Music Wars

by Azure129

Rating: teen
Tags: Aria Blaze, Adagio Dazzle, Tragedy, Princess Celestia, Sonata Dusk, Sad, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 6221

Following the end of the Music Wars, Starswirl reflects upon the Sirens' banishment and determines to find a better magic to deal with future problems. And in the 'human' world, the Sirens try to stay strong despite any fights...or fears.

Part of a series of companion fics to each of the "Fiendship is Magic" comics.
Fiendship is Magic #1 Fanfic (Sombra) : Sombra Omega
Fiendship is Magic #2 Fanfic (Tirek) : Madness for Power
Fiendship is Magic #4 Fanfic (Nightmare Moon) : For the Love of a Nightmare
Fiendship is Magic #5 Fanfic (Chrysalis) : The Need for Change

"It was, perhaps, his greatest failure ever." As a very young Starswirl the Bearded pens these final words in his journal, he finds himself alone in his study with the magic mirror now housing the banished Sirens. Starswirl knows that no one could blame him for ridding Equestria of three such relentless menaces...yet he blames himself just the same. He understands now that is a better kind of magic he must come to understand, especially if he wants to succeed at training his two young princess charges to lead Equestria with loyalty and generosity and laughter and honesty and kindness.

Meanwhile, in the realm of 'humans', the Sirens struggle with the changes their banishment has brought, but also vow to return to Equestria and rise again...however fearful each of them may truly be that they will never see home again.

Years later, an aged Starswirl realizes that he cannot end all of the pain the Sirens bring to others and themselves...and so he prepares a certain princess of the sun for the day when someone will come along who will perfect the study of the Magic of Friendship in ways he never could.

"Don't say goodbye. I promise everything will be all right. Don't leave me, I'm sorry, I'll fix this if it costs me my life. I'm going to make this right."
~Aviators, "Friendship"

Aviators Bandcamp

Published 2015-04-19 19:50:04 UTC
Last updated 2015-04-19 19:50:04 UTC

Music Wars

“If I cannot use magic, perhaps another tool will be more effective…” a young Starswirl the Bearded muttered to himself as he sat before a very particular mirror alone in his library and gazed through a portal to another world. He frowned at recalling these words of his from just before his great music battle with the Sirens, whom he could now see roaming around the strange magic-less land he had sent them to, helpless, frustrated, and still attempting to get up to their old musical tricks.

Starswirl sighed deeply, scowling and bringing a hoof to his head as he closed his eyes. “I was right! But I was wrong too…” He got up and started to pace before the mirror, opening his eyes again. “I did need another tool, but it wasn’t another tool besides magic. I just needed the right kind of magic—something beyond mere spells and potions. I needed something older, something deeper, something undeniable…. I needed to redeem the Sirens. But all I really did with our ‘Music Wars’ was contribute to the disharmony they were spreading by being disharmonious toward them. How could I have been so foolish?” He stopped and stamped his hoof firmly into the ground. Starswirl then let out a final sigh and frowned, looking down. “I’m supposed to train our two new princesses to be the best protectors for Equestria they can possibly be. If I can’t even be the best protector possible myself…how can I expect to succeed with them?”

Starswirl became quiet. Then he sat down again to think. “At least I know time magic well enough that I was able to cast that temporal spell over the Sirens’ new realm. They won’t feel the years of their banishment passing as they truly are in Equestria…at least not until another being with Equestrian magic enters there, which will disrupt the spell.” His look became firmer. “And perhaps soon I will indeed be able to go to that realm after I’ve discovered the right kind of magic not to defeat them but to let them see all of the good they are capable of.”

Starswirl turned from the mirror to gaze at all of the musical instruments now crowding this room after his part in the Music Wars. And he smiled. “In a way, they already were doing good even without knowing it. Look at all of the music we created by competing, all of the innovations we made to the sonorous arts, all of the amusement we spread to ponies.” Starswirl’s smile lingered, but then he sighed and looked to the mirror again. He held his head high as high as he could manage. “No one could blame me for taking the action I did, but I know I could have done better. The Sirens were my greatest failure. But I’ll learn from that failure to make sure nothing like it ever happens again.” His gaze was stern. “There was a better way, a way…a way the Elements of Harmony would have been proud of, a way that would have lit the ancient spark and spread something better than strife or victory. A way that would have brought the Elements together and brought the Sirens together with the ponies in love and—”

“Master Starswirl! Are you down there? Come on, it’s time for our magic lesson!”

