Runic Notation

Chapters

May Thunder Be Our Voice
With Lightning In Our Veins
Our Hearts Are Beating Power Roaring Our Claim

May Thunder Be Our Voice

They were the odd couple. But that's part of why everypony loved them.

After all it was a storybook romance and who doesn't like those?

Twilight Sparkle - scion of a well-off Canterlot family - was the portrait of what a unicorn should be. Well-educated and well-raised, she excelled in her chosen field and was almost universally recognized as one of the most elite. After all, she was by far the youngest cellist to gain first chair in the Canterlot Symphony Orchestra and the only unicorn to have done so.

How she had met her partner was where the fairy tale came in - you couldn't find a pair more different in their paths through life.

While still a unicorn, Rarity didn't come from an established line - or from Canterlot at all. Her origins were far to the south-west in humble Ponyville, but while her roots lay there? Her boughs touched the sky.

Far different than Twilight Sparkle's ascension through the musical ranks, Rarity scraped and clawed her way to the top. Her weapon of choice was the turntable - taking the moniker of DJ Rar-👁-T on stage. Staring with school parties and working her way up through the clubs, Rarity's three-diamond symbol came to encapsulate something more than just a rave. Something elevated - poise, class, style. She brought sick beats and bass drops to Canterlot - the nobles let her sneak in because her commoner music was quaint, and when the trend passed and they tried to get rid of her she tenaciously refused to let go.

Which was how the two met. Twilight had been dragged along by friends to chuckle at the former flavor of the month who refused to understand her time was over - and her reaction was far more entertaining. They had smirked at how the cellist had cringed at the first bone-thundering bass drop. They had laughed at how she had winced when the music skittered like claws on a chalkboard.

They were less amused when, at the end of the set, Twilight had stomped up to the DJ and confronted her. The precise words were unimportant - and easily lost to the thump of the club - but the drama poured off the pair in waves.

An angry shout.

A jabbed accusation.

A sarcastic refutation.

A smarmy counter-jab.

A surprised and slightly confused look.

An eye-battingly flirtatious response.

Her friends went home without her - the rest of the evening was spent with Twilight glued to the DJ at the corner of the bar talking.

As it turned out, being a DJ didn't exclude Rarity from having a deep knowledge of music history and theory that rivaled Twilight's own. Being an accomplished (if rusty) pianist and singer helped to mollify the cellist's initial impressions, as well. By the end of the evening, Twilight was apologizing for judging Rarity and the two were fast friends.

Over the following weeks, Twilight became a regular at Rarity's club. And in turn, the Canterlot Symphony sold another second-row season ticket. Friendship deepened, and the fairy tale reached a climax on a rooftop watching the sun set when the cellist kissed the DJ.

From there, the two were inseparable as they shared their passions - and their love of music.

Thus was born Canterlot's rising musical couple - two lovers with great intelligence and proficiency, excelling in their fields and with each other.

The club was perched on the precipice of party - Rarity hadn't begun her set yet, and the room was tense in waiting. She was up there, of course, looming like the shadow of a falling boulder.

Twilight loved these moments almost as much as the show itself. The tension was palpable and nothing like her own performances.

Of course, that was pure Rarity. She had lectured Twilight more than once - well, they had argued about it - that music which was satisfied with only engaging a single sense was akin to a genius who never cared to put in the minimal effort to gain a barely passing grade. No DJ Rar-👁-T show would dare to be so low-brow. That's why the evening's selection of Tech House was being paired with a fiery curry from an up-and-coming local restaurant and a boldly textured Chenin Blanc. Rarity was determined to engage every sense - the sound of the music; the feel of the pulsing bass; the sight of the conjured lights; the scent of the curry; the taste of the wine... and right now she was indulging her favorite sense: the sense of drama.

The first notes struck, diving at the unexpecting crowd like a swooping hawk. Instantly the people were silent as Rarity consumed them in her world - and Twilight went with them. She bounced along with the beat, letting it overtake her.

This was the Rarity she hadn't originally appreciated - but she had learned to. Part of it was that Twilight had come to realize that Rarity was less a musician and more a conductor: her art was coordinating her plethora of instruments and notes, wrangling them to obey her will and form the symphony she wanted to create. (Rarity was predictably indignant at the 'less a musician' part, but the comparison was flattering enough to partially mollify her.)

But there were also moments where Twilight saw her less as a conductor and more as a dancer. That was one of the earliest things Twilight had noticed during her dubstep education: Rarity engaged every sense she could and that included her own. Her movements blended in with the music as she played - from the bounce to a riddim beat to the smooth, flowing movements of her forelegs in tune with Prench house, Rarity would always lose herself in the music as much as her crowd did.

She envied the joy on Rarity's face in those moments.

Twilight was a virtuoso and everypony knew it - she was the master of a half-dozen instruments and capable with several more - but for her music was an exercise in concentration. Of laser-tight focus on the sheet before her and of the movement of her hooves on neck and bow. Her music was tension and control, carving through marble notes to create a beautiful statue. Rarity's was submerging herself into the music, diving deep and floating in the warm currents.

Twilight couldn't help but sigh wistfully as she watched her marefriend create art with effortless grace.

"She is rather good, isn't she," commented the Trotish voice beside her.

The compliment made Twilight's smile widen. "Yeah."

"Not my usual cup of tea, but if one can only appreciate inside one's own preferences one shall never grow."

A final bass drop, and Rarity's set ended. The silence in the room was almost painful - before the crowd erupted in cheers. On stage, the DJ gave a smiling bow before she was enveloped by darkness and a glowing illusion of three blue diamonds took her place.

Turning her head finally, Twilight glanced over to the speaker - a grey earth pony with hair black as coal. "Wise words from aaaaaaa....." Her mouth hung open, the last syllable dragging on as her eyes and brain realized who was sitting next to and speaking to her.

The earth pony smirked a little, waiting for Twilight to catch up and get a hold of herself.

"You're-- you're Octavia!" Twilight reeled at the obvious revelation. "You're Octavia Melody!"

The grey mare blinked. "I am?" She rotated her head, turning to the white unicorn with the electric blue mane beside her. "Vinyl, did you hear that? I'm Octavia Melody! This wonderful mare just solved my amnesia problem!" The pale unicorn rolled her crimson eyes.

