Mistress (Adagio's Big Comeback)

Chapters

Chapter 2: Adagio
Chapter 3: Fugue
Chapter 4: Muta
Chapter 5: Cambiare
Chapter 6: Incalzando
Chapter 8: Tranquillo
Act 2 - Chapter: 9: Improvvisato
Chapter 10: Fuocoso
Chapter 11: Sentimento
Chapter 12: Gemendo
Chapter 13: Sonata
Chapter 14: Capriccioso
Chapter 15: Aria
Chapter 16: Amabile
Chapter 17: Fieramente
Chapter 18: Noblezza
Act 3: Chapter 19: Nobility
Chapter 20: Pride
Chapter 21: Pleasant
Chapter 22: Volatile
Chapter 23: Groaning
Chapter 24: Emotion
Chapter 26: Improvisation
Chapter 27: Peaceful
Chapter 28: Caress
Chapter 29: Faster
Chapter 30: Changes
Chapter 31: Transformation
Chapter 32: Flight
Chapter 33: Silence
Epilogue: Chapter 34: Complete
Chapter 35: Crescendo
Chapter 36: Encore
Chapter 37: Coda
Act 1 - Chapter 1: Tacet
Chapter 7: Accarezzevole
Chapter 25: Passion

Chapter 2: Adagio

“So let me get this straight,” Adagio says as she massages her temples. “You want to use me as, what, a magical antenna?”

You can't help but picture Adagio with a transceiver stuck in her beautifully thick curly hair and sip your second beer to suppress the smirk. Now that you're not on the verge of panicking, it's not the worst you've had for a brand with which you're not familiar. “That's a radical simplification, but something along those lines.”

She continues, “because of a magic leak caused by the continued abuse of the portal.”

“Like when Twilight Sparkle... uh, our Twilight Sparkle, exacerbated the rifts that formed during the Friendship Games. It's only continued saturate this world since.”

Adagio pinches her brow. “And only those native to Equestria, or have interacted with magic directly, can use or feel it?”

“Correct. I considered asking Twilight or-” you start to say but pause as someone else comes to mind, but no. Just no. Not her. “... A few others who I knew were involved with the initial incidents, but I'm worried they're directly connected to the other world. Allies or friends or something. I assume they'll deny it anyway, or maybe try and stop me. That makes you the perfect candidate, Adagio. You know how magic feels, and its absence since the breaking of your necklace might even improve your ability to detect subtle changes, at least compared to someone in routine contact.”

Adagio glares at you. “How did you even know about our stones? We tried to be subtle, and most of the people in the school were under our spell when we absorbed the energy.”

You tap the side of your head. “Simple logic; you had magic when you wore them, you haven't since they were broken and have demonstrated no such associated supernatural phenomena. Anyway, that's why I think I can give you your magic back; those stones were, I presume, a type of conduit through which especially tuned magic was absorbed into your body. What I'm proposing is a device that can not only collect ambient magic, but refine it and directly focus it into your body without the need of your necklace. We just need the perfect frequency, hence I need you to help me fine tune my proven method. Also once I refine the process, I'll be able to channel it into a vast amount of electricity.”

There's a hint of something to her expression. A little rise of her brow. Genuine curiosity, maybe? “You're going to turn magic into electricity?”

You can't fight off the smug grin. “Yep! Green energy at that, since it's going to be generated from something people mostly don't realise exists and is present all over because of how long it's been flowing through the tears. I'll make a fortune and you get your powers. I know I can do it.” You tap your cell phone. “This is entirely powered by that magic, so it never needs charging. There's just one problem.”

Adagio rolls her eyes and mutters, "oh, here we go.”

Come on, Radian, you've almost got her. You can feel it. “I'm broke, and I can't afford the parts for the more specialised, focused machines. I spent most of my cash building a version of my phone that didn't catch fire... or explode.”

Adagio gives you a deeply sardonic laugh. “Do I look flush with cash? I'll give you a moment, Mr. Scientist, in case the trashy bar doesn't clue you in.”

Hmm. You kind of figured she might have been just frugal in her spending, but nobody lets a place get this destitute, you guess. “Oh. Yeah, I hadn't thought of that.”

“I sank everything I have into this dump. I even had the great idea to turn it into a trendy jazz club or some pretentious cocktail bar to squeeze more cash out of rich idiots, but no. My funds dried up long before I could even start making the necessary changes.” She sighs loudly and slumps over the bar. “Story of my life, one failure after another. Everything I do turns to ruin, and what little I have left is tied to this place.”

A complication, but you try to think around it. “Well, maybe we could-”

Adagio sits up and slaps her hands on the bar. “There is no we, idiot!” Her anger's sparked, but Adagio just deflates even harder a second later. She stands slowly, leaden, then gestures to the door. “Just... get out. I don't care enough to have you thrown out any more. I'm going to go and see if I can balance the books...”

You can't believe she just said that. Not Adagio. Not after all this time, nervous build up and and distant dreams. “Balance the books?” you whisper.

“Yes, Radian, it's a little thing called living life. All this magic nonsense doesn't mean a thing here, not when there's bills and employees to pay and-”

You slam the bar with your fist. She gasps, flinches and takes a step away from you.

This was it? A girl- no, a siren, who had once played with powers beyond the world itself, that inspired your desire to explore magic to begin with, and she's talking about bills and payslips? No goddamn way.

You say, “you know what? I gave up everything to chase up a dream I've had since school. Home life and CHS chewed me up and spat me out. I pushed myself as hard as I could to try and make myself something professionally, only to get ground up as some goddamn nobody, working in a side-lab on bullshit! I've had to give up everything I had just to prove my theories! I've sacrificed everything for this! I'm screwed if we can't work this out.”

Adagio shrugs. “Not my problem.” She goes to walk towards the back room.

You grab her shoulder. The clientele go silent and Street Tough stands from his stool again, and you see Adagio reach for her taser.

To hell with it, you either succeed or get electrocuted. “You just don't know what you are. You've forgotten. You're Adagio Dazzle! A siren! You almost ran Canterlot High and would have run the whole damn world!”

Adagio shakes her head, somewhere between afraid and angry, and says, “you know what I am- what I was, and you still want to help me? Why would you do that? Are you crazy!?”

You throw you arms up in the air and scream, “YES! I'm certifiable! I took my whole life, my engineering PhD, my whole career as a scientist and burned it all for you! You're a goddess, and it's time you remembered that! To hell with 'balancing the books!' You're Adagio fucking Dazzle! It's our time, you just need to believe in me!”

You almost don't hear it as your heart thunders in your ears, but the bar patrons laugh and chuckle amongst themselves. Simp, crackpot, nutjob.

Street Tough grabs you by the scruff again and starts pulling you towards the exit. You've done everything you can and don't resist, except try to watch her reaction.

Adagio stares at you, her mouth open and her eyes roam the floor, as if searching, and the laughing reaches a peak. She then looks at the patrons and her face twists into a hateful scowl, but you're turned around and can't see her any more. Is it over?

Then the sound of shattering glass. You see one of the laughing customers reel as a spray of shards showers over him from one of Adagio's empty long maneland ice teas strikes a table and cuts a couple of the nearby patrons.

Street Tough's grip slackens and you turn towards Adagio. An evil grin. Wide, vibrant, slightly unhinged looking raspberry coloured eyes. Pride. Power! She's back!

Adagio yells, “everyone, get the hell out of my bar!”

One of the patrons storms up to her. “What the hell do you think you're doing, you crazy bit-”

Adagio jams her taser in his neck with a long, sinister laugh and he jolts, stiffens, mumbles and falls to the floor in a heap. She brandishes the weapon at any other challengers. “I said get out!! We're closed! Forever!”

The clients filter out, Street Tough drags the unconscious man out.

All the while, Adagio doesn't even look at you. She just looks at the bar, taking it all in with a lazy smile, and when it's only you, the barman and Street Tough, she says, “you two, liquidise everything. Sell it all, take your severance and get lost.”

“Boss?”

“You heard me! And you, Radian?” She grabs you by the collar and tugs you so close that you're overwhelmed by the alcohol on her breath. “You're getting your chance, Mr. Scientist, so you'd better hope you're as clever as you think you are. The ball's in your court, and if you screw me?”

You wince as she jabs her taser against your crotch.

“I'll fry yours instead. Am I understood?”

You gulp. “Yes ma'am.”

Adagio shoves you back and vanishes into the back room as she starts to type a number on her phone and puts it to her ear as she closes the door. You hear her talking to someone as Street Tough and the barman start gathering the stock and make some calls of their own.

An hour passes when Adagio emerges and sighs, running her fingers through her thick curls. “Let's go. You'll be staying with me where I can keep an eye on what you do with my money.”

You head outside with Adagio and begin an uncomfortable, silent walk. You'd love to strike up a conversation with her, but she's clearly in deep thought and you're more than a little worried she'll tase you if you interrupt. Curiously, despite the straight route, she tugs your arm to cross the street, steering clear of an alleyway, then heads back across after the next street.

It's not far to her apartment. The second floor, room twenty six. Just past the apartment that stinks of urine, but before the one with the rust-colour (almost certainly blood) stained door. Inside, the grand tour consists of a single main room, a busted couch, a basic coffee table near the kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. No TV, just a radio; solid brand but a lower end model.

You ask, “I guess I'm sleeping on the couch?”

“Well, aren't you clever?” She sneers and throws her jacket on the back of the couch, then retrieves a notepad and pen from one of the kitchen drawers. “Now, tell me exactly what you need to order and I'll get it. We've got all night, so anything you say, I'll be checking to make sure you're not being stupid.”

“Fine, but it's a long list,” you say and pull out your phone. You've got the schematics on there for two devices as you begin listing off a whole pile of components. You make them as cheap as you dare, but some parts have to be premium.

Every step of the way, Adagio keeps trying to recommend lower priced, inferior parts. There's a lot you would do for her favour, and even more to make her trust you, but these parts are crucial. One short-circuit, one blown component, and the whole thing could be ruined.

It's late by the time you finish, but you have everything you need ordered, plus a couple of spare parts for redundancies. Adagio also insists on rapid delivery, which surprises you, but you aren't complaining.

Adagio locks her phone and rubs her eyes. “Finally! Ugh! I swear, if we end up with a pile of worthless spare parts, I'm not going to be happy! I'm going to bed. Do not disturb me!” Adagio stands and storms off into her bedroom.

You sigh, kick off your shoes and admit, after a day spent going against your introverted nature and actually being forced to stand up for yourself, you're pretty bushed as well. You use your jacket as a blanket, spend a few minutes trying to get the busted couch into a comfortable position, and settle in for the night.

*-**-*

You're sitting in front of Principal Celestia, back in Canterlot High. She's rambling on about recent events, settling back into school, but you're so numb you can barely hear her. Your parents have divorced, your dad's moved halfway across the country and your mom... you don't even want to think about the state she's in right now. It's not looking good. You were scared the break up was going to happen, but the writing has been on the wall for months. This situation with your mom is grave enough that you needed a distraction. The only thing you could think of is returning to your school.

It's not a long meeting, and you're barely thinking of it for most of it, only focusing on her as she leans forward on her desk. “I really wasn't expecting you back so soon after we heard about what happened, Radian, but I admire your courage. If it gets too overwhelming, or if there's anything Vice Principal Luna or myself can do for you, even if you just want to talk, our door is always open. You might be glad to hear that this weekend we're having the first ever musical showcase? I understand you're quite talented in electronics, and I'm sure the event organisers would love having your assistance in preparing the sound system and lighting.”

That would be a nice distraction, but you're not sure if you can deal with people right now. “I... I guess I'll think about it. Thanks, Principal Celestia.” You leave the office and head through the halls when you suddenly spot the dreaded fiery red and yellow hair of Sunset Shimmer, your long-standing nemesis. You immediately hide upstairs as you see her on the approach, hide behind the guard rail and look down into the foyer.

Sunset Shimmer runs up to a trio of unfamiliar girls at the entrance. “Hi, are you the girls I'm supposed to show around?”

The newcomers step forward and you get a good look at them. The central girl has a spiky hairband tying up her long, thick orange and blond curly hair and wears punkish purple and pink clothes.

She says, in a sexy, smooth voice, “we are,” with broad, toothy grin.

Her two friends (you assume) remain quiet. One's dressed in purple jeans with a green, torn sleeve jacket with twin-tailed, straight purple hair with aqua stripes tied up with star-shaped clips. The more cheerful of the three has a pink skirt and a burgundy top, with a large ponytail of two-toned blue hair. All three are wearing very distinct and identical red gemstone necklaces.

Sunset begins to lead the three around the school, and normally you'd make yourself scarce, but these new girls catch your eye. There's something deeply alluring about them that you can't quite put your finger on.

It also strikes you as odd at how friendly Sunset's being, but you know you heard something happened at school while you had your family crisis and you've been in and our of school so often, it's been difficult to keep track of everything. You know the front of the school building had to be repaired, but most people are keeping quiet, so you can't help but wonder if Sunset caused an incident and is having to buck up her act to not be expelled or something.

You follow as far as you can upstairs but have to head back down to the ground floor as Sunset introduces the science and computer labs, while the three new girls look around like they're plotting.

Sunset suddenly runs ahead to a poster. “Oh, we're having a big musical showcase this weekend! The whole school is pretty much rallying around it!”

The poofy-haired leader of the new girls gasps softly and puts her finger and thumb to her chin, then glances back at the other two with a smirk. “A... musical showcase?” You're close enough to see her dark pink eyes, full of cunning.

Sunset continues, “I'm sure since you're new Principal Celestia will let you sign up, if you're interested.”

Twin-tails checks her nails and says, restrained but smoothly, “we have been known to sing from time to time.” She's got darker, purple eyes. Almost sinister.

Ponytail chirps in, with a bubbly tone, “hello! We sing, like, all the time! It's how we get people to do what we want.” Her big, vibrant pink eyes are pretty as hell, but... not exactly sparking with intellect.

Poofy grunts at ponytail and performs a 'cut it' gesture across her throat.

“What- what did I say?” Ponytail asks and shrugs.

Poofy covers for her and says, “what you meant to say was being in a musical showcase sounds like a great way to meet other students!”

“Oh, yeah!” Ponytail says as they continue talking, but you slink away.

You bite your lip as you look at them out of earshot. Sunset reaches for poof-hair's red stone necklace, only for the girl to grab your bully's arm. You think they might be at odds, which would be a bonus; maybe an enemy of your enemy might make a friend? You mean, it's a long shot, but still.

But more than anything, if you were on the fence about helping with the music showcase before, now you're definitely going to help out.

Anything to get a chance to be near these girls... something to focus on besides the situation back home...

*-**-*

You snort and snap awake for a moment. A fond recollection, nothing more. It's still dark outside, the barest hint of sunlight on the horizon.

It's been years since then, but still, that was the moment you... well, didn't 'meet' the Dazzlings, but that was when you first became interested in them. It both feels so long ago, yet so recent. Reliving it, when you didn't know who they were, all the mystery of who they were and how they seemed at odds with Sunset Shimmer, the main reason you hated school. Obviously you know the trio now; Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk. The beautiful and clever leader, the moody, more restrained in-betweener, and the chipper, ditzy and cute respectively.

You sigh, wince as your back pops from the misshapen couch, and settle back into sleep.

* * *

Chapter 3: Fugue

This was it. Maximum hype! A great, professional looking outdoor stage, which you're happy to have helped put the sound system together, the late day darkening sky, the crowd buzzing with excitement.

The music showcase had turned into a Battle of the Bands, courtesy of a push from The Dazzlings. An elimination tournament, and it was now the finals. Trixie Lulamoon and her group, The Illusions, against the Dazzlings.

The Rainbooms had been eliminated in the semi-final, complete with that weird Twilight Sparkle girl who was once known around school as an oddball who mashed the library computer keyboards with her fists and was seen walking on all fours. Pretty, but weird.

That was beside the point. The goddamn Dazzlings were about to perform! Every time they sang, the sadness was just... gone for a while. Nothing else mattered. The crap at home, the fear of the future, the uncertainty. It was gone.

They strutted onto the stage, surrounded by a green fog, which seemed to be drawn to them as they harmonised and sang together, and you just closed your eyes and listened. It all felt alright again.

“Welcome to the show!

We're here to let you know,

Our time is now!

Your time is running out!”

This was your opiate. Your everything. Just the gentle bliss of submitting to their angelic voices...

“Feel the wave of sound,

As it crashes down!

You can't turn away,

we'll make you wanna stay!

We will be adored,

tell us that you want us!

We won't be ignored,

Time for our reward!

Now you need us,

come and heed us!

Nothing can stop us now!”

Then, from a nearby hill, an invasion. A disruption. The Rainbooms, a five girl band, but now with that Twilight Sparkle girl singing and... her.

Sunset Shimmer. Just her being there, you knew everything was about to go wrong.

Their song fractured that wonderful feeling of being adrift while all the sycophants smile and cheer at their appearance.

Most of your memory is a blur as you came down from the bliss of the Dazzlings spell, but you remember... the Dazzlings singing more, a powerful blast of their voices, light and weird figures in the air, and then silence.

Then Sunset picks up the microphone, begins to sing with the Rainbooms...

And once more the pain returns as reality slaps you back down.

*-**-*

You wake up and squint as sunlight peeks through the window, check your phone and figure it's time you got moving. A lot of the components were due today and you can't miss a single delivery.

You head to a drawer and take out a notepad and a pen Adagio was using last night when she was tallying up the cost of your orders, and you rip off that page to set up a list of objectives. You've always liked lists, because sometimes you tend to get a little too passionate about your projects, and these little lists help keep everything in a nice, predictable order. Who doesn't love a good list?

After you write up the tasks, draw up some schematics from some pictures you took on your phone and collecting a few deliveries for your components, you decide to rummage around the cupboards of Adagio's kitchen for some breakfast. She's got enough ingredients for... barely buttered toast. Plus some orange juice and cheap instant coffee.

It doesn't feel fitting for a girl like Adagio, who deserves the best, but it'll have to do. Literally, in this case. Adagio's spent so much on your components, she doesn't have enough for the rent in two weeks time. Enough for some groceries and maybe a handful of other emergency bits and pieces, but you need to succeed or you'll both be homeless.

But you're confident! You could have these machine built in a few days if you had everything here, and you're sure you'll find a buyer who'll forward you some cash. Flying by the seat of your pants has gotten you this far already. You've gotta do it. For Adagio.

Damn, maybe those guys in the bar were right... you are a bit of a simp, aren't you? But screw it. Even if that is true, you'll soon be a guy with a ton of cash and the admiration of the hottest girl around, and a girl with world bending powers at that. You've got this, Radian Wave.

You prepare some toast, and then hear stirring from Adagio's bedroom, and the door opens.

She stands in the doorway, dressed in an thick pink bathrobe, untied, revealing her black frilly underwear. She's bleary eyed as she stretches her arms up and yawns.

You can't help but stare; the trim figure, the perfect curves, smooth skin. Her long, curly bed-messed hair that falls down below her hips. Even without makeup, she's extremely pretty.

She rubs then opens her deep pink eyes, notices you staring, and glares at you as she ties up her robe. Adagio huffs and says, “shouldn't you be working?”

“I will,” you say, “I'm just waiting for a few final core components, and I'll be able to at least build the inner workings of the handheld device. It will lack the ability to scan and read magic frequencies without a spectrograph, it won't have a proper control unit for ease of use and it won't be protected from interference by any external electromagne-”

“In English, Radian!” Adagio drops heavily on the couch. “Will you be able to build it or not?”

You sigh and put some bread in the toaster, then pour her a glass of juice. “Yes, but it won't be usable in the field, nor anywhere near as strong or focused enough for our purposes. Well, I'm doubtful, at any rate. I suppose we should try anyway, since it will allow me to narrow down the exact siren frequency, thus the highest yield... uh...” You simplify as her brow twitches. “I mean, we can do half the work now, and the rest later once the last of the handheld parts arrive. It will work, but not at full capacity.”

After a couple of minutes the toast pops up, you butter up a couple of slices, then deliver her breakfast to her.

Adagio takes them and gives you a funny look, but begins to eat. You swear for a split second, she smiles, but before you can really study her, nature calls. You had to kinda bottle it up since you can only access the bathroom through her bedroom.

Her room is surprisingly, yet also somehow predictably, girly. Big, pink and purple furnishings, a queen sized bed with frilly pillows and a makeup mirror filled with cosmetics. Heading into the bathroom, it's far less busy, with a shower, toilet and sink in basic porcelain and tiles. You do what you need to in there, freshen up and look at yourself in the mirror.

Yep, there's average ol' Radian Wave, with messy, dark green hair, with thin yellow stripes. Humble brown eyes. Your skin's thankfully cleaned up since your teens, and a little bit of stubble forming on the chin that never seems to progress into any sort of meaningful beard.

Man, you're glad you've got more than your looks to rely upon with Adagio, because you know it; you're not much to look at. All the same, you at least get washed and head back out. It can't hurt your chances, you guess.

Adagio's finished eating and sips her juice, but she's busy staring at her phone. The image shows a picture of herself, with her bandmates, along with a fan in a field taking a group selfie beside a beat-up van; you assume it's the Starswirled festival. You couldn't attend because of work, something you deeply regret.

The four girls are smiling, but you can tell The Dazzlings are forcing their girly smiles. Well, Adagio and Aria are faking it. Sonata's just enjoying herself and the fourth girl looks super glad to meet the starlets. You can relate.

You look at Adagio's expression as she's lost in the image as she sighs, when you feel compelled to ask, “so, what happened to your bandmates?”

Adagio locks her phone and puts it away. “None of your business.”

You shrug. “You realise we're stuck together until we succeed or fail. Would it kill you to be a little nicer?”

She raises a well plucked eyebrow at you. “Someone woke up with a spine today. If I didn't know better, all those glowing words of worship at the bar were a front and now you're trying to pull something with me.” Adagio pulls out her taser and gestures with it at you. “This isn't just a deterrent. It's a motivational tool as well.”

“Noted,” you say and smile, “and I suppose you're not wrong. Sure, I am using you. And you're using me.”

She tilts her head, and her hair bounces and blankets over her shoulder.

You continue, “I sought you out, as I said, because you were my only choice, but I've listened to your music and... fine, I'll admit I had a crush ever since, and especially because of certain individuals you stood against. But we're in this together, Adagio; you need me to give you your powers back, and I need you to make my fortune. We're a team, so would it be so awful if we got along?”

Adagio looks at you for a few moments, then looks at the floor. “I guess not. Human or not, it has been a while since I last really just talked with someone. Street Tough and Bar Spoon weren't exactly thrilling company, let alone the scum that filled my bar. And you're right. We're stuck together until the bitter end.”

The doorbell rings, and you answer the door. Another parcel, and you have the components needed for the handheld device. “So, you wanna watch me put this together?”

She throws her arms wide. “It's not like I've got anything better to do. At least that way I can make sure you're not slacking.”

You fill the kitchen table with your components, all spaced out and categorised just perfectly organised for quick, easy, simplified access. Soon, you take a set of tools, a soldering iron, your schematics and lists, then begin assembly.

Adagio occasionally watches what you're doing and checks her phone. Every so often, she asks you what a component's called. A transistor here, a microformat transceiver array there, and capacitors for days. Equestrian magic is potent as all hell.

She takes a break to go shower and change into one of her familiar purple and dark pink outfits; a black jacket with spikes on the arms and shoulders, a dark purple camisole and shorts over pink tights and heeled boots. No sooner than she approaches you, she asks what you did while she was away. On the one hand, you know she's checking to make sure you weren't slacking, but the way she listens to your answer... you doubt she's just taking you at your word. It's like she actually understands what you did, or is at least picking up enough of what you described that she's satisfied.

Hours pass by as you settle into a meditative flow, plugging and soldering components, screwing down and combining parts, stripping extraneous wires and chips and replacing them with better suited variants.

You sigh as you take a sip of water. “If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're taking an interest in this.”

“My life- um,” Adagio stops, clears her throat, and corrects, “our lives depend on this. Of course I want to know exactly what's going on. I hope you aren't underestimating me! I may be a human now, but I was once a threat to all of Equestria and this world, and not just because of my powers!”

You crick your neck from all the stooping you've been doing. “I never meant to imply anything like that. It's just that most people find this boring.”

Adagio smirks. “You're tapping into Equestrian magic with a pile of standard, non-magical human technology. Even I have to appreciate the ingenuity.”

You scratch the back of your neck and blush a little. “I wish I could say I pioneered it; this world's Twilight Sparkle accidentally built the first device to directly interact with magic, but hopefully mine will involve more control and far less... magical corruption and world fracturing. Now, shall we give this baby a try?”

“Wait, it's done?” Adagio looks at what is admittedly a tangle of wires, soldered boards, coils and switches. “It looks like a mess.”

“It's only missing the case, inner shielding, the spectrograph display and the main control unit, as in exterior buttons and switches. For the moment, it's perfectly capable of receiving ambient equestrian magic and broadcasting it in a refined, intensified format. So, shall we?”

Adagio gives one of her characteristic evil grins, though she soon buries it beneath a demure indifference. “No time like the present.”

You turn a few wire-wrapped screws and plug the device into a wall socket for a few seconds. Once a couple of indicator LEDs light up, you twist a pair of bare cables together and yelp as you get shocked and a tingle shoots up your arm, but ignore it as you unplug the device again.

Adagio laughs. “You're not exactly inspiring a lot of confidence there, Radian.”

“It's fine. It just needed a short charge to engage the ambient magic receiver. It's now like my phone. Infinite power!” You let out a miniature version of your mad science cackle and tape the bare wires together, then put the transceiver array near Adagio. “Alright, do you feel anything?”

“Nope.”

You twist the screw.

Adagio shivers. “I feel cold...”

“Wrong way, then,” you say and make a few more adjustments. “This will be far easier when the case and controls turn up. I'm having to eyeball this at the moment.”

Her eyes pulse red and she bites her lip.

“Anything?” you ask.

“Uh...” Adagio coughs awkwardly, and you up the power. This time, she gasps and stammers, “stop that!”

You cock your eyebrow. “What's wrong?”

“Are you doing this on purpose!? I said cut that out!”

You notice she's flushed and beginning to sweat. “Do you feel hot or something?”

Adagio grabs the screwdriver and turns it, and sighs with relief. She then jabs it at you like a knife. “If you do that again, you can sleep on the floor!”

She hands the screwdriver back to you, and you tweak it back a little, and there's a subtle hum to the air as Adagio stands and staggers backwards.

“Yes! This feeling!” Adagio's eyes glow bright red as she clenches her fists and grins. Her ears shift, pushing up through her hair and take on a horse-like pointed appearance, and ethereal wings spread from her back. Not feathered, like a birds, but... like fins, from a fish, but unlike her ears, they never fully form. “More, Radian, more!”

You pull out your phone and take some readings, then shake your head. “It's maxed out. It's not going to get any stronger until we can shield the components from interference and can focus the signal.” You flick a switch, cutting the emitter into standby.

Adagio grimaces as her transformation cuts out, and she runs her fingers through her hair. “I... Radian?”

You jot down some notes, then look up at her.

She manages to put on small, surprisingly cute smile. “Good work. I had my doubts, but you actually know your stuff.”

You smile back at her. “Thanks. I'm a little surprised myself. It's about thirty two percent more powerful than I anticipated, but I can't be sure if that's taking into account-”

Adagio's expression sinks and she rolls her eyes. “I said 'good work,' not ramble on. Take the win, Radian, and let me know when you're ready with the finished device. I'm going to go get some groceries.”

She collects a bag and steps out without another word.

* * *

Chapter 4: Muta

You spend the time Adagio's out tidying up the remnants of your device by categorising the remaining parts between spares, those that can be used with the main device and collecting the others for disposal. It's sad seeing a device incomplete, even more when so much of it was torn and slapped together in ways that goes against its nature, but the potential within it already surprises you. You guess there's something deeply self-referential in that.

No sooner than you have everything squared away, you hear the jingle of keys, their insertion into the door and Adagio enters with a brown paper bag. She kicks off her boots, heads straight to the kitchen and unpacks.

The mundane display of someone you know was once capable of such tremendous feats of magic again dampens your spirit, even more than the state of your emitter. The way she just puts the groceries away, matter of factly, like she's done it a thousand times. You guess she really has, and hasn't had a choice.

You say, “you want me to do that for you?”

“Huh?” Adagio looks at you for a moment, then the bag, then shrugs, “no, I've got it. You have no idea how I organise things here.”

“So? I'll learn, you can show me.”

Her brow furrows. “Radian, drop it.”

Deflated, you just sit on the couch and, once Adagio finishes unpacking, she sits beside you and hands you a cheap, off-brand can of cola. “Thanks,” you say, open the can and drink before a long silence sets in as she sips her own.

Adagio finally takes a deep breath and asks, “look, I understand you have a fan worship thing, but could you ease up a little? It's seriously starting to get creepy. Besides, I don't sing any more.”

Your eye twitches. “This coming from a girl who once demanded, no, commanded adoration? I wasn't just a fan, Adagio. I... you took a lot of bad stuff in my life and made the load lighter with your songs, and that went double for when you had your magic as a siren.”

“I just haven't been inspired for a while, I guess. Lyrics used to just fow when I needed them, but it's difficult when life's just constantly pushing down on you. Anyway, where did you even hear about me being a siren?”

“You'd be surprised what Sunset and her friends talked about occasionally; the people they know in the other world, magic occurrences, names, places... especially when you own a directional microphone and kept snooping in on them like I did back in CHS.”

Adagio scowls and says, through her teeth, “ugh, Sunset...”

You chuckle and sip the soda. “I know, right? She used to make my life hell. I think that's what made me interested in you to begin with, since you seemed at odds.”

“And let me guess. The enemy of your enemy was a friend, right?”

Hot damn, she nailed it in one. It takes you a moment to reform your thoughts. “I mean... you're not wrong? That's how it started, anyway. Then you, Aria and Sonata also helped me focus on something besides my home and school life helped a lot, even if you didn't know it. First setting up the battle of the bands sound equipment, lighting and such, then listening your songs. It was amazing. I didn't care about what happened to me any more. For those moments, I could just forget the world even existed. Whether through your magic or just putting in some earbuds and getting lost in my home projects to some Dazzlings songs.”

“You realise we were sowing disharmony and hatred to feed on the conflict-derived energy, right? How could that be comforting?” She leers at you. “You're all kinds of weird.”

You snicker. “Yep! That I am. I never really fit in at school, so much so that even the other smart kids found me a downer. I just didn't have anyone who I could rely on. Even my parents. The one oasis I had was the Dazzlings. I guess I felt I owed you something, somehow. Especially now, seeing you like this. You deserve better.”

Adagio looks you in the eyes for a few seconds, clearly shocked. “Radian, lis-”

There's a knock on the door, and you hop up another parcel, and when you close the door and look at Adagio, she's checking her phone again.

“What part is it this time?” she asks.

“Enough that I can start the main energy device.”

“Well, have at it, I guess I'll watch.”

This is far more laborious than the handheld, if simpler and less fiddly. Both devices will be able to do the same thing: scan, display the energy readings as various frequencies, convert and broadcast them. The core difference being the main unit will be able to suck in a lot more power, and generate it into raw electricity.

It's so simple you even get a little bored while connecting the wiring and think back on your last conversation topic. You decide to try your luck asking, “so... why did the Dazzlings break up?”

Adagio's curiosity is replaced with a fierce scowl. “This again!? I told you it's none of your busi- ugh!” She slaps her phone down on the couch. “I fucked up and pushed them too hard, alright!?”

“I know you bickered, but everyone does. You were amazing as a band. What changed?”

She takes a deep breath and grumbles. “Fine, let's get this over with so you'll get off of my back! Do you remember how me and my bandmates sounded when we lost our magic?”

“I was kind of wiped out from your spell-slash-performance, then the Rainbooms interrupting, but I seem to remember you sounded pretty awful.” You note she might take that the wrong way. Maybe try a joke? “Nothing a little autotune couldn't fix though, right? That's pretty magic too.”

Nope, that didn't work. Adagio seethes at you. “Joke about that again and I don't care if I get evicted, I'll jam your machines down your throat!” She grits her teeth, no doubt internally counts to ten, then calms. “But yes, fine, we did sound awful. You would too in our place! Anyone would. Imagine, living your entire life with singing as your core gift, the very fibre of your being and the very way you projected your magic! Then having it stripped from you for one mistake. We had to learn from scratch and we had no other prospects. Aria was always second guessing me and Sonata? Ugh! She couldn't even master a toaster let alone a job!”

“But I know you got back into singing, right?” You pull out the poster from your pocket. “You got solid billing at the Starswirled festival.”

“Sure, we built ourselves up from nothing,” Adagio says and then glances to the side and whispers, “again.” She folds her arms and continues, “we still fought, but we didn't exactly have anyone else in our lives so the status quo was maintained. The problem started when a talent scout turned up after the Starswirled festival. Apparently Sonata was just what they were looking for with this children's cartoon that's oddly popular with supposedly grown men. Of course, Sonata asked us first. I said no, Aria said it might be a good way to expand our options since it felt like our music career was still unstable.”

“Unstable?” You lick your teeth and make an educated guess. “Is this because of the arguments?”

Adagio turns her head away and obscures her face with her thick, orange hair. “They weren't just arguments any more. When we had a common goal, the need to feed on negative energy, it was easy to keep things under control. We needed power, and while any one of us can cause people to fight, it takes a lot longer and is far less subtle compared to when the three of us harmonise. Without our magic?” She sighs. “Cracks started to form. We would have huge disagreements with other bands and venue managers. Aria was always critical of me, but now that we're just humans, how was I to say we were better than anyone else? Sonata just went silent after we had a bigger argument than normal. When we got back to Canterlot City and divided up the gig money, the next day... Sonata was gone.”

“Without a single word?”

She nods. For a moment you swear her lower lip trembles, but she scowls. “Of course, I still had her number. I called her and... said some things I'm not proud of. Aria just said nothing while I ranted, and she left too once I said I didn't care if Sonata came back. She said there wasn't any reason to stay, and she needed some time to sort out some things. Aria even changed her phone number and left town.”

“Damn... you still have Sonata's number? Maybe you could-”

Adagio snaps, “I'm not talking to that traitor! She can come crawling back to me when she's done with that ridiculous show about talking animals. This conversation is over!” She silently steams for some time, and honestly resembles the old Adagio in terms of her presence and aura, but then sighs, her anger deflates, then she says, “I need a drink.”

You did chase leads for the sisters online when trying to find any of them for your equestrian magic experiment. Aria was a lost cause; you have absolutely no idea where she went.

There were rumours of Sonata getting into voice acting, and even mentions of the show, Guardians of Gale Glade. You've checked the cast list and there's no Sonata Dusk anywhere, not even under the singing parts, so you can only assume Sonata's using an alias. More importantly, that show's doing just great for a walking, talking toy commercial; you doubt she's going to come crawling back unless Sonata herself is getting ripped off.

You hadn't deep dived into it before, since you found Adagio not long after hitting that first wall with Sonata, but a quick search on your phone reveals, sure enough, Sonata Dusk appearing at a convention for a Q&A session. The list of voice actress names narrows it down to five in that particular panel. It wouldn't take too long cross-referencing this stuff but, honestly, if Adagio isn't down for getting in contact with Sonata, you really doubt you can do anything at this point, so you stop chasing that lead.

You watch Adagio as she pours herself a liquid lunch from a small cabinet full of bottles of assorted, cheap spirits and think better than to press the issue for now. By luck and mercy for a distraction, the door goes and you collect another parcel.

The casing and shielding for your handheld device! Your fingers twitch with anticipation as you sit down and get back to work.

Adagio doesn't watch you this time, she just knocks back her drink in a few gulps and keeps her eyes locked on her phone. You briefly wonder just how little she seems to respond to alcohol, considering how lucid she seemed at the bar with what had to be a good six empty glasses of Siren's Sorrow's in front of her.

Back on task, you open the casing and piece together the penultimate device by layering the insides with electromagnetic shielding. Barring the small panels on the outside that collect ambient magic and the primary transceiver poised at the front, it's fully protected from outside interference.

You still need to install the spectrometer display for scanning and the control panel for precision controls, but this is it; this will be the ultimate test to your theory. Thanks to your list and schematics, it comes together smoothly, and besides once more using thin screwdrivers to control the thing through the casing screw holes, you finish just in time for Adagio to stand and head to refresh her drink.

You chuckle and say, “I've got something that'll cheer you up; feel like getting your powers back?”

Adagio glares at you for a second, still no doubt riding her bad memories, but catches herself and clears her throat. “It looks like a megaphone... an ugly megaphone at that. Is it really going to be that much better?”

“It is technically a megaphone case, but it protects all the components from any sort of external hiss, or interference,” you say with a grin as Adagio rolls her hand over and over to hurry you up. “The important part is that this is as powerful as it can be, Adagio. It's time.”

She puts the empty glass in the drinks cabinet, spreads her arms apart and says, “do it.”

The settings are right from before, so you crank up the power and flip the switch.

Adagio cries out as her eyes flash and glow bright red. Her ears push through her hair, now horse-like in shape and, this time, her fin-like wings spread and flourish. Her hair grows longer, resembling a tail as it flutters about.

Adagio floats off the ground and laughs as an aura surrounds her of burning gold, which begins to take shape. A spectral, beast-like thing with a long muzzle, hooved forelegs and a great, sweeping crest or fins, it's hard to tell.

But Adagio suddenly reverts in the blink of an eye and falls to the ground with a thud.

You say, “shit, Adagio! Are you alright?”

She rises to her knees and feels the side of her head. “I think so, but that stupid machine didn't work!”

Adagio's not only wrong, but it defies logic. The device is still receiving, converting and pumping the right kind of magic, and you confirm that with your phone; it's pushing out energy far beyond your original calculations, and while your phone's sensor app isn't great (and is illegally hacked software, but it was all that worked with the scanning components), you're confident you've done everything right. Hell, you'd be proud, if you weren't currently in a panic about Adagio. You flip the standby switch and run to her to help her up.

You hook your arm under hers, and she leans on you, stands, then pushes you away and shouts “get the hell off of me!”

“Relax, we'll fix this,” you say, and try to redirect the conversation, “what did you feel when it cut out, and how do you feel now? There might be something I can do to give it that final push.” You check your sensor app; she's radiating the frequency you bombarded her with, the type of energy that resonated with her as a siren. You're actually quite concerned that this much magic forced into someone might be dangerous if it turns out to not be compatible.

But something changes and you stare at the display. It's... dropping?

Adagio winces and shakes her head, causing her thick curls to bounce and swing around her shoulders. “My head hurts a little from the bump, but otherwise I-” She winces and gasps.

The large spike of siren resonance continues to decay, and you hope it's just wearing off, but that anomaly...

A second spike surges up, radically different. The damn app isn't clear what it is, but it's a very different waveform.

“Radian? I feel hot... what's...” She snaps her eyes shut and stumbles back a step, then wraps her arms around herself as you hear a series of beeps from your phone as the second spike tops out. Adagio's whole body clenches up and she trembles, then she hisses and you try and get some idea of what's going on.

There's a subtle movement to her. Not her quaking or her twitching. Her tights, sexily skin tight, have little triangles sewn on them. They... warp and stretch. You watch as her camisole exposes a little more flat belly. Flat? There's a vertical groove forming. Abdominal muscles? She didn't have them stand out before.

She jolts and stands upright, her arms slack but shoulders hunched, and she arches backward and bares her teeth. Everything before could be put down to your panic misunderstanding, but she's taller, 5'5 no longer. She's your height, 5'8.

No. Not any more she isn't. She yelps again and you hear a sharp rip, a lower tearing sound and you watch as her thighs strain and sheer through her tights, exposing her golden skin. As her jacket pulls apart from her expanding torso, she looks bigger in the chest too. Suddenly, Adagio spasms and doubles over, and you grab her shoulders to support her, but her trembling stops. She sucks in a long, heavy breath and grunts in relief.

Adagio suddenly snaps a death-glare into your eyes through her hair, wild fire burning in the dark pink and her pupils are dilated. She lunges, grabs you by the collar with one arm and lifts you clear off the floor.

Holy shit she's strong!

She snarls, “what did you do to me!?”

You rasp, “I don't know! I don't-”

Adagio drops you and just stands still. Her breathing becomes heavy. She's red in the face as her anger boils down into confusion. Then... something else. She gulps and bites her lip and her hands gently feel her body.

You have a chance to look her over as she fidgets, and realise she's got to be a couple of inches over six feet tall. Her legs have more... you don't know what to call it. Nuance? Ripples of smooth muscle beneath the smooth skin peeking through the torn nylon, the waistband of her shorts lack the wrinkles of the elastic, and are now strained to their limit. Her shoulders look broader and confined by the jacket, and her once flat belly looks hard and toned. She's not ripped or anything, but anyone else would say she lifts.

Adagio whimpers, flicks her eyes between you and the bedroom, then she barges past you, enters her room and slams the door shut.

And after a few moments, you hear her begin moaning. Loud, unabashed, rhythmical.

There's no mistaking it. She's taking care of an 'itch'. It crescendos into a scream that you can only assume people on the other floors of the apartment complex can hear. A few moments of panting... then she just carries right on. Again. And again.

What the hell just happened?

* * *

Chapter 5: Cambiare

You've performed heavy calculations during the shouting matches your parents used to have before they split. Back in school, during lunch, you once finished your homework while everyone joined in singing some stupid school pride or promotion song for the fall formal, involving horse ear and tail ornaments back when that weird 'other' Twilight first appeared. When you get in the zone, you react to distractions the same way cardanol based epoxy reacts to temperature deviations; it's gotta be hardcore to break you, is what you're saying.

But then your crush, a smoking hot singer freshly ramped up to a tall fitness instructor level of glorious curves is in the next room, having 'a private five-finger jam session?' It's impossible to focus. Especially when you can tell she's a singer with an impressive voice, because you can feel her latest outburst reverberate through the floor.

If you had a change of pants or access to any other room, you'd probably be having a 'jam session' of your own. Instead, like any good musically inept, crowd-anxious geek at a music festival, you're pitching a tent and listening to a lot of action, but can't get involved.

She pants and calms down from that last climax, and you hear the bathroom door open, then the running of a shower.

You suddenly realise she was moments from pulverising you before a wave of arousal struck and you've barely been able to work, so you doubt she's going to be sunshine and rainbows. You briefly wonder if you should flee, then realise you're stuck here to face the music.

The door opens and the new and improved Adagio steps out, wearing looser clothes and with her hair down. Damn, even without the glorious curls in shape, bed-hair Adagio is all kinds of hot. It's only compounded with the subtle swell of her biceps, the ridging of her abdomen and generously thicker hips and thighs. She had presence before, even if it has still seemed diminished from her days as a siren, but now she dominates the room in a whole other way.

She gives you a funny look, rolls her eyes, then and walks up to you while acting coy, despite the subtle flush to her cheeks.

You seize up and lean back but she raises a hand to calm you down, then folds her arms.

“Relax. I've had some time to process...well, this,” she says and gestures to herself. “It's kinda nice, actually. Nostalgic even.” She laughs softly as she looks you up and down. “Radian, stand up a second.”

You obey, and her smug grin any lingering fears you had and notice you're eye level with her luscious lips. She then puts a hand on top of your head and brings it level with her nose.

After she satisfies her curiosity, she asks, “so what happened, exactly? Why did your device make me bigger but not give me my siren powers? As well as that... weird feeling I got afterwards.”

You scratch your head. “Beats me. After your body responded as anticipated to the siren-waveform, collecting it and harnessing-” You pre-emptively tut and simplify rather than anger the abnormally strong, bigger Adagio, “the type of energy your body responds to was clearly absorbed, as expected, but for some reason you couldn't process it. Now, since energy can't be destroyed, nor created, merely converted, it seems to have transformed somehow. Like you couldn't use that energy, so you responded in an alternative way.”

Her brow twitches and she leans down to you. “Are you blaming me!?”

You raise your arms in defence. “Whoa, now! Nothing like that. Obviously we just need to refine the method. As great as my phone is,” you say and wave the jury-rigged thing around, “it's not very accurate. Once we get the spectrograph wired up to the handheld or the laptop for the sensors on the main device, I can take very precise readings. There could be all sorts of minutia that stopped you recovering your powers.”

Adagio huffs, but nods. “Alright, I guess we wait for more parts.” She looks down and flexes an arm, admiring the swell of her bicep. “I never really thought I'd look good buff but this I like. I may not be a siren yet, but I'd make a pretty good earth pony.”

You blink. “A what?”

“You know what I mean,” she says, waves her hand at you then feels her body in a deeply distracting way, then checks your confused expression. “I'm bigger and stronger, like earth ponies? Of the three main species of Equestria?”

You give a little shrug and shake your head.

Adagio double-checks your confused expression. “Wait, you've mastered collecting magic from another world, can refine and transform it with a fancy megaphone, and even know about the two worlds having duplicate people, but you don't even know what lives over there?” Adagio facepalms and mumbles, “why am I always doomed to be surrounded by idiots?”

“I can only go by details I can uncover or prove by myself! Just because I want to go there to study the place doesn't mean I really know that much about Equestria.”

Adagio raises a pointed finger to shut you up, then gestures to the couch. “Sit. Let's get you up to speed before we take another step on this weird road together.”

You both sit down, and you pick up the notepad and pen.

Adagio takes a deep breath, and explains...

*-*-*

The lands of Equestria are home to a great many pitiful and weak species. Griffons, who are part bird and part great cat, or dragons, which range from the classical beasts famous in human media to smaller, bipedal sorts, yet they all seem to be able to breathe fire. Manticores, cockatrices, the list goes on... if humans have a legendary beast in films, books and old fairy-tales, Equestria likely has it, and it can probably talk or is at least sentient. Few are as great as the sirens, as our threat to the land was truly something to be feared, but that's a story for another time.

We're here to discuss the main inhabitants of Equestria; the earth ponies, the unicorns and the pegasi. All four legged, hoofed, vegetarian and insufferably compliant with one another, but they are distinct, and not just because of their cutie marks, the symbol that appears on their flanks that depicts a pony's strongest, most unique talent.

The unicorns are the easiest to explain, as they are the most obviously powerful, possessing a horn that is the focus of their magic. While they seem have a certain weakness to simple problems, leading to them overthinking or overreacting, their grasp of Equestrian magic is broad and esoteric. Their powers range from the mainstay of telekinesis that all but the most feeble possess, all the way to the truly dangerous, able to bend reality to their will with practice, talent and determination. Teleportation, transfiguration of objects from one thing into another and more. They are often scholars and so-called intellectuals.

Then we have the winged pegasi. Flight being their most obvious trait, they can also manipulate the weather, touch clouds as if they're solid, and often bring about changes to the seasons, ushering in storms and the like as needed. Some are capable of tremendous speeds and feats of agility, and are able to use their wings in almost hand-like ways at times. They're also commonly militaristic and prideful.

Lastly, we have the earth ponies. They have a connection to the land like none other and are the lynchpin of Equestrian agriculture, but they also tend to present as tougher and more rugged than their more magically capable cousins. They also seem to possess a greater concentration of idiots than the other species. Of course, having to manipulate the world with their mouths and clumsy hooves, they're not exactly seen as 'high society' in most circles.

Ruling over all of these stand the alicorns, like their high-and-mighty Princess Celestia. Winged and horned, possessing the strengths of all three, but they are few in number, but they are always powerful. Relatively, anyway.

As far as I can tell, everyone here, in this human world, has a reflection, a pony in the other world, barring perhaps a few exceptions like myself and my fellow sirens.

*-*-*

“That about covers it...”

That's amazing! You've got to note all this down.

“...so you see, my changes reminded me of...”

New data points! Varied signals from these three species! This could change everything!

“...the human version of an earth pony... Radian? Hey, are you listening to me?”

Each could be a resonant hotspot! Possibly even influencing Adagio's transformation if she's truly now-

“Ray!”

“Gah!” You accidentally bite your tongue. “Ow! Whah? Whah's wong!?”

Adagio's staring at you. “Were you even listening to me!?”

You wince and let the sting die down before continuing, “of course I was! I was taking notes!”

“And waggling your tongue.” She looks a little grossed out. “You looked like a child writing a hearths-warming list. It was kind of adorable, in a deeply pathetic way.”

“Sorry, I get excited for new data and-” Wait, what did she say a second ago? “Adagio?”

She tilts her head.

“Did... you just call me Ray?”

She blinks and stares at you for a few seconds. Her eyes go wide for a second as she realises what she said. “Ugh!” She rolls her eyes, stands and heads into the kitchen.

Okay, also, that was definitely a blush.

The doorbell goes and you go and collect your new parts.

Adagio prepares dinner, although every little thing she does seems to take a bit more concentration. You suspect her new size is throwing her off, but despite almost tripping a couple of times, you're soon eating cheap bacon, ramen and vegetables. You thank her and she gives the tiniest smirk, which feels like a lot of progress in your relationship.

The rest of the evening is uneventful; you work on the main machine and Adagio bounces between asking what you're doing, how certain parts work and listening to the radio. It's increasingly obvious she's picking up what you're doing, and quickly. It's... pretty hot, actually. You knew she was smart, but the fact you're not having to explain the same thing twice when it comes up again even hours later is a really strong sign that she's not just devious or cunning, but legitimately brilliant.

On the flip side, you get into a bit of banter about Canterlot High School and how much it sucked. The overall sickly levels of friendliness, the cliques and such. You're bonding!

All the while, you're plugging cables, tightening screws and triple checking the little wires of the big device. The handheld device was a lot of fiddly work, but it was small and similar to how you jury-rigged your phone, so it's not going to take too long to put it together when the other parts turn up.

This larger energy collector's a bastard for the sheer amount of stuff you're having to put into it, and that's ignoring the amount of power it's going to have to deal with and the prayer you keep whispering under your breath that it doesn't explode when you power this monster up, though you've installed a cheap laptop as the controller and know of a few programs from less reputable sites that should help prevent any miscalculations. It's a prototype after all, like your phone was to your handheld emitter. It just needs to work and not set the apartment complex on fire.

That's something for another day, though. It becomes clear this is going to take longer than you anticipated, but you can probably get the basic functions working now, so it's just a really big version of your handheld.

Before you know it, it's pretty late, and you stop before you start making sloppy mistakes. Adagio yawns and stretches her arms over her head, compressing her curly hair, and she can't help but grin when her eyes open and she looks at the ropey cords of her muscles, then sighs and stands up. “I'm going to bed.”

You finish packing away your tools as she heads for her room, and you say, “sure. Have a good night, Adagio.”

She turns and looks at you for a second. “... you too.”

It's a better night than last time, albeit dreamless. It's one of those 'blink and it's daytime' sort of sleeps and you feel refreshed.

You catch a waft of something unpleasant as you sit up, but focus on rubbing the sleep from your eyes, get up and dig through the replenished cupboards and refrigerator. This morning it's gonna be leftover bacon and eggs, but you decide to wait until you hear Adagio wake up before you get started, and instead quadruple checking your notes.

There's that scent again; it's you. It's been a couple of days since you showered, and while not hard work exactly, you've certainly worked up a sweat while putting together the big machine.

Another parcel, and you finally have everything you need to complete the handheld! A spectrograph and the the computerised control unit. It takes all of half an hour to put the emitter together in full, and you spend another hour calibrating the thing until it's as accurate as it can be.

It's a beautiful piece of technology and you can't help but feel smug. Running some tests and numbers, it's far above and beyond what you thought it could generate thanks to some amazing efficiency at energy conversion. It's even designed to warn you if sudden, strong signals come within range of its energy receiving arrays. The ultimate test comes when you scan Adagio through the wall. It's not the cleanest reading, but it penetrates the wall to reveal two high peaks, one in the siren signal format, and a stronger one in what you theorise could be the 'earth pony' range.

Naturally you scan yourself with it and see a clean, hiss-free signal. It's completely distinct from Adagio's, though with a much lower peak. You have some theories bouncing around your head already and begin writing up a few hypotheses to get back to later. Again, gotta love those lists.

Adagio catches you off guard when stumbles out of her bedroom in what was probably once an oversized nightshirt, but it fits her nicely and doesn't quite cover her lacy pink panties. She lets out a gigantic yawn and, just to tickle your heart, she offers a tiny wave of greetings as she stumbles over to the couch and plants herself on it with a thump.

You cook breakfast and hand her a plate, then finish yours and brew some cheap coffee before asking, “say, Adagio? I don't suppose there's somewhere I can wash my clothes?” You tug on your shirt. “And anything I can wear while I get them cleaned? I'm also going to conduct some scans with the completed emitter, to see if I can't figure something out with the whole 'three pony types' theory. Also, I don't suppose you've got, I dunno, a satchel or a bag so I can hide the device?”

“I'll have to get some hand washing soap so we can clean your stuff in the sink, but you can hit the laundromat down the street for now, near downtown. It's near a cafe, you can't miss it.” Adagio suddenly smirks as she eats, then says, “and sure, I've got something in your size you can wear while you're there.” She takes the plate with her as she re-enters her bedroom.

“Fantastic. I really didn't have much in the way of- what the hell is that?”

Adagio exits and holds out her huge, thick, fluffy pink bathrobe. She also gives you a Dazzlings merch backpack that's fractionally less girly than the robe.

You blink a few times and say, “you're messing with me.”

Her grin broadens. “Take it or go naked, Ray.”

You sigh and take it. “Son of a bitch...” you mumble.

* *

“Son of a bitch...” you mumble.

Go in the morning once you had a shower, you figured.

There'll be nobody there, you guessed.

You're an idiot, you realise.

Two old couples fight off grins as you keep a newspaper low enough to cover your lack of underwear, which is also currently on the drying-cycle. Also a mom with a snot nosed kid who keeps staring at you and flaring up your old social anxiety something fierce.

On the positive side, you've had a chance to roam before changing in the laundromat bathroom, so you bought some soap, a toothbrush and some other essentials with your now largely depleted funds. At least you'll never have to do this again.

Your other solace is that you've been able to take some readings with your scanner, and you're getting some excellent information. Three distinct signals, some stronger than others but none as strong as Adagio's. Some signals corroborate with yours, whatever that is out of the pegasi or unicorn types you can't currently say, and a few with Adagio's second, earth pony waveform.

Even better, while it's not a great sample size, there does seem to be a push towards taller, fitter types fitting in that earth pony waveform, as well as a couple of people watering some window-ledge growing pots with the very same. Big, strong gardeners! Heck yeah, consistent data!

Okay, calm down Radian, you're a weirdo wearing a pink bathrobe in the middle of a public space taking scans with a magic powered energy emitter. Keep. It. Together!

As soon as the dryer finishes, you head into the laundromat bathroom, get dressed, stow the bathrobe into the bag, and see about continuing your scans.

That cafe looks like a nice place, so you get a cheap black coffee, sit down outside and expand the sample size by scanning passers-by through your newspaper.

A trend starts forming; just as the earth types are typically larger, the two other groups are starting to pair up into smaller, generally fitter types and you seem to get put into the same class as many of the intellectuals. It's no proof, but you suspect you might be a unicorn in the other world. It's otherwise a bit vague, more a subtle trend than anything concrete. You assume there's plenty of big, powerful unicorns, small and meek earth ponies and sluggish, clumsy pegasi.

Just to muddy the waters more, a huge spike in the theoretical unicorn field catches you off guard. You narrow down the signal to a female jogger with her hood up as she enters the cafe. It throws off your ability to get a clean reading with the other customers inside and you don't have a great view.

Patiently, you wait until she emerges again and the (theoretical) unicorn signal spikes about as high as Adagio's earth signal. You actually look at who it is as she slurps an iced coffee between heavy breaths, dressed in sweaty jogging attire. You freeze as she pulls down her hood. Fiery red hair with yellow streaks, and brilliant turquoise eyes.

Oh shit. It's Sunset Shimmer.

You try to make yourself inconspicuous. It's been years. There's no way she'll recognise-

“Wait, I know you... Radian Wave? Oh wow, it is you!”

Oh. Oh hell.

* * *

Chapter 6: Incalzando

Sunset sits at your table. “You're looking well! Wow, it's been years, huh? What have you been up to?”

Crap. Of course she remembers you. She picked on you relentlessly, after all, even though you never stood out, like that yearbook girl... what was her name? Wall something? Never mind. Focus. “Oh, uh, you know,” you stammer, “t- this and that.”

“Great...” She nods and awkwardly looks off to the side.

Wait a second. Wait one goddamn second. You're sitting across from the girl who made your life hell. The old Radian Wave would stammer and hide. You aren't that Radian Wave any more. You've started earning the respect of Adagio Dazzle, you've on the cusp of inventing world changing technology and it's time to show how much you've changed. You take no shit from life any more. You've got a functioning chad mode, so use it!

You sit up straight, swig your coffee and say, “so, can we talk about Canterlot High? Being tripped in the cafeteria almost every day? Having Snips and Snails fill my locker with fire extinguisher foam? The fucking science fair incident!? You know, reminisce about the good old days?”

She flinches and clutches her arm across her body. “I know, and I can't tell you how much I'm sorry. What I did was horrible, and I never forgot. I did try to apologise back then, but you weren't in school often, and even when you were, you actively avoided me.”

You tear down the mental barriers you've put up inside from those years. You let the old wounds sting again and embrace the feeling. You lean forward and growl, “of course I did! Do you know what it's like having nowhere to turn? Having your parents fight over taking you out of school when you're at home, get constantly bullied at school and having no friends because you earn a reputation as a loner that nobody wants to hang around with because you're constantly unhappy?”

Sunset bites her lip and shrinks from the scorn. “... more than you might expect, but that doesn't change the fact I'm truly, deeply sorry. I know that probably means nothing, but if you'll let me, I want to make it up to you somehow. The thought of letting that pain fester in you-”

A little part of you is begging you to let her, to put it behind you and actually man up about this. This scientific, logical side of you knows that only so much blame can be placed at her feet, about how she turned herself around and she looks devastated at what she's done to you. You got what you wanted from this meeting and finally let her know how you feel, and now it's time to move on.

But the rest of you relishes in her discomfort. Feeds on it. The things that she did to you, the way you've turned out, the fight that started between your parents when you got home from the science fair...

You have to stop. Your heart's racing, you can feel the muscles in your face twist and flinch. You're on the knife's edge between using your bitterness as a weapon and literally throwing something at her. “No thanks.” You stand up and wrap the newspaper around your emitter to keep it hidden and stuff it in the bag. At least that's been worthwhile. You sneer and say, “it's been great catching up. Seeya.”

“Radian, please wait, I-”

You ignore her and head back to Adagio's apartment. You narrowly barge past several people with how laser focused you are on your anger.

You still haven't calmed down by the time you knock on the door, hitting it instead.

Adagio opens the door a crack, and you see she's attached the door chain while you were gone. Once she sees its you, she lets you in. “So, you have fun?”

You huff, and Adagio gives you a funny look. You almost snap at her, but hold back and take a few deep breaths.

She tilts her head and asks, “is that a no? Look, if it's about the bathrobe thing-”

You interrupt her by raising your hand, and continue to breath slowly and smoothly.

Once you calm down, you say, “firstly, no, it's not about the bathrobe. Second, my emitter collected plenty of details that confirmed a few things. I don't know if I can turn it into anything that will help you get your powers back, but I haven't exactly had a chance to mull it over. Third, I ran into Sunset Shimmer.”

Adagio's eye twitches. “Did you now?”

“Yep. And she's got a strong signal in what I assume is the unicorn wavelength. Almost as strong as yours is in the earth one.”

She thumbs her chin. “That makes sense. She is an Equestrian native and I'm fairly sure sure she's a unicorn over there, considering how she was the one that caused magic to begin appearing here in the first place.”

You nod. “That would have been my guess.” Your cooling anger fuels your mind. Methodical. Calculating. “I've already theorised that anyone who's native to Equestria has a much deeper capacity for magical energy, but considering how strong her energy is, despite how long she's been here, I'm starting to believe she's in routine contact with the other side.”

You pause. This is perfect! “We could follow her! Find out what sort of link she has to the other world, perhaps use it to enhance our understanding of the magical leak! Maybe even find a way across to the other side!”

Adagio shakes her head. “Ray. Slow down. I appreciate the determination, but stop. This is a bad idea.”

You chuckle. “What, pursuing Sunset? No, no, she's an ideal candidate to investigate! We both have our reasons to get our own back at her, and we can advance our goals as well.”

She scowls at you. “I said stop. Sunset's dangerous. She's not only friends with some powerful entities in the other world, but she has the power to read minds through touch, not to mention I think her circle of friends here have powers too.”

You get in Adagio's face, and she takes a step back as a flash of worry darts across her face. You snarl, “if you're afraid, fine, but I'm not! I'm going to take what I want from her, and that's-”

Adagio grabs you by the collar and pulls you face to face. “I. Said. Stop, you idiot!!” She pushes you back and you stumble and fall on the couch. “You're not listening and you're certainly not thinking! Shut up for five seconds! You said it yourself when we first met, there are people who could stop your plans to use Equestrian magic, both for my powers and your electricity project. If Sunset gets her hands on you, it's all over; she'll know exactly what we're doing and there's every chance your fears will come true.”

Damn it. She's right, you realise.

She continues. “Trust me, I'd love nothing more than to get my own back at that self-righteous, smug bitch, I guess it was too much to ask that she stayed in that time-loop business she mentioned at the festival...”

That sounds like a story. “What do you mean?”

Adagio grumbles and says, “never mind... but anyway, like I said, it's not worth it. We're not prepared to deal with actual magic users. I thought my plan was foolproof when I had the school curled around my finger, but Sunset and her friends still bested me-” she pauses, sighs and corrects, “us. The Dazzlings. We had our full strength as sirens and we still crumpled to the combined power of the Rainbooms. What chance do you think we, a couple of humans, have? I may be stronger now, but against real magic? Forget it.”

You're out of steam and slump deeper into the couch. “You're right, Adagio. Sorry, I got carried away there.”

She takes a deep breath and cools off as well. “I get it. You succeeded a few times, you start formulating a plan that feels foolproof, execute it and feel invincible!” She punches up in mock celebration and smirks, then points at you. “But that's when you're most vulnerable. Take nothing for granted, use every resource you can get your hands on and never expect everything to go as you planned. And when it comes to the final execution and your prize stands before you? You still have to think and be prepared, every single step of the way, until you have your enemy by the throat. Then you clamp down and you don't let go until they stop moving.”

“That's... brutal, but I get it. Thanks.”

Adagio smiles softly. “Just protecting my investment, Mr. Scientist. If I think of some way we can use Sunset, I'll let you know. Now, I believe you have some numbers to crunch and data to sort?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

You spend a few hours tabulating your new data. The various strengths of the signals only give you a few new points of interest. For one thing, Adagio's depth of magic is gigantic, greater than Sunset's, and it makes you wonder what sort of thresholds of power she can hold. The only problem is testing her limits. You want to experiment, but odds are, it would make Adagio bigger...

No, newly formed fetish, you cut that out. Be clinical.

You say, “hey, Adagio? Any new sensations since your growth? Aches? Pains?”

She looks away from her phone and shrugs. “I feel great. Powerful. No tricks,” she laughs as you roll your eyes. “Seriously, though, it takes me back to before I was banished.”

That's good, sudden physical growth has all sorts of medical implicatio- wait... she mentioned something similar when she first transformed. “You said it felt nostalgic. How so?”

Adagio smirks and looks out the window. “Back in Equestria, we sirens were as grand as dragons and far stronger, towering over the ponyfolk by not only our ability to fly but also in raw size. I guess in this world, being taller than average and looking down on the little humans gives me a little taste of home. In fact?” She looks at the ceiling for a moment, then licks her lips. “When we earn your fortune and I can afford to make the change, I wouldn't mind being even bigger.”

Oh sweet mercy, Adagio. You decide to distract yourself by focusing on the data again.

But she continues, “I'd say to do it now, but I think I'll need some proper living space and I'd like to be able to fit in my clothes. Can you imagine the awe, fear and adoration I'd earn when I'm not only up on stage, but towering over everyone?” She sighs and looks lost in thought, but comes back down to earth.

Which reminds you, now that you're tabulating the details and cross reference your theory list; some ideas come to mind.

You say, “I suspect your growth was a by-product of your frankly astounding capacity for siren energy. I bet if I bombarded you with the earth signal, you'd feel stronger, maybe even be stronger, but it wouldn't make you bigger. Instead, this siren energy capacity, when transformed into your earth form, just forced your body bigger to accommodate that power in the only way it could.”

Adagio raises an eyebrow. “Sounds far fetched to me. Just how sure of this are you?”

“Honestly, I can't be completely certain, but you did just say you were larger in Equestria right? It's either part of that by some physical 'memory' of sorts, or the amount of energy has functionally turned you into the closest approximation of a extreme example of an earth pony, humanised. Perhaps we could experiment; if you had a flower or a plant, and was tending to it when the transfer occurred, I theorise some of the energy would divert into it instead.”

“Yeah, I don't want to test the green thumb approach. I'm not into flowers. Not to mention it's just going to make me bigger when I'm already struggling to find clothes that fit. Anyway, to change subjects and before I forget, what did Sunset talk about?”

You grimace. “She wanted to reconcile. I told her to get lost.”

Adagio raises an eyebrow. “I'm surprised. Most humans, especially those from that insipid school, would be eager to put that behind them.”

You laugh. “Forgive Sunset? Not damn likely. I was her proverbial... metaphorical? Whatever, I was her punching bag, and no, reporting her to Principal Celestia did nothing; despite her attitude, despite the fact every student was afraid of her in some capacity, none of the teachers seemed to care. It wasn't until she screwed up so badly that the front of the school was destroyed that anything changed with her, but I don't care. Her own epiphany about being a better person can go choke. The only good thing that she ever did to me was force me down this path that's led me here, in this desperate situation. I guess at least she's the reason we're in this situation together.”

“See, that's where we differ, Ray.” She puts a hand to her chest. “I hate her as well, but I respect her.”

“Really? But she's part of the reason you lost your powers, isn't she? The Battle of the Bands?”

Adagio nods. “Oh, make no mistake. If I could, I would crush her. It's the way us sirens think, and I've only really been able to see it recently. If someone outshines us, we have a compulsion to overcome them. To understand why and how they bested us and use that to our advantage. Sunset and Twilight came back from what we thought was certain defeat and destroyed us at our full power. I used to think on our loss often.”

You ask, “used to? What happened?”

Adagio goes to answer, then suddenly looks deeply troubled. “Maybe it's a human thing to just ignore the details of our failures. We still felt like sirens after our gems were destroyed for a while, maybe a few months, but especially after the breakup, I've had this... clarity. It's not like we could truly fight back without our magic, although...” She stops and gulps, then turns away. “Never mind. You get my point; don't use your bad experiences as simple fuel to fire your revenge, use it to improve. Sunset and Princess Twilight defeated me, so if I ever get the opportunity through your inventions, I intend to rectify that, but they bested us. Never forget that.”

It's difficult to not agree with her, but you notice a contradiction. “Yet we're still not going to go after Sunset?”

Adagio folds her arms and paces for a moment before responding, “like I said, she's too dangerous. Now, get back to your data and let me know if you think of anything new.”

Another halted conversation, although at least this one was more civil than being shouted down.

You bury yourself in the data, read the precise frequencies of all the people you'd scanned and try to find some details that could help restore Adagio's power. Some connection between her former state as a siren and her apparent current state as an earth pony in the other world.

In need of any extra clues, you scan Adagio again. That familiar earth signal rising high, the siren spot just... exists, and that's about it. You scan her a few times, the third scan she begins to notice, the fourth she gives you an angry stare. The fifth time earns you a middle finger and she snaps at you to stop, so you drop it.

Adagio makes lunch and dinner as you continue working, and you barely notice what she's given you and just eat. You thank her, and she seems to appreciate it, but otherwise she seems to know to leave you alone.

There's some progress made. You fiddle with the device a bit and realise that it can broadcast what can be best described as an 'anti-signal', which should disrupt a person's energy resonance. You say, “Adagio, tell me how this feels.”

She folds her arms and you bombard her with a signal that's a garbled mess of signal hiss and interference, bouncing on and around their signal and scattering the peak. “What the hell?” she says and winces. “Is this supposed to help? Cut it out!”

“Sorry,” you say and shut it down. “I'm developing an idea that might need the ability to suppress energy.”

You honestly just can't join the dots without one last piece of data. The energy transfer, that precise moment her charged body converted siren energy into earth energy. They're incompatible, which is frankly maddening, but maybe it can be reversed? But you don't want to make her bigger.

Okay, scratch that, an even taller Adagio does play on your psyche in all the best (or, depending on your attempts to focus, worst) ways, but she's right; making her bigger will just make her living standards difficult and you just can't afford to do that now.

You take a deep breath and check the time; it's getting late already, so you decide to take one last push.

“Adagio, I want to try exposing you to the siren wavelength again.”

She shakes her head. “Didn't we already have this conversation? I want to still fit in at least some of my clothes and I really don't have the fame to lord my height over humanity yet.”

“No, I don't mean like that. I think I can kill two birds with one stone; I can both prevent the energy transfer into your newer earth pony energy receptive signature... uh, I mean-”

“No, go on, Ray,” she says and nods, “don't dumb it down.”

You chuckle; yep, she's getting into this and actually understanding the method. Hot. “...so it will prevent your body absorbing the power, but I should still be able to witness the transition happen and disperse the energy decay. If I can make this work, I can then focus on how to set up some sort of means to force the siren signal to maintain itself.”

Adagio thinks it through. “So, in laymen's, I get empowered, it fails again, but you will cancel out the after effects but have a chance to see it in action. Alright, but I suppose I should wear something a bit more disposable, just in case.” She stands and heads into her bedroom.

“Sounds like a plan. I'll be setting up the emitter.”

One of the wonderful new perks you've gained with the full control system is the ability to save frequency profiles for quick use. One macro key push and it can automatically switch between functions. You prepare a few now, like the energy types you've scanned. You then turn on what should be the positive unicorn signal and turn it on yourself.

You feel a tingle and get energised. Your mind feels clearer from any building fatigue. You then create a reverse signal, like the one you used on Adagio and unleash that on yourself. The opposite occurs; your mind fogs, simple thoughts become difficult to sort, you feel sickly and shudder. Even after it's shut down, you feel awful, so you give yourself a quick dose of the positive signal just as Adagio leaves her bedroom.

She's wearing a Dazzlings merchandise t-shirt and a pair of loose shorts. “So, what should I expect?”

“A dose of the good then a dose of the bad. If all works well, you should get minimal size increase, if any, but I need to see the change happen.”

“What about the horny energy?”

You cough on your spit. “W- what?”

“When you first fine tuned your signal to me, you stumbled on an energy type that,” she turns a little red in the face and finishes, “tingled. And when I grew, after the hot pain, I was horny for good hour afterwards.”

You'd spent so long trying to ignore her 'jam session' to actually work that out, but high off of your unicorn signal, a thought comes to you. “I think that's energy bleed. We were close to the siren signal when you first experienced it, so when the energy moves away from your resonance, it moves through that frequency too. When you transformed, all that energy got switched into your new earth pony connection, but it also decayed and dispersed, neutralised back into ambient energy. It didn't just leave you, it also shifted away from your ability to absorb all of it, so it no doubt it hit that wavelength. Remember, energy cannot be created or destroyed.”

“Merely converted,” Adagio finishes, quoting you and she smirks. “Alright, Ray. Let's do this.”

You program in the siren signal, crank the power up to max, aim, and fire.

* * *

Chapter 8: Tranquillo

That scent. It hits you before the bright sunlight creeping through the drawn curtains. Through the pungent smell of sex, the lingering traces of Adagio's perfume, hair products and deodorant on the pillows and sheets.

It smells like the sea. A fresh ocean breeze, yet floral, even over the other scents. Adagio's scent. You've never noticed it before. Then you hear her sigh.

You roll over and look behind you. Adagio's sitting on the edge of the bed, beside her bedside cabinet. One of the drawers is open.

“Good morning,” you say.

Adagio gasps and she quickly puts something inside, then closes it. She looks over her shoulder and gives you a little smile. “Hey.” She stands, showing off her gorgeous ass, even presenting it as she picks up her panties and slips them on, then the faded Dazzlings merchandise t-shirt. “You sleep well?”

“Like you wouldn't believe,” you say, without hyperbole; you've never felt better, even if you feel kind of funky right now from your dried fluids. That doesn't matter, because you have to say, “about last night. Thank you.”

Adagio turns around, hands on hips, and she huffs. “Like I said, it was convenient. And more fun than going solo.”

You sit up and smile at her. “Be that as it may, it meant a lot to me. I won't forget it. Ever.”

Her cocksure smirk dampens and she suddenly can't look you in the eyes, glancing between the window, the foot of the bed, the light fixture; anything but you. An uneasy silence fills the room, and it's only broken by the sound of someone taking heavy steps in the next apartment.

Even after those grow quiet, and the sound of another apartment door opening and closing, Adagio finally looks at you again. “Listen, Ray. You know what I am. Or was, I guess.”

“A siren. I don't really know much beyond that, or even what that truly means.”

“We were one of the greatest threats to Equestria,” Adagio says and paces up to the window, then stares outside. “We roamed, sowed disharmony and strife, we fed and demanded attention. Simple as that.” She turns and looks at you over her shoulder, her cascade of brilliantly messy hair sliding across her back. “We were beasts. Intelligent beasts, but beasts nonetheless. We had no grand goal or moral principles; we desired to feed, and we wanted the pathetic ponies to worship us.”

You don't interrupt, though she pauses for a few moments and looks out the window again with a heavy sigh.

“It wasn't until the gathering of the greatest of Equestria's heroes that we were bested. Even then, all they managed to do was banish us here, to this world.”

Curiosity gets the better of you. “How long ago was this?”

Adagio chuckles and shrugs. “Isn't that the trick? I have no idea. What I do know is that we sirens, me and my bandmates... no,” she stops and bows her head, then nods and continues, “me and my sisters are older than we appear. I don't remember when or where we appeared in this world, and at the time, we'd forgotten everything about what we were, but I remember we went through several foster homes and orphanages. We were younger, at least physically. Maybe ten years old or so? I remember no matter where we ended up, little fights and building resentment had us moved from place to place.”

“Are you biological sisters?”

“I don't remember that either. Maybe?” she says but takes a moment to think, then just shakes her head. “It doesn't matter. We've been together for as long as I remember, so Aria and Sonata are my sisters, and that's that. Biology has nothing to do with it.”

Adagio paces back and forth and resumes her story. “It came to me last night as I slept. Certain things both here and back in Equestria ring so very similar. I suspect we were just as clueless and driven by instinct as infant sirens, considering how easily we just continued the same behaviour as we grew bigger, stronger and smarter. I remember, when we were juvenile, potent yet still vulnerable, that we would have to coerce our way into villages and towns to let us close enough to use our powers to feed, offering to sing and just let the little ponies enjoy themselves. Later, we could go where we wanted, when we wanted, and do as we pleased. That was our first mistake; our dauntless pride in our powers, once more the source of our failure, just like when we reached our full power at the Battle of the Bands back in Canterlot High.”

Again, she pauses and looks at you, but you don't have any questions. She studies you and nibbles her lip, then continues pacing for a bit. Finally, she reaches her bedside cabinet and takes out a small, ornate box.

“My point is that you deserve to know what we are, so there are no doubts. What you stand to unleash if you succeed. For years now, I had given up on even thinking about these memories. I was truly just... adrift, living life as just another human. Until I met you.”

Your heart aches and your spirit soars. Maybe she really does lo-

“Ugh, don't look at me like that,” Adagio says and scowls at you. “It's like a lovesick puppy. I'm not about to start fawning over you and whispering sweet, tender nothings in your ear, you creep.”

Oh... well, shit.

This time, she sighs and rolls her eyes. “And don't go looking all depressed either. I've nothing but contempt for humanity, but... I suppose I like you. Enough, anyway. You're clever, competent and driven. I wouldn't have slept with you if I didn't respect you. But that's beside the point. I need to ask you something.”

She sits on the bed, next to you. “You're getting close to being able to finish your main machine, right?”

You nod. “There's a couple of parts left, but they'll arrive by the time I need them. I just need to finish putting it together, test it can produce the power I believe it can, and we can start looking for a buyer. And if we can get your powers back, that will be substantially easier.”

She smirks. “Right, because I can just tell someone to buy it. It's far easier if there's an actual desire fulfilled too.” The smile drops and she looks pensive. “What if I told you not to bother with my powers? We just finish your machine, and I can still help you find a buyer.”

That... didn't sound like Adagio talking. That was the defeated bar-owner you first met in Always Raining. “What changed since last night?”

Adagio opens the little box and takes out a familiar red pendant. It's cracked, missing a large chunk of one of the corners, but she lifts it from the box and presses it against her cheek like a lover's keepsake. “I just don't think it's possible without our gems. While I thought about me and my sisters back in Equestria, these were literally as much a part of us as our hearts. Even more important, even... our hearts of stone. They've been with us ever since we got here, separated but we always knew they were dear to us. When we didn't know what we were, if anyone tried to take them, we would become violent and angry. Savage, biting and clawing and kicking until whoever made the attempt relented.”

“Instinct, huh? Like beasts, as you said.”

