Without the Magic of Friendship

by Powered by corn


Prologue

What happens when somepony, or even someone crosses the portal? Well, apparently nothing serious. Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer have both crossed the portal on multiple occasions. It does beg the question however; what occurs when the two counterparts of the worlds, meet each other? It was a mystery to everyone and pony. Sunset Shimmer certainly didn’t have the answer herself, but she was worried to find out.

This is what kept her from allowing her friends to visit Equestria. She knew the pony versions of her friends were right in Ponyville; the same place the portal had been relocated. After Twilight had made the portal open at all times, her human friends had gotten intently curious. Her friends didn’t understand the risk involved by visiting Equestria. In fact, Sunset Shimmer had to continuously explain why they couldn’t go, every time one of them became curious enough to suggest a quick peek.

Sunset realized the absolute inconvenient spot the portal existed at too. It didn’t help that the portal was wide open, and right in front of the school the girls attended every day. Each morning and afternoon, the girls had to pass this portal to a magical land full of ponies, and they were expected to simply ignore it? It was simply torturous for their curiosity.

No one, however, was affected by this daunting responsibility more than Rainbow Dash. She couldn’t stand the fact that she only got wings when playing the guitar, but in Equestria; she would have wings all the time.

“I would be a Pegasus!” Rainbow would always say. “How can I go to lame Canterlot High School, knowing I’m one wall away from flying in a magical land?”

It bothered Rainbow the most out of her friends that they had to spend their day learning in school, rather than witnessing the awesome things in Equestria. However, she couldn’t go, because she and her friends promised not to.

At least now, Twilight realizes the issue of how anyone can simply cross the portal. But that is now. Before then, the portal was always open for everyone to visit, whether it be an accident or not . Twilight now keeps the portal closed unless she is visiting, but this only occurred after the event. An event, which had put the human girls in great danger. How it all started goes back right after the battle of the bands.


After the Dazzlings had lost the battle of the bands, they looked down in horror to find their pendants shattered in numerous pieces. Everything they have worked for: being so close to gaining total control. It had been all too familiar for the Dazzlings, being banished by Star Swirl the Bearded earlier. Only this time they had no second chances; they had no more magic.

Adagio picked up the broken pieces tightly in her hand as the three stood up. Attempting to sing, they figured their pendants were really the only thing keeping them in tune with each other; in this world at least. Before they could even linger on about that, mounds of food were hurled their way. It was very clear the spell had been broken, and that people were upset.

Usually when the sirens failed, they had a way to fix it all in just one spell, or to be more exact, a curse. The curse was meant for times like this; where people’s hatred for them could be swapped with unsuspecting victims. Thus, the sirens would receive the popularity their victims had, and the ponies; they often disappeared from society.

The issue was how great the curse worked. Not only did the ponies who hated the sirens then hate the victims, but everypony across the land did. What was worse was the exponential effect it had. At first the victim would get a distasteful glance from others, but as time continued, the hatred grew. That was the reason it was deemed a curse in old books. The sirens only used it in dire situations, for even they knew the curse was life ruining.

They couldn’t use it this time, even if they wanted to. They had no magic anymore. That night was the first time they were ever booed off stage. With little experience of this notion, they simply ran. The three sirens ran as fast and as far as they could, because that night they also faced another emotion long since felt: embarrassment.

People were discussing amongst each other about what just happened. The Rainbooms made it to the stage and investigated the aftermath.

Everyone seemed relieved; everyone but Trixie. The Great and Powerful Trixie stood, watching the rest. 'They all worship these girls by now' she thought. Though the Dazzlings were defeated, she still believed her performance was superior in every way.

Powered with hate she interrupted Twilight and Flash to spew her usual lines of revenge, and ran off. She felt embarrassed for some reason. Being out preformed by the Rainbooms made her just want to leave. Of course Pinkie Pie had noticed her climbing off the steps after she threw the smoke. Caught in more embarrassment, she let her self fall off.

“Trixie’s okay,” She yelled for everyone to hear. “Only it’s not okay,” she quietly followed. Rainbow dash and her friends had outshined Trixie on multiple occasions when it came to music. Music is quite a passion for her, other than fake magic of course.

“All music is for the Rainbrooms are another talent they can add to their collection,” She said to herself as she curled up into a ball behind a couple of bushes. “Why is Rainbow Dash good at everything?” Trixie started. “She’s good in academics, sports, singing, guitar, making friends. Seriously, she even stopped the forces of evil twice with her magical friends!” Trixie couldn’t understand why it was them. Why the Rainbooms were chosen by Twilight.

