I lay on the table, staring up at the viewing area. The lights weren’t on me yet so I could see the few ponies who had been allowed to witness my operations. After all, these would be the first eye replacements ever installed along with the attachment points for both a leg and wing, so there was interest in the medical circles.

The wing I was yet to craft. They were difficult to perfect and I refused to let any night pony or pegasi have replacements without thoroughly testing the base designs myself. The eyes… I had originally intended for them to be given to the test patient one surgery at a time. That was before I learned I would be that very first patient. After all, one of my eyes was dead. The other wasn’t very far behind.

This was to be all or nothing. I didn’t care. Either I would wake up with functional eyes or I’d be blind, just like I would soon be without the operation.

My attention returned to the ponies in the viewing area. Princess Celestia and Luna were both there. As was Twilight Sparkle, much to my surprise. I wasn’t exactly friends with my fellow young Princess. Perhaps she was here simply for the medical experience. My gaze shifted and a small smile graced my snooter. There was Aria. Even at this late stage in her pregnancy, she had come for support.

Doctor Stitch smiled down at me. “Last chance to back out, your highness.”

“I’m staying put,” I replied, which earned me a nod from him.

I watched as the glow of magic emerged from Doctor Stitch’s horn. He used it to adjust the mask over his snooter before tying it in place. I then felt his magic pass through my hair. Seconds later, I knew why. My fringe was pinned back to keep it out of the way, allowing access for the operation as well as for those watching to catch a rare glimpse of my dead right eye. Not that I would need to hide it after this anyway.

Doctor Stitch nodded to ponies out of my view and a breathing mask was floated into place over my nose and mouth. I breathed deeply from the mask as I heard a nearby pony begin to count backwards from ten. Nine. Eight.

My vision began to blur. Not helped by the lights above the operating table suddenly being aimed directly at me. Six. Five. Wait. Where was seven?

That painfully bright light, bleeding out to swallow everything in my peripheral vision, was the last I would see with my damaged and failing eyes as I mentally slipped away from the waking world. Threeeee…

And I was out.

* * *

The light of the surgical room was oddly prophetic, for I found myself in a completely white space. There was nothing really to this place, not even background noise. It was oddly familiar, kind of like the dreamscape Luna had crafted so she and Celestia could dive into my deepest memories shortly after we first met.

I momentarily wondered if this void had an echo to it and, if so, would it work with any sound or word, or just very specific things. Before I could test the idea, however, I turned to find Luna sitting watching me. Her eyelids hung low and her shoulders slumped. She had the saddest yet somehow pained smile on her snooter.

Exactly why she looked at me in such a way made little sense until I looked down at myself. There were no hooves, nor fur to be seen. In their place, clothing clung to my body covering much of my skin. I recognised the clothes. They were the same ones I had been wearing before falling into this world.

The even greater marvel, my hands. That’s right, hands plural. I stared at them. Letting my fingers do their own thing. Without seeing myself in a mirror, I guessed I didn’t look much different from when I was in the human world. It was as if my transformation and none of my injuries had ever happened.

Pulling my attention from my body, I looked to Luna. She was still watching me with that same sad smile. She was also still the Alicorn I had come to slightly know while living as a pony. Looking at my hands again, I asked, “Is this real?”

Luna sighed. “What thou see is as real as thy mind makes it.”

I frowned at that and eyed Luna again while my hands were busy inspecting my shoulders and chest. Yep, all human male. “So, this is a dream?”

I didn’t mean for it to sound like an accusation. I really didn’t. Luna, however, flinched as if she were struck.

“We…” Luna’s head drooped and she looked away from me. “I am not fond of seeing those I love in pain. I am also not interested in watching what is being done physically to you. This is a form you are clearly familiar with, thus I assumed you would be more comfortable like this.”

Her eyes turned to regard me. She was probably trying to gauge my reaction. I can’t say I had much of one. Gender stereotypes are terrible in that regard. After so long being male, even now after eleven months a mare, I still struggled to shake off the stupid instruction of having to keep emotions and thoughts to myself.

