Make My Way Back Home

by TempestDash

Shine Like Rainbows (Rainbow Rocks), Pt 2 (OLD VERSION)

Sunset Shimmer took a sip from a cup of punch as she watched Twilight Sparkle begin stammering and falling to pieces in front of Flash Sentry. They were in the busy gymnasium during the Musical Showcase pre-event party, a relatively mild event that had yet to be graced by the Dazzlings.

For once, Flash was actually keeping himself together during their conversation, remaining upright and not apparently fumbling his words or getting anything spilled on him. At least, that’s the best that Sunset could guess from her distance.

“Ah, the lovebirds found each other,” said Rarity sweetly.

“Hrmph,” grunted Sunset.

Rarity looked at her strangely then a look of understanding appeared on her face. “Oh, I’m sorry, darling. I forget you and Flash used to be an item.”

Sunset shrugged. “It’s been history for a while,” she said. “And he’s been smitten with her since the first time she visited. I’m not interested in Flash that way, anyhow. We’re good friends.”

Rarity looked between Sunset and Flash briefly. “I see,” she said with a tone of understanding.

Sunset looked at Rarity with a raised brow. “What do you see?”

“Nothing dear,” said Rarity with a smile.

“I’m serious, there’s nothing between us now,” said Sunset. “We’re friends.”

“I don’t doubt that,” said Rarity. She was still smiling. “I wonder what Twilight thinks.”

“Clearly she’s taken with him,” said Sunset. “It’s going to be a distraction.”

“Yes, I’ll bet,” said Rarity. “Did you two have fun today?”

“Fun?” asked Sunset. “We were waiting to get here all day. The Dazzlings need to be dealt with. We both know that.”

“Yes, but-- well, darling, I can’t help but notice that most of us don’t keep up with you,” said Rarity.

“What do you mean?” Sunset turned towards Rarity.

Rarity put one hand on her hip and raised her other hand, palm up. “You’re from another world, where everything is different from here and you were a master of a talent that doesn’t even exist here. Not that we don’t all try, but you sometimes talk about things we simply can’t understand.” She raised her other hand. “Now, Twilight, she comes from your world and she knows as much about magic as you do.”

“More at this point,” said Sunset. “What’s your point?”

“My point, dear, is that you finally have someone to talk to actually understands you,” said Rarity. “Wasn’t that just a little bit comforting?”

Sunset sighed. “Maybe,” she said. “I don’t know. I find it hard to talk to her.”

“Why?” asked Rarity.

Sunset looked at Twilight with a frown. “I can’t get over how much I owe her.”

“Owe her?” said Rarity.

“I screwed up so badly,” said Sunset. “I could have done something terrible if it wasn’t for her. And even afterward she helped me – she helped me heal, and asked you all to help me fit in. Everything I have right now I owe to her. But she also has everything I ever wanted. Everything. She’s just this enormous figure now and I feel a little... marginalized.” She took another sip from her cup. “I hate her and admire her at the same time. I don’t know what to do about it.”

“You can start by stop putting her on a pedestal,” said Rarity. “Nobody is that large. Even if we’ve put a lot of faith in her, she’s only human.” She paused. “Well, a pony—a unicorn—she’s an individual, not a god.”

“But, she kind of is,” said Sunset. “She’s essentially a thaumaturgical force as the Element of Magic. The base force, in fact, since magic is may be the underlying essence of sentient thought.”

Rarity blinked. “I don’t know what that means, but I can tell you that when I look at her, I see a girl.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” said Sunset.

“More importantly, she acts like a girl,” said Rarity. “She doesn’t appear to want more from us than we’re giving and she acts like she expects much the same from herself.”

Sunset looked into her cup. “I understand what you’re saying, but I just can’t do it, she’s not a girl, she the basis of reality.” She drank what remained of the punch. “And it could have been me.”

“Oh, Sunset,” said Rarity, sympathetically. She patted the girl on the shoulder.

“Hey, there they are,” whispered Applejack as she edged closer to Sunset and Rarity.

Sunset looked up to see the Dazzlings walk in, surveying the room and looking generally out of place. It was a little incongruous, considering the air of confidence they had when they were serenating the cafeteria into engaging in open battle. Now they almost looked like the trio of new, awkward students they should have been the day before.

She wondered if one or all of these girls had doubts about their place in the world. Would they too end up regretting what they did yesterday when they were shown the power of friendship?

Sunset watched Pinkie Pie wave down Twilight to get her to step away from Flash. She seemed reluctant but quickly broke off her conversation and came over to them.

“Okay, lets head over there and settle this,” said Twilight. Her awkwardness had been shed on the walk over and she was now grinning with determination. The other girls quickly followed her lead and took each other’s hands as they walked over to the Dazzlings.

Sunset stepped back to watch. She wasn’t part of this, but she had helped it happen. That would be the limit of her involvement. It had to be enough. She could no longer hope for more.

“There’s not going to be a Battle of the Bands,” Twilight’s voice echoed loudly. “We’re gonna make sure of that! Alright, girls, let’s do this!” She held tightly onto the girls’ hands and closed her eyes as she stuck out her chest proudly. “Friendship is MAGIC!”

Sunset knew it was wrong even before Twilight had finished. There was no spark, no magic she could feel. Whatever they were summoning had failed to acknowledge the call. There was no surge in magic at all.

She watched Rainbow Dash whisper something to Twilight and she replied with a shake of her head and a blush. Twilight clearly did not have a backup plan. Spike scurried up and said something quietly as well.

Meanwhile the Dazzlings looked amused. Adagio put her hands on her hips and smirked, staring directly at Twilight.

“Talk about throwing down the gauntlet!” said Adagio, though she was addressing the rest of the room now. There was a gentle pull to her voice that Sunset could feel, and she realized just how powerful the Dazzlings were. There was energy to each of their words now, not just the songs. “This group is obviously serious about winning! A little cocky though, aren’t they? Claiming there won’t be a battle. Seems they think they already got this thing all locked up.”

Sunset felt the energy find its mark as the students in the gymnasium quickly began shouting at one another. Everyone now heard Twilight’s words as a challenge to the school and not at the Dazzlings, the response was vitriolic.

“Not if the Great and Powerful Trixie has anything to do with it!” announced Trixie. There didn’t actually need to be magic to evoke that response.

“Whatever, Trixie,” said Flash Sentry, dismissively. “Everyone knows we’re the best band at CHS.” Sunset was dismayed to see Flash caught by the magic. She knew that he couldn’t help it, he had no defenses on his own, but she still hoped that he was kind enough to be above this. But no, anyone with ears could be victim to the Dazzlings’ magic.

“No! The Crusaders are gonna win!” yelled Apple Bloom. Even Sunset’s erstwhile detention students were caught in the fray.

Six months ago, Sunset had cared little for the people in this school. She held a slightly soft spot for Flash, but everyone else was meaningless to her. She moved and abused them, controlled their minds, and discarded them when she saw fit to advance her plans. It barely registered to her.

Today she saw dozens of weak spots that were attacking her very soul. She cared about these people now, and seeing them in the thrall of Adagio was painful. She wanted nothing more than for the people she knew to be spared this. If she could give up herself in exchange she would but she knew better than to hope the Dazzlings were interested in such a worthless trade.

After all, Sunset wouldn’t have been.

Twilight and the others with her wilted under the Dazzling’s combined stare and then fled. They ran past Sunset and she reluctantly turned away and followed. There was no more to be gained at this party.

Twilight Sparkle was pacing in front of the statue in front of CHS. It had become their primary gathering point since the arrival of the Dazzlings and they had naturally gone there when things had not turned out well at the party.

Sunset was standing and leaning against the statue to one side, while Pinkie and Fluttershy were sitting on the dais the statue was place on. Rarity was standing on the path beside the statue and Applejack and Rainbow Dash were on the grass on the other side of Twilight. Spike, Twilight’s dragon-turned-dog, was sitting beside Rarity and the beneficiary of her petting.

“It doesn’t make sense,” said Twilight as the turned and walked faster. “I should have been able to create the spark that would help us break their spell. That’s how it worked before.”

Sunset frowned slightly. That wasn’t exactly how it worked before, though she couldn’t remember it firsthand anymore. She did recall what she was shown by the Elements of Harmony, though, and she knew that Twilight’s magic didn’t activate until after she was directly attacked.

“Maybe their magic is different,” offered Applejack.

Twilight thought about that for a second. “Well, it definitely is, but I don’t understand why our magic isn’t working right.” She looked at the statue. “Maybe with the portal closed my connection to the Element of Magic is broken.”

Sunset blanched. She had been the one to recommend closing the portal. If that was the issue, then it was her fault the attack didn’t work.

Twilight closed her eyes tightly and stood still. After a moment she screwed up her face slightly and then finally opened her eyes.

