When step back into the classroom the girls are practicing, strumming their instruments, but the moment Sunset and I walk in, all eyes turn to us. I feel the weight of their gazes curious, expectant, maybe even a little suspicious.

Applejack raises an eyebrow, adjusting her hat. “So? You both ready to join us?”

Sunset shifts beside me, rubbing her arm, but she doesn’t say anything. The attention makes her uncomfortable I can tell. And honestly? I get it. I feel the same way.

Applejack turns her gaze to me now. “You, uh… might wanna take a look at these.”

She holds out a stack of papers, lyrics. Their songs.

I take them after a moment of hesitation.I don’t need them. These are songs I know by heart. I can't tell them that, though.

“Thanks” I say stuffing the papers into my pocket.

So, I’m in their band now, huh? And Sunset… she’s here earlier than she was supposed to be. The timeline’s shifting. Things are changing. But is that good thing. Or am I just making things worse?

We still need Twilight.

We need her now.

I bite my lip. If I tell Sunset to write to Twilight right this second, will he do something to me? Will I be punished?

Yeah, that’s too far. Too risky. I can’t push it yet.

For now, I need to focus on something else. Sunset needs to ponify. Once that happens, she’ll maybe realize the journal still works. I'm desperate okey?

If I had arrived in this world just a little earlier, like before the first movie, I could have asked if there was any other way to contact Twilight. Some kind of backup plan. But that ship has sailed. I haven't met twilight, so i can't use that.

. Maybe I can get some information indirectly.

“Hey,” I say, trying to sound casual “students were talking about some Twilight. She’s not in the band?”

The room goes still.

The girls exchange quick glances. Sunset stiffens beside me.

For a second, I think they’re not going to answer.

Then, Fluttershy speaks. “Twilight… drove somewhere far. She’ll be back after the Battle of the Bands.”

And just like that, they turn back to their instruments, conversation over.

Well. That didn’t get me anywhere.

They won’t even talk about her right now. That means I won’t be getting any answers anytime soon. But maybe, just maybe, I can nudge things in the right direction.

I turn to Rainbow Dash. “If I sing with you, what’s Sunset going to do?”

I already know the answer, but they don’t.

Rainbow frowns, confused. “What do you mean?”

I shift my focus to Sunset. “Do you play anything?”

She hesitates, eyes flicking between me and the girls. “…I played electric guitar a little.”

Rainbow’s eyes widen. “Wait, what?”

Before anyone can say anything else, Rainbow shoves a guitar into Sunset’s hands. Sunset lets out a small laugh, brushing her fingers along the strings like she’s reacquainting herself with an old friend. Then, without warning, she starts playing.

It’s mastery.

The first few notes ring out, and I swear the air in the room changes. She doesn’t just strum—she commands the instrument, her fingers flying across the strings like she was born for this. Every chord is sharp, precise, filled with an emotion that makes the song feel alive.

Rainbow’s jaw drops.

And me?

I just watch, completely spellbound.

Sunset Shimmer isn’t just good—she’s incredible. The way she moves, the way she feels the music, the sheer passion in every note—it’s enough to silence the entire room. It’s like the guitar was made for her.

When she finally finishes, the last note ringing in the air, there’s silence.

And then—

“DUDE!” Rainbow practically shouts, grabbing Sunset by the shoulders. “WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?!”

Sunset laughs, rubbing the back of her neck. “Uh… I guess I still got it?”

“‘Got it’?! You just shredded like an absolute legend!” Rainbow cries. She turns to the others. “Did you see that?! Did you hear that?!”

Applejack whistles. “Well, I’ll be.”

Sunset chuckles, shifting awkwardly under their praise. But I see it—that small flicker of pride in her eyes. The way her shoulders relax just a bit.

This is who she is. This is what she’s meant for.... I just changed the story again.

She wasn’t supposed to pick up that guitar. She wasn’t supposed to own the moment like this.

But she did.

And I made it happen.

We are closer than ever to victory. Maybe—just maybe—we can win against Tirek and the others.

Then the moment comes.

We stand, the girls readying their instruments, the energy in the room shifting. This is it—the next step forward.

