Two Days Later...
"The winners of this round, are Topaz's Thrashers!" Fortissimo said as he and The Blasters threw their arms out in the direction of Topaz and his band. "Though Flash Drive was a rather feisty band, that still didn't stop Topaz and his team from seizing victory."
Topaz smiled as he relished in the satisfying noise of thunderous cheers from the crowd. He waved to his audience for some brief periods of them, then watched as the leader of Flash Drive smashed his fist against the stage as he lied on his back in defeat.
"Dammit!" Flash said as he banged his fist into the stadium once more. "I lost again!"
"Ah, cheer up, Flash. You put up a very good fight up here," Topaz said as he kneeled down and shook Flash's hand as a sign of good sportsmanship. "Maybe with some practice, you could one day be even better than us..."
"I mean, come on, Flash. You were pretty much up against the entire world for the past few days," one of Flash's bandmates cave over and supported him. "It was pretty obvious that we'd eventually have to take the fall..."
"And let's not forget that no band leaves Battletone empty handed, Flash Sentry," Fortissimo said as he helped Flash get up onto his feet. "Not only have you won a villa like everyone else who lost, but you've got you and your band a private jet for making it this far!"
"I think the two of them fought quite well," Adagio said to Requiem as the crowd cheered once more. "Especially Flash. He's quite the little musical scrapper in stuff like this. Maybe that's because some of our darker sides rubbed off on him, I can't be sure..."
"While he did fight very valiantly, I'm more impressed by this Topaz fellow over there," Andante said as he watched Topaz and his band relish in their victory over Flash Drive. "He's quite good at chaining lyrics and power chords together. Maybe someday, we can give him a taste of being a Lyrican Siren..."
"I wish that were the case, but it'd be going against the tenets of both Furen and Blissen Sirens," Adagio reminded him. "We don't have the power to change another being into something other than what they truly are. And even if we did, then we wouldn't be authorized to use it unless we get permission from King Allure himself..."
"That reminds me of what The Blasters did a few years ago..." Sonata ruminated on when Twilight's Equestria friends were made into insidious Lyrican Sirens themselves. "Fortissimo, Allegro and Orchestral ambushed Twilight and her pony friends when they discovered Lyrica..."
"Oh my..." Bellicoso looked rather shocked upon hearing that news. The more he and The Laments learned of The Blasters' wrongdoings, the more they wanted to get a shot at taking him out for good. "What exactly did The Blasters do to them?"
"Well, Twilight said that she and her friends went into a titanic struggle against The Blasters whilst we were still children. The fight went well for them, until The Blasters summoned a Chimera by combining their powers..." Sonata hung her head, remembering what Twilight had been telling her. "When that Chimera broke out, Twilight's pony friends all went berserk and started feuding against each other without any remorse or fear. The Blasters absorbed the negative energy, then spared Twilight from a rather gruesome fate..."
"They must have sang a really powerful song to meddle with The Rainbooms' DNA..." Aria thought as she could envision the fight between the Mane 6 and The Blasters on Lyrica. She thought of every complex sword swing, finishing the mental battle with The Blasters singing a rather complex and powerful song to turn them into Lyrican Sirens.
"Either way, Topaz is our next opponent..." Adagio said as she watched Topaz walking down to meet The Dazzlings. "Oh, look. Here he comes now..."
"Tell me you saw that battle, girls..." Topaz said, feeling rather self-absorbed in his victory as he greeted The Dazzlings after all those years they'd spent apart.
"How could I not, Topaz? You and your band were very impressive up there," Adagio said as she patted Topaz on the back to congratulate him. "Though I have to give credit to Flash and his band as well. It could have gone right down to the judges with how long you were all up there for..."
"Yeah, it could have been like that, if it hadn't had been for Skyla's wonderful Ecstasy Blast solo," Topaz shook the hand of one of his bandmates. "I tell ya what, this girl is an absolute pleasure to have with me in Battletone. Isn't that right, Skyla?"
Skyla giggled. "Yeah. It's truly been wonderful playing with you up there, Chancellor Topaz..."
"Chancellor?" Requiem asked as he looked at Adagio.
"When we were growing up again, he inducted us into a children's group known as the 'Kids of Shadows'," Adagio explained as she reminisced on her childhood under Sunset's care. "We mainly did spy games and made little pranks on a rival group called the Stardust Smilers. It was all good fun for us, and it made us laugh lots of times."
"I guess Skyla's still a Kid of Shadows at heart..." Sonata sighed in bliss as she looked at how happy Skyla and the rest of Topaz's band were. Most of them were giggling like children as Topaz led them back to a good position in the audience, ready for them to bear witness to the next battle in Battletone.
"Our next match-up is The Dazzlings VS Leo's Angels From Hell!" Fortissimo announced as a picture of The Dazzlings could be seen on one side of the stage's TV, with an image of Leo's Angels From Hell on the other side of it.
Sparing no time, both The Dazzlings and Leo's Angels From Hell got up onto the stage so that they could have their battle. They relished in hearing the crowd cheer them on as they arose to the stage, then prepared their instruments and microphones for the next round.
