“Wow. That was… beautiful. I wish I could’ve heard it from them,” said Blake. “But… Why bother telling me? Why now, Auntie?” Adagio ran a tired hand through her hair before limping over to the bed and plopping down next to Blake.
“Because Aria and Sonata were idiots,” said Adagio. “And, as their son, you were bound to inherit some of that stupid. So, I was expecting you to do the exact same stupid thing that Aria almost did.”
“What’s that? Getting cold feet?”
“Bingo, kid. So, knowing what an idiot you are, which isn’t your fault, I decided to tell you those stories. You needed to hear them. And you needed to hear them because you’re still asking yourself questions that don’t matter.”
“Like what?” asked Blake. His aunt was never this sentimental, and it was honestly a little concerning.
“Your whole life, you’ve been wondering what you are. Are you human or Siren? And I suppose I understand how you could mistake that for an important question.” Adagio studied Blake, seeing more and more of Aria the longer she looked. “That’s the question Aria answered when she went back to Equestria.”
“But she actually was a Siren,” noted Blake.
“Just as much as you’re a Siren now. Don’t you get it? Aria was a Siren because she chose to be one. She chose to join me and feed off of negativity, and she did that because that’s all she knew. For the first couple hundred years of life, Aria didn’t know love. She didn’t understand what it was like to have someone she’d give anything for. Soon, she started to understand what that meant. She left her heritage behind and assimilated a much kinder one. That moment when she realized that everything she knew about her old life was gone… That was when she stopped being a Siren. She sold her true nature in exchange for her humanity.”
“What good does that do me, exactly?”
“None, you moron, because you’re still thinking about it wrong. It’s not about the good it does you now, but the good it’s already done.” Adagio snapped her fingers to make sure Blake was paying attention. “Don’t you get it? Aria, Sonata and I lived long lives, and we’re passing some of it down to you. So, next time life seems crazy or terrible, just remember these stories. Remember the time Aria got stung by a jellyfish at the beach. Remember the time Sonata let a live reindeer into our two bedroom apartment. Remember the time I was so desperate for friends that I willingly ate a seaweed and snail juice cupcake.” Adagio shook her head. “That one still makes me queasy… And, right now, when you’re about to waste everything you have because of something stupid like fear, remember the time Aria almost did the same thing. Remember that she didn’t, and how glad she was that she didn’t. If she did what you’re about to, I wouldn’t have a little twerp to lecture right now.”
Adagio and Blake shared a laugh, then a hug. He really did appreciate his aunt’s advice, even if she did have a rough, sort of cold way of delivering it. In a way, it reminded him of Aria.
“So, Blake. What are you going to do?” asked Adagio. “Are you going to waste the time of everyone here? Or are you going to follow through and make a very lucky girl very happy?”
“Sorry, Adagio. Let’s go.” Blake rose, straightened his bow tie, then helped Adagio to her feet. Together, the two walked out to rejoin the festivities.
It was a perfect wedding. Blake looked back at his bachelor party, which he had left in the capable hands of his sister. Thanks to her, he had a heaping truckload of fun and had some of his fears alleviated. He really did owe his sister a lot for that. Then, when the big day arrived, all the dreams that Blake didn’t know he had came true.
The church, filled to burst with all the twins’ friends and family, not to mention Ahsley’s family. Blake was a nervous wreck when he finally made it to the altar. He was constantly adjusting his tux, pulling at his cuffs, straightening his bowtie. Then, down the aisle in the most gorgeous dress ever conceived came his wife to be. She moved with grace and beauty, stopping Blake’s heart in his chest. Ashley removed her veil, the two said their vows, nobody had any reason the two shouldn’t be wed, their peace was forever held, with these rings the two were wed and the bride was most certainly kissed.
Blake cried. Ashley cried. Even Bellatrix cried. And, through it all, Blake knew it was all thanks to Aria. He kept her knowledge stowed away for the future, and he drew from it near-daily. Thanks to her, Blake finally married the girl of his dreams.
It was, simply put, the most perfect wedding anyone had ever seen.