“What do we do, Adagio?” Sonata huffed out, looking to me for a clear answer. I could barely think let alone lead these two weaklings shuffling behind me at this moment. Aria was the last to enter the dirty alleyway. Adding her own insight to the current problem.

“Adagio, our gems…they’re-”

“I know!” it was a pant and a growl bursting out from my mouth. Aria didn’t need to say it and both imbeciles were looking for some kind of solution. This was a much bigger issue than I had ever anticipated. Being attacked and losing our chance for ultimate power was one thing, but losing our ability to sustain ourselves? To completely lose our ticket of decent living? This meant so much more than hypnotizing people to our control. It meant that shelter, food, clothing, and so much more were now out of our reach.

“How are we gonna-? Are we supposed to-?”

“I don’t KNOW! Arrrrg!” cold pavement. That is what my knees came into contact with at the acknowledgement of our downfall. The Rainbooms didn’t just defeat us. They sent us to our doom. 

My fist felt warm. Slowly I opened it to glance at the trickling blood lacing my palm. Our precious gemstones, shattered. Brought down by a powerful force we had underestimated from the beginning. I watched a slice of pepperoni fall to the ground from my hair and then my cheeks felt that same warm sensation. Tears were flowing from the corners of my eyes and I turned to see my bandmates in turn weeping. Aria leaned on a dumpster for support with her hand clutched to her face and Sonata was faced against the brick wall sniffling the loudest. What was I supposed to do? We were as broken as our necklaces.

“Girls?” a voice called out and immediately. My only allies ran towards me in an attempt to protect themselves. Right when we had thought we lost them, we had been found once again.

“L-leave us alone!”

“Ladies, please! Don’t panic! I’m here to help.” this voice was calm and clearly belonged to one of the faculty’s staff. I recognized him, only from small moments when we had wandered Canterlot High.

“Discord? Hah!” I spouted laying claim to the despair. 

“I saw what happened to you during your performance. It’s a tragedy.” Discord pulled something away from his pockets tossing them into the nearby dumpster. It was a pair of earplugs. He was unaffected by the spell becoming a witness to the entire event.

“You three deserve something better than that. For having the courage to be able to sing in front of such a rude audience. Thrust me, I know how hard it is to get accepted at school!” his words were rough, but sincere. Of course no one trusted the man. He was strange, always ranting on and on about pointless things, and to top it all off, was obnoxious towards other people. “I don’t know you, but I know this. No one has to put up with what you went through.”

“You can’t help us.” a sniffle followed as I refused to look at Discord. He watched the other two cowering girls and determined that I was speaking for the three of us. He rubbed his goatee and gave up.

“Fine then!-But my offer stands.” the moments afterwards were strange. Discord left us with nothing, but the effect of his words lingered. As if he had planted a string to our hands, we followed him. Curious to see something. Anything. Several seconds passed before I found him again turning down the road. Sonata and Aria grabbed onto my arms in tow with my movements.

Why was I following him? I had no reason to and I had shown him nothing but anger. Still I followed like a lost puppy. Did he know we were right behind him? He never shown any signs of sighting us or put up any sort of regards for his three stalkers. Several blocks away he took to some stone steps and entered a door. Unlocking it and turning on the light. The entrance was wide open. With it’s warm glow inviting us in. Determined, I ignore Sonata’s shake of her head.

"No!" Aria pleaded. I could not deny that I too felt like we didn't need his help. At this point we didn't seem to have a choice. Up the stone steps and into the light. Discord was waiting.

"Sudden Change of mind, girls?"