//------------------------------// // Chapter 33: Rainbow Rocks Part Two // Story: Light and Dark: Road to Redemption // by MXCDarkHorse2020 //------------------------------// Chapter 33: Rainbow Rocks Part Two “The way Sunset Shimmer described them, I think these new girls sound an awful lot like... the sirens.” Twilight explained to the girls after reading what Sunset told her as she placed the book down on the table. “Not the sirens!” Pinkie exclaimed in horror before whispering to Fluttershy. “I don't actually know what that is!” “Well of course not, it’s beyond you.” Twilight remarked in a deadpan tone before continuing her explanation of the sirens. "The sirens were three beautiful but dangerous creatures who had the power to charm ponies with their music.” Twilight proceeded to open the book to a page showing three dragons with red jewels on their chests as they released magical energy from their mouths. “But to maintain this power, they had to feed on the negativity and distrust of others.” She then showed an image of them overseeing a group of ponies arguing. “The more of this negative energy they consumed, the stronger their voices became, and the farther they could spread their dark magic.” “I don't think I like this story very much.” Fluttershy commented in her trademark worrisome tone. “If the sirens had their way, they would have divided and conquered all of Equestria. But a certain Star Swirl the Bearded wasn't having it.” Twilight further narrated as her idol is now mentioned in the tale. “Rumor has it he found a way to banish them to another world – one where he believed their magic power would be lost.” She showed an image of said unicorn wizard banishing the dragons to another world. “That world must have been the one where my Canterlot High friends live.” “But Star Swirl must have sent them there ages ago. How come they're just surfacin' now?” Applejack wondered how this is possible. “I don't know.” Twilight honestly replied with the mystery itself lost on her. “But if my hunch is right and it is the sirens who have come to Canterlot High, this spell they've cast is just the beginning. My friends need me. I have to get back to them.” “I hate to burst your bubble, Twilight, but the connection between their world and Equestria will still be totally cut off for a super long time.” Rainbow Dash pointed out as she flew right in front of her just as she turning to do something. “Okay, first of all, if there was bubble-blowing going on, why wasn't I told about it?!” Pinkie randomly commented. “And secondly, if the connection is totally cut off, how was Sunset Shimmer able to get a message to Twilight?” She added as she pointed a hoof in said mare’s direction. “Pinkie, you're a genius!” Twilight gasped as she suddenly gets an idea in her head and then ran off ahead. “Yeah, I get that a lot.” Pinkie proudly said while continuing to miss the point Twilight just made before pulling Rainbow Dash to her face. “Now about those bubbles...” She asked Rainbow as Twilight carried a magic load of instruments, pieces, and tools. “Hey, everypony, what’s going on here.” Starlight greeted as she walked inside while wondering what Twilight is doing as she creates some kind of device similar the mirror back in the Crystal Empire. An attempt to recreate a different portal that they can travel between worlds anytime they decide. “I have no idea.” Spike answered just as confused as every pony else. “And the interval between the two points is defined as the square root of the sum of the squares of the separation between the points along three spatial dimensions.” Twilight explained to every pony of her creation form mathematical calculations. “Say what now?” Spike asked as she and the others express confused looks of what she had just said. “Duh! She's gonna take the magic in here and put it in there.” Pinkie rapidly explained as she points to the book and then to the mirror. “That'll make the portal open up so that whenever she wants to, she can go from here to there.” She added as she did cartwheels in front of the mirror portal. “There to here. Here to there. Here there! Here there! Here— “ Pinkie rapidly explained as Applejack quickly cut her off as she and the others are quickly annoyed by her constantly repeating it. “We get the idea!” “Now to see if it actually works.” Twilight then tests it when she uses her magic to lift the book on top of the portal to which it produces a purple ball of energy to which powers up the device as all eight awe in amazement as the magic runs its way through the machine before successfully activating to which Twilight smiles at her own success. “Don't suppose we could join you this time around?” Applejack hopefully asked. “Better not.” Twilight politely declined. “It could make things pretty confusing if Canterlot High all of a sudden had two of all of you.” Everyone expect for Starlight and Spike agreed. “But I still get to go, right?” Spike asked. “There isn't another one of me at Canterlot High. And you never know if you might need your trusty assistant.” “Mm-hmm.” Twilight replied with a nod. “Yes!” Spike exclaimed in excitement with her stamp of approval. “And me?” Starlight also asked. “There so far isn’t another me at Canterlot High and you never know when you might need your faithful student too.” “But the Sunset Festival is tomorrow?” Applejack brought up. “Don’t you think you might want to head on over there?” “Yes, but the thing is I don’t feel comfortable going back there.” Starlight honestly replied while making it clear from her tone of voice that she really doesn't want to go. “But why, darling?” Rarity asked. “You went back to apologize. They accepted. Everypony has moved on.” “But have they?” Starlight counter-responded. “They don't really know how much