//------------------------------//
// Out of Tune  
// Story: The Master Game 
// by WanderingPhysicist 
//------------------------------//

        ‘Guess who is going to be a father!’ Lyra declares as she bursts into her shared office.
        Silver Fox and Vinyl look up from their desks. Octavia keeps clicking away at a game she is playing.
        ‘Is it that unicorn couple you caught snogging in the washroom?’ Silver asks.
        ‘Maybe it is the royal guard she found stalking her neighborhood last week,’ Vinyl guesses.
        ‘Oh! The one painter who was watching the track team!’
        ‘Will you keep it down!’ Octavia shouts. ‘I’m trying to work here!’ A chime comes from her computer. ‘Damn it, Vinyl! I was in the middle of leveling.’
        ‘Lyra was just about to share some gossip,’ Vinyl replies. ‘This is important.’
        ‘It is Lyra. When is it ever important?’ the cellist grumbles.
        ‘Don’t mind her,’ Silver groans. ‘Who is it?’
        Lyra grins widely. ‘It is me!’
        Silver and Vinyl look at each other, confused. Octavia goes back to her game.
        Vinyl uses her magic to flip Lyra over. ‘I always thought you were a mare. How could we have missed that?’
        ‘Maybe “she” had samples frozen when “she” had the operation,’ Silver replies.
        ‘Knock it off!’ Lyra yells, forcing herself up. ‘Remember when I moved back to Canterlot and had my family’s company buy that biotech firm?’
        The other mares nod. Octavia grunts from her game.
        ‘Well, they finally found the right combination of genetic engineering and magic so that Bon Bon and I can have a child.’
        ‘Couldn’t you have done that before?’ Silver asks.
        ‘If we were both unicorns, yes, but we needed a special method to mix tribes.’
        Octavia groans. ‘The thought of another one of you fills me with disgust.’
        The others roll their eyes.
        ‘Which one of you is going to carry the foal?’ Silver asks.
        ‘It was one of Bon Bon’s eggs, so she is going to be the mother,’ Lyra explains. ‘If we decide to have another foal, it will be my turn.’
        ‘That is really cool. Congrats,’ Vinyl congratulates.
        ‘Thanks. If everything goes well, we’ll totally give you and Octavia a discount when we go public.’
        ‘That’s it!’ Octavia shouts. She shuts down her computer. ‘I’m out of here. Rarity was coming for a tour today. I guess I am the only one responsible enough to see to her.’
        ‘But, Tavi,’ Vinyl protests, ‘what about our baby?’
        Octavia groans and slams the door as she storms away.

        Rarity trots through Octavia’s school. As an investor and lead costume designer for the school’s productions, the unicorn likes to tour the campus to check on her investments and get an eye for the fashions the students are into. She tries to schedule her visits for when Sweetie Belle is out on assignment, and with her sister currently heading to Appleoosa, she figures there is no time like the present.
        Rarity enters the administration building. Octavia breaks from conversing with Arctic Fox and trots over to the visitor.
        ‘Good to see you, Rarity,’ Octavia greets.
        ‘Likewise, Octavia,’ Rarity replies. ‘Shall we be off?’
        ‘Indeed. I believe you will enjoy what we have in store for you.’
        Suddenly, the two mares are surrounded by a bright light and disappear in a flash. Arctic Fox stares in shock then gallops away to find her daughter.

        Rarity and Octavia reappear in the middle of some sort of plaza. Lyra, Silver Fox and Vinyl appear next to them. Canals and waterways crisscross the plaza and run into a number of low buildings. A magical dome surrounds the entire area, shielding everything from the ocean outside. The city is lit by fluorescent lichen.
        Octavia turns and glares at Vinyl. ‘What did you do?’
        ‘How is this my fault?’ the DJ defends. ‘We were just coming up with names for Lyra’s foal and then, whoosh! We’re here.’
        ‘I still think “Bob” is a great name,’ Lyra says.
        Silver groans. ‘That is stupid. Locke is the best.’
        ‘Technis. A million times Technis,’ Vinyl argues.
        Octavia bites her friend’s ear and pulls her back to reality. ‘We have more important things to worry about!’ She snorts. ‘Besides, something classy like Symphonico is what is needed.’
        ‘Tavi, you’re cute but an idiot. Now, shh!’ Vinyl hisses.
        The mares quiet. A sound can be heard coming closer.
        ‘Whatever that is, it is quite catchy,’ Rarity comments.
        Octavia’s ears shoot up. ‘Uh, oh. I recognize that song. We have to get out of here.’
        Lines of creatures can be seen nearing the group. Silver growls and flares her wings, ready for a fight.
        Vinyl’s grin grows. ‘Oh, I have to record this for remixing when we get back.’
