Grimoire sat in his tent looking through a book he purchased in this world. It was a collection of stories known as ‘myths,’ ancient tales to explain the world when civilizations were young. There was a tale of a prince who murdered his father for treasure, only for it to twist his mind and turn him into a dragon. A story of siblings cursed by gods to pull the Sun and Moon through the skies for their arrogance. A tale of a trickster, constantly messing with the other beings. So many wonderful and interesting stories all wrapped in one package. Grimoire found the mythology fascinating for its parallels to Equestria. He couldn’t help but smile at them. Granted, so far, he had only completed the first section (labelled Norse). The next section was from another realm (Greco-Roman). The same planet, but it felt so different. He had reached the stories of the sirens when someone approached his tent.
He closed his book and made for the tent’s entrance. Waiting for him were three familiar faces, the Dazzlings. He smiled, “Welcome. I’d say I’ve been expecting you, but that would be untrue. I legitimately did not know if you would actually come.”
“Cut the small talk.” Adagio responded. Her stance showing clear displeasure. “We’re here to get our singing voices back.”
“Quite… But if you let me finish, you’d know the materials aren’t ready and will take a while to prepare. And you three better be absolutely sure about this. I’m not wasting materials, understand?”
Aria folded her arms and just gave a dismissive, “Whatever.”
Sonata smiled and rocked back and forth on her heels.
Adagio’s was clearly the final word, “Trust me, we want our voices back.”
Grimoire folded his arms and smiled. “Alright. But it’ll cost you.”
Adagio glared at the Mage. “And what is it you want?”
“Right to the point. I can appreciate that. You see, I’ve been rather bored since last Sunday. I’ve done my fair share of reading, and that’s always fun; but I still need some variety. Are following me so far, Dagi?”
Adagio remained composed but was clearly angry, “I told you not to call me that.”
“I know, and I don’t care… Dagi~.”
As Adagio’s anger grew, her companions couldn’t help but laugh. It was the first time someone really got under Adagio’s skin. Sure, she was mad about losing the Battle of the Bands, but she moved on surprisingly quickly. This guy just knew how to push her buttons. “Get to the point!”
“Now?” The Mage smiled.
“NOW!”
“Pushy… fine. While we wait, you three are going to play a game with me.”
The three froze for a moment. Adagio blinked twice, as if to register what she heard, “A… game?”
“Yep! That shouldn’t be too hard, right?”
“What kind of game are we talking about here?”
“I variation of a game called Nightmare. My own version. Shall we? Not much else to do while the stuff gets ready.” Grimoire walked into the tent.
Adagio groaned. She didn’t come here to play a damn board game. To be fair, he could have asked them for anything and they probably would have paid, desperate for their voices’ return. It could be worse… She sighed and nodded to Aria and Sonata, signaling that they were to enter the tent.
As they entered, they found themselves outside in a field with light grey grass and leaf-less trees. The dark pink sky was accented by green clouds and a black sun. The sirens stood there in surprise. Despite their experience with magic, they had never seen anything like this before. Stranger still, they found Grimoire sitting atop a gravestone singing to himself.
You didn’t know that you fell. Oh-woah-oh! Oh-woah-oh! Now that you’re under my spell.
It was hard not to recognize their own material. But how did he learn the song?
He bent backward and looked toward them upside-down. “Hello! Welcome to the game.” He leaned further and flipped himself upright as the headstone sunk into the ground. “Shall we play a game?”
Sonata raised her fist into the air, “Yeah!”
The other two were less enthusiastic.
“The rules are simple. Draw a card and follow the directions. Chance cards are earned based on other cards and can be played at anytime once you have one. First one to the goal of thirty spaces wins.”
“That’s it? That hardly seems hard.” Aria griped.
“Never said it was hard. But there is a strategy. As for that being ‘it,’ I propose a reward.”
This got the sirens’ attention. “What kind of reward?”
“I can’t offer too much. How about one request within my power to fulfill to the winner. You could have anything, really… Enough gold to never have to work again, the power to reign over the music world, or unlimited tacos… whatever.”
This prospect caught the sirens’ attention. After all, how could you pass up a free wish?
“However, keep in mind that are somethings I either cannot or will not do. With that out of the way, let’s play.” The stones rose up from the ground, forming the board. “I’ll go first as an example. You three need to decide your turn order.”
After some finagling, the turn order was established: Grimoire Adagio, Aria, and Sonata was last.
Grimoire stretched out his arm and a card appeared in his hand. [Things are kicking off now. Move ahead three spaces and take a chance card.] He smiled and moved along the stones and taking a chance card on site. He sighed in relief as his luck seemed to improve since the last game. “Your turn Dagi.”
“Don’t call me that.” She mimicked his motions and received a card. [First that bearded jerk, now those damn brats… You may have lost, but there’s no time to mope. Move ahead three spaces.] She moved next to Grimoire.
Grimoire smiled as she approached, “Welcome to space 3, Dagi.”
