Thread 39: Stories 16-30

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>OO7
"Jetset"
'???'
~~~~

Getting down from the goop was... fun. We are going to say it was fun because oh dear ancient hivemind so vast that was horrible.

But at last, he was back on track! He had her this time too. Nothing fancy or complicated, nooo, he was simply hiding underneath the staircase, and waiting for her to pass over him as she went down. Simplicity, elegant, perfection itself. He just had to reach out, grasp it and-

And that's when her hoof suddenly shot down onto the ground, and he felt a chunk of rock shoot up from below and rocket him out from his hiding place. But, alas, we have to leave him for the briefest of moments, and travel back in time to examine another.

For you see, at the same moment he was lying in wait, another was on a eerily similar mission. A mission wherein he was preparing to end this in a single strike. He would get close enough, teleport in, grab that hair from that green, flickering tail, and prove to his Queen he was, as always, her greatest asset.

He felt his magic move him through space, replacing him just within reach of it, so close he could feel his hoof encircling it...

And that's when he noticed he was, in fact, grabbing hold of the tail on a doll. A doll with “BYE BYE!” painted across the ass. And said tail was made out of some stretchy material.

And that it was about to...

And thus, here we are. In the midst of an almost synchronized number that surely could not have been planned. A black shape rocketing one way, a white shape headed that same way, and a beautiful meeting in the middle.

Directly over the stage.

So, naturally, they fell right there, out in the open, plain view for all to see. Completely exposed, completely unable to process the horror... completely embarrassed.

And that's when the music started, and somehow, they felt like this was planned...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGZ0ntpSx2Y

To his credit, OO7 was the first to recover, actually smiling a bit as he brushed himself off, and picking up the microphone before turning and pointing to the still stunned Jetset.

>There's a stallion who leads a life of danger~ He hides himself away, not even a stranger~ With every move he makes~ Another chance he takes~ Against the best he'll be sore tomorrow...

His smile broke into a smirk.

>Secret Agent Stallion! Secret Agent Stallion! I'm the one with a number, but I'm more than just a name!

Gruffly, unwilling to be shown up, Jetset snatched the microphone from him.

“You can put on any faces that you find~ A pretty face can hide a simple mind~ Oh, be careful what you say~ Or you'll fail again this day~ Odds are you'll be hurting by tomorrow...”

He did not smirk, of course, that was beneath him but his lips did curl a bit.

“Secret Agent Stallion! Secret Agent Stallion! You're really just a number, and I won't recall your name...”

They jutted forwards, foreheads almost touching as they both sang into the mic.

>Swinging on the Fillyviera one day~ And then lurking in the Bombhay alley next day~

“Oh, don't you let the wrong words slip~ While whimpering though your lips~”

>”Odds are you'll be hurting by tomorrow!”

Subtelty slowly died as they started growling, pushing back against the other.

>“Secret Agent Stallion! Secret Agent Stallion!”

>I'm the one with a number.

“But I much prefer a name.”

The music drew to a close...

And then they abruptly tackled each other before teleporting into the distance, faint sounds of battle still barely audible even that far away...

As one, in perfect harmony, the two tallest mares in the room spoke.

'HAH!'
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

'Twilight'
"Pinkie"
-Rainbow-
>???
------------
When a dark fog rolled onto the stage accompanied by the beginnings of a song, twilight noticed pinkie throwing a small crystal onto the stage.

'Hey, isnt that a-'
"Yep! Since i knew he wouldn't be able to make it, i swiped one of your recorder crystal thingies so he could be here in spirit!"
>I know you're tired of loving, of loving~
'...'
"What?"
'You know what you did, and it was terrible.'
>With no body to love, no body, no body
'Not as terrible as this, but still pretty high up there.
>So just grab some body, no leaving this party
"Hey, i talked him out of singing the Canyon weast version, you should be thanking me."
>With no body to love, no body, no body...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD5fLb-WgBU
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>Cadence
"18"
'SA'
[Chrysalis]
~~~~

>PLEEEEEEASE!

"No."

>PPLLLLLLEEEEEASE!?

"No."

>COME ON! When else are we going to get this opportunity!?

"Nooooooo..."

'Come on, 18, she really wants to.'

"You cannot be serious."

[18! I order you, as your Queen, to get up on that stage!]

