//------------------------------// // Meeting The Mares // Story: More Than Just The Music // by Renegade3299 //------------------------------// The show had been a huge success, and now we were preparing to do our first meet and greet with the fans. After a few minutes of catching our breath, the headed toward the backstage booth where the fans would be coming to in a short bit. We were seated at a long table and were each given a permanent marker by two security ponies, who then asked if we were ready. We said that we were, and they went to the opposite side of the room and opened the door. The sound of clamor and commotion could be heard through the entrance, lowering when one of them said “All right, everypony, one at a time. Let’s form a line and we can get this underway.” A line of what we guessed were about twenty to thirty ponies began filing into the room. Ten of them had been selected as VIP when they bought their tickets, and the rest of them had upgraded their tickets to backstage. The meet and greet was really not that much different than from meeting a fan while we were out and about. We’d sign their merchandise, and speak with them for a bit before moving on to the next pony. Next, I was greeted by a lavender Earth Pony with a mane that was dark blue with pink highlights. She batted her eyes at me. “Hi, there, Shadow Chord.” she said in a suave overtone. “I’m Glamour Gem.” “Well, it’s a pleasure, Glamour Gem.” I answered, getting my marker ready to sign anything she may have had. She slid an open copy of our first album toward me. I noticed that my bandmates had signed the inside booklet, so I proceeded to do the same. I quickly signed and slid it back to her, only to be stopped by her hoof coming to rest gently on mine. “You know,” she began “You’ve probably heard this a million times, but I think you are the most gorgeous pony out there.” In part, she was right. I’d heard it on a few occasions. But this wasn’t some type of ego-booster for me. I tried to make sure that I never got a big ego, so I tended to disregard comments such as this one. So, I thanked her, ready to move on to the next fan. “To be honest, sweetheart,” she said, her voice becoming more suave “I’d love to meet up with you at some point. I’m sure you and I could become great friends.” Once again, she batted her eyes at me. At this point, I was starting to feel very uncomfortable, and was not sure how to approach this situation. Calling me 'sweetheart' and making suggestive offers was quite unsettling. As if answering my problem, I heard one of the security ponies tell her. “All right, miss. The line’s getting held up, we’re gonna have to ask you to move along.” She took her album and began walking away, but not before turning around, looking at me with lowered eyelids and blowing me a kiss. I sighed with relief once she was gone, and shook my head. The final five came in. To my relief and joy, it was Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy, along with the group of ponies they had been with during the show. The two of them walked over toward me. “Ah, hello again, Twilight. Hello, Fluttershy, Spike.” I greeted. “Hi, Shadow Chord.” they answered simultaneously. “So, how’d you guys like the show?” I inquired, happy to finally be speaking with some ponies who weren’t telling me about how they were “my biggest fan” or something like that. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed hearing comments like that, and I loved our fans, but in truth, I actually wanted fans to talk to me as a pony, not some sort of deity. It was much easier to carry on conversation that way. “It was actually very enjoyable.” Twilight Sparkle told me. “You four definitely helped to make this first festival a great start.” “I’ve never been to a rock concert before,” Fluttershy added “And I thought it would have been too intense for me, but I had a very good time.” The hyper Earth Pony was now getting a poster signed. She seemed just as hyper as she greeted my fellow bandmates. After Fluttershy had finished speaking, the pony had approached me while the white unicorn began speaking with the rest of my bandmates. “Hi, Mr. Shadow Chord!” she said in a chipper tone. “My name’s Pinkie Pie, and you guys had the absolutely most wonderful, fantastic, super-duper, incredible-” “Pinkie!” the others shouted. “Sorry!” she said with a grin before calming down and continuing, “You guys were amazing up there!” “Thanks, Pinkie. And please, no need to call me mister. I’d like for everypony to just call me Shadow Chord. So, was this your first time seeing us?” I asked her, signing the poster. “Yep!” she replied. “I always thought that rock bands were rather barbaric,” the white unicorn with the curly mane said. “But the show wasn’t really chaotic like I’d heard, and you four are so mellow and polite.” “Why thank you, Miss Rarity.” Virtuoso said, taking her hoof and nodding his head downward. “And you, Virtuoso, are such a gentlecolt!” she said, blushing mildly and letting a small giggle escape. “What’s your name?” I asked the orange pony with the hat. “Name’s Applejack,” she said, shaking my hoof. “Mighty pleased t’meet ya, Shadow Chord! We had quite a day here, don’cha think?” “Sure did.” I said. “Say, Applejack,” Twilight said “How did you guys do at the cider stand?” “We raised quite a bundle of money!” Applejack said “Sweet Apple Acres is gonna