Two Days Until Portal Closes

DJ strode through the hallways of Canterlot High, like a man on a mission. Which he was. As he walked, he continually scanned the crowd of young adults around him, looking for a certain female in particular. As he did so, the girls and Spike walked behind him casually, though Twilight and Spike were noticing something DJ either didn’t or wasn’t caring to. All around them, the two Equestrians noticed that a majority of the student body were not in good spirits. They all seemed moody, and none of them were good moods. They saw several in heated arguments, others glaring at one another, and some just hiding away in the shadows.

“Jeeze, what is with everybody at this school?” Spike asked aloud. “It’s like everyone has a stick up their plot.”

“Yes,” Rarity sighted out. “The students around here keep becoming more and more uncouth. They yell, glare, hide, and I could swear I head Berry Punch muttering death threats the other day.”

“It’s like nobody wants to be happy anymore,” Pinkie said dejectedly.

“When did all of this happen?” Twilight asked.

“Couple weeks after you left,” replied Rainbow. “We lost the championship because no one was willing to work as a team.” She looked very, very, angry. “Bunch of losers!”

DJ kept striding forward, not paying enough attention to the student body to notice their attitudes. Then he spotted her. The lightning-blue hear, the signature purple shades, and the rocking headphones. He found her: the humanized Vinyl Scratch. The disk jockey was currently speaking with somebody that DJ didn’t recognize. The girl had turquoise hair and green skin, wearing a dark turquoise shirt and matching jeans. She didn’t look like anybody DJ would remember from Ponyville, but he didn’t dwell on it: he had a musician to speak with.

“Apologies if I am interrupting something, but could I speak with Miss Scratch in private for a moment?” DJ asked as he walked over to the pair. The new girl glared at him for a moment, but stopped just as suddenly and smiled at him.

“No worries. I can speak with Vinyl later. Bye!” She walked off without another word, not even bothering to notice the group of girls behind DJ. He watched her walk off for a moment and then regarded Vinyl.

“Greetings, Miss Scratch. My name is DJ and I am in need of your services.”

“Just call me Vinyl, dude. You need the wubs? Is that what I am hearing?” Vinyl’s question was serious, but her grin betrayed her voice.

“Yes, for you see I have been challenged to a musical duel by Flash Sentry. I would like your assistance as an announcer as well as a dj. Would you be up for it?”

“Sounds cool, bro. Though I need to ask, why did Flash challenge you?”

“Dude’s got a stick up his ass from finding out that I married Twilight Sparkle.” DJ shrugged. “He’s a few cards short of a deck, if you ask me.”

Like you’re one to talk.

Quiet you!

Vinyl pulled her shades down to look at him with those scarlet red eyes. “You married that pony girl from the Fall Formal?” DJ nodded and she smiled. “Respect! Sure, I’ll help out. When’s this thing going down?”

“Once school is over, in the gym. I’ll be going there shortly to get things set up, so I’ll be there when you’re ready.”

“Sure thing dude. And thanks for getting Chris away from me. That girl is freaky!” Vinyl shuddered and then went her own way. DJ turned around to the girls with a questioning look.

“Who’s Chris?” he asked.

“Chris was that girl Vinyl was talking to,” Pinkie explained. “She’s a foreign exchange student.” That explains the accent I heard. “She showed up about a week after the Fall Formal and she’s kinda shy. Doesn’t hang around people too often. It’s sorta sad.”

“Some people just aren’t comfortable around others,” DJ said in understanding. “Anyways, I’m off to the gym. You girls probably got class, so I’ll leave you to your things. See you later!” DJ waved and headed off to the gym.

“Gym’s the other way, darlin’!” AJ called out to him. DJ turned about-face and started walking in the other direction.

“I knew that!” He yelled passing them. Twilight, Spike, Nyx, and Scootaloo face palmed in unison at his antics.

“That stallion,” Twilight said while shaking her head. “I love him, but he is such a weirdo.”

“I heard that!” Spike agreed and then started off after his brother-in-law. “I’m gonna go keep him company. Catch up with you guys later.” This left Twilight, Nyx, and Scootaloo on their own. The others had already headed off to class and they didn’t know what to do now.

“So girls, what do you want to do?” Twilight asked. “We have about five hours before your father performs so we got time to spare.”

“Can we go walk around town?” asked Nyx. “We can get to see human culture!”

“That sounds boring,” Scootaloo whined.

“Well, maybe there’s a video game store, Scoots,” Twilight said with a smile. Scootaloo’s eyes widened at the prospect. Ever since DJ showed her the video games he had brought back from Earth, starting a nag fest with Twilight when she found out about the stash, Scootaloo had become engrossed in the new form of entertainment. The idea of an entire store meant for video games was beyond a godsend.