".......faust damn you to the darkest pits of the hivemind."

[Love you too! NOW MOVE!]

>YAY!

[Sigh....]

~~SECONDS LATER!~~~

>"Double double your refreshment! Double double your deliiiiight!"

'This is glorious.'

[Oh yeah.]

>"Double it, double it, come on and double it! Double mint... gum!"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>42
"Brain"
~~~~

"Okay, what's the holdup now?"

>I'm contemplating going on stage.

"...And?"

>And I am unsure if this is wise.

"Beccaaaause?"

>I am unused to public meetings wherein I have no beaten the stuffing out of a large portion of my audience, you see.

"Ah. Well, go try it?"

>...Maybe it would be best if I just hung back...

"Oh, come on! You can't let them have all the fun!"

>I absolutely can. It is a soldiers job to be hidden back until she is needed, before springing into action.

"You're just afraid!"

>I am not!

"...Okay, I didn't want to say this, but... we want to have fun, right?"

>Right?

"And we're not going up there unless you uh, 'turn me off' so to speak, right?"

>I suppose?

"...Hind leg, sixth hole from the bottom."

>...Do... do we really want to go scorched earth option already?

"Will you try without it?"

>... I suppose it would be good to actually have fun on this trip at last...

"That's the spirit! Now do it fast, that stuff'll make you blind if you keep it in your mouth."

>Okay... here goes...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>???
"SA"
'Chrysalis'
(Celestia)
[Cadence]
{18}
~Velvet~
-Nightlight-
^2^
~~~

"So, how much 'liquid courage' did she have to ingest before she tried this?"

'Better question, where did she get it?'

(And why is she not sharing?)

[You guys, come on! Be supportive!]

"I am extremely supportive, and I will likely prove it when she needs someone to hold her upright after she stumbles off the stage."

[She isn't drunk!]

{Uh... Caddy?}

[...WHERE DID SHE GET ALCOHOL!?... Oh no! Shiny! Hide!]

"What? Why- oh, right, the brutality thing."

(Who with the what now?)

'She punched him through the ceiling at the Gala.'

(Uh... huh...)

'And she's not drunk, she's just tipsy. Huge difference.'

~She has a lovely voice.~

-I think they can all have lovely voices, though?-

"That's just what she sounds like."

~Oh?~

"She sings in her sleep."

[Wakes me up all the time.]

(Have to cram pillows in my ears sometimes.)

'Ahh, you sissies! I sleep through it all the time.'

"You could sleep through a punch in the face. I state this not as hyperbole, but of fact. If someone, say, 18 punched you in the face in your sleep while screaming for you to stop hogging the covers, it would not awaken you."

{SHHHH! IXNAY!}

~...-

"What?"

-Nothing... nothing... good song choice she picked.-

>HEEEARTS ON FIIIIRE! STRONG DESIIIIRE! RAGES DEEP WITHIN! FEEEVERS RISING, HIIIIGH! THE MOMENT OF TRUTH DRAWS NEAR!

~Nice rhythm.~

^YAY 42! YOU SING BOUT HEARTS BEIN' ON FIRE!^

"..."

^...Well she is...^

~Why is she punching with the lyrics?~

"It's a facet of her many layered personality."

'She's multidimensional, you see.'

[And do not tell her otherwise.]

{She will punch you.}

"A. LOT. Did it to me so many times I still tingle.... not so much anymore, unless I'm showing her how to swim. Then she does it, but they all do, so it's no big deal."

{Sorry...}

'I'm not, it's funny.'