Luna kept going. “I would rather help you in the best way I can. In a way no other can. By keeping your mind from any pain you may be feeling. Even if it means hearing a voice to which I am so unaccustomed.”

I blinked at that. It was such an unexpected comment, but something I could understand. After all, outside of viewing my memories, Luna had never heard my male voice before. I pressed my hand to my throat then tried to clear it a few times as if there was something blocking me from speaking.

When next I spoke, my words were so much softer as they were cradled by the voice of a grown-up Selene. “How is that?”

Luna stared at me, surprise swirling in her eyes. She started to smile wistfully. “Thank you. You didn’t need to.”

I shrugged. “Been getting used to it after so many months. I’m almost a stranger to my human voice myself now anyway.”

Luna nodded then turned her head away, looking off into the blank white distance. I stepped up beside her then sat down next to her, my somehow not missing right arm reaching up her back to the base of her skull. There, my fingers danced, digging in deeply as they scratched the back of Luna’s head and behind her ears.

Luna let out a shuddering breath. It sounded like a cross between a sigh unexpectedly released to the world and a purr not unlike that of a cat. The look she gave was one of ecstasy.

“Such amazing appendages humans have,” Luna said, leaning her head, along with her body, against me. “I am beginning to understand the stranger dreams of one particular pony obsessed with such things.”

I gave a small smile. “Fingers are amazing things. Having had both, I can certainly say they are far more versatile than hooves.”

“Indeed,” Luna smiled.

“Meh, they’re only useful if you’re stuck as a human.”

My attention snapped away from Luna to the owner of the new voice. I couldn’t help but smile at what I saw. It was Aria standing over us. Not pony Aria, but her human self. Draped in the clothing I remembered her wearing when we met; not a blemish from the attack anywhere to be seen. Neither was there any sign of her rounded stomach. I guess that’s just how memories and dreams work.

“A thousand years is a long punishment.” I knew both Luna and Aria would agree, but didn’t expect Aria to stare at me as if I had grown a second head.

Aria’s lips curled up into a trembling smile, her shoulders began to shake as she started to laugh. “Seriously, dingus? That body with that voice? Doesn’t work on you.”

My cheeks erupted with warmth. I turned my head away and gave a snort. I heard Luna clear her throat.

“I gifted mine daughter with the form she was most used to upon being here,” Luna explained. “She kindly chose to speak with her beautiful voice as I am not accustomed to her human one.”

Aria snorted and continued to giggle. “Still the strangest thing I’ve heard come from a man’s mouth.”

I shrank further into myself and Luna appeared to grow beside me. It wasn’t until I caught sight of my arm… Correction, my front leg. That I understood why. I quickly looked myself over. I was my tripod pony self again.

I felt Luna’s head drape over the back of my neck as she moved to embrace me. I shot a glare at Aria, daring her to make comment. I heard and felt a soft snicker from Luna. A blue aura engulfed Aria before plucking her from the ground. Aria tried to protest and fight against the magic surrounding her, but it was no use. Luna clearly wanted to bring Aria over to our little cuddle session and nothing was going to stop her. This was her realm after all.

Aria was still a human when she was spun around in the air and plopped onto her rear right between me and Luna. Luna didn’t let go of her magic.

“Considering your condition, little Siren,” Luna said, wrapping a foreleg around Aria and pulling her close for a hug. I watched Aria bristle at the contact. “You should be taking things easy.”

Aria, realising she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, scrunched up her face and snorted in annoyance.

“Not the cuddly type, I see?” Luna continued. “When your foal is born, you’ll realise you don’t get much of a choice in the matter.”

Luna shot me a grin with a sly twinkle in her eye. “Selene was very much a cuddler after she was born. All foals are. They like getting close with their mothers.”

Luna wasn’t letting my embarrassment ease anytime soon. Adding to it, she wrapped her other foreleg around my shoulder and hauled me into her cuddle with Aria. A now very pony and very pregnant looking Aria. Apparently reminding someone of their true form in this dreamscape pulled them back into that state.

