//------------------------------// // Mare of the Rising Sun // Story: Pontera, Far Beyond Herded Tour // by TDR //------------------------------// Pontera Far Beyond Herded Tour By TDR The crowd was gathering outside and the stage hooves were running about getting the last few things ready for the show. The air was filled with excitement as the crowd built nearly selling out the Stable of Blues concert hall. Many had only heard of the group and this was the first tour. A pair of alicorns from some far off land who's music was unlike anything heard in Equestria before. You could almost taste the excitement. Situated in the corner of the backstage area, hidden by a stack of crates, a few notes twanged forth from a unseen guitar. It was accompanied by a bit of muttering and a few more notes sounding a little better. Most of the stage hooves ignored the figure in the shadows. A dark purple pegasus with a blue mane and tail that had a white stripe running through them sat hunched over a powder blue guitar. Some of the new comers to the stage crew were a little freaked out that some one other than Bloodmoon was allowed to touch the Lady Macbeth. After a time however most tended to ignore it as Bloodmoon never said anything and Blackhole Sun vouched that the pony was the only one allowed to do so. Any one who tried to talk to him was met with excessive unintelligible mumbling that could barely be understood and a rapid withdrawing and shying away from who every tried to speak with him. He never addressed any one and tended to steer clear of all the other stage ponies, before long most just ignored that he was even around. Just another part of a already strange show. As the time ticked down the screams of the gathered fans resounded through the back stage area. The white alicorn, Blackhole Sun steps out of his dressing room ears perking at the twang of the guitar from behind the boxes. He glances around before ducking behind the crates himself, looking down at the pegasus. The little area was covered in dust and only a small section where the pegasus sat was clear of it. The alicorn sighs, trust Jer to find a spot no pony had seen in years. “You always do this. These things are supposeds to works no matter whats, and yet you always takes it off before a shows.” “I never feel right wearing it all the time like you do brother. It's not me.” “Well whatevers floats yer goat. Buts its times for you to changes we gots a show to dos.” “I know.” The pegasus stands stretching fanning out his wings and setting the guitar in a stage cradle, before tapping a hoof on a gold bracelet on his left foreleg. The change was almost instantaneous. A sudden burst of wind and light came from the bracelet washing over him. His fur darkens, his mane and tail lengthens, turning into a visage of the night sky that continued to flutter like it was in a unseen breeze. His cutie mark changed from a ray of light passing through a prism to make a rainbow, into a red crescent moon dripping like it was bleeding. Blackhole Sun smirked. “Feelings better nows that you haves your mask on?” “Nah, just more able tah give dhe ponies what dhe want, a loud annoying rock star.” The dark alicorn Bloodmoon picks up the guitar with a wing and the pair of them trot out onto the stage to the roar of the crowd. He mutters to his brother as the stage hooves wheel out a fair sized pipe organ. “Gonna start slow tanight bro. Lotta work fer yah at first dhough it'll git easier wid dhe rest of dhe show.” “Buck, were startings with mare of the rising suns? You know I hates pianos.” “But yah ken play um. We'll look fer some more band members later, fer now well.... have fun.” Blood moon runs across the stage, explosions and fire blast out from hidden points or spells cast by stage hooves, lighting the whole audience up in the glow of the flames. He glances back as his brother settles behind the drums, the white alicorn's horn glowing already, shifting and testing the series of interments that would be needed. Blackhole Sun was clearly not happy, but there was no other pony who could deal with playing that many things at once. Bloodmoon had enough issue singing and playing just the guitar. He sets the Lady Macbeth in her cradle on stage, picking up another guitar that had been tuned differently for this song. He glances back at his brother nodding. The dark alicorn's wings dip as he starts a rather slow rhythmic playing that is only barely accompanied by the drums after a few moments. The audience goes silent surprised that they launched into a song with out an intro at all. Bloodmoon's voice comes off a great deal deeper than most expected listening to him, though a few of the fans who had the first CD recognized the song. "There is a mare in Can-ter-lot Who brings about the sun. And she's been the ruin, of many a poor colt. By the stars, I know, I'm one." Blackhole Sun groaned lightly bringing in the cymbals to play with light taps. The organ part was coming up, and getting psyched for that bit of work was not easy. It was defiantly not something he was looking forward too. Bloodmoon's ears perk as his brother's magic starts the first notes of the pipe organ. That unicorn could play anything, couldn't sing for crap though. "My father was a common-er, slaved his days away. My mother was a noble mare up in Canterlot. Now growing up out on the farm we rise along with the sun. But growing up in the royal court That's where she has her fun." Blackhole Sun lost his concentration a moment making a slight miss note that BloodMoon covered up with a few extra cords on the guitar. Playing base, drums and the organ with his magic was a pain in the flank. The solo had him focused more on the organ than the others, though the beat for the high hat needed to be maintained , his brother ran a few lower notes on his guitar covering for the lapse in base. Bloodmoon leaned forward, his voice taking on a fake strain to it, giving the impression of longing to the tone of his voice. "Oh mothers tell your foals now, not to do what I have done spend your life in pursuit of debauchery with the mare who lifts tha sun.” “Well I got two hooves on that platform and two are on tha train I’m going back to Can-ter-lot to try that mare again....." Black hole sun panted, this was getting to be a bit much, they really needed other members of the band. This was the last show at this venue, so perhaps they could check for the musically inclined along the way to the next place. They were supposed to be passing though a couple of towns on the way to Trotsville with a brief layover in a small place called Ponyville ‎"There is a mare in can-ter-lot Who brings about tha sun and shes been the ruin, of many a poor colt. By the stars , I know, I’m one." The music slowly tapers off, the notes growing softer with the organ finishing up the set. The crowd remains silent a moment before erupting into cheers. The scrams of adoration rising even higher as Blackhole Sun flings his drumsticks out into the crowd before grabbing a new pair of them for the next set. Bloodmoon glances back at his brother, Blackhole Sun nods in response taking a gulp of his beer. It seemed he was not dead yet from the effort, but this show wasn't over either. He held up three feathers on his left wing and one on his right marking Sympathy for Chaos as the next song. Blackhole Sun silently curses the dark alicorn's song writing skills. There were still plenty of songs left in this set before he could start sighing autographs on mares flanks. At least while the next song was a fast one, it was not as strenuous. “GOOD EVENING HAYGAS, WE ARE PONTERA!!!” This was going to be a good night. [House of the rising sun. by The Animals ]