Chapter 18
It was now Gala night, and, though Twilight was more assured, she still fretted a bit as the guests arrived. They all strolled up to the royalty and greeted them, but then, when they went into the ballroom, their eyes nearly fell out of their heads. Pinkie Pie announced, “Welcome Gala Guests! It’s time to let your manes down and have some fun!”
They saw the décor, and that the music, though what they were used to, was a bit livelier. However, Pinkie Pie was directing them around as if she was the Master of Ceremonies. She pointed in different directions and said, “Over here we have some croquet and lawn bowls, over here we have the snooker tables and darts, In there is the dinner room, where you can get the best in Granny Smith’s home cooking, and in the garden is Fluttershy’s animal exhibition to keep the little ones occupied!”
Some who did have young foals suddenly found them bouncing up and down, begging for their parents to let them go play there. However, many restrained them, saying, “This is the gala. We act like little fillies and gentlecolts.”
“Aww…” they said, but Pinkie wasn’t having it. She swept some of them towards the area and said, “Oh, don’t be a party poop! It’s only a show. It’s not like they’re going to roll around with them or anything.”
The sound of inhaling was such that one would have thought they would have sucked the Wonderbolts right out of the sky and into the ballroom. Some of the more stuffy ponies curled their muzzles up as if someone had waved a turd under their nostrils and said, “This ends now!”
The more polite ones, though put off a bit, bit their lips and went on to try what was going on. The others, however, stormed out and stomped right past the receiving line, bold as you like, and the one in front commanded, “Princess Celestia, with all due respect, I demand something be done about the ridiculous way you’ve set up the gala!”
“Well, it wasn’t me that did,” She said slyly, “That was up to the autocrat of this.”
She held her hoof over Twilight’s head, and he said, “Your highness, I mean no disrespect, but you have a bunch of the commoners in there running things as if it was some kind of hoot nanny at the local grange hall.”
Twilight was now nervous again, but Celestia whispered in her ear, “Remember what I said: it’s good to be the princess.”
Twilight took a deep breath and then let it out in the way that Cadence had taught her hand said, “Well, interesting you say it like that, considering that I myself used to be one of those commoners you mentioned, and all of them happen to be my close friends, and I like what they’ve done.”
“Besides, Monty, you old colt,” said Celestia with a smile, using a magic touch to adjust his tie, “I very much approve of what she’s done, and this is MY gala, after all. Besides, you didn’t seem be all that dignified at Hoof Bowl XXV. I seem to remember you acting all like a giddy foal at Hearth’s Warming Eve when the kicker for the Bisons missed that kick at the last second and sealed the win for Manehattan. I’m sure all your friends would just love to hear about that.”
He turned red, started to look around and see if anypony had heard that, and said, “Well, um, ah, well I guess, if you approve, then I approve.”
Fancy Pants had followed the crowd and saw the whole thing, and he said, “Come on, Monty, we have some business to catch up on, and I still owe you for that loss in that snooker tournament against you in Trottingham a few years back.”
“Um…right…” he said as Fancy Pants guided him away, and the crowd followed. Fancy Pants looked back and winked at them, and Twilight giggled, saying, “I guess it will go well after all.”
Pinkie then got on stage and announced, “Okay, everypony: tonight, we’re going to have a rolling concert…although it’s not really rolling, but it’s sitting on the stage and not going anywhere, so it’s a sitting there concert that rolls on through the night. We start with and finish with a classical piece, and maybe even the whole thing! In between, we have a bunch of different styles as requested by Princess Celestia. We start tonight’s show with Neightoven’s 5th Symphony.”
Many who were more tolerating the evening rather than enjoying it sighed with relief that they were going to have something with culture in it. Octavia, though performing herself, took her position at the conductor’s podium and began the piece. As many sat at their dinner tables, they could not help but notice the two unicorns definitely not dressed for the occasion and were a bit perturbed that such riff raff could have been let into the room. Octavia’s interpretation of the piece and arrangement was stunning and kept the crowd into it. However, as they went, they could not help but notice the stallion and mare the saw earlier really getting into the music, gesturing partly as if they were conducting themselves, showing much emotion and passion in their listening to it. Those that were of the snobby disposition could not understand why they could ever get that much out of something they thought clearly out of their league.
