Thomas & Equestria Girls 2:
Adventures From Sodor!
Chapter 22: Song of the Siren
Adagio Dazzle angrily stormed towards the Blue Mountain Quarry in a steamy huff. She had just arrived from Ulfstead Castle after failing to catch one of the Girls who made off with a steam engine her and the diesels were keeping captive. Luckily, they still had one, but now her enemies were close to reuniting both groups. Something had to be done to ensure that they don't combine their magic.
But before she could, Adagio went to check up on the little diesels she assigned to scavenge the quarry for Silver Dust, a glittery substance Adagio once encountered a long time ago. Now it's resurfaced on Sodor, both to her confusion and intrigue. She even forgot to be mad over losing the escaped engine upon chuffing further towards the turntable.
She came to a stop and looked around the loud, bustling quarry. Narrow gauge diesels were hard at work moving and mining slate from place to place. Impatient, Adagio then tried summoning Midlander with her red lantern. At last, Midlander reluctantly showed up and parked in front of the big DRB-50 steam engine looking down at her.
"Did you acquire or at least learn of the Silver Dust's origin like I asked?" Adagio issued. "And the answer better be that you did."
Midlander as a bit reluctant after hearing this. Clearly Adagio wasn't in the mood for disappointments which pressured her to avoid saying anything that would set her off.
"Uh, we have. It's just… well, follow me and we'll show you," Midlander began reversing backwards. "It's a bit more ways away than we thought."
Annoyed, Adagio complied and followed Midlander to their excavation site.
The Silver Dust trail led deep within the quarry, so deep that crewmen had to set up new duel gauge tracks for big and little engines to travel on. The two engines traveled through a makeshift canyon leading further away from the Blue Mountain Quarry. The path took them up through a mountain slope and down again to more narrow canyons. Then they reached the end of the line where crewmen were still putting down rails in a now much wider spectrum. The single track they rode on drifted off into three separate lines through a set of points. One they built for a crane to lower down more tracks, one continuing off deeper into the gorge, and another pointing towards a single, curved mountain on their left.
The workmen didn't question why they were being sent to pick this particular part of the mountain. Their job was simply to mine slate and have it delivered on time for standard gauge engines to collect, which was exactly what they continued doing, with only Midlander, a few diesels and crewmen looking out for Silver Dust.
Adagio examined the strange blue mountain. A sparkling line of Silver Dust trailed along the still constructed rails and towards the mountains cliffside below. The top appeared to have more grassland, albeit dried up and withered. There also appeared to be what looked like a giant, round boulder perched at the very top and held into place by a nest of moss and gravel.
"That's where the source of these silver sparkles is coming from?" Adagio asked.
"It is," Midlander hesitated.
"Excellent," She complimented. "Now, begin harvesting these sparkles by cutting through the whole mountain."
"Uh, hmm, well, the thing is, w-w-we can't do that."
"And why not, exactly?"
"Because," She then whispered, "That's… Boulder's Mountain!"
The crewmen gasped and immediately dropped their tools and stopped working to look over in shock to Midlander. Nearly everyone in their vicinity was in a horrific, stunned silence. All except an unconcerned Adagio, who kept looking at everyone and not knowing what the sudden panic was over.
"You see," Midlander said. "There's a legend behind this particular Boulder, one that nobody believed to be true until one fatal accident a few years ago."
Adagio hardly cared about any of that but Midlander proceeded to explain anyways, feeling that she needed to hear it for their own good.
"One day, some narrow-gauge engines where drilling into an old mountain Boulder once laid claim. But the drilling disturbed Boulder. So, he shook loose from its perch and landed onto the tracks. Boulder left nothing but a path of destruction everywhere he turned until finally, he stopped after rolling into and destroying an entire engine shed."
The crewmen were unsettled by Midlander's story. They knew the story all to well. Rusty, a narrow-gauge diesel, often told stories of the little diesel's own encounter with the boulder. And the way Midlander described it sent a shiver down their spines. Adagio was a bit appalled by the ludicrously she was hearing.
