Applejack tilted her head. “You look at them like you know somethin’, sugarcube. Care to share with the rest of the class?”

Her voice was nonchalant, but there was a thread of interest and possibly a hint of suspicion running through it. The others were all looking at me now, their expressions expectant.

“Nah,” I said, trying to sound dismissive. “I don’t know them. They just... look like hard enemies for y’all to beat, you know?”

It was a clean response. Quick, to the point. But deep down, I knew the truth wasn’t that simple.

They’re not just hard enemies. They’re impossible to beat. And they shouldn’t even exist here.

Then my eyes landed on their necks, and my blood turned to ice. Glinting faintly in the sunlight, like shards of crimson glass, were pendants. Familiar pendants. The same ones I’d seen in the show.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

My stomach lurched. The words left my mouth before I could stop them. “Dazzling necklaces”

Sunset’s head snapped toward me, her teal eyes sharp and questioning. “What did you just say?”

Panic started to surge through me. “Uh...” My brain struggled to backtrack, to think of anything that could undo what I’d just said. “I mean, what necklaces? I didn’t say anything about necklaces.”

Sunset crossed her arms, frowning. “You definitely said something about Dazzlings. What do you mean?”

My mind raced, my thoughts spiraling. Shit, shit, shit.

Why are their pendants here now?

I took another look at the three figures: Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow. Their pendants shimmered slightly, throbbing with a sinister force that made my skin crawl, others waited for an explanation, but my mind was racing too quickly to think straight. Memories of the show flooded back, the way the pendants glowed when they sang, the way they manipulated and controlled everyone around them.

They’d nearly destroyed everything.

Sunset’s voice pulled me back to reality. “Are you okay? You’re acting... weird.”

I forced myself to nod, though my hands were trembling. “Yeah. Just... tired. It’s nothing.”

But it wasn’t nothing.

This isn’t right. They’re not supposed to be here yet. Unless...

The god, the thing that brought me here. Was this his doing? Was he rewriting the rules, twisting the story for his own amusement?

“Seriously, what’s going on?” Sunset pressed.

I shook my head quickly. “Nothing. Really. Just... forget it, okay?”

The others exchanged uneasy glances, but I couldn’t focus on them. My eyes were locked on Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow as they moved toward the school building. If they had the pendants, that meant the Dazzlings had to be here somewhere. But where? Were they working together? Hiding? Watching?

The thought made my stomach churn.

“Hey,” Sunset said softly, her hand on my arm. “If something’s bothering you, you can tell us. We’re your friends.”

Friends. She thought I could trust her, and the others, with whatever was going on in my head. But how could I explain this? How could I tell them I knew things about their world that even they didn’t?

“I’m fine,” I lied, pulling away gently. “Let’s just focus on... whatever this band thing is, okay?”

Sunset looked unconvinced, but she nodded. “Alright. But if you need to talk...”

I nodded back, my chest tightening with guilt. I didn’t deserve their kindness.

My eyes betrayed me. They flicked over to Tirek, looming like a giant shadow. I don’t know why I stared, but he caught me. His piercing gaze locked onto mine, and my blood ran cold.

Oh no.

He started walking toward me, his massive frame cutting through the air like a boulder rolling downhill. Every step made my chest tighten. My instincts screamed at me to look away, to act casual, but my body froze.

He’s coming. Oh, God, he’s coming.

“OW!” I yelped as I tripped over my own foot, stumbling backward. “No, no, no, no—”

He stopped just in front of me. I craned my neck to look up at him, feeling utterly dwarfed by his towering presence. His arms were crossed, his muscles bulging against his black leather jacket. His eyes burned like embers under heavy brows, and the faintest smirk played on his lips.

“Were you watching me just now?” His voice was deep and slow, like a rumble of thunder.

I swallowed hard. “Uh, yeah—sorry”

But then something happened I didn’t expect. Something I hadn’t even considered in all the endless scenarios I’d played out in my head.

He extended his hand.

“What?”

“Welcome, little man.” His grin widened, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Name’s Tirek.”

This had to be some kind of trap, right? But there was no polite way out of this. Slowly, I reached out and shook his hand.

“Uh, hey... I’m %$#@$.” My voice cracked slightly. “And these are... my friends. The Rainbooms.”

Nice save.

Tirek chuckled, a deep, gravelly sound that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. “Nice to meet you, %$#@$.” He glanced briefly at the girls before his gaze returned to me. “And you probably know our band, right?”

This wasn’t like the show, and it definitely wasn’t like a game. This was real. Tirek was real, standing in front of me, watching me with an intensity that felt like it could strip away all my secrets.

