After The Song

by BioQuillFiction

First published 8th of January, 2015

Ten years after their defeat The Dazzlings have returned but not in the way Sunset Shimmer and the gang expected

It's been a good ten years since the defeat of the Dazzlings. Sunset Shimmer retired from her spot in the band and now acts as The Rainbooms manager. While an after concert autograph signing takes place Sunset Shimmer notices someone suspicious in line. What she discovers makes her question many things including her views on the three former sirens.

Encounter

Ten years ago I attended Canterlot high and was such a bitch, ten years ago I was reformed by another from the world I come from, ten years ago I saw the world I now gladly call home start to change by forces from my old home and I saw that other from my old world, she helped fix the problem.

The Dazzlings haven't been seen since they ran off that stage ten years ago defeated and embarrassed, I know the feeling. I did spend some time searching for them to see if I could help them change like I did but I gave up when all leads I had to their whereabouts ran dry. Since then I was offered a spot in now the most popular band in America The Rainbooms, but I quit after two years I just never got used to all the people staring so instead I watch from back stage as the manager.

I still help them practice and write songs but I mostly give out and answer calls about gigs and record deals. Every now and then I get a message from that other, Twilight sparkle she visits and even recorded some songs with us, but now it is our ten year anniversary since this band got off its feet and the band is performing a huge concert for it, Twilight is even going to sing on stage with everyone except me and as much as the girls tried to convince me otherwise (especially Pinkie Pie) but my answer was still no.

Right now my job is waiting by the portal for Twilight to arrive. "... What is taking so long?" I checked my watch and Twilight was two minutes late. "Twilight is never late, two whole minutes must be some kind of problem." No sooner did I put my watch down Twilight came flying out of the portal, like usual with no luggage and almost screaming when she sees her fingers. I helped her up off the ground and dusted her off a bit. "It's not like you to be late even by a second, what happened?"

"Sorry Sunset, Spike wanted to come but..."

"He's grown too big for the portal?"

"Yeah, he keeps trying to shape himself to fit but he's three times its size! It pains me every time to tell him shrinking magic might not keep its effects when he crosses over."

I gave Twilight a reassuring hug and we started walking to the school. "Come on the girls are in the gym, they're going to be so excited!"

"Why are they in the gym?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Twilight showed a face that flat out said Du. Upon entering the gym Twilight was immediately brought into a group hug that was all held together by Pinkie. We all caught up for a while until Twilight finally asked the million dollar question? "So why at the school?"

Applejack answered. "Well sugar cube It just felt right, ten years more or less away from our roots and we all thought for our ten year anniversary concert it should be held here."

Every time I see every one, Twilight included I am amazed how we all seemed to have changed physically yet we were no different than how we were ten years ago. "So Twilight I'm surprised you didn't ask about Flash?"

Twilight blushed. "Well From what you've written to me about I just assumed he was busy and couldn't make it, being in the army and all."

Rainbow Dash started to speak. Oh boy. "It's alright Twi, so your other worldly crush can't make it to see you because the military won't let him leave you still have good friends and about several thousand fanboys ready to f..."

Rarity covered Rainbow Dashes mouth before she could complete that sentence. "Any who darling we are here for you and I personally can't wait to show you the dress I designed for you."

"I would love to see it Rarity. By the way it's getting late isn’t the show going to start?"

We all looked at the clock, it read nine PM and everyone (myself included) started freaking out. The concert started in two hours so we all went to make up and dress in a rush. While everyone got Twilight up to speed on the songs that they were singing I was back stage making sure all the set ups went smoothly and all the equipment was set just right. When it came time for everyone to get on stage the stadium was over crowded with people and the DJ started the music, the six of them appeared on stage from the artificial fog when they started singing and playing their instruments their pony accessories the ears, tails and wings for the three that had them burst out and the crowd screamed in joy.

After the concert finally ended the gang were completely wiped out, Pinkie even fall asleep when they finally got back stage.

"Wow Twelve encores in a row, don't these people know were only human... for the most part." Rainbow spoke while collapsed over the snack table.

"Well when you're the biggest hit in America and growing popularity overseas you should expect this." I know Rainbow will still complain but I still had to explain this to her again.

"I'm getting too old for this."

"Rainbow you're only twenty eight years old." Applejack spoke while fanning herself with her hat.

After the two of them bickered back and forth for a few minutes they finally laughed if off and just sat down on the floor, thank Celes... Go... damn it I never know what to say when it comes to religious swearing. "Well glad to see all that is done with but you girls still have one last job that needs to be finished." I put on a fake smile because I know they hated this part.

"Right the autograph signing." Fluttershy spoke rather disappointed.

"I never understood why pon... people want to have a piece of paper with your name on it." Twilight questioned.

"Twilight it's more like a trinket but people treat it like a collectable. It also acts as proof of anything you write it's actually your writing so years after you wrote it they can sell it to people more crazy about your writing than they are." Even I wasn't sure why people collect them yet I some how had an explanation... what the fuck? "Anyhow come on the sooner we get this done with the better."

An hour or so past and the line of people waiting for autographs was still not gone. "Did people come from other towns?"

"What was that Sunset?" Twilight asked me.

"Nothing, just thinking out loud. Were all these people in town when we were here ten years ago?"

"I don't know about that Sunset but I just want this to be over with so I can spend some time with ma’ family." Applejack spoke while signing pictures. "Been a good while since I got to have a sit down family dinner."

I pictured the image of an Apple family dinner and found myself smiling. I snapped out of it when I saw this woman dressed in blue jeans and wearing a dark grey hoodie that covered most of her face, all I could see was her mouth and chin. She went up to Rainbow Dash and gave her what looked like a birthday card to sign. When she left curiosity got the best of me and I followed. When she stopped I hid behind one of many cars in the area and I saw her open her car, nothing special just a normal grey van. That's when I saw her pull her hoodie off her head and I saw who was under it, Aria!?" What the hell!?" Despite what you would assume when an old enemy returns my first question was why she was getting an autograph from her enemies. "Aria?" When I spoke out she turned and looked at me with a look of complete and utter fear. "It's been awhile hasn't it?"

She dropped a key out of her hand and ran off. In shock I started chasing her and managed to tackle her and pin her down. "Get off of me!"

"Not until you tell me what you are doing here after ten years!"

She struggled for a while then gave up and looked at me with a hateful grin. "Fine you want the truth, I never left!"

"Ten years ago I spent eight months searching for... wait did you say 'I' what about the others, Sonata, Adagio?"

She tried again to escape but I managed to keep her down. "I don't know, we all went our different ways after the battle of the bands." She tried to turn her head to hide her face but I could tell she looked hurt and sad, I even saw a tear start to form. "I'm alone."

"Then why the autograph?" When I said that I felt Arias foot kick itself into my stomach and threw me onto a car windshield, when I got up Aria had gotten into her car and drove off, but I did see her license plate. "A736BG... Remember that." I practically crawled off the broken windshield of that car and started to fix myself.

