//------------------------------// // Chapter 16 - Pepperland: Act 1 // Story: The Beatle // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// It didn’t take much for any fan of The Beatle to noticed that they were putting on a play. Tickets were printed and sold out before the ink could dry. Even posters about the production became a collector’s item when they were put up around the town. On the radio, there was an advertisement for the musical. Featuring brand new, never before heard songs by the geniuses of Pull McCart and Dawn Lemon. But outside of that, actual news of the production itself was kept a secret by the cast. With only a few weeks with intense rehearsals, perfecting the costumes, the effects, and the Canterlot Philharmonic providing the instrumentation of the song – there was quite a lot of pressure on everyone involved. There were rumors here and there of what the play is going to be about and the receipts that were found in garbage cans that paid far more than any typical school play. If anything, what newspaper reporters were scraping up, it suggested that this play was aiming for Bridleway quality. Then, on the final week of school when summer break was just around the corner, attendees gathered in Ponyville to the outdoor theater. There was a fence that was put up around it that sealed up the area except for a gate in which student ticket takers stood. Above there was a sign in a rainbow of letters that had the name of the play: PEPPERLAND When they did enter and took their seats, they saw that there was a banner that hung over the drawn purple curtains. A notice by the co-author of the play that read: Anycreature attempting to find a motive in this production will be prosecuted; anycreature attempting to find a moral will be banished; anycreature attempting to find a plot in this play will be shot; anycreature attempting to heckle the actors or musicians will be disembodied by the fans. - BY ORDER OF THE CO-AUTHOR. Smolder. While the audience waited, Twilight flew over to get to her seat where, she noticed next to Dawn, Pull, and Mango, Fancy Pants was talking to them. She lowered herself down into the last seat available next to them and said, “Fancy Pants? What are you doing here?” “Princess Twilight,” Fancy gave her a polite bow. “I came here as a sponsor of this production to see what has become of it. Although I must say that I was rather surprised when Ocellus had suggested the idea. But, then again, I was promised a soundtrack so I could put on the radio.” “And how’s that going?” He smiled, “Better than I could ever hope for- oh! Where are have my manners gone to?” “Don’t know.” Mango remarked, “Maybe it stepped out to get some popcorn.” Fancy laughed, “These Gentlecolts are fantastic! Princess, do you know these three?” “Yes,” Twilight said, “We’ve met.” “So, is it true that this will be going to Bridleway?” Pull asked. “That depends,” Fancy told him, “I’ve invited an old friend of mine who produces plays over there. If she likes it, she’ll no doubt buy the rights of the play so she could do it over there. But in the meantime, Ocellus promised me that after this is over, she’ll produce the soundtrack. To be honest, for a young lady, she is perhaps the most ambitious musician I’ve ever encountered.” “Tell us about it.” All three older stallions said in unison. “I mean, having her decide to come up with new songs, write up a script, pull a cast and staging together in roughly about the same time it takes for any theater Troup to rehearse is astonishing. If anything, I just hope it would be worthwhile.” “Trust me,” Twilight replied to him, “my students have been working extra hard on this musical. From what I’ve heard, they’re proud of what they were able to come up with.” “Ah! Looks like it’s about to start.” Fancy said, pointing over to the orchestra between the audience and the stage. The conductor, an old stallion in a tuxedo walked out and smiling courteously to the polite applause. He took his place on the conductor’s stand and stood there as the orchestra took a moment to tune-up. Unexpectedly, the curtains went up, revealing a screen that was bathed in blue that stretched over the whole stage. As the orchestra tuned their instruments to a warm sound, the young actors of the cast walked on. There were shadows of students and Changelings moving a heavy set here, another putting on a costume there, someone setting up a stand-up door with a few suitcases nearby; and two Changelings flared up in flashes of green before getting into a bed, their backs against one another. No one knew what to make of this as it was as if they were suddenly caught unprepared and yet, the shadows of the actors moved without bumping into anyone. Almost as if this was intentional. Even when a table with a chair was set up while a group of students rushed across the stage with instruments, they