Zoo Project was practically on the other end of the basin in relation to Camp Break O' Dawn, which gave the unexpected gang of ravers a chance to socialize along the way.
"I'm legitimately impressed by all four of you." acknowledged Blast Furnace. "I rarely see new attendees go all-in like this on their first year; usually they acclimate themselves on year 1, and then maybe start contributing to it on year 2 or 3."
"Yeah. I'm technically new too, but more as an attendee than an artist. Blast here has been showing me the ropes." added Sun Beamer.
"Me and Train did the research. A lot of research." replied Wave Rider. "We thought this would be a perfect place to bring more attention to our work among an 'underground' audience."
"Many legends have stepped foot here over the years." recalled Blast Furnace. "Whether they were already famous or not varies."
"Obscurus told me that her mixes have been getting rave reviews, so I guess we've been doing something right." Wave Rider noted.
"She always gets salty when she thinks her music is being under-appreciated by others." acknowledged Train Spot "At one point, she said we were at 'war' against mainstream, electronic music. She only brought me into her posse to validate my university research on how mainstream DJs become popular."
"Though they've been breaking away from that and going in a more underground, hardcore direction recently." added Wave Rider. "And collaborating with yours truly, of course,"
"They as in more than one of you?" wondered Sun Beamer.
"'As in me." Train Spot clarified. "If you've spent a lot of time with me, you'd understand."
"Oh, okay." Sun Beamer might have realized what was going on with them.
The crew had to pass through the center of Duskgem to get to where Camp Zoo Project was. The Blazicorn's final hours (that is, until it gets rebuilt next year) had just begun, and many ponies were out tonight to see it under the stars one last time. That is, if you could even see the stars tonight; it had clouded over, and someone forecasted that it might even rain tomorrow too. However, after days of 80-90-degree weather, having the temperature fall into the 70s was a nice change of pace.
"I presume you're going to watch them set fire to that meticulously-crafted, giant horse-like figure tomorrow, right?" wondered Blast Furnace.
"Of course! You don't go to a Seaddle Seaponies buckball game and leave before the second half." argued Train Spot.
"Nor leave a concert before the encore." added Wave Rider.
With what he had been learning from their conversation, Sun Beamer was beginning to think that maybe Obscurus's desire for attention was getting to her head a little too much. Even then, given that he and Blast were in the process of befriending two of her right-hoof acquaintances, Sun Beamer decided not to bring up what he had learned about Obscurus from Diablo, and to ask about something else.
"I saw your complimentary schedule thing mentioned something about an Electro Express with both of you tomorrow night. What's that about?"
"Oh, that's our sound truck that looks like a train!" answered Wave Rider.
"It was my idea!" Train Spot declared, because of course they did.
"One of the pegasi at the entry gates recognized us, but thought we performed together on a regular basis. So we decided to go through with it." he continued. "We're calling ourselves The Third Rail, cause that's the one that's electrified. It's gonna debut tomorrow night."
"What's your music gonna be like?" asked Sun Beamer.
"Trancey and melodic stuff with an edge, most likely." Wave explained, "Probably with a late-90's to early-2000's vibe. That was the stuff everypony listened to when I was a colt, which leaves me wondering why that style hasn't persisted."
"We have contrasting styles; usually Wave's stuff is hard and edgy, while I'm brighter and bombastic." added Train Spot. "Either way, it's a free-for-all."
"There's gonna be an EP. There's gonna be an introductory tour. This is not just a one-off project." elaborated Wave. "Obscurus liked the idea, and Train said she could be an honorary third member at some point."
"In other words, she's destined to be The Third Rail's third wheel!" joked Blast Furnace, eliciting laughter from everypony else.
"Nah, she's going to be on equal billing if she's ever a guest or semipermanent member." Wave Rider continued. "In my opinion, I think it'd be easier to associate herself with us, become big, and then use the name recognition to boost her solo act."
"I see where you're going with that, Wave." Blast Furnace agreed.
"Thanks!" answered Train Spot
The group neared Camp Zoo Project; a very large and energetic crowd had gathered around its stage area, which had a jungle motif and a gigantic tiger sculpture with glowing eyes as its centerpiece. The sound of gabber was in the air, but the bass was cranked up so high that you could feel it in your hooves before you could even discern what song it was.
"There's something about you that I'm really liking, but I'm not sure what." Wave Rider wondered. "Is it your aesthetic? Is it your outspokenness? Is it your appreciation for our work? Is it your humor? It's something, for sure!"
Blast Furnace blushed, but found Wave's attempt at flirting to be a little awkward, especially in front of someone she thought of as her stallionfriend. She decided to play matchmaker instead.
"Yeah, there's definitely something here, but you two are something too. Can't wait to see you perform together!"
"Well, you don't have to wait till tomorrow to see us perform at all!" boasted Train Spot. "I've been practicing my Manebourne Shuffle!"
"Oh, you askin' for a challenge, Conductor?" Sun Beamer threatened as he leapt onto his hind legs, ready to pounce. When faced with the possibility of a dance battle, he was almost a completely different pony. There's a reason why the Chaotic Kisol rarely showed his face.
"Conductor? That might actually be a good alias..." noted Train Spot. "Sure, you're good at pen names, but are you good on the floor?!"
Blast Furnace put up her scarf and sided with Sun Beamer; "But can The Conductor and The Bionic Pegasus bring down two bandits with hooves of fire?"
"Wavey, didn't you say you were gonna make me a mask like yours?" Train Spot whispered
"Darnit ... I knew I forgot to do something before we left." admitted Wave Rider.
"Well, uh, I'm literally the only one here who isn't afraid to show their face." boasted Train Spot relevantly. "But are you afraid to show the Followers what you're made of?!"
Part of the crowd dispersed into a circle around the ensuing tag-team dance war; this was familiar ground for Sun Beamer, but this was an unfamiliar surface. Plus, it felt like the DJ caught wind of them, since she had started to play something very intense-sounding. All four of them were sure that when the beat dropped, they were going to let it loose.
As promised ... they did.
You could distinguish everypony's personalities from their moves alone; Blast Furnace was smooth and using her wings to her advantage, Wave Rider had a similarly smooth flow with some fancy hoofwork, while Train Spot and Sun Beamer were being extremely technical. The spectators were rooting them all on equally, but there were no clear winner; in the end, they decided to declare it a draw.
"I must admit, I was trying to flirt with Blast Furnace a little bit earlier, and I apologize." admitted Wave Rider. "But just like me and Train Spot, you two might have been made for each other!"
"Aww, you didn't have to say that!" replied Blast Furnace, as both she and Sun Beamer blushed.
"Though we are pretty cute together." Sun Beamer noted.
"Anyway, unless Mach 55 actually is performing here soon, we're probably going to head off." remarked Train Spot. "Whoever that last one is just ended."
"Which is a shame, cause I kinda liked her." mused Blast Furnace.
Suddenly, the crowd near the front was chanting "FIFTY-FIVE!"; if this wasn't the moment they were waiting for, they didn't know what was.
"Okay, make that heading off in few more hours or so!" corrected Train Spot.