“Hey, I think I see the town!”
Spike, who had his head poking out one of the passenger cars’ windows, was looking towards the train’s next destination. He and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were getting a mild case of cabin fever as they waited for the train to stop again, but it didn’t help that it was a nonstop train ride this time as compared to most previous rides. The long train had just rounded a mountain base and was heading straight towards Baltimare, one of Equestria’s quaintest cities and the next stop for JAGFest. A sense of relief went down the spines of fillies and dragon as they went back inside the car they were riding in, rejoining Twilight, Tails and Cosmo, and several others from both the Team JAG Band and Team Sonic.
“Finally! I can’t wait to get there,” Scootaloo said. “I can only stand being on a train for so long before I get the urge to ride my scooter.”
“But Scootaloo, it’s starting to get dark,” Sweetie Belle stated, motioned a hoof back out the window. The sun was shifted into the very start of the evening hours, and the sky above was beginning to change color. This meant that, to Scootaloo’s misfortune, it would be far too dark for anypony to allow her to ride around on her scooter, especially since it was a new town most of the group never visited before. The orange filly just sulked in her seat as the others continued conversation.
“Well I don’t know about you guys, but I have a hankerin’ for somethin’ good to eat when we stop,” Applejack said. “The food in the dining car is good, but I haven’t had much from the other towns since we started goin’ around.”
“Oh, that sounds like a great idea!” Pinkie added excitedly.
“I don’t know,” Twilight said, having some doubt in how good of an idea that actually was. “We are getting in fairly late today, and the band has a long day tomorrow. I wouldn’t want to stretch out their day longer than it needs to be.”
Aelita, who was sitting across the aisle, then said “It wouldn’t trouble us at all, Twilight. In fact, I’m with Applejack on stopping somewhere for a bite to eat.”
“I’m fine with it, too. We can get a little look of Baltimare while we’re at it,” added Phineas.
“Alright, then I guess we’ll see if there’s a restaurant near where we’re staying tonight,” Twilight said, cementing the idea into a plan. She looked over at the four fillies and asked “Girls, are you okay with that?”
“Sure,” all but one said in unison. The one who didn’t say anything immediately way Nyx, who looked up at her mother with hopeful eyes as she asked “It won’t be somewhere fancy, will it?”
Twilight looked down at her daughter reassuringly and said “No, it won’t be fancy, or at least we’ll try not to make it a fancy meal.”
“Aw, why not?” Amy Rose asked. “I think it would be such a nice way to spend the evening.”
“So do I,” agreed Maria. “I’d like to try anything to get Shadow out and do something enjoyable. I know he acts how he does but I’d still like to see him enjoy himself from time to time.”
“I wouldn’t worry about Shadow. I think he’s having the best and most awesome time EVER!” Pinkie said.
“What? How are you sure about that?” asked Maria.
The one to answer that question was Spike, who said “She just has a knack for knowing that kind of stuff.” He then shifted his attention to Tails and said “Speaking of knowing stuff, I asked you earlier about who was hosting tomorrow, but you never told me. Who did you get to do it?”
The fox only chuckled before replying “You know, I would tell you, but I don’t think it’s not my place to say. Maybe you should ask who made a certain suggestion, or who thought it was an amazing idea.”
“What are you talking about?” asked the little dragon.
“Perhaps I should explain,” Cosmo said, trying to retain a big smile into one of average size. “We decided that, for this part of the Equestrian Masquerade, we’d give a chance to someone special to us, rather than somepony special to us. I remembered the Equestria Games one day and talked to Twilight, and one thing lead to another before we had the idea of who to get.”
Spike wore the most confused expression on his face. He couldn’t make heads or tails of what she was trying to say, and after only a couple moments of trying to think, he let his temper get the best of him, enough to be a good fraction of Nightmare Moon’s when compared. “Well, who?! I don’t get why you just don’t up and say it!”
His focus turned to Twilight, who stepped over to him and leaned a hoof on his shoulder. What temper he had immediately went away as he saw a very nice, and very supportive, look coming from the purple mare. “Spike, we want you to host Baltimare’s JAGFest,” she told him.
