A Hard Bargain

by Zap Apple Smash


Bonus Chapter: Encore Performance

Such a feelin's comin' over me
There is wonder in most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky
Got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream.

Ditzy and Dinky were in the shower, happily singing while working on getting each other clean. (Well it was more Ditzy trying to get Dinky clean but the young filly insisted on helping her momma get clean too)

Everything I want the world to be
Is now coming true especially for me
And the reason is clear
It's because you are here
You're the nearest thing to paradise I've seen

The next part was Dinky's favourite.

I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world

What followed was the final rinse to get all soap out.

"There." Dinky said proudly. "All clean."

Ditzy looked thoughtfully at her daughter. "Actually, I think we missed a spot...right...there." She pointed towards Dinky's left cheek, and then blew a raspberry into it, causing Dinky to burst out laughing.

PFRTTT!

"ARGH HA HA HA!"

"There, all clean."


You keep saying you've got something for me.
something you call love, but confess.
You've been messin' where you shouldn't have been a messin'
and now someone else is gettin' all your best.

These hooves are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these hooves are gonna walk all over you.

You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin'
and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet.
You keep samin' when you oughta be changin'.
Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.

These hooves are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these hooves are gonna walk all over you.

Cheerilee opened the bathroom door, feeling refreshed and ready to take whatever the day would throw at her.

"Are you ready hooves?" Cheerilee said, "Start walking!"

The teacher took a couple of confident steps forward before tripping on a loose bit of carpet. Having no way to stop the forward momentum, Cheerilee pushed off the tripped hoof and, through some miracle, did a forward flip before landing on her back hooves.

"Not bad," Berry Punch commented. "I'd give it a 6.8"

Cheerilee jumped a bit when she saw her sister. "What are you doing here?" She then processed what Berry Punch had said. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 6.8?! That was a single hoof dismount with a forward flip and a two hooves landing to finish, that is at LEAST a 8.0."

"Sorry sis, the dismount was sloppy." Berry Punch replied before she started to walk off. "Don't feel bad. It's a deceptively difficult move to pull off perfectly and, let's be honest; I was always the better gymnast."

"HEY! GET BACK HERE!! WE'RE NOT DONE TALKING ABOUT THIS!!


Raindrops was in bliss, while a shower was no real substitute for actual rain, it still wasn’t a bad alternative.

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Crying's not for me
Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothing's worrying meeeeeECK!.

"Sorry!" Snails shouted through the bathroom door. "I had to use the toilet."

Raindrops took a couple of deep breaths before answering.

"That's alright Snails, just remember that plumbing in this house is all connected."

"I will!"

Raindrops took another couple of deep breaths before returning to her song.

RaindreeeeeECK!

"Sorry! I had to wash my hooves!"


I am the very model of a modern Major-General
I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral
I know the Dukes of Heststed, and I quote the fights historical
From Cavallia to Garanha, in order categorical

I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical
I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical
About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse

With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotepotenuse

I'mverygoodatintegralanddifferentialcalculus
Iknowthescientificnamesofbeingsanimalculous
Inshort,inmattersvegetable,animal,andmineral
IamtheverymodelofamodernMajor-General!

Carrot Top stepped out of the shower and braced herself against the sink as she took in several deep breaths.

"Must...get...slower...shower...song..."


I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before
But I have a talent, a wonderful way
how everyone listens when I start to play
I'm so grateful and proud
All I want is to sing it out loud

So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me

Being satisfied with her level of cleanliness, Lyra turned off the shower and levitated a towel over to herself. Once she was dry she stepped out of the shower and came face to face with Bon Bon, who was wearing a mischievous grin and looking at Lyra as if she was her next meal.

"What?"

Let’s make music together
Bon Bon closed the distance with a seductive saunter.
Let’s make sweet harmony
She then made a quick circle around Lyra before brushing hard up beside her.
Oh, let’s make music together, baby
Bon Bon's tail managed to somehow brush against the inside of Lyra's hind leg.
You take the do I’ll take the ray, you better hang on to me

Reading the warning signs, Lyra tried to make a quick exit. "Sorry Bon Bon but now isn't really the time."

Disengaging from the candy making temptress, Lyra made it out of bathroom but was soon cut off from going any further when Bon Bon got in front of her again.

We are birds of a feather
Looking for the right key
Oh, let’s make music together, baby
Cause only music makes a mare free

Despite what Bon Bon was doing, Lyra was somehow able summon up a scrap of resistance. "Come on Bon Bon, you've got to get ready for work."

"It's late start day today." Bon Bon reminded the musician.

Realisation hit Lyra like ton of bricks, at which point she lifted her marefriend into an intimate tango hold and picked up the tune herself.

Gonna make a beautiful song
Sing along,
gonna make that natural beat
Make it sweet
When the music’s deep down in you
There’s nothing that you can do
But believe, oh believe

The two mares then proceeded to tango their way to the bedroom.

There is nothing like singing
And our voices just blend
Oh, let’s make music together, baby
Lift our voices together partner
Let’s make music forever, baby
Together right to the end!

The two then leapt onto their bed, ready to take the term "Making music" away from the literal into oh-so-wonderfully metaphorical ...and promptly stopped when they realised they were sharing a bed with a small toothless alligator.

The ponies and the alligator stared blankly at each other. The reptile was then scooped up by PInkie Pie.

"Bad Gummy!" The pink mare scolded. "Interrupting their quiet time just because you thought it would be funny." Gummy blinked once. "Don't give me that look; I already told you, most ponies don't get meta-humour."

Pinkie stopped her scolding when she realised Bon Bon and Lyra were staring. "Quick Gummy!” She whispered to the alligator. “Escape Plan Beta!"

Pinkie held Gummy with one hoof, pulled out a top hat with the other and started to high-kick towards the door.

Hello! ma baby
Hello! ma honey
Hello! ma ragtime gal
Send me a kiss by wire
Baby, ma heart's on fire!
If you refuse me
Honey, you'll lose me
Then you'll be left alone
Oh, baby, telegram
And tell me I'm your own!

When the song ended, Pinkie ran for dear life.


The sound of running water in the representative's bathroom stopped. There was a brief pause before Trixie swung open shower curtain with a flourish and stepped out.

For what is a mare, what has she got?
If not herself, then she has naught!
To say the things she truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

The showmare caught an incoming bouquet of flowers, giving a bow of gratitude.

Yes it was my way.

"Bravo! Bravo!" Ditzy said, happily clopping her hooves to the ground in applause.

"Thank you, Ditzy. Nice timing with the bouquet." Trixie replied. "I didn't realise you did flower deliveries too."

"Only if they come from out of town." Ditzy explained.

"Fair enough." Trixie replied before thoughtfully looking at the bouquet. "Hm, wonder who sent it."

After briefly inspecting the bouquet, Trixie found a note attached.

Dear Trixie

Always thinking of you

Love

Hex Node


Trajectory was walking past the Representative's house when a bouquet of flowers unexpectantly collided with his head. He looked around but he saw no obivious culprit. His mind then went what, to him at least, was the most logical conclusion.

He looked up at the sun "So you've finally acknowledged me as a threat." Despite the sun not replying the burly unicorn developed a look of satisfaction. "Well the first hit goes to you, my flamming adversary, BUT PREPARE FOR RETALIATION!!!"

He then ran off to get his catapult.