Mistress (Adagio's Big Comeback)

“Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yes.”

“For realsies?”

“Yes, Sonata.”

“For really realsies!?”

Adagio's brow twitches as she fends off an offered tissue from Sonata. “Look! Stop-” she snarls, but bites her tongue and takes a deep breath, “I didn't meant to snap. But I'm fine, honest.”

“Alright, let's relax. Though like Sonata said, Addy,” you say, “if you want to talk about whatever happened, you can trust us. Right?”

Sonata nods to you, pockets the tissue and gives Adagio some space.

Adagio relaxes. “Noted. Anyway, we succeeded in convincing Sunset, it seems... I almost can't believe it, but the final step is to get Aria.” She turns to her sister. “Sonata, I don't suppose you've got any ideas where she is?”

Sonata freezes, then awkwardly looks around the apartment.

Like a stern, accusatory parent, Adagio says, “Sonata?”

The attempted ignorance from Sonata culminates in finger twiddling and the utterance of, “uh... yeah?”

Adagio squints at her. “You've been in contact, haven't you?”

Sonata stares at the floor. “She... plays guitar for the music in Guardians of Gale Glade...”

Adagio squints harder.

“And voices a side character,” Sonata says in a quieter, higher pitched tone.

Adagio full on scowls, and she seethes, “how long has this been going on?”

“Like... she was touring with a band for a year, but then she left and needed a job, and I convinced the show producers to hire her.”

“You mean to tell me that you and Aria,” Adagio says and rapidly rises in volume, “who would go at each other like a couple of children since well before we recovered our memories, reconciled behind my back!?”

Sonata huddles her knees. “Kinda?”

Adagio's anger boils up, and up, and... then she just slumps and exhales so hard, you almost expect the built up rage to come out as steam from her mouth. “Of course you did... I was the reason we broke up. Without me ruining everything, it's only natural you'd get along just fine.”

Sonata pats Adagio's shoulder, but with this return to 'down-on-life bar owner' Adagio, you try to reroute the conversation. “We thought she just vanished. What band did she end up joining?”

“Lemme try and remember... Salt-Lix? Like, with an 'x' at the end?”

You do an online search as you ask, “she must be a quick study if she's already playing for a TV show.”

“Like, you have no idea!” Sonata giggles.

A grainy, shaky video shows up on your search, and you crank up the volume. The camera's focused on the singer as they thrash out a generic heavy metal in a small, but oddly packed venue.

Adagio snorts into a laugh and, yeah, you've heard better. Far better. The lead singer's mic is cranked way high, and you can just hear a female backing vocalist, but it's too drowned out.

Then it happens. Twin tailed purple and aqua striped hair, a dark blue, torn sleeve jacket, ripped purple jeans. Her exposed arms have some solid biceps and some metal as hell spiky arm-bands. She looks athletic, if not outright buff, but still has her feminine curves and she's still ridiculously hot.

Aria Blaze takes centre stage.

She slams her boot down on an amp and plays a solo. She bangs her head to the hard rhythm, her hair flails and swings wildly. Her fingers dance along the strings, the tune is rapid, punchy but clear and smooth, even elegant. Fretwork the likes of which you've only seen from masters of the instrument with decades of experience sends the crowd into a frenzy. Aria pauses her head-banging for long enough for you to see her face, with her eyes closed and the blissful, radiant smile as she whammies her guitar on the final chord. Compared to her usual taciturn demeanour, she's absolutely in love with her art.

“Wow,” is all Adagio can handle as she looks over your shoulder.

“For realsies!” Sonata says, “she's, like, totally amazing!”

The solo ends, and the crowd calms down as the mediocre tune takes back over.

You take a moment to collect yourself and say, “I get why she isn't with that band any more. They're kinda riding her success, huh?”

“Totally! It's why she broke up with them, because they get jealous or something? But humans are always the worst... uh, except you, I guess.” Sonata smiles sweetly at you. “You seem nice, and easy to dominate. I like that in my humans!”

“Uh... thanks?” you say and smirk.

“Can you call her for us, Sonata?” Adagio stands and looks at both of you. “I've got a plan and I want us working together. As one team.”

Sonata pulls out her phone and makes the call as you and Adagio watch. “Hey, Ari. Listen, I'm at Adagio's, and-” she winces and pulls her ear away from the phone and you hear yelling. After the shouting stops and Sonata continues, “no, things are different now, Ari. She's apologised and everything... No, for realsies! She's changed, honest! She's even got a boyfriend- Aw, c'mon!”