Honestly, whether Aria was in her human or pony form didn’t matter to me. She was still beautiful. Not that I would dare voice it right now. I simply took this as a rare chance for us to be smooshed together in the hooves of Luna. I felt myself grinning. Pudgy pudgy Aria. Don’t doubt she’d try to kill me if I actually called her that right now.

Aria let out an irritable breath. “I know I agreed to come here and, you know, keep Chromia company during the operation, but this touchy-feely stuff wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

I had little chance to roll my eyes at hearing the name Aria was still trying to force onto me when Luna pressed my cheek against her own. By the soft grumble I heard, I was certain Luna had Aria smushed against her other cheek.

“But you are both so adorable together,” Luna grinned.

And I swear my heart stopped. At least my body froze in shock. Was Luna implying… My head turned rigidly on my neck as I tried to face her. Did she…? I shuddered. No. She couldn’t. All I could see was Luna smiling, a mischievous glint to her eyes. I let out a breath. Thank the night, she was only teasing. Probably from the fact Aria and I had returned to this world together and had helped each other adjust to the changes we encountered along the way.

Somehow the brightness of the void increased with a flash of light. Pulling my gaze away from Luna, I found Pyrus standing in front of us. As stoic as ever, the fiery stallion simply looked down at the pile of three ponies Luna was trying to turn us into and raised an eyebrow in question.

With one of Luna’s hooves wrapped around my throat as she tried to keep me close, it was Aria who called out for help. “A little help here, flame bro?”

Pyrus simply rolled his eyes then grinned. I caught a glimpse of Aria’s hope of escape die at Pyrus’ reaction. She completely flopped in Luna’s grasp.

My ear twitched as Luna’s breath tickled it before she whispered, “Chromia?”

My shoulders fell along with my hope. Was I never going to be free of that name?

“Cute,” Luna said, nuzzling my cheek. “But I much prefer Selene.”

A wave of relief washed over me. I looked across at Aria, squirming a little to move Luna’s foreleg so I could speak. But, before a word left my lips, Aria suddenly became strangely transparent, then disappeared entirely. Luna’s other leg flopped to her side, her gaze fixed on Aria’s former location.

“She woke up,” Luna observed.

My heart sank as I stared at the spot where Aria had just been. Now, even in this place, she was only a memory. I felt a wing slip over my back then pull me close. I leaned in against Luna’s side.

“Such an abrupt departure,” Luna observed.

I looked up to see her frown in thought.

“She didn’t appear ready to leave.” Luna’s frown deepened then her eyes widened and a smile graced her snooter. “I don’t envy what she is beginning to go through now. No mare ever would.”

She turned her head to me and smiled. “It is not something which can be done while sleeping, otherwise, I would keep her from her pain as I am with yours, mine daughter.”

And, the reason for Aria’s sudden vanishing act finally struck me. She was going into labour. Luna’s words, only spoken moments before, suddenly caused my body to clench in sympathy for Aria. It wasn’t something that I, even though I now could go through it myself, overly wanted to endure myself. I cringed. I don’t doubt Aria was at her most volatile right now and I wasn’t there for her to take it out on.

I looked sheepishly up at Luna.

Luna’s smile didn’t fade but I watched as she closed her eyes and turned her head skyward. “A new soul enters the world this day. May its life be long, blessed and filled with love.”

I felt Luna hug me tighter then rest her muzzle across the top of my head.

“Soon she will learn to love another as I love you, mine daughter,” Luna said wistfully, her voice vibrating against my scalp. I let out an exasperated sigh but didn’t bother to struggle as Luna wrapped her other foreleg around me to hold me close. What was the point in fighting her? It was just easier to let Luna bask in a maternal moment she had been denied for so very long.

Truthfully, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the moment. Even if Pyrus was still here watching us. Despite her strange nature and the exuberance of her strength, Luna was incredibly warm and comforting to hug. Gradually, I let my body relax and sink a little in Luna’s hold.

