//------------------------------// // Part 2-2 // Story: A Blaze Brought Forth Again // by Tyler-the-Brony //------------------------------// Unknowing Citizens: Ponyville Parties Chapter 2: Repairs and Sound Checks “Ugh. What a day yesterday was.” Clockwork spoke aloud to nopony in particular as she brewed her morning cup of Canterlot Beans coffee, courtesy of Donut Joe being a regular customer for Clockwork. Yesterday alone, Clockwork had been called to fix the Snowflake Room in the Cloudsdale Weather Factory, do even more repairs to Ponyville’s Town Hall, and fixed yet another busted oven at Sugarcube Corner. If only Diamond Bolt wasn’t off on tour right now, Clockwork could take a bit more time off every now and then. Clockwork could always smile a bit when she thought of Diamond Bolt, no matter what mood she was in otherwise. As Clockwork floated her cup of Ambrosia level liquid over to her with her magic, a knock came upon her door. “God I hope it isn’t a repair call this early.” Clockwork spoke aloud again, wondering just where she had picked up this particular habit. *** After another installment of the modified Singing Telegram, Clockwork sat on her haunches and massaged her temples with her hooves at the antics of the newly dubbed Pink Party Sisters of Ponyville. “And you came to invite me this early because?...” Clockwork asked Pinkie Pie, hoping to get an at least half decent response from the baker. “Because I know about you and Diamond Bolt and Feather Blaster is totally gonna be here too in two days so I figured you should be super duper top priority in telling about the party plans.” Pinkie answered Clockwork, winking at her as Clockwork nearly dropped her magical grip on her coffee mug. “Y-You know?” Clockwork muttered quietly as a blush appeared on her cheeks, Clockwork still not at all used to talking about her coltfriend to other ponies aside from Diamond Bolt himself. “Of course silly. My Pinkie Sense never lies. I Pinkie Promised myself not to tell anypony else by the way though. And nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise.” Pinkie answered Clockwork, stopping her bouncing and smiling her most sincere smile to show Clockwork that she really meant what she said. Clockwork smiled back at Pinkie Pie, never before having fully appreciated the pink party pony for anything more than consistent repair calls before now. Clockwork re-levitated her coffee level and moved it back over to her face before she gave the sisters an answer. “Thanks Pinkie. I’ll be there. Can’t wait to taste your latest party snacks.” Clockwork chuckled as the sisters beamed and bounded away from her house, no doubt on their way to invite more guests to a party nopony else was even aware of yet. *** Elsewhere, Diamond Bolt was also making early morning plans, though his related far more to Feather Blaster than any true repairs. However, even Diamond Bolt was mildly aware he was distracted, if only minutely. Diamond Bolt only truly realized how distracted he was when he realized that he’d attached steel guitar strings to Skeptic’s guitar. “Yo Diam. You finished with my guitar yet? We gotta get back to practicing soon.” Skeptic called out as he entered the room, hastily scanning as he saw Diamond Bolt just barely finish attaching the last proper string to his guitar. “Just finished Skeptic. Didn’t get time to tune them though. Sorry about that.” Diamond Bolt told Skeptic as he moved over to begin re-tuning his keyboard in preparation for Feather Blaster’s upcoming practice session. “You okay Diam? You’ve been distracted ever since we announced the venue for our Finale.” Skeptic questioned Diamond Bolt as he slung his guitar across his back in order to get in the mindset for tuning and practicing. “I guess I’m just worried about seeing Clockwork again. It’s been near 8 months since we left on this tour, and I haven’t been able to make it back to Ponyville once to visit her, or even found time to write her a letter as I’ve had such massive repairs after some of our shows.” Diamond Bolt smiled knowingly at Skeptic as he finished working on his keyboard for the time being. “Yeah. Sorry about that. I wish I could’ve given you some time off, but we’ve had so many extra gigs booked that none of us has had any true time off. I also wish I could say I understand the relationship bit with you and Clockwork, but I don’t. I’m not into finding a marefriend right now, at least not while we’re still on the road.” Skeptic told Diamond Bolt before taking to the air to tune his guitar, the way he always did for some reason. “Just look in front of you and you’d find the perfect mare you dumb stallion.” Diamond Bolt thought to himself as he lamented over the fact that Skeptic was too dense and Violet was too ignorant for them to move any closer on their own. As Diamond Bolt finished his though, Violet Melody herself entered the practice hall, her saxophone of course already tuned and ready for practice as usual. Violet took her place at the exact opposite side of Diamond Bolt just as Skeptic returned to the flat level of the stage. “Hey guys. What’s ticking around in