~...~

-...What the heck happened to your life?-

"Ask myself that everyday..."
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 NON-CANON!
>Chitania
"Spike"
'Various'
~~~~

>Huh. You know, I expected just a bit of suspicion, but nobody seems to notice...

"Hey!"

Ah! Perhaps spoken too soon, she thought to herself. The dragon she recognized from the train was waddling over to her, perhaps he was coming to test her? Hmmm, this should be fun.

"Just wanted to say, loved your performance, you have a great voice. Loved the changes to the lyrics too!"

>Oh? Well, I know a thing or two about rising high.

"Oh?"

>Oh yeah, you could say I've seen it all from the top of the sky sometimes.

"Heh, good to hear!"

...Okay, might have to push a little harder.

>Oh yeah, and I certainly know what it's like if someone feels helpless around me.

"Hey, believe it or not I can relate! It's nice to talk to someone else like this."

...really hard.

>I am a bit saddened that I couldn't fit anything about stomping in there.

"Stomping?"

>Oh yes, I love stomping things. You could say it's my calling card sometimes.

"HAH! Still a big old kid at heart, eh? Bet you used to knock over model towns when you were a kid."

..........what the fuck? They couldn't......

>Say, do you suppose they would let me sing again? There was another song I wanted to sing.

"Sure, go for it! I'm sure they won't mind."

>Nice, yes. Thank you for the praise, I will keep it in mind if we meet again under different circumstances.

"Good to hear, good luck up there!"

............come on......

Brazenly hopping up to the stage, she slammed her hoof to the selector, and started the music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRfuAukYTKg

>You shout it out... but I can't hear a word you say. I'm talking loud not saying much.... I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet... shoot me down, but I get up!

Huh. Thought she would have had to change more lyrics...

>I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose! Fire away... fire away... Ricochet, you take your aim. Fire away, fire away...

Seriously, this was creepy. Oh! Here it is, the moment she's been waiting for.

>You shoot me down but I won't fall...

With a feral smile, she leaned forward and screeched into the microphone.

>I am Chitania!

Huh. No reaction. Must've gotten drowned out in the noise?

>You shoot me down but I won't fall! I am CHITANIA!

They're... smiling?... Roll with it.

>Cut me down... but it's you who'll have further to fall. Ghost town and haunted love... raise your voice, sticks and stones can't shake my bones... I'm talking loud, not saying much.

There! That should at least get a reaction from Chrysali-... is she clapping!? So's the purple one! What the fuck!?

>I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose! Fire away... fire away... Ricochet, you take your aim. Fire away, fire away!

Okay, no more hiding it.

>You shoot me down but I won't fall! I AM CHITANIA! You shoot me down but I won't fall! I AM CHITAAAANIA!

Still nothing!?

>I AM CHITANIA!... I AM CHITANIA!....... I AM CHITAAAAAAAANIA!

...Uh...

>Stone-hard, machine gun! Useless at the ones who run! Stone-hard as I increase my MASS!

....FUCK YOU THAT WAS SO BLATANT!

>You shoot me down but I won't fall! I AM CHITANIA! You shoot me down but I won't fall! I AM CHITANIA!

FUCK IT, FUCK THAT, AND FUCK YOU! NO MORE MISSES NICE CHANGELING YOU FUCKING IDIOTS!

*FWOOOSH!*

>I AM CHITAAAAAAANIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAA!

Oh yeah. Those shocked faces? Totally worth the... admittedly rash decision to throw off her disguise. Now, for the screams....

...

...

They're applauding...

They're... they're all smiling and applauding...

'That was great!'

'Perfect ten out of ten for matching the vocals!'

'YAY! YOU SANG GOOD, LADY!'

'Crazy good, Two. Crazy good.'

'And WOW, you even threw in a perfect cosplay!?'

'SOLD IT!'

'HAH! You even nailed her crown down pat! A plus work!'

'As someone who got suckerpunched by the real deal, I can confirm that is a perfect mimic.'

"GOOD JOB!"

Her brain just... stopped working. Something had popped.

It stopped working and she needed to go have a little sleepy now.

>Thanks...

To roaring applause, she left the stage. Not disguised, not cloaked in the least, while they gave her little pats on the back and smiles and accolades.

And thus, she decided she needed to have a long, hard think about her life.

'Huh. She really did look like Chitania. Do you think the real thing would ever stop by like this?'

'Aunt Chitty? Pfft, no, she was a terrible singer. Like a dying cat.'

'No yeah, that makes sense.'

...A long... long hard think about this world, and just how much longer she could stand to be in it...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"High Roller"
'Plushies'
-Roaches-

