//------------------------------// // Battle of the Bands // Story: The Little Pony Legend: Rainbow Rocks // by MaggiesHeartLove //------------------------------// *(~)* Matthew 26:41 ~ Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. *(~)* Battle of the Bands Sunset Shimmer flashed the brightest smile she could as she approached the three new students. "Hi. Are you the girls I'm supposed to show around?" "We are." The three girls stepped forward. The girl in the middle had red colored eyes and long curly blond hair wearing a one piece purple colored outfit witch ended in the style of shorts and pink leggings with pale purple diamond patters. She wore ankle long purple boots with golden straps on the angles with yellow spikes, which also decorated her heels. She had a small and puffy sleeved pink jacket and matching fingerless gloves. She also had a yellow belt, also with spikes, with a diamond shaped buckle. The third girl wore her hair in pintails as well as a cyan green jacket with the sleeves ripped off and a pale lime green shirt. Her pants were magenta in color and had a two sashed belt with a star buckle and wore sark magenta boots as well as arm bands. Her entire demeanor gave her a very tough-as-nails look. The third was more sweet looking with her hair styled into a high ponytail and wore a dark violet jacket with lighter colored high collar and rolled up sleeves with three chains holding it together in front of her chest. In the right side of the jacket was a musical note symbol with a heart behind it. She wore a light pink skirt and long pink and white converse and pink bracelets with blue spikes on it. The only identical thing they all wore were the red pendants around their necks. "My name is Sunset Shimmer. What are your names?" The blond one spoke first, "I'm Adagio Dazzle. This is Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk" Sonata smiled at Sunset while Aria simply shrugged, not even caring. Sunset, none the less, smiled as she began leading the way as the girls followed. "Well, let me be the first to welcome you guys. Canterlot High is a great school. You're really gonna love it." Adagio smiled as she rubbed her fingers together, "Oh, yes, we really sense there's something... magical about this place." (~) So far so good, Sunset thought. The tour was progressing nicely and the girls didn't seem to resent her in anyway. She found that Adagio was very impressed with the school. Aria remained stoic and bored while Sonata was smiling the whole way. "That's the science lab. Computer lab is in there. Oh!" Sunset excitedly rushed to one of the posters promoting the School's Showcase. "We're having a big musical showcase this weekend! The whole school is pretty much rallying around it." This sparked Adagio's interest. "A musical showcase?" By the looks of both Aria and Sonata, they two seemed very interested…more than Sunset knew. "I'm sure since you're new, Principal Celestia would let you sign up if you're interested." Aria inspected her nails like the diva she was, "We have been known to sing from time to time." Sonata stepped in, it was a very strong possibility she and Pinkie Pie might be related somehow. "Hello? We sing, like, all the time! It's how we get people to do what we want." Aria's eyes widened in shock and Adagio clenched her teeth while gesturing a cutting gesture with her hand near her neck, telling Sonata to shuck the buck up. But the naive little airhead did not get the message. "Wha-What did I say?" Despite the slip up, Adagio kept her cool. "What you meant to say was that being in a musical showcase sounds like a great way to meet other students." "Ohhhh, yeah. Th-What she said I meant to say. That's what I meant. To say. Aria scoffed, "And what you would have said if you weren't the worst." Sonata narrowed her eyes, "You are!" Adagio stepped forward, blocking the two from Sunset Shimmer's view, "You'll have to excuse them. They're idiots." Aria humphed while Sonata just smiled. Sunset arched an eyebrow. All of a sudden, she began to get a strange vibe from the three. Almost as if they were hiding something. But what. Then again, it wasn't like she was any different. She then noticed the way their matching jewels shimmered in the light. They were a stunning gems of blood red. But as pretty as they were, they had an almost…sinister vibe to them. "Those are pretty." she said as she reached out to get a closer look at Adagio's pendent, "Where did you—" Sunset was caught off guard when Adagio automatically grabbed Sunset by the wrist. The blond's grip was strangely very tight. Then, Adagio's expression softened and she released Sunset's wrist. Even though she was now free, she could still feel Adagio's powerful hold. The blond laughed nervously, "Ah, ha, ha, ha. Sorry. These pendants mean an awful lot to us. We'd just hate for anything to happen to them." Adagio and Aria continued walking ahead, while