Mistress (Adagio's Big Comeback)

That scent. It hits you before the bright sunlight creeping through the drawn curtains. Through the pungent smell of sex, the lingering traces of Adagio's perfume, hair products and deodorant on the pillows and sheets.

It smells like the sea. A fresh ocean breeze, yet floral, even over the other scents. Adagio's scent. You've never noticed it before. Then you hear her sigh.

You roll over and look behind you. Adagio's sitting on the edge of the bed, beside her bedside cabinet. One of the drawers is open.

“Good morning,” you say.

Adagio gasps and she quickly puts something inside, then closes it. She looks over her shoulder and gives you a little smile. “Hey.” She stands, showing off her gorgeous ass, even presenting it as she picks up her panties and slips them on, then the faded Dazzlings merchandise t-shirt. “You sleep well?”

“Like you wouldn't believe,” you say, without hyperbole; you've never felt better, even if you feel kind of funky right now from your dried fluids. That doesn't matter, because you have to say, “about last night. Thank you.”

Adagio turns around, hands on hips, and she huffs. “Like I said, it was convenient. And more fun than going solo.”

You sit up and smile at her. “Be that as it may, it meant a lot to me. I won't forget it. Ever.”

Her cocksure smirk dampens and she suddenly can't look you in the eyes, glancing between the window, the foot of the bed, the light fixture; anything but you. An uneasy silence fills the room, and it's only broken by the sound of someone taking heavy steps in the next apartment.

Even after those grow quiet, and the sound of another apartment door opening and closing, Adagio finally looks at you again. “Listen, Ray. You know what I am. Or was, I guess.”

“A siren. I don't really know much beyond that, or even what that truly means.”

“We were one of the greatest threats to Equestria,” Adagio says and paces up to the window, then stares outside. “We roamed, sowed disharmony and strife, we fed and demanded attention. Simple as that.” She turns and looks at you over her shoulder, her cascade of brilliantly messy hair sliding across her back. “We were beasts. Intelligent beasts, but beasts nonetheless. We had no grand goal or moral principles; we desired to feed, and we wanted the pathetic ponies to worship us.”

You don't interrupt, though she pauses for a few moments and looks out the window again with a heavy sigh.

“It wasn't until the gathering of the greatest of Equestria's heroes that we were bested. Even then, all they managed to do was banish us here, to this world.”

Curiosity gets the better of you. “How long ago was this?”

Adagio chuckles and shrugs. “Isn't that the trick? I have no idea. What I do know is that we sirens, me and my bandmates... no,” she stops and bows her head, then nods and continues, “me and my sisters are older than we appear. I don't remember when or where we appeared in this world, and at the time, we'd forgotten everything about what we were, but I remember we went through several foster homes and orphanages. We were younger, at least physically. Maybe ten years old or so? I remember no matter where we ended up, little fights and building resentment had us moved from place to place.”

“Are you biological sisters?”

“I don't remember that either. Maybe?” she says but takes a moment to think, then just shakes her head. “It doesn't matter. We've been together for as long as I remember, so Aria and Sonata are my sisters, and that's that. Biology has nothing to do with it.”

Adagio paces back and forth and resumes her story. “It came to me last night as I slept. Certain things both here and back in Equestria ring so very similar. I suspect we were just as clueless and driven by instinct as infant sirens, considering how easily we just continued the same behaviour as we grew bigger, stronger and smarter. I remember, when we were juvenile, potent yet still vulnerable, that we would have to coerce our way into villages and towns to let us close enough to use our powers to feed, offering to sing and just let the little ponies enjoy themselves. Later, we could go where we wanted, when we wanted, and do as we pleased. That was our first mistake; our dauntless pride in our powers, once more the source of our failure, just like when we reached our full power at the Battle of the Bands back in Canterlot High.”

Again, she pauses and looks at you, but you don't have any questions. She studies you and nibbles her lip, then continues pacing for a bit. Finally, she reaches her bedside cabinet and takes out a small, ornate box.

“My point is that you deserve to know what we are, so there are no doubts. What you stand to unleash if you succeed. For years now, I had given up on even thinking about these memories. I was truly just... adrift, living life as just another human. Until I met you.”

Your heart aches and your spirit soars. Maybe she really does lo-

“Ugh, don't look at me like that,” Adagio says and scowls at you. “It's like a lovesick puppy. I'm not about to start fawning over you and whispering sweet, tender nothings in your ear, you creep.”

Oh... well, shit.

This time, she sighs and rolls her eyes. “And don't go looking all depressed either. I've nothing but contempt for humanity, but... I suppose I like you. Enough, anyway. You're clever, competent and driven. I wouldn't have slept with you if I didn't respect you. But that's beside the point. I need to ask you something.”

She sits on the bed, next to you. “You're getting close to being able to finish your main machine, right?”

You nod. “There's a couple of parts left, but they'll arrive by the time I need them. I just need to finish putting it together, test it can produce the power I believe it can, and we can start looking for a buyer. And if we can get your powers back, that will be substantially easier.”

