Author's Note

Sunset and Adagio are getting to spend more time together and it causes Adagio to feel a lot happier~ But what goes up must come down. Life is a rollercoaster for Adagio Dazzle and the ride is just starting. What happens in a skate park stays at the skate park, but should this also apply to the mall?

DISCLAIMER: This story includes references to depression, depressing thoughts, insecurities, anxiety, self-harm and thoughts based around all of these concepts. If you do not want to read a story with slight references to these, I would urge you to click off.

Hello, everyone! Happy April! Sorry for the late upload, but school has really been stressing me out lately. I originally had five more scenes planned for this chapter, but don't worry! I will include them in the next chapter! I hope everyone enjoys this especially long chapter that I have spent a lot of time on~ I'd like to give a big thank you to my friend, Mon668, who helped me with the writing process and beta read the story~ She's genuinely an awesome person, so give her a follow sometime~

New Threads

Chapter IX: New Threads

Walking down the sidewalk, I sigh quietly to myself, feeling a little overwhelmed with the day’s events. There’s a lot to do and it’s almost unbelievable that I can do it in a 24 hour time span. The first thing I have on my schedule for my day off is hanging out with Rainbow Dash… I still find it hard to believe I’m spending my day off running around the whole town rather than resting at home, but I suppose that’s what happens when I need to connect with Sunset’s friends more. There’s still a long way to go to make everything alright between everyone, so I need to put in the work… As long as Sunset has that happy birthday, I’ll be happy.

Technically, I suppose hanging out with Rainbow Dash isn’t as big of a priority as making connections with the others since she and I are already friends, but it’s still a good idea to keep Rainbow close without making her feel like I’m rejecting her in favor of everyone else. Besides, it’s not every day we get to see each other, since the two of us were put on different shifts at the music studio. So, it would be nice to catch up a bit more before Sunset’s birthday. If I remember correctly, Rainbow wanted to meet at some skate park in the city that is all but abandoned at this point. It makes me think why would the city keep it up if barely anyone still goes there? Then again, a lot of things the city should have torn down are still standing… Like my old apartment complex. Full of mold and decaying infrastructures, it shouldn’t have been allowed to stand. But it was the only place I could afford…

Bringing my hand to my forehead, I feel that all too familiar migraine come back, pounding on my head as I walk down the sidewalk. Walking past a lamp post, I stop for a moment, looking back at the wooden pole in the ground and seeing the multiple posters stamped on it. Huh… I must be close to Halo Bakery then… Once upon a time, I practically ran to this post to find one of the posters. The one advertising Hooves Homeless Shelter… Shaking my head slightly, I keep walking down the sidewalk, an eager thought entering my mind. It would be nice if I could get a slice of cherry cheesecake while I’m here, since it’s not often I still walk past here. Although, I’m not exactly flush with cash… Given, my job doesn’t pay much, but I also spent most of this month’s wage on the jacket I bought for Sunset… Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever be at a point of my life where I’m not counting the pennies, especially since my experience having nothing was pretty impactful on me.

Walking up beside Halo Bakery, the sound of patrons talking from inside is briefly heard as the door opens for another person to enter, quickly shutting behind them. The smell of freshly baked goods is almost too much to bear, looking into that same window at the cherry cheesecake slice. I used to look at this in anger, wishing for a better life, but now that a better future has come, I look at the window in nostalgia and happiness. It feels like I’m actually making it, even if I don’t have a lot of money. At least I have people who care about me now. Friends. Someone to love. Life is… better now.

Taking my eyes off the window, I keep walking, smiling to myself at how much things have changed in the span of half a year. Despite my own mistakes, I’ve done better for myself. At one point, I believed life was only a punishment for the mistakes I’ve made. Now, I’m standing at a much better place, but there’s still work to be done. Like fixing my relationships with Sunset’s friends. It’s easier said than done, but… I can do it.

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“Are you really telling me you’ve never tried skating before?” Rainbow Dash laughs a bit to herself, already in her full skate gear with knee and elbow pads to match. She even has a bright neon colored helmet atop her head, looking more silly than she thinks she does. Her eyes look down at me from my sitting place on the bench, putting on a spare set of skates Rainbow brought for me. “You, miss badass. I mean, come on! You were rocking the whole bad girl vibes at school, so I guess it makes me suspicious that you haven’t even touched skates before.” Rainbow, again putting a piece of gum in her mouth, stretches her arms in the air before doing a couple of squats to get her legs prepared.

“I have experience with high heels, but not skates,” I say quietly, concentrating on the damned laces on these shoes. Should I call them shoes…? Regardless, it is like putting on boots with wheels that threaten to drag you off to the fourth dimension if you’re not careful. “Believe it or not, my balance is something I prefer to have while I try to move.”

