A Week After (The Dazzlings)

>Be Aria
>Opening the door to the apartment you realize just how much things have changed since the battle
>Before all of this happened Sonata would have eagerly greeted you in a matter of seconds
>But now She lay on the couch, watching television without giving you much thought
"Where is Adagio?"
>Sonata merely points to Adagio's room, eliciting little more than a groan
>As you made your way to the door you couldn't help but wonder what she had to be watching to have that much of her attention
>Adagio hadn't been herself since the battle around a week ago so you thought it was about time to look a bit more into the matter
>But...
>Opening the door your eyes befell a sight of which you never could have fathomed
>Curled up in the corner
>Quietly sobbing
>Sat Adagio
>You wanted to call out to her
>You wanted to help
>...But how?
>Instead you simply closed the door
>Trudged to the living room
>And sat next to Sonata without uttering a word...

>Be Sonata


>You expected a reaction from Aria
>Though what you expected, not even you were sure
>Even if you had a list this wouldn't have been on it
>Aria had just sat and began watching television alongside you
>Guess there really is a first for everything
>It wasn't that Aria particularly disliked you, in fact Aria and Adagio were like sisters to you
>But Aria always preferred having her personal space
>Nevertheless you rest your arm around her, still not sure of how to comfort her
>She hadn't even eaten since she got home
>So you pull her close and say the only thing you deem appropriate
"Dinner is ready.. you'll never guess what were having."
>You try to flash her a smile of reassurance
>But you couldn't even do that much
>Still, she didn't budge

>... If only Aria knew how to ask for help...

>Aria


>You wanted nothing less than leaving Sonata's warm embrace
>Although after a slow work day your stomach had other plans..
>And it refused to be ignored after around 10 minutes
>Sonata couldn't help but smile and laughingly said
"Well what are you waiting for? Go find out already!"
>Walking into the kitchen you already had one guess to what you'd see
>Bingo! you saw partially what you expected...
>There were three prepared plates,
>They were warm enough that you expected that they were ready moments before you walked in
>Perhaps Adagio chose to wait until they cooled?
>...Not likely
>But Sonata?
>She'd normally have finished hers at the very least before you even arrived
>She is probably just as hungry as you are, just as unnerved as well
>Grabbing two plates you head back to the living room
>You were much more calm than you had been half an hour ago
>Suppose you owed it to sonata for that


>After you finished eating you'd have to attempt paying Adagio another visit

>Adagio

"It's not fair!"
>It would be hard to put your frustration into words
>How could you let them down like that?
"Why do they have to suffer from my mistake?"
>Only a week ago everything had been alright
"Why was the one time I screw up the time that they suffer!?"
>When was the last time you cried?
>You honestly couldn't remember
>Since the banishment you had always been the strong one
>When Sonata couldn't maintain a smile you had gotten her a small bear, ithad an even smaller red bowtie
>And although it didn't solve your problems it raised her spirits
>Which in turned raised Aria's mood as well, even if she won't admit it
>Sadly the bear disappeared nearly a month later, Sonata hadn't the chance to name it
>But by then the three of you had been able to get an apartment
>You and Aria worked jobs while Sonata watched over the place, Though that meant tuesdays were hardly a surprise
>Everything had been generally going well with you making the plans for restoring power
>Had been...
>Then you screwed everything up at the battle
"I had everything planned!"
"Everything should have been accounted for and they escape!?"
>It had been a week since the battle
>Since you lost the amulets
>And as those days passed your positive attitude and your esteem dropped
>...It showed
>Any normal day you would have heard your door open

>Or the Footsteps that followed
>And perhaps the feeling of someones arms surrounding you

>Aria

>You were still unable to speak
>You were also new to this concept of comforting someone, though you had a few ideas
>If it were Sonata perhaps tickling would work, it didn't take much to set her off before anyway
>But... This was Adagio
>You still felt you should say something and yet, you couldn't
>Perhaps it was better this way?
>You think back to Sonata
>Her initially quiet hug was exactly you needed
>Still.. This whole experience was new to you

>What if it didn't work?

>What if you weren't doing it right?

>What if you were doing it wrong?

>What if you were somehow making things worst?

>All of these thoughts were not helping your sanity
>You were just as nervous as she was upset
>It was a miracle Adagio didn't feel your heartbeat
>If she did she made no sign of it.
>After a few minutes of crying into your shoulder, she finally made eye contact with you
>Her eyes were bloodshot
>Tears still streaming down her face
>And she was still uncontrollably weeping
>But even through her sobs she was able to choke out a single low but audible whisper

"...Thanks"

>Well Didn't you have the weirdest feeling of deja vu
>It was funny in a way
>You had spoken these exact words to Sonata before walking in
>The quiet hug must have been effective
>Without the slightest thought you say
"Whats the matter?"
>It was a dumb question, you had caught the last few things Adagio mumbled to herself after entering the room
>The look on her face told just how reluctant she was to speak
>Still this was something you felt you had to go over
>So after gathering your thoughts and with a sigh you finally speak again
"Look, Adagio you can't blame yourself for what happened."
>Adagio's grip on your shoulder tightens
"But it's my fault that we no longer have our amulets, I let you both dow-"
>You didn't let her finish that sentence before interrupting
"You didn't let anyone down Adagio"
>It was slowly becoming clear what it was that had her upset
"Ever since we were banished from Equestria you have done a great job leading us up to now"
>That last part hadn't sounded the way you meant it to and Adagio was quick to hang her head
"That doesn't mean you have to do everything by yourself,Sonata and I are and always will be here with you thick or thin just like you were with us"
>This seemed to catch her attention as she finally returned her gaze to you accompanied by a small smile
>There wasn't much else you could say and thinking back to not long ago you remember she hadn't eaten
>Grabbing her hand you stood her up and began to lead her out of the room
"Come on, lets get you someth-"
>She didn't move
"Adagio?"
>She hugged you once again much tighter than before and from the feeling you had on your shoulder it was obvious that she was crying once again
"N-not yet.."

>Sonata

>Minutes ago the show that had enraptured your attention finally ended and Aria still hadn't returned
>You wondered if she had gotten stuck in the doorway again but that thought was immediately dismissed as you turned to look into Adagio's room
>Leaning against the door frame you believe things are going to change, for the better
>A chill sends shivers down your spine
>You swear you feel someone watching you, but as you turn you only catch the weather changing
>It had just began snowing
>Looks like it'd be a white Christmas this year