Octavia and I reluctantly and painfully separate from our embrace and stand up to face Rainbow Dash who has her eyebrow raised. Sunset Shimmer stands next to her with a grim face that I'm sure is fake.

"Rough Draft, what in the world are you doing here?" Sunset Shimmer asks.

"I don't answer to the likes you," I grumble.

"Rough Draft!" Octavia hisses in my ear. "Not now!"

"Hey! You have no right to right to talk to her like that!" Rainbow Dash exclaims. "And she's right! What in the world were you two thinking, going after The Dazzlings!?! You could've gotten hurt or worse!"

"Tavi!" Vinyl shouts as she enters the building with Bon Bon and Lyra following her. "We got a text from Doc that you split up and came as soon as we could with sca -"

Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer turn around to face them with Dash still holding my scanner. Vinyl, Lyra, and Bon Bon slow down, realizing we have been caught.

"Aw crap," Vinyl whispers under her breath.

"Seriously, DJ PON-3?" Rainbow Dash exclaims. "You were in this t -"

"Wait a minute, did you just talk?" Sunset Shimmer realizes. Vinyl's eyes widen underneath her shades as she realizes her second mistake.

"Aw double crap," she mutters. "There goes my image."

Nice priorities there Vinyl.

Both Sunset Shimmer and Rainbow Dash stood there agape. Rainbow Dash is the first to react.

"You know what? Forget it! It's not important! What's important is that you five are chasing the Dazzlings who just escaped prison with tasers and these...radar thingamajigs!"

Before Vinyl can answer we all hear a groan and we suddenly remembered that the Blue Dazzling is still there. Her eyes are shut and she wraps herself into a ball still wincing and whimpering from the pain from my taser. Tears begin to come out or her eyes as she whispers, "Dagi...why did...Aria...help...please..."

At that moment my heart sinks. I feel nothing but guilt for this girl. I saw how scared and helpless she is when the verdict was announced but back then all I thought about when they escaped was the mission and the fact that they were the girls who manipulated us and controlled our minds not even a month ago. Yet there is this poor, blue girl scared, abandoned and in pain from 50,000 volts running through her body. It is in this moment that I accept that this girl may not really as evil as we depicted her to be and she needs help. I turned to Octavia and I see in her eyes that she has the same idea.

Ignoring the pain in my back, I step forward and say, "Look, guys, we can argue about this for a while, but right now we're in the middle of a barely lit abandoned building and me, Octavia, and this girl have either been beaten up or tased. So can't we hold off the fighting until we go somewhere safe?"

All five of them looked at me in surprise before Rainbow Dash reluctantly sighs, "Fine. But we better get some answers."

"Better than staying here," Vinyl agrees. We turn to the exit as Lyra helps me walk and Bon Bon helps Octavia. Vinyl texts Doc and Derpy of the situation and tells them to meet up at her house. Sunset Shimmer picks up the unconscious Dazzling and carries her bridal style.

When we make it outside, Rainbow Dash asks. "so where are we going?"

"I got a spot where we can keep the Dazzling contained and some first aid at my place. We'll head there," Vinyl suggests.

"You what!?!" Sunset Shimmer exclaims. "You mean you actually planned to capture three teenage girls who ar-"

"Ugh, for the love of heaven, can we please hold of the bloody fighting until we're at VINYL'S HOUSE!?!" Octavia snaps, making all of us jump in fear. For an awkward moment, nobody moves a muscle, afraid that Octavia is going to attack them.

Finally, Rainbow Dash dares to speak.

"We'll take the Dazzling and text Applejack and the rest of our group to drive us over to your place," She suggests cautiously.

"Uhh...yeah, sure. That's fair," Vinyl says uneasily.

Without another word, Rainbow Dash starts texting Applejack while Vinyl starts the Wub Mobile. Still peeved, Octavia grabs me by the shirt and pulls me to the back seat of the Wub Mobile with Bon Bon taking a seat next to us and Lyra taking the passenger seat. No one says a word as Vinyl starts driving. The only sound heard is the engine running as everyone is still stiff from Octavia's outburst.

I have no idea what to do or what to say that will help, but before I can say anything, Octavia lets out a long sigh and rests her head on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry you had to see that again," she says wearily.

"It's alright," I say gently. "We had to get back sooner than later."

