This story follows Murder at the Rarity Boutique and features a character from Bridges and Guides, but it can also stand alone nicely.
The Jamboree is an ancient tradition, and the Apples are one of the few families who still maintain it. But one year, a stranger appears with a silver-strung guitar who also remembers the old ways… as well as histories behind some of the songs that even Granny Smith and Princess Twilight don’t know. Inspired by Magpie Pony’s Son of Princess Luna video.
(Chronology note: this story takes place during season six, after that years’ Nightmare Night.)
It continues in Jamboree Aftermath.
(Content note: contains conversational references to violence and murder.)
Chapters (3)
Nice job mate. I look forward to reading the rest.
Word of advice, triple check your writing. Found a couple errors.
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Thanks on all counts. 8{D~
Well Babs is a member of the CMC so thinking logically is typically right out the window. I hope she gets a good scolding when she goes home, but is more then ready when she older and can do this again hopefully.
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*nods* Oh, I think the scoldings will begin well before she gets home...
Beautiful work. It's always nice to see a more mystical approach in a world where the magic often seems to be more a science than an art (when it isn't being a crapshoot.
) Thank you for it.
Wow... the approach of autumn and ancient lore have their own magic, and you capture that amazingly. And I have a weakness for slowly building fic-verses to begin with. Looking forward to reading the rest!
(Though did you imply that Babs was still looking for her cutie mark? She got hers before the CMC even did.)
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I did. In this universe, she is still looking for it.
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Thank you both. When I wrote this, I wasn’t certain that it would work for anyone else but me... both for the more mystical approach and for the inclusion of music into a strictly visual medium. I am very glad the tale worked for you.
Wow, I could hear the music while reading. That is impressive. Bards Rule!
Wait, so John is the (turned good) Mister Loden of this universe?
I loved those references to the ballads from the stories like Stagger Lee and The Murder Bull, as well as to events from the stories themselves like 'Little Black Train'.
Oh, so you've read A. Merritt as well? I love his work! One of the best fantasy/lost race authors who ever set pen to paper.
I don't know if you're aware, but several of his books have been reprinted lately. There's a big expensive edition of The Moon Pool from Altus Press, complete with the original Virgil Finlay illustrations. And Armchair Press has reprinted The Face in the Abyss, with illos; and the same can he said for the (hopefully) still available Ship of Ishtar courtesy of Planet Book at Paizo.
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*perk*
No, I didn’t know that...
Yay, more books!
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Thank you. I’m glad the references worked. I will confess, I quietly hope now and then that someone might read this tale, and then check out MWW’s books afterwards, and/or some of the historical ballads. One can always hope.
As for Miss Vandy’s tale... my intended meaning had been that John had dealt with the villain himself, in a rather final fashion.
But you know, now that you mention it, a reformed Mister Loden would make for an interesting character on his own somewhere, wouldn’t he?
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🎼
I’m glad! And yes, they so do!
Typo: a "cantor" is a singer, a "canter" is a pony gait.
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Yeah, that figures.
Also: corrected. Thank you.
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I think you meant this comment for something else?
I really enjoyed this one.
The Lord of the Dance was quite moving. It brought back some fond memories. The melody is well known, but the lyrics most people think of when they hear it (assuming I am correct and you were riffing on the popular Christian hymn, which as far as I know was actually written in 1969? Its incredibly popular here in Britain in school assemblies and younger church's especially at Easter, where the lyrics are particularly resonating.
When you're an adult, religion is complicated. Some grow out of it, deciding there is no value in it. Even those that retain it, or come to it later life, are forced to contend with the notion that real life is messy, complicated, and sometimes faith can make something more complicated than simple. Usually we've experienced something that challenges faith, such as a bereavement, or tragedy, or some powerful moment. And of course, God remains silent.
Not when you're a kid at school or church though. Then your faith - or lack thereof - is simple. You trust that someone has all the answers. Its a song I have fond memories of.
I know in this universe, the Alicorn Sisters seem determined not to be worshiped as deities; but it nevertheless seems appropriate that the Son of one of those who are nevertheless worshipped as such, be the Lord of the Dance. Especially the Son of as a character as broken and flawed as Luna. I daresay the Lord of the Dance, would have had something to say to her following the Tantebus Incident. That doesn't seem like it would fit the personal philopshers of the someone who embodies the love of joy and life. I imagine he would have words for his mother.
My favourite verses to the lyrics of the original song, at least the version I knew, were the ones which were about the sadder, darker events; juxtaposed with the joyous song, and bouncing metre. That reminder that even in the worst times, life goes on.
