//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold... 
// Story: A Dazzling Return (#3) 
// by LightningStar626 
//------------------------------//

E.Q.U.E.S.T.R.I.A Spies: The Return of the Sirens (#3)

Chapter 1: Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold…

~Adagio Dazzle began to stir herself awake as she felt her arms being hoisted up and over the necks of her two sisters. Her legs scraped along the concrete floor and tickled underneath the mossy grass leading down hill. The booming sounds of stone and rock being demolished were muffled for her ears only. She struggled to turn her head. The blurring figure of a blue, brown and white raccoon girl zooming beyond the blue sky and ploughing the clouds with her feet and tail caught her eye. She turned to their direction and watched for a moment of stillness and silence. Her expression was not visible for Adagio, but she knew they shared the same face.~





~It had been more than six days since the last time she was last seen awake after that. She had passed out again once they arrived out of chaos' reach, and all throughout that time of the sun and moon whizzing by as if it was like nothing, Adagio slept for a long, long time, along with her sisters, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk, occasionally. After the sun had risen on their sixth and final day, was when the former siren finally began to make her debut from her coma once again.~

"Heyyy look! Adagio's awake!" said Sonata, and she leaned towards Adagio's fluttering face.

"Oh, well, that's a relief," said Aria, her purpley deadpan sister. "I was afraid they knocked you out for good."

Adagio groaned with both annoyance and agony in her muttery voice. "I lost everything…" she grumbled. "Everything I worked hard for!"

"Are you really that surprised?" Aria spoke. "Devil betrayed us. We had the whole castle against us after that, too, and alllll you could do was sing a little song and draw so much attention for yourself!"

~But Adagio wasn't listening. Instead, she reflected back on the Rainbooms. With her eyes closed, her memories flooded to them, their necks glowing their particular colours in one round singular spot. Then, she came back to the blurring sky figure of Lightning Star, her eye pupils gone and impacted with a magical white and pink glow.~

Then, it dawned on her. "Those geodes…are the new source of their magic…and I had them in the palm of my hand."

Aria sighed, obviously seeing that her sister was not paying attention to her. "Face it, Adagio," she spoke louder. "We're never gonna get to them. Maybe it's best to just give up and find our own magic another wa- "

"I am NOT giving up!" Adagio's shrill voice rang clear through the air. "Their magic is the strongest out there in this miserable little world, and we have no hopes of finding it elsewhere. Canterlot High is the only place, and I'm going to get that magic, and take revenge, even if it kills me." She began walking down the road looking for a place to go. Any place.

Aria frowned. "She's got determination, I'll give her that."

"She's probably just hangry, you know? She has been sleeping for six days… Actually, how do humans even do that?" Sonata said.

"Hangry?" Aria questioned.

"Yeah! Hungry and angry. Lairry taught me that word."

~Adagio forced herself to stop. The mention of any old name, especially from the villains, seriously plunged her even further down into her sour mood. She wanted Sonata to shut up right then and there. But she didn't.~

"He also taught me how to do this! HI-YAH!"

~Sonata dropped and kicked the air, lifting her leg up high, before then performing a dangerous spy-like move that involved sidestepping and whirling in a circle then bringing her fist upwards into a powerful uppercut. She nailed it with amazing precision, leaving Adagio surprised. Though she did a good job at hiding her amazement, all she did was slowly raise her eyebrows, then down again. She marched all the way back where her youngest sisters were standing.~

"And Olliee taught me the basics of how to fight too- so what? I'm not interested, but I had no choice but to listen." said Aria, unamused.

Adagio flashed a look towards her. "What? What did you just say? Those miscreants taught you two how to fight?"

Sonata nodded. "Yeah!"

"Why?"

"We had to say something to keep the conversations going. In fact, Olliee informed me that's how everyone he knows fights. Including his enemies." said Aria.

"That's ridiculous. That's tempestuous. That's…perfect."

~Adagio's face contorted into her ionic sadistic grin, all the while she began scheming. It was not the reaction neither Sonata nor Aria was expecting.~

Sonata tilted her head to her side. "How is it perfect, Dagi?"

"We may not be able to use magic to take back what was ours, but, if we use good old fashioned human power, and think of certain advantages, we might stand a chance."

"Fighting regularly against magic?" Aria blurted. "I don't think that's a good idea- "

"No, it's a fabulous idea!~" Adagio's face façade transformed into something cute and her voice squeaked. It was clearly sarcastic though, as she went back to normal, miserable self and faced Aria with a cold glare. "Look, what other choice do we have? It's the only skill we have learnt. And if you teach me everything you know, who knows? You might be surprised what we can do." she turned her back on her. "We just need to be sneaky…discreet…covert. We need to get them at the worst time."

