The beautiful town of Rainbow Falls was in full swing for their turn of JAGFest as ponies from that town, and many from all across Equestria, covered every sidewalk and street. It was rivaling with all the other shows in terms of attendance, coming dangerously close to matching that of the first festival at the Crystal Empire, where the largest location the band had played thus far was. Part of the reason was, of course, the reason there was JAGFest, the Team JAG Band, and their ongoing crusade of meeting ponies they called the Equestrian Masquerade. Another reason was all the activities that were going on, including a smaller-scale return of the annual Traders Exchange that took up most of the open field, the same location where the Aerial Relay tryouts were held for the Equestria Games. But an inarguably major reason was the host of the day’s festivities, who was there to promote her books and get acquainted with some former companions, known as A.K. Yearling.
Or to Rainbow Dash and the Mane 6, and only them, under her adventurer’s name of Daring Do.
She hosted a stand to sell some of her books, including her newest release and re-releases, but left it in the hooves of an assistant to act on her hosting duties. She was also included as the main speaker of a seminar for authors and literature lovers alike, and sitting in the front row to enjoy every word A.K. Yearling was saying were Rainbow Dash, Princess Twilight, and Nyx. The author was familiar with the two older mares, but she had not met the black alicorn filly, that is until a private catering service offered the Princess, her friends and a few selected guests to enjoy a private meal before the main event.
And between Rainbow’s fan-gasming of her hero and Nyx trying to contain her excitement of spending time with an author of amazing books, both on top of meetings Tails and Cosmo and those of Team JAG, it was a less than peaceful to put it kindly, but still enjoyable at the same time.
The day as a whole was filled with fun and relaxation, and the visiting band and their Mobius friends took in as many activities and adventures as they could. Aelita managed to trade a couple of her touring scratching records for a set of records with music by many different Equestrian musicians, Knuckles and Gohan participated in a miniature Wonderbolts training seminar for physical strength, and a few of the band members made an impromptu acoustic jam session with ponies who asked about some of the ways they enjoy music, almost like a Storytellers setting. Some even took the time to check out some of the sights, including a fox and flower whose combined silhouette could be spotted by many attendees flying across some of the falls and through a rainbow.
/)∞(\
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, it is time for our main event of the day! It has been an honor and an adventure to serve as today’s host, and I could see at every corner that you were all having your own adventures, too. Did you all have a great time today, everypony?!”
A.K. Yearling was out on stage making her introductory speech to the crowd, who had all gathered in the field before the stage. Because of the restricted amount of space, and lack of upper seating in the outdoor location, the Mane 6, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Team Sonic were all given private seating on the upper balconies within the stage setup: one on each side of the stage, only a couple feet higher than the stage’s highest riser. The band had gathered into their huddle backstage near stage left, with Cosmo, Nyx, and for tonight especially Fluttershy, were all together and ready to prepare themselves. As during the entire run, Tails gave his own speech to get the band hyped up and ready to go.
“So here we are with the eighth night of JAGFest in Equestria, everyone. I’m not going to lie to you when I say that I’m sad that we’re closing in on the end of this fun masquerade, but all good things must come to a close at some point, and I’m glad that we put Rainbow Falls near there. This city is beautiful, it’s serene, and it’s going to get one of the biggest concerts that this town will ever see! I know I’m ready, I know Kim’s ready, I know Fluttershy is ready, I know that all our friends sitting above us are ready, I know that every single concertgoer out there is ready, and I will never doubt that all of us here are ready! Tell me right now- Are You Ready?!”
“Yes Sir!” the entire circle yelled, as if obeying a top military commander.
“Um… uh, yes sir,” Fluttershy said in her normal, quiet tone.
“Come on, guys, I know you’re more ready than that. ARE. YOU. READY?!”
“YES SIR!”
“Yes sir, Tails, sir,” added the pegasus.
“HANDS AND HOOVES IN!” The stack was rebuilt with all the band members and Cosmo’s hands and Nyx’s hoof, along with Fluttershy’s hoof somewhere in the middle. “Let’s get out there and give it all we got for Rainbow Falls! But for tonight, I need help with what we end this hype with. Fluttershy, give us a word for us to use, if you would be so kind.”