"Ok, ok, SO! SO! I have realized: Pegasus. Fly. Can't get me up here. Duh."

'SQUEAK!'

"Shaddup! Hey, 32? Got anything to add here? I swear to Faust if you're asleep again I will end you."

>We should sing something.

"What."

>Everything in my being is telling me that I should sing something right now and I don't know why.

"That's is stupid and you are stupid for suggesting that, do you SEE the situation we're in?"

>You know, High Roller...

"What?"

32 smirks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2UP86bciVA

>Some things in life are bad
>They can really make you mad
>Other things just make you swear and curse

"Oh fuck you."

>See? Like that.
>But when you're chewing on life's gristle
>Don't grumble, give a whistle!
>And this'll help things turn out for the beeeest
>And...

32 springs off his bed, a trio of roaches perched along his horn.

>Always look on the briiiiight side of life~

-Chit chit, chit chitty chitty chit~ -

>Always look on the liiiight of life~

-Chit-er chit chitty chit chitter~ -

"Are you serious right now?"

32 dances over and leans against the bars.

>If life seems jolly rotten
>There's something you've forgotten
>And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing~

To High Roller's surprise, the door slowly squeals open. 32 dances over to him.

>If you're feeling it's the end
>Don't be silly, friend
>Just purse your lips and whistle -that's the thing~
>And...

32 yanks High Roller down by the tail and puts a hoof around his shoulder.

>Always look on the briiiight side of life~

The Plushies, mesmerized and swaying along, join in.

'Squeak squeak squeak squeaky squeaky squeak~'

>Always look on the liiiight side of life~

'Squeak squeak, squeaky squeaky squeaky squeak~'

Suddenly where once was a dungeon is a tranquil meadow.

"What the FUCK!?"

32 begins dancing across the meadow, High Roller and the combined forces of the roaches and plushies behind him.

>For life is quite absurd
>And death's the final word

32 points towards a figure not-to dissimilar to a certain Queen, sharpening an ax. He cheerfully waves to her, she waves back.

>You must always face the curtain with a bow
>Forget about your sins - give the audience a grin!
>Enjoy it's, it's your last chance anyhow!
>And...

Most Certainly Not-Chrysalis swings her ax, which 32 and Roller barely dodge.

>Always look on the briiiight side of death~

'-Chit squeak chit squeaky squeaky squeak~-'

>Just before you draw your terminal breath~

'-Squeak chit squeak chitty chitty chit~-'

32 and his unfortunate dance partner twist and sway under the blows of the ax, which unfortunately claim a few plushies.

>Life's a bitter pit
>When you look at it
>Life a laugh and death's the joke it's true!

32 and Roller duck away from Not!Chrysalis and turn to face her, 32 ducks to her like a gentleman at a ball, Roller quakes in terror, wondering if he didn't drink his own poison.

>You'll see it's all a show
>Keep 'em laughing as you go~

32 looks up in time to see Not!Chrysalis lighting up her horn. He smiles wide.

>Just remember that the last laugh is on you!
>And...

Chrysalis fires, sending both Changeling and Pony rocketing up into the sky. Roller opens his mouth to scream but gets pulled into an almost waltz-like embrace by 32.

>Always look on the briiiight siiide of life~

The roaches and plushies, now with halos and wings swirl around them.

'-Chit squeak chit squeaky squeaky squeak~-'

>Always look on the liiiight side of life~

'-Squeak chit squeak chitty chitty chit~-'

The two slowly find themselves pulled back in by gravity and fall to earth, their fall is broken however...by a stew pot and a large amount of plushies dancing around it. Roller's jaw drops, 32 laughs. Against all logic, the plushies begin singing the chorus in an exact imitation of 32's voice.

>C'mon, Roller, cheer up!

'Always look on the briiiight side of liiiiife~'
'Always look on the riiiight side of liiiife~'

>Worse things happen at sea, y'know!

'Always look on the briiiight side of liiiiife~'
'Always look on the riiiight side of liiiife~'

>I mean, what've we got to lose? We come from nothin', we're going back to nothin'-what've we lost? NOTHIN'!

'Always look on the briiiight side of liiiiife~'
'Always look on the riiiight side of liiiife~'

High Roller jerks awake, his body prone on the floor and being bounced upon by plushies.

>You're awake.

"Wuh happen...?"

>You tried to escape the plushies by flying and banged your head on the ceiling. You've been out for hours.

"Why...you...no help?"

>Because jail cell.

"Ah...good reason...Imma sleep now..."

>You do that.

"Still depressed?"

>Yup.

"No singing?"

>No, why?

"Good."

With a flop, High Roller rolls back into blissful unconsciousness.

>Fool...have a nice sleep.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>29
"MM"
'Trixie'
[Zecora]
~~~~