Sonata looked in between her two sisters. "Which issssss? That could be any time!"

For once, Aria agreed. "Yeah, we don't even know where they live. Also, what if they move away? Someplace safe?"

"Or go on holiday?"

"Then we'll just have to book for the next flight!~" Adagio said, putting on her sweet sarcastic voice again.

"For realsies?" Sonata said, obliviously.

"No. You idiots are so incompetent. The Rainbooms aren't going anywhere and aren't going to get any stronger than they already are."

"Tell that to their newly found friends and their powers." Aria raised her brow. "Knowing them, they'll still be around with the Rainbooms."

"You think so?" Sonata asked.

"I KNOW so."

~Adagio hated to say it, but her sister was right. While they lost their supposed 'allies', the Rainbooms still had theirs, and they were still hanging around them and the school. This gave the Dazzlings a horrible disadvantage, with their only being three of them, against nine overpowered magical girls, along with their school and their adult supervisions, i.e, the prinicpals of their schools, Principal Celestia and Steven Secret.~

~Adagio had to think hard about how they were going to play this. What is their one and only weaknesses, and how do they activate it?~

"We'll find a way," she said. "They're always a way…"





~Through the hallways of Pixel High were three lonely doors. Only one of them was valued, as that's where Principal Steven Secret's office was. It was a very small office, with only a high ceiling that made it stand out. One of the walls was hidden behind rows of bookshelves, and the one behind his desk and computer was a cupboard with two large glass doors, full of worn trophies and faded certificates. The man himself was by his desk when he glanced at the certificates and smiled. His favourite one was a certificate at the front written by Karly Crystal, his niece, reading 'BEST PRINCIPAL/UNCLE EVER' in bold marker.~

~He was scanning through some documents, catching himself up on what he missed after the incident in The Origins. Neither he, nor his girls, Lightning and Karly, had been back home ever since, as they decided to stay and build up a new spy agency along with their new friends, the Rainbooms. For the past week they have been spending time exploring the new world, and bonding with the seven girls, Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. Now, these girls were about to undergo their spy training, and it was there and only then that Steven decided to return home to prepare the spy project ready, and look back on his own school assignments. That's where he found it.~

~Under the docs there were two small files in the cabinet beside Steven's desk, and he caught the glimpse of the tabs, which read 'Lightning Star' and 'Karly Crystal'. With curiosity and wonderment as to where they were here instead of with the other student files, he opened them up, and almost choked on his coffee when he read the first, following sentence. Both Lightning and Karly attendance had dropped significantly, and they were behind on many, many assessments.~

"Holy crud!" Steven yelled and continued reading. "'Last seen at school three weeks ago, only to attend their one hour art class for a project'!" After that, all it's been work and then sorting out stuff in Canterlot. "Oh my lord, how did I not take this into account? Agent Star and Agent Crystal have missed out so much work! I guess secret agent's work really has distracted us. Honestly, being a principal of a school and a chief of an agency really tolls yourself down."

"Steven, call me crazy, but did you just say you're the chief of an agency?"

"Hmm? Oh! No, Vice Principal Shelly. I was just muttering random things to myself."

~Because Steven was so entranced in his files, he hadn't noticed Vice Principal Shelly come through the front door. She was a very sharply-dressed woman, always wearing purple, her blazer and trousers specifically, and always had them over a white light buttoned shirt and black high heels. She sleeked her long white-blonde hair back and from the window, she battered the sunlight out of her sky blue eyes, ones that Steven thought were gorgeously beautiful. They weren't in a relationship or anything, as both were already married, but they were solid business partners, doing their best to keep their school and its reputation afloat. They'd known each other for years now. However, Shelly didn't know anything about Steven's secret double life, nor about Lightning and Karly's jobs either.~

~She was just coming in with a plethora of more files to hand to Steven to look through, and immediately noticed him reading the two open ones on the desk.~

"I see you've finally noticed that Lightning and Karly have been off school for the past few weeks. Care to explain?"

Steven froze as he tried to recount what had happened in order to think of an excuse. "Things…happened." Was all he could produce, "In their defence, the girls have gone through some pretty rough times."

"Like what exactly?" Shelly asked.

"If only you knew…" Steven mumbled. "Do you remember that time when the whole school was sucked up by a wormhole and tossed into another world?"