weaved between them in time so that neither touched the other during this rush. It was surreal to see those shadows going back and forth setup up for the performance. Like the cast were almost breaking the fourth wall without doing so. While the actors carried random props and sets, no one knew what it all meant. Here a tree is pushed, there a submarine is pulled, and suddenly a roller-coaster was taken down. But after the orchestra had tuned up, the screen raised to show on the left of the stage a slice of a bedroom with two sleeping ponies in it. Next to it, Ocellus writing something at a table with a door with a few suitcases behind her. And in the very front center of the stage, Smolder in a brass band uniform in red looked straight at the audience. “Once upon a time,” Smolder said, “there was a young mare that ran away from home.” The play began with a plucking harp and a choir of students that sang the opening. That one early morning, the young mare folded up a note that hoped to explain everything. She got up and quietly went to the back door where she picked up a few suitcases and a guitar case. Then, opening the door, she went through and gently closed it. As she did, the chorus sang aloud their wonder of why she would leave after everything. Turning around for a moment, the audience saw on her face relief, excitement and a pause of hesitation. A line from a solo singer explained she’s tired of living alone for so long – for now, she is free. The young mare grinned and exited off stage. Meanwhile, one of the parents, the mother, wakes up to put on her dressing gown. She goes over to the table and noticing the letter, picks it up to read it. A look of shock and tears started to flow from her eyes, turning back to the bedroom. “Our baby’s gone!” the mother said distraught. This jolted the father awake as his wife handed him the note. “Why would she treat us so thoughtlessly?” While the parents wondered what they did that was wrong and the chorus beautifully sang over, a few of them came on stage to move the door, table, and the platform that the bed was on, being replaced with trees, a few park benches, and a gazebo in the middle before the song was finished. A few ponies went about their business, not taking notice of Ocellus who entered back on stage before sitting down at the nearest bench. “I think that should be far enough for now.” She said to herself. “Hopefully I can get over to the next town before they put up missing posters… And hopefully, I wouldn’t be found just yet.” Opening up one of the suitcases, she pulled out a sandwich. “Not until I can prove to them that I’m capable of taking care of myself. After all, I got food, some bits, clothes, and my guitar. All I need now… Are connections.” Looking around the park, she added, “I mean… it shouldn’t be that hard. Just go up to someone and say: ‘Hi, my name is Madonna, can I have a place to sleep for the night and a job? Any job would do.’” After taking a bite out of her sandwich, she added, “Or maybe… Can you be a friend? A real one I mean. I never had a choice in choosing who I wanted to be with before and… But how to do it? How do I make friends when I’m starting everything from scratch?” As if answered by the universe, suddenly more of the cast came on stage towards the gazebo. Saying things like, “They’re almost here!” or “C’mon, it’s time!” Ocellus, or rather, Madonna, blinked. “What’s going on?” Suddenly a spotlight was aimed at the gazebo and then it moved across the stage, over the audience towards the back of the amphitheater where Smolder in the red band uniform. The audience turned where she announced loudly like a drill sergeant. “So may I introduce to you!” she called out, waving an arm behind her, “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band!” She led the way as a band in colorful uniforms marched in. Right behind Smolder, Silverstream was in light blue with a kazoo, Gallus in light green with a sneer-drum, Yona in yellow with a Yovidaphone, and Sandbar in pink with a trombone. It was an amusing sight for the audience seeing them in such a gaudy get up that earned a chuckle. But for Silverstream, Gallus, Yona, and Sandbar, they sang with pride of who they were and hoped that they would enjoy the show. In the meantime, they tell them to sit back and let their evenings go for what they have. They sang of how great it is to be here, and with a wonderful audience, they wish that they could take them home. Smolder, however, flew up just behind the conductor to announce that she would like them to know that one of the band members is going to sing a song and wants them to sing along. So, the band rushes up the stage and up to the gazebo where both the cast and audience applauded the end of the song. When it died out, and spotlights shone on Smolder, or (as far as the audience was concerned) Sgt. Pepper and