“Luna! Don’t interrupt him when he’s in his private study! You know he doesn’t like to be disturbed down there. I’m sure he remembers our magic lesson and that he’ll find us when he’s ready!”

“Oh, Celie, stop being such a filly! Besides, he may require our help with something as princesses. And either way, if we have to, we could certainly teach ourselves magic today with all of the books and potions he has in that study of his.”

“Luna, don’t go down there!”

“If you’re so worried about me going down here, come after me, Celestia!” The laughter of a young mare resounded down the stone stairwell leading to Starswirl’s study.

“Luna!” Some quick trotting was heard. “At least let me lead the way, you always get lost!”

“Tis a race, and I shall beat you, sister!”

An exasperated sigh. “Luna…”

At this point Starswirl sighed very deeply and touched the mirror, turning its surface back to normal glass. He mumbled to himself, rubbing his temple with his hoof. “Oh yes, thank you, founders of Equestria. I am honored you chose me to help mold and guide our two new barely-more-than-adolescent princesses. After all, they may have the mentality of young mares, but being centuries old I’m certain they’re full of wisdom and experience that will make training them simply a delight. Indeed, they must be the most poised and mature young ladies we could possibly imagine.” He did have to smile a little though as finally the sound of running hooves got closer until Luna and then Celestia appeared in his study doorway.

“I-I win!” Luna managed to get out between breaths, smiling brightly. “I may enter first!” Holding her head high, the young periwinkle alicorn with turquoise hair (and sporting her not-too-long-ago-acquired moon cutie mark) went to trot forward into the study proudly…only to instantly be met with the sight of Master Starswirl standing before her, looking down, an eyebrow raised dryly.

Luna paused, blinked, and then smiled sheepishly and took a step back. “Oh, er, good day, Master Starswirl. So you are indeed down here then? As you did not reply to our calls for you, we assumed you were not in, but we just wanted to check regardless. We are happy to see you here now though. May we come in?”

Starswirl smiled a little and nodded, stepping aside. “Yes, of course, princesses. Please enter.” He gestured forward with his hoof into the room.

Luna smiled brightly and trotted inside. Celestia (sporting a mane and tail of pink hair along with her own new sun cutie mark) looked to Starswirl with a humble smile and gave a slight bow of her head. “Thank you, Master Starswirl. We’re sorry for intruding.”

Starswirl shook his head as Celestia entered the study too. “No need to apologize, ladies. I’m the one who’s behind on my time. But unfortunately I may need to cancel our lesson for today. I have much to think about.”

“Art thou making more music, Starswirl?” Luna asked with interest, touching a bust of Aristclople and trying to mimic its stern features. “We would love to hear some, especially since you will not let us attend your concerts with the Sirens.” Luna pouted a little.

“Yes, well,” Starswirl interrupted with a sigh, “as I said from the start, I just did not want you mares being influenced negatively by three such questionable ladies as the Sirens. There will be plenty of time for you to deal with the defense of our nation when you are a little older and more experienced.” He swallowed, looking away from the princesses and barely towards the mirror. “Either way though, I’m afraid my concerts are all done…and that the Sirens are all gone. They’ve ended their engagement in Canterlot.”

Luna frowned, looking to Starswirl. “Aw! And I so wanted to see them. My hoof maidens raved about their musical styles…well, they raved when they weren’t too busy arguing over who would get to polish my crown and who would get to polish my shoes. Twas very strange.” She glanced up, a hoof to her chin. Then she shrugged. “But I suppose they have just been overwhelmed by the greatness of the ‘Music Wars’, as your rivalry was known.”

