//------------------------------// // The Dignitaries of Jazz // Story: Pinkie Discovers Jazz // by Crisis_Vyper //------------------------------// Chapter 17: The Dignitaries of Jazz As everyone makes their way to Golden Oaks Library, Twilight could only hope that she could house everyone. Twilight understands how Pinkie treasures her friendships, but sometimes Twilight believes that the pink pony does not understand what a close friendship is to be exact. Of course to all of us readers, Pinkie is close with everypony, remembering their birthdays and making them smile and so on and so forth. She never really thinks of treating each one of her friends differently. Twilight is now looking at perhaps several hundred ponies coming to Ponyville, along with a few dignitaries from foreign countries coming soon to their little show at the behest of Princess Celestia and Luna. Thankfully for Twilight, she is able to plan and create a magical force field around the library that will be warm enough for everyone to watch the show outdoors, as her library could not possibly fit every guest that both Princess Celestia and Pinkie had invited to come over. Just in case, she decided to make a stage large enough for any dignitary that may want to speak, and enforced it with some magic.....just in case. “What the hay?” Applejack is definitely surprised to see the sea of ponies, chatting and drinking their way to a good time, along with some other species such as the Gryphons and to her amazement, Elephants. The cowpony could only sigh and take things as it is. No point trying to say anything to Pinkie especially when it comes to parties and friends. Applejack decides to make her way down to the basement where all the other members of her band are now preparing themselves for their performance. She could see Octavia is now tuning her double bass, and Applejack decides to walk up to her. “Heya Tavi.” “Hello Applejack. Quite a crowd today isn’t it?” Octavia asked Applejack. Applejack could only sigh before speaking to the cellist. “Yeah, that’s what happens when we let Pinkie and Princess Celestia brought friends over. Sometimes Ah think we need to put a cap on some things. She needs to do some things in moderation.” Applejack then looks back over her shoulder and she could see Big Macintosh bringing some of her drumsets into the building. “What did you say?” Pinkie asked. Oh well, Ah guess this’ll do. Nothin’ like a full house huh?, Applejack asked herself. Before long, the drums are set up the way she likes them, and everyone had finally tuned their own instruments to their own preferred setting. Granny Smith trots to them and as the whole crowd watches, the old pony speaks to the band members. “Alright, time to see everyone’s progress.” Granny Smith said as the refreshments are being served to everypony. Spike and Applejack prepare themselves for their first session together as a band, and also in many ways their first performance to other ponies but Octavia seem rather composed and unaffected by the nervousness of her bandmates. But there is that issue of what else they could do to make the show more interesting for everypony in the library right now. “Oh no,” Pinkie said and for some reason everypony is now looking at her. “What Pinkie?” Octavia asked. It was then that Pinkie told them that she had forgotten to bring the mouthpiece of her trumpet and trombone with her. It was quite literally a panicky moment for everypony until Rarity trots ahead hovering one of the microphones with her magic. “I will take it from here. Follow my lead. Somepony just get that mouthpiece from where they are. Pinkie, you better lead them to where you last saw them.“ Rarity says to all of them. Applejack and Octavia are now looking at the white unicorn with curious looks. Before long the crowd could see the unicorn walking in a rather seductive manner towards the side of the stage. Everyone wonders what is going on before Rarity’s matured voice, brimming with confident femininity and sensuality breaks the silence. Knowing that Rarity is now buying them time, Twilight and Pinkie rushes onward to get those mouthpieces. You had plenty money, nineteen twenty-two, You let other ponies make a fool of you… Why don't you do right, like some other colts do? Get out of here get me some money too… Octavia immediately recognized the song, and she played the bass line for the song once Rarity finishes the first verse of the song, so that the rest of the band could understand the tempo that is needed to play this song. Noticing the tempo of this song, Spike follows suit with his own piano, playing a rather melodious and more ‘depressed’ tune. Applejack also remembered hearing this old song on one of Granny Smith’s record and immediately plays the drumming beats for this song. She sure know how to choose a first song….. Octavia said as she see Rarity walking towards the crowd with confidence. Once she is at the edge of the stage, she slides down on the wall sensually, all while looking at the crowd with lustful eyes. At once, Spike’s wildest dreams are being fulfilled before his eyes as he plays the tune. Before long Rarity is now walking towards the crowd, and there are a whole lot of whistles and hoots cheering the fashionista on. As one of the stallions stood up erect, Rarity used one of her forelegs to push the stallion down on his seat, and like jelly the stallion just melts back into his seat. It was then that Rarity decided to use one of the tables as a stepping stone down towards the crowd. A stallion helped her step down nicely to the floor from the table. Once she is down on the floor, she pushes the stallion back into his chair gently. In a rather sensual and steamy manner, Rarity sits on his lap, and pulling his tie slowly but surely before letting it go and moving away from his lap. The stallion soon crumples in his seat, with a smile on his face. Some of the older mares proceed to cover the eyes of their fillies to not expose them to this action. One by one, Rarity played with the hearts of a few more males and breaking their heart as she sang her song. Applejack could only be amazed by the brazen nature of her unicorn friend