We stayed that way for a rather long time. No one said anything. Pyrus smiled as he watched us before eventually moving to lay on the ground with his body curled around us against our backs. It was when the intensity of his body heat disappeared that I was pulled from a state of semi-slumber.

I inwardly chuckled at the thought of sleeping within a dream but it was the only thing I could compare to how relaxed I felt in that moment.

Frowning, I did my best to twist my neck enough so I could look for Pyrus. My frown deepened when I couldn’t see him and found the brightness of the area around us diminished. I turned my concern sharply on Luna.

She simply pulled back, smiled at me and said, “My dear Selene. It appears our time here is at an end.”

Luna leaned forward and I felt her kiss the top of my head. When she spoke again, she did so with a slight hitch of worry in her throat even as she began to fade from view. “Even if it fails, we shall still see each other in our dreams. I love you, daughter mine.”

Then, she was gone.

I swallowed hard and let my gaze fall to the ground in front of my hoof. “And I love you, mother.”

As with Luna and Pyrus, not to mention Aria before them, the dreamscape around me faded away, filling my head with darkness.

* * *

I awoke to darkness. Not much of a surprise there. But at least I woke up. That and I was able to think, so the surgery must not have scrambled my brains too badly. My ears definitely still worked. I could hear everything going on around me; the conversations, the hoof steps, the squeak of wheels, rattling of metal carts. You name it, I heard it. So, yay, still alive and with a functional brain in my noggin.

I didn’t bother to turn my head when either a nurse or Doctor Stitch spoke to me. Benefits of pony ears. Can’t say I didn’t lean towards the softer speakers, however. Not that Luna could ever be accused of having a soft voice. She was also one of my first visitors. Not surprising. Raising the moon and casting the sky with myriad stars could actually be done from anywhere. Her ability to check on me, that was a little tougher to do away from where I was.

So, I listened to everything Doctor Stitch said. There was nothing really surprising. All had gone as expected, although it had dragged on a bit longer time-wise. The team wanted to be sure everything was exactly as planned, I couldn’t begrudge them that. They were working on a member of the royal family after all.

Yeah, so, no unexpected problems. It was now up to me to be ready for my bandages to be removed. Considering my new eyes didn’t have to settle and adjust like a transplanted pair of organic ones, Doctor Stitch was unsurprisingly eager yet slightly hesitant to remove my bandages.

What surprised everypony in the room was when I said no. Many wondered if I was worried about the outcome, whether or not it had worked, and were trying to talk me through my fears. Truth be told, I was concerned in that regard. But it wasn’t the reason for my hesitance.

I turned my head to where I knew Luna was. Whether she was sitting or not, I had no idea. “I want to see you, but I want to see Aria too.”

“Oh,” Luna said, her voice tinged with momentary surprise. “Of course.”

There was a silent exchange between ponies in the room before Doctor Stitch spoke. “It is outside visiting hours for non-family members in the maternity ward.”

I did my best to frown.

“But,” Doctor Stitch continued. “With what you have been through, who you are, and your relationship to the patients, I can see it being feasible.”

I smiled and uttered my thanks. I was lifted from the bed without a hoof touching me. I don’t doubt it was Luna who supported me with magic. Any chance to carry me about in such a manner and she was all over it. I was then deposited into a wheelchair. I’d been surprised they existed in this world after seeing ponies using wheelbelts. Then I realised wheelbelts were the replacement for crutches, not wheelchairs. It all made sense now.

Once in the chair, I was pushed through the hospital. As before, so many sounds. But, now they were joined by numerous scents. Most of which were the acrid aftermath of antiseptics. The smell of which clung to my nostrils and refused to let go, even after we arrived at my destination. Curse my pony sense of smell. It was far greater than that of a human.

Once in the room and the door shut, Doctor Stitch moved to my side and began to adjust my bandages. There was no greeting from Aria, nor a question if I was ready, Doctor Stitch just went ahead with his task using the magic of his horn.

