“Okay. Plan.” Sunset Shimmer rubbed at her temples, hoping to get the echoes of the smoke-monster's terrible scream out of her head. “Pinkie Pie, find the others and tell them to meet us here. We're gonna need all hands on deck for this one.”
“On it!” Pinkie Pie snapped off a quick salute, and zipped off.
“Twilight,” Sunset said, “how long will it take to set up a magical scan?”
“Not long.” Twilight adjusted her glasses, which had been knocked askew in the chaos, and started pulling electronics out of her bag.
“Wait.” Rainbow Dash blinked. “You just carry mad science gizmos around with you?”
“After all we've been through?” Twilight flicked a switch, and her handheld scanner began to make theremin-like noises.
“Good point.” Rainbow Dash had to admit. “Oh hey, would it help if we played the record backwards? I heard that's how you can get the devil to talk to you and stuff on some albums.”
“No,” Sunset Shimmer's voice was firm.
“Okay, so … “ Twilight Sparkle hunched over the display unit she had in one hand, while the other waved a sensor wand over the still-sparking record player. “The etheric signature is on a far different wavelength than what I've seen before … it'd be fascinating, if I had the chance to study it under more optimal conditions.”
“Say what?” Rainbow Dash leaned over Twilight's shoulder and peered at the wiggly lines on her magic scanner's screen.
“It's a different kind of magic.” Twilight said.
“Then why didn't you say so?”
“Not now, Rainbow.” Sunset crowded around Twilight, attempting to get a better look at her scanner. “Anything else?”
“Well … “ Twilight said, “I think the record might have been some sort of receptacle, or storage device. Kind of like that compact I built, just … different. It stores magical energy, and a lot of it. Or, uh, it stored magical energy, until we let it out.”
“Until I let it out.” Rainbow Dash said with misplaced pride.
Twilight looked up from the scanner screen. “I'm not sure if that's something you should brag about.”
“Luna-- Vice-Principal Luna gave you that record.” Sunset Shimmer said. “Maybe … maybe it was some kind of trap?”
“Why would she do that?” said Rainbow Dash.
“I don't know-- she could have wanted you to release … whatever that was?” Sunset said.
“If she just wanted someone to play the record, why not do it herself?” Rainbow Dash walked over and poked at the still-sparking remains of the record player. “Maybe it was just an accident?”
“Or maybe she couldn't play it herself.” Sunset rubbed at her chin. “But giving the record to someone else would be one way around a binding geas … “
“Rainbow Dash. Sunset Shimmer. Report to Vice-Principal Luna's office.” The voice over the intercom was clear, stern, and more than a little foreboding. “Immediately.”
“Guess we're going to find out.” Sunset Shimmer pulled in a deep breath. “Okay, Twilight? Stay here, keep working, and fill the rest of the girls in. If we're not back in an hour … assume the worst.”
Twilight Sparkle's eyes went wide. “And then what?”
“You're smart. You'll think of something.” Sunset patted Twilight on the shoulder, and headed for the door. “C'mon Rainbow. Time to get some answers.”
“Right!” Rainbow Dash hurried to catch up. “Do you think she's turned back into Nightmare Moon already? Like, what if she's got bat wings and claws all of a sudden?” Rainbow Dash took a moment to marvel at the image. “That'd be pretty cool, y'know?”
“Let's hope not.” Sunset Shimmer said.
“Do you think she'll try to eat our souls, or just give us detention?”
It was Vice-Principal Luna who sat across the desk, not Nightmare Moon. In fact, it looked like she had dressed a little more conservatively than usual, as if to put any rumors of rock-stardom aside. Sunset and Rainbow fidgeted in their chairs as Luna glared at them.
“I've made a terrible mistake,” said the Vice-Principal.
“I'm sure it wasn't that bad … “ Sunset Shimmer said.
“It's my fault. I should have paid more attention. I accidentally left a record-- a large, round black disc--”
“We know what records are.” Rainbow Dash said. “Vinyl's kind of making a comeback, y'know?”
Luna grit her teeth and glared daggers through Rainbow Dash. Rainbow cringed a little, and murmured a near inaudible, “sorry.”
“There was a record in the box I gave you. It's very important to me. I was careless. I never should have left it in there to begin with. I'd forgotten about it until I accidentally gave you the box.”
“Uh, sure! No problem!” Rainbow Dash said. “We'll get it back to you right away!”