“Huh? Balance is overrated!” Rainbow laughs again, holding her stomach slightly as she leans against the beam of the overhead ceiling, covering some of the outdoor tables. “Well, okay, I understand that, but you seriously need to try this. It’s fun once you get the hang of it!” That’s the part that scares me. Getting the hang of it…

“Do you have a helmet and pads for me?” I ask, finally tying the last laces up on my boots, trying to stand up slowly, but promptly falling back down on the seat. This… is going to hurt like hell. Oh well. I’ve dealt with the big sister of Apple Bloom, Sunset’s insecurities, and a homicidal bunny. All in one week. I think I can deal with this.

“Yeah, I do!” Rainbow says with a smile, skating to the other side of the table where her duffle bag is. Surprisingly, Rainbow has a giant bag full of sports supplies whenever she needs them, though it’s surprising that she carried it here. “You prefer diamond prints, right?” she asks, searching through the bag with her tongue sticking part way out of her mouth, seemingly concentrated on her search.

“Hmm? Um… Yeah, I do. But how do you know that-” My question is cut short as Rainbow tosses a helmet towards me, hitting my stomach like an excited Apple Bloom. I didn’t expect this thing to be heavy… or to hit like a freaking rock. True to Rainbow’s word though, it had diamonds printed all over it with a purple background color. Even though skating isn’t necessarily my favorite activity, the helmet does look pretty.

“You wore a big diamond on your belt buckle at school. Besides, Sunset told me~” Rainbow states, handing me the pads I’ll need for my elbows and knees.

“You’re still talking to Sunset…?” I slowly ask her, my eyes connecting with hers under the shade as the cool summer breeze brushes her hair.

“Yeah. Sci Twi and I are still talking to her and all. I guess all of us are still talking to each other, but there’s still that tension, you know?” An awkward face appears on Rainbow, her eyes averting mine and opting to stare at the skate park behind her. “That’s why I brought Rarity along at the parade. I figured we could try to ease some of the tension, but I suppose the reason we’re all sort of tense is because we haven’t really apologized for what happened on Valentine’s Day, you know?” A small sigh exits Rainbow’s lips, her hand coming up to her eyes to rub gently. “I know I kinda went over the line with some of my comments, but I didn’t want them insulting you without giving you the benefit of a doubt, you know?”

“Dash, you don’t need to fight so hard on my behalf. We’re just friends. Besides, it’s understandable how they feel about me. It’s my job to fix the relationships I have with them-”

“Don’t do that.” Rainbow interrupts me with her gaze instantly returning to me. “You’re my friend now, Dagi. I can’t just stand idly by as someone insults you and doesn’t even give you a chance. You know what I call that?” Rainbow’s eyes are locked with mine at this point, her body turning back to me as her hand comes up to her chest, a heavy breath exiting her lips. “I call it loyalty. I believe it’s important to stay loyal to those you love and the people who are your friends. So, don’t ask me to pick a side. I will always fight for my friends, got it?” A fiery passion is now ablaze inside Rainbow's magenta eyes, her gaze not disconnecting from mine for a second. “It’s equally our fault that things got messed up. I think we’ll fix it soon, but just know that you’re one of my friends now too. It doesn’t matter if it’s you or AJ, I’ll still be there for the people who are close to me.” For a moment, a part of me wants to tell her to stop. I don’t want her to feel like she’s responsible for protecting my own image, but it’s clear Rainbow wouldn’t take that as an answer.

“Thanks, Rainbow. For being who you are~” A bright blush appears on Rainbow Dash’s cheeks before she turns away from me, slowly skating towards the concrete structures.

“Yeah yeah. Don’t make it mushy. Just prove to me you can learn how to do this, okay?” A big smile appears on my face as I finally strap the helmet on my head, standing up very carefully. Wobbling very carefully towards the wooden beam, I look at the scene where I would either die or end up making a fun story to tell. I’ll try my best~

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“I don’t know, Dash…” Looking down at the pretty steep incline Rainbow wants me to skate down, a pit in my stomach begins to form, fearing the possibility of injury. It’s funny… I didn’t fear injury back when I had my powers. I was one of the most powerful creatures to exist. Why would I fear a little height?

“Aw, come on! You’ve been doing well so far! Especially since we switched you to the skateboard~” Rainbow tries to reassure me from below, looking up at me on the top of the incline. Honestly, I’m not exactly sure how that is supposed to cheer me up, especially since I have only been doing well by going along flat surfaces.

“Are you freaking kidding me, Dash?! I’ve been skating along flat surfaces the whole time we’ve been here!” I state a little harsher than I meant it to come out, positioning the skateboard near the edge.

“What? You skated down the smaller ramps and stayed on the board!” Rainbow exclaims, pointing at some of the smaller inclines around us. Holding my hand out to her, I signal that I get the picture, taking one last look at the steep edge that I’m supposed to skate down.