“I don’t understand how magic works here,” said Twilight after moment. “But I don’t feel my connection to the Elements is any different than when it is on Equestria. I don’t really know a great way of testing it though.” She looked at the statue. “We could try leaving the portal open and confronting them again, but I’m worried they could use it to escape.”

“Would they be any easier to fight in Equestria?” asked Applejack. “With all yer unicorn magic and everything?”

“I don’t know,” said Twilight. “Legend says they caused a great deal of damage before Star Swirl was able to banish them. If he thought he could have controlled them easier in Equestria I have to think he’d have done it, or at least sent them to Tartarus.”

Rarity cleared her throat quietly. Sunset looked at her and saw she had stopped petting Spike and now was looking rather plainly back at Sunset.

“What?” asked Sunset.

“Do you have any ideas?” prompted Rarity.

“Oh, uh, I’m sure Twilight has already thought of everything I have,” said Sunset. “She’s had a great deal more time to study magic than me.”

“Oh, no, please, if you have any ideas I’d like to hear them,” said Twilight. “You’ve been in this world much longer than I have.”

Sunset didn’t really think that mattered when they were on the topic of Equestrian magic, but it wasn’t a point she was going to argue with the Element of Magic. “I was just thinking that last time your magic didn’t kick in until I attacked you with mine,” said Sunset. “You took my magic and sent it back at me. I wonder if that’s something we have to do here.” She shrugged. “Or not, I mean, it’s not like everything can be reflected.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Wait, you might be onto something.” She turned to Rainbow Dash. “You showed me that video before. You said the magic comes back when you play music, right?”

“Usually,” said Rainbow Dash. “It doesn’t always, but when it does it’s because we’re playing awesomely good music together.”

Sunset opened her mouth but hesitated again. She thought she knew why it didn’t always work, but she wasn’t sure. It all seemed so coincidental. As if the magic really only worked when Sunset was there to watch them play. Surely Twilight’s presence was infinitely more important.

“Hmm,” said Twilight. “So maybe that’s the key. We could use that magic to defeat the Sirens by playing a musical counter-spell!”

“You mean like a song?” asked Fluttershy.

“Uh-huh,” nodded Twilight. “But we’ll need to play it in front of everyone who has been controlled by the Sirens to fully break the spell.”

“Everyone will be at the Musical Showcase,” said Pinkie.

Applejack chuckled. “I guess the Rainbooms really are gonna be the band to beat.”

“And I believe you, Twilight,” said Rarity. “Just became the Rainbooms’ newest member.”

“Oh! Uh, o-okay,” said Twilight blushing furiously. The rest of the girls laughed.

“So, what do you wanna play?” asked Pinkie, hopping around and holding various instruments. “The Triangle? Sousaphone? Theremin?” She pulled a Theremin out of nowhere and began waving her hands over it, creating eerie sounds. “Soooo magical!” she sighed.

“I might take a little too long to learn how to play something with these things,” said Twilight. She waved her fingers around. “I’ll just sing.”

“Woah, woah,” said Rainbow Dash with her hands up. “Sing? As in, lead singer? ‘Cause that’s usually my gig. This being my band and all.”

Applejack frowned. “It’s our band, and of course as lead singer. She’s the only one with the magical know-how to help us pull this thing off!”

Sunset looked away.

“Okay, yeah, that’s cool,” said Rainbow Dash. “I’ll just use this as a chance to hone my already insanely good lead guitar skills.”

“It’s only temporary,” said Twilight. “And we don’t have to win the Battle of the Bands, we just have to perform during the first round of the competition. Everyone who hears the counter-spell will be cured and everything can go back to normal.”

“Until the Sirens cause trouble again,” said Sunset, looking back. “Do you think the counter-spell will affect them too?”

Twilight frowned. “I hope so, though I don’t know what normal is for them, or if they are even acting differently.” She paused. “What do you think, Sunset?”

Sunset bit her lip and hesitated before answering. “I think I was confused, and I let power go to my head. But these girls, they’ve been doing this for centuries. I don’t know if they’re going to turn over a new leaf just because this plan doesn’t work.”

Twilight nodded. “We still don’t know why they picked here, right now, so we will have to be careful.”

Sunset agreed. “I suppose we’ll see what they do after they’re hit with the counter-spell. Maybe we can talk them out of trying again.”

“Alright,” said Rainbow Dash. “Let’s get to learning that musical counter-spell.”

Twilight swallowed audibly and winced. “Well, that might be a problem. I don’t know any.”

“What?” gasped Pinkie loudly.

“But I’m sure I could figure out how to write one,” said Twilight with just a hair less certainty than she probably should have, in Sunset’s opinion.

“Totally!” chimed in Spike. “Twilight can write a spell like it’s nobody’s business. That’s pretty much how she got to become a princess in Equestria.”

“Technically,” said Twilight in an uneasy voice. “I helped finish a spell. And there was a little more to it than that, Spike.”

Spike waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, whatever.”

Twilight took a deep breath. “Alright, I’ve got this,’ she said. Then she turned back towards the school. “Come on, Spike.”

Sunset blinked and all of the girls watched as Twilight started walking away.

“Uh, where are you going?” asked Applejack.

Twilight turned on her heel and put her hands behind her back. “Last time we were here we slept in the library.”

“What?” Pinkie shouted, again. “Are you crazy? We’re besties now.” She turned towards the heavens. “Slumber party at my house! Yay!”

“A sleepover?” asked Twilight, excitedly. She walked back and Pinkie began leading the group towards the parking lot.

Sunset stood by the statue, looking anywhere but at the departing group of friends. She was wringing her hands behind her back.

“Are you coming?” asked a quiet voice.

Sunset looked up to see Fluttershy before her, holding out a hand.

With a smile, Sunset took the hand and let herself be pulled along. Fluttershy wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Thank you,” said Sunset to the pavement.

Sunset had never actually been to a sleepover before, though she had read about them in any number of girls’ novels. She had always viewed the depictions of gossiping, hair braiding, truth or dare games, and midnight promises with a healthy amount of skepticism. Given that those same books seemed to wildly mis-portray the activities of concerts, student councils, shopping, and solving mysteries, it made sense to simply discredit the whole narrative.

Pinkie Pie, apparently, had read those same stories and decided to use them as a handbook.

They had done the hair braiding first. All of them had a great deal of hair and though Rarity protested until the very end, the duty had been done and they all looked like they were part of some sort of hair braiding cult. Sunset didn’t like the braiding anymore than Rarity did, her hair was naturally voluminous and she liked it that way. Right now it seemed like some sort of heavy weapon attached to the back of her skull and pulling on her temples.

The gossiping was attempted next but the girls knew little of anything juicy to spur vigorous conversation. Well, all the girls except for Pinkie who seemed to know things about everyone from incredibly suspicious points in time. Like before Pinkie had ever met the person. Fluttershy managed to convince everyone to shut down the gossip train before things got too creepy but it was immediately followed up with Truth or Dare so it hardly mattered because gossip about the lives of teachers was immediately turned into gossip about Flash Sentry and Twilight.

Because they’d met twice in six months, so, of course, there was something irreverent to talk about.

Sunset wasn’t even sure why she was so irritated by this recurring theme of Twilight and Flash Sentry. She didn’t care about Flash that way anymore. She may not have ever cared that way about him. But suddenly talk of him awkwardly cleaning up spilled mochas with Twilight was driving up her heart rate. She groaned loudly every time the topic came up.

Fluttershy was the only one who seemed to notice Sunset’s discomfort, as she frequently interrupted the chain of questions to dare someone to put their nose to the window pane or explain how the girls volleyball net ended up tangled in the lacrosse equipment last fall.

Twilight, at least when they weren’t talking about her and Flash Sentry, seemed to be calmly enjoying herself, and Sunset was glad. The I-don’t-know-but-possibly-a-demigod girl was occasionally withdrawn at times and she wasn’t sure why. She obviously liked the idea of the slumber party, and while she blushed so hard she nearly fainted when talking about Flash, she still seemed excited by the topic. But when the conversation was on other people or other things, Twilight would just sit silently and stare murderous looks into the notebook Pinkie had given her.

Eventually, after pizza, another round of gossip, and an aborted effort by Pinkie Pie to initiate a mystery they all had to solve together, it was time for bed. Pinkie’s room was large by most measures, but it was still tiny for seven girls to sleep in. Sunset managed to secure a large enough space to stretch out in but found it hard to sleep It wasn’t because she was on the floor, she’d absolutely slept in worst situations than this before she reconciled with her foster parents, she was just anxious.

She was afraid to voice how worried she was. Not just at the Sirens, who were clearly a larger threat than Sunset ever was, but also at being near the center to a magical battle. She knew she had to be wherever the final song took place in order to enable the girls to transform. Even if she reasonably believed that Twilight would be a substitute for herself in enabling the transformation, she didn’t want to take the chance she was wrong.