I've changed. Or even worse, maybe I haven't changed as much as I think I have!” “Trust me. You are a totally different pony now. I mean, you were pretty awful.” Rainbow back-hoof attempted to assure her. “Rainbow Dash!” Applejack scolded for her poor choice of words. “What? She was! It's a compliment!” Rainbow defended herself not realizing the insensitivity of what she just said. “I don't think they would've sent the invitation if they didn't want you to come. I'm sure they'd be happy to see you.” Fluttershy pointed out in her attempt to comfort and assure Starlight. “And getting an invitation to a party and not going?!” Pinkie added although more focused on the invitation matter while treating it as serious business. “That's like... I-It's like...! Well, I don't know what it's like, but it is definitely bad.” “Girls.” Twilight spoke up sharply to get them to stop right there since it is placing unwanted pressure on their friend. “We need to be patient with her. When I choose to go back to the Crystal Empire it was on my own terms.” She said as she walked up to Starlight. “If Starlight doesn’t want to go then I accept that and I think the rest of you should do the same as well.” “Does this mean…” Starlight hopefully asked as she is saying what she think she's saying with a hopeful smole. “Yes Starlight, you can come.” Twilight answered with a nod. “Thanks.” Starlight quickly hugged Twilight. “I promise you won’t regret this.” “We won't be gone long.” Twilight told the others as they joined in on the hug. “Oh, you be careful, Twilight.” Fluttershy gently advised. “Take care!” Rainbow Dash added. “Y'all be safe now.” Applejack added as she too wished them all luck. “And don't forget to dress well.” Rarity said as they broke apart from the hug with Pinkie being the only pony remaining. After a few seconds of still hugging Twilight she finally let her go. “Ready, Spike?” Twilight told Spike who was ready to go as he cracked his knuckles and got into a ready running position. “Ready!” Spike stated. “Ready, Starlight?” Twilight turned to Starlight who stood beside Spike. “Ready!” Starlight answered as she adopted the same ready stance as Spike. The three one by one raced into the portal first Spike, then Starlight, and finally Twilight. Back at the other side of the portal the others were trying to patiently wait for Twilight to come. Fluttershy was having her nails painted by Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie are playing cards on top of the statue where presents a hand of four aces to which Pinkie responds by showing four jacks to which she proudly crosses her arms much to Applejack’s annoyance that’s not the winning move in the card game they are currently playing, Sunset is sitting reading her journal, while Rainbow is still tossing her soccer ball around. “I'm starting to think she's not coming.” Rainbow voiced now feeling bored just when Twilight, Starlight, and Spike all emerge through the portal at that very moment. “Twilight!” The girls all exclaimed in delight upon seeing her again. “Oof. I'm back.” Twilight briefly hesitated to accept Sunset’s offer to help her up as Starlight got up on her own while everyone greets the dimension traveling trio with a group hug. A hug that Sunset choice to step aside feeling it would undeserving and unworthy of her to join in. “And I've got some bad news about those new girls.” Twilight seriously returned with regret in her tone as the girls give worried reactions in return. The girls then head on over to the Sweet Shoppe where they all catch up by enjoying their milkshakes as Pinkie sits in between Twilight and Starlight as she brings them their requested drinks. “Oh, I do hate that you had to return at a time of crisis. There's so much catching up to do!” Rarity apologetically told her while still expressing her excitement in seeing Twilight again. “For starters, a certain blue-haired guitar player was just askin' about you.” Applejack brought up Twilight’s crush. “Flash Sentry was asking about me?!” Twilight excitably asked while curling her hair with a blush before recomposing herself seeing Pinkie, Rarity, Starlight, and Sunset giving her knowing looks. “Isn't that nice?” She simply commented as she sipped milkshake like it's nothing to get excited about. “It sure is Twilight.” Starlight commented with a look that says you can’t fool anybody complete with the smug teasing smirk. “Perhaps you would give us just the slightest bit of gossip from your world?” Rarity eagerly asked. “She's got an official title now.” Spike who was sitting on Fluttershy’s lap told them as she mimicked a fanfare with a bone he held in his paws. “The Princess of Friendship!” “Wow, that's really impressive.” Sunset complimented. “Guess you really were Princess Celestia's prized pupil.” “She's even got her own castle!” Spike added. “A castle?! You have your own castle?!?” Rarity exclaimed as she accidentally made Twilight spill a drop of her drink on her bow tie. “Eh... Ooh, uh, lovely.” She calmed herself down from her royally over-excitement before cleaning off the stain from her friends bow-tie. “What's new here? I mean, besides your school becoming the target of dangerous magical creatures from Equestria?” Twilight asked. “Yeah, so, that isn't exactly the only strange thing that's happened since you left. Pretty sweet, huh? It happens to all of us when we play.” Rainbow Dash brought up as she showed them their music video where their ponytails and pony ears appeared during the song to which Twilight showed surprise seeing this. “Hmm. My crown was returned to Equestria, but some of its magic must have remained here at Canterlot High.” Twilight thought of an idea. “Now that we're all back together, we can try to use that magic on the sirens!” “Like when we were