"Sunset Shimmer!" I turned around and saw Twilight behind me. "Where did... Oh my gosh! what happened!?"

I realized that Arias kick had left me with several scratches on my neck and glass shards in my hair. "You are not going to believe who I just ran into."

Answers

When Twilight brought me back to the rest of the gang Rarity started picking the glass out of my hair and they all were looking at me waiting for my response. "Well you’re not going to believe this." I spoke rather sheepish.

"Did someone try and rob you!" Rainbow jumped right up to my face, Applejack pulled her back.

"No I saw someone we haven't seen in ten years."

"We?" Twilight pointed out.

"Yeah, 'WE' it was Aria." Everyone looked shocked and was still for several seconds. "She was that hooded women that Rainbow Dash signed that card for."

"What the? How did I not see it was her!?" Rainbow slammed her hand against her forehead. "It was just a... wait I remember reading what was on that card, it said happy birthday Silver Dust."

"Silver Dust?" My hand involuntarily moved itself to my chin and I started thinking. "Do you think it might be a friend of hers?"

"Friend or not we got to find her and stop whatever it is she and this Silver Dust might be up to, If they are up to something." Rainbow started preaching.

"I don't think she is up to anything, I managed to talk to her and apparently from what she told me she is alone, also she said that Sonata and Adagio left not long after their defeat but she stayed in town."

"Everyone in town knows what she and the others did why’d she stay." Fluttershy just spoke what we were all thinking. "Did she say anything else Sunset Shimmer?"

"Not much, when I asked about Rainbows autograph she kicked me into a windshield and drove off, I did see her license plate though and I know what kind of car she's driving."

"Well then let’s go look for her then." We all followed Rainbow and started our search.

One car rental and three hours later we started driving around every alley and parking lot in town looking for Aria’s car. The search was going no where and every car that looked like hers the license plates didn't match. "I knew this was going to a long search but we searched half the town already. Where is she?"

"Perhaps she got the idea to leave town."Rarity spoke from the driver’s seat.

"Maybe. Still we should look around hotels and apartments." Another hour passed before we finally found Arias car outside a half rundown apartment far down town. We all got out and looked around. "Well she said she never left town, not that she never moved around." A thought popped into my head. "Unless this is where she’s been living since ten years ago."

"Either way let’s find her." Twilight said.

We split up in groups of two, except for Rarity who stayed in the car out of fear for both her dress and safety. After a few minutes Applejack and Rainbow Dash called us over because whoever was in that room wasn't answering. When we got there (Rarity included) Rainbow Dash was banging on the door. "Aria open up we know you’re in there!" There was no response. "Open up or I will kick this door down!"

"Alright, alright!" When she opened the door Aria was wearing plain white PJ's. The inside of her apartment was rather small but very well kept. "Unless you've come to arrest me we have nothing to talk about."

"You attacked Sunset Shimmer, that's a reason to talk!"

"She tackled me to the ground!"

"Only because you..." I noticed in the small hall a little girl, no older than six or seven poking her head out. Her hair was a sparkling silver color in the exact same style as Arias and her skin was a pale grey. The little gears in my head started turning and I put two and two together. "Is Silver Dust your daughter?"

Aria turned and when she saw the little girl she walked over to her and crouched down. "Sweetie I told you to stay in the bed room."

"Mom are they The Rainbooms?" Aria turned over to us and I could tell she was swallowing her pride when she turned back to that girl. "Yes Silver, they are here for your..." She gulped "Birthday."

Rainbow was about to start ranting until Silver Dust ran up to her and was hugging her waist and squealing like fan a girl. "Uhh, Yeah kid your mom and I, er us are old..." Now Rainbow gulped. "Friends..."

We all spent the next two hours talking with Silver dust and signing some CD's and posters she had. Finally Silver fell asleep and when Aria came back from tucking her in we got down to business. Everyone decided that I should ask the questions and if anyone else had one to throw it in. "So Aria how did you..."

"What? Get pregnant."

"Not how I would have put it but yeah."

"After the battle of the bands and long after Sonata and Adagio left I had to pay rent so I did 'jobs' the only good thing that came out of them was Silver."

"Alright then what about your age? From what we found out about you three being sirens you should have not aged."

"You obviously forget you destroyed our pendants, they were the source of our magic. When you destroyed them we started aging from where we left off."

"So you started to age again, but like normal not all at once."

"Right."

"What about Sonata and Adagio? Where are they?"

"I told you I don't know. After we left that stage Adagio started losing it, she kept trying to find ways to either repair the pendants or find a way to Equestria where she knew they could be fixed, we wake up one morning and she's gone. As for Sonata she took a bus out of town a year later to Boston."

"Why Boston?"

"I don't know, she just said she wanted to start fresh. Guess moving several hundred miles from our biggest mistake counts."

"Why did you stay? Why not leave with Sonata?"

"Sonata left six years ago. That's my reason."

I understood what that meant as did the others. "I'm assuming you held a grudge against us so why let your daughter listen to our music?"

Aria looked at me, obviously not expecting that question. "At first I tried to keep her away from you, but a friend of hers showed your music to at school. At first I was mad but I didn't want to take away something from her, we have little to nothing as is. Besides it makes her happy and I'm alright with that."

"Alright then last question. Your powers came from the pendants so were you three always sirens?"

Aria looked even more surprised by this question than the last. She moved her eyes back and forth as if she was questioning herself. "Well it's a long story, if you want to hear it you better have time to spare."

I looked over to the girls and they all nodded. "We got time to kill."

Author's Notes:

Next chapter is pure head cannon.

Two Sides Of The Same Story

We were all sitting in the living room/kitchen of Aria's apartment. Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and I were sitting on the couch, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie where sitting on the floor and Aria sat on a metal fold out chair. "So first before I tell my story I know that Twilight knew what we were when she got here, so what did you read on us?"

We all looked over to Twilight. "Well the book said that you were three majestic creatures and..."

"Wait, wait, wait. Majestic? Your book called us majestic?"

"Yes."

Aria began laughing for a few seconds, then quickly stopped with a smile on her face. "We were anything but majestic. When we changed from..."

I interrupted. "Changed?"

"I was getting to that. We changed from ponies to sirens..." Pinkie Pie gave out an unneeded gasp, but I’ll admit we all had a look of shock on our faces.

"So wait? You three were ponies but became sirens, how?" Twilight asked.

"The pendants. Their dark magic over times changed us from a Pegasus, unicorn and earth pony into three sirens."

"Who was what?" Rainbow blurted out.

"Well I was the Pegasus, Adagio was an earth pony and Sonata was the unicorn. Can I go back to the story now?"

"Yeah."

"Anyhow we were fifteen when we found the pendants. We wondered off into the Everfree Forest."

Twilight and I shouted out simultaneously. "The Everfree forest!"

