"Welco- You again?" Aria dropped her usual mask of forced happiness at the sight of the apple farmer who, since the first day she arrived, had become a regular.
She didn't exactly hate her anymore. She just couldn't seem to drop the attitude when it came to any of the girls from that fateful day in Canterlot High. In fact, she had come to know Applejack pretty well as, true to her word, she stopped by often to enjoy a drink and help her or Adagio when it came to Sonata. It was part of the reason she'd forgiven her despite the severe hatred at the beginning.
"Good to see you too, Aria. Give me the usual if you don't mind." A.J sat in front of the girl as she took off her coat and set it down on the seat next to her.
"What's happened now?"
"What do you mean?"
"You only ever order first if something happened. It's been a little more than a year farm girl and you're an easy read."
A.J released a sigh before taking off her stetson and setting it down atop her coat. "I'm that predictable huh?"
"Blatantly. Now what's up?" The siren passed her a small hot towel to wipe as she waited for an answer with her hand on her hip.
"You have other customers to tend to right now."
"Seriously? I've only just opened and you're usually the only one here for another two hours. Stop trying to deflect shit and talk you idiot because you're making me regret trying to be friendly."
"Okay, okay. Sorry, I just didn't really know how to bring it up."
"A.J. I think the time for both of us to not meddle with each other has long past. Besides, it's the least I could do for what you've done for us."
In the year or so since they ran into each other Sonata had regained consciousness after four years of being bedridden. Though, even with her awake, she failed to show any sign of how she once acted and remained emotionless. She wouldn't talk, smile, or show any signs of being self-aware other than the usual attacks she had. It wasn't until A.J suggested taking her to the farm that she seemed to improve.
The fresh air and the calm scenery seemed to do wonders for the girl and, with the bar needing to be ran, Aria stayed behind as the sole bartender. Adagio would show up now and again to sing and play her piano but she usually stuck by Sonata's side.
"You should come see her sometime. I'm sure she'd like to see you again." A.J took a sip of water from the glass she was given.
"I-I can't. I'm the only one running this place and I don't exactly have the time for such things."
"Aria. You girls are the owners of this place. I'm sure you can go at least one day with it closed to come see her. Adagio said you've been making excuses ever since she woke up."
"I am not! Also, we were talking about you not me! So stop trying to change the subject and make me feel guilty."
"You're right. Can I at least get my drink before I start talking?"
"I'll make you something when you start talking and be quick about it. I don't have all day to tend to a single customer."
The farm girl held back a smile at the comment. She knew that it'd be a while for other customers to come despite being a fairly popular bar. She also knew that Aria was lying as she would always drift back to her even when it got busy. It was one of the few things neither of them expected but accepted as time passed.
"Have you talked to Adagio lately?"
"Yea. She's stopped by to sing and play when she gets some time away from Sonata."
"No. I mean, have you two actually talked at all? More than just her coming in to sing and tell you about Sonata."
Aria stopped looking through the collection of alcohol as she turned back to face the farmer. Her face somewhat stoic but cracking at the thought of something happening to her fellow siren.
"We've... we've just been busy is all. If there was anything she wanted me to know she would bring it up. I know she would bring it up."
"Aria. You two need to talk and soon."
"If she wants to tell me something then I'll listen."
"You won't and you know it. She's been trying to talk to you lately but each time she does you just keep pushing her away!"
"Shut up! Why the fuck does this have anything to do with you?!"
"Talk to Adagio and you'd know why it involves me!"
"I'll talk to her when she wants to talk!"
"Mac is thinking of proposing!"
The bar grew silent again as Aria stopped and took a seat behind the counter. The two sat there as the news seemed to sink in.
"I... I didn't even know they were dating. Why didn't she tell me?"
"She's tried Aria. She's been trying since day one but all you ever do is ask about Sonata and push her away. You need to talk to her properly; you can't keep this up forever."
"I can't. It's been too busy lately."
"That's bullshit and you know it. Why are you doing this to yourself girl? To her?"
"She's better off without me in her life anyways."
