Battle of the Bands

Next Day the Rainbooms were practicing the musical counter spell at A.J.'s place. Unfortunately Twilight's singing was off key.

Hey, hey, listen.
We've got a message for you
We're not all alike
But our friendship is true

Twilight's voice grew higher and Sunset was forced to lower the intensity and covered her ears along with Spike.

Carol Camille and Sally had to get some sound proof headphones to tone out Twilight's singing. The Avatar and the Master Thief were both wishing that Maggie was the one who was singing as she had better talent than Twilight.

With every bad note Twilight was hitting the rest of the girls themselves were also unable to properly stay in sync.

Yeah, we're really different

But we still get along

Fluttershy attempted to play her tambourine to help but Rainbow shook her head telling her to wait for the right moment.

So hey, hey, listen to our song

Rainbow gestured to Fluttershy and she played her tambourine louder to help with Twilight's high pitched high note.

You may think you're in control
But we're here to prove you wrong

Applejack and Rarity could feel the ears appearing, but winced when the static of the mic hurt their ears. They turned to Pinkie Pie, who had briefly stopped playing, and the two narrowed their eyes at her and she continued playing. Thought she really didn't believe it would help.

Even outside, Granny Smith was covering her own ears outside hoping to shield her ears from the noise by using some noise cancelling headphones that Camille had given her.

Rainbow Dash played her guitar louder and saw her pony ears beginning to appear. But Sally knew that this was not working. After trying too hard to sing the song Twilight wrote, she stopped.

And the friendship in our music
With the power of our song
Gonna stomp our feet, clap our-

Sally couldn't take it, "All right. Cut the music. Take five, girls."

"Sally's right," Astral agreed, "I've heard cats screech better than that."

"What are you talking about? We were so close." Rainbow replied.

"Sunset Shimmer tells me that you did a good job when it was just the five of you. Now that Twilight's on lead vocals you guys suck. I hate to be blunt but that's reality." Camille said.

"Well, it sounded... way better than the last... five times you've played it. Heh heh." Spike said trying to be nice.

The human Big Mac passed by the window carrying a bucket of apples and said to the dragon dog, "Nnope."

Carol spoke to him, "Thank you for being honest," she turned to the girls, "See that. At least somebody is being honest."

"I think it's pretty obvious what's going wrong with this counter-spell." Rainbow spoke up.

"By the Ancestors what?" Astral inquired.

Before Rainbow could speak, Applejack cut her off, "Rainbow here turning what should be the chorus into a five-minute guitar solo."

"Well, are the rest of you stepping up because right now it seems that Rainbow Dash is the most confident and the most vocal one here." Aang noted.

"I'm trying." Fluttershy said nervously.

Carol, Camille, Sally, and the Dragon dogs saw that Twilight was close to having one of her infamous episodes when Sally spoke, "Look. It's obvious you're all stressed over this due to the fact the fate of the school and possibly this world is at stake."

"So let's all calm down and take a break." Camille suggested.

"Camille's right. Besides I got some costumes we could wear during the show." Rarity pulled out a rack with many outfits hanging up.

Applejack rolled her eyes, "Rarity, we're trying to save the world. Enough with the costumes!"

"Oh, you could never have enough costumes!" Rarity answered, while wearing a futuristic, sparkly yellow jump suit, added with a helmet with flashing pixel diamonds on it and spoke in a robotic voice from underneath.

Pinkie spoke, "She's just trying to make this fun. Isn't that the point of a band?" she played a rimshot angrily.

"Well, speaking of which you have to get to the Battle of the Bands and check in." Sunset reminded them.

"But the counter spell isn't ready. If the Sirens hear it and it fails they'll make sure that we don't get another chance to play it again." Twilight said in worry.

"Twilight's right. We're gonna need more time." Aang agreed.

"Then we'll have to buy ourselves some time so you can keep workin' on it." Applejack suggested.

"And how?" Rarity asked.

Rainbow answered, "Well, duh. We compete in the Battle of the Bands for real! I take over lead vocals again and we stay alive until the finals! We unleash the counter-spell then! You'll have it ready by then, right?"

"Of course she can. Twilight can handle almost anything." Spike answered for her.

Twilight could only force a smile for the sake of everyone, "Right."

"Then let's go win the Battle of the Bands." Rainbow Dash declared.

She and the others left leaving Spike to be glared at by Aang, Astral, Carol, Camille, Twilight and Sally.

"Way to go, Spike. Way to add more pressure to Twilight." Carol chided him.

"I was only trying to keep them from panicking."