The bandages slid upward. I could feel them pulling back my unruly fringe and holding it at bay like a makeshift headband. I squinted at the light. Everything was blurry for several seconds. I could hear the soft whirring as my eyes adjusted to their first usage. It was a sound I was going to have to get used to, it was one I would live with for as long as I wanted to see.

Thankfully, my mind adjusted to the input from my new eyes and their sensors imbedded in my brain quicker than the eyes themselves to being used for the first time. Everything was so crisp in appearance, it was so hard to believe what I was seeing, even as my eyes adjusted to limit the brightness. It was such a little thing, one other ponies would take for granted. It was also one of the aspects I had spent so much time on.

I blinked at the world I before me. The clarity was such a jolt from the blurriness I had endured for so long. Tables and chairs were no longer fuzzy blobs but had the sharpest of lines, be they made of metal or wood. The upholstery of a chair. To see the minute stitching which held together an intricate pattern I would have never noticed before. It was just fascinating.

I blinked. In the moment of darkness afforded to me, I wondered if what I had seen wasn’t real. Simply a cruel joke crafted by my mind to tease me into thinking I had succeeded, when in fact, upon opening them again, I would see as poorly as before. Or worse, not at all. The blink ended. The sharpness of the real world around me remained.

I frowned. I could feel my skin and fur push against the dull metal points which were now permanent fixtures above and beside my new eyes. They were something else I needed to get used to. Not like I could just have them removed. They were integral to the functionality and eventual servicing of my eyes. There were only four in total on the front. One near each temple while the other two would forever come close to touching just above the inner edge of both eyes.

I didn’t need a mirror to know what they looked like, black metal triangles with tiny circles in them denoting the ends of screws which held them firmly to my skull. They weren’t the only ones. Two more were set into the base of my skull either side of my neck. My neck felt colder around them, also a little lighter. As expected, the medical staff had needed to permanently shave some of my mane to accommodate them. A very small price to pay.

There were others on my body along with connection points. My eyes weren’t the only things operated on after all. With such an opportunity in going under the knife, I’d added attachment points for my future front leg as well as my wing. Saved having to undergo future surgeries. At least while I was still as small an Alicorn as I was.

I blinked again. My eyes faintly whirred. The sound came from something all others would take for granted. Something I never would again, for in the brief moment my eyes were closed, my pupils would expand in the darkness only to shrink again when exposed to light once more. Normal eyes adjusted to this all the time. Semi-mechanical ones like mine, however, made tiny noises with each movement. Again, I didn’t mind. I could see.

Speaking of seeing, I should probably be paying attention to things in the room other than the furnishings. And by things, I meant ponies. With only Aria’s coat as reference for clarity from our arrival in this world, I wasn’t exactly prepared for the sheer vibrancy of colours I was suddenly faced with viewing.

This was a smorgasbord of every colour and hue I could ever have imagined. They were so much more than the smears I was used to seeing. Even black and white was so much crisper now, more defined than I could ever imagine. And, considering the nature of pony coats and manes in this world, this was candy for my eyes.

Many anxious faces were staring at me, but I made no comment. There was just so much to take in. Many ponies I recognised, they were now far more splendid than I could previously tell. Especially Luna’s tail and mane. Just… Wow! I had been entranced by it before. Now? I repeat. Wow!

I blinked at her, nodded and smiled. The concern in her eyes momentarily grew then melted along with the tension in her face and body, transforming her visage to one of beaming joy mixed with relief. Doctor Stitch and others moved about in my peripheral vision, but I paid them little attention. Undoubtedly, they wanted to know my condition, but I was just so busy drinking in everything I saw to remember to announce the success.

It was difficult to pull my attention away from Luna. After all, she wasn’t the reason I was in this room. That was reserved for the pale purple pony I arrived with. Looking at her now, she was just as stunning as I remembered. Although, she did look incredibly tired. And… I looked closer. Was that a genuine smile on her snooter? I think it was. It wasn’t reserved for me of course. No, it was directed at the bundle she was cuddled with.