"Yeah." Aria chuckled a bit. "We were warned but we were fifteen and didn't have our cutie marks so we got desperate." Arias voice changed to a shaky sad tone. "Do you know what happens to fillies who don't have their cutie marks at age sixteen a thousand years ago in Equestria!?" We all shook our heads. "They get put to work in a brothel house!"

"That's horrible!" Fluttershy shouted and continued to move over to me. "What’s a brothel house?"

"It uhh well..."

"It's a house full of prostitutes." Aria plainly said. Fluttershy’s face turned a bright red and covered all but her eyes with a nearby pillow. "We only had three to five months until our birthdays came and past. We were willing to do anything, even risk dying in a forest via strange magical beast. After about seven or eight hours passed we found this cave deep in the forest and inside was this chest that had the pendants in it. We put them on and at first nothing happened."

"At first?" I questioned.

"We didn't earn our cutie marks but as late as it was we headed back home. Days past before we noticed anything, we eventually noticed when some ponies were arguing there was a green mist around them."

"The negative energy."

"Yeah, at first we just thought it was pressure causing hallucinations, but when we saw it flow into the pendants we got curious. After a month passed we started noticing physical changes. Our ears started to grow pointed and spots on our coats were being replaced with scales. Soon we left our home out of fear of being burned at the stake. Witch craft was a common fear and we looked like what they assumed witches would be like."

"Assumed?"

"No pony ever saw really saw or caught a real witch so unicorns had to watch what spells they used."

"Well of course, there is no such thing as witches." Twilight blurted out.

“Yeah, Sonata lucked out only knowing one spell, levitation but that's beside the point. After we started changing we soon found out what the pendants did. Long story short when you run away from home one of the few things you do to pass the time is sing. After we found out what we could do the rest was history."

"That's it?"

"That's it, like I said the rest is history. You can read the rest in a history book in Equestria." Aria got up and walked over to the bedroom, checking on Silver Dust. "Still asleep, good" I saw Arias face when she said that, like she was relived. "Well then it's late, you girls should head back for some sleep."

Pinkie Pie yawned and helped some of the others that were sitting on the floor up and started walking out. Twilight and I were the last to leave. I stopped at the doorway for one last thing. "One last question Aria."

"What?"

"You were glad Silver Dust was asleep, that she didn't hear that story. You never told her about yourself before did you?"

Aria gave a heavy sigh and tapped her fingers on the door ready to close it. "She is the only thing in this world I care about. I love her and she loves me, if I told her what I was, what I did, she would see me as a monster."

"You don't know that Aria she's your daughter, how could she hate you if you've been nothing but kind?"

"What about you? It may not seem related but could you tell your family what happened, what you did, what you became! Would they still see you the same way?"

Aria and I stared at each other in silence. She closed the door and I walked back to the car wiping a small tear from my eye before I got to the car. Twilight greeted me. "Why did you take so long?"

"Just... nothing special." I got in the car and we drove off. "So what are we going to do now?"

"What do you mean?" Rainbow replied

"Well they are... were best friends before and after the pendants. We broke their pendants and their friendship. No matter how odd it was they fell apart we at least should find Sonata and Adagio and..."

"Oh no! We kicked their butts and no way are we putting those three back together!" Rainbow protested.

"What could they possibly do!? Aria has a daughter and she never told her about what happened! There is no way in hell that she would do anything bad that would reveal that!"

"How do you know!?"

"Because I asked her Rainbow!"

The car was silent. After a good twenty minutes Rainbow broke the silence. "Fine, but only in the name of friendship and because you would have gone off and done it alone, maybe got Twilight to help but that still wouldn't be enough." I smiled and felt glad that they were giving them a chance, a lot like they gave me a chance. It only took a push from a friend to get them going.

Author's Notes:

This was pure head cannon.

Also I went away from the normal fan art of their pony forms all being earth ponies and yes I might have drawn parallels to the cutie mark crusaders but hey it's a head cannon and that was fired.

Finding Sonata

Three days passed before the stage and equipment was finally packed. Why does it always seem that packing the stuff up takes more time then the time it takes to set it up? Beside the point the girls and I (Twilight included. Yes she is coming along) are heading to Boston. I managed to pull some strings and that's our new destination since we know that's where Sonata is. Or hope she's still there. The girls and I will take a plane while the equipment and crew drives so we have about a week or so to find Sonata. I wanted Aria to come with us but she couldn't leave Silver Dust alone or take her with her since she has school, so it was just me and the girls left to find one pony-siren-human girl in all of Boston.

After a one hour plane ride and Rainbow Dash getting the worlds worse case of jet lag ever (Ironic considering she grows wings while playing on stage and in Equestria she's the fastest flyer ever). We had just left the airport and found a hotel to stay at, only problem is that every fan in Boston saw us at the airport and now the whole city knows we’re here and where we are staying. Sometimes I really hate the internet!

After escaping a mob of fans we were finally able to rest in the hotel room. "Holy shit what is wrong with these fans!" Rainbow screamed with her face in the couch pillow. "I think I'm missing a sock!" She moved to feel the inside of her boots. "Holy crap I am!"

"Not that I don't appreciate them for liking our music but why do they have to be so violent?" Fluttershy spoke barely with any volume.

"Alright girls we need to gather our strength. We have about a week to both find Sonata and practice before our equipment gets here so we need to think of a plan."

"Well why not look on the internet. Sonata's about as old as us so she has to have some kind of public records we can track her with." Rainbow Dash threw in that idea I'm just gonna... Wait did Rainbow Dash just give out a good idea!?

I had to ask. "Where did that come from?"

"I left my Daring Do books in my bags that went into the storage part of the plane so I was reading this technology today magazine and it was talking about how everyone can be tracked by simple things like name, credit card purchases, etc."

Sometimes I really like technology. "Well if that's the case how to we go about it? We aren't that good with tech to find someone. Remember the last time Twilight used a computer."

Twilight buried her face in her hands blushing. "Never again, never again, never again, never again, never again." I chuckled a little bit. Call me crude but seeing Twilight embarrassed like that is kind of funny.

I was snapped out of my hummer when I saw pinkie pie dressed in her madam Pinkie outfit."Uh Pinkie why are you wearing that?"

"Well du? Every fan in Boston is outside the hotel so we need a disguise."

She has a point But. "You have a point Pinkie but every fan everywhere knows that costume Remember? You wore it for that Halloween album."

She stood there looking like she was thinking it over but I didn't know, nor do I wanna know what goes through her head. "Oh, you're right. Well then good thing Rarity had packed all those fabrics before we left."

On que Rarity pulled out a large brief case filled with fabrics. "Where did you get all those fabrics Rarity?"

Rarity looked up with a smile on her face. "I stopped by the old boutique before we left and picked up a few things."

"How long will it take you to make some decent disguises?"

"With all the fabrics I brought I can make a descent line within the hour. With some help of course."

"Well then let’s get to work."

Even with everyone helping out it took well over an hour before we all had a disguise that was able to properly hide us. They worked and the mob of fans let us pass by as if we were nobodies. It felt good to be treated like a nobody after years of fame. We were walking down the streets. “So where are we going now?" Twilight said while keeping close to Applejack.