But being that close to magic and not even touching it... that was scary. The sort of scary that could lead to her falling down that abyss of demon logic. What if they couldn’t do it? What if she had an idea that involved using their magic? Could she trust herself? Would such an idea really be for the best of everyone or just be the demon trying to weasel her way free again? How would she recognize the difference?

At about six after midnight, Sunset heard someone walking through the sleeping forms and out of the room. She kept her eyes mostly closed to look like she was sleeping but as the sounds neared the door she opened her eyes wide and saw Twilight slipping out into the hall.

Sunset wondered what was up, was the girl just using the restroom or was she also having trouble sleeping? She gave Twilight the benefit of the doubt for ten minutes before getting up to find out what was happening.

She found Twilight sitting at the kitchen counter with the notebook laid out before her. Her head was in her hands and a pen was in her mouth. She looked tired and nervous and as far from in control as possible. It was a look Sunset was alarmed to see because Twilight wasn’t allowed to look that way. She had to have the answers or they were in big trouble.

“Hey, Twilight,” Sunset said as she entered the kitchen. “You’re up late.”

Twilight’s head shot up in alarm and that look didn’t really ease when she saw Sunset standing there. “H-hi!” she said. She quickly picked up the notebook and held it up in her hands. “I’m just looking over the counter-spell. We’re only going to get one shot at this so it has to be perfect.”

Sunset nodded and looked around. She realized she needed a reason to be in the kitchen other than a stalker-y following of Twilight. She headed over to the refrigerator. She figured she’d grab a leftover slice of pizza or maybe just a glass of juice.

“You know, I know what you were thinking before,” said Twilight suddenly. Sunset looked over her shoulder back at the girl. “It’s quite a coincidence, music being the trigger for our magic right when the Sirens show up and we need it.”

Sunset turned and leaned her back against the fridge. “Actually, it’s probably not a coincidence. I think the Sirens have been here for a little while now.”

Twilight nodded. “They’ve been here for ages, actually.”

Sunset shook her head. “No I mean, I think they came to Canterlot and have been waiting for something to strike. Maybe they were waiting for this concert, though that doesn’t seem likely.” She considered the likelihood of that. They’d have had to gotten to Flash back in September when he came up with the idea for the Musical Showcase. But if they could do that, then why wait at all? Why wouldn’t they have gone right for Celestia?

“You think the magic knew what we’d need and already began creating a response?” asked Twilight. “That also seems unlikely, unless there is something like the Tree of Harmony here. Magic needs something to direct it. It can’t just act on its own. Some core element has to be present to give it form.”

Sunset looked at the floor. She actually thought of an element that was present and could have directed the magic but wasn’t sure if she could speak about it. There was still the off chance that the Star Swirl the bearded was a product of her imagination and she really didn’t want to divulge her insanity to Twilight at this moment. She also wasn’t sure if it was possible since it would mean some part of her mind had controlled the magic the other girls were using.

Yet another problem that Sunset might have unknowingly created.

“I don’t know,” Sunset said instead. “But those girls knew exactly what they were doing the second they stepped into this school. They had to have had a plan and this concert fit right in with it.”

“Which brings us back to coincidence,” said Twilight. “We’ll just have to see what happens.”

“Okay,” said Sunset. She wasn’t really comfortable with all these unknowns, but she knew they had little other options. At least Twilight was there with them now, someone with real power and understanding. “We really are lucky you’re here.” She turned back towards the fridge and opened it.

It was full, from top to bottom, with cans of whipped cream. Sunset just boggled for a moment.

“That’s what everyone keeps telling me,” Twilight said from behind her. She could not have seen what Sunset was looking at.

“Who could possibly need this much whipped cream,” said Sunset. A couple of thoughts jumped into her head that were so inappropriate she quickly dismissed them and pretended she hadn’t thought about them. Instead she grabbed a can and turned around to face Twilight again. The girl was looking sadly at her notebook again.

“I know there’s a lot of pressure, Twilight, but at least everyone’s looking to you for answers to their problems,” said Sunset. She folded her arms. “Instead of waiting for you to cause a problem.”

“Just because everyone expects something from you doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to happen,” said Twilight.

Sunset sprayed some whipped cream on her finger and then ate it. “Well, that doesn’t stop them from expecting it.”

“But that only makes things harder because the last think you want to do is... “Twilight paused and looked to be struggling with her own words.

“Let everybody down,” said Sunset at the same moment Twilight spoke the same thought.

Sunset looked at Twilight and half-smiled. Twilight smiled back, looking relieved. How this girl could be relieved at something Sunset had said was beyond her, but that was what she was seeing.

Sunset closed the door to the fridge and became aware of someone standing behind it.

“Yeearrgh!” Sunset jumped back and then realized there was a slightly older girl there with purple-gray hair and looking incredibly, incredibly bored.

“Boulder was hungry,” said Maud, Pinkie Pie’s sister. She reached into the cabinet and pulled out a box of cheese crackers and sprinkled them over the small rock she had in her hand. After a moment she stopped, turned and walked off.

Twilight looked at baffled by the interaction as Sunset felt.

“I cannot believe that is Pinkie’s sister,” said Sunset.

“You and me both,” said Twilight with a laugh.

Sunset felt a little less anxious and then yawned. “I’d better try and get some sleep,” she said. She looked at Twilight and noticed she seemed unsettled now. “I’m sure this counter-spell is nothing compared to the stuff you’re expected to deal with as a princess of Equestria. Don’t worry.”

Sunset turned and headed back towards the bedroom. As she reached the doorway she heard Twilight.

“Sunset Shimmer—“

Sunset turned quickly and looked back at Twilight. Her heart was suddenly racing for some reason.

Twilight seemed to shrink under the gaze, though. “Never mind,” she said. “It’s not important.”

“Oh,” said Sunset. Her eyes lingered on Twilight for a moment longer and then she turned away and went back to bed.

In the room she lay still and listened for Twilight returning to bed. The girl was working hard, giving up her sleep to finish that spell. Sunset only hoped she didn’t overtax herself in the process.

She sighed. She wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted to help, but she couldn’t trust herself not to chase after power recklessly. The demon was always on her mind, offering a hand from the darkness, taunting her with how easy it could be if she just gave up trying to be good. On a whim she whispered, “Star Swirl?” But nobody answered.

A little after one in the morning, Sunset fell asleep. Twilight still hadn’t come back to bed.

“You may think you’re in control,
But we’re here to prove you wrong,
With the friendship in our music,
With the power of our song!”

Sunset kept the smile on her face as she sat on a hay bale and listened to the Rainbooms, featuring Twilight Sparkle, practice the counter-spell in the Sweet Apple Acres barn. She felt like she should earn a crown for doing so.

“Gonna stomp our feet, clap our hands,
With the magic of friendship,
Gonna stop your evil plan!”

If they could defeat an enemy with lyrics so on the nose that there was no doubt what they were trying to do, this would be the song to do it with. Well, at least, these were the words to use; the song was so out of rhythm that there was a point where Spike hid under one of the hay bales to escape the chorus.

As the song drew to a close, Spike got back to his position by the mixing board and gave the band a very uncertain thumbs up. “That sounded, um, way better than the last five times you played it!” He laughed nervously.

Incredibly, Applejack’s brother Big Macintosh walked past the window and said, “Nope.” He continued on after his drive-by musical critique and was gone.

Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. “I think it’s pretty obvious what’s going wrong with this counter-spell.”

“Could it be you’re turnin’ what should be the chorus in to a five-minute guitar solo?” asked Applejack with narrowed eyes. She was clearly irritated by Rainbow Dash’s showboating, though Sunset had to admit that the extended riffing was the least painful part of the song.

“I have to pick up the slack somehow!” said Rainbow Dash. She looked back at the rest of the Rainbooms. “Are you guys even trying?”

“I’m trying,” said Fluttershy.

Sunset winced. Rainbow had a bit of a point in so far as what they were creating didn’t sound that great. It wasn’t even harmonious enough that the transformations were happening, despite Sunset and Twilight’s presence. Something had to change for the better if they had any hope of activating the magic to defeat the Dazzlings.

On the other hand, Sunset had become aware that Rainbow Dash’s caustic commentary was not in any way helpful. She was just putting herself at odds with the rest of the band.

“It’s fine,” said Twilight with an unsettled laugh. She didn’t look fine. “One more time from the top!”

“Or!” Rarity said quickly before Pinkie could start drumming. “Perhaps we could take a short break.” Sunset saw both Applejack and Fluttershy looked relieved at this suggestion.

Rarity continued. “We could try on some of the wardrobe choices I’ve put together.” She reached behind a stack of crates and pulled out a clothing rack covered with colored outfits. She reached into the dizzying array of suits and pulled out a dress that looked like it belonged in a marching bad. “I’m particularly fond of this tone.” She held it up to the rest of the band. Nobody appeared to have much of a reaction. “Eh, of course we could always go with something more modern.” She put the dress back and began rooting around for another outfit.

