It was a rainy day at Canterlot City.
The water fell from the sky like a blanket over the massive city leaving small floods and businesses closed for the last two days. Schools were closed and only a few establishments that were on the hills were left unaffected by the down pour. Lightning danced across the sky and an orchestra of thunder accompanied it.
It was natures harmony and its show of primal power at its best.
Beneath the sky performance, Sunset Shimmer ran along in a large raincoat and huge leather boots. Her feet splashed through puddles and the wind blew against her as she made her way down the street heading for Sugarcube Corner. She ran and ran until she reached her destination. A small bakery at the corner of Main Street and 74th. It was the strangest looking building that was designed based on its signature cupcakes.
Sunset was very fond of the silly looking place, always thinking it as a second home. She approached the entrance and wiped her boots off before she reached for the door handle and opened it.
A bell rang signaling her presence and a large woman peered from around the corner of the counter. Her pink hair was large and swirly and had an apron on with a name tag that read Mrs. Cake. The older baker woman waved to Sunset who waved back at her.
"Hello dear, you here to meet with Pinkie and the others?"
"Yes, Mrs. Cake. Is it alright if I come in?"
"Sure thing, please take a seat I have a pizza in the oven."
"Thanks," Sunset said smiling. "Oh, how are the twins doing?"
The older woman laughed rubbing her neck nervously. "They're being... kids."
As if on cue a crash came from upstairs and the woman ran off leaving Sunset by herself. She chuckled at the panicked look Mrs. Cake had as she bolted. She then spotted her friends off to the side of the bakery. She waved to the group of girls sitting at the table consisting of Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie. Beside them sat the sirens, Aria and Sonata sat together with Adagio sitting next to Applejack with Rainbow beside her.
Sunset walked over taking a seat beside Sonata waving to them with a kind smile. Adagio and Aria both scoffed looking away with unenthusiastic waves while Sonata waved ecstatically.
"Hey girls! How's life been?" Sunset asked, sitting down beside Sonata and Aria.
The first to answer was Rainbow. The athletic girl was excited standing up as she spoke. "It's been great, Sunny! I got my scholarship!"
"Nice job Rainbow." Sunset congratulated her fiend.
Everyone else gathered around her with the exception of Aria who shrugged and Adagio who gave her a small fist bump. Of course, Pinkie and Sonata were bouncing around like coke addicts high on sugar. The two couldn't be happier for Rainbow, for she had worked hard to get her scholarship and it paid off in the end.
"I can't believe you got it Rainbow! I mean yeah I knew it'd happen but not quite so soon. You know?" Sonata said rubbing the blue girls' shoulders.
Pinkie leaped on her back gripping her neck in a tight hug. "OOOOH! I'm so happy for you, Dashie!"
The athlete pushed back on the two hyper girls playfully. She then wrapped her arms around both their necks pulling them close enough for their cheeks to touch.
"Hey, thanks, guys! That means a lot!" She then released them frowning a bit, "But sadly that means I'll be leaving once we graduate from High School."
Everyone looked shocked at the news. Even Aria and Adagio seemed to flinch at this, mostly Adagio. She looked really upset and Rainbow took notice. She pushed past everyone and sat beside the siren and placed her hand gently on hers. The touch was simple and yet it had made Adagio smile earning a gasp from both Aria and Sonata who gawked at her.
"Aria, did you see that?" The blue siren asked pointing, quite openly, at her fellow siren.
The other siren nodded dumbly as the remaining Rainbooms watched in silence. Rarity clasped her hands over her mouth and gasped at what happened next. Rainbow leaned in and pressed her lips against Adagio's who in return grabbed hold of the rainbow-haired girl kissing back.
The shock only lasted a few seconds as a soft sweet voice cut through it like a knife through a double chocolate cake.
"Ahem, I'm glad for you deary but please no public displays of affection sweetie." The voice of Mrs. Cake said as she placed a large pizza on the table with a chuckle.
Both Adagio and Rainbow separated immediately after the older woman pointed their affections out publicly. Sunset grinned finding it odd they didn't care until it was mentioned to them. She reasoned it must have been a spur of the moment scenario. Rarity blushed looking away while Applejack snickered at her friend.