have some more additions on the way.” “Sweet Apple Acres?” I asked Applejack, shocked. “You mean, you make that Apple Family Cider?” “I sure as sugar do!” she answered proudly. And she had a right to be proud. “Applejack, that has got to be some of the best cider I’ve ever had- and I’m not joking around. I’m gonna have to come by Sweet Apple Acres at some point and get a bulk or two.” “Why, thank ya kindly, Shadow.” she replied. “We appreciate heain' good reception on our family’s products.” Looking around the room, Applejack seemed to notice something. “Say, where in the hay is Rainbow Dash?” she asked. “Oh, she had to talk with one of the weather patrols.” Pinkie said. “She’ll be along in a few minutes.” As soon as Pinkie had said those words, the door opened up and time seemed to stop as in walked the cyan Pegasus I’d been interacting with from the show. “Sorry I’m late, guys.” she said in a scratchy, but pretty voice. The ponies all made small talk with her as she went from Striker, to Lightning Shredder, then to Virtuoso, and then finally to me. The other ponies continued to talk with my bandmates. Once again, the two of us locked our eyes in a gaze and once again, I felt the spark inside me. “Hi!” she said. “I’m glad to see you made it back here.” I told her. “So, your name’s Rainbow Dash?” “The one and only!” “So, Rainbow, was the show enjoyable?” “Enjoyable?” she asked me. “It was the awesome-est, radical-est, coolest rock show I’ve ever seen!” “I really appreciate hearing that. I‘m really glad you came out to see us.” I quickly noticed that she didn’t have an album, poster, or any kind of merchandise on her. “Did you bring anything to sign?” I asked her, and she slammed her hoof down. “Aw, hay!” she exclaimed. “I was, but I left in such a rush this morning, I forgot to bring my album with me!” I didn’t want her to be disappointed. “That’s not a problem, Rainbow Dash.” I said. I removed one of the pleather hoofbands on my foreleg and said that she could have it. She looked at it, eyes wide and mouth agape. “Shadow Chord… are… are you sure?” “Of course.” I told her. “I’ve got plenty of hoofbands, anyway.” I passed the hoofband down to my bandmates, letting each of them sign it. Then, Virtuoso passed it to me, and I wrote: To Rainbow Dash: You’re an awesome pony, and I'm glad to have you as a fan. Come see me whenever I’m in Ponyville Yours, Shadow Chord I gave her the hoofband, and she looked at it, touched at the message I wrote. “How often do you guys come to Ponyville?” she asked. “We’re usually in Manehattan because of our schedule, but we’re actually looking to get a studio built down here in Ponyville.” I answered her, “This is where we’re from, after all. Hopefully within a year, we’ll be living here again.” “That would be so cool!” Rainbow said with enthusiasm. Just then, Double Platinum, our band manager, came in and told us that our train was ready, so we got up and bid farewell to the six. After hugging the other five, I came up to Rainbow Dash and hugged her. As she wrapped her forelegs around my shoulders, I felt the spark come up again- and this time, it stayed with me. “It was so great meeting you, Rainbow Dash.” I told her. “Same here.” she answered. We shared the hug for a few more moments before they filed out of the room. The four of us then followed Double Platinum to our personal train to Manehattan. As the train departed Ponyville, I went to my cabin and got out of my stage gear. I laid my somewhat weary body down on the bed. It was usually after a show when I would get that empty feeling inside me, but tonight, it was not there at all. I felt nothing but contentment and moreover, I felt complete… I felt alive. And I know that it wasn’t just from the huge and successful show we’d just performed. It was also because of her. There was definitely something about that Pegasus, though I wasn’t exactly sure what. She continued to go through my thoughts as I dozed off into a deep sleep. ****** 7 MONTHS LATER****** The four of us had been playing more and more shows since the Post Winter Festival. We’d even played a few arenas now. We had been writing songs to record a third album in the next year. As we came to our house, we noticed that a letter had been sent to us. This wasn’t unusual, we got quite a bit of mail. But upon opening the letter and gathering around to read it, the words got our attention immediately: To Shadow Chord, Virtuoso, Striker and Lightning Shredder: Next month, we citizens here in Ponyville will be celebrating Nightmare Night, along with the rest of Equestria. Each year we carry out a traditional festival and the citizens of Ponyville all take part in it. Because of the success of the Post Winter Festival and the reception we received, I am sending you this letter to see if you four would be willing to perform again here in Ponyville at the Nightmare Night Festival. Please contact me soon if you wish to do so, and we can begin making arrangements. Sincerely yours, Mayor Mare. I looked up at my fellow bandmates, who were already grinning and nodding their heads in agreement. I had to say it, anyway. “Anyone up for a little trip home to Ponyville?” We began making preparations to respond to the Mayor that day. I was looking forward to returning to Ponyville and playing again. And then, I also remembered... this meant that I'd be able to see Rainbow Dash again.