//------------------------------// // Subject 173: Sky Mission Part V // Story: Interviews With Equestrians // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// Some fast-paced techno music began to play, and Corkscrew started to sing--though it was more like very loud talking in tune with the music. Rap, maybe? Whatever the case, it gave me the opening I needed to sneak backstage. This was my chance to not only prove to Pale that I still had the skills needed when it came to keeping everyone occupied, but that I could also use this as my chance to hit the big time in Las Pegasus and prove to my family that I wasn’t just some empty desk suit. “Check it! Uh--! Listen to your heart!” “Make it count ya’ll! Get a head start!” “Don’t slow down! Be yourself, stand tall!” “Give it all you got! Rise above it all!” Unfortunately, for a bit it seemed like I didn’t really impress the crowd. I’ll be honest, it kinda rattled my nerves a bit. All through the crowd I could see...admittedly uncertain faces. They glared at me as if they had no idea what I had said. As if I spoke some other language. Yeesh. Tough crowd. “Uh, what is he saying?” “Is he serious?” “This is super corny.” It felt like time started to slow down. Why? Well, more often than not, when Pale and I executed this strategy, the crowd would fall head over hooves for my poetic musical brilliance. Okay that was a lie--I just threw out whatever came to mind. But most crowds loved it! I just needed a verse that spoke to the folks of Las Pegasus a bit better. Hrm… I got it. “Go for broke, roll it high!” “Don’t get lazy, aim for the sky!” “Show your moves on the dance floor!” “And if you’re lucky, they’ll be coming back for more!” I took another second and noticed that the crowd started to get a bit more into my verses. A few even bobbed their heads. Good, good. I needed to keep this up until...whenever the heck Pale found out whatever he could find backstage. Yeech. Easier said than done. I even threw in a face dance moves for good measure. The song started to pick up in bass as well. “I will win! Why? Nothing’s gonna stop me, yo!” “You wanna try me? Come at me bro!” “Let’s dance! I got the time--I can feel it!” “No stoppin’ me when I get into a rhythm!” I spun around, and pointed at the crowd. Some of the ponies started to smile and bop along. The changelings, and even the griffons got into it. Somehow, based off of things I pulled out of my cutie mark. Just how much longer could I keep this up? No idea. But I had faith in my boss. “Patience is a virtue ya’ll!” “Don’t hit me with that worthless squall!” “Pick up a weapon, get ready to fight!” “I’ll power through it like dynamite!” Backstage… Well, based on what I could hear from the front side of the theater, Corkscrew had kept the audience in check so they wouldn’t get suspicious. That allowed me to get back to work. But what I found was horrific. The entire area behind the closed curtain was a wreck. Stagelights destroyed, props in shambles, and loads of damage to even the floorboards. But to my surprise, I couldn’t find any of the stage workers anywhere. Which was both odd and concerning. They were supposed to always be on duty in case anything went wrong onstage. Which meant that something happened to them. “Horrible...but where could it be…” Ruuagh… One of my ears flicked. I heard a gurgling sound in the distance towards the back of the building. Near the dressing rooms! That’s where it was...no...Mr. Jackpot and any of the other civilians in that direction could be in trouble. I ran down the hallway to figure out what the problem was. But then I slowed down. The guttural roars and grumbles continued down the passage. I stopped at one of the corners with my back against the wall so that I could peer around it without being noticed. “Hmm…” Nothing just yet. Cork’s musical numbers were muffled now, but they continued strong. I had no idea how much longer he could hold out, so I needed to be fast. From there, I traveled down further into the studio towards the dressing rooms. Surely enough, the noise led me to Jackpot’s room. But that was odd. Its intent was less...destructive. I could sense it. Just what was up with this being? Who or what were they? No time to get finicky about it. I needed to know for sure in order to keep those innocents safe. What struck me as even stranger was the fact that I could detect no remains or remnants from the stage workers. No hair, blood, or any signs of struggle to be found. Yet they were removed and all I had to go off of was this gross, yet odd noise. It was plain to see where my concern lied. “Come on, Pale. Buck it up, now…” At last, after a bit of sneaky movement, I arrived at Jackpot’s room. Everything looked normal from the outside, but the inside was certainly going to tell a different story. How could I be so sure? “...” I took a step towards the door, and tried to push it open. But before I could do so, I felt this...strong, pungent, almost overwhelming magical aura. It wasn’t necessarily ‘powerful’ per se, but it was fearful. It was something...I couldn’t exactly put my hoof on it. But there was no more time to waste. After a deep breath, I pushed the door open. Scarily enough, instead of being a normal dressing room like before, it was pitch. Black. Seriously, it was like a portal to space or something. I kept my wits about me as I entered, but the door was shut behind me with a violent slam that rattled my eardrums. “Ow…” I said as I rubbed my left ear, “What in the world…” I shook my head, and took a look around. I could still feel the carpet, and the same couch from before. So this wasn’t a spell that caused me to be transported to another world or anything. I was still very much in the same room. The sense of magic was a bit lost on me at this point. But I could feel something else. A regular aura signature. That of a unicorn. Could it be Jack? Whoever it was, it was ultimately my duty to find and secure them if they were unable to protect themselves. I took another step. The lights came on. “Wha--?” I looked around. Everything in the room seemed normal at first. But then...when I turned my head to opposite wall...I found him. “Holy shi--sir!!” Jackpot was bound, gaged, and held against the wall by metal restraints around his limbs! He panicked, his words muffled by the force of the rope in his mouth. “Mmph! Mmm!” I ran towards the wall, and stopped in front of him. “Hang on, I’ll get you d--” BLAM! But before I could do anything, I was knocked out cold from behind.