Sally spoke, "Spike, I've dealt with people panicking and the best way I know how to do that is to tell the truth. But we have bigger problems. The Skylanders tell me that Twilight's singing is usually on point."

"They said that?" Camille asked.

"Yeah they did."

"Perhaps Twilight's cracking from all the pressure of what's gonna happen if she fails. Anyway we better go check in." Carol suggested. They followed the other girls.

At the gymnasium at Canterlot High, Principal Celestia and her sister stood on the stage as the students who are competing lined up to get ready.

"Welcome to the first ever Canterlot High School Battle of the Bands. I believe I speak for everyone when I say it is by far the greatest thing we have ever done here at this school!" Celestia announced.

The Students all cheered as they were fueled by their desire to be the best even if it meant hurting others in their path. The principals were completely clueless to what had happened to the students from six months ago. They most likely were still under the spell of the Dazzlings.

"We're so glad that our three newest students encouraged us to turn this event into something exciting." The principal continued.

Adagio, Aria, and Sonata smiled arrogantly and waved from the top of the bleachers at their adoring public like the three divas they were. Soon, when they were through this is how the world would be like. Vice Principal Luna then took the mic, "But this this is a competition now there can be only one winner. Who will it be?"

Once again all the students argued with each other claiming they'd be the one to make it to the top. Their anger and competitiveness took form of the same green mist that was absorbed into the pendants of the Dazzlings.

"You feel that, girls? We're regaining our true power," Adagio relished in it. On cue the Gym doors opened as the Rainbooms along with Sally Carol and Camille arrived, "And that's before we tapped into the strongest magic here."

"But the Rainblossoms, or whatever they're called, aren't under our spell. How exactly are we supposed to get to their magic?" Aria inquired.

Sonata in another moment of wisdom spoke up, "Not to mention those other three new girls. Especially the blonde. She managed to get the crowd to stop bickering last time. Remember what Dark Corvo told us about her."

Adagio had a flashback as she remembered what Dark Corvo and the Sinister Sisters said about her and the others.

Flashback Begins.

The Sirens were currently having a word with the Sinister Sisters and Dark Corvo as they were discussing what happened.

"So how goes the progress at the party for the battle of the bands?" Dark Corvo inquired.

"All's going well, Dark Corvo." Adagio answered.

"But we may have a tiny problem on our hands." Sonata winced.

"What kind of problem?" Scarlett inquired.

Aria answered, "These other girls were here and one of them got in the way by trying to undo the magic we put on the students."

"What did they look like?" Sage asked.

The brooding siren explained, "One had raven black hair with gray streaks and wore a black jacket. Another had Blonde hair with orange streaks and wore an Orange Jacket. The third was blonde and was older and she wore hip hugger jeans and a long sleeved white t shirt."

"So Carol, Camille and our treasonous cousin Sally have shown up." Sapphire said.

"Cousin?" Sonata asked.

"Girls, perhaps you had best explain." Dark Corvo requested the sisters.

"Explain what?" Sonata wondered.

Sage began, "Sally is our cousin. We were all born witches, but she chose the way of the sword."

"There must be more to it than that if you three didn't bother mentioning her until now." Aria said.

Scarlet answered, "We didn't think she'd be getting involved in this. But once again she has to be a miss goody two shoes and stand in our way."

"Come to think of it when she spoke she was breaking our grip on the student body." Sonata remembered.

"That was always Sally's talent. Getting people in different cliques to come together." Sapphire replied.

"And if she's there with Camille and Carol, the whole operation is in jeopardy." Sage panicked.

"How much of a problem can those two be?" Aria asked.

"Camille is a spy of the Cooper clan. She's crafty and devious. And Carol. She is the Avatar." Scarlett explained.

"That is a problem." Sonata feared.

Dark Corvo spoke, "Still we can worry about them when we're at the finish. No need to alarm them right away."

The group then ended the conversation on that note.

Flashback Ends.

"Adagio? You okay?" Sonata waved a hand in front of Adagio's face.

"I remember. It all makes sense now!" Adagio gasped.

"What does? The fact that the tacos I had needed more salsa?" Sonata asked obliviously.

Adagio growled, "Carol! I knew there was something familiar about her when she confronted us with Sally. We've faced one with the same command and courage before."

Aria agreed, "Not to mention the fact that we could recognize her blood. Her ancestors have been partnered with the Avatar for centuries. I still can feel the rock her ancestor tossed at me."

"Oh, we're dealing with that again?" Sonata asked.