        ♩..oo be .., shoo ... .. ..o ♬ is heard getting closer and closer.
        ‘Make it stop!’ Octavia screams, covering her ears.
        Lyra’s expression changes from confusion to glee. She gets out a camera. ‘And everypony called me crazy. Well, who’s laughing now!’
        ♩Shoo be doo, shoo shoo be doo ♬ the sea ponies sing as they draw closer.
        ‘They won’t stop until our souls are gone!’ Octavia tries diving into the nearest stream, but she jumps back out when more sea ponies emerge.
        ‘What darling creatures,’ Rarity notes from a safe distance. ‘And their song is adorable.’
        ‘Yeah, they aren’t all bad,’ Silver adds as she sits by one of the arriving schools.
        The sea ponies fill the streams surrounding the group, singing and dancing. Octavia whimpers and hides as her friends sing along with the welcoming committee.
…
        Fifteen minutes later, Lyra is the only pony still singing with the sea ponies. The unicorn is holding a lime green sea pony with a small horn on its head in her hooves. The others have joined Octavia in trying to drown out the song in any way possible.
        ‘It was bad enough when there was only one of them,’ Octavia moans.
        The song hits a crescendo and comes to a close. Lyra and the sea pony look sad. The other ponies uncover their ears.
        ‘Is it over yet?’ Octavia asks. ‘Can I die peacefully now?’
        A pair of armored sea ponies splash from a large pond. ‘Announcing the ruler of the sea ponies, Lord Gugu!’
        The guard blow trumpets, raising the fear that more singing will follow. Instead, a large form bursts from the water. Lyra and Vinyl use their magic to shield the group from the resulting splash.When the water subsides, a male sea pony towers over the visitors, his iridescent scales and silver mane sparkling in the fluorescent lights, amplified by a light spell from his horn. The visitors stare up at the king of the sea ponies. Vinyl gets out her mobile and takes a photo. The king shrieks. Octavia punches her friend.
        ‘Great. You doomed us all,’ the cellist hisses.
        ‘I’ll say,’ Lord Gugu replies. ‘You didn’t get my good side. Let’s try that again.’
        The king raises up on his tail and poses. Vinyl takes another picture.
        ‘There. Much better,’ the king laughs.
        ‘So majestic,’ Rarity gapes.
        ‘I know. Aren’t I though?’
        ‘Why are we here?’ Octavia growls.
        The king sighs. ‘Always to the point, aren’t you, Octavia?’
        Octavia stands on her hind legs and activates her hidden blades that have magically appeared on her forelegs. ‘How do you know my name?’
        ‘Because I am a huge fan!’ Lord Gugu levitates a number of CDs forward. ‘Can I have an autograph?’
        ‘Sweet!’ Lyra trots forward. ‘Uh, do you have a pen that isn’t water soluble?’
        ‘This is not the time for autographs!’ Octavia shouts. ‘We were kidnapped from our school and headquarters in the middle of the day. They breached the protective spells we had in place! Shouldn’t that be more of a concern?’
        Lyra facehoofs. ‘I knew there was something I forgot to do. My bad. I’ll renew the spell when we get back.’
        ‘I hate you,’ Octavia groans. ‘What about the kidnapping?’
        ‘Probably just want a concert,’ Vinyl replies. ‘Just tell me where to set up, and I’ll get to it.’
        ‘Oh, a concert would be lovely!’ Lord Gugu squeals. ‘But now is not the time. We need your help with a matter of grave importance.’
        ‘Son of a...’ Octavia moans.
        ‘One of your kind has broken into a forbidden shrine and unleashed an unspeakable evil upon the oceans,’ the king explains. ‘No longer can we frolic as we please, teasing passing vessels with our presence, sending many a sailor off the deep end, both literally and figuratively.’
        ‘Yeah... We’re more of the “target a corrupt figure and remove him from power” type of heroes. Not the “fight an ancient evil type”,’ Octavia retorts.
        ‘Actually, I sort of am,’ Rarity says.
        ‘Shush!’
        ‘But thou must!’ Lord Gugu pleads. ‘You are our greatest heroes! We would ask somepony else, but Full Moon refuses to return my calls.’
        ‘White pegasus about yea high?’ Octavia motions with her hooves.
        ‘Or the wedding crasher?’ Rarity asks.
        ‘The second one.’ The king sighs. ‘I just love her to death. She has the most beautiful voice. I’d let her drain my love any day.’
        Octavia and Rarity stare at the king, eyes twitching.
        The king bows, his flowing mane barely brushing the ground. ‘We beseech you! Help save the sea ponies!’
        Lyra looks up from signing CDs. ‘I’m in.’
        Vinyl sets down her pen. ‘Me too. Come on, Tavi. The king himself is begging you.’
