Dear Princess Twilight,
After you left, the most unexpected, yet completely expected thing occurred.
I’m no longer the most hated person in school. People are actually friendly with me now.
They seem to appreciate the way we took care of the Dazzlings. The school is a friendly
place now that the Dazzlings are gone.
I am having a great time being in the Rainbooms, even when Rainbow Dash can be a tad
bit of a showoff. I think she’s just trying to show everyone that she’s better at guitar than me.
I know I could easily come back to Equestria now that Princess Celestia will let me,
but I think I’ve grown too fond of this place. I couldn’t possibly leave my new friends behind–
“Come on Sunset,” Pinkie Pie yelled, “are you ready to go. You can write to Twilight later!”
Due to the unfortunate events of the battle of the bands, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna decided to reinitiate a high school musical showcase as previously planed. Only this time, it wasn’t a competition and no one was under anyone’s control.
Sunset Shimmer grabbed her guitar and joined the Rainbooms on stage. The people in the crowd went silent in anticipation. Everyone in CHS loved the Rainbooms after what they had done. However, one wouldn’t suggest that it’s the only reason they like the Rainbooms. It was also slightly influenced by the fact that their songs sound like they can be packaged, and sent right off to a record company.
From what people heard in practices from the Rainbooms, it was rumored that they had a new song. Students at CHS haven’t heard a new song from them since the awful battle of the bands, so they were excited.
The Rainbooms did in fact have a new song. They preformed their latest song, Shine Like Rainbows. Everyone cheered as they finished. They had gotten the most applause out of every performance so far. So much so, that they kind of felt bad for who ever had to go after them.
“Next up, Snips and Snails… please don't drop the microphones this time” Principal Celestia announced. The girls didn’t feel bad anymore. Their new rap was going to stink either way. Just no one dared to say it.
As the Rainbooms walked off stage, a single applause was heard; one slow clap sounded after the next. The girls looked around for a second, trying to decipher where the clapping was coming from.
The clap stopped, but was followed by a voice from a distance. “You girls did great out there,” said a familiar voice. A girl then walked out from behind the exit stairwell, revealing her cyan blue skin, and nearly white hair.
“Trixie?” The Rainbooms all said in unison. This was a surprise for her to show up at a time like this. No one at school has seen Trixie for days. Only one could wonder what she was doing.
“Ah thought you’d ran away after the battle of the bands,” Applejack stated.
“That's no matter,” Trixie replied, “I’m here now, aren’t I? I just wish to preform.”
“Not here to ridicule us?” Rainbow asked. She was sure Trixie was lying, or hiding something.
“No, that’s all past me now. I was under the spell too, remember?” Trixie stated.
“So let me get this right, dear," Rarity said. "You disappear for days, only to come back to preform at the musical?” Rarity did have a point. Why would Trixie skip out on school; her academics; a ticket for her future? But then, she decided to show up for a musical?
“I’ve been practicing all that time.” Trixie replied. This wasn't such an acceptable answer for the girls, for it made little sense, but they let it pass them. Trixie was out of the spell, as she stated, so they didn't want to stir up any new trouble for questioning her answer.
Still, Trixie was all by herself. How can she preform if her band members aren't there? Rainbow was suspicious of Trixie, and decided to ask. “Where are your other band members, if you are going to preform?”
“Oh them?” Trixie started, “They started a new band without me. They thought I was too boastful.” Trixie knew exactly why she had confronted the Rainbooms, and she was intent on getting her message across. “However, I didn’t come here to do a solo act. This is why I came here to you girls.”
“What might you be suggestin’?” Applejack asked in a confused tone. Trixie smiled, stretched out her arm, and pointed her finger towards Rainbow Dash.
“Rainbow Dash!” Trixie yelled. “I challenge you to another shred off; in front of the whole school.” Trixie stated confidently.
Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but laugh at that. Trixie came all this way to challenge her to a rematch? “*snikker* *snikker*, Bwahahaha!” Rainbow couldn’t contain herself. “You can’t be serious Trixie. I beat you hands down in the instrument shop before, what gave you the sudden boost in confidence to challenge me again? In front of the whole school mind you.”
This was pretty much the reaction Trixie had expected, so she didn’t let it bother her. After all, she knew she could win this time. “So are you, or are you not?” Trixie replied.
“Yeah—yeah, I wouldn’t mind beating you a second time.” Rainbow Dash said, putting her guitar around her body again.
“Okay,” Trixie said, “Hope you’re ready, because we’re next.” Rainbow Dash was held an odd expression to that statement. Trixie waited until the last possible moment, to challenge her? What if she would have said no?