Adagio was annoyed but she spoke up, "Anyway the Rainbooms are just as capable of falling apart as any other group. They just need a push in the wrong direction and I have a feeling that everyone here is willing to give them a shove."

Adagio was about to say more but she saw Sally's eyes locked on to hers and Sally unsheathed the blade that she had on her letting her know that this time she was dead serious about taking her and her gang of divas down.

"I don't think she's gonna let any of that happen." Sonata noticed.

Later the auditions began and the first up were Snips and Snails. The two were dressed like beat boxers and wore hoddies, backward hats, medallions and glasses with no lenses. The two began to beat box but they were horrible at it.

Snails;
Aw, yeah! Snips and Snails in da house, yo!

Snips;
They call me MC Snips and that ain't no lie
My favorite food is like pumpkin pie

Snails;
I'm DJ Snazzy Snails, I like whales
When I go to the beach, I always bring my pails

Carol, Camille, Sally, and the Rainbooms winced as the watched the boys' performance, but Pinkie Pie was dancing, enjoying the show. Everyone else shook their heads, rolls their eyes or winced. Even Celestia and Luna didn't like their performance as Adagio and Aria snickered, trying not to laugh. But Sonata was actually enjoying it just like Pinkie Pie.

Snips;
Everybody knows my favorite color is orange
My rhymes are so fly, you better... uh... um...

Snails;
Orange, yo!

Snips;
Yeah!

Snails;
Yeah!

Snips;
Represent!

Snips and Snails;
(beatboxing and freestyling poorly)

Snips;

Bam! That just happened!
Snails;

Aw, yeah! We out!

Snips;
Snips and Snails outta here!

The boys dropped the mics causing them to screech.

"Please do not drop the microphones." Celestia ordered.

The two friends were oblivious to how horrible their act was, but they none the less high five and left the stage, bypassing the Rainbooms.

"In your face, Rainbooms!" Snips mocked.

"In the words of Nicole those two fucking stink." Camille said.

"With a capital FU to boot." Carol put in.

Sally turned to the two, "Carol, Camille. This is a high school. We do not have that language here."

The two covered their mouths hoping no one else heard them. Especially Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna. The Rainbooms meanwhile were commenting on the act.

"Least we know one group who won't stand in the way of us gettin' to the finals." Applejack said in relief.

"Let's get ready to rock." Rainbow said, feeling ready to rock.

"Where's Rarity?" Pinkie saw no sign of her.

Astral groaned, "By the ancestors please tell me Rarity's not doing what I think she's doing."

"I'm here!"

Rarity came running and panting as the metal fringes on her ankles and jacket shimmered and clang against one another. She was wearing a hippie inspired outfit added with a headband and sandals. She proudly flipped her hair, striking a pose as the fringes jangled. The others remained silent.

"We will be performing in front of an audience. I'm not going to wear something fabulous? Hmph." Rarity stuck her chin up.

Camille sighed but knew that the Rarity of This world reminded her of her pal Michelle but she knew that Michelle had restraint, "Rarity, just try to sound good, alright?"

"Thank you, Camille. At least somebody appreciates style."

Twilight spoke, "Remember the plan, alright? We have to sound good enough to survive but not so good that the Sirens see the magic within us and figure out that we plan to use it against them."

Rainbow spoke, "Got it! Be cool enough to win, but not so cool that we end up showing off the whole ears and tails and rainbows thing. Sooo... about twenty percent less cool. I can totally pull that off."

"And we'll be right behind you. Now get out there and show them what you're made of." Sally encouraged them.

Pinkie taps her drum sticks, "One! Two."

Rainbooms: We've got just the day to get ready.

And there's only so much time to lose

Because tonight, yeah, we're here to party

So let's think of something fun to do.

Carol, Camille, Sally and Sunset saw that the Rainbooms were doing well so far. However it's not how one starts a competition it's how one finishes. And things were not going to be easy to finish.

We don't know
(we don't know)
What's gonna happen
We just know
(we just know)
It's gonna feel right
All our friends are here
And it's time to ignite the lights!

As they sang, up above them on the catwalk, Photo Finish and her two band mates lowered down two magnets on strings towards Rarity. The metal fringes on her jacket were immediately pulled up by the magnets and Photo Finish began playing with the magnets, causing Rarity to look like a puppet on strings.

Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight
Shake your tail, shake your tail
Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight
Shake your tail, shake your tail

Applejack arched her eyebrow, watching Rarity making a fool of herself, but she was struggling to break free. Carol, Camille, and Sally saw this and knew they had to step in and do something to stop the sabotage.