“Rarity, we’re trying to save our school here,” said Applejack. She had her hand on her hip and was frowning. “Enough with the costumes!”

Sunset watched as Rarity pulled a gleaming gold helmet with a black visor from a garment bag and then shove it onto her head. Her wavy purple hair streamed down and out the back.

She turned towards Applejack and spoke with a strange, modulated voice. “Oh, you can never have enough costumes!”

“So, from the top, then?” said Rainbow Dash.

“How about we do something fun?” said Pinkie Pie as she leaned on her drum kit and idly twirled her drumsticks. “You know, like how a band is supposed to be? I’ve even written a song about it, and everything.” She reached into her mess of hair and pulled out a handful of pages of sheet music. She tossed them in front of the bass drum and they scattered about the barn.

Sunset reached out to grab one of the pages as they swept past. It seemed to be a piece called ‘A Perfect Day For Fun.’

“We have to get the counter spell right,” said Twilight. “Or we won’t be able to defeat the Sirens and they’ll probably catch on to what we’re trying to do. We only get one chance at this and we have to do it when everyone is at the first stage of the competition.”

Sunset frowned and checked her phone. “The first stage?” she said. “That’s, like, in fifteen minutes from now!”

“What?” said Applejack, who quickly checked her watch.

“B-but we’re not ready!” said Twilight.

“There isn’t any more time to practice,” said Rarity.

Rainbow Dash looked determined as she pulled her guitar strap over her head. “Then we’ll have to make more time.” She walked over to her guitar case and pulled out a stack of papers before placing her instrument inside.

“How are we going to do that, exactly?” asked Rarity.

“We compete for real!” said Rainbow. She began handing out the pages of sheet music in her hands. “I’ll go back to lead vocals, and we beat all the other bands until we get to the finals!”

“If we make it that far,” said Fluttershy.

“Oh, no worries, we’ll make it as long as I’m here,” said Rainbow. “By then you’ll have the spell ready, right?”

Applejack looked skeptically at Rainbow Dash and Twilight was looking anywhere but at Rainbow.

“Of course she will,” said Spike quickly. “Twilight Sparkle’s never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Right, Twilight?”

Twilight slowly turned to face Spike and the others. She was biting her lip. “R-right.”

“It’s settled then,” said Rainbow Dash. “Let’s pack up and go win us a Battle of the Bands!””

Twilight nodded very slowly in response. Sunset shook her head.

Sunset Shimmer wasn’t sure if she should be pleased or horrified to see Snips and Snails on stage making a horrifying effort to old-school freestyle rap. They seemed to have started rapping about letters of the alphabet, then moved into foods and colors, and now were simply going in circles trying to find a way to stop. It was relieving to know some of the competition wasn’t going to be much of a challenge for the Rainbooms to defeat. But she felt a little guilty that it was her former allies she was seeing make fools of themselves.

Not that Sunset hadn’t made fools of Snips and Snails before. She still had a lot to make up for.

Finally the duo dropped their mics and stalked off stage and the gymnasium let out a collective sigh of relief. The curtains closed and the Rainbooms started pulling their equipment onto the stage.

As Snips and Snails walked past them, they glared at Twilight and Rainbow Dash and Snips boasted. “In your face, Rainbooms!” They continued out of the back of the stage.

Sunset put her hand to her forehead.

“Are we ready to rock?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Wait,” said Pinkie as she finished setting up her drums. “Where’s Rarity?”

There was the sound of jingling, like two dozen keys clanging against each other in a cacophony that kept getting louder. Everyone stopped and turned towards the door off the side of the stage in time to see Rarity burst in.

“I’m here!” she called out, which was barely audible over the clanging.

She was wearing a headband, boots, and a brown suede jacket and pants with a ton of fringe made of dangling metal. Every time she moved an arm or leg it caused the fringe to clang against each other and emit a half-dozen clashing tones.

Rarity noticed everyone staring at her and she put her hands on her hips.

“What?” she said, incredulously. “We will be performing in front of an audience. Did you think I’m not going to wear something fabulous? Hah!” She bent down and started getting her keytar out of the instrument case.

“Remember everyone,” said Twilight as she gripped her mic tightly. “We have to be good enough to make it to the finals but not so good that the Sirens catch see the magic within us and catch on to what we’re doing.”

“Got it,” said Rainbow Dash. “Cool enough to win, but not cool enough that we end up showing off the whole ears, tails, wings, and rainbows thing. Soooo.. about twenty percent less cool.“

“Good luck,” said Sunset to the band as she backed off the stage and stood in the wings. She crossed her fingers.

The curtains on the stage swung open again. Pinkie Pie was the first to move. She raised up her drumsticks and clacked them together. “One! Two!”

“We’ve just got the day to get ready
And there’s only so much time to lose.
Because tonight, yeah, we’re here to party,
So let’s think of something fun to do.”

Sunset found herself nodding along quickly. This was one of the more practiced songs that the Rainbooms had which meant, fortunately, they were able to play it very well.

It was also one of the songs that would trigger the transformation and the rush of magic if they played it too well, so it made Sunset nervous as well. She hoped Rainbow Dash knew what she was doing and keep from sparking whatever it was that caused the magic.

Sunset turned and looked around when she heard the sound of metal creaking. She saw the lights on the stage ever so slightly move back and forth as if on a swing. She looked up at the rafters to see if something had happened.

Her jaw dropped when she saw one of the other bands – Photo Finish and the Snapshots -- up there with a fishing line and a massive pair of magnets. What on earth were they doing? Sunset looked back to the stage at the girls but they were all singing and playing and too focused on Luna and Celestia in the gymnasium to notice the trouble makers up in the lights.

Sunset big her lip as she looked wide-eyed between the Rainbooms and the rafters. She didn’t know how to warn them that something was happening. She looked around for the ladder that led up to the catwalk and noticed it far back into the dark recesses of the stage.

She noticed Snips and Snails climbing up the ladder and nearly at the top. They didn’t look any friendlier than Photo Finish. Sunset couldn’t bear to simply wait and see and she ran off to try and stop them. She jumped onto the ladder and started quickly climbing. As she did, she heard part of the melody line drop out of the song and she turned to see what was happening on the stage. She saw that Rarity was now being dragged across the stage by Photo Finish’s magnets on string. Not only had it completely removed the keytar player from the song but she was getting in the way of Applejack’s bass playing.

Sunset huffed a frustrated growl and redoubled her efforts to climb. She started taking the rungs two at a time.

Which turned out to be a mistake when her foot slipped and she found herself nearly falling , only managing to catch herself by her right hand. She dangled for a moment, her heart racing as she looked down. It wasn’t far, but if she’d fallen the wrong way it could have been very bad. She swallowed deeply.

As she recovered her footing, she saw Snips and Snails reach the spotlights and began focusing them all on Fluttershy. She watched as the girl realized the increased attention and began to wilt. She cringed slightly and then tried to move away from the spotlight. The light pursued her doggedly around the stage before she finally leapt behind Pinkie’s drum kit and hid.

Pinkie, for her part, looked irritated and then quickly kicked over one of her snare drums. It spun on an axis and when the bottom was facing upwards, it shot a huge cloud of confetti into the air, which rapidly began covering the band. Rainbow Dash had to pull out some of the confetti from her frets with her teeth as she played, and Twilight began to cough as she accidentally inhaled some of the floating pieces of tissue paper.

The song was already more than half over. What a nightmare. Sunset carefully grabbed the next rung and began climbing the rest of the way up.

By the time she managed to get onto the catwalk and chase away Snips and Snails, Photo Finish’s band was sliding down the other latter on the opposite side of the stage and were running off.

Sunset rushed over to the fishing line and tried to untie it from the lighting rack where Photo Finish had left it, but she soon heard a tearing sound as Rarity’s costume was ripped apart and she landed on the stage and began to cry.

Sunset grit her teeth and slammed her fist into the railing on the catwalk. How did things get so back so quickly? This school was recovering! The students were on board with Celestia’s friendship-centric program? How could this simple music competition destroy everything?

Sunset looked out at the gymnasium as the song ended. She wanted to see Celestia’s reaction to the music, but she noticed Adagio standing behind her, with a broad smile, clapping slowly, and staring directly up at Sunset.

For a moment, Sunset could hear Twilight’s voice from yesterday. To maintain this power, they had to feed on the negativity and distrust of others. The more of this negative energy they consumed, the stronger their voices became.

Sunset looked out over the rest of the gym and saw nobody else clapping, nobody else smiling. Every student was watching closely and staring daggers at the Rainbooms. In fact, only Adagio, Celestia, and Luna seemed to have anything resembling pleased looks at all.

Sunset swallowed. They were in a lot of trouble.

