For those who don't know in advanced, there are 2 musical numbers in this story, and this chapter has one of them. I tried to use a certain mechanic so that it would make sense in the story and not just be random singing, so I hope you enjoy.
The lyrics are easy enough to understand. The actions right under the lyrics are what's happening while that part is being sung.
Chapter 18: Opposite Ends
When the train arrived in Fillydelphia, it was still night time. Surprisingly no one was tired, but that may have just been the tension. Even Silver Spoon knew how important this moment was. They needed to reach Princess Cadence and Shining Armor and at least warn them that Twilight wasn’t who they thought she was anymore.
Assuming they didn’t already learn that the hard way.
“So, you guys are hoping to get Mi Amore Cadenza to cure Twilight?” Silver Spoon asked.
“It’s our only option at the moment,” Lezard explained, “Even if the fact that she wasn’t a good pony at one point wasn’t an issue, we’d still have to deal with her high levels of magic. At the very least we need to talk to Mi Amore Cadenza and get her as an ally.”
“Tween Princess Celestia turned ta stone, and Princess Luna enchanted by that weird spell, Cadence is the last Alicorn we know still able ta fight,” Apple Bloom said.
“Speaking of Cadence,” Spike said running up to Apple Bloom, “I tried to send her a letter warning her like you asked, but it came right back.”
“What does that mean?” Silver Spoon asked.
“It means that Mi Amore Cadenza’s magic is being blocked somehow,” Lezard stated, “Either the letter didn’t reach her, or for whatever reason she couldn’t materialize it and it was sent back.”
“That’s never happened before,” Spike said, “Even when Shining Armor put that shield around Canterlot I was able to send letters to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”
“Which leaves the second option,” Lezard said, “She wasn’t able to materialize the letter.”
“But don’t those letters respond ta the magic inside the pony and materialize on their own usin the horn of a unicorn as a base?” Apple Bloom asked, shocking everyone there, “Ah asked Twilight how it worked one day, ‘kay?”
Lezard chuckled a bit before speaking, “That is true though, and if that’s the case, then it should have materialized on its own regardless.”
“Guys, I’m getting scared now,” Silver Spoon said, “What if we’re too late?”
“Unless she’s lost interest in anypony she once loved, then I doubt she’d kill Mi Amore Cadenza,” Lezard reasoned, “Seeing as how she’s according to Apple Bloom married to her older brother.”
“But considerin Ah always thought she had a bit of a big bro complex after seein her at the weddin, then we don’t know whut she’s capable of,” Apple Bloom said.
“Then why are we standing around here?” Spike asked, “Let’s get moving!”
Everyone nodded and began their gallop out of the train station to the main center of Fillydelphia. Hopefully somepony could guide them in the right direction.
As long as they weren’t too late…
As they walked through Fillydelphia, it became apparent that something was wrong. The town was deserted. Sure, it was late at night, but something about the atmosphere felt really off.
"It's too quiet," Lezard said.
"There's magic in the air," Spike said, "I can feel it."
"How?" Silver Spoon asked him.
"I'm a dragon," Spike explained, "Even if I'm only a baby dragon, I can still feel magic, and there's a lot of it here."
"Ah wonder..." Apple Bloom said looking around. All of a sudden, she heard something. A beat of some sort in the air.
Music...
(Start For Your Entertainment: Adam Lambart)
Apple Bloom's fear picked up as the beat picked up, until she realized what was happening.
"Take cover! Quick!" she shouted as she, Lezard, Spike, and Silver Spoon ran behind a building.
So hot out of the box, can we pick up the pace,
Turn it up, heat it up, I need to be entertained,
Push the limit, are you with it? Baby don't be afraid
Imma hurt you real good baby.
They looked up and saw Sweetie Belle standing on a stair case singing. As she sang, stallions slowly walked over to her as if in a daze. Apple Bloom frowned looking up at her, realizing what was going on once she noticed her horn was glowing. Thankfully she didn't see them yet.
Let's go, it's my show, baby do what I say,
Don't trip off the glitz that I'm gonna display,
I told you, Imma hold ya down until you're amazed,
Give it to ya till you're screamin' my name.
Sweetie Belle jumped down the stairs and sauntered through the town still singing. As she walked, stallions walked over to the side of her and she would rub against them and even caress their faces. In the end of her verse she held one stallion's cheeks lovingly and sang really close to his face.
No escaping when I start,
Once I'm in I own your heart,
There's no way to ring the alarm,
So hold on until it's over!
After letting him go, she walked forward a bit, but then stood in the middle of the circle of admirers holding her hoof to her chest while she sang. Right before going to the chorus, she ran over to what looked like a stage that had a long pole in the center.
Oh!
Do you know what you got into?
Can you handle what I'm 'bout to do?
'Cause it's about to get rough for you,
I'm here for your entertainment!