I decided to take a risk. I had to know more. “Oh, yeah,” I said, forcing a grin. “I’ve heard of you guys. All of you have those cool necklaces, right? It’s like your band’s thing?”

The smile on Tirek’s face vanished. His eyes darkened, and his expression grew deadly serious.

“It’s not your fucking concern.”

Before I could react, his hand shot out and grabbed my collar, yanking me forward. I let out a startled gasp, my hands instinctively grabbing at his wrist, but his grip was like iron.

“Listen to me, little man” he growled, his voice low and menacing. “You don’t get to ask questions about things that don’t concern you. Do you understand?”

I nodded quickly, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

“Good.” His lips curled into a sneer. “You seem like a smart kid, so let me give you some advice. Keep your nose out of places it doesn’t belong. It’d be a shame if curiosity got you into trouble.”

He shoved me back, and I stumbled, barely keeping my balance. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath.

Tirek glanced at the Rainbooms, his expression softening just enough to look vaguely friendly. “Well, it was nice meeting you all. Enjoy your day.”

With that, he turned and walked away, his heavy footsteps echoing in my ears like distant thunder.

The Rainbooms were staring at me, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern.

“Are you okay?” Sunset said cautiously, stepping closer.

I forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow. “Yeah. Totally fine. That was... uh, nothing.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t look like nothin’.”

“Seriously,” Rainbow said. “What did he say to you?”

“Nothing important,” I insisted, waving a hand dismissively. “He was just... you know, being intense. It’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine.

He knows I know something.

And worse, I’d just put myself—and maybe the Rainbooms—on Their radar.

Were Oblivion Wake like the Dazzlings from the movie, who wanted to rule through manipulation and power? Or were they more like their Friendship is Magic counterparts—villains who wanted to destroy everything Equestria stood for?

And then there was the most terrifying thought

What happened to the Dazzlings?

I needed answers, but there were none to be found. Not yet, anyway.

“Hey, time to get going,” someone said, breaking my train of thought.

“Yeah, sure,” I mumbled, my voice hollow.

We walked through the hallways, but something caught my eye, a poster on the bulletin board. It listed the bands participating in the Battle of the Bands.

The name Dazzlings was there, but it was crossed out with a thick black line.

Directly below it, written in bold, clear letters, was the name Oblivion Wake.

It looked like it had been added as an afterthought, scrawled hastily under the crossed-out name.

“What the...?” My heart started pounding.

Why was their name crossed out? Did Oblivion Wake do something to them?

“Fuck, fuck, fuck”. So many questions with no answers.

“Heyyyy!” Pinkie Pie’s voice cut through my haze of thoughts as she snapped her fingers in front of my face.

I blinked, startled, and looked at her. “What?”

She pouted, crossing her arms. “So that’s how you treat our invite, huh?”

“No, no,” I stammered, shaking my head. “I’m coming. I’m just...” My eyes drifted back to the poster. “I was wondering why the Dazzlings’ name is crossed out.”

There was a pause.

Then Sunset stepped closer, her brow furrowed. “Dazzlings. Again.” Her voice was sharp, almost suspicious. “Do you know them or something?”

“Uh, not really. I just—”

“They came to the cafeteria, sang a song, and then they were gone,” Sunset said, cutting me off. Her eyes narrowed. “And Oblivion Wake showed up in their place.”

I stared at her, my heart thundering in my chest. “They just... left? That’s it?”

“That’s it” Sunset said, her voice firm. But her expression told a different story. She didn’t believe her own words.

The timeline didn’t make sense. The Dazzlings couldn’t have just disappeared. They had power. And now Oblivion Wake had their necklaces?

What the hell had happened?

The girls were looking at me now, their expressions ranging from confusion to concern. I felt exposed.

“I...” My voice cracked. I looked away, my gaze falling to the floor. “I just thought it was weird, that’s all.”

“You’ve been acting weird since we got here,” Rainbow said, crossing her arms. “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing” I said quickly. “I’m fine. Just... thinking about stuff.”

It was a weak excuse, but it was all I had.

Sunset didn’t look convinced. Her gaze lingered on me, sharp and probing. “If you know something, you need to tell us. We’re your friends.”

The word friends hit me like a dagger.

“I’ts nothing” I said again, forcing a smile. “Really.”

The classroom buzzed faintly with the murmur of students outside, but within, all I saw was the circle of Rainbooms standing before me, instruments in hand. I sat in one of the front chairs, nervously bouncing my knee beneath the desk. The weight of the room's attention was palpable, with each look waiting patiently for my response.