able to use it on Sunset Shimmer when she turned into that horrifyingly awful winged monster!” Pinkie brought before realizing her mistake of saying that in front of Sunset again. “No offense”. “None taken.” Sunset replied in a disgruntled tone. “Heh. I'm used to it.” “They'll never even know what hit 'em!” Rainbow exclaimed as she mimicked karate moves to which Applejack caught one of her fists in her palm. “We've got nothin' to worry about now that Twilight's back.” Applejack assured everyone. “Oh, I'm pretty sure I could find something to worry about.” Fluttershy briefly voiced her worries before smiling. “But it won't be the sirens.” “The sooner we do this, the better.” Twilight told the girls with a confident expression. “Any idea where the Dazzlings might be?” She asks Sunset who silently replies she doesn’t know with a shrug as Pinkie taps her shoulder as she sucks down the last of her milkshake. “There's a big party tonight for all the bands who signed up to be in the showcase! That would include the Dazzlings.” Pinkie explained. “Looks like we've got a party to crash.” Twilight told everyone as Pinkie squees in excitement. Later in the evening, they all went over to the gym where the party is being held. There everyone gathered is giving each other looks of disdain and disgust towards each other while the Mane Six, Sunset, and Starlight all watch from the snack stand where Pinkie is happily enjoying cookies while Twilight sips on punch. “I'm gonna get more punch!” Flash Sentry groaned as he walked over to do so only to bump into Twilight again to which he quickly caught her before she could hit the ground. “Twilight?” He exclaimed in surprise to see her again. “Eh, bumped, into, always, doing?” Twilight replied with a blush. “What are you doing here?” Flash asked as she helped her stand up. “You came back for the big competition, right?” “Something like that.” Twilight half-truthfully answered. “Huh. Not that there's gonna be any real competition. No one here wants this as bad as my band does!” Flash proudly told her as the Dazzling's came inside seeing them arrive Rainbow pulls a chocolate chip from a cookie Pinkie was holding to toss it into Twilight’s hair to get her attention and let them know they’re here. “Can you excuse me for just a minute?” Twilight politely asked him as she excused herself to join the others. “Oh, no! No one's mingling! It's like there's some kind of underlying tension that could bubble to the surface at any minute!” Adagio said with mock surprise and sadness. “It's the fruit punch, isn't it? I knew I used too much grape juice!” Sonata cluelessly commented as she held up said bottle. “It's not the fruit punch! It's us!” Adagio corrected her while visibly irritated by her idiocy. “But the punch is awful, too.” Aria commented. “What do you know about good fruit punch?” Sonata argued. “More than you!” Aria argued back. “Do not!” “Do too!” Both girls argued as they lightly slapped each other. “This is just the kickoff party, girls. Imagine what a tizzy they'll be in by the time the Battle of the Bands starts.” The lead Dazzling told them as Twilight speaks up to get everyone’s attention. “There isn't going to be a Battle of the Bands! We're gonna make sure of that!” She announced as she and the rest of the Mane Five all clasp hands together while Sunset and Starlight watch from the corner. “Alright, girls, let's do this! Friendship is magic!” She then announced but to her surprise nothing happened. Leading to awkward silence and stares from everyone much to the six girls surprise including Starlight and Sunset’s surprise. “Uh, weren't there rainbows and lasers and stuff last time?” Rainbow Dash commented in confusion. “I don't understand. We're all together again. Why isn't this working?” Twilight wondered in the same tone. “You, uh... really need to go ahead and do that whole "magic of friendship" thing now.” Spike whispered to Twilight from her backpack to get it working right now. “I'm trying, Spike. I thought the six of us standing together against the sirens would bring out the magic we needed to defeat them. That's what happened before.” Twilight brought up she’s not understanding why nothing is happening. “Talk about throwing down the gauntlet! This group is obviously serious about winning!” Adagio scoffed at their attempt. “A little cocky though, aren't they? Claiming there won't really be a battle. Seems they think they've already got this thing all locked up.” “Not if the Great and Powerful Trrrrrixie has anything to do with it!” Trixie argued. “Whatever, Trixie! We're the best band at CHS!” Flash argued back. “No! The Crusaders are gonna win!” Apple Bloom argued as everyone starts arguing again as the trio of girls breath in the fumes of their arguing as they pendants glow again. “I think we may have found what we're looking for. Or rather, it found us.” Adagio smugly commented seeing the six girls trying to stand together as the blue haired dazzling is very slow to pick up on to which the purple haired dazzling face palms herself in annoyance. “Magic!!” She irritably pointed out. “Don't you see?! Everyone else has fallen under our spell. But not these girls. These girls are special.” She commented as she watches the growing argument while briefly catching all eight girls sneaking out seeing this is going nowhere. Once they retreated outside all eight girls pondered what happened back there. “It doesn't make any sense. I should have been able to create the spark that would help us break their spell. That's how it worked before.” Twilight questioned how it failed as she paced in front of the others who were sitting on the stairs. “But to defeat me, you drew magic from the crown I was wearing.” Sunset brought up. “The sirens' magic comes from their music. So maybe