“What are we standing around for? Let’s go!” Twilight and Nyx giggled as Scootaloo started running off in a random direction. This is going to be a long, fun day, Twilight thought happily to herself.

**********

After four hours, the girls returned to the school to check up on DJ and Spike. Upon entering the gym, they were greeted to two matching stages that opposed each other set on opposite sides of the room. There was also a smaller third stage set up against the back wall in between the two main ones. They could see Vinyl up there, messing with her dj equipment. DJ and Spike were each on a stage, plugging in wires and making sure everything was set. DJ got up to wipe some sweat from his brow when he noticed his family coming in. He smiled and waved them over.

“About time you girls got here,” DJ said as the came up. “You girls look like you had fun.”

“Yeah we did!” Scoots beamed. “We found this store called GameStop and it was full of different video games! It was so amazing!”

“And mom and I found a bookstore while Scoots freaked over the game shop. Look what we found and bought!” Nyx pulled a book out of her bag and handed it to her father who read the title.

“The Heroes of Olympus: The Blood of Olympus. Nice find Nyx! This was the last one in series and it hadn’t come out by the time I had left Earth. I’ll let you read it first since you found it, but I want to read it too, ya know.”

“Sure thing, daddy.”

“How are things, DJ?” Twilight asked giving him a peck on the cheek. DJ smiled and returned it.

“Great, we’re pretty much set. Sorry about putting you through this, Twi, but it had to be done. Don’t worry, I ain’t losing to some upstart punk.”

“I have faith in you. Just be careful, okay?”

“No problem, Twi.” He gave her another peck. Then everything started. Flash suddenly burst through the gym doors, a massive crowd following behind him. He looked even more pissed then earlier, which angered DJ even more, especially when Flash got right in his face.

“You ready to go, old man?” Flash sneered. DJ’s eyes narrowed.

“I am giving you one last chance, Sentry. Step off before you get hurt.”

“Not on your life!”

“Then you brought this ass kicking on yourself!” The both about-faced and strode to their respective stages, thought DJ stopped in front of his family. “Girls, don’t repeat the words I say on this world, ever. I have been using foul language to get the point across, but I never want to hear either of you utter those words. Are we clear?”

“Yes, dad!” They said together, causing DJ to smile.

“Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, I got a show to put on.”

“DJ, wait,” Twilight said, causing him to turn back around only to suddenly have Twilight’s lips pressed against his. When they parted, she stared at him lovingly. “For good luck.”

“You’re all the good luck I need Twilight. Don’t worry, I got this.” As DJ got on stage, so did Flash, his band already set up behind him. Spike, Uno, Dos, Tres, and Cinco were ready on stage with DJ as well. Quatro was sitting out since Spike wanted to help and he was usually lead bassist. DJ grabbed a Stetson out of nowhere as well as his acoustic guitar and got into place.

“Welcome one and all!” Vinyl spoke out from her dj booth. “Today is the event of the semester everybody. A musical battle royal between our very own Flash Sentry,” the student body applauded their local star, “And DJ Sparkle!” DJ didn’t get as strong an appraisal, but hearing it coming from his family and new friends, it was enough. “Today they battle it out for the heart of our Fall Formal Princess, Twilight Sparkle!” A light shined on Twilight in the crowd and she waved nervously, embarrassed about being put on the spot. “Each dude gets two songs to play. The audience will decide the overall winner after the second round. Since DJ is the visitor, he will be starting off and then Flash will do his bit. After that, you people get to choose who starts off round two. Exciting, huh?” Vinyl asked with wry grin. She earned a loud uproar from the crowd as a prize. “Great! Without further ado, DJ Sparkle everybody!”

DJ stepped up to the mic in front of him and looked out to the crowd. “It’s nice to be here, well not really since my wife is on the line. Anyway, this song that I will be singing is one I feel represents my original home and little bit of my new one. So without further hesitation, let’s party like it’s an American Saturday Night!”

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As DJ and Spike hit off the guitar portion, the audience was dancing along to the song. He figured that from the start the school weren’t really country fans, but any song like this one could get you up and dancing. He just had to keep playing, for Twilight’s sake.

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As they finished up with a musical blowout, the crowd applauded in appreciation. DJ was a little disappointed that it didn’t get as big a hit as it would have back in Ponyville, but not everyone was a country fan. It was a truth he had to come to terms with long ago.

