As the private train began to reach viewing distance of its next stop, everyone on board looked out to see what was ahead. They were still miles away, but it wasn’t buildings, monuments, or other similar structures as the ponies could point out to their interdimensional friends. What they were seeing were thousands of lights shining brightly together, and bright enough that the Princess of the Night would occasionally call this place the brightest star on the surface for the stars to see instead of the other way around.
It was the last time Pinkie Pie was allowed to teach Luna what comedic humor was like.
But it wasn’t being a massive ball of light that made this city unique. It was its culture of ultimate vacationing for ponies of all races and ages, a place where an entire world was packed into a small defined area. If anypony would tell you what they couldn’t find there, it would be one of three things: an alicorn princess, almost any kind of living thing imaginable that wasn’t a pony in a costume, and stopping in one place for so long. The only exception was the latter, if you were a pony that enjoyed going to a casino. However, the train approaching the city had those exact things on board, carrying the Team JAG Band, Team Sonic, Princess Twilight with her family and friends, and Tails and Cosmo as they traveled to their next JAGFest destination: Las Pegasus.
/)∞(\
The moment they arrived, the group of friends received some of the most professional and respectful treatment. Ponies working at the train station offered to help with any luggage or equipment, but the most the group asked for was a set of directions to their place of residence during the city’s Equestrian Residence, called the Celestial Palace, home of the location of the festival’s main event, the Lunar Gardens. It was no surprise to Twilight and her friends that the Royal Sisters had something named after them in Las Pegasus, for the city was known to take some of Equestria’s most well-known ponies. The Sapphire, Discord Discord, Ahuizotl’s Palace, the list goes on and on.
Upon their arrival at Celestial Palace, the front clerk called out for all available staff to wait to the every whim of Princess Twilight and her company. It was no surprise to see this happen once again, many or all ponies praising the lavender alicorn for her title earned by her deeds and experiences, and although it was still to her chagrin, Twilight allowed and thanked the hotel staff, who led them all to their own rooms to make themselves comfortable. Following that was a dinner and a show in the hotel’s own restaurant, which was cleared out just to allow the honored guests a private setting.
All in all, it was a nice time for everyone. The meal was delicious, the drinks they had were delicious, and the only ponies who bothered them were those who were working on last second JAGFest preparations and wanted to ask permission of the band and princess about taking care of some alterations if or when needed. When it was time for dessert, everyone was given complimentary drinks of coffee and cider, or juice and water for the younger members of the group. Around that time, the group was treated to a surprise performance from one of Las Pegasus’s newest performers, and chosen host for tomorrow’s festival. When it began to take place, a voice began to speak out of nowhere, one that caught the intrigue of Equestria’s interdimensional visitors, but put the ponies and baby dragon in jaw-dropping shock.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, welcome to the Celestial Palace, home of tomorrow’s festival, JAGFest: Equestrian Masquerade! Tonight, you will behold one of the most magic-filled performances to ever arrive on the streets of Las Pegasus! Who will provide this show, you might ask, and it is none other than…
“THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!!!”
When a familiar blue unicorn appeared on stage, wearing her performing attire of her hat and cape, she stared at who she was performing for with complete surprise herself. She was only told she was playing for exclusive guests of the hotel, not the guests of JAGFest.
/)∞(\
The festival proved to be another success for the Team JAG Band. Every corner of the town was celebrating all things pony and Las Pegasus, from charity drives for nationwide organizations to demonstrations from show-performing unicorns on how to use magic to provide a quality performance. Every building and their respective theme hosted events and activities of their own, helping to provide an even broader variety of things to do for all the attending ponies and guests.
The band and their friends walked around amongst the festival to see how things were, even going so far as to jumping in on some of the activities to participate themselves. At this point during the Masquerade, it seemed word about the band’s performances has spread, with much positivity to boost, thus ponies would walk up and try to ask questions and get autographs from the band. The same was done with Team Sonic and Princess Twilight and her friends, but to their own degrees for what they have become known for. For the princess and the band, receiving such praise and admiration was an element of recognition they were still not used to, especially for the former. They never expected, other than discovering and coming to know a dimension primarily consisted of colorful and phenomenally gifted ponies, that they would become the quickest-growing and most praising gathering of fans, a fandom, of the interdimensional supergroup.
Hours would pass and before they all knew it, the Lunar Gardens was allowing ponies in to attend the main event, the Team JAG Band concert. The standing area, the lower benches, the upper balconies, all being filled from one corner of the venue to another. If there was one section of the seating area that wasn’t filled completely was a closed off section in the middle of the upper balcony, which was made so for all the visitors from Mobius and Ponyville.