*** ( MLP ) ***

Sunset climbed down from the catwalk just in time to witness the explosion between Rainbooms. Rarity was dragging her ruined jacket behind her, while Applejack was berating her for even bothering with the costumes. Rainbow Dash was livid about the flurry of confetti while Pinkie Pie was complaining about Fluttershy hiding from a spotlight while they were on a stage. Everyone was yelling except for Twilight who was looking stricken at the notebook in her hands.

“Please, everyone,” Sunset rose her voice over the fight. “At least you sounded better than most of the other bands out there, and Celestia and Luna actually stood and applauded. I’m sure you’ll at make it to the next round.”

“It won’t matter if we don’t get our act together,” said Rainbow Dash.

“No, it won’t matter unless we get the counter-spell ready!” said Applejack. “We’re not here to win.” She turned to Rarity. “Or to look good.”

Rarity crossed her arms, said “Humph!” and then turned away.

“We have to win a little to even get to the finals,” said Rainbow Dash.

Sunset shook her head. “Why don’t you all find some place to practice where the Dazzlings can’t hear you and I’ll keep an eye on things here?” She looked around. “When the next round starts I’ll let you know where you’ve been assigned.”

“Right,” said Twilight and she led the band off the stage and through the doors of the gym.

Sunset watched them leave and then turned to scan the gym. The students weren’t looking quite so antagonistic between acts, though a fair share of nasty glances were made toward Trixie as she and her band began setting up. The Dazzlings were nowhere to be seen.

Sunset walked over to the judging desk where the Principal and Vice Principal were sitting while keeping an eye out for the troublemakers’ return. When she stood in front of them, she smiled as kindly as she could.

“Principal Celestia,” said Sunset. “I have a, uh, concern.”

“Hello, Sunset Shimmer,” said Celestia. “What’s bothering you?”

Sunset had to mentally restrain herself from giving the principal the litany of things that were actually bothering her and instead stuck to the script she’d composed in her head.

“There was a lot of movement of stage lighting during the last performance,” said Sunset. “I’m concerned that with the narrow catwalks and heavy lights that someone is going to get hurt. Maybe you shouldn’t let students up there for the rest of the performances.”

Celestia hummed and put a finger to her chin, then looked to Vice Principal Luna. “I don’t think students should have been up there to begin with,” said Celestia.

“Only the drama club should have any permission,” said Luna. “If other students are up there it’s against the rules.” She stood up and gathered the folders sitting on the table in front of her. “I will observe the rest of the acts from backstage to make sure no students are up there without permission.”

“Oh, but what about judging?” asked Celestia.

“I can hear quite well from back stage, sister,” said Luna with a smirk. “Besides, the safety of our students will take priority over this fundraiser.” She nodded to Celestia, then to Sunset, and then walked away.

Sunset thanked Celestia and then turned to leave.

“Sunset Shimmer,” Celestia said just as Sunset had taken a step. The student turned back. “Is there something else going on that I should know about?”

“Something else?” asked Sunset, coyly.

“I know that you had a problem with the Dazzlings earlier, I hope that this isn’t an effort to trouble them somehow,” said Celestia.

Sunset shook her head. “I’m not doing anything underhanded. I only want to make sure everyone gets a chance to play fairly and safely.”

“Very well,” said Celestia. “I hope I don’t find out you’ve been interfering with any of the bands.”

“You won’t,” said Sunset. She backed away a few paces and then turned to walk towards the doors by the stage. She hoped that was enough to avoid the types of sabotage that was going on in the last song as she wasn’t particularly keen on falling from the ladder.

Once she got back near the doors she heard the announcement that Trixie’s band was up next. She turned and leaned against the bleachers to watch and listen. Less than a minute later, the Dazzlings walked back in.

Sunset debated on showing her hand but it was pretty obvious to her that there was little mystery anymore.

“You’re never going to get away with this,” said Sunset as she stepped out from the shadows. “You should just stop now.”

The three Dazzlings turned and looked at her. They appeared neither surprised nor anything other than pleased.

“Why won’t we? Because you didn’t?” asked Adagio.

Sunset frowned. They definitely knew.

Adagio laughed. “Oh, yes, we’ve learned all about you, Sunset Shimmer. The diva who would be queen but was conquered by her own magic.”

“Seems you bit off more than you could chew,” said Aria. “How bitter you must be now.”

“I’m not, I’ve learned from my mistakes,” said Sunset. “Trying to manipulate with power is wrong.”

“Says who?” asked Adagio. “Seems to me only those without power seem to believe such a thing. And in my experience, those without power pose no threat to us.”

“Friendship can turn even the powerless into a mighty force,” said Sunset confidently.

“And where are those friends now, hmm?” asked Aria. “Leaving you alone while they go off and have all the fun?”

“Why aren’t you in the band, then?” asked Adagio. “Where they worried nobody would come see them play if you were there?”

Sunset swallowed. She knew her reputation was crap at this school, it was just part of the fallout from the Fall Formal. She wished things would get better, but knew that a few months of being nicer wasn’t going to undo three years of manipulation. Still, her friends weren’t like that, they trusted her now.

Though, they didn’t really ask her to join again after that first time. Maybe they were hoping Sunset would forget the offer.

“Seems we’ve hit a nerve,” said Adagio with a satisfied smirk.

“Aww, too bad!” said Sonata. “So sad!”

“So, since we’re being so honest with each other,” said Adagio as she crossed her arms. “Why not tell me what makes you and your girls so special? Magic is rare in this world and that tired script about friendship tells me you aren’t too far removed from Equestria.”

Sunset bit her lip. She searched her memory for the right thing to say that wouldn’t give away the whole plan. She thought of Twilight and the words came unbidden. “The magic of friendship doesn’t just exist in Equestria. It’s everywhere.”

Aria laughed. “Now where have I heard that before?”

Adagio frowned. “So Star Swirl the Bearded’s legacy still lives.” She looked much less pleased now. “How wonderful.”

“While that might be true,” said Aria. “In this world that magic isn’t quite so appetizing. You’re obviously from Equestria. I assume your little friends are too?”

Sunset bit her lip and said nothing.

“Aww, nothing more to say?” said Aria.

Adagio turned away from Sunset. “You’re welcome to keep trying to stop us,” she said over her shoulder. “But few have ever been able to stand against us at full power. You’re better off just giving up and leaving. We don’t want loser feelings anyway.” She started walking away. Aria laughed again and followed.

Sunset grit her teeth in frustration but then noticed Sonata still here, staring at her with a blank expression.

“What?” spat Sunset.

Sonata frowned sadly. “Star Swirl,” she said softly. “I-Is he—“

“Sonata!” snapped Aria. “We’re almost up.”

Sonata flinched and then smiled lazily. She spun on her foot and then chased after Adagio and Aria.

Sunset felt tense as she let them go. She had meant to get information out of them to figure out exactly what they planned to gain from this, but she got distracted by her own problems and possibly exposed vital information. At least she learned that they’d found out all about the Fall Formal, and possibly Twilight’s role in it. That meant much of their secrecy had probably already been lost. The only hope was that they hadn’t figured out that they had a counter spell that might work against their influence.

At least, Sunset hoped they had a counter spell. She certainly wasn’t planning to just give up.

Rainbow Dash paced anxiously about as the rest of the girls sat backstage listening to Trixie Lulamoon and her band play. That evening the stage by the football fields would showcase the final showdown of the Battle of the Bands. It had already been determined that the Dazzlings would be in that showdown, and Sunset Shimmer was sure their growing power had made that a certainty. But their opponent was still to be named. Trixie’s performance would influence the result, but just as much as the Rainbooms.

“Alright, gang, this is the semi-finals,” said Rainbow Dash, turning to face her team and Sunset. “We need to knock their socks off.”

“Um, I was just wondering,” said Fluttershy. “We haven’t played any of my songs yet—“

“We gotta do ‘Awesome As I Wanna Be’,” declared Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy sighed and rolled her eyes. Sunset reached out and patted her on the shoulder. They shared a look and Fluttershy nodded and smiled.

“Is the counter spell ready?” asked Sunset, which was almost a formality at this point as she knew they still hadn’t managed to summon the magic during practice. The awkward squeak that came out of Twilight Sparkle seemed to confirm it.

“Don’t worry,” said Applejack, who was looking at an increasingly disheveled Twilight. “Finals aren’t until tonight. We’ll get in a little more practice before we’re supposed to hit the stage. We won’t let you down!”

Twilight looked a little like a deer in the headlights as Applejack’s statement received a round of nods and agreements. “You won’t let me down,” she said softly. “But I’m not sure—“

The applause drowned out Twilight’s sentence as Trixie’s band concluded their song. The cheers were loud and enthusiastic and each clap was like pin pricks on the skins of the Rainbooms because they were acutely aware that they were not hearing any for their performances.