Sonata remained, still smiling until Adagio grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away. Leaving a very suspicious Sunset behind. Sonata briefly stopped by a soda machine and reached into her pocket to take out a quarter and placed it into the coin slot. A diet soda emerged and she began drinking it. However, the drink was rather warm. Once she was certain nobody was looking, the soda in her hand slowly began to freeze with ice. Sonata drank it and sighed in satisfaction until Aria sneered at her. "Sonata! Ex-nay, on the you-know-what." "What?" Aria face palmed herself before dragging the girl by force, making Sonata loose grip f her soda, which was left in mid air for a brief second before she extended her hand to grab it. (~) At the cafeteria, Sunset's friends at their lunch when Sunset sat beside Applejack, looking rather confused. "So how was the tour?" asked the country girl. "I don't know. I mean, these girls, they were... There was something off about them." Pinkie Pie asked, "Like, off like this?" she used her hair to make her look like she had a beard, "Or off like this?" she placed two carrot sticks into her mouth to look like fangs and two pieces of letus on her eyebrows. "Or… Oh, oh! Like—" Rainbow Dash interrupted, "Maybe we should just let her tell us." "That's just it." Sunset began, "I can't put my finger on it. They just acted sort of... strange around me." she emphasize these fact by waving her hands. She lowered her gaze in sadness, "Maybe someone already talked to them. Told them about what I did." she sighed sadly and buried her face into her arms on the table, "So much for making a good first impression." Fluttershy agreed. "Uh-huh." her friends all gave her disapproving glares and the young girl tried to soften her blow, "Oh, that's probably not it." she said rather unsurely. But the damage was already done and Fluttershy slid down in her chair. Sunset felt so distressed. So embarrassed and ashamed, so…hot? She looked at her hands, which were starting to glow a strange orange and could feel the heat growing. She quickly hid them away from her friends' sight, placing them into the pockets of her jacket. "You okay?" Rainbow asked curiously. Sunset took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. This kind of thing seemed to be happening frequently and the last thing she wanted was for the others to know of her new abilities. What if they thought these powers were dangerous? What if they became scared of her? No. She couldn't let that happen. She just couldn't. The heat died down she relaxed. "Yeah. I'm fine." (~) Adagio smiled wickedly as she observed the students happily chatting with one another in the cafeteria. She couldn't wait to rain on their parade. She turned to her comrades. "This is it, girls. The moment we've been waiting for." "Lunch?!" Sonata asked in her usual upbeat, and oblivious, self. Adagio groaned in annoyance. "The chance to get our true Equestrian magic back." "Oh. Right." Aria rolled her eyes and sneered. Why did Sonata had to be such a moron? Adagio turned her wicked eyes back onto the students. "Our voices are just strong enough to make them want something so badly, they'll fight to get it." "So we're just gonna do what we always do?" Aria asked in her usual bored tone, "Stir up some trouble and then feed off the negative energy? Some plan, Adagio." she said the last part sarcastically. Aria always was the one who spoke her mind without any restraint. "It won't be the same as the times before!" Adagio stated. "There is Equestrian magic here. Their negative energy will give us the power we need to get this entire world to do our bidding." "But we can get lunch after though, right?" Sonata asked, smiling at the poster on the wall, "It's Taco Tuesday!" "Just follow my lead." Adagio ordered, slightly frightening Sonata. "Or my lead." Aria said boldly, until Adagio grabbed her by the shirt and sneered. Her raspberry eyes burning with anger. "My lead!" That shut Aria right up as Adagio released her. Even though Aria was bold, she wasn't dumb enough to underestimate their leader. Sonata snickered in Aria's expense. She loved watching her get a taste of her own medicine. Adagio, Aria and Sonata entered the cafeteria, opening their mouths as their harmonious singing echoed across the room. Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah As they sang, their medallions glowed and they swayed their hips in the most seductive way as they walked. All of the students, including Sunset Shimmer and her friends watched what happened. They were pretty surprised to see the new girls just singing out of nowhere like that. It kind of reminded them of when they performed in the Cafeteria that one time with Twilight. But this was different. And the lyrics of these words did not sound all too positive in the slightest. Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah Adagio Dazzle; We heard you want to get together Aria and Sonata; Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah Adagio; We heard you want to rock the school Aria and Sonata; Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah As they sang among the students, Sonata strum on Flash's guitar and soon, all students were paying attention to their singing, finding the sound and their voices pretty amusing and entertaining. They figured it was another flash mob like the girls did for the Fall Formal with Twilight. But they were unprepared for what was about to happen. Adagio; We thought of something that is better Aria and Sonata; Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah Adagio; Something that changes all the rules Aria and Sonata; Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah Adagio; Why pretend we're all the same When some of us shine brighter? Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk; Shine brighter Adagio Dazzle; Here's a chance to find your flame Are you a loser or a fighter? Adagio, Aria and Sonata; Me and you, you and me Why don't we see who is better? We don't have to be one and the same thing Oh, what's so wrong with a little competition? Are you afraid of failing the audition? As they sang, some students began looking at each other in scorn. Sunset did not like the looks of this. Adagio Dazzle; You're a star and you should know it Adagio sang to the school's magician, Trixie. Aria and Sonata then assisted their lead singer to stand on a table and walk down it like she were on a runway. Yeah, you rise above the rest It doesn't matter who you hurt If you're just proving you're the best Together; Ah, ahh-ahh Battle! You wanna win it Let's have a battle, battle of the bands Let's have a battle, we'll go all in it Let's have a battle, battle, battle Battle of the bands As the music and words sank in, students began trash talking one another. Naomi; "I can beat you!" Adagio, Aria, Sonata; Battle! Cherry Crash; "Ha! You wish!" Adagio, Aria, Sonata; Battle! Trixie; "I so want this!" Adagio, Aria, Sonata; Battle! Captain Planet; "Not if I get it first!" Adagio, Aria, Sonata and students; Me and you, you and me Why don't we see who is better? We don't have to be one and the same thing Oh, what's so wrong with a little competition? I'm going up and winning the audition As the students began glaring and speaking(singing) nastily to one another, a mysterious green mist began to slowly manifest itself around the cafeteria. Battle! We wanna win it Let's have a battle, battle of the bands As they sang, Sunset and her friends were the only ones who were not going along with everyone else, rather watching on with worry and concern. Sunsets instincts were telling her that there was something very strange going on. Something…magical. But not the good kind. The dark kind. Let's have a battle, we'll go all in it Let's have a battle, battle, battle Battle of the bands! When the song came to an end, all of the students were now yelling and speaking horribly to one another. What was once a friendly event for all, was now an all out battle. As they argued, the green mist grew larger which began to be absorb into the red pendents. The trio of girls smiled. Their plan was being out into motion. But while the students argued, Sunset and her friends watched on in worry. Pinkie Pie; "Ohhhh. They're that kind of "off"." (~) The girls walked down the halls, well Pinkie Pie was actually hopping while Rainbow Dash was kicking her soccer ball. They all pondered over what had just happened in the cafeteria. "Those three are definitely in possession of some kind of dark magic." said Sunset, "How else could you explain what happened back there?" "Don't worry, y'all." said Applejack, "We'll let Principal Celestia know all about this and those girls will be kicked to the curb in no time. Last thing she needs is another CHS event almost ruined by some power-crazed lunatic." her eyes snapped open once she realized what she had just said and turned apologetically at an unamused Sunset Shimmer. "Er, no offense." Sunset simply sighed, "None taken." (~) "Dark magic? I find that very hard to believe." The six girls were in Celestia's office, and the woman obviously did not believe their story, "Those girls came into my office earlier and were absolutely delightful." Her younger sister stood beside her, arching an eyebrow, "Ugh! Perhaps Sunset Shimmer is just eager to make someone else out to be a bad element, so that her actions at the Fall Formal will become old news." Sunset Shimmer didn't even bother to defy this statement as she scratched her neck in embarrassment. She did not blame the women of suspecting such a thing. "I can see why you might think that, but—" Rainbow Dash stepped forward, "That's not what's happening! We saw all of this go down in the cafeteria too!" Principal Celestia looked at them skeptically, "Yes, but isn't your band