P3R50N4: Equestria Girls

It was hard to believe the school week was almost at an end, despite all that had happened. Sunset had to admit the transition had gone more smoothly than she had expected, though the only concern she had in the back of her mind was her secret, the real reason she had moved here in the first place. She was certain Cadance wouldn’t say anything which was a relief because the last thing Twilight needed to hear was one of her newest friends being an (almost) convicted criminal. Now that she thought about it, Twilight really wanted to hang out with her so maybe today would be the right day for it.

On her way to school, she was relieved to see Rainbow Dash on the sidewalk, though she looked a bit less chipper than usual. “I don’t know what happened the day before, but yesterday I felt like I got my ass kicked but good,” she said. “I’m better, though I wouldn’t say I’m a hundred percent yet. I just know if I didn’t show up today our coach would’ve freaked out.”

“You think it might be because of…you know?” Sunset asked.

“Maybe, didn’t realize unlocking your potential completely sapped your stamina,” Rainbow replied. “Still, can’t really complain since the payoff is having an awesome Persona.” She then looked at Sunset with a curious look. “So…tennis huh?”

Sunset sighed. Of course Rarity would’ve mentioned something. “Yeah, tennis. Kind of went with my gut on that one.”

“Hey, I’m not judging, seriously,” Rainbow said, putting her hands up in defense. “I have to hand it to Rarity though, she may not seem like the kind of girl who likes to get dirty, and believe me she doesn’t for the most part, but at least she’s keeping herself active. Which reminds me, what are your plans today?”

“Well, Twilight wanted to hang out at the Music Club so I guess that’s where I’m going today,” Sunset shrugged. Rainbow suddenly let out a chuckle. “What?”

“Nothing,” Rainbow said. “Actually, I oughta see if the other girls want to hang out in the music club as well.”

“Wait…you all play instruments too?” Sunset asked. How in the world do these girls manage to fit so much stuff into their schedules?

“Yeah it’s…actually it’d be easier to just show you,” Rainbow said. “Let’s just say we managed to get a little band going…”

Before first period started, Sunset managed to find Twilight at her seat, again her house inside her math textbook. “You know, Cadance says you oughta try to socialize more,” Sunset said.

Twilight sighed as she closed her book. “I know, I know…but what am I supposed to say? ‘Hi I’m Twilight Sparkle, and I’m the girl that keeps outperforming all of you in this class.’?”

“Um…maybe just the ‘Hi I’m Twilight Sparkle’ part. Are people really that hung up about you being the best in your class?”

“Well, some yes…but how is that my fault? If they studied as hard as I did I’m sure they’d be getting the same grades!” Twilight then stopped and took a deep breath. “Sorry…that probably sounded really egotistical of me. I guess part of Crystal Prep did rub off on me.”

“You know…I admit I don’t know much about that school but…was it really that bad there?”

“Crystal Prep takes its academics very seriously,” Twilight said. “You have to maintain an A average to play on any of their sports teams and the second your grades slipped you were done for the entire semester and as a senior, that’d destroy any scholarship dreams. Of course, it wasn’t always like that, it’s just something our current principal initiated a few years ago.”
She sighed slightly. “That, plus the overwhelming hostile environment made it very hard for me to talk to anyone. I did have one friend but…” She averted her eyes, acting if it was a sensitive topic. “Anyway, you’re right with what you said and I am trying but I just need to take baby steps…I hope you can be patient with me.”

“Of course,” Sunset said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Maybe we can check out the Music Club like you suggested?”
Twilight’s face lit up. “Oh yes, that’d be great. Its funny cause there’s usually a lot of people there but you can kind of do what you want and honestly, the sound of music tends to put me at peace anyway. Luckily no one ever uses the piano so…”

“You play piano?” Sunset hated to admit it, but all these multi-talented girls were starting to make her feel a little self-conscious.

“I mean casually of course, I wouldn’t say I’d win any scholarships to any performing arts schools or anything,” Twilight quickly said.

“Well, there’s just one thing I wanted to ask: I kind of told Rainbow Dash about what we were doing and she may invite the rest of the other girls to the music club so…”

“Oh…well that’s fine,” Twilight said. “I mean, they are nice girls and I’ve only really met Pinkie and Rarity in some of my classes so I don’t know the others too well but if they’re friends with you it’s all good.”

“It’s a good opportunity to get Cadance off your back,” Sunset said with a slight smirk.

Twilight groaned. “It’s like you’ve become her eyes and ears here, haven’t you?”

