"It looks like the needle is pointing towards Sunset's side!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"It's called the Rock Meter, darling." Rarity said. "The colors on both sides really are a perfect match for Sunset Shimmer and Rainbow Dash!"
"Hmm, this battle needs more wah pedals." A.J. thought as she rubbed her chin. She then got hit in the back of the head by Rarity's phone. "Oww, watch where you're holding that thing, Rare!"
"I'm sorry, but I must get every single shot of this soon-to-be phenomenon!" Rarity exclaimed while holding her phone camera.
"Wow, those two look so determined to win, and this isn't even a real competition!" Sci-Twi said.
"Tell me about it!" Fluttershy added.
"Just imagine what Sunset and Rainbow will be like in Sapphire Shores' tournament!" Princess Twilight thought.
"Aww shucks, Twilight!" A.J. said. "We just came back from Rara's tournament, so she could at least give us like a month or two before we rock 'n roll again!"
"I don't know, Sapphire Shores works quickly!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Remember that time she hired me to arrange her wedding party?"
"Well, it was a good thing that you brought more than one cake, dear, because you literally devoured the main one after you brought it out of the kitchen!" Rarity replied.
"That was weird, but it's not going to stop me from winning, Sunset!" Rainbow proposed.
"I'm not even trying at this point!"
Seeing how the Rock Meter was pointing to my side, I felt confident about beating Rainbow Dash, but she wasn't also ready to give up yet. I know how hard she plays and keeping up with her during real band practice is actually easier than expected.
As the battle between us continued, we did notice that the crazy fans have finally left. Still, I felt really bad about turning down their requests for us to sign their little books. I didn't even know the Rainbooms would already become famous.
"Zzz..." as Spike started to take a nap.
"Again Spike?" Sci-Twi confronted. "That's like the fifth time today you've fallen asleep!"
"He probably got bored of this, so there he goes again." as Fluttershy rubbed Spike's back.
"Alright y'all, I've had enough!" A.J. yelled. "I'm turning this off now!" She paused the game and ejected the disc from the console.
"Hey, what did you do that for, A.J.? I was about to win!"
"What gives?" Rainbow asked.
"Has it appeared to the both of y'all that you're getting carried away?" A.J. asked. "C'mon, we know how darn good you both are at guitar, but ya don't need to go against each other!"
"I said this was just for fun!" Rainbow explained.
"Actually, now that you mention it, this didn't seem as fun as I thought it was going to be." Pinkie sighed.
"Trust me, y'all." A.J. said. "I know where this going and I don't want you two to fight over who's better than the other."
"She's right." I admitted. "I did feel very cocky and confident, but perhaps I might've developed too much pride in myself. I was afraid that if I had beaten you, Rainbow Dash, you wouldn't take it very well. I was about to rub it in, but I realized how wrong of me it would be to do that. I'm really sorry!"
"What're you talking about, Sunset?" Rainbow asked me. "I don't care if I lost or won, and even though losing doesn't seem awesome to me, it hurts me if you actually become egotistical. I learned that the hard way after the Battle of the Bands."
"So what?"
"Either way, like Pinkie Pie said, this was supposed to be fun, and I did enjoy playing with you, so you should feel the same." Rainbow said. "Just please don't get sad over trying too hard in a match like this!"
"Ya took the words right out of my mouth, Rainbow Dash!" A.J. added.
"I'm sorry if I got carried away too, Sunset." Rainbow apologized.
"Don't be. I will always forgive you and even someone like you knows that you don't like to brag about winning on purpose."
"Are we still friends then?" Rainbow asked.
"Always." I went to go hug her and she did the same to me. "There's nothing that I have against you, Rainbow Dash."
"Neither do I."
"Aww, that was so sweet!" Rarity gushed. "My phone literally just reached the maximum period for recording videos!"
"Then ya might want to edit out that last part, Rare!" A.J. joked. "I know Rainbow Dash's usually not a fan of all that sappy stuff!"
"True that!" as she gave A.J. a fist bump.
"Well, I'm glad that's over!" Princess Twilight said. "What else is on the agenda?"
"I'm going to check on Scootaloo and the others, alright?" Rainbow asked. "Feel free to start another song without me!"
"But who's going to be the other guitar player?" Sci-Twi asked.
"I think Rarity will." Rainbow replied. "I've seen her play in so many awesome ways in Rock Band and Guitar Hero!"
"Aww, thank you, darling!" Rarity blushed. "You ladies won't be disappointed!"
"I'll be back!" as Rainbow went upstairs.
