Chapter 10
"WOOOOOO!"
"That was amazing!"
"Encore! Encore!"
"Is mayonnaise an instrument?"
"YEA- Wait what did he say?"
The past few weeks had had been full of small concerts just like the one Fluttershy, Lyra and I were wrapping up now. Lyra had jumped with surprise and glee when I had told her about the festival in Canterlot and the 'Battle of The Bands' type deal going on there. Right away she made Thursday a mandatory practice day out in the park, as well as weekends at Fluttershy's cottage learning new songs to play at said Thursday gigs. Along with teaching Sonny guitar and giving her singing lessons on Tuesdays, the weeks took on a very musical tone.
"That was our best one yet!" Lyra yelled in my ear with glee. She was standing right next to me but due to the roar of the excited crowd, the need to break eardrums was necessary. "Just listen! They love us! And look at all those bits!" It was true, They had taken to leaving my guitar case open in front of them because Lyra's old bag over flowed the last week they had played, and even that was beginning to pour bits onto the grass beneath it.
"This is just unreal. We're famous! At least here." The surprise running through the guitarists head was like a deer caught in the headlights of an on coming semi truck.
"Do you.. Think we'll do well in the festival..?" Even after belting out such beautiful vocals in front of a packed park of peppy ponies, she was still nearly petrified. But she was beginning to open up in public thanks to this. She's even taken to signing autographs more openly.
"Are you kidding? I think we can win!" Swooping down, I grabbed Fluttershy and spun her around in a great big hug, eliciting a startled *eep* from the poor mare. "Well wasn't that cute."
*Ahem* "Excuse me."
Putting Fluttershy back on the ground, the trio turned their attention to a grey stallion standing behind them with a curt smile on his face. He had a short cropped light purple mane and tail, and was sporting a very fashionable moustache of the same hue.
"Uh.. Hi." "Why is he looking at me like that"
"Hello. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Silent Night. I am the proud owner of a concert hall in Trottingham called 'The Stall' And I would be honored to have you three play alongside some of our regulars next Friday." To say we were shocked would be an understatement. Our mouths hung open like fish gasping for air. I tried to utter forth a response but all that came out were incoherent babbles. Lyra was about to make a reply of her own but to both Lyra's and my shock, Fluttershy was the first to come out of her stupor.
"We would love to! Uh... Right?" She looked to her companions who both gave her a quick nod and thumbs up in reply, still trying to comprehend the offer and the boldness of the yellow pegasus.
"Excellent! Here is my card. It has the address written on the back. I look forward to seeing you next week. If you can, please be there as early as possible. No need to hold up the show, right?" Silent Night let out a throaty, warm chuckle after that and bid the stunned band a due before turning around and trotting off towards the train station.
"Did we just get our first real gig..?"
"Uhm... Yes." As soon as the words left Fluttershy's mouth I fell onto my back with a huge grin on his face and breathed a heavy sigh of joy. "This is going to be amazing."
The week went by swiftly, full of practice and excitement and in the blink of an eye it was Wednesday. Not even the rain pouring down in waves outside could dampen the mood I was in as I packed his bag with the things I would probably need for the trip. Fluttershy had given Rarity my measurements for some new clothing and with a whole cart full of odd looks, she made four new tee shirts of varying colors and a pair of black straight legged pants. They were a little long, but having a few extra sets of clothes was better than having just one. I asked Fluttershy to send my thanks to her whenever she could and had asked if I could meet her and the rest of her friends any time soon. I had seen them around the park a few times but whenever they approached the two of us after we finished up practice, Fluttershy would whisk me back to her cottage without saying a word to her friends or good bye to Lyra, leaving her staring at the space we were a split second earlier. I had asked her about it but all I got in reply was an incoherent mumble before Shy swiftly ran to her bedroom.
Fluttershy was in her bedroom doing the same thing I was. Lyra was meeting us in an hour at the park before we headed for the train station and off to Trottingham for our first real payed gig.
"Hey Fluttershy! You about ready to go?" I was by the door with all of my stuff waiting patiently for the pegasus upstairs. "We need to hurry up and meet Lyra at the park."
"Just a second." The sound of soft hooves could be heard on the second floor before the yellow ball of d'awwe decended the stairs to meet David at the door.
"All set?"
"Oh, yes.. But.. Are you sure we're ready for this..? I mean. It seems so sudden."
"Nonsense, we're going to do great. You're going to do great." "That put a smile on her face."
"Well.. Okay, if you say so."
"I do, now come on, we need to get to the park, stat!"
I quickly helped Fluttershy with her saddle bag before I threw on my own back pack and followed her out the door.
"Hey guys! What took you so long? We need to hurry up!" Lyra was bouncing on her hooves in excitement and anxiousness. This was going to be her debut as an artist and she couldn't wait to see the look on the crowds faces.
"Sorry, just had to give a quick pep talk, but we're all good now. Lead the way!"
With a quick squee of joy, Lyra spun on her hooves and trotted briskly towards the station, leaving her band mates behind to quickly run and catch up.
The station came into view no more than fifteen minutes after they left the park. With a quick burst of speed, the trio ran to the ticket booth and purchased three tickets to Trottingham. After a quick conversation with the sales mare about just what I was, we all bored the train and found an empty car to take a seat in.
Fluttershy and Lyra were quick to jump into a conversation about the up coming show and what it would be like. Having already dealt with a show like this rather recently, I just took the time to look out the window at the station as it began to move out of view.
"Well, this is it. The first step of many. And one step closer to the Festival."