Twilight frowned. "You're mocking me."

"Well," Octavia noted with a laugh, "You are making it rather easy."

Biting her lip, Twilight wasn't able to suppress a smile. "I am, aren't I?"

Octavia held out her hoof. "Let us try again, shall we? You would be Twilight Sparkle, the best classical musician in Canterlot and quite possibly the most talented in the last several generations."

An instant blush darkened Twilight's cheeks. "And you," she noted as she took the offered hoof with her own, "are Octavia Melody. Not only the first earth pony to have ever been admitted to the School for Gifted Unicorns, but so talented that you became the Princesses' personal student."

Dismissively, Octavia waved it off. "Simply the right place at the right time."

But Twilight was having none of that. "You're the master of runic magic. I'm a hobby enthusiast, and I can't even begin to wrap my head around some of what you've done." She laughed. "And that isn't even going into how you and your friends unlocked the Elements of Harmony when you saved Starswirl and the Pillars of Equestria from Limbo!"

"I take it then that you're familiar with my companion?" Octavia moved slightly to the side, giving Twilight a clearer view of the other unicorn.

And Twilight jumped right into it. "Of course I am! Vinyl Scratch, the Element of Generosity!"

In response, Vinyl snorted and turned away.

Octavia laughed at Twilight's stricken expression. "You must pardon her. Vinyl's simply salty that she's become famous across Equestria for that rather than for her work in fashion." She leaned closer, stage-whispering conspiracy. "She may be generous but she can be a bit of a sourpuss when her ego is bruised."

That broke Twilight from her funk and into giggles. "Now that sounds familiar."

"I thought it might," Octavia shot back with her own subtle cheer.

"What sounds familiar?"

All three sets of eyes turned to Rarity as the DJ swanned up to the bar and promptly dropped herself into Twilight's lap. The cellist - unprepared - grunted as the breath was knocked from her lungs. Rarity utterly failed to notice, instead leaning across to take Twilight's wineglass and down the remains of it in a single gulp.

"Darling, you really must learn to account for your environment better. I know you have eyes only for moi, but the look of surprise on your face when you realized you were being spoken to was most distressing." Rarity ran a languid hoof along the sweep of Twilight's cheek. "You're liable to give yourself a heart attack one of these days."

Fumbling, Twilight tried in vain to retake control of the conversation. "I should introduce you. Rarity, this is--"

"--Octavia Melody and Vinyl Scratch," Rarity finished, holding out a hoof. "Absolutely charmed."

Twilight sputtered. "How do you know them?"

And Rarity laughed. "After all the struggling I've done to keep abreast with Canterlot society to retain my place, you're surprised I can recognize Octavia Melody? And of course I recognize Vinyl, darling, I wore one of her shawls on our last date." She paused. "Admittedly it's the only piece of hers I could possibly afford to own, but it's stunning."

Recognition sparked in Twilight. "Oh, you mean the blue one?"

Utter - if fond - disdain flashed in Rarity's eyes. "First of all it's Mareoccaan Blue you absolute philistine."

Rarity's second point was interrupted by Octavia's riotous laughter. "Oh yes, you were right Vinyl. I do like them."

The blue-maned designer smirked meaningfully before refilling her wineglass.

Both musicians looked at each other, speaking a silent question. Twilight took the lead in saying it aloud. "Miss Melody - the way you said that. This isn't random chance, is it."

"Just Octavia will do fine," the earth pony started. "But yes, you are correct. We came here seeking both of you specifically - and for business I'm afraid."

Rarity cut in. "I hate to disappoint, but I fear you may be going about this the wrong way." She tried to keep her tone gentle - avoiding accidentally offending powerful people was a key survival skill in Canterlot - but Rarity also kept steel under the cushion to halt the discussion. "If you desire one of us to perform, it really would be best to speak to our respective booking agents. As flattering as it is to be asked, it would be untoward to not respect any conflicting commitments that we already have."

And Octavia shook her head. "While commendable, your performances are not what brings us to you. At least," she added after a momentary pause, "not in the way you think."

Taking over the bar, Octavia produced a scroll and spread it wide in front of them. Twilight gasped quietly at the nigh-incomprehensible scribblings of dark ink on the pale paper. "Is that a variation on Snowfall's Circle of Buried Binding?" Her hoof traced the outside of the intricate runework. "It is! But you've modified it with Aurora's Power Eclipse to allow for restraining a much higher--"

Rarity put her hoof over Twilight's mouth. "Mayhaps we should let the actual wizard explain?"

Octavia, at least, seemed to take it in amused stride. "A good eye for a self-proclaimed hobby enthusiast. Those two are the basis of this particular bit of work, though it also incorporates around a dozen lesser incantations and enchantments to reach the final form. And before you ask, no, it is not my work. This is Princess magic."

Both Twilight and Rarity's eyes widened at that.

"We've been dispatched to try and trap a dangerous monster near Horseshoe Bay. The details are less than clear, but it's intelligent, aggressive and powerful enough that neither Princess is capable of facing it directly. It's also been preying on the locals for some time, though thus far that's been kept quiet. They fear it's getting stronger and more bold, and could soon strike out openly elsewhere." Octavia couldn't help but frown at the implications of that. "The idea is that we can bind it and use the circle to siphon off enough of its power to render it..." She trailed off for a moment, searching for the right words. "Less threatening," she finally settled on.

There was silence for a long, lingering moment. (At least between the quartet - the club was never truly silent as long as there were ponies in it.)

Rarity pinched her eyes shut to pull her thoughts together. "Darling, while it's fascinating that you're so eager to divulge state secrets to complete strangers at a bar - and I do appreciate the gossip - I really must ask why you're telling us this."

Leaning over, Vinyl tapped her hoof in three spots around the circle - three smaller nodes of runes.

"My own magic won't be enough on its own," Octavia elaborated. "Because Friendship is Magic, to defeat this monstrosity will require more than just me. However, the other unicorn among the Elements is currently unavailable."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "The Element of Laughter?"

A frustrated sigh slipped from Octavia's lips. "She prefers the Element of Entertainment, but yes. The point is that to ensure this works, we need help."