in doing such an act. If it were here, she would had blushed as red as her barn. But Rarity’s next target really caught Applejack’s attention. As Rarity sings and rolls on the table in a sensual way in front of Big Macintosh, Applejack could only feel that Rarity is really enjoy toying with her big brother. Suddenly Rarity pulls his yoke close to her face, her lips almost meeting Big Macintosh’s own. Immediately Octavia, Spike and Applejack stopped playing their music. Soon enough, some of the stallions and the mares are whistling and hooting at Rarity and Big Macintosh. Both of the ponies are now staring at each other in the eyes, and there were indeed some stallions and mares who fainted at this very steamy moment. It was then that Rarity continued on singing, her voice a commanding whisper. Like some other colts…….. do….., Rarity gives Big Macintosh a very mischievously sensual smile. “Eeyup!” Big Macintosh’s answer is alert but shaky, as if trying to follow an order that his grandmother gave him when she is forcing him to do chores that he does not know the true answer to. It was then that Applejack decided to snap both of them out of the situation with her beats, and Octavia and Spike finally continued on with playing their instrument. Rarity then let go of the red stallion’s yoke and climbs in to table, waving her hips at big Macintosh. Big Macintosh had not been redder in his life before. Before long, Rarity is now on the stage and as she walks towards the band she gives a very mischievous wink at Applejack. Applejack is definitely not really pleased at this, but she continued on playing the beats flawlessly. Soon enough, everypony could feel that the song is about to end and gave a round of applause as the curtains fall behind Rarity. Immediately, Applejack walked up to Rarity and now they are facing each other. The fashionista is now looking at her friend’s green eyes, and she could only give a warm smile. “Relax my dear, I need to help my friends to buy some time. And you could keep your brother if you want to. “ Applejack was caught off-guard by Rarity’s last comment and could only stammer as she tried to say something witty but failed utterly in doing so. Rarity then looks around and could see Spike’s jaw literally falling down on the floor. She walks up to Spike and gives him a little kiss on his forehead. “You did so well, Spikey-Wikey! You played that song flawlessly!” If there is any word to describe Spike’s heart at that moment, it would be that it had exploded twice over. Applejack has to literally slap him with her hoof just to snap him out of it as Rarity went on walking to the little mare’s room. The timing of the end of the performance was impeccable as Pinkie and Twilight returned, both of them panting but smiling. It seems that the show stalled enough time for the two ponies to find Pinkie’s mouthpieces. “Alright Pinkie, start puttin’ them mouthpieces and let’s go!” Applejack said hurriedly. It was then that the old zebra decides to come into the picture, and with his saxophone in hoof they know that it is time to have a whole lot of fun. As soon as Pinkie puts on the mouthpieces and blowed a few tunes out of it, the curtain draws. Pinkie noticed something in the night sky with the corner of her eyes. “Alright everyone, the main guests are here” Pinkie points her hoof upwards, and Applejack, Octavia, Spike and Mr. Coltrane soon realized what Pinkie meant. To everypony else’s surprise,the two Princesses and several chariots are coming down upon them landing just shortly outside the magical force field. As each one of the passengers came out form their respective chariots, the rest of the ponies are now bowing down to their sovereign. Of course, the band could not just cut their music off, and they played as if they are welcoming the Princesses. Pinkie starts the welcoming of the Princesses and the dignitaries with a rather boisterous solo with her trumpet and the rest of the band falls in place and go about playing their tunes. Spike tries to not overwhelm the rest of the band with his piano play, but at the same time gives an accent to the entire band’s sound. Octavia and Applejack maintain a constant beat of bass and drums respectively and the whole band is working like clockwork as they played on. Soon enough, Pinkie stops playing her trumpet and she gives Spike a look and Spike immediately understood what she is asking him to do. Suddenly Pinkie is also now playing the trombones and also the trumpet at the same time, a physically impossible task unless you are a certain pink pony, and it is indeed the case. Immediately, the little dragon is doing his own piano solo, and make a lyrical improvisation and once he is done with his own solo, he passes it back to Pinkie and Pinkie continues on playing with her trumpet. Before long, Applejack is now hitting the drums and top hats and the piece ends with her hitting energetically while Pinkie holds a long note. Soon enough there is a sudden silence and Pinkie wondered if they botched the performance. It was Princess Celestia who clops and soon enough the single clopping had become a thunderous clapping from everyone. Pinkie wipes a sweat off her brow and looked at her band mates. Each one of then gave Pinkie a smile and before long she could only do one thing; smile. ***************************************** As the show went on for the night, it seems that everyone is having a good time. All but one particular dignitary. Maharaja Jahangir Ganesha of the Hathi Tribe is perhaps the largest of the dignitaries, and in fact he is definitely the largest guest as he towers over Celestia thrice over, and his width is twenty-fours times as large. His day in Equestria started with the Royal Canterlot casters having to use some magic upon the Maharaja to allow him to actually be able to fit on the chariot. Of course this is a very unpleasant thing for the Maharaja, as the ponies are treating him as something of a grand oddity. As he spies upon the crowd, he could see that even the gryphons are having a much easier time interacting with the rest of Equestria’s citizens. The Maharaja could not help it but to feel alienated from everyone