Once the piece was over, and an intermission was called, many went to the refreshments table, and very much enjoying the switch from the usual fare. Others were having dinner, and were surprised how good that country cooking could be. At the refreshment table, there was that pair again, and two of the snobs, (Filthy and Spoiled Rich namely,) came up to look down their muzzles at them. Not only did they want to put them in their place, but they wanted to be sure they knew they were unwelcome. Spoiled Rich was the vocal of the two and said, “Well, I suppose you’re having a good time.”
“You don’t have to suppose anything,” said Quill, “We’re having a ball.”
Not liking what she perceived to be a snide remark, she said, “Well, I thought the music exquisite.”
This, she said, not expecting any real engaging conversation, just as Octavia came to meet with the twins and heard the comment. The answer Filthy and Spoiled got was more than for which they had bargained. Quill started off by saying, “You know, I’ve always loved how the third and fourth movements blend into one another to a powerful climax.”
“Oh yes,” said Downy, “And Miss Octavia, I found it interesting your interpretation of the cadenza at the end of the scherzo section of the piece. Many more have that section fairly straightforward and blocky.”
“Oh heavens no,” answered Octavia, “It has to build the right way, and really show that we are going from the scherzo to the Allegro clearly.”
“Of course,” added Quill, “And you kept the cadenza at the right spot, and a nice forte fortissimo without going into four f’s, like I’ve heard too many conductors do.”
Quill looked back at the couple, as if to engage them into the conversation, and the three of them might as well have been speaking Greek to them. Spoiled said, “Oh, yes…um…very nice…oh look it’s…you know…them. Sorry, darlings: must be dashing.”
Realizing they had just been outclassed by the commoners, they beat a hasty retreat. Once out of earshot, the three burst out laughing. “Opera snobs,” said Quill, “They act like they know, but they just don’t know.”
Downy added, “Start talking real music to them, and they act like a calf looking at a new gate!”
“They go off to forge new trails in music,” stated Octavia, “And become hopelessly lost.”
There was a cue from the orchestra that it was time for the next part, and Pinkie Pie announced Octavia and Vinyl Scratch would soon be coming up to mix classic with modern stylings. Prepare to be dazzled!”
They took their places and began their show. At first, there were those questioning this, but because the two knew each other musically just as well as the twins, and because of their ability to interpret music, they were able to put together a show that changed a lot of minds. They were able to mix baroque with techno, proving clearly just how relative music was, and how the old could always be seen in new ways.
After this, Pinkie Pie came out and said, “Coming up next, we have Pineville’s own melody makers, the Ponytones!”
They came out, and Rarity spoke for the group, saying, “Tonight, we’re going to take you to Bronclyn and into the streets of the brownstones on a typical Friday night. Oftentimes, entertainment for the ponies there does not involve spending money. In fact, for many, there isn’t enough money to really buy any kind of entertainment. Yet, this does not stop the people from having fun. Besides street gatherings, the alleys and streets are often filled with the sounds of a cappella singing to entertain one block or another. For those ponies, that was their local band, their local jukebox, and mood setters. The stylings they often use is called Doo-wop, due to the use of certain filler words that, though not really words, flow the music along and give it something for the lead singer to ride on as they performed. It is these stylings we are going to demonstrate tonight. Pay close attention to the blending of the voices and harmonies.”
There were those that were about to just tune them out for mentioning the poorer neighborhoods of Equestria, but when she put it on the level of musical appreciation and theory, that caught their attention. With that, they started their set, and did it all without instruments. They wanted to capture the feeling of what they had just described, rarity having designed for the Ponytones clothing befitting of that area. Not only were they doing the songs the twins had taught them, they were putting twists on it that the twins had not put in, which were stylings common to a cappella groups. The audience were pleasantly surprised at just how entertaining the whole thing was, and that helped the twins feel at ease. Perhaps, if they were able to present themselves in the right way, they could keep the audience engaged. This was an establishment crowed as far as they were concerned, and they knew this was not this crowd’s cup of tea musically. Yet, they were determined to wow them, and also to make an announcement along the way that they hoped to stir some ponies out and get the ball rolling on their real purpose for coming to Equestria in the first place.
