It was about midday, the sun was overhead and a light breeze was present. Cicadas buzzed melodically, birds did their usual calls, and everything had a nice happy feeling to it. Thatched roofed cottages dotted the horizon, each one different from the next. Two familiar structures were visible; a large tree-house/library, and a clock tower which confirmed my approximation of the time. The drone of happy voices stretched far from the town. I came the tree line, peering into the rather massive settlement.
Colorful ponies walked about, going through their day-to-day errands and chatting up others. An occasional griffon or diamond dog was visible, but heavily outnumbered. The griffons were all different in colors and head shape, the diamond dogs were all various in breed and color, and both groups appeared to mix in well.
"It's a utopia, of course ponies aren't racist," but just as I finished that thought I was proved wrong an accidental-shoulder-bump-induced yelling match between a pony and griffon. It was very one sided.
"The buck's ya prahblem, buckin' feathabrain?" The earth pony yelled. His coat was sandy in color, with a darker outline. His mane was short and his tail was cropped to a forty-five degree angle, both were a deep brown. He shall henceforth be referred to as Ass Nugget.
"I-I'm sorry... I-It was an accident!" Mumbled the griffon, with his sky blue eyes the size of pinpricks. He had pristine white feathers on the underside of his beak and in top of his head. His beak was black and a trail of black feathers behind his eyes reminded me of an Osprey, and his body was a dark shade of grey. He shall henceforth be referred to as Victim.
"Like Tartarus it was!" Yelled Ass Nugget
"Now listen 'ere you little shit," I began, trudging out of my shady hiding spot and pointing the business end of of my staff at him. "Where I come from, racism IS NOT appreciated."
"And who ah you to talk, mista haihless ape?!" Ass Nugget spat, his anger causing his cartoony face to glow cartoonishly red.
"I am your worst nightmare," I said, mimicking a certain hero. Don't judge me.
Golem decided it was his time to intervene. He launched off my shoulder at the pony, stopping right in his face to flare his wings and screech. This scared the racist asshole, causing him to back pedal and trip over his own hooves.
Golem, hovering above the stallion, opened his beak to speak. "Should you utter another derogatory term, I will make sure it is your last." The depth of his voice made my chest rumble.
"Damn dude, that's fuckin' terrifying."
Ass Nugget nodded his head quickly and took off around the next corner, comically leaving a dust cloud shaped like him where he lay. Golem returned to his perch upon my shoulder and we turned to face Victim.
"T-Thanks," said the griffon. "If I had've fought back I'd break parol."
"Wow..." I mumbled. All my headcanons were simultaneously shattered, leaving me with so many questions.
"I don't think the laws count if you're an unknown species though," the griffon continued. He scratched his head and looked up at me. "What are you if you don't mind me asking?"
"I am Tomas Ignis Matthews, and I am a Homo Sapien."
"So you're like a smart naked monkey?"
"I guess you could say that," I returned then began to ponder my origins.
"Well I'm Tobias," he held out a claw, "It's nice to meet you."
I grabbed his claw and gave a firm shake then pointed to the bird on my shoulder. "This is Golem, I made him from Timberwolf scraps." Golem nodded his head to confirm. "He's quite awesome to have around."
"Wait, where'd you get Timberwolf scraps?" Asked Tobias.
"I was attacked by three of them out in the Everfree," I gestured toward the shadowy forest from which I came.
"What the hell were were you doing in the Everfree?!"
"It's a rather long story, some details I'd prefer not to share." I winced, thinking back to the encounter with the mighty root.
"It's a good thing you made it out, those Timberwolves are a hassle I hear." He shrugged his shoulders and looked around. "Where ya headed?"
"I need to pawn off some of the Timberwolf eyes and make some bits. Do you know where I could?"
"Those are usually worth a fortune! Are they still enchanted?"
I checked in the backpack pocket which I stored them in to find the gems still glowing brightly. "Yep!" I said excitedly.
"Well there's a thrift shop not to far from here but the shop owner is a bit bitter, if you could get ten grand for both I'd be surprised." He shrugged off the number like it was nothing, me on the other hand, my jaw collided with the dusty ground.
"Ten grand?!"
"They're enchanted man, it ups the price one-hundred fold."
"Well it looks like I'll be doin' some shoppin' today! SeeyalaterTobias, gottarunbye," I yelled as I, comically disappeared leaving a dust cloud shaped like myself.
"Damn, that dude is spastic as fuck..."