In the spirit of that, I tried my hand at imagining a few of what those verses might look like in this universe, though it wasn't terribly great. I think your choices - the finding of the dance in simple moments, in work, in love, in companionship, works better than specific moments in history, but nevertheless, here they are.
I danced a Midsummer when the Sun turned dark
Its hard to dance with a Nightmare in your heart
the sun dreamed of her days with the sister she loved
the moon dreamed of the dance as she slept above;
I danced through forest and I danced through the town
I danced in the ruins when the Nightmare was struck down
I danced as the sisters, they both shed tears
For they could dance again nere a thousand years
I also find it ironic, that the one who wrote the song, Sydney Carter, said the following of the song (if you'll forgive the whimsy - I know you weren't putting it in an especially religious frame);
It is fun to think, that in all the worlds, even in stories, that spirit of love, life, merriment, that pounding beat of life, moving forwards with purpose and joy, is embodied somewhere.
I really enjoyed this one. Nice work.
Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed this one as much as you did. It’s always tricky writing about music and I’m glad this worked for you.
I especially love that you felt inspired to add verses for this world’s Lord of the Dance. I envision the Ponish version to be constantly changing and growing, and you added to that idea beautifully!
When I was born, my mother was was an old-school Dianic Wiccan. She converted to Russian Orthodoxy when I was about eight or nine. I tend to associate with the Lord of the Dance with the Green Man, with Bacchus, with the Oak King and the Holly King... and, yes, with the Christ, as well. It is, after all, a song about rejuvenation, about the joy and sorrow and eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
The question of “worship” is a thorny one in my Equus timelines, as you rightly point out. There may be no priesthoods or temples, but when a godlike being stands before you - and has across untold millennia - at what exact point does reverence and adoration become worship? Are the rituals of court become a form of worship? Is the Summer Solstice Celebration a religious rite? I think the Sisters technically manage to avoid being worshipped through their avoidance of sacrifice... but can the same be said for the Lord of the Dance? Perhaps, or perhaps not. But ultimately, he simply is who he is, and the old rascal’s love of music extols his love of life.
(As an aside, there is a story I wrote with him as the main character here, if you like, or you can skip to the continuities’ start here.)
Alas, while Luna’s son can move very quickly, he cannot teleport. And news travels to him no more quickly than anypony else. (And also, he gets a wee bit distracted sometimes.) But rest assured, I have plans for discussions betwixt the two of them in a story occurring shortly after this one... and between other family members as well.
Even without catching the references, this was still a magical story. I should really look up some of these songs and stories.
Also, Lord of the Dance...seems like quite possibly one of the best song ideas ever. I found myself analyzing much the same as Twilight and came to the following conclusion: its basically like Down By the Bay.
A) Everyone grows up learning slightly different verses to the song and the way the song is structured, all verses are correct.
B) Verses made up on the spot are also correct, as long as they fit the structure.
C) The Bard's magic comes from inspiring. No one was forced to continue singing and dancing. They were inspired to continue. Inspired to the point that no one realizes just how tired they are. Potentially dangerous, yes, but wielded properly, as it was here, it brings nothing but good to all involved.
Was there a particular tune playing in your head as you wrote any of these? I'm a sucker for music. Especially music that tells stories.
EDIT: disregard this last bit. I found your appendix of info
Vandy Vandy
Found one. I like this version a lot.
Man...Lord of the Dance with a full country band like you described...yeah I don't think I'd stop dancing either.
Okay finished the playlist. First, thank you for that. It really brought the party to life in my head. Not that it wasn't already.
Second...I have a lot of feelings about every song I just listened to. I'm not gonna go through them. But I understand Applebloom's fatigue with sad/scary songs. I also understand the desire to share them and pass them on. They are just as culturally important as the happy songs.
Third, Nellie's Golden Hair was a brick to the face. That is all.
This version of Vandy Vandy might fit more with the setting of the story.
And another version
And another.
I haven't found Murder Bull yet, though.
And because I'm going down this road, I thought I'd share this.
It has nothing to do with the story, but I feel like anyone enjoying these other songs will enjoy this one. Just want to share the love.
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Ooo, yes. That’s grand! Thank you for sharing it!
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You are wonderful!
(How did I not find any of these in my searches? Oh, well...
)
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Well, if I'm seeing the dates correctly, it looks like they were posted around the same time as your story. So it's possible you just missed it or something
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Very possibly.
It was cool seeing "hijo de la luna" be incorporated into your alt universe!
I remember that in the Spanish-speaking brony community there were a lot of fan videos featuring it and Luna.
some of the video links have been taken down or no longer work
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Curses. Thank you for telling me; I will correct that when / if I can. Updates to follow.
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Update: They should work now. I'll try to update the YouTube playlist later. Please let me know if you run into any other problems.