“If that’s the best you got, then I have this thing in the bag,” Flash boasted with a smile, causing DJ to glare daggers at the boy. “I am going to show you who really deserves Twilight, because I am the champion!”

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When Flash finished, the crowd was roaring at his song. They loved and DJ was both bewildered and pissed. Did he really just…?

Eeyup. Malice sounded just as surprised by Flash’s song as DJ was. Okay, even I think that was a little harsh.

“Well it looks like we know who is going next,” Vinyl pointed out. “Flash Sentry! You got one more song!”

“Thank you Miss Scratch.” Flash was now sporting a very smug grin, while DJ simply stood and watched. “And now to show Mr. Sparkle who he was messing with. You just got rocked!” Flash’s band then started to bang on the ground in a familiar beat. HE WOULDN’T DARE!

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As Flash finished up with the guitar solo, DJ was fuming. Oh no he. DID. NOT!! He did not just use ‘We will rock you’ on me!

Unfortunately, he very much did. Malice was not pleased either. Any insult on DJ was also an insult on Malice himself, and this was one that they would not take lying down. Dude, you gotta amp it up on this last one. Make this punk regret ever thinking he could be our better.

You bet your grey ass I will! “And that was Flash Sentry, everybody!” The crowd cheered massively. “Woo boy, you got a really take it this time DJ or you might as well say good bye to your marriage.” He knew Vinyl was just doing it for the crowd, but he was not in the mood.

In the crowd, Twilight was staring at the stage in fright, her friends and daughters surrounding her. “Please win, DJ. Please win.” She muttered this like a mantra over and over again. Everyone watched as DJ simply stood in place, glaring at Sentry. He slowly lifted up his hand, grabbed his Stetson and threw onto the ground, causing the crowd to gasp.

“Uno!” he yelled. “My hat!” No one knew what he was talking about, only for Uno to throw another hat to DJ, who swiftly put it on. It was a black fedora that fit surprisingly well with his outfit. “Guys, off the stage this one is mine and mine alone.” Spike and the Discords agreed reluctantly and left the stage. DJ was up there all alone now, looking like a man who was about to have everything taken from him and he wasn’t going down without a fight. “You wanted a war, Flash? Well you got one! Vinyl! PLAY TRACK SIX!” Vinyl looked down on her board and hit the selected track causing a new song to start pouring from her equipment. One that started to get the crowd pumped as DJ began to sing.

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DJ started dancing like he never had before, pouring his very being into the music. The crowed was enamored by him, getting drunk in the music themselves and dancing along to the beat. DJ gestured for Twilight to come on the stage and with some assistance from her friends, she was on stage dancing with her husband to the beat.

As he started to take on the normal singing again, DJ was looking purely at Twilight as he sang his words, letting her know that every word was true.

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The crowd was dancing along to the beat in rhythm with DJ and Twilight, truly lost in DJ’s music. Twilight and DJ danced as one, letting the music flow through them as if it were magic in its purest form. Flash watched on in shock, now truly worried that he never stood a chance.

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When DJ finished singing, he pulled Twilight in close and finished with a deep, passionate kiss on stage. Twilight couldn’t care less that hundreds were staring at them, all that mattered was the one she loved was right here with her, forever. When they parted, they could finally hear the crowd roaring and applauding. There were whistles, claps, and shouts of praise echoing out to the couple who took a bow in appreciation.

“Wow,” was all Vinyl said over her microphone. “I think we have a winner! DJ Sparkle is here by the winner of Twilight Sparkle’s heart! Thanks for playing Flash, but you just weren’t enough.” DJ and Twilight smiled at each other and shared another kiss, getting another applause from the students. When they finally got off the stage, the two were rushed by their friends, all of them giving praise and congratulations. Then Flash walked over to the couple, still looking bewildered. DJ was still a little miffed with the guy, but decided to be the better man.

“Sorry, Flash, but this how things are. No hard feelings?” DJ stuck out a hand offering it to Flash.

Flash, however, was still processing his lost. I-I lost! He won, that goof won. He’s, he’s gonna take Twilight from me! NO, no he won fair and square. NO! He must move or be destroyed! Wait, those aren’t my thoughts! Who--. KILL HIM!! Flash suddenly leapt forward, sending him and DJ to the ground, his hands starting to wrap around DJ’s throat. Everyone around them gasped in shock as the two began rolling on the ground, fighting.

“Flash!” DJ choked out. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” Then suddenly DJ saw something in Flash’s eyes. They were glowing a soft green on the edge. He’s not in his right mind! Something is controlling him!

No duh! But by what?

I don’t know! All I know is his eyes are green and is acting crazy!