She lifts her head up and rests her chin on my shoulder and smiles sweetly.

"You're way too kind, darling," she says.

"Well isn't that what a boyfriend is supposed to do? Spoil his lady with kind words?" I ask with a smirk on my face.

She scoffs at my joke but keeps the smile on her face. Vinyl Lyra and Bon Bon let out a breath that they did not know they were holding. Suddenly, I feel Octavia's finger touch the cheek where the Orange Dazzling socked me in the face and I flinch at its sting.

"Sorry," she says. "I was just trying to get a good look at it. It looks like it's beginning to swell"

"Is it that bad?"

"You've looked cuter."

"Gee, thanks. You really are a charming girlfriend," I say sarcastically.

"Yes. Yes, I am." She answers matter-of-factually before she rests her head back on my shoulder, and we ease up a little as we head to Vinyl's house.

**********************************************************************************************************************

Vinyl pulls over at the driveway to her house and we all exit out of the car. She tells us to go inside while she waits for the others to arrive.

We walk inside and head to the basement where Bon Bon grabs the first aid from a cabinet while Lyra grabs us some chairs for us to sit on. Bon Bon brings the kit over and hands some of the ointment and cloth to Lyra who starts working on me while Bon Bon works on Octavia. I try to keep myself from flinching as Lyra touches the bruise on my cheek.

"So..." Lyra begins trying to lighten the mood. "First fight and we capture a Dazzling. Not bad for a couple of people with no magic, huh?"

"Well, to be fair, it was the weakest one, and it's only because she dove into my line of fire," I say.

"Oh don't be so modest darling, you did great," Octavia says encouragingly. "At least you hit something with your taser."

"Yeah, I'll try to remember that when my forehead and back are less sore," I say with a groan. "Seriously though, that orange girl was stronger than she looks. Maybe we should try to be better prepared with more than just tasers and half working scanners next time."

"Agreed," Bon Bon, Lyra and Octavia say together.

Lyra and Bon Bon just about finished patching us up when we hear footsteps coming down the stairs and Vinyl and Rainbow Dash already restarting their argument with Applejack joining in while carrying the blue dazzling and Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Sunset Shimmer following. Octavia grumbles under her breath, disinterested in seeing them fight again.

"You had no right to just go after three escaped convicts like it's your job!" Rainbow Dash exclaims.

"Oh, and I suppose you guys weren't going to do the same because they're your former enemies at the Battle of the Bands?" Vinyl questions.

"Well, yes. I mean no. I mea -"

"What Rainbow Dash is trying to say is you decided to jump into matters that weren't your concern," says Applejack

"I'd say having those girls brainwash my friends makes it plenty my concern!" Vinyl counters.

"And you didn't think we couldn't have handled this?" Rainbow Dash argues.

"Last time I checked, you only can use your magic when you play music, are capable of being corrupted just like everyone else and had to have someone with no magic to help you. And who was that? Oh yeah. Me!"

"We got out of their spell on our own! Sunset Shimmer figured out how to stop ourselves from fighting!" Rainbow Dash counters.

"Yeah, well, what happens the next time some magic trying to destroy the school? How do you know you can handle it?"

"If something like that happens again, we'll figure it out," Applejack says calmly.

"Yeah? Well, who says only you get to do something about it?" Vinyl snaps. "Some of us actually don't want to be helpless pawns for someone else's game ever again and would do anything to defend ourselves even if there's a one percent chance that we can do it without magic. Did you ever think of that?!"

Applejack and Rainbow Dash become silent from Vinyl's outburst. Rainbow Dash's face begins to fall in guilt while Applejack scratches the back of her head, uneasy.

"But why didn't you come to us?"

All of us turn to see Sunset Shimmer join the argument with a calm voice. A suspicious frown enters my face. She looks so worried and concerned in the way that I loathe.

She talks again. "Do you really think that just because we're capable of being tricked and we can only use our magic a certain way you think defending yourself alone is your only option?"

"Shimmer, I may have fought alongside you at the Battle of the Bands, but there are some of us who are uneasy about magic in general after demons and sirens shoot laser beams and mess with their heads." Vinyl counters while Lyra, Bon Bon, Octavia, and I nod in agreement.