Madonna, the Dragoness step forward. “Thank you, thank you. Now let’s start this with an oldy but a goodie from Billy. Here he is to take the lead with ‘A Little Help From my Friends.’” As the cast applauded, Gallus as “Billy” walked out as proud as could be like a ringmaster in a circus. He starts to sing that if he did so badly, would they leave? The cast shook their heads. So, he promises that he’ll sing a tune that he’ll be on the right key. Madonna listened, her face with longing while the young Griffon praised the help he gets from his friends. Silverstream comes up next to him in which the song becomes a subtle duet. When Bill asked what he will do now that his love is gone, Silverstream replies if it hurts to be alone. She even asks him if he needs anybody, he tells her that he’ll take anyone if he could love back. The Changeling – along with the audience – could tell that this was a carefully designed love song where the Hippogriff was trying to give him hints but the Griffon not catching on. After all, he repeatedly says that he could get by with his friends. Meanwhile, Madonna gets an idea as she turns to her guitar case to pull out her instrument. Yet, while the duet was going on, she hesitated, as if wondering if this was a good idea. After weighing her options, she waited until the end of the song and the applause to approach them. “Uh…” She began weakly, then cleared her throat to speak a little louder. “Excuse me.” The cast and the band turned to her. “Sorry for interrupting, but who are you guys?” “Really?” Sgt. Pepper deadpanned. “Did you not hear the song from earlier? I thought we’d made it clear.” “Maybe she hadn’t heard?” Yona suggested. “Should we play again?” Silverstream asked. “Sure, why not.” Sandbar said, “And a one, two-” “Hold up! Hold up!” Sgt. Pepper waved her claws. “We don’t have a reprise right now! Let’s introduce ourselves to the lady over here.” Turning back to the Changeling, she cleared her throat. “Anyway, I’m Sargent Pepper, leader of the band. And these lunatics are as follows: this is Billy the Drummer,” she gestured over to Gallus; “this is Finny, the kazoo…ist?” Silverstream waved; “this is Hoovy, the Trombone player,” Sandbar nodded; “and this is Yaky the whatever-you-call-that-thing.” Yona frowned, “Yovidaphone.” “What she said. And who are you and what do you want?” “Well… I’m Madonna and… I uh… want to join your band.” The cast laughed, even Sgt. Pepper chuckled. “I’m afraid you misunderstood.” The Dragoness explained, “The Lonely Hearts Club Band isn’t made out of armatures, mind you. We have the best of the best here. Unless…” She strokes her chin, “you prove yourself.” “Like an audition?” “More than that, it’s not just you’ll have to convince,” she waved a claw, “it’s everyone here. If they and we like it, you’re in.” “Okay,” Madonna lifted her guitar. “So, what exactly-” “Play or sing a song.” “Make it a good one!” Hoovy interjected. “O-Okay…” She looked down at her guitar for a moment. “Well… In that case, there is one song I know.” Clearing her throat, she started to play her guitar, “This was inspired by a word game that goes like this.” This line cueing the orchestra. From there, she sang a playful song of opposites. Yes. No. Stop. Go. Goodbye. Hello. High. Low. Why. I don’t know. It was a simple song compared to the previous ones before. Yet, with the orchestra propelling it along with a steady drumbeat, mechanical organ, winds and strings that gave the song life. It sounded like a pop song that didn’t try to be superficial. It was something that the Cast was getting into, so much so, that they sang the simplified chorus that made them sway and they started to dance. Even Madonna swayed in tune and was dancing with the other dances, waving in between them to spin, jump, dodge, and hop around this impromptu dance party. If anything, the dancing around her was from her commands in where she says this, they do. When she sings to stop, they stop. When she sings to go, they go. They jump high, then crouch low. Even waving Hello and Goodbye while twisting over another. While this was going on, the Lonely Hearts Club Band started to discuss what they were seeing and hearing. “You’ve got to admit Sarge,” Hoovy commented, “she has potential.” “A bit simplistic,” Sgt. Pepper said thoughtfully, “still, she can carry a tune.” “Her timing is good.” Billy snapped his talons. “Not to mention that does know how to play.” “But good enough to join band?” Yaky questioned. “Well look at them,” Sgt. Pepper pointed out to the dancing crowd. “Would it be a good idea not to?” Finny looked over at the bench where she noticed a few suitcases there. “Look over there, she had those when we came in. Do you think… she’s like us?” “As in… lonely?” Bill asked, all of them looking back at her. The band fell silent as the chorus sang the main part of the song, going back and