"Applejack how rude!" Rarity exclaimed throwing her arms up in the air.
"What? It ain't like she cares."
Rarity scoffed crossing her arms. "Really Applejack? You really think that after what just happened?"
Applejack gave her friend a dismissive wave of her hand. "Psh, please if Rainbow cared she'd ah said something by now."
Adagio growled gripping her hands in fists ready to dish out justice onto the apple farmer. How dare she talk like she didn't exist? It upset the siren to no end but held back when a blue hand made its way between her and her prey. Rainbow shook her head with a look telling her not to do it, and the leader of the sirens grumbled crossing her arms and pouted as Rarity continued to scold Applejack, all the while the others present waited for the scuffle to end.
Rainbow comforted her by sliding her seat over and pulled the sirens head onto her shoulder. The rest of the group dawwe'd at them as they cuddled together. It was well known that Rainbow had affections towards Adagio after the Battle of the Bands. Sunset recalled that it was first a simple exchange of insults and trying to outdo the other in musical standoffs.
Later this leads them to perform during Valentines Day together. That day Vinyl Scratch had come down with the seasonal flu and couldn't perform. Her friend Octavia skipped school just to be with her leaving no one to lead the musical performance. A chance that Rainbow and Adagio took up to outshine the other.
One thing leads to another and by the end of the day, Sunset saw them at the park holding hands. She never thought about it until now several months later. She had her suspicions but now it was confirmed.
She sighed looking longingly at them before her eyes drifted to Aria. She was a nice slim young woman, erm siren but her attitude reminded her of herself not long ago. Standoffish and very blunt to the point of being brusque. She did like the act the siren had a no-nonsense personality but was put off by how often she was like that.
As Rarity and Applejack's argument heated up they stood and began throwing unkind gestures at each other until it happened.
"Applejack really! You are the most aggravating person I know!" Rarity said, her voice rising under her stress.
"Ahm aggravating? Heh, have you listened to yourself? Ever? It's very obvious why you can't get anyone to like you!" Applejack retorted.
Rarity tensed up glaring at the other. "And what pray tell is that?"
Applejack donned a smug looked. "Well, if yall weren't such a *Buy some apples* bag I'm sure someone would like ya." Applejack then placed her hand on her hips as Rarity blushed fuming at her. *SLAP!!*
Everyone became still as Rarity slapped Applejack across the face. The dark skinned girl rubbed her cheek before clenching her fist and raised it angrily. Rarity realizing what she had done raised her hands to cover her face when a loud boom echoed through the bakery and the lights flickered off.
There were several screams and sounds of furniture falling around them. In the darkness, the chaos ensued and Sunset heard a loud scream as someone scrambled into her. Whoever it was clung to her neck like it was a life preserver. Once everyone settled down Mrs. Cake came into the dark room cutting through the darkness with an electric lamp she was carrying.
"Is everyone, OK?" She asked, in a concerned motherly voice.
"We're all fine Mrs. Cake," Sunset said, holding the person on her close. "We just got scared of the blackout."
A series of murmurs confirmed this and the woman placed the electric lantern on the table. Sunset then realized Sonata was the one who was holding onto her. The docile siren now had a firm grip on her jacket rubbing her face against Sunset's bosom.
Blushing Sunset patted the siren on the head feeling her soft well-kept hair. She could smell a slight scent of the ocean in the woman's hair. She leaned in sniffing it before she realized what she was doing. She quickly pulled away looking anywhere but the siren in her arms. Applejack was sitting again with Rarity beside her rubbing her arm with a shamed look and Rainbow still held Adagio's hand in hers.
Surprisingly Aria was next to Fluttershy who was shivering. The timid girl was whimpering in the annoying sirens shoulder but simply tolerated it, if her bored expression was any indicator.
The silence that followed was long and tense. Only the sound of the rain, the occasional footsteps from Mrs. Cake, and thunder were heard. Eventually, Rarity sighed taking her hand and rubbed Applejack's sore cheek. The farm girl turned away with a huff taking a slice of pizza and eating it very loudly and obnoxiously.