---
Golem managed to keep up with me in my Pinkie Pie-esque state. He flew above while I looked at shop signs, attempting to find said thrift store. Ponies walked about, doing their normal things and giving me strange looks. The occasional "what is that," and "where's its fur?" was heard amongst the crowd. I didn't care, as long as they didn't try to get in my face about it.
Soon, after a bit of walking, I found the store. It was shorter than all the other buildings and was made out of mismatched brick unlike the others. I found that I had to duck to get through the entrance, Golem swooping in from the sky behind me.
"Oi, no pets aloud! D'int you read the sign boy?" An old faded-purple unicorn yelled at me from behind a counter. He had white beard that curled and twisted beneath his chin and his mane was non-existent. He wore a cloak that was deep purple and connected at his shoulder with a golden emblem that resembled a certain hat. All in all, he looked pretty damn cool for an old geezer.
"He ain't a pet," I retorted and let a bit of my accent slip.
"Tomas does not lie," rumbled the bird from my shoulder.
The shopkeeper seemed rather upset about not having the reins to the argument, but dismissed it quickly. "Well I don't care whot you are, as long as ya buy sumthin'." His accent similar to the Scottish accent, but had something else in there. I couldn't put a finger on it.
With that said I began to look around the store. There were all sorts of things, from relics to magical armor. I nearly squee'd.
"We're looking to sell, then perhaps buy." I said turning to look at the unicorn, who was eyeing me suspiciously.
"Whot do you 'ave that may be of int'rest to me?"
"A pair of enchanted Timberwolf eyes."
The geezer's eyes widened as I pulled them out of the pocket, still glowing.
" 'ow'd you get your 'ooves on these?"
"I smashed the beasts that had them in their heads." I stated proudly, folding my arms and puffing up my chest.
" 'ow many 'beasts'?"
"Three," still proud as fuck.
"And whot'd you do with the others?"
I tapped the ground with my staff, "one set was used to make this," then I pointed to Golem, "another to make this." Upon calling him a 'this', Golem snapped at the finger pointed at him.
"Whot a waste," the shopkeeper said under his breath.
"Wasn't your choice ta make," I said. With another accent slip.
"Faih enough," said the unicorn. "I'll give ya ten for the both of em."
"-hundred?" I looked at him, expecting him to agree.
"Grand."
I choked, "why?"
"Ya 'ave good in ya kid. I can see it." The unicorn kept a stoic expression.
"Old english. That's what it was. Like how Hagrid speaks," I thought, missing the whole 'hint at my future' thing.
I handed him the eyes, and he produced a small bag from a safe behind him in return. The bag seemed rather small given the size of bit in the show.
"This bag is a bit small..." I said looking at him.
"Its bigga on the inside than it is on the out." He said, gesturing towards the bag. I peered in.
"...Holy shi- I expected you to sell me short."
" 'id you talk to that griffon?" The shopkeeper looked at me.
"Tobias, yes. He said you were a- What was it... Ah yes, a 'Bit Bitter'."
" 'e's just mad I d'int give 'im this," grunted the unicorn as he pulled out a beautiful guitar.
I drooled a little, "how much?"
"Two grand."
"No wonder he was mad," I chuckled. "I'll take it. Do you have a bass guitar and an acoustic as well?"
"Startin' a band?" He looked at me quizzically.
"On my way over here I saw a bar with a sign that said 'Live Band Wanted', with this newfound info I think I might as well give Tobias the guitar he wanted and head on over there around eight." I shrugged my shoulders, I didn't mind spending two grand on some dude I just met.
"Generous type are ya," he produced the three instruments and their cases. The guitar that was soon to be Tobias' was sky blue with a black neck with chrome frets and inlays. The bridge, strings, and tuners matched the inlays, and a whammy bar tipped with a sapphire sat near the bridge. My bass' body was jet black, the neck was long and made of oak. Every piece of metal on the instrument was made of (or looked like it was made of) gold. The acoustic guitar (that was also going to belong to me) resembled Johnny Cash's, aside from the fact that it had golden strings.
"All togetha, picks, cases, and strings included: Five-thousand bits."
"That's actually a pretty good deal," I said scratching my head, thinking about how I was supposed to carry it all. "Do you, by chance, have a backpack form of this here bit bag?"
"Yep. 'ey're not in really high demand, being as only you and the mutts can wear 'em. That 'ull be an extra twenty-five bits."
"Deal," I said. "I never did catch your name by the way."
"Euwin," he said, reaching out a hoof to confirm the deal. We shook.
"Now to separate out this coinage..."