“Ugh, why couldn’t Twilight choose someone who at least knew a thing or to about magic like me?” Trixie asked herself, but knowing full well that human magic is faked.

All Trixie wanted to do was sit there. She couldn’t go back to her house. Not when she knew her parents were in the crowd. They witnessed the whole thing. The last thing she needed was for her parents to talk nonstop about how awesome the Rainbooms were for breaking the Dazzling’s spell.

“Wait,” she started, “what am I thinking! Being jealous of the Rainbooms? Ha, never. At least my band had no magical being from another world to help me cheat!” All she wanted to do was to relax. Too many emotions were messing with her train of thought. She felt drowsy because of it. She pulled out her phone to make fun of the Rainbooms for the countless time on her wall.

You call that a performance Rainbooms?

Doesn’t seven members in one band seem like a little too much?

Next time you girls decide to play on a hill, be sure to–

Her phone slowly slid out of her hand. Her eyes shut as her head tilted onto the stonewall she was leaned upon.


When the Dazzlings reached the well-known fast food diner they used to sing at, they stopped to catch their breath.

Adagio was the first to say a word since they were on stage. “You didn’t *huff* sing with enough passion Sonata, and where was your effort *gasp*, Aria? Were you girls even trying?”

“Well *huff* how could we, when you keep hogging the spotlight?” Aria refuted.

“You know perfectly well why I’m the leader,” Adagio said, with her breath caught up again. “Last time we followed your idea, we ended up in a vortex leading here. And why Sonata isn’t leader? Do I even need to say it?”

“I’ll say it,” Aria said. “She couldn’t possibly lead with her small brain.”

“Hey,” Sonata started, “I’ll have you know that… that you have a smaller brain!”

“Oh, ouch, you really got me this time Sonata” Aria sarcastically replied, with her hand placed on her chest where her heart was.

Sonata—not ever understanding sarcasm—felt as if she had won the small argument. “That’s right, I hope you’ve learned your–”

“Would you two please stop arguing about nonsense?” Adagio interrupted. “We have bigger problems on our hands.” It then dawned on them just how much trouble the absence of their pendants would give them.

The Dazzlings quietly walked home under the bright moonlight and cold air. Not a word was spoken. They all knew too well what’s going to happen now that they have lost their power. Everyone they had previously sang to, now out of their control again.

As the three sirens neared their apartment, Sonata only just realized the severity of the situation. “Does this mean we will get kicked out of our rooms?” she asked in a worried tone.

“I don’t know,” Adagio said, “we might have some time until the monthly payment.” Adagio tried to remember how long ago the last time they sang to the apartment manager.

They arrived at their apartment door. Adagio pulled out the keys, her hand shaking violently due to the cold, or maybe just due to the shock. As soon as they entered the safety of their own apartment, all silence was cut off.

“How will we get food now?" Adagio yelled. "Are any of us even capable of getting jobs?”

“Of course not Adagio!” Aria replies. “None of us have any real information or past experience at all. We came from Equestria, remember?” Aria said rhetorically, well aware of Adagio's knowledge of where they came from.

Still next to the front door stood Sonata, pondering at the realness of it all. She didn’t feel like her cheerful–confused self. She couldn’t at a time like this. She hated the constant arguing the Aria and Adagio always had. Only this time she wanted to chime in. She couldn’t simply act confused with the answer right under her nose.

“Hey, Aria?” Sonata asked, pushing her two index fingers together.

“What do you want, dweeb?” Aria said. Sonata almost held back what she wanted to say, for this time it wasn’t just playful comebacks. She decide to go through with it though, knowing this is a better time than any.

“I’ve come to realize something,” Sonata started. “All our problems are… are your fault!”

“What!?” Aria was surprised at the comment. This was Sonata who said it, right?

“Yeah, Adagio and I never get into arguments. You’re the root to every argument we have.” She boldly stated. Adagio was nodding in agreement with what Sonata said. Adagio decided to team up against Aria, and added insult to injury.

“If you didn’t always have to throw in your two cents about everything, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Okay,” Aria said, “Obviously you two are too broken from the loss right now. Suggesting it’s all, my fault? What ever happened to your stupid remarks you always give, Sonata?” Aria was appalled for what Sonata had just said.

“I guess you just bring out the worst of me,” Sonata said, snickering to herself.

“Oh you think this is funny? Us not having any where to go; anything to eat. Keep laughing, Sonata, but I was the only one who saw this plan going south from a mile away.”

“You saw this plan failing?” Adagio asked. “Then why didn’t you say anything?”

