Fight for your Careers!

1/9/25, 12 PM, Solaris Amphitheater, Canterlot. (https://youtu.be/YQSeg8QrW2M?si=dt0QUNq_E0iYwXP7) Scrappy peers out of the amphitheater's west tunnel, to a packed crowd. With a capacity in the tens of thousands, there isn't an empty seat in sight. It's the first time she's playing in front of a crowd with her new band, and it's by far the most important performance of their entire careers. Panic grips at Scrappy's heart, and she feels herself becoming faint. "My music career is over." She mutters to herself. "And it never even started." A hardy clap on her shoulder causes Scrappy to jump. When she looks to her left, she sees Nar smiling wide back at her. He ruffles her shoulder playfully as he states. "Hey, we got this. Deep breaths. You're not going to be alone out there. We've got your back." Scrappy takes a deep breath, and attempts to calm her shaking. Too late. A stage assistant gives them the sign. They're on. The four members of Attack on Mango exit the tunnel, and ascend the steps to an elaborate stage. One side features the band's instruments. The other features a large well, where the many musicians of the Canterlot Symphony Battle Orchestra sit, with their conductor standing on a podium above them. He faces towards the orchestra, away from Attack on Mango. He doesn't bother to acknowledge their presence. Not even as a host from Equestria Tonight greets the crowd. Scrappy notices a multitude of camera crews all about the amphitheater. Right. This was being televised globally. She begins to shake once again as she unsteadily approaches her keyboard. Above the elaborate stage hangs a large, four sided display. It shows a camera feed of a closer view of the stage for those farther back in the stands. The feed currently shows a close up of the extravagantly dressed host. She sports pristine, white fur, a slender, polished horn, dazzlingly bright orange eye shadow, a yellow mane that sparkles, and ripples, and a brilliant, silver dress with a silver halo behind her head. Scrappy doesn't hear what the host is saying, even with her voice booming over speakers throughout the amphitheater. Her fear overtakes her, but this time, there's no shoulder clap to snap her out of it. As the host explains the concept of the battle to the crowd, and audience watching from afar, Scrappy completely loses herself in her panic. She completely freezes. Millions of scenarios play out in her head. None of them good. She nearly faints on-stage, only to be brought back by Nar's voice in her mind. "Scraps! You gotta pull yourself together! We're about to start!" When she looks up from her keyboard, she sees Nar staring back at her from the front of the band. His horn is aglow, and his expression is serious. "If you plan on us eating it out here, at least let us go down fighting!" The host tells the two bands to prepare. Two walls of arcane energy meet in the center of the stage. One emits from Nar's horn. The other comes from multiple unicorns within the orchestra's well. Scrappy slaps her face, hard, then steels herself. The host announces for the two to begin. (https://youtu.be/NpDrF6h-ZR4?si=jevcdoTItH_Z8wlS&t=207) Scrappy switches her keyboard to the organ sound font, and kicks things off. The orchestra responds with soft violins, and light percussion. Asuka and Juno join in with electric guitar, and drums. The orchestra adds some low brass, and cellos to respond. Nar joins in with his bass guitar, and the rest of the orchestra chimes in. Scrappy switches her keyboard to the synthesizer sound font, and begins in earnest. The two walls of arcane force push against each other. One gives way momentarily, only to push back shortly after. So far, the two combatants are evenly matched. Scrappy takes the lead for Attack on Mango. Her fears wash away as she leads the charge with her synth. She imagines herself, and her bandmates as maverick hunters, taking on a dangerous maverick. They can't afford to lose, or the maverick known as Royal Records will wreak even more havoc on the equestrian music industry! The two combatants momentarily break off. Things become a little less intense, as Scrappy switches back to her organ. The orchestra responds with strings, and high brass. Scrappy switches back too her synth, and the two combatants begin to crescendo. The two walls of arcane force clash more, and more. They push against each other, but the orchestra's begins to envelop Attack on Mango's. Scrappy hears Juno let out a yell as he's thrown from the stage. Scrappy tries to stay upright, but the force of the orchestra's wall knocks her to the ground. Asuka, and Nar hold the line for as long as they can, but eventually, Nar's bass falls silent, and Asuka is thrown from her drumset, leaving Nar to face the oncoming wall alone. The orchestra softens. Now, only the violins, and a single vibraphone play. They want to make an example of these upstarts. A lone electric guitar fights back. Juno stands resolute. He's visibly injured from his fall, but plays regardless. Then, Scrappy climbs back to her feet, and Asuka jumps back onto her drumset. The orchestra lulls for just a moment, and... Counterattack! The orchestra's wall of arcane energy is forced back as Attack on Mango pours every ounce of energy they have into their playing. Scrappy feels herself beginning to scream as she pours her heart into her keyboard, desperate to take down the behemoth that is the Canterlot Symphony Battle Orchestra. Her bandmates follow in kind. Four voices scream their defiance against the industry giant that seeks to crush them for good. One by one, instruments in the well fall silent. Attack on Mango does not relent. The conductor desperately clings to his podium. No longer able to conduct as the arcane force of Attack on Mango's defiance threatens to unseat him. He fails, and is thrown into the well, crashing into two french horn players, causing others around them to topple. Her bandmates slowly cease playing, and Scrappy slows the battle to a halt with her organ. As her organ falls silent, so to does the crowd. The amphitheater is deathly silent for what feels like an eternity. Nar raises his head, and bellows a cry into the sky. Behind him, Asuka begins to cackle like a madwoman. She hops from her drumset, and races to the foot of the well. She stomps her foot, and screams down to the dazed musicians below. "FUCK YOU! UPTIGHT PRICKS! WE JUST KICKED YOUR SORRY ASSES!" Juno raises his fists to the sky, pumping them wildly in celebration. Scrappy begins to laugh uncontrollably, as the realization dawns on her. Claps slowly begin to emerge from the crowd. Many still unable to process what has just happened. The host slowly emerges onto the center of the stage. She takes a moment to swallow, and gather herself. "It appears the battle is over." She pauses. "And the winner is." She pauses again, looking into the orchestra well as if expecting them to continue. When they do not, she looks over to the cackling madmen, and madwomen on her right. "Attack on Mango!" "Yeah! Hell yeah! I knew they'd win! Serves those Royal Records stiffs right!" Ryuji Firefang cheers from his seat at Stinkin' Steve's bar. The whole bar joins him in cheering as he lifts his glass high. "Here's to the soon to be number one band in Equestria!" In unison, the bar lifts their glasses, and responds. "Cheers!"