"After that, they were forced to close the old quarry and had Boulder moved to this very spot. It still stands there to this day, claiming this mountain alone as its new guardian. But still some say, on a clear night's sky, you can see Boulder gazing high up at the mountains from the distance; that its sighs are being carried off by the wind to where it once stood, proud and silent."
Adagio held a perplexed face, trying to process their story before adding her own pragmatic comments.
"It's a rock."
"Not just any rock! It has eyes of his own, a spirit even, like it's watching us. Nobody knows why he doesn't want us near this mountain. All we ever get is a warning. Nothing more. Otherwise, its mayhem and destruction for those who don't heed his warning. We're best leaving this part of the island… alone," she finished, ominously.
Every crewman present shared quivering looks to one another. But Adagio still appeared confounded, simply unamused, and done with their tall tale.
"… It's. A. Rock," She emphasized.
"Oh," Midlander said, meekly.
"That mountain contains an unimaginable amount of Silver Sparkles. And It had better be deprived of every last speck when I return. So, don't approach me again until it is."
"But-"
Adagio Dazzle didn't listen though. Instead, she blew her whistle and took off whilst hissing steam at some of the crewmen and chuckling under her breath.
Midlander knew she couldn't dig into Boulder's mountain. But direct orders from Mr. Gisborne's engine are still direct orders from the controller himself. Workmen refused to get back to work, but Midlander and their manager ordered them to do so, despite high reluctance and a conscious voice urging them not to from everyone. Orders were orders.
The Dieselworks was now littered with broken down and derailed diesels laying flat on their sides next to the lines where the Girls knocked them off. Workmen did everything they could to get everyone back on the rails and fixed up of any damage they received. Diesels moaned and complained. Their tussle with the steamies took more out of them then they thought.
Class 40 went around giving out judgement to all the diesels being repaired. He came across Western, Skinhead and Whistler lined up on a single line. They were close to being repaired.
"Ha! Look at you all," Class 40 taunted. "Fancy letting a bunch of silly steamies tussle you about. I, on the other hand, showed those steamies what for. And haven't got a single scratch on me."
"Hey! I saws your scaredy engine running away from Mavis!" Western challenged.
"Agh!" He said, appalled. "That wasn't me! It was, uh, him!"
He directed their attention at Whistler, whose eyes shot open when Skinhead and Western loomed over to him. Both diesels were the same class and of similar liveries. It was convincing enough for Skinhead and Western to mistake Whistler as the diesel they saw running and screaming from Mavis instead of Class 40.
"Ha-ha-ha!" Skinhead laughed. "You're afraid of a little diesel!"
"No, I'm not!" Whistler retorted, defensively. "You've got the wrong engine!"
"Scaredy diesel, scaredy diesel!" Western teased.
The two kept laughing at teasing. Class 40, in all his smugness, quickly carried off before the trio could figure out his deception.
Meanwhile, BoCo was keeping an eye on Henry and Derek, who were still parked under the Smelting Foundry off to the east side of the Works. Henry was absolutely miserable. He was so close to being rescued, to be with his friends again. Now the Girls were gone, driven off by pestering diesels, and it was very likely that his time on Sodor was coming closer to an end than ever, especially after recent events. There was no way any diesel was going to allow them to return again after the riot that took place; Henry, BoCo everyone else knew it.
"Too bad that little steamie didn't get to you," BoCo boasted. "She didn't even try putting up a fight. It was like pushing an empty truck."
"No thanks to you, BoCo," Henry fired back, offended by his insult. "Why can't you be friendly like you used to."
He scoffed. "Nothing ever gets done by being friendly. Like Diesel said; hard as nails always gruff. That's the only way things get done now a days. Why do you think steamies don't belong on rails anymore? Those steamies will see the light eventually and cease all this nonsense soon. At least I hope so, for their sake."
Henry was peeved at this point. The three engines then heard Adagio Dazzle approaching from behind and stopping just before the crossing from afar. BoCo left without saying another word. All Henry could do was watch until he went back to looking downcast at the tracks beneath him and thinking about all his friends.
