“Permanent Vacation”
Ponyville’s Got Talent!
Every day after our initial practice, we all meet at Lyra and Bon Bon’s place to practice in their basement. Fitting, since it’s where Lyra stores all her instruments, along with some device that can filter a song to play only certain instruments or parts (Might have to check into how this thing actually works). Along with our practice sessions, Lyra started with me the guitar lessons I was promised, letting me borrow a red and white bulls eye painted style guitar until I get one of my own. Since we needed a name for this band, and after making sure they didn’t already have a similar named band, we decided on the All-Equestrian Rejects. Hey, not all ideas need to be original. But then again, it technically would be original since they don’t have any band named something like this here.
The night before the Gala arrives and a stage has been set up in front of town hall. We aren’t really paying much attention to the other acts backstage with us, since we’re making final preparations for tonight. I’m currently telling Vinyl, who is in charge of lighting and musical accompaniment for the acts, how the lighting should be for us. While Big Mac and Lyra tune their instruments for tonight, Spike and I head over to the thick red curtain and peek out. A massive crowd has formed around the stage to watch tonight’s acts. I manage to spot the girls near the front of the crowd, already in their seats for tonight. They actually saved a seat for me and Spike. How thoughtful of them.
“Wow. I didn’t think we’d be playing for a crowd this big,” Spike says to me.
I chuckle slightly. “What did you expect? That we’d only be playing for children’s parties? No, this is just the beginning of a long journey.”
Spike and I walk backstage to Lyra and Mac. “I just hope we do well tonight.”
I pat Spike on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure we’ll do fine. As long as we have fun doing it, who cares?”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Spike walks over to Mac and Lyra. “So, you all ready to rock this joint?”
“Eeyup.”
Lyra pounds a fist to her chest. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Hey, he didn’t ask us!”
“He can’t even ask you, so why do you care?”
“… Good point. I don’t care!”
“Well, get comfortable everybody, since we’re not due to perform till later in the show,” I say, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed over my chest.
As time ticks by and the acts before us go out, Mac idly strums his bass while chewing a piece of hay, Lyra practices her part in our first song, Spike taps his claws on the wall in a rhythm, and I mentally sing the songs we intend to do. As soon as the act before us, some comedy act or something, goes onstage, a mare with a clipboard comes over to tell us that we’re next and to get ready. As the comedy act leaves the stage to the cheers of the crowd, I grab the guitar I borrowed from Lyra as we head behind the curtain and take our places. To my right is Mac, sitting on a chair with a mic stand in front of him, and to my left is Lyra, sitting in her own chair. Spike is directly behind me, sitting at his drum set with a mic as well. I take my seat and adjust myself till I’m comfortable, making sure the mic stand is at an appropriate level for me.
“Again, a big round of applause for our previous act—”
“So,” I ask the band as the mayor continues talking to the crowd on the other side of the curtain, “Are you all ready to live the life of musical stars?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to. Let’s do this thing!” Lyra shouts.
“Eeyup.”
“Can’t believe that he only says a few words, yet he’s gonna sing in a band.”
“Let’s show this town how we rock!” Spike yells, pumping his fist in the air.
“Please welcome our next act of the night, a musical group calling themselves the All -Equestrian Rejects!” As the mayor finishes introducing us, the curtain rises up to the clapping and cheering of the crowd. I glance to my right to make sure the lights on Mac are off, which they are. It’s in the plan that we hide Mac till his verse in the song. After all, it will be a massive surprise to see a stallion of few words singing a song.
I tap the mic a few times. “Testing, one two, testing. Can everybody hear me alright?”
“YEAH!” Good to know Bulk Biceps can be counted on to respond to questions.
“Good. Now, we’re gonna play a song for ya that’s about taking risks and speaking from the heart.” At this, Lyra starts playing the violin with the rest of us joining her with our own instruments shortly after to play one of my personal favorite songs.
“Wise man next to me did say ‘bout the one that got away.”
I point to my right as the lights illuminate Big Mac as he sings his verse. Near the end of it, the rest of us join in and continue this way till the end of the song. We stand to the cheering of the crowd and bow.
“Perfection, thy name is Blake.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
Two stagehands run out to grab our chairs since we won’t need them anymore (Well, except for Spike’s), hand us all a water bottle, and swap out Lyra’s violin for a banjo. As Lyra and Mac check to make sure their instruments are tuned properly, I take a needed drink of the refreshing water. Finished with it, I toss the bottle to the stagehand before the two run offstage. I turn around and look at Mac, Lyra, and Spike, who all nod back to me to signal that they’re ready.