“Fine, I’ll do it,” I state just loud enough to be heard. Rainbow claps me on, stepping back to avoid getting hurt should something bad happen. Looking towards the sky, I sigh to myself, bringing my hand to my scarf gently. It probably looks odd, having a t-shirt on with a scarf, but I suppose that’s because people don’t usually have a scarf as a comfort item. Sighing to myself, I put both feet on the board, balancing on the edge of the incline like what Rainbow showed me. For a moment, my body hesitates, but with a big breath, I finally lean down, zipping down the ramp on my board.

At first, everything feels alright, until the board starts shaking halfway down the incline. Please don’t break on me now… My board brings me down the incline in less than a second, launching me along the flat portion of the ramp and up halfway up the second incline. Instantly, I feel my feet lose balance as my eyes widen, my body falling backward. My arms instinctively spread outward to try and stop my fall, but it’s no use as my body hits the concrete and slides downward, my breath is punched out of me as my head harshly hits the ground.

“Dagi!”

……….

God damn it… My head is ringing again… I shouldn’t have tried this stupid trick, but hey, I did… It’s a damn good thing I was wearing a helmet. Taking in a deep breath, I let out a grunt of pain, opening my eyes to see Dash reach my side, falling to her knees and using her hands to touch my stomach lightly. “Are you alright? Can you hear me?” Dash asks me with a scared look in her eyes. Bringing my own hand to my head, a heavy sigh escapes me as I close my eyes again. I knew I shouldn’t have tried this. Now my head is going to be spinning for who knows how long.

“Yeah, I can hear you,” I slowly state, rolling over onto my side. My hand still holds onto my head, but other than the dizzy feeling, it seems everything is alright. I’m just glad I was wearing protective gear. The ringing in my ears only starts to subside after a few moments, allowing me to finally hear the world around me without the sound of being stuck underwater or such. Bringing my hand to the concrete below me, I get on my knees and groan slightly, opening my eyes and looking at the ramp I just slid down. I’m going to make Rainbow buy me a smoothie or something to compensate for this pain in my head and the scrapes on my arms. I’m…

My eyes widen as I see the ramp, purple streaks lining the path I just fell down. Purple fabric, torn apart by the rugged concrete… A big purple clump lays beside me, torn to hell and back with a single fall… My hand instantly leaves my head and grabs the material, trying desperately to convince myself that it isn’t real by feeling the fabric… But of course… it is real… This soft and beautiful scarf I’ve cherished for months now is… I shouldn’t have been wearing it… This scarf that has been here for me through thick and thin… it’s all but a pile of scrap now… why…?

“Uh, Dagi?” Rainbow asks me, scooting closer to me and inspecting my body slowly. “Are you okay…?” she asks, clearly not paying enough attention to where my own gaze lies.

“No…” The only word that falls from my mouth as I gently cradle the fabric close to my chest is no. I can feel tears start to form in my eyes, closing them and biting my lip to avoid the urge to break down. This scarf has always been with me when I needed it the most… It helped remind me that there’s a better life out there and let me feel close to Sunset even when something bad happens… It’s handled so much abuse from tree branches and other things. I shouldn’t have been wearing it… It was my fault… I’m sorry, Sunset… I’m sorry I ruined your perfect gift…

“Dagi?” Rainbow asks for my attention hesitantly. “Hey, if you’re not hurt and it’s just about the scarf, we can always buy a new one, yeah? I know some really nice soft ones in Rarity’s shop~”

“We can’t just buy a new one,” is all that I can say before I have to bite my lip again.

“Okay…? What’s going on here, Dagi? It’s just a scarf, yet you’re more concerned about it than your own health?”

Instantly, I turn my gaze at Rainbow, feeling that all too familiar flame of anger inside of me. “Just a scarf…?” Unbuckling my helmet from my chin, I toss it on the ground, standing up to look her in the eye. “Just like how your Daring Do comics are just pages? Or your trophies are just hunks of metal?” I ask Rainbow with a grimace, holding the scarf close to me with tears streaming down my face. “When will you learn that others have the ability to place value in something you don’t care about?” I lash out at her, looking away instantly towards the torn material in my hand. Why did this have to happen today of all days…?

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A lump forms in my throat as I walk inside the huge building, an imposing feeling lingering on my mind. The mall is not necessarily a place I ever expected to go to again, especially since the last time I was here, Sonata and Aria were with me. We bought the flashiest clothes we could, wanting to stand out compared to everyone else. But now, almost two years later, I’m back again to once again buy myself a new wardrobe. Though, I would say my style is much more reserved now… In general, it’s odd to be back here, especially given the standing of my bank account… Given the prices in the mall, it’s hardly a surprise that no one other than people who are rich come here… Well, they’re not rich, just… more wealthy than me.

