It was an unusually cold, wet, and quiet spring night. All that could be heard was the sound of rain as it crashed violently against the ground. Inside the Dazzling household, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk lay peacefully sleeping in their rooms. However, for Adagio Dazzle, in was another sleepless night…

Adagio tossed and turned viciously in her bed. Her breathing was heavy and ragged, sweat covered her forehead, neck, and chest.

“No stop, p-please…” She whimpered, as she tried desperately to wake up.

In her dream, Adagio was running, but from what? Behind her the sounds of galloping could be heard. A figure in all white armor, riding an alicorn was chasing her. Adagio’s heart was pounding out of her chest. She wanted to run faster but she could feel her legs beginning to give out. The figure was gaining on her.

‘No…’ She thought to herself, ‘have to keep going’

She glanced back over her shoulder, but as she did, Adagio tripped and fell on her hands and knees. The figure couldn’t have been more than ten steps behind her and she knew it. With tears streaming down her face, Adagio tried to get up, but she was so tired. All she could do was cry. She opened her eyes only to see the shadow of the figure right behind her.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!?!" She screamed, but the figure said nothing.

Knowing that there was no escape, she turned and faced her perpetrator. “Who are you?” she asked through her tears. Again, the figure said nothing.

“ANSWER ME!” Adagio yelled.

The figure remained silent as he dismounted from his horse and began walking towards her. Still on the ground, Adagio slowly to back away from the figure, as her tears flowed more fiercely down her face.

“Please don’t hurt me…” She begged. “I-I’ll do anything”

The figure drew his sword as he continued to walk towards her. Adagio’s eyes widened as she realized what was about to happen. As the figure slowly raised his sword above his head, all Adagio could do was watch in horror as her life was about to come to an end. He was about to smite her when…

‘BOOM!!’

“AHHHHHHH!” Adagio screamed, as she shot up from her pillow.

She frantically looked around to see what had made that sound, but there was nothing there. As another boom of thunder rang out, Adagio looked out her window and realized it was just the storm that had waken her up. She let out a long sigh of relief as she had never been as grateful for thunder as she was in that moment. However, after a few seconds, she began to cry silently to herself. This was the sixth night in a row that she had had this same nightmare. She got out of her bed and walked towards her door. Carefully turning the knob as to make as little as sound as possible, she tip-toed to the bathroom. She grabbed a rag and ran cold water onto it. She placed the rag on her face and began to wipe away the dried sweat that had accumulated there. She then ran the rag down her neck and onto her chest. As she did, Adagio looked in the mirror. Dark, heavy bags could be seen under her eyes, these nightmares were taking their toll on her. She took a deep breath and shook her head.

‘I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up…’ She thought.

Adagio turned off the bathroom light and walked downstairs to the kitchen. She looked at the clock on the microwave that read 5:30 a.m.

“No point on trying to go back to sleep” She whispered to herself. Not that she would have been able to or would even want to, out of fear of having that nightmare again. Reaching into the cupboard, Adagio grabbed a box of her favorite tea. She filled the kettle with water, turned on the stove, and waited for the water to heat up. Adagio sat at the kitchen island while she waited. She rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands and let out a small groan. Adagio was extremely and unbearably tired, all she wanted to do was sleep and sleep, and sleep some more. But every time she closed her eyes, the figure dressed in all white appeared.

‘What is wrong with me?’ She thought.

‘Why is this happening?’

‘What does it mean?’

‘When will it stop?’

Question after question filled Adagio’s mind, until the whistling of the kettle snapped her back into reality. She finished making her tea and sat back down. After a couple of sips of the warm beverage, Adagio looked at the clock on the microwave again. It read 6:00 a.m. As she took another sip from her cup, Adagio could hear the sounds of footsteps from upstairs.

“Right on time” she said silently to herself with a half-smile.

The footsteps drew closer and closer to her until they stopped right behind her.

“Dagi?” asked a sleepy voice standing at the kitchen entrance. “What are you doing up again so early?”

“Good morning, Sonata” Adagio replied, without turning around.

Sonata walked into the kitchen but before sitting down next to Adagio, she gave the eldest siren a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Adagio couldn’t help but smile.

“Is everything okay Dagi? Sonata asked. “You’ve been waking up suuuuper early these last few days and you never do that”

“I’m fine, Nata” replied Adagio, as she rubbed her left eye.

“Are you sure, cause you look reeeeally tired” Sonata let out a huge gasp, as if coming to some unexpected realization. “Are you sleeping alright Dagi, because I’ve got something that can help you sleep better”

“I’m fine” Adagio replied again.

“Y’know, doctors say that you should get at least eight hours of sleep every night or your body won’t work properly, and if your body doesn’t work properly then you won’t feel good, and if you don’t feel good then - ”

As Sonata continued with her mindless rambling, Adagio closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She was desperately trying not to lose her patience with Sonata so early in the morning, but she couldn’t take much more of the air-head’s incessant chatter.

“SONATA!” Adagio said sharply, with her elbow on the counter and index finger and thumb pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Yes, Dagi?”

“I said I’m fine, okay? So, please…stop…talking”

Sonata simply smiled and nodded and gave Adagio another hug. After finishing the rest of her tea, Adagio proceeded over to the sink and placed her mug inside it. She then opened the refrigerator and peered inside.

“What would you like for breakfast, Nata?” Adagio asked.

“Uhmmmm….BACON!!!” Sonata shouted.

“Okay, what else?” Adagio asked while pulling the bacon out and placing it on the counter.

“That’s it” replied Sonata with a smile.

“You can’t eat just bacon, Sonata” said Adagio.

“Why not?” Sonata asked, in a half whining, half irritated manner.