>Hivemind be praised! Our jovial time with the music so fanciful is at an end. Huzzah, I feel the time of day has come to a close, and we should find rest.

"We could've watched the rest of the singers."

>Meh.

'The less interesting and not as powerful 29 just does not want to stick around in case one of his many detractors should notice him.'

>NO I DO NOT! Bite thine foul, twisted wretch of a tongue!

[Trixie do stop, it is not something of which to make a joke. It is supposed to be a subtle fear that is hidden when he spoke.]

>HEY!

"Yeah, don't pick on him. He got locked in a tube and experimented on for weeks."

'...Did you reall-'

THUMP!

Fetal rocking intensifies.

>AHDUNWANNAGOBACKINTHETUUUUUBE! AHDUNWANNAGOBAAACKKKKK!

'Ah.'

"Does that every time princess Twilight rolls around."

'Well... SNAP OUT OF IT!'

SPLASH!

>ACK! NOO! NOOOOOO!

"TRIXIE HE CAN'T SWIM!"

[Why is there a pool open at this hour anyway? You think it would be closed when it is no longer day.]

>HELP! BLULBL! HELBLBLBL!

'Oops... MAREY! Go save him!'

"HEY!"

SPLASH!

"...Fine, Niney? Come here, I'll-ACK! DON'T PULL!"

>FOUL WENCH! FEEL MINE INSETCOID MAGIC!

'HEY-GLK!'

SPLASH!

>...
"..."
'... Well, no way are we leaving her out of this.'

[NO! WAIT!]

SPLASH!

'See, you big sissy? Who says Zebra's can't swim! You're swimming fine! Totally a stereotype...'

>Did... did anyone else notice the pool just change color?

[My friends, gather together and give your last hugs. Because you see, in that purse I've been carrying... was a fairly large amount of drugs.]

Trixie nodded as her head slowly turned into that of a butterfly.

'So... we've at least proved that the stereotype of Zebra's all having drugs has some merit.'

[Fuck you, purple monkey in a hat. You don't know me, don't talk like that.]

"Oh hey! I know these drugs! I took them all in college once- oh crap we're screwed..."

And then time became colors.

>...I have regrets...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>42
“SA”
'Chrysalis'
[Cadence]
{18}
~Celestia~
-Mane-Iac-
(Poindexter)
^2^
~~~

>Ow...

“What did we leeeaaarn?”

'That Queens should always get first dibs with alcohol?'

[That inebriation does not stop a changeling from transforming, though we all wish it did?]

{That Punchbug is capable of slugging down stronger alcohol that is legally allowed to be used in euthanasia?}

~That nothing is more devastating than finding an empty bottle of 'relaxing' on the ground?~

-THAT SMASHTOR NEEEEEEEDS TO WORK ON HER HIGH NOTES!?... Just little constructive criticism!-

(That trying to get her off the stage is best left to those with superpowers, or at least ones who do not value their kidneys?)

^That 42's funny drink is bad and you should never take it a'cause it hurts ya?^

“No, sort of, we knew that, you have a problem, she will take note of that and is probably appreciative, you have nobody to blame but yourself, and yes. Yes yes yes. Correct, 2. Never touch it.”

^YAY!^

>M-majesty... plleeeeeeaaasee....

'ZOTZ!'

>Ahhhhh, ohhhhh... yeahhhhh, that's much better. Brain don't hurt no more...

“...We have also learned to be more careful with mind control, because it has side effects.”

'HAH! Jokes on you, I didn't learn anything like that!'

>Mmmm... these colors are pretty.

“Why the drinking anyway?”

>Shiny, Shiiiiiiny, I needed to sing, man.

“...”

>...Your head is like a melon...

“Is she going to stay like this?”

'Pfft, nah, I can fix her at any time.'

“...”
'…'
“...”
'...Didn't say I was gonna.'

>Whoooaaaaaaa....
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chrysalis
“Various”
~~~~~

“You okay?”

The niggling thought of 'does he have to ask that always?' and 'HOW!?' wormed it's way into her head once more.

>Gonna ask that everytime? Come on, at least mix it up once or twice, Shiny.

The white unicorn just gave an understanding smile, and followed her line of sight to a pair sitting across the room.

“He's still doing good?”