/)∞(\
Another day, another successful JAGFest. The sixth day along the Equestrian Masquerade had proved to be another good one as the festival hosted all that it could. Baltimare’s atmosphere chimed with spirit that combined humble, considerate, and willful into a very optimistic attitude that the ponies lived and breathed. Sadly, not all ponies felt the same as rumors grew that a few remained inside one of the town’s inns because of reasons that numbered up more and more. However, the focus of JAGFest was to bring everyone together, and the Team JAG Band refused to try and force their ways on anypony who wasn’t willing.
The hours passed by, events occurred back to back or simultaneously, and Team Sonic and the band got another great look at Equestria’s inhabitants as they kept approaching them to make acquaintanceship with the interdimensional travelers. Yet the highlight of the day took place at the town’s biggest venue, and location for the day’s biggest event, which was a large outdoor amphitheater, with both floor standing and seats, and a balcony that wrapped around where the walls and ceiling met. The mayor of the city invited Princess Twilight, her family and friends to the stage, and declared that the city would celebrate that very specific day as “Baltimare Friendship Day,” and showed their appreciation with a plaque to Twilight that depicted the Mane 6, each wearing the now discarded Elements of Harmony.
But before they all knew it, the time had come for the band to take to the stage once more. The stage was all set up accordingly, and the band had just finished making sure that their equipment was ready to go. Ferb informing Tails that there was enough time to have the huddle and opening speech done separately, other than simultaneously, so the fox decided to get the whole group that was backstage together. The band, Nyx, himself, Cosmo, and this time Spike joined in as they circled together, and when they all had their places, he began to speak.
“Baltimare has been an awesome place to us, and their citizens even more incredible. Yes there are a few ponies who chose not to participate in JAGFest, but that’s not our problem, because we’re here to make friends with those who want to befriend us. Right now, there are a lot of ponies for us to hang out with out in front of that stage over there, and I want to make sure we all have a great time tonight. We got Spike here leading everybody to this very moment, and I want to say right now that, Spike, thanks so much for stepping up and hosting today. You’ve been doing a great job, and we’re honored to have the coolest dragon from Equestria as our friend…”
“Or most awesome brother. Don’t forget that,” Nyx interrupted, showing encouragement for her adoptive sibling. This caused the entire circle to share a small laugh in agreement, saving the siblings that shared a hoof-to-claw bump.
“Thanks, guys. Coming from you, that says a lot,” said the dragon modestly.
“Then I guess we have one thing left to do. Everyone, join in the center,” Tails said. Then, everyone threw in their hand, or claw and hoof, to rebuild a giant stack of band and friends as he went on to say “Tonight’s set is heavy, and tonight’s audience will NOT getting anything less! Let’s get out there, give it all we got, and rock this city so hard that Manehattan will feel it! Let’s Get Jiggy With It on three! 1… 2… 3!”
“LET’S GET JIGGY WITH IT!”
With that, the huddle broke apart, and they got ready to get the whole show started. As they did, however, the Master Four couldn’t shake a certain thought they all shared in their minds, regarding the rumors from around town and what Tails had just said. The most common rumor they heard about the non-attending ponies was because of a visiting Nightmare Moon, and being aware of Nyx’s whole story, it left them a bit uneasy knowing that refusing forgiveness would sever those ponies from their mission. Regardless, there were many, MANY more ponies who welcomed Nyx and were waiting outside, and the four weren’t planning on letting them down.
Ferb tossed Spike a microphone and said “You’re on,” his signal for the dragon to make his introductory speech before he and Nyx would go with Cosmo and join their friends in the seats via Tails’s instant transmission technique. As he got on the stage, the dragon was welcomed with cheering and applauding from all corners of the venue. He waved back in return, and caught eye of a certain princess who looked the happiest amongst everypony in the entire venue, which made him feel all the happier. He climbed up on one of the stage’s front platforms, more specifically the one in the dead center, and began to make his speech.
“What’s up, everypony?! Are you ready for the Team JAG Band tonight?!...”