---
The sun was beginning to set by the time I got out of the store. Crickets were composing another symphony and the birds finally decided to give it a rest. Cicadas continued to buzz, and foals were out playing for the last few minutes before their mothers came out with a paddle. All the sounds put together reminded me of the summer afternoon in neighborhood I lived in when I was ten. It was so nice.
I walked out to a more open area which was not far from the town. Atop a grassy hill I set up my bedroll under the single tree there. This time I went through the extra effort of putting stones around the fire, as to keep the grass un-charred, and dug out a small pit for the fire to allow more airflow. The fire was lit with a strike of a match; I stood back a few steps to admire my work. Golem perched himself at the highest branch of the tree and drifted off into sweet slumber.
I emptied out my old backpack while the summer sounds sung softly in the background. All its pockets and pouches revealed nothing I had not packed/seen before, aside from a now useless twenty dollar bill. I prepared my new backpack, which was black all over, with its single pouch that could hold a small truck, and two pockets; one being deep enough to house a claymore, and the other only hand deep but long enough to hold a chestful of knick-knacks.
I created imaginary organizer tabs, much like the actual ones in my other backpack, for the pouches and pockets. Treasures and gems in the shallow pocket, weapons in the deep one, and big anythings in the pouch. I placed the instruments in the pouch while wondering how it worked. Scientific me decided to stick my arm in and view with a flashlight.
My limb shrunk as it passed the zipper.
"That's mildly horrifying," I mumbled, ripping my hand back out as quickly as I could. "Not doing that again."
I placed the green potion Zecora gave me in the shallow pouch, hoping there were no side-effects to downing it with alcohol. Beginning to place my staff in the weapon pouch, I found that it didn't shrink. It also appeared to do the same that to magnets with similar poles being pushed together. This was very interesting and very disappointing to me at the same time. I chalked it up that magic was some weird form of electricity and decided to leave my staff at the camp.
I began to place the bit bag in my pocket then remembered something: "Oh god, I haven't changed clothes in two days," I sniffed my underarms then held back a gag. "Or showered."
"I'm going to have to visit best pony!" I squealed quietly, as not to wake my sleeping friend. "But I can't today, I smell like shit and need to be somewhere in two hours." Just then I remembered the river I passed when leaving the town.
One thing lead to another and I found myself soaked, but clean.
I stripped down, hoping that Golem wouldn't wake up to cause a very awkward moment, and hung my clothes off the branch that was so conveniently placed over the fire. Just high enough to keep the flames off of them. Seeing this done I settled down for a nap.
One hour and thirty minutes later...
*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
"Shhh... too short." I grunted and trashed at the wind up-alarm.
It was about time for me to head to the bar, so I grabbed the warm clothes off the branch and put them on. The feeling that the clothes gave me was both terrible and wonderful at the same time.
"AGH IT'S LIKE A MILLION LITTLE ANTS!"
Mental Note: Drying clothing over a fire makes it VERY itchy.
Several minutes passed of me running around like an idiot before the itching subsided. Calmly, collectively, and maturely, I grabbed my backpack, my knife; in case things went awry, and the bag of bits.
Heading off into the town I turned back and looked up at the tree.
"Goodnight my friend. I should be back by morning," I told the bird, even though he was obviously not listening.
---
The bar bustled with burly voices and bright lights from the inside. Ponies, griffons, and diamond dogs could be seen inside, sitting at tables in their respective groups. Ponies sat with their kind, an occasional stallion walking up to a mare and dropping a one liner to be smacked and return to their group with a defeated look on their face. Griffons did the same to their own group, only the male to female ratio was much less balanced, males being heavily outnumbered. Diamond dogs would simply sit and drool at the females, only to snap their eyes to their drinks when she turned their way.
The Bartender wasn't visible from outside the bar, so I entered. The bar went silent as all eyes bored into my skin.
"Uh, heeeey." I mentally shrunk and began to backpedal.
A grizzled griffon made himself visible from behind the counter, "who are you?"
With a gust of wind and a butt clench, a claw rested upon my shoulder.
"A friend," responded Tobias. I opened my eyes to look at him.
He hovered there, with gigantic black wings speckled with grey pumping lightly to keep him up. His eyes were focused at the bartender's, with the most stern expression I've ever seen. Its very hard to be threatening with baby-blue eyes, but this guy pulled it off.
"Alright," came the bartender griffon with an Australian accent. The creatures of the bar returned to do whatever they were doing and the sound level returned to normal. A few ponies however continued to stare at me, commenting on my appearance and whatnot.
