As winter went on (and on and on and on, in my opinion), it turns out the band found itself in demand, and so, we did some investigating (mainly asking Topspin) on how to set up a tour. We kept the idea small, only seven cities, the shows three days apart to allow for travel time and rest. As a warmup, we decided to do a show right here in Ponyville. With a heartfelt assurance from Rainbow Dash that the weather would be fair, if a little cool, we set up the show to be held outdoors, so all who wished to attend could do so. No tickets were sold, either, because this was for our neighbors.
The band and I deliberated for hours on exactly what songs we wanted to do. After four hours of bickering, I just threw up my hooves and cried out, “Okay! Every pony here, choose TWO songs YOU want to do, and we’ll call it right there!” That ended the bickering.
The Ponyville show was all we had hoped for, every pony in the band, myself included, jelled in perfectly, and for those two hours, we were one with our music. The crowd loved it, said crowd being enhanced by ponies training in to see us perform. It was such a joy to perform, live on stage, for my friends and neighbors that I had to be dragged offstage by Low Note. No, that was NOT planned, by the way. Where he got that big stage hook, I have no idea. More than likely Pinkie Pie, but he has not told me.
Setting up the tour took a bit of deliberation and a lot of telegraph time between us and Topspin’s chosen show manager, Encore Act. Before he arrived in Ponyville to settle in, he worked from Canterlot. We decided on shows in Manehattan, Baltimare, Fillydelphia, Canterlot, Las Pegasus and Hoofington. Our first stop, however, was not up to any argument. I selected the Crystal Empire, over Encore Act’s objections. He stopped objecting when I hinted that I just might fire him if he pissed me off enough.
When I told Twilight that I intended the Crystal Empire to be our first stop on tour, she let out a happy squeal before hugging me and saying that she intended to tag along, at least through the first show. I met Princess Cadance, but I had yet to meet Twilight’s brother and niece. In fact, all of the ladies would travel with us to that show, and Spike.
A problem we had is that we had not selected a name for the band yet. At the Command Performance, we were billed as ‘Tristan’s Troop’, but none of us really liked it. Despite Rainbow Dash’s suggestion of ‘The Awesomes’, we settled on ‘Tristan and The Wonders’ instead. That pleased everypony.
Encore Act arrived three days before setting out for the Crystal Empire. He is a unicorn, as I expected, but his fur pattern reminded me of a circus ringmaster’s outfit, as did his choice of coat and hat. He is a literal buzzsaw of activity, going here, there and everywhere, getting to know us, Ponyville, our gear, and I suspect every railroad tie between Ponyville and the Crystal Empire. Hell, I got exhausted just watching him go! I did find out that he IS a good pony to know, he being dedicated to his job and image. I also found out he is Topspin’s nephew, which explained why he backed down so fast when I threatened to go over his head.
He stayed in a guest room at my house, not that he slept much. I did find that once he arrived, all the annoyances of handling the tour vanished and matters flowed as smooth as my hooves skidding on a marble floor. I did get to like him, and him me. We just ignored all of each other’s annoying traits.
Training to the Crystal Empire took hours, our gear in one boxcar and all of us in a coach. Encore Act slept the whole way to the Crystal Empire. “So, this is when he sleeps,” Silver Strings said to me two hours out of Ponyville.
“Smart of him. Nothing for him to do on a train, yes?” I replied.
“I see your point,” she said. Silver Strings and I have been growing closer together since the Command Performance, finding more and more to like about each other. Hey, she’s good to be around.
Everypony spent the trip to the Crystal Empire chatting, napping, or reading. I brought the phone and power pack out and played some ‘unreleased tunes’, ones I have been debating on releasing. I made sure to hide it at the stops, though. Several hours of that helped me decide my next two releases.
One thing I did not like about going to the Empire was the weather. The Empire is way north, and it is so cold that way, it made Ponyville at Hearthswarming seem like Miami Beach in July. I was assured by everypony aboard that inside the Crystal Empire, it is quite warm and pleasant. I’ll believe that when I see it. I hate cold weather…
When we approached the Empire, I did see the snow give way suddenly to green fields and croplands. I mean suddenly, like there was an invisible wall up that said ‘Snow, you stay on THAT side!’. I just shook my head. Just an example of magic I had yet to comprehend.
