> Adalestia - What does it matter?
>  by RedPegasus
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> What does it matter?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is a quiet morning. The rising sun begins to spread its light across the city. The higher it rises, the shadows begin to fade and the city comes alive.
A picturesque two-floor house, though not very noticeable, is still slightly shaded by the surrounding buildings. On the upper floor, inside a room, a person can be seen: a woman in her early twenties asleep in a bed. Her face is serene, although she seems slightly puckered; her skin wears a soft, almost pale yellow that only stands out more in the gloom of the room. Her thick orange hair has an almost fluffy design that only affects her when she is asleep.
She looks calmly asleep, until …
“AAAAAAHHH! IT’S LATE! ADAGIO!” A loudly voice yells, right from the other side of the woman’s bed.
The woman with the orange hair frowns her face, grunts and turns to bury her face in the pillow as she lifts the sheets up to cover her head as much as her bulging hair allows it.
The room is soon illuminated by the light when turned on.
“I told you to set the alarm!” That same voice yells in a tone that mixes scolding with desperation. Adagio, almost not long ago, just gives a tired moan in response.
The person who owns that voice is another woman. She is quite older than Adagio, her mature face seems to be around forty; her skin has a very soft peach color and her hair, curiously, has various colors from pink to light blue as well as a fairly light green. It appears to be mimicking a northern lights as the woman runs around the room gathering clothes.
“Where is my bag? Adagio!”
Again, the woman on the bed moans. It almost sounds like a growl as she deigns to raise her head and look at her apparent partner with a very tired face.
“Holy Triton Celestia, can’t you lower your voice a bit? It’s still very early.“
“It’s MONDAY! I have to get to the school and see that everything is in order to start the week!“ The older woman explains and exclaims, as she throws some clothes and objects around the room – quite disorganized by the way – in search of her purse.
“For Nereida. It’s not like a tornado has come to attack your school over the weekend.“
Celestia finally finds her purse and begins to check inside it. “But I must go home and shower! I can’t go to work … LIKE THIS!“
The last word emphasizes her in a loud voice, and she extends her arms as if wanting to show herself as well as her partially buttoned white shirt in addition to her lack of pants, leaving Celestia only with her intimate clothing protecting her.
“Glowing in sweat and smelling of passion?“ The younger woman comments and questions, with a very suggestive tone, making the older woman blush dramatically.
“Adagio!”
“Hey, it was my day off. I asked you if you wanted to go, and you said yes.“
“But I was supposed to get up early!”
“That didn’t seem important under the covers last night.” Again there is that suggestive tone that makes the aurora-haired woman blush, although she gets annoyed and keeps looking inside her bag until she finds her car keys.
“Where are my clothes?!”
“Who knows. I threw it anywhere.“ The former siren says, then she decides to take off the covers and sit on the edge of the bed. The only thing that covers Adagio is her underwear with a matching bra, in a soft purple color, which matches with her eyes. She stretches out and yawns.
“I’ll make coffee in what you wear.”
She doesn’t expect any response, and Celestia doesn’t give one either, but she doesn’t care about it. Adagio just abandon the room leaving her partner to look for her clothes.

Minutes later Adagio now wears a gold colored robe, while Celestia has her usual clothes. They are both at the front door of the house with the older woman checking her bag once more.
“I think I have everything.”
“Yeah, well, it was nice to see you Cele. I hope we will repeat it soon.“
“I … I hope so too.” Celestia admits with a blush and a nervous but sincere smile. Adagio gives her own smile, full of pride and conceit.
“Well I… I better go. I’m late.“ The principal turns to leave, but the siren’s voice stops her.
“Don’t you forget one thing?”
Celestia barely has time to turn around before she feels the other woman’s hand on her cheek, and soon she feels the pressure of the siren’s lips on her own lips.
The principal is stiff, surprised, her cheeks lit by her blush. She just seems to start enjoying it and prepares to respond when the youngest one pulls her lips away from hers. The siren’s fingers brush her cheek in a gentle caress as she pulls away from Celestia.
“Nice trip.”
Celestia is still somewhat dazed, her cheeks red and her eyes shining. She just smiles faintly and nods before turning around and heading to her car.
The siren woman sees that white and gold vehicle get lost in the streets before entering her home again.

The principal drives to her house, without much thought beyond the moments lived since last night. Such memories cannot help but make her feel warm, and peaceful.
The image of Adagio is constantly reflected in her head, and the principal cannot help but wonder …
"… How did we get to this?"
That question asked in her head seemed to function as a key, a password that led her mind to wander in the past. A so distante past.

