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My Little Pony: Sunset's Shimmer

Chapter 6: Honesty

Rainbow gets to her feet, and she still looks down on me. Both in height, and in gaze. The gaze that gave me pause after I interrupted her performance in order to save the band's chances. The gaze that keeps me to the ground as silence fills the gymnasium. Silence that endures, even as I slowly get to my feet. I see the other Rainbooms bar Fluttershy staring at me with a mixture of expressions. I see Celestia and Luna, whose expressions are of bemusement, followed by frowns and quick scribbling on their notepads.

They're not actually scoring the performance are they?

But they are. I thought that by interrupting the performance, a redo would be allowed. But who am I kidding? They've already seen the Rainbooms be sabotaged once and not given a damn. Why should this time be any different?

So I stand there in the light, staring out into the darkness beyond the stage. Standing like a statue, yet my skin nothing like stone. Staring out into the gym, at the assembled school.

"Now that's the bad girl we love to hate!" Flash calls out.

His words open the floodgate, and the gym erupts in a cacophony of insults. All of them directed at me.

"I knew she was still trouble!"

"The real Sunset Shimmer is back!"

"Nice job breaking it hero!"

I stagger back, as if the words are indeed a surge of water. But through it all, I see Trixie, just standing there. Clapping slowly.

"Get off the stage loser!"

"Love your dance routine!"

I glance at my friends, who are already walking off the stage.

"No," I say. "It isn't like that."

But they can't hear me. Not my friends, not the crowd, barely even myself, such is the volume of hatred that's coming my way. Because that's what it is – hatred, and very loud, very abusive hatred at that. The green mist rises again, flowing at greater velocity and in greater volume to the sirens than ever before. I slink off stage and follow my friends – maybe the only thing I can do now is try to mitigate what harm I've done. I've kept the Rainbooms' magic a secret. But at what cost?

Come on silly girl, be honest with yourself.

Her voice is like a dagger in my mind, plunging through flesh and sound, piercing the haze of contempt the gym is generating. It's a haze that clears as I enter the wings, if only slightly.

"Great job," Spike mutters.

I glance down at him. He gives me a glare before he goes to join Twilight. Trying to keep myself steady, I shift my gaze to the Rainbooms, but I find no solace in their eyes either. Contempt, dislike, distrust, as if the last two months haven't happened. That we've not only gone back to zero, we've gone into negatives. Fluttershy looks worried. Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie look angry. And Twilight? She gives me the worst gaze of all.

Disappointment.

I want to say something. Anything. Preferably say something that would count as an explanation. But Rainbow is the one who speaks first.

"What the heck was that all about?" she snarls, glaring at me.

"You were showing them your magic," I stammer. "I…I didn't know what to do."

"Close the curtains?" Rarity snaps. "Unplug her amp? Give us a chance to deal with the situation?"

"I'm sorry," I say. "I just wanted to help."

"Yeah, well, you didn't," Rainbow snaps.

She's right you know.

I barely hear her voice – the demon's, not Rainbow's. Rainbow's voice cuts through deeper than even the devil inside me - not just her words, but her tone. As if, on some level, she's enjoying this. But it fades, as Applejack confronts her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"None of this would have happened if you weren't tryin' to show off. As usual."

Rainbow gives her a shove. "Get your hands off me AJ."

"Hey!" Pinkie exclaims. "Don't you know it's not nice to-"

"I don't need your help Pinkie," Applejack snaps.

A cacophony envelops the Rainbooms, and I put a hand to my chin. They're ignoring me, but I feel no better for it.

"Ahem."

The bickering ends as quickly as it began though, broken by the sound of slow, steady footsteps, and even slower, steadier clapping. Trixie's arrived, smiling like a diamond dog that's found some gems.

"Good show, Rainbrooms," she sneers, walking over towards me and putting her hands on my shoulders.

Get your hands off me.

"I especially liked the part where Sunset Shimmer-"

Don't go there.

"… in a fit of jealous rage-"

Trixie…

"… knocked out Rainbow Dash mid-guitar solo."

"It wasn't a fit of jealous rage!" I yell, right into her face. She recoils from me in shock – is it my face? My words? Or that my fist is clenched?

Behold, the curtain is lifted.

I draw back, and look at my friends. Hoping that they'll back me up. That they understand how I was just trying to help them, and I'm not the same person who would have actually wanted to sabotage their performance. But they say nothing. Do nothing. And I'm left to ask, how could they believe me, when, after this little display, I don't even know if I believe myself?

Say it.

Maybe, on some level, it was jealousy. Maybe, deep down, I'm no different from the girl I was two months ago. I turn back to Trixie, and she smirks.

"If you say so," she chuckles, before glancing to the end of the wings, where Celestia and Luna are going over their notes. "Ooh, looks like they've already decided who'll be moving on to the finals. I'm guessing it wasn't too difficult a decision."

If they're judging the Rainbooms' performance based on their…well, performance, and not accounting for disruptions to said performance, then, yes, I suppose it isn't too hard. Trixie and the Illusions were at least able to continue their piece. I feel tears coming to my eyes, but I shed none. I'm too tired for it. Too tired of water meeting air, to fall on earth. I'm just…tired. I just want it to end.

