Rock and Roll

by PxDnNinja

Brave New World

Rainbow Dash stood before the door of her dear friend Fluttershy. The whole walk here, and Rainbow did indeed walk instead of trying to fly as the thought of being permanently grounded still terrified her, was filled with figuring out how to talk the shy pegasus into using the vocal chords that Rainbow knew she had for a rock and roll slash metal slash whatever band. She grinned at the rest of the bands reaction to her suggestion.

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"WHAT!" Everyone in the room shouted in unison at Rainbow Dash's absurd comment.

"Hey, volume guys." Dash said, rubbing her ears, never mind she was plugged into a thousand watt amp against the wall.

"Ok Rainbow Dash. Why do you think our dear sweet Fluttershy, who can barely stand talking in front of all of us who she considers her friends, would be willing to sing for a band, potentially in front of other ponies?" Rarity said, calmly, almost chastisingly in nature. Dash just turned to look at her.

"Come on, you know she can do it. Remember the Best Young Fliers competition. You guys told me she went insane when I did the sonic rainboom. And she has that choir of birds she sings with in perfect harmony. Trust me, she is our singer. I'll just talk her into it." Dash said, taking off her guitar and sitting it on the stand they had picked up. Applejack and Rarity glanced to each other with doubting looks.

"Ah reckon you know her best, Rainbow. But just 'cause she CAN do it, don't mean she WILL do it." Applejack explained, as though it was was clear as day.

"I said trust me. I'll talk to her and convince her. You guys just move this stuff to the barn at AJ's place. It's the only spot big enough for all our equipment." Dash said, walking to the door. AJ went to complain at the volunteering of her barn without her consent, but Dash was out the door before she could form the words.

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Fluttershy was in her kitchen preparing a meal for her baby bunny Angel while wondering about Rainbow Dash. Specifically wondering how long she planned on waiting at the front door without knocking. Living so far out, she had developed a keen sense for when people approached her home, and Rainbow wasn't the most silent of walkers.

"Angel baby. Here's your food." She called to her baby, placing the salad on the table. Seconds later a small white rabbit shot across the room and to the table, looking highly upset that he had to actually come to the food instead of the other way around. Ultimately though, he softened and jumped at the food, tearing into it as though he hadn't been fed in days. Fluttershy couldn't help but giggle softly at he antics of her favorite pet, but was pulled short when there was finally a knock at the door.
"I guess she is ready to talk. I hope everything is ok." Fluttershy hovered over to the door before landing and opening it for her friend.
"Oh, hello Rainbow. Is everything alright?" Fluttershy asked in her typical fashion, just above a whisper and sounding very unsure of herself. Rainbow's expression dropped for a brief moment before she shook her head rapidly and grinned as confidently as ever.

"Hey Flutters! Yeah everything is great. I don't know if you heard, but I picked up a guitar. Twi did too and she has gotten pretty good at it!" Dash explained, the excitement in her voice obviously genuine. Fluttershy smiled at her friend and moved to allow her to step into the house. Once they were inside and seated, Fluttershy was able to get more information.

"I remember you saying you played guitar when we started Flight School together, but that was so long ago I hadn't even thought about it. You seem very excited to be back with music though." Fluttershy responded, recalling the days in flight school where they had no class, and Dash would have some loud rock music playing on her small stereo, jumping around the room like she was on stage. Typically she would go out practice flying, but on recovery days the school forbid it so the students didn't overwork their wings.

Dash smiled at the memory, surprised that Fluttershy recalled those days. She hadn't received a warm welcome at the school so didn't tend to think back to that part of her life.

"I'm more than excited. The rest of the girls and I are going to form a band! We got AJ to agree to give drums a shot, Rarity knows keyboard, and Pinkie Pie is on bass! Nearly a full band!" Dash said, her voice speeding up as she started with the details. Fluttershy followed with no problem and was joyful at the thought of her friends on stage.