Trixie was given the stage to make a performance of her own and give her introduction speech for the band. Preparing backstage, the entire band was gathered and fine-tuning a few of their instruments, along with themselves, as Tails was sitting down with Cosmo, Nyx, Twilight and Sonic about the day’s events and various other topics, including Tails confessing some nervousness he was having about the approaching show. Thankfully he had the endless support of encouragement from the one he looked up to as his brother, praise from the princess he would call his best friend from Equestria, admiration the daughter of said princess who looked up to him like family, and of course the never withering love of his fiancé. It was good to have friends like them to help his confidence when it was needed, and unless it was when caught in a dire situation, it was a rare thing to happen since the Revival concert so long ago.
When they checked the time, Phineas and Ferb signaled both Trixie and the band simultaneously to get ready for the big show. Phineas used a flashlight and flashed it three times to signal the showmare to cease her performance and start her speech, and Ferb used a small bell he rang while walking around and gained everyone’s attention. Sonic, deciding to go meet the others at their seats, wished the band good luck and then raced off in a blue streak. Twilight and Cosmo, of course, accepted the band’s offer to participate in the band’s huddle, with Nyx jumping back up on Tails’s back and looked over him to participate herself. When the group was huddled together, Tails began to hype them up.
“Alright, guys, these are the facts. Tonight is our fifth JAGFest in Equestria, and there hasn’t been more recognition for what we do until today. Today we saw that we definitely have seen the development of a following for what we do and how everypony celebrates. Tonight’s set will have some of our favorite songs, special premieres, and some of the heaviest songs that we’ve ever played. Overall, Las Pegasus is going to get one of the heaviest JAGFests we’ve ever put together. Do we have what it takes to take that fact, and supercharge the hell out of it?!”
“Yes!” chanted the group.
“I said… DO WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!?!”
“YES!”
“Hands and hooves in, guys,” he continued. In just seconds, all their hands and two alicorn hooves were stacked. “I want Las Pegasus to love tonight’s show, but more importantly, I want to add this city to our long list of friends here in Equestria. I want to make my love and my best friends proud of us during tonight’s show. I want to hear ‘Heavy Metal Friendship’ as loud as we can get it! Sound off on 3! 1… 2… 3!”
“HEAVY METAL FRIENDSHIP!”
And with that, the huddle broke apart, and Trixie concluded her speech a moment later. Twilight and Nyx gave Tails good luck hugs, and Cosmo giving him a good luck kiss, before the Princess of Friendship used her magic to teleport the trio up to where their friends were in the balcony. As the band got its starting lineup in place, their host exited the stage, giving the two stage managers the signal to hit a series of buttons that got the next show of the Equestrian Masquerade underway…
/)∞(\
FASHION SHOW, TAKE TWO – William Anderson/audio introduction
END OF THE LINE – DevilDriver/Jason/Yumi on rhythm guitar
THE UNDERTOW – Lamb of God/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar
BEFORE I DIE – Mushroomhead/Ash on Jeffrey Nothing vocals, Gohan on J-Mann vocals, Yugi on Waylon vocals/Jason on drums, Tails on lead guitar, Yumi on rhythm guitar, Ami on bass guitar, Kim on keyboards, Dan and Ron on custom percussion, Aelita on turntables/samples
FIGHT OR FLIGHT – Fallen Captive/Ash/Yumi on rhythm guitar, Tails on keyboards
“Fillies and Gentlecolts… WELCOME TO JAGFEST, LAS PEGASUS STYLE!!!” Dan called out to the audience, with much excitement and energy in his tone, and received the same from the ponies with cheers. He went on to say “We’ve been having a great day in your city today, but now it’s time for us to show you just what we do to have fun. Are you ready to have some fun with us tonight or what?!” The crowd cheered loudly once more before he concluded with “This next song is by one of our four greatest influences. We hope you like it as much as we do. This song is called Castle of Glass…”
CASTLE OF GLASS – Linkin Park/Ash/Dan on lead guitar and co-vocals, Tails on keyboard/synthesizer, Ron on acoustic guitar and backing vocals, Yumi on bass guitar, Jason on turntables/samples
SUPER CHARGER HEAVEN – White Zombie/Jason/audio intro
FOREVER – In This Moment/Ami with Gohan lineup/Gohan on rhythm guitar
YOU WASTE YOUR TIME – Tremonti/Ash + lead guitar
HANGMAN – Kill Devil Hill/Yugi
