Mother Adagio

by Jay David

First published 5th of February, 2016

Adagio tells Sunset a story from long ago in her past

Some time ago, Adagio said something odd that stuck in Sunset's mind. Now, she decides that it might be time to finally ask about it, and when she does, she learns a lot more about the Siren than she ever expected to.

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Part of the Rainbooms/Dazzlings/Shadowbolts storyline
Cover art by Siansaar

Curiosity

The school's bell had long since been rung, and as such, many of the rooms of Canterlot High now lay vacant. Students of all stripes were busying themselves with their daily trek home, and those who were not had taken to simply lounging around the outside of the school, catching up with one another. One of the notable exceptions to this was in the school's music room. This place was known around the whole campus as one of the favourite hang-out spots of the school's local heroines, the Rainbooms. But today, it was not that group that was using it. Instead, it was simply Sunset Shimmer, and her former enemy, Adagio Dazzle. The latter was leaning against the wall, her arms folded as she regarded the former. After some silence between them, Sunset finally turned to her, her guitar in hand.

"You ready?"

The Siren smirked at that, standing tall and placing her hands upon her hips.

"Always, dear."

Sunset smiled back at that, and stood still as Adagio got herself ready. The Siren raised her hand to her throat, clearing it somewhat before taking a few deep breaths. With that done, she turned to Sunset, giving her a short nod, which the latter returned soon afterwards. Placing her fingers upon her guitar strings, Sunset stroked them once, letting out a single tone. As she looked back up to her companion, she watched as Adagio opened her mouth, letting out a long note of her own. It was, in all honesty, not as enchanting or stable a sound as what her voice once was. And yet, it was a vast improvement over the poor singing voice she had after her defeat at the Battle of the Bands, and could easily be considered somewhat decent-sounding. The two continued this for some time, with Sunset plucking note after note on her guitar, with Adagio attempting to match it with her own voice. After some time of this, the former unicorn stopped, looking to her old rival with a smile.

"You're getting better."

Adagio nodded at that, brushing aside some of her hair before looking straight at Sunset.

"It would seem so."

Sunset noted the nonchalant manner in which she'd spoken those words, and raised an eyebrow.

"You're not happy?"

Regarding Sunset carefully, the eldest Siren sister let out a sigh before speaking in a softer tone to her.

"I...I am happy about it, yes. It's just...not good enough."

Understanding her, Sunset gave a nod.

"Well...you're improving. Chances are that you may get your old voice back one day, assuming you keep practising of course."

Thinking on that notion, Adagio's smirk returned.

"Yes...that would please me."

Chuckling a little, Sunset shook her head slightly, after which she turned around and started packing away her guitar. As she did this, Adagio moved over to a nearby table, where there was a single bottle of water. Lifting it up, the Siren took a quick sip of it, before looking back to her companion.

"I must confess, I wouldn't have considered doing this if my dear sister hadn't kept pestering me and Aria to get back into it."

Sunset turned to face her, smiling at those words.

"Sonata's been pretty happy practising with Fluttershy on her own voice. Maybe she figured you'd enjoy doing it too?"

A softer smile crept onto Adagio's face at that.

"Yes...I suppose I should thank her, given my progress. It'll be nice to finally start singing like I used to."

Silence fell between them, during which, Adagio seemed ponderous for a few moments, while Sunset continued packing her things away. When the silence was finally broken, it was Adagio who did it.

"So, how have things been with you recently, Sunset? All good, I hope?"

Looking back to Adagio, Sunset's expression became one of uncertainty, possibly even a little serious.

"It's...it's been fine. Mostly I've been trying to help out Derpy with...personal matters."

Immediately, Adagio understood, and her own face became one of like-minded seriousness, with her giving a few knowing nods.

"Ah, yes. How is the poor dear?"

Sunset, having finally put her guitar away, set the case to one side, letting out a sigh before giving her answer.

"It's...fine. I mean, obviously this is a tough situation, but...I think she'll get through it."

Adagio folded her arms, leaning against the nearby wall once more.

"I'm sure she will be. People often underestimate those in her position. But, if she's strong enough...it'll be no issue for her."

Sunset paused after hearing that, looking to Adagio just as the latter was looking away from her. The Siren seemed deep in thought over something, which was far from the confident image she usually presented of herself. There was something in her eyes that Sunset couldn't quite pin down. Recognition? Nostalgia perhaps? Regardless, something big was on her mind, that much nobody could deny. So, for the time being, the former unicorn simply tended to her own business, moving over to her school back-pack, which had been resting on the nearby table. However, as she started rummaging around inside it, she stopped. Her own mind was conjuring up memories, perhaps triggered by her thinking of Adagio just now. Memories of some time ago, and of certain things that had been said. Slowly, Sunset turned back to her, seeing her still thinking on something. She opened her mouth to speak, only to find herself hesitant to do so. But, in the end, she finally got her words out.

"Um...Adagio?"

The older girl turned to her, raising an eyebrow and prompting Sunset to continue.

"A while back...I could be wrong, but...I think you said something. Something about..."

She was clearly worried about saying whatever was on her mind, hence her constant pauses. But, without even hearing the end of her sentence, Adagio finished it for her.

"About motherhood?"

Sunset looked to her, somewhat surprised at what she'd said, leading to a dry chuckle on Adagio's part.

"Trust me, Sunset. When you live as long as I do, you learn to read people rather easily."

The former unicorn remained silent for a few moments, never once taking her eyes off the Siren. And when she finally did speak up again, it was in a low and hushed tone.

"So...it's true?"

To that, Adagio let out a sigh, giving a brief nod before looking Sunset in the eye once more.

"Yes...it's true."

Sunset stood there, her mouth hanging open for some time over the weight of what she'd just discovered. Even though she'd clearly suspected it, she nevertheless appeared utterly dumbfounded. As for Adagio, she took a certain delight and amusement in seeing the usually well-spoken Equestrian reduced to such a speechless state, and let out a hearty laugh after some time had passed.

"You know, you can comment on that if you like."

Shaking herself out of her trance-like state, Sunset let out a few false starts before finally getting her thoughts in order.

"I'm sorry, it's just...wow."

Adagio nodded.

"Indeed."

Another silence fell between them, but this one was far shorter, and as Sunset twiddled her thumbs in a clear display of nervousness, she started speaking up again.

"So...you're a Mother?"

And it was here that Adagio's expression became one of seriousness, as she folded her arms and looked away from the girl.

"...I was."

The moment those words had been spoken, Sunset understood what they meant, and instantly clasped her hands over her mouth. After a few seconds had passed, she lowered those hands again, speaking in a far quieter voice than before.

"Oh...Adagio...I'm...I'm so sorry."

But the Siren simply shook her head.

"I thank you, Sunset...but it was many years ago. Centuries, in fact. You need not weep now."

But Sunset, just for a moment, saw a flicker of emotion in Adagio's eyes as she said that. Clearly, the Siren felt more strongly on the matter than she was letting on, though Sunset was loathe to prod too deeply into it. However, before she got the chance to say anything further, Adagio turned to her, raising an eyebrow.

"You want to know all about it?"

Sunset shut her mouth tight, looking away for a moment, which prompted Adagio to let out a sigh.

"It's fine. Curiosity is no sin, Sunset."

Slowly, Sunset looked back to her, and after hesitating quite a bit, she finally managed to say something.

"You're...you're sure you're okay about this? I mean, I don't want to..."

But she was halted by a raised hand by Adagio.

"If I was not okay about it...I would have told you."

The words were harsh, though Sunset could not really blame her, given the subject matter. So, after nervously clearing her throat a little, she spoke up again.

"Alright then...what is the story?"

Adagio looked to her, seeming thoughtful herself for a while, clearly trying to think on how best to put this. Turning away again, she walked over to a nearby window, looking out at all of the students who were still in the process of walking away from the school. After a few minutes of nothing between the two girls, Adagio finally looked back to her, her eyes narrowed as she spoke.

"Very well. Allow me to set the scene for you. A kingdom, whose name has long since been forgotten by history. An old king, strong and fierce. A young prince, weak and timid."

A sly smirk crept onto the Siren's face.

"And...three unassuming young girls."

Selection

It was late in the evening, and the orange glow of the sun was seeping in through the many windows that lined the long stone hallway. Along the walls were soldiers, all spaced equal distances apart from one another, standing sentry as always. The whole place gave an image of strength and control, and it wasn't long before the silence was broken, by the clear sound of heavy footsteps. Immediately, the soldiers stood even more at-attention than before, their spears at the ready, but never turning to greet the one who approached. That man was their King, a true giant of a figure, marching down the hallway in full armour. His expression and demeanour was one of stoicism, and despite his age he remained a formidable sight, so much so that even those trained men quivered at the sight of him as he passed them by.

The same could not be said, however, of the figure who followed in his footsteps. A smaller man, barely out of boyhood, clad in a garb similar to the King, albeit far less worn and used from the look of it. His head bore a mop of barely-kempt hair, and his face was one of timidity and uncertainty. He said nothing, merely following the King as he kept on moving forward. Many minutes passed before the two finally reached their destination, a door at the very end of the hallway, flanked by two additional guards, who instinctively saluted as their monarch drew nearer. When the King arrived, he halted, looking upon the door with narrowed eyes, before turning to look upon the meek young lad beside him. When he spoke, his voice was deep and commanding.

"Son...you are of age now. And that means one thing. You must choose."

But the boy seemed almost afraid of those words, his eyes darting from the door, to his Father, then back again, before settling on the King once more.

"But...but Father, I...I cannot do this! Just picking some girl I have never met? Just like that?"

However, the nervousness in the boy's voice fell on deaf ears, as the King frowned at the timidity on display before him.

"Listen to me, my boy. You know our traditions. The bloodline must continue, and I mean to ensure that it carries on long before my eyes have closed for the final time."

His eyes narrowed further as he regarded his son.

"Since I cannot be sure that you would be willing to go through such a thing when you are king, I mean to ensure that it occurs before the kingdom has to endure that...rather disappointing succession."

The young prince looked down at the ground, twiddling his thumbs at the obvious displeasure his Father was showing. But, in about the most affectionate display the older man could show, he slapped his son on the shoulder, which, given his strength, nearly made the boy fall to the ground. But, luckily for him, the prince kept on standing, looking up to the old King as he looked to the door before him.

"You need not fret, son. I have had my agents scour the kingdom for the fairest maidens we could find. I assure you, there is not a single lass behind those doors that would not make any man in our realm jealous of you."

The boy, needless to say, was far from calmed by his Father's words. But, rather than press his objection, he simply kept his mouth shut, looking down and nodding his head. The King, letting go of the boy, gave a nod to the two nearby guards, who saluted a second time before moving in unison, each grabbing hold of one of the two knobs of the door. Together, they opened it, and the King and prince soon entered the chamber together. As the prince had expected, there, lined up before him at the end of that chamber, were almost a dozen girls his age. His Father had the right of it when he said they were beautiful, as each would have had it in them to turn heads wherever they went. All were clad in the same garb, that of a simple knee-length cloth dress, all bearing a single shoulder strap.

As the King entered in earnest, and his son followed, the maidens all looked to the ground, waiting for the monarch before them to approach. But, among those girls, there were three, standing at the far end of the line, who, by contrast to the rest, did not seem nervous about this in the slightest. In addition to this, they also bore distinct hairstyles, one orange, one blue and one purple. On top of everything else, there was also one thing of note that set them apart, and that was that they all shared similar-looking necklaces, each with a faintly-glowing red jewel. While the King and prince looked to the girls on the other side of the line, these three looked to one another, with the one in the centre, bearing a particular smirk, whispered to the other two.

"Patience, my sisters. Patience."

The other two smiled in a similar manner, but nevertheless kept quiet, only looking up when the prince finally arrived at their spot. He was, as ever, nervous about this whole thing, and as he looked to each of the three girls, they smiled sweetly to him, which, if anything, actually made him feel worse about this matter. Letting out a sigh, he tuned looking to his Father once more.

"My King...I...I just do not know if I can go through with it. How can I be expected to spend the rest of my life with a girl I know nothing about?"

Many of the girls seemed unnerved about being near a confrontation between Father and son like this, but all stayed silent, instead watching as the old king approached his boy, frowning as before.

"Son...it is our tradition. Choose your bride."

His eyes narrowed.

"Or will we need to have words about this?"

The air in the room became like ice with that utterance, and many here, even the two stalwart guards nearby, wanted nothing more than to flee. But the prince stayed where he was, and in spite of his nervousness, still managed to look his Father in the eye as he spoke.

"I...I cannot."

Silence fell, and the nearby girls looked to one another with uncertainty and concern. That is, except for the three at the end of the line, who regarded this scene with curiosity, and, on the part of the one in the middle, calculation. As for the king, he regarded his son carefully, and, whether out of a need to keep up appearances, or if he was simply tired at this point, he said no words of anger. Instead, he simply let out a sigh before looking away from the boy.

"Very well. We will discuss this matter...later."

And with that, the older man turned, making his way out of the chamber. The son, looking more than a little relieved right now, let out a deep exhale, after which he began to meekly follow his Father out of the place. Once gone, the door was closed by the two guards, and with a moment of privacy at last, the girls within all started speaking to one another. There was all manner of things discussed, but for the three at the end, things were more serious. The one with the copious amount of orange hair folded her arms and stared at the door, while the blue-haired girl approached her.

"Adagio...what do we do?"

Adagio turned, regarding her for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"This is...a complication. But I assure you, this plan will work!"

The girl with the purple hair looked to her elder and scoffed somewhat.

"We should just use our..."

Briefly, she glanced over to the other nearby girls, before looking back to Adagio and speaking in a hushed voice.

"...we should just use our magic and be done with it."

But Adagio shook her head.

"No. Our power, while greater than anything these mere humans can use, is still weak right now. We have to be sparing with it."

Once more, she looked upon the door.

