Finally, the ‘big’ day was here. Aria scowled as she made her way along the halls of Canterlot High, following Adagio toward the gym. It was one of the only places big enough for a competition like this to be held, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be stuck in a room with a bunch of teenagers. Violet eyes narrowed at the thought of all the pheromones in one place and a snarl tugged Aria’s lips. The gym the day before had been bad enough. Hopefully, this whole thing would be over quickly so she could grab a nap before Adagio’s world domination plan went into effect.

Stepping into the gym with her sisters, the purple siren took a glance around and resisted a sigh. There were a ton of bands in the place. There went the entire middle chunk of her day. As she settled onto the bleachers—at the top, naturally, since they were above all of these pathetic humans—the middle sister calculated how long each song might take. The rocker bands were easy, as they clearly would have three to four minute songs. Unfortunately, the tree freaks likely had longer songs because of the nature of their music. Ugh, and there were people who would be playing classical instruments. Classical pieces, even modern ones, went on forever.

A headache began pounding behind Aria’s eye.

Adagio glanced over to her second in command and rolled her eyes. Aria never was one for waiting around, preferring to get what she wanted as quickly as possible. It was probably only Adagio’s influence over her that ever stopped her from diving directly for a target. Without the older siren, Aria would have no doubt drained dry several ponies back in Equestria (not that Adagio could blame her; ponies tasted delicious, but they needed to continue living to provide a constant source of energy).

However, because this world kept them at limited power, Adagio knew Aria was more restless than usual. With a sigh, the siren leader said, “Make fun of them if you must, Aria.”

Violet eyes swiveled to gaze at her in confusion. “You’re giving me permission to taunt the food?”

Adagio shrugged. “I’ll join in. After all, the humans are antagonizing one another already. What’s two or three more helping build the hostility?” Aria raised an eyebrow and Adagio rolled her eyes. “And you need to release your pent-up frustration somehow. If you keep seething, you’ll skyrocket the room’s temperature and I’m too glamorous to sweat.”

“Well, we’re in luck, then,” Aria grinned, her mood doing an instant one-eighty. “Most of these losers don’t know how to carry a tune and the ones doing instrumentals are fumbling a little with their instruments. Turning a friendly show into a competition has thrown most of them off their game. Though, the muscle dude with the viola is pretty good.”

Sonata squinted at the instrument. “Isn’t that a violin?”

“It’s clearly a viola, dimwit. It’s too small to be a violin.”

“But he’s way bigger than average, so maybe it looks smaller than usual next to him.”

Adagio tuned the argument out as she watched the performances. The girl with the cello was surprisingly good in her instrument. And she had a certain level of composure about herself. Perhaps she would make a good pack member once this all was over. Adagio wouldn’t be opposed to having someone else with a level head among them.

Contrary to what the trio thought, most of the performances were actually quite good (though obviously not on their level). A few, including the cellist, were enjoyable to listen to. At least, Adagio thought so until the most laughable performance she had seen in decades stepped onstage in the form of two amateur beatboxers/rappers. It truly was priceless and the siren leader wished she had brought a camera to record the entire thing.

By the end of the performance (if one could call it that), she and Aria were clutching their sides in silent laughter, fighting to breathe. Sonata had, of course, enjoyed the song and stared at them in confusion. However, all perked up when the Rainbooms stepped onto the stage. Aria and Adagio quickly sobered themselves and turned to pay attention to the show.

Aria smirked as a few of the other performers tried to sabotage the band’s chances. The idiots had no idea that Adagio’s plan relied on furthering them into the final round. If she wanted them out, she would have done something to their performance herself.

Still, it was pretty killer watching the fashion nut struggle across the stage—how the hell did they manage to pick her up like that?—and seeing the shy one scamper across the entire area hiding from a light—how pathetic!—was definitely worth sitting through the cringe-fest song they were singing. At least when Adagio writes their songs, she doesn’t make it too over the top—a few of the showier lyrics notwithstanding.

