This...this has to be my absolute favorite chapter so far. This one and the next one will be good :3


"Okay, Sonata, calm down." Adagio tried to say in a soothing voice. Sonata glared at her.

"Calm down? Calm down?! Adagio, Aria's missing, and it's because of me! There is no calming down!"

"Okay, just...tell me what happened that lead to this." Sonata finally seemed to deflate, and she sighed, staring downward.

"I...we...got in another fight. And...and she told me to go away, and I just left her there, even though I knew she needed me there, even if she didn't want me. And it was even my fault that we fought. If I hadn't done anything, then this wouldn't have happened! I'm so stupid!" Adagio gave her a sympathetic look and flew up to her, nuzzling her cheek comfortingly.

"No, this isn't all on you. We both did things to push her over the edge. But she also needs to find ways to control herself, too." Adagio sighed, shaking her head. "Looks like we all got our own damn issues..."

"Well, we need go to find her. Who knows where she could be by now!" Adagio closed her eyes wearily.

"I think I know full well where she is..."

~o~

Sonata followed as Adagio flew at near breakneck speed. Sonata was surprised. Was Adagio really so worried about Aria? She'd thought that the two hated each other. And now, Adagio's going as fast as she can to get to her. A small smile appeared on Sonata's face, despite her worry, because she now had renewed hope that the two might have a chance at becoming friends again. Or at least to the point where they weren't at each other's throats 24/7.

Sonata then became curious as to where they were going, remembering that they were headed to a specific place that Adagio knew. Where? Where could Aria possibly be? She then blinked as she saw a a bunch of rocks that lead to bigger rocks, which eventually lead to a cave mouth. Oh, the cave! Of course! Haha, I knew that! Psht, it was so obvious. Heh. Yeah. The two flew down to the opening, and they were about to morph into ponies to be able to fit in the smaller entrance, but they didn't need to. The old pony from before stepped out of the entrance just as they stopped in front of it.

"Ah, you're here." She said in a knowing voice. Had she been expecting them? Adagio huffed angrily and lowered her head so that she was face to face with the pony, glaring straight into her eyes.

"Where. Is. She?" She growled. The elderly pony raised a hoof and tapped her chin in fake contemplation.

"She? Who is she?" She then paused, and a malicious grin spread across her face. "Oh, you're talking about your friend, yes?" Adagio growled louder.

"Answer me, hag!" The pony chuckled.

"Now, now, I wouldn't talk to me like that if I were you. Especially since I have this." She said as she caressed a purple gemstone that hung around her neck with a hoof. Adagio snarled.

"Just tell me where she is!" The pony's face then became serious, and she looked unamusedly at Adagio.

"Well, if you must know, she's probably due west a little bit from here." Adagio raised an eyebrow.

"West? But...that's in the direction of..." Adagio gasped in realization, and she and Sonata looked at each other in fear.

"Ponyville!"

~o~

The two sirens flew all the way to the little town. As they neared it, they could hear a familiar soft melody in the distance. Adagio gulped in fear of what she would find. As the town came into view, Adagio and Sonata stopped dead in their tracks. Before them lay nothing but mayhem. Nearly all of the ponies were outside, and all that could be heard was yelling, stomping, and angry snorts. But above the sound of that was a soft, slow, humming melody that could even put a siren in a trance. The two looked for the source of the beautiful sound, but couldn't find it. Then, suddenly, they heard a voice.

"Hey, there they are! Here to cause more trouble!" They looked down and saw a small group of ponies looking up at them.

"We're not here to cause anyone any trouble!" Sonata protested. A yellow stallion took a step forward.

"Oh, really? Then why are you here? It can't be for anything good." Adagio growled.

"The reason we're here isn't any of your business! We just-wait...where's Princess Twilight?!" She asked. One of the mares scoffed.

"As if we'd tell you."

"Please! We need to know!" Sonata yelled. The stallion snorted.

"Why?"

"Because we need her help!" The stallion grinned.

"Well, then, you're out of luck, because she's not here. Not even the Princess of Friendship could fix this on her own. She's in Canterlot asking Celestia for aid in her efforts to get rid of you three."

"What?!" Sonata yelped. A pink mare stepped forward.

