Sunset wasn’t sure when the Battle of the Bands became the Rainbow Dash Show but the girl's obnoxiousness had been turned up to much more than twenty percent. Thanks to the situation the group of girls had quickly found themselves in, Sunset had started to consider bringing Princess Twilight to this side of the portal for help more times than not. And not just to help defeat the sirens but to get the biggest show off she had ever met under control.

Days had slipped past and the band of seven girls were watching as the school slipped further and further into animosity, hate, and pure misery. The weekend had been glum and stressful as The Rainbooms practiced for hours and hours in Applejack's barn on Sweet Apple Acres.

During the weekend's round of eliminations, they yet again barely made the cut to the next round as more mayhem attempted to ruin them. Twilight and Sunset had kept keen eyes on anyone who got too close and they both counted multiple intercepts of peer-caused obstacles. Despite it all, by some miracle from Princess Celestia herself, they passed. The redhead had to keep reminding herself of that.

The cherry on top was the discovery that there were barely any scraps of magic. The girls could hardly muster up a sparkle, a shimmer, or a glimmer of friendship magic to pony up. The self-proclaimed band leader egged them further and further to keep playing her songs, for one would eventually work. Yet doing that only sent the teenagers into further descent of frustration. Sunset watched as every girl turned uncharacteristically mean to each other. Rainbow Dash with her consistent corrections and snarky comments. Fluttershy could be heard muttering her retorts under her breath while Applejack and Rarity bickered back to the athlete. The couple did that until they ultimately turned on each other and argued over anything and everything. Pinkie Pie had been mostly quiet, only stewing in aggravation. Every time Sunset Shimmer had to step in and break the conflicts up, only such attempts ended in switching their hostile energy onto her.

Sunset had zero ounce of doubt it was the siren's magic. She was growing desperate to find a way to fix it, change the way the story was going, help her friends, and help them save the school. But… she had no idea how. On Sunday and Monday nights she spent hours through the night researching, planning, and scribbling down any idea that could bring the pure and inspiring magic her friends had. Nothing worked. The former unicorn could feel a crash out boiling in her. It was all becoming too much. Yet, no matter how many times the journal buzzed with advice or offerings of aid, Sunset could never bring herself to accept it.

Nothing, not even a truth spell, could ever get her to admit the envy and the should have, could have thoughts that popped in the former student of the sun princess when indulging with the Princess that replaced her so easily.

Her clawed hands gripped onto her scarlet hair that matched the ends of her fingertips as she sat in the library that Wednesday morning. The entire school day was dedicated to the last round of band knockouts. Finals were at the end of the week and after the first bell of the school day rang they would be in the midst of the third round of tryouts. This round was crucial. This was their chance to prove their best. To everyone… and themselves. They needed to be able to take out the sirens by the finals. If they couldn't then it was all over. The world falls to hatred and Sunset fails again.

“What’s the point in trying? Not even the harmony virtues can get along anymore…” Sunset mumbled to herself. She bit her lip harshly in an attempt to stop the stinging in her eyes. A single tear escaped and splashed against the open notebook in front of the redhead, landing on the page of a song she had written a few weeks ago. Not long before the sirens arrived.

Within the half-hour, the former unicorn walked into a dejected music room of emotionally and mentally drained teenagers. They were all, except Rainbow Dash, lazily bracing for the misery of competing. Anxiety pumped the room as they all knew in just less than two hours what would determine that they would be the ones to fight the Sirens head-on. If they didn't win this, more drastic measures would be taken. Dramatics that Sunset was prepared to make, nonetheless.

Twilight was at the piano surfing through papers and of course, Sunset gravitated to her as she procrastinated having to deal with the angry, aggravated teenage girls.

“Hi, Sunset,” the bespeckled girl greeted quietly as she brought her notes back together, “I was about to go looking for you.”

“Yeah! What the hell took you so long? We need all the time we can for practice!” Rainbow Dash intruded as she stomped over to the two girls at the piano.

The companioned girls shared a look of annoyance with each other before breathing out the tension.

“I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash. I'm here now so let's just get started,” she offered her girlfriend an apologetic look before picking up her guitar that was beside the athlete; who was tapping her foot impatiently.