Now holding onto the pole, Sweetie Belle spun around once, and then lifted her back legs actually in a sexual manner leaning back still singing. Her admirers gathered around her as she presented herself to the crowd.
Oh!
I bet you thought that I was soft and sweet,
You thought an angel swept you off your feet,
But I'm about to turn up the heat,
I'm here for your entertainment!
Sweetie Belle let go of the pole and rolled onto her back while singing. As she sang, some of the stallions lifted her up off the stage as if she were a beloved treasure. She smiled lustfully as she sang, showing how much fun she was having.
It's all right, you'll be fine, baby I'm in control,
Take the pain, take the pleasure, I'm the master of both,
Close your eyes, not your mind, let me into your soul,
I'm gonna work it 'til your totally blown.
Apple Bloom's group tried to move down another pathway, but once they stepped out they had to quickly hide again as another bout of stallions walked over to the stage that Sweetie Belle was still dancing and singing on. Apple Bloom looked up and saw Sweetie Belle with her forelegs wrapped around a stallion who was on top of her, close enough where they could start kissing at any moment.
No escaping when I start,
Once I'm in I own your heart,
There's no way to ring the alarm,
So hold on 'till it's over,
Sweetie Belle pushed him off of her, but when she walked backwards she fell into two more stallions' embrace. She closed her eyes and let the feeling of (apparently) sheer ecstasy take over as she sang, the two stallions getting in real close to her as if her sheer scent was drawing them in.
Oh!
Do you know what you got into?
Can you handle what I am about to do?
'Cause it's about to get rough for you,
I'm here for your entertainment!
Oh!
I bet you thought that I was soft and sweet,
You thought an angel swept you off your feet,
But I'm about to turn up the heat,
I'm here for your entertainment!
As Sweetie Belle sang, she switched from one stallion to the other embracing them lovingly, and getting in real close to them as if she were about to do... things... to them right there. What's happening to her, Apple Bloom thought. Singing the entire chorus, she sexily moved and danced on the stage, letting the stallions touch and caress her at random parts of her dance. Lezard touched Apple Bloom's shoulder and silently told her to get moving. As they began to make their away from the scene, Sweetie Belle stopped singing for a second after the chorus of the song ended.
Oh!
Do you like what you see?
Oh!
Let me entertain ya 'til you scream!
For a few seconds there was what seemed like an instrumental part as Lezard, Spike, Silver Spoon, and Apple Bloom made their way secretly away. It ended too soon though as Sweetie Belle jumped down right in front of Apple Bloom, backing her into a wall as she sang. In the end, Lezard grabbed her by the tail and pulled her away, the group now going into a full gallop through Fillydelphia.
Oh!
Do you know what you got into?
Can you handle what I am about to do?
'Cause it's about to get rough for you,
I'm here for your entertainment!
Oh!
I bet you thought that I was soft and sweet,
You thought an angel swept you off your feet,
But I'm about to turn up the heat,
I'm here for your entertainment!
Now things got scary, because as they ran, the stallions that were admiring Sweetie Belle were now stalking Apple Bloom's team. Every time they turned down a pathway, one, maybe two stallions would come out of nowhere, forcing them to run down another pathway. Somewhere down the line, Lezard and Apple Bloom got separated from Spike and Silver Spoon, because she couldn't find them anywhere.
What really scared Apple Bloom was that while she didn't see Sweetie Belle anywhere, she could still hear her singing. They found themselves back at the stage (they must have been leading them there) and now they were surrounded by all sides. As the song ended, Apple Bloom turned around and was face to face with the one pony she did not want to be that close to right now.
"Sweetie Belle..." Apple Bloom said softly.
"Apple Bloom," Sweetie Belle said darkly, still smiling evilly (and somewhat lustfully), "I'm so happy to see you again."
"W-what's happenin ta ya?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Big sis told me to have fun and practice my powers," Sweetie Belle said sauntering around Apple Bloom in a way that made her tail swish back and forth, "I had no idea that I my powers were this strong."
"You've used your magic to control the stallions in Fillydelphia," Lezard said suddenly, "What I want to know is where are the mares?"
"Mmm," Sweetie Belle walked over to Lezard lustfully and puts her hoof on his cheek, "He's handsome, Apple Bloom," Sweetie Belle said, "Can we share him?"
Apple Bloom growled looking at Sweetie Belle. For some reason, she felt really angry hearing Sweetie Belle ask that.
"Answer the question," Lezard said sternly, making Sweetie Belle laugh.
"They're out of the way," Sweetie Belle said, "Out of my way."
"Explain," Lezard demanded.
"My destiny is to be the most loved pony in Equestria," Sweetie Belle explained, "If that's to come true, I can't have a town filled with mares vying for their attention," sensing Apple Bloom and Lezard's emotions she held a hoof up, "They're not dead, don't worry. I'm not ruthless like Big Sis is."
