- Sunset Shimmer: A demon. I turned into a raging she-demon.
- Pinkie Pie: And tried to turn everyone here into teenage zombies for your own personal army!
- Applejack: So how was the tour?
- Sunset Shimmer: I don't know. I mean, these girls, they were... There was something off about them.
- Pinkie Pie: Like off like this?
- [makes her hair into a beard]
- Pinkie Pie: Or off like this?
- [puts two carrots in her mouth like fangs]
- Pinkie Pie: Or... Oh, oh! Like...
- Rainbow Dash: Maybe we should just let *her* tell us.
- Sunset Shimmer: That's just it. I can't put my finger on it. They just acted sort of... strange around me. Maybe someone already talked to them, told them what I did.
- [sighs sadly]
- Sunset Shimmer: So much for making a great first impression.
- Fluttershy: Uh-huh.
- [the others glare at her]
- Fluttershy: Oh... that's... probably not it...
- [she lowers her head]
- Aria Blaze: Ugh! I wish we'd never been banished to this awful place!
- Adagio Dazzle: [sarcastically] Really? I love it here!
- Sonata Dusk: For realsies? Because I think this place is the worst.
- Aria Blaze: I think *you're* the worst, Sonata.
- Sonata Dusk: Oh, yeah? Well, I think *you're*...
- Adagio Dazzle: Ergh! I'll tell you *one* thing. Being stuck here with you two isn't making this world any more...
- [through clenched teeth]
- Adagio Dazzle: ... bearable.
- [there's suddenly a thunderclap outside with a bright column of light outside the window; she runs outside to get a better look as Aria and Sonata follow suit; they see a double rainbow twist around each other, go diagonally and then straight up as we see Adagio's pendant twinkle for a moment]
- Adagio Dazzle: [gasps] Did you feel that?
- [grins]
- Adagio Dazzle: Do you know what that is?
- [Aria and Sonata think for a moment, then shrug; Adagio grabs Aria by her jacket and yanks her up close]
- Adagio Dazzle: It's Equestrian magic!
- Aria Blaze: [pushes Adagio's hands off her jacket] But this world doesn't *have* Equestrian magic!
- Adagio Dazzle: It does now, and we're gonna use it to make everyone in this pathetic little world adore us!
- [they line up side by side with sinister smirks]
- Twilight Sparkle: Now that we're all back together, we can use that magic on the sirens. Just like when we were able to use it on Sunset Shimmer when she turned into that horrifyingly awful winged monster! No offense.
- Sunset Shimmer: [disgruntled] None taken.
- [happily]
- Sunset Shimmer: I'm used to it.
- Twilight Sparkle: The way Sunset Shimmer described them, I think these new girls sound an awful lot like... the sirens.
- Pinkie Pie: Not the sirens!
- [whispering loudly to Fluttershy]
- Pinkie Pie: I don't actually know what that is!
- Twilight Sparkle: All right, girls, let's do this! Friendship is magic!
- [nothing happens]
- Rainbow Dash: Uh, weren't there rainbows and lasers and stuff last time?
- Pinkie Pie: [to Twilight] So what do you wanna play? Triangle? Sousaphone? Or theremin?
- [plays theremin]
- Pinkie Pie: So-o-o-o-o magical.
- [after a terrible rehearsal]
- Spike: Eh, that sounded... way better than the last... five times you've played it. Heh heh.
- Big Macintosh: Nope.
- Adagio Dazzle: [chuckle] Told you someone would give them a shove.
- Sonata Dusk: She didn't shove them. She pulled the lever.
- Aria Blaze: [groans] Go back to sleep, Sonata.
- Sunset Shimmer: [a while into the Dazzlings' performance and the Rainbooms' arguing] Stop! You have to stop!
- [they suddenly stop arguing]
- Sunset Shimmer: This is what they've been after all along! They're feeding off the magic inside you!
- Applejack: How can they be using our magic? It's the magic of friendship!
- Sunset Shimmer: Ever since you started this band, you've been letting... little things get to you. I never said anything because I didn't feel like it was my place, not when I'm so new to this 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.
- [they hang their heads in shame]
- Twilight Sparkle: I can't believe all this tension was happening right under my nose and I didn't realise 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.
- Sunset Shimmer: I don't think anyone is supposed to have all the answers, ut you can count on your friends to help you find them.
- Twilight Sparkle: I think you already have. Come on, we need to get out of here!
- [they all push themselves up at once at the door to no avail; they collapse to the floor, then a knock on the door is heard; it opens; Spike standing outside]
- Twilight Sparkle: Spike!
- [picks him up and hugs him]
- Spike: Sorry I took so long. I had to find someone who wasn't under the Sirens' spell to help me get you out.
- [DJ Pon-3 comes into view]
- Twilight Sparkle: Why *isn't* she under their spell?
- Spike: Never takes off her headphones.
