Chapter 2: Music, teamwork and mystable
Sunset Shimmer opened up the album of pictures she had with her friends. Sunset smiled, as she remembered the Battle of the Bands. Those good times she had. Flash popped his head around the door. “Sunset, they’re here.”
Sunset smiled. “I was just looking at our photo album. The Battle of the bands.”
“Oh that.” said Flash. “I believe Rainbow’s gonna tell the story. Come on.”
Sunset hugged the album against her chest. “I’ll be there,” she promised.
A pink light shone from her journal.
In neat, cursive handwriting, was a note:
Dear Sunset Shimmer,
I am so proud of you! You've come such a long long way, from the day you ran away to being Principal at Canterlot High. How is everyone? But this isn’t what I want to talk to you about. Your brother, Sunburst, and his wife , Starlight Glimmer are due to have another baby soon! They asked Trixie to be Godmother to Luster Dawn, but Sunburst and Starlight want you and Flash to be Godparents to their new child. You’ll come over, right? They’re due to have it in 4 weeks.
Your friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle.
Sunset picked up a pen and wrote.
Dear Princess Twilight,
That’s great news!
I can’t wait to come. I’ve gotta run now, uh, I’m supposed to tell my kids the story. Tell Sunburst and Starlight hi from everyone.
Your friend, Sunset Shimmer
Twilight popped her head around. “Sunset? Are you coming?”
Sunset shut her journal. “Coming! Just writing a note to the Princess.”
Twilight linked arms with her best friend, as they walked into the kitchen.
RAINBOW DASH POV
“So the next part of the story,” I said, “Is the Battle of the Bands. Sunset Shimmer was starting to believe in friendship…”
FLASHBACK
Kids gathered in the gym, decorating posters for the latest event, the Musical Showcase. In one corner were 5 girls, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and me. Everyone was laughing and talking. But when Sunset Shimmer walked into the room, it was like a cloud covering the sunny sky. Sunset Shimmer hung her head in shame, as she walked past the girls. She knelt down next to the CMC. “Want some help?” she asked as sweetly as she could.
The 3 girls exchanged looks, as if, “Is she serious?”
“Uh, no thanks,” said Applebloom coolly. “We’re good.”
Sunset’s stomach sank like a stone. “Oh. Okay.” she whispered.
“OVER HERE, SUNSET SHIMMER!” yelled Pinkie Pie.
Sunset’s eyes lit up. Smiling, she skipped over to where we were gathered.
Pinkie Pie bombarded Sunset with hugs. “Pinkie! Pinkie!” she giggled. “You’re squishing me!”
I was happy that Sunset was having some fun. Then Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna walked in, to make some announcements. Kids were delighted! Some did air guitar, others grinned. But then she opened her mouth. We made shushing noises, to tell them that it would embarrass Sunset. Instead she said, “What happened in fall.”
Still, everyone glared at Sunset. Poor thing. We gathered our things and hurried to the band room.
“I’m never gonna live the fall formal down,” moaned Sunset Shimmer.
“You were pretty bad,” agreed Fluttershy.
Rarity wrapped a comforting arm around her. “Still, we’ve forgiven you for your past… uh… misdeeds.”
Sunset sunk into a chair. “Thanks, Rarity.” she whispered.
“Hey, Sunset?” asked Pinkie. “You okay? You wanna talk?”
“No thanks,” she said. “I’m good.”
We tuned our instruments and started to play Better than ever.
“1, 2, 3!” yelled Pinkie Pie.
[The Rainbooms]
There was a time we were apart
But that's behind us now
See how we've made a brand new start
And the future's lookin' up, ah-oh, ah-oh
And when you walk these halls
You feel it everywhere
Yeah, we're the Wondercolts forever, ah-oh, yeah!
We are all together
(Ah, ah, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Now it's better than ever
(Ah, ah, oh-oh-oh-oh)
You can feel it, we are back (You... can... feel... it...)
And I'm so glad that we're better
Better than ever
Whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Oh yeah, we're better than ever
Whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
[Rainbow Dash]
There was a time we couldn't see
Past the differences
[Applejack]
That separated you and me
And it left us on our own
[Pinkie Pie]
But now you walk these halls
And friends are everywhere
[The Rainbooms]
Yeah, we're the Wondercolts forever, ah-oh, yeah!