Adagio watched the band performance intently. From her information gathering around the school, she had learned that one of the Betas, the obnoxiously arrogant rainbow one, was mated to the shy Omega with the tambourine. The other Beta, the farm girl, was mated to another of the Omegas, the fashionista. The pink Omega wasn’t mated as far as anyone knew, but the one that really drew the lead siren’s attention was the purple Alpha.

The girl had come from left field and joined the Rainbooms band the day of the welcoming party for all of the bands in the showcase. Actually, it had been that girl that had tipped Adagio off to the knowledge that the Rainbooms were the ones with the magic. That meant that the girl must have been from Equestria. With that knowledge, it was safe to assume a portal was somewhere in this area. Adagio couldn’t risk the girl returning to Equestria after their return to power, so she needed to adjust her plan accordingly.

Amethyst eyes surveyed the Alpha suspiciously. In Equestria, Alphas of opposing packs would fight one another to solve any disputes between them, but these humans had evolved over the years to outlaw such behavior. As such, Adagio would have to find a way to put the girl out of commission until she and her sisters had taken control of this world. Then, not even those pathetic Equestrian princesses would be able to stop them.

A slight pang lit her skull and Adagio sighed. Something exceptionally unpleasant was about to happen. She needed to leave before it did. Standing, Adagio snapped and Aria and Sonata followed after her. The trio strode from the room shortly before the Rainbooms performance ended. Adagio leaned against a wall outside the gym area and rubbed her temple.

“What’s up, Dag?” Aria asked, cocking her hip against the wall on Adagio’s left.

“Something highly unpleasant was about to happen,” her older sister responded. “Best to leave.”

“Yeah, the odd girl with the lopsided eyes was going to play,” Sonata shrugged, cocking her head to listen. “It doesn’t sound that good, like a violin bow on some kinda serrated edge.”

Adagio was just about to respond when she heard raised voices nearby. Motioning to her sisters to remain quiet, she titled her head to hear better. It sounded like one of the boys from a rival band was telling off one of the Rainboom girls, the Alpha no less. A smirk curled Adagio’s lips as the girl and her friends walked past. A slight thrill slid down her spine to see the Alpha wiping her eyes.

“Tears already?” she cooed mockingly. “This is only the first round.” Aria and Sonata snickered at the joke before they needed to head backstage for their performance.

A familiar scent filled Adagio’s nose and she stopped the others, glaring at Sunset Shimmer. Aria’s pheromones filled the space to combat Sunset’s scent for Adagio. Able to focus, Adagio sneered at the former bad girl of CHS. Sunset returned the glare calmly.

“You’re never going to get away with this.”

Adagio couldn’t believe the audacity of this child, this… infant. She had no idea the power the Sirens possessed and dared to question them. Circling the poor soul, Adagio took a deep, silent breath before her taunting. She couldn’t have her hormones raging out of control around the enemy, after all. Sunset Shimmer seemed not to notice, though, if the troubled expression covering her face was any indication.

Smirking at the Alpha, Adagio placed a finger under her chin momentarily and smirked at her. “Why bother being on the outskirts of a pack that doesn’t want you? In our pack, you could be appreciated, Shimmer.”

“Y-you’re wrong!” Sunset growled, pulling her chin from Adagio’s grip. “My friends do want me around!”

“If they wanted you around, they would trust you with something as simple as backing vocals,” Aria sneered as their circle finished. “They couldn’t even be bothered enough with you to offer that.”

“Too bad!” Sonata chirped. “So sad!”

Adagio gave a soft chuckle as she murmured, “If it’s any consolation, no one is going to remember you at all by the time we’re done.” To punctuate her statement, the lead singer checked Sunset with her hip (ignoring how good the contact felt, even if for only a moment) as Sonata did the same with her shoulder.

Slipping backstage, the three women moved into position with Aria on Adagio’s right and Sonata on her left. Before the curtains opened, Adagio cautioned her sisters not to use too much energy just yet. Then, as one, they all turned to face the front, lifted the mikes to their lips and began to sing.