“Good. And whatever you do, make sure you don't play the record--”
“About that.” Rainbow Dash scratched at the back of her neck.
“You're kidding.”
Rainbow and Sunset silently shook their heads.
“You're not kidding.”
Rainbow and Sunset nodded.
Vice-Principal Luna pulled in a deep breath, and squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands balled into fists, and Sunset scooted back as memories of getting twisted into an aikido-pretzel resurfaced.
“You let him loose, didn't you?” Luna said. Where she'd been glaring daggers before, she'd now upgraded to full broadswords.
“Who?” Rainbow Dash tried to play innocent. Badly.
“Sombra.”
Sunset Shimmer gasped.
Rainbow Dash glanced between Luna and Sunset. “Um. Am I the only one here who doesn't know what a Sombra is?”
“Sombra is … was, an ancient, evil wizard.” Vice-Principal Luna sat back in her chair. “His mad hatred of all life has kept him tethered to this world, in his undying quest to burn all he sees to ash.”
“But … “ Sunset Shimmer leaned forward, placing her palms on the edge of Vice-Principal Luna's desk. “How do you know about Sombra in the first place?”
“Sunset.” Luna said, slowly. “Didn't you ever wonder why my sister and I are so … understanding of the fact that you and your friends occasionally start glowing with magic?”
“I just thought you weren't paying much attention?”
“In the middle of school-wide events?”
“Point.”
“The fact of the matter is, Sunset, you and your friends aren't the first young women to confront magical evils. You probably won't be the last, either.”
“Wait.” Rainbow Dash squinted at Princess Luna. “Are you saying--”
“I … Nightmare Moon fought Sombra. Bound his soul into a pressed record, so he could never menace this world again.”
“That. Is. So. Cool.” Rainbow Dash said, eyes glimmering with sudden, fangirlish glee.
“It's not as 'cool' as it sounds.” Luna said. She kept her voice carefully, unnaturally even, holding back whatever emotion she might have felt. “It was a battle hard fought, and one not without cost.”
“The fire.” Sunset Shimmer said as things clicked into place. “That was the last time anyone saw Nightmare Moon.”
“You've been doing your research.”
“I'm friends with Twilight Sparkle.”
“Ah.” Vice-Principal Luna breathed in deeply. “I've spent years trying to forget that night, trying to put it behind me. I would've given my life to stop Sombra. Happily. But … I was careless. Innocents got caught up in the battle.”
“It couldn't have been that bad. I mean, nobody died, right?” Rainbow Dash said.
“Rainbow Dash.” Luna stood, and planted her hands upon her desk. “Do you know what scorched flesh smells like?”
“Uh.” Rainbow Dash said. “No?”
“Do you know the sound human fat makes when it burns?”
“Why would I--”
“Do you know what it feels like, to have a friend's charred skin crumble into your fingers?”
Rainbow Dash's blue cheeks began to tint more towards a seafoam green, and she clapped her hands over her mouth.
“It. Was. That. Bad.” Luna spat. Her shoulders slumped, and the hateful terror drained from her, revealing a tired, worn woman. “I … I can't go through that again. I'll do what I can to help, but … I can't face Sombra again.” She sat down in her chair, hard enough to make its springs creak. “It's up to you.”
“But how? How did you defeat Sombra before?” Sunset Shimmer said.
“Courage.” Luna's voice was distant. “Blood. Steel.”
“Something tells me there's more to it than that.” Sunset Shimmer said.
“No.” Luna shook her head. “Sombra is not a subtle creature. You must meet him with as much power as you can muster, and maybe … maybe it will be enough. His spirit is incorpreal. Eternal. You can only face him when he manifests. And Sombra only manifests when he's at his most powerful. You at least have one advantage that I didn't-- I fought Sombra alone. You don't have to.”
“But how can we know when and where he manifests?” Sunset said.
“Sombra isn't subtle. Pay attention, and you'll know.”
“Is there anything else you can tell us?” Sunset Shimmer said. “You never can get enough information when it comes to magic like this.”
Luna shook her head. “To be honest with you, there's not much else to tell.”
“I see.” Sunset Shimmer stood up. “You can count on us, Vice-Principal Luna. Now that we know what we're dealing with, I know we can stop Sombra.”
Luna turned her chair away from the two teenagers, and looked out the window behind her desk, out onto the vibrant green soccer field outside.
