It was a perfect day in the Light Kingdom and Melody walked around the castle with a cheerful floor and spread the same joy through her wonderful voice. All those who heard her singing just stopped to listen her, interrupting any activity they were doing.
Melody also loved her voice. It was not vanity or something. It was because she loved to sing and loved others to hear her and feel happier. Her music always helped to calm the most conflicting hearts and it was she who kept part of the harmony in the Light Kingdom, and her voice was one of the main defenses of the kingdom.
After singing at the castle, Melody walked through the kingdom streets, where the ponies watched her amazed and some greeted her. She went to the forest where the animals approached, also captivated by Melody’s voice and also for her kind nature. Of all the places in the Light Kingdom, the forest was undoubtedly the place she liked the best, because the animals liked genuinely her, seeing through her voice.
The only person who didn’t like her music was the Lord of Chaos who was wathcing that with immense disgust.
"Look at that, Fire Punch" the Lord of Chaos said. "I hate music, especially Melody’s damn voice."
"I don’t know, master" Fire Punch said. "She appears to sings quite well."
But when he received the harsh gaze of his master, he hastened to say:
"Yes, you're right, it's horrible."
"The point is that Melody’s music represents everything I hate: harmony and calm" the Lord of Chaos said. "Especially that voice, which is a key pillar of the defense of the Light Kingdom."
"Yes, can you imagine what would happen if Melody lost her voice?" Fire Punch asked. "It would be very bad to the Light Kingdom."
That made the Lord of Chaos meditate and then he said:
"Fire Punch, you are all right. I walked all this time trying to destroy that damn kingdom when I could just win by depriving it from its own defenses. If Melody’s voice disappears, things can play in my favor."
"But, master, even if we get rid of Melody’s voice, we still have to deal with the other Generals and their defenses" Fire Punch said.
"Therefore I will deal with them as well" the Lord of Chaos said, laughing.
Melody have arrived at the castle and, when a maid was passing by her, she asked her:
"Sorry, did it arrive by chance any package for me?"
"No, Miss Melody" she said.
"Oh, okay" Melody said. "Thank you any way."
The maid then advanced.
"Are you waiting for something?" a voice asked.
Melody turned and saw Heartbeat.
"Actually, yes" Melody said. "I ordered a herbal tea they said to be perfect for the voice. After all, I have to take care of my voice, isn’t it?"
"You're right" Heartbeat said. "It would be bad if you lost it."
"Well, I have to go" Melody said. "They're waiting for me in the studio. Goodbye."
And having said that, she teleported herself.
Seeing that scene, the Lord of Chaos said:
"Interesting. So our dear General of Music is waiting for a special tea."
Passing a hand in front of the mirror, the Lord of Chaos made the image change to a pony that took packages to the Light Kingdom. He was passing the dense forest that divided the Light Kingdom from Equestria.
"Perfect" the Lord of Chaos said. "He has not yet arrived to the Light Kingdom.”
He made the image disappear and then turned to Fire Punch, saying:
"Fire Punch, I have a mission for you."
"Just say" he replied.
"I need you to intercept that pony and switch the content of the Melody’s package for this" the Lord of Chaos said, invoking a bottle with a liquid similar to a tea.
"What is it?" Fire Punch asked, getting the bottle.
"Just a little surprise for our beloved singer" the Lord of Chaos replied, maliciously.
"I'll get right on it" Fire Punch said, disappearing.
"Meanwhile, I’ll see this studio of hers" the Lord of Chaos said, snapping his fingers.
In the mirror, the image of Canterlot appeared. There was a new building created by Melody: a music studio where ponies could go to sing or play all kinds of instruments. There, amateur bands could practice and even take classes with singers and musicians hired by Melody, the studio's founder.
Twilight’s friends were there because they had decided to create a band (Rainbow Dash’s idea, of course) to spend free-time and had been registered in the studio to practice. They were sitting in the lounge area, where many students were there, exchanging ideas and talking.
"All right, girls, don’t forget that we have practice this afternoon" Rainbow Dash said.
"We know, Rainbow Dash" Applejack said. "Ya don’t have tah always remind us."
"Yes, because I'm always counting the minutes until that time comes" Pinkie said, briskly. "I cannot wait!"
The others laughed before Pinkie Pie’s excitement.
Then an orange light came on stage that was in the room, something that caught the attention of the ponies there, and they saw Melody appearing.
"Hello, everypony" she greeted them. "I expect you are having a good time in the studio and learning and enjoying music."
