She awoke earlier than she had wished yet again. The arduous day before had done well to exhaust her, this long and dreamless slumber critical for her to survive. Though Adagio was unwilling to so easily rise at such an early hour, at least the sound of the rooster’s song was not so unexpected. In fact, with the deep sleep she had enjoyed, such an awakening was not so difficult this time around. A slow, smooth rise of her head from the pillow upon which she lay to look out into the darkened world just beyond the window and upon a sky on the fringes of darkness.

A moment was all it took for the memories of yesterday to come flooding back into her consciousness; weakness, anger, and shame that had been so intent on hounding her right to the last moments of her miserable wakefulness. With little ability to hold back the flood from crushing her spirit, Adagio merely sat atop her bed and let them pass before her eyes and ears yet again. Emotions, still raw and unguarded by slumber, possessed not the strength to see the matter settled.

It’s going to be another rough day, Adagio counseled herself. A small stretch came and immediately registered her body as the definition of sore; muscle all but forgotten cried out to her senses to report their misery. And I’m guessing Applejack will want me to help her and her brother out in the orchard again… Her early morning that had begun so peacefully was swiftly becoming filled by the negative. If she had to go out amidst those trees and struggle beneath the sun, the beautiful Siren wasn’t sure she’d be able to go the distance- which would only let down her rescuer even more.

As though on cue, upon the bedroom door came a series of swift knocks that spoke to Applejack’s presence at the door. Even if she tried to rise from her place on the bed and answer, Adagio wasn’t at all sure she even should; perhaps it would be better if she avoided the warmhearted farmgirl for a little while longer.

Another small knock, but then the sound of the door creaking open met her ears. Head swiftly turned to the sound, wincing right after, and eyes took in the sight of a tall, hearty young woman making an appearance. “Sorry if I’m intruding,” Applejack murmured. “Well… morning.”

If she’d had any decency, Adagio would have ignored her weariness and risen to greet the lovely woman with a smile and a kiss. Didn’t Applejack deserve plenty of affection for all that she’d done? So kind and courteous, positively romantic, even putting herself at risk on her behalf and inviting her to come and live on this gorgeous farm! Though she did her best to keep her feelings masked, the lush Siren couldn’t ignore the rush she felt at the sight of her mighty rescuer- so instead she only bit her lip and let eyes fall away, unable to bear the sight of one so good transformed by fear and worry.

The fall of countenance did not go unnoticed, Applejack coming to sit upon the side of the bed and more closely examine her companion. “Hey, you OK? Feeling alright?”

“Not at all,” Adagio answered before biting her tongue. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud! A dry, empty thought in the silence, now released and given life so that it might furrow that freckled brow in concern. The day had only just begun and already she was bringing harm.

“Yeah, I… I wondered,” Applejack sighed. “I’m sorry for asking so much of you yesterday. Out in the orchards, I mean. Big Mac was right, I should’ve helped you get used to the place first rather than just making you dive right in.”

Adagio stared at her beloved with such a confusion that it may as well have turned her brain upside-down. Why on earth was this bright jewel of the country apologizing to her? It wasn’t Applejack’s fault that she was miserable and weak, not in the slightest. Everything that had occurred was by her own failings- hers and no other. There was no reason for her to have done this at all!

“But-” She sputtered, “But- but why, though?”

“Oh, I just… got a little too excited, I guess,” Applejack explained, a bashful half-smile on her lips, “Wanted you to see the whole place and what it’s like out there. And just to spend the day with you, too-”

“No- wait, that’s not what I meant,” Adagio interjected. “Applejack, why are you even apologizing at all? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

The farmgirl blinked. “Yes, I did,” she insisted. “I got too caught up in having you around that I wore you out and made you miserable. That’s on me.”

“No, it really isn’t,” the ginger-haired beauty replied. “Look, I need to be the one saying I’m sorry. Especially for the outburst, that was- that wasn’t fair.” Shame that had kept her from sleeping had done well to help reveal that conclusion, a late-night pondering all it took to find. Applejack had been given a charade as a new first impression and Adagio was masterful in playing her role. And hadn’t she enjoyed herself that night, also? And there was the note… “I’m really sorry for screwing your life up.”

“Umm, I- don’t quite follow,” Applejack remarked, left befuddled by this latest statement. “You couldn’t have screwed up my life. You’ve made it better, come on now.”

“Your first time should’ve been with someone special,” Adagio said. She treasured that memory, allowed a time of genuine intimacy and comfort that had been denied to her for so long; she’d been given the chance to feel at home, safe. But still she knew that she had robbed this woman of something beautiful. “You deserved better than me.”

It was the most rational, sensible argument her unhappy mind could conjure, yet its logic was clear as mud to her audience. “I’m glad it was you, though,” the green-eyed farmgirl said simply. “You were someone special- still are, too. Quit saying things like that.”

“It should have been someone you knew. Not some made-up person like me,” the young woman muttered bitterly. “You don’t know who I am.”

Applejack pondered the thought for a time, mulling it over so as to find the best response. “Well… I get to know you now,” she surmised, “and you were right last night. I guess I’ve been acting silly, but I don’t regret any of it. I’m glad you’re here with us- with me. And I want this to be your home. I want you to be happy, sugar, and I really do believe you can be here. You’ll fit right in with us no matter what you’ve done, because- well, we’ve all messed up, too. It’s OK to screw up if you learn from it. And I promise you, I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but you aren’t one of them.”

Adagio’s memory of the uncertain young woman she’d made love to all those years ago was a far cry from the strong beauty who reached out and comforted her now. She could speak, say words of wisdom and kindness that would reach out and caress her heart; what a change from one who had once been terrified of even receiving a kiss! The belief in her eyes glowed with the brightness of the sun, illuminating her smile and making her radiant. There and able to see such fervent faith up close, the woeful Siren felt a rush of affection she hadn’t known in all her life. Applejack was so sure of herself, so confident in the truth of her words- words about her! And if Applejack believed she could have and be all those things…

Well, could she maybe try believing, too?

She wanted to reach out and see their hands wrapped together, a softened kiss placed upon those lips. Adagio allowed her body to give the smallest twitch, but no more; vulnerable emotions were not good material for wise decisions and she was still firm in her belief that this experiment would fail. Best not to get lulled even by words she wanted to believe in.

Applejack gave another smile before leaning in and placing a kiss on the cheek of her beautiful companion. “Well, breakfast is downstairs,” she declared as she rose to her feet. “Come on, get yourself dressed. Think Granny was asking for you to do something today.”