"I did a little looking around and I think I might have found someone who may know where Sonata is." I was very proud of my discovery. Mostly because it means we don't have to hire someone to search for us or figure it out ourselves.

Rainbow looked over to me in shock. "How? Who!?"

"I called Scootaloo and she said that an old friend from school works as a reporter for the Boston news paper."

"Scoot's I love ya! Who is it?"

"Featherweight. She said that he took some pictures of people in Boston for his applications, everything from individual shots to large scenery pictures. They are a year old or so but if Sonata is still living in Boston then they will help us figure out where exactly she is living."

"Then let’s hurry up to Featherweight's!" Rainbow Dash starts running off, then starts running back. "Uh where is he?" Leave it to Rainbow Dash to run off not knowing where she's headed.

We walked for about ten or so minutes before we got to the Boston news paper building. Nothing fancy just a large brick building, even the sign was plain and dull. When we entered we were met with loud shouts and the sound of paper folding. After asking around we finally found Featherweight. The first to speak was Rainbow. "So this is where you've been."

"Hu?" Featherweight turned around seeing us at first looking confused but then the look of realization beamed across his face. "Oh right!" He looked around then back to us. "Come on, this isn't the best place." He lead us over to a small office room, we barely all fit. "Sorry about the space I don't get many people in here. Anyhow you're here for the pictures right?"

Before I could speak Rainbow blurted out. "Yeah we are! So hand them over!"

"Rainbow!" She silenced at my voice. "Yes Featherweight we came for the pictures, do you have them?"

"Better. After you called I started looking through them and I found three of interest." Featherweight pulled out a small envelope from a pocket on his shirt. "They were taken last year, the day before I started to be exact. All taken in different places."

"How does that help us!?" While Rainbow was complaining I opened the envelope.

The first picture was of the interior of a large mall or sorts, at first glance I just saw a bunch of random people but after a closer inspection I spotted Sonata plain as day walking through the crowd. I looked at the second and it was Sonata again but this time standing at a bus stop dressed in a checkered blue dress.

The last of pictures showed Sonata again in the blue checkered dress but this time at what looked to be a cafe with another person. The picture only showed his back so I couldn't make out his face. After looking at them all I resumed my attention to the conversation. "Thank you for the pictures Featherweight but how are these helpful to us? Exactly?"

A small smile broke across his face. "Before you arrived I looked up the locations online and found that they all ran along the same public bus route."

"The buss as in from the buss stop of the second picture!?" Featherweight nodded. "Are there any apartments or something like that on the route!?"

"There is a large subdivision that it stops by, but..."

Rainbow spoke for us all. "Then let’s get going!"

We all ran out the door but I swore I heard Featherweight say something. "Wait! it's a first class neighborhood! You..."

We found the bus stop from the picture about a mile from the Boston News paper building. We hopped on the first bus that came and just waited till we found the subdivision Featherweight mentioned. I tried to remember what Featherweight tried to tell me but it was hopeless. So instead I remembered back ten years ago when he was little, ten years ago he was twelve panicking about Chemistry finals and now he's twenty two and working in Boston as a newspaper photographer, I guess that's life.

"Last stop Lunar Hill Subdivision!" The yell of the bus driver snapped me back into reality. When we got off the bus we expected to see a normal subdivision, but instead we were greeted by a massive gold painted gate guarding large houses all perfectly aligned from their spotless driveways to the cut patterns on the lawns.

"This can't be the place." Applejack spoke our thoughts.

Now I knew what Featherweight was trying to tell me. First class neighborhoods require a pass code just to enter. "How do we get in?"

"Leave that to me." Rarity walked up to the gate and when she spotted some teenagers one with coal black skin with wild orange hair, the other a dark shade of yellow with a finely combed head of white hair. They both were dressed in actual suits. Rich kids. Rarity managed to get their attention when she started waving and 'you hooing'. "Excuse me young sir's." I swear I saw their eyes turn into hearts when they ran over hear. "Would you two be dears and tell me is anyone named Sonata lives around here?"

The boys looked at each other rather confused then back over to rarity. "Are you friends of our step mom?"

We all spoke simultaneously. "WHAT!?"

Author's Notes:

Sonata living in a rich neighborhood with step children... Didn't see that coming did ya? Just wait until the next chapter.

Also sorry this took so long to make it was a mix of computer errors, writers block and laziness.

Little Details

The two boy's let us in. The boy with the wild orange hair said his name was Black Ion and his brother with the combed white haired was named Cell. When we approached their house they stopped us to talk. "So..." Black Ion was speaking, his voice sounded like a male Applejack. "I take it you three are these Elements of Harmony our mom told us about?"

"How did you!?" Twilight spoke.

"Our mom told us that her past might come back to find her." Cell responded. His voice was calm and almost emotionless. "She never talked about her past other than that either a group of people that answer to The Elements Of Harmony or a girl by the name of Adagio might ask for her. Honestly I thought she was in witness protection but you girls don't look like any kinda criminals."

"Well were not!" Rainbow blurted out. "We are just trying to make up for something that happened ten years ago."

Cell and Black Ion looked over to each other then back to us. Cell spoke. "Mom's in the back tending to the garden. But any funny business and this whole neighborhood will fill with cops in under five minutes."

"We just want to talk. That's all." I responded. With that said Black Ion opened the door. The house was even bigger on the inside then it was on the outside. He Pretty much walked us in a 'B' line to a large glass sliding door. Through it I saw Sonata on her knees pulling weeds wearing a sundress and a bonnet that looked like one Rarity might have designed. I opened the sliding door and spoke. "Sonata?"

She turned at the sound of my voice. Her eyes grew wide at first but she then took a deep breath and looked much more relaxed. "Black Ion, Cell I have some things to discuss with our guests." Black Ion and Cell nodded and left. Sonata stood up dusting dirt of her sundress and walked over to us. "I was expecting you to find me, but I thought it would be much later."

We all took a seat in the literal sitting room of sonatas home. She has a whole room just for sitting! I'd probably make a rich person joke about now but this couch is so soft! Any way Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and I were sitting on the amazingly soft couch, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were sitting on the these fancy large chairs and Sonata was sitting on sky blue recliner. Why am I getting a deja vu feeling from this?

"So?" Sonata spoke. "How's Aria doing?"

"How did you know we spoke with Aria?" I asked.

"She's the only person I ever told of my location."

Right. "So you've been doing well." Really Sunset Shimmer, really?

"Well I prefer to think of it as luck. Sorry my husband isn't home to join in on this conversation his work keeps him busy most days."

"Is this your husband’s home?"

"Our home now but yes I moved in after we got married."

"What does he do for a living to have a place like this?"

"He's a chemistry professor at Harvard university. Been with the place since Black Ion and Cell were babies."

A professor... at HARVARD!? "How did you two meet?"