So after all of this, there really is no clear winner between either me or Rainbow Dash. Applejack definitely made the right choice of pausing the game since one of us was essentially going to gloat over victory. I didn't know that I had it in me to become a bragger, but I was being saved the trouble of being told otherwise.
"Your call, Rare." A.J. said as she picked up the bass. "What do ya wanna play now?"
"Does pychedelic rock sound good to you?"
"It sure is!" Pinkie said.
Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and I were now the ones playing in the meantime while Rainbow Dash went upstairs. I still kept the rhythm guitar, too.
"Fluttershy, would you do the honors, sweetie?" Rarity asked as she handed her the controller.
"Yay!" Fluttershy replied. "Ready girls?"
"Ready!" The four of us shouted.
"3, 2, 1, Go!" Fluttershy counted.
I could hear the Cutie Mark Crusaders jumping up and down on Rainbow Dash's bed upstairs and it was quite loud. Luckily, since this is her house, she gets to make the rules.
"Hey, um, can you three keep it down?" as Rainbow crept behind her bedroom door.
"Sorry Rainbow Dash, but your bed is like a mighty spring!" Apple Bloom apologized.
"Only Scootaloo and I are allowed to jump on it, but since you two are her friends, I'll let it slide." Rainbow noted. "Hey, what are you eating, Sweetie Belle?"
"Mmm, I don't know! This wrapper says that this is a high protein bar."
"That was my last one!" Rainbow cried. "You know that I need those bars to stay fit everyday!"
"Is that the only way you stay fit?" Apple Bloom asked.
"What does being captain of every team at Canterlot High tell you?" Rainbow asked. "Whatever, just make sure you keep an eye on your friends, squirt." She directed at Scootaloo and rubbed her head.
"You got it, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo replied.
"Thanks, I'm heading back down." Rainbow said as she patted her sister's head.
Back downstairs, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and I were making short work of our current song. I never knew how much we could shred in such a short time, but it is very apparent. I could also hear Rainbow Dash's footsteps and she was already back in the living room with us.
"What did I miss?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Not much, just a lovely performance!" Fluttershy answered.
"For the most part, dear, it was pretty snazzy!" Rarity added. "You want to take this back, Rainbow Dash?"
"Nah, I'm good! I'm actually interested about what awesome song you four are going to play next, and then I'll come back in, Rarity."
What gives? I thought to myself. Rainbow Dash doesn't usually sit out when she plays with us. Back at Rara's tournament in Manehattan, she...sort of sat out, so we had Rarity fill in for her. Other than that, she always remained as the lead guitarist for the Rainbooms.
"What do y'all want to play next?" A.J. asked.
"I got it!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Scroll down, Fluttershy!"
"More?"
"Two more down and...bingo!" Pinkie said. "You girls ready?"
"When I'm finished setting this up, we can roll." Rarity said as she's hooking her phone up to a tripod.
"I thought your phone ran out of memory, Rarity." Sci-Twi said.
"Oh, I deleted a video that took up almost all of the memory, so my phone is eligible again for another shooting." Rarity replied. "It was the battle between us and the Dazzlings, by the way."
"Why'd ya delete that one?" A.J. interrogated. "I didn't even know ya snapped a video of that in the first place!"
"Well, before the rest of us went onstage to help you, Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer, and Pinkie Pie, I just had to capture the climax of Rara's tournament!" Rarity mentioned.
"Of course you did." Princess Twilight rolled her eyes amusingly.
"You want to go ahead and count them down again, Fluttershy?" as Spike slowly woke up.
"Ready whenever you are, girls!" She said.
"READY!" The four of us got prepared.
"3, 2, 1, Go!" Fluttershy counted down again and started up the song.
"Have you prepared everything, Mrs. Shores?" Countess Coloratura asked as she was speaking to Sapphire Shores on the phone.
"Not yet, I'm working as quickly as possible to make sure we have the necessities for the tournament." Sapphire said.
"What about flying everyone over?" Rara inquired. "You know James is getting a bit tired of having to pay for every single one of his flights, despite how rich he is."
"Don't worry, I'm paying for every band's flight, and only if you want, you can pitch in too, Miss Coloratura." Sapphire offered.
"I'll have to think about it." She replied. "Which continent are we all going to, if I may ask?"
"South Mareica, and specifically, Brayzil." Sapphire Shores responded.
"Isn't that country a bit dangerous?" The other pop star raised.
"Nonsense, everything's going to be fine, Miss Coloratura!" Sapphire relieved.
"I hope, because the last thing I need is a bunch of deranged maniacs showing up and ruining a big competition."