"I understand," Sunset Shimmer says kindly, "But we can't let things like that keep us apart. I don't know if there are any other beings from my world out there or why is there still magic in Canterlot High, but if you're really concerned about what is happening, then why can't we figure it out together?"

Vinyl is taken aback at her words and starts to consider her offer, and my eyes widen with worry. She has Vinyl right where she wants her: cornered. I can't bear to see this happen again, but I don't know what I can do to stop this.

Luckily, the moment is interrupted by a whimper coming from the Blue Dazzling. Everyone turns to see her still in Applejack's arms and coming to.

"Quick, put her here," Vinyl says as Applejack gently places the blue girl on a couch. We huddle together surrounding the girl as we wait to see her come to. After a moment, two violet eyes slowly open as the Dazzling slowly lifts her head up to find eleven faces surrounding her. She screams and immediately tries to get out of the couch and run, but Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Vinyl and me who are closest to her grab her and force her down on the couch as she continues kicking and screaming.

As we hold her down, Fluttershy, who is standing behind the couch, places her hands on the blue girl's frightened face and whispers kindly in her ear, "There, there. It's alright. You're okay. Nothing to be scared of. You're safe."

I don't understand how, but her words got the scared girl to slowly calm down but still have a look of worry in her eyes. Fluttershy really isn't the friend of kindness (or whatever that Twilight girl calls her) for nothing.

"W-Where am I?" The Dazzling finally asks.

"You're in my house," Vinyl answers before pointing her finger at me. "We brought you here after Rough Draft tased you."

I feel my guilt rise again as she turns to look at me with her sad eyes. The look of hurt innocence in her face makes my heart feel like it is slowly shattering into tiny pieces. It's hard to see her be so intimidated to see me as the person who hit her with the taser.

"W-where's Dagi and Aria? Where are my sisters? What have you done to them?" She asks.

Vinyl is about to speak again when we hear a door open and slam shut as Derpy tries to comfort a frustrated Doc walking down the stairs.

"Blast this thing! I can't believe it glitched on me!" he grumbles.

"It's okay, Doc. It's alright. You did your best." Derpy says calmly while patting his back for comfort.

"The dickens I did!" Doc exclaims. "I calculated the slightest possibility for anything to go wrong apart from the weak signals and yet this thing just leads me almost right back to the bloody courtroom. Now we have two escaped convicts that could still contain an unknown energy and for all we know have fled far away fro-"

At that moment a squeaky gasp comes the blue girl's mouth and all eyes go back to her. My eyes widen in horror as I watch her recollect what happened in the abandoned building in her head. Her eyes begin to water as she speaks.

"Dagi....you...you left... I-I tried to save you and...and...and..."

She buries her face in both hands and cries hard. All any of us can do is watch uncomfortably as she bawls like a little child.

"Come on, y'all," says Applejack. "Let's give her some time."

Without any words, we agree and silently walk up the stairs while Fluttershy stays and sits next to the Dazzling and comfort her.

As we are going up, Doc follows behind confused.

"I say, did I miss something?"

*********************************************************************************************

I lean against a wall in the hallway while everyone else finds their place to sit and wait. No one is saying a word as we hear the Blue Dazzling cry her heart out downstairs.

"Hey there, partner."

I turn around to see Applejack walk over to me with a small smile.

"Mind if I join ya?"

I make a gesture meaning, "sure," and she leans on the wall facing me.

There is silence between us before she clears her throat.

"Listen, I know this is hardly the right time, but since you're here and all, I might as well ask," She looks down as if her boots where the most interesting thing before she faces me again. "How's uh...how's Caramel holding up?"

I don't know how to react after she says those four words. Honestly, I'm surprised that she took that much notice of him given how she used Rainbow Dash and Soarin as messengers. I take a moment to think of my choice of words before I answer with a sigh.

"He's holding up as much as he can. Down, but putting on a brave face."

Applejack frowns at my answer.

"Yeah, I really am sorry that I had to let him down like that," she says sadly. "I know telling him through Rainbow Dash and Soarin wasn't the best way to do it, but...I guess I didn't know how else to act. I don't usually have time for myself apart from school and friends or otherwise working at the farm. I'm just not the kind of girl who's into that stuff. I didn't mean to hurt him. He seems like a sweet guy...even if his actions are a little off."