“Because…” Adagio replied impatiently as she glanced back at the now pouting siren. “You need to eat something with a little more…substance”

“I don’t want substance” Sonata said indignantly, as she crossed her arms. “I want bacon”

Adagio slammed the refrigerator door, turned, and placed both hands on the island counter. She lowered her head and took a deep breath before continuing her conversation with the stubborn girl.

“Look, Sonata…I don’t have the patience nor the energy to argue with you about this, this early in the morning. So, I will say it again, you are not eating just bacon for breakfast” Adagio said in her calmest voice as possible, while slowly looking up at the clearly terrified girl. “Now, you can either choose something else to eat or you can eat nothing at all. What will it be?”

Sonata gulped audibly as Adagio stared at her with a glare that could freeze hell ten times over. Sonata had seen plenty of situations like this in the past. Every word that poured out of Adagio’s mouth was authoritative and threatening. And even though Adagio phrased the question as though there were two choices, Sonata knew there was only one. So, rather than tempt the already pissed off siren further, Sonata made one of the hardest decisions she’s ever had to make.

“I-I-I’ll also take some eggs and toast…please” She said quietly looking down into her lap.

Adagio raised her eyebrow, rolled her eyes, and reopened the fridge to get the carton of eggs. Sonata watched in silence as Adagio began making breakfast. She wanted to say something but she was afraid that Adagio would snap at her again. After a few more moments of silence, Sonata finally got the courage to speak.

“Uhmm…Dagi?” Sonata whispered.

“What?” answered Adagio.

“I-I’m sorry for annoying you…” Sonata said as she looked away from Adagio.

“It’s okay, Sonata”

Sonata twiddled her thumbs not knowing whether or not to try and continue talking to Adagio or just sit there and quietly wait for her food. Sonata knew that something was bothering Adagio, but she didn’t want upset her even more by asking questions, especially after Adagio almost went off on her only a few minutes ago. So, she decided to remain silent for both of their sakes. The closing of the cupboard caused Sonata to look in Adagio’s direction. She watched as Adagio plated her food and placed it in front of her.

“Thanks Dagi” Sonata said with a smile.

Adagio looked at Sonata briefly but didn’t say anything. She then turned and walked towards the kitchen entrance. Sonata watched as Adagio walked away, she didn’t know what to say or think in that moment. However, just as Adagio was about to walk out of sight, Sonata called out to her in a quiet and worried tone.

“Adagio?”

“Hm?” Adagio said, as she stopped and faced the younger siren.

Sonata fumbled for the words to say. So, instead, she hopped out of her chair and ran over to Adagio and simply wrapped her into the biggest and tightest hug she could muster. This sudden display of affection caught Adagio completely off guard. Adagio was used to Sonata being all touchy-feely, but this…this was something that Adagio had never experienced before. Normally, Adagio would have pushed Sonata off her but, to be honest, this was exactly what she needed. Adagio couldn’t explain what it was that she was feeling in that moment, she was more so concentrating on trying to fight back the tears she so very much wanted to let out. She would have been able to do so too, had Sonata not dropped another bomb on her.

In the most innocent and loving voice ever, Sonata said, “I love you, Dagi” as she nuzzled into Adagio’s breasts.

With those three words, the floodgates were opened. Adagio held Sonata tightly and began to sob uncontrollably. Sonata didn’t exactly know what was happening or what to do in this situation. She had never ever seen Adagio cry before and, honestly, it kind of scared her. To her, Adagio had always been a symbol of strength, power, and dominance. But ever since their defeat at the Battle of the Bands, Adagio had not been the same. Adagio rarely went out or talked or did anything, for that matter. And now, here she was breaking down on her shoulder. Sonata was worried, confused, and scared, she had no clue how to comfort Adagio. However, what Sonata did know was that, in that moment, she was the only one who could help her.

Sonata somehow managed to walk down the hall with Adagio still crying on her shoulder to the living room. She stopped in front of the three-seater couch and laid Adagio upon it. Adagio curled into a ball and continued to cry. Sonata took a deep breath and massaged her now soaking wet right shoulder. She looked around for blanket but couldn’t find one. She was about to walk away to go get one when Adagio grabbed her pajama pants. Surprised, Sonata looked down at Adagio.

“Please don’t leave” sniffled Adagio.

“I’ll be right back, I promise” Sonata said while stroking Adagio cheek with the back of her hand.

Sonata quickly but quietly ran upstairs and into her room. She grabbed a blanket and went back downstairs and into the living room. Sonata draped the blanket over Adagio who was still bawling like a baby and sat down next to her. Adagio moved and placed her head on Sonata lap as she continued to cry.

‘What do I do now’ Sonata thought, while biting her bottom lip.

Then Sonata remember a movie she saw recently where there was a similar situation to the one she was in. In the scene, the daughter was crying on her mother lap just like Adagio was crying on hers. The mother ran her fingers through her daughter’s hair to calm her down and it seemed to work.

‘Maybe I could try that’

So she did. Sonata ran her fingers through Adagio’s massive orange and yellow curls, and whispered soft reassurances to her.

“Shhhh, everything is going to be okay, Dagi”

It seemed to be working. After a few moments, Adagio had begun to calm down and soon only small sniffles could be heard. Sonata continued to stroke Adagio’s hair until she was quietly sleeping on her lap.

As the sun began to rise and give wake to a new day, Adagio Dazzle, couldn’t help but smile in her sleep. For the first time in almost a week, she was sleeping peacefully...

Author's Note

First story ever! I hope you guys like it! Please feel free to leave comments, critiques, and suggestions. I'm always looking for feedback.

I plan on writing everyday, but since I'm in school it may be a couple days before I can actually publish a chapter. However, if this series gets a warm reception, I'll do my best to finish the chapters quicker so you guys don't have to wait as long ( because who wants to do that, right?)