"We need to play things more...subtly. The boy is hesitant, and that makes the plan more difficult than expected. But..."

A sly smirk crept onto her face.

"...if he's unwilling to choose a bride now, then I believe we can work this to our advantage."

Aria folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at her sister.

"You truly believe that?"

A chuckle escaped Adagio as she turned to her middle sibling.

"Have faith, sister. All I need to do is pay him a small...visit."

The Plan

"That's...I...I don't even know what to say."

Sunset's shock was plastered all over her face, so much so that she kept her focus on Adagio as they walked. The two had long since moved away from their practise in the music room, and had now taken to leaving the school entirely. Right now, they were walking, side-by-side, down one of the main streets of Canterlot. The air was getting cooler with the setting of the sun, and so Adagio had taken to wearing a large purple coat over her regular outfit. Sunset stared at her, waiting for her to speak, but the latter was clearly deep in thought over the story told thus far. Eventually, the elder Siren turned to her companion, seeing the intrigue there, and so cracked a small smile.

"It interests you that much, Sunset?"

The former unicorn nodded.

"Well...yeah! I mean, I can't believe that you'd be willing to put yourself in a situation like that! Lining up to be chosen, like...like the best cut of meat at a butcher's shop?"

Adagio let out a chuckle.

"Oh, my dear Sunset. You must remember, it was a very different time for this world. Attitudes and feelings shift over the centuries, and I have been there to see them all."

However, a slight frown crossed her face as she considered this.

"While it is true that my sisters and I would have preferred not to debase ourselves, especially for a meek young lad like that...it was necessary."

But Sunset seemed confused by this.

"I don't see how."

For a moment, Adagio turned to her, raising an eyebrow, before looking ahead and letting out a sigh as she answered.

"When we first came to this world, it was clear to us that the energy here was never going to be enough to sustain us in the way that it had back in Equestria. Oh sure, we could start a brawl or two here and there, but to get us the power we wanted, that we craved...we needed to think bigger."

Sunset watched her, intrigued by her words, and so stayed silent as Adagio looked to her once more.

"And so, I hatched a plan. We entered this kingdom with the intent of getting in good with the royal family. The boy was of marrying age, so we'd slip in, get on his good side, and before you know it, one of us would end up with a crown."

Hearing that, Sunset frowned somewhat.

"So it was all a power play then? You never really cared about him?"

Adagio let out a chuckle at hearing that.

"Oh, Sunset. You forget...I know about your past, remember?"

The words had not been spoken with intent to insult, Sunset knew that, and yet, they nevertheless had an impact. Although she felt more than a little indignant at that, Sunset nevertheless exhaled deeply, slumping her shoulders a little before giving a nod.

"Yeah...good point."

Nodding back, Adagio resumed.

"But you're right. It was all just a means of gaining control over others. Becoming the next Queen was just one way. As I already told you, the old King meant for his son to carry on the line. And for that...one of us needed to make certain...changes to our life."

Sunset turned to her, more surprised than before.

"Seriously? You were willing to just get yourself pregnant like that?"

Adagio nodded before turning to her.

"To gain control over others, I was willing to do many things back in the day. And I knew that my child, boy or girl, would one day be the one to sit upon the throne. I could influence the kingdom twofold, first through my beloved future husband, and second, through my child."

Sunset narrowed her eyes.

"So...even your child was part of your plan?"

Here, Adagio turned to her, looking somewhat insulted by those words.

"The story is still early, Sunset."

The former unicorn looked like she was about to respond to that, only to stop when she realised what she must have sounded like just now. Sighing, she looked away briefly, before turning back to Adagio, bearing an apologetic look. The Siren regarded her for a while before giving a short nod, a silent way of letting her know that no harm was done. Looking ahead as the two continued to walk, Adagio placed her hands in her jacket pockets, before starting to speak again.

"We needed negative energy, and for that, there needed to be conflict. The people we'd met up until that point simply weren't up to snuff, so we had to gain influence over an even greater population. Hence, our plan. We'd sow strife in that kingdom once we had the throne in our grasp, and from that...well...it'd be a veritable buffet for us."

Sunset, looking at the smirk on Adagio's face as she said that, couldn't help but feel a slight chill go down her spine.

"You know...I am so glad you're on our side these days."

A slight chuckle escaped Adagio after she'd heard that, but, when her laughter died down, she got right back to business.

"But, as I said, there was a complication. The prince was uninterested, so I had to improvise. If I couldn't get close to him now, the whole plan was in jeopardy. But..."

Her smirk returned to her as she looked to Sunset.

"...by a startling coincidence, I happened to take a wrong turn when going to my bedchambers that night."

To say that the prince was feeling down would have been a great understatement, as his steps were slow and ponderous throughout his journey. Up and up he went, through the various floors of the castle, heading to his chambers for the evening. As per usual, there were guards every so often, and each would salute him as he passed. The prince was distracted though, his Father's words repeating themselves over and over again in his mind, leading to a long and tiring sigh on his part. Eventually though, he happened upon his destination, a large ornate door that led to his personal quarters. A small smile crept onto his face, for he knew that, at least here, he could have a reprieve from the stress of the day. With a single push, the door opened, and he made his way within.

"Well...that day could have gone better."

Closing the door behind him, the prince allowed himself a moment to stretch, after which he got down to the business of removing his ceremonial armour, placing the chest-plate to one side for the time being. With his burden gone, he moved over to a nearby table, preparing himself a small glass of water. But, as he took his first sip, he turned, ready to look upon his bed in preparation for a good night's rest.

"Are you well, my prince?"

The boy immediately allowed shock to overcome him, and he spat out the water. Before him, sitting quietly at the edge of his bed, was none other than one of the very maidens his Father had prepared for him. He recognised her from her voluminous orange hair, as well as the confident look she bore as she looked to him. Needless to say, he was rather taken aback by seeing her here, and as he fumbled his words, he looked from her, to the door and then back again.

"How...how...how did you get in here?"

Adagio, flipping some of her hair aside, looked to the boy with a look of sheer innocence.

"Why...I was making my way to my bedchambers, when I made a wrong turn. I tried finding my way back, but instead I found myself here."

While a more world-weary person might have suspected that the Siren was putting on an act here, the prince was, sadly, not such a person. Although, to his credit, he did at least seem just a touch incredulous over the story that had just been presented to him.

"Why didn't my guards bar you from entering?"

To that, Adagio, feigned a look of confusion.

"Guards? But, my prince...there were no guards."

The prince opened his mouth to speak, only to find realisation crossing his face. Immediately, he spun around, rushing to his door, opening it with an almighty yank before poking his head outside. The girl was completely right, as there was not a single person outside his door, something which he had utterly failed to notice as he'd passed through the first time. No guards or soldiers or anyone who would have been expected here. The prince, stunned by this, re-entered his room, closing the door and turning to the girl with a shocked look.

"But...but...there are always guards here! Why would they leave like that?"

Adagio shrugged her shoulders.

"Who knows? Perhaps they simply had...other things on their minds tonight?"

Her mouth twisted into a devilish smirk as she said that, with her pendant glowing slightly more than usual, but she did well to hide her face from the prince as she did so. And speaking of whom, the boy now paced up and down the room, showing clear nervousness. The Siren watched him, and in some instances growing somewhat impatient about it. However, she nevertheless kept her cool, waiting until just enough time had passed, before finally speaking in that faux-innocent tone of hers.

"My prince...does my presence upset you? Is it your wish that I leave?"

The boy turned to her, seeing her get up from the bed, perhaps in readiness to do just that. But, after seeming ponderous for a few moments, he raised a hand.

"No. No, it's just...just been a difficult day for me. I bear you no ill will, Lady...?"

He left the question open, and to this, Adagio formed a smile far sweeter than who knew her would expect her to bear. Gripping the top of her skirt, she pulled on the fabric slightly before giving a slight curtsey.

"Adagio, your highness. Adagio Dazzle."

The prince nodded, bearing a slight smile of his own.

"A pleasure. You need not leave, not if you are simply here by mistake. No harm done. Can I...can I offer you some water perhaps?"

But Adagio placed her hand upon her chest, letting out a fake gasp at that request.

"Heavens! I would not be so rude as to impose!"

The prince chuckled at that.

"It is no bother. Truth be told, I could do with some company right now, even if it is just somebody to talk to."

Adagio looked to him, and at the glass of water he so readily prepared for her. It took a few moments, but eventually, she calculated just the right moment, and accepted the glass from him, bearing all the appreciation one in her position was expected to show.

"I thank you, your highness. It is a welcome gesture."

The boy nodded, turning to prepare a glass for himself. And as his back was turned, Adagio's smirk returned.

"And I promise you, if company is what you desire...then that is what you shall have."

Complications

"Well...I suppose I should have seen that one coming."

Sunset's word's elicited a chuckle from Adagio.

"Naturally, dear."

The two had, over the course of their walk together, not headed for either of their homes, but rather a place that was pretty much the definition of comfort in Canterlot; Sugar Cube Corner. This place, despite being so late in the afternoon, was still abuzz with activity, with many of the girls' fellow students acting as patrons to the venue. And yet, in spite of how packed it was, it nevertheless maintained an air of cosiness to it, thanks in no small part to the service of Mr and Mrs Cakes. Adagio and Sunset had found a comfortable corner booth to sit in for the time being, and were, at this moment, warming themselves on a pair of cups of tea. Taking a small sip, Adagio let out a contented sigh before turning to her intrigued listener, bearing her usual smirk as she resumed speaking.

"So, as you could no doubt predict, it didn't take long before I had the boy in the palm of my hand. A few sweet words here, and few subtle bouts of body language there, and before long...well..."

Another brief chuckle escaped her.

"...let's just say he didn't have to sleep alone that night."

A small blush crept onto Sunset's face as she heard that, prompting Adagio to smile in an amused manner.

"You and your friends look so cute when you do that."

Needless to say, such comments caused Sunset to frown at her companion somewhat, but, rather than declare how irritating it was, she simply cleared her throat before speaking up again.

"So, given that your...conquest was successful, what happened then?"

Turning back to her tea, Adagio took another sip before replying.

"Well, since the deed was done, I knew it was only a matter of time before the next step of my plan came to fruition. In fact, it came earlier than expected..."

Slowly, she turned to Sunset, a devilish smile plastered on her face.

"...when his Father found us."

Immediately, Sunset looked rather concerned after hearing that, clearly expecting nothing good to come from such a statement. It wasn't long before Adagio confirmed her fears.

"The King had come to wake the prince early, to discuss the choosing of his bride. But, the moment he laid eyes on us there, together in that bed, well...I suppose you can imagine his reaction."

Adagio looked away briefly, looking ponderous as she continued.

"The King decided then and there that I was to be his son's wife, if for no other reason than to avoid a scandal like this tarnishing the image of the royal family. The wedding arrangements were made that same day."

Her expression became one of nostalgia.

"And it was indeed an impressive ceremony. Half the kingdom had turned up to witness our vows. It was quite something."

However, her smirk soon returned.

"And when I looked out into the crowd, seeing the jealous looks on all the young girls of the land, knowing that I had taken the boy so many of them had dreamed about...it was a very satisfying feeling."

Sunset rolled her eyes after hearing that, staying silent to allow Adagio her moment of vanity. But, after a suitable amount of time had passed, the former unicorn decided that it was time to get the story back on track.

"So, I'm guessing your child came soon afterwards?"

To that, Adagio scoffed.

"Hardly! Putting aside the fact that it often took a good deal of convincing to bring my still-nervous dear husband to the bedchamber at all, it took several weeks and many tries before his seed finally took. At one point I was actually somewhat concerned that my brilliant plan might actually come crashing down at that stage."

After taking another sip of her drink, Adagio turned to Sunset, bearing a small smile.

"But, in the end...the deed was done. I was carrying his child. For a while, I was treated like the most precious and valuable thing in the kingdom because of it. My sisters and I enjoyed the high life for quite some time. Had all gone to plan, such a life would have continued for quite some time."

Soon after though, her expression soured, and she looked away, staring into the reflection of herself in her tea.

"But, of course...nothing ever really goes to plan, does it?"

Sunset tilted her head, displaying clear curiosity.

"Why? What happened?"

Taking a deep breath, Adagio exhaled, before looking to her companion with a look of utter seriousness.

"What happened is that, in one night, all of my plans for that realm fell apart. For you see, mere days before I was due to give birth..."

Looking away, the Siren's eyes narrowed.

"...war came to the kingdom."

The night was, for the most part, a still and calm one, save for the occasional call of some night-time bird flying across the skies. Within the royal palace, everything was as it should be, with not a hair out of place for any who dwelt there. In one of the many towers lay the chamber of the prince, and within, the man himself was sound asleep within the confines of his large and luxurious bed. But, he was not alone this night, for there, laying beside him, was his wife, Adagio. Though covered by the same bed-sheets as her husband, her arms and shoulders rested above it, making it clear that she wore no clothing underneath. And, on top of everything else, a distinct bulge further down the sheets gave away her condition, and, more importantly, how far along she was. The whole image was that of restfulness, the silence only broken by the gentle breathing of the slumbering couple.

However, the peace of the moment was soon shattered by a sudden and unexpected noise. Both sleepers woke, sitting up in their bed soon afterwards and looked ahead. There, before them, was the large window at the end of their chamber, and beyond, far in the distance, there was a strange orange glow, almost like the kind that usually heralded a sunrise. But it was far too early for that. In addition, there was that noise again, far away, and yet nevertheless unnerving. It sounded like people. Lots of people. A terrifying number of people. One looked at this combination of sights and sounds, and they felt only one thing; Fear. The prince looked, understandably, disturbed by this.

"Wha...what is going on?!"