As Snips and Snails finished up their ‘rap’, the Principal announced the next band. “Next up we have, uh… Trixie vs. Rainbow Dash?” Somehow Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna both didn’t catch the change earlier. The paper had a name scratched out, and Trixie vs. Rainbow Dash written beside it. Principal Celestia wasn’t going to allow it.
Before either walked out, Rainbow quickly asked Trixie a question. “Hey, what if I had chosen to decline your offer? You’d look like a fool with my name written there too.”
“Oh, knowing you,” Trixie started, “I knew you wouldn’t pass up a public glorification of your ‘guitar skills’,” Trixie replied, air quoting with her fingers as she said it.
Rainbow Dash sarcastically thought in her head, ‘Oh good, that’s the Trixie I remember.’
The two walked up on stage to find a confused audience staring at them.
“She’s back?” one yelled. “Why is Rainbow Dash preforming again?” another one asked.
Principal Celestia certainly wasn’t having this either. “Now, I hate to stop this, but you two never properly sig–”
Before Principal Celestia could finish her sentence, Trixie started shredding a riff much like she did against Rainbow Dash in the music shop. Only, Rainbow Dash wasn’t messing around this time. She instantly broke into solo, which then caught everyone’s attention.
Trixie decided to continue playing it calm, but Rainbow was already in her zone. Her wings and ears started showing as everyone was cheering for her. They didn’t mind the pure metal vibe Rainbow was giving; even the loyal pop lovers were enjoying it. Rainbow Dash had great confidence. She already thought she had it in the bag.
Trixie then thought it was about time to show everyone her true talent. Instantly Trixie started playing what one might call, a break down; it out paced even the fastest guitar players. Her hands were moving fast as lightning. Each finger on her left hand made precise motions to hit the perfect notes: Almost as if a spider caught in its own web were moving about the frets, attempting to break free. Her other hand was strumming erratically, yet as a whole, the solo echoed melodically throughout the room.
Moving her left hand up and down the neck to the point of soreness, the solo finally ended when she accidentally stepped on the chord, pulling it out of the guitar. Trixie was still playing for a second or two after, but she stopped when a sudden silence in the crowd emerged. Trixie didn’t attempt to plug it back in; she just stood there, looking at the crowd.
Rainbow Dash’s mouth hung open in amazement as her hair, ears, and wings slowly receded. She couldn’t follow that performance. She lost to Trixie. Not only that, but the entire school witnessed it.
Rainbow Dash wasn’t the only one who was shocked, the whole crowd was silent. Not a word was spoken. Rainbow noticed the look on Trixie’s face, or rather, the lack of one. Trixie didn’t seem at all upset that she cut off her own solo. Instead Rainbow Dash noticed her trying to look for a reaction in the crowd. Trixie wasn’t confused like Rainbow was. She was actually smiling.
“Okay, what’s the deal?” Rainbow Dash yelled to the audience. “Everyone speechless that the best guitarist in the school lost?” No one spoke; not even crickets sounded.
Not knowing what else to do Rainbow Dash turned to her frowning friends offstage. “I lost,” she said sadly, “but more importantly, what happened to everyone?”
Rarity decided to speak up over the sad and confused girls. “Sorry Rainbow Dash, I guess she must have practiced a lot over the past few days.”
“No, that’s just not possible.” Rainbow just couldn’t believe it. Not that much improvement in just a few days.
Just as the girls were about to get on stage to get a better look at the silent–unmoving audience, the crowd resumed talking amongst each other.
Out of nowhere Principal Celestia finished her sentence too. “–signed up, so you two can’t play unless others are willing to give up their spot.” She seemed to continue where she left off before Trixie started playing. It was unnatural; almost as if she skipped time without realizing it.
“Wait, what?” Rainbow said in confusion.
“Oh that’s quite alright Principal Celestia, We won’t preform then” Trixie stated with a smile.
“Hold on,” Rainbow stated, “we just preformed. Do you not remember?”
Principal Celestia replied, but not in the way Rainbow Dash expected. “Yes, I remember the Rainboom’s attempt of a performance, but you can’t preform twice Rainbow Dash. Also Trixie never signed up.” Celestia argued. Rainbow Dash was slightly offended by Principal Celestia’s comment. What did she mean by ‘attempt of a preformance’, they received more acclaim than any other preforming group. But that was just one of her problems. How come no one remembered the battle?
