Rondo stood upon the smooth boards of a curtained stage. A small bow adhered itself on his neck and black tuxedo adorned itself onto his body. He inhaled a deep breath through his nostrils and exhaled through his mouth.
“Lookin’ alright there, Rondo?”
Rondo turned towards his left, where he saw Applejack and a light blue-coated earth pony mare with a black and electric blue-striped coiled mane and tail walked up the stairs towards the stage. Rondo smiled and flew towards the duo.
“Applejack! And… some other mare I don’t know!” Rondo exclaimed.
The mare and Applejack both shared a glance. The mare then looked into Rondo’s eyes with her light blue eyes.
“It is a wonderful pleasure to meet a friend of AJ’s. My name is Coloratura, but you can just call me Rara.” Coloratura introduced.
“Rara, eh? What brings you out to Club Chitin with Applejack tonight?” Rondo asked.
Coloratura pointed towards her flank, which displayed an image of a golden star with a bright-colored musical note on each point.
“I’m a regular audience member here at Club Chitin, but I hope to make a singing debut soon.” She explained.
“So… why did Applejack bring you up here?” Rondo asked with a voice steeped in curiosity.
Coloratura tilted her head to her left and a slight blush of red overcame her face. She rubbed her left front hoof with her right front hoof.
“Well… the thing is that I’m a huge fan of all of your performances here, Rondo. Whenever I see your name in Club Chitin’s program, I always try to get the front seat. AJ is a childhood friend of mine, and I she said that she knows you. So, I begged her to bring me backstage.” She explained.
Rondo blinked once and smiled.
“I didn’t think I had any fans.” He responded. “But why didn’t you just come up here and visit me?”
Applejack took three steps towards Rondo’s airspace and leaned her mouth towards Rondo’s head. She brought her right front hoof towards the left side of her mouth, walling the space between Rondo and Applejack from Coloratura.
“Rara’s, well… she’s a bit sheltered… okay, she’s really sheltered.” Applejack explained. “She doesn’t even know that we are in a war of survival.”
Rondo’s eyes shot opened and he hovered backwards.
“Yikes! How’s that possible to ignore?” Rondo asked.
“I’m not allowed to go into specifics, but her caretaker did a really good job at convincing her about there being no war in Neo Canterlot.” Applejack responded.
“And you didn’t tell her about the war why?”
“I did, several times already. Every time, she made a big fuss out of it and called me a liar. I would prove it to her, but I don’t want to put any unnecessary danger out for her.”
Coloratura glanced towards Applejack and Rondo with a worried frown on her face.
“Excuse me, but is everything alright here AJ? You seem to be whispering about something.” She asked.
Applejack split from Rondo and wore a forced smile on her face. She giggled with a nervous shiver of her body.
“Everything is peachy like an apple, Rara.” Applejack responded.
Carapace walked onto the stage with a hurried gait in his step. He zoned in towards Applejack and Coloratura.
“Rondo! You’re about to open tonight up in about a night. Please ask these ladies here to rejoin the audience, lest they would want to interfere with your performance.” He requested.
“I don’t want to sound pushy, but you heard what Councilman Carapace said.” Rondo said with a sheepish tone. “Tonight is my big performance, and I can get scouted to do a song in a future piece of media!”
“Wow!” Coloratura exclaimed. “I really hope you get your big break, Rondo.”
“Thanks.” Rondo uttered out.
Applejack and Coloratura walked down the stairs and exited the stage. Carapace placed his right front hoof on Rondo’s spine and rubbed it up and down.
“You don’t need to worry, Rondo. I’m absolutely sure that you will do a good job.”
“Yeah… I hope so.” Rondo muttered out.
Carapace walked off the stage, leaving Rondo alone underneath the dim light. Hoof taps against a microphone sounded out through the entire club.
“Ladies and gentlemen of all ages and races; thank you for spending your evening here at Club Chitin. Opening for you today is a singer whose voice and form is quickly capturing the hearts of those that set their focus on him. He is the Chatot with a soulful voice. Give a warm round of applause for Rondo!” The intercom announced.