Adagio nods. “And now that I think back, those little conflicts probably fuelled us through these gems. Foster parents arguing over our behaviour, maybe even being influenced by us without us knowing, once more sowing ill will, and we just fed on that energy like always. And the more we fed, the stronger we became, and the more we remembered what we were. We even grew as our powers were restored, becoming older. I remember the revelation of our banishment not long before we found a diner, where we quietly sang in the corner to feed on the chaos within. We were in our apparent mid teens by that point. Aria voiced her hatred of this world, now that we knew it wasn't where we came from. Then I saw and felt Equestrian magic explode from Canterlot High School, we found a way to get transferred there... you know the rest.”

You thumb your chin and think. “And with those stones broken, you don't think you can truly restore your powers.”

She shakes her head and studies the stone. “I appreciate what you've tried to do for me, Ray. I honestly, truly do. I truly believed you could do it as well, and I can't blame you for failing. But let's just finish your invention, find a buyer, and maybe we can just... continue as we are, hmm? Work out what happens together.” She looks at you and smiles, but her eyes say otherwise; she's still that defeated woman you found at the bar.

No. You can't accept this. “Addy, I'm not much of many things. I was a wimp in school, I had my ass kicked over and over, and even when free to live my own life, I could never stop thinking about getting to Equestria and studying magic. But I'll say this much; I'm a damn good scientist. I'm proud of what I've been able to do. I don't do shit in half-measures.”

You slide your legs off the bed, realise you're naked, and Adagio giggles as you blush and cover yourself up with a pillow. “I won't stop trying to get you your powers back until I've tried every single thing I know I can. If that means finding how to contact Equestria itself, so be it.”

Adagio's eyes go wide, then she frowns. There's another lengthy silence, before she stands up and turns to you, staring. “You're certain?”

“Beyond all reason, Addy.”

“Despite what I am? Despite what I might do?”

You nod. “I swear it. A hundred times.”

Adagio laughs. It's beautiful, like music. “You're a strange, weird little man, Radian Wave. You stand on the cusp of having everything humanity could ever want; money, fame, actual human power. All these, beyond the dreams of avarice and you don't even really need me any more, and you honestly want to give me, a beast, her ability to twist people and drive them into a fury?”

You smile, and say, “we all deserve to Dazzle again.” She rolls her eyes as she replaces the necklace into its box; worth it. “But beyond that, I don't think you're going to make the same mistake a third time. You know what I see when I look at you?”

You stand up. Naked again. Adagio's surprised by your broad shouldered, wide legged and manly stance, even if her eyes dart down to your dick a few times. Not your best look, but screw it, you're on a roll here.

“I see a woman who's actually brilliant. A genius. Maybe even peerless. You were held back by your powers, and simply cruised on them. But like you said to me, a few too many victories and you thought yourself invincible enough to screw up. Somewhere, buried behind that 'heart of stone', is your real strength, but you haven't tapped into it fully yet.

“If you applied yourself in school like you have these last few days, I know for a damn fact you could've been anything you wanted to be. If you had your powers now, with what you've learned, you'd be truly unstoppable. And if you're right, and we can't get you your powers back? I want to be beside you, because with both of us? Together?”

You step up to her and grab her by her firm shoulders. Your eyes lock, and she looks deep into of yours, her mouth agape, and there's a luminous spark in hers.

“We can achieve anything we set our minds to. I believe in you, Adagio, whether you're human or siren. If I can harness Equestrian magic itself, just imagine what you could do if you really tried!”

She struggles to take her eyes off of you for what feels like good minute as you just stare into her deep, glistening raspberry coloured eyes. She smiles, moves in close, so close you can feel the warmth of her body again, feel her gentle breaths.

And she whispers, “let's have a shower. We're both real sticky.”

You slump and can't help but chuckle. “Yeah...”

“Oh, perk up, my pet. We can have it together. After all, the hot water only lasts about three minutes before it goes cold.”

Damn, way to kill the moment.

She moves behind you and gently pushes you into the bathroom, and you climb into the shower together.

End of Act 1

* * *

Act 2 - Chapter: 9: Improvvisato

Act 2: Sirens are doin' it for themselves

There're a lot of things you've seen in adult, titillating media where everyday scenarios quickly turn sexy: meeting girls at the gym and performing violations of health codes with the equipment, having deeply unprofessional interactions with your a hot secretary, mature women with pool boys performing routine maintenance (both on the pool and the... older lady, you guess, depending on the wear and tear), and shared, non-prison showers. Especially that one. Getting naked with a girl you just spent the night with? Wet skin? Intimate cleaning? Absolutely the greatest thing ever. On paper.

You've been sold on a pack of lies. Truthfully, that may have more to do with the economy shower in Adagio's apartment, which is designed for one user, than the actual concept.

Lots of elbows and hip bumps, even more fighting over the water. You awkwardly wash and shampoo each other, but the water's already becoming cold before you can even get halfway finished with Adagio's mass of glorious hair. All the same you get the job done, with no grace or comfort, but you're both clean.

You dry off, but when you relocate and put on your underwear, Adagio approaches you with her hands behind her back, buried in her still wet, straight hair. “I think it's time you returned the favour for last night.”

“Anything for you, Addy.”

She smirks and hands you a wide toothed comb and a thickly bristled brush. “I hope you're not going to be busy for the next couple of hours. Hair this fantastic needs a lot of work.”

Well, you offered. “Sure. It only seems fair.”

Like the scientific method, you settle into the same principle but with changed variables. Namely, Adagio instructs and you obey. Brushing and untangling and brushing some more. It's... therapeutic, actually. Maybe it's the continuous closeness, or the bonding or...

Wait... Adagio's humming? That's new. You recognise the track as Find the Magic, one of the songs the Dazzlings made after they lost their powers. You let it guide your tempo of brushing for a while before she sighs, contented. You can even see her eyes are closed as she just enjoys the sensations, and her shoulders go slack.

It takes a while, but you eventually start treating her hair with some fancily named oil for curly styles and run it through the strands with the bristled brush. It's very involved. Finally, you're done, and her hair has a fantastic bounce and volume befitting your mistress.

Adagio fluffs her hair a bit and winks at you. “Thanks, Ray. It's been a while since I've had someone else do that. Me and my sisters used to handle each other's hair all the time, and... well, you know.” Adagio smiles for a short moment, but sighs.

You nod and pat her on the shoulder. “Hey, we're in this together, right? If there's anything you need, you just tell me and I'll do it.”

“Now that you mention it, I've been thinking of a couple of things,” Adagio says and retrieves her necklace again. “First, I want you to scan this, because like I said, I don't know if getting my powers back will be possible without it. I need to know your opinion on it, as scientific and empirical as you can be.”

You reach for it, but she suddenly closes her fingers around the broken gem and she uses a finger to direct your gaze into her killer stare.

“Be. Careful. If you damage this then, whether I like you or not, there'll be hell to pay.”

You hold your hand near your chest, “Like it's my very own heart of stone.”

She hesitates, but relents and nods, placing it in your palm. After her talk about the Dazzlings reacting with violence as kids when someone tried to take their gems, you feel a profound sense of trust.

Adagio continues, “good. Secondly, this shrinking thing. Any idea if you can make it stable? Like, longer lasting and less 'echoey?'” She air-quotes with her fingers.

“I have some ideas, sure. I was thinking that, once I've diffused the energy from you like last night, it could be maintained by even a very weak signal.”

“How weak?”

You scratch your neck. “Magic doesn't like going into people without some sort of resonator, like the device our world's Twilight used and accidentally corrupted herself due to how inexperience she was with Equestrian magic. You have a natural resonance with your siren-converted-earth signal exposure, which keeps drawing in small amounts to sustain your enhanced strength and size. If course, we've found that way to disperse it, but only temporarily. Once it's out of your body, it's only a matter of time before it's drawn back in by that core resonance. That being said, once it is outside of you, I suspect a subliminal frequency would be enough, like a sound file.”

Adagio smirks. “A sound file, eh? I happen to still own a licence for some music editing software I used back when the Dazzlings were together. And doesn't the large device have a cheap laptop as a controller? If you tell me how to add a frequency, I can make that.”

That's crafty! You get excited with her as Adagio's smirk increases into evil grin territory. Which just spurs you to ask, “I like where this is going, Addy, but... what are you planning?”

Adagio's expression goes flat. “Do you trust me, Ray?”

“After last night, and what we talked about this morning? Yes. I do.”

She strokes your cheek. “Then follow my lead and don't ask questions. The less you know, the better, and I want you to keep focused on what I tell you to do.”

That's less give and take than you were hoping for by this point. “You can trust me as well, Addy. I won't tell anyone.”

Adagio shakes her head. “No. End of discussion. Besides, I'll be the first to admit it involves a lot of improvisation. Now, help me get shrunk and stable, because I'm going out and I need to be inconspicuous.”

“No offence, Adagio,” you say and snicker, “but you and inconspicuous don't exactly go hand in hand. The hair, the clothes. I could go on. They're beautiful and eye-catching, but that's my point.”

She gives you the stink-eye. “Stop being a smart-ass, Ray. Save that brainpower for getting my magic back back. Now, go get the device ready and install Reincloud Audio Editor. I'll be with you in a moment.”

You gather your clothes, and Adagio seems to plan an outfit as she also changes the bedding after your night together. You head outside and use the laptop, with your phone as its internet connection, and download the software as Adagio joins you. She logs in and it unlocks the full features, complete with the full library of Dazzlings songs: rough cuts, early drafts, instrumental and vocal only versions and all sorts of things that make your eyes go wide. It's a Dazzlings fan gold-mine.

You have to ask, “can I check some of these out? I'd love to hear your alt-takes. Like that!” You point at the screen; a song called Siren's Sorrow, dated from... a month ago! “Did you record that on your phone or something? And I thought you said you said you didn't sing any more.”

Adagio collapses the program and gives you a bone-chilling stare. “No. Shut up and follow my instructions!” She re-opens the program and the editor. ”How do we incorporate that signal?”

You go over the fundamentals and Adagio picks up on it rapidly. It's a blank, ten second sound file that won't register in the human ear, but will push back the energy. When she tries to save it, the laptop crashes and reboots.

“Tsk, stupid thing,” Adagio grumbles.

“It's a cheap, refurbished model, give it a break. It wasn't really designed to run more than the software coupled with the sensors, emitters and power readouts, let alone actually making music.”

Adagio tries again and again, but the damn thing keeps crashing.

“Yet it loads your music just fine,” you say and tap the side of your head, “what if we edited a song instead?

Adagio opens a Dazzlings classic, Battle, then adds the subliminal signal, and wonder of wonders, it saves just fine. She cusses under her breath, then downloads a copy on her phone.

“Tsk, why would that work, but not the sound file by itself!?” Adagio snaps.

“Tech gremlins! No rhyme or reason to them,” you chuckle, remembering your old lab computer. It crashed precisely 22.8% of the time when you emptied the recycle bin. Fortunately this laptop's been just fine running your programs so far, but you note it'll need replacing if any deeper strain might compromise your device.

After an hour of fine tuning and listening to Battle on repeat to the point even you're getting tired of it, you prepare to test it by shrinking her the same way as last night. One strong dose of siren energy, followed by the anti-earth signal. Once more, Adagio's dwindled back to her original height.

She stands up and huffs. “If you can also work out a way to make that not suck, that would be great. So what now, do I just play the music?”

You turn on the handheld and scan her. Sure enough, the echo is forming. You nod, and she plays the track, starting with the Dazzlings harmonious voices leading in before the lyrics start proper.

“We heard you want to get together.
We heard you want to rock this school.”

It works like a charm! The signal disperses.

Adagio asks, “should I stop it?”

“For the moment,” you reply and she pauses the track

You stare at the spectrograph. The energy is slower to build, but it's definitely gathering. You snap your fingers and Adagio gives you a surprised glance as a revelation strikes you.

Of course! You blasting the anti-signal makes a vacuum of energy so strong, the ambient power will seek to fill it in a sudden rush. The subliminal signal is far more gentle. So much so, it makes what can be best described as a bubble, free of magic.

“Play it again,” you say.

“We've thought of something that is better.
Something that changes all the rules.
Why pretend we're all the same.
When some of us shine brighter? (Shine brighter).
Here's a chance to find your flame.
Are you a loser or a fighter?”

The energy build up is slowed even further and, from what you can gather, it's instead gathering in frequencies that won't interfere with Adagio's earth signal for... well, hours.

“Pause it, it's not going to get any stronger by the looks of things. This is a tremendous success!”

“Well, I did work on it,” Adagio says and inspects her nails. “It's only natural.”

She may be fishing for complements, but screw it, she's been so down on the whole, why not let her enjoy a victory of her own? “I couldn't have done it better. Now, there's good news and some bad news.”

“Bad.”

“When the effect of the song ends, it's going to hit like the first time you grew; all at once.”

Adagio puts a hand on her hip. “In that case, I hope you're prepared to pull your weight clearing that up next time. And the good?”

“That won't be for a number of hours. I can't be certain how many, but it's looking like... between four to five? It's difficult without more time to see it in action. Even then, odds are, you can likely extend it if you kept listening to it. It won't be as effective as when the energy is getting near; so no, you can't just listen to it for a few hours and not regrow for days, it's always going to be a few hours each time.”

“Good enough. Thanks, Ray, I'll leave you your work.”

Adagio heads into her bedroom as you tune up the handlheld device, prepare a list for any findings under several categories, recover your old notes notes and more. It takes a while, and the same could be said about Adagio, but just as you sit down to begin working she re-emerges.

You can't help but stare.

She's dressed in her usual black, purple and pink colours and that signature punkish, spiky and evocative style, but you realise that even when you first met her in the bar, she had simple, subdued makeup while you've known her personally. Now, she's gone all out: gold eyeshadow, well applied and blended blush and clean, glossy lipstick, stunning lashes and plucked eyebrows. Adagio's hot, and there's another layer to her confidence now.

You don't know if it's the fact she's clearly planning something and back in her element or, as doubtful as you are, she's reciprocating how alive you've felt today after spending the night together, but she gives you a wink when she catches you gawping then heads out without a word.

You wish you'd taken a picture, but never mind. Time for science.

Preliminary scans reveal it's got a very similar resonance to Adagio's siren signal herself, but it's distinct enough with a precise scan. It also doesn't respond to the siren signal.

Tsk, you're being stupid; it's not how she projected her powers, it's how she absorbed the energy of others. You set up a rotation of earth, pegasi and unicorn signals.

Nothing. Then you try anti-signals. Also nothing. For something so clearly potent in magic, it's frustrating.

Hmm... conflict? You try to set up a rapid alternation between the positive and anti-signals and earn a faint, green wisp of something, but it fades in moments.

It's hardly conclusive or informative, but... well, it's an extracted piece of Equestrian fauna, you suppose. A part of a living, breathing siren. Something from a world you've yet to see and truly understand.

Wait. “Fauna?” You scoff at yourself. “Did you just classify the first girl who's given two shit about you, and gave you your first lay, as the subject of a goddamn biology paper? What the hell is wrong with you?”

And stop talking to yourself, Radian, before you put the mad into mad scientist.

You bounce between testing theories on the siren stone (which is still frustrating you) and building the main machine as a means to reformulate ideas when you finally hear the jingle of keys and the door opens.

“Welcome back, Adagio, I've-”

A different woman enters. Leather jacket, pale blue short-dress underneath it, leggings, mini-heeled boots.

Red and yellow hair. Turquoise eyes.

Sunset Shimmer. She walks in, spots you, and freezes.

Adagio's there, right behind her, with the biggest, shit-eating grin on her face as she sees your expression bounce between slack-jawed shock and fear. She thewn walks into the apartment, turns serious, and says, “it's not much, but it's home, and this is my boyfriend-” she looks between the two of you. “Oh, is something wrong? Do you know each other or something?”

Sunset also performs a double-take, wide-eyed. “Wait, Radian Wave's your boyfriend? Seriously?”

Adagio huffs and pouts. “Wow, judgmental much? I can't help it if I like smart guys.”

You manage, “what the-” but can't complete it, and just internalise the rest.

But seriously, what the actual fuck?

* * *

Chapter 10: Fuocoso

You're sat on the opposite end of couch from Sunset while Adagio brews some crappy coffee. You can't look at her, and she can't look at you. The tension between the two of you has more mass than the goddamn sun.

Again, that annoying little logical side pleads at you to do something to resolve the issue, but there's too much pain owed.

“Small world, huh?” Adagio says and hands you both a coffee. She's acting so weird and chipper, but you know it's a front.

“Thanks,” Sunset says, sips it, takes a deep breath, then finally looks you in the eyes. “Radian, I know you don't want to speak to me, but when I bumped into Adagio, we got to talking and she wanted to patch things up. We... have a history too, and when she said she'd turned a corner, I honestly wanted to let bygones be bygones. When she said she'd found someone in her life, I had to come see. I didn't meant to interrupt your life again.”

You can't answer. If you do, you're not sure what will come out. You just stare.

Sunset turns towards Adagio as she pours herself a cup of coffee. “Maybe I should go?”

Adagio turns, full of sunshine and smiles, and says, “please, Sunset, I want to prove to you how I've changed.”

Sunset flicks her gaze towards you, then to Adagio as she rounds the couch and sits between the two of you. “You're in a relationship, Adagio, that alone tells me you've changed... but if we,” she says and gestures between you and her, “can come to some understanding, that would be even better. Just how much do you know about me and Radian's history?”

“It hasn't come up, Adagio lies, “we only met a little while ago, but we really hit it off. He said something about not getting on in school, but my Ray of Sunshine said it wasn't-”

Sunset gags on her coffee. “Ray of sunshine?”

Adagio giggles. “Sorry, pet names. I'm his Addy, and he's my Ray of sunshine!”

Sunset snorts and can't help but laugh a little.

“What's so funny?” Adagio tilts her head.

“It's nothing,” Sunset says stifling any further laughing and calms herself, then whispers, “pet names, huh? Small worlds, alright.”

You and Adagio share a confused look, then she focuses on Sunset again. “But yes, we've really hit it off since then. I wasn't in a great place for a while, and Ray found me drunk in a bar and recognised me from the Dazzlings. He took me home and looked after me. And before you make any judgements, he's been the perfect gentleman! When I found out he was recently made homeless, I offered him my place to stay and it just kind of came together from there.”

Sunset gives a really big smile. “That's great to hear, Adagio! After your, uh, issues with most people and all, this is a really big step. I'm so happy for you.”

“Oh, I've had time to come to terms with my place here, even if it meant having to break up with my sisters. It's not been easy going overall, and we are a little strapped for cash right now, but my Ray is building that machine,” she says and points at the bigger device, “that can make clean energy, and it's going to make us a fortune! The rent's due soon, but I'm confident he'll pull through.”

Sunset looks at the machine, then frowns. “Look, Adagio. I'm sure he's going to come through for you. We didn't interact much, not in a friendly way at any rate, but I know he's smart. All the same, it's amazing to see you happy, Dagi, especially after how angry you used to be at your situation. Plus, I kind of owe Radian for all the misery I put him through in school. I don't have a ton of cash, but I'm sure I could help with your bills or something if you'd like.”

Adagio sips her coffee, but pauses. She turns away from Sunset just a little as her expression flickers; a deep, dark smile that lasts for a split second before it returns to the bubbly, friendly persona she's been playing. “Well... there is something. You see, Ray's machine gets its power from wild, untapped Equestrian magic.”

Sunset gasps and you wince; the hell is Adagio doing?!

“Wait, hold on a second,” Sunset says and waves her hands, “I know we went to the same school but does he know about...” she fidgets and purses her lips. “...you know? The incidents?'”

Adagio pats Sunset's knee. “You don't need to dance around the issue. I've told him all about us Equestria girls.”

“Really?” Sunset peers around Adagio, behind her thick hair at you.

“Unicorns, sirens and all sorts. Sure,” you answer, flatly. You don't want to give her an inch, but you remember Adagio's instructions to go along with her plan.

“And you can just... use it? How?”

Adagio says, “maybe a demonstration's in order, Ray?”

You shrug and head to the machine, switch it on and open the energy conversion programs and stand aside to show Sunset the screen. It's currently generating enough power to run the apartment block twice over, but it's releasing it back out unchanged from the emitter since you lack a battery that could contain that much power.

Sunset's eyes grow wide as you show her the live feed, and she exclaims, “this is huge! How are you able to just harness magic like that? I've tried studying how magic works, even both Twilight's have, and it's only understandable to a certain degree. Certainly not enough to just control it on a whim.”

Adagio lounges back on the couch and gives you a wink. “Did I mention I like smart men? My Ray of sunshine's a genius. In fact, I'm sure he'll happy to share his findings with you as a sign of good faith.” She glances at you. “Right, Ray? You'd bury this old feud for me, wouldn't you? So we can live our best lives?”

Your brow twitches... you try your hardest, but all you can manage is to say, “I guess?”

Adagio grimaces but maintains her smile.

Sunset fiddles with her long, fiery hair and it's obvious she isn't buying your lacklustre sincerity, yet still says, “I'd like that. But what do you need from me?”

Adagio leans forward and calmly says, “we want to visit Equestria.”

“What!?” Both you and Sunset say in unison.

“See, as much as Ray has helped me through a rough patch, I'm still not especially happy here. I'd like to see my home, even if just once more. Not to mention Ray was saying he'd love to see the other world as well, ever since we talked about it, since it might give him an idea about perfecting his device. If he could scan the portal directly, that would help both of us a great deal.”

“Adagio, you realise what you're asking, right?” Sunset says and folds her arms. “I can't send a siren back into Equestria.”

“You don't need to worry about that,” Adagio says and bridges her fingers together. “Because of the destruction of my necklace, it would seem I'm not only unable to use Equestrian magic myself, but the world itself has seen fit to turn me into an earth pony. It's like I said back at the Starswirled festival, I made a mistake and it cost me my magic, and I had no idea how right I was.”

Sunset folds her arms. “You don't honestly expect me to believe that, right?”

“Tell her, Ray. About the signatures.” Adagio says with a nod.

You guess you might as well make good on your promise. “Ever since discovering about the species of Equestria and their relevant reflections either side of the portal, I've been scanning people to help guide my experiments in harnessing magic. It turns out each person, and their correlating species type, have a differing energy resonance. For example, you're a unicorn over there, right?”

Sunset hesitates, then nods.

“So am I, if the data is to be believed, because we resonate the same energy. Adagio here now resonates the same as an earth pony.”

Adagio adds, “so you see, I won't represent a threat. Not against you, not Twilight... I'm a non-issue.”

“I'll need proof. I can read thoughts. If you'll let me read yours, that'll go a long way to convincing me this is even remotely a good idea.”

Adagio's facade finally breaks, and she turns serious. “I'll tell you what. This is a lot to process already. You probably don't even know if Twilight, or Celestia or whoever's in charge will be alright with this. Let's take a rain-check on this for today. I'll have Ray get his notes together about the Equestrian magic flow, the energy types for people to ponies over there, and I'll also talk with him about forgiving you. How about you come over tomorrow afternoon, and we'll have a big meeting and discuss all of this, and you can read Ray's thoughts to confirm everything, okay?”

Sunset looks back and forth between the two of you, then she thumbs her chin and looks out the window for a few moments. “Okay, deal. I'll contact Princess Twilight. I'll also need to contact Princess Cadance too.”

Adagio raises an eyebrow and says, “a lot of princesses over there these days, huh? Celestia and Luna I knew, then of course Twilight's a new one... I've never heard of this Cadence.”

Sunset chuckles. “Yeah, they seem to be multiplying. Anyway, the receiving portal is currently undergoing repairs in the Crystal Empire, and-”

“The Crystal Empire?” Adagio's demeanour breaks further and she gasps. She leans forward, mouth agape. “It's back?”

“What do you know about it?” Sunset gives Adagio a suspicious glance.

“I used to ask about the goings on across Equestria when I was a siren,” Adagio says and shrugs. “Ponies that were under our spell would tell us all sorts of things, and we'd use them to figure out easier targets. The news that the Empire had fallen was somewhat recent when we were around. Some king made it vanish.”

Sunset's eyes go wide. “That was a long time ago. I knew you had been banished by Starswirl the Bearded, but it's easy to forget you three really are ancient.”

Adagio's already broken facade reverts into full, regular anger. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry,” Sunset smirks and waves her hand, “that's not what I meant. Look, we're getting off track here Anyway, Princess Cadence's in charge of the Crystal Empire, along with her husband Shining Armor, so if anyone's going to need to be informed about any potential visits, it will be both of them.”

“If that's what it takes, then so be it,” Adagio says.

Sunset sighs and thinks for a while. “Look, if you're telling the truth? And you want to become a better person? I'm game. You have no idea how happy it would make me to see you as a friend. I'm sure even Twilight would agree, so I'll message her as soon as I get home.”

“That's all I ask. Thank you!” Adagio says, recovers her peppy smile and stands. “More than anything, I'm just glad we've have a chance to settle our grievances, and I'm sure once we have a heart to heart, you and Ray will get on as well. I hope, no matter what happens, even if Twilight refuses, we can be friends. I've... been alone for a while. It's time I started making some changes to how I live my life.”

Adagio sends Sunset on her way after a brief hug, and heads over to the window. She's unreadable as you walk over to join her. She shudders and finally says, “ugh, I can't stand being nice to her.”

You say, “if I'd known you wanted me to kiss her ass, I could have prepared.”

“It's fine. Like I said, there's a lot of improvisation going on and we needed to buy time anyway. Did you discover anything about my necklace?”

You hand it back to her, and she puts it around her neck. “Nothing great. It still responds to what I would call discordant energy when applied a cycle between the three main energy types and their anti-types, but it's a faint spark of nothing. It certainly can't convert any power, nor store anything.”

Adagio nods, but says nothing, yet you can see a little grin form for a moment as her eyes scan outside. Not long after, you both see Sunset leave the apartment building and she walks down the street and out of view.

Adagio giggles, and you raise your eyebrow at her. Then she chuckles, and it turns into a full on hysterical laugh. You fear for her sanity for a moment, then she calms down a little and says, “Ray, do you believe in fate?”

“As a scientist? No.”

“I do. Every failure that has been directed at me, I have endured, and now it feels like I'm getting some payback. Sometimes things just... fall into place, you know?”

Most of that conversation with Sunset was a bit inconclusive. But one part stood out. “Are we talking about this Crystal Empire thing? You really got caught out by that. Sounds like we're going to be dealing with the alternative, pony versions of preppy douche-bag Shining Armor and Principal Cadance from the Crystal Academy.”

She smirks at you. “Very observant. Too bad my orders are still in effect. I want you to write up your notes for Sunset, and I want you to put on your best ass-kissing face when she arrives tomorrow. I want her to feel like you'd be willing to worship the ground she walks on.”

“I'll write the notes, but you know what? Sunset's the one thing I won't move on. Fuck her.”

Adagio gives you a long stare. “Really? All the things I know I could make you do for me, and this is the one thing on which you refuse to budge?”

You pull a page from Adagio's book and walk away from the window. “We're not having this conversation.”

“Ray...” She's genuinely shocked, and usually you'd be regretful, or a little amused you've managed to dumbfound her, but no. You need a distraction.

You just busy yourself writing a concise summary of your research and Adagio leaves you alone. She keeps her shrink topped off as you hear Battle repeat a couple of times, and you'd normally be proud of her using your emitter to scan herself, but you're not in any sort of victorious mood. She even serves you lunch and dinner as you finish your notes and work on the main device again.

Then, out of the blue, she sits next to you, and hands you a glass.

You sniff it and cough; it's borderline lethal with alcohol. “What's the occasion?”

“Well, it's a siren's sorrow, and I figured if you're going to pull a me on me, I'll pull a you on you.”

You tilt your head and she grins at you.

“You know, the whole 'ask a probing, uncomfortable question once, get blown off, ask it again later' thing you did when asking about my sisters? I want you to tell me about you and Sunset.”

You can't help but laugh and take a sip. Yep, that cheap ass cola really isn't doing much to block the overpowering spirits, and cough again. “You really wanna know?”

Adagio nods. “That's something friends do, right? Listen to each other blabber on about their past issues?”

You sigh, but relent. “I guess so. Let me get this in me and I suppose I can tell you. I owe you that much.”

Adagio smiles, holds out her own siren's sorrow, and you clink glasses. “To you, Ray.”

“Cheers, Addy.”

* * *

Chapter 11: Sentimento

Your history with Sunset is no grand tale of mind-bending song singing sirens or magical equines, but you tell Adagio anyway.

The repeated bullying was largely shared by many other students, and fine, you'd have to be a special kind of hateful to obsess over a bully for that.

No, the apex of your anger was born from one specific moment.

You had a science fair project and you decided to go all out. You'd saved your money and pestered mom for a little more to build a calculator from scratch, complete with a digital display and even little screens to show the breakdown of the workings of the math for longer, tougher equations.

Normally you wouldn't put in that much effort but your dad had been on your case about your spotty attendance at school, and how your grades had been slipping (not the least because of Sunset's constant harassment), so you're going all in; no prisoners, and no half-measures. First prize or nothing, to not only get him to relax, but to use that as your gateway into asking for more allowance. It would also prove mom right that things might just be okay here.

He wanted to move out west, where the money would be better, while mom had family near Canterlot City. She was already unwell, and the move wouldn't have done her any favours. If you could prove you could knuckle down and succeed, it would help her. So yes, you made a damn fine piece of electronic wizardry. It was beautiful. You're still proud of it.

On the day of the science fair, you put your calculator in the school lab along with all the other students and the teacher would keep the door locked during lunch. Sunset wasn't even involved. She simply hadn't bothered making an entry. She even tried to get Snips and Snails to make something instead, but... well, they weren't exactly bright.

So she must have climbed in through the window. You never saw it, but your calculator was soaking wet (and, admittedly, she sabotaged everyone else's projects), frying most of the components since there were a few exposed connections in the inner workings. Nobody else had any proof it was her, but you remember her smug as fuck grin as the science fair was called off.

When you got home, and brought up the topic with your dad? And discovered mom had thrown money into it as well?

Holy shit, the fight that ensued... the yelling and screaming. Things had been relatively calm for a while before that night, but your attempt to earn dad's favour and subsequent proof that life wasn't any good in Canterlot just tore everything to pieces. That she had used money set aside for a rainy day to make sure you could make your calculator the best it could be just made it even worse.

Then mom fainted and had to go into hospital for quite a while. Dad started forcing the move out west, which made things even worse. Then came the ultimatum; you either went with him or stayed with your mom. There was no choice there. So he left you both.

Sure, mom received support from her family, and you even managed to get through college, moved out but kept returning home to help look after mom, got into a prestigious tech firm that let you earn your PhD on the job, but she continued to fade. Then she passed away.

*-**-*

You put down your second siren's sorrow and breathe fumes so stoichiometrically saturated with alcohol they have to be flammable. It felt good getting that off your chest, and the booze has helped a lot, but you're not kidding yourself; you doubt she really cared about all that.

Looking across at Adagio, she sips her sixth and fiddles with her hair. There's a gentle sway to her movements and it's good to see her loose like this. She says, “I'm not gonna lie, I don't know what I'm supposed to say to help, but I am sorry you had to go through that. I don't really have a frame or reference in losing a mom, but if losing my powers and becoming estranged from my sisters is even a fraction as bad as that, then I can see why you needed an escape. Even if I still think finding comfort in being lost in our songs a bit weird.”

Oh! Okay. She did pay attention. “I am weird, remember?” you chuckle. “But thanks for listening. I was actually surprised you were paying attention.”

She punches you playfully in the arm. “What are you implying? That your issues are somehow beneath me or something? In case you forget, I'm human too. Doing...” she pauses, waving her hands about searching for something poignant, gives up and giggles, “human stuff, like making friends and being supportive? Or do I need to remind you about your pep talk earlier when your dick was hanging out?”

You can't stop yourself from laughing. “I'm sure the jury's out on my humanity, you're only a human at the moment... we're all kinds of weird, huh?”

“Yep. Here's to you, my little weirdo.” Adagio pours you both another drink, and gulps down the rest of a bottle of cheap white rum.

“No offence, Addy, but damn you can put that stuff away.”

She stifles a little belch. “Maybe it's an earth girl thing, or a lingering siren thing. All I know is I'm only a little drunk.”

You take a long gulp and hand her the rest of the glass. “I'm good. I've never been one for drinking.”

“And I'm giving it up. Too many bad memories tied to drinking this stuff and being at my worst. Maybe I'm being frugal, but I just hate to let it go to waste,” Adagio says and knocks back the rest of the glass. “Having you around has been a great distraction. It kind of reminds me of back when it was me and-” She stops herself and sighs, hard.

“Your sisters, right?”

Adagio nods. “Yeah.” Try as she might, she can't help but let her mood slump.

“Sorry,” you say, “I didn't mean to bring you down.”

“It's fine. Like I said, you're good company.”

“I'd be careful if I were you, Addy,” you say and snicker, “someone might think you're falling for me.”

Adagio clears her throat and gives you a leery look. “That's rich. I hate humans, remember? You're... passable at best.”

“Uh... thanks?”

Her veneer of contempt lasts about three seconds before she giggles and takes a swig of her drink. “I'm fucking with you! Relax. You being here has pulled me so far away from where I was, I'm grateful to have you.”

You look at one another and can't help but chuckle as she clears her throat and tries, and fails, to hide her expression.

You've seen the full gamut of her emotions; anger, sadness, her early mainstay of defeated boredom. For someone you found hammered in a bar, crushed by life, she's smiled a lot since you've known her in ways that are all very distinct: that typical, dark smirk, the simpler smile, the smug, self-satisfied grin and the like.

This one was a really goofy smile she just made. It's so earnest. Innocent, even.

Adagio leans on her knees. “It's funny. If you'd met me sooner, I doubt we'd even be going for this whole power recovery, dealing with Sunset stuff. It might even be a normal friendship or whatever.”

You correct her and say, “if we'd met sooner, I doubt you would have given me the time of day. I'd probably be in a hospital with a broken jaw from Street Tough.”

“That's... accurate, sadly.” Adagio frowns. “Maybe it's a fate thing again. When I wrote 'Find the Magic', I thought we'd hit our lowest point, and that it was only uphill from there. But I was wrong. There was so much worse to come, between fighting with my sisters and-”

She stops dead in her speech and looks away from you.

You ask, “something wrong?”

Adagio turns towards you again and changes the topic. “S- Street Tough was just a loyal to his next pay-check. Bar Spoon seemed okay, I think had rich relatives, but I never really bothered asking about it. But as I was saying, it's also just nice having someone to talk to.”

It is nice just talking, though with Adagio's sudden shift and clear attempt to hide something important to her, an uneasy silence kicks in.

Discussing your past is also lingering with you, so you sigh and say, “not to re-downer the conversation, but about Sunset.”

Adagio grumbles, “hmph, fine. Way to ruin the mood...” She puts folds her arms and leans back on the couch. “Those anti-signals you've made? Can they be toned down?”

“Sure, I don't see why not.”

“Good. And you said it fogged your mind when you used it on yourself? Suppressed your talents?”

“Uh-huh.”

Adagio thumbs her chin. “Excellent. Can you show me how to do it?”

You're glad you stopped drinking when you did if you're going to start talking tech. You hand her your notes, but also say, “this is the nitty-gritty details, but I've already set a bunch of key macros on the handheld since I needed to switch between them quickly when testing your necklace. In order of siren, earth, unicorn and pegasus, it's just alt-one, two, three and four. Same order with the anti-signals, alt-five onward. Then just plus and minus to control strength.”

“Good. Now, step two. I really need you to convince Sunset you've forgiven her. I get why you've got a vendetta against her, honestly I do,” she says and squeezes your shoulder, “and if anyone knows about needless hatred, it's me, but we need her on our side for now.”

You sigh and have a think. “I want to, but every time I see her, all I can think of is what she did to me. How things could have been different if she'd just left me alone.” As the last of the alcohol gets into your bloodstream, you come up with an idea. “I'll tell you what, one thing I swore I wouldn't do to something you said you'd sworn off; how about a song?”

Adagio pouts. “Really? Really!?” She stands and folds her arms as she paces. The she picks up another almost empty bottle of tequila, drains that, and grumbles, “fine, asshole. I sing you one song, and I want you to worship at Sunset's feet tomorrow! Literally, if that's what it takes!”

You hate how stubborn you're being, but... goddamn it, Sunset. You grab the remains of a bottle of vodka, gulp it down, then throw your arms up in defeat. “Fine! You sing for me, I'll play nice with Sunset, but I won't be blamed if she reads my mind and learns I'm faking it.”

“Let's get this over with,” she mutters and pinches her brow. “What song? And no bitching about not having full harmony here; almost all my songs were written with my sisters in mind.”

“Then how about something made solo? I wanna hear that Siren's Sorrow song you've got on your track list.”

Adagio scowls at you, then grits her teeth. “You're really fucking annoying sometimes, you know that, right?”

“You did say I was driven, if I'm not mistaken?”

She clearly suppresses a smirk as takes out her phone and seems to be reading something. When she catches you staring at her, Adagio rolls her eyes and says, “it's not a normal song and I haven't thought about it in a while. I'm refreshing my memory on the lyrics. And just so you know, I went through a phase where I was considering musical theatre, so I wrote this as a practice song. If you laugh, I'll stop and you still go through with the deal.”

You raise your arms in submission and then fold them, acting the patient audience.

Adagio clears her throat and tunes up her voice, singing several notes on the scale. Finally, she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, gives one of her more classic, sinister grins and sings;

“Does deceit strike my eyes? I'm aloft in the skies!

My powers are surging true!

I receive admiration, befitting my station,

As I rule from the skies, ever blue!

Subjects far and wide, I'm their goddess, their guide,

And I'll sing until the day is through.

As for rivals or foes? I represent all their woes!

I will crush them, as I always do!”

She shifts key, and her tone and expression turn dour.

“Then I open up my eyes,

a grim dawn, to no surprise,

as my path continues evermore descending.

Here's another grey tomorrow,

And I call for a Siren's sorrow,

So I hope next time I dream, I dream unending~.”

There's a light to her again. A harsh resilience. Her soul exposed as she keeps the morose expression, but forces a little smile.

“A place to call my own, without my heart of stone,

Just a place in the world I can sing.

No throne now desired, just to be admired,

For the gentle repose I can bring.

The gift of simple pleasures, through all walks and weathers,

A club, such a humble small thing.

What a place it would be, as they listen to me,

And my dreams and my voice all take wing!

Then I open up my eyes,

a grim dawn, to no surprise,

as my path continues evermore descending.

Here's another grey tomorrow,

And I call for a Siren's sorrow,

So I hope next time I dream, I dream unending~.”

Adagio slows down the tempo, and she looks around her. She looks crushed.

“Broken walls, angry neighbours, naught else for my labours,

As I naïvely keep my self esteem.

And a bar that's dead ended, as my soul is expended.

So much for that foolish old dream.

So I walk to and fro, nowhere else I can go.

But I know I'm running out of steam.”

Finally, she bursts into a rage and balls her hands into fists.

“One more blow to my pride, and I just want to hide!

I hate it so much, I could scream!"

Back on the downturn, Adagio slumps.

"When I open up my eyes,

Holding back my forlorn cries,

In the mirror I just smile, condescending.

While I seek a trail to follow,

And hope for a new tomorrow,

And pray for a sign my spirit's even mending~.

So by day and fading light,

I will carry on my plight,

Though fate subjects my soul to ceaseless rending,

I'll fight on, no hope or glory,

This won't be my final story.

And I'll shrug off the crushing doom, impending~.”

Adagio completely fades as the song's bridge ends, and bows her head. She closes her eyes and sings as a whisper.

“When I open up my eyes,

one more dawn, and no surprise,

Still my siren's song can't bend the world to breaking.

As instead I'm just myself,

One of many, off the shelf,

So mundane, worth nothing else, I go on waking,

Again...“

You're awestruck. She hasn't skipped a beat or degraded. Adagio still sings like an angel.

And unless she's become an expert actor in the time she broke up with her sisters, that anguish is real. You've felt hints from her on occasion, but there's no doubt it wasn't just a slow spiral. Something hit her, and hard.

“So?” Adagio asks.

You applaud her, and she offers a dainty bow. You say, “that was both the most beautiful and most crushing thing I've heard. Ever.”

Adagio smirks, arms akimbo. “Not bad for a solo outing, huh?”

“You've still got it,” you say. “Seriously, you could totally get back into singing and take the world by storm the old fashioned way. You said you were looking at musical theatre? Did you audition or anything?”

“I planned to,” she frowns and says, “but I didn't show. Something... came up. And besides, I don't know if I'm really cut out to start from nothing again. Not by myself. Even if I had my powers, it wouldn't feel right without-”

Adagio stops and something changes in her. You can see it dance on her deep, pink eyes; a spark, like something was asleep and now alert and vivid. Adagio looks at you, then over at your devices, and nods to herself.

She then pulls out her phone, taps the screen a few times, and puts it to her ear.

You feel like you should be able to make a connection, but the alcohol haze makes joining the dots clumsy and painful. Instead, you ask, “wait, who're you calling?”

Adagio raises a hushing finger at you, closes her eyes and steels herself. Then she grumbles and takes the phone away from her ear for a moment and mouths, “ugh, voice mail.” She braces herself again, and you hear an automated message playing but can't hear it clearly enough to tell who's talking.

When it finishes, Adagio says, “hey. It's Adagio. I want to talk to you. In fact, scratch that, I need to see you. It's important. Really important. I'm still in Canterlot City, in an apartment on floor two, room twenty six of the Bridle apartment complex on Dressage avenue. If It makes any difference, there's a really good take-out place near where I live that I know you'll love. My treat, okay? I'll see you... I hope I'll see you soon. Please.”

Adagio ends the call and runs her fingers through her curls.

“Seriously, who did you just call? Or is this another of those 'do as I say' things?”

She turns to you, swigs back another bottle of booze, gulps, and says, “got it in one. But it's someone I should have called a long time ago. For now, though?”

Adagio walks over to you and plants a kiss on your lips. The burn of alcohol is strong and renewed in your mouth from her lips alone as she puts another bottle in your hand, then says, “I want to forget about everything before this moment. Everything but us. So let's drink. To a new tomorrow.”

* * *

Chapter 12: Gemendo

Fog. Pain. Head.

You've made a serious calcula-hhuurrghh... calculatororerrory errory.

Wait, try that again. Smaller words. Tiny words. Little stabbing words. In your brain.

You have erred. There. Better.

Radian Wave and alcohol is incompati-... a bad mix.

You sit up. It's still dark. You're... wearing the Dazzling's t-shirt Adagio wore the other day and your own underwear. Even better, you're in Adagio's bed.

Well, 'in' is a strong word. You're on the edge of it and she's hogging the rest. At least it's warm in here. Adagio's fully covered by the covers, snoring gently. You can just see some of her indulgent orange hair sticking out on top of the pillows.

You need to use the bathroom anyway, so you cautiously climb out of bed. Gravity promptly makes you its bitch and you fall over. How much did you drink last night?

Adagio snorts but settles back into her sleep as you carefully stand, head into the bathroom and relieve yourself. You don't even need to turn on the light thanks to a bright moon filtering through the shutters. Small mercies, since your head's already not feeling great.

What would really help is your phone. As soon as you do your business, you stumble into the bedroom and look around, but can't find the damn thing. Main room it is then.

There's bottles all over the place, your emitter is on the floor, and... ah, there's your phone. Under... a shred of clothing? Not your shirt or pants, that's for sure. Purple, so it's Adagio's.

You wonder if you missed a wardrobe malfunction as she regrew back to her new height as you check your phone for the time. 4am. You focus on the screen and see the sensor app has detected a couple of magic spikes, and checking the same on the emitter shows it's been used.

Oh hell, what did you get up to? You look up the time indexes on the magic surges and see they happened on your phone, only to notice a storage warning as well. Something's gone on... video files? You soon stumble on a couple of recordings you made last night. You play the first:

The camera's pointed at the floor and shakes around.

“Data log number one,” you say and snicker, “what is Addy's preference in men?”

The view rolls up to Adagio's face, who gives a 'really?' expression, rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Not really surprising, but she still seems quite lucid. “In case you forgot, Ray, I really don't like humans. I certainly don't think much of the human form, so I've never cared what you look like.”

“Oh,” you say and sit beside her.

The camera droops and you can only really make out her shoulder and part of her breast.

“So... what do you see in me, exactly?”

“We've had this conversation. You're smart, you're driven... I don't like repeating myself.” She takes a swig from a bottle.

“Yeah, but I've seen this shit before,” you say and finally focus on Adagio's face.

It's like when you met her, flushed red from the alcohol. You think, anyway, otherwise she's blushing and looks cute as hell.

You continue, sounding increasingly sombre, “the geeks and the nerds don't get the hot girls. Nobody's ever given me a second look. Just a skinny freak who could barely socialise.”

“First of all, stop belittling yourself,” she says and gives you a wry smile, “that's my job. Second of all, I mean it. Most humans still kind of blur together for me, but besides those aforementioned traits, I guess...” She stops and fiddles with her hair. “To take a page from your book, Mr. Scientist, you're an anomaly, and it's interesting.”

“Really?” you reply. “I kinda maybe find that hard to believe. I'm not an interesting person.”

Adagio leans back on the couch and stares at the ceiling. “Let me tell you a story, Ray. Remember when said I don't remember our earliest years as sirens?”

“Yuh-huh.”

“We were aquatic in nature, so we struck at coastal villages and towns. We would lure ponies out sailing with friendly conversation, even help them at times. Anything to let us get close to their villages so we could sow disharmony. Every time we fooled them, we took advantage of them and their hospitality. Then they would worship us.”

“You can take advantage of me any time, Addy,” you say and laugh.

Adagio's brow flickers and she gives you a hard stare. “I'm serious. At the height of our powers, people were afraid of us just by hearing the word 'siren', and we just started brute-forcing our way to feeding. Now, flash forward to Canterlot High School, all that caressing and brushing of cheeks? Same deal, we used our charms and wiles to get close and disrupt everyone's ability to work together, then strike and feed. We never let people get close to us.”

The camera droops again and you hear your past self clear his throat.

“In this world, we all disliked dealing with people. Well, Sonata had the easiest time. She was always reactionary and just went with the flow, enjoying everything she could to make the most of the human world. Me and Aria always felt this contempt for humans and we had no problems using these scummy little cretins as we deemed necessary.” She loosens up and leans forward on her knees. “Except this one strange man who found me, one day, when I was alone. A weirdo, who gave his worship willingly. His adoration of his own volition. I've never felt that before.”

The camera rises in time to catch Adagio give a sideways glance at your past self.

She's looking at you like someone would look at piece of art; eager to find reason and meaning in something she doesn't completely understand. It's beautiful.

“It feels nice...”

The video ends at that point. The next one takes place an hour later.

The camera's all over the place and your hand keeps getting in the way. The sound of glass clattering on the table, then the phone comes to a rest on the kitchen table, propped up. It shows Adagio, but you're off screen. She's rubbing her hands and licking her lips, all excited. This time she's well and truly drunk, staggering and swaying about. The amount of empty bottles has increased substantially.

That line about being aquatic in the last video... she drinks like a fish, you think and can't help but chuckle, but stop when a wave of nausea rolls over you.

“Go on. Do it!” Adagio giggles and nearly falls over. “Gimme all that earth energy! Remember, if I can lift you over my head with one hand, you're gonna be my maid, lingerie and all! If I can't, I'll do every dirty little thing you want.”

You laugh back. “I'm doing it! Gimme a, like, gimme a second. Stupid tiny... buttons. I swear I'm gonna make the next one... like... you talk to it and it does things. I'll be like, 'bitch, shoot magic' and it'll be like 'yes sir, Mr. Wave, sir!'”

The emitter chirps and bleeps.

Error messages from incompatible commands, you note.

You suddenly cackle. “There! Wait... fuck, nevermind. Hold on, I'll use the fucking... big bastard.”

You briefly appear on screen, and head into the corner you're building your device, which is also off screen.

A few keyboard presses, and you say, “there, that's got it going.”

There's a knock at the door. Adagio turns around, then shrugs at you off-screen, only for the knocking to intensify into pounding. She retrieves her taser and opens the door to a big, hairy, grouchy looking man.

He brings a level hand up to the top of his head and yells, “I've had it up to HERE with the fucking noise you two assholes're making!”

Adagio laughs. “We're gonna make a whole bunch more, Crate, so how about you invest in a good set of earplugs and get the fuck out of my apartment?”

You hear a few more keyboard taps main machine.

“He's a pegasus? Really? Wait... wait,” you cackle in hysterics. “Maybe instead of earplugs he can get a couple of strap-ons! Get it? 'cause.... he's a peg-ass-us!”

Mr. Crate balls his hands into fists and goes to approach you, only for Adagio to step in the way and brandish the stun gun. He glares at her, snags the thing from her hand and hurls it out the door.

Adagio cusses and takes a step back, but as soon as Mr. Crate moves to approach you again, she does her best to try and ward him off, shoving the guy despite the fact he's twice her size.

She's protecting you, you realise. Drunk or not, you're in this together. You can't help but smile.

Apparently he's at least somewhat concerned with physically shoving a woman, as he looks at Adagio and asks, “what drugs are you two on? Do I gotta call the cops? I'll say this damn much, I'm gonna report you to the-”

“I said, get the fuck out of my apartment, asshole!” Adagio slaps him.

Mr. Crate loses his patience and shoves her out the way and she bumps into the wall.

Aadgio snarls and yells,“that fucking does it! Ray, give me a boost!”

You let out a maniacal laugh. “Oh, hell yeah!” Yet more key strokes.

Adagio cries out in bliss. You see her fin-wings form, her hair extend and she floats. Her clothing draws tight and rips in places.

“Oh, no... don't tell me,” you whisper.

Mr. Crate steps back as Adagio's change is already spooking him, but as always, her siren transformation cuts short and she falls to the floor. She struggles to stand up, but braces herself against the wall. She's back to her new normal 6'2 height. Normal for now. She's already as tall as the burly neighbour.

Adagio growls as stretches. “Now, let me make one thing very clear, Crafty. Can I call you Crafty? Fuck it, as far as I'm concerned, you're gonna be a smear on the fucking wall in a second!”

She hisses and clenches up, and begins to grow again.

“Ray, what are you doing!? Cut it off?”

“Uh... it's crashed again! Shit, hold on, I'll get the handheld.”

You stumble into frame and behind the camera.

Once more you hear repeated failed button pushes, but by this point, Adagio's already six and a half feet tall and still rising.

Adagio cusses, but then focuses on the still terrified Mr. Crate. “You're not gonna say a single fucking thing to anyone,” she says as her back tears through her clothes.

Crafty Crate backs towards the door and Adagio walks after him in an awkward gait. He raises his arms and growls, “get back, you freak!”

She grabs his neck and he chokes in pain as she lifts him dead off the ground. “You're going to get out of my apartment, go back to bed, and forget this ever happened. Unless you think you can spin a girl kicking your ass and turning into a goddess and not sound like you're on something yourself? Because if you fuck with me again, it won't be pretty!” Adagio grunts as her body continues to sheer and tear her increasingly tiny outfit. She's getting close to the ceiling by the time she finishes growing, and looks more akin to an amateur weight lifter than her former fitness devotee look, but she's still decadently feminine.

“Y- yeah, I swear!” Crafty coughs, “j- just lemme down!!”

“With pleasure!”

Adagio helps him by literally throwing him out into the corridor, then closes the door, sighs then turns around to you with a sour expression.

There's a delicious amount of toned power peaking through her destroyed outfit and you're honestly surprised she's got any modesty left. If she breathes too hard, her tits are going to shred through her overburdened top.

“Holy shit,” you say. “Sorry, Addy... you, uh, feeling the after effects yet?”

Adagio folds her arms and says, while squirming, “not in the mood. Suppress it.”

“Oh... okay. I'm really sorry, I screwed up.” More failed inputs.

“Give it here, damn it!”

You appear again and hand her the emitter. She taps a few buttons as she trembles, turning brighter red by the second as she fights through the arousal, and then turns the emitter on herself as she winces.

Probably an anti-earth signal. That would diffuse the energy, but too late for the growth; that's now set in stone.

She grunts, sighs and shakes her head. She studies herself, and can't help but smirk at her even more enhanced body. “Well, no point crying over spilt magic.” she says, then glares at you. “And stop recording, damn it!”

“Okay,” you say as you pick up the phone. “C- can we snuggle at least?”

Adagio sighs. “...fine.”

You put the phone to sleep. Damn, what a wasted opportunity, but you have other issues on your mind now; namely an even bigger Adagio. And that laptop's becoming a problem. You'll have to triple check that later.

You head back into the bedroom and give Adagio a scan. Her earth signal is almost as high as her original siren peak.

Even through your foggy mind, you realise that you'd bet good money she can't get much bigger. She's a ridiculously 'idealised' version of an earth pony-turned-human girl, since it's now level with her siren energy capacity. On the other, you can't help but hope she doesn't suffer the same health issues people that tall usually get. Then again she's unnaturally strong and can resist the effects of alcohol like nothing you've ever seen, so you're not too worried.

She snorts and lifts her head, then pulls the cover down so you can see her face. She squints at you. “Hmm? Ray whasswrong?”

“Uh... do you remember what happened last night?”

Adagio blinks and shrugs. “No? Whatever, just stop messing around and get back to bed.”

You approach and rub the back of your neck. “I think we need to have a conversation about-”

Adagio interrupts you by grabbing your (well, her) t-shirt and pulls you back into bed. You drop your phone and the emitter as she does. She was strong anyway, but now you're nothing to her as she wraps her arms and legs around you, pulls the covers back over, and mumbles, “talk about it in the morning... ”

You have no choice but to get comfortable against your gigantic room mate. Or partner? Maybe girlfriend? Thankfully she eases her grip as she settles back into a gentle snore, and you act as her teddy bear. You start to drift off when she rolls onto her back and pulls you on top of her. Your feet are on level with hers, but your head is tantalisingly buried in between her soft breasts. After a little adjustment, you find her sexy contours a comfortable enough sleeping platform, and drift off.

Then, after what feels like seconds, the doorbell chimes.

Adagio launches upright in a panic and you're catapulted off her and land in a heap, upside down with your legs on top of her makeup vanity. The pain and adrenaline does wonders for your hangover, but that doesn't change the fact that hurt like a bitch.

It's light outside but everything's still in a haze.

Adagio's wide eyed and panicked, she looks around, and stands up, only to sway and fall back on the bed. The wooden frame creaks and cracks under her new, enhanced mass as she first looks at her body, then down at you, then carefully stands again.

“Oh shit, how big am I?” she says and feels her bicep, then cups her breasts and her eyes go wide. She then looks at you and can't help but snort a tiny laugh. “Uh... you okay, Ray?”

“Just... peachy,” you grumble and muster the strength to pull your legs off the vanity and slowly stand. Adagio helps you up and gasps at the height difference. Like last night, you're chest high to her.

Any further discussion takes the back-seat as the doorbell goes again. “Go answer the door, Ray. If it's the cops or something, stall them. Hopefully it's just a delivery or something.”

She heads over to the emitter, and you can't help but be awed by not only her body and size, but the way her footfalls reverberate through the floor. She picks it up and says, “do you think this can still shrink me?”

You shake loose the cobwebs of your mind and massage your brow as the doorbell goes off again. You check your phone as you quickly throw on your clothes. 6:45am.

Too early for a delivery... the idea of the cops busting in any second crosses your mind, but you refocus on Adagio's question and say, “your natural state is still the original siren one, so... theoretically? You'll just have to endure a much longer anti-earth signal after the siren one.”

“Sure, I remember how it works.” She curls a lip at how tiny the emitter is in her hands. “I just hope I don't screw up pushing the buttons.”

“Alt-one and alt-six. That'll make it easier.”

Adagio nods and lets you exit the bedroom, and she closes the door behind you.

As you approach the door, you try and brace yourself for men in uniform, or maybe Crafty Crate again. Who even knows at this point?

You take a deep breath to settle your increasingly queasy stomach and open the door. And your jaw goes slack.

“For realsies? Again? These door numbers are, like, so confusing...”

You fanboy out for a moment and gasp, then cough and stammer for a few seconds.

It's Sonata Dusk! She's everything you remembered about her, just a little older, a little more mature, and still looks more than a little lost. She's wearing a dark burgundy hoodie and pink track pants with red sneakers.

She fiddles with her ponytail of light blue hair with dark stripes as she looks at her phone, the number on the door and pouts. “Like, sorry? This is supposed to be Adagio's place...”

“You're right, it is.”

Sonata looks at you, squints and stares for a few moments. “Adagio? Wow, you've really let yourself go.”

Your hangover returns as you pinch your brow and groan. Suddenly, all Adagio's misgivings about her sister's foibles makes a lot of sense. That was painful. “No, this is her apartment, I'm just living with her.”

“Ooh! Okay, I was getting worried.” She puts her phone away as you let her in “So, like, who're you? And where's Adagio?”

You gesture for her to enter, realise the room's still a complete mess and hastily bag up all the bottles as Sonata watches you with confused expression. You say, “she'll be right out, you just caught us by surprise. I'm Radian Wave. I've been helping her with some things, but I'm sure she'll explain. Do you want anything to drink?”

Sonata smiles and says, “I'll have honey and lemon green tea!”

“We... don't have that. We've got coffee, orange juice, water or cheap cola.” You open the refrigerator and correct, “okay, no cola.”

“Oh. Then why did you say 'anything?' That's super confusing.”

“It's... “ Just... take the loss and deal, Radian. “Never mind. Coffee, juice or water?”

You're saved from further frustration as Adagio opens the door and steps out, 5'5 and almost presentable in shorts and a camisole in matching purple. She stares at Sonata and folds her arms.

Sonata stares back the two sisters square off. The tension rises and you feel the urge to step back. Or leap out the window. That's probably safer considering how volatile their last meeting sounded, though your judgement's still impaired by the hangover, which feels like it's getting worse by the second.

“Sonata,” Adagio says, cool as a cucumber. You can't read her.

“Hi Dagi...” Sonata whispers and she buckles from her sister's glare, instead eyeing the floor and shrinking in worry.

Adagio slowly walks towards her sister and never takes her eyes off her, just laser focus. They get within striking distance and Adagio slowly lowers her arms.

She pounces!

And smothers Sonata in a hug.

Sonata freezes. “D- Dagi?”

“I'm just so, so sorry,” Adagio whispers. There's a tremble in her voice and you can see her eyes grow wet. She just buries her face in Sonata's shoulder, and the hug gets returned as Sonata more openly tears up. The two sisters just remain as they are, as one beautiful, reunited pair. A wonderful display of reconciliation, exposed hearts and togetherness.

And then you throw up in the sink.

* * *

Chapter 13: Sonata

Your sudden expectoration did little to stop Adagio and Sonata hugging it out. By the time you finish cleaning the sink, used the bathroom, gargled some mouthwash and returned, the pair have finally broken apart, still wet eyed, and just smiling at each other.

“You have no idea how much I've missed you, Sonata,” Adagio says.

Sonata's smile grows wider, but it slumps. “I was, like, so worried you still hated me for leaving.”

Adagio's struggling to maintain eye contact and eventually just gives up, steps away and stares at the floor. “I won't lie, I was angry, furious even, but I still overreacted. Over time, and especially lately,” she says and glances at you for a moment, then back to Sonata, ”I've realised that I should have been a better leader... a better sister instead of parading you two around to gigs and saying things would get better, like a carrot on a stick.”

Sonata blinks. “Wait, you were giving us carrots? I don't remember that? Oh, do you mean that's why you bulked out the tour bus meals with veggies so much? And, like, where do sticks even come into it?”

“Sonata, just... ugh,” Adagio sighs, pinches her brow, takes a deep breath and pats Sonata on the head with a smirk. You feel like she's secretly missed this. She continues, “I meant I was just leading you on with promises I was never able to keep, then I'd just insult you when things went wrong. I was a terrible sister and I let you and Aria down. I just never thought we'd be split up like that, but when you did, I panicked and said things I shouldn't. I hope you can forgive me.”

Sonata squeezes Adagio's shoulder. “Of course I forgive you, Dagi. I'm just happy to see you again.”

You gulp down some water and say, “so why did you leave?”

Adagio shoots you a harsh glance. “Don't mind him. He just likes to pry, and he can get obsessive over things until he works them out.”

Sonata looks at you with confusion. “Who is he, anyway? Your slave?” She then grins at Adagio and teases, “or is he, like, your boyfriend.”

Adagio mulls the question over for some time. “Yes.”

“Which one?” Sonata asks and tilts her head.

Adagio doesn't answer. She just smirks at you, then leads Sonata over to the couch. Once they sit down, Adagio says, “he's a scientist and an inventor, and that's part of the reason you're here. But business can wait, I want to catch up with you. Why did you leave, anyway? I won't be mad, I promise.”

Sonata fidgets. “Super promise? Pinkie promise?” She holds out her hand, pinkie finger extended.

Adagio rolls her eyes, but sighs, and seals the pact as she says, “pinkie promise, so long as there's no 'cupcakes in the eye' nonsense.”

Sonata strokes her ponytail, hand-over-hand. “I was worried I was the reason for everyone fighting.”

“Oh, Sonata, no...” Adagio seems to shrink in on herself.

“We were always arguing,” Sonata says and fiddles with her fingers, “and I know I'm not, like, the smartest, but I figured if I wasn't there, maybe you wouldn't be mad all the time.”

Adagio covers her mouth somewhere between being horrified and guilty, but dead silent.

Sonata continues to look contemplative, but damn, your heart's aching at this. Throughout your time as a fan of the Dazzlings, you knew they weren't exactly the nicest people around. You still liked them, but your time with Adagio's already proven that, as intense and cunning as she is, she's still flesh, blood and, most importantly, has a heart.

Sonata though? On the back of Adagio's stating that Sonata was the most reactionary and able to acclimatise to human life? She's reaching kitten levels of adorable, but the mood's sinking fast and it's time to try and cheer up the room.

You think back to Sonata's career and ask, “so how's working on a cartoon?”

Sonata pouts. “Um, Guardians of Gale Glade's not just a cartoon! It's, like, a rich, deep story about coming together, and being more than the sum of our parts and stuff. For realsies, it's got the deepest lore!”

Adagio glances at you. She looks appreciative for the change of topic. “You're really giving it your all, huh?”

Sonata's smile couldn't be bigger. “It's the best! Everyone's super nice, and I get to sing, and the fans are awesome. And it's so well written!”

She gives you the basic idea about the core plot; sentient animal species as factions swearing to protect their territory of the titular Gale Glade, once fairly straightforward rivalries, but then an outside threat (clearly an analogue for urban progress) forces each to send a champion to talk to the venerable and fading spirit of the glade, receiving powers in turn. It's standard stuff, a light allegory of togetherness and setting aside individual differences to become stronger as a team with a green message, but it's hard not to feel a sense of hype about watching it with the way Sonata gushes over it, and you get the impression she's giving the series her all.

Adagio's listening with rapt attention. It's an intense stare, like she's taking in every word and committing it to memory.

Sonata finishes saying, “... and my character was the villain for the first few episodes, but then we become besties! Everyone's, like, super into it! And you have no idea how many people want to have sex with my character on the forums! I'm like, 'duh, you can't? She's a rabbit?'”

You can't help but laugh. Poor, innocent Sonata.

Adagio breaks from her reverie and says, “wait, you're that rabbit? You don't sound anything like her.”

“Yep!” Sonata says. “It's called 'voice acting', Dagi. She wasn't my first choice either. See, I wanted to be Glitsen, the ditzy deer character who can turn into, like, living crystal and shoot light lasers? But the only role left when I got the audition was Tantra, the snooty, prideful and uppity bunny who makes earthquakes by stomping the ground. I didn't, like, know how to really be uppity, prideful and stuff, but my agent just said 'channel someone you know' and I got the part!”

Tantra, huh? Probably a play on tantrum... wait, uppity and prideful? You hesitate, but ask, “wait, did you channel Adagio?”

Adagio shaves a few years off your life with her death glare, but Sonata claps and laughs. “Yep, I totally did! Wow, you are smart!”

“Hey, I'm not uppity... am I?” You've never seen Adagio look like a scorned puppy before, but that's the look she gives you and Sonata as her whole personality is boiled down into a cartoon rabbit and Adagio's pride takes a blow. You can't help but chuckle along with Sonata and, to her credit, Adagio does finally see the funny side and joins in.

You say, “I guess I'll have to watch it if you're putting that much effort into it.”

Sonata smiles at you. “Yay! You'll love it! We're making another season next year,” she says, then pouts, “it's so far away... I need to know what happens to Tantra!”

“Does that mean you're not doing anything now?” Adagio asks. “Like I said, I wanted to see you and reconcile, but also because of something Ray's making.”

“Sure!” Sonata beams a huge smile. “I've got, like, a press thing in a couple of weeks, but for realsies, you couldn't have called at a better time!” She takes off her hoodie, revealing her curvy body clad in a plain pink halter top. You also see a familiar red stone inside a small of a silver locket around her neck.

Adagio looks at it and sighs. “I'm surprised you're still wearing it.”

Sonata nods. “Yeah. It makes me feel a little happier. I almost never take it off.”

Adagio blinks, then stares at the necklace again, then you, then your main device and finally her bedroom door in sequence. Her brow creases and furrows, eyes widen and narrow, focus darting here and there. Finally, a classic Adagio sinister grin that makes you feel outright afraid.

She suddenly says, “Sonata, could I see your necklace for a second?”

Sonata clutches it and bites her lip. “Uh... why?”

“I just wanted to see it. For old times' sake.”

After some hesitation, Sonata takes it off and hands it to Adagio. “It's still broken and stuff.”

“I know. Hold on one second. Ray, why don't you tell Sonata about your device?”

You shrug. “Sure, I guess? It's a little complicated though.”

Adagio smiles and says, “see, he's building this machine that's going to make us a fortune. He'll explain it. He's better at it than I am.”

You watch Adagio stand and head into her bedroom, and you barely get beside your device when Adagio returns, with your emitter in hand. She pushes a few buttons and casually places it on the table, pointed at Sonata.

“Oh, ow... what the heck?” Sonata shivers and winces. “I feel all icky.”

What the fuck is she doing? You go to walk up to Adagio, but she pushes past you but stops shy of where the emitter would be broadcasting what you can only assume is the anti-siren signal beam and says, “oh, what's wrong, Sonata?”

Sonata bites her lip. “I don't feel well...”

Adagio gasps. It's almost convincing, at least to you. “It must be because I took away your stone! Hold on, I'll get it back!” She nods you towards to the emitter as she races back into her bedroom and returns with Sonata's necklace, hands it to her sister.

By that time, you've turned off the emitter and Sonata seems to calm down, but still looks uncomfortable. Adagio says, “It's worse than I feared! What little power is left in our stones is keeping us from... degrading further. Maybe even dying.”

Sonata whimpers. “What!?!”

“Do you feel better now?” Adagio gently holds Sonata's necklace-clutching hand and gently strokes her head. Like a good, supportive, manipulative bitch.

“A little... that was, like, the worse thing I've felt in forever.”

No, screw this. All the reconciliation, the good vibes, the sisterhood stuff just for Adagio to return to abusing her own family? You grab Adagio by the arm and pull her towards the bedroom. You snap, “sorry, back in a second, Sonata.”

You close the door behind you both, and get in Adagio's casually smirking face. You hiss in a whisper, “the fuck was that, Addy? What the hell do you think you're doing!?”

Adagio pats your chest. “Can't say, you know that.”

“I'm fine with a lot of things, Addy. Really, I believed you had changed, but this? Abusing your own goddamn sister!?”

She folds her arms and says, “keep it down, Ray. Do you remember that talk we had, back during the last time you got upset? When you met Sunset at the cafe and came back all angry and stupid? You're doing that again, and it's unbecoming of someone I thought was learning how to achieve his goals.”

“What're you talking about?”

She steps towards you and stares you in the eye. “Take nothing for granted, use every resource you can get your hands on and never expect everything to go as you planned. You, me, your devices, Sonata... all resources. Make absolutely no mistake, I care for her, and I care for you, but to get what we want, there's almost no limits to what I will do to get it. I understand your anger. What I'm doing isn't nice. If you want me to apologise, I'll do it...” She jabs a finger at your nose. “But only after we get what we want. Hell, I'll grovel at you and Sonata's feet if that's what it takes, but right now, do not get in my way!”

Shit. Shit!

You relent. “fine, but I swear, if you hurt any of us...” You leave the rest unspoken.

Adagio sighs and runs her fingers through her messy hair. “Good,” she says earnestly and kisses you on the cheek, “thank you. Now, I'm going to get dressed and I'm going to get some breakfast for us. Go and chat with Sonata, make her comfortable and whatever else she needs, but don't use the emitter. Let that feeling linger, at least until Sunset arrives. When she does, I want you to fill the room with a anti-unicorn signal. Not too strong, but I'm hoping it will stop her from being able to read too deeply. Also try and fill your head with random thoughts when it happens, or your research or something.”

You nod, but can't shake off the uncomfortable feeling of your standards and scruples being cast aside as you feel your kissed cheek, but you head back into the main room. The chances of her immediately betraying her sister in any drastic way can't be that high, right?

A few minutes later, dressed and with her more subtle makeup applies, Adagio heads out.

Sonata's good company, although considering her carefree attitude, you're not that surprised by that. After dealing with the careful dance Adagio makes you perform, which you've learned quite well you believe, Sonata's just a ball of positivity. Even despite her lingering mistreatment from the anti-siren signal, she recovers slowly and seems oddly calm about everything.

Sonata finishes listening to your extremely basic description of the stuff Adagio's been learning the last few days. You doubt she's understood it all, but it kept her distracted. She says, “wow, so you're, like, gonna be able to power TV's and stuff with this thing?”

“That's the plan,” you install a few more parts and pat the device like a beloved pet. “I'm hoping I can strike it rich with this device. Hell, it's getting to the point I'd be happy to unload this thing for a couple of grand just to get some breathing room. We've got just over a week before the rent's due and we're running out of cash.”

“For realsies?” Sonata's eyes go wide and she pulls out her phone. “Like, why didn't you say so?”

“I guess we were used to the- what are you doing?”

“Sending Dagi some money. I've still got her deets from when we split the gig money. How much do you need?”

“Hmm, you know, she's never said. I spent most of it buying parts for my machine, I know that for sure, and we had enough for a couple of weeks of groceries, but that's it..”

“That's so Dagi,” Sonata giggles, “she's always been too proud to ask stuff like that. I'll just send her a couple of thousand.”

Holy... “Shit, Sonata, are you sure? Just like that?”

“Totally! She's my sis!”

That's just taken all the pressure off of getting the device completed. You feel all fuzzy again, and even if you don't want to go against Adagio, you've got to do something for Sonata. “When I make my fortune, you're so getting a serious cut.”

“Uh, why would I want to be cut? Is this to do with the whole dying thing?”

While you still get Adagio's frustrations with her sister, now that you're used to Sonata's literal thinking, it's kind of endearing. You chuckle and reply, “no, I mean I'm already giving Adagio a good portion of whatever money I make, but I want to give you the same. If I make what I think this thing's worth, you'll never have to work again.”

“But I want to work! How else will I find out about Tantra's adventures?”

“You realise the show would carry on without-”

Stop, Radian, don't break her heart.

And never change, Sonata.

* * *

Chapter 14: Capriccioso

Adagio returns with both a bag labelled 'Can Taco Lot' (but you'll be too busy eating, so says the slogan), but also a perplexed expression. She immediately hands Sonata a couple of breakfast tacos.

Sonata looks at them and says, “I've, like, kinda grown out of tacos, I'm more into pasta now, but... eh, whatever.” She tears into her taco with abandon.

Adagio chuckles and smirks. “Sorry. I guess it has been a while and you've definitely grown up a little. I should have asked. But anyway, that money? Sonata, you shouldn't have. We were going to be okay.”

“It'sh okay!” she says with her mouth full. “Radian's already gonna, like, pay me back.”

Adagio gives you a look, so you nod to her and say, “we're all resources here, right? Everyone gets an even share.”

She smiles at you. “Sure thing, Ray. Good call,” she says and turns to Sonata, “and thanks. That's sweet of you.”

Sonata demolishes her second taco and just offers a thumbs up.

Your stomach's eased enough for you to eat a couple of breakfast burritos. The food and lingering queasiness takes you back to college, grabbing them from this one place near campus. You remember calculating a 12.7% chance of it making you sick each time. Good odds, all things considered.

You set upon tinkering with the main machine again and feel free to do so at your leisure. The money woes are over, and it feels like you've hit a major milestone in your relationship with not only Adagio, but Sonata's extremely easy to get along with. You feel a part of the group, like an honorary Dazzling. It certainly makes you more determined to play ball with Sunset.

You're not just a pawn in Adagio's scheme, regardless what the overall plan is. You're in the same position as her sister and you have to believe that this is for the best. You did say Adagio could achieve some magnificent things if she put her mind to it. And if not? Well...

The sisters catch up on other facets of their lives; Sonata rents a far more fancy apartment in a nice location over the other side of the city, and it suddenly makes sense she can drop a couple of grand on you and Adagio without so much as batting an eye.

Obviously those toy sales are financing Sonata's cartoon just fine, even more so considering they're getting more seasons. You then learn she's not just a voice for one character, but sings for a couple of the other characters too.

Adagio gloomily regales her woes with the bar, to which Sonata says, “aw, that's a shame. There's a club near the recording studio that me and the others go to sometimes that has live music. The singers look so glamorous on the stage. You'd be totally perfect.”

“Yeah, that was the plan,” Adagio says, wistfully.

You chime in, “I guess you missed singing more than you admit. Like how you tried getting into musical theatre.”

She frowns, but says nothing.

“Dagi? Is something wrong?”

“Drop it. We should prepare for our guest.”

It is afternoon now. You begin mentally preparing to fend off your bitterness and double check your magic conversion thesis papers again.

Sonata asks, “wait, what guest?

Adagio sends a text and says, “Sunset Shimmer.”

“Ugh, for realsies?” Sonata pouts. “Why's she coming over.”

“We were working out a deal that will help Ray with his invention, but since we've discovered we can't go without our amulets without suffering,” Adagio bites her lip and closes her eyes in worry. It's almost convincing. She continues, “I hate to ask her, but we may need her help saving our lives. I'm just not sure if she'll believe us, so I want you to let her read your mind, Sonata, if that's okay?”

Sonata keeps her pout, but nods.

It's a few minutes before Adagio's phone chimes, and she says, “she's on her way.” She plays her shrink sustaining music track to Sonata's confusion. You're a bit too distracted to really work on the machine now, but go over the signal commands anyway.

Adagio watches out the window, and nods to you when Sunset appears on the street.

You take a deep breath and activate a low strength anti-unicorn signal. It's more of a general malaise, to use a fancy term, over the outright illness sensation you felt when experimenting before. The sort of feeling you'd have and know you couldn't justify taking a sick day, but it would give you the perfect excuse to least bitch incessantly to your superiors about the sacrifices you make for the company.

Enough inner monologue. This is it. Time to lick boot.

The doorbell rings and Adagio takes a deep breath. Her normal, firm expression shifts, softening, tinged with sadness. Then she opens the door.

“Hey, Sunset. Come in.”

“Hi, Dagi” your old bully replies and enters. She shivers for a moment and rubs her forehead as she enters the influence of the weak signal, but shakes it off and focuses. She then notices Sonata and adds, “hey, Sonata. It's been a while.”

Sonata gives her a sideways glance and a half-hearted wave.

“Radian,” Sunset says and frowns as she looks at you.

“Sunset.” You hold on to your research notes for now; only on Adagio's orders.

“So,” Sunset says, “I've been in contact with Princess Twilight, and she's agreed to let you visit Equestria on the condition you can prove what you said last time. About this whole business about being an earth pony. The portal will only open for three nights, and we're going in two days time. But I'll make one thing clear; there's a summit going on in the Crystal Empire, which means there's going to be Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight, and a couple of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria in attendance.”

Adagio raises her hands in mock surrender. “No need for the implied threats, Sunset. I just wanted to see my home again. The open skies, even if I won't be able to fly. Just to breathe the air, feel the ground under my feet. Or hooves, I guess. I'd even like to apologise for my actions from way back when, if anyone's willing to listen. Most of all, I'd like to make travelling there regular thing.”

Sunset smiles, reassuringly. “If it all goes smoothly, I don't see why not. And if we stay friends, it would give me a reason to visit more often too. Most of the time I visit, it's because I need Twilight's advice or guidance over some magic issue.”

“I'd love that,” Adagio says and clasps her hands. “Us putting all the bad times behind us.” She turns to you and nods, “speaking of which, Ray?”

You take a deep breath. “Here. Everything condensed down about my understanding of converting magic, how it correlates to the pony types, as well as how it proves Adagio's an earth pony by her resonance.” You hand your research to Sunset. “So this mind-reading thing... does it hurt?”

Sunset starts reading through your notes, but shakes her head. “No, not at all.” As she goes from page to page, you notice her frown and cock an eyebrow on occasion, as if she doesn't quite understand some of it.

Even Adagio looks worried at this, in case it throws a spanner in the meeting, but you know Sunset was one of the smarter students in school once she bucked her ideas up from the Fall Formal event. She never tested as well as you or Twilight, but you kept things as simple as you could while retaining everything important on those pages.

