Tough Choices

by trombrony98

Under our Spell

Tuesday Afternoon.

Rarity made a mental note to herself to get singing banned in the lunchroom. Students seemed to be too easily influenced during lunch. This was the second time this year that the opinion of the whole school was changed by a small group singing at lunch, even if the first time she had helped.

Now the whole school was pitted against each other in a Battle of the Bands. Even the principals were supporting the idea, despite the fact that it was tearing the whole school apart again. All of the Rainbooms and Sunset Shimmer agreed that it had to be dark magic.

Thankfully, Sunset Shimmer had a way to contact the one person who might be able to help them out of this fiasco. Apparently, she had a book at the bottom of her locker that allowed her to contact Princess Celestia, probably the principal's equine counterpart. Now all they had to do was hope that she'd arrive in time.

"You sure this'll work?" Rainbow Dash still seemed a little skeptical about the concept.

"Look, I'm not one hundred percent sure the message got through, but unless any of you have better ideas, this might be our only shot at stopping them." Sunset looked at them with a grim determination. "While we're waiting, we might as well head out to the statue. We don't want to be elsewhere when Twilight arrives."

Rarity had different plans. "Excuse me, but I need to see the principal again. There's something on my mind that I need to talk to her about." Sunset gave a confused nod as she picked up her backpack and headed toward the office.

As she neared her destination, she noticed Sweetie Belle and her friends talking on the other side of the hall. "Yoo-hoo, Sweetie Belle!"

She was thrown off when Sweetie shot her a glare. Trying to figure out what went wrong, she walked over to the trio. "Sweetie, what's wrong?"

Sweetie Belle turned up her nose and looked away. Rarity's heart sank as Applebloom provided her answer. "She don't need ya anymore! She doesn't need some pesky older sister to win the Battle of the Bands!"

Each word struck Rarity with increasing intensity. Sweetie Belle had always looked up to her as a role model, but now she apparently didn't want anything to do with her. She hung her head low as she walked over to the office.

The office wasn't particularly different from when they last left it. Principal Celestia was busy filling out some paperwork when Rarity spoke up. "Hello?"

Principal Celestia looked up from her paperwork. "If this is about the Musical Showcase again, I already told you that we're not changing it back."

"Well, this is about the showcase, but it's a different question. As you know, I am currently in two groups that are performing for the showcase: the Ponytones and the Rainbooms."

The principal looked at her inquisitively. "And?"

"Am I still allowed to perform with both groups? I don't want to let anybody down." Rarity clasped her hands together nervously, hoping she would say yes.

"I am dreadfully sorry, Rarity, but we simply can't allow that, since you might have to compete with yourself. You're going to have to choose one way or another." As she finished speaking, Rarity noticed that Celestia's eyes flashed the same color green as earlier. She nodded defeatedly and walked out the door, tears streaking down her eyes.

She only managed to make it ten feet down the hall before she collapsed to the floor, crying. How could she be forced to choose between her friends? If only the Dazzlings hadn't decided to choose now to show up. She promised that she would make them pay for this.

She sat crying until Big Mac passed by. Seeing a friend in need, he sat down next to her and put his arm around her. Finally having someone to talk to, she tried to get syllables out, only to be choked by her own tears.

Big Mac sat there silently, taking this all in. When Rarity was finally calm enough to speak, she explained her situation to him, barely holding back tears.

"I just don't know what to do! With this whole Battle of the Bands business going on, the principals are forcing me to choose between you guys and the Rainbooms, but I don't want to choose! I'm ruined, Big Mac, ruined! If I choose you guys, the Dazzlings might get away with this! But if I choose the Rainbooms, Toe-Tapper and Torch Song might never speak to me again! What do I do?" She barely made out the last words before breaking down again. Big Mac, however let go of her and stood up.

"You better choose us. Who cares about the Rainbooms! They're just another band in our way. Not that they'd be able to beat us anyway." He gave her a menacing glare, then stormed off. Rarity stopped crying as she wondered what got into him. Normally he was very reserved, but now he was being cocky and mean. She came to the conclusion that the Dazzlings must have gotten to him. Just another problem to worry about.