“Okay I know I’d be the last to admit it,” Rainbow yelled at the crowd, “but Trixie had just beat me. Doesn’t anyone remember?” Rainbow Dash admitted to losing, something she wouldn’t normally do, but this was a time where she didn’t care. Trixie had just played the guitar of the highest standard—which was already strange—and not one person in the crowd remembers the past minute. Everyone in the crowd continued to be silent; no one knew what she was talking about. They all had expressions on their face, which put Rainbow at unease. Rainbow Dash didn’t even realize that Trixie had already left. There she stood in front of an audience staring at a girl with a ‘crazy’ claim.
Principal Celestia continued down the list, already moving on from Rainbow’s dilemma. “Next up, Derpy and the Muffins.”
Rainbow Dash walked off to her friends. “What just happened?” she asked them.
“I have no idea,” Sunset Shimmer replied, “it’s as if the shred off in-between Principal Celestia’s statement, never happened."
“That can’t be possible; we remembered the whole thing.” Rarity stated.
“Could it possibly be another spell?” Fluttershy asked. Everyone was so caught up in the confusion, that it hadn't occurred to them that it could be another spell from Equestria.
“That is likely,” Sunset said, “Were protected by the magic of friendship, so it explains why we remember, but how does that explain why Trixie wasn’t upset about not getting to play? Trixie doesn’t share the magic of friendship, so she couldn’t have remembered the shred off too.”
“She wouldn’t, unless,” Pinkie started, “she was the one casting the spell.” Everyone looked at Pinkie in a way that made Pinkie realize the absurdity of her comment. But this was Pinkie who said this. It wouldn’t be the first time one of her wacky theories were actually true.
“How's that possible?” Applejack asked. “Trixie's from this world.” They were all thinking the same thing. Trixie is a human, at least this Trixie was. She was playing guitar, and the Trixie from Equestria probably wouldn’t know a guitar from a cello.
It then so obviously hit them who they can ask. When magic comes their way, who better than to ask... “Twilight!” Rarity yelled.
“What about Twilight?” Applejack asked.
“She would probably know what this is.” Rarity said. The rest nodded and agreed to the good idea of asking Twilight for help; everyone except Sunset Shimmer. She knew that she was still new to the group, but couldn’t help but feel offended how the others forgot: she’s also from Equestria. She also was once a former student of Princess Celestia.
Though she couldn’t recognize what had just happened either, but that didn’t stop her from reminding the others. “You know, Twilight isn’t the only one who knows about magic.”
“Oh, sorry Sunset Shimmer,” Rarity started, “I forgot how you were also a student in Equestria. Do you know what this could be?” Sunset wished she had just kept quiet, for now she had to tell them that she had no clue either. Sunset Shimmer didn’t like how they always had to ask Twilight for help when something goes wrong. Sunset wanted to be a leader; the time just hasn’t come up yet.
“Well, um… I don’t, know what it is either,” Sunset spoke in a defeated tone. “*sigh* I’ll send a message to Twilight.”
The next day Sunset and her friends waited by the Wondercolt statue hoping Twilight would soon arrive. They spent all breaks and even hours after school hanging out by the statue. They started becoming worried that Twilight didn’t receive their message. It had surpassed the time it took Twilight to get to them last time. All it took was a little reading, and jumping through the portal. The thought the girls all had went from: when will she come, to, if she will come.
“Maybe she didn’t get our message.” Fluttershy spoke out.
“Ah don’t think so,” Applejack said. “Twilight knows this place gets into trouble often; she wouldn’t forget about our only way to reach her.” As the girls waited Sunset was trying to deduce the possible implications, which could cause Trixie to be able to cast a spell. It was puzzling, because so far, the only people to wield magic besides her friends were from Equestria, which this Trixie is not.
Rainbow Dash interrupted her thoughts however. She was too impatient to keep waiting after just one message. “Well then just send another message,” she said, “we can’t let Trixie cause any more trouble.” Rainbow Dash explained. As Rainbow Dash stated that, the girls looked around, but didn’t notice any hint of destruction.
“What did she do wrong though?” asked Applejack. “I’m not noticin’ any trouble yet.” The uncertainty made them weary, and more in a rush to get Twilight.
Pinkie Pie was already quick to the guessing game, before anyone could make a rational thought. “Maybe it wasn’t Trixie. It could have been Lyra, or Octavia, or maybe even–”
“I highly doubt it’s any of the girls you named.” Rainbow Dash said sarcastically, knowing Pinkie was just being herself. Pinkie did hold a valid point though. Trixie was their best guess, but they had little evidence.