Wait a minute, green eyes? That sounds familiar. Put in the evil presence and the way the student body has been acting. Why does it feel familiar?

No idea. All I know is that this guy could use some love, if only to get him to calm down. Right there is where it clicked.

CHRYSALIS!!

What is she doing here?

Figure it out later. First do something about the guy strangling you! You don’t have magic so figure some way to snap the kid out of it!

No, we do have magic!

What are you…? Wait, you can’t be serious!?

Eeyup! DJ, still being strangled, pushed his hand onto either side of Flash’s head and let lose his lightning. Though, for some reason, it was tinged yellow instead of blue.

“DJ!! What are you doing?!” he heard Twilight scream.

“I’ll let you know if it works!” he managed to force out. If this works, I really need to remember it. He could feel Flash’s mind through the lightning as it poured into the young man’s mind. There was something in his brain, something that shouldn't be there, so DJ focused the lightning on that anomaly and could feel the thing began to be destroyed by the lightning. Just a few more seconds. And then it was gone and DJ could feel Flash suddenly go limp on top of him. DJ let out “Woo,” in exhaustion. “That was close,” he said as he began to get out from under Flash. He stood up and started to rub his throat. “Dang, he’s got a good grip.”

“Are you okay, DJ?” Twilight asked, sounding very concerned.

“Yeah, I’m good and I think Flash will be too. Hey, Twi, Spike, I need to talk to you too in private.” DJ led them outside of the gym, while the others tended to Flash Sentry.

“So what do you want to talk about, bro?” asked Spike.

“We got a problem guys.”

“What’s that?” Twilight asked.

“I think something strange is going on. Flash didn’t attack me on his own. Something was controlling him. I could feel it and saw it in his eyes. If it wasn’t for that chaos lightning I used on him, he might have actually succeeded. Guys, I haven’t been completely honest with you. Celestia didn’t send us here just for a vacation. She has been sensing disturbances here and wanted us to keep an eye for anything strange. Well, Malice and I have been sensing a hostile presence nearby at times, only for it to disappear before we can get a proper read on it. Given what happened with Flash and the other students, we think we know who is behind this.”

“Who?” Spike and Twilight asked.

“Queen Chrysalis. She’s here.” Spike and Twilight gaped at DJ as he said those words.

“How can you be so sure?” Twilight asked with fear present on her face.

“It explains the students’ strange behaviors. They are suffering from a lack of love. Chrysalis must have been draining them this whole time. If only we knew where she was, then we could flush her out.”

I think I can answer that one. Sorry kid, but I couldn’t bring it up while you were busy prepping for your performance. I’m pretty sure Chris is our changeling queen in disguise.

“What? Chris? How can you be so sure?” DJ asked aloud so Twilight and Spike could get a little information.

It was more subtle, but that Chris girl’s presence was eerily similar to the hostile one we’ve been tracking. She’s growing stronger, but the feeling of incompleteness is still there.

“Well, solves that part of the mystery. Now to focus on what she’s after.”

Spike’s eyes suddenly widened and he gasped. “The Battle of the Bands!” he shouted out.

“What?” Twilight and DJ asked.

“While we were setting up, Vinyl had a copy of the Battle of the Bands sign-up form. I saw Chris’ name on there!”

DJ snapped his fingers in eureka. “That’s it! If Chrysalis were to win the competition, she would have the adoration of the entire student body as well as who knows how many other people. Okay, so we know her plan and we know how to beat her!”

“We do?” asked Twilight.

“Yep. There is only one way to stop Chrysalis and that is for you and the girls to beat her in competition. As long Chris doesn’t win, she won’t get the power that she wants.”

“Problem solved!” Spike agreed. “There is no way that dumb bug can beat Twilight and the others. She’s going down and then we can drag her back to Canterlot for some jail time!”

“Oh yeah!” DJ and Spike shared a high-five, while Twilight looked a little nervous. “Don’t fret about it Twilight. There is absolutely no pressure on this. You girls don’t necessarily have to win, you just have to make sure that Chris loses. Simple as that.”

“Okay, I think we can do that, but we are going to have to let them in on this.”

“Sure thing, let’s get to it!” The three of them walked back into the gym to get things ready for tomorrow’s main event.

Meanwhile, outside Canterlot High, Chris stares at the entrance to Equestria disdainfully. “So that punk figured out a way to disrupt my influence. That could prove to be a problem,” she says to herself. Chris reaches over and puts a hand on the horse statue, causing it to begin glowing an eerie green color. “So, why don’t I give them a problem of their own!” She begins to laugh, starting slowly as it rises into a maniacal laughter to the heavens above.