Rainbow cracks her knuckles, flashing a confident grin. “Alright! Let’s do this. We’ll start with Awesome as I Wanna Be.”

That song.

The one where Rainbow made herself the main character.

I hesitate. Not because it’s a bad song—no, it’s great—but it’s not the right song. Not for what I’m trying to do. Not for what I need to happen.

I glance down at the lyrics in my hand, scanning the pages. Then, an idea forms.

A better idea.

“Hey” I say, turning to Rainbow, “can we try this one instead?”

I point at the page.

Rainbow leans over, her eyes following my finger. When she realizes what I’m pointing at, she blinks. “Wait… the cafeteria song?”

The other girls glance at each other.

“Yeah” I nod. “Can we try that? It sound cool.”

Rainbow scratches the back of her head. “I mean… sure, I guess?”

Sunset lets out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Wow. That song.” She glances at me, amusement flickering in her eyes. “If you know what that song was used for, it helped our friend win the crown”

“Oh, really?”

I would laugh too… if I didn’t already know that.

But I do know.

I know everything.

And that’s exactly why I picked it.

Because this song this moment is the key. If it succed it will have deeper meaning for her.

The instruments start playing, the familiar melody filling the room. And then, the lyrics begin.

At first, it’s just a song. Just music.

But then… it happens.

I see it from the corner of my eye.

A glow.

A familiar, magical glow.

The girls begin to change. Their hair extends, their ears shift, their magic flares to life.

They’re ponying up.

I keep singing, keeping my head down, keeping my expression neutral. I can’t look too excited—I have to play my role.

But then—

A new glow. A new shift. A new transformation.

Sunset.

YES. I DID IT.

It’s happening to Sunset too!.

She gasps, staring at herself in amazement as the magic washes over her, her body responding to the song in a way it never has before.

The girls stop mid-song. The instruments go silent.

And all eyes turn to her.

Sunset looks down at her hands, at the faint shimmer of magic around her fingers, at the new pony ears on her head, at the way her hair has grown longer and fuller, flowing behind her like fire.

She looks stunned.

“I… I…” She stares at her reflection in the classroom window. “It happened… to me.”

Then, her eyes glisten.

Proud tears.

She raises a trembling hand, touching one of her new ears like she can’t believe they’re real.

“It’s the first time…” she breathes. “It’s the first time it’s ever happened to me.”

The girls move.

Rarity is the first, placing her guitar down and stepping forward. Then Fluttershy. Then Applejack, Pinkie, and Rainbow.

One by one, they close in around Sunset.

And then—without hesitation—

They hug her.

All of them.

They wrap their arms around her, holding her close.

Sunset stiffens at first, as if unsure how to react. Then she lets out a small, choked laugh. She melts into them.

And she cries.

Not from sadness. Not from pain.

But from joy.

From acceptance.

From finally, finally feeling like she belongs.

The girls whisper to her, telling her how proud they are. How happy they are. How she was always one of them, even before this moment.

I don’t move.

I don’t step forward.

I just watch.

I stand at a distance, holding my papers, keeping my expression neutral.

Because this is her moment.

And I want her to have it.

But deep inside, in a part of me I don’t let them see, I am proud.

So unbelievably proud.

And two steps closer.

She wipes her eyes quickly, sniffing once before turning to me. Then, slowly, she raises a hand and points.

“If… If it wasn’t for you… I wouldn’t have known.”

Her voice is unsteady, thick with emotions she’s still trying to process. Her eyes, those deep, expressive eyes, are locked onto me like I’m the reason the world is still turning.

She takes a step forward. Then another.

And before I can react—

She hugs me.

Tightly.

I wasn’t expecting this.

“Thank you,” she breathes. “Thank you so much.”

Her voice wavers, and I can feel her fingers gripping the back of my shirt, as if anchoring herself to reality.

“I thought… I thought this wasn’t for me,” she continues, voice almost a whisper. “I thought the magic of friendship… this feeling… belonging… was something I could never have. That it wasn’t meant for me. That I was never meant to have it.”

I don’t say anything. I just listen.

“All this time…” she exhales shakily. “I told myself I didn’t deserve it. That I couldn’t deserve it. That someone like me—someone who did what I did—could only ever be a monster.”

