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Mother Adagio

by Jay David

Chapter 1: Curiosity

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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."

Next Chapter: Selection Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 35 Minutes
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