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+or all the rainbow roc$ers on the rise
The Ponies in the Band!
)#sic of springti%e drifted thro#gh Twilight Spar$le,s open window. She co#ld hear the bees
b#--ing a%id the clo.er" the birds chirping in their new nests" and all her fa.orite friends whinnying
and la#ghing as they ro%ped together o#tside on the fresh green grass of '/#estria.
Twilight ga-ed o#t the window. Rainbow 0ash leaped into the air" showing off her newest
1#%p in the garden. +l#ttershy was /#ietly nibbling so%e daisies. Rarity was prancing so the
ribbons and strea%ers of her hat wafted in the war% bree-e" and Apple1ac$ was singing a happy
springti%e song.
With my best friends, we can depend2they will always follow through. Theres a guarantee
for fun when I spend it with you!
Twilight Spar$le s%iled. It was good to be ho%e after all her ad.ent#res in the h#%an world of
Canterlot 3igh. She to#ched the tiara on her head with its 'le%ent of 3ar%ony. It was nice to ha.e
her %agic crown bac$" too. Still" she co#ldn,t help b#t %iss those teen girls" so si%ilar to the ponies
she $new and lo.ed" b#t each special in her own h#%an way. Twilight Spar$le wondered what
those girls were doing right then. She $new that Canterlot 3igh always held a springti%e carni.al.
)aybe her friends were there. )aybe handso%e +lash Sentry was playing his g#itar on the stage.
)aybe those girls there were singing" too" 1#st li$e her friends here.
There wo#ld be a +erris wheel" a %ini roller coaster" and a caro#sel with painted ponies set #p
on the school gro#nds. There wo#ld be silly photo booths" tons of ga%es" and all $inds of delicio#s
things to eat. Rarity wo#ld steer her c#te con.ertible into a par$ing space. +l#ttershy wo#ld be
s/#ealing with delight when she saw the rides" and Twilight Spar$le wo#ld be sitting right beside
her" ready to 1oin in all the festi.e f#n.
Twilight Spar$le co#ld i%agine it so perfectly that her daydrea% al%ost felt real.4
Rarity glanced in the rear.iew %irror and s%oothed one of her l#sh" dar$ loc$s into place. She
wanted to loo$ fab#lo#s for Canterlot 3igh,s Spring Carni.al* She was wearing her fa.orite o#tfit
2dia%onds spar$led on her pretty s$irt" her trendy boots" and e.en in her wa.y hair. (#t the
rear.iew %irror" she ca#ght a glance of %ore of her fa.orite friends arri.ing.
Apple1ac$ and Rainbow 0ash were racing each other on their scooters along the sidewal$.
&hen Apple1ac$ saw Rarity and +l#ttershy" she too$ off her cowboy hat and wa.ed it at the%.
53owdy" gals*6
&ith a /#ic$ twist of the handlebars" Canterlot 3igh,s all7star athlete" Rainbow 0ash" bro#ght
her scooter to an e8pert stop on the grass. Hanging with my friends! she said. She p#lled her
phone o#t of her poc$et and too$ a photo of her friends in the con.ertible.
etting all the trends! answered Rarity" t#rning it into a song.
!hec" this sweet emoticon, har%oni-ed Rainbow 0ash" p#shing a b#tton to send all the girls
a copy of the photo.
53i" e.eryone* Aren,t the Carni.al decorations the best e.er9 I helped %a$e the strea%ers e8tra
spar$ly*6 Pin$ie Pie pedaled o.er on her glittery bi$e" enth#siastically hon$ing her horn.
The girls hopped o#t of the car" and Rarity contin#ed singing" With my best friends, though
were different, we feel li"e we still belong, and e#ery day it ma"es our friendship$
trong! they sang together.
They lin$ed ar%s and contin#ed singing together as they pranced toward the Carni.al.
%unning round all through the day, singing music that we play. There is ne#er time for rest,
because my friends are the best!
0: Pon7; was passing by on her way to spin so%e discs for the festi.ities when Rainbow 0ash
got a te8t. 5 <=o# girls so#nd pretty good. '.er thin$ of %a$ing a band9, 6 Rainbow read alo#d. 0:
Pon7; p#lled down her high7fashion shades and win$ed at the%.
+l#ttershy giggled" e%barrassed. Rarity loo$ed s#rprised. Pin$ie Pie s/#ealed with delight.
Apple1ac$ nodded her head" serio#sly considering the s#ggestion" and Rainbow 0ash bea%ed the
happiest s%ile of all. 5That,s a great idea*6
5A band9 0id so%eone %ention a band9 I,% going to start a band and I,% going to be the star
beca#se the >reat and Powerf#l Tri8ie is the %ost fantastic singer of all*6 Tri8ie flo#nced past the
girls" her nose in the air" witho#t e.en stopping to say hello.
5It ta$es a special $ind of %agic to %a$e a band co%e together"6 said Apple1ac$.
5&hat $ind of %agic is that96 as$ed +l#ttershy.
5The $ind we ha.e*6 said Apple1ac$. 5The )agic of +riendship*6
5The i%portant thing is to sing and ha.e f#n*6 said Pin$ie Pie. And that,s what she did as the
other girls 1oined in.
%unning round all through the day, singing music that we play. There is ne#er time for rest,
because my friends are the best!
Their first stop was the caro#sel. 'ach girl hopped on a horse 1#st as the %#sic began. Up and
down" #p and down" and ,ro#nd and ,ro#nd they rode*
5>iddy#p*6 said Rarity.
5=eehaw*6 e8clai%ed Apple1ac$.
+l#ttershy stro$ed the %ane of her caro#sel pony. She lo.ed e.ery $ind of ani%al. Pin$ie Pie
was s#rprised to find that her pin$ pony loo$ed 1#st li$e her* Rarity too$ o#t her phone and started
%a$ing a .ideo of her friends.
The girls were ha.ing s#ch a good ti%e*
&osting #ideos online of us goofing all the time. 'riends li"e these are super cool, cause my
friends they really %()*! they sang.
Then they too$ a ride on the roller coaster" and the girls screa%ed as it whipped aro#nd t#rns
and pl#nged down hills. Still breathless after they got off" they ran o.er to get so%e cotton candy.
Pin$ie Pie posed for a photo with hers. It loo$ed 1#st li$e her hair* Pin$ie Pie co#ldn,t resist a
decorating %o%ent. She grabbed a handf#l of candy" stic$ing 1elly beans onto her f#nnel of cotton
candy so they loo$ed li$e eyes and #sing a string of licorice to loo$ li$e a %o#th.
Rainbow 0ash too$ a photo of Pin$ie Pie with her cotton candy creation*
+ro% a booth decorated with strea%ers" 0: Pon7; was playing %#sic for the Carni.al. There
was %#sic e.erywhere" and the girls co#ldn,t stop singing. There was 1#st so %#ch to do.
Apple1ac$ and Rainbow 0ash co#ldn,t resist the d#n$ tan$" b#t they were both so good at
pitching that e.ery ball they threw hit the %ar$2and splashed a person into the water. ?e8t they
raced o.er to a ring toss ga%e and won an adorable st#ffed b#nny. They ga.e it to +l#ttershy as a
gift" and she lo.ed it.
+l#ttershy and Pin$ie Pie were ha.ing a blast at the photo center. +l#ttershy st#c$ her head
thro#gh a hole in a piece of plywood" and fro% the other side it loo$ed li$e she was now a lo.able
bear. Pin$ie Pie st#c$ her head thro#gh a different hole" and she was transfor%ed into a clown.
Rarity instantly te8ted the photos to Apple1ac$ and Rainbow 0ash.
Rarity was e8a%ining herself in the f#n7ho#se %irror. She loo$ed so weird2and that,s e8actly
when Rainbow 0ash snapped a photo of her. Rarity chased after her" screa%ing and la#ghing*
Te+ting "inda gets confused, Rarity began singing when she grabbed Rainbow 0ash,s phone.
,ut we always are amused, sang Rainbow 0ash.
-y friends stand out in a crowd, ha#ing fun and laughing loud, crooned the other girls"
co%ing close and trying to get a pee$ at the f#nny photo of Rarity.
Tri8ie wal$ed by with an ice7crea% cone and glanced at the girls. 5I wo#ldn,t let %y friends
ta$e #gly pict#res of %e"6 she said.
5(h" Tri8ie"6 said Pin$ie Pie. 5It,s all silliness. Co%e ta$e photos with #s in the photo booth.6
B#t Tri8ie didn,t want to.
The day was a fl#rry of acti.ity. Apple1ac$ and Rainbow 0ash both fished for pri-es and won a
st#ffed cat for Rarity. Then at the high stri$er they were both so good at hitting the bell with the
ha%%er that they won pri-es for all their friends* They too$ tons of f#nny photos of one another"
and thro#gh it all" they ne.er stopped singing.
With my best friends, we can depend.they will always follow through. Theres a guarantee
for fun when I spend it with you!
0: Pon7; had been watching2and listening to2the girls all day fro% her booth. They really
had so%ething special. She te8ted Rainbow 0ash.
5Re%e%ber what I said abo#t a band96
5&e s#re do*6 said Rainbow 0ash as she typed o#t her response. 5I,.e decided we,re going to
%a$e it happen*6
50o yo# thin$ yo# co#ld get one together in ti%e for the Spring +ling96 0: Pon7; wrote bac$.
5The Spring +ling96 said Rainbow 0ash. 5That,s a %agical night.6
5&hat wo#ld we ha.e to do96 as$ed +l#ttershy.
5Practice hard"6 said Rainbow 0ash" thin$ing abo#t what she always did to prepare for her
sporting e.ents.
5&rite so%e songs"6 said Apple1ac$.
5>et instr#%ents"6 said Pin$ie Pie.
5And learn how to play the%"6 said +l#ttershy" worried.
5And create fantab#lo#s o#tfits for #s to wear*6 e8clai%ed Rarity. 5@et,s do it" girls*6
5Spring +ling" here we co%e*6 said Rainbow 0ash.
5Is it going to be a Battle of the Bands96 said Tri8ie" s#ddenly appearing beside the%. 5Beca#se
if it is" I,% going to win.6
5=o# can be in o#r band" if yo# want"6 said Rarity.
5=o#r band9 =o#r band doesn,t ha.e roo% for %e. The >reat and Powerf#l Tri8ie is going to
be her own one7gal band" and she,s going to be the star* :#st yo# wait and see.6
50o we ha.e to be stars96 said +l#ttershy ner.o#sly.
5?ot at all"6 said Apple1ac$. 5&e 1#st ha.e to ha.e f#n.6
5And practice"6 re%inded Rainbow 0ash.
5And practice"6 agreed all the girls.
5@et,s do one %ore photo" girls. +or the band*6 g#shed Pin$ie Pie.
All the girls cra%%ed into the photo booth. &hat a pict#re* Shining eyes" s%iling %o#ths" and
so %any colors of hair*
Twilight Spar$le wondered if she,d e.er get a chance to ret#rn to Canterlot 3igh. ?ow that the
%agic %irror was gone" she probably wo#ldn,t. B#t she hoped that her h#%an friends were happy
and that they,d always re%e%ber her" 1#st li$e she re%e%bered the%.
She sang a special Carni.al 0ay song for the%" where.er they were and whate.er they were
doing.
With my best friends,
Though were different,
We feel li"e we still belong,
/nd e#ery day it ma"es our friendship T%012!
With my best friends,
We can depend.
They will always follow through.
Theres a guarantee for fun
When I spend it with 30(!
There was a $noc$ on the door" and +lash Sentry po$ed his head into the roo%.
5'8c#se %e" Princess"6 he said. 5I co#ldn,t help b#t notice yo#r singing. =o#,re good eno#gh
to ha.e yo#r own band*6
Twilight Spar$le bl#shed right down to her #nicorn horn. 5)aybe so%eday46
&hat Twilight Spar$le didn,t $now was 1#st how real her daydrea% was. Bac$ at Canterlot
3igh" her friends really were starting a band2and one day she %ight e.en be in it*
Guitar Centered
Rainbow 0ash wo$e #p on a bea#tif#l spring %orning. She,d had a drea% of all the girls singing
together onstage. Rainbow 0ash $new that they were s#pposed to start %a$ing %#sic together. B#t
first she needed to get herself a new g#itar* That,s why she was dragging e.eryone to the )#sic
Center after school.
5I si%ply don,t #nderstand why yo# can,t 1#st play the g#itar yo# ha.e"6 sighed Rarity" loo$ing
at the g#itar case Rainbow 0ash was carrying.
Rainbow 0ash shoo$ her head" p#t the g#itar case on the floor" and opened it. Inside was an
old" beat7#p g#itar. It wasn,t 1#st d#sty and well wornA it was bro$en. (ne of the t#ners was
%issing" and a %ess of snapped strings c#rled aro#nd the g#itar,s nec$ li$e cobwebs.
5'w*6 e8clai%ed Rarity. 5?ow I #nderstand.6
5I g#ess it,s been a while since yo# too$ that g#itar o#t for a ride"6 said Apple1ac$.