“I did!” Aria yelled. "You two just always think I'm being sarcastic!"

“We know you aren't being sarcastic, it's that you always complain!" Adagio said. "Complaining isn’t the same as warning us!” Aria was clearly offended by Adagio's comment, for she stared at her for a second, then stormed off into the kitchen. Aria then opened the refrigerator to find the little amount of food they had left.

"This will only last us about three days," Aria mumbled, looking deep into the almost empty refrigerator. She grabbed a leftover sandwich and took a bite from it. She then noticed how quiet the living room got when she left.

'Is Sonata right? Is it really me?' Aria thought. 'The moment I left, no one was arguing anymore. Okay, so that may be my fault, but how we got into this mess wasn't.'

"Aria?" Sonata yelled from the living room. "We didn't mean to upset you."

"Oh, yes you did." Aria mumbled to herself, before walking back into the living room. Sonata and Adagio were now sitting on the couch; clearly exhausted from all the running.

“Oh, no—no, Sonata. It's fine, I see how it is,” Aria started, trying her best to act friendly.

"You do?" Sonata replied.

“Yes, you two just don’t want to admit when you messed up," Aria said.

Adagio realized how this argument got out of hand and she wanted to fix things now. “Look, Aria. Arguing is only going to drive us apart. We need you to stick together with us.”

“Stick together?" Aria wasn't too happy with the way Adagio kept placing the problem back on her. "You think I’m the one who wanted to leave? Ever since we arrived in this world, all you wanted to do was leave this group! But ohhh, the pendants and our little power was enough to convince you to deal with us. Now that we lost all that, you would ditch us in a heart beat for anything better,” Aria told Adagio. Aria fired all six cylinders with that one statement. By this point, she just wanted to see a strong reaction from Adagio.

“Now you have crossed the line, Aria, suggesting I would betray you both if given the chance.” Adagio said. Her approach to calm things down only made it worse.

“I have known you longer than yesterday,” Aria yelled, “You would do something like that. Well I’m not going to stay here to find out!”

“Are you saying you’re leaving us Aria?” Sonata asked, now wishing she could take back what she had said earlier.

“You can’t bail on us, where in Eques– I mean, on Earth would you go?” Adagio asked in a confident voice. She thought—no—she knew Aria was bluffing.

“Anywhere, I just need to get away from you two right now!” Aria stated. Aria stormed off with her keys in one hand and the sandwich in the other. She opened the front door and slammed it behind her.

“Aria?” Sonata said, her eyes becoming heavy from the tears forming around them.

“Don’t worry, she’s just going out to relieve her anger. She’ll be back.” Adagio assured Sonata.

It was late, and the two girls just needed to rest things off. They decided to go to sleep, rather than wait for Aria's return.

Sonata and Adagio were asleep when Aria quietly came back hours later. She had the look on her face showing she still held a grudge for everything that had happened that day.

Aria quietly went into her room, trying not to wake the other girls. She came out of the room with packed bags and a note she had written. She laid the note on a small table next to the front door, put her keys on top of the note and left the apartment.


The next morning Trixie woke up, being startled by the fact that she was still outside. “Wow, did I fall asleep here through the whole night?” Trixie said to herself as she grabbed her phone and stood up.

“Darn, no battery left, at least no one stole it.” She was surprised by the fact that being hidden by the bushes most likely saved her from night dwellers. “I better run home, mom and dad are probably worried sick for the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

As she walked home, she passed the left most side of Canterlot High School. That’s when she noticed all of them. Every single member of the Rainbooms including Sunset Shimmer, were grouped around the front of the Wondercolt statue. Trixie was still upset about last night and decided to hide behind a couple of bushes rather than walking by them. She didn’t want to get noticed by them. After all, she was still in her dress from last night, and it was covered in dirt.

Trixie simply waited, hoping they would leave soon. 'They couldn’t stay there for too long,' she thought. As she watched, she noticed that—for some reason—they were saying their goodbyes to Twilight. She thought nothing of it, until she remembered how Twilight isn’t from here. When she took another look through the bushes, she saw Twilight Sparkle suddenly disappear by walking though the base of the statue. Trixie’s eyes widened as she knelt behind the bushes again, surely not wanting to be caught after witnessing that.

“Is that it?” She thought. “Is that how Twilight and the Dazzlings got to this world?” she said quietly to herself, not knowing the true way the Dazzling got here. Trixie then understood the power she had, knowing the gateway to a magical world of Equestria. It was at that moment where Trixie knew how to take revenge on the Rainbooms.