Whether it was due to the Dazzlings’ influence or not, they were positively reviled. It was a stressful situation to be in for many members of the band. Rarity in particular seemed to be on a short fuse that not even the most elaborate costumes could ease. Pinkie Pie looked to be physically restraining herself from throwing confetti or cream pies every second she was on stage looking back at an ocean of frowns. Fluttershy barely spoke anymore and the two sentences a moment ago were the best they could hope for all day.

In fact, the only person who had gotten used to the near constant unspoken looks of distaste was Sunset Shimmer and she was the only one not on stage during the performances. It hardly seemed fair.

It also seemed incredibly bizarre that they were the only ones getting this treatment. None of the other bands had received the cold should the way the Rainbooms had. Maybe it was because the Dazzlings suspected they were Equestrian. Maybe it was because they spoke out so obviously during the pre-battle party. Maybe it was some facet of the Dazzlings’ long term plan that they still had no idea about. Anything could be possible and it was driving Sunset crazy.

“You guys are up,” said Sunset just loud enough to be heard. “Don’t let them get to you, you just need to impress Celestia and Luna.”

The band nodded drolly for the most part. Rainbow Dash was the only one with her head held high as they walked on stage to replace Trixie. The purple-suited magician sneered at Rainbow Dash as they passed and Sunset turned away to avoid adding to the band’s troubles. She didn’t want her own history with Trixie to invite any additional bullying on her friends.

Spike stood next to Sunset and cheered loudly. “Knock ‘em dead, Rainbooms!” he yelled. Twilight turned and offered a smile back at Spike and nodded.

Sunset wrung her hands as she stood and watched. Nearby, Luna walked over and stood by the ladders up to the catwalks. She shared a brief, somewhat bored look with Sunset and then focused her attention on the stage.

It was clear from early in the competition that the Dazzlings had influenced Luna and Celestia with their magic, but the extent of that influence was unknown to Sunset. Did they only do what they were told now or were they given directives to shape the competition to their advantage. Was the Rainbooms victories a result of instruction or were they allowed within the framework of impulses the Principal and Vice Principal were stuck within.

Sunset stepped closer to Luna and smiled at her. “H-how have you been, uh, sleeping, um, recently?” she asked awkwardly.

Luna slowly looked at Sunset and it almost appeared she was looking through the student. “That’s not something we should discuss right now, Sunset Shimmer,” she said calmly. Then she turned her eyes back towards the Rainbooms.

Sunset just felt unsettled as the Rainbooms began playing. Sure enough, they were playing what Sunset would consider Rainbow Dash’s personal ballad: Awesome As I Wanna Be. It was a guitar-heavy song extolling the unparalleled virtues of, sure enough, a guitar player. It was entirely possible that Rainbow Dash’s head would swell to take up the whole stage by the end of the song.

With a sigh, Sunset looked around to see what was happening out in the audience. Again, most of the students seemed to be enduring this performance. Nobody except Celestia seemed happy.

Sunset looked back to judge the reactions of the Rainbooms but couldn’t get past Rainbow Dash’s furious guitar playing. All the lights were pointed at her, nobody else was singing, it was all the Rainbow Dash show and she was smiling.

Then Sunset saw the glow start on the sides of Rainbow’s head and at the fringes of her hair.

“N-no!” Sunset said too softly to be heard over the song. Rainbow Dash was going to transform! She was going to reveal their lingering Elements of Harmony magic to the Dazzlings and possibly ruin their attempt to use the counter spell at the finals.

Glancing left and right, Sunset tried to think of something to do to stop her before the ears and tail formed. If the wings appeared they were sunk. Luna was standing just behind her, blocking the catwalk, and the sound mixing equipment was at the front of the stage. Sunset had access to nothing that could shut down Rainbow Dash’s transformation.

The glow started to form two ears on Rainbow Dash’s head. Sunset panicked. She had no time left. She did the only thing she could think of. She wasn’t really part of the band. Few people really even liked her. Everyone else had decided to hate that Rainbooms for some reason. She could be just one of the rest of the students for a moment and, and—

And sabotage them.

Sunset ran forward as fast as she could. She distantly heard the shouts of both Luna and Spike behind her, but she ignored it as she sprinted. She took four steps beyond the curtains and then leapt at Dash before the magic solidified into the two ears and long tail on Rainbow’s head.

“Don’t!” she yelled as she dove, as meaningless as her cry would be. She impacted Rainbow square in the chest and they toppled down to the stage and landed in a heap, sending the guitar flying and causing Sunset’s head to smack the stage hard enough for her to see stars.

She clutched her temples as the world spun for a moment and the music stopped. She blinked heavily and tried to focus. Eventually the world sharpened and she saw Rainbow Dash looking at her like she – well, it was a look she was used to. She stood up and offered to help Rainbow up as well but was ignored. She turned and expected to face the renewed hatred and distain from the audience.

What she got instead was much, much worse.

“Now there’s the bad girl we love to hate!” called out – of all people – Flash Sentry from the audience with an evil grin.

“It’s about time she did something wreck this!” said Octavia who seemed pleased but angry at the same time.

“The real Sunset Shimmer is back!” said someone actually sounded happy.

“N-no,” said Sunset. “It wasn’t like that.”

There was a mixture of boos combined with an unsettling cheer in the back of the gymnasium. She ran from the stage and considered simply running forever. Unfortunately, Luna was back stage and stood in front of her. She didn’t even say anything, just looked disappointed at her.

Rage flared up in Sunset and she tried to stamp it down. She just couldn’t get over Luna -- who is acting so out of character thanks to the Dazzlings and isn’t even aware of how odd she’s behaving – she of all people is giving her accusatory looks. Sunset was trying to help the plan! Luna is just caught in the thrall! How dare she?

How dare anyone expect this from her? She’s spent months trying to be better! Was it all for nothing?

Luna turned away and headed out the door as the rest of the Rainbooms caught up to her. Sunset was just barely keeping her temper in check when she turned to face them.

“What was that all about?” demanded Rainbow Dash. She looked both baffled and irritated. At least Sunset could sympathize with that feeling.

“You were showing your magic!” said Sunset imploringly. “The Dazzlings were going to see it. I didn’t know what else to do!” She waved her hands in the direction of the stage.

“Ugh!” scoffed Rarity. “Close the curtains? Unplug her amp? Give us a chance to deal with the situation?”

Sunset stared at her. They were on stage with Rainbow Dash and they didn’t notice? How much time was Sunset expected to give them to handle the obvious fact that the magic was showing? They weren’t dealing with the situation any better in her mind.

“I was just trying to help,” said Sunset with thinly veiled frustration.

“Yeah?” said Rainbow Dash. “Well, you didn’t.” She turned away annoyed.

Sunset felt her anger click up another notch.

“None of this would’ve happened if you hadn’t been showin off!” said Applejack to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow laughed. “What was I supposed to do when you were–“

Trixie stepped into back stage and interrupted Rainbow before she could get to the heart of her criticism. “Good show, Rain-brooms,” she snickered. “I especially liked the part where Sunset Shimmer, in a fit of jealous rage, knocked out Rainbow Dash mid-guitar solo!”

“Jealous rage?” said Sunset loudly. “I cannot believe this. I’m not jealous!”

“If you say so,” said Trixie. Her smile was infuriating. Sunset regretted never fighting back against Trixie’s bullying. She could think of, right now, at least six ways to turn Trixie’s life into a living—

“Ooh!” cooed Trixie. “Looks like they’ve already decided who’ll be moving onto the finals! I’m guessing it wasn’t too difficult a decision.”

Rainbow Dash grumbled loudly as she walked over to the edge of the stage to listen to Celestia’s announcement. Sunset followed to hear the announcement as a formality since it was obvious where it was going to go. The rest of the Rainbooms plus Spike followed closely behind.

Celestia was standing by her judging table and had now been joined by Luna. They were both looking somewhat vacant as they addressed the gymnasium. In fact, they were slightly swaying as they stood almost like—

Sunset’s eyes locked onto Adagio standing nearby, her mouth open and very obviously singing towards the Principal and Vice Principal. Her voice was soft but just barely audible over the crowd. A soothing note that shifted up and down with the swaying of the teachers.

“The band that will be joining the Dazzlings in tonight’s finals is,” said Celestia with a vapid smile. She paused and Adagio’s singing faded away. The Principal’s eyes cleared somewhat as she blinked and seemed to realize where she was. She looked at Luna who looked back at her with a nod.

Sunset’s eyes widened. “Oh, my, they’re gonna—“

“The Rainbooms!” said Celestia loudly.

The collective ‘what’ from the crowd was also a little deafening.

“Are you joking?” yelled Trixie. She balled her fists and stormed off the stage, clearly about to have a very tense conversation with the Principal.

“D-did they just say ‘The Rainbooms?” said Pinkie Pie.