“I have to admit, Master Starswirl,” Celestia supplied with a shrug and a smile in her mentor’s direction, “I wanted to see one of the concerts myself or at least I wanted to see you perform. I still cannot believe all of the new musical styles being practiced in Canterlot now. I hear they’re spreading throughout the land—I think you’ve started a great chapter in Equestria’s musical history.”

Starswirl couldn’t help but smile at the two sisters. “Thank you, ladies.” He sighed and considered. “Well, I’m afraid no one around here will be hearing the Sirens music for a very long time. But I would be happy to play you both a song now, if you’d like, in lieu of your magic lesson.”

Celestia and Luna instantly sat before him and nodded with big smiles and bright eyes.

Starswirl chuckled. “Very well then. What style would you like to hear?”

“Electric Symphonic Rock!” Luna announced.

“Country Folk!” Celestia announced.

Starswirl blinked and sighed, knowing a little sisterly spat would ensue. They had really been fussing with each other a lot lately—he suspected it was in part some sort of residual, second-hand effect of the Sirens’ music.

“But sister, Country music seems like it would be so boring. I prefer something with a loud sound and firm quality!” Luna insisted.

Celestia sighed. “But Country music is the music of the farmers and lay ponies, and especially the earth ponies, and you and I really do have to work on establishing better relations with them. Stuck here in this castle in the forest all the time though, it’s difficult.”

“Electric Symphonic Rock!” Luna pouted.

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Stop acting so immature, Lulu! We can talk about this and discuss the difference in our choices.”

“And by ‘discuss’ you mean you explain to me why your choice is best. Nay, I will stop being ‘immature’ when you stop being bossy!’” Luna nodded firmly.

Starswirl cringed a little. “Girls!” He raised his voice slightly, and the exchange instantly ceased. “Please…” He let out a calming sigh, “Ladies, I know you have been cooped up in the castle a bit lately due to the issues with the Sirens, but that is no reason for all of this bickering.” He smiled. “You aren’t just princesses who should do their best to behave well as an example to others, you are sisters. There is a great bond between you, and it saddens me when you both fight.” He leaned down a little closer to them, his smile growing. “You are the leaders of this nation, and very capable on your own…but strongest of all when you work together. You create a harmony beyond your individual selves that is good for us all.”

The sisters looked up at him, frowning slightly. Then they sighed.

“We apologize, Master Starswirl,” Celestia replied.

“Indeed,” Luna added with a sigh. “Shall we go reflect upon our actions in our rooms?”

Starswirl smiled more, opened his mouth…but then caught sight of the mirror behind the girls and shook his head. “No, none of that, no getting sent anywhere. You girls are too old and have too much experience as leaders now for me to reprimand you, even if I am your magic teacher. And besides, sending anyone away as punishment for their behavior should be only a last resort.” He smiled more. “Loyalty, Generosity, Laughter, Honesty, Kindness must all come before fighting…and in that way, we all learn to be true friends spreading good instead of ev—“ Starswirl paused. His eyes went very wide. And he was very quiet for a moment.

Luna and Celestia looked up at him in concern. After a minute or two, Celestia even cleared her throat and tried quietly, “Master Starswirl, are you all right?”

Starswirl just blinked several times, his eyes focused elsewhere. “I’ve been such a fool. I…yes, but…the concept…could it really? I must…I must…Ladies, I must write magic now.” And he dashed over to a large dark book on his desk next to a quill and began magically scribbling away.

Luna and Celestia looked at him curiously but then nodded and rose to leave.

“Yes, of course, Master Starswirl,” Luna remarked. “We shall leave you to your work then.”

“Yes, yes,” Starswirl muttered over his shoulder, “It’s very important…I must be alone to consider everything, I must have silence, solitude, I…” But then he stopped writing and his eyes went wide again. He lowered his pen. “But no.” He turned to the sisters. “Celestia, Luna, stay with me. Yes…we shall still have a lesson today, but not a usual one. I shall explain some concepts of harmony to you—new concepts, but ones so old they’ve had a place in our world eternally if only one takes the time to see the pattern.” He smiled, his eyes shining with the fire of his magical arts and of his grand realization. “And I want my two favorite students—my two favorite friends—here with me while I research and explain this newest interest of mine. Somehow I think all of us working together will be a benefit.”