“Shut it.”
Now it was Aria’s turn. [This isn’t the worst card you could have drawn… move ahead four spaces.] She moved ahead of the two and smiled to herself. It felt nice to be ahead of Adagio for once.
“My turn!” Sonata drew her card, [It’s too nice a day not to enjoy! Take two spaces and a chance card.]
Grimoire took his movement card; but, before he read it, he played his chance card, {If you’re sharing the space with another player, they are effected by your next movement card, but have to lose a turn as a result.} “So, shall we, Dagi?”
“Shut up and read the damn card.” She was seriously mad, but was learning that she couldn’t really stop him.
“A logical fallacy, but that’s not important.” [Life plays the song. We make the dance. Dance forward four spaces to the beat of life.] “hmm… Quite the card.”
“Whatever…” Adagio tried to move forward, but hit a barrier. “What the hell?!”
“A barrier that stops the players from cheating. Can’t be too careful.”
“It said I moved based on your damn card! So, I’ll repeat; what the hell?!”
“Read the card again. ‘Dance’ forward.” He held his hand out toward her.
“You cannot be serious!”
“Rarely am. Now,” He took her hand and pulled her in, “shut up and dance with me.” Adagio was going to spit some more venom, but he beat her to the punch and started a simple waltz step. He led her forward four spaces and finished the dance with a dip. He returned her to a standing position and bowed to his partner. “Until next time, Dagi.”
With a skipped turn for Adagio, Aria drew her next card. [Background Siren, my ass! As if anyone could ignore you. Move ahead six spaces to show them who’s boss! But lose a turn as a result.] “Whatever.”
Now it was Sonata’s turn. [IT’S TACO TUESDAY! Run ahead ten spaces, take a chance card, and lose your next turn to enjoy the delicious tacos.] “Yeah!” Sonata rushed forward and actually had some tacos waiting on a table for her by the space.
“Wait!” Aria turned toward Grimoire, “Where the hell did those come from?!”
“Simple. If the card says it, it happens. That’s how the game works. That’s why Adagio and I had to dance forward and how Sonata got her tacos. It’s a new feature to make it more fun. Speaking of…” He reaches out and grabs a card. [Choice! You can either move ahead five spaces and take a chance card or move one space and take two.] “Not bad. I think I’ll take it easy this time.” He moved forward one space and received two chance cards.
Now it was Adagio’s turn again. [No one should stand in your way. If they were smart, they would keep their distance. Move ahead four spaces and any player you pass moves back one space.] Adagio smiled and moved her spaces, reveling in the fact that Aria and Grimoire were forced back a space in the process.
With Aria and Sonata out for the turn, it was Grimoire’s turn again. [That’s not very nice. But it is a competition… Move ahead four spaces. If you pass a player, they must either give you a chance card or lose a turn.]
“What?!” Aria and Adagio didn’t have chance cards, so they had to sit out the round.
This meant it was Sonata’s turn, who escaped the wrath of Grimoire’s card by one space. [Are you in first? If you are, move ahead two spaces. If not, move five.] She could only move two spaces, but she was still having fun.
Grimoire smirked. He knew Aria was getting mad at the game, but she didn’t want to risk losing. Adagio seemed to have calmed down a little since the game started. She still didn’t like him, but that was never really a goal. He was having fun, and it was clear that they were too. He drew his card for the next turn. [Playing with fire… aren’t you? It’s risky, and so is this card. It’s a simple flip of the coin. Heads: move ahead five spaces. Tails: don’t move, but get a chance card.] “Oh… this should be interesting.” A coin materializes and flies into the air. It lands heads up and Grimoire moves forward.
Finally, it was Adagio’s turn again. [It’s good to be the best. Move ahead three spaces and grab a chance card.] When she picked up the card, she was a little surprised. {Play immediately! The Siren’s song is irresistible. Every player ahead of you moves back to your position.}
Grimoire walked back and stood next to Adagio as Sonata rocked back and forth on her heels on the same spot.
Aria groaned. She was too far behind for her tastes. She drew her card, hoping for a serious boost. [Can’t win them all… move ahead two spaces and take a chance card.] She wasn’t happy that she was still behind the others. She drew her chance card and was met with an immediate activation. {Activate immediately! They are absolutely the worst! If you’re in last place, switch places with the first-place player. If not, move an extra space or something…} Aria was more than happy to get this card. Since those three were all on the same spot, they were all in first place. So, she took their spot, and they were forced backward.
Unfortunately, it was short lived when Sonata drew her card. [You and your peppy attitude… I can’t be mean to that face… take seven spaces.] “Yey!” If that wasn’t enough, all these chance card plays reminded her she had some. {Taco boost! Move ahead an extra three spaces.} This put Sonata at space 21 and only 9 from the goal. With the others still behind the half-way mark, it seemed locked up for Sonata.
