//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: The Ponyville Music Festival (part 1) // Story: Life in Ponyville-book 2: Forever Love // by SeaBreeze173 //------------------------------// The day finally arrived. Neither Junie nor Sea slept the night before, both for totally different reasons. Junie couldn’t wait for the singing competition. Sea couldn’t wait for the singing competition…to be over. This would be Ponyville’s first music festival. If this year’s festival went well enough, Mayor Mare hoped to make it an annual event. Bass’ band, The Delegates, would be just one of several groups and solo artists to be the entertainment for the night. Each group or soloist would represent a genre of music as well as the time of when that particular music was most popular. The Delegates, being one of the most popular bands from over twenty years before, was the most anticipated. They were one of only a few groups from their time that still toured regularly and had all the original members. Sea came downstairs from her bedroom after being rudely awoken by her overly excited younger sister. Angus hobbled along behind her. After finding out the dog could go upstairs with his casted leg, Sea had convinced her parents to start letting him come to bed with her at night. Angus couldn’t get up on the bed yet, but he was just happy to be near his owner. The two entered the kitchen. Not watching where she was going, she bumped right into another pony. “Oof. Good morning to you as well, Sea Breeze,” Sea heard a masculine voice say. She raised her head and came face to face with one her favorite ponies. “Uncle Shaggy!” Sea exclaimed, wrapping her hooves around the stallion. Shaggy was the nickname of Step Beat, the bass guitar player and backup singer for The Delegates. Step Beat, Eight Note, Rock Blues and Mystic Rhythm had all arrived from Trottingham by train late the night before after Sea, Lightning and Juniper had gone to bed. Sea released her honorary uncle from her vice-like grip. Step Beat’s nickname originated back the band’s younger days, when the stallion had a long and unruly mane. Eventually he had it cut into a more manageable style, but the name stuck. Shaggy was a dark brown coated pegasus with green eyes and a dark green mane. Bass was talking and laughing with his oldest friend, Eight Note, a chestnut red coated earth pony with a black mane with a few streaks of silver coming in. His ice blue eyes were not focused on Bass, however, as the stallion had been blind since an accident when he was sixteen. Eight Note was the lead singer for the group. The two remaining members, Rock Blues and Mystic Rhythm, were drinking coffee with Amethyst Rose at the breakfast table. Rock was a cerulean blue coated earth pony with a cerulean and turquoise mane and tail with turquoise eyes while Rhythm was a silver eyed, jet black coated pegasus with a white and silver striped mane and tail. Rock played the keyboard and Rhythm played the guitar. Seeing Sea Breeze, Rhythm got up from the table and snuck around behind her. “Boo!” He shouted, making Shaggy flinch hard and glare at his friend and bandmate. Sea, however, didn’t even budge. Rhythm looked on, confused as to why the grey pegasus didn’t jump or scream or do anything. Junie trotted up beside him. “Sorry, Uncle Rhythm. She’s immune to that stuff. Believe me, I’ve tried,” “Your sister isn’t any fun, Daisy,” Rhythm replied, walking back to the table with Juniper trotting beside him. “Tell me about it,” Juniper hopped up on a chair beside her mother. Amethyst turned to her daughter. “Is Lightning up yet?” “I don’t think so, Momma. Ooh ooh! Can I use the spray bottle on him?!” Junie was always coming up with ways to wake up her siblings in the morning. A spray bottle filled with cold water was her current trick. “Just get away quickly if he lights his horn,” Amethyst smirked. “Yes!” Junie fluttered over to the cabinet underneath the sink and grabbed her spray bottle, then flying up the stairs with a devilish smirk. Several minutes later the ponies in the kitchen heard the startled shouts of the teenage unicorn. Lightning Strike teleported into the kitchen with a loud ‘pop’. The grey colt’s black and red mane was sopping wet. “Holy Celestia that’s cold!” he shook. “Gee whiz, Junie, did you dump the whole thing on him?” Sea asked her sister as Junie trotted in. “Maaayybbeee?” ~~~ Several hours later, Sea and Angus were enjoying the sunny day on the front porch. The canine’s sprained leg was almost completely healed and Sea was letting him have more freedom now. Sea sat beside the dog and was giving him a neck massage. The black beast loved his owner’s massages and would always fall asleep. Angus suddenly awoke and jumped up quickly, nearly knocking Sea off the porch. “Angus!” Sea exclaimed as she picked herself up off the wooden planks. “What the heck was that for?” Angus glanced at her and wagged his tail. Sea rolled her eyes and walked over beside him. Lifting her gaze to the sky, she saw what had Angus so excited. “Hey, Breezey!” Bolt landed at the bottom of the steps. Angus rumbled low in his throat and Bolt stepped back a pace. Sea