> I was just trying to help
>  by Shadowlord
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: What if it was Twilight?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“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.

> Chapter 2: Two sides to every coin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunset Shimmer ran across the halls holding her tears in, the last thing she wanted was to give the other students at Canterlot High the satisfaction that they made her cry. Sunset ran until she reached a big door, assuming this door was to the library (where no one would be) she barged in and let the tears pour out. “Trouble in paradise Sunset Shimmer?” called a voice, Sunset looked up and found herself in the cafeteria which was empty save for Adagio Dazzle.

“Go away!” Sunset screamed.

Adagio simply smirked. “I don’t think so.”

“Get out, before I throw you out!” Sunset threatened.

Adagio grinned, “that’s right, destroy whatever little of the 'reformed' reputation you’ve created.”

“Fine, I’ll leave!” Sunset replied reaching for the door.

“And I’m sure you would love for all of them to see you now,” Adagio countered, Sunset lost her grip on the doorknob.

Sunset finally admitted defeat; she headed to a table away from Adagio before she spoke. “Fine, we’re both in here, but we don’t have to talk, pretend I’m not here!”

“Whatever you say," Adagio declared. "Well if you’re not here I must be alone and when I’m alone I like to whistle.” Adagio began to whistle the same song she and the other sirens sang on their first day at Canterlot High. Adagio’s whistling echoed off the cafeteria walls making it near impossible for Sunset Shimmer to ignore.

Sunset felt her hands tighten into a fist and eventually her left eye twitch “will you stop that?” she demanded.

“Hmmm, I thought you weren’t here,” countered Adagio.

“Well, I am in here, so knock it off!” Sunset shouted.

“It’s funny isn’t it?” asked Adagio.

“What the Tart (Tartarus) are you talking about?” demanded Sunset Shimmer.

“Do they tell the history of my girls and I back in Equestria?”

“Only that Starswirl defeated you,” responded Sunset Shimmer.

Adagio let out a loud laugh “defeated us?” she demanded amused. “Please, that old unicorn sent us here after we beat him! There we were in 
the capital of Equestria, we were ready to go big, we were ready for a feast of emotion but after an, shall we say experience, we had some work to do.”

“What happened?” asked Sunset Shimmer.

Adagio returned to her story. “I still remember it all, there we were, hot off feast after glorious feast. Finally, we decided to hit the big time; Canterlot. We tried a musical competition but our old music just wasn’t cutting it, it was I who decided we needed to try something new but still play to our strengths, we needed to invent a whole new kind of music. We went back to the contest with our new music and shall we say some new abilities,” at this point Adagio’s pendant flashed a red glow. “Our new music was a hit, and soon everypony in the theater was fighting over us, and all that glorious energy from conflict came right back to us. However, one member of the audience was immune to our spell because of his great magic.”

“Starswirl,” Sunset commented.

“Exactly, the girls and I were to appear at an upcoming nightclub. That was where we officially met Starswirl for the first time. There he was singing on stage just as we were about to start our performance. Starswirl was attempting to do what your so called friends are doing now, launch a musical counter-spell.”

“You know about that?” Sunset demanded.

“Of course we know, but back to my story. Night after night that old fool competed against us for ponies’ ears and through these battles, new instruments, styles, and musical groups were founded he tried everything he could think of and yet when the dust settled it was we who won the crowd. Now we come to our so-called defeat. There we were in the biggest stadium in all of Canterlot about to sing a sold out concert for thousands of ponies, I still remember it, the feeling of being only steps away from victory. I knew that with this one last big score all of Equestria soon be doing our bidding and that even the princesses would soon be bowing to me! Then it happened, one moment we had all of Canterlot eating out of our hooves and the next thing I know we’re in this prison of a dimension! Starswirl didn’t defeat us he found a loophole and hoped we’d never be able to feed again!”

“Well that sure isn’t the story I read back in Equestria,” Sunset commented.

Adagio removed a quarter from her pocket “every coin has two sides Sunset Shimmer as does every story, Starswirl spread what he wanted to happen and what he wanted to believe. But the truth is he failed. We moved through this dimension for what felt like an eternity, moving from town to town and barely surviving on the emotions of these humans. I felt like this was how we were going to spend the rest of our lives and then it happened. I didn’t want to hope to believe it at first, but sure enough, it happened. First I saw it and then I ran outside of the restaurant wondering if it could be true and then I felt it, the others didn’t but I did, and I knew what it meant, it was Equestrian magic and it meant a second chance! That Sunset Shimmer was the night of the fall formal.”

“So you’re saying it’s my fault you’re here?” questioned Sunset Shimmer shocked.

“Yes and I can’t thank you enough!” responded Adagio.

“Tart!” shouted Sunset “if that got out I’d probably have to transfer schools. How did you know about the musical counter-spell?”

“Do you know how the other students describe you Sunset Shimmer? Most of them describe you as the evil queen bee who tried to turn 
everyone into zombies.”

“Evil?” Sunset repeated.

“That was the word most students used among other things of which "evil" may be the nicest. Would you like to hear their version of the story?” Adagio asked. Sunset nodded “well it is a rather short story, they tell of how you started at Canterlot High like anyone else but soon rose to popularity when your fellow students crowned princess of the fall formal, soon you were ruling the school with an iron fist, separating people….”

“I did not!” Sunset declared Adagio looked at her hiding a smirk “well it’s true!” Sunset defended. “I never separated anyone except for my friends and that was because Rarity got in my way, I won’t mince words I was a royal bitch and a bully, but I had nothing to do with the fact that everyone stuck to their kind. That was not my fault!”

“Like I said every story has two sides” responded Adagio. “Now then, you ruled over the school with an iron fist and just when things were at their worst a new girl arrived, they say she was just there by coincidence, but you and I know better. She quickly united and won everyone over, and she was voted to overthrow you. Finally, you couldn’t win your crown fair and square, and so you tried to get Twilight disqualified. However, Twilight cleared her name and undid the damage you did so finally since you couldn’t win or cheat your way to the crown you decided to steal it and that got you the crown and caused a transformation. You know the most intelligent students say that the crown just took what was on the inside and brought it out for all to see. In any matter with your new found dark magic, you crowned yourself a princess and put everyone under your spell but met your end in Twilight Sparkle again when she and the others destroyed your power and broke your spell!”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much how it happened,” Sunset admitted.

“Is it now?” questioned Adagio. “I told you Sunset every story has two sides, you’ve heard Starswirl’s side of our story, and now you’ve heard my side. Now I’ve heard their side of the story but what’s yours?”

“I was a Royal, class-A, top bitch!” Sunset declared “but I never separated anyone, and I have worked hard repairing all the damage!”

“All the damage?” Adagio questioned. “Because from what I saw I’d say not everyone is as willing to put the fall formal behind them as you are.”

“That was… hey, you’re trying to distract me how did you know about the counter-spell?” Sunset demanded.

“Am I distracting you Sunset or are you just dodging my question because you don’t like the answer?” Adagio asked Sunset’s glare and demanding stance seemed to falter for a moment, but she quickly regained herself. “Fine, let me ask you something, do you think we’re stupid? Remember we’ve heard all about you and the fall formal and that means we’ve also heard about Twilight Sparkle. We show up and cast our spell and suddenly you girls have a new band member? At the kickoff party, I noticed you girls were immune to our music. I knew their magic protects your friends, and so I figured this new girl must have that power as well. Once I figured that out, it wasn’t hard to put two and two together.”

“Well, then why did you let us continue in the competition?” Sunset inquired.

“Your friends have a great magical force Sunset Shimmer, and we sought to make it our own. Of course, your friends are completely immune to our spells so getting to their magic hasn’t been easy. But thankfully with a little help from the other bands, it seems we’re making progress” responded Adagio.