*Sigh*"I guess I do deserve that after the way I just treated you." Rarity said, taking a pizza slice for herself. "I'm sorry, Applejack. I didn't mean to hit you. I just, I lost control. I'm sorry."
After her soft-spoken apology, Applejack took a deep breath to calm herself down. Rainbow Dash looked at her ready to jump in if needed but was relieved when the two suddenly hugged it out. At first, Rarity had no idea what was going on but accepted the gesture all the same hugging back. for several more minutes, the silence ensued with no one talking as the rain and thunder continued outside. That was until a voice broke the silence.
"I wish father was here," Sonata's voice said.
Sunset looked down at the siren who was still holding onto her jacket but felt the tension in her hands loosen.
"Who was your father?" Sunset asked rubbing her blue ponytail.
Before another word came out Adagio cut in with a snappy tone, "He's an old false god we sirens use to worship millennia ago."
"Don't say that Dagi! You might anger him!"
But the siren scoffed dismissing her fellow sirens comment with a wave of her hand.
"If he was a god he wouldn't have lost to Starswirl the Bearded."
All the Rainbooms glanced at each other wondering what the sirens were talking about. Rainbow shrugged as did Rarity and Applejack. Fluttershy, on the other hand, seemed intrigued by the exchange, not he conflict persei but the content of their disagreement.
"He is a false god Sonata, end of the story," Adagio said, crossing her arms and leaning into Rainbow. "He's no god."
Sonata, on the other hand, gasped clasping her hands over her mouth as she listened to Adagios blasphemy. "Adagio don't say that! What if he hears you?" Sunset tapped her head getting her attention. "Yes? What up Sunny?"
Sunset smiled patting the siren on the head making her blush.
"I'm sorry, but who was your father?"
"Oh! He's magnificent!" Sonata chirped hugging Sunset. "He was so awesome you wouldn't believe it!"
"Oh, great here we go." Adagio groaned slumping in her chair. Aria chuckled at her fellow siren who shot a nasty look at her."Seems like someone is sleeping on the floor tonight." She threatened the violet siren who stopped immediately after. *Thought so.*
Sonata ignored her friends and continued to talk standing on the table. "Our father was the biggest and was the one who fathered all sirens originally. He was the biggest and strongest of us all!" She said waving her hand across an imaginary horizon line. "Oh, Sunset you would have loved to see him. He was as tall as a mountain and he had a wonderful voice that shook mountaintops."
Sunset listened as the blue siren gushed on about this siren. Whoever he was, he seemed to be important to her.
"So he was a siren just like you then?" Sunset asked pushing her fiery hair back.
Sonata waved her hands shaking her head. "Oh no no no no! He wasn't a siren."
This made everyone except the other two sirens wonder what she meant. Rainbow tapped Adagio getting her attention and asked, "So if he wasn't a siren then what was he?"
The orange haired woman shrugged. "He is the father of the original siren race. I myself was one. We worshiped him as a god and he, in turn, protected us. We were his kin after all." She said in a melancholic tone. "But one day that all changed."
"What happened darling?" Rarity asked.
*Sigh.* "Once a long time ago, the sirens were much different from what we use to be," she said taking a crayon from inside Pinkie's hair and a paper and drew a figure on it. "This is what we use to be. Taller, bulkier, and our spines and scales were thicker and stronger than even the finest steel in all of Equestria. He walked on two legs and had long arms to run on all four legs if we so chose. But we mostly stayed in the sea."
Adagio drew the figures as best she could, with no artistic talent what so ever.
"Our Father had no name, but our mother was called Giita. She passed after giving birth to one-thousand of us."
Rainbow and Rarity cringed at the thought of bearing one-thousand children. Applejack whistled seemingly impressed.
"That's so sad," Fluttershy said in a whisper, lowering her head. A reassuring smile from Aria put her in better spirits.
"That happens when a new generation of sirens are born," Sonata said looking at her sisters. "Our generation was the last father conceived before he disappeared."
"That's quite the family you got there," she said tipping her hat. "But what happened to him? You said he was defeated by some Starswirl the Bearded? Who's he?"
This time Sunset was the one to answer. "Starswirl was an ancient unicorn from the Pre-classical Era of Equestrian history. Roughly one-thousand years ago he was the most powerful unicorn and the most intelligent of the age."