placed a hoof around her pet and rubbed his head. “Good boy, Goosey. Protect Momma from the bad colt,” Sea smiled jokingly. Angus wagged his tail, a little confused as to why his mistress was acting this way. Bolt also had a look of confusion. “He already hates me. Now you’re encouraging it?” Sea pouted playfully. “It makes him feel like a tough guy,” “That dog already has an ego as big as Rainbow Dash’s,” “Oh, please. Nopony’s ego is a big as Dash’s,” Sea smirked. “Whatever. Now can I come kiss you or do I need to go hide in a tree or something?” “You do know that he climbed a oak tree after a squirrel once, don’t you?” At the perplexed look on Bolt’s face, she giggled and pulled her dog over to the door pushing the unenthusiastic pooch into the house. Turning back to her coltfriend, she asked, “Are you happy now?” Bolt nodded, moving up beside her and kissing her cheek. Sea chuckled and placed a light peck on his lips. Smiling happily, she said, “Hey, Bolty, I’ve got somepony, or really, ‘someponies’, that I want you to meet! C’mon!” The happy mare grabbed her coltfriend’s hoof and pulled him inside. Sea led Bolt down the hallway and into Bass’ “Stallion Cave” at the back of the house, Angus following close behind the pegasi Inside the room, the blue unicorn stallion was sitting at his drum set, Eight Note standing beside him. Step Beat was leaning up against the wall, his hooves slammed against his ears. In the middle of the room was Rock Blues and Rhythm. The black pegasus had the cerulean earth pony pinned to the floor. Blues easily flipped Rhythm onto the floor and held the pegasus to the ground with his elbow in the middle of Rhythm’s back, between his wings. Both stallions were shouting obscenities and cursing at each other. “Sea, stop pulling,” “Oh, hush,” The stallions froze as they heard Sea’s voice on the other side of the closed door. “Daddy, I wanted to introduce—uh, what are you guys doing?” Sea looked down at her honorary uncles, who were apparently having some sort of band bonding time. Rhythm pushed Blues off and quickly stood up, his usual goofy smile plastered on his face. Blues, however, didn’t get his hooves under himself fast enough and ended up rolling over on the floor. Several seconds passed before he too got up. He glared at his pegasus band mate. Ignoring her question, Rhythm trotted up to Sea. “Hey, Kid. Who’s your friend?” Blues turned his eyes away from Rhythm and caught sight of the brown colt standing nervously behind Sea Breeze. “Huh, looks like our little Sea finally got herself a friend. A colt, no less,” Blues smirked. Bolt gulped and nervously grinned back. “Um, hiii?” Bolt said, his voice squeaking a little at the end. Step Beat trotted up beside his band mates. “And he squeaks! Ain’t that just cute,” the brown stallion chuckled. Bolt shrunk back behind Sea a bit more. Bass pushed up between his friends with Eight Note behind him. “Knock it off, guys. You’re gonna scare him off,” Bass laughed. Sea rolled her eyes. Shaking her head in amusement, she pulled Bolt up beside her. “This is Thunder Bolt. He’s my coltfriend.” The three stallions had looks of shock on their faces, Rhythm having the most shocked face of all. Eight Note smiled kindly, his unseeing eyes hidden behind his dark sunglasses. His ears swiveled, trying to figure out the direction Sea’s voice came from. “Well that’s just great!” Step Beat finally said. He stepped over beside Bolt and swung his arm over the teen’s shoulders, pulling him close. “Any stallion the passes Bass’ Coltfriend Test is a good one. Ain’t that right, Tempo?” Bass nodded, shooting a warning glance to Bolt. Bolt grinned shyly once more. The colt's senses were all locked up, especially now that one of the members of his favorite band was standing right beside him. “I’m Step Beat, but you c’n call me ‘Shaggy’. These two knuckleheads are Rock Blues and Mystic Rhythm,” Step Beat removed his arm from Bolt and stepped over beside Eight Note. “And this is Eight Note.” Eight nodded and smiled once more. “Nice to meet you,” the red stallion said. Rhythm still had a look of shock on his face. He shook his head and grunted. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up. Did you say that this, this, shrimp, is your coltfriend? Nuh huh, that is not happening. You are way too young, little miss,” Rhythm stomped up to Bolt and glared at the brown colt, even though Bolt was several inches taller. “Ugh…” Bolt stammered. Sea got between her uncle and coltfriend. “Rhythm, do not intimidate my coltfriend. Only Angus is allowed to do that.” Bolt nodded behind her, then stopped abruptly, looking at Sea with his mouth slightly open and his eyebrows raised. “But—” “No,” “He—” “Nope,” “You’re too—” “I said no, Uncle Rhythm. Bolt’s a great guy and if Daddy trusts him (although not much) you can trust him too.” Rhythm and Sea continued to stare each other down. Finally, Rhythm backed down. “Fine,” Rhythm said. Then to Bolt, “But if I catch word that you hurt my little niece, I will find you. And I will make you wish you were never born. Got it?” He poked the colt in the chest. “Yes, sir! I-I mean, no sir. Uh, got it?” Bolt shrunk