Luna and Celestia smiled brightly in return.

But then Luna paused and added, frowning for just a moment, “We are honored, of course, Master Starswirl, but…does this mean we may not still hear some music from you?”

Celestia blinked and then nodded. “Oh yes, as long as you’re going to let us stay, may we still hear a song, Master Starswirl? Please?”

Starswirl had already turned back to his scroll and was continuing scribbling away at it. “Perhaps at the end, ladies, I…” But as he glanced at them again for a moment he had to pause in his writing once more and smile. ‘Well…I could not use my music to defeat the Sirens, and I failed to find a magic to let them use their music for good…Perhaps, after all of that, it is only fitting that my understanding of new, better magic should begin with a song to bring me and my friends closer together.’ Starswirl finished his sentence, placed down his quill, turned to the princesses and nodded. “Yes, you may hear a song before we begin…but you both must compromise and pick a style.”

The sisters looked to each other. Luna whispered something to Celestia, then Celestia whispered something back to her, then they looked at each other again and nodded before looking to Starswirl. Celestia spoke. “We have decided that you should choose, Master Starswirl. Please play for us your favorite kind of music.”

Luna nodded. “Indeed, we respect your abilities and talents very much. And since you will be the one playing, it seems only fitting that you choose the style of music.

Starswirl smiled more and nodded. “An excellent compromise, and most considerate and friendly. Very well…” He walked over to his instruments, looking a little sheepish. “Though I’m afraid you may not be too impressed. But still…” Starswirl brought forth his lute and sat on a stool with it. “This is my favorite instrument and my favorite music. And I hope you girls will find some enjoyment in it.”

Celestia and Luna smiled and nodded, then sat on the floor before him once more.

“Of course we will, Master Starswirl.”

“Thank thee again for playing for us.”

Starswirl nodded again and then cleared his throat and began to strum. “Starswirl the Bearded am I you see, a too-ra-loo-ra-layyy…I am a wizard and a pony, a too-ra-loo-ra-leee.” He could see the girls grimacing a little but still watching with interest. Starswirl smiled more. “I serve two sisters who are fun, a too-ra-loo-ra-layyy…Luna of the moon, Celestia of the sun, a-too-ra-loo-ra-leyyy.” The girls blinked and giggled at his silliness. “They may indeed be centuries old, a-too-ra-loo-ra-layyy…yet I’m the one with a beard white as snow, a-too-ra-loo-ra-leyyy.” The princesses laughed together warmly now. “Together we shall learn and sing, a-too-ra-loo-ra-layyy …And bring harmony to everything, a-too-ra-loo-ra-leyyy…” Starswirl gave the lyre a final strum, and instantly his little audience was stomping their hooves.

“I loved it, Master Starswirl,” Celestia announced.

“Indeed,” Luna nodded. “We ought to make it the new national anthem.”

Starswirl laughed. “Thank you girls. And in the future, I’ll be happy to play for you any time, and in other styles as well.” He set aside the lyre and returned to his desk. “Now, let us begin our discussion for today—magic…it’s equal propensity for good and bad, and how to use it to secure harmony…and perhaps friendship…despite our differences.”

The girls nodded. And so Starswirl returned to scribbling furiously at his scroll for a little while longer, and discussing with Celestia and Luna as he did so…though he couldn’t help glancing to the mirror with a frown just once more in the midst of everything before his duties to the pony sisters finally fully absorbed his interests for the rest of the afternoon.

Later, Celestia and Luna had left for the day and Starswirl was alone in his study once more…and he still had a great deal on his mind despite all of the progress he had made in his new magical concepts. He sat, his eyes closed, and thought to himself. ‘I did fail with the Sirens. But I and these two sisters will not fail again…or at least they will not fail again, not without exhausting better magic first.’ He was starting to grasp something big, something that he felt would keep Equestria stable for centuries, something that…drew him closer to the Elements of Harmony. His greatest failure was leading to his greatest discovery. He was full of regret and wonder all at once.

