The lights dimmed around the room, with a faint beat pumping in the background that gradually increased the bass with each beat of the speakers. One powerful spotlight shone down on the CMCs, who all looked out at their crowd with confidence. As a smoke machine puffed from behind the curtains, the girls finally broke the semi-silence.
"Alright, girls." Applebloom put her hands on both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo while she tried her hardest to slur and transform her voice into something similar to Adagio's voice, yet it made her sound like she had a medical condition. "You both ready for the comeback tour?"
"I suppose." Scootaloo's part was easier, and she barely had to do anything about the voice as she gave Sweetie a stare. "Provided Sonata doesn't spend all the budget on candy again."
"Can you blame me? I love bubblegum!" All Sweetie Belle had to do was look pretty and deliver just as good an act. Sure, it might've been cheap for the cute vote, but she didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of CHS. "Where do you think pop music comes from?"
"I thought it was from the popping bubbles in your—"
"If you're going to fight, do it after the show." Applebloom covered both Sweetie and Scootaloo's mouths. "For now, just focus on the song. Plus, we're in front of a crowd, aren't we?" She pointed to the students of CHS. "Let's give them a show they won't forget any time soon."
You might think we're all deceptive,
Telling lies to get our way.
Turns out, you're pretty perceptive,
But that's not for us to say.
Alright, I admit. We bent the truth a bit.
But you can't deny that the tournament was lit.
So many few faces, bringing talent to this stage.
No matter what genre, level, or even difference in age!
The lights swung upwards and shone out, illuminating the whole dancefloor as the CMCs stepped forward provocatively, swaying their hips towards their audience. It looked like their lessons with the Dazzlings was beginning to pay off as the crowd wasn't immediately up in arms against them.
We're sure it left you all starstruck
Even if you had a string of some hard luck
'Cause there's always a chance for you to bounce back
And get all your special talents back on track.
Applebloom and Sweetie pointed to Scootaloo, who held the microphone close to her chest.
And yeah, I get it, you're mad.
Both at yourselves and all of us too.
But really, you just gotta know that.
We did all of that stuff for you.
The attention went back to the others.
Starstuck
Even if you had a string of some hard luck
'Cause there's always a chance for you to bounce back
And get all your special talents back on track.
Trust us when we say, that we're here to stay.
And we've brushed of the past, it's all gone now,
so let's all hear you stand up and shout now!
Most of the students thought about how the CMCs were singing and just how they interpreted the lyrics. Even with such infamous figures like the Dazzlings on their minds, these three girls were twisting their message and painting them in an entirely different light. Sunset Shimmer and her friends especially began to have mixed thoughts about the whole scenario; especially Applejack, who had fought against it all when Applebloom told her about it.
The next to take up a solo portion of the song was Sweetie Belle; her Sonata cosplay getting a spotlight all on its' own as she stepped forward.
It seems you all just see the bad parts,
all the dysfunction and hatred and stuff.
But that's not really who we are now,
Our power's gone and we're living it rough.
It seems like we may never be as good as the other kids here,
And I know it's a hard thing, to have to live constantly in fear,
But all we ask is another chance, to see us another way.
And if you give throw us a bone then, that might all just happen today!
As she walked back, the others came forward, forming a simple line again, their body language still on full display as they did so. Alluring, but not entirely so that they looked menacing.
We wanna leave you all starstruck
Even if we had a string of some hard luck
'Cause there's always a chance for us to bounce back
And get all our special talents back on track.
Applebloom had the next solo, allowing the others to step backwards.
You think that we're all mean,
But we're all just like you.
Just fighting with each other,
But that's what siblings do.
The others came back forward, as if it were like a routine schedule by this point.
Starstruck
Even if we had a string of some hard luck
'Cause there's always a chance for us to bounce back
And get all our special talents back on track.
Don't give us all the cold shoulder, and try to push us away
Because we're here and the past is the past now,
We're gonna and turn it around now.
As they looked out at the students, they saw that the majority were dancing and hobbling along to the song, seemingly enraptured by it. Scootaloo actually thought they were performing magic on the students as they sang, but really, it was how well the beat and harmony of their voices resonated with everyone. Though, she still liked to think it was a super-secret power they had instead.
Silent and alone, we've been waiting for the day,
Where we get to come back here and, take this another way.