back. Rhythm’s trademark smile then broke out on his face. He shuffled over to Bolt’s side and swung his arm around the colt, pulling him close. “I think you and I will become great friends, kid,” Rhythm ruffled Bolt’s mane and than trotted over to his guitar, swinging the strap it over his head. Bolt glanced at Sea. “Is he always like that?” He whispered in her ear. “That’s Mystic Rhythm. Fun, slightly crazy. But do anything to his little niece and you are in for it,” Sea giggled. Bolt didn’t feel confident. He was beginning to think that Sea’s family (and honorary family) were a little more nuts than he first thought. Between an overprotective dog and an overprotective uncle, Bolt knew that one mess up and he was dead. Was it something about both stallion and canine being black and white (and silver) that made them loony? Bolt was pulled from his thoughts when Sea poked his shoulder. Step Beat and Blues had also gone back to their instruments, but Bass Temp and Eight Note were still over near the two teenagers. Eight sauntered over beside them. “So, you’re the colt Tempo said stole his daughter’s heart, huh?” Eight smiled, fixing his sunglasses that hid his eyes. Since the accident that took his sight at just sixteen years old, Eight Note had spent a lot of time training himself how to cope with just his hearing and sense of smell. He didn’t have the luxury of being a unicorn and using spells nor the sensitive feathers of a pegasus. Being a blind earth pony had its challenges, but the red stallion overcame his disability with the help of his family and oldest friend, Bass Tempo. “Uh-huh,” Bolt responded, sparing Bass a weary look. Bass narrowed his eyes slightly. “You seem like a good kid. Don’t mind Rhythm. He’s all bark, absolutely no bite,” Eight paused a moment. “As far as you know…” ~~~ After much anticipation from the whole town of Ponyville, the time for the music festival to begin finally came. The town square was filled to the brim with the townsponies, plus some out-of-towners. A stage was set up in front of the town hall, which would act as a dressing room and resting area for the groups and soloists that were going to perform. All around the town square, going up the streets and even as far out to the fields which surround the town, were food stands, activities for foals and adults alike, and areas where ponies could meet their favorite groups and musicians. Sea, Bolt, Stone Brook, and Sweet Heart were walking down the street to the town square when Junie came galloping up. “Sea! Sea!” The little filly panted as she came to a stop in front of her sister. Easy, kiddo. What do you need?” Sea asked. “Not what I need, but what you need,” Junie responded. “I don’t follow,” Sea lifted a brow. Junie rolled her eyes. “Sis, there are fried pickles.” “No. Way,” Sea bent down to her sister’s height, her mouth watering. Fried pickles were her favorite way to eat pickles. Especially dill pickles. “Yes way!” Junie squealed. The sisters began hopping up and down, squealing like crazy. Meanwhile, Bolt, Stone and Heart watched the sisters’ interaction. Stone leaned towards Bolt, saying, “Fried pickles? What the heck are fried pickles?” Somehow Junie heard the colt and rushed over to him. “YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF FRIED PICKLES!?!!” Stone leaned back. “Uh, no?” Stone replied, freaked out that the filly had heard him. Junie gasped loudly and rushed back to her sister, whispering in her ear. Sea trotted back to her friends. “You’ve seriously never heard of fried pickles?” The pegasi shook their heads. Sea stared at them with a blank face for several moments. “Guys, you have not lived until you’ve had fried pickles. Junie, lead the way!” After ordering three large baskets of the deliciousness that is pickles, battered and deep fried, the group sat a picnic table. Sea opened the large container of ranch dressing, the perfect dip for the perfect pickles. Sea picked up one of the spears and dipped it in the dressing and bit off the end, Junie doing the same. The pickles still had the crisp crunch the sisters loved. Combined with the buttermilk and corn meal batter and dressing, the steaming hot pickles were absolutely wonderful. “Dig in, guys. Before we eat them all,” Sea laughed, grabbing her second piece. Junie was already on her third. Bolt, Stone and Heart exchanged glances and each gingerly reached for a spear, dipping the crunchy pickle in the dressing. Bolt took a bite of his. His eyes widened in pleasure. He quickly swallowed and ate the rest of the spear, reaching for another. Stone and Heart also quickly finished theirs and got another. “This is the BEST thing I’ve EVER had!!” Bolt exclaimed, grabbing his fourth pickle. Sweet Heart had her eyes closed and was savoring the deliciousness that was flooding her taste buds. Stone was too busy stuffing one pickle after another in his mouth to say anything. The pickles rapidly disappeared. Sea ordered several more baskets of the delicacy. Soon the rest of Sea and Bolt’s friends arrived and they too were introduced to the fried snack. The vendor at the fried pickle stand made a lot of bits that afternoon.