"Indeed." Sonata agreed, "He was the one who defeated our father and banished him from our world. Much like he did to us." She took the drawing and made doodles as she went on with her story. "It's been so long since I've seen him I barely remember what he looks like. But he was so tall and so big with one stomp of his foot he could have harvested all of Sweet Apple Acres in one go."
"That's big." Applejack whistled in amazement.
"Yes, he was. Annnnd," Sonata then drew the figure of a black siren with a line of blue rings coming from its mouth at a dead figure of Starswirl, "His voice was said to be so powerful that he could destroy an entire mountain with a single breath!" A sound of thunder boomed outside. Sonata took a new crayon from out of nowhere and drew blue jagged lines at the figure. "He was also able to absorb lightning to supercharge himself. He was so powerful he almost defeated Starswirl in single combat!'
The leader of the sirens scoffed. "And he lost. A weak old fool who lost to an even weaker old fool."
The other sirens glared at Adagio while the Rainbooms stared at her in bewilderment.
"Bite your tongue Dagi! He might hear-"
"He won't hear me because he's not here to hear me Sonata!" The older siren bellowed. "Don't you get it? He's gone forever and we are the last of our kind!"
"We're not even in our world Adagio." Aria cut in. "We've been here a long time I don't think we have to worry about him showing up Sonata. Though it would be nice if he would so we could get our voices back."
Rarity shook her head trying to wrap her mind around what was being said. The others wondered what they meant by the sirens last comment. None of them wanted to ask, being afraid they might offend the sirens, eventually, Sunset found her voice and asked the big question.
"So if you don't have this, 'voice' as you call it where do you get it?" she asked Sonata and Aria.
The two sirens shrugged making Sunset facepalm.
"So you don't know?"
They shrugged again. This time Adagio spoke up nibbling on a slice of the pizza. "Allow me to clarify. All sirens are born with the voice. The power to absorb magic through song and speech. But when we refer to, 'the voice' it's the power to grow into something more than a simple siren. It's a blessing to be given to only the highest sirens who show true courage and strength of the heart." she explained placing a fist on her chest.
"He gives the power of his voice to those he feels are worthy of its power. It was a big responsibility to those who received it. I was the last siren to receive the gift from him a long time ago." she said looking longingly out the window. "Huh, actually it was on a night much like this I received the voice from him."
Everyone looked outside to see the lightning and rain in their natural dance. Aria looked shocked and Sonata looked like she was about to burst along with Pinkie.
"Can you show us?!"
"Can you show us?!"
"I don't know. I haven't used it in so long. I'm not even sure I can do it anymore." she admitted. "Beside's what's the point?'
"Aww come on Dagi! I wanna see! Pleasessse?"
The older siren frowned at the younger one who gave her the saddest puppy dog stare she could. The cute look began to melt her heart and even Pinkie managed to adopt the look somehow. She was about to turn them down when Rainbow tapped her shoulder with a silly grin that said she wanted to see it too.
Sighing Adagio nodded in defeat and walked over to Pinkie and whispered something in her ear. Once she finished the pink party girl scurried off in a pink blur leaving everyone with perplexed looks. Adagio waved her hand gesturing for them to follow her outside. Once everyone was out Pinkie scampered out with a bright overstuffed puffy pink raincoat happily humming to herself until Adagio silenced her with a finger to her lips
The siren stood tall and proud walking out into the middle of the street. The rain fell hard against her and the winds nearly toppled the other girls over even from their cover but the siren walked out casually, unfazed by the harsh winds.
The orange haired siren stood out in the middle of the street where she held her hands against her chest. As the others watched they noticed the siren's eyes began to glow a light blue. Slowly her form changed to reveal her true form. Serpent scales and a large set of fins grew on her back and her legs formed together to create a long finned tail that swayed back and forth gently. Her hair flowed with the wind though her fins and her body formed into an almost pony like the shape and her hands turned into hooves and became longer and her teeth became sharp.
After her transformation, the siren looked at her friends with concern. What she got surprised her. They were not fearful nor did the shy away from her new appearance. In fact, they seemed enthralled by her new look. Pinkie looked ready to explode while Rarity looked her over muttering, 'beautiful' under her breath.