But it doesn't, as I see the Dazzlings emerge from the doors on the other end of the wings. As the principals stop their writing and look at the sirens as they sing. A simple tune, like the one they sung in the cafeteria. I frown, as I see the principals' eyes go blank – what are they up to? They've got the whole school in their thrall, Luna and Celestia included, what more could they need? I look at the Rainbooms, but they don't notice what's going on, and they're in no mood to hear anything I have to say.

"What can we do?" Rarity asks. "There isn't gonna be another opportunity for us to play. And I had the most gorgeous outfit for the finals."

"Yep, 'cause that's the real tragedy here, Rarity – that you won't get to play dress-up," Applejack snaps.

"You know perfectly well that's not what I meant!"

They look ready to come to blows, but it's Rainbow, of all people, who breaks them up. "You guys wanna keep it down? They're about to announce who's moving on."

"Who are you kidding? You know it's not gonna be us," Fluttershy says. She looks just like I feel. Unlike me, she's actually crying.

I can't contest her assessment. Nor can Trixie, as she stands there, applying makeup to her face. The sirens head out of the wings, while Luna and Celestia head on-stage. Celestia begins to speak.

"The band that will be joining the Dazzlings in tonight's finals is…"

Trixie begins to head on-stage.

"The Rainbooms!" Celestia declares.

"What?!" Trixie exclaims.

"What?" I ask.

"What?!" the Rainbooms blurt out.

What? The demon whispers.

What? Comes yet another voice.

"Did she just say the Rainbooms?" Pinkie asks.

Yeah, they did. No idea how, or why, but, somehow, we…I mean the Rainbooms…have made it to the finals.

Trixie storms past us like a banshee on the warpath. "This isn't over," she snarls.

Confused, the Rainbooms nonetheless walk onstage, a tidal wave of boos and jeers assaulting them. I stay put in the wings with Spike – I'm not part of the band, and there's no need to add fuel to the fire. In a rare moment of clarity, I watch as Luna gestures to the assembly to stop, and surprisingly, they do. Enough for Celestia to say in the most trance-like voice imaginable, "congratulations girls. You deserve it."

"Seriously?" Pinkie asks. "We didn't even finish our-"

Rainbow elbows her, and Pinkie shuts up. I smile, only to frown as I see the Dazzlings walk on from the other side of the stage. "See you at the big show, Rainbooms," Adagio says. "We're really looking forward to it."

"Yeah, well, not as much as we are," Rainbow retorts awkwardly, even as the Dazzlings already head off-stage again. Her words are met with yet another tidal wave of boos from the crowd, even more vitriolic than last time.

"Zis never should haf been you, Rainbooms!"

"It should have been me!"

"Worst! Sister! Ever!"

It's Applebloom who says that. Applejack's sister. I don't how I pick out her voice, I just-

"Go back to the wardrobe Rarity it's all you're good at!"

And that's Sweetie Belle. Rarity's sister. Only days ago, they, along with Scootaloo, were painting a banner in this very gym. They looked at me with unease as I came to help them, but not with cruelty. Nothing like this.

I stay put in the wings as the Rainbooms head through the gym. Through the gauntlet of an entire school, while the principals just stand there, oblivious to the whirlwind before them. On one level, I'm relieved that I don't have to go through the maelstrom myself. But on the other, I'm frightened.

Frightened because there's no way the Rainbooms should have won. Frightened because I think the only reason they were allowed to progress to the finals was that the sirens wanted them to. Frightened because I can't think of any reason why the sirens would want that. To stir up the school? Maybe, it's the kind of negative energy they feed on, but they know we're on to them, why not just let us fail now?

So I stand there, in silence, deep in thought.

I can't even hear her voice this time.

---

Power…was all that I desired.

But all that grew inside me,

Was a darkness I acquired.

When I began to fall,

And I lost the path ahead.

That's when your friendship found me,

And it lifted me instead.

Like a phoenix burning bright,

In the sky.

I'll show there's another side to me,

You can't deny.

The words are sung softly under my breath. Their sound is hollow, and they leave a bitter taste in my mouth. Because the debacle in the gym was only a few hours ago, and not only is my friendship with the Rainbooms as thin as a guitar string, my 'other side' might as well not exist in the eyes of the school. Still, as some consolation, their eyes won't be on me for the rest of the day. It's late afternoon, and I'm helping my friends set up their gear in the amphitheatre. Not just instruments, mind you, but amps, microphones, the lot. The entire school's going to be here after all, and they have to hear the song. Specifically, the counter-spell. It's just as well that the Rainbooms are playing first, because I don't want to imagine what damage the sirens could cause if the order was reversed.

So the Rainbooms set up their instruments, and I help them. Spike helps Pinkie look for a lost drumstick. Twilight is going over her notebook. Fluttershy is fixing her tambourine, Applejack tuning her bass, and Rarity idly playing irregular notes on her keytar. "Awkward" is the word I'd use to describe the scene before me – the girls look more interested in their instruments than each other, and a sense of unease permeates everything. I head over to an amp, and-

"Hey."

I spin around and see Rainbow heading towards me. It's a sight that causes a black hole to form in my stomach, yearning to swallow me up. Nonetheless, I force a smile.

"Hey."

She stops in front of me, awkwardly running a hand down her arm. "Listen," she says. "I, er…"

She trails off. I want to say something, but keep my mouth shut.