Starswirl approached the mirror and touched it again. The portal glimmered to life, and he could see into this other world and see the Sirens.

They were still walking around, investigating their new plane of existence. He decided the least he could do was watch and see how they were faring. And so he did.

“Great, this is just GREAT Adagio, I told you we’d get banished if we got caught using mind controlling magic in Canterlot! And we actually got caught and could have LEFT, but you had to engage that wizard in a…a…a battle of the bands! And now we’re stuck here!” Aria glared at her yellow-hued fellow Siren.

Sonata pouted, still looking at her hands. “I miss my hooves, I miss flying, I miss my beautiful scales! Aria, hold me!” Sonata instantly clung to Aria’s side.

Aria scowled and pushed her away. “Hey, get off of me!”

Sonata pulled back, pouting and sniffling, her eyes wide.

Aria sighed and held out her arm. “Oh, just hug this and be quiet already! What is wrong with you?”

Sonata quickly latched onto her arm. “I’m scared, Aria! What are we going to do here? How are we going to get home? The power of our singing is limited in this world—what if no one likes it, and we can’t feed off of disharmony enough to keep our powers going?”

“Who knows?” Aria scoffed. “Why don’t we ask, Adagio—maybe she can come up with a horrible enough plan to get us banished to an even WORSE place!”

“Oh, why do we always have to fight?!” Sonata protested with a pout and scowl. “We’re supposed to make OTHER PEOPLE fight! Sometimes it’s like you two forget what we’re all about! Adagio, you agree with me, right?”

“Well, why don’t we just break the act up then?!” Aria glared all the more. “Oh, that’s right, we can’t because we’re stuck here and we’re all we’ve got!”

Adagio had been fuming in silence this entire time. And now she just couldn’t take it anymore. “Would you two be QUIET!” she yelled, turning on her sisters, hands clenched at her sides. “Yes, we got banished, yes, we gambled and lost. But one day we’ll return to Equestria—we’ll come back and be better than ever! Our voices will be heard all over the nation! But for now we have to calm down and FOCUS! Do I make myself clear?!”

Sonata frowned but nodded.

Aria scowled but replied dryly, “Fine. What did you have in mind then?”

Adagio took a deep breath, her voice resuming its normal cool and calculating quality. “As long as we got sent here together, we’ll stick together. Our magic will be most effective if we work as a group. The most important thing is to find other creatures, creatures who can hear our music and be urged to create disharmony from our songs. It won’t be much, but it’ll be something. And it’s the only way we’ll survive.” She turned and pointed forward. “There are more lights that way, it must be the center of the city. Let’s head there to start.” She took a breath. “Just stick together and we’ll be fine...” And then she began walking forward firmly, not even waiting for a reply from her sisters.

Aria and Sonata looked at each other, then just shrugged and started following Adagio.

Needless to say, it was a rather tense and quiet walk to the city center. But that was good—it gave the Sirens time to think.

Aria looked forward with an angry scowl. ‘Why does Adagio get to be the leader? If she’d just listened to me back in Canterlot, none of this would be happening. All I ever wanted to do was sing and gather enough magical energy to keep us satisfied, not conquer the whole nation with our music. It was better when we stuck to our original songs. The ponies won’t even remember us as anything but a fad now…if they remember us at all…’

Sonata still gazed around their new world fearfully. ‘There’s no magic here. But maybe somehow that’s a good thing. It’ll be harder to detect us, and no one should be able to banish us again…probably. I hope we’ll be okay.’

And Adagio’s firm, fiery gaze remained on her face as she walked…while inside her thoughts ran something like this… ‘I KNOW I screwed up, okay, Aria! And I KNOW you’re scared, okay, Sonata! I know it was my responsibility that this happened to us, and that now…now we might never get full access to our magic or see Equestria ever again.’ Her scowl deepened. ‘And I know I have to be the one to keep us together now even if I’m not entirely sure what’s going to happen or if there’s any chance we really could end up being okay. All I do know is that wizard hurt us, and here at least I won’t let anything hurt us ever again. That I’ll guarantee.’ She sighed deeply into the night air.