“What am I even doing?” Sunset demanded getting up from her seat. “Why am I even talking to you? Everything is your fault! You and those other two flunkies of yours! You put a spell on everyone, and that’s why they said what they did when I was on that stage! The stress from your band competition is what stressed my friends out and started breaking them up! And the finals of your stupid competition are why my friends didn’t come after me when I ran away!” Sunset was yelling at the top of her voice and turning a slight shade of red, and when she finished she had to take a few deep breaths and sit down.

“So everything’s my fault?” Adagio inquired “tell me Sunset is that what you believe or what you want to believe? Let me ask you Sunset were your friends so nice to each other in the band before we came?”

“Hey!” Sunset interrupted “you don’t know anything about my friends!”

“Wanna bet?” Asked Adagio smugly “your friend with the rainbow hair she’s an athlete right?” Sunset nodded. “Okay so have you been to her house?” again Sunset nodded. “When you open the door to her bedroom all of her trophies are on a shelf on the wall you’re facing right?” this time Sunset didn’t nod, but the way she suddenly became interested in the floor was more than enough confirmation for Adagio. “Ha, I knew it!” she declared. “Now let me clarify a few things Sunset. First of all, don’t blame our spell for how everyone’s acting you’re just seeing them for who they are deep down.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Sunset demanded.

Sunset expected Adagio to narrow her eyes before demanding the present she gave back and then running off in a huff. What Sunset wasn’t expecting was for Adagio to start laughing like a hyena. “Sunset we haven’t forced anyone to do anything nor did we have the power to do so, we will soon, but when we first arrived here we didn’t have nearly enough power to mind control anyone all we did was plant one seed.”

"Seed?” Sunset inquired.

“A seed of want, I’ll admit almost need. A desire to win the battle of the bands and while it is true we gave them enough of want to win that they’d fight to get it how they fight is their choice!” declared Adagio. “Furthermore” she added with a grin “though it is true we planted a seed in all of them our seed was only to give them a desire to win the battle of the bands, their feelings of you have absolutely nothing to do with wanting to win! What you heard on that stage has absolutely nothing to do with my sisters and me.”

“Sisters?” inquired Sunset.

“We may as well be,” responded Adagio. “We've been together so long, we’ve shared our wins, our defeats, our feedings, and our music. As much as I hate to admit it” she stopped quickly adding, “and if you ever tell them I said this I’ll be forced to kill you! But without those two I couldn’t spread nearly enough distrust, and they… complete me. I don’t exactly like when Aria rebels my leadership, but it gives me a reason to keep my guard up and to remind them why I’m their leader. As for Sonata well she has an air of kindness that lures people into a false sense of security making it so much easier to blend into a crowd and spread our magic not to mention that most of my best ideas come from her in a way, you could say her stupidity inspires my genius.”

“When I was giving you the tour of the school you called them idiots,” Sunset pointed out.

“Yeah, but they’re my idiots,” responded Adagio. “But remember if you tell them I said that I'd be forced to kill you.”

A chuckle escaped Sunset’s mouth, “that was an accident” she insisted.

“Right” responded Adagio knowingly.

Sunset spoke, “Alright, no more beating around the bush, what is up with this?” she pushed forward the tiny box Adagio gave her.

Adagio smiled, “tell me Sunset Shimmer are you happy with how things are for you now?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Sunset demanded.

“Do you think The Rainbooms consider you a friend?” Adagio inquired.

“Of course!” responded Sunset.

“Really? They may have let you into their little group but have they ever really included you? Have they ever suggested a club or sport for you to try? Have they ever asked your opinion on anything?”

Sunset groaned because the truth was they didn’t, they usually let her tag along with them and though they were always there to remind her that she’d turned herself around they also reminded her of what she did, albeit not on purpose. And sometimes she did feel like they didn’t include her, like when they didn’t tell her they were going to the mall or needed help at the animal shelter and when Rainbow Dash needed a drummer she didn’t even ask Sunset her opinion. And it was one thing that they didn’t tell random students to give her a chance but the fact that they hadn’t made an attempt with their little sisters bothered her.

Adagio smiled wickedly “have you enjoyed being treated like a pet and paraded around like a trophy?”

“What are you talking about?” demanded Sunset.

“Do you honestly think they let you into their little circle because they think you changed? Please, you’re a trophy. They parade you, the former queen bee of the school turned she-demon, around to remind everyone that they stopped you!” Adagio declared.

“You're lying, they… would, never” Sunset stammered.

“Really?” inquired Adagio “they let you cling to hope like a pet! Have they ever asked you a single personal question? Do they care, because the way they attacked you after you tried to help them looked a lot like a man scolding his dog for going too far off the leash!”

“They care about me, they help me, and they opened their arms when no one…” Sunset began.

Adagio suddenly began barking, “here Sunset” she mocked, “here girl, good girl (whistle, whistle)! Face it all you are to them is a stray dog they decided to take pity on.”

“What do you know?” demanded Sunset.

“I know you have the potential to be so much more than a trophy pet!” responded Adagio. “And that,” she added picking up the box “is why I gave you this.” She opened the box to reveal a pendant just like her own, and as the light fell upon the pendant, it began to shimmer with magic.

> Chapter 3: My own way!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunset Shimmer looked down at the siren pendant before returning her gaze to Adagio.

“So, you think I’ll be happier being one of your lackeys?” Sunset demanded.

“Not a lackey, an ally, a sister, a friend” responded Adagio.

“And you think you and your sisters would be better friends for me than Twilight and the others?” demanded Sunset.

“Of course, because we’ve been where you’ve been,” Adagio stated with a smirk. “We’ve been at the top of the world, all powerful and ready to strike, only to trip at the finishing line! When Starswirl banished us to this rat hole, do you know how it felt? To go from the top of the hill to rock bottom? To be trapped in a world where you don’t belong?”

Sunset didn’t respond because she knew exactly how all that felt. “They gave me hope” she finally said.

“And that’s what you did for us,” responded Adagio. “When I saw that light and when I realized what it was it was like my whole world was bright again. I’ve been where you are Sunset Shimmer, and I want to give you hope like you gave me hope!”

Sunset stammered, “but, I don’t want to go back to being the girl I was.”

“Tell me Sunset Shimmer how do you think this is all going to end, this battle of the bands I mean? Do you think the Rainbooms have a chance? That they’ll be able to summon up the magic of friendship and defeat us? Or do you think that soon they might start getting desperate like Starswirl did?”

“They’ll beat you!” declared Sunset.

“And why should you care if they do?” asked Adagio. “Let’s kid ourselves and say that the Rainbooms manage to defeat us and break our spell. What happens to you? Do you think the other students won’t be able to figure it out? You unleash magic in this world, and suddenly we randomly come along looking for magic? One thing is certain; our little stunt sure won’t help you. If we lose in the battle of the bands we’ll just move on and go back to surviving, it’ll be tough for us but without us to torture do you think they won’t use you to get out all of your negative feelings about us?”

Sunset suddenly became very interested in the floor, “why do you want me?”

“I like you Sunset” Adagio answered simply. “You’re like my sisters and me, you’re not satisfied just surviving no you know you deserve more, you deserve to rule the world! Now let’s say you somehow end up gaining their trust, do you want friends who abandon you the moment you step out of line?” Sunset felt her fist clench. “All they gave you was a pity party and pretended it was friendship; I want to give you the real deal. Don’t you want to be amongst people who understand you? Who know what it’s like to be out of place?”

Sunset looked at the pendant as it sparked with magic and it reflected in her eyes with a sense of longing. “What if I join you and we fail?”

“We leave this place and do everything we can to survive. However, we’ll do it together,” answered Adagio.

“Think about all the people at this high school Sunset, think of what they’ve done and said to you…”

“Now that’s the bad girl we love to hate!”

“The real Sunset Shimmer is back!”

“Perhaps Sunset Shimmer is just trying to make someone else out to be a bad element. So that her actions at the fall formal will become old news.”