The yellow pegasus thought for a moment, and then inspiration struck. She whispered her chosen word into Tails’s ear, who chuckled and nodded in agreement. “’Yay’ it is then. Alright, everyone, I want to hear a ‘Yay’ worthy of Fluttershy here. Ready? 1… 2.. 3!”
“Yay!”
The entire group shared a small laugh as the huddle broke apart, and just in the nick of time as their host had ended her introductory speech and was making her way off the stage. Phineas gave the band a quick signal and stated “Alright, guys, it’s showtime!” Ferb kindly pointed out to Fluttershy and Nyx that there was one seat in each balcony open for each of them, the latter’s being with her mother and Cosmo, and the trio left to join the rest of their friends. The band was set and ready to go as Phineas hit a series or rainbow switches that got the stage in a pitch black shroud of darkness, the audio introduction beginning, and another concert having finally gone underway…
/)∞(\
FLUTTERSHY’S SERIOUS WORKOUT – William Anderson/audio introduction
ALL THE THINGS SHE SAID [T.A.T.U.] – Rising Overlight/Yugi/Ron on clean vocals, Dan on rhythm guitar, Kim on keyboards
FALLEN ANGELS – Black Veil Brides/Dan with Gohan lineup/Gohan on rhythm guitar
LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND – Kill Devil Hill/Yugi
“WHAT’S GOING ON, RAINBOW FALLS?!” Gohan called out to the crowd, receiving an uproar of cheering in return. “It’s my honor on behalf of our band to say three little words… WELCOME TO JAGFEST!!!” The response this time sounded even louder than the first as he stood at the center microphone stand grinning. “We’re very happy to see all of your faces here tonight, to help continue our celebration that is the Equestrian Masquerade. We have a fantastic set for you guys tonight, so without wasting too much more time, let’s get right to it! This is a great song we love to play, written about a fallen loved one who helped guide a certain person to a great destination. This goes out to the guys in Volbeat: this song is called ‘Dead But Rising…’” With four cymbal smashes from Jason, the band began to play.
DEAD BUT RISING – Volbeat/Gohan + rhythm guitar
FEAR INSIDE – Unsaid Fate/Kim with Ash lineup/Ash on rhythm guitar, Ron on male vocals
ARE YOU READY? – Creed/Jason/Tails on dual-neck electric/acoustic guitar
FALL INTO YOU – David Hodges/Tails + piano/only with Yumi on Amy Lee vocals
ALL ABOUT US – t.A.T.u./Ami and Yumi with Ash lineup/Ash on rhythm guitar, Kim on keyboards, Aelita on turntables/MIDI pad/samples
“Is everypony doing good out there?!” Yugi asked loudly, and was answered with an energetic cheer from the ponies in the audience. “I know Gohan gave you all a great welcome to our show for you tonight, but I’d like to welcome you to part one of your night with us. What that means is, like each show we’ve played during JAGFest shows around Equestria, we are performing a collection of songs that this band rehearsed before several shows in the past. And what makes this very, very unique for tonight is how fresh these songs are to us, because this is our first new rehearsal set from this very year!” He found himself pausing as the crowd cheered and whistled excitedly at that piece of interesting information that was shared. “Now that I’ve given my say… Ash, tell them about the next song!”
“With pleasure,” Ash replied, and then facing the crowd to make a quick explanation. “Nearly every JAGFest show we’ve been playing here, there has been a band we would play a song of theirs in tribute to them; they go by the name of Mushroomhead. This band is one of the more interesting bands we’ve ever gotten to know, and whose music we began to play, and that’s especially so after their annual Halloween concert over a year ago. That night, we were reminded about how important it is for friends and family, current or former, should stick together, support each other, and become stronger because we had each other. They played a song that night, that we felt was finally given proper justice, and now, we are here to do the same for them, and for you. Always remember, ponies, to hang onto those close to you, and… what do they go Gohan?!”
