//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: A Perfect Ending // Story: Life in Ponyville-book 2: Forever Love // by SeaBreeze173 //------------------------------// “Okay Ponyville! Let’s get those hooves stomping and those hips moving! Hit it Octy!” DJ Pon-3 shouted as she began another performance in conjunction with Octavia Melody and her orchestra. The grey earth pony cellist rolled her eyes at the DJ’s energy, nodding to her group to begin. The quick paced beats of the DJ went along flawlessly with the classical sounds of the musicians, much to the surprise of Phoenix and Rainbow Dash. Two songs later, the curtain fell over the stage so that the next group could get ready. Princess Luna’s night covered Ponyville, her moon and stars shining down on the ponies below. They were just bright enough so that everypony could see each other, giving off a calming effect despite the energy and excitement of the crowd. The audience’s attention was drawn back to the stage once more as the curtain pulled away, revealing The Delegates. Bass and Rock Blues began the soft intro into the song, Step Beat hitting a few notes on his bass guitar. Rhythm followed through with a quick string on his electric guitar. Eight Note started the lyrics; If he could hold her, so close in his arms…again If she could show him The letter her heart forgot to send, Why? They’re livin’ dreams on their own Ooh, they’ll never stop running… The girl can’t help it, she needs more He hasn’t found what he’s lookin’ for They’re still standing in the rain He can’t help it and she’s just that way Bolt heard a familiar voice beside him and looked down to see Sea Breeze singing each word perfectly in sync with Eight. Glancing upward, Sea caught Bolt staring at her, causing her to stumble over the lyrics and end up coughing lightly. Catching her breath, Sea teased, “Why don’t you take a picture? It’ll last longer.” Bolt chuckled and turned his attention back to the group onstage. Sea bumped his shoulder with hers and smiled up at him before she began singing softly once more. Ooh… there’s a fire in his eyes for you (don’t you know she stills cries) Ooh… do you know she still cries for you? (Yeah) Ooh… there’s a fire in his eyes for you (For you she cries) Ooh… do you know she still cries for you? (Fire) Yeah! Ooh Ooh… there’s a fire in his eyes for you (ooh… there’s a fire) Ooh.. do you know she still cries for you? Ooh nothing stands between love and you. Ponyville cheered its applause as the curtain fell once more. Sweetie Bell popped up beside her sister, nearly giving Rarity a heart attack at her sudden appearance. “Hey, sis, do you know how many more groups are playing?” The white unicorn had a hoof over her chest and was breathing fast. “Goodness, Sweetie Bell, give a mare a warning before you decide to pop up her face,” “Sorry sis,” “It’s fine, darling. As for your question, I’m not sure. Let me ask Amethyst,” “Ask me what?” Amethyst spoke up from Rarity’s other side. The unicorn shrieked and jumped sideways. The older mare put a hoof over her muzzle to try and hold back her giggling. Rarity shot a lady like glare at the romance author before fixing her slightly messy mane back into its usual style. Clearing her throat, she said, “Sweetie Bell wanted to know how many more groups were to be playing tonight?” “Bass and the guys are the last. They have a little surprise for everypony and want the festival to end with a bang,” Amethyst Rose replied, not saying that they were actually going for a literal ‘bang’. The curtain pulled back to reveal The Delegates once more. This time, however, tightly, but still comfortably, packed onto the stage were all the groups and soloist that had performed earlier in the night. Sapphire Shores, Vinyl Scratch, Octavia Melody and her group of musicians, an up and coming rock n’ roll artist whose stage name was Ka-Boom, and many other ponies. Bass levitated up his drum sticks and struck them together. “And a one, two, one, two, three, four!” At four, Rhythm and Ka-boom went down on their guitars, Rock Blues hitting several keys on his keyboard. The rest of the ponies followed through with their respective instruments, Vinyl quickly and smoothly adding in her beats. Eight smiled and brought the microphone up to his