Her eyes go wide. “This is incredible, Radian. I don't even understand some of these more advanced equations, but I definitely recognise some of these figures about Equestrian magic from when I tried to make sense of it. I never even considered how magic would resonate with the our sun's energy, but would need this 'scrubbing' function here to uncouple it and make it functional. I'd love to give this to Twilight... well, both of them, if you'll let me. They'd geek out over this.”

You shrug and put on a smile. “Sure. Like Adagio said, it's time I buried the hatchet. You're helping my girlfriend, after all.” You glance at Adagio, and she doesn't flinch, like you using the word was expected. Maybe even accepted.

After a quick sigh of relief, she winks at you. “Thanks, sweetheart. So, Sunset, want to check his memories?” Adagio slinks over to the main machine and casually leans against it, her hands resting on the edges of the laptop.

“Yeah, sure,” Sunset says and extends a hand.

You offer your arm and flinch as you feel Adagio increase the potency of the anti-unicorn field ever so slightly, and Sunset gently holds your wrist. You fill your head with your experiments, but your mind also can't help but focus on the woman before you, and your thoughts go farther back, to Canterlot High.

Her eyes flicker white, then glow, but it's not a steady light. You don't really feel anything tangible, but you still feel something in your mind. After a few moments, her eyes fade back to their normal turquoise, then Sunset winces and backs away, feeling her forehead, then glances at something around her neck and tucked into her t-shirt, but you don't get a good look at it. Adagio taps the keyboard a few times and smoothly reduces the anti-unicorn field.

“Weird, it came through all broken and skewed but yeah, I guess what you're saying is true; Adagio really is an earth pony now. And I, uh... saw about your parents, Ray.” Sunset rubs the back of her neck and she can't meet you gaze. “I get your anger, and I'll say it again. I'm sorry about what I did. All I can offer you is I'll do everything I can to help you and Adagio from here on out. I'm not the same person I was back then, and I'll prove it to you if you'll let me. I want to make things right.”

Adagio's grin twists, classically dark. “Now that you mention it... there is something else. Something I've been too worried about bringing up, but if you really want to offer your help, I shouldn't be stubborn and just ask.”

She walks over to Sonata and gently places her hands on her sister's shoulders. “I've been trying to reconcile with my family. I didn't want to be angry and alone any more, so I figured it was time to eat humble pie and confess my failings. After the joy my Ray of sunshine gave me, having Sonata back has really made things feel right again... except something else has come to light.” Adagio's expression turns even more dour.

Sunset looks worried. “What's wrong?”

“I fear we may be on borrowed time,” Adagio says and lets her hair obscure her face. “I wanted to take a closer look at Sonata's broken siren stone and... well, take a look. Feel it for yourself.”

Sunset's brow creases as Sonata offers her arm, and as they make contact, her eyes glow a smoother, stronger white for a few seconds. She gasps and recoils. “I don't believe it... that's terrible,” she whispers.

Adagio fidgets and bites the end of her thumb. “I know how this probably sounds sounds, and even I wouldn't trust myself if I were in your shoes. Like I said, I was worried about bringing it up at all, because I know what you'll think, considering our history. We need our stones repaired.”

Sunset puts her hands on her hips. “Which you know is something that I doubt anyone would agree with. But there has to be something we can do,” Sunset says, casting a sympathetic look at Sonata, who's just staring at the floor.

“Exactly, and I've been racking my mind for a suitable solution, and I think I have a compromise.” Adagio gives Sonata's shoulder another squeeze. “Ray's been working on making a replication of the energy we need to sustain ourselves, and I think if we have even one stone repaired, we can use it to feed without harming anyone. I've been okay for now, but you saw it; the moment I took Sonata's stone away for a closer look, she immediately felt unwell. I was always the strongest of us, so it's probably only a matter of time before I also start to suffer. I intend to get in touch with Aria as soon as I can to see if we can help her too.”

Sunset strokes her chin. “You're in luck. The Crystal Empire is the best chance we have to repair that stone. Their whole city is made with crystal, and they've taken to repairing artefacts I've sent back to Equestria where I've had to...well, get heavy handed with some of the people tampering with forces they don't understand. I figure a siren stone wouldn't be out of the question. This changes things, though... You're asking to potentially unleash a siren back on Equestria.”

Adagio bows her head. “Please, don't let my past mistakes cost my sisters their lives! I beg you! We won't even need my stone, you can take Sonata's! She can remain here and use Ray's machine to keep herself well; it should be fine so long as she doesn't leave the apartment if it's only a couple of days. That will keep Sonata safe and healthy while me and Ray visit, and you can see about repairing the stone. And you even said, there's all those alicorns and and powerful unicorns there. What hope would I have fighting against that?”

Sunset paces back and forth, her hand over her mouth and finger tapping her cheek.

Adagio grimaces and her eyes dart about while Sunset's back's turned, then she takes off her own necklace, and holds it out to Sunset. “Please, you can even take mine as collateral! A sign of good faith. I'll endure the pain if it starts to happen to me. Our lives are in your care, Sunset. Please, you have to help us!”

Sunset turns and looks at the cracked and damaged necklace. She gingerly hovers her hand over it and grits her teeth. She glances from the stone to Adagio's pleading expression, and gently closes Adagio's fingers over the necklace.

Then Sunset suddenly grips Adagio's hand with both of hers, and her eyes flash white.

Adagio gasps and looks terrified as she tries to pull away.

Oh fuck. Oh fuck! You ramp up the anti-unicorn signal and it hits you both like a freight train. It's so drastic that both you and Sunset yelp and stumble, so you cling to the machine to keep upright. As soon as she releases Adagio, you shut it down.

Sunset grasps her forehead as she supports herself against the wall. She forces herself upright, steps up to Adagio and holds your girlfriend by the shoulders.

You expect suspicion, maybe hostility, both from the sudden signal you caused or what she saw in Adagio's mind, but instead Sunset looks close to tears as she shakes her head.

“Adagio... why didn't you call us!? You have Pinkie's number, I know you do! We would have helped! Did you at least call the pol-”

“Shut up!!” Adagio yells.

Sonata stands and looks between the two. “What's going on?”

Adagio has her back to you, but her arms are down by her sides. Hands balled into fists. She's shaking, shivering. As you peer around her, Adagio's all but feral with anger, seething and breathing hard through her teeth. Her arms fly up, swat Sunset's hands off of herself, and she slaps Sunset full force across the face so hard both you and Sonata recoil from the sound. Sunset spins and falls against the wall.

Adagio screams, “how fucking dare you!? Don't you dare pity me!” She turns, storms into her bedroom and slams the door behind her.

There's a painful silence as you and Sonata both just stare. Sunset pushes herself up and off the wall as she clutches her reddened cheek. She's now just as furious, and you half expect her to explode back, but she closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths. She looks at Sonata, then you as her concerned look returns and, calm again, she turns towards the door.

“I'll let Twilight know, and try and get them to repair Sonata's stone.”

You're shocked. What was lurking in Adagio's mind that would make Sunset still want to help? You have to ask, “what did you see?”

Sunset opens her mouth to speak, but then she glances at Adagio's bedroom door. “I guess Adagio has her reasons for covering this up, and it's not my place to betray that. I just had to be sure about something, but I never expected...” She shakes her head again. “Please. I believe she wants to be better. Just look after her, okay?” She then leaves.

Sonata slowly steps towards Adagio's door, hesitant and afraid, but gently raps her knuckles against it. “Dagi? Are you okay?”

Adagio opens the door. She's red in the face, her dark pink eyes are wet, but she's eerily placid.

It's more telling when Sonata wraps her arms around her sister that there's no response, Adagio's rigid and stiff, like that calm veneer is taking all of her will to maintain.

“Do you need to talk, Dagi? If something's, like, wrong, I-”

“It's fine,” Adagio whispers. “Forget about it.”

A few moments pass, and Adagio's forced stillness breaks as she holds Sonata, then she gestures for you to come to her, and you join in the three-way hug. It's a tender moment that, even at this stage in your relationship, feels like a big step. If only it wasn't tainted by whatever happened to Adagio before you met her.

You were fairly sure something happened already; that song seems to have been a clue, and she's hesitated about talking about certain things about her depression from when you met her, but now you know for absolute certain that something happened to your girlfriend before you met. Something that completely shattered her pride and defeated the proud siren once and for all.

But you know Adagio too well. Getting it from her will be a challenge so, for the moment, you just give her the comfort she clearly desires, and drop the issue for now.

For better or for worse, you've apparently succeeded. You're heading to Equestria.

* * *

Chapter 15: Aria

“Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yes.”

“For realsies?”

“Yes, Sonata.”

“For really realsies!?”

Adagio's brow twitches as she fends off an offered tissue from Sonata. “Look! Stop-” she snarls, but bites her tongue and takes a deep breath, “I didn't meant to snap. But I'm fine, honest.”

“Alright, let's relax. Though like Sonata said, Addy,” you say, “if you want to talk about whatever happened, you can trust us. Right?”

Sonata nods to you, pockets the tissue and gives Adagio some space.

Adagio relaxes. “Noted. Anyway, we succeeded in convincing Sunset, it seems... I almost can't believe it, but the final step is to get Aria.” She turns to her sister. “Sonata, I don't suppose you've got any ideas where she is?”

Sonata freezes, then awkwardly looks around the apartment.

Like a stern, accusatory parent, Adagio says, “Sonata?”

The attempted ignorance from Sonata culminates in finger twiddling and the utterance of, “uh... yeah?”

Adagio squints at her. “You've been in contact, haven't you?”

Sonata stares at the floor. “She... plays guitar for the music in Guardians of Gale Glade...”

Adagio squints harder.

“And voices a side character,” Sonata says in a quieter, higher pitched tone.

Adagio full on scowls, and she seethes, “how long has this been going on?”

“Like... she was touring with a band for a year, but then she left and needed a job, and I convinced the show producers to hire her.”

“You mean to tell me that you and Aria,” Adagio says and rapidly rises in volume, “who would go at each other like a couple of children since well before we recovered our memories, reconciled behind my back!?”

Sonata huddles her knees. “Kinda?”

Adagio's anger boils up, and up, and... then she just slumps and exhales so hard, you almost expect the built up rage to come out as steam from her mouth. “Of course you did... I was the reason we broke up. Without me ruining everything, it's only natural you'd get along just fine.”

Sonata pats Adagio's shoulder, but with this return to 'down-on-life bar owner' Adagio, you try to reroute the conversation. “We thought she just vanished. What band did she end up joining?”

“Lemme try and remember... Salt-Lix? Like, with an 'x' at the end?”

You do an online search as you ask, “she must be a quick study if she's already playing for a TV show.”

“Like, you have no idea!” Sonata giggles.

A grainy, shaky video shows up on your search, and you crank up the volume. The camera's focused on the singer as they thrash out a generic heavy metal in a small, but oddly packed venue.

Adagio snorts into a laugh and, yeah, you've heard better. Far better. The lead singer's mic is cranked way high, and you can just hear a female backing vocalist, but it's too drowned out.

Then it happens. Twin tailed purple and aqua striped hair, a dark blue, torn sleeve jacket, ripped purple jeans. Her exposed arms have some solid biceps and some metal as hell spiky arm-bands. She looks athletic, if not outright buff, but still has her feminine curves and she's still ridiculously hot.

Aria Blaze takes centre stage.

She slams her boot down on an amp and plays a solo. She bangs her head to the hard rhythm, her hair flails and swings wildly. Her fingers dance along the strings, the tune is rapid, punchy but clear and smooth, even elegant. Fretwork the likes of which you've only seen from masters of the instrument with decades of experience sends the crowd into a frenzy. Aria pauses her head-banging for long enough for you to see her face, with her eyes closed and the blissful, radiant smile as she whammies her guitar on the final chord. Compared to her usual taciturn demeanour, she's absolutely in love with her art.

“Wow,” is all Adagio can handle as she looks over your shoulder.

“For realsies!” Sonata says, “she's, like, totally amazing!”

The solo ends, and the crowd calms down as the mediocre tune takes back over.

You take a moment to collect yourself and say, “I get why she isn't with that band any more. They're kinda riding her success, huh?”

“Totally! It's why she broke up with them, because they get jealous or something? But humans are always the worst... uh, except you, I guess.” Sonata smiles sweetly at you. “You seem nice, and easy to dominate. I like that in my humans!”

“Uh... thanks?” you say and smirk.

“Can you call her for us, Sonata?” Adagio stands and looks at both of you. “I've got a plan and I want us working together. As one team.”

Sonata pulls out her phone and makes the call as you and Adagio watch. “Hey, Ari. Listen, I'm at Adagio's, and-” she winces and pulls her ear away from the phone and you hear yelling. After the shouting stops and Sonata continues, “no, things are different now, Ari. She's apologised and everything... No, for realsies! She's changed, honest! She's even got a boyfriend- Aw, c'mon!”

Adagio taps Sonata's shoulder and asks, “what's her problem? I'm guessing it's just Aria being Aria, as usual?”

Sonata covers the receiver, blinks at Adagio and says, “why wouldn't Aria be Aria? Is this like that thing when I first arrived where instead of you it was Ray?”

Adagio looks between the two of you. “...what?”

“It's a long story,” you say. “Well, not long, just... you know, it's Sonata?”

“Understood,” she says, needing no further clarification. “Ugh, whatever. Sonata? Give me the phone,” Adagio says and Sonata passes it to her. “Aria, listen... No, please- I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't important. I'm pleading with you here, Ari... look, we could be getting our powers back!” There's a long pause, then you finally hear Aria respond, and Adagio scoffs. “Wait, that's the part that's hard to believe? Seriously?”

Adagio shakes her head, turns, and hands you the phone. “She doesn't believe you exist, Ray. Care to shock her back to earth?”

“Shock her? Exactly what do you want me to say?”

“Whatever you need to. Anything that'll convince her.” She winks at you. “Come on, you talked me into giving up my bar with that fine brain of yours, Mr. Scientist, I'm sure you can think of something.”

That required your chad reserves. Okay, chad mode it is.

You take the phone, clear your throat, and say, “hello Aria. I'm Radian Wave. I'm the man that's fucking your sister so hard that we've had noise complaints from the neighbours. I have a PhD in electrical engineering and I've invented a machine that can literally harness Equestrian magic and bend it to my will. We're days away from potentially giving you and your sisters your powers back. We should meet. It'll be fun. Room twenty three, floor two, Bridle apartments, Dressage avenue.”

You look at the two sisters. Adagio's mouth hangs open as she turns bright red, and Sonata almost joins in until she bursts into uncontrollable giggling and falls on the couch, clutching her sides.

You can hear Aria breathing on the other end of the phone, and she mutters something before finally replying, “fine, I'll be there in ten minutes. I've gotta see what kind of freak-show's Adagio's got strung along for myself.” Aria ends the call, and you place the phone next to Sonata, who continues to laugh so hard her eyes are watering.

Adagio stammers, “t-that was... a bit much, Ray.”

You can't help but put on a shit-eating grin. “Worked, didn't it?”

She laughs and shakes her head. “All too true. You're really getting good at all this scheming and manipulation thing.”

“I've had a good teacher,” you say and wink at her.

You share an honest smile with one another, only broken as Sonata finally begins to calm down.

She says, “ohmygosh, that was hilarious!”

“Yet it's all true,” you say and wiggle your eyebrows.

Sonata blinks and flicks her eyes between you and Adagio. “And I was thinking you were, like, messing with me with the whole girlfriend-boyfriend thing.”

“It's a whole new me, alright,” Adagio says, snidely, and folds her arms, “which is why I want us back together, before I turn into something completely unrecognisable. And before you ask, firstly, I was being metaphorical. Second, in a more literal sense, I'm already having to come to terms I'm going to be an earth pony in Equestria. No flight, no tremendous powers, just hooves and teeth against the world. I dread to think what's going to get in my mouth before I'm done over there.”

Now there's a thought... dirty ones. Okay, several.

Adagio sighs and rubs the back of her neck. “Anyway, now we go from one challenge to another. Aria. She second guessed my leadership anyway, and now I've proven her right once, this will be a hard sell.”

“Aw, she's not been that bad since working on the show,” Sonata says. “She's little miss Snippy-Pants, but she's been... I dunno, less of a downer?”

Adagio huffs. “I'd hardly call her attitude just 'snippy.'”

Sonata giggles. “No, no, that's her character's nickname on the show. She plays Snipanna, and she's Tantra's cousin in the rabbit clan! But she's been nicer since she learned the guitar. She even told me that,” Sonata clears her throat and, in an amazing impression of the moody sister, says, “it's how I expose my soul.” Then, in her normal voice, she finishes, “she's, like, way easier to deal with.”

“Be that as it may, it sounds like she's still going to be how I used to be.” Adagio says and taps her chin, “Ray, you're going to need to prove yourself to her. Stand your ground and don't give an inch. We sirens always preyed on weakness, and that hasn't changed much now we're humans.”

Great, no pressure.

It feels like preparing for a test back in college. Hell, scratch that, it feels like the moments before you were paraded in front of the lead researcher at the lab after they caught you stealing components; the calm before being yelled at and belittled. Adagio's put such importance on bringing the Dazzlings back together, and your growing attachment to the group means it's your top priority. You don't really know Aria though. Sunset was something of a known quantity insofar as you knew you had your grudge and her guilt, plus you only needed to play nice to get what Adagio wanted. With Aria, you need to bring these girls together while pushing against a classic human-hating siren.

Those ten minutes don't take long, but they felt long.

You were already pacing by the door when the doorbell goes, but it still catches you by surprise. You just exhale slowly, and open the door.

Aria Blaze.

There's an aura of disgust that washes over you. Her angry violet eyes, her folded, powerful arms tensing while she looks you over. Her sleeveless green jacket can't conceal how she's not as svelte as she used to be in school, or even on the music video for Find the Magic. Aria now favours a solid core from what must be hard strength training to the point she has visible abs creeping beneath the black under vest and purple, shredded jeans, with the thighs straining and bulging through and against the material.

The interplay of her girly twin-tails against the visible feminine power gives a strong dissonance, but it's incredibly hot, all the same. She's a bit more buff than even Adagio's full size. Aria's got a guitar strapped to her back like a warrior's axe and, considering both her build and smoulder, she probably could kick your ass.

Yet, deep down, you can't help it and even surprise yourself. You're actually giddy. You've now met all the Dazzlings. The bucket list is one check-mark shorter.

She sneers after looking you over. “Really? Adagio's letting you screw her? She really has lost all her standards.”

Ah. Indirect bullying. How refreshing. It reminds you of Sunset's preferred tactic whenever a teacher was nearby. You shift gears appropriately. “Nice rags. I think we live next to a tailor. Oh, is that why you're busking? I just noticed the guitar and assume you're some tramp off the streets. Say, I've got two shiny nickels with your name on it if you can play me a few bars of 'Through the Fire and the Manes.'”

Aria stomps forward and cracks her knuckles and you panic for a moment, but the situation's saved as Adagio pulls you back and steps in between the two of you.

“Aria.”

“Adagio.”

That aura gets suppressed as Adagio puts up her own. That radiance you've felt several times from her that almost feels like magic on the air, with the only exception that your devices haven't beeped to warn of such a spike. Just intense egos and raw, untamed alpha-bitch energy. If Adagio once held any advantage, odds are she lost some of it in these past years, while Aria's no doubt become stronger thanks to, as Adagio put it, she'd been proven right.

Aria smirks. “You must be so desperate if you're letting yourself get screwed by humans. What ever happened to the oh-so-mighty Adagio Dazzle?”

Adagio doesn't move for a moment, then just extends her hand to shake. “You look good, Aria. Strong, and I mean that in every way, like you've worked out something that's been bugging you for a long time. I'm honestly happy to see you again.”

“Hmph,” Aria grunts and looks at Adagio's hand, then just walks into the apartment. “What a dump. So, you've got a plan to get our powers back? Let's hear it. I'm not gonna stay here in this shrine of failure any longer than I need to, least of all with some human thinking he's hot shit.”

This time, Adagio flinches and gives Aria's back a smug glare. “Nice guitar. Same model as Rainbow Dash, right? That, plus the fitness thing you've taken up? Oh, I get it! Aww, that's adorable! Ari's got a crush on Rainbow Dash! Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, after all.”

Aria turns and glowers at Adagio, who matches the contempt as the two face off.

Sonata storms up between both of them and puts a hand on each of their shoulders, angry tears in her eyes. “Nuh-uh! We are not doing this again! You two play nice or I'll get you fired,” she snaps at Aria, much to all of your surprise, and then yells at Adagio, “and I'll tell on you with Sunset that you're being sneaky! We are going to, like, get along, and be good sisters! Am I understood?”

Dead, shocked silence from the sisters.

Shit, you never expected that from Sonata. Sure, she clearly has a big heart, but a backbone of steel? She just dunked on her sister's alpha-bitch energy in one fell swoop.

Sonata pulls both sisters closer and screams, “I said, am I understood!?”

Aria and Adagio glance at each other, then their sleeve-on-her-heart sister.

“O- okay, Sonata,” Adagio stammers.

“Uh... right,” Aria says.

“Now apologise to each other, like good sisters!”

Adagio takes a moment to gather her thoughts. “I'm sorry, Aria. I was a terrible leader and I let you both down. I swear, I'll get you your powers back if it's the last thing I do.”

Aria grimaces, but Sonata's stare fixes on her, and she finally relents. “Okay, fine... if Sonata swears you've changed, I guess we can try this sorry state of a family again. Sorry, or whatever.”

Sonata beams a huge smile and hugs them both. “Yay! The Dazzlings are back!”

And you can't help but smile right alongside her.

* * *

Chapter 16: Amabile

You make another round of coffees. Adagio 'powders her nose' and refreshes her size reduction, and you all reconvene around the couch. There's still a lot of agitation between Adagio and Aria, but that doesn't matter. Sonata's there, with her huge goddamn heart, being precious and caring yet surprisingly scary with her calm, vague expression.

“I'm gonna be clear,” Aria says and breaks the silence, “if this all a huge waste of time, which I'm almost convinced it is, I'm gone.”

Sonata pouts, but Adagio puts a gentle hand on her shoulder to calm her sister down, then says, “I get it, Ari. I like the stakes, it gives me something to remember if I'm wrong. I not only intend to make good on my promise to restore our powers, but I'd love to perform with you two again, and this time as equals. We should still use the Dazzlings name for promotional reasons, but if anyone has an issue, they can speak openly and we'll discuss it, like a family.”

Aria squints at you as you hand her a mug. “Does that include your pet human?”

Adagio winces as she gulps down scalding hot coffee. “Mmhm. Radian is one of us, and he's instrumental to the plan. Speaking of instruments... I must say, you're a real virtuoso on that thing.” She points to Aria's guitar.

It's Aria's preferred purple compared to Rainbow Dash's blue, but it's definitely the same brand and model, after you checked the Rainbooms latest exploits. They're still going strong, performing tours together for a while before returning to their own jobs. Dash is still an athlete, Rarity is still doing her fashion stuff and so forth.

Aria's smug grin breaks any lingering tension as she caresses her guitar. “Metal-Mane's my baby, alright. I joined Salt-Lix as a backup singer and spent the last of the Dazzlings gig money on her. The group taught me the basics, and I learned the rest myself.”

Sonata chimes in, “yeah, just a shame they, like, ditched you and didn't give you any money for the tour.”

Aria gives Sonata an evil glare, but Adagio snickers and says, “oh, really? I guess I'm not the only one who hit rock bottom.”

“Pfft, whatever,” Aria grumbles, “they taught me about a side of myself I didn't know existed. I'll let them off for that, humans or not.”

Adagio muses, “I just find it amusing that the only one of us three with her head on straight living as humans is Sonata.”

Don't look, Radian, don't loo- yep, you looked and Sonata's feeling her neck, blinks at Adagio and gives a confused shrug.

“I just meant you've had an easier time adjusting than the rest of us, Sonata,” Adagio clarifies, then looks back to Aria. “In all honesty, I think you'll add a really nice element to the Dazzlings routine and if- no, when we get our powers back, we'll be unstoppable! All we need to do is get into Equestria, which is already underway, and get our gems fixed.”

Aria can't hide the tiny smirk as she imagines such a future, but it soon fades “I get we're all back on board, but what's your pet human got going on? Or was that whole 'harnessing Equestrian magic' thing just a load?”

Adagio gives you a wink. “How about a rebuttal, Ray? You've been doing well so far.”

“You're really calling me useless?” you say, accepting that challenge.

You give an overview of the device; the manipulation of magic, broadcasting magic and the like.

“Not to mention the cash this baby's going to make us,” you finish and pat your main device.

Aria shrugs. “Sounds pointless to me. If Adagio's already heading to Equestria, then she can just get the stone fixed, play nice and keep going back there until we're all restored, even if it takes a while. I don't mind playing the long game. And as for cash? Whatever. Even with just one gem, we can just tell people to give us what we want.”

Okay, best to try something else. It's time to take a page from Adagio's book and do a little manipulation. You power up your main device.

“Uh, Ray? What are you doing?” Adagio asks.

“Getting them both up to speed the same way I did to you,” you reply. “Up to you if you want in on this as well.”

Adagio glances at her sisters then gets out of the way, moving beside you. “Yeah, no, I'll pass. Also, I'm telling you right now; this is a bad idea.”

You chuckle. “I know what I'm doing.”

Aria and Sonata give you funny looks as you hit them with a full powered burst of siren energy, and immediately eyes glow red and their fin-wings sprout from their backs.

“Oh, hell yes!” Aria cries out.

Sonata squeals, “woo! This is amazing!”

You look at Adagio and say, “remember how you felt after you first changed? You said it felt great.”

“You're really going to try and win her over with good vibes? I kind of get it, but I've already told you this is a bad idea.”

“Why?”

Adagio watches as her sisters reach the apex of their transformation, and she shrugs. “You haven't thought this through, that's why.”

She probably just doesn't get it. You watch as Sonata and Aria fall to the floor as they suffer the same breakdown of their magic as she had. The device crashes and begins a long reboot. Damn it, you forgot to get that fixed.

“Hey, what gives?” Aria grumbles and stands up.

Sonata pouts. “Aww, over so soon?”

“Well, that was fun,” Adagio sighs. “Time for me to go.”

You blink and watch as Adagio gets her purse and heads for the door. You ask, “wait, where are you going?”

“Oh, I'm not going to stay here for the aftershow. I just hope you're ready to take one for the team. Instead, I'm going to go get some dinner from a pasta place I think I've seen nearby. A little treat for Sonata for being such a team player in bringing us together.”

Sonata rubs her shoulder. “I feel weird... and hot.”

Oh... right, the siren-to-earth conversion, then the resonant horniness. And the subsequent growth. And supernatural strength.

With emotionally unrestrained Sonata.

And grumpy, likely willing to do whatever she wants Aria, who has a chip on her shoulder with you.

Oh shit.

“Uh,” you say and look for backup. “Adagio?”

“Have fun, Ray!” Adagio says and closes the door behind her.

Aria grimaces and you watch as she looks down at herself, and her violet eyes go wide as she begins to grow. Her height creeps up slower than Adagio's originally had as she clenches and flexes, and her already firm and powerful body swells with strength as she hisses through her teeth.

Sonata's already generous curves fill out more as she grunts and gasps. She seems to be getting a bit more height to her change.

Both of their clothes sheer and rip in unison as they outgrow them, giving you more than enough exposed skin to cross another check-mark off the bucket list.

You still swear you're not a creep! A guy just has urges, and as much as you've progressed with Adagio, they're all hot.

It's a hell of a distraction as you freeze and indulge in your newly budded appreciation to tall, powerful women, but this isn't going to end well if you can't contain the post-change side-effects. You look at the laptop and it's still doing a long reboot. You need the handheld emitter, now, but where did you put it after Adagio used it on Sonata?

Oh, crap, it's in the bedroom. Behind the two sisters, as they finish growing. You move to get past them, but a freshly six foot tall powerhouse Aria grabs you by the collar.

“The hell did you just do to us!?”

Sonata, now looks at her fuller figure and smiles. “I dunno, this isn't bad.”

Then both sisters gasp and begin to look at you in a whole different way. Aria's furious, and Sonata's biting her lip as her eyes lid, but both have a hunger in their eyes and flushed cheeks.

“I feel tingly... Ray? Wanna, like, have some fun?”

Aria lifts you off the ground, bouncing between rage and arousal. “You did this to us... you're gonna fix it!”

Oh shit. You try and think of how to buy time, only for Sonata to snatch you her arms around you and kiss you on the cheek, the neck, the lips.

“Leave him alone, Ari, I wanna play with him!”

But... you guess Adagio did leave you in their clutches. Maybe she doesn't mind?

Aria painfully snatches you away again. “Hell no, I'm gonna pulverise this jerk and feel good doing it!” Aria rips your pants clear off. You don't exactly have a choice here as they drag you into Adagio's bedroom, fighting over who gets to go first; Aria with a dose of hate or Sonata with her well-meaning but still superhuman, rib-cracking power-cuddles. You're gonna break a bone, be it on purpose or accidentally, it's just a matter of time.

They're acting almost feral. You suddenly remember Adagio's description of herself and her sisters back as sirens.

'Beasts. Intelligent beasts, but beasts nonetheless.'

They haven't had that side struck down like Adagio has, or had time to contemplate how to fight against their instincts and learn how it failed them before.

“Normally I wouldn't... hnngh,” Aria grunts and shudders as she peels off the remains of her clothes, “ever let a human touch me, but I'll make an exception. But you aren't gonna like it!”

Sonata's eyes cross as she whimpers in bliss. “Quit being a meanie! But... like, Ray? For realsies? I need something in me. Like, right now!”

Well, this is it. You're about to be torn to pieces by two super strong siren-turned-earth pony girls fighting over you like a favourite toy. You can even see the emitter on the edge of the bed, but Aria accidentally knocks it to the floor as she rips your shirt off. Sonata's nails rake across your chest, drawing blood, and she pulls off your pants. Aria grinds against you, hard. So hard that the air's pushed from your lungs and her tits mash against your head until it gets buried in the pillows and you're suffocating.

Only for Adagio to rush in. She picks up the handheld emitter, pushes a few buttons, and blasts both her sisters. They both cry out as they're hit with the anti-signal.

She says, firmly, “sorry, girls, change of plans.”

You gasp for breath as the pair reel, climb off and writhe from the feeling and, after a good dose of anti-earth energy, Adagio cuts off the signal.

Aria growls, “well, that sucked. What gives!? The hell was all that?”

Adagio scowls and says, “never mind that, I'll explain in a second.” She storms over to her dresser and gets out some of her larger clothes, and throws them at her sisters, then points at the door. “Wait for me in the front room.”

The two leave as directed, and you're left with a deeply unhappy looking Adagio.

Damn, what do you do or even say in this situation? “I'm sor-”

“Shut up,” she snaps. “Don't even say anything. Go get clean. You're bleeding.”

This is a no win situation. You follow your orders out of hopes of salvaging this, enter the bathroom and close the door behind you. You see in the mirror that Sonata's nails got you good, so you wash yourself, dry up and dress the scratch with a small first aid kit Adagio has stashed under the sink.

It's only when you head for the bedroom again that the icy chill of what awaits really hits you. It's not like you have any other options as you turn the handle and head out.

Adagio's sitting on the bed, and she's retrieved your clothes and put them beside her. She's otherwise got her arms folded and can't look at you, clearly angry. “Sit.”

“Look,” you say as you obey and sit beside her, “I know I didn't think this through, and I apol-”

“And stop apologising!”

Okay, Radian, just shut up. No winning moves.

“I... I'm the one who's sorry,” she says and bites her lip and lowers her head in shame.

That... wasn't expected.

Adagio looks at you, her anger spent. She takes your hand in hers and squeezes it. “You messed up, and you deserved to understand the consequences of not planning ahead. But the second I reached the stairs, I realised I was acting like the old me. The me that uses everyone around her, like using and hurting Sonata to win over Sunset. The me that fucked up and brought us all down, split me and my sisters up... using what few people I like and playing them like chess pieces. I can't be that person again. Not after what it did to us. I still want to do whatever I need to in order to get our powers back, but not abuse my family, you included.”

You both sit in silence as Adagio just continues to hold your hand, but she covers her eyes with the other. “I feel like such an idiot. I really don't know what I'm doing in this love business...”

Did... did she just say... “L- love...?”

Adagio recoils and, as always, covers her emotions with a turn of her head and her thick, curly hair obscuring her face, but you see enough to notice she's bright red. “... w- we can talk about that later. I get what you were trying to do; using that feeling of power to awaken that nostalgia, the feel-good stuff like you knew I experienced. You took advantage of them, they almost ripped you to pieces... or worse...” She scratches her head. “This being a better person thing's complicated.”

“Yeah, I feel that,” you add. “But it wasn't just that nostalgic feeling. I wanted to give them what I could, the power you have here now. That way, even if anything else fails, you're all equal and have something to show for all this.”

She strokes your shoulder. “I'm sure they'll learn to appreciate you like I do. You've got to remember, Sonata may be a lot better at dealing with humans than either me or Aria were to begin with, and Aria's clearly much like her old self, but they haven't had a chance to get to know you like I have. They're still very much like our old, proud, arrogant beast-like selves. You're handling yourself well otherwise, so keep it up, but for now, let's just focus on getting to Equestria and getting our powers back. If we keep everyone driven towards that goal, it should stop them considering you less than them.”

“And the plan? Do we finally get to learn what you've been constructing all this time?”

“Yes, the plan.” Adagio stands and you finally see her familiar dark, toothy grin. “That and I think we need to get some new clothes. All of us.”

You look down and realise the buttons of your shirt are mostly gone, and you don't really have the physique to pull of the open-fronted shirt look. Not to mention your pants are being held up by the fly alone.

Adagio offers her hand to help you up, and you head back into the front room together.

As one.

* * *

Chapter 17: Fieramente

The apologies were straightforward. You were sorry for turning them into superhuman amazons against their knowledge, but hey, they'll probably thank you eventually.

Sonata cited her cartoon as a reason to both give and accept an apology, and gleefully gave hers with a compassionate hug. The amount of inspiration she takes from it borders on religious.

Aria was, predictably, a much harder sell but after a lot of scolding from Sonata and earnest appreciation of her right to be angry from Adagio but it didn't justify nearly smothering you, she finally gave you a single, solitary 'sorry.' Things then moved on, after the awkward silences, but at least that was settled.

Then came shopping. You somewhat expected this as a natural part of getting a girlfriend, what with all the 'being led around and carrying the bags' thing, but in this modern age, this is replaced with everyone huddling around Adagio's phone to pick out what everyone wanted.

Honestly, you can't remember the last time you did something as simple as ordering clothes. You had the same assortment for some time, you hadn't grown much since leaving school, but they were dead weight to you when you were evicted from your old apartment. But, sure enough, Adagio's just splashed a couple of hundred bucks on you alone from Sonata's previous donation. Really nice, if still affordable, things that she let you pick out. Then Adagio headed out as she originally intended to get dinner.

The pasta place Adagio found was another welcome change, being a legitimately fancy restaurant. She returned with a bag full of various fine-dining dishes and everyone was dead silent as they enjoyed eating some of the fanciest cuisine you've ever eaten, with Sonata's huge, sauce-glazed lips smiling and lighting up the room as she indulged in her newest favourite food.

As everyone finishes eating, you do the washing up, then Adagio's phone chimes. She hesitates before checking it, then smiles. “We're in! Thanks to some duplicity which convinced Sunset into thinking Sonata was dying and we weren't far behind, they've agreed to repair Sonata's siren stone. Alright, everyone, listen up!”

Sonata raises her hand.

“Can't you wai- tsk.” Adagio bites her tongue takes a deep breath. “Fine. What is it, Sonata?”

“So... am I not, like, dying?”

“Wha- I-” Adagio throws her arms up in defeat. “No, Sonata. I thought you knew, what with how blasé you've been acting since then.”

“Phew! If I died, how would I have found out what would happen to Tantra? And the other animal heroes!?”

You, Adagio and Aria all sigh and pinch your collective brows.

“Just... try to keep up, Sonata. Anyway, let's do this.”

You stop with your chores as Adagio stands in front of the couch, so you take her spot next to Sonata.

Adagio smiles and takes a deep breath. “We've come a long way from my initial plan of just getting into Equestria and going on the run. All I wantedwas an opportunity to find some Equestrian artefact to use in place of our necklaces. And yet every step of the way, ever since Ray found me and convinced me to believe in his inventions, a new path has opened. I don't care if it's luck or fate, but we have not only made it back together as a family again, but we're going to recover every last thing that was taken from us.”

Aria folds her arms. “Fate and luck? I really hope that isn't all you're packing for Equestria.”

“We're stepping into the unknown, Ari,” Adagio replies. “I've tried to be subtle with my questions about the situation over there, and I've learned a few things, but there's still going to be a lot of improvisation. Let's not get ahead of ourselves and focus on the now. Tomorrow, Aria, I want you to work with Ray to learn how to use his device.”

“Ugh, really?” Aria gives you her grumpiest glare. “Can't Sonata do it?”

Adagio smirks. “Tacos in the toaster.”

Sonata puffs up her cheeks. “That was, like, one time!”

Aria groans, “fine.”

“We'll primarily need you to know how to scan energy signatures and, if you don't want to draw too much attention to yourselves, maintain your original sizes. All the same, Ray will teach you all the main functions, just in case. Meanwhile, Sonata will go and get the tour van fixed.”

“Bus. Tour bus,” Sonata insists.

Adagio rolls her eyes. “Whatever, but yes. It's still at the lock-up, but I'll give you the key. Have them strip out the beds and the rest of the living stuff from the back so we can fit the Ray's main device inside. We'll have another mobile emitter that way. Ray will be making sure the device is in a better state after the... incident earlier. We can't have it crashing on us at a critical time.”

“On it,” you say. “I'll format the thing and strip out any extraneous programs. I can have it done in a few hours.”

“Good.” Adagio paces back and forth. “Okay, day two: Sonata, I want you driving. Just move the va- the bus occasionally so as to not arouse suspicion, but don't leave the area for too long. Aria, I want you hiding in the back with us to scan the portal before, during and after our trip to Equestria. Sonata will drop me and Ray off as Aria conducts those scans. We need energy signatures, anything that can help us control the portal, whether it be disrupting, opening our own, whatever; any information works.”

Aria and Sonata share a glance, then nod.

Adagio continues, “me and Ray will take his handheld emitter with us through the Equestrian portal, under the full blessing of Sunset and Twilight, since they's interested in not only his research, but also his data on the siren stone. Little do they know we're stowing both Aria and my own stone inside the device. Hopefully the shielding that protects it here from interference will also stop Twilight noticing anything amiss if they try to use their magic to check for any contraband.”

You nod. “It should be fine. I picked the best Faraneigh cage shielding material I could afford when I first designed it. The only problem is having even the small trace of magic of your broken stones inside the shielding will make it less accurate.”

“Which is why Aria's doing the heavy lifting with the main device for external scans. Hopefully we won't be under permanent watch once we get inside, so we can remove the stones and make your device work properly again.”

Adagio pauses for a moment to take a sip of water. “Anyway, once inside, we'll play nice. We don't know if my increased size will also present as an earth pony, but all the same, the emitter should keep me shrunk so as to not arouse suspicion. I assume they will want Ray's guidance on the stone, so with luck, he can observe and learn the repair process. From there, we can try to copy that method however we can, as well as steal whatever materials we need to make that happen.”

Sonata raises her hand. “So, like, why do we need to stay close to the portal?”

“We'll need you to observe from outside and be ready for a getaway at a moment's notice,” Adagio says and pats Sonata's head, “if we can get close to the portal, Ray will broadcast the siren signal through it to tell you we're making a drop-off. If we can't, then we'll just hide the stones back inside the emitter and carry them with us on the return trip. If it's too hot, and we can't find a chance to get the other stones fixed, we'll just play nice and do as we've been told; get Sonata's stone fixed, return, and plan for another day.”

Aria frowns. “This is sounding really far fetched. What if something goes wrong, or you get caught?”

“I've planned for that as well. If we're caught and they attempt to capture us, we will revert me to my full size and strength and fight our way to the exit, and Ray should be able to use his emitter to counter any magic thrown our way. It's not glamorous or smart, but if we move quick and act quicker, hopefully we can be out of Equestria before anyone too powerful gets in our way.”

Adagio sighs and brushes her hair with her fingers. “Again, there's a lot of guess work here, which I don't like, but we're entering a land that seems to have been well and truly brought to heel under Celestia and her followers. We're the underdogs and outsiders, and we're going in as a humble earth pony,” she says and gestures to herself, then you, “and a unicorn who won't know magic, but we will take back what was stolen from us! Is everyone satisfied?”

Aria tuts and scowls, but finally shrugs. “It'll have to do. It's still gonna suck sleeping in the van again.”

“Bus!” Sonata insists, then looks at Adagio. “And, like, I guess? For realsies, a lot of that went over my head, but I just gotta drive around the roads near the school, right?”

“Exactly. Good. Head on home for now and we'll start first thing in the morning.”

“Aw, I wanted a sleepover,” Sonata whines as she and Aria stand.

“I don't,” Aria grumbles, “I've gotta get my guitar practice in and I didn't bring my amp.”

You ask, “then why'd you bring the guitar in the first place?”

Aria caresses her instrument. “Metal-Mane never leaves my side.”

Sonata and Aria head for the door, but Adagio intercepts and wraps an arm around both of them. “Thank you both for giving me another chance.”

Sonata smiles and holds her sister back, but Aria says, “just don't mess this up. I don't want to have to deal with this bonding crap again.”

The two sisters leave, and Adagio visibly slumps, as if drained. “I can't believe we're doing this. A broken siren and a human are about to enter Equestria and pull off a what feels like the biggest con act ever conceived right under their noses.”

“We'll get it done.” You hug her from behind and Adagio puts her hands over yours. You say, softly, “I believe in you.”

“We've come a long way from almost having you thrown out of my bar, haven't we?”

“Or having my balls fried with a taser. Feels like years ago,” you chuckle.

Adagio reaches up and strokes your cheek, and she giggles. “You need a shave.”

You run a finger over your chin. Rough stubble, the likes of which you've never had before. “What can I say? Apparently you've made a man out of me.”

“It only seemed fair. After all,” she says and turns around in your arms, then gets even closer so you have no choice but to stare into her deep raspberry coloured eyes. “I finally believe in myself for the first time since I lost my sisters, or even lost my powers. And even if everything goes wrong, I know that if we have each other, we can just try again and again until we make it.”

There's just a split second of hesitation, as neither you or Adagio know who's going to go first, but you both move at once. And kiss, long and slow, simple and gentle, then just embrace one another. Seconds. Moments. A minute. The feel of her smooth, perfect skin. The ocean-side floral scent. The warmth of her body against yours. The beating of her heart a perfect, transcendent rhythm.

Forget what you said about that night when you had sex. This is love.

“I want you,” she whispers into your ear. “Now.”

“I'm still not... exactly great at this, but-”

Adagio pulls away and just smiles sweetly. “I'll tell you what. We're equals now, right? We'll do what you want, then we'll do what I want. Not to mention I don't know how long it will be until I return to my full size. Not long, I'd assume.”

Oh shit, you'd forgotten about that. “I could scan-”

She grins and puts a finger on your lips. “Nope. It's going to be a surprise. No escaping the consequences this time, my pet.”

You chuckle and decide to be bold. You put an arm behind her back, one under her legs and revel in the sharp, surprised squeal she makes as you pick her up in your arms.

No, it's not a struggle, you force yourself to think. She's a dainty flower and you're a manly man, and not a skinny geek.

All the same you make all haste into her bedroom and put her down on the bed before you drop her, then remove the still damaged remnants of your clothes. You spring to attention, and Adagio's creeping smile just makes you twitch as she strips and spreads out on the sheets.

It still catches your breath, witnessing her naked. That silky, perfect golden skin, her firm, pert breasts, the graceful curves of her narrow waist, womanly hips and smooth thighs. The amazing cascade of curls framing her face and covering her narrow shoulders, the neat trimmed patch of hair above her delicate petals that glisten in the low light of the bedroom lamp. She's delicious. Awe striking.

“So, what is your fantasy, Ray? What can your goddess do for her favourite pet?”

You're distracted. You spot your emitter on the bedside cabinet from when she saved you from her sisters.

Adagio snaps her fingers. “Ray? You still there?”

“Uh... after our first time, I just want to keep it simple.”

She hands you a condom and just watches you as you put it on your stiff dick, and you slowly climb on top of her. You don't want to rush, you want to enjoy every second of her, so you simply lean in and kiss her neck, then her cheek.

She coos and giggles in such a strange, girly way. She's normally so assured, it makes her sound vulnerable, even if only for a moment as she gently pulls you to her to bring your lips together. You surprise her by pushing with your tongue, and hold her against the bed. Any brief respite from your attention, she gasps for breath.

You move down, your hands stroke her neck, down to her chest. The exquisite softness of her breasts as she exhales softly as you gently squeeze them, then run your fingers over her flat belly as it rises and falls from her hastened breathing. You reach over to the emitter, and smoothly set a weak anti-unicorn signal; you want to last longer for her, make her climax first. The little, unpleasant tingle sets in, certainly not enough to stop you enjoying this, but enough to slow your arousal.

“Take me,” she whispers, then covers her mouth and giggles. “Oops. Sorry, you're in charge.”

You didn't need the order, you just reach towards her with one hand, and she interweaves her fingers between yours, and helps keep you stable as your other hand guides your cock into her now parted, tender folds.

She moans as you inch your way in, her hand squeezes your own as she buries her head back into the pillows and bites her lip. You're halfway into her pussy when the moan grows stronger, and then you apply just a bit more force, smoothly getting deeper and deeper until your hips bump together. She's wonderfully tight at her original height, and she squirms against you. Just as tight is her hand around your fingers, but she forces herself to look into your eyes. And she just nods at you.

So you pull yourself out most of the way, and push in again. She shivers and jolts. Again, her moan rising to a short, sharp cry. Nothing can compare. Making love to this glorious woman, who has become so special to you. The puppy-love crush has given way to something so deep and strong.

And you make love to her, steady, smoothly, harder and harder. Her desperate breaths, her whines as she babbles, her eyes roll back. Her inner muscles clamp down and she takes a harsh, staggered breath. You're in control, thanks to your inexperience being assisted by the emitter, and you let her enjoy your cock in a way that's almost innocent. She gasps and moans harder and louder as you only just start to feel on edge. Her grip on your hand becomes almost painful as she closes her eyes and just lets herself go.

And she screams. So loudly. So beautifully. Her femcum gushes over your groin as she squirts and wriggles beneath you.

You hammer harder before she has a chance to recover. You're so close...

-Beep-

An energy spike? Oh shit.

Adagio's eyes go wide and she gasps. And she grows.

Holy hell does she grow.

It's sudden and so fast, you're pushed down between her legs. She even climaxes again from the resonant, horny echo. Her arms swell and surge with that beautiful level of strength, her thighs close in around you as they thicken. Her smooth belly ripples and creases as hard, ridged abdominals push outward. Adagio's head pushes against the wall as her legs extend so far that her feet are off the bed. All seven feet of Adagio finally comes down from her orgasm, and she blinks, trying to catch her bearings.

“Oh shit... oh fuck, that was intense.”

You climb on top of her, still rock hard, but unfulfilled. “Guess it picked a hell of a time to run out.”

“That it did... oh, but you didn't get to finish?” She's honestly disappointed, which is touching, but then she smirks. “We can't have that now, can we?”

She picks you up and holds you up like you weigh nothing, but rests you down on her lap for a moment so so can pull off your condom, exposing your pre-cum soaked dick. Adagio then lifts you clear off the bed again, wraps her lips around your shaft, and begins to lick and suck you off.

Oh fucking hell, that isn't even fair! You reach for the emitter, you need to last longer, but...

Nope, she gets you good; the suction, her tongue lapping at your cock makes it all too easy. You cry out as you explode down her throat. She sucks a few more times as you pump more and more cum into her mouth, and then she slowly places you back on the bed.

And once she's sure you're looking, she gulps, and licks her lips.

Goddamn it, you love this woman.

“My turn,” she purrs, “and since we're all about turnabouts...”

Adagio climbs up and over you, putting her knees either side of your shoulders, her magnificent, powerful thighs flexing, and her already soaking wet vulva spread wide.

And lowers herself onto your face. You're spared being crushed, but the bed creaks as her weight strains the wood.

“Lick,” she orders.

You haven't eaten anything so hard or so quickly since high school, so that Sunset wouldn't steal or ruin your lunch. You bury your face deep between into her until you can't breathe and plunge your tongue right inside her. You lick and lash and revel in her flavour. Slightly acidic, pungent but not unpleasant.

You don't see her reaction, but you hear it. Long, low moans. The way she keeps flexing and squeezing you as her body wriggles from your attentions. Making her huge, powerful body writhe makes you feel like you're in control! Right up until she slides her legs farther apart, her juicy, massive ass rests on your chest and the pressure becomes immense. The springs of her mattress squeal as all her weight comes down on the top side, creaking and clanking. One snaps. Another.

You're now feeling the panic rise, a fear from the pressure, weight and sound, so you play dirty. You free your arms and stroke her inner thighs, pull your face back enough to let your thumbs get to her clitoris and begin teasing it, brushing it... then you pinch it.

Then she screams and climaxes. Her thighs clamp down around your head and she hammers the wall with her fists, cratering the cheap plaster. The extra pressure forces you to squeeze her button once more and, before you think you've done your job, she moans and shivers as she rides another orgasm. Your face is soaked as her femcum sprays over you. She slumps down, and you have to climb from beneath her before so smothers you in her massive, perfect body.

You switch off the emitter and Adagio finally stops quivering as one last, exhausted cry brings her back to earth. She's blank in the eyes, overstimulated with a lost, air-headed smile. She mumbles, “fuck...oh fuck... what-”

“Damn, Addy, you okay?” You say as you wipe your face with the sheets.

“Huh? I- I think so. Shit, you're a fast learner...”

“Driven and smart, like you said.”

She giggles and, once she finishes riding her high, you just cuddle. You bury your face into her chest so she can rest her chin on your head and, once more, you're her little teddy bear.

Nothing else matters now. You're hers, and she's yours.

Your Adagio, and her Ray.

* * *

Chapter 18: Noblezza

You're full of purpose. You're freshly washed, shaved and you're wearing your brand new clothes. You have the adoration of the girl of your dreams, the friendship of one of her sisters and the... begrudging acceptance of the other?

Close enough. It really is a whole new Dazzlings and a whole new day.

It's a bit past lunchtime and everything's coming together for your trip to Equestria. Everyone's had to shrink down for today, complete with a copy of the sustaining music on their phones. The special order sizes they've had to order for Aria's brawn, Sonata's curves and Adagio's bit-of-both on top of her towering true height.

Sonata's out getting the tour van (bus, she still insists) road-ready and Adagio's showing off how much she's learned by carefully dismantling the handheld casing and putting it back together over and over, then running some tests to ensure she's got it down perfectly, just in case you're unable to do it.

Adagio's's even managed to compact down some of the cables without compromising the device, making space for two other siren stones. Obviously she'll only have hooves and teeth to manipulate the device, but the more confident she is now, the better your odds overall. That and she can always use a stick held in her teeth to push the buttons or undo the screws.

On your side, you've worked out most of the kinks with the main device; clean installs of only the most necessary software, no extra programs. The rest are purely flaws with the parts; for something put together for a few thousand bucks, it's great, but you'd need tens of thousands to make the full-fat version. All the same, it's good enough for now; once you demonstrate how much energy it can make from what everyone else knows as 'nothing,' you'll be set.

You're now showing Aria how it all works. She's not dumb, far from it. She's just no Adagio; too self-confident to really put her mind to the task, too proud to deign to your instruction. You've refined the process of engaging the various functions, added a few more shortcuts, and you explain it to Aria.

“So you set the receiving frequency,” she says, unsure but also bored, “then type in the broadcast amplitude, then hertz and turn it on?”

“Not quite,” you say, “hertz is the frequency, I just tried to separate the terms to make it easier to remember what's the receiving and distributing wavelengths.”

Aria groans. “This is complicated. I need a break.” She picks up her guitar, switches on the amp and begins jamming to herself.

“Sorry, Ari, I need to get you primed and ready with this before I start breaking it down into smaller parts to reconstruct in the van, so we need to get this done as soon as possible.”

She glares at you. “I don't take orders from humans, and don't call me Ari! I still don't see why you're so damn important.”

“Aria, I thought we went over this,” Adagio snaps over her shoulder. “Ray's the reason any of this is even possible. The devices alone were instrumental, let alone his constant work and support.”

“For fuck's sake, Dagi, I get you've got a thing for him, but let's not kid ourselves; once we get our powers, you'll soon drop him like a bad habit. You can even pick someone worth more cash if that's what this is all about! We have his devices, you know how to use them, we'll work something else out. He's a weak link. You said it best yourself back before you lost your edge; they're scum.”

Adagio slams the table with her palms, stands and gives Aria a fiery scowl. She's almost as mad as she was with Sunset during the mind-reading incident.

Aria even looks like she's regretting it, but puts on a brave face, puts her guitar down again and says, “what? It's true! He's just a human. Besides using him, what's the big deal? We used to use humans and toss them away all the time!”

“You're right. He's just a human,” Adagio says and taps a few buttons on the handheld, then places it so the emitter's bathing her and Aria in energy. Both sisters subtly gasp, shiver and slowly grow, and they both begin to take off their clothes before they get damaged.

“What're you doing?” Aria complains and, distracted pulling her shirt over her head, notices Adagio snatch up Metal-Mane. “Hey, leave her alone!”

Adagio bears a menacing grin. “What? It's just a guitar?” she says with so much venom, it makes you start sweating.

Aria goes to grab it, but Adagio raises it over her head, ready to hammer it on the foor.

There's a stand-off as both sisters continue to creep upward, but where Aria hits her newly enhanced six foot size quickly, Adagio keeps on growing. If the situation wasn't so tense, you'd be getting an eyeful of their naked bodies, but you're terrified a super-human cat-fight's about to kick off.

“See, I've been making a great deal of effort to learn from my mistakes,” Adagio says. “To learn where I went wrong. An outside perspective was instrumental to that. Ray gave that to me, dragged me from a downward spiral and set me on this path. I owe him so much. You fucking owe him too, Ari!”

“I said let my guitar go!” Aria snarls, but her brow switches from anger to worry.

“Are you sure you don't need a lesson in consequences?” Adagio grips the neck and body of the guitar and flexes her arms. There's a horrific screechy noise as the strings get stretched and strained as Adagio reaches her full height, naked and terrifying all at once.

Aria breaks, finally crying out, “alright, you've made your point! I'm sorry!”

Adagio gives up the guitar without any more fuss and shakes her head. “We can't keep up acting like this, Aria. We were beasts once, you know that? We may be human now, but I can still see it and feel it. And I can see it in you the most.”

Aria looks at her, confused, as she cradles Metal-Mane and makes sure it isn't damaged.

“Even after these years as humans without out powers, we're still falling for our old instincts. Because apparently we're so much better than everyone and anyone, right? Well, because of mere humans, we lost our fucking powers!” Adagio sighs and looks over to you, and smiles before returning a stern eye to her sister. “By falling as low as I have, it's shown me just how foolish we were by relying on that old pride. Sonata's foibles were actually to her benefit long before this, since it's let her empathise with humans and understand them and now look at her! She's crushing living life, but even she still has moments of the old ways. If we're to win, we need to be better and smarter than that.”

Aria asks, “what do you mean?”

Adagio sighs and folds her arms. “When we were bested by the Rainbooms, I kept driving us harder, trying to keep us focused and on track, but I should have stopped and taken stock of what went wrong. But no, I had too much self-assurance that we would succeed, because of how great we once were. But ever since we split up, I've had a revelation about us as sirens, and that's that we become obsessed with what we perceive as the thing that defeated us, with the thing that outshone us. We seek to imitate, then overcome that ideal, to master and conquer these aspects.”

She pauses and looks at you, her serious expression turning sweet and soft. “Ray, would you be a sweetheart and shrink us, please?”

“Sure thing, Addy.” You use the main device to bombard them both with the shrink procedure, and they get dressed even as they suffer under the awful anti-signal.

Once dressed again, Adagio continues, “I noticed Sonata's obsession with her Guardians of Gale Glade cartoon and couldn't help but wonder about why that is. A show about different animals, with differing personalities, banding together to overcome more powerful foes? It seems to me that Sonata recognised that friendship, as a concept, defeated us.”

“That's... pretty deep,” you say.

Adagio chuckles, “right? I don't even think she understands half of what goes on around her, but I dare say there's more to Sonata than we ever gave her credit for. It's even more evident after she nipped our fight in the bud by threatening us, something even you understood, Aria. She's actually willing to fight to bring us together again. Hell, she turned up at the crack of dawn to reconcile as soon as I said I wanted to see her because of how much she wanted us to be a family again. She knows we're stronger together, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep it that way.”

Adagio then gently squeezes Aria's muscular shoulder, even admires her figure. “You, Ari, recognised that the de-facto leader of the Rainbooms, Rainbow Dash, was the one who defeated us. Her guitar playing and her athleticism, not to mention she's an able leader in her own right, if a bit too much of a jock. And what have you done in response? Learned the guitar, worked out to grow stronger and you've only built on your desire to lead, to better rival her. I bet you want to kick her ass some day, right? Or crush her in a guitar duel? Make it a contest, as she likes to?”

Aria's eyes narrow as she realises the truth, and she nods.

“And that's driven you to try and take charge. And it's admirable. Again, I appreciate that you're now going to keep a fire under my ass to make sure I don't fuck things up. If I do, the Dazzlings are yours. I promise, I'll tow the line. Whether you want to turn us into the Blazes or something, I don't care; I'll have proven you right twice, and that will be the end of it.”

“Really? Just like that?” Aria says and cocks an eyebrow.

“Just like that,” Adagio says with an honest smirk. “Because I want to stay together, no matter what. If I have to take the fall, then so be it. If you still hate Ray after all that... well, maybe I'll just keep in contact, because like you're driven to master the guitar, become stronger in body and mind and take charge? I'm not giving Ray up for similar reasons.”

Touching as that is, and as much as it makes you feel all fuzzy, Adagio's skirting around the issue again, so you say, “so we get that Sonata focused on friendship and Aria focused on Rainbow Dash's methods, but I remember you said you focused on Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle, right? I'm not seeing the relation between me and them.”

Adagio laughs softly but it's not... quite right. It sounds sad. “Yeah, it's complicated. Something slammed me down to earth one last time, and I felt that I couldn't escape that, but someone,” she says and gives you a loving look, “showed me what I could truly be. Suddenly, it isn't Twilight or Sunset that I'm trying to emulate, but something a bit difficult to explain.”

She hesitates and looks awkwardly at the ground, then huffs and throws her arms up in a grand shrug. “It doesn't matter for now, but what does matter is this: if my hubris can help you, and Aria, and Sonata be spared from what I went through, then it truly was fate. This is a path I must follow to its conclusion.”

“You've got to tell me what happened to you, Addy,” you say and step towards her, “I know something happened to you. Please, you can trust us. We're your family, right?”

Adagio turns away. “I'll tell you someday, Ray. I swear I will. But my point is, Aria,” she says and faces her again, “we're not above anything or anyone, and to think that we are will ruin us all over again. We were damn well bested by a band of teenage girls who were only barely understanding their powers. They weren't even that good!” Adagio huffs. “One of them even defeated us with a tambourine! A fucking tambourine!!”

You can't help but snicker, which earns you an increasingly rare scowl from Adagio and a very common one from Aria.

Adagio composes herself. “That's not the point... what they used and how well they played is immaterial. It was everything: their clear and obvious bond of friendship that transcends their personalities, the bravado of Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer's drive to redeem herself, Twilight Sparkle's power and desire to protect her friends. Conversely, we must use every opportunity and every advantage, with every disadvantage and weakness bested, deconstructed and covered! Our siren instinct? We suppress the pride but keep that obsession to overcome the things that defeated us! Do you get it now?”

Aria grumbles, but she says, “yeah... I get it.”

“Even when we get our powers back, we must fight smarter, and harder, always expecting something to snatch victory from us! We are not beasts! Not any more.” She pounds her fist into her palm, full of righteous rage and fire! It's inspiring to see as she yells, “we are flesh, and blood, with hearts and souls! Souls that'll burn so damn bright not even their sun-bitch princess will be able to stop us!! We will make our comeback, but we will do it on our terms, not any base, ridiculous instinct! We're sirens! And we will be heard again!! Equestria will bow to our songs, the lands will echo to the sounds of our voices, and we will be adored by our own fucking merits!!”

Adagio catches her breath and calms down.

Okay, that was hot. You'd missed that rage in her from when you barely knew one another, because now you know she's wielding it with her heart and her mind. When they get their powers back, it's going to glorious.

And you'll be right there beside them.

Aria looks at you awkwardly and says, “sorry, Ray.”

“It's fine,” you respond, “so, shall we continue?”

Aria nods and complies.

* *

Adagio's phone beeps, and once she looks at it, she announces, “it's time. Let's do this.”

You feel like there should be some sort of anthem playing as you stride out of Adagio's apartment. She slams the door behind her as you power walk, shoulder to shoulder, down the hallway.

Hopefully, if all goes well, for what could be the last time. This place still sucks and the only reason you tolerate it is your new family.

You're even dressed in a similar aesthetic to the Dazzlings. Their purple, pink and burgundy colours matched with your dark blue bomber jacket. Strapped around your shoulder is your holstered emitter, contained in an old modified camcorder case back when phones weren't exactly up to snuff. The strap even has little concealed pockets and pouches for your future misdeeds.

The emitter isn't as accurate as it once was, thanks to the concealed stones inside the casings, but you've applied as much signal squelch as you can and it's still not up to your usual lofty standards. Hopefully you can do without super accurate readings for a while.

“Oh, there you are,” a male voice calls from behind.

Your group turns to the smug grin of Crafty Crate.

“Who's this asshole?” Aria says and looks at Adagio.

“Just the loser who lives next door to me,” Adagio says. “Don't pay him any mind; he's pathetic.”

You casually take your emitter out and type in a pegasi anti-signal, just in case.

“I've been having words with the landlord,” he says, still grinning. “Seems he might be getting the police involved after whatever the fuck you dosed me with the other night.”

Adagio shrugs. “The only thing you were dosed with, Mr. Crate, is a serious slice of humble pie, because you're a weak little man who can't take getting his ass handed to him by a girl half his size.”

“We'll see who's laughing when the fuzz tears your place apart. Failing that, I'll still get you evicted; half the floor can't stand you.”

Sonata scowls at him. “Is he always this mean?”

“No, he's usually a snivelling little bitch,” Adagio says with a sneer. “Hah, you know what? That's why he's whining about the noise so much; the guy clearly isn't getting any. He may look big, but I bet what he's got going on down there is less 'crate' and more 'pack of cigarettes.'”

Crafty gets up in Adagio's face and yells “You say that again! I fucking dare you!”

You remember getting in Adagio's face before, back when first finding Sunset and losing your temper, and she stepped back and was intimidated (however briefly), but now? Against this bigger guy? She barely bats an eye.

Aria steps between the two and snarls, “try it, dickweed, and I'll wipe the fucking floor with you!”

Sonata quietly moves up so the three are boxing him in, but he seems unfazed.

You activate the signal and Mr. Crate looks woozy and unbalanced. Adagio smirks as she notices and simply knees the man in the crotch. Following her lead, Aria shoves him aawy and Sonata hooks a foot behind Crafty's leg. He trips, crashes into the wall and goes down hard.

He moans in pain as Adagio steps on his chest, then struggles from under Adagio's heeled, spiky boot. He tries to push her off, but is too weakened by combination of bashed testes and the anti-signal.

Adagio says, calm yet sinister, “like I said, you're pathetic. And don't you worry, I'm planning to move out of here real soon, but here's something to consider; I'm gonna be coming back for my stuff, and then you'll never have to see me again.” She presses her foot on him harder so she can lean down to him, and Mr. Crate starts struggling to breathe. “But if the police do turn up, you're gonna tell them you made it up, because if I find one thing out of place? One single possession of mine damaged or missing? We'll be seeing you again, and it won't end well for you.”

Adagio lets him go and heads towards the stairs. “Let's roll. We haven't got time for this trash.”

You give Mr. Crate a mocking wave, Aria flips him a pair of birds and Sonata gestures for him to kiss her ass as you all follow Adagio out the apartment complex. It's safe to say the Dazzlings are one team again, plus you of course. It also gives you a firm idea that Adagio may be nicer overall, but she's still got bite.

You head outside into the midday sun and climb into the Dazzlings tour bus, and Sonata begins the journey to where all this technically began. Your path towards harnessing magic. Adagio losing her powers. Even where the magic first appeared.

Canterlot High School.

Aria folds her arms and stares out the tinted back windows, resting her foot on the reconstructed energy converter device that now dominates the back of the bus. “This still feels surreal. I'd given up any sort of hope of even seeing magic again, let alone getting a shot at recovering our powers. Hell, I still can't believe it's been hundreds of years since we were banished.”

Adagio nods. “Whatever that Starswirl the Bearded asshole cast on us was clearly designed to stop us being a problem in more ways than one. I doubt we've been in this world that long, but we've definitely aged slower than any human. Too bad for him we're back, and he should be dead and buried. It sounds like he fell foul of some shadow monster not long after our defeat.”

You say, “I guess you must have been a more grave threat than anyone could have known. Banished, your memories stripped from you, de-powered for a time. Once we get you girls back on your feet, and I get my inventions sold, I'm gonna make sure you have every advantage I can afford you.”

Adagio winks at you, while Aria just gives you a neutral glance, but Sonata says, “us sisters back together, a new pet human bestie... we're, like, gonna kick some serious butt!”

With a pat on Sonata's shoulder, Adagio says, “we certainly will, yet I'm still nervous... Equestria's still so ancient to us, and no doubt it's changed a great deal. We know Celestia's still in charge, but it sounds like they've been grooming Twilight to take over at some point.”

Aria grins. “Could be a good way to topple the balance of power.”

Adagio smiles, but it's one of her unconvincing ones. She glances at you and it sinks even more. “It will be an uphill battle no matter what we do. Remember, they're living in halcyon days in Equestria now. We're the underdogs, and not the least because of our lack of magic. If we do try to conquer Equestria, it will be a long play.”

“I guess the good guys won, but nothing lasts forever,” Aria replies.

“Hmph. Speaking of good guys,” Sonata says as Canterlot High School comes into view. It's lunch period and a lot of students are buzzing around, but you suspect they're due to head inside any moment.

You spot Sunset Shimmer, who's lingering on the other side of the street, and the old tension buds in your heart again.

Sonata pulls up, Aria ducks behind the machine just to play it safe, while you and Adagio climb out.

Sunset gives a little smile, “Adagio. Radian. You both ready?”

Adagio takes a deep breath. “First, I know I said it over the phone, but I'm sorry about the last time we met... what you saw is still raw in my mind, and it's not something I like thinking about. I overreacted.”

“It's fine,” Sunset replies. “I'm sorry I pulled that on you, but you have to know I'm just being cautious.” Sunset's turquoise eyes flick between Adagio and you. “Have you told him?”

“No,” Adagio says and waves her hand, “it's ancient history at this point. I'm in a better place than I've been since, well,” Adagio mulls it over, then finishes, “ever, if I'm honest.”

“I'm really glad to hear that. Anyway, let's double check we're all ready. Do you have Sonata's stone?”

You nod and hand her a small tissue-padded pouch.

Sunset opens it and carefully takes out the gemstone, removed from its old locket, and Sunset gasps softly. “Just that you're handing this to me... I know what these mean to you, Adagio. I'm grateful for your trust.”

“And yours, Sunset,” Adagio says. “Our lives are now officially in your hands.”

The school bell goes, and the students hurry in. Being here, near Sunset, you can't help but remember...

No, screw it. You're here now. You're with someone. You're not that loser any more. Sunset's just a means to an end, and if you succeed you can get her out of your life forever, move somewhere else, and forget she ever existed.

“Let's go,” Sunset says and gestures towards the school statue. “Equestria awaits.”

You cross the street and can't help but take out your emitter, scanning the area. You knew this was a hot-spot of magic activity anyway, but the fact that you're here when the portal's active and waiting, it's sending signals across the spectrum. Not just the three pony types, but even smaller ones in between. You log the numbers as Sunset glances at your device.

“You've gotta show me that thing sometime.”

You force a smile. “Maybe when we're done here. I don't want to waste too much time that could be spent repairing Sonata's stone and giving my new family a chance to live a new life.”

“You do realise that our devices don't work properly over there, right? Any time I've brought something like a phone with me, it runs out of power in an hour or two. I've never understood why.”

You smirk. “That won't be a problem, trust me. This baby's powered by magic.”

She shrugs. “Then after you!” Sunset nods to the statue platform, specifically the wall facing the school doors.

Adagio eyes the flat, white stone. “We just step through?”

Sunset nods and stands aside as you and Adagio glance at one another. You then holster your emitter, hold her hand, and walk through.

Spinning.

A swirl of gravity.

Stretching.

White noise.

You faintly hear your emitter beep wildly as the vast amount of magic surrounds you.

Then you land on your back. Shit, that hurt. You can't feel your fingers or toes, and in a panic you bring your arms up, only to smack yourself in the chin way sooner than it should have...

Uhh... you have a muzzle.

Oh shit, it's happening. You can see more of your nose than the vague blur at the bottom of your gaze; you can actually focus on a dark blue muzzle! You have hooves and you can see your horn poking out of your forehead! You feel for it, only to clash your hoof on it again. Your whole head stings from how sensitive the it is.

“Ah, I was wondering when you would get here,” says a somewhat familiar female voice. “Sorry, I should have warned you ahead of time; that first step is an inter-dimensionally diverse, gravitationally atypical doozy until you realise you just have to keep walking! You'll get it next time.”

A face appears above you. Lavender fur (a coat, your mind seems to pluck from nowhere), with straight, long, deep indigo hair (mane, you also correct) and tail, with a subtly different, redder shade stripe, accompanied by a pinker one. She looks at you with big, vibrant purple eyes on a face that's both distinctly equine, if also refined, very feminine and expressive as she smiles warmly down at you.

“You must be Radian Wave. I'm Twilight Sparkle. Welcome to Equestria!”

End of Act 2.

* * *

Act 3: Chapter 19: Nobility

Act 3: Guiding (Twi)light

“Strictly speaking, you're in the Crystal Empire,” Twilight continues as you just stare, “but that's not important. It's good to finally meet you,”

A talking horse... you know you've been expecting this. You've meditated on it, but you're still kinda freaking out. Now's not the time for panicking, though, you need to make a good first impression, but you also need to gather your bearings.

You're in a room with a chandelier, bookcases filled with thick tomes, tables and chairs. Everything seems to be made of a glassy, crystalline material, including the floor based on how hard it is. An elaborately decorated mirror with a set of stairs leading to it sits nearby, which glows ominously. It's like you've stepped into a fantasy novel or something.

“Don't worry about the others,” Twilight says, “Sunset and Adagio will be here in a couple of minutes or so. Usually the portal is nearly instant, but it's suffered some wear and tear that's done strange things to the passage between worlds. It's usually in my castle in Ponyville, but now it's here in the Crystal Empire for repairs, the Arcane Fabrication Workshop. The same place that's going to be repairing your friend's necklace, in fact!”

Castle? Oh, shit, that reminds you. “You're a princess, right?” you ask. “Should I bow, or...?”

She giggles, “let's focus on just standing up for now, hmm?”

You flail your limbs a little as Twilight back's up to give you space, but the joint orientation is all weird. Muscles and bone are all misaligned from your life as a biped. “Uh... could I get a little help, please? I'm not used to the lack of lateral motion in my limbs.”

Twilight chimes, “no problem.”

Everything takes on a pink sheen, and you feel weightless for a moment as you're lifted off the floor and flipped the right way up. You see Twilight's horn is glowing as she slowly lowers you.

Holy shit, she just used magic and literally picked you up like you weigh nothing.

“Now, you're going to want to bend your legs juuust a little for comfort,” she says, and you comply. “Perfect!”

You're placed on the floor, and surprised by the distinct clop as your feet... hooves make contact with the hard surface; you expected it to be like standing on a rock hard shoe, but it has some degree of spread. You just stay still as you get used to your new quadrupedal form. It's only now you realise that Twilight's taller than you by a good half a head, horns notwithstanding. You have no frame of reference, but it's not far off the difference from when Adagio was a little over six foot to your five eight. Strange, you don't remember her being anything but average as a human.

Most of all, you forgot she's an alicorn; wings and a horn. You wish you could scan her but right now, even standing feels like a challenge.

“Don't worry,” Twilight says, “take as long as you need getting used to your new pony form. It certainly took me a while getting used to not only standing upright as a human, but using fingers to manipulate things. Oh, and don't get me started on toes! Having to flex and bend them to master walking or dancing was an absolute nightmare!”

You can't help but smirk and remember this is the same Twilight seen mashing her fists on the library computers back in CHS. “It's still hard to make the connection that you're the same girl that visited Canterlot High School. Ah, but damn, I'm being rude.”

Damn? You feel really awkward about cussing, even in that simple format. You can't tell if it's because you're in the presence of royalty or something else...

Never mind, try and play it cool, Radian.

After a longer-than-comfortable pause, you nod and say, “thank you for helping Adagio. I can't stress how much it means to me.”

Twilight smiles and nods. “Well, don't thank me yet. We've yet to repair the stone. But don't worry! I've assembled all but one of the best ponies for the job! Almost, anyway. Our best mineralogist is sadly busy elsewhere, but everyone else is ready for you to join the pair tomorrow and together, we'll help your special somepony and her sisters yet!”

Somepony... the weird vernacular seems oddly proper. You even winced a little when you said 'girl' earlier. You should have said filly, or mare, depending on-

Wow. This place is definitely having a weird effect on you.

“Oh, but we should get you walking,” Twilight says and trots beside you, so she's standing side by side. “I developed a mnemonic sequence that helped Sunset's friends when they've visited on occasion. Consider your hooves for a moment.”

You look down at the cumbersome looking things, your knobbly knees, your... dark blue coated legs.

“Let's go left to right, and front to back. So front left and right is one and two, while the back left and right are three and four. Got it?”

Okay, that makes sense, so you nod.

“Now, the sequence is one, four, two, three,” she says and makes slow, deliberate movements with her corresponding legs. “Go one at a time, and once you're confident, you'll be able to start moving the next hoof before the first one is even in contact with the floor.”

Some might think these directions were condescending, but she's speaking your language by making this scientifically simple. You move your front left and say, “one,” back right, “four,” front right, “two,” back left, “three...”

It works! You repeat, and begin walking around the room. The motions become very natural in the flow, and you settle into mentally thinking the numbers in time with the tap of your hooves on crystal floor.

It's only when you walk in front of the mirror, you notice you're naked, except the strapped emitter. It's bigger than you remember. The machine can't have grown, so you can only assume ponies are smaller than humans. Also, the nakedness seems oddly... acceptable.

You also can't help but stare at yourself. Dark but almost washed out blue coat, your hair- uh, mane is the same green with yellow stripes as a human, in your simple, short style though you have it extending down the back of your neck. You have a tail that's just a short, messy sprout of the same colours. Your eyes are still the same shade of brown as well.

“Once you're familiar with a walk, you can move up to a trot,” the mirror flashes and obscures your reflection. “Ah, we'll get back to that in a moment. I assume this will be Adagio.”

You were so caught up in the moment, you almost forgot. You walk to the side as the mirror's glow intensifies and a mass of yellow fur and orange curls shoots through the portal, landing with a thud.

“Son of a biscuit, that hurt!” Adagio says. Also naked, although curiously, her spiky hair ornament is still there, keeping most of her massive mane raised.

Something's off... and Twilight sees it too.

Adagio's huge.

She struggles about, but seems to fare better than you did in at least climbing onto her front. After a few moments, she stands on shaky legs, and her mass of a mane and tail stop covering her. She's clearly the equivalent to her human seven foot height and expanded form. Since she's a full head taller than Twilight, and with your limited frame of reference, she's powerfully built. You also realise (due to no small part of your wandering gaze over your girlfriend's body) that her flank has a tattoo-like symbol. A musical note, a treble clef you think it's called, which fits her singing prowess, with a golden diamond slightly off to the side and in front of it.

Your pony brain tingles at her wide rump, thick thighs, broad, powerfully built body... damn it, Radian, stop, now's not the time. Clearly keeping Adagio's true size a secret as an ace in the hole has failed. Not a good start to the plan.

“Adagio Dazzle! Welcome home to Equestria! You're... bigger than I was expecting,” Twilight says, cocking an eyebrow. Do ponies even have eyebrows?

Adagio blinks and looks around, dazed and confused. Her eyes are distant as she sways. She almost falls over before Twilight's horn glows again and she catches your girlfriend mid-fall.

Either because of the magic or the near-miss, Adagio shakes her head, sending her thick curls whipping about, before she seems to try and focus. You know she's usually sharp enough to think on her hooves for this mess up of the plan, but she continues to struggle.

