Burnt embers and ash scattered across the room. Rabble attempted to move but she could not, one hoof in front of the other seemed like an eternity as she slowly listed through the carnage of a house ablaze. She cried out but not a sound was heard. Fire raced up the door frame of her room as she raised her head to see a vague representation of her parents disappear. Teary eyed she fell to the ground and rolled onto her back. Staring up at the ceiling she whispered.
“Why”.
The roof came crashing down and the darkness enveloped her as she awoke in the comfort of her own bed. A scream rang out that shook the walls. No one answered. Although now living with her aunt and uncle, they were off on buisness. She was alone and had been for quite some time now, though the haunting memories of the night she lost her parents still kept her company, much to her dismay. As she collapsed back onto our bed she let slip a worded sigh.
“Who could forget it?”
Intent on getting a good night’s sleep, she shrugged off the ordeal as it was nothing new to her. After all she had a big day ahead of her. Tomorrow was going to be THE day. The day she takes off to honour her family’s memory.
Waking up for the first time in a while without a fearful bead of sweat she gleefully bounced out of her bed. She sprung toward her mirror and began to dance whilst reading herself for her coming audition.
“1 2 3 4! Audition time today, ready to fly away!”
This odd ritualistic morning dance and song was her vocal and physical exercise helping her to prepare for her challenge. Next on her list was instrument preparation. Silence became the background noise as she started to tune her guitar, a laborious task. As her concentration turned to courage she started off toward the exit grabbing her saddlebag, instrument and humming joyfully as she emerged into Ponyville.
For such a happy community the overall mood of the populace was rather dreary. It seemed as if everyone had a raincloud above their head but her. She paid little attention to this though as she had her game face on. A strong but joyful look of audacity strewn across her face showed everypony that she meant business.
Her resolve would have to be strong for her journey to Manehattan. Though not extremely far way, she had never been before. Whitetail woods were the first point on her journey. Humming as she skipped through the marketplace heading for the edge of town she heard whispers.
“Isn’t that old Gentlemane Jack’s and Tia Mareia’s daughter?”
No longer oblivious to the stares and judgement of the other ponies in town, she reached bowed her head and began to gallop as to pass quickly through town. Though she was in for a surprise she could never have anticipated.
With a bang and a smash she was flung to the ground with another pony on top of her. With blurred vision she gave herself a shaking awake. She could vaguely make out a pony behind a green and pink mop of a mane.
“Bee? I think it’s time to get up.”
The cute voice with a sarcastic yet caring tone caused the ponies to unravel themselves. Rabble got back on her hoofs and examined the eccentric pair in front of her. Despite the mood surrounding the other ponies of Ponyville these two seemed to be radiating with excitement, one more so than the other.
“Heh, sorry dude, names Plan B”
Though her mane covered her face a smile was evident.
“Friends call me Bee though; this shy gal here is JD.”
Whilst Plan B appeared militaristic, clumsy and energetic. Her counterpart JD was very much the opposite. She remained calm and collected contradicting her rather shy personality. Rabble realised she was talking an odd amount of time to answer and hastily replied.
“It’s alright, im all over the place today as well. Im Rabble Rouser, folks call me Rousey”
She couldn’t help but realise the mess of machinery behind the pair and decided against her better judgement to inquire as to what it is. Something see would soon regret.
A glint of maniacal genius appeared in Plan B’s eyes. Straightening her spine and obtaining a commanding posture she took a deep breath.
“THIS! THIS IS THE GALEFORCE JET STREAM X 2 W.P.C. WINGLESS PONY CARRIER! This is going to be THE biggest invention of all time, no magic, no balloon, no hot air, JUST the power your crazy little pony legs can muster up!”
Plan B continued on her rant as Rabble gazed over at JD as if to ask “The hay?” Acknowledging the pony’s confusion JD raised her hoof to her head in a twirling motion and signalled Rabble that it’s just Bee being Bee. Both ponies decided to humour her. Whilst JD truly believed the contraption would fly, Rabble was secretly taking mental bets on how long before they crashed.
Rabble decided to end the rant in a kind way by asking what their plan for the machine was. This brought out a strong response from JD whom said:
“Its gonna take us to where we’ll make it big!”
The timid pony stepped back and began to stare at the ground with the faintest hint of a proud smile. Bee nodded and took charge once again.
“Yup, sooo...what are you doing? I mean aside from talking to us”.
Bee had a small chuckle to herself, then planted her rear on the ground and stared wide eyed at Rabble.
“Well I got myself an audition up in Manehattan; I’m actually hoping to make it big to. Left my aunt’n’uncle a note saying next time they see me my face is gonna be plastered all over the Ponyville express, Heh. Whether it’ll be good or not, I dunno”.
Plan B clearly admired Rabble’s confidence and understood her cause.
“Well it’s been real awesome meeting ya, hope to see ya again”
Rabble wanted to stay and chat more but she had to get going to make it on time. She returned common courtesy and took off once more.