>Still standing and not going near the giant spider monster. Good enough.

“Hmm... you know, I know they're your hive and you feel like you need to have absolute say in the matter, but you're not alone in this.”

>Pfft, hypocrite. Anytime I suggest something for the Empire it gets shot down immediately.

“Because it's always crazy. And hey, I still listen and let you say it.”

>And I technically listened to their suggestions, I just discarded them.

He just sighed, bumping into her slightly.

“Do you really want to do this alone? It's not easy, believe me, I know it's not easy.”

>Yeah, well, comes with the territory. You ponies are built around having a bunch of rulers for one population, not so much with us. It's the Queen, then whoever the Queen likes that day, then a whole lot of shut up and do what we say. If you have to rely on someone else to tell you how to do it, you're not a very good Queen.

“...And is that really how it should be?”

She just scoffed, looking over at the buffoon once more.

>I handled it.

She frowned, just a bit.

>Maybe not like I should have, but I handled it.

“He's alive, healthy, not in danger of being cast out or imprisoned, and he learned from this I hope, how much better could you have done? Aside from you scaring the heck out of everyone, I thought you did pretty good.”

She just looked away, a little irritated.

>I just didn't do it like they would have.

“Because?”

>...

And then he just... smiled.

That's when the music started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg9pkAYvrSM

“So no one told you life was gonna be this way?”

>Didn't come up, no...

A sudden sing songy voice rang out above her, and a gold encased hoof poked her in the head.

“Your jobs a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA!”

>Thank you for the reminder, Celestia. I did not need a refresher...

A more sympathetic, lavender hoof poked her in the side.

“It's like you're always stuck in second gear.”

>What does that even mean!?

A slightly less sympathetic, disguised minion squeezed in next to Shiny, and a helmeted head popped up next to Twilight.

“Cause it hasn't been your day-”

“-your week-”

“-your month-”

“-or even your yeaaaar!”

>Okay, now you guys are just being dicks-

“But!”

Their singular, synchronized shout from all of them stopped her bubbling rage.

>But?

And that's when the all closed in, bodies pressing against her.

“I'll be there for yoooooou!”

“When the rain starts to fall!”

>The umbrella wasn't nessecary...

“I'll be there for yooooou!”

“Like I've been there before.”

>...Fine, got a point.

“I'll be there for yooooou!”

“Cause you're there for me tooooo!”

>Debatable.

A long, green tendril snaked around her shoulders, and a purple cheek pressed agains hers.

“You've fought some AMAZING FIGHTS, but you're always so irate!”

>Not all the time...

A pink foreleg joined her on the other side.

“You burn your breakfast every time, but things are still going great!”

>I can cook fine! Better than you!... Just not frying stuff...

A little weight settled on her head.

“Your mama warned you there'd be days like these!”

>Actually never came up.

A tentative, almost frightened pony adjusted his spectacles, and decided that two bodies down was close enough before joining in.

“But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees!”

>...Yeah, this part didn't come up either...

“BUT!”

Altogether again.

“I'll be there for yoooooou!”

>Okay, I get it.

“When the rain starts to fall!”

>Put the poncho down.

“I'll be there for yooooou!”

>Repeating yourself.

“Like I've been there before.”

>Only mostly!

“I'll be there for yooooou!”

>I GET IT!

“Cause you're there for me tooooo!”

At last, she smirked, and pushed back against the ones leaning on her, lifting them all up with surprising strength.

>You might not ever know me! You might not ever see me! But seems you're the only ones who I can stand to be around me...

One by one, she grabbed them, dragging them around with a cocky smirk.

>Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with! Someone it's great to laugh with! Even at the worst, it's best with yooooooou, yeah!

And that's when they all found a conveniently place water fountain, and started dancing.

>“It's like we're always stuck in second gear!”

>Who cares what that means!?

>”When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year...”

“And hoo boy, it has not been...

>Don't mope, Shiny!

“Right, right...”

>”I'll be there for yoooou!”

"Everytime!"

“When the rain starts to pour”

"Umbrella's fer everyone!"

>”I'll be there for yoooou!”

>Like I've been there before!

"And always will!

>”I'll be there for yoooou!”

>”'Cause you're there for me toooooooo!”

And, of course, they had to end while striking a pose.

>HAH! Okay, okay that was fun...