I feel her fingers tighten slightly.

“But it’s real. It’s real, and I feel it, and… and it’s because of you.”

I exhale through my nose, gathering my thoughts before finally speaking.

“All I wanted… was for you to play in the band.”

She lets out a quiet, breathy laugh, shaking her head against my shoulder. “Yeah, well… I needed you now. Good to know that now.”

I let the moment settle, allowing her to hold onto me for just a few seconds longer before I gently pull away.

She wipes her eyes again, but this time, she’s smiling.

And that’s enough.

Practice continues for hours.

Song after song, the band refines their sound, their teamwork growing tighter with every note. I keep pace with them, keeping my performance just good enough to match theirs—no more, no less.

I can feel it.

This magic.

This connection.

I don’t know if it’s destiny or just really well-timed musical synergy, but we’re in sync now. We are a band.

We finish the last song for the day, Rainbow wipes her forehead and grins. “Phew! That was awesome! I think we’ve got a solid shot at this.”

The girls start packing up their instruments when Pinkie suddenly gasps dramatically. “Oh! Oh! Idea! What if we all go to my place?!”

The others glance at each other.

“Ooooh, that’s actually not a bad idea” Rainbow nods. “We can brainstorm new songs.”

“Not to mention, we should make sure our setlist is strong enough to compete with the Oblivion Wake” Rarity adds. “We cannot afford to be sloppy.”

Fluttershy smiles softly. “It sounds fun.”

“You in?” Applejack asks, looking at me.

Before today, I would’ve jumped at the chance.

To be invited. To be included. To feel like part of something bigger than myself.

But now?

I can’t.

Not yet.

I need a plan.

I need to be precise if I’m going to stop Chrysalis and the others. Unlike the Dazzlings, I don’t know what they have planned, what they’re capable of, or what they’re willing to do to win.

And I can’t let myself get distracted.

Not now.

So I shake my head. “Sorry, but I gotta pass.”

They look a little surprised.

“You sure? We thought you wanted to come with us last time.” Rainbow asks. “It’ll be fun.”

“Yeah, it’s just…” I rub the back of my neck. “I’ve got some stuff I need to do. Maybe next time.”

I can tell they’re a little disappointed, but they don’t push me.

Sunset studies me for a moment, as if trying to read what I’m not saying, but she doesn’t press.

“Alright” she says softly. “See you tomorrow, then?”

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”

And with that, I leave to come back home with my sister. I stand outside the school, waiting for her.

It doesn’t take long before I see her.

Snowdrop.

She’s walking toward me.

The second she sees me, she smirks. “Well, well, well,” she drawls dramatically. “Look at you, big bro, hanging out with a bunch of girls. Living the dream, huh?”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, shut up.”

She snickers. “I’m just saying, don’t forget about your actual favorite girl, a.k.a. me, a.k.a. your cooler little sister.”

I ruffle her hair. “Oh, Snow, I would never.”

She huffs, fixing her hair but smiling nonetheless. “Good answer.”

We start walking home, side by side.

It feels… nice.

Like, for just a moment, everything is okay.

Then—

A voice.

A cry.

“Help! Please—someone, help!”

It comes from an alleyway just ahead.

My entire body goes rigid. My instincts tell me to keep walking. Ignore it. Keep Snow out of it.

But she stops.

She looks at me.

Her bright, determined eyes meeting mine.

Telling me without words what she’s already decided.

“No, Snow, it’s da—”

She runs.

Straight into the alley.

“SNOW, WAIT—!”

I have no choice.

I run after her.

Heart pounding. Breath catching. The darkness of the alley swallowing us whole.

Something is wrong.

Something is very, very wrong.

And I don’t know what we just walked into.

But I was about to find out.

A massive shadow moves from the darkness, stepping forward into the dim light of a flickering streetlamp. My blood runs cold.

Tirek.

He towers over me, almost two heads taller, his muscular frame blocking out the alley’s exit like an iron gate. His crimson skin gleams under the streetlight, his black eyes staring down at me like I’m nothing more than a plaything.

Then—

Two more figures emerge behind Snowdrop.

Chrysalis.

Cozy Glow.

