//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: When Friends Meet // Story: Dazzling Homecoming // by FourShadow //------------------------------// Aria groaned. "Come on, Sonata. We gotta keep her from getting killed, again." She took off for the skies and Sonata was close behind as they raced after their oldest sister. "This is beautiful! Oh the mountains, they're gigantic! And the trees, ohhh so many trees!" Adagio squeaked. "I haven't seen this land in over a thousand years!" Before she could even do something else, she saw her youngest sister flopping around in the giant field of grass, rolling around like a cat. "And there's so much grass! Wheee!" And Sonata went rolling down a hill like a barrel, until she reached the bottom near a lake. Aria had to admit, she couldn't help but giggle at how child-like her sister was behaving. "Alright, Sonata, Adagio, I know you're excited, but could you keep yourselves together? I know we just got back and all, but what if someone freaks out?" "Oh come on Aria, there's so much to do!" Sonata squeed before she rolled right into the lake. And then she jumped right out of the lake and back onto the grass, flopping around in a very silly manner. She shook herself around like a dog, getting all the water off her body. And then she gasped, cupping her muzzle with her hooves. "I just got an idea. Let's take a vacation here for Spring Break!" Aria's hoof scrunched her muzzle. "Oh we are so dead..." "Aria, relax, besides this is the greatest thing that has ever happened to us! We have a chance to see our home again!" Adagio said, hovering back into the air. "But what about getting back, how are we going to do that?" "Simple! Princess Trixie found a way to our world, we can just go talk to her! And if not, we retrace our steps and get back through whatever we fell out of," Adagio said. "You make it sound sooo simple," Aria rolled her eyes. "Oh don't be so nippy. Admit it, you missed this world," Adagio smirked. "... Oh okay, I do," Aria rolled her eyes, nodding. "But I dunno, we haven't been back here in over 1,000 years. Things are probably different now." "She does have a point," Sonata pointed out. "Very well. Well, how about we try making proper introductions to ponies again, we'll take it slowly," she suggested. "Now come on, let us see if there are any towns around here, there has to be populated areas here somewhere." "Then lets take it to the skies!" Aria burst off the ground and into the skies. Adagio soon followed, and Sonata jumped out of the like and followed after her older sisters. Back in Ponyville, Princess Trixie and her friends were continuing to enjoy a very hearty and delicious breakfast. "Mmm, this is delicious," Trixie smiled, wiping her face off with a napkin. "Trust me Trix, this is only the start. We got together and we made an entire plan of all the things to do today," Bon Bon smiled. "And it includes all of your favorite places!" Lyra squeaked. "Yay," Trixie squeed. "This already is turning into the best day ever. I've got my friends, I've got all of you guys... oh shoot! Wait!" Her horn lit up and she flashed out of the room in seconds. And then returned in another flash, accompanied by a smoke bomb igniting. She came back, this time with a dog next to her. A fluffy gray, white, and black dog who's tail was wagging in excitement. "Forgot about Fluffernutter," Trixie blushed, looking down at her dog. "Don't you worry, I'm not forgetting you little guy." She hugged her dog who licked her face in return, making her giggle. Amethyst smiled at the two best friends embracing, until she turned her gaze out the window. "Hey, um, Trixie?" Amethyst asked. "Yeah?" "Um, I know we've ran into a lot of ponies and um, non-ponies here in Equestria, but what is that?" She pointed out the window. Trixie and her friends got out of their seats and looked out the window. All of them gasped; what were these giant beasts that were flying straight for Ponyville? All six of them were teleported out of the house faster than the speed of light and all stood strong and battle-ready, just in case. The three Sirens flew over Ponyville, zipping and soaring right past and over it, spinning around like they were members of an air show. Eventually they came back around and landed on the ground, now standing across the bridge that would cross into Ponyville. That