Red Moons on Saturn

Silence.

The music room's air was filled with pure silence.

Rarity was the first to break from the spell of shock, “Darling, Whatever are you talking about?”

Twilight struggled to breathe before she attempted to speak, “S-sunset! She hasn't been answering my calls or texts a-and she always answers within a timely manner!” Her anxiety kicked in and her heart began to try escaping her chest, “shesaidshewouldbeherelastnightiwenttocheckonherandhernieghborsaidshenevergorhomeafterdeoopingmeoffand-!”

“Sugarcube, ya gotta slow down. We can't understand ya now,” Applejack interrupted.

Fluttershy’s breathing picked out as Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes next to her, “Jeez, we already know Sunset ran off. There's no need to overreact.”

Twilight shook her head, “She did not run off! The dazzlings have something to do with her disappearance! I know it!”

Rarity placed her hands on her hips, “and how do you know that?”

“Because none of this is normal! Sunset would never abandon us! She… would never abandon me,” Twilight begged, the last sentence admitted quietly to herself.

“Darling,” Rarity started, a hint of annoyance in her voice as she rubbed the spot between her brows with her polished fingers, “The siren's influence has had us all acting out of character, admittedly. The stress likely got to Sunset and she made a rash decision.”

Fluttershy huffed, “She’s not exactly used to having friends or sticking by them after all…”

“We should have seen it coming. We gotta move on and practice. Finals are tomorrow and now we are down a guitar,” Rainbow Dash grumbled and she readied herself back into the music rehearsal. Pinkie Pie tapped her drumsticks together awkwardly.

Twilight's ears rang as disbelief consumed her like a ravenous snake. These girls were supposed to be her friends, Sunset’s friends! The very same girls who worked to forgive and help the troubled redhead. The same girls who put the past behind them and choose to offer their hands in forgiveness. They had given Sunset Shimmer hope and fulfillment of a dream alongside Twilight. Yet, now they were abandoning that promise of friendship and leaving, not only, Twilight but Sunset stranded.

Anger crackled her nerves alive, “How could you?”

“What?” Rainbow snapped.

Her fists were rolled so tight she felt them cramping, “I said, how DARE you?!” Twilight stomped her foot harshly against the aluminum floor, causing Fluttershy to jump, “Sunset is our friend! Yet you are treating her like some throwaway! Like- like she’s not important to us! She could be in danger!”

Rarity had stepped forward offering a hand to the angered girl, “Darling, it's not like that at all-”

Twilight backed away from her, “Then what is it like?! Because Sunset would NEVER do this to you! Under some spell or not.”

Her point did nothing to dispel the green haze from Rainbow Dash’s eyes. The band leader jabbed a finger into Twilight’s shoulder, “WE are ALL in danger! Since you’ve obviously forgotten, there are emotion-eating trance-causing ladies running around our school, and the only ones who can save everyone are us. We gotta focus on the priority- we’ll just have to ‘save’ your damsel later.”

Tears stung her eyes behind her thick-framed glasses. Twilight couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was being abandoned. Yes, defeating the sirens was the must but a voice deep in her conscience told her they needed Sunset. She sure as hell wasn't going to leave her girlfriend- her best friend, the one person who always trusted and found her, stranded wherever those horrific songstresses took her.

Twilight fixed her angered position and fixed her glasses before looking upon the five girls again, “Fine. You’ve made your choice. I know we need Sunset Shimmer, we’ll all be damned without her, and you all know it too. I’m going to find her, with your help or not.”

She paused for a moment, looking at each of the girls with begging eyes. All hung their heads, averted their eyes, and hid behind their hats. Rainbow Dash crossed her arms. She turned to her amplifier her guitar was connected to and turned up the volume before beginning to boisterously play the instrument. With the confirmation that this mission would be her own Twilight stormed out of the room.

Friday. The finals. The only and final chance to take out the Sirens and get them out of her school.

The day was finally here and Rainbow Dash’s heart beat faster than any marathon she had ever done as she watched the city pass by from her father’s car window. The athlete felt her hands trembling. She didn’t know why. It was not like she was scared. No way. Some fish mermaid wannabe things didn’t scare her.

“Are you sure we can’t come, dear?” Her mother, Windy Whistles begged from the shotgun seat of the sports car.