Celestia had always been seen as “the perfect girl.” The good, pretty and intelligent girl.
Her parents and teachers loved her.
She had always been what others wanted her to be.
But when her sister, Luna, left her home and family Celestia wondered what it meant to be 'perfect.'
Could she be perfect if she abandoned her sister? Was that what the others wanted her to do? Was THAT what SHE wanted?
After living a nightmare, and overcoming it, she got her sister back; and now she realized that being perfect was pointless. She focused her life on seeking to help those who lost their way; she became a teacher, and then principal. Refusing to have children of her own, she saw her students as her children. She wanted to help them.
And her sister was with her now. The same goal, although in a different way.

The principal turns on the water for the shower. The warmth and softness of that artificial rain runs through her body helping her to clean the impurities, that evidence no one in the world would expect to see on her.
As she cleans her body, her mind keeps wandering.

The sisters wanted to help those young minds who get lost. But it wasn’t always easy.
If losing her sister was a nightmare, almost losing her school… was like hell.
Celestia felt she had fallen to the bottom, turning to alcohol for the first time in an attempt to drown her sorrow.
It was thus that she met her … or it would be said, she met her again.
Adagio attended and served the drinks at the bar where Celestia had decided to fall. Was it a coincidence, or fate?
Be that as it may, the girl Celestia remembered as the monster who nearly destroyed her school – and her planet – turned out to be a great way to vent, to express herself.
It almost seemed as if the girl understood what the woman was going through at that moment.
Despite her young age, she was very wise, very mature. It wasn’t surprising once knowing that despite her appearance, Adagio had actually lived for several centuries. But still.
After meeting her and venting to her, Celestia thought when that hell came to an end, she and Adagio would never see each other again…
… She was wrong.

Back in her school, in her office, Celestia lets out a sigh looking at the long pile of documents on the left side of the cabinet. She is ready and willing to do her duty.

Life brought them together again, this time it was Adagio who went looking for her. Apparently Celestia wasn’t the only one who felt good about their talks.
Despite looking like a teenager, Adagio was a woman with her own problems, having duties with her sisters since before coming to this world. She had to sacrifice and do a lot so the three of them could simply… live.

While doing her work, the aureal-haired woman continues to relive her memories. In her eyes the office darkens, illuminated only by the rays of sunset that barely filter through the blinds of the window. That light somehow makes the image of a younger Adagio shine in front of her.

Celestia remembers the afternoons they both spent in this office. While the older one worked, the then adolescent just stared at her. Sometimes they exchanged casual chats, sometimes they even shared drinks that nobody wouldn’t expect to see in a high school.

The woman sighs. The pile of documents on the desk is now on the right side of hers, a sign that they have been reviewed and taken care of.
Looking at the clock sees that noon is approaching, she decides then to take a break for lunch.
The teachers’ cafeteria is empty, other employees must continue at work so she sits alone, and calmly opens the container that has her lunch. Nothing fancy, a little cooked meat and salad.
Eating reminds hers of the dinner she had last night …

Again, nothing fancy, she and Adagio just went to a casual restaurant. They ordered a plate each and sat in silence. They casually exchanged glances and smiles, as if communicating without words.
It wasn’t the first time they went out like this, they had shared similar dinners many times.

… Celestia allows herself a little laugh, remembering much older moments.

Their first time together was in a simple dining room, one weekend. Adagio had invited her just to spend time with her. Celestia accepted, there was no reason for not doing it.
That lunch was good. They already had time chatting, getting to know each other; they just ate and talked the way two friends would …

… 'Friends.'

For a time Celestia was surprised to see the siren in that form, but it was true. After living with her one of the worst times of her life - and how comfortable she was with her - she really liked to see her as a friend of hers and, deep down, hoped Adagio would feel the same.
Over time there were more datings. They went shopping, they went to the park, they met just to talk; Celestia loved hearing her stories, being a woman who had lived the oldest centuries. Adagio was full of experiences, both good and bad. The moments Celestia could rest from her duties, she liked to spend with Adagio.
Usually Celestia didn’t let her feelings take over her mind. She knew that she should always remain rational, fair, mature, do what was right and above all. And Adagio… she knew it as well.
Despite everything the siren and her sisters had been through, Adagio always did what was right for the three of them. Yes, for a long time that had translated into conquering the world.
But…
… Beyond that desire for conquest, there was a woman who cared for her loved ones. A woman who made sacrifices, who saw the good of those she loved over her own happiness.
Celestia could understand Adagio …
… Adagio could understand Celestia …