Perhaps she should have heeded the call then and there, but the Siren needed a few moments before she could collect herself. Feeling the comfort of Applejack’s kiss had been unexpected, and the delight of its presence all the more so; a small part of her wanted to act like a stupid teenage girl again and giggle aloud at the pleasure. Goodness, why was she so happy all of a sudden? Even though the flare lasted only a moment’s length, Adagio knew she would remember such a thing for the rest of the day- and perhaps beyond. When her senses at last were something she had control of, the time came for the day’s garb. If the sunshine outside was any indicator, it might be yet another warm day and that would mean sweat. A thin button-up and a pair of shorts seemed the best fit.

Down the stairs she went, coming to the ground floor and greeted by the smell of breakfast freshly begun, simmers and sounds reaching her ears as the early morning feast began. In the kitchen at the table were Big Mac and Applejack, each tending to their own mug of dark coffee and discussing amongst themselves the chores for the day; Sugar Belle stood in between the stove and the countertops, busied by the crowd of skillets that remained occupied upon the stovetop.

Adagio’s stomach began to rumble at the sight; her tired, battered body was in need of sustenance, especially since she’d forgone such things last night. If she was to perform the same caliber of work as yesterday, she’d need a good helping upon her plate.

Perhaps hearing the sound, the frizz-haired girl attending to the cookware turned from her work and found their newest arrival gazing down at her coming masterpieces. Sugar Belle smile and said, “Good morning! Sorry that you’re up a little earlier, but Granny’s not going to be around much. Do you mind helping me get breakfast ready?”

So she wasn’t even going to be able to eat? The sight of such delicacies before her eyes, yet so far away, seemed torturous. For a moment Adagio wanted to let a scowl form and ill temper begin to grow- but not yet. This is Applejack’s family, she told herself. And she’s not even being mean. Calm down.

“Umm- sure, I can,” Adagio murmured, though the sheer number of skillets and frying pans being put to use seemed intimidating. “What… what do you want me to-”

“Oh gosh, I’m sorry-” Sugar Belle, so used to her culinary duties, hadn’t taken note that her skills might not come so easy to others. “The eggs and bacon on the right-hand side, can you keep them going, please? I’m going to get to work on the flapjacks and biscuits.”

What had seemed so intimidating only a moment ago had been effortlessly compartmentalized; the stove had been cut in half, and what would be required of her was rather simple. With a nod, the glorious Siren took the egg-laden frying pan in hand and filled the other with a spatula.

“Applejack likes hers scrambled,” Sugar Belle whispered, “And plenty of cheese and bacon added to them!” Before there could be a reaction, the young woman gave a smile and a wink, turning back to her mix of batter and the biscuits she had heating in the oven.

She was the one member of the family that hadn’t been around the first time she’d met Applejack, and therefore the one her farmgirl had talked about least. Adagio slowly tended to her task, adding what condiments she could to magnify the yellow dish’s flavor, all the while giving her newest companion a confused side-eye.

Granny seemed willing to give her a place to stay, though obviously had admitted to her reservations. Apple Bloom seemed willing to openly dislike her, and Big Mac believed she would eventually run away- Not a bad guess, too. But Sugar Belle, the one who seemed most naïve and innocent of the lot, was treating her as though there was no reason to not be kind. She’d even offered a suggestion to be more in Applejack’s good graces.

Was- was this bright-eyed girl trying to motivate their romance? But that’d be idiotic; Adagio knew she was a terrible match for Applejack, just a pretty face with hardly anything to offer beyond her body. She was a poor fit for this life and absolutely had no reason to hope she could be such a wonderful farmgirl’s dream girl. Sugar Belle was being foolish, especially since the affection between them was most definitely one-sided.

She felt where Applejack’s lips had found her cheek, nerves awakening and breathing life into the memory. The glow in her stomach induced a smile before she could even try to dampen it. You’ve become a terrible liar.

“Ladies- a couple slices of toast?” Big Mac called out. Downing the last swig of brew from his cup, the caffeine had done wonders in awakening the mighty man’s ravenous appetite. “Think I might want something to go with those eggs.”

“I’ve got biscuits in the oven right now,” Sugar Belle replied to her husband, “I can heat up some more if you want any.”

“That’ll do fine. Thanks, hon.”

“You’re welcome.”

Adagio, gently turning over bacon in a skillet, found herself marveling at the simple exchange. Was this what a married couple was like? She’d expected a cantankerous response, discontent that would brim over into an argument. There’d been so many examples that had played out before her eyes over the years that it had become the standard expectation of what a marriage was like. Strange to think that not every word didn’t always end in misery. It wasn’t some saccharine thing, nor was it a false happiness to cover over the dreary wound- it just seemed comfortable. Sugar Belle and Big Mac seemed perfectly at ease with one another.

Perhaps her gawking was not so subtle, for Sugar Belle turned from her work upon the stovetop and realized she had an audience. “What?” She asked.

Not quite sure of how to put it all into words, Adagio shook her head and returned to her duties. She felt like she’d just witnessed something marvelous but wasn’t quite sure what- or why.

“Here we go,” Adagio said, a pair of plates in her hand, the contents steaming their aroma into the air. “Big Mac, this- this one’s yours… and Applejack-” She felt a small tremor try to take hold and the Siren forced it to remain deadened down below. No, she had no reason to enjoy this simple gesture, nor should she desire to do it again.

I- umm.” The two siblings eyed the contents of their plates for a moment; eggs over hard upon Big Mac’s plate with a trio of bacon strips nestled snugly beside, and upon Applejack was a heaping helping of scrambled eggs, the pile fit to burst with bits of bacon and strings of cheese scattered throughout. Big Mac scrutinized his first course, that of his sister’s, and then the cook who had seen it done- and then split into a grin.

Adagio couldn’t help but flush. How had she not realized that the level of care between the two might be so distinctive? It hadn’t been on purpose.

“I… uh, thanks Adagio,” Applejack said, stabbing at the full plate of eggs with her fork, a faint smile on her face as the melted cheese slowly tore into thin strings. “This looks- I forgot you and I made that meal together last time.”

“Yo- you’re welcome,” the Siren quickly managed. Oh, how she wanted to back away from this table and go very far away-

Big Mac gave a laugh, a tiny shove from the broad-shouldered man almost enough to send his sister toppling to the ground. “Now you know how it feels to have your girl cook you breakfast,” he remarked, content to dig in to his own plate and await the rest of his breakfast that still required his bride’s touch.

