Shining Armour cradled the unconscious flame-haired teen and put her in the back of the undercover car. Sunset had been dressed in a magenta satin sleeveless top that came up to the base of her neck with a sparkly mid-thigh form-fitted skirt. Dark tights lay underneath a pair of knee-high lace-up platform boots. Despite not being fully awake, she had flinched at every touch other than Twilight's.

A spare blanket that Twilight's sister-in-law had left in the car was placed over the pained girl. After Sunset Shimmer was secured the group raced to the top of the tallest hill. It looked over the entire amphitheater while still being close enough to be heard through loudspeakers. The first verse of the Siren's song came to its final malicious lyrics.

The vehicle owner flipped a switch inside the car, and the speakers buzzed, ready to emit sound to the world. Twilight didn't think she could do it, but she stood alongside the band—not as a manager or a piano player but as a singer. After everything that evil mustard-colored fish had done to her, her friends, and her girlfriend, Twilight had never felt more ready to face them head-on and take them down.

The new lead singer looked down to her new attire, it being something she never saw for herself. But clearly, Rarity knew what she was doing. A long-sleeved, high-necked navy-blue top with glimmering stars that looked like the night sky were all over the top. Her skirt matched and was midthigh cupped with subtle ruffles. A belt of delicate chains and charms of silver stars and moons hung around her waist and dangled down the skirt. Her boots reached just above the knee and were black leather. Her hair was also down and wavy from the wind.

Her eyes fluttered away taking in her friend's own performing outfits.

Rainbow Dash was in a leather red tube top with buckles at the top, baggy dark jeans, and chunky black boots with yellow lighting bolts. Fluttershy was wearing a sparkly green heart-shaped necklined dress that reached her upper thighs and fluttering fabric hung from the skirt. A neon purple corset with matching butterflies was attached to it. Her boots are a matching sparkling green to her dress with more purple butterflies attached to midcalf platform boots.

Applejack had on a light apple-red cowgirl hat with a denim sparkly corset and matching skirt with pleated ruffles starting at the hips and stopping midthigh. Her shoes are golden cowgirl boots with fishnets covering her exposed legs. Rarity, in true fashion, had on a two-piece of royal blue. Her top had large ruffled puffed sleeves. White gems decorated the ending hems of the sleeves and the top. The neckline was a low scoop and decorated with large diamond-like gemstones. Her upper thigh skirt ended with light blue small feathers. More small gemstones were scattered over the skirt, glittering in the moonlight as her platform ankle-stepped pumps ended the ensemble.

Pinkie Pie was in a hot pink suit with a heart-shaped neckline and multiple bright colors of yellow, blue, and dark pink ruffled fabric creating a large heart on her chest. The suit ended in shorts that ended at her upper thighs and more ruffly fabric hung from her waist. Decorations of gemmed blue hearts on the hips looked like they were holding up the loose fabric. Dark pink tights ran down her legs and led to high calf boots of the color dark blue.

Twilight didn't care to waste any more time. The sirens had begun to… evolve. Red sound waves encapsulated the crowd as the trio of girls levitated, and transformations took form.

Twilight Sparkle’s lips parted as she took in a breath, ready to sing. She hesitated- her nerves had settled in. She was a scientist, not a performer. The adrenaline dissipated and was replaced with tremble-inducing terror as hundreds of eyes would be turned to her at the top of the hill. If she was even good enough to take power from the monstrous girls and help her friends save everyone.

The girls floating above the stage floor sprouted transparent webbed wings and long, scaled tails.

She was running out of time. She had to get over this sudden fear. Her peers, her newfound friends, her teachers, and her Sunset Shimmer, were all on the line!

Her train of thought crashed as the instruments behind her bolted with sound. The singing voices of her friends surrounded her and filled the amphitheater's space, causing the sirens to pause in shock and gathering the attention of the hypnotized crowd.

Twilight’s head turned to the resounding voice of the lead guitarist. A sky-blue face of confidence and encouragement smiled back at the indigo-haired girl. Rainbow Dash nodded, giving Twilight the knowledge they were there, together and to win together.

She no longer had to think about it. Not a second later, she found herself singing and moving to the music, as courage and pleasant electricity coursed through her. Six voices all came together, their instruments, their rejoicing of Friendship all tangled together in harmony.

