"You think we can really pull it off?" Sunset asked Rainbow Dash. "Nothing against dreams, but high school bands rarely become successful later on." Sunset pointed out, while adjusting a few strings on her guitar.
"Cheer up, Sun! It's clearly our destiny to become the most awesome band!" Rainbow Dash pumped her fist into the sky.
"Jus' 'cause we become part pony, while playing, doesn't mean we'll become a famous band after high school." Applejack stated. "Besides, who said everyone else wants ta become famous. Ain't exactly easy and mah family needs all the help they can get on the farm, ya know?"
"You know, once we're successful, you can just hire guys to work on your farm AJ."
"I too think you're jumping the gun here, Rainbow Dash." Rarity spoke up. "You're acting like we'll definitely be successful and you're acting like all of us already agreed to it." she shook her head. "Honestly, I want to become a fashion designer and I doubt poor Fluttershy over here can handle the stress."
"Actually um...I already said yes."
"WHAT?!" Four girls jumped up and looked at the girl amazed.
"Okay that's it. If Fluttershy is in, I'm definitely in!" Pinkie shouted hitting her drums a few times.
"I think we're rushing things a little here." Sunset spoke up again. "We're a pretty good band, but are we ready for the world? Heck, let's finish high school first and Dash, PLEASE you've been trying to convince us ever since the Battle of the Bands. Tell you what, we'll genuinely think about it and you stop pestering us, okay? Also, how the buck did you manage to convince Fluttershy of all people?"
"Hehe, that's my little secret." the girl smiled mischievously.
"Now that that's over, can we start playin' already? I wanna this to be perfect for mah family reunion." Applejack tapped on her bass.
"I thought your family was more into country?" Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, ever since Vinyl uploaded that video, everyone's been pestering me about this. Though Granny was still against the idea, but she got outvoted."
"Nothing against traditions darling, but sometimes you just have to embrace the new style." Rarity got ready on her instrument.
"ONE! TWO! THREE!" Pinkie shouted and on her que everyone started playing.
As of lately the more the girls played, the sooner their transformation would start. So far Sunset had yet to tell anyone about her phoenix like transformation and she hadn't been able to do it again for some reason.
The all too familiar magic started flowing through their bodies, causing their transformations to happen. As always it was an exciting experience for everyone, only this time it felt even better, smoother some of them would say. Sunset kinda wished her horn would appear too, because she would always get this annoying feeling, as if something wanted to come out of her forehead. Luckily, the feeling was overshadowed by the pure joy she felt while playing with her friends. They even rented the show stage from the Battle of the Bands, since the music room wasn't always available. As for Sweet Apple Acres, Granny didn't like loud music, when she was around. No one else had something available for band practice.
A passing couple seated themselves on the ground in front of the stage and listened to them for until the Rainbooms were finished practicing. They applauded the girls for their skills and were on their merry way soon afterwards.
"We were pretty darn good today." Applejack proclaimed as the girls were quickly packing up their stuff.
"Yeah! We were pretty lucky they didn't find a replacement for Ms. Harshwhinny." Pinkie said while putting her drums into the trunk of the car of Rarity's father. "Could you imagine having four periods with her?!" Everyone shuddered at the thought.
"Uh girls? I dunno if you noticed, but..." Rainbow trailed off, looking on her back and flapping her wings a little. The others too looked at their extra body parts, touching them to confirm if they were still there.
"Oh my." whispered Fluttershy. "Shouldn't they be...gone by now?"
"They should." Sunset confirmed, inspecting her pony tail. "I've noticed this lately. Our transformations last longer and longer."
"Oh!" Pinkie Pie popped out from below. "Do you think we're going to turn completely into ponies one day?" she asked, excited at the prospect.
"I...highly doubt that." Sunset told her, to which Pinkie's let out a disappointed "Aw".
"But still, I better consult Twilight about that. Until she writes back, we should probably avoid playing and hope we get back to normal until we arrive at school."
Everyone entered the car, but there was one problem, namely the wings of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. The problem was solved with them both leaning forward, in order to avoid crushing them. Certainly not a comfortable position, but it did the trick. The worst part however was, when they arrived at school, they still were part pony, mostly human.
"Maybe we should call sick for today." Rarity suggested. "I'm sure I can get us all home without being seen by anyone outside."
"Principal Celestia kinda saw me and Rainbow today already." Sunset pointed out. "But I'm sure if we explain the situation to her, she'll give us her okay to go. Besides, everyone else has already seen us like this."
