Everyone that got their ass chewed out by Twilight stood waiting in anticipation for my response. Their expressions changed to a look of confusion as I gave the most appropriate response.

"We'll see," I said quietly.

It even caught Twilight off guard. She had the same perplexed look on her face as the others.

"Let me explain," I said a little louder. "Part of me is saying 'Yes forgive them' and another part wants me to tell you all to 'Fuck off'. I'm not sure what to do. I'll make my final decision after the Battle of the Bands finale tonight. If I feel this round of apologies is sincere I'll stay here but if not, I'm going to be taking my chances back in Equestria."

Fluttershy and the others attempted to give me another group hug but I made sure to keep my distance.

"Sorry, but I'm not taking part in any feel-good moments until I feel I belong with the group," I told them defiantly.

A few hours later we, well they, were finishing the setup for the the finale that started at sundown. I was primarily there to dog-sit Spike like usual, but every so often I'd slip off to check out the spare cords on the edge of the stage only to be called back over by Twilight.

Trying to hang myself is going to be impossible with Twilight watching me like a hawk. Maybe I'll go try to figure out how to work the equalizer, I thought dejectedly as I made my way to the sound board.

Everyone had been quietly doing their own thing ever since I rejected their hug earlier until Rainbow Dash took to the microphone to see if it worked.

"Check... 1... 2... Testing, testing," she said into the mic. I attempted to help by pushing one of the sliders to "Max". When Rainbow repeated once more, "Testing," it put off some awful feedback, thanks to me.

"This doesn't make any sense," Fluttershy said a little louder than her normal tone. "We were awful. Doesn't anyone else think it's strange that we're the ones that made it to the finals?"

"Very strange," came a familiar arrogant voice from the other side of the stage.

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

"The great and powerful Trixie is the the most talented girl at Canterlot High. It is I who deserve to be in the finals." She ranted before snapping her fingers and finishing, "And I will not be denied."

Suddenly, the floor below us gave way sending everyone and their instruments falling down to the storage area under the stage. We all looked up to see Trixie laughing her ass off.

"See you never. Ha ha ha ha," she laughed.

After what seemed like the 100th time that Rainbow Dash tried knocking the door down, the fight the Sirens had been waiting for finally took place.

"I don't think the counter-spell would've worked, anyway," Twilight said sadly.

"Course it would've worked, Twilight," Applejack told Twilight before turning her attention to Rainbow Dash and continuing, "Assumin' a certain member didn't try ta hog th' spotlight th' entire time we were tryin' ta play it."

I just watched Twilight slowly back up with tears in her eyes as Rainbow Dash flung a few accusations toward her. Rarity then joined in the argument by sticking up for Twilight, but I think the damage had been done. I went over to comfort her as the other five continued to argue.

"Is... is this how things have... been while I've been in... in Equestria?" Twilight asked me as she cried into her hands.

"Pretty much," I said as I knelt down to console her. "It's gotten worse the last few days though."

Twilight didn't say anything else after that, she just pulled her knees up to her chest. I didn't know what to do or say so I just backed off to give Twilight her space and turned around to watch the argument behind me. It was then that I noticed a green aura rising off the girls and disappearing through the cracks in the ceiling. I heard the bass from the Sirens' song and that's when it finally hit me what was going on.

"Stop!" I yelled as loud as I could. "You have to stop! This is what they've been after all along. They're feeding off of the magic inside you!"

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

I looked over my shoulder at Twilight to see a look of either confusion or annoyance, or a combination of the two, of her face. With her seemingly at a loss for words, I gave a speech of my own.

"Ever since you started this band, you've been letting little things get to you," I told them. "I never said anything because I didn't feel like it was my place. Not when I was still new to this whole 'friendship' thing. I still have a lot to learn 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."

Twilight joined me by my side said, "I can't believe all this tension was happening under my nose and I didn't realize it. 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 don't think anyone is supposed to have all the answers," I told Twilight with a weak smile. "But you can count on your friends to help you find them."

"I think you already have," Twilight said with a huge grin on her face. "Come on! We need to get out of here."

We all tried breaking the door down again, in a futile attempt. But seconds later Spike and Vinyl Scratch let us out. The six friends then got their gameplan together, that surprisingly didn't involve me. Why the fuck should it? I just brought everyone to an understanding of what was going on, so why not leave me out? Honestly...

Welcome to the show,
we're here to let you know.
Our time is now,
your time is running out.

