//------------------------------// // Chapter Four // Story: An Equestrian Girls Comedy of Errors // by Godzilla313 //------------------------------// Chapter 4   The girls all gathered at the café again, having been asked to go there by Sunset.  She repeated the events of the day, and then said, “…and so that’s when I was able to contact her and got all my answers.” “Okay, so what did you see?” asked Twilight. “Well, they have quite a story,” answered Sunset, “They all come from Philadelphia, and they all went to the same schools, day cares, and so forth.  They were all above average students from the start with quite the aptitude for music.  They were also always very attractive as they went, going from the cutest little girls to what they are now.  Because of that, they were always envied by other girls, especially by the attention the boys gave them over other girls.  Because of that, they were somewhat ostracized by their peers, and so they turned to each other and became even tighter friends.  This is the time where they refined their singing, dancing, (and they all took dance classes,) and playing instruments.  This is why they got into the style of clothes they did; they never got into what the others were wearing and just did what they liked.” “Oh goodness,” Fluttershy interjected, “You would think they would have become all angry and bitter for people pushing them away.” “You would think,” answered Sunset, “Yet, Adagio’s mother always told them that they should be happy anyway, because, if you make at least one good friend in your life, you are real lucky.” Pinkie immediately put Dash and AJ, who were sitting next to her, into a sold hug, one arm around each, all gleeful, exclaiming, “Then I guess we’re the luckiest people of all, “as AJ just laughed, but Dash said, “Okay, okay, I get it!” Everyone else got a good laugh as Sunset then said, “Her mother also told her that she should feel sorry for them because they didn’t have the guts that these three did to be themselves, because what drove their jealousy was pride and fear of facing the exact same ridicule that they themselves were so willing to dish out.  She also told them not to be doormats either, because no one had the right to make them feel bad without their permission.  They are what they are, they don’t care what people think, and just try to be the best they can be to everyone, kind when they could be, and strong when they needed to be.” “But, I don’t get something,” pondered Rainbow Dash, “I mean, why didn’t they turn out exactly like the Dazzlings we know?  I mean, aren’t we just like the others from your world?” Starlight chimed in and said, “It is true, you are almost exactly like your counterparts, but there are still some subtle differences, reflecting that they’ve had experiences different from your own that has caused them to grow one way or another that you either haven’t experienced yet, or even may never, and vice versa.” Twilight chimed in and said, “In fact, this proves how probability governs events in different dimensions.” “Okay, wanna run that by me in English?” responded Dash, all confused. “Okay,” Twilight said, preparing to teach a bit, “Everyone starts out as Tabula Rasa.” Dash screwed up her face even more and said, “We all start out table racers?” Everyone rolled their eyes as Fluttershy quietly cut in and said, “Um, I think I, ah, can answer that.  You see, because I help at the shelter with some of the vets, I’ve had to brush up on some of my Latin.  ‘Tabula Rasa’ means ‘Blank Slate’.” “Exactly,” Twilight continued, “We are not born with presets to our personalities.  Everything we are starts off by our choices, chance, and the actions of others on us.  We then make new decisions, and in the end, we all are what we are, being the sum of every choice that we’ve ever made based on our wants needs, and again, chance, and actions of others to us.” “Well then,” Rarity chimed in, “Everything’s okay.  There’s nothing wrong.” Sunset pondered, and then “Well, yes…and no.” They all looked at her quizzically, and Sunset said, “Look, the Dazzlings we know we haven’t seen for a while.  Rumor has it they moved across town, got hard labor jobs, and are barely getting by.  Yet, if they ever got the gumption to get revenge on us, and they were to discover these girls, I think there could be problems.” “Like using them to get to us?” concluded Twilight. “That’s about the size of it,” agreed Sunset. About this time the trio came in with Jack in tow after a day of playing music together, and now they came in with acoustic guitars and a few percussion instruments, taking a seat together nearby.  “Indeed,” Adagio said, as if she was continuing a conversation, “You are quite a musician and singer.  We’ve been together almost all our lives, but you jumped in so well.” “If someone’s a musician, he or she can feel it out and put it together quickly,” answered Jack, “I mean, I look at the Blues Brothers band.  They were a mish-mosh of musicians, brought together for what they thought to be was a one-time sketch, but being as pro as they were, they cohered quickly.  I mean, musicians tend to do that.” Folks sitting around still were apprehensive about the three, and kept their distance.  