Adagio remained silent, her eyes narrowing in a display of both annoyance and concern. But, before she had a chance to respond to the prince, the door of their chambers burst open. Immediately, Adagio resumed her well-practised role of the demure maiden, letting out a feigned gasp of surprise while clutching her bed-sheets to her chest, lest anyone see her lack of modesty. To the relief of both her and the prince, it was only the King, who, for reasons that were about to become clear, was garbed in full battle armour, with him even carrying a sword in hand. The towering man bowed his head slightly at the sight of Adagio in her bed.

"Apologies, my girl, but my son is required elsewhere."

Hearing that, the prince leapt out of his side of the bed. Unlike his wife, he had seen fit to actually wear simple garments as he slept, but, as he made his way from the bedside, he reached over for his own armour, albeit a set far less used than that of his Father, all while regarding the man with confusion.

"Father?! What in the name of the Gods is going on out there?!"

The King frowned at that, raising a hand and pointing to the window.

"We are invaded, my son! Our enemies have gathered and are at our gates!"

The prince darted his head towards the window, before looking back to his Father.

"What do we do?"

To that, the King lifted his sword, staring at it as he answered his son.

"What we must do; Fight!"

He turned, looking his son right in the eye before bellowing out his next command.

"I wish your first taste of battle had been under better circumstances, my lad, but it seems we have little choice now. You must prepare and meet me at the gates. We will rally what forces we have and deal with this incursion!"

The prince nodded, already having adorned most of his armour. For a moment, he turned to look upon his wife, who regarded him with that look of fear and concern that she had so often practised. But, before either of them had a chance to say anything to one another, the king stepped aside, revealing a pair of figures behind him. To the surprise of both the prince and Adagio, it was her sisters, Aria and Sonata. Like Adagio, they too were looking fearful, wearing just as much of an expertly-crafted look of timidity as their elder sister wore. The King ushered them in, after which he looked to his daughter-in-law.

"I took the liberty of finding your sisters. I believe you would want them close during this difficult time."

Adagio nodded, and her sisters entered the room in earnest soon afterwards. Without another word, the king looked to his son, giving him a commanding nod, which was promptly returned by the boy. With a single motion, the monarch left the chamber, the doors remaining open to allow his son to follow. And speaking of whom, the boy turned to his wife, walking to her side of the bed and getting down on one knee.

"My love, I must leave you now. Please, remain here. It will be safe for you."

Adagio nodded, raising a hand and gently caressing the side of her husband's face.

"Return to me, my prince."

The boy smiled at her touch, his eyes slowly moving down to her swollen belly, wherein he carefully placed a hand upon it. Feeling the movement within, he took on a thoughtful look, before looking Adagio in the eye.

"I will try, dear Lady."

Leaning closer, he pressed his lips against hers, and together they took this moment to enjoy that tender kiss, all while Aria and Sonata stood silent nearby. When the kiss broke, the prince gave his wife one final look, before standing tall and walking with all haste after his Father, closing the chamber door behind him. The moment he was gone, however, Adagio's face changed to one of utter seriousness, as she narrowed her eyes at the window nearby.

"This...this makes things difficult."

With one motion of her hands, Adagio threw the sheets off herself at last, and swiftly left the bed entirely. She cared not for the fact that she was completely bare before her sisters, nor did she care for how cold the stone floor was on her feet as she walked. Her focus was on the window, and the bright orange glow in the distance. She rested one hand upon the windowsill, looking intently at the horizon. Even from this distance, she could see them. Hundreds, if not thousands of people beyond the city walls. Whether soldiers or simply some barbarian horde, she cared not. They were here, and they meant harm upon this place. But Aria, who now stood beside her, chuckled at the sight of it all.

"It is about time we saw some strife in this land! I have been waiting for a meal like this for far too long!"

Adagio nodded as she took in her sister's words, but kept a stoic look as she regarded the enemies at the gates. Her keen Siren senses, as always, let her see what these mere humans could not. A cloud of green magic, massive in scope, rising above the mob. Her instincts yearned for that negative energy, screaming at her to go forth and take it all in. It was everything she'd hoped to create since coming here. And yet, her face was not one of hunger, nor anticipation, but of concern and calculation. Her eyes drifted downwards, to her swollen middle, and for a moment, she placed a hand upon it. Thoughtfulness was plastered all over her face, and as she looked back up, she narrowed her eyes.

"...No."

Her words were brief and to-the-point, and they yielded the expected result, as Aria looked to her with confusion, as did Sonata, who had likewise walked beside her. It took a few moments of silence, but eventually, the purple-haired Siren finally spoke.

"Wha...what do you mean no? Sister, this is everything we've been wanting since we came here! There is negative energy out there the likes of which we haven't seen since Equestria! How can you not want this?!"

Turning to her angry sister, Adagio frowned somewhat.

"Think, Aria! We may need negative energy, but what now forms out there beyond the walls is not of our making! It is born of the anger and hate of one nation against another. It is raw, wild, untamed. It is...beyond our control."

A sigh escaped her as she turned to the window once more.

"This is not like some riot or brawl that we have engineered, sister. It is not slow, built-up and calculated, like we planned. This...this brutality will overflow here. It will consume this kingdom and leave nothing in it's wake. Not even our magic will be able to rein in that kind of aggression now that it has been unleashed."

Looking up to Sonata, and then to Aria, Adagio's next words were spoken with grim seriousness.

"We will perish if we remain."

To say that Aria and Sonata were shocked to hear this would have been a great understatement, as they now looked to one another with uncertainty. It took a few moments, but eventually, Aria let out a sigh, looking out to the green energy out on the horizon with resentment in her eyes.

"Such a waste."

Adagio nodded in agreement, but soon afterwards, she turned, walking over to a nearby dressing cabinet. Opening up it's doors, she looked through the wide selection of clothes on display before her, before finally settling on a simple purple dress. With a swift motion on her part, she clad herself in the garment, tying it closed and making sure she looked at least moderately presentable, before looking to her sisters.

"We need to leave, and quickly."

Aria and Sonata nodded to her, staying quiet as their elder walked over to a nearby wall. Raising a hand, Adagio grabbed hold of one of the wall's candle-holders, giving it a strong tug. Immediately, there was a cracking sound, causing all three to turn their attention to the side. There, a small section of the wall gave way, opening up before them and revealing a darkened stairway within. Looking upon it, Adagio gained a slight smirk.

"Always ensure a way out."

But, before she or the others made their way out of the place, Adagio turned, looking upon a nearby table. There, there was a stand, and upon it was an ornate-looking sword, it's blade shining even in the dim light of the room. Regarding it carefully, Adagio strolled towards it, reaching out and picking it up. As she felt the sharp blade in her hands, a small-yet-sly smile grew on her.

"Dear husband...how very forgetful of you."

She turned to Aria, handing her the sword.

"We should not leave unprotected."

The middle Siren sister nodded, grabbing the handle of the sword and giving it a moment's attention, before looking instead to the secret passageway. As the only one among them now armed, Aria took the lead, being the first to step within the passage. Sonata went next, and Adagio quickly behind her. But, the elder Siren regarded her bedchambers one final time, frowning and letting out a sigh.

"What a disappointment."

And with that, she looked within, pressing a brick on the inside of the passage, which cased the thing to close up behind her. The room was now as it was not so long ago, and not a moment too soon, for it was mere seconds later that the official door of the chamber opened, revealing none other than the prince himself. He entered the room swiftly, almost in a panicked state, panting as he did so.

"Apologies...my love. I forgot...forgot my sword, and..."

But, as he finally stopped panting, he looked up, soon realising, to his shock, that he had been speaking to nobody.

"Ad...Adagio?"

Birth

Sunset stood beside Adagio, looking utterly aghast at what she had just heard. But, in the silence that persisted between them, Adagio took this opportunity to turn towards the counter of Sugar Cube Corner, placing a few dollar notes upon it to pay for their drinks. Mrs Cakes took it graciously, but one look at Sunset's motionless face gave her a pause for a moment. She said nothing of it, however, and simply returned to serving her other customers, giving Adagio a moment to look to her companion herself. And it was here that Sunset finally spoke, albeit in a hushed and slow manner.

"I...I can't believe it."

Adagio gave a grim nod.

"Believe it, Sunset. The ancient world was a dark and brutal place. Nations may rise and become strong over the centuries, but when they fall, it is usually through...barbaric means."

The Siren started to make her way towards the door, with Sunset close behind her. The latter said nothing, instead listening closely as Adagio continued.

"My sisters and I managed to escape the castle with little issue. Those old passages were forgotten, even by the royal family, and so we had nobody following us. We walked and walked for days, but by the time we felt we'd stopped far enough away...the damage was done."

She turned to Sunset, narrowing her eyes as she did so.

"The city had been overrun that night. Every man, woman and child put to the sword. Days afterwards, every outlying village was also taken. In less than a week, that proud and mighty nation was gone. Wiped from the face of the Earth like it had never been there at all."

Looking away again, she let out a sigh.

"Even today...nobody but my sisters and I even remember that it existed."

Sunset, needless to say, was at a loss for words over this, but, as she and Adagio began to leave the Corner in earnest, she took a few deep breaths, before finally breaking the silence between them.

"And your husband? The prince?"

Adagio nodded, already knowing what her companion would have asked of her.

"From what I heard, he died in battle, alongside his Father."

For just a moment, a look of amusement crossed her face.

"It is strange to think of it. All that time we were together, he was nothing but meek, nervous and unsure of himself. But in the end...he went down fighting."

Stopping, Adagio looked up at the sky, to the stars that now revealed themselves now that the sun had finally set.

"I suppose it is as noble an end as he could have hoped for."

Sunset regarded her carefully, hearing the softer tone in which she spoke, and stepped forward to speak up herself.

"Did...did you ever really care for him? In the end?"

Slowly, Adagio looked down to her, thinking carefully on the question before letting out a sigh.

"I will admit, he had a somewhat...boyish charm to him. And he did treat me well in our time together. I had grown somewhat fond of him."

However, her expression soon become a little more serious.

"But if you're asking if I actually ended up loving him...then no...I don't think I ever did."

Sunset, upon hearing that, looked away from Adagio, bearing a look of slight sadness. Adagio herself noted this, but said nothing of it. No mockery or anything to suggest that she disapproved of the reaction. Instead, she simply resumed walking forward, with Sunset not far behind her. Onwards they marched, heading down the street in relative silence, until, at last, Sunset finally deigned to ask something else.

"So...you were still heavily pregnant at this point, right? What did you do now that the kingdom was gone?"

Placing her hands into her pockets, Adagio considered that question carefully.

"We needed to keep moving. The horde that reduced that realm to ashes was still too close for comfort, so we maintained a steady pace as far away from the conflict as we could."

Shortly afterwards, a grimace crossed her face.

"However...on the third day of our exodus...I could walk no further."

Now, when one travels through a lush green forest, they expect to find many things. They would expect to feel a gentle breeze flowing through the branches. They would long to hear the beautiful songs and calls of birds. They might even hope to catch sight of one or two woodland animals. However, one thing they would not expect, or even want to hear, is the sound of a woman screaming in agony. But that was exactly what was happening, as the Siren sisters had stopped from their arduous trek from the ruins of the kingdom, and now stood beside a nearby small river, running right through the middle of the forest.

Adagio, while normally composed and in-control, was sitting on the ground, her back against a nearby tree, with her legs splayed out before her. She was breathing heavily, and her face had become almost red from her exertions. Sonata kneeled beside her, holding her hand, albeit with concern, given how tightly her sister was gripping it. As for Aria, she was kneeling right in front of her elder, looking up the latter's skirt, which had been pulled up slightly to allow her to get a better view. After a few more sharp breaths, Adagio shut her eyes tightly, letting out another ear-piercing scream. Sonata, naturally, looked to Aria with worry.

"Aria! What is happening?!"

The middle Siren sister shook her head upon hearing that.

"I...I don't know. I'm not seeing anything yet!"

Adagio, looking to her, narrowed her eyes, panting as she spoke.

"Aria...if things go on like this for too long...you know what to do."

At first, Aria seemed confused by this, as did Sonata for that matter. But, after looking to Adagio for a few moments, and the intense look in her eyes, Aria's expression became one of realisation. Slowly, she turned, looking upon a motionless object in the grass beside her. It was the sword they had taken from the prince's chambers. With hesitancy in her movements, Aria picked it up, before looking to Adagio once more.

"Sister...is that not...extreme?"

But Adagio frowned at this.

"I...I have been going through this fo-AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!"

The sudden bout of pain was unexpected, but the elder Siren endured it all the same, gripping Sonata's hand even tighter, much to the latter's discomfort. Aria, for the first time in this, looked very concerned, but stayed silent as, after letting her pain subside, Adagio resumed speaking.

"This has been going on for too long now, sister. This child will be born, today...one way or the other."

As one would expect, Aria couldn't help but bear a slight grimace at what her sister was asking her to do, and so stared at the sword in her hands for a few moments. However, her concentration was interrupted by another scream from Adagio, prompting her to look up again. This time, it was Sonata's turn to speak, with her looking like she was on the verge of tears at this point.

"Aria! We have to do something! She's already lost too much blood!"

Looking down, Aria knew that her younger sister had the right of it. The grass where Adagio had placed herself was indeed stained red at this point. And she knew that things were only going to get worse. Letting out a sigh, Aria set the sword to the side for the time being, instead looking up her sister's skirt once more.

"We just need to hold and, and maybe we..."

But, before she finished, she paused, her eyes widening.

"I...I see something!"

That caught Adagio and Sonata's attention immediately, as they both looked to Aria, staying silent as she continued.

"I think...yes! It's the head!"

Finally finding reason to smile, Sonata broke out into a wide grin, before looking to Adagio and speaking to her in as calm a voice as possible.

"Alright, sister, this is it. Just a little while longer."