Practice gave birth to a rocky wooden roller coaster hanging on by the last bolt. Rainbow Dash criticized everyone's skills and timing. While Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie steamed in hostile silence, Applejack snapped at anything Rarity had to say. Eventually, the tailor snapped back before both girls yelled back at Rainbow Dash. The former tyrant gave her an attempt to encourage peace, only for the three to turn on her- telling her to mind her own business in different words.

The call for the last three competing bands was called, after what felt like years. Sunset wiped the palms of her hands on her jeans as her guitar bounced on her back while she walked. The girls around her were all quiet. None looked or spoke to each other.

The gym doors opened roughly as the Rainbooms came down the hall. Flash Sentry and his bandmates appeared from behind the doors and began a track toward the group. Sunset smiled but it was weak and laced with unsettled nerves. The male’s brow remained furrowed and his frown was deep as he stabbed a glare into the redhead.

“Hey Flash…?” Sunset greeted, her voice coming out in a nervous question.

The navy-haired boy snarled her as he averted his eyes and walked past her, “Don't pretend like we’re friends.”

A part of her heart snapped like a guitar string, “What?” Her voice caught in her throat.

He whipped around, his pupils pointed with anger, “You heard me.” His voice dripped with toxic acid.

First, confusion ran through her, then sadness. Those two were quickly replaced when a maddening irritation blazed up her spine, “What in Tartarus have I done to you?! All I've done is try to help and do what I can for everyone, only for you assholes to treat me like,” her hand moved frantically as she gestured at nothing in particular, “like this!”

The hall sat in mostly silence- the only sound being Sunset's heaving breathing, and the muffled sound of Trixie Lulamoons bad playing. She felt a small hand clutch her leather jacket.

Navy eyes stared into hers. They were dark and completely devoid of the usual kindness, and understanding that was the boy's strongest traits.

“You're delusional. The only thing you have done for me is get in my way,” Flash sneered, “If you were my friend and trying to help, then you wouldn't be one of the people stopping me from getting what I want and taking my opportunity. A friend doesn't do that.”

“I-” Sunset tried, she hated the way her eyes started to sting and the numbness that consumed her chest.

A hand much stronger than the one on her other arm tugged her away, “Come on Sunset. We ain't got time for this.”

As she was roughly pulled away Flash Sentry called out, “You really think you're gonna win this? I bet you don't even know what you're doing!”

The stabbing in her eyes allowed her eyes to fill up and tears fell. He was right. She had no idea what she was doing. All she was doing was hoping and rejecting the one pony that could fix this whole mess in a matter of minutes all over petty pride. No wonder Princess Celestia never trusted her to become a Princess.

She couldn't do this. She wasn't good enough. That night, Sunset decided the Princess of Friendship was needed to fix what she couldn't.

“Sunny?” Her Twilight’s soft voice cut through her thoughts. Sunset roughly wiped the wetness off her cheeks. Twilight began to speak reassurances but the former unicorn stopped her.

“I'm fine. Let's just get this performance over this,” Sunset said.

“Next up, ‘The Rainbooms,’” Principal Celestia’s uncaring voice announced into the microphone.

The girls rushed up the stairs and readied their instruments. Rainbow Dash turned as she took the front and center of the stage, “We're doing Awesome as I wanna be, don't mess me up and we’ll move on for sure!”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes as the rest of the girls showed their dismay. That time, Sunset couldn't bring herself to care. No matter what she did, it wasn't enough.

Twilight from the side counted down from five on her fingers. The percussion of Pinkie Pie’s drums rang out and only one spotlight came on. The solo light focused on the lead guitarist as she sang the song all about herself. Sunset boredly played her part as she lazily sang the backup repetition vocals.

The first verse went by quickly and soon the lit-up girl began her solo guitar moment. That was when Sunset Shimmer felt it. Magic. And not just the siren's magic but the equestrian magic her friends possessed yet hadn't been able to muster in the past week.

She brought her eyes up and panic seized her nerves. Rainbow had started glowing blue. Magic was sparkling on the top of her head where equine ears were about to sprout. Rainbow Dash was about to transform! In front of everyone! In front of the Sirens! What should she do?!

Before she could physically react. The problem had been solved by someone else. If you could call it solved.

