Chapter 3
~.~
Twilight and the girls – minus Becky and Sunset – join together, holding hands.
"There isn't going to be a Battle of the Bands! We're gonna make sure of that! Alright, girls, let's do this! Friendship is magic!"
There's nothing. No magic. Nothing.
"Uh, weren't there rainbows and lasers and stuff last time?" Rainbow Dash asks.
"I don't understand. We're all together again. Why isn't this working?" Twilight asks.
"You, uh…really need to go ahead and do that whole 'magic of friendship' thing now." Spike says.
"I'm trying, Spike. I thought the six of us standing together against the sirens would bring out what we needed to defeat them. That's what happened before."
Adagio steps up.
"Talk about throwing down the gauntlet! This group is obviously serious about winning! A little cocky though, aren't they? Claiming there won't really be a battle. Seems they think they've already got this thing all locked up."
"Not if they Great and Powerful Trrrrrrixie has anything to do with it!" Trixie says.
"Whatever, Trixie! We're the best band at CHS!" Flash Sentry says.
"No! The Crusaders are gonna win!" Apple Bloom exclaims.
The students start arguing even louder.
The eight girls – and Spike – leave and sit out on the front steps of the school.
"It doesn't make any sense. I should have been able to create the spark that would help us break their spell. That's how it worked before." Twilight says.
"But to defeat me, you drew magic from the crown I was wearing. The sirens' magic comes from their music. So maybe you have to use the same kind of magic to defeat them. Or…maybe not." Sunset says.
"No. I think you're onto something." Twilight says.
"Really?" Sunset asks.
"It's when you play music that you transform now, right?" Twilight asks.
"Yup. Ears, tails, the whole shebang." Applejack replies.
"So maybe the way to use that magic to defeat the sirens is by playing a musical counter-spell!" Twilight exclaims.
"You mean like a song?" Fluttershy asks.
"Uh-huh. And in order to free everyone who's been exposed to the sirens' spell, we'll need them all to hear it." Twilight replies.
"Hmmm…" All the girls think.
"What about the band competition?" Becky asks.
"You're right, Becky! That's the next time we can be certain everyone will be in the same place at the same time." Rarity says.
"Guess the Rainbooms are the band to beat." Applejack says.
"And I believe you, Twilight, just became the Rainbooms' newest member." Rarity says.
Everyone but Becky and Sunset cheers, the two looking at each other, feeling a bit left out.
"So what do you wanna play? Triangle? Sousaphone? Theremin?...Soooo magical." Pinkie Pie asks.
"I might take a little too long to learn how to play something with these. I'll just sing." Twilight says.
"Like, as in, lead singer? Cuz that's usually my gig. This being my band and all." Rainbow Dash says.
"It's our band. And, of course, as lead singer. She's the one with the magical know-how to help us pull this thing off." Applejack says.
"Okay, yeah, that's cool. I'll just use this as a chance to hone my already insanely good lead guitar skills." Rainbow Dash says.
"It's only temporary. And we don't have to win the Battle of the Bands. We just have to perform during the first round of the competition." Twilight says.
"Let's get to learning that musical counter-spell!" Rainbow Dash exclaims.
"Well, that's just it. I don't know any." Twilight says.
"Awww…" The rest of the girls say.
"But I'm sure I could figure out how to write one." Twilight suggests.
"Totally! Twilight can write a spell like it's nobody's business. That's pretty much how she got to become a princess in Equestria." Spike says.
"Technically, I helped finish a spell. And there was a little more to it than that, Spike." Twilight says.
"Yeah, whatever." Spike says.
"I've got this. C'mon!" Twilight tells Spike.
"Where're you goin'?" Applejack asks.
"Well, last time we were here, Spike and I spent the night in the library." Twilight says.
"Are you crazy?! We're besties now! Slumber party at my house!" Pinkie Pie exclaims.
The eight girls look at each other in excitement.
"Even me, Pinkie Pie?" Becky asks.
"Of course, silly!"
So, the girls head over to Pinkie's house after school.
Becky peruses Pinkie Pie's book collection while the other girls are busy.
"Feel free to read as many as you'd like!"
"Thanks, Pinkie."
Becky chooses a book called Coral.
"That one's actually pretty dark."
"I don't mind."
"Don't say I didn't warn you!"
Becky curls up on Pinkie Pie's windowseat and starts to read until Sunset comes over.