Rarity uncharacteristically fumbled for a moment. "Well, I-- I'm sorry, but forgive me. You're Octavia Melody. There must be hundreds of unicorns you could go to - even if you exclude everypony at the School for Gifted Unicorns, there's an entire cadre in the Royal Guard you could choose from. Why us?" Her ego insisted on a quick addition. "Not that it isn't flattering but we're musicians, not monster hunters."

That was a question, it seemed, she was prepared for. Both Octavia and Vinyl smirked as it was asked. "For starters," the darker of the two began, "The Princesses suggested you both. By name."

That tidbit visibly rocked both musicians in their combined seat.

But Octavia didn't slow down to give it any room for questioning or elaboration. "Secondly, I'm sure you'll deny it but leaving Vinyl aside? You two are by far the strongest unicorns in the room, in terms of magic." She waved a hoof at the assembled party-goers. "They're perhaps not the highest bar to surpass, but both of you are significantly above-average. You," she noted with a nod of the chin to Twilight, "Attended the School yourself under a music scholarship. And you," came the next nod towards Rarity, "Passed the entrance exams with flying colors, even if you didn't attend."

Twilight's head practically spun to look at her marefriend.

Rarity merely shrugged. "I never planned to attend and couldn't have afforded it if I had. Taking it was more a.." She waved a hoof in the air dismissively. "A way to prove myself. To show that I could have kept up with the creme de la creme if I had been so inclined."

Twilight gave Rarity a little shove, knocking her out of her lap. "You never told me about any of that!"

"Why darling," the DJ added with a batting of her eyelashes, "You never asked."

Vinyl's snickering cut away any further lover's spats, though Twilight continued to pout outrageously.

As Rarity finally took her own seat at the bar, Octavia tried to bring them back on track. "Beyond the talent of your horns, the other reason is that both of you are compatible with my own magic. Musical notation isn't actually that far removed from runeworking."

Twilight audibly considered that. "An archaic writing system that can only be deciphered by a tiny fraction of the population and is used in conjunction with specialized tools to create magical effects?" She exchanged a quick look with Rarity. "Okay, I can see the similarity."

A loud sigh of relief escaped Octavia. "So you'll assist?"

She was stopped from going further by Rarity's raised hoof. "Pardon, but that is not what Twilight said. We can accept that we were chosen for a good reason, and it's quite flattering to gain such recognition from so influential of sources. But you can't really expect us to drop everything and run off to fight against some horrific creature just because--"

"Vinyl will personally design and gift each of you a complete outfit for services rendered." Octavia cut in, slashing apart Rarity's objections. Her voice quivered a little as she spoke, betraying her underlying nerves. "You will also be publicly credited for your involvement - garnering both the pleasure of the Princesses and nation-wide acclaim. I suspect that boost of fame will more than pay for your time."

The offer hung in the air.

A tiny smirk came to Rarity's lips. "Darling, you had me at being able to see Twilight in a bespoke Scratch gown."

With Lightning In Our Veins

"--Which is why I had such a hard time even being accepted to the Canterlot Symphony in the first place," Twilight finished as they walked around the craggy outcropping and towards the beach.

"Fascinating," Octavia noted with a nod. "I would never have expected there to be substantial prejudice against a unicorn over classical music."

Twilight dismissed it with a wave of her hoof. "It's less purposeful and more tradition. A bow is normally strung with horsehair and since pony manes are surprisingly magic-resistant, unicorns have a difficult time manipulating them. Which is why string instruments are traditionally used by earth ponies and why I play with my hooves instead of my magic." She shrugged. "Unicorns do dominate woodwind sections, however."

Octavia smiled softly. "And so I've learned another new thing today. That's always a wonderful experience."

Beaming back with pride, Twilight gave a small curtsy. "My pleasure to have helped."

The journey had been relaxing and quiet, for the most part. Initially leaving Canterlot had been slightly contentious, but having the Element of Magic with you to say the phrase 'official government business' could smooth over nearly any ruffled feather.

After that, it was merely a train ride to Baltimare. The arduous part was the hike from the city to the far side of Horseshoe Bay, which took the better part of a day. Fortunately the weather was good and Rarity had the foresight to acquire a picnic lunch before they'd gotten out of the city - eating it atop a hill overlooking the bay had slowed them slightly, but the view was worth it.

Now as late afternoon drifted away and they came to Octavia's designated location on the south edge of the water, pleasant conversation covered their building unease at the task ahead.

"Your words are a greater help than I can express, Twilight." Octavia paused, scanning the area before pointing to a spot on the beach. "There. And... truly, it is. As much as I love Vinyl and the others, encountering new ponies and learning from them is one of my greatest joys of late."

Twilight smiled a little wider at that. "I understand that pretty well. Before Rarity, I was really sheltered and isolated - I stayed inside my own circles and didn't budge. Then," she added with a laugh, "Some crazy DJ pulled me kicking and screaming into a wider world, and I don't think I'll ever be able to thank her enough."

Octavia glanced back to the other pair as they walked along a dozen or so meters behind. "She does extrovert quite well, doesn't she?"

Laughing still, Twilight shook her head. "She's an artist - she likes to express herself. Now she's just found the perfect friendship for herself. Vinyl doesn't speak, and Rarity has enough words for both of them."

As they approached ground zero on the beach, both of them shared a chuckle.

"Twilight," Octavia began, "No matter what happens here? I would rather enjoy seeing more of Rarity and yourself. I'm sure Vinyl would agree. And while I'm certain we shall be in Canterlot fairly often..." She hesitated briefly. "Have either of you ever considered Ponyville?"

"Rarity's originally from Ponyville," Twilight pointed out. "I don't think she'd be willing to give up Canterlot for it, not after she's fought so hard to get her hoof in the door."

There was an edge of desperation in Octavia's voice, words rapid as she countered. "You could commute! Canterlot isn't that far by train and the living costs in Ponyville are... are..." She deflated, head bowing. "I apologize, Twilight. That was untoward of me. I lost my poise for a moment. Like you, it wasn't so long ago that I was sheltered and isolated in my own little world. And finding those who see me as more than the Element of Magic or the Princesses' Student or just 'the earth pony' is... sadly too rare."

Shaking her head, Twilight dismissed the apology. "It's alright." She considered for a moment. "I mean, you're not wrong. The two of us each renting in Canterlot is the same price as buying a house in Ponyville. Plus," she added with a gentle laugh, "The company there sounds pretty good to me."