Rainbow Dash went crashing down to the stage floor. Everyone and everything stopped in shock. The chromatic-haired girl shoved off the purple mass that had caused her to go down, “What the hell!”

Twilight landed at Sunset’s boots from the hard shove. Rainbow Dash quickly got up and stormed off the stage as muttered curses flowed from her mouth. The bespeckled girl was frozen as the Principals wrote furiously on their judging paper and as students started to laugh.

“Hell yeah! Told you she's the evil counterpart of the Princess!” A male voice yelled that it could only be Flash Sentry's.

“I knew it with what she did at the formal!” Octavia’s accent was singled out in the crowd.

“What a jealous bitch! She's worse than Shimmer!” another voice called and triggered an eruption of insults, and hurdles both at the band on stage and at each other.

The rest of the girls left the stage- Fluttershy practically in a bolt. Sunset bent down to help the frozen girl on the floor. She was shaking as her partner helped her up and removed her from the scene. Yet, behind the stage it was just as awful; maybe even more so.

“I hope you're fucking proud of yourself, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash immediately started as soon as she saw the shaken girl.

“Her? She wouldn't have had to do that iffin’ you weren't showin’ off!” Applejack said, jabbing the athlete in the shoulder with her finger.

“She didn't have to handle the situation like that!” Rarity retorted. She then turned to Twilight, who tried to justify herself.

“I-I'm sorry! I panicked- I didn't know what else to do!” Her voice caught in her throat.

Rarity scoffed, “Why didn't you unplug her amp?! Or close the curtains? You're the smartest one of all of us but what you did was the most preposterous thing you could have done!”

Twilight's breath caught in her throat. Sunset was quick to defend her. She wanted to say she was angry but instead, she was exhausted and over that girl's attacks, “Don't talk to her like that! She did what she could! I'm not going to let you guys blame her for something that was not her fault. Applejack is the only one to correct here!”

“Well, I wouldn’t have had to show off if I wasn't the only one doing all the work and writing all the songs!” Rainbow yelled.

A gasp of offense came from behind Sunset and Fluttershy appeared from her hiding spot, “I write songs! You just don't let us play any of them!”

“Hey!” Pinkie Pie screamed, breaking everyone's attention, “Remember when this used to be fun! Cause I sure don't!”

A mischievous cackle that reminded Sunset of a witch sounded from behind them, “Good show Rainbrooms! It seems no work needs to be done from the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

The seven girls turned to the sneaky, over-egoed magician.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Rainbow Dash asked the illusionist.

Trixie shrugged as she checked her nails with a snakey smile, “On nothing. Just in a fit of jealous rage, Princess Twilight's evil counterpart is taking out the worst band before anyone else can get the chance.”

Twilight stomped her foot and threw her fist down to her sides, “It was NOT a fit of jealous rage!” she shouted.

The silver-haired girl giggled at Twilight's outburst, “If you say so,” she said, clearly not convinced.

“Not that I care, but keep an eye on your pets,” Trixie gestured to Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle before leaning into Rainbow Dash’s space as she made no effort to conceal her ‘whisper,’ “People are saying that one is worse than Sunset, and if you decided to use your memory. That's a high bar to reach.”

Trixie had pointed to the young scientist and laughed as the latter stormed out of the gym. She then witnessed the sibling Principals re-enter the gym as Twilight ran past.

“Oh,” Trixie started, “Looks like they already decided who will be moving on,” she pulled out a dark blue hand mirror and flipped her side fringe of hair, “I’m guessing it wasn't too hard a decision.”

The magician smirked as she assumed her place as the one to battle the Sirens. The group of girls assumed the same with her, even the highly confident Rainbow Dash, whose eyes caught her redheaded bandmate leaving the gym instead of waiting for the announcement, “Shimmer? Where the hell are you going?”

The girl she called after only looked over her shoulder as she walked, “I’m going after Twilight. She’s more important right now.”

The bandleader groaned and rolled her eyes, “Ugh! Are you serious? Knowing if we are going to be in the finals is more important!”

Sunset ignored her as picked up her footsteps to follow her distraught partner. Rainbow groaned again, “Those two are so annoying! Just because they're dating doesn’t mean they have to be all over each other! This announcement is way more important than making out in some closet.”