"When I first moved to Boston I took the first job I could find, a janitor for Harvard. I knocked over some experiments of his and that's how we met, he wasn't mad about it either in fact he was glad it did it."

"Why?"

"Not sure, he still hasn't told me what the experiment was, whenever I ask about it he say's it was just a stupid idea."

"What's his name?"

"Red Atom."

Okay NOW you gotta be kidding me! "The Red Atom!?"

"Yeah." Sonata blushed a little.

"Who's Red Atom?" Applejack asked with similar responses from the others.

"Red Atom is the man who discovered how to recycle nuclear waste into another form of energy that can be converted into electricity! I can understand Twilight not knowing who he is but ...seriously guys am I the only one?"

"Seems that way." Rainbow blurted out. "Oh and I've been meaning to ask you something Sonata, how come you don't seem as... ditz now then when you were ten years ago?"

Rainbow had a point. Sonata not only acts well.. Intelligent but her speech and even tone of voice sounds... smarter. "Did your husband teach you?"

Sonata started to laugh a little. "I take it that when Aria told you our story she only gave the general specifics?"

"How did you know she told us your story?"

"It's only logical that your curiosity would lead you to ask that type of question. If you must know it was also the pendants. During our pony to siren transformation."

"The dark magic?" Twilight asked.

"Yes. As it changed us physically it also changed us mentally, the way we perceived things, the way we thought and the way we acted. Before the pendants Aria was the kindest person you would have ever met, she always was the first to help others. Adagio was shy and gullible, didn't talk much either come to think about it." Sounds like a Fluttershy doppleganger. "And I was rather quick to understand whatever I was faced with. After the pendants my mind was blank most of the time, Aria stopped caring about others and Adagio became... evil's the best way to put it."

But wait then what was up with Adagio going crazy? "So why did Adagio start to lose it after they broke?"

"I'm not sure on that either. In fact I had almost put the past to rest until three years ago."

"What happened three years ago?"

Sonata stood up. "I'll be back." The silence when Sonata left was rather ominous and felt like every second was an hour. When she returned she had an envelope with a small bulge in it. "Three years ago Adagio sent me this letter and..." Sonata opened the envelope and pulled out a red stone covered in small scratches and cracks. Her pendent!?

"How in the!?" Sonata gave me the letter that was in the envelope and I read out loud.

I looked up to Sonata. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Ten years, I had hoped she had put it behind her like Aria and I have. This was the last thing I wanted to see." Sonata broke down in tears. I was the first to comfort her and the others followed until we were all in a huge group hug. "You have to find her and stop this madness. The return address say's the letter was sent from a psychiatric hospital in D.C. It's called The Bedrock Institute for the Clinically Insane."

We spent the next several hours with Sonata comforting her from that episode. We passed the time by asking her about how her marriage has been. Then I asked the million dollar question. "So what happened to Cell and Black Ions mom?"

Sonata's face turned to a sad expression. "Well... Red Atom told me she was in a car crash. Cell was with her, he survived she didn't." That explains why he seemed protective of Sonata. "Ever since then Cell's been unable to show any emotion other than aggression." And that's why he spoke without any emotions or real tone of voice. "He didn't warm up to me until after two months into my marriage with Red Atom. He means well even if he doesn't show it or say it."

He's been through a lot in his life losing a loved one. "What about Black Ion?"

"Black Ion was well over the death of his mother by the time I came around, guess some people deal with losses better than others." Sonata looks at the wall behind us. A large grandfather clock stood reading seven PM. "It's late you should go back to get some rest."

We were all tired and we had another trip to make. "Yeah, but we won't be able to go until after a week. I had to pull strings to make Boston our new destination before we were able to come here. After that though I shouldn't have any problem making D.C our next stop."

Sonata Looked worried. "Well it's been three years since she sent that letter so a week couldn't hurt. Also will it be alright if I come with you?"

I felt a ping of joy. "Of course, I wanted Aria to come but she Denied the offer because she Didn't want Silver Dust to be alone or miss school."

"Silver Dust? Oh her child, I left before she was born. So that's her name, glad to know." A smile appeared on Sonata's face. "Do you know how to contact her? Aria I mean."

"Yeah, I have her home phone number. Silver Dust gave it to me before we left to come here." I pulled out my phone and gave it to Sonata. "Six years is a long time to not talk to a good friend."

Sonata gave me a tear filled smile and dialed the number. "Hello? Aria... Yes it's Sonata."

Back Stage Pass

The equipment and crew arrived in Boston a whole two days earlier than expected. We were actually glad it did since it meant we could leave sooner to make it to D.C and find Adagio. I called ahead and made D.C our next destination and like before the girls and I are flying ahead. Right now though Everyone is working on setting up the stage and equipment, while normally the girls and I would be working on what tracks to play we just couldn't get Adagio out of our heads long enough to focus on work, I mean she fixed Sonata's pendent! And is repairing and/or done with Aria's! I just can't concentrate!

"Sunset Shimmer!" That voice! But!?

I suddenly felt two small arms wrap themselves around my waist. "Silver Dust!?" When I looked up from my waist Sonata and Aria stood there. "Aria? I thought you said you didn't want to come because of Silver Dust. Wha...?"

"Sonata convened me when she said Cell and Black Ion could were more than capable of teaching her while we're here. And after what Sonata told me about Adagio and the pendants we figured it might help Adagio snap out of it if I was there and finally leave the past in the past."

This might just work out then! If Sonata and Aria are with us we might have a chance because I had no real plan on how to deal with Adagio. To be honest I was kind of winging it with when we got here. "Well I'm glad you're here. As a matter of fact I think I can make your stay even better." Aria might hate me for this. The girls, maybe Rainbow Dash will hold a grudge. "How about back stage passes for the three of you."

Silver Dust instantly let out an ear-bleeding scream of joy. "OH MY GOSH, MOM CAN WE, CAN WE, CAN WE, CAN WE, CAN WE, CAN WE, CAN WE, CAN WE!?

Aria was picking her pinkie finger into her ear (Probably out of hope to regain her hearing). "Well Sunset Shimmer offered and it would be rude of us not to accept, especially when it's this generous."

Silver Dust let out yet another ear bleeding scream. Yeah I think Rainbow's gonna hate me when she hears Silver Dusts pure fully awake fan-girl scream. (She had just woken up from bed when we first met her)

Silver Dust, Aria, Sonata, and I spent the next two hours spending time with the gang individually so Silver Dust could have a fan-girl moment with each rather than having to choose when their all together. The only one left out of the band that Silver Dust hasn't gotten the chance to freak out over is Rainbow Dash, actually I haven't seen Rainbow since the equipment and crew arrived. Where is she?

After ten minutes and still no sign of Rainbow Dash. I eventually told Silver Dust that she might have to wait after the concert at this rate. She was really upset but Aria figured it was time for Cell and Black Ion to help her with the assignments her teachers gave her to do on the trip. Meanwhile the concert starts in three hours and Rainbow still hasn't made an appearance. True she has been diapering for several hours at a time before the shows start but never for this long.