"Point is, I mean…I'm sorry for yelling at you."

I blink. "Huh?"

"About the whole stage thing," she continues. "I mean, I get that you were trying to cover for me, and, yeah, you could have done a better job, and you didn't, but, spur of the moment, and we're in the finals anyway, so, um, yeah. We're cool, right?"

She says all this very fast, but I smile nonetheless. "Thanks," I say. I hold out a hand. With a smaller smile, she nonetheless takes my palm, and shakes it firmly.

"Cool," she says. "I mean, it's cool that we're cool, and, well, yeah. Cool."

"Cool," I repeat.

"Awesome." She turns to her mike, but spins back at me. "Hey, did I hear you singing?"

"What?" I blurt out.

"Yeah, I thought I heard you singing something," she says. "Something about power, or something? I mean, you can't have too much power, but, I mean, it sounded good, and-"

"No," I say quickly. "I can't sing worth a damn."

"Huh." She raises an eyebrow, and I feel sweat trickle down my neck. "Coulda sworn…well, okay. But hey, don't be so hard on yourself." She pats me on the shoulder. "Say, could you give me a hand with the amp?"

"Sure," I say, and head over, while she heads back to the mic.

Why did you lie?

I ignore the voice, even though it sounds more like my own, and not like the demon that's plagued me for the last two months.

Do you have an answer?

I keep ignoring it. I can't sing, and even if I could, it wouldn't make any difference. The Rainbooms are going to sing Twilight's song, they're going to break the Dazzlings' spell, and everything will be back to normal. If I'm lucky, the school will forget my little escapade in the gym, and go back to hating me for the old, regular reasons that they had to despise me – attempted enslavement, bullying, lie-spreading, property damage, etc.

"Testing," Rainbow says, tapping her mic. "Testing…"

Absent-mindedly, I turn up the volume amplifier.

"Testing."

Turn it up far too much, as an echo rocks out over the amphitheatre. I turn it down and grin sheepishly at them. I don't get any grins in return, but at the least, I don't get any accusations of me trying to sabotage the performance. So, hey – that counts as a victory, right? But that awkwardness that has been with us over the past few hours, and finally, it's Fluttershy who breaks it.

"This doesn't make any sense," she says. We all look at her. "We were awful. Doesn't anyone think it strange that we're the ones who made it to the finals?"

"Very strange," comes a voice.

All of our eyes turn to the source of it. It's Trixie, accompanied by the other two members of the Illusions. They look at us with a mixture of loathing and contempt. Basically par for the course at Canterlot High these days.

"What are you doing here Trixie?" Rainbow sneers. "Pretty sure the losers are supposed to be up there in the cheap seats."

I frown – did she really need to use the term 'losers?' Especially since that it makes no sense that the Rainbooms won? What happened to the Rainbow Dash of two minutes ago? Heck, what happened to the Rainbow Dash of two weeks ago? The Rainbow who wouldn't have to apologize for chewing me out, because she never would have done it in the first place?

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is the most talented girl in Canterlot High," Trixie declares, showing her penchant for theatrics and the ability to refer to herself in the third person. "It is I who deserves to be in the finals. And I will not be denied."

And she also shows her ability to not use conjunctions. Not to mention…wait…why are the other Illusions with the lever at the other side of the stage and-

Oh no.

They pull it. The centre of the stage opens up and we fall into the underground storage area, along with our instruments. All of us bar Spike, who's nowhere to be seen. Trixie cackles and kneels down at the edge of the trapdoor. "See you never," she sneers, waving a hand before the door closes. Leaving us in darkness, bar small slivers of light that make it through the door's cracks. Leaving us sprawled on the floor, helpless. Alone.

"Well," Rainbow says. "This sucks."

---

Ya better believe,

I got tricks up my sleeve.

And I captivate

'Cause I'm powerful and grea-ea-eat.

Trixie's music reaches us below the stage. We've been down here for a few hours, and she's been performing for a few minutes. Long enough to remind me that yes, the Great Powerful Trixie does have tricks up her sleeve, and it's because of those tricks that we're down here. Because of the illuminated stage, enough light makes it through the cracks for us to see each other, and the ten by eight room we're stuck in.

I look around the room – Pinkie and Applejack are lying on the ground, Fluttershy and Twilight are curled up in balls, and Rarity, while still standing, lets out a yawn. I'm seated as well, leaning against the wall. With only the whispers of a demon for company.

Failure.

It's been like this for hours. Her voice, over and over. Keeping me in place as I watch Rainbow shoulder-barge into the door again, in yet another attempt to open it. It works as well as the other thousand times – a door that's still in place, and a sore shoulder. I watch as she rubs it after her latest attempt.

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

Rainbow glares at her before returning her gaze to the door. Rainbow's headstrong, but that doesn't translate into physical strength – not enough to barge through a locked door at least. And yet, I think to myself, what else can we do?

Nothing. You failed.

"Maybe it doesn't even matter that we're trapped down here," Twilight murmurs, getting to her feet. "I don't think the counter-spell was even going to work."

"Course it would've worked Twilight," says Applejack. "Assumin' a certain band member didn't try to hog the spotlight the whole time we were tryin' to play it."

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

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

I see Twilight back away. I don't blame her.