/)∞(\
PINKIE SPY – Willaim Anderson/audio introduction
SHOOT IT OUT – 10 Years/Dan with Ash lineup/Ash on rhythm guitar and backing vocals
WRETCHES & KINGS – Linkin Park/Ash and Dan on co-vocals/Tails on lead guitar, Aelita on keyboard/synthesizer, Yumi on bass guitar, Jason on turntables/samples
BACK THE FUCK UP – Fear Factory/Gohan/Dan on co-vocals, Tails on keyboard/synthesizer
BWOMP – 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
“HELLOOOOO, BALTIMARE!” Jason exclaimed, yelling as loud as he could to the massive crowd of ponies that cheered loudly in reply. “It is my honor to say from the Team JAG Band to all of you… WELCOME TO JAGFEST!!!” He paused to allow another round of cheers to be heard from the crowd. “We’ve got a big set in store for you tonight, with a big debut jam with some of our best friends of Equestria! But here’s the deal, Baltimare: we are here to have fun with new friends, and spread positivity and friendship to all of you tonight. But, if anyone out there chooses to be pessimistic and hateful, the door waits for you, because that’s not why we’re here. Why do I say this? Simple: because when it comes to haters…
“I Could Care Less…”
I COULD CARE LESS – DevilDriver/Jason/Yumi on rhythm guitar
HERE TO STAY – Korn/Yugi/Dan on rhythm guitar, Tails on keyboard/synthesizer
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY – Avenged Sevenfold/Yugi/Kim on rhythm guitar
HIT THE WALL – Lamb of God/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar
HEAVEN SHALL BURN – Demons Within/Gohan/Yugi on co-vocals as well as lead guitar, Ron on rhythm guitar
“You having fun so far, everypony?!” Yugi asked, standing on the middle stage riser with a Flying V guitar that shined like gold, and the remainder of the next song’s lineup positioned across the stage, as the crowd cheered loudly as their answer. “So, I’m not going to lie when I say I’m going to have to rest my voice after the last couple shows,” he said jokingly, with him and the rest of the Master Four laughing a little on stage. “But that’s a good thing, especially with the next few songs I’ll be fronting. All these songs I’m talking about mainly stem from this first part of our set, which is a collection of songs we used to rehearse before numerous shows a few years ago. This next song is by a legendary thrash metal band, dedicated to the ravenous and wild nature of that genre. We hope you enjoy this next song, everypony…” Without another word said, he immediately began to play the opening riff of the next song as the show continued on.
RATTLEHEAD – Megadeth/Yugi + rhythm guitar
MISSION STATEMENT – Stone Sour/Jason/Kim on rhythm guitar
WILD SIDE – Motley Crue/Yugi/Tails on rhythm guitar
YOUTH GONE WILD – Skid Row/Yugi/Dan on rhythm guitar
THE TALISMAN – Iron Maiden/Yugi/Tails and Dan on rhythm guitars, Ami on acoustic guitar, Ron on keyboard
“You know Baltimare,” Gohan said nonchalantly, “you have a pretty damn awesome town here, and you’re a fantastic crowd, too. I think you guys deserve a very, very, very rare treat.” That last sentence caused everypony to roar out in cheers and stomp, but none more excited than their close friends over at their sitting area, especially Pinkie Pie. “We got a cover song that has a vitally important place to be performed, but under specific reasons. What we plan to do now is play that very song, as it is, in its entirety, for the first time in quite a few years. Before we do this, however, I need you all to promise me one thing- give us all you got, make some goddamn noise, and let’s shake the foundation of this entire place!” As the crowd to began to cheer louder, he concluded with “This is song is called… ‘AM I EVIL?’”