A thin smile came to Octavia's lips. "Something to discuss once this is over then, yes?" Her reply was a simple nod, and that was enough. She waved the others in, and all three gathered around the earth pony. "Shall we review the plan once more?"

Rarity shook her head, mane bouncing as she did so. "It seems a simple enough plan. You draw out the binding circle here at the ley nexus. Then once the... whatever it is appears, we lure it in. Once it's inside the circle, each of us stands in our designated spot until the process is complete."

Twilight cut in. "And we have to remember to keep casting while we're there."

"A critically important correction," Octavia noted. "The magical power within this beast is going to be siphoned off. The three of you will be acting as a battery, absorbing the energy as it's drawn away. So long as you're able to push it out as fast as it comes in, everything shall go smoothly."

A moment's hesitation. "And if we don't?" A hint of unease crept into Rarity's voice as she asked that.

Vinyl helpfully pantomimed an explosion.

"Don't," was Octavia's advice.

Actually drawing up the circle of runes wasn't quick. As Octavia had first said, it was Princess-level magic. Twilight watched the process with rapt fascination as the grey mare used the tip her hoof to carve line after line into the dirt. Occasionally she stomped on the ground, causing sections of it to churn and provide her firmer materials to work with.

As time passed and the circle took form, Rarity grew nervous again. "That's an awfully big space you're using, darling. I could probably hold a concert inside there and not feel cramped."

"The Princesses weren't sure what form the monster's in," Octavia admitted. "I would prefer to err on the side of caution with size."

Rarity snorted. "Yes, well, you're preparing for something larger than a house and I feel it's entirely reasonable to be--"

"Wait." Twilight cut her marefriend off, earning a pout from Rarity. "What do you mean, what form it's in?"

That caused some hesitation. Octavia exchanged glances with Vinyl, and the unicorn nodded. "The Princesses," Octavia cautiously ventured, "Are somewhat in the dark on this one I'm afraid. They were able to decipher the when and the where, but little else. This creature - whatever it is - faced them once long ago. But they were..." She hesitated again, frowning sharply. But Octavia had to admit it - that her teachers were less than perfect. "They were unsure if it would be the same as what they battled. Over the intervening centuries, it may have changed from the magic it absorbed and gathered, and they didn't want to provide incorrect or misleading information."

"So we don't know what we're facing. At all." Twilight frowned as well now, too.

"We shall know..." Octavia glanced to Vinyl - who was looking at her watch.

In the same moment, Vinyl pointed out towards the water and Octavia finished her sentence. "Now."

And nothing happened. Not visibly, and not as dramatically as the gathered ponies had expected. The tension between them rose in anticipation - and just as it peaked, Vinyl pointed to a different spot closer to the mouth of the bay. All eyes went to in the water and a fin breaking it.

Octavia sucked in a sharp breath.

The color of the fin was obscured for a moment - the sun was just touching the horizon as it descended from the sky. But as the creature moved away and towards the center of the bay, it resolved into a deep purple shade that was barely lighter than Rarity's mane. Cutting through the water, it swept side to side sharply in a predatory search - until it caught the scent of prey.

It was almost soundless as it burst from the water - a massive mulberry creature that was half pony, half fish. The face, however, was less pony and more draconic - the sharp predator's teeth certainly were nothing like what was in the mouths of the quartet. The creature loomed - swimming through the air as easily as it had the water - and turned its eyes towards the city on the far side of the bay.

Octavia uncharacteristically swore. "A Siren."

"What?" Twilight could barely breathe the question, voice trembling as her eyes stayed locked on the flying predator the size of a small house.

"Starswirl told me stories about them." Octavia's voice was hushed, her heart trembling with ancient, primal fears. "Not long before the time of the Princesses, the Pillars fought a trio of creatures called the Sirens. Vicious, destructive beasts - but intelligent and cunning none the less. They lived by feeding off negative emotions, evoking them by the magic of the ruby gems on their throats. By the tale, the Pillars defeated two of them and sent the third fleeing to far exile."

Rarity shivered. "A gem, you say? Like... the one that one wears?" She pointed, hoof outstretched to the gleam of red on the purple creature's neck.

Octavia's grey coat turned ashen. "Sun and Moon. It can't be. Starswirl's tale is from more than a thousand years ago."

"He survived," Twilight pointed out quietly. "The Princesses are that old, too."

For a moment the horror of the thought overwhelmed them all - a millennia-old predator, powerful enough to match the Princesses. But that thought prompted Octavia to leap into action as the others froze.

Sand and dirt shifted underhoof as Octavia sketched as fast as she could. Two new rings of runes, connected by a thin conduit. "Rarity, Twilight! In these! Now!" The unicorns jumped to, following the abrupt command. "Argue!"

Rarity blinked. "Pardon?"

"Every relationship is imperfect." Octavia's words tumbled out rapid-fire, her mind working faster than her lips could vocalize. "Sirens feed on anger and distrust, so we need a lure. The circles will amplify it to draw the beast's attention, but you must vent your relationship problems for the good of Equestria!"

The two hesitantly looked at each other.

"If you wanted a relationship councilor, darling, you could have just asked," Rarity joked, winking at Twilight.

Octavia snapped, even as she tried to watch the distant Siren. "Wrong emotion! Try again!"

There was another moment of hesitation before Twilight tossed her first volley. "Rarity, I... I wonder sometimes if you really love me." She winced, pained by her own words. "You put so much into securing yourself in Canterlot that I wonder... I'm afraid in my darker moments that I'm just another way to do that. A marefriend from a 'proper' family, with connections to 'proper' culture, who can anchor you into high society..."

The runic circle around Twilight pulsed a dark blue.

Rarity, tears in her eyes, took a step towards Twilight. "Darling, please, I... I know that it could be at a glance but I assure you that I would never--"

Octavia interposed herself between them. "STAY IN THE CIRCLE!" The shout stopped Rarity in her tracks. "And we need anger!" A look of sorrow crossed her face. "I'm sorry, but you must. If the Siren reaches Baltimare and unleashes its magic on the city, the potential for damage is... Fighting. Riots. The city could burn for days, and that would only make the beast stronger for the next town it attacks." She glanced between the two lovers again. "I'm sorry to do this to you, my friends, but we are almost out of time."