Say something.

"Me?" Rainbow asks. "I'm just trying to make sure my band rocks as hard as it needs to."

"Our band!" the girls yell.

This is wrong.

Stay away.

Enough.

Quiet!

There's a maelstrom of voices in my head, their howls matched only by the commotion that erupts among the girls - Rarity and Applejack on one side of the argument, Rainbow on the other. Yet my eyes drift to Twilight, who's in the corner again.

"But why wasn't it working?" she rambles. "I should know what to do. How could I not know what to do? How could I have failed like this?"

I want to help her, but-

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

But the argument is continuing, and-

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

Now Fluttershy steps in. "I write songs! You just never let us play any of them!"

"I had the most perfect outfits for us to wear!" Rarity adds.

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

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

This has to stop.

That voice. I hear it again, and for a moment, I start to act on it. I step forward, towards the ruckus, and-

"Hey! Anybody here remember fun?! I'll give you a hint: It's the exact opposite of being in the Rainbooms!"

Pinkie has stepped in. Screaming like a maniac, and waving her arms like one as well. I take two steps back.

"I wish I never asked any of you to be in my band!" Rainbow yells.

"I wish I'd never agreed to be in it!" cries Rarity.

"Me neither!" yell Applejack and Fluttershy together.

"Um, guys?" I whisper.

They don't hear me. They don't even see me. They're arguing amongst themselves, all five of them. They're not even taking sides, as it becomes a free for all of who can be the most vicious. Applejack, the hillbilly. Rarity, the prissy who's obsessed with fashion. Fluttershy the coward, Pinkie Pie the insane one, Rainbow the…well, many things, none of them good. Their voices echo throughout the room, wrapping around me like malignant mist.

And behold how it ends, comes the voice of one I know all too well. With a bang, while you whimper.

I glance at Twilight, who's now got her arms wrapped around her legs, her face to the ground. Uncaring of the anger that's on display before her.

How did this happen?

That voice is my own. Not the demon's, not the other one that's kept nudging at me for the last few hours, mine. And I don't have an answer to it. Any more than I do have an answer as to whether the she-demon that's haunted me for the last two months is really a distinct entity, or whether I'm just outright insane. I suppose I'll never find out at this rate – maybe if I'm lucky, before the sirens enslave this world, I can make it back to Equestria and-

Coward!

That voice. It's not hers, and it's not mine. I guess I really am on the path of insanity.

I see the girls arguing, the intensity of their argument getting more so by the second. I see anger. Rage. Contempt. And worst of all, I see a mist coming out of them. Five streams, rising through the cracks in the stage door above us. The same mist that I saw in the cafeteria and the gym. That horrible green mist that only the Rainbooms and I seem to be aware of.

Except…it's not green. I mean, it is, sort of, but the greenness is secondary, and it isn't even uniform. From each of the Rainbooms, the mist is mixed with a different colour. From Applejack, orange. Fluttershy, yellow. Pinkie's is pink, while for Rarity and Rainbow, it's white and blue respectively. Five streams of mist, pouring up through the ceiling, as Trixie finishes her song. Yet I don't think she's behind this. Because it isn't long before I hear another sound, namely that of the Dazzlings. An actual siren's call, as they begin their song, not that different to when they sung to Celestia in the gym, or the students in the cafeteria. But it's louder. Beautiful, even. But horrifying, as I see the mist swirl and turn into smaller, more directed streams. Going towards them. Feeding them.

Say something.

I bite my lip…it's not my place, but-

Be quiet.

I can't help them.

Liar.

But if I could-

Be honest.

Maybe-

Silly girl.

I shouldn't-

Useless! You can't sing, you can't play, you're not in a band for a reason, you have no friends, you'll never be liked, so for goodness sake, don't rock the boat!

It's not my place to say, and-

Enough!

For a second, I see the girls arguing.

A second later, I see something else.

---

"Sunset."

I know that voice, and I'm afraid. I know, in the darkness of my mind, that it is not the body of a human that holds me, but of my normal pony self. I know the mirror that's in front of me is the same mirror that led me to this world all those years ago. And I fear what I may see inside it.

"Come to me."

This isn't the first time I've found myself in my old body. Insanity has a strange sense of humour I guess. But nonetheless, I step forward on all four hooves – how could I disobey one who bears my own voice?

"Look."

I'm at the mirror, but I glance aside. I can't be here. The demon has haunted my dreams and my waking hours, but she's never been so powerful as to pull me out of the waking world. I need to get out of here, to help my friends.

You've lost. You can't help them.

Yeah, that's true I guess. I failed them. The sirens are going to win, and-

"Look at me!"

I let out a yell, as the mirror lets out a burst of light. I shield my eyes with a hoof, its touch feeling alien against my hair. I can't. I won't.

"Look at me," the voice says, more softly this time.

Slowly, I lower my hoof. By my will, or that of the mirror, I can't say. But as my eyes fall upon its glass once more, I feel hatred well within me. This damn mirror cost me everything. This mirror is in another world that I exiled myself from. Why would it return to taunt me now? Nevertheless, my eyes fall upon its surface, and I stare.

It's not the demon. It's me.

