Scents mingled in the air, air had nothing on water and Aria had long bemoaned how bad hunting on land could be. But now was not the time for that. Even with this ungainly form moving through a poor medium, Aria had superior senses and speed.
Sniffing the busy air she sought out a certain familiar scent. Tea, paper, the hand cleanser stocked at the lab, walnut and just the slight hint of her sister's pheromones. Sunset was Adagio's and her sister marked her as such.
The problem being Sunset was missing. She had not come home and it was late. Too late. The school had told them she was no longer in her lab, that Sunset had left.
Adagio had found that Sunset was not with the princess or any of the purple pony's sycophant friends. Things were getting urgent, Sunset had a cuff and no magic to defend herself. Sunset was never late without letting them know.
Sunset had enemies. Sunset was hated by some.
High on a rooftop Aria sought the missing mare she knew as a friend. It had been a long process to think of her so. 'Prey' becoming 'Possibly Prey' to 'Not Prey'. When finally the siren could agree that yes, Sunset was a friend, it counted the mare as special. Family even.
As she thought, mind working miles a minute, Aria caught a scent. Crashing her thoughts to a halt. Blood. Sunset's Blood.
Blood and fear.
Aria ran in the direction it originated from, far faster than any other land dweller, her speed unmatched. But she slowed close by, took in her surroundings as a more industrial district. Quieter now it was the evening.
Quieter but for the shouting, braying crowd.
A gang of ponies circled, anger and hate in their voices and posture. Faces snarling and glaring at someone in the centre. Someone they kicked at. Grabbed at. Hurled magical attacks at. One large stallion stamped down hard.
A scream sounded out, one that petered to a whimper, Aria's acute ears identified Sunset. A parting in the crowd and she saw Sunset, a glimpse of far too much orange pelt.
That decided things. With a roar more suited to her true form Aria launched herself at the group. A snarling, biting, growling, gouging, kicking Guardian Angel for the small unicorn.
With the attackers pushed back, Aria scooped the wounded pony into her arms and ran. Noting the faces of Sunset's attackers.
Right now getting Sunset safe, getting Sunset medical attention mattered most. Aria was not her sisters. Majestic Retribution or violence returned in kind with manic abandon were not for her. Her vengeance was for after the shivering mare in her arms was safe.
Sunset shifted in her arms, pulled her tail tighter around herself. (Thoughts of why Sunset had been stripped so flickered through Aria's mind and her hold on the unicorn tightened.) “A-” a cough that speckled blood on her sweater, “Aria.” The voice was pained and weak. “It hurts...”
“Hush up Shimmer. I've got you.” Aria wasn't as gruff as usual, tender was Adagio's bag (and only for Sunset). “Getting you to the hospital.” The reply was a weak groan and another cough that brought more blood.
Adagio was going to be rage itself. Once this immediate risk was over, Aria was inclined to join her.
-*-
Three broken ribs, a punctured lung, internal bleeding, numerous cuts and bruises. Doctor had assured them that Sunset had only been partially stripped and nothing more. Maybe humiliation had been their intention, though the sirens were disinclined to believe that.
Sunset was still in surgery. They were sat waiting for news. Well, Aria and Sonata were sat. Adagio was pacing. She had already crushed the arm of a chair. At least pacing was unlikely to get them thrown out. It was taking her all to not assume her true form and guard her unicorn from any and all who approached.
Currently they were not allowed near her, while the doctors worked. Insultingly the staff had let the princess through. The perfect purple princess who was going to be held accountable if Adagio had her way.
“'Dagi, quit pacing.” Aria said, unusually softly. She'd given a statement to the guards,detailed each attacker and cleaned most of the blood from herself. (Sunset's and the attackers) Now all that was left was to brood. “You'll keep angry.” She added.
“I need anger.” Adagio snapped back. “If I let go of anger I don't know what I'll have.” she grit out.
Aria dropped the subject. Sonata was sat quietly, but if the gleam in her eye was anything to go by then the police had better get the attackers into custody quickly. For their own protection.
A door opened then, a figure stepping through. The Princess. She opened her mouth to speak but Adagio rounded on her first.
“YOU! This is all your fault!” She drew herself up to her not inconsiderable hight, face contorted into the rage of a hippocampus, shades of her true siren self settling over equine features. “You and your Tarturus damned Niceness! Sunset was defenceless! Sunset was shackled because your creed of NICE forced her to accept it, to allow herself to be disabled to placate the worthless plebeian population!” Adagio sucked in a breath to fuel her tirade, each syllable making purple ears droop. “NICENESS that meant she didn't share every shouted insult and whispered slur, the averted gazes and 'accidental' bumps that given the chance turned into violent assault that you nice-y nice ponies are supposedly so far above!”
She was stalking around the princess now. Circling her but never removing her blazing eyes. Sonata was casually leaned against the door, the only entry in or out. Aria could her the outraged ponies behind it, but in this moment Adagio ruled.
“I'm not good or nice Princess Twilight Sparkle. You tell me one good reason not to go out there and hunt down every equine who laid a finger on my Sunset?” She brought her face close to the alicorn's, “Tell me.”
Finally the princess raised her head, bowed during the angry rant from the justifiably enraged hippocampi. She opened her hand to reveal a cuff, a horn ring designed to hold back magic. It was crushed and crumpled from an angry grip. For a moment Adagio swore she saw a gleam of darker magic in amethyst eyes. “My guards have your sister's testimony to go on and are arresting those who match her descriptions as we speak.” Her voice was level, quiet. “They will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I...” And her she faltered. “I will be reviewing arrangements in regards to Sunset.”
She pocketed the ruined cuff and turned back to the door, Sonata drew away enough to show willingness to let the princess through. “When Sunset is settled you can stay with her.” Stepping towards the door she looked back at Adagio. “For what it's worth. I'm sorry. She's my friend too.”
With that, she simply teleported away. Adagio knew it was a show of power, just as her own behaviour had been. Hers had merely been physical.
With her burst of anger spent, the gnaw of worry set in. Adagio sat in a chair, Sonata and Aria flanked her.
When the door next opened it was a Doctor, here to quietly usher them to a room with a bed and... “Sunset.” Adagio did not rush, but she was beside her unicorn quickly, thumb gently soothing a patch of coat that showed through the bandages.
“We're okay. You're safe.”
Author's Note
Soo, I saw that pic this morning and at lunchtime had a flurry of words to paper. More work this evening and here we are.
That froggy artist is a most wonderful mage of ink.