Rainbow rolled her eyes as her hand bounced on her shanking leg, “N-no mom. It's a student-only event.”

“Aw, but we should be able to see our amazing daughter as she kills it at the finals! You hear that Winds! Our baby girl, not only a star in sports but music!” Bow Hothoof bragged as his wife giggled.

“Of course! Our little girl is so talented! You are her father!”

Rainbow groaned her left the conversation. Her palms were sweaty and despite the cold air of winter coming in she was burning up. She looked to see the car interior air was at a reasonable temperature that wouldn't warrant her sweat and body heat.

“Sweetie?” her mother's voice cut through, “Are you alright you seem nervous,” the woman then looked to her husband, “Oh, we have to see if they’ll let us in! We have to be there so she won't be scared!”

Her father nodded and opened his mouth to respond for Rainbow cut him off, “I AM NOT SCARED! I don't get scared, I'm excited 'cause I’m going to win and be awesome!”

Bow Hothoff nodded, “That's right, my little dash, keep that winner mentality and nothing can stop you!”

Rainbow gave a quick nod and wobbly smile, she hoped she looked confident despite feeling the complete opposite. It appeared she was successful and her parents returned to their own conversation.

She had never felt like this before- palms sweaty and numb, her foot cramping, her limbs shaky- it was all such bullshit! She had no reason to be scared. She meant what she said to her father. Those sirens were going to pay for what they had done to her school!

And Sunset.

If they had actually taken her like Twilight was screaming about.

Rainbow shook her head she couldn’t focus on that right now. She had to lock in, especially now as the car pulled into the amphitheater park lot.

Trixie paced the space in front of the tall stage as her two friends and band members, Lavender Lace and Fuschia Blush played with their instruments on the stage.

“Trix, is there a reason we’re here? We didn't exactly win to finals,” Lavender drained as she tapped at the keys of her piano board.

“Because something isn't right! We had a much better performance than those Rainbow GOONS! They did something, they used magic. I can practically see it dripping off of them!” Trixie claimed with a shout.

The two twined girls looked at each other. They may not have been Lulamoon’s but they were related; thus, they knew of magic. Only they could not since or use it as their cousin Trixie could. No matter how obnoxious or clumsy the aspiring magician was, she had a talent for sniffing out magic.

“So, what's your plan? You think they can use that magic to defeat those, what’d you call them, sirens?” Fuschia asked.

Trixie tapped her chin in consideration, “I had thought so, but I can feel their magic being tainted by the siren’s spell. They were powerful enough to not fall under the hypnosis immediately. If Father hadn't placed that protection spell on us who knows how crazy we’d be,” the girl explained. If only she had been able to predict the Rainbooms wouldn’t be able to hold up. She turned to the two girls on the stage, waiting for her, “But, now that the Rainbrooms, or whatever, are too deep in animosity due to the sirens, so, we will have to take over.”

Lavender gave a quizzical stare, “How do we do that? All six of them have magic. You're the only one here who has magic.”

Trixie paused. Admittedly she hadn’t thought that far. Yes, the Rainbooms all had magic, powerful magic too if they learned to use it. It was also new, something they hadn't had before. Until Sunset Shimmer, who had been suddenly gone from school the past two days. The disappearance was also along with the crazy magic she gave off and the Rainbooms were noticeably weaker in magic now that the former bully was nowhere to be seen.

That was what had been on her mind until the moment she stepped foot on the outdoor theatre's grounds. That blazing source of fire, strength, and power was pulsating somewhere. Somewhere extremely close on this lot. Trixie standing in front of the stage took a moment to close her eyes. It was so close. An inferno that burned brighter and hotter than any forest fire. It almost made her shiver at its threat of possibility. It felt like it was behind her back, like if she turned a blazing gate of flames would meet her. She dared and turned. Nothing, still a black stage. Yet, the feeling and magical source were not gone. Trixie Lulamoon had no doubt something, dangerous and baleful was under the stage.

“Well, I don't remember the magician and her entourage being a part of my ‘final’ battle,” a sickly voice greeted.

Trixie whirled around. The Dazzling’s leader stood with her hands on her hips, “Come to take out the competition and face me instead?”

