It had been weeks since Sonata and Sunset had arrived in Equestria with the help of Lucky. The bad news, Sonata hadn’t yet woken up from her sleep. The good news, sleep had become the only issue with Sonata. She was recovering nicely, considering. Luna had gone in to visit Sonata every now and then in her dreams. Everything was well with her, now if only she would wake. “Come on Sonata, wake up soon.” Sunset rarely looked away and when she did, Lucky was there to watch Sonata. At the moment, both were looking at her and then her eyes fluttered.
“Hey, everypony, look, she’s waking.”
Everypony in the room watched as Sonata’s eyes slowly opened. To her relief, it was dark enough in the room that it didn’t hurt her eyes when they opened. It was also light enough to see everypony in the room. “What happened?” Sonata turned her head to the right and saw a familiar looking pony. “Do I know you?”
The pony chuckled and nodded. “Yes Sonata, at least a little anyway. I introduced myself as Lucky Clover.”
Sonata had to think about it for a moment and then her eyes widened and a large smile formed on her face out of happiness and shock. “Lucky, how did you, why are?” Sonata stumbled through her unfinished questions.
Twilight took this opportunity to speak. “Sonata, he saved you and brought you here. Now I think it’s time to fill you in on that mark of yours. Celestia is here to help me explain if needed.” Sonata looked confused but nodded. She had already been told about the mark, Adagio admitted what it did and what would happen if it disappeared. “The first thing you must know is that I was there when Adagio and Aria returned. This also means I know what Adagio told you and what she told you is false. The mark has nothing to do with your ability to control people. The ability you have is similar to the royal canterlot voice.” Twilight turned to Celestia who gave her an approving nod. “It is because you were born royal that you can control other sirens. Now the mark on your neck is indeed magical, the only part about the mark Adagio was correct about. The mark is like a containment vacuum I suppose. The point of it is to keep all sirens from becoming violent and psychotic.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, you lost me after the canterlot voice thing. This mark is a containment thingy that keeps Sirens from becoming lunatics.” Sonata couldn’t help but laugh at hearing something so ridiculous, and she knew ridiculous.
“I know how that sounds Sonata but hear me out. Your mark is the mark of royalty because only royalty can handle the power within the mark.” Twilight was tapped on the shoulder and turned to see Celestia.
“Perhaps I should explain this part to Sonata.” Twilight nodded and backed up. “Sonata, I knew your mother well. We were great friends but your mother did struggle from time to time. The negative energy stored within the mark is rather intense. One reason she didn’t become corrupted by the power is because of the responsibility of being queen. Another reason and the biggest reason is because she already had complete control over all sirens. It was for that reason that only royals can have the mark for they don’t have the need for such power. Resistance is easy for those with complete control. If a normal siren with no power were to have the mark, it would consume them. This was what your mother told me.” Celestia turned to Twilight. “Go ahead.”
“Thank you. Sonata, you see, without the mark, sirens will be able to take all the negative energy they like. Sirens will feel the power they gain in a way they have never felt before. With that much power building up inside them, they tend to want more and they will start going mad with power. Sirens would want more and more and will even kill other sirens to get it. The worst part is that, they won’t even realize what they are doing and they don’t get anything from doing so. This is where your mark comes in handy Sonata. The mark absorbs the excess negative energy and keeps it stored. Fun fact, if sirens can’t find any negative energy, the queen can release some energy for the sirens to take. The mark is not about control but about preserving your race. Celestia told me your mother was worried you wouldn’t get the mark.”
“Ok, can you tell me in words I can understand?” Sonata said sitting up in her bed.
“The mark takes negative energy from other sirens so the sirens don’t get power hungry and destroy each other to get it.” Sunset put a hoof on Sonata’s shoulder.
“Oh, why didn’t you just say that? I still don’t get it though, I don’t remember taking any energy.”
“The mark works indep, on its own so as long as the other sirens are around you, the mark does all the work. You have probably been so distracted with things the last thousand or so years that the temptation for power just wasn’t there. You had great distractions with Adagio and Aria after all. They are so power hungry as it is; those two dragged you into it.” Twilight yawned and stretched. “Great, now I’m rambling on. So in a few hours, we will have something to show you. Since you haven’t been around, there is one last siren in Equestria alive. She has been imprisoned and you need to see why.” Twilight turned to one of the maids with a smile. “Would you please go get something for Sonata to eat?” She turned back to Sonata and nodded. “After you eat and regain some of your strength, we’ll take you to where you need to be.” She paused when a thought came to mind. “Is there anything special you would like to eat?”
