gems. Though they were quickly swallowed under a wave of deep regret, and her own tears at last began to fall.
Ageless surf and sea forgive me.
On land I must roam.
Though I know not when we’ll meet again…
Pressing her eyes closed, she poured her whole self into the words, knowing that all in the room were now being swept along with her. Memories of Aria and Sonata drifted in, and were pulled up into the rolling tide. Because of her mistakes… her unchecked arrogance, they had been forced to endure so much.
We carry
Your memory
Wherever~ we go.
The human world. All the hundreds upon hundreds of years they had weathered. But then came Sunset. Her presence had at long last shone a light of hope into their lives. And she had now brought Adagio here. There was still so much ahead of them. So much for them to experience together, and to share. Adagio’s heart blossomed as the song rose into a crest and then receded to its coda.
May the sands of time… do what they may.
And maybe one day… we’ll meet again.
And sing of
Your wild and wondrous
Ways…
The last lingering note of her voice joined with the final chord from the piano. They shared a parting dance in the air above the tables before bowing to one another and then fading into stillness.
And then… silence.
Adagio lifted her head and looked out across the breathless room. A good half of those gathered were found drying their eyes. She turned to Sid and caught him doing the same.
He cleared his throat and took a breath. “A round of applause for our lady. Doesn’t her voice just shimmer, fillies and gentlecolts?”
A slow clapping of hooves began and then grew into full-on applause. But Adagio could hardly hear it. Her mind was still hung up on his words. Okay… What? she thought. That’s twice now.
Over at their table, Sunset’s open-mouthed expression revealed a similar thought.
Sid took a long drink from his glass of water still sitting on the piano. When he set it down again, the glass clinked oddly. Adagio looked over to see actual ‘rocks’ in it, rather than ice cubes. I… don’t think that’s how that works. She quirked an eyebrow and followed him as made his way through the curtain backstage.
But when she arrived behind the curtain herself, he was just… gone. After a good minute of looking through the hall and into a few doors, she sat down in the middle of the wooden floor. Her eyes went unfocused in front of her, everything that had just transpired still swirling around in her mind.
She brought a hoof to her heart and choked out a smiling breath.
“Wherever you went…” she whispered. “Thank you.”
***
Adagio watched from beneath the comfort of her blanket while candlelit shadows danced across the exposed beams of the hardwood ceiling. She felt the bed sink to her left as Sunset climbed in and snuggled up beside her.
Sunset placed a hoof around Adagio’s chest and nestled against her neck. “Dagi. That was…”
Adagio let out a breath. “I know…” She rested her head atop Sunset’s. “Thank you again, love. For all of this. That was so wonderful.”
There was so much she wanted to say. About her song. About the magic. About the experience. But then… that look in Sunset’s eyes as she had watched from their table. Adagio knew that nothing more needed to be said. It was almost as if words at this point would somehow cheapen the lingering sense of wonder.
They would have time tomorrow to talk about Sid the gryphon and his odd behaviors. There would be ample opportunity over breakfast to discuss their next destination after leaving Rockridge. Adagio took another long, deep breath. For now, she was content to wrap her forelegs around Sunset and hold her tight.
After blowing out the candle on her nightstand, she again rested her chin behind Sunset’s ears. The two laid quietly in each other’s embrace for some time, until Sunset’s grip at last loosened, and her breathing slowed.
“I love you,” Adagio whispered.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off to a peaceful, windswept shore.