It was a little bundle Aria had worried for several months about keeping. Considering how it had come to be created in the first place, it wasn’t surprising she’d had reservations. By the look she was giving it however, I doubted she would ever pass it to another pony. Even if it turned out to be just a regular pony.

I blinked again. So came the faint whirring.

There was Aria. She looked so happy. Finally noticing my gaze, Aria shifted her bundle a little. The first glimpse I caught was the tufts of predominantly purple mane with streaks of deeper purple. This was a foal with a thick mane of hair. It took a bit of angling my head to see the coat. When I saw it, I found it to be a soft red. The colours weren’t exactly complimentary, not every pony was so gifted in that department, but we were going to get used to them.

The foal wasn’t the only unfamiliar face I met in Aria’s hospital room. The other was one of a bubbly adult mare who was doing her best to hog what little attention the foal could give. She was also the one who let the foal’s name and gender slip as she was so busy smiling and cooing.

The foal was a filly. Her name, Crescendo Rise.

The mare in question was of pale blue coat with mane and tail of light blue and deep blue. She was also one of the few ponies I had ever seen to wear their mane in, what this world poorly continued to name, a ponytail. Yep. Even after almost a year of living here, this world of ponies still managed to jar my brain from time to time.

This mare, I soon learned, was a fulfillment of two promises; one from me, the other from Luna. I would need to thank Luna later for coming through for me, albeit reluctantly. For this was one of Aria’s sisters. Found by Twilight Sparkle and brought to Equestria in time for Crescendo’s birth. Her name, Sonata Dusk. She was rather scatter-brained when compared with Aria, but, it was a welcome nature when it came to dealing with a newborn foal and becoming an Aunty.

Like Aria, Sonata was missing her harmonising crystal. Not that Aria would be to suffer its loss much longer now that Crescendo was born and not at risk of what I intended. But that was for another time. Worries I could mull over once the joy and excitement of Crescendo’s arrival had calmed.

And, if you were wondering what I thought of Aria now that I could clearly see her again, I’ll tell you. She was still absolutely stunning. Having a foal did nothing to change my opinion of her. In fact, it mellowed her a little. Her harshness didn’t just disappear though. The antics of Sonata repeatedly proved that.

* * *

My leg.

Did you know that, when you are the one to craft something for yourself, you can do whatever you want with it? Even make it out of military grade metals? Well, you can. You can even make things that no pony else would dream of.

Take, for instance, my grippers. They were my cheekiest addition to my leg and one of a kind as nopony else knew how to use them… Maybe Aria or Sonata would… Or Twilight for that matter. My grippers were equivalent to fingers and extended out from slots around the outside of my hoof. And I was side-tracking my mind again.

Although they were mostly a comfort for me, giving me a chance to hold things like I would as a human, they did have another benefit. They didn’t take the use of my horn in order to function. This meant they could handle objects which were particularly susceptible to the direct touch of magic. In particular, some of the most refined magical capacitors I crafted with Pyrus.

These special capacitors took a lot longer to craft as they were not intended to be used in the slot of a prosthetic. They were also to be used differently. They still had a tell-tale golden base and ring to them, but they were also far bigger than any I had previously made. The crystals themselves had to be taken from rocks embedded in the floating islands. Not an easy thing to do with the potential of dragon attacks along with the lack of flying ability. Despite my preparations, I was still without a wing.

Throw in the fact I didn’t even want to risk the procedure they would be used in until Aria was no longer pregnant. Their function was entirely theoretical as I had no example Sirens to learn from. I didn’t actually start making the first one until Crescendo was a few months old.

I still remember walking into Aria’s room in the castle that bitterly cold morning. Aria was bundled up in a blanket, looking the grumpiest I had seen her in weeks, while she watched Sonata roll about with Crescendo on the floor. I had to admit, I was cold enough to revert to using capes again. The only reason I could reach with regard to Sonata never feeling the cold was her bubbly nature. Yes, there was a mean streak hidden within, but I only glimpsed it on rare occasions when she felt Crescendo was being put in danger by somepony, even by Aria; only once was I her target.

