Ch. 11: The Battle Gets Legit

That evening, Trixie and her band were on stage in the finals, and the others were still trapped in the stage area under the stage. Rainbow was trying to get out by ramming herself against the door, but she was only earning a bruise on her arm.

"Give it up, Rainbow Dash," said Applejack. "You've been tryin' at this for hours. It's not gonna open."

"Knuckles, can't you dig us out?" asked Sonic.

"Not without the Shovel Claws, and I left those backstage up top," said Knuckles.

"Maybe it doesn't even matter that we're trapped down here," said Twilight. "I don't think the counterspell would've worked anyway."

"Course it would've worked, Twilight," said Applejack, before she got angry. "Assumin' a certain bandmember didn't try to hog the spotlight the whole time we were trying to play it."

"Hey! If you wanna tell Twilight she's getting a little too caught up trying to be the new leader of this band, you don't have to be all cryptic about it." said Rainbow.

"Are you kidding me?" asked Sonic.

"She was talking about you, Rainbow Dash." said Rarity.

"Me?" she asked surprised. "I'm just trying to make sure my band rocks as hard as it needs to."

"OUR BAND!" shouted everyone but the Underground, Sunset, and Twilight.

"But why wasn't it working?" asked Twilight. "I should know what to do. How can I not know what to do? How can I have failed like this?"

"Because you were under too much pressure. No harm in that," said Sonic.

"It might've been your idea to start a band, but it's not just your band, Rainbow Dash." said Applejack angrily.

"I'm the one who writes all the songs." said Rainbow.

"I write songs," said Fluttershy angrily. "You just never let us play any of them."

"I had the most spectacular outfits for us to wear!" said Rarity.

"Again with the costumes!" said Applejack. "No one cares what we're wearin'!"

"I care, Applejack!" said Rarity. "So sorry if I enjoy trying to make a creative contribution to the band!"

"Hey! Anybody here remember fun?!" asked Pinkie. "I'll give you a hint: IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF BEING IN THE RAINBOOMS!"

"I WISH I'D NEVER ASKED ANY OF YOU TO BE IN MY BAND!" shouted Rainbow.

"I WISH I'D NEVER AGREED TO BE IN IT!" shouted Rarity.

"ME NEITHER!" shouted Applejack and Fluttershy. Then they started arguing like spoiled children, green haze drifting from them up through the stage. Up top, Trixie had just finished her performance and she walked off the stage.

"Try to top that." she said to the Dazzlings.

"Oh gosh, I don't know if we can," said Adagio sarcastically. Then the Sirens noticed the haze from the Rainbooms drifting up towards their pendants.

"Let's do this," said Scourge as he grabbed a guitar. Then Fiona turned on some lights which glowed green through the haze as the Dazzlings began to perform.

(Play "Welcome to the Show" – Original Movie)

Sirens: Ahh, ah-ah, ahh
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah

Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah

Even underground, Sunset and Sonic could sense the dark magic of the Sirens increasing.

"Stop! You have to stop!" said Sunset, quieting down the argument. "This is what they've been after all along. They're feeding off the magic inside you!"

"How can they be using our magic?" asked Applejack. "It's the Magic of Friendship."

"That's just it," said Sonic. "You're contorting it so they can use it."

"What?" asked everyone. Sunset looked at Twilight before she looked back at the girls.

"Ever since you started this band, you've been letting the little things get to you," she said. "I never said anything because I didn't feel like it was my place. Not when I was so new to this whole friendship thing. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I also know that if you don't work out even the smallest problems right off the bat, the Magic of Friendship can be turned into something else."

"The Sirens have been counting on that happening since they showed up and hypnotized everyone," said Sonic. "They figured that if they could have their unknowing minions screw everything up for you enough, your power would become theirs and they could take over." Twilight had run the whole thing over in her head, and when she put it all together, she realized they were right.