It was one night, sharing a little more elegante dinner than usual. It was an important date, but Celestia couldn’t remember which one. She was too intrigued by her thoughts… and feelings.
After centuries of being a teenager, Adagio had finally grown up. According to her, it was because of losing her siren powers. She was now a 20 year old adult woman; she looked more mature, taller, more sensual. A perfect mix between youth, experience, maturity and energy.
“Would that be a bad thing?” The young woman asked when her conversation finally came to that topic.
“N-n-no!… I do not know. I mean, I’ve never had … a relationship.“
“I find that hard to believe. You sure had a lot of suitors when you were young. Even now, I’d bet many want something with you.“
The principal couldn’t help but blush. Well, it was true that since high school, she had been the interest of students and boys in the city. Later as a teacher and an adult, of other men, coworkers, even several parents of her students who openly or indirectly showed their interest.
“But I never dated anyone! I’ve always focused on my studies and my work.“

“So am I the first who can make you stop working? Hmm, I must be doing it pretty well.“
Celestia’s blush grows, and she must drink from her cup to swallow her apparent embarrassment.
“To all this, I still don’t see your doubt. I like you, you seem to like me. What difference does it make?”
“I-is that… I mean, how could that work? I’m enough old to be your mother.“
“Mmm … ‘Mommy Celestia’? Excuse me if that image makes me smile.“ The orange haired one says with a mischievous smile. The principal looks at her annoyed, but redder than before.
“Adagio!”
“Ha ha ha. Don’t be mad Cele. Look, I don’t mind the kind of relationship we have. We can go out and spend time together. I am happy with you.”
Celestia is speechless upon hearing that. The red on her face diminishes, leaving her only slightly flushed.
“Tell me Cele, do I make you happy?”
“… Yes. Very much.”
“So, what does it matter?”
Saying this, she collides her glass with Celestia’s.

The day is over, so is work, Celestia finally gets out of her school. The sun had already begun to set, bathing everything in golden light from her.
To the principal’s surprise, the object of her thoughts is waiting for her standing on the sidewalk in front of the statue that is the school’s symbol.
They both look at each other, smile and share a moment.

Over the years the two continued to see each other, sharing moments. They never talked about a formal union, there was never a ring; they just shared their lives as much as they could.

The aurora-haired woman looks in the mirror, the years had begun to take their toll on her. Seeing her face that was beginning to decay, she couldn’t help but compare herself to her partner, who behind her is dressed in an elegant office suit.
Noticing her gaze, the former siren questions.
“Why that face?”
“Which one? This face, already old and wrinkled? It’s what happens with age, maybe you don’t know it because you’ve spent a lot of time being very young. “
Adagio rolls her eyes, but an amused smile plays on her lips.
“You are not old.”
“Oh, please. I was already old when you met me. You are still so young and beautiful, and I gain a new wrinkle every day.“
As Celestia looks at herself in the mirror, is surprised when the other woman approaches her. Adagio puts her hands on her shoulders and speaks softly into her ear.
“Nonsense. You were always like this: mature but so beautiful. You look just as beautiful as when I met you.“

Celestia was laying on a bed, her face showing off her senior years, her hair had lost most of its color. The day is calm, sunny. She only sees Adagio sitting next to her, her body and her face show her maturity but retain her youth.
Neither says anything. They just look at each other, smiling. Celestia’s hand holds Adagio’s, and she gently squeezes hers in return. Celestia peacefully closes her eyes.
“Cele… Cele….”

Celestia’s cherry eyes opens wide, the first thing she sees is sunset. It takes her a few seconds to see that she is on a hill, sitting on a bench.
“Cele.”
She turns around, sees Adagio sitting next to her. Adagio looks young, in her twenties. Celestia looks at herself, she is no longer old and no longer is lying on the bed.
“A dream?... “
“What?”
“… It was a dream?… Or is this the dream?“
Cherry eyes gaze at amethysts, searching for an answer. But the owner of these only shrugs.
“Who knows … are you happy?”
Celestia falls silent, but then she just smiles.
“Yes. Very much.”
“So, what does it matter?”
That’s enough for Celestia to just sigh. From behind the bench she puts her arm around her partner’s shoulders, and draws Adagio closer without her refusing.