//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: What if it was Twilight? // Story: I was just trying to help // by Shadowlord //------------------------------// “I was just trying to help!” Sunset Shimmer insisted. “Yeah, well, you didn’t!” Rainbow Dash rather harshly replied. “None of this would've happened if you weren't tryin' to show off – as usual.” Applejack insinuated. At that moment who should show up but Trixie, “Good show, ‘Rain-brooms.’ I especially liked the part where Sunset Shimmer, in a fit of jealous rage, knocked out Rainbow Dash mid-guitar solo!” she jeered “It wasn't a fit of jealous rage!” Sunset Shimmer had shouted before she was able to calm herself, she was better than that now. Sunset looked to her friends for support, none of them spoke. “If you say so.” Trixie mocked. “Ooh! It looks like they've already decided who'll be moving on to the finals! I'm guessing it wasn't too difficult a decision.” At that moment, the stage doors open and the band that was known as the Dazzlings entered. As the Dazzlings began to vocalize both Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna became dazed as the Dazzlings were truly the three evil sirens who had the power to charm people with their music. Long ago the sirens were banished to this world from the magical land known as Equestria by a legendary unicorn who sought to strip them of their magical abilities. However, the sirens now had the chance to get back their power if they could feed off the negative energy produced by the battle of the band's competition held at Canterlot High School. Due to a previous event now the school now had splashes of Equestrian magic. As the Dazzlings finished their little spell, the leader Adagio Dazzle, looked across the stage. “What can we do?” Rarity questioned. “There isn't going to be another opportunity for us to play. And I had the most gorgeous outfit for the finals!” “Yup, 'cause that's the real tragedy here, Rarity – that you won't get to play dress-up!” Applejack responded. “You know perfectly well that is not what I meant!” Rarity defended. Adagio Dazzle grinned a particularly evil smirk, back in Equestria she would only show this evil grin as she looked down on villages of ponies, ready for new prey. “You girls go to that Trixie girl after the announcement” the lead siren ordered the two others, by name Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk. “And exactly where are you going?” Aria Blaze questioned. “Opportunity is knocking, and I’m going to answer it!” Adagio responded with a smirk. Sonata Dusk raised an ear, “I don’t hear anything” she said causing Adagio’s smirk to drop “is Opportunity knocking softly? Maybe we should get him a doorbell.” Aria groaned and Adagio slapped her forehead, “just get going!” Adagio ordered firmly “and meet me in the cafeteria in exactly one hour” she added her smirk quickly returning to her face. “You guys wanna pipe down?” Rainbow Dash snapped. “They’re about to announce who’s moving on!” “Who are you kidding?” Fluttershy demanded, “you know it isn’t going to be us.” Celestia and Luna got on stage and Celestia took the microphone. “The band that will be joining the Dazzlings in tonight's finals... The Rainbooms!” Trixie let out a shocked “what?!” and the rest of the crowd made noises of outrage. The Rainbooms themselves were just as surprised as anyone, but they walked out on stage, all the same. Sunset Shimmer attempted to follow. “Why don’t you just stay back here, another tackle and I won’t be able to perform, and we cannot afford for my rad skills to be absent tonight,” said Rainbow Dash smugly. “Amazing she can fit her soccer uniform over that big head of hers!” Sunset Shimmer thought to herself. Suddenly she heard a snicker behind her and there was the orange haired leader of the Dazzlings. “What do you want?” Sunset questioned, “and make it fast, I’m in a bad mood.” Adagio Dazzle gave another evil chuckle, “I can see that. I’ll cut right to the chase Sunset Shimmer.” Her pendant began to glow as she waved her arms and a small jewelry box appeared in her hand “here.” “I’m flattered, really I am, but I’m not on that side of the fence” Sunset Shimmer snipped. “Make jokes all you want,” Adagio fired back putting the jewelry box in Sunset’s hand. “I’ll be in the cafeteria after the little presentation of competing bands if you’re looking for me.” “And why on Earth would I be looking for you?” Sunset demanded. Adagio's answer was quick and simple, “I have answers.” “And what is that supposed to mean?” Sunset demanded. “You have questions,” Adagio turned her back and began to leave as she continued “or rather you will have them just as soon you see my little gift,” she smirked with her back to Sunset Shimmer. “Like I said I’ll be in the cafeteria.” Sunset Shimmer looked down at the tiny box in her hand, every bit of sense she had told her to throw it away and forget about it. However, Sunset couldn’t figure out any logical reasons for the Dazzlings to use such an obvious trick. Especially considering she wasn’t even in the band opposing them. Sunset Shimmer thought to herself, “she said I’d have questions once I saw what was inside.” Sunset slowly lifted the tiny lid of the box and saw what was inside. Adagio was right; Sunset Shimmer did have questions now, a lot of questions. “Zis never should have been you Rainbooms!” Sunset snapped out of her thoughts by this angry burst coming from the audience as they booed the Rainbooms. The Rainbooms ignored the negative calls as they exited the auditorium with Sunset Shimmer close behind. “Girls!” Sunset called as she ran closer to her friends, “you’ll never believe…” “Whoa, whoa” Rainbow Dash gestured for Sunset to slow down, “like I said, you need to be more careful because I can’t afford to be out tonight, my kick but skills are probably the only reason we’re