"And then I said: It is I who deserves to be in the finals. And I will not be denied." For the past hour and a half Trixie had been carrying on of her career as a musician and the many wrongs done to her.
"Uh-huh." Twilight says as she scribbles in her notebook. In large letters are written: Trixie Lulamoon. Extreme narcissistic tendencies. No valuable info. Conclusion? Waste of time.
As she prepares to wrap things up, the musician let's out some information that catches her interest.
"And I would have won the Battle of the Bands if it wasn't for those blasted Rainbooms. Just because they defeated the sirens."
"Sirens?"
"Oh just some girls with some sort of evil powers that tried to take over the school and possibly the world. Everyone gives the Rainbooms all the credit when The Great and Powerful Trixie would have easily disposed of them." Trixie dismisses this and continues on with her tirade. Finally fed up with Trixie, Twilight pulls out a remote and presses a button on it, which locks down the other girls hands and feet, restraining her in the chair. "How dare you! Do you know who it is you're dealing with?" As she struggles a dome like device fits over the top of her head.
"It's hard to forget when you speak in the third person." She presses another button, turning on a television connected to a collection of wires hooked into the helmet Trixie is wearing. "Sorry, I just needed your undivided attention. Here's how this is going to go. You see that monitor over there? It's going to process the images from your brain and put them on the screen. Anytime you try to lie or deviate from the topic at hand you'll receive a mild incentive to stay on target."
"The Great and Powerful Trixie never deviates, for she is the most intelligent, most brilliant..." She is cut off as the device gives her a minor jolt. "Ow."
"Sorry but to be fair I did warn you. Now lets talk about these strange goings on shall we." As Trixie answers question after question, Twilight is amazed at the images that flash across the screen, racing over to her computer to make sure it is recording every last second. "This is amazing. So much more than I could have ever dreamed of. I thank you miss Lulamoon for your cooperation."
"Cooperation, yeah that's what it was." Trixie says, rolling her eyes as the restraints are removed. "Now I believe you owe The Great...The Great...You owe...You..." Trixie staggers out of the chair, falling to her knees as her vision begins to blur. "What's happening to me?"
"I probably should have mentioned. I haven't exactly worked out all the kinks just yet. There are a few side effects including nausea, vertigo, drowsiness and short term memory loss." Twilight explains as Trixie passes out.
Sugarcube Corner
Trixie, having finally shaken off the effects of the device finds herself in the Cake's coffee shop, having no memory of the exchange, Twilight sitting across from her. "What...What was I saying?" She manages to say as she takes a sip of the still hot espresso in front of her.
"You were just telling me about how you were wronged by the Rainbooms and Dazzlings."
"Right. Those fools have underestimated Trixie. I am the most talented girl at CHS and soon I'll show them all."
"It's a shame they're working together now. It must make it hard for your band to play any venues with them around. If only there was a way to break them up, then you'd have no competition. Of course that's just me thinking out loud." Twilight says as she sips her drink. "I mean how else do you compete with people like that, that have such a huge advantage over everyone else?" Twilight takes a look at her watch. "Oh look at the time. I really have to be going. It certainly was nice meeting you but I have somewhere to be. Thanks for the info. Anything you want is on me." She places a fifty dollar bill on the table before heading out.
Trixie gives an odd look, as if she has missed something, before taking another sip from her drink, finding herself thinking about what the other girl had just said. If she could break up the group she'd be on top. All she needed to do is find the right fuel for the fire. She turns her head slightly to see a small paper bag on the table. She opens it to find two items, a bracelet with a small red stone embedded in it and a vial filled with red dust. Attached is a note reading: Here's my end of the deal. Just follow the instructions and you'll have everything you could ask for. See you soon.
Trixie gives a raised eyebrow as she places the items back into the bag. She then turns her attention back to finishing her drink before heading home.
Canterlot High Outdoor Stage
"Yeah we're better than ever." The girls sing as the Rainbooms and Dazzlings, minus Adagio, finish their set.
"Oh yeah, now that's what I'm talking about." Rainbow Dash says as the group takes a break.
"You girls have really improved since we put the bands together." Rarity comments as she places her instrument against the wall.
"I think we've all gotten better since then." Applejacks states as she removes her hat, wiping her brow. Across the room Pinkie and Sonata are helping themselves at the refreshment table.
"Sonata, lay off the snacks will you. You're gonna spoil your appetite and you know we're eating dinner at the farm tonight." Aria scolds her sister as the latter turns to her with three cookies in her mouth. She attempts to respond, crumbs flying from her mouth. Aria sighs lightly, takes in a deep breath, than speaks. "Close your mouth, chew and then swallow before you speak."
Her sister complies than continues. "Sorry Aria. You know what they say. You can't have just one. So when do you think Adagio will be back from her trip?"
"Couldn't tell you. But it can't be too much longer. Not really sure there's much out there to find." In the month and a half since the three returned through the portal Adagio had made frequent trips back to Equestria in an attempt to find any trace of other sirens, for what purposes the others couldn't say.