supposed to be part of the Musical Showcase?" Rainbow's eyes scanned the room in uncertainty before answering, "Yes. But--" "Perhaps you're all just worried that the Dazzlings will steal your spotlight." said Luna. Applejack looked at them curiously. "The "Dazzlings"?" "It's the name of their musical group." Celestia answered, "That's why they came by my office earlier today – to sign up for the Showcase. Even sang a little song to Vice Principal Luna and I." That didn't sound too good. "They did?" Applejack asked. "Yes. And we think having a Battle of the Bands instead is a marvelous idea." as Celestia said this, both her and Vice Principal Luna's eyes briefly glowed an eerie green color. Which could only mean one thing... Whatever spell these Dazzlings had cast, the two Principals were not under it as well. Looks like the girls were on their own. (~) Outside, next to the large horse statue, the girls were pondering on what their next move was. Pinkie Pie laid on her back on top of the pedestal near the stone horse, Rarity sat on the ground painting her nails while Rainbow kicked her soccer ball. Sunset leaned against the pedestal while Applejack was walking in place and Fluttershy allowed a lady bug to climb on her finger. "I can't believe they got to Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna too." she said sadly. "They've gotten to everybody." said Rainbow Dash Pinkie Pie lowered her head to everyone, smiling as usual. "Not everybody!" "Pinkie Pie's right." said Applejack, "We were there when the Dazzlings were singin' and we weren't affected. It was like we were protected somehow." "So let's take them down!" Rainbow Dash balanced her ball on her head before throwing it into the air and landed on her hand. "It's not like we haven't tangled with dark magic before and totally whooped its sorry butt!" her eyes snapped open once she realized what she had said and turned to Sunset with an apologetic look. "Uh, no offense." Sunset Shimmer simply sighed, slightly annoyed but she understood. "None taken. Again." "But that was when Twilight was here." said Fluttershy as she released the lady bug and watched it fly away. "There may be some kind of magic inside us, but it only comes out when we play music. I sure don't know how to use it to... whoop anybody's butt." Rarity sighed as she painted her nails, "If only we could get a message to Twilight. Maybe she could tell us how to break the spell the Dazzlings have cast on our friends." "Well, that's not gonna happen." said Rainbow, "The portal's closed." she threw the ball towards the pedestal and Rarity duked her head in time when the ball made contact and bounced right back to Rainbow Dash, but not without causing the nail polish to spill on Rarity's arm. Much to her dismay. "And I get the feeling they don't exactly have cell phones where she's from." Sunset agreed with her friends. She may have been a unicorn once in Equestria, but in this world she no longer had magic. And even if she could return, she couldn't now on account of the closed portal. But, if those lights from a few nights ago could give her these strange fire powers, then maybe there could be a way to contact Twilight. That's when it hit her! "I may have an idea how we can get in touch with Princess Twilight!" (~) Sunset rustled through the belongings of her messy locker until she found what she was looking for. Which she did. "When I was Princess Celestia's student back in Equestria, she gave me this." She revealed to the girls what she was looking for. A brown leather book with the same symbol as the one on her shirt on its cover. The symbol which was once her cutie mark. "Even after I abandoned my studies, I held onto it. Deep down, I guess I knew I was making a big mistake, and I wanted to still have a way to reach out to her." she removed some of the dust that was on the cover and opened the book, flipping through the pages, written down with letters she had sent to her former mentor. She landed on a few blank pages and caressed them. It had been so long since she opened it. "Maybe it still works." "That's a book, darling." Rarity stated. Much like the others, she did not entirely follow the entire concept of magic. She knew of rainbows and magical ponies and enchanted crowns, but never of a book that would work as a cellphone. "What do you mean, "maybe still works"?" "It used to be that if I wrote something here, it would appear in the pages of a book back in Princess Celestia's library. I get a message to her, then she could get a message to Princess Twilight." "So what are you waiting for? Get to writing!" Rainbow Dash dangled a pen in front of Sunset's face and the young former unicorn sighed as she took it. Her heart raced as she looked down at the blank pages and back at the pen. "Been a long time since I've written these words." once the pen made contact with the book, she began. "Dear Princess Celestia..." (~)