//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Three Sirens and a Sunset // by Shadowsnake89 //------------------------------// “Well that didn't take too long.” Aria says confidently as she and Rainbow Dash dust off their hooves, having dealt with the Shadowbolt guards, tying them up before joining the rest of the group. “What did you expect when you're as awesome as we are?” Rainbow Dash says as the two share a hoof bump. “Shh. We need to keep it down.” Twilight says as they peer out the window. All around town the Shadowbolts have many of the non Pegasus citizens in pens or working to build statues of the newly arrived Queen Adagio. “Alright here's the plan everyone. We should split into teams. Aria, Sonata, Sunset and I will infiltrate the castle. But Adagio is sure to have guards all over the castle in Canterlot so we'll need a distraction to draw them away.” “Leave it to me.” Rainbow Dash volunteers. “Lightning Dust is definitely there. She won't be able to resist coming after me. It should buy you guys enough time to get to the throne room.” “The rest of us will see if we can find any pony that hasn't been captured yet. We might be able to free the others with a little help.” Applejack says as the others nod in agreement. “But first, how do we get out of here without being seen?” “Leave that to me.” Rarity says as she pulls the drapes from the walls with the others giving her curious looks. She uses them to make fake Shadowbolt uniforms for Rainbow and Fluttershy. “Now we'll be able to move around without much trouble.” “Good idea. Fluttershy can pretend to have captured us so we can get around without much of a hassle while Rainbow Dash can get to Canterlot Castle no problem.” Twilight congratulates Rarity for her quick thinking. “Only one problem. I don't think a princess, a unicorn and two ponies that don't exactly blend in will be able to just waltz right into the castle.” Aria states. “I think I might be able to remedy that.” Sunset says as her horn begins to glow, turning Twilight, the two sirens and herself invisible. The group become visible again seconds later as the others look in astonishment. “It was one of my mid-term assignments. The only drawback is that you'll have to stay close for it to be effective and I mean close.” “Alright everypony on three.” The group put their hooves in. “One, two, three.” “Let's do this!” They say in unison as they head out. Twilight and her group fly a short distance behind Rainbow Dash, with Sonata carrying Sunset. “Wait.” Sonata shouts out grabbing the attention of three of the Shadowbolts who see only the disguised Dash in the sky and fly toward her. “Sonata.” Aria scolds in a whispered voice as the three guards approach Dash. “Where are you headed trooper?” “Oh, I'm headed to the castle. Lightning Dust wanted me to hang back to make sure everything was ship shape here before joining the rest of my squadron at the castle.” The others look nervously as the guard gives her a long stare before answering. “Right. Adagio probably wants as many pegasi as she can to take care of Celestia now that Princess Luna is out of the way. Carry on trooper.” He and the other two guards let her continue on her way as they head back toward their post. The others breath a sigh of relief as Aria turns her attention back to her sister. “What were you thinking? You almost blew our cover.” “Below us.” Sonata whispers as the group look down to see a group of injured Shadowbolts being moved inside the hospital. “They said they'd captured Luna. They must have been hurt during the battle. This is getting worse by the minute.” Twilight says. “We have to help.” Sonata says as she flies down, the others' distance from Sunset allowing the invisibility to wear off. “Sonata get back here.” Aria says as she, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash are forced to move down to the scene to prevent them from being detected. “Dash, can you get rid of the guards?” Sonata requests. “Fine.” Dash heads down and talks to the two Shadowbolt guards. “We've got reports of stragglers on the other side of town. They could use your help rounding them up. I'll take over from here.” “Roger that.” The two fly off allowing the group to enter the infirmary where the injured squad is being kept. “Thunderlane, Helia?” Dash says, identifying two of the wounded. “This is insane. Lightning Dust just took this too far.” As she vents Sonata places a hoof on her shoulder. “It'll be alright Dash. You'll see. But if we're going to have any chance of winning this we need to get to the castle.” “You're right. Let's move before those two get back.” On the other side of town Fluttershy cautiously leads the group as they approach the pens where the other ponies are being held. Inside Rarity and Applejack spot Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. The two rush over to see their respective sister. “Sweetie Belle.” Rarity says as the two touch hooves between the fence. “Are y'all alright?” Applejack asks as the fillies give worried looks. “We're fine but they're making us build stupid statues for that bossy old queen.” Apple Bloom explains. “Well don't you worry none. We're getting you out of here.” “Hold it right there!” Two guards coming marching down to the group. “What do you think you're doing trooper?” She demands an answer from Fluttershy. “I asked you a question.” “I uh. Well I was just...” Fluttershy says meekly as the guard presses her. “Out with it!” Fluttershy stops to think. “I'm taking these ponies.” “Under whose