Thankfully, Pyrus was with me that morning, so some of the edge was taken off the chill. Much to Aria’s reluctant joy. She eyed me from her blanket cocoon then went back to watching her daughter.

“Dingus,” she said by way of greeting.

I was so used to her calling me by it, I no longer considered it an insult. Honestly, I reacted more visibly when she called me Chromia instead of Monochrome, but here I am getting side tracked again.

“Looks like Crescendo’s having fun,” I said, setting a box on the edge of Aria’s bed before letting go of it with my magic.

“Think my nitwit sister is enjoying it more, as usual,” Aria muttered. “Honestly, she’s a bigger child than my nine month old.”

“Aria!” Sonata protested and shot Aria a glare. Whatever anger Sonata was trying to manifest didn’t have a hope of flaring out at Aria as Crescendo threw herself at her Aunty again. This left Sonata with only one option; roll around and giggle on the floor while trying to tickle her niece.

“Like I said, nitwit child,” Aria stated, her attention shifting to the box now on her bed. “And that is?”

“Something special,” I said, raising my mechanical hoof. Using my grippers, I opened the box then carefully picked up its contents without letting my magic touch it.

“This right here is one of a kind,” I explained, holding up the capacitor which was nearly as large as the base of my hoof. “It’s taken a lot of research with help from often reluctant princesses to design, but Pyrus and I have finally finished crafting this very special magical capacitor.”

I looked from the crystal to Aria. She didn’t look very impressed. Just cold and grumpy.

“So?” she asked.

“It was hard to make because it needed to work with the energies given off by specific emotional states instead of latent magic found in the surrounding environments like with our usual creations,” I continued to explain. “Had a little help in that department from some of the recently reformed Changelings. Particularly in finetuning it to specific emotional groups.”

Aria narrowed her gaze and scowled. “Meaning?”

“Well,” I said, moving to stand in front of Aria. “It’s all a bit theoretical still but it should…”

I caught myself and shook my head. “You know what, why don’t we try it?”

Aria blinked and eyed me sceptically. “We?”

I tried to give her my best, friendliest grin. “By we, I mean you.”

Aria’s expression remained the same. She even pulled the blanket tighter around herself as I neared her.

Seeing her hesitance, I sighed and said, “I need you to put out your chest and sing.”

Her expression darkened dangerously. I was about to try and explain further when Pyrus brushed past me to stand over Aria. He reached out and placed a hoof on her shoulder then stared into her eyes. Whatever silently passed between them apparently did the trick. Aria let out a reluctant sigh then turned to face me again, much of her anger tempered in her gaze.

“Get on with it,” she said, brushing aside her blanket and standing on her bed. “Before I change my mind.”

I glanced at Pyrus to give him silent thanks, but he was still staring at Aria. Turning to her, I drew in a deep breath and held the crystal up, just short of her chest.

Aria steadied herself, grumbled in annoyance then drew in a breath before her attempt. What came forth, I can’t say it was great. It was definitely out of tune.

Aria cringed at the sound coming from her throat. With it came a huff of irritation. Whether it was from having to perform when not wanting to, the sound she knew was terrible, or seeing the folded ears of the ponies around her, it was difficult to tell. But one thing was clear, Aria’s resolve was waning.

I pressed the capacitor to her chest and said, “Keep singing.”

Aria’s ears scrunched down against her head but she pressed on, her voice growing in volume.

As she continued to sing, the blue crystal began to glow as if reacting to the presence of the Siren. Not to be outdone, a purple aura, not unlike the colour of Aria’s coat emerged from her body, outlining her form completely.

Aria forced herself to keep singing, even while her face contorted in disgust at her voice.

