It was the night of the Dune Dog Runner's (yup, still thinking about changing that name) show at the club known as Vagrancy. The name hadn't painted a great picture on Sunset Shimmer's mind, especially when they had to go through a fairly rank smelling alleyway and down some stairs behind a building. But now that she was actually here, she had to admit that she was totally wrong!
The entire interior had an industrial style, with metal walkways and exposed piping out of the brick walls, the place had obviously been sound proofed since while there had been no sound outside, inside it felt like everything around her was vibrating, the sound traveling through everything. It made the crowd on the dance floor move, bathed in the various neon and flashing lights that made the graffiti artwork on the wall look all the more wild and beautiful. There were couches and chairs around tables where people sat, a well stocked bar off in the corner that had servers go around with drinks. There was even an indoor half pipe where people moved back and forth on skate boards, roller blades and she even saw a couple people with bikes!
Whether it was the music or just the environment, Sunset Shimmer felt ready to launch herself over the railing and join everyone on the dance floor! But for now she had to help Jackie and the others move the equipment backstage, knowing they had very little time before their showing. Originally she had come along as support for Jackie, they still hadn't figured out how to control her from going into Pony Mode (Jackie had insisted switching to that, saying she would use Pony Breaker if she got a special move or something), but now she had a feeling that the rest of the band was just as nervous.
"Dios Mio, I'm gonna upchuck!"
Yup, definitely nervous.
"Hey, it's going to be fine."
Sandy and Bobby had also come along to both help move the equipment but also to stay as moral support. Both their schedules had been clear for new years and this was important to their friends after all.
"Come on guys! We gotta' focus! If we're a hit then the Dune Dog Runners will finally be the band everyone will be talking about!"
While Jackie sounded confident, a glance down and Sunset Shimmer could see that the woman's right knee was shaking. Very badly. To the point that she was surprised the other hadn't lost her balance and collapsed. Even Poppy, the normally stoic drummer, had crossed her arms very tightly and looked a bit pale. She had seen this before, mainly with Fluttershy back during the Battle of the Bands at CHS and it would of been more surprising if the three hadn't been nervous.
"COME ON! We're the Dune Dog Runners! Yeah maybe we played smaller venues before but we kicked like, ten kinds of ass at those venues! We were nervous then but we all know when we hit that stage we're gonna rock this out and punch our nerves in the throat! RIGHT?!"
This seemed to help the other two some, Tino and Poppy both nodding and verbally agreeing, not as bombastically as Jackie but some confidence could be heard in their voices.
"Damn right! Now let's get out there, set up, and rock this crowd's collective faces off!"
With a resounding 'yeah!', Tino and Poppy headed to the stage to set up their instruments, Jackie hanging back when Sunset Shimmer placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Jackie..."
"I know... I'll try to hold back but I don't know if I can. I mean, maybe I won't go into Pony Mode this time?"
As hopeful a thought as that was, Sunset Shimmer just didn't know. They had tried to figure this out but the only thing that seemed to work was if Jackie held back when she played. The downside to that was that her music didn't sound as good as compared to if she put her whole heart into it and that could easily factored into whether the band would be well received by the crowd. Yet there was nothing more that could be done and Jackie took to the stage with the rest of her band. As much as Sunset Shimmer would have wanted to go and join the crowd on the dance floor, she stood off to the side of the stage, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
"You know, they will catch you one day Jean Valjean."
"What?"
"Sorry, with the movie that came out years ago I always think that to be the easiest play reference people will understand."
While Bobby had gone to join the crowd, Sandy had stuck behind without Sunset Shimmer realizing it. Of course Sunset Shimmer had seen the movie (Rarity had always raved about wanting to go see the play on Bridleway and had been a bit obsessed for awhile) and read the book, both of which she found a little dense but could understand the reference and what Sandy was trying to imply.
"You have brought something major to the world Sunset Shimmer and you were a big part of your former friend's lives. It is not something you will be able to escape. And I think that the sooner you stop hiding, the sooner you will be much happier."
"And you know this how?"
"Oh with all the stories I have read? All of the lives I have studied and been prepared to act out? My own experiences seeing someone close to me have to run and lie? I would like to think I know what I am talking about. All the world is a stage, Sunset Shimmer, and I am afraid you are too major a player in it for the spotlight to shine on someone else."
With one last smile, Sandy left to join Bobby in the crowd as Sunset Shimmer mulled over her words. She liked to think she could hide forever, that she could pull it off. But now with Jackie being able to go into Pony Mode... would that mean she would have to cut herself off entirely from others? She was taken out of her thoughts, however, when Jackie greeted the crowd and then they began to play. Sunset had listened through their CDs, enough that she recognized the songs, knew enough of the lyrics and had thought they were pretty good. Yet as they progressed through their songs, Sunset Shimmer realized that she wasn't being moved by the music as she usually was and saw the crowd was more or less the same way. She could see the confidence of Tino and Poppy wavering, Jackie as stiff as a board while she played and looking conflicted.