Far quicker than the gap between you and Adagio's entry, the mirror flashes to life again. Another pony, who you recognise as Sunset Shimmer thanks to her distinctly coloured mane and eyes, walks through on her hind legs, takes a few awkward steps, then drops to four hooves with a sigh. The pouch containing Sonata's stone is now tied around her neck.

Twilight breaks from her confusion and rushes to the newcomer. “Sunset! It's great to see you again!”

“Twilight!”

The two hug by hooking a foreleg and necks over one another's shoulder and pulling each other close.

Sunset breaks from the hug, smiles and nods to you, but then notices the still vacant Adagio. “Uh... why's Adagio twice as big as the rest of us?”

“I was hoping you would be able to tell me,” Twilight says, then they both glance at you.

You have to cover for Adagio or the suspicion is just going to keep building. “Uh, I believe I can explain,” you say, and pause as both stare at you while you try to make an excuse, racking your brain for everything you know about her. Oh, that would work. “I believe she's suffering some form of physiological, uh, inertia? I seem to remember that sirens were large beings, as grand as dragons. Perhaps, while the transformation due to the lack of their gems has made them earth ponies, some mass has been retained?”

The silence... oh damn, the silence! They're on to you, it's coming apar-

“Oh, I hadn't considered that!” Twilight suddenly smiles and brings a hoof up to tap her chin. “Mass is a bit like energy in that regard, where it doesn't just vanish, it-”

“Needs to be converted,” you finish.

Twilight beams a huge smile at you that makes you feel tingly.“Exactly! It's a little looser here in Equestria, since magic can be converted into mass and vice-versa, but many arcane phenomena still generally hold to the principles of energy conversion.”

Sunset glances between the two of you, then looks at Adagio again. “Well, I guess at least she's as big as her ego used to be.”

It comes as no surprise as Adagio finally snaps from her reverie, and glares at Sunset, then blinks. “I just feel a little weird, it's nothing,” she says, shakily and hushed.

“It may be some lingering vertigo from the portal,” Twilight says reassuringly. “Just tell someone if you feel worse, I'm sure we can get some ginger tea or have you see the palace doctor if it gets worse. Now,” she says and approaches the large mare, “allow me to formally greet you, Adagio. Welcome back to Equestria. You simply cannot know how humbling it is to see you approach us for help.”

Adagio nods, then stretches out her forelegs in an attempt to bow. She seems a lot better, as she puts on her best, ever so slightly forced smile. “And I can't tell you how grateful I am that you would accept me back, after what happened between us before.”

Twilight shakes her head. “Water under the bridge! Everyone deserves a second chance, and Sunset told me how you'd changed. I somewhat expected you to reconcile with your sisters in time, but to accept not only friendship from a human,” she says and briefly glances at you, “but love? I'm proud of you! Nothing makes me happier to see somepony accept another they once looked down upon so stringently. It's very noble.”

Sunset moves beside Twilight and adds, “it may have even been Radian that gave her the strength to talk to her sisters again.”

Twilight smiles at you and says, “a special somepony indeed! I think you'll fit right in, Radian. Oh, but it's getting late, and unfortunately I have a long day of meetings for the summit tomorrow. I'll see you in the morning to show you to the workshop, and I want to talk to you as well so we can get to know each other. I just had a few questions for Adagio before I let her go. Sunset? Could you escort Radian to the guest rooms? I take it you still remember the way from when you,” Twilight winks and finishes, “you know, performed your heist?”

Sunset awkwardly coughs, but nods. “Sure thing. Here, Twilight, take Sonata's stone.” Sunset's horn glows pale blue as she lifts the pouch off of her neck, the whole thing wreathed in the same colour, and she passes it to Twilight. The glow shifts colour to pink, and Twilight puts it in a small wooden box to the side.

Sunset then nods and trots up beside you. “Follow me. I wanted to talk to you for a bit anyway.”

You follow her to the exit, which she opens with her magic, and you head into a long corridor. Lots of doors, lots of glowing light fixtures, all of it crystalline and brightly coloured, but you start making note of where you're going; it could be crucial for a rapid escape. Even so, it's impossible not to be awestruck by the whole situation.

“This is all so unreal,” you say.

“I'm not surprised. It's not exactly easy going the other way, either. I may have mocked Twilight when she arrived in CHS, but I went through much the same awkwardness. Now, a few important things. Firstly, don't feel offended, but you're going to be watched while you're here. In the palace here, the guards have been advised to keep you wandering. Tomorrow, as Twilight said, she'll escort you to where they'll be repairing Sonata's stone and you'll meet your team, Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst. They're both brilliant. Star's one of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria, and Sunburst knows just about everything about... well, everything. You'll be helping them with your know-how on the stones and magical energy.”

“I'm guessing it's just going to be an advisory role? I can't exactly push any buttons with these hoo-” you say, and stumble as you go to lift a foreleg and crash to the floor. “Shit, ow...” you say, still compelled to self censor.

Sunset grimaces, but grins, “careful! You'll see ponies pull that move off, but it's a little advanced. You kinda have to hop on your other front leg while still keeping your back legs in the usual flow.” She helps you up, and you continue walking. “But no, Twilight's sent a book to your guest room that has instructions, usually meant for injured unicorns, on how to master their magic again. It should get you started with learning telekinesis. And since it's still early back in our world, I imagine you'll be up for a while as well. Hopefully you'll have plenty of time to study up.”

“What about Adagio? What will she be doing while I'm helping restore the stone?”

“Ah, she gets to enjoy the company of Twilight's closest friends! They're the same circle that me and our Twilight has; Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Rarity. They'll show her around the city.”

“I guess some people are just drawn together, huh?” You've theorised a few times that maybe your world is the reflection of Equestria... stuff like this just cements this stance.

“Like you wouldn't believe!” Sunset giggles. “Would you believe me if I told you that if Twilight and her friends hadn't met, Equestria would have been at serious risk? So many dire threats over the years. I don't know how much that holds true for us back home with me and the girls, but... I feel like if we can come to terms, you could well be pretty instrumental too.”

You hesitate and almost stop, which makes you stumble again. “And what will you be doing?”

“I've still got some old debts to pay, especially with Princess Celestia. Back when I lived here, I was still the same bully that... well, you know.”

You notice her ears flatten down... embarrassment or shame?

“She's forgiven me already, but there's still so much I've wanted to catch up on with her. Though the day after tomorrow, I was hoping to join Adagio with the others so we can start bonding!”

“I'm surprised you aren't going to be keeping an eye on one of us the whole time,”

“Hah, nah, I'm sure it'll be fine, but...” Sunset turns and nibbles her lip, and again her ears flicker back. “Look, Radian... I know you and Adagio are up to something. Twilight knows it as well. I may not have got a good read on it, but we're not idiots.”

You narrow your eyes. “Then why are we here? You could have said no.”

She nods. “We could have. I admit I would have. Twilight said otherwise. Despite everything, what I said to you when I read Adagio's mind was true; she does want to change and become better, and she definitely has feelings for you. That alone has given Twilight hope. But... I have my doubts. Especially since Adagio has refused to tell you what happened to her.”

“She said she would tell me, at least in time.”

Sunset stares you in the eyes for a moment, then bites her lip. “I can show you.” She raises her foreleg. “Take hold of my hoof.”

“I don't think so,” you say and scowl, “you've already dug through my head.”

Sunset smirks, and says. “What's Adagio like in bed?”

The fuck? “Hey, what the hell are you playing at?”

You notice her eyes glow white, as well as the blue glow around her horn. “Ooh, I always figured Adagio would either be a clean shaven or a thick and curly kinda girl,” she says as her eyes return to normal as you realise what she's just looked at. “Get your jaw off the floor, Radian. I can't just read thoughts through touch. Sometimes when my powers are stronger by the weird flow of magic back home I start hearing thoughts passively, albeit only surface thoughts. I can do it here too, but at will since my magic's just naturally stronger as a unicorn. More importantly, I've refined my powers enough that I can now share these memories with others, but that's still limited to touch.”

This feels wrong. A betrayal of your girlfriend's trust.

But... what could Sunset have seen that would make Adagio just shut down like she had before she met you? That outrage Adagio felt when Sunset saw it. Hell, the fact that Twilight still wants to help despite knowing you're both up to something?

You grimace; maybe it's scientific curiosity, or maybe you're weaker than you wish you were, but this could be drastically important. You balance on three legs, and hook your forelimb around hers.

And her eyes glow once more.

* * *

Chapter 20: Pride

“Later, boss,” Street Tough says.

I don't answer and let him leave. The asshole's just trying to suck up to me for a raise, like any damn human it's all about money. I just wait for him to walk away for a while before locking the bar's front door, then test it to make sure it hasn't broken again, because this place is pretty much just falling apart at this point. I don't know why I care. I swear I'll die here, so I might as well let it just fall even further into disrepair.

“Where did it go so wrong?” I whisper to myself.

I see myself in the stained, grimy glass windows and brush back my bangs. Little traces of wear and tear show as once more, life has to slap me in the fucking face that I have no power. If I had an easier life like I damn well deserved, maybe I could fight it off, but sleepless nights from my noisy asshole neighbours and late finishes keeping an eye on the bar just slowly sap my will to even try.

I check my phone and put the keys on their string around my neck and into my collar and rest between my tits, out of view and... normal touching space. This stage musical audition this weekend for 'My Mare Lady' is it. My ticket out of this hellhole. I've been practising my singing with that silly, self-pitying song, My Lullaby, but it's incomplete; it lacks a good bridge to the emotional ending, but I just... can't summon those feelings. It's yet another bit of proof that, without my powers and having to rely on my sluggish human brain and fallible voice, everything's hard work now.

Fucking Sunset Shimmer! Fucking Twilight Sparkle! And Aria, and Sonata!!

The little surge of anger feels good, but it just fades. The fight is gone in me. The thing that made me a siren, proud and powerful, truly is gone.

I sigh, shake my head and start walking home. The streetlights flicker and hum behind my back, the buildings seem a little closer than normal, the lights in the windows less signs of life than mocking eyes.

Just my breathing, the sound of my boots on the sidewalk. I'm just glad it's not a long walk.

I reach the alley when my phone buzzes. I look at it as I pass the alley; just Pinkie spamming everyone with party invitations. I have no idea why I agreed to keep her contact number.

… Maybe I should attend one.

Nah, fuck that.

Footsteps?

Someone grabs my shoulder and shoves me into the alley.

“Gimme your phone!”

I cry out, “get off me!”

I half expect it to be Street Tough messing with me, but I turn and see some guy I don't recognise, smell the stink of body odour and liquor. Then the world spins as he punches me in the face. Pain, dizziness, the shock and blurring.

I fall, my head scrapes against the brick wall and the phone falls from my hand, then clatters off somewhere. The man kicks me in the side and I slump onto a trash bag filled with something hard and jagged, coughing as I moan from the pain.

He snarls, “shit, where is it!?” The mugger scrambles about for a while, but can't find it. He grabs me again and I don't have the strength to fight him off as he brings me face to face and shakes me. For the first time since Twilight and Sunset were about to crush me, their magic made manifest as a towering alicorn avatar of their insipid friendship in the battle of the bands, I feel fear.

The man screams in my face, “where's the fucking phone!?”

A police siren blares up nearby, and releases me to flee. I slump to the floor as the siren moves away again.

My eye swells shut. I can feel blood trickle from a cut on my cheek. I should be furious. Terrified. Resolute. Something.

Nothing. Just hollow. I sit there in silence, back against the cold brick wall. The smell of garbage and refuse all over. No pride, no power, no self esteem. Just... nothing.

Minutes pass, my gaze fixed on the opposite wall. Eventually, I hear the buzz of my phone, the light of the screen glowing underneath a dumpster. Pinkie Pie sending more info about the party she's planning. I scoot over and pick it up and just stare for a while. Finally, after ignoring the message, I use the wall to stand. I'm dizzy, but force myself on.

I just carry on towards home. Most of the way back, I look to the side and see a freeway overpass. I'm drawn to it. Being high up always makes me feel some strange comfort. Damn, I miss flying.

The fence has been damaged since I moved here, but some stupid human kids pulled the opening even wider. It's a good twenty five foot drop into fast traffic. Cars charge by, their lights obscuring the makes, models, registration numbers. Just faceless.

Just like me. Who the fuck even am I any more? Would anyone even remember me if I threw myself off here? Besides the asshole who hit me first after landing on the road.

Probably Pinkie Pie. I laugh, harsh and sarcastically. She has a soft spot for everyone. I could even get help if I called her, she'd no doubt get her saccharine friends to stage an intervention or some bullshit. And that would no doubt involve Sunset.

I couldn't hate the other Rainbooms. It was all Sunset, and that Twilight bitch from Equestria. Yet I couldn't hate them either. They threw down the gauntlet. I took the challenge. They shone brighter. I lost. I fucked up.

But that wasn't all, was it? I kept going. I still had fight in me, even if I resigned myself to life as a human. Tried to get my sisters together, but the traitors just fucking left me when the going got tough and some asshole offered a better solution. But now? humanity itself bested me, but I couldn't hate them any more either. Not even the asshole who just tried to mug me. We're all just worthless here. Living life. This is all it is.

I laugh as I head home. I pass a couple, who give me a weird look as I just keep laughing, all the way until I get into my apartment. I lock the door. I hook the door chain. I feel the panic rise as the lingering adrenaline fully fades.

Then I just cry for hours.

Where did it all go so wrong?

*-**-*

You reel from Sunset's touch and realise you must have started crying as well. Adagio's sorrow was as real as any you'd felt. You wipe your eyes with your foreleg, and stumble to the floor again as Sunset looks sadly down at you, her own eyes glistening.

“I should have warned you that experiencing someone else's memories can be traumatic, but you had to see that. I fully believe she wants to change, but me and Twilight are worried! It's why we agreed to repair Sonata's stone. I read her memories, and we know she doesn't hate humanity the way the Dazzlings used to. She looks down on them a little, but she gets along, so we feel sure that if she's the only one with her old powers, it'll be alright.”

You struggle to your hooves, but say nothing.

Sunset continues, “I don't know what you and Adagio are trying to do, because Adagio's memories were staggered and blurry from where my reading was interrupted, but please, you have to believe me when I tell you that we want to help. Just remember that a siren's power comes from negative emotions, what will happen if she recovers her powers when she has that sorrow still trapped inside of her? She almost gave up!”

Adagio didn't give up. She came close, sure, but she never did. And you gave her help! You gave her a reason to believe in herself! You feel your anger begin to boil. “What you showed me changes nothing! Adagio's better now, and I helped her! Her sisters helped her! You're just meddling, and I feel dirty having fell for it! I shouldn't have looked... damn it!”

Sunset reels from the words, regretful and her ears fold back, but scowls in return. “You can believe that, or you can believe that in this world, emotions can have power. And trauma like that doesn't just vanish! If you're trying to give her back her powers, what happens if she can't control that grief? What if she betrays herself and turns against you? This is why I'm worried. You have to understand that I want to help, but we need to take our time and play it safe!”

You take a deep breath to stop yourself yelling at Sunset. You hiss, “I'll ask again. Knowing all that, why did you agree to let us come here?”

“Because Twilight believes you and Adagio. I want to! I honestly do! This isn't even about making it right between us, but it's all I can think of. To fight for you.” She approaches and puts a hoof on your shoulder. “Please, talk with Adagio. Ask her to come clean about whatever she's doing, so we can truly begin to help her! She needs time to heal inside, and I don't know if you can do it alone. We would be glad to let you stay here, so we can look after you both for a while, or just repair Sonata's stone and call it quits. We're on your side, Radian. No matter how much you try to push me away, I feel obligated to help.”

You almost tell her to get lost, but can't. Maybe it's this world, making you more agreeable, or some kernel of truth to what she said, but you just nod. You hope it's just to get her to leave you alone.

Sunset opens a nearby door, and lets you go.

You enter and close the door behind you. You need a distraction, and explore the room.

It's like nothing you've seen before. A huge bed, high ceilings, thick red drapes blocking a window as big as a room which let a sliver of moonlight through. It really is night time here. You've officially been transported through time and space. It's kind of awesome.

Back to the room, it's otherwise decorated with cabinets, a table, an en-suite bathroom with an actual bath! It's so luxurious! And all made of blue, purple and pink tinged crystal. You spend some time exploring the drawers and fixings; all sorts of brushes, towels, writing supplies, soaps, running hot and cold water. The lights seem to be powered by magic, having simple construction yet illuminate the room quite nicely, and turn themselves off when you move away from them.

There's even a bookshelf with a whole swath of various topics on Equestrian geography, history and more. You suspect this might be where an ambassador would stay so they could brush up on the topic. You'd love to read them when you get a chance; not only for the information, but you haven't owned books in ages. You had a few left over from... happier days, but they were left behind in your apartment when you were evicted. You couldn't justify keeping them on you.

You have a job to do, though, and true to what you've been told, there's an open book on the table. It's time to learn magic!

'Recovering horn function: Back to basics.' says the page. It's a well detailed account on engaging the magic that resides in a unicorns horn. How it's not too dissimilar to flexing a muscle, if a non-physical one: it can fall out of practice, lose function from damage (outside of a full break, which can't be recovered) and both situations need recovery time can atrophy a unicorns ability to cast spells. The problem is it's largely assuming the user is familiar with magic to some extent already.

Ah, but you are familiar, you think to yourself. You've literally harnessed it before you even had your current devices! You took crude readings from the initial burst, back when Sunset was a bully and Equestria's Twilight appeared.

Those early days of learning. The calculations! Crappy radio parts and an old antenna! You made it work! The signals, their frequencies... yes. It almost broke your damn mind, trying over and over and over again until you figured out how to 'clean' the magic signal, but you harnessed it!

The power of your world's sun interfering with the the weaker signal of magic as it passed between worlds. The way magic responds to astrological phenomena and fundamental forces like gravity, nuclear weak and strong force... all of these things were a struggle to compensate, to clear up the magical field. And as the dimensional tears worsened and spread, it's only become easier. IF you know that root conversion theory.

You suddenly hear the door open, and Adagio walks inside, then pushes the door shut with a back hoof. She still looks a bit off; tired, dazed and unfocused. She seems to come around as she looks at you.

“How's life as a pony, Ray? I may not have had much of an opinion on the human form, but you certainly look handsome now.”

“Not as breathtaking as you,” you say and smile at her. “But are you okay? You've looked a bit lost since you arrived.”

Adagio drops heavily on her rump, and blinks a few times. She sways a little, then widens her forelegs to help keep stable. “I don't know. I feel giddy, like I'm drunk, but I haven't touched a drop since that night before Sonata returned.”

“Twilight didn't cast anything on you, did she? Or did Sunset?”

She shakes her head. “They haven't done anything to me. Twilight just went over what was gonna happen, how you're gonna help repair the stone and I'm going to be watched by Twilight's friends, and how to walk. No, I've been feeling this ever since coming out of the portal. Like this hiss in my head... and this tingle. Like everything's moving.”

You reach for your emitter, but can't quite get to it with your hooves. Instead, you lift the holster strap with your leg, bite and pull it off, and carefully place the device on the table. “Maybe if I can scan you, I can work out what's going on.”

You pull the emitter free, and even get it in a position where you can access the panels, but the buttons are tiny compared to your chunky hooves. “Shit. This isn't going to work. Let me find a pen or something to push the buttons.”

“It's okay, Ray, it can wait,” Adagio says and wearily stands. “I'm going to get some sleep... I know it's midday back home, but I'm really wiped out.” She stops and blinks. “Home...?”

“Addy?”

“Uh, nothing! Don't worry about me, just talking to myself.” Adagio shakes her head again and clumsily climbs onto the bed, then uses her teeth to pull the cover over herself.

For a moment, you go to ask about what you saw from Sunset, but the last thing you want to do now is disturb Adagio when she's obviously not feeling great. Besides, until you've actually learned the method of repairing Sonata's stone, you've done nothing wrong, and you're still behaving as Twilight and Sunset expect of you. No sense causing a panic now.

Sighing, you return to the book and recover your thoughts about your original harnessing of Equestrian magic. You go over the material over and over and try to find some common ground with the signal. Those numbers. Over and over in your head. Sun signal, resonance, moon signal, resonance, local celestial signatures... no, you're overthinking this. Your sun and moon must barely register here. Just focus here and now.

The pages turn orange.

“Huh?”

The book moves.

“The hell?” you gasp as the book drops and returns to normal.

You here Adagio stir. “Ray?”

“Sorry, it's nothing,” you say.

“Okay.” She turns away, pauses, then rolls back over. “Um, actually...”

“What's wrong, Addy?”

She looks at you with bleary eyes. “I... I hate to bother you when you're working, you know I wouldn't normally do that, but I could really use some comfort right now.”

You chuckle. “You're hot even as a pony, Addy, make no mistake, but I don't know if I can... uh, 'perform' in this body. I'm still getting used to everything.”

“Huh? Oh!” Adagio giggles. “No, no! Nothing like that. Just... cuddling?”

Unexpected, but how could you say no to that? “Okay, sure.”

You climb into the other side of the bed. Adagio even lifts the covers so you can settle in, and you snuggle up to her. She smiles and wraps her legs around you, and holds you tight.

Unusual bodies, hard hooves and your coat bristling slightly against hers besides, the bed's the most comfortable thing you've ever rested on. You're not exactly tired, but you guess you didn't get great sleep because of the nerves going into today. You manage to get comfortable enough to begin to drift off.

“... never leave me...”

“You say something?” you whisper.

Adagio's sleeping soundly, and smiles softly, bathed in the gentle moonlight through the window.

* *

You wake up and it's still dark, and you suppose it was really more of a nap. Either way, your mind is buzzing with ideas and thoughts, most of them about learning magic.

You carefully pull yourself free from Adagio's powerful legs and roll off the bed. She grimaces a little, but continues to sleep, and you head back over to the book.

Once more those numbers roll through your head, you focus, and the pages turn orange. Luminous, enough that the table around it grows brighter with an amber light.

You're lifting the book off the stand with magic! You, Radian Wave, are casting magic!!

Years of hardship. That one spark of hope that you felt back in school, when you detected and recorded the Equestrian magic signal. Nobody believed in you, except mom.

Enduring the worst years of your life, overcoming all of it, meeting Adagio Dazzle, as well as her sisters, with your crude repurposing of magic through technology. Every single day where you doubted yourself yet struggled on, and every day you believed that, some day, you'd understand this force yet hit dead end after dead end.

And now you're here. You're in Equestria. And using magic!

“Mom... I made it.” you whisper as you smile upward at the window. “All my dreams. I followed them and never gave up, like you always said I should. Thank you.”

You continue to grin as you flip through the pages with your mind. Not to read them, you're far too excited right now. You remember what Adagio said about magic, with unicorns that can cast all sorts of spells. If you didn't have a purpose here already and a time limit, you'd love nothing more than to just study and master whatever you could.

You keep using your new power on all the objects, and it's strange. There's a tactile sensation to it, so you know you're handling something. You can squeeze and manipulate things in ways that you simply never can with hands. A loose piece of paper on the desk? You pick it up, fold it over and over until it struggles to fold any more, then you unravel it, tear it in precise, ninety-degree cuts. It's amazing! You even 'brush' your magic across the books like you would run your finger along the spines of such a thing back home.

But another thought comes to you; spells specific to a unicorn's personal gifts. A cutie mark, was it? You were so shocked at your own appearance, you didn't really have a chance to see if you had one, and you never really looked at Twilight, or Sunset's either because of how unusual it is to see these ponies as a whole, let alone... well, look at their asses, you guess.

Ah, so that was why you saw Adagio's cutie mark but not the others.

You're not a creep! She's your girlfriend, damn it, you're allowed to check her out.

There's a mirror in the bathroom, so you head in there and take a look at your flank. Sure enough, there's a symbol on each side of you.

It's a right pointing triangle. There's a horizontal line out of the left edge and out of the opposing point, with the left line leading to a small white star, and the right line to a bigger star.

You recognise the symbol from your old electrical studies. It's the symbol for an electric amplifier, and this one's amplifying what you can only perceive as magic.

Could it be? You pick up the book again and look it over. Sections about horn anatomy, afflictions that can cause magic mishaps. Finally, a section about spells when recovering. Exhaustion is expected from a long period of unused and so forth. Ah, here we go; spells pertaining to one's own cutie mark may be the best second step after recovering telekinesis due to them being both more familiar and, generally, easier for the unicorn in question.

That's... not terribly helpful, but informative, you suppose.

You look over the bookshelves for any helpful tomes, but nothing stands out. Then again, when you first tapped into your telekinesis, you did it by focusing on what you understood about magic. Specific frequencies and such. Surely, if your cutie mark depicts you as an amplifier, then the same holds true in terms of what you've been doing all this time; numbers for the frequencies.

Okay, positive unicorn signal, just imagine it. Let the numbers flow. It was a general feel-good sensation when you used the emitter on yourself.

Your fur stands on end, your mane sticks up, your horn crackles with power and you feel alive!! You cackle into a mad scientists... mad wizards laugh? You laugh, at any rate, but stop when you realise you might disturb Adagio.

Holy shit, so much energy! You go to take a book off the shelf, and pull it.

Only it launches across the room in the blink of an eye and explodes in a cloud of loose pages and string binding, as well as cracking the wall.

“Gah!” Adagio sits up, and you swear there's a slight whinny at the back of her voice. “What was that?”

“Uh... nothing, Addy, go back to sleep.”

She settles back down and you try to gather the pages with your magic, but trying to grab more than one page is... difficult. The book mentioned telekinesis can grab a large number of objects, but obviously that's a whole advanced level of use. It takes a while to collect them all, and you quietly stack the destroyed book on the table.

Okay, so you can literally boost your own magic! You really are an amplifier, and you suppose being in a land of magic, it's a far stronger reaction than using the unicorn signal on yourself back home with the emitter. No doubt you could do the same for the other pony types.

What about an anti-signal? It's a bit more complicated, with the fluctuating frequency, but it should be possible. Your horn once more glows, and you project a field of disruptive energy.

And promptly collapse.

* * *

Chapter 21: Pleasant

Goddamn, you feel awful. It's that morning after drinking all over again.

You force your head to think of the unicorn booster, and all that awfulness is just gone! Magic is awesome! Except when you use it to slap yourself with an anti-field and it knocks you out.

Standing is still awkward. You flail your limbs, finally connect hoof to floor, but still end up leaning on the table to stand. It's light outside now as well, though you see Adagio's still sleeping. You shake your head, and your mane flicks against your neck, which is a new experience. Same with your short tail whipping around.

You head to the bathroom, and the toilet looks like one of those ground level squatting ones you see in some countries. Makes sense, you guess. Even though you're naked already, and you don't need to touch anything as you use the facilities, you still wash your hooves in the sink.

After leaving the bathroom, and with the morning light radiating around the curtain and dancing through her glorious locks of hair, you see Adagio's eyes slowly open.

“Good morning,” you say.

She smiles at you and says, “morning, Ray!” Maybe it's the new form, or maybe she had a really good sleep, but it's different. Broader, less restrained. She rolls onto her front and fidgets to the edge of the bed, then climbs off.

Again, you're astounded by how big she is compared to you. It feels more pronounced than back in your world, and you suspect it's her height, her build and it's now being amplified by her being an earth pony. It's made even clearer as she wraps her forelegs around you and gives you a tight squeeze while resting her head on top of yours.

“You're obviously feeling better,” you say and hold her in return, even if you can't get as good a grip. “I'm glad. Frankly, with your shrink effect not surviving the the portal and how dazed you looked, it feels like we're already on the back hoof with this whole plan.” You snort and chuckle. “Hoof? There's something odd about this place. I keep catching myself using the local parlance.”

Adagio lets you go and stretches. You get lost in watching the muscles under her golden coat flex and move. It's hypnotic. She yawns and says, “I feel amazing. I thought that night we spent drinking together would have been my big reset, but today? I'm a whole new me!”

She's certainly bubblier than you expected. Saccharine, even. It's bordering on unsettling, if you're honest. Your Addy is perfectly pleasant to you these days, with doses of insightful criticism balanced with moments of glorious passion, rather than outright sweet.

Adagio suddenly turns towards the window and her eyes go wide. She approaches it, bites the pull cord and the curtains open, blinding you for a moment with the dazzling sunshine.

You recover, and Adagio's staring outside. You step up beside her, and witness the new world.

Crystalline buildings and roads beneath endless, perfect blue skies. Ponies of all colours are setting up market stalls by magic, hoof and teeth. Armoured guards patrol, yet smile, nod and wave to the civilians. Pegasi fly here and there, some in formation, others just gliding without a care in the world. You can even see there's two types of earth pony. Some are like Adagio, but others are curiously shiny, as if part crystal themselves.

You hear Adagio sniffle.

“Addy? What's wrong?”

Wet furred cheeks, tears cascading down and dripping off her chin and onto the floor.

“Radian, isn't it beautiful? I'm home!” She looks at you with such an exposed heart and open sobbing as the tears just keep flowing. “I'm finally home... I never thought I'd ever see it again...”

Okay, it's official. Something's deeply wrong with Adagio. You tap her with a hoof and say, “hey, snap out of it!”

Adagio blinks a few times, looks terrified, then shakes her head. She begins pacing on the spot, doing something between a trot and a potty dance as she says, “what the hay is wrong with me!? What was all that? The fu- the fuuudge ...dang it! What the buck is happening?”

You sigh with relief; it's still her, although she's maybe worse off in terms of being able to swear. For an honest second, you thought you'd just spent the night with an imposter. You take pick up your emitter using your telekinesis, but realise you're not skilled enough to hold and tap the buttons at the same time. Instead you bite the grip, use the tactile sensation of your magic to find the buttons to set it to scan, and try to get a reading.

Adagio's siren signal is all but depleted, presenting as a tiny rise on the spectrograph, and there's a wild cascade around her earth peak. Actually, it's less a peak, more a whole mountain. Strong and steady, with almost no deviance.

“I'm honestly not sure yet. This world's very different in how it handles magic. It's no longer traces, but vast clouds of the stuff all moving, gathering and fading. It wouldn't surprise me if me being a unicorn is throwing it off as well, like ambient interference.”

Adagio paces about in a more controlled manner. “It's fine. I just need to remain focused. This is too important!” She may be saying that, but it's obvious she's still close to a panic.

“There's a really nice bath in there,” you say and point to the bathroom, “maybe try relaxing for a bit and collect yourself?”

“Right, good idea,” Adagio says and takes a few long, controlled breaths, then heads off.

You need to write some ideas and theories down to mull over, so you gather some writing supplies together. Then realise that writing isn't exactly feasible with hooves.

You gather a lot more loose paper and practise writing with magic. You'd think learning how to write again would be a chore, but the whole mundane made fantastic angle is tremendous. This world never fails being an adventure.

Finally, after scrawling some halfway decent, legible writing and a basic list of theories to expand on when you get a chance, Adagio exits the bathroom.

She's dripping wet and has thrown a few towels over herself. Her mane and tail droop down to the floor as she carefully walks towards you, worried about stepping on her trailing mane. You start getting lost in the way her wet fur clings even more firmly to her powerful body when she grumbles and says, “a little help here, Ray? I have no idea how earth ponies get dry without rolling around on the floor like a dog.”

You smirk and pick up a towel with your magic, and begin drying Adagio off. You won't deny it; that weird the telekinetic feedback? You're feeling Adagio's new body with it. You're no country boy, you've never really even liked horses (in a sort of rebellion against the CHS and their Wondercolt mascot and everything), but this is dangerous to your focus. Her thickness, the sheer width of her haunches... she's incredible to feel.

Eventually, you've dried her enough so you open a drawer, lift over a hair brush and begin the painstaking process of getting all her coat, mane and tail in order. Adagio even hums to herself as she sighs with pleasure and closes her eyes. Human or pony, she still loves it.

It's not a tune you're familiar with. You're about done with your task, and put her spiky hair band on to finish the look, when-

“For so very long I've had a heart of stone,

Just carried on, soulless and all alone,

I lost the way ahead, I lost my will~!”

She's singing, faint, quiet and tender.

“Living blurred together, just as bleak,

Every day drained me, left me weak,

This was my life; the final, bitter pill~,

There was no way out, but then, oh, what I saw!

Oh, what I saw!”

Adagio turns to you with a huge smile as she belts out with a passionate, energetic voice.

“What I saw was somepony that my heart's worth beating for!”

Your emitter beeps as a pink flash occurs near the door. A female voice gasps, and you want to look at who or what just appeared. Really, you want to, but you can't take your eyes off Adagio as she bolts off, prancing around the room. She reaches the window, shoves it open and leans out, her mane billowing in the wind.

“So as my heart began to beat anew,

And once more there was so much I could do!

A life to live, and songs to sing~!”

“Life had colour, and the joys it brought,

I witnessed wonders I'd have never even thought,

I couldn't wait to see what else life would bring~!

And it's all because of you, the one I adore!

The one I adore!

Because you are somepony that my heart's worth beating for!”

She's a burning star. An exploding supernova of life and energy. Raw, unparalleled. Beautiful and filled with light.

“I feel our souls ignite and grow,

No walls or places we can't go,

The world's now ours to explore and find~!

You gave me back my strength, my family,

A golden horizon I can't wait to see!

With you and me, two of a kind~!

And now we're together, forever-ever more!

Forever-ever more.

You're truly somepony that my heart's worth beating for!”

Adagio trots over to you and raises a hoof to bring your muzzles close together. So close you see the fine hairs on her snout move from your own breath. Your lips all but touching.

“To whom my beating heart belongs, forever true...

Oh, my Ray of sunshine, I love y-”

*BANG*

“Breakfast fudge!” A high pitched squeal pierces you as the door slams open!

Adagio screams, rears up her hind legs and lifts you off the ground in a panicked hug.

You both look at the doorway and a pink earth pony stands with a huge grin, bearing a tray that's strapped to her head, cushioned by a thick mass of darker pink curly hair and covered in a pile of, apparently, breakfast fudge cubes.

She bounces into the room without a care in the world, and chirps, “get your super, sumptuous, sensational summit spectacular edition breakfast fudge right here! Filled with oats and hay to get you moving on this crystal summit day! I got it, you want it! Even if you don't. Especially if you don't! I don't wanna brag, but this fudge is the best I've ever made!”

You and Adagio glance at each other, then back at the pink intruder.

She blinks at you with her big blue eyes and tilts her head (yet doesn't drop a single cube). “Did I oversell it again? I oversold it, didn't I?”

“Pinkie!” Another intruder enters. This one a white unicorn with an indigo mane and tail that look meticulously groomed, flowing and very fashionable. She's undeniably beautiful and moves with an elegant grace. She says, in a well spoken manner, “we're not supposed to be in here! Now, you apologise and-”

She stops, gasps and stares at Adagio, who starts losing her balance and drops you before landing on all fours again, but raises one foreleg again as if to defend herself.

The unicorn takes a few cautious steps towards Adagio before she says, “that lustrous, voluminous mane! Those curvaceous, long, well sculpted legs! Your immaculate hooficure! Why, darling, you look spectacular! I thought I knew all the ponies of note about the summit, but you? I don't suppose you follow the modelling circuit?”

“Uh... no,” Adagio says, and seems to relax at the compliments. “But thanks?”

“Well, you should! You would dominate any show with your regal height, paired with that natural power and dark, seductive gaze!” The new unicorn then pulls Pinkie beside her with a foreleg, leans against her friend, points at Adagio and says, “see, Pinkie? With a good conditioner and a mere hour of brushing, your thick curls could look just as glamorous. First impressions are so important these days, and you do sometimes come off a bit strong. An appealing and well organised coiffure would soften your more dramatic aspects.”

“Fudge this good waits for no mane, Rarity! Except on mine,” Pinkie giggles and taps the tray on her head with a hoof. “Where it's waiting to be eaten, I mean! Have you even tried it?” She extends her tongue like she's part frog and plucks a cube from the tray on her head.

Rarity purses her lips as a blue aura radiates from her horn. A like-glowing cube of fudge levitates in front of her, where she eyes it warily, then takes a tiny bite. “Well, no, but I fail to see how...” Her eyes go wide. “... oh my... well played, Pinkie. This is the finest breakfast fudge, if indeed the only breakfast fudge, I've ever eaten. It is positively a triumph!” She pops the rest in and savours the treat.

“Right?” Pinkie giggles, then reaches skyward with her forelegs and yells, “everypony must taste this! Everypony!!”

You whisper to Adagio, “what the hell's going on? These ponies are crazy.”

Adagio stammers, but fails to come up with an explanation, merely shaking her head.

A new, third intruder says in a harsh, southern drawl of a whisper, “what in the name of Granny Smith's girdle are you two doin' in here!?” This one an orange coated, blond, pony-tailed earth mare with a build similar to Adagio's, though nowhere near as grand in height, and wearing a cowboy hat. “Twilight said this whole wing was off limits!”

“Oh, Applejack, forgive me,” Rarity responds, sheepishly tittering. “I was attempting to apologise for Pinkie Pie's own interruption, but I got rather distracted myself.”

Applejack huffs, approaches you and Adagio, hooks a hoof around her hat and pulls it off as she gives a respectful half-bow. “Beggin' your pardon, folks. Pinkie's always gettin' into places she shouldn't, and Rarity's got a soft spot for fancy lookin' folk. I'll just wrangle 'em up and we'll be out of your manes lickity-split. Although, I've gotta say, a gal as big as you has-”

“Girls!” A voice from the door. Nopony's in the doorway, but this time, the door itself swings to a close. It reveals a wall-embedded, part-flattened Twilight Sparkle, who falls away from a her-shaped impact crater. She stumbles a bit, shakes her head and sighs as she gives the three a frown. “Would you mind? These are the special guests I mentioned.”

Applejack balks, gives Adagio a panicked look, then nervously backs away. The turns to her fellow intruders and says, “c'mon, you two!”

“Oh, wait just a second!” Pinkie squeaks and all but teleports herself up to you and Adagio, shoving a couple of fudge cubes in your mouths. “Tell your friends!”

Applejack bites Pinkie's floofy tail as she drags her friend to the exit, and Rarity follows.

Twilight smirks and levitates a fudge cube from Pinkie's tray for herself before kicking the door shut behind her friends.

She pops it in her mouth and says, “shorry about that, but- oh, wow... thish ish good fudge. Pinkie's really outdone hershelf thish time.”

There's no two ways about it, and ordinarily you're not a fan of sweet things this early in the day, but this is some amazing fudge. The oats give it substance, there's a subtle tang to offset the sweetness that's got a good punch of cinnamon, amongst other spices. And the hay? A revelation! Maybe it's the chewing aspect, or the fact you're equine, but you're savouring every second. Adagio's into as well, smiling softly to herself as she masticates the treat.

Twilight waits for everyone to finish eating before she says, “like I was about to say, don't mind my friends. They get up to all sorts of mishaps and misadventures, and I hope they didn't make you uncomfortable.”

“No harm done,” you say.

Adagio nods. “It's strange seeing different versions of the same people...”

“The weirdest part is how similar, yet distinct they are from their contemporaries in the other world,” Twilight says and glances at the door with a smile. “They share personalities, but it's their experiences make them unique.”

Adagio looks lost in thought. “True. They seemed okay, though. Although I swear this Pinkie's a bit weirder.”

Twilight smirks. “She takes some getting used to, but you'll not find a sweeter mare. Anyway, I'm getting distracted. Once you two are prepared, we should get going. Radian, I'll meet you outside the palace gates. I wanted to chat with you on the way to the workshop. And Adagio? You're going to be kept company by my friends, if you're still okay with that?”

Adagio's eyes narrow. “To keep an eye on me, right?”

Twilight meets Adagio's stare, and simply nods. “I have no intention of lying to you about this, but that is part of it. Nor am I going to sugarcoat the fact you once represented a threat to Equestria seldom seen before or since your time. But I hope we can put aside old grudges.”

Adagio smirks and stands tall before Twilight, as if challenging her, but you interject, “we're here to repair the stone, Princess Twilight, and I'm more than happy to share with you my findings about Equestrian magic. We're not here to cause trouble.”

“I hope so,” Twilight says and smiles. “In fact, I suspect we may even become friends, even if you may not think so right now.” She approaches Adagio, firm and completely unafraid. Like when you first met Aria, there's a clash of presence, and Twilight's feels unshakable.

Adagio even leans back on her haunches and sits down, as Twilight gently puts a hoof on Adagio's chest.

“I heard your song. I could feel the good in you radiating from within as you bore your soul to Radian. You're not the same girl I fought at the Battle of the Bands. And you're definitely far removed from the siren you were in Equestria's past. You've changed, or perhaps changing. You may not understand it now, but you will. No matter your intentions on coming here, I believe you will return home so much greater than you believe yourself to be.”

Adagio's mouth opens as Twilight steps back, but she doesn't say a word. She just stares at the disturbed fur on her own chest.

Twilight then looks at you. “As for you, Radian, I can't wait to hear your theories on magic; it will be fascinating hearing an new perspective, and your knowledge and experience will serve you, Adagio, Aria and Sonata well. The sirens owe you a great deal for what you've done. But enough of that for now. I'll be waiting outside when you're ready, and the sooner we get moving, the sooner we can help your friends.”

Twilight horn glows and she vanishes with a pink flash.

Damn, did she just teleport!? You've got to learn how to do that.

You look at Adagio as she continues to stare down at herself. “She's right...”

“What do you mean?”

“... I can't trust myself, Ray,” Adagio says. “The feelings from last night, my weird, uncontrollable behaviour? Bursting into song!? I'm compromised, and even now, I can feel that... bubbly, emotional side seeping into my head. It wants me to give in, to play nice, to go and frolic. I don't think I can stop it.”

“Maybe there's some way I can prevent it? I could try a few ideas with my emitter.”

Adagio shakes her head. “You've got more important things to do, Ray. This whole plan is already falling apart, but we can only hope they don't know about the other stones. You needed to remove them to make the emitter work properly again anyway, so hide them somewhere and don't tell me, just in case.” She stands and puts a foreleg around your shoulder. “Ray? I have to leave this whole thing in your hooves. From this point onward, you can't trust me.”

Shit, this sounds dire. “Adagio...”

She grimaces and squints, like she's getting a headache, then leans down. “Ray. No matter what, it's up to you, so I want you to swear to me: promise you'll do the right thing for us. For you, me and my sisters, no matter what happens. Even if it goes against the plan, if something changes and you feel it's necessary to help us, I trust you to use your judgement. Be you. Be empirical and scientific, the way I know only you can.”

You look deep into those dark pink eyes and nod. “No matter what, I'll do what's best for us. On my life, I promise.”

Adagio smiles and pulls you closer still, and you kiss deeply. Passionately.

She suddenly breaks away and stumbles. She shakes her head, turns to you and, in a higher pitched, perky tone says, “and have fun, okay? Seeya later!” Adagio heads out of the room.

Once upon a time you'd have loved to see a more pleasant Adagio. Those early days of meeting her when she was at times openly hostile. But you learned to see the good in her for who she was, for what she had gone through, realised how strong it made her, resilient to the same harshness that life can bring which you, too, had felt. She's even tutored you in using the worst parts in life as a way to stand back up and fight back. You love her.

This new Adagio scares you. And it makes you even more determined to do right by her, for accepting you, for loving you. Everything you do now is for her, and her sisters.

No matter what it takes.

* * *

Chapter 22: Volatile

Author's Note

I usually try to let the writing speak for itself, but I feel compelled to say that this chapter was rough to get in a place that I'm all that happy with.
I hope it works, because I suffer from an issue where, if I spend too long adjusting, correcting and modifying a piece of writing, I begin to lose sight on how to really stop tweaking it, and eventually it becomes a mess that I can't really discern the good from the bad.
I hope it's enjoyable and doesn't break the narrative, though. If it does, and in a drastic way, I might end up taking it down and trying what would end up being probably the fifteenth rewrite.
So... enjoy. Hopefully.

Chapter 22: Volatile

Your work today is crucial, so everything needs to be working as best as it can. This also ties into hiding your contraband after Adagio's now pulled out of her ability to help, so both her and Aria's stones have to come out of your emitter. You stow them high on a bookshelf, out of sight. You then put the device back together, strap it around your neck and shoulder and leave your room to find Twilight.

You're guided out of the palace by a few of the guards, and even see the same ponies that intruded in your room waiting in one of the hallways, all huddled around the towering Adagio. They wave as you pass, the most enthusiastic being the still oddly chipper Adagio. You stop briefly to pay the courtesy back and notice they're now joined with two others who you know must be Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

Being similar to your world's versions, you can already hazard a guess that the blue coated, rainbow mane and tailed Dash is a lively, sporty show-off, while the pink maned and yellow bodied Fluttershy lives up to her name by being the quiet, shrinking violet type with an affinity for animals.

Irrelevant for now, but it's good to keep them in mind since they're going to be keeping an eye on your Addy.

You finish the long walk through the busy halls, with many so-called 'fancy folk' on the prowl, including other ponies with clothes (which makes you jealous), cat-bird hybrids (griffons), a pair of dragons, one with blue and one with orange scales, and other weird and wonderful things you can't even begin to identify, and reach the outdoors.

It's just as beautiful and vibrant as you saw from the window, barely diminished by being on the ground. The palace towers above and behind you, to beautiful blue skies that are staggeringly clear. Canterlot City's hardly a densely populated place, but it still has a degree of smog that gives a faint haze at all hours. Here? You can't wait to get a good look at the stars without all that light and actual pollution.

Speaking of stars, you see Twilight, who has a six pointed purple one surrounded by surrounded by smaller specks as a cutie mark, and she waves you over. “We'll take the scenic route, so I can show you around the city a bit before you get to work.”

She's being pretty cordial for someone who's apparently been told you and Adagio are up to something. You smirk. “And here I was expecting to just be shepherded straight to and from the place like a prisoner, or interrogated and searched.”

Twilight just smiles at you. “Why? Are you carrying something you shouldn't, and if you are, would you admit it?”

You don't answer. This feels like a trap.

“Anyway, you're just being dramatic,” Twilight giggles, “you're not prisoners. We're just being careful, that's all. The summit is important, as the many races of this land are all debating various, incredibly boring issues which I unfortunately have to be party to, and some of the dignitaries are easily offended, so that's why we don't want you wandering too far without escort. If all goes well, I'd like to hope you'll spend more time here, and by then, things should be a lot more relaxed.”

“I won't lie,” you say as you head through the city streets, “that's kind of what I've wanted ever since discovering magic and that this place was the origin, and it's only becoming more and more attractive a prospect the longer I spend here... well, besides Adagio feeling odd.”

Twilight nods. “There were all sorts of unknowns with a former siren returning as a pony, doubly so since she's technically been away from here for hundreds of years. I would ask her if she wants to be examined, but I suspect you'd rebuke my offer. Still, if you do want our help, you're welcome to it.”

Best to at least offer a platitude. “I'll consider it, but we have work to do.”

“Well, it's still some way before we reach the workshop. We have time to chat, and I understand you're quite the scientist! I'd love to hear your take on Equestrian magic. Each of the type of pony responds to it in a particular way. If I recall correctly, you've already seen that even us ponies differ considerably, and not just in appearance. I'm curious to hear your opinions. Consider it a test.”

“A test, huh?” You grin. “I have a list of theories.”

“You just can't beat a good list,” Twilight sighs, as if thinking of a lover. “Okay. Earth ponies.”

“Considering their greater than average strength, toughness and affinity with agriculture, I suppose earth ponies contain their magic inside themselves to some extent, and their longer time spent tending crops means there's some degree of transfer.”

Twilight grins. “Go on.”

“I assume unicorns are as straight forward as drawing and projecting magic with their horns. Not dissimilar to how I've harnessed magic; a sensitive antennae that can draw magic from without and within and channel it into other purposes. I assume it's possibly tied to the nervous system in some way as well.”

Her smile widens. “And?”

“I have the least experience with pegasi and I'm no expert on aerodynamics, but it seems to me that their flight shouldn't be possible on such small wings, and they manipulate clouds, correct? So I suppose their magic extends to their immediate vicinity, empowering the air in some form to grant more lift and solidifies vapour when it's pressed against them. Basically, the magic emits from them in a sort of induction loop-style field. Uh... sorry, I should explain-”

“I know what an induction loop is. That's a surprisingly apt simile. Very impressive, Radian, those are close enough to how most scholars depict arcane flow with ponies. Of course, absolute answers are fleeting. I'd like to see you attempt to explain something Pinkie Pie and her sisters can do sometimes. It borders on precognition, yet it's not something they can either do consistently, nor willingly. It just happens.”

“I'll take your word for that, but... wait,” you scoff, “how do you know what an induction loop is? I know you've been to my world, but to understand the mechanics behind wireless power seems a little far-fetched”

Twilight hops up and down a little, her wings fluttering. “Oh, Sunset and my human counterpart send me books from your world on occasion. Science journals, novels, all sorts of things!” She takes a deep breath. “It's fascinating to see how a world without naturally occurring magic substantially diverges from what should, theoretically and based on the principle that our worlds have shared dimensional borders for thousands of years, be a similar degree of scientific progress. Yet some aspects of life here are substantially behind yours, while comparable in others! Like how music and sound systems are surprisingly similar, yet we haven't created complicated computers, readily accessible internal combustion engines such as in automobiles and so many other modern conveniences that I'm sure you consider prosaic, but to us would be considered technological wonders!”

And your jaw goes slack.

Twilight continues, “speaking of technological wonders, I've been fascinated by that emitter of yours! Would you mind telling me about it?”

Okay, she's smart, but it's time to flex. You clear your throat, brandish your emitter and say, “it's a custom designed, hand constructed and personally programmed broad spectrum radiation transmission, emission and reception apparatus, with an on-board amplifying, converting and detection computer system. Of which it can replicate and broadcast such frequencies in a style not dissimilar in form, but in a fine-tuned repurposing of the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing coding method commonly used to transfer data, but naturally used with biologically receptive energy transfer. The reception and redistribution of energy also has minimal yield loss, to whit I approximate it runs at 97.49% efficiency on average.”

Twilight's eyes go wide and her jaw just as slack as yours went, as she stares between the device and you.

“Well, with a variable of about 0.03%,” you say, smugly. “My own energy conversion algorithm. I earned my doctorate with it.”

“Ooh!” Twilight bounces on her hooves even quicker. “Impressive, and in such a small device!? The fact that you can collect and convert energy from all the many types of native flora and fauna from this world, piece it together through portals, both the manufactured, common-supernatural collection points and potentially even anomalous arcane-well format varieties, and repurpose the yield with such efficiency!? That's genius! There's so many ways that could go wrong! Or lose so much through interference that the exercise becomes pointless!”

Oh, she's practically singing to you with her understanding! “Right!? Nobody seems to care about how hard it is to work these details out! You can't just grab energy and throw it back! You need to 'scrub' it, project a carrier field and only then can you let it loose, so that it can travel without losing its potency or clarity! There're so many steps!”

People are staring as you both geek out. You both start rambling in theories, countering each other with your respective knowledges of magic and technology.

You can't deny it, as you continue walking along and lose track of time 'talking shop,' but Twilight Sparkle's hot. And not just because of your recently discovered fetish for tall, powerful mares... women... whatever. She gets you and what you say in a way that you've never felt before. Even Adagio's had to learn your craft, and has become interested over time, and mom was super supportive but you knew she just believed you, not necessarily understood you. Twilight just is, and you respect that tremendously.

Damn. If you were looking to deflect attention and distance yourself from Twilight, then you've failed. You keep stealing glances at her, and as the conversation winds down, you notice her staring at you as well. You've bonded, and in a big way.

“Oh, we should get a move on,” Twilight says. “And we might as well make a lesson out of it! How about we teach you to trot?”

“Sounds good,” you answer. You walk everywhere back in your world, but never understood the joy some get in hiking, jogging or whatever. In a whole new body, though? New variables for an old action? Absolutely. For science!

Twilight moves beside you, and she says, “it's fairly simple, going back to the number convention. Let's start with a walk.”

You walk beside each other

“And then move up to one and four, two and three, alternating!”

Any concerns of losing balance fly out of your head as you begin bouncing in the 'angled' gait, essentially hopping between the two pairs of hooves, and find yourself moving at a light jogging pace! Walking was interesting, but a trot's actually fun. You chuckle as you settle into a good rhythm. “Anyone ever tell you you're a good teacher?”

“I try my best,” she says. “I've also had a lot of help along the way. Between my mentor, Princess Celestia, and my friends, with their varied and considerable experiences, and all the other wonderful ponies that have humbled me in how my preconceptions should be tested and expectations shattered. Someone as clever as you must have had some peers, right?”

“Yeah, I guess.” You force a smile, but Twilight's expression turns concerned as she reads you, so you confess, “okay, not really. I learned most of what I know through books, hard work and old fashioned trial and error. Until recently, I worked solo.”

“You're well adjusted, all things considered, but you must have had some friends. I know there were some smart students back in Canterlot High School. Oh, what was his name? Micro Chips? What about him?”

That's an old name, and like most things tied to school, they aren't great memories. “We got on to begin with, same with the rest of the 'techies,' but that just made us a bigger target from Sunset. Then she realised I was the weak link of the group since I'd respond the most to her crap. Even when she wasn't around, I just carried my anger and resentment more openly and lashed out over stupid stuff. Eventually, I just stopped hanging out with them and skipped school a lot when it got too much.”

“You must have had somepony to confide in, right? Even the brightest of us has to learn from others from time to time. In fact, the greater the individual, the more they must learn to appreciate others. I wouldn't be where I am today without my friends.” Twilight frustratingly pulls off that three-legged walk as she gestures forward with a foreleg, as she says, “the strongest of us must lean the heaviest, lest they fall the hardest. I believe there's a human expression in the same vein... ah, yes, 'no man is an island,' I think?”

You think on her words for a moment. “I have Adagio now, and her sisters, but before that I only had my mom, I guess. She always supported in me. She believed in me when I said I could harness magic. Even I would have thought myself insane if she didn't so flatly say believed me. That I should pursue it to the very ends of my abilities. I always regret never finishing and perfecting even my first device before she passed away, to prove that her faith wasn't wasted. She inspired me and was my source of strength, despite being frail.”

Twilight's ears flatten back and she looks torn up. “I'm so sorry to hear that, Radian. It's easy to forget how terrible Sunset once was. I know she did some horrible things to many people, but she's since tried to made amends and grew to be accepted by most. She told me you avoided her for the rest of your time in Canterlot High when she tried to apologise.”

You grimace and stop trotting as the anger boils over. “I don't want her apology! She cost me my mom. If she hadn't ruined my science fair project, maybe my parents wouldn't have split and put her under strain! Maybe she would still be alive!”

She's silent as she turns to face you, just the same sorrowful expression. You expect a rebuttal. It never comes.

“I'm guessing she's already told you about that?” you say to break the silence.

“Yes, she told me what she had done.” Twilight sits down and takes a deep breath. “I won't insult you by pretending to understand how that feels. But I do understand that, coming from a background with so few individuals on whom you could rely, the fact you have achieved happiness with Adagio, Sonata and Aria is phenomenal. I'm glad you've found your place.”

“And? No preaching about forgiving Sunset?”

“She's a close friend of mine, so normally I'd feel obligated to ask on her behalf, although I know she has already tried to assist you in her own way and has apologised. However, we have more pressing issues to discuss.”

That... was unexpected. “Wait, really? Like what?”

Twilight says, “as a peer of the sciences, and since we are on the way to what is ostensibly a laboratory, I feel I should prepare and educate you.”

“I think I'm adequately prepared. I know a fair bit about the stones, and magic, what else do I need to know?”

Twilight smirks, “very well, then I'll test you; what artefact is known to cause a drastic increase of magical power in the wielder, cannot be removed once applied and induces a negative affectation on the mental acuity of the bearer?”

Is this a joke? “A siren stone. Sunset's already given me that speech, so yes, very funny, although there is no evidence of the stone having such an effect on the sirens themselves, when it could just have been an environmental factor, and I'd question the stone being 'wielded' or-”

“Incorrect,” she interjects. “I was describing the alicorn amulet. I respect your knowledge of magic as an outsider of this world a great deal, Radian, but we're going to a facility that deals in all sorts of unusual and abnormal items. How they work, both on the individual using it and those around them, is an important lesson of its own. I'd like to cite two examples.”

You chuckle. “Okay, that I can get behind. It reminds me of the health and safety tour back in the tech firm I worked for. Okay, lay it on me.”

“Well, the alicorn amulet was a curious case. A friend of mine named Trixie wielded it.”

You chuckle. “What, no titles? Great and Powerful or whatever? I'm a little disappointed.”

“She's at an interesting middle-ground where she's becoming a legitimately skilled magic wielder in her own right, and has lost enough of her ego to become personable without ever quite losing her quirks. She has more titles than I have, that's for sure.” Twilight giggles. “She's a good pony though, and I like her a lot these days, it's just a shame our first encounter was so messy. She bought the alicorn amulet in retaliation to being shamed and kicked out of Ponyville to get revenge on me. It amplified her powers, but made her paranoid, helplessly vain and extremely egotistical.”

Twilight stops and taps her chin with her hoof. “Scratch that, those last two are just kind of her thing, albeit amplified. Again, she's never been a bad pony. Just a braggart and a bit self-centred. The paranoia was definitely new.” She continues trotting. “Anyway, the artefact made her crave ever greater power, and thanks to her addled mind, I was able to trick her into removing the amulet by tempting her with a fake by using slight-of-hoof with the help of my friends.”

“Okay, so don't put on artefacts without due cause, and be wary of those that can afflict the mind.” You give her a sideways glance. “Also you're sneakier than you let on.”

“Guilty as charged,” Twilight titters. “Now, the second example is a little closer to home. I don't suppose you remember something called the memory stone?”

“I'm not trying to be cute, but no, I don't remember something called a memory stone.”

Twilight grins. “That's not surprising. What about Wallflower Blush?”

“I think so? I can't put the name to a face, though.”

“Also not surprising,” she says and nods. “Sunset did say you weren't always at school. Wallflower Blush found one of many roaming magical artefacts in the human world, since ponies of the past often removed especially dangerous ones foolishly in an 'out of sight, out of mind' way by using portals to this world before we truly understood the ramifications. The memory stone was one such case, and Wallflower used it to great effect in more or less becoming 'invisible'. She could do as she pleased, and use the stone to erase the memory of anyone who saw her. She also grew to dislike Sunset as she became popular with the rest of the students at CHS, yet would never remember her.”

“A shame we didn't meet,” you say with a huff. “A kindred spirit, although my problem was Sunset would always zero in instead of ignore me.”

“Hmm.” She analyses you for a moment, then continues, “well, her resentment at being ignored grew so great that she eventually made everyone forget Sunset's reformation. It worked, as even her closest friends still thought of her as the bully she used to be and refused to believe her attempts at apologising again. The way everyone treated Sunset, with fear and hatred, even made her revert to her old ways, becoming abusive and forceful once more. It was around this time she befriended another outcast of sorts in the form of your world's Trixie. They bonded; Sunset being hated, and Trixie generally being seen as self-centred, but they learned to like one another. So a small lesson you can learn here is that there's good in many people where there's common ground, but I digress.”

You squint at Twilight and wonder how much of this is about an artefact, and how much this is about Sunset.

“Sunset tried to steal the stone back from Wallflower, lashing out with anger in response to being genuinely wronged by her, but Wallflower fought back with the memory stone. It was only when Sunset thought ahead to leave notes for herself to remind her of what was going on that she caught on, but also finally realised that it isn't enough to just notice and acknowledge someone else, but one has to reach out with kindness. Something I believe you know something about with Adagio. You could have just used her knowledge of magic and moved on, but you stayed and helped her. It's admirable.”

You sneer. “Since this is just a long winded tirade about my relationship with Sunset, just get it over with.”

“I shall,” Twilight says, undeterred. “So, Sunset attempted to apologise to Wallflower, but her grudge was too deeply rooted. However, Sunset's friends overheard that the memory erasure was true. In desperation, Wallflower tried to erase all their memories of high school as a whole out of spite against Sunset.”

“I'm guessing something stopped Wallflower?”

Twilight nods. “Sunset threw herself in the way. It stripped her of all her memories as a human. I can't even imagine how terrified she must have been, reverted to a pony in mind with no experience in a strange world and an unfamiliar body.”

Sunset's one thing, but hurting anyone like that sounds especially harsh... that would be devastating. Possibly even dangerous and traumatic. You can't help but remember what Adagio said about appearing in the human world, bereft of any of their memories. What you said about the environmental factor of the sirens hating humans because of how different they are also comes to mind.

Twilight continues, “but seeing Sunset's sacrifice awoke the deep connection her friends one another. Their combined magic destroyed the memory stone and, thankfully, released all their memories. Wallflower and Sunset apologised and reconciled, and that whole affair had a happy ending. Any insights from this story?”

You flinch but don't answer. Your emotional side is digging in its heels, but you can't help but see the nobility in what Sunset did. An entirely self-sacrificial action. Not to mention the flaws she showed as well, by reverting back to old habits when they did her no favours. Her nature laid bare and it's not pleasant. It's a volatile feeling, but one you can't ignore as it humanises your nemesis.

It's also not unlike Adagio, when she abandoned you to her sisters; just an abuser of people. And how by fighting against it, even dragging Aria along with her now, Adagio has proven how much better she can be. Fighting against their natures by trying to be better. Shit even you have done this. The introverted geek actually going and taking risks in fighting those old ways, making your life immeasurably better.

You say, “fine, I get it, Sunset has good qualities. She was still the catalyst in my mom passing away.”

“She was. Once. And she was an unwitting catalyst amongst many tragic circumstances. That fact anchors her back to her old self and stops her growing, as evidenced by how she disappointingly forced her powers on Adagio out of fear and paranoia. Just as I see you revert from an enthusiastic, good hearted and brilliant scientist to someone with a closed mind because of a grudge, which are dangerous things. They pin us, and others, to places from which we can never escape from unless we learn to move on and consider the facts for what they are, as well as the other side of things. They even wall in avenues through which we can grow.”

You bite your tongue. Your mind is split and you freeze up.

“Forgiveness isn't necessary, for I could say the same about Adagio and her sisters for trying to bend the world to their will and dismiss their needs, but the worst thing you can do is not at least explore the possibility of there being something more in others, if viewed with an open, empiric mind. Just as Adagio has explored her boundaries, I have decided to give her the chance to explore farther still, which is why we're here, helping your new family. I hope you can too, some day, because your potential is a marvel to witness.”

Twilight walks on without another word.

You want to yell at her. You want to say to not boil down your life experience into such simple terms, but... you have no argument to throw at her. She's technically correct. Why can't you drop the grudge? What does it achieve besides cloud your ability to just live your best life? Cause you irrational rage for something that can never be taken back? It's even caused Adagio trouble, when she wanted to enact her plan, and you couldn't even pretend to be friendly.

Your scientific side once more challenges your emotions, but this particular emotion has been with you for so long, you don't know how to break it down, to study the components of your grudge, to find a way through. Yes, Sunset wasn't the only factor. Yes, she didn't know about your home situation. She was a little, small minded bully who found a reactive victim. You still hate her.

It isn't about forgiveness, Twilight says, but can you ever treat Sunset analytically? Start from a blank slate, and if you still can't reach middle ground, at least say you've tried?

As you trot to follow and catch up, you aren't sure.

* * *

Chapter 23: Groaning

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 24: Emotion

You head towards the exit with Sunburst and Starlight when, with a pink flash, Twilight appears.

Her usually straight mane and tail are sticking up all over the place and she lets out a massive, exasperated sigh. “We're friends, allies and have been for years, but I swear, the Yakyakistan delegates always have me on edge. Sorry I took so long, I- oh... don't tell me I missed everything?”

Starlight smirks but gives Twilight a friendly hug. “Sorry, Twilight, but we were a well oiled machine today! The stone is practically fixed, besides the need for grinding down and smoothing out the facets, and then we can focus on testing its ability to absorb energy. We'll get all that done tomorrow.”

Twilight pouts. “Aww, I wanted to have a tinker with the stone too... stupid politics.”

Sunburst says, “It really is a shame. We hit a real rapport on this project. It was fascinating. Between our dive into some more esoteric spells and Radian's peculiar technology and outstanding knack for learning magic, I haven't been this excited for some time! Not to mention being associated with Starswirl's legacy in regards to the Sirens, uh...” He pauses and looks at you. “Adagio, Aria and Sonata, I should say.”

You chuckle. “No need to walk on eggshells, Sunburst, we've already cleared that up. And they are sirens, but thanks for being considerate all the same.”

Twilight looks a little confused, but then uses her magic to neaten her mane. “Well, if I can't see the work directly, I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell me about your work today, Radian? I can show you around town on the way to Adagio. She's still hanging around with my friends over in the market.” She turns to Sunburst and Starlight. “I'll catch up with you two in an hour or so.”

Starlight nods. “Sure, me and Sunburst were going to go get some dinner anyway. And Radian? It's been fun working with you. We'll see you tomorrow!” She holds our her hoof in a sort of handshake, and you respond in kind, then do the same with Sunburst.

It's a little clumsy, since you have to just push against each other and move your foreleg up and down, but there's a genuine sense of camaraderie. It really has been fun working with a team of clever, talented ponies in a field that, while you're no doubt a beginner, you've got specialist knowledge that they leaned and openly relied on, which is a great feeling. Certainly more involved and fascinating than the old tech firm.

Star and Sunburst head on their way, then you and Twilight set off on a trot in the other direction.

“Sounds like you're a natural at this,” Twilight says. “Considering what Sunset showed me about your studies on Equestrian magic, I can't say I'm surprised.”

Right, Sunset did say she would share it with her. “It's been an obsession of mine ever since the initial incident.”

“Which would have been when Sunset stole my old crown.” She sighs. “I swear, the ramifications of my life since leaving Canterlot seem endless.”

Wait. “Canterlot City?”

“Oh, that's one of the curious things about our two worlds; many names seem shared, and not just between ponies and people. Canterlot is a city, but it's not your actual Canterlot City. Just like I know our Princess Celestia is the principal of Canterlot High School in your world. I've never understood why, myself.”

You've had your own theories, of course. “The more I've heard, the more it seems like the human world is like a shadow of yours. Everything seems more lively and vibrant here, friendlier, happier... back home, as Adagio and myself can attest, we've hardly had a good time with things.”

“That's one way to look at it, but we don't know what appeared first, or if they're just concurrent universes or something similar.” Twilight looks skyward and purses her lips. “String theory being what it is, and as circuitous as all things seem to be in terms of these parallels, it does seem that our worlds meeting was inevitable. Starswirl banishing your special somepony and her sisters there, Clover the Clever being the one who dropped the memory stone in your world way back in the past. More recently, Sunset desiring to traverse the mirror after being shown her supposed destiny, as well as getting stuck in your world, it does raise many questions. Which world causes these initial changes, or do they happen simultaneously?”

“Feels like I got the short end of the stick, I'd much rather be here,” you chuckle. You then realise something. “I'm still wrapping my head around the idea there's another Radian Wave here, or I assume there is.”

Twilight giggles. “Almost certainly there is, although I haven't met or heard of him. If he's even half as smart as you, it seems odd; I imagine he'd be a unicorn with some considerable talent.”

You have your doubts. “I didn't exactly make waves myself, if you'll pardon the pun, until things started getting desperate. When my mom passed away, I coped by just obsessing over my work and just towed the line, doing as I was told by my bosses. I'd still be there if not for a chance encounter. My family home had to be sold to settle some debts, and I had to help clear the place out. I stumbled on my old hand-built radio, the very one that I detected the initial incident with. It was broken, but I'd scratched these marks on the tuning dial and some of the buttons with the frequency that magic first created. Ever since then, I've poured everything into reaching Equestria.”

Twilight looks at you for a few moments in thought. She plays coy, but you swear you see it every so often... admiration?

She says, “well, the differences between our worlds and the circumstances surrounding your life definitely sparked your drive to succeed, but our Radian may simply have never experienced that push. I can certainly relate; I was content to just study and learn alone when I was younger, but Princess Celestia pushed me out of the nest to learn about friendship, and ever since then, I've met so many wonderful ponies who are so very dear to me. Of course I've also struggled and fought against terrible threats, arguments between my friends and strangers and all sorts of things, but that's the thing. Adversity forges us in ways we can never truly understand, nor appreciate until later in life.”

You nod then narrow your eyes. “Like with Sunset., and the paths she forced me to take and such. I'm surprised you haven't brought up my grudge with her again.”

Twilight smirks. “Why? Do you want me to?”

“Uh... not especially? But you seemed quite firm that you wanted me to forgive her.”

“Not exactly,” Twilight says as you head into the market, which is still busy despite the late hour. “Like I said, it isn't about forgiveness, because I lack the ability to truly understand your perspective on what happened, nor your world view. I only wanted to tell you to judge her with your newer perspective, because we all change over time. I also won't force you to do something you don't want to. But enough on that. I said my piece earlier and I'm not here to preach to you or play on your emotions. I'm here to help, support and guide you.”

You snort. “Speaking of guidance, I couldn't help but notice your conspicuous choice of team for the stone repairs.”

Twilight just tilts her head and raises an eyebrow as she looks at you.

“Don't play dumb. I thought we respected each other more than that. You just so happened to get me to meet Starlight, a pony with a troubled, friendless past that did horrible things due to a grudge?”

“Oh, I see what you're getting at,” Twilight says, but just turns her nose upward. “You can claim whatever you want, but ask anyone; Starlight is one of the most powerful, broadly experienced unicorns in Equestria. And Sunburst is an authority on magic theory the likes of which you'll find nowhere else. Not to mention he's assisted our best mineralogist on numerous occasions and she routinely seeks his help for bigger projects.” She gives you a grin. “Or perhaps I should have selected a less qualified team to assist in repairing a life-saving stone for your family?”

“I... well...”

She turns deeply serious. “The only way I could have done more is if I'd put pressure on Maud to attend as the team mineralogist.”

“Wait, Maud as in Maud Pie? She works as a geology guide at the Canterlot City Museum back home.”

“She's a professional geologist here. You're not the only one with an official qualification, Dr. Wave,” she says and winks, “but she had a prior engagement concerning a mysterious gem shortage in the Dragon Lands. I felt that Sunburst was well versed enough in the field to sufficiently repair the stone. Make no mistake, repairing Sonata's necklace is a priority, but I wasn't going to deprive our dragon allies of help in restoring a crucial food source over the matter. I'm sorry if you feel that's insufficient.”

Family or not, you can't (and certainly won't) try to argue that an entire species has to suffer for your plan. Even if the sirens were dying, you'd be hard pressed to justify such a thing without seeming like an ass.

You bite your lip, then say, “... point taken. Sorry.”

“Don't apologise. I understand your frustrations. There's just a lot going on right now with the summit and more besides. There always is.”

It's not long before you both spot Adagio, standing a full head over the other ponies. She's beside an energetic Rarity and a bemused Applejack, looking at a clothing stall. They're all wearing loaded saddlebags.

Applejack's deeper, punchier voice hits you first. “Rein it in a little, Rarity, you're gonna overwhelm the poor girl.”

“Please, Applejack! A mare with such regal stature demands appropriate attire! Oh, look at this, Dagi! I think it has the right degree of coverage. With your long legs, it would just perfectly capture, emphasise and expose your physique! Isn't it simply to die for!”

You get near enough to see a shimmering, sheer dress shaped for a pony. It's even in Addy's preferred pink and purple shades in a very nice gradient, giving it a nebulous, starry look. You'd love to see her wearing it.

“Let me have a- fifty bits!?” Adagio reels from the price tag. “What the hay kind of price is that!? I can't let you spend that on me, Rares. Come on, the gemstone barrette was already making me feel guilty.” She fluffs her mane with her hoof, revealing she's replaced her classic spiky hair ornament with an extravagant purple amethyst pin.

Rarity titters and flips her own mane with a turn of her head. “Nonsense, darling! You agreed to work as a model for me when you start your new venture, so I consider this nothing more than a worthwhile, not to mention savvy, investment on top of a show of good faith that you are welcome here. Besides, I've long since predicted that bigger, stronger earth mares will be 'du rigueur' in every fashion establishment in the autumnal phase of the coming year! I stake my reputation on it. You simply must wear it! You must!!”

“Du-what-now?” Applejack tilts her head in confusion.

“All the rage, in vogue and such, my dear. Which reminds me,” Rarity levitates a green outfit, just as finely made, in front of the rugged earth mare. “You'll be in high demand too. I trust I can rely on you to 'gussy up' a little and help me with a few outfits I've had in mind? I'll gladly push Sweet Apple Acres as a sponsor and I think it would work tremendously as a venue to help the publications get into the right mood, having the rustique atmosphere all around the stage! Think of the business it will drum up for the farm!”

Adagio smirks at the shorter earth mare. “It would be nice having somepony else to share the spotlight. I'm used to being centre stage back home, but I'm not used to all the attention as a pony yet. C'mon, Jackie, it'll be fun.”

Applejack taps her chin with her hoof. “Well, it'd be right neighbourly... and it's not like I ain't fru-fru'd up on the odd occasion. Aw, why the hay not? If it helps you out, sugarcube, I'll do it.”

Rarity squeals with excitement and hands over a sizeable pouch of coins to the stallion running the store, who begins folding the clothes with his hooves and wraps them.

The fashionista says, “I simply cannot wait! I'll hold onto these for you both until then. I'm afraid shed-feather-chic is currently in, and Rainbow Dash certainly wasn't interested. Fluttershy... well, I believe she's still distancing herself from fashion after the whole 'multiple manager persona' debacle.”

The garments gain a blue glow as Rarity's horn lights up, and she deposits them into her saddlebags.

They turn towards you as you finally get through the busy street. You also take note of the pair's cutie marks; Applejack has three apples as hers, while Rarity three diamonds.

“Hey, Twilight,” Applejack says, then nods to you. “And howdy to you too, Radian. Sorry again about disturbin' you this mornin'.”

You shake you head. “It's fine. Good to meet you, too.”

Rarity smiles at you. “Ah, the prestigious Dr. Wave! The stallion firmly in the possession of Dagi's heart. She's always speaking well of you, my dear. I hope you had a fun day as a lapidarist. I know more than a few myself, so if you find yourself interested working as one, I could introduce you to some of my associates... now, let me see...”

Applejack rolls her eyes, but chuckles. “Oh, here she goes. You ain't leavin' here without some new duds, doc.”

She begins looking you over, circling you with an analytical gaze. “Hmm. Lithe, yet with a proud, confident bearing. An intellectual spark in the eye... yes. Yes? Ah-hah!” Rarity turns back towards another stand. “I saw a saddle that would go perfectly with not only Dagi's ensemble, but would compliment your earthen coloured eyes.”

“Wait, a saddle?” You look at Twilight. “Do ponies give rides to things here?”

Twilight smiles and stifles a laugh. “Not usually, but sometimes in an emergency it comes up. It's seen as impolite though.”

“And does it come with that mouthpiece or something?”

“Y'mean a bit and bridle?” Applejack snorts and laughs. “That there's what we'd call a lifestyle choice, Radian, and what you get up to in your spare time ain't none of my business.”

Rarity titters, and covers her muzzle with a foreleg, “oh my, new lovers really are shameless these days, aren't they?”

Adagio winks at you and gives you a long, knowing look. “Maybe we can talk about 'riding' in private?”

Everyone blushes, most of all you, and Applejack's laugh evolves into a full guffaw. “One minute the big girl's all smiles, street-smarts and sass, but the second you turn up, her head takes a dunk in the trough. I can already tell y'all're a pair of real sweethearts. Good for you two!”

You rub a hoof on your neck awkwardly and say, “w- well, she's quite the mare.”

“And he's quite the stallion,” Adagio giggles and stands next to you.

Twilight joins her friends, rolls her eyes with a smirk and says, “alright, everypony, simmer down.”

Rarity clears her throat and says, “now, to answer your original question, Radian, a saddle is generally more of a functional piece of winter-wear,” Rarity uses her magic to place a patterned orange blanket on your back, then a grey, sturdy cushioned pad, and finally an brown saddle, fastening it around your body. “The Crystal Empire itself may be fairly temperate thanks to the Crystal Heart's protection, but the lands beyond still make the nights rather frigid, let alone if you stray too far from the city. It's also extremely useful for preventing unseemly chafing when using saddlebags, from which the more slender of ponies tend to suffer. And as an extension of our groups welcome to you, I would be honoured to buy you such a gift!”

It would be impolite to turn it down... and now that it's on, you admit you feel more comfortable wearing something. “Thanks, Rarity, that's generous of you.”

“Y'all don't know the half of it,” Applejack quips. You give her a look and she shrugs and says, “aw, never mind.”

You continue, “and thanks for keeping Addy company.”

Rarity finishes paying for your saddle. “It was simply an unmitigated pleasure! When Twilight said we would be entertaining someone with as... coloured a history as Adagio Dazzle, we weren't sure quite what to expect. But her witty repartee was very refreshing. If I didn't know better, I'd say she's got a bit of Manehattenite in her.”

Applejack adds, “meanin' fancy talk for a sharp tongue and takin' no horse-apples from nopony. She's good company, though, that's the honest truth. That and it's nice to see another earth gal singer, too. Reminds me a little of Coloratura.”