5I #sed to practice a lot"6 said Rainbow 0ash. 5B#t then I got so b#sy with soccer and
bas$etball and swi%%ing and46
0: Pon7; loo$ed #p fro% the cashier,s des$ and sent a te8tB 5=o# girls are starting a band" I
see.6
5&e are"6 said Rarity. 5&e really want to perfor% at the Spring +ling. B#t now we,.e got to
fig#re o#t what e.eryone,s going to play.6
Pin$ie Pie was bo#ncing aro#nd the store chec$ing o#t all the different $inds of instr#%ents.
There were %andolins and .iolins" giant cellos and #pright basses" ban1os and #$#leles. B#t %ost of
all there were g#itarsB aco#stic g#itars %ade of soft" polished wood and da--ling electric g#itars in
e.ery shape and color. There were s/#are g#itars" triang#lar g#itars" and e.en g#itars shaped li$e
stars.
53ow ,bo#t this one9 3ow ,bo#t this one96 said Pin$ie Pie enth#siastically" plin$ing the string
of a blac$ electric g#itar decorated with orange and red fla%es. 5(r this96 She pic$ed #p a spar$ling
bl#e g#itar and began dancing aro#nd with it li$e she was a roc$7and7roll star. Al%ost i%%ediately"
tho#gh" she dropped it when she ca#ght sight of a tiny little g#itar for a child. 5(oooh* @oo$ie here*
@oo$ie here*6
5?o" Pin$ie*6 Rainbow 0ash la#ghed as her friend -oo%ed aro#nd the store.
?ow Pin$ie had fo#nd an Indian sitar" which had a ro#nd head and a long" long nec$. 5Chec$
this o#t*6 she called to Rainbow. 5=o# li$e96
5?o" Pin$ie.6
53ow abo#t this9 This is s#per groo.y*6 She pic$ed #p a bl#e7and7p#rple electric g#itar shaped
li$e a b#tterfly.
Rainbow shoo$ her head. She was caref#lly st#dying a whole wall of g#itars.
5&ell" whatcha loo$in, for" Rainbow96 as$ed Apple1ac$.
5That,s the proble%. I need so%ething that loo$s as aweso%e as I,% gonna %a$e it so#nd.6
Rarity had wandered o.er to the $eyboard section of the store and was trying o#t one of the
pianos.
5=o# play bea#tif#lly"6 said +l#ttershy softly. 5I wish I $new how to play an instr#%ent.6
5=o# don,t ha.e to play an instr#%ent"6 said Rarity reass#ringly. 5=o# can sing. I,.e heard
yo#. &e,re going to need lots of singing in o#r band*6
5($ay"6 said +l#ttershy. B#t still she loo$ed worried. It was f#n to thin$ abo#t being in a band"
b#t it was scary" too. '.ery ti%e she tho#ght abo#t perfor%ing onstage" she felt really ner.o#s.
5&hat abo#t this one9*6 sho#ted Pin$ie Pie.
5That,s a bass g#itar"6 said Apple1ac$" ta$ing a loo$ at it. 5A nice one" too. B#t I already got
one at ho%e for %e to play.6
Rainbow 0ash sighed. She li$ed to ha.e good e/#ip%ent when she played2whether it was the
perfect pair of cleats" a brand7new ball" or a g#itar that wo#ld let her fingers create 1#st the right
%#sic for their band.
She st#died each g#itar on the wall one %ore ti%e. She loo$ed at the g#itars hanging fro% the
ceiling. She loo$ed at pin$ g#itars" bl#e g#itars" old g#itars" and new g#itars. And then she saw it.
(n a stand. In the corner. It was the %ost perfect g#itar she had e.er seen. It had flair" it had style"
b#t best of all" it was decorated with tiny" shiny rainbows.
Rainbow 0ash,s 1aw droppedA her eyes lit #p. (f co#rse* This was what she had been loo$ing
for. She ran o.er to it. She co#ldn,t wait to play it* It was calling to her* Already" she co#ld feel
%#sic po#ring thro#gh her. She reached o#t to ta$e it in her hands" and 1#st as she did" another hand
grabbed hold of it.
It was Tri8ie*
53ands off %y g#itar" Tri8ie*6 sho#ted Rainbow 0ash. She p#lled the g#itar toward her.
5I to#ched it first" Rainbow 0ash*6 screa%ed Tri8ie" yan$ing the g#itar bac$ in her direction.
The girls were 1#st abo#t to begin a f#ll7o#t t#g7of7war when Apple1ac$ ran o.er. 5Si%%er
down there" ladies"6 she ordered.
B#t neither girl too$ her hand off the rainbow g#itar.
5There,s no need to beco%e r#ffians"6 said Rarity" 5when a si%ple in/#iry co#ld sol.e the
proble%.6
She trotted o.er to the cashier,s des$ to tal$ to 0: Pon7;. 5'8c#se %e" b#t do yo# happen to
ha.e this sa%e e8act g#itar in the bac$" and if so" co#ld I tro#ble yo# to get it for %e" please96
0: Pon7;,s eyes narrowed as she loo$ed at the g#itar the two girls were fighting o.er. The girls
loo$ed bac$ at her" hopef#l. All the friends crowded aro#nd. (ther c#sto%ers in the store stopped
what they were doing to listen to the answer.
0: Pon7; shoo$ her head.
5(h"6 said Rarity" disappointed.
Rainbow,s hand reached #p higher on the nec$ of the g#itar to grab hold of it tighter. Tri8ie,s
hand tightened its grasp" too.
5?ow what96 said Rainbow 0ash. There was no way she was letting go. This was her g#itar.
Co#ldn,t Tri8ie see that9
Apple1ac$ too$ off her cowboy hat and scratched her head" thin$ing. 5&ell" there,s one g#itar
and two gals who want it.6
'.eryone was loo$ing at her e8pectantly.
5So#nds to %e"6 said Apple1ac$" r#bbing her hands together in anticipation" 5li$e this has the
%a$in,s for a nice" friendly co%petition.6
Rainbow,s eyes lit #p* She lo.ed a to#rna%ent. 5=eah*6 she sho#ted. 5&hatcha wanna play"
Tri8ie9 Baseball" bas$etball" soccer96
Rainbow win$ed at +l#ttershy. 5I,ll totally cr#sh her" and this g#itar will be %ine*6
5That doesn,t so#nd nice or friendly"6 said +l#ttershy.
Tri8ie loo$ed irritated. 5Serio#sly" Rainbow9 =o# are the best athlete at Canterlot 3igh. &e
can co%pete" b#t it has to be so%ething that the >reat and Powerf#l Tri8ie is good at" too.6
All the girls rolled their eyes. Tri8ie was so f#ll of herself so%eti%es*
B#t Rainbow 0ash was s%iling. 5&ell" >reat and Powerf#l Tri8ie" seein, as we both want this
g#itar4 let,s see who plays the best*6
5A shred7off96 said Tri8ie" loo$ing concerned for the first ti%e.
Rainbow s%iled confidently. 5Shred (?*6

Dueling Guitars
0: Pon7; ca%e o#t fro% behind the co#nter and too$ the pri-ed rainbow g#itar" holding it abo.e
Rainbow 0ash and Tri8ie. She had let the% $now they co#ld pic$ any g#itar in the store for the
shred7off" b#t this was the pri-e for the winner.
Rainbow 0ash selected a si%ple electric g#itar fro% a nearby stand and pl#gged it into an a%p.
She p#t the strap aro#nd her nec$ and began war%ing #p her fingers with a few /#ic$ scales and
chords.
Tri8ie chose the g#itar that loo$ed li$e a b#tterfly and al%ost instantly her fingers were flying
across the strings" creating an irresistible rift.
5I s#re hope o#r Rainbow is #p to speed"6 whispered Apple1ac$ to Rarity.
5Shh*6 said +l#ttershy. 5She,s going to do great. &e 1#st ha.e to belie.e in her.6
Tri8ie da--led the crowd with electrifying playing. She had style and energy. She was
aweso%e. Cids in the crowd had started clapping along while she played.
B#t Rainbow was deter%ined" and she was sliding and bending notes to create all $inds of wild
effects. The girls, lic$s grew %ore and %ore co%ple8 and powerf#l" asto#nding the a#dience with
their righteo#s riffs and %ind7boggling power chords.
Tri8ie dropped to one $nee and let loose with o#t7of7this7world str#%%ing. 3er dar$ hair was
flying" she had her eyes sh#t" and e.ery cell in her body see%ed to be foc#sed on her playing.
Cries of 5&hoa* =eah* >o" Tri8ie*6 rose #p fro% the crowd. She was %ighty* '.eryone was
hollering and appla#ding.
+or a %o%ent" Rainbow 0ash glanced #p fro% her playing. &as she going to lose9 0id she
ha.e it in her to wow the crowd9 She loo$ed aro#nd the store and saw her friends. They were
co#nting on her. She had to do it for the '/#estria >irls. She had to.
A deter%ined e8pression ca%e o.er her face as she totally went for it with a da--ling r#n of
notes. 3er fingers were racing" the strings were dancing" %#sic was po#ring o#t of the g#itar. She
%ade it so#nd li$e a waterfall" a th#nderstor%" and then the s#n b#rsting thro#gh the clo#ds after
the rain. The %#sic was irresistible. 3er friends started singing along as she played.
Hey, hey, e#erybody,
Were here to shout
That the -agic of 'riendship
Is what its all about!
Rainbow 0ash was str#tting across the floor of the )#sic Center" 1a%%ing her g#itar. She
shoo$ her head" and her colorf#l %ane of hair danced as she played. She lifted #p her $nees"
dancing and prancing. And that,s when the %agic happened* She had pony ears and a pony tail* She
was going to pony #p*
53ea.ens*6 e8clai%ed Rarity.
5>ood gra.y*6 said Apple1ac$.
5(h %y*6 +l#ttershy was st#nned.
5&hoa* Chec$ %e o#t*6 sho#ted Rainbow 0ash o.er the %#sic. She wasn,t 1#st a roc$ and
roller" she was a f#ll7fledged pony player*
Tri8ie stopped playing. She co#ldn,t belie.e it. 3ow co#ld she e.en co%pete with that9
Rainbow 0ash leaped into the air" ga.e one last tri#%phant str#% to her g#itar" and landed"
breathless" transfor%ed bac$ into herself" in the %iddle of the )#sic Center.
The crowd went wild" screa%ing" cheering" and appla#ding. 5Rainbow 0ash* Rainbow 0ash*6
They sho#ted her na%e o.er and o.er again. There was no /#estion abo#t it. Tri8ie was an a%a-ing
player" b#t Rainbow 0ash was the winner.
0: Pon7; p#shed thro#gh the crowd" the pri-ed g#itar in her hands" and handed it to Rainbow
0ash. Tri8ie was f#rio#s. She threw down the g#itar she,d been playing and sto%ped her feet. 5?o"
no" no" no" no****6 she screa%ed" throwing a te%per tantr#%. 3er hands were balled #p into fists"
and her face was bright red. 5The >reat and Powerf#l Tri8ie does not accept this* =o# shall all r#e
the day*6 She loo$ed li$e she was abo#t to e8plode.
Rainbow 0ash st#died the g#itar 0: Pon7; had 1#st gi.en her. It was certainly stylish" b#t that
wasn,t what %ade a g#itar so#nd great. And it was the so#nd that %attered when yo# ca%e right
down to it.
5'h.6 Rainbow 0ash shr#gged. 5=o# can ha.e it.6 She handed Tri8ie the g#itar.
Tri8ie cl#tched the g#itar close to her chest as if Rainbow 0ash %ight instantly change her
%ind.
B#t Rainbow 0ash was loo$ing at the si%ple bl#e g#itar she,d 1#st played. 3ou should ne#er
choose your friends by how they loo"" she tho#ght to herself. &hat %attered was that yo# co#ld
%a$e %#sic together. This g#itar %ight not loo$ li$e anything special" b#t it was %agic. 5T#rns o#t
this is the one that spea$s to %e"6 she said" s%iling.
0: Pon7; ga.e her a th#%bs7#p and went o.er to the cash register to ring it #p. Rainbow 0ash
too$ o#t her p#rse and handed o.er a s%all wad of bills.
5It,s yo#r loss"6 said Tri8ie.
5I do#bt it"6 said Rainbow 0ash.
&ith the g#itar paid for" Rainbow 0ash sl#ng it o.er her sho#lder. ?ow it was ti%e to get so%e
real practice in before the Spring +ling. There was no telling what $ind of %#sic she co#ld %a$e
once all the girls started playing together.
As the girls headed o#t of the store" they o.erheard Tri8ie tal$ing to 0: Pon7;. 5Twel.e
h#ndred dollars9* &hat do yo# %ean twel.e h#ndred dollars9* +or a g#itar* =o#,ll pay for this"
Rainbow 0ash*6 she sho#ted.
Pin$ie Pie giggled. 5?o" silly. If yo# want it" youll ha.e to pay for it*6

Springtimes Soundtrack
0: Pon7; co#ldn,t get Rainbow 0ash,s g#itar playing o#t of her head. (n the way to school the
ne8t day" e.ery noise she heard was li$e an acco%pani%ent to her friend,s a%a-ing %#sic.
