//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Bitter Memories and Sweet Music // by Bookpony579 //------------------------------// The Rainbooms listened with apprehension as the Shadowbolts finished their performance and received a very loud applause. "Oh! I think they were even better than before!" Fluttershy worried. After they left the stage, the Shadowbolts headed straight for the Rainbooms. "Liked our performance?" Sunny asked smugly. "The audience certainly did." Sour added with a smirk. "Just you wait!" Rainbow stepped forward. "Once we're done, the only thing the audience will remember will be our awesome performance!" "Oh please!" Indigo scoffed. "They'll be too busy remembering our performance to even notice yours!" "And the last show of the day will be....the Canterlot Sonic Rainbooms!" The Mayor announced. "Well good luck girls!" Sour told them as they headed for the stage. "You'll need it!" The Rainbooms scowled as the Shadowbolts howled with laughter. "Ok girls! We can do this!" Rainbow said. "Even without Twilight?" Fluttershy asked. "Not anymore!" The Rainbooms turned around and were shocked to find Twilight Sparkle standing there, in full costume no less. "Darling what are doing?" Rarity asked in surprise. "I mean the costume does look fabulous on you, but what are doing wearing it? We though you wanted to sit this one out?" "I did." Twilight admitted. "But Flash and I talked, and he helped me realize how ridiculous I was being. All that stuff in the past did hurt....but it's still in the past. All that matters is now. I have six of the best friends a girl could ever ask for, and I'm not about to let some bullies make me too scared to perform with them!" "Yay!" Pinkie cheered. "Group hug!" With that, she gathered in everybody and they all hugged each other, smiling. "Um...The Sonic Rainbooms?" The Mayor asked into the microphone. "Gah!" Rainbow exclaimed. "We've gotta get on stage!" "Just a minute darling." Rarity pulled out a powder brush and began to touch up Twilight's make up. "As much as I appreciate you coming back, you really must work on your make up skills." Once she was done with that, the girls finally headed out on stage. The Sonic Rainbooms stood on stage, instruments in hand, looking at the vast crowd before them. "Oh my..." Fluttershy tried to hide herself behind her tambourine. "They looked smaller in the screen." Twilight looked around, feeling nervous at all the eyes on her until she spotted her family, smiling and waving at her with pride, then she saw all her classmates cheering and finally Flash Sentry, who gave her a warm and comforting smile and nod. "We can do this girls." Twilight assured them, smiling sonfidently as she took hold of the microphone. "Now let's rock this place!" With their spirits lightened, the Rainbooms began to play: "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" Quickly, people were tapping their feet and nodding their heads to the beat as the Rainbooms played. "We don't know (we don't know) what's gonna happen We just know (we just know) it's gonna feel right All our friends are here And it's time to ignite the lights!" The girls were soon glowing as they gained pony ears, wings and longer hair, causing the audience to cheer in excitement as many of them got up on their feet to dance as the colored lights were activated. Twilight felt herself lost in the music, sensing the the good vibes around her, and let the magic out of her, letting herself pony up. "Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight Shake your tail, shake your tail Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight Shake your tail, shake your tail!" One the side of the Stage, the Shadowbolts stood there, stunned at the performance they were seeing. "They're good..."Indigo admitted reluctantly. "'Good'? They're amazing!" Lemon argued back. "They are quite good. They have a lot of energy and passion and it shows in their performance." Sugarcoat stated. "Unlike ours." "So what you didn't get it right the first time" Sunny looked at her classmates hesitantly. "Did...you guys know Twilight could sing like that?" Most of the girls shook their heads in shock while Indigo and Lemon looked away, their expressions unreadable. "We don't know (we don't know) what's gonna happen We just know (we just know) it's gonna feel right" Everybody in the audience, even the judges were up and dancing to the song. Many were laughing and dancing with their friends and family. "Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight!" As