forth in different languages. “Hello!” “Adiós!” “你好!” “Hej då!” Near the end, hula dancers came out of nowhere to finish off the final bars of her song. So, as the song ended, the chorus cleared the stage to where it was her and the band. Turning around, she asked them, “So… good enough?” The Sargent told her to wait for a moment to call in for a band group huddle. For a moment, they muttered among themselves until they turned around. Magically, Sgt. Pepper had in her arms an orange uniform with a hat. “Good news, you’re in.” Madonna thanked them and excitedly took the uniform in her aura. “Now that you’re in our band,” Finny told her, “You’re going to need a nickname.” “As in… come up with one?” They nodded. “You don’t really think Sgt. Pepper is my real name, do you?” the Dragoness said cheekily. “No, we’ve made up new names for ourselves, so it makes it easier for the rest of us to remember. So, what do you want to be called now?” After thinking it over for a moment, she said, “Call me… Stringy?” The others nodded in agreement. “So now we got you on,” Hoovy told her, “maybe we’ll be better than ever by the time we get to our new gig.” “Why?” Madonna questioned, tilting her head. “Where we are going?” “Ever heard of Pepperland?” Sgt. Pepper asked. “Uh… Not really? I don’t think I’ve heard of it.” “We’ve been there at least once,” Billy told her. “If anything, we’ve been preparing for years to earn patronage from… her.” Finny nodded, “If you can make it to her court, we’ll be on top of the world.” “Who are you talking about?” Madonna asked. “You mean you’ve never heard of Luna?” Yaky inquired. “In the sky?” Added Hoovy. “With Diamonds?” finished Sgt. Pepper. She shook her head. “No. But what’s Pepperland like? I never heard the name on any map before.” While the Changeling asked, the audience noticed that in the background, the bright blue sky was changing into a bright orange-pink. The trees and gazebo lit up with white Hearth’s Warming lights. “Wow,” Hoovy sighed, “How do we describe it? It’s like…” He tapped on his chin in thought as the orchestra started up again with a new song. From the orchestra, it began quietly with the plucking of soothing strings, as if to enter into a dream. Then as Hoovy began to sing, the audience heard the strumming of a sitar as he sings to imagine being on a boat on a river where the trees are tangerine and skies as orange as marmalade. A land where towers of yellow and green cellophane flowers grow. If you follow a mare with the sun in her eyes to a bridge by a fountain, they would find a village of rocking horse folks baking and consuming marshmallow pies. A place where newspaper taxies wait by the seashore to take you anywhere, next to the train stations has clay people with mirror ties. Behind them, the screen became more surreal as if the very sky was changing. Turning from a pinkish-orange to a soft yellow with eyes which transformed into diamonds. Then it turned purple and shimmered like water with clouds of milk and colorful ink. However, this psychedelic imagery didn’t stop with the background. The trees and benches sway and waltzed in pairs. Even the gazebo sprouted into a giant sunflower. Perhaps the strangest of all during this song was that above the stage itself with the overhead arch, stars appeared to make a constellation of a mare looking down. Meanwhile, back in the audience, Twilight thought that it now explained why Discord was credited for some of the special effects. When the song was over and the stage reverted to a normal park setting, Madonna was fully entranced by this. “That sounds fantastic! So how far is it?” “Firstly, we need to get to the middle of nowhere,” Sgt. Pepper told her. “There’s a bus that’s going to take us there. And from there, it’s a journey across the sea.” “In other words,” Finny further explained, “far, far, and further away still.” “Perfect!” Madonna grinned as she rushed over to get the rest of her language. The band offered to help her out. “So, I have a question for you,” Bill asked, “why are you so eager to join us?” “Truthfully? This would be an escape from what I’m getting away from.” The other band members looked at one another. “Yeah…” Sgt. Pepper nodded as they all headed off stage. “We’re trying to get away from a few things too.” The stage went dark and there was an applause. From the lights of the orchestra, they could make out the shadows of the cast pushing, pulling and carrying off the park set and replacing it with something else. When they came back up, it was a sandy beach. The backdrop was a projection of the shore with waves coming back and forth. It wasn’t completely empty, however, as there was a small tin shack that stood crooked against the sky. The audience noticed that the curtains made this scene a little narrow as if to hide something. This was the setting that the Lonely Hearts Club Band