you have to use the same kind of magic to defeat them.” She suggested but then dismissed it. “Or... maybe not.” “No. I think you're onto something.” Twilight agreed much to her surprise. “Really?” Sunset asked with a smile that it's cluing her in on something. “It's when you play music that you transform now, right?” Twilight asked the Mane Five. “Yup. Ears, tails, the whole shebang.” Applejack again confirmed. “So maybe the way to use that magic to defeat the sirens is by playing a musical counter-spell!” Twilight proposed. “You mean like a song?” Fluttershy asked as she stroked her hair briefly. “Uh-huh.” Twilight replied. “And in order to free everyone who's been exposed to the sirens' spell, we'll need them all to hear it.” “Hmmm...”The girls then thought of how to go on about that until Rarity came up with an idea. “The band competition!” Rarity brought up. “That's the next time we can be certain everyone will be in the same place at the same time.” “Guess the Rainbooms are the band to beat.” Applejack figured as she placed a hand on Rainbow’s shoulder. “And I believe you, Twilight, just became the Rainbooms' newest member.” Rarity offered as the rest of the others gathered around her expect for Sunset and Starlight with the former feeling left out while the latter places a comforting hand on her shoulder. “So what do you wanna play?” Pinkie asked as she held up and briefly played said instruments. “Triangle? Sousaphone? Theremin? Soooo magical.” “I might take a little too long to learn how to play something with these.” Twilight politely declined. “I'll just sing.” “Like, as in, lead singer?” Rainbow asked as she wrapped her arm around Twilight’s shoulder. “Cuz that's usually my gig. This being my band and all.” “It's our band!” Applejack corrected before being very open to whatever Twilight asks as she places her hands on her shoulders. “And, of course, as lead singer. She's the one with the magical know-how to help us pull this thing off.” “Okay, yeah, that's cool.” Rainbow relented as she wigged her fingers as she is playing a guitar. “I'll just use this as a chance to hone my already insanely good lead guitar skills.” “It's only temporary.” Twilight assured Rainbow it’s not full-time. “And we don't have to win the Battle of the Bands. We just have to perform during the first round of the competition.” She added of what’s really important. “Let's get to learning that musical counter-spell!” Rainbow confidently told her. “Well, that's just it. I don't know any.” Twilight regretfully responded to which everyone groaned in disappointment. “But I'm sure I could figure out how to write one.” Twilight reassured them. “Totally!” Spike agreed as she walked up to her feet. “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, I helped finish a spell.” Twilight corrected him. “And there was a little more to it than that, Spike which we really don’t need to go full into detail of.” She added not wanting to bring up that she schemed her way into becoming an Alicorn Princess in the first place. “Yeah, whatever.” Spike shrugged while still not losing her confidence in her parental like figure. “I've got this!” Twilight confidently told the girls with a raised fist as she picks up Spike. ”C'mon!” She told Starlight to follow her. “Where're you goin'?” Applejack asked her. “Well, last time we were here, Starlight, Spike, and I spent the night in the library.” Twilight answered and recalled. “Are you crazy?! We're besties now!” Pinkie exclaimed as she hugged Twilight and Starlight and held them up into the air. “Slumber party at my house!” She declared to which everyone else expressed their immediate excitement over. “Guess we don’t have much of a choice here do we Twilight?” Starlight told Twilight while being tightly embraced by Pinkie. “Not with friends like these.” Twilight answered in agreement. The girls then made their way to Pinkie’s house and by the time it was night the girls were in their pajamas. Pinkie was playing on her laptop, Fluttershy’s currently petting Spike, Sunset and Rarity are both gossiping, Applejack and Rainbow Dash are both competing each other by playing video games, while Twilight is currently reading her book with Starlight sitting beside her. “Status update: "Okie-dokie-lokie." Pinkie happily typed on her computer as Rarity, Fluttershy, and Sunset get together for a selfie photo to which Spike sneaks into too just as Rarity takes the photo. Much to her annoyance as she glares at him to which Spike simply responds by glaring back at her with a fog biscuit in his mouth much to Sunset and Fluttershy’s amusement. Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash were playing their video game to where Applejack is gaining the edge over Rainbow who responds by shutting off the game just before Applejack could win. “Hey! I was about to beat you!” Applejack complained with Rainbow’s poor sportsmanship. “I doubt it.” Rainbow scoffed as she twirled the controller on her finger. “So, Twilight, how is that counter-spell comin'?” She then directed her attention back to Twilight who was currently struggling with coming up with said spell. “Huh? Oh, uh, good. Great.” Twilight quickly lied through her teeth as she flipped through the pages before turning to Fluttershy. “Thanks for letting me use your notebook, Fluttershy. I really like the song you wrote for the Rainbooms.” “Thanks.” Fluttershy smiled as she cuddled the toy crocodile before sighing. “Hopefully one day, we'll get a chance to play it.” “Hey!” Applejack argued as she Rainbow held the controller out of her reach while taunting her with laughs. “Twilight, I think I speak for all of us when I say I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't come back to help us.” Rarity told Twilight as she got into between