Adagio Dazzle nervously circled Shrieking Raven’s living room. She couldn’t believe her good luck when she decided to risk a phone call while the banshee was absent. Adagio struggled to conceal her relief when Aria Blaze had answered and revealed her infiltration of Sunset Shimmer’s group of friends.
She took a deep breath and forced confidence into her voice. “All will be revealed at the proper time, Aria. But, in the end, I will safeguard my subjects, offer my protection against the usurpers and take my rightful place as Queen of the Aquastrian Empire. My first order of business upon our return will be the enslavement of the Equestrian alicorns, starting with the one that rules the night!”
“I need to go, but tell me when it’s time to protect you once again,” she replied obediently, nearly all trace of Aria’s normal disdain gone.
“Your loyalty will be rewarded, Aria Blaze. You have our gratitude,” declared Adagio haughtily.
Adagio ended the call and then let out a long sigh of relief. She sat in Raven’s black leather recliner, closed her eyes and massaged her temples. Adagio thought, Thank the Master! Aria can deepen the division between Sunset Shimmer and Rarity and use the chaos to our advantage. I’ve done much planning today, but reaching Aria is an unexpected achievement.
Even though her movements were restricted to the apartment, Adagio had convinced herself of the importance of being immaculately dressed for Raven’s return. She exuded authority in a single-breasted, royal blue suit jacket and matching slacks along with a cream-colored silk blouse. Adagio, disappointed with the scarcity and staggering cost of black pearls, had ultimately accessorized with a web of brilliant black hematites around her neck and matching hematite earrings. Of course, Sunset Shimmer’s money purchased the expensive ensemble from the Carousel Boutique.
Adagio continued to pace a circuit through the apartment like a caged tigress and addressed her reflection in her large bedroom mirror. “Fake it ‘til you make it,” she said, smiling with self-deprecation.
Sonata always used to say that, she thought. But, if she’s become friends with the Rainbooms, would she stop Aria from dividing them further? No, of course not! She’ll never figure it out in time. Adagio stopped pacing, and ran a hand through her thick orange curls.
She said aloud, “Or could she? Sonata’s annoying idiocy is easily managed, but those times when she’s focused, she’s completely different. She’s not dangerous, but I’ve seen just how capable Sonata can be when she pulls herself together. That must be why the Master wanted her as a Siren so badly.”
Adagio returned to the recliner and excitedly made a few additions to her meticulously coded notes. She then returned to the front page and reviewed her writing line by line. Adagio’s frown grew slowly and by the time she reached the fourth sheet, she was fiercely scowling.
She nearly got up to pace once again, but remained seated. “There are far too many ‘what ifs’ in this plan!” she shouted to the empty room.
As Adagio’s pencil tapped the pad, she thought. This plan is easier to pull off with Aria, Sonata or both, but the whole thing hinges on whether I can fool Raven long enough to restore my connection with the Master. Then, I have to figure out a way to make her lower her guard long enough to strike. For that, I need a better measure of my so-called hostess.
She took her pad and pencil and cautiously entered the hallway that seemingly divided the “public” portion of the apartment from the rooms Shrieking Raven reserved for her own use. Adagio assumed that the door at the end of the hall would lead to the master bedchamber, and as such would be the most securely guarded. So, she examined the first door on the left.
“Aha! A trap!” exclaimed Adagio as she peered at the complicated lock on the door.
To an untrained observer, the lock was simply a five-button cipher lock common to office buildings, police stations and military installations. But, Adagio focused her attention on a dark engraving on the door’s oversized striker plate.
Adagio knelt on the floor and squinted at the engraving. “A burnt skull with one eye missing? That must represent Raven’s overlord.” She leaned closer and then recoiled as she comprehended the meaning of the adjoining symbols. “She is able to imbue a rune of ‘torment’ on an apartment door? That ward is so powerful it was only used on the Imperial Treasury’s vault and the Temple’s inner sanctum. It’s non-lethal, but its effects are possibly worse than death.”
She sank to the floor in the carpeted hallway, cupping her cheeks. Her magenta eyes were unfocused, staring at the floor as she thought, I’ve spent all day working around this terrible fact: There’s no way I can defeat her directly. Shrieking Raven, even weakened, is far too powerful. What have you gotten yourself into, Adagio? What would have happened if I had not come here from the aquarium willingly? She shuddered at that last thought and wrapped her arms around her knees.
After a few minutes of despair, Adagio suddenly snapped her fingers and ceased her moping. She stood and said aloud, “I’ve been looking at this all wrong! Magic is not the answer because it’s only a tool. What are Raven’s weaknesses?” She ticked them off on her fingers. “She’s vain; she’s prideful; and like her chess game, she takes too much pleasure in an attack when a trap would suffice. Now, what can I use to give her a push in the wrong direction?”
With renewed purpose, Adagio returned to the living room and scrutinized the pieces of art. The top shelf of the living room’s display case held pieces that described two individuals in partnership. The shelf included twin miniature thrones of elegantly carved ebony and a two-towered castle worked from an enormous piece of ivory. She strode into the guest room and found that the paintings there had a similar theme.
Adagio checked the other display case pieces, and verified that the paintings leading down the forbidden hallway, those pieces of art closest to Raven, were all solitary and dark. The Siren princess grinned malevolently.
Raven wanted a partner in power once. There’s no love there, or any love that existed was burned away when she became the creature she is now. But, that passion may still be there, waiting for me to use it against her, she thought.
The Siren returned to the comfortable leather recliner and started a new page of notes, her magenta eyes focused intently on the thick legal pad. Her lips curled upward in a self-satisfied smile.
Adagio continued to plot and plan. First thing’s first. Perhaps I can convince Shrieking Raven to permit me an unaccompanied meeting with Aria. I feel like I’ve abandoned my subjects, and that’s a terrible way to start my reign as Queen.
-----
“We’re in the home stretch, Applejack. Can you scoop a little more coal into the fire for me?” asked Sunset Shimmer. She stifled a yawn with the back of her hand.
Applejack nodded and moved towards the forge. “Sure thing, Sunset.” She tucked her long blonde braid into the back of her shirt as she approached the fire.
Sunset shook her head at Discord, who didn’t even give a pretense of helping, since he had completely stretched out on the couch and was sound asleep. As Applejack stoked the forge fire, Sunset recalled the conversation she had with Discord a few minutes after Aria had rushed towards the barn to show the others Chainbreaker:
“Hopefully, her Nocturnal Worshipfulness will give me sterling marks for mentorship tonight, but this next task is all you,” said Discord. He snapped his fingers and his blacksmith garb instantly became a long, striped nightshirt with Fluttershy’s lapel pin perched atop an archaic nightcap.
Sunset’s green-blue eyes grew stormy and she crossed her arms angrily. “You’re supposedly here to help me, Discord. I feel that this necklace is more important than the mace, so it isn’t the time to take a nap!”
“Au contraire, mon capitaine,” said Discord, speaking Prench. “I have a prior obligation scheduled with the inside of my eyelids. Tell me what you’re going to do and I’ll tell you whether you’re on the right track or not.”
Sunset’s growl of frustration startled Applejack. She smoothed her leather apron and calmed herself. Sunset said, matter-of-factly, “Star iron is too difficult to make into jewelry considering my skill level. So, I have to make an alloy with gold that retains magical conductivity, is still durable, yet more workable. But, why can’t you help with that part?”
“Keep going, you’re doing fine. You’ll get to the reason I’m settling in soon enough, Miss Grumpy, and it’s not just because this two-legged form exhausts me. What reagents are you adding to the setting?” asked Discord.
Applejack returned to her seat on the cot as the fire built in strength. Sunset Shimmer ticked off the items on her fingers. “I sort of threw everything but the water trough at it, but it felt right. I put pieces of feathers from all four Equestrian princesses in the mortar, along with the remaining Aquastrian coral and a pretty good amount of diamond dust. I read something about how Celestia’s feathers could overpower the mixture, so I only used about half as much of her down as the other princesses.”
Discord yawned, stretched and nodded. A shrewd look entered his red eyes. “A wise move both thaumaturgically and alchemically. With what you’re making, it’s important to emphasize what’s new and different in Equestria. I see you already have made the chain from gold and the mold is ready for pouring.”
“What I’m concerned about is the gems. I’m putting an awful lot of faith in the leaf from the Tree of Harmony. If the paste doesn’t help me fit the gems into the two semicircles, it will take me forever to make another setting complicated enough to get the shards in place.” Sunset Shimmer stopped and looked at Applejack and then at Discord. “That’s it, isn’t it? The leaf!”