Rarity pinched her eyes tightly closed. Her mind flickered over moment after moment with Twilight - always with Twilight. Happy, smiling, laughing, giggling, amazing Twilight. And she had to... had to...

"You are a terrible violinist."

Rarity's hooves clapped over her mouth with a squeak.

Twilight simply looked confused. "I'm what?"

It was said. There was no backing out now. "Darling, I'm sorry, but you are." Rarity tried to soldier on, bracing herself. "I understand that you pride yourself on your musical ability, and you are quite talented with most instruments you pick up. But despite your skill with most other strings, your violin playing is abysmal. You're too used to the movements of the cello and you sound like a farm child trying to saw out a hoedown."

Stricken, Twilight staggered back slightly. "How would you know what a hoedown sounds-- oh. Right, Ponyville."

Rarity grimaced. "Yes. Ponyville."

The tension hovered in the air. Twilight took a long, deep breath.

"I don't like that you're so focused on appearances and high society."

That made Rarity gasp. "Darling! You know that it's just to keep my place! Without that care, I'd never be able to survive in Canterlot!"

The circle around Twilight pulsed red. "Who cares! Rarity, you keep forgetting that you've already proven yourself! You're one of the most famous musicians in Equestria - you don't need those stuck-up noble jerks anymore! And they are jerks! I know because this is the world I'm from! And every day I worry that they're going to taint the beautiful, wonderful mare I fell for! I don't want them to turn your pretty into petty!"

Off to the side, Octavia nodded grimly in appreciation of that bit of wordplay.

"Fame is fleeting, Twilight! You know that!" Rarity was getting properly incised now - the pulse of red on the circle around her told that story just as much as the growing vigor in her gesticulating. "But I need that fame to stay afloat - without it I'm just some sad filly with no name from a nowhere town. If getting to do what I love with who I love takes playing their games, I shall suffer it gladly!" She stomped a firm hoof. "I would think you could respect that, Twilight! After all, I respect your constant need to over-analyze everything."

"Over-analyze?!" The circle under Twilight pulsed harder.

Out over the bay, the purple Siren stopped and sniffed at the air.

"Oh, I'm sorry but I like to learn about things!" Twilight's lips curled into a snarl. "I enjoy being educated! I thought you liked that! You said I looked cute when I was reading!"

"You look cute all the time!" Rarity stomped again. "That's why I keep trying to put those outfits on you, because the only way you can look more adorable when you're curled up reading by the window is if you were wearing a beret while doing it!"

Twilight threw the compliment right back. "I hate it when you do that! Hats are stupid!"

Rarity gasped, scandalized. "YOU TAKE THAT BACK!" The runic ring under her flared like a bonfire.

Vinyl interposed herself between them, holding out her hooves.

A very frustrated Octavia stepped in as well. "You're both exceptionally bad at this, you realize. Even when you're angry at each other, you're too sweet." Both musicians blushed with embarrassment. "Fortunately, it appears that was enough to gain the Siren's attention." She paused for half a moment. "Unfortunately, it was enough to gain the Siren's attention. To your places, if you please."

All three unicorns scrambled to their places around the largest ring as Octavia smudged out the emotional amplifier that Rarity and Twilight had been in moments before. Over the bay, the Siren was coming closer - slowed a little out of caution and eyes watching carefully, but still at a frightful speed.

Twilight swallowed roughly. "Rarity? I just want to say that I'm... I'm sorry. I know that you really love me and that fear's just me being silly."

Softly smiling, Rarity nodded. "It's fine, love. A bit of venting is good catharsis, and we're strong enough to survive the tiny foibles and follies of our self-doubts and fears. Besides," she airily added, "I know you didn't mean any of it."

"...I meant the stuff about not liking hats," Twilight admitted with some reluctance.

Rarity didn't get to respond - fortunately - though her stricken face spoke volumes.

Then the Siren was upon them.

Our Hearts Are Beating Power Roaring Our Claim

The Siren swam through the air, long tail lashing to propel itself forward. There was caution in its movements - the emotional flare of Twilight and Rarity's fight had drawn attention and interest but the Siren wasn't stupid. Something had been off about the amplified burst of emotion and no monster lived for so long without learning basic prudence.

It swept around the outside of the group in a wide arc, narrowed eyes glaring down at the four ponies. All held their positions - the three unicorns in their circles and Octavia ready to draw the final line of the seal.

"Steady..." Octavia said it just as much to herself as to the others.

All three unicorns lit their horns, throwing up shields. None of them were particularly strong at it - Vinyl's in particular wobbled at the edges - but it was all the defense they had given their immobility.

The Siren circled again, evaluating the ponies. It feinted towards them, making Rarity flinch back.

"Steady," Octavia repeated.

They tensed - and the Siren abruptly turned and rocketed back towards the bay.

"Damn it!!" The earth pony looked to Vinyl. "Grab it! If it makes it to open waters, we'll never find it before it attacks another town!"

The pale unicorn nodded - the shield she'd erected vanished like a soap bubble in the wind. Instead, her magenta magic lashed out, hurling a quintet of phantasmal needles after the flying creature - each trailing a thin thread behind. They struck home just as the Siren passed over the water and yanked it backwards. On her own, Vinyl didn't have the strength to haul the beast back - only to keep it in place for a few moments.

But that's what Octavia was for.

Twilight watched with wide eyes as the earth pony demonstrated just why she had been chosen by the Princesses. Grey hooves lashed out, tearing lines in the sandy beach. The cellist recognized what Octavia was drawing - these weren't the graceful, often intricate works of runes in Old Ponish or Ancient Horse. These were rougher marks based in the old Griffon kingdoms and rumored to have been taught to them by even more ancient sources. Few modern mages used them: while they had a primal power, they burned out quickly and few unicorns would bother. But for an earth pony? Short-lived power could work wonders.

Octavia's hoof flashed, sketching out three fast runes in a brutal tongue older than Equestria. Xata - Khra - Jahu. All three surged to life with a deep purple magic. The unicorns dropped to their knees as a sudden weight yanked downwards. The Siren - unprepared as it struggled to get free of Vinyl's snare - hit the shore with a wave of water and sand. The moment it did, Octavia's hoof swiped over her work and wiped out the Xata rune. A heartbeat later, the Fass rune she drew in its place flared up. Gravity changed - Twilight was caught off-guard as it shifted left. She wasn't the only one, too, judging by Rarity's surprised yelp.