Twilight and Starlight as everybody else in the room agreed when the doorbell rings. “Pizza's here!” Pinkie happily said as everybody expect Twilight and Starlight run off ahead to answer the door as Twilight could only look at her very little to none progress with many attempted ideas scribbled out in ink as Starlight looks over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Twilight.” Starlight reassured her. “You’ll figure something out.” Although Twilight still sighed in disappointment. “Don't you want any pizza?” Pinkie asked while holding a piece of pizza with her mouth to which Twilight nodded in response. “We’ll be right over in a second.” Starlight told her as she got up from the bed. “Coming, Twilight.” She asked her who stood up too as she put the journal away in the nearby drawer while still looking downcast. Later in the middle of the night, Twilight got up finding herself unable to sleep as she tip toes to where she last left the drawer so she can go and try to work on it some more while carefully avoiding waking up and stepping on her friends. Amongst those sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags expect for Pinkie and Rainbow Dash who were both sleeping on the bed, Starlight herself was sleeping and groaning as she dreams of something. In her dream she is currently arriving at her village to where she just witness the town ponies setting everything up for the Sunset Festival. “Uh, hey there, everypony.” Starlight nervously greeted Double Diamond and Part Favor after taking a deep breath. “Uh... Hey, Starlight. What are you doing here?” Part Favor questioned taken aback by her appearance. “I-I... I was invited. To the Sunset Festival?” Starlight responded just as surprised as she presents them her invitation. “Uh, yeah, but we didn't think you'd actually show up.” Double Diamond meant they didn’t want her to come as Part Favor confiscates the invitation. “You didn't think we really wanted you here, did you?” Party Favor coldly told off the unicorn as Double Diamond tore up the invitation. “But... I... apologized. I thought everything was fine.” Starlight asked in confusion of why she is being treated this way to which is meant with mean and taunting laughs as the rest of the village ponies join in on laughing at her. “Please...! Stop...! Stop!” Starlight pleaded as she closed her eyes but when she reopened one of her eyes she saw that it is now nighttime in the village as everypony disappeared. “What happened? Is anypony there?” Starlight wondered what happened as she looked around before being approached by a familiar face. “Princess Luna? W-What are you doing here?” She asked the night monarch as she approached her. “Dreams are my domain, Starlight Glimmer. I am here because you need me to be.” Luna calmly answered with a warm smile. “Oh. It's only a dream.” Starlight figured out in relief. “It may only be a dream, but the feelings in it are real.” Luna told her as she folded her wings. “Great.” Starlight sighed. “So I guess I'm more afraid of going back to the village than I thought. What do I do now?” She asked Luna. “I have been helped time and time again by six very special ponies.” Luna positively answered. “They helped me overcome my past. You're fortunate to have them as friends especially Twilight.” She advised her as she floated up back outside to the dream realm. “I see much of myself in you, Starlight Glimmer, and Twilight sees much of herself in you too, I can tell you and from her personal experience that things do indeed get better.” Luna assured before she left as Starlight woke up with a pained gasp. Upon being awake, she then decides to get herself a glass of water to ease her nerves down to which Sunset woke up and took notice of to where she meets up with Twilight who is also in the kitchen fiddling with the pen in her mouth. “No. That's not gonna work.” Twilight groaned as she spit out the pen. “Hey, Twilight. You're up late.” Sunset called out as she entered the kitchen while Starlight walks in to get herself a glass of water. “Just looking over the counter-spell. We only get one shot at this. It has to be perfect.” Twilight told her while still uncertain it’s going to work. “We really are lucky you're here.” Sunset attempted to assure her. “That's what everyone keeps telling me.” Twilight responded as she looked aside. “Who could possibly need this much whipped cream?” Sunset commented as she opened the fridge full of said whipped cream. “Well its Pinkie Pie were dealing with so it’s shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.” Starlight dully commented as she took a sip from her water before sighing with a sullen expression. “In case you’re wondering, I couldn’t sleep either, bad dream.” She told Sunset. “Everything okay with you?” Sunset asked. “Because you’re just as down as Twilight.” “Well for different reasons.” Starlight spoke up to clarify. “I’ve recently been invited to take part in my old village’s Sunset Festival celebration. But the problem is I’m too nervous with frozen feet to set foot back into the village.” “Why is that?” Sunset wondered. “Because like you, it’s where I spent much of my early and less than humble life enslaving and stripping ponies of their cutie marks.” Starlight answered. “Even though I apologized and they have forgiven me I haven’t been able to work the courage to go back since then out of fear they’ll just laugh and treat me as an outcast as if I never changed my ways.” “Believe me I know what that feels like.” Sunset understands where she is coming from while understanding why Starlight took offense to one of her previous comments with a look of realization as she recalled that moment. “And before I forget, sorry I made that cutie mark remark from when you were here the last time." She then