"At least Sunset Shimmer is with her this time. So I'm sure she'll be just fine." Fluttershy chimes in.
"Well until they get back we should definitely take advantage of all this downtime. I mean we haven't had to deal with any other craziness since you guys joined up. What do you say we try out Fluttershy's new song?" Dash says as the group prepares for another set. As they begin to play a crowd begins to slowly form around the stage as the area begins to fill with the other students amazed by their exciting performance and new songs, not to mention the group's always stunning transformations. Everyone in the crowd seems to be enjoying themselves as the accidental concert progresses. In fact the only ones who seem displeased are Trixie and the Illusions who are standing off to the side.
"That's it!" Finally fed up with the praise the band is receiving, Trixie barges onto the stage mid-song. The band stops playing as she makes it to the center of the stage.
"Hey Trixie! What gives? We're in the middle of a song if you hadn't noticed." Dash says, glaring at Trixie.
"Oh I noticed. I've also noticed how you've fooled everyone into thinking you're all such hot stuff." Trixie steps up to the microphone so that everyone can hear. "Oh don't think I haven't noticed. You and the Dazzlings using your 'special powers' to draw a crowd in. How stupid do you think I am?"
"I don't know. How stupid do you think you are?" Pinkie asks cheerfully.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is obviously stupid enough to..." She stops herself, realizing how far she has just gone into the sentence as well as speaking into the mic, as the crowd begins to laugh.
"Maybe you should get off the stage before you embarrass yourself any further." Rarity says.
"Trixie never stops before she embarrasses herself further. Wait, what?" This causes the crowd as well as the musicians to break out into more laughter. "Laugh now, but I see straight through all of you."
"Cool. Do you have x-ray vision?" Sonata asks.
"Seriously, we aren't using anything other than our natural talent. Maybe you should think about getting some yourself." Aria remarks as Trixie now becomes furious.
"Trixie has talent. And she certainly doesn't need some mind control powers to do it. You two shouldn't even be allowed to attend this school."
"Why don't you lay off 'em Trixie." Applejack intervenes. "They're not the monsters you're trying to make 'em out to be. They've changed since then. Maybe you should try doing the same."
"Actually we are kind of m..." Sonata attempts to explain as Aria covers her mouth.
"That's not gonna help, trust me."
Rainbow Dash pushes Trixie aside, taking back the mic. "Hey everybody. Do you like these girls?" She gestures toward Sonata and Aria. Everyone gives resounding cheers and claps. "And do you like our music?" They cheer again, louder this time. "And do you want this talentless hack to get off the stage so we can keep rocking?" As they cheer in agreement Trixie angrily exits.
"This isn't over." As she leaves the stage she pushes past a newly arrived Sunset Shimmer.
"Usual Trixie?" She asks with a smirk.
"You have no idea." Aria responds. "Where's Adagio?"
"She said she needed a little more time on her own so I decided to head back."
"I hope she's okay." Sonata says with a bit of concern.
"She'll be fine. If anyone can take care of themselves it's Adagio." Aria reassures as they turn back to the cheering, anxious crowd. "Hey Sunset, you wanna get in on this?"
"Definitely." Fluttershy hands her her guitar that is resting against the back wall as she joins in the makeshift concert.
Zecora's Overseas Commodities
Lavender Lace and Fuchsia Blush enter the dimly lit store looking for their band leader. "Hey Zecora." Fuchsia greets the store keep as they pass every manner of strange antiquity. "Is Trixie here?"
"She arrived here at half past four and she's locked herself behind the door." Zecora says pointing to the back of the store.
The two make their way over to the door and knock. "Trixie are you okay?" Lavender asks.
"Go away. Trixie doesn't want anyone to see her like this." The band leader sits on the floor of the room, her eyes red and puffy.
"Trixie we know you feel bad right now but you'll get through this." Lavender assures.
"Yeah, I mean it's just soul crushing humiliation." Fuchsia says blatantly without thinking. She receives and elbow from her band mate as payment. "What we mean is that you're Trixie, The Great and Powerful. The most talented musician and magician in the whole city."
"The Rainbooms and Dazzlings may be on top now but don't forget, we did technically win the Battle of the Bands." Lavender's words did carry some truth as the Rainbooms had not been a part of the final round and the Dazzlings had been booed off stage, leaving the Illusions the only real band left. "It may look like we're down and out now but we'll show them all who they're messing with. We're not just your band mates, we're your friends and Fuchsia and I are with you for the long haul."
Trixie looks over at her open backpack. On top of her things sits the bracelet and vial given to her by the other Twilight. She thinks back to what she said, wiping her eyes and standing up before opening the door. Her band mates look worriedly at her as she surprises them by bringing the two in for a hug. "Thanks girls, and you're right. We'll show them we've still got a few tricks up our sleeves." As she says this the bracelet on her arm begins to glow a bright red.