Welcome to the Show...Now, Goodbye
Cold. That’s what it was. She felt cold after that giant, rainbow-maned alicorn in the sky made her feel after it blasted them with it’s magic. With ‘their’ magic. Adagio felt cold, hunched over on the stage; the cold stage floor that had bin the foundation of their ultimate victory just moments ago. They had it all; The Equestrian Magic, the entire stadium under their control, more power then she even dared to have dreamed. Gone. Opening her eyes, Adagio saw the remains of her Rage Pendent, the source of her power, shattered on the floor. Picking up as many pieces as she could, Adagio and her cohorts stood up and sang.
“Weee wiiill, be adoored, teell us thaat you wwwant us…”
Adagio discovered that, not only had they lost their magic, they had all become tone deaf.
They had lost their singing voices.
The crowd boo’d as The Dazzlings desperately tried to get their song to come out, only to make the crowd throw what they had at them. Forced of the stage, The Dazzlings ran off the stage but when Sonata had stopped when she got behind the stage, Adagio just kept running.
“Adagio!” Sonata cried. “Where are you going?”
“Come on! We can’t lose her!” Aria shouted as she ran past Sonata to keep up with their leader, prompting her to fallow.
Adagio ran down the street, to afraid to stop and discover the tears rolling down her face.
“It’s gone…” she whispered. “Our voices…they’re…they’re…”
Lost in her distress, she didn't bother to stop whenever she bumped into someone as she ran nor they cries coming from Aria and Sonata. However, Adagio had forgotten she was still in the outfit she performed in as she tripped on her platform shoes. Her dress, for the most part had cushioned the fall, did not stop Adagio from getting scraps on her limbs. Laying there, dress torn, legs and arms scraped, Aria and Sonata approaching cries, none of it registered to her as Adagio only had that one thought in her mind.
We can’t sing anymore. Our vocals are…gone
Reaching Adagio first, Aria stood just behind her fallen leader, unsure of what she was feeling. She had known Adagio her entire long life and believed that nothing could get too her which was the reason she always gave Adagio a hard time in hopes of seeing her crack knowing that it would never happen.
Seeing her like this…
Sonata ran past Aria and knelt beside Adagio, concern written all over her face.
“Adagio, are you okay?” she asked, doing her best to hold back her tears. “Are you hurt? Do you need me to kiss your boo-boos better?”
Sonata was scared. She had never seen her friend like this before. Adagio was always strong and confident no matter what they did, even when Sonata did something that upset her, Adagio never lost that strength that filled Sonata with such assurance, she couldn’t help but be so carefree around her.
She knew Adagio would take care of everything.
“Please, Adagio…” Sonata begged. “…tell me what I can do. I can’t help you unless you tell me what to do!”
Startled, Sonata watched as Adagio stood up and walked into the alley that was right beside them, mumbling.
“it’s gone…it’s all gone…”
That did it. Sonata couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. She just wasn’t strong enough too be Adagio’s pillar. How could she be when Adagio had been that pillar ever since she could remember. Crying into her hands, Sonata was pulled into a hug by Aria, who’s stoic face cracked upon seeing their ‘family’ fall apart.
“What are we gonna do, Aria? How can we help, her? What should we do?”
Aria stood there, holding a crying Sonata, watching Adagio, broken, stumble through the alley, and everything she had known crumble away in front of her.
“I don’t know, Sonata. I don’t know.”
I’m lost. I don’t know what to do. My powers. My magic. My voice…
Adagio spiralled downward, further into despair was the reality of her situation began to sink in. She had her magic when she was very young, but her vocals were with her from the very moment she drew breath. Adagio could perform beautiful melodies when she was minutes old while her magic training began much later. Using her soothing vocals, Adagio had bewitched every creature she encountered; pony, diamond dog, griffin she had even settled down a full grown dragon when it was rampaging near her home.
Then she found her Rage Pendant.