“Who are you kidding? You know it’s not gonna be us.” Fluttershy huffed in annoyance.

“And I had the perfect outfit for the finals!” Rarity whined.

“Yep. Cause, that’s what’s important, Rarity. That yah won’t get to play dress up!” Applejack yelled at her.

“You know perfectly well that’s not what I meant!” Rarity yelled back as the girls got in each other's space.

“Shut up!” Rainbow Dash interrupted as the Principals finally stepped onto the stage.

The microphone sounded as Principal Celestia brought it to her lips, “The band that will be joining The Dazzlings in the Battle of the Bands is…”

Trixie grinned and took a step forward, ready to accept her win.

“The Rainbooms!”

The egotistical girl halted, “WHAT?!”

“Huh?” The band of five said in shock and confusion.

Principal Celestia turned to the girls as they passed the stomping away Trixie to the stage, “Congratulations, girls. You deserve it.”

“Seriously?! But we didn’t even finish-“ Pinkie Pie said but was cut off when Rainbow Dash harshly jabbed her in the arm.

The Dazzlings appeared on the other side of the stage, “See you at Friday’s big night, Rainbooms. We are really looking forward to it,” Adagio Dazzle said with her hands on her hips and talking in a tone like she had already won.

“Yeah, well, not as much as we are!” Rainbow Dash shouted back. Her comment resulted in an uproar of boos and insults.

Despite their win, it felt nothing like a victory as they took the walk of shame out of the crowded, hostile gym.

When Sunset Shimmer shut the large, heavy door to the gym behind her, Twilight was already out of sight. Fortunately, the former unicorn felt her pointed ear twitch under her hair. Quick footsteps and sniffles entered her eardrums from far down the hallway.

Sunset moved her feet and picked up her pace as she followed, who she was sure was her partner. As she twisted through the halls, Sunset noticed the beginning of science posters on the hall walls before she heard a classroom door slam. The redhead stopped her feet in front of the door in the science hall someone had gone through. The sound of a familiar voice sobbing made her sensitive ears twitch.

Sunset raised her hand to knock but instead, she opened the door as her girlfriend hiccuped from her cries.

“Sparkes?” She asked into the seemingly empty room. The sob cut off and heaving breathing is what answered the redhead at first.

Twilight poked her head out from behind the lab counter, “S-sunset?” Purple eyes flooded with relief as she took in the sight of her girlfriend before tears flooded her cheeks again.

Sunset was quick to be at her girlfriend's side. She wrapped her in a strong hug and frail arms clung to the back of her leather jacket.

“You want to get out of here?” Sunset asked in a quiet voice.

Twilight nodded. That was all the former unicorn needed to pull up her saddened girlfriend and sneak out of the school. Not long after, the girls were walking through the front door of Sunset's loft. As soon as the door clicked shut Twilight switched from nonverbal to hysterical sobs as she dropped to the floor.

“I- I am so sorry! I’ve ruined everything! I should have known this would happen, I can’t do anything right!” Twilight cried as her breath caught in her throat.

“Twilight, none of this is your fault,” Sunset started as she met her on the ground with an embrace and rubbed circles into the small of Twilight's back.

“Yes, it is! I was so stupid to think I could be a manager! I couldn’t even handle studying magic! They are all right,” Twilight's voice cracked as her tears drenched Sunset's shoulder, “I am evil and jealous and awful! The exact opposite of the Princess who is amazing and successful. Unlike me.” Her voice died, “I turned you into a monster. It’s my fault you're having to deal with those consequences. I destroyed your chance to properly defeat the Sirens and now it’s my fault the world will fall to them.”

Sunset allowed Twilight to say what she needed without interruption. She shivered at the dead, defeated tone of the crying girl's voice.

“Twilight look at me,” Sunset instructed as her hand rested under the lavender-skinned girl's chin. Her partner did as told. The sparkle purple Sunset loved was dull, defeated, and tired.

She hadn’t planned on it but she leaned in and placed her lips on the ones that tasted salty from tears. Twilight accepted the affection as she placed both of her hands on either side of Sunset's face. It took close to a minute before they pulled away and the redhead planted her forehead to Twilight’s.