Adagio grinned out at the crowd as the students swayed to her tune. She loved the stares she received when she sang, the way these adoring onlookers soaked up her honey-sweet voice like bees, unknowing of the poison within. It was always the best part, leading them right into her trap. Pride and exhilaration swelled in her chest and Adagio couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up from her throat as the song finished.

They passed the first round, of course. Even without influencing the principals, the trio knew they would have gone on. Adagio always wrote catchy songs; catchy songs kept people interested. Retaking their seats, the group prepared themselves for the next round, as their turn would be coming up faster with fewer people to go against in the quarterfinals.

Adagio’s mind worked on autopilot for the next round, watching the other singers and performers. She did keep a close eye on the principals to be certain both the Dazzlings and the Rainbooms continued to advance. She couldn’t have them booting one of their bands out (not that she thought they would dislike any of her songs). As Trixie took the stage once more, the trio cocked their heads and turned to one another in confusion.

“Didn’t she sing that for the last round?” Aria whispered.

“I thought the tune sounded familiar,” Sonata affirmed.

Adagio shrugged. “It was originally supposed to be a showcase, so she probably only had one song prepared.”

“But the principals actually like it enough to advance her again?” Aria exclaimed, spotting a few of the positive comments Luna was writing on her sheet.

“Maybe they were dumber than we thought,” Sonata mused.

Her sisters looked to her then one another. “The fact that it’s Sonata saying that means something,” Aria muttered.

“Regardless, despite her only singing one song, this may work in our favor,” Adagio hummed thoughtfully.

As the round drew to a close and the trio faced off against the Flashlights—both Aria and Adagio facepalmed at the name of the band—it was clear that their plan to tear down the Rainbooms was working in their favor. Sonata leaned against a wall in the backstage area to relax away from her sisters for a moment. But only for a sec because Dagi would be worried if she was gone too long.

Voices could be heard nearby, but the blue-haired siren ignored them, not wanting to use her sonic hearing when she was trying to center herself. However, an annoying nasal voice cut into her meditation and light pink eyes snapped open in irritation. How was she supposed to find her happy place if she couldn’t concentrate?

Tilting her head slightly, Sonata listened in. It sounded like that Trixie girl was mocking the Rainbooms. She must have been what interfered with Sonata’s relaxation. That mean girl had no idea who she was dealing with. Even if Sonata was a Beta, she was just as strong as Dagi and Ari. She would give that girl a piece of her mind-.

Oh, shoot. She had to get back to Dagi and Ari before they worried. Making a mental note to teach that Trixie girl a lesson once they took over the world, Sonata hurried back to the bleachers to join her sisters. Aria spotted her first and raised an eyebrow.

“Where’ve you been?” she grunted.

“I was just breathing backstage,” Sonata replied. “But that Trixie girl interrupted me when she started teasing the rainbow girl. Yeah, that one singing down there. The rainbow girl said she could carry the whole band, which seemed to make her friends mad, but-.”

“Good work, Sonata,” Adagio jumped in quickly. “That’s good information. If we can use that to our advantage-.”

All three stared in open shock as Sunset Shimmer vaulted across the stage and into the rainbow-haired girl. The entire song came crashing down shortly after. Aria looked closely with her hypervision and spotted magic disappearing from the rainbow girl.

“Looks like little Miss Shimmer was trying to stop us from seeing the magic,” she snickered to her sisters.

“How noble of her,” Adagio laughed, watching the band storm offstage. “Come along, girls. We need to pull our influence or they won’t make it.”

“But what if they’re planning to use their magic against us?” Sonata pointed out uncertainly. “Isn’t that why they’re hiding it?”

Adagio patted her head calmly. “Don’t worry, Sonata. What you heard earlier might just help us get the magic they’re trying so hard to keep from us. Let’s go have another talk with dear Celestia and Luna.”

Author's Note

Next chapter is when everything goes down and it gets the plot rolling.

Also, I gave Aria and Sonata something special. In the movie, Aria was the first to spot the Rainbooms (and Adagio had to squint to see them) and I gave Sonata sonic hearing since she seems to be listening for most of the movie. Adagio already has the ability to feel magic's presence, so I left her as is.