The girls with her started glowing as they played their instruments harder, Pinkie Pie ecstatically banging on her drums. Fluttering magic butterflies encouraged Fluttershy to debut a small tambourine solo which led to Rainbow Dash joining her excitedly as equine ears appeared. She shredded the strings of her electric guitar in celebration. Twilight felt herself lift off the ground by a foot as the surreal yet amazing feeling of magic flooded through her from the girls standing by her. She gasped from the tickling yet delightful feeling of a spiraled horn and fluffy ears appeared.

Adagio scowled down at them from the other side of the field as she grabbed the fiery ruby at the base of her neck, “Fine. The Rainbooms want a real battle of the bands?” She flew higher into the sky, a deep and dangerous glower contorting her face.

“Then, let’s battle,” The Siren leader said, her tone making it known her sentence was a threat.

The Sirens retook the crowd's attention, their eyes immediately being consumed by a nasty green.

It only took one line. The Sirens sang their challenge and as soon as they declared they would finish off the opposing band, their only obstacle- Red shot out in sound waves to each other's rubies. Adagio Dazzle grew a wicked manic grin as her true form of a dragon-like sea creature appeared in the air, hovering in wait of command by the trio.

The Rainbooms paused in shock as they took in what they were looking at and the situation they were in as the three monstrous creatures swam through the air and toward them. The band refused to falter, resuming their sound of music causing pastel rainbow sounds to shoot out and ward off the scaled monsters. The true siren forms swam back around in another attempt to attack, Rarity intensified her playing, notes of defensive diamonds protected her from a purple siren.

Fluttershy danced in the air as transparent pink butterflies swirled around her before they hurtled at the blue creature swimming at her. Twilight’s eyes left the amazing sight just as she noticed the yellow beast of the Equestrian sea rushing directly at her. Only Twilight had no instrument to defend herself like the other’s. Her instincts took control as she let out a battle cry of a belted sturdy note.

Again, the eldest siren growled with a snarl at her. She opened her mouth as she watched a wall of magenta and white stars rush at her. A sharp note was belted and the other two sirens joined her side, letting out more sharp singing. The intense sound caused Twilight to cover her ears as red sound waves pushed her back. To her surprise, anger rushed through her as she scowled back at the singing monster. The trio of sea beasts doubled down as they pushed more of the painful notes out of their lungs. The powerful waves of sound forced all six girls back. Twilight braced herself, trying to fight the urge to collapse as blood rushed to her fragile ears. The brace had been futile as the six girls continued to be pushed down by the red magic of dark music. They all found themselves on the ground, strapless instruments forced out of their hands.

At first, Twilight heard nothing, not static and not the grass blowing underneath her palms. Then a high pitch caused her to flinch before her hearing returned in muffles. She could hear her name coming from a male voice. Her brother. Soon, she was enveloped in his arms as he guarded her from the three domineering monsters smiling maliciously above them.

“W-what do we do?” Fluttershy’s slightly trembling voice asked the same question running through her mind.

The monsters grinned, showing off their sharp, shark-like teeth.

Twilight hung her head as the biggest feeling she hated consumed her, “I don’t know…”

A pair of black boots stepped in front of her, taking her breath away. Twilight’s violet eyes followed up the knee-high boots and up to scarlet flaming hair. Despite the standing girl not facing her, Twilight could see the defensive anger on Sunset Shimmer’s face. Not rage. Not fury. But the protective strength of blazing fire for her loved ones.

Yet, Twilight Sparkle could see the large bags under her eyes from the angle she was looking up.

Sunset brought the fallen microphone to her lips. She pointed at their foes.

“You’re never gonna bring me down!” Her warm expensive voice sang out. Her voice echoed through the entire field, stealing the show.

Sunset’s shoulders broadened as she growled, “You’re never gonna break this part of me.”

A challenge spoken by the unicorn-turned-human. Threatened. Promised.

The redhead turned behind her and smiled at the bespeckled girl on the ground. She reached down and offered a hand to her. Relief, happiness, and a new courage flowed through Twilight Sparkle as she accepted Sunset’s hand.

The two girls stood together, facing the sirens. The corrupted trio had lost their smile of malice and sneered at the couple. Sunset pointed at them and began to sing her rebellion Twilight joined her with the same defiant smile. The rest of the Rainbooms joined them. Smiling, singing, and playing their instruments against the new weary-looking sirens.

