//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: Revelations // Story: StallionForce // by Dashie04 //------------------------------// StallionForce is standing around waiting on ZP Theart to arrive in the studio. Hoofman had used his Demoniac bits to rent a studio. Diccon was lounging in a chair, sitting straight up for some reason, and ferociously strumming his bass. Didier and Steve talk about funny things they’ve seen that day, they were obviously good friends. Meanwhile, Sam and Hoofman agreed to throw in some odd effects with their playing and trying to find out what to tune their guitars to. Suddenly, ZP barges in. His trenchcoat is off, as is his sunglasses. He is white with yellow stripes and a messy mane. In an incredibly hoarse voice, he shouts,”Who’s ready to bucking rock!” The first thing anypony hears is an object landing on the ground. Hoofman turns around to see what it was, and Steve had dropped his keyboard. “What the bucking hell is that?” He asks. Hoofman and Sam laugh nervously, earning themselves a dirty glace from Dider. “You said there would be no other species in the band.” He says. “You also said there were no speciesist ponies here.” ZP says. “Well, you see, when we created this band ZP, there weren’t any. He was a recent addition to the cast.” Hoofman says. “Hey,” says Diccon,”what’s going on? It sounds fun!” The band glaces at each other, it was almost assuredly not fun. There’s an awkward silence, suddenly, Steve stomps out of the studio. Right before he leaves, he says,”I will be leaving this band for a month. If that bucking zebra is not gone by then, I’ll be leaving the band permanently, and starting a new one. Preferably with no zebras!” “Yeah, great fun.” Sam snarks at Diccon. “Seriously, two months into PonyHeart, and we already have internal tensions. Demoniac wasn’t like this at all!” Hoofman says. “I’ll point out that Demoniac went through several lineup changes in 6 years, and you’re concerned about one keyboardist. Let’s get a new one and get signed to a label so we can create a demo,” Sam says. “After all, ZP’s staying in this band!” A month later, StallionForce’s fruitless search for a keyboardist leads Steve back to the studio. He takes one look at ZP and leaves. ”Look, if you need a keyboardist I’ll go get one,” he says, staying as far away from ZP as possible,”there’s a few fill-in keyboardists for Bon Jovi that aren’t speciesist.” With that, he leaves to go find a keyboardist. “Well,” Hoofman says,”at least he’s trying to help.” “Spectacular job he’s doing after leaving the band for a month.” Sam snarks. A week on, and Steve comes into the studio with another keyboardist. “Bon Jovi hired a 19 year old keyboard sessionist, and his name’s Vadim Pruzhanov. Take him and I will go start my own band!” Steve says, leaving for the last time. “Name’s Vadim,” says Vadim, he’s a blue pegasus with a long red mane. He has a keyboard strapped across his back, and his mane is currently covering his face. “Nice to meet you mate,” says Sam. Vadim humbly sets his keyboard up, and he says,”Shall we play?” “We would Vadim, except the problem is we can’t. We don’t have a label.” Hoofman says. ZP decides to come in right then,”Hey everypony,” he yells,”let’s bucking rock!” Vadim brushes his hair out of his face,”So this is the zebra Steve told me about. He seems like he’s a little hoarse.” Sam cringes at Vadim’s unintentional pun. “Yeah, I’ll get my range back once we start playing.” ZP says,”Name’s ZP Theart by the way.” They shake hooves, and Vadim is introduced to everypony. Didier is completely angry, so he says as little to Vadim as possible. “About recording, I’m waiting for something fun,” Diccon says, lying on the floor. “Let me just see what record companies I can get in contact with,” Hoofman says. Hoofman sends out letter to just about every record company he knows, murmuring to himself,”Please bucking work, please bucking work.” Finally, he gets a notice from a company known as Noise Records, who agree to listen to a demo of PonyHeart’s. Hoofman sits up in celebration,Shí!He thinks. The next day, Hoofman rents out the studio. He sees Sam drinking a bunch of hard cider. “What the hell are you doing?” Hoofman asks forcefully. “Drinking hard cider,” Sam says. “Watch how much you drink, you could become an alcoholic,” Hoofman says. Sam waves it off,”I’ll be fine.” “I do not forsee any problems happening in the band’s future from this.” Didier says sarcastically. Suddenly, Diccon flies in,”Anypony seen ZP?” He asks. “Why are you always flying?” Hoofman asks. “Well, first off, this shag carpet is 4 decades too old, I don’t like touching it.” Hoofman stomps his hoof down on the carpet,”Seems fine,” he says. “Are we seriously so bored waiting on ZP, we’re discussing the shag carpet in the studio? I saw ZP outside smoking a cigarette,” Sam says. Diccon flies out, and a couple minutes later, ZP trots in. “Do we have a record label?” ZP asks. “We do, we can record! PonyHeart is about to go bucking wild!” Hoofman shouts. Didier shoots him a dirty look.”We’re inside,” he snarks. “When did you become so cold? Not cool!” Diccon says. “Maybe Hoofman and Sam lying to me about having no other species in the band.” “Could you stay for one album please?” Vadim begs. “One, bucking, album.” Hoofman turns around,”As I was saying, we need to record. ZP, I know you smoke, is your range still there?” “It will be in a little while,” he says hoarsely. “First things first, the record label wants a demo.” Hoofman says,”Sam, since you were 14, you’ve been writing songs. Could you perhaps transfer that skill to PonyHeart?” Sam whips out a piece of paper and a quill pen. He starts scribbling down some chords.”What’s the band’s genre, Hoofman?” “I’m thinking guitar-driven power metal. Not the Scorpions power metal, but more along the lines of Stratovarius power metal.” “I know how well you can shred because I was in Demoniac with you for 3 years. So, I’ll have this song done in a little while.” “He’s enthusiastic, isn’t he?” ZP says. “About writing songs and playing guitar yes. As a frontman, ZP, I think you should practice being like that on stage.” Hoofman replies. ZP nods, and proceeds to view a book on the techniques of guitar while Sam writes. Eventually, Sam finally gets the song finished. “Took ya long enough,” Didier says. “Do you even know how to write a song?” Sam counters back,”Anyways, I’ve got our first song here, Valley of the Damned!” Hoofman sees that this is a warmup,”Everypony ready to prove their skills?” He asks. PonyHeart nods, and they go on to rock out. When the solo happens, despite the repetitive nature of it, it is long. Whenever Hoofman or Sam screw up, Vadim helps them overlook the music and fix their mistakes. “Any other songs?” Sam asks. “Yeah, one based on Revelations, I love that book!” Diccon says. “How about some key songs for my playing?” Vadim asks. “A ballad, possibly?” Asks ZP. Sam nods at all this,”I’ll have the songs with me tomorrow.” Everypony agrees to call it a day.