The Siren was surprised even more, however. The abrupt change in the direction that gravity worked plus Vinyl's yanking on her phantasmal threads pulled the creature across the beach. It tried to retake flight now that the downwards pull was gone - but it was too late.

Vinyl heaved, bringing the Siren inside the massive pre-drawn circle just as her lines snapped. Octavia's hoof flashed, etching the final line of the final rune of the final ring. The dusky scene lit with dawn's light as hundreds of scribbled runes ignited with magical energy. Drawing directly from the natural flowing power of Equestria, it burned a painfully bright blue-white. The gravity-twisting runes Octavia had inscribed burned out, relaxing the pull... and in the wake, everything was momentarily still and silent.

Four ponies gathered themselves, watching the Siren intently. If the seal held (if), they were safe. And the beast--

It reached out, webbed hoof touching against an invisible wall. The slight contact made the whole circle flash with power again, ringing out a painfully discordant tone. "Hmph." All four ponies blinked owlishly as the creature snorted derisively. And then it spoke.

The words were foreign - sounds just enough familiar enough to be recognizable as words. The Siren spoke loudly, voice washing over them like the tide.

Boldly, Octavia took a step forward and shouted back a reply in the same odd tongue.

Rarity frowned sharply. "I feel as if I'm a child and have to wait whilst the adults do the talking."

Across the circle, Vinyl shrugged with a look of sympathy on her face.

Fortunately, Twilight wasn't as lost. "They're speaking Old Ponish," she confirmed. "I'm a little rusty, but I think the Siren just called herself Aria. Now she's complimenting Octavia on being capable of such old magic." A pause. "Also she just called Octavia a candelabra. My Old Ponish isn't that great so I could be misunderstanding or it might some old slang."

With a snort, Rarity tossed her hair. "A candelabra is intended to hold multiple long, hard objects darling. She almost certainly meant it to be an insult."

Twilight blushed miserably at the implication. Instead, she tried to concentrate on the evolving conversation between Siren and earth pony. "She, um, now she's trying to bargain. She says she could break out, but it would take more effort than she wants to expend. And that she'll reward Octavia greatly with riches and knowledge from under the sea." A pause. "Which Octavia's refusing, of course."

"Of course," Rarity affirmed, expecting nothing less.

Another pause as the exchange continued. "Octavia's threatening her, telling her that she can't be allowed to prey on ponies anymore. She's not telling her about the power siphon in the runes, though." Twilight paled. "And now Aria's mentioning she can understand modern Ponish, she just doesn't like speaking it."

There was a loud smack as Vinyl facehoofed.

Octavia frowned deeply at the cellist. "Thank you, Twilight."

The purple unicorn cringed. "Sorry! Sorry!"

With a sigh, Octavia resumed the conversation and Twilight continued to translate. "Aria is complimenting Octavia, saying that she expected no less from a student of Starswirl's. And she's correcting her back that she's actually a stud--"

The conversation ended abruptly as Aria let out a ground-shaking bellow of anger.

"She doesn't like the Princesses!" Twilight braced all four legs against the force of the Siren's rage.

"OBVIOUSLY!" Both Rarity and Octavia were in agreement with that statement.

Aria, of course, immediately followed through with her threat and tried to break free. A webbed hoof smashed into the barrier again, momentarily blinding the ponies with the magical flash. Her strike failed to break - instead it skittered along the arc of the circle, scraping as if across a chalkboard. A second strike gave the same result, drawing a bellow of anger from the Siren.

The runic circle at the base of it all pulsed. Just once at first - just to signal the spells locked within starting up. Inside her containment, Aria winced as she felt the first tug of her magic being drained. Her response was both predictable and violent. The Siren lashed out, unleashing an ear-splitting cacophonic howl. At the same time, the gem at her throat pulsed with crimson energy, pushing an explosion of magic outwards. It struck the barrier with another flash and another off-key screech - but the wall held.

Another blue-white pulse around the circle, and Aria grimaced. This time the unicorns felt it - a sharp tingle zipping up from their hooves to their horns. Vinyl acted almost instantly, her horn lighting and reforming a protecting shield in front of herself. While her earlier one had been unsteady and haphazard, this one lept to powerful life. A rich red brocade barricade sprung into existence as a backup to the still strong containment circle.

Rarity and Twilight were less prepared: both shuddered as the spike of power hit them. Reflexively they surged like foals - projecting the raw magical energy in a burst. Twilight's shattered a nearby tree; Rarity managed to at least aim hers upwards into the sky.

"Concentrate!" Octavia galloped around the edge, putting herself by the shaken Twilight. "The next pulse should be in forty seconds - you have to be ready to avoid injury!"

Twilight snapped back almost instantly. "You don't have to yell!"

That was a mistake. Aria's eyes locked onto Twilight as her mouth twisted to a grin full of razors.

A sound tickled Twilight's ears and she snarled. "Unlike you, we're not professionals at this! We don't fight giant monsters all the time so this is kind of out of our league!" She thrust her hoof at Octavia accusingly as the grey mare dropped to a knee and clutched her head. "You're the one who said we could handle this, not us! We should never have listened to you!"

Another pulse ripped across the circle - and up the unicorn's horns. Twilight's exploded out a shower of fireworks that were almost as violent as her current mood. "And now you're just sitting there, not helping!"

From her place nearby, Rarity hissed. "Will you two be QUIET!? I've got a pounding hornache from this magic and I shan't tolerate your whining to go with it!"

Snapping her head around, Twilight's glare stabbed into Rarity. "Things aren't always about you, Rarity! We've got bigger problems right now than you needing an aspirin! If Octavia doesn't get off her fat flank right now, we could get seriously hurt!"

"I am seriously hurt, you overwrought donkey!" Rarity's lips curled cruelly as she swung her words at Twilight's smug face. "Maybe if you paid attention to what I was saying instead of obsessing over pointless minutae--"

The argument was interrupted as another pulse wracked through them - neither released the energy this time, causing both unicorns to be wracked by twitching pain. But their silence for a moment was enough to let Octavia's quiet, gasping voice be heard. "Dark magic."