And thus the sisters set out to explore their new world and fend for themselves.

Many, many years later in Equestria…but barely a few months later for the Sirens…

The portal of the mirror showed the three girls sitting on a bench in a park, hoods up, singing lightly as their pendants glowed.

“Ahhhh, ah, ah….ahhh, ahh…Ahhhh, ah, ah…ahhh, ahh….” They inhaled a green magical vapor as the many people in the park started to fight and yell at each other. Soon the people all walked off with their bickering, leaving the Sirens alone.

Adagio lowered her hood first with a small, wicked smile. “Well, it’s not a buffet, and we can only do so much with the way our pendants are now, but still…not a bad take for the day.”

“I feel like my magic is starving,” Aria complained, lowering her hood and crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t know how we’ve gotten through these few months. I need a full meal of magic!”

“Well, these creatures aren’t magical as I’ve explained COUNTLESS TIMES, Aria,” Adagio shot back, “So we can only feed off of them so much.”

Sonata sighed, lowering her hood as well. “It’s not all the chaos and magic we used to feed off of that I miss so much, it’s the crowds cheering and liking us…you know, before they’d start to fight.” She smiled. “Maybe we could find a way to do a concert here one day?”

Adagio sighed. “We’ve been over that too, Sonata. We can barely carry more than a light tune as we are now. Without some extra magic, we’ll flop just like we did when we first went to Canterlot. Then everyone’s negative energy will be turned against us instead of each other, and we can’t feed off of that.”

“I still miss the crowds cheering,” Sonata supplied with a shrug nonetheless.

Adagio just looked forward firmly. “We’re doing our best. We’ll get by. And we’ll find a way back to Equestria one day. If there’s a way in, there’s a way out. We just need to stick to the area where that idiot wizard dropped us off. The portal back will certainly be near here.”

“Whatever…” Aria grumbled, slouching on the bench and looking forward, still scowling…and almost frowning whether or not she realized it.

Sonata sighed and looked forward, frowning completely.

Adagio glanced from one to the other and stood up. “Come on. We’ll go…I don’t know, plot our next target or something. Or we’ll scout around for a place to sleep tonight. I’ll take the first watch for a portal opening.”

Aria and Sonata sighed but then stood up along with her.

“Whatever,” Aria grumbled.

“If you say so, Adagio,” Sonata looked down, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Let’s go,” Adagio announced, and then the three Sirens were off.

Walks to places together had continued to be a quiet experience ever since the Sirens’ imprisonment here. But at this point rather than scowling darkly as they proceeded along, Aria and Sonata just looked forward in a touch of defeat…while Adagio attempted to scowl as darkly as usual, though there was something lacking there. Their thoughts ran like this.

Aria took a deep breath. ‘We’re never going to get home. And nothing’s ever going to get better. And all that’s going to happen is one day Adagio’s going to push me too far. If we ever get back to Equestria, I don’t want anything to do with Canterlot or the pony sisters…but I wouldn’t mind a crack at that Starswirl. And then I want a vacation from these two.’

Sonata hummed softly to herself. ‘I guess it’s not so scary here…but I still miss Equestria and magic. Sometimes I’ve heard of beings getting banished for almost a thousand years. At least we got banished together, but still…what would home look like in a thousand years? Would we even belong there anymore? Not that anyone ever made us feel like we belonged there before…. Like it’s our fault we’re Sirens. We can’t help what we are.’

Adagio closed her eyes. ‘I can keep us safe if they’d just let me. I’m not letting us go down in this place. We will get home, I will get them home…as long as we don’t kill each other first.’ She opened her eyes. ‘Of course, I won’t let that happen either. I will preserve the Sirens.’

The Sirens continued along on their way as sunset began.