those musical minds of yours?” Violet asked as she mentally prepared herself to become the musician that was most noticeable from the group as a whole with her unique eyes. “Nothing that need concern you for now Violet.” Diamond Bolt smiled to himself as he thought of the implications his words sometimes had. “Something bugging my favorite band?” A voice called over to Violet, Diamond Bolt, and Skeptic, all three ponies turned towards the voice, even though they knew well who it was already. The voice belonged to Shift, their Pegasus manager. Shift flew over as fast he could and took his typical place right in front of the band to watch them practice as he had done for every single other practice session and performance Feather Blaster had done since Shift had become their manager. “Heyo Shift. Everything set for Ponyville tomorrow?” Skeptic asked, certain that his manager wouldn’t be here without a proper answer. “Yep. Confirmed the arrival time of Octave Shift too. They’ll arrive about one hour after us tomorrow for the performance.” Shift answered calmly, knowing that he’d thought of everything Skeptic might ask on behalf of the band right now. “Well, since we’re all here and ready now, let’s take it from the top of our set shall we?” Skeptic asked as he swung his guitar around and readied himself on his hind hoofs once he was certain Shift had finished too. “I’m ready to go.” Violet answered as she re-opened her eyes and showed off the new colour they always shifted to when she embraced her passion. “Alright then. One, two, three…GO!” Diamond Bolt called as he, Violet, and Skeptic reared their wings to begin playing in the same style that had skyrocketed them to the top of Equestria’s music charts. *** “You did un excellent job today Character.” Photo Finish told Character as he finished recording his lines for that day in the studio. “Thanks Photo Finish. I get a week off now right?” Character double-checked with his agent, hoping he had indeed predicted the time of his break right as he truly needed the time off. “Indeed. De magiks vill go on hold for now. Now, I go! And you should go as vell.” Photo Finish quickly told Character as she dashed out of the Studio E Productions building. Character smiled as he left the recording studio and went to check his mail, a surprisingly short time later. As Character collected his mail, he noticed a rather bulky enveloped colored half green and half pink. Upon opening the envelope, Character knew exactly how he was going to spend his week off. Who turns down a free concert invitation after all? *** “Yay! Yay! Yay!” Sweetie Belle bounced around the stretch carriage as she thought of just how soon she would be back in Ponyville and hanging out with her friends and former Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Sweetie Belle, surely the novelty of returning to your hometown and seeing you sister and friends again has worn off by now?” Octavia asked the young mare, remembering her own sisters as she did so. “Nope. I haven’t even seen Scootaloo since she got her Cutie Mark and pseudo-joined the Wonderbolts, and Apple Bloom is building the stage for us now that she’s done updating Sweet Apple Acres! This is gonna be our first full reunion in near 3 years!” Sweetie Belle’s voice cracked as she explained just why she was so excited, a phenomenon that happened far less often as she had grown. Octavia huffed slightly as Sweetie Belle near instantly resumed her bouncing and shouting again, if anything even more energetic this time around. “Relax Octy. Aren’t you excited to see your sisters again too?” Vinyl Scratch asked Octavia as she finished polishing her last backup pair of sunglasses with her magic. “I suppose so. It’s just been far longer since I saw my sisters than since Sweetie Belle saw hers. I’m afraid we won’t even recognize each other anymore.” Octavia explained to Vinyl, the one pony she had come to be able to talk to all her problems about easily. “I wouldn’t worry. Knowing Pinkie and Bam, they’re probably organizing a party for our return to Ponyville and our joint Final with Feather Blaster.” Vinyl said nonchalantly, hoping to anger Octavia just enough so that she would calm down beyond her anxiety. “I don’t know why you ever agreed to have us perform with that band. Our styles don’t even mash together at all.” Octavia huffed, just the reaction Vinyl had hoped for. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained Octy. At best, this helps both our careers. At worst, it’s a semi-awkward question in some interviews down the line.” Vinyl explained, hoping her first sentence would work in both the manners she had attempted it to do. Octavia thought to herself for a moment, before sighing and admitting defeat to the unicorn DJ who sat beside her. “I suppose you’re right Vinyl. And that I should apply the same philosophy to my sisters as well.” Octavia smiled slightly at last as she thought of meeting her younger and older siblings. Vinyl Scratch smiled too as she saw Octavia smile, hoping that Ponyville would be just outside their doors as soon as possible for both her fellow musicians.