When all of the preparations were set, the stage dimmed and illuminated both The Dazzlings and Leo's Angels From Hell in spotlights.
"You know how this works, so let's get you all started," Fortissimo said as the bar and time re-appeared. "In three... Two... One... GO!"
Leo's Angels From Hell was first on the ball, stringing wave after wave of shots at The Dazzlings, making them immediately get athletic and leap over the shots with such precision and grace that the crowd had their mouths left agape with how well they were moving.
Adagio, Aria and Sonata quickly saw that their opponents would not let up in the musical department, so they prepared their mics and got ready to counterattack with their powerful voices.
I've come here from nowhere
Across the unforgiving sea
Drifting further and further
It's all becoming clear to me
But violent winds are upon us
And I can't sleep
Internal temperature's rising
And all the voices won't recede
The Dazzlings' singing was quite powerful, and they already had the crowd on their side. However, it wasn't just their singing that had turned the tables, it was also a mixture of their well-timed rhythm and beguiling dance moves that had the audience's attention.
As they continued singing, they instantly gained extended hair and their trademark wings, a sign that their power was increasing. However, that didn't stop them from evading Leo's Angels From Hell's musical skills.
I finally found what I was looking for
A place where I can be without remorse
Because I am a stranger who has found an even stranger war
I finally found what I was looking for
Within seconds, both The Dazzlings and Leo's Angels From Hell had projected powerful projections to strike down their opposition. Whilst The Dazzlings had their Hippocampi with them, Leo's Angels From Hell had conjured up a wide variety of demons and hellspawn that were now locking horns with that of The Dazzlings' beasts.
Here I come! (Come!) (Come!) (Come!) (Come!)
The beasts constantly smashed against each other, both sides determined to end the other side and proceed in Battletone. Both the hellish creations and the Hippocampi showed much fury as they collided with each other. Each one of the projections let out howls of pain with each strike they received, but they still kept on sruggling to fight, determined to move on to the next round of The Blasters' tournament.
Co-co-come Here I come!
The Dazzlings were starting to get the upper hand, making Leo's Angels From Hell kneel down in pain as they began to submit to The Dazzlings' beguiling songs. They were still playing, but it seemed like they'd been brainwashed into aiding The Dazzlings in completing their song and wowing the crowd with their perfect lyrics.
Eventually, the hellish creatures vanished, leaving nothing but the Hippocampi remaining to sing for the crowd and make them support The Dazzlings in every way possible.
I-I-I-I-I, I sharpen the knife
And look down upon the bay
For all of my life
A Stranger I Remain
A Stranger I Remain
A Stranger I Remain!
The Dazzlings had complete control of their opposition and the crowd, it was as if they were in complete control of the entire show. With everyone awestruck with their performance, gales of red mist rose up from the bodies of their audience before it flew into their red pendants at otherworldly speeds.
Whilst the pendants shone brightly, the Hippocampi finished their job by flying skyward, then spiraling down straight on top of Leo's Angels From Hell, knocking them all onto their backs and leaving their instruments in shambles. The song died down shortly after that, and the Hippocampi had vanished from sight.
The dust had cleared, revealing the fact that The Dazzlings were still standing. However, their hair had returned to normal, and their wings had vanished from sight. They lowered their microphones and bowed, getting the audience to snap out of their trance and cheer for their victory.
"Well, that was a truly... exhilarating battle right there..." Fortissimo said as he and The Blasters returned to the stage and noticed that The Dazzlings were still standing. He then regained his composure and said, "But the winners are The Dazzlings!"
The crowd roared with thunderous applause and cheers, all of them directed towards Adagio, Aria and Sonata. Their euphoria made them so glad that The Dazzlings had won over Leo's Angels From Hell.
"And let's not forget the brave runners-up in this match; Leo's Angels From Hell!" Orchestral waved his hand towards the collapsed band that looked like they'd undergone a psychedelic trip. "They'll be taking their own luxury villas as well, including a group of butlers and masseuses to help relieve them of any and all stresses that Battletone will have caused them!"
Whilst the two bands were helped off of the stage by the friendly audience, The Laments all began to sneak backstage to interrogate The Blasters. Their serious looks were a sign that they had a lot of stern words to deliver to Fortissimo, Allegro and Orchestral.
Eventually, after minutes of waiting, they watched as Fortissimo, Allegro and Orchestral came backstage so that they could rest themselves and recuperate for the next round of Battletone. Once they watched The Blasters sit down on their special chairs, Requiem, Andante and Bellicoso confronted them.
"Fortissimo Blast..." Requiem said, showing his face to Fortissimo after years of hiding. "How long has it been since you watched your sisters die?"
"Who the hell are you?" Fortissimo demanded when he looked at Requiem's face. "I demand you tell me your full name, Requiem!"
"My name is Requiem Necro, Furen Major, Leader of The Laments of Lyrica. We survived the war that destroyed our world, but we went into hiding so that we could observe the surviving groups," Requiem said as the rest of The Laments revealed their true faces. "But so far, we could only watch as the remaining Lyricans were snuffed out, leaving you and The Dazzlings left."