"I can't believe all this tension was happening right under my nose and I didn't realize it," she said. "I'm supposed to be the one with all the answers, and all I've done since I got here is let you down."

Sunset hesitated at first, but she put her hand on Twilight's shoulder. "I don't think anyone is supposed to have all the answers, but you can count on your friends to help you find them." Then Twilight realized something.

"I think you already have," she said. "Cmon. We need to get out of here."

"Thought you'd never ask," said Sonic and he spindashed into the door, only to bounce off. Quickly everyone bumrushed it in an attempt to force it open, but they fell over on each other.

"Well, that didn't work," said Shadow. Then the door opened to reveal Spike.

"Spike!" said Twilight and the two hugged.

"Sorry I took so long," he said. "I had to find somebody who wasn't under the Sirens' spell to help me get you out." Then the school DJ, Vinyl Scratch poked her head out.

"Just out of curiosity, why isn't she under their spell?" asked Silver.

"Never takes off her headphones." said Spike.

"Okay, that makes sense," said Silver as Vinyl gave them a thumbs-up. Manic bumped his fist to his chest and pointed at her, smiling.

Then Sonic realized he had something in his backpack. Something important. He opened it up and was relieved to see he still had them.

"Cmon y'all," said Applejack. "Time to prove we've still got the Magic of Friendship inside us."

"And there's only one way to do it," said Twilight.

"We're getting the band back together?" asked Pinkie excitedly.

"We're getting our band back together," clarified Rainbow.

"And we want in," said Sonic. "How does the Sonic Rainbooms sound?"

"Whee!" shouted Pinkie.

"I'll take that as a yes." said Sonic.

"Ooh. Which version of the counterspell are we going to play?" asked Rarity.

"Quite honestly, I don't think it matters what song we play," said Twilight.

"As long as we play it together. As a team of friends." finished Sonic.

"I know just the song," said Rainbow, getting everyone worried.

"Uh-oh," said Tails.

"Fluttershy's written a really good one," said Rainbow. Fluttershy smiled cutely and somehow squealed like a happy baby.

"We're about to save the multiverse here," said Applejack. "Personally, I think we should do it in style."

"Agreed," said Silver. "Rarity?"

"I thought you'd never ask." she said, wheeling out a rack.

Sirens: Ahh, ah-ah, ah, ah-ah
Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

Adagio: Welcome to the show

Sonata and Aria: Ah-ah-ah-ah, ah

Adagio: We're here to let you know

Sonata and Aria: Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

Adagio: Our time is now

Sonata and Aria: Ah-ah-ah-ah, ah

Adagio: Your time is running out

Sonata and Aria: Ah, ah, ah

Up on a ridge, both bands were decked out with the outfits Rarity picked for them, holding their instruments.

Twilight was wearing a sapphire blue sleeveless shirt with a gold star on the chest, a magenta skirt with gold stars, twin-colored tight-fitting pants; gold on the left, sapphire blue on the right, and shoes with hot pink trim.

Applejack was wearing a short-sleeve parakeet green cowgirl shirt with strawberry trim, a strawberry colored cowboy hat, a canary yellow skirt with some strawberry pink apples and some Aegean blue at the bottom, a syrup brown belt with an Aegean blue buckle, twin-colored tight-fitting pants; parakeet green on the right and strawberry pink on the left, and gold cowboy boots.

Pinkie was wearing a magenta shirt with an Aegean blue heart on her chest, a sky-blue skirt with magenta, Aegean blue and gold balloons, her usual bracelets, twin-colored tight-fitting pants; magenta on the right and violet on the left, and shoes with cerulean trim.

Rarity was wearing a magenta outfit with a diamond cerulean star on the right side of her chest, cerulean diamonds and eggplant purple musical notes on her skirt, twin-colored tight-fitting pants; cerulean on the right and fuscia pink on the left, and shoes with cerulean trim.