“Last thing she needs is another CHS event almost ruined by some power crazed lunatic!”

“Just like when we used it on Sunset Shimmer when she turned into that awful winged monster!”

“I just wanted to help!”

“Yeah well, you didn’t!”

Sunset felt fresh tears escape her eyes, “there, there” soothed Adagio. “You’ve tried so hard for redemption, you’ve jumped through hoops to please them, but all you’ll ever be to them is a magical bully, you’ve tried so hard to make them happy why not try to make you happy? If they all expect you to be a villain why not play the role? Why not show them why they shouldn’t pick on you? Take all of that hatred they’ve given you and give it all back to them? Use it as a drive, show them all how nasty you can be! You hurt them, so they hurt you so why don’t you hurt them back? Clearly, they’re not above revenge.”

“I don’t want to be the girl I was before,” Sunset repeated.

Adagio smiled wickedly, “But that’s all they’ll ever see you as, I, on the other hand, see you as intelligent, driven, and strong I see you almost as I see myself as a girl who not only could rule the world but deserves too.”

“I… I…” Sunset stammered.

“It’s your choice Sunset Shimmer. If you think the Rainbooms are your friends and that somehow the rest of the school will forgive you for what you’ve done, then all you need do is give me back the pendant. Give me back the pendant, and you can go back to the Rainbooms, back to your life at Canterlot High School. However, if you know that what you have now is nothing like true friendship, if you want to be around people who have been where you’ve been, and if you know you deserve to sit upon a throne of your own then all you need to do is put that pendant on. However, keep in mind if you do put on that pendant there will be no turning back, you can never go back to the Rainbooms, and you, my sisters, and I will be linked forever!”

Sunset found her eyes locked on the pendant, “if I do this, everything I’ve done to be forgiven will have been a waste.”

Adagio’s smile flickered “from what I saw on that stage…”

“It already has been a waste,” Sunset finished and just like that Adagio’s smile was back.

“If I do this and we fail will we stay together?” Sunset inquired.

“I’ve put up with Aria and Sonata for years thinking we’d never get another chance at Equestrian magic” Adagio responded.

“And that’s what real friendship is.” Sunset thought to herself “true friends accept you for who you are. A long time ago Princess Celestia told me friendship was important, and I didn’t believe her at the time, but after the Fall Formal I’d seen what friendship could do, and I wanted to learn about it, but maybe I was going on about it the wrong way. True friends don’t expect you to change!” Sunset moved her hand forward and Adagio looked, her wicked grin growing as Sunset’s hand inched closer and closer toward the pendant. “I wanted to be friends with the Rainbooms because I wanted to be like Twilight…” Sunset’s finger brushed the box and as she did she felt a small wave of power go through her, and Adagio’s eyes began to sparkle green “but” she finished her thought aloud “I am not Twilight Sparkle!” she stated as though shouting to the heavens. “I” she went on getting louder and louder as she took the pendant in her hand, “am Sunset Shimmer, and I experience friendship in my own way!”

And with that Sunset put the pendant around her neck and the moment she did it surged with power Sunset’s eyes began to glow red and a large crimson red beam of light shot into the sky!

As the Rainbooms prepared for their performance, Twilight Sparkle suddenly became very cold as though a very small piece of her heart had just broken.

At this time Aria and Sonata’s pendants began to glow as well, and they felt like they’re power was splitting and yet becoming stronger than ever. Both sirens could see the red glow coming from the cafeteria and ran to it. The light faded just as the two sirens entered the cafeteria. Sunset Shimmer hunched over the ground, and Adagio was looking like she already had complete control over the world.

“What in Tartarus are you doing with her?” Aria demanded, “she’s one of them!”

“No!” Adagio proudly proclaimed as Sunset got to her feet and turned toward the other Dazzlings her eyes glowing red for a brief moment before they returned to normal. Sunset was standing with confidence and power, and she had a look in her eye that she hadn’t had since the fall formal. “She’s one of us now!”

> Chapter 4: Guitar solo
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Adagio are you nuts?” Aria questioned. The Dazzlings had taken their newest member into the city so she could have an outfit made for the battle of the band's finals. Currently, the three sirens were in the waiting room of a popular tailor shop while Sunset was being fitted by the tailors’ assistant, a young girl named Suri. “It was bad enough having to find enough emotion to feed three of us but with four…” Aria began.

“After we win the battle of the bands we’ll be able to feed a hundred sirens,” Adagio countered.

“She is one of them!” Aria repeated.

“Not anymore, and she wasn’t always,” Adagio responded getting to her feet. “At one time she ruled Canterlot High with an iron fist and then she brought Equestrian magic into this world! But the Rainbooms stopped her, don’t you see? She’s just like us; she’s not satisfied just surviving she wants more, and that’s exactly how we felt when we left the other sirens!”

Aria frowned, and Sonata looked down at her shoes, “she’s not a siren,” Aria finally spoke.

“Who cares?” demanded Adagio, “she is just like us, she’s chosen us, not only has she seen the power the Rainbooms can create she’s experienced it first hand and even so, she chose us over them!”

“If this doesn’t work…” Aria began.

“We’ll have one more mouth to feed, and you have my every permission to say, 'I told you so' as much as you want!” Adagio declared. “She is one of us now, and that is the end of the story, she put on the pendant and now we couldn’t break our link to her without damaging our magic!”

“And what if that’s the plan?” demanded Aria. “To get us to link to her so she can damage our magic from the inside?”

“You didn’t see her when she reached for her pendant,” responded Adagio. “She looked the same way I did when I saw that beacon of magic, you can never fake that look!”

“If this blows up in our faces it will be your fault!” Aria declared.

“And I will take full responsibility if that happens but I think… no, I know it won’t!” Adagio declared.

Aria could finally see Adagio was sure of her decision, “fine,” she finally said. “But if this goes wrong you are going to do my laundry and dish duty the rest of eternity!”

Adagio grinned knowing she had won the battle “it’s a deal.”

“Maybe it’ll be fun to have a new sister,” Sonata happily suggested.

“I guess anyone’s better than you, I mean you are the worst!” Aria said with a grin.

“Am not!” Sonata argued.

“Are too!”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

“Will you two knock it off?” Adagio shouted looking ready to tear her hair out, “in the name of Tartarus, am I your leader or your mother?”

“Now kids.” A voice from behind belonging to Sunset spoke, she was wearing an outfit very similar to the one she wore as a she-demon and talking in a masculine voice. “If you keep making mommy mad you’ll have no desert tonight.”

Adagio giggled, “finally someone with a brain joins the group.”

“Well she’s got a sense of humor,” Aria remarked, “I’ll give her that.”

“You know,” Sunset spoke softly, “I know you’re mostly about singing, but I do play guitar.”

All three Dazzlings looked at Sunset for a moment, and she thought they were about to laugh her off. “Hmm” Adagio finally said, “that’s interesting.” For a moment Sunset thought Adagio was just humoring her until she added. “I know I could never get the hang of one of those things.”

Aria looked shocked and pretended to grab her chest as though she had a heart attack “Whoa, Adagio Dazzle is admitting someone can do something better than her! Somebody call the newspaper!”

Sonata made and excited noise “oh boy she can play guitar, I love the guitar, I can’t wait to hear Sunset play the guitar, only one thing what’s a guitar?”

“Ignore her” Adagio commented. “Now, I don’t know if we can work a guitar into our actual performance tonight given the limited time and the required hand movements but maybe before we all sing you could warm up the crowd with a guitar solo.”

“Really?” Sunset questioned eagerly.

“Well, we’ll throw it on the wall at practice and see if it sticks, speaking of which I think it’s about time we get to practice,” Adagio announced.
The Sirens and Sunset Shimmer walked to the stadium where the finals of the Battle of the Bands were to take place. “Hmmmm…” Adagio surveyed the surroundings “it’s no Canterlot stadium, but I suppose it’ll do.”