AM I EVIL? [DIAMOND HEAD] – Metallica/Gohan + rhythm guitar
LEAVE IT ALONE – Disturbed/Gohan/Kim on rhythm guitar
STILL REMAINS – Alter Bridge/Jason + rhythm guitar
[ONE MINUTE INTERMISSION]
PARTY STARTER – Will Smith/Ron/only with Aelita on turntables/samples
MEN IN BLACK – Will Smith/Ron/only with Tails on keyboard/synthesizer, Kim on female vocals, Aelita on turntables/samples
LOST & FOUND – Will Smith/Ron/only with Tails and Dan on cellos, Ami and Yumi on violins, Kim on drums, Aelita on turntables/samples
PARENTS JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND – The Fresh Prince/Ron/only with Aelita on turntables/samples
SUMMERTIME – Will Smith/Ron/only with Tails on lead guitar, Kim on keyboard/synthesizer, Ami and Yumi on backing vocals, Aelita on turntables/samples
Ron walked around the stage as he spoke to the ponies in attendance and the lineup for the next song was setting up. “Are you feelin’ good out there, Baltimare?! If you are, stomp for me!” He paused to hear the echoing sounds of stomping ponies. “If you really are, make me some noise!” he added, and allowed the crowd to do so before speaking again. “If you’re in love this show with us, I WANNA HEAR YOU SCREAM!” The scream was powerfully immense, with a few whistles coming from Rarity and some of the other ponies they knew very well, but none could beat the screams of Cutie Mark Crusaders, Pinkie Pie, even Princess Twilight.
“So here’s the info of what you’re all listening to right now, my pony posse,” Ron continued, in attempt to be hip like the music he was performing, but it didn’t last following that. “Welcome to part two of your show tonight, where we play a select set of songs by a particular influence, but this is no ordinary set. No, my friends, this is our WORLD PREMIERE – or, actually, inter-worldly premiere – of the rap legend known as Will Smith! We’re gonna keep things going with a few more of his classics and ‘newest’ songs, and I’d like to personally send this out to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, ‘cause you know what you do when haters hate on a blank flank?... You Wave. Them. Off!”
WAVE ‘EM OFF – Will Smith/Ron with Jason lineup/Jason on piano/keyboard, Aelita on turntables/samples
GETTIN’ JIGGY WIT IT – Will Smith/Ron with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar, Aelita on turntables/samples
WILD WILD WEST – Will Smith/Ron/Master Four on backing vocals, Tails on lead guitar, Kim on bass guitar, Dan on co-vocals, Ami on drums, Aelita on turntables/samples
MR. NICEGUY – Will Smith/Ron/only with Kim on lead guitar, Aelita on turntables/samples
SWITCH (REMIX) – Will Smith/Ron/Gohan on co-vocals, Jason on keyboard/synthesizer, Aelita on turntables/samples
[ONE MINUTE INTERMISSION]
FREEDOM RINGS – Overkill/Ash + rhythm guitar
DEATH WALKING TERROR – Cannibal Corpse/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar
VOICE OF REASON – Pissing Razors/Yugi/Ron on rhythm guitar
THE FEARLESS MUST ENDURE – Jasta/Jason/Gohan on lead guitar, Ami on drums
Yumi began to walk out on stage, with a microphone in tow, as the rest of the band got into their positions for the next lineup. “How many ponies here are like me and love some heavy bucking metal?!” she asked, trying her hand in some pony ‘cursing,’ which earned her a good cheering from the audience. “The Equestrian Masquerade has been a great success so far thanks to guys like you who come out and support what we stand for, and I just have to say that you guys are, hands down, the coolest fans. Thanks a lot for your support, especially with how big it’s gotten. It’s really blown us away, and we can’t thank you enough.” The ponies stomped, clapped and cheered at what she had said for a few moments before she spoke again, this time concluding. “Here’s a little rarity for you guys, from one our home world’s music scenes. We hope you guys like it…”
FALLEN ANGELS OF SUI CAEDERE – Cellbound/Yumi and Yugi on co-vocals/Kim on rhythm guitar and backing vocals
SLITHER – Velvet Revolver/Gohan/Tails on lead guitar
DREAM POLICE – Cheap Trick/Ash/Ron on rhythm guitar, Aelita on keyboard/synthesizer
WINTER WRAP UP – My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic/Mane 6 with Ash lineup/Ash and Tails on acoustic guitars, Kim on keyboard and backing vocals, Dan on symphonic keyboard