Just then, Gohan exclaimed as loud as he could the title of the next song-
“NEVER…
“LET IT…
“GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
NEVER LET IT GO – 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
BROKEN, BEAT & SCARRED – Metallica/Gohan + rhythm guitar
RAINBOW IN THE DARK [DIO] – Corey Taylor/Jason/Tails on rhythm guitar
MY LITTLE PONY INTRO [DANIEL INGRAM] – Insomnia/instrumental with Jason lineup/Jason on lead guitar, Tails on keytar
LIFT ME UP – Five Finger Death Punch/Gohan/Yugi on Rob Halford vocals, Tails on lead guitar, Kim and Ron on rhythm guitars
“So I’d like to say something about your lovely city here,” Ami said, taking her turn to speak to the crowd. “It is very colorful, it is quite peaceful, and it Knows How To ROCK THE HELL OUT!” She paused herself to allow the crowd to cheer at her exclamation, which wasn’t as thunderous as she had hoped, but instead filled with spirit, which was all the better. “I want to keep that spirit going with a song that couldn’t make the cut to our previous show in Appleloosa, where we played a tribute to a band called Within Temptation. Now we have another tribute, a one-of-a-kind you may think of it as, but this next song is a hardcore symphonic beauty of music that can be called an ‘example’ of what tonight’s set’s second part will be like. This one goes out to our friend Rainbow Dash, your heroic Wonderbolts, and that amazing adventurer Daring Do…” Without another word said, the band began to perform once again…
DANGEROUS – Within Temptation/Ami with Yugi lineup/Yugi on rhythm guitar, Jason on Howard Jones vocals, Yumi on lead guitar and backing vocals, Tails on keyboard/synthesizer, Aelita on symphonic keyboard
WHAT I’VE DONE – Linkin Park/Ash/Dan on lead guitar and backing vocals, Tails on piano, Yumi on bass guitar, Jason on turntables/samples
WHEN I’M GONE – 3 Doors Down/Yugi/Tails on lead guitar and co-vocals
YOU’LL BE IN MY HEART – Phil Collins/Tails + lead guitar/only with Kim on rhythm guitar, Yumi on bass guitar, Ami on drums, Dan on keyboards, Ron on bongos, Aelita on symphonic keyboard
WHO I AM [DR. DYCER] – The L-Train/Tails with Yugi lineup/Tails on lead guitar, Yugi on extra rhythm guitar, Aelita on keyboard/synthesizer/fadeout outro
[ONE MINUTE INTERMISSION]
THE PATH TO DECAY – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard
SEVEN WIDOWS WEEP – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard
THE TWILIGHT IN YOUR EYES – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard
LED ASTRAY – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Tails on piano, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard
THIS DARKNESS – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Tails on piano, Ami on synthtar and backing vocals, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard
Kim stood at the center of the stage’s highest riser, with Jason on the right end and Ash opposite of him. She waited until Ami and Yumi were in their positions for the next song before saying “Alright, Rainbow Falls, it’s my turn to share a tribute with you tonight! Right now, we pay tribute to a band I’ve come to name as one of my new favorite bands, but a brand new band premiere by us: SIRENIA!” The audience began to cheer, whistle, stomp, clap, and make any possible sound in general to show just how excited they were, which made Kim all the more excited to keep things going. “This means a lot to me because, like my man Ron with his debut a few shows ago, I have an opportunity to show you just how strong this band is when we work together and play some rocking music! Speaking of which… are you ready for more?!” Allowing the crowd to show their anticipation once more, she concluded with “Then let’s rock out together, my friends! This song is called ‘My Destiny Coming to Pass!’ NOW LET’S DO THIS!!”
MY DESTINY COMING TO PASS – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard, Ami and Yumi on custom percussion
ONE BY ONE – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Tails on piano, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard
VOICES WITHIN – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard
WINTERBORN 77 – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Dan on extra rhythm guitar, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard
PROFOUND SCARS – Sirenia/Kim with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar and male vocals, Aelita on keyboard/programming, Ron on symphonic keyboard, Dan on pan flute
[ONE MINUTE INTERMISSION]
WALK WITH KNOWLEDGE WISELY – Crowbar/Ash + lead guitar
KINGDOM OF DUST – Demons Within/Gohan/Yugi on co-vocals as well as lead guitar, Ron on rhythm guitar
SEEN THROUGH TIME – Cellador/Yugi/Tails on rhythm guitar
KING OF THE UNDERDOGS – Newsted/Jason + rhythm guitar
SO FAR AWAY – Crossfade/Ash/Dan on rhythm guitar and extra vocals
FIND THE MUSIC IN YOU – My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic/The Ponytones with only Master Four on clapping and backing vocals
Standing at the DJ setup, Aelita used the nearby microphone sitting on a tabletop stand to get the ponies’ attention. “Can I get those hooves in the air?!” she called out, and before she knew it, what looked to be over a thousand hooves reached for the sky as a wave of cheering crashed onto the stage. “Now can I get some cheers for our awesome friends and guests: the Ponytones?!” The response this time sounded much, much greater than the previous. “Now I want to see if we can get a little party started here, and I mean my kind of party! Here’s some jungle DJing style for all you awesome guys out there, and a lot more greatness to follow!...”