and his belief that his size and intimidating tusks are perhaps the thing that prevented anypony from coming close to him. Adding more salt to his uneasiness, this is actually his first summit as the Grand Elephant Maharaja of Hathi since his father had passed away. As the band ends their current song, the Maharaja could only wonder why did he come here in the first place. It was then that he noticed two grey large ears and he immediately reacted in fear. His trumpeting caused everypony to stop for a while and everypony wonder what is going on. As he regained his sense, he realized that those two large grey ears are not ears at all and instead are disks of some sort on a pink earth pony. She is already smiling at him, and the Maharaja could only wonder what is it that this pony wants. “Wow, I didn’t know that you could do that! How do you do that trumpet sound anyway? Are you a musician? But that saying I did not see any instruments around you…..hey you are dressed pretty nicely! I like all those jewels and stuff on your dress, Rarity must love those gems that are on you!” Janangir was taken aback by this pony and he wonders what is going on. He looks around and everyone is now back chattering to each other. “Um….I am an Elephant so I can do those sounds using my trunk. And no, I am not a musician, I am Maharaja Janangir Ganesha, The Grand Elephant Maharaha of Hathi. And thanks?” The elephant tried to answer each one of the questions politely, but he is definitely confused. “Well, you looked pretty sad so I say that you need a song! Applejack, Spike, Octy, Mr. Coltrane let’s do it!” She says out loud and then the band started playing a rather nice and uplifting tune. It was then that Pinkie started talking out loud. Everyone else is now listening to Pinkie, to the Maharaja’s amazement. “It is a very ancient saying, but a true and honest thought that if you become a friend, by your friends you’ll be taught. As a friend I have been learning, and you’ll forgive me if I boast. And now I’ve become an expert on the subject I like most.” It was then that Spike hits a particularly chiming note and Pinkie started singing with a microphone in tow. How did the microphone came out of nowhere surprises the Maharaja. Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you. Getting to like you, Getting to hope you like me. Getting to know you, Putting it my way, But nicely, You are precisely, My cup of tea. Getting to know you, Getting to feel free and easy. When I am with you, Getting to know what to say. The Maharaja noticed that now the ponies are now singing the chorus together, and the Maharaja is definitely impressed by this show of choreography. They either must have worked hard to make this work, or they are unnaturally talented as backup singers. Suddenly he felt a small but warm touch on his large tree-like legs and as he looked at his legs, he could see that the little pink pony is now holding his legs. She then lightly pulls the elephant’s legs and Janangir could only follow what the pink pony is doing. The pink pony continues on singing accompanied by the musical instruments from the band and also the singing of the other ponies as both of them walks up to the stage.. Haven't you noticed Suddenly I'm bright and breezy? Because of all the beautiful and new Things I'm learning about you Day by day. Getting to know you, Getting to feel free and easy When I am with you, Getting to know what to say Haven't you noticed, Suddenly I'm bright and breezy? Because of all the beautiful and new Things I'm learning about you Day .. by ... day. Soon enough there is a thunderous applause from the entire audience, and everyone’s attention is now on the Maharaja and also Pinkie. The elephant royal looks at the little pony and with a smile he shakes her hooves again with his large foreleg. As soon as the Maharaja steps down from the stage, a number of ponies are now walking towards him and started talking to him. This warm reception is not like what he expected a moment ago, and maybe, just maybe he should have taken the first step of trying to converse with these ponies. It was then that Pinkie tries to whisper to his ear and the Maharaja had to almost lie down for him to hear what the pink pony have to say. “You see I never saw you before, and if I never saw you before that means you're new, 'cause I know every pony, and I mean every pony in Ponyville, and if you're new, then it meant you haven't met anyone yet, and if you haven't met anyone yet, you must not have any friends, and if you don't have any friends then you must be lonely, and that made me so sad, and I had an idea, and that's why I went [gasp], 'I'll just throw a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular singing thingie. See? And now you have lots and lots of friends!" PInkie's lack of need to breath amazes the Maharaja. “Thank you little one. May I know your name?” “My name is Pinkie Pie. Nice to meet you too Maharaja...your name is too long if I have to say so myself, can I call you by something far shorter?” The Maharaja could only smile as he answer Pinkie. “My friends call me Janangir, Pinkie. I am glad to be of your acquaintance.” ***************************************** As the festivities goes for the rest of the night, Pinkie, Applejack, Octavia, and Spike could only enjoy the time that they are having while playing for everyone. Each one of them has their own reasons for enjoying their time, but nonetheless the moment united them all for this performance. The moonlight shines upon them, radiating their sparkle for everyone to see. Oh how beautiful this night it, with everyone having a simple good time with the warmth of company and the music that soothes their heart in this cold winter. It seems that the music had brought about much harmony among the citizens of Ponyville and also between nations. Truly such a simple event like this has such unfathomable effects upon the hearts of both citizens and leaders, and there is nothing else to say but to consider this little performance a great success. Its message is simple and clear; music truly is the language of the heart and jazz is as jazz does, it is strange that way.