Snowdrop turns, startled, but before she can even think about running—

“Oh, it’s ju—”

CRACK.

A white-hot explosion of pain erupts across my face.

I don’t even realize what happened until I’m already on the ground, vision spinning, my mind struggling to catch up.

He punched me.

Hard.

Like he was trying to erase me from existence.

I can barely breathe. My head is ringing, my skull feels like it just got caved in, and my body won’t move.

From above, I hear laughter.

Tirek crouches down, resting one elbow lazily on his knee as he looms over me. His lips curl into a smirk.

“Oh, what’s wrong?” he taunts. “You thought we were friends or something?”

Chrysalis and Cozy chuckle behind him, their laughter sickly sweet, like poisoned honey.

Snowdrop’s voice pierces through the ringing in my ears.

“STOP! GET AWAY FROM HIM!”

She tries to run to me.

She doesn’t make it.

Chrysalis grabs her.

With one swift, effortless motion, she wrenches Snowdrop’s arms behind her back, locking them in a single, vice-like grip.

Snowdrop screams, thrashing, but it’s useless.

Chrysalis is strong.

And then, she cups Snowdrop’s chin with her other hand, tilting her face up with a sick grin.

“Hmmm…” Chrysalis purrs, dragging a sharp fingernail down Snowdrop’s cheek. “This one looks tasty.”

NO.

Something snaps inside me.

Adrenaline slams through my veins like an electric current, forcing my half-conscious body to move.

I won’t let this happen.

I can’t.

I force myself to stand, my legs shaking, my breath ragged.

I know how to fight.

I used to fight.

In another life.

But right now?

Right now, I need to remember.

With every ounce of strength I have left, I lunge at Tirek.

Left hook.

Right hook.

A kick to the ribs.

Everything I have. Every ounce of fury, of desperation, of sheer willpower

And it does nothing.

Tirek doesn’t even flinch.

Instead—

He laughs.

Deep. Loud. Maniacal.

“Y-YOU THOUGHT THAT—HAHAHAHA—NO WAY.”

I don’t get a chance to react.

Now’s my chance.

I whip around, ignoring the pain screaming through my skull, and charge at Chrysalis instead.

She doesn’t expect it.

My fist connects with her ribs.

Hard.

She gasps, staggering back.

Snowdrop is free.

But the moment is over too soon.

Before I can even register what’s happening—

AGH!

A searing pain rips through my scalp.

Tirek has me by the hair.

And then—

He slams my head against the alley wall.

The impact is instant.

White light explodes in my vision.

I hear something crack.

My body collapses to the ground.

I taste blood.

I can’t move.

I can barely breathe.

Above me, I hear them laughing.

I hear Snowdrop screaming my name.

Tirek’s massive hand snaps out like a vice, grabbing her by the hair, yanking her up as if she weighs nothing. She lets out a choked gasp, her tiny fingers clawing at his iron grip, kicking wildly, but she’s trapped.

Then—

He licks her cheek.

A slow, deliberate drag of his tongue against her skin, like he’s savoring her.

A surge of fury ignites in my chest, drowning out the pain, the dizziness, the horror.

"You fucking weirdo, let her go!" I try to scream, but my voice comes out broken, weak.

Tirek merely grins. "Oh? I can let her go, just like that? As you command?" His chuckle is low, mocking, venomous. "Hahaha… how adorable."

He opens his mouth.

Snowdrop turns to me, her wide, tear-streaked eyes filled with pleading terror.

Help me.

But I can’t move.

I can’t even lift my fucking hand.

I don’t feel my body anymore.

And then the true nightmare truly began.

A sickly red glow pulsed from the gem on Tirek’s chest. Tendrils of dark energy slither forward, wrapping around Snowdrop like serpents, burrowing into her skin, seeping into her very soul.

She screams.

A piercing, gut-wrenching scream that echoes in the alley like the wail of a dying star.

And before my eyes

She begins to wither.

Her skin turns pallid, drained of color, before rapidly shriveling, as if every drop of life is being sucked from her. Her bright, youthful face twists in agony as deep wrinkles carve into her skin, her soft hair losing its luster, turning thin, brittle, gray.

Tirek is draining her.

