//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: Two-Headed Colt // Story: Lulaloser // by MaskedWriter //------------------------------// Song that Looker plays: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDINJ7BvjyQ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Ugh! This doesn’t work!” Trixie yelled through the apartment, wadding up a piece of paper. She tosses it with all her might, the paper ball landing right next to the trash bin. The paper ball joins it’s brothers and sisters scattered about the floor, a family of failed ideas or poor lyrics. Looker pokes his head out of the kitchen, letting out a small chuckle when he sees Trixie in her frustration. “Not so easy, huh?” He says, trotting up to the mare. “Ever think you’re taking this a bit too seriously?” he questions, a smug yet worried expression worn on his face. Trixie turns her head sharply and pouts at him, only causing another smile from the colt. “You know what, we should listen to more music.” Trixie let out a long-winded sigh, just nodding and getting a fresh piece of paper. Looker trots over to the speaker, pressing a few buttons as the old, worn down stereo roars back to life. A drumbeat plays loudly before Looker flinches, turning the volume down. “Damn thing…” He mutters under his breath as the drumbeat continues. Trixie looks on curiously as the song continues, listening even more carefully when she recognizes the singer of the song. “I didn’t know you were ever interested in rap.” Trixie comments, still listening keenly to the lyrics. “No, it’s not really what we’d call modern-day rap though…” She keeps trying to appraise the song, closing her eyes and trying to figure out how such a nonsensical song could be so catchy. “It’s almost like poetry, rather.” She concludes, looking up to Looker. “Songs can be about anything you want, Trixie. Hell, I wrote this song on the train while I was getting eaten alive by those stupid bugs. Try taking a few steps back and slow your roll.” He suggests, watching Trixie as the song loops over for the first time. He starts mouthing the words to his song, quickly singing along as he gets in the mood. Trixie keeps writing, using her magic to turn off the speaker. Looker looks at her and pouts, but his smile brightens as he sees what Trixie wrote. “Wait, stop there.” “Excuse me? I’ve only written the first stanza of this thing! How am I supposed to get a hang of this if you keep interrupt-“ Trixie stopped talking as Looker held up a hoof in front of her mouth. “…” Looker remains silent as he keeps rereading what Trixie wrote. His expression doesn’t change thought the reading until his face suddenly brightens up. “Oh, I know what’s missing!” Looker sprints to the kitchen, loud crashes being heard throught the apartment. Looker comes back into the living room with an accomplished look, a bottle of Pabst Blue Pony floating alongside him. “Okay, so back to the song then.” “Looker, The Great and Powerful Trixie is so frustrated, her old habit of talking about herself in the third person has returned. I suggest you help fix my song before I decide to flip everything in your apartment.” She says in a cool, quiet voice with hints of seething rage at a certain pony’s antics. “The song is fine, it doesn’t need to be fixed.” Looker says, sighing and sitting down on the sofa next to Trixie. His expression grows stern, looking straight into Trixie’s eyes. “In fact, it sounds like it would make a good addition to one of my songs… What do you think of duets? You don’t need to play guitar really, I just need that voice of yours.” Looker finishes, his expression turning softer afterwards. “D-Duet?! Wait, I’m not even ready to write a single song yet, how the buck am I supposed to be able to perform?!” Trixie half-yells, Looker pinning his ears shut. “Hey, it’s not like I’m throwing you off a cliff and asking you to fly. I’m going to start voice coaching you-“ “My voice is fine as it is!” She half-yells once more. “…Okay, so like I was saying, after I help you out in the singing department. We both know you don’t have stage fright, so that’s not even a factor. What’s the worry?” Looker asks, tilting his head. “I…” Trixie looks away, a slight tint of pink spread across her cheeks. “Maybe I’m scared…Maybe only my mother enjoyed my singing…” She says dejectedly, looking back up with sad eyes. “Sing for yourself then. Buck ‘em.” Looker says, flailing a hoof in the air to really emphasize the ‘Buck’ part of his statement. Besides, this is gonna be a pretty small gig, it’s an open mic night at the bar we met.” Trixie opens her mouth to protest, but quickly closes it. She looks dubiously at Looker, “So…I don’t need to go up alone for the first time.” “Not at all.” “Then set up the gig.” She states calmly, nodding to confirm her resolve. She trots over to the boombox, using her magic to put in a new CD. Trixie then trots over to the kitchen, grabs a beer, and sits back down next to Looker. She looks at him, then the piece of paper. Listening to the music, she begins to write. “External control are you gonna let them get you? Do you wanna be a prisoner in the boundaries they set you? You say you want to be yourself, do you think they'll let you? They're out to get you.”