The glow of the crystal and that of the aura surrounding Aria washed against each other like the tide steadily rising up a beach before seeping into each other much like seawater into sand. Once the crystal’s light had mixed completely into the purple of Aria’s aura, the cracking, croaky tones in the Siren’s voice slipped away leave nothing but the purest sound I had ever heard.

Entranced by the beauty in my ears, I let my hoof fall. The capacitor remained in place, its golden back having melded into Aira’s chest. I smiled as I listened, watching dreamily as Aria’s aura faded from sight.

Aria’s shoulders slumped as the strength of her voice began to wane. The moment she ended the note, Aria flopped forward. Both Pyrus and I were already there, hooves raised to hold her steady. She was panting for breath, her entire barrel heaving. I frowned as worry crept up on me. Had I miscalculated in some way? Was the magical drain the capacitor created somehow greater than expected?

My fears eased a little when Aria let out a shuddering breath.

“That,” she said weakly, “was interesting.”

Aria then raised her head and pressed a hoof to her throat. She hummed to herself, testing the basic tone of her voice before letting out any word with musical strength. The consistent sound she made caused her to jump and gasp in surprise. She blinked a few times, mentally judging herself before drawing in a deep breath.

After only a moment of hesitation, Aria let out a single note. Starting softly, it quickly gained in strength as Aria realised that it wasn’t cracking or faltering. Apparently eager to test the limits of her discovery, Aria’s note slid through an enormous range of octaves, both up and down the vocal scale before finally coming to an end in the same soft way in which it started.

I was surprised when she let out a soft sigh. How did she still have breath to spare after that? Then I saw it. And when I did, I felt the weight and anxiety I had let build while preparing for the moment of gifting her the capacitor lift from my body. She was smiling. Aria was smiling. I had made Aria happy. I felt oh so warm in that moment of realisation.

Aria turned to me. Her eyelids drooping with a tinge of exhaustion. Attaching the capacitor had clearly taken a lot out of her, but the results I doubt even she would argue with.

“Just a warning,” I said, restarting my earlier explanation. “Princess Twilight Sparkle had a hoof in making this.”

When I saw Aria’s expression darken, I rushed on. “Specifically, in the theoretical side. With the help of changelings, it was crafted to work from the brighter emotions of ponies and other beings. Not the negative ones your previous crystal fed upon, as Twilight put it.”

Aria’s head drooped along with her expression. She nodded but said nothing.

I didn’t exactly disagree with Twilight regarding it, but it was something Twilight had been adamant about. Without such a change, she had threatened to have her and her friends act against Aria. Even have her banished to the world of the humans with her broken singing voice again.

Looking at Aria, having witnessed the joy she had taken in the return of her singing ability, I found it hard to not accept the compromise we had reached. Even if it had been done and agreed to before Aria knew. I felt a ball of guilt begin to grow in my stomach the longer Aria remained silent. After all, I had attached the capacitor to her without giving her all of the facts and letting her decide if she wanted to proceed or not.

Thankfully, it didn’t last long.

Aria turned to me, smiled and said, “Thank you, Monochrome.”

She pressed her hoof to her new crystal capacitor and said, “It is against a Siren’s nature, but maybe nature can change.”

I blinked at that. An incredibly mature comment I doubted Twilight had ever heard come from either Siren when she had encountered them. Truly, had Twilight even known them? Had she taken the time to learn of their struggles and give them the chance to change their path instead of brutally ripping away a part of themselves? A part of their very nature as sentient creatures of Equestria.

I shook the thought aside. This moment wasn’t about Twilight Sparkle and what she had done. It was about the opportunities being offered now. I smiled as I watched Sonata return Crescendo to her mother’s grasp. Aria cuddled Crescendo close and, although clearly drained from the experience of magical re-invigoration, began to hum then softly sing.

Crescendo smiled and giggled at her mother’s voice. And Aria’s new crystal began to glow.

Author's Note

This chapter was one of two things which prevented me from posting this story sooner. It remained the only incomplete chapter for at least nine months as I struggled to solve how I wanted the attachment of the capacitor and a large chunk of the dream cuddle session to play out.