There was a pause and then Melody continued:
"Well, I have something to communicate to you. As you know, summer is ending and with that comes the autumn equinox which is celebrated with the Autumn Equinox Ball."
Soon it began to hear whispers everywhere.
"I know this ball is a very important tradition, especially for those who have a coltfriend or a marefriend, and that's why... that I convinced Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to leave the subscribers of the studio act at the ball that is going to happen here in Canterlot."
Upon hearing that, the ponies were getting immensely excited.
"Whoever wants to register to act is at ease. I hope you practice a lot and can honor our studio and the music."
And having said that, Melody disappeared again. After that, the room was filled with noise with the ponies speaking about the ball.
"Oh, good, this will be awesome!" Rainbow Dash said. "We can finally act to a large audience and show everypony what we can do. Do you know what that means?"
Pinkie Pie looked her hoof up and asked:
"That we will be able to give ponies joy that we can transmit through music and so raise their spirit?"
That made everypony look to Pinkie that asked:
"What?"
"Any way..." Rainbow Dash said. "This means we'll have to practice more."
She waited for her friends react the same exciting way, but they didn’t.
"Well, I expected a little more joy."
"Rainbow, is not fer nothin’, but do ya know how many times we practice every day?" Applejack asked.
Rainbow mused on Applejack’s quetion, but it was Rarity who answered:
"Five. Two in the morning, two in the afternoon and yet one before we go to sleep. And not to mention that time we woke us in the middle of the night to practice a sixth."
"That's why we have to practice, girls" Rainbow Dash said.
"Yeah, Rainbow, we know, but we also need tah rest and relax" Applejack said.
The other nodded in agreement.
"Sorry, Rainbow, but I think Applejack’s right" Fluttershy said.
Rainbow then sighed and said:
"Okay, let's reduce the practice time. But don’t blame me if our performance is not as good as it should when the ball arrives."
The Lord of Chaos continued to watch the studio when Fire Punch appeared.
"So?" the Lord of Chaos asked, looking at the mirror.
"It's all dealt" Fire Punch said. "Melody will receive your bottle."
"Perfect" the Lord of Chaos said, standing up. "Come with me. I want to show you something."
Intrigued, Fire Punch followed the Lord of Chaos out of the room until they get to the hall where there were the cells.
"But what do you want to show me, master?" Fire Punch asked.
"You'll see" the Lord of Chaos answered.
They then reached the middle of the hallway and then the Lord of Chaos hit with his spear on the floor once and a stone pillar rose from the ground. At the top, there was a keyhole. The Lord of Chaos invoked the key of Tartarus, inserted it in the keyhole and ran it.
Suddenly, to the astonishment of Fire Punch, stairs appear to drive down. They went down them and reached a dark corridor that was lit by torches when they arrived. It was a small hallway that contained six cell doors, three on each side. These doors had no railings, being made of heavy metal and invulnerable to magic. Each of the doors had the representation of the Cutie Marks of each General of Order: a circular sheet music with notes and clefs to Melody, a palette and brushes to Purple Smoke; a tree to Leaf Mane, the infinite symbol inside of a mirror to Mirror Coat, a heart with a white feather wing and a black bat wing to Heartbeat and a sword with white wings to Golden Paladin.
"Master, where are we?" Fire Punch asked.
"We are in solitary of Tartarus, where the worst of the villains who were defeated by the Generals of Order of the Light Kingdom are" the Lord of Chaos replied. "Each of these cells contains a powerful villain who was defeated by each Generals and were an even greater danger than the other villains."
"Wow!” Fire Punch exclaimed. “But if you have these villains still in reserve, why have you not used them?" Fire Punch asked.
"Because I could not, your idiot" the Lord of Chaos said. "These cells were designed to keep the doors from being opened either from inside and outside. It would take a very powerful magic to break them, something that only the Generals, my brother and I can do. And if I release them using my power, my brother could intervene and I cannot allow him to intervene."
"But if that’s true, how will you release them now?" Fire Punch asked.
"Using the dark energy that I took from the fear of the ponies when I used my other villains" the Lord of Chaos replied. "I have been waiting for the moment to have enough energy to break down these doors without use my magic. And it's time to use it... on this door."