I turned back to Tobias. "Thanks man, I hate it when that kinda thing happens."
"No problem, but it is a bit of a surprise seeing you here. What with the whole appearing out of the forest with no bits and a pair of gems. On that note, what did you get out of that old unicorn?"
"About five grand, a backpack, and a few instruments. One of which I think you might be happy to see," I said, searching for an empty table. "But first lets get a table."
So, the griffon and I did as said and found an empty booth to sit in. I took off my backpack and rummaged through it while Tobias spoke from the other side of the table.
"Are you telling me you got a full payment from Euwin?!" He looked at me dumbfounded.
"Yea," I grunted as I pulled out the guitar case. "And I think he's a pretty nice guy if you can keep a level head." I popped the latch to the case, revealing Tobias' new guitar.
"Dude really?!" His eyes shimmered
"No its mine, I was just showing you it," I snapped the case closed and waited for his reaction. He visibly sagged, muttering only one word:
"Okay..."
"Just kidding!" I opened it back up, "All yours buddy."
"Holy shit man, thanks. But in all seriousness, don't play with my emotions like that." He tapped his claw on the table to emphasize his words. I merely chuckled.
"So, you play huh? How good are you?" I taunted him, pulling out my bass. I walked over to the stage at the corner of the bar, motioning for him to follow. "Do you know a little tune by the name of 'Another One Bites the Dust'?"
I climbed up on the stage, Tobias and some diamond dog followed. The canine hopped on the drums eagerly and began playing.
That was my cue, I slapped the thick chrome strings and Tobias picked up the beat.
"Oh! Lets go!" I nearly squealed. I fucking loved this song.
"Steve walks warily down the street,
Brim pulled way down low.
Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet,
Machine gun ready to go."
I sang as I strutted across the stage, playing as I did so.
"Are you ready, hey are you ready for this?
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip,
To the sound of the beat yeah."
Tobias sung in unison with me for the chorus.
"Another one bites the dust.
Another one bites the dust.
Another one gone and another one gone,
Another one bites the dust.
Hey, I'm gonna get you too,
Another one bites the dust."
The griffon shedded his strings then transitioned to a funky new set of chords. I began to sing, throwing my head back as I did so, Freddie Mercury would be proud.
"How do you think I'm gonna get along,
Without you when you're gone?
You took me for everything that I had,
And kicked me out on my own."
I turned to face the creatures of the bar.
"Are you happy? Are you satisfied?
How long can you stand the heat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip,
to the sound of the beat, look out!"
Tobias shredded the strings yet again, in perfect sync with the rhythm. We began to sing the chorus, this time the doggy drummer joined in.
"Another one bites the dust.
Another one bites the dust.
Another one gone and another one gone,
Another one bites the dust.
Hey, I'm gonna get you too,
Another one bites the dust."
"Hey!" I yelled as the crowd began to clap, "Oh, take it! Bite the dust!"
Tobias decided it was time to sing so I let him have the next part.
"Bite the dust hey,
Hey, another one bites the dust,
Another one bites the dust oww!
Another one bites the dust, hey! Hey!
Another one bites the dust hey-yay-ya-ya-ya
Ooh shoota!"
I took back the reins and began to sing.
"There are many ways you can hurt a man and bring him to the ground,
You can beat him, you can cheat him, you can treat him bad,
And leave him when he's down yeah.
But I'm ready, yes I'm ready for you,
I'm standing on my own two feet,
Out of the doorway the bullets rip,
Repeating to the sound of the beat."
The whole bar began to sing the next part.
"Another one bites the dust.
Another one bites the dust.
Another one gone and another one gone,
Another one bites the dust.
Hey, I'm gonna get you too,
Another one bites the dust."
"Shoota! Ye-ah! Alright," sang Tobias, his eyes closed in concentration. The drummer finished off the song with a hit to each piece, allow the crowd to hoot and cheer as he did so.
Tobias and I returned to the table, fist/claw bumping before we sat down again. I searched around for our anonymous drummer, only to see a red bandana being held up by a brindle paw near the stage. He was surrounded by four other diamond dogs.
"Look, we-a ahll dogs he-a," nervously chuckled the Bostonian terrier in the center of the group. "I jus' said dat ya motha's must be beautiful ladies."
