Hello, fellow readers! Welcome back to Rainbow Rocks! Here's our menu and our specials:
TheBeatles211: Don't worry, I can handle a bit of criticism. I guess it just reminded me of my early works where people would request certain characters and I did it without thinking of how to use them in the actual story. I made those rules to avoid having that happen again. Glad that you'll still be reading, though.
Maelaeran: You're not wrong about that. Oh yeah, might as well show off while stopping the sabotages.
Komaeda Yuujin: Thanks, I try to keep it exciting.
All right, please enjoy!
Chapter 7: Face to Face
The Rainbooms regrouped with the three backstage as Yu and Ren explained what was happening during their performance. Once they finished, the girls were surprised at this.
"Maybe they only did that since they're still under the Sirens' spell." Twilight tried to explain their actions.
"Still, we could have been knocked out of the competition if they didn't help out." Applejack gestures to Yu, Ren and Sunset as she said that.
"There are two things I want to say." Ren spoke up, "First, the fact that Pinkie has a party cannon in a drum. Not only is that a hazard, but it could have cost you guys big time." Pinkie looked away in embarrassment after he said that before he turns to Fluttershy, "Second, gotta work on that stage fright. A spotlight isn't something you should run from."
"Sorry." Fluttershy muttered in response.
"For now, the other bands going up will give us time to practice." Rainbow mentions before turning towards Twilight, "Maybe even finish up that counter spell."
"Yeah, let's get going." Twilight agreed with her as the group headed off.
They entered the halls to head towards their rehearsal spot when they noticed that Flash's band had already went during their explanation. As they walked past them, Sunset was lost in thought about something when she bumped into Flash.
"Oh, sorry." She quickly apologized.
The group stopped when they heard Sunset, being a bit baffled at what happened next.
"Did you guys hear something?" Flash asked his band, who just shrugged in response.
They knew that he's under the spell too, but it was still weird seeing Flash act cold.
"Uh, sorry?" Sunset was put off by the rudeness.
"There it is again." Flash sounded annoyed with his words as he tuned his guitar.
Ren quickly stepped in, "Ignore him." He whispered to Sunset as he escorted her away.
"You might as well drop the facade! No one believes you!" Flash's words seem to have an effect as the group walked away from him.
Sunset held in her tears, not wanting to break down in front of them as she ran off.
"Sunset!" Twilight called out, falling on deaf ears as she turned a corner.
"You guys go on ahead. We'll check on her." Yu told the girls as he and Ren went after Sunset.
Unbeknownst to them, the Dazzlings saw their opportunity as they followed after Yu and Ren.
Thanks to Ren's Third Eye, the two reached a dim hall that reminded them of their encounter with Sunset back then, who was sitting against the lockers with her face in her knees.
"You feeling all right?" She looks up when she heard Yu's voice.
"Isn't it obvious?" Her face showed that she wasn't before looking away.
"Not like you to just run off, though." Ren mentioned as he crouched down next to her.
Sunset was silent for a moment before speaking, "Ever since I reformed, most of the students believed that it was just me pulling an act for some big scheme. No matter what I tried, I always get suspicious looks and talked about behind my back."
Ren knew what she meant. Transferring to another school with a false reputation had a similar effect to what Sunset described.
"Guess now, I just... reached my limit." Sunset wiped one of her eyes that had a small tear building up.
"Considering what you have done, that stuff is hard to shake off." Yu was being honest about it, remembering the Spring Fling article they read and the underhanded tactics.
"But it's also bad to think that doing good deeds erases the bad ones already done." Ren added.
Sunset looks down at the ground before hearing another voice, "I agree."
Yu and Ren turns toward the voice, seeing the Sirens standing a few feet away as the two stood guard. "A reputation like that, no wonder people don't like you." Adagio taunted.
"What do you want?" Yu kept his guard up as he kept eye contact with the leader.
"Well, it seems we have misplaced something." Adagio crosses her arms, pretending to think.
"Shouldn't be hard to miss. Three matching red gems." Aria added.
"...You mean our necklaces?" Sonata didn't play along, to the two's annoyance.
"Yes..." Adagio stretched the word a bit before getting back on track, "Anyways, we know you have them somewhere. Just tell us the truth, I promise to make it worth your while."
"Sorry, you got the wrong-" A sudden surge of electricity flowed through the lockers and lights in the hallway, making Sunset jump to her feet and huddle close to Yu and Ren who are now fully alert.
"It seems you didn't hear me." Adagio sent a glare their way, revealing her eyes to have changed color to what Yu and Ren recognize instantly.
"Sunset, meet up with the others. Warn them about this." Ren ordered her.
Sunset nodded before heading towards the exit at the end of the hallway, only to stop as a huge sheet of ice covered it.
"Oops, did I do that?" The three sees Sonata having cold air emit from her hands as she said that right before rubbing them together to warm them.
Yu and Ren sees the yellow eyes on her and Aria as well as the latter sarcastically sighs.
"Great job, Sonata. Now I have to fix it." Aria then conjures a ball of fire in her hands and throws it at the boys.
"Persona!"
The fire was dispersed into embers, thanks to Izanagi slicing it down as the Personas floated behind their users. Ren's attire changed into his Joker persona as Yu stayed the same as usual.
"What interesting power..." Adagio mutters to herself.
"Yay, the mask is back!" Sonata was pretty excited about that for some reason.