An arm suddenly wrapped around Trixie and the blue-haired ditz giggled, “You know it sure would be a shame if the other band got held up or something,” she gasped like an idea popped in her empty head, “Then you would only have to battle us for the top spot!”

The purple one blew her hair out of her face, “I thought you were a dumb weirdo but getting rid of them is actually pretty smart.”

Adagio Dazzle then stepped up to her, “Lucky for you we won't tell. After all their win was so unfair when your band was so much better.”

Trixie took a step back, having to brush off the stab of the other girl's comment, “You can't control me. Trixie and her friends are to beat because you need to be stopped!”

Adagio grew a foax surprised look on her face, “Oh? Whatever do you mean, dear magician?”

“I know what you are!” Trixie said as she ripped her white wood wand topped with a star out of her boot, “As my job as a Lulamoon, Trixie won't let your nefarious plans continue!”

“Uh oh, looks like we got a Rainboom’s wannabe,” Aria deadpanned as Sonata did a dramatic gasp and placed one hand on her heart and the other on her forehead.

Adagio grew a wicked smile, “Is that so? Go ahead, do your worst.”

Trixie did. Her wand fired up and shot a stream of sparkling light pink at the siren. Only the siren was no longer there. Confusion took over the mage, “Wha-?”

An orange blob appeared in front of her and two strong hands gripped the side of her head. Purple eyes looked into the sharp raspberry ones that had a sickly green whirling around in them, “No matter what you do, little magician, I WILL ALWAYS WIN.”

“N-no,” Trixie gasped as she felt the manipulative magic start to break the protection her father placed on her. The magic of her wizarding father was strong how were they able to break it? Had they gained that much power just from a high school?

The girls on the stage jumped down to help their friend only for the other two sirens to grab them to the ground. They used the same eye contact, forcing them to not look away before the familiar haunting notes of singing had the girls fall under their control.

Despair fell over Trixie as she watched her friends fall. She tried with all her might to keep her eyes away from the sirens but the same eerie and persistent singing from all three sirens filled her ears until she could hear nothing else.

Rainbow Dash let out a breath as her parents finally drove off. She walked over to where she could see her friends waiting for her. When she reached them not a word was passed. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie had voiced their want to help Twilight. They had even gone as far as to say it was more important than defeating the Sirens. Rainbow Dash dismissed them, if the sirens won and got what they wanted then nobody would ever be able to be friends again. That statement seemed to get them to stay.

“Let's go,” the band leader instructed. Again, no words as they followed.

The sun was beginning to set as the group of five reached the stage. The sight of instruments already on the stage made Rainbow pause, “The hell these are here for?”

The sound of three pairs of footsteps interrupted any wondering. Trixie Lulamoon and her band stood by a large lever.

The athlete rolled her eyes harder than she ever had after all the practice she had had recently, “What the hell are doing down here Trixie? The losers are up in the cheap seats” she pointed to the highest point of the bleachers.

“Trixie is the most talented girl at Canterlot High!” the wannabe illusionist stated as if it was a matter of fact, “And she will NOT be denied,” Trixie snapped her fingers.

That was all that passed between them before the other two girls pulled the lever. Suddenly the ground of the stage became nonexistent to them and they all fell to the ground below them with squeals of surprise.

Darkness and hum-like growling were the only things surrounding Rainbow Dash as she rubbed her lower back which had taken most of the fall.

“Rarity, darlin’, are ya alright?” Rainbow heard Applejack fret. The girl responded with a teary-sounding, “Yes.”

“Can anybody see anything?” Pinkie Pie asked with fear lacing her voice.

“Does a-anybody el- else h-he-hear tha-that?” Fluttershy’s voice squeaked and stuttered with terror.

The girls grew quiet in the dark as the beast-like growling grew. A red light that appeared to be coming from a flame broke through the dark. A heavy footstep was heard. Rainbow watched a clawed, enlarged foot of red skin stomp in front of her. Her eyes followed up, the red faded up to the mid-calf of a normal human leg of amber skin. Only blazing fire covered the decency of the creature. Its muscular arms at the elbow grew the same red into large taloned hands. Her hair was pure flames and embers dancing in no wind and her ears were large and sharper than any elves. Bat-like, leather wings with holes followed the creature's back. Rainbow's eyes finally found the face of the beastly creature.

The beast of Sunset Shimmer took another step before letting out a roar of fire.