"Of course I do. Only I, the teachers, and five single students were not taken. The entire school was a mess after that ordeal was over. You have no idea how long it took us to fix it all." Shelly said, sitting herself down and edging on her elbow on Steven's desk, letting her forehead fall into her hand. "However did you get back anyway?"

Steven froze again. "That's... a secret I must take to the grave. All you need to know is that we got back, and Devil was stopped once again from harming our lives."

"Dee-vil? That villain Devil you and the girls frequently go up against? Was he responsible for that wormhole? I swear, that man does nothing but terrorise our school and the students."

"Wellll, not exactly. But, the reason Lightning, Karly and I are staying there isssss… because we have been making sure everyone else that was lost made it home safe, so they can get their education."

"What about their own education?!" Vice Principal Shelly got up from her seat and smashed her hands on Steven's desk. "I know these two girls are special to you, but covering for them isn't going to help! This is still a school, and they are still young students attending it. They need to be back here next Monday morning so they can study in preparation for their final exams next week."

Steven's eyes bulged. "Final exams are only next week?!"

"Yes, and they need to be there. And due to how many assessments they haven't done, they will probably have to spend their break and lunchtimes studying. Even after school lessons might be in order too! We need to put that on their records now!"

~The vice principal swiped the files from under Steven's arms and immediately began jotting down what she said. She then turned her attention back to him.~

"You too, Steven." she said, "You haven't been around much taking care of your duties as a principal. I've been toiling away doing both mine and your job! It's not healthy for me, nor good for the school's reputation. So, you yourself need to be back here every day of the week, sorting out the upcoming final exams and everything else you've missed. If you are against this, or miss one more day, you will be fired, and Lightning and Karly will be expelled."

~Fired? Expelled!? The words ran through Steven's mind harshly. The thought of him and the girls being thrown out of the school was abysmal. He fell back in his chair with incredulity, all the while Shelly brought her hand to her forehead, in attempt to be understanding.~

"I'm sorry, Steven. I didn't mean to be assertive. I'm not saying this to upset you. After all, they are not my rules to follow, it's just the law. It's out of my hands. I'll give you this weekend to sort it all out. I gotta go pick up my brother now. I'll hopefully see you and the girls on Monday."

~With that, she left in silence. Steven drummed his fingers against his desk for a long time. The school was special to them, it was their sacred grounds, and for the past five years, they have been protecting it from Devil and other wanted criminals who hold a grudge towards them. What could happen if they were not there? He darted down towards his smartwatch and texted Karly first, then Lightning, both with the same wording about this future-threatening news, then silently awaited for the reply. Minutes turned to an hour and there was still nothing from the girls. Steven couldn't wait a minute longer. He had to go and find them and inform them himself- personally. So, gathering up all his 'evidential' belongings, he left his office in a huff, trudging all the way over to the gateway that led from this world to the next.~

~He didn't have to walk far. Like CHS, the book key decided to locate the portal leading to each other's world right outside the school grounds at the back behind a large marble sign that stated the school's title. The similarity was uncanny. Slipping his hand through the granite surface of the sign, making sure it was on, Steven made his transition back to Canterlot.~





~Stars and glitter merged with the background as Steven's surroundings passed through the void in between their dimensions. The feeling was odd and it hurt his head and eyes and stretched his floating body in all sorts of places. Thankfully it didn't last long, and the portal finally spat him out to the front foot of Canterlot High. He landed on his face, taking back his first memories of arriving at this place, and tumbled across the pavement. He coughed at the fresh air slowly once he stopped rolling, setting his head down from the impact. His files spluttered out into a pile next to him. Not bothering to stand up yet, he reached out for the files, when he was met with a hard purple sparkling boot that stopped his hand dead in its tracks, flattening it underneath the sole. He looked up to see the familiar siren trying to dominate over him.~

"Hello, Secret." her voice gruffed.

~Steven pulled his hand out from under the boot then pushed himself up to his feet. His head was still throbbing and dizzy from exiting the portal, but he could still make out who he was staring down at.~

"Adagio Dazzle," he spat. Adagio returned his glare with a nasty smile. "What are you doing here?"

"We're here for you, what else?" came another voice. Aria, looking bored and deadpan as usual, and Sonata who was bright-eyed and eager for action, appeared behind him.

"And magic! That's what else!"

"It was a rhetorical question, Sonata."

Steven spun around to face them. "So, all three of you escaped the castle. How did you know I'd still be here?"

"We figured you would. Come to visit your new friends or something again?" Aria guessed, crossing her arms.

"Not particularly," he answered truthfully. He focused his gaze back to Adagio over his shoulder. "What do you want?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"More power." Adagio's grin gave a 180 at Sonata's answer.