“This isn’t over!” Trixie said over her shoulder while waving her fist back at the girls.

Celestia brushed past Trixie and walked over to the Rainbooms. “Congratulations, girls. You deserve it.”

Rainbow Dash seemed stunned into silence.

“Seriously?” said Pinkie Pie. “We didn’t even finish our—“

Rainbow Dash recovered quickly enough to nudge Pinkie with her elbow and cut her off. She looked delirious.

Adagio walked up in Celestia’s shadow and suddenly had Aria and Sonata with her. They all looked very pleased with themselves. “See you at tonight’s big show, Rainbooms. We are really looking forward to it.”

“Yeah?” said Rainbow Dash. “Well, not as much as we are!”

The students swelled up around them and were clearly upset, even more so than when the Rainbooms were playing before. Sunset started to get a little nervous standing in this crowd.

“Guys, we should go,” said Sunset nervously. But Applejack had already started pushing the band back out towards the exit. Sunset followed while the students booed them out the door.

Sunset walked solemnly behind the rest of the Rainbooms as they headed towards the newly renovated stage for the finals. They had eluded the mob – or it simply gave up – and eventually they returned to the gym to get their order. They would play first before the Dazzlings, and then the victor of the contest would play a concluding set of music followed by spot performances from selected bands throughout the competition.

The arrangement reminded Sunset that originally this was supposed to be a fundraising event to pay for after-school activities. Only since the Dazzlings arrived did it become a fight for – apparently – life or death.

Much of Sunset’s anger had burned off and become yawning curiosity. They should not have advanced. Trixie clearly gave a superior performance, or at the very least finished her song while the Rainbooms was really giving a solo act centered on Rainbow Dash and even that was interrupted after the first chorus.

How they advanced was less of a mystery, because it was obvious to Sunset that Adagio has been influencing Celestia and Luna. But the question was why. Why did Adagio want the Rainbooms in the finals? What was gained by competing against them? What were they really after?

Because Twilight had said the Sirens fed off of negative emotions, and if that is all that the Dazzlings were doing – brewing up conflict – well, they’ve got plenty already. Trixie versus the Dazzlings would have just as much conflict as a Rainbooms versus the Dazzlings, and at least Trixie earned it.

Of course, the idea that one of the two finalists cheated to get there might also stoke the flames of everyone’s emotions and provide more... what? Energy? Whatever it was the Dazzling’s ate?

But to what end? Sunset couldn’t figure out what stage two of their plan was. Would they come back here every year and do this to get fed? Would they move to a larger stage now that they had eaten? Would they try to dominate the country? The world?

Would they try to get back to Equestria?

Sunset was worried, deeply worried for both her own world and Equestria. They were in a conflict they were losing and they weren’t aware of even the stakes or what the real purpose of the game was.

They arrived at the stage and found some equipment already setup. The repair crew must have finished while the semi-finals were going on because the stage was cleaned, lights were set, and there were benches set up in front for an audience of hundreds. Everything was even wired for power.

Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack had carried their instruments with them from the semi-finals, and a drum kit had already been setup on the stage. Pinkie took to the drums and began adjusting the bass drum to her liking, while the rest of the girls pulled out various cables and tested them in the center stage. Sunset helped wire up the microphones.

They had done all of this quietly, none of them working up the nerve to speak during the flight from the gym, nor the sheepish return. Finally, among the various tuning notes from Rainbow Dash and Applejack, Fluttershy spoke up.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” she said. “We were awful. Doesn’t anyone else think it’s strange we were the ones who made it to the finals?”

The all looked up and seemed bashful in their acknowledgement of this fact, but none of them spoke up.

“Very strange,” came a familiar voice. Sunset turned to see Trixie standing to one side of the stage. She was leaning on a large lever and looking smug again.

“What are you doing here, Trixie?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Pretty sure the losers are supposed to be up there in the cheap seats.”

Sunset put a hand to her forehead. She couldn’t believe Rainbow could still be so boisterous when they all doubted their victory here.

Trixie smiled. “The great and powerful Trixie is the most talented girl at Canterlot High. It is I who deserves to be in the finals. And I will not be denied!” She snapped her fingers and then dramatically leaned to the side, pulling the large lever she was on to the right.

The ground suddenly opened up beneath them and Sunset felt herself in freefall. A moment later she struck the floor and then felt a microphone land in the small of her back. The accompanying noise let her know that they had all fallen into this hole and the sound of plucked string and clanging metal said some of the instruments followed them down.

She picked her head up from the debris and saw the yawning opening in the stage floor with Trixie’s satisfied face beyond. She snapped off a salute.

“See you never!” she said. Then the doors swung closed, sealing the hole in the floor of the stage leaving them in near darkness.

“What the—“ started Applejack as she picked herself up. She stood, eased out a crick in her back, looked up and then looked down at the rest of the band. “What in tarnation is a door like that even doing there?” she shouted.

Rainbow Dash spotted a door and immediately ran towards it, dropping her shoulder, and throwing herself at full speed. She made an impressive slamming sound and ended up rebounded on the floor and rubbing her arm.

“Ow,” she said.

“Well, this is grand,” said Rarity as she got up, picked a random place along the wall and leaned there. She began studying her nails.

Sunset looked around the small room under the stage. There were a few pieces of equipment and supplies here -- a couple planks of wood that wouldn’t hold anyone’s weight, some boxes of screws, a sandbag, two pails of paint – but nothing that jumped out at her as a solution to get out of a locked room. Even the walls were sturdy and reinforced, in great shape all things considered, they wouldn’t be forcing their way out through the side.

She sat down on one of the two sandbags and tried to figure out how this now figured into the all but unknown Dazzlings plan for victory.

Rainbow got back onto her feet and made another go at the door – with similar results.

WHAM!

“Ow.”

Sunset had her arms wrapped around her legs and was resting her cheek on her knees. It had gotten very hot in the small room a little while ago and then, as the concert started above them, it started to get cool. She wouldn’t have thought that would be the case, with the lights and equipment generating heat above them, but apparently there was a breeze out that night and it was cooling the otherwise uninsulated room quite rapidly.

WHAM!

“Ow.”

She looked again at Rainbow Dash’s futile efforts to break the door down. She was likely to be so injured by her efforts she wouldn’t be able to play the guitar for a week. It wasn’t going to matter much, since Trixie was playing above them taking their spot on the finals.

The hours had left little for Sunset to do but wonder how they could have done this better. The existence of this trap seemed to imply that the Dazzlings were playing at a completely different level than they were. The door was bolted shut from the outside, the trap door had the release lever removed from the inside. Someone – and Sunset found it hard to believe it was Trixie – had prepared this room for prisoners. Adagio was the obvious answer. Which meant they had influenced the repair crew long before the semi-finals.

Which mean they wanted the Rainbooms to think they were going to go to the finals, only to have them get trapped down here.

Sunset hit her head against the wall behind her repeatedly. WHY? She just couldn’t figure out how this all fit together. Why now? Why the Rainbooms? Was it because of her? Or Twilight? Or something else?

WHAM!

“Ow.”

“Give it up, Rainbow Dash,” said Applejack, finally. “You’ve been tryin’ for hours. It’s not gonna open.”

Twilight Sparkle sighed. “It doesn’t even matter that we’re trapped down here. I don’t think the counter spell was going to work anyway.”

Applejack looked surprised. “Of course it would have worked, Twilight!” She hesitated and then folded her arms. “Assumin’ a certain band member didn’t try to hog the spotlight the whole time we were tryin’ to play it!”

Rainbow Dash rubbed her arm as she got up and scowled at Applejack. “Hey! If you wanna tell Twilight she’s getting a little too caught up trying to be the new leader of this band, you don’t have to be all cryptic about it.”

Sunset kind of wished she still had Rainbow Dash’s super-human ability to lie to herself.

“She was talking about you, Rainbow Dash,” said Rarity from the corner. She was quietly preening in this dark, clearly trying to take personal control in a situation where everything else had gone out of sorts.

“Me?” asked Rainbow Dash. “I’m just trying to make sure my band rocks as hard as it needs to!”

Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy all perked up. “Our band!”

The four girls started actively complaining about the band, the situation, and just about everything. It quickly became petty.

Sunset turned to look at Twilight but she was cowering in the corner, trying to bore holes in to the sheet music in her hand with her stare alone. “But why wasn’t it working?” she was saying. “I should know what to do. How can I not know what to do? How could I have f-failed?”

Sunset heard the music above them end and a new performance begin. She hung her head. She had every question, and she felt like she had the right questions too, but none of the vital answers. If only she had some idea she was confident about she could have helped, but in the end she wondered if she just got in the way. All of her friends were fighting now over something that’s supposed to be fun, and she couldn’t figure out why.