Eventually I started to ask around but none of the crew knew where she was ether. I had about given up when I saw Applejack standing by the snake table with this look of pure fear across her face. "AJ are you alright?" She shook her head. "Uhhh don't suppose you've seen Rainbow Dash around have you?" She lifted a finger and pointed to the trailer the crew pulled behind the stage equipment when on the road. "Thanks."

"You won’t be saying that in a few seconds."

Despite AJ's rather creepy statement I rushed towards the door. When I got next to it I started to hear this moaning sound that didn't sound quite right. I opened the door just a crack and I saw Rainbow Dash face deep in some girls crotch laying on the floor completely naked! The girl was the one moaning... OKAYGOTTAGOBY! I closed the door and joined Applejack, both of us sharing the same face of pure terror.

After my brain processed what I had seen and my trauma was partly gone Rainbow had finally made an appearance and I immediately dragged her to have a serious talk. "So, where were you?"

"Oh." Rainbow scratched her head. "Just uhh napping."

"Yeah, in some girls crotch!"

Rainbow's eyes widened, she was even trembling. "How!?"

"I saw Applejack looking traumatized and when I asked if she'd seen you she pointed over to you and your girlfriends little 'hiding place' when I opened the door and saw that I closed it and joined Applejack in a traumatized silence. Is SHE what you've been doing all those missing hours before the shows start!?"

Rainbows face turned hot red and she was twiddling her thumbs. She gave a big gulp. "Yeah..."

"... Well, how did you two meet?"

Rainbow looked shocked. "You aren't mad?"

"Rainbow I'm mad that I had to find out how I did, might even need a little therapy to get that image out of my head. But as your friend I'm happy for you! As your manager I only care if she's not going to cause trouble with you or the band."

"How do you keep those two feelings separate?"

"Not easy. Now how did you two meet?"

"Just before graduation."

Wait our High School graduation!? "So, ten years ago!?"

"Yeah. We figured it best if no one knew since back then the band was starting to get big."

"But after words why not finally come clean?"

"We were but so many things got in the way and it eventually we just stopped trying."

"Well you can come clean now. I know, AJ knows and the others should too."

"But the show starts in three hours; won't it be a little inconvenient?"

"We're friends Rainbow, no matter how last minute we won't care... most of the time, now go get your girlfriend so we can meet her."

A large smile broke across Rainbows face followed by a hug. "Thanks Sunset." Rainbow ran off without another word.

Ten minutes later and Rainbow had gathered us all together (minuses Silver Dust) and introduced her girlfriend Sonic Boom. She was Rainbows height, had neon blue skin and white hair. Her hair was styled kinda like Rainbows to just hers has a small ponytail at the end. "It's a pleasure to meet you all as Rainbow Dashes girlfriend, I've only met you girls back stage mostly to ask where to place equipment."

The first to speak was surprisingly Applejack. "Glad to officially meet you as well."

"What do you mean officially?" Fluttershy asked.

Sonic boom, Rainbow Dash and Applejack's faces all turned red, I think mine was too. Applejack spoke. "Best not to say." Fluttershy still looked confused but gave a polite nod.

"How in the world have you two kept this a secret for ten years!?" Rarity probably just spoke everyone's thoughts.

"I consider myself to be a Jack of all trades, one of which is timing. I knew just whenever I was able I would sneak off without being noticed find Rainbow Dash and well... you know." Sonic Boom's face turned red. Yeah best left unsaid girl.

"Well point is you two have had everyone hear fooled but now that it's all in the open how’s it feel?" Is there a difference in a secret relationship and a normal one? Probably.

"Well at least we won’t have to sneak off to have fun." Rainbow blurted out, leave it to Rainbow Dash to think about sex first... Wait do I say 'leave it to Rainbow Dash to (Insert action here) a lot?

Any way back to reality. "Well then next time we notice the both of you missing we won’t go looking, unless it's an hour or less before the show."

Sonic Boom and I shook on it. "Deal."

Before the show started I managed to get Rainbow Dash to spend time with Silver Dust and just like I thought a face of slight rage went across her face when Silver let out her real fan-girl scream. Other than that the show went off without a hit and... what is Rainbow Dash whispering to Twilight?

Rainbow took the mic from Twilight and taped it twice. "Hey their fans we know it's almost closing time but how about a little something before you go, well two something’s actually." What in the name of Go... Cele... Damn it Rainbow what are you doing!? "First off is a song dedicated to a special fan in particular, this one's for you Silver Dust!" Almost instantly I heard the loudest ear piercing scream in history followed by a thud, Silver Dust fainted!

Back on sage Rainbow was tuning her guitar. "This one's called A Little Bit Excited!"

Every day of the week I'm listening twenty four seven.
I really don't care of others opinions.
I just can't help it I'm if a little bit excited!
Well maybe more than a little.

Can't get enough of this cool music.
At school, at home and everywhere in between.
I just swing my head to the righteous beat!
Don't care if it annoys you because this is my thing!

If I get a little bit excited it's because I'm hiding my freak out.
But not for long because this song's for me, yeah!
Release the freak out and hear me scream!
I really don't care if you complain just try and mess with me!

Every day of the week I listen twenty four seven.
I really don't care if of others opinions.
I can't help it I'm just a little bit excited!
Well maybe more than a little.

the way the verses went made it not just for Silver Dust but so when fan's listen to the song it sounds like it's for them too! Cleaver Rainbow, cleaver. Wait she said two! What the Hell is next!?

Rainbow took the mic again. "Well now how did you like that one!?" The stadium actually started shaking from the crowds screams of joy. "The next is also a song, obviously but is a little more on the mushy side." Is she!? "I'm not one for mushy romance stuff but there is one person who will always act like that and her name is Sonic Boom, now get up here!" Sonic walked gingerly on stage over to Rainbow dash with a red blushing face, large smile and tears in her eyes. "We told the band now let’s tell our fans. This is my girlfriend Sonic Boom!" Rainbow then kissed Sonic Boom smack on the lips and the crowd went even crazier. I think I saw some fanboys crying but everyone else was applauding and screaming in joy. Sonic Boom got off stage. "This song is called I Always Win With You!"

Ever since I was young I've always been a winner.
Great friends, good grades and I rock the sports teams!
But on that day just before graduation I saw you there and thought I was dreaming.
Never seen anyone run that fast before well other than me of course!

Took you on, one on one eight times around to see who'd win.
But the whole entire time I never got ahead and you never fell behind!
Eight laps, three times and two hours later and there was still no winner.
Beat and tired I headed home, but not before you placed a peck on my cheek and said
Let's do this again and we'll see who'll win.

Ten years, eight tours and three nations later. We still haven't had that winner.
But you know what? I really don't care anymore we've done almost everything on those tours.
And we've done everything that a couple ought to, first date, first kiss and much, much more!
There's only one thing left to do now and I think you know what I mean now!?