“I think it’s nice,” Sunset remarked.

“Well I suppose it does have a certain rustic charm, but it doesn’t matter,” Adagio told her fellow bandmates “after tonight we’ll be able to perform wherever we want.”

“Like Pluto?” Sonata inquired, “I’ve always wanted to go there!”

Adagio took charge, “now then onto more important matters let’s hear you play Sunset.”

Sunset gave a nervous gulp as she grabbed a spare guitar from the stage and plugged it into an amp, “hey,” Aria whispered. “If you can impress Adagio I will officially owe you big time.”

Sunset smiled as Aria took her seat. Sunset took a deep breath and looked out to her new friends. Sunset thought to herself as she took a breath, “friends.” Could Sunset truly call them friends yet? She’d only just met them and to say their relationship got off to a rough start was a vast understatement, and yet she couldn’t help but feel a certain bond to them already a bond that went beyond any magical binding created by the pendants. Adagio took a very big risk in trusting her however she said she saw similarities between them and though she would’ve denied it before she was now proud of the fact that she shared similarities with her new friends. Also, she was proud of the fact that these friends accepted her for all her traits, even the dark ones.

Finally, Sunset took her last deep breath before she began to play scales, moving into a rock tune, and finally, she started to shred. Sunset could feel herself getting lost in the music! When she finally stopped, she heard thunderous applause.

“That was great!” Aria proclaimed.

“I loved listening Sunset play that stringy thing but when’s she gonna play the guitar?”  Sonata inquired.

Aria slapped herself as Adagio rose from her seat “very nice Sunset it’s been a long time since music like that has moved me.” Sunset felt herself blush slightly. “However,” Adagio added in a grimmer tone. “As I said I don’t think we can work the guitar into our performance,” Sunset felt her face fall, “however, I think a guitar solo to warm up the crowd is definitely in order.”

Sunset took a nervous gulp, “something wrong?” Adagio inquired.

“I’m just worried about what everyone’s gonna say about me on stage,” Sunset admitted.

Adagio walked on stage and put an arm around Sunset, “now you listen; it won’t matter if they protest as you start the main thing is that they’ll be cheering by the end.”

“You think so?” Sunset inquired.

“With what I just heard I know it,” Adagio promised. “I can see it now as you finish you your last note there’s only one word to describe you…”

“Traitor!” Proclaimed a new voice.

The Dazzling’s and Sunset Shimmer looked to the stadium entrance, and there stood six familiar teens.

Sunset took another nervous gulp, Sonata and Aria joined their comrades on stage, and Adagio smiled, “well, look who it is.”

> Chapter 5: Wanted
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

One could feel the tension between the two bands as the Dazzlings and Rainbooms looked at each other as though they were opposite nations ready to proclaim war. Aria and Sonata went to either side of Adagio while Sunset Shimmer seemed to shrink behind them.

“Well, look girls it’s the school hero’s,” Adagio proclaimed dramatically. “How terrifying!” she proclaimed as she gripped both Sonata and Aria pretending to huddle together in fear. “Oh no!” the three said in unison pretending to shake in terror. “Well, girls,” Adagio continued in a fake tone of sadness, “we tried, and we came very close, but now’s the time to meet our fate!”

“Shut up!” Rainbow Dash yelled angrily.

Aria decided some mocking was in order, “ oh, someone’s grumpy!”

“Maybe she needs a nap!” Sonata proclaimed thinking she had just said some very clever insult.

Adagio rolled her eyes before speaking again, “oh leave her alone Aria she’s just mad because Canterlot High School’s big strong hero’s needed our help to get to the finals!”

“Why don’t you just go to…” Rainbow began.

“Rainbow, calm down.” Twilight said as Applejack held Rainbow back from charging the Dazzlings. “Sunset?” Twilight questioned as Sunset Shimmer gave a nervous gulp before stepping out of hiding.

Sunset spoke extremely nervously, “hi.”

“Traitor!” Rainbow Dash repeated as Applejack covered her rainbow haired friend’s mouth.

Sunset almost ran behind the stage but Adagio grabbed her, “no,” she whispered. “This will be good for you Sunset. You’ll have to face them sooner or later and better now than during the concert tonight.”

“I don’t know,” Sunset stammered.

“Sunset do you regret your choice?” Adagio questioned.

Even with the Rainbooms only a small distance away Sunset Shimmer only had to pause for a moment, “no,” she answered.

“And that’s why you need to do this, you need to bury your past.” Adagio proclaimed. “Not only that but it looks like you’re afraid of these girls, afraid of what they might think of you and if you’re not willing to come to grips with that you might as well put that guitar down because there’s no way you’ll be able to get on stage tonight.”

Sunset sighed “you’re right, it’s just seeing them brought it all back. The Fall Formal, the crown, my transformation, and being so close only to lose it all. I mean what’s stopping that from happening again?”

“This time you have us.” Adagio said simply. “Sunset do you know why I’m letting you play guitar tonight?”

“Because you are my friend,” Sunset answered.

“That’s right,” Adagio proclaimed and before she could stop her Sunset forced her into a hug.

Adagio gave an awkward cough before Sunset let go, “okay, I’m ready to talk to them.”

“Excellent,” Adagio replied as the two returned to the end of the stage where Aria and Sonata had been watching the exchange.

“You’re going soft Adagio,” Aria whispered.

“Shut up!” Adagio replied.

Sunset stood at the edge of the stage and coughed nervously, “hi.”

“Sunset darling” Rarity spoke up, “please say this is some joke.”

Pinkie decided to speak up, “if it is it’s not funny.”

“I have to agree with Pinkie Pie,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Traitor!” Rainbow Dash remarked for the third time.

“Will you shut up!” Applejack shouted.

“Look at her neck!” Rainbow countered.

Sunset could feel all eyes on her pendant. “That’s right she’s one of us now!” Aria declared, but Adagio put her hand on her fellow siren’s arm.
“We do not speak unless she needs us, this is something Sunset needs to do on her own as much as she can,” Adagio lamented.

“Sunset,” Twilight spoke. “I know you were upset after the semi-finals but…”

“Upset, upset? Tart yeah I was upset Twilight. You were the one who said it would be dangerous if the sirens saw your magic and yet when I try and stop certain big-headed athletes….”

“Excuse me!” Rainbow Dash demanded, “what did you just call me?”

“I believe I just called you 'a big headed athlete' Rainbow Dash and you don’t know how long I’ve waited to say that! And while we’re on the subject there are a few other things I’d like to get off my chest!” Sunset grabbed her guitar and started shredding for a minute before continuing “you’re not the only one who can play guitar!”

“Well I’m the only one with any…” once again Applejack had to restrain Rainbow Dash.

“Sunset” Twilight went on “let's talk about this.”

“Fine, let's talk Twilight but first one more thing.” Sunset turned to Rainbow “would it kill you to take a shower after gym class?” behind Sunset the sirens giggled. “Now let’s talk Twilight.”

Twilight took a deep breath “Sunset you’re making….”

“Stop right there Twilight,” Sunset warned, “I know what you were going to say believe me, you were going to say 'Sunset you’re making a mistake, you don’t understand what you’re doing' am I wrong?”

Twilight spoke, “how did you know?...”

Sunset sighed “because I heard it before Twilight, a long time ago…”

“Celestia,” Twilight said.

“Exactly. How did you get it?” Sunset asked.

“Get what?” Twilight responded.

“The book, her book!”

“Sunset I was making a new library and Celestia…”

“Just gave it to you? Just like that? The one thing she had of our time together and she just throws it away!” Sunset yelled.

“Sunset, Celestia knew that you would need me that’s why she let me have it. Sunset I know you’re mad, I’ve been mad at my friends too but…”

“Stop right there Twilight!” Sunset barked. “First off those girls are not my friends they’re your friends, my friends are over there!” Sunset pointed and the sirens waved.