I make a small chuckle at that statement.

"Well, having a big crush on someone can make you do stupid things. You know I've been there."

Her frown deepens. "You really shouldn't be holding on to-"

"Look, I don't want to get into it, Applejack," I say sharply, "You know that you're falling on deaf ears."

Applejack lets out a sigh.

"I know. But does Octavia know?" she asks.

This time it's my turn to frown.

"No, and I don't plan on telling her yet, and she's willing to wait until I'm ready," I answer.

"Well you shouldn't make her wait too long, sugarcube," Applejack suggests. "You're going to hurt what's going on between you two the longer you wait." She stops leaning on the wall and walks back to the others but not before calling out, "And there's no such thing as being ready."

She walks away leaving me alone to my thoughts.

A hand touches my shoulder, and I turn around to see Octavia with a concerned face.

"Are you alright?" She asks worriedly.

I let out a long sigh before I answer, "Well, I tased a scared girl and got her separated from what appears to be her sister whom she just found out would throw her under a bus. So... explain to me where I should be okay with any of that."

"Hey," Octavia says sharply as she forces me to look at her with her other hand. "You had no way of knowing anything like that was going to happen."

"Didn't I though?" I question. "You saw the way she looked at the trial, Octavia. We both saw that something more than just the trial was wrong and whatever it was, it was scaring her. But as soon as they made their escape, all I could think about was that they were The Dazzlings and how they needed to be stopped. All I thought about was what I wanted out of it and now I've done nothing but cause pain again."

"Again? Darling, what are you talking about?" Octavia asks worriedly.

Suddenly, Lyra clears her throat from behind, causing both of us to turn to her.

"She's calm now. Vinyl wants everyone back," Sure says.

We both give her a nod and look at each other, where I can see in her eyes that Octavia is growing worried. I have a feeling that the Dazzling girl is no longer what is on her mind.

I guess I really don't have long before I have to tell her everything.

Crap.

*********************************************************************************************

We walk back down to the basement where the Blue Dazzling appears to have calmed down but her eyes are blood red from her tears. Fluttershy is still sitting next to her with her arm around her. Doc joins in, feeling guilty about his rant. We form a half-circle around the couch as Vinyl gets down on one knee facing the Dazzling and speaks as kindly as she possible.

"So...bluey...ummm...mind if we ask you some questions?"

The girl lets out a sniffle before she mumbles something we can't hear.

"Uh, sorry, what was that?" Vinyl asks.

"My...my name is Sonata," the blue girl says quietly but clearly.

"Alright then, Sonata, is it okay if we ask you some questions?" Vinyl asks again.

Sonata leans away from Vinyl, still afraid. Vinyl holds her hands up defensively

"Whoa, whoa, it's alright. We're not going to hurt you," Vinyl says calmly before she shrugs. "I mean yeah, Rough Draft tased you but to be fair-"

"Vinyl!" Octavia hisses as she puts her hand on my shoulder and grabs my hand with the other for comfort.

"Um...I think what she means to say is you're okay, and there's nothing to worry about," Fluttershy says softly.

Sonata is still acting defensive around us, but she seems to be willing to trust Fluttershy. She takes a deep beath before reluctantly saying, "Okay."

"Alright. Well, for starters, why did you and the other two girls attack Canterlot high?" Vinyl asks.

Sonata's frown deepens.

"I - I'm not really sure," she answers. "But I think we were trying to go back to Equestria."

"Equestria?" Vinyl, Doc, Derpy, Lyra, Bon Bon, Octavia, and I ask at the same time.

"It's the world where I came from," Sunset Shimmer explains before turning back to Sonata. "But why did you try to go back? I imagine you wouldn't exactly get a warm welcome from Princess Twilight."

"I...I don't know," Sonata answers.

"Aw, come on, you're obviously lying," Rainbow Dash says impatiently.

"No, no I really don't! " Sonata protests. "We were hiding in that abandoned building you found us in ever since the Battle of the Bands, but than a couple days ago, I was sitting down trying to get some sleep when Dagi stormed in calling out for Aria."

"And Dagi is the orange one, right?" Octavia asks.