Adagio nodded, watching as Aria reached out with her hands towards her. She looked up, giving her elder sister as nod, which Adagio promptly returned. Then, after taking a number of deep breaths, she pushed, harder than ever before. Her face felt like it was going to explode, and while she tried her hardest to keep back the screams of pain, it was simply beyond her ability to do at this point. Instead, she resolved to mentally count the minutes as she kept this up. One minute. Then two. Three. Four. Five. Minute after minute, and still, nothing was happening. Frustration would have been an understatement as to how Adagio felt right now, but after what seemed like an eternity of this, it happened. Adagio felt as if a great weight had left her, and before she could even open her eyes, she heard a new sound

It was crying.

Slowly, she looked up, panting furiously from her exertions. Her vision was blurry, but as the moments passed, it began to clear. That's when she saw. There, in Aria's hands, a tiny thing, wriggling around for the first time. Covered in blood, but still healthy. A child. Her child. While still exhausted, she nevertheless managed to get her words out.

"What...what is...?"

She didn't finish, but Aria already knew, and looked up to her.

"It's a boy."

Adagio stopped speaking, her eyes drifting down to her new-born son once more. The crying had stopped, but now that it had, she watched as Aria got on with another job. Slowly, she lifted up the nearby sword, carefully, placing it at the umbilical that still connected the two. She paused, looking to Adagio, her eyes asking silently for permission. Though still weak, Adagio nodded, and with a single motion, the cord was cut. Adagio felt the sting, as did the child, as the latter now resumed crying. Minutes more passed them by, and Aria got down to the business of cleaning up what had just been cut, while Sonata did her best to do the same on Adagio's side of things.

"How are you feeling?" the youngest Siren asked.

Adagio turned to her, raising an eyebrow, giving Sonata all the answer she was going to get. But, at this point, Adagio noted that Aria was regarding the tiny child still in her hands, in particular the blood that still stained him. The middle Siren looked around, until her gaze fell upon he nearby river. Adagio knew what was going on in her mind, and so spoke up first.

"Wait."

Aria stopped, looking to her sister. After a few more moments of deep breaths, Adagio spoke again.

"I...I will do it."

Both of the other Sirens looked to her, clearly shocked by those words, but said nothing as Adagio reached up for a nearby low-hanging tree branch, using it to help herself get to her feet. But, as she did this, it was a great strain on her, as evidenced by the grimace she bore, which prompted Sonata to finally speak.

"Adagio! You mustn't! You've already lost too much of your strength!"

To that, Adagio looked to her with a frown.

"I...have strength enough...for this."

And to that, the other Sirens said nothing. Instead, they kept their mouths shut as, slowly but surely, Adagio finally got to her feet. Her lower dress was still stained with blood, and she was still panting heavily, but even in spite of all of that, she took slow step after slow step. Reaching out her hands, she looked to Aria, who, after looking thoughtful for a few moments, finally handed her the child. Adagio looked down at the new life before her, so small, and having finally stopped crying. Her expression was neutral, but, as she looked to the river, her eyes narrowed. Gradually, she made her way over, with her sisters close behind her, just in case something went wrong. As soon as she reached the banks, Adagio took a step in, and then another, and another, until, at last, she was waist-deep in the waters.

Now, she got down to business, holding her son securely in one arm, while using her free hand to scoop up some of the cool and refreshing waters around her. Raising that hand, she gently poured it over the child, washing away the blood that covered him. Again and again she did this, until, finally, he was rid of the birth fluids, at which point she noted his skin tone, so very much like hers. And it was here that he opened his eyes, looking up at his Mother for the first time. Adagio stared into his eyes, and their familiar colour, and looked on with surprise as the child actually smiled at her. It took a few moments, but, in he end, she too began to crack a smile, bringing the boy closer to her face before whispering her first words to him.

"Welcome to the world...my little Forte."

Truths

"That...must have hurt."

Adagio gave a grim nod.

"Indeed."

The two had continued to walk together, through the streets of Canterlot, the sun having long since set. The air was cool, and there were few, if any, other people about the place. In the silence that persisted between them, only the sounds of their footsteps could be heard. This carried on for some time, with Adagio looking, for the most part, quite nostalgic on the whole affair, until finally, she was the one to speak up at last.

"When my plan to dominate that realm had failed, I confess, I'd never really planned on what to do with my child once he was born. I knew I would keep him with me, he was my son after all. But..."

Narrowing her eyes, she turned to Sunset.

"...now he was a prince without a kingdom."

Sunset considered this, and could only imagine how disappointed Adagio must have felt back in the day when that fact had sunk in for her. But, in a desperate bid to lighten the conversation, she put on a smile, clearing her throat a little before speaking up.

"So...Forte then? How was he?"

Adagio chuckled, looking ahead as she answered.

"He was a sweet boy. Never cried once during his early years. As he grew, it was clear to me that he'd largely inherited his Father's looks. Messy brown hair, that same innocent smile. But his eyes..."

Looking back to her companion, a look of pride crossed Adagio's face.

"...those were my eyes."

Sunset nodded to this, her own expression becoming more curious as they walked.

"Was it difficult for you? Raising him, I mean? He was your first child after all."

Adagio nodded.

"Oh, to be sure. I was uncertain of what to do, at least at first. But, after a while, and with my sisters' help, we fell into a good routine."

Lifting her hands out of her pockets, Adagio folded her arms as she kept on walking.

"But, he was only half Siren. He kept many of those human tendencies, like needing actual food for sustenance. My sisters and I could go for days without it, provided that we had enough negative energy. But him? He needed to be provided for."

A smirk formed upon her face as she continued.

"Aria became quite proficient at archery, given how often she took to hunting. Even if we didn't have a child to provide for, I think she'd have kept it up, if only for the pleasure of it."

A grimace crossed Sunset's face at that, but, as they continued onwards, she brushed aside a few stray hairs that had fallen in front of her, after which she looked to Adagio with interest.

"So...you had no trouble with him at all?"

Hearing that, a more serious look crossed Adagio's face, and she let out a sigh, turning to her companion slowly before speaking in a lower tone.

"Oh, there was one issue. And...I think you can probably imagine what it was."

Birdsong filled the air in the great forest, and all around there were the usual sights and sounds of such a place, from the cool breeze to the trickling water of the nearby stream. In the middle of it all, however, there was a small clearing, and within, a rudimentary camp of sorts. It was centred by a small campfire, which was blazing away. Beside it was none other than Adagio, who had just approached the thing with a handful of fresh logs. Casually, she threw a few on, and mere moments later, they were alight. Smiling at this, she turned, looking upon her sister, Sonata, as she was kneeling in the ground nearby. She had a few tools in her hand and was, at this moment, making use of what was clearly an animal fur of some kind.

"Making progress, sister?" Adagio asked.

Sonata turned to her, smiling as she did so.

"Yes. We should have a few cloaks ready by the evening."

Adagio nodded, smiling at her sister's efforts, but, before she had the chance to say anything further, she was distracted by the arrival of a different, and noticeably younger voice.

"Mother!"

Turning, Adagio maintained her smile as she saw that there, running towards her from the tree-line, was Forte. The boy had grown considerably, and was clad in simply brown garments, bearing a wide smile upon his face. As he ran towards his Mother, Adagio noted that he was carrying something, which, when he finally slowed down, he presented to her with a look of pride.

"I made you this."

Adagio took the gift into her hands and examined it. It was a simple necklace of flowers, forged from a number of rather colourful specimens from around the forest. Instinctively, she looked to her son with affection, reaching forward and gently placing a hand upon his shoulder.

"It's lovely, Forte. You should be pleased with yourself."

The boy beamed at the praise, and rushed forward, embracing his Mother in a hug. Although somewhat taken aback by this gesture, Adagio nevertheless composed herself soon afterwards, smiling warmly before returning the embrace. When they finally parted, Forte continued to smile, before rushing off once more, this time over to where Sonata was working. Clearly, he had an interest in what his Aunt was up to, but, before Adagio had an opportunity to do or say anything else, she turned upon hearing the clear sound of rustling tree branches. She looked on just in time to witness her other sister, Aria, finally returning from one of her forays, and, as always, she'd caught something. The bodies of several large rabbits was firmly held in her hand, while in the other was her make-shift bow. As usual, she looked rather pleased with herself.

"Dinner is served."

Adagio raised an eyebrow at that, but nevertheless gestured to the fire, prompting Aria to make her way over in readiness to prepare their evening meal. Forte noticed this and ran over, looking a fair deal excited at the prospect of what they were eating tonight. However, this happy moment was soon stopped, when, all of a sudden, all four of them began to hear something. It was a sound that was rare in these parts, but it was still unmistakeable; people. Forte seemed curious, but for the Sirens, they had an entirely different reaction, as they looked to one another with knowing nods. Clearing her throat, Adagio smiled sweetly to her son.

"Forte, sweetie? Could you be a dear and stay with the rabbits for a moment? Your Aunts and I need to do something."

The boy looked to her, keeping that same smile of his.

"Alright, Mother."

Adagio nodded, but, as she looked to her sisters, her expression became more serious. She got to her feet, gesturing silently to the other two, who nodded intently before starting to follow. Forte looked on with curiosity, but still remained where he was, watching as his Mother and Aunts moved further and further away. The three Sirens walked silently together, making their way past tree after tree, until finally, they happened upon the source of the sounds. A group of what appeared to be hunters of some kind were resting beside a fallen tree, discussing their latest kills. Upon seeing them, Adagio, Sonata and Aria got to their knees, keeping low and quiet as they watched the group. But, after observing them for long enough, Adagio looked to the others, bearing her usual smirk.

"Same as always, girls."

The others nodded, bearing equally-mischievous smirks of their own. Their pendants began to glow with anticipation over what they knew they were about to do, and, after taking a deep breath, the Sirens opened their mouths in unison, letting out the soothing and harmonious tones that they had used so often before. It took a few moments, but eventually, their enchantment had the desired effect, as the tone of the hunters changed from one of camaraderie, to one of hostility. Further still, and it was outright aggression to one another, which inevitably led to the sounds of fighting amongst them. And through it all, the green mist, that clear sign of negative magic, seeping through the undergrowth around them. The power was drawn to the pendants as Adagio and her sisters continued, and, before long, it was absorbed.

The Sirens, at this point, stayed quiet, ceasing their song as they stayed hidden. Their meal for the day had been taken successfully, but even so, they dared not reveal themselves just yet, instead staying low as the hunters began to move off, quarrelling and occasionally fighting one another as they drew further away. In time, they were completely out of earshot, leading to the three Sirens finally feeling safe enough to stand up once more. After giving herself a brief stretch, Aria let out a sigh of contentment.

"Ah! That's better! I cannot tell you how much I've been looking forward to that!"

Adagio nodded.

"Indeed. It was a most fortunate coincidence that we happened upon them today."

However, to Adagio's horror, the moment was then interrupted by the arrival of an all-too familiar voice.

"...Mother?"

Immediately, Adagio's face turned a shade paler, and she spun around soon afterwards. Sure enough, there he was. Forte, having apparently followed them, looking to each of them with both worry and confusion. The Sirens said nothing, instead looking to the boy with concern, until, at last, Forte focused his attention solely on Adagio, his voice hushed and unsure.

"What...what are you doing?!"

Rest

"Ah! Here we are!"

Adagio's voice had a sense of contentment to it, causing Sunset to, after some time, look up and see what she was talking about. There, at the end of the street from them, was a tall apartment building, which Sunset knew to be the home of both Adagio and her sisters. She turned, giving her companion a smile and a nod, before starting to follow her towards the building. For the time being, Adagio's story did not continue to be told, and instead, the two girls remained silent as they journeyed forth. Into the building they went, up the stairs and passing by many doors on the way to their destination. But, eventually, they reached it. Adagio, rummaging around in her pockets for a few moments, soon pulled out a set of keys, which she then used to unlock the door. A few seconds more, and it was open, with the two girls entering the apartment in earnest.

"I'm home!"

Adagio's call was responded to immediately, as both Aria and Sonata looked up from what they were doing to see her. At first, there was some surprise on their part when they saw Sunset behind her, but, after a few moments, they gave her a nod, with Sonata even smiling and waving to her. Sunset smiled back, but, before she could step in any further, she was halted by a hand from Adagio.

"Shoes, Sunset."

While at first confused, Sunset understood soon afterwards when she looked down and saw that both Aria and Sonata's usual boots were by the door they had just entered. She looked up, giving Adagio a knowing nod, before starting to crouch down and pull off her shoes. Adagio acted in kind, and left hers beside the door, with Sunset doing the same not long after. Now fully inside, the former unicorn had a chance to look around the place. It was a fairly modest apartment, just the right size for about three people, and appeared to be well-furnished. Turning, Sunset noted that both Aria and Sonata were in the middle of preparing what appeared to be their evening meal, with the sounds of sizzling permeating the room. As Adagio walked past her, Sunset saw her take a seat on a nearby couch, letting out a contented sigh as she did so.

"Ah! Much better!"

Turning to her sister, Aria raised an eyebrow.

"I'm guessing we'll be having a guest around for dinner tonight?"

While there was a slight sense of annoyance to her voice, it was, nevertheless, genuinely curious, and Adagio soon looked to her before giving a nod of confirmation. Aria looked to Sunset for a few moments before simply shrugging her shoulders, making it clear that this did not bother her. Sonata, however, seemed more intrigued by this, as she then stopped her side of the food preparation before looking to her guest.

"So...how've you been, Sunset?"

Chuckling slightly, Sunset looked to her with a smile.

"I'm fine, thank you, Sonata. Me and Adagio have just been doing some song practise and, well...just talking."

Sonata nodded to that, looking more than a little pleased that her elder sister had apparently taken her up on her suggestion of singing lessons, as evidenced by the wide smile she gave her. But, while Adagio rolled her eyes at this, it wasn't long afterwards when Aria looked to them once more, raising an eyebrow and looking somewhat curious about something.

"Talking? About what?"