As the shudders passed, both unicorns glared at Octavia. "What?" Twilight growled at the idiot earth pony who obviously couldn't possibly understand anything about real magic.

"Dark magic," she repeated. "The Siren is using it to taint your emotions. Anger feeds her and gives her power." Octavia groaned in pain. "Can't you hear her?"

The pair of unicorns looked at each other with a mix of confusion and rage.

On the far side of the circle, Vinyl Scratch lashed outwards. She had been venting the magical surges into an ever more elaborate defensive construct - but seeing the opening she turned it all into a club of telekinetic power. It slammed into the barrier, causing another bright flash of light... and a painful sour note that wracked the ears of both musicians. And that discordant noise was enough to momentarily disrupt the blanket of song the Siren was laying down - enough for a moment of clarity to spring into both their minds.

"W--What?" Rarity wobbled on her hooves as the fog lifted. She rubbed her head to try and push away the screaming migraine she had.

"Dark magic," Octavia repeated, desperation thick as molasses. "Vinyl and I have some resistance because of the Elements, but Vinyl has no experience with counterspells and none of my runes work against songs."

Twilight looked at Rarity. Rarity looked back. Both nodded meaningfully.

"I think," Twilight noted, "We just figured out why the Princesses told you to bring us." The next surge hit, and Twilight's horn ignited like a torch. With a pop, she tore through the very fabric of spacetime and pulled. Like a sword unsheathing from its scabbard, Twilight pulled her cello through the ether from Canterlot.

Rarity blinked. "Darling, since when have you been able to do that?"

Lamely, Twilight shrugged. "I usually can't at anywhere near this range, but, um, since before we met?" She laughed nervously. "Have ya seen me? Do I look like I could carry a cello across the city on my back?"

Rarity pursed her lips in wry amusement. "No darling, I suppose you couldn't. It's a shame I haven't practiced the same trick, so I suppose you're a solo act."

"Rarity." Twilight rolled her eyes. "The Princesses asked for us, not me." She fought back the urge to snap at her marefriend. "Now come on, I can feel her song getting into my head again. I prefer your voice over hers."

Rarity blew Twilight a kiss. "Darling, I do so love it when you have a point. The Diva on three, if you please."

Three quick taps of the bow on the side of her cello, and Twilight launched into a slow, high-pitched tune. The notes soared, vibrating gently at the peaks. Rarity, after waiting a moment, lifted her voice with a rising operatic song. The Siren's assault stopped as Aria listened for a moment to her namesake - then she joined in, melding her powerful voice in with Rarity's.

Together they danced through Twilight's music and the dark magic started to press down again. Octavia groaned in pain as it stabbed into her head; Vinyl tried unsteadily to reform her defensive shield; Twilight grit her teeth as she tightly focused on her playing; Rarity simply.. sang. And floated along the currents of the Siren's music.

Under them, the runic circle pulsed again. Aria bobbled for a moment as another chunk of her magic was drained away. Vinyl's shield burst to full life again - but the focus was on the two musicians. The surge hit, and Twilight suddenly thumped a hoof on the side of her cello. A few quick hits to mimic percussion - and her tempo abruptly shifted. Faster now; deeper notes that rumbled under Rarity's voice as it rose again.

Aria joined back in, but suddenly found herself outpaced. Rarity's song surged to life - not merely rising to the sky but leaping around as she jumped from octave to octave unpredictably with sharp, choppy shifts. It flowed beautifully none the less, but the rapid changes in key signature left Aria in the dust. As she fell out of tune with the two musicians, the dark magic of the Siren's voice faded and was subsumed by Twilight and Rarity's own power.

And it was the power drained from Aria that sealed the deal - as they played and sang, the energy from the runes pushed through them. Both horns lit, throwing raw magical power into the sky. But not as a foal's surging blast - the magic flowed out, growing and stretching like tendrils of ivy. Cornflower blue intertwined with raspberry, painting the air with their combined energy.

Inside the barrier, Aria's song turned to a howl of frustration. Being defeated by ponies in song drove the Siren from survival to rage - she lashed out again, tail slamming into the barrier over and over. The dissonant crashes broke apart the ponies' song, though still the barrier held.

Beside it all, Octavia gathered herself up as the pain of the dark magic passed. As the energy of the circle flashed from the impacts, she regarded it with a critical (if quick) eye. "Final stage!" She trotted around the outside of it as the runes pulsed again. "The bursts are going to come faster as it nears completion! Keep pushing it out as it comes in - we can do this!" Her part was done for the moment - there was little Octavia could do but cheer on her friends as they vented the Siren's energy away.

But the Siren wasn't going quietly. Even as her magic drained away, she thrashed and struck against her captivity. Then, abruptly, she stopped. She locked eyes on Octavia and spoke - even through the thick Old Ponish, the smugness was obvious.

"What did she--" Rarity only got that out before Twilight cut her off.

Twilight - with eyes dangerously wide. "That if she can talk and sing through the barrier, it won't stop--"

And that was when a concentrated lance of sonic force passed straight through the wall and struck a very surprised Octavia. Her body ragdolled across the beach, bouncing three times before she cracked into a stone and came to a halt. The earth pony groaned in pain.

Panic went through the unicorns - Twilight and Rarity immediately tossed their own shields up again as Aria twisted around in her containment. The pulses of the runes were speeding up - now only seconds apart. The Siren needed escape now and she knew it.

But she also wanted a bit of revenge.

The first burst of sound slammed into Rarity's shield - one of the three layers of diamond-shaped fields shattered, but the other two remained strong.

The second a pulse later hit Twilight's. The surface of her magenta bubble rippled under the force - and then gave way. With a cry of pain, she was struck full on.

Stunned, Twilight sailed through the air for several body lengths before striking the water. A splash - and she didn't get up.

"TWILIGHT!" Rarity didn't think. The situation around them simply didn't enter her mind. All she could see was Twilight, laying face-down in the surf and not moving. She was at a full gallop before she finished shouting the name - diving into the shallows of the beach to turn Twilight over and let her breathe again.

Then the runes pulsed, and there was only one unicorn left.

