Chapter 8
The following day Twilight and her friends made their way to Applejack’s farm to practice the counter-spell. They practiced going through the counter-spell several times with Discord and Sunset sitting off to the side looking for any results. Not even the girls super forms would manifest from the song. And Twilight’s singing was off for some reason.
“That was… certainly better than the other times,” Sunset said trying to encourage her friends.
“Are you sure we were listening to the same thing, that was just as terrible as the last seven times,” Discord interjected with brutal honesty.
“Yup,” Big Macintosh said nonchalantly as he walked past the window carrying a basket of apples in his hands.
“See he agrees,” Discord said pointing at the window where Big Mac just was.
“I think I know what the problem is,” Rainbow said.
“Your turning what should be the chorus into a five minute guitar solo?” Applejack asked clearly irritated.
“I have to pick up the slack somehow, are you guys even trying?” Rainbow Dash shot back glaring at Applejack.
“I was trying,” Fluttershy whispered with a finger outstretched.
“It’s fine, all fine! One more time from the top!” Twilight exclaimed and raised her arm in the air.
“Or we could take a break to try on some costumes I prepared for the show,” Rarity said and pulled one of her clothing racks out. “I think this one looks rather good,” she added and somehow managed to change in a few seconds revealing herself to be in a gold and pink officer uniform with a skirt. “Of course we could go with something a bit more modern,” she said while she inspected the dress.
“The fate of the world is at stake and you're worrying about what we’re going to wear to save it?” Applejack asked clearly confused by Rarity’s line of thought.
“Well somebody has to,” Rarity replied somehow then wearing a golden space suit with a built in speaker in it.
“She’s just trying to have fun,” Pinkie said and played a beat on her drums.
“We can have fun when the world isn’t in danger,” Applejack stated and pointed at Pinkie.
“You guys don’t have time for this, you have to check in at the school in 15 minutes,” Sunset said with urgency. The rainbooms began to panic and gather up the supplies for transport.
“But if we play the counter-spell in the first round and it doesn’t work, the sirens will make sure we don’t get to play it again!” Twilight exclaimed tugging on her hair in panic.
“Then we have to buy ourselves some time,” Applejack explained with a smile.
“And how do you suppose we do that?” Rarity asked extending a hand in confusion.
“We enter the battle of the bands for real, I take up lead vocals again and we stay alive until the finals and we unleash the counter-spell then… You’ll have it done by then right?” Rainbow asked Twilight.
“Of course she will, she’s already defeated me, The god of chaos!” Discord exclaimed forming his hand into a fistand raising it to the sky. “What’s one little counter-spell,” He added giving Twilight a pat on the back.
“Then it’s decided, now let’s get moving girls,” Applejack stated and they moved out of the shed leaving Discord and Twilight who had looks of hope on their face, although Twilights was fake. Sunset ran back into the shed and grabbed Twilight’s hand.
“We need you too, silly,” Sunset said dragging her girlfriend along with her.
XXX
The first round had started by the time the girls made it to the gym. Snips and Snails were on the stage attempting to rap much to the amusement and disdain of everyone around them… Except Pinkie Pie and Sonata for some reason.
“Oh yeah, Snips and Snails are outta here,” Snips and Snails said in unison as they dropped the microphones. This caused a massive amount of feedback that affected everyone besides Luna and Celestia.
“Please don’t drop the microphones,” Celestia stated simply writing down their score on her paper.
Snips and Snails exit the stage and walk past the rainbooms. “Try and top that Rainboos,” Snips said trying to mock the Rainbooms.
“Well at least we know one team who won’t make it to the finals,” Applejack joked.
“Alright everyone let’s get ready to rock!” Rainbow exclaimed forming her hand into a fist and pumped it into the air.
“Wait, where’s Rarity?” Pinkie asked looking around.
“I’m here!” Rarity yelled walking over to the clang of her jewelry. She looked like something out of the sixties with a tan bandana with a matching jacket with jewelry hanging from it. “What, just because you all want to look horrible doesn’t mean I have to join you,” She added crossing her arms indignantly.
Applejack simply facepalmed at this comment and wiped her hand down her face.
Sunset turned Twilight towards her and kissed her on the lips. They stayed like that for a while which Adagio noticed from where she was sitting and she did her signature evil grin.
When Twilight and Sunset parted their foreheads met. “What was that for?” Twilight asked Sunset.
“For luck, baby now make me proud,” Sunset replied and pulled her into a hug.
“Could you two get anymore mushy?” Discord asked ruining the moment.
“Next time I’m leaving you in Equestria, Discord,” Twilight said glaring at the god turned human.
“We’re up Twilight,” Rainbow called out to Twilight.
“I love you,” Twilight said to Sunset and kissed her on the forehead to join her friends.
“Love you too,” Sunset called after her girlfriend and blushed clutching her arm nervously. The Rainbooms prepared their instruments for the song.
“1, 2, 3!” Pinkie screamed as she tapped her drum sticks together. They began to play shake your tail, the same song they played at Sunset’s surprise birthday party. Although some of the other bands had other ideas, Photo Finish and her band used magnets to attract the metal jewelry that she was wearing and they started to wave her about like a puppet. Things were not looking good for the Rainbooms so Pinkie tried to save the show by blasting some confetti out of her drum set which only served to hinder the band more. Twilight ended up swallowing one of the pieces of confetti.