And it was here that Sunset shut her mouth tightly, looking rather awkward and uncomfortable all of a sudden. She looked to Adagio, uncertainty as plain as day in her eyes. The elder Siren noted this immediately, but did not mock her for it. Instead, she took on that same look of seriousness she'd been wearing so often this evening, and looked to her sister before speaking up in a matter-of-fact fashion.

"We were talking...about Forte."

Immediately, her words yielded their expected fruit, as both Sonata and Aria dropped whatever utensils they were holding, leading to a sudden and loud clinking noise as they hit the ground. The look they gave their older sister was one of pure shock and disbelief. Even Sonata, who wasn't normally one for taking things as seriously as her siblings, recognised how important this was. In utter silence, they looked to one another, as if to confirm that they had both heard the same thing. Sunset looked from one Siren to the next, feeling very uncomfortable about all of this, but even so, she kept quiet. Eventually, and after an agonizingly long silence, Aria cleared her throat, looking to Sonata and forcing a smile as she spoke.

"Say, Sonata? You know what? I think I forgot to pick something up at the store earlier. You wanna come with?"

Sonata stayed silent, looking over to Adagio briefly, who gave her a quick nod, before looking back to Aria. She gave a nod of her own, but said nothing. And so it was that the two made all haste away from the open kitchen, making sure to switch everything off before doing so, before heading on over to the front door. Sunset watched as they slipped their shoes on before leaving the apartment in earnest. Now, it was just her and Adagio, much like it had been for most of the evening in fact, but still, Sunset said nothing. However, mere moments later, she turned to her host as the latter let out a deep sigh.

"I hope you don't mind, but I just feel the need to slip into something more comfortable before we continue."

Sunset nodded to that, and after giving her guest an appreciative smile, Adagio got up from her couch, heading over to what Sunset could only assume was her bedroom. With the Siren closing the door behind her, Sunset was now alone in this place, so, naturally, her eyes began to wander around a bit. There were a few signs of the place's owners strewn about the place, from what seemed to be home-made clothing in the corner, to a few punk-rock albums beside the nearby music-players, and even a few books on music and song. But, after a while, Sunset's eyes focused instead on something else entirely. She couldn't quite believe it, but there, on a nearby shelf, on a carefully-crafted pedestal, was a sword. It was old, that much was clear, but effort had clearly been put into keeping it from rusting or wearing over the years. Sunset didn't need to ask who's sword this was. Not now.

But, before she had a chance to get up and even approach the thing, she was distracted by the sound of a door opening. Sure enough, Adagio had returned. She walked back into the main room of the apartment with that same confident swagger of hers, barefoot and clad in a simple bathrobe, purple, as was most of her usual clothing. Giving herself a brief stretch, Adagio developed into her standard smirk, before sitting back down on her spot at the couch, crossing her legs and looking to Sunset.

"There we are! As nice as my outfit is, I can't help but love having something less...restrictive when I get home."

Sunset nodded to that, leaning back into her own chair before folding her arms and raising an eyebrow.

"I can imagine. Knowing you, you'd probably walk around naked if you thought you could get away with it."

Letting out a brief chuckle, Adagio looked to her guest with a sultry smile.

"You know me all too well, dear."

As expected, Sunset developed a fierce blush at that, immediately regretting her comment, to which Adagio couldn't help but look very amused. But, after a brief silence between the two, the elder Siren finally spoke up.

"So then...I imagine you wish to know what happened next?"

Looking back to her, Sunset gave a nod, her look of curiosity returning.

"Yeah."

Adagio nodded back, leaning back into the couch and looking up at the ceiling, a ponderous look crossing her face.

"I assure you, Sunset...you may be surprised at the answer."

Explanations

The sun had long since set on the vast forest, and while the hooting of owls or flutter of bat's wings could be heard throughout, it was, all things considered, a relatively peaceful night tonight. Darkness covered the land with the coming of the night, but, in the centre of it all, a dim light persisted. This was the campfire of the Sirens, and Adagio, Aria and Sonata were all sitting side-by-side on one side of it. However, on the other side of the fire, there was Forte, kneeling down and looking with curiosity upon his Mother. Aria and Sonata cast occasional sideways glances at their elder sibling, but even so, they remained quiet. All here knew that this was not going to be an easy conversation, but even so, after a good deal of thinking, Adagio let out a sigh.

"Forte...there are...there are things that I have been keeping from you. Things that, perhaps...I should have told you right from the start."

A look of concern crossed the young boy's face upon hearing that.

"What...what things?"

Adagio paused, perhaps not having expected this moment to be as difficult as it was. However, after considering her son's question, she looked to Sonata, then to Aria, before turning once more to her child.

"Tell me, Forte. When you look at us, what do you see?"

Needless to say, the boy was rather confused by such a question, tilting his head to one side to display this.

"I...I don't understand."

Adagio sighed once more before repeating herself.

"It is a simple enough question, my boy. When you look upon us, here before you...what do you see?"

Forte remained as confused as ever, but, after looking like he was straining somewhat with the question, he spoke up an answer, his voice meek and unsure as he did so.

"I...I see my Mother. I see my Aunts."

But Adagio closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly.

"No, my son. That is who you see. The question was what do you see?"

Forte retained his look of concern, and every once in a while, he would turn to one of his Aunts. But, neither Aria nor Sonata had any comforting smiles to offer him, nor any words of help. Instead, they kept watching him, awaiting his answer. After another long and awkward silence, the child finally gave his Mother an answer.

"I see...women? Three women?"

And here, at last, Adagio nodded.

"Yes, that is what you see."

Soon after, her expression become a touch more serious.

"But...what you see...is not the truth."

Forte gulped in a clear display of discomfort, before finally working up the nerve to say something.

"I don't understand."

Adagio glanced down at the ground for a moment, her face giving away just how difficult this was for her. But, she steeled herself, just as she always did, and looked her son right in the eye.

"Forte...your Aunts and I...are not human."

The boy, as one would expect, felt a noticeable chill at his Mother's words.

"But...of course you are!"

The elder Siren shook her head.

"No...we are not. We are...Sirens. Creatures of magic from another world."

The silence that now permeated the scene was so thick that even the usually-dismissive Aria couldn't help but cringe over how uncomfortable this was becoming. As for Forte, he simply stared at his Mother, perhaps hoping that, at some point, she would reveal that this was all just a joke on her part. But, one look at her face, and the intensity in her eyes, and he knew in his heart that this was no deception. The boy was, understandably, taken aback by all of this, and he opened and closed his mouth several times over, getting out nothing but false starts. But Adagio, ever patient, simply gave her son all the time he needed to get his thoughts in order. It took some time, but eventually, that moment came.

"So...I...were you always going to keep this secret?"

While the boy was indeed young, there were nevertheless moments when, like many other young people, he would say something that truly struck at the heart of the matter. Adagio grimaced, just for a moment, but she never once took her eyes off her son. That look of his, so expectant, perhaps even a little fearful, got to her, and her expression softened considerably, as did her voice, when she finally spoke.

"I...I like to think I would have done. When you were old enough. But...it seems fate had other plans in mind."

Forte looked down to the ground, looking, perhaps not relieved at his Mother's words, but at the very least accepting of them. When he looked up again, he gazed upon them all, bearing a look that was more serious than Adagio could ever remember seeing on him before.

"Tell me...everything."

The elder Siren, perhaps on other days, might have asked him to be more specific about that question. But not today. For she knew what he meant by that. Once again, she looked to her sisters, and they, in turn, gave her silent nods, which prompted her to let out a sigh as she turned to Forte again.

"Very well. It all began in our homeland. Back in Equestria."

And so, the story was told. Everything that Adagio and her sister had gone through at this point was explained to the boy, from their goals back in Equestria, to their confrontation with a certain bearded unicorn, to their subsequent banishment. Their times in the human world and everything in-between that led them to being here in this place, it was all told. And Forte, ever dutiful, simply sat there, looking not unlike a student, paying close attention to the lesson of a teacher. When the story was finally done, Adagio watched, half-concerned and half-intrigued as to how her son would react to all of this. When, at last, he did speak, his tone was, for lack of a better word, a curious one.

"So...that thing you were doing before? To those men? That...that was magic?"

Adagio nodded.

"It is. Magic unique to us alone. It is how we feed, in a sense. The energy born of the strife and disharmony between peoples. It is that power that we absorb."

Forte stared at her, just letting all of this sink in, and as before, Adagio just gave him all the time he needed. For just a moment, he looked down, at the red pendants they each wore, as if seeing them for the first time. However, Adagio's expression was one of surprise when the boy finally spoke up.

"So...it is like gathering milk from cattle? It doesn't hurt them, not really, but you get something useful out of it, right?"

Needless to say, this was not a comparison that Adagio or her sisters had been expecting, and they looked to one another with mild confusion, as well as a sense of bemusement. However, after taking a moment to compose herself, Adagio looked to her son with the first smile she had worn this entire evening.

"Yes! That's exactly it! A fine way of putting it, Forte!"

For just a moment, the boy seemed pleased that he had a grasp on things, even as innocent a grasp as he seemed to have made for himself. However, as time went on, that smile faded from him, replaced instead by a look of thoughtfulness, which Adagio noted immediately. When Forte did speak, however, the words he spoke were not what she had been expecting.

"And...what am I?"

To that, Adagio's expression softened, and she looked to him with another smile.

"Why, you're my son."

However, upon hearing that, Forte looked to her with a very familiar-looking smirk.

"No, Mother...I asked what, not who."

As one would expect, Adagio was a little shocked by such a come-back from her boy, and she turned to see that Aria was doing her best to stifle a chuckle on her part. Narrowing her eyes, Adagio soon silenced her younger sister, before looking back to her son and putting on that same smile as before.

"You are half-human, my son. While I am a Siren, your Father was human."

Forte nodded to that, his face bearing a distinctly curious look to it.

"And...who was my Father? You have never spoken of him."

To that, Adagio sighed.

"No...I have not. But...perhaps that was a mistake on my part."

After a few more moments of silence, Adagio took on a thoughtful look of her own, before, to the confusion of her sisters, finally starting to stand up. Forte and the others watched as she made her way over to a nearby set of travel-bags, heavily worn from their long journeys over the years. She rummaged around them for a while before, finally, pulling something out of it. Recognition crossed Aria and Sonata's faces, but for Forte, his was a look of intrigue. For his Mother was now holding some kind of sword in her hand. After regarding the weapon carefully for a while, she smiled softly at it before starting to walk over to the boy. Forte kept his eyes on her as she finally reached him, getting down on one knee and presenting the sword to him.

"This...was your Father's sword. Now...it is yours."

Forte was, understandably, a little excited at the gift, and eagerly accepted it. However, upon picking it up, his smile faded somewhat.

"It's heavy."

Adagio chuckled a little.

"You'll get stronger."

Looking up to her again, Forte tilted his head to the side a little.

"Tell me about him."

Smiling again, Adagio sat in earnest beside the boy, reaching around and holding him close to her.

"Of course. Let me tell you the story of your Father, the brave prince."

Confrontation

"Well...I've got to say...your son took it a lot better than I thought he was going to."

Adagio nodded, bearing a somewhat prideful look as she did so.

"Indeed. I was rather impressed with how mature he was being about the whole thing."

A nostalgic, and even somewhat affectionate look crossed Adagio's face, no doubt signalling her return to fond memories of those days. Sunset stayed silent, giving her time to enjoy the moment for the time being. But, when it finally finished, she watched as the elder Siren got up from her sofa, making her way instead to the fridge of the nearby open kitchen of the apartment. After looking around it's contents for a few moments, Adagio smiled before pulling out a tall green bottle of some kind, before then looking to Sunset.

"Care for some wine?"

To that, Sunset raised a hand.

"Er, no, thank you. I don't really think I'm old enough. At least, by this world's standards."

Adagio chuckled.

"Well, I most certainly am. So, if you don't mind...?"

She left the question open, and Sunset understood, giving her host a nod of permission soon afterwards. Adagio then busied herself with looking around the various cupboards, before finally finding a suitable wine glass. After pouring herself a modest portion of the beverage, she took a brief sip, bearing a look of slight satisfaction as she did so, before heading back to her sofa. Once sitting back down, she let out a contented sigh, swirling the wine around in her glass while keeping her eyes focused on Sunset.

"I will confess, I was quite happy with how things turned out. Forte was still close to me, even after a revelation as big as the one he'd just heard. And after hearing about his Father, and how he fell in battle...well...I suppose that was what started it."

Sunset raised an eyebrow.

"Started what?"

Looking to her, Adagio developed her infamous smirk, before giving the former unicorn her answer.

"Even taking aside the fact that I was his Mother, I knew the boy was special. And no son of mine was going to spend the rest of his life as a simple forest hermit. So, the decision was made."

She took another sip before continuing.

"You see...one of the most notable turns in my son's life was when, for the first time, we decided to venture away from the wilderness after so many years, and finally return to civilisation. Or at least, what those days considered civilization."

Looking down at her drink, Adagio returned to her nostalgic expression.

"And Forte...never before had he been so excited."

Far from the edges of the great forest, beyond rivers and streams, far from any semblance of wild or untamed country, there was a city. While far smaller in scope than what most modern minds would think of when they heard the word "city", this was nevertheless, for the time, a massive place. Surrounded by stone walls, this place, situated between the coastline and the vast plains, was abuzz with activity. Travellers, merchants and adventurers from all walks of life, from East to West, came here, filling the markets, or simply admiring the ancient sculptures that littered the streets. It was the kind of place where you truly felt you could find anything and meet anyone, good or bad.

Into this huge and bustling place, walked the Sirens. Adagio, Aria and Sonata strode in through the front gates, accompanied as usual by Forte. The boy had grown a fair bit since the day when he had first learned of his Mother's true identity, and now, he was right on the cusp of manhood, though still retained a lot of his boyish good looks. But, for him, all that mattered was that, in his eyes, this city was the most extraordinary place he had ever been to. Never before had he laid eyes on so many people, so many different things. And immediately, he rushed off, staring wide-eyed at the vendors and their wares, at the high stone walls, at the city guards and their glistening armour. Adagio, regarding the boy, couldn't help but seem amused by his antics.