Yugi stood at the center of the middle stage riser, looking out at the crowd with the aided height, starting with standing and floor seats before working up to the balcony above. “So who here in Las Pegasus has heard of us before?” he asked, receiving a low but fair round of cheering from the audience. “Well, for those of you who don’t know who we are, we’re known as the Team JAG Band, and we play concerts of tributes to the bands we love to listen to, or are just interesting to us, by gaining the ability to replicate the singing voices and practicing all sorts of instruments. For this show, we’ve decided to play a song that has had been ringing in our ears for over a year now; a cover version of a very successful song, and an exclusive premiere just for you guys.” The crowd began to cheer once again, this time the entirety of them. Without saying another word, the band got in place, Ron walked out to the center front of the stage with a microphone, and the next song began to be performed…
ROLLING IN THE DEEP [ADELE] – We Are Promise/Yugi/Dan on clean vocals, Ron on rhythm guitar, Tails on keytar
THE HOWLING – Within Temptation/Ami with Yugi lineup/Yugi on rhythm guitar, Tails on keyboard/synthesizer, Aelita on symphonic keyboard, Kim on co-vocals with own voice
ONE LIGHT – 3 Doors Down/Yugi/Tails on lead guitar and co-vocals
BABY CAN’T DRIVE – Slash/Yugi/Tails on lead guitar, Yumi on female vocals
WHEREVER I MAY ROAM – Metallica/Gohan + rhythm guitar/Tails on sitar
“If you’re having fun so far,” Jason began to say, “I WANT TO HEAR YOU SCREAM!!” And scream the crowd did as they let out an intensely loud wail that surfed its way to the stage like a wave. “Now what’s about to go down next is that we’re reaching the end of our first part of tonight’s set. This first part was us playing song that we’ve used to rehearse before several other shows in our past, and with these songs, practiced before our inaugural JAGFest concerts. The next part will be us giving you a ten-song tribute to an important band to us, and I’ll tell you right now how excited Gohan is for that. For right now, however, we have a few more songs from our rehearsal times a couple years ago, and it’s going to get fucking heavier, and heavier, and heavier! Come on, Las Pegasus, let’s keep this going with a little Slipknot…”
GENTLY – Slipknot/Jason/Tails on rhythm guitar, Dan on keyboard, Ami and Yumi on custom percussion, Aelita on turntables/samples
ANODYNE SEA – As I Lay Dying/Ash/Dan on rhythm guitar and clean vocals
SAY YOUR NUMBER – Volbeat/Gohan + rhythm guitar
THE SENTINEL [JUDAS PRIEST] – Machine Head/Jason + rhythm guitar
[ONE MINUTE INTERMISSION]
ASHES – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar
BURN IT DOWN – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar
UNDER & OVER IT – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar
DOT YOUR EYES – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Jason on Jamey Jasta vocals, Yumi on rhythm guitar, Ami on drums
A DAY IN MY LIFE – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar
Gohan stood front and center of the stage as he looked upon the audience and asked “Is everypony still having fun tonight?!” Almost every pony in the crowd stomped and cheered and whistled loudly, saving a couple of their friends in their sitting area, and the host that felt outshined. “Tonight, we play the songs by one of the biggest heavy metal bands we’ve come to known over the last few years, who go by the name of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH!” The crowd began to cheer again as he continued with “I’ve been looking forward to play these songs since the set was first drafted because if modern metal had any righteous representatives, it’s this band we play almost every concert we perform. Plus, this next song, is our dedicated tribute to all of Las Pegasus, and we have never played it live…
“Until now-“
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN [-TRADITIONAL-] – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar, Ron on pan flute
GENERATION DEAD – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar
NEVER ENOUGH – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar
BURN MF – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi and Ami on rhythm guitars
WAR IS THE ANSWER – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar, Tails on co-lead guitar
[ONE MINUTE INTERMISSION]
MAN ON THE SILVER MOUNTAIN [RAINBOW] – Rob Halford/Yugi/Ron on rhythm guitar
MY CURSE – Killswitch Engage/Jason/Yumi on rhythm guitar
FALLEN – Soulfly/Ash + rhythm guitar
BLAZING STAR – Dethklok/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar, Ron on co-vocals, Tails and Aelita on symphonic keyboards
GRACE – Apocalyptica/only Tails, Dan, Ami and Yumi on cellos, Kim on drums, Ron on lead guitar
EXPLOSIA – Gojira/Yugi + rhythm guitar
