Athazagoraphobia

"Are you sure? I'm not certain we have anywhere to house you all. The closest Motel is a few kilometers out of town. We don't get many travelers here."

Mayor Mare looked once more at the poster that had been placed before her depicting a set of five silhouettes on a background of black with multi-coloured spotlights. It was a picture that had quite recently become quite well known in the smaller cities and was becoming a bit of a hit in the larger ones as well. The words 'No Love Here' headlined the poster. The pony meeting with the Mayor scoffed.

"Ain't a problem Miss Mayor," He replied easily, "Me mates and I have a trailer big enough for us, that's accommodation enough. We've worked so hard this past few years to get where we are, we thought we'd come to the little places. Y'know, return to the roots and all that."

He chuckled, leaning forward on his chair, his bright red and yellow mane waving as he did so.

"And of course, the popularity you'd gain from allowing a performance here in Ponyville is pretty much guaranteed your re-election, yes? Plus, revenue. Sell Tickets, gain profit. So long as we get a cut, like usual, we'll be only too happy to perform for your little town."

"This isn't about my popularity," Mayor Mare scolded firmly, "re-election isn't for two years. No, this is more about the foals. You don't have anything that's going to make them..?"

The stallion burst out laughing, his wings and their purple feathers ruffling.

"Oh sheila, don't even worry about that. We've got a few protest songs mate, but I swear, nothing extreme. We're not like those big time metal bands or them screamo' things. You can trust me mayor, we won't be sowing any extremist or dangerous ideas in the heads of your young ones, and if you're that worried just don't let them in. But I can promise you..."

He leaned forward again, his black jacket parting a little as his hoof came up to his dark shades and he pulled them down to look the Mayor in the eye, a startling blue.

"The kids'll love it all the more."

Mayor mare was quiet for a moment and the scene was frozen, the stallion leaning forward and mayor Mare considering it. After a time, she smiled.

"In that case, we'd be only too glad to accept your offer. It will take time to set up a stage worthy of your equipment, but we'll have it done."

"A simple stage'll do Mayor," He replied calmly, leaning back languidly in the comfortable couch, "Out in the open would be preferable. It helps preserve a pony's ears if it's not encased, bouncing the sound around a tight area. Plus, less chance of harm happening by accident IF a mosh is formed. Trust me mayor, Open stages are the best."

The mayor thought about that for a moment before nodding.

"Alright, an open stage it is," She accepted graciously, "I trust you don't need me to show you out? I'm a very busy mare."

"Of course!" He replied, standing and rolling his shoulders, "Thanks for your time Mayor, real pleasure meeting ya."

With that, he headed for the door with a smile, stopping just before he opened it to look over his shoulder, shades back in place.

"By the way Mayor," he said, "Love the glasses. Brings out the colour in your eyes."

And he left the surprised Mayor Mare to consider his compliment. Outside were four others, two unicorns, an Earth pony and another pegasus like himself. The stallion walked into the room and, from the various places the ponies were seated in the waiting room, they all stood up, curious expressions on their faces.

"So?" A green unicorn asked sagely. The young pegasus grinned.

"She's cute," He replied playfully, "Totally MILF material, if she had a foal. She doesn't, by the way. Unattached."

The unicorn sighed, a note of amusement hidden away in there somewhere if one cared to dig deep enough.

"I meant the show Ranger."

"You sure? I mean, You're around about the same age I'm sure..?" The pegasus, dubbed 'Ranger' teased. The unicorn looked at him this time without any guard on his obvious bemusment.

"As touched I am that you're taking interest in my love life, I'm sure."

"She's got this cute habit of adjusting her glasses when she reads," Ranger continued, as though the unicorn hadn't spoken at all, and the other two ponies in the room were trying not to laugh, "And she's pretty trim, probably works out-"

"Ranger," The unicorn said gently.

"Plus, come on. She's in charge, probably so repressed it's painful," He continued playfully, grinning at the older pony and then laughing a little, "I'm kidding. Though she'd totally be your type. The show's on, we've got a lot of preparing to do."

The unicorn rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Get outta here," He said, raising a hoof negligently, "Get out! I'll hammer out the finer details with her. As the oldest-"

"You'll hammer something in there!" Ranger said quickly, before laughing as he dodged a rolled up magazine of some sort that was telekinetically hurled at him, rushing out of the room followed by his bandmates, leaving the unicorn behind. He sighed softly, but looked at the door to the Mayors' office in careful deliberation, before shaking his head and knocking and entering.