//------------------------------// // 34 - Epic Wub Time // Story: Embers Fall // by CrimsonWave //------------------------------// As the sun set over the Neighvada Desert, the real fun was about to begin. For real this time. "Just finished running all the sanity tests. Barring any unusual occurrences, I guess the Electro Express is ready to go." Train Spot reported. Wave Rider disagreed; "You can't guess something's ready, Train Spot. It has to be certain." "Okay, in that case ... the Electro Express is ready to go!" they announced. "Thank you." Wave Rider replied, as the pair proceeded to noseboop each other. Obscurus trotted in on them. "Oh, you two...!" "Evening, Mare Mourir!" greeted Train Spot. "Judging by everything else I've seen, and the one truck I actually rode a few nights ago, I guess this fits in well with everything else." observed Obscurus. "We got the aesthetic down perfectly." Wave boasted. "I drove it around a few nights ago, blasting some of my mixtapes. Totally a crowdpleaser." "Not to mention the part when you were dancing like a silly pony on top of the--" Wave Rider suddenly started booping Train Spot again just so they wouldn't say anything more about that. "Anyway..." continued Wave Rider, "We're going to do a bit more of that while we find a place to park. And then ... the big show." "As in the bonfire or The Third Rail?" wondered Obscurus. "If we can find the right spot, maybe both?" contemplated Train Spot. "Either way, find a spot where you can see it. Hopefully you'll see the fruits of my labor." teased Obscurus. "But that's also, hopefully, if I can perform the required modifications to the station's transmitter without its owner noticing. They might be a little, ahem, unauthorized." she admitted, sliding on her goggles and bandana for emphasis. "Please ensure that we don't get us all blacklisted from this event for life, Obscurus." warned Wave Rider. "This may be a bucket list thing to many, but I'd prefer to be able to come back here next year, thank you!" "I read the rulebook top to bottom." informed Obscurus. "There were obviously rules about physically disrupting the bonfire, getting too close, etc. But there was nothing about what I'm doing. Like I said, it's for the art." "So is what we're doing! Except ours also involves occasional boopage." Train Spot announced. "And trucks decorated like trains." "Well, I guess the boops could be a sign that you two are putting a lot of love into your music too." admitted Obscurus, "Indeed. We got a lot of stuff planned for The Third Rail." teased Wave Rider, "Don't forget, you did say you were interested in possibly joining us as an opening act or full-on third member in the future." "If you guys take off, at least I got an insurance policy if my attempt at a solo career doesn't." noted Obscurus. "We'll still do solo stuff, but then we'd be able to say things like 'featuring Train Spot ... of The Third Rail', all over the posters!" boasted Train Spot." "I guess it's like those 'from the producers of Such and Such' things you always see on movie posters." added Obscurus. "I see what you mean." "Anyway, we gotta get ready! We'll keep you posted on anything significant, if necessary!" informed Train Spot, as they headed into the cab of the Electro Express. Anticipation was growing for many things tonight: bonfires, headliners, and other mischief. Every single Follower had something they were waiting for, even if they had to outright make up something to anticipate. For Train Spot and Wave Rider, it was the moment that a casual assumption by a ticketpony (and an long-term relationship in general) would turn into their personally-overhyped musical future. The only thing left between them and The Third Rail, was plugging in mixers on the roof of their truck. "You brought Tempest M17's?" asked Train Spot. "Yeah. They weren't known for being that great. But that also means they're quite cheap." explained Wave Rider. "I was too afraid to bring my high-end stuff, lest I have to clean it out afterwards." "Ah, I see." said Train Spot. "So who's gonna MC? One of us, or both of us?" Wave Rider plugged in a microphone. "Good evening, Duskgem!" Some applause ensued. "That sounded good, but your mask thingy was muffling it a bit." Train Spot noted. "Maybe you could try putting a microphone inside it?" "Okay, why does that sound like something I would have actually thought to implement?" wondered Wave Rider. "Note to self, add mics to the mask when I do the RGB upgrade." "Could be cool if we sounded like robot ponies or something next time." suggested Train Spot "But for now, let's just get on with it; we're behind our own schedule by two minutes already!" "How many attendees even have or care about those schedule cards?" asked Wave Rider. Train Spot had no answer. "Anyway, I'm ready when you are."