"Yeah, can we go out already? I think those things are about to cramp up." Rainbow Dash groaned.
"Well, let's get going before the period is over." Applejack exited the car. The others followed her swiftly. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash both stretched a little when they came out. "Goodness. This is so strange." she rubbed one of her wings.
"Hey Shy, think we can fly with those a little?"
"Don't even think about it Dash or else ah'm gonna tie ya up like a cow in a rodeo." AJ threatened, taking a lasso out of her school bag.
"Relax, it was just a joke. Still would be awesome." Rainbow looked up into the sky, while Fluttershy trembled at the thought.
"I-I think I stay on the ground." she stuttered.
Sunset shook her head, but still smiled. "Whatever girls. It would be bad if you'd be in the air and all of the sudden the transformation stops. Let's get to Celestia's office already before any passenger wonders why we're wearing those strange costumes."
Agreeing on that note everyone walked in, with Pinkie Pie jumping up every now and then. Jumping up a little high, one had to say, compared to her usual little jumps. To get a picture, her feet easily reached the waists of the other girls, when she reached the highest point during her jump.
"Uh, Pinks, how yer doing this?" Applejack asked carefully. Pinkie Pie landed on the ground and walked with the others a little. "Dunno. It's just so easy. I feel like I have all this extra energy!"
"Now here's a scary thought..." Rainbow muttered.
"Extra energy?" Sunset stopped in her tracks, looking at Pinkie. "Could you explain it a little more?"
Pinkie shrugged. "It's like I said. I mean, every time we play I feel SO much more energetic. If we wouldn't play I would probably explode! Afterwards I would always be a little exhausted, but not today!" She made an extra huge jump, touching the ceiling with her hand. "Ta da!"
"Wow." Rainbow commented. She looked back at her wings and started flapping them. Soon she was a little airborne like after the first time she and the girls transformed, using the Elements of Harmony on Sunset Shimmer. Said girl frantically looked back and forth between both girls, getting a little nervous to say the least. "Anyone else feeling a little...off?" she asked.
Fluttershy just pointed at her wings. "It feels...strange. Having an extra set of limps I mean."
"To be completely honest, I thought nothin' of it, but now that Pinkie mentioned it...whoa!" Applejack walked away from the girls, wanting to have some space, when she jumped upwards, but then tripped over a book lying on the floor.
*CREAK*
Wanting to stop herself from hitting the ground, Applejack planned on supporting herself at a locked. Only the locker door gave in under her hand. Now there was a dent in form of AJ's hand on the door.
Everyone stared at her and the locker.
And her.
And the locker.
"Sun" AJ spoke to the former unicorn "you better know what's goin' on."
"I...have a theory." she spoke slowly. "Rarity, do you feel any different?"
"Hmm." the fashion designer put a hand under her chin. "I do feel a slight headache. Strange is it centers around the forehead for some reason, but it might be completely unrelated to anything."
"You too, huh?" Sunset rubbed her own forehead. "Okay, you guys go ahead to the principal's office. I get my book and meet you there and then explain the theory I have in mind."
Five minutes later Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna found themselves confronted by six pony girls. Both looked at the girls equally shocked, especially when Sunset's book started glowing and vibrating like a cell phone. Sunset quickly opened the book and read what was written inside.
"Damn, Spike wrote Twilight isn't there at the moment and he doesn't know when she's back."
"AHEM." Everyone turned towards the women in the room. "Would you six mind explaining what you're doing here and why you look like you're left from carnival?" Celestia asked.
Five of the girls turned towards Sunset, figuring she would be the best one to explain the situation. "Well, you remember this here" she pointed towards her pony ears "appear, when we play with our instruments, right?"
"And disappear afterwards, if I remember correctly." Luna stated.
"Yeah, well normally they should. The thing is...not today and we don't know why or for how long this condition lasts. And aside from the obvious changes, there are some more subtle side effects I noticed on all of us."
"Side effects?" Celestia asked.
"Namely Applejack and Pinkie Pie are as strong as earth ponies from my home. Earth ponies look like normal ponies, but they're incredibly strong." Sunset added the explanation. "Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash more obviously have the wings and Rarity and myself are experiencing headaches on a certain part of our head, where the horn of a unicorn is supposed to be."
"Okay" Celestia took in a deep breath "let's assume I didn't understand any of this."
Sunset groaned, falling back into an empty chair.
"Miss Shimmer, perhaps it would be easier if you start from the beginning and explain slowly what exactly is going on." Luna suggested.