Turning around to address the crowd, I grab the mic from the stand and walk to the edge of the stage. “Alright, so I was told that we could do two songs if we wanted, which we are, but we need a volunteer from the crowd to join us.”
Several hands shoot up, along with cries of, “Pick me!” or, “Over here!” Even Pinkie is holding a flashing sign with her name on it. Where she pulled it from, I’ll never know.
I turn to look at Mac, a slight grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. With the smallest nod of his head, I turn back to the crowd. “Alright, let’s see here…” I point to Applejack, “You!”
Applejack looks around, a surprised look on her face as the crowd cheers for her. She looks at me, pointing a finger to herself.
I nod my head. “Yes, Applejack, you! Get on up here!” I can see the crowd urging her to get onstage. With a shrug of her shoulders, she walks to the front of the stage where I help pull her up. She waves to the crowd once she’s onstage.
“Alright, settle down now. We still got a show to do.” The crowd quiets down. “Now then, everybody here know who this is?” A chorus of yes’s ring out, “Good, then I don’t need to introduce her to ya.”
Applejack leans forward slightly so she can speak into the mic. “Blake, what’s this gotta do with me?”
I pat her on the shoulder. “Oh, it’s simple really. I called you up here for one simple reason.” Mac, Lyra, and Spike start playing the second song, the tune making Applejack and I tap our feet (Hooves in her case) in rhythm.
“Come on now. You know you got everybody watching.”
Applejack is slightly swinging her hips back and forth and shifting from hoof to hoof, nodding her head with the rhythm. As I end the first verse and jump into the chorus, Applejack gets into the groove of things. And damn, can she dance!
As we finish the song, the crowd cheers for us as we all take a bow. I’m pretty sure someone in Canterlot heard the cheers coming from Ponyville. “Everybody give a big round of applause for Applejack and her amazing dancing!”
Applejack waves as she heads to the edge of the stage but stops at the cusp of it. She turns to me, places two fingers to her eyes, and points to me. She repeats this action with Big Mac.
“Alright, that’s our act for tonight! Hope you all enjoyed the tunes!” We wave to the crowd, the curtain falling once we walk offstage.
Vinyl rushes up to us. “That was amazing! I didn’t know you guys could play so well!”
I rub a hand on my chest and smirk. “Well, we are pretty awesome.”
“Heck yeah! Did you see the crowd? We’re the best band to ever hit Ponyville!” Spike shouts, enthusiasm clearly present in his voice.
“Eeyup. I reckon we may just have become stars.”
“Oh, this is so exciting! Bon-Bon will finally get her dream of dating a rockstar!”
Vinyl wraps an arm around my back and pulls me against her. “Instead of you four being just Ponyville famous, how about Equestrian famous? I can see it now.” Vinyl makes a sweeping motion with her hands in the air. “Fans, fans everywhere. And they’re all screaming out, All-Equestrian Rejects.”
“What did you have in mind?” Spike and I ask at the same time.
“You four become the newest band for my music company, Scratched Records. I already have a recording studio, so it falls to you four if you want to do this.”
“I’m up for it,” Lyra says.
“Hold on now, we need ta think this through.”
I nod my head. “Gotta agree with Big Mac on this one. What exactly would we get paid and how strict are you on deadlines?”
Vinyl shrugs her shoulders. “I’m not strict on deadlines. You guys can work at your own pace. As for pay, you’ll get a share of any profits we make from sales.”
I nod my head. “Well, sounds good to me but this is a group decision…” I turn to look at Spike, Mac, and Lyra.
“Sounds good.”
Lyra pumps her fist in the air. “Living the dream! Let’s do it!”
Spike nods his head. “I’m all for it.”
“Alright, so—”
“Not quite finished yet, Vinyl.” Vinyl tilts her head. “I have one more favor to ask of you.”
Vinyl shrugs her shoulders. “Shoot.”
“Mind giving me a job at your record store?”
Vinyl looks at me, one eyebrow raised. “That’s it?”
“Yeah, is that really it?” Spike asks.
“I thought you were going to ask her out,” Lyra says.
I shake my hands and head. “No way am I doing that! I have no intentions of getting into a relationship right now. Uh, no offense, Vinyl.”
Vinyl smirks. “None taken. Although, I wouldn’t mind if you did ask me out, but I doubt you could handle a mare like me.”
I rub the back of my head and look away. “And on that note, can I have a job at your record store?”
Vinyl nods her head. “Sure, swing by my place in a couple days and I’ll get you set up.”
“Awesome!” I hold my hand out towards Vinyl. “You ready for the next greatest band to be working with you?”
Vinyl returns the handshake. “Are you ready to become famous superstars?”
I laugh. “I was born ready.”