Stealing everything she is.

Snowdrop's fragile arms, once filled with warmth, are now skeletal, the flesh tightening over brittle bone. Her lips tremble, her entire body quaking in his grasp, but no more screams come.

Her voice is gone.

The last thing she manages to whisper—

"H—hel—"

Her final plea for help, cut short.

Her eyes, so full of light, so full of life—become dull, empty, hollow.

She crumbles.

Her once-vibrant form is reduced to something horrific, something unnatural a dry, brittle husk, like a fruit left to rot under the sun for centuries. Her skin is paper-thin, cracked and peeling, flaking away as the last remnants of her life are stolen. Her small fingers, which once clutched my sleeve for comfort, are nothing more than frail twigs.

She stops moving.

Snowdrop is gone.

"NO!!! YOU FUCKING—AHHHHHHHH!!!"

A broken, guttural wail rips from my throat.

Rage.

Pain.

Pure, unfiltered agony.

I thrash, I try to get up, I try to reach for her—

But I can’t.

Tirek stretches, rolling his shoulders as if he just had a satisfying meal.

"Mmm… delicious," he murmurs, glancing at the gem on his necklace. It glows slightly, a dim red pulse, proof of the life he stole.

Cozy Glow steps into my vision, her expression one of pure amusement as she bows slightly, her curly hair bouncing.

"What will you do~?" she sing-songs, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Tirek hums in satisfaction. "Mmm. Good." He flexes his massive arms, relishing the power coursing through him. "Not much magic in this one… but still tasty."

Chrysalis rolls her eyes. "Again, all for you?"

Tirek smirks, flexing his muscles. "I need this more than you."

I’m trembling.

I can feel my pulse in my skull, my breath ragged, my entire body screaming in helplessness.

"WHY?!! DON'T IGNORE ME!!!"

A sharp, searing pain shoots through my hand.

I scream.

Cozy Glow just stabbed me.

A small, wickedly sharp pocket knife, right into the flesh of my palm.

Blood spills, hot and thick, dripping onto the cold pavement.

And then—

She twists it.

I choke on my own agony, barely able to breathe as she leans in, her voice sickly sweet.

"Ooooh, what a sight…" she sings, dragging the blade out slowly. "A hero in pain, drowning in night."

I gasp, vision going blurry, but she’s not done.

She aims for my throat.

I see the blade flash—

But Chrysalis stops her.

“Oh, let me have this one” she purrs, stepping forward.

She kneels, her eerie green eyes locking onto mine, searching digging into me. I feel something pry at my mind, at my very soul, tendrils of dark magic slithering into my thoughts.

She’s trying to break me.

Trying to pull me under.

Trying to make me hers.

A sharp crack echoes in my head as she recoils.

"Oh… interesting." She chuckles, rubbing her temple as if I just gave her a mild headache. "You really are different."

Tirek watches, unimpressed.

Then he steps forward, towering over me.

He crouches, staring down at me like a disappointed teacher.

"You could have stayed out of this. You could have run."

A sigh.

"But we can't take chances. You knew something."

His hand grips the necklace at his chest, his fingers tracing over the glowing gem.

"None would ask about these. Not on our first meeting. But you did. You knew something was wrong. And that… makes you a problem."

His gaze drifts lazily toward Snowdrop’s withered, lifeless husk.

"She was just an… addition."

Rage surges through me, but before I can act—

A fist slams into my face.

Crack.

Then another.

Then another.

A brutal barrage of fists, faster than I can react, stronger than I can endure.

Ten.

Twenty.

I don’t know.

My mind goes blank.

I taste blood.

I can’t see.

I can’t feel.

Darkness.

This is how it ends.

I lost.

I failed.

.

..

...

....

"Big bro."

The voice is soft, barely above a whisper, yet it cuts through the darkness like a blade.

"Big bro, wake up."

My entire body jerks upright, my lungs burning as if I’ve been drowning.

I claw at my throat, sucking in air like I haven’t breathed in centuries. My hands are shaking so badly I can barely process what’s happening. My vision is spinning, everything warping, twisting, shifting between the cold, filthy alleyway and—

My bedroom.

I’m in my room.

