//------------------------------// // 15. The Obligatory Song Chapter // Story: Dark Body, Light Soul (Or the Tale of the Stalfos) // by Garino //------------------------------// Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long to get out! The songs that will be playing are songs I chose, with the help of Dashydra (who chose her OC's song) and Glassed (who gave me Daniel's second song). When a character is singing, their text will be colored, while a crowd or the whole band will be italicized. Enjoy the Obligatory Song Chapter! Chapter 15: The Obligatory Song Chapter A trumpet sounded to start the song. After four bars, the guitar joined in. Another four bars and the crowd started clapping their hands, stomping their hooves, just keeping to the beat. So they DO know this song, I thought. Then I was gonna have some fun. After four more bars, I started singing. Time, I won't ever give in No matter how hard you pull me in I know gravity ain't an excuse, I just wanna make things a little more smooth Majority is still asleep They're tired of those dreadful dreams Now let me shout and wake you up Let me wake you up The drums started to help the crowd keep the beat. Another four bars and it was time to get wild. When the sunset dyes the sky so bright, She freaks me out with the secret smile Stars above start to shine For miles and miles, I wonder why Is this a curse or just your heart No other rhythm with those flowers flowin' I know you can stop its flow on a whim So I have learned to swim! Until the time is up, I can't give up on you Before the time is up, I leave all my regrets Between the lines of lies, I am lost again Until this time is up, I'll never give this up! Until the sun is up, I can't give up on you Before the time is up, I leave all my regrets Between the lines of lies, I am lost again Until this time is up, I'll never give this up! I was enjoying myself far too much. I started to clap along with the crowd as the song continued. The trumpet sounded to signify my singing was needed soon. Oh, why you want to tie me up? Get out of my way, cause I'm on my way. I don't care about imaginary boundaries but somehow I'm afraid to go over them Cover up, all the skies and memories Creativity is all that I've got So let me shout and wake you up *band stops* LET ME WAKE YOU UP! *band resumes* While the fireflies dance on a full moon night She tempts me with her glistening eyes The sky above, changing its color From dawn til dusk, I wonder why Is this a curse or just a wild guess So I'll flow it on the clouds without wings All of a sudden the end might come So I don't act like someone else! Until the time is up, I can't give up on you Before this time is up, I leave all my regrets Between the lines of lies, I am lost again Until the time is up, I'll never give this up Until the time is up, I can't give up on you Before the time is up, I leave all my regrets Between the lines of lies, I'm confused again When the time is up, I'll take what I've got to take! I took a bow as the guitar played the final riff. The crowd clapped and stomped in joy as I jumped off the stage. I could even hear whistles in the noise. Makes you wonder how they manage it. My table was showering me with praise. "Pretty sweet, Dan," Wisp nodded. "Encore, please?" Jack asked. Morva simply held his glass up when it was his time to speak. He seemed...sad. Melody looked away, but she still spoke. "That was...amazing. I agree with Jack, you need an encore." "Maybe in a moment," I replied. I took my spot beside Melody as Dracula stepped up to the stage. I wonder what he was gonna sing? Is his voice even any good? I've never heard him sing in any kind of media that involved him. Let's hope it was good. Wait, was he levitating a guitar himself? Just what was he going to do? The beat started quick, and Dracula started to play his instrument. Then the lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks. Dead I am the one, exterminating son Slipping through the trees, strangling the breeze My thought process at that point was, Seriously?!? THIS was his song?!? Dracula, you are now top villain, EVER! Dead I am the sky, watching angels cry While they slowly turn, conquering the worm Dig through the ditches, Burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragula Dig through the ditches, Burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragula I started to tap my foot to the beat. I couldn't help it! It was my favorite genre, and Dracula actually had good pipes! Dead I am the pool, spreading from the fool Weak and want you need, nowhere as you bleed Dead I am the rat, feast upon the cat Tender is the fur, dying as you purr Dig through the ditches, Burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragula Dig through the ditches, Burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragula Do it baby, do it baby Do it baby, do it baby Burn like an animal At this point, I'm muttering the lyrics to myself. Melody seemed to notice, as she poked me and whispered, "It's his show right now, Daniel, not yours." Dead I am the life, dig into the skin Knuckle crack the bone, 21 to win Dead I am the dog, hound of hell you cry Devil on your back, I can never die At this point, it didn't matter. Everyone that could sing stood up and started chanting along with the Lord of Darkness. Dig through the ditches, Burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragula Dig through the ditches, Burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragula Do it baby, do it baby Do it baby, do it baby Burn like an animal Dig through the ditches, Burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragula Dig through the ditches, Burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragula The beat died down as it was only Dracula himself once more, to sing the final part of the song. Dig through the ditches, Burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragula I don't care who you are, this guy deserved a fucking standing ovation. And boy, did he get one. The whole tavern stood up, whooping and hollering and cheering. Man, I wish I could've gotten that kind of reaction. All of the sudden, I had the most evil idea I had ever obtained since I got here. I approached Marcy and told her my plans. She managed to stifle a laugh as I finished my idea. "Well, I won't stop you, but you'll have to wait your turn. Seems like Shiira will be going next." Shiira? Who's that? I wondered. I looked to the stage and, to my surprise, it was the blood-red pegasus from the arena! Wow, I had no idea everyone loved to sing. I guess it's the pastime of Necro City! She adjusted the microphone and conversed with the band, who had nodded at her choice of song with a smile. Let's see what she had. The drums