Rainbow was wearing a cerulean sleeveless shirt with a gold lightning bolt going over her right shoulder, a black skirt with cerulean, parakeet, crimson and gold lightning bolts, twin-colored tight-fitting pants; gold on the right and vibrant emerald green on the left, and cerulean shoes with gold lightning highlights.

Fluttershy was wearing a magenta sleeveless shirt with a chartreuse butterfly on the front, a chartreuse and black-striped skirt decorated with magenta butterflies, twin-colored tight-fitting pants; violet on the right and ballet slipper pink on the left and shoes with bright chartreuse trim.

Sonic was wearing an Aegean blue short-sleeve hoodie with scarlet stripes, a canary and white striped t-shirt (stripes going vertical, of course. It looks very slimming), stone blue jeans, and his shoes from "Sonic Adventure 2".

Shadow was wearing a black leather jacket with silver spikes on the shoulders, a crimson shirt, charcoal gray jeans, and new currant red shoes.

Tails was wearing an unzipped gold leather jacket over a marigold t-shirt, bronze jeans, and sky blue shoes, and he was holding his handheld under his arm to generate some typically impossible sounds.

Knuckles was wearing a crimson leather jacket over a sea-foam green shirt, denim jeans, and marigold shoes.

Sonia was wearing a dark blue and white outfit with red gloves, a red fabric belt and dark blue and white boots.

Silver was wearing bright silver jacket, a cloud gray shirt, black jeans, and shoes colored gold and sky blue.

Manic was wearing a shamrock green sleeveless hoodie, a pistachio green t-shirt, cobalt jeans, and scarlet and white stripped shoes.

As they were all watching, Rainbow realized something. "How are we supposed to play over them from up here?" Then they all heard a horn and saw Vinyl driving up in her car. Then she pressed a button on her keys, and the car transformed into an awesome looking portable DJ station. The wheels became giant speakers, there was a kick-ass LED light display with other speakers, the front morphed into a large volume monitor with rainbow lights, huge purple lava-lamps on the sides and Vinyl was up at the control panel.

"Whoa!" said the Rainbooms.

"That'll work," said Sonic. Quickly he plugged everyone's instruments into the car. "Let's do this."

"And quick. Look!" said Knuckles, pointing to the stage. The Dazzlings sent a huge wave of red sound energy down on everyone, hypnotizing everyone.

Sirens: Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ha, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

Feel the wave of sound
As it crashes down
You can't turn away
We'll make you wanna sta-a-ay

Then the Sirens were surrounded by red energy and they started floating. Then their ears shifted into those of ponies, and their hair extended into tails. Then large dragon wings grew out of their backs.

Sirens: We will be adored
Tell us that you want us
We won't be ignored
It's time for our reward

Now you need us
Come and heed us
Nothing can stop us NNNOOOOOOWWW!

Then they heard two fast-paced drumrolls and other people singing. Scourge looked closely and he saw it was Sonic and the Rainbooms. As they played, everyone in the amphitheater snapped out of it.

Sonic Rainbooms: Oh-oh, oh-whoa-oh
I got the music in me
Oh-oh, oh-whoa-oh

Twilight: Don't need to hear a crowd
Cheering out my name

Sonic: I didn't come here seekin'
Infamy or fame

Sonic Rainbooms: The one and only thing
That I am here to bring
Is music, is the music
Is the music in my soul

Then suddenly, everyone started transforming. Twilight, Rainbow and Fluttershy gained their wings, and everyone gained their ears and tails. Then Sonic, Sonia and Manic grew wings. Then everyone gained one or two bright streaks in their hair. They were experiencing new Equestrian Rainbow Power.

Sonic's streaks were gold and crimson, Tails' was white, Knuckles' were tiger orange and emerald green, Manic's were sky blue and lemon yellow, Sonia's were gold and purple, Shadow's was gold, Silver's was cyan, Applejack's was rose red, Rarity's were fuscia pink and cerulean blue, Fluttershy's were chartreuse and violet, Rainbow's stayed the same, but she got some rainbow colors on her wings on the edges of her feathers, Pinkie's were mauve and sky blue and Twilight's were arctic blue and fuscia pink.