Adagio taps Sonata's shoulder and asks, “what's her problem? I'm guessing it's just Aria being Aria, as usual?”

Sonata covers the receiver, blinks at Adagio and says, “why wouldn't Aria be Aria? Is this like that thing when I first arrived where instead of you it was Ray?”

Adagio looks between the two of you. “...what?”

“It's a long story,” you say. “Well, not long, just... you know, it's Sonata?”

“Understood,” she says, needing no further clarification. “Ugh, whatever. Sonata? Give me the phone,” Adagio says and Sonata passes it to her. “Aria, listen... No, please- I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't important. I'm pleading with you here, Ari... look, we could be getting our powers back!” There's a long pause, then you finally hear Aria respond, and Adagio scoffs. “Wait, that's the part that's hard to believe? Seriously?”

Adagio shakes her head, turns, and hands you the phone. “She doesn't believe you exist, Ray. Care to shock her back to earth?”

“Shock her? Exactly what do you want me to say?”

“Whatever you need to. Anything that'll convince her.” She winks at you. “Come on, you talked me into giving up my bar with that fine brain of yours, Mr. Scientist, I'm sure you can think of something.”

That required your chad reserves. Okay, chad mode it is.

You take the phone, clear your throat, and say, “hello Aria. I'm Radian Wave. I'm the man that's fucking your sister so hard that we've had noise complaints from the neighbours. I have a PhD in electrical engineering and I've invented a machine that can literally harness Equestrian magic and bend it to my will. We're days away from potentially giving you and your sisters your powers back. We should meet. It'll be fun. Room twenty three, floor two, Bridle apartments, Dressage avenue.”

You look at the two sisters. Adagio's mouth hangs open as she turns bright red, and Sonata almost joins in until she bursts into uncontrollable giggling and falls on the couch, clutching her sides.

You can hear Aria breathing on the other end of the phone, and she mutters something before finally replying, “fine, I'll be there in ten minutes. I've gotta see what kind of freak-show's Adagio's got strung along for myself.” Aria ends the call, and you place the phone next to Sonata, who continues to laugh so hard her eyes are watering.

Adagio stammers, “t-that was... a bit much, Ray.”

You can't help but put on a shit-eating grin. “Worked, didn't it?”

She laughs and shakes her head. “All too true. You're really getting good at all this scheming and manipulation thing.”

“I've had a good teacher,” you say and wink at her.

You share an honest smile with one another, only broken as Sonata finally begins to calm down.

She says, “ohmygosh, that was hilarious!”

“Yet it's all true,” you say and wiggle your eyebrows.

Sonata blinks and flicks her eyes between you and Adagio. “And I was thinking you were, like, messing with me with the whole girlfriend-boyfriend thing.”

“It's a whole new me, alright,” Adagio says, snidely, and folds her arms, “which is why I want us back together, before I turn into something completely unrecognisable. And before you ask, firstly, I was being metaphorical. Second, in a more literal sense, I'm already having to come to terms I'm going to be an earth pony in Equestria. No flight, no tremendous powers, just hooves and teeth against the world. I dread to think what's going to get in my mouth before I'm done over there.”

Now there's a thought... dirty ones. Okay, several.

Adagio sighs and rubs the back of her neck. “Anyway, now we go from one challenge to another. Aria. She second guessed my leadership anyway, and now I've proven her right once, this will be a hard sell.”

“Aw, she's not been that bad since working on the show,” Sonata says. “She's little miss Snippy-Pants, but she's been... I dunno, less of a downer?”

Adagio huffs. “I'd hardly call her attitude just 'snippy.'”

Sonata giggles. “No, no, that's her character's nickname on the show. She plays Snipanna, and she's Tantra's cousin in the rabbit clan! But she's been nicer since she learned the guitar. She even told me that,” Sonata clears her throat and, in an amazing impression of the moody sister, says, “it's how I expose my soul.” Then, in her normal voice, she finishes, “she's, like, way easier to deal with.”

“Be that as it may, it sounds like she's still going to be how I used to be.” Adagio says and taps her chin, “Ray, you're going to need to prove yourself to her. Stand your ground and don't give an inch. We sirens always preyed on weakness, and that hasn't changed much now we're humans.”

Great, no pressure.

It feels like preparing for a test back in college. Hell, scratch that, it feels like the moments before you were paraded in front of the lead researcher at the lab after they caught you stealing components; the calm before being yelled at and belittled. Adagio's put such importance on bringing the Dazzlings back together, and your growing attachment to the group means it's your top priority. You don't really know Aria though. Sunset was something of a known quantity insofar as you knew you had your grudge and her guilt, plus you only needed to play nice to get what Adagio wanted. With Aria, you need to bring these girls together while pushing against a classic human-hating siren.

