Sunset couldn't be even more embarrassed and ashamed of herself. Once Trixie's performance had end abruptly, the teachers quickly went up and caught everyone who were on the scaffolding. They pulled Snips, Snails and Sunset down to the ground and became surrounded by strong cold eyes. The Rainbooms watched on nearby them as they were confused by what has happened, but Twilight most of all as she had just returned to the gym. Snips and Snails were frighten out of their wit ends, but Sunset looked more defeated then anything else.
Celestia asked all of them: "What were you doing up in the scaffoldings!?"
Snips and Snails began to stumble between themselves. They almost sort of want to admit what they did, but were just too scared to come out and say it. Eventually Snails sorrowfully finally admits: "... We were up there sabotaging Trixie's performance."
"Do you know how much trouble you all are in?" Celestia sternly asked.
Fumbling a bit, Snips replies: "Bu-Bu-Bu... But We Didn't Want That Light To Fall! We just want to mess with the direction a little bit."
Luna then responds: "But the light wouldn't have fallen if you hadn't gone to mess with it!"
Sunset glimpsed at Snips and Snails and saw how timid and frighten they were by the principals. Feeling pity towards them, Sunset says to the principals: "Don't give them too much trouble. I'm the one who's mostly to blame." Everyone in the gym became shocked, Twilight most of all. When the principals looked at her and said what, Sunset explains: "I had gone up there to sabotage the performance... and well... Snips and Snails did do what they wanted..."
As the principals was left bewildered over Sunset's vague confession, everyone were left stunned. However, after a moment to think it over, the students soon became not that surprised that Sunset "did it". Everyone began to loudly whisper and say how they feel.
"I'm not surprised. She did try to take over the school."
"Take Over The School!? More like take over the world then anything else!"
"Let's not forget that she was an awful bully before hand!"
"And look what she try to do! Tried to dropping a light on someone's head."
"Despicable."
"I don't know what she is even here!? Everybody here hates her!"
Soon, the crowd was passing out loud and spiteful whispers about Sunset. Some even made a few people stop and winced. As Sunset was bombarded with hurtful words in her ears, she did nothing but feel that she deserve it. That is until she heard a particular someone say her name.
"Sunset?"
When she look up, Sunset spotted her "friends" amongst the crowd and they too look not so pleased. Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked disappointed, Rarity looks like she crossed at Sunset while Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy just looked upset. But the person that Sunset really found disheartening to see was Twilight. Twilight's expression was a pool of confusion, disbelief and sadness. Twilight was Sunset's closest, most reliable friend who believed in her the most... and yet she let her down. See them look at her like this put so much strain on Sunset's heart, she couldn't take it anymore.
With tears beginning to leak from her eyes, Sunset said out loud: "I can't be here anymore" and runs off. She manage to get away from the principals, slip through the crowd and escape out to the halls.
As the rest of the students were saying to themselves good riddance, Twilight cry out "SUNSET!" before she chase after her along with Spike. Worrying for Twilight, her friends follow suit too. However, unbeknownst to them, Adagio, Aria and Sonata also follow silently behind them.
_ _ _ _ _
"SUNSET! WAIT UP!"
Twilight was running down the hall along with her trusted Spike, searching anxiously for Sunset Shimmer. Despite leaving just a few seconds behind her, they were having difficulty finding Sunset as she was nowhere in sight. But as Twilight's worry had just reached it's peak, she managed to spot her running down another hall. It was only for a second and she only got a small glimpse of her, but she knew that it was Sunset.
Twilight look down and Spike and she remembers that he is way faster then her. She tell him: "Spike, After Here! You Don't Have To Wait Up For Me!" Spike, understanding her command, nods, barks "Ok" and then runs to Sunset Shimmer.
But suddenly, as Spike had just gone out of sight, Twilight suddenly hear people calling out behind her. "TWILIGHT! WAIT!" When she looked behind her, she saw Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity chasing up to her.
Confused, Twilight slow down and ask them: "Guys!? What is it?"
After they reached her, Rainbow Dash reply to her: "We don't want you running after Sunset."
"WHAT!" yelled and shocked Twilight.
Rarity explains to Twilight: "We know how much you care for her Twilight, but we can see that she is still a bad egg."
Pinkie Pie then adds: "Yeah, why else would she hang around she hang around those evil sirens?"
"Because She Is Just Spying On Them!" Twilight yelled them. "The Only Reason She Is hanging Around Them Is Because She Is Trying To Find Out Their Secrets And A Way For Us To Stop Them!"
But then, as the situation was getting even more heated, a certain group of siren suddenly arrived behind a corner. Holding their red jewel pendants in front of them, they watch as the argument unfolds.
"Did Sunset Tell You That!?" Rainbow Dash yelled/ask Twilight.
"Yes!" Twilight replied
"And You Believed Her!?"
"Yes, Because She Is Our Friend!"
AJ then argues: "Come On Twilight! If she was really our friend, she would be helping us instead of hanging with those no-good varmints!"