The velvet curtains lifted up, revealing Rondo perched upon a metallic stick. The audience resonated with a series of clops and claps, bringing a warming ease over Rondo. He smiled and cleared his throat.
“Thank you for the warm applause, Club Chitin. With my time spent with this club, I felt a certain level of connection with you all. That is why I have a special song written for you all.” He declared.
A yellow-coated earth pony stallion with a black mane and tail trotted from the back and onto the stage. A twelve-piped pan flute hung upon a black strap around his torso. He revealed his yellow eyes towards the audience and waved with a smile on his face. He pulled out his pan flute and brought it to his mouth. He shut his eyes and blew into the pipes, bringing forth a soothing melody that spread throughout the club. Rondo shut his eyes and retained his smiled.
“Ooooooohhhhhh~ my life is just a breeeeze,
Swaaaaaying in its winds that freeeeze,
Wrapped in a bitter maelstrom,
Nobody listens to meeeee,
Ooooohhhhhh~ the time within this squall,
Loooooking down in free fall,
I don’t want to blow up,
Just wake me uuuuup~!
A little friendship is most neeeeded,
A little friendship goes a loooong way,
Defeat is what I conceded,
But your life in my presence I say nay~
Woooon’t~ you open up for hugs?
I need to feel the warmth of snugs.
Ooooooohhhhhh~ my life is just a breeeeze,
Swaaaaaying in its winds that freeeeze,
Wrapped in a bitter maelstrom,
Nobody listens to meeeee,
Well I have a voice that is aaaaactive~
No more tears, it’s radioaaaaactive~
Caaaaan you hear my sad song?
Please don’t be wrong
Please be my friend.”
Rondo glanced towards the audience and glanced upon all of their smiles. Another wave of applause sounded throughout the crowd. Applejack and Coloratura blew into their front hooves, firing a loud whistling noise from their seats.
A gray-coated earth pony stallion with a strawberry pink frizzled mane and tail flashed a cold stare into Rondo’s eyes with his brown eyes and frowned. Rondo’s soul yelped at the stare of the stallion and felt his nerves going cold. The continued cheering of the crowd defrosted his nerves, allowing his body to bow with his right wing extended.
Rondo flew from the back door of the club and into the cool and starry night. He inhaled from his beak, taking in the chilled air into his lungs. He shook his head and shrugged his wings.
“That stallion with Applejack and Coloratura gave me the creeps! Just… who was that guy?” He asked himself.
“Speaking about me?” A voice from behind Rondo called out.
Rondo shrieked and turned around, jumping at the sight of the gray-coated stallion that directed a grimace towards him.
“Oh… ummm, hello. Who… who are you?”
The stallion straightened out the red tie wrapped around the collar of his blue suit and approached Rondo with unreadable eyes.
“My name is Svengallop, former manager hailing from what used to be Manehatten. Correct me if I am wrong, but you are the opening singer?” Svengallop introduced.
“Yes… I was. Is there a reason why you asked?” Rondo asked with creeping suspicion trailing up his tail feathers.
“As a matter of fact, there is. You see, my Countess Coloratura is absolutely infatuated with your singing. She begs me to come to this drab club every time she sees your name on the program.” Svengallop explained.
“Wait, you are Rara’s caretaker?” Rondo asked.
Svengallop’s eyes widened at the notion of Rondo’s words. He shook his head with disgust and redoubled the efforts in his stare.
“Do not make it sound like I am some sort of nanny or foster parent. I practically lost my job since all of the other performers under me all died during the excursion to this city. Countess Coloratura, a potential singer who I was going to have underneath my contract, is the only performer I have left. So, I keep her happy, safe and nourished as an… investment.” He explained.
“Alright, but why are you referring to her as ‘Countess’ Coloratura? I thought she preferred to be called ‘Rara’.” Rondo asked with doubt swinging back and forth between his eyes.
“Because one day, she is going to be a brilliant star!” Svengallop responded with a star-struck voice and his right front hoof in the air. “She needs to have an image and title of grandiose to match her talent. This brings me to you.”
Rondo looked upon the unnerving grin on Svengallop’s face. His body began sweating bullets and the cool air around him became thick with heat and moisture. He pulled on the necktie around his neck.