Adagio would have paid good money for the farmer not to say that, and even more if she could have prevented the smile from spreading across her lips. Applejack was blushing a brilliant shade of crimson beneath her freckles and doing what she could to focus on the contents of her plate rather than the beautiful woman who had gifted it to her. Though such affections were gladly received, perhaps such things were not quite ready to be said openly just yet.

The sound of footsteps from down the hall was a needed relief, attentions brought elsewhere as Granny Smith made an appearance, dressed in a long plaid dress and a denim jacket about her chest. “Good, you’re already down here helping,” she said as her eyes first fell on Adagio. “Was worried we might’ve worn you out yesterday.”

“Nearly,” the still-scarlet Siren mumbled.

“You sure you don’t want anything to eat before you go, Granny?” Sugar Belle inquired as she lifted high a plate of freshly-made flapjacks. “If you really won’t be back till after noon, that’s a long time for you…”

“Doctor’s orders. I’ve gotta be empty,” Granny insisted. “Alright, so I’ll be gone for most of the day. Applejack, make sure Apple Bloom gets her chores done- and tell her to clean up the mess she made in the barn, it’s been almost a week.”

“Yes ma’am!”

“Big Mac, would you take a look in the bathroom at that floorboard? It’s gotten loose again.”

“Oh, we can take care of that, Granny!” Sugar Belle said, coming in between before her husband could say a word. “Don’t make Big Mac get it, that’ll be easy.”

We?

“Alright, then, just don’t forget. Nearly kicked it free when I was getting ready this morning.” The weathered matriarch gave a sigh before she turned to her newest arrival; though she knew this wizened woman meant no harm, Adagio couldn’t help but feel she cut an intimidating figure. Afforded to her was a respect that went far beyond title. “Sugar Belle’s going to be in charge of the house while I’m gone,” she explained. “Since I won’t be around, you help her out however she needs you to. Understand?”

“Y- yes, ma’am,” Adagio stammered. Part of her wanted to give a little sound of relief; she wasn’t going to have to go break her back out in the orchards again? To be inside with the shade and the air conditioning seemed like heaven in comparison!

Granny pursed her lips for a moment as though she wanted to say more. Was there further instruction she wanted to give, just to her? Adagio wanted to be offended by such a thought but couldn’t deny the wisdom behind the choice. Newest to the house, most likely to buck at the reins… she had every reason to speak further. Instead, she only said, “You’ll be fine. Y’all be safe, y’hear?”

“Bye, Granny! Have fun in town!”

The magnificent woman said her goodbyes to her kinfolk before disappearing out of sight, the creaking sound of aged wood and metal all that remained to speak of her departure before she was gone for good. So she was to be absent all day? Adagio wondered what that meant for the rest of the Apple family, considering what an intimidating presence the old woman possessed; just what sort of effects did she have on the family even when she was not to be seen?

The effects were felt in due time, Applejack and Big Mac downing their meals in record time before setting dishware aside so that they might attend to duties far beyond the security of the farmhouse. “We’ll be out in the north orchard today,” Applejack declared, speaking on behalf of her more solemn brother. “Shouldn’t be as long a day today as yesterday was. Think we’ll be done somewhere around five in the evening.”

They’d worked longer than that yesterday? Adagio had assumed she only had fallen behind in her timekeeping, weakness slowing down she and her beloved in their efforts to see familial duties done. I hope it’s not cause of you they’ll be done faster, she considered. A good possibility, but Applejack didn’t seem quite the type to conceal such things without a little struggle; it might actually be just less work to be done today.

“What time would you want Apple Bloom coming by?” Sugar Belle asked. “Anything you’d like for lunch?”

“Apples?” Applejack said with a chuckle. “Something with a lot of bacon on it. And make sure it’s made by Adagio, looks like I’ll eat well if she’s around.”

A blush couldn’t be held back, nor could the smile, even as the blonde farmgirl said her goodbyes. Away from the breakfast table did she go alongside her kindred, away and into the depths of an orchard that they called home perhaps even more than the home in which they rested. For a moment, Adagio thought nothing of it. But then came the realization that she was to spend an entire day upon this farm without the beautiful Applejack at her side; it would be quite a feat if she could see it done and not cause a ruckus.

And you’d better not, Adagio furiously counseled herself. This is her house. You said you wanted to be a trophy wife once, why not try and practice on that for a little bit?

“Well, there they go,” Sugar Belle sighed, gazing wistfully at where her husband had once been. “All that rippling muscle… It could make you go mad, couldn’t it?”

It seemed an impossible question to answer. “Umm-” Adagio paused. “Do you mean your husband, or- or-”

“Ohmygosh- yes, both of them. I’m super attracted to his physique, are you the same with Applejack? I swear she could lift an entire house over her head and not feel it.”

The blunt simplicity of the statement was difficult to ignore, and enough to make the Siren want to laugh. “I- I do not know, actually,” she managed. “I just… she makes me happy.”

It had slipped out so quickly, so naturally that the sumptuous woman hadn’t noticed her lips were moving before it was too late. She hadn’t meant to say anything! Her affections for Applejack were meant to be a deeply buried, dark secret that were held beneath her chest until her dying days came about. They weren’t meant to be said out loud!

“Aww, I knew you loved her!” Sugar Belle cried, all smiles and not an ounce of sarcastic feeling to be found upon her visage. “And even Applejack had her doubts sometimes, but I knew you wouldn’t just let her pass you by. Would you go in the fridge and get a little more bacon? Apple Bloom isn’t down yet and you n’ I haven’t eaten.”

She shouldn’t say anything- or do anything. But the beautiful woman complied all the same as she saw a trio of new meals begun to be prepared, slices of bacon and numerous eggs on the skillet and set to sizzling. It felt too natural for being so early in such a relationship, but she couldn’t quite deny that it was easy all the same.

“Isn’t Apple Bloom taking a while?” Adagio inquired. She’d come to assume all the Apples were early risers.

Sugar Belle grimaced. “She can be… a bit of a slow riser,” she remarked. “Apple Bloom’s been trying to decide what to do with herself lately and hasn’t quite made up her mind. And she’s been a night owl for a few years now, too.”

There was a hesitancy in which she spoke; uncertainty, or uneasiness? Adagio wondered if her presence had upset a natural balance to be found upon this tranquil farm, considering that the youngest family member had been lively and awake the last morning. To consider that she might just be mad at her presence- well…

“And there she is!” Sugar Belle suddenly declared. At the bottom of the steps and the threshold of the kitchen came forth a grim-eyed, wearied form covered in tussled red hair as Apple Bloom displayed herself to the world for the first time. Yawning wide and rubbing one eye so as to see it made clear, she hardly seemed capable of withstanding the work that likely awaited her for today.

