This is where things kick off. Enjoy!
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Everything between these lines happened BEFORE Celestia was told about Chrysalis. The part after that with Aria is what happened AS she was being told (just so you don't get confused with the order and/or timeline).
As the sun drew lower in the sky, Sonata whimpered.
"Oh, we'll NEVER find her..." She sighed and stared at the ground as they flew. Adagio looked at her sympathetically.
"Don't worry. We'll find her...somehow. We've just gotta keep trying." Sonata didn't seem convinced. The golden siren exhaled and glanced at Steven. The...wolf-dragon...thing...was obliviously flying without worry. She probably didn't even know what they were doing, or that they were even looking for anything at all. She shook her head and looked towards the horizon, watching the setting sun. "Look, how about we stop for the night? We can pick the search back up in the morning." Sonata whined at this and looked around desperately.
"B-but...but..." Adagio gave her a sympathetic smile and put a hoof to her shoulders.
"Sonata..." She said softly. "...calm down..." Sonata tuned to her, eyes wide, and sniffled.
"But...but..." Adagio sighed and nuzzled the blue siren's muzzle.
"Shh...relax..." She offered her a smile. "We'll find her, I promise. Now, let's get some rest." With a bit of hesitation, Sonata finally relented, and allowed Adagio to take her down to the ground. They found themselves in an empty, grassy field with no other souls in sight, much to their relief. With a sigh, Sonata curled up tightly, almost as if cuddling herself, and stared at the ground sadly. A moment later, Steven landed beside her and let out a strange-sounding purr as she lied down, snuggling against the blue siren. Adagio sighed and nodded in satisfaction before flying a few meters away and landing on the grass, curling her tail around herself. She looked up at the darkening sky and closed her eyes, exhaling softly. "Oh, where are you, you stupid seahorse...?" She murmured. She opened her eyes slightly and stared at the just barely visible moon, a soft growl emitting from her throat. "When we find you...if we find you...I'll make you wish you'd never met me..." Angrily, she bared her fangs a bit as she lied her head down. She couldn't care less if they ever found Aria or not. The purple siren was practically dead to her. What she did was unacceptable. Unforgivable. But...she wasn't doing it for her. She was doing it for the blue siren who was silently crying herself to sleep.
Aria sighed as she looked around, a large yawn escaping her. The little changeling beside her was practically already asleep, most likely adventured out for the day. Blinking heavy eyelids, Aria swam forward, scanning her surroundings. Finally, a look of relief crossed her face as she spotted a hollow divot in a coral reef. It looked rather small, however, and she knew it'd either be a tight fit, or it wouldn't be able to fit her at all. Swimming over to it, she poked her head in, testing the size. No. It would only be able to fit about half of her. With a sigh, she left it. She'd normally not care if she slept in acave or in the open, but she had the annoying little squirt with her, and if she slept in the open, no doubt he'd be eaten by morning. She grumbled something incoherent and swam away, looking around half-heartedly.
"Ma'am...?" The familiar small voice came.
"Aria."
"O-oh, yeah, sorry. Aria...?"
"What?"
"I'm-..." His sentence was cut off as he yawned. "...tired..." Aria exhaled slightly as the corner of her mouth turned up slightly in a small, tired smirk.
"Obviously." She sighed and swam further, looking for something, anything, that could give them shelter for the night. "Just hold out a bit longer, kid." They continued looking for a good fifteen minutes until Aria could feel herself beginning to nod off as she swam, sort of like, as the humans called it, 'falling asleep at the wheel.' She internally chuckled at this. But this wasn't funny. She'd have to make a decision soon if she couldn't stay awake much longer. And she knew that the changeling would last even less time. A thought crossed her mind, and with how large she was compared to the changeling, it would probably work. If they were to sleep in the open, she could simply just wrap herself around him and keep him hidden. They'd be safer that way. Or...at least he would be. Exhaling heavily, Aria began swimming towards the sandy ocean floor, and the changeling-dolphin followed absentmindedly. Allowing herself to lie on the ocean bed, she beckoned the changeling over, who complied without hesitation.