- [DJ gives a thumbs up and smiles]
- Rainbow Dash: I hate to burst your bubble, Twilight, but the connection between their world and Equestria will still be totally cut off for a super-long time.
- Pinkie Pie: OK, first of all, if there was any bubble-blowing going on, why wasn't I told about it? And secondly, if the connection is totally cut off, how was Sunset Shimmer able to get a message to Twilight?
- Twilight Sparkle: [gasps] Pinkie, you're a genius!
- Pinkie Pie: Yeah, I get that a lot.
- [to Rainbow Dash]
- Pinkie Pie: Now about those bubbles...
- Sunset Shimmer: [to Dazzlings] You're never gonna get away with this!
- Adagio Dazzle: Why, because *you* didn't?
- [Sunset widens her eyes in surprise as the Dazzlings circle her]
- Adagio Dazzle: Oh, we know all about you, Sunset Shimmer. You've got quite the reputation at Canterlot High.
- Sunset Shimmer: I've changed! I'm in a much better place now!
- Aria Blaze: Waiting in the wings while your *friends* have all the fun?
- Adagio Dazzle: Oh, yes, you girls are so tight, and yet, they didn't ask *you* to be in the band.
- Aria Blaze: Probably afraid no one would want to see them play if *she* was in the group.
- Sonata Dusk: Too bad! So sad!
- Adagio Dazzle: If it's any consolation, *no one* is going to remember you at all by the time we're done.
- [they barge past Sunset and leave; Sunset glares after them, but then looks hurt by their words]
- Adagio Dazzle: You feel that, girls? Our true power is being restored!
- Aria Blaze: Ha ha ha ha ha!
- Sonata Dusk: Ha ha ha ha ha!
- Adagio Dazzle: And that's before we've tapped into the strongest magic here.
- Aria Blaze: But the Rainblossoms, or whatever they're called, aren't under our spell! How exactly are we supposed to get to their magic?
- Adagio Dazzle: The Rainbooms are just as capable of falling apart as anyone else, they just need a little push in the wrong direction. I have a feeling everyone here is going to be lining up to give them a shove!
- Aria Blaze: We have been known to sing from time to time.
- Sonata Dusk: Hello? We sing, like, all the time! It's how we get people to do what we want.
- Adagio Dazzle: [growls and makes a "be quiet" gesture with her hand at Sonata]
- Sonata Dusk: Wha-What did I say?
- Adagio Dazzle: What you *meant* to say was that being in a musical showcase sounds like a great way to meet other students.
- Sonata Dusk: O-o-o-o-oh, yeah. Th-What she said I meant to say. That's what I meant. To say.
- Aria Blaze: [scoffs] And what you *would* have said if you weren't the worst.
- Sonata Dusk: *You* are!
- Adagio Dazzle: [quickly moves in front of them and looks to Sunset Shimmer] You'll have to excuse them. They're idiots.
- Sunset Shimmer: [pause, then Sunset Shimmer notices their pendants] He-he... those are pretty.
- [moves a hand towards Adagio's pendant]
- Sunset Shimmer: wherever did you...?
- Adagio Dazzle: [suddenly grabs Sunset's wrist, then lets go after a few seconds and giggles] Sorry... these pendants mean an awful lot to us. We'd just hate for anything to happen to them.
- [Adagio and Aria walk past her, then pull Sonata with them shortly after from off screen; Sunset Shimmer makes a puzzled look]
- Spike: [to Twilight] You, uh... really need to go ahead and do that whole "magic of friendship" thing now.
- Adagio Dazzle: [mock surprise] Oh, no! No one's mingling! It's like there's some kind of underlying tension that could bubble to the surface at any minute!
- Sonata Dusk: It's the fruit punch, isn't it? I *knew* I used too much grape juice!
- Adagio Dazzle: It's *not* the fruit punch! It's us!
- Aria Blaze: But the punch is awful, too.
- Sonata Dusk: What do *you* know about good fruit punch?
- Aria Blaze: More than you!
- Sonata Dusk: Do not!
- Aria Blaze: Do too!
- Adagio Dazzle: There is Equestrian magic here. Their negative energy will give us the power we need to get this entire world to do our bidding.
- Sonata Dusk: But we can get lunch after though, right? It's Taco Tuesday!
- Adagio Dazzle: [sarcastically] Oh,no! Nobody's mingling! It's like there's some underlining tension that could bubble to the surface at any minute.
- Sonata Dusk: It's the fruit punch, isn't it? I knew I used too much grape juice!
- Adagio Dazzle: It's not the fruit punch! It's us!
- Fluttershy: [referring to Dazzlings] I can't believe they got to Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna, too!
- Rainbow Dash: They've gotten to everybody!
- Pinkie Pie: Not *everybody*!
- Applejack: Pinkie Pie's right. We were there while the Dazzlings were singin', and we weren't affected. It was like we were protected somehow.
- Rainbow Dash: So let's take them down! It's not like we haven't tangled with dark magic before and totally whupped its sorry butt!