As she stood at the street corner waiting for the light to change" e.ery so#nd see%ed to be
har%oni-ing with the t#ne in her head. Speeding cars whi--ed past at reg#lar inter.als li$e the
th#%p of a bassA the footsteps of people h#rrying on their way to wor$ beca%e a steady rhyth%
sectionA a b#s,s s#dden hon$ing was a tr#%petA so%e children,s la#ghter" the tin$ling dis$s of a
ta%bo#rine.
She co#ld 1#st i%agine the band the '/#estria >irls co#ld create. &ith their singing and
Rainbow 0ash,s playing" they co#ld really %a$e so%ething special happen. B#t did they ha.e it in
the% to p#t a whole band together9 Co#ld they find a bass player good eno#gh to play with
Rainbow 0ash9 A $eyboardist9 A rhyth% section9 A dr#%%er9 It was i%possible to find dr#%%ers
for a band. '.eryone $new that. And what,s a band witho#t a dr#%%er9
:#st then the light at the crosswal$ changed. The little red stic$ fig#re on the sign that had been
holding #p his hand to say 5stop6 changed into a little green stic$ fig#re. 0: Pon7; heard Rainbow
0ash,s playing again in her head and i%agined that little green g#y dancing #p a stor% to the
i%aginary %#sic. '.eryone wo#ld be bo#ncing #p and down to that beat*
)#sic li$e that wo#ld get the whole world dancing. As she wal$ed across the street" she
i%agined a hea.y bass $ic$ing in and e.eryone and e.erything aro#nd her groo.ing to the %#sic.
The old lady wal$ing her dog wo#ld start roc$ing. The dogs in their sweaters wo#ld start prancing.
Baby birds #p in the trees wo#ld be boppin, their heads and singing along. Stray cats hissing at one
another in the alley wo#ld stop yowling and start p#rring* The police%en wo#ld blow their whistles
in ti%e to the beat. '.en the cars wo#ld start dancing to the %#sic Rainbow 0ash had played.
Cids who had ne.er danced wo#ld dance together if the '/#estria >irls had a band. The Spring
+ling wo#ld be a s#ccess* That was the %agic secret of really good %#sic2it bro#ght people
together.
0: Pon7; reached the other side of the street deter%ined to help the girls in any way she co#ld
to %a$e their band happen. She didn,t see it" b#t 1#st behind her" the little green stic$ fig#re on the
crosswal$ sign wa.ed his ar%s and did a %oonwal$ in celebration. )#sic really was %agic*

The Case of the Missing Bass
After Rainbow 0ash,s a%a-ing perfor%ance" Apple1ac$ was eager to get her old bass g#itar o#t of
her grand%other,s closet so she co#ld start 1a%%ing with her friends. The bass is a little longer and
bigger than a reg#lar g#itar" and it gi.es a band its rhyth%. That,s the way Apple1ac$ tho#ght of
herself" honestly" not as the star b#t the girl who helped e.eryone $eep their rhyth%.
B#t Apple1ac$ was not feeling .ery happy when she and the rest of the ponies got to >ranny
S%ith,s ho#se. 3er bass wasn,t in the closet where she,d left it. She searched the whole ho#se" b#t
she co#ldn,t find it anywhere. &here was it9 That,s when >ranny told her that she had tho#ght it
was 1#n$ and gotten rid of it 1#st the other day at her yard sale* ?ow what was Apple1ac$ going to
do9 They co#ldn,t ha.e a band witho#t a bass player. She had to find a way to get her bass bac$.
There was no way she co#ld afford another one. They were e8pensi.e.
B#t s#rely if she e8plained all this to the person who had bo#ght it at >ranny S%ith,s yard sale"
they wo#ld #nderstand and gi.e it bac$ to her. It was the only thing she co#ld do. There was only
one proble%. Co#ld >ranny S%ith re%e%ber who had bo#ght it9
5($ay" >ranny" one %ore ti%e" when yo# accidentally sold %y bass" who did yo# sell it to96
Apple1ac$ was #pset" b#t she was trying not to lose her te%per with her grand%other.
>ranny S%ith,s brow wrin$led. She sh#t her eyes. She opened the%. She shoo$ her head. She
1#st co#ldn,t re%e%ber.
5&as it a %an or a wo%an96 as$ed Apple1ac$.
5It was definitely a wo%an"6 said >ranny" s%iling.
Apple1ac$ nodded. 5($ay" that,s a start.6
>ranny S%ith twisted her apron between her hands. 3er brow was f#rrowed again. 50id I say
wo%an9 I %eant %an.6
Apple1ac$ ga.e an e8asperated whinny and loo$ed li$e she was abo#t to screa%. D#ic$ly"
Rainbow 0ash 1#%ped in. It loo$ed li$e the girls were going to ha.e to do so%e s#persle#thing
before they co#ld e.en begin to practice as a band.
5>ranny"6 she as$ed" 5did the %an who too$ the bass say why he wanted it9 &as he a
%#sician96
>ranny S%ith loo$ed s#rprised. 5A %agician9 &hat wo#ld a %agician want with yo#r old
boots96
Apple1ac$ e8ploded with fr#stration. 5?ot %y boots. )y BASS*6 she sho#ted.
5?ow there,s no need to sho#t"6 said >ranny S%ith. 5I re%e%ber e8actly who I sold yo#r bass
to. I tho#ght we were tal$ing abo#t yo#r boots. I sold yo#r bass to a co#ple of brothers.6
The girls all loo$ed relie.ed at >ranny,s confidence.
5Sli% and Sla%. Those were their na%es"6 said >ranny.
+l#ttershy too$ o#t a noteboo$ and wrote down the na%es of the brothers" b#t al%ost
instantaneo#sly she had to cross the% o#t.
5(r was it Tri% and Tra%96 said >ranny. 5?ope. That,s not it. S$i% and S$a%96
All the girls were leaning in and listening" hopef#l.
5>ranny" please try and re%e%ber"6 begged Apple1ac$. 5&e,re going to perfor% at the Spring
+ling" b#t only if I can find %y bass. =o# s#re it was S$i% and S$a%96
>ranny shoo$ her head" and all the girls sighed li$e deflated balloons. 53old on*6 said >ranny.
5It,s co%ing to %e. I thin$ I,.e got it. It was +li% and +la%.6
Rarity p#lled o#t her phone and did a search on +li% and +la%. 5That,s it*6 she said. 5They
own a thrift shop right near Canterlot 3igh*6
5?ow we 1#st ha.e to hope no one,s already bo#ght it*6 said Rainbow 0ash.
5D#ic$" gals"6 said Apple1ac$. 5There,s no ti%e to lose*6

Rock-and-Roll all of Shame!
The +li% +la% brothers were dressed in %atching s#its with bl#e7and7white7striped shirts and
%atching gray bow ties. They each wore a straw boater" as$ew on the top of their slic$ed7down
hair. &hen the girls r#shed breathlessly into their shop" they were 1#st p#tting Apple1ac$,s bass in
the display case in the front window.
5&elco%e to the grand opening of the +li% +la% Brothers, '.erything #nder the S#n
'%pori#%"6 they said together" doffing their hats with a flo#rish and bowing slightly to the girls.
5=o# want it" we got it"6 said +la%.
5?eed a pogo stic$96 offered +li%. I%%ediately he prod#ced one" hopped onto it" and began
1#%ping aro#nd the store.
The girls" a little o.erwhel%ed" didn,t $now what to say.
53ow abo#t a bowling ball96 as$ed +la%. 3e too$ one fro% a shelf and sent it rolling across
the floor" where it hit a stac$ of bowling pins and $noc$ed the% o.er.
5&ant a st#ffed clown96 +li%,s ar% was aro#nd a giant st#ffed clown with a red nose and c#rly
hair.
5&ant4 whate.er this is96 +la% co#ldn,t fig#re o#t what he was holding" and neither co#ld the
girls.
Apple1ac$ stepped forward. 5I,ll ta$e that bass.6
The girls all loo$ed relie.ed as +la% too$ the bass o#t of the window and showed it to
Apple1ac$. It was a slee$" red" well7#sed bass. Apple1ac$ had been playing it for a long ti%e.
5'8cellent taste" yo#ng lady*6 oo-ed +li%. 5&e can gi.e yo# this bass for a nonnegotiable price
of one tho#sand dollars.6
The girls gasped. 5(ne tho#sand dollars*6 e8clai%ed Rainbow 0ash. 5=o# only paid >ranny
S%ith two dollars for it.6
The girls nodded in agree%ent. 5That,s right" two dollars.6
+li% and +la% e8changed glances. +li% co#ghed. 5=es4 well46
5&e ha.e to co.er o#r o.erhead*6 said +la%.
5And transportation"6 added +li%" reco.ering his co%pos#re. 5And of co#rse" there,s o#r
stoc$ing fee.6
Apple1ac$ st#c$ her th#%bs in her deni% shirt and prepared for b#siness. 5@isten"6 she said.
5This all boils down to a si%ple %is#nderstandin,. =o# bo#ght that bass fro% %y granny" b#t it
wasn,t hers to sell and I si%ply cannot let ya $eep it.6 She nodded" satisfied that now e.erything
was clear. B#t Apple1ac$ had a good heart" and she didn,t li$e to be #nfair to anyone. 5I,ll tell yo#
what. I,ll gi.e yo# the two dollars bac$" and we,ll call it e.en Stephen.6
Apple1ac$ reached into her poc$et and p#lled o#t a co#ple of caref#lly folded bills. She held
the% o#t with one hand and with the other reached for her bass.
B#t +la% /#ic$ly stepped away fro% her. 5=o#r bass96 he /#estioned her.
5?ot yo#r granny,s96 said +li%.
+li% and +la% win$ed at each other and la#ghed. 5A li$ely story*6 they said together.
+la% p#t the bass behind hi%" and the two brothers stood in front of it li$e a wall.
Apple1ac$ was d#%bfo#nded. She was so honest" she was always flabbergasted when other
people weren,t. 5It is a li$ely story"6 she tried to e8plain. 5Beca#se I,% tellin, the tr#th. That,s %y
bass.6
The other girls nodded their heads in agree%ent.
5Is that so96 said +li%. 5And can yo# pro.e that this is in fact yo#r bass96
Apple1ac$ s%iled. 5=ep. +or one thing" %y na%e,s Apple1ac$" and %y initials are written on
the strap.6
+or a %o%ent" +li% and +la% loo$ed concerned. They st#died the bass and e8a%ined the strap.
:#st li$e Apple1ac$ had said" her initials were right there in bold lettering.
5See* See*6 said the girls e8citedly. ?ow %aybe at last they co#ld get started on practicing for
their band.
B#t +li% and +la% weren,t going to gi.e #p that easily. 5Co%e now"6 said +la%" 5that A: co#ld
stand for anything4 Art :er$s.6
5Alien :ones"6 said +li%.
5An.il :o$ers"6 s#ggested +la%.
5&hy" I,ll bet yo# don,t e.en play the bass4 Apple1ac$4 if that,s yo#r real na%e.6
Apple1ac$ was %adder than a b#ll at a rodeo at this point. 5Apple1ac$ is %y real na%e. And I
do play the bass. That one.6 &hat else co#ld she say to con.ince the%9 And what wo#ld she do if
she co#ldn,t get her bass bac$9 There was no way she co#ld afford another one. &hat was she
going to do now9 She co#ldn,t thin$ of any other way to con.ince the% to gi.e it to her.
B#t that,s what friends are for*
Rainbow 0ash $new e8actly the %o.e that wo#ld sol.e this proble%. 5>o on" Apple1ac$. Show
,e% what yo#,.e got.6
5=es"6 said Rarity to +li% and +la%. 5>i.e her the respect she deser.es" and let her display her
talents.6
Rainbow 0ash,s eyes twin$led. 5See%s li$e we,.e fo#nd the sol#tion.6
5=es* =es* =es*6 agreed Pin$ie Pie. 5=o#,ll see how a%a-ing and aweso%e and fantab#lo#s
she is* @et her play.6
5I thin$ yo# ha.e to"6 said +l#ttershy /#ietly. 5It,s only fair.6
+li% and +la% loo$ed fro% one girl to another. There was no way they co#ld say no to so %any
potential c#sto%ers. Rel#ctantly" they held o#t the bass to Apple1ac$. +li% co#ghed ner.o#sly.
+la% bit his lip.
Apple1ac$ str#ng the g#itar strap o.er her sho#lder. 5=o# ha.e an a%p96 she as$ed. &hen +li%
and +la% prod#ced one" she pl#gged in her bass. 53old on to yo#r ears" boys. I,% going to let it
rip*6
And she did. Apple1ac$ co#ld play* 3er fingers were flying" and +li% and +la%,s '%pori#%
was roc$in,* People passing by on the street stopped to peer in. This was great* &hat a solo* &hat a
perfor%ance* 3er rhyth%s were co%ple8" precise4 infectio#s* '.eryone was tapping their feet and
swaying to the %#sic. Best of all" the '/#estria >irls were singing along.
ha"e your tail cause were here to ha#e a party tonight!
ha"e your tail! ha"e your tail!
