B.E.A.N.S.L.A.Y.E.R.S.

A half hour later they were standing outside the door of a crappy third-story apartment in the bad part of town. Juniper looked at the door, then at Aria. “So... you know the person that lives here?”

“People,” Aria said through gritted teeth.

“People.” Juniper bit her lip. “And... you don't like these people?”

“Not really, no.”

Juniper swallowed. “So... why are we here?”

Aria clenched a fist, her nails actually piercing flesh. “Because. We need help from people that are on the wrong side of laws and morals.” She reached out and pounded on the door with her bleeding hand. “An' besides...”

The locks clattered, and the door opened.

“Family is who you turn to when you're in trouble.”

Juniper let out a small “Eep!”. Standing in the doorway was a gorgeous young woman with curly orange hair, wearing a bathrobe that clearly had nothing underneath. She had a bottle of bourbon in one hand and- surprisingly to Aria- a Beanis in the other. Her eyes were like chips of frozen wine, and the smile she sported did not reach them.

“Aria!” she said. “You've come home.”

“Not exactly,” Aria growled. Then realized that Juniper was still staring. “Juniper, this slut is my sister Adagio. Adagio, this is my friend Juniper Montage.”

“Um- hi?” Juniper held out her hand. “I've heard... some things about you.”

Adagio wedged her bean-dildo into the tie of her robe, then grabbed Juniper's hand firmly. “All terrible, I'm sure.” Adagio smirked and looked Juniper up and down. “A bit scrawny, aren't you?” Her eyes darted to her sister. “What happened to Rarity?”

Aria closed her eyes. Ancestors give me strength. “We're still together, Adagio. Juniper and I are just friends.”

“Whatever you say.” Adagio swung around, sashaying down the hall of the apartment. “Get in here if you're coming,” she called over her shoulder.

Juniper looked at Aria and swallowed. “She's... interesting.”

“You can call her a bitch, it's fine,” Aria said.

“I'll pass.”

The two of them stepped over the threshold, Aria closing the door behind them. She hadn't been back here since the company broke up, and she was frankly surprised that her sisters were still living in this dump.

The short hall led into an open space that used to be their living room, but was now simply a dining room. The furniture, at least, was new.

“We turned your old room into the entertainment center,” Adagio said when she noticed Aria looking around. “After a month, I figured there was a thrift store in need of your... everything.”

Aria sighed, but accepted it. She'd probably have done the same. Hell, she might not've waited a month.

The kitchen was still off to the side, and the smell of pan-fried meat and sauce was seeping out. A quick peek confirmed that Sonata was in there, making the only thing she knew how to- tacos. Always tacos. If it was possible to die from Tex-Mex overload, Aria mused, Sonata would've been the happiest person in the entire world.

The blue-haired siren hadn't noticed them yet, so Adagio took a swig from the bourbon bottle and slammed it down onto their counter. The loud Tunk! of glass caught her attention.

“Oh, hey Aria. Dagi. New girl.” Sonata turned, revealing an apron that used to say, 'Kiss The Cook', but the S's had been taped over and replaced with L's. Which, Aria noticed, had also been replaced. Little S's had been drawn on the tape in Sharpie. “Lunch'll be done soon.”

“We'll be in the living room,”Adagio said. “Join us when you're done.”

“'Kay.”

As they walked over to the living room door- formerly Aria's bedroom door- Aria couldn't help but glance back. “She seems... better. More like her old self.”

Adagio nodded. “I think it has something to do with her new boyfriend. Frank, or something.”

Aria shook her head. “So all it took was getting laid. Figures.”

Inside the living room, Adagio sprawled out on the love seat, leaving Aria and Juniper to take the arm chairs.

“So,” Adagio purred. “If you're not moving back in. What is it that you're after?”

Aria took a deep breath, then explained the situation as concisely as possible. Juniper occasionally chimed in, showing off the artifact. The whole time, Adagio rubbed one finger on the tip of her Beanis, licking off the occasional leakage. When Aria finished, Adagio's smirk became shark-like.

“And here I thought you were a good girl now,” Adagio said. “I can only imagine the problems this will cause between you and Rarity.”

That stung. Adagio had always known exactly what to say to make someone feel bad, twisting the knife until they were perfectly pliant. For a long time, it had worked on Aria.

Maybe it still did.

“This isn't about me and Rarity,” Aria said. “We need to figure out what that-” She pointed to the necklace.”-Is, and why Trixie and those girls want it so bad.”

Adagio shrugged. “I haven't got the faintest idea. Why in the heavens would you come to me for that?”

Aria snorted. “Please. You've been elbow-deep in Canterlot's underworld since the 60's. You know something or someone who can help.”

There was a tense moment, Juniper's eyes darting between the two sisters, while Adagio caressed her Beanis again.

“Maybe I do,” Adagio said finally. “Though you'd be owing me a favor, Aria. Are you really-”

“Lunch is served!”

Sonata burst through the door with plates balanced on both arms, each one full. She distributed them like a true professional. “So what's the deal?” she asked.

“These two,” Adagio grunted, “Caught Moondancer and company trying to steal that necklace from the Canterlot Museum. Ari and her friend ended up being the ones to take it, and now they need our help to get out of trouble.”