is until they saw the pack of ponies charging towards them, now standing there in guard dog pose. "Oh dear, this is... wow, this is awkward," Sonata rubbed the back of her head with her hoof. The land was quiet. Like a pin dropping, everything had gone completely silent. "How do you want to approach this?" Aria whispered. "Do we attack, snack, or backtrack? What?" "No," Adagio whispered back. "These ponies look just like our friends. Besides... I have a better idea." "Ahem! My name is Trixie, the Princess of Magic! Who are you?" "Ponies of Equestria..." Adagio introduced. Slowly she lowered her body to the ground to get up close, but still keeping her head level with the alicorn's face. "We are Sirens, having returned to our home from 1,000 years of banishment..." "Wait, what are you doing?" Aria raised a brow. Adagio tilted her head at her sister who rolled her eyes and groaned. "This is so humiliating..." Sonata joined as well. "Wait a minute, hold on... I remember you," Princess Trixie said. Adagio's ears perked up. "You do?" "Yes, you... wait a minute. Adagio?" Adagio slowly smiled. "I-Is that you!?" "Mmmhmm!" Princess Trixie whinnied in excitement. "Oh my goodness, it's so great to see you again! I was wondering when I would get the chance to see you again!" "Wait, you know them?" Vinyl asked. "Sort of like that, but we know you girls. Well, your counterparts at least," Adagio explained. "That portal I assembled and traveled through where my crown was stolen?" Her friends nodded. "That was a gateway to a whole other world, a world where all of you are, well... um, I don't know how to say--" "Bipeds, we'll use that," Adagio finished. "To put more simply." "Yeah, exactly. And that's where I found these three, they were biped versions of all of us! And they got my crown back!" Octavia and Amethyst slowly turned their heads and glared. "Sooo... you three are the reason Sunset Shimmer is trapped in your world?" Aria's tail sharpened with a swish sound as she locked onto them. "Yeah..." And like a lightswitch, the two mares expressions changed from bitter to more welcoming and friendly. "Well then, I say it's very nice to meet you! What's your name?" "Aria. And I believe you're Octavia," Aria said, looking at the gray earth pony and then to the purple unicorn, "and you are Amethyst." The two ponies grinned. Soon Vinyl, Lyra, and Bon Bon stepped up to take a closer look at Sonata, still keeping at ease. "And you are?" "I'm Sonata!" Sonata smiled, cheerfully. "And you are, no, don't tell me..." she used her hoof to point. "Vinyl, Lyra, and Bon Bon." "Huh. I guess you really know us, at least, counterpart wise," Bon Bon commented. "Actually we know a lot about you girls on the other side," Sonata shrugged. "Like what?" Lyra asked. "Well for starters, Lyra, I know you're a master in the martial arts, you come from Trotkyo, and your favorite food is sushi," Sonata grinned. Lyra nearly fainted until Bon Bon held her up with one hoof on her frozen stiff body. "Well if you know that... what about me?" Amethyst beamed, a soft angel halo hovered over her head. "Amethyst, I know you're a single child with a parent of one, you have an obsession with retro tech and culture, and judging by the headband on your head, and the sweatbands on your ankles, I'm going to assume you are a dance instructor?" "Ohh you're good," Amethyst smirked. "I like you." Just then a beam of light flashed before their eyes before a new figure set foot on the Ponyville grounds. A tall white alicorn with a lustrous mane that swayed side to side even though there was no wind to make it move that way. Her mane was colored with shades of green and blue, and on her flank was a cutie mark of a radiating sun. "Stand down!" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey there!" Adagio said, backing up. "Wait, hold on, we're not--" "I said, stand down!" She yelled. "Princess Celestia, wait! I know them!" Trixie said, moving in front of her. The alicorn looked back down at her. "You know these three?" "Yes! These are the girls who helped get my crown back in that other world! Trust me!" The princess gazed up at the three Sirens were steadily backing up out of caution. They had only just gotten here, they didn't want to risk another banishment. Not again. But the princess didn't do anything to provoke them any further. Her horn simmered from glowing, and she sighed in relief. "Okay. If you say they're trustworthy, than I believe you." "Wait, wait, wait... Princess... Celestia?" Sonata asked, raising a brow. "Yes, that is me. Why?" "Oh, just, we have a version of you back in the world we were banished in! And she's a principal of power!" Sonata giggled. "I see... Well anyways, I apologize for being so hostile with you girls. Under normal circumstances, I would have properly introduced myself, but with the barrage of villains that have been popping all over Equestria, I wasn't sure if I should be worried or not," Princess Celestia apologized. "Understood, princess," Adagio bowed. "But wait; villains?" "Mmmhmm." "Huh. Sounds like something we had to deal with, doesn't it?" Adagio winked to Aria and Sonata, who were both grinning. "But lets get back to the matter at hand. So you three aren't here to cause harm?" "None miss. In fact, if I can be honest, being here after all these years is honestly a blessing. I've wanted to come home and now we finally have the chance to see our home again!" Adagio squeaked. "Yes, I can see that," Princess Celestia nodded, softly smiling. "But there's one problem. Now I'm not one who likes to change who anyone is, but remembering your previous, ahem, history, I think we may need to do something about your size. Ponies don't think when they're afraid, and when they're afraid, they panic." "Hmm..." Adagio's tail fin swished. "You do have a point... but how do you propose we solve this issue?" "I believe a simple shrinking spell can help you three," Princess Celestia suggested. "Shrinking? Wait, you're not going to make us microscopic, are you?" Sonata's ears flopped. "No. I can simply shrink you all down to the size of the rest of these ponies. If you three want to wander around with Trixie and friends, that's fine. But being down to their size will increase the ponies chances of staying calm, and less likely to... well, you know." Adagio glared with a deadpan expression. "I know. Just make with the magic, sunbutt." Princess Celestia just rolled her eyes with a held back chuckle and her horn glowed. "Wait, wait, wait! This isn't going to vaporize us, right?" Aria begged. "No, I've done this spell time and time again. This will be quick and effective." The three Dazzlings braced for impact, even scrunching their faces and keeping their eyes shut. And a giant beam of bright light flashed, almost in a mushroom cloud within Ponyville. But when the light vanished, everyone was able to see again. Princess Celestia's horn was smoking, but she just cooled it with a lick of her hoof and apply to her forehead. Princess Trixie and friends all opened up their eyes to look, and smiled. "... Are we dead yet!?" Aria whined. "Girls, you can open your eyes now!" Princess Trixie said. Adagio's eyes slowly opened, and before her eyes with the alicorn herself; face to face, as if she was actually in front of her. And as her head tilted around, looking at the buildings, she could see they were now bigger than her. A squeak of excitement escaped her breath. "It... It worked! "We're pony size! Now we can walk around this city without crushing things! Whoo-hoo!" Sonata squeaked, spinning around in a circle. "I think my work here is done. You can handle things from here, correct?" Princess Celestia asked with a soft smile. "Absolutely. Thank you, Princess." "No problem. Oh!" Princess Celestia remembered, before making a small colorful box wrapped in a ribbon appear before her. "Before I forget, Happy Birthday Trixie." Trixie squeaked again with a smile, just before Celestia vanished with a teleportation spell. "Alright, this day just gets better and better! Now we can finally walk without scaring anyone! ... Um, anypony. Sorry, haven't been here in over a thousand years," Adagio blushed. Trixie giggled. "It's alright. But if you don't mind, I do have a couple of questions?" "I don't mind at all. Fire away," Adagio smiled, sitting up like a cat. "So you three were banished, right? How did you even get here?" "I don't know. One minute we were crashing onto an uncharted island, the next thing you know we blacked out and we woke up here in Equestria. Hmm," Adagio thought. "Perhaps we found another portal?" "It could be possible," Trixie nodded. "But I'm glad to see you three were able to visit after all! What even brought