Discord reached underneath the brim of his nightcap and produced a gold, five-pointed star. He peeled off the backing of the sticker, leaned forward and affixed it to Sunset Shimmer’s apron. “We have a winner! For the same reasons I didn’t personally help with the last phases of making the mace, I can’t touch any of the pieces of this necklace. My innate chaos could harm what is likely to be a very harmonious magic item.”
“Sonata’s shards have been steeped in the holy water for several hours. But, shouldn’t we get her down here to help purify them?” asked Sunset Shimmer, who raised an eyebrow.
Discord smirked and shook his head. “Aria’s song was breathtaking, but that’s a performance we’ll only see once. My impeccably tuned senses tell me that the last thing on Sonata’s mind tonight is her pendant. All joking aside, I know she has no desire to be disturbed right now,” he said cryptically.
“I’ll trust you with this one, Discord,” said Sunset, shrugging her shoulders. “So, that’s pretty much it. I’ll heat the metal, make the alloy, grind the reagents and add them to the mix, cast the setting and tweak it while it’s hot, then add the gems.”
Discord laid down on the couch and pulled the thin blanket over himself. He sat up and fixed Sunset Shimmer with a piercing stare. “When you use the leaf from the Tree of Harmony, you will know how far you have come on your circuit from light to darkness and back to light again. Please, wake me if you must, but know that it’s a compliment that I feel safe enough to turn this task over to you.” The Spirit of Chaos closed his eyes and apparently fell right to sleep.
Back in the present, Sunset Shimmer looked into the crucible of molten metal and assessed its color. She turned to Applejack and said, “We’ll heat it up one more time, and then we’ll pour it into the mold. Are you all right?”
“Don’t fret, sugar cube. I’ve gone without a night of sleep for projects a lot less important than this. But, I won’t lie, I wouldn’t mind finishing so we can grab a couple hours of shuteye,” she replied between yawns.
The crucible sitting in the hottest part of the coal-fueled forge fire was less than a quarter the size of what was used to make Chainbreaker. The mold for the necklace was placed in a cleared area of the workbench, with all other reagents and gemstones located a safe distance away.
Sunset smiled wearily at Applejack. “If the metal sets into the mold without any problems, could you shut down the forge while I finish the necklace? If this magic works the way that Twilight’s research says it will, I’m optimistic that it won’t take too long for me to place the gems.”
“I hope that the soldering iron works well enough for you. It hasn’t been used in ten years,” said Applejack apologetically.
Sunset checked the bun holding her hair back and shrugged. “As long as it makes enough heat so I can put the last few touches on the setting, I’m happy. After all, it’s more than a little late to make a run to Barnyard Bargains.” She turned to Applejack. “Are we ready?”
“I think so. We’ve got all the right gear on and you’ve placed all the stuff you need to finish. Let’s make hay while the sun’s shining,” said Applejack, rubbing her gloved hands together.
Sunset Shimmer used a set of tongs to remove the crucible from the forge fire. As she jostled the molten metal, scintillating sparks leapt out of the container. She carefully poured the contents into the mold. Motes of light representing every color in the spectrum drifted through the smithy as the alloy settled into place. A combination of careful engineering and an additional crucible caught the excess metal that overflowed the design. The smell of burning wax mingled with the odor of coal smoke despite the ventilation.
Sunset returned the primary and waste crucible to the forge fire and wiped away perspiration from her forehead with the back of a glove. “I wasn’t expecting all those sparkles.”
“I reckon it’s the magic feathers you put into the mixture,” said Applejack. She plugged in the soldering iron and scooted several containers of gemstones closer to the work area.
Donning a set of spectacles with powerful magnifying lenses attached to the frame, Sunset pointed a finger at Applejack in warning. “Don’t ever tell Rarity about these glasses. They’re called ‘jeweler’s loupes’ and are great for the work I have to do but I know they look ridiculous.”
“Your secret’s safe with me, sugar cube, but you might owe me a favor to keep quiet. I’ll manage this fire while you work,” answered Applejack with a conspiratorial smile.
The alloy shone with a hastily dimming golden light in its mold. As the metal solidified, Sunset Shimmer used fine tools from her kit to make sure the setting was smooth and free of defects. She focused her attention on the points of the four-pointed star, the sturdy ring intended for the gold chain and the sinuous line that would divide the light gemstones from the darker ones. Satisfied with the initial work, she gathered the remaining items while the setting continued its rapid cooling.
She talked to herself as she worked. “Half of the shards will go with the diamonds and the other half will go with the opals. I’ll use the leaf and some of the holy water to make the magic paste that binds everything together.”
Sunset grabbed the envelope containing the leaf from the Tree of Harmony. Applejack, noticing the pause in her friend’s work, patted Sunset’s shoulder and said, “So that’s Twilight’s biggest gift? No more stalling! Let’s have a look.”
She broke the purple wax seals and opened the envelope. Her fingers found a flat, white object that felt more like a crystal than a plant. Removing the silvery-white leaf, Sunset Shimmer raised an eyebrow and examined it carefully. It was circular in shape and roughly six inches in diameter. Eight symmetrical veins spread out from a central hexagon. It appeared to be light and delicate, but the leaf had substantial weight as it sat in the palm of her hand.
Sunset gasped as she felt an odd presence in the smithy and the leaf in her hand grew heavier. The feeling was similar to enduring Princess Celestia’s intense magenta eyes as they sought the presence of a lie or a misdeed, but this was a hundred times more intense than any encounter in the Canterlot throne room. She didn’t hear any questions, but instead felt the inquiry:
Why are you choosing to do this? Sunset heard in her mind.
She focused on the leaf and answered, I need this magic to keep those I care about safe.
What of Harmony? the voice asked.
For an agonizing moment, the leaf’s inner light flared intensely and the central hexagon took on a threatening red glow. It grew painfully hot in the former unicorn’s palm and the leaf’s edges began to smoke.
Sunset concentrated as hard as she could. Twilight Sparkle gave me a path out of the darkness and it’s my responsibility to defend her and my other true friends with my talents.
You will yet learn the depth of your talent and the potential you hold. Add a bit of your own fire to the mixture. Commit to your chosen path, with our permission. The voice fell silent, its judgment made.
The red glow winked out. Prismatic colors danced across the leaf’s surface and the interrogating voice was replaced by a feeling of purposeful tranquility.
From the couch, Discord mumbled in his dreams. “I knew she’d pass, Moonbutt. When are you going to believe me? Next time we’re out, try the tiramisu with the Niagara Peninsula icewine.”
Sunset jumped as Applejack tapped her shoulder. Her deep green eyes portrayed concern as she said, “I thought I lost you for a moment. You started staring at that thing in your hand and didn’t move a muscle for a long minute. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Applejack. It’s tough to explain, so we’ll just get to work,” she answered, blinking rapidly and rubbing her eyes underneath the spectacles.
She placed the leaf from the Tree of Harmony into the mortar and added a splash of holy water from Scorpan’s church to ensure the mixture became a paste. Sunset snapped her fingers as she recalled the last instructions from the voice that intruded into her thoughts.
“Applejack, pull out a few of my hairs,” she said. “I need to add them to this magical paste.”
Applejack raised her eyebrow at Sunset Shimmer. “Come again? Did you just tell me to rip out some of your hair?”
“Just a few hairs, and I don’t want to do it myself because it hurts!” she replied. The pair laughed at the absurdity of it all until Applejack surprised her friend by complying with the request. “Ow!” exclaimed Sunset.
Wearing a toothy grin, Applejack laid the hairs across the mortar. “Just like pulling a tooth, sugar cube. Surprise hurts, but works like a charm!”
Seven hairs lay across the opening to the mortar, four of them golden and three of them a deep red. Without a word, Sunset Shimmer took up the pestle and ground the ingredients together. She added more holy water to achieve a proper consistency and to her surprise, after a bit of grinding, all trace of her hair had disappeared. The final product was a viscous, pale blue paste that reflected the dimming forge fire’s light.
“It looks like the necklace’s setting has cooled enough to place the gemstones, Applejack,” said Sunset, excitedly moving the soldering iron and several vials into her work area. The twin jeweler’s loupes comically magnified the excitement in her eyes.