Twilight sighs. “I'm glad everypony's getting along, but where are Shy, Dash and Pinkie?”

“Pinkie heard about some of them folk up in the palace skipped breakfast, and that was it, she was gone,” Applejack says with a smirk, “she's been chasin'em up and makin' batches of her fudge ever since.”

“Quite so. She's really taken with that breakfast confectionery angle,” Rarity says and sighs. “Rainbow Dash wanted to get in some of the local jousting scene after Dagi refused to indulge her boorish attempts to challenge our new friend to an assortment of athletic endeavours. As if a mare can't be both glamorous and sculpted. Few can pull off the look as well as Dagi.”

“I think she saw my build and assumed I was competitive or something,” Adagio says, then looks a little worried.

Frankly, you are too, at least a little. Your Addy is competitive. The distinctions between your girlfriend and her friendship-doped alter ego are broadening.

Adagio continues, “Fluttershy seemed silent most of the time. I hope I didn't scare her. She hung around for a bit then suddenly said she wanted to help out at some animal sanctuary for ewes.”

“You are awful big and kinda intense, Dagi,” Applejack says with a reassuring smile. “And I don't mean that in no bad way, neither. I'm sure Shy didn't mean nothin' by it.”

Your girlfriend looks less certain, but still says, “I guess.”

Twilight Looks at the sky. “Well, it's getting late. We should leave you two to catch up,” she says and nods to you and Adagio. “ Have a good night, and see you tomorrow morning, Radian!”

Adagio steps forward and gives Applejack and Rarity a quick, friendly hug each. “Thanks again.”

“Don't mention it. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, darling!”

“Y'all take care, now.”

You part ways, and can't help but study Adagio. The way she has a bounce to her step tells you she's still that bubbly, emotional version she dipped into earlier. All the same, you ask, “sounds like you really bonded with Rarity and Applejack there.”

She smiles at you. “They're lovely. I don't know if it was some earth pony solidarity or if she's just that good natured, but sure, Applejack's so humble and friendly. Rarity's an absolute sweetheart, though. All of Twilight's friends are great! Fluttershy's cute but quiet, Rainbow Dash is an energetic tomboy and Pinkie's a riot.”

You ponder for a moment and remember what you've learned about friendship, its power and Adagio's siren/earth pony state. You bring the siren signal to mind and project it at your girlfriend with your horn.

“Wha-” she blinks and shakes her head. “Whoa... I can actually say what I'm thinking again! Seriously, it's like everything I do is filtered by giggly-bitch me and I have no control over what gets through and what doesn't. What did you do, Ray?”

“It's another good news and bad news deal, if my running theory is correct. The bad news is those times I've bombarded you with siren energy back home and you've converted it to earth energy? That's now what's inside you. It's native energy to this world, so it's more potent than back home, and you're saturated with the stuff. Also, since you've experienced the friendship of your sisters and our relationship is likely making it even worse. It's overwhelming you and addling your senses.”

Adagio grimaces but sighs. “And the good news?”

“Well, besides being able to bring you back to normal like this, at least eases my fears that was permanent. I'm sure you'll be fine when we get home, or if you get your siren stone; I theorise it would turn all that energy back into your true siren form.”

“... physically and mentally, with luck.”

You smile and nod, but suddenly remember something that makes you worry. Sunset's warnings that Adagio might not be able to control her emotions and become corrupted by her stone. The odd personality Adagio keeps falling under only adds fuel to that particular fire.

You ask, “now that you're more you, what did you think of Twilight's friends?”

“I'm still fond of this world's Rarity and Applejack. That's no lie. Again, they don't feel like the girls that bested me and my sisters back in the human world. I respect AJ's hard nosed and no-nonsense approach to things. Rarity knows how to wrap ponies around her hoof, which already makes me feel like we're alike, and she's way more cosmopolitan and street-smart, which is closer to being on our style in the human world. Not to mention they're both stern businessponies. After my failure of a bar, I've been itching to take another shot to prove to myself I can run my own place.”

“Once I sell my inventions, won't you be too busy singing? Besides, I get Sonata wants to keep performing, but why do you want to try a business again? Once you're a siren, you might not even care.”

Addy gives you a raised eyebrow. “First, I don't care if I have to visit without my necklace, I want to do this. And somepony's forgotten the old siren drive to outshine the things that best us. I fu-... grr!” She takes a deep breath and continues, “I bucked up and failed my bar idea, but if we can freely access Equestria, I'd love to pursue a similar venture here. Rarity, Applejack and I were talking about me running a juice bar where I can sing, with Applejack supplying cider and Rarity lending me clothes to model on stage. They both agreed to help me get started, since I doubt you'll be able to just transfer dollars to bits. I'm going to kick business ownership's flank this time!”

“Okay, I get it,” you say and nod. You're a humble living guy, and you suspect that might change once you sell those inventions. Having a home away from home, where you can live simply and study magic? “You know what? I'm in. But what about the rest of Twilight's circle?”

“Thanks, Ray,” Adagio says and winks at you. “As for the others: Fluttershy was definitely scared of me so I didn't get a good read on her. Pinkie's... well, Pinkie. She's okay in small enough doses. As for Rainbow Dash?” Her expression sours.

For a moment, you think she's dipping back, so you increase the siren energy.

Adagio continues, “Rainbow Dash has her moments where she's fine, but others when she's a total cun-” Adagio slaps her mouth shut with a hoof. “Wow, where did that come from!?”

You chuckle. “I'm not sure, but I think I can only keep you acting normal for a time before you start resisting my magic. It's pretty clear it's still you in some ways, but I guess you're favouring aspects of yourself that make you more compliant in others? It's hard to say.”

“Ugh... this is already complicated. I don't need this other me making things worse. Again, stick with the plan. I wish I could keep the emitter to stop that side taking over, or I hang around with you when you work so you can just use your magic, but I guess that would only be a quick fix.”

“Oh, hey, there you are!”

You both turn and see Sunset trot up to you. You remain quiet, but Adagio instantly applies her own cheerful persona. “Hi, how's Equestria treating you?”

Sunset says, “I spent most of the day catching up with Princess Celestia, meeting Princess Luna and Cadence, and just talking about the latest goings on. How're things with you two?”

You give a token response of, “it seems nice here.”

Adagio nods. “Absolutely! I really hope we can keep returning here so Ray can practice his magic and I can hang out with my new friends!”

You're... having trouble discerning which Adagio's in control now; where her affable persona ends and the friendship-doped one begins.

“That's great!” Sunset says. “If it's alright with you, I'd love to hang out with you and Twilight's friends tomorrow. It'll be great to really get to know them and start things on the right hoof with you, Dagi.”

You find that curious. “You mean you're not already friends with Twilight's clique? They seem so similar to your circle of friends from Canterlot High.”

Sunset shakes her head. “That's the confusing part. They're similar, and that throws me off. I try not to get too involved with them because I keep thinking I am talking to my friends from back home, and it gets confusing for them if I reference something only my friends know about. I don't know if I'm making much sense here...”

You do understand. “It would be like hanging out with one identical twin for years and then meeting the other without knowing they're related, even if they were raised the same way. Some details would get the same reaction, but specific moments won't.”

“That works, sure,” Sunset says and smirks. “I still like them, but it gets awkward sometimes. We're on good terms, though. Speaking of which. Radian?”

You just look at her and give the slightest of nods.

“Once we get home, I'd still like to ask if there's anything I can do for you. Twilight showed me how I've been pushing too hard about seeking a resolution to... our problems. I don't want to interrupt your work or private time, though.” She looks back to Adagio. “So, I'll see you tomorrow, Dagi?”

Adagio lifts one foreleg to shrug. “It's a free empire, I don't see why not.”

“Great. I'll see you both tomorrow.”

Sunset heads towards the palace, and you both sigh with relief.

“Damn it, I was hoping she would be too busy and leave us alone.”

You say, “I'm sure it'll be fine. You'll be in your friendly mode, so I'm sure you'll be beyond suspicion.”

Adagio scrunches up her face. It's a cute look. She then says, “I don't know. If the other me is my emotional, unfiltered side...”

“Oh, right... it might reflect how you don't like her.”

She nods, but sighs. “Not like I can openly refuse to let her tag along without probably causing a fuss. Anyway, back to what we were discussing, and while I'm still lucid, how did things go with the stone?”

You give Adagio an overview of what happened today, though don't mention her own or Aria's stones. The repairs appear to be a success, but it needs testing. You spare no technical details and, while she understands you putting it in scientific terms, she has a grasp on magic that really shouldn't surprise you as she follows along with Starlight and Sunburst's expertise. Addy was a powerful siren originally, and no doubt witnessed unicorns and their powers plenty of times.

All the same, as you let her relax by being her normal self and grab a salad each for dinner, you soon find yourself back in your room at the palace.

While Adagio freshens up in the bathroom, you get Aria's stone from the bookshelf, take out your stolen repair materials, and settle in for a night of hard work.

* * *

Chapter 26: Improvisation

“Any recommendations?” You look at the signboards and the selections are as vast as they are intimidating. You've only been eating flowers and hay for a little over a day, and you're still a bit lost.

“Oh, if you'll allow me?” Twilight say and approaches the counter.

The pegasus stallion cashier drones, “welcome to The Hay Burger, home of The Hay Burger, can I take your order?” Either doesn't recognise Twilight as royalty or just doesn't care. Noble gasses have a stronger reaction than this guy.

Twilight responds, excitedly, “good morning! I'll take three number twos, a num-”

The cashier sighs. “The number twos are from lunchtime onward only, we're currently only serving the breakfast menu.”

You can feel Twilight radiate power. Mighty waves of energy course from her well curved purple pony form as her wings spread and she stands tall, and decrees, “I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, and I demand an exception!”

He doesn't even blink, and just mumbles, “'kay, should I get the manager or something?”

“Would you? Thanks.”

In short order, Twilight pulls rank, gets the manager to take her order of day menu items, magically teleports a bag of bits to herself and pays. She then hovers you a tray with a hayburger meal, complete with a large tea and a small carton of these little horseshoe shaped fries. For herself, she gets a pile of burgers, a large fries, and a large cup of coffee. You head to a table and sit down on little wooden stools.

You eye her stack of hayburgers warily. “We expecting company, or...?”

“Huh?” Twilight says and demolishes one hayburger in three rapid bites. She then says, with her mouth full, “whaddya mean?”

You stifle a laugh. Apparently the girls in your life have impulse control issues. One used to drink like a fish. This mare?

She eats like a horse.

Naturally.

Your stomach complains about the eating. “Never mind,” you say and hover your burger up and take a bite.

It's glorious. The crunch and chew of the fried hay, the sharpness of the pickles, the tanginess of the sauces and the sweetness of the buns. It's a bafflingly well balanced flavour profile. So much so that you regret even being human, for this is the moment that defines your life.

Well, maybe casting magic, but this is a close second.

Fine, damn it, third. Adagio (and her sisters) first, magic, then hay burgers.

Enough, inner monologue. Just shut up and eat.

Twilight only starts to slow down after her seventh and sighs. “Whew. I can't put these away like I used do. You want another?” She hovers a wrapped burger to you.

You nod with a mouthful of tea, and gladly accept, swallow and say, “thanks. So... uh, don't mean to be rude, but is that an alicorn thing? Does having all that power make you have to up the calorie intake?”

Twilight freezes for a moment, blinks and slowly gulps. “... sure! That's right. Us alicorns have to keep our strength up!” She laughs. Forcefully, and a just a little too maniacally for you to not feel her nervousness. “Besides I'm allowed to treat myself, and this summit is stressful like you wouldn't believe! I'll burn all this off easily dealing with the grouchy Griffonstone ambassador alone. W- why the questions?”

“It's just good old fashioned scientific curiosity, honest. I'm guessing magic takes burns calories like doing anything does.”

Twilight nods. “Well, sure. Just like intense thought burns calories, magic is that, amplified by the biological-magical threshold unicorns and alicorns feel through action. But even earth ponies and pegasi can't maintain their respective passive powers without food. You're still drawing magic into, through and back out of your body. It's quite taxing.”

“Makes sense to me. Though... stick with the 'alicorns need more calories' angle.”

Twilight blushes and mumbles, “noted.”

You sigh as you munch down the extra burger, and a thought occurs to you. “Say, can I scan you? I've scanned all sorts of humans and it's been interesting seeing how they all have distinct signals tied to them, and that's no different here, albeit the energy's far stronger.”

Twilight looks at your emitter. “Sure, on one condition; later on today, once you've finished your work on Sonata's stone and I'm done with the summit, you show me how to use that thing. It sounds amazing after the way you described it yesterday.”

“Deal! I'd love your input anyway. There are so many aspects of magic that I'd love to run by you that I've noticed but can't quite wrap my head around.”

You take another bite of your burger, activate your emitters scanner mode and point it at Twilight.

And get an error... strange.

You place it on the table so you can focus on the buttons, twist your head so you can get another bite of your burger by mouthing it into place, then tune down the sensitivity, and try scanning again.

High peaks in earth and pegasus types. You haven't seen her fly, but you imagine that gives her a pretty good speed, and is probably pretty strong to boot with that much earth power. Almost a shame it doesn't seem to show on her body. She looks fairly average in build, if still a lot taller than you.

Despite this, her unicorn magic signal is still unreadable. You have to dial back the sensitivity to absurdly low levels before you finally see the peak on the screen. It supersedes even Adagio's siren signal, which is surprising, but you already begin to theorise it's because Adagio lost her powers so long ago that maybe it's faded in time, despite still being incredibly impressive.

“So? What does it show?” Twilight says and casually sips her coffee.

“Uh... you're the most powerful pony I've had a chance to scan.”

She giggles and winks. “I bet you say that to all the alicorn princesses.”

“I'm being serious. I'd love to see a demonstration of your power at some point, I bet-” Wait, did she just flirt with you? That sounded like she just flirted with you. “Uh, never mind.”

Twilight just continues to be amused at what you're doing as you switch off the scanner and re-holster it, then finish eating.

“I'm going to refer to Sunset in a tangentially related way, if that's alright?.”

You're enjoying your talks with Twilight too much to let something like Sunset get in the way. “I guess so.”

“Thanks. So, in regards to your scanner; Sunset's pretty strong as well,” Twilight says. “I imagine you've used it on her?”

“Sure. I was testing my theory on the differing pony types through humans in my world when she happened to run into the same cafe I was visiting. She's the strongest signal I found back home, shy of Adagio.”

“That makes sense. Sunset was Princess Celestia's student before I was, but she was prideful, and only became even more so after she witnessed something in the crystal mirror. It's supposed to show one's destiny, but whether that's true must have some interesting connotations regarding her new life in the human world.”

“Interesting, how? Sounds like you have some theories of your own,” you say.

“Nothing definitive, but there's a great deal to be gleaned based on if you believe in fate, and how seeing yourself in the mirror can affect that.” Twilight purses her lips and looks at her coffee. “Consider this; if you saw you were destined to, say, spill your coffee on a given day. Would your knowledge of this make it impossible to drop or would it happen regardless? Would you avoid buying coffee again to stop it from happening? Would someone make you hold theirs so it eventually happens anyway?”

“Logically speaking, the act of trying to stop yourself dropping it might make you prone to failure regardless. Maybe by obsessing over it, you end up tripping over something instead.”

Twilight points a hoof at you. “Exactly! I suspect Sunset saw something great in her future, but by becoming enamoured by it and taking that fateful step, entering and becoming stranded through the mirror, who's to say it hasn't come about in a different way? Maybe instead of earning greatness through her expectations here, she's instead going to achieve greatness in your world, and the mirror only showed her as a way to tempt her?”

This is the sort of logical debate you've always enjoyed, but your friendless background just never let it happen very often. Doubly so for a fast food chain table discussion, but still, that just reminds you of how you saw nothing but yourself in the mirror but yourself when you first arrived. Though you do suppose Twilight said the thing needs repairs.

That and you hate you're interested in what it does mean for Sunset... causality is something you're very familiar with after what Adagio talked to you about and her downfall.

You say, “I guess that remains to be seen. On a similar tangent, I'm surprised Sunset hasn't come back here permanently. I would. I'm hoping to make visiting Equestria a regular thing, maybe even splitting my time between here and back home.”

“I really hope you do,” Twilight says with a nod. “But Sunset... well, she was trapped in the human world until she happened across the portal back home and stole my crown. She became corrupted by its power and transformed into a demonic creature, which I subdued her with the help of the human versions of my friends in manifesting their fledgling powers here. You know, Applejack, Fluttershy and the others. Sunset then learned friendship through them as well, and... well, she likes visiting Equestria, but she feels like she belongs over there now. She even helps me out considerably by locating and retrieving or nullifying Equestrian artefacts, which are then brought to the workshop where you're repairing Sonata's stone to be catalogued, repaired or decommissioned and then stored safely.”

“Hunting for artefacts, eh?” You realise Sunburst mentioned something similar about that, but then riled you up over the 'creatures' incident. “I never realised Sunset was up to something so involved and important for you.”

Twilight rolls her eyes but keeps the smile. “Well, you would have if you just talked to her. I bet with your device and knowledge, you'd be able to find and even disable artefacts with ease, not to mention make an amazing team. You're both intelligent, a little rough around the edges and understand magic a great deal better than even most unicorns here. As it is, I hate to keep burdening her, and having Sunset keep travelling all over the place to chase down these artefacts makes it hard for her to earn a living by sticking to one job or just live a normal life. I'm depending on her too much, I know, but I have no choice; any one of these objects could cause untold damage.”

You can't help but feel conflicted. On the one hand, you'd love to help Twilight. It sounds like an interesting challenge and a great scientific study on Equestrian magic if objects can possess power. If all goes well with marketing your inventions, you'll have ample resources to assist, and yet... helping Sunset? No.

It's painfully irrational, you know, but you can't help-

… Damn it, you just remembered the thing Twilight said about holding grudges might block opportunities.

Twilight glances up at a clock. “Oh, pony-feathers,” she mutters and levitates her garbage into a nearby trash can. “The summit resumes in ten minutes. And you'd best get to the workshop! I'll be there as soon as I can, like yesterday. Good luck, Radian!”

She teleports away, so you tidy up after yourself and leave the restaurant, then make your way to the workshop.

Within, you head straight to the same section as before, and see Starlight and Sunburst chatting.

“... Pinkie really has outdone herself,” Sunburst says, chewing excitedly.

“I've never had anything quite like it!” Starlight says, also eating, but then sees you, gulps and waves to you. “Morning, Radian. Now that you're here, let's get to work! I'm excited to start energy testing the stone and seeing how it incrementally changes as we hew it down to shape.”

“Morning,” you reply. “I'm ready when you are.”

Sunburst nods and lifts a few books onto the table, opening them to an arrangement of pages. He looks at one and frowns. “I just hope you're not going too far with this, Star. I mean... dark magic? I know Twilight showed you how to use it, but this is risky. It can harm or even corrupt the user.”

Starlight gives him a steadfast stare and says, “I've had darkness in me before and I'm well aware of the risks. I can do it.”

“Dark magic?” you say with a raised eyebrow.

Sunburst turns a book around and shows it to you. “A special classification that bypasses the power that ponies can manifest through our bonds and friendship. Instead it relies on emotion and can even rival an alicorn with practice. Some of the most powerful tyrants Equestria's ever faced used it.”

The book depicts lots of purple shades and shapes. Something about a king of the Crystal Empire and a door possessing dark magic as an enchantment, which tore open the worst fears of a person trying to enter as a vision, driving them to despair and inaction.

“Remember when I said I fought Twilight to a standstill?” Starlight says. “That's how I did it. Not true dark magic that we're considering today, but I used it to fuel my conventional unicorn magic to heights beyond what are considered safe. If I let that hatred fester in me for much longer, I'm sure it would have taken its toll and begun to corrupt me. The Crystal Empire was once completely erased from the land by one of its former despotic rulers, King Sombra, and he was a prime example of the art. Princess Celestia learned how to do it from him, and she passed it onto Twilight. Now I intend to use it today, since it's the closest type of magic we know to the negative emotional energy the sirens drain.”

Sunburst sighs and shakes his head. “All the more reason we should be extremely careful when using it.”

You love this. Not the darkness and corruption side, but you hadn't even considered magic could have such unusual nuances. You say, “well, hopefully, if you can demonstrate it once, I can replicate it with my emitter.”

“No offence, Radian,” Starlight says, “but remember what I said; it's an emotional style of magic. I don't know if you can replicate that with a machine.”

“Hmm, fair point,” you admit. “Now that I think about it, I couldn't make anything that could be directly absorbed, although that was with broken siren stones. Still, it's worth a shot.”

“Agreed, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there,” Star says. “Shall we begin?”

You nod, and Starlight disables the barrier around the stone.

“Alright, let's see,” she says as her horn glows light blue, and magically lifts a gem-cutters magnifying lens, called a loupe, up to inspect Sonata's gem. “This is brilliant! I'm seeing no worrisome flaws inside the gem itself, just the imperfections of the exterior, but they'll be hewn out as we polish and grind it away. But before we do, let's try to give it some energy. Radian? Get your emitter ready, I'm going to cast dark magic.”

Sunburst sighs, “please be careful, Star.”

You do as instructed and set the emitter up for scanning, and get ready to adjust the sensitivity; if Star's as powerful as you've been led to believe, you might need to get on that in a hurry, so you rest it on the table, pointed at her, and get ready to tap the buttons with your magic.

Starlight whispers, “I'm not that pony any more... I'm not that pony any more,” a few times as she lowers her head and widens her stance, then closes her eyes.

Your emitter chirps several error tones, but you're too busy watching as a murky purple energy first surrounds Startlight's horn, then... black crystals start forming! She opens her eyes, which are tinged green as she winces and frowns, but bathes Sonata's stone in this magic, yet nothing seems to happen.

The emitter's displaying a weird, sporadic arrangement of wavelengths. Violent spikes that flow and thrash about in ways that you realise you doubt this emitter could produce; even the anti-signals are settled around a range of one frequency.

“Star, enough, it's not working,” Sunburst says.

“I'm still trying, hold on! I just need to give it more power,” Starlight snaps as the glow intensifies.

You have to agree with Sunburst; this seems fruitless. The negative energy the sirens absorbed just isn't the same without conflict.

Wait... oh, Radian, that's clever. Improvisation at its finest!

You slink around Starlight and beside Sunburst, who only briefly gives you a glance before continuing to watch Star, deeply worried.

You cry out, “Charley-horse!” and kick Sunburst in the hind leg as hard as you dare.

“Aaagh!” He tumbles to the ground. He looks up at you, somewhere between shocked and blisteringly furious. “What the hay is wrong with you!?”

A green wisp peels off from Sunburst as he rolls around in pain.

Starlight asks, “what happened?” She breaks her spell, but the green wisp swirls with the still lingering dark magic. The combined power pulls together into a single concentrated point, then bursts into a large cloud of green fog.

The mist is just like the Dazzlings absorbed when you saw them back in high school. That little bit of negative, conflictive emotion just converted the mass of Starlight's magic and amplified it!

Even without its owner, Sonata's stone is still bathed in the green mist, and begins to glow red as the energy is absorbed.

You burst out into your mad scientist cackle; it worked! The stone is repaired!! That means Aria's should be too! You only stop when your emitter's error beeps intensify in a garbled, strained way as you notice some of the green fog lingering around it. What the-

Starlight barges into you, furious. Her eyes are tinged green. “What the hay do you think you're doing!?”

You try and force the victorious grin from your face as you watch Sunburst stand, with tears in his eyes. You say, “we needed actual conflict, and I gave us actual conflict. Sometimes progress can only be made by making tough calls or thinking outside the box.”

Starlight seethes, “that is not okay! How bucking dare you!” Her eyes continue to flicker with a green light as she shoves you back with her magic. Hard.

You slam against the wall and fall down, dazed.

“How do you like it, huh!? Did that hurt!?”

Shit. This is bad!

It's even worse as her horn glow changes once more from light blue to a dark purple, and you're lifted in a purple haze, pressed against the wall and squeezed as Starlight advances, her magic building and intensifying as you struggle to breathe.

* * *

Chapter 27: Peaceful

Sunburst dives at and wraps Starlight in an strong hug. “Hey, Starlight! Stop! Stop, it's alright!”

She hisses through her teeth, “not it's not! I...” she shakes her head and blue starts to flow back into her eyes. “No it...”

“Do you think Phyllis would want to see you like this?”

“You leave her out of... out of....”

Star wobbles on her legs and leans hard against Sunburst, who gently lets her down to the floor. She really doesn't look good, as if she's sick.

You're not feeling much better, and not just from the impact or the immense pressure. The guilt is by far the worst. It's given you a horrific insight into losing control, something you once saw as an ideal to let yourself slip into a siren's song.

But most of all? About emotions having power. Sure, dark magic was involved here, but what about the siren stone? What did the fog, the very essence that the sirens consumed, have a part to play here?

As Sunburst gives you a surprisingly revolted glare, you finally say, “I'm sorry, I didn't realise what would happen! I just felt we needed real conflict. At least it worked, right?”

Sunburst grimaces at you, and goes to speak, but Starlight butts in first, and says, “don't... don't take it out on Radian.”

He still glowers at you, but looks far more upset as he looks at his friend and replies, “it was his actions that caused that! We can't just ignore what he did!”

She shakes her head. “We've all messed up. Especially when it comes to magic. After how lightly I got away with some of the atrocities I performed... please, Sunburst. I think he's learned his lesson.”

Sunburst sighs and wrinkles his nose. “I guess. And I accept your apology, Radian. But don't pull that again! Starlight could not have been clearer about the dangers of toying with emotions when magic is so closely interwoven with it in many fields.”

Starlight goes to stand and winces. “and I guess I'm not as beyond my past as I thought.”

“You just pushed yourself too hard, that's all, Star. We knew the risks.”

You put a hoof on Star's shoulder. “I'm sorry, Starlight. That was out of line of me.”

She looks ashamed, like she blames herself, and it makes you feel somehow even worse. She asks, “I didn't hurt you, did I?”

“No, no, not at all! Even if you did, it would have been my fault.” Less excuses, more reasoning, Radian... diffuse the situation. They're logical ponies. “We weren't getting anywhere and I was worried about you coming to harm by using too much of that dark magic. There's something to be said that the finest scientific breakthroughs often come from two things; necessity and conflict. I wouldn't be where I am today without having had to struggle through life.”

Starlight eases up a little. “I'm guessing you mean Sunset? Twilight said you suffered a lot under her, before she had a change of heart.”

“Exactly,” you reply. “I've had to make some harsh decisions and... less reputable actions in my day, but I learned that having to fight for what you believe in is important. Sunset was a major factor of that since I had to struggle to stop myself just giving up. That and my miserable bast- uh, my demeaning father, and a world that just didn't care.”

Sunburst says, “I guess humans just do things differently over there, but there are better ways. There's always a better way.”

You almost say it aloud, but is there? You suppose it's a topic for another time as Sunburst takes Starlight outside for some air. You check the stone and nothing looks amiss. A scan with your emitter shows it's now got a stronger signal, but there's some erratic readings when you point it elsewhere. You're not sure what's causing it, but restarting the device seems to correct it for now, leaving you to stew in your doubts, fears and worries.

You acted and achieved what you needed, because sometimes the only result is the ones you make for yourself, no matter how dire. You were beaten down, you just shuffled into life like a dreary playlist of easy listening music, and it's only because of your will to fight and drive yourself that you've gained this rockstar feeling of a reputation of power and ability. Everything you have accomplished is a result of your will to fight for what you know to be true and worthwhile; a girlfriend, a family, your devices, this very opportunity in this Equestrian community. You matter. You'll have power thanks to how you're determined you've become to get this done.

Almost like, thanks to these factors, it's fate...

Wow. How unscientific, yet true.

But you can't stop the doubts settling in. A great deal of what Twilight and Sunset have talked about has had glimpses of truth while you've been here, and what that means for Adagio chills you to the core.

Hard as that is to ignore, it's new data and you need time to mentally sort it out. You're glad that when your team returns, and they don't seem to have held a grudge, so you can at least let these darker thoughts percolate in your subconscious as you all settle in to work again, and it's as therapeutic as ever.

Like how Sonata's financial windfall eased the tension of building your device, proof that the stone's repairs have worked makes the whole situation far more relaxing now that the dark magic issue is resolved. You're still not skilled enough with telekinesis to hold the tools and still rely on Sunburst or Starlight to perform a lot of the other tasks, but you've insisted on trying it solo. After all, any work you can get done here, today, will be valuable experience finishing Aria's stone and, with luck, Adagio's in case you need more materials before heading home tonight.

“Dang it,” you mumble as you glare at the fine file you're trying to use on the stone, “any advice on holding and operating multiple things? I can kind of grab several things at once, but I'm kind of brute forcing it. Like using a whole bucket for a drink of water; sure, it works, but it's impractical. Let alone fine tuned manipulation.”

Sunburst chuckles as he closes his book. “Even the best and brightest of us need practice, Radian. It's difficult to put into words. You're essentially asking the difference between, say, whittling down a tree branch into a spoon to carving down a whole tree to construct a boat; they consist of the same basic principle, but couldn't be more different in effort and planning. Foal steps! You'll get there.”

“He's right,” Star says. “A core of learning magic is practical experience. There's no shortcuts. You simply need to feel how to use it.”

“Alright, fine, I submit,” you huff.

Starlight gives you a sympathetic smile and picks up several of the tools you were ham-hoofing in your attempts, and sets upon the task with ease. “Worst comes to worst, you could always learn tool manipulation like Maud. Oh, she was the mineralogist we had planned to join us, but the schedules fell through.”

You nod. “Sure, Twilight mentioned her. I don't know her as such, but I know she works for the Canterlot City Science Museum and I'm aware she's great at geology. Not to mention hilarious; does she crack wise here, too?”

Starlight giggles. “Like you wouldn't believe! I adore her. She's one of my closest friends, even if we don't hang out much. It's how she prefers it. But anyway, she's an earth pony, and you'll find nobody better qualified at this sort of work, and having no magic, that means lots of deft hoofiwork, using a hammer with her teeth and all sorts.”

“Really? That's actually amazing, in a frustrating way,” you admit. “I wouldn't even believe you if I hadn't seen and experienced so much strange phenomena over the last week, let alone these two days. All the same, I'd love to see Maud work. How does she hit something hard enough without breaking her teeth?”

“Lots of practice and good old fashioned earth pony grit! She isn't Dr. Pie for nothing! I bet you'd get along great. Speaking of which, if you're not doing anything, how about you return to trying to emulate the conflictive energy? You're far better at that than we are, Dr. Wave.”

“Yeah, no need for that,” you groan, but can't hide the smile. It's certainly nice having that PhD under your belt. Besides, she's not wrong about sticking to your preferred field, but it's further down your list of things to try and accomplish. No sense being difficult, though, so you plunge back into more familiar waters and use your magic and emitter in tandem.

Your old philosophy on getting the stones to react still holds some water; you bombard Sonata's stone with a cycle of positive and negative energy types, but instead of a fizzle of green smoke, you now get a strange glow, but the stone doesn't seem to actually receive or hold any of it. You either suspect that without an actual siren drawing it in, the stones don't really work in any way you can work with, That or maybe something's still wrong with the emitter. You make a mental note to check it later, but it still seems to working fine otherwise.

Watching Starlight grind down the stone, and subjecting it to your emitter and magic when she steps away to make sure it's at least still responding as normal, is slow going but at least you're keeping occupied. As the stone is ground down and polished to its true, original shape, Sonata's stone's resonance grows both stronger and clearer.

Eventually, and despite Sonata's stone being almost finished, you concede defeat and give up on trying to replicate negative emotional energy. It simply can't be done, at least with what you have and know.

You say, “I simply can't find a substitution. We need real, honest conflict.” You make a point to smile at Starlight and say, “think I could get away with kicking Sunburst again?”

She responds with a good natured laugh. “Maybe save it for if he puts his hoof in his mouth again by calling your fillyfriend a museum exhibit. Otherwise, I don't think that's an option. It's fine, though, we know it works. With luck, Sonata will be able to share the energy with her sisters, so they can sustain themselves, at least until a viable alternative forms. I'm not fond of having to enforce real conflict either, but I'm sure you'll think of something.”

“Oh, trust me, I've got some ideas about finding conflict without even so much as being near anyone,” you say and snicker. “You ever heard of social media? If Sonata puts this stone on close to someone spouting the garbage most people pass as 'giving an opinion', she'll get more energy than a hundred battle of the bands.”

Sunburst raises an eyebrow and his ears perk up. “Why would people willingly go onto something that generates that much vitriol?”

“I have no idea,” you say as you lift a foreleg and successfully half-shrug without even stumbling. “I can only assume morbid curiosity, or maybe people just like venting from so far away they don't have to deal with the consequences. Either way, I hope Equestria never has to suffer under that garbage.”

You still continue other patterns while Starlight and Sunburst engage in some banter. It's just a good time overall, and you'll sorely miss this sort of environment going home. You have Adagio, and she's becoming great at not only your scientific meanderings, but even helping you with them, yet you don't really have anyone else and wonder if you could expand your circle a little.

Twilight comes to mind, but she's busy with her princess duties here. Then Sunset comes to mind, too. You hate that she does so readily, But she would be a great peer, especially as someone who understands the scientific aspects. Sure, she's not as bright, but she knows at least enough that you could bounce ideas off of her. Also she's going to know more about magic than you do and act as an intermediary for your future experience in directly harnessing the stuff.

Damn it...

A few more hours pass, and Twilight blinks in with a flash of pink magic once more, triggering your emitter's warnings.

“And the summit is over!” She cheers, and uses more magic to cause a small firework display of little multicoloured pops and bangs. “Alright! How can I help? Consider no task too small, no chore too demeaning! I wanna get stuck in with this-”

Starlight nervously lifts Sonata's stone from the clamp and presents it. It's flawless! Just like it used to look. “Sorry, Twi. We just finished.”

Twilight's ears flop down and she lets out the longest, hardest, most disappointed sigh you've ever heard.

Sunburst offers his sympathy with a pat on Twilight's back and he says, “we even managed to get it to receive a charge thanks to Radian's... experimental approach.”

“Fine,” Twilight mumbles with a pout, “I didn't want to get a close study of a siren stone anyway.” She then perks up. “I guess I'll have Radian tell me about it. In all seriousness though, Sunburst? Starlight? You've done a tremendous job! Thank you for your hard work.”

Star replies, “hey, it was nice taking a break from the school! Thanks for the change of scenery.”

“Agreed! It was an exciting challenge!” Sunburst chimes, then turns to you. “Likewise, it was intriguing meeting and working with someone with such an... atypical and direct approach, Radian.”

You try a cordial hug, hooking a foreleg around his shoulder. It seems appropriate after the pain you put him through earlier, and you are honestly grateful for their help with Sonata's stone. “I hope we get to work together sometime. And... uh, sorry about the leg.”

He smirks. “Well, like you said, it worked. I'll tell you what, as a little payback; next time you're in Equestria, I have some students who'd love to meet somepony with your technical prowess, if you'd be willing to be a part time lecturer? Nothing formal, but you're bound to know more than the average scientist here.”

That might be interesting. “A school, eh? Maybe. What kind of place is it?”

Starlight says, “it used to be a school of friendship, but over time it's become something closer to a combination of a conventional school, with all the typical topics like math, ponish literature, practical magic, art, design and more, but also a cultural learning centre for all races who wish to integrate in Equestrian society, and we have guest lecturers from the other lands who come here to teach ponies how to mingle in theirs.”

Meeting more of the species of this world does sound like it would be interesting. “I can get behind that! It would help me cut my teeth on locals. Adagio's got ideas about running a place of her own, I'd hate to not pull my weight.”

Twilight sits on her hind quarters and 'claps' her hooves together, gleefully. “Then its settled! I hate to drag you away, but I'd love to hear about your work today in private. There's some other things I wanted to discuss as well.” Twilight turns to her friends. “I take it you two were heading back to Ponyville?”

Starlight nods. “Yep. You take care of yourself and your fillyfriend, Radian. Hopefully I'll get to meet the mare who's got you so fired up when you're next in... well, this world. It's been fun.”

You shake hooves, same with Sunburst, and part ways as you follow Twilight out of the workshop with Sonata's stone in tow.

Twilight inspects it for a while before telekinetically putting it back in its original pouch, then she loops it around your neck. “There you go. Good as new.”

“Can I thank you now? You've done so much for us.”

She gives you a huge smile. “Hey, what are friends for?”

You smile back, but your heart aches. You start to feel guilty. “You say that so easily. I guess it makes sense; you're the princess of it after all.”

“It's not so difficult,” she says, “but I can hardly say it's easy, either.”

You need to consider everything that's happened, and right now, you can't ignore how heavy your heart feels. “Can we go somewhere quiet? I wanted to talk about a few things that I don't know if I'm comfortable with discussing in front of anypony else.”

“Say no more. Hold tight.”

With a flash of pink energy, you're suddenly somewhere else; a high balcony at the palace, overlooking the Crystal Empire. You recognise it as being the same floor as your room. It's so calm and peaceful. Just what you need as the turmoil inside takes shape.

Twilight smiles at you as she just stares for a moment, as if searching for the words. “I actually wanted to say something to you too, Radian, if you don't mind me going first.”

“Sure. What's up?”

“Primarily, like Starlight and Sunburst, I wanted to say it's been a pleasure hosting you. I've enjoyed our talks a great deal, and it's made my time at this summit something to actually enjoy instead of the usual rigmarole. I know so many brilliant ponies, and I can see myself spending days and weeks just discussing magical theory with your particular perspective. I'd love it if you came to stay once in a while, if you're not too busy in the human world.”

You can't fight off a little smile. “I feel the same way. Like Adagio, I've always struggled with my world. So many regrets, and so many things I just wish I could escape from. Make no mistake, I still intend to try and get my inventions sold. Not just for the money, either, but closure at this point. To leave my mark on the world, like my mom always said I would”

“She was completely right. Who you are today? The things you've done?” Twilight looks over the horizon. “They're admirable. Truly. It's why I want to set the record straight as well.”

You tilt your head, confused.

“I respect you a great deal. The fact that you wish to return to Equestria makes me so happy, because even in this short time, I believe we've become close. I love my friends for their many differing ways and personalities, but in you I feel like I've found something of a kindred spirit.” She pauses and... wait, is she blushing? “I also must admit, I once fell for a human in your world. It was a silly thing, possibly raw biology as I'm sure you've felt for Adagio while here, despite the physiological differences, but as we've interacted, and I've learned about you?”

Oh. Oh! Wait, is she saying...

“You're a little rough around the edges than most ponies I've dealt with, but I think it adds to your charm. On top of that, your brilliance and passion are admirable. I used to think that under different circumstances, we'd be... more than friends. But then I realised that the aspects of you I've come to respect so much come from the growth you've so clearly made by getting so close to Adagio, and her influence on you. So in a sense, I owe her too. For making you who you are.”

You used to dread the 'friend-zone' when younger. That the first girl you ever showed any interest in would squash your dreams flat and leave you unwilling to put your heart out there to be hurt again. This is actually a relief, and a welcome compromise.

“I'm flattered,” you manage to force out. “I've enjoyed our time together. A lot. More than I thought I would. I'm... fond of you as well. I'd be honoured to remain friends.”

She walks close to you, closes her eyes, and gives you a firm, close hug.

Twilight's so warm... so trusting...

“I should let you go. With your efforts in repairing Sonata's stone, I've been depriving you of a chance to just explore the city with Adagio. You still have a few hours to enjoy! Shall I take you to her?”

So very warm, and yet your heart feels cold. This connection with Twilight is so powerful and real.

You think back on how foolish Twilight seemed in your world, for the same reasons you're clumsy here, but knowing her intellect now? Finding a girl like this back in your troubled days in school would have been life changing. Someone supportive, a peer in your interests, brilliant and strong willed. Also, not to seem shallow, and you knew she was pretty as a human, but as a pony, she's beautiful, regal and filled with a presence that rivals Adagio.

It's not helped by the fact that you had your allure to Adagio not just because of her beauty, or even her dark side. Sure, those are sexy as hell, but the thing that really took you by surprise was how intelligent Adagio actually was when she started following and learning your methods. She identifies a problem, analyses it and deconstructs it. She tears big concepts down and learns it from the ground up, and it's become one of her greatest strengths ever since losing her powers.

Twilight's like that, only it's obvious she's put in a lot of work studying and learning these things to be prepared. You can sense there's a dark side to Twilight too, knowing that she's seen and experienced hardship. It's not as obvious or pronounced, but it sounds like she's the sort of mare who can become unhinged and manic if given the right situation. Driven. Obsessive. You can relate, deeply.

It's obvious now. You need Adagio more than anything, but you want Twilightin your life in some way. Not to mention for purely pragmatic reasons, Twilight's trust will mean you can access Equestria freely. For you, Adagio and, hopefully, your new family as a whole.

And if you carry on with the plan as it stands, you'll break that. Is this what you want?

No. No it's not. Not with what you've witnessed. The risks involved with just going ahead with everything. What was it Adagio once said? That when everything seems to be going your way, that's when victory is stolen, and you're ground into the dirt. You have to bite down and hold on, keep fighting for what you want until it's truly all settled.

So it's time to change the plan. Like Adagio said you could if it was for the greater good. You just hope it's the right decision, but that's the thing. You've stumbled over, seen and learned too much that could compromise your family and their ability to live their best lives. So there's only one thing left to do.

“Wait here,” you say. “There's something I want to give you.”

You have to do this. You can't stand disappointing Twilight. Not after the faith she's put in you. So you head to your room.

You return as Twilight looks over the city, then turns at your approach.

And use your magic to hold out Aria and Adagio's stones.

“Here... I can't hide these any more,” you say.

She looks at you, and the stones. You can't tell what she's thinking as she takes the stones with her telekinesis. “I see.”

“You don't seem especially upset,” you say.

Twilight just asks, “why are you giving me these?”

“Because we want to be able to return to Equestria, and I do trust you. That you really do want to help. You seem to understand the best path. Most of all, I can't help but worry what Sunset said before is right; what if Adagio loses herself because of what she experienced? That if I give her back her siren stone, she just reverts to her old, selfish ways? The magic in this world is obviously affecting her in ways that I can somewhat remedy, but cure? And with a stone bearing negative emotions being literally implanted into her!? It's too much to consider.”

Twilight offers you a gentle smile. “I thank you for your trust, Radian. And I'm glad you've come clean. Now I can help you in earnest, but I must ask you a question first; if you were in my place right now, what would you do?”

“I... would probably hold the gems and complete the deal as originally specified; Sonata's stone, and send us back. I'd understand if you held us to that.”

She shakes her head. “I'm sure that would suffice if the sirens were actually dying. But they aren't, are they?”

You can't answer, you just bow your head.

Twilight steps towards you as you give her a confused look. She puts Aria's stone in the pouch around your neck, holds up Adagio's broken stone in front of you and says, “that's a minor detail, and irrelevant. In fact, we're going to repair Adagio's stone right here, right now, and give it to her.”

What... what... WHAT!?

* * *

Chapter 28: Caress

“Wait, what!?” You start to pace back and forth. You feel like you're made of electricity.

Is this a trick?

It has to be.

Have you finally cracked?

Maybe this is a long-term ramification of exposure to too much magic!?

Too many goddamn variables!

What.

The!

Fuck!?

“Radian? Stop. Breathe,” Twilight says.

“I am!” you rasp. “I'm breathing as hard as I can!”

“Then breathe slower! Smoothly. I understand that you're just a bit overwhelmed, but-”

“Yes!” you snap. “I'm suffering from a prodigious, superlative excess of whelm! Is Whelm poisoning a thing! What's the cure!?” You stop pacing and feel light headed, and begin spinning slowly on the spot, in case this is some candid camera crap. Do ponies even have cameras? Who's watching!? Can you sue them!?

A sudden splash of cold water hits you. The shock works wonders in slowing you down. You splutter and shake like a dog, and stare at Twilight, who's levitating an empty bucket, which she teleports away.

“Feel better?” she asks.

“Yes! No. Maybe?”

“I won't repeat the question,” Twilight giggles. “We could procrastinate while I explain, or we could get started fixing your fillyfriend's stone while we talk instead.”

Well... the workshop would be soothing... “Right, sure, let's get to it before I have an aneurysm.”

“Excellent!” With a flood of pink magic, you're in one location, briefly see nothing but pink, then find yourself back in the workshop.

Back in the familiar workspace, you block off your thoughts, let them percolate in the back of your subconscious, and just focus on the task at hand. You both work like you've been together for years as you both gather all the materials, set Adagio's stone in the clamp, retrieve the gemstone (a brilliant ruby) that you had previously taken from your emitter strap which had the best resonance, and begin your work.

Twilight lets you take charge of the project, with her performing the spellcasting side while you do the more tedious steps with your own energy spell and the emitter, as well as take turns with reconstruction. It's just as well Twilight's as powerful as she is, because the emitter's not quite working to spec, but enough for the task at hoof.

You also continue your techie meditation by teaching Twilight how to use the device. To your amazement, but not surprise, she even suggests some pointers for improvements, like how magic doesn't like being confined, so only certain parts need shielding, while others would actually benefit from being exposed to the receivers.

“So,” Twilight says, “am I right in guessing this device can broadcast the full breadth of core magic energy? Including the ability to destabilise it? I did wonder ever since I heard about Sunset's powers failing her when she visited your fillyfriend's apartment, then I learn information about a whole new invention that just so happens to be able to not only read magic signatures, but emit them as well.”

You can't help but be defensive about this and just quietly nod.

“I figured. It truly is an amazing device. Almost as impressive as its inventor.”

You blush and try to change the subject. “So... now that I've had a chance to recover, I've got some questions.”

Twilight nods. “Of course, Radian! No lies between us.”

“First, an easy one, how did you figure out the sirens weren't dying? Besides my compliance?”

Twilight taps the side of her head with her hoof. “Simple logic, although that was perhaps the most guesswork of this whole situation. Sunset knew that Adagio had truly reconciled with her Sonata at the time she stole a glance into her mind. While the lie about them being harmed by the lack of magic was an unknown, why would Adagio risk her sister's life by attempting to repair the others when she could simply comply, bide her time, and play the long-game to restore her own and Aria's stones? The only reason I can see is that she wanted to get what she could, as quickly as she could, cut and run. Which is a shame... just by coming to us to start with, I thought it was a tremendous first step. The duplicity wasn't necessary.”

You say, “you think they would be so trusting?”

“Perhaps not,” Twilight says and sits with a shrug, “but I swear to you, if they had approached me or Sunset and simply asked for help, we would have provided it in some way.”

You then ask, “okay, so you knew we were up to something. Why proceed with repairing Sonata's stone?”

“That's a longer, more involved question. Let us break down the problem and go through it one step at a time. First, and most important?” She approaches you and puts a hoof on your chest, like the first time you bonded. “I knew you had a good heart. Sunset told me as such, based on Adagio's feelings for you. This wasn't some simple case of lust, or dedication of service for power. She loves you so deeply for the kindness and support you've given her. Our conversations, which were an easy way to assess this theory, only deepened that understanding. But the most crucial part began with how Adagio serenaded you with her song. I teleported in when I heard the commotion and was curious what was going on. I did originally knock, but didn't get a reply.”

“Right, before Pinkie then kicked the door in. Why didn't you just knock or something?”

“Sorry about that.” Twilight laughs. “Well, with no response, I almost expected to catch you in the act of some form of subterfuge. We planned to discern your motives or activities while you were here, conducting searches of your room and having a guarded escort everywhere, but I put a stop to all that when I witnessed just how much you meant to each other. After that, I needed only to get a better idea of what kind of pony... well, what kind of man you were.”

“This almost sounds too good to be true... you're giving me so much, but for what? And why?”

Twilight closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Even despite the serious conversation, she's been smiling and being friendly, but she suddenly turns very serious. Cold. Calculating. If you weren't dead focused on her eyes, you could swear her mane started flowing and glittering, like a dark purple nebula of stars.

She walks up to you, and you're on the receiving end of that aura of hers. Pure authority. Raw power. That side of her that has suffered, struggled and fought untold threats. The side of her that, if you truly crossed her, you believe Starlight's lashing out would be a childish slap to what she could do to you.

She says, “I say this out of respect for you, and again, with no lies between us. I am doing this in the hopes of gaining something in return.”

There's always a catch, huh? “... go on.”

“I doubt I'll be so fortunate to gain Adagio's friendship, although I'll certainly try, but your wish to live a life in Equestria is a fair request. One I have no problem fulfilling, and I'll be happy to give you both autonomy to come and go as you please. To that end, Radian? If I am to rule this land, I will need allies. Strong ones. I've seen this land suffer under tyrants who would drain magic from everypony alive and destroy everything we hold dear. I've seen a pegasus abuse the power of friendship and weaponise it for her own ends, while turning pony against pony for her own selfish desires for power. I have seen a queen, so filled with hatred, that she would spit in the face of her own kind when they have discovered that they can thrive without malice or cruelty.

“Your friendship, Radian, and Adagio's respect, as well as both of your wishes and dreams? I am willing to leverage all of it against the safety of those who will one day be my people. The sirens will help safeguard our way of life.” she says and gestures between the two of you. “In exchange for everything you wish of us in return. A home in Equestria, my unwavering support in whatever endeavours you both desire. A self-fulfilling pact of mutual respect.”

Shit. “That's so unlike you, Twilight. That's...”

She suddenly smirks, and her mane returns to its normal, pretty and straight style. “Conniving? Pragmatic? I would think that, as somepony in love with Adagio, who's an appreciably canny woman, you might respect that.”

You chuckle. “I confess, you've got me there. Yeah, after learning about how much thought Adagio puts into her plans and goals, it's hard not to appreciate her brilliance... It's just that I expected you to be purely altruistic.”

“Naive, you mean. Childish and starry eyed? I was, once, but I refuse to allow harm to come to those I love.” She closes her eyes and bows her head. “You included, if you'll allow it. I will give everything I have to protect you, if you'll just stay by my side, alongside Adagio, Aria and Sonata. Just as I don't expect you to forgive Sunset without merit, I shall not expect the sirens' friendship, trust or allegiance to come without me earning it.” She leans forward and gives you deep stare. “And I will earn it. Whatever it takes.”

You realise you backed up a few steps at that, and your heart's racing. She's just as scary as Adagio when she wants to be. “I get it. Look, I'm happy to, but I don't know if Adagio will like this, or her sisters. Aria especially. If you force me to pick a side, then-”

Twilight nods. “You'll side with them. I wholeheartedly understand, and I'll bear you no ill will. Besides, they're welcome to challenge me. In fact, I expect it. If Adagio doesn't want to play nice, then so be it. But all I care about at this point is whether to expect a sudden appearance of wild, uncontrollable sirens in the middle of nowhere if we give these stones back. You understand this as well, considering why you confessed to me what you've been up to.”

Oh, hell, you hadn't considered that. “They'll potentially be subject to the very mind-altering effects I've noticed and worried about from giving Adagio her stone back...”

“Precisely. This is another reason we need to give Adagio back her powers now. We both need to know that she can control the stone. Otherwise, I can't risk letting you go, which isn't fair on anyone. Now that I know they're willing to accept humans, I want them restored and, simply put, they stand to gain more as my ally than as my enemy.”

Okay, it's fair to say that Twilight isn't fucking around. You simply nod and say, “alright, point made.”

Twilight sighs with relief. “I'm sorry, I didn't want to dampen the mood. Honestly, I just want us to get along, and I can't stress how much I enjoy being with you as your friend. I never want to have to be like that if I can avoid it, but if anyone thinks I'm not willing to fight for my beliefs and my friends, then they're sorely mistaken.”

“Well, while we're on sombre subjects, and back to discussing our arrangement, what about Sunset? Surely my issues with her must have given you some impression I wasn't some saint.”

“Not at all,” she says as she gives you a gentle smile. “Even the best of us fall victim to grudges, and each is as unique as the people and situations involved. Yours isn't some petty concern that can be washed away, but anything just as long-lived does often need new consideration, because memories never remain clear over such a span. I've never once wanted you to forgive Sunset for the sake of it. I knew that if I could just convince you to treat her in a neutral way, that you would have a better idea of how to tackle your rancour. For better or for worse, even if you still find her irredeemable in your eyes, at least you would have tried.”

You bite your lip. “You're fixing my Addy's stone... maybe I'm being cynical, but I'm surprised you're not weighing that against me offering forgiveness.”

She shakes her head. “I may be willing to play hardball with you and Adagio for some things, but no, I'm not blackmailing you, and I never will. And never feel compelled to do something you don't want for what I'm doing for you. That isn't fair on you, or on Sunset. False redemption or forgiveness is worse than just retaining that animosity and being honest with yourself. Do as you feel is right, Radian. I trust you to make the right decision when you, yourself, feel ready.”

“So you really just want me to talk with her, then?”

“Exactly! Discuss science, talk about artefacts, anything! See if there's any common ground. Learn about her merits and flaws with your own analysis and settle the issue on your own terms. Or don't. Of course I'd prefer if you could get along, but I'm not the offended party here. If you want her to repay any perceived debt, then knowing how she can help you is the crucial first step. She's always seen her assistance with recovering artefacts for me as a way for her to make up for what she tried to do to me and Canterlot High School. I've even asked her to ease up and take some time off, but as soon as something comes up, Sunset's always on the case, and she's been working out and getting fit whenever she can! I seriously worry about if she's pushing herself too hard.”

Putting her to work, huh? Hmm.

You think of other questions, decide to think to the immediate future. “Okay, I get why you're trusting me, and Addy to some extent, but surely we're plunging into the same dangerous waters as I was by trying to fix the siren stones on my own, especially with those portals you mentioned. What's the plan here?”

Twilight begins to mix a blend of epoxy and powdered ruby. “That's the next step, and you're right, there is reason to be concerned, but I have a plan. First, I want to assure you that my wishes for you and Adagio's happiness are genuine, so take what I'm about to say with an analytical consideration, and let me say my piece before reacting.”

“Okay, I'll keep quiet.”

She puts the mix down. “I believe Sunset made it clear that this summit had some of the most powerful ponies in Equestria in attendance. That is the truth. If all else fails, and Adagio loses control, we will have to subdue her. With force, as necessary.”

You're glad you braced yourself, because that alone makes your brow twitch as you swallow down the anger.

“That is the worst case scenario, though. The second worst is that she attempts to escape, in which case, I have studied up on Starswirl the Bearded's portal conjuration spell. The very same that sent the sirens to your world to begin with. I believe I've worked out how to nullify the odd time dilation aspect, but the exit aperture location is still a mystery. Since we won't know where she'll appear, I'll make a personal point to come with you to the human world and help you locate her. I owe you that for your trust and friendship, and I'm sure Aria and Sonata will help too, as well as your know-how on finding her particular resonance which I imagine will prove vital.”

That makes you uneasy for reasons you can't quite put your hoof on right now, but you again just let her talk.

“From there, our solutions are far more optimistic. If she struggles to fight off the urges from her stone, I believe your understanding of positive energy types could help her wrest control back and recover her senses. Likewise, as the best case scenario, if she retains her control, we can safely let her get used to her form while we repair the mirror portal. I believe I can create a rift-expansion spell that will make the mirror aperture large enough for her to return to the human world, so I'll leave it up to you if you choose to stay while she acclimatises. I'd be glad to host you in Equestria for a while, but I suspect you still want to return home, at least while you finish dealing with your inventions and giving the stones to the other sirens. Rest assured, we'll take good care of Adagio if that's the case.”

“What about Aria and Sonata?”

Twilight purses her lips in thought for a moment. “If the change back into a siren is without any drama, I suppose it would only be fair to arrange a time when we can bring them both here, or perhaps one at a time. If not... well, foal steps, Radian. Let's focus on Adagio first.”

Okay, that sounds much better. She's just being real with you, that's all. “Okay, I get it. Any good experiment should have all safety precautions followed until we know what we're dealing with.”

“Exactly. We just need to know what physical and mental changes, if any, happen on Adagio's restoration as a siren. We have to do it here and now while things are in our favour. I'm hoping at some point you could help me find out any other portals to Equestia from the human world, too; we had the human Rainbow Dash and my other self fall through a quick-sand pit on an otherwise empty island after one mishap. Fortunately Sunset was with them. That particular portal had them turn up just outside of Ponyville.”

“I love that you've put this much thought into this,” you admit with a smile. “I may not know them, but I can see why Princess Celestia and the others are trusting you to rule.”

Twilight blushes. “Just trying to do my best! And a friendship with a pony as clever as you, with your technology, and the help of the sirens? Equestria's future looks bright!”

“I'm sold,” You chuckle as you start arranging the right shards for the repair. “You know, for a minute there, I was going to guess you only wanted to repair Adagio's stone so you could finally get your wish to tinker with one, after the way you reacted earlier and yesterday.”

You look at Twilight, who's scrunched up her face. She suddenly laughs and won't look you in the eye, and says, “hah, how silly! Of course not!”

Wait, you can't possibly be right, could you? “Seriously? I'm all about scientific curiosity for the sake of it, but-”

Twilight pouts. “Can't it be all of the above? Friendship, scientific curiosity, doing the right thing and having an up-close study of a siren stone?”

“I'm not arguing. I'm just... a bit surprised still, I guess.”

“Nothing wrong with keeping an open mind and trying to have it all, I guess. So long as you're not hurting anypony. Life's for living, after all. Why can't I enjoy restoring your special somepony?”

You plod through the normal steps of repair, but deep down, you're thrilled. You keep thinking of the future.

“There was one topic I was always curious about,” Twilight says as she uses her telekinesis to hold the ruby shards in place as you gently apply the epoxy. “It's quite personal, though, so feel free to not answer. You had nobody, and you created this device?” She points a hoof at your emitter.

“No, I created that thanks to Adagio's money when I convinced her I could help her. I first proved my abilities with this crummy phone I'd slapped together that could kinda harness magic. It just cycled through the patterns I'd found while keeping the phone charged.”

“Ah, okay. Well, you made your invention on her faith, I guess. Do you think she would have used and discarded you then?”

You tap your chin with your hoof. “Truthfully? I imagine she did. But I think, deep down, she was lonelier than she thought she was. It didn't take much of my presence before she started opening up.”

Twilight smiles. “Sometimes we must be completely broken to be fixed as a whole, instead of just clinging on.”

You chuckle. “Friendship is magic, but conflict isn't always evil, I guess.”

“We can't air our grievances otherwise. Reconciliation is ideal, but not always practical without the flames of passion behind your words.” Twilight stretches after the long term focus, flexing and fluttering her wings. “But back on topic. So, she opened up to you quite early then? For a moment, I did wonder if your relationship began with your willing servitude just for a loving caress.”

With a huff, you say, “did I pursue her for lust? Twilight, listen to me, I had pretty much given everything up for my scientific pursuit. I won't deny the attraction was part of it, and I... derived more pleasure out of their songs and their control than I'd like to admit with my position now, and my relationship with Addy, but no. Science first, hot singer worship second. And for this awkward line of questioning, I've got to say it; I'm shocked you're not in a relationship with somepony.”

Twilight's ears slowly flatten down. “I feel like I'm doomed to a case of 'always the bridesmare, never the bride.”

You smirk. “Well, worst comes to worst, maybe you could always look for the other me. I imagine he's quite handsome.”

You share a laugh.

“Cute as that is,” Twilight says, “he may well be out there somewhere, but he's never going to be as unique as you. Nopony is, and that's what makes everyone so special. Never forget that. Never lose yourself. If Adagio is any kind of soulmate, she'll respect you too much to use her powers to control your spirit.”

“Even for kinky stuff?”

Twilight blushes pink and her eyes grow wide. “Uh... I guess that... might be an exception?”

“Oh, come on,” you cackle. “All that magic, and you wouldn't do weird stuff to your partner?”

Her face turns a weirder shade of pink and she scowls. “We're not having this conversation.”

“I mean, I can literally use my magic to make ponies feel tingly with-”

“Not listening! Working!”

* * *

Chapter 29: Faster

“And that, Dr. Wave,” Twilight says, “is what we call a job well done.” She holds out her hoof.

“That we do, Twi. That we most certainly do.” You hoof-bump her and appreciate your work. It took far less time than Sonata and Aria's stones, what with you having two gem repairs of experience. Twilight was also well briefed on the method, and needed little guidance.

Adagio's stone is complete, if still not perfect. It's less crude than Sonata's and Aria's when they were first completed, though still has extra gemstone material jutting out of the previous broken edge like a short tailed, angular comet, but it's whole again. In fact, you've even had a chance to grind down Aria's stone in the meanwhile as Twilight undertook some of the more tedious work. Sonata and Aria's stones are now just as they were before they were broken.

“Not to put a dampener on things,” you say, “but how are we going to comprehensively test the stone if it's not fully repaired? It takes a good six hours at least to finish hardening and aren't we due to leave for home at that time?”

Twilight beams a smile as her horn sparks to life. “I've come prepared! Observe.”

Like Starlight's overnight barrier spell, the stone is wreathed in a pink sphere that swirls and crackles with power as it grows in intensity.

“This, Radian, is a time-quickening field. The stone will be ready in an hour, which should-”

You both freeze and gasp as the stone falls from the clamp, bounces on the table, and skitters dangerously close to the edge. Twilight snags it just as it falls off, and the time field vanishes.

Twilight exhales slowly and says, “sweet Celestia, that was close! Did the clamp break?”

You take a close look, but see nothing amiss. You then take the loupe and give the stone a deep study, and thankfully, it seems undamaged. “I have no idea. Can the stones move by themselves?”

“I don't think so,” Twilight says as you loosen the grips with your magic, and she places it back inside. “It could be a side-effect of it being Adagio's stone. We're still dealing with a lot of unknowns, but all the more reason to get it finished and start testing.”

You tighten the clamp, and Twilight re-applies the field. She then continues, “anyway, as I was saying, in an hour, this stone will be ready for grinding down, which should be enough time for you to go and get your fillyfriend and bring her here. I'll add some safeguards to the field to stop the stone from falling loose again, then I'll get Princess Celestia and the others together for the final tests. With Adagio's input, we'll see if she can get a response from her stone while we grind and polish the stone. Then, we restore her to her former glory, and then take it from there.”

It's actually going to happen. You've succeeded! And without treading on anyone's hooves in the process. You suppose Adagio might not necessarily be okay with this friendship (or alliance), but everything you know about her will likely see it as an opportunity at worst or, at best, perhaps allow her previously mentioned respect for Twilight to make them get along in some way.

“Just one question,” you say. “Any idea where Adagio might be? I know she stands out, but I'm assume your friends had plans?”

Twilight taps her chin with her hoof. “I think Rarity was planning to show her the rest of the city, then hit the Crystal Empire spa. I'd imagine she's there at this hour. Head out, follow the road left towards the palace, then left again at Spike's statue.”

“Spike? Not the most auspicious name for a guy with a statue.”

Twilight looks just slightly annoyed, but she quickly smooths her expression with a grin. “I'll have you know that, just as Adagio, Aria and Sonata are your family, Spike is part of mine. He's a young dragon who saved the Crystal Empire a few times, helped usher in peace with a whole race known as the Changelings, personally helped the current Dragonlord rise to power... the list goes on.” Her pride is palpable.

For a geek about to fade into nothingness as a nobody and exploited for his PhD, you're rubbing elbows with a lot of important folk these days.

Elbows? Front knees? Technically those back-leg knees are hocks and- never mind!

You answer, “hay, sounds like someone I should meet.”

“I'm sure you will, the next time you visit! But we're getting off-track. Left at his statue, follow the signposts and you'll find the spa, you can't miss it!”

“Okay. See you in an hour!”

You trot outside then break into a canter as you follow the path as instructed, and reach the plaza outside the palace. You realise you'd seen the statue of Spike before, but was so filled with wonder at, well, everything that it didn't exactly stand out any more or less than the crystal buildings, the sheer number of ponies and other races, or even the fact you were properly meeting Twilight at the time.

A short-limbed, somewhat round-bodied but bipedal dragon holding a crystal heart aloft in one hand (claw?) does seem odd, but you have a girlfriend to restore to siren-hood.

The helpful signs advertise and give directions to the spa, and after a few minutes running, you reach the establishment just as Rarity and Fluttershy exit, looking extremely well groomed.

You skid to a halt, accidentally kicking up a cloud of dust over them, which make the beautiful pair reel back. They really are a pretty couple of mares, and compared to Rarity's slim figure and average height, Shy's taller and willowy. Rarity then gives you an evil squint.

“Uh... sorry,” you say and sheepishly grin as you cautiously pluck a few stray pebbles out of Rarity's mane with an amber glow of your horn, but she shoos your attempt with a wave of her hoof and takes care of it herself, light blue taking over. As much as a hurry as you're in, you can't help but sheepishly wait for Rarity to finish clearing both her and Fluttershy's manes, afraid to pressure them.

“Ahem,” Rarity painstakingly enunciates, “why, hello again Radian. What can we do for you?”

“Hi, Rarity. And good to meet you, Fluttershy. I don't suppose Addy's with you?”

“Sadly not,” she says, looking worried. “We were having a splendid time with Sunset Shimmer joining our group, but they chose to break away after some unpleasantness started taking root.”

Fluttershy nods, and says, in a gentle, hushed tone, “I had trouble approaching her yesterday, and I felt awful for not giving my best to make her feel welcome, so I decided to get to know Adagio this time. She seemed really nice, but then over time, Adagio and Sunset started to argue. Um, excuse me, I don't mean to pry, but do they have a lot of tension back home?”

You lick your teeth. There's no easy answer to that. “That's a bit of an understatement, but it's complicated. Do you have any idea where they went?”

Shy continues, “oh, well, when they started getting into an argument, Applejack and Rainbow Dash suggested they go somewhere to let off some steam. Of course, Dashie suggested the jousting grounds-”

Rarity huffs. “And Dagi accepted! I feel like she was goaded into something of which she didn't wish to partake, but I hadn't the stomach to convince her otherwise, so we decided to continue with our plan of a relaxing spa treatment.”

“Right, tsk,” you grumble and look around. “How do I reach the jousting grounds?”

Fluttershy points up with her wing. “If you head for that flag, you'll find it.”

You follow her gesture to a flag gently billowing in the breeze, featuring two stylistic ponies facing each other with crossed lances, then look to the pair again. “Thanks! Hopefully we get to say goodbye properly before we head home, but it's been a pleasure meeting you both!”

You race off without another word, and wind your way down the streets in pursuit of the flag. Four legged locomotion really is something else; you'd be out of breath by now, but having your whole body pump away makes it far less strenuous. Even so, you're breathing hard when you reach the jousting grounds, where armoured ponies of all shapes and sizes are competing in duels where they race towards each other with padded lances.

You see Applejack, half-dressed in armour, and she waves you over. She's with a hovering Rainbow Dash, who lands as you approach. You see her rainbow-lightning and cloud cutie mark sticking out of her jousting armour.

AJ says, “howdy, Radian! What're you doin' here?”

“Yeah, hey. I didn't think this would be your scene,” Dash says. “I'm not gonna argue though! You want in on this? The way AJ described you, you seemed more of an egg-head than- ow!” Dash yelps as Applejack bumps her with her flank. She then corrects with, “uh... you're more Twilight's speed than the rest of us. It's kinda why I didn't wanna cramp Rarity's style when it looked like she and your fillyfriend got along yesterday.”

Considering your wishes to move here, normally you'd be happy to engage in small-talk, but right now, you redirect the conversation. “I heard Adagio and Sunset came here with you. Any idea where they are?”

Applejack's expression sinks. “Yeah, about that. I'm reckonin' they don't exactly see eye-to-eye back in your neck of the woods, 'cause before they could even get outfitted for joustin', Dagi was getting' all kindsa kinda fired up.”

Dash snorts at AJ. “Fired up? That's the understatement of the century.” She turns to you. “Adagio was flat out bullying Sunset. Saying stuff like how she 'needed to settle the score' with her. We tried to get them to calm down, but eventually, Sunset teleported them both somewhere.”

You wince. “Damn it, I knew it was a bad idea to let Sunset join you girls.”

“Y'all can blame me if you want,” Applejack says. She scrapes her hoof on the ground as her ears flatten back. “I just thought they needed to have it out, y'know, get it out in the air? I always felt honesty's the best way to get these things fixed, so I told Dash not to bother'em. Sorry, Radian. D'you need any help lookin'?”

Dash flaps her wings and begins to hover again. “You say the word! It'll take no time at all. Big mare like Adagio'll be super easy for me to spot.”

You nod. “Yes please, Rainbow Dash, and thanks. Don't get involved, though. Just find them and let me know. I'll take it from there.”

Dash flaps a few times, lets herself drop, then springs skyward, launching faster than anything you've witnessed before and billowing you and Applejack's manes. Your emitter beeps from the surge of magic; small victory as it feels, that definitely looks good for your pegasi power theory, because clearly Dash is a firm example of the raw magic they use to actually fly. She's out of sight in moments.

You turn to Applejack again. “So, you're saying Adagio was pushing Sunset?”

AShe nods, and says, “'fraid so. Compared to how sweet she was bein' yesterday, it was like Dagi was a whole 'nother pony. Sunset may not have started it, but they were goin' at it like a couple'a starvin' hogs with only one apple.”

You ignore the comparison of your girlfriend to a pig as just Applejack's particular flavour of speech, but can't help but feel conflicted. Breaking these two up when Adagio's the aggressor isn't going to be fun, not the least of which because your girlfriend may be the instigator, and trying to calm her down when she's several times stronger than you, plus-

You hit the deck as something lands beside you. It takes you a second to notice it's Rainbow Dash, standing proud and smirking.

She chimes, “found'em! They're on the outskirts of the city. Just follow the road south and...” Dash then snorts and stifles a laugh. “Heh, you okay there?”

You clear you throat and stand up. “Uh... just a little on edge, that's all. You were saying?”

She continues to struggle to not deride your reaction (and subsequently remember what Adagio almost called her before). “Right, so head south, just follow the yelling and all the ponies getting out of their way, I guess. You can't miss it.”

“Thanks again. Good meeting you both!” You race off once more.

Between your rough sleep since arriving and all this running, you're starting to feel stretched thin. Then realise you can literally energise yourself, so you project your own positive unicorn signal and laugh as you start running faster, the fatigue just washing away.

You dare to think what the positive signals could do to the other pony types in this world compared to the overall feel-good sensation back home. Another experiment for another day.

You reach the road and bolt south. The bigger homes begin to give way to smaller, more spaced out properties. You pass a couple of ponies looking behind themselves and gossiping, then a few outright fleeing, and brace for the worst.

Your emitter beeps. Strange, but you'll check it in a second.

You turn a corner and see them.

Adagio looms high on her hind legs over Sunset and slams her hooves down, causing the ground to shatter as Sunset teleports out of harms way.

Sunset blinks in behind Adagio, and blasts her in the side with a beam of magic.

Adagio yelps, then charges at Sunset, who teleports again and evades the charge, sending Adagio into a skid that ends with her crashing into a wall and cracking it.

You yell, “stop! Stop this!”

Sunset turns to you and gasps. “Radian?”

The distraction lets Adagio kick the wall, completely breaking it. She then deftly digs a rear leg into the ground and kicks a pile of dirt and broken wall at Sunset, who gets smashed by the debris, knocked down as Adagio charges in for the killing blow.

You get between them! “STOP! STOP!!”

Adagio stumbles and skids to a halt an inch from ramming into you, and pants for breath as she gives you a furious stare. “It's what she deserves! For what she did to me! What she did to you!!”

Sunset groans, dazed, as she struggles to get free of the pile.

“Maybe she did,” you say, “but this isn't right! You know that!”

Adagio laughs and says, “if you won't do it, I will! Get out of the way!”

All that power, all that presence that you found hot is absolutely terrifying as she looms over you. The flex of her chest muscles and legs as she snorts, little wisps of steam emerging from her nostrils like a bloodthirsty dragon.

This is your Addy, damn it! She'll listen to you!

“Addy, please! You have to stop! I've got good news if you'll just listen for a second.”

“Out of my way,” she growls and pushes against you. You try to resist, but she soon loses her patience, raises a foreleg, and shoves you in the side. Or it resembles a shove, but with hooves and when she's several times your weight, and almost all muscle?

All the air escapes from your lungs and you drop like a sack of potatoes.

“You shouldn't disobey me, Ray! Look at what you made me do!” She leans down and gives you a glare, then blinks and frowns, wincing and then hissing through her teeth. Her eyes brighten, and suddenly this terrifying brute once more looks at you with gentler, raspberry eyes. “R- Ray!? What? Oh buck! What am I doing?”

You'd be proud of her for fighting against her dark side if you weren't in crippling pain.

It takes a few moments to inhale again, even as Adagio gently covers you in a gentle hug and frets, “I'm so sorry! Ray, talk to me! Are you alright!?”

You weakly gesture with your hoof and cough. “You slipped... further into the other you,” you finally say and start catching your breath.

Sunset finally pulls free of the debris, but remains slumped on the ground. “She went crazy is what you mean! She kept poking me and insulting me all day and...” she pauses and looks ashamed. “I let it get to me. I shouldn't have done that, but she wouldn't let up!”

“It's not your fault. It's... complicated, but being here and being full of 'the magic of friendship' has been messing with my head.” She then sits and holds you gently in her forelegs as you finish recovering.

“Let me try and explain,” you say, then give Sunset the brief overview on Adagio's odd reaction to Equestria as Sunset finally manages to get back on her hooves.

As you do, you get a chance to take in the scene: they both look worn out, battered and bruised, with their manes, tails and coats in disarray. There are a large number of Adagio-sized hoofprints in the crystalline road , complete with spiderweb cracks around them where it looks like she's stomped the ground with all her massive strength. Besides the wall Adagio just flat out kicked down, there's damage to a several other buildings that you suspect was made by a errant blasts of magic, since it's above even Adagio's lofty height. They've clearly been fighting for a while.

Sunset sits wearily down as you finish telling her about Adagio's friendship poisoning. “Well, now I feel even worse. I didn't realise you didn't have control over yourself. Sheesh, this whole thing's been a mess.”

Adagio rubs one foreleg with the other. As big as she is, you've never seen her seem so small as a pony. “Yeah, no kidding. And it's not like I made it easy. Plus, I was aware of what I was saying, but they were my true feelings, just raw and untamed. I just couldn't filter it at all.”

“So that's how you really feel about me?” Sunset bows her head and sighs. “I shouldn't be surprised, I guess. I get you've hated me for a while, but I suppose I was hoping we'd get past that. I know I've always had a lot of smug satisfaction in seeing you brought down like you had. That was never fair, but especially after I saw what that did to you, what with your... incident at that alleyway. I'm sorry, Adagio. Once we go back home, I think it would be best if we just parted ways. I'll... find a way to let you contact Twilight, but-”

“Wait a second.” Adagio bites her lip, gulps as she releases you, and approaches her old foe, and simply rests a friendly hoof on her shoulder. “I do still have some... issues with you, Sunset, but I've always respected you. You were one of the girls who bested me and my sisters, after all. We challenged you, we belittled you, and you fought back. Those are the facts.” Adagio releases her and returns to your side. “Look, I'm not saying we're going to be friends or anything, but I could use a few less enemies. We've both done and said things that aren't exactly doing either of us any favours, but from one buck-up who lost to Twilight to another? You're alright...”

Sunset smiles up at the bigger mare. “Really?”

Adagio rolls her eyes, but puts on a familiar, dark grin. “Yes, really. Just... don't go spreading it around. I say we just abide each other and see how it goes. Associates?”

Sunset breathes a huge sigh of relief and closes her eyes. “sounds good to me. The last thing I wanted was to be part of the reason for any more strife between everyone.” She glances at you but can't maintain eye contact. “At this point I'll take any olive branches.”

It almost feels unreal to see these two at least building bridges. You can't help but continue to struggle against your old bias, but say nothing; you're still processing what Twilight said not that long ago about handling your issues with Sunset.

Adagio' smirk dampens a little as she flicks you a glance and no doubt notices your conflict, but she keeps focused on Sunset. “I've certainly met worse humans. Or ponies, or... whatever. And at least we have some common ground. We both come from here, for one thing.”

Sunset laughs. “True. Not to mention we both have a savage temper, the ability to rock a good leather jacket and... strange taste in pet names.” She gives you another, more mirthful look. “I think Applejack was on the money about us; we just had to let it all out, though...” she bites her lip, and says, “sorry for the whole 'energy sucking whore' thing. That was way out of line.”

Adagio chuckles. “And I guess I'm sorry for calling you a self-righteous, stuck up bitch, (however true),” she mumbles, and you're not sure Sunset caught it. She then says, louder, “and almost... you know, squashing you like a bug.”

“Hey, I shot you with my magic! I mean, you're tough, even for an earth pony, but still... damn, girl!”

They share a laugh.

You get another beep from your emitter.

Adagio tilts her head. “Ray? Something wrong?”

“It's nothing, I'm sure,” you say and set up a full strength siren signal; you need to double check Adagio's opinion on Sunset. If they've really made peace, then you hope you can ride the good vibes. Maybe it'll soften the blow into you doing the same with your old nemesis.

The second you unleash the energy, the device crackles and the screen cuts out for a moment.

“Oh, what the hay? Don't die on me now!”