Those ten minutes don't take long, but they felt long.

You were already pacing by the door when the doorbell goes, but it still catches you by surprise. You just exhale slowly, and open the door.

Aria Blaze.

There's an aura of disgust that washes over you. Her angry violet eyes, her folded, powerful arms tensing while she looks you over. Her sleeveless green jacket can't conceal how she's not as svelte as she used to be in school, or even on the music video for Find the Magic. Aria now favours a solid core from what must be hard strength training to the point she has visible abs creeping beneath the black under vest and purple, shredded jeans, with the thighs straining and bulging through and against the material.

The interplay of her girly twin-tails against the visible feminine power gives a strong dissonance, but it's incredibly hot, all the same. She's a bit more buff than even Adagio's full size. Aria's got a guitar strapped to her back like a warrior's axe and, considering both her build and smoulder, she probably could kick your ass.

Yet, deep down, you can't help it and even surprise yourself. You're actually giddy. You've now met all the Dazzlings. The bucket list is one check-mark shorter.

She sneers after looking you over. “Really? Adagio's letting you screw her? She really has lost all her standards.”

Ah. Indirect bullying. How refreshing. It reminds you of Sunset's preferred tactic whenever a teacher was nearby. You shift gears appropriately. “Nice rags. I think we live next to a tailor. Oh, is that why you're busking? I just noticed the guitar and assume you're some tramp off the streets. Say, I've got two shiny nickels with your name on it if you can play me a few bars of 'Through the Fire and the Manes.'”

Aria stomps forward and cracks her knuckles and you panic for a moment, but the situation's saved as Adagio pulls you back and steps in between the two of you.

“Aria.”

“Adagio.”

That aura gets suppressed as Adagio puts up her own. That radiance you've felt several times from her that almost feels like magic on the air, with the only exception that your devices haven't beeped to warn of such a spike. Just intense egos and raw, untamed alpha-bitch energy. If Adagio once held any advantage, odds are she lost some of it in these past years, while Aria's no doubt become stronger thanks to, as Adagio put it, she'd been proven right.

Aria smirks. “You must be so desperate if you're letting yourself get screwed by humans. What ever happened to the oh-so-mighty Adagio Dazzle?”

Adagio doesn't move for a moment, then just extends her hand to shake. “You look good, Aria. Strong, and I mean that in every way, like you've worked out something that's been bugging you for a long time. I'm honestly happy to see you again.”

“Hmph,” Aria grunts and looks at Adagio's hand, then just walks into the apartment. “What a dump. So, you've got a plan to get our powers back? Let's hear it. I'm not gonna stay here in this shrine of failure any longer than I need to, least of all with some human thinking he's hot shit.”

This time, Adagio flinches and gives Aria's back a smug glare. “Nice guitar. Same model as Rainbow Dash, right? That, plus the fitness thing you've taken up? Oh, I get it! Aww, that's adorable! Ari's got a crush on Rainbow Dash! Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, after all.”

Aria turns and glowers at Adagio, who matches the contempt as the two face off.

Sonata storms up between both of them and puts a hand on each of their shoulders, angry tears in her eyes. “Nuh-uh! We are not doing this again! You two play nice or I'll get you fired,” she snaps at Aria, much to all of your surprise, and then yells at Adagio, “and I'll tell on you with Sunset that you're being sneaky! We are going to, like, get along, and be good sisters! Am I understood?”

Dead, shocked silence from the sisters.

Shit, you never expected that from Sonata. Sure, she clearly has a big heart, but a backbone of steel? She just dunked on her sister's alpha-bitch energy in one fell swoop.

Sonata pulls both sisters closer and screams, “I said, am I understood!?”

Aria and Adagio glance at each other, then their sleeve-on-her-heart sister.

“O- okay, Sonata,” Adagio stammers.

“Uh... right,” Aria says.

“Now apologise to each other, like good sisters!”

Adagio takes a moment to gather her thoughts. “I'm sorry, Aria. I was a terrible leader and I let you both down. I swear, I'll get you your powers back if it's the last thing I do.”

Aria grimaces, but Sonata's stare fixes on her, and she finally relents. “Okay, fine... if Sonata swears you've changed, I guess we can try this sorry state of a family again. Sorry, or whatever.”

Sonata beams a huge smile and hugs them both. “Yay! The Dazzlings are back!”

And you can't help but smile right alongside her.

* * *