apologized. “It’s okay.” Starlight responded as she looked up at her. “It’s all in the past, mostly.” She then said the last part in a more depressed tone. “As it’s like…” “Nobody will let you live it down.” Both Sunset and Starlight said at the same time surprising both of them when they said it at the exact same time. “Must be nice to have everyone always looking to you for answers to their problems... instead of waiting for you to cause a problem.” Sunset told Twilight as she sprayed some whipped cream on her finger to taste. “Just because everyone expects something from you doesn't mean it's guaranteed to happen.” Twilight somberly replied. “Well, that doesn't stop them from expecting it.” Sunset added. “Which only makes things harder because the last thing you want to do is...” Twilight then voiced her doubts. “...let everybody down.” Both Twilight and Sunset said at the same time too as they smile at each other as Sunset puts the whipped cream away. “Waaah!” Sunset screamed as she saw Pinkie’s sister standing right in front of her causing Starlight to drop and break the glass just as startled. “Boulder was hungry.” Maud stoically explained as she held up her pebble and “feed” it crackers from the cupboard over her head to which Sunset backs up a little weirded out by it while Starlight still looks on in surprise. “I still can't get over the fact that she's related to Pinkie Pie.” Sunset whispered to Twilight and Starlight. “You and me both!” Twilight relied with a smile. “Me three.” Starlight added in agreement as the three girls smile. “I better get some sleep.” Sunset said with a yawn before heading back to bed. “Good luck with the counter-spell. Not that you'll need it. This must be nothing compared with the stuff you're expected to deal with as a princess in Equestria.” Twilight however was still feeling the same pressure as she looked over her scribbled notes. “Sunset Shimmer?” Twilight thought of asking for her help but then declined. “...Never mind. It's not important. No, I have to be able to do this. I have to.” Twilight said to herself with determination as Starlight gets herself another glass of water while getting a dust pan and broom to sweep up the broken glass. The next morning, the girls all got together as they rehearsed their song in the nearby garage at the apple farm. “Hey, hey, listen We've got a message for you We're not all alike But our friendship is true.” Twilight sang as the Mane Five played their instruments while Spike, Sunset and Starlight watched from nearby the window. “Yeah, we're really different But we still get along So hey, hey, listen to our song.” Twilight sang as Spike, Sunset, and Starlight cringed at Twilight’s off-key singing while Fluttershy briefly hesitated to continue playing her instrument until motioned to by Rainbow Dash. “You may think you're in control But we're here to prove you wrong With our friendship and our music With the power of our song.” Twilight sang as both Applejack and Rarity played their instruments while not finding the magical spark like last time while glaring at Pinkie to play her drums after seeing her twirling her sticks out of boredom to which she begrudgingly obliges to. “Gonna stomp our feet, clap our hands With the magic of friendship Gonna stop your evil plan.” Twilight sang in the end as Rainbow’s pony ears briefly appeared and shined in the end while everybody just frowns as they all know the singing was terrible. “Eh, that sounded... way better than the last... five times you've played it. Heh heh.” Spike tried to compliment to no avail as Big Mac walks by with a basket of apples. “Nnope.” Big Mac bluntly remarked as Spike whimpers seeing how stressful this really is. “I think it's pretty obvious what's going wrong with this counter-spell.” Rainbow Dash spoke her thoughts of why they aren't getting anywhere here. “You're turnin' what should be the chorus into a five-minute guitar solo?” Applejack asked as she and Rarity glare at her. “I have to pick up the slack somehow! Are you guys even trying?!” Rainbow Dash said defensively and argued back. “I'm trying.” Fluttershy softly spoke up in her defense. “It's fine. It'll be fine.” Twilight nervously laughed trying to keep it together being the only girl smiling. “One more time from the top!” “Or, perhaps we could take a short break, try on some of the wardrobe choices I've put together?” Rarity proposed as she pulled up a rack of dresses. “I'm particularly fond of this one. Eh, of course we could always go with something a bit more modern.” She added as she tried on a fancy band outfit. “We're tryin' to save our school here. Enough with the costumes!” Applejack complained. “Oh, you can never have enough costumes!” Rarity argued while now wearing a space outfit. “She just wants to make things fun!” Pinkie defended Rarity. “Isn't that what being in a band supposed to be?” She played a brief beat on the drums. “Enough!” Starlight quickly intervened before the argument could continue. “Now is not the time for arguing!” “She’s right! You girls don't have time for any of this!” Sunset also stated in agreement. “You're supposed to check in at the Battle of the Bands in fifteen minutes!” The six girls all gasp in shock hearing this. “What?” Twilight exclaimed in shock as everybody packs up. “But it's not ready! If we play our counter-spell in the first round and it doesn't work, the sirens will know what we're up to and make sure we don't get a chance to play it again!” As soon as she said those words everybody stopped dead in their tracks. “Then we'll have to buy ourselves some time so you can keep workin' on it!” Applejack proposed. “But how do you propose we do that?” Rarity asked. “We compete in the Battle of the Bands for real! I take over lead vocals again and we stay alive