Remember The Time

Twas a peaceful day in the beautiful city of Pompeii. Children ran about the streets shrieking in glee, while merchants sold their goods to passersby. The air was clear, the sun shining bright and there was not a worry in the world. Little did the citizens know of the imminent disaster that would soon be upon them.

Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk walked the streets of the city giving half hearted waves and smiles to the people. They had been banished to this strange new world only two nights ago by the ancient Starswirl the Bearded, but they had already gained mind blowing fame. It was all thanks to their entrancing voices. You see, these three girls were not ordinary humans at all, but were in fact, sirens. Mystical creatures born with angelic and hypnotic voices. The people could not resist them, and even the emperor was impressed. The three sisters received only the best quality food, treasures, and housing that an average citizen of Pompeii did not.

Adagio, the eldest, led the way through the market. She came to a stop at a local produce stand, smiling at the elderly shopkeeper.

"Adagio, Aria, Sonata, buongiorno bella raggaze!" he croaked out in joy.

"Buongionrno, Emilio," Adagio spoke. "Is there anything good in stock today?"

"Ah, si," Emilio replied, reaching down beneath the stand.

He returned with a basket filled to the brim with gorgeous fruits and vegetables and handed it over to Adagio.

"Picked fresh just for you," Emilio said.

"Grazie, Emilio," Adagio said and handed him a handful of silver coins.

Meanwhile, Sonata, kneeled on the ground, was playing with a young goat that she had grown quite attached to. Sonata pet the goat and scratched behind its white ears as it bleated in happiness. A blue collar sat around its neck and on a gold tag, the goat's name was printed. It read: "TITO". Aria could only roll her eyes at Sonata's childish behavior. However, since Sonata was the youngest of the three, it seemed almost normal for her to act this way.

"Sonata," Adagio called. "Time to go."

"Aww, but Dagi," Sonata protested. "Just a little longer? I want to stay with Tito."

"We don't have time Sonata," Adagio said. "We have some more shopping to do."

Sonata sighed and hung her head in defeat as she slowly got to her feet. Adagio and Aria walked ahead, and being the mischievous one, Sonata fell behind before running back to Tito. As Sonata was scratching Tito's ears, the ground began to lightly tremble beneath her. Tito began bleating excitedly and shaking his head as if trying to tell Sonata something. Sonata looked toward where Tito was shaking his head at. The mountain, Mount Vesuvius, appeared to have smoke coming out of it. Sonata didn't think much of it, until the dogs of Pompeii started howling. When dogs howl in numbers, it either means that they are speaking to each other, or that danger is afoot. Sonata quickly kissed Tito goodbye and ran to catch up to her sisters, who were on their way to the bakery .

As Adagio had finished making her purchase of bread, Sonata had finally caught up.

"Girls," Sonata cried, panting heavily. "Thank goodness I found you!"

"Sonata, where were you?" Aria asked crossly. "You were playing with Tito again weren't you?"

"Yes, I was, but you have to listen to me!" Sonata said. "Look at the mountain!"

Aria turned to look at Vesuvius. She saw the smoke coming out of it and raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"It's probably nothing but a fire, Sonata," Aria said. "Someone will handle it."

Sonata glanced up at the sky, and then back to Aria.

"If that doesn't convince you, Aria, then look at the sky," Sonata said.

Aria looked up and shook her head at the blackening sky.

"It's probably just a storm," Aria said, then turned to Adagio. "Adagio, let's get home, looks like rain!"

"You're right, Aria, let's go." Adagio said, and began to walk away. "Come on, Sonata."

Sonata ran after her sisters, never taking her eyes off of Vesuvius. The smoke was becoming thicker, and the sky was almost completely black. Suddenly, Sonata felt something fall onto her head. She looked up and held out her hands. Tiny pebbles fell from the sky and into her hands. She could see Adagio and Aria still walking as if nothing was happening.  Sonata was still as a man passed her with a weary smile and a wave. Sonata waved back before a large rock struck the man in the head and he dropped to the ground. He wasn't moving or breathing when Sonata approached him. Her heart dropped into her stomach, and suddenly the ground trembled again, but much more violently. Houses of the people were beginning to burn and fire surrounded her from every direction. Her sisters had vanished from her sight and she was alone, that is until a crowd of screaming people came rushing toward her. Of those screaming people, were Aria and Adagio.

"Sonata, we have to get out of here!" Adagio cried. "We have to find shelter!"

"See?!" Sonata said. "Didn't I tell you?!"

"Gloat later, run now!" Aria yelled.

Aria, Adagio, and Sonata ran for their lives, but the chaos would not cease. Sonata looked back at Vesuvius and saw a black cloud of billowing smoke racing toward the city. Then, her heart stopped dead when she remembered Tito. Sonata made a mad dash for the produce stand before she was grabbed by Aria.

"Aria, let me go!" Sonata screamed. "I have to save Tito!!"

"There's no time!!" Aria shouted back. "We've got to go, NOW!!!"

"Please, Aria, I have to save him!!" Sonata begged, tears streaming down her face. "I love him!!! Please let me save him!!!"

Just then a soft bleating sound came over the roar of flames, screams, and crumbling buildings. Sonata looked in the distance and saw a little white goat running her way. A hopeful smile crossed Sonata's face. Tito was almost in arm's reach, before a building crumbled between him and Sonata.

"TITO!!!!" Sonata screamed and began digging through the rubble of the building to get to Tito.

"Sonata, COME ON!!!" Aria shouted, and dragged Sonata to her feet.

"NO!!! NO!!! TITOOOOOOO!!!!!" Sonata cried.

As Sonata was dragged away by Aria, she could hear Tito's frantic bleating, as if he were calling out for his mother.

In the distance, Aria could see Adagio waiting for her sisters at the pier. She saw the billowing smoke cloud in the distance and quickly dove into the water, and ordering her sisters to follow. The sisters swam under the surface, watching as the surface became complete darkness. Adagio instructed her sisters to swim for as long as they could hold their breath, and once they came up for air, Vesuvius rumbled once more before another cloud of smoke came hurtling toward them. After going down this time, the sisters swam until they found a cave by the shore where they could take shelter for the night.

The next morning, Adagio, Aria, and Sonata swam back to shore to search for anyone that could have possibly survived. Looking over the ruins of Pompeii, the sisters could see that the entire city had been completely buried. It was gone, and everything was silent. Aria suddenly felt something brush against her foot, and when she looked down, she felt a lump in her throat.

"Um, Sonata," she began, when she picked up the thing.

Sonata turned and in an instant, her body was wracked with sobs. She collapsed to her knees and held the scorched blue collar in her quivering hands. The faded and dented gold tag read: "TITO".