Joker was a bit confused at that before speaking, "You may have new tricks, but I doubt your power is up to par."
He and Yu both knew most of the moves that Shadows would use, the only difference is how effective the opponent makes them. However, there are cases of the Shadow self being stronger if it works in synergy with the original. The Dazzlings were likely the latter, due to their experience with Sunset, which means they have to stay on alert no matter what.
"Oh? You think this is all we can do?" Adagio had a confident smile on her face as she raises her hand.
She then makes a wave of pink hearts fly towards them, making Joker think quickly as he has Arsene use his wings to blow it away. The wind was strong enough to push the girls back and made the surrounding lockers fly open.
"You were saying?" Joker smirked at that.
Adagio ignored him as she spoke, "Looks like your powers are nothing to scoff at. However, what is Sunset capable of?"
The two narrowed their eyes, knowing what she's playing at before hearing Sunset behind them. "Don't bother." She was stern in her response.
"Oh, did I touch a nerve there?" Adagio kept going, "It was a simple question. I agreed with you about your reputation, yet you didn't succeed with your plan unlike us."
"So what!? I'm better than where I was before!" Sunset called out.
"The 'queen' prefers being in the background while her 'friends' have all the fun?" Aria pointed out.
"That doesn't sound right at all. Speaking of your 'friends', any reason why you're not in the band with them?" Adagio brought up.
The three were silent as no answer came to mind, making the Sirens let out a small laugh.
"Really? They didn't even ask you? How hurtful!" Adagio said, rubbing it in.
"Guess that means that they know no one would see them perform with you in it." Aria added.
"Too bad! So sad!" Sonata chimed in.
"It's OK, you don't need to worry. Once we regain our powers, everything about you will be forgotten." Adagio finished with.
Sunset finds herself back to square one with many thoughts going through her head until hearing Joker speak, "Ignore them. You're working hard to change, don't let them make you think otherwise." He then turns back to the Sirens, "Plus, it isn't like you'll actually win. Last time I check, you can't do your usual shtick."
"Right now, you're just resorting to making bluffs." Yu added.
"Aww, the dogs still have some bark in them." Adagio taunted some more before the intercom came on.
"All remaining bands who haven't performed yet must come to the gymnasium immediately. The next band will be Trixie and the Illusions."
"Gotta go. We're on after them." Adagio said before the three turn around to head to the gymnasium.
Yu and Joker didn't let their guards down until the girls were out of sight, their Personas disappearing when they finally relaxed. Joker changes back to Ren before the two hear Sunset speak.
"They won't get away with this." The two turn towards her as she spoke, sounding more angry than sad.
"Nice to see we're on the same page." Yu agreed with her on that.
"But first, best that we inform the others about the new developments." Ren pointed out before the three headed off to where the girls are.
By the time the Dazzlings arrive backstage, Trixie's band had finished their set and already headed backstage as well when the three got their mics.
When they were at the closed curtains, Aria spoke. "How are we gonna deal with them now? We aren't familiar with their abilities and they sounded like they faced the powers we have before."
"Even then, at least we know what to expect from the boys." Adagio simply answered with.
"But, what about our gems? We still can't restore our power!" Sonata reminded.
"Stop worrying. It's only a matter of time." Adagio was being a bit vague with her words, confusing the two before she spoke again. "Right now, these powers will help us build up more of that negative energy to absorb at our grand finale. Just don't use it all before then."
One of the first things they did when they got their new powers was checking to see if their singing was restored. Thankfully it did, which kept them in the competition, but lacked the hypnotic magic from before. Activating their powers again, changing their eyes to yellow once more, the three started their set as the audience couldn't help but be entranced.
[The Dazzlings]
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
You didn't know that you fell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
[Adagio]
Now that you're under our spell
Blindsided by the beat
Clapping your hands, stomping your feet
You didn't know that you fell
[Aria and Sonata]
Oh-whoa-oh-oh-oh
[Adagio]
Now that you've fallen under our spell
[Aria and Sonata]
Oh-whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
[The Dazzlings]
We've got the music, makes you move it
Got the song that makes you lose it
We say "jump", you say "how high?"
Put your hands up to the sky
We've got the music, makes you move it
Got the song that makes you lose it
We say "jump", you say "how high?"
Put your hands up to the sky
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
You didn't know that you fell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Now that you're under our spell
[Adagio]
Listen to the sound of my voice
[Aria and Sonata]
Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh
[Adagio]
Soon you'll find you don't have a choice
[Aria and Sonata]
Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh
[Adagio]
Captured in the web of my song
[Aria and Sonata]
Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh
[Adagio]
Soon you'll all be singing along
[Aria and Sonata]
Oh, whoa, oh
[The Dazzlings]
We've got the music, makes you move it
Got the song that makes you lose it
We say "jump", you say "how high?"
Put your hands up to the sky
We've got the music, makes you move it
Got the song that makes you lose it
We say "jump", you say "how high?"
Put your hands up to the sky
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
You didn't know that you fell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Now that you're under our spell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
You didn't know that you fell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Now that you're under our
[Adagio]
Spell
Their song finished, Adagio couldn't help but laugh as the negativity spreads once more.
And done! Another average-length chapter, but it's mainly to show the Dazzlings are still a threat. Along with the new powers, they still have their singing ability as this will be a shorter story if they didn't. With that said, see ya next chapter!