"Ya keep sayin 'Big Sis'," Apple Bloom said, "What do ya mean? Rarity wouldn't-"
Sweetie Belle's sweet exterior turned angry and violent as she turned to Apple Bloom, "Rarity is NOT my sister."
"Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.
"I don't need her." Sweetie Belle stated darkly, "Twilight is my sister now. She won't tell me I can't be beautiful. She won't push me behind her. She won't steal the spotlight. She loves me. She's all I need now."
"The Queen of Darkness doesn't understand love," Lezard said, "You seem like a good kid, just misguided. The Queen is using your love for her to control you."
"Kid? KID?!" Sweetie Belle shouted getting in Lezard's face, "Is this a child's voice?! Is this a child's body?! Do you see a child?!"
"Maybe not on the outside," Lezard stated, "but all I see on the inside is a child having a temper tantrum."
That wasn't the right thing to say, because Sweetie Belle's beautiful face got twisted into an angry scowl, "I hate people like you," Sweetie Belle said darkly, "You all treat me like a kid, even when I get an adult's body! You're not welcome in my world!" as soon as she said that, one of the stallions punched Lezard in the face knocking him to the ground.
"Lezard!" Apple Bloom cried out.
"Lock him up with the others!" Sweetie Belle commanded, "I want Apple Bloom to stay with me," she said putting her hoof on Apple Bloom's face lovingly. Apple Bloom couldn't believe this was her friend. What did Twilight do to her? She wondered all the way as she and Lezard were taken away.
When everyone left, Silver Spoon and Spike walked out of where they were hiding. Silver Spoon rubbed her foreleg looking around in fear as Spike walked over to Lezard's glasses (they were knocked off when he was punched).
"What's going on?" Silver Spoon asked, "Was that really Sweetie Belle?"
"I think so," Spike said picking up Lezard's glasses.
"What are we going to do?" Silver Spoon asked, "They have Apple Bloom and Lezard! They were the only one's who could fight! We're just a filly and a baby dragon!"
"Rarity..." Spike said to himself, holding the glasses tightly.
"Spike?"
"She's counting on me," Spike said, "I don't care if I'm a baby dragon! If I can do something to stop Twilight then I'll do it!"
He then ran off in the direction of where they took Lezard. Silver Spoon stood there by herself, thinking about what she should do. She couldn't fight all those soldiers by herself, and Apple Bloom and Lezard couldn't get out themselves. She had to do something. She had to save her friend.
She was the only one who could save Apple Bloom now.
The stallions tied Apple Bloom's forelegs to the top of the bed, and her back legs to the bottom. She was on her stomach, and the ropes were tied in such away where she still looked elegant in her own way.
"Comfortable?" Sweetie Belle asked walking into the room, "I hope they didn't tie the ropes too tight."
"They ain't cuttin off mah circulation or nothin," Apple Bloom said, "But why did ya go through all of this?"
"Because I knew if I didn't, you'd run away again," Sweetie Belle said sadly.
"Yer darn right," Apple Bloom said, "But Ah hoped that you'd run with me. Lezard is right, Twilight is usin ya."
"If she were using me then she could have done to me what she did to the others," Sweetie Belle said, "She could have used that star thing she has but she didn't. She made me one of her own because she cares about me."
"The only reason she didn't use that is because she didn't want ta waste magic! Ah saw whut that star does, an' Ah don't think she can use it on everypony. Beside, it's more satisfyin gettin control of ya emotionally."
"You don't know anything about Big Sis!" Sweetie Belle shouted, "You didn't even give her a chance! Look at me, I have my Cutie Mark, I'm beautiful, I can sing! It's all thanks to Big Sis!"
"All of that ya coulda gotten on ya own!" Apple Bloom retaliated, "We coulda gotten out Cutie Marks the right way, an' you could always sing, an' you were always beautiful."
"No, I was just living in her shadow!" Sweetie Belle said, Apple Bloom assuming she meant Rarity, "Not anymore though. Now it's my turn to be loved. I hoped you could understand."
"Yea, well Ah don't." Apple Bloom said, "Ah don't understand Scootaloo, an' Ah don't understand you neither. All of ya ain't actin like yer real selves. Ah just want mah friends back. Ah want us ta be a team again."
"That's what I want too," Sweetie Belle said looking down, "That's why I'm urging you to give Twilight a chance. That way we can be a team again."
"Ah can't do that," Apple Bloom said shaking her head, "Rarity is coutin on me, an' Ah ain't lettin her down. Ah already had ta let one friend down."
Sweetie Belle's expression hardened again, "You side with Rarity?" she asked, "You side with her over me?"
"It ain't about sides," Apple Bloom said, "It's about whut's best fer all of Equestria. Ah ain't an Element of Harmony or nothin like that, but Ah can still do whut Ah can ta stop Twilight, an save everypony! Ah'm sorry Belle, but Ah can't support whut yer doin."