Adagio smiled taking in a deep breath and began to hum.
From the start, you were first.
He loves you at your worst he'll do anything.
A father shows you the love he has and shows you the way to your dreams.
He'll give you everything he has so you may soar.
Faaather.
Oh, father.
The Rainbooms felt warm hearing Adagio's words. The lyrics sank into their hearts making them feel warm and fuzzy inside despite the wind sheering cold. Aria and Sonata both looked onto their sister with pained expressions holding each other tightly. Sunset joined with them paying close attention to Sonata. She held the blue siren close to her chest.
When I was lost and had nowhere to go,
You promised you would be there.
But then you were gone.
Oh, father.
Rarity and Applejack watched as the siren slowly looked down touching her chest with her scaled hoof. Pinkie sniffed trying hard not to cry but allowed herself to be immersed in the song. It made her think of home and how long it had been since she seen her father, her family. She made a mental note to write to them later.
Lost in the woods and now lost in time.
I need you now so please come home.
You showed me the world and taught me to fly.
Now all I want is for you to be by my side.
Oh, father.
Beloved father.
Please return to me.
I love you.
I need you
Here now in my darkest houuurrr.
Oh, faaaattthheeerrrr
Everyone watched as the siren finished her song. Aria was first to break away and tackle her sister in a bearlike hug followed closely by Rainbow Dash. Both sirens were openly crying, Rainbow watched in silence, in the storm neither would be able to tell. Neither would admit it either. Both were too prideful to admit it even in this moment of weakness. Looking to their younger sister who was still with Sunset they motioned for her to join them.
Sonata started to walk away but felt sunset release her hands making her look back at the fire-haired girl. She walked back grabbing hold of Sunset's hand and tugged beckoning her to join. Sunset, however, didn't feel it was right for her to barge in on this moment.
"Come on, Sunny. Please come with me." Sonata begged her. "You promised me you'd help me through the tough times even since the Battle of the Bands. Right?"
Sunset smiled at Sonata nodding and went with the siren to her sisters embracing them all. Adagio couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She wept turning into full-blown wailing as she forced her head into Rainbow's chest making her blush from the contact and earned a few grins from the others.
Aria looked at her older sister with a deeply depressed look patting her head. "Hey, Dagi, I miss him too. But we need to move on and go without him. He's gone. Nothings going to bring him back."
"I know." *Sniff* "I just wish he was here. Many believed him to be a god but, he's our father, he should be here with us," Adagio cried rubbing her face into Rainbows cheek.
"Hey, Adagio cut it out!" Rainbow complained pushing the siren away gently.
"But Dashie, I need love!" The siren giggled, wiping her teary face all over Rainbow making her groan.
"Ugh fine! Whatever. You're just lucky you're cute no matter what you look like." Rainbow huffed, rubbing Adagio's scaled cheek which made her purr.
After a short while, the group broke apart and retreated back into the confines of Sugarcube Corner Bakery. Inside Mrs. Cake was busy with the kids but was kind enough to leave several towels for the girls to get dry with. Adagio took a moment to return to her human form. As the group dried themselves off the clock rang signaling midnight and everyone retreated up to Pinkie's room for the night.
It wasn't long before everyone was in their sleeping bags ready to sleep the night away. Sunset slept with Sonata while Pinkie and Applejack slept side by side on the floor in their sleeping bags, Pinkie gave Rarity the bed.
Adagio and Rainbow slept together in the same bag. The siren turned human was wearing a tank top and some boxers, as did Rainbow. She held Rainbow close to her afraid to let go. This made Rainbow give her a cocky grin wrapping one arm around Adagio's back and laid her hand on her bare shoulder.
"Hey." Rainbow greeted her with a wiggle of her brow.
"Hey yourself." Adagio replied rubbing the girl's blue cheek.
"How's everything going?" Rainbow asked running her hand through Adagio's orange hair.
The siren sighed rubbing her hand against Rainbow's flat chest. "Oh, you know the usual. Confessing one of my greatest faults to the world in song and finding out I'm in love with the gayest looking girl in Canterlot City."