Sonic Rainbooms: Gonna break out (Out!)
Set myself free, yeah
Let it all go (Go!)
Just let it be, yeah

Find the music in your heart
Let the music make you start
To set yourself apart!

"So the Sonic Rainbooms wanna turn this into a real Battle of the Bands?" asked Adagio. "Then let's battle." Once the Sirens started singing again, the crowd fell back under their spell.

Adagio: What we have in store (Sonata and Aria: Ah-ah)
All we want and more (Ah-ah)
We will break on through
Now it's time to finish you!

Once she said that the Sirens' eyes glowed red and their gems started glowing too.

"That doesn't look good," said Sonic. Then the Sirens used the power in their pendants to project magic representations of their Equestrian forms; flying hooved dragons with fish-tails. Then the whole sky turned red and dark clouds rolled in.

"That looks worse." said Shadow.

"I think we just made them angry," said Manic and he was right. The Dragon Sirens flew around them like a pack of wolves who had cornered a deer.

"Get ready, guys," said Sonic. Then the Dragon Sirens charged in for the attack when Vinyl raised the volume enough for large rainbow blasts to shoot out of the speakers when Manic and Pinkie played.

Rarity and Sonia played their keyboards and shot a plasma blast surrounded by energy diamonds at Dragon Aria, knocking her away.

Tails made his handheld loudly beep in sync with Fluttershy's tambourine before he activated his arm cannon and fired it at Dragon Adagio while surrounded by energy butterflies Fluttershy summoned.

"Wa-oh Wa-oh!" sang Twilight sending an onslaught of stars at Dragon Adagio. Sonic decided to back her up and fired a blast out of his guitar.

"But Adagio, who had had enough of this charade, sang even higher, knocking back the stars and the blast, and forcing her and Sonic back.

"Hold strong, Twilight!" shouted Sonic. Then all three Dragon Sirens flew up and sang in extremely close harmony, forcing them all back before they fell and the microphone flew out of Twilight's hand. And rolled over to Sunset's foot. She picked it up nervously and saw everyone looking at her.

"Sunset Shimmer!" shouted Twilight.

"We need you!" finished Sonic. She was worried and nervous, but she walked up with a stern look on her face and removed her jacket. Vinyl was about to turn on a drum machine, but Manic stopped her by holding one of his drumsticks under her hand.

"I got this, sweetheart," he said. Then he started banging on the drums as Sunset started singing and helping the others up.

Sunset: You're never gonna bring me down
You're never gonna break this part of me
My friends are here to bring me round
Not singing just for popularity

Sunset and Twilight: We're here to let you know
That we won't let it go

Sonic Rainbooms: Our music is a bomb and it's about to blow

Sunset and Twilight: And you can try to fight
But we have got the light of

Sonic Rainbooms: Friendship on our side!

The Dragon Sirens tried to charge and attack, but everyone held their arms out and released a massive wave of energy, knocking them back, and freeing everyone from the Sirens' spell.

Got the music in our hearts
We're here to blow this thing apart
And together, we will never
Be afraid of the dark

Then Sunset started glowing and floating before she gained her ears and tail.

Here to sing our song out loud
Get you dancing with the crowd
As the music of our friendship
Survives, Survives!

Then everyone glowed their colors and started floating. Huge beams of color shot from everyone and Sonic flew up after it as it formed a huge orb of rainbow energy and enormous blue energy wings appeared on his back as everyone in the crowd of the amphitheater started singing along.

All but Villains: Got the music in our hearts
We're here to blow this thing apart
And together, we will never
Be afraid of the dark

Here to sing our song out loud
Get you dancing with the crowd
As the music of our friendship
Survives, Survives!
SURVIVES!