Then you gasp as a purple spark sputters out of the device, and a flash hits the air. Like watching a gas filled room catch aflame, it spreads through the area, and fills a hemisphere around your group in a thick, green fog. Curiously, it flows and roils, then suddenly draws off towards the city. You try to scan it now, but can't get a response, so you quickly restart your emitter, and thankfully it seems undamaged. The fog's like a long streak in the air, pointing to your group.

Sunset walks next to you and watches the green fog float. “Strange, that almost looks like that stuff the sirens absorbed back when they had their stones.”

It hits you like a bolt of lightning. The stone moving had to coincide with Adagio's fight, and with the owner of a stone here? Involved in a conflict, which has a type of energy you couldn't create, nor scan? Combine that with how your device absorbs magic to power itself, and apparently that includes dark magic and, just like in the workshop, that magic just ignited that conflict. You hadn't been using especially strong signals since then wormed its way into the magic-receptive battery of your device, so it may not have tapped into the larger capacity power cells.

Oh... that can't be good.

Twilight suddenly teleports in. “Radian? Did you take the stone? I was about to go get Princess Celestia, then when I checked to make sure the field was still intact, it was gone... then I felt a weird surge of magic in this area.”

A chime from your emitter distracts you about another magic surge. You check the read out. A familiar, almost siren-based signal, and it's getting stronger. And stronger. But it's not from Adagio. You narrow down the scan... it's the stone's signal!

You look up just as a bright red spark shines in the sky, growing in size and speed as it hurls towards you like a comet, following the green trail.

“Look out!” You dive for cover, as does Twilight.

Sunset panics and stumbles as it rushes past her, knocking her aside, and she hits the ground, hard.

The red light strikes Adagio square in the chest. It knocks her clear off her hooves and punches her clean through the already damaged building.

You scramble upright, and watch in horror as the damaged structure collapses on your girlfriend.

“Oh shit! Adagio!!” You run up and begin to pull the rubble away, by magic and digging with your hooves, only for an explosion to launch you, and the remains of the building, away.

Adagio hovers, surrounded in a sphere of red energy as she remains slumped, unconscious for a moment, then opens her eyes, as they glow red, then turn golden. She screams in pain as she writhes in the air, then looks down at her chest. The stone's embedded in a bleeding wound, misshaped from the way the stone was still imperfect and still not hardened. She scrapes her hoof across it, trying to dig it out of her, but it begins to crackle with energy, making her writhe and cry out again. Then she begins to rise as an aura of red surrounds her.

She continues to struggle and wriggle in pain as the hooves on her forelegs split in the front, now cloven. Her mane shines and bunches together, flattening, forming a large crest and a splay of smaller, antenna-like fins out of the front. Her pupils constrict, then become vertical slits, and her flat teeth crack and sharpen. Her coat flattens and forms a flowing mesh of hard, armour-like fish or reptilian scales.

And as the energy begins to glow so bright, that it hurts to look at, Adagio reaches for you and screams, one last time.

“Ray! Help me!!” Pleading, raw fear and panic and pain as she vanishes from view. The sphere expands as it rises into the night sky.

Then another sound. Not even a cry, nor a scream.

But a bestial roar of pure, violent rage.

* * *

Chapter 30: Changes

You've never felt so helpless.

In the corner of your eye, Twilight checks on Sunset, who slowly lifts her head, but you can't take your eyes away for long as Adagio's ascension completes. The massive sphere of red energy fades, leaving you in awe as you see her.

The love of your life, restored, as you both always wished. A gigantic serpentine being, as big as a house. Draconic in some ways, aquatic and fishlike in others, with equine features. She's beautiful and terrible all at once as she snakes around in the sky. Just two limbs, her forelegs, as back half of her body forms a single fishlike tail.

But the savage, mindless fury in her golden eyes tells another story. As does the ugly, malformed gem-like structure in her chest, which still bleeds and pulses with an uneven red light. It surges and crackles as she looses another roar, a palpable mix of a feminine and bestial pain, and this one looses a shockwave of power from her. The ground shakes, loose stones and grass are torn and flung away and it knocks all of you back dozens of feet and obliterating the nearby buildings. You land hard, but the adrenaline coursing through you forces you to your hooves once more.

Beams of light fill the sky, one yellow, two more a pale and a dark blue, which strike Adagio. They cause her to growl in anger, but only seem to singe her scales as you all look toward the palace.

A trio of alicorns flying in, one white, one deep blue and one pink, all approach and continue their barrage. The pink one begins casting a light blue sphere of magic around Adagio, constricting her, but the siren looses another thunderous roar which once more blasts the area with a field of magic and sound. The trio are knocked from the sky, barely controlling their descent as they all but crash land near you.

Adagio then screeches out in pain as her chest-stone fizzles, and she flees.

The white one, with a flowing, ethereal mane of green, pink and blue colours, says, “Twilight, she's too strong! We must stop her before she escapes! Conjure the portal, and we shall shepherd her towards it with our magic!”

Twilight groups up with the other alicorns and nods. She then looks at you, wet eyed and remorseful, and says, “I'm sorry, Radian, we have to banish her back to your world. She's weak now, since she hasn't fed on much energy and the stone's imperfect, but if she escapes now, we may never be able to restore her!”

You almost nod, but then you remember something that chills you to your bones.

Even if Twilight's fixed the time shift that Adagio once described with this portal spell, if they banish her, it won't just send Adagio back to the human world. It will rob her of her memories.

It won't even be your Adagio any more.

You can't let that happen, but how can you possibly stop four ponies of such power!?

Twilight casts a spell, and launches a pale white beam ahead of Adagio, which forms a black, swirling void in the siren's path.

The other three, which you remember as Celestia, Luna and Cadence, all begin to fire magic beams around Adagio, confining her flight path with glancing blows that torment and scratch, small but gathering injuries to funnel Adagio straight for the portal.

It can't end like this!

You've never thought this fast before, but a plan shines through, and you act.

You set up a unicorn signal with your emitter and place it on the ground, pointed at you. Once more, you feel the surge in power as your horn sparks with magic.

Then you take a deep breath, and unleash the strongest anti-alicorn field you can with your own spell. It's still part anti-unicorn, and you feel your strength fade, your vision grows pale, but you hold on. You have to hold on!

Meanwhile, the four princesses all cry out in pain as they all fall, unable to stand, let alone cast their spells.

Adagio passes the aperture just as it blinks out of existence, and she flies on, harmed and slowing as she heads for the horizon.

You don't stop, but instead take up your emitter in your mouth, dial in an anti-alicorn signal, and face it towards the princesses to keep them trapped. Someone'll help them, but not before you can make your escape.

“Radian... why?” Twilight gasps. “What have you done!?”

“I'm sorry! I can fix this!! I have to fix this!!” You hate yourself. You feel like a traitor. But you had no choice.

Well, you had a choice; either side with Adagio, the first person to ever care about you since your mom died, and a woman who had relied on you in turn, grew better together. Or you could have chosen Twilight, who's been idealistic and open, caring and nurturing. You care about Twilight a great deal, but she didn't need you. There could only be one outcome. It was nice while it lasted, you guess.

You sprint off, bolstering yourself with your own magic, and follow after Adagio as fast as you can. Between your boosted stamina and her injuries, you just barely keep up with her as she begins to slowly lose altitude, before you lose sight of her in a small forest as disturbed birds take flight from the landing.

As you reach the forest edge, there's a blink of red magic.

“Radian, wait!”

You skid to a stop, and a badly bruised and exhausted Sunset stands in front of you.

She says, “let me help you. If you go in there alone, you're not coming back, you know that, right?”

You catch your breath for a second, then rasp, “what do you mean?”

“You're chasing a siren. Alone. Even if the Adagio you care for is buried in there somewhere, all it will take is this... other side of her to sing, and you'll be hers. I think I can resist it a little by making a self-memory loop in myself, but you? And besides, even if she doesn't have her magic at full strength, if she lashes out in any way, like she almost did moments ago-”

You yell, “I don't need your help, damn it!”

Sunset tenses up and screams, “yes you fucking do!! I've had it! Stop toying with me! I get it, I was a horrible bitch! I hurt you in a way that I might never be able to repay! You think I want to be that? I want to do something, anything to make it up to you!” She stops to sob, and take a deep breath. “I could keep saying sorry, but I know you won't care, so I don't care what you think any more, or what you say. I'm all you've got. I'm going with you. For Dagi's sake as much as anything.”

You bite your lip and feel that old bile bubble up. The old pain. The old hatred.

Then you slap it in the face with the fact you just betrayed Twilight, who's been nothing but supportive, and with the truth that yeah, running alone against a siren, a being many times your size and a magnitude more powerful than you are or ever will be. It's over. Fuck that side of you.

You suck in a deep breath, bow your head and say, “you're right. Sorry.”

Sunset sighs with relief. “Thank you. Let me do this for you. Let me-”

“Wait,” you say and raise a hoof. “Yes, I need your help, but this doesn't make us square. Not by a damn long shot.”

Sunset laughs, incredulous, and shakes her head. “Fine, whatever. Let's call it self-interest for you, and I'll call it saving Equestria if it makes you feel any-”

You snap, “let me finish! We can't afford to be at each others throats in there. Not any more. There's some things I want to say. Important things, but we can talk as we walk.”

You turn and face the forest. It's every bad dream about being chased, every horror story of people being eaten by beasts or worse while alone in the wilds made manifest as you dread passing into the treeline. White snow partially covering the skeletal blackness, the spiky limbs stretching all over in a confusing mess of branches. It's bitterly cold, and you swear you'll be indebted to Rarity forever for the saddle, which wards off much of the cold.

Despite the deep fear in your heart, you both enter the forest.

“So, we need to start building bridges,” you say.

“Yeah. Fighting'll only make her stronger,” Sunset replies.

“It's not just that. I've had a lot to think about these last couple of days, and the more I've heard and seen, the more I've come to realise that I... we can't keep on like this. It's stifling both of us. Twilight made it sound like you've been acting desperate ever since we met again, and it brings out the worst in me.”

Sunset doesn't say anything, but looks deep into your eyes.

“I owe Twilight too much for this. She trusted me, and I threw it in her face, but I just couldn't face losing Adagio.”

This time she lowers her head. “I understand. I know what she means to you. I've felt her love for you, you know? I just wish I trusted it as much as Twilight did. Maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe you wouldn't have felt compelled to sneak the other siren stones into Equestria.”

“Fuck the past at this point. Now's the important thing, and the future. Which is what I wanted to talk about most of all.”

You take a deep, calming breath, and prepare to tread mental grounds you never thought you could.

“When I sell my inventions, I'm going to need help as the situation changes. That means I'm going to need employees.”

“You're... going to hire me?”

You nod. “Twilight said you needed work. I can provide that. But on one condition: I want in on your artefact hunts.”

Her eyes go as wide as her smile. “Sure!”

“This isn't a favour. I need you close so you can pay me back for what you've done. But I also want to try and make peace with Twilight, and if that means working with you, then so be it.”

Sunset manages a smile. “You won't hear me complain! Paying the bills, travel, lodging and stuff like that's a nightmare when some major artefact suddenly appears halfway across the world.”

“Exactly. It's the practical solution. I get to help Twilight, and we can see about... starting fresh. If Adagio can do it, then surely I can as well.”

“So... a truce?” She stops and holds out her hoof.

You suppress the dying anger again, and press your hoof on hers. “Truce.”

“I will say, that was a pretty ballsy move back there,” Sunset says with a raised eyebrow. “Attacking all four princesses of Equestria?”

“You think the repercussions'll be bad?”

She smirks. “Let's just say that I hope you like the moon.”

“What?” You just tilt your head.

She chuckles. “Never mind. I'm sure I can smooth things over with Twilight. Now, let's get moving. I'm freezing my tail off here.”

You both hasten into a trot. You have no idea where Adagio's gone, but you must figure that someone as big as her would be easy to see. Except the trees are so dense, you fear you'll lose your way. By some miracle it's not snowing at the moment so your tracks should stay as a marker, but you'd rather not tempt fate.

“This is impossible,” you grumble. “Every second we lose is a second she could be recovering and growing stronger. She could flee and we'd never know it.”

Sunset stops and shivers. “If she gets away, then Equestria's in serious trouble. Though that's going to mean little to us if we freeze to death first.”

“Hold on.”

You use your magic to remove your holster, saddle and pad. You then put them on Sunset, and use the holster strap to bind the blanket to you so it doesn't fall off.

“Hey, thanks!” Sunset says, admiring the saddle. “Ooh, nice.”

Free of your old prejudices... she looks kinda cute, actually. You suppress that thought and say, “it's just a practical solution. Now, we still need to find a way of finding Adagio. Damn it, if only I had my scanner...”

Sunset mumbles something, then yells, “charley-horse!”

You yelp as Sunset kicks you in the back leg and you fall to the ground in a heap. You shout, “fuck you! What the fuck's your problem!?”

A green wisp flows off of your body, and streaks away, straight and true.

You blink and can't believe it. She just pulled a you on you!

Sunset holds out her foreleg to help you up. “Sorry Radian, but c'mon! After it!”

You climb to your hooves and chase after it, staggering a bit before you get sensation back in your hind leg.

You're not even mad any more as you ask, “was that revenge for Sunburst? Did he tell you what happened?

“Huh? What are you talking about? I just figured we needed a little conflict so we could follow the energy Adagio's after.”

You laugh, despite everything. This girl's devious. You can respect that. You also can't help but feel some guilt because of how right Twilight was; you have more in common than you'd ever have thought.

The wisp winds and floats between the trees, and with you both in hot pursuit, you soon hear it.

Pained breathing. Feminine, but there's a power and weight to the voice. Adagio's voice. Then you see her in a clearing, coiled around herself. Her eyes are closed and the gem in her chest continues to flicker and crackle. Each spark causes Adagio to hiss and growl, but you can see the wound isn't as severe as it used to be. She's healing around the imperfect stone! If she isn't herself, and if she escapes now, it's over.

Without the panic, and having had a chance to brace yourself, she's still breathtaking to behold. So large, one of her cloven hooves could crush you, or you could be swallowed whole by her fang-filled maw.

But through it all, she's oddly beautiful. Knowing your Addy's inside there just steels your resolve, and you step into the open.

“Who!?” She raises her head and snarls. Her expression twitches rapidly; joy, rage, confusion, but her stone once more causes her to wince and hiss. “My pet...”

Her voice is... compelling. But you focus and say. “I'm here to save you.”

“We both are, Dagi,” Sunset says. “Please, come with us. We can help you.”

“Go? With you?” She laughs. “Why would I go anywhere with you!? So you can send me back to that scum-filled hive!? All those miserable, snivelling humans? That's it, isn't it!?” She begins to rise from the ground, a serpent poising to strike. “You want to take me back to that vile place so they can torture me more, isn't it? You enjoyed my pain, Sunset! Savoured my weakness! But you can't take me. Yet I can take you! I'm so much greater than you will ever be!”

So it's true... it's the other Adagio in control. The old Adagio.

You plead, “Addy, please, let me help!”

She snarls, “don't call me that!” Once more her expression shifts and flows, finally settling on a smile. It's not a good smile. “But let's not fight, my little pet,” she beckons with her foreleg. “Come to me. Help me rise to power. It's what you always wanted, right? To lose yourself to my voice?” She winces but smiles through the pain. “Subjugation is bliss.”

You shout, “no, and you should know that! You showed me how much more I could be. Just as I helped you become so much greater than this!” You gesture to her with your hoof.

Adagio bares her teeth, each as big as one of your legs and razor sharp. “Ah, I see. She's poisoned you against me. Well, we can't have that, can we?”

She begins to sing a sombre, gentle melody. You see Sunset dive for cover and block her ears as her horn sparks to life, but...

It's so beautiful.

Yes.

You should go to her.

She's your dream girl.

~~“Radian!”~~

Join her.

It will be alright.

~~“Radian, stop! Damn it!”~~

Pain! Your flank!

Sunset just stabbed you with her horn!

She yells, “snap out of it! Focus on me!”

“Damn it,” you mutter. “I've got a better idea.”

You fire up your magic for another unicorn boost and feel the clarity kick in. The fog completely lifts from your mind, but for how long? You need another angle...

Adagio looms over you and snarls. “You dare resist me?”

The higher she rises, the more frightened you become. You backpeddle.

Sunset follows. “Uh... so, Ray? What's the play here?”

“I... I don't know!”

She gives you a wide stare. “You did all this without a plan!?”

“I just reacted! I couldn't lose her, but... wait let me try something.” You start guessing. You throw out an earth signal. Maybe that can help coax out your Addy?

Nothing happens. Just a still furious siren, who bares her teeth and lunges at you.

“Oh, screw this,” Sunset growls, get close to you, and with a flash of red, you're... somewhere else in the forest.

You can see Adagio in the distance between the trees as she snarls and glances around. You breathe a sigh of relief and realise your breath had been caught in your throat for a few moments.

Sunset looks wobbly on her hooves as her horn sputters. “Damn it... we need a plan here, Ray,” she says.

“I... I don't know. I hate to admit it, but I'm a little out of my depth here,” you pace back and forth. “You've chased down a bunch of magic artefacts and stuff, right?”

Sunset scoffs. “Yeah, as a human! I can read minds over there, yeah, but I don't exactly have much else going for me. I used to have to rely on my friends so much that, as we started spending more time apart, I've fallen short a whole bunch of times against people who find Equestrian magic. Have you ever tried to fight a guy made out of living metal? Or outrun a girl who grows eagle wings out of her back? I was ridiculously out of shape. I've worked out whenever and wherever I can since leaving school, but I doubt a set of abs, which don't even stand out as a pony, are gonna help here!”

“Magic lasers?”

“After Princess Celestia, Luna and Cadence could only scratch her? I'm better than the average unicorn, sure, but no.”

Keep thinking, Radian! “I could boost your magic.”

“Are we really entertaining attacking your girlfriend here? Even then, I doubt I'll be as strong as them!”

Fuck, this is frustrating! “Okay! Fine! You can teleport, maybe we could quickly get Twilight's help?”

Sunset sighs. “Yeah, that seems sensible... but I'm exhausted and out of practice. That last one made me light headed. I had to run to catch up most of the way to reach you, and only did a short range warp to get in front of you before I lost you in the fore-.”

“There you are!!”

Oh fuck!

Adagio charges at you, crushing trees that only barely slow her down.

You both yelp and flee. You shout, “run back and get Twilight and the others!”

“Ray, that's a terrible idea! I can't abandon you!”

You go to argue, but Adagio takes a deep breath, then screams at you. Even with her drained powers, you're bombarded with a mix between a gale force wind and raw pain.

You strike back with blast of an anti-siren signal, and she falls to the ground with an animalistic snarl as her powers fail her, sliding between you and Sunset. The ongoing impact of her massive form causes the ground to shake, knocking you off your hooves for what feels like the hundredth time since you entered Equestria, but you keep up the signal.

You yell and hope Sunset hears you, “we have no other choice! Just go! I'll keep her pinned here!”

Adagio coils upright, growls, but suddenly laughs. “Pathetic little Radian... you can't stop me,” she says as she struggles upright. Your supercharged anti-siren signal may have worked, but your own boost has already worn off and she's fighting through your spell.

So you repeat; a pause in the anti-signal, boost your powers, and unleash another draining blast of magic at your corrupted girlfriend.

Adagio growls under the pain and weakness, and you begin to empower your unicorn magic for a third time. But it's not as strong. You're getting weaker, between the fatigue earlier and the constant use of magic... you can't keep this up for much longer!

You put on a brave face and try to fight on, closing your eyes from the effort, but when you force them open, Adagio's getting closer. The wound around her gem is still closing around it, slowly but surely, and still crackles with imperfect power and weeps a trickle of blood. Even if she wins, she's going to suffer from that thing forever... or until Twilight and her group find her and banish her. Again, will there be anything left of your Adagio worth saving?

Will you even be alive?

As Adagio once more falls to the ground from another anti-siren blast, you fall to your knees, exhausted and spent. But you try and boost your powers anyway.

Only when you go to fire another shot, Adagio coils up, bellows a tremendous roar and flicks out her tail in a wide sweep.

“Ray!”

You're launched as Sunset tackles you, and further propelled with a spray of dirt and snow as you narrowly avoid Adagio's tail. You scrape and tumble on the frozen ground, the cold snow stinging as you're covered in cuts and grazes from loose branches and rocks. You're tired and mostly unharmed, but you struggle to stand.

Sunset's not far, and she climbs to her hooves and runs for you. “let's just get out of here and regrou-”

A massive cloven hoof swats Sunset, cutting a deep gouge in the earth and flinging her across the clearing. She screams for a haunting split second as she narrowly misses you, bounces off the ground a few times and crashes into a tree with a horrifying, sickening thud.

She's not moving.

You gasp, “no,” then force yourself to stand and reach Sunset as Adagio's mocking laughter fills the forest.

* * *

Chapter 31: Transformation

“Finally,” Adagio bellows in triumph. “Revenge for those years of humiliation!”

“Sunset!” you say as you skid to a stop near her prone form. “Sunset!”

She whimpers and coughs. Red flecks speckle the pure white snow. A turquoise eye peaks open and she clenches her teeth as she tries to stand, but she's barely able to move. The saddle and pad you gave her are broken and torn, hanging on by the tattered belt, and you imagine they might have cushioned the blow. Rarity's gift keeps on giving.

You're furious as you are concerned. She just saved your life, yet doomed you. Both, you suppose. “Why the hell didn't you run?” It's rhetorical. There's no winning moves here. There never was as soon as you betrayed Twilight. You don't understand enough of this world to have made a functioning plan. It's just the old hatred throwing blame when plenty of it rests on your shoulders.

Sunset doesn't answer. She just grits her teeth, her eyes closed.

“What did I tell you? It's futile!” Adagio cackles.

You watch as Adagio floats towards you with a smug sneer. It's over. You don't have it in you to fight back, and even if you could, what could you possibly do?

You've lost. You slump and let your head bow.

All the same, your mind spins and drifts, like the final random thoughts before a long sleep. This beast has been on the tip of Adagio's tongue for almost as long as you've met her. The side of her that just does as it pleases for the easiest benefit for itself. You should have seen it coming; ever since arriving in Equestria, the beast has been edging its way in, manipulating your Addy, making her bubbly one second yet cruel and forceful the next. Hiding in Adagio's natural dark yet loving manner, waiting to strike like...

Well, a beast. This is a siren. Intelligent beasts, but beasts nonetheless.

This is what Addy tried to conquer. Back home, she seemed so in control, but in Equestria? It's like Sunset and Twilight have made abundantly clear, you know magic from a telescopic view, one perspective, but magic is so intertwined with everything here. The sirens are so completely steeped in it, you're not even sure if the Addy you know, the one who had become so human by the time you met her, is even the real Adagio.

A thousand experiments float in the depths of your mind, but it's all for nothing. You'll never know the truth because, even if you could escape, you've lost Adagio to her inner beast and Sunset's probably not going to survive this night.

You sigh, and the powdery snow inches from your muzzle flutters up and away as you realise you're all but flat on your belly.

“Yes,” Adagio says with a sneer. “I, alone, shall rule, adored and never to be felled again!” Her bravado shatters, her eyes flicker pink as she mumbles, “I... alone..?”

The uncertainty on her face is immense even as her eyes return to their golden sheen. You can see your Adagio's expression take hold, a glimmer of the worst memories she had as a human laid bare and piercing the beast from within. That pit of despair she pulled herself from, with your help, and learned how to become truly strong.

She's still in there, Radian! Damn it, man, fight for her!

Adagio shakes her head, breaking from her confusion. “... perhaps I was hasty in my attempts to squash you like a bug. Bow to me, my pet, and I shall spare you. I need acolytes!”

“Forget about this and come back to me,” you plead. “You don't have to be alone.”

Adagio's stone crackles and she winces in pain. She then growls, defiant, “I won't be. I'll have you as my loyal, subservient plaything.”

“It won't be me, though, will it?” You stand tall as you can. “I'll just be your puppet. Is that what you really want?”

She laughs, as if completely confident, but her certainty still seems forced. “As if there's any other way for you tiny things to live! Human or pony, it doesn't matter. You had the privilege of restoring me to power, and that alone should be reward enough. This world is waiting to adore me the way they rightly should! They have been deprived of a true ruler for too long.”

You shake your head, indignant. “They'll stop you, you know. Twilight and her friends. You're just going to follow the same path you did before, so filled with hatred that you can't see the idiocy of what you're doing. So filled with pride that you won't see them strike until it's too late. You're nothing compared to the Addy I helped! She had real strength. Fortitude! Beauty and brilliance! The real her is worth more adoration than you ever will be!”

Adagio roars, “I am the real Adagio Dazzle, you pathetic worm! That pathetic side of me you're fawning over ran on survivors instinct. Nothing more. Pathetic grovelling and snivelling just to get by! Bedding a whelp like you? I feel sullied! Your only purpose now is to grant me more power, and be satisfied you're still of any worth to me!”

“But you were so much more than that,” you plead. “You had hopes and dreams! New goals! A new life, and your sisters cared about you!”

“Sisters?” she snarls. “Hah! They had their chance! Those weaklings deserve to remain human! I now have all the power!”

This monster is nothing to your Addy, but for all your defiance, she's still a gigantic, armoured, magic wielding goddess. You still have nothing on you that can help.

“R... Ray...” a faint voice beside you.

“Sunset?”

She lifts her foreleg and gasps in pain. “Don't give up... you have to remind her she has a real heart...” Her eyes flicker white. A memory?

You hesitate for a second, then touch her foreleg.

*-**-*

We all sit back, releasing each other's hooves, and I laugh, which makes the group of princesses give me a funny look. The memory Twilight just shared through me was the first time I had linked minds with four other ponies, and alicorns at that. I never knew I could do that. I'd be proud if what we'd seen wasn't so just... out there.

Adagio Dazzle, singing a love song to a human. I'll scratch that up to things I never thought I'd ever see, and I've seen some seriously weird stuff. I've seen inside Pinkie Pie's mind, for Celestia's sake! This somehow trumps that!

Well, maybe.

I scoff. “I'm sorry, but... seriously? Adagio sung that? It's so sappy!”

Twilight pouts. “Don't be like that, Sunset. It was incredible! I never figured someone like Adagio could feel such a deep connection. And everything I've learned talking to Radian today tells me all I need to know as well; he's well meaning, but he's been dealt a bad hoof in life. Which is why I'm changing the plan.”

Cadence grins. “Love comes in all forms. I hope you're right, Twilight. Not that I don't trust your assessment, I just want to make sure you've thought this through.”

“I, for one, believe in both Twilight and Adagio whole-heartedly,” Celestia says as she sips her levitating cup of tea. “If everything is as you've witnessed, then you should as well, my old student.” She gives me a wide grin. “Is it so much of a shock that a siren can change? When even an entity as singular in his ways as Discord can be redeemed? Or that somepony as self-assured as you can learn and champion friendship?”

I rub my forelegs together and say, of myself, “you mean an overly proud, short-sighted moron.”

“You shouldn't be so unkind to yourself, Sunset,” Celestia says and smiles. “We all make mistakes, and you both learned the error of your ways and apologised.”

Twilight shakes her head. “How can we claim she's the same when, as you've even shown me, she's not only romantically involved with a human, but even you witnessed those feelings first hoof. They love each other. He wants what's best for her, and I respect that. I consider this a calculated risk, but we must believe that her feelings for him can give her the power to overcome whatever negative emotions might be stored within her stone.”

Cadance nods. “It's true. It takes a truly open heart to show her feelings that clearly and brightly. One capable of love of that nature is also quite capable of changing for the better. A wellspring of sharing her spirit that sparks a light inside her that will flourish, if we nurture it. This Radian Wave has achieved something truly admirable, even if it's unlikely he understands the magnitude of it all.”

“I am in agreement,” Luna says, “for I have witnessed both sides; the light and the dark. While it's easy to assume that one who has followed the darker path of one's own selfish and vulgar desires is forever tainted, when my sister accepted my apology, and we spent time rekindling that which had been so tragically lost with my fall, the fulfilment was a reward unlike any other.”

The two sisters smile at each other warmly, and Celestia says, “It is as my sister posits, Sunset. That Adagio Dazzle has both felt and indulged in her her love is a critical step. This most certainly will steer her on the right path if guided the right way. We should support her however we can, whilst being cautious, of course.”

“But what about this plan of theirs?” I ask.

Twilight teleports in a scroll and places it on the table. “This was my plan for Adagio and Radian's visit. Guard cycles, room searches, escorts, observations, et-cetera.”

She lifts the page, and with a purple flash, it disintegrates. Celestia just smiles, Luna tilts her head, quizzically and Cadence nods.

“I don't know, Twilight,” I say and sigh. “I'm worried that what you've learned about Radian might be coloured by Adagio's influence. He hates me. I can't help but shake the feeling that Adagio's just using his hatred as a mask. I wish I could do the right thing here, but I just can't figure out how to help him.”

Twilight nods. “I don't blame you for doubting him, because grudges like this work both ways; just as he can't see the good in you openly, you will struggle to trust him to overcome his deep seated grief. I've offered our help, and he at least seems to be thinking about it. Beyond that, we simply must trust that Radian and Adagio's wishes for the good in one another will be enough. To stifle and doubt them might drive them away from us and our desire to allow them a place here in Equestria.”

I bite my lip. I know I should trust Twi, but I have to tell her. “I'm not trying to be stubborn, I'm just worried he's too in deep with Adagio. Maybe they are in love, sure, that's great. But what if Adagio's really just leaning on him that hard? What if he's just a willing servant?”

Twilight rises on her chair, placing her hooves on the table. “I am adamant that Radian Wave must have agency in their relationship. I think the only reason for his grievances is because he's been so lonely for so long. I can empathise with him in that regard, and I understand why he's so taken with Adagio. He's had nopony else, and will fight to the death for what he's found in the sirens. He just needs kindness, and I think by the end of all this, we'll all come away friends, richer in spirit and stronger together if we just guide, rather than direct, order or confine Radian. He may stumble, he may make mistakes, as we all have, but we've all pulled through.” She rears up, then slams her hooves down on the table with a resounding thud. “If I'm wrong, then on my head be it! If Radian asks for our help, I shall offer everything I can in return.”

Luna smirks and gives Celestia a look. “It almost feels as if postponing her succession was a pointless endeavour, sister. Twilight's already a force to be reckoned with.”

The other princesses giggle as Twilight purses her lips, blushing at her outburst, then Celestia says, “so it seems! But it's fine. What's a few more years? We've already seen such amazing changes since our original succession plans went awry. And who would have thought the sirens would potentially return to Equestria, and that their fate hangs in the balance because of just one song? My mentor may have sent them away, but I feel it would be a suitable end to my reign if I can welcome them back.”

It seems ridiculous. Just one tender love song and everyone's willing to look past a thousand year old threat?

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I even said to Radian about the power of emotions, made even greater by just investing time in others, have power. A power that that has destroyed threats, turned ancient spirits of chaos to stone, restored the corrupted... so many things.

I also should have trusted my first instinct; the thing that kept my anger in check when she slapped the shit out of me after I stole a glance into Adagio's mind. I just didn't believe how she saw Radian. I thought I was fooling myself. I kept remembering the way she addressed the 'human scum' she used to hate so much. Just this one human, who chose to worship her, and she began to feel a joy inside her like she hadn't felt before.

Love, which in all its forms, is as much a strength as it can be a vulnerability. Just as well, because sometimes it's all we have...

*-**-*

Sunset's eyes close as she slumps. You don't even know how badly hurt she is, but for the first time in your life, you know you have to help her. Shit, you have to save them both. Yet you have no plan, no theories, no tech, nor power. All you have is a goal, and what your old nemesis just showed you.

Love. Something you'd only felt once, prior to meeting Addy. Your mom's unwavering support. Something you were so starved of otherwise in the base cruelties of life. Something so glorious to feel, with that sense of belonging that you had with Adagio, Aria and Sonata, however brief.

The feel of Adagio's heartbeat. The warmth and softness of her skin and the thickness of her hair. The scent of her, the taste. The dark grin and promises of untold pleasure. The laugh of genuine mirth and the sinister giggle of her scheming. That moment when you held her with Sonata when she needed comfort at her most vulnerable.

None of these needed much thought, just action. Just... do it, Radian Wave. Save them. Save her. The way to pull your Addy free from her beast, the moments where she shone brightest. Her strongest and weakest.

Two moments spring to mind, as she sang for you. How broken she was as she sang her lullaby about the cycle of her dreary life, but also her shining soul as she serenaded you; songs she's only ever revealed to you, and you alone, interruptions besides.

You're overthinking this. This isn't about logic, it's about emotion.

So you stop thinking, and walk towards Adagio as she grins at you, and seek the way to tap into your heart.

Her chuckle echoes through the forest. “Oh? Is this your final stand, or your first sensible act of supplication to your mistress? Make these words count, Radian, because they will be your last as a free spirit. You belong to me! So bow!”

You stand taller. Your muscles are bruised. Your bones ache. Your mind fogs from fatigue and the growing despair.

Your heart is all you have left. If friendship is magic, then love better be some powerful stuff. So you give into it.

And it makes you take a deep breath. And you sing;

“For so very long you had a heart of stone,

Just carried on, soulless and all alone,

lost the way ahead, and lost your will~!

Life just blurred together, just as bleak,

Every day drained you, left you weak,

That was your life; the final, bitter pill~!

There was no way out, but then, oh, what you saw!

Oh, what you saw!

What you saw was somepony that your heart's worth beating for!”

You feel it. The influence of this world. The light, the power. Love, untamed. You feel it surge within you, and you just go with the flow.

“I’d given my all, with nothing left,

behind, dull skies, grey and bereft,

my hopes and dreams now rested upon you~!

A soul, calculations cannot not predict,

A beauty, my designs could not depict,

With you by my side, the sky would be perfect blue~!

And no matter what, you’d make my spirit soar!

Make my spirit soar!

As I dreamed to be somepony that your heart’s worth beating for!”

Adagio's eyes soften and lid, and the gold colour in them melts away to a familiar, loving raspberry shade. Her stone likewise loses its eerie, unbalanced glow, almost blending with the the trickle of blood around the misshapen and still healing wound.

And as you take a breath for a third verse, she joins in. A duet.

“We feel our souls ignite and grow,

No walls or places we can't go,

The world is now ours to explore and find~!

You gave me back my strength, a family,

And a gold horizon we can't wait to see!

With you and me, we're two of a kind~!

And now we're together, forever-ever more!

Forever-ever more.

You're truly somepony that my heart's worth beating for!”

She sings on, as if in a trance. It's the most beautiful sound you've ever heard.

“I can think of nowhere else I'd rather be,

than beside you, the one who set me free!

“To whom my heart belongs, forever true,

Oh, my Ray of sunshine, I love you.”

She then blinks and shakes her head, her eyes as lucid as they are horrified. “R- Ray? Oh shit, Ray! What have I done!?” She drops to the ground, but you keep on your hooves as the impact shakes the earth.

“Shh! Easy, Addy! It's alright.”

“No it's not!” She says and bows her head, resting it on the snowy ground and covering it in shame with her massive hooves. “I lost control again! And the pain...” She growls and writhes from another arc of red magic dances across her damaged gem as a flicker of gold runs through her eyes. “It's driving me crazy! I don't know if I can hold on.”

You rush up to her. You don't even hesitate, despite how terrifyingly big she is this close, and press your body against her cheek. The scales are unyielding, but warm. Just the fact you know your Adagio's back makes it the most comfortable thing you've ever felt.

You don't know if she can even feel you, but you say, “you can! You're so damn strong, Addy. You've fought through worse, and I'm here now. I'll never abandon you. Together, we can achieve anything.”

“But the carnage I've caused! And...” she gasps as she looks across to the distance. Just the small turn of her head pushes you into a stumble. “Sunset! Is she alright?”

You look over at Sunset's still form, and you force yourself to stand to reach her. She's still warm, but her breathing is shallow and weak. You take a deep breath and conjure your unicorn signal. You feel the tingle, but you're so tired at this point, you doubt it's going to have much of an effect.

It surprises you when Sunset opens an eye. She looks across at Adagio, and smiles. “You did it,” she whispers, “I'm so glad.”

“I'm sorry, Sunset,” Adagio says and shakes her head. “It shouldn't have gone this far.”

“I've had... worse...” Sunset goes to stand, but as she tries to get purchase with a hoof and rise, she collapses and screams in pain. “Oh, fuck, my ribs... and everything. Okay... scratch that. I don't think I can move...”

“Save your strength,” you whisper. “We've got to get you out of here... shit, but how?”

Adagio asks, “can't you carry her? She's not that big.”

“Maybe not to you, but that's beside the point.”

The recent absence of logic gives way as your mind sparks. The scientist is restored as you try and reason out of the problem. You pace back and forth, and Adagio just watches with concern as you rant.

“First, I don't know how to pick up a whole pony. I haven't tried it, and I don't know if I can risk it on her now. What if she's got internal injuries!? The only way I could carry her is by draping her over my back. I'd be putting pressure on her body. And I'd be adjusting her position all the way with my magic. I need to try and maintain the positive signal to help her endure the pain. You'd have an easier time carrying her. You can fly! That transformation has to be good for something.”

Adagio looks herself over, but shakes her head. “There's no way I can be careful enough to pick her up with these hooves. You might be able to climb on me, but these scales are just too smooth and hard.”

“And your fins don't exactly look grippy either.” You continue to pace about, but you're no closer to a solution.

Adagio's gem stings her again, and she grumbles, “stupid siren body. All this strength, all this power, and all of it it's situated with my mo-” She stops and her eyes go wide. She gulps.

You ask “what's wrong?”

“Ray? Could you... uh...” she mutters and gestures in a circle with her hoof a bit. “Like, wrap yourself around her? Carefully?”

“Like I'm cuddling her? Seriously?”

She frowns and pouts, or as much as she can with her draconic muzzle. “Really, Ray? Now's not the time.” It's still terrifying seeing her frown in disapproval, despite how she's still in control. “Just fucking do it.”

“Fine, but I don't see what this is going to achieve.” You crouch down beside Sunset, and say to her, “I'm going to move you a little. Brace yourself.”

“Uh huh...” Sunset manages back, and gasps as you lift her from the ground. It's tricky, as you'd expected, but thankfully you're not picking her whole body up so it's not too taxing. You then put your legs under her, like you're spooning.

“There,” you say, “now what?”

Adagio grimaces and awkwardly looks off to the side. “Just... try to stay calm and don't squirm. And, for fuck's sake, don't start screaming! I'm anxious enough already.” She licks her muzzle and takes a deep breath, then begins to lean down towards you.

“Screaming? Just what are you- oh my goaaaAAHH!!”

Adagio's vast maw blocks the sky as she licks the ground, scooping you into her mouth, and closes her jaws around you.

“Eech,” Adagio utters, and takes flight into the night sky.

* * *

Chapter 32: Flight

“AAAGH!”

Swapping spit through kissing is one thing, but when she's this big!? You're covered in the stuff. Plus, as you scream, you get a mouthful of her saliva.

“Eeew!”

But the eeew quite irrelevant. The most important thing is the fucking AAAGH!

You're stuck between Adagio's massive jaws and surrounded by razor sharp teeth as long as your legs. Every time you inhale, it's filled with the smell her breath, an oceanic, salty scent. It's dark, cramped and humid as you continue to stay wrapped around Sunset and do your damnedest to maintain the unicorn energy field. At least the threat of being swallowedwhole gave you another sorely needed shot of adrenaline to keep your magic flowing.

All of this can't suppress the thought that, in some deeply troubled area of your psyche, you're in danger of developing another kink.

You feel Adagio grumble at your occasional, involuntary outbursts, but as life continues to spin into wild, unimaginable scenarios, your poor logical side just can't keep up. At least she's a smooth flier. And her tongue's surprisingly comfy. Small victories, you guess?

Adagio grunts in pain as she no doubt experiences another pulse of energy from her stone, but besides her tongue tensing, she's mercifully gentle with how she holds you in her mouth. She can't close her jaw all the way, so you can see the night sky between her parted lips, and the occasional passing cloud from her flight back to, you presume, the Crystal Empire. You soon feel her dip forward to descend, then slows to a stop.

You hear a female voice, muffled from being stuck in Adagio's mouth. “No quick movements, Adagio! Where are Sunset and Radian!?”

Twilight?

The securing pressure from Adagio's mouth loosens as she lowers her head and she uses her tongue to drop your wet bodies on the soft grass.

It's a hell of a scene. Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Cadence all stand alert, and beside Cadence stands a white coated, blue maned stallion who's projecting a massive barrier around the city. You realise it must be Shining Armor. Behind them stands a large group of pegasi guards, as well as all five of Twilight's friends.

You slowly stand and say, “Sunset needs your help! She's badly hurt.”

Adagio grimaces and says, “it's my fault. I'm sorry.” She cries out as her gem fizzles.

“Don't say that,” you say, “just... forget about that for now! It's my fault anyway, I-”

Twilight calls out, “enough with the blame-game! This isn't solving anything! What I see is a siren with a stone that's harming her and an injured unicorn. That's all that matters!”

Adagio slowly coils up as she lands softly and hangs her head low. You once more press against her muzzle and you feel her manage a small smile as she gains comfort from your presence. It's so damn good to have her back.

“Are we good, Twily?” Shining Armor says.

“Yes,” Twilight says with a nod, “lower the barrier. Can someone get Sunset to the palace doctor?”

“Allow me,” Celestia says, “but we should have him check her over before we move her.” Celestia teleports in a flash of yellow magic. Pinkie and Fluttershy approach Sunset and watch over her, quietly reassuring her.

“Now we need to see about you, Adagio,” Twilight says and approaches her.

“I can't believe I'm about to say this,” Adagio says with a growl, “but we need to get my stone out of me... it's torture! Can't we just get me through the mirror portal? It'll come out of me then, right?”

Twilight shakes her head. “While I think I can expand the mirror's aperture, the mirror itself is still damaged. If we try to use it now, and the portal breaks, the damage on both sides of the could be catastrophic, let alone anypony in transit. While we could hurry the repairs, it could still take days to fix...” She looks at the still weeping wound on Adagio's chest and bites her lip.

You're no doctor, but it looks infected. The flesh where the scales give way to where the misshaped stone is embedded is dark, as if rotting, and the fresh blood seems to be taking on a purple hue, which reminds you of dark magic. If you had to guess, the energy the stone was supposed to drain isn't channelling into her properly, and even the ambient magic it likely absorbs is just malformed and impure. It's probably poisoning her.

You can only imagine that this was what caused Adagio's 'beast' to take over when the stone struck her; the sudden shock of the transformation, on top of her addled mental state fired up her fight-or-flight, and her darker side taking over as a coping mechanism. The ongoing pain just helped maintain it.

Adagio grimaces and looks at her chest as well. She says, “as strong as I am, I don't know if I can last that long, and the longer we wait, the harder it's going to be to extract it as well... then there's nothing for it. It's got to come out.”

“But how?” you say. “It's part of you! And so much bigger than it used to be.”

Adagio bares her teeth, takes a deep breath and trembles as if she's about to explode, and finally says, “we need your help, Twilight.”

You're proud of her for casting aside her pride. This situation can't afford any sort of bickering, let alone enough conflict to possibly make Adagio's condition worse. You ask Twilight, “any ideas?”

Twilight bites her lip and paces. “I... I don't know.”

Celestia reappears, with a unicorn in a doctors coat and a couple of nurse mares. They head over to Sunset and begin assessing her, removing the ruined saddle, and gently using magic to lift her onto a stretcher.

“Wait, I need to talk to her,” you say, and run up to them.

“Make it quick,” the doctor says.

“It'll only take a second,” you insist, and focus on Sunset, who looks at you wearily.

“What's wrong?” she manages.

You take a slow breath. “I just needed to say something. You were a part of the loss of someone dear to me. I don't know if I'll ever forget that.”

“I get that,” she whispers and closes her eyes. “And as repetitive as it's getting, I'm sorry. For everything. And for snapping back there about this. You're still the wronged party, and I think we're all a bit on edge. I should have tried another way.”

“Maybe, but I've not exactly been easy to deal with, either,” you say. “Besides, you saved my life. I don't even know how I could repay that.” You shake your head. “It shouldn't have come to this, that's for sure. That's on me.”

“We're all screw-ups here,” she says and manages a pained laugh. “Welcome to the club.”

You give a soft chuckle back, then follow your heart again as you turn serious. “But most important of all, despite what you've done to me before, you were a far bigger part in bringing my Addy back. Thank you.”

“You're welcome, I just hope I can do more-” she starts.

The words just flow out of you.

“Which is why I forgive you.”

She gasps, despite the obvious pain. You can't tell if it's the absolution or the injury, but she begins to cry, yet keeps the smile.

You feel lighter, as if in flight. Unburdened.

“Damn it,” she says and looks away.

You tilt your head. “Wait, what? I don't understand.”

“Does this mean I don't get the job any more?” She winks at you.

Your jaw goes slack, then you can't help but laugh loudly as your eyes haze over from tears as well. You give her a funny look and say, “if it makes you feel any better, you still owe me for the labour and parts on my science fair project. My textbooks for the fire extinguisher thing... we can work out the cost, plus years of interest, when you get better. I'll work your ass for years yet.”

She tries to laugh, but just groans in pain. “I'd expect nothing less, Ray.”

You smile and nod, and gently brush her mane with a hoof. “See you back home.”

“Take care of Dagi,” Sunset says and nods to Adagio. “She needs you, more than ever.”

“Thank you,” you whisper.

“Sunset?” Adagio says.

You both look at the forlorn siren.

“I... just get well soon.” Adagio looks aside, ashamed.

“Adagio, listen,” Sunset forces herself up, despite the doctor's protests. “It wasn't you that did that,” Sunset says. “I've lost control before as well, when I took Twilight's crown. And I was forgiven, despite the things I did... and have done.” She winces but forces herself to smile. “I'll just pay it forward.”

Adagio nods, but looks unsure.

You turn towards the doctor. “I'm sorry, thank you for waiting.”

The doctor bows to Celestia, who teleports the medical team away, then joins her fellow alicorns.

You notice Twilight's been conferring with them. Even more, her friends have moved near Adagio, complete with Applejack and Rarity offering support, quietly chatting to her. Your heart's already aching from your talk with Sunset, but seeing them help your girlfriend, despite her intimidating presence and size, just makes you feel even warmer.

“Any luck thinking of a solution?” you ask the alicorns, but mostly Twilight.

She shakes her head. “I'm afraid not, but I can think of someone who might.”

“Who?”

Twilight's horn glows, and she hovers your emitter in front of you. “We stand ready to assist, Dr. Wave. There's nopony more qualified!”

Wait, wait. “What, me?”

“If anyone can think of a way to do this, it's you,” Twilight says and bows to you. “We're dealing with unknown energies, a siren and your special somepony. I'm sure you'll think of something! You're amazing at this!”

“And fast thinking, subduing us all like that,” Celestia says, and nods to you with a wry smile. “To hear your praises sung by my former student so verdantly, I have absolute confidence in you, young Radian Wave. I'm no scientist, but I can at least impart some advice when it comes to handling situations like this; stop, detach yourself from everything, and think it through logically. Calmly. The solution will come to you.”

Far be it from you to deny the suggestion of a pony that can literally control the sun.

“I've seen you think through worse,” Adagio says and smirks through her pain. “Use that weird mind of yours, my muse.”

You stop and do as they both suggest. A balanced individual needs a heart and a head, and despite all the good the former has done for you thus far, this isn't the time to let emotions run wild. This is the time for logic. To break down the solution into segments. The facts, and likely scenarios. Courses of action to take, predictions to calculate. This is your time to shine.

The components are thus; the siren stone is a separate signal from Adagio's own, but extremely similar. So similar most others wouldn't be able to discern the difference, and you certainly wouldn't know it if you hadn't scanned Adagio's stone earlier to learn the precise numbers. Also the surplus of earth energy, one that she gravitated towards when she didn't have her stone, should hopefully still hold sway in absence of both her own and her stone's power. A quick scan reveals that, true enough, she exhibits perhaps only a fraction of any sort of presence of earth power, but that's still something to consider.

Your anti-signal works by brushing aside the core power of a given pony or person, depleting their naturally forming energy stock. It agitates the presence of that power, and forces it aside. Simply put, it weakens them of their core powers and functions. However, it's so intrinsic to their being that, once you stop applying an anti-signal, they will recover, even if it takes time. That magic is always drawn to the individual, replenishing them... could it work in reverse? A depletion so drastic that an alternative source of energy is adopted if they're saturated in it? Especially if they've sustained themselves on it before. The siren stone reinforces this, which is likely why they're so powerful; two sources of the same power working in unison.

What if... yes, maybe? No, that would require three sources of energy simultaneously. You so need to build a better version of your emitter that can multitask properly.

But you do have a solid alternative...

“Twilight?” You turn to her and ask, “was I right in hearing from Starlight that any unicorn or alicorn can learn spells?”

“Of course, so long as they have a functioning horn,” she replies. “Some find it easier than others, and the type of spells matter, but with practice and dedication, it's entirely possible.”

“How quickly do you think you could learn my energy spell?”

A loud laugh snatches your attention, hoarse, crude and just a little mocking.

You look at the source as Rainbow Dash, hovering and struggling to stop her cackling as she wipes a foreleg against her eyes and says, “sorry, I keep forgetting you're new here. Just to get you up to speed, Twilight does magic like I do awesome.”

“Ignore her unrefined manner of speech, darling,” Rarity interjects, “but yes, Dashie's quite correct. If the name of the game is spellcraft, you couldn't be in safer hooves.”

Fair enough. You nod to the pair, turn to Twilight and say, “I'm not going to need you to learn all the minutiae, just to be able to create one particular energy, but I'll definitely need all your strength.” You finally approach Adagio and address everyone. “What we're dealing with is... well, a forced separation of two very similar fields, and a substitution at a critical juncture. We're going to bombard Adagio's siren stone with an anti-signal while using similar signal to her own wavelength in a positive form to maintain her strength, but we'll also need to weaken it to further release the stone's hold and effectively cut her siren powers off completely. That moment, Twilight, is when I'm going to need you to broadcast the strongest earth signal you can muster. Finally, I need someone to extract the stone from Adagio's body, and I imagine with some force.”

Adagio winces. “This is going to suck, isn't it?”

You sigh and confess, “yes. Big time. We're using the positive signals and even the trauma to force you to readopt your earth pony form. And the longer we take doing this, the harder it's going to be extracting the stone. It's still healing around the damn thing.”

Adagio grumbles, “I might need somepony to restrain me. Every time I get a spark from my stone, I can feel the old me trying to take hold. I've got her for now, but I'm afraid of what might happen if I'm left unchecked and if you're going to start ripping my gem out? I don't know what I might do in a fit of desperation.”

Shining Armor steps forward. “I can help. Shield spells are my speciality. A focused barrier around Adagio should hold her in place.”

Twilight nods. “Thanks, Shining. Alright, Radian, what do I have to do?”

“I've always imagined magic the same way as I learned to harness it back home. I think of the numbers associated with the signal, both receiving and broadcasting, and imagine my horn as an transceiver array.”

“That explains a lot,” Twilight replies and taps her chin. “You learned magic quicker than I imagined you would, even with your pre-existing experience and knowledge. Turning spells into such a simple form works for your particular style of magic, and I imagine any spells with very grounded physical rules may come easily to you, but suspect you might struggle to learn more complex and esoteric ones. But anyway, enough of that for now. Any suggestions where to start?”

“Well, let's see,” you say and rub your head with your hoof. “We can make light with our horns. That by itself bears the same principles of energy emission. Let's start there.”

Twilight nods and makes her horn glow, then intensifies the light.

You continue, “good, now try to envision the light as what it is: a transformation of energy into another medium, a less efficient one. It's an oscillation of that power, like a vibrating string, only happening millions of times a second. Can you picture it?”

She closes her eyes, and nods.

“Decrease the speed. Slowly but surely, without losing the 'distance' of the oscillation.”

Everyone, even the princesses, look on with a confused expression as the light from Twilight's horn fades. She grunts and grits her teeth. “It's difficult.”

“It is,” you say. “It took me years to work out how to make it work with a device. I burned out so many components through stress testing, and so many hours and days just fine-tuning it, honing it.”

She takes a long breath, and lowers her head.

Rainbow Dash suddenly falls from her hover, landing in a heap. “Ow! Hey, what gives? I feel... heavy.” She flaps her wings, but beyond pushing air, she can't take flight.

Everyone looks at Fluttershy, who also attempts to take flight, but the attempt is just as fruitless.

Finally, Celestia raises an eyebrow and spreads her own wings, struggles as she flaps, but manages to get airborne, but it's clearly taking considerable effort.

You'd love to begin theorising what this means in terms of alicorn magic use compared to the main three pony species, but this moment's too important.

“You're almost there,” you tell Twilight. “You need to focus it just a little more, and go a little lower in frequency.”

Twilight continues to focus, but your emitter beeps as it detects the shift.

Dash takes flight again and sighs. “Well, that sucked.”

Pinkie suddenly squeaks, wriggles, and says, “ooh, that feels tingly!”

“Funny, I ain't feelin' a thi-” Applejack suddenly shivers, her eyes lid and she moans in a very... suggestive way. All eyes turn to her as her cheeks go bright red, her muzzle scrunches up and she refuses to meet anyone's gaze. “What're you lookin' at!? That weren't me!”

You can't help but smirk, despite the situation. You turn back to Twilight and say, “that means you're a fraction off. It's skirting the earth signal enough that it causes an echo of the true signal. The... uh, 'tingly' sensation. As it decays and breaks down, it has enough leftover power to brush through a pony's own signature.”

A split second later, Applejack trembles and laughs. Her muscular frame tenses and flexes as earth energy pumps through her. “Whoa, Nellie! Now that's somethin' else! I feel like a million bits!” She grins as her frame thickens up and the grass around her hooves sprouts and flourishes.

Pinkie's hair stands on end and she begins vibrating on the spot. “Is everything getting slower? It's-getting-slower! Whyisitgettingslower!?” Dust clouds begin forming around her hooves as she appears to slide despite not moving, and you can feel tremors from her through the ground.

“You've got it Twilight,” you say and 'clap' with your hooves “Great work! Stop for now. Let's prepare.”

You approach Adagio, who looks at you with eyes that flicker gold as she suffers another spark and bares her teeth for a moment. You say, “this is going to hurt. I'm sor-”

“Stop. Don't apologise,” she says and smiles. “I'll be fine, or have you forgotten who you're talking to? You seemed so sure when you were facing the beast inside me down, saying how strong I was.” She lowers her head and gently bumps you with her muzzle. You suppose it's supposed to be a kiss, but even the tiny tap she gives you knocks you on your ass.

“All the same, I don't know what's going to really happen. It's not like I've tested this before.”

Twilight stands beside you. “Oh, I've got a pretty good idea: we're going to succeed, Radian. I just know it! We're gonna restore Adagio to her pony form, then you can finish restoring the stone back home, and when you're ready, we'll try this again. It'll work next time!”

Adagio huffs. “Hopefully with a bit less drama. I never imagined becoming a siren again would be so damn painful. But whatever, let's do this. Someone restrain me so I don't freak out.” She snarls as her stone pulses. “Actually, you know what? Screw that. I've had enough with not being in control. I am my own siren, damn it! I will conquer this myself, with my Ray! And I guess you, Twilight... begrudgingly, and only because he said he needs you.”

Twilight rolls her eyes, then nods to you. “I'm ready.”

Shining Armor gives his sister a worried look. “All the same, Twily, if she starts getting violent, I'll contain her.”

Adagio sneers at him. “Try it, little pony, you'll fail! It's a pointless gesture anyway. I will succeed!”

Shining gulps and takes a few steps back.

That's your Addy! Your powerful, incredibly terrifying lover!

Everpony else follows the same cue and gives you plenty of space until it's just you, Twilight, Adagio and Celestia, who stands forward and says, “I shall extract the stone, Radian Wave. Simply give me a signal.”

“Thank you. Then let's begin,” you say as you set up the emitter. “Brace yourself.”

Adagio coils back up, but leaves her chest-stone exposed as she closes her eyes.

You fire the emitter, and bombard her with an anti-signal of her stone, starting weak but slowly growing in intensity. The stone pulses and Adagio grunts in pain. You then send out a siren signal with your own magic, full power.

Adagio begins writhing as the energies flowing through her begin to empower her, yet weaken the stone. The very core of her being.

No, that's not right... she has a heart inside her, after all. A real heart and a beautiful mind. This heart of stone is just part of her, but the real Addy is so much greater than just a siren.

Just as you're not just some guy with a gift for science and, arguably, magic. Be the best Radian Wave you can be. Be empirical and scientific, the way Adagio knows only you can.

Adagio hisses as she struggles through the pain. Her eyes flicker gold several times, each pulse sounded in with a bestial snarl, but they always return to that beautiful dark pink. “I can take it,” she whispers to herself. “I am not a beast!”

The anti-signal peaks as your siren signal begins to fade down into nothing, with your exhaustion beginning to take its toll once more, it's draining you to even maintain this precise, however weakening, energy. As you once wished, you're giving your all for Adagio. Your very essence. You wish you could close your eyes, but you can't, and watch as she struggles and suffers, but you need to see what's going on. Adagio screams in pain as the stone grows dark and lifeless, practically a dead part of her body.

You can't help but feel guilty as you blast her with an anti-siren signal, as hard as you can muster.

Adagio's eyes roll back as she begins to collapse.

You shout, “now!”

Celestia and Twilight both act in unison. Yellow light enshrouds Adagio's chest-stone, and Twilight unleashes a positive earth signal.

Adagio's form glows, a gentle red light envelops her as you brace for her impact, but instead she hovers, gently floating down. Celestia's gold light pierces the sphere, and the imperfect siren stone, once more small and shaped just as it was before, floats free from Adagio's transforming form.

You cut off all power, and the sphere shrinks, lands softly. Twilight stops casting her spell.

And your Addy is a pony once more, lying on the ground. But she isn't moving.

“Addy?” you say as you slowly approach her.

You look her over; just as powerfully built, just as beautiful, but you notice she's got a scar on her chest where the stone embedded into her, even shaped like the gem; a short tailed, angular comet. The fur around it is thinned, and there's a few golden scales surrounding the wound. She looks unharmed otherwise, but her stillness is awful... and you realise why.

She isn't breathing!

“Addy! Come on...” You grit your teeth and force another positive unicorn signal, then bombard her with earth energy and gently nudge her with your hoof. “Wake up!”

There's no response.

* * *

Chapter 33: Silence

You dig deep and force as much earth energy as you can muster from within, pushing so hard that your vision goes pale and you collapse beside the motionless girl of your dreams.

“I... I can't...” you gasp.

Would it be so bad to just stop? Just... drift away in silence? Without your Addy, what's the point?

You feel a surge of power run through you, and Twilight hovers your emitter in front of you, which is currently bathing you in a unicorn signal. “It's not over, Radian,” she barks, fierce and determined. “Boost me! Give me everything you and your device can muster!”

You look at her as the despair breaks away, and just when you thought you'd given your all to Addy to help remove her stone, you give just as much to Twilight.

She flexes and gasps as her mane and tail shift, twinkle and glow. A flowing nebula, then they burn like a raging purple storm as she grits her teeth. Her wings spread and grow longer, and her eyes burn so bright, even the area is bathed in light that's painful to look at. She takes a deep breath and casts an earth signal.

Her whole body grows more muscular as she's affected by what must be an absurd amount of earth energy. The grass around Twilight's hooves sprouts and overgrows a large circle around you. Celestia follows suit, grunting as her body broadens and flowers blossom around her.

Twilight's magic reaches an apex, and all of her regal goddesshood fades, concentrating in a visible pulse of light that concentrates in her horn, and she fires it into Adagio's body.

Your girlfriend's form pulses with light as she wriggles and screams. Her mane stands on end as she leaps to her hooves, gasping for breath. As her poofy curls reform, she stares dead ahead with wide eyes and continues to breath hard for a few moments.

Adagio glances around for a few moments and says, “am I dead? There's a lot more grass in the afterlife than-” she finally sees you, and smiles wider than you've ever seen her smile before.

“Ray!” She lunges and tackles you to the floor, pinning you as she smothers you in kisses. She's so big, so forceful, it hurts.

It hurts so fucking good.

You lock lips with her, gasping and moaning. Relief gives way to arousal.

She begins grinding against you, only for you to both freeze dead with the utterance of a sudden, polite, yet firm, “ahem.”

You both look at Twilight, whose body slowly loses its additional muscle mass, as does her ethereal mane regain its natural, straight style. She asks, “Adagio, how do you feel?”

Adagio climbs off of you, and offers you a hoof to help you up. “Like I'm on a massive caffeine high and Just I jammed a fork into an electrical outlet, and I think I'm having some sort of heart arrhythmia...” she takes a few breaths to settle. “But... fine, I guess.”

Twilight sighs with relief. “Thank goodness. I didn't want to to interrupt your well deserved reunion, nor do I want to rush you, but the portal closes soon. Everypony wanted to say their goodbyes.”

You follow Twilight nearer to the city, where most of the others had gathered for Adagio's stone extraction.

Adagio bumps against you gently. You guess it's a sort of 'arm in arm' walk, if you... well, had arms, and Adagio attempting to wrap a foreleg around your shoulders would crush you if she stumbled, so it has the same rough effect. She says, “I knew you could do it, Ray.”

You wink at her and bump her gently back. It's like pushing against a loving, warm, fuzzy brick wall. “I may not be a sun moving goddess, or able to destroy walls with my voice, but I know my science. And anyway, Twilight deserves just as much praise, if not more.”

Adagio looks at her old rival, frowns, but nods. “I owe you one, I guess. Several, at this point.”

Twilight smiles softly and says, “we all did our part, and besides, the last thing I want is to sour this whole event with favours and debts. You asked for my help, and I gave it, let's call it quits.”

As the relief continues to sink in, you just look at Adagio, just to make sure you're not dreaming, and notice she's... different: Her eyes are slitted, and when she takes another long, calming breath, you notice her once flat pony teeth even have little fangs. On top of that and her chest scar, it's clear that, even without her stone and its incomplete state, Adagio's a siren again.

You reach the others, and Celestia steps forward.

“I believe this belongs to you, Adagio” she says, and hovers over Adagio's imperfect stone,

You take it with your magic, and Adagio stares at it with some trepidation. She says, “It's almost bittersweet, having this back after all the trouble that's happened. But I'll conquer it next time.” She grins. “Equestria shall witness the sirens in all their glory once more!”

You know Addy well enough to know she's forcing it. She's rattled, and after what you've all been through, you can't blame her.

Rarity and Applejack approach your girlfriend. Rarity says, “I'm so glad to see you're alright, Dagi.”

Adagio turns to them, and she becomes more humble, awkwardly scraping the ground with her front hoof. “I'm sorry you had to see me like that. I know you understood what I was, but after what I did... I'm surprised you still want to associate with me.”

Applejack says, “sugarcube, a certain little dragon we know once grew gigantic, hoarded half of Ponyville and busted up the rest. He even tried to kidnap Rarity and all sorts of other craziness. But we got past it. It's a weird, weird world out there, and if y'all're gonna be livin' here with us, I guarantee you're gonna see some even weirder hogwash. You just gotta take it in stride. Now, we ain't known each other for long, but I certainly ain't gonna judge you for what you are. That ain't a fair yardstick.”

She wraps a forelegs around Addy as best she can and continues, “it's who you are that counts. And who you are feels like a gal who's just findin' her hooves again and workin' out who she is! Y'all're good folk, and I'd love to give you a real Apple family welcome when you come to our neck of the woods!”

Rarity makes it a group hug. “I could not have said it better myself! Dagi, I think you'll make waves when you and your beau come to Ponyville! Especially when you get your establishment up and running. I simply cannot wait for the your vibrant and bold personality, up on the stage and amazing the crowds!” Her smile sinks and she puts a gentle hoof on Adagio's chest, avoiding the scar, but she looks at it with a wince. “Though I dare say that your ordeal looked incredibly painful, and I can tell it has you somewhat perturbed.”

Adagio huffs. “I'm that transparent, huh?” She breaks from the hug and looks at the mark on her chest. “I won't forget that feeling for a long time.”

Rarity smiles again. “Oh, Dagi, listen to me. It takes a strong mare and a true lady to cover it as well as you have. You endured so much, and come back to us, able to stand strong and beautiful as if made of hard iron, yet clad in the finest silk. I can think of so few who could withstand what you just did.”

She glances at Twilight with a fond expression, then retains that admiring look as the gaze returns to Adagio. “I know I couldn't. I'll readily admit I'm... a tad dramatic at times. You're a mare, or I suppose a siren, of impeccable strength, darling. Never forget that.”

Adagio looks surprised, but stands a little straighter and prouder.”I won't. Thanks, both of you,” she whispers, sounding choked up, and she gives Rarity and Applejack a friendly kiss on the cheek each.

Applejack turns to you. “You take good care of your fillyfriend, Radian. I know you're sweethearts'n'all, and maybe I'm a mite traditional, but it's a stallions duty to make his partner feel special. I reckon you'll do fine, though. It's been a honest pleasure.” She raises her hoof to you.

You smile and shake her hoof. “Thanks again, Applejack.”

Rarity looks at the tattered blanket on your back, then the remains of the saddle discarded in the distance where Sunset had been. Her lip trembles. “Oh dear, that poor thing. Such a shame.”

“Don't say it like that,” you chuckle. “I gave that saddle to Sunset because she was cold, and it probably saved her life.”

“And it sounds as though it was your own generosity that truly saved her, Dr. Wave,” Rarity says with a wink. “Remember; fabulousness can achieve tremendous things. Still, it was a shame to see that article ended before its time, but worry not! I'll make you an even better ensemble when next we meet, and I'll pour my heart into it. You shine on, darling! I can tell you're destined for great things to attract a mare as unique as Dagi.”

You offer a short bow at the praise. “Until we meet again, Ms. Rarity.”

“And such manners!” She titters, and steps away, but not before saying to Adagio, “you have exquisite taste, my dear.”

You were growing fond of Adagio's new friends anyway, and this just cements those feelings. If Addy hadn't felt unconditional love before meeting you, it stands to reason she's never had someone just support her with such kind words before either. It's a short list of people, sirens and ponies you'd do anything for, and these two just made it.

You fight off the blush as you and Adagio both face Pinkie, Dash and Fluttershy. You say, “hopefully we can meet properly once we get things cleared up back home. See you in Ponyville. Not sure when that'll be, but we'll get there eventually.”

“Looking forward to it!” Dash says and gives a hoof-salute. “I'll give you the full aerial tour in about ten seconds fla-” She pauses and looks Adagio over. “Okay, big mare like her'll be maybe twenty seconds. No offence, you look kinda heavy. Uh, in a good way! Like AJ; y'know, as tough and meaty, just bigger.”

Applejack gives her friend a mean, if forced, squint, then chuckles and just says, “years of applebuckin'.”

“I'll fly by myself, small-fry,” Adagio says to Dash with a grin. “Though I'd be glad to put you through your paces, Rainbow Dash. I could use the practice and I imagine you'll want to try your vaunted speed on a true siren.”

Dash pounds one hoof into the other and grins. “You're on, sister!”

Pinkie Pie rubs her chin with her foreleg. “So... no set time of arrival, eh?” She then gives an Adagio-esque evil grin. “I'll have to arrange an interdimensional surprise visit counter-party! We're breaking new ground, everypony!” She pulls in a chalkboard from... somewhere, uses a rubber band to strap a stick of chalk to her hoof and begins doodling on the board so quick the area gets covered in a dusty cloud.

When it clears, a vast web of scenarios are shown, like teleporting in from the sky and falling into a cake for a soft landing, or appearing underwater in so you'd arrive at an impromptu pool party, and a whole host more are all listed, joined and mathematically considered down to budget, invites seating, party cannon waterproofing... nothing's left unaccounted for, all listed alphabetically, complete with numbered subsections.

Pinkie proudly taps the board with the now tiny stump of chalk and says, “I'll have to plan ahead every day, rotate perishables, change colours for the seasons... just you try and surprise me with your surprise visit!”

You examine her work and you're impressed. Pinkie's certainly got a good eye for detail. Apparently she's smarter than she lets on, but then you notice an error. “You didn't carry the two on outcome D. Oh, also you haven't factored in for if we accidentally appear before now, and we're already in Ponyville as we speak because of a dimensionally unstable temporal fluctuation. Which throws out the math for outcomes T through X, though Z is still salvageable.”

Pinkie a shocked stare looks between you and the board, huffs, then kicks it away with a hind leg. She shrugs and says, “fine, take me to school if you have to! I'll just have to bring my A-game and be spontaneous!” She snorts into a giggle. “Be spont-'A'-neous, see? Or should that be spont-A-neous be-ing, cee? Is this algebra? I'm getting confused. Not all of us have rocktorates, or electricorates or whatever it is you've got, y'know!”

Fluttershy titters at her friend, then waves at you both. “I'd love to have you over for tea when you visit. All this excitement's a bit much for me, so hopefully I can give a better impression next time. Oh, and I've heard you can read magic with that machine of yours? I bet you'll love to meet my dear friend, Discord! He has a magic that's wholly unique to him.”

“Now you're talking my language,” you say. “Seems I've got a growing list of ponies and more to meet. It's a little overwhelming, really... I was getting used to my solitude before I met my Addy.”

Fluttershy smiles at you. “I understand completely! But it's always nice having somepony to help cushion the blow of meeting someone new. I'm definitely looking forward to meeting you two again under less stressful circumstances.”

Adagio waves back. “Thanks. I'll try and be a bit less frightening next time.”

Shy shakes her head, her pink hair cascading about. “I've seen all sorts of scary looking critters, creatures, dragons and more. I guess I should add sirens to that list, but so many of them are a lot nicer than they first appear. Just like you, Adagio.”

“Maybe you're losing your touch,” you say to Addy with a grin. “But take care, Fluttershy.”

Adagio nods and waves as Twilight's friends head on their way.

Twilight steps next to you and Adagio. “Princess Celestia wanted a word before I take you to the mirror.”

Princess Celestia approaches, looks you both over, and offers a short bow. “This event has been unkind to what should be an auspicious and monumental meeting.”

You bow in return, but Adagio steps up and gets in Celestia's face. The princess is only a little taller than adagio, but your girlfriend's far brawnier.

Adagio snorts and says, “if you're expecting fealty or fawning, then you're mistaken. I know it was your mentor that banished me. I'd be lying if I said that didn't make my blood boil.”

Celestia shakes her head. “I can understand your anger, but it's misguided. Starswirl the Bearded felt he needed to stop you and your sisters from driving ponies into turning against one another. Towns burned to the ground and families broken under the siren's influence. You were a dire threat to our peaceful ways, so he acted accordingly.”

Adagio sneers. “Just so you know, discarding us into another dimension? And our attempts to get back, however we could, and the trouble that caused? That's on him. I wonder if Tartarus would have been preferable to being tossed aside like garbage, stripped of everything we were so we had to fight to recover, only to be kicked down again. If you're that old fool's student, then I guess that blame now falls on you.”

Celestia doesn't avert her gaze or show any emotion. “I'll accept no blame. That was his choice. Do you honestly believe you were open to diplomacy back then? The beasts that you were held no regard for those you deemed lesser than yourselves, nor held compassion to what you considered food and your playthings. And besides, if you so desire some form of recompense for your perceived slight, I won't fight his battles for him, as my mentor still lives.”

Adagio's eyes widen at the news, but she recovers and intensifies her defiant stare. Everyone gasps as Adagio's stone flickers and you feel it pull against your magic. Adagio then grunts in pain, and you swear you saw her scar just glow for a split second.

“Addy,” you say, quietly, “please.”

Celestia continues, “after finally breaking the yoke of your natures, you've clearly become so much more than beasts. You've become vibrant, open-minded yet retained your pride and cunning. I would call that a drastic improvement. Now, I cannot change what happened, and by trying to outplay us instead of accepting our hospitality, you almost lost everything dear to you.” She flicks her deep, purple eyes to you. “And everyone.”

This time, Adagio winces and her ears flatten back. She flicks a gaze to you and she looks ashamed again. Her head lowers.

“So please, stop this, Adagio Dazzle,” Celestia continues and puts a hoof on Adagio's shoulder. “This should be a joyous occasion. I want to welcome you and Radian Wave as citizens of Equestria. Your banishment is officially rescinded, and you are free to come and go as you please. I only ask that, when it comes time to introduce your sisters here, that you remember well what befell you not hours ago. Let us help you all openly, and let us introduce them gradually and safely. For all our sakes, but especially theirs. I would sooner not turn sister against sister...”

Celestia looks at Luna, who's mingling with Twilight's friends, and the sun princess seems to get lost in what you assume are distant and unpleasant memories. She finishes by saying, “it is not a fate I would wish on anyone.”

Adagio snorts and redoubles her bluster. “Don't remind me, and don't lord that over us either, as if we're just going to lie down and let you dictate-”

You feel the stone tug again. You love her dearly, but you have to stop this. You stand in front of your girlfriend and say, “Addy. Enough. Please. I've had it with dwelling on old shames and hostilities. I'm sick of the past already. We have a future! We have your stones, and we have Equestria! If you're really determined to pick at this issue and keep driving us in circles, it can at least wait until next time we're here.”

Adagio shoots you a glare, but you're steadfast. Her expression softens, even looking a bit ashamed, before she takes a deep breath and turns to Celestia. “Fine. I'll drop it.”

Celestia sighs, finally breaking her steely facade and looks relieved. “Again, I won't apologise on behalf of my old mentor. I doubt you'd see it as anything but than condescending. Still, your natures were laid bare for all to see, and your past is a dark one. Yet, as young Radian Wave has said, the past is over. You have been nurtured into something so much stronger than you ever could have been as your past selves, and you should celebrate your growth. As a siren, and as somepony who I believe looks on strength in others with respect, I would meditate on the newfound power that has been afforded to you.” She then looks at you with a smile. “And where it came from.”

You bow again. “Thank you, Princess.”

Adagio again seems to resist, then finally nods at the princess, and returns to your side.

Twilight looks like she's just short of panicking after the spat between Adagio and Celestia, but just casts a spell and, with a pink flash, you're back in the mirror room.

“Well, that was... extremely uncomfortable,” Twilight says with a sigh, like air being let out of a balloon as she relaxes. “Here, these are yours.” She presents you an ornate jewellery box, which contains Aria and Sonata's stones. You'd left them back in the workshop. You place Adagio's within it, and grimace at the misshapen gem next to the clean, perfect stones beside it.

You say, “first thing we'll do once we make any money is get your stone fixed, Addy, I swear it.”

“It's fine,” she replies and smiles. “So long as my sisters are looked after, then we're good.”

“I wish there was a way for us to stay in contact,” Twilight says, “but until Sunset's well enough to travel, I don't know where she keeps her journal, nor do I really like the idea of you breaking into her apartment to search for it. I guess you could ask one of her friends, but... I somehow doubt they'll be especially happy to hear from Adagio, asking about a magic book, out of the blue without Sunset there to ease their fears. No offence, but there's still a reputation you'll have to settle with Sunset's friends too.”

You shrug. “None taken. I think we'll be busy getting my inventions finished and sold for a few months anyway. Gotta get that job ready for Sunset, as well.”

“I'm glad you've found an avenue to work together,” Twilight says. “She'll do right by you, I know she will. I know you said you forgave her, but if you still feel she owes you, let her know and I bet she'll be glad to do whatever she can.” She turns to Adagio. “Are you sure you're alright? I think we almost lost you there for a moment, and after what you said to Princess Celestia, I-”

“Just making sure everypony knows we aren't going to be looked down on or expected to just tow the line.” Adagio runs a hoof over her scar. She stares at it for a moment, then smirks. “Like your refusal to accept a favour from me... I can't tell if it's pity or an insult, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Like I said, forget it. I don't want the circumstances of what happened to get in the way of the reason we let you return to Equestria to begin with. I'd talked to Radian about it, but I never had a chance to speak with you about my intent.”

Adagio sizes Twilight up, then says, “go on.”

“A simple pact, an alliance,” Twilight says. “You're welcome to return to Equestria once the mirror's repaired, although I will ask that you let me know when you do so with your stone. Also you'll receive our help with setting up a life here and anything else you need, but since I'm soon to take over from Princess Celestia and Luna, I would like you on my side. Together, I want us all to protect Equestria.”

“What, with the sirens as your attack dogs?” Adagio says with a huff and turns her snout up at her. “Just who do you think we are?”

Twilight shakes her head. “You and Radian have pursuits you wish to accomplish, dreams to pursue that will enrich your lives. I also know you've made good friends with Rarity and Applejack. You can't fool me with that veneer of indifferent pride; they mean something to you. Your bluster and smug attitude are a front; you know as well as I do that if you go down old avenues of power and seek to be adored by forcing ponies to worship you, they will stand against you, just as Radian will side with you. Is that what you want? Just constant fighting? Fracturing of what could be a truly wonderful relationship?”

Adagio chuckles. “Oh, are we going to engage in psychoanalysis now?” She walks up close to Twilight and looms over her. It's less effective since Twilight's quite tall anyway, and to the princess's credit, she doesn't back down or show any fear.