And that,s when the %agic happened*
+irst the ears appeared" and then her hair began to loo$ li$e a horse,s %ane" and then her tail
was swinging and dancing while she played* She was playing pony style*
All the girls in the store started to do the Pony Sto%p* They lifted their $nees and pranced.
They crossed their ar%s and leaned fro% side to side. They 1#%ped o#t and did the Canterlot Clap*
They sto%ped their feet and p#nched the air in celebration with their hands. These girls co#ld really
dance when the %#sic was right.
'.en +li% and +la% were tapping their feet. &hat a beat*
As Apple1ac$ shredded one last tri#%phant riff" the girls all started 1#%ping #p and down.
5See9 See96 they said. 5It is her bass*6
Apple1ac$ caref#lly re%o.ed her bass. She was a nor%al girl again.
All the girls were loo$ing at +li% and +la%" who were still swaying to the %#sic. +l#ttershy
cleared her throat.
5(h yes" oh yes"6 ad%itted +li%. 5&ell" well" well. Perhaps this is her bass.6
Relie.ed" Apple1ac$ reached bac$ into her poc$et and too$ o#t the two dollars again.
5B#t there are still the transportation costs"6 said +li% /#ic$ly.
50on,t forget the stoc$ing fees*6 added +la%.
5&o#ldn,t drea% of it"6 agreed +li%.
Apple1ac$ sto%ped her foot in fr#stration. ?ow she wanted to play her bass with her friends
%ore than e.er. 5:#st tell %e how %#ch yo# want for it already*6
Rainbow 0ash stepped forward. 5And don,t e.en thin$ abo#t saying a tho#sand dollars.6
+li% p#lled +la% aside for a %o%ent" and the two brothers whispered together conspiratorially.
+inally" +la% t#rned to Apple1ac$" an oily s%ile on his lips. 5I s#ppose"6 he oo-ed" 5we co#ld %a$e
so%e $ind of4 trade96
Apple1ac$ loo$ed at hi% /#estioningly. &hat did she possibly ha.e to trade9
That was how Apple1ac$ fo#nd herself in front of the store an ho#r later" 1a%%ing on her bass"
in a banana cost#%e. A h#ge flashing neon arrow behind her pointed to the store,s entrance. &ell"
she was certainly drawing a crowd2and she,d ha.e her bass bac$ at the end of the day.
5Are those the cost#%es for yo#r band96 snic$ered Tri8ie when she wal$ed by.
5:#st for practicin,"6 said Apple1ac$ good7nat#redly. After all" practice was practice" e.en if
yo# had to wear a banana s#it*

!am Session
0: Pon7; was headed to the Sweet Shoppe for an afternoon treat along with so%e of the $ids fro%
Canterlot 3igh. She had in her earphones and was listening to %#sic" b#t she $ept hearing a %ore
insistent t#ne o#t on the street. And that,s when she saw the giant perfor%ing banana*
That fruit can roc"" she tho#ght to herself. That,s when she reali-ed that hidden inside the
yellow cost#%e was Apple1ac$. She p#lled o#t her earphones so she co#ld really listen.
&ow* She co#ld i%agine Apple1ac$ and Rainbow 0ash str#tting across the stage. It loo$ed li$e
the girls %ight be able to get this band together after all.
50oesn,t she loo$ ridic#lo#s96 said Tri8ie" co%ing #p beside her. 5I thin$ it wo#ld r#in the
Spring +ling to let anyone that silly7loo$ing perfor%.6
5=o# don,t loo" at %#sic"6 a te8t response fro% 0: Pon7; said" 5yo# listen to it* And yo# can,t
stop listening to Apple1ac$.6
53%%ph* I can*6 said Tri8ie. She sto%ped off down the street.
B#t as Tri8ie disappeared aro#nd the corner" 0: Pon7; noticed that she was wal$ing in ti%e to
the rhyth% of the bass.
Cids were going in and o#t of the Sweet Shoppe" and e.ery one of the% was %o.ing to the
%#sic. '.en the coffee gl#gging o#t of the espresso %achines see%ed to be har%oni-ing with it*
Cids were %#nching their %#ffins to the beat. A baby was sl#rping his %il$ bottle in rhyth%. A
tiny dog po$ing o#t of a lady,s fancy p#rse was blin$ing his little blac$ eyes to it.
Standing in line" 0: Pon7; was snapping her fingers as Apple1ac$,s aweso%e %#sic p#lsed
thro#gh the store. :#st add a dr#% set" a $eyboard" and so%e .ocals" and the Spring +ling was going
to be #nforgettable*
5>ood afternoon*6 said )rs. Ca$e fro% behind the co#nter. 5&hat can I get for yo#96
0: Pon7; s%iled and pointed to an enor%o#s bl#eberry %#ffin with cr#%ble topping in the
glass case. )rs. Ca$e leaned into the case" grabbed the %#ffin" and dropped it into a white paper
bag" h#%%ing as she did so.
5It,s a wonderf#l day" isn,t it96 she said to 0: Pon7;.
She s%iled as she handed )rs. Ca$e a dollar bill.
The %#sic was reaching a crescendo" and e.eryone in the Sweet Shoppe was bo#ncing to the
beat. It was li$e a flash %ob" only it was co%pletely #nplanned. C#sto%ers fo#nd the%sel.es doing
the Pony Sto%p" lifting their $nees and prancing" clapping their hands" and wa.ing their ar%s fro%
side to side. They co#ldn,t help it* The %#sic was 1#st too %agical.
&ith a final riff of notes" the %#sic ca%e to a cli%actic finish. (ne c#sto%er who,d been
wa.ing his hands o.er his head lost his balance and staggered" and his s%oothie tipped and spilled.
B#t it didn,t %atter. ?ot one bit. ?othing %attered when yo# were dancing*
" #alk on the #ild Side
0#ring school the ne8t day" Rarity noticed that +l#ttershy was e.en /#ieter than #s#al. &hene.er
the girls tal$ed abo#t getting the band together" she see%ed to disappear" playing with a loc$ of her
pin$ hair or whispering so%ething to one of the belo.ed pets she always carried in her poc$et.
Rarity decided that %aybe if she spent the afternoon with her friend" she co#ld fig#re o#t what was
the %atter. Besides" it wo#ld %ean that she,d get to c#ddle all $inds of c#te f#rry friends at the
Ani%al Resc#e Center" where +l#ttershy wor$ed.
5Than$s for co%ing" Rarity"6 said +l#ttershy when her friend showed #p at the Center. 5&e
need all the help we can get.6
5B#t of co#rse" darling"6 g#shed Rarity. 53elping c#te little p#ppies and $ittens will ne.er go
o#t of style. And if there,s anything yo# need to tal$ abo#t" yo# 1#st let %e $now" o$ay96
+l#ttershy nodded" al%ost said so%ething" and then changed her %ind. She had so %any
ani%als to pet and greet. This wasn,t a good ti%e to tell Rarity what was bothering her. Besides"
e.eryone else was ha.ing so %#ch f#n getting the band together. She didn,t want to disappoint her
friends. 3ow co#ld she sing onstage while Rainbow 0ash and Apple1ac$ 1a%%ed on their g#itars"
Rarity tic$led the i.ories of her $eyboard" and Pin$ie Pie sang9 3ow was she going to tell all her
friends she 1#st co#ldn,t do it9
Rarity $nelt down on the floor to c#ddle a partic#larly adorable floppy7eared p#ppy. 3ow hard
was this for a 1ob9 )aybe she sho#ld start co%ing here with +l#ttershy %ore often.
5Today we ha.e a really special assign%ent"6 said +l#ttershy eagerly.
50o we96 said Rarity. A little $itten n#--led its head against her ar%" and she petted it.
+l#ttershy ad1#sted the b#tterfly barrette in her hair. 5&hat we,re going to do today is e.en
%ore special than wor$ing with the $ittens. (nce a year" a l#c$y .ol#nteer gets to clean the 3a%ster
3abitat.6
She pointed across the roo% to the %ost enor%o#s ha%ster cage Rarity had e.er seen. It too$
#p the entire length of the wall fro% floor to ceiling. Colorf#l plastic t#bes crisscrossed one another
in an elaborate %a-e. There were ladders and b#rrows and wheels. There were t#nnels and ca.es
and ho#ses. And there were ha%sters. @ots and lots of ha%sters.
Rarity tried to hide her lac$ of enth#sias%. 5&e ha.e to clean4 that96
5It,s /#ite an honor"6 e8plained +l#ttershy. 5I signed #p %onths ago to be s#re I,d get it.6 &ith
that" she s$ipped o.er to the 3abitat. Caref#lly" she opened the cage door and lifted the edge of one
of the plastic t#bes. 53o#secleaning*6 she sang.
A fat little brown7and7white ha%ster st#c$ his nose o#t of the t#be. )ore and %ore little
ha%sters were sc#rrying toward +l#ttershy.
Rarity sh#ddered and too$ a step away fro% the 3abitat. 5+l#ttershy" darling" aren,t ha%sters"
#%" yo# $now" #%4 rodents96
5They s#re are*6 g#shed +l#ttershy. 5B#t they are as c#te and c#ddly as b#nnies*6
Rarity was not s#re she belie.ed her. 3a%sters were e%erging fro% t#nnels and ho#ses and
wheels. A large herd of ha%sters was swar%ing aro#nd +l#ttershy,s feet" and she was happily
patting their little heads" tic$ling their twitching whis$ers" and gi.ing the% welco%ing $isses.
5($ay" e.ery ha%ster"6 she cooed to the%. 5+ollow %y friend Rarity into the ne8t roo%. She,ll
ta$e good care of yo# while I gi.e yo#r ho%e a scr#b.6
All the ha%sters stared at Rarity with beady little blac$ eyes. Rarity g#lped and tried to s%ile.
Well" she tho#ght" at least Im not cleaning up after them. 3ow hard co#ld it be to loo$ after a herd
of ha%sters" anyway9

The Pied Piper of amsters
+l#ttershy hoped Rarity was ha.ing a good ti%e with the ha%sters. &hile she scr#bbed and cleaned
and disinfected" she decided that she wo#ld tal$ to Rarity abo#t the band. )aybe Rarity wo#ld help
her e8plain to the other girls why she co#ldn,t be in it. &hen she had finally wiped dry the last
%a-e in the habitat" she p#t her cleaning s#pplies away" grabbed her bac$pac$" and opened the door
to the ne8t roo% to bring bac$ the ha%sters.
B#t she was not prepared for what she saw. ?ot at all* &hi--ing balls of f#r were shooting in
all directions. It was chaos* Total chaos* In the %idst of it was Rarity" her hair to#sled and co.ered
in little bits of cloth. She loo$ed as cra-ed as the ha%sters.
5Rarity" what happened9*6 as$ed +l#ttershy" alar%ed. She /#ic$ly sh#t the door behind her to
%a$e s#re nobody escaped.
Rarity was co%pletely o.erwhel%ed. She pointed at one partic#larly fat little ha%ster who had
a tattered ribbon dangling fro% his nec$. 5&ell" Carl Pettington,s coat 1#st begged to be
accessori-ed" b#t '%ilia +#rhart ref#sed to be left o#t.6 She pointed at still another ha%ster with a
circle of cloth st#c$ to the top of her head. 5And she got C#rtis Pawpower and )ayfield
B#%blep#ss to chew right thro#gh Carl,s little scarf" and before I $new it" I had a 3abitat7wide fe#d
on %y hands.6 &ith an e8ha#sted e8hale" she collapsed on the floor" and ha%sters crowded onto her
lap.
+l#ttershy was conf#sed. Carl Pettington9 C#rtis Pawpower9
5Also" I na%ed the%"6 said Rarity" trying to s%ile.
+l#ttershy clapped her hands a#thoritati.ely. 5@adies and gentle7ha%sters" please*6
At the so#nd of +l#ttershy,s .oice" all the ha%sters beca%e absol#tely still and loo$ed #p at her.
5?ow" I $now yo# are all #pset"6 she began. There was a cascade of chattering. 5Shh"6 soothed
+l#ttershy. 5&hy don,t we head bac$ o.er to the 3abitat and tal$ it all o#t96
The ha%ster with the torn ribbon aro#nd his nec$ staggered o.er to Rarity" and she instantly
pic$ed hi% #p" cradling hi% in her hands. She slic$ed bac$ the f#r on the top of his head. 5I %ean"
honestly"6 she cooed at hi%. 5?ot e.ery ha%ster can e8pect to loo$ as s%art in a scarf as Carl here.6
Carl Pettington,s f#rry white chest p#ffed o#t with pride. Then he st#c$ o#t his tong#e at the
other ha%sters. I%%ediately they all set to s/#abbling again. They chittered* They bic$ered* They
bit*
5Stop that*6 ordered +l#ttershy" b#t they weren,t listening to her any%ore. She shoo$ her head
and scolded Rarity. 5That wasn,t e8actly helpf#l. 3ow are we e.er going to get the% bac$ into their
3abitat96
Rarity fo#nd a tiny little ha%ster7si-ed dress she had %ade and held it #p. A ha%ster lifted its
head c#rio#sly. Slowly" Rarity led the ha%ster to the door" opened it" and started wal$ing toward the
3abitat. The ha%ster crawled o.er to the dress" sniffed it" t#rned #p its nose" and ran off to 1oin the
other ha%sters.