“My turn.” Grimoire drew his card, [Let’s kick things off for real. Move ahead five spaces, take two chance cards, and play one now. If, after this, you are in first place, lose two turns.] He smiled as he marched forward his five spaces and grabbed his chance cards. After looking over his options, he picked the card he was to play, {You’re just a big softy sometimes. The player in last place moves forward to your position.} When Adagio reached his space and the effects of his movement card were complete, he played another chance card. {You’ve been inconspicuous for long enough. Drop this chance and replace it with two new cards.}
Now, Adagio drew her next card. [A little magic goes a long way. Move ahead three spaces.] This put her two spaces behind Sonata.
Being in last place again made Aria mad, but it was more from her competitiveness and the fact that the annoying, taco-obsessed airhead was in first. And if she won, she’d probably waste that wish on more tacos. She drew her movement card for the round, [Let’s kick things off! No more holding back! Move ahead ten spaces and take a chance card. Play it immediately, but lose your next turn.] When she reached space 24, she drew her chance card. {This should teach them not to get you mad. Choose one player and force them to lose a turn.} Her choice was obvious as she forced Sonata to take the round off.
Now it was Grimoire’s turn again. [Music fills the world, but you move to the harmony in your heart. Move forward four spaces.] Now at space 20, Grimoire chained two of his chance cards together. {Move forward an extra three spaces. Nice and simple.} and {‘Ten steps ahead’ is ten steps too slow. Move forward double your movement card value as long as it is less than five spaces.} This placed him on space 27. Even if he got that game ender from last time, he’d still win the game.
Adagio stepped up to the turn and drew a card. [A Siren doesn’t lose. If you’re not in first place, move five spaces. If you aren’t in first after this, take a chance card.] Being next to Aria at space 24 put her in second, so she took a card. {Play immediately! The Sun. The Moon. Breath of fire? Something is approaching. You have to wait until next turn for to arrive.} “What the hell?”
Aria lost her turn, so it was Sonata’s turn again. [It’s fun to spend time with friends! But winning is nice too. Move to the space of the first-place player.] She made her way next to Grimoire and smiled. “Hello!”
“Welcome to spot 27!” The two seemed to be enjoying themselves. But now it was Grimoire’s turn. [You got lucky this time. Next time you won’t be so lucky. Move two spaces.] “Well, that’s a blast from the past.” He stopped one space away from the goal. He could have played his last chance card, but he was too curious to their reactions to Adagio’s card.
Adagio’s turn began and the chance from the last turn activated. {Now you three have done it… Father is angry.}
Sonata tilted her head slightly, “Father?”
“There’s more,” Adagio continued. {Now, you must face your punishment. All players within three spaces of your current position are caught in the crossfire. All effected players are forced backward to the closest space from the list: 0, 5, 10, 15. Next time, don’t piss off Poppa Leviathan.} “Leviathan?”
Aria turned to Adagio. “Like the stories…”
They were cut off when a large, siren-like creature landed by the stones. Its eyes seemed to glow like the sun and moon. It was more beastly than their own siren forms, but for some reason, the presence was almost calming. Until he let out an angered roar, sending the sirens flying backward to space 15.
Grimoire smiled and played his las chance card as they gathered themselves. [When another chance card is activated, play this to move forward three spaces.] A little overboard, but perfectly acceptable. The victory went to Grimoire.
The group returned to Grimoire’s tent. Grimoire stretched his back with a smile. “That was fun! When I’m back in town, we should do this again.”
Aria didn’t want to admit it, but it was a little fun. Sonata smiled and nodded in agreement. Adagio, however, had something else on her mind. “What was thing at the end of the game?”
“You mean Leviathan? How did you not know about him?”
Aria tapped Adagio’s shoulder, “From the stories our moms used to tell us. The father of the Sirens…”
“Now,” Grimoire handed the three small pieces of paper. “These are special magic runes. Rip them in half and you’ll have your singing voices back. That’s all there is to it.”
The Sirens didn’t waste any time in ripping the papers to shreds. After a moment, they felt the magic surge around them. When they attempted to sing, they were met with a beautiful melody for the first time since the Battle of the Bands. The three celebrated the return of their voices and started to leave the tent.
The stopped outside when they were face to face with a tall man in a grey suit. His hair seemed to flow like the ocean. His right eye was a bright yellow and his left eye had a solid white iris with black sclera. The sirens weren’t sure who he was, but they just knew not to do anything stupid.
Grimoire followed them outside and saw the man before them. “Hey, Levi! We were just talking about you!”
The Dazzlings turned to Grimoire, hoping he was joking. They knew the stories of Leviathan’s anger with his daughters. They knew about his draconian punishments for the sirens who used their powers the way they had. The man stood silently for a moment, this made them feel on edge.
After a minute, he started slowly walking toward the Dazzlings. When he reached them, they closed their eyes, waiting for what would come. They’d prefer not to see it coming. He fell down onto one knee and wrapped his arms around the three, a tear falling down his cheek and a smile on his face.
Grimoire smiled as he watched the scene. A family reunited; or, at least, what’s left of it.