As the station came into view, Twilight started bouncing with glee. “There they are! It’s been so long since I’ve seen them!” she squealed. I know she was referring to her brother and niece. Her enthusiasm is infectious, so by the time we pulled up to the platform, we were all excited.
The noise caused Encore Act to wake up from his nap. With a yawn and a stretch, he asked, “What’s all the noise about? Are we there yet?”
“We’re here.” Inky Spot told him.
Twilight and the ladies charged out of the coach the instant the train stopped, Twilight beelining for her niece, which she hugged warmly, spinning her around several times before putting her down and greeting her brother. The rest of us left the coach more sedately, half of us going to the boxcar to start unloading our gear, putting the instruments in a waiting wagon.
Once the family reunion went from blissful excitement to something more sedate, I approached the group, greeting the Princess first before saying hello to the others. “You like the record we gave you in Canterlot?” I asked. In reply, Flurry Heart started squealing the opening bars to the record I had given her mother, “Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop” by Little Anthony and the Imperials. After a short laugh, I had to add, “Well, we have at least ONE fan up here!”
“That you do, Tristan!” Prince Shining Armor told me. “It’s her favorite song.”
“Can’t you tell?” Princess Cadance added with a warm smile.
We walked into the main town of the Crystal Empire, with me carrying Flurry Heart on my back, singing ‘Shimmy Shimmy’ together. Everypony saw how thrilled the little alicorn filly is, and how happy she is as well. Definitely warmed my heart. Speaking of warm, I did have my sweater and scarf on. I managed to get the scarf off, but Flurry Heart refused to budge from her spot, so I had to sweat my way to the castle. So, she’s a kid. Let her be happy.
Flurry Heart would not get off me until we got to the castle, where I hurriedly removed my sweater and wrung it out. Stowing it in a saddlebag, I followed the rest inside and up to our suite. I only made it about half way there before I once again found a loose rug and went headlong into a wall, coldcocking myself again. I have the damndest luck with throw rugs….
After my revival, we were led to the hall where the concert is to be held. Encore Act immediately began directing where and how the instruments were to be placed, taking charge like the manager he is purported to be. The rest of us headed to dinner. Any attempts at good conversation was interrupted by an eager little filly, so the dinner became a song fest. Good thing the Wonders are almost as good a cappella as we are with instruments.
It was not until Flurry Heart was put to bed that we were all able to relax. “Tristan, I’ve seen the way you have with foals. Flurry Heart just adores you,” Twilight said.
I shrugged and said in my usual manner, “It’s all up to the kids. Here, I have managed to find more than a few above-average ones.”
“She likes you, and so do we,” Shining Armor told me, pouring me a drink. Unfortunately, nothing potent, because otherwise my healer-on-hooves would yell at me.
“The only question being, how can you keep her calm during the concert?” I asked after sipping.
“Early bedtime and sleep spells,” Shining Armor said in tones so dry, dust flew.
“That will work,” I agreed.
“I just dread what will happen when those tricks stop working,” Shining Armor said as he sipped his drink.
“Can’t help you there, Shining. Out of my wheelhouse for now,” I told him. Foals, I can handle. LITTLE foals, I would have to drop back fifteen yards and punt, something I don’t like doing.
The next day, the morning was taken up in rehearsals, while the afternoon was for resting before the show that evening. I accepted an offer from Prince Shining Armor to tour the city, with Spike and Flurry Heart in tow. I was suitably impressed by the sights, including the Crystal Heart. I got the stories involved with the Heart, along with the story behind the thrice (or more) life-size story of the statue of Spike, which the little dragon took pride in telling. What was story and what was embellishment, I was not clear on from the start, but I didn’t care. It pleased the little dragon, and his smile told me enough. Hey, I like the little guy a lot, and he me, especially when I joined his O&O game on occasion. Having been a passionate gamer for decades, I was able to show Spike some tricks to make his game better.