"Then ya followed up with 'Cuz yous guys are pretty ugly'," said the rather bulky, but short, bulldog advancing on the drummer. Slobber rolled from his jowls and hit the floor with a splat, and when he breathed it sounded as if he was snoring. His coat was brown with a white scarf-like pattern around his neck. I couldn't see their faces, but I knew by the breathing (and the drool) that they were bulldogs. They inched closer and closer to the terrier, boxing the box-headed little guy in.
Time to intervene.
"Break it up dogs. If yer offended by the kid's talent for insults, ya can come take it up with me." I quipped, my southern drawl taking its toll on the seriousness of my words.
Instead of doing what I had hoped, the dogs turned and began to advance upon me. Seeing this happen, I flicked up the side of my shirt to show the rather large hunting knife on my belt. "Care ta rethink that?"
The dogs nodded and hung their heads in defeat, returning to their table. I turned to Tobias, who was watching.
"Thank the heavens that they didn't call my bluff." He chuckled as I turned away and motioned for the terrier to come sit with us.
"I was ahbout to get my tail handed to me the-a. Thanks mistah...?" He held out his paw.
I shook. "Tomas," I said eyeing him. He was brindle, with a white mask and scarf pattern in his fur, and his eyes were greenish-brown, like the bandana he had now tied around his neck. His head was that of a boston terrier, well-known for picking fights with things bigger than themselves.
"That explains a lot..."
"I'm Domnic, yous can cahll me Dom."
The griffon held out a claw, "I'm Tobias. The friend of the guy who saved your ass." They shook.
Just then a very familiar unicorn entered the bar, caught my eye, and sat down right next to the griffon who had accused him of greed. The expression on Tobias' face was priceless. And the store owner knew what he had done.
"Migh'y nice seein' you 'ere Tomas." He nodded at me then turned to the griffon with a devilish smile on his face.
"I 'ope you thanked this man 'ere for the instra'ment?"
"I- uh, Yes... Yes, I-I did."
"I'm just mess'n with ya boy, let's go get some drinks," with that said, Euwin left his seat. He lead us to four empty bar stools.
"I'll 'ave a shot of some bourbon." The old unicorn told the bartender, then climbed into his seat.
"Got any Captain?" I asked and the griffon prepared a glass, pouring the luscious brown liquid in. He turned to Tobias.
"The usual?"
"Yep," replied Tobias. The bartender whipped up a Shirley Temple in front of him.
"I haven't seen you here in a while," he then said to Dom, the diamond dog.
"Well yous is duh one who kicked me out last time," spoke Dom. "I's figyuh'd it'd be a bit stupid tuh come back duh next day."
The bartender laughed and produced a plain mug of beer for the dog. I figured they'd had a love-hate relationship for a while.
The bartender himself was a very interesting character, from his Seagull-like appearance to the stubble that had somehow grown on his beak. He was off-white in color and looked as though he'd been in a few fights, judging by the fact that Dom said that he had kicked him out before, I concluded that he was probably the bar's security as well.
Four stools down, A aquamarine pegasus sat with her eyes glazed over pointed at her empty glass. Her mane was golden, outlined in a deeper tone, and gave off the look of grief. Her cutie mark was a white lightning bolt striking three gold stars.
"Awww shit, its Lightning Dust..."
"Another... Please," she demanded then pulled back.
"Atta girl," said the bartender walking over to her with another mug. "Go easy on this one, it's bad enough doin' what you're doin' now."
Lightning Dust looked up at the bartender with a flame in her eyes, "Don't try and give me ad-" She paused and realized what she was starting. "...T-thanks."
"That's just fucking sad." I thought, seeing the distraught female. My inner knight in shining armor convinced me to go talk to her.
"You guys get to know each other, I'm gonna be right back," I told the group as I got up from my stool. They nodded and went back to the conversation they were having, something about politics.
I walked myself and drink over to Lightning Dust who now stared into a mug full of a golden bubbly liquid. I glanced over her form, she was tense in the shoulders, hinting that she was anxious about something. Her mane was a sign that lack of hygiene and heavy drinking had been a pattern for at least a week, and her breathing was slow and shallow. In other words, she looked like she felt. Shit.
"Is this seat taken?" I asked the pegasus.
She turned from her mug to look at me, "Why, of all the seats in the bar, do you choose the one next to me?"
I decided to be honest with her. "Because ya look like shit." I plopped down on the stool to her left as she turned away from me and, once again, faced her drink.
"Great, another dick looking to come 'help' the girl looks down. You probably just want to get some ass."