It makes me feel bad, coming here right after arguing with Rainbow… We both said some pretty… mean things. I shouldn’t have been so harsh with her… Of course she wouldn’t understand the value I put in a fucking scarf of all things. I mean, it’s understandable to love that scarf, right…? It was the first gift I was given in a long time by someone who actually cared, that person being Sunset… I mean, just because I see little to no value in Rainbow’s athletic trophies doesn’t mean that they are seen the same by her… I don’t know, I guess I just feel awful for yelling at her, even though it hurt that she would just so casually disregard my feelings.

For a moment, I feel an urge to grab my phone to text Rainbow, wanting to apologize for my own actions. Shaking my head, I sigh to myself, looking towards the floor as I walk further into the mall. I should give us both time to clear our heads… Apologizing right after the fact often sounds insincere. I just hate fighting with one of my few friends… Rainbow is my friend after all… I wish she didn’t make it sound like I was being petty for feeling sad about my scarf…

The loud sounds of people talking throughout the wide open mall fills my ears, the smells of different stores and the bright colors of signs fill my senses as I look around, trying to ignore the thoughts of Rainbow. Customers go from store to store, eagerly looking around at the products that are being sold, talking amongst themselves as they do so. It’s almost too much for me to handle all at once, closing my eyes for a moment. Since when did I become such a weak person…? Taking a deep breath, I push forward, walking past an escalator and a sunglasses stand, my eyes scanning the environment around me. Once again, the pounding in my head makes it hard to concentrate, feeling like a hammer is smacking the back of my skull. Actually, it’s not that bad, considering I know how it feels to be… hit back there…

Walking towards a bigger open area surrounded by the food court, multiple stores, a small kid play area and benches, I sigh to myself quietly, bringing my hand to my eyes. It’s almost too hard to find Sunset in the crowd of people just from the pain in my head alone. Sunset wanted to shop with me and help me pick out some of the clothes we would buy. Well, it’s actually her money we’re spending… I already used all of my month’s pay to buy her birthday present, so my wardrobe will be entirely thanks to her. Still, it makes me feel bad that I’m spending her money so carelessly…

Walking over to one of the nearby benches, I sit down and close my eyes for a second, taking a deep breath of the mall air and sighing to myself. I suppose this is as good of an area to wait in, considering it’s close to the entrance and it’s easy to spot someone else from here. Pulling my phone out of my purse, I gently click on Sunset’s contact, typing a message in quickly. Given how big the mall is, I’m not sure if she’s here or not, considering it would take at least an hour to look through every store and area of the establishment. I mean, this place even has three floors… Its almost enough to make you feel overwhelmed with the big open interior and the echoes of dozens of people throughout the building.

Turning off my phone, the device’s screen goes black, instantly reflecting my face back to me, causing me to freeze for a moment. The dark reflection staring back at me strikes a tone in my heart that hasn’t been felt in a while, deafening the world around me. That image being the only thing I can look at, my eyes not daring to look away for a moment. Why… do I have to see this…? Those eyes… That smile and crown… Everything in me wants to look away, but… how can I? Nothing but evil lies behind those eyes of red. The beautiful face is nothing but a facade to draw others to their doom. Her whole being composed of nothing but evil intentions… A creature of darkness stares back at me, paralyzing me with confusion and fear, seeing this apparition. The siren behind me smiles, her wings displayed behind her…

My breathing instantly increases its pace, my heart beating faster than before as my wide eyes find it hard to blink. Why is she here…? That all too familiar dress dripping with the same red liquid, her eyes staring into my soul as her mouth opens to let out a demonic laugh. “Hello, Adagio~” her seductive voice lets out before her hand grips my shoulder. Instantly, I stand up from my seat, throwing the reflection away from me. I… I… Where is the sound of everyone…? Where is everyone…? Why is it dark in this mall…? I…

The only thing I hear is the same damned laugh from behind me, a chill going up my spine as my body seems to freeze in place. The darkened interior of the building is only lit up by the moon from the glass roof above the opening, casting upon me with ease… My body tells me not to move, but I force myself to turn, looking at the bench and the subsequent darkness behind it. That same laugh still emanates from the darkness as a yellow hand with red liquid staining it moves from the darkness to grab onto the bench. The only thing indicating her full presence from inside the shadows is the faint red glow of a gem. “So weak…” a voice echoes as the bench is tossed to the left, her frame slowly stepping into the light of the moon. Her dress beautifully designed in red, occasionally dripping down to her feet, the necklace around her neck glows even more from the light. The leader of sirens in all her glory stands before me, her eyes trained on me as her echoing chuckle comes from every corner of the building. “Trembling at the mere sight of something better than you,” her voice whispers into my ear, despite the distance between us.

“You… you can’t be real…” Despite the overwhelming urge to look away or to back up, my body remains frozen, completely paralyzed by her. Another chuckle comes from her red lips, her hand moving to her hip easily.