Pinkie Pie then sheepishly: "Yeah the last time that I checked; friends would help out other friends instead of varmints."
"Well Have You Been Friends To Her!" Twilight cried back. "Why would she trust the people who don't trust back or give her a second chance!?"
Upon hearing that, her friends stopped and paused. When they thought about it, they can sort of see why Sunset might not have wanted to come to them. Some of them even figured that they might do the same thing if they were in Sunset's shoes. But unbeknownst to them, as Twilight continue to argue, a certain enchanting mist began emanate from them and slowly drift to the siren's pendants.
"Sunset Was The One Who Wanted To Be In The Band, Not Me! I'm No Singer! I'm No Musician! But Sunset... (sniffle) She Wanted To! She Wanted Sing And Play! She Wanted To Perform Along With You Guys And Be Closer! But You Didn't Let Her! (sniffle) Is It Any Wonder She Would Go To The Dazzlings? You were... HORRIBLE FRIENDS"
The scene fall silent and the hall became filled with melancholy and pensive moods. Rainbow Dash, Rarity and the rest of them soon realized what they done and come to regret their actions. Twilight on the other hand also didn't felt too good about what she said herself. It made her remember another horrible time where she yelled and it felt as bad then as it is now.
When the moment became too hard for any of them to bare, Twilight says to them: "Some sorry guys... I need to be alone for awhile." And before any of them could respond, she ran off.
Left alone in the corridor, their consciousness grew heavy on their minds as they reflect upon their actions. They look at each other and see sorrow and regret in all of their faces. Fluttershy sheepishly asks: "Have we really been horrible friends?" And with that, Rainbow Dash lean against a locker, moaned: "Oh Man!" as they all can't deny what they have done.
And unfortunately, the sirens was finishing eating all of the negative fuelled gas from the scene. However, since this came from magically fuelled people, their red gems grew brightest that ever been in a long time and Adagio, Aria and Sonata felt absolutely energized.
"I can't believe Sunset was spying on us" Sonata commented.
Aria respond by saying: "Whatever. I knew she was hiding something."
Adagio then interrupts the two of them and tells them: "Whatever ladies. We got what we came her for and no one can stop us now." The three girls then walk off, leaving the Rainbooms feeling guilty with what they done.
_ _ _ _ _
After being ordered to run on ahead, Spike was running down the hall where he saw Sunset at. However, after a moment of searching, he couldn't find hide nor hair of her anywhere in that corridor. He tried sniffing around the general vicinity to find Sunset's scent, but soon remembers that his nose isn't built got tracking.
But as Spike anxiety grew to the point of hopelessness, he suddenly heard being slammed. Curious, he went and investigate the noise and found a interesting looking door that was properly shut and stairs that goes up onto the roof. Feeling/hoping that Sunset went this way, Spike build up his nerve on climb up the stairs.
When he got to the roof, Spike looked around and hope he could find a her there. Fortunately, Spike managed to find Sunset... standing towards the edge of the building! Worried what she might do, he ran over towards her and began barking out "SUNSET!" to get her to not move.
Sunset, upon hearing Spike's barks, was a startled a little bit and turn around and see him. Surprised, Sunset ask him: "Spike! H-How did you found me?" However, she only saw a worried expression on his little face. She was confused at first, but soon realize the scene that he must be seeing. Embarrassed, Sunset explains: "Oh I'm not... I-I wasn't to do anything!" and steps away from the edge. "... I was just looking up at the sky and... reflecting."
Intrigued, Spike look up to the sky and saw that it was slowly getting dark. The sun was on the horizon and the stars was slowly emerging in the sky. "I guess Sunset was looking at a sunset" he thought to himself.
But then, Sunset felt a sudden ache in her stomach as all of the guilt was swirling inside her. Couldn't take it any longer, she moved further away from the edge and sat by the skylight of the building. Seeing her sulk, Spike went over to her and try to comfort her as best as a young dog could. When she saw him, a sad Sunset pull him in to her arms and began spilling out her feeling on him.
"Oh man Spike, I really blew it. This was my one and only chance to impress everyone, show them that I really changed... but I blew it. I freaking blew it."
As Sunset was on verge of tears, she was ready wallow in her own misery. But then, as she was about to do so, she felt a sudden hand touching against her back. The sudden sensation startled her and caused her to jump. Spike was even knocked off of Sunset. When she look and see who it is, Sunset saw... an interesting looking girl.
She had neon blue hair with light green streak to it. She was wearing a white zipper top and skirt and funky looking purple leggings. However, some of the more distinctive features that were on her was her on-ear headphones, her purple shades and a music note stitched to her skirt. Along with the portable soundboard that she was playing with, she looked one of the contenders for the battle of the bands.
"Sorry! I didn't notice you there" Sunset apologized.
However, the girl didn't say anything. Instead, she swayed her hand to the side, almost like she was saying "It's cool bro."
Sunset was confused, but after searching her mind, she slowly thinks that she saw her before in school. See that she wasn't intimidated, angry or overly upset with being around her, Sunset felt comfortable enough to sit back down beside her. Curious about her, she ask her: "What are you doing up here?"