He pointed to the door with Melody’s Cutie Mark and dark energy was launched against it. When it was hit by the energy, the door began to crack and then simply broke up. Fire Punch looked and then saw three figures appearing. When light of the flames lit them up, he saw three earth mares. The one that was in the middle had a pale apple green coat, a luminous vivid orange mane with brilliant yellow streaks, brilliant raspberry eyes and a gem with a G-clef as Cutie Mark. The mare at her right had a pale, light grayish fuchsia coat, a moderate purple mane with light brilliant aquamarine streaks, moderate mulberry eyes and a two-toned purple star with the forte symbol. The mare at the left had an arctic bluish white coat, a light arctic blue mane with moderate persian blue stripes, moderate raspberry eyes and a blue and purple jagged eighth note on a pink heart as Cutie Mark. However, the three had the same red gem pendants.
"It was about time, my master" the mare in the middle said. "Since we began to think that you had forgotten us."
"How could I forget you" the Lord of Chaos replied her, turning then to Fire Punch. "Fire Punch, let me introduce you yo Adagio Dazzle" indicated the mare in the middle "Aria Blaze" indicated the mare at the right "and Sonata Dusk" indicated the one at the left.
"Hello, how are you?" Sonata asked to Fire Punch, cheerfully. "My name is Sonata."
"The Lord of Chaos has already presented you, Sonata" Aria said. "You really are an idiot."
"Hey, you're the one who is an idiot" Sonata replied.
"I'm so sorry, my master" Adagio said to the Lord of Chaos. "But being locked in a confined cell for centuries didn’t work very well to some of us."
"Never mind, my dear" the Lord of Chaos said.
"So you three are Melody’s enemies" Fire Punch noted.
"Of course we are" Adagio said. "She shut us here after we have tried to create disharmony between ponies."
"Really?" Fire Punch asked.
"They are not ponies, Fire Punch" the Lord of Chaos explained. "They are Sirens, creatures who can turn ponies against each other with their voices. Their voices are so powerful that they can even affect the Generals of Order. Well, all Melody. She used it in her favor, and together with her voice and her music, she beat them and held them here."
"Yes, and that’s why we want our vengeance" Adagio said.
"You will not have to worry about that any more, Adagio" the Lord of Chaos said. "I have prepared the ground for a new plan of mine that will satisfy both your desire for revenge and my desire to conquer this world."
The three Sirens exchanged glances and Adagio said to the Lord of Chaos:
"We are all ears."
Melody returned to the castle in the middle of afternoon and when she arrived there, Heartbeat appeared and told him:
"Oh, Melody, a package had arrived for you. It should be your tea."
"Perfect!" She exclaimed. "Where is it?"
"I took it to your room" Heartbeat replied. "Do not worry, I didn’t move your things."
"Good" Melody said, while Heartbeat walked away.
The General of Music went to her room which was decorated with lots of musical notes and with light instruments hanging from the ceiling and some heavier ones around the room. Another feature was her giant closet (whose door was now closed) that had all her dresses and accessories and even a mirror. She then found the package on top of her bed. She went over it and opened it where there was a bottle with what appeared to be tea.
Using her magic, Melody mae a cup of tea appear and then poured some tea, putting the bottle again in the box. Taking the cup to her mouth with magic, Melody took a few sips light. But then something happened. An immense pain arose in her throat, something that made her spit the tea that she was taking.
"What the..." she said, but in a hoarse, almost faint voice.
Melody held her breath when she heard that voice coming out of her mouth. She tried to speak but she couldn’t. Completely panicked, she ran out of her room and went to her siblings, in the hope that they could help.
When she could find them and showed them the situation, they returned to her room, where Mirror Coat watched her throat. Twilight, Heartbeat, Leaf Mane and Golden Paladin were there, while Purple Smoke was watching the bottle with the substance that Melody had drunk.
"Yes, you really have a great swelling" Mirror Coat said to Melody. "I think you'll not be able to sing in the near future."
That made Melody become immensely discouraged because singing was her life.
"You cannot do anything?" Golden Paladin asked.
"No" Mirror Coat replied. "I think she just has to wait for the swelling to disappear. Unless I can identify the substance she ingested and can create an antidote."
"So let me save you time, bro" Purple Smoke said, lowering the bottle. "It’s poison joke essence."
"So the problem is resolved" Twilight said. "There is a cure the effects."
"Not for this type of poison joke" Purple Smoke said. "It’s a mutant species with longer lasting effects that are more resistant than conventional. It is quite rare so it is surprising that its essence is over this tea."
"Unless someone has put it in there" Golden Paladin said.
"It must have been the Lord of Chaos" Leaf Mane said.
"But why he wants Melody to lose her voice?" Twilight asked.
"Beyond the fact he hates her music, because Melody’s voice is her best weapon" Mirror Coat explaind. "It is also part of the main defenses of the Light Kingdom. Melody’s songs relax and calm the light ponies and ultimately enhance their light."
