Behind the curtain, Applejack did not like what she was hearing one bit from out front: jeers, sneers, low boos and angry hooves rustling in place. Even some snobby coughs and “oh’s” and “well, I never’s.” as if Rarity had been cloned a hundred times over in Pinkie Pie’s old mirror pond. Clearly nopony in this herd was happy at all with any of the songs so far, or the way this show was turning out. Poor Twilight was turning eight shades of pale lavender from the audience’s disgusted reactions, and the night wasn’t getting any better for her. Applejack hoped this next number would turn things around in a hurry.
“Okay, Apple Family Band, on next!" called the manager.
Seeing her kin trot in through the backstage entrance, AJ grabbed her bass guitar and amplifier.
“I know a storm brewin’ when I hear one! Come on, Apples! Let’s give ‘em what-fer!”
***
Hoping also that this next number would turn the growing tide of discontent, Fancy Pants trotted out again---gingerly
this time, but now wearing a sky-blue cowpony hat, spangled with white and indigo stars.
“Um-hmm, yes, well… I can certainly see where this show is going tonight. (Heh, joke…ahem…) Fear not, dear friends…continuing the country theme for this next anthem, a rousing performance by…the Apple Family Band! Hit it, y’all!”
The curtain rose (without applause) to reveal a long, raised dais at center stage, with Applejack on bass & lead vocals, Appleloosa Cousin Braeburn on lead guitar & harmony vocals, Big Mac on backup guitar & harmony vocals, two other cousins on fiddles (I forget who exactly) Granny Smith on keyboard, Apple Bloom on tambourine, and (distant cousin) Pinkie Pie on drums.
(Seeing they weren’t needed for this one, the orchestra took a break to watch the band on stage.)
Guitars buzzed & twanged to life, as the backdrop behind them ran a projected full-color slide-show photo montage of breathtaking Equestrian vistas: the Manehattan skyline with the chess-piece Knight’s Head and Statue of Filly Liberty; the granite faces of Mount Monument with all four Alicorn Princesses, the rolling San Palomino Mountains, the rippling waters of Horseshoe Bay, the sweeping crop fields of Appleloosa and Dodge Junction, the majesty of Canterlot and Mount Canterhorn, the glistening spires of the Crystal Empire, the icy tundra of the Frozen North and so on. And every now & then, a shot of a Pegasus or Griffon winging across a white cloudbank or a clear blue sky, or the waving national flag: the Banner of the Two Sisters:
WHERE THE SISTERS' FLAG, AND THE PEGASI FLY*
Applejack: Well, if you ask me where I came from...
(Verse 1) Here's what I say to everyone...
I was born by Celestia's grace...
In a most extr'ordinary place...
Where the Sisters' Flag, and the Pegasi fly...
(Verse 2) It's a big ol' land of pony dreams...
And happiness ain't past our reach...
Hard work pays off just like it should...
Yeah; seen enough 'ta tell we got it good...
Where the Sisters' Flag, and the Pegasi fly...
(Bridge) There's a pony that stands in
A harbor for all we believe...
And there's a flugel horn echoing
The price, that we paid to be free...
(Verse 3) I pledge devotion to this flag...
And if it bothers you, well hay! Too bad...
But if you got pride down to your hooves...
Yeah, could use more ponies like me and you...
Where the Sisters' Flag, and the Pegasi fly...
[Music Break]
[Repeat Bridge]
(Verse 4) T'ain't the only place on this old earth...
But it's the only one that I prefer...
To love my family, and raise my kids...
Hey, the same way my Apple Daddy did...
Where the Sister's Flag, and the Pegasi fly...
Tag: Where the Sisters' Flag… and the Pegasi...
FLY...
Big Mac &
Braeburn: (SISTERS’ FLAG… PEGASI…
SISTERS’ FLAG… PEGASI…
SISTERS’ FLAG… PEGASI…)
[Music End]
The last chord played, and the curtain came down.
But instead of rousing applause and a standing ovation…all that came was a LOUDER storm of BOOS & HISSES… as though it were a baseball game and the home team just pitched its fourth foul ball of the evening.
“Well, shoot…” said Applejack, tilting her hat down, “…thought sure we had ‘em this time…”
“Ey-yup.” Big Mac agreed.
“I reckon Canterlot just ain’t the place to go country." Braeburn concluded.
“Nn-nope.” Big Mac agreed, again.
***
In the audience, Cheerilee was having second thoughts about this whole evening’s performance, but kept silent for the sake of her charges. The remaining Crusaders enjoyed the number, but winced at the hisses and boos. Seemed the cast & crew were having as hard a time pleasing this crowd, as they were having in getting their cutie-marks.
“Well, land sakes!” said Apple Bloom, as she & Big Mac rejoined the group: “I really liked that one! How come they all didn't?"
“Heh…you can’t please everypony." Sweetie Belle shrugged.
“I won’t be pleased ‘til I hear Rainbow Dash do hers!" said Scootaloo, cross-hooved.
“Meh.. that may or may not happen tonight, Scoots…” said a concerned Babs Seed.
"WHAT?" the other three said all at once!
“Why not?” asked Scootaloo.
“I’ve seen this before on Bridleway,” Babs explained. “The way this show’s goin’, guys, I bet’cha they start cuttin' things down to shorten up the show and leave early, to avoid a stampede."
“You think that’s ‘gonna happen here tonight?” asked an apprehensive Sweetie Belle.
“I ‘dunno, but the way things are goin’, they just might.” Babs concluded.
“Now-now, my little ponies…” said Cheerilee at last, “Don’t get yourselves all worked up for nothing. Princess Celestia would never allow such a terrible thing to happen. It’s only a show. I’m sure things will turn out all right in the end. You’ll see.”
“Ey-yup.” Big Mac agreed, grinning back at the lovely teacher pony.
Miss Cheerilee always did have a wonderful talent for seeing the good in every situation, and for downplaying
even the most potential of disasters, for the sake of her pupils. A very healthy, albeit naïve, point-of-view.
“It bedduh…but I got a funny feelin’ things are ‘gonna get a lot worse first…” said Babs, feeling the tension mounting.
***
Up in the Royal Box, the ripples were keenly felt, as Celestia face-hooved herself for the third time in a row.
“Dear Sister, I’m beginning to change my mind about this year’s music program…” said the brooding Sun Princess, then snorted: “Celestia’s grace, indeed…honestly, since when did anypony think I have control over who gets born and who
doesn’t? I don't have that power, and we ‘re not Goddesses! Hmph, really…” She crossed her hooves and grimaced.
“(Hee-hee-hee-hee) Tia…T’was only a song-lyric.” Luna giggled, “I rather enjoyed it. And I think that is the very trouble with this audience tonight: they are taking everything too seriously. Not even trying to enjoy it! Hmph… My only complaint is about the photo montage: not one single shot of my beautiful nights…” she pouted.
“Again, too much concentration on the Summer Sun Celebration, I suppose, Little Sis…” Celestia sighed.
Letting the topic slide, the two ruling Alicorns studied the roiling herd of disgruntled patron ponies below them.
“…And despite the occasion, by the sound of what’s concentrating right now beneath our hooves…” said Celestia,
“I fear this evening is not going to end well at all…”
Luna shuddered. “(*Gulp*) For once, Celestia, I do hope you are wrong…”
“So do I, Luna…” said Celestia, “…so do I…”
CONTINUES NEXT CHAPTER....