“Sunset I don’t know what lies those girls are telling you but…”

“They are not lies Twilight!” Sunset pointed to the mane five, "ask them for yourself!" Sunset demanded. “What have they done for me? Let me sit at their little table and let me hang out with them at their band practice, and that’s another thing!” Sunset played several notes on her guitar, “in all that time they spent on their band did they ever ask me if I wanted to sing or play an instrument?” Twilight looked to the others as if waiting for one of them to step up and correct Sunset, no one spoke. “Ever since the Fall Formal I have been doing everything to show people I’ve changed; ask Rainbow Dash who does the athletes laundry after every game, ask Applejack who helped her grandmother cook for the school, and ask Fluttershy who took the fall when vice-principal Luna found pets on school grounds? I was the one who contacted you Twilight, when we thought the portal was closed I found a way and I didn’t even get a thank you!” Sunset looked at the girls “one question, one personal question, in all the time we’ve spent together not one of you ever asked me one personal question!”

“Sunset after the Fall Formal everyone else turned against you but these girls accepted you,” Twilight pointed out.

“Because of you!” Sunset responded, “they 'accepted me' because of you not because they thought I’d changed and ask them if when they were 'helping' me the former queen bee of the school they never looked at me and thought; how the mighty have fallen.” All five of the girls said nothing but each looked a little guilty.

“Sunset you obviously feel like you’re all alone in the world but I know how that…” Once again she was cut off this time by Sunset laughing a humorless laugh.

“You don’t know anything about being alone Twilight, I heard about you when I was Celestia’s student. Everyday Cadenza would drone on and on about her favorite filly in the world Twilight Sparkle the magical prodigy with the big strong brother. I saw the way Celestia was listening to Cadenza Twilight I saw that look in her eye and I knew long before I found out about the mirror that she was looking to replace me! You’ve always been wanted and loved Twilight, you got to learn magic in your nice warm house. My parents didn’t want me Twilight I had to learn magic as a way to survive. And then Celestia took me in and I was never happier so I worked endlessly trying to make her proud but you know how that turned out! Then after our little battle at the Fall Formal, I worked myself to death trying to make you proud!”

“Me?” Twilight questioned.

“Me?” Sunset repeated “yes you, the girl who showed me I didn’t have to be alone, the girl who showed me that the ability to trust others was a strength not a weakness. Every day since the fall formal I wanted to quit to run away maybe to Equestria maybe not but every day I thought 'I have to make Twilight proud' every single day. Then I tried to help you and the others. I tried to keep the sirens from seeing your magic and when everyone else scolded me for it what did you do? Nothing,” Sunset shouted the last word and took a few deep breaths.

“Sunset I was proud of you from the moment I helped you out of that crater, I was proud you were giving friendship a chance, proud of who I thought you were becoming, and most of all I was proud you were able to face the world. Sunset this is my fault, I never told you how proud I was of you and when you were hurt… Sunset not so long ago I had to pick between allowing a terrible monster to become infinitely more powerful and the safety of my friends. I chose my friends and even though it all worked out eventually I always wondered what if it hadn’t. You were hurting Sunset and I did nothing to help you, I’m sorry.”

Sunset seemed to calm down for a moment, she looked upon Twilight and the others and her eye shed a single tear before she cast the tear aside and regained a more forceful stance. “I don’t want your apology Twilight. All I ever wanted from any of you was for you to accept me so I changed myself to get that acceptance because I thought 'maybe finally I have a place where I belong' but I never got it.”

“I’m sorry Sunset, but if you could just…” Twilight began.

“No Twilight, this isn’t one of those times where we talk and then I throw off my pendant and cry in your arms,” Sunset announced.  “I told you I didn’t need your apology Twilight because I should be thanking you!”

“Thanking me?” Twilight questioned.

“Twilight all my life I was alone then you showed me the power of friendship and I wanted to experience it for myself I thought I was experiencing it but then you abandoned me.” Sunset spoke.

“Sunset,” Fluttershy spoke up, “we’re sorry.”

“No,” Sunset announced. “I’m glad you abandoned me because at that moment I was able to realize we’ve never been friends and we never will be! I realized I never even really had a friend,” at that moment Sunset’s siren pendant began to glow, “until now,” she finished. Sunset Shimmer looked upon the sirens “they came to me because they wanted me as I am not as I might be. Twilight you taught me that friendship is magical but now I realize you no longer have anything to teach me.” Sunset ran to her backpack and pulled out her magic journal she heisted only for a moment before throwing the journal at Twilight’s feet. “Take this,” she said. “I don’t need you or Celestia anymore,” Sunset walked toward the sirens who gathered around her as all four pendants began to shimmer, “all I need is my friends. I’m done Twilight; with you, Celestia, and all of Canterlot High School. Tonight at the battle of the band's finals your friends will battle mine, we both believe the light of friendship is on our side but tonight we’ll see who's right. All I can say is good luck Twilight, you’ll need it.”

After Sunset and the other sirens went backstage Applejack finally let go of Rainbow Dash. “Ya do realize this is your fault right Rainbow?”

“Me?” Rainbow questioned, “Sunset’s the one who betrayed us.”

“And it’s your fault they got to her!” Applejack countered.

“Well if Twilight could just finish the stupid counter spell we wouldn’t be in this mess and besides if it weren’t for my band we wouldn’t even have a way to fight them” Rainbow added smugly.

“Our band!” the other girls loudly corrected.

Soon everyone was arguing with each other.

“I had the most gorgeous outfits for us to wear!”

“Again with the costumes, no one cares what we’re wearing!”

“I’m the one who writes all the songs!”

“I write songs you just never let us play any of them!”

“I care Applejack, so sorry if I enjoy making a contribution to the band!”

“Hey, anyone here remember fun? I’ll give you a hint, it’s the exact opposite of being in the Rainbooms!”

“I wish I never asked any of you to join my band!”

“I wish I never agreed to it!”

“Me neither!”

The girls continued to fight unaware of the cloud of green smoke forming around them and traveling backstage.

“It feels good doesn’t?” Adagio questioned of Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset felt like she was slowly getting stronger as she drew in the energy around her, “it does,” she responded.

“Tonight we get back the power we were robbed of long ago,” Adagio announced. “When I first sensed the equestrian magic in this world I  never dreamed going after it would make us stronger than we’ve ever been or that we the sirens were incomplete.” Sunset smiled, “tonight we achieve our destiny!”

“Stop!” Twilight shouted “you have to stop, it doesn’t matter who did what. All this time I’ve been letting you put your faith in me but I forgot I’m nothing without my friends! All this time all this tension was right under my nose and I didn’t realize it until now. I let Sunset’s tension get past me and now she’s…” Twilight stopped. “I thought that little things didn’t matter that friendship could survive it, now I realize that if you’re afraid to talk about your true feelings with your friends those little things can grow and the magic of friendship can turn into something else. When you all helped me to become Princess of the Fall Formal you didn’t know how important it was but you helped me as friends. This whole time we’ve been letting this band competition weigh on us because we know what’s at stake. We’ve been trying to be hero’s but we didn’t stop Sunset Shimmer as hero’s we did it as friends. Long ago Sunset Shimmer used little things to pull you apart but once you found out the truth you reunited that had nothing to do with any magic. I’m the reason magic came into this world and I’m the reason you’re all in danger and for that I am truly sorry. But now I have to ask you to believe in each other and the bond that we share, a bond created by Honesty, Loyalty, Laughter, Kindness, and Generosity!”

“Twilight’s right” Rainbow Dash declared “let's get our band back together and show those sirens what friendship can do!” Rainbow Dash paused and put her hand out in front of her “and I know just the song we can use, Fluttershy’s written a really good one!”