A BEAUTIFUL LIE – 30 Seconds to Mars/Jason/Ron on rhythm guitar, Aelita on keyboard/synthesizer
BLOW ME AWAY – Breaking Benjamin/Yugi + rhythm guitar
YOU’RE GONNA LISTEN – In This Moment/Ami with Gohan lineup/Gohan on rhythm guitar, Kim on keyboard/samples
DARK ALLIANCE – Eternal Tears of Sorrow/Gohan/Dan on rhythm guitar and clean vocals, Tails on keyboard/synthesizer, Aelita on symphonic keyboard
HEROES – Fort Minor & Eminem/Dan and Ron on co-vocals with Ash lineup/Ash on extra rhythm guitar, Tails on lead guitar, Kim on keyboards, Aelita on turntables/samples
“Baltimare, you ponies are nothing less than AWESOME!” Ash called out to the crowd, and received a calling out of chanting cheers of the band’s name. “In fact, you guys are getting near Rainbow Dash levels are cool, and for anypony who doesn’t know, that says A LOT to us. How about we give you guys another treat, and play a brand new artist debut?!” The cheer this time was far greater than before, just as he expected to hear from them. He took a quick look behind him, seeing those on stage with him were good to go, and without wasting time, he just said “Then let’s bring out some Nightmare,” and the next song immediately started, courtesy of a certain two-tailed fox at a grand piano…
NIGHTMARE NIGHT – Glaze + Mic/Ash on Mic the Microphone vocals, Dan on Glaze vocals/only with Tails on piano, Aelita on turntables/programming/samples
EVILUTION – Datsik/only Aelita on turntables/programming/samples, Yugi on vocals
WHAT DO THEY KNOW? (MSI VS JULIEN-K & CHESTER BENNINGTON MIX) – Mindless Self Indulgence/Yugi/only with Master Four and Dan on backing vocals, Aelita on turntables/programming/samples
COLD – Static-X/Ash + rhythm guitar/Aelita on keyboard/synthesizer
RIP IT OUT – KISS/Yugi + rhythm guitar/Gohan on lead vocals with Ace Frehley vocals
HEAD LIKE A HOLE – Nine Inch Nails/Jason/Yumi on rhythm guitar, Tails on keyboard/synthesizer, Aelita on keyboard/turntables/samples
ONLY – Anthrax/Dan with Ash/Ash on rhythm guitar
“We’re almost done, everypony, so I hope you have some energy left!” Next to speak was Kim, who stood on stage with a very special guitar, a Les Paul specifically made by her friend Wade that had the color scheme of her original Kimmunicator, but made up of little lights so it could light up while used. Everypony let themselves heard in one form or another, much to Kim’s liking. “This third part of the set was made up of songs by all different bands and lineup, all of which won’t be repeated for other JAGFests. To be able to get to play such a variety of songs and bands and genres, especially with Ron and I being full band members for the festival for the first time, it’s been an amazing experience, so thank you all so much for that. This song’s from me to you guys…”
EVERY LAST THING – Stars in Stereo/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on keyboard/synthesizer, Kim on rhythm guitar
THE STRANGER – Tenafly Viper/Yugi
HAND IN HAND – Kingdom Hearts/only Tails on piano
ENCORE:
HE’S SO CUTE! – Willam Anderson/audio instrumental
TORN (ACOUSTIC) – Creed/Jason/Ash and Tails on acoustic guitars, Yugi on acoustic bass guitar
HERO OF THE DAY – Metallica/Gohan + rhythm guitar
“Baltimare, I can’t thank you enough for coming together with us tonight!” Tails called out, standing at his microphone stand and being the last to speak to the audience that night. As they all started to cheer and applauded once more, he went on to say “The Equestrian Masquerade continues to go on strong, and it’s thanks to everyone here tonight to make it happen. I would also like to give a very special thanks to our friends, the Mane 6, for joining us earlier on Winter Wrap Up; you ponies are our best friends, thank you! Now, everypony, this is our last song for you tonight…” He paused, adjusting the guitar he wore across his back to his front, grabbing a guitar pick off the stand and prepared to play.
“We’ll tell Appleloosa just how awesome you guys are when we get there, but for now, let’s end this just right, with one of rock and roll’s modern legends…”
LOSER – 3 Doors Down/Yugi + dual-neck electric/acoustic guitar/Tails on lead guitar and co-vocals/outro jam of ‘Winter Wrap Up’ reprise