The farmgirl’s mouth fell open with surprise as she peered around Sunset and asked, “It’s amazing how the magic metal from Twilight’s world turned the gold all silver and shimmery! I’d bet even a plain necklace like that would fetch a pretty penny!”
“This one’s not for sale, Applejack,” replied Sunset Shimmer with a bemused grin. “Maybe we can set up a side business another time. Anyway, the gold will give us more forgiveness with the star iron than we had with Chainbreaker.”
Applejack nodded. “I think I understand. When Aria took it up the hill, Chainbreaker looked like it could bash its way into anything. If you have to knock somebody or something over the head with your magic necklace, we’ve all got bigger problems.”
Sunset Shimmer set to work and divided the shards of Sonata’s pendant into equal portions inside each half of the sinuous semicircles. In the top half, she added her entire supply of black opals to the gem fragments. In the bottom half, she mixed the scarlet shards with brilliant white diamonds, liberally supplemented by the gemstones sent from Equestria. She delicately pressed the mixture of gems as flat as possible, but a perfect fit was patently impossible.
“Here goes nothing,” said Sunset. She scooped a portion of the magic paste out of the mortar and dropped a dollop on the “light” half first and then another portion on the “dark” half.
Apparently, nothing happened. Applejack couldn’t contain herself. “Um, Sunset, where’s the glowing lightning and stuff?”
Ignoring Applejack’s comment, Sunset Shimmer tapped on the mixture with a tiny tool in impatience. To her surprise, the gems beneath the steel melted like butter and mixed themselves together. Sunset peered through her magnified lenses and started “spreading” the mixture of gemstones.
“Look at this! It’s working!” Sunset cried. As the red shards melted into the diamonds and opals, she gasped. “But, Sonata’s gem is gone! If this didn’t work, I was going to give it back, especially after everything Aria told us! What have I done?”
Just as guilty tears were about to spill from her eyes, Sunset Shimmer felt the same calmness and tranquility she had earlier. It reminded her of Princess Celestia comforting her when she as a school filly, wrapping a white wing around her and saying, “It’s all for the best, Sunset.” The former unicorn closed her eyes and composed herself.
Applejack’s voice brought her back to the here and now. “What have you done? You’ve made something so beautiful I don’t know what to say!”
Sunset opened her eyes and gazed at her handiwork. The crystalline golden texture of the setting arrayed itself in a four-pointed star centered upon the circular setting. Four inches across, the perfect circle of blazing gemstones was split horizontally by a sinuous line. As in the initial sketch, the upper half was comprised of dark stones. The black opals were far from uniform in color, with streaks of blue and lilac interspersed iridescently throughout. The lower half, comprised mainly of diamonds, brilliantly transformed the smithy’s dim light into miniature rainbows. Each of the two halves had magically fused into a single, teardrop shaped gemstone with unearthly facets trapped beneath a smooth surface. The necklace was a breathtaking contrast between light and dark, artfully united into a whole.
Sunset Shimmer permitted herself a small bit of self-satisfaction. She removed the loupes, smiled at Applejack and said, “Now, don’t let me go all Trixie on you, but can I cook, or can I?”
Wiping away a tear, Applejack replied, “Pa would have made a better assistant than I did, but I’m glad I could help. Speaking of him, he always said that the job’s not done until you clean up, so I’ll get to it.”
“I’ve got to add the prongs that will hold the gems in place and attach the chain. Hopefully, this will go quickly for both of us,” said Sunset.
The soldering iron and prestaged gold wire were quickly used to craft a dozen equally spaced clips that finished the setting. Earlier in the evening, Sunset Shimmer had sized the braided gold chain to fit her own neck. She threaded the chain through the ring cleverly hidden behind the “top” point of the star.
“Here goes,” said Sunset Shimmer, taking a deep breath.
“Hold on there, sugar cube! Why don’t you step outside in case some of that glowing lightning shows up unannounced? I don’t want to trash the smithy at this hour,” cautioned Applejack.
Clutching the necklace in her hand, Sunset wrapped the farmgirl in an embarrassed hug. Sheepishly smiling, she said, “Of course!”
Sunset Shimmer quietly slipped out of the smithy’s door and into the dark clearing. She stood on the bank of the babbling brook and looked into the western sky, where the half-moon still hung well above the horizon. The stars in the now-familiar constellations of this world watched down upon her as she placed the necklace around her neck and fastened the clasp.
“Oh, Celestia!” she cried. A circular wave of aqua-colored luminescence rocketed outward from her as she felt the full might of Equestrian magic surge through her body. Sunset Shimmer’s hair extended in length, nearly reaching her knees, and fuzzy pony ears appeared atop her head. After recovering from the initial shock, she concentrated on the pebbles at the bottom of the brook. As Sunset clenched her right hand into a fist, it was enveloped in an aqua glow which was mirrored in the small ball of stones she lifted and held with telekinetic magic. With a rapturous cry, she tossed her glowing hand into the air and sent the pebbles flying.
Sunset sank to her knees and continued to look skyward. Her gratitude was shouted to the moon, the stars and the apple trees. “Oh, thank you! After these long years here, I never thought I’d live to see the day when I had magic once again!”
-----
The front door to the apartment opened and closed. Shrieking Raven let out a deep sigh as she hung her keychain on the hook next to the door.
Adagio Dazzle, smiling pleasantly, rose from the guest suite’s sitting area and courteously greeted her hostess. “Good evening, Raven. I hope you enjoyed your day out in the world, though I must wonder why you’re returning home so long after school has ended.”
“Adagio, given your unique heritage, I hope that you understand what I mean when I say that today was one of the most trying days I’ve had in centuries. Being undead should exempt me from being confronted with the ghosts of my past,” she said, casually tossing her purse on the kitchen counter.
She gave Raven a sweet smile and said, “I’m so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, I barely achieved anything productive today. I slept much more soundly than I should have. Perhaps it was something I ate… or drank?”
“I’m proud of you for doing as you were told. I expected to find you writhing in agony with a lockpick in your hand.” Raven frowned, placed her jacket on a hanger and put it in the hall closet. “But, last night, I wasn’t ready to trust that you would follow my directions. I have no regrets about slipping you the sleeping potion, because in the end, my intent was to keep you safe.”
Adagio brushed some lint from the sleeve of her suit jacket. She stole a glance at the carving of the twin thrones in the living room and asked, “Who is this so-called ghost that ruined your day?”
The banshee waved her hand dismissively. She replied, “It’s not important. Would you like to join me in a game of chess?”
“But, this encounter has upset you, Raven,” Adagio took a chance and patted the creature’s shoulder. “Perhaps I might assist you? Venting always seemed to improve Aria’s mood.”
Raven shrugged and then smiled confidently at Adagio. She replied, “I said that the day was trying, but it wasn’t a disaster. On the contrary, after my encounter with Discord…”
“Discord! The Spirit of Chaos that ruled the surface world?” blurted Adagio in surprise as she took a step back.
“One and the same, but don’t interrupt me! I have good news,” said Raven, theatrically spreading her arms wide. “Your fellow Siren, Aria Blaze, has infiltrated that group of annoying girls!”
Feigning surprise, Adagio put a golden-hued hand to her chest. “Aria? How could she have done it?”
Raven explained as she picked up the chess set and moved it to the dining room table. “It seems that those gullible youngsters took her in for one sentimental reason or another. And, how she could have tolerated so many hours in the art room with Pinkie Pie speaks volumes for her mental fortitude.”
Adagio thought, She’s awfully proud of herself. She’s so self-satisfied she forgot to hide how much this Discord being angers her. Aloud, she said, “Aria has always been quite reliable and dependable, Raven.”
“I overheard her report that Rarity and Sunset Shimmer had a fight this morning. Well played, Your Highness. But, who could she have been making that report to? Oh, yes, that could only be you,” said Raven, who dispassionately stared at Adagio while awaiting a response.
Adagio was ready for this accusation. She tossed her hair, crossed her arms and regally responded. “I am responsible for all my subjects, Raven, which is why I insisted upon leaving those cell phones at the aquarium. I’m glad to know for certain that Aria is uninjured and remains loyal to me, which was the purpose of my call. Learning of her achievements was an added bonus.”
Raven sat at the table, her black eyes searching for a lie in Adagio’s response. She looked down at the chessboard and moved a pawn two spaces ahead, opening the game. “Aria would be a welcome addition to our plan. I’ll permit you to bring her into it in a subordinate role.”