- [to Sunset Shimmer]
- Rainbow Dash: Uh... no offense.
- Sunset Shimmer: [sighs in an aggravated tone] None taken... again!
- Fluttershy: But that was when Twilight was here. We may have some kind of magic inside us, but it only comes out when we play music. I sure don't know how to use it to..."whupp anybody's butt"...
- Rarity: [while polishing her nails] If only we could get a message to Twilight, maybe she could tell us how to break the spell The Dazzlings have cast on our friends.
- Rainbow Dash: Well, that's not gonna happen. The portal's closed.
- [Throws her soccer ball at the base of the pony statue where Rarity is sitting, she ducks out of the way as it bounces back to Rainbow Dash and she drops her nail polish brush, which leaves a magenta mark on her upper arm before it lands on the ground, she gasps]
- Rainbow Dash: And I'm pretty sure they don't have cellphones where she's from.
- Sunset Shimmer: I have an idea how we can get in touch with Princess Twilight!
- Twilight Sparkle: Maybe it doesn't even matter that we're trapped down here. I don't think the counter spell would have worked anyway.
- Applejack: 'Course is woulda worked, Twilight!
- [turns to look at Rainbow Dash]
- Applejack: Assumin' as certain band member didn't try to hog the spotlight the whole time we were tryin' to play it!
- Rainbow Dash: Hey! If you want to tell Twilight she's getting a little too caught up trying to be the new leader of this band, you don't have to be all cryptic about it.
- Rarity: She was talking about *you*, Rainbow Dash!
- Rainbow Dash: *Me*? I'm just trying to make sure my band rocks as hard as it needs to!
- Applejack, Rarity: *Our* band!
- Twilight Sparkle: But why wasn't it working? I should know what to do. How could I not know what to do? How could I have failed like this?
- Applejack: It might have been your idea to start a band, but it's not just your band, Rainbow Dash!
- Rainbow Dash: I'm the one who writes all the songs!
- Fluttershy: I write songs. You just never let us *play* any of them!
- Rarity: I had *the* most perfect outfits for us to wear.
- Applejack: Again with the costumes! Nobody cares what we're wearin'!
- Rarity: *I* care, Applejack! So sorry if I enjoy trying to make a creative contribution to the band!
- Pinkie Pie: Hey! Anybody here remember *fun*? I'll give you a hint! IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF BEING IN THE RAINBOOMS!
- Rainbow Dash: I wish I never asked any of you to be in my band!
- Rarity: *I* WISH I NEVER AGREED TO BE IN IT!
- Applejack, Fluttershy: Me neither!
- [all except Sunset and Twilight start arguing incoherently as their negative energy and distrust starts drifting up towards the stage where the Dazzlings are about to perform as Sunset starts to look frightened]
- Twilight Sparkle: We really need to stop bumping into each other like this.
- Flash Sentry: [to bandmates] Uh, you guys hear something?
- Bandmates: Nope, etc.
- Twilight Sparkle: I said, we have to stop...
- Flash Sentry: There it is again! So annoying!
- Principal Celestia: [about the Dazzlings] Dark magic? I find that very hard to believe. Those girls came into my office earlier and were absolutely delightful.
- Vice Principal Luna: [scoffs] Perhaps Sunset Shimmer is just eager to make someone else out to be a bad element so that her actions at the Fall Formal will become old news.
- Sunset Shimmer: I could see why you might think that, but...
- Rainbow Dash: [interrupting] That's *not* what's happening! We saw all of this go down in the cafeteria too!
- Principal Celestia: Yes, but isn't your band supposed to be part of the Musical Showcase?
- Rainbow Dash: Yes.
- Vice Principal Luna: Perhaps you're all just worried that the Dazzlings will steal your spotlight.
- Applejack: The Dazzlings?
- Principal Celestia: It's the name of their musical group. That's why they came by my office earlier - to sign up for the Showcase. Even sang a little song to Vice Principal Luna and I.
- Applejack: They did?
- Principal Celestia: Yes. And we think having a Battle of the Bands instead is a marvelous idea.
- [Celestia and Luna's eyes briefly flashed green; meaning they're under the Dazzlings' spell]
- Sunset Shimmer: [opens her locker and pulls out a book] When I was Princess Celestia's student back in Equestria, she gave me this.
- [wipes dust off the cover, revealing her cutie mark]
- Sunset Shimmer: Even after I abandoned my studies, I held onto it.
- [hugs the book tightly]
- Sunset Shimmer: Deep down, I guess I knew I was making a big mistake and wanted to still have a way to reach out to her.
- Maud Pie: Boulder was hungry.
- [opens a cupboard, sprinkles crackers on him and leaves]
- Sunset Shimmer: [whispering] I still can't get over the fact that she's related to Pinkie Pie.
- Twilight Sparkle: [whispering] You and me both.
- [they smile]