We are all together
(Ah, ah, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Now it's better than ever
(Ah, ah, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Now that we are back on track (Now... that... we... are...)
Yes, I'm so glad that we're better
Better than ever
Whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Oh yeah, we're better than ever
Whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Oh yeah, we're better than ever
Whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Oh yeah, we're better than ever!
Sunset Shimmer clapped. She had mixed feelings. She wanted to be in the band, but then, what would she do?
In the cafeteria, 3 strange girls sang some weird song. They even got to Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna!
“Looks like we’re on our own,” said Sunset.
Our only solution was to write in Sunset’s old journal to Equestria. We were so lucky Princess Twilight got to us in about 1 hour. The first round was coming up. Where was Rarity? We did well. But the second round, well, let me sing for you.
[The Rainbooms]
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
[Rainbow Dash]
Awesome as I wanna be
[The Rainbooms]
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
[Rainbow Dash]
Awesome as I wanna be
First you see me riding on a sonic boom
Got my guitar shreddin' up my latest tune
There is nothin' you can do to beat me
I'm so good that you can't defeat me
[Rainbow Dash and the Rainbooms]
Yeah, I'm awesome, take caution
Watch out for me, I'm awesome as I wanna be
(Yeah!) I'm awesome, take caution
Watch out for me, I'm awesome as I wanna be
[The Rainbooms]
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!/i]
[Rainbow Dash]
Step aside now, you're just gettin' in my way
I got sick chops you could never hope to play
When it comes to makin' music, I'm the ruler
You wish you could be twenty percent cooler
[Rainbow Dash and the Rainbooms]
Yeah, I'm awesome, take caution
Watch out for me, I'm awesome as I wanna be
(Yeah!) I'm awesome, take caution
Watch out for me, I'm awesome as I wanna be!
But then Sunset Shimmer leapt on and ruined my performance. Just because of a pony up?!
I felt like slapping her across the face. I nearly did, when Applejack laid a cool hand on my shoulder. I simmered down. Trixie sauntered up to us.
“Way to go, Raingoons! I especially liked the part when Sunset Shimmer ruined Rainbow Dash’s guitar solo in a fit of jealous rage!”
Sunset was as red as an angry bull, as red as the she-demon she turned into last fall. “It wasn’t a fit of jealous rage!” she exploded, her fists balled.
“If you say so,” said Trixie.
Sunset leaned against the wall and put her head in her hands. Fluttershy sat next to her.
Sunset looked up. “I-I’m sorry Fluttershy. I ruined it, didn’t I?”
“You didn’t,” said Applejack. “Rainbow Dash was bein’ a selfish bitch, WEREN’T ya?”
“I wasn’t!” I protested.
“You were,” said Fluttershy. “You wanted to be the star. My God, Dashie, you sound like Trixie!”
After escaping from under the stage, we ran with Spike and Vinyl Scratch to the top of the hill where we played Fluttershy’s special song. Sunset sang and she became a member of the band.
Present day
“And,” I said, “That’s the battle of the bands.”
Sunset POV
“We’re going to tell you about my first Christmas,” I said. “I was leaning against my locker and…”
Flashback
And Applejack came up to me. “Hey, Sunset,” said Applejack. “Whatcha doin’ this Christmas?”
“I’m not doing anything,” I admitted. “I don’t have a family and I never celebrated Hearth’s Warming Eve in Equestria.”
Applejack was shocked. “You’ve never-?!” She was on her phone texting someone when the bell rang.
We were invited to Pinkie’s house and AJ got a call. From Applebloom. Applejack then told us the story of her nickname and then the terrible thing happened. The next day, at school, everyone was calling out Oink or Piggly Wiggly. We stuck by Applejack. But it gets worse. At Rarity’s house, someone got the pictures I took and I was accused. My friends left me and I was on my own. I wrote to Princess Twilight to talk to her. She gave me advice.
I was brave enough to confront my friends, and at that moment, the CMC confessed.
Everyone was happy and we all had a fabulous time at Rarity’s house.
Present day
“And that’s the story,” I concluded. I looked at my watch. “Jeez! It’s nearly 9 pm. Bed, you can hear about the Games tomorrow.”
“Yes, mom.” said Dawn.