Fluttershy squealed and put her hand on Rainbow’s, “yay”

“Let’s bring the fun back to Canterlot High!” Pinkie added putting her hand on Fluttershy’s.

“If we’re gonna save the world I say we do it in style, do you have any ideas Rarity?” Applejack questioned before adding her hand.

“I thought you’d never ask!” Rarity cheered putting her hand in the circle. Everyone looked to Twilight who smiled before adding her hand and completing the circle and as she did a wave of power came over the girls and though there were no transformations they knew they now had the power to face anything if they did it together.

“Well this is an unexpected event,” Aria told Adagio as she, Sonata, and Sunset looked upon their adversaries.

“We got what we needed from the Rainbooms, let them fight it’ll make it that much more crushing when we defeat them,” Adagio grinned.

“Tonight Twilight Sparkle I will show you and everyone else how powerful my new friends and I are!” Sunset stated to herself with a smile.


> Chapter 6: The Battle of the Bands!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sunlight began to vanish as Canterlot stadium began to fill with people piling into every corner they could. From backstage, a certain blue haired young lady was peeking out, “wow, there must be at least a thousand people out there!”

Adagio chuckled as Aria pulled Sonata back to the group, “the unsuspecting fools!”

Sunset Shimmer was nervously fiddling with her guitar, “any signs of Twi… I mean the Rainbooms?”

Sonata shook her head, “not yet.”

Suddenly Principal Celestia came on stage, “attention everyone due to a disqualification the Rainbooms will not be competing tonight. Instead our first runner up band will compete against the Dazzlings. Will Trixie and the Illusions please come on stage?”

Aria chuckled, “looks like the so-called hero's wised up and ran away!”

Sunset put down her guitar, “no, those girls don’t give up, if they’re not showing up it’s because it’s part of some plan!”

Adagio smirked she and her bandmates dressed for their performance, “my thoughts exactly. Don’t count a victory yet Aria, remember we thought we’d seen the last of Starswirl when we took that stage in Canterlot.”

Sonata tried to be helpful, “watch out for mirrors!”

Suddenly a new voice chuckled, “no kidding because with faces like those they’d all probably break!”

There stood Trixie and her two sidekicks already dressed for their performance, “the Rainbrooms wised up and told us to compete tonight, as it should’ve been!”

Adagio’s curiosity was peeked, “did they now? Well, wasn't that nice of them.” Adagio cast a knowing look to her fellow sirens.

“And it appears victory will be far easier than the great and powerful Trixie imagined!” Trixie exclaimed pointing to Sunset Shimmer. “After all, no one’s going to want to hear you play if you’re bringing the she-demon on stage!”

Sunset seemed to shrink until Aria spoke for her, “what did you just call her?”

“A she-demon!” Trixie repeated, “the moment she goes out on stage the entire school will boo all of you!”

“Not with her playing guitar!” Sonata chirped her voice dripping with childlike innocence making Sunset blush slightly.


Trixie cackled her lackeys soon following her lead, Trixie stepped forward staring down Sunset like a hawk to a mouse. “She’ll be your poison just like she was all of Canterlot High!”

Adagio put herself between Sunset and Trixie. “That’s enough why don’t you go pick on someone your size?”

Trixie merely grinned and signaled her the other two to follow her. “True, why should I be wasting my time; the great and powerful Trixie has a band competition to win!”

After Trixie’s band began to play on stage Sunset found her voice again, “thanks.”

Adagio put her hand on Sunset’s shoulder, “our pleasure.”

Aria looked out to Trixie’s band, “first thing on my list when we take over will be to throw those girls off the nearest cliff!”

The other three chuckled and Adagio picked up Sunset’s guitar, “now just be ready to get out there and prove her wrong!” Sunset took a big breath and nodded.

Meanwhile, as the sirens plotted and Trixie’s band played, high atop a nearby hill several teens positioned themselves for a musical battle.

Rainbow Dash looked to Twilight, “are you sure dropping out of the competition was a good idea?”

Twilight looked down the hill at the stadium, “yes, this way we can play our music as the sirens play their own. If nothing else it will give us the element of surprise.”

The other Rainbooms nodded in agreement, at that moment a blue haired girl with sunglasses pulled up in her car but with the press of a button it transformed into an impressive and stylish music broadcasting system.

Fluttershy leaned into Rarity and whispered, “we are lucky she’s not under the siren's spell!”

Spike heard the comment and added, “never takes off her headphones!”

The girl gave a thumbs-up as the Rainbooms prepared for musical war. Twilight gave last minute instructions as she plugged in her microphone. “Remember don’t start playing until their pendants start to glow, that’s when they’ll least expect it!”

The Rainbooms nodded and Pinkie made a comment as she took to her drums. “don’t fire until you see the glow of their pendants!”

“Ya better believe
I got tricks up my sleeve
See me dominate
'Cause I'm powerful and grea-ea-eat!”

As Trixie’s band finished their performance fireworks lit up the sky, and the audience cheered. Trixie was looking smug as she and her lackeys walked passed the Dazzlings. “try to top that!”

Adagio pretended to be worried, “Oh gosh, I don’t know if we can!” Adagio looked to the other three and they all chuckled. “Ready to rock Sunset?”

Sunset gulped nervously, “I think so.”

Sunset slowly walked out on stage and as she did the crowd made noises of outburst!

“What’s she doing up there!”

“She wasn’t even in a band!”

“Go home, she-demon!”

Sunset looked ready to run until she looked over and saw the sirens giving her looks and gestures of encouragement. Sunset had taken a deep breath before she began playing slowly. At first Sunset’s playing was barely making a dent over the crowd but soon the crowd began to quiet down and Sunset started to regain her confidence. Sunset grinned before she started to shred and the crowd’s comments stopped completely. As Sunset played from backstage Adagio grinned at Trixie who was watching unbelievingly. Adagio smirked, “will you take anything else to eat with your words Trixie?”

Sunset’s performance ended and the crowd burst into applause including the Rainbooms.

Rainbow looked to Twilight, “She is good.”

Twilight was clapping loudest, “she’s amazing!”

Fluttershy sighed, “too bad we never gave her a chance.”

And just like that the Rainbooms stopped applauding and Twilight spoke up, “we can’t worry about that now.” 

At that moment, the stadium lights dimmed and eerie music began to play. Twilight watched as Sunset put down her guitar and a moment later the other three sirens came on stage and the four began to vocalize. 

“Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah”

“Welcome to the show.”
“We're here to let you know.”

The four girls were singing in perfect harmony with each other as they slowly began to rise.

“Our time is now.”

“Your time is running out!”

“Feel the wave of sound
As it crashes down
You can't turn away
We'll make you wanna sta-a-a-ay.
We will be adored
Tell us that you want us
We won't be ignored.
It's time for our reward
Now you need us
Come and heed us
Nothing can stop us now!” 

As the girls continued to sing their hair grew into long ponytails and they each grew translucent wings or at least three out of four did.

Sunset looked to Adagio and whispered, “why isn’t working on me?”

Adagio was looking a little grim, “the only reason it wouldn’t is if you don’t want it to and if you don’t want it to the only reason would be a part of you wants to go back to the Rainbooms!”

Sunset looked brokenhearted before she spoke, “I’m sorry.”

At that moment, a new chorus broke over the music.

“Oh-oh, oh-whoa-oh
I've got the music in me
Oh-oh, oh-whoa-oh.”

Adagio looked ready to burst before she turned to Sunset, “we’ll talk about this later right now we have a pest problem to deal with!”

“Don't need to hear a crowd
Cheering out my name
I didn't come here seeking
Infamy or fame.”

The crowd began to look over at the Rainbooms and gasped as they began to regain control over themselves.

“The one and only thing
That I am here to bring
Is music, is the music
Is the music in my soul
Gonna break out (Out!)
Set myself free, yeah
Let it all go (Go!)
Just let it be, yeah
Find the music in your heart
Let the music make you start
To set yourself apart.”