“What do I have to do with this situation?” He stammered out.
“I know you are a H.O.R.S.E. operative, Rondo. I want you and your thoughts of the war to keep away from my budding star.” Svengallop explained. “The Countess has absolutely no knowledge of what happens outside, and anyone that explains to her otherwise will just get denied.”
“So… wouldn’t she just call me a liar if I even tell her about the war?” Rondo asked with narrowed eyes.
Svengallop walked towards Rondo’s right side and wrapped his left front hoof around his body. Rondo felt his nerves paralyze underneath the stallion’s uncomfortable touch.
“This is where her fanaticism towards you becomes a problem; she is much more willing to believe anything you say to her even over her best friend Applejack and myself. That’s a problem, because if she adds the variables together, then she is going to reject me, get herself maimed or worse and I will lose all of my performers. So, don’t tell her anything about the outside world and its problems, unless you want to face some grim consequences.” Svengallop threatened.
“Your threats are empty and you know it.” Rondo called out.
Svengallop shut his eyes and raised his head in a haughty manner.
“Maybe they are, but I still know some very powerful Equusians. If you cross paths with me by interfering with my budding singer’s life, then I can guarantee that your body will be grilled and served to connoisseurs of the highest order. I wonder how you will taste.” Licking his lips with a devilish stare directed into Rondo’s eyes, he stated.
Rondo felt Svengallop’s hoof rub down his spine, dusting forth a numbing electric wave throughout his body. Svengallop patted Rondo’s back three times and walked away with a confident grin on his face. Rondo looked forwards and his eyes and cheeks froze over in fear.
Applejack and Coloratura walked out of the front doors of the club with wide-eyed smiles on their faces. Coloratura glanced towards Applejack, where her smile widened into a grin.
“Thanks for coming with me and Svengallop tonight, AJ. It really meant the world to me.” She thanked.
Applejack shook her head and shut her eyes. Her smile became modest.
“I’m always happy to accompany you, Rara. Those singers all had such nice voices.” She stated.
“I know right?! Even then, it’s clear that Rondo stood above the others because of the little things he did to bring his song into an ethereal level with that pan flute.” Coloratura replied with an excited tone.
“Rara, I need to ask; why do you like Rondo’s singing so much?” Applejack asked with a hint of curiosity in her tone. “I know he’s good, but it’s not something to obsess over.”
Coloratura looked up towards the starry curtains of the night and saw a brilliant star in the sky.
“Rondo’s voice just… awakens something within me. His singing reminds me that there is much more to life than being in Neo Canterlot. It kind of awakens some memories.” She explained.
Applejack frowned and shied her head away from Coloratura. Feeling her front fetlocks getting cold with anxiety, she rubbed them.
“There isn’t much to the outside world, Rara. The world is locked in a war of survival, and this city is the only thing we have left.”
Coloratura set a fiery stare into Applejack’s eyes and pounded her right front hoof into the ground.
“Stop lying to me, AJ!” She shouted. “Of course we have more to this world than Neo Canterlot. There is no such thing as war, and we are all living here in peace and harmony.”
“I ain’t lyin’, Rara. Take it from somepony who’s been working at H.O.R.S.E. for years now; lives of operatives are lost constantly, my older brother went insane and died and the cities are just heaps of dirt and ruins. What would I have to gain from lying to you, Rara?”
Coloratura huffed out a gust of frustrated air and turned her head away from Applejack.
“Because you’re jealous that you won’t be a famous singer like I would be one day? Svengallop says that I’m a shoo-in to be a big shot singer soon.”
Applejack’s jaw dropped at the sound of Coloratura’s claim.
“No! Not at all! That stallion’s doing nothing but stroking your ego so that you couldn’t see the real truth outside of these walls!”
Coloratura glanced towards Applejack with a reluctant frown on her face.
“Well fine! If you are so sure that there is a war against this city, then I would invite you to take me out of this city Applejack.” She stated with an angry tone.
“Fine! Maybe I will!” Applejack answered back.