        Octavia grumbles, ‘Fine.’
        ‘If Octavia is in, I’ll help too,’ Rarity sighs. ‘Miss Silver, how about you?’
        Silver stares, mouth open and wings erect, at the king, obviously frozen since he first breached the water.
        ‘She’s in,’ Octavia groans.
        ‘Wonderful!’ Lord Gugu cheers. ‘We will help you prepare for your confrontation immediately! But first, we have to sing the traditional song of new friendships.’ He clears his throat. ♩Shoo be doo, shoo shoo be doo ♬
        The rest of the sea ponies and Lyra soon join in the song. Octavia looks at the nearest stream and contemplates putting her head under until the bubbles stop.

        A squadron of sea ponies escort the Trio ad Libitum, Vinyl and Rarity through the underwater currents. The ponies are wearing hastily-adapted sea pony armor. They are on a small chariot surrounded by a bubble. Lyra’s new friend swims beside the bubble.
        ‘This is so amazing!’ the sea pony giggles. ‘I always told everypony that land sea ponies existed, but who is laughing now!’
        ‘Exactly!’ Lyra agrees. ‘Nopony listened to me when I said there were sea land ponies.’
        The two ponies laugh maniacally. Octavia reaches to push her friend out of the bubble but stops. She sits and stews. A grey octopus wearing a bow tie swims past and sighs too. Rarity pats her friend on the back.
        ‘Excuse me, Mr Sea Pony,’ Rarity says to one of the escorts.
        ‘That is actually “Miss Sea Pony”,’ the guard replies. ‘But I prefer Tempest.’
        ‘Sorry. I guess that is another thing I should ask, too. Anyway, what can you tell us about this fiend we are to face?’
        Tempest sighs. ‘Well, I have only heard of it in legend, and I have only been to the shrine once while on patrol.’ She sets her spear on her shoulder. ‘The creature is some sort of giant octopus or squid or something. A real nasty one. It would eat sea ponies whole.’
        ‘My wife fought a kraken,’ Lyra brags.
        Lyra’s new friend claps. Everypony groans.
        ‘So why the all-female troupe?’ Rarity asks.
        ‘Legend has it that the creature only appears around mares. Since we don’t know if the legends are true or not, we are not taking any chances. We’ll defend you with our lives.’
        ‘I hope it doesn’t come to that.’
        ‘What about using us land-based ponies?’ Vinyl asks. ‘We saw how much flank you could kick back in Neighpon.’
        Tempest lets out a long sigh. ‘We thought we were safe placing the shrine ensnaring it on land. Like your Discord, it was encased in stone by your princesses. I believe some of your guards aid in protecting it. I fear what may have happened to them.’
        The ponies grimace at the thought. Soft lyre music starts playing. Lyra gets out her mobile and grins.
        ‘Sweetie and Scootaloo met an actual human,’ the unicorn reports. ‘How cool is that!’
        The other ponies groan and roll their eyes. The sea pony unicorn claps and does a flip.
        Silver clears her throat. ‘Um, back in Neighpon, we got help from the sea pony queen, but here you have a king. Are there two different tribes?’
        Tempest laughs. ‘We are both the same. The king rules the western ocean, and the queen rules the east. Together, they share the northern ocean, where they meet to plan our future, share stories of overworld encounters and, uh,’ -- she blushes -- ‘spawn.’
        ‘I’m going to be a daddy!’ Lyra declares.
        Lyra’s new friend claps. Everypony else grimaces at the thought.
        ‘On that note,’ Octavia grumbles, ‘Miss Tempest, can you tell us more of the fiend? Any of the legends could be key to its defeat.’

        Octavia hides behind a pillar on an island. Vinyl and Lyra hide a few pillars closer to a beach on either side of a walkway. The walkway leads to a large temple on a hill. Silver circles the temple. Around the island, the sea ponies patrol for any sign of the creature. Rarity waits back at the beach with Tempest. Octavia looks up and gets the nod from Silver. She gallops up to the shrine and stands against a wall. The shrine is empty. Silver flies down and uses clamps to grip the ceiling.
        ‘I don’t trust this,’ Octavia growls.
        ‘When do you ever?’
        ‘Just give us a sweep of the building. I don’t want too many surprises.’
        The pegasus nods and scampers into the building. Lyra and Vinyl gallop up. Vinyl’s horn loses a glow.
        ‘I am not detecting any electronics inside,’ the unicorn reports.
        ‘Name me one ancient evil that uses electronics,’ Octavia snorts.
        ‘Your coltfriend, for one,’ Lyra snipes.
        ‘Discord’s origin is pure speculation. I don't believe for one second that alleged origin.' She pauses. 'Besides, he is not like that. Especially since he left with that hussy.’