As the Rainbooms played they began to grow pony ears and tails and in some cases wings, Adagio smirked. “So the Rainbooms want to turn this into a real battle of the bands? Then let’s battle!”

“What we have in store (ah-ah)
All we want and more (ah-ah)
We will break on through (ah-ah)
Now it's time to finish you!”

The three sirens pendants began to glow and their eyes became crimson red and instantly the three sirens projected three astral projections of their siren forms!

The Rainbooms looked worried but each gave a look of reassurance to another.

“Gonna break out (Out!)
Set myself free, yeah
Let it all go (Go!)
Just let it be, yeah
Find the music in your heart
Let the music make you start
To set yourself apart.”

As the Rainbooms continued a large projection of an alicorn came forward which easily dwarfed the siren’s projections. The Alicorn let loose a mighty wave of sound and instantly the sirens projections were no more.

The three sirens began to string but their once beautiful voices were hoarse.

“We will be adored
Tell us that you want us
We won't be ignored
It's time for our reward...”

The crowd booed and threw things, the sirens were ready to run until Sunset Shimmer looked to them. “No! this is not how this ends!”

Adagio spoke hoarsely, “Sunset we need to leave, I can sense a weakness in our pendants, if we leave now we may be able to fight another day.”

Sunset stamped her boot, “no, we are not done yet!” Sunset pointed to Adagio. “She said that you two were like sisters to her!”

Aria and Sonata looked to Adagio amazed, “you did?”

Adagio looked ready to kill, “you are so dead!”

Sunset looked to Adagio, “you said Aria challenging your leadership kept you on your toes and you said Sonata helps you think up some of your best ideas.”

Aria was amazed, “did you say that?”

Adagio blushed slightly, “well, yes I did.”

Sonata wrapped her arms around Adagio, “that’s so sweet we love you too!”


Sunset nodded, “and that’s what we need. You guys fight all the time but I think deep down you guys all care about each other.”

Aria looked to her fellow sirens, “you guys may be the worst sometimes but the truth is there are no two sirens I’d rather be with.”

Adagio grinned, “I feel the same way.”

Sonata nodded, “totally!”

Sunset smiled, “don’t you see? That’s exactly what we need, you guys have always had one goal sing and gather negative energy but have you ever tried forgetting about the energy and just singing for each other?”

Adagio looked to Sunset, “each other?”

“You guys care about each other, sing for that reason not for yourselves. Sing to feed, protect, and help one another!” Sunset took a microphone.

“You're never gonna bring me down
You're never gonna break this part of me
My friends are here to bring me 'round
Not singing just for popularity!”

Adagio rose from the ground and began to harmonize with Sunset.

“We're here to let you know
That we won't let it go.”

At that moment, the other two joined in the song. At first their voice was hoarse and off key but with each note they grew stronger and stronger.

“Our music is a bomb and it's about to blow!”

Rainbow Dash looked worried. “We've got to stop them now!” 

Rainbow Dash fired off a powerful cord but Aria Blaze stepped forward. “You’re not going to hurt my friends!” Aria somehow created a blue force field.

“Not on my watch!” Pinkie Pie declared hitting a powerful note on her drums.

Aria’s shield began to weaken until Sonata Dusk came to her aide. “Like, so not happening.” Sonata than somehow created a pink force field which reinforced Aria’s shield.

Applejack decided to join the fray as she hit a note on her base. “we’re losing our edge here!” Applejack declared as Rarity and Fluttershy began to play as well.

This time Adagio came forward, “you’re not going to lay one finger on my… my…”

Sonata grinned, “say it!”

Adagio looked like it pained her to say it but she got the word out. “Sisters, you’re not going to lay one finger on my sisters!” Adagio’s light was crimson red and reinforced the shield further.

Finally, Twilight had enough and the Alicorn let loose a powerful blast. However, when the smoke cleared Sunset and the sirens were holding hands, their shield had held. Sunset and Adagio began to sing in harmony.

“And you can try to fight
But we have got the light of..”

At this point. Sonata and Aria joined in.

“Friendship on our side!
Got the music in our hearts
We're here to blow this thing apart
And together, we will never
Be afraid of the dark
Here to sing our song out loud
Get you dancing with the crowd
As the music of our friendship
Survives, survives!”


At this point the all once again sprouted translucent wings and long ponytails from their hair, this time Sunset included.

“Got the music in our hearts
We're here to blow this thing apart
And together, we will never
Be afraid of the dark
Here to sing our song out loud
Get you dancing with the crowd
As the music of our friendship
Survives, survives, survives!”

Just then four powerful beams of blue, pink, red, and orange shot into the sky and a giant siren projection which dwarfed the alicorn appeared. With one mighty musical blast, the siren destroyed the alicorn and the Rainbooms lay down, defeated.

Sunset chuckled before speaking into the microphone. “Guess we know who was right Twilight, tonight the light of friendship was on our side! Now if you’re all through interrupting we have the world to conquer!”

Twilight rose slowly “no, there’s still one thing left to do, one thing that will stop the sirens, quick girls to the portal!”

> Chapter 7: last resort.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash couldn’t believe what just happened, “we lost, we failed!”

Fluttery sighed, “and now the Sirens are going to take over.”

Twilight spoke up, “no, they’re not! We just have to get to the portal, I have…” Twilight began to tear up. “I have an idea.”

Meanwhile, the Sirens began to ground themselves now that the battle was over. Adagio watched their former rivals run, “should we go after them?”

Sunset chuckled, “no, forget them. There’s nothing they can do to stop us now.”

Principal Celestia once again took the stage, “and there you have it! The battle of the bands is over and here is your victorious band; The Dazzlings!”

The crowd gave a loud cheer, Adagio took the microphone. “Thank you, thank you! However, we no longer wish to be called The Dazzlings. In honor of recent events we will now be known as ‘The Sunset Sirens!’ a new title to celebrate our new member!” Adagio looked to Sunset who looked like she might cry from pride. “I want to say I am so grateful to all of you at Canterlot High School, you’ve all give us the courage to follow our dreams, dreams I hope you’ll all help us reach. You see now that we’ve won this competition we wish to take the next step up and broadcast our performance on the internet live!” Adagio and her fellow bandmates all grinned maliciously as the orange haired siren added her next comment. “Across the entire world!”

“That should be the great and powerful Trixie up there!”

“No, the Crusaders got robbed!”

“Whatever!”

As the negative comments flew throughout the crowd the sirens grinned as a large amount of green smoke came to them. Adagio chuckled, “take it in ladies, this is the kind of feast we’ve always dreamed of!”

Sunset smirked. “This is nothing compared to the power we’ll get when we go live across the world!”

The Sunset Sirens all chuckled menacingly.

The Rainbooms all ran as fast as they could back to Canterlot High School, they all stopped at the horse statue which was also the portal back to Equestria.

Fluttershy set Spike down as before speaking. “What do we do now?”

Applejack sighed, “much as ah hate to admit it there ain't much left to do.”

Rainbow Dash stomped her foot forcefully. “No, we can still fight all we need is a plan. Maybe another spell.”

Rarity spoke up. “Darling I think we were performing at our best back there.”

Pinkie Pie nodded in sad agreement. “Hate to say it, and you guys know I always try to look on the bright side of things, but I think there’s nothing left to do.”

Twilight spoke in a soft and hollow voice. “There is one thing.” All eyes were now on Twilight. “After I had found out about the existence of this world I started looking over Starswirl’s old notes and he developed a fail-safe spell in case he ever needed to fix any damage equestrian magic caused in another world.”

Pinkie perked up immediately. “sounds perfect!”

Twilight looked at her reflection in the base of the statue. “If I go back to Equestria I can cast this spell; this will force the sirens back to my world and will drain them of all the magic they’ve gained while here.”