orders?” “Whose orders? Whose do you think.” The shy pony begins to get more assertive. “I've got special orders from Adagio herself. Do you have a problem with that?” “Yeah I do, because I think you're lying.” The others start to trade nervous glances. “Maybe I am and maybe I'm not but do you really want to be the one responsible for being the pony who kept the queen's demands from being met on time?” Fluttershy opens her eyes wide, giving the guard her signature stare. The Shadowbolt begins to sweat. “Well I um...no.” “Good now move along trooper. And keep the streets clear for us.” “Yes ma'am.” The two scurry off as Fluttershy opens the gate releasing the captives. “Come on everypony, we need to get you out of here and somewhere safe.” “Wow, that was amazing.” Pinkie says. “Nobody messes with Shadowshy.” “Yes, well let's just hope the others are fairing as well.” Rarity says as they lead the citizens out of town. Canterlot Castle “Ah, after all these years I finally have the throne I deserve. It's just a shame the current ruler wasn't here to abdicate. Well I guess we'll just have to wait for a proper hand off of powers.” Adagio says as she relaxes on Celestia's throne. “Don't worry about a thing once the princess returns she won't stand a chance against you.” Dust says as she oversees the Shadowbolt's rounding up the palace guard with Scootaloo sticking close to her. She notices Adagio start to wince for a second, holding her head like she has a migraine. “Are you alright Queen Adagio?” The siren looks down from the throne at her guard. “I'm not sure. Something doesn't feel right. You're certain the portal has been destroyed?” “Yes, I put Cut Off and his team in charge of that.” She notices the raised eyebrow she is receiving from her leader. “And of course, I put a team in charge of overseeing them.” The two turn as one of the Shadowbolts enters the room. “What is it trooper?” “We have a problem ma'am. It seems the castle has been infiltrated.” “By whom?” Dust asks as the trooper pulls off her mask. “Rainbow Dash! How did you...?” Dust stops herself before realizing what's happened. “If you want something done right, never let those three handle it.” “Catch me if you can slowpokes.” Dash races back down the hall. “After her!” Dust shouts as every Shadowbolt in the vicinity gives chase, leaving Adagio alone in the throne room. The pursuit quickly leads them outside and through the streets of Canterlot. Bobbing and weaving through the alleyways, Dash manages to lose several of the troopers, who end up crashing into objects of flat out losing track of her. “She's over here.” One of them shouts moving to where that spotted her only to find nothing. “No, she's over there.” After continuous failed calls the large chase quickly turns to chaos as the Shadowbolts fly every which way to locate their prey. From above, Dust watches in disbelief at what is happening. She hears a sharp whistle from above her. Looking up she sees Rainbow Dash sitting comfortably on a cloud. “Hey Dust, up here.” Dash says playfully. “Come and get me.” “You ready kid?” Dust asks Scootaloo as the two fly up after Dash who races into a group of thick clouds, quickly whipping them into a storm. From the ground, Twilight and the others look on. “That's the signal, come on.” She says as they use Sunset's invisibility to sneak into the castle just in case they should run into anymore guards. Sonata stops to admire Dash's work. “Ooh pretty.” She says as Aria gently guides her back to the group. In the cloud Dust and Scootaloo manage to get separated from each other as lightning bolts blaze through the sky. The filly turned Shadowbolt races through the cloud in every direction, in an attempt to find her leader. As she moves through the storm she bumps into Rainbow Dash. She instinctively attempts to attack Dash, who dodges and grabs her from behind. The filly violently struggles as Dash tries to talk to her. “Scootaloo, calm down. I'm here to help you. I know you can't control yourself right now but I also know you'd never hurt your friends.” As Dash holds her a faint glow covers the two. She then lets go of the younger pony who turns back to her and begins shaking her head. “Rainbow Dash? What's going on? Whoa, am I flying?” Scootaloo looks around in amazement. “Listen it's a long story but right now I need you to stay put. There's something I need to take care of.” Rainbow Dash explains as she guides Scootaloo to the edge of the cloud. Dust is still busy trying to find her elusive target while still searching for her young charge. “Kid, kid is that you?” She says as she sees a figure a short distance away which reveals itself as Rainbow Dash. “Not quite. Now I think we have some unfinished business.” “Oh you have no idea Dash.” She rushes toward the rainbow maned pony only for her to vanish after a flash of lightning cuts off Dust. The Shadowbolt commander spots her silhouette just above her and chases it across the cloud. “Why are you doing this?” Dash says as another crackle of lightning temporarily blinds Dust, causing her to lose sight of her target again. “You of all people know that Dash. I want to be the best flier there has ever been.” “Okay, but is this really worth it? Enslaving everypony else just so you can get what you want?” Dust can hear her but she can't pinpoint the location. “I thought you were going to fight not lecture me.” “Well I could do both at the same time but right now let's just focus on the lecturing.” Dust blazes through the storm, desperately trying to