“Admittedly, I could go for fish if you don’t mind.” Sonata smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of her neck. “If you don’t then, yeah whatever.”
“Spike, you heard her, please go tell the maids to get her some fish.” Spike saluted and ran off. “Thank you Spike.” Twilight sat down next to Sonata. “I have foods for many a species here. If I were to host a banquet for a griffin ambassador for instance, fish would be a must. Now why don’t you relax and I’ll come back in a few hours.” Twilight and all but Sunset and Lucky left.
A few hours later, Sonata, Twilight, Celestia, Luna and Sunset were off to the Canterlot dungeon. Lucky and the others had to stay behind as there wasn’t enough room on the chariots. Also, it was best that Lucky saw as little of Equestria as possible. The last thing they needed was for him to get attached and not want to leave.
Once they arrived at the dungeon, Celestia and Luna spoke with the guards. While they did the talking, Twilight turned to both Sonata and Sunset. “Prepare yourselves for what you’re about to see or maybe not see. I don’t know how this is going to work. I do know what Celestia told me. There will be a large and thick amount of negative energy. The siren will also be, should I say, feral. I don’t know exactly what she means by feral but it doesn’t sound good so as I said, prepare yourselves. I can only assume that the siren will be seriously nutty.” Celestia turned around and gave the go ahead. Twilight walked in with Sonata and Sunset following close behind. Luna led the way down.
“You know, it’s kind of terrifying in here.” Once they entered, a path led straight down into the dark with only a few torches lighting the way. Celestia had stayed behind to make sure the door to the entrance was shut. “I thought I would end up here after Twilight helped me, had I come back. Now that I’m here, I remember that fear.”
“You have no need to worry Sunset, I forgave you for your mistakes.” Celestia said as she passed by the five. “Hold on.” The group came to another door that had torches on both sides of it and a window that was currently being guarded by a dark pony wearing a helmet with a star on it. “Nightstar, it’s good to see one of Luna’s guards here. It’s been so long since my sisters guards had something to do. You and her other guards have always done such a wonderful job.”
“Thank you your highness, please go in.” Nightstar opened the door and allowed the group passage.
“Step quickly, don’t fall behind.” Celestia kept her light bright and stayed in the center of path leading passed many cells. There were many criminals behind bars and the dungeon was very dark and lonely with very little lighting. Some prisoners were talking to them as they passed and others were whistling at the princesses. Some tried some rather naughty things like spanking them as they past. Luckily the group was too far away for them to be reached but it didn’t stop the ponies from saying what they wanted. The combination of everything made it very unnerving, even for the princesses. Soon they arrived at another door that opened up to reveal a much lighter staircase than before. “Watch your step.”
Twilight couldn’t help but wonder just how far they had to go. “Celestia, how much further is this cell?”
“Just down these steps and we will be in the biggest cell you will ever see. It’s about the size of five of those six by eight cells you saw previously. It needs to be.” At the bottom of the stairs was another door that was being guarded. The guard allowed them entrance. Celestia walked in about twenty feet and then stopped. “Line up everypony.” The group did as they were told and then Celestia tapped on an invisible forcefield. The cell took up most of the room and it was filled with water. In a split second, a Siren flew into the force field and pound against it repeatedly. She used her tail to whip the shield and then continued to attack it. It’s scales were covered in dry blood and now fresh blood from hitting the field. Its scales were peeling and red. The real color of the siren wasn’t noticeable. It’s mouth was covered in the blood of its meals. Her fins were torn and it’s eyes bloodshot. Her hooves were greatly damaged and its tail was cut up. “This is what happens without a queen everypony.”
The group looked in horror and Sonata felt sick as the siren thrashed around. They soon noticed a green mist surrounding them. The sirens pounding continued and the negative energy made it difficult to see. Now a new voice spoke. It was raspy and demonic sounding. “Power, I need more, give me mooooore.” The pounding became louder and louder. “Give it to me, fear me and give me power. Let me out, LET ME OUT! I must have more.”
Celestia decided that was enough and lit the way to lead the group out of the dungeon and back into daylight. Sonata couldn’t move, she was terrified and nausous at what she had just seen. She didn’t want to return to the depths of that dungeon but in her mind, she knew it would be necessary. She didn’t know when but some day she would return and she wasn’t looking forward to it. Sonata did know one thing, Adagio and Aria would pay and so would she. One way or another, they all had a price to pay and it wouldn’t be pretty.