Her arms suddenly felt tired and she rested them on her lap. She probably would never figure out why. That was the worst part of all of it because all she wanted since the start of this whole ordeal was just to keep her friends safe! Instead all she’d proven was that she was just as terrible at ruling the school as she was at protecting it.

Sunset’s legs ached so she stretched them out on the floor. She wondered if it was even worth it to try. Was there even a future worth pursuing at this point? Who did she owe for her turn of heart? Shouldn’t she just give up at this point?

“I write songs! You just never let us play any of them!”

Sunset looked up at Fluttershy’s voice. She was shouting at Rainbow Dash and looking angry. Rainbow was shouting back at her, and Rarity, and Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. They looked honestly enraged with each other.

Fluttershy wasn’t like that. Sunset of all people knew for sure. You had to push her very far to get her to be anything other than nice and optimistic. Even then, she had to be at her breaking point to start showing—

Negative emotions?

Something brushed against Sunsets magical defenses. She tried to summon her will and push back but felt fatigue drag on her. She tried again and endured the feelings of tiredness to see what she was feeling.

The green miasma appeared out of nowhere and filled the room and floated up through the cracks in the ceiling onto the stage. It was everywhere. Sunset’s eyes widened. No, it hadn’t appeared out of nowhere, it was coming from the Rainbooms! The green energy was draining out of each of them and flowing up to the stage.

Where the Dazzlings were now playing.

Sunset realized she hadn’t felt the magic from the Dazzlings in a while, even when she knew they were using it. During the semi-finals with Celestia and Luna, and before that with their own performances. When had she stopped feeling it?

The pieces fell into place in Sunset’s mind. They were after this energy. Not just anyone’s energy, but the Rainbooms. And why were they after that energy in particular? The answer was obvious: because of the Elements of Harmony. The magic left over – that they used to transform – was also magic the Dazzlings wanted.

Star Swirl sent them to this world for a reason. Twilight said it was because their magic wouldn’t work, but clearly it did, it had since they met them. It was the reason Twilight came to help. Sunset just didn’t question that fact because Twilight was the one to tell them, but if that wasn’t the whole story, if it wasn’t because magic didn’t work here, then why was this world important?

Negative emotion, concluded Sunset. Because they needed the emotion to power their magic and the people of this world just didn’t supply the same energy. It’s not that they couldn’t use their magic, they couldn’t recharge it. So why now after a thousand—

Because of Sunset. Because she brought Equestrian magic here, magic that could be used by the Dazzlings. Because she brought Twilight here!

Sunset ignored the gnawing feeling in her stomach at the idea that this was, once again, her fault, and stood up.

“Stop!” she shouted. “Everyone stop! This is what they’ve been after all along! They’re feeding off the magic inside you!” She ran over to the arguing girls and stepped between them.

Applejack looked at Sunset disdainfully. Sunset tried to convince herself it was because of the Dazzlings’ influence. “How can they be using our magic?” she asked. “It’s the magic of friendship.”

“Ever since you started this band, you’ve been letting little things get to you,” said Sunset. “And the Dazzlings have been right there trying to force you into situations where those problems would get worse.” She sighed.

“I know I’m still new to this whole ‘friendship’ thing,” continued Sunset. “But I know that if you don’t work out even the smallest problems right at the start, the magic of friendship can be turned into something else. In this case, into a weapon the Dazzlings can use against us.”

Twilight stood up from where she was huddling before and walked over. “She’s right,” she said. “I can’t believe all this tension was happening right under my nose and I didn't realize it. I'm supposed to be the one with all the answers.” She shook her head. “And all I've done since I got here is let you down.”

Sunset put a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “Nobody can have all the answers,” she said. She smiled. “That’s what Star Swirl would say. But he would also say that you can count on your friends to help you find them.” She felt a little embarrassed. “If you give them the chance.”

Twilight smiled back at Sunset, then her eyes widened. “I think I know what we have to do.” She looked at the door. “But first we gotta get out of here!”

Twilight led the charge and they all slammed up against the door, pushing hard against it and straining the frame. Despite the group effort the door only creaked. They all backed up to take another go at it.

At that moment, the door bowed on its own and then snapped in half as it blew out.

Sunset stared with her mouth ajar. In the dust from the door, Spike walked in.

“Spike!” said Twilight.

“Sorry I took so long,” said Spike as he waved everyone out from under the stage. When they emerged from the dark they saw the door was tied to a chain and the chain was hooked to the bumper of strange looking car. In the driver’s seat was the blue haired girl with large sunglasses that was Vinyl Scratch.

“I had to find somebody that wasn’t under the sirens’ spell to help me get you out,” continued Spike.

Twilight frowned. “Why isn’t she under their spell?”

Vinyl Scratch stood up on her seat and leaned over her windshield. She tapped her headphones.

“She never takes off those headphones,” said Spike.

Sunset grimaced, and wondered if anyone else in Equestrian history realized they could have defeated the Sirens if they had simply invested in earplugs.

They walked up to the ridge overlooking the concert grounds. There were hundreds of students and members of the community in attendance, all staring in a dazed rapture at the persistent vocal notes made by the Dazzlings on the stage. They were a good distance away from the students and stage but this was the best position to see everyone in. Unfortunately, they needed everyone to hear them.

“How are we supposed to play over them from up here?” asked Rainbow Dash. She looked around. “We don’t have a stage, or amps or even any drums.”

“Gotcha covered,” said Spike confidently. He then waved to Vinyl Scratch, who began driving her car up the hill and then parked it behind the girls. With a sudden grinding sound, the car began opening up revealing oversized speakers and LED displays and generally unfolding into a huge DJ’s station with the driver in the center seat.

“Uh, drum?” said Pinkie after a minute.

Spike opened the ‘trunk’ of the ‘car’ – Sunset was skeptical these terms should be used with this machine -- and revealed a disassembled drum kit. He began pulling out the pieces and handing them to Pinkie. With Vinyl’s help the three of them began assembling the kit.

“So, which version of the counter spell will we play?” said Rarity.

Twilight shook her head. “I don’t think it matters what we play, so long as we play it together as friends.”

“In that case,” said Rainbow Dash. “I know just the song.” She walked over to Fluttershy and put her arm around her. “Fluttershy has written a great one.”

Fluttershy smiled and blushed, then nodded.

“Well, if we’re going to save the world,” said Applejack. “I think we should do it in style. Rarity?”

“Ooh! I thought you’d never ask!” Rarity dashed off with a gleeful smile.

Sunset looked at everyone working to prepare for the song. They were working together, getting ready to fight together. She felt suddenly distant and ashamed for her role in everything.

“Twilight,” said Sunset quietly. The lead singer turned as she was studying the lyrics Fluttershy had handed her. “This is my fault.”

“What?” said Twilight as she lowered the sheet music.

“The Dazzlings only knew about you because of what I did during the Fall Formal,” said Sunset, looking at the ground. “Everything I did with your magic was just a beacon to them and I drew them here like moths to a flame. I’ve done nothing but make trouble for everyone.”

Twilight stepped closer and put a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “But you also helped us, and you’re still helping,” she said. Sunset looked up at her.

“You’re going to make mistakes,” said Twilight. “I’m still making mistakes and I’m a princess now! At some point you have to forgive your current-self for the things your past-self did. You’re not the demon anymore.”

“What am I now, then?” said Sunset.

Twilight’s eyes sparkled and she wrapped her arm around Sunset and hugged her. “You’re a friend.”

Sunset felt frozen in the embrace and was unsure what to feel or what to do. Was Princess Twilight Sparkle actually hugging her? Eventually she managed to bring her arm around and hug back, but a second later Twilight stepped away. The princess’ hand slid down Sunset’s arm and took her hand tightly.

“And we’re going to fix this,” said Twilight. “Together.”

Sunset looked at the princess and nodded.

“I’ve got outfits!” called Rarity as she ran up the hill pushing a cart of clothes.

Twilight let go of Sunset’s hand and headed towards the arriving costumes. The rest of the girls clustered around to pick out clothes and quickly change in the refuge behind Vinyl’s DJ/Speaker/Car/Jambox thing. Sunset didn’t bother to even look, she knew Rarity had never taken her measurements for these outfits and probably hadn’t thought of including her.

Sunset turned back towards the stage where the Dazzlings were performing. She felt the tingle again, the Siren magic brushing against her own barriers. They had gotten strong and as she watched, they transformed and grew ears and wings slightly more fitting their natural hippocampi forms. Sunset swallowed. They needed to hurry.

“Alright,” said Twilight once everyone was outfitted and standing on the ridge. Pinkie was behind her drum set and twirling her drumsticks in anticipation. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity were holding their instruments tightly. Sunset stood to the side, she had been given a microphone and a copy of the lyrics, but she had never practiced, and she wasn’t sure if she’d disrupt the magic if she was out of tune. She held the microphone tightly and resigned herself to whisper.

“Let’s do this.”