A slam startled the bartender into looking at the culprit to find her recently made friend giving her a death glare. It wasn't often the farmer would get mad and even rarer that she actually looked like wanting to punch anyone. If she were like her past self; Aria would have relished in the reaction, yet, now she only recoiled in shame.
"Stop acting like a child! What makes you think they don't want you in their lives?!"
"Because I'll just ruin them! I'll ruin Adagio like I ruined Sonata!"
"Aria we've talked about this before." A.J sat down as she started to calm down. "What happened with Sonata isn't your fault. There were mistakes on both sides but no one is really to bl-"
"You don't know that!" Aria, at this point, started to cry as she leaned over the counter top. "You don't know what I've done! I know it was my fault!"
"Wha-"
"I saw the signs..."
"Signs? What do you mean signs... wait..."
"I'm not stupid A.J. Where Dagi ignored whatever we did until that call; I at least questioned it. I saw bruises on her that I never made. I saw marks from things like needles. I knew she was staying out late and I've seen what she changed from once as she got home."
"Aria, why didn't-"
"I didn't say anything because I didn't want to know. I didn't want to know how she got it or where she got that money. I only cared that it kept coming for me to use as I saw fit! I ignored all the signs for my own selfish reasons and it ruined her! I can't let that happen again! I'd rather they lose me before I lose them!"
The movement was too quick for Aria to do anything about as A.J got up from her seat once more and slapped her. The force of which was intense enough to throw her off balance and knock several glasses down.
"What the fuck?!"
"What gives you the right?"
"What?" Aria held a hand to her cheek as she snarled at the girl walking behind the bar.
"What gives you the right to choose what's best for them?" A.J grabbed the girl by the collar and brought her up eye level. "You think that just by being part of their lives means you'll ruin them? You think that they would be better off without you around?!"
Aria was sent stumbling back down only to get back up and lunge at the farmer which proved a poor choice. Despite Aria's experience in fights, A.J was a lot stronger due to her time on the farm and knew how to hold her own due to Rainbow wanting a sparring partner at times. The ex-siren found herself face down once again with pressure being put on her back as her arms were being held behind her.
"You've told me before that you'd do anything to see Sonata smile again and now you're saying it'd be better to not be in their lives again? Why do you keep making yourself suffer? Why can't you just drop this fucking tough act and tell them what's going on?!"
The rest of the lecture was cut off as Aria slammed back her head to connect with A.J's face. The farmer stumbled back from the sudden hit and was soon knocked to the ground as Aria lunged at once again. The two rolled around in a flurry of punches and hair tugs. Glasses and ingredients were being shaken and knocked over as they struck the sides of the counter. It wasn't until a door slammed open and there was a strong pair of arms separating them.
They looked at the culprit to find Big Mac staring down at them harshly. He brought them to a booth and threw each of them to one side of it.
"What the fuck is going on?!" yelled a voice from the doorway which caused all three of them to turn and find a shocked Adagio.
"I found these two knuckleheads having a go at each other. Close the place and find out what's going on while I clean the place up."
"Sure." Adagio turned to lock the door and turn off the sign before walking over to the two responsible for the mess in her bar. Her arms were crossed as she took the time to look at them and ran a hand through her hair as she sighed. "Care to tell me what's going on Aria?"
"Nothing's wrong. We just fought for a while."
Adagio raised an eyebrow and looked towards Applejack for an answer.
"You two need to talk. That's all I'm going to say as it's not my place anymore since you're here." A.J looked past the golden haired girl towards the bar.
Adagio followed her line of sight to see Big Mac cleaning the mess that was made from the fight. She smiled briefly before it was replaced with a frown. She grabbed her fellow owner and dragged her upstairs to the room that was previously Sonata's leaving the Apple siblings downstairs to take care of the rest.
"You can let go now Dagi. I'm not going anywhere."
Adagio's grip tightened instead and looked into Aria's eyes. "Are you sure?"
"W-what do you mean?"
"Aria, I know you've been pushing me away. I know you're purposely avoiding seeing Sonata too. You can't hide it from me Ari; we've been together for too long for anything to really be hidden between the three of us."