I stumble backwards, but in the void that is my mind, I'm not sure that distance means anything. I notice that the image in the mirror doesn't match my movements, but it's still me. Sunset Shimmer. Unicorn. Normal. Looking at me in sorrow.

"Did you expect someone else?" she asks.

Don't answer her.

"This is your mind," the image says. "Will you listen to her, or to yourself?"

"What are you?" I whisper.

"You know the answer," she says. "And you know what I'm not."

I do – she isn't the alicorn I saw all those years ago. That vision of myself – a future self, now lost to infinity.

"Was it you?" I ask. "The other thing I saw that day?"

"You know the answer."

"I don't. I don't know anything!"

"You do. You can't lie here."

"I…I suppose…" I sigh. "Maybe I saw nothing, when Celestia took me away from the mirror. Maybe I saw this world. Canterlot High. But I…" I take a breath, remembering the nightmare of two nights past. "I can't have seen her."

"Who?"

"The…thing that's been with me since the Fall Formal." I take a step towards the mirror. "And I don't know who you are either. Or why I'm even here."

"You're here," says the other me, "because on some level, you know what you have to do. Both in your mind, and outside it."

"Do what?" I snap.

"You know the answer."

"You've said that already!"

"I say only what you already know."

She just stands there in the mirror. My alter ego. My id. Or some other nonsense. I guess the only reason I'm here is that I know I've failed so terribly, that retreating into my mind is the only recourse I have left. I turn away from her, and-

"So good to see you."

See her, rise in front of me, crawling out from the darkness as if from Tartarus itself. The demon. I take a step back.

"You can't run," she whispers. "Not in here. Not in my domain."

"It isn't your domain," says my voice from the mirror.

"You know it to be true, don't you?" the demon sneers. It's only now that I can appreciate how large she is compared to me. As a human, she was already taller thn me. In here, she remains as tall, and as a pony, I stand at a mere three feet. I let out a whimper.

Don't give in.

My voice, in my own mind. Whispering. As if it's the intruder here.

"Come now," the demon says, grinning. "You know that you've lost. And-"

"What are you?" I say.

The demon blinks. "What?"

"What are you?" I repeat.

"Me?" The demon smirks, yet her lip trembles. "I'm the manifestation of your failure. I'm the spawn of the Crown of Harmony, when you put it on your damn head. I'm you, in flesh and bone."

"Only in my mind."

"Everywhere you go, you see me," she says, taking a step forward. "You hear me in your ear, you feel me in your breast. I'm your spawn, and you'll never be rid of me. The Elements of Harmony have a power beyond anything you can conceive, and you, silly girl, thought you could harness it." The demon sniggers. "Defeated, you might call me, but what is defeat next to vindication?"

"I-"

She strikes me, and I let out a yell, as her claws tear through my cheek. I gaze up through the darkness, as she rises. Triumphant. Resplendent. Resurgent.

Resurgent?

She's there, above me. With me. But I…

It wasn't always so.

I look back at the mirror. I see me, looking at…me.

"You know what she is," the image says. "What I am."

"Enough!" the demon yells, enraged. Or…in fear?

"You know why she's afraid," the image continues.

"Why?" I whisper.

"Be quiet!"

"Her fear is yours," the image says. "Fear of rejection. Fear of loss. Fear of isolation. Fear, in place of anger. What is she but you?"

The demon hisses, but I barely hear her. All I hear is the sound of my own voice.

"Even now you're afraid," my mirror image says. "But you're nearly there. You know why it's yourself you see here."

"Why?" I ask.

"Silly girl," the demon says. "You're meant to know, are you not?"

My mirror self nonetheless answers. "Once, not too long ago, you would have seen upon this glass what you saw three years ago. You, an alicorn princess. A ruler. Alone. Now, what do you see but a normal unicorn?"

"Useless," the demon sneers. "Weak."

"I see you," I say, walking up to the mirror. "But I…I don't know if…"

"You do know," the mirror image says. "You know, but you're afraid. You know that you've done terrible things, but you've held yourself back, never believing you could not let your past define you. You know that you can sing, but you hold back, even as your own song is telling you what you need to hear. You can play the guitar, but you never even mention it for fear of rejection. You know that you're capable of generosity and kindness, yet you put yourself down every time. The Rainbooms are your friends, yet until recently, you hesitated to even call them as such, believing yourself unworthy. But you've laughed with them. Shown loyalty to them. Helped them every step of the way, even as they let their own demons consume them."

"And failed them," my demon says.

"No," the mirror pony says. "You know exactly what you have to say. You know what's going on right now, outside your mind. Generosity, kindness, friendship, laughter, loyalty. You know you're capable of all of that. Now, all that remains is for you to be honest. To be honest with them. Be honest with yourself."

"Honest with myself," I mutter. My eyes widen, and finally, I see.

"You," I whisper. "You're me."

"You. Me." I…she…sighs. "Two months, you've been haunted by yourself. Two months, I've waited. I…her…" she says, nodding at the demon. "You know what we are. And now that you know, you can cast her out."

"Never," the demon snarls.

"Never indeed," I…or she, says. "Never again will you see yourself as an alicorn. But at last, you've accepted that. You see yourself in the mirror, not vain ambition. You've accepted the ill that you've done, and that some doors can never be re-opened. But new ones can open for you, even while those behind remain forever closed. Now it's time to accept that there are those in this world, and in another, that have forgiven you. All that's left is to forgive yourself."