After a long wait they all decided to return home and try again the next day. It was getting late and it wasn’t worth their worries. After all, Twilight couldn't possibly have forgotten about them.
The next day came, and the day after, then the day after that. Twilight Sparkle wasn’t making any effort of showing up at Canterlot High. A week passed by and the girls were starting to worry. Not only was Twilight staying in Equestria, but furthermore, people’s interaction with the six girls had started to decrease. No one gave them any acknowledgement, or complemented them in the halls anymore. When before, people complemented how well they sounded after music practice, they then acted as if they were never even playing. Sunset didn’t recall doing anything controversial earlier, so she wondered why people were avoiding her.
This was the question, which soon became a dilemma for magic fanatic: Sunset Shimmer. ‘It had to be a spell,’ she thought. ‘The Dazzlings left, but it sure seems like it would be them.’ Her best guess were the Dazzlings, but they haven't been present since the battle of the bands. However, Trixie wasn't the best assumption either. Someone could have used her; like a strategic trap for the Rainbooms. If so, it was working. Most of her friends were already set that it was Trixie.
It was all too much to ponder, but her mind kept racing back to this thought. It was before lunch and Sunset was struggling to focus in class. All she could think about was the temporary memory loss everyone experienced during the shred off. She didn’t want to think about it. But she couldn’t avoid it; the lack of interaction around her caused her to stay active by thinking.
It weren’t only the students who were ignoring her. Along with them, the teachers were also off their normality. In those past few days, Sunset was never called on once for raising her hand in class; even if she were the only one raising her hand.
When the bell rang Sunset quickly rushed to lunch to meet her friends. She was more excited than usual to see them, because all she needed was some interaction. She miraculously hoped the reason people acted this way around her was due to her demonic event of the past. Sadly, it wasn't the case. Her friends were also experiencing the same exact problem.
The girls walked with their trays in their hands and sat down at their usual lunch table. When they sat down, however, all the other students in the vicinity stood up and left the tables bordering six girls. It was the first time this had ever happened at CHS since the segregation the school had in the past.
It was odd how this could possibly happen then. The Wondercolts were so unified; why were people avoiding the ones who unified them? If Twilight not showing up wasn’t worrisome enough as it was, they had become the plague of the school.
“What’s everyone’s problem?” Rainbow Dash asked her friends.
Pinkie had a sad look on her face since the day before, and was the first to speak up. “I don’t know, but no one is laughing at my jokes in class anymore.” Pinkie Pie explained. It may not be such a huge deal for others, but for her, it was a serious deal. The other girls even noticed how Pinkie Pie’s hair was less poofy than normal.
“Yeah, my family is awfully quiet around me. Almost as if Ah don’t exist,” Applejack added.
“Well, um…” Fluttershy started, “I’m usually the type of person who likes less interaction with others, but it’s almost as if you girls are the only ones I can talk to without getting the cold shoulder.”
This may have seemed like a dark topic for the girls, but Sunset Shimmer was taking note of all her friends’ experiences. It was now all coming together for her now. There was no question; it had to be a spell. She knew she recognized the effects: Some how, what was casted, was causing everyone to not care about the six of them. She then remembered what it could be.
“I remember it now!” Sunset exclaimed out loud. She was practically jumping out of her seat with that yell. She wasn't embarrassed; it’s not as if anyone cared. Only her five friends paid any attention to her. She was just proud of herself for remembering this one particular spell out of thousands she had known about.
Sunset started explaining, “As a previous student of Princess Celestia, I learned about many spells just like Twilight Sparkle.”
“Well, what spell is everyone under?” Rainbow Dash interrupted. Rainbow was getting impatient, especially since the sports she played relied on teamwork. Going to soccer practice, and then never having the ball passed to her certainly wasn't fun.
Sunset let out a sigh, knowing the truth wasn’t what she or they would hope. “No one is under a spell.”
“What?” The other girls said.
“It isn’t a spell,” Sunset said, “it’s much, much worse.” Sunset paused; it scared her, because if she was right, they were in for a ride. “It’s a curse.” She said.
“A curse?” Fluttershy asked, now concerned for everyone’s sake. The girls knew a slight bit about Equestrian spells, after witnessing Sunset and the Dazzlings. But none of them had a clue what a curse did, or whether it really was worse than a spell. Being the usual impatient one from the group, Rainbow wanted to know about the rest of what Sunset had to say immediately.
“Your telling me that everyone around us is cursed, right now?” Rainbow said, attempting to get things straightened out.
Sunset was tired of stalling. She had to tell them, even if it were quite frightening, “They aren’t the ones who are cursed. We are.”