"Gosh, I'm sorry about your friends, Henry," Derek said. "Maybe they'll come back for you. They did seem very determined."
"Hoh. I want to be hopeful, Derek, but…"
Henry didn't have it in him to finish his thought. He knew his departure from Sodor was nearing closer than ever. How were they going to get to him with half the Island out to get them? Once the engineers tuned Derek's cooling system, he was ready to set out again.
"Just keep a chin up," Was all he encouraged. "You never know what might come around the corner. Take today for example."
Henry looked to Derek with a twinkle of hope in his eyes. Derek smiled when he saw this, getting the impression that his words actually managed to ease him a little.
"Like I said; they still seemed determined to me. That kind of dedication is rare these days. I admire that kind of push."
Derek honked his horn and left Henry alone at the warehouse, with nothing but his now inevitable outcome to anticipate.
Henry just sat by his lonesome, still thinking about all his friends, what they must be doing right about now, and how Edward must be feeling now that he's free. At least the others will be happy to have him and his wisdom to keep them in line. Then his mind trailed back to Fluttershy, and the thought of her made him depressed all over again. He imagined everyone missed him gravely, but hearing Fluttershy calling for him implied that she might've missed him most of all. And so he lingered on that thought all day, unable to dismiss the sadness he felt when picturing her face, or the longing to hear her voice and laughter again. He began to whimper despite his feeble attempt to hold back his woes.
"I miss my friends," He muttered to himself. "I miss my jobs, my forest, I miss my friends from Canterlot High. I miss you, Fluttershy."
With Edward now safe and away from the Dieselworks, Henry, for the first time in a long time, felt utterly lonely.
"We've rounded up Mavis and a few other diesels," BoCo confided to Adagio. "They're waiting by the junction to be decided on a suitable punishment."
"What about that one?"
She directed BoCo over to Derek approaching them and nervously stopped when both their attention shifted to him.
"What about him?" He retorted. "Derek can hardly do much for us or those steamies."
Derek became depressed from over hearing this. But after speaking with Henry he tried not letting it get to him. Adagio nudged her cheek and thought nothing more of it. She already had a plan in mind to discipline all diesels alike who were falling out of line. Then she took off to meet with the other diesels.
"Well, c'mon then," BoCo said to Derek. "You wanna be a real diesel? Don't throw in your lot with those steamies. Try to at least act like you belong."
He honked his horn and took off with a reluctant Derek following suite. He didn't know how to feel about BoCo's advice. He wanted to be accepted by the others, but couldn't get those steamies off his mind.
Nearly every diesel on the Island had congregated at the Dieselworks. Packs and groups of diesels met around the center junction were a small group of diesels were being put on trial. Even ones that weren't fully repaired yet were nearby to bare witness the trial taking place.
Adagio rolled up between Diesel and Class 40, and inspected the group of diesels they brought forth to her.
"You've made a big mistake allying yourself with those girls," She said to Mavis. "Especially seeing how they've completely abandoned you."
"They know better than to risk getting into more trouble," Mavis said. "I don't blame them one bit."
Class 40 chimed in. "Uh, the rest, it seems, have been protesting uncertainties over the way we run this Railway. Little Diesel thought it a grand idea to have you straighten them out."
"Aye!" Skinhead said. "They refuse to play nice with their fellow diesels."
Mavis, Paxton, Salty, Philip, Sidney, and Daisy all stood in the center, surrounded by a sea of diesel locomotives scowling at the non conforming pack. Mavis and Salty tried to remain bold, but the rest didn't know what to think. They were terrified of all their fellow diesels and their sinister grievances directed at each one of them. It was clear as day that they weren't as aggressive as the rest were, which was how most of them ended up here. Derek stayed in the background to avoid unwanted attention, especially upon learning why they had the diesels lined up.
"Diesel!" Paxton tried reaching out. "Stop this now! We're suppose to be friends."
"What're they going to do to us?!" Philip asked, afraid.
"If I'm right," Mavis commented. "Something inescapable."