“Alas, here I am~” her lips state in an all too soothing voice, causing a chill to spread across my back and arms. “Playing the part of a good girl, learning the trade of these ape creatures just to fit in. I would say it’s a smart cover, Adagio, but you’re not using it as a cover, are you?” Each and every word she utters sinks into me, only cementing her presence into my mind as she walks towards me. “You’re actually trying to be one of them. How far the promising siren has fallen,” she whispers with a smirk, her yellow hand coming up to my face and dragging her nails across my cheek. “You’re completely frozen and I haven’t even let out one melodic note. You’ve fallen from grace into a pathetic shriveling rodent. You don’t even have the backbone to fight back, do you?” With one push, she forces me to the ground, looking down at me with an evil smile, the moon behind her.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whisper, moving myself back with my hands slightly.

“Don’t play coy with me, Adagio,” she states as her wings flare up into the air, her eyes staring into my own. “Trying to build yourself back up by finding confidence. It’s all so predictable and sad to watch.” Her foot presses against my stomach as her hand comes up to her face, caressing her chin with a smile. “Perhaps you forget what true power can bring you, because all it took was one smile from that worm you call a lover to make you wag your tail for friendship.”

“S-she has a name!” I exclaim, looking up at her with a grimace as she cackles, her face tilting upward to the sky for a moment.

“We shouldn’t care for names, Adagio. They’re all either food or pawns under us, but that’s something you’ve forgotten, isn’t it?” Her hand points at me, her glare still trained on me. “But you went soft, following the way of a coward.”

Pushing myself out from under her foot, I stand up to look her in the eyes, my nerves on the fritz. “Friendship isn’t cowardly. It saved my life and let me know I’m still worth something,” I quietly say, backing away from her.

“You’re worth something? No no no. You’re worthless, Adagio. You’re nothing and you always will be now that you’ve forsaken power.” Slowly, she begins to float into the air, looking down at me.

“You’re wrong! I hurt so many people and Sunset helped me see that. She helped me see the good in life,” I state, my eyes maintaining my gaze at the siren floating above me.

“Good in life? The only good in life is power! But of course, now you want everyone’s forgiveness, struggling to keep everything intact while the world makes you choose.” The red gem around her neck glows even more, her eyes narrowing as her body casts a big shadow upon the ground. “They will never forgive you. For once in your new life, be strong and pull that trigger,” her venomous words hiss, embedding themselves in my mind.

“I’m no longer that person. I’m better,” I slowly whisper, looking up at the demonic form in front of me.

“Better? I WAS the better version of you!” she states in a loud voice, my own face staring back into my own. “But maybe you need to be reminded of your true potential.” Flapping her wings, her body instantly lunges forward at me as the light of the moon disappears, enveloping us both in complete darkness.

“Adagio~?” a voice calls out to me, a hand gripping my shoulder and shaking me. Instantly, I jump to the sensation, my eyes opening and trying to take in the world around me. So much light enters my eyes, but I still can’t help but feel a smile as I see the person who touched me, a warm sense of relief hitting me. Once again, I can hear the sounds of the crowds throughout the mall and the smells of the food court, but my attention doesn’t deviate from her warm smile.

“Sunset? Hi, I um…” My cheeks instantly flush as I look around at the bench I am once again sitting on, realizing the situation I’ve been caught in. “I-I was just waiting for you,” I stutter, looking back up to her with a nervous chuckle, Sunset giggling at my awkward reaction.

“I’m sure you were~ Putting in a couple z’s while you were at it too, right?” Sunset teases me before petting my head. Slowly, Sunset sits down on the bench next to me, putting her arm around me and resting her head on my shoulder. “We don’t have to do this today if you’re too tired, you know~” she states in a whisper, a happy hum ending off her sentence. “I’m always willing to carry you home for a nap~”

“I’m not that tired,” I slowly say, finally calming my nerves and smiling at the embrace Sunset shares with me. “We can shop for clothes if you’re still up to it~” Moving my legs slightly, I prepare to stand up, but Sunset’s hand holds me down, her fingers slightly shaking. Is… she alright…? The quiver of her hand worries me as I look at her with concern. “Is something wrong…?” If anything happened to her today, I… don’t know what I would do… Please just be okay.

“I just like this embrace, Alligator~” she whispers with a peaceful tone, gently leaning into my neck and kissing me slowly. “You know, it’s… I guess it’s surprising being here with you. It wasn’t even a year ago that you still hated me and I didn’t really want you in my life. I just wanted to reach my hand out because that’s the morally right thing to do.” Sunset sighs quietly, her arm letting go of me and holding my hand gently, her fingers intertwined with mine.

“You reflect a lot on the past,” I tease her with a small kiss on the top of her head, smiling to myself. “It’s funny. I actively try to avoid memories of the past, but you embrace them. It’s not your responsibility to help everyone, but you still try nonetheless.”