Vinyl Scratch's face contorted in pain. Even if she'd had words, none of them would have been enough to describe the energy that was coursing through her body - fire and lightning and ice and raw unadulterated force. She pushed what she could into the shield before her - but it wasn't enough. Another pulse hit only a few seconds later. Vinyl dropped to her knees as her horn started to spark and the tips of her mane ignited.

Wobbling on unsteady legs, Octavia rose. She looked at the speeding flash of the runes. At the suffering Vinyl. At Aria's vengeful smile.

Halfway across Equestria in Ponyville, the Element of Loyalty raised his head as his cutie mark glowed.

Sand kicked high as Octavia stampeded forwards. She lept - and she shoved. Vinyl tumbled out of her place around the circle just as the next pulse hit.

Octavia screamed as it hit her instead.

She couldn't vent the magic being siphoned off - she was an earth pony, and the lack of horn gave her no easy way to dispose of the power. Even if she had, it wouldn't have mattered. The accelerating speed of the runic magic and the destabilized, uneven distribution meant far too much power was coming in. Overloaded, Octavia's cries of pain echoed across the beach as she was enveloped in a white light.

And then everything went silent. Save, at least, for the sound of Twilight wretchedly trying to purge the water from her lungs.

When the spots on their eyes faded, the three unicorns saw just how much had changed in a matter of seconds. The runic ring was no more - the powerless runes themselves reduced to etchings seared into the ground by the final surge of magic. Aria - the Siren - lay in the middle. Completely still, steam rose from her body as her scales already began to flake away. And Octavia... was gone. All that remained in the final outer circle was a smear of ash.

Vinyl slumped to the ground beside the scorch that had been Octavia. Tears flowing free, she simply... stared at the space her friend had been. The two musicians - Rarity supporting a limping Twilight - hobbled over.

"I'm... I'm so sorry." Twilight's voice cracked. She reached out with her uninjured hoof, setting it on Vinyl's shoulder to try and give what small comfort she could.

Something in the pile of Siren shifted. All three looked over - and Vinyl's eyes went from teary to murderous. Her magic roared to life, instantly forming a massive pair of glowing scissors in the air.

Twilight tore herself away from Rarity, grabbing hold of the enraged unicorn. "Vinyl! Vinyl, no!"

Vinyl Scratch shoved Twilight off of her - and for once, Rarity let it happen. Her own cold eyes were locked on the fallen Siren as well, after all.

A step forward - then she stopped as the sound of wings approached. The three remaining looked upwards as three more arrived. Soaring down from the sky came two alicorns - one the color of the warm sun and the other the shade of cooling night. With them was a small griffon, flapping furiously to keep up.

They landed - immediately the small griffon embraced Vinyl. It was enough to stop the unicorn's rage, evaporating it just as the phantasmal scissors did. They cried together for a few moments before Vinyl pulled back in confusion. The griffon's eyes were tearful - but she was also smiling.

Twilight and Rarity, meanwhile, bowed and prostrated themselves on the seared sand. Rarity took the lead first. "Princess Adagio. Princess Sonata. We--"

"Rise," commanded the pale golden alicorn. "Rise like the sun, my little ponies. You have exceeded our expectations."

It was more the surprise and less the command that made Twilight's head pop up. "Exceeded?! But Octavia's--"

Princess Sonata put a blue hoof to Twilight's lips. "Not everything's like it looks at first," she noted with a sly giggle.

While the ponies looked between the Princesses in confusion, Sonata broke off towards the fallen Siren. Adagio spoke to them instead, while her sister examined the remains. "Long ago," she began, "A trio of Sirens terrorized Equestria. At first they merely attacked the isolated fringes but as they grew stronger from the rising anger of its ponies, they became bolder. Struck larger settlements. Hurt more and more ponies. One day, the greatest heroes of Equestria met them on the field of battle, determined to stop this reign of terror." A small chuckle slipped from her lips. "And so began an entirely different reign."

She stepped to the side, giving full view to Sonata as her magic tore the fallen Siren's body apart - ripping scales wide. Underneath was not bare flesh but a pony. An alicorn in pale pink and purple that blinked at the blue one above it.

The ponies gawked. "I-- but-- how?" Twilight asked the question, for Rarity had as few words as Vinyl did.

"The runes were not simply containment," Adagio explained with a knowing smile. "They were transformative. When Starswirl used them on us, it birthed Sonata and I from our Sirenic forms to what we are now."

Leading the reborn but weak Aria over, Sonata eased in. "But Aria got away. And before we could try and help her, Starswirl got pulled into Limbo and took the magic with him."

Adagio nodded. "So we have spent the last thousand years watching as our sister raged and fought. We were forced again and again to repel her from Equestria's shores, each time hurting our sister and driving her away from us for the good of our ponies."

"Now we have her back!" Sonata nuzzled Aria - who simply smiled awkwardly, eyes unable to meet anyone else's. "Because the Elements rescued Starswirl from Limbo, he gave us the magic again and then Octavia did this!"

Vinyl looked back and forth between the three Princesses and the scorched ruin where Octavia had last stood. With hard eyes, she glared at Aria.

Having already learned to interpret, Rarity put it into words. "So you sacrificed Octavia for your sister?" There was no confusion in her tone - only cold anger and disapproval.

"No." Adagio's voice was calm, despite the abruptness of the word. "Understand, please. Now that Aria has returned, we can take our proper places. I as the day, she as the night..."

"I'm the dusk," Sonata chirruped.

"And she," Adagio noted, "Shall be our dawn."

On cue, there was a tone - a single note at first, volume rising from just below hearing. As it did, other notes came as well, as if an orchestra was coming into being. The ephemeral chord peaked with a mote of light appearing in the air over the burnt ash - a single point that grew rapidly to a sphere. It grew until it burst and the music ended suddenly, scattering tiny fragments of light through the air. In its wake was the crumpled, tired form of a grey pony.

Vinyl broke away from the griffon's embrace and mouthed a single word - 'Tavi?'

As woozy and unsteady as Aria had been a minute before, Octavia rose to her hooves.

And then she spread her wings.

Author's Note

For those keeping track, the revised Elements would be:
Magic - Octavia
Generosity - Vinyl Scratch
Laughter (Entertainment!)- Trixie
Loyalty, I tenatively penciled in Flash Sentry for.
Kindness and Honesty are undetermined.
And that would be Gabby taking up Spike's role.