Once the school day came to a close, most of the students were eager to make their way home. Sunset grabbed her things at her locker and once she was ready, she made her way towards the music room. Outside next to the door, Sunset saw Twilight, who was currently staring at her phone with a frown on her face.

“Hey Twi….everything okay?” Sunset asked.

Twilight suddenly jumped, almost dropping her phone in the process. “Sunset! N-No, everything’s fine.” She quickly pocketed her phone. “I was just sitting out here waiting for you…in case you got lost.”

“That’s sweet but I think I got a lay of the land now,” Sunset chuckled. “So…shall we?”

"Oh, yes. I think the other girls are already inside, judging by the noise…”

The two of them went inside and it wasn’t long before they were noticed. “Yo Sunset!” Rainbow Dash yelled across the room. She, along with the other girls, were set up in one corner of the room and it was then she understood what Rainbow had said before. Rainbow and Applejack both had guitars strung across their bodies, the former electric and the latter bass. Rarity was carrying a keytar, Fluttershy was holding a tambourine and to top it off, apparently Pinkie played the drums.

“So…when you said a band…you really meant an actual band,” Sunset deadpanned.

“Well obviously,” Rainbow said. “Together, we’re known as The Rainbooms.”

“The…Rainbooms?” Twilight asked.

“Cool huh? It kind of just popped into my head and everyone kind of went along with it,” Rainbow shrugged.

“Personally I kind of wanted to name it Sergeant Pibb’s Forsaken Hearts Club but I realized it might’ve been a tad bit too long,” Pinkie said.

“Say what now?” Applejack asked.

“Anyway, Rainbow practically begged us-”

“Not uh!”

“-to come here and…show off our talent to put it simply,” Rarity explained. “Which reminds me: Twilight, you play piano right?”

“Yes?” Twilight replied.

“Splendid! I was telling Rainbow we could use a backup piano player…er that is if you were interested in playing with us.”

“Hmph! As if the Rainbooms need anymore people in their group!” Sunset and Twilight looked over and saw the voice belonged to a girl who had long white hair and wore a blue hoody along with a matching skirt. “You already have five people in your band and you’re trying to hog all the new talent!?”

“We’re not hogging anyone Trixie,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “You’re just mad that we didn’t add you into the group.”

“Such nonsense,” the girl named Trixie said. “I realized our tastes in music simply clashed too much so I decided to make a group of my own.”

“…Then where are they?” Applejack asked.

“Obviously they’re not here,” Trixie huffed. “But of course, if you two were interested in playing with the Great and Powerful Trixie, I would be fine with that.”

“Again, they never said they wanted to join and…uh, just out of curiosity Sunset, do you play an instrument?” Rainbow asked.

“I mean I play a little guitar,” Sunset shrugged. “But even if I did want to play, I don’t have it with me at the moment…it’s still at my parent’s home.”

“Hmm…perhaps Trixie could spare you a guitar she has for the time being,” Trixie said, who apparently wasn’t willing to give up on Sunset just yet.

“Oh give it a rest Trixie,” a new voice called out. This time it came from a guy who had short hair and wore a black jacket with red and blue on the front. “She pretty much just said she wasn’t interested.”

Trixie snorted slightly. “Fine,” she said tightly. “But if you’re ever interested in talking, you know where to find me…” She then headed back to where her guitar and went back to playing.

“Sorry about that,” the boy said. “Trixie can get kind of obnoxious when she wants to have her way. You’re the new girl right? I’m Flash, Flash Sentry.”

“Sunset Shimmer,” Sunset said as the two shook hands. “I didn’t realize so many people played guitar…”

“I think for most its just a hobby,” Flash said. “Trixie is actually a magician, in case you didn’t notice.”

“Yeah, an average magician,” Rainbow said.

“Now Rainbow, it’s not like you have any place to judge her,” Rarity admonished her.

“Okay, okay, she’s pretty good…maybe.”

“But for most of us, it’s a calling I guess,” Flash continued. He pointed to a girl who was practicing on a cello. “Octavia’s in the school band and she’s practically the best cellist in the school, if not the entire region. Then there’s Vinyl who does DJ gigs part-time. Oddly enough, she and Octavia are best friends, despite huge differences in musical taste. But yeah, we’re pretty much a judge-free zone when it comes to music.”

With all these new people, it made Sunset realize this could work to her advantage. Of course, it would be nice to make new friends but establishing new Social Links would further strengthen her powers. She definitely made.a note to try to interact with all of them. “Well, I guess since we’re here, maybe we can watch you guys perform?” Sunset asked Rainbow.