"And how do you suppose you'll accomplish that? You lost your magic."

"That may be so... But we learnt a couple of things from Devil and his annoying sons," Adagio said. "You didn't think they wouldn't tell us about you and your 'prised' girls now, did you?"

Steven's jaw fell to his chin as Aria spoke with a smirk. "That's right. We know everything now."

Sonata corrected. "Well, not 'everything' everything. Just how to fight, how to counter strike, and, where you guys live, and- "

"Sonata!" her two sisters clabbered.

"What? What did I say?"

"Sonata, you are literally the worst!" Aria mumbled.

"No, you are!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Girls," Adagio interrupted them, her voice turned sweet. "As much as I'd love to hear this conversation for the millionth time, please… shut up!"

"Sorry, Dagi."

"Whatever."

"Thank you. Now, as we already know, Secret, your girls possess similar powers, which makes us even more eager to defeat them and take back what was lost from us. And not just from the Rainbooms. In fact, we're gonna snag their magic too, it's special and powerful enough."

Sonata clapped her hands. "Ah-huh! Nine is higher than seven after all! And this time, we can share the power equally, three for each!"

~Another gasp stifled Steven's speech as the Dazzlings laughed. This day just got even worse! Now, he had to warn the girls from being expelled from school AND the Dazzlings? Not to mention the Rainbooms too. His eyes bounced in turn towards each Dazzling as they closed on him from three sides. He kept his hand firmly locked behind his back, as he waited for the right moment.~

Aria crossed her arms. "Last time, you lost to us because you didn't have your spy girls with you. We're in the same scenario. You don't stand a chance here."

"You forget one important thing though." Steven said calmly.

"And what's that?"

"I'm a spy, too."

~With that, Steven dropped a small explosive device from behind him, letting it hit the floor, and causing the entire area radius to detonate into a puff of hard-seeing heavy smoke. The Dazzlings saw it but could not move out of the way quick enough. They coughed and barked and gagged as it filled the lungs, and they were unable to see through it. That gave Steven the opportunity to escape. With the Dazzlings distracted, he scooped up as many of his important files again as quickly as he could before bolting around the school. Adagio broke into a run after him.~

"Get him!" she screamed to her sisters.

~Steven zipped through Canterlot High's garden, making his way quickly to the backside, thanks to a nearby shortcut, leading him into the car park. At first, he wanted to reach the emergency exit door to get into the school, but that'll just lead the Dazzlings inside too, putting the CHS students into risk again like last time. No, he just needed to lose them somehow, and find his way into their headquarters underneath the school without giving up its location. But how?~

~Pressing his whole body weight against the wall, Steven jerked his head in all sorts of directions. Then, he hunkered down and noticed something. Beside his feet laid a ventilation grate, leading to the shaft inside the school. What choice did he have? So, frying the bolts using his watch's laser and removing the grate, Steven shimmied his way into the tight vent. Having to scooch himself down and crawl on his elbows, he dragged himself through metres of nothing but darkness as well as dust and cobwebs, which made home in his hair and trousers. He found the situation rather embarrassing, even though there was no one around to see him. He hadn't crawled in a vent for over fifteen years, and frankly, he now saw how old he was getting at these kinds of jobs.~

~Finally, he noticed a square of light and found another vent opening, one that dropped into CHS' main hallway. He kicked the grate, and it crashed to the floor with a loud clatter. He scooted forwards, crossing the gap first, then letting his legs dangle over it. Slowy, softly, he then eased himself down but knew he was too high up, he had to drop. Steven let himself go, landing on his back. His backbone and spine ached after that, passing through his body from the top to the tailbone. Nonetheless, he forced himself up, dusting the mites off his trousers and ignoring the looks passing students were giving him, having watched the whole event after the grate fell unexpectedly.~

~Steven made his way to the Rainbooms' music room without a moment's wait. Bursting through the double doors, he made to speak, but nobody was in the room; he just immediately assumed he would find the Rainbooms, and Lightning and Karly, there. Perhaps they were down in the hideout. He entered in the key tune on the piano, and watched impatiently as its green lighting filled the flooring and before making his way down the black carpeted stairs to the elevator. Five-hundred low levels later, he was in.~

"Girls! Come quick! We have an emergency!" Steven yelled. "Actually, scratch that, we have TWO emergencies! COME OUT, NOW!"

~He got no answer. Desperate, he invaded everyone's room, searching top to bottom for any signs of the girls' presence. But there was nothing. If they were not at school, nor in the hideout…~

"Where are they?"