We're all the same like you, just more so than before,
So give us all this second chance and you'll see that we can soar!
They say forgive and forget, so won't you do the same?
Treat us like one of your kind, and don't give us mass shame?
It's all that we can ask for, considering the past.
Just give us the wheel and we'll show you, that the three of us can last!
With one more, slightly longer techno beat build-up from the DJ booth, a series of laser lights also came on, shining out towards the hall. These didn't come from Trixie herself, and had been there for a long time; maybe even longer than the original Fall Formal itself.
We wanna make you all starstruck
Even if we had a string of some hard luck
'Cause there's always a chance for us to bounce back
And get all our special talents back on track.
It's something to cherish; redemption,
Even if you feel we don't deserve it.
It's better to just be rejected,
Than to be scared you'll never receive it.
Starstruck
Even if we had a string of some hard luck
'Cause there's always a chance for us to bounce back
And get all our special talents back on track.
Sisters hand-in-hand, bonded through and through.
We'll take all of the hate on together,
And we'll stay by each other forever.
By now, everyone was getting into it, including Celestia and Luna on the judging table, who were also shaking their hips and dancing along with the song.
Starstruck
Even if we had a string of some hard luck
'Cause there's always a chance for us to bounce back
And get all our special talents back on track.
It's not a sprint, it's a long-going marathon,
And it's one that we'll take in our stride.
Because we don't want to be blinded,
By some silly little thing as pride.
Starstruck
Even if we had a string of some hard luck
'Cause there's always a chance for us to bounce back
And get all our special talents back on track.
Now we're at the end, so you get to decide.
Do you throw us all out to the wayside?
Or do we get to stand by your side?
With the last beat, the other lights and effects died down as the CMCs lowered their heads and were met with slim silence from everyone, which slowly and gradually escalated from one person clapping, to a handful, and then the entire hall. They bathed in the praise for a few seconds before finally looking back up, taking a bow, and walking off backstage with the other students who had been performing before them.
Once the Crusaders slinked away behind the curtain, they all let out a massive sigh of relief, their hearts in their throats as they made it out of the gauntlet that was their performance. Even after not having any plans for a performance or a way to entertain the crowd, they still managed to find a way around that problem at the last minute. To put it simply, it was a miracle for them all.
"Oh my goddess..." Applebloom had trouble swallowing, given how fast her blood had been pumping. "That. Was. Close!"
"Tell me about it." Sweetie Belle wiped some of the sweat off of her brow. "I thought for sure we were gonna mess up the lyrics at some point or another."
"But look at the crowd! They loved us!" Scootaloo held up the corner of the curtain, looking out at the whooping and hollering crowd, all of them completely won over by their performance. "I don't even care if it was almost a disaster. We cleaned up out there!"
"If by cleaned up, you mean made everyone feel sick inside that they have to look at your gross outfits, then yeah. I'd say you cleaned up fine, girls." Diamond came back with a wide smirk on her face. "I mean, the song was nice and all, but who's ever gonna vote for you dressed up as gaudy and tacky-looking as that? You might as well put stickers on those clothes."
"We're not gonna get fazed by your snide comments, Diamond Tiara." Sweetie Belle came up to her face and booped her nose with her fingers. "We'll let the vote decide on who's better; fashion sense or not."
"Alright, alright. I get it. You just don't wanna look sad and humiliated in your victory photos." She put her hands to her hips. "Provided you even get them, that is. Come on, Silver. It's time to get set-up for our prize."
"Look, if I can be real with you girls, Diamond's kinda got a point here." Silver's tone of voice wasn't as sarcastic as Diamond's was. "I mean, you look the part and play it right, but the real question here is whether or not you really changed everyone's minds. If you have, then good for you. But if not, then you just put yourself right in the middle of the firing line."
"What do you mean, Silver?" Applebloom tilted her head to the side.
"Just..." She clutched her hand tightly and brought it to her chest, before sighing and patting all three of the girls on theirs. "Good luck, girls. It was fun to be in this competition with you."
"Thanks." Sweetie shook Silver's hand. "You too."
"Silver!" Diamond called from the door at the side of the stage.
"I gotta go." She gave all of the girls a smile before turning off after Diamond. "Let's see if your performance left enough of an impression on them."