started to play at a fast tempo. Shiira's eyes were closed, probably to help her silently count. Then her voice rang out: They came for him one winter's night Arrested, he was bound They said there'd been a robbery His pistol had been found The keyboards and guitar started to play at the same fast beat. The crowd clapped in time with the beat. She'd done this before, then. Well, her voice was perfect for the song, it seemed. They marched him to the station house He waited for the dawn And as they led him to the dock He knew that he'd been wrong "You stand accused of robbery" He heard the bailiff say He knew without an alibi Tomorrow's light would mourn his freedom Over the hills and far away For ten long years, he'll count the days Over the mountains and blue seas A prisoner's life for him there'll be She seemed to be into it. But there was no time to stop, it seemed, as she immediately went into the second verse. He knew that it would cost him dear But yet, he dare not say Where he had been that fateful night A secret it must stay He had to fight back tears of rage His heartbeat like a drum For with the wife of his best friend He spent his final night of freedom Over the hills and far away He swears he will return one day Far from the mountains and blue seas Back in her arms is where he'll be Over the hills and far away Over the hills and, over the hills and Over the hills and far away Finally, she took a breather as the band played the break. The keyboards and guitar dueled it out in their solos. I silently chuckled as I saw some fireballs in some of the unicorns' horn tips. Each night within his prison cell He looks out through the bars He reads the letters that she wrote One day he'll know the taste of freedom Over the hills and far away She prays he will return one day As sure as the rivers reach the seas Back in his arms he swears she'll be The band had stopped playing as the blood-red pony sang the chorus. It was here that I finally noticed something. As the song changed keys, Shiira had shook her head. Was that...a tear? Over the hills and far away He swears he will return one day Far from the mountains and blue seas Back in her arms is where he'll be Over the hills and far away She prays he will return one day As sure as the rivers reach the seas Back in his arms is where she'll be Over the hills, over the hills and far away Over the hills, over the hills and far away As the band finished up, the crowd once again roared with approval. It's times like this I wish my old school had choir. Instead, we were but a marching band. And a damn good one at that. Well, time for my second round. And my last one solo. I grabbed a tuxedo and bowler hat from the back and donned them, prepared for the hell I was unleashing. The band chuckled as they acknowledged my choice of song. "On my cue," I said. There were a few chuckles from the crowd as they saw the finely-dressed Stalfos before them. Oh, if only they knew...well, now they will. "Hit it, boys," I said with a gravelly voice. The band played the music and I could just SEE the crowd's minds being blown to smithereens. And thus, I began to sing. Hey! Give me a listen you corpses of cheer Least those of you who still got an ear I'll tell you a story make a skeleton cry Of our own jubiliciously lovely corpse bride I expected to sing the song all to myself. Boy, was I surprised when the whole tavern joined in the chorus. Well, other than the vampires, for some reason. Die, die we all pass away But don't wear a frown cuz it's really okay And you might try 'n' hide And you might try 'n' pray But we all end up the remains of the day Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah (That's right!) Yeah yeah yeah (Hee hee!) Well our girl is a beauty known for miles around When a mysterious stranger came into town He's plenty good lookin', but down on his cash And our poor little baby, she fell hard and fast When her daddy said no, she just couldn't cope So our lovers came up with a plan to elope Die, die we all pass away But don't wear a frown cuz it's really okay And you might try 'n' hide And you might try 'n' pray But we all end up the remains of the day Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah (I'm doing a bit of beatboxing at this point) As we came to the instrumental, I started to give commands as if I was Bonejangles himself. I was kind of disappointed as it came time to sing once more. So they conjured up a plan to meet late at night They told not a soul, kept the whole thing tight Now her mother's wedding dress fit like a glove You don't need much when you're really in love Except for a few things, or so I'm told Like the family jewels and a satchel of gold Then next to the graveyard by the old oak tree On a dark foggy night at a quarter to three She was ready to go, but where was he? "And then?" Jack asked. She waited. "And then?" Morva joined in. There in the shadows, was it the man? "And then?" Wisp added himself. Her little heart beat SO loud! "And then?" the head of a random gryphon on a platter chimed. And then baby, (I laugh darkly here) everything went black... Now when she opened her eyes, she was dead as dust Her jewels were missin' and her heart was bust So she made a vow lyin' under that tree That she'd wait for her true love to come set her free Always waiting for someone to ask for her hand When out of the blue, comes this groovy young man Who vows forever to be by her side And that's the story of our own corpse bride! As I finished the song, the crowd chimed in once more with the chorus. As soon as the music stopped, there was laughter all around and a round of applause. Not as big as Dracula's or Shiira's, but it was there. As I jumped off the stage once more, Marcy intercepted me. "Not too bad, huh?" I asked. Marcy replied by putting a wing around me. Oh, no... "Hey, are you...taken, by any chance?" she asked seductively. Azura, God, Olman, ANY HIGHER UP LISTENING, PLEASE GET ME OUT OF THIS SITUATION! Thankfully, my prayers were answered as Melody cleared her throat. She eyed the gryphon in contempt, as if to say, "Keep your grubby claws off of him!" I gingerly pull the wing off of me. "Sorry, but I'm not searching," I replied. I bolted to the table to find a full glass of apple cider in my spot. Without a second thought, I downed it as fast as I could. "So, what now?" I asked. Morva stood up. "Well, I've decided to sing. But, I'm not doing it alone. I need your help, along with Dracula, Jack, and Wisp," he said. "I'm afraid to ask," I said, "but what song would possibly need five singers just to perform?" Morva whispered it to me. I was...rendered speechless. I pointed to the other three, who were ACTIVELY NODDING their heads in agreement. I swear, this song was going to hurt. Badly.