"Actually no, you look like shit and I don't think that drinking is gonna help you at all." I told her straight, as I could tell she needed some honesty. "Alcohol is a depressant. If you're feeling like life sucks, this is going to make you hate it even more." I tapped the mug and got her to look at me. "I've been in the same shit hole you're in now. I can tell ya, it ain't fun. The only way to get out of it is to talk to someone."
"Maybe you're right, or maybe you're wrong. I don't bucking know anymore." She shivered, the tension in her neck and shoulders was released a little.
"Step one: Tear down the walls. Check."
"I failed him," she shivered more. "I failed him and now he won't let me back."
"Your father I presume?"
"Yea," she fought back her tears. "He told me to be the greatest before I left," Lightning Dust slammed her hoof on the counter." and I got bucking kicked out. And here I am now, living in a bar and pouring my heart out to a stranger... I am halfway through my bucking twenties! I should have this shit sorted out by now!"
"Actually, you made a mistake. This problem is present, but its only as severe as you're making it" I rested a hand on her shoulder. "You can do this, you just need some help and time to process it."
"Maybe you're right, maybe you're dead wrong," she turned and looked at my hand then at me. "What's your name?"
"Tomas, and yours?" I knew, but I had to ask to avoid creepiness.
"Lightning Dust."
I got up from my seat and bowed... Forgetting the drink in my hand, I spilt it on my shoes. This act elicited a giggle from the mare.
"Step two: Lighten the mood. Check."
"Would you like to meet my friends?" Asked her after cleaning up said mess with a pile of napkins.
"Sure," Lighting dust smoothed out her mane as she said this.
---
"Guys... and gal. Ah think we should do another song." I hiccuped.
"I dunno man," said Tobias. "We're all a bit tipsy."
"Nah," denied the group in unison.
"Ah'll stomp my hooves or somethin', but I won't sing," gargled a wasted pegasus.
"Yous guise are duh bestest frien's I *-Hiccup-* evur had," slurred Dom as he glomped all of us.
We all wobbled up to the stage, aside from Euwin, who was smart enough to stay back.
"Do ya guys know 'Burnin' Ring of Fire'?" I turned to my band mates, teetering as I picked up my guitar case.
"Tha one by Johnny Bits?" Asked drunken Lightning Dust.
"Johnny Bi- Yea whatevur," said I, remembering I was in a different reality. Slinging the strap over my shoulder, I without hesitation had chosen a love song to/with a female I had just met.
Drunk Tomas is not a smart man.
I hooked Lightning Dust by the neck and pulled her closer to me, making a decision that I might possibly regret in the near future.
"Let's do this." I said, then reached for the microphone as Domnic began on the trumpet? "I didn't know he could play that..."
"Love is a burning thing,
And it makes a fiery ring.
Bound by wild desire,
I fell into a ring of fire."
I sang with my southern drawl full blast, and I could've sworn I saw Lightning Dust blush as I began the chorus. She harmonized with me.
"I fell into a burning ring of fire.
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher.
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire,
The ring of fire."
Dom continued on with his trumpeting as I glanced at the pegasus next to me. Her face lit up red and she turned away. Tobias, holding my bass, chuckled quietly as he played. He knew what was up and I hadn't a clue.
So I started to sing again.
"I fell into a burning ring of fire.
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher.
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire,
The ring of fire.
"The taste of love is sweet,
When hearts like ours meet.
I fell for you like a child,
Oh, but the fire went wild."
The chorus came again and Dust sung with me.
"I fell into a burning ring of fire.
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher.
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire,
The ring of fire.
"I fell into a burning ring of fire.
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher.
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire,
The ring of fire.
"And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire,
The ring of fire,
The ring of fire,
The ring of fire..."
The crowd cheered for the last time that night, we all drunkenly bowed and sat on the edge of the stage. Our instruments lay in their respective cases, their players: tired and drunk, but never to out of it to care for them. My bass and acoustic sit in the hard latched cases, Dom's trumpet sat in its place behind the drumkit, and Tobias' guitar sat on the left side of the stage.
Euwin joined us as I looked around the bar. Ponies, griffons, and diamond dogs were sitting at tables in mixed groups. A diamond dog sat beside a griffon and a unicorn, all three in a fit of laughter. Griffons mixed themselves in with other species, letting any idea of segregation be dismissed. Even the burly biker bulldogs had a few ponies in the mix.
I smiled. If I were a pony and I were a blank flank I'd be getting my cutie mark right now.
"That's it!" I stated aloud, causing my peers to jump. I stood up...
...And being as drunk as I was, fell face-first off the stage.
Graceful. As. Fuck.