in the finals.” The other Rainbooms said nothing but all made faces of annoyance, “now, despite some people’s mistakes” she added looking at Sunset. “Rainbow,” Applejack scolded. Sunset could feel her fists clenching “You were showing them your magic,” she stated through gritted teeth. “Trixie had special effects; we could’ve just said it was a special effect,” Rainbow proposed “but anyway,” Rainbow Dash turned to her bandmates “we can finish ‘awesome as I wanna be’ tonight at the finals to warm up for the counter spell” Sunset saw Fluttershy scowl. “Now obviously I’ll be center stage, hmmm… maybe we can get a rainbow spotlight going and…” “That’s so like you!” Sunset yelled before she could stop herself, all eyes turned to her. “Excuse me?” questioned Rainbow Dash clearly offended as she inched closer to Sunset Shimmer. Applejack did her best to calm the situation. “Girls ah think this would be a good time ta take a breather.” “Did you ever stop to think about how I felt?” Sunset demanded. “What I sacrificed to help you? Do you know what it felt like out there? With everyone looking at me just like at the fall formal?” “Ladies,” Rarity chimed. “I think we’re all still a little on edge from thinking we were going to face elimination from the competition.” “And let’s not forget whose fault that is!” Rainbow bellowed. “Rainbow!” Twilight scolded this time. “My point is!” Rarity went on forcefully “I think we should all calm down and not say things in the heat of the moment.” At this moment Twilight spoke. “Rarity’s right, everyone makes mistakes, Sunset you acted a little rash, Rainbow you almost exposed us.” “Mistakes?” Sunset repeated, “so what I did was a mistake?” “That’s not what I meant,” Twilight corrected calmly. “You’re the one who said it, Sunset Shimmer!” Rainbow pointed out. “And you’re the one who owes me an apology!” Sunset countered. “I had to go through everything I felt at the fall formal to help you!” “Don’t blame me for the reputation you built!” Rainbow argued. “Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie and Fluttershy declared in unison. “Well, we can’t all be big headed sports stars like you are!” Sunset bellowed. “And we can’t all be evil queen bees like you! You know if the Dazzlings didn’t have everyone under their spell everyone would hate them because they’re just like how you are!” Rainbow shouted the others gasped. Sunset took a step back as her eyes began to water “are?” she repeated. “I mean were,” Rainbow corrected beginning to calm down. “like how you were.” “Sunset,” Fluttershy took Sunset Shimmer’s hand “come on, you know she didn’t mean…” “No,” Sunset pulled away from Fluttershy, “I heard what she said, and I know she meant it.” Sunset stopped suddenly before asking, “what if it had been Twilight?” “Beg pardon?” Applejack questioned. “What if Twilight was the one who tackled Rainbow Dash, would you all have grilled her like you did me?” Sunset questioned. “Darling” Rarity chimed in, “you're just talking silly.” “I want an answer!” Sunset demanded. “Just tell me you would’ve done the same to Twilight, just say that you would’ve treated her the same way and I can put this all behind me.” All the Rainbooms looked around waiting for someone to say something, no one did. “No answer?” said Sunset Shimmer backing away and struggled with her words as though attempting not to cry “well, that’s all the answer I need” she took off without another word. Applejack slapped Rainbow on the back of the head, “what in tarnation was that?” she demanded. “Well, none of you answered her either!” Rainbow pointed out. “You started it!” Applejack countered. “Alright, stop it, stop it both of you,” Rarity demanded as she put herself between the two girls. “That’s enough; we’ve already lost Sunset we don’t need to lose anyone else today.” “I think we should all find her and apologize,” Fluttershy suggested quietly. “We have to get ready for the finals!” Rainbow Dash pointed out, all eyes turned to her. “Look if this were a regular band competition I would totally say we should go after her, but it’s not. You all know what’s at risk if we can’t perform at the top of our game and beat the Dazzlings; we can’t break their spell and they’ll be able to cast their spell on who knows how many more people!” “She is right, but I don’t like leaving Sunset alone.” Rarity stated. “Ah still agree with Fluttershy we should go offer apologies now,” Applejack stated. Pinkie Pie looked between her friends, “I’m not sure.” “Looks like you’re the split vote Twilight,” Spike pointed out as all eyes fell on Twilight Sparkle. Twilight thought about not so long ago when Sunset Shimmer herself was a villain trying to take over Equestria. How she’d threatened to destroy the portal to Equestria unless Twilight gave her the crown which would allow her to use magic in this parallel universe. Twilight refused so as not to let the crown’s power fall into Sunset’s hands. However later after Sunset had gotten her hands on the crown and became an all-powerful she-demon of magic, she revealed she’d been bluffing about destroying the portal. Twilight had almost no doubts about Sunset’s trustworthiness now, but she’d always wondered if she’d made the right choice. What if Sunset had destroyed the portal? Would Equestria have found a way to survive without her element of harmony? The plunder seed vines she’d faced not so long ago were only defeated when she and her friends returned them to the tree of harmony which couldn’t have happened without hers and what about Tirek? “It’s never a good idea to leave a friend after an argument,” Twilight finally spoke. “However, we have to defeat the Dazzlings or else this whole world will suffer. As soon as they’re defeated, we will make everything up to Sunset Shimmer after they’re defeated.” The other girls nodded in somewhat reluctant agreement.