She smirks. “Right, because I can just tell someone to buy it. It's far easier if there's an actual desire fulfilled too.” The smile drops and she looks pensive. “What if I told you not to bother with my powers? We just finish your machine, and I can still help you find a buyer.”

That... didn't sound like Adagio talking. That was the defeated bar-owner you first met in Always Raining. “What changed since last night?”

Adagio opens the little box and takes out a familiar red pendant. It's cracked, missing a large chunk of one of the corners, but she lifts it from the box and presses it against her cheek like a lover's keepsake. “I just don't think it's possible without our gems. While I thought about me and my sisters back in Equestria, these were literally as much a part of us as our hearts. Even more important, even... our hearts of stone. They've been with us ever since we got here, separated but we always knew they were dear to us. When we didn't know what we were, if anyone tried to take them, we would become violent and angry. Savage, biting and clawing and kicking until whoever made the attempt relented.”

“Instinct, huh? Like beasts, as you said.”

Adagio nods. “And now that I think back, those little conflicts probably fuelled us through these gems. Foster parents arguing over our behaviour, maybe even being influenced by us without us knowing, once more sowing ill will, and we just fed on that energy like always. And the more we fed, the stronger we became, and the more we remembered what we were. We even grew as our powers were restored, becoming older. I remember the revelation of our banishment not long before we found a diner, where we quietly sang in the corner to feed on the chaos within. We were in our apparent mid teens by that point. Aria voiced her hatred of this world, now that we knew it wasn't where we came from. Then I saw and felt Equestrian magic explode from Canterlot High School, we found a way to get transferred there... you know the rest.”

You thumb your chin and think. “And with those stones broken, you don't think you can truly restore your powers.”

She shakes her head and studies the stone. “I appreciate what you've tried to do for me, Ray. I honestly, truly do. I truly believed you could do it as well, and I can't blame you for failing. But let's just finish your invention, find a buyer, and maybe we can just... continue as we are, hmm? Work out what happens together.” She looks at you and smiles, but her eyes say otherwise; she's still that defeated woman you found at the bar.

No. You can't accept this. “Addy, I'm not much of many things. I was a wimp in school, I had my ass kicked over and over, and even when free to live my own life, I could never stop thinking about getting to Equestria and studying magic. But I'll say this much; I'm a damn good scientist. I'm proud of what I've been able to do. I don't do shit in half-measures.”

You slide your legs off the bed, realise you're naked, and Adagio giggles as you blush and cover yourself up with a pillow. “I won't stop trying to get you your powers back until I've tried every single thing I know I can. If that means finding how to contact Equestria itself, so be it.”

Adagio's eyes go wide, then she frowns. There's another lengthy silence, before she stands up and turns to you, staring. “You're certain?”

“Beyond all reason, Addy.”

“Despite what I am? Despite what I might do?”

You nod. “I swear it. A hundred times.”

Adagio laughs. It's beautiful, like music. “You're a strange, weird little man, Radian Wave. You stand on the cusp of having everything humanity could ever want; money, fame, actual human power. All these, beyond the dreams of avarice and you don't even really need me any more, and you honestly want to give me, a beast, her ability to twist people and drive them into a fury?”

You smile, and say, “we all deserve to Dazzle again.” She rolls her eyes as she replaces the necklace into its box; worth it. “But beyond that, I don't think you're going to make the same mistake a third time. You know what I see when I look at you?”

You stand up. Naked again. Adagio's surprised by your broad shouldered, wide legged and manly stance, even if her eyes dart down to your dick a few times. Not your best look, but screw it, you're on a roll here.

“I see a woman who's actually brilliant. A genius. Maybe even peerless. You were held back by your powers, and simply cruised on them. But like you said to me, a few too many victories and you thought yourself invincible enough to screw up. Somewhere, buried behind that 'heart of stone', is your real strength, but you haven't tapped into it fully yet.

“If you applied yourself in school like you have these last few days, I know for a damn fact you could've been anything you wanted to be. If you had your powers now, with what you've learned, you'd be truly unstoppable. And if you're right, and we can't get you your powers back? I want to be beside you, because with both of us? Together?”

You step up to her and grab her by her firm shoulders. Your eyes lock, and she looks deep into of yours, her mouth agape, and there's a luminous spark in hers.

“We can achieve anything we set our minds to. I believe in you, Adagio, whether you're human or siren. If I can harness Equestrian magic itself, just imagine what you could do if you really tried!”

She struggles to take her eyes off of you for what feels like good minute as you just stare into her deep, glistening raspberry coloured eyes. She smiles, moves in close, so close you can feel the warmth of her body again, feel her gentle breaths.

And she whispers, “let's have a shower. We're both real sticky.”

You slump and can't help but chuckle. “Yeah...”

“Oh, perk up, my pet. We can have it together. After all, the hot water only lasts about three minutes before it goes cold.”

Damn, way to kill the moment.

She moves behind you and gently pushes you into the bathroom, and you climb into the shower together.

End of Act 1

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