Pinkie Pie took the stage and prepared to announce the pair, saying, “Okey dokey wokey! We have next some newcomers to Equestria, though they aren’t so new, because they’ve been here for a few months, but I guess they’d be new to you, because you’ve never seen them. But after this, you can’t say they aren’t new to you anymore, because you’ll have seen them.”
The crowd looked quizzically at the odd pony that had been acting as master of ceremonies, and Pinkie then said, “Wow, tough room. Anyway, coming out to entertain you are the stylings of Downy and Quill!”
The audience made no sound as two stools were put out and a single spot followed them onto the stage. Immediately, the pair felt the tension and wanted to bolt, but they swallowed it back and took their spots. Quill spoke and said, “Good evening fillies and gentlecolts. Tonight we are going to go into the world of folk music.”
This was followed by some quiet mumbling, come cross talk, and many glancing at the twins as they did. Quill took a breath and let it out slowly, and he said, “Folk music has always been important because it always has reflected the nature of a culture. The traditions of folk music has always been the means of storytelling, recording histories, making political statements, and trying to convey a message to the masses. The folk music we will be presenting to you are mostly of a modern flavor, but it is no less a part of the folk tradition than any of the other songs in the genre. Tonight, we hope to both entertain and enlighten. It will either be just us singing and playing, or with some accompaniment, but we hope this will be fun. If you can pick up on some of the songs, join in, because folk music has always been a communal thing, uniting ponies everywhere in peace and harmony.”
With that, they started their set. They started with “If I Had a Hammer,” wanting to hit them with upbeat at first before a few of the more angst-filled songs, and slower pieces. They hoped to keep the set filled with some variety so as not to put them to sleep. Their nervousness was clear for the first part of the first verse, but as they began to get lost in the song, they were able to phase out the audience and concentrate on their music. Once they did that, they suddenly started to convey an emotion that even the audience, though skeptical at first, were now starting to warm to the humble pair on the stage. They then cut into “500 Miles,” with Downy taking the lead on that, followed by Quill telling a humorous story about Nightmare Night and the tradition that humans would call trick or treat, and how that, in this day and age, it was more of a clinical operation, joking how small groups of armed foals racing house to house demanding protection money. That got a big laugh out of the audience. Though they seemed mere commoners, they appeared to have a sense of dignity and culture all their own that made the audience realize they were not just bumpkins. Quill then stated that in Trottingham, they had a similar tradition, but it was not on Nightmare Night, but on Hearth’s Warming Eve, the custom being wassailing. With that, they cut into “A Soalin’” but, up to this point, they had not unleashed their Bardic magic. They wanted to test the waters first. This done, on this song, they started in. They started to add lights akin to decorative lights on the stage and over the room, adding an illusion of snowfall to the audience. The audience thought that there was a problem at first, but realized this was a part of the show, and gasped with pleased amazement. The confidence of the twins went up exponentially, and they were able to tear into the rest of the show with relish. They mixed in some Peter, Paul, and Mary numbers in with Simon and Garfunkel, as well as some Everley Brothers tunes, all reworked to reflect the pony world. They finished the set with “The Boxer”, with the addition of the orchestra, “Equestrian Tune”, which was “American Tune”, but again, reworked, “Sounds of Silence.” The audience was bedazzled with the sights and the sounds, now figuring it had to be being done by unicorn magic, being that they were unicorns, and they indeed wanted more. They then came out as Quill did “Catch the Wind”, Downy did, “Moonshadow”, they paired up on “Good Morning Starshine”, and they seemed prepared to finish up. Yet, at this point, Quill stated, “I am sure you have all wondered how we have been doing this. Well, part of what we have been doing tonight has been by some ancient magic of unicorns you have, up to this point, knew them to be the stuff of legend and fairy tales: Bardic magic. Well, we have to announce tonight that, the legends are actually true, as my sister and I are actually pure blood Bardics.”
