Chapter 10: The Pain Of Lovesickness

"So, where is this place you're talking about?" Allegro asked, as he and Adagio exited the concert hall and walked down the street. "Shouldn't be far." Adagio muttered. "I visited this place many times, and it should be-"Adagio paused when she spotted a rather familiar taco stand. "Excuse me for a minute." She said quickly to Allegro, before walking over to the taco stand. "One taco, please." She said, holding out a few coins. The taco vendor broke into a smile when he saw her. "Oh, hello again, miss!" He said. "Another taco, eh? Coming right up!" "Mhm." Adagio somehow felt a little moved that the taco vendor had actually managed to remember her from her first time ordering. "You have good memory." "Maybe one taco for me too, sir." Adagio turned in surprise to see Allegro stepping next to her. The taco vendor whipped round from taking a taco shell in disbelief. "Goodness me, its Allegro Flare!" He said, extending a hand towards the pop star. With a slightly embarrassed look on his face, Allegro shook the taco vendor's hand. "Hi." He handed the taco vendor a few coins. "I see you've already met Adagio." "Adagio?" The taco vendor turned to Adagio. "That's your name?" Adagio nodded. "Yes." "You know Allegro?" "Well, uh…yes." The taco vendor spooned some condiments into the taco shells, and then looked from Adagio to Allegro and back again. "Are you two…?" Both shook their heads. "No, we're not going out or anything." Allegro said, patting Adagio on the shoulder. "I'm teaching her to sing." "Oh, I see." The man smiled, handing the two tacos over to them. "Besides, you're already dating Citrine, right?" "Yep." Allegro responded, hiding the dismay in his voice. "So…see ya." The taco vendor waved to them as they walked on.

"Guess you really know how to put on a show, huh?" Adagio asked as they walked. Allegro sighed and shook his head. "…What choice do I have?" Mr. Biz wants the world to think I'm going out with that bimbo." He muttered. Despite the fact that Adagio was only using Allegro as part of her plan for worldwide adoration, she found herself feeling a tinge of pity for Allegro. "Well, uh, I'm sorry you have to put up with a girl like that." She said, without much thought. "It must be hard on you." Allegro looked at Adagio and smiled. "Nah, it's fine, Adagio. I just need to get used to it." And I need to get used to…this, Allegro thought, his heart pace quickening once more. He knew perfectly well why he still felt like this around her, but…was it just infatuation, or love? He wasn't sure.

At the same time, Adagio felt her cheeks grow warm as something dawned on her. Those words of comfort she had spoken to Allegro just a few minutes ago… Compared to the many dramatic, emotionally packed movies she had watched in the many years she had spent in exile in this place, her words were considered simple to say and perhaps the most decent of heartfelt comforting statements. But there was one thing: those words were the first words of comfort and sympathy that had ever left her lips. It had never been her…thing…to say things like that, not to anyone, not even Aria or Sonata. So why the sudden sentiment? Just what was so special about Allegro Flare? At that, Adagio quickly pushed away the thought. Don't you DARE think about such things! She scolded herself. Like she had told Sonata, their plan for world adoration had no room for other emotions or desires.

Take on me (take on me)

Take me on (Take on me)

I'll be gone

Do-do-do

Take….

"Heyyy, I like this song!" Sonata chirped cheerfully, head swaying slightly to the upbeat tempo of the 80s tune which Concerto was playing out of his phone. "It's so catchy!" Concerto chuckled at Sonata comments. "I'm glad you like the song, Sonata." He said. "It was my father's favourite song during his teenage years. When I was nine, he passed his love of this song down to me. He said it cheered him up on bad days, and hopefully it would do the same for me." "So…did it?" "Yeah, it sure did." Concerto and Sonata, upon deciding that quiet places surrounded by nature would be the best place for them to have their singing lessons, were at a peaceful garden. They were sitting at a ceramic picnic table, sharing songs, and since there was hardly anyone around, Sonata had practiced her singing several times. Yes, her voice was still rather raspy and croaky, but at least she was gradually getting back in tune. "This song really helped me get through my terrible break up with-" Concerto paused when he saw a pale-lilac haired teenager walking past. "Oh, hey Cherry!" He said. Cherry turned around and smiled. "Oh, hey Concerto." She said, walking over. Sonata's heart sank. Oh, boy… She quietly took a deep breath and forced a natural looking smile. "Hey, Cherry." She greeted cheerfully. As Sonata had expected, there was a slight glint of jealousy in Cherry's amber eyes when the girl noticed her sitting with Concerto. "Oh, hey Sonata." She said, the cheerfulness in her voice lessening a little. "What are you two doing here?" "We're-""On a date." Concerto interrupted Sonata's sentence. Quickly, Sonata nodded. "Yep." Cherry looked at the two of them in surprise. "Oh, okay…so I guess I'd better leave you two alone…" "No-no-no, it's okay." Concerto said. "You can stay." He looked at Sonata, who threw on a smile and nodded. "Of course." "thanks." Cherry smiled, and as if to make things worse for Sonata, she sat right next to Concerto, who smiled back at her. Pain welled up in Sonata's heart seeing the two of them so close in such a way. Before she could change her mind, she spoke. "Concerto, hey, I'm getting thirsty. Can I go off to get a drink for a while?" "Oh sure." Casting a brief glance at Cherry, he decided to act like a caring boyfriend. "You need me to go with you?" He asked her. Sonata smiled and shook her head. "There's no need to, I'll be fine. See you later." She waved at Concerto and walked off. Concerto turned and smiled at Cherry. "Guess we can catch up a bit now, huh?" He asked. "Sure!" Cherry said, her face brighter than before now that Concerto's 'girlfriend' was temporarily out of the picture. Concerto felt pleased that his plan seemed to be working. If he and Sonata could just make Cherry jealous even further… wait, something was not right here. Concerto replayed the last few minutes that had just passed within his mind. He remembered Sonata's expression moments earlier. Even thought she had a cheery smile on her face, there seemed to be something hidden deeper in her eyes, which, if Concerto remembered correctly, looked like…dismay? That was strange. Nothing relatively bad had occurred so far, so what could be troubling his assistant? Nah, I must have been seeing things, Concerto thought, quickly brushing it away.