“Hey, are you criticizing me?” Sunset asks with a slight chuckle to her tone, raising her head to look into my eyes. “I’ll have you know that I’m trying to be more selfish, just like I said I would. I’m thinking about taking an art class~” A bright and cheerful smile appears on her face before she quickly presses her lips against mine, my cheeks instantly flushing to the embrace.

“No, I’m not criticizing you~” I slowly whisper, still trying to process the kiss Sunset surprised me with. “But an art class, huh? I didn’t know you were interested in art~” A cheeky smile comes across Sunset’s lips as she giggles to herself, looking away from me and towards the children’s play area.

“Well, seeing you makes me know that some of the best art in the world is right in front of my eyes~” Sunset says with a genuine tone to her voice, her smile turning into a solemn one. Honestly, seeing her like this makes me feel happy, knowing that no matter how hard life may be pushing her down, she’s always willing to jump back and find something worth living for. The sun’s light coming from the roof almost makes Sunset look like she glows in the light of the world. It’s so admirable… It’s hard to look away from someone who is so… beautiful. “Can I ask you something though?” Sunset says as her eyes turn back to me, cutting me from my peaceful daydream.

“Hmm? What is it?” Sunset’s hand holds mine tightly, looking at me with a smile before nodding to herself.

“What were you dreaming about? It looked like it wasn’t a pleasant dream from your expressions and all.” What…? She watched me sleep…? Here of all places? I… I mean, I watch her sleep whenever I can as well, but she’s never fallen asleep in public like an idiot. An idiot like me…

Averting my gaze from Sunset’s eyes momentarily, I think to myself, unsure of what to say. Should I even say what I was dreaming about…? Is it even important enough for her to worry about…? No, it isn’t. She shouldn’t have to worry about this of all things. Especially with so much on her mind about her friends… I’ll tell her later, she just… needs to worry about herself for now… “I was dreaming about my life, I suppose,” I say as calmly as I can, sitting back and smiling to myself. “You woke me up right as I was about to ask you to be my friend~” My tease gets a reaction out of Sunset, her giggle warming my heart even more.

“Aw~ I think back to those days a lot too~ I suppose it’s because I never expected our lives to go down this path. I mean, falling in love with a siren? Who would have thought about that?” Instantly, a nervous look grips hold of Sunset’s face, scratching her head slowly. “No offense of course~ There’s nothing wrong with you being a siren, my sweet alligator~” Still, Sunset is always trying to make sure I feel okay, being careful with her words to avoid hurting my feelings. She is always so selfless and even when she tries to be selfish, she still drops everything to be there for me. I guess it’s yet another reason why I love her. Reason 58.

“None taken~” Kissing Sunset’s cheek slowly, a blush instantly comes to her face, her nervous exterior now being replaced with a flustered one.

“Anyway, where’s your scarf, Adagio~? You usually never leave home without it~” Sunset says in the most tender and sweet voice that she possibly can, but it still spawns a series of depressing thoughts throughout my mind. Instantly, I want to lose my composure, but I simply smile at the fiery-haired girl, her ocean eyes looking straight into my soul.

“I left it at home~ I felt like it was pretty hot today and we already agreed on buying more clothes today, so I didn’t want to dress in a lot of layers.” Every word flows from my mouth as smoothly as possible, making my lie sound more like the truth and subsequently bringing a smile to Sunset’s face.

“Oh, good~ I was a little worried that maybe you were feeling depressed~” Instantly, Sunset hugs me tightly, sighing happily to herself before she stands up to stretch her muscles. Even though she is just stretching, Sunset is still the cutest person alive. I don’t care who disagrees with me, they’re wrong. “Anyway, I’m sorry for prolonging this so long, Adagio~” Her hand slowly reaches down to me, offering to help me up from my seated position. “Would you like to shop now, Alligator?”

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Shopping for clothes is… an interesting process. At first, it’s sort of fun to look at the different designs and make outfits with different articles of clothing, but then you actually have to try them on. I’ve always had an eye for fashion. I know what looks good and what deserves to be thrown away, but that’s all from my own point of view. I’ve never really had a problem deciding what I like and I loved certain styles back in the day. Hell, I can still admire a good pair of heels when I see them, but now… it’s hard to try on clothes like the ones I used to wear. Tight-fitting, attractive and more dominant clothing… I was used to that at the nightclub when I was on shift, but now it just feels… wrong. Like it’s wrong for me to wear something so fashionable. Something so flashy and nice. I’ve been used to boots, jeans, and hoodies for a while now as it is…

Bringing my hand up to my head, I sigh quietly to myself, standing up in the changing room to slide my jeans down. “Come on, Adagio… It’s alright for you to wear this,” I whisper to myself, trying desperately to believe that it would be okay to wear this type of clothing once more. Unsurprisingly, it’s hard to take myself seriously. All of my confidence is gone at this point, leaving me a shell of my former self. The cocky, sassy and confident Adagio Dazzle could handle anything she wanted. The big problem with her…? She didn’t have an ounce of empathy in her…