Fluttershy proceeded to hit Twilight in the back with her tambourine which dislodged the confetti. Snips and Snails had their own ideas and shined a light down on Fluttershy. Fluttershy tried her best to avoid the light and ended up hiding behind the stand for the drum set.
Rarity tried to pull the magnets off of her but ended up ripping the sleeves of her dress right off. She looked at her now ripped sleeves and broke down crying her eyes out.
Rainbow, Twilight and Applejack stood there awkwardly as they finished the song their eyes darting across the gym to look at the blank and bored faces of the crowd. Pinkie opened her eyes when the song ended to see what had actually happened. The gym was as silent as a grave apart from Celestia and Luna writing on their mark sheets.
“Ruined, completely ruined!” Rarity said as cried walking off the stage.
“Are you trying to make us lose out there, Rarity?” Applejack asked Rarity the anger very apparent in her voice.
“Me? This was an act of sabotage,” Rarity exclaimed raising her arms to show her torn sleeves.
“Something that could have been avoided if you didn’t insist on dressing like this!” Applejack shot back pointing out Rarity’s clothing. “We have to sound good, is there some reason that concept escapes you,” she added pressing her point.
“And what was with the confetti, Pinkie?” Rainbow asked pushing a piece of confetti in Pinkie’s face. “How am I supposed to shred if I have paper stuck in my frets?” She added her voice growing more angry by the second.
“It was pretty distracting,” Fluttershy whispered moving up beside Pinkie.
“Says the girl who was running from a light the entire time, a light!” Pinkie exclaimed getting in Fluttershy’s face.
“You still sounded way better than most of the other bands, there’s no doubt you're going to get to the next round,” Sunset interjected trying to quell everyone's tempers. “But none of it’s going to matter unless we have that counter-spell,” she added and turned to Twilight putting her on the spot. “You find a place to practice where the Sirens can’t hear you… I’ll keep an eye on things here,” she said pointing towards the stage.
“Are you sure?” Twilight asked her girlfriend.
“Of course, I’ll see you in a bit,” Sunset replied and kissed Twilight quickly. The Rainbooms quickly departed the backstage area with Discord.
“Even though it was a complete disaster, you sounded better by the way,” Discord pointed out to the rest of the group.
“Shut up, Discord,” Twilight said angrily.
XXX
The rainbooms made their way through the hallways. “We shouldn’t use a classroom…” Twilight said and then walked into Flash Sentry. “We really need to stop bumping into each other like this,” Twilight added and blushed lightly.
“Did you guys hear that?” Flash asked not turning around.
I said we really need to stop...,” Twilight said a bit louder this time but was interrupted.
“There it is again, how annoying,” Flash said clearly mocking Twilight.
“Why are you acting like this, I thought we were friends?” Twilight asked clearly hurt by Flash’s words.
“yeah and then you decided to show up just to beat me in the battle of the bands! I want this Twilight and you're trying to take it from me!” Flash yelled at her with an outstretched hand to emphasize his anger. “Some friend,” he finished with a huff and turned away from her.
“it’s not like that,” Twilight started to say.
“We don’t have time for this, we have to go!” Applejack said trying to get Twilight out of there.
“You're trying to help them? I bet you have no idea what you're doing!” Flash yelled after them. Twilight wiped tears out of her eyes, trying to hold back the tears.
The Sirens were watching the display of emotions from the other side of the hallway with their trademark smirks. “It’s only the first round and there’s tears already… This is easier than I thought,” Adagio said clasping her hands together.
“Next up is Trixie and the Illusions,” Luna said over the intercom.
“Come on girls, we’re up after Trixie,” Adagio stated and they rounded the corner to find Sunset leaning against a wall in front of the door to the gym.
“You're not going to get away with this,” Sunset said defiantly.
“Why, because you didn’t?” Adagio threw back with knowing look.
This made Sunset’s posture falter a bit.
“Oh yes, we know all about you Sunset Shimmer,” Adagio said circling around Sunset.
“That was a different me, I’m in a much better place now,” Sunset said trying to keep her stern glare.
“Waiting in the wings while your so called friends take all the credit,” Aria pointed out.
“It’s not like…” Sunset started to say.
“Or playing third-wheel to oh what was her name, Twilight and Flash Sentry? Yes that was it,” Adagio said keeping her grin plastered on her face.
“I am not a third wheel, and you leave her out of this!” Sunset yelled standing her ground, the anger growing in her at the last comment.
“I think we struck a cord,” Aria said.
“I think your right. Maybe when this is over we can have our way with Twilight too, seeing as to how much she ‘goes around,’” Adagio said her smile growing as she emphasized her point.
Sunset’s fist clenched at the last comment, she was practically seething at this point.
“Don’t worry though, we’ll leave you the leftovers when we’re done,” Adagio stated as she bashed past Sunset.
“Oh she meant that Twilight was a whore,” Sonata said as she bashed Sunset too.
“Yes, Sonata,” Aria replied with a facepalm.
Now it’s personal, Sunset thought to herself as she punched the wall beside her.