entered in with their instruments. Sgt. Pepper walked contently in this barren landscape. “Smell that?” She asked, breathing in deeply. “We’re good and lost now.” “I’m sorry, what?” Madonna went up to her. “What do you mean lost? I thought you knew where you’re going.” “That’s the idea. If you want to find something that isn’t easily found you have to be lost, otherwise, everyone else would know where to find it.” “Where are we?” Yaky looked about. “There’s nothing here but shack.” “Maybe whoever lives here,” Finny went up to the tinny door, “probably knows how to get to Pepperland!” She knocked on the hollow structure before it fell over onto itself. “Hopefully nobody’s home.” “Who knocked do my easily collapsible house!” The band turned to the voice the was coming from off stage. Enter on the stage was a tall teenage colt dressed up like an old fishermare, complete with boots, a yellow raincoat and hat, and dragging a net. “Who did this?” he demanded. “Sorry.” Finny said, “I was only knocking to see if anyone was home.” “You know it’s not nice to go about knocking others' houses,” he said, marching over to the collapsed pile of tin that was once his home. “How’d you feel if I come over to your house and knock it down without you doing so?” “I… what?” “Nobody should knock down their dwelling place except for the ones that live in it – that’s what!” He went around the pile of tine and ducking his head underneath one of the walls, pushed it back up to where the shack was back to what it once was. “There’s no satisfaction if someone else does it. It only works if the place I own comes down on my own terms. Watch.” He went around and with a swift buck, the house collapsed again. “Ah, now that’s satisfying. So what do you lot want?” At first, not knowing what to make of this, Hoovy stepped forward. “Uh, hi there. We’re the Lonely Hearts Club Band. Do you happen to know a way to get to Pepperland from here?” “Do I know it?” the fishermare laughed, “You know what I am lad?” “A crazy fisher guy that knocks down his shack for kicks?” “And! A retired captain. Old Fred, that’s what they used to call me.” “Who calls you?” Finny asked. “Nopony for now, but I was once captain of a submarine where we charted every other land from these shores and… that way.” He pointed to the background. “And I can be certain that over there is Pepperland. You can only make it by sea.” “Ah great,” Billy folded his arms, “now how are we supposed to get over there?” “There’s always the submarine.” “Where?” “Right over,” he turned around and noticed the curtains were in the way. “Oi! You lazy half-drawn winches! Open the stage up more!” The curtains moved further apart to a new set piece – a submarine that was painted yellow. “Huh…” Madonna blinked, “How come we didn’t notice that before?” “This is great!” Hoovy stepped forward, “Can you take us over there?” “Not without paying you don’t!” Old Fred waved a hoof. The band looked at one another. “Okay…” Madonna pulled out a purse, “So how much would you-” “I don’t accept bits.” He interrupted, “Nor do I accept cards or cash.” Billy tilted his head. “Well, what do you accept? Cans of Anchovies?” He shook his heads. “You’re all a band, aren’t ya? Well, how about I make you a deal. I’d be willing to take you all across the sea if you can make up a good song on the spot.” “Why?” Yaky questioned. “Because where you’re planning to go, to Pepperland, being able to make music on the fly will make all the difference in the world between success and death. So, c’mon now. Let’s hear it.” Sgt. Pepper called in for a group huddle where this time, the audience can hear what they’re saying. “Okay so… do any of you got any ideas?” “Wait,” Madonna interjected, “can’t any of you improvise?” “Not unless it’s something we know,” Hoovy informed her. “Why, can you improvise a song?” “I…” looking over her shoulder, she took in her surroundings of the empty beach and the old sea captain. Turning back to the band, she said, “I got an idea! It’s in common time in E major. I’ll make it short, but I think it’ll do the trick.” “What do you want us to do?” Finny asked. “I’ll play out the first couple of bars to give the rest of you an idea what to do and then, I’ll cue you by nodding towards you. Got it? Good. Just follow my lead.” Breaking the group huddle to where Billy went off stage for a moment to pull in a drum set that looked like it was molded by the sand. Sgt. Pepper and Hoovy went off stage to retrieve a guitar and bass that looked as sandy as the drum set. Madonna walked over towards Old Fred saying that she’s got a song for him. “Well let’s have it then!” Clearing her throat, she began to sing. This time, the audience was pleasantly surprised that the orchestra had taken a break to where the only sound that could be heard was the Changeling’s voice, a couple of guitars, a bass, and a drum set. It sounded