The demon says nothing. My mirror self says nothing. I, alone in my mind, say nothing. But now, in the dark, at the eleventh hour…I understand. I turn to the demon and finally see her for what she is. She bears her teeth, her forked tongue behind them, but it's too late. Maybe she'll always be here, in my mind. Waiting to spring out. Maybe I'll never be rid of her. But I don't have to heed or acknowledge her.

"I'll always be here," she whispers.

"Maybe," I say. "But down in the dark is the only place you'll ever be."

I turn to the mirror and see myself. I take a step towards it, and for the first time, the image mirrors my own movements. I smile, and see it reflected. I recall her now – in my dream. The one who was there, just before I woke. The one who'll always be here, in the dark, providing a final light. The light that's in all of us, to keep our darkness in check. In me, in the Rainbooms, in everyone. The one light I have to find in them, now that I've found it in myself. Like magic, almost. Or friendship.

"I'm ready," I say.

---

I blink, and find myself back in the room.

I can still hear the sirens singing and my friends arguing. I can still see the mist pouring up through the cracks in the ceiling. I don't know how long I've been gone, if at all – I once read that one's mind works faster when dreaming. Even if some feel like they last a lifetime. But, I think to myself, I can't have been gone that long – the sirens are still singing without words, so they must be at their song's intro. And sure enough, the mist is still feeding them. So I take a breath, as I prepare myself – everything's clear to me now. Like a mirror.

"Stop!" I yell.

Even if I risk breaking it.

"You have to stop," I continue. "This is what they've been after all along! They're feeding off of the magic inside you!"

The Rainbooms stop arguing and look at me with looks ranging from bemusement to contempt. I can still see the mist coming from them, if not as rapidly.

"How can they be using our magic? It's the magic of friendship," Applejack says, frowning.

I take a breath, as fear once again touches my heart. I glance at Twilight, who's still sitting in the corner, and gives me a bemused look. Turning back to the Rainbooms, I tell myself that I have to be honest. Have to be firm. I have to, at last, speak up. For the mist is there, and if I screw this up, it's going to come out a lot faster, and a lot harder.

"Listen," I begin. "Ever since you started this band, you've been letting little things get to you. I mean, you were great at first, and guys, you are great. Really great. But ever since the Dazzlings showed up, it's gotten worse." I cast my gaze over all of them. "Which songs to play. Who was leading. Who was lagging behind. Cracks, spreading through all of you. Which led you here. Left you broken."

They keep staring at me in silence.

"I never said anything because I didn't feel it was my place," I continue. "Not when I'm so new to this whole friendship thing. Not after all I did." I briefly close my eyes, preparing for backlash – none comes my way. Only the sirens pierce my mind. A mind that's now bereft of her.

"I know I still have a lot to learn," I say, opening my eyes once more. "But I do know that if you don't work out even the smallest problems right at the start, the magic of friendship can be turned into something else."

I want to say "something ugly," but I bite my tongue. The Rainbooms are still looking at me, but the faces are different. Embarrassment. Shame. I don't say "ugly," because none of them could be called that. Not on the outside, and despite all that's happened, not on the inside either. For I realize now, that we all have our demons. And the last thing I could live with is to let any of my friends fall to theirs, as I did. Rainbow, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy…yes, friends. Now. Forever. I smile, and see that at last, the mist is gone. For a brief moment, the Dazzlings falter in their song.

Twilight gets to her feet and walks up to us. "I can't believe all this tension was happening right under my nose and I didn't realize it," she says. "I'm supposed to be the one with all the answers. And all I've done since I got here is let you down."

I hesitate, before putting a hand on her shoulder. "I don't think anyone is supposed to have all the answers," I say. "But you can count on your friends to help you find them.

I gesture to the Rainbooms, my friends, and they smile. So does Twilight. I remain silent, and think of what I didn't say. That I know what it's like to think that you're at the top. That never seeking answers elsewhere will only leave you alone. But as grim a reminder of my past as that is, for me now, it's a piece of comfort. Knowledge that I'll never go down my path again. And that I may have saved my friends from falling to their demons as well.

"I think you already have found the answer," Twilight says. "Come on. We need to get out of here."

We get into formation, all seven of us. Ready to break down the door. Rainbow couldn't do it alone. But as seven, we can't be stopped. As seven, I know that we can do this. As seven, as one, we charge…and fall onto our feet as the damn door won't give way.

Damn it!

This isn't right. I can still hear the sirens singing, and if we don't get out soon, we-

"Hey guys."

That's Spike. Standing at the door. The door that just opened for us from the outside.

"Spike!" Twilight exclaims, hugging him.

"Sorry I took so long," he explains. "I had to find somebody who wasn't under the sirens' spell to help you out."

He gestures to DJ Pon, who appears in the doorway as well. The girl I saw in the courtyard earlier today.

"Why isn't she under their spell?" Twilight asks.

Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing. I mean, she didn't appear affected then, she doesn't appear affected now, and-

"Never takes off her headphones," Spike grins.

Oh.

DJ Pon smiles and gives us the thumbs up. She seems unusually okay with the whole 'talking dog, evil singers, swirling green mist of doom' thing, but hey, I'm not complaining. Two months ago she was in my zombie army, so I guess this is a step down in insanity for her.