“I love you. You are the brightest sparkling star in my orbit. When I’m sad, I think about you. When I’m angry, I think about you,” She pulled away and looked at Twilight in her glossy eyes behind thick frames, “The thought of your presence, your voice, your smile, your personality, makes me the happiest person in all of the two worlds. Even in such a dark place we are in right now. There is nobody ever that has ever been able to do that to me. Remember when we first met?”

Twilight sniffled and then nodded.

“I was not a good person. I was mean, angry, bitter, and lonely. I hated everything and everyone with a passion. So, why? Why did you try to be my friend?” Sunset asked.

Twilight did not need to think as she began her answer, “I could tell you were like me. Lonely and miserable. I wanted to be what no one was for me, for you.”

Sunset smiled, “I say you were pretty successful at that, huh?”

Twilight shook her head, “I hurt you.”

“Not in a way that left me broken and alone like others have and that doesn’t mean you failed,” Sunset grabbed Twilight's hands, “You’re amazing my sparkling star. You have succeeded, you are everything no pony or body has ever been or ever tried to be to me. Do you know what that is?”

The bespectacled girl shrugged.

“It’s loving. And caring and passionate. Between two worlds that have been no one until you. You succeeded in saving me,” Twilight threw her arms around Sunset, “I know you’ll continue to do so and you’ll be the greatest scientist in the world, especially after we kick the Siren's asses! Screw what anyone says, I know the truth and that is that you are the most amazing, smartest, beautiful, and talented living being I have ever met.”

Twilight pulled slightly from the embrace before smashing her lips against the redhead’s.

Sunset didn't hold back the whiny moan of surprise as she wrapped her hands around Twilight's waist. Twilight deepened the kiss as she switched her head angle. It took a moment but she felt brave enough to bite at the recipient's bottom lip. Who returned the favor before their lips collided again.

Twilight shivered when a tongue scraped across her teeth; which she accepted. Both emitted a small moan as their tongues slid across each other. Eventually, Sunset lowered Twilight to the ground but never broke the kiss apart. Her clawed hands just barely dipped below the back of Twilight's jeans. Lavender hands shook as they climbed halfway up Sunset's shirt.

The pesky need for breath forced them to break apart, a string of saliva keeping them tethered for a moment. Twilight worked on catching her breath before she reached up and planted a quick kiss on the lips of the girl on top of her.

The one quick kiss turned into many.

With the last short kiss, Twilight finally spoke, “Thank you so much, Sunset.”

The girl smiled from her place on top, her scarlet and golden hair cascading around them. “Try not to forget it and if you need a reminder I will always be here.”

Twilight reached up and cupped her companion's cheek, rubbing her thumb before a thought crossed her mind and made her smile drop, “I’m sorry about what happened with Flash Sentry today.”

Sunset shuffled off of Twilight before she extended a hand and pulled Twilight up with her, “It’s alright. When we send those ugly glubbers to the ocean and the spell is gone, it’ll all be worth it.”

The young genius adjusted her glasses, “You seem optimistic.”

Was she optimistic? Or was it bliss from that moment? Sunset thought about her moment of declaration to request the Princess of Friendship’s help. A part of her wanted to go back on that.

The redhead sighed out of, relief? Exhaustion? Something that released most of the tension in the multidimensional girl. The orange tabby in the residence appeared and placed himself under her amber hand, “Yeah, if we had a similar discussion this morning I would have had a fire-filled breakdown in the middle of the hall,” she cringed, “and that would have been embarrassing. Principal Celestia wouldn’t be happy if I accidentally burnt down half the school.”

Twilight chuckled, “I can only imagine.”

She then jumped when her phone vibrated against the ground; Twilight hadn’t realized her phone had fallen out of her backpack pocket.

“Holy, Unicornia’s blessing,” Sunset muttered as she read the message on her phone before she turned it to the girl beside her, “We did it. We’re going to the finals.”