Starswirl had gotten on in years. And he had done many things, made many accomplishments, pushed the limits of magical study, written countless books, even unlocked the secret spark of the Elements of Harmony—the Magic of Friendship, his greatest accomplishment (though he still could not pretend to understand its depths as thoroughly as he should). And he had done a fine job teaching these subjects and all of his other accomplishments to the two pony sisters, who had now blossomed into mature, capable, and powerful princesses. And there bad been battles…but true diplomacy and love and consideration had been the magic put to use first before anything else. Truly, Equestria would stand tall and proud for countless millennia to come as a land of peace and harmony.

So now, naturally, with such an illustrious career as his legacy and with so much ability in his unicorn horn, Starswirl figured a sort of retirement for himself was in order. And his improvements in time travel magic had become so great that he had the most exciting vacation planned of all—a vacation not to places, but to eras. He would see everything he could, learn all that was possible, and most importantly observe how the Magic of Friendship had always been a part of life in this world and would continue to be a part of it for ages. ‘It’s the only way I’ll ever truly learn to appreciate harmony, I know it.’

Still though, even with so much to be proud of and so much to look forward to…Starswirl found himself staring at the old mirror in his study right now and observing the three girls within it. Starswirl let out a deep sigh and he spoke quietly to himself. “My failure was even greater than I realized in my youth. By making time pass more slowly for them, all I truly did was deny them the full opportunity of their banishment to grow and learn and gradually find the friendship and good within each other. They’ve barely changed at all…. If anything, they’ve gotten worse—angry and bitter and scared. Their banishment was never a solution to the problem of them, it was merely me avoiding something I couldn’t handle and inflicting potential danger on another world—one lacking any magic to defend itself or knowledge of what it’s up against.”

A tear came to the old unicorn’s eye. He brushed it away, his musings continuing. “And even with all I know now, I can’t go through that portal and help them.” He frowned. “Their hatred for me is still fresh. They would never listen. And their intentions as singers clearly haven’t changed—it would be a danger to bring them to Equestria lacking any reform. I think the sisters are even familiar enough to them that the Sirens would reject their assistance as well.” He took a deep breath. “Still…they have the potential for good. Sonata has an innocence…Aria has a concern for the group…Adagio has a desire to guide and protect…all of which I failed to see before I did what I did. But someone will come to them one day and unlock it, I know it. And I hope when that happens that they forgive me in some small way in the end…”

“Starswirl? Starswirl, are you down here?”

Starswirl blinked and instantly touched the mirror, making the portal disappear. He looked to his study entrance. “Yes, Celestia, I am down here. Please join me.”

There was the sound of hooves walking and then Celestia (fully grown now, her hair full of its familiar modern rainbows) came into the room with a smile. “I’m sorry I’m late. I was almost worried that you’d left already.” She sighed, sitting beside him near the mirror. “Are you really sure you want to go? We really would love for you to stay…Luna just as much as me, even if she won’t say it.” She looked down. “She’s become so private lately. Sometimes she won’t even come to dinner. She loves you just as much as I do, of course, and I know she wishes you well on your journey, but still…we’re all such good friends, I’ll be sad to see you go.” She shrugged, brushing a tear from her eye.

Starswirl smiled warmly. “Good Celestia, don’t be sad. Our friendship isn’t ending. It’s just entering a new phase. I want to expand my understanding of the Elements and friendship and magic, ancient and future, and this is the best way. And I’d like a little adventure for myself. But I’ll try to stop in from time to time. I promise.” He winked.

Celestia smiled and nodded. Then she stood “Shall we go have tea upstairs? Maybe I can convince Luan to join us?”

Starswirl smiled but shook his head. “No, thank you. I’m afraid I don’t have much time. And before I go…I wanted you to know that I’m leaving you in charge of this room and anything concerning my affairs and my spell book and all of the magic spells within it, finished or otherwise, Celestia. Luna seems to need more time to study the Magic of Friendship, though I have confidence she will find her way in the end, but you understand my studies almost better than I do. I think you are the best person for this task.”