like the songs that Ocellus would normally sing except the lyrics were wacky. What was being sung was about a nowheremare who doesn’t have to go anywhere or a point of view, blind and in no rush. At the same time, Madonna urged, that the nowheremare has no idea what they're missing because there’s a big world out there. Yet, no one is rushing to go anywhere so she tells him to take all the time needed until someone lends in some help. After all, the world is at his command. Meanwhile in the audience, Fancy Pants leaned over to Pull and Dawn, “I must say,” he whispered, “Although this play does not make any sense, the music is top-notch.” “It’s best to turn off your mind,” Dawn advised, “Just go along with things.” “Not to sound mean, but the play might need a rewrite. The music, however, is fascinating. For the most part, it’s like every genre and yet, it is it's own. I can see why this would do better as a soundtrack.” Twilight shushed them. Back on stage, Old Fred at first seemed unimpressed as he stood by his easily collapsible house. However, as the song went on, the audience can see his hooves started tapping to the beat, and by the end of the song, he was dancing to where he tapped dance on his collapsed house. When the song ended, much to the applause of the audience, the last one to clop his hooves was the old sea captain. “Now that’s what I’m talking about! That’s the kind of music that will get you to survive anything!” “Does that mean you’ll take us to Pepperland?” Sgt. Pepper asked, the guitar crumbling in her claws. “Oh Goddesses, no! I’m crazy, not suicidal. But I think I can get you close enough for you to make it the rest of the way on hoof.” “That’s great!” Finny jumped for joy. “At least it’s a step in the right direction.” “Now come along! Let’s start her up.” The band grabbed their things and made the climb up onto the yellow submarine. “Never been in Submarine before,” Yaky remarked. “It seemed so cramped.” “You’ll get used to it.” Old Fred replied. The audience heard the turning of wheels, grinding of gears, and a machine is activated where the submarine pulled away from the stage, yet a spotlight followed it even when the curtains were drawn. The spotlight followed offstage until the audience got the biggest surprise of the night so far as the Yellow Submarine popped out and moved around them. “Ah, now this is more like it.” Old Fred said, sticking his head out. “The open sky and a sea of faces.” “So how long until we get to wherever we’re going?” Bill asked, peeking through one of the portholes. “Oh, by a song and an intermission. Speaking of which, this reminds me of a song I used to sing as a colt.” “Wow,” Sgt. Pepper commented, her face appearing in another porthole. “That’s got to be the laziest transition to a song I’ve heard.” “Well hold on,” Old Fred said, “I haven’t sung it yet.” “Fine.” Sgt. Pepper moaned, “But if it sucks, it’s all on you.” So, with that, Old Fred began to sing. So the old sea captain started a ballad wherefrom his home town he met a stallion who told about his life about the land of submarines. One day he sailed out towards the sun where he found a peaceful place where he sailed on a sea of green. From that day on, he sang how they lived on a Yellow Submarine. Despite how he sang they lied a life of ease, the band below him, meanwhile, either tried to figure out how to work the submarine or drown him out by their instruments. Through the portholes, the audience can see that the band had different reactions to this song. Sgt. Pepper and Billy were plugging their ears. Finny was peeking through one of the periscopes, as Yaky was pushing buttons to make the submarine do all sorts of things such as turning it into a bonsai tree to a cigarette lighter. Meanwhile, Madonna was playing her guitar to play along with the singing captain. By the time the song had ended, the submarine has moved all around the audience and returned back to the stage. There was applause as it was announced that the second act will begin again in fifteen minutes. As ponies were getting up to stretch their legs, Fancy turned to Twilight. “You have to admit, this is a rather odd play.” “I think that was the intention. The students said they were putting on a nonsense play and, well, that’s what we got.” “I understand that but…” He tapped his chin, “I can’t help but feel that somehow… it didn’t go all the way with its insanity. So far, we had a young mare running away from home, met a colorful band in which she decided to join, they moved on to a beach where a crazy hermit is willing to take them out to sea for a song. It feels like something is missing.” “Just remember, this is only the first act. I’m sure the second will meet your expectations.” “Oh, it will,” Pull told both of them. “Trust us, if you didn’t think it was that crazy, wait until they get to the outskirts of Pepperland.”