She dusted herself off and headed to the statue. When she arrived, she noticed that everyone was waiting around impatiently. "Hey, Rarity! Where've you been? It's been almost an hour!"

Rarity gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry. I just... it's nothing. I'll tell you guys later."

Sunset sighed. "Well, at least we're all here before Twilight shows up. Come on, you can paint my fingernails if you want to."

Rarity gave an excited squeal. "Ooh! I've had some ideas to what to do with your nails for a while. Maybe incorporate a little magenta, some burnt orange...," she dug into her purse as she continued to explain her plans for Sunset's fingernails.

"Pipe down, will ya?," an irritated Rainbow Dash chimed in. "I know you love fashion and all, but it's making me nauseous just listening to this."

"I don't mind. In fact, Rarity, do you think could do my nails, too?" Fluttershy walked over to Rarity with a grin on her face.

"Certainly, dear. Just let me finish Sunset's nails." Rarity took out a vial of orange nail polish and walked over to Sunset. "Can you put your hand out, dear? It'll be awfully hard to do your nails without it."

Sunset put her her hand out as Rarity opened the vial. "Now hold still, dear. I might mess up if you jerk around." She dipped the brush into the vial and got to work on Sunset's nails.

As Rarity finished putting the first color on, Sunset spoke up. "Is everything alright? You really dodged the issue of what took you so long."

"As I said, it's nothing." Rarity looked away as she put the cap on the nail polish.

"Look, I know something's bothering you. You don't have to hide it from me."

Rarity clenched her teeth as she dug another bottle of nail polish out of her purse. "I said, it's nothing. Can't we just drop the subject, dearie? I'm starting to get a little frustrated."

Sunset gave a frustrated sigh. "Fine. You know what, why don't you do Fluttershy's nails while you decide whether or not to keep hiding your feelings from us." She walked over to the statue and sat down, letting her head fall into her lap. Rarity gave a disappointed sigh.

Fluttershy looked over at Rarity when she saw Sunset. "So is it my turn?"

"I suppose it is." Rarity put the bottle she had gotten out away. An excited grin spread over Fluttershy's face as she pranced over to her.

Rarity grabbed another bottle of nail polish out of her purse. As she twisted the cap off, Fluttershy gingerly put out her hand. A small smile spread across her face as she brushed the color onto Fluttershy's nails.

"I'm starting to think she's not coming." Rainbow Dash was still impatiently bouncing her soccer ball. Her ball was coming down as a flash of purple flew out of the statue.

Simultaneously, everyone seemed to realize what happened. "Twilight!"

Sunset rushed over to Twilight as she got to her knees. "I'm back...," she groaned as she wearily accepted Sunset's hand.

Sunset had barely backed off before the rest of the group enveloped her in a massive hug. As the rest of the group greeted her with warm smiles, she pushed them away and sternly said, "and I've got bad news about those new girls."

Comments

[trombrony98]

5215114 Does that stop people from riding the bus? Anyway, where is the school's parking lot, anyway?

[Lynchristina]

I like this. Hope to see more!

[trombrony98]

5241358 Don't worry, I'm currently working on chapter 3. Glad you like it!

[Lynchristina]

5241367 Yay!

[LuluCalliope]

They've gotten to Big Mac! EVERYONE RUN FOR THE HILLS! *runs away screaming*

Wait... *goes into nerd mode* Cheerilee is old enough to be working as a member of the staff, and if Big Mac and Cheerilee are the same age, at least old enough to be dating each other, then why is Big Mac a student? Or...is Cheerilee a pedophile? Or is Big Mac really in college? Or... *brain explodes*

Dear Celestia, I need to stop being so thinky...

[Imperator Knoedel]

Wait, how is this even a choice? Dammit Rarity, just man mare woman up and save the world with the Rainbooms! You can always apologize to the Ponytones later, though odds are they are gonna apologize to her.

[MJP]

remind me to do a rewrite of thins, if your ok with that

[trombrony98]

7238203 I'd be OK with a rewrite. I may finish it off this summer if I find the time, but I'll play it by ear.