Applejack looked at me, her freckled face warm but laced with caution. “Now listen, sugarcube, what you’re about to see is... well, let’s just say it’s normal ‘round here. Ain’t no need to panic or get worked up.”

I tilted my head, raising a curious eyebrow. “Okay? Sounds a little ominous, but sure. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Trust me, darling,” Rarity chimed in with her signature flair. “You’ll find it utterly dazzling. Or perhaps I should say, fabulous.” She flipped her hair for dramatic effect, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Alright, now don’t start showin’ off just yet,” Applejack teased, nudging Rarity with her elbow.

Sunset Shimmer sat beside me, close enough that her knee lightly brushed mine. “Hey,” she said softly, leaning in. “Don’t worry about what you’re about to see. It’s... strange at first, but you’ll get used to it. Well... I haven’t, not completely, but you will. Maybe.” She laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.

Her unease was evident.This magic, the very thing they were about to wield, was the same force that had once defeated her, humbled her. There was a lingering discomfort in her voice, a vulnerability that made me want to reassure her.

“It’s okay, Sunset,” I said, my voice steady and sincere. “I’ll be fine. I’m sure.”

She gave me a small, grateful smile, but I could tell the tension in her shoulders didn’t ease entirely.

The girls readied their instruments, each of them exchanging a nod. Rainbow Dash, naturally, took the lead, her confident smirk lighting up the room. “Alright, let’s do this, ladies!”

The first chords of their song filled the room, rich and harmonious, pulling me into their world.

“There was a time we were apart
But that's behind us now
See how we've made a brand new start
And the future's lookin' up, ah-oh, ah-oh...”

As the music built, something extraordinary began to happen. A faint glow surrounded each of the girls, soft at first but growing brighter with every note. My heart pounded as I realized what was coming, the memory of the Equestria Girls movies flashing vividly in my mind.

“And when you walk these halls
You feel it everywhere
Yeah, we're the Wondercolts forever, ah-oh, yeah!”

Applejack’s hat lifted from her head, hovering momentarily before being replaced by an ethereal glow. Her ponytail grew longer, swishing behind her like a golden whip. Her ears... oh God, her ears changed, reshaping into a distinctly equine form.

Rarity was next. Her elegant hair shimmered, taking on a brilliance that seemed almost unnatural. Like Applejack, her ears shifted, and she sprouted a tail of luminous violet, flowing like liquid silk.

“We are all together
(Ah, ah, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Now it's better than ever
(Ah, ah, oh-oh-oh-oh)”

Pinkie Pie chuckled in the middle of the universe, her energy overflowing as her curls grew madly. She virtually vibrated with excitement, and the brightness around her burst like fireworks. She bounced in place, her tail wagging along with the beat.

Fluttershy shifted quietly, her face serene as her delicate and feathered wings spread, like those of an angel. She floated barely above the earth, emitting a lovely glow.

Rainbow Dash beamed, the epitome of confidence, as her wings flared out in a brilliant show of light. Her tail flashed swiftly, as if to emphasize the rhythm of her guitar solo. She climbed briefly, hovering just long enough to emphasize her control over the stage.

“You can feel it, we are back
(You... can... feel... it...)
And I'm so glad that we're better
Better than ever!”

The music swelled, their harmonies blending together in perfect synchronicity. The magic in the air was tangible, electrifying.

The girls returned to their normal forms, laughing and high-fiving each other.

“Well?” Rainbow Dash asked, smirking as she slung her guitar over her shoulder. “What’d you think?”

“I...” My voice faltered. I tried to find the right words, but nothing seemed adequate. “That was... incredible.”

“You’ll get used to it” Sunset said

“Yeah” I murmured, still in awe.

If Oblivion Wake has anything even remotely like this... how are we going to stop them?

The thought weighed heavily on me, but for now, I forced myself to smile. “Thanks for sharing that with me. Really.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, her piercing gaze locked on me like she was trying to piece together a puzzle. "You ain't shocked like most folks would be. More like... curious, like you’ve been waitin’ to see this with your own eyes. You sure you’re new here?”

Oh hell.

“Yeah, I’m new, AJ,” I replied, forcing a grin. “I just, uh... heard students talking about some transformation thing after the Fall Formal.” I hoped the excuse would fly, it wasn’t perfect, but rumors were allways a safe bet, right?

Applejack narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing me for a moment before nodding. “Hm, I guess that makes sense. Students do talk. Hope you liked it, then.”

Oof, that was close.

“Liked it? It was freaking awesome! Like, the best thing I’ve ever seen!” My enthusiasm was genuine their magic was awe-inspiring.

