//------------------------------// // Chapter 21 // Story: Jumper // by lollipopchica //------------------------------// “What’s this?” Cadence’s smile was sugary sweet as she came across her boyfriend and her sister talking and dancing like old flames. “Hey...” Shining Armor’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes as he regretfully let go of the girl in his arms. “Cadence, right?” Chrysalis tilted her head she regarded their new party. Was she... jealous? “Thanks,” the younger girl managed politely, torn between annoyance and guilt. Who made their sibling an accomplice in their own ostracization? “What did Twiley want?” Shining Armor asked. “She just needed a confidence boost. Girl stuff!” Cadence waved away more like herself. “The competition is starting, let’s go up front so we can see.” She took his hand and moved away. Chrysalis stood there awkwardly. “C’mon Chrysalis,” Shining Armor grabbed her hand too and the changeling found herself being pulled along with her sister and her date. Just as Cadence had stated, the competition had started. “First up: Trixie and the Illusions!” Trixie appeared on stage in a neon flash of magic and smoke. With her trademark smirk in place, she nodded and the stage lights dimmed as strobe lights started flashing in time with a distinct loop of harmonics. Percussion dropped as Trixie had yet to pick up her head. “Oh shit...” Some people murmured excited to see what the showboat had come up with. A pause in percussions, and Trixie looked up with a provocative smile on her face. Grabbing the mic, the teen wonder began to sing to an homage of ecstatic lo-fi and punk rock. “I'm rich Like a hot noise Rich rich rich I'll take you out, boy So stuck up I wish you'd stick in to me Flesh ripped off Raw....” “Hey! The band kicked off and everyone began to vibe to music whistling and moving. Turnin' it Beatin' no beat The walls are always speakin' No want no want no want no speakin' at all...” Meanwhile, backstage, The Rainbooms were peeking out to see the crowd’s reaction to the punk-ish number and Trixie’s penchant for flash and magic. The girls were hurriedly changing out of their dresses into their stage getups. “Eh, not my style but the people seem to like it.” Applejack reckoned. “It’s kinda cool,” Fluttershy agreed impressed by Trixie’s character this time around. She bobbed to the music effortlessly surprised shouts and echoes could sound so good. “Guys! She’s really good!” Twilight wailed. Rarity looked determined. “And so are we, Twilight. Your song’s a hit! Trust us!” “We’re going to massacre her!” Rainbow Dash declared to Twilight’s unsure look. “Yea! Trust us and your love for Flash!” Pinkie Pie cheered to her friend’s dismay. “We got this on lock!” Back on stage Trixie was winding down whispering sultrily to crowd as the music slowly began to fade out in the order that it started. Flashes of magic and pop filled her breaks of lyrics. “Rich rich rich rich rich rich.... Rich rich rich rich rich rich... Rich rich rich rich rich rich...” The lights cut and the band was gone in a poof of neon smoke. The students broke out into applause and cheers excited by the edgy performance and style. Trixie remained waving and grinning at the crowd basking in their praise. “That was amazing!” The announcer breathed, still pumped by the performance. “Let’s give it up for- “Trixie the great and powerful!” The wonder teen snagged the mic to the announcer’s annoyance. “Okay, you’re not that fucking great...” The person mumbled snatching the mic and basically shoving Trixie out of the spotlight and backstage. “Top that, Rainbow Ass!” Trixie taunted before strutting past the stylishly dressed group. All the girls were dressed in black with purple accents in line with their own respective styles. “With pleasure!” Rainbow Dash called out as Trixie went to celebrate with her bandmates. She turned back to her group of friends. “Twilight,” She spoke, “our song is a hit, our dance is a hit! Believe that! Here’s your chance to put it all on the line. If not for us, do it for the animal inside of you! We’re stronger than we think and our strongest together!” The girls all cheered and agreed. “Okay guys, you’re on!” The announcer peaked through for them to come out on stage. Twilight took a deep breath after setting up on stage, and faced the crowd. Staring out into the sea of her classmates, she couldn’t help but feel nervous. She looked down and saw her brother giving her an encouraging smile, and Cadence nodding and smiling. “C’mon, Twilight...” She heard one of her friends hiss. “Let’s do it!” The look on her face must’ve screamed help as a moment later, the dancer was beside her hugging her. “You can do this,” She whispered, “I’m right here with you! Just like we practiced, remember?” Cadence gave her a nod and giant smile, and yet her eyes still drifted to a crowd that was beginning to whisper. It was then that she locked eyes with another familiar face in the crowd. Those bright teal orbs seemed to taunt her. ‘Show us what you’re made of...’ It was then that Twilight snapped out of her trance and gave her friends determined looks. She was no weak simpleton by any means. She nodded to Rainbow Dash who was all too ready to show off their talent. Looking back into the crowd she braced herself as the opening synths of their electric pop rift began to play. Showing off the foot work she’d been working on she began to sing. “Here we go again I kinda wanna be more than friends So take it easy on me I'm afraid you're never satisfied...” Spinning and posing, she moved confidently to the beat with her friend. “Here we go again We're sick like animals We play pretend You're just a cannibal And I'm afraid I won't get out alive No, I won't sleep tonight...” As the Rainbooms broke out into the chorus, the students of Baylot High went wild dancing and moving to the upbeat music and catchy lyrics. “Oh, oh I want some more Oh, oh What are you waitin' for? Take a bite of my heart tonight...” Shining Armor grinned up at his sister and girlfriend shimmying and dancing on stage. But he couldn’t help but watch the girl beside him dancing and enjoying herself with her two friends who seemed to materialize from the crowd. She was actually a pretty good dancer spinning and moving with sultry confidence that made him forget that there was an actual choreographed number going on onstage and that his sister and her friends had been practicing for months. “Here we are again I feel the chemicals kickin' in It's gettin' heavier I wanna run and hide I wanna run and hide...” Twilight’s eyes found the stunned eyes of her crush, and the bookworm felt emboldened. “I do it every time You're killin' me now And I won't be denied by you The animal inside of you Oh, oh I want some more Oh, oh What are you waitin' for? Take a bite of my heart tonight...” By the time Shining Armor looked back onstage, Twilight was singing the breakdown losing herself to the show and music. “Hush, hush, the world is quiet Hush, hush we both can't fight it It's us that made this mess Why can't you understand? Whoa, I won't sleep tonight I won't sleep tonight...” He felt a body collide into his and turned to see Chrysalis staring back up at him with flushed cheeks and bright eyes as she stumbled back. “Sorry...” She mumbled, chewing nervously on her lip. “What are you waitin' for? What are you waitin' for? Take a bite of my heart tonight...” He felt a pleasant shiver run up his spine as he stared back at her with a smile. The crowd around them erupted into applause and hoots. He looked back to the stage to see the girls beaming and cheering. “Thank you!” Twilight laughed, “thank you!” “The Sonic Rainbooms!” The announcer shouted wildly as they hopped around in obvious delight. When Shining Armor turned back, Chrysalis was gone. “Shiny! Did you see us?” Cadence gushed as she fell into his arm after coming off the stage. “Yea... you were amazing!” She grinned broadly and kissed him. The older boy broke away from her mouth and pressed a quick kiss to her hair trying not to think about the bright eyed girl he’d spent most of the song watching. “Yea…”