"Come on y'all," Applejack says. "Time to prove we've still got the magic of friendship inside us."

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

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

"No," says Rainbow. "We're getting our band back together."

The Rainbooms begin collecting their instruments, and start taking them to DJ Pon's car. When I ask as to why, she only gives it a tap, and gestured to a nearby hill.

"Can't we play in the theatre?" I say.

She shakes her head.

I take her at her word (well, if that counts as a "word" I guess) – don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Yeah, that's a saying here – luckily gift ponies aren't a thing in Equestria. Well, mostly.

"But the counter-spell," Rarity says suddenly, as DJ Pon loads Pinkie's drums. "Which version are we going to play? You had us rehearse quite a few versions as I recall."

"Yeah, I did," Twilight says, glancing at me for a moment. "But I don't think it matters. All that matters is that whatever we play, we play together. As friends. That we give it our all, and don't hold back."

The Rainbooms nod, as do I. We all get it. Even Rainbow, who says, "in that case, I know just the song."

Applejack rolls her eyes, and-

"Fluttershy's written a really great song," Rainbow says. "I think it's about time that we play it."

Fluttershy looks at Rainbow as if Christmas has come early. Applejack, meanwhile, is looking at Rarity. "One more thing," she says. "We're about to save the world here. I think we should do it in style. Rarity?"

Rarity now looks like Christmas has come early too. "I thought you'd never ask," she exclaims, before pulling out a clothing rack, containing six costumes. One for each of the Rainbooms. She must have worked on them despite the drama, and stored them here just in case the girls wanted to use them.

There's something that hits me in all this – the idea of saving the world. I don't know if that's true – the town, maybe, but the world? I can't say, but I won't deny how high the stakes are. But that's not what hits me. Not even as we drive off in DJ Pon's car, not as we still hear the sirens. No. It's how that, for the first time in years, despite all that's happened, and all that's happening, I feel at ease.

I feel at home.

---

Standing on a hill overlooking the amphitheatre, that feeling of ease isn't as prominent anymore. Nor is the idea that the world itself might not be at stake.

A green mist covers all of Canterlot, and the amphitheatre is at its centre. Streams of mist make their way to the stage – a heart of darkness that's surrounded by neon lights. All roads lead to Canterlot, I reflect, thinking of the Canterlot of my world – the capital of Equestria, not some backwater. But this world has a similar saying – "all roads lead to Rome." It isn't comforting, as in this world, Rome burnt. I can see why DJ Pon thought it best to take us to Horsehead Hill, rather than have us duke it out in the amphitheatre.

So the Rainbooms and I stand on the hill, looking down in dismay at the amphitheatre. The entire school standing their motionless, enraptured. Even from here, we can hear the sirens – up until now, their song has been nothing but a hymn, not that different from when they sang to Celestia. Or a requiem, I reflect – a requiem given by a shark before devouring its prey, smiling as only a shark could.

Welcome to the show.

We're here to let you know.

Our time is now.

Your time is running out.

And the sirens sing as only they can. The lyrics don't matter, not their implications. All that matters are their voices – beautiful. Horrible. Enrapturing. Repulsive. Monophonic music, with polyphonic meaning. A sonata well on its way to the coda.

"How are we supposed to play over them from up here?" Rainbow asks.

DJ Pon's car rolls up with the honk of its horn. It stops, and begins to transform. My eyes widen as I realize that it isn't just a car, it's a portable sound system – lights, records, speakers, everything. The girls cheer – I'm happy too, but all that's running through my mind right now is what the heck?

But we can't afford to look a gift pony in the mouth right now. Not that I'd want to look a gift pony in the mouth, since that comes from a darker period of Equestira's history than I care to recall. But as the Rainbooms set up their instruments, and I turn my gaze back to the amphitheatre, I'm reminded of slavery nonetheless. Because the crowd is still standing there, motionless – it's the most quiet concert I've ever seen. And also the only concert I've ever seen where I've actually seen sound. Bands of red light, thrumming into the air, only to come crashing down on the audience. The Dazzlings seem to be on it as well.

Feel the wave of sound,

As it crashes down.

You can't turn away,

We'll make you wanna sta-a-a-ay.

There's a flash of red light, and I realize it must have come from their amulets. I see how the three Dazzlings levitate into the air, still singing, the crowd still in their thrall, oblivious to the display of magic in front of them. Oblivious to the wording of their death sentence.

We will be adored.

Tell us that you want us.

We won't be ignored.

It's time for our reward.

Oblivious to the bat-like wings that grow out of the sirens' bodies. Of how their teeth grow longer and sharper.

Now you need us.

Come and heed us.

Nothing can stop us now.

I look at Twilight and the band. They're set up, and ready to rock, in every sense of the word. I give her a nod, and she returns it. As one, the Rainbooms begin to sing Fluttershy's song for the first time. A song they all knew, but only now, does it have voice given to it.

Oh-oh, oh-whoa-oh,

I've got the music in me.

Oh-oh, oh-whoa-oh.

The sirens falter, their song grinding to a halt – no doubt they weren't expecting this. It's become a real battle of the bands, and Twilight's leading the charge.

Don't need to hear a crowd,

Cheering out my name.