“I would like to meet with her, but I’ll require some specifics on what you intend,” said Adagio. She advanced a corresponding pawn two spaces to the center of the board, daring Raven to take it in a classic “Queen’s Gambit” opening.
Raven peered at the board and then looked across the table to assess Adagio. Coming to two sudden decisions, she captured the sacrificial pawn. “Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom will be vulnerable tomorrow night. I overheard them discussing a sleepover in the forest near the apple orchard. I will select an opportune time and lure them away with a simple lie.”
“And they will believe you?” she asked, arching an orange eyebrow.
The banshee gave a raspy laugh. “Of course they will! I’m a respected teacher who has taken interest in their inane attempts to write a play. I’ll mention that the Rainbooms are in danger – which is most certainly true – and they’ll come willingly.”
“Like lambs to the slaughter,” replied Adagio, rolling her eyes at the cliché. She leapt her knight over the line of defending pawns.
Raven slid a bishop diagonally across the board, threatening her opponent’s knight. “And what teenage girl can resist sweets? Or failing that, a sip of warm tea on a chilly night? You’ve experienced my handiwork firsthand, Adagio.”
“So where will you take them for the half-day until they awaken?” she asked, clasping her hands together beneath the table to keep them from shaking.
Raven stood and opened a drawer in the dining room’s buffet. She unfolded a map of a large park on the shore of a lake. “I own a cabin on the shores of Lake Piebald. It’s a bit of a drive, but Canterlot, being landlocked, is not a suitable location for our ritual. There are two caves along the lakeshore that have the mix of water and darkness that we need for a successful offering to Leviathan.”
Finally! Something concrete that I can tell Aria! I’d even tell Sonata if she has recovered her senses, thought Adagio. Aloud, she leaned forward with rapt interest and continued to prompt Raven. “So, you kidnap them tomorrow and we kill them on Saturday night, correct?” She advanced a pawn to cover her threatened knight.
“You have a keen grasp of the obvious, Adagio,” sneered the banshee. “Sadly, we will not be able to reach the lake prior to dawn, and this undertaking requires shadows and gloom.” Her bishop captured the knight.
Adagio slid her pawn diagonally and removed her opponent’s bishop from the board. “You mentioned something about two caves?”
“This one,” she pointed, “is a tourist attraction called the Crystal Caverns. It would serve in a pinch, but it’s just not isolated enough for our bloody business. However, it’s ideal for a trap.” Raven tapped on the nearby icon of a gravestone, returned to the chessboard and made another move.
Adagio leaned over the map and followed the coastline with her finger until she found another cave. “Wedding Cave? Are they serious? The naming conventions of this world never cease to aggravate me.”
“Even without taking into account the ominous regional legends, the cave is isolated, has an underground pond and impressive crystalline growth. And, I built my cabin less than a half-mile away. I could give a skeleton’s knucklebone what the locals call it!” replied Raven, folding her arms across her chest.
Tapping her index finger against her temple, Adagio raised her eyebrows. “Raven, since the Crusaders won’t trust you if I’m nearby, I have a proposal that will increase our efficiency.” After trading several moves, Adagio advanced a pawn to the sixth rank of the board.
“Please proceed,” said Raven, suspiciously eyeing the Siren.
“I could go ahead of you and begin preparing the ritual area for us,” Adagio raised an index finger as the banshee opened her mouth to interrupt. “I could guard it from accidental discovery, and a Friday evening arrival makes more sense to casual observers. I’d be just another weekend tourist.”
She nodded. “Your plan has merit, Adagio.”
Here goes nothing, thought the Siren. “I’ll need freedom of movement tomorrow so I can meet with Aria and set our trap.”
Raven narrowed her eyes, clasped her hands and leaned forward over the chessboard. After an uncomfortable pause, she stroked her chin and asked, “What assurance do I have that you won’t just flee, or worse, leave me to the tender mercies of the authorities for a triple kidnapping?”
“Since you’ve become aware of me, what has been my goal?” asked Adagio, returning the banshee’s intimidating stare with one of her own.
The creature drummed the table with her fingers and moved another chess piece. “You desire to return to Aquastria with your two compatriots. Most recently, you wish to assume your mother’s throne.”
“After my defeat at the hands of the Rainbooms, is there any possible way for me to accomplish that without you as a partner?” She spoke earnestly, carefully choosing her words.
Raven made one more appraisal and then nodded. “Very well, Adagio. Please proceed. Do you know how to drive an automobile?”
“I have the false license to prove it,” she replied, flashing the banshee a sarcastic grin.
Raven strode into the kitchen and removed a set of car keys from a hook. She tossed them to Adagio and said, “Take the Palomino to the lake. A beautiful, apparently young woman will look right at home behind the wheel of a sports car. Be careful, as I may take any damages, quite literally, out of your hide. I’ll give you a list of supplies we need and provide you a more arcane package in the morning.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Raven. Now, I believe it’s your move,” said Adagio. She grinned crookedly and gestured to the chessboard.
-----
Two hours later, the chess game concluded and Adagio Dazzle retired to the guest suite after enjoying a midnight snack. Shrieking Raven, admittedly, had been distracted by the day’s events but was still shocked when Adagio had moved a pawn to the eighth rank and transformed it into a queen. She countered valiantly, but after forty-nine moves, her king was trapped and she tipped over the piece, conceding defeat.
Raven opened the warded door to her bedroom and slipped inside. She chuckled and said to herself, “It’s been a long time since anyone could best me in a game of strategy. Princess Adagio Dazzle, I almost regret what I’m going to do to you.”
Her human disguise melted away, and the banshee walked around the sumptuous, rarely-used bed to a black curtain hung along the room’s back wall. Raven pulled a tasseled golden rope and the barrier parted. A huge, gilt-framed mirror was hung against the wall. The banshee started to move to stand before the reflective surface but stopped herself. She crouched down to look into a locked glass case holding myriad carved figurines.
She tapped the topmost shelf, where a beautiful woman carved from an enormous piece of jade stood next to a lapis lazuli figurine of a man sitting in a throne adorned with antlers. “But, I have no regrets for you, Discord. This time, I hold the upper hand! You’ll regret dismissing my offer for all eternity.”
Discord banged his paw on the arm of the throne. "You don't understand what you did to yourself and I don’t think you ever will, Cassiopeia!”
“It’s now ‘Shrieking Raven’, Discord! In my new form, there’s nothing stopping us from ruling Equestria forever! Where else can you find an Empress that complements your impulses with strategic brilliance to dominate the ponies, zebras and griffons?” She made a self-aggrandizing gesture with a skeletal hoof.
A school of fish swam through the checkerboard sky between the two. The Spirit of Chaos continued angrily. “In your greedy pursuit of immortality, you forgot one critical element about me. Life creates chaos where you desire certainty in undeath. I see endless possibilities and a multitude of worlds to enjoy. Cassiopea, you may have cheated death but you courted far worse.”
“But those worlds can be ours!” pleaded Raven.
"Not ours. Vecna’s. You cast your lot. Don’t you feel your own hunger? All you want is to consume souls and leave ashes in your wake."
Raven’s black eyes glittered dangerously. “If those troublesome sisters find what they seek, my new Master is the only one that can protect you, Discord. Undeath is infinitely preferable to oblivion.”
“I have no desire to rule over a world of darkness and soot. This is more my speed.” The Emperor of Equestria snapped the talons of his eagle talon and a pink cotton-candy cloud rained chocolate milk all over Raven’s perfectly coiffed mane. “Tell your master that he shouldn't tempt me with the light and heat of celestial fire if all he desires is to pick through the ashes after it’s extinguished."
Raven took a threatening step towards Discord. “You’ll suffer eons for this insult!”
“No, Cassiopeia, when you understand what you’ve done, you’ll be the one to suffer. Now begone!” he commanded.
Discord’s paw and talon glowed with a golden aura, and he pantomimed shoving Raven away. The banshee pony flew through the checkerboard sky for several miles before landing softly in a field of wildflowers.
“I’ll take my chances with these new alicorns. During your long walk back to your new Master, ponder the simple, chaotic beauty of mortality that you sacrificed,” taunted Discord’s disembodied voice.
The tingle of powerful magic jolted Shrieking Raven back to the present. At first she thought that her Master had illuminated the mirror before her, but she saw her own eyes widen in shock as she realized that the resonance was from another source – an unfamiliar, scintillating font of positive energy.