ROUGH THIS YEAR – DJ Starscream/only Aelita on turntables/programming/samples
SPIKE IN MY VEINS – Korn/Yugi/Dan on rhythm guitar, Tails on keyboards, Aeltia on turntables/programming/samples
CLEAR THE SKIES! – DusK/instrumental with Gohan lineup/Gohan on rhythm guitar, Tails on keyboards
STARGAZER – Rainbow/Yugi/Kim on keyboards
MASTER OF DISASTER – Seether/Gohan + rhythm guitar
BLACK HOLE SUN – Soundgarden/Jason + rhythm guitar
PSYCHODALIA – Jeffrey Nothing/Ash/Kim on acoustic guitar, Aelita on keyboard/organ
Dan walked across the stage with a microphone in hand and spoke to the crowd next. “You have been an unbelievable crowd to play for, Rainbow Falls! Thank you so much!” As they cheered on and on, he continued with “Now we don’t have too many songs left for you guys tonight, but we still have a few surprises left up our sleeves. You see, we’ve been playing through the third part of our set, which includes a set of songs by bands that we haven’t repeated during our Equestrian Masquerade when it comes to the same lineup, or the same bands for the most part. We’ve got this next song by a band that, as often as we try, don’t seem to play as much as we’d want to, but tonight’s Equestria’s night to give this band such opportunity. Here’s a little song by a cool band I like, who go by the name Incubus…”
THE ORIGINAL – Incubus/Dan with Yugi lineup/Yugi on rhythm guitar, Tails on keyboard, Aelita on turntables/samples
SHE SAID – Cold/Ash + rhythm guitar/Tails on piano
STRANGERS YESTERDAY – Doro/Yumi with Jason lineup/Jason on rhythm guitar, Kim and Aelita on keyboards
LUNA – Moonspell/Gohan/Yumi on rhythm guitar and female vocals, Ami on symphonic keyboard
“Do you still have some life left to spare?!” Jason said, seeing how much attention their audience still had to give. Without a doubt, the ponies in the audience, and their friends in the hidden balconies, cheered and applauded as much as possible to show what they had left. “Listen up, because I’m only saying this once: we’re down to our last couple songs for tonight, and we want to make sure you’re ready to keep going. If you are ready to do that for us, I WANT TO HEAR YOU SCREAM!” Before he knew it, the crowd did just what he asked and scream loud and proud, much to his pleasure. “And like your wonderful and beautiful Princess Celestia, always remember… to Shine Forever!...”
SHINE FOREVER – Fozzy/Jason/Ron on rhythm guitar
HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Europe/Yugi/Kim on rhythm guitar, Tails on keyboard/synthesizer
ENCORE:
RAINBOW AND DASH – William Anderson/audio instrumental
SO MANY WONDERS [MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC] – DusK/Fluttershy (from backstage) with Gohan lineup/Gohan on rhythm guitar
HEROES OF THE SKY – The L-Train/instrumental with Yugi lineup/Tails on lead guitar, Yugi on extra rhythm guitar, Aelita on keyboard/synthesizer, Kim and Ron on custom percussion
“Rainbow Falls, thank you for giving us another amazing day, and another memorable night!” Tails yelled from his microphone stand, gaining everypony’s attention. “You’ve helped make JAGFest another amazing success, and here’s hoping Fillydelphia can do the same next! This is our last song for you guys tonight, and it’s a favorite back home on Mobius! Thank you all again, and we hope to see you soon! Our last song for you… is called… LIVE- AND- LEARN!!!”
LIVE & LEARN – Crush 40/Yugi/Tails on lead guitar, joined by Sonic on second rhythm guitar before first chorus/extended outro jam