When the guitarist glanced over to her, Sunset Shimmer hesitated a moment before shaking her head. It seemed that the motion had been wasted though, as Jackie squared her shoulders and prepared for the next song. Suddenly Jackie kicked out, hitting the opening chords hard and catching the attention of everyone on the dance floor. Soon the crowd was getting as into it as Jackie, the energy in the room immediately picking up as she put her entire being into playing. Sunset Shimmer's hopes rose as for most of the song there was no trace of magic!
And then those hopes were horribly dashed as not only a silver light appeared around Jackie, but a lime green light around Tino as he rocked out on his bass and a pale grey lavender around Poppy! Their hair grew to short pony tails, Poppy having ash grey wings and pony ears while Tino's were the color of cream. Both hands covered her mouth as Sunset Shimmer watched the three finish out the last notes, not noticing what had happened until they heard the deafening silence from the crowd. Jackie reached up and felt her pony ears and soon both Tino and Poppy noticed their new body parts as well.
"Uhhhh..."
There was a rising murmur going through the crowd, Sunset Shimmer could see phones coming out and all three of her friends on stage slowly starting to panic. The three felt the urge to run but how far could they get like this?! And who knew if they could recover their equipment afterwards!? Sunset Shimmer could see that they had no idea what to do and thus took a deep breath before heading out onto stage and getting to the microphone.
"Everyone! They're special effects! It's all part of the show!"
Catching on fast, Jackie was quick to try and back her up.
"Yeah! Totally! I mean, new gimmick, trying new things! No big deal, right?"
Despite how convincing Jackie tried to sound, there were those in the crowd who were neither high or drunk who were still highly suspicious of such an explanation. And Sunset Shimmer was feeling increasingly awkward staying on stage like this. Of course a panicked Jackie only tried harder now as an idea came to mind.
"BECAUSE. We're a whole new band now! New year, new band! We're the uh... uh... Pony Breakers!"
It took every ounce of will Sunset Shimmer had not to face palm. So much for saving that name for a special attack move!
"With our new band member, Sunset Shimmer!"
Both Sunset Shimmer and Jackie snapped their heads around to both stare and then glare at Tino. Apparently the bassist had gotten caught up in the moment, looking rather sheepish and like he just wanted to disappear into the ground. Whether it was because the crowd actually dug this change or all of the talking was killing their new years buzz, they started chanting for more music and 'booed' when Sunset Shimmer tried to get off of the stage. The red head looked helplessly to Jackie, who shrugged her shoulders in an equally helpless manner before giving a small, pleading smile. With a long, low sigh, Sunset Shimmer moved over to Jackie and whispered into her ear. The blue haired guitarist nodded and motioned for the others to follow her lead as she began to play a sort of rocking pop song, Poppy and Tino easily complimenting the tune as Sunset Shimmer sang a song she had come up with. The Pony Breaker's first song together, 'My Past is Not Today'.
Despite it being different from what had been played by the Dune Dog Runners, the crowd began to get into it. Jackie played it with enough of a rocking element that all could dance to it. Despite feeling stiff at first, Sunset Shimmer soon began to get lost into the music, the others joining her in the chorus when it came up. Soon, a sort of orange light surrounded her, the high schooler going into Pony Mode as well but there was a new addition to her form. A pair of wings that seemed to be made of fire instead of feathers like the others, making the crowd cheer at the awesome looking 'effects'.
By the end of it the crowd had been worked up into a frenzy as they cheered, Sunset Shimmer feeling like she was on top of the world. Jackie looped an arm around her shoulders and she did the same as they pumped their fists into the air in victory!
It truly was a new start to a new year.
The next day in Canterlot City, Fluttershy had managed to drag herself out of bed and head downstairs to get breakfast. Ever since Twilight Sparkle had told them Sunset Shimmer was fine but would not say where she was, she and the others had not given up in their search. But they had been completely miserable. Christmas could not lift their spirits and the new year seemed to be shaping up horribly for them so far.
After breakfast, she went online to check her mail box and see if anyone had any leads. Once word had spread through the various school groups and networks that Sunset Shimmer was innocent, Fluttershy and her friends had been trying to organize everyone to track their friend down but with no luck so far.
At the top of her mailbox was an e-mail from her friend Treehugger and the small description had said it was a video of her friend from Los Pegasus and their band. Even though she was in no mood to see what video had her friend's attention, it seemed mean to just ignore it.
However, when she clicked the link, her eyes widened in shock at what she saw. The title of the video was 'wild band Pony Breakers at Vagrancy'. Three people on stage, two women, one guy... ponying up. And soon joining them on stage to sing with them....
"Sunset?!"