"Haven't you heard? She blames you for this." She said, motioning to the ponies who were arguing. She was surprised they couldn't see the green mist swirling around them. "So, she went to Celestia. You'll be gone for good soon enough...exiled once again with no way back."

Sonata let out a fearful whimper, but Adagio flew next to her and glared at the ponies.

"That's enough out of you! Come on, Sonata." Adagio said, motioning with her head in a different direction. Sonata nodded hesitantly and followed. As they flew slowly over the town, Sonata nudged Adagio. The golden siren looked over at her.

"Hey, Dagi? How come that group of ponies weren't fighting like everyone else?" Adagio shrugged.

"They might not have been affected yet. Sometimes, it takes longer for some ponies. Remember: they're a bit less susceptible than humans." Sonata nodded in understanding.

"Oh, okay. I forgot. I was so used to collecting from humans after all that time. I forgot that humans are easier to take control of."

"Silly siren." Adagio said, the slightest of smiles appearing on her face. They continued to follow the sound of the hypnotizing tune, and it lead them to what looked like the schoolhouse. And there, standing on the roof, was a familiar purple pony. Adagio growled before accelerating instantaneously towards her. Sonata followed more hesitantly. Aria saw the golden siren coming towards her. She grinned. Now look who's on top, Dagi. Adagio circled the building a couple times before stopping in front of Aria. The purple pony cut her singing and smiled at her.

"Well, well, well...what do we have here?" She said, still grinning. Adagio huffed angrily at her.

"Aria, I'm disappointed in you. I thought you were stronger than this!"

"Stronger? Ha! I am stronger! " She then morphed her body into siren form, and flew up until she was in Adagio's face. "And now I'm bigger, stronger, and better...than you." She growled. Adagio shook her head.

"Aria...what happened to you? I thought you were better than this. I thought...I thought you were my friend..." Aria scoffed.

"Yeah, that friendship bullcrap fooled me for a while, but then I realized something. Why should I try to gain others' adoration when I can just force them to? And by doing what I love! I don't have to bend to fit others' preferences. Now, they bend to mine."

"Aria, this isn't right, and you know it! Take that wretched thing off!" Aria put a hoof over the pendent around her neck protectively.

"No way! For once, I feel like I'm actually worth something! And I can do whatever I want now without you breathing down my neck every second of every day! I should've been leader from the beginning! I would've actually gotten us somewhere! But now...I am more powerful than you!" As she said this, she inhaled deeply and let out a shriek, causing the other two sirens to be blasted back a couple feet. Adagio, for the first time since knowing her, looked at Aria with pure, hopeless fear. She was truly terrified, because she knew the power that the siren had, and without their powers, she could probably easily kill them if she wanted to. But then...why didn't she? If she hated them so much, then why not just be done with it?

Adagio blinked in surprise when Sonata suddenly flew forward. She slowly went up to Aria and looked at her pleadingly and apologetically.

"A-aria..." Sonata muttered. Aria looked at her, and her gaze visibly softened a bit. "...Aria, why are you doing this...?" She asked softly. Aria stayed silent for a bit until her expression twisted with anger, and she leaned forward so that her face was an inch away from Sonata's.

"Are you stupid or something?!" She snarled. Sonata whimpered. "How could you even ask a question like that?! You know why I did this! I was tired of Adagio leading us into ditches, and you always blindly following her! Even when you had a chance to take either of our sides, you chose hers! I thought you cared about me, Sonata! You're the only person I really trusted, and you just turned your back on me!" She then paused, and her voice lowered a bit as she seethed. "And to answer your question from earlier...I did love you. Even when I told you to go away. I just didn't want to hurt you. But now...now I hate you!" She screeched, her eyes beginning to water. Sonata gasped and backed up, tears not wasting any time pouring from her eyes and down her cheeks. She began sobbing. Adagio growled and went between the two.

"Aria, what is wrong with you?! I mean, you've always been a selfish, egotistical, defiant bitch, but you were never this bad!" Aria snarled at her.

"Adagio...you have three seconds to leave before I make you wish you'd never met me." She paused. "One." Adagio scoffed.

"It's too late for that."

"Two." Aria growled. Adagio rolled her eyes.

"Aria, this is childish."

"Two and a half~"

"Aria, seriousl-"

"THREE!"

And with that, the purple siren lunged at Adagio's throat.


...yeah.