Yet soon came the sight of Adagio in her sights, the image of the beauteous Siren enough to elicit a scowl on her features. “You’re still here,” she grumbled, not at all too kindly. Clearly, the sight of this unwanted presence was enough to set her into a foul mood.

Adagio felt the venom, and the instinctive need to fight back came without a thought alongside it. Yet rather than strike, the sweet words of Sugar Belle were there to see that she not sink her fangs in just yet. “Yup! She’s been helping me make breakfast this morning!” The cheerful woman proclaimed. “Eggs scrambled with bacon and biscuits?”

“Sure,” Apple Bloom muttered, lurching over to the kitchen table and doing her best to ignore the presence of the one she despised.

Adagio bit her lip and said nothing. She completely understood why the younger girl had no desire to see her; it weren’t as though such dislike was an unfair belief. But good heavens, how she wanted to fight back against it! But what on earth for? Well, beyond the obvious.

“OK, so that’s everyone!” Sugar Belle surmised as Apple Bloom’s plate was stuffed full of bread and meat. “I hope you’re hungry! We can always save the best just for us.”

The bright girls’ cheerful demeanor had yet to fade, even as the morning tasks came to an end. Two empty plates were soon made full with the farm’s greatest delicacies, Siren and young housewife digging into their respective platters with hungering abandon as their youngest companion did whatever she could to ignore current company. It had been quite a while since their awakening, and there was still more to be done.

“Ooh, Applejack’s right, you really can cook,” Sugar Belle muttered through a mouthful of eggs. “These taste great, thanks for getting them done!”

Adagio couldn’t hold back the smile though she wasn’t at all keen at receiving the praise. “It’s just eggs and bacon,” she mumbled. “That’s not difficult.”

“It’s till tasty, though!” The frizz-haired girl replied. “Just the right amount of salt and pepper –pour me a little more coffee, please?- make it perfect. No wonder she brags about the meal you helped her make.”

There was nothing to take pride in. Siren did what she could to avoid the compliments of her companion; it had been too little and nowhere near enough to be worthy of words. “It was her recipe. I just helped.”

“If you say so. But goodness, she’s been so happy to have you back,” Sugar Belle remarked. “You’re going to marry her, aren’t you? You keep looking like you want her to ask you!”

Now that wasn’t at all a welcome remark! Adagio struggled to put down her mouthful of eggs and bacon, scowling between tears as Sugar Belle tried to politely stifle her laughter. Beneath the weight of obvious disapproval, the young woman had to know her words were not acceptable just yet.

“Sorry- I just couldn’t resist,” Sugar Belle said after a time; for far too long, she had needed time to regain her composure. “But it’s so obvious you adore each other. Would it really be so bad if you showed it? You might even enjoy it.”

“Oh for heaven’s sake.” Apple Bloom gave an almighty groan and swiftly cast aside her half-consumed plate of breakfast, departing away and out of sight before a single remark could come her way. “I’m going to get the chickens fed!”

“Make sure to clean up in the barn!” Sugar Belle called after her, brusquely ignoring the displeasure that had come alongside such remarks. “But you look so at home in her clothes! And she can never take her eyes off you, I bet-”

“Why does Apple Bloom hate me so much?” Adagio demanded of her. It had been a boiling question in her mind since day one, even if she felt the young farmgirl’s disgust was a justified emotion. “She never seemed to notice me when she was at school, why does she not like I’m here now-”

“You’re not answering the question, you!” Sugar Belle’s gentlehearted remark came almost as though a distraction, eager to keep the lovely Siren’s attentions elsewhere. “You seemed so at home here last time… why not be the same way again?”

So this was to be a friendly interrogation of sorts. What on earth could she say that would help such a sweet girl understand the sort of monstrosity from which she’d been birthed? Wickedness and deception had been the norm, vile deeds and seduction as common as sunlight in the desert. Adagio wasn’t quite sure how to make it all seem sensible to one so sweet. Surely Sugar Belle was of the same mold. “I…” She began and promptly faltered; words would be difficult today. “She deserves better.”

Rather than sympathy, sadness, or perhaps confusion, instead came gentle laughter to meet her ears; the sweet girl could only see the Siren’s despondent words as something humorous rather than anything to be taken seriously. “Goodness, but she loves you- and you’re both so sweet on each other,” Sugar Belle said. “Who cares if she deserves better or not? She wants you!”

The simplicity of such an argument was enough to leave every sort of philosophy in the young woman’s mind utterly shredded; she had so many reasons and thoughts and arguments to be made, yet they all seemed positively futile when put in comparison to words like that. Adagio had thought Sugar Belle to be little more than a rural simpleton, perfectly at home in the world of the Apples as though she’d been made to belong there. Now she wasn’t at all sure if she was a genius or an idiot. “But… Sugar- is it alright if I call you Sugar Belle?”

“Of course! We’re practically sisters at this point!”

Oh for heaven’s sake, this naïve little girl-! “Sugar Belle,” Adagio muttered, “Do you know- you must know how Applejack and I first met. It wasn’t exactly the best of circumstances, I was- and I was a horrible person before I even met her.”

“Oh, that’s alright. Everyone starts somewhere,” Sugar Belle replied in her ever cheerful tone. “At least you know. I’ve met tons of people who thought they were perfect and flawless all the way to the end and they never even considered they might be wrong! You’re just not willing to accept you could be happy after all your mistakes. It’s alright that you fell flat on your face- you know you did, and you don’t want to be that way even if you’re not sure of it yet. Once you figure that out, you’re going to be Applejack’s dreamgirl in every way.”

Oh for heaven’s sake, this bright-eyed idiot simply didn’t get it! Sugar Belle seemed just as determined as Applejack to see her in a good light, dead-set on providing words of good cheer and hope to buoy her spirit. “Sugar Belle, I was a whore, don’t you understand-”

“Of course I do. I was in a cult!”

And then her words promptly died on her tongue, bitter taste unable to be cast aside. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah, actually,” Sugar Belle explained. Pulling at the sleeves of her dress, she revealed bare skin that had been visibly blackened by burns and scars; countless places that had known the cruelty of humanity and what violence they could bring about. Though only a small hint as to her past, the simple act had been enough to strike the unhappy Siren dumb. “So… when I was a teenager, I- I sort of got roped into something stupid. I wanted to be just like everyone else. And I guess that meant not being anything special, either. So when this woman came to me, she offered me a chance to be just like everybody else in her town. So I went with her.”