"Stay close, son. This is your first time in a place like this, and I don't want you getting lost."

Only the sound of his Mother's voice snapped Forte out of the trance-like amazement the city had placed upon him, and, as always, he heeded her. Jogging lightly, he made his way over to her, and together, the four of them started to make their way further and further into the city in earnest. As was expected, the three Sirens earned themselves a fair amount of interest from the eyes of many of the men they passed, and, as per usual, they returned the glances with flirtatious looks of their own. Forte, for his part, also seemed to be experiencing a few interested looks from some of the young girls of the place, though in his innocence, he had no clue as to what they were staring at. Eventually, and after much time had passed, Adagio stopped, looking at a particular vendor.

"Ah! Now this is more like it!"

The other three stopped, finally seeing what she was looking at. It appeared to be a stall full of fine-looking clothing, many of them of an exotic variety, no doubt from places far afield in the world. Adagio, followed shortly by her sisters, was quick to examine the wares, feeling the fabric between her fingers and looking, for the most part, quite satisfied.

"Very nice."

The merchant himself, an older man, regarded the three young-looking girls before him with a toothy grin.

"Ah, I see you have fine taste, my ladies. I managed to procure these fine specimens from many leagues away, far in the East. I trust they are to your satisfaction?"

Adagio studied him closely, seeing the familiar tell-tale signs of someone trying desperately to make something appear more impressive than they really were. But, ever the actress, she kept her smile, placing the clothing down for the moment and speaking up in a sweet-sounding voice.

"Thank you, but I was wondering, are there any other vendors of such attire in the city?"

The merchant, understandably, seemed disheartened by such a request, but, rather than seem like a sore loser, he too continued to wear a false smile as he answered Adagio.

"Indeed. You will find one in particular a few streets down from here. Just at the edge of the market quarter."

Adagio nodded, showing at least some appreciation, before gesturing to her sisters and Son. Together, they made their way off, all while the merchant at last had leave to look annoyed by this turn of events. Though they travelled in silence, the four of them continued to make headway into the city, passing more and more vendors, each with something interesting to sell. Eventually, they happened upon the street they had been directed to, but, sadly for them, it appeared to have been blockaded, with some sort of dispute raging on the other side that the city guards were trying to put down.

"Well...no luck there, it seems," Sonata commented.

Adagio nodded, but, through the corner of her eye, she spotted a less-populated street, which was really more of a larger-than-normal alleyway than anything else.

"I think we can get in through there."

The others turned in the alley's direction, and nodded in agreement, after which they began to follow their leader. As they moved further in, there were indeed fewer people here, and it was a good deal quieter. But, as the pressed on, seeing the people they did encounter, many of whom seemed to just be leaning against walls, it suddenly occurred to the Sirens that this was a less-than-savoury crowd. But, ever they walked, until finally, they were stopped. A group of about three of the locals stepped out in front of them at the end of the alley, bearing ragged attire and looking, for lack of a better word, dangerous. Adagio, not seeming unnerved in the slightest, stopped in her tracks, and stood there as the first of them finally spoke up.

"Well well, boys. What do we have here? A lovely little present for us, wandering in here for the taking, perhaps?"

Placing a hand upon her hip, Adagio raised an eyebrow at the man's bravado, casting a glance in the direction of her sisters. They too gave her a similar smirk, and, unbeknownst to the men, the red pendants they bore started to glow slightly.

"Oh dear! Whatever shall we do?" Adagio said, faux concern in her voice.

The gang leader chuckled.

"Oh, I'll tell you what you can do, beautiful."

He took a step forward, as did his cohorts, and the Sirens, for their part, knew how this was going to go down, and they cleared their throats in readiness. However, what they had not expected was for Forte, at that very moment, to step out ahead of them, getting in-between them and the men. Immediately, Adagio looked genuinely worried.

"Forte! Wait!"

But, for the first time, the boy did not listen, and instead, his eyes narrowed at the thugs before him.

"I think you need to walk away and leave them alone."

To that, the men looked the smaller lad over, eventually bursting out into laughter.

"Oh look! A hero! How sweet!"

The others laughed in similarly-mocking fashion, but, after seeing that the boy did not back down, they stopped, looking to him with more seriousness.

"You don't want to be here, boy. Step aside, and we'll forget you ever tried to pull anything this stupid."

But Forte stayed where he was.

"I said...leave."

And here, the gang leader looked to him with no smile, no sense of amusement, not even a hint of mockery. The air turned colder all of a sudden, and the other two men stood beside their leader. Adagio stepped forward, ready to intervene, but was halted by Aria, who grabbed hold of her arm. The elder Siren looked to her sister with scorn, only for her expression to soften once more as Forte spoke up again.

"This is your last warning. Leave...or else."

That was the last straw, as the older man looked to the boy with utter rage in his eyes. He raised his hand, drawing it back and balling it up into a tight fist. Adagio saw this and looked on with horror, terrified at what was going to happen to her boy. But, before she had a chance to do anything, the man brought his punch forward, but, to the shock of everyone there, Forte actually caught it. His hand had been raised and he had the man's fist in his palm. The man, needless to say, was startled by this, but even more so at what happened next. Forte narrowed his eyes and pressed his hand together, tightening his grip on the man's hand. The latter soon found himself getting to his knees, screaming in pain, especially when the sounds of bones could be heard snapping.

"DON'T JUST STAND THERE!!! KILL HIM!!!"

The other two, at long last, leapt into action, drawing what was clearly daggers from their belts. Forte reacted immediately, letting go of the first man and reaching for his own belt. There, there was a weapon of his own, the very sword Adagio had given to him a few years back. The sword of his Father. The blade was drawn, and in an instant, Forte used it to block the blow of the first dagger, and as the man holding it took a step back, Forte then blocked the second blow from the third man. They looked to one another, surprised by this, but after composing themselves, they struck again. Unfortunately, the fared no better this time, and while they lashed out with all speed, Forte was faster, dodging, weaving and blocking every attempted strike they made.

As for the Sirens, they watched all of this, utterly awe-struck at what the boy was doing. Nowhere was this more apparent than with Adagio, who stood there, mouth agape at the feats of agility her son was displaying. And on and on he went, matching blow for blow against the brigands that were fighting him. However, no fight can last forever, and soon, after understanding at last that they had no chance against the boy, the two cohorts simply stared blankly at one another, before dropping their daggers and fleeing for their lives. As for their leader, he at least got to his feet again, nursing his broken hand, and screaming after them.

"You cowards! Get back here!"

But they did not come back, and so, the thug leader, turned to Forte, narrowing his eyes.

"You...you righteous little bas-!"

But, sadly, he wasn't able to finish his insult, as Forte quickly brought a fist of his own right into the man's face, sending him flying backwards. Slamming into a nearby wall, the man slumped to the floor, clearly unconscious. The Sirens stood amazed by what they had seen, and Aria and Sonata slowly turned their eyes to Adagio. Gradually, the elder Siren took a few steps closer to her son, her voice slow and unsure.

"...Forte?"

The boy turned to look upon his Mother, but, soon afterwards, looked downwards, to the sword in his hands. He stared at it for at least a minute, until finally, he looked back to Adagio. And when the Siren looked upon him, she saw a look she had never known on him; that of certainty. And when he smiled to her, that feeling was reflected in his voice.

"Mother. I think...it seems...I must become a warrior."

Greatness

"So he was good in a fight?" Sunset asked.

Upon hearing her guest's words, Adagio looked to her with a raised eyebrow and, after a few moments of silence, actually started laughing in a clear display of amusement. Sunset waited for her to stop, and when she did, the Siren shook her head a little before again turning in her direction.

"Good? Good? Good does not even begin to describe how proficient my son was in combat. I have witnessed many fighters in my time, and not one of them ever impressed me as much as he did in that moment."

Looking away, Adagio's expression morphed into one of thoughtfulness.

"It was astonishing to witness, friend. To see my son, so capable, so strong...it was like seeing him for the first time."

Looking down at her glass, Adagio took a quick sip of it before starting to once again swirl the remnants about.

"After that fight, Forte was determined. He would pursue his abilities as best he could. And before long, he got that opportunity. You see, word of his little scuffle had reached rather influential ears, and it wasn't long before we found ourselves approached."

The Siren turned to Sunset, who bore a look of slight concern, and while Adagio herself was confused by this, all became clear when Sunset finally spoke.

"He didn't get into trouble, did he?"

Adagio put on a sly smile, shaking her head before replying.

"Hardly. Forte was, to my everlasting surprise, actually invited to join the city guard. They were always on the lookout for those with talent, and he eagerly accepted."

Her face became one of pride as she remembered those days.

"His training was the fastest they'd ever remembered. Sword, lance, shield, bow, there was no skill-at-arms that he practised with that did not come as naturally to him as breathing does to you or I."

Briefly, her smile widened.

"In time, his posting got us a nice little apartment in one of the cleaner quarters of the city, and soon afterwards, he took to his position in earnest."

Sunset took on a look of curiosity.

"I take it he was good at his job?"

Looking to her, Adagio chuckled once more.

"Oh, I would say so. He encountered many an unsavoury character in his time, and all of them he sent packing. Thieves, gangs, they all tried their hand, and not once did they ever lay a scratch on him."

For a moment, Adagio's expression softened.

"And he never killed. That was what shocked the people of the city so often. No matter what threat came his way, he always managed to defeat them without ending their lives."

Looking back to the nearby sword atop the pedestal, Adagio regained her look of amusement from earlier.

"You know...I honestly don't think that blade ever touched a drop of blood in the entire time my son wielded it."

Sunset sat there, looking astounded by such a tale.

"Well...I certainly wouldn't have wanted to be his enemy."

A smirk crossed Adagio's face at that.

"Indeed, as many a brigand learned at their expense."

Her expression soon become one of pride.

"There were even days when my son proved his worth in times of war. The city would, on occasion, come under assault by bands of raiders from the nearby steppe. Archers on horseback, very deadly. Many in the city would often retreat behind the walls, rather than engage them."

A smirk grew once more on the Siren.

"But not Forte. He strode beyond the city gates, meeting them in the open field. He always stood his ground, never falling back like so many of his fellow guardsmen. And time and again...the raiders' arrows failed to bring him down."

To say Sunset looked impressed would have been an understatement, as she sat with mouth agape at this story. But, as always, she stayed silent as her host carried on.

"Eventually...my son's work was rewarded. Every year, the king of the city would host a great tournament. And the prize? A place amongst his personal honour guard. It was a position coveted by all who could wield a sword, but few ever measured up in the end."

Narrowing her eyes and growing her smirk, Adagio continued.

"That is...until Forte entered it."

The sun was high in the sky, and it's heat was beating down on all below. In the heart of the great city, just below the sights of the tall palace at it's centre, there was an open space, large and barely used, at least on most days. Today, however, it was most definitely being used, as almost everyone of note in the city had gathered here to witness the feats of strength and arms that took place at this time of year. Many of the crowd took to chanting the names of those who they thought would finally win, but, time and again, they found that their chosen champions would simply walk off, defeated. Sometimes, it would even get worse than that, as quite a few would either limp away or have to be carried off, very much worse for wear.

As for right now, there was a fight still raging, as one of the many guardsmen of the city was in the middle of a duel with none other than the Captain of the honour guard. This older man, clad in impressive-looking armour, blocked blow after blow from the young swordsman. But the younger fighter, while having failed at every attempt, nevertheless tried one final assault. Exhaustion had taken it's toll at this point though, and the Captain made quick work of him, disarming him and delivering a high-kick to his face that sent him flailing backwards. The crow all erupted with laughter at the guard's failure, but on the Captain's face, there was merely disappointment.

Nearby, the King himself was present, sitting high in his balcony, looking down at the fights that had come and gone before him. He was a figure that, perhaps, in days gone by, might have been impressive. Nowadays though, this was far from the case, as he had been reduced to a bloated, balding mess of a man. He was, however, being watched from among the crowd, as none other than Adagio herself regarded the man with scorn. Folding her arms, she let out a scoffing sound.

"Hmph! A man as pathetic as that has no right to call himself a King."

But, her expression softened when she felt a gentle hand upon her shoulder.

"He is still the King regardless, Mother. It would do us well to remember that."

Sighing, she turned, looking with a smile upon her son. Though the years had seen him grow ever taller, with him now looking down on her slightly, he nevertheless remained a handsome sight, especially when he smiled to her. Raising a hand, Adagio placed it upon her boy's cheek.

"My lad, ever seeing the best. I hope that attitude does not get you into trouble one day."

Forte chuckled at that.

"It hasn't yet, Mother."

Adagio smiled, but, before she had the chance to say anything further, a voice from afar called out loudly.

"The next combatant is required! Forte Dazzle! Step forward!"

The crier's words rang throughout, and at long last, Forte took on a look of seriousness, but not so much so that he couldn't afford to give his Mother one last smile.

"Wish me luck."

Adagio nodded, the flicker in her eyes giving away just how concerned she was, and she watched as her son walked past, stepping into the arena. The old Captain on the other side regarded the youth before him, and for the first time today, he actually cracked a smile.

"Ah, young Forte! I was wondering when you'd do me the honour of turning up to this."

Forte, upon hearing that, returned the smile.

"Captain. Always a pleasure."

The older man bowed his head slightly, and together, both he and Forte turned, looking upon the King high above. The bloated man regarded the two, and the crowd fell silent. In time, however, he raised his hand, before bringing it back down, a silent sign of his wish for the duel to commence. And so it was that Forte, as ever, drew his trusted sword, striking a defensive posture, which was soon mirrored by the Captain. The crowds continued to stay quiet, including Adagio, who watched intently at her son as this whole thing played out. Slowly but surely, Forte and his opponent started to inch closer to one another, taking slow step after slow step. Both of them knew of the other's skill, and both knew how foolish rushing in would be.

