“But Mom! I’ve had this concert planned for ages! You can’t make me babysit Dinky now.” I complained.
“I can and I will.” Mom held up a hoof. “Honey, I know how much this meant to you but the office needs me to fly this route. You understand that, right?”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” I muttered, kicking at the floor. “Why couldn’t you have Noteworthy or the Doctor do it?”
“Noteworthy is in Manehattan performing, and the Doctor, well, nobody knows where he gets off to.” She slung her satchel over her neck and trotted towards the door. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Come here, let momma kiss you goodbye.”
I begrudgingly stepped forward and let her peck me on the cheek.
“I’d better not find out you went to that concert, missy, or else.” The door closed behind her.
I sighed and turned away, only to jump as it opened again.
“And tell Dinky no sweets!”
The door slammed and I heard the ruffle of departing feathers.
“Me and you, huh, Dinks.” I trotted towards the kitchen. “Yippee.” It wasn’t that I didn’t want to hang out with her, but I had been waiting for this band to come to Ponyville since the start of their tour six months ago.
“Sparks?” Dinky’s head popped around the corner. “Did Mommy leave?”
I tousled her mane. “Yes, Mommy left.”
“Can I have a cookie?” She pleaded, eyes wide.
I shook my head with a small chuckle. “How can I say no to you?” I lifted her into her chair and brought two cookies from the jar to rest in front of us. She set upon hers with ravenous intent, while I sat with my head on the table, listlessly playing with the salt shaker.
“Sparks?”
“Hmm?” I blinked.
“Can I have yours?” She pointed at the untouched cookie sitting before me.
I considered it for a moment, then a lightbulb went off in my head. “If I give this to you, do you promise to be good and go to bed right at eight?” She nodded fiercely, eyes firmly trained on the treat. “What do you say?”
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
I slid the cookie over to her. “Remember, right at eight.”
“I fow. Fanks.” She mumbled around the pastry.
I grinned to myself. If she’s in bed by eight, I can get to the concert and only miss the first song or two. I’ve got this.
“Dinks, go get a game out.”
I softly closed Dinky’s door behind me, flicking off the light with my magic. I released a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding and tiptoed to the bathroom, grabbing my makeup bag from my room as I passed.
A skirt, short enough that I may as well have not been wearing anything at all, slid over my legs, followed by a Neighvana shirt, then a faux leather jacket. A fake septum ring joined the lip ring and helix piercing, followed by a golden chain around my neck. Purple and black eyeshadow licked out from the corner of my eyes, and the gel in my hair straightened it into a mohawk of spikes, ready for a night out. I smiled, blew myself a kiss in the mirror, then headed for the front door.
In my haste, I forgot about the squeaky floorboard outside of Dinky’s room. It creaked as I pranced down the hall, and I instinctively sucked in my breath and gingerly removed my hoof from the board.
Silence. I was safe.
I gently shut the front door behind me, sparing the house a glance as I set off towards the town proper. Quiet and dark, like Mom wanted it to be.
The cool night air nipped at my heels as I trotted through the town, a smile on my face. All in a day’s work, I thought to myself. Dinky’s in bed, I’m here, and Mom will never know I left.
Ponyville was alive, the club’s noise spilling out into the streets like water, cascading through the town. It infected the area, the beat growing louder as I approached the doors. Light spilled out from the windows, bathing the street in a golden glow, beckoning to those who weren’t already headed towards the club. It promised a chance to cut loose, a time to revel in the freedom of music.
I flashed my ID to the bouncers, who nodded and moved aside. Stepping into the club, I let the stench of sweat and alcohol roll over me, grimacing slightly as the acrid odour burned my nose.
Squeezing my way through the crowd, I focused on a spot close to the stage, the best possible spot to hear the music and feel the crowd bouncing with energy.
The best spot to feel alive.
“And now, the song you’ve all been waiting for, SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT!” The speakers rumbled as I forced my way into the center of the floor.
I whooped. “WOO-HOO! FUCK YEAH!” The crowd pulsed with me, the noise growing louder as whistles and cheers echoed through the room. As the first riff came through the speakers, the noise doubled again and the hooves began to stomp, shaking the building. I joined in, adding to the rumble of the crowd, another hoofbeat lost in the sea of energy.
The mob started singing, a raw chorus of voices accompanying the lead, another layer of noise above the pounding of the bass, a layer of noise that rose in intensity with the guitars.
As the next song began, a voice sounded in my ear. “Pretty good band, isn’t it?”
“Fuck yeah it is!” I replied, eyes closed as I danced. “I’ve got every single album they’ve released! I’m so glad I could make it!”
“Mhmm.” The voice sounded displeased. “Me too. It’s not like I was asked to watch my little sister while our parent was working or anything.”
I blanched and turned to look at the speaker.
I grinned sheepishly. “Uh…hi, Mom?”
She tapped her hoof on the floor.
“I can explain?”