Shining Armor and I did reserve an hour before dinner for some sparring, just one-on-one instruction. I learned some good maneuvers in that hour, and he learned just how ruthless I can be when cornered. I did apologize for the hoofprints in his fur, which he took in good grace. “Where did you learn that?” he asked me when he got his breath back.
“When it comes down to me or thee, I’m going to do my damndest to make sure it is thee, not me, who goes down. Besides, I got a black belt in crazy!” I told him after helping him up.
“I noticed. Those last few seconds, I could not read you at all. That kick came as a complete surprise.”
“Hey, if I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, how could you ever figure it out?” I replied.
“Point made,” Shining puffed, rubbing his side gently. “I think you cracked something in there.”
“Sorry.”
The show that night went over as well as the one in Ponyville did, with the band and the audience connecting on some visceral level that brought max enjoyment to all involved. It was the after party where things went a bit sour.
The after party is held in the courtyard of the castle, to allow ponies in who could not be at the show, which was a packed house. There is a magic crystal set up which acted as a loudspeaker system, sending the audio out to the public listening area, and from what I was finding out at the after party, the ponies did enjoy the music. Most of them, that is.
I was schmoozing with the populace, signing autographs and deflecting praise to the band members when I became aware of a disturbance by the courtyard entrance. A mass of crystal ponies were there, swinging weapons, chanting something I could not make out initially. I saw Low Note go down from a hit, as did Black Sky. The mob was gunning for the band members. I made an apology to the pony I was with at the time and waded in, determined to protect my friends.
It was not easy, making my way through a crowd of panicked ponies. The chanting I made out to be anti-new music, determined to stamp out the evil it represented. The city Guard was closing in from behind, while my band members did their best to defend themselves. The thestrals and pegasi took wing, and the unicorns waded in, defending our fallen.
I watched Silver Strings lift a pony that was ready to stomp on Low Note’s head and toss it into a knot of three others, scattering them like tenpins. Accurate Strike is standing over Black Sky, two senbons at the ready. I launched two myself and headed for Black Sky.
I think four or five of the mob broke off and came my way as I went in, brandishing weapons. I charged at them, and when they set up to repel the charge, I gave an adrenaline-charged leap over the mob, twisting as I did to hit them all with a stun blast. I landed hard on the ground and took aim at another bunch of miscreants. I then felt something hard impact my head, and everything faded to black, shot with stars of all different colors. “Rabbit sees stars…” was my last coherent thought.
I came to in what looked like the ward out of M*A*S*H, ponies on cots while doctors worked on another pony under some lights at the far end of the room. I could feel something wrapped around my head, and one eye was bandaged, my glasses nowhere to be found, my performing shirt in tatters.
I groaned, and Rarity came into my field of vision, looking very worried. “Tristan, can you hear me?” she said to me.
“Yes, I can, Rarity. What happened?” I managed to ask, my voice slurred because some of the bandages wrapped under my jaw.
“A mob of uncultured music haters decided to crash the party. Of the band members, Low Note and Black Sky are bad off. You took a hit from Vectorex as she was taking out someone charging you with a knife,” she reported, taking a hoof in her glow.
“She has a hard hoof,” I groaned.
“Not a hoof, a battle baton. The pony she was swinging at ducked, causing her to hit you. You needed surgery to get glass out of your eye. Twilight took care of you herself before going to help Low Note.”
“Everypony else okay?”
“Minor. Cuts, scrapes, bumps and bruises. Rainbow Dash carried you out of the combat zone herself, while I helped Silver Strings with Low Note. He’s heavy, even for an earth pony,” Rarity told me.
“I’m thinking this is just a bad dream, and I’m going to wake up to find every pony hale and healthy,” I grumbled.
“That’s not the worst of it, Tristan. It’s who was attacking you that is bad.”
I looked up at Rarity with my unbandaged eye. “Okay, I’ll bite. Who attacked us, other than deranged music critics?”
“Changelings.” I heard Rarity say before I passed back out. I knew about changelings, but last I heard, they were on our side. I had listened to Spike’s and Starlight’s stories about how Chrysalis was defeated, but this is a little beyond the pale.