It had been six moons since the fall of Sunset Shimmer at the hands of Twilight Sparkle and her friends. In that time, she had grown close with the members of Rainbow Dash's new band, the Rainbooms, as well as Orion and Raven.

The peace and tranquility of the morning as students poured off the buses into the building was shattered when, far above their heads, two figures could be seen hang-gliding their way toward the school. Orion wasn't doing very well, he didn't seem to have too much control over his flight path. Nevertheless he kept going along, whooping and hollering joyfully.

Raven glided alongside, keeping a close eye on Orion's flight path. "Pull up a bit! You're getting too close to the trees!" she called out, adjusting her glide path accordingly. She smiled as she watched him have fun. They had been an item since the first day they met, their bond growing stronger after the Fall Formal incident. She had taken the awkward kid with the fez and opened his world to new experiences, and he had shown her a world she never believed she would have ever seen in her lifetime, the world of nobility. Although Orion's mother did scare the bejeebers out of her at times, Raven could see that Orion's mother did approve of her.

"I'm trying!" Orion says, attempting to copy her movements. He manages to go up just in time to avoid being hit in a sore spot by one of the trees below. Then his phone rings, and he facepalms. "Who could that be?!" He starts flying with one hand as he puts his phone to his ear, "Hello? Who is this? I'm a little busy!"

"Orion, it's Sunset. I really need to speak with you, are you close to the school?" said the voice on the other end. "For that matter, where exactly are you? It sounds like you're standing in a wind tunnel."

"Look above you! We'll be landing on the roof!" He whoas and tries valiantly to steer himself in the right direction, "I'll have to put you on hold!"

Sunset looks up and sees two hang gliders approaching the roof of the building, one in a controlled glide downward, the other dipping spiraling toward what was sure to be a very rough landing. Sighing, Sunset closed her phone and ran toward the stairway to the roof. A loud THUNK caused her to increase her speed. She arrived on the roof in time to see Orion sprawled on the rooftop, his glider underneath him. Approaching cautiously, she looked down at him. "Yo, Orion ... you all right?" she asked.

"Maybe? I certainly hope so..." He staggers to his feet, wincing in pain. "Ow... maybe not... That's it, no more hang-gliding for me..." He grabs onto Sunset's and Raven's hands for support. "So... you called?"

"I wanted to give both of you a heads-up. Canerlot High is holding a Musical Showcase, to raise money for the after-school programs here. The sign-up form is in the gym if either of you are interested. And, um ... " Sunset kicks at the rooftop. "Well ... if either of you were looking for anyone else for their group. I haven't been having the best of luck in that area. I ... kinda think you know why."

Orion grins and hugs both girls, "A musical showcase? That sounds amazing! I play the keyboards, myself." He smiles gently at Sunset, "I'd love to have you join us." He looks to Raven, "How about you, love? Any objections?"

Raven shakes her head. "Nope, none here. I play a pretty mean guitar, actually. This sounds like it could be fun! And yeah, I'd be cool with you joining us, Sunset, so don't sweat it. We'd better get signed up, then."

"To the gym!" Orion proclaims, making his way toward the door that led into the building proper, leaving his glider behind. It was broken anyway.

Raven and Sunset follow Orion to the gym. Students are hard at work making posters advertising the event. The trio stop at the doors and look around. "Okay, let's make it official," Raven said. She walked off to look for the signup sheet.

Orion meanwhile grabs some paper and finds a place to work, "What instruments do you play?" he asks, looking toward Sunset.

"I never really learned to play one ... former pony and all, remember?" she replied. "I sing, mostly. I'd be happy singing backup, I just want to do something..."

"Backup? Oh goodness no, we'd have you do lead," he smiles at her, "You need something to define yourself. Apart from the whole she-demon thing. No offense."

Sunset sighs. "None taken ... I am really never gonna live that down."

"Unless, you know, you do," Orion says with a smile. "Everything's going to be fine! The showcase will probably be large enough to take everyone's attention off you."

Sunset could feel some of the other students staring at her. "Let's hope so," she says softly.

Raven returns to the group. "I got us signed up. When should we start rehearsing?" she asked. "And, more importantly, where?"

"We could use my house," Orion suggests. "Lots of empty rooms, weirdly enough... and maybe today, after school?"

"Works for me. I'd need to stop at home and get my stuff first. That okay with you, Sunset?" Raven asked.

"Um, sure. I've never been to Orion's house yet, so I'd probably need directions or something." Sunset said.

"It's the big mansion with the gargoyles," Orion says breezily. "You can't miss it. And I mean you really can't." Then the bell rings, signaling the end of the break period before classes.

"Don't worry, you can come along with me," Raven said, giving Sunset a reassuring hug. "Let's catch up after school okay?"

Sunset smiled and hugged back. "Thanks, Raven. See you later on." The trio headed off to their respective classes.

At lunch that day, Orion is munching on a banana and turning a peculiar device he'd found in the hallway around in his fingers. It was silver with a blue gem at one end, and a button. He presses it, but nothing happens. "What in the world is this thing?"

"Whoa, cool! Where'd you get that?" Raven asks, sliding into a seat opposite Orion. "Looks kinda futuristic, whatever it is."

"I found it in the hallway today," Orion says. "Must've been lying here for ages!" He pockets it and smiles to her, "Got any ideas for band names? I was imagining something kind of progressive rock-ish."

"I haven't given it much thought, but maybe we could brainstorm some after practice." She looks around and sees Sunset entering with three new girls. "Looks lke Sunset's playing tour guide. Must be new girls, I don't recall seeing them before."

"Me either," Orion agrees, looking at the three new girls. "I wonder why they're all wearing the same necklace... some kind of uniform?"

Raven shrugs. "Maybe some kind of cliquish thing. Or maybe they're all related, I dunno." She returns to her lunch. "Any ideas for what song we're gonna do?"

The object in Orion's pocket buzzes slightly. He grabs it and stares, the blue light was flashing. "So it does work! What's going-" He freezes in mid-sentence as the sirens begin their singing, and looks up to watch them.

The song finishes amidst the sounds of arguing and bosting from the assembled students. A green mist spreads throughout the cafeteria, causing the object to vibrate and emit a high-pitched whine. "Battle of the bands?" Raven asked. "Hmmph. As if there'd be any competition. My band would wipe the floor with these posers."

Orion is unable to see the mist, but stares at the device in confusion some more. Then Raven speaks, and he turns to glare at her. "I beg your pardon? I believe this is -my- band!" He points an accusatory finger. "You cannot hope to beat my masterful, keyboard-based melodies!"

Raven snorts. "Oh please. Your synth-pop pretentiousness is no match for my hard rockin' beat! And if you want to be that way about it, then I'll form my own band! Then I will laugh with glee while you lay broken at my feet like all the other losers!"

Sunset, being unaffected by the sirens' song, sees the mass chaos being created. Seeing Raven and Orion arguing makes her heart sink. "Theres only one thing I can do ... I sure hope it works." She slips out of the cafeteria, the din echoing down the hallway until the doors close.

Orion angrily straightens his bowtie and turns on his heel, "Begone, witch! I shall never speak to you again!" He stalks away, his progress watched by a light-skinned girl with electric blue hair and purple sunglasses, who was wearing a pair of headphones.

Raven angrily gathers her things and storms out of the cafeteria. She had a band to organize, and quickly. Luckily, she had a few favors she could call in to her musician friends.

The blue-haired girl with the sunglasses and headphones watched all of this. A frown crossed her face briefly, quickly replaced by a smile as she bobbed her head to the beat of the song now playing. She adjusted the volume and made her way through the arguing students toawrd the exit.