Lying on the sandy floor, the changeling gave a tired smile towards the siren before closing his eyes. Exhaling and giving one last look up at the rolling waves, she wrapped herself around the little dolphin copycat and lied there for a while, thinking. After no more than a minute, she could hear the quiet snoring of the changeling. She smiled softly. It reminded her of a long time ago, when she was but a little siren, in a cave with Sonata. During a particular thunderstorm. She was so scared, so Aria had wrapped herself around the siren protectively, making her feel safe once again. And she could never forget that, as the blue siren slept, her obnoxious snoring had filled the cave. She hadn't gotten any sleep that night. Bringing herself back to the present, Aria chuckled softly, her smile widening. Oh, how she missed those days. Her smile then turned into a frown. And she had thrown it all away. For what? Power? She scoffed, remembering some advice she'd heard before. 'The higher you are, the harder you fall' and 'It's lonely at the top.' She wished she'd taken it to heart...
~o~O~o~
"Get the troops! Hurry! We mustn't let her through!" Celestia charged throughout the castle, calling a warning to her guards and shouting orders. They had to be prepared for when that damned creature returned. Running through the main foyer and out the doors, she spread her wings and took off immediately, climbing higher in the sky until she got to the lookout of her castle with the telescope. She landed and frantically took the telescope and looked through, looking at the surrounding lands. Nothing so far. Suddenly, hoofsteps behind her caused her to whirl around, only to see her younger sister standing there with a worried expression. "Sister!" Celestia breathed in relief. "Have...have you heard?" The blue mare stepped forward slowly.
"Indeed I have. I've come to aid you. What news have you?" Celestia shook her head.
"Only as much as you have, most likely. Just that Chrysalis is on her way here..." She sighed. "Whatever will we do, sister? I do not know if we can hold off another attack from her. We need Shining Armor." She stated. Luna nodded.
"Yes. W-would you like me to retrieve him?" She asked. Celestia exhaled and nodded.
"If you would. It would be greatly appreciated." She said, bowing her head slightly. "And, if you would as well, notify the guards to go out into the city of Canterlot and order the citizens to stay in their homes. We don't want any innocent casualties." Dipping her head a bit, Luna turned, spread her wings, and took flight, flying off to do as she was instructed. Sighing, Celestia turned back to the telescope and looked through, turning it this way and that. Suddenly, it landed on two figures. But neither looked like a large, demented, disfigured pony. They were in the distance, and all she could see were an orange and a blue dot that were getting ever closer. Soon, they became identifiable as none other than the other two sirens. Not the troublemaking one she'd been hoping to find, but maybe these two could be of some use. Unfolding her large wings, she took off from her post and flew off, heading towards them. Time was not on her side, but she needed all the help she could get. If Chrysalis got into Canterlot, she wouldn't be able to trust anypony. No one would. She needed to make sure that that did not happen.
~o~O~o~
Gliding over the different towns proved useless. The two sirens looked and looked, going from town to town, but she wasn't anywhere. Adagio was starting to become highly discouraged. Sonata, however, had already been that from the beginning. She was only more so, now. But where the hell could she be?! Groaning in frustration, Adagio turned and began heading in the direction of Ponyville. As unlikely as it was for her to hit the same place again, they needed to check. Where else could she be?! But she stopped in her tracks when the sound of wing beats filled the air. And it didn't sound like Steven's. She heard Sonata gasp, and she turned her head sharply. Flying towards them was none other than Princess Celestia. She heard Sonata whimper. When the Alicorn princess was about a meter away from them, she changed her wing pattern so that each flap kept her in place instead of moving forward. She gave them a look that had a mix of concern, relief, and authority. She heard Sonata let out another small whimper before finally bursting out.
"B-but we still have one more day!" She yelped. Celestia looked at her and shook her head solemnly.