5&ell*6 said Rarity" disappointed. It wasn,t often that so%eone" e.en a ha%ster" t#rned down
one of her stylish creations.
)eanwhile" +l#ttershy had caref#lly created a trail of food pellets across the roo%. B#t the
ha%sters weren,t e.en eating the%. They were pic$ing the% #p and pelting one another with the%.
It was n#ts. They were o#t of their %inds*
+l#ttershy went and grabbed her bac$pac$ and began searching thro#gh it for so%ething that
%ight help her l#re the ha%sters bac$ to their 3abitat. She fo#nd a can of cat food and set it aside.
She p#lled o#t so%e dog treats that were bigger than the ha%sters the%sel.es. She fo#nd an old
ta%bo#rine fro% when she was little and t#rned it o.er in her hands. )aybe she co#ld #se it as a
scoop and catch the ha%sters one by one with it*
Rarity had ta$en o#t a bolt of cloth fro% her bac$pac$ and was trying to #se it as a net. She
threw it o.er a large gro#p of ha%sters" b#t they 1#st sc#rried o#t fro% beneath it. Rarity was
wa.ing her giant piece of cloth" +l#ttershy was trying to #se her ta%bo#rine as a scoop" and the
ha%sters were e.ading both of the%. Rarity and +l#ttershy were r#nning in circles" the ha%sters
were 1#%ping o.er their feet" and the ne8t thing the girls $new they had b#%ped into each other.
,am! Rarity threw the bolt of fabric o.er +l#ttershy,s head" blinding her" and co%pletely s#rprised"
+l#ttershy began sha$ing the ta%bo#rine wildly.
All the ha%sters stopped" %es%eri-ed.
B#t the %o%ent +l#ttershy too$ the fabric off her head" she stopped 1ingling the ta%bo#rine.
The ha%sters began fighting again. +l#ttershy e8peri%ented and shoo$ the ta%bo#rine gently. At
the first tin$ling of the ta%bo#rine" the ha%sters were rapt" ga-ing #p at her" silent and obedient.
She shoo$ it a little %ore" and they began to wal$ toward her. As she slowly slapped it against her
leg in a steady beat" they started %arching. They were hypnoti-ed by the so#nd. A%a-ed" +l#ttershy
loo$ed #p at Rarity.
50on,t stop now" dear"6 begged Rarity. 5=o#,.e fo#nd yo#r a#dience*6
+l#ttershy began to really play the ta%bo#rine" sha$ing and slapping it in a slow" hypnotic
rhyth%. 0elighted by her %#sic,s effect" +l#ttershy began to spin and dance toward the 3abitat as
she played. The ha%sters followed in a straight line behind her.
3er %#sic beca%e wilder as she danced. As if by %agic" a tail and ears appeared on +l#ttershy.
She was ponying #p* She was carried away by the enchant%ent of it all.
Rarity followed behind" gently h#%%ing to the %#sic.
(ne by one" the ha%sters wea.ed past +l#ttershy and /#ietly crawled bac$ into their 3abitat.
+inally" when the .ery last ha%ster was inside and the door to the cage was sealed" +l#ttershy
dropped her ta%bo#rine and collapsed. 3er tail and ears disappeared.
She was in a state of shoc$. It wasn,t 1#st the effect the %#sic had on the ha%sters" b#t the
effect it had on her. She,d act#ally played an instr#%ent of her own. 5B#t wo#ld anyone want a
ta%bo#rine in a band96 She didn,t %ean to say it o#t lo#d" b#t she did.
5That wo#ld be wonderf#l*6 e8clai%ed Rarity. 5All the best bands ha.e ta%bo#rine players.6
5They do96 /#estioned +l#ttershy.
5They do*6 said Rarity.
5I,.e been worried that I didn,t ha.e an instr#%ent to play.46
5B#t yo# do" darling"6 reass#red Rarity.
5B#t I,ll still ha.e to perfor% in front of the whole school.46 she said ner.o#sly.
5=o# thin$ that,s going to be harder than playing for this a#dience96 Rarity pointed at the
3abitat.
5)aybe yo#,re right*6 +l#ttershy la#ghed. 5If I get stage fright" I,ll 1#st i%agine e.eryone is a
ha%ster*6
Rarity was loo$ing thro#gh one of the transparent t#bes at Carl" who had %anaged to re%o.e
his scarf at last. 5I ne.er wo#ld ha.e g#essed ha%sters wo#ld be so to#chy abo#t fashion"6 she
sighed. 5I g#ess there is s#ch a thing as too fab#lo#s.6
5?ot for the '/#estria >irls*6 said +l#ttershy. 5I can,t wait to see the o#tfits yo# are going to
create for o#r band*6 She was so e8cited now" e8cited and relie.ed. &hat a great day it had t#rned
o#t to be despite Rarity,s ha%ster catastrophe.
5=o# $now I,.e act#ally had fashion shows go worse than this"6 Rarity confided to +l#ttershy
as they headed o#t the door of the Ani%al Resc#e Center. 5As %odels go" ha%sters are pretty low
%aintenance.6
Pinkie on the $ne
Pin$ie Pie was obsessed with the Spring +ling. It was all she co#ld tal$ abo#t. 3ow sho#ld they
decorate the gy%9 &hat $ind of banners sho#ld they %a$e for the tea%s9 3ow %#ch glitter did
they need9 (h" there was ne.er eno#gh glitter*
B#t there was one thing Pin$ie Pie wasn,t foc#sing on2and that was the band.
5&hat instr#%ent do yo# want to play96 as$ed Rarity.
5I don,t $now*6 she said. 5I,ll thin$ of so%ething. 0o yo# thin$ we sho#ld do a 3awaiian
the%e for the dance or so%ething %ore #n#s#al" li$e o#ter space9 =o# $now" The Spring +ling Is
(#t of This &orld96
5&e don,t ha.e %#ch %ore ti%e left"6 said Rainbow 0ash. 5+or the band.6
The girls had been practicing all afternoon at Canterlot 3igh. Rarity had written so%e great
lyrics" and Rainbow 0ash had created #nforgettable %elodies to go along with the%. Apple1ac$ had
p#t it all together" and e.en +l#ttershy had been ha.ing f#n" har%oni-ing bac$#p .ocals and adding
a dash of f#n with her ta%bo#rine. B#t so%ething was %issing fro% their so#nd. &hat was it9
+inally" the girls too$ a brea$ and 1oined >ranny S%ith in the $itchen of the school" where she
was %i8ing #p batches of coo$ies as treats. The girls crowded aro#nd while she stirred the batter"
hoping for a bite of coo$ie do#gh or a lic$ of the spoon. &hat they were getting" howe.er" was a
lesson in ba$ing.
5:#st re%e%ber"6 said >ranny S%ith. 5The %ost i%portant thing abo#t S#gar B#tter Cocoa
Coo$ies is to fold the batter.6
5+old it96 giggled Pin$ie Pie. 5@i$e a shirt96
All the girls la#ghed.
5?o"6 said >ranny S%ith" #sing the sa%e tone of .oice Rainbow 0ash had when she was trying
to get Pin$ie Pie to settle down. 5+oldin,s ba$er tal$. It %eans gently stir it" slowly. Too %#ch ar%
t#rning,ll %a$e yo#r coo$ies to#gher than a l#%p of coal.6
>ranny S%ith handed Pin$ie Pie the bowl of batter before she went into the pantry to get so%e
.anilla. Slowly" rhyth%ically" Pin$ie Pie concentrated on stirring the batter this way and that.
5C,%on" Pin$ie"6 said Rainbow 0ash" e8asperated. 5&e don,t ha.e ti%e to %a$e coo$ies. &e
need to foc#s on the band. &e need to fig#re o#t what,s the %atter with it.6
5I g#ess I co#ld fold a little faster"6 said Pin$ie Pie. &ith that" she too$ another bowl and
another whis$ and si%#ltaneo#sly folded both sets of batter. She began slowly at first" b#t soon her
hands were flying as the whis$s flic$ed bac$ and forth in her ni%ble fingers. She was a whir of
%otion" flic$ing the whis$s" tapping spoons on the co#nter" and sending the bowls spinning ,ro#nd
and ,ro#nd in circles.
5&hoa there*6 said >ranny S%ith" co%ing bac$ into the $itchen. 5That,s not folding. That,s
dr#%%ing*6
Rainbow 0ash,s eyes lit #p. She too$ Rarity aside and whispered to her" 5)ost people don,t
$now how hard it is to find so%eone who can #se both hands the way a dr#%%er does.6
50o yo# thin$ Pin$ie Pie has the concentration to be a dr#%%er96 Rarity wasn,t so s#re their
flighty friend co#ld foc#s on anything that didn,t in.ol.e strea%ers and balloons.
Pin$ie Pie had ret#rned the batter bowls to >ranny S%ith b#t fo#nd a b#nch of %etal pans and
spoons and beg#n clashing and banging and tapping the% in a catchy array of snappy rhyth%s.
5She 1#st %ight*6 said Rainbow 0ash. 5And that,s what,s %issing fro% o#r band4 a
dr#%%er*6
@ater on" when >ranny S%ith too$ the coo$ies that Pin$ie Pie had stirred o#t of the o.en" the
girls ca%e bac$ to the cafeteria" l#red by their delicio#s s%ell.
5&ell now"6 said >ranny S%ith. 5These loo$ near perfect*6
Pin$ie Pie bea%ed with pride as >ranny pic$ed #p a coo$ie and too$ a bite. (#ch* She nearly
lost a tooth they were so hard.
5And I %i8ed the% in half the ti%e*6 said Pin$ie Pie pro#dly.
>ranny S%ith r#bbed her 1aw.
50on,t worry"6 said Apple1ac$. 5Pin$ie Pie %ight not ha.e what it ta$es to be a ba$er4 b#t
we,.e got so%e other plans for her partic#lar s$ills*6
Drumroll% Please!
Pin$ie Pie was in charge of the tea% decorations for the Spring +ling Eof co#rse*F" and she,d
organi-ed all the girls in the loc$er roo% to decorate banners. She #nf#rled a h#ge roll of b#lletin
board paper and began painting the words 2o Team! in h#ge" c#rly letters.
Rainbow 0ash was sitting on one of the benches blowing #p balloons" b#t what she was really
doing was trying to con.ince Pin$ie Pie that she had what it too$ to be a dr#%%er. 5A dr#%%er
can,t be 1#st anybody"6 she e8plained to her.
That was why bands were always ha.ing tro#ble with their dr#%%ers. They often were people
with too %#ch energy21#st li$e Pin$ie Pie*
5(h" of co#rse not"6 responded Pin$ie Pie" b#t she wasn,t really listening. She had o#tlined the
words on the banner in blac$ paint and #sed all $inds of bright colors to fill the% in" b#t they 1#st
weren,t" well" spar"ly eno#gh.
5?ow" it,s i%portant that o#r banner shine fro% the field"6 said Rarity" 5all the way to the top of
the stands.6
5=es*6 agreed Pin$ie Pie. 5It,s got to shine" shine" shine*6
5So feel free to #se as %#ch glitter as yo# want"6 s#ggested Rarity.
Pin$ie Pie,s eyes lit #p* ?o words e.er %ade her happier than those* =o# co#ld ne.er ha.e
eno#gh glitter. She ran o#t of the loc$er roo% witho#t saying another word.
50o yo# thin$ yo# can con.ince her to be o#r dr#%%er96 as$ed +l#ttershy. She had her
ta%bo#rine with her and practiced with it in e.ery spare %o%ent. 'ach ti%e its dis$s 1ingled" so%e
of her ani%al friends wo#ld po$e their heads o#t of her bac$pac$ to en1oy the %#sic.
5Rainbow 0ash s#re is tryin,*6 said Apple1ac$. 5B#t Pin$ie Pie don,t see% to be gettin, the
%essage.6
Rarity leaned bac$ against the loc$ers. 50on,t worry abo#t it too %#ch. I thin$ she will. She,s a
nat#ral.6
Pin$ie Pie -ipped bac$ into the loc$er roo% with an absol#tely giant 1ar of glitter in her hands.
It was as big as a conga dr#%*
Pin$ie twirled and whirled aro#nd the banner" beating the botto% of the 1ar to swirl the glitter
across the banner. The other girls snapped their fingers and clapped their hands to the beat she was
creating.
5A dr#%%er has to ha.e the right4 instincts4 yo# $now"6 said Rainbow 0ash with a win$ to
the other girls.
5Absol#tely*6 said Rarity.
5=o# betcha*6 said Apple1ac$.
5(f co#rse"6 said +l#ttershy.
5Totally*6 agreed Pin$ie. B#t she wasn,t really listening. She was too b#sy applying %ore gl#e
and %ore glitter to the banner #ntil a spar$ly clo#d filled the whole loc$er roo%.