“Told you, just gotta open up sometimes.”

>Pfft, nah, dance numbers are special occasions.. HAH! Hoo... so, uh, which one of you guys did the giant letters in the sky? Come on, just spelling out “Friends” is a little on the nose, isn't it?

They all looked up, and sure enough...

“...I thought you did that?”

“I didn't.”

“It's too lopsided to be me.”

“Would've had more sparkles from me.”

“Would've been green from me.”

“Would'a been made o' marchmalleys from me!”

“Would've... actually, I wouldn't have done that at all.”

“AHHHAHAHAH!... I don't have any magic!”

“Ditto. Earth pony, you see.”

>Huh...

Slowly, they all tilted their head as the letters faded to black against the night sky.

>”....Huh....”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Vekir
"Rekulk"
'Grehm'

>Aha! There you are, brother by mate!

'Yes, hello.'

>WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?

'...looking after the cat-birds, as instructed.'

>...IRRELEVANT! You are here now!

'Yes, cat-birds have gotten very woozy, I am returning to the sleeping place.'

>Aha! Excellence! You shall help me then, brother has gone dead in his brain because he saw something strange, I cannot drag him back to the sleeping place mysel-

"Hrm? Wuh? Oh, hello brother-by-mate."

>...

'Hello brother Rekulk, did you sleep well?'

"Dreams were very pleasant, thank you...whyfor am I on the ground? Whyfor do you have cat-birds on your back?"

>...

'I am escorting the drunken cat-birds back to their sleeping place.'

"Very thoughtful! We are sure to be friends with them afterwards! ...where are we?"

'The sign declares it to be a place of the Kara Oak.'

>...

"Aha...I see no oak."

>It is a competition of singing.

"Oho! Well well, that sounds like a muchness of fun, yes, let us enter this competition!"

>I have already sung...kind of!

"...sister, whyfor would you enter this competition without us?"

>...

THWACK!

"OW!"

>Let us just do the thing.

"Whyfor did she do that?"

Grehm only shrugs.

A few moments later the trio of Morlocks are standing on the stage.

"Commence the musics!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at_f98qOGY0

"I love the mountains!"

>I love the clear blue skies!

"I love big buildings!"

>I love this park that flies!

'We love the whole world.'

>"And all the sights and sounds!"

'Boom de yada boom de yada boom de yada boom de yada.'

"I love the ponies!"

>I love real tasty things!

"I love my trade-friends!"

>I love the changelings!

'We love the whole world.'

>"And all it's craziness!"

'Boom de yada boom de yada boom de yada boom de yada.'

"I love the Twience!"

>I loved my tiny hats.

'I love my pink suit.'

>I love birds that are cats!

"I love the whole world~"

>It's such a great big place!

'Boom de yada.'

>Boom de yada!

"Boom de yada!"

>"'Boom de yada~!'."

The music cuts off as the trio smile.

There's silence, then, slowly, but building, applause and cheers.

>"HURRAH!"