The two mares directed their heads away from each other and walked in split directions. Frustration encompassed their hoofsteps.
A new day fell over the city’s horizon. Rondo flew into the Civilian Request Center and roosted upon the front desk. The reception griffon, Sharp Beak, glanced upon Rondo with a cheery smile on her face. Rondo held his right wing out and bowed.
“Good morning, Sharp Beak. How is my favorite griffon doing today?” He asked.
“I’m doing very well and you?” Sharp Beak asked.
“Besides a bit of an upsetting encounter with a certain someone, I have been doing well. So, what requests are available today?”
Sharp Beak’s talons typed into a holographic keyboard. A single blue-colored hologram appeared between Rondo and Sharp Beak.
“I was only able to pull up this request, Rondo. Based off of its blue color, it should be a simple one to start the day with. The request also seems innocent enough.” Grabbing the hologram with her talons and pushing it towards Rondo’s face, Sharp Beak answered.
Rondo glanced upon the hologram and narrowed his eyes. Upon seeing Coloratura’s name upon the client name section, his heart stopped dead. He shook his head and frowned.
“Nuh-uh! I’m not doing this!” He shouted.
“Is there something the matter, Rondo?” With a frown forming on her face, Sharp Beak inquired.
“Are you sure you don’t have any other requests available at this time, Sharp Beak?” Rondo whined.
Sharp Beak shook her head and shrugged her shoulders with apologetic glimmers in her eyes. Rondo sighed and touched a silver emblem upon the torso of his suit. A blue light emerged from it and engulfed the holographic request. Rondo looked upon Sharp Beak with a frown on his face. Sharp Beak smiled and patted Rondo’s shoulder.
“There, there, Rondo; do not be afraid. What’s the worst that could possibly happen in this request that you are not prepared to handle?” She asked.
“Getting grilled and served as a delicacy, that’s what.” Rondo replied.
Sharp Beak smiled and petted Rondo’s head.
“You can be too adorable at times, you know Rondo? You’ll be fine. Trust me on this.” Sharp Beak stated.
Applejack walked into the room and set her focus on Rondo and Sharp Beak. She smiled and waved.
“Howdy Rondo! Howdy Sharp Beak! Do any of you have any requests available? I’m expecting a request from Rara today.” She inquired.
Sharp Beak and Rondo shared an uneasy glance and set their sights onto Applejack.
“I think I might have that request, Applejack. It was listed as being an open request.” Rondo stated.
Applejack scowled and shook her head. She clicked her tongue.
“Seems like Rara would want any other operative to take the request besides me.” She mulled out loud.
“You know Applejack, Coloratura’s request is an inclusive-type request, meaning that multiple H.O.R.S.E. operatives can take the same request. Why don’t you join Rondo on this request?” Sharp Beak suggested.
Applejack smiled and set her sights onto Rondo.
“So Rondo, would you kindly allow me to join this request?” She asked.
“Of course! It says here that she is waiting outside the gate.” Rondo stated.
Applejack and Coloratura walked along the cragged plains of the Terraformed Wilderness. Wild shrubs of grass bristled against their hooves. Coloratura smiled and sighed with a delighted tone. She inhaled through her nose, absorbing the sweet air of wild flowers and waterfall scents.
“Now this is what I needed the most; the outside world is just as beautiful as how I imagined it!” Coloratura exclaimed.
Applejack frowned and glanced down towards the ground. Rondo, who perched himself upon the collar of Applejack’s armor, rubbed his right wing into the back of her neck.
“You still aren’t burned by Rara’s request, are you?” He asked.
Don’t worry about her, Rondo. AJ absolutely hates being wrong about something. Her pride tends to blindside her.” Coloratura stated.
“Rara, this land is still very dangerous. Even if we don’t come across the Van’Goth, there will be several creatures that’ll make a meal out of us.” Applejack responded. “Don’t get a swollen head just because of the very little chance I have of being wrong.”
Coloratura rolled her eyes and flashed a confident smile.
“Don’t worry, AJ. Nothing bad would happen at all.” She said with an assured tone.