However, at about this point, the owner of the place was aggravated, talking on her phone, angry at the fact that the act she booked decided to bail on her.  She hung up angrily, and then spotted the four sitting together with instruments.  Desperate, she went up and explained how she was in a pinch, how folks were coming in to see a live group, and asked if they could possibly play for the same fee she would have paid the other band.  The four looked at her, then at each other, and then smiled, anxious to try some of the songs that they had practiced and played with.  “Sure!” said Jack, “Give us a minute to set up.” The proprietor took them to an area before a fireplace that had lounging couches, but had been arranged so that the band that was supposed to have been there could play.  Adagio pulled out an acoustic bass, Jack and Aria pulled out acoustic guitars, Aria having a twelve-string, and Sonata had a few percussion instruments: a couple of bongos, maracas, and a skin surfaced timbral.  The girls were now watching, but many in the shop began to grumble; some, because the band they expected was not there, and others because they still saw them as the Dazzlings.  The four ignored them and muttered about what they should sing first.  “Judy Blue Eyes?” asked Jack, and they all nodded.  Then, proverbial magic happened. Aria started with the solid lead licks, then Sonata started in on the timbral as Jack added to the rhythm with his guitar and Adagio set the foundation.  They then started to sing and absolutely blended in perfect sync.  Those who hated the Dazzlings tried to continue to not like them, but as they went, the power of the music was both mesmerizing and pleasing.  They then began to become confused a bit because, well, they were beginning to like them and really didn’t want to.  Yet, it could not be seen that they were trying the kind of chicanery that they had done before.  The four, on the other hand, did not play in such a fashion as to try to play to the crowd as much as enjoy playing and singing together, and the warm feeling they were starting to have in a way they had not earlier that day.  When the finished, those who did not know them were now applauding wildly, and those who did were applauding modestly, wondering if they may have changed and were better people now.  The applause actually caught them a bit by surprise, Jack more than they, but the girls quickly regathered themselves and nodded graciously.  The proprietor smiled, knowing that this was going to be a great night. All, except for Sunset and Starlight, who had heard them earlier that day, were stunned.  They were good…really good!  Moreover, they were good in a way the other Dazzlings never were, and they now felt a bit ashamed having thought so badly of them, having assumed that they were who they thought they were without actually trying to find out right away.  Worse, now knowing their past, they realized they could have used some friends, and missed an opportunity to be the models of friendship they were told their pony counterparts were.  Fluttershy, showing this the most, said, “I feel really bad right now.” “Yes,” sighed Rarity, “I know how you feel.  We really, really owe them an apology.” “Let’s let them play,” added Twilight, “Then we can take care of it then.” The four jumped into “Ventura Highway” and continued the “spell” they were creating without actually making magic.  On they went, doing quieter acoustic set than what they had done earlier, having entirely charmed the room over the set.  After they finished, everyone came up and started to congratulate them and thank them for the show.  However, they were confused by some of the comments, some of them saying that they were so much nicer after what had happened before and glad they had changed so much.  The girls, however, now were ready to make things right, but before they did Sunset said, “Not only should we apologize, we also need to befriend them for the very reasons I said before.  We have to keep them from that trouble.” “How much do we tell ‘em?” asked AJ, “Ah am always one fer th’truth, but dontcha think they might think us crazy if we spill it all?” “That’s a good question,” pondered Sunset, “But, you know, I think we’d have to, because they wouldn’t understand why they’d have to keep away from certain people, especially those that looked exactly like them.  I mean, the first thing they would want to know is why this was the case, and then what was the problem.” “That’s not going to be an easy sell,” added Starlight. “I know,” Pinkie piped out, “We throw them a welcome party!” There was a general groan from the girls, but Pinkie was not deterred.  “Hey, if we’re going to tell them all this, then we have to be friends with them first, then we can know when to drop this on them.” Now, Pinkie suddenly didn’t seem so ridiculous.  That actually made sense.  Dash then said, “Hey, we can have a jam session with them!  Nothing like music to bind folks together.” “We can do a sleepover in th’barn at my place,” Added AJ, “It can be jus’ like we did with th’twins when we had t’tell ‘em ‘bout who they were and where they came from.” “Except,” interjected Sunset, “We don’t tell them right away.  