Slowly pulling my shirt off my body, I look at the stack of clothes Sunset and I picked that fit my older fashion style, Sunset believing it would do me some good to dress more confidently. She thinks it will help me gain that confidence back and help me get myself out there, but now, I’m honestly trying to decide if this was a mistake. Of course the clothes themselves look… nice… but will they still fit on me…? Will I be able to bring back my older self in a good way…? Will that confidence bring back that lust for power and that evil behind those eyes…

A light sound emanates from my jeans falling to the floor, gently pulling my socks off and looking into the mirror for a moment. My loose hair is strung across my shoulders until I slowly bring it up with my hand. There she is. There… I am… Every curve on display within this small room, and my hair as soft as ever. Sighing to myself, I look at the first article of clothing we picked out, an anxious feeling overcoming me slightly. I suppose it makes me think. Do the clothes make the siren or does the siren make herself…? Those purple fingerless gloves with a matching pair of tights. I haven’t worn tights since the nightclub, and even then, they weren’t that flashy. Not like my old self… I loved flashy clothes. They were like a calling card and it… still looks good today.

Slowly bringing my hands to the gloves, I slip them on before grabbing the tights, biting my lips slightly. “Here goes nothing,” I whisper to myself, my eyes closing before I pull the soft fabric over my skin. For a moment, I actually… enjoy the sensation. The soft fabric over my own skin feels pretty nice compared to the jeans I have been wearing for a while now. Even though I will be wearing jean shorts over these tights, it still feels nice. I have practically forgotten what it’s like to wear colorful clothes without trying to gain the lustful eyes of others. That is what I had to do for the nightclub, but now… now I can wear these for myself. For my own enjoyment. I get to decide what to wear, if it’s revealing or not. Damn it, am I actually enjoying myself? Trying on clothes that I haven’t worn in a long time and I’m enjoying it? At this rate, I’ll end up singing again and loving it too… I… actually never want to sing again…

That’s what scares me about trying on these clothes once more. The last time I dared to wear these things or anything in this style, I sang at the battle of the bands… I sang so hard and I… I was so angry and hell bent on winning. The last time I sang, the universe punished me for it by taking away my power… And my only two friends…

Pulling up my jean shorts and pulling out a pair of shoes from a box, I sigh slightly, sitting down and looking at myself in the mirror. Now I have so much more… I have friends, people to care about, a girlfriend… I finally have a good and stable job, an apartment where the heater doesn’t break down and a better life overall. Everything is finally getting better and it’s… all so fragile. With a single mistake, it could all crash down once more, right? One wrong move and I’ll be alone again… I don’t want that. I don’t want to lose them… Looking back to the floor, I slowly bite my lip, a small sigh exiting my lips. That’s the reason why I can’t let myself sing again… I can’t tempt fate again… No matter how much I miss it, it’s better… to just keep my lips shut…

A loud knocking sound breaks me from my thoughts as I look up to the door. “Y-yes?” I ask, still a little surprised at the interruption from the other side of the door. I hear a familiar chuckle from the other side of the door as Sunset’s hand reaches over it, placing another shirt on the top of the door.

“I just found something else that I thought you would maybe like~ Are you almost done changing? I can’t wait to see some of these things on you,” Sunset says with a cheerful and teasing tone at the same time, the only thing suggesting her presence on the other side of the door being the shadow at the bottom.

“Yeah, I’m almost done. It’s just the first outfit is… Interesting to try on,” I slowly reply to her, my eyes looking down at the pair of heeled boots in my hands. The boots didn’t technically have big heels on them, but they did look quite… interesting… There’s a lack of spikes on the heel itself, but I suppose I picked them due to the fact that they would serve to replace my older boots while still being somewhat fashionable. That is, if I can get the nerve to wear these in public again since the last time I wore these types of clothes. Besides, my old boots are all but broken at this point, so it would be nice to get a new pair of boots just meant for normal everyday use, right?

A small giggle comes from the other side of the door, Sunset undoubtedly displaying the cutest smile just out of sight. “Alright, Alligator~ Take your time~ I’ll be here when you’re done changing~” With that, Sunset’s shadow leaves the bottom of the door as she walks off, presumably to sit down on one of the chairs nearby. I shake my head slightly, smiling at Sunset’s cheerfulness and her total patience with someone like me. Slipping on the boots, I finally grab one of the shirts Sunset picked out for me. Unsurprisingly, it was a t-shirt that was mostly white with the exception of a purple diamond print on the front, the design being the thing that made Sunset fall for it, telling me that it really fit my style. To be honest, sometimes it scares me to think how much Sunset knows about me. I’m just waiting for the day when I wake up from a nightmare and she can tell me exactly what I dreamt about before I can let out a single word. Given, Sunset already knows I have nightmares fairly regularly…

