Tantabus, Chapter 3 (Meanwhile...) · 5:52am Jan 5th, 2016
Tantabus
3 - Meanwhile in Appleloosa...
September 23rd, 5:49 am PST
Meanwhile in Appleloosa, an all-night riot in a honky-tonk bar had nearly burnt itself out.
All-night riots at this particular location wasn’t very unusual. After all, that chicken mesh that separated the performers from the audience was there for a reason.
The Dazzlings, who had long since completed their set, sat back and fed on the negative energy.
It wasn’t enough. It never was enough.
Suddenly, Adagio jerked her head up. Without a word, she grabbed the arm of one of her “sisters” with each hand and dragged them outside.
On the far-off horizon, a bright white explosion faded away.
“Do you see that?” Adagio demanded, pointing at the faraway point.
“Ooh, is somebody using fireworks?” asked Sonata. She squinted her eyes. “They should have waited for nighttime.”
At a nonverbal cue from Adagio, Aria smacked Sonata upside the head.
“No!” Adagio insisted. “That’s magic. Equestrian magic!”
“But, there is no Equestrian magic on this world.”
“There is now,” Adagio boasted. “And when we get our hands on it, we can made everyone in this miserable little world do anything we want!”
Aria thought this over for a few moments. “Well, that sounds good,” she said finally, “if we knew where it was coming from.”
“What are you talking about?” Adagio protested. “It’s clearly coming from northeast of here. Which means it’s in...Trottingham?”
“Or Manehattan,” said Aria. “Or Filydelphia, or Baltimare.”
“Or Pinto Creek,” added Sonata, “or even Canterlot! Hey, maybe it’s Hollow Shades! I’ve always wanted to see if the stories about that place were true!”
“Face it, Adagio,” concluded Aria, “the entire human civilization except for Appleloosa is in that direction. That could be the motherlode of Equestrian magic, but we’re never going to find it before it’s completely faded away.”
“No!” protested Adagio, “I’m not going to let this chance slip through my fingers! Pack your bags, girls, we’re taking the next train heading northeast. We will find that magic source, I swear.”
Aria put up a token amount of resistance for nearly a full minute, before she caved. “I guess. It’s not like I had anything better to do.”
“A train trip!” Sonata exclaimed. “Dibs on the window seat!”
“Oh no,” Aria swore, “not again. You had window last time, and somebody decided to bring a sheep with them on board the car. You’re getting the aisle seat.”
“Nuh-uh!” protested Sonata.
“Uh-huh!” replied Aria.
“I am dealing with children!” Adagio muttered under her breath. “Immortal children!”
Author’s Note:
This chapter pretty much exists for those readers who wanted the Dazzlings to show up. And yes, they are effectively trapped in the “Rawhide” chapter of The Blues Brothers.
"It's 106 miles to Canterlot, we've got a full tank of gas, three magic pendants, it's dark... and we're wearing sunglasses."
"Hit it."
It needed to be done.
3665836 then it all ends in a huge car chase that probably crashes through Crystal Prep at some point.