Applejack drumming a steady rhythm on one of those large kits like Dash showed her, and she even saw herself and the few concerts her and Dash made it too as fillies during school. Rainbow on stage tearing it up on guitar, while Twilight was back to back with her playing an accompanying piece. Lights on Rarity as she created effects or classical sounding tones with her keyboard, and naturally a fantastic outfit for each member of the band. Pinkie jumping around matching the sounds of the drums on her large guitar. And front and center on the stage....

...wait....

"Rainbow, you said 'nearly' full?" Fluttershy asked, sinking a bit in her seat. She had always been very shy, but she was very quick to put pieces together, and given what Rainbow knew about her, she had a feeling she knew where this conversation was going. Rainbow looked at her, and simply nodded. Rainbow knew she would put it together as well.

"Yeah, that's why I'm here Flutters. We need vocals, and I KNOW you can do it. I have heard you sing before, just the two of us. You have a voice that can work wonders, and we need that." Rainbow explained, a pleading look in her eyes. Fluttershy finished her signature 'hide in my hair' maneuver.

"I can't do that Rainbow. All the ponies watching, it would be too much. Besides, my voice isn't any good." Fluttershy whispered, but Rainbow had learned to listen well to her friend.

"Oh, come on Fluttershy. We aren't going to perform in front of people for a long time, if at all. Just playing around in AJs barn, so no one will even accidentally hear it. And what are you talking about, you have fantastic vocals!" Rainbow explained, trying to ease her friends nerves while upping her self esteem. Fluttershy peaked her eye out of her hair, looking at her confident friend.

"Oh no. I can barely raise my voice, much less sing. Even with my animals, I just provide them a note to follow." She explained, feeling that was proof beyond proof that she couldn't sing. Unfortunately she also knew Rainbow wouldn't let her escape that easily.

"Nonsense. Look, let me prove it to you. Imagine your choir of birds are right here, Give them a simple song to sing." Rainbow said, grabbing Fluttershy's shoulders and facing her to a wall, with Dash beside her. Fluttershy looked at the wall and imagined her bird friends on a tree in front of her.

"Ok. ahem. Ahhh Ehh Ahhh Ohhh Ahhh." Fluttershy nodded and sang. The notes were clear, beautiful, but very quiet. Dash nodded as though it was perfect.

"See, you can sing. Only problem is, your friends aren't on a tree in front of you. They are on a tree fifty hooves away. How can they hear you?" Dash asked, as though it were a serious problem. Fluttershy looked her friend in the eye.

"I would fly over to them so they could hear." She answered, simply. Dash smacked herself in the face with her hoof before continuing.

"Nono, you can't move from this spot. Now try again with that thought in mind." Dash explained, remembering the time she tried to get Flutters to cheer louder and louder. Fluttershy looked scared, but nodded, and closed her eyes. Her friends needed to hear her, and they were so far away. She knew this was imagined, but she couldn't help but worry she would let her friends down, and with just Rainbow here, she knew no one would ridicule her poor vocals. Taking a deep breath, she finally sang out...

"Wooo Ohhhh ohh Ahhh ahhh Ohh ohh Yaa yaa yaa! Wooo hooo oh yaaa yea yea YEAAA YEA YEAA!"

Dash's eyes shot wider than anyone had ever seen. She knew her friend could sing, but to hit such clean high notes was something only professional singers did from Dash's experience. Suddenly she was concerned that her own guitar playing wasn't good enough to keep up with this paragon of vocals. Fluttershy meanwhile simply opened her eyes and saw Dash's frozen reaction.

"See, I told you I wasn't very good." She said, turning to walk away. Dash grabbed her before she could move far and turned her back suddenly, looking directly in her eyes.

"Flutters?! How in the world have I not known you were such a fantastic singer?! That was absolutely amazing! You HAVE to join the band! You know I would never lie to you, and you are truly great!" She said, almost sounding like Pinkie Pie with how excited and fast she was talking.