“Of course you can!” Rainbow said with a gleeful smile. “And I think I know just the one. It’s the one Fluttershy likes so much.”

“Oh…yes I do like that song,” Fluttershy said, brightening up quickly.

“Um, not that I want to discourage you guys but…won’t you guys playing disrupt everyone else here?” Twilight said.

“Nah, we’re kind of used to playing over one another,” Flash said.

“If you’ve got good ears, you should be able to tune in to your own sounds even if someone’s blaring right across the room,” Trixie added.

“Love you too Trixie,” Rainbow said smugly.

“Well, alright then,” Twilight said. “Everyone at school says how talented you all are so I’d definitely love to have a first-hand look.”

“Alright girls, let’s take it from the top,” Rainbow said. “One, two, three four!”

The song that played was a classic that Sunset recognized immediately and she had to admit she was impressed that the girls had actually managed to learn and cover said song. Oddly enough, everyone else in the room stopped what they were doing and watched the band perform. Even Twilight was transfixed on the performance.

Once it was finally over, everyone in the room clapped, Sunset included. “You guys really are committed to this huh?” she asked.

“Pretty much, though we don’t get to do it as much as we used to,” Rainbow admitted. “Though if you were interested in joining…”

“I’ll consider it when I finally get my guitar back,” Sunset said quickly.

They all spent another hour in the room before people started to leave and once the other girls it was only Twilight and Sunset left in the room. “Hey Sunset?” Twilight soon said. “Um…thank you. For coming with me today. If you hadn’t I…don’t think I would’ve been able to interact as well with everyone as I did.”

“Hey I get it, it takes time to come out of your shell,” Sunset said. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have met anyone here today.”

“I guess it worked out well for both of us,” Twilight said. “But before we go…there was one thing I wanted to do…” She then made her way over to the grand piano. “I haven't been able to play in a long time, not even at home so I figured since it's finally quiet..."

“Know any popular songs?” Sunset asked.

“Well…there’s one I know pretty well,” Twilight said. “It was the first song I learned actually…” She sat down and after a moment to gather her bearings, she started playing.

Sunset watched and stared for a moment. “Clair de Lune?” she said. “That’s not just a popular piano song, that’s the most popular piano song anyone knows.”

“It’s actually not that difficult a song,” Twilight said casually as she continued playing. “Still, its a very calming song and when I was younger and whenever anxiety got the best of me, this song always helped relax me.” After a few moments she suddenly stopped. “You know…when I was at Crystal Prep I actually had an opportunity to graduate at the end of this year.”

“And because you transferred…”

“Yeah, that offer went out the window,” Twilight smiled. “But it’s probably for the best…I remember I was working so hard, project after project that I wasn’t getting enough sleep, not enough to eat and of course my parents noticed. I think that was kind of the last straw with everything.”

“So…coming here wasn’t your choice?” Sunset asked.

“Oh it was,” Twilight replied. “But it wasn’t an easy one for me…part of me felt like if I left Crystal Prep I’d ruin my one and only chance of getting into Everton.”

“Everton…wow, that’s not an easy school to get into,” Sunset said.

“I know…and Crystal Prep would’ve made it so much easier…” Twilight then got up. “But hey, if I can manage to keep my grades up here I’m sure I may still have a chance.” She then got her bag. “You know, you’re the first person I’ve really talked to about this…well, besides Cadance of course, so…thanks Sunset.”

“Knowing you Twilight, Everton would be crazy to deny you,” Sunset said. Twilight smiled and at that moment, the familiar sensation of time coming to a standstill occurred once again.

Thou art I…and I am thou…
Thou hast established a new bond…

It brings thee closer to the answers thou seeks

Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Priestess Arcana…

Once the event was over Twilight then said, “Well, I guess we better get going considering we’re the only ones here…”

“Yeah, feels kind of weird now…” Sunset said. “So, I’ll be seeing you tomorrow at eleven?”

“Oh, yeah, I’ll be there,” Twilight said, slight hesitation in her voice. “I guess I’ll see you then.”

As Sunset left the school, she couldn’t help but notice Twilight’s hesitation. I guess just being around her old classmates is enough to unnerve her, though based on what she’s told me, I can’t blame her… She decided to send out a text to the girls, letting them know she had a bad feeling about tomorrow and to be safe, keep an eye out for trouble, for Twilight’s sake. Maybe she was overreacting but if there’s one thing she knew about the people at Crystal Prep, they were well known to hold grudges.