until the finals! We unleash the counter-spell then!” Rainbow Dash proposed before turning to Twilight. “You'll have figured it out by finals, right?” She then asked a still uncomfortable Twilight. “Of course she will.” Spike answered for Twilight as he walked up beside her. “Twilight Sparkle's never met a problem she couldn't solve. Right, Twilight?” He then asked her. “Right.” Twilight responded with a forced and somewhat unconvincing smile. “Then let's go win us a Battle of the Bands!” Rainbow Dash declared as Twilight waves them off as they head off though still unsure how she is going to pull it off. Later at the sign-up tryouts all eight girls made their way back to the gym where Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna are making the announcement as Snips and Snails perform their song in front of them on stage while they sit at a table in front of the stage. Both Snips and Snails were both beat boxing to a tune and yet rather poorly and more cringe worthy than Twilight’s singing. “Aw, yeah! Snips and Snails indahouse, yo!” Snails said through the microphone. “They call me MC Snips and that ain't no lie My favorite food is like pumpkin pie." Snips sang. “I'm DJ Snazzy Snails, I like whales When I go to the beach, I always bring my pails." Snails sang as the Mane Six minus Rarity, Starlight, Sunset, and Spike all cringe at their terrible beat boxing tune with Pinkie the only one enjoying it. “And for those who thought Twilight was bad this pretty much takes a cake.” Starlight whispered to Sunset who nods in agreement. “Couldn’t agree more.” Sunset remarked in agreement. “Everybody knows my favorite color is orange My rhymes are so fly, they're better than... um... Snips sang while forgetting what to say next. “Than an orange, yo! Snails sang to finish for him. “Yeah!” Snips and Snails then sang at the same time. “Represent!” As the two continue embarrassing themselves everybody was looking on unimpressed as if it is the worst song they have ever heard. “What do we... What do we do now?” Snips asked still in singing to the tune. “Get off the stage, I'd like to leave right now.” Snails replied still singing to the tune. “Bam! That just happened!” “Aw, yeah! We out!” “Snips and Snails outta here!” Snips and Snails both finally finished together as they dropped the microphones which released a loud feedback to which the nearby seven girls and Spike all cringed from the sound it made. “Please do not drop the microphones.” Celestia stoically told the two. “Yeah! Bam!” Both Snips and Snails both celebrated thinking they nailed their performance together. “In your face, Rainbooms!” Snips told the girls who were standing next to the stage stairs waiting to perform next still thinking they did great. “Least we know one group who won't stand in the way of us gettin' to the finals.” Applejack smiled seeing that as one less problem to deal with. “No question about that.” Starlight agreed finally relived that they are gone. “And they still don’t think their song was terrible.” “You have no idea, what I had to put up with dealing with them.” Sunset commented in agreement. “Let's get ready to rock!” Rainbow eagerly said ready to perform. “Wait! Where's Rarity?” Pinkie asked. “Oh! Here! I'm here!” Rarity ran up to regroup with their friends while wearing some kind of 80’s costume much to her friend’s confusion. “We will be performing in front of an audience. I'm not going to wear something fabulous? Hmph.” Rarity simply commented still having a sense for fashion. “Guh...” Applejack groaned and face-palmed in annoyance as the others roll their eyes too in agreement. “Like human like pony. A fashion and drama queen.” Starlight sarcastically remarked as the Mane Six all walk onto the stage for their turn to perform. “Remember, we have to be good enough to make it through but not so good we let the sirens see the magic within us. They could realize we plan to use it against them.” Twilight secretly whispered to them the plan to which everyone nods in agreement. “Got it! Be cool enough to win, but not so cool that we end up showing off the whole ears and tails and rainbows thing.” Rainbow Dash gets the memo of what Twilight expects from them. “Sooo... about twenty percent less cool.” “One! Two!” Pinkie told the others as they got ready 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.” The girls all sang pretty well as Sunset, Starlight, and Spike watch from below the stairs when Starlight notices three girls preparing to try some sabotage on their perform to which Starlight quickly sneaks behind them to stop them before they could do so. “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 all sang as Starlight tackles down the three girls trying to fiddle with Rarity’s movements with magnets. “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.” The girls sang as Starlight continues wrestling the magnets away from them. “So what you didn't get it right the first time.” Twilight sang solo for a line. “Laugh it off, no one said it is a crime.” Pinkie sang solo for a line. “Do your thing, you know you're an original.” Rarity sang solo for a line. “Your ideas are so funny that they're criminal.” Applejack sang solo for a line. “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.” The girls then sang together as Starlight tossed away the magnets before shooing the three girls off before quickly turning her attention to Snips and Snails attempting to sabotage their performance by constantly shining the spotlight onto Fluttershy leading to Starlight to confront them with a clenched fist silently warning them to back to which they quickly did and then ran off. “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 all sang as the crowd even with the good performance are still not smiling or dancing