Adagio suddenly felt stronger when she put it on and even more so when she was around ponies who were arguing, just by being near them. Curious, she began to sing and discovered that, not only did the Rage Pendant grant her more power when it absorbed the negativity of the angry ponies, but also cause more negativity between them by singing. Since that day, Adagio traveled around the world, absorbing the negativity her singing caused and grew so powerful, it made Tirek pause when they encountered each other. Tirek had tried to take her power, and when that failed had tried to trick Adagio into sharing the knowledge of where she had gotten her power. Fortunately, Adagio was too smart to fall for such a pathetic attempt to manipulate and replied as she flew away.
“If you want to know so badly, figure it out yourself.”
It was after that encounter that Adagio began her conquest of Equestria, only to be defeated and sent to this world by Star Swirl the Bearded. Losing all her power and any hope of returning to Equestria, Adagio was forced to feed the Rage Pendant whatever she could to maintain what little power it gave her to live as long as she had. Until that night when she saw someone use Equestrian magic and had her hopes restored and when she finally had it, the sense of familiarity and rightness in her grasp, it was taken once again.
But this time, she lost more then just her magic.
Without my voice, what will I do? How can I go on? What else is there to live for?
Her mind filled with silence, Adagio sank further and further into despair…
“Please, Adagio. We need you. Please come back. Please…”
Adagio reach out and grabbed the dumpster she found herself beside, startled.
Who was that? She sounded familiar.
Turning her head around, Adagio’s eyes widened at seeing Sonata crying in Aria’s arms.
“Sonata…?” she whispered. “Why are you…?”
Suddenly, Adagio remembered.
When she was at a very young age, Adagio had met Sonata and Aria when she came across them arguing with each other. She had used her soothing voice to get them to settle down and talk with each other and since then, the three of them have been inseparable. From finding the three Rage Pendents, to meeting Tirek, getting sent to this world and even none, losing their voices. They had stuck together through every challenge that came their way, regardless of the petty arguments that flared up throughout it all.
Like a family.
What am I doing? It’s not just me who is suffering. They lost their voices too AND I’m forcing them to watch as I fall to pieces!
Adagio straighten up.
Well, not any more!
Catching Adagio’s movement, Aria involuntarily tightened her arms while still holding Sonata.
“Adagio…?” she spoke softly, afraid calling out to her would knock her back into her funk.
Startled by the sudden tightness of the hug, Sonata looked up at Aria.
“Aria? What’s…?” Before she could finish, Sonata followed Aria’s gaze and saw Adagio standing in the alley, strong and confident.
“She’s back…!” Sonata whispered with a smile on her face.
“Alright girls, listen up!” Adagio called before turning around, making her way to them. “As of this moment, the waterworks are now over. We are going home to regroup and figure out our next move.”
Aria wore a smirk as she watched Adagio approached.
That’s the Adagio I know.
She let go of Sonata when Aria felt her about to jump out and hug Adagio.
“Adagio!” Sonata cried, wrapping her arms around her friend. “You’re all better!”
She’s Back! Adagio’s back to her old self! I’m so happy!
“Hey! Sonata, not so tight!” Adagio protested weakly before catching Aria’s eye. “You might as well join in.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I already gave my hug for the night.”
Adagio glared at Aria before Sonata reached out and grabbed her hand and brought Aria into a group hug.
“Group hug with my Besties!” Sonata screamed, squeeing with joy.
“Yaaaaay.” Both Adagio and Aria groaned before looking at one another, giving each other a silent smile that spoke more then words could possible match.
“So what is our next move?” Aria asked as they broke up from the hug. Adagio smiled the same smile she always has when she was thinking up plans, as she turned around and headed home, prompting Sonata and Aria to follow.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to sing again”
Sonata smiled with glee as Aria rolled her eyes, indicating how obvious that idea was, as she too had a smile on. Adagio would not stop until she got their vocal voices back; her dream was just to great to allow to fail. Sparing a look back at her ‘sisters’, Adagio dreamt they could sing together again, as a family.