Eventually though, the fight began in earnest, for when they had approached a close enough distance, they lunged at each other, the ringing of steel upon steel echoing through the arena. All could see, as this duel continued, that this battle was between two of the city's best. Forte, quick and agile, his skills bolstered by his youth. And the Captain, older, wiser, his experience giving way to more precise strikes. On and on they fought, with their swords clashing frequently. But neither seemed to be able to do anything to the other, which was a state of affairs that left the audience enraptured. The King especially was impressed by this, and cracked a smile as he focused his attention on the two.

As time went on, it was clear that this was the longest fight in the day so far, as nearly an hour passed by without much headway by either fighter. Both of them were panting at this point, but they nevertheless maintained their grips on their weapons, as well as their professional stances. Then, at long last, Forte found an opening, and lunged. The Captain attempted to block, but, finally, he was out-paced, finding Forte's sword too quick to be blocked. Instead, all he could do was take a swift step backwards, watching with shock as the boy swung his weapon. Here, at the end, the blade hit the Captain's chest-plate, slicing a clean cut right across it. All in the audience gasped, except for Adagio, who smirked with a sense of pride over her son's hit.

As for the Captain, he stumbled a bit, looking down at his armour. This was the only real blemish that this old piece of metal had ever had, and it was there, clear for all to see. The boy had struck him, though not so much that he was able to actually cut into his flesh. No real harm had been done, and yet, as the Captain looked up to the lad, his expression softened. In a move that shocked everyone there, he cracked a smile, standing tall and lifting his sword, before finally sliding it back into it's scabbard. Forte was, at first, confused by this, but after a few moments of silence, the older man explained.

"Well...it looks like we have our winner."

At the utterance of those words, the crowd erupted into applause, and Forte, for his part, was equal parts ecstatic and staggered, but not so much that he couldn't afford a moment to give a respective bow to his opponent. The older Captain nodded back, after which he turned to his King, giving a silent gesture. The monarch nodded back, and the gathered crowds watched as he struggled to stand from his chair. But, when he finally did, he looked down at the victorious boy with a wide smile.

"Very fine work, my lad. It has been many a year since I've seen skill of your level."

Sheathing his own sword, Forte gave a bow.

"Thank you, your majesty."

The King nodded.

"Think nothing of it. My honour guard could use you...if you are willing."

To that, Forte went all out, getting down on one knee and looking up to the older man.

"My leige...it would be a privilege."

The king smiled.

"I am glad to hear it. My daughter, naturally, would certainly be pleased to know I had a warrior of your skill looking out for me."

And here, Forte, as well as many others, finally noted the girl in question. Unlike her Father, she had gone largely unnoticed by everyone there. She was a lithe and meek-looking figure, clad in a simple but well-made white dress, and as she stood up, her long and flowing pink hair was swept aside from her face by a single motion of her hand. This revealed her visage, young and beautiful, but nevertheless bearing a look of timidity and shyness to it.

"Congratulations on your victory, good Sir. I hope the honour guard suits you well."

Her voice was hushed, and it was only thanks to the silence of the crowds that Forte heard it at all. But, he nevertheless had heard it. However, for a moment, he stumbled, taken aback by seeing her. Even so, he composed himself, bowing his head once more.

"Erm...yes. I will try, your highness."

The princess nodded back, and it wasn't long before both she and the King began to make their way back into the palace. As for everybody else, they too began to disperse, save for a few of the guards, who stayed behind to congratulate Forte on his success. When all was said and done, however, only one figure remained to be with him; Adagio. She stood there, at the entrance to the arena, ready to greet him. She walked forward, embracing him in a warm hug, which was promptly returned. When the two finally parted, she regarded him with an affectionate smile, and words of comfort.

"That's my boy."

Partings

A silence had fallen over the apartment, and Sunset, as ever, simply watched as Adagio got up from her sofa. The elder Siren paced about the room, looking thoughtful for quite some time, before eventually starting to stare at the sword on display nearby. She moved slowly towards it, raising a hand and gently touching the blade. Naturally, she made sure to be careful enough so that she did not cut herself while doing so, but regardless, the object was foremost on her mind, no doubt helping her recall memories from those long-lost times. A sigh escaped her as she kept her eyes on the thing, and when she spoke, it was with a mixture of both pride and melancholy.

"That day...it was perhaps the happiest my son had ever been. He had done it. He'd managed to get as high as one could in that city. The people loved him, his comrades respected him. And I..."

A soft smile crept onto her face.

"...I was never more proud of him than I was in that moment."

Briefly, she let out a chuckle.

"My son...a champion of the city. A hero to the people. A warrior, respected far and wide."

Slowly, the Siren turned, looking upon Sunset while retaining her smile.

"And it didn't stop there. He continued to serve, in an unofficial capacity, to protect the people of the city, not just the royal family. Barely a day went by when he didn't end up saving somebody's life. Never before had the guard, royal or otherwise, been so respected."

Looking away, Adagio's smile faded somewhat.

"In time...his exceptional deeds even earned him some...unexpected attention. It seemed as if the princess herself had become taken with him."

To that, Sunset raised an eyebrow, a smirk of her own developing as she finally spoke up.

"I see. So the boy finally found a little romance in his life?"

Hearing that, Adagio let out a dry laugh, nodding a little before turning to her guest.

"Indeed. And who else but a princess was really worthy of my son?"

Finally moving again, Adagio made her way once more to her sofa, sitting back down again before continuing.

"The King himself was fond of the idea, of course. Forte was the best swordsman in the land, and having him as a possible son-in-law, well...it would have probably been the most popular thing that bloated wreck had done in quite some time."

For a moment, Adagio reached forward, picking up her wine glass and, at long last, finishing it off with a single slurp. But, as she did this, Sunset looked to her carefully, her eyes narrowing somewhat. She was deep in thought over something, but, as Adagio finally noticed this, it was only when the former finally spoke that she understood.

"Did...did you plan to take advantage of this?"

At first, Adagio did not know what her guest was talking about. However, as time went on, and she made note of how serious Sunset was staring at her, things soon clicked for her. A look of understanding crossed her face, which, over time, morphed into one of slight indignation, and then, at last, acceptance. She let out a long sigh, placing her empty glass upon the table, before staring at the ground. And as he did so, she spoke, her tone low and hushed.

"I'd be lying if I said the thought hadn't crossed my mind. My son had got in good with the princess, the heir to the throne. Some in the streets even spoke rumours of marriage. And when those whispers reached my ears..."

Her eyes narrowed before she continued.

"...I thought to myself...that maybe he could do it. Succeed where I had failed. Take the throne, gain control over others."

Silence fell once more between the two, and Sunset watched her host carefully, only to find herself surprised when Adagio's expression softened.

"But...no. After everything I had seen my son grow to become...and after everything I felt for him...no. I couldn't do it. I refused to do it. I would not let my ambition taint the happiness he had found for himself."

Gradually, Adagio finally looked up, and when she did, she found Sunset looking to her, half-shocked and half-impressed. It was a feeling reflected in her voice when she at last spoke up to her.

"Wow, Adagio. I'm...I don't know what to say to that."

Another dry chuckle escaped the Siren at that.

"Say what you will. That was the truth of it."

Leaning forward, Sunset started to smile at all of this.

"So...I'm guessing things went well for your son after that?"

And here, just for a moment, Sunset saw a grimace on Adagio's face. A look of discomfort, maybe even PAIN, though why this was, the former unicorn could not say. Instead, she watched as Adagio leaned back, pressing back into the soft cushions of the sofa, before exhaling deeply.

"I wish I could say that this was true. I wish I could say that he lived his life without problems. That he had...that he had a happily-ever-after."

Her eyes narrowed, and after closing them for a good few seconds, she opened them once more, looking intently at Sunset.

"But...that was not to be. I knew he had a good life in that place, but, even so, I also knew that there was one thing that could end it for him. One thing that could ruin whatever happy life he might make for himself."

A look of both concern and curiosity crossed Sunset's face.

"Wha...what?"

Adagio frowned.

"...Me."

Sunset stared at her, clearly looking like she had no idea what her host was talking about. Seeing this, Adagio leaned forward again, before then starting to explain herself.

"Look at me, Sunset. At my face. I have not changed once in the entire time I've been in this world. Thousands of years, and not even a wrinkle. Ageless."

Turning, a brief flicker of sadness crept into the Siren's eyes.

"But Forte...he wasn't. Oh, to be sure, things could be kept quiet for a while. We even had a brief period of people believing we were his sisters. But...we knew it couldn't last."

Once more, she turned to Sunset.

"Even with our magic, we knew there would come a time when people would put two and two together. They'd notice that we didn't age, and in those days...that could lead to some pretty nasty accusations."

She shut her eyes tightly, bowing her head down as she carried on.

"Forte...I didn't want to put him through that. I knew something would have to be done before people started getting suspicious."

Opening her eyes again, Adagio looked to Sunset, melancholy plastered all over her face.

"And so, the decision was made. We...I...would have to go."

The royal gardens were, as one would expect, perhaps the most beautiful place in the whole city. Flowers and trees of every description, every colour, were here for all to see. It was a plethora of bright and vivid sights that would cause awe in all who came here, creating feelings of peace and calm. However, that was not what a certain Siren was feeling at this moment. Adagio, watching in silence, stood at the window of her apartment, looking down on this lush spot in the city. There, right in the middle of the place, she spotted her child, Forte. He was not alone today, as mere feet away was perhaps the other great flower of this nation; the princess. The young lady blushed, just as she always did, and together the two talked, though Adagio could not hear them from here.

Now, while most would be pleased that their child had found somebody special like this, Adagio's expression was one of conflict, and even a degree of sadness. Though, as always, she did her best to hide it, especially when she started hearing movement behind her. Briefly, she looked over her shoulder, seeing her sisters behind her. Aria and Sonata were busy right now, right in the middle of picking out a few shoulder-bags, which were being filled with a few choice items from around the apartment. Seeing this, Adagio sighed, looking back down to the gardens. And it was here that she noted that, behind his back, Forte was carrying something. Something that caused Adagio's face to soften; a small black box, right in the palm of his hand.

"Brave boy...as always."

Her words were hushed, and neither of the other two really heard it, but, that all changed when, just for a moment, Adagio shut her eyes tightly. When she re-opened them, her expression was one of utter seriousness, and she spun around, speaking up in a direct and to-the-point manner.

"How are we doing?"

Aria and Sonata stopped what they were doing, giving each other looks of hesitancy, before Aria finally worked up the nerve to answer her sister.

"We have everything ready. All is set...if you still think we..."

But, she hadn't the chance to finish, as Adagio narrowed her eyes and spoke up.

"Yes...I do still think."

Aria shut her mouth, looking away to avoid her sister's gaze. As for Sonata, she too looked concerned for a moment, speaking up in a somewhat meek fashion.

"Adagio...are...are you alright?"

The elder sister kept her intent look, staring at her sister as she gave her answer.

"Yes...I'm fine. This is...necessary."

There was discomfort in her voice, and both of her sisters heard it. Even so, neither of them commented on it, and instead, Sonata glanced briefly to the window behind Adagio.

"Are...are we not even going to say goodbye?"

Adagio closed her eyes, shaking her head.

"No. If we did...if he knew...he would try to stop us. You know that."

Sonata opened her mouth, perhaps ready to argue that point, only to shut it again she when understood that Adagio was right. Instead, both she and Aria got back to work, picking up their bags and slinging them over their respective shoulders, looking as ready as they were ever going to be. Adagio nodded to this, placing her hands upon her hips as she regarded them.

"Now, you know the plan. The ship will be leaving the dock and heading South soon. With luck, we might be able to find an open port near Thrace where we can disembark. After that...we'll just have to see."

The others nodded, though looked no more happy about the situation than they had been before. Adagio gestured to the nearby back door of the apartment, and they nodded in response, making their way over. The elder Siren would have followed, but, for a moment, she stopped, staring out of the window once more. There, she saw Forte, who was in the middle of bearing the biggest smile she had ever seen. In a moment of clear joy, he swept the princess off her feet, spinning her around as she too giggled with glee. For a moment, Adagio cracked a smile, but it wasn't long before it faded, replaced instead with a look of despondency.

"Farewell...my son."

And so it was that Adagio finally moved off, leaving through the same door her sisters had walked out of not so long ago. With the apartment now empty, a fair amount of time passed before anything happened, and when it did, it was Forte himself, bursting in through the front door, still retaining that happy smile of his.

"Mother! You won't believe it! She said yes!"

But silence was all that greeted him, and as he stood there, looking all around, the absence of anyone else led to a look of confusion on his part, as well as some concern.

"...Mother?"

Farewell

Sunset sat there, mouth agape, staring at Adagio, all while the latter remained silent. The lack of sound in that room, at that very moment, was as uncomfortable as one could imagine. Shock and disappointment fought for control in Sunset's mind, and her host knew it perfectly well. But, she never tried defending herself, never spoke up some pre-emptive counter-argument. Instead, she simply sat back in her sofa, watching her guest, and waiting for the inevitable comments. In the end, her predictions came true, and Sunset, after taking a while to get her thoughts in order, finally spoke up.

"You...you left him?"

Adagio nodded.

"I did."

Sunset fell into silence once more, but this time, it was short-lived.

"But...Adagio...he was your son."

Here, Adagio narrowed her eyes.

"Yes...he was my son. And that is why I had to leave."

Leaning forward, Adagio frowned at her guest.

"Let me tell you something that I have learned well over the many centuries, Sunset. Happily ever afters? For most people, they don't exist. There's no fairy tale ending where we ride triumphant into the sunset. No perfect moments where everything's alright at the end of it all."