Celestia’s smile grew. “I’m honored, Starswirl. You’ve done so much good for Equestria, I’ll consider it a great personal duty to see that all of that goodness is preserved for the ages. And I’m sure Luna will help me when she’s ready.”

Starswirl smiled back at Celestia…but then that smile became a frown. “Celestia, I am not perfect. I make mistakes. And I’m afraid I must ask you to preserve those flaws along with everything else. I have failed before, Celestia.” His head hung low. “And I think you should know about it, as all of my remaining effects will be in your care…including this mirror.” He gestured to the mirror with his hoof.

Celestia just raised an eyebrow. “Starswirl, what are you talking about?”

Starswirl raised is head and took a very deep breath. “First…I must express to you once more in our lives that as a leader and protector of Equestria, banishment should only be enacted for the worst crimes…and the one enacting that punishment should always make sure the Magic of Friendship has been attempted first and that there is a clear way of lifting the banishment and a clear plan for what to do with the accused afterwards to help them find the good within themselves. A kind leader will regret doing anything otherwise.” He looked into her eyes. “Promise me you will always remember what I said just now, Celestia.”

Celestia’s eyes went a little wide but she nodded. “I promise, Starswirl.” She raised an eyebrow again. “Starswirl, I’m very confused. Why all this talk of banishment? It reminds me of when you mentioned the subject when Luna and I were little…around when we started talking about the Elements and the Magic of Friendship.”

Starswirl did his best to hold his head high as he replied. “Because I performed a banishment myself once when you were very young, right around that time. And it’s something that’s not in my power to undo…and the crime simply did not deserve it. I banished someone—or a group of someones—because I wanted to keep Equestria safe but also because I didn’t know any better how to resolve our differences, I didn’t know how to help them find the good their magic could do beyond the evil. They are in a world in here, Celestia…” He gestured to the mirror. “My responsibility, my failure, my shame. And you must keep the mirror safe for me until someone comes along who embodies the Magic—the Element itself—of Friendship. Only that one can bring all of my work to its highest purpose and fix the foolish thing I did so long ago…only that one can write a proper ending to the story I must tell you now, if you are willing to listen.” He glanced at her so sadly.

Celestia just sat there, eyes wide and glistening a little. “Oh Starswirl…you’re my best friend. Of course I’ll listen. It’s okay that you made a mistake. Just tell me everything, and I’ll see to it that someday things are righted.”

Starswirl sighed, smiling a little. “You’ve grown into the best possible pony I could imagine, Celestia. Thank you.” Starswirl then looked to the mirror and touched it, bringing the portal to life. “So…you remember the Sirens—Adagio Dazzle…Aria Blaze…Sonata Dusk. I have never forgotten them, though sometimes I wonder if I am the only one…”

Celestia’s eyes went a little wider and a small gasp escaped her as she looked from the sight in the mirror to Starswirl.

But seeing how her response made Starswirl cringe, she moved her hoof to his and smiled as best she could. The old wizard smiled too, and then continued with his story, grateful for a friend to help him unburden himself with its telling and grateful that the Sirens’ story might not have to end with him…and might end with the betterment of the Magic of Friendship in some form one day.

Author's Note

I hope you guys liked this Fiendship Fan Fic installment, and thanks for reading. :twilightsmile: Honestly...writing for this comic was a challenge for me. They really, really went for the comedy relief. And while I really liked what they did with Starswirl and his failure to help the Sirens, I really wish they'd also given us some more depth into the Sirens themselves. I tried to do that a little bit here based on what we got from the comic and the movie, and I hope it worked well enough.

I know I took a few canon liberties in this one for the sake of being able to put together a story that worked (Starswirl's role with the princesses, having him sort of 'be in charge of them' at first, the whole 'time spell over the Sirens' thing), so I appreciate you all bearing with me on that. Also, I chose to see the comic as taking place very early on in Celestia and Luna's rule just because of how young Starswirl looked, how the Princesses didn't get involved at all in helping him, and how the whole thing seemed to imply that he hadn't even begun his researches into friendship and the Elements yet.

I hope you all enjoyed! Next week--Chrysalis :pinkiecrazy: