Welcome to another Swift Chronicles installment! Characters belong to Hasbro, except for the OCs.

The Ballad of the Angel

Chapter 3: The Bet

Warriors proud and standing tall,

Braced against the enemy,

Clearly champions once and all,

We'll defend the Angel of Melody,

I went to lunch and I bought a tuna sandwich with a can of cream soda. Do you have that feeling that when you were starving, and right as you were starting to eat, your hunger was gone? Well, that's just what happened to me, and I think I know why. Vinyl lost her parents, by occupation and death. I felt bad for her, and maybe Mr. Hoover and Twilight may be right. Maybe I was only judging her by the outside.

I went to our table, which was always by the vending machines, and Ice, Dawn and Light were there, already. Dawn looked concerned, so I asked her why.

"Did you talk to her?" Dawn asked me.

"Yeah, I did." I responded. "We talked about our parents and..." I didn't want to bring it up again. It makes me cry just thinking about it. "...she's and orphan." Dawn was shocked, and Ice's eyebrows went up.

"Really?" Dawn finally said, after a couple sobs.

"Yeah," I bowed my head. Then, Mr. Hoover, who was holding a tray of tater tots, walked by. "Hey, guys."

"Hey," We all said.

"Did any of you guys know that a famous band from Canterlot High, sat at that very table?" He asked, pointing at our table.

Light was unconvinced. "You're playing with us?"

"Fortunately, no. Look under the table and see whose names are etched in it." We did as he said and we saw the names Tyson Scratch, Nick Wheel, Mic Kennerty and Chris Gaylor. Dawn and Light started to screech like dolphins and Ice simply gasped. I don't know what the excitement was about, so I asked Dawn.

"Why are you guys acting like that?" I asked.

"Because this table used to belong to The All-Equestrian Rejects!" Dawn's face turned as cheery as Pinkie Pie's smile. I have no idea who the All-Equestrian Rejects are, I'm from Mobius for God's sake. Light must've caught my look, because she started to look insulted.

"You mean, you've never heard of them?!" Light shouted, echoing through the cafeteria, catching everyone's eye. I know one thing about Light: watch it, or run for it. "No?"

"Oh, yeah, you're from Sonic's world." Dawn chuckled and apologized. "The All-Equestrian Rejects are the best band from Canterlot, and they made over a billion CDs. They came from Canterlot High 12 years ago and they were the last Canterlot-born band to win the covenant Angel of Melody."

"The what?!" Me, Light and Ice were confused at the same time.

"The Angel of Melody," Dawn said, insulted. "Honestly, don't you guys ever read?" At that, she made me think of Hermione Granger. "The Angel of Melody was the trophy that resembled true rythym and harmony of the Battle of the Bands. It was lost, and nobody knows where it lies. Legend says if someone finds it, they will triumph!"

"Wow!" Ice was surprised. "Why don't we go find the Angel and enter the Battle of the Bands?"

"I don't think we should risk it." Light said. "Besides, we suck at making music."

"I'm good at singing." Dawn and I shouted at the exact same time.

"I'm good at guitar." Ice proudly huffed. "Maybe Light can learn to be a good drummer."

"I'll see if I can see who will be playing in the show," I got off my chair and threw away my garbage. "I'll be at the gym, if you guys need me." I left the cafeteria and made my way to the gym. I noticed a caged hallway and looked inside it. Then, I heard a voice from the darkness, a beautiful, smooth, singing voice.

"I believe in the power that comes..."

I couldn't help myself. I was like hypnotized by that voice. I must find the holder and thank her, but now wasn't the right time, so I made my way to the gym, with my wand in my pocket, just for emergencies.

Her song is sad, but her song is sweet,

A loss we came to see,

War began that fateful day,

As we lost the Angel of Melody.

I saw, like, a thousand kids in line to rehearse and among them was Sunset Shimmer and her cronies. I noticed that Shimmer was holding a guitar, a 2011 EVH Flaming Series Electric, to be exact. Rich bastards. I guess if I was entering the Battle, I'm going to have to go through the same thing, when I ran for Prince of the Fall Formal (see Swift Chronicles, for more). I walked to the gigantic speakers Light hooked up yesterday, and looked as Vinyl came to the gym. She noticed me, and she gave a thumbs-up, as I waved back. I was more comfortable around Vinyl, since earlier today. Sunset tripped Vinyl and her headphones fell off her head and shattered to chips and sprockets. The blue haired teen began to cry and I ran to her.

"Are you alright, Vinyl?" I asked, then I turned to Sunset Shimmer. "What the hell is your problem?"

"Nothing." Sunset said, innocently. "I didn't know you liked freaks, Swift."

"Well, you owe Vinyl an apology and a new pair of headphones!"

"Why? She's the clumsy idiot!"

My face began to turn red. "Take that back!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I forget to say that you're one, too?" I was blank, then, my brain got the best of me.

"I see that you play guitar?" I eyed her Electric.

"Yeah, why?" Sunset asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because I challenge you to the Battle of the Bands! If our band beats yours, you buy Vinyl the most awesomest and mostexpensive pair of headphones and you owe her an apology. If your band is better than ours, your choice ." Sunset Shimmer had a look of concern, then she gave an evil smile.

"Alright, Swift, I accept!" She said, proudly. "If you win, I buy the headphones for the freak, but if I win, I get to snap your wand in half!" My heart immediately sank. If you break a wand in half, the person who owns that wand loses all his magical abilities. I thought of it, then, I looked at Vinyl. She was beginning to smile. I remembered her tourmaline eyes full of tears earlier, so...

"I accept!" I shook hands with Sunset and left the gym with Vinyl. Shimmer called her minions, Snips and Snails, to practice hard.

"Dude, thanks, but you don't need to sacrifice your magic for me." Vinyl sighed, proudly.

"But I couldn't let you just cry, right?" I asked her. "I gotta find the Crusaders." and I ran ahead, leaving Vinyl behind. This is the second time I sacrificed something of mine for a friend. (see Act I of the Swift Chronicles) My heart melted the fear away and I felt something else.

I met with the Crusaders in the library, who were working on their Fanfiction. Their story was about them, finding their place in the world. I tapped Sweetie Belle on the shoulder, and they greeted me.

"Can you guys do me a favor?" I asked them.

"Sure, what is it?" Apple Bloom smiled.

"Can you guys, spy for us? On Sunset Shimmer?"

"Hmmmmm... I don't know..." Scootaloo began. I know that act.

"I'll give you guys more Fanfic ideas."

"Where is she?"

That's it for Chapter 3! The All American Rejects are awesome, so this ending is going to be great. Please review and follow.

- Mathew Swift