The sea monsters recollected themselves and started a new charge.

Their song of friendship grew Sunset reached her hand up to the sky, Twilight following suit. As soon as their hands touched the same purifying wave of purple and red flew out across the field and crowd. The students in attendance seemed to de-zombify. The human forms of the sirens seemed to leave their trance as their eyes lost their sinister red glow.

More and more magic of the Rainbooms friendship gathered and Sunset found her feet lifting from the ground with an orange glow to undergo the same pony-up as her friends. Twilight gleamed, she had never felt so in tune and secure, not only within herself but with the people and friends she was with. They all joined Sunset in the air, a rainbow of light beaming from them and into the gloomy clouds.

Twilight gasped in awe as a glorious unicorn with wings made of stars reared in the clearing of the clouds. The sirens cowered as a disastrous fate of pure magic of friendship and light hurtled at them.

They were engulfed in the swirling light, their only defense being their arms to protect their bodies. When the light sparkled into the air and the dust settled the hypnotic songstresses were slumped to the stage ground and were nothing but simple human beings. The siren leader let out a scream of despair as the vibrant red gem connected to her black choker shattered into small pieces on the ground. Her younger sisters watched the same thing happen to their own gemstones, only they felt no need to scream alongside their anguish-stricken sister.

Adagio’s singing voice escaped her in a desperate attempt to regain some power, the attempt was fruitless as nothing but scratchy, deaf-toned notes left her vocal cords. Her breathing picked up, and so many emotions ran through her- grief, hate, and resentment. Yet, numbness for the crisis the siren had then found herself in was consuming her the most. She desperately gathered all the shards of red before hastily running off the stage as she heard cheers to The Rainbooms and angry threats at her. Aria and Sonata quickly followed as random food and fruits almost hit them.

From the hilltop, the girls cheered and hugged each other. Before Twilight could envelop Sunset (who was still looking at the stage with an unreadable expression) in a hug, her brother reached the lavender-skinned girl first. He picked her up in a large, strong hug as pride radiated from him, “That’s my little sister!” he placed her back to the ground, which she had to rebalance herself before giggling.

“I’m so amazed and proud of you Twily!” Shining Armor announced as he rubbed her head, sending her bangs astray.

“Thanks, Shiny!” She replied with the same feeling of pride for herself and her friends flowed through her.

“That was freaking awesome!” Rainbow shouted, punching the air with excitement. Pinkie Pie did a cartwheel with confetti exploding from her hair, “Yay! I HAVE TO THROW A ‘We’re-totally-awesome-and-magical-and-made-the-sirens-run-away” PARTY!”

The girls laughed at the party girls' antics. The only voice missing was the warm honey of Sunset’s. Before Twilight could redirect her attention to the amber-skinned girl another voice appeared.

“Rainboom’s rule!” Flash Sentury’s voice cheered and he appeared over the hill.

Before anyone could reply a cry of pain stopped everyone's motions. Twilight’s head shot to the source, Sunset had dropped to the ground. Her breathing was irregular as her body curled in on itself.

“Sunset!” Twilight Sparkle shouted with worry as she ran over to the distressed redhead.

The former unicorn was trembling like a leaf as she gasped from the agony in her bones. Twilight bent down to her side and noticed Sunset’s right leg was growing the angry red of crimson out of her tall boot and across her skin.

Apprehension of what was happening to her girlfriend consumed her, “S-sunny?” She asked as she placed her hand on Sunset’s exposed arm. Twilight shot her hand back and yelped from sudden stinging pain. Her lavender palm was steaming and shaking from a boiling heat.

“Sh-she’s so hot to the touch!” Twilight informed her friends as they crowded around, anxiety and worry replacing their feeling of victorious joy.

Sunset’s fingers dug into the dirt and grass below as her body fought against the torture of pain boiling her blood and setting her bones and joints ablaze. Not a moment later, the fight was lost as she lost consciousness and fell the rest of the way onto the grass.

Rainbow Dash cursed in panic, “We gotta get her to the hospital!”

Twilight looked at the ‘sleeping’ partner's face, though it was far from peaceful sleep as her amber face of light red freckles was contorted in pain and her breath came out of her parted lips ragged and shallow. Her skin was pale and sickly, the warm amber had turned an ashy sisal.

Flash Sentry dropped down on the other side of the redhead, “What happened to her?”