"So in the end, you're still against me?" Sweetie Belle asked, getting a sad nod from Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle looked up, letting the tears flow freely, "You'll see, Bloom. I swear it, you'll see. Then you'll side with me," Sweetie Belle turned to the door, "I'll keep the door open for you, always," Sweetie Belle slightly turned to Apple Bloom, "I'll always see you as my best friend, even if we're on opposite ends of the battlefield."
When she left the room and closed the door, Apple Bloom burst into tears of sadness and anger, thinking of the whole situation.
"Ah'll always see you as mah best friend..." Apple Bloom sobbed, "No matter whut..."
As his vision returned, and he came back to the world of consciousness, he saw that he was in a cave of some sort. His vision was still really blurry, but that was because he wasn't wearing his glasses.
"Damn it," Lezard said to himself. He felt his forehead, happy his horn was still there. At least they weren't sadistic. If so, they could have sawed off his horn. Since he still had it he decided to light up the room he was in so he could get a feel for his surroundings. He then looked around and saw that he wasn't alone. In fact, he saw a number of pony figures huddled in the corner of the room.
"Hello," Lezard called out, "I won't hurt you, I swear," the ponies walked over to him slowly and he saw that they were all female, and there were a lot of them. This must be where Sweetie Belle keeps the women, he thought.
"Why did she throw a man down here?" one mare asked.
"Let's just say I didn't agree with the kind of music she played," Lezard said, "Where are we?"
"It's an underground dungeon underneath the mayor's estate," the mare said, "The only other pony here besides all of us is I think the mayor's wife, Cadence."
"Cadence?" Lezard asked getting up now, "Me and my allies are searching for her. Where is she?"
"She's in the room next to us," another mare said, "Over by the left wall."
"Thank you," Lezard said walking over to the wall, slowly as to not hit it. Once he was sure he was there he listened through the wall and heard crying. There was a mare in there, "Excuse me," he called out, "Miss, are you Mi Amore Cadenza?"
"H-hello?" she asked through her tears, "Who are you?"
"Lezard Chronostar. I'm a graduate from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. I'm here with my allies to stop Twilight Sparkle."
"It's kind of counter productive getting kidnapped yourself, isn't it?" Cadence asked with a slight hint of levity, making Lezard laugh.
"I suppose so, but believe me, this wasn't my intention," Lezard said smiling, "We need to get out of here to stop Twilight. We're under the impression that she's under the influence of an evil force, and that your magic can-"
"NO!" Cadence shouted, "I can't help you!"
"Why not?" Lezard asked, "You are Mi Amore Cadenza, right?"
"Yes, I am," she sobbed, "But I can't use magic."
"Can't use magic..." Lezard said to himself.
"This weird star appeared on her eye," Cadence explained, her voice getting more and more shakey, "and she told me to never cast another spell again. Ever since then, every time I try to cast any spell, my horn won't glow. At first I thought that she did something to block my magic, but it feels more like I don't want to use it!" she broke down, "I can't use my magic! I'm sorry!"
"A strange star?" Lezard asked himself, "Damn it. She must have used..." he said when he realized what it was. If Twilight had that power then she really was the Queen of Darkness.
There may not be any hope of bringing her back after all.
"Huh? Who are you?" one of the mares asked.
"I'm looking for a stallion wearing Canterlotian garments," a young male voice said, "He's a friend of mine."
"Spike, is that you?" Lezard asked walking over to the door. Sure enough, he saw something small and purple through the bars.
"Lezard! Thank Celestia! Are you okay?" Spike asked holding something up he couldn't really see. Lezard used his magic to feel it out and was pleased when he realized it was his glasses.
"I'll live. Did you see where they took Apple Bloom?" Lezard asked putting his glasses on.
"I think so," Spike said, "But it's heavily guarded by now. I don't think we're going to get to her easily."
"We may have to wait till the morning," Lezard reasoned, "I'm sure Apple Bloom will be fine, but we need to reserve our strength. Also, I found Cadence."
"You did?" Spike asked, but Lezard held up his hoof before he got too excited.
"But Twilight did something to her. I want you to start making your way to Shining Armor's house and hide there until morning. You need to try one more time to reach out to her, if not slow her down. I'll find Apple Bloom and rescue her in the morning after I get some rest."
"Can you get out of here?" Spike asked.
"Please, these bars are nothing. I could get out tonight if I wanted to."
"Okay, don't take too long. I don't think I'm going to be able to hold her off for very long," Spike said before running off. Lezard walked back into the cell and sat down on the floor resting his head.
"Are you sure you can get out of here?" one of the mares asked him.
"Getting out is easy," Lezard said, "Surviving past tomorrow, that's the hard part."