Adagio knew how tempting it could sound. How could she not know the symptoms, the similarities in the words? Each villain always ended up sounding the same.

“I tried to convince myself I was happy at first; just being whatever anyone else needed me to be, doing whatever I was told to do- and nothing else. But I kept wanting to do things for other people there,” Sugar Belle continued. “I kept wanting to see people fed with good food. To make them all happy, and bring a smile to their face! But I kept getting punished for it. When that miserable place got shut down, I didn’t know what to do! So I came to town and hoped someone would tell me what I was supposed to be doing, and- well, I met Big Mac one day, and… and he thought I was the best thing ever.”

She said it as though it were the most simple, obvious statement in the world. No arrogance, no cocky braggadocio, it just was. Adagio couldn’t quite believe she’d heard it spoken aloud. “Were- are you?” She asked.

“Of course not! I’m not very smart, I’m super emotional, and I have a whole lot of other things I’m not good at, too,” Sugar Belle promptly said, not missing a beat and keeping her wide beaming visage intact. “But Big Mac thinks I’m kind. And gentle, and that I’d be a good mother someday. He believes, every day, that I’m capable of doing something good. And since I love him, I believe it, too.”

There was absolutely no logic to be found in her argument. No rational pattern of thought, no chain, nothing. Sugar Belle’s words made as much sense as a speech spoken in another language and Adagio wondered if she was supposed to believe in a single word of it. “But- I’m sorry, Sugar Belle- what does that have to do with me?”

Sugar Belle laughed. “Because Applejack thinks you’re wonderful, silly!” She declared. “She thinks you can be warm and kind and gentle someday, just like me! She’s spent so much time talking about how you kept building her up and making her feel ten feet tall- that you make others be strong! And that you’re a place to be vulnerable and safe. And… well, Applejack’s never wrong about people! I bet she’s right about you!”

The litany of arguments she wished to bring against such simplicity were numerous; Adagio couldn’t keep track of them nor would she have been able to say them aloud without stumbling over her words and falling flat on her face. Sugar Belle would either not listen to reason or she was so absolutely certain of her convictions that any countered voice could not hope to crack through and make any sort of impression. The morose Siren couldn’t find herself willing to believe in any of it, but she couldn’t quite keep herself from feeling grateful all the same.

“So… you’re in charge today,” Adagio remarked. “What- what do we have to do today?”

“Oh, just a lot of housekeeping, really,” Sugar Belle answered. “Laundry will need to get done, so that means clothes and the bedsheets- wait, you didn’t pull yours off your mattress, did you?” When given a shake of her head, the friendly bride merely shrugged. “Oh well, now you know. So there’s that, we’ll need to make some more biscuits, get the bathrooms cleaned- oh, and make sure Applejack and Big Mac get lunches, too. That should be simple, we’ll be able to get dinner ready without any issue. That doesn’t sound too bad, right?”

“I… guess not,” Adagio said. It seemed like a good deal of work to endure even if might not turn out in such a way. A lot of cleaning, which would mean a lot of exerted effort; considering how tired she was still from yesterday, the desire to fulfill such a task was low. But she was here, and it would be for Applejack’s benefit…

“That’s great! Come on, I’m finished with breakfast, are you? Let’s get everything cleared and we can get started.”

The rest of her day saw the wondrous Siren engaged in numerous tasks of manual labor, in varying degrees of exertion as she pushed through the house and saw it made spotless. Her initial assumptions of Sugar Belle were deemed to be completely unfounded despite what appearances might suggest; the young woman’s undefeatable good cheer was pleasant to be around and helped to make even grimy work more tolerable. It was, as Adagio came to realize, a good attitude to emulate.

“Jeez, this is filthy,” she grumbled. Pushing hard with a sponge against a layer of grime in the tub, the young beauty didn’t allow her mind to imagine what sort of nastiness could have created such a stain. “What on earth have y’all been doing in here?”

“Oh, it’s just the one bathroom, unfortunately,” Sugar Belle explained as she took a hand towel to the toilet. “Big Mac and I have been wanting to put a shower in our cottage, but… well, it’s- we can only afford a bit at a time. And we need to pay off the loan for the house before we add any furnishings.”

The vast farmlands that had greeted her and the almost robotic expertise of those who tended to it had made her assume there were riches to be found amidst this household. Adagio hadn’t considered that the Apples might have to forgo a few things to scrape by. “You don’t have a bathroom in the cottage?” She asked.

“Oh, we do. It’s just not finished yet,” Sugar Belle answered. “Big Mac and Applejack got the toilet set up soon as we moved in, and we just finished getting the sink ready a bit before Christmas. Once we get everything finished, Big Mac and I… we’ve talked about kids. It’d be nice to make this place a bit more lively- and Granny Smith deserves some grandkids.”

“I can see you being a good mom,” Adagio said- and then promptly returned to her scrubbing. That had been a looseness of lips, not anything she had meant to say aloud!

Fortunately, the sweet young girl only laughed in delight. “Thank you! I certainly want to be. I used to dream about having a big family when I was a little girl. Now that I’ve moved here, I keep thinking that it’s only a moment away. With Apple Bloom, Big Mac, Applejack, and a whole bunch of my own little ones- and then you as their favorite auntie! I know it’ll feel like heaven.”

She always spoke of the Siren’s permanent place amongst them as though it were certainty. Sugar Belle’s endless confidence in a happy ending felt like it should be grating on her nerves. “Why do you think I’m going to stay?” Adagio asked. “Or that I’d be any good with anyone here?"

“Why not think that way?” Sugar Belle countered lightly; tossing her hand towel out in the hallway along with the rest of the dirtied laundry they had accumulated, she hardly seemed stressed with giving any sort of answer. “You could be if you want to, you know. You don’t have to be miserable and mean and unhappy if that’s who you want to be.”

“Do… do you think I will be?”

“Hmm…” Sugar Belle considered the question for a moment. “You love Applejack, right?”

No answer came across her lips, but she flushed red and looked away as the bashful smile came to life once again. As if she could say such a thing so easily-!

Sugar Belle smiled. “You’re going to make her so happy,” she said. “She’s always dreamed of having a pretty girl at home waiting for her- and you’re beautiful, so that’s even better! Come on, the biscuit mix should be done by now. Will you go to the garage and grab the buttermilk..?”