Back out at the hall, the other students were still talking about the CMCs performance. Most of them were talking about the past and how these girls' outlook on the girls was entirely different, while some of the others were commenting on the song, nitpicking at some of the details, or talking about the effects that went with it.
"You think they did enough to win it?" Sunset Shimmer asked her friends. "I mean, not counting their song and all?"
"I don't know what just happened, but these girls did a pretty interesting performance." Rainbow Dash leaned back against the retracted bleachers. "They were dressed as the Dazzlings and got everyone to like them. That's pretty impressive."
"I know. Especially considering their crimes not only towards the students, but to fashion itself!" Rarity nodded and took a sip of the punch in her hands. "Why, the way that my sweet little Sweetie Belle and her friends twisted the message, it could almost make you think those girls are entirely different deep down."
"Well, I don't mind either way." Pinkie shrugged. "But... I kinda think that Sonata could've used a bit more work and the Aria could've been a little bit more of a grumpy-guts, but I really loved the performance myself. Plus, it's the Canterlot Movie Club doing it, and those girls could sweet talk anyone into doing anything. Plus plus, two of 'em are Applejack and Rarity's little sisters, plus a kid who Rainbow Dash really likes, so that's another bonus."
"Well, she likes me, and I like Scoots' guts." Rainbow nodded. "Heck, I'd take her in as my own kid if she didn't have family of her own."
"And ah'll admit it. I wasn't really much of a fan of the idea, but I talked it out with Applebloom and Granny, and let's just say my arm got pretty twisted." Applejack tipped her hat. "Call it a bit of a southern hunch, but I thought the whole thing wasn't gonna go smooth at all."
"But look at how wrong the girls proved you, Applejack." Twilight clasped her hands together and looked out to the stage. "They managed to not only put on a great show, get matching uniforms, and perform like that without much time to practice outside of homework, but they performed like they were putting their heart and soul out there. That in itself deserves some merit."
"So, you gonna vote for them?" Fluttershy squeaked. "I mean, not that we wouldn't vote for them just because they're dressed up as villains, but..."
"Fluttershy, chill. It's just a costume." Rainbow patted Fluttershy's back and pulled her close. "They're not actually gonna turn evil on us. They're just kids. Kids can't go evil, right?"
"Well, there was that time when I was babysitting the Cake Twins and they just would not go to sleep..." Pinkie's eye twitched. "Even now, I get nightmares about how they would just wake up and play every single time that I tucked them in, turned out the lights, and sang them a super-soothing lullaby..."
"Relax, girl. The CMCs aren't gonna go bad on you." Rainbow tousled Fluttershy's hair. "Plus, they're better at doing cute than evil. I dunno, I guess I'm more into their non-acting kinda stuff really."
"I hope so." Fluttershy brushed some of the hair out of her face. "I think we've had just enough battles with magic and evil in this world. The last thing we need is those girls getting a dark side. Oh, just the thought of Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, or Scootaloo turning against us with magic... It'd be horrifying."
"Well, anyway, you decided on who you're voting for?" Sunset finally spoke up. "The vote's gonna open once the last act plays. And, I don't know about you, but those three have my vote."
"Mine too! They put on a pretty good act for first-timers!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"I should vote for them too, I guess." Fluttershy smiled and held her hands down by her hips. "Just for the attention to detail, though."
"Well, my vote goes to them too for the way they distorted the Dazzlings and made them seem completely new." Rarity tipped her hand. "You don't see many acts these days do that kind of stuff, where the villain is painted as a hero in their own right or a tortured soul with some validation in their plans."
"Aw shucks. Just for Applebloom, I'll vote for 'em too." Applejack took her hat off. "But just for Applebloom, ya hear? Wouldn't do the same otherwise."
"What the hay? I'm in too." Rainbow nodded briefly. "That, and most of the other acts were kinda brief and didn't do much other than show off their clothes."
"I'll vote too, if all the others agree with it," Twilight added. "So, together, that makes seven votes for the girls. I'd say that's a good boost for them, right?"
"Yeah. You said it." Sunset stepped forward and watched the last few acts perform, still with the CMCs and their act on her mind. After all of this was done, she needed to find the Dazzlings again; just to see if they could be changed and be seen in another light. How long has it been, Adagio? And how much has changed for you and your friends since the Battle of the Bands? Because right now, with what I've seen tonight, I'm starting to think you're not all bad deep down...