The final piece of clothing that Sunset picked out for this outfit is a black jacket. It doesn’t necessarily have any special prints on it or even colors, it’s just a black jacket to wear over my t-shirt and to compliment the boots I have on. The only noticeable design element of the jacket were silver metal beads on the collar, shining every so often whenever the light would hit them just right. Honestly, it feels kind of worn, like it’s been used. Is that the new aesthetic of clothes these days? If it is, what do corporations use to make it feel like it’s been used? If not, then how much has this particular article of clothing been tried on? I guess the other customers even ripped the tag off, since I can’t seem to find it. I would hate for Sunset to buy a coat that is worth ten times the amount of my salary. I suppose it does have that… charming effect, but seriously, who rips tags off of the products just to put them back?

Slowly, I push my arms through the sleeves and smile to myself slightly, feeling how warm it makes me feel. Despite the fact that it doesn’t have a tag, it still feels pretty good, honestly. I shouldn’t doubt Sunset’s choices. She knows me pretty well. I… I know her pretty well too, but I never really seem to get her great gifts… Well, at least things that are higher quality than a damn alligator themed shirt I won from that maze. Sighing slowly, I look into the mirror and pull my hair up slowly, reaching into my purse to grab a headband. Unfortunately, this headband doesn’t have spikes on it, so it doesn’t fully capture my old fashion sense, but it will do for now. The last spiked headband I wore… I kind of stuffed it into a box and never really wanted to see it again… But I suppose I will have to fish that out of the closet to get the full effect. Looking into the mirror, I try my best to smirk at myself, putting my hand on my hip and bending slightly forward. It’s… honestly surprising how little I’ve changed in appearance since then. Especially considering how much I’ve worked to change on the inside. Yet here I am, looking like a badass boss just like I was back then. Hell, I can sell the act even further if I strike poses. Is this what I was like when I was confident in myself…? When I didn’t have many fears or insecurities and felt like I could take on the world. I suppose I… did look better with confidence as compared to my more recent appearance of being overly modest and hiding myself under as many layers as I could. Both physical and mental…

Grabbing the door knob, I take a deep breath before opening the changing room door. At first, my mind still feels insecure about this, wondering whether or not I will be judged for wearing these things once again. I just have to remember that… it's all about my confidence. Sunset thinks I would benefit from wearing these things once again and… she even thought I would look cute. Shaking my head slowly, I walk down the hallway of changing rooms into a small room with chairs to sit on if you’re waiting for someone. Across from the hallway, Sunset sits on one of the larger seats, looking down at her phone as she presumably waits for me. A small part of me wishes that I could hug her from behind to surprise her instead, but I simply shake my head, putting my hand on my hip as I do the best smirk I can. Sunset wants to see me try to be confident again? Then let’s make a show out of it. “Shimmer~”

Instantly, Sunset’s eyes look up from her phone and go wide when she sees me in this new outfit, a bright smile appearing on her face. Putting her phone back in her pocket, she stands up and walks up to me, smiling as she looks me up and down. “Adagio~ You look really nice~ Do you like the clothes?” Sunset’s hand lingers on the coat sleeve before grabbing my hands with a cute giggle.

My fake confident smirk disappears as I look away from her, thinking about the experience as a whole. “Honestly, yeah. I do. Though, it’s still hard for me to believe I am allowed to wear these due to…” Shaking my head slightly, I look back into Sunset’s eyes with a smile of my own, my hand coming up to her cheek before I slowly plant a kiss upon her lips. Every time we share an embrace, it’s like a slice of heaven in my life~ “Thank you for… doing this. For trying to help me feel more confident. It’s really nice~ Though, can I ask you something?” Looking back down at the black jacket, I hold my arm out to her, showing her the lack of a tag or sticker, indicating the price of the item. “Why did you pick out a jacket that doesn’t have a price…? I don’t want to settle on something like this when we don’t even know the price of it.” To my surprise, Sunset giggles to my question, gently bringing her hand to mine and shaking her head lightly. To say that I’m a little confused is an understatement.

“You’re so cute, Adagio~ We won’t have to pay for it~” Slowly, her left hand runs up and down my arm, her smile only getting bigger as she sees how it fits me. “I was wondering how this would fit on you~” she states before gazing into my eyes once more, a slight blush coming to my face out of my flustered feelings and confusion.

“What do you mean exactly…? Sunset simply giggles again to my attempt to clarify what she means, her hand coming up to my cheek slowly.

“You really don’t realize it, huh~?” she teases me slowly, leaning in and pressing her lips against my cheek. The moment doesn’t last as long as I would like it to, but it still makes my heart beat faster, our hands still holding onto each other. Slowly, Sunset looks at me with her warm smile once more before she opens her mouth. “This is my old jacket, Adagio~”