The day continued on in the same vein as the morning, simple labors and household filth before her eyes over and over again as she saw the ancient farmstead cared for in every which way. Food was tended to, clothing and linens that required her attentions were seen made right, small odds and ends that arose through their traipsing were settled and corrected. Granny returned home in a wearied state and requested some privacy in her room for a time, her minute gathering of things an unexpected chore- the muddied trail of Apple Bloom’s things as she returned from animal husbandry far more unsurprising. Though she had expected herself to be miserable or worn out, Adagio was left surprised that she still maintained a good deal of genial spirit come the sight of sunset; it hadn’t really been all that bad a day, all things considered.

Sitting out on the porch, Adagio had been granted the privilege of watching the stellar ball fade beyond the horizon; dinner had been Sugar Belle’s charge, she only there to aid if necessary. Whatever was being done now apparently didn’t require her hands. Instead, she could simply sit back and enjoy the view as numerous colors of gold, red, and pink scattered their way across an endless skyline that held firm above a beautiful layer of green below. Had it been like this yesterday? Perhaps she’d been too tired to take notice, more concerned with breathing and survival than anything that transpired above her. Now, with a cup of iced tea in her hands, the lustrous Siren was able to enjoy this daily ritual of natural beauty.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” Sugar Belle said. From the threshold of the farmstead did she appear, dropping down to the steps so as to take a seat beside her day’s companion. “I never got to take time to see anything like it when I was… I think it means more now. Because of everything that’s happened, you know? I’m here to see it, and I get to spend it in my husband’s home. I think that’s something nice.”

“I…” Why even bother dissenting? It was too pointless. “Yeah. I guess so,” Adagio admitted. “Thank you, by the way. For… putting up with me.”

“Don’t be silly, you were such a huge help!” Sugar Belle protested, all smiles as she took in the words. Her unrivaled good cheer refused to let any apology be made, certain that any help, no matter how meager, had been given willingly. “Thanks for everything, it’s usually just me and Granny. I know she’s glad you’re here to help out, especially since you make Applejack so happy.”

“Speaking of…” Adagio looked out onto the edge of the farmyard and saw the blazing headlights of a familiar four-wheeler coming into view, the high-pitched whine of its engine soon meeting their ears. Oh thank God, a distraction. “Looks like we got done just in time.”

“Looks like it.” The two remained silent as the siblings turned towards the shed and saw their ride neatly tucked away; shoulders sagged, bodies moved slowly as they held the weariness of their day’s toil. With one last glance in their direction, Sugar Belle rose from her seat beside her newfound friend only to pause and whisper, “Give her a kiss when you go to say hello. She gets super cute when she gets flustered.”

I-” A pause. “Wait, what?”

Sugar Belle winked and strode to meet her husband as the dirtied man arrived back home, his soiled grasp coming about feminine form so as to greet her properly. Not for a moment had she lingered or allowed any sort of questioning in the slightest, merely giving advice for offering an example to follow.

Adagio, still left a little confused as to what she’d actually heard, found herself staring at her blonde farmgirl as Applejack took in the sight of her brother’s affectionate gesture. Eyes lingered upon them for only the smallest time, a small flash of emotion in her green gaze as she watched them embrace- and then turning away, finding a smile once more as she caught sight of her Siren seated on the porch.

“Hey!” Applejack called, a wave of a gloved hand as she trumped towards the farmhouse. “How’d everything go today?”

Adagio felt her face burn- and for no reason at all! She knew Sugar Belle’s eyes were on her, encouraging her to show a little initiative even if the thought was terrifying. What- goodness, how could she behave like a decent spouse without it seeming like a performance? She wasn’t Sugar Belle, Applejack wasn’t Big Mac, nor was this any sort of stupid sitcom; how on earth was she meant to behave and it be seen as something natural? But the allure to go and greet her was palpable- and those lips that she knew would taste so sweet…

“H- hi,” Adagio said, and found herself speaking a bit too breathlessly. Goodness, get a grip on yourself, you fool! A swift dart to her feet and she was soon before her rescuer- on tiptoes, both of them uncertain what to do next. Applejack did not dare to put her arms about the luscious woman without certainty, Adagio hardly believing she’d even shown the slightest daring-

It was a good middle ground she decided on. A swift kiss on Applejack’s sweaty cheek and an embrace, doing what she could to ignore the sensation of sweat and grime that she so promptly felt. As if she hadn’t been more disgusting when Applejack had found her in that nightmarish mansion! The feeling of being in her arms once again made the Siren lose track of herself. It was such a comforting, pure thing, no matter how each of them were; no judgment, not an outside voice to be heard, they just were… it was intoxicating, if she didn’t know any better.

Oh my gosh, I forgot how good her muscles feel.

“I… guess that’s a good sign?” Applejack murmured.

Oh. Right, they were still hugging. Adagio pushed herself away but only just, content to be held within the bounds of the freckled beauty’s grasp for a time longer. “Sorry I was such a grump yesterday,” she said, suddenly feeling the need to plead for forgiveness before she lost her nerve; she only hoped the tinge of red in her cheeks wasn’t a shade too deep. “I know it wasn’t fun.”

Applejack shrugged. “I already forgave ya,” she said. “It’s alright. Hope today was better.”

“It was,” she said, surprising herself as she pressed against Applejack’s neck with the soft touch of another kiss. Had it been instinct, natural urge- or the simple desire because she’d wanted to? “Hungry?”

“Starving. Just what have you and Sugar Belle got for me today..?”

Dinner turned out to be a pot roast with green beans, the wondrous scent of succulent meat pairing well with the salty tang of freshly snapped vegetables. Adagio had followed along with Sugar Belle in what manner she could best follow, not much of a maestro when it came to the preparation of meals. The beans had at least been easy, only a trace of oil in the pan along with some salt; helping with the roast had been a bit more difficult. At least she hadn’t been the sole provider, or a rather magnificent portion of beef would have been swiftly ruined.

“How’d everything go at the doctor’s office today, Granny?” Sugar Belle asked. Gathered around the dinner table, each member of the family had their own day and stories to share now that the communal meal saw them reunited once more. The meal itself hardly mattered to the family, despite their need for quality sustenance after an arduous day of farmwork; being together and enjoying the company of loved ones was the critical aspect.

“Good as it can be, I guess,” Granny replied.

“You were complaining about your hip last week,” Applejack remarked as she chewed through a bite of beef. “What’d they have to say about it?”

The aged woman’s eyes gleamed with wry humor. “That I’m old,” she chuckled. “Recommended taking Epsom salt baths for soreness, but told ‘em I can’t sit down in a bathtub no more. So he tried to tell me to get a new bathtub.”