A boisterous explosion sounded out within the distant horizon, causing the trio’s eyes to wince and their bodies to cringe. They looked towards the horizon, where a pillow of smoke touched up towards the atmosphere.
“What was that?!” Coloratura shouted.
Rondo narrowed his eyes and released his clutch on Applejack’s collar.
“I’m going to go investigate. You two stay together and try not to fight, alright?”
Saying these words, he began flapping his wings and took towards the skies, leaving Applejack and Coloratura alone. Coloratura shied her head away from Applejack, and an uneasy frown formed on her face. She scratched at the bare ground with her right front hoof. The fear of the unknown gripped at her heart, freezing her joints.
“AJ… I think I might’ve acted a bit like a jerk.” She murmured out.
Applejack’s eyes widened and she glanced towards Coloratura with curious eyes.
“Did something happen, Rara?” She asked with a voice of concern. “It ain’t like you to just up and swallow your pride.”
“AJ… if this threat actually does turn out to be the thing that I was ignorant of and we would die here, I don’t want you to die while being on bad terms with you.” Coloratura explained. “I’m sorry if I didn’t want you to receive the mission or acted like a big jerk about the situation yesterday. I really hope you can forgive me.”
Applejack smiled and brought her hooves around Coloratura’s neck. She pulled her in for a hug.
“We are all allowed to be foolish at times, Rara. That just means that you’re equine. Of course I forgive you!” She stated. “Besides, I’ll make sure you’re safe and sound. I got military training up the wazoo after all!”
Coloratura smiled and chuckled at Applejack’s optimistic statement. She split away from Applejack, where a wholehearted smile cracked along her face.
“I know. You know, I don’t think I remembered feeling this uneasy about anything before… except during that time I had to flee Manehatten.” She said.
“Wait, you actually remember that?! I thought ol’ Svengallop wiped your memory clean of that incident!” Applejack shouted.
Coloratura shook her head with shut eyes. Opening her eyes, her pupils filled with honesty.
“Svengallop didn’t do much except for helping me lie to myself. Deep inside… I knew something like this was happening. But, my consciousness didn’t want me to know about it. Hearing all of those ponies in the city scream before they were mercilessly mowed down, the fires and destruction that engulfed the city… it’s enough to traumatize anyone.”
Applejack glanced upon Coloratura with her body steeled with worry.
“Rara… I never knew you felt like that.” Rubbing the back of her neck with her right front hoof, she said. “I mean… if I knew that you were in that much shock over it, then I wouldn’t have kept prodding at you.”
Coloratura walked towards Applejack and grabbed her right front hoof with a gentle hold on it. She stared into Applejack’s green eyes and shook her head.
“You don’t need to feel worried about what you never knew, AJ. In a way, I’m kind of glad you kept bringing it up. It helped bring forth some memories that I should always carry with me.”
Applejack’s mouth broke out into a wide smile. She patted Coloratura’s upper back with her right front hoof.
“Either way, I’m glad that we still are friends, Rara.” Applejack stated.
Applejack’s watch vibrated and emanated a blue light. She stood up onto her hind legs and tapped the screen with her right front hoof. A hologram of Rondo’s panicking head appeared above it.
“Applejack! Terrible, terrible news! It’s the Van’Goth, and they got soldiers! Lots and lots of soldiers and armed vehicles! It looks like they are about to mount a full-scale invasion against the city!”
Applejack and Coloratura’s jaws dropped to the ground, and their hearts exploded with the realization of their greatest fear.
“W-what was that explosion then?!” Applejack shouted.
“From what I’ve seen, it looks like they are conducting weapons testing out here. They blew up a small mountain if I am reading these shards of stone right. I’m going to have to check out the rest of what the enemy has here.” Rondo explained.
The hologram of Rondo’s head disappeared. Applejack looked upon Coloratura’s face, where a frown of despair hung upon her face.
“A…AJ… are we going to die?” She muttered out.
Applejack shook her head with her mouth straightened out with resolve.
“We’re going to report this to H.O.R.S.E. and get you to safety as quickly as possible. Come!”
With a flood of determination overcoming her, she grasped Coloratura’s right front hoof and ran towards the opposite direction towards the walled city.