The trio saw that the crowd was glaring at them and even the Crusaders were falling asleep. Even after the speech Sally made.

Twilight Sparkle: So what you didn't get it right for the first time

"Boring!" Applebloom muttered.

In an effort to make it fun, Pinkie shoot confetti from her drums.

Pinkie Pie;
Laugh it off, no one said it is a crime

Rarity struggled to get near the mic as she sang.

Rarity;
Do your thing, you know you're an original

While Applejack shook away the confetti on her shirt.

Applejack;
Your ideas are so funny that they're criminal

The Rainbooms;
Ohhh-ahh!

One of the confetti pieces flew right into Twilight's mouth! She began to cough till Fluttershy slapped her back which in turn caused the paper to come out. Twilight saw Flash glaring at her and walked away followed by his band mates. Sally glared knowing that the Dazzlings were turning everyone in school against each other.

The Rainbooms;

We've just got the day to get ready
And there's only so much time to lose
Because tonight, yeah, we're here to party
So let's think of something fun to do

Snips and Snails were on the catwalk planning some sabotage of their own by moving the spotlight onto Fluttershy. She stopped singing and tried to escape the light. Carol and Camille knew that they had to do something now so they decided to take matters into their own hands. Before Sunset spoke.

"What are you two doing?" Sunset asked.

"There's foul play afoot here. And it's not just the Dazzlings." Camille answered.

"The other bands are trying to sabotage the Rainbooms. Seems Sally's speech from earlier must've wore of." Carol explained.

"Somehow I'm not surprised." Sally replied.

"And now they're trying to cheat." Camille added.

"We're not gonna let them get away with this." Carol promised. Carol and Camille decided to stop the sabotage themselves.

We don't know
(we don't know)
What's gonna happen
We just know
(we just know)
It's gonna feel right
All our friends are here
And it's time to ignite the lights!

Carol used her Airbending to blow Photo Finish and her band mates away while Camille used her cane to conjure a spell to knock Snips and Snails away.

The whole time, despite the awkward moment, the girls never stopped singing. Fluttershy hid behind Pinkie Pie's drums, avoiding the spotlight.

Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight
Shake your tail, shake your tail

Camille then shut down the Spotlight allowing Fluttershy to sing once again.

Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight
Shake your tail, shake your tail

Rarity finally freed herself from the magnets only for them to tear her outfit. She cried at the state of her outfit causing her mascara to run down her face.

Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight
Shake your tail, shake your tail

Shake your tail 'cause we're here to have a party tonight!

Carol and Camille were worried that the performance was terrible and the only two people who enjoyed it were the principals.

When they finished they went backstage.

"Ruined. Absolutely ruined." Rarity sobbed.

"Rarity, were you trying to make us lose out there?" Applejack called her out.

"Wh- Oh! This was not my fault! This was an act of sabotage!"

"She's right. Carol and I saw the other bands trying to sabotage you guys." Camille confirmed.

Applejack still wasn't convinced by Rarity's blunder moment, "Yeah, well, either way, this couldn't have happen if Rarity didn't insist on dressin' like... like…this! We need to sound good! Is there some reason that concept seems to escape you?"

The Rainbooms began to argue while Camille Carol and Sally shared worried looks.

"Now they're turning into the others." Camille feared.

"What about the Confetti Pinkie? How am I supposed to shred if there's paper in my guitar strings?" Rainbow called the girl out.

"It was pretty distracting." Fluttershy agreed.

Pinkie turned to her with a frown, "Ugh! Says the girl who was running from a light the whole time! A light!"

Sally had heard enough and decided to step in once again, "Quiet! All of this constant bickering is getting us nowhere! If you don't get it together then you'll be under the spell of the Dazzlings!"

"Like it matters. Thanks to those jerks our whole performance stunk!" Rainbow grumbled.

Sunset spoke up, "Not really. You still sounded better than the other bands so you'll likely move on. But it won't matter if that musical counter spell is not ready."

At the mention of this, Twilight winced in worry.

Carol spoke, "You guys find a place to practice where the Sirens can't here you. We'll keep an eye on things here." The girls agreed and left.

Another band came on stage. Derpy and her band and their instruments consisted of a cowbell, a triangle and a Saw.

"We really have our work cut out for us. Don't we, Sunset?" Camille asked the girl.

"Obviously."

Sally was with the Rainbooms as they were looking for a place to practice when Twilight ran into Flash Sentry.

"Ha, ha, we really need to stop bumping into each other like this." she chuckled.