When the next song’s lineup was in place, Ash stood at one of the microphone stands on the highest riser and spoke to the crowd of enthusiastic ponies. “Welcome to part three of our show, you guys. During this part of the set, we’ll be playing songs by all sorts of bands and genres just for you, and all the bands you’ll hear tonight will NOT be repeated during our Equestrian Masquerade in many of your cities. We’re going to tone it down, but just by a hair, as we get things set up for our pal Pinkie Pie, and us giving you another special premiere. Are you guys ready for round three?!” After allowing the audience to cheer out their excitement, Ash concluded with “Allow us to introduce to you a song by a band that goes by the name of Alice in Chains…”
HOLLOW – Alice in Chains/Ash/Kim on rhythm guitar
CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT – Mastodon/Gohan + rhythm guitar
RELENTLESS – Lita Ford/Yumi with Gohan lineup/Gohan on rhythm guitar
SHIMMER ON – MandoPony/Yugi/Aelita on keyboard
SMILE, SMILE, SMILE – My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic/Pinkie Pie with Jason lineup/Jason on piano, Tails on keyboards, Ami and Yumi on backing vocals
SIGNS – Creed/Jason/Tails on rhythm guitar
Tails took off the guitar he used for the previous song and set it against the stage setup, and then turned back around towards his microphone stand. In his mind, an odd combination of fear and confusion blended as he was about to take on a familiar role in a new way, and he felt nervous regardless of deciding to go ahead with this. If it wasn’t for confidence Cosmo and his friends gave him before they arrived in Equestria for JAGFest, he would have reconsidered doing it altogether, at least not without doing something simultaneously. He could still feel his love’s lips on his own, and a little filly’s front legs wrapped around his legs, which would always give him extra confidence. He took a good look over to where Cosmo, Twilight, Sonic and everyone were sitting, seeing them all smile happily, and then began to speak to the entire audience.
“Everypony, I have a surprise for you for this next song,” he went on to say, gaining the crowd’s full attention. “We have a new band debuting we’re going to perform for you next, and I agreed to front this great band, but this is the first time where I won’t be playing an instrument. I have NEVER done this before, but for my friends in this band, and the love and support I get from my friends and family from Mobius and here in Equestria, I’m willing to give it a try. So, Las Pegasus, I hope you enjoy this next song, and for me at least, you guys get the best frontman I can bring out of me. Let’s do this…”
INVISIBLE TOUCH – Genesis/Tails with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar, Dan and Ron on keyboards/synthesizers
NO MATTER WHAT – Papa Roach/Ash/Ami on rhythm guitar
IN MY DARKEST HOUR – Megadeth/Yugi + rhythm guitar/Dan on acoustic guitar
STOP THE SAILOR – Tech N9ne/Ron with Ash lineup/Ash on rhythm guitar, Kim on keyboard, Aelita on turntables/samples
PROFITS OF DOOM – Clutch/Gohan/Ron on rhythm guitar
“Are you all still alive out there?!” Ron called out, standing at the stage right microphone stand and wearing a guitar. He received a loud cheering in return, but for them, an unfamiliar bell began to sound out of the speakers as an image of a bell appeared on the background screen. “Alright, we got a handful… or hooffu- whatever! We got quite a few songs left before the show is done, but I’m here to give a quick thank you to everypony who made tonight possible, and you know who you are.” He gave them a thumbs-up, to which the crowd responded positively with continuing cheers before he concluded with “This next one is a rock and roll classic, and no one can front this better than our man Ash, so let’s get this show down the home stretch as we hear the chimes of… Hells Bells!”
HELLS BELLS – ACDC/Ash/Ron on rhythm guitar
WHOLE LOTTA LOVE [LED ZEPPELIN] – Santana/Jason/Tails on lead guitar, Dan on keyboard
AIN’T TALKIN’ ABOUT LOVE – Van Halen/Yugi
OUT OF TIME – Stone Temple Pilots/Ash with Gohan lineup/Gohan on bass guitar
MYSTERY WALL – I See Stars/Gohan/Dan on clean vocals, Yumi on rhythm guitar, Aelita on keyboard/programming/samples
TRENCHES – Solipsist/Jason/Dan on rhythm guitar, Ron on keyboard/samples/fadeout outro
ENCORE:
THE POWER PONIES – William Anderson/audio instrumental
FROM CAN TO CAN’T – Sound City Soundtrack/Jason/Tails on co-lead guitar, Ami on rhythm guitar
“Las Pegasus, you have been an amazing crowd for us tonight! Thank you so much!” Gohan said, being the last to address the audience before the final song. As the crowd went on to cheer and stomp and clap loudly, he continued to say “Another night of our Equestrian Masquerade is coming to its close, but you guys made it memorable for us! So before we get a good night’s rest and head on over to Baltimare, we’ve got one more song for you! This is the song that helped make Five Finger Death Punch a staple in heavy metal today! We proudly perform for you our last song for tonight. It is called…”
THE BLEEDING – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar/outro jam of ‘The Pride’