//------------------------------// // Epilogue: Expansion Idea // Story: Sirens' origin // by EnergeticRider //------------------------------// Three seamares were laying idly on the ocean surface. “I’m bored,” said Sonata and used her powers to fetch an apple from the raft, floating nearby. “Tfff” spat she after taking a bite. “It’s sour.” “Quit complaining!” Adagio rose her head. “You should be glad that we have these fruits at all.” “Yeah, without us you wouldn’t even think to get a raft and store provisions there,” added Aria. “What?” jerked up Sonata. “Do you think I’m an idiot?!” She hasn’t risen into the air, but even standing up made her tower over the raft with provisions. All three Sirens were now at least twice their original size. Obviously, it was another side effect of their charms. Though it never bothered them even a bit. All that they cared about were their voices and negative energy to feed them up. “Certainly looks like it,” answered Aria without even raising. “You… you...” Sonata stuck in trying to come up with insult, her sisters grinning anticipating her failure. “You think that your plan is so brilliant! To lie and wait for ships passing by, make everyone on board fight each other to charge us than take everything valuable and command them to flee.” Adagio and Aria exchanged glances. “But you know what?” continued Sonata. “If you were really smart, we wouldn’t have to wait for passing ships in the first place. It was your fault that all seaponies have run away from the city. Just as Card and her brother told them! If you haven’t allowed those two to mess with the loudspeakers...” “Shut up!” now Aria raised from the water. “Without us, you wouldn’t have gained power at all. The plan to sing on the edge of hearing and slowly turn the whole Delight on each other worked perfectly.” “And actually it was I, who came up with it,” Adagio joined her sister above the surface. “But in the end, you let everypony slip away,” finished Sonata while also jumping up in the air. Now all three Sirens were floating above the ocean, each of them trying to get above the others. “We managed to get a dozen of them later,” tried to argue Aria. “So what? After a month their negative energy became as sour as these apples.” countered Sonata. “Admit it! You can not stand that aftertaste too. So now we pass time here watching for any ship, instead of comfortable apartments under the sea. And there are fewer ships every month.” “Can’t imagine why” sarcastically added Aria. “Obviously because crews of the ships we sack get to tell everyone to steer away from these parts,” Sonata stopped, realizing her mistake. “But you already know this, don’t you? You are making fool of me again!” “And not with much effort.” “Enough!” cried Adagio. “I can put up with hunger, with having to look further and further for somepony to feed on. But I had enough of you bickering. If you are so bored, go down to the city and eat seaweed. And if that dozen seaponies are still there make them fight each other or do something else to get you entertained.” “Why wouldn’t you go down there yourself?” asked Sonata. “Because I’m the only one focused enough to watch for anything important.” after getting off some steam Adagio became calmer, a little. “And I am sick of seaweed and that stale negative energy.” “And I’m sick of waiting. Why can’t we just go and find some other city? Or at least a village?” obviously Sonata wasn’t going to quit complaining anytime soon. “Because...” Adagio stopped trying to remember. “If we go to the shore, ponies will report about us and we would have all sorts of trouble on our hooves. Remember that Card was trying to call somepony when we’ve found her?” “I don’t know, Adagio,” cut in Aria. “Wild Card and her brother could’ve already told everything about us to Equestrian Ruling Council or those fancy alicorns. What're their names?” “Celestia and Luna, but it doesn’t matter. Until we are beyond Equestrian borders they won’t bother us. In fact, last crew was telling that there was some rift Ruling Council and those sisters.” “What?” said Adagio to her sisters, who were staring at her, after another pause. “Unlike you two I’m actually trying to think ahead.” “But haven’t it come to you that this is exactly the perfect opportunity? After all, many of the ships we sack have pony crews,” reflected Aria. “What if this split is the only thing that’s stopping them to go against us? Personally, I’m starting to think that confining ourselves to Delight whereabouts is becoming less and less reasonable. We should use our advantage to gain more power.” “Wait,” clicked in Sonata. “So am I right? We don’t have to sit here and get by with the passing cargo, do we? We can go and seize some fresh juicy pony anger and frustration?” “Ok, fine!” growled Adagio after a long pause. “Let’s go and see if we can find some remote village. Maybe it’s indeed the time to expand our influence.”