Adagio knew that the Girls might be close to figuring out a way to defeat her again. Their competence in facing the diesels proved that they were improving their engine prowess. She couldn't let this happen. Her pendent was constantly feeding off negativity, including the equestrian magic the Girls harbored. But sitting back and just waiting to consume all Sodor's negativity was beginning to slip. Now that her lantern was pretty much close to revitalization, she had enough power to finally make do with the rogue steamies herself and amplify her consumption.
So, she began initiating another tactic, one to ensure that Sunset Shimmer and her friends kept on feeding her all the negative energy she needed.
Adagio Dazzle beamed a sly smirk. "There doesn't have to be any punishment if you'd all just comply. Why not put all this behind us and pretend like we're still not clinging onto old habits, hmm?"
"I'd never work alongside the likes of you!" Mavis rebelled.
She continued acting smug. "You may not blame them now. But you will. All you need is a little… push in the wrong direction."
Mavis knew what was coming and prepared herself. Adagio jerked forward a bit and began singing her hypnotic melody.
"Ah, ah-ah, ah-ahh. Ah, ah-ah, ah-ahh."
But only Daisy the Diesel Railcar seemed to show the most signs of her voice taking effect. It didn't take much for her to quickly conform and awaken with eyes greener than her own paintwork.
"Ah, ah-ah, ah-ahh."
Salty was the most surprised by this out of all of them. Mostly by the engine singing and the way it influenced Daisy. He peered at Adagio the more she sung, and discerning something awfully familiar about their predicament.
"Ah, ah-ah, ah-ahh."
Daisy's shift was complete. She scowled at Mavis and the others upon rolling past the stunned group to join with the rest of the possessed diesels.
"Arrr," Salty groaned after a quick thought. "I'd not heard a melody such as that since the days of old sea shanties."
"What do you mean, Salty?" Mavis asked.
"I mean the way she sung, me hearty. Tis a tale passed along from sailor to sailor. Tales of a creature so deceptively beautiful, but could spellbound any unfortunate sailor who happen to brave dastardly capes and risky coasts."
Adagio simply arched a confused brow. Neither her nor any of the diesels around could make out what he was getting at.
"A creature who lured nearby fishermen with their enchanting music and singing voices, sendin' their ships crashing into their rocky isles, and sinking to oblivion in the deepened oceans."
Philip and a few others were admittedly frightened while some seemed curious and fascinated by Salty's story. Mavis kept listening intently, along with Adagio. Ponies back in Equestria would tell stories of her kind in ways that were sometimes a bit exaggerated, much like what she was hearing now. It was almost strange to hear someone like Salty describe what she could be from his perspective.
"Victims of these shipwrecks now drop anchor to yield a warnin' to those who'd face a similar fate. Until the message soon became clearer than the jewel blue itself. 'Ye beware; the song of a Siren!'"
Adagio was a bit surprised at first. So were some of the diesels, who began murmuring among each other over whether Salty's claims were true, claims that Adagio wasn't expecting everyone to begin questioning.
Mavis was just as surprised. "You know about the Siren, Salty?"
"Aye! It be a common tale alright. But I've not the slightest clue how this one found themselves taking the form of a steam engine. Harrr."
"She's only a steamie because that's what she turned into when entering the Magic Railroad."
The diesels became even more feisty and inquisitive. Adagio could hear them beginning to question her. The only ones that didn't were Diesel and Class 40. Even BoCo was beginning to look doubtful.
Were they really under her spell? There were diesels present that knew Salty well and while most times his stories do tend to get carried away, it didn't excuse the fact that Salty knew a fair deal about sea life and others who worked on it. Stories about Sirens were indeed pretty common in their world, but this was a first for Adagio. She didn't know her kind had existed in this world at one point, or rather allegedly. Perhaps they too suffered the same fate as Sirens did in Equestria.
"Everyone, listen," Mavis announced. "She's using her voice to make us aggressive and turn against each other to gain negative energy. That's why we're not like you."