"Am I interrupting you?"
"Not at all. Pinkie was right. This book is really dark."
"I was surprised myself how dark it got, even after reading the disclaimer. I won't spoil anything, though."
"Thank you for that."
"You're welcome."
The doorbell rings.
"Pizza's here!"
Everyone but Twilight zips out of the room.
Pinkie Pie comes back with piece of pizza in her mouth.
"Don't you want any pizza?"
Twilight nods and goes to the kitchen to join the girls.
Becky and Sunset continue to get to know each other throughout the rest of the night, and they stay out in the living room on the couch while the rest of the girls head back to Pinkie's room.
"So, truth or dare?" Sunset asks.
"Truth." Becky replies.
"Hmmm. Have you ever been kissed?"
"No. Have you?"
"I have. I prefer kissing girls to guys though."
"I've dated guys in the past, but I prefer dating girls."
"Why? We're more dramatic than guys. At least stereotypically."
"I've just had my fill of dating guys."
"I can understand that."
Sunset leans into Becky, and they kiss, then start to make out.
Sunset reaches up to undo Becky's bra, but Becky stops her.
"We're both asexual, remember?"
Sunset leans back and blushes.
"Sorry. I momentarily forgot."
"It's okay."
"We can still make out, right?"
"Absolutely."
And so they do. The two girls make out until they hear footsteps.
They hide on the couch where the person who is approaching can't see them.
"No. That's not gonna work." It's Twilight.
"Stay down." Sunset whispers to Becky.
"What? Who's there?" Twilight asks. Sunset comes up from the couch and walks over to Twilight.
"Hey, Twilight. You're up late."
"Just looking over the counter-spell. We only get one shot at this. It has to be perfect."
"We really are lucky you're here."
"That's what everyone keeps telling me."
Sunset opens up the fridge.
"Who could possibly need this much whipped cream?" Sunset gets out a little whipped cream on her finger as she continues to talk.
"Must be nice to have everyone always looking to you for answers to their problems…instead of waiting for you to cause a problem."
"Just because everyone expects something from you doesn't mean it's guaranteed to happen."
"Well, that doesn't stop them from expecting it."
"Which only makes things harder because the last thing you want to do is…"
"…let everybody down." A third voice joins them.
"Sorry. I couldn't help but overhear." Becky says, emerging from the couch.
"That's okay. And, don't worry, you girls' secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone."
Sunset feigns confusion as Becky steps up to them.
"Pfft. What? What secret?"
"I know you two were making out."
Becky and Sunset blush and step a couple feet away from each other.
"My parents can't know. They'll kick me out."
"Don't worry. I won't tell a soul."
"Unless, of course, they're standing right there and overheard your entire conversation." Maud says.
The three girls scream in surprise at Maud's sudden appearance.
"Rebekah. Over here. Now."
Sunset gives Becky's hand a squeeze as Becky sheepishly walks over to her parents.
"Mom, Dad, I can explain."
"Go ahead. Explain."
"I like Sunset. I really do. I…I'm an asexual lesbian."
"You're an abomination and a disgrace. You're coming home for the rest of the weekend to pack your things. I hope you have somewhere else to live."
Sunset steps up to Becky and her parents.
"She can live with me."
"Sunset…" Becky starts.
"It's okay. I don't mind. May I help her pack?"
"Anything to get her out of the house faster."
Becky's parents leave, and Becky collapses onto her knees, sobbing, Sunset following her down.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry."
"For what? It's your parents that need to be sorry, not you." Sunset says, wrapping her arms around Becky.
The other girls emerge from Pinkie's bedroom, having overheard everything.
"We'll help you pack, too, darling. It's ridiculous that your parents kicked you out." Rarity says.
"Thank you. I can't repay you for all that you've done for me."
"There's no need. We're your friends, and we're with you through thick and thin." Fluttershy says.
"What about the competition?" Becky asks.
"Twilight, you keep working on that counter-spell. With the rest of us working together, we'll get things packed up in no time." Applejack says.
"Thanks, girls."
The girls head to Becky's former parents' house to pack after stopping by a hardware store to pick up boxes and bubble wrap and packing tape.
After packing for the rest of the night and part of the next morning, the girls drop off the boxes at Sunset's place and head to Applejack's to rehearse Twilight's rough draft of the counter spell, after getting coffee, of course.
The girls soon head to the school for the first round of the Battle of the Bands.