with all things, the song soon came to an end as the final beat was struck, the girls ponied down, and they ere greeted with deafening applause, particularly from the CHS students. The girls gathered up in a line, held hands, and gave a group bow, smiling from the excitement. But none of them, not even Pinkie, were beaming as hard as Twilight was. The girls left the stage as the judges took a few minutes to look over the results and decide the winner. "Did you see that!? WE WERE AMAZING!" Rainbow exclaimed, smiling. "That was so exciting!" Fluttershy squeed. "Yeah! We were all like wah wah wah wah wah! And they were like 'oh yeah! Uh huh!'" Pinkie demonstrated by first air shredding on a guitar and then doing dome dance moves. Twilight giggled and was about to saw something when she noticed some familiar faces in front of them. "Oh, um...hi guys." She hesitantly greeted the Shadowbolts. What was really odd was that they didn't look smug or arrogant. Rather, they appeared....demure, standing up straight with their hands either folded in front or behind them. "Hey, Twilight..."Sunny said nervously, avoiding eye contact. "What do ya'll want?" AJ asked, glaring at them. "We just umm..."Sour couldn't seem to find the right words. "You guys were...pretty good out there." Lemon admitted, surprising the Rainbooms. "You were certainly far above most of the other competitors." Sugarcoat acknowledged. "Yeah..you were alright.."Indigo said softly. To say the CHS girls were shocked was an understatement. Most of them had their jaws wide open and pupils like pinpricks. They couldn't even seem to process what was happening. "Wow. Um...thanks." Twilight finally managed to reply. "That's....real polite of ya'll." AJ managed say. "Indeed. You girls were...quite good yourselves." Rarity shakily put together. They entered an awkward silence that before anyone could make even more weirder.... "Look! They're going to announce the winner!" Sunset pointed to the screen. The Mayor was walking to the center of the stage, a piece of paper in hand as she approached the mic. "Hello everyone! I would like to thank all of you once again for supporting these students and education department! I would also like to give thanks to the students for their wonderful music they provided us with today! And, without further ado, the winner is...." Everyone held their breath in suspense as she looked at the paper. "...THE CANTERLOT MAGNET SCHOOL!" The audience cheered as the students went on stage to accept their prize. "Aw man!" Rainbow groaned. Aj patted her friend on the shoulder. "It's alright sugarcube. We did our best." "Plus, they were really good." Sunset said. "Second place goes to the Canterlot Sonic Rainbooms, followed by Crystal Prep!" This caused Rainbow's eyes to brighten. "Yes! We still beat them! I mean we didn't win, but we still placed ahead of them!" AJ coughed, before pointing the very much still there Crystal Prep students. "...Oh, right. Sorry." Rainbow blushed and gave a nervous grin. "...Well....congratulations, I guess...."Sunny said hesitantly. "Thanks." Twilight said. Finally, the Shadowbolts walked away towards a frowning Cinch. "Well that was weird." Sunset noted. "No kidding." Rainbow agreed. "I wonder what that was all about..."Twilight wondered. Everyone soon was filing out of the theatre while the staff began cleaning. In the lobby, the Rainbooms ran into a few friendly faces... "There you are!" Celestia greeted them with a bright smile. "You girls were fantastic!" "Indeed. It was a remarkable performance." Luna praised. "Sorry we didn't win the prize money." Twilight apologized. Celestia waved the issue aside. "Don't worry about it. If we needed money that badly, we can do another fundraiser. But for now, let's just celebrate on a job well done!" "Whoo-hoo!" Pinkie cheered. "Party time!" As the girls discussed the details of the party, Twilight found herself alone with Flash. "Hey. Sorry you didn't win, but you girls really rocked it up there!" Twilight smiled. "Thanks. Especially for that talk before, I really needed that." Flash just shrugged. "Anytime. Now Pinkie mentioned something about a party?" Twilight giggled. "You're invited. I'm sure she'll be happy to have you." "That's great, but I think she's going to have her hands full..." Flash quickly led them to the front doors and opened them... ...revealing the large crowd of CHS students clapping and cheering for them! "I'm going to need a lot more snacks..."Pinkie observed. Twilight just giggled and went out to greet her classmates.