"Well yes. Her real name is Adagio, but I liked to call her Dagi," Sonata answers. "I heard them get into a loud argument that I could barely hear and when it was over, Aria came up to me and grabbed my wrist, dragging me out. I asked what was going on, but all she said was that we were going back to Equestria. I asked why we're trying to go back, but all she did was drag me with Dagi in front of us. When we reached the school, I asked what we were doing there and all Aria did was give me a rock and told me to shut up and break some windows. I reluctantly did as I was told while Dagi was trying to break the back door open grumbling, "It's gotta be here somewhere." I guess they figured that there was so much Equestria magic here that there had to be some gateway back into our homeworld. I watched both her and Aria become more desperate as Aria started to try to get inside the school with one of the broken windows but couldn't reach and so she ordered me to give her a boost. That was around the time the police came and we made a run for it until they caught us. What terrified me the most was the look in their eyes the whole time. Underneath Dagi's determination and Aria's no-nonsense attitude, they were afraid. Terrified even. I don't know how or why, but whatever made then desperately want to find out how to go back to Equestria broke their confidence more so than when our pendants were destroyed or when we were banished here. They always knew how to handle things and in a way, I looked up to them because of that, and yet something spooked them really bad. It seemed like the longer we were in this world, the less control of themselves they had, and that frightened me."

"They didn't seem that scared at the trial," I say. "It looked like you were the only one that was worried in any way."

"That's because they hide their feelings well from others," Sonata answers. "They may have had an escape already planned with that flash bomb - nothing we hadn't done before when controlling people didn't go so well with the limited energy this world has, but I've stood by their side for over a thousand years and I can tell how they're feeling even if they don't show it. I couldn't be as confident about escaping as I use to because of that. How could I knowing that we don't have any magic and not even Dagi was able to keep it together like she used to and I have no idea why? I played along all the same; keeping my eyes shut before the flash bomb goes off, knock out one of the guards to break free from my handcuffs and all that stuff. But after we did that, I didn't know what we were going next until Dagi forcefully grabbed my hand and we ran all the way back to that building and...well you know the rest."

Silence fills the basement again as we contemplate Sonata's story. I don't know how to feel about knowing all this mysterious magic stuff going on, and not even one of the people who turned us into mindless zombies knows what it is.

"Do you know why Dagi - or Adagio whichever would abandon you like that?" Rainbow Dash asks.

Sonata frowns with her head down as she starts sniffling.

"I know why," she says bitterly as her eyes begin to water. "Because I'm nothing but a third wheel to her. I don't mean to be confused about the things she says or what she tells me to do or that I like to daydream a lot, but maybe she stuck to it because she still needed me when we still had our magic. She knew that only together were we going to survive our imprisonment in this world, but after you destroyed our pendants, it felt like she and Aria were more desperate to ignore me. She must've decided that I was of no use for her after I took her place and decided that it was time to get rid of me because. .." Sonata starts to break down, fighting the tears as she tried to finish her thought. "I - I'm stupid... annoying....weak...as a worthless piece of trash that she can easily..." and

With that, she starts to cry again, covering her face with her hands. Fluttershy wraps her arms around Sonata and quietly whispers words of comfort.

"Maybe we should take this time to discuss this upstairs," Vinyl suggests. We all silently nod and without a word, quietly walk up the stairs leaving Fluttershy to calm Sonata down again.

**********************************************************************************************

We follow Vinyl to the living room as she gestures people to take a seat on the couches and chairs. I decide to lean on the wall with my arms crossed, and Octavia stands next to me. For a few moments, no one says a word until Rainbow Dash clears her throat.

"So...what do we do about this?" She asks.

"That's a good question," Sunset Shimmer replies. "Obviously, we can't keep her here for long. She's an escaped convict, and the police are looking for her and the other Dazzlings."

"Yeah, as much as I hate to say it, we probably have no choice but to bring her back," says Vinyl

"Now wait a minute. Who says we have to do that?" I step in. "Yeah, she escaped, and all but that doesn't mean juvenile hall is the best thing for her. This girl has been misled by the other two for... a really long time apparently, and maybe we should try to help her out instead of leaving her to go to jail alone."

"Hang on, aren't you the same guy who was all 'down with the Dazzlings like everyone else?" Bon Bon points out.

"Yeah, you were eager to see all of them get sentenced to prison just like everyone else in the school," Lyra adds.