Twilight’s hand shook in pain. Her brother appeared and poured water from a bottle onto a rag before handing it to her, “It won't do much, but it's better than nothing.”

The girl wrapped the wet rag around her blistering hand, “The sirens, they had taken her and done something to turn her into the beast from a few months ago! I don’t how!”

The blue-haired male hesitated a hand over Sunset’s skin, “How do we pick her up? I can feel the heat radiating off her, feels like opening an oven.”

“Is it safe to take her to the hospital?” Pinkie Pie suddenly asked.

“What do you mean?” Rarity asked in reply.

The curly pink-haired girl shuffled, “Well, she's from another world…”

“Yes, but she emancipated, so the government knows about her…right?” Rainbow answered.

“Maybe but… she’s technically a different species and full of magic! Doctors would ask questions about that, right?” Pinkie pointed out.

Silence filled the air. Despite the heat boiling her hand, ice ran through Twilight. Pinkie Pie was right. They couldn't take a girl with boiling hot and red patch-growing skin and whatever magically else might be going on internally to a very human, no-magic hospital with questions and access to detectives.

Sunset let out a painful-sounding cough, dark red trailing from her mouth and onto the green grass.

“We have to do something! We can’t let her suffer like this!” Twilight said in a fret.

Fluttershy's breathing picked up as tears built in her eyes.

“We could take her to Sweet Apple Acres,” Applejack offered.

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash said.

“Granny was a nurse back in the day for some odd years, she might be able to help without exposing Sunset,” The farmer explained.

“It’s better than nothing,” Flash agreed, “but how are we gonna pick her up to get her there?”

Shining appeared on the same side as Flash, handing him a corner of the blanket from before, “Here, put this under her. We’ll use it to lift her in the truck safely.”

Applejack had started to run off to the parking lot, “Ah’ll pull mah truck around!”

Flash nodded and did as told as he worked the blanket under the side Sunset was lying on before settling the rest on the ground. Twilight, Shining Armour, and Flash carefully tipped her onto the blanket. Despite their gentle and slow handling, Sunset cried out in pain.

It did not take another minute before a big older red pickup truck pulled up beside them. Applejack got out as Rarity opened the back side door, preparing to make the in-pained girl as comfortable as possible.

The strong farming girl joined the three and grabbed one of the corners of the blanket-acting gurney.

Sunset cried out again and Twilight offered words of reassurance, though she wasn’t sure the girl could hear her. Smoke soon began to float from the blanket the more they gained distance from the ground. Eventually, they all succeeded in raising her fully up and into the backseat with little trouble.

Yet every whimper and cry of pain from the fiery-haired girl made Twilight’s heart jump and cry.

As soon as they got the girl secured in the backseat of the large vehicle Twilight hopped up and joined the unconscious girl in the back before she turned to her brother.

“Want me to let mom know what's going on?” Shining asked.

“Can you keep magic and monsters out? I… I want to let Mom and Dad know about it all soon, but… they should hear it from Sunset and me,” Twilight explained.

Shining nodded, “Alright, I'll fill them in as much as I can and then meet you at the farm.”

Twilight reached down and hugged her brother, “Thank you, Shiny. For everything.”

“Anytime, Twily, I'll always be on your side,” Shining assured her, his head resting on her shoulder.

As they pulled apart Applejack opened the driver's side door, “Yah ready darlin’? I'm not sure how long my car seat is gonna last before it sets on fire.”

Twilight nodded before waving one last goodbye to her older brother before the truck started up soon after. The driver shifted the gears and Rainbow Dash, with a distraught Fluttershy hooked to her side, walked up to the driver's window, “We’ll meet you at Sweet Apple’s. Pinkie’s sister is here and agreed to drive us.”

The red coating on the skin of Sunset’s leg was spreading further up. Twilight observed the slight lift of the magenta shirt, exposing a small sliver of her stomach. Instead of the usual amber skin, it was now crimson. Sunset continued to fight for steady breathing as her hand gripped the blanket, ember sparks appearing from under the grip.

“We need to hurry,” Twilight urged the two girls in the front seats.

Rarity nodded with determination to help her friend.

“Couldn't agree more,” Applejack stated as she stepped on the gas.

Author's Note

Buckle in

We've got a painful ride planned.

Also happy late holidays!!

Comments and concerns welcome