Again, the girl remained speechless. She then pulled out a photo then show it to Sunset. Looking at it, Sunset saw an elegant looking girl playing a cello. It took her a minute but Sunset realize what this is.
"Is that your friend?" Sunset ask. The girl replied with a silent nod. Sunset found it funny as she see the two girls as total opposites. "What happened to her?"
Lifting a finger, she dropped one photo and reals another. This time, the cello girl appeared angry and cross and looks like she was arguing with someone. It didn't took Sunset long to realize what it means.
"Oh. She's fighting like everybody else in the contest?"
The girl just re-adjust her headphones a began playing her music out loud. Sunset began feeling even more terrible then before as she felt responsible for what happened. But then, as the soft but catchy music was going through her ears, she suddenly felt a sudden urge to express her thoughts... through singing?
Redemption
Is what I really want!
Show them a side of me
That I would like to be!But when it was my time to shine
It all came crashing down.
And within a sea shun,
I am left to drown!Like a phoenix burning bright
In the sky!
The horrible stuff I did
I can not denyI may not know what the future holds
But hear me when I say
That my past does not define me
'Cause my past... is not today
She stopped singing after. Despite being sad and overall depressing, both Spike and the music really felt Sunset's emotions through those lyrics. But then, as Sunset was curling up into a ball, Spike finally came up with a plan to help Sunset. He began barking in front of her to get her notice him and when he did, he started jumping and barking some more.
"What are you doing Spike?" Sunset ask.
However the music girl was quick to get the message. She grabs Sunset attention, she her a(n old) musical showcase poster points to the word "SING!" that was on it. When she finally got the message, she was hesitant. But with Spike's constant insistence and the girl turning up the volume, Sunset reluctantly got up onto her feet and push herself to sing a bit more.
Power
Was all I desired (I desired, all I desired)
But all that grew inside me
Was the darkness I acquired...
It didn't took her long for Sunset to give up singing again. Annoyed by her defeated attitude, Spike managed to got a hold of Sunset's phone and began to mess around with it. As she shouted "Hay!" and try to get it back, he got up a photo with her and Twilight along with the rest of their friends beside them. When she got a closer look at the photo, Sunset remembers the happy moment that happened in the photo and felt compeled enough to sing again.
When I began to fall
And I lost the path ahead
That's when your friendship found me
And it lifted me instead!Like a phoenix burning bright
In the sky!
I'll show there's another side to me
You can't deny!I may not know what the future holds
But hear me when I say
That my past does not define me
'Cause my past is not today!
This time, the verse was a lot more uplifting then last time. But as the girl and Spike was clapping to Sunset's performance, there was a strange feeling within Sunset that she could quite shake. She couldn't quite explain it, but it was like something was trying to get out and she felt energized to do more.
But no more will I be a victim
to everyone's perceptions
I will carve myself an image
that they all will believe in!And even if it's all gone
And I found myself alone
That's when you came and got me
And it felt like I was home
But then, as she was singing, a sudden magical light began to emanate from Sunset. She didn't notice this herself as she was too caught up singing, but both Spike and the girl was awestruck to what was happening. And then certain features suddenly began popping onto Sunset.
Like a phoenix burning bright
In the sky
I'll show there's another side to me
They can't denyI may not know what the future holds
But hear me when I say
That my past does not define me
'Cause my past is not today!
When she was done, Sunset finally got that feeling out of her body. As she felt better and more relaxed, she turn around and see how her "friends" were doing. But when she look at them, she saw them with their mouths hanging up and looked frozen in amazement. She was confused at first, but she realize what was on her. Her ears grew longs, her hair had a pony-tail at the end of it now and she was surrounded with a mystical, magical glow. It took her a moment to see herself, but Sunset was in a ponified state like how her friends are in when they sing.
"I-I-I... I Can't Believe This!" Sunset thought out loud. "How is this possible? How did this happen?" Sunset thought that the reason that her friends could transform was because some of the Element of Magic's power got left behind in them. The last she used the same power, she turned into a she-demon. And if it is the Element's magic, she is left wondering why it turned her into this now?
However, Sunset's questions were soon drowned out by Spike's and the music girl's applause. "Woo-Hoo! Way To Go Sunset!" Spike barked. The girl remain to be silent but gave her a cool thumbs up. Despite not being a lot of people (and technically one's a dog), Sunset was overjoyed that people were cheering for her.
Then, as felt like they had enough on the roof, Sunset suddenly got a text message on her phone. She was hoping it might have been Twilight one other of her friends. But when she see who it is, her expression dropped a bit when she saw that it was Adagio.
Adagio: "Sunset, if you are no longer sore about what happened in the gym, meet us by the entrance way for backstage. We have a few things to discuss."
Sonata: "Hi Sunset! :)"
Adagio: "Get off the phone Sonata!"
When she read the message, a certain anxiety was welling up inside of her. However, when she look at Spike and the girl smiling at her, she felt like she can handle them now.