One of these day's I'll get on my knee, holding a box and you'll be standing in front of me.
Never thought our love would come to this, in the box is a ring that's just your fit.
Place it on and I'll ask the question and I hope that you'll say yes I do!
You're the only one who can get me to act like this and I hope I can be with you forever!

Did Rainbow Dash just say... er sing that she plans on proposing to Sonic Boom!? When I looked around and saw Sonic Boom she had a big smile and tears were pouring from her eyes. She has to be the happiest girl in the world right now, well her and Silver dust but she's still out cold. Hope Rainbow Dash is going to record those songs when we can, Silver will definitely want a copy and Sonic Boom is going to want to keep that song for years to come.

Author's Notes:

Do you have a muse? I do a little gray coated, mane and tail-less pony without a cutie mark and ever since I started this chapter she has been going crazy about what was written. I was against most of this but she would not stop bugging! That Sonic boom was one of them but she would not let it go, so I caved and put her in (she might not appear much in future chapters). And the songs I was really against but then My Little Muse starts playing them like I was listing to music and damn it they were good! So yeah My Little Muse had quite a field day on this chapter and I hope she won't go this crazy in future chapters.

Asylum Of The Siren

We finally arrived in D.C. after a day of repacking the equipment and an hour plane ride. Aria left Silver Bell with Cell and Black Ion at Sonata's home back in Boston; it was the safest place for her. Once again Rainbow managed to get jet lag and fell asleep on the way to the hotel. Luckily we were able to slip into the hotel unnoticed so we got in without missing any articles of clothing or hair.

"Alright everyone first things first we need to get to this mental hospital Adagio is at, Sonata you still have the return address right?"

Sonata pulled out the envelope. "Yes."

"Great, we'll leave in half an hour."

Every minute that half hour felt like years. Not just because we can try and put this pendant and siren business to rest but also because if Adagio has her pendant then we could be walking into a fort of Adagios design. Sonata said that Adagio mailed her pendant to her three years ago but that doesn't mean that she hasn't had hers longer than that. Not to mention if her pendant is fixed she could have every patient, nurse and doctor in that hospital under her control! I hope nothing goes south.

I about threw a cow when we arrived at the front gates of The Bedrock Institute for the Clinically Insane. This is the first and biggest mental hospital I've ever seen! One large brick building complete with bars on the windows and doors, large grass field around the building all surrounded by a tall fence built of half inch thick bars... What the hell!? Is this a mental hospital of a prison!? As luck would have it the only way in is through a massive gate built into the fence and it's both not open and has an electric lock on it.

"How are we going to get in!?" I finally managed to scream out.

"There!" Aria was pointing towards a camera on top of one of the bars on the fence.

"It's worth a try."

We all jumped around and waved our hands, even yelled a few times hoping that someone inside sees us. After about five or six minutes we saw what looked like a golf cart start to make its way towards us. At first I could only make out three silhouettes but when they got closer I was able to make out that the two in the front looked like some kinda security guards and the one in the back... That hair, Adagio!? She was dressed in a nurses uniform with her pendent shining crimson red from it's place around her neck. When the golf cart stopped Adagio walked out over to the gate. She stood in front of us, looked over at us but was focused on Aria and Sonata.

"Aria, Sonata I just knew you would find me!" Adagio spoke rather excited with a smile breaking across her face but quickly turned to a frown. "What are the Rainbooms doing here!? You know what they did to us!"

"Adagio this has to stop, Aria and I have moved on with life and we want you to put this mistake to rest just as we have!" Sonata spoke, barely holding back tears.

"Sonata I know you haven't been the smartest of us but really if I'm not around you join up with the enemy!?"

Aria Ran up to the bars, practically slamming herself against them. "Adagio that's the pendent talking not you! I remember how you were before those things, you were..."

"What, shy, gullible, a blank flank!? All we are to those ponies back in Equestria were brothels in the making! And you know how bad I had it, remember my mother was a brothel and every time I went home, even when I was young stallions would try and place bits to fuck me not even caring I was just a filly!"

Oh my Go... Cele... Dammit! That's horrible! "But that's not Equestria now; it's changed in the last thousand years!" I yelled out.

"Maybe so Sunset Shimmer but the ponies that live in Equestria today are descendent of all those bastards and in my eyes they all have to pay!"

"For shit their horny ancestors may or may not have done to you!?"

"Exactly!" Adagio raised her hand and the security guards came out, their eyes glowing green.

They pulled out their guns and took aim. Oh shit is she going to kill us!? They were pulling the triggers but I didn't hear any shots firing but I did feel a small sharp pinch hit my leg followed by a feeling of sudden drowsiness. AAOOWwhh I think I'm gonna take a little nap. I hit the ground and lost all sense of consciousness as I fell into the deep black void of sleep.

I finally started to wake up, I was able to tell just by the regaining of my sense of feeling I was laying on a cold tile floor. It took a while but I finally managed to shake my drowsiness and get up on my feet, I was in a small empty room with only a barred window and a heavy looking metal door in it and like I had guessed the floor was tile. Nailed it! ... Why am I celebrating? I looked out the window and found that I was on the first floor since a tree trunk was directly across from my view, there was still daylight. I proceeded to attempt the door when a burst of static rang all the way into my eardrum. Mother Fucker that's loud!

"Hello Sunset Shimmer, glad to finally see you're awake." Adagio's voice echoed from the static.

“Adagio!? Where are you!?"

"This facility outfits its patients with special ear tags that both act as a tracer and a two way communication system."

I quickly reached for my ears, I felt the tag on my right ear and it was no bigger than a penny. How the he'll did I not feel this earlier!? "Adagio where are my friends!?"

"The other Rainbooms are within the facility as well, probably living their worst nightmares."

I forced down a large gulp. "What do you mean?"

"Turns out anger isn't the only negative energy the pendants can absorb; Fear, dread, panic, sadness all of them the pendant can absorb and each gives me a new ability. I'd list them off for you but I think it's best if you experience them for yourself." A large clanking sound came from the door. "Go on, but try as you might Sunset Shimmer but by the end of this you and the rest of the Rainbooms will be nothing more than broken shadows of your former selves."

Before the audio cut Adagio gave the creepiest evil laugh I've ever heard. Well then shit just hit the fan Sunset Shimmer, you're separated from your friends, this whole building is crawling with Adagio's 'minions' and she can track you down via penny sized tag in your ear. You've faced worse, just remember how you handled the Canada tour and you'll are it through this... A cold shiver went down my spine remembering the events that took place in Canada. Shaking off the memories I opened the door and left the room.

Twilight's Failure

Upon exiting the room I found myself in a dusty eggshell white hallway with six other doors like the one I had opened. Curiosity took over and I peered inside the rooms by the small windows they had on the doors. The first room I peered at had Twilight wrapped in a restraint jacket hanging from the wall by chains tightly pressing her against the wall. Holy shit!

Without thinking I threw open the door and ran over to twilight. All the chains looked as if they are held together this single small combo lock but damn it what's the code!?