Aria broke from her grasp and sat down on the free bed. "I'm not hiding shit. I've just got a lot on my plate with running this place."
"Big Mac asked me to marry him."
The silence between them grew as Adagio waited for some form of response. Something that would acknowledge what she had told her sister in all but blood.
"So when are you moving out?"
"Aria! What the fuck is wrong with you?! Why are you acting like this?! Why can't you just talk to me?!"
"Nothing is wrong with me at all. I just want to help you move out since you've obviously found a better life without me."
Aria watched as Adagio began to rub her temples. She seemed to be trying her best to hold something back. It wasn't until she took a deep breath that she opened her eyes.
"Is that why you're acting like this? You think I'm going to leave you alone?"
"No, It's not that at all. I'm just saying that they obviously have enough room and it's only natural you'd move in with them considering Sonata is already there."
"You're a idiot."
"Wha- Fuck you!"
"Are you even going to ask how I answered?"
"Why should I? You two have obviously been getting along great for it to get this far so of course you'd say-"
"I said no!"
"A-are you out of your mind?! Why would you say that?!"
The short curled golden haired girl sat down next to a rather confused Aria and reached for her hand. She began to rub it before lifting it to her head and holding it with both hands.
"I said no because I don't want to leave you two yet. Sonata is just barely regaining her sense of self. You on the other hand seem to be suffering something far worse."
"I ain't suffering shit!" Aria pulled her hand away in a huff.
"You've been ignoring my pleas to come visit and you cut all our conversations short. Something is obviously going on Ari. Please, tell me what's going on. Please."
"It's nothing at all. I'm perfectly fine on my own."
"Well, I'm not!"
The yell caught Aria by surprise as she recoiled from the shriek in her left ear. She watched as Adagio had a look of panic on her face while holding back tears.
"I can't do this alone Aria! I've been the one looking after Sonata the most ever since that day. I get that you've been working hard to make this place as successful as it is but we haven't had a real conversation in a long time."
"Dagi..."
"The reason I've went to look after Sonata on the farm was because it got too awkward to be around you. I felt like I needed to give you time and eventually you'd tell me what was going on. It was during my time there that things started with A.J's brother. At first, I ignored it because I thought it was just me confusing gratitude for interest. Eventually, it became clear how I felt, but the moment he asked for my hand I got scared."
"Scared? You don't get scared Dagi. Are you sure-"
"I'm sure. It was the same fear as when we almost lost Sonata. The reason I got scared was because I instantly thought about you." Adagio grabbed Aria's hand once again. "About us."
"Uhhh..."
"Aria, I felt that if I had said yes then I would never see you again. I felt that, the moment I agreed and you found out, I'd lose you forever just like I almost lost Sonata. I can't go through that again Ari. I can't lose you, either of you. Not now, not ever."
Tears fell onto Aria's hand as she watched her leader cry once again. She hadn't seen Adagio cry since the day Sonata woke up. She knew she might have been doing it where she couldn't see as to not worry her but this time was different. This time the usual headstrong, proud, and confident leader looked incredibly fragile. Much like the day they rushed Sonata to the hospital; her body continued to shake and looked small.
"I'm sorry Dagi." Aria pulled her sister into a hug and stroked her hair as she kept crying. "I-I was planning on leaving both of you with the bar once Sonata completely recovered. I wanted to get as far away from the two of you as possible."
"Wha-why?" Adagio sniffled.
"Because I'd end up doing the same thing to you as I did Sonata." Aria bit her lip and took a deep breath. "I saw the signs of her doing what she did Dagi. I had an inkling but I cared more about the money than I ever did her. It's my fucking fault she ended up like that! I can't and won't be here to see the same thing happen again!"
"Ari, it's not-"
"It is my fault! I did this to her Adagio! I could have saved the Sonata! I can't live with myself knowing I was responsible for her trying to die! I could barely look at her when she was here and when she opened her eyes... they looked so empty and lifeless. It was the same kind of look she had back then when she thought no one was looking! I have nightmares about that day and those eyes Dagi! If it means you two can be happy then I'll do whatever it takes!"