The Dazzlings were angry their spell had been broken until they saw Sonic in the air with massive blue energy wings, flowing rainbow glowing hair, and white glowing eyes. He held his hand up in the air and warmed up an enormous blast of rainbow colored energy.

"Ultimate… Harmonic…" he shouted. "CHAOS BLAST!" Then he blasted it down at the Sirens, first destroying their dragon avatars, then the gems in their pendants as well as causing some major damage to Scourge and Fiona.

After the blast, the sky had returned to normal and the Dazzlings were on the ground. The Sirens saw that their pendants had been shattered. They grabbed the shards, stood up and tried to sing, but they were horrifyingly offkey. Everyone booed and threw stuff at them, so they started running.

"Oh no ya don't." said Manic who had landed and returned to normal. Then he stomped on the ground and three rocks flew out of the side of the hill and hit all the Sirens in the face, knocking them out. Then Sonic, who had also returned to normal, zipped over and tied them up with a length of rope.

"And that sir, is a wrap," he said, patting Adagio on the head. Shadow had teleported over and handcuffed Scourge and Fiona with special cuffs that nullified their powers.

"I've already called Zonic to come over here and pick them up," he said as a warp-ring opened and a hedgehog in futuristic armor that looked almost exactly like Sonic walked out.

"Thanks for taking them down, Sonic," he said to his counterpart. "Zector and I will handle them from here."

"Glad to be of service," said Sonic as the prisoners were loaded up and flown away through the warp-ring. After they were gone, Sunset walked over and picked up a shard of one of their pendants.

"Guess that explains why these were so special to them." she said.

"Without those pendants and the magic you brought here from Equestria, they're just three harmless teenage girls." said Twilight.

"Well, I wouldn't say teenage girls are completely harmless," said Sonic. "I mean look at Sonia over here." Then Sonia just punched him to the ground but he quickly got up. "I'm okay. I'm good."

"Sonic Rainbooms rule!" shouted Flash as he ran up and hugged Twilight. "That was amazing!" Everyone giggled at them as they blushed. Then they slowly leaned towards each other when all of a sudden, Trixie popped up between them, totally killing the mood.

"You may have vanquished the Dazzlings, but you will never have the amazing, show-stopping ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" she said and threw down another smoke bomb, making everyone cough.

"I hate that." coughed Sonic. Once again, Pinkie was the first to open her eyes and was shocked.

"She's GONE!" she said before she saw her. "Oh wait. There she is." She was climbing over the back of the seats when she lost her balance and fell to the ground.

"Trixie's okay!" she shouted.

"Again with the disappearing act, Trixie!" said Silver. "Too much flash, not enough effect!" Then Flash scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Look Twilight, I know I said some stuff while I was under the Dazzlings' spell, but I just wanna tell you that I was actually fighting it in my head," he said. "Well, what I really mean to say is… I'm sorry."

"It's okay Flash. I know you weren't yourself, but I'm just really glad we fixed everything," she said, hugging him.

"Oh, for god's sake, just kiss already," said Sonic. The two quickly and nonchalantly did so, earning a loud "aww" from the crowd. Shadow quickly took the opportunity to spin Sunset into his arms and kiss her, which she graciously accepted. Sonic smiled at his old rival.

"I know Maria will be proud of you, Shadow." he thought. After the two couples broke the kisses, they hugged and then looked at the others.

"So, what now?" asked Silver.

"Y'know, Twilight is going back to Equestria soon. The Rainbooms could really use someone to help Fluttershy on backup vocals," said Rainbow, looking at Sunset.

Sunset quickly saw a guitar on the side of the stage, grabbed it and played it expertly unlike anyone else would. "I also play guitar," she said simply. Everyone on stage was blown away at that quick riff, Rainbow most of all. Her eyes quickly shifted over to Sonic, Shadow, and Twilight, who weren't.

"We'll see," said Rainbow. Then everyone grabbed Sunset in a strong group hug. Sunset was surprised at first, but then she smiled happily.