"No, this is not why I've come to you. I hereby relieve you of your search for now. A greater threat is coming, and I need your help." Adagio blinked, then narrowed her eyes.
"What kind of help...?" She questioned warily. Celestia sighed.
"Chrysalis. Perhaps you've heard of her?" Adagio and Sonata both shook their heads. "She's the leader of a group of creatures called changelings, and her and her army are closing in on Canterlot once more." Sonata's ear flicked.
"Once...more?" Celestia nodded. "Yes. And I think you two and your...dragon..." She said, motioning to Steven. "...will give us a wonderful advantage. Especially in the final battle. If worst come to worst, with those big, sharp teeth of yours, I may need you to...once and for all...do away with her." She said, her words becoming a bit quieter. It was no secret that Celestia wouldn't come to such terms unless there was really no other way. This must be a real threat, then. With a reluctant sigh, Adagio hesitated before nodding slightly, not leaving the choice to Sonata. In all honesty, the blue siren would probably run at the first sign of a skirmish with a threat like this. So, Adagio knew that this decision was pretty much all her.
"Okay, I'll do it. But on one condition." She said with a slight growl. It was obvious that Celestia was getting a little impatient. As they spoke, Chrysalis was on her way. She needed to hurry. But, regardless, she gave the golden siren her attention.
"What do you want?"
"If we do this for you, then I want more time to look for our comrade." Celestia hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Granted." With a satisfied nod, Adagio exhaled and looked at Sonata, who seemed a bit more pleased. Turning back the way she came, Celestia looked over her shoulder at the two. "Sirens, we mustn't tarry. That scourge on ponykind is on her way, so we must hurry back to Canterlot." Adagio and Sonata nodded, and they began on their way, Steven following cluelessly behind.
~o~O~o~
Protruding from the water, Aria could see those old familiar rocks in the distance. And...she would've probably cried with joy if it weren't for the fact that...the other two were nowhere to be seen. Her eyes widening, she shook her head and backed up.
"Nonononononono..." She whimpered, putting her forehooves to her temples. The little changeling, who was now actually in changeling form, beat his tiny wings as he hovered next to her, looking at her curiously.
"Aria? What's wrong?" He asked, but his question reached deaf ears as Aria's panic grew. She looked around wildly, frantically, but could not see the others. Where were they?! Oh, how she missed the one thing that was actually useful in the human world: technology. A cellphone would be so useful right now... With a whine, Aria looked towards the direction of land. Perhaps...they were there. But why? Well...what other options were there? With a high pitched shriek that only a creature such as a siren could create, she immediately turned and darted off through the air, going as fast as she possibly could. The changelings could still be searching for her, but she didn't care at this point. All she wanted was to get back to the others. To Sonata.
~o~O~o~
Chrysalis stood atop a hill, her eyes glowing green. She looked behind to see her many changelings ready for battle. They had just come from Appleloosa, wreaking havoc on the ponies that lived there. It was only meant to test the power that she now had, and it was successful. She felt giddy at the fact. Next stop: Canterlot. She turned to her subjects, standing proud, her posture tall and filled with confidence.
"Today, my changelings, we come back stronger than before! If we cannot obtain love, then we shall feed on the hate that the lowly pony race feels towards us!" She laughed, almost maniacally. "There'll be plenty to go around! And, as we fight, the hate we consume will make us stronger than we've ever been!" She yelled, rearing up. The changelings cheered and began rearing up as well, flapping their wings in anticipation. "Now, my changelings, we feed! Go, go, go!" She called, pointing her horn in the direction of Canterlot looming in the distance. A sudden heavy buzzing filled the air as the changelings took off in a gigantic swarm. Chrysalis grinned widely. Wickedly. Soon, she'd be the most powerful creature in Equestria, and how close victory was, she could practically taste it. And it...was delicious.
Hmm...can they stop her? Will Adagio ever forgive Aria? Will Aria ever forgive herself...?