"Uh, you guys hear something?" Flash asked his band with a rude tone.

"Not really."

"Nope."

Twilight was confused, "I said, we have to stop."

"There it is again. So annoying." Flash continued to be rude.

"Why are you acting like this? I thought we were friends?" Twilight was torn.

Flash turned to her looking angry, "Yeah, and then you decide to come back here just so you can beat me in the Battle of the Bands. I want this, Twilight, and you're trying to take it from me! Some friend."

Sally stepped up to confront Flash, "How dare you speak to Twilight like that! Don't you even realize what you're doing? You used to care about the school but now you and your band only care about yourselves."

"She's the one who's taking what's mine!" Flash accused.

"Funny the one thing Twilight is doing is trying to unite the School like she did six months ago. You can ignore me if you want but know this. Even if you do win will it still be worth it?" As Sally spoke her words left a profound effect on Flash and his band.

"Let's go, Twilight." Sally told her.

Twilight looked at Flash one last time, but he refused to let them walk away with the last laugh, "You really think you're gonna help them?! Ha! I bet you have no idea what you're even doing!"

Twilight was saddened, but Sally spoke to her, "He's not in his right mind. None of them are."

"But it still stings a little bit. How did you deal with this at your old schools?" Twilight asked.

"By reminding them to look at themselves and try to come together and as a last resort suggesting a uniform policy. That was during my senior year in high school."

As Sally talked the scene didn't go unnoticed by the Dazzlings.

"Tears already? This is only the first round." Adagio smirked.

Sonata and Aria laughed until Celestia's voice could be heard from the com, "The next band to take the stage will be Trixie and the Illusionists."

"Better get going. We're supposed to go after Trixie and her band." Adagio reminded her partners.

The Dazzlings made their way backstage only to run into Sunset Shimmer leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and her face partly covered by a shadow. She stood before them glaring and Carol and Camille were flanking her.

"You're never gonna get away with this." Sunset called the sirens out.

Adagio smirked, "Why? Because you didn't?" Sunset flinched as Adagio continued talking before she and the Dazzlings circled her like a shark, "Oh, we know all about you. You've got quite a reputation here at Canterlot High."

"I've changed! I'm in a much better place now!" Sunset retorted.

Aria followed Adagio's lead and taunted Sunset while smirking, "Waiting in the wings while your friends have all the fun?"

"Oh, yes, you girls are so tight. And yet... they didn't ask you to be in the band." Adagio smirked.

"Probably afraid no one would want to hear them play if she was in it."Aria put in.

"Too bad so sad." Sonata grinned.

"If it's any consolation nobody is going to remember you when we're through." Adagio promised.

The sirens were about to leave when Carol spoke, "So this is how you work? Play with the emotions of others in an attempt to cut them down. You're nothing but a bunch of cowardly whiners!"

"Oh, you're here?" Adagio asked.

Camille spoke, "And so am I. You didn't really think we'd sit by and let you ruin all the hard Twilight did in uniting everyone did you?"

"Well, we kinda were." Sonata admitted.

"Must you be so oblivious, Sonata?" Aria groaned.

"Must you be so brash?" Sonata retorted.

Aria and Sonata argued yet again as usual.

Carol spoke to Camille, "And I thought you said the Sinister Sisters argued a lot."

"No kidding. Don't forget I used to pal around with them for years."

Adagio broke her partners up. Camille continued to Adagio, "Sunset Shimmer's right. You will reap what you sow and you will taste defeat."

"Don't bark before biting." Adagio warned her.

"My bite is worse than my bark." Camille cracked her knuckles to drive home her point causing Sonata to be terrified of her.

"She looks serious." She told her partners.

"If you'll excuse us, we're up after the next performers." Adagio said, as the three left leaving Carol and Camille to talk.

"Well, at least we let them know that we're serious." Camille noted.

Carol spoke, "But we gotta keep the Rainbooms from arguing or they'll get their powers. Which means we have to protect Sally and get Sunset to step up their game."

"Agreed but first let's talk to Sunset."

Sunset was still feeling dismal from the Dazzlings words.

"You okay?" Carol asked.

"You look rattled." Camille added.

"I just wonder if I am part of this team?"

"Well, you do have a lot to learn but just take it one step at a time." Carol suggested.

Camille nodded, "Trust us. You're part of the team. If you were not we'd have Principal Celestia throw you out of Canterlot High six months ago."

"Thanks, girls."

"No problem. Now let's get back to the gym." Carol suggested. Sunset agreed as the three returned to the gym.