Twilight responds, “are you saying that you would cast your friendships aside, open hoof acceptance and support for your desire to, what, show yourself as superior?”

They just glare at each other, and you bite your lip as you hear something knocking around inside the siren stone case, but it calms as Adagio rolls her eyes.

“Ugh, fine, I get it,” she says, “we would be protecting our own stake in this world, right? Maintain the peace so I can run my bar and Ray can study magic.”

“Correct. Nothing more, nothing less. Mutual respect.”

Adagio gives a nice, dark, sinister grin. “I may agree I'd rather just be left to live my mife, and I have no trouble smacking down any idiots who try to disrupt that, but respect must be earned, Twilight. You of all all ponies should know that.”

Twilight frowns and her mane begins to shimmer and flow. “So be it. Play your games, make your challenges, and I'll succeed!”

Adagio's smile turns more earnest as she looks over the sheer radiance of Twilight's magical flexing, and she begins pacing back and forth, as if excited, yet Twilight remains an insurmountable wall of absolute power.

Damn, you wish you had a camera. The sheer strength on display with the two mares who you have the most attraction for is awe inspiring. And pretty hot.

More surprising is Adagio purrs as she studies her rival. “That stare,” Adagio says as her eyes lid and she bites her lip. “You've got us all figured out, haven't you?”

Twilight snorts. “If you expected a naïve little princess like last time, you're sorely mistaken. But I also know you wouldn't respect me if I tried to treat you as anything less than a potential threat.”

“Evidently, you've done your homework,” Adagio says and gives a half-shrug. “You've also wrapped my Ray around your hoof, brought him to your side. Likewise you've studied up on how to give us what we desire without us encroaching on your future throne.”

“Twist my intentions as you will, Adagio. Radian has a good heart, of course he would respond to an understanding peer. I didn't wrap anypony around my hoof.”

“You play a good front, Twilight, but let's be real here; coercion and befriending are often the same thing.” Adagio giggles and continues to study Twlight. She licks her lips, breathes hard as the princess lets a little confusion filter in, before she stands stubbornly upright once more.

Twilight's a bulwark. Unbreakable as she stares your girlfriend in the eye.

Adagio giggles. “You're truly formidable, Twilight Sparkle! Defiant! Like you'd throw down with me at a moment's notice and kick my ass if you felt it would get you what you want!” She suddenly grabs Twilight with her forelegs. She maniacally cackles, “I love it!”

“What are you- mmmph!” Twilight's will and demeanour is shattered as Adagio pins her lips on her rival's and kisses her. Deeply. Tongue, pleasured gasps, everything. She moans deep and passionately as she pushes harder and harder against the princess.

Fuck, why don't you have a camera on your device!?

Doesn't matter. This moment will live in your most sordid dreams forever. The only way it could be better would be if you were pinned in the middle.

Twilight kicks and pushes against the bigger earth mare, but Adagio's massive strength trumps her own. And Twilight's wide, shocked eyes flick about in such panic, she can't even muster her magic. Her horn glows, but sputters and fizzles as she can't focus.

Adagio finally, after a long, intense bout of tongue penetration, relents, leaving Twilight flat on her back. You watch the saliva strand bead and break between their lips as Adagio stares down at Twilight with rapturous, wild.

Twilight pants for breath, blinks a few times and yells, “what the fuck wasthat!?”

“I don't care about appearances,” Adagio pants, “just the core of a pony or person. Ray is a brilliant mind, so beautifully driven and devoted. And you, my rival, are intense and just as obsessed with your goals and dreams. Nothing excites me more, and nothing keeps a soul in my heart quite like it.” She pauses and looks at Twilight with a whole new admiration as she actually bows. “I agree to your terms, Twilight Sparkle.” She then once more stands proud and tall. “On one condition.”

Finally collecting herself, Twilight gulps as she stands and says, “and that is?”

“You're not the same pony we fought back then,” Adagio says in a sultry tone. “You're assured. You're terrifyingly powerful. I have nothing but respect and admiration for that. I just suffered a defeat from within myself, one from which my precious Ray once more pulled me from the brink.”

You smile as Adagio winks back at you.

“And the way you've sought to ally with me?” Adagio continues. “I can tell you're worried about suffering the same, Twilight. Just as I was struck down at my last apex, you're at the peak of your power- no... maybe not even that just yet, but you're reaching ever-growing heights, and shining brighter than you ever imagined you could. And that makes you afraid, doesn't it?”

Twilight looks worried, and nods. “I've seen what power can do to a pony. I've heard of what Celestia fears from within herself. I've seen what it's done to Luna before. They had each other, but I won't have anypony if this keeps up. Every day, as my powers continue to blossom and grow, yet I can't help but worry about what I'll do if something topples me. Who else can help protect those I love? What desperate measures will I feel compelled to follow? Or... if something unthinkable happens to someone I love. How will I react? What could possibly stop me if I go too far?”

Adagio sits beside Twilight, wraps a foreleg around her, and says, “so in your dark moment of introspection, as the throne looms large before you, suddenly you hear from us, seeking help, transformed from our old selves. A once immeasurable threat. One suddenly able to show kindness and love. A reflection of your own rise to power, just as we were brought low and have returned from our newfound togetherness, you have reached an apex through the same. Now, you want us to meet in the middle. Two great and terrible potential threats, keeping each other in check, and protecting each others backs.”

Twilight closes her eyes silently nods.

Your girlfriend smiles at Twilight. Tender, honest and sweetly. “Which is why I accept your proposal. The sirens shall stand with Equestria. You bested me, as the foolish beast that I was and the naïve little princess you were, but now I have what you have always possessed; the strength of our love.” She gestures to you. “Untainted and true, as well as the bond of my sisters, restored once more. The sirens shall be greater than we ever were before! Meanwhile, you now see the burden of power. And I gladly see you as a peer, yet I have no idea what you're truly capable of. Which just means we don't truly know who shines brighter!”

Twilight unfurls her wings and gives Adagio a defiant stare, but she smiles. “So, a challenge?”

Adagio laughs, manic and joyous all at once. She screams, “YES! You and me. The Rainbooms verses Dazzlings! Another battle of the bands!! When we both understand what one another's truly capable of, when we both understand our limits and our strengths, only then shall we truly recognise each other as equals!” She slams a hoof on the crystalline floor and shatters it. “Once and for all, we shall see who is the most powerful, and who shall need to push themselves harder! Ever escalating! Until we have nothing further to prove!”

You step forward. “I'm not going to let you hurt each other! I'm with you, Adagio, against anything, but this?”

Adagio cools off. “A friendly competition, my pet. Nothing more.”

Twilight snorts. “I accept. If that's what it takes to have you by my side.”

“Oh, Twilight,” Adagio coos and gently holds the princess, and returns to that kindly side of her persona again. “You already have me by your side. I am grateful. You saved my life, despite your refusal of a favour, but you're also my Ray's friend. He even seems more assured than ever having worked with you. And you have granted me and my sisters another chance to shine again. If anyone dares seek you or your people harm, the sirens shall obliterate them!”

Twilight blinks. “That's... a bit harsh, but-”

Adagio chuckles. “We're with you, but not beholden to you, Twilight. Your enemies shall feel our wrath. But, and I say this earnestly, with all my heart, I do see you as a friend as well. If you ever need anything, even if you just need a shoulder to cry on, I shall do my best.” She bites her lip. “Although I'll admit, I'm not much good at it.”

You shake your head and reassure, both of them, “you did fine with me, Addy.” You then tell Twilight, “seriously, if you need an impassioned deconstruction of a threat or a problem, you'll find nopony better than my girlfriend.”

Adagio winks at you, then continues saying to Twilight, “but as should be thoroughly clear from this whole adventure, knowing our untapped strengths is paramount to protecting those we love. Just as I almost lost control, and hurt Sunset, and almost hurt my Ray, I need you as strong as you can be in case that happens again, and so shall I ensure we are at our best, in case we need to return the favour.”

A clock chimes.

Twilight takes a deep breath and sighs. “The portal closes in a few minutes. And fine. Let me know the time, and the place, and we'll test each other. It is just a test, right?”

Adagio nods. “I seek not your destruction, if that's what you mean, Twilight.” She then grins as she pokes Twilight in the chest. “But don't you dare hold back. I'll consider it an insult and I will lose my respect for you if I think you're afraid of hurting us. I expect pain! I'll relish it!”

Twilight swats Adagio's hoof away. “You're on! A battle until the other girl submits or can't fight on.”

“Excellent!” Adagio raises a foreleg, this time holding it out to shake. “I'll give you ample warning, 'my liege,' so you may prepare. No unfair advantages.”

They shake hooves, and neither break their death-glares until Adagio moves beside the portal, and nods for you to say your goodbyes.

You step forward and say, “thank you for everything, Twilight.”

She releases her tension from Adagio's confrontation by pulling you into a hug. “And thank you for your trust. You're already special to me.” Twilight kisses you on the cheek. “I almost wish you'd stay, but you've already made it clear how important getting these stones back to the sirens, and finishing the details of your inventions.”

You risk a peck on her cheek back. “It might take a while, but as soon as things are stable, we'll be returning to Equestria. But before we leave, there's just one thing I wanted to give you.”

You remove your emitter, complete with its holster, and put it on Twilight.

She looks at it, surprised.

“This represents all the trust Adagio and me shared, and it's become a symbol of what we could achieve together, despite how different we were.” You look at your girlfriend, who smirks but remains aloof, then you continue, “and I want you to have it. Just as she provided the means for me to achieve my dreams, you have done the same for me and the sirens.”

“Won't you need it?” Twilight asks.

You shake your head. “I've already got designs in mind for a better emitter, thanks to your insights and everything I've learned while here. And I'll gladly give you one as well, once I've perfected the mark two.”

Twilight looks at your... her emitter, fondly. “Thank you. I'll put it to good use!”

Adagio says, “you can start by using it to help Sunset.”

Twilight looks at your girlfriend, who keeps focused on the mirror, continuing to play coy despite the flash of remorse on her face, then Twilight says, “I will.”

The clock chimes twice.

“Tsk, one minute left,” Twilight huffs. “Never enough time. Anyway, again, once Sunset's recovered enough, and she's back in your world, I'll have her share her journal with you; anything you need to tell me, write it in there and I'll respond when I can. Take care of each other!”

“Thanks again, Twilight,” you say and give one final hug.

“Better practice your singing,” Adagio says without looking. “It would be a shame for you to fail because you can't hold a tune. We sirens have our stones, our own hard earned talents and each other. I expect you to visit the human world to bolster your connection with the Rainbooms in turn. Become stronger, and shine brighter, Twilight Sparkle! 'Til next we meet!”

Twilight grins and calls out, “remember, just keep walking! I'd hate to see you fall on your gigantic butt on the other side, Adagio!”

Adagio laughs and steps through the mirror. You quickly wrap the siren stone box in the blanket and tie it around you neck like a bindle, and enter the mirror as well.

End of Act 3

* * *

Epilogue: Chapter 34: Complete

Epilogue: Mistress

“... you were not only expelled, but banned from school grounds, Ms. Dazzle.”

“I'm just waiting for- ah, Ray! Tell her!”

You look at your balled fists and wince as you scrape the concrete trying to walk on all fours, then look up. Humans, a cloudy, overcast day, Canterlot High School. It all seems so... dull, but you're home. You practice moving your limbs again before taking a good look at the scene before you.

Your Addy is currently being confronted by another familiar face. A tall, imposing figure even now.

You say, “Princes- uh- ipal Celestia!”

Your old principal frowns, then she looks surprised. “Radian Wave?” She flicks a glance to the statue behind you, then purses her lips. “I never realised you knew about the 'other side,' But regardless why you're here, are you associated with Ms. Dazzle?”

You stand, wobbly on your hind le- your actual legs, wiggle your fingers and say, “I am, Principal Celestia.”

“You're not a student any more, no need to be so formal. Look, I'm not going to ask what's going on, but please leave. After that particular... incident, I'm quite firm in ensuring that Ms. Dazzle and her sisters aren't allowed within CHS grounds.”

“Even if we're not associates with the Twilight from 'the other side'?” you ask

“Forget about it, Ray,” Adagio says with a shrug. She looks at Celestia, and says, “I'd even apologise for what I did back then, but if you're going to be such a bitch about it, we'll just leave.”

You stumble for a few steps and force your hands open, remove the blanket covered wooden case from around your neck, tuck it under your arm, then walk away. The street is clear, so you cross it to keep clear of Celestia, who sighs and heads back inside the school. You're not sure what time it is, but you don't have much choice but to wait for Aria and Sonata to arrive.

“So,” Adagio says.

“Yeah,” you reply.

“We did it.”

“So it seems.”

You spent a moment just looking at one another, and you both smile, then laugh softly.

Adagio suddenly pounces, wrapping you in a hug and she...

There's no other word for it. She squees.

It's a noise you never thought she was capable of making. That's the only way you describe it. A shrill, superlative shriek of absolute joy as she spins you both in a circle and she just lets it all out.

“We did it! We fucking did it!” She stops and gives you a loving gaze. “You did it!”

When she finally stops spinning, pull away a bit and say, “I'm pretty sure I promised you I'd get you your powers back. Until your stone is perfected, I don't think we should celebrate just yet.”

“Pfft, fuck that,” Adagio says. “It's all but done, and I... uh oh.” She shudders, lets you go, and looks down at herself.

You ask, “what's wrong? Oh.”

Adagio's growing. Her clothing draws tighter as her 5'5' frame sprouts larger.

You think fast, open the case and hand Adagio her stone. With a quick pulse of red light from the imperfect gem, her growth ceases, and she shrinks back down.

“Well, at least that works,” you say. “I mean, I doubt you'll be able to do most of what you used to with that stone until it's fixed, but at least having it on you officially brands you a siren by the universe. Congratulations, Addy.”

She smiles, and presses the stone against her cheek, much like she did when she first showed it to you. She then looks at it with a smirk, then holds it out to you. “Take it a second.”

You comply, and Adagio steps back. She shivers again and once more grows bigger and stronger, and then holds her hand out for her stone. Again, once it's in Adagio's hand, she reverts. She giggles. “Oh, we're going to have some fun with this...”

Yep... classic beautiful siren or buff, amazonian earth mare flavour Adagio? Who says you can't have it all?

Despite the dark, sensuous thoughts clearly running through her head, Adagio suddenly turns serious. She stares deeply into your eyes and says, “Ray... I can't fully express what this means to me. That you've pulled through with your promise. You saved my life several times, in so many ways...”

You say, “if I'm honest, once upon a time I was half expecting you to take your stone and run. Discard the silly human and after his use was-”

Adagio wraps her arms around you again, buries her face into your shoulder, and says, “never. Fucking never think that, do you hear me? If I ever betray you like that, Ray, I want you to go to Twilight and tell her to hunt me down. Expose every weakness you know I have to her.” She pulls away, and you realise she's close to tears. “You are everything to me, Ray. Whether I'm human, or pony, or a siren, my heart is always going to be yours. After what I did back there? The way I lost myself, over and over? It was terrifying! I almost fucking killed you Ray! If anything, I'm surprised you aren't running away from me!”

You gently stroke her cheek. “It'll take a cold day in hell for me to ever give up on you, Addy. I don't know if I can ever muster the courage to do it here, but when I sang that song for you, I could feel a strength in me I never knew existed. I was busted and bruised, yet I never felt like I could take on the world like I could in that moment.”

Adagio sniffles again and wipes the threatening tears with her forearm while interweaving her fingers with yours with her other hand. “You're stronger than you know, my muse. You're a Dazzling now. Never forget that.”

You chuckle and ask, “while we're on the subject of being part of a band... how was it?”

She tilts her head. “Huh?”

“My singing,” you say and blush. “Any good?”

Adagio giggles. “I mean, it worked, didn't it?”

You roll your eyes. “Don't mess with me, Addy, I want an honest appraisal.”

She looks deep in thought. “Well, don't give up your day job. I've heard worse, mind you. Nothing a little autotune couldn't fix.”

You share a laugh.

“Seriously, though?” She squeezes your hand and nibbles her lip. “If we weren't in a frozen forest, with an injured Sunset or even remotely not in dire peril from my stone slowly killing me, I'd have crushed your tiny little body trying to fuck you for singing to me like that.” She pulls you close, so you have no choice but to look into those glorious pink eyes. “It was ridiculously brave, touching as hell and if you do ever pluck up the courage to sing to me like that again, I won't be held responsible for the consequences. Noise complaints will be the least of our troubles.”

You gulp. “Seriously?”

She gives you the sexiest fucking stare as she bites her lip and looks at you like you're a walking god. “Oh, you bet your cute ass, Ray.” She grabs you by the collar, pulls you close and breathes, “tonight, I'm going to fuck you like you've never been fucked before. There'll be legends written about it. And that's just from me remembering the way you sung your heart out. Let that sink in, and I hope it inspires you to serenade me again someday.”

Oh hell yes.

Okay, Radian, maybe change the subject before you have an premature 'emission' in your pants? “So I'm also a little surprised you aren't upset about... well, me and Twilight?”

“You did what you had to, Ray,” Adagio says with a shrug. “I told you to change the plan as you saw fit based on what you understood of the situation, to do what was best for me and my sisters, and you delivered. And sure, if she was still a prissy little bookworm, I'd probably be angry. She was too soft back then, but damn... this Twilight?” She pauses and licks her lips with a classic grin. “Honest question, would you be down for a threesome? She'll take some asking, but I seriously want her whimpering in bliss, pinned between us as we drive her little pony mind to breaking. I think it'll be good for her. She probably doesn't get much, being royal and all.”

… still pending on that accident if you're not careful. “I... uh”

Adagio rolls her eyes and rubs her thumb on the top of your hand. “Oh, come on, Ray, don't even pretend you wouldn't hit that. I saw the way you kept looking at her, let alone what I missed while I was mingling with Rarity, AJ and the others. All that power and that forceful personality she can pull off? Delicious!” She closes her eyes and you can tell she's imagining it. “We've got to make it happen.”

“Addy? Serious time, okay?”

She scoffs. “I was being serious, but go on.”

“What about our arrangement with Twilight when it comes to Aria? Maybe even Sonata, but especially Aria?”

Adagio hums to herself as she pulls out her necklace's old ribbon, fastens it and ties the stone around her neck as she thinks. You hear a familiar engine rumble and the squeak of brakes as she says, “I guess we're about to find out.”

You watch as the tour bus (van, you inwardly correct), arrives. Aria peers out the window, Sonata waves from the drivers seat and speaks first. “Hey, Dagi! Hi Ray! How was it? Oh, was there ponies? And, like, princesses? Tell us, tell us!”

“Yeah, seriously,” Aria says. “When Ray sent that message, I thought he was about to completely fuck things up.” She squints at Adagio's necklace and frowns at the imperfect stone. “Oh, okay, he did completely fuck things up.”

Aria steps out of the van and stomps up to you with a scowl of murderous intent, but Adagio gets in the way. “Ray, show her.”

You open the case, revealing the two perfectly cut stones.

Aria gasps and she can't help but let a little smile form. She gently takes her stone and her smile only grows until she barely has even a hint of her natural grumpy frown. Adagio takes the other and hands it to Sonata, who looks at it with teary eyes. “You're the best, Dagi!”

“Oh, I can't take any credit, I'm afraid,” Adagio says with a shrug. “Ray did all of the heavy lifting. He helped remake them with his own hooves and magic, ran afoul of a vicious 'beast', double-dealed with Equestrian royalty... the whole thing was basically on his shoulders from the outset.”

Aria looks at you, occasionally glancing at her stone as she loops it with a thin chain and puts it around her neck. She gasps as her eyes flash red briefly, and she finally lowers her head, struggling to keep eye contact with you. “Ray... uh... I don't know how to...” She rubs her neck.

You sigh and decide to get it over with. “We're allying with Twilight Sparkle.”

“What!?” Aria bellows and grabs you by the collar, then shakes you. “The fuck do you mean 'allying'!?”

Adagio puts a hand on Aria's muscular arm. “It was not only necessary, but it's to our benefit, Ari.”

“Like, I don't mind having new friends and all?” Sonata says as she cuts the engine and steps out of the van. “But for realsies? That goodie-two-horseshoes nerd?”

Adagio chuckles. “Oh, she's still a goodie-two-shoes, but that's beside the point. This isn't just some wet-behind-the-ears little girl any more. She accepted our request for help because she needed our help in turn.”

Aria snorts. “Not fucking likely, Dagi. I know you're sweet on this stupid human, but getting in bed with Twilight was not part of the deal! We're betraying her, and that's that.”

Adagio glowers at Aria and pulls down her top, showing off her chest scar. It's the same shape, but lacks the fledgeling scales of her pony form.

“Let me tell you something, Ari,” Adagio says, firmly. “I nearly died over there. Hell, I think I actually did for a moment, and the reason was we underestimated just how unpredictable re-exposing ourselves to magic could be. I lost control. I almost fucked everything up because we didn't plan ahead. Now, I know what you're thinking; Adagio screwed up again, so get your laughs in while you can, but know this, and this goes for both of you!”

Sonata huffs. “What did I do?”

Adagio sighs, pinches her brow and continues, “nothing, Sonata, I'm just trying to make you aware of the facts. If we go back there as we are, then we run the risk of losing everything we've learned these past years. Now, I know you're probably both thinking it'll be great to just purge the crap we went through since appearing in the human world, but-”

“Nuh uh,” Sonata insists. “I mean, sure, things sucked for, like, ever? But I'm not dropping Guardians of Gale Glade. If that means playing ball with Twilight and her prissy-pants friends? I believe you, Dagi.”

“What about you, Ari? You still voting we put the screws on Twilight?” Adagio says and folds her arms.

Aria tilts her head, her pigtails swaying. “Vote?”

Adagio continues, “I believe when we reconciled, we agreed that we would vote on all decisions concerning our group. Now, let's be completely diplomatic; I consider Ray part of the Dazzlings, so he'd normally be able to vote, but since it was his decision to ally with her to begin with, he's not got a say in this.”

You shrug. “That's fair, I guess.”

“Which means, naturally, I vote we see where this alliance takes us. See, we didn't just get our stones, but we'll have free access to Equestria, the ability to do as we please over there so long as we don't harass anyone, with just one caveat; we're going to have to introduce you two in a controlled way, just to play it safe that you won't do what... I did.”

Aria's brow flinches. “You say you lost control?”

Adagio nods. “I reverted to the old, angry, single minded siren I was when we led us into our magnanimous loss against Twilight, Sunset and the Rainbooms. If either of you head over there, you'll almost certainly be affected as well. Not as badly, because mine was made worse by my incomplete stone, but make no mistake; it was horrible. I lost all of the skills and wherewithal that I'd earned these past years in this world. We're stronger with that knowledge, that humility. I'm not fucking with you when I say this, Aria; it's for the best.”

“It's true,” you say. “You're all so strong in magic that all that excess in Equestria could do all sorts of things to your psyche. It overwhelmed Adagio from the start, before I'd even taken the stones out of my emitter, and only grew worse over time. It was the old beast, slowly learning how to control her, and I worry it'll bring out the worst in you two.”

Adagio continues, “so, those are the stakes; we either turn traitor, piss off all of Equestria and hope we take out our biggest threat, Twilight, and escape, then no doubt get hunted down to the ends of time by everyone who's on her side, which is to say the entire fucking land, all while potentially becoming weaker than I know we can be, just to recover our old ways. Or we play ball, occasionally waste some upstarts who try and mess with Twilight's and her subjects, and earn our adoration from the people of Equestria. As otherwise free agents. And we can totally just fuck her over if she turns out to not be worth it in the long run.”

You're about to object, but Adagio gives you a quick wink.

Sonata thinks for a moment. “And, like, we get to be heroes and stuff?”

Adagio shrugs with a smirk. “Basically. We get to enjoy ourselves until someone tries something, then we just destroy them and receive praise for our efforts. Well, Ari?”

Aria grimaces, but looks away.

Sonata shrugs. “I can do that! Plus I wouldn't mind being a pony for a while! Sounds like fun.”

Aria sighs. “Outvoted regardless... but when you put it like that, fine. I guess we can try it your way. But as for you?” She points a finger in your face, bares her teeth, but then looks at her necklace for a moment, then Adagio's imperfect one, and a flicker of realisation crosses her eyes. “You fixed mine before Dagi's?”

You gulp. “Yes? I mean, Addy wanted it this way, but-”

Aria waves her hand to shut you up. “That's beside the point, Ray, you had every reason to get her fixed first, yet... ” She trails off and looks conflicted.

After a few moments of silence, you add, “is this the part where you go on a power flex and overthrow Addy or something?”

“Oh, fuck off, Ray,” Aria says and folds her arms. “Quit being a smart ass for a moment and let me... work out how to say what I wanna say.”

Adagio stands beside you and holds your hand again as Sonata joins her, putting an arm around her sister's shoulder.

Aria takes a few deep breaths and says, “I still don't like this. I feel like we're gonna be chained attack dogs for Twilight.”

“It's not like that,” you insist. “Twilight respects you three a great deal. We're gonna keep her in check, since she's worried about ruling alone. If you play your cards right, I think she'll be receptive to your opinions and thoughts.”

Aria strokes her chin. “I get that. It's more than I guess I was expecting from Equestria. Admiration through our own merits definitely has an allure. When I'm on stage, rocking out, I fucking love the way people worship my music. Having another way to earn that wouldn't be so bad. Fuck knows I won't be able to use Metal-Mane over there... well, maybe, I swear I saw some earth pones could play string instruments somehow.”

You sigh with relief and feel Adagio squeeze your shoulder.

Sonata giggles and says, “totally! My press events are awesome when the fans say how much they love the show, and Tantra and stuff! Like, it's the best!”

Aria manages a small smile. “Alright, we'll see how it goes.”

Adagio nods. “We can still back out if we don't like what Twilight's giving. Besides, it'll be a while yet. We've got a lot of things to arrange here before even me and Ray return to Equestria.”

“Yeah,” you say, “I want to make sure all the financial shit gets sorted here before we start adventuring in Equestria. Once we're solid, once you girls are in a good place, then we'll see. But I have to ask one thing... in terms of draining people.”

You break away and look at your new family, and can't help but feel compelled to offer Twilight's side of things.

“Let me find a solution to you draining negative emotions. I don't know if I can create the energy, but I have some ideas that might work as a substitute. Just... promise me, you'll only drain when you feel it's necessary. I don't want to tell you what to do, but-”

Aria raises a hand, and you stop. She says, “I fucking swear, every time you flap your gums, you make your position worse, Ray.”

“Give him time, Ari,” Adagio says and puts an arm around her sister's shoulder.

“Yeah, c'mon,” Sonata adds. “He's, like, done tons for us already.”

Aria grumbles. “You know what, Ray? I still hate humans, but you're alright I guess.”

“Thanks,” you respond.

Aria looks away and... oh, shit, is that a blush? “Which puts me in a weird place. See, if humans can give us someone actually solid like you, maybe it's not fair that we do what we want with them, turn them against each other and feed, because we might be hurting other humans that're not totally fucking worthless. Even if that's one in a million, or whatever.”

Wow, that's shockingly sweet from her.

“But I goddamn swear,” she says and glares at you. “The second you admit defeat in not being able to give us the ability to feed without fucking with humans? We start draining them when we want, where we want. So it's on you, Ray.”

You nod. “Deal. I'll find something. Pinkie promise.”

Adagio's stomach suddenly roars. She rubs her midsection and utters, “whew. Guess we skipped dinner back there, and I've got a siren sized hunger. C'mon, let's get out of here. I've got a bad taste in my mouth and could use a good steak or three. And maybe some oaty fudge.”

“That's a great idea. I need a shit load of coffee, too,” you say, then chuckle. “Wait a second... I didn't taste that bad, did I?”

Aria and Sonata look at each other, then you with a confused expression. Sonata innocently asks, “are we talking oral or...?”

Adagio laughs. “Not quite. Let's start from the beginning, because have we got a story for you two,” Adagio says as you climb into the van. “So it all started with us meeting Twilight...”

You close the doors, Sonata starts up the engine, and you drive off as you share your story with your family, all on the same side.

And complete.

* * *

Chapter 35: Crescendo

You lived by a few nuggets of wisdom you'd learned from your mom.

Always wash behind your ears.

Always look both ways before crossing the street.

And, one of the more recent ones, don't go looking for girls in seedy bars, and that went double for any sort of long term relationship.

*Hooonk*

“Get outta the way, ya fuckin' moron! I'm drivin' here!”

“Sorry,” you call out and raise your arms in apology, but as you turn away from the angry driver, you mumble, “for nothing asshole.”

Sorry mom, you're failing on all cylinders today. You didn't have a chance to shower since the meeting, the're no time to worry about the roads, and girls? The one you met in a seedy ass bar?

Admittedly, that one just doesn't technically apply. Diamond in the (relative) rough doesn't even begin to describe your girlfriend. The dive-bar was just a stepping stone.

You slow your jog as you reach the other side of the packed street, breathing hard, and take a look at the billboards overhead.

'Mistress: The Dazzlings Comeback Concert'. Sold out.

Seeing your family on several of the biggest ad-spaces in the middle of downtown Manehattan never gets old. The trio, dressed in custom, personalised, ultra sexy dresses as they pose suggestively, just reminds you of where you're going. The biggest venue in the city; the Clydesdale Arena.

'Sponsored by the new Radwave Equine Omni smartphone; Infinite power and connectivity at your fingertips,' the signs also say in the corner.

Your plans for cornering the energy market? That's not gonna happen any time soon. There's a lot of greedy assholes sitting on the old energy holdings, and it turns out they've got a lot of lawyers who've wrapped your energy conversion device up in litigation for years. Every slanderous term under the sun has been thrown at your machine; that it's unsafe, that it's fraudulent and, because you won't divulge precisely how it works, it's unfair and all sorts of other bullshit.

You can prove them wrong, but you didn't have the cash to hire the lawyers needed to untangle it. You certainly do now, but the wheels of litigation roll oh-so slowly. It doesn't matter, because at this point, it's not about money. It's now about giving a giant middle finger to the world that your mom was right, your dad was an asshole for leaving her, and that Radian Wave, the kid that didn't stand out, will have his name in the history books.

The funniest part was that, just like convincing Adagio to help you, it turns out your phone had all the answers to get the money train rolling. You really should have led with that one.

You refined and miniaturised the process of powering phones, crowd-funded a series of phone cases that used contactless tech to keep phones charged with magic and had your family 'convince' a few factories to take a chance on you to mass produce them. That earned you your first million in two months, and it's only escalated as you started making plug-in chargers that did the same to any USB powered device. They were more popular than Pinkie's breakfast fudge. Before long, you had to hire a whole bunch of people, including Sunset since she had recovered by that point, to assemble, package and ship your products. At least to begin with. You've found Sunset an even better position now.

These days, you've started selling phones directly through the Radwave company. Phones that have a lot more interesting tech as you apply your knowledge of magic in the human world. It's almost been a year and it's only escalating. Obviously this allowed you to back your new family in whatever ways they desired, as you'd promised.

Not that the Dazzlings needed more than one venue and one new song to take the world by storm. Between their properly honed voices (which Adagio still insisted on getting the practice in without their necklaces), Sonata's fanbase, Aria's blistering skill with her electric guitar and and their magic, they instantly topped the charts. You just pointed at venues, and they would gladly accept your sponsorship. You even wondered whether to package free tickets with your cellphones just to make sure your family gets the admiration they deserved, but it wasn't necessary.

Alright, enough catching your breath. You say, “Emitt, boost me.”

“Yes, Dr. Wave,” a smooth, male, computerised voice says within your coat.

A unicorn signal flows over you, clearing the fatigue, and you resume your jog across the packed, traffic-jammed streets.

It's a bitterly cold, with the occasional flutter of snow in the air. You abandoned your limo several blocks back due to the gridlock, but it doesn't matter, you're on schedule as you pass through another alleyway.

“Hey, hold up, slim,” a voice says as a couple of guys block the way. “Where you goin' in such a hurry?”

Oh, great. “Got a date, going to take in a show. Look, man, I'm running late as it is, can I just head on through?”

The ringleader, a lanky guy with a face full of piercings, looks you over with a sneer. “Wait a sec, ain't you that new rich kid? Radio Way or some shit?”

His friends get closer and his hand sneaks into his pocket. There's a bulge there. You hear a metallic click of a hammer being pulled back on a gun.

Oh, double fucking great. “Real talk? It's not like we walk around with cash falling out of our pockets.”

“You've gotta have something worth out while. That's a nice watch. Give it over and maybe we won't break your legs, slim.” He grabs your collar.

“I ain't got time this,” you say, firmly. “I'm gonna give you one chance to get the fuck out of my way, or things get messy.”

You're not missing your family's big finale. Adagio's far scarier than these dickheads.

He pulls his gun.

You just say, “Emitt, blackout.”

“Executing.”

A chime sounds twice from your jacket, then after a second, a deeper beep. Every one of these douchbags suddenly drops like a sack of potatoes. You feel a wave of discomfort, held off by the unicorn signal. You pull out Emitt, a small, ray-gun like emitter and check the readings; apparently two of these guys were unicorns too. So much for them being smarter on average.

The ringleader groans and asks, “the fuck did you just do to me?”

“Nothing permanent,” you say as you re-holster Emitt, kick away the lead thug's gun, then kick him right between the legs as hard as you can and receive a long, pained moan. “Might ache for a while though.”

You straighten your coat and continue on your way.

Two more streets filled with cars, and you finally reach the arena just as the snow really starts coming down. You ignore the front entrance and head to backstage access.

“Hold on there, slim,” a security guard says and gets in the way. “VIP access only.”

You really need to get more pointers from Aria at this rate people keep picking on your build. You've got some good toning going on, but bulk? Not so much.

You reach inside your jacket and fumble around for your pass...

Oh, goddamn it, you left it in the limo!

You scratch your head. “Look, I'm the Dazzlings own-”

“Biggest fan,” he interrupts, “I bet. I'm gonna make this easy, kid; no pass, no entry. Don't make this difficult.”

“Kid? Now, you hold on a second-”

The door opens, surprising the guard, and you see a friendly face.

Sunset says, “Ray! Finally!” She turns to the security guard. “It's alright, Pep, he's the band owner. Hell, you're on his paycheck.”

“Really?” he says, glancing between her and you. “Wait, you're Radial Wade? I heard about you on the news! Shit, sorry sir.”

You roll your eyes and head inside, and the security guard closes the door behind you.

“Thanks, Sunset,” you say and put an arm around her shoulders and give her a quick hug. “You're a lifesaver.”

“It's fine. I know you've got a lot on your plate still. Though you abandoned Cruise Control again? Doesn't he get tired of you ditching him?”

“Relax, he likes the quiet. Am I too late?”

Sunset shakes her head. “They're halfway through the 'Found the Magic' reprise as we speak.”

You can hear the gentle melody as you head through a fire door;

“Oooh, oh, oh.

Oooh, oh, oh,

We found the magic!

We found the magic~”

The crowd cheers just as you reach stage side, with the lights on the edge of the stage helping obscure the band, so it takes you a while to let your eyes adjust to the dark. You see them first by the faint glow of their necklaces before you can really make out any details.

Sonata's taking a quick sip of water from a bottle and quickly towels her brow. She's dressed in a cute, shimmery red dress that really emphasises her curvy body. Aria's strapping on Metal-Mane, dressed in an outfit that's got a lot of elements with her old sleeveless jacket and jeans combo, but way showier. A blend of elegant and rockband glam. She notices you, gives a nod, then heads over to Adagio.

Your girlfriend's wearing a jaw-dropping white sequinned dress that looks as glamorous as it is beautiful, even if it still pales in comparison to her own majesty and presence. Her stone, just as perfect as when you personally fixed it the day after your return from Equestria, glistens in the dim lighting.

She's got a serious expression but Aria nudges her, and nods in your direction before heads back to her section of the stage, Addy's professional facade drops as she spots you, beams a huge smile and waves.

You kiss your hand and blow it to her, and she 'catches' it, plants it between her perfect cleavage but takes a deep breath and once more puts on her game-face, then faces the crowd as a spotlight slowly illuminates a circle in front of her.

A gentle piano kicks in a sombre tune, and Adagio steps forward, into the spotlight microphone in hand, and sings;

“I'd never felt so powerless, or ever so alone,

I felt that I would have no choice but to cower and atone.

Listlessly I carried on, regardless of what I'd befall,

But then you found me, and once more I stood proud and tall.”

The piano gets joined by a low synth. Dark and brooding, as well as deep, subtle guitar chug from Aria as the tempo increases smoothly.

“You said those magic words, and the dark within gave voice,

And I took you for my own, as if you ever had a choice.

But what were those words you whispered, deliciously in my ear?

You’d take a knee and worship me, there'll be nothing else to fear!

You’d die for just one touch of my tenderest caress,”

Adagio grabs the shoulder of her dress, ripping it free in a flash of stage lights, revealing a tight black and purple leather ensemble that's just... wow. All that toned, gold skinned subtle skin peaking through as she belts out, in time with the heavy beat;

“And you'll know your place is just to bow before your mistress!”

Still in the dark, the other Dazzlings join in for the chorus as the music hits its peak tempo overtaken by the synth and electric guitar thrash;

“Adore us!

Just try to ignore us!

When the tension's rising faster,

We're your succour from disaster!

Ooohh!

Obey us!

Just try to betray us!

Bow before our words and cower,

As our will fills you with power!

We're the dark that terrifies the bravest of the brave!

We're the dirty secrets you'll all carry to your grave!

If you worship at our feet, your spirit we will save!

Just bow before your mistress!”

The lights kick in on Sonata's section as Adagio struts over to her, and they coordinate in a sultry dance. Swaying hips, hooked elbows and knees as they use each other to support as the music continues to thump, before Sonata steps forward, and (with Adagio on backup vocals) sings her section;

“Watching you crawling on your knees has me positively grinning!

You could try to fight back but-“

The music cuts.

“Hello! Hashtag!”

And resumes.

“#WeKeepWinning!

So just be a good girl or boy and we'll get along just fine!

I'll be your pussy cat, if you’ll be my ball of twine!

I'll take your chocolates, your gifts, and all of your flowers,

Or you'll find out why no-one wants to be an enemy of ours!

My will enshrouds, your head in the clouds,

Ignorance is bliss, and you just don't wanna miss,

Living life without all that undue stress,”

The Dazzlings all sing, leading into the chorus;

“So bow before your mistress!”

“Adore us!

Just try to ignore us!

When the tension's rising faster,

We're your succour from disaster!

Ooohh!

Obey us!

Just try to betray us!

Bow before our words and cower,

As our will fills you with power!

We're the dark that terrifies the bravest of the brave!

We're the dirty secrets you'll all carry to your grave!

If you worship at our feet, your spirit we will save!

Just bow before your mistress!”

A select section of the crowd begins roaring and cheering as Aria's section lights up, and she thunders up to the stage's edge and just explodes into an absolutely savage guitar solo. Anyone who doubts how much of a soul Ari has just needs to witness this; her expression is just rapturous. Pure bliss as she works the guitar like a goddess.

Adagio and Sonata step behind Aria, and it turns into something Adagio calls an 'antecedent-consequent' section, or a musical 'question and answer' routine. Aria hammers out a complex set of chords that seem to trail off without an apex, then Adagio and Sonata reply with an acappella response that has a more finite end to each bar.

The singing pair break away with one final flurry on the strings, then it's almost a shame that Metal-Mane has to mellow down as Aria belts her raging section;

“Come at us with pride, and you're set up for a fall,

Bow down at our boots and cower AS WE STAND TALL!

You're nothing to us, and you’ll do everything we please!

And you'll find life is much easier when you're always ON YOUR KNEES!

Stay, obey, follow our every word,

Free will? Choice? Hah! DON'T BE ABSURD!

Pray and don't stray from the demands we give,

And rewards? You'll be happy YOU GET TO LIVE!

But maybe I'll give you mercy, and relief from your duress!

But only if you go ahead and-“

Then all three head towards the centre stage and roar;

“BOW BEFORE YOUR MISTRESS!”

They reach the middle of the stage, and a platform rises up as the Dazzlings fire into the finale:

“Adore us!

Just try to ignore us!

When the tension's rising faster,

We're your succour from disaster!

Ooohh!

Obey us!

Just try to betray us!

Bow before our words and cower!

As our will fills you with power!

We're the dark that terrifies the bravest of the brave!

We're the dirty secrets you'll all carry to your grave!

If you worship at our feet, your spirit we will save!

So bow, oh bow before us!

Oohhhh!

Love us!

Nothing else above us!

As our influence grows vaster,

Be the servant to your master!

Revere us!

Just so you’ll be near us!

We will bind you to our power,

We're your queens atop the tower!

At the crack of our whips, you'll know how to behave!

We're the unmatched beauty you have no choice but to crave!

We're the untamed power of a crushing tidal wave,

So take a knee,

and you will see,

there was never a choice,

besides our voice!

Subjugation is bliss,

So let’s do this!

And bow before your MISTRESS!”

The pyrotechnics kick off as the stage lighting dims, and the crowd just goes nuts, while the sisters give each other a celebratory hug as the platform lowers.

Adagio brings the mic to her lips and says, “we love you , Manehattan! Good night, and just dream of what we could do to you if you'd only bow!”

She chuckles and drops the mic, you see her say 'good crowd tonight' to her sisters as they make their way off stage towards you.

A guy in a suit heads onto the stage from the other side, picks up the mic, and announces, “thank you, Dazzlings! Ladies and gentlemen, before you leave tonight, we have just a quick message from Manehattan mayoral candidate, Ms. Harshwhinny.”

Sunset shrugs. “Always someone buying in on the popularity of others, though at least Harshwhinny seems to be a better politician than most.” She gives you space as your family reach you.

“Hi, Ray!” Sonata chirps and you give her a high five.

“S'up,” Aria says and you fist bump her.

“Ray!” Adagio cheers and dives into your arms. “You made it! I was getting worried for a second there.”

You spin her around, then kiss her for a good few seconds before answering, “yeah, sorry. Manehattan's just absolutely packed. I don't know if we're getting out of the arena tonight.”

Sonata gasps. “B- but I've got a voice recording session tomorrow morning for Guardians of Gale Glade!”

Aria glowers and says, “and I've got that stupid charity thing, and the Rainbooms're gonna be playing. I don't give two shits about the venue, but I'm not missing a chance to crush Rainbow Dash and her sloppy fretwork into the ground.”

Adagio pokes Sunset's shoulder and says, “I don't care what it takes, Sunset, get my sisters out of Manehattan, tonight! Come on, girls, let's head to the green room.”

Sunset rolls her eyes and pulls out her phone. “Ugh, fine, I'll see what I can do,” she says as the Dazzlings head on. She then turns to you and says, “when you said you'd give me a more important job than packing and shipping phone chargers, I didn't exactly envision 'The Dazzlings' personal chew-toy' as a long term career.”

“I did say I'd work your ass,” you say with a chuckle. “Plus, it's the perfect cover if we hear about an artefact popping up anywhere; I can throw some money at a music venue and set up an impromptu Dazzlings concert, we turn up, check things out while the hype train rolls, and nobody's the wiser. Besides, I know Aria gives you a hard time and Sonata doesn't... well, really take you seriously sometimes, but Adagio really appreciates what you're doing. She's just keeping up the facade for the sake of the band. Plus, it's been a hectic tour; they're all a little cranky.”

“I'm not trying to be a whiner here, but I'm not their P.A,” Sunset says and pouts. “I'm supposed to be the band manager!”

“I know! I'm sorry, their assistant backed out for... well, obvious reasons, really, but that's why I arranged a bonus for you. Check it out.”

Sunset gives you a funny look, sighs and taps her phone a few times. “It's not about money. You're paying me plenty, it's just-”

She stops dead, her eyes go wide and her jaw goes slack. “W- what... how much!? So... many... digits!”

You pat her on the back. “Like I said. A bonus. Plus, now the tour's over, I insist you take a vacation. You went from broken ribs and actual internal bleeding to working for me and you've barely taken any time off. I'm definitely going somewhere with Addy to relax, and you deserve a break before some other new Equestrian artefact screws things over. Please, for me?”

Sunset gulps and finally collects herself. “I guess I still felt guilty. But wait, where are you going?” She suddenly catches on. “You mean your secret project? You've managed to get it to work?”

You frown and admit, “I'm close, but missing a final step. I'm hoping to have it sorted out tonight. It's almost me and Addy's first year anniversary from when we met and it'll make a great gift. I've already finished the other two things.”

“Damn, you managed all that despite all the legal and business crap? Nice,” Sunset says, then sighs. “Look, go have fun with Adagio, I've gotta make some calls. Give me a couple of hours and hopefully I'll have some strings pulled to get Ari and Sonata back to Canterlot City.”

“Thanks, Sunset.” You give her a pat on the shoulder and she heads off, and you run to catch up with your family. As you spot the Dazzlings, a small figure steps out from behind a costume rack, and you bump into it.

A high pitched yelp and you grab the small figure as it falls.

The Dazzlings all turn, their stones glow, and they all start singing a low tone that makes your mind hum as they zero their stares at you.

“I'm sorry! I know I'm not supposed to be here,” the little figure says, and you have a better look at what you're dealing with. A young girl, maybe seven or so. She's decked out in Dazzling merchandise and even has her hair in Aria's twin-tailed style.

Everyone relaxes, you let her go and ask, “never mind that. Are you okay?”

The girl shies away from you, but nods.

Adagio smiles warmly as she says, “hey, come here. We won't bite.” She bends down and beckons the kid over.

The girl nervously approaches and you move beside your girlfriend.

Adagio asks, “did you enjoy the show?”

The kid's eyes light up as she grins. “Totally! You three are awesome!”

Sonata giggles. “We've got a smart cookie on our hands!”

Aria rolls her eyes, to which Adagio smirks as she then asks the girl, “and, let me guess, Aria's your favourite?”

The girl looks unsure. “Um. I mean, you're all great but... yeah...”

Aria's brow flinches, but you see her blush.

“Oh, I agree,” Adagio says and pats the girl on the head, and gives Aria a look. “Sonata has great range, and I'd like to think I add a touch of class to things, but Aria's the strongest member by far.”

More tensing of the brow, more flush to Aria's cheeks.

The girl suddenly adds, “I've been taking guitar lessons too!”

And that breaks the grump fully as Aria finally can't help but smirk. “Nice...” she stares at the girl for a moment, then clears her throat and says, “wanna try Metal-Mane?”

The awe on the little girl's face is like the sun peaking through rain-clouds. “Can I? I- I'm not that good, but...”

Aria holds out her treasured metallic purple guitar, and the girl slips the strap over her shoulders and strums a few chords of the updated, guitar-backed version of 'Welcome to the Show.' She even nails some of the complicated rhythm sections before wincing and going off key.

“You're pretty good already, kid,” you say. “Keep it up, I think you'll go far.”

Sonata nods in agreement. “For realsies! We've got a Dazzlet on our hands here!”

An older woman, led by security, appears from the stage. She gasps and runs up to the girl.

“Petunia! Oh, my goodness, what do you think you're doing, running off like that!” She pulls Petunia into a hug, looks at Adagio and pleads, “I'm so sorry if she disturbed you.”

Aria takes back her guitar as Adagio says, “it's fine, ma'am, she wasn't a bother. You've got a really talented girl there.”

“Come on, I'll see you out,” the security guard says.

“Wait a sec,” Aria says, and takes a spare copy of one of her own glittery, sleeveless jackets from a nearby rack, then a marker pen from a table, and autographs the inside lining. Adagio and Sonata do the same.

“Here you go, kid,” Aria says, still fighting off the smile. “But promise me you'll keep practising. I wanna see you hit the big time, but that'll only happen if you work at it, understand?”

Petunia looks at jacket and tears up. “I will! Thank you so much!”

Aria wraps the over-sized jacket around Petunia's shoulders, and returns to her usual aloofness as you all watch security lead them away.

You go to continue on to the green room, but notice the door's open...

“Wait,” you say.

Everyone stops, and you pull out Emitt, then perform a scan.

Five signatures in close proximity.

“Seriously, are security even doing their jobs?” You then yell, “who's there?”

A larger figure bolts from a secluded corner towards a nearby fire exit, and all you hear is the Dazzlings sing a powerful sustained tone, their necklaces flare red with power...

… and you're under their spell... blissful...

*Snap*

“Wakey, wakey, Ray,” Adagio says, with her post-snapped hand in front of your face.

You regain your senses, and see the trio standing around a man, his eyes green from the Dazzlings magic. A paparazzi, no doubt; a professional grade digital camera and a press pass around his neck, a snappy, overpriced but gaudy coat and a face you'd love to punch. Not the least because you recognise this asshole.

“Huh. Cruise Control warned me about this guy,” you say. “Snappy Scoop. Independent scumbag reporter.”

“Same from my studio,” Sonata says and puts on her best grumpy face (which is still adorable). “He's a total jerk.”

Snappy remains still and unresponsive as Adagio takes his camera. She hands it to you and says, “check out what we're dealing with here.” She then turns back to the reporter and asks, “why are you here, Mr. Scoop?”

He drones, “I heard a tip the Dazzlings were nasty to their fans. I made a girl sneak back stage to check out the scoop.”

The Dazzlings glance at one another and Aria stares daggers into the guy.

You thumb through the pictures with the touch screen; various shots of the show from the last few tours, some worrying scenes from back stage areas. There's even pictures of the interaction with Petunia.

Ah, here we go... images from inside the Dazzlings' dressing room from moments ago, a few with them getting changed in other venues, though you don't know how he got these shots without being noticed. You show the girls the pics.

“Oh, that's how it's gonna be, huh?” Aria says and cracks her knuckles.

“Dazzlings?” Adagio gestures you all to her, and you form a huddle. “Any suggestions?”

Sonata thumbs her chin. “Oh, I know! How about we make him buy a crap load of Dazzlings and Gale Glade merch? Like, payback for being a meanie?”

“Pfft, weak,” Aria says.

“I agree, we can do better than that,” Adagio says, but still looks over her shoulder at him and orders, “buy yourself fifty box-sets of the Guardians of Gale Glade. Special edition. And like... fifty deluxe Dazzlings promo packs. The really expensive ones from the main site.”

Snappy pulls out his phone and goes through the motions. It's fun watching the sirens magic's effect on someone, like they're being played like a fiddle.

Aria says, “how about we make this dickhead take a walk in traffic?”

“Eh, I don't know,” you say. “It's a bit much. Plus, it's a gridlock out there; he'll get maybe knocked over and a few bruises at worst. You know, seems to me a guy looking to drag people down, blackmail and ruin their careers should get a taste of his own medicine.”

Adagio goes maximum evil grin. “Oh, now that's an idea.” She turns around, raises her arms to signal her sisters to sing and, with their backing, says, “Mr. Scoop?”

He sways on his feet as the green in his eyes grows stronger, and mumbles, “yes, mistress.”

“Take off your pants. Underwear too.”

He obeys as the sirens stop singing. Aria utters her disgust, Sonata giggles and you politely look away.

“Go on stage and give Ms. Harshwhinny a nice hug! And kisses. Lots of kisses.”

“Yes, mistress,” he says, and walks towards the stage.

“Now, where were we?” Adagio says and leads on towards the green room. You all laugh as, after a few seconds, you hear several shocked screams, calls for security and demands for police about a sex attacker.

* * *

Chapter 36: Encore

You close the green room door behind you, and everyone sighs with relief. It's a big, well furnished and stocked room that perfectly fits the requests you know Adagio asked for when Sunset made the call to the arena, with a luxury couch, a huge, circular bed, a flatscreen TV and a buffet, all freshly delivered and arranged by the staff for the end of the show.

Aria unslings Metal-Mane, gives her a loving caress, and puts her back into her case.

Sonata attacks the buffet, powering down several tacos before piling up a pasta bowl from the finest gourmet places that deliver.

Adagio's far more subdued as she gets changed into her casual wear. She then pours herself a glass of water, grabs a sandwich and just kind of nibbles at it as she sits on the big, fancy couch. She looks somewhere between tired and relieved.

You're not surprised. While you haven't spent anywhere near as much time as you'd like with her thanks to getting Radwave moving, she's been a bit down lately, and you can't help but feel guilty. This whole year has been messy, but it had to be done in order to get things stable.

You sit beside her and wrap an arm around her shoulders as Aria and Sonata eat and drink their fill, also get changed out of their stage clothes, then sit next to you and you Addy.

“What a weird feeling,” Adagio says and sighs. “I couldn't wait for the comeback tour, and then I was even looking forward to finishing it, but now it's actually over? Kinda feel bummed out.”

Sonata gulps down a mouthful of pasta and says, “you so need a hobby. Are you sure you don't, like, want me to pull some strings to get you a character on my show?”

Aria says, “or you could take up an instrument. I think the Dazzlings'll be even better if we pair up our voices with something to give us more of an edge. Especially if we're gonna kick the Rainbooms to the curb when we take them down once and for all.”

Adagio purses her lips, plants her head on the backrest, with her poofy hair as a cushion on your arm. She stares at the ceiling and says, “both good ideas, but I'm just a little caught up in a low energy funk right now.”

“Aww, cheer up Dagi,” Sonata says and pats her sister's shoulder. “I'm sure Ray'll perk you up later.”

You chuckle. “Oh, sure, put the pressure all on me, why don't you.”

Aria sniffs and gives you a glare. “Speaking of low energy, don't think I forgot what you said about our feeding, and we'd get a reward for keeping it in check? We've been back on scraps for months, and we haven't caused one incident that wasn't already a mosh-pit scrap or fan argument, Ray! Make with the 'reward', and I swear, if it's lame, I'm kicking your ass.”

Adagio leans forward again and gives Aria a counterglare, but then sighs and says, “you did promise, Ray. And don't think I haven't noticed you've been quiet about something you've been cooking up without my knowledge.”

“Oh, oh, what is it? What is it!?” Sonata says and bounces on the couch.

You smirk and stand up, then switch on the TV. You then go through the steps to pair it up with your cellphone, and bring up a recent video that should help illustrate your point.

Well, it will once you're able to skip the commercial for your own phone. Money well spent, according to your marketing department, even if it's gonna be skipped by something like 70% of viewers, and most of that remaining percentage is only because they're doing something else so they're not paying attention.

The video starts, with a dubstep theme that gets backed with an energetic cello tune, before the title appears; “The Melody Scratch Music Match Review.”

A well dressed, groomed and proper looking black haired, purple eyed woman sits beside a blue haired, purple sunglasses wearing funky looking, white clothed companion. You remember them from school. They sit on a couch, behind a table with a standee poster of the Dazzlings tour on top of it, as well as their cellphones (both with the Radwave free energy charging protective case, naturally).

“Welcome to The Melody Scratch music match review. We are your hosts, Octavia Melody and, as always, my erstwhile companion, Vinyl Scratch.”

Their social media tags appear on screen for both, including Vinyl's stage-name of DJ-Pon3 as the she snaps her fingers and points finger-guns at the screen.

Octavia continues, “for episode thirty five, we're not just reviewing an album or single, but rather taking a look at the meteoric comeback of The Dazzlings, who are currently on the tail end of their tour across the country with their concert, Mistress. This is also the name of their chart topping single, that came out with the advent of their first event in Canterlot City. Your initial thoughts, Vinyl?”

Vinyl offers two thumbs up and a toothy grin.

“I must concur, it really is quite something,” Octavia replies. “The Dazzlings really have taken the world by storm, having secured another rising star in the form of entrepreneurial wunderkind and inventor Radian Wave as a financial backer, on top of other reports of a closer relationship. One could easily assume that the fame the Dazzlings have acquired, especially with the rumours of bad attitudes backstage, is a result of just throwing money at venues and marketing, but it's more than that.”

Vinyl nods.

Octavia resumes, “they had a distinct sound back during their late teens, but creative differences drove them apart. With their return, I feel the their melding of genres is a remarkable and unique style that has struck a chord with listeners of all ages. This is only further reinforced by each member's more unique spin; the peppy, upbeat pop stylings of Sonata Dusk, the aggressive, powerful metal influences of Aria Blaze, and the surprisingly refined, classical edge given by their leader, Adagio Dazzle. They can still harmonise as per their earlier work, but I don't recall Sonata and Aria receiving much focus in their early days. Their recent offerings, however, allow each to shine.

“Now, I must admit that Mistress, as in the eponymous single, does raise questions about what's considered 'proper' for all audiences. The concerts are attended by children, yet the lyrics allude to elements of BDSM fetishism and evocative, almost violent imagery.”

Vinyl gives Octavia a look, peering over her glasses with incredulity.

Octavia grumbles, and says, “we were having this debate the other day about what should be allowed or restricted in the public space. I for one think it wouldn't be too harsh to give the show, and no doubt the full album due out shortly after the final show in Manehattan this weekend, some age restrictions.”

Vinyl folds her arms and sticks out her tongue.

Octavia scowls at her friend, points a finger and says, “oh, don't you poo-poo me over this, Vinyl! One can't just sing and invoke such imagery in such a slapdash manner just because a band is popular!”

Vinyl takes a deep breath, points back, opens her mouth and-

You pause the video as you see the evidence you need.

“Aww. Ray, what gives?” Sonata says. “I love this show! Vinyl's hilarious!”

Aria rolls her eyes. “Yeah, I guess. If only she'd learn to shut up once in a while.”

You stand beside the screen and ask, “do you see it?”

“No, duh, we can't see it? You've, like, paused the video,” Sonata says and pouts.

You chuckle and shake your head, then look at Aria and Adagio in case they see what you mean. They both shrug. You then frame-skip a couple of times. “Well?”

Sonata gives you a blank expression, Adagio squints at the screen and Aria leans forward with a raised eyebrow.

You tap the screen with your finger. The table, specifically their phones. A green light is on and, as you rewind a second, pause and frame advance again, there it is.

A little green wisp, being draw into the charging case.

Aria mumbles, “is that... negative energy?”

Adagio's eyes go wide, and she grins at you. “You didn't...”

“Didn't what? I have, like, no idea what's going on,” Sonata says.

You ask, “you've all got your new prototype phones, right?”

They nod and take them out. Radwave Siren Omni's, the upgraded version of the Equine.

“I want you do go into the contacts and call 'bandscan.rad'. Then I want you to draw in energy with your stones, like you would near a conflict.”

Their phones connect, their lights turn green and, as they close their eyes and each of their necklaces glow, the phone lights also turn red.

And a thick, vapourlike cloud of green energy emerges from each of their phones, so much that if all but fills the room with an impenetrable fog, and the sirens begin to feed, drawing it all into their stones, which shine a sinister red amidst the green.

Aria gasps and shouts, “oh, fuck yeah!”

“Yes,” Adagio cries out in bliss, “yes! More!!”

“Woo! This is amazing!!” Sonata squeals.

They all float of the couch as their eyes all glow brilliant red. Their hair extends, resembling tails. Fin-like wings form on their backs and horse-like ears on top of their heads. Finally, the phantasms of their siren forms appear behind them as they all levitate off the ground.

“Ladies. My family. The loves of my life!” You say and let out your mad-scientist cackle, then sweep your arms wide! “Welcome to the Radwave network! Infinite power and connectivity at your fingertips! Every scrap, every shred of conflict that happens near ANY of my devices gets taken in, transferred through the network, and you can tap into it whenever you please!”

They retain their forms but set foot back on the floor as they look at each other, then at you with their admittedly frightening red eyes.

Aria says, “this is more power than we got through all the fights from Canterlot High! How'd you do this?”

You smugly reply, “remember when I discovered dark magic could be stored just as well as normal magic? Sure, I couldn't replicate dark magic, nor the negative emotional subtype, but I did a lot more studying of how conflictive energy works. With a little tweaking, I found I could not only store it, but convert it, send it via the network and restore it with the software in your phones in a customised version of my energy conversion algorithm. It's actually bit lacking compared to what I wanted before showing it off to you, but we're still selling chargers and phones across the globe. This offering was only about ten percent of my projected final estimates.”

Adagio's jaw goes slack. “Ten percent? How long did it take to get this much?”

You look up at the ceiling and tap your chin as you redo the math. “Let's see. Based on what I worked out the other day, that was probably about three days worth. It's still in its infancy.”

Aria shakes her head. “Bullshit. You're telling me we can feed on this much power every three days? And it's gonna get even stronger!?”

You shrug. “There's a lot of vitriol out there, a lot of jerks and assholes. Every time my devices detect that unique signature of that oh-so delicious conflict, it'll get drawn into my devices, so long as they're within a few feet of the energy receiver. I'm still working on extending the range.”

The trio let their forms revert, but their necklaces retain an intense red glow.

“I never doubted you for a second, my muse,” Adagio says with a wink. She then puts on a smug grin as she turns to Aria. “Now, I believe you also made a promise? A reward for our newest Dazzling?”

Sonata raises her hand and says, “oh, she did! I recorded it and everything!”

She taps her phone a few times, and plays a sound file.

“Oh, fuck off, Sonata,” Aria's angry voice says, “He ain't gonna pull through. Look, I'm not gonna drive him out of the group or anything, but he's bitten off more than he can chew.”

Adagio's voice says, “And if he does? Hmm? Come on, you're so confident he'll fail, how about some stakes? Some actual affection instead of your constant jabs and digs. Ohh, how about a kiss?”

“What the fuck... tsk, fine; if he actually finds a way to get us energy without us causing humans to fight. But it's not gonna happen.”

Sonata and Adagio both give their sister a huge grin.

Aria scowls at them both, and tries to direct her anger at you, but she falters. She looks at the brilliant glow of her necklace, then you again and bites her lip. “I don't know...”

Adagio slaps Aria's muscular arm. “Oh, go on, you spoilsport! Don't be a sore loser.”

“Fuck off, Dagi. I... I didn't mean I won't...” Aria stumbles over her words, blushes bright red, throws up her arms and exclaims, “fucking damn it! Fine, a vote! All in favour of us all rewarding Ray?”

Adagio says, “of course.”

“Yessir!” Sonata adds.

Aria stares at you as her face somehow turns even more flushed, and she just seizes up for a while. You can't tell if she's about to punch you or kiss you.

As you begin to freak out, you just say, “look, Aria, don't worry too much. It's just some silly thing. I'm just glad you're happy.”

Aria storms up to you, grabs you by the collar, and pulls you so close you can smell her subtle musk from the sweat she'd built up on stage, but also that familiar siren scent of an oceanic breeze, with a little back of a surprisingly girly deodorant.

She takes a few deep breaths, looks over her shoulder to her sisters, and says, “all in favour of us fucking Ray's brains out?”

“Oh, absolutely,” Adagio says and begins to undress.

“H to the E to the double L yes!” Sonata giggles and does the same.

You blink and your eyes go wide. “Now, hold on! You're okay with this, Addy?”

Your girlfriend shrugs. “No matter what happens, I know your heart belongs to me, but I'm fine with sharing the rest of you once in a while. I also think it might help Ari with her human issues. That and if we're going to be working with Twilight, I suppose we should get into the sharing spirit.”

Aria pushes you back onto the bed, peels off her tight jeans climbs on top and pins you down with the hardest kiss you've received since that fateful night when you nearly lost Adagio. She relents only to rip off her vest, exposing her gloriously powerful body. The harder lines, grooves and ridges of her muscular physique mixing with her softer curves, the way her perfectly pert tits bounce as she lifts herself up then slams her ass back down on your midsection so hard you cough out the air in your lungs.

“I'm not gonna be gentle,” she growls.

You smirk and say, “I've had Adagio at full earth size, I can take it.”

She grins back. “Yeah, but I ain't gonna kiss your boo-boos better, human. You're my piece of meat and this won't end until I say it ends.”

“Um, Aria?” Sonata says as she climbs in bed, fantastically naked. “Aren't we, like, supposed to be rewarding Ray?”

“It's alright, Sonata,” Adagio says with her best grin as she finishes tossing her underwear away. “We'll kiss his boo-boos better.”

You've never seen the other sirens naked, but Aria likes showing off her arms and the tantalising peak through the rips in her jeans, so it left you plenty to picture the rest of her body. You're not disappointed. She's oddly private about working out, but enjoys both the adoration and the fear she can create by being as strong and intense as she can be. She has every right to be proud of her physique. That and, even as a siren so she can't tap into her earth strength, she's a physical force to be reckoned with.

Sonata's... hot damn. She must wear compressive clothing all the time, because naked, she's porn-star levels of curvy, with tits that'll fill your hand as much as her sweetness fills your heart. Your Addy's perfect in your eyes, with a balanced, slim physique that really emphasises her womanly hips but you can't help but wonder if she's jealous of Sonata's generous womanliness.

“Less talking, more fucking,” Aria says as while Adagio and Sonata pull your pants off and you feel a condom get rolled on your erect dick.

Angry and grumpy as her demeanour is, as Aria leans down once more, she has no trouble proving she's into this as the facade melts away, and she resumes kissing you, far gentler. The initial shock of the situation passes, and you respond in earnest by grabbing her shoulder with one hand, gently stroke her neck with the other, and pull her in closer. It's hard to separate her attitude from how soft her lips are, and for a few moments, your tongues meet and she makes a soft moan.

Adagio and Sonata's hands roam and stroke your body as Aria submits to her feelings in full, she gasps as you break the kiss. “Fuck, I need this,” she whispers. You feel the wetness between her legs against your groin as she lifts herself up and guides herself onto your dick. She's extremely gentle and you feel every slow moment of her as she whimpers. Lower and lower she drops, until her hips meet yours.

“You okay?” you say, softly.

That stoked her fires. She immediately scowls at you and grits her teeth. “What,” she says in a breathy voice, “you gonna take pity on me?”

“You're cute when you're in denial, like a meek teenager bedding her crush” you say and grunt as you feel her clench around your length. “Are you sure you don't want to just cuddle instead?”

Adagio and Sonata both giggle, and your girlfriend adds pressure by sneaking beside you and kissing your cheek. Sonata settles against your other side and cuddles your arm, rubbing her cheek on your shoulder.

Aria flushes and the anger turns to fury. “That fucking does it.” She lifts herself up to the tip of your cock and hammers back down with a wet slap of skin on skin. Her nails dig into your chest as she begins bucking you like a bronco.

You bite your lip as the pain and pleasure make a nice balance. It stops you enjoying it too much so you let Aria calm down. She's lost in the pleasure again and slows, enjoying every thrust.

Of course, you've been with Adagio for almost a year. You're more experienced, more assured. And you know how to take control.

So Aria's little gasp as you pull your arms free from your girlfriend and Sonata's grip, take hold of Aria's arms and flip yourselves over, is music to your ears.

Aria says, “what're you doing!?” as you pin her down.

You reach in and kiss her collarbone, her neck as she struggles against your strength. You're probably about as strong as her and only slightly heavier, but now you're on top with? You lift your hips and thrust against her as she moans.

It's fun watching her squirm. Adagio and Sonata put an arm around your back and look down at her.

Adagio giggles. “Ooh, what have we here? Our strongest, bested? Tsk, such a shame.”

“Aww, poor Ari,” Sonata says with a smirk. “Ray's, like, such a meanie, huh?”

You start kissing Aria as Sonata and Adagio lick your neck and cheeks. You feel like a king. Her denial is almost as sweet she tastes. She matches your affection even as she continues to fight, yet gets weaker and weaker as you settle into a firm, swift rhythm that has her grunt and gasp with every slick, luscious push of your dick into her. Aria moans grow in volume. Her eyes lose focus and she begins to just submit. She's all yours as you kiss her and she bites your lip, only to release as the sharp pain makes you push against her harder and her sweet outcry of bliss spells her oncoming climax.

“F- fuck,” she whimpers.

You lift your chest off of her and... wait. Something's not right.

You slow your thrusts, but notice what's-

“Emitt, full strength earth signal,” Adagio says.

Oh.

“Yes, Ms. Dazzle.”

Oh no.

Aria's necklace is gone. She shudders and pulls back from the brink of climax as she begins to grow underneath you. Taller, her curves expanding a little quicker than the rest of her, but her already powerful physique swells and thickens even faster as she fixes a focused glare at you. You risk a look at your girlfriend just in time to see her smirk, and she hides something behind her back.

“Really, Addy?” you say, “after all we've been through together, this is the great betrayal?”

“I have no idea what you're talking about, my muse,” she says and winks at you. “Try not to die. Sirens do like to play with their food.”

Aria grabs you and lifts you off of her, holding you like a child as her body stretches bigger on the bed. She tops out at almost seven feet and ripped. She then rolls over, and pins you down instead.

“Like I said,” she chuckles with a hungry glint in her eye. “You're my meat. I'm gonna tenderise your ass.”

“Hey, no fair!” Sonata whines. “When's it gonna be my turn!”

Adagio says, “it's true. I don't mind giving up my spot if you two want to have at it.”

You swallow your panic at the flashbacks of when you first turned Ari and Sonata into amazons, pluck up your courage and say, “you know what? Let's get this over with. All three of you. Emitt! My endurance and earth sense-boost modes!”

“Yes, Dr. Wave.”

A pulsing rhythm of unicorn energy makes you feel alert and fighting fit.

“Necklaces off,” you continue, “let's do this!”

The sirens look at each other, smirk, Adagio and Sonata remove their necklaces and store all three of them carefully in a shielded case, and all three of the Dazzlings all hum softly as they feel their sensitivity enhance. You gird yourself just as the sisters swell up and out.

Before long, you have the shorter of the three (still just shy of seven feet tall) but most muscular, Aria, the 7'2” Sonata and her just beyond fuckable, now extra curvy body, and your Addy, the most balanced in build, but all 7'6 of her.

You chuckle. “I can't believe you're still getting bigger.”

Adagio smirks back. “Well, someone went and repaired our stones and unlocked our magic potential. Just like way back then, Ray, you made your bed enhancing us, now you've gotta sleep in it.”

Aria barks, “less talking, more fucking already!” She slams you into the bed and sits on your hips. You're definitely not escaping now; she's literally flipped a car over in this form before, one handed and with casual effort, because they blocked in the tour van during one of the first gigs.

“I'll take top bunk!” Sonata says and swings her legs over your head, her eager, wet pussy inches from your face as you take a deep breath of her delightfully exotic aroma, that familiar siren scent but amplified. She's even shaved her blue pubic hair into a heart for the occasion.

“Don't worry, my pet, your hands will do for me,” Adagio says, climbs beside you, and kisses your fingers. “Anything dextrous enough to fix a siren's heart of stone is good enough for pleasing the rest of her, right? And, all else fails, I'll have you all to myself later, so try not to worry too much.”

You don't have time to respond as Aria wriggles against you, making you grunt. Sonata then drives her slit into your face and the heart-fuzz tickles your nose. Not the best start, but you're used to fighting back from impossible odds.

First of all, you run your hand down Adagio's perfectly sculpted abs and you hear her utter a soft, “oooh.”

You grunt as Aria slams down on your dick again, and you're once more thankful for that little edge of pain from the impact to stop you enjoying it too much; you need to prove yourself here, damn it!

Second, you begin rubbing your face, lips and tongue on Sonata's labia while wrapping an arm around her hip. You grab a handful of her juicy, soft ass and revel in the pleasured giggle and indulge that subtle acidic and pungent flavour. Still good, still deep and oh-so indulgent.

You reach Adagio's own trimmed love-patch and, to your relief, she guides your hand the rest of the way. You make contact with her wet folds just as Aria hammers home again, and you earn an aroused growl; Aria's still close thanks to your earlier efforts. You just need to hold on a bit longer. Divide and conquer.

You waste no time and plunge your tongue deep into Sonata, and feel the pressure as she clenches around you and finally gives a guttural moan. This just makes her grind against your face harder, streaking your face with her juices. She may not be as strong as her sisters, but she's still a goddess-sized, super strong siren in human form. One accidental pinch of her thighs will crush your skull like a grape.

Kinda hot to think about, actually. Hot and scary. Your relationship in a nutshell with these three.

Not to deprive your girlfriend of her pleasure, you wriggle your fingers to massage her muscular inner walls. You're a little upset you can't give her all your attention, but Aria increases tempo as she fucks you ever harder and you grunt with each impact. The bedsprings squeal louder and louder as her growls gives way to a roar, and if you didn't have a face full of Sonata, you'd laugh as Aria's already fractured facade of indifferent dominance yields to a high, long scream when she hits her climax. Her inner walls clamp down on your dick and almost drive you over the edge.

You moan, loud and hard, into Sonata's snatch. “L- louder!” Sonata squeals. You press your head harder against her for more reach, and lick deep in her cunt, and you must hit her g-spot, even in passing; she trembles and leans forward, her eyes rolled back and a crooked smile on her face as she bites her lip and hits the wall with her palms, cracking it.

Then you rub your nose against her clit, and it's all over. Sonata screams in a powerful, high pitched and almost musical intensity that you swear makes the glassware in the room rattle. Her cunt gushes all over your face.

Two down. You've neglected focusing on Addy enough.

As Aria comes down from her orgasm, and Sonata rolls to one side and rides her peak, you lean over to Adagio, who lounges beside you as you push four fingers inside of her snatch, and keep your thumb outside. You squeeze oh-so-gently, stroke her insides with your skilled fingers, and run your free digit in a lazy circle around her nub.

More than anything, you're glad to see her face so you know she's enjoying herself. Her gentle smile as your eyes meet. Adagio even giggles a little as you face drips with Sonata's love juices. It just makes you more determined as you wipe your mouth dry with your arm, wriggle free of Aria as she also relaxes on the bed, and run your other hand over Adagio's thigh.

Adagio purrs, “oohh... those hands are fucking magical.”

You suddenly feel a firm grip on your dick, look over and see Aria smirking at you. “Guess who else has good hands?”

She doesn't wait for an answer. She peels the condom off and starts stroking your cock.

You grunt and try and focus on Adagio, so Aria being Aria, she fights dirty; you feel her mouth surround your cock, with a little graze of her teeth.

Oh fuck, then she clamps down with her lips and her tongue laps at your balls. It's no good. Maybe if-

Sonata then presses in, sticking her tongue down your throat as you try to work Adagio up, but the rising tide. You shudder, clench up, then you go off with a long, primal groan, shooting your load into Aria's mouth just as the door opens.

Sunset enters, covers her eyes, and says, “oh, fucking hell, guys! The door has a lock!”

Adagio grins and says, “you want in on an encore, Sunset? A little post-tour titillation?”

“I'll pass, thanks,” Sunset replies. “Let me know when you're ready; there's gonna be a chopper landing in ten minutes.” She leaves and shuts the door.

You recover from blowing your load, flop onto the bed and say, “sorry, Addy.”

The trio all cuddle up to you as Adagio replies, “it was fate; the sirens always win eventually.”

You know she's not disappointed. She was complicit in this game, after all. You even know she'll gladly enjoy a more tender, relaxed bout of lovemaking later.

But as you just lounge in blissful, self-imposed and post-nut wisdom of your failure, you can see her expression sink ever so slightly from this lingering funk of hers, and you just hope even more than before that you can pull through on your big surprise.

* * *

Chapter 37: Coda

“You sure you don't want to come with?” Sunset asks. “The private jet's got plenty of room.”

You watch your breath float in the air as the snow begins to settle. The five of you just watch the overcast skies as each flake flutters into the streetlamps for the Clydesdale arena private parking lot.

“We'll be fine,” you say. “I don't want to keep ditching Cruise Control and we've got a room booked at The Equerry hotel. Besides, we might not be back in Canterlot City for a while.”

Sonata looks disappointed. “Aww, for realsies?”

Adagio gives you a raised eyebrow. “That's news to me as well.”

Aria shrugs. “I kinda figured. It's been, what, almost a year since we all reformed The Dazzlings? And I'm gonna be doing some travelling anyway. I kinda got used to touring with Salt-Lix, but now I wanna try my hand at going solo after kicking Rainbow Dash's ass tomorrow.”

Sonata glances at everyone and tears up. “But... but it feels like we've only just got back together!”

“It's not going to be for long, Sonata,” Adagio says and pulls her sister into a hug. “No matter where we go, we'll keep in contact, I swear.”

You nod. “Absolutely. Those new phones you've got have a unique magic-wavelength...” Okay, Ray, you're talking to Sonata here. “They have a special way of keeping in touch, where no distance is too great. It only works via text messages for the moment, but I'll get calls working soon. And we won't be gone that long. A couple of weeks tops. I've tried to keep it so we'll be back when you finish your recording run.”

Sonata reaches for you and you join the hug. As you do, she also gestures for Aria, who rolls her eyes and complies as one big family cuddle.

“You stay in contact too, Ari,” Adagio adds.

“Relax, I will,” Aria says and grins. “Gotta keep you guys up to date how much I've thrashed the Rainbooms alone. The way I see it, every time I crush their mediocre feel-good, easy listening garbage, the worse they'll play when we fight them together at the next battle of the bands.”

Adagio giggles. “I meant what I said back there with that girl. You're the strongest of us three by far, Ari.”

Aria's smile fades a little and she looks to the side. “Maybe, maybe not. Doesn't matter. We've got a dynamic. I doubt I'd be much good as a leader if I'm honest. I still kinda struggle with thinking of others. You and Sonata have that in spades and, no offence sis,” she nods to Sonata before looking at Adagio again, “but having guts, a heart and brains to match is why you're in charge, Dagi.”