We have to get to know them first.  With the twins, there was a sense of urgency with which we had to contend.” “I sure miss them,” added Fluttershy, “I only wish they could visit.   Then they could also play.” “They’re on tour right now in Equestria,” Starlight provided, “They’re far away performing in Los Pegasus, nowhere near the portal.  They’ve been so busy with the Bardic Order that they haven’t had a chance to see much of home lately.” “Let’s do that this weekend,” said Sunset, “Is that okay?” “That’s enough time t’set up,” AJ answered, “And t’tell granny were gonna have company.” “I’ll go talk to them, then,” said Sunset, and went over to the group. The Dazzlings were returning once again from work, and ended up taking a route that went past Canterlot High School.  Things probably wouldn’t have been any different than any other night they passed, except this time, Adagio happened to glance over at the broken monument.  Once she did, she almost ran the car off the road by what she saw.  The other two screamed, which caused her to panic more, jump the sidewalk, and to roll onto school grounds.  Adagio corrected, got it to the curb, and then stopped the car.  She hastily got out, the other two a bit dizzy from the driving, with Aria screaming, “What in the name of common sense are you on about!” She pointed to the monument and said, “Look at it, you idiot! Look what’s spewing out of the top!” They both did, and Sonata then said, “Ooh, pretty!” Adagio smacked the back of her head and snapped, “Get your head out of your third point of contact!  Can’t you tell what that is?  That’s Equestrian magical energy.  This thing’s loaded with it!” “Now, how is that possible?” said Aria, asking the obvious question. “I don’t know, but look what’s coming out of it,” added Adagio, “It’s coming out in specks.” “And?” asked Sonata. Adagio smirked and said, “I think we have a way to get our power back.” Sonata and Aria looked at each other, then looked back at Adagio.  Adagio then said, “All we have to is stand here under the monument and concentrate on the thing we want the most.  If the particles hit us, and our minds are right, then what we seek we should get in some form or another.” Sonata looked up in thought, then said, “So?” Adagio growled, saying, “When they were passing out brains, you weren’t at the end of the line, you were on vacation!  Look, you want to sing again, and make this world our plaything?  We now have that chance.  We can also make those fools pay for their insolence and for what they did to us.” After a moment, the two went, “Oooohh.” Adagio gave a pitiful sigh, and said, “How do your brains generate enough energy to keep your legs moving?” Without waiting for an answer, Adagio went up to the monument and concentrated.  The other two followed suit and stood with her.  It wasn’t long before things happened and the three of them began to glow.  It was only a few minutes, but after they stopped, they suddenly began to feel strong in their throats, and there was now, on each of them, a broach modeled after a flower called a Sundew.  However, Sonata was also now standing there with a family pack of tacos.  Adagio looked at her oddly and with some frustration, to which she said, “I’m hungry.” Adagio just stared at her, and Sonata then added, “Well, we don’t have to worry about supper?” It was then than Aria noticed the broaches that were diamond encrusted on the tops of that tips that normally come out of sundews which would have a sticky ball on it that looks like a water drop.  Aria pointed to it on Adagio, and she looked at it herself, wondering if this had anything to do with their voices like the jewels they had before that caused and then absorbed both negative energy and caused people to be enamored with them, quite manipulatable in mind at that point.  This, they would have to test another time.  Yet, Adagio said, “Sing a D chord.” Adagio sang the D, Aria the F sharp, and Sonata the A.  It was pitch perfect, and Adagio signaled to keep it rolling.  They got past 30 seconds, then 40, and there was no weakness showing at all.  “Yes!” exclaimed Adagio, “We’re going to have to find out if these broaches do anything, and if so, what.” “Oh, this is so awesome!” as Sonata started to lean on the monument, and then had to catch herself as her hand mysteriously seemed to be going through the side as if it was water, that being the spot of the portal.  Sonata extracted her arm and said, “Weird!  Even I know rocks don’t get all wobbly.” This confused Adagio a bit, but seeing how the stone acted, and realizing how the magic had come out, began to recognize what this might be, and she then got this evil look on her face with a smile just as sinister, rubbing her hands greedily together.  “Girls, we might be able to do more than take this world.  Once we’re done here, we can go back to where we came from and have both!” She began an evil chortle, her mind swirling as to all the possibilities of what could be, hoping the broaches did something to contribute to getting this puny world to adore them utterly!