It was Aria's turn to break down in the arms of Adagio. Her tears fell covering Adagio's sundress with salty wet spots. The usually strong siren reverted to a child as she kept trying to get closer to her sister. Adagio merely held her tight as she released the pain she'd been carrying for a long time.
"It's my fault Ari. I chose to just ignore the both of you. I gave up once the girls beat us and I couldn't take it. I should have been there for the both of you instead of wallowing in my own self-pity. I should have done something to fix our situation back then; if it wasn't for me standing by the sidelines I could have saved the both of you before it even got this far. I'm sorry Ari. I'm so sorry."
"I'm sorry too Dagi!"
The sounds of their crying could be heard downstairs as A.J stood by the door leading upstairs. She wore a small smile until Mac pressed a napkin full of ice on her eye causing her to flinch. A.J scowled but held the bundle in place and just as she was about to scold him she noticed the frown that he'd been wearing since he entered the place.
"Mac?"
"Hmm?"
"What's wrong?"
Mac sighed and lightly punched her arm. "Don't worry about it A.J. it's nothing too big."
"It has to be important if it has you frowning. What's going on?"
"Adagio said no." he answered with a calm tone.
"What?!"
"Stop." Mac took a moment to look at her before she could say anything else. "It's fine A.J. she might have said no but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up. I love her sis and I know she feels the same but this isn't the time to think of only my feelings. I have to give her time to deal with what she's going through."
A.J stood silent as the echoes died down and footsteps could be heard coming. Soon the two red eyed girls that had been the focus of the night came out holding each other's hands.
"Were you spying on us?" Adagio said with a slight smirk towards the older Apple.
"I heard you crying. I can't help but worry about you when that happens." He replied with smile of his own.
"Thank you." a blush crept across the golden dazzling's face only to be interrupted by her fellow siren.
"Fuck, get a room you two."
"Good to see your back to normal despite how puffy your eyes are Aria."
"Fuck you too A.J."
"Can I at least get my drink before you invite me to bed?"
Adagio and Mac laughed at Aria becoming flustered and walking away. A.J joined in the merriment as the three sat at the bar with Mac in the middle.
"Alright, I'll get you your drink but I get to choose."
"Fine by me. I'm still waiting despite the poor service." A.J pointed to the bundle of ice still resting against her black eye.
Aria turned back to the bottles lined up against the wall and saw a bottle that caught her eye. "Let me make something for the other two first. You don't mind waiting a bit longer do you A.J?"
"I guess that's alright by me." she sighed.
"Ari, you know I don't really drink all that much."
"Just let her do it Adagio. It's not every day she does things like this."
Adagio sighed and nudged Mac slightly. "Fine, go ahead."
Aria set down a lemon juice alongside ginger ale, an egg, sugar and a lemon. She cut the lemon and poured the lemon juice in the shaker along with the egg and sugar. They watched her mix them and poured the finished contents into two glasses she had filled with ice.
"Now, just pour the ginger ale and garnish with a lemon peel. There, it's done." she served the drinks to the two patiently waiting who smiled instantly as they drank.
"It's delicious! Aria, I didn't know you could make something like this."
"I got the idea from looking at the rum and remembering how to make a Sol Cubano. You could say it's a non-alcoholic variation of it."
Big Mac took another sip and set it down. "What do you call it if you don't mind me asking?"
"I call it... Lover's Dream."
The two were taken aback and blushed as they looked at each other. Aria felt a tug on her sleeve and fist bumped A.J as the other two found it awkward to look at each other anymore. As the two took their drinks to talk at a booth A.J turned once again towards Aria.
"I'll be coming over next week. I think it's time for me to see Sonata."
"That's great, Aria. I'm looking forward to it but..."
"But?"
"Now, can I get my drink?"
Author's Note
I didn't really have much intention to make a sequel for Chill Wind, but I did and here it is in all it's glory. I have to admit that I like writing the Dazzlings.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please leave a comment or critique as any critique helps me grow as a writer.