Twilight adjusted her glasses. Despite the presumed happy news, a pit sat in her stomach. It was filled with dread, worry, and anxiety. Nothing about them winning felt right and the young genius had a feeling the Dazzlings did something to make this result. It was too coincidental. Their band had been sabotaged and unable to finish songs- at that point, they should have been disqualified, “How…? I- Sunny, I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

Sunset had placed herself in the kitchen and leaned against the dingy counter, “Me neither, Sparkes.” She took a deep breath in before letting it out the way her girlfriend had taught her. She didn't want to think about it. She admitted to herself that she was relieved. They had gotten this far. They were the band to beat and they didn't need the Princess to get this far. Sure, this haystack didn't smell right but it was one for them to sort and set right.

Sunset felt a chuckle tickle her. She had never been to flip-floppy before. Then again, she's never had multiple egos to protect before. Between her own and Twilight's wavering self-confidence and Rainbow Dash's push to be the best and ‘being able to do this with one eye closed.’ The status of the Princess seemed like another reason to make everyone upset.

“I’m hungry and want to play my video games. Are you in?”

Twilight joined her and wrapped her arms around the taller girl’s waist, “Chinese and Tirek’s Revenge?”

Sunset gained her cocky crooked smile, “I like the way you think.”

The sun floated its way down behind the horizon as the couple carried out their plan. They shared rice-flavored kisses in between ‘kicking magic ass’ as Sunset boisterously called it.

Unfortunately for them, the clock had reached a time suitable for Twilight to be beckoned home. The redhead's signature steed rumbled outside the Sparkle family’s home as the girls gave an affectionate goodbye.

“I’m sorry we have to hurry. My family can just be so annoyingly noisy sometimes,” Twilight said as she played with one of the silver studs on the collar of Sunset's jacket. She had removed herself from the bike but couldn’t help but want to touch the girl she found so alluring sitting on the motor vehicle. Luckily, Sunset not only didn’t mind her touch but craved it as well.

Sunset giggled at her girlfriend's comment, “I don’t mind, Sparkes,” she reached up and planted a firm kiss on Twilight's lips, “As long I can get my lip smack on, I don’t care.”

Twilight cringed dramatically, “Ew, don’t call it ‘lip smacking.’”

Sunset pretended to consider the command for a moment, “Mmm, your request has been denied. I like it.”

The academic girl pinched the bridge of her nose under her glasses, “Oh dear stars, how did I find a bigger dork than myself.”

Sunset laughed, “Get used to it, baby.”

The other girl playfully rolled her eyes.

“Get inside, I know your bedtime is soon,” Sunset teased with a dusting hand gesture.

“Yep, sure is,” Twilight said with no shame at the tease. She began her walk to the porch but paused.

“Sparkes?”

The night sky-haired girl turned back and grabbed Sunset's collar as she kissed her. She pulled away after more than ten seconds, “Good night, I'll see you tomorrow.”

Sunset caressed her cheek, “You sure will.”

Twilight reluctantly pulled away and gave one last wave before she disappeared into the house. Sunset waited a moment, staring at the shining stars above. It was when the light in Twilight's window came on that Sunset finally took off. Driving out of the suburbs and into the town streets. She bathed in the peace of the night sky and chilling wind carrying her fire-resembling locks of hair. The light she was stopped at turned green and with no other traffic around she allowed herself to gain some speed.

The motorcyclist passed by her newest street art piece on Sugar Cube Corner. The space on the wall that faced one side of the busy street had been begging for some decoration. She had made sure to include a blazing cupcake and a funny slogan to match. She loved painting it. The memory made her smile.

BANG!

Sunset found herself flying painfully to the asphalt of the road. She felt her leather jacket sleeve tear open and her newly exposed skin followed in ripping open. Her head ricocheted in her helmet as it bounced against the impact. A splitting pain was shooting through her left leg and for a moment, her ears held no sound but a high-pitched ringing. Somehow, she had no idea where she was or how she got there.

She looked back as much as her neck, which had been screaming in pain, allowed her. A dark van with bright headlights shined right at her. She gasped at the sight of her bike being completely destroyed.

Suddenly, a pair of black boots entered her direct front vision. Her eyes followed up and up until the sinister smiling face of Adagio Dazzle met her gaze.

“Hey there, my little pony.” the sinister and malicious voice said.

A laugh of evil victory was the last thing Sunset Shimmer heard before pain shut her brain down.

Author's Note

Heyyyyyyyy

Oh the up and downs and twirl arounds

What a preciment Sunny Bunny is dealing with