"Yarrr," Salty groaned while facing Adagio. "Years passage must've left out more detail than I remember. There be no part in the story of a Siren's power depriving off of conflict."
"Those were just fairy tales." Adagio Dazzle creeped a sinister grin, "I'm the real thing!"
Mavis, Salty and the other rogue diesels became more terrified.
"Guess this batch needs a little more persuasion."
Adagio's pure red lantern began pulsating and glowing a brightening red light. Soon all the diesels who had been murmuring doubts about her were quickly silenced. One by one, their eyes glowed an eerie green, until just about every diesel in the yard fixated on the resisting diesels with determined scowls.
She had conjured all the negative energy needed from their fight with the Girls. Now all Adagio had to do was spread that energy around and consume more of their negativity to enforce and officiate total dominance over every diesel, and everyone whose yet to give in to her charm. Nobody would have any free will left to wonder about her motives by the time she was done with them.
"We best skedaddle, shipmates," Salty instructed. "Before she puts us all under her spell!"
The brigade of diesels honked their horns and reversed away to exit the Dieselworks. Several diesels prowled after them in hot pursuit. Adagio, with Diesel and Class 40 by her side, simply watched with amusement.
"Fools. Haven't they already figured it out."
[Adagio then slowly chuffed forward with the other diesels following her.]
Adagio Dazzle: "Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh!"
"You didn't know that you fell."
[Mavis and the others tried running away from their pursuing diesels. Adagio came to a stop just underneath the Dieselworks entrance with her glistening lantern still working its magic.]
"Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh."
"Now that you're under my spell."
[Each diesel were being chased by another all over the Island. Salty was being chased by Skinhead, Paxton by Western, Philip by 'Arry & Bert, Sidney by Norman, and Mavis by BoCo.]
"Blindsided by the beat."
"Rumble and shake ground's gonna quake."
"You didn't know that you fell."
Diesel engines: "Oh-whoa-oh-oh-oh."
[Adagio still continued rolling along the track she hugged with varying diesel locomotives beside her, often joining along as her voice invited more to join in as they pleased. Green mist began to steam from her engine all the while.]
Adagio Dazzle: "Now you've fallen under my spell."
"Oh-whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh."
[BoCo, A meek Derek, and Class 40 each biffed with a hard thud against some buffers in front of them. Then Skinhead, Western, and Whistler did the same on separate lines.]
"I've got the music; makes you move it."
"Got the song that makes you lose it."
[Diesel chased down Sidney on a single line clouded with green mist between all the diesels who had lined up against the buffers from both sides.]
"I say 'jump', you say 'how high?'"
[Adagio and a few other diesels simply watched them zoom by from their respected spots. Sidney was corned against a chicken den. Diesel caught up and bumped Sidney straight into the large, wooden hut with a crash that sent chickens flying everywhere.]
"Put your hands up to the sky."
[Sidney was now rolling down the Fenland Track, a line that runs over a long bridge near the Fenland Fields. He was covered in chicken feathers and yolk, and was scowling with anger.]
"I've got the music; makes you move it."
"Got the song that makes you lose it."
[He had his intent to blow off frustration set on Mavis, who found herself trapped between a broken section of the bridge that was cut off until repairs were made. Adagio Dazzle rode on the other line next to Sidney's, watching him build up speed and charging towards a now frightened Mavis.]
"I say 'jump', you say 'how high?'"
"Put your hands up to the sky."
[Sidney biffed Mavis hard enough to jerk her over onto the broken section, which immediately began to crack beneath her weight and snapped apart completely. This sent Mavis falling back and toppling into the river, leaving her front buffers and side rods submerged in the near deepened water.]
"Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh."
"You didn't know that you fell."
"Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh."
"Now that you're under my spell."
[Meanwhile, Adagio Dazzle chuffed by the two diesels just on time to see a dazed Mavis sitting between where the bridge had snapped, and for a still peeved Sidney to purr away from the scene. Green mist began to seep into her Lantern along the way, just as she hoped.]
"Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh."
"You didn't know that you fell."
"Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh."
