Sorry for the long freakin' wait. Been so, SO busy here! I've hardly had time to get ANY of my big project done, such as these chapters, and some requests on DeviantArt. It's really frustrating. But here you are now with another chapter. Enjoy, my friends.
Aria blinked, and her vicious expression turned to one of surprise and confusion. The little creature looked up at her with wide eyes, looking awestruck. The purple siren had expected something different, and she looked awkwardly at the small dolphin.
"Uh...shoo?" She said, waving a forehoof. The creature just stayed there, staring at her in amazement. Aria sighed and quickly glanced at her surroundings, making sure the coast was clear. She then turned back to the little changeling. Obviously, this thing wasn't going to do anything to her. Not only was it too small to do anything, but it didn't seem to have nefarious intentions. "Okay, kid...what do you want? I'm kind of on the run, here." The small creature blinked, seemingly out of its frozen state of awe. It shook its head, then turned to her with a big grin.
"Whoa, a real siren! That's so cool!" It yelped. Aria looked to the side before looking back at it.
"Uh...what?" She asked. The little dolphin chirped.
"The Broodmother never let us out of the nursery while you guys were there, so we never got to see you. We've never seen sirens before, but we heard of 'em!" He then paused and looked at her wide-eyed. "Wow! I just realized that you're awful big, miss! I didn't know you'd be this big!" He said, looking her up and down. Aria scowled.
"I'll choose to take that as a compliment..." She muttered. She then sighed as her gaze softened. "Look, kid, I don't have time for this. I think you should go find your family or whatever before you or I get in trouble. I can't let them find me." She said as she turned around and began heading out.
"Can I come with you?" The unexpected question caused Aria to stop in her tracks with a scoff. She turned back to him.
"Wh-what?! You? Come with me? I don't think so. Go find your family." A look of desperation crossed his face, and he swam up to her.
"Please! It gets so boring in the nursery, and we never get to see outside! I promise I won't be a burden! I can help!"
"But what about the other changelings?"
"I'll go back eventually, don't worry. I just wanna get a bit of adventure."
"The outside world is no place for a kid like you."
"I'll have you know that I am an adolescent, heh. No kids here!"
"Then why are you still staying in a nursery, eh?" This seemed to stopped the changeling, and he searched desperately for an argument. "That's what I thought. See ya." She said as she began swimming again. But she was stopped when he suddenly swam in front of her. Aria growled, but it was cut short when she saw his face. He was doing...a puppy dog face. She gritted her teeth and let out a low growl. "Kid...I'm warning ya..." He didn't listen, though, and continued. Finally, after what seemed like forever, with an exasperated sigh, she gave in. "Okay, you know what?! Fine!" His expression became gleeful until she put her face inches from his, her eyes glaring daggers at him. "But I won't be held responsible for your safety. So, if you're getting eaten, I'm gonna keep moving." She then paused to let her words sink in. "We clear?" The changeling gulped.
"C-crystal..." He squeaked. Aria huffed before turning around sharply and moving on, not even looking back once. Why do I always get dragged into these situations? Oh, and I'm sure Adagio will just love this... She rolled her eyes. Not only am I going back after trying to kill them, but I'm also bringing along one of the causes. Lucky me...
~o~O~o~
Celestia paced in her study, her head lowered and her eyebrows furrowed in thought. If Sonata failed to find her friend and neutralize her, then how would she be able to do so? She had no idea where the fiend was now. There have been no recent reports of her whereabouts. Suddenly, Celestia's head shot up from her brooding when the doors to her study flung open. In rushed a royal guard, his eyes wide with panic.
"Reports of the location of the troublemaker?" She asked before he had a chance to speak. The stallion, panting, shook his head solemnly.
"No, Princess Celestia..." He began. "Something far worse. It appears...it appears Queen Chrysalis is back, and she's headed this way..." Celestia's head jerked back is surprise, and her eyes widened. She rushed past the guard, but she called back to the him.
"Get the troops! Tell them to get ready to fight! We don't know what she has planned, so we need to be prepared for anything!"
"Yes, princess!" He responded with a salute.
~o~O~o~
Adagio, Sonata, and Steven flew through the air soundlessly as they searched for the third siren. Adagio rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Sweet Celestia, where could she be?!" She groaned in annoyance. Sonata looked down at the waves below them.
"Could she be underwater?" She asked thoughtfully. Adagio scoffed.
"What is she gonna do, charm the sea creatures? No, she'd be on the surface invading some town or something." Sonata sighed and looked around, hoping that they'd find her soon.
~o~O~o~
As she swam through the water, Aria rolled her eyes and groaned. The little dolphin behind her had been singing and goofing around nonstop since they headed out. Currently, he was in the middle of a highly annoying song. Aria huffed. I hate kids...
~o~
"Hey, miss?" The young changeling spoke up after a while.
"What?" She said in an annoyed tone.
"I'm bored..."
"Not my problem."
"But-"
"Not. My. Problem." She growled. The changeling hesitated before speaking again.
"Miss?"
"What?!"
"I'm tired." Aria just rolled her eyes and ignored him. He sighed and looked at her.
"Mis-"
"Just call me Aria, half-pint." She said with a slight growl. The changeling blinked.
"Oh, okay. Aria?" The purple siren prepared herself for another stupid complaint.
"...What?"
"Why are you so angry?" He asked. Aria blinked in surprise. She had not expected that. She looked back at him with a glare.
"Maybe because a little, shape-shifting creature is tailgating me everywhere and is annoying beyond belief." She said with a nod as if agreeing with herself. The changeling looked at her.
"No, I don't think that's it, mis...err...Aria." He stated. Aria rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, well what do you know?" She growled. "You're just a dumb kid." The little dolphin swam up beside her and gave her a thoughtful look.
"Did you lose something...?" He asked. Aria shot him another glare.
"What makes you say that?" She growled. He smiled a bit.
"Well, whenever I lose something, I get angry sometimes. Like you." Aria growled.
"For the last time, I'm not angry!" Then, seeing the little one's knowing smirk and her outburst, she realized that she was, in fact, angry. No, more like pissed. But why? Wasn't this a good time? She's finally heading back home. To her family. So why was she so angry at the moment?
"It's okay to be mad, you know..." The creature chimed in. "Broodmother always told us that." Aria rolled her eyes.
"Yes, well 'broodmother' also manipulated and tried to kill me, so I'm hardly going to take advice coming from her..."
"But why are you mad? Because of what she did?" Aria paused for a moment and sighed.
"I don't think so...I guess I...I kind of always knew what I was doing was wrong...but I never stopped. I guess this is just...karma. I deserved what happened. I'm paying for what I did...and the ones I hurt..." She sighed again as her swimming visibly slowed. The little creature looked at her in concern.
"Is that why you're mad...? Because you hurt the ones you cared about...?" Aria looked away from him, staring at the ground ahead. Finally, after a moment, she sighed and looked back at the changeling, the tiniest of smiles hinting at her face.
"You know...you're pretty smart for a kid."
The kind reviews have meant a lot to me from the start, and they're pretty much what keeps this story going! I can honestly tell you all that without the reviews, I would not have the motivation or inspiration to write a single chapter, but because of all of YOU, I can produce this story to all those who like it. So, all I'm asking is...if you really enjoy this story, and want it to continue and at a faster pace, then a small review, even a couple words, would make the biggest difference. Thank you.