I look around wildly, my breath ragged, my heart pounding so hard it hurts. My sheets are tangled around my body, soaked in sweat. The faint glow of the moon filters through the window, casting soft light across my familiar walls. The air smells of home, of warmth, of safety.

I’m home.

I didn’t die.

Snowdrop is standing next to my bed, rubbing her eyes sleepily, her small frame illuminated by the dim light. She looks… normal. Her skin isn’t cracked and dry like before, her hair isn’t brittle and gray, her body isn’t a lifeless husk.

She’s alive.

She’s whole.

She tilts her head, raising an eyebrow. "Cool, you missed me, but it’s four in the morning, and you just ruined my beauty sleep."

I don’t respond.

I can’t.

I just stare at her, my entire body frozen. My chest is tight, my hands are trembling. My mind is still in that alley, still watching her wither away, still hearing her voice break as she pleaded for help I couldn’t give.

Snowdrop is alive.

But I watched her die.

I move before I can stop myself.I grab her, wrapping my arms around her so tightly she lets out a small oof. I bury my face into her shoulder, squeezing her as if she’ll disappear if I let go.

"You're okay,"

"You're back. You're you."

She stiffens at first, clearly confused by my reaction, but after a second, she relaxes in my grip. "Big bro, what’s wrong with you?"

I don’t answer.

I can’t answer.

I just hold onto her.

She’s warm.

She’s real.

Not a dried corpse. Not dust in the wind.

"You’re acting weird," she finally says, pulling back just enough to look at my face. She frowns. "You okay?"

"We were just in the alley, you—"

She blinks.

Then, very casually, she says "Nightmare." She gestures around my room. "You're at home. Safe. Go back to sleep. We have school in the morning."

My mind short-circuits. My heart is hammering so hard I feel like I might die all over again.

A nightmare?

Just a dream?

No, that wasn’t just some bad dream.

That was real.

I felt it.

I lived it.

I fucking DIED.

I watched her die.

I watched Tirek steal her life, listened to her last breath as she begged me to save her.

"What the actual fuck?"

Snowdrop rolls her eyes. "Dramatic much?"

I felt my body fail. I felt the cold emptiness consume me. I felt my mind fade into nothing.

But I’m here.

Did time rewind? Did something bring me back?

"We can’t take chances."

"You knew something you shouldn’t have."

"We must eliminate you."

Did I get reincarnated? Did that thing—that entity—decide to reset everything? To throw me back into my body like I’m some piece in its fucked-up game?

I don’t understand.

I don’t fucking understand any of this.

"Snow."

She looks at me, one eyebrow raised.

I grab her shoulders, my grip desperate. "Promise me. Promise me that something like this won’t happen."

She tilts her head. "Something like what? Dude, I have no idea what you—"

"Just promise me."

She studies me for a second, clearly confused by my urgency, but after a moment, she sighs and shrugs. "Uh, sure? I promise?"

It’s not enough.

It’s not even close to enough.

But it’s all I have.

She yawns, rubbing her temple. "Okay, bro, go back to sleep before I knock you out myself."

She turns to leave, but I don’t move.

I just sit there, frozen, my mind replaying everything over and over and over.

I died.

I know I did.

She died.

And it was my fault.

I was reckless. I wasn’t prepared. I treated this like some fun adventure, like I was playing some stupid fucking role in a high school drama.

This isn’t a story.

This isn’t some funny little love triangle.

This is real life.

And real life has fucking consequences.

I grit my teeth, my jaw clenching so hard it aches.

I know what I have to do now.

Tirek has to die.

No more playing around. No more underestimating him. No more doubt.

He’s a monster.

He killed me.

He killed Snowdrop.

I can’t let that happen again.

I won’t let that happen again.

I can’t waste my time worrying about stupid shit—about whether Sunset likes me, about whether I fit in, about whether I’m good enough. None of that fucking matters anymore.

This isn’t about love.

This isn’t about friendship.

This is about war.

I will find him.

I will kill him.

And I will make sure he never lays a hand on Snowdrop again.

No matter what it takes.

Author's Note

Hey, i had this moment in mind even before writing this story, i hope you will have as much fun reading it as i had writing. cheers