I didn't come here seeking,

Infamy or fame.

I can see movement in the amphitheatre – the music is working. Already more powerful than any counter-spell – all the girls had to do was sing.

The one and only thing,

That I am here to bring,

Is music, is the music,

Is the music in my soul!

Bar DJ Pon, who's playing her turntables in the background, the girls begin to 'pony up.' The thing we've been trying to avoid over the past few days now flows as naturally as the melody. From each of the girls, a tail and ears. From Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow, wings as well. But the difference is academic, as all of them bar Pinkie rise into the air (such is the weight of her drums). Each of them glowing with their element of harmony. Each radiant, and not just from Rarity's costumes.

Gonna break out (Out!),

Set myself free, yeah.

Let it all go (Go!),

Just let it be, yeah.

Nor is it just the lyrics.

Find the music in your heart,

Let the music make you start,

To set yourself apart.

It's that finally, they're willing to just sing. But the Dazzlings aren't giving up.

What we have in store,

All we want and more,

We will break on through,

Now it's time to finish you!

The sirens sing as well, if what they're doing can be described as 'singing.' I feel a chill run down my spine, and sweat collect on my neck. Their words become nothing more than a siren's call – a scream, almost. Louder and louder, increasing in pitch. I let out a gasp, as there's a flash of red light, and the night sky turns the same colour. As the flash fades, and I see the amphitheatre in horrible, terrifying clarity. The Dazzlings are still there, levitating. But above each of them is a different creature – one gold, one violet, one cerulean. Each of them looking bearing hooves, fins, and fangs. Like dragons, but much smaller. Yet even more horrifying. For these are the sirens in their own forms, separate from their human shells.

"Astral projection," I murmur.

Only Twilight would understand the meaning of that – the Rainbooms have fallen silent, so chances are, she might have even heard me say it. Either way, she no doubt understands what we're…or they're…up against. In this world, where magic doesn't work like it does in Equestria, the sirens have broken the rules. They've revealed not only their real forms, but have used astral projection, a feat that would be beyond all but the most powerful magic users in my world. They must have absorbed so much energy from the school, that they can still accomplish this.

So while Adagio Dazzle, Sonata Dusk, and Aria Blaze hover above the stage, their projections fly towards us. Circle us, like the shark I was reminded of earlier. The Rainbooms begin playing again though, uncowed – not sing, mind you, just play, as loudly as they can, while still keeping a melody. Sound barrels towards the sirens – actual physical sound. Each of it a different shape and colour, depending on their instrumentalist. I kneel down and cover my ears – it feels like my ear drums are about to burst. A fire dances behind my eyes, as light and sound mix in the air around me. If this can still be called a battle of the bands, it's entered the melee phase – where tactics are thrown to the wind, and all that matters is brute force. And deep down, I feel…useless. A peasant caught between two armies. Without weapon or armour, who can only hope to survive.

Useless.

I hear her voice again. Even now, in this maelstrom, I hear her.

But only for a moment, as I see the golden siren (Adagio, by my reckoning), let out a scream – I feel like screaming myself, as one of my ears begins to bleed. Red energy rings come from her mouth, and the Rainbooms once again falter. Daring to open my eyes, I see her fellow sirens line up alongside her. All of three of them let out a barrage – there's a melody, somewhere, in that hell. But it's discordant. Horrible. And so powerful that I see dust being blown away, and the Rainbooms be pushed back in the hurricane.

No.

They're faltering. Falling. Stumbling.

Not like this.

The sirens sing…no, scream, even louder.

We can't lose! Not now!

It occurs to me that there is no "we," that all I've done for the last five minutes is stand on the sidelines. But only briefly, as I can ill afford self-pity right now. Not as the Rainbooms fall down into the dirt, defeated. Pinkie's drums and DJ Pon's sound system are still standing, but even so, what can they do? Seven band members have failed to stop the sirens, and five of them have literally been knocked off their feet. Twilight even loses her microphone, losing her grip on it, causing it to fly through the air. Landing down in the dirt. Rolling towards my feet.

Pick it up.

I do so – why now, I wonder, do I hear those voices again? Why now, when so much actual sound is around me? I stare at it, the device feeling alien to my hands. I hold it close, unwilling to let it go, unable to do the unthinkable.

"Sunset, we need you!" Twilight calls out.

Unable to act, when Twilight has requested something that won't make a difference. The sirens have won, and as their astral forms hover in the air above us, grinning, I can tell that they know it. Canterlot will fall. The world will fall. Equestria too might fall. We've failed. I've failed. And all I've got to even try to avert that fate is one single microphone and-

Sing.

Whose word is that, I wonder? I can't tell anymore. Maybe soon, it won't matter. But as I glance at the Rainbooms, my friends, I realize that I have no choice. Generosity, kindness, loyalty, honesty, and laughter – they've given it all to me. Most importantly, given me their friendship. I can only do the same for them.

So with microphone in hand, I walk forward. I toss my jacket aside, and stand tall, the wind in my hair. I face the visages of three sirens, all of them wearing the mask of a demon. Somewhere, within me, is a demon of another kind, waiting for any opportunity to surface. I know, at this moment, as light and sound become one, however this may end, that she'll never take hold of me again. All that's left is one final act.

To sing.