“Whoo-weee,” Applejack cheered. “That’s our Twilight always finding a way to fix things!”

“Delightful!”

“Party!”

“It sounds perfect!”

Fluttershy was the only girl other than Twilight who was not happy “too perfect, Twilight there’s more to this spell isn’t there?”

Twilight shed a tear as she spoke. “When I cast this spell the connections between Equestria and this world will be gone, forever.”

Just like that, the entire atmosphere changed. “You’ll never be able to visit us? Ever again?” Pinkie Pie questioned.

“Never again,” Twilight clarified. “But there’s more. This spell will eliminate all traces of Equestrian magic in this world; all traces and memory.”

Rainbow Dash looked horrified. “All memory?”

Rarity chimed in. “As in ours as well?”

Twilight looked crestfallen. “It will be like Sunset Shimmer never came here. You won’t remember anything to do with her, or magic, (she sobbed) or me.”

The others gasped and Pinkie spoke. “We won’t remember you, or Sunset, or any of our adventures?”

Twilight coughed before clarifying, “no, and you never will.”

Rainbow Dash slammed her fists into the statue. “Buck! It’s all my fault! I’m the one who fought with Sunset. I’m supposed to be loyalty and I put myself before her!”

Pinkie sobbed. “No, it’s my fault for not going to cheer her up!”

Even Applejack shed tears. “No, it’s mah fault for not sticking up for Sunset!”

Rarity’s mascara began to run from her crying. “No, it’s my fault for not agreeing with Fluttershy!”

Fluttershy finally spoke. “No, it’s my fault for not defending my opinion!”

Even Spike had to join in. “No, it’s my fault for putting so much pressure on Twilight!”

“No!” Twilight shouted. “This was my fault. I’m the Princess of Friendship and I let all this happen. Be honest, all of you would’ve gone after Sunset if I told you. I knew the consequences of leaving a friend and I choose to do nothing.” Twilight looked at the statue. “I want you all to know that I am grateful to every one of you, you all stood by me when I needed you and for that I am forever thankful. And though I know you won’t remember me I know I will never forget any of you.”

The six girls and one dog all came together for a group hug which lasted a solid ten minutes before they all finally broke away. Twilight sobbed, “thank you all for the wonderful friendship you gave me and I promise I will never forget one of you!” Twilight took a deep breath before picking up Spike. “Come on Spike, time to go home.”

Spike gave a sad whimper in response. “Hey, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash called. Twilight looked back, “you’re sure this is the only way?” Twilight nodded sadly. “Twilight after you cast your spell Sunset and the sirens will be sent to your world, right?” Once more Twilight nodded. “Twilight if I could have anything in the world right now I’d want to tell Sunset Shimmer I’m sorry.”

Applejack nodded, “me too.”

“We let her down.” Pinkie added.

“We let who she was cloud our vision of who she was becoming.” Fluttershy chimed in.

Rarity sobbed once more. “Sunset deserves far better friends than us.”

“If I ever see Sunset again I’ll tell her.” Twilight promised as she inched closer to the portal.

“Oh, Twilight wait!” Rarity declared digging through her bag. “I, I put this in my bag if you want it.” Rarity held out Sunset’s magic journal. Twilight looked down at the journal and fresh tears began to leak from her eyes. “Well if you don’t want it.”

“No, I should take it” Twilight said taking the book from Rarity and looking at it sadly. “To remember.” Twilight took another deep breath. “Okay, this is it this time,” Twilight out a hand in the portal, “goodbye.”

The feeling of traveling between dimensions was becoming all too familiar to Twilight, after feeling like she was sucked through a long tube she found herself in her library which was empty,  her friends must’ve left perhaps for a meal. After making sure Spike was okay Twilight stood on her pony hooves and took a deep breath before facing the magic mirror that provided the portal to the other dimension. Twilight’s horn began to glow and she began to rise even though her alicorn wings were not flapping. Finally, Twilight’s eyes lit up with white light before her horn unleashed a powerful burst of magic into the mirror!

The Sunset Sirens stood once again on Canterlot stadium’s stage as various students moved camera’s and wires around them. 

“Ready to go live soon ladies!” One student with glasses announced.

The Sunset Sirens smirked as they prepared their voices.

“In five…four…three…two…” The student counted down however at that exact moment a blinding bright light came out of nowhere and struck the Sunset Sirens.

Adagio was beside herself with anger, “no, not again!”

The light grew brighter and brighter and shunned through the entire city and beyond. Far away, in a dark room in a high school, pictures and diagrams on the walls suddenly vanished and even further away in the Everfree Forest a mysterious cave collapsed. Finally, the light vanished but the Sunset Sirens were gone. The next day all the students were wondering what they were doing at Canterlot Stadium at night but all could remember that their musical showcase generated a lot of money. Several different girl’s pictures were now hanging on the walls marking them as winners of the Fall Formal crown. The students of Canterlot High all did very well in their classes and sports, and five girls were the closest of friends. However, every day whenever any of the students or faculty would look out at the wondercolt statue they couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. And the five girls could never get rid of the idea that they owed someone an apology but they could never remember who.

Deep within the Everfree forest, a portal opened and four ponies came spilling out onto the ground.

One of the ponies an earth-pony, with an orange coat and large beehive mane rose from the pile of fallen pony.

“No!” Adagio cursed, “curse that Princess, and we were so close!”

The next pony to speak was a violet earth-pony with pigtails. “Why the Tart have we been turned into ponies?” Aria questioned.

“I can sense our magic is weaker now and with our dimension traveling this must be a side effect!” Adagio explained.

The blue earth-pony spoke next. “I kind of like it, and we finally don’t smell like fish anymore.”

“We still have our pendants!” The yellow unicorn spoke.

“Too right Sunset,” Adagio responded.

“And,” Sunset Shimmer added. “We still have each other.” The others all looked at one another and smiled. At that moment, the four pendants began to glow red, “I think it means ponies are disagreeing nearby. This time instead of spreading bad emotions we’re going to just feed off the disagreements all around Equestria!”

Adagio smiled, “and that way, next time we’re all powerful and take over it will be all their fault!”

Sunset smiled. “Precisely.”

Nearby, two ponies a colt and a mare were sitting around a dim campfire. “Let’s go camping!” The mare said. “I’m a natural outdoors colt!”

“Oh, will you shut up?” The colt responded.

“I’ll shut up when you get us out of here!”

The two went on not noticing the green smoke forming around them and slithering into the bushes where four ponies smiled wickedly and chuckled to each other.

“Twilight!” A happy high pitched squeal was what finally got Twilight to look away from the shattered mirror.

“Girls!” The excited pink earth-pony called, “Twilight’s back!”

Five ponies rushed in and began exchanging happy greetings to Twilight.

Suddenly the cyan Pegasus pony spoke. “Wait, what happened to the mirror?”

“Twilight, are you okay?” The yellow Pegasus inquired.

“Ya look down Sugarcube.”

Twilight had taken a deep breath before she spoke. “We need to get an immediate message to Celestia, Luna, and Cadence. We need to tell them to be on the lookout for four sirens.”

The cyan Pegasus looked confused “wait, four? I thought there were only three sirens.”

Twilight continued “tell them that they should be considered a severe threat and if they’re captured they’re to be brought to me I… I have a message for one of them.” Twilight looked at her friends confused and concerned looks “I’ll tell you girls everything later, but right now I would like to be alone if you don’t mind.”

“What do you want to do with the mirror Twilight?” Spike inquired.

“I want to keep one piece, but I want the rest of it disposed of.” Twilight explained, “now please.”

The five ponies and one dragon took their leave, but the yellow Pegasus stuck her head in the door. “Twilight, in your book there were only three sirens, but now you say there’s a fourth. Who is the new siren Twilight?”

Twilight looked first at her shard of the mirror then to the journal with a fiery sun printed on it. “Someone I shouldn’t have left behind.”