“I hope you're right.”
“C'mon Rainbow. We'd better go tell the others.” Sunset Shimmer headed for the door, pulling Rainbow Dash along with her.
“One last thing.” Luna said without turning around.
“What's that?”
“Be more careful than I was.”
After Sunset and Rainbow had returned from Luna's office, they filled the rest of the band in. The next several hours had been devoted to brainstorming and research, to little avail. The janitorial staff eventually shooed them out of the school building, so they made do with an impromptu slumber party in Pinkie Pie's basement.
The topic drifted this way and that, until Twilight Sparkle looked up from her tablet.
“Guys?” She said, and pushed her hair out of her eyes. “I think I've found something.”
“More of your predictive calculations?” Sunset asked.
“Oooh! I know! I bet it's some kinda ancient prophecy!” Rainbow Dash said. She'd mostly recovered from Luna's earlier lecture. “Like, it's carved into a big chunk of rock in Norway or something, right?”
“Actually. Uh. I just found this.” Twilight turned her tablet around, revealing the headline on a pop-culture gossip website.
BREAKING NEWS: Long-Lost Death Metal Musician SOMBRA Announces New Tour!
“That was quick.” Applejack mused, frowning.
“He's an incorporeal spirit with potential access to mind control magic, if he's anything like the Sombra from my dimension.” Sunset said. “He's not bound to the same time constraints we are.”
“The good news is, his first show is at the local amphitheater.” Twilight said as she scrolled through the article. “So we'll know where he'll be.”
“Why do I feel there's a 'but' coming?” Rarity said.
“He's playing tomorrow night.”
So Sombra is pretty much a heavy metal demon... okay.
7070384 I guess you were right.
And also, I just got the pun in the title. Nice.
More music magic? You know who a lot about music magic?
Sirens. Maybe time to make a deal.
7071441 Time for Rainbow to brush up on her Tenacious D skillz.
7071460 Still not as legit hardcore as a demon with six guitars in it's body and has a BDSM fetish.
Sombra, a heavy metal shade...
I approve.
Honestly, with how music seems to be connected at least partially to magic in EG, it really doesn't surprise me. Also, I can't deny I actually liked the scene where Luna slammed Rainbow with a fat slab of reality-Rainbow in her own little world of awesomeness right now, and I'm honestly afraid of what's going to happen when she comes up against something that'd happily leave her eviscerated in ditch somewhere.
Still, awesome so far, and I can't wait to see more.
Could only have been Sombra
You gotta challenge him to a rock-off!
Get just one chance to knock his socks off!
First Discord, then Nightmare Moon, now Sombra...
I am starting to see a pattern in your EQG stories.
Is it okay to say "That's metal?"
Well, I was 50% right, at least. Now we just need the metal-off.
I think you forgot to add "not" between one and cost.
7071570
Shoot, must've gotten accidentally deleted somehow. Fixed! Thanks for catching that.
Let's hope Canterlot was built on metal and not on rock. Better support.
I can see it now: Luna teaches them her metal ways in order to combat the forces of evil. It's how Rainbow Rocks should have ended. I'm liking the little bit or worldbuilding though. I say it is contrasting a little with the metal and comedy overtones, but it's too early to say if that's a benefit or a con. We'll see.
I'd say this chapter is worth two doses. One for the lovely Lady of the Night...
And for the fallen Arthurian Prince of Darkness.
encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT45ZzEijvYxoTuu9hELGgAxoJttQfOUYP4ZfS8ak70YSzBg92oPA
And so the battle of the metal began, while the gods of metal shown upon them.
Yup, I'm excited for the next chapter.
Also poor Luna, that experience definitely left some scars.
This has been delightful so far. Looking forward to more.
Geez, what is it with evil magical beings using music to do their evil things? Nightmare Moon, Sirens, and Sombra.
...
...
...What? It's not like I'm complaining or anything. *Puts on denim jacket* Let's do this.
If anything, a devoted mind controlled cult of demonic Death Metal fans seems more realistic than things in Equestria.
Just pouring molten plastic on him is one thing. Squeezing him down into a small pancake of an LP is another.
Now, wheres that air powered pneumoacoustic amplifier for when he starts casting EMP spells to fry Vinyls Transformer Car Rig? Im thinking quad barrel 64 foot Bass Bolo.
