Chapter 14: The Calm Before the Song of Storms
"Ah, there you are! I have good news for you." Yep, our favorite unnamed undead drake had approached me on my way out.
"Do I get to guess again?" I asked.
"Not this time, because it was creepy the LAST time," he remarked. "Apparently, the king himself wants to see the final match, but he's too busy today. As a result, he's asked for that match to be tomorrow at noon. So you're free for the rest of the day."
On the outside, I nodded and walked away. Inside, however...Thank Azura's Star, I need this break!
I retired to my room (old habits, y'know?) to find Melody sitting on my bed. With a smile. Not her happy-go-lucky smile, though. This one seemed forced. "Congratulations on your semi-final match," she said through clenched teeth. I think I had something to do with it. Scratch that, I DEFINITELY had something to do with it.
"Yeah...not my longest or best, but I won. Nice, yes?"
"V-very. And...your clothes are destroyed," she pointed out. Her smile twitched. Yep, it was about that terrible excuse for an outfit.
"Yeah...sucks. Good news is, I don't fight anymore today," I said, "so I can get...a new one?"
Her smile was now nonexistant. It was the first of one of the few times I've ever seen it gone. It was...well, I don't think I told you how worried I was about fighting Dracula, but here's the comparison: fighting Dracula when you're not "the Chosen One" is like fighting a simple demon when you don't have any special powers. You COULD win, but the chances are slim, and you are more likely to just go wild than you are to actually put any type of plan into it. The reason? Because you're scared, and you don't want to die. (Oh, and I speak as if you've never been in a fight in your entire life)
Melody...managed to scare me far beyond that level whenever her smile disappeared. She floated towards me, looked me straight in my eyeholes, and muttered, "Those. Were. Hoof. Picked. By. Me."
"Ehehehe...um..." I chuckled nervously. No doubt about it, I'm screwed.
"I'll give you one more costume. But so help me, Daniel Fortesque, if you ruin this one, I. Will. Take. One. Of. Your. Bones." I don't know which is scarier now, the fact that a cute little ghost girl is threatening me, or the fact that the only time she pronounced my name right is the one time she's been royally pissed at me. Both so far.
I nodded. "On my honor, my next costume will not be ruined in the arena," I promised.
Melody finally broke her gaze and had that cheery smile back on. "Okay, Mr. Fortiskay! Hey, will you be going back to Jack's place to recover?"
I sighed. I forget if it was a sigh of relief or annoyance. "I'm not sure yet." Then something clicked. I've only been to Jack's place and the arena. What exactly does Necro City hold for me?
"How about a tour of Necro City before you go, then?" Melody asked. Am I that easy to read?!?
"That would be...nice," I said. "It's pretty small, right?"
*Around 3 hours later*
For the record, yes, Necro City IS pretty small. About as big as Loyal, Wisconsin. Everything is within walking distance, and everyone knows your name and your favorite hangout spot. In all honesty, the main difference between Loyal and Necro City was the fact that Loyal had 4 more bars/taverns (call them what you want) than Necro City. But, I digress.
Our tour ended in front of a place called the Slammed Skeleton. I honestly think it has a double meaning: it got its name because a skeleton was slammed to pieces when he/she was drunk off his/her nonexistant ass. That would be awesome, but at the same time, insulting.
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"Because this is the only place that will serve anypony, anygryphon, anydog, and any other species that has yet to be discovered!" Melody beamed. "And it's the only place skeletons can enter." Great to know I'm accepted in a place where skeletons are slammed.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you...y'know, underage?" I asked.
"Huh?" Melody looked confused. Then she gasped. "Oh! Actually, no. I'm actually 23 years old!" What?!? How does she...you know what, never mind. Just...never mind.
"Alrighty then," I commented. "So, what else is so special about this place?"
"Well, it's a rare thing, but they actually have karaoke," Melody said happily. "I come here whenever they have it, and I thought you'd like to join me."
She didn't think wrong. One thing I prided myself on, but didn't really show off, was I had a decent singing voice. In fact, I was told I could give famous people a run for their money. But I think that was more flattery than it was fact. "So what kind of music do they play here?"
"It's completely random," Melody replied. "It ranges from classical, to dubstep, to rock, to rap." I winced at the last one. Don't get me wrong, rap is a decent genre, but I listened to the WORST of it back home, so I wasn't as keen on it as I was everything else. I was about to ask how they had so many genres, but Melody had already went into the bar. I sighed and followed suit.
You ever seen the old western movies where a bar is rowdy, then the hero/villian/new guy walks in and EVERYTHING stops? That's exactly what happened when I walked in. Everyone was staring at me. Did I mention I wasn't wearing a disguise, which probably meant everyone knew what I was? I slowly walked to the bar and motioned to the bartender, a skeletal unicorn. Couldn't tell the gender, though. "Um...could I get a drink?" I asked.
"What kind would you like?" he asked. Yep, voice confirmed it was a male. Too bad there wasn't a menu around, because I could use one. So many straight drinks, mixed drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, etc. and I had no idea where to begin. Then I realized that I had no money on me.
"Two glasses of your best apple cider," Melody said, throwing four bits onto the counter. He used his magic (wait, didn't I hear skeletons had no latent magic? What the flying feather?!?) and placed it in a chest behind the counter. I couldn't see it, of course, so it's just an assumption.
Our drinks were quickly made and placed in front of us. I must once again question how the hell we can drink and keep the fluids in us. Melody didn't seem to have this problem as she downed her pint in one gulp. Wow, for a mare in a filly's ghostly body, that was very impressive. I sipped my cider. The only thought that crossed my mind was Holy snapping piranha plants.