"That means... we are more vulnerable?" Twilight asked, a little worried.
"There's nothing to worry about, princess" Golden Paladin said. "Yes, we are more vulnerable than before, but there is still our defenses. We are still safe."
Twilight was relieved, but then noticed that Melody was not happy and the princess understood it, after all singing was the thing she liked to do the most.
"Still, it's best we cure Melody the fast we can" Twilight said.
"Yes, the princess is absolutely right!" Heartbeat exclaimed, before adopting a more thoughtfully. "But how do we do that?"
"Purple Smoke, do you know how to make a cure?" Twilight asked.
Purple Smoke was going to answer, but Mirror Coat spoke first:
"Of course not. There is no doubt that Purple Smoke can’t do it. The only thing we can do it’s wait."
"I’m sorry?" Purple Smoke asked. "Do you think I cannot find a cure?"
"If experienced botanicals couldn’t do it, do you think you can?" Mirror Coat asked.
"I don’t know if you noticed, Mirror Coat, but it was me who gave the talent with plants to all those botanicals" Purple Smoke said. "And you know what, I'll find a cure for the essence of mutant poison joke."
And having said that, he grabbed Melody’s hoof and began to take her out of her room, as he said:
"Come, Melody, I’ll heal you."
She tried to fight, knowing what expected to her if Purple Smoke would try to cure her. However, he was stronger and, therefore, she had no choice but to go with him.
"Poor Melody, she will suffer so much serveing as a guinea pig to Purple Smoke’s experiences" Heartbeat said, apparently sorry for Melody, before moving to a more cheerful air. "It should be fun! I have to see it! Wait for me!"
She left quickly to go after her brother and sister, while others gave laughter.
Then the alarm started ringing.
"Perfect, just perfect" Golden Paladin said.
"It's time for work" Mirror Coat said.
"If you want, I can go with you" Twilight said.
"It’s not necessary, princess" Golden Paladin said. "We can handle it."
"Are you sure?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, of course" Golden Paladin said. "After all, we are three Generals against... whatever the Lord of Chaos may have sent."
He then turned to Mirror Coat and Leaf Mane and told them:
"All right, let’s go."
They waved and the three teleported themselves.
The three Generals reached Vanhoover where they went to the focus of the alarm and saw a bar where it was happening an immense confusion. When they got there they saw that all the ponies there were arguing a lot.
"But what's going on here?" Leaf Mane asked.
"It seems they are all arguing for no reason" Mirror Coat said.
By accessing her magic, Golden Paladin charged his horn and then released a magical pulse that hit in all ponies. After a few seconds, they eventually calmed and discussions ceased.
"Well done, Golden" Leaf Mane said.
"Not bad" Mirror Coat commented.
"Ending this sort of thing is my specialty" he said as the three moved away from the bar. "But that was not normal. How does an entire bar starts to argue that way for no reason?"
"If this was the work of one of the villains of Tartarus, then it must be someone very good to spread discord" Leaf Mane said, as they advanced to the outskirts of the city.
"But there are plenty of villains that can do that" Mirror Coat said. "How will we find what we are facing?"
"Maybe turning in the right direction" a voice said.
When they heard that voice, the three Generals turned and saw the three Sirens nearby.
"It can’t be" Golden Paladin said, as surprised as his brother and sister. "Adagio? Aria? Sonata? But it was supposed you to be in solitary. Neither the Lord of Chaos can free the villains from there without resorting to his unique magic."
"It seems he can now" Adagio replied. "And now it's time to take revenge for all the centuries that we caught."
The three generals prepared themselves to attack, but the Sirens were faster and began to sing. Their singing was beautiful, but at the same time mesmerizing, having neither a point of joy that Melody’s had. When they heard them sing, Golden Paladin, Mirror Coat and Leaf Mane felt an intense pain in theirs ears that rendered them unable to defend or counter-attack. They took their hooves to the ears, but that didn’t soothe the dying sound that clouded their thoughts and made them fall to the ground, unconscious.
"Yes!" the Lord of Chaos exclaimed, seeing the Sirens defeating Golden Paladin, Mirror Coat and Leaf Mane. "And three Generals were defeated."
"Wow, they are really good" Fire Punch said. "Now, the only Generals who can intrude in our plans are the General Talent and the General of Affect. Without forgetting Twilight Sparkle."
"And they will not take any chances so the Sirens when they recover their full power" the Lord of Chaos said. "And I know the right way to do it."
And he just gave an evil laugh, watching Melody’s music studio through his mirror.