As we stood at the top of the hill opposite of the amphitheater, Rainbow Dash asked a fair question, "How are we supposed to play over them from way up here?"

Before anyone could respond, we heard a car horn moments before Vinyl showed up with her car and with a push of a button it converted into a portable stage. Everyone got plugged in while the Sirens continued.

Feel the wave of sound,
as it crashes down.
You can't turn away,
We'll make you want to stay.

We will be adored,
tell us that you want us.
We won't be ignored,
it's time for our reward.

Now you need us,
come and heed us.
Nothing can stop us now!

Pinkie started up the Rainbooms' song as soon as the Sirens finished transforming and managed to get everyone's attention.

Oh, oh, oh, oh!
I've got the music in me.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Don't need to hear a crowd
cheering out my name.
I didn't come here
seeking infamy or fame.

The one and only thing
that I am here to bring,
is the music, is the music,
is the music in my soul.

It was then that the girls managed to summon the magic to pony up.

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

Find the music in your heart,
let the music make you start,
to set.. yourself.. apart!

I saw Adagio say something but because of the distance, I didn't make out what it was. The Sirens then took their turn.

What we have in store,
all we want and more.
We will break on through,
Now it's time to finish you!

I almost pissed myself when the Sirens revealed their true forms, three Equestrian Dragons. I had seen dragons before but they were a lot different from these. They caught everyone off guard to the point they stopped playing for a moment. After getting over the initial shock, the two groups went into a instrument versus voice battle which finally knocked the Rainbooms off their feet and sent Twilight's mic flying from her hand and landing at my feet.

What do I do? I thought. Do I leave the mic, give it back to Twilight or join them?

"Sunset Shimmer! We need you!" hollered Twilight, snapping me out of my train of thought.

Here goes nothing, I thought as I walked in front of the group and tossing my jacket on the ground.

I began singing as soon as Vinyl restarted the beat.

You're never gonna bring me down,
You're never gonna break this part of me.
My friends are gonna bring me 'round,
Not singing just for popularity.

We're here to let you know,
that we won't let it go.
Our music is a bomb,
and it's about to blow.

And you can try to fight,
but we have got the light
of friendship on our side.

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

Just then, I felt a surge of magic build up from deep inside me and I began to glow and levitate as the girls continued to sing.

Is this really happening? I thought as my ears began to rise and change shape and a ponytail extended from my hair.

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

Here to sing our song out loud,
get you dancing with the crowd.
As the music of our friendship
survives, survives, survives!

At the end of the song a unicorn appeared and fired a rainbow laser not only aimed at the dragon form but also human forms of the Sirens, destroying the sirens and the pendants that connected them to the Dazzlings.

After putting my jacket back on and making our way to the stage Rainbow Dash looked me square in the eyes and said, "You know... Twilight is going back to Equestria soon and the Rainbooms could use someone to help Fluttershy on back-up vocals."

I felt a huge smile cross my face as I grabbed a guitar that was sitting on stage and played some random riff on it. I think that was the first time that I've ever seen Rainbow Dash shut up.

"I also play guitar..." I smiled.

"We'll see..." she replied right before I was ambushed by all of them in a group hug.

They really do mean it this time, I thought happily.

I spent most of the day Sunday talking to Twilight about which element of friendship I represented. She told me that the only thing she could find that might explain my Pony Up was the rare, seventh element of harmony that only exists in this world, Empathy. As I tried to digest this, Twilight sent me a another message:

The element of Empathy can only be used by a human with a troubled past and due to it's strength, it can fill the void of the element of Magic, if necessary.

My jaw almost hit the floor when I read that. I knew the other girls were not going to believe this unless I showed them the message. And speaking of messages, while I was talking to Twilight my phone went off with this text:

BRING YOUR PJ'S AND GUITAR!

Sleepover at Sweet Apple Acres
Sat. March 22, 6:00pm
Fun, games, and Pony Ups guaranteed

See you there, Sunset!

-PP

A lone tear of joy rolled down my cheek. I finally belong somewhere...

Author's Notes:

A few notes:
-I know it's a rather anti-climatic ending than usual but it's needed for where the series is going.
-I color-coded the lyrics for who was singing what to avoid confusion; Sirens, Rainbooms and Sunset Shimmer.
-There is going to be one more chapter to tie this to the sequel, which will be told from SciTwi's POV (the sequel, not the final chapter).
-Stay tuned for the (possibly thrilling, no promises) conclusion to the story.