"Well, I'm glad that you all managed to survive the wars, but I have a quick question to pose to you all..." Fortissimo said as his expressions of calmness returned once he rose to his feet once again. "Which side are you three on? Do you side with the true Lyricans? Or do you ally yourselves with infidels that believe that the species should remain dead?"
"The true Lyricans? Or the infidels? That is what you three must discover for yourselves, Blasters..." Andante said as The Laments all closed in on Fortissimo, Allegro and Orchestral. "Adagio, Aria and Sonata have already told us of all of your crimes. If Allure was still alive today, he would have authorized a Lyrican Manhunt, and would instantly classify the three of you as high value targets to be terminated on sight..."
"The Dazzlings speak nothing but lies, Laments! They want to ensure that our lives remain a misery!" Allegro's tone of voice grew rather angry. "They believe that these pathetic mortals are innocent, when in truth, they are responsible for Lyrican genocide! If The Dazzlings have already gotten to you, then you are siding with the species that wants your heads on platters when they discover the truth..."
"We will restore peace, Laments. We will have the Lyrican species revived," Fortissimo's expression became rather evil as Allegro and Orchestral flanked him. "And anything that stands in the way of peace, be it human, pony, or Lyrican, must be eliminated..."
"I had prayed it not true, Blasters, but you have gone completely insane," Bellicoso said, looking rather disappointed with The Blasters and their vision of peace and prosperity. "Your visions of peace, they are nothing more than the twisted illusions of joyless warmongers, who care about nothing but their own kin, not the kins that help them in times of need..."
"We made these species safe. We protected them with our Lyrican powers. But did they value our protection?" Fortissimo asked as he strafed around The Laments and got up in Requiem's face. "No. They whined and cried like infants, saying that we were the monsters that threatened their peace. And in doing so, they rebelled against us, and showed us that they can monger nothing but warfare and calamity."
"And if these monsters prefer warfare and calamity, then we'll give it to them," Fortissimo backed away and conjured up Lyrican Magic in the palms of his hands. "Equestria and Earth, we'll raze their miserable species right out of existence, set an example. And then, we'll bring the Lyrican species back, and ensure an eternal reign of happiness and prosperity."
"You are insane, Blasters. And what you just said has just sealed your fate," Requiem said as he turned away from The Blasters and began walking away with Andante and Bellicoso in tow, "When we inform The Dazzlings and The Rainbooms about your vile plans, they'll blow the three of you into next millenium!" However, just as he was about to escape, he was cornered by five girls who looked like The Rainbooms, but were garbed in armour.
"Under Master Fortissimo's word, you won't be telling anyone anything..." the five girls drones in unison as their eyes flashed a sinister shade of green. They held their arms out and began closing in on The Laments, making them back up in fear.
"You see, Laments? I told you, we WILL save our kind," Fortissimo clicked his fingers, revealing tesla wires poke out of the backs of the five mind-controlled girls and lead straight into The Blasters' hands. "Even if we have to resort to Lyrican Dark Magic to do so..."
"Blasters! This is unacceptable!" Bellicoso raised his voice as he looked back at Fortissimo, Allegro and Orchestral with a rather furious look on his face. "Just like Cataclysm, The Exiled One, you three have turned pure evil!"
"Evil? I don't know what you're talking about, Laments..." Orchestral said as the mind-controlled girls grabbed onto The Laments and held them down against their wills. "We simply used this Dark Magic to bring The Dazzlings back, but in our own image..."
"What are you talki-"
"Add a sprinkle of Voice-Amping Dark Magic to three returning Lyrican warriors, nullify their swordsmanship to improve the potency of the Dark Magic, put it all in a blender, hit frappe, and you have The Dazzlings that kickstarted CHS's Battle of the Bands seventeen years ago!" Orchestral explained, chuckling in a very malicious tone as The Laments looked up at him and The Blasters with looks of disdain.
"I know that this is evil, Laments, but you have to understand..." Fortissimo spoke as he, Allegro and Orchestral fired massive streams of Dark Magic at The Laments, striking their eyes and turning them a shade of green when they screamed out in agony. "We're doing this to save you from yourselves..."
When the spreading of Dark Magic stopped, Fortissimo clicked his fingers once more, making the mind-controlled girls release The Laments and make them stand back up slowly. He watched as The Laments uttered no words and merely stared at him and The Blasters obediently, ready to follow on his every word.
"Now then, you will return to Battletone with no memory that you are corrupted by Dark Magic. But you will do everything you can to stop The Rainbooms and The Dazzlings from interfering with our grand plan when we instruct you to," Fortissimo said to The Laments. "Are we clear on this?"
"We are, Master Fortissimo..." The Laments all droned themselves as their eyes glowed green whilst they performed the Lyrican salute. The other thing was that they too had tesla wires poking out of their backs and disappearing into The Blasters' hands. These wires quickly disappeared when The Laments were removed from backstage so they could return to the crowd.
"You may go now, girls." Allegro said, instructing the mind-controlled girls to leave The Blasters as well.
"Now then, Dazzlings..." Fortissimo put his hands together and smiled deviously once the pieces of his plan were all falling into place. "You talk about people falling under your spell. But the truth is, you didn't know that you fell..."