Then, an idea crept into my mind.

If I can get Sunset to sing, maybe it’ll help later...

“Why don’t you sing, Sunset?”

She immediately crossed her arms into an X. “No way. First off, I don’t sing. Second, that kind of thing would only bring bad luck. People still don’t trust me after... well, after what happened at the Fall Formal.”

Her voice faltered, and I could see a flicker of guilt in her eyes.

“Why don’t you try?” Pinkie said out of nowhere, shoving a microphone into my hands.

I fumbled to catch it. “What?!”

“Yeah, show us what you’ve got, darling,” Rarity chimed in, her tone playful but curious.

“And no, no, no,” Rainbow Dash cut in, leaning forward with a mischievous grin. “It’s not that simple. You gotta either sing something you made up or think of words as you go. No cheating with some song you already know.”

Oh, great.

“Crap... Okay, I guess I—”

Before I could finish, Pinkie tapped something, and the microphone emitted an awful screeching noise. “Oops, sorry!” she giggled, adjusting it.

I tightened my grip on the mic, heart racing. “I... I got something,” I said, the words coming out before I could stop them.

What am I doing?

“I’m losing my mind,
It’s slipping through time,
And his whispers are calling my name.
A shadow so near,
It’s feeding my fear,
But I know I must play this cruel game.”

The Rainbooms watched me, their faces a mixture of surprise and intrigue. I caught Sunset’s eye and sang the next lines directly to her.

“Your courage is strong,
It’s where you belong,
But cunning alone won’t suffice.
The truth I now see,
It’s consuming me,
And it cuts through my soul like a knife.”

I shifted, the tone of my voice growing darker as I sang about him the enemy, the voice in my mind.

“His time’s drawing near,
I can feel him here,
Every step brings him closer to me.
A storm in my head,
Where shadows have bled,
And the light feels so distant to see.”

The words flowed, raw and honest, as I gripped the microphone like a lifeline. I sang louder, the emotions spilling out like a flood.

“Where is he now,
The one who swore, somehow,
To break me and take what is mine?
Where is the face,
That once left its trace,
In the dark where the stars cease to shine?”

The room seemed to vibrate with the intensity of the moment. My voice cracked slightly, but I pushed through, pouring everything I had into the song.

“In my darkest days,
Through fire and haze,
The pain became fuel for my fight.
But time’s running thin,
I feel it within,
Will I stand, or be lost to the night?”

The Rainbooms exchanged glances, their expressions softening as they listened. Applejack folded her arms, clearly impressed but still cautious. Sunset’s gaze remained locked on me, searching for something deeper in my words.

“Where is he now,
The man who vowed,
To tear apart all that I know?
Where is his grin,
The chaos within,
That threatens to take every glow?”

I lowered the microphone, my chest heaving from the effort. The classroom was dead silent, everyone too stunned to speak.

Rainbow Dash broke the quiet first, her voice uncharacteristically subdued. “Dude... that was insane. Like, whoa.”

Rarity nodded, her eyes shimmering. “That was incredible, darling. So haunting, so... real.”

Applejack tipped her hat back, giving me a long look. “You’ve been through somethin’ heavy, haven’t ya?”

Sunset didn’t say a word, but her eyes said everything. She saw through the performance, into the truth behind my words. It wasn’t just a song,it was my story, my struggle.

“I... didn’t even know I could do that...”

What if they figure it out? What if they know what’s really happening to me?

Nah, there's no way. They’d just assume it’s some random song. Just a coincidence. That’s what I kept telling myself as I tried to calm the storm of thoughts roaring in my head.

“Hey.”

Rainbow’s voice snapped me back to reality. Her hand was firmly on my shoulder, her grip almost grounding me. She still had that wide-eyed look of disbelief plastered on her face. “Maybe you should join our band. What do you think about that?”

What? My brain froze. No. No. NO. I can’t sing. I just proved I could, but that doesn’t mean anything! I panicked internally, my thoughts spiraling faster than I could keep up. Was this some part of the story? Did the god—whatever that thing is—set this up? Or... was that really just me?

A thought. A wild, reckless, brilliant thought. If I was going to be stuck in this insane world, I might as well play the game.

“Well...” I hesitated, watching Rainbow's expectant gaze. “I mean, if Sunset joined, I’d totally be in too.”

Rainbow froze, staring at me, then slowly turned toward Sunset. The look on her face was priceless, somewhere between disbelief and childlike excitement. “I’ve asked her, like, a thousand times already, but she kept saying no. But if you—”

“I’ll join.”