Fluttershy was shocked. She indeed knew Rainbow would never lie to her, and so she trusted her dear friend when she claimed her vocals were good. But she was claiming more than that. Rainbow was claiming she was amazing. No one had called her amazing at anything before. Even her clients that came buy for help with animals said she was gifted or just really good with animals. If she was amazing at something, maybe it was worth trying. Besides, her friend said no one would be around to hear it.

Other than all the ponies she held dear...

Rainbow could see the process of what to do going on in her friends eyes. She was about to say yes, but something was scaring her.

"I promise you Flutters, everyone will love your voice, and if you feel uncomfortable, you can always quit. Just give it a shot, for yourself if nothing else. You love the world of your animals. Maybe you will love this new world as well.." Dash said as a final volley to get Fluttershy on her side. If this didn't work she would have to leave and find a new strategy. She couldn't go back to the group after failing.

"Ok. I'll try. You girls have always helped me, and I trust you Rainbow. I'll do it." Fluttershy finally said, deciding it was worth a shot. Her eyes had a look of determination that Rainbow recognized. Fluttershy was doing this for herself, to prove she could and to fight against her shy nature. After a moment of silence, Dash exploded.

"YEAH! WOO HOO!" Jumping up and down, Dash pumped her arms in the air and celebrated as Fluttershy quietly giggled at the display. If nothing else, she had made Dash happy, and who knows, this could be fun.

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"Well, that'll work well over 'ere." Applejack said to Twilight, who floated a large amp against the wall AJ pointed at. The crew had spent the last couple of hours setting up the barn with the new band equipment. Applejack at first had wanted to argue against it, but after Dash had left before she could, she figured if nothing else being at the farm would stop passing ears from hearing them while they either learned how to play, or just in general destroyed what should be good music.

"ThisIsSoAwesome!ICan'tWaitToFinallyPlay!IHopeDashGet'sFluttershyToSayYes!" Pinkie Pie was bouncing around the barn, barely containing her excitement at what they were doing. With the final plugs connected, Twilight threw the master switch to power all the equipment.

A loud pop announced the power hitting the instruments, then a very low hum that they were ready to make some noise. Rainbow Dash's and Twilight's guitars were on the small stage they had thrown together from spare wood that was stored behind the barn, right next to the drum kit that Applejack picked up on their way back to the farm. Rarity had her keyboard dusted off and set up to the right, and sitting next to it was the bass guitar Pinkie had claimed to own. They even picked up a mic for whoever ended up singing. Twilight had her doubts on Fluttershy, as did the rest of the group except Pinkie Pie, but no matter what, they would make sure the shy pegasus had a spot if she indeed joined them.

"Sounds like everything is set up and working." Twilight said, noticing no problems. Walking over to where AJ stood beside a large barrel of Apple Family Hard Cider, she checked the power connections one last time.
"Yep, we are good to go. Just need the rest of our band." She announced. As if summoned by the unicorns powers, there was a thump at the front door as it swung open, revealing Rainbow Dash with a triumphant grin.

"Hey Girls! I'm back, and I bring our new singer!" Dash swung the other door open and there stood Fluttershy in all her lead singer magnificence: slightly cowering and partly hiding in her hair.

"Hi girls." She whispered, but smiled.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: WELL, LOOKS LIKE THE BAND IS TOGETHER. LET'S SEE WHAT TROUBLE, OR AWESOME ADVENTURES, THEY CAN GET INTO.

THIS VIDEO WAS PART OF MY INSPIRATION FOR THIS WHOLE FANFIC. THE PART IN THIS CHAPTER WHERE FLUTTERSHY BLOWS RAINBOW'S MIND IS MEANT TO HAVE HER SOUNDING SOMEWHAT LIKE THIS. ENJOY.

Comments

[PxDnNinja]

Just updating: Currently working on the next chapter. Sorry it has been a while, crunch time at work kicked in and I had to get my chapter for Of Loyalty and Chaos ready to upload. Next day or so we should see what the band is up to

In the mean time, feel free to submit name ideas for the band