~
~
During Princess Luna’s selection Pinkie Pie had disappeared into the shadier areas of the karaoke lounge, nopony could figure out just where the physics defying mare had gone. It wasn’t a mystery for long however, when Pinkie jumped up as soon as the princess left the microphone. With her usual uncanny speed she was ready to sing within moments. Everypony sat in the karaoke lounge looked to her, ready and eager for what was sure to be an interesting selection.
~~
When it's time to party we will party hard
You
You work all night (all night)
And when you work you don't feel all right
And we
We can't stop feeling all right (all right)
And everything is all right
'Cos we will never listen to your rules (no)
We will never do what others do
(No)
Do what we want and we get it from you
Do what we like and we like what we do
So let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
Now it's time to party and we'll party hard (party hard)
Let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
When it's time to party we will always party hard
Party hard (party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party
All right
You
You break the thing
And when you play you feel all right
But we
We can't stop feeling all right (all right)
And everything is all right
'Cos we will never listen to your rules (no)
We will never do what others do
(No)
Know what we want and we get it from you
We do what we like and we like what we do
So let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
Now it's time to party and we'll party hard (party hard)
Let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
When it's time to party we will always party hard
Party hard (party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party
~~
Pinkie took a flying leap into the crowd and eager hooves supported her all the way back to her friends. A familiar aura caught the pink party pony and deposited her on a couch. “What did you think girls?” She grinned.
“As song choices go, I think that one fitted to you perfectly Pinkie.” Twilight said, scribbling notes on napkins. “I have to figure out exactly where we are...” she muttered, a flurry of papers switching around by her magic.
Pinkie grinned. “Now somepony needs to go sing! Come on, don’t be shy!” She jumped up again to emphasis the point.
Twilight muttered noncommittally, still scribbling upon napkins floating around her. Rarity and Fluttershy suddenly hustled off to the little fillies room to “Powder my nose darling.” Rainbow was very deliberately chugging a drink, leaving only the slightly blushing Apple.
“Do I hafta sing a song Pinkie Pie?” Applejack groused. Pinkie eyeballed the be-stetsoned mare, it wasn’t quite the stare but was known to have a similar effect. “Alright! Alright! I’m gettin’ there.”
The orange pony jumped up onto the stage and hoofed through the console’s menu. Happy with a discovery she turned to the crowd. “Howdy. Ah’m gonna sing a song according to that pushy pink friend o’ mine. This one’s a song mah old granpappy used ta sing after a gettin' a few of Sweet Apple Acre's finest vintages inside o' him. ‘s going to keep y’all a hooting and a hollerin’.”
~~
I was sittin in The Thirsty Devil, one sheet hung to the wind
when the bat wings doors creaked open and a stranger sauntered in
he moved his head from side to side and glared with a sunken eye
I heard the spin of a rusty spur as he shook off the dreary night
He lowered his hat, checked his gun and headed toward the bar
walked on up beside me, I knew he’d traveled far
in a voice as thick as mud he looked to the ‘keep and said…
“one shot of whiskey for myself and one for my new friend”
The patrons whispered hushed and low, they seemed to be afraid
as if a ghost had stood right up and walked out of its grave
his face was shallow and dirty, his skin like leather hide
sure he spoke like any man, but something wasn’t right
So I twisted on my stool, turned to him and said
“thank you sir, but just the same, I’m chasin worms instead”
he growled and shoved the drink my way, his eyes cold as death
“I pick the drinks, you knock ‘em back, else draw against my hand”
When it’s six to midnight and the boney hand of death is nigh
you better drink your drink and shut your mouth
if you draw against his hand, you can never win
go ahead… drink with the living dead
“Who the hell do you think you are?” my patience growin thin
but swallow hard, I had to do, when the story he began
his lips curled back and words came forth starting up the tale
and every face inside that bar turned a shade of pale
“My name is Stanton Cree and I died three years before
I shot a man to steal his drink, at least that’s what they hung me for
now I’m cursed to walk the earth and challenge every night
a man to match me drink for drink or by the bullet die”
“Now wait a minute, mister, no one makes me a fool”
I pushed the shot of whiskey back on over towards the ghoul
“I love a drink like any man but that’s a losin game
to drink or draw against the dead would only be insane”
Stanton Cree tipped his hat and laughed a wicked laugh
“you see, the lord cursed my soul for killin that poor man
there ain’t no choice so you must try to match me shot for shot
if you win, then you’ll go free and I can finally rot”
The barhop nodded slowly and I knew that I was screwed
if I chose to duel the dead then I would surely lose
so I took the glass and threw the shot into my throat
I would match him drink for drink, no matter if I choked
Whiskey, tequila, vodka, rum or gin
ain’t no man that I can’t beat, be him live or dead
so into the morning I matched him ounce for ounce
til Stanton Cree fell over and a winner was announced
Now he rests in his pine box and I still walk the streets
but I don’t forget the night when death had chosen me
there ain’t no fancy moral to go with this I fear
unless you aim to kill a man and drink down his last beer!
~~
Applejack flicked her hat into the air and reared, winking at the crowd and catching her hat as she jumped off the stage and regrouped with her friends. “Awesome track AJ,” Rainbow high hoofed before settling onto the floor.
“Thanks Dash. Ah was having a hay of a time coming up with a follower for that racket Pinkie was shoutin’.” She grabbed a drink and took an undignified gulp. Rarity, who had returned during the performance rolled her eyes and sniffed.
“While you looked simply glorious on the platform darling, must you have gotten quite so sweaty?” She daintily nibbled at some snacks an imp had brought over on Pinkie’s behest.
“Aw, sugar cube, you thought Ah looked glorious?” Applejack fluttered her eyes at her marefriend who blushed a little and waved away the compliment. Rainbow gagged and mimed sickness. Unimpressed, Aplpejack sidled closer to the variacoloured pegasus. She nudged Rainbow Dash, “how about you go serenade your sweetheart over there?”
Rainbow gave a spit take, fortunately it was in the direction of Pinkie Pie who had sensed it and mysteriously acquired an umbrella to shield herself. “I don’t know what you’re talking about AJ... I haven’t got a sweetheart.” Rainbow protested, wiping her dripping muzzle.
“Dash, Ah’m the element of honesty remember? Ah can tell when you’re lying.” Applejack said, looking an increasingly nervous Rainbow in the eye. Luckily the Pegasus was rescued from the pressing by a surprising saviour. Fluttershy. She had left the safety of the group and made it to the stage with her usual quiet timidity.
“Um... Hello everpony. I’m Fluttershy and I’m going to sing a song now. If that’s ok with you all...” She took a deep breath and exhaled with more confidence.
~~
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,
drifting through the wind
wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
like a house of cards,
one blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the fourth of July
'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
You're gonna leave 'em falling down-own-own
You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow
Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know
You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the fourth of July
'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, Oh, Oh"
You're gonna leave 'em falling down-own-own
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through-ough-ough
'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, Oh, Oh"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, Oh, Oh"
You're gonna leave 'em falling down-own-own
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
~~
Having completed her song Fluttershy stood in her usual timid stance once more, her hair sliding to its former position. “I hope everypony enjoyed that.” She managed to whisper into the microphone. “All my little critter friends do.” She smiled beatifically and returned to the safety of her friends through a standing ovation.
On his throne in its hidden alcove Discord grinned, some more ponies were joining the party. “So nice that those lovebirds could join us... The poor pair really do need a break.” He laughed an un-malicious chuckle.