Sunset’s words hit like a thunderclap, silencing everything.

She crossed her arms and shrugged, but there was a determined glint in her eye as she glanced my way. “If it means he’ll join, then I’ll do it.”

The room exploded with noise. Rainbow cheered like she’d just won the lottery, Pinkie jumped up and down, and the rest of the Rainbooms exchanged surprised but pleased looks.

“COOOOOL! So we’ve got seven members now! THIS IS AWESOME!” Rainbow yelled, pumping her fist in the air.

The celebration swirled around me, but I stayed frozen in place, my thoughts louder than their voices. I reached up, slowly brushing my hand against the top of my head. Nothing. No ears. No transformation. Just me, still plain old me.

Sunset’s voice broke through the chaos.

“Hey.”

I glanced to her, taken aback by the serious expression in her eyes. She grasped my sleeve firmly but not harshly. "We should talk. Alone."

Her words caused a shiver of discomfort through me. I nodded mutely and followed her out of the classroom while the other girls continued to rejoice.

We strolled down the corridor silently. The cheery noises of the Rainbooms faded behind us, leaving only the faint buzz of fluorescent lights and the odd squeak of our shoes on the tiled floor.

Sunset paused near a vacant corner, away from prying eyes and ears. She turned to face me, arms crossed and her expression unreadable.

“So,” she started, her voice low but steady. “What was that back there?”

“What was what?” I tried to play dumb.

“You know what I’m talking about.” Sunset’s eyes narrowed, cutting through any attempt to deflect. “That song. The way you sang it. The words. It wasn’t just a random performance, was it?”

“I... I don’t know. It just came to me. I guess I got caught up in the moment.”

“Don’t lie to me. I’ve been where you are. I know what it’s like to have something eating away at you. You’re hiding something, and it’s not just stage fright.”

She wasn’t wrong. She knew. Maybe not the specifics, but she knew enough to dig deeper.

“I...” I hesitated, my mind racing for a way out, but there was none. Not with Sunset.

“I can’t help you if you don’t let me,” she added, her voice softening. “Whatever’s going on, it’s okay to talk about it.”

I wanted to tell her so desperately. I wanted to yell everything, the truth about who I was, where I came from, what I was here for, and the creature that hovered over my every move like a shadow. But I could not.

Not because I didn’t trust her, but because I literally couldn’t.

“Sunny...” I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I can’t. As much as I want to, I mean literally... I can’t.”

Sunset tilted her head, confusion crossing her face. “Like... something’s stopping you?”

I stayed silent. I couldn’t answer, couldn’t confirm or deny. I just looked down, avoiding her piercing eyes.

Her expression softened as the silence stretched between us. “Is there a way to help you with it?”

“I don’t know.” The words slipped out, and I hated how small my voice sounded. Tears blurred my vision, and I quickly tried to blink them away. But Sunset noticed.

She reached out, her hand cupping my chin, gently lifting my face to hers. I couldn’t look away now. She smiled softly, a warmth radiating from her that felt like it could melt the weight of the world.

Her thumb brushed away a tear that escaped down my cheek. “It’s okay” she whispered. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll work with this. I promise. Maybe the gir-”

“NO!” My voice was sharp, panicked. Her hand froze, and she pulled back slightly, startled.

I took a step back, my heart racing. “You can’t tell them about this. You can’t tell anyone. This has to stay between us. No one else can know.”

“Alright, alright,” Sunset said quickly, her hands raised in a calming gesture. “It’s okay. I won’t say anything. I promise.”

There can’t be a penalty for this. She just... figured it out. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t... The entity can't punish me for this right. I look around, nothing is happening, maybe that's the way, the way i can cheat my way, make them know without telling them..

“Hey” Sunset interrupted, stepping closer again. “It’s okay. I get it. I won’t push, and I won’t tell anyone. But whatever this is, whatever’s keeping you like this... I want you to know that you’re not alone. I’ll help you. No matter what. You have my word. We will brake your chains”

I stared at her, searching her face for any hint of doubt or judgment, but there was none. Just care. Just understanding.

Her words broke something in me, and I finally whispered, “Chains.”

She tilted her head again, her expression shifting to one of quiet realization.

“Chains,” I repeated, my voice barely audible. “That’s... about right.”

Sunset reached for my shoulder, squeezing it gently. “We’ll break them. Together.”

Author's Note

Hey, i feel this chapter is kinda rushed, but it is good enaugh to deliver, next one will be showing the way this story is going, also the story is also fast, this won't be long as radiance of sunset shimmer i want to end it on less than 100k words. I hope you like it!