Sonata set the last plate in front of Juniper and whistled. “Wow, that sucks. So Moondancer failed, huh?”

Aria was just about to take a bite of her taco when her synapses fired. It was the repeat mention that did it. At the same time, Juniper's foot tapped Aria's leg. She knew, too.

They'd never said Moondancer's name.

It'd been Trixie that Aria talked about, because that was who they knew.

But her sisters were talking about Moondancer.

Aria set the taco down. “Actually, now that I think about it? The police are probably gone already. We can just sneak the necklace back in and not worry about it. Right Juniper?”

“R-right!” Juniper stood up. “I'm not hungry, anyway.”

Her stomach gurgled.

Aria swallowed. “Same. Let's get going, Juniper.”

As Aria stood up, Sonata closed the door and locked it. She turned around, her face blank.

Aria glanced over at Adagio, who just smiled and slurped on the end of her Beanis.

This was a mistake.

“You're with them,” Juniper said.

Adagio nodded, still slurping.

“And who are 'them'?” Aria asked.

Sonata crossed her arms. “Oh, you don't need to worry about that.”

“True.” Adagio swallowed one last mouthful from her Beanis. Then she set it on her plate. “In fact, I don't think you'll have to worry about much, ever again.”

Aria grabbed Juniper's wrist and pulled her towards the window. “We can't be killed,” she reminded her sisters.

Literally in the blink of an eye, Sonata launched herself forward, grabbing Juniper and retreating to the other side of the room. “Sure. But she can.”

Sonata smiled, revealing sharp fangs, a slight red glow emanating from her pupils.

“You're a vampire!” Juniper gasped.

Adagio laughed. “Don't be ridiculous. She's a siren.”

Aria gaped. “But- how?”

Adagio waggled her fingers at the coffee table where her plate sat. “Twilight Sparkle is a genius. Her invention uses Equestrian Magic to work. The very first time I picked one up, I could sense it.”

“Okay, but... that's like, public knowledge. They say it on their website.”

Adagio rolled her eyes. “My point is that I figured out that by consuming enough of their E-jaculate, I could recover some of my magic. An idea I shared with Sonata.” Adagio sat up, chin resting on the back of her hand. “It's too bad you left us. I'd've shared with you, too.”

At that moment, Adagio opened her mouth, and the most awful screech Aria had ever heard echoed out. The sound slammed into her, not just her ears but her whole body, and Aria was blown into the wall. She collapsed, stars dancing in front of her eyes.

Adagio finally got off the couch, eyes gleaming.

Aria struggled, but managed to stand up. She glared at her sister. “That seems like more than 'some',” she slurred.

Adagio chortled. “Well, it's been a while since I tested it out. Let's try again.”

And she did. That horrid wail lifted Aria off the floor and slammed her into the window. Cracks formed.

And then the glass exploded under Adagio's onslaught, and Aria tumbled into the void. She reached out, fighting her daze, and grabbed the window frame. Shards of glass cut gouges into her fingers, and the blood made it slippery, but Aria held on.

Adagio's laugh echoed out of the apartment. She leaned out the window, arms crossed on the sill.

“I'd say it was nothing personal, but...” Adagio grinned. “We both know that isn't true.”

“A-dag-i-o!” Aria ground out. She reached up with her other hand, grabbing the frame. She had to get back up.

Adagio held up a finger. “I wouldn't do that if I were you. Sonata?”

The other siren called out. “You put one foot in this room and I tear out her throat!”

“See?” Adagio stood up and stretched. “Well. I better go and get dressed. I have a necklace to deliver. Thank you for saving us the trouble of hunting you down!”

As Adagio turned away, Aria hauled herself up, until she was in the reverse of her sister's position. She could see into the room now, and Sonata was still holding Juniper, who looked about ready to pee herself.

Adagio stopped and traced one finger down Juniper's cheek. “I've changed my mind, you're cute. Hopefully my sister has the sense to... hang in there!” She laughed at her own joke.

In that moment, Juniper's expression twisted, and she slammed her head forward into Adagio's nose. The siren's eyes widened, then she crumpled.

“Adagio!” Sonata panicked, and Juniper slipped out of her grip. Quick as a snake, Juniper lunged for the necklace.

Adagio and Sonata were already recovering and moving when Juniper grabbed hold of the Bean. In that moment, it glowed, and a pulse washed over the room. The sirens froze.

And as Aria clambered into the room, and Juniper scooted away, they remained frozen. Their eyes didn't blink. Aria waved her hand in front of them, poked at Sonata's bared teeth. Nothing.

“What did you do?” she marveled.

“I- I don't know.” Juniper shakily got to her feet. “I think it was the necklace.” She held it out, and Aria saw the glow.

“Holy-” Aria shook her head. “That's magic.” She looked over at her sisters, still suspended in time. “Okay. That's... that's crazy.”

“Do you think it's permanent?”

Aria shook her head. “Nah. The thaumatic signature is too weak. Which means we should probably leave before it wears off.”

Juniper nodded, looking troubled.

Aria noticed. “You okay?”

“I'll be fine,” Juniper said. She walked carefully around Adagio's frozen form. Then she paused. She turned and delivered a hard kick right between Adagio's legs. Aria winced.

“Feel better?”

Juniper smiled and walked towards the door with more spring in her step. “Much.”