"Twilight are you awake!? Twilight!?" Her lack of response filled me with an icy terror, that's when I noticed one of those ear tags on Twilight's ear but it had wires going into her ears.

Then that ear bleeding burst of static slammed into my ear and sucker punched my ear drums. "That won't wake her." Adagio spoke from the static.

"What have you done to her!?"

"She woke up before the others so I had to tie her up, as for her condition. Princess Sleeping Beauty is currently under one of my new spells that I discovered after my pendant was restored."

"I thought you could only control people?"

"Where you not listening earlier? Anger, sadness, fear, all of these and more the pendants can absorb their energy and transform it into a new spell I place into my songs, even figured out how to keep the spell on a recording. Right now twilight is experiencing my spell of failure on an endless loop. Constantly reliving her past failures, but that's not all the spell reshapes old memories making past victories into terrible failures.

" Oh and ripping the speakers from her ears won't be enough to break her free and before she passed out again I told her the combo to her lock, so it looks like you can't help her." An evil laugh followed by another burst of static came before the cut.

Damn it what am I supposed to do now!? If all my friends are like this then how can I help them!? Then another burst of static rang into my ear. Oh great she wants to gloat! "Aren't you satisfied yet!?"

"Hu? My God what did Adagio say to you?" That voice, Sonata!?

"How that hell!?"

"Shhh. Keep it down, Adagio doesn't know I'm awake yet. As for how the hell, Looks like Adagio had Aria and I sent to her base of operations and from what I can tell it looks like the head Doctors office, but I’m not sure. Look I don't have a lot of time Adagio will come back at any time, I didn't get hit with those tranquilizer darts outside, damn thing got tangled in my hair instead so I managed to 'collapse' next to you and I put my pendent in your back pocket."

She what!? I felt my back pocket and pulled Sonata's pendent out, still looks like it got shot. "But why? They only do harm."

"Yes but when Adagio had us dragged here I had some time and found her notes on the pendants and the spells. They don't just absorb negative energy, possessive as well. Happiness, joy, even laughter. On non enchanted people the positive energy spells will remove any bad thoughts or feelings from the person but in twilight and the others case you need to do more."

"Like what?"

"You have to go into your friends minds and sing the spells to them there."

Wait, what!? "And how am I supposed to do that?"

"With the pendent, other than with songs as the control factor they also let us command people via telepathy. Well sorta... you'll see. But only as long as they are under the pendants control."

"But what about the energy? Don't I need someone else to pull the energy from?"

"Remember Adagio sent me my pendent three years ago and I haven't touched it until now so it should still have some juice left."

"But?"

Suddenly the sound of a door slamming came from the trackers audio. "Shit, gotta go. Good luck Sunset Shimmer."

"Wait!" The static burst and the audio cut. "Damn it!"

I held Sonata's pendent in my hand for what seemed like hours just staring at it. I trust Sonata but If I mess up and use a dark magic spell it might start to affect me, turn me back into that bitch I was ten years ago. If I don't try Twilight and the others will be stuck here because of my cowardliness and Adagio wins. I griped Sonata's pendent tightly in my fist and cleared all thoughts from my mind and then started to think about all the times I've won, not the way I used to the way I've won when I redeemed myself, when I changed. I felt the pendent shake a little in my fist then I felt as if I had fallen asleep again.

I felt as if my brain had been ripped right out of my skull and jammed into another. I awoke in a closet of sorts, the roof was distorted and endless as I looked up (almost puked... Can you puke in a mined). I gathered my thoughts and I managed to stand up and... wait a minute I'm quadruped, I'm a pony again!? What the hell!? I guess Twilight must be dreaming about Equestria then, I wonder what kinda sick twisted torment she's under right now.

I immediately heard the sound of excessive weeping and what sound like a very one sided argument. "... And those letters on the magic of friendship where the biggest waste of time and paper I have ever seen in my thousands of years alive!"

Was that Celestia? Who the heck... Never mind I'm in Twilight mined so she has to be yelling to Twilight... Celestia yelling at Twilight? That's her fear, her torment!? That's, that's... The worst. I should know I've had experience in getting yelled at and disappointing my teacher.

"Why when I turned you into an Alicorn and made you a princess I expected better but you have been nothing but a failure ever since!"

"But I... I." Twilight's voice was breaking and she started to cry.

Why the hell am I just listening!? I threw open the door and saw Celestia standing over a weeping Twilight. "Twilight!"

Twilight turned over to me. "Sunset Shimmer!?"

Celestia looked down at her then back over to me. "Twilight don't move unless you want to lose more of my depleted respect for you!" Twilight curled up into a ball tearing up. "You! You were my biggest mistake!"

What the heck!? This is Twilight's nightmare not mine. Unless since I'm in Twilight's mined the spell can affect me to! Shit!

"All the students in my academy and I chose you cause I thought you had potential but you decided to peruse darker arts and ran off to that other world rather than just listen and obey like a good subject!"

It felt like a dagger had just stabbed its way into my heart. Dammit every word is true!

"Then when the portal finally opened again and you came back rather than seeking my forgiveness and guidance you steal the element of Magic take it back to that other world and attempt a hostile takeover! Twilight maybe a lost cause now but at least she got further along in her studies than you did! You Sunset Shimmer are a failure at being my student, a failure at being evil, and a failure at being a friend!"

I found myself curled up like Twilight crying my eyes out. Nothing I do with my life will make up for my failures, nothing! Nothing... I felt a warm light coming from my neck... When I looked it was Sonata's pendent. The pendent!? Suddenly all my failures in life started fading from my thoughts and I started remembering all the good times with the girls. Our time in school, when we got our first major gig, when we first had a group of crazy fans burst through our hotel door and almost stole all our stuff for keepsakes. I may not be able to make up for my past mistakes and failures but I'll be damned if I'm not gonna try! And I have!

I stood up at Celestia with tearing red eyes. "You're right I can't make up for my past failures and mistakes but I'm not going down without trying! Ever since Twilight and the girls blasted me with that magical friendship sky laser... whatever the hack it was I thought about what went wrong and for a while I was broken!

"But the girls, even if it was a request from Twilight forgave me and opened up to me and after the Sirens were defeated I finally forgave myself! And nothing you say can change the fact that despite my past I have redeemed myself!"

With that Celestia faded as did the library around Twilight and I. I found myself on two legs and hair mostly on my head again and it was just Twilight and I. I took a breath and walked over to the still weeping pony Twilight.

"It's time to wake up from this nightmare Twilight."

She looked at me with red teary eyes. "A... *sniffle* n... nightmare?"

"More of a spell really." With that I grabbed Twilight in my arms and sang the first song I remember my mother singing to me when I was young. It was the first thing to come to mind.

Dear little sun drop don't you cry
The ground maybe cold but don't be shy
Even as the sun sets in the night
You'll be the sun in the dark of the sky.

Twilight gave me a smile and faded from my arms, she was waking up and I started to wake up and leave Twilight's mined.