Sonata, once out of sight from Concerto and Cherry, quickened her footsteps, trying to suppress the pain she felt. At the same time, she walked aimlessly along the path, not caring where ti was leading her. Concerto… Him liking someone else was bad enough, but now that someone else was getting jealous and vying for Concerto's attention. Worse of all, this was what Concerto had hoped for all along! It was good for him, but… not for her. Sonata bit her lip as a single tear welled up in her eye and trailed down her cheek: the only visible symbol of her sorrow. I can't believe it…why doesn't Concerto have a single clue that I like him… There was absolutely no way she could confess to him; she couldn't handle a rejection, and in addition doing that would also anger Adagio and Aria if they caught wind of it. Then…should I walk away? From this? Sonata sighed. No…I can't. Despite all her sadness, all Sonata wanted was for Concerto Dawn to be happy…but for her membership in the Dazzlings, that was an entirely different matter. Adagio and Aria only cared about power and nothing else, such that anyone whom they saw as an obstacle would be quickly eliminated. In fact, there could've been four members of The Dazzlings if…oh yes…her. Sonata cringed as the memories from her days in Equestria flooded back to her.

"Are you trying to be a traitor?" Adagio's angry voice echoed in Sonata's head.

"No I'm not! I just can't live with sowing discord amongst everypony and feeding off their negativity! I know that I'm a siren too, but… It's not right!" The voice of a siren which Sonata hadn't thought of for years firmly answered Adagio's question. "But if you find my opinion strongly disagreeable, then yeah. I am a traitor."

Sonata could almost picture Adagio and Aria's angry, intense glares from that day so long ago.

"Ugh, told you she wasn't one of us." Sonata heard Aria mutter resentfully to Adagio. "I couldn't agree more, Aria." Adagio said. "Traitors don't belong in our group. Silver, leave. Now." For a fleeting moment, the 'traitor's' expression of dismay appeared in Sonata's mind. After a moment of silence, Silver spoke again. "Fine, if it'll make you happy. Bye." Her voice was cold, and this was promptly followed by the sound of hoof steps echoing away. As the sounds of the memory faded, Sonata couldn't help but shed more tears. Silver could be anywhere in Equestria now since Adagio had kicked her out before their attempt to conquer Equestria. It had been years, and Sonata realised, with a pang of guilt, that she had gotten used to a group of three sirens instead of four. But she now understood that Silver had been right to stand up to Adagio after all, and not to mention she had been Sonata's closest friend out of the four sirens. However, Sonata believed that she herself could never have the courage Silver had.

Suddenly, a flash of silver from behind a nearby tree caught Sonata's eye. "Huh?" She whisked her eyes to the tree. "Who's there?" A long period of silence followed. Sonata shrugged dismissively. "Meh. I must be seeing things." She said to herself, walking off.

As Sonata walked off, a girl with silver, blue streaked hair tied into a curly ponytail peeked out from behind the tree, her fiery autumn eyes staring in disbelief at the blue haired girl's disappearing form. "Could it be her?" The girl mumbled to herself. "Looks awfully a lot like her. But if she's here, that means…" The girl sighed. "I knew it. They were the ones causing the arguments and fights in all the cafeterias and restaurants around here! Jeez…" The girl moved her hand to her neck, fingering a pendant which hung there. The pendant was almost similar to the Dazzlings' pendants, except for one thing. Rather than the Dazzlings' signature red, this pendant flaunted a shade of bright blue. "…Always getting others to clean up things up after them." She muttered to herself, as the pendant glowed blue in agreement.

Splashfire99: I'll reveal more about this 'Silver' character in the next chapters…I think…