“Might as well fly to the moon right now,” Big Mac muttered. “Getting that cottage made took enough out of us, we ain’t got enough to fix the floorboards upstairs for months- if we’re lucky.”

“And you still don’t have the bathroom done in the cottage yet, either,” Granny said. “I told that doctor it wasn’t enough to worry about so long as I can keep myself moving. Some painkillers and a shot of whiskey every night oughta be enough.”

Applejack bit her lip and gave a dim growl in the back of her throat that could only be displeasure. Trying to dissuade her grandmother when the matriarch’s mind had been set was a feat long to be found impossible, and attempting to do so usually ended poorly. For one so dedicated to her kindred, allowing discomfort was a tall order, and certainly not easy to accept. “I wish you’d at least let us help you a little more,” she murmured. “You’re walking around too much, we’ve got the farm under control. Why don’t you try to rest a little more, relax? You don’t have to sit around and do nothing, but…”

“Yeah, I’m fine with the animals,” Apple Bloom added. “Sugar Belle basically runs the house fine, Big Mac and AJ handle the orchard. Why not just stick to keeping the money in order? Not like your mind still ain’t sharp as a tack.”

Big Mac had remained silent throughout, long ago having decided to debate with his grandmother was a fool’s gambit that he allowed to his more reckless siblings. To the stoic man’s surprise, he found that the great woman actually seemed to be considering the offer.

“I might,” Granny drawled. “See what I can do to tighten the budget up a bit better. Maybe we can get the cottage finished up a little faster so this family can keep on growing some more.”

The suggestion didn’t go unnoticed and left the young couple a little flustered at its brazenness. Rather than be occupied by the risqué, Applejack found herself more concerned with this surprisingly easy settlement of wills. “Didn’t figure you’d go for it,” she said. “What gives, Granny?”

The great matriarch looked about her ancient table and took in the surroundings; hardened wood of house and home, set down and made with care by the hands of her marvel of a father; the table that had been his own design, crafted with his bride’s specific details in mind. Everything she could find in the home she had always known had been made and set there by a member of her clan, and all of it built to last. Though perhaps the family that now sat about her table was not quite as whole as she wished, but the sorrow that had been present in so many hearts was being comforted. Big Mac’s distance from the world had been made small by a shining star, Applejack’s anxious heart had at last seen the love of her life secure and kept safe; though Apple Bloom had yet to truly decide what course she wanted to take, the old woman knew that the wisdom of the young girl’s siblings would be enough to guide her right. They had a home in which to find shelter, a family that would forever look after them, and a future made to last; everything she’d wanted for her grandchildren was being taken care of- and all of it without her hand in any of it.

“I’m old, that’s all,” Granny said simply. “And I’m not worried about you no more.”

The blonde farmgirl didn’t quite follow. “Granny, I- I’m not sure what you mean.”

“You’re glad to be at home again. Not worried about what’s out there.”

Oh. Four pairs of eyes turned from their familial leader and instead fell upon the self-conscious form of a beautiful Siren, odd woman out in such a rustic mix and wondering why she was being so highly valued by one so much better than she. Adagio wished Granny hadn’t said such a thing; yes, she was glad that Applejack was happy because of her, but surely that wasn’t a good thing. She still didn’t fit here, there were so many reasons why she should leave before doing real damage. Why was it just assumed that she could belong?

“Granny,” Adagio said slowly, “I’m not really all that helpful-”

“This pot roast is good,” the wizened woman said lightly. “Green beans are real good, too. Done just right.”

“She was a huge help today,” Sugar Belle added in, smiling from ear to ear as she caught the Siren’s protest starting to form. “Honestly, it made everything so much easier. It was great to have her around.”

“I- I only did what you told me to! I didn’t do much of anything.”

The frizzy girl shrugged. “You still helped. You’ll know how to run this place just as well as I do soon enough.”

She was unable to bear the weight of those faces that supported her; Adagio couldn’t look over at Applejack’s delighted gleam that made her beauty radiate, not the purehearted smile on Sugar Belle’s lips, not the smirk Granny held. It was too much encouragement to remain and stay when so much of her will still demanded she flee from this place before she somehow saw it all burned down. The praise made her weak- and want to really believe it.

“I think I’m done for the night,” Apple Bloom muttered. It was a relief to the Siren that a dissenting voice came to life, the scowl on the young redhead’s face a stark contrast to her sister’s contented look. “I’ll clean my dishes so y’all don’t have to.”

The night passed by quietly, Adagio’s full stomach –and far superior mood- allowing her to enjoy the serenity of an evening in the countryside. The spring air was cool across the skin, spurring the lightly adorned Siren to seek more comfortable attire. A short shower and a quick trip into the bedroom soon saw her enwrapped in a rather comfortable pullover and pants; true, the pullover was a little large on her rather tiny frame, but it gave a sense of comfort all the same.

Wait a minute. Adagio paused as she set foot on the stairs, a slight scent of something sweet alerting her senses. Pulling her garb up closer for inspection, the lustrous girl found her nostrils filled with the pleasant aroma of apples and spring rain. She closed her eyes and allowed the comforting smell to envelop her; part of her had forgotten that this was once Applejack’s clothing. How it seemed to radiate her presence! Memories of that first night together flooded through her mind: Applejack’s hair falling gently across her shoulder, the faint glow of her bright-green eyes, how her smile was something so delighted and yet so bashful; of how that magnificent farmgirl had held her close throughout the night…

“Umm- excuse me.” Eyes promptly went wide open once more. Standing before her and trying to make their way up the stairs was Applejack in the flesh, patiently waiting for her desired one to awaken from her daydream and step aside.

The flood of embarrassment at being caught in such a mood was something she didn’t have the vocabulary to define. Flushing a shade redder than even the ripest of apples, Adagio dropped the pullover from her grasp and promptly took a few steps back so as to be a hindrance no longer, wishing she could fall through the floor and somewhere into the darkest pit of the earth.

“I’m… I’m glad today went better for ya,” Applejack remarked; slowed pace came to a halt as the farmgirl leaned back against the wall. “Sugar Belle likes you a lot. Had nothing but kind things to say about you.”

“She probably has something kind to say about everyone,” Adagio countered, feeling the sweet girl had the personality akin to a golden retriever.

“Yeah, she usually does,” Applejack chuckled, “Sugar Belle’s kind like that. But she’s not usually wrong, either- and don’t you go saying nothing, too. Just let it be.”