"That was before I saw this particular one be an emotional mess before I even tased her," I answer. "Besides, are you guys really going to tell me you had no remorse for Sonata after everything she just explained to us?"

"Well no," Rainbow Dash says reluctantly. "but what other choice do we have? I mean, we can get in trouble just for taking matters into our own hands...she realizes just now."

"Maybe we could say that she just happened to head here after escaping?" Lyra suggests with a shrug. "I mean Vinyl's place is on the other side of town from where they were running away, but the way that the flash affected almost everyone except for you, Applejack, Sunset Shimmer, Rough Draft and Octavia, you guys and the Dazzlings were long gone before anyone - let alone any of the security guards that they did not knock out knew what happened."

"You were affected that long from the flash?" Octavia asks.

"Yeah, I guess this Adagio knew what she was doing," Bon Bon answers.

"Well, I guess that answers what she's doing here, but what about keeping her from juvie?" Rainbow Dash asks. "It's not like eleven teenagers can just ask for a redo of her trial or an appeal or whatever."

"Maybe not," Vinyl says. "But I know a guy who does attorney work for my folks. He's pretty good at what he does, so maybe we could get him to appeal for Sonata to exchange her juvie time for community service or something. Maybe she could help fix the windows and door back at Canterlot High like Sunset did after the Fall formal."

"How are we going to get him to help us?" Octavia asks.

Vinyl looks at her, confused.

"What do you mean, Tavi? We just tell my parents what's up, and they'll call him," she suggests.

"Vinyl, are you crazy!?" Octavia exclaims. "You tell your parents what we've done, and they'll just send Sonata back to the police and ground you for life!"

"Nah. More like I get chewed out. I've been chewed out before," Vinyl says with a shrug. "It's not fun and all, but they will calm down after a while and help out."

Octavia stares at Vinyl in disbelief of what she just heard. She can't believe that Vinyl's parents - let alone any parent would take something as helping an escaped convict as well as she claims they will...and frankly neither could I.

After a moment, Octavia lets out a sigh and rubs her temples as she plainly says, "I worry about you sometimes, Vinyl."

Vinyl just shrugs again and goes back to the subject at hand.

"Still though, even with that said, we should figure out where Sonata should stay if she gets an appeal," she suggests.

"I'll take her," Sunset Shimmer says without missing a beat. The moment she did, however, my blood starts to boil, and I close my fists.

Sunset continues, "I have plenty of room at my apartment, and maybe she'll be more comfortable with another person from Equestria. Plus I could help her get to know the Magic of Friendship."

Everyone else says words of agreement, which makes me even angrier. At this point, I can't stay quiet anymore.

"No," I say, coldly.

Everyone turns to me with faces of confusion and worry. Octavia looks worried about what I'm going to do.

"What was that?" Sunset Shimmer asks in a concerned tone.

"You heard me," I reply firmly. "I don't want you anywhere near Sonata."

"Now hold on there, Rough Draft," says Applejack. "I don't know what you're getting at, but Sunset Shimmer is the best-"

"Don't you get it?" I snap. "She's using you!"

"Rough Draft," Octavia says, but I ignore her.

"It's bad enough that you all believe she's changed just because of some Rainbow crap and a fight against a few sirens or whatever, but you seriously think you would trust her with the life of one her former competition against our world?"

"Rough Draft!" Octavia hisses, but I still don't listen.

"You're all blind! How is it not clear that she's just biding her time pretending to be so loving and caring before the next thing you know she's-"

"Rough Draft, that's enough!!!" Octavia shouts. "You're way out of line!!!!"

"Oh, well, excuse me for giving a crap for other people's well-being!" I shout back.

"What does that even mean? Just because she's doing something nice for someone who needs help she's a monster!?" she questions

"You really have no idea what she's capable of, do you?"

"Does this look like someone who's going to do whatever the dickens you think she's going to do?!" she exclaims, pointing at Sunset Shimmer, who is acting hurt.

"Forget this," I snarl. "You do what you guys want. I wash my hands from this."

"Rough Draft!" Octavia calls out, but I ignored her. I run out of the living room and race through the front door. I hear Octavia calling out to me as I make it to the drive way, but her calls fall on deaf ears. All I can think about is getting away from this crap. Away from Sunset Shimmer.

Away from Octavia.