7071731 Dude! I want in on the gig!
*Puts on leather jacket, aviator glasses and bandana*
Dibs on the Druid Plow!
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/brutallegend/images/b/b9/Deuce_Motor_Force_Little_Beast.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140723085937
And just because I can:
(Damn thems copyrights)
Well, looks like its time for a little.... tribute. Not the best song in the world, no, just a tribute.
7071460 I was thinking more along the lines of Dragonforce.
... At times like this, one should know ones limits. The hu-mane 7 are many things, but metal, they are not. I recommend they do what all people who are under qualified to fight metal demons do. Outsource to a professional, or get a good teacher fast. Fortunately, there's one person who is both of those things.
Are they.. going to have to turn to Dean Cadance of Crystal Prep for help?
Im laughing, thinking that the final battle would go something like this
Needless to say, the wizard was stunned. with a whip-crack went his whoopy hair, signalling the beast of man was done.
"Be you angels?" he asked us.
And to that we said, "Nay. We are but manes."
"Rock!"
7071472 Rainbow Dash will need a demon's tooth for a guitar pick if she wants to win this guy:
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Vice Principal Luna being Nightmare Moon Metal Rock Star is an awesome idea and I hate you for thinking of it before me and I'm totally stealing the idea!
7071951 I mean, for sounds and stuff, sure. But when it comes to beating down demons with the power of rock, you gotta give credit where credit's due.
Come on, Luna. We all know that you'll arrive to save the day at the last minute with the power of
rockmetal!Wonder what Principal Celestia was up to while Nightmare Moon was fighting Sombra. Time to go challenge Sombra to a rock-off (and to see whether he has a larger vocabulary than the Equestrian version). Preferably they can get Vinyl and her car for backup too. Hm, whacking Sombra with guitars probably won't be enough. Here's hoping Luna brushes off the dust and joins them. Though Rainbow Dash probably won't be happy if they somehow end up as "Nightmare Moon and the Rainbows" (RD would definitely want top billing).
Well now. One more line in the list of 'Should have existed in our world'. A mind-controlled death metal cult. Ah, sweet dreams :(
That shouldn't be so funny ...
That actually explains a few things ...
They're going to somehow have to get Luna out of metal retirement to help them pony up since only Rainbow Dash seems to really be into the hardcore metal.
Hmm...
Well, it's not like they're short on options when it comes to music-based magic. That makes the upcoming chapters even more intriguing; I'm not sure which they'll use.
7075843 I agree. Tbh I'm pretty much like Rainbow Dash, I love heavy metal, always have. Although I absolutely HATE screamo. Really grinds my gears when people try to tell me that they are the same thing! They are completely different! But enough of my ranting. I also enjoy listening to country(old country) and rap(old rap). However I really don't like pop, techno, or reggae. But that's just me.
Allow me to quote the famous judge who said, ahem, “sheeeeeeeit.”
Battle of the Bands #2? It seems like the most obvious way to handle this. However, that's the way Luna handled him and it cost lives. There may be an alternative...
Twilight, could you build a new magic trap, one keyed to Sombra's power signature?
Meanwhile, I'm shocked that he didn't attack Crystal Prep; it is the Crystal Empire equivalent, after all!
Whelp, this chapter shoots my previous argument to heck.
OMG CALLED IT!!
7078622 if they come with music that sounds like one direction again the will los qucicker then denmark in ww2 (denmark surrenderd after 2 hours)
Yes. Hell yes.
Fuck. Yes!
7078622
CRYSTULSSSSSSSSSSS
I have always greatly preferred this idea over the possibility that they just don't give a dang.
7121193 "principal Celestia hunts the undead" has this same idea.
7097706
7089970
As it was said on Danny Phantom: "That's not a clue, that's a billboard!"
Iceland*
(Atlantis)
(Shepard's Journal)
7072614 What does it matter if Sombra has a one word vocabulary? Your average death metal gutter band's singer barks rhythmically in an unintelligible basso profundo that could be English, could be Swedish, could be German, who knows?
I can't get any pictures of EQG Sombra or butt-fire from "askkingsombra.tumblr.com". Instead, enjoy this other pic I found. Doesn't have fire-starting twerking, butt its something.
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/mlpfanart/images/2/20/King_Sombra_by_trinityinyang.png/revision/latest?cb=20130925034436
I'm really hoping for Nightmare Moon to power slide onto stage during the final fight. Metal Awaits!