A grimace crossed her face as she continued.

"Sometimes...for things to be good for someone...other people have to make hard choices. Choices they may come to regret for the rest of their lives...but necessary all the same."

She sighed briefly, her expression softening a little before she carried on.

"And that's what I did. I would have wanted to be near my son for as long as he lived...but I already told you why that could not be. So...I made a choice. My happiness...or his."

Again, her eyes became steely as she regarded the former unicorn.

"You and your friends have had many happy endings, Sunset. Pray you have the strength to make the right choices...when those happy endings stop."

For a moment, Sunset looked, for lack of a better word, ashamed of herself, as if she regretted ever bringing the matter up in the first place. But, she had, and Adagio had told her what, perhaps, she should have always expected from her. The air in the room had become icy with this confrontational mood that now persisted, but Sunset, in a desperate bid to make things at least marginally better, looked to Adagio with a soft look in her eyes.

"And...you never saw him again?"

Hearing that, Adagio took a deep breath, after which she exhaled and shook her head slowly.

"Yes...I did see him, on occasion."

Sunset gained a curious expression, prompting Adagio to explain herself.

"My sisters and I knew how to go about unnoticed. Every once in a while...we'd return. I'd always make the excuse what we needed supplies and the like. But, when I was by myself...I made sure to look out for him."

A small smile crept onto her face.

"He grew into such a handsome man. Strong...admired by the city. His marriage to the princess went off without a hitch. He...he was happy."

Sunset stayed silent for the time being, enraptured by this story, but, her face became one of concern, as did Adagio's, as the latter finally broke that silence.

"But...eventually, the day came. The day. The day I knew was going to happen. A day that, perhaps, I had fooled myself into thinking might not occur. But I knew...it was inevitable."

Sunset tilted her head in a clear display of confusion, causing Adagio to look up at her, narrowing her eyes yet again.

"The last time I saw my son...was the last day of his life."

Darkness had fallen over the great city, and all around there could be seen light after light dimming in the homes of the many people who lived there. But, in the grand palace at it's centre, there were torches and braziers abound, lighting the castle up for all to see. On the western walls of the place, in one of the highest towers, there was but one candle, it's dim glow lighting only what needed to be seen. Within this room, ornate and well furnished, there was a large and very comfortable-looking bed. Upon it, an old man, once mighty and strong, now frail and tired. Though bed-ridden, she still sought to be clad in his armour, though it had faded with the passing of many years. As his old eyes opened, her turned, looking to the maiden sitting beside his bed.

"Dear girl...what hour is it?"

She offered a sweet smile to her charge, though there was clearly sadness in her eyes.

"It is deep into night, Sir Forte."

The old man nodded, putting on a smile of his own.

"Ah...then perhaps it is time for you to get some rest, my lady. You have tended to me enough for one night."

The maiden nodded, getting up from her chair, but nevertheless keeping her eyes upon him.

"Are...are you certain there is nothing else I can get you? Some water perhaps?"

But Forte shook his head. With his answer given, the maiden bowed her head respectfully, taking a few steps back before turning, heading straight for the door out of the room. With a loud creak, it closed behind her, leaving the man alone here. He stared around him for a moment, regarding all of the trappings of his chamber, from the tapestries hanging on the walls, to the ornate robes of state that were elegantly draped over nearby dressers. However, this soon ended when, all of a sudden, there was a gentle breeze through the window, causing the curtains to flap slowly. He looked to them, cracking another smile, before speaking up.

"Please...come forth from the shadows. I...I wish to see you."

For a time, silence was his only answer. But, after a few moments of this, movement could be sensed. His eyes turned, looking upon a particularly dark corner of his room, and from it, emerged a figure. Clad in a dark cloak and hood, this mysterious stranger's face was obscured from his sight, but, even in spite of this, he had nothing but a warm smile to offer them.

"It...has been too long...Mother."

The figure raised her hands, lowering her hood. As he said, it was indeed Adagio, looking to her son with a mix of both curiosity and longing.

"You knew it was me?"

Forte chuckled a little.

"I always know it is you, Mother."

Shock crossed her face, but Forte raised a hand.

"You needn't say anything. I always knew it was you, all those times you watched me from afar. It...it is something I could just feel."

Adagio cracked a smile as she took a step forward.

"Seems you were more Siren than I gave you credit for then."

Together, the two laughed, but, it was, sadly, short-lived, as a silence fell between them when that laughter died down. Adagio took to sitting in the chair the young girl had left vacant some time ago, and here, she truly started to regard her son. His grey hair, the wrinkles upon his face. He was old, though she did not admit to this. And while a less perceptive person might not have known that this was what she was doing, Forte knew her all too well, and so let out a sigh before speaking up again.

"Mortality, Mother. Blessing and curse at once. We both knew this day would come."

Adagio shut her eyes tightly, and when she opened them again, she leaned forward, gently taking his withered hand into her own.

"No...I can stop this!"

But Forte shook his head.

"You know you cannot, Mother. There are many things in the world we cannot change, that we cannot control...and this is one of them."

Now, anyone who knew Adagio, truly knew her, would know that defeat and surrender were not in her nature. Not one bit. But here, despite very much looking like she wanted nothing more than to protest her son's declaration, she simply let out a sigh, leaning back into her chair, frustrated and enraged over this cruel joke the world had pulled on her. Silence passed between them yet again, and they merely stared at one another, Forte with a look of happiness over seeing her again. But Adagio was different. Instead of joy, hers was a look of concern, and even a degree of fear. And when she spoke, that fear was prevalent in her tone.

"Did you ever hate me for it?"

Forte did not ask what she meant by that, for he already knew.

"When it first happened...when I realised you had left...I will confess...it hurt."

Adagio looked away, a grimace upon her face. But, when her son spoke up again, his voice gentle and soft, she looked upon him once more.

"But...in time...I understood. You did it for me. To protect me. And...no matter how much I might have wanted you in my life...I cannot fault you for that."

Here, Adagio frowned, holding on even tighter to her son's hand.

"No, Forte! I left you! Shout at me! Scream at me! Call me a terrible Mother, just...please...don't forgive me!"

Forte looked to her, her expression one of both sadness and anger, and he simply smiled.

"Mother...you did what you did because you loved me. And though you clearly bear much pain over that choice...know that I never...ever...stopped loving you."

Adagio stared at him, disbelief plastered all over her face, and before long, she got off the chair, getting down to her knees, her eyes welling up.

"Forte...please...don't go."

The old man continued smiling, and, in perhaps the only real bout of strength he had left in him, he raised a hand, right to Adagio's face, and gently placed it upon her cheek. The elder Siren felt the warmth of her son's hand, and placed her own upon it, looking down to him just as the first of her tears finally started flowing. After yet another long silence between them, Forte finally spoke.

"I have had a good life, Mother. You saw to that. If nothing else...take comfort, knowing that I pass on in peace."

Adagio did her best to fight back the tears, even as they continued to fall, and not once did she ever take her eyes off her son's.

"Forte...when you pass...I will sing for you."

She frowned, angry at the whole world, her voice wobbling as she spoke further.

"By all the sea...I will sing for you!"

Here, Forte chuckled, and soon after, he started coughing, causing Adagio to look with him with alarm. But, the coughs stopped, and instead, her son looked to her with that same smile of his, speaking softly.

"Better you than I, Mother. After all..."

Slowly, his eyes started to shut.

"...I always was...a terrible singer."

At long last, his eyes closed, and Adagio stared at him. Moment after moment passed, and her son's eyes did not open again. His hand was still at her cheek, but now, it was only because she was holding it there. Silence persisted, and her tears falling to the ground was the only real sound that could be heard. Slowly, she finally released her son's hand, placing it carefully upon his chest, and soon afterwards, she leaned closer, caressing his own cheek, much like he had done with her. Though she still did her best to keep herself from looking pained, it was a lost battle at this point, and as her tears flowed in earnest, she brought her face to his, gently kissing his forehead. When she pulled back, she at last got to her feet, before turning to a nearby bedside table.

There, upon a golden pedestal, was Forte's trusted sword. The sword that had done so much good in his hands, now cold and unused. Adagio said nothing, merely reaching forward and picking up the weapon, feeling it in her hands and staring at it for some time. And when she finally looked up again, at the lifeless form of her boy, she spoke what she knew would be the last words she would ever say to him.

"Goodbye...my little...Forte."

Final Musings

Silent as the grave. That was what the Siren's apartment was in this very moment, which was appropriate, given what had just been discussed. Sunset sat in her chair, staring at Adagio, never saying a word, looking stunned at what she had learned. As for Adagio, she did not even look in her guest's direction, and simply stood where she was, her hand upon her son's sword. As the former unicorn continued to sit there, she wondered to herself what she should say. But then, in the face of all of this, what could she say? What words of comfort could possibly be spoken to offset the loss her host had been through? She had no answers to these questions, and after wracking her brain for them, all she could do was say the only thing someone in her position could say.

"I'm...I'm so sorry."

Adagio shut her eyes tightly, her head bowing down slightly.

"Your words are...appreciated."

Her eyes opening again, Adagio's face became more harsh as she turned to her guest.

"But they are too late, Sunset. My boy passed centuries ago. So long ago...that none but my sisters and I ever knew he even existed...until today, that is."

She turned to the sword once more.

"He was...he is...the only person in my life, save for Sonata and Aria...that I have ever truly loved. And he is the only one whose..."

Pain crossed her eyes briefly before she continued.

"...whose passing I have mourned."

Slowly, she looked back to Sunset.

"And believe me, Sunset...I have mourned him. Every moment, of every day, for all these long centuries...I have mourned."

As one would expect, no words passed her lips after that declaration, and instead, her eyes never strayed from the well-maintained blade before her. Sunset, meanwhile, sat in silence, taking in everything that had been said to her, and as she looked to Adagio, it was like she was seeing her, the true her, for the first time in her life. To say that she was at a loss for words would have been a great understatement, if only because she feared making the Siren feel worse than she already was. But, gradually, new thoughts and ideas came to the former unicorn's mind, and in the end, she finally got up from her chair. Adagio could hear her approaching, but did not turn to look at her, instead keeping her gaze where it was. When Sunset finally stood beside her, she spoke softly, and with care.

"Adagio...I cannot even begin to imagine what it must have been like...losing someone like that. And I know...I know there's probably nothing I can say that can make you feel better. Not now. Not after so many years."

Adagio let out a dry chuckle at that.

"Indeed. Though in fairness to you...I doubt any words of comfort would have helped back then either."

Sunset frowned at the remark briefly, but her expression softened soon afterwards, and she continued speaking to her.

"I know I have no right to tell you how to feel about this...but I think it's important that you remember what Forte said to you...in the end."

Adagio turned to her at last, raising an eyebrow, which prompted Sunset to explain herself.

"He told you, before his passing, that he had a good life, and that it was you who made that happen. He passed on happily, having done good things, and leaving behind those who remembered and loved him."

Slowly, a smile crept onto Sunset's face.

"I know that knowledge can never replace having him in your life...but even so...I think you can take solace in knowing that that you gave your son such a good life. A life he cherished, that he could end in peace."

Adagio stared at her, and at first, she looked as if she wanted to refute that point, to perhaps even act out in an indignant way. But, as her guest's words sank in for her, her face began to soften. Slowly, she looked to the nearby sword once more, raising a hand and gently placing it upon the hilt.

"I...I have tried to keep his words in mind. It has been...difficult."

Sunset's smiled faded, and for a moment, she looked away. But, after a while, she looked back to Adagio as the latter spoke up again.

"Did you know that he had a son of his own, with the princess?"

Sunset took on a look of curiosity, prompting Adagio to continue.

"Oh yes. Little Jack. I made sure to keep an eye on my son's descendants over the years, and believe me...he had many."

Looking up slightly, Adagio started to gain a look of slight nostalgia.

"Jack, my Grandson, was the first. But there were many who came after. Firefly. Posey. Glory. Sparkler. Surprise. So many others. I remember their names and faces even now..."

For a moment, she closed her eyes.

"...after all these years...I remember them all. It gave me comfort to know that my son's blood lived on for so long."

Sunset watched, seeing Adagio's eyes open, and soon after, saw her expression look, for lack of a better word, melancholy.

"But...after a few more centuries...I lost track. There were so many generations...and the further from my boy they went...the less enthusiasm I had to find out about them. I suppose... just didn't want to be reminded of him so many times."

Sunset considered this for a few moments before starting to speak up.

"When did you lose track of them?"

Adagio shrugged her shoulders.

"Around the same time the Romans started stepping out of Italy."

Although taken aback by yet another reminder of just how old her friend was, Sunset took that remark and mused on it for some time, bearing a look of thoughtfulness as she did so. When she finally spoke up again, her words were low and ponderous.

"Then...you could still have descendants today. Who knows? There might be hundreds of them by now. Thousands even."

To this, Adagio regained her trademark smirk.

"That would please me. To know that some trace of my son's blood still lingers on in today's world."

Gradually, her face became one of slight discomfort.

"I suppose that's as close to immortality as I could have hoped for him."

Sunset looked to her, her face once more saddened at the morose words being spoken by her host. But, as time went on, Sunset's eyes strayed to the nearby sword, then back to Adagio, before finally speaking again.

"I...I wanted to say...thank you. That is...thanks for trusting me with this. I know it can't have been easy."

Sighing, Adagio nodded, keeping her own eyes on the sword.

"You're right...it wasn't easy. But..."

A few seconds passed, but eventually, the elder Siren looked to Sunset.

"...I suppose I just wanted to talk to...you know...a friend about this."

Hearing that, Sunset smiled softly, raising her hand and placing it upon Adagio's shoulder.

"If that's the case...then know I'm always here to listen if you ever need to do the same again. We all are."

Adagio nodded, returning the smile, before once more looking to her son's sword.

"I suppose...in the end...that's what he would have wanted for me...isn't it?"