Sonata shrugs. “Well, duh! Dagi's even smarter 'cause of Ray. Though who needs brains when you can just, like, act smart!” She clears her throat and pulls away from the hug, and in a scarily accurate adoption of Adagio's voice, says, “Tantra may be fleet of foot, but on this day she will stand her ground and rout our foes in one, well placed stomp. It's just that simple!”

“You've so got range, Sonata,” Adagio says and squeezes Sonata's shoulder. “And never change. You keep us all grounded. Keep us all together.”

Aria cricks her neck. “Ain't that the truth. She certainly keeps you and Ray from going full geek-speak around us idiots.”

You shrug. “Can we just agree that our family is just perfectly rounded for all our oddities and call it a night? I'm freezing my nuts off out here.”

“Eh, I guess,” Aria says. “But yeah, let's get rolling.”

“Yeah, that flight's not gonna wait forever,” Sunset says, then pats Sonata on the shoulder. “And I could always hang out with you. You can tell me about your show and we can watch it together. I could use some time getting to know you anyway.”

“I dunno,” Sonata says, unsure.

You add, “I think you'll get on fine, if you give her a chance, Sonata. C'mon, for me?”

Sonata sighs, “fine,” and finally relents.

Adagio finishes. “Go kick some ass, you two. The Dazzlings are superior together, but make sure everyone knows that we deserve adoration alone.”

Sunset blows into her cupped hands and rubs them as Sonata and Aria climb inside the chopper. She then turns to Adagio and says, “so, I'll see you both later. Stay out of trouble, okay?”

Adagio steps forward and offers her hand. “No guarantees, but the same goes for you. I won't forget what I did to you that night.”

“And I'll keep telling you to forget it,” Sunset replies and shakes Adagio's hand, then pulls her in and puts her arms around her. “If you're that sore about it, just keep doing what you're doing; you make a good role model, and I never thought I'd say that. Hell, you'd make a good hero if you didn't always feel the need to be smugly superior to everyone around you.”

Your girlfriend shrugs. “How else will I inspire others to step up and stop being crappy without such a shining example of being the best?”

“Don't you mean a Dazzling example?”

Sunset and Adagio both give you a look.

You shrug and continue, “what?”

With that awkwardness over, you step back as Sunset enters the chopper next to the pilot, closes the door and, with a whirr of the engines and the snow being whipped around hard enough it blinds you for a moment, they take off. You see Sonata tearfully wave at you through the glass, with Aria giving a single nod, and you wave back as they fly towards the airport.

You then wrap your arm around Adagio's shoulders and head for the limo, where Cruise Control, a sombre man but patient and affable, opens the doors for you to enter, then climbs in and drives off.

The roads are still a mess, but you're glad for the privacy as you make slow progress to the hotel.

Adagio removes her coat and leans her head on your shoulder, briefly checks her phone for any messages, then just sits in silence.

You ask, “a bit for your thoughts?”

She looks at you with those gorgeous raspberry eyes and forces a smile. “I'm fine. Just tired, that's all.”

That's not gonna fly with you. “C'mon, Addy. Talk to me.”

“I guess I'm still dealing with the fact that while we're a family again, the Dazzlings won't be together all the time. Being alone was great for them both; Sonata's gained a lot of maturity and wisdom despite how she's still so like her old self. I never imagined she would take to normal life so well.”

“Yeah, she's not traditionally smart, but common sense? You've got to be proud of her for that.”

Adagio nods. “I am. I couldn't be more proud. Not to mention she caught into this whole friendship and togetherness thing way before I even considered how powerful it would make us. Like I said, she's wiser than even she realises. And Aria's taken to music in a way only a siren can. We could always weaponise our voices, and she's just taking that concept to a whole new level. I think she's honestly going to turn her guitar into the very tool that will let us win against the Rainbooms.”

“Considering taking up an instrument then? Like Ari recommended?”

“Maybe. I wouldn't know what to play. I certainly don't have any drive or inspiration right now. If I didn't have you, I'd probably hit the bottle again. I guess it's also the fact that... well, I just still don't really feel like I belong here, in this world. Like having that brief taste of Equestrian life has made this place even less bearable.”

You cuddle her closer and kiss her on the cheek as she once more just sighs and gets lost in her thoughts. You have to agree; despite the drama, despite all the chaos, life over there just felt right. But right now, you need to cheer up your lover here and now.

Guess you might as well get the anniversary stuff rolling before she makes good on that threat of alcohol.

You reach into you coat and pull out a long, slim jewellery box. “I was going to save this for when we got home, or maybe the hotel, but screw it. Happy anniversary, minus four days, Addy.”

She breaks from her maudlin mood and looks at the box, smiles at you more earnestly, and opens it.

Inside, on a braided golden chain, is a panelled necklace with a recess for her stone. The plated gold features intricately detailed versions of the sirens' true forms, with their eyes in their respective colours of precious gems, and little stylised ponies in the corners.

“It's beautiful,” Adagio says as she marvels at it. “Surprisingly so, if you made it.”

You can't help but pout. “Hey, what's that supposed to mean?”

“No offence, Ray, your future-tech minimalist style works for Radwave gear, but this is genuinely pretty.”

Just take the win, Radian. “And that's just the outside. Put your stone in it.”

She gives you a surprised look, removes her necklace, carefully extracts the stone from it and places the gem in your gift. The recess whirs softly as a tiny mechanism pulls it inside and clamps it in place.

“What is this?” Adagio asks.

“That, my love, is a voice activated, magically shielding control system. Put it on.”

She fastens the chain around her neck, then adjusts it for comfort.

“Emitt, link with the control module,” you say, wait for a confirmation chirp, then add, “close the shield.”

The necklace's recess covers fully with a metal panel, and after a moment of confusion, Adagio shudders and starts to grow.

Before she gets too big, you say, “Emitt, open the shield.”

As if she was touching her stone again, she shrinks back. “So I can shift styles on command? Like an on-off switch?”

“More than that, it should protect the stone from outside forces,” you add, “I also theorise that will be able to give you access to your powers in pony form without changing into a full siren, though naturally you'll still be able to do so on command if you desire. It can't do it yet, because I need to study your stone when over there, under Equestrian magic forces and your own connection to it. Also whether the necklace has the right levels of shielding and whatever. It'll need a bunch of fine-tuning; there's plenty we still don't know about what the stone does to you, physically and psychologically, but the control necklace is functional and active.”

Adagio chuckles. “You never stop creating, do you?”

“Driven, determined and more, as you've always said,” you reply and wink at her. “But speaking of Equestria, now that the tour's over and Radwave is working with some automation, we can go back on our anniversary. I've got it all ready with Twilight so we'll get a warm welcome.”

Adagio finally seems to perk up. “That I can get behind. Well, less the warm welcome; I'd rather settle in with a bit less fame. I've had my fill of that here.”

You scratch your chin. “For a siren that used to live to be adored and nothing else? That's a little surprising, but I kinda figured something like that was wrong.”

She sighs. “I think what I went through, both in terms of my fall, when I was attacked and even our trip to Equestria, has kinda broken that part of me. I enjoy singing, and I don't mind the fame we've earned as the Dazzlings because we've done the hard work, but everything feels tinged by those events. Even going to Equestria, I feel like I'm walking into a role rather than conquering it on my own desires.”

“If you've been given a role, it's one you deserve,” you say and hold her closer. “You remember what Applejack and Rarity said, right? They came to like you for who you were. Not the siren, not the pony or the singer, just Adagio Dazzle. Besides, I doubt they're just gonna fawn over you over there. Once the welcome wagon passes, we can live our best lives and take it from there.”

“I guess,” she says and nods, then smiles at you. “I can't wait. Just gotta get through these next four days, huh?”

You laugh. “Try not to make it sound like spending four days alone with me's gonna be torture or something, Addy.”

She looks shocked. “Wait, no! I didn't mean it like that.”

“I'm fucking with you! Relax! You're really worrying me now. This isn't like you at all.”

Adagio looks tense as she says, “I can't help but keep thinking of how everything seems too perfect. Like I'm going to wake up and everything's fucked up and gone to ruin. I've gone from not knowing what I am and just living in the moment as a siren, to not knowing what I even was as a human girl, to a siren again with a goal of recovering what I had, back to a human with the awareness to know that I'd fucked up but with no way out, to-”

“Hey,” you interrupt and kiss her on the neck, then stroke her indulgent curls. “You're one of the most powerful people in both worlds. You're a respected peer of the future ruler of Equestria. You're the caring, brilliant sister to a pair of remarkable women. You're a world famous singer. You're my girlfriend and soulmate. We're making strides every day to make sure that, if any one of those things happens to fail, you'll have more support and connections to protect you than ever before. We're preparing for the future, Adagio, and no matter what happens, I want to make sure you never have to worry about losing anything again. Even if something does happen in one world, the other will look after you.”

She purses her lips but remains quiet as you just hold her tightly.

After a long wait, the limo finally gains speed as the traffic jam abates, and you're on the way to the hotel.

It's a grand establishment, some hundred years old and famous for only taking bookings from the famous and wealthy, which you guess fits both of you these days. You tell Cruise Control you may not need him tomorrow and that you'll message him if that's the case. It hardly seems like the most out-there request he's had from a client. Then you head inside the hotel.

You order room service rather than head into the restaurant, and before long, you're in the suite, where Adagio notably relaxes as she changes into her nightwear and you enjoy a meal of fancy lobster subs as you just relax and enjoy the quiet. She's so relaxed that you're not surprised when, as you tamper with Emitt for your next anniversary gift, you feel her hands slide over your shoulders and into your shirt, the little scratch of her nails followed by her soft lips on your neck, then cheek.

You ask, “feeling a little better then?”

“Kinda,” she whispers into your ear. “Though mostly I'm curious what you're up to.”

“Just routine maintenance,” you lie.

“Oh really?” she purrs. “Funny, I don't remember 'silica-based aperture cohesion destabilisation' programs being part of Emitt's 'routine' maintenance.”

Ah. Well, you picked a really bad day to forget that Adagio's clever. It's been so long since you just talked magic and tech with her. At least that's your excuse.

Which isn't an excuse.

“Are you going to come clean, or am I going to have to sing an answer out of you?”

It's not ready... you need to stall for time.

So you do the only thing you can; you put Emitt down, twist around, and kiss her deeply on the lips. You then stand and gently push her onto the bed.

She seems resistant at first, her eyes challenging you, but as your hands caress her hips, her lower back and gently undo her bra and she gives in. She undoes your belt and you let your pants slip to the floor, then you finally end the kiss.

Adagio climbs in bed, smirks and says, “for a guy who just got sucked dry by my sisters, you're still going, huh?”

“I love them both, but I'm not in love with them,” you say and sidle up beside her. “You of all people should know that. We can play games, we can have fun, but it won't mean anything as strong compared to what you mean to me.”

“And this translates to perpetual, endless and unsurpassed libido?”

“For you? Maybe.”

“Maybe?” She giggles.

Goddamn it, you're fumbling. Play it cool. “... okay, I'd have to rely on some technological boosts, but-”

“I'll take maybe,” Adagio says and pulls you on top of her. “Maybe's good. Certainty's overrated and boring.”

“That's rich, coming from someone who believes in the inescapable binds of fate, no?” You move lower and gently rest your head against her soft, perfect breasts.

“Fate's for big things,” Adagio says and sighs as you nuzzle, lick and taste her bosom. “Transcendent moments. Losing my powers, alienating, rekindling and reinforcing the relationship with my sisters, meeting you, recovering my powers and becoming so much more than I ever imagined I would be. That's fate.” She tilts your head to face her, then kisses the top of your forehead. “These moments? This is where things get unclear and exciting. Like what you're going to do to me first; are we going to go gently or hard?”

“Do you have any commands, my mistress?”

“Pfft, my commands are for idiots and weaklings,” she says and lounges. “Surprise me, my muse.”

“Very well,” you say and stroke her hair, slowly climb on top of her, and take one of her hands in yours.

You run your thumb over her hand, and feel the delicate bones under the surface, the smoothest damn skin. You then coax her fingers apart and weave yours between them. The little tensing of her arm as she squeezes your digits back. You then get closer and closer, until you feel her breath on your face.

And simply cuddle her.

Adagio says, “huh... really?”

You nod and squeeze her. “I may not know the absolute depths of what's wrong. I have some ideas, but I bet it's not the sort of thing sex will help. Comfort, however? That feels closer to the mark.”

She laughs softly. “Yeah, I guess so. But I do want to make one change. Emitt, shield my gem, and give me an earth signal... low power, let's say ten percent.”

“Yes, Ms. Dazzle.”

Adagio sighs as her new necklace shrouds her stone with its mechanisms, leaving it a plain, if still very pretty, piece of jewellery. You feel her tremble slightly as the earth energy works its magic with her, and she says, “so, how long until Emitt can hold a conversation?”

“I'm not sold on the idea. Every time I think of some new feature, I worry about how it might be exploited. I'll stick to honing its voice recognition and commands until I settle on an a final goal. Did you know this world's Twilight invented a robot dog to keep Spike, her own one, company? I heard about it from Sunset. I'll have to collaborate with her at some point and get her opinion.”

“I wonder if she'll impress as much as Equestria's Twilight?” Adagio sighs and smirks as her body grows.

“I doubt it,” you say. “She's a genius, but she's not got that edge.”

You may not have carnal pleasure on the cards, but you love feeling her body shift all the same. The way her already toned body, something she's been doing in her down time thanks to Aria's pointers for exercise, thickens out and becomes powerfully built, but just as indulgently feminine. How her breasts push against your chest as they, too, swell. The way her legs push beyond your feet and her arms reach farther and farther around your body. Before long, you're being cuddled by your goddess, nestle your head between her warm, silky smooth breasts, and just enjoy holding each other until sleep overtakes you both.

* *

While comfortable and you get a few hours of sleep, you're still troubled by Adagio's downtrodden mood. Once you stir awake, you decide to act. It takes a little while until she releases you, and you climb out of bed, put on your pants and sit down at and check over Emitt's sensor log. You're missing something, and it's infuriating that you can't figure out what, but you'll get there. You refuse any more sleep until you do; Adagio's happiness is at stake. You don't even care she only has to wait a few more days, you're doing this tonight.

You feel a vibration in the floor, and turn around as Adagio rubs her eyes as she sits on the side of the bed, the frame creaking under her weight. “Everything okay?” she asks.

“I guess,” you say. “Just working on... something.”

“Can we stop hiding things from each other, Ray? It's getting old.”

“It'll be easier if I show you.”

You raise Emitt towards a wall mounted mirror and fire. The reflection distorts and fades as an aperture forms with a subtle hum, there's a low flash of light, then it fades. Again. For like the fiftieth fucking time.

Adagio's eyebrows rise. “Was that a portal?”

“Got it in one. Too bad it only opens for about half a second before it collapses, and I have no idea why.” You sit down at the dining table and take a sip of leftover bottled water from room service.

Adagio approaches, and your frustration is abated by your endless amusement girlfriend's resounding footfalls. She really is a goddess, and the ground should tremble at her strides.

She says, “Emitt, close the shield.”

“Yes, Ms. Dazzle.”

With a shudder, Adagio's size reduces back to her classic look. She picks up your coat, wraps it around herself, and sits next to you.

“So how long have you been working on making your own portals to Equestria? And why?”

“Ever since I got readings from Sunset's journal and also heard Twilight uses its companion book as both a power source and a sort of entanglement tuner for the mirror portal. It's been a long work in progress that I've only recently managed to actually open the aperture. As for why? Well, why not? We can't afford to be tied to going through CHS's statue entry point, nor lucking out and finding a wild portal. If Equestria needs help, we need to be able to respond no matter where we are. It just needs sufficient silica, like sand or glass, and we can make an aperture.”

Adagio yawns and ruffles her messy, half-flattened and half-poofy hair. “Wait, where would this portal even go? I thought we already established these things require an string-point counterpart; our statue, their mirror, the two journals, that quick-sand and cave near Ponyville Sunset mentioned, et-cetera?”

“I love it when you talk scientific,” you chuckle. “Yes, you're right. Just as my portal is a vague point near a source of collected magic in the form of Emitt, I've been using-”

“The old emitter?” Adagio finishes. “Localised entanglement of similar projected field. Huh. So it wouldn't even need a physical exit point. Clever.”

“Not clever enough...” you sigh. “Something's collapsing the field. I was wondering if it's the lack of a physical exit point, but then it wouldn't appear at all. It's something else.”

“It's magic.”

“Well, obviously, but-”

“No, no, literally,” Adagio says as she rubs your shoulder. “You're opening a doorway into a world with considerably more magic than this world. So much, it's going to interfere with-”

Like a bolt of fucking lightning! You leap to your feet and yell, “the aperture projection!”

This changes everything! You sit down again, pick up a notepad and pen, and begin writing and recalculating.

“We need to find a way to protect the projection...”

“Right, but Ray, listen-”

“... I could prospectively apply a second field, a shielding harmonic? Something that blocks resonance...”

“Ray, stop for a second, would yo-”

“... but I couldn't possibly be able to protect it without knowing the signal coming through the aperture, and I'd need an extended quantity of magic to scan to make a counter-projection...”

“Oh, for fuck sake, Ray, I'm warning-”

“... yet I could cycle through each block of signals in turn. Theoretically each would only need a broad slice of about three point two her-”

“RAY!! STOP!!”

Your mind swims... so still and blissful. “Yes mistress....”

Adagio pinches your arm, snapping you out of her spell. “You done?”

Ow, fuck, you've bitten your tongue too. “What? What's wrong?”

Adagio's got a scowl on her face. “You were doing that weird, sticky-out tongue thing and ignoring me. Shut up and listen a second.”

“... Sorry, I got a little carried away.”

“No shit,” Adagio says and giggles. “Seems to me that the best way to counter a surge of magical energy is to project our own, no? Can't Emitt multitask?”

“I've tried that before; the aperture signal is too intensive, focused and specific to allow any other signals going the same way. I'd need a second emitter.” You scratch your head. “It would take me a couple of days to make another one... damn it, we should have gone back to Canterlot City so I could access my lab.”

“I could just, y'know, sing a blast of magic at it. We don't need fancy signals, we just need a secondary force that just pushes the magic back and push it back through. I mean, I'd need to be careful; if I mistime my song, I'll take out a wall.”

Your jaw goes slack. “That's brilliant. Why didn't I think of that?”

Adagio winks at you. “I think someone's forgetting who they're talking to. Adagio Dazzle? You know, the girl who turned out to have a pretty good head on her shoulders thanks to being inspired to use it by a certain somebody? I think it was that rich kid, oh what's his name? Oh, it's on the tip of my tongue.”

You chuckle and squeeze her knee. “Sorry! You know me, I still get wrapped up in working alone a lot.”

She hugs you. “So, are we going to Equestria or not?”

You nod and pick up your phone, then send Cruise Control a message to get your stuff from the room and head home. You also sent a message to the hotel that you want to check out and to give Cruise access, as well as pay an early cancellation fee. Then you put Emitt's holster on, a properly fashioned army-strong kevlar strap and armoured case.

Adagio takes a long swig of water and tunes up her voice, going through several pitches that make the room hum, your mind haze over before she says, “want to open that portal again? I need to get the timing down.”

You obey, and she watches as your finger pulls the trigger, the mirror fading and distorting, then the aperture opening, then it closing. You do this a few times before she nods.

“Once I start singing, just walk forward, slowly and smoothly. Let's do this,” she says and walks beside you, and takes a deep breath.

When you pull the trigger, she belts out a long, sustained note that's visible as a cone of magic, wreathed in red energy. The portal stays open! It's working!

You both walk forward slowly, and enter the aperture.

Everything swirls.

Gravity shifts.

Stillness in motion.

And you crash land on the other side.

“Ow, my butt!” Adagio says.

You try to get off the floor, and notice the strange feeling. Grass... but not on your skin, but fur. You raise your arms... forelegs, and see blue hooves.

A wide, open night sky extends above you, interrupted by quaint, thatched roof cottages in more haphazard placement than any city, like a little village that grew in size with no typical city planning. No cars, no engine roar, just the sound of crickets chirping in the distance, the gentle sound of grass waving in the uninterrupted breeze, the faintest and distant sound of occasional clopping.

You're back in Equestria!

“Warning, ambient magic levels reaching one hundred passive particles per square inch. Equestria level strength,” Emitt says, just to confirm.

You let your brain shift gears, roll over and get your legs beneath you and see Emitt on the ground. You reach with your hoof, chuckle at your lack of digits, and focus your mind. Your belongings glow amber as you pick them up with telekinesis. You'd forgotten how good and natural using this power felt.

“Warning, strong magical signature detected. Source: unicorn magic. Subtype: telekinesis.”

“Emitt, disable live-scanning verbalisations.”

“Chime mode activated.”

You make sure Emitt's properly holstered, then watch Adagio as she climbs to her hooves as well. Once more, your goddess earth mare girlfriend is a pony, but she's only about as big as you are, and as slim. Your eye is drawn to her necklace, and you can see the small vestigial scales around what would be her scar underneath it.

“Well, this is weird,” Adagio says, then winces as her stone begins to glow, and brightly. “Ray, what's happening?”

“Hay, I forgot; the stone still wants to be part of you. Emitt, close off the stone.”

Once more, the necklace closes off the gem, and Adagio's body rapidly swells in the presence of all the delicious Equestrian magic to her full size in mere moments. She rolls her neck and her muscles flex under her golden coat.

She sighs with relief. “That was close, and this certainly feels more natural.”

“One of a few things we need to work on,” you say and sit down so you can shrug. “Once we know the exact forces involved between you and your stone, I can fine-tune levels that should allow you to use your siren powers at will. Not to mention refine the portal program so we don't need to risk you turning into a siren on arrival if we need you to sing another aperture open, but anyway, we're here!”

“Here being... where, exactly?”

“We should be in Ponyville. I assume so, anyway, since Twilight should still be living here, and she has my old emitter. We should be within a few hundred feet of it, at any rate.”

You both look around, and assume that just as it was in the early hours of the morning back home, it seems to be the same here. A couple of lights are on in the simple windows around the town, but nopony else seems to be immediately around, besides the very faint sound of hooffalls in the distance.

“So, what do we do first?” Adagio paces about, restless. “Go and find Twilight?”

“Nah, we can surprise her tomorrow. I had three gifts in store for our anniversary. The first was the Radwave network to give you and your sisters energy on command. That should work here, and I can tap into it with Emitt and your necklace, although I suspect the yield will be greatly reduced. The second was the portal program we just used. The third? Your Equestrian dream home.”

She smiles wider than you've seen in months and does an adorable little happy dance on the spot with a clip-clop of her hooves on the cobblestones. “Really? My bar? It's ready!?”

“Hopefully,” you say and nod. “The final touches were being prepared going by what Sunset told me last time we discussed Equestria a few days ago. We just need to find it, although I know it's close to Rarity's boutique, which should be a big, carousel-like building that should stand out. Let's have a look around.”

You wander the streets of Ponyville, getting used to four legged walking again. One, four, two, three. One, four, two, three... like riding a bicycle! You both quickly pick up the rhythm and it become second nature in moments, then move up to a trot.

At one corner, in the distance, you see what you know is Twilight's abode. A weird, crystalline building that's somewhere between a castle and a tree, and appropriately huge for royalty.

“Wow, that place really clashes with the town aesthetic, doesn't it?” Adagio says and tilts her head.

“Right? I heard Twilight used to live in a tree-house library combination. Golden Oak, I think it was called? This was before she was a princess. A shame; that sounded really cosy.”

A bit farther on, you both hear a cascade of water, and head towards the source. You see a grand building on top of a few artificial waterfalls, filling a moat-like structure with stepping stones. It has a symbol remarkably similar to Twilight's cutie mark in a place of prominence high on the front in a couple of spots, but the most obvious one also has six little coloured stones around the points.

“And that would be the former school of friendship,” you say, going by memory.

“Oh, right, I remember you mentioning it. It's just a normal school now, right?”

“It's that and sort of an embassy. Ponies and other the other races go here to get educated on societal norms here and in other nations if they plan to travel. It also means we're going the wrong way, since I also seem to remember that Twilight said Rarity's place the other side of Ponyville. C'mon, let's keep moving.”

You move side by side, and it's almost romantic just walking the streets with Adagio. You keep exchanging glances, and it's not even funny how much happier she looks as she glances here and there with wonder, taking in the sights. With good reason, you guess; this is going to be your home away from home. Maybe even your main home, eventually; you admit, her enthusiasm is infectious and the rugged utilitarian modern ways of the human world seem so false compared to this quaint, cosy town. Even your apartment, your actual residence in the human world, barely feels 'right'.

Make no mistake, it's a really nice apartment in the same neck of the woods as Sonata, but you're almost never there. You're usually at the Radwave factory outside of town, and naturally Adagio was often on tour. You've maybe spent a few days actually just getting the apartment set up before you started bouncing between work, meetings and catching whatever shows you could of the Mistress tour.

You pass by several ponies, most looking tired and just taking in the air. They give you and Adagio funny looks, but they all wave and casually greet you. A far cry from the 'look at me and I'll punch you' attitude you're used to in human cities.

Finally, you see Rarity's place. A large, circular building with pony figures in the windows, all wearing assorted clothing from simple yet refined all the way to elaborate and wildly elaborate. It's on the edge of town, and in the distance you can see Applejack's farm way down the road.

“Okay, that's the boutique, but where's... ah-hah!” You trot over to your new home.

It's a long building, two floors, in a similar style of construction as the others in the town, with a thatched roof and those old-timey, wood beam walls of which you forget the name. The ground level is all designed to be the juice bar Adagio wanted, with the living space on the second floor, and she looks at it with wide, awe-struck smile.

The sign over the door reads, “Always Sunny.”

You approach and test the door with your magic, but obviously the happy-go-lucky vibes of Equestria got the better of you as you expected most ponies wouldn't worry too much about security. The place is locked tight.

“Damn it,” you say and grumble.

“What's wrong?” Adagio asks.

“We're going to need a key to get in,” you continue and start heading back towards Twilight's castle. “I was hoping not to have to disturb Twilight and keep our appearance a surprise, but I guess-”

There's a loud crack of wood. You spin about and Adagio's glancing about innocently while her muzzle scrunches up and she pulls a face. She's facing away from the door, now half-kicked off its hinges, with a conspicuously Adagio sized hoofprint on the shattered lock. The door then collapses inward.

“... it was stuck, that's all.” she says, still wrinkling her muzzle.

You snicker. “Right. Stuck. No patience with you sometimes, is there?”

With the way clear, you head inside. You do make an attempt to close the door, forcing it back in place with your magic, before turning around and taking in the interior, but it's too dark.

You fumble around via star and moonlight, and find a couple of lanterns. Then you locate some matches, strike one, spark the wick of the old fashioned light and hover it near Adagio so she can take in the room.

She winks at you, says, “thanks,” then wanders the big, open floor space. There's a bar, complete with barrels, bottles, taps and more ready for use. There's a stack of short stools, low tables in one corner, carpets rolled up ready for placement, and a stage beside the bar itself, with a fairly high tech looking sound system decoratively hidden on the back wall, with a standing microphone and stage lighting that just needs fitting.

She climbs on top of the stage, and you can see it already; she belongs there. Her presence fills the room, despite the size of the space. You can already see her envisioning the bar filled with patrons as she looks wall to wall at the bar, her eyes go wet and she sings a familiar tune, now filled with joy;

“Does deceit hit my eyes? It's like I'm hypnotised,

But I know all of this to be true,

A place all of my own, not as grand as a throne,

But the potential is vibrant and new!

Humble starts, took in stride, in for such a fun ride,

Endless dreams that we'll both see on through,

Equestria now awaits, so no matter our fates,

The important part is I'm with you!

So let's open up our eyes,

Every dawn, a new surprise,

As our paths now branch off evermore unending~!

And for every wondrous sight,

It's now bathed in golden light,

As we move on, souls together, now ascending~!

As one...”

You sit on your haunches and applaud with your front hooves. “The acoustics are almost as good as your voice, but then again, nothing can compare with that.”

Adagio bows, complete with a dainty raise of a foreleg. “Thank you. I don't know what to say!” She looks around again and wipes here yes on her foreleg. “I can't wait until everything's in place so we can break it in and make it a truly ours! It's perfect!”

She hops off the stage and pulls you in with her forelegs to hug you, and you reply, “I couldn't disappoint you, right? Between Applejack's building knowhow, Rarity's choice of décor and Twilight financing the place, I wanted to make sure it was ready for you.”

“Twilight's paying for it?”

“Sure, and to compensate her, I've set aside a nice war-chest for her if she ever visits the human world for any emergencies. I may already be paying Sunset, but I wanted to make sure if anything happened that needed Twi's attention in the human world, she'd have access to my resources, and that includes a her own bank account. Come on, there's more to see.”

Next on the tour, you head upstairs into the living space. It's a bit more modest, but no less amazing; two bedrooms, a bathroom with a luxurious two-pony sized bath, a living room and a combined dining room/kitchen space as well as walk-in storage. Again, the furnishings are there, but not in place just yet.

Adagio says, “I can tell we're going to be happy here. Hay, I doubt I'm going to want to leave if we're not careful!”

“Well, we're going to be here for a couple of weeks at least, at least until Sonata finishes her recording for her show and Aria does her charity tour. We'll have plenty of time to get the place nice and comfy, then we can see about getting them introduced here, then with their siren stones and that'll be that. The sirens will be officially repatriated to Equestria for the first time in centuries.”

Adagio grins as you both look at the bed, the only thing that's in the right place and is even made properly. “Don't get me wrong,” Adagio says, “I like the big, luxury bed we've got at the apartment, but this looks so much more comfortable.” She looks at the top, then bends her head low, leaving her haunches raised, and wiggles her rump about as she takes a suspicious amount of time looking underneath.

Oh. Oh wow.

That goddamn ass!

And the more you focus on it, the more you realise how everything's basically on display, besides the poofy tail obscuring some of the view. You wonder if, like the language side of Equestria, there's some innate magical filter that prevents you noticing certain... details despite-

Adagio just winked at you.

And you can't see her face.

Her pony-parts just winked at you. The darker skin exposed from her golden coat. The round hole and a long teardrop-like slit beneath. It's different, that's for sure, but you're only leaning on your physiology a little; you want to be in there. You have a mighty goddamn need!

“I think we could try this bed out... right here, right now,” Adagio says in the sexiest fucking voice, hot damn. “Might as well let the neighbours know what they're in for, hmm?”

This time, she does turn and wink at you as she continues to slowly sway her massive, thickly built rump, her tail swaying farther to-and-fro to keep enticing you in.

She continues, “I believe I did swear we'd go at it like a couple of animals when we were last in Equestria, right? How about you show me that 'horn' of yours, stud?”

“Yes'm,” you manage as she rests her forequarters on the bed and wiggles her rump.

You approach, feel a natural compulsion take over as you rear up on your hind legs, extend your forelegs, fall forward and go to mount her.

Only to discover her impressive size means all you've managed to do is hug her giant ass. Which is great, make no mistake, you could cuddle her thick, meaty butt for hours, especially with easy access to her poofy tail for extra comfort, but there's no way you're going to be able to actually... well, reach the fun-parts with your own. Licking would be fine, but that wouldn't be the most animal way of doing it, would it?

She giggles and asks, “need a hoof there, Ray?”

“... would you?”

Adagio ducks down, and pushes into you, scooping you onto her back. She then stands, lifting you clear off the ground, turns around and you're flung onto the bed with a flick of her hips.

She then promptly sits on you with a giggle. “Work for it, my muse!”

So heavy. So lusciously heavy! If you could breathe, it would be amazing. You instinctively wrestle free, knocking pillows on the floor, and turn to her as she suddenly lifts her rump up, and continues her attack.

Earning you a muzzle full of her flaring, wet lips.

And she earns your horn.

She goes bolt rigid, whinnies and screams, “wrong hole!!”

You dare not move as your horn's most of the way up her ass, and you can't say anything since you have a muzzle half-embedded in her cooch.

Adagio gasps as she slowly steps forward and pulls herself free. “Okay,” she says with a slight, bestial nicker and eyes as wide as saucers. “Maybe we can try butt-stuff another day?”

“Walk before we run. Check,” you reply. “Okay, less horsing around and more gently feeling each other out, I think.”

“Right! Sorry... I got a bit carried away.” Adagio backs up to the bed once more, and lifts her tail. You once again feel the compulsion come over you to mount her, and follow the instincts. It feels so right, especially with you standing on the bed to compensate for the size difference.

You reach down with a foreleg to guide yourself in, and... damn, ponies may be smaller than humans by your estimates, but apparently some parts aren't subject to that reduction. You feel huge.

Once you lift your dick up, and lean heavily on Adagio's back (with her tail acting as a comfortable cushion), you finally make contact.

“Ooh,” Adagio coos. “That's... different.”

You grunt softly and slowly ease your way in with short, rhythmic thrusts, each with a light grunt and a wet, slick squelch.

She moans. “You feel so big! I love it!”

Those are some magic words right there. That'll put the fire in the heart of any guy. Especially when you're not even all the way in yet.

Her moans escalate to cries as you inch forward, two thirds the way in as you lean back and shove in with one final thrust with a wet, loud 'plap'.

“Aahh! Oh my! What the hay!?” Adagio says and squirms. “Is that your hoof or something!?”

“Nope,” you grunt and bite your lip as Adagio's shifting teases your length. “Pure unicorn meat.” And you were worried about the size difference... fate obviously has other plans, because if anything, you're worried you might hurt her.

She glances over her shoulder in disbelief, then laughs. “Rut me like you mean it, big boy! I'm a tough mare! I can take it all!”

You need no further encouragement. You hook your forelegs into the point of her hips and buck like the wild bronco you are! It's so weird, so wild, so fucking hot.

You feel perfectly shaped to please your pony goddess as you pull out further and further each thrust to enhance the impact, yet still don't fall out; each thrust takes your whole body to get the most out of it, and her inner walls begin to massage your cock, clenching and teasing with each pass.

You don't even care about the lack of protection. The wild instinct might even prefer it if her old desires for foals still ring true. You just don't care, and neither does she. It's all about this moment, as your senses are filled with Adagio; her scent, the feel of her body beneath you, the gutteral moans as she cries out with each massive thrust of your big dick. You're a stud, a stallion, a mighty male!

“Yes! Yes! Harder!!” Adagio screams. She scoops a pillow with a foreleg in front of her and bites it, snorting like a beast. Drooling. Her eyes rolling back as she loses all sense of self. She's a willing mare, ready to be bred!

It may be the simplest way to mate... have sex with your girlfriend, but it's all new to both of you, and you can feel yourself edging, your exotic form clench, and you loose a full whinny as you blow your load inside her. Your ears ring, your body tingles and you ride the climax, but as a matter of pride, you still don't stop thrusting, and it's just in time as you start to lose the apex of your excitement, Adagio squeals so loudly it hurts your ears.

She stands upright, tearing the pinned pillow apart with her teeth with a shower of downy feathers and fabric. You hold on for dear life as Adagio lifts you, still buried deep inside her, off the bed and staggers about, eventually thumping against the wall to stop herself falling over. She gasps for breath, panting and whimpering from the intensity of what you just did to her, and-

The bedroom door opens.

You both freeze as three familiar ponies all stare at your pony ride.

“Adagio!?” gasps-

“Rarity!?” Adagio balks as you exclaim-

“Twilight!?” as she reels and-

“R- Radian!?” Twilight's stammers.

“Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie finishes.

The silence is unbearable as Rarity and Twilight blush, though Pinkie just stares for a moment, then giggles. “Well, somepony's been having fun!”

You're softening by the second, and hold on for dear life, but eventually slip off and land on the bed, then bounce off, onto the floor with a comedic thud.

Rarity clears her throat and says, “we are so sorry! We thought you were burglars or something! I was awoken by the sound of cracking wood, and came to investigate! Then I distinctly heard somepony say about 'breaking in' or somesuch! So I immediately went to get Twilight.”

Twilight continues, “and I heard your emitter detect a magic surge nearby, so I was already awake and trying to work out what it was! When Rarity came knocking, we partnered up to see what was going on, but then we ran into Pinkie.”

“And I saw the light and said to myself, 'Pinkie Pie, either that's that mean ol' Radian trying to avoid your super secret housewarming party planning, or it's an equally mean burglar in need of a party cannon out the window so they don't ruin your super secret housewarming party planning!' And now you're here! So, let's get this party starte-”

“Pinkie, it's three in the morning,” Twilight says and rolls her eyes. “Can't it wait until tomorrow?”

“Right, sorry!” Pinkie replies.

Rarity asks, “all the same, Dagi, what are you doing here this soon? We weren't expecting you for a few more days.”

“Testing my Ray of sunshine's portal technology,” Adagio responds, “and I guess springing a surprise early visit.”

“You never stop creating, do you?” Twilight says and winks at you.

You can't help but give Adagio a quick, knowing look. “Sorry if it's improper. I was just trying to get it to work, but I figured a few extra days couldn't hurt. It's great to be back!”

Twilight nods and says, “I can't wait to introduce you to everyone, but I don't want to overly intrude in your time here so you can hopefully live your best pony life.”

Rarity balks, “p- pony life? I thought we weren't ever going to mention that ever again! One batch of Pinkie's 'mystery herb' brownies and a shared fever dream is enough for me. If I start throwing up gems again, I don't know what I'll do!”

Pinkie shrugs. “I dunno, it was fun everyone living in the wackier, lazier looking version of Sugarcube corner. The balloons, and Fluttershy constantly growing huge for some reason, and Discord sounded all weird, and the future travelling stuff!”

You whisper to Adagio, “any idea what they're talking about?”

“A bad experiment, I think,” she replies. “Look, sorry about springing the surprise on you, and I think even I admit I'm looking forward to meeting everypony at a party, but it's getting late and I'd like to spend a little more private time with Ray.”

“Say no more,” Twilight said, “just glad to see you both again. Come on, girls, let's leave the happy couple. We'll swing by again tomorrow morning! Have a good night.”

“Well, it is kinda morning now,” Pinkie says and produces a box from... somewhere, and holds it out with her forelegs. “Allow me to present my better-than-ever breakfast fudge as the first housewarming gift!”

You try to ignore your scientific curiosity as to where she keeps producing these things despite the lack of pockets, or even clothing, and reply, “that's kind of you.”

You open the box, only to find it's full of brightly coloured confetti. “Uh, Pinkie? I think there's some sort of mistake.”

She blinks her big blue eyes at the box and frowns. “That's weird. If that's the case, what did I put in the party cannon?” She approaches a cabinet, then kicks the door with a her hind leg, and steps aside as it opens.

Said cannon to falls out aimed at you. And blasts you out the window in a barrage of breakfast fudge.

You land hard on the street. You roll to a stop, stand, dazed and confused, staggering. You're seeing stars. Or birds. Or... griffons?

“Uhh... oops?” Pinkie says.

“Ray! Are you alright!?” Adagio calls out of the broken window.

“I think so,” you reply and loose a mad-scientist cackle, then you lose sensation in your... everything. “I think I... I need a nap...”

And you promptly black out.

The End

For now...

Author's Note

At long last, Mistress is over. I want to thank everyone for reading and, hopefully, enjoying what is functionally my love-letter to Friendship is Magic, Equestria Girls and the series as a whole.
I'd love to hear any feedback, and I do plan to follow this with shorter stories overall, but it'll be some time before I'll be writing them.
Lastly, for said sequel/follow on, I'm considering some format changes. Some of the shorts I intend to tell from Adagio's perspective, which I might do from a first-person perspective to differentiate the narrative from Ray's. If there's an interest, I may even do some moments from Sonata and Aria's perspectives if people are interested. I'm also on the fence of having some "B side" added chapters that are exclusively from Adagio's perspective injected into this story, but I'd rather know if you fine folks are interested first.
Likewise, I'd like to know if anyone found the second person perspective especially grating. I could always make it third person, or do it all in first if there's a strong opinion on it, so please let me know.
Until next time!

Act 1 - Chapter 1: Tacet

Act 1: Boulevard of Jailbroken Phones and Dreams

This was either you at your most genius or most stupid. You decide to take stock and prepare. Again.

You lived by a few nuggets of wisdom you'd learned from your mom.

Always wash behind your ears.

Always look both ways before crossing the street.

And, one of the more recent ones, don't go looking for girls in seedy bars, and that went double for any sort of long term relationship.

You're about to fail two out of three of those life lessons because yeah, sure, you had showered that day. Possibly for the last time, too; you've just been evicted from your apartment and going home to your mom wasn't an option. Not just because you'd flown the nest, either. Just... never mind. Those are bad memories.

As for crossing the street, you were so goddamn out of your mind with worry about what you were about to do, it nearly got you run over twice on the way here.

This wasn't a good neighbourhood either. Muggings were frequent, which made coming here during the day important. You aren't a fighter. You were barely in the nerd clique back in school. All you had then, and have now, was your brain and the things it affords you. Like that job at a fancy tech firm, but you could never forget your passion project, and those two things don't mix; you either grind and simply survive, or you try to succeed, aim to hit your dreams, hit a wall instead and become desperate.

The thing about being desperate is you make weird choices. Life changing ones. Like 'stealing high end electronic components and getting fired' degrees of life changing. Or entering a dangerous neighbourhood to meet and try to convince someone who doesn't know you to help you you levels of desperate. Like how you feel right now.

You stand across the street from a bar called 'Always Raining'. It had a facade of a fancier place, but again, the locale really emphasises the grime on the windows. It didn't matter, because inside here was someone you had been following in some way for years, ever since those less than pleasant days at Canterlot High School. Good old CHS. By pure chance, you heard she was here, and a little scouting you did a few days earlier confirmed those rumours.

A certain woman. A former singer, Adagio Dazzle. A beautiful, mysterious girl who just showed up one day and almost took over the school in a handful of days. She certainly captured your heart, and your mind. Everyone's mind, really, but you wanted to be taken.

Yeah, it isn't what it sounds like; an antisocial geek chasing a hot girl who became a professional singer since school? Dial nine, one and keep the finger poised for when you entered the bar, but you're not a creep! You goddamn swear. This is a business proposition.

No, not that kind either! And besides, cops don't show up here unless someone's actually been shot. More likely, if you cause an issue here, you'll get a knife in the ribs.

You're stalling, and you know it. All you need to remind yourself is that this was it, your last shot at being someone, and not living on the streets. Just the clothes on your back, fifty seven bucks and change, and a jailbroken phone with some extra components poking out the top that would probably flag up as a terror threat at a glance. That and a poster of Adagio Dazzle's all-girl trio, The Dazzlings, from the days when they were still together at the Starswirled music festival from a couple of years ago, right before they broke up.

It was time to stop being a bitch. That never got you anywhere before, and wouldn't now, so you stopped pacing around and crossed the street, and entered the bar. Chad mode time.

The smell of cigarette smoke, beer and spirits was expected but still makes you cough. The view wasn't much better, with dirty, cracked tile flooring, a ceiling fan with only three of its four blades lazily swaying overhead and dim, tobacco stained glass light fixtures hanging from frayed cables that make you nervous and a little sad.

Beside you is a huge, brawny guy with a broken nose, peering over his gentleman's interest magazine, glaring at you like you were something to scrape off his boot. Most of the other clientele weren't much better. But even with this surly guy in close proximity, you quickly develop tunnel vision.

There she is. Adagio Dazzle.

Punkish, spiky purple clothes, solid platform heeled boots, a thick shock of curly orange hair with blonde highlights, like a glam-rock lioness (if lionesses had manes), loosely tied up with a dangerously pointy hair-band. A slim body, which some might call her average in build. You'd call her concisely feminine, with no excess. Efficient, even.

Holy crap, scratch that. Never say that to a woman. Now's not the time for the scientist to take control. No being a bitch. Be bold.

You remember her being darkly beautiful despite her golden skin from the days at CHS. Sweetly smiling one moment, grinning with cunning intent the next. A voice and body built for sex appeal. She played it like a musical instrument and hot damn was she a virtuoso.

Here and now? She had the getup, the looks, but... she looked so defeated. It made you sadder than thinking of the poor, neglected wiring. This wasn't the girl you were crushing over, but maybe you might be the guy to light that fire in her again.

Adagio sat in front of an audience of empty glasses, slumped over the bar with her head resting in one hand and staring at her cellphone in the other. Compared to the glances from everyone else, she hasn't looked at you once. That was probably for the best. It gives you a chance to settle your nerves, otherwise you might have have bolted.

You approach the bar and say, “I'll have a beer and whatever she's been having.”

The barman barely looks at you. “A Siren's Sorrow? That'll be twenty five bucks, kid.”

You guess you should be glad he didn't card your baby-faced ass, but that's dulled by the price of the drinks. You sigh and guess sacrifices have to be made, so you put down the cash.

He slaps the cap off your beer on the bar with the heel of his hand and spills a good quarter of it, then proceeds to pour what was basically an extra strength long maneland iced tea with less cola and an extra shot of rum. You take the drinks, pluck up your courage and approach Adagio.

Holy shit, you're about to talk to the girl of your dreams! You know all her songs, you liked the dark side she represented. This was the moment of truth.

Adagio still hasn't looked at you as you sit beside her and place the cocktail on the bar. She slides it closer to herself and says, in her sultry, velvet voice, “not interested. Get lost.”

And there go your nerves, and you forget how to continue. You see the guy beside the door stand and slap his magazine onto his chair as he begins to skulk over. You've got maybe twenty seconds to play your elevator pitch.

You swig the cold, cheap beer and clear your throat. “How can you tell you're not interested when I haven't told you why I'm here?”

Adagio sighs, throws her phone on the bar with a clatter and turns towards you. Her huge, thick curls flow and flutter around her in a glorious amber cascade, and how she's red in the face from her drink doesn't stop her piercing stare from cutting right through you with a laser-like focus. She then snatches the cocktail and gulps it down in a single go, pushes the glass away so far it almost falls off the bar, and resumes browsing her phone.

“No autographs. You can have Street Tough's, if you want,” Adagio says with a sneer and points behind you.

You can see Mr. Tough just fine without turning, reflected in the mirror behind the bar; the bouncer, lurking so close you can hear him breathing. A soft squeal from his busted nose that makes your skin crawl.

Just relax, you think to yourself. Take a deep breath and just talk. “Why do you think I want an autograph?”

Adagio gives you the stink-eye. “Because of the poster sticking out of your pants, moron. And that better be the only thing sticking up down there, or I'll once again direct you to my friend, Mr. Tough.”

That... was the sound of cracking knuckles behind you.

Don't panic, you think, and panic anyway. Don't goddamn panic. Focus, damn it!

She continues, “and if you plan to leave and follow me later, I'm perfectly prepared.” She pulls a taser from beside her and depresses the switch, and a loud snap sounds from the arc of electricity between the contacts.

“You heard the lady,” Mr. Tough growls at the back of my head, “leave.”

Faster, before you lose some teeth or get electrocuted, dumb ass! “I'm here to help you! Or... I need your help, I guess. Both! See, I'm trying to harness Equestrian magic and-”

Adagio's eyes go wide, then narrow into a killer stare as she hisses through her teeth, “get out!”

Mr. Tough grabs the back of your jacket's collar, and if you thought you didn't have options before, you're officially out of them now. All but one.

You pull out your phone and open a custom app, then throw it on the bar just as you're yanked off the chair and slam hard on the tile floor.

Cheers and woos sound off from the patrons as Mr. Tough kicks you in the ribs and knocks the wind out of you. He then grabs you under the arm and belt, dead-lifts you off the ground and he begins hauling you towards the door.

“Wait!” Adagio shouts.

“Boss?” Mr. Tough stops and turns, which lets you see her as well.

She was standing and staring at your phone as little traces of glowing light pulse softly from the extra components, which are glowing red hot, overtaxed and badly designed for the task.

But it's working. Actual, real magic, being processed, converted and broadcast by overclocked, overtaxed jury-rigged hardware. Equestrian magic, according to what you overheard from Adagio herself back in school, during one of your many failed attempts to get close enough to talk to her but never had the guts.

As the pulses continue, Adagio's eyes flash red and she gasps softly, like she'd been hit by a cool breeze after walking through a scorching desert.

She whispers, “how?” then stares at you and demands, “how is this phone giving off magic!? Just who are you?”

Should have led with that move, you guess. Oh well.

“My name is Radian Wave,” you say, “I'm a scientist. And I think I can give you your powers back.”

Adagio uprights your toppled stool and nods to Mr. Tough, who drops you on your ass and walks off. She points at the stool and says, “explain. Now.”

* * *

Chapter 7: Accarezzevole

Scientific pursuit falls close to madness at times. Repetition, with tweaked variables, based on empiric details to discover something new, or to prove a phenomenon that hasn't yet truly been understood.

As you unleash siren-tuned magical energy at Adagio, you can't resist the urge to laugh like a mad scientist; this is what you live for!

Any worry on Adagio's expression at your unhinged laugh gets overwritten by her own grin as her eyes glow red, her ears point up and become horselike, her fin-wings reform and she begins to float. Once her hair extends and forms its tail-like shape and that peculiar golden aura shape begins to appear, you brace for the change and stare at the spectrograph.

The gigantic peak of the siren signal reaches the top of the screen, and Adagio gasps as she falls to the ground. She catches herself from landing as hard as last time, and you watch the siren peak decay rapidly, dispersing either side. Then the earth frequency begins to rise, and you hit the earth suppression signal.

Adagio stays on her knees and grimaces as you watch the earth signal struggle to rise against the garbled energy exposure. You swear she wants to complain, but she just focuses on enduring the unusual sensation, and after a good minute of what must be steady discomfort, she stands and you notice something.

She's... smaller? Yep, she's back to her old height of 5'5. Even she notices it as she looks at herself, where her toned muscles and enhanced figure have reverted to her classic, slim look.

“I knew it was going to be awful, but really, Ray? You take the one good thing I've earned from this whole experiment?”

You look between the spectrograph and Adagio; her earth signal is muted, but still present. Her siren signal is depleted back to base again, as expected. Technically, it was a success. A disappointing success. “I'm sorry, I didn't even realise this would happen, I-”

-Beep-

A magic signal? You look at the spectrograph and see a pair of signals converge on Adagio's weakened earth resonance. “Adagio? You might want to brace yourself.”

She shrugs, exasperated. “For what? I'm learning, but sometimes you've got to explain-”

The energy cascade crashes on her signal like a pair of tidal waves, and she yelps and shivers. She grows, ever so slightly.

“Oh, great, the horny energy thing again,” Adagio huffs as her cheeks flush.

“Yes, the 'disruptive, parallel energy echo.'”

Adagio shrugs. “Disruptive echoes, horny energy. Same difference.”

You take the loss and toggle the device for weaker readings, and see there's a trickle of magic build up, the same two peaks again as they slowly push towards Adagio's own.

It comes to you. “I guess echoes, plural, is right. I think I get it,” you say, “so, we know you can contain a great deal of energy. When the siren signal is bombarding you, it awakens that side of you, which is reflected in your transformation. The problem is the direct signal exposure itself is the thing actually making your siren form appear. Once it stops, there's nothing maintaining your form, but the magic is still inside you.”

Adagio's eyes go wide and she puts on a dark smirk, “so you mean to say that I could use my powers while under the effect? I'll take temporary bursts of my power over nothing at all.”

Your nose wrinkles as you think it over. “Not likely. We could experiment at some point, but since you're being struck with so much power, I surmise it will be extremely difficult for you to use it like, say, trying to shoot a water pistol while it's being doused by a jet washer. And anyway, even if we do experiment, I don't want to start bombarding you with energy when you're already under the effects of a new phenomenon. For now, better to ride out this phase of recurrent energy and just... well, like I said, ride it out, I guess?”

Adagio looks over herself again. “So the shrink is temporary?”

“We're still testing the waters of this experiment, but it would seem so,” you say as get another beep from your emitter. “Speaking of...” You count down with your fingers. Three, two, one...

Adagio takes a deep breath as the cascade rolls over her. Once more, her body shudders and recovers some of her lost size and she bites her lip as the disruptive echo rolls through her. She checks her phone for the time. “I might as well get an early night out of this so I can enjoy some privacy. Just one question; how long are these 'echoes' going to last?”

You check the readings. “At this rate? An hour, like the first one, just spread out.”

“Great. That's not going to be distracting at all,” Adagio snarks. She heads towards her bedroom, then stops in the door frame. She sighs and turns towards you. “Ray?”

“Yes, Addy?”

“Excuse me?”

Crap. That kinda slipped out. Play it cool, Radian. “What, you can 'Ray' me, but I can't 'Addy' you?”

Adagio pinches the bridge of her nose. “Ugh, whatever. But not in public! As I was about to say...” She pauses and looks... pensive. It's a strange look for her. Then she's hit by another echo and shivers, and finally she looks agitated, which is far more natural. “Listen, it would be convenient for me, and I'm going to stress this right now, do notmake this awkward, if you could help me.”

You switch off the emitter and put it down. “Sure, what with?”

She bites her the tip of her thumb, then takes a long breath. “I want you to help me take care of this resonant echo thing.”

You switch on the emitter again. “Well, I'm sure we could work out-”

Adagio slaps her forehead hard enough that the clap echoes and cuts you off.

“That's it!” She storms up to you, tosses the emitter onto the couch. Then she puts her hands on your shoulders.

And kisses you. Tongue and all.

What.

What!

What!?

You can taste her! Hot and wet and oh hell is it glorious! Your heart hammers as you close your eyes and just relish the feeling of her soft lips on yours, the force of her tongue pushing against your own. You hold her shoulders and try to give her your best, but she's ravenous and relentless.

Her hands cradle your face as she continues, then they slide smoothly to the back of your neck, as her nails comb through your hair.

She finally pushes you away and you feel the little tap of a saliva strand break. “Do I have your attention, Ray? It would help me a lot if I had a willing partner... but again, this is a matter of convenience and it doesn't mean anything.” She twirls her hair with her finger. “Unless you don't want to...”

You're still catching your breath. No thoughts. Just panic. Panic. Don't panic! “No. I mean, yes! I mean... wh- what do I?”

Adagio shakes her head, grabs you by the collar, pulls you into her room and shoves the door closed with her foot. “Let me guess. First time?”

“Uh. Hah. No! I mean... kinda, like, yes?”

She sighs. “It's fine. Just do as I say.” Adagio pushes you onto her bed, and you obey her every word. Adagio removes her t-shirt and shorts, revealing simple black panties and her lack of a bra. Her perfect, pert breasts bounce gently, nipples poking out from her arousal as she throws the clothes aside.

She gives one of her delightfully dark smirks. “Strip, my pet. The first lesson's free. The rest, you'll have to earn. Let's see how fast your mind is, and how much you truly want to worship your goddess.”

You're stunned, and only have her words to follow. She may not be a siren, but her power over you is unquestionable. Your shirt is discarded, your pants and underwear removed. You've never been harder.

“Good boy.” She taps her lips as she looks you over, the predator to you, the nervous prey. She locks her gaze onto your cock and purses her lips. “Not bad. I think we're going to get along just fine.”

Adagio pulls off her spiky hairband. The orange, wavy curls cascade over her shoulders and reach her hips, and she runs her fingers through them as she shivers and looses the lightest gasp. Her body tenses, the subtle flex of her muscles under her golden skin, still smooth but the faint hint of her growing strength. Just enough to add a little spice to her already perfect body.

She walks with her hips in a smooth sway, reaches into her bedside cabinet, takes out a strip of condoms and tosses them to you. “Work fast,” she says and removes her panties.

Adagio climbs onto the bed as you fiddle with the wrap. She kisses your neck as you fumble to roll the rubber onto your dick. Her raspberry eyes lock onto yours as her hand strokes your chest, your belly.

You can't stop yourself from running your fingers over her smooth chin, her soft cheek. You pull her lips to yours. The taste of her again. She doesn't taste of much, but you know it's Adagio; the finest delicacy you'll ever have dance on your palette. Just the feeling of her tongue as it pushes against yours. Her hair blankets your shoulders, silken and delicately ticklish. You can smell her shampoo, floral and sweet on the glorious curls.

The sharpness of Adagio's fingernails give you the gentlest scratch as her hand runs lazy circles over your chest, then she pricks you as she gasps and shivers, and you watch her body subtly swell. You can feel her get heavier as the light bulge of her bicep thickens, her breasts more expansive, the groove on her abdomen deepens.

Adagio growls and climbs on top of you, her knees straddling your hips as one hand keeps her lifted while the other takes hold of your dick. She guides herself down, and onto, your length as you grunt and bite your lip. Perfectly warm, perfectly wet. It drives you wild, and you're already so fucking close. She grins and jabs you with a fingernail again, and the pain drags you back from the brink.

She growls, “nuh-uh. Not yet. I need this.”

Adagio rakes her nails over your skin and drops fully onto your cock. Her pussy gives your dick a firm clench as she moans and closes her eyes.

You buck your hips on instinct, and she laughs and pushes down on you, then lifts, then presses down on you once more. A rhythm begins to build as she rides you, her growing strength keeps you pinned as she cries out, her eyes lidded and look like they glow in the moonlight, a radiant and intense pink. She's unfocused, just burying herself in the pleasure.

You're powerless as she rides you, and you try to hold on, to please her, but you can't stop it. You feel the pressure inside build, ever stronger, relentless, overpowering. You grit your teeth and yell. An explosion. Your hair stands on end and you moan low and steady as you cum.

Adagio's spurred on by your climax, hammering her hips against yours over, and over, and over, until you feel her clench, hear her scream out. Your crotch is bathed in her sticky, hot juices and she leans back, her eyes staring at the ceiling with a big, satisfied smile covering her face.

You become limp within her, gasping for breath as she falls on top of you and kisses you. Less tongue, but she bites your lip as an afterglow rocks through her body. Her whimpers are the sweetest song you've ever heard from her, and she seems to finally relax.

You have a chance to let your mind recover, and you peel off the condom, tossing it in a nearby garbage can. You begin to feel your vision fuzz as the combination of your own glow and fatigue begins to take its toll.

Then her body shivers and swells, and she laughs. “I hope you're not done, Ray... that was your lesson. Now, worship me!”

“Anything,” you pant. “Anything for you, mistress.”

Adagio licks her lips and rolls onto her back, and pulls you on top of her. She's almost back to full strength and you're her plaything. She guides your hands onto her body as you palm her fantastic tits, the softness, the way you can feel her breathe. She's every bit the goddess you'd always hoped. She begins pushing your hands lower and lower until you feel the matted mass of her neatly trimmed pubic hair. “Start gentle. I'll guide you.”

Your mind is foggy, but her orders are absolute. You dip your fingers into her parted and hungry petals and she purrs. “Deeper... just push gently, like a massage.”

Deeper, as commanded. Your fingers are used to delicate work, all the things you've made with steady, unbroken focus. You guide each finger in turn, and gently push against her inner walls. Each little bit of pressure, you feel her tense oh-so-slightly around your digits. Every caress, a little gasp, a soft grunt, a purr, a coo. She closes her eyes and mouths 'yes' and her legs flex and squirm to your attention.

You've seen enough porn to recognise her clitoris, and you carefully brush your thumb around it. She moans and bites her lip, and one eye opens and locks onto you. “C- careful..” she says as she exhales, long and steady.

You continue feeling around inside her pussy and let her reactions spur you on. Soon she breathes harder, writhes more and more, her own hands pushing and squeezing her outstanding tits as she growls. You plunge your hand in her, firm and resolute, and she cries out, “harder!” You let your thumb press a little more on her button, and she hisses through her teeth, on the line between pain and pleasure, but she ends with her teeth bared in a smile.

Finally, after a few more pumps with your hand, her body tenses, her recovered muscles flex and stand out. She bucks so hard and screams so loud, you're scared for a few seconds as her voice echoes in the little bedroom.

“Oh, fuck...” she whimpers, and there's a hammering from the next apartment, an angry voice yelling to keep it down. “Ah, get fucked, asshole,” Adagio laughs as she looks at the wall, then at you. “Not bad at all. Lie with me.”

You fall beside her as she rides her afterglow. You're both satisfied and tired, and she pulls the covers over you both. You can't find the words as her breathing settles and she fidgets to get comfortable.

Then you're inspired. This is your first time... dare you ask? “Addy?”

“Hmm?”

“Can... can we cuddle?”

She giggles and looks at you as if you're joking. You're dead serious, and she gives you a funny look. “Would that make it perfect for you, my pet? Everything you desired and more?”

Comfort has been a fleeting thing for you for a very long time. Maybe it's childish need, maybe you feel this was special, despite her words. You don't care; right now, you feel liberated. You feel like a man, and yet you have a void within you that can only be filled by a lover's touch.

You nod and say, firmly, “you have no idea how much it would mean to me, Addy, please.”

“I'll tell you what. Face away.”

You hesitate, but you obey. Adagio's arm slips under yours and she pulls you against her, and her legs coil around your own. You feel her pert breasts press against your back as she takes a deep, relaxing breath. She's your wonderful bigger spoon.

She whispers into your ear, “will this do?”

You put your hand over hers as she strokes your chest. “Yes... thank you.”

This is love. You're more certain than ever.

But as sleep enshrouds your mind, you can only pray that some day, she'll love you back.

* * *

Chapter 25: Passion

Adagio spends the night reading a book on running a business, which Applejack bought for her, so occasional annoyed utterances aside as she masters turning pages of her business book with hooves, you're soon applying everything you've learned today to work on Aria's stone. You'd prefer to be working on Adagio's, but you know she'd put her family first in this situation.

While you're now familiar with the method, and are making progress, you're struggling. You've had to improvise when it comes to tools and clamps; stealing the materials was one thing, but Starlight and Sunburst only had one clamp and one set of tools.

Instead, you've pinned the siren stone between a couple of heavy books, reinforced and held in place with enough books to pin it against the wall to make it as rigid as you can. You wrapped the replacement gem, a fire opal, and shattered it with a heavy candlestick holder. You're also forced to improvise putting it together with your inexperienced telekinesis while your emitter bombards the gem with the same frequency as the siren stone to help bond with the fragments. It's just as well you've always been good at working under pressure.

Fortunately the epoxy and powders are ready to go, so as you slowly construct the stone, it gets easier and easier.

“Ray, stop your silly project and come to bed.”

You frown and look at Adagio. She looks at you with lidded eyes and a grin, but you sigh and return to your work; she's succumbing to her other side again.

“As much as I'd like to, I can't. We've got limited time to get this fixed. I need to have it at least in a solid enough state to be wrapped and tossed through the portal first thing in the mor- hey!”

Adagio hooks you under your body with her foreleg and carries you to the bed. She then throws you on top, and leaps on after you. Before you can struggle off, she pulls you against her body. You know she's barely having to try, but you're completely held in place.

“Addy, please! Try to remember the plan!”

She huffs, but licks your neck all the way up to your cheek. “I've made a better one, my little lover. It's just you, me, my juice bar where I get to sing every day, you with a little lab where you can do your science stuff... and foals. LOTS of foals.”

You snap at her, “what about your sisters? What about your promises to give them their powers back?”

She sticks her tongue out. “Forget my sisters; Aria's mean and Sonata's happy where she is.” She then bares her teeth. “Besides, they betrayed me! They don't deserve their powers back!” She squeezes you, tight enough to hurt you. “We should break their stones so they can't ever get them back. Use them to repair mine!”

Okay, you were only somewhat serious before about being scared about giggle mode Adagio, but this really is getting frightening.

“That does it!” You project siren energy with your horn and Adagio grunts and releases you, so you quickly scramble off the bed as she presses a hoof to her head and winces.

“Darn it, I'm sorry Ray... giggly-bitch me's insidious. One second I was reading and thinking of starting my business, the next? It just took over.” She sheepishly crosses her forelegs and struggles to keep eye contact.

You say, “that's the problem... she is you in a lot of ways. The biggest distinction I'm beginning to see is that she's all about taking the path of least resistance whereas you normally act with more passion. And trying to make me give up on helping your sisters? That's the biggest worry. It's like how you were to begin with, when we first met. The side of you that pushed them away to begin with.”

“The old me again...” she says, hushed and afraid.

“All the more reason to drive ahead with the repairs. Are you sure you don't want me to repair yours first?”

“No, I'd never be able to face my sisters if I put myself first in this. You're doing fine, Ray, don't mind me.”

You sigh. “If you're sure. Well, that being the case, I'd best get back to work. Hopefully once we're done here, we won't have to worry about this other side of you.”

“Sure,” Adagio says and continues to look uncomfortable. “Though... uh, about the things I said...”

You smile at her. “It's not a terrible plan. Not sure if foals should be on the agenda just yet. I know we're extremely close already, but we've know each other for, what, a week?”

Adagio laughs. “Yeah, that's a bit much. I've just keep thinking about if we succeed; with our powers back and your devices sold and marketed, we could easily rocket to fame and fortune back in the human world, but here?” She looks at the window with a distant expression. “I still prefer it here. A simpler life with just you and me when the human world gets a bit too much, and we can introduce Sonata and Aria here too. I get they have their passion projects back there, but I'd love for them to experience this world again.”

“Don't worry, Addy. We'll get things sorted back home, and if we play our cards right, and we keep your powers subtle, I'm sure we can come back here whenever we want.”

“I hope so.” Adagio relaxes in bed. “I'll try to keep a lid on giggly bitch me and sleep or something.”

You head around the bed, kiss her and approach your workstation.

“Ray?”

“Hmm?”

Adagio sits back up again. “... Did... you want to know what happened to me? Before we met, I mean? I know you've been suspicious for some time.”

“I know you said it's ancient history by this point,” you say, then grimace. “I confess, Sunset already showed me with her magic. The assault and attempted mugging.” You approach and lean your forequarters on the bed.

She grumbles and rolls her eyes. “Of course she did. She's gotta stick her nose where it doesn't belong. Whatever, it doesn't change a thing. I should have told you when you offered to hear me out. I-” Adagio hesitates and bites her lip. “I've carried my old pride for years. I've been powerful, yet ever weakening, and somehow I kept fighting on. That moment, though? When that guy hit me? That was it. That was the moment I realised that it didn't matter what I was, or who I thought I was. At that moment, I was nothing. Nobody. Just some stupid bitch who refused to accept the consequences for her actions. Worst of all, I'd never been that scared. Even thinking about it makes me feel ashamed.”

“It's nothing to be ashamed of, Addy. I'd have panicked harder than you in that situation. But as for Sunset? I think she interpreted how you felt as... well, that you were considering taking a step off that bridge.”

Adagio forces a smile, but her ears flatten back, betraying her change of mood before her expression drops like a stone. “It did cross my mind, but it was more of a morbid curiosity thing. A weak moment. But say what you want about my attitude, but I'm stubborn at my core. I never gave in, even if I lacked the will to fight against my downward spiral.”

You approach the bed again. “I know, and it's part of the reason I respect you so much,” you say with a smile. “Someone who truly gave up wouldn't have kept going to the bar and passing that alley. Or bought a tazer to fight back if it happened again. The signs were there that you still had a fire inside you, no matter what anyone says.”

Adagio shrugs. “It wasn't that clear cut. I still shut down. I didn't leave my apartment for a week, didn't answer any calls. I just isolated myself.”

“Yet you kept on, despite that, Addy. It's courageous. Admirable.”

She smiles again, but this time it sticks. “Thanks, Ray. Like Sonata with her show, and Aria and her guitar... you're my inspiration now. And thank you for everything you've done for me. I may have sung it when giggly bitch me was in control, but I meant that song earlier. Every word.” She winks at you. “Even the interrupted ones.”

You have no words, just a heart that's about to explode. Every implication of what she sung to you and how far you've come together. You're a couple, beyond all doubt and nothing can say otherwise. You feel bigger than Adagio in spirit!

You lean onto the bed and hold one another, tightly. Her strength is immense, yet she's so comfortable, your longer necks pressing so firmly you can feel her strong, steady pulse. You just let the joy last as long as she wants it to, but finally the hug breaks and you stare at one another for a few moments more, she lies down and tries to rest.

As you approach the desk, Adagio suddenly says, “oh, and about that plan?”

You turn look at her over your shoulder.

“We can talk about foals a couple of years down the line or whatever,” she says, and has a dark, confident grin, “but make no mistake: at some point, we're going to go at it like a pair of wild animals in these bodies. I want you, in that cute unicorn stallion body, inside me. And it's going to be amazing. And we aren't gonna stop until people yell at us to stop making a racket. That's a guarantee, and that certainly isn't giggly bitch me talking either.”

Now you have even less words! You just stammer as she gives you a brief flash of the 'fuck me' eyes and settles back down.

Just don't say anything, Radian. You have work to do. Goddamn the seductions of a siren...

Hours pass as you focus on your mission, although it's a struggle considering what Adagio said to you. Every damn word.

Finally, after you hit your stride and shut out the world and any extraneous thoughts. Several hours pass as your eyes ache and fatigue saps your mind, Aria's stone is in a very similar state to Sonata's; crude, but intact. You gently cover it with a blanket to keep it hidden, and climb into bed.

Adagio sighs softly as you bring yourself closer to her, and wraps her legs around you. As much as you love the feeling and want to have it last, the moment you get comfortable, you fall asleep.

* *

You squint as you wake. It's been years since you pulled all nighter, like in in college, but you're not a teenager any more, who can just keep going regardless. You just yawn and conclude that three hours of sleep will have to suffice.

There's the barest hint of sunlight coming through the window and you carefully pull free from Adagio's grasp, climb out of bed and go to inspect your work.

The gem's in good shape. It's whole, the epoxy is almost completely dry and all it needs is a good grind and cutting; things that aren't crucial to the plan here, and can be done either after you learn the method today when finishing Sonata's stone or, worst comes to worst, you can bring it to a jeweller back home.

You smile at your work, then write a note about not using the stone until it's finished. You then take a spare pillowcase from a cabinet, rip it in two and wrap the stone and note inside, then carefully put it inside the emitter casing. Once you secure the strap to yourself, you head out into the corridor.

It's quiet through the palace, but a couple of guards eye you warily, yet let you go on your way. It's only as you approach the room with the mirror portal, which has one pegasus posted outside, that you realise this might take some ingenuity. You switch on the emitter and set it to give off a very subtle anti-pegasi signal.

He spreads his wings like a defiant shield and says, “halt. I've been given orders to keep this room off limits to all except her highnesses Princess Cadence, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”

You may not have royal authority, but you're the understudy of a siren. You clear your throat and say, “well, actually, I'm here to conduct some scans of our side of the portal for Princess Twilight Sparkle in preparation for our journey back to the other world. See, there's an arcane bleed occurring due to the instability inherent in the imperfect energy transfer between worlds, and considering our task in repairing a stone of not inconsiderable power, any such instability may will hamper our ability to transfer back to my world, cause irreparable damage to the stone, or potentially both. Furthermore, I believe-”

He raises a hoof and staggers a little as the anti-signal works its magic and your speech confuses him. “Okay! Okay! In Celestia's name, I'm getting a headache! I'll give you a minute. Just don't make a mess!”

He pulls a key tucked on a string around his neck with his lips, deftly flips it between his teeth, and unlocks the door.

You smirk and say, “thank you, sir. I'll just be a moment!”

You head inside and half expect the guard to follow, but he just shakes his head and keeps on watch. You swing the door almost shut and approach the mirror.

Perfect. The plan is coming together just brilliantly. You take out your emitter and blast the mirror with the siren signal for a few moments, which should show up as a nice, strong anomaly back home, where Aria and Sonata should get in place to collect your contraband.

You undo the casing, retrieve the stowed stone, hover it before the mirror.

And stop.

There's no coming back from this, you realise. You pace back and forth as you consider your options, and realise you feel rotten for doing this.

You consider your options and the things you've heard and seen. You remember Sunset's warnings about Adagio losing control of herself when put in possession of her stone, and how magic and emotions have power here. You thought it ridiculous.

Except it isn't. You've seen what these emotions and what can be best described as magic-poisoning has done to Adagio. Giving her the stone might help, but what if it doesn't?

Considering what's happened to her while in this world, would she even still be your Addy? Would she be in full control, or succumb to this other side? Act like her old, bitter self? Would you go back to being just a face in the crowd? A servant to be manipulated for her needs? You even wanted that once upon a time! Just obey, just become adrift in the Dazzlings' music and be done with this crappy existence.

Except it isn't crappy any more, is it? Adagio loves you. Sonata likes you. Aria... okay, she tolerates you, but it's more than you had before. Yet, you also want them to get their powers back. Is doing this really the best option?

Even worse, Twilight clearly wants the best for you. She and Sunset know you and Adagio are up to something. Yet Twilight clearly still trusts you.

Twilight even wants to help you flourish and develop as an individual. She recognised all the wrong that has dragged you down, and even that it's made you stronger. You succeeded because of these trials, but now that you've begun to understand your potential, and have achieved several of your most wildest dreams, and met ponies here who are so like you in many ways; troubled backgrounds, yet brilliant, who have struggled and become better than they ever thought they would be. These ponies, who are now willing to accept you, and have offered to help you grow.

They even want to help Adagio, despite what she was. Rarity and Applejack like her. Want her to achieve her humble dream of a place of her own merit, outside of powers and mind-bending music.

But all you have to do to advance your goals? Is push the gem through the portal.

Simple, barely an effort. Easy. A path of least resistance.

Like Adagio's insidious other self.

The side of her that failed because of closing everyone off and lashing out.

She pitted her own will against her sisters.

Fought everyone, tried to control everyone.

Tried to use you, throw you to her sisters when they weren't themselves.

What if Sunset is right? What if, by doing this, you end up causing Adagio to fall to her old ways again?

But what if it doesn't? What if it's everything you've ever dreamed of?

And if you're being truly honest, what if you put the stone through, and get caught afterwards? With Aria the only one with a stone, and what if she falls on her old ways when she's only just started coming around to Adagio's new way of thinking. What if, in your moment of triumph, Aria falls victim to the warnings you've been given, lets loose her old anger and rage with all the powers of a siren, while Sonata and Adagio are powerless to stop her?

You feel like you're going to explode, or throw up. The pressure is staggering.

You take a deep breath.

Focus on the stone.

And be scientific and empiric, as Adagio and Twilight told you to be.

And realise that, at this moment, based on the inconclusive evidence of what your actions may cause, you just can't do it. But you also can't betray Adagio, so you compromise. You can simply bring it back with you as contraband through the portal once you've succeeded.

So you put Aria's stone back inside your device. You then take a piece of paper, an ink and quill, and write a new message:

'Will bring the stones back with us on the third night. Plan otherwise unchanged.'

Then you toss that through the portal, sigh deeply, and leave to return to your bedroom.

You stow you things, hide the stone back with Adagio's on the upper bookshelf, and manage to get another hour or two in bed before a guard wakes you up and informs you that Twilight's waiting.

A quick wash, a goodbye hug and a kiss from Adagio, as well as putting on your saddle to get used to wearing it, and you make your way outside.

A bright eyed Twilight meets you. “Good morning, Radian! Ah, I recognise those classic dark circles around the eyes. Somepony's been burning the candle at both ends.”

“Uh... yeah, you could say that,” you say and yawn. “I've got a lot on my mind, that's all.”

Twilight's smile is so chipper, it's like staring at the sun; it's both difficult to look at her and almost mocking to your drowsiness. “I sympathise absolutely! I've had plenty of sleepless study nights, early mornings to attend to tasks before the sun was up... not that things are much better now with my duties, but still.”

You chuckle. “I guess we've all had the pressure of learning to achieve our goals, huh? Pony or human, the grind is always the same.”

“I know, right?” Twilight smirks. “I may not have experienced human college, but as Princess Celestia's student, I always felt compelled to achieve the very highest standards. Not to mention all the mishaps I experienced because I may have put my mentor on a bit of a lofty pedestal and panicked from time to time.”

“Really? I have trouble believing most ponies here as being mean-spirited, least of all somepony who mentored you.”

“I'll admit, it was self-imposed. Whether I believed I would fail to restore the Crystal Empire, or believing my friend would be banished or imprisoned for letting Princess Celestia's pet phoenix perish.” She her chipper smile goes a bit... weird. “Or that time I thought I might be held back in magic kindergarten because of failing to report a friendship lesson to her, so I may have made everypony in town obsess over a doll of mine in an attempt to create a friendship lesson...h- ha... ha...” She begins hyperventilating for a moment, then takes a few controlled breaths.

Ooo... kay? “That... sounds like an interesting couple of stories. You'll have to tell me some time. Sadly, most of my misadventures came from adverse effects concerning jitters from too much strong coffee and other unpleasant occurrences because of cheap breakfast burritos.”

She laughs as you move alongside her and settle into a trot. “Well, I can't say we have any burritos around here, but they've recently opened a hayburger joint in the Crystal Empire.” She looks contemplative. “I wonder if someone told Cadence about my weakness to them? Anyway, how about a massively unhealthy breakfast in memory of sleepless nights, intense study and... well, to us! Our friendship””

“You know what? That sounds amazing. But will they serve burgers this early in the morning?”

Twilight stands tall and proud. “I'm not one to throw my title around, but in this case? I think I'll make an exception. Follow me! Let's try a full gallop, if you're up to it?”

“I've never let fatigue stop me learning yet! Let's do this.”

You smile and follow her directions, another sequence of leg movements that builds into a full sprint as you charge, eager for a greasy, soul-nourishing breakfast with your newest friend.

* * *