I could not believe what I was seeing. I had not seen Adagio since the battle of the bands, about 9 months ago. She normally had an intimidating presence, making you feel fear but can sing like an angel. However, instead of intimidation in her eyes, I saw….regret. This surprised me and made me concerned, but the big question was, “What are you doing here?” I asked.
She stayed quiet for about a minute or two, it seemed like something was bothering her.
“Is something wrong?” I asked with concern.
“Why should I tell you?” She snapped.
While I was taken aback, I responded with; “You seem like something pretty serious is on your mind.”
She went silent again. Then I couldn’t help but notice something was missing, or rather, some people were missing.
“Where are Sonata and Aria?” I asked again.
She slid down the wall and sat down, then I heard her weeping. I looked at her with a rather shocked expression. Adagio did not look like the kind of person who would cry, but then again, it could be anyone. I sat down next to her and placed my hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head up and looked at me with a tear-stained face.
“What are you doing?" she asked
“I want to help you,” I responded.
She gave me a shocked look. “Why? Why would you want to help me?” tears started welling up in her eyes as she said that. “I almost killed your friends and wanted to enslave the people of this world. Now you’re trying to help me out?”
I smiled at her and simply said, “Everybody needs a second chance, y’know.”
She looked at me in disbelief. Yes, what she did was pretty terrible, but from the way she was acting, she looked like she was in a deep hole and needed some help getting out of it. I know I know. It sounds bat-shit crazy for me to forgive someone just like that after they did something. However, I was a pretty forgiving person and I’m a sucker for second chances. While Adagio looked shocked and confused, she did eventually accept my offer to help her. She sighed and said softly, “They left me….”
“Who left you?” I asked.
Adagio had a look that seemed as if her dam walls were going to burst, she did manage to find the strength to speak. “Aria and Sonata left me.” The second she finished her sentence, the dam burst. She clung to my arm and began sobbing into my shoulder, letting out everything she had been holding inside for what seemed like months. While I was surprised by her sudden embrace, I returned the favor and hugged her as she cried.
“They said that it was my fault. They said our failure at the band competition was all my fault and that they wished they had never met me and then left me without a trace,” she said in-between her sobs. “Now all I’m left with the guilt of losing the only friends I ever had in this world. Honestly, I am not sure how much longer I’ll be able to last in this world until I break.” She kept sobbing into my shoulder for a few more minutes before her sobbing subsided. She let go of me and was now looking down at her feet in sadness and shame. It broke my heart to see her in this bad of shape. She was feeling absolutely horrible for what happened and looked like she wanted to make amends with everyone she affected. She needed someone, more importantly, a friend to help her out.
“Hey, I’m your friend," I said.
She looked at me in disbelief again, her mouth slightly agape. “Y-you’re m-my friend?” She asked, her voice a mixture of shocked and happiness.
"Of course you are,” I replied, smiling, “I’m here for you, that’s what friends are for Adagio.” She then pulled me into a tight hug, catching me by surprise. Her tears had returned, but these tears were not ones of sadness, but ones of joy.
“Thank you. Thank you so much Bolt,” she said in-between sobs.
“Anytime,” I replied. After what seemed like eternity, she let me go from her embrace.
“I think your friends are waiting for you,” she said calmly.
“Oh crap!” I exclaimed. I almost forgot about Pinkie’s party. I guess I was too caught up in helping out Adagio to remember that. Oh well, it was worth it. Adagio was my friend too, so I had to help. “Thanks for reminding me.”
Adagio giggled a little bit. “It’s quite alright,” she chuckled. “Go have fun with them, I’ll see you around,” she said with a warm smile.
“Alright, I figured you have to head back to your place anyway,” I replied.
Way to go Bolt, you dip-shit. Way to open your big mouth.
Adagios smile disappeared and her look of sadness returned. “Adagio?” I asked with a tone of concern.
She was silent for a minute, but soon spoke again. “I don’t have a home,” she responded softly. “Ever since Aria and Sonata left me, I’ve been roaming the streets trying to find a way to survive. I don’t know how I’ve been able to go this far to be honest…” I had felt sorry for her before, but now I couldn’t help but feel even worse for her. She had been through hell the past few months and I wanted to help pull her out from that pit.
“You know, you could always stay at my place,” I offered.
Her eyes suddenly lit up. “Y-you mean it?” She asked hopefully.
“Absolutely,” I replied. “I’m always looking for my friends, so I thought I’d help you out. I think the couch is open if you wa-.” I was cut off again by another tight hug she pulled me into.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She exclaimed. “It’s been so long since I’ve been able to find a place to call home. I can’t thank you enough Bolt.” I couldn’t help but smile like an idiot, and I returned her embrace. I soon realized how dark it was becoming.
“I think we should get back to my place before it gets too dark,” I said. The sun had just begun to set over the horizon and it’d be a lot darker by the time I get to my place and head to Pinkie’s for her party.
"You’re right,” she replied. She looked at me with a compassionate smile and grabbed hold of my hand. “Lead the way Bolt,” she said.
So I did.