"Now I know you're not talking about me," Rainbow grinned. "Because I'm awesome. Gay or not."
Adagio rolled her eyes. "More like arrogant and bloated with ego."
Rainbow gave a look of mock hurt. "Hey, I'm not Trixie. Why would you say such a hurtful thing to little old me?"
Rainbow gave her a pout. Adagio sighed pulling Rainbow closer. They locked lips leaving Rainbow in a state of confusion and passion. She kissed the siren back feeling her soft lips rub against her own. The hands on her chest and neck changed turning into large hooves as Adagio inadvertently turned into her natural form.
She gasped looking herself over and quickly covered herself turning away from Rainbow. The blue girl cocked her head reaching for Adagio and taking hold of her should only to be shrugged off.
"Hey, what's wrong Adagio?'
"I don't want you to see me like this." Adagio sobbed under the covers.
"Hey look. Adagio when we started hanging out remember what I said?"
"Mmhmm. You said, never be ashamed of what you are or how you look." The siren said popping her head out from under the covers.
Rainbow grinned kissing the sirens nose. "That's right. I can't tell you how many times I get pitted as being gay, it's true, but growing up was difficult until I came to terms with what I was," She scooted closer to the siren wrapping her arms around the soft yellow and orange body. "Is it weird I find you hot, Dagi?"
Adagio sighed pushing Rainbows face giggling. "Don't say that it makes me think my sisters are sleeping with me!"
"Hey if that's what you like-*Thwack!* Owww." Rainbow rubbed her head as Adagio's tail whipped her from under the covers making her cringe. "Heh, guess I deserve that. Come on let's get some sleep."
"Yeah." Adagio agreed, slipping under the covers returning to her human form. "Good night Rainbow."
"Good night Adagio."
The two fell into a deep sleep happily embracing one beneath the covers. Outside the storm continued to rage on but tonight no one was disturbed by the sounds of thunder or annoyed by the pit-pat of the rain. However, across the ocean at the center of the storm, something had awakened.
*Mariana Trench*
Deep in the Pacific Ocean resting at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, a massive hulk of the earth broke apart as a large fin broke the surface. A small eye opened wide before narrowing as the hulk arose from the depths. Quickly it arose like a torpedo rushing towards the surface showing no signs of stopping.
Just before breaching the surface the hulking mass turned as several large fin-like scutes broke the surface. The fins broke through the waves like they were tissue paper not hindering the hulking mass one bit. It swam until it reached the edge of Japans fault line and came to a stop. From beneath the surface, the fins slowly began to emerge on the back of a large beast. It towered over several meters of the rock face. The creatures black hide shined when lightning danced around it occasionally striking the bone like scutes on its back making them glow blue momentarily.
The beast stood proudly it arms hanging lazily in front of its huge bulky chest. It looked around swaying its head back and forth searching, listening. It then hard a sound through all the wind and thunder and faced East. The beast glared in that direction with an angry scowl over its reptilian features. It inhaled deeply letting out a deep gurgle in its chest just before releasing a powerful roar that shook the rocks around it. The roar echoed loudly through the storm easily mistaken for a thunderous boom but all the way across the globe the deep throat howl was heard.
*Pinkies Room*
Adagio shot upwards in her sleeping bag startling Rainbow from her sleep.
"Father."
"Hey, Dagi, what's up? You have a nightmare or something?" Rainbow asked pulling the siren back down.
"N-no I just thought I heard something. It was probably nothing," she said kissing Rainbow's cheek.
"Heh, whatever. If you need to talk I'm always here. OK?"
"OK."
"Great, see you tomorrow beautiful," Rainbow said falling back asleep.
Adagio stayed up for several hours contemplating on what she heard. It had been over three thousand years since she heard that voice. Was it possible that Star Swirl inadvertently sent them to the same realm as their father when he banished her and her sisters centuries ago? If that was the case she had to find him.
Perhaps it was fate that aligned the stars to this moment.
Perhaps it was destiny that she angered her father to this point.
No, she was sure she misheard. "It was just the lightning," She said rolling over kissing the prismatic hair of her bag mate. "But if that's the case, then why am I afraid?"