&hen it ca%e ti%e to bring the banner o#t to the baseball field" it was so stiff they co#ldn,t
e.en roll it #p. The girls had to carry it o.er their heads li$e a board to the t#nnel where the players
wo#ld e%erge fro% their loc$er roo%s" b#rsting thro#gh the banner as they did so.
Rarity was a little worried abo#t that. She rapped her hand against the glitter7filled banner.
5Pin$ie" dear" e8actly how %#ch glitter did yo# #se96
5As %#ch as I co#ld*6 e8clai%ed Pin$ie happily.
:#st at that %o%ent" the baseball tea% charged o#t of the t#nnel for the opening of the Spring
+ling ga%es. B#t instead of tearing thro#gh the banner" it stopped the% li$e a bric$ wall" or rather" a
wall %ade o#t of %etal glitter. ,oom! ,oom! ,oom! (ne after another" they hit it and bo#nced bac$
into the t#nnel.
5(h well"6 shr#gged Pin$ie Pie. 5)aybe I sho#ldn,t ha.e #sed /#ite so %#ch glitter*6

Snared!
All across the cafeteria" $ids were tal$ing abo#t the Spring +ling. &ord had gotten o#t that the
'/#estria >irls were going to perfor%.
5Rainbow 0ash is an a%a-ing g#itarist. I heard her at the )#sic Center"6 said one boy waiting
in the l#nch line.
5Apple1ac$ roc$s the bass*6 said his friend. 5'.en in a banana s#it*6
5&ait #ntil yo# hear Rarity on $eyboards. She,s been playing for years"6 gossiped a gro#p of
girls at a table near the windows.
5And +l#ttershy is their secret weapon"6 whispered one of her friends. 5I,.e heard she can
hypnoti-e people with her %#sic.6
5There,s only one teensy7weensy proble%.6 Tri8ie s%ir$ed" sitting down with the%. 5They
don,t ha.e a dr#%%er fro% what I hear. '.ery band needs a dr#%%er. &hoe.er heard of a band
witho#t a dr#%%er9 ?ow" if yo#,re a solo perfor%er li$e the >reat and Powerf#l Tri8ie" all yo#
need is yo#rself4 b#t ha.ing only part of a band9 That,s 1#st no good" no good at all. It,s too bad"
really.6
Across the cafeteria" Pin$ie Pie was finished with her l#nch and was e8citedly tapping the table
with her for$ and spoon. Tap tap tappa tap. Tappa tappa tap tap.
Rainbow 0ash opened #p a bag of potato chips and offered the% to all the girls before ta$ing
one herself. 5The thing abo#t the dr#%%er we get is that she,s got to be so%eone with a lot of
energy. A lot of energy. A whole lot.6
5Absol#tely*6 agreed Pin$ie Pie.
All the girls loo$ed at her e8pectantly.
Pin$ie Pie began clin$ing her for$ against a glass. &lin" plin" plin". She tapped the table" tap
tap tappa tap" plin$ed the glass" plin" plin" plin"" tappa tappa tap tap. She wasn,t paying any
attention to the other girls at all. At all.
5I %ean"6 contin#ed Rainbow 0ash %ore e%phatically" 5a @(T of energy. 'nth#sias%. A
dr#%%er has to be able to carry the whole band on his" I %ean her" sho#lders.6
The .ibration fro% Pin$ie,s fidgeting was sha$ing the entire table. Sandwiches were wiggling"
water was splashing" and trays were sliding bac$ and forth.
Tap tap tappa tap, plin" plin" plin" went Pin$ie,s for$ and spoon.
5Pin$ie*6 sho#ted Apple1ac$" trying to get her to listen.
Pin$ie Pie fro-e. 5&hat96 she as$ed innocently.
Apple1ac$ 1#st shoo$ her head and la#ghed. Pin$ie Pie went right bac$ to her for$7and7spoon
perc#ssion session.
Rarity placed a cal%ing hand on Pin$ie Pie,s ar%. 5&e ha.e got to find an o#tlet for all that
energy" dear"6 she said sweetly.
All the girls nodded in agree%ent.
5@i$e what96 as$ed Pin$ie.
5I thin$ yo# need a dr#% set"6 s#ggested Rarity.
5B#t I don,t $now how to dr#%"6 said Pin$ie Pie.
5=es" yo# do*6 said all the girls together. 5=o# ne.er stop*6
The girls p#t away their trays and threw away their trash and h#rried o#t of the cafeteria to ta$e
Pin$ie Pie to the %#sic roo%.
5=o#,re 1#st going to try it"6 said Rainbow 0ash.
5=o#,ll see" darling. =o#,ll be great at it"6 enco#raged Rarity.
&ith a hyper %i8t#re of e8cite%ent and ner.o#sness" Pin$ie Pie too$ a seat behind the dr#% set
in the %#sic roo%. She pic$ed #p the dr#%stic$s and tapped the cy%bals. They re.erberated
thro#gh the roo%" and she giggled.
50o it 1#st li$e in the cafeteria"6 enco#raged +l#ttershy.
Pin$ie Pie started p#%ping the dr#% pedal" tic$ling the snare" and tapping o#t a tight rhyth% on
the bass dr#%. D#ic$ly" she groo.ed into a tight trot" racing her stic$s o.er the dr#%s and creating
ricocheting rhyth%s. &ow* She was wild* All she,d needed was the right instr#%ent* !lash! went
the cy%bals. ,oom! went the dr#%. The beat was galloping now" wilder and wilder. Pin$ie Pie was
a force of nat#re* 3er hands were dancing" her feet were p#%ping" and her hair was flying. 3er tail
flipped as she swayed to the groo.e. 'ars appeared. She was ponying #p*
5This. Is. >R'AT*6 she sho#ted o.er the roar of her dr#% solo.
Rarity win$ed at Rainbow 0ash. 5&hate.er %ade yo# thin$ that Pin$ie Pie wo#ld be good on
the dr#%s96
Rainbow 0ash giggled. 5I don,t $now. >#ess I 1#st ha.e a sense of these things*6
Pla&er Piano
The school bell rang at the end of the day" and the $ids po#red o#t of the b#ilding" headed to sports
practice and band practice and to get their o#tfits ready for the Spring +ling. The '/#estria >irls
were ha.ing one last rehearsal before their deb#t. That is" if Rarity showed #p. &here co#ld she
possibly be9 3ad she forgotten9 Co#ld she really thin$ that wor$ing on her dress was %ore
i%portant than practicing together9
(f co#rse not.
3alfway across ca%p#s" Rarity was trying to get an enor%o#s grand piano down the hall. She
p#shed. She sho.ed. She p#lled. She groaned and %oaned. B#t it 1#st wo#ldn,t %o.e. Still" there
was no way she was going to gi.e #p. ?o way*
5Rarity"6 she scolded herself. 5=o#r friends are depending on yo#. =o# si%ply %#st get this
piano to band practice. And that %eans %a$ing the i%possible possible*6
She bac$ed away fro% the piano and then charged at it at f#ll speed" sho.ing it with all her
%ight. It b#dged an inch. )aybe not e.en that %#ch.
5Ugh*6 %oaned Rarity" collapsing on the floor. 5I sho#ld ha.e $nown Tri8ie was #p to no good
when she oh7so7genero#sly offered to lend %e her piano.6
B#t Rarity hadn,t been able to resist. Playing a grand piano with the band wo#ld loo$ so
%agnificent. And it wo#ld so#nd so %#ch better than that old #pright in the %#sic roo% she,d been
#sing. B#t why was it so hard to %o.e9
5&hat $ind of person doesn,t p#t a piano on wheels96 she as$ed herself. EB#t %aybe she sho#ld
ha.e wondered what $ind of person wo#ld ta$e the wheels off a piano before s#ggesting one of the
'/#estria >irls #se it.F
Rarity leaned her bac$ against the piano" braced her legs" and p#shed. ?othing. She got down
on her hands and $nees and grabbed hold of one of the piano,s legs and p#lled. ?othing. She sat on
the floor and wrapped her ar%s aro#nd the pedals and tried to scoot it forward. It 1#st wo#ldn,t
%o.e.
Sweat was po#ring down her face. 3er s$irt was ripped. 3er hair was co%pletely lan$ and flat.
She stood #p and" in a state of sheer fr#stration" banged her hand down on the $eys. 3er nail
chipped.
(h* That was the final straw. ?ot only co#ldn,t she get the piano to practice" b#t she was going
to ha.e to play with #gly nails. She felt defeated. Tears welled #p in her eyes and spilled down her
chee$s.
5:#st loo$ at %e*6 she wailed. 5I,% a4 %ess*6
&hat was she going to do9 3er phone was dead" so she co#ldn,t call her friends" e.eryone had
already left the school" and she was 1#st so fl#stered. 5And worst of all" I,% not the $ind of girl that
thin$s it,s fashionable to be fashionably late*6
That,s when the 0ia%ond 0og boys appeared. They certainly weren,t on any tea%s or in.ol.ed
in any cl#bs. They #s#ally spent the afternoons l#r$ing aro#nd loo$ing for tro#ble. Well, today they
can spend it mo#ing a piano" tho#ght Rarity. ,ecause what %arity needs is 4ust a little more muscle.
3er eyes spar$led as she straightened her clothes" wiped the sweat off her brow" and /#ic$ly ran
a br#sh thro#gh her hair. She too$ a deep breath and e8haled" letting go of all her f#ry and
fr#stration so that she wo#ld loo$ as lo.ely as possible.
She leaned elegantly against the piano" posing. 5(h" boys*6 she trilled. 50o yo# thin$ yo# co#ld
lend %e a hand96
The boys loo$ed aro#nd the e%pty hallway" and their eyes lit on Rarity. They grinned. It wasn,t
e.ery day a girl as pretty as Rarity paid attention to the%* They l#%bered o.er to her" ready to help
her with whate.er she needed. B#t they didn,t co#nt on ha.ing to %o.e a grand piano*
Rarity sent the% off for rope and then arranged herself co%fortably on the top of the piano.
After all" it wo#ld be a lot easier to direct the% fro% there" and she wo#ldn,t get in their way.
'.en three s#ch strong boys with ropes had a hard ti%e %ane#.ering that enor%o#s grand
piano. B#t Rarity %ade s#re to offer the% lots of enco#rage%ent.
5I si%ply cannot than$ yo# eno#gh"6 she g#shed as they gr#nted and groaned. 50o yo# boys
wor$ o#t96
The boys blin$ed #p at her and s%iled. Rarity batted her long eyelashes at the%" wa.ing her
hand down the hallway to %a$e s#re they $ept on with their wor$. 5I %#st say"6 she contin#ed.
5I,% terribly i%pressed* So %anly* And while I a% a bit rep#lsed by yo#r %#s$y s%ell"6 she held
her nose daintily" 5I can appreciate that yo# are dia%onds in the ro#gh.6
They bea%ed at Rarity" f#ll of pride and happy to be able to lend her a helping hand. 5iamonds
in the rough" that,s e8actly what they were. Rarity had said so*
The boys str#ggled to get the piano aro#nd the corner and ca%e to the front entranceway of
Canterlot 3igh. Cids were %illing aro#nd tal$ing to one another" and the boys str#ggled to wea.e in
and o#t of the crowd. Rarity stood #p on the piano directing traffic.
5'8c#se %e* Pardon %e*6 she e8clai%ed as politely as she co#ld. 5Pardon %e* '8c#se %e*
'8c#se #s*6
B#t no one see%ed to be listening. '.er reso#rcef#l" Rarity p#t her fingers in her %o#th and
whistled as lo#d as she co#ld. And it was lo#d* Instantly the $ids cleared in either direction.
5Than$ yo#*6 said Rarity.
The boys p#lled the piano thro#gh the lobby and headed down the hallway that led to the %#sic
practice roo%s. Rarity held her hand to her forehead li$e a sailor at sea loo$ing for shore at last.
5Al%ost there" boys"6 she said enco#ragingly as they hea.ed and hoed.
Unfort#nately" e.ery door in the long hallway was sh#t" and Rarity co#ldn,t re%e%ber e8actly
which practice roo% the girls were %eeting in. She tried to listen" b#t she didn,t hear a g#itar or a
dr#% or e.en a giggle.
5?ow which classroo% was it96 she wondered. 5I g#ess we,ll 1#st ha.e to loo$ in the% all*6
The boys p#lled Rarity and the piano in and o#t of one practice roo% after another"
crisscrossing the hallway.
5?ot that one"6 said Rarity" disappointed. 5?ope. Sorry. So sorry. B#t we,re getting closer. I,%
s#re of it*6
)eanwhile the '/#estria >irls were getting worried. Pin$ie Pie had set #p her dr#% $it and
co#ldn,t stop fiddling with it. She,d bang the cy%bals" startle +l#ttershy" apologi-e" and then
instantly bang the% again. Rainbow 0ash was pacing bac$ and forth. Apple1ac$ $ept t#ning her
bass. 5Ugh* &here,s Rarity96 said Rainbow 0ash for the h#ndredth ti%e.
5That gal prob,ly 1#st wants to %a$e so%e sorta grand entrance"6 said Apple1ac$" sha$ing her
head.
:#st at that %o%ent" the door b#rst open" and the e8ha#sted" sweaty 0ia%ond 0og boys p#lled
the grand piano into the practice roo%. Rarity was draped across it" refreshed" rela8ed" and ready to
play %#sic.
5Ta7da*6 she anno#nced.
5Told yo#.6 Apple1ac$ la#ghed.

'e&(oard Magic
Rarity,s grand piano filled the entire %#sic roo%. Pin$ie Pie,s dr#% $it was now p#shed against the
wall. +l#ttershy was s/#ished into the corner. '.en worse" there was barely any roo% for the girls to
stand" %#ch less dance aro#nd while they sang.
Rainbow 0ash s/#ee-ed aro#nd the piano" e8a%ining it. 5Rarity" co#ldn,t yo# ha.e chosen a
%ore4 portable instr#%ent96
53ea.ens no*6 said Rarity" caref#lly cli%bing off the top of the piano. She s%oothed her s$irt.
5The grand piano is the %ost refined and elegant of instr#%ents. &ith it" I will be able to e8press
%y f#ll %#sicality.6
The girls 1#st loo$ed at her" d#%bfo#nded.
5&ell" that,s what Tri8ie said"6 e8plained Rarity.
5?o wonder*6 said Rainbow 0ash.
5?ow don,t that beat all"6 agreed Apple1ac$. 5That gal only #nderstands one thing and it,s the
26
5>reat and Powerf#l Tri8ie"6 said all the other girls together.
Rarity loo$ed e%barrassed" and she began r#nning her hands o.er the piano $eys" practicing
so%e scales. 5It does %a$e a lo.ely so#nd.46
Rainbow 0ash glanced at her watch" sighing. 5&ell" that,s nice" b#t o#r ti%e here is #p. &e
ha.e to %o.e to o#r other rehearsal space.6 She pic$ed #p her g#itar and her a%p. She let o#t a big
sigh as she loo$ed again at the grand piano.
5>#ess yo#,re gonna e8press yo#r f#ll %#sicality across ca%p#s.6
5&hat96 Rarity loo$ed alar%ed. All the fr#stration of the afternoon ca%e bac$. She co#ldn,t go
thro#gh %o.ing the piano one %ore ti%e. It was 1#st too %#ch. 5?o*6 she wailed.
Pin$ie Pie,s eyes had been darting aro#nd the roo%. All at once they spar$led* She began
1#%ping #p and down and clanging the cy%bals. She wa.ed her dr#%stic$s in the air* She had a
sol#tion* (h boy" did she e.er*
5(r yo# co#ld play this*6 she anno#nced" reaching for a strange7loo$ing g#itar that was stic$ing
o#t of the %#sic roo% closet. She held it o.er her head.
It had the white and blac$ $eys of a traditional $eyboard" b#t a t#ning ar% and a strap 1#st li$e a
g#itar. All the girls ga-ed at it" st#nned" especially Rarity.
5It,s part g#itar and part $eyboard. It,s a4 a4 g#itar$ey*6 anno#nced Pin$ie Pie" 1#%ping #p
and down with e8cite%ent again.
5A $eytar"6 corrected Rainbow 0ash" who $new her %#sical instr#%ents" e.en if she,d ne.er
act#ally seen one of the% before.
Pin$ie shr#gged. 5Potato" to%ato.6 &ith a big" enth#siastic s%ile on her face" she handed the
$eytar to Rarity li$e it was a Christ%as present. She s/#ealed delightedly as Rarity slowly strapped
the instr#%ent aro#nd her nec$.
The girls stepped bac$ to gi.e Rarity so%e roo%. She f#%bled with the control panel for a
%o%ent #ntil she fo#nd the (? switch. She to#ched one of the $eys. It had a powerf#l and precise
so#nd. A little s#rprised" she grinned as she began trying o#t a scale. She wasn,t #sed to playing the
$eys fro% this position" b#t she was a talented player.
&ith one hand" she began finding the %elody of a song while the other girls added the beat. The
giant so#nd of the $eytar filled the roo%. Rarity,s fingers were dancing across the $eyboard" her
whole body swaying to the %#sic. &hat was great abo#t the $eytar was that she co#ld dance while
she played" 1#st li$e Rainbow 0ash and Apple1ac$. She swirled" she t#rned" she groo.ed" she
roc$ed* She ponied #p*
+irst her ears appeared and then her tail. The $eytar helped her %a$e %#sic %agic.
5(h %y*6 she sang as she danced.
5Cool*6 sho#ted Rainbow 0ash.
5&ill ya loo$ at that*6 e8clai%ed Apple1ac$.
5(h %y goodness*6 said +l#ttershy.
B#t %ost a%a-ed of all were the 0ia%ond 0ogs. They,d ne.er seen or heard anything li$e it
before. Their %o#ths were wide open. They were on the floor* If they,d been hypnoti-ed by Rarity
before" now they were absol#tely %es%eri-ed.
5&hat do yo# thin$" fellas96 Rarity win$ed as she finished off her solo with a final flo#rish and
ret#rned to nor%al. 50id I %a$e those ears and tail wor$ for yo# or what96
Still #nable to tal$" the boys nodded their heads.
Apple1ac$ p#t an ar% aro#nd Rarity. 5@oo$s li$e yo#r full musicality does 1#st fine with a
$eytar. &hat do yo# say to $eepin, it on and %o.in, yo#r tail to o#r ne8t rehearsal space96
5+ine" fine"6 said Rarity" r#nning a hand o.er her $eytar. She lo.ed it. It was so %#ch %ore f#n
to play than a piano" especially in a band. B#t what was she going to do with the piano now9 She
had to ret#rn it to the roo% she,d borrowed it fro%" didn,t she9
She sashayed o.er to the 0ia%ond 0ogs and p#t an ar% aro#nd the%. She batted her eyes and
s%iled at the%. 5I probably sho#ld ret#rn that piano to Tri8ie.46 she said.
The boys 1#st stared at her" waiting.
5I don,t s#ppose46 Rarity said in her sweetest .oice.
The boys fell o.er one another to do one %ore thing for Rarity" and together they p#shed and
p#lled and t#gged the piano o#t of the roo%.
Rarity grinned. 5I tho#ght they %ight.6
The afternoon had wor$ed o#t so %#ch better than she tho#ght* And now she had her belo.ed
$eytar to play*

School of Rock
0: Pon7; arri.ed early to school the ne8t day. There were so %any things to do before the Spring
+ling that night. B#t the %o%ent she opened the front door of Canterlot 3igh" she heard %#sic"
incredible %#sic" %#sic that %ade her want to dance. So%eone had gotten to school e.en earlier
than she had.
The '/#estria >irls* They were practicing and filling the school with their roc$in, t#nes*
All the $ids who were #s#ally gossiping and doing ho%ewor$ in the %ain lobby were tapping
their feet and swaying to the %#sic. 0: Pon7; noticed that e.eryone see%ed happy" li$e they were
abo#t to start dancing. A girl bo#nced by with her boo$s in her ar%s" and she was doing the Pony
Sto%p witho#t e.en reali-ing it. So%e boys r#shed past on their way to their loc$ers" and they were
str#tting their st#ff and snapping their fingers.
0: Pon7; felt li$e she,d wal$ed onto the set of a %#sic .ideo*
Hey, hey, e#erybody,
Were here to shout
That the -agic of 'riendship
Is what its all about!
The %#sic followed her down the hallway to her first7period class. St#dents were opening and
closing their loc$ers to the beat. They sh#ffled their boo$s fro% hand to hand li$e it was a dance
%o.e. >irls p#t on lipstic$ at their loc$ers and br#shed their hair" all in ti%e to the singing of the
'/#estria >irls. '.en the teachers were getting into it* Cran$y 0oodle was stor%ing down the
hallway in his #s#al gr#%py %ood when" all of a s#dden" he 1#%ped #p in the air" did a split"
landed" twirled" and opened the door to his classroo%" singing and s%iling.
0: Pon7; danced into class behind hi% and p#t her boo$s down on her des$. Behind her she
heard a whirring noise in ti%e to the %#sic. It was the classroo% ha%ster" and e.en he was dancing
on his r#nning wheel. The bells of +l#ttershy,s ta%bo#rine were wor$ing their %agic*
Up at the front of the class" her teacher had set #p a science e8peri%ent" and each b#bble that
b#rst o#t of the test t#be see%ed to be part of the whole %#sical e8perience.
0: Pon7; sat down at her des$ and happily watched the rest of the $ids po#r into the classroo%"
bopping and singing.
B#t then the first7period bell rang" and the %#sic stopped.
?ow the $ids in class 1#st see%ed noisy. So%eone threw a paper airplane across the roo%.
Another $id fl#ng a spitball. Cran$y 0oodle yelled at the%. So%e gossiping girls la#ghed
obno8io#sly. A $id leaned bac$ in his chair and it scraped against the linole#%" %a$ing a s/#ea$ing
noise. '.ery little so#nd was noticeable to 0: Pon7;" and none of the so#nds see%ed happy.
A boy blew his nose. A girl #n-ipped her bac$pac$. So%eone cr#%pled #p a piece of paper.
The teacher was 1#st scraping a piece of chal$ across the board when the fire alar% blared.
Whan! Whan! Whan!
Gice Principal @#na appeared in the doorway. 5'.eryone get in line. Class is delayed. &e,re
ha.ing a practice fire drill.6
D#ietly" the $ids got into a line and %arched o#t of the classroo%" down the hallway" and
thro#gh the bac$ door. The only so#nds were footsteps. Class after class filed o#tside. Teachers
were ta$ing attendance.
B#t o#tside on the grass in the s#nshine" so%eone began h#%%ing the t#ne fro% that %orning.
Another st#dent 1oined in. Soon e.eryone was singing along and dancing in place. It was an
#nforgettable song*
5&hen e.eryone hears my %#sic" they are going to lo.e it e.en %ore"6 said Tri8ie. 5I,% going
to be the star of the Spring +ling. :#st yo# wait and see.6
0: Pon7; p#lled down her shades" typed o#t a te8t" and loo$ed at Tri8ie. 5The difference
between yo# and the '/#estria >irls" Tri8ie"6 it said" 5is that you want to be the star" b#t the
'/#estria >irls $now how to p#t their %#sic in the spotlight. They let the %#sic be the star. And
that,s why e.eryone lo.es it.6
:#st at that %o%ent" all of Canterlot 3igh er#pted into song.
Hey, hey, e#erybody,
Were here to shout
That the -agic of 'riendship
Is what its all about!
Music to $ur )ars!
The '/#estria >irls had each fo#nd an instr#%ent to play. They had written songs. They had
practiced. Rarity had sewn the% all fantab#lo#sly stylish pony ears and tails for the big night. There
was only one proble%. They were ready for the Spring +ling2b#t the Spring +ling was not ready
for the%*
&hen they arri.ed with their gear to set #p at the gy%" they opened the doors to disco.er a
pastel pin$ paradise. There were pin$ balloons and pin$ strea%ers. There was a big bowl of pin$
le%onade sitting on a pin$ tablecloth. It wo#ld ha.e been perfect for a sl#%ber party" Pin$ie Pie,s
sl#%ber party that is" b#t it did not set the %ood for a high school dance party. ?ot at all*
5Isn,t it f#n and silly96 Pin$ie Pie giggled. 5I decorated it this afternoon*6
?one of the girls $new what to say. They didn,t want to disappoint Pin$ie Pie after all of her
hard wor$" b#t4
Rainbow 0ash sighed.
+l#ttershy loo$ed down at the floor" tears welling #p in her eyes.
Apple1ac$ co#ghed.
Rarity spo$e #p at last. 5It,s so pretty" Pin$ie Pie"6 she said. 5:#st li$e yo#. B#t we want
so%ething a little %ore26
53awaiian96 interr#pted Pin$ie Pie. 5I tho#ght abo#t doing a 3awaiian the%e. I,.e e.en got
ti$i la%ps and tropical flowers and leis to gi.e o#t to the $ids as they arri.e. I co#ld play the
#$#lele.46
5=o#,.e got to play dr#%s"6 Rainbow 0ash re%inded her.
5(#r so#nd 1#st isn,t 3awaiian e8actly"6 said Rarity. 5&e need a %ore stylish flair. &hat if we
t#rned the stage into a r#nway9 &e co#ld add hats and boas to o#r cost#%es. I,.e got one right
here.6 She p#lled a long p#rple boa o#t of her bac$pac$ and swirled it aro#nd her nec$. 5&e co#ld
do a fashion show while we,re being a band*6
(ne of the feathers fro% the boa tic$led Pin$ie,s nose and she let o#t an enor%o#s snee-e.