        ‘Right. And you didn’t play at the wedding either. Let’s just get in there.’
        The ponies gallop into the empty shrine. The silence is eerie.
        ‘I found a...’ Silver starts.
        ‘Prison complex. I was paying attention to the history lesson,’ Lyra finishes. ‘Vinyl. Tell Rarity and Tempest to meet us down there. There might be ponies for her to evacuate.’
        Vinyl nods and gallops away. Silver drops to the floor and leads her friends down to the prison. They are wading through knee deep water by the time they arrive.
        ‘Hello!’ Lyra calls. ‘Anypony here?’
        Octavia punches her friend. ‘Quiet! You’ll give us away!’
        ‘Like your bickering doesn’t alert everypony.’
        ‘I am not bickering. I am being a good leader.’
        ‘Since when are you our leader?’
        ‘My school. My organization. My team.’ Octavia sticks her tongue out.
        ‘My money,’ Lyra growls.
        ‘My plea deal forcing me to work for you for free just so I don’t have to adopt that stupid persona anymore,’ Silver snorts.
        ‘But you still dye your coat that cute shade of green,’ a new voice says.
        Silver’s ears perk up. She sniffs the air and gasps. The pegasus flies away with her friends in close pursuit. She stops outside of a cell. Another pony trots up to the bars. Silver reaches through, pulls the pony as far out as she can and gives the pony a big kiss.
        Daring Do backs away to catch her breath. ‘Good to see you too, cutie.’
        ‘What are you doing here?’ Silver asks.
        ‘I could ask you the same thing.’
        ‘Sea ponies asked us to take care of some ancient evil,’ Octavia replies.
        ‘I was following somepony called “The Master” who was causing some trouble in my area,’ Daring explains. ‘I tried to help stop him from releasing Orthros.’
        ‘Orthros? That is a stupid name,’ Octavia scoffs.
        ‘Doesn’t matter, you spoony bard,’ Silver growls. She pulls her lockpicks from under her wing. ‘We have to get out of here. Where is it now?’
        ‘He is out to dinner.’ Daring frowns. ‘The last of the male guards, if I were to guess.’
        ‘Anypony else down here?’ Lyra asks.
        ‘Just me and the few female guards. Get out of here. I can handle myself.’
        Silver swings the door open. ‘Not without you.’
        Daring comes out and kisses Silver again. ‘Have I told you how great you are?’
        ‘Not enough.’
        Lyra looks down the hall. ‘What about the others? Where are Rarity and the others?’
        ‘They are waiting for you upstairs.’
        ‘Thanks, Tavi.’
        ‘Uh, wasn’t me.’
        Lyra turns. A large purple mass of tentacles grins a row of sharp teeth. The ponies scream in terror.
        ‘Hey, pretties,’ Orthros greets as he whips his tentacles out and wraps the party.

        Orthros drops his new captives beside Rarity, Vinyl and Tempest in the main hall. He looks over the captives and laughs a lecherous laugh.
        ‘I just love pretty, pretty ponies,’ the octopus giggles. He runs a tentacle across Rarity’s face. ‘And you, my dear, are by far the prettiest pony.’
        ‘Thank you for the compliment, but’ -- Rarity tries biting the tentacle -- ‘if you continue to touch me like that, I’ll call my beloved and he’ll light you on fire!’
        ‘YEOWCH! Seafood soup!’ Orthros pulls his tentacle away. ‘I think we can fix that, eventually.’ He goes to the two pegasi. ‘Such lovely little fliers. I can’t wait to play all sorts of games with you on the ground.’
        ‘You’ll get no such pleasure from us!’ Daring snaps. She glances at Silver. ‘Right?’
        Silver groans. Orthros pets Vinyl.
        ‘Love your mane, cutie.’
        ‘Rinse, wash, repeat. Always repeat.’
        Octavia kicks her friend. Orthros laughs and goes to Lyra.
        ‘Save me, sea land pony!’ the unicorn cries. ‘I don’t want to die before I am a father!’
        ‘Let go of me!’ Tempest yells back.
        Orthros giggles to himself and slithers to loom over Octavia. He stares down at her. She stares up and growls at the octopus.
        Orthros pats Octavia on the head. ‘You are a cute little filly. Don’t worry, I don’t harm fillies. Uncle Ulty will get you some candy later, you cute little filly.’ He turns back to the others. ‘As for the rest of you... NWEHEHEHE....’
        Orthros stops laughing. Slowly, a trickle of blue-purple blood streams across his face. Octavia twists her hoof, turning her hidden blade inside the octopus’ head.
        ‘I am NOT a filly!’ the cellist screams. She retracts the blade and trots away. ‘Let’s get the hell out of here.’