muzzle. Runnin’ out of self-control Getting’ close to an overload Up against a no win situation Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove, I’m hangin’ up my boxing gloves I’m ready for a looong vacation, yeah. Rock, Ka-Boom and Rhythm followed with their backup vocals. (Be good to yourself) Be good to yourself when nobody else will Oh be good to yourself! You’re walking a high wire (caught in a cross fire) Caught in a cross fire Oh be good to yourself “Take it, Boomer!” Eight shouted to Ka-Boom. When you can’t take no more They want it all but you gotta say no I’m turnin’ off the noise that makes me crazy! Yeah! Lookin’ back with no regrets, To forgive is to forget I want a little piece of mind to turn Eight joined back in, singing along with the younger earth pony. Be good to yourself when nobody else will Oh be good to yourself! You’re walking a high wire (caught in a cross fire) Caught in a cross fire Oh be good to yourself! “C’mon Ponyville! Sing it!” Ka-Boom laughed out. Eight began the next line, his voice being almost completely drowned out. Oh be good to yourself when nobody else will! Eight pushed his vocal cords to the limit, wanting to give Ponyville’s first music festival the best finale ever. Oh be good to yourself! Ooooohhh Ooooh!!!! Yeah!! Ka-Boom and Rhythm turned to each other, battling each other over who could do the best guitar solo. Behind the stage over in the fields outside Ponyville, fireworks lit up the night sky. All colors of the rainbow, some even making shapes. The crowd was awestruck at the display. Never had Ponyville seen so many fireworks. On the stage, any musician that wasn’t near a microphone got beside somepony who was and at Bass’ signal, Ka-Boom and Rhythm slowly began to cease their guitar battle. As the ten minute firework show ended, the groups and soloist on stage proclaimed, “BE GOOD TO YOURSELF!” Four more fireworks lit up the sky, signaling the end of Ponyville’s First Annual Music Festival. ______________________________________________________________________ 15 minutes earlier As Ka-Boom and Rhythm began their guitar solo, Thunder Bolt slowly began backing away from his friends. When he was sure that their attention was completely on the stage, he turned and began pushing through the crowd. Once he got to the edge of the town square, he spread his wings and flew rapidly to his home on the outskirts of town. Bolt’s house was just like any other Ponyville home, with just a few things that made it stand out, such as the large front porch. The home wasn’t as large as Sea’s house but it was good enough for Bolt, his sister and their parents. Flying through his open bedroom window, Bolt landed on the floor and made his way downstairs to the kitchen. Grabbing a picnic basket, he quickly filled it with his and Sea’s favorite snacks and placed a blanket inside as well. He picked up his father’s portable camping lantern and stuffed it in the picnic basket. The brown pegasus looked around the room once more, hoping that he had not forgotten anything. “Oh!” he ran upstairs and went into his sister’s bedroom. Spying her portable radio, he picked it up, stopping in his room to get the CD he recently purchased and galloped back downstairs to get the basket. “Food? Check. Blanket? Check. Radio and CD? Double check. Breath?” he breathed onto his hoof and took a sniff. “Better bring some breath mints. Now, to give Sea the best night of her life.” __________________________________________________________________________________ Back in the town square, Sea Breeze was looking all over for Bolt. Where did that knucklehead go off to? He disappears faster than donuts on Lightning’s plate. Guess I gotta go hunt down a coltfriend. Sea trotted over to her mother and the Mane Six. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were all barely awake after the long day of excitement, each on their respective sister’s/sister figure’s backs, Daisy Juniper passed out on Amethyst Rose. After saying goodnight to Princess Twilight and the rest of the Mane Six and telling her mother where she was going, Sea Breeze strolled through the slowly dispersing crowd, straining her neck to find Bolt. Spying Stone Brook, Sweet Heart and Skye Racer, Sea spread her wings and lifted into the air. “Hey, Sea,” Stone Brook smiled as Sea Breeze landed in front of the trio. “Tonight was totally awesome. Your dad is a killer drum player,” Sea returned the smile, “I’ll be sure to tell him that. It isn’t that his ego could get any bigger,” the mare laughed. Pushing her bangs out of her eyes, Sea asked, “Have you guys seen Bolt? He pulled a disappearing act earlier and I haven’t seen him since.” The twins and Sweet Heart all shared a knowing glance. Skye looked back at Sea Breeze and said, “He said to tell you to meet him at our soccer field. Something about a—OW!” The silver colt glared at his brother, who had knocked him over the head. Stone shook his head and nodded towards Sea. Skye rolled his eyes while Sweet Heart facehoofed, saying, “Idiots,” under her breath. Ignoring the brothers, Sea spread her wings and smiled at Sweet Heart, lifting off the ground to go find her coltfriend. ~~~ Sea landed beside the large oak tree on the edge of the field she and her friends played soccer on. In the middle of the field, Bolt was smoothing out what looked like a large blanket on the grass. He also had a lantern and a small picnic basket. Sea began to walk towards him but paused as she stepped on a stick. Bolt jerked his head up in alarm, relaxing when he saw it was only Sea. The light from the moon and stars made it just bright enough to see and give a slightly romantic feel. “What are you up to, Bolt?” Sea asked once she was close enough to be heard. “Just a little surprise I’ve been planning,” Bolt opened the picnic basket, revealing some of Sea’s favorite snack foods. Sea gazed wide eyed at the apples, cheddar cheese, plain bagels, grapes, and a plastic bottle filled with what she assumed was sweet tea, her favorite summer time drink. Glancing back up at Bolt, she said, “When did you do all this?” “Just now,” Bolt replied. “Pretty impressive for only twenty-five minutes, huh?” “You’re a riot,” Sea rolled her eyes playfully. She trotted up to the brown pegasus, stopping once she was only a few inches in front of him. Sea Breeze lifted her head and gazed at Bolt’s face. Bolt lowered his head and nuzzled Sea’s cheek softly. He flinched slightly when he felt her hooves around his neck and her muzzle buried in his mane. Smiling, he reached his hooves around Sea’s back and pulled her into his chest softly, rolling back onto his hindquarters. Sea cuddled up closely in Bolt’s arms and sighed contently. “I love when we can spend time together, Bolty. Just you and me. No parents, no crazy friends, no—” Sea said a few minutes later. “Angus?” Bolt asked. Sea’s ears went back and she pulled away from Bolt’s embrace, looking Bolt straight in the eyes. Those dreamy, kind blue eyes. Sea stared in to them several moments until Bolt booped her nose. “Bolt!” Sea giggled, swatting at his hoof and bowing her head. Frowning, she glanced back up at Bolt. “Bolty, I—” “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything,” Bolt said quickly, raising to his hooves. Sea lifted her hoof and gently pushed him back down. “No, its fine,” Sea pulled her eyes away from the brown pegasus. Sighing, she continued, “Bolty, you know that Angus will always come first for me. I love you with all my heart, truly, I do, but Angus. He’s my best friend. He was my only friend until we moved here and I met you and the guys.” Bolt nuzzled his marefriend’s cheek. “I know. Honestly, I don’t think that dog would stand letting me come between you and him. As you know, he can be very… persuasive.” “He got it from me,” Sea smirked. “Don’t I know it,” Bolt returned the smirk. The mare lifted up slightly and lightly pecked her coltfriend on the lips. “So,” Sea jumped up enthusiastically. “What do you have planned, my dear gentlestallion?” Bolt rose as well, lifting up Sea’s hoof with his own. “Well, m’lady, I was thinking a quiet picnic, maybe go on a slow, romantic flight and then, if you’re up to it, some star gazing,” “And kissing?” Sea inquired, shuffling up flirtatiously beside Bolt and leaning into his shoulder. “Oh, there most definitely will be kissing.” Bolt lowered his head, connecting his lips softly with Sea’s. “Mmm,” Sea moaned, deepening the kiss. Bolt pulled away after several seconds. “I love you, Breezey,” he whispered in her ear. “And I love you, Bolty. Forever and a day.”