you here?" Adagio rubbed at her chin, thinking for a second. "Adagio? That potion, spell, thingy?" Sonata asked. "Oh!" Adagio's eyes lit up in shock. "Oh my goodness, I nearly forgot! Did you get the message I sent you?" "Do you mean the one that said 'oh my goodness, oh my goodness, we need to come here right away I am freaking out'?" Trixie raised a brow. "... yes, that one," Adagio blushed. "We needed to come here, it's an emergency. Please tell me you know how to undo sleeping spells!" "Wait, what?" Adagio rolled her eyes and facehoofed. "The thing that Sunset Shimmer did to the younger sisters of the Rainbooms in our world?" "Yeah?" "We believe they've been put under some form of sleeping spell. The doctors have done everything they can, but nothing is snapping them out. Health-wise, they're all ok. But Sunset put them under some spell that's keeping them in a state of a deep sleep." "Oh my gosh..." Princess Trixie said. "Wait, I don't know how to do that! I'm still trying to learn being a princess, and there's only so many spells I know!" Adagio groaned and dug her face in the ground. "Ow." "But I do know someone who can help!" Adagio's ears perked as she rose her head up. "You do?" The Everfree forest was always considered one of the most dangerous places in Equestria. It neighbored Ponyville and it was always used in many stories regarding spooky legends and folklore. Where the plants grew out of control, the animals cared for only their own, and the clouds moved all on their own. But the Everfree forest was also home to a friend of Princess Trixie. A zebra from a far-away land who always spoke in rhyme, and was a master when it came to coming up with potions and cures and whatnot. And her name was Zecora. "Creating a potion to undo a sleeping spell, will be very quickly and swell! It is a remedy that I've done some testing for quite some time, and it should undo those who were forced into this crime." The three Dazzlings were all looking in awe at the decorations of her home. So many interesting relics and knick-knacks from her home. Some traditional masks, plants, herbs, even some dream-catchers in some areas. Sonata was almost thinking about touching one of them until Aria swatted her hoof with her tail. The zebra grabbed a few potions and herbs, mixing it all up in the pot which boiled with steam. "But this should bring them free from their state of paralysis, correct?" Zecora smiled. "Absolutely. It will get them up and at them, you soon will see. Just need one dash of these roses, which I would not recommend sniffing with your noses." Zecora quickly mixed it all together and then slowly poured into a glass jar which she sealed up tightly. "All the material you need is in this potion for you creatures from the ocean. Inject this in their system or get them to drink, and they will be upright in a blink." Everyone stared in awe as they looked at the potion. "... that's it? That's all we needed? We just need that one potion?" "... we crashed an expensive plane on an uncharted island... and all we had to do was simply walk here and we'd get it in a few minutes!?" Aria shrieked. "Well then," Adagio said, sitting up right like a cat, her tail swishing side to side behind her. "Hmm. ... Seems rather anti-climatic, don't you think?" "Ohhh don't you worry, I know what won't be anti-climatic." "What?" "Your inevitable murder when I'm finished STRANGLING YOU FOR CRASHING OUR PLANE!" And Aria tackled Adagio straight out the door, rolling like a wheel that had gotten loose from a wagon. Sonata watched as a giant dust cloud of a battle was taken outside, cringing from some of the physical violence sounds. But she turned back to Zecora with a soft smile. "Thank you, Zecora. This should help us." Zecora smiled and nodded back. "It is no trouble at all my seapony friend. I only hope that the sleeping spell meets its end." Sonata winked at her and grabbed the jar with her mouth, keeping it carefully wedged in between her teeth. Waddling out of the hut, she just casually waddled past Aria and Adagio who were still fighting in a cartoony cloud; occasionally with their heads pushing through the smoke with pained expressions. "Come on girls, we got the spell now!" "Not until she finally dies!" "I cannot die, you know that!" "Then I will take much more enjoyment in beating the living shrimp out of you!"