Chapter 16: One More Song
"Yeah, I'm gonna have to say NO," I finally managed to say.
"Oh, COME ON!" Morva yelled. Thankfully, due to the noise of the tavern, no one heard him. "It's a cool song, and it fits the five of us well!"
"Ha! That song fits us like a snowball fits in hell!" I retorted.
"But...snowballs no belong in hell...do they?" Jack asked.
"Exactly, Jack! They don't! Just like this song doesn't fit us!"
"Okay, then, smartass, YOU come up with a better idea for a group song!" Damn. I got nothing. Well, I have one, but it's not exactly a 'group song...'
"Okay, what do you guys think of..." and I told them my idea. ...what? I love watching you guys squirm! Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough, because Dracula and Jack both agreed it was a better song than Morva was thinking. Wisp stood by Morva's side, but 3-2, I win. The result? Morva just flipped me the bird while Wisp just shook his head. Guess that means the three of us (us being Jack, Dracula, and me, in case you couldn't figure THAT out on your own) were to sing this awesome song.
"You'll be the last performance for tonight," Marcy said. As Jack and Dracula climbed the stage, Marcy grabbed my arm and pulled me close. "For here, at least. You're invited to a private performance after hours," she cooed. I scrambled up onto the stage without saying anything to her.
"So, are you sure this will work?" Dracula asked as he levitated his guitar once more.
I gave a hearty laugh before saying, "I have NO IDEA!"
"That...worries Jack," Jack muttered. The drummer behind us gave the four beat tap. Dracula started to strum his instrument, and soon it got to the part where we just started rocking. I started the singing portion, but we all had a share of it.
Wish I may, wish I might,
Have this I wish tonight
Are you satisfied?
Dig for gold, dig for fame,
You dig to make your name
Are you pacified?
All the wants you waste
All the things you've chased
Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger,
But there's no one around
Just want one thing
Just to play the king
But the castle's crumbled
And you're left with just a name
Where's your crown, King Nothing?
(Where's your crown?)
Hard and cold, bought and sold
A heart as hard as gold
Yeah, are you satisfied?
Wish I might, wish I may,
You wish your life away
Are you pacified?
All the wants you waste
All the things you've chased
Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger,
But there's no one around
Just want one thing
Just to play the king
But the castle's crumbled
And you're left with just a name
Where's your crown, King Nothing?
(Oh, where's your crown?)
Here, Dracula is pulling the solo off like a pro. Honestly, if he wasn't a vampire lord, he'd be a rock god. I swear on my honor. When it came time to sing the last part, we decided to let him start it.
Wish I may, wish I might
Have this wish I wish tonight
I want that star, I want it now
I want it all and I don't care how
Careful what you wish
Careful what you say
Careful what you wish, you may regret it
Careful what you wish, you just might get it!
Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger,
But there's no one around
Just want one thing
Just to play the king
But the castle's crumbled
And you're left with just a name
Where's your crown, King Nothing?
As Dracula finished the song off on the guitar, Jack and I finished it off on the vocals. I have to admit, the crowd reacted as if Metallica themselves had performed the song. Admit it, you'd be screaming like a little girl too if they came to your town.
The three of us took our seats as the bartender shouted, "Last call! Last one before we close for tonight!" Morva and Wisp grunted. Whether it was to confirm last call or to say "Good job, I guess," I'll never be sure. Somehow, Melody was slammed harder than a baseball against a bat held by The Great Bambino. The "called shot" one, though. (Fun Fact: As well known as he is for that point in history, Babe Ruth was also known as the Strikeout King during his career. WHEE!)
"Hey, Daniel," Melody slurred.
Oh, dear, here we go again. "Yes, Melody?" I asked politely.
"Are you part of triplets?" She giggled as she finished the sentence.
"No, Melody, I am not part of triplets," I said for the umpteenth time since we headed back to Jack's. Melody and Jack were on either side of me while the other three had elected to stick around the tavern a while longer. For what reason, I don't know, and honestly didn't care at that point. I just wanted to get out of there before Marcy tried to give that 'private performance' she was talking about.
"Then why do I see three of you?" Melody asked, one eye focused on me while the other wandered away.
"Are we there yet?" I asked Jack, hoping against hope we had arrived at the blacksmith's home.
"Just a little longer," he sighed. "Poor girl can't hold her liquor."
I was about to comment on that when Melody grabbed my head and started to mess with it! "Hahaha! 'Alas, poor Yorick. I knew thee well.' I'm Hamlet! Whoo!"
I grabbed my head out of her hooves, but I didn't put it back where it belonged. "I've got one better." I cleared my throat before I recited:
And since I am dead
I can take off my head
And recite Shakespearean quotations!
...damn, I should've performed THAT song at the karaoke. Oh, well. But it didn't matter, as I got Melody laughing. A bit louder than I would've liked, though...
"We're here!" Jack yelled over her laughter. We all entered the home and I headed to the guest room immediately. I laid on the bed and, once again, reflected on the day's events. It wasn't something I actually did back home, but then again, why would you want to reflect on the same day over and over again?
Melody floated into the room and laid on the bed beside me. "Daniel, I want to ask you something."
"The answer to your question is no," I replied.
"You don't even know what it is!" she moaned.
"I know what it isn't," I joked.
"Be serious," she scoffed. She didn't wait for me to reply before she continued. "Do you have a...special somepony or something like that?"
I sighed. "No, Melody. I don't have a special someone."
"Will you...be........." Her voice trailed off and she was soon sleeping soundly. Hey, the dead may not need sleep, but it doesn't mean they can't. I got out of bed and placed the blanket over her ghostly body, which did nothing as it went right through her. What else could I do? Placing my shield and sword at the foot of the bed, I cleared the floor and laid on my back.
"I can't say yet. Good night, Melody," I murmured. Tomorrow was to be the biggest day of my life. Whether it was the best or the worst, however, was for fate to decide.
Early next morning:
So, today is the day I get to see the infamous Daniel Fortesque in action.
I must ask, my lord, what exactly do you see in him?
His aura...
You mentioned it last time. What is it?
Do you remember the necromancer, Mordroc?
Ugh, who doesn't?
He had the exact same aura himself.
He did, too? But...
You would be surprised in what I know. There is little that surprises me.
*cough*Daniel!*cough*
What did you say?
N-nothing! Just a bug in my throat!
Right...anyway, shouldn't you check on your guests?
Yes, he still needs an...outfit. By your leave...
.........enjoy your final hours of freedom, Daniel Fortesque. Once you and Keeta are out of the way...nothing can stop me or my army.