Raven swallowed her surprise and fear. She stepped in front of the mirror and concentrated on its depths. As she focused her will, dim green light flickered along the edges of the glass and gradually brightened. Slowly and deliberately, a black silhouette separated itself from the darker shadows and dominated the center of the frame. The figure removed a cowl from its head, dimly revealing a skull. A single pale blue eye glowed with unholy radiance opposite an empty socket. Raven squinted, and the green flickers permitted her to behold the black scorch marks staining her Master’s terrifying visage. The image of Vecna gestured with a skeletal, decaying limb, which was missing its hand.
“Begin, my loyal servant,” whispered Vecna.
Raven struggled to hold the gaze of the glowing eye. She straightened herself and said, “A new light further threatens your glorious and unending darkness, my Lord.”
“Yes. Celestia’s children have found a way to increase the Power of Harmony. I find it ironic that this development has occurred right in front of you.” Annoyance and disappointment crept into the creature’s soft rasp.
The banshee spread her arms wide. “Master, with your help, I will end this threat and seize an additional portion of divinity for you at the cost of expending a few of the magic items I have hoarded during my banishment from Equestria.”
The figure in the mirror snorted with derision. “Starswirl the Bearded’s spell of exile angers me each time I think of it. Of course, you wish something in return. Continue, Shrieking Raven. This offer interests me.”
“Leviathan’s Sirens still live. The recent influx of Equestrian magic into this world caused them to attempt a takeover, but their ham-fisted attempt was defeated by a newly-ascended alicorn princess and an exiled unicorn with remarkable magical skill. The Sirens’ leader is the last of the Imperial line,” said Raven.
The light from the pale blue eye changed almost imperceptibly. Vecna, his interest piqued, said, “You mean to use the Sirens to drain Leviathan of his immortality and divine essence. Interesting. But, why do I sense such great impatience?”
Raven’s confidence grew with her Master’s curiosity. “The Sirens’ hearts were shattered and their magic, and thus their capacity to directly link with Leviathan, is slowly leaking away. I will trick the leader into re-establishing herself as an Aquastrian Queen, and then kill her shortly thereafter, using her death to funnel Leviathan’s power directly to you. I humbly request you lure He Who Swims in Darkness toward a sacrifice in his name at the proper time.”
“And, of course, all of this divine death will increase your power exponentially as a result. Leviathan is dormant and weak, so he will be sorely tempted by any prospect of a meal. How do you intend to slay the Siren Princess? These things must be done properly, as you know,” Vecna chuckled.
The banshee unlocked a drawer and produced a small, bronze dagger. The hilt was etched with the same one-eyed skull rune that gave life to the apartment’s traps. A crude setting in the pommel held a fragmented red gemstone. “With this, my Lord. One of the Sirens, perhaps the Princess herself, cast away the fragments of her heart-pendant during the confusion following their defeat. Your dagger combined with this gem will transfer Leviathan’s power to us.”
The pale blue eye glimmered with pleasure. “If you succeed, I will reward you handsomely. Let us talk tactics, Shrieking Raven.”
-----
As dawn broke on Friday morning, Applejack led Sunset Shimmer and Discord through the front door of the Apple Family farmhouse. The blonde farmgirl was already dressed and mostly ready for school, but her green eyes were dull with fatigue. She carried the wrought iron triangle used to call the family back to the house for meals.
Discord sniggered and covered his mouth with a gray-skinned hand. “I didn’t know you had it in you, Applejack!”
“This place was like a flophouse last night. Between Rainbow Dash’s snoring and Pinkie Pie’s tossing and turning, I couldn’t get a lick of sleep. How can they be so loud sleeping on the floor? It’s time for a little payback,” said Applejack.
Sunset Shimmer shook her head. Her hair was in a state of sleepy disarray. “I’m glad I slept on the cot in the smithy. At least I got a couple of hours of rest. I know this sounds terrible, but after last night, I would have lost my mind listening to Sonata play and sing with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom through the wall.”
“She’s the smartest one of all,” said Discord, pointing to Aria who was sound asleep on the living room couch. Her arms were curled around Chainbreaker. “Aria seized the warmest spot in the house and has the means to defend it!”
Applejack knocked on the basement door. “My brother got a nice break from the insanity, too. He’s usually up by now, though.” She called downstairs. “Big Macintosh, cover your ears. I’m going to do the thing with Granny’s triangle!”
“Eeyup!” His muffled reply drifted up the stairs and was followed by an enormous yawn.
“Y’all better do the same. This thing’s mighty loud at close range,” warned Applejack.
With a mean-spirited grin on her face, she sounded the iron triangle with its matching ringer. Discord and Sunset Shimmer giggled along as the shouted complaints issued forth from upstairs. Suddenly there was a flash of silvery-white and the triangle clattered to the entryway floor.
“That’s enough,” said Aria Blaze. Her purple-and-teal pigtails were snarled and she held Chainbreaker menacingly in both hands. She gestured to Discord with the weapon. “You. Coffee. Now.”
Discord snapped his fingers and transformed his clothes into a black shirt and black trousers covered with a green apron. A circle on the front of the apron contained a cartoonish picture of a happy Aria Blaze, with a pale green mermaid’s tail spread out behind her. With a sarcastic grin on his face, he silently walked to the kitchen and wrote a series of symbols on the side of a mug with a black marker.
The Spirit of Chaos-turned-barista grabbed the Apples’ coffee maker in both hands and it transformed into a state-of-the-art espresso machine. He pointed at Aria and said, “After your performance last night, you’re entitled to a cup or three of the good stuff.”
Applejack’s noisy wake-up call triggered bedlam throughout the farmhouse. Big Macintosh fiercely defended his basement domain, allowing only Discord and his sisters into his passably clean bathroom. Sonata in particular stomped back upstairs in a huff. Aria and Rainbow Dash elected the minimalist approach. They utilized the ground floor’s half-bath and guzzled coffee amid the Friday morning insanity.
Pinkie’s Coltswagen Beetle and the farm’s pickup truck were packed solid. A frustrated Sunset Shimmer dictated a practical loading arrangement over numerous objections. The truck’s single bench seat was uncomfortably full, with Big Macintosh driving, the two smaller freshman girls pinched in the center and Applejack pressed against the passenger door. Rainbow Dash lounged out of sight in the truck’s bed, concealed by a blanket. The Coltswagen fared little better, with Pinkie behind the wheel and Discord in the front seat. Sunset was sandwiched between the two Sirens. A point of her newly-forged magical necklace dug painfully into her armpit from the leather jacket’s inside pocket.
During the drive to Canterlot High School, loud music and close quarters made it difficult for Sunset to hear Discord. She reached forward, turned down the radio and asked, “Could you say that again, Discord?”
Attired in his mismatched suit once more, he turned in his seat to speak with Sunset. “I said that I’ll keep up this subterfuge for a bit longer yet, but I think my high school teaching career is going to be very short.” His eyes grew wistful and watery. “What a pity that I won’t be able to attend staff meetings and split a donut with Luna and Celestia.”
“You get donuts?!” cried Pinkie Pie. “How do I become a teacher?”
Sunset rolled her eyes and leaned over the center console. “You have to go to college, first, Pinkie,” she turned to the right and added, “Focus, Discord. What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s dangerous for all of us to be here in the same building as my former acquaintance. The only reasons I’m braving the school today are that I gave my word to you, and if there were a problem, the crowd could overwhelm this individual. We need to find Adagio and confine her in some way to keep the two of them separated,” he said, a grave look entering the crimson eyes.
Sonata puckered her lips and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Discord.”
Aria reached across Sunset and gave Sonata’s knee a sisterly pat. “Sunset Shimmer is keeping a secret from us, Sonata. I have to assume it’s for a good reason. Right?” she added sharply.
“I don’t want to scare the others with specifics, but Adagio is allied with another exiled Equestrian and this one is evil to the core. Is that good enough?” said Sunset. She gave Sonata a reassuring smile.
Sonata crossed her arms over her gray hooded sweatshirt and nodded. “I suppose that’ll have to work for now. But, why can’t we just take out Adagio now?”
“Sunset is leading you in the correct direction, Sonata. Unless we’re absolutely forced to do, I don’t want to take the chance of encountering both Adagio and…” Discord’s forehead creased in thought, “…Cassie at once.”
Pinkie Pie bounced in the driver’s seat as they pulled into the student parking lot. “Okie dokie lokie! That works for me, even though Aria taught me how to be a mean hatchet girl last night.”
