Chaos now!

CHAPTER 4

SAD SONGS

Kark found himself lounging in the back of the boat. Night had fallen. Everypony was asleep, except for Rainbow Dash. She volunteered to take over Applejack’s boat driving duties so the mare could rest.

Kark silently watched the waves left by the boat’s wake. The full moon shined down brightly, illuminating the calm waters surrounding the boat. Lost in his solitude, Kark sang to himself:

All I wanna do when I wake up in the morning

Is see your eyes

O Luna, O Luna

I never thought that a girl like you

Could ever care for me

O Luna-aaah.

All I wanna do in the middle of the evening

Is hold you tight

O Luna, O Luna

Didn’t know that you were looking for more

Than I could ever give

Not quite a year since you went away

O Luna, yeah!

Now she’s gone and I have to say

Need you all the way

Need you all the way

O Luna, yeah!

Need you all the way

Need you all the way

O Luna, yeah!

I can see your face still shining through the window

On the other side

O Luna, O Luna

I didn’t know that a girl like you

Could make me feel so sad

O Luna-aaah

All I wanna tell you is now

You’ll never have to compromise

O Luna, O Luna

I never thought that losing you

Could ever hurt so bad

Not quite a year since you went away

O Luna, yeah!

Now she’s gone and I have to say

Need you all the way

Need you all the way

O Luna, yeah!

Need you all the way

Need you all the way

O Luna, yeah!

When Kark started singing, Rainbow Dash glanced back at him and smiled knowingly. She knew he was singing to make himself feel better.

What he didn’t notice, however, was that the boat crew had silently risen from their sleeping quarters to see what was going on. Their faces and eyes all betrayed looks of admiration for Kark’s beautiful singing voice, and empathy at the sadness that Kark felt.

“Kark?” Applejack said as she approached him from behind.

“WHA!” Kark exclaimed in surprise as he turned around quickly. His cheeks were wet from the tears of sadness that had fallen.

“Whoa!” He breathed heavily as he clenched his chest. “You scared me! I thought you were all asleep.”

“We were.” Apple Bloom admitted. “But you’re singin’ woke us up.”

“Sorry.” Kark said in apology.

“Don’t be.” Sweetie Belle said. “I almost forgot how great a singer you are. Almost as good as me.”

Kark smiled a little. “Thanks, I think.”

Sweetie Belle giggled. “Don’t worry. I set high standards for myself. I also know the song you just sang. ‘Rose Petal’ by Trotto. A song about a filly the singer once knew.”

“Ah remember that you sang that at the Royal Galloping Gala a few years ago.” Applejack smiled.

Kark smiled and nodded. “It was Luna’s favourite song.” He said as his eyes grew sad once again.

He was to the point of crying when Applejack placed a comforting hoof on his shoulder. “Ah know you miss her, sugarcube; but if it’s true what they say about what Princess Celestia’s phoenix can do, Luna’ll be brought back to life quicker ‘n you can say ‘tarnation’. Ya cain’t lose hope!”

“Hope is about the only thing that’s keep me going right now. By the way, please don’t call me ‘sugarcube’. That may work for Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and even Rainbow Dash.”

“Hey! I resemble that remark!” Rainbow Dash cried from her post.

Everyone giggled at that. “Well, if I cain’t call ya ‘sugarcube’, what can I call ya?” Applejack asked.

Kark thought about it a moment. “Darlin’?” he smiled.

Applejack smiled back and nodded. “Fair enough. Well, we should all go get some shut eye. We still have a few hours before we reach the 109th’s base camp.”

“You girls go ahead.” Sweetie Belle said. “I’ll be in in a few minutes.

Applejack nodded. “All right.” She said as she and Apple Bloom walked back to the sleeping quarters below deck.

“A.J’s right, you know.” Sweetie Belle said after a few moments of silence. “You can‘t lose hope. If we lose it, we’d might as well just surrender to the Dogs and become their slaves forever.”

Kark nodded sadly. “I know.”

“So, was ‘Rose Petal’ the only song that Luna liked?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Kark shook his head. “She also liked ‘Special Girl’ by Eddie Shirez. She felt that song reminded her of us.”

“I know that one!” Sweetie Belle admitted. “Mind if I sing it with you?”

“Not at all!” Kark beamed.

Then they went into an improvised duet, making sure they didn’t sing too loudly.

Into each life a little sunlight has to shine

Let me tell you about a light that once was mine

She was a special girl

She meant the world to me

And I gave her everything

When I found her, I’ve been looking everywhere

When I lost her, I was gone beyond despair

She was a special girl

She meant the world to me

And I gave her everything

But dreams are hard to touch

Could it be I loved her too much?

From her place, hidden from view, Rainbow Dash’s lips quivered as a tear streamed down her right cheek. She was moved by the golden voices of the two adept singers singing this sad song that was extremely popular years ago.

Ever since Sweetie Belle discovered her talent for singing, we became closer than ever. It was our mutual love for music that forged the bond we shared. As we sang in unison, I felt as light as a feather! I could tell that she shared in my joy, and in my pain.