I looked under me, and noted that there was no mess. So somehow, the liquid can stay inside of my system in spite of the fact I HAVE no system. Looking around, I took in the sight. There was the bar itself, about 7 tables with four chairs surrounding each one, two tables with six chairs, a stage in the far back, and a set of instruments for any genre indeed. A sign beside the stage said, "Karaoke Night. Tonight's Genre: Any." ANY genre?!? Oh, tonight would be good.
"Hey, Daniel." I turned to see Wisp beside me. He's a sneaky bastard, isn't he? He placed three bits on the counter and, to the bartender, said, "One Gray Gryphon." It was in front of him within seconds.
"Wisp, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Karaoke, of course," Wisp replied. "And I saw you walking in here. Isn't she a bit young for you to buy her a drink?"
What happened next, I still have no fucking idea how it happened. I saw a hoof go through my head, punch Wisp, and knock him off of his stool. "I'm a 23-year-old mare in a 10-year-old filly's body," Melody pointed out. "And he's NOT buying me a drink."
"Then you're buying his drink then? Understandable, he hasn't been around long enough to get any money himself," another familiar voice responded. I looked over Melody's head to see Dracula sipping a glass of red wine. Couldn't quite tell what kind it was.
"Yeah, it's a bit sad, isn't it?" I chuckled.
"Not so," the vampire said. "It means she considers you a close friend."
"Maybe something more?" Wisp chuckled. Again, a hoof went through my head to knock Wisp off of his stool. She's a bit touchy, isn't she?
I picked up my drink and motioned to an empty six-chair table. The other three followed me, albeit Wisp a little bit dazed. As I sat down, there was noise from the stage.
"Could I have your attention, please?" a female zombie gryphon announced. "Karaoke Night is starting in 5 minutes. Get your singing voices ready, and talk to me if you want to participate."
"Daniel join?" Jack asked. Wait, when'd HE get here?
"I hope so, I want to see him humiliate himself," Morva added. Wha...how...I... I downed the rest of my drink in one gulp.
"Quite a motley crew we have here," Wisp pointed out. Tell me about it: a young, ghostly Earth Pony mare in a filly's body, a Stalfos from a different dimension, a warrior ghost pegasus, a vampire unicorn that's actually the badass of badasses, a zombie diamond dog blacksmith, and...whatever the hell Morva is. I suspect he's a lizard man, but I KNOW he's disguised as a zombie dragon.
Suddenly, a thought just appeared in my head. One that I may or may not regret later on. "Hey, how about we ALL make fools of ourselves? We all go up there and sing at least one song."
My idea was rewarded with three different fluids covering me as their owners spit at me. Dracula simply sipped his wine a bit slower, and Morva had no drink of his own. Jack, Wisp, and Melody, however, had dumbfound expressions on their faces. "I am NOT going up there!" they all said simultaneously.
I glanced at Dracula. He simply gave me a look that said, "I'm staying right here, thankyouverymuch." Morva simply shook his head. Then, a better idea came to mind.
"Okay," I said. "I'll go on my own. I'll take my turn, and I'll even perform for you when it's your turn if you stand by your decision. But, you have to drink for every time after my initial appearance if you're NOT performing."
Everyone eyed each other uneasily. Well, everyone except Dracula. That guy is stoic as hell. Melody was the first to recover.
"Haha...nope, still not performing," she said.
"Not convincing me," Wisp added.
"Jack blacksmith, not singer," Jack pointed out.
"Sorry, but my...friend...is the singer, and I only sing with him," Morva sighed.
"I guess I could entertain you," Dracula said.
"WHAT?!?" the other four yelled.
"We can sing any song, yes?"
"Yeah, the sign says any genre welcome this time," I said, pointing to the sign to back me up.
The zombie gryphon spoke again. "It's that time, ladies and gents! We are now starting Karaoke Night! Let's give it up for the brave souls that are going to perform tonight!"
I nodded at Dracula and stood up. I walked up to the gryphon and bowed. "I would like to sing, ma'am," I said.
"Really, now?" she asked sarcastically. "I thought you were here to ask me on a date."
"I would, but I don't stand a chance," I replied. "Anyway, quick question. Can I enter multiple times?"
The gryphon tapped her claw lightly on the stage for a moment. "I don't see why not," she finally answered. "Just try not to hog the show, Mr...?"
"Fortesque," I said suavely, "Daniel Fortesque."
She gasped. "Daniel Fortesque? THE Daniel Fortesque?!? The same Daniel Fortesque going to be fighting in the finals tomorrow?!?"
I chuckled and nodded. I swear, she actually squeed. "I am SO happy to finally get to talk to you! Do you remember me?!?"
I thought for a moment. Unfortunately, for the life/death of me, nothing came to mind. "Sorry, but it's escaping me right now. Care to refresh my memory?"
"Marcy Corsione, gryphon zombie and one of your biggest fans, especially when you threw the chupacabra's head to me! I finally got something special from the arena, and it's all thanks to you!"
Wow...I had absolutely no idea. Who else is a fan? "Um, glad to please, erm, a fan of mine. So..."
"Oh, yes!" Marcy clapped her claws together. "Go on stage, and good luck!" She sighed dreamily as she added, "I hope your singing is as good as your fighting."
I nodded slowly. I walked up the stage as Dracula chatted with Marcy. The band took their respective places and looked at me as if they were wanting to know the song they were to play. I went to the lead guitarist (who was a ghost diamond dog in what looked like a red suit) and gave him the song title. He nodded as he relayed the message to the rest of the band.
I heard the drummer hit the sticks to signify the beat...