“Don’t make me regret teaching you how to throw that thing, Pinkie,” groaned Aria.
As they unloaded from the Coltswagen Beetle, the pickup truck parked nearby and the entire group assembled. They walked around the school’s statue that contained the dormant portal to Equestria. Suddenly, Sweetie Belle, burdened by an elaborately embroidered frame backpack, grabbed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo as she passed.
“Come on! I need to toss this in the bed of the truck before Big Mac leaves,” said Sweetie Belle, dragging her two closest friends back towards the parking lot.
The entire group came to a stop when they saw two figures seated on the steps leading up to the school’s main entrance. Fluttershy stood and waved timidly. Discord nervously adjusted the collar of his paisley shirt.
The other figure stood, flipped her meticulously curled violet hair and pointed a perfectly-manicured white finger at Discord. Her blue eyes wide with horror, she shouted, “By the glorious names of Prim Hemline and Hoity Toity, what in the world is that man wearing?”
-----
Rarity took the blueberry muffin in her hands and gave half to Sunset Shimmer. “Do be careful with the crumbs, darling.”
“Thanks, Rarity. It’s great to talk to you, though I have to wonder what caused such a sudden change of heart,” said Sunset. She took an enormous bite and wiped away a blueberry fragment with the back of her hand.
Despite the sudden wake-up, they had a few minutes to spare. Rarity and Sunset Shimmer sat in the music room in a secluded corner near the drum set. Aria Blaze, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie fooled with the instruments in the center of the room and Fluttershy quietly finished her homework on the large table, with Discord seated next to her. Chainbreaker was concealed in an oversized gym bag underneath Fluttershy’s stool. Sonata had hastily departed, mentioning something about returning a library book, and the Crusaders were elsewhere planning this evening’s sleepover.
The fashion designer’s blue eyes stole a glance at Applejack. “Pizza, down-on-the-farm directness, and some time to myself calmed me down,” Rarity nervously bit her lip. “Well, and Applejack said she’d model for me.”
“What?” cried Sunset incredulously, capturing the attention of the other girls in the music room.
Rarity waved the rapidly disappearing muffin dismissively. “There’s plenty of time to discuss the particulars later, my dear. I’m still quite upset with you, but the events of the last few days have driven home the point that we must stand together during a time of crisis. My… emotional reaction caused me to forget that for a time.”
Rainbow Dash and Applejack missed a few notes and rolled their eyes upon hearing Rarity’s choice of words, but they didn’t dare interrupt.
“Thank you for understanding and I know we’ll work through the events of the past once we’ve neutralized Adagio and her ally,” said Sunset. She reached into her jacket. “Rarity, I have something to show you.” She produced the magic-focusing necklace and presented it in the palm of her hand.
Rarity’s mouth fell open in awe. She tapped the surface of the fused gems with her fingernail. “This is simply divine workmanship! How did you get the facets trapped like that? The light is dazzling!”
“Magic!” Sunset winked at Rarity. “But that’s not all. I can cast spells while I’m wearing it. I spent most of last night remembering what I learned before coming to this world and it was exhilarating,” she leaned forward with barely contained excitement.
Rarity smiled back and pushed the necklace back towards Sunset. “I’m truly overjoyed for you, because I know how much you miss your magic, but now is not the time for a demonstration.”
“Exactly, which is why it’s now my turn to ask a favor,” Sunset pocketed the necklace and folded her hands in her lap. “I promised Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna I’d look after Discord while he was teaching. Here’s the deal: First, I owe Twilight a note. Second, I’m exhausted and I need to take a nap. I can take care of both things in Fluttershy’s van.” She shivered despite the room’s warmth. “For reasons I won’t discuss now, there’s no way I’m going to sit in Ms. Raven’s class today. Could you and Fluttershy keep an eye on Discord while he teaches this morning? I know he’ll cover for me with Luna for attendance purposes.”
Rarity patted Sunset’s folded hands. “Of course we will watch him so you can rest, darling. I remember reading something about the most gratifying thing that a leader can say is that she trusts you enough to sleep while you’re on watch. We’ll ensure our guest is well cared for, despite his atrocious attire.”
“Thanks, Rarity. I’ll see you at lunch.”
They stood and Sunset Shimmer quickly embraced Rarity, shouldered her backpack and collected the van keys from Fluttershy. Before the morning bell sounded inside the school, she was sitting cross-legged on the van’s stained beige carpet, writing a note in the thick Equestrian tome:
Dear Twilight,
We did it! Discord, Applejack, Aria and I worked nearly all night in the smithy and created two magical items from the gifts that you sent to me. Here’s a picture of the first:
Sunset placed a small photograph of Chainbreaker on the page, the star iron and Aquastrian coral shimmering from the camera’s flash. Applejack had printed the image from her phone while everyone dressed for school.
Aria ground her pendant and added it to the reagents. When she took Chainbreaker outside, it began to glow and she grew pony ears and fins, just like during the Battle of the Bands! She immediately took the mace to the barn and taught Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie some fighting moves.
Later, I used the leaf from the Tree of Harmony, Sonata’s pendant and many other items to create this magic-focusing necklace:
She placed a second picture towards the bottom of the page. The amulet was laid flat on the smithy’s workbench. The top gem glittered darkly while the bottom gem brilliantly amplified the camera’s flash.
Twilight, when I put the necklace on, I could cast unicorn spells again! I levitated objects, teleported small distances and I even experimented with basic alteration and enchantment spells! It was glorious, and it’s all coming back to me so quickly.
Most important is that we’re all together again. Rarity has forgiven me, though we still have much to work through. Discord has identified Adagio’s ally as Shrieking Raven, who is a banshee exiled to this world long ago. I’m going to guess that only Starswirl the Bearded could have cast that spell! With these magic items, I think we’re ready for just about anything. We just need to find Adagio while avoiding a confrontation with Raven.
Thank you for everything. After so many years, I feel like me again.
Yours in friendship,
Sunset Shimmer
She closed the book, expecting the sunburst on the cover to flash briefly. Instead, the book vibrated violently in her hands and brilliant white light burst from the replica of her cutie mark as the message and pictures were magically sent to Twilight Sparkle.
“Wow, I didn’t know my message was that important,” Sunset said, tracing the curved line dividing the red half of her symbol from the gold half as the incandescence faded.
Dazzled, but pleased by the unexpected light show, Sunset smiled wearily. She laid down between the van’s benches, pillowed her head on her leather jacket and closed her eyes.
-----
Sonata stepped into the empty library, carrying the second of the three books she had borrowed under her arm. She unzipped the unflattering, oversized gray hoodie, exposing that she wore the flannel work shirt that she had stolen from Big Macintosh’s laundry pile. A large green apple was embroidered on the breast pocket of the brown and red garment.
She set the book on Cheerilee’s desk. Sonata spun the chair in slow circles and admired the photographs. Sonata was particularly fixated on the picture where Big Mac was clad in a tuxedo.
Sonata narrowed her eyes in concentration, a dreamy smile curling across her lips. He’ll need a haircut before I size him for a coronet.
She took Raven’s card from the pocket of her borrowed jeans and used Cheerilee’s desk phone to dial the number. Fortunately, the call went to voicemail and Sonata heard Adagio’s commanding voice. “If you’re calling this number, you know who this is. Leave a message.”
After the tone, Sonata launched an avalanche of words while faking a tearful tone. “Adagio, it’s so good to hear your voice! I’m so sorry I upset you. I miss you and need to see you. I’ll meet you at our hideout about hour before noon. Oh, I’ve made such terrible mistakes! I’m calling from the high school, so there’s no return number. Good-bye.” She dropped the receiver back in place.
She smiled maliciously as she stuffed the card back into her hip pocket. The library door opened and the Siren heard the creak of a book cart’s wheels. Seeing a glimpse of purple hair, Sonata flipped her blue-streaked ponytail and strode for the door. Cheerilee was struggling to get the cart over the lip of the doorframe. Sonata lightly bumped the librarian with her hip, and easily maneuvered the cart through the doorway.
“Have a good day, Miss Cheerilee!” called Sonata. She expertly turned and made sure that the teacher saw the shirt that she was wearing.
Cheerilee replied, “Thank you for the help, Sonata.” As the door closed, her brain registered that the girl was wearing her boyfriend’s shirt. She rushed to the door and opened it. “Sonata? Where are you?”