Downy hiked up her dress and showed her cutie mark, which was that of the Bardic: a lute inside the musical symbol for the circle of fifths. There were some gasps at the announcement of this, while there were others muttering, and a handful of scoffers, not believing what they heard. Downy put down her dress and Quill added, “Because of the genes of our parents, we emerged, and have been rediscovering the ways of the Bardics. Moreover, we are looking to reestablish the order, but in a new and inclusive way. Any unicorns that have the mark of the circle of fifths along with their cutie marks are candidates to join us if they would like. However, as a new and more enlightened order, any unicorn, whomever they may be, whatever style of music is their forte, for whom music and magic is their strength, and wish to perfect both, we would ask you also to join us. We would never ask you to forsake the careers you have, but just to add to your magic the abilities of the Bardic, and we sit in hopes of all of us helping to make the world a better place to live.”
There was still a buzz about the place, but to calm things, Downy did something Quill was not expecting, and she said, “And to finish, I want to do something for my brother.”
He looked at her in surprise, not sure where this was going, and she smiled and said, “You see, my brother and I were the children of two unicorns who knew of their heritage, but because of certain things they perceived as threats to our lives because we are pure blood Bardics, they put us in a place where we could be protected and raised in anonymity. It was only recently we learned of our past, and now have returned to fulfill the hopes of our parents. But, while in that setting, being in the foster care system, we faced some harsh times and challenges. My brother and I have always had each other to see ourselves through it, and there were times I was scared and not sure of our future. He used to sing this song to me to comfort me, and as a way of saying that I love him, I sing this song.”
Quill just smiled and shook his head, not believing the boldness of his sister, but he was not angry, and just felt the love he had for her as a sister in return. She then set her guitar down as a piano accompanied her in “Bridge over Troubled Water.” Quill had tears running down his face as she sang it in a way that made everyone’s hearts soar, especially at the part where the orchestra took over and had things soaring. They left the stage to thunderous applause, and as charged and giddy as a twelve year old girl on a sugar high at a Sailor Moon convention. The three acts then took the stage to do the combined numbers they had rehearsed, doing “Me and Julio,” as well as “Cecilia”, followed by “Keep the Customer Satisfied.” Because this was open air, this was when the Wonderbolts started their show as they all ripped into “Baby Flier”, in place of “Baby Driver” as the song would normally go. The audience were really into it now, forgetting they were snooty upper crust, and acting like they were youths at a rock concert, having a grand old time. They finished the show with “River of Jordan”, a song of unity and harmony, and the audience, once they learned the chorus, joined along. It was a show that the gala would not soon forget.
After this, they kicked into a musical piece that the human world would recognize as the 1812 Overture, though, in this world, was recognized under another name, and this was meant to be the climax of that evening’s entertainment. Indeed, Octavia’s direction put the power and glory to the piece that it deserved, but what then took the cake was, at the right spots, Pinkie Pie started setting off party cannons, spreading streamers and confetti everywhere to a now joyous and celebratory audience. On the last cannon shot, it shook the floor and covered everything with color and glitter as a fireworks display started overhead. The display itself ran for a good two hours, and Celestia eventually came out and said, “Look at all of you! You are all acting like young foals, having the times of your lives, exactly as the foals you brought are having as we speak. For those of you who wondered, this was the reason why I had things this way. I wanted you all to recapture your youths, when money, power, and prestige meant nothing to you, and having fun was the main goal of your lives. I hope the rest of the evening is just as joyous, and let joy be unconfined. Let’s party, everypony!”
With that, Vinyl Scratch started the dance music, and everyone forgot that they were supposed to turn their noses up at this and just let it all hang out. However, things were happening with the twins.
As they went to get some punch and wind down a bit, a handful of ponies approached with wonder and curiosity. One of the elder ones said, “I never thought it could be true. Is this real? Are the legends true?”
The pair just nodded as she said, “You’ve come back to us. You’ve come back to us!”
She was in tears now, and they were all being crowded a bit, but they were all asking questions, learning more about them, and were pleased to hear that Ruffle and Dusty Feathers had been their parents. They knew who they were, and realized that, of those so marked, they were the ones that seemed to keep to the legends the closest. Indeed, they all wanted to learn the Bardic ways, and indeed, they wanted to see the order reemerge. The pair smiled and mingled with them as Celestia watched with joy. Twilight said, “A bit for your thoughts?”
“Twilight, be ready,” answered Celestia, “As the twins sang in one of their songs tonight,” and she sang, “For the times, they are a changing.”