to the beat to which Sunset and Spike take notice of. “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 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 Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight!” The girls then finished their song as Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna are the only ones applauding for them for their performance. The six girls then walked off of the stage as Starlight rejoins them, Sunset, and Spike. “Well, so far so good.” Applejack first spoke up feeling pleased with their performance. “And I sure looked fabulous while doing so.” Rarity remarked as she marveled her outfit. “Oh, please, Rarity, I seriously think you need to lighten up on the need for dressing up for every occasion.” Applejack remarked sounding really annoyed. “And what was with you Starlight doing up standing over the stage?!” Rainbow asked. “Helping make sure the others that don’t want you to win didn’t sabotage your performance which I made good promise on stopping.” Starlight answered as she pulled out the magnets the three girl’s now standing back on the gym floor tried to use on Rarity to which attracted onto the metal on Rarity’s jacket and pulled her to attach onto the magnet. Starlight then quickly and gently unattached the magnet from her dress as she then pointed to the spotlight to which Snips and Snails were going to use to follow Fluttershy around with. “As almost as if the Siren’s magic from the Dazzlings is trying to ensure they don’t want you to get to the finals.” “And you did very well making sure of that Starlight.” Sunset complimented her as she turned to the others. “You still sounded much better than most of the other bands. I'm sure you'll make it to the next round.” Sunset assured them things are going according to plan so far. “But it won't matter if you don't have that counter-spell ready.” She brought to which sparked some nervousness inside Twilight. “You all find a place to practice where the sirens can't hear you. Me and Starlight will keep an eye on things around here.” Sunset instructed them as Derpy and her band begins to perform. “Hopefully we’ll know after every band performs of how many less problems we have to worry about.” Starlight hopefully added as she and Sunset watch over the first round performances as everyone else goes to secretly practice somewhere as instructed. “I don't think we should use a classroom.” Twilight recommended to the girls as they walked down the hallway but then accidentally bumped into Flash Sentry again. “We really need to stop bumping into each other like this.” Twilight apologetically told Flash who only returns an irritated frown. “Uh, you guys hear something?” Flash asked his band-mates while not friendly acknowledging Twilight like before to which they said no in agreement. “I said, we have to stop…” Twilight tried to repeat insisting that he is only putting up an act only for Flash to rudely cut her off. “There it is again. So annoying.” “Why are you acting like this? I thought we were friends.” Twilight asked sounding very confused of what this is all about. “Yeah, and then you decide to come back here just so you can beat me in the Battle of the Bands.” Flash retorted in Twilight’s face. “I want this, Twilight, and you're trying to take it from me! Some friend.” He then coldly told her off. “That's not why…” Twilight tried to speak in her defense only to be cut off by Applejack. “Come on, Twilight. We've got things to do.” Applejack placed a hand on her shoulder and gently escorted her away from Flash to remind her what’s really important here. “You really think you're gonna help them?! Ha! I bet you have no idea what you're even doing!” Flash then yelled in her direction to which stung Twilight to the core as she wiped away some of the tears that were forming around her eyes. Meanwhile Sunset and Starlight both decide to walk over to just outside of the gym doors so they can confront the Dazzlings as they both lean on opposite walls with crossed legs looking very unconvinced and sternly at them. “You're never gonna get away with this.” Sunset started very unconvinced by their manipulation tactics. “Why? Because you didn't?” Adagio retorted to which Sunset was briefly taken aback by as she and girls circle around her and Starlight. “Oh, we know all about you, Sunset Shimmer. You've got quite the reputation at Canterlot High.” “I've changed! I'm in a much better place now!” Sunset defended herself. “Waiting in the wings while your friends have all the fun?” Aria responded as Starlight is the only one of the girls still glaring at them as Sunset is struggling to keep her fearless composure intact. “Oh, yes, you girls are so tight. And yet... they didn't ask you to be in the band.” Adagio spoke as she circled around the two girls again. “Probably afraid no one would want to see them play if she was in the group.” Aria smugly added. “Too bad! So sad!” Sonata mocked as she up in her ears. “If it's any consolation, no one is going to remember you at all by the time we're done.” Adaigo told her as she and the girls smugly walked by while bumping her on the butt. “And if it’s any consolation.” Starlight taking a turn to retort back in Sunset’s defense. “By the time you’re done nobody will ever let you girls forget it.” “We’ll see.” Adagio smugly responded unconvinced nor fazed by Starlight's retort as they walked back inside the gym as Sunset looks aside feeling hurt and down by their words. “Don’t listen to them.” Starlight tried to tell her not to take them to heart as she placed both of her hands on her shoulders. “They’re just trying to get into your head.” “But somehow it seems to be working.” Sunset sadly remarked still feeling downcast as Starlight shoots an angry glare at the Dazzling's direction.