The librarian scanned the empty hallways with her green eyes and could find no trace of the blue-skinned girl. Cheerilee put a hand on her stomach and steadied herself against the doorframe. She thought, There has to be a reasonable explanation for this.
Sonata Dusk quietly maneuvered her way to the dim janitor’s closet where Sunset Shimmer had taken her to talk on Monday morning. Curling her nose at the strong smell of bleach, she looked at her reflection in the dingy mirror and gripped her chin between a thumb and forefinger.
She addressed her blurred reflection. “Victory and revenge are so close. When Mac sees what ‘Adagio’ has done to me, he’ll go crazy!”
She opened the maintenance staff’s toolbox and took out a rubber hammer, a screwdriver and a pair of shears. Finally, Sonata tested the weight of a small, steel pipe wrench in her hand.
“An aspiring prince, and most noble men, simply can’t resist a damsel in distress. It’s time to make this look convincing,” said the Siren.
Sonata Dusk drew her arm back and struck herself with the wrench.
*****
I didn't think that
SonataSunset would be THIS foxy.We're all thinking it, I'm saying it. That's totally yin and yang right there.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Yin_yang.svg/2000px-Yin_yang.svg.png
Other than that, not much to say other than that this was another greatly enjoyable chapter! You've already seen most of my feedback, so I see no real need to repeat it here.
Though I am going to drop another comment pointing out how much I love your characterization of Discord. One of my favorite characters from the series, so it's nice to see him done well.
Also, that ending. The plot thickens! Quite deliciously so.
And, well, um. Yeah, that's about it.
The things one does for love.
Sunset's magic is cool, too, unicorns should be able to do something similar in canon.
Oh, things are shaping up to be quite epic. I get the odd hunch that what Sonata's up to might end up causing more trouble for Sunset and the rest of her party than it will Adagio, however.
5651220 Congratulations for being the first reader to tonight's party! Sunset's in the title - she's demands your attention! And, now that she has her necklace, she can do awful things to me if I don't write her favorably.
5651325 Thanks for the kind comments - both here and in the PM. Discord is a joy to write, as an emperor, as a sage and as comic relief. And, with regard to yin and yang, you don't need to look any further than Sunset Shimmer's shirt. I'm always glad for your help and the time you devote making sure that I got things mostly correct! I know you noticed the subtle changes I made to favor your feedback...
5651331 I don't think I did anything different than what all of the unicorns do normally with their telekinesis. I just added a somatic component by having Sunset Shimmer's hand (and the pebbles) glow the same color as her "horn aura". Still, I appreciate the compliment!
5651362 Hey, I can't give away Chapter 17 yet! Thanks for the catches in previous chapters and I'm glad that we had the opportunity to trade a few PMs. I hope the chapter didn't disappoint!
Sonata. You really really need to calm down. Leave Mac and Cheerilee alone. It cant end well.
Part of me feels that I should be getting annoyed that the plot for the last while has just been forging stuff.
Another part of me tells that part to shut up, because its been well broken up with so many other things going on.
But most of me cant stop fanboying over the awesome stuff they're making. Aria has a freggin enchanted mace! And now Sunset has a replacement magical focus! And both magic items are made out of a really cool set of materials! AHHHHHH! SO COOL!
Oh. And Vecna showed up here. Yes. I like. His Lichness was appropriately terrifyingly described, and had nice nods to the Hand and the Eye. If you didn't know it was a reference I don't think it would matter, because it gave him a nice bit of unique visualization. But if you did know it still helped in the visualization. That's the best kind of reference right there, when it works even if you don't know its one.
So, Sonata is officially cuckoo for cocoa puffs to be pulling that stunt.
Also, in 3.5 style, I give you Chainbreaker(This will probably be invalidated once we see it do something, but oh well):
Chainbreaker
This is a +2 adamantine Holy Disruption heavy mace and any critical hit dealt to a undead completely destroys it (no saving throw). Additionally it grants it wielder a +4 sacred bonus on will saves vs enchantment spells and effects.
Forty-nine moves after a pawn promotion? Both the Raven and Adagio must be awful at chess.
o_O To what Sonata is doing. Karma is going to pay her back so hard for this.
5651549 Whoops! That's forty-nine moves total in the game. I'm a terrible chess player and realize that the few moves I described are highly suspect to an experienced (or marginally talented) player! Focus on the symbolism, my friend! (please?) As usual, I appreciate your keeping me honest when I veer away from my areas of expertise!
5651516 You and I are both trying to figure out Chainbreaker's d20 stats. It's a little premature for me to lock myself in when the weapon's only opponents have been an iron triangle and Rainbow Dash wielding a long stick. Thanks for your compliments on the description of Vecna - it's straight from where I first rolled a 20-sided die across a kitchen table in 1988.
5651468 Oh, Sonata... I can't spoil the cliffhanger, but from your perspective, I wholeheartedly concur with your assessment.
Thanks for taking time-out to read this evening! I truly appreciate your comments!
Sonata, that one seemingly innocuous spanner in the works our heroines sorely underestimated. Despite what everyone who caught on to her ambitions told her, she kept disregarding it. Any time for an epiphany or seconds thoughts of what she's doing is horribly wrong she ignores completely. No doubt it's gonna bite her HARD when her actions catch up to her, and by then it'll be pretty difficult to sympathize.
5651755
I don't think she was disregarding their advice. She was so lost in her own world that she thought they were encouraging her. Both Aria and Scorpan told her to "Do the right thing." The problem is that she's over a thousand years old and spent centuries seducing people, and before that she lived in a society where males were basically slaves. To her, taking Mac for her own IS the right thing. Which also explains why she looks so confused when Aria tells her it's not right.
5651457 No disappointment whatsoever.
Not dangerous? Piss her off, then we'll see whose not dangerous.
I love this guy.
Need I remind you of Twilight's last name?
Sweet!
Oh this is gonna be fun.
WHAT?! Are you nuts?!
Also, we need fanart of Chainbreaker and the magic amulet.
5651457 What I meant was, in Equestria Girls, when Rarity/Twilight/Sunset get the pony ears and tails, they should be able to use telekinesis too, to distinguish them from Earth Ponies. Sorry for not making that clear.
I've always seen Discord as De Emprah as one who enjoys both creation as well as destruction (hard to have chaos if there's no 'normalcy' to compare it to), so that scene was most satisfactory.
So, Adagio is plotting to betray Raven, Raven is plotting to betray Adagio, the CMC are in 80's Horror movie danger, and the Rainbooms are gearing up to REK their plans.
And in the middle of all this, there's Sonata, the curveball no one, in or out of universe, saw coming.
Things are moving along at a fair speed now and yet again I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter with bated breath and a happy smile.
Oh boy, I really love what you are doing with Sonata.
Frickin' Sonata. She's really annoying me now. I hope she gets her comeuppance.
Be patient, please - I didn't want to leave anyone out! I'm so happy that you all read and commented during the first day of release!
5653804, 5653332, 5651755, 5651587 and 5652342 - Let's talk about all things Sonata. Aurora, your one-paragraph summary is right on the money in assessing her motives and perspectives at the present time. I expected the cliffhanger to be a big moment, but I underestimated how much 500 words at the end dominated a 10,000 word chapter. This won't spoil Chapters 17 and beyond, but keep Imperial Aquastrian culture and Sonata's family dynamic in mind, as well as how her father died. Aurora did a great job of emphasizing my "spin" on Sonata's talent for manipulation and seduction. She will remain a vital character until the story's end.
5653031 I'm trying to keep things moving along, but there are still many pieces on the board. Thanks for yet another kind comment!
5652884 No problem! I totally understand now! The best quick explanation is that the native Equestrians have greater magical affinity. Sunset Shimmer, as per the title and the Rainbow Rocks climax is special.
5652607 I'm willing to put up a decent chunk of change to support said fan art - just need folks to point me in the right direction. My cover artist is wonderful, but I'd like to spread my business around. And, I appreciate your taking the time to comment each chapter! Pssst, everyone I just said I'd pay money for good art to meet this request.
5652995 I loved the Big Bang Theory clip - perfectly placed! Thank you very much for the note about the Discord/Raven flashback. Most of all, your summary of the current situation is perfect - almost something AJ would say to someone we have to bring aboard at the last minute (say, we need Vinyl Scratch's car - but we don't).