pinpoint Dash's location. “There's nothing wrong with pushing yourself to be the best, believe me. But if you want to be the best you have to accept that sometimes your way isn't always the right one.” Dust continues her path, taking the cloud apart piece by piece. “And I'm sorry about what happened but you did it to yourself and you have to own up to it.” “Be quiet!” Dust thrashes another part of the cloud as Dash continues. “Your a great flier Dust but to be the best you have to be willing to take criticism and correct yourself when it's necessary.” “Stop talking!” “The Wonderbolts are admired by everypony because of the good they do, because they're an inspiration. The only reaction you'll get from all this is fear. Is that really what you want?” Dust stops short of attacking another part of the cloud. “You're right Dash. If I want to be a Wonderbolt I need to start acting like one. Though I doubt I'll get another shot after all this is over.” “It wasn't your fault. Sombra's power can be pretty persuasive. I'm sure if we talk to Spitfire she'll understand.” Dash flies out from her cover and approaches Dust. “You know what Adagio has planned so what do we do next?” Dust turns to look at her with a smirk on her face. “Well first we do this.” She tackles Dash, soaring up and out of the clouds. “I can't believe you fell for that. You really should have spent less time talking and more time trying to out fly me.” “And you should have spent more time paying attention to your surroundings.” The two turn to see Spitfire with Scootaloo by her side. Along with them is the entirety of the Wonderbolts. “Celestia filled us in on the situation and sent us ahead of her. You okay Dash?” “You know me, never better.” Dust slowly releases her, in awe at the surmounting odds. “Lightning Dust. Really thought you'd turned yourself around.” “Oh, I have turned myself around. I'm not taking orders from you ever again. I'm the commander now.” She whistles and the Shadowbolts from the town below rise to join her. “And I'm calling the shots from now on.” “Funny, I could have sworn you were following a siren.” Dash retorts. “For now.” As she prepares to give orders, Cut Off and his two friends fly up to her. “You three had one job. One simple job and you managed to louse it up.” “Yeah, we're not very good when it comes to simple. Sorry.” Double Down says. “As long as you destroyed the portal.” The three trade nervous stares, attempting to avoid eye contact with her. “We'll talk about this later. Shadowbolts attack!” “Remember the plan. They're innocent civilians so don't rough them up too much.” Spitfire says as the two forces collide. Back at the castle Adagio sits in her throne room awaiting the Shadowbolt's return. “My lady.” The guard walks into the room nervously. “We've received word that the Wonderbolts have arrived over the city. Lightning Dust and her squadron are engaging them right now.” As he finishes his report he is pulled out of the doorway. “Guard? Guard!” She shouts as Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer appear in the doorway. “You!” She looks behind them to see her sisters in their pony forms. “What are you doing here?” “We're here to help you Adagio.” Sonata says. “You shouldn't have come here. I told you before I don't need you.” “We know why you said what you said.” Aria steps forward. “You didn't want to hurt us, you wanted us to be happy.” Adagio turns her head, unwilling to look as them. “We know what you're going through but you have to fight it. Don't let that hunger control you.” “You understand nothing!” The eldest siren lashes out as her power cracks the floor around her. She calms down and composes herself before speaking again. “Please, just leave me. I don't want to hurt you.” “We're sorry Adagio but you know we can't do that. We can't just let you take over another world and pretend like nothing is wrong. Come back with us, we can help you get through this.” Aria says. “Please Adagio come home.” Sonata pleads. Adagio steps down from her thrown as her pendent begins to glow. “I am home.” She fires a blast from her horn that knocks the other sirens away, slamming them into a wall. “Aria, Sonata!” Sunset shouts as she and Twilight turn back to Adagio. “What's wrong with you. They're your sisters.” Adagio's eye starts to twitch as a field of energy surrounds her. As it dies down the two ponies look up in terror to find that she has changed into her true siren form, with her horn and clad in Sombra's armor. “I was only trying to keep them from this but you had to draw them back. Everything that happens from here on out is your fault.” She unleashes her devastating power into a blast directed at the two. “Get behind me!” Twilight says as she brings up a force field to protect her and Sunset. It does little but hold back the first blast before the alicorn is completely exhausted, falling down. “Twilight are you okay?” “Neither of you will be for long.” Adagio fires another blast only to find it deflected into the wall by another energy source. She turns to see Aria and Sonata, having assumed their siren forms as well. “You're not going to hurt our friends. We don't want to fight you so we're asking for the last time: Please stop this.” Sonata pleads. Adagio begins to grind her teeth before finally excepting what she feels needs to be done. “I am sorry girls,” She grabs the two in a field of energy, flinging them through one of the murals and out into the castle courtyard, flying out after them. “but this is the way it has to be.”