"Now that you're under my spell."
[Now over at Brendam Docks, little Philip was being chased around the docks by a few diesel locomotives. He couldn't lose the much faster and bigger diesels, but Philip still managed to avoid getting trapped by any of them.]
Adagio Dazzle: "Listen to the sound of my voice."
Diesel Engines: "Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh!"
[Salty was also being chased around the docks as well. Now by Mavis, with her entire side rods and cowcatchers stained with lake water. He was trying to reverse away from her, but was also having trouble shaking Mavis off, even as Salty reached closer to the quayside.]
"Soon you'll find you don't have a choice."
"Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh!"
[At last, Salty accidently veered onto a separate track and rammed back into some trucks that were conveniently in his way. His eyes twirled from the sudden impact, dazed and exhausted.]
"Captured in the web of my song."
"Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh!"
[When he gained consciousness, all he saw in front of him was a surly Mavis reversing back to make way for an oncoming flatbed loaded with boxes and paint cans sitting on top and charging towards him. Salty could do nothing but scream.]
"Soon you'll all be singing along."
"Oh, whoa, oh!"
[The varying paint cans flew over in a flash and splattered poor Salty with splotches of red, green, yellow, blue, and any color that left a sicky mess all over his entire front side. And once the mess was cleaned, Salty, still covered in paint, began his chase after Philip down the docks.]
Adagio Dazzle: "I've got the music; makes you move it."
"Got the song that makes you lose it."
[Philip was running out of fumes and places to run. Salty, with his newfound enraged intent, wouldn't quit chasing him. He lured Philip along the quayside and towards the crossrails where a ferry would embark to let off engines.]
"I say 'jump', you say 'how high?'"
[The two passed Adagio Dazzle, parked in front of a crossing that prevent Philip from taking said route to escape, and instead headed towards where a watery downfall awaited him.]
"Put your hands up to the sky."
[Philip had nowhere left to run now. He could only stop before the edge of the crossrail, and waited for Salty to charge up and ram Philip completely off the docks.]
Adagio & Diesel Engines: "We've got the music; makes you move it."
"Got the song that makes you lose it."
[Philip, now soaking wet from roof to wheels, angrily found and cornered Paxton, reversing down a track that cuts off just above a rocky ditch. The little diesel puts in all his strength and effort to push Paxton completely off the edge, and send him tumbling down the rubble slope until crashing at the very bottom.]
"We say 'jump', you say 'how high?'"
"Put your hands up to the sky!"
[Adagio, along with Diesel, had parked against two sets of buffers that were actually fitted properly to prevent anyone from falling into the ditch. The two kept singing while Philip angrily stormed off, leaving behind a trail of green mist that blended with Adagio's steam and surrounded her and Diesel.]
"Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh!"
"You didn't know that you fell!"
[Powdered rock from the impact wafted everywhere. Paxton recovered from the fall and gazed up and his tormentors still singing and relishing in his accident.]
"Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh!"
"Now that you're under our spell!"
[At last, all the diesels were on her side now. Adagio rode confidently down a darken, purple and orange back drop with many diesels beside her on each side. Diesel, Mavis, 'Arry, Bert, Salty, Phillip, and Sidney rode on the left. BoCo, Class 40, a still reluctant Derek, Den, Dart, and Norman rode on the right.
Green mist from all the conflict conquered clouded their entire vicinity from around their wheels as they drove over the sparkling energy.]
"Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh!"
"You didn't know that you fell."
"Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh!"
"Now that you're under our…"
Adagio Dazzle: "Spell."
She finished off her song, as everywhere but her and the green, negative energy surrounding their wheels faded to black. Adagio lets out maniacal laughter, until the darkness completely overcasts everyone and everything now undeniably influenced by the Siren and her song.
To Be Continued.
Lyrics Used: "Under Our Spell" From My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks.
Sung By: Kazumi Evans, Madeline Merlo & Shylo Sharity (Original)
Composers: Daniel Ingram (Music), Meghan McCarthy (Lyrics)
Copyright Owners: Hasbro, Inc™