6erchoo! +eathers flew e.erywhere*
Apple1ac$ spo$e #p now" s#ggesting a co#ntry the%e. 5And I,ll %a$e s#re to ha.e so%e of %y
apple cider deli.ered*6 she said. 5&e,ll dec$ the place o#t with hay bales and wagon wheels. &e
can e.en get a %echanical b#ll for the $ids to ride. It,ll be the best hoedown in town.6
5Cool yo#r sp#rs" Apple1ac$"6 said Rainbow 0ash. 5&e,re a pop gro#p" not co#ntry. I,d li$e to
see #s playing an arena at halfti%e one day. @oo$" we,re already in a gy%. &hy not #se the
e/#ip%ent we,.e already got9 &e can add an archery range" bring in so%e bas$etballs. It,ll be
aweso%e.6
5It,ll be gy% class" not a dance"6 said Rarity.
'.en +l#ttershy had opinions abo#t how to decorate the gy%. 5I,.e always wanted to set #p a
petting -oo here. &e can decorate with pict#res of all $inds of ani%als. &e can e.en bring in pigs
and sheep and goats for e.eryone to c#ddle*6 She clapped her hands. 5And we can ha.e a pet
adoption center.46
5I ha.e a b#nch of ideas I didn,t #se"6 said Pin$ie Pie" 1#%ping #p and down. 5And I,.e got all
the decorations. &e co#ld do a pirate the%e with treas#re chests and sword fights* &e co#ld all
wear eye patches and pirate hats. =o ho ho*6
Pin$ie Pie dashed o.er to the s#pply closet and started p#lling o#t all $inds of enor%o#s bo8es.
(ne of the% was labeled PIRAT' STU++ and draped with a s$#ll7and7crossbones flag. Rarity pic$ed it
#p and 1#st shoo$ her head.
B#t Pin$ie Pie was on a roll. 5($ay" so no pirates"6 she said witho#t e.en catching her breath.
53ow abo#t %agicians96 She p#lled open the top of another bo8 and fo#nd a %agic wand. 5&e
co#ld %a$e it a trib#te to Twilight Spar$le*6
5B#t she didn,t do that $ind of %agic"6 said Rainbow 0ash. 5Twilight Spar$le is fro% beyond
the stars. &e need telescopes and astrona#t cost#%es*6
5Absol#tely not*6 Rarity sto%ped her foot. 5The stars are fine b#t no astrona#ts. I do thin$ we
need %ore glitter" tho#gh. @et,s beda--le the roo% with dia%onds and a reflecting ball. @et,s %a$e
it shi%%er and shine.6
+l#ttershy blin$ed. 5B#t no one li$es it when it,s too bright.6
Te%pers were beginning to flare. Rarity,s face was t#rning #nfashionably red. +l#ttershy was
blin$ing bac$ tears. Rainbow 0ash was tapping her foot. Apple1ac$ was sha$ing her head. And
Pin$ie Pie was r#nning aro#nd the gy% p#lling o#t %ore and %ore bo8es.
5&e co#ld do a dentist,s office4 no9 ($ay then" how abo#t an #ndersea the%e9 ?o9 &hat
abo#t b#tterflies9 =o# li$e b#tterflies" right" +l#ttershy96
5I do"6 she said tentati.ely. 5B#t not for decorations.6
5&orst. Party. The%e. '.er*6 said Rainbow 0ash.
5=o# girls ha.ing so%e tro#ble96 said Tri8ie" po$ing her head thro#gh the door. 5I,d be happy
to do yo#r decorating for yo#. I ha.e a ton of posters of the >reat and Powerf#l Tri8ie we can p#t
all o.er the walls.46
5?o*6 sho#ted all the '/#estria >irls together.
5&e,re fine"6 said Rainbow 0ash. 5&e $now e8actly what we are doing. >ood7bye" Tri8ie* See
yo# tonight.6 Rainbow 0ash waited #ntil Tri8ie had disappeared before s#ggesting a new idea. She
loo$ed at her friends and began singing the t#ne they had all written together.
We#e 4ust got the day
To get ready,
/nd theres only so much time to lose
,ecause tonight,
3eah, were gonna party.
1ow wed better hurry up and choose!
5&hat wo#ld Twilight Spar$le tell #s if she was here96 said +l#ttershy.
5She,d say it was ti%e for so%e tea%wor$"6 said Apple1ac$.
Tri8ie co#ld be so irritating so%eti%es. Still" her self7centeredness had pointed o#t so%ething
i%portant to the girls abo#t how they had all been beha.ing.
53ow abo#t we $eep Pin$ie Pie,s balloons96 said Rainbow 0ash.
Pin$ie Pie clapped her hands with e8cite%ent.
5Ser.e #p so%e of Apple1ac$,s special apple cider96
Apple1ac$ slapped her leg" pleased as p#nch.
50ecorate the walls with pict#res of +l#ttershy,s adorable ani%al friends96
+l#ttershy s/#ealed with e8cite%ent.
5Add Rarity,s dia%ond disco ball*6
5=es*6 e8clai%ed Rarity.
5And how abo#t we incl#de a little starlight %agic as a trib#te to Twilight Spar$le96
5B#t there,s nothing of yo#rs in the decorations"6 said +l#ttershy" concerned.
5(h" b#t there is*6 anno#nced Rainbow 0ash. 5@oo$ aro#nd* It,s a rainbow of colors" 1#st li$e
%e* So I win*6 She la#ghed.
B#t all the other girls helped string together strea%ers in a rainbow pattern. It was always better
when yo# wor$ed together*
5?ow" girls"6 said Rainbow 0ash when they were done. 5It,s ti%e to set #p o#r instr#%ents and
play so%e %#sic*6

Dancing Room $nl&!
The gy% was pac$ed* The lights of the disco ball twin$led and glittered. The boys had p#t on their
best clothes" and the girls were all dressed #p. '.eryone was wearing pony ears and tails. They were
the Canterlot &ondercolts" and this was their Spring +ling*
Up onstage" the '/#estria >irls too$ their places. Rainbow 0ash t#ned her g#itar one last ti%e
and chec$ed her a%p. Rarity li%bered #p her fingers. +l#ttershy tried to re%e%ber that e.eryone on
the gy% floor was no %ore scary than her ha%sters. Apple1ac$ ga.e a tri#%phant str#% to her bass.
It had ne.er so#nded so good*
Rainbow 0ash grabbed a %icrophone. 53ey" Canterlot &ondercolts* 3ow,s e.erybody doing
tonight96
5&hat,s #p" Canterlot 3igh96 sang o#t Pin$ie Pie.
The crowd er#pted into cheers. 5>o" '/#estria >irls****6
53ey" what abo#t %e96 piped #p a .oice fro% the bac$ of the roo%. 5The >reat and Powerf#l
Tri8ie is also perfor%ing. The '/#estria >irls are 1#st the war%7#p band. I,% the STAR*6
5&ho,s in yo#r band96 sho#ted so%eone.
5=eah" where,s yo#r band96
5&ho,s playing with yo#96
5&ho,s yo#r dr#%%er96
Tri8ie loo$ed d#%bfo#nded. She,d been so foc#sed on herself that she,d forgotten that she
needed a bac$#p band*
50on,t worry" Tri8ie"6 said +l#ttershy. 5&hen the '/#estria >irls are done with o#r set" we can
play for yo#" too*6
Tri8ie sto%ped her foot. 5?e.er* I,% the star* I,% going to be the only one onstage*6
:#st then" she got another te8t fro% 0: Pon7;. 5Tell yo# what" Tri8ie. +irst we,ll hear fro% the
'/#estria >irls" and then yo# can play a song" and then the crowd can decide who they want to hear
for the rest of the night*6 it said. Tri8ie read the te8t alo#d rel#ctantly.
The crowd roared its appro.al.
5C,%on" '/#estria >irls* It,s ti%e to roc$*6 said Rainbow 0ash.
Rarity introd#ced the %elody with her $eytar. Apple1ac$ started b#ilding in so%e rhyth% with
her bass. Rainbow 0ash str#%%ed her g#itar" +l#ttershy began to sway with her ta%bo#rine" and
Pin$ie Pie went wild on the dr#%s.
We dont "now whats gonna happen! sang Pin$ie Pie.
We 4ust "now its gonna feel right! crooned Rarity.
/ll our friends are here, and its time to ignite the lights! answered Pin$ie Pie.
Then all together the girls blasted o#t the chor#s of their song.
ha"e your tail cause were here to ha#e a party tonight!
ha"e your tail! ha"e your tail!
The $ids went wild* They were dancing and sha$ing and clapping and groo.ing. '.eryone was
doing the Pony Sto%p. They crossed their ar%s at the elbows and bent fro% side to side. They lifted
their $nees and pranced. They 1#%ped and clapped. They sang along with the '/#estria >irls. &ho
co#ld resist the%9 ?o one. ?ot e.en Tri8ie*
At first" she was leaning against the wall" her ar%s folded angrily" a so#r e8pression on her face.
B#t then her foot began tapping" and then her $nees began lifting" and then she was swaying fro%
side to side" and then she was dancing and prancing with e.eryone fro% Canterlot 3igh. '.en
Tri8ie wanted to do the Pony Sto%p*
Rainbow 0ash b#rst o#t in a solo* o what if you didnt get it right the first time!
)augh it off! sang Pin$ie Pie" da--ling with her dr#%s. 1o one said its a crime!
5o your thing! sang Rarity" hitting the high notes. 3eah, you "now youre an original!
3our ideas are so funny that theyre criminal! har%oni-ed Rainbow 0ash.
0h 3*/H! sang the girls.
0h 3*/H! answered the crowd.
ha"e your tail cause were here to ha#e a party tonight!
ha"e your tail! ha"e your tail!
'.eryone that night e8perienced the %agic of the '/#estria >irls, %#sic" and no one wanted
the% to stop playing" not e.en Tri8ie. 'specially Tri8ie* At the .ery end of the night" she was still
wearing her pony ears and tail" h#%%ing to herself all the way ho%e.
+ar away in '/#estria" Twilight Spar$le was getting ready for a dance at the palace. She was
wearing her tiara and lots of pretty 1ewels. +lash Sentry wo#ld be there" and %aybe she wo#ld dance
with hi%. She co#ld hear g#ests arri.ing downstairs" and a band starting to t#ne #p. B#t Twilight
Spar$le co#ld hear different %#sic" #pbeat and friendly. It see%ed to be co%ing fro% the stars.
+or a %o%ent" Twilight Spar$le had a .ision of herself onstage in the gy% at Canterlot 3igh.
All the $ids were there wearing their pony ears and tails. Pin$ie Pie was going cra-y on the dr#%s.
+l#ttershy was wa.ing a ta%bo#rine. Rarity,s fingers were racing across a $eytar" and Rainbow
0ash and Apple1ac$ were roc$ing their g#itars. Twilight Spar$le wanted to be there" singing with
her friends. She really did. )aybe one day. )aybe the %agic wo#ld happen again.
As she pranced downstairs to her own party" she began singing the song she,d heard.
ha"e your tail cause were here to ha#e a party tonight!
ha"e your tail! ha"e your tail!

+or %ore ponies" .isit
httpBHHyayponies.e#
C$*T)*TS
1. Co.er
I. Title Page
;. &elco%e
J. 0edication
K. C3APT'R 1
The Ponies in the Band*
!. C3APT'R I
>#itar Centered
. C3APT'R ;
0#eling >#itars
L. C3APT'R J
Springti%e,s So#ndtrac$
9. C3APT'R K
The Case of the )issing Bass
1M. C3APT'R !
Roc$7and7Roll 3all of Sha%e*
11. C3APT'R
:a% Session
1I. C3APT'R L
A &al$ on the &ild Side
1;. C3APT'R 9
The Pied Piper of 3a%sters
1J. C3APT'R 1M
Pin$ie on the (ne
1K. C3APT'R 11
0r#%roll" Please*
1!. C3APT'R 1I
Snared*
1. C3APT'R 1;
Player Piano
1L. C3APT'R 1J
Ceyboard )agic
19. C3APT'R 1K
School of Roc$
IM. C3APT'R 1!
)#sic to (#r 'ars*
I1. C3APT'R 1
0ancing Roo% (nly*
II. Copyright
*a+igation
1. Begin Reading
I. Table of Contents
Copyright
This boo$ is a wor$ of fiction. ?a%es" characters" places" and incidents are the prod#ct of the a#thor,s i%agination or
are #sed fictitio#sly. Any rese%blance to act#al e.ents" locales" or persons" li.ing or dead" is coincidental.
3ASBR( and its logo" )= @ITT@' P(?=" 'DU'STRIA >IR@S and all related characters are trade%ar$s of 3asbro
and are #sed with per%ission. N IM1J 3asbro. All rights reser.ed.
Co.er design by 'rin )c)ahon
Co.er N IM1J 3asbro. All Rights Reser.ed.
??(P' *
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)@P'>.co%
@ittle" Brown and Co%pany is a di.ision of 3achette Boo$ >ro#p" Inc.
The @ittle" Brown na%e and logo are trade%ar$s of 3achette Boo$ >ro#p" Inc.
The p#blisher is not responsible for websites Eor their contentF that are not owned by the p#blisher.
+irst eboo$ editionB April IM1J
ISB? 9L7M7;1!7ILJLJ7J
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