It was a blatant lie that she wouldn’t even be allowed to object to? Adagio scowled, wondering why she couldn’t get this beautiful girl of the countryside to see sense. What kind of spell she’d managed to put upon her sensible mind and leave her deluded clearly had to be undone, it just wasn’t logical. Applejack had sacrificed too much for one such as her, degraded herself far too low. She’d even gone off and been a stripper just to maybe find a hint of where-

Wait, that’s right. Big Mac had said it so swiftly, given it so little weight that the remark had almost been forgotten. Applejack had been so desperate to find out where she’d gone that the freckled blonde had actually performed a small descent into the underworld so as to find her. A stripper, her? What on earth had she been thinking?

Applejack blinked, scrutinizing her love’s distressed expression. “What’s the matter?”

“Applejack,” she began slowly, “What- what did you have to do to find me?”

At first, the query was answered only with confusion, Applejack standing there and trying to make sense of why she’d even asked in the first place. But no dim mind dwelled within her and soon the connections were forged. “I guess Big Mac told you a little bit the other day, did he?”

Should she confess? It almost felt sinful to do so. “I…”

“It’s alright. Not like I don’t know what I was up to.”

“Please tell me it wasn’t at Lady Luck’s,” the ginger woman pleaded.

“Uh, no. I- I found out you’d spent a few months over at Cabaret,” Applejack answered. “Was there for… a month, I think? One of the girls finally told me that you’d gone up to Manehatten to work for some sleazeball.”

It had been a poor move on her part, made out of pure desperation to flee. She could still feel the wounds from that ‘modeling gig’ somewhere in her soul, and most definitely where the cut had gone across her right breast. Her time at Cabaret hadn’t been terrible, but the manager had been a notorious pig- and a wannabe pimp. “Why did you go there?”

“I needed to find you,” the blonde explained, so simply as though it hardly needed to be said at all. “Every trail my friends gave me had gone cold, and… I knew I needed to start thinking like you a little.”

She despised the thought. Someone so good as Applejack, with good family and good futures ahead of her- so many better opportunities and better girls to pursue. Yet what had she done, for Adagio’s sake? Cast aside her dignity, displayed her naked bodies to strangers and lustful brutes that would dream of a cacophony of miserable things they could do to her. The thought of Applejack at a stripper’s pole and being catcalled by the heathens was enough to make her sick.

“Granny wasn’t super happy about it, obviously,” Applejack continued, perhaps catching wind of her audience’s unhappiness. “Made Big Mac pick me up every night to make sure I was safe. Wouldn’t let me do anything with the money I got, made me promise I’d quit soon as I found out where you’d gone to-”

“You never gave Moustakas any of your real personal info, right?” Oh God, please don’t have done that.

“Big Mac made me swear not to. And one day I walked out and never went back.”

“Just- you were there for just one month?”

“Just one month,” Applejack assured her. There was hesitation; perhaps yesterday she might not have dared, but after today’s more positive outcome… slowly, her arms went about the trim girl and brought her in close for an embrace. “It’s alright, I’m OK. Nothing happened to me and it was only for a little while. Don’t you worry none.”

“I’m sorry you had to do any of it,” Adagio murmured, burying herself in Applejack’s chest before she actually began crying from the shame. “Don’t you ever do something like that for me, do you understand? I’m not worth it-”

“That’s a lie. And don’t you ever say anything like that again,” Applejack said fiercely. Extracting Adagio from her bosom and forcing those glistening eyes to stare right back into hers, ensuring she felt her iron will. “You are. Whatever you’ve been through, whatever you were- I don’t believe in none of it anymore. You can be a good person, you don’t have to be- evil or, or broken or whatever it is you think you are. You can be good. Good and happy, if you want to! So stop trying to put yourself down, it’s not ever gonna help you. You understand me?”

She didn’t want to believe it or agree with any of it at all. Adagio knew what she was, how impossible it would be to change. But heaven help her, if she didn’t stare at that beautiful blonde with stars in her eyes and give the tiniest of nods! It was impulse, emotional crescendo given far too much potency to be real. How could she resist?

“You can help me with something right now, actually,” Applejack said, releasing the Siren’s face from her grasp and instead leading her by the hand. “Since it got brought up, I was hoping you might have an idea for all this.”

“All this what..?” Adagio’s answer came when she was led into Applejack’s room, the young blonde dipping down and extracting a heavy wooden chest from beneath her bed. With one click of the lock, the lid was lifted back to reveal the color green- in a wild, unbelievable pile. Hundreds- no, thousands of dollars had to be within this single chest, bills of all kinds just sitting there! It wasn’t the most amount of money she’d seen in her life; working for the elite had allowed her to see millions cross before her eyes on the regular. But for such a simple farm, this amount had to be staggering- and potentially life-changing.

“It’s all the money I made,” Applejack said, a small tinge of pink as she smiled. “I didn’t want to keep any of it, and Granny won’t let me put it back into the farm. So I guess I can give it to you instead and you can figure out what to do with it all.”

It didn’t take her a single moment to ponder. “I don’t want it,” Adagio said flatly. Never would she be able to use a single cent of it, the money earned at the cost of her dreamgirl’s pride and dignity. It would be impossible for her to put such shame aside and see it put to good use. “Give it away, burn it, I don’t care. It’s your choice.”

“OK, then,” Applejack said, shutting the chest closed and seeing it hidden back beneath the bedframe. “I can donate it, I guess. Maybe- yeah, I’ll do it in your name! There’s a women’s shelter in town that’s been asking for help a lot lately, I can go-”

Adagio kissed her. Instantaneous, irresistible, undeniable desire and desperation for that farmgirl’s lips too much for her to not act upon. One hand upon her face and the other about her neck so as to draw her close, the beautiful Siren leaned up and saw the gap between disappear. Perhaps it was the wrong choice, but how could she not reward such a wonderful woman? Applejack deserved this kiss- this one, and a thousand more for having sacrificed so much of herself. She deserved a kiss for her selflessness, her loyalty, and for her love to be met if only in the slightest of measures. And Adagio herself could not ignore the attraction, of just how deeply she’d needed to feel her again. She could feel Applejack’s muffled cry of shock turn faint and fall, letting only the sweet taste of her soft lips encompass her senses. How the moment seemed to freeze as they united together, time coming to a standstill so beautiful Siren and her wonderful rescuer could enjoy one simple union together in peace…

And then the spell broke, embarrassment causing Adagio to flee before she could do anything else her heart so desperately desired.

Author's Note

I didn't think it'd get this long.

See you tomorrow. Enjoy, I guess.