5654783
Believe me, I'd do the fanart myself, but I'm an actor, not an artist. Pity, I'd have loved to try and capture the majesty of Chainbreaker and the Amulet. I also suspect Sunset is capable of far more than some basic alteration, telekinesis, basic enchantment and short range teleportation, but since he magic is just coming back to her and she'd rather not strain the amulet too much in case it has limits, she's limiting herself to some basic tricks.
And don´t you think the others would do better knowing about Raven, her powers and her master, before she gets the opportunity to introduce herself?
This kind of stupidity is what actually put the heroes´ relatives on jeopardy
5657204 I agree that Sunset is being irresponsible by withholding the details, but in her defense, she's not used to being in a leadership position the way Twilight is. She's pretty much hoping she doesn't mess up on her first mission, and getting everyone panicked doesn't bode well for team morale. Plus, she's not too terribly informed about the details herself. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but all Sunset's seen of Raven's power is a few dead rats in an aquarium. Discord's really the only one who understands the threat that Raven poses, but he doesn't want to go into the sticky details of their past.
Chainbreaker close reach holy valuable 2-weight
A weapon of star iron, forged in the last lament of a repentant siren. When you use Chainbreaker in melee, on a 10+ you may open yourself up to an enemy's attack to break a bond of theirs -- a bond of loyalty to their kingdom, devotion to their cult, or a soul-pact with their nihilist death god, for example.
When you carry Chainbreaker and are compulsed or controlled, you can never mark XP to go along with it. You will always break free of compulsion or control when you Defy Danger, but Chainbreaker may demand a price from you; the GM will tell you what it asks.
---
Sonata, you, uh, you do remember that you're not an immortal being who recovers in the presence of strife and rancor, right? Pain is actually a thing and so on? Oh god you haven't been practicing, have you?
I'm sorry Sonata is kind of taking center stage here but most of everything else is just watching the arrow fly that you loosed earlier on.
Except for Cassie, who really needs some better pickup lines than "hey, pretty boy/sexy mama, wanna kill all ponies?"
What the heck, Sonata??! Okay she's quickly becoming my least favorite character in this story. Good update tho!
Adagio is sounding more and more demented and delusional. It isn't a question of if she gets killed by but how, when and by whom.
As for Sonata? Well, that idiotic bit of self-harm fits entirely into her character as established. Her other plot is also in-character and she, too, might be in danger when Adagio's pride reaches it's 'fall' stage.
What is with Cheerilee putting a hand to her stomach? Please don't tell me she's pregnant!? If that's the case, this will go even deeper than I expected!
5660877
AM I the only one who believes Adaggio´s mother was about to sell the whole kingdom, you know, her justification for every despicable thing she committed, just to find a way out of her deal with Leviathan?
Imagine Dagi´s reaction if/when she finds out the truth, maybe from the mouth of her God.
You all are the best! I was stealing glances at your comments during work today, and they brightened a truly rotten Monday. Your deep insights threaten my ability to continue with the non-answer answer. And folks wonder why I don't post blogs... replying turns into a wall of text on its own!
5655388 You're an actor?! Wonderful! Take a bit of old guy advice - find a way to keep doing what you love while still paying the bills. I focused on the second half of the equation and gave up writing creatively for 20 years. If you, or anyone else has or knows someone with artistic talent, there are a half-dozen scenes and items that could be profitable to turn into art...
5657204 and 5658110, Sunset Shimmer and the other characters have made and will continue to make stupid mistakes that place others in danger. Your discussion highlights a fairly major blunder from the title character, but I offer one additional cause of her errors inspired by my past: Fatigue. Sunset Shimmer has barely gotten any sleep for three nights running and it's taking its toll.
5658451 I'm curious... which game are those statistics from? It's not one (or an edition) that I know... I'm very flattered that you think that Chainbreaker is worthy of such an entry! Cassiopeia tempted Discord with much more than a pickup line before the confrontation we flashed back to... please trust me on that fact.
5660332 You didn't come off as pushing the story in a direction! I'm enjoying the speculation and your different spin on the situation. There's been so much discussion on the chapter's conclusion that I'm glad you're interested in other facets of the story. Sunset getting herself in trouble by bottling up her emotions? When has that ever happened?
5660565 Thank you very much for enjoying the chapter - and your story Sunset's Redemption is certainly picking up steam! I hope you meant that Sonata the character is unlikable right now as opposed to her plot line!
5660877 and 5661721 There is still much that He Who Swims in Darkness has hidden from Adagio, and far too much she accepts on faith about her Master and her mother. There is no doubt she will learn the truth - but the way of learning and her reaction to it will ultimately determine her fate. (yep - more of ConningOfficer's cryptic hints).
5660993 Interesting thought... I will neither confirm nor deny, but Sonata's previous snooping holds the key to the likely answer. (Forgive me, I know I'm being a bit of a smart-aleck there...) Your comment opens up a potential complicating subplot and backstory for Mac and Cheerilee. Thanks for making me think a bit more about them!
5663624 Her plotline has me antsy and waiting to see what will happen next! I don't actually hate her, her plotline is just really investing haha. And yes, yes it is! I'm actually working on an update that should be up tomorrow or Wednesday. Its a real doozy!
5663624
No worries, herr Kommandant, if I find someone who would be willing to do fanart for this fic, I'll let you know.
5663624
Now, let me explain Dungeon World. It's a fantasy RPG built on the engine that powers D. Vincent Baker's Apocalypse World.
That's it, really.
---
Ainsel Necklace 0-weight
The ingredients are known even to the lowest hedge wizard: something of the head, something of the thread, something of the body, and something of the dead. The recipe is much more highly guarded. When you wear the Ainsel Necklace and travel to a world different from your own, you can act as though you were in the world it was made from- breathe its air, see with its light, move under its gravity, fail to get burned in its inexplicable lack of open-air lava lakes, et cetera.
This is not without side-effects, however. When you Make Camp after relying on the Ainsel Necklace to keep you safe, roll +CHA. On a 10+, you may dream of the world it was made of but suffer no ill effects. On a 7-9, take -1 ongoing to this roll until you spend a day without the Ainsel Necklace. On a 6-, the GM gains 1-hold on you. They can spend this hold at any time to make you act as though you were in the world the necklace was made of - exercise its lack of mandatory airlock discipline, approach its non-venomous fauna, toss someone something to catch through its gravity, et cetera.
Things are going to get really dark if nothing is done!
Nice chapter as usual but is it just me or was this chapter compared to all the others quite hard to read. It just seemed on a totally different level. Like literature prize winning level.
anyway looking forward to reading the next chapter ^^
Kind regards,
your fan
Silvernite87
wow and here i was thinking that pinkie pie was the harley quin of the canterlot 6 but sonata just might have her beat as sheer nuttiness goes on the crazy bit lol
5663640 I was a little slow in getting to your update, but wow, it certainly was a doozy!
5665204 I was simply curious, though I don't know if I'll ever have the time/inclination to pick up RPGs again. A couple computer games based on the Dungeons and Dragons engine and a handful of R. A. Salvatore books have been about all the time I have been able to devote since graduating from college (quite a while ago).
5664616 Thank you for keeping your ear to the ground! I haven't quite found a way to crack into the fan art world yet. I just don't know how the etiquette works to find excellent artists willing to have pieces commissioned.
5674482 You're very kind. Thank you! I've made good progress on Chapter 17 this weekend. I'm hoping that it will be ready in 6 or 7 more days.
5680464 While fun stories like Taco Quest highlight the similarities between Pinkie Pie and Sonata Dusk (and there are many), I chose to make Sonata the most complicated character in this story with the most involved backstory. Who she was is in direct opposition to who she can be, and she's only now starting to realize that fact. There will be much more on that in the next two chapters as Sonata moves back to center stage.
5685612
You can ask someone you know who has commissioned fanart if that helps, never having done so however, I'm afraid I'm not as useful as I'd like to be. Sorry.
Whoa, Sonata, calm your farm! All great actors need to look convincing, but don't hit yourself with a wrench! Owwch... xD Ever heard of makeup?
Sonata pls... A wrench? Pshhhhh... Use like a pillow or a piece of deer jerky or something, it uh... Leaves more noticeable marks?
5739253
Those are good suggestions, but I think a cloud would work batter.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Cloud_Strife.png
I can't wait to see how this plays out
Dear Luna, Sonata is more scary than most villains...the levels of manipulation she's creating are absolutely insane. I hope she knows what she's doing...though I think that if Aria shared the fact that Coral Aegis led a rebellion against the tyranny, Sonata might calm down and stop trying to become the new monarch.