“ROU! WAIT!”
Plan B was galloping to catch her.
“Here take this; I think you’ll love it”
Bee held out her hoof and with it a small metallic sphere. Though Rabble was reluctant at first, fearing the invention might blow up in her face but when she learned of the purpose she was flabbergasted.
“So you’ve listened to records and vinyls obviously, but a record player is just too much to carry around. Wouldn’t you agree?” Rabble nodded and she continued. “WELL! I don’t wanna get into too much detail, some sciency stuff, some magic stones and a genius mind like my own. Go on, try them”
Acknowledging the slight evil smirk on Bee’s face, which Rabble now realised, was simply her way. She reached into her saddle bag and pulled out her headphones.
Rabble learnt quickly, the device was much like a record player. Using electricity to power the headphones and a magic stone to generate the songs. It was explained to her that if she wants a song to be stored, she need only listen to it. It was around about this time she became confused. The mention of brainwaves and musical memory storage wasn’t quite in her comprehension. She couldn’t thank Plan B enough, with an unusual burst of emotion she sprang into a hug. Bee handled the rather awkward hug surprisingly well and finished their meeting once again.
“Just be careful with it okay? My brilliance is hard to come by”.
With that Rabble once more for that day set off. Her sheer joy was visible by the clear spring in her step as she made sped towards her destination. Watching Rabble shoot of into the distance yet again, Plan B revealed her true motives.
“Well JD. At least it won’t explode near us”.
JD facehoofed in disappointment and clambered aboard the flying machine for its maiden voyage.
Bee’s forecast was wrong however. Rabble was currently vigorously stress testing her new machine. She was thinking back to her parent’s old records, the old punk classics. Her mind began to wander as Rabble pondered if Cheerilee the teacher would recognize those songs. She reassured herself that the teacher would, after all everyone had seen the picture from her “Phase”.
Rabble’s mind was a haze; her cool was lost and replaced by the feeling of being a filly in a candy store with little time to choose the right candy. She rifled through the classics, The Sex Pistols, Still Little Fingers and The Clash. So many choices. After stressfully pacing back an fourth in her own mind she focused and settled on something a little more recent. The Agony of Victory by NOFX.
With the happy beat of the awesome blend of ska and punk she danced and she sang and before she knew it, she had made it. There was the studio, a massive tower in a bustling city. Rabble wasn’t used to crowds she could see there. Ponies side by side, little space in-between, marching from point to point. A gulp sank her worries deep down and she started to dart in and out of the few spaces she could find.
Panting she murmured to herself. “Damn place is like a moving maze, this is why I hate cit....”
She was abruptly cut off as a rather frantic buisnesspony bashed her aside.
“Watch where you’re going you dumb...”
Rabble could handle confrontation and interrupted her foe.
“NO! You watch where you’re going!” She splashed the clean cut pony’s suit with a nearby puddle. “Go clean up your act!”
He tried to respond but she had disappeared into the network of frenzied bodies. Determined to make her appointment.
She was flung out from the crowd landing face first outside the studio. She didn’t care about the fall, she was here and ready to do what she does best. Rabble approached the door with a timid stroll. SMASH! The doors swung open and a rather hardcore looking filly staggered out.
She spat at the door and began to abuse the building’s entrance. “Ye’s wouldnae ken talent if it bit your arse, Am gonna go doon in history and you lot are gonnae regret no signin me.”
The frustrated pony turned to address Rabble.
“Sorry hen, ya didnae need tae ‘ear that. Im Plaid Haze, ya ken that lot isnae signin soloists?”
From what Rabble could understand of Haze’s thick accent, her hopes and dreams just crumbled.
No soloists.
No career.
No Nothing.
Plaid could see the tears building up in her eyes and comforted her.
“Chin up lassie, A reckon whit ya need is gonnae faw oot the sky”.
The Pair became engulfed in approaching darkness followed by a loud scream.
“DUCK!!!”
When Rabble came to, Plaid was down for the count next to what appeared to be the crash site of Plan B’ flying machine. KTHUNK!
Bee was propelled out from the mess face first into the ground where she slid to Rabbles hoofs. A rather dazed Plan B started to mumble cryptic messages followed by something Rabble understood.
“Heeeeey JD? I think we landed...Did your air sack thingamabob work? Mine didn’t...Luckily the ground did. Not now ground, I’m scienceing!” She flung her limbs up in the air and then flopped back down.
Still confused but not entirely surprised, Rabble nudged her.
“Yo Bee, Ya alright?”
As she failed to reply and seemed to be mostly intact, Rabble checked the wreckage; Plan B’s reply was heard in the background as Rabble discovered cuteness incarnate. A sleeping JD was sprawled out on the white pillow like airbag. Her eyes widened as she gazed at Rabble. Instead of speaking she simply waved and smiled.
Rabble stumbled back and fell onto the ground. After a long pause and serious silence she spoke out.
Sigh* “Were gonna need a plan.”