'...I cannot understand how the cat-birds did not wake up through all of that.'
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>AJ
“Twilight”
‘Rarity’
[Fluttershy]
{Dash}
~Pinkie~
-Spike-
~~~~~~~~
>Well, look who finally showed up!

“I wasn’t gone that long.”

>Sure felt like it.

“Sorry, we had a musical number that needed doing.”

‘We heard, darling. Very much so.’

“Ohhh, come on now, you’re not feeling jealous, are you? No offense, but I don’t think you guys have to worry about Chrysalis somehow taking all my friendship.”

[Oh, of course not, but I do agree, it doesn’t feel like we really hang out anymore. Nothing like we used to.]

>Yeah… ain’t nothing like we used to…

{AJ? You okay?}

>Yeah, it’s just…

BOIIING!

~IIII GET IT!~

-Well, glad to see you stopped by too.-

~It feels like we just aren’t as much of a team anymore, right?~

>…Little bit, yeah. And Ah’ kinda feel like its all mah’ fault. Like we would still be all hangin’ out iffin’ Ah didn’t get me a set o’ wings.

“How does that work?”

‘Indeed, darling, we both got a pair as well. Not to mention Fluttershy.’

[Please don’t.]

{Feels like you’re just looking for an excuse to make this all about you.}

-No, yeah, that’s totally Applejack.

>Ah’ don’t know, maybe Ah’m bein’ silly, but Ah’ can’t help but feel… it’s all Celestia’s fault.

There was silence.

Then a looooot of laughter.

“Applejack, let me put it to you as simply as I can.”

~In song form?~

“You know it!”

'Can we even do it any other way?'

{Yep, but it's not as fun.}

~A-MEN!~

www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzx1ArJurg

“’[{-~Till the end! I will be with you! We will go, where our dreams come true! All the time, that we have been through…. You will always be my best frieeend!~-}]’”

“Here we are, on a new adventure. Danger lurks, somewhere in the darkness.

‘Darling we’re set for surprises, even battles!’

{We’re a team, no one better mess with us!}

~If we stand as one, there’s nothing to fear.~

-We’ll beat the darkness and we’ll stay right here.-

>Yes time after time, together you’ll see… just you and we!

“’[{-~Till the end! I will be with you! We will go, where our dreams come true! All the time, that we have been through…. You will always be my best frieeend!~-}]’”

-Good friends-are those who stick together-

[In the sun, and even in chocolate weather yeah!]

~Smile after smile,~

{You know that's how it will be!}

“Just you and we...”

“’[{-~Till the end! I will be with you! We will go, where our dreams come true! All the time, that we have been through…. You will always be my best frieeend!~-}]’”

At last, at long last, a genuine smile.

>Ah’ remember when we fiiirst met!

~YEAH! We’ve had such fun, no way could I forget!~

-Even, when the times weren’t so good…-

‘We’ve always stuck together like best friends should.’

>“’[{-~Till the end! I will be with you! We will go, where our dreams come true! All the time, that we have been through…. You will always be my best frieeeeeeeend!~-}]’”

They surrounded her as the music stopped, and one by one nodded before stepping closer.

“No matter how far away we go.”
‘How fabulous we make this world.’
[How strange and chaotic our lives get.]
~How loud the party goes.~
{How high we fly.}
-Or how low we have to crawl.-

>All tagether now!

>”’[{~-Don’t you know you’re all my very best frieeeeends!-~}

How else could they possibly end that, except with a group hug?

Short answer?

Lots of ways.

…This is the one they wanted.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>13
"Audience"
~~~~~~

>I wish the whoooole world would just stop hassling me! I wish the whooole world would just stop setting fire to meee!

"Isn't it "I wish the real world would stop hassling me"?"

*SNAP!*

"LOOK OUT FOR THAT LIGHT!"

*CRASH!*

"...You okay?*

>....HACCKKK.... MY LYRICS FIT BETTER!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
"Poindexter"
'???'
[???]
~~~~~~~

>Huh, you know, I was hoping to catch those two out here in the crowd somewhere... you think they saw me?

"Who?"

>You know which two.

"...Oh, yeah. Ahhh, come on, Shiny! I'm sure they're out here somewhere. Heck, they probably watched you make an idiot of yourself on the slip and slide, and can't wait to make fun of you for it."

>...Heh... yeah... yeah! They'll probably talk to me just to make fun of me for that, that was pretty silly.

"That's the spirit! Heck, I don't see any reason to think they're avoiding you. Everything will probably be-... is... is that"

>Oh, hey, they're singing to! I wonder what-

'WE! ARE NEVER EVER EVER!'

[GETTING BACK TOGETHER!]

'WEEEE! ARE NEVER EVER EVERRR!'

[GETTING BACK TOGETHER!]

>...

"...I uh... I mean, uh, probably just a so-... juuusstt... you uh, you know it's just they lyrrrriiiccss...."

>...

"...Yep..."

>...

"...yeeeppp..."

>...

"....ehhhhhhhhhh..."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-canon
>Stalliongrad Air Captain
"Stalliongrad Commissar"
~~~
"You see that flying city there, comrade?"

>I see it, Commissar, I got an invitation too.

"It is a disgusting monument of capitalism and Princess Regime."

>These ticket prices and resort offers are pretty reasonable.

"DO NOT WAVER, COMRADE! Today, we bring the Kirov fleet to destroy Partyland! All ahead full!"

>Aye Commissar...

"..."

>...

>You know... I think Partyland can move faster than our kirov fleet

"Have patience comrade."

>...

"..."

>Well, since we have time, who wants to play DnD?

"I'll get my dice set."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________