Lucas Chronicles, the Afterstory Part 2: Monster Behind Mountain Dew Interlude; Of Skillets, Waffles, and Other Things

As we exited the house, I heard something. Actually, it wasn't just 'something'. I knew exactly what it was. It was a rock concert and it came from the center of Ponyville. "Huh." I said aloud. "I didn't know you guys had a rock band in Ponyville."

Fluttershy replied, "Oh, that's actually new. Four ponies showed up in town a couple weeks ago and gave performances a couple times every week. And I, um, I listened to your iPod after you fell asleep... The band actually played one of those songs you mentioned on your iPod. I really liked it..." She placed her hoof on her chin, "Ooh... What did they call themselves...? 'Dishpan'? No... 'Glass Bowl'? ...No, that definitely wasn't it..."

I interrupted her, "...Wait, YOU DID-" I sighed. "Nevermind. Anyway, let's go listen to them. I'm always down for a rock concert. Surely, they'll say the name of the band during the performance."

With that, we dashed towards the sound of the concert. As we drew closer, the song they were playing had ended and I recognized the next song. It was Whispers in the Dark by Skillet. I ran slightly faster because I happen to like that particular song. I found it slightly odd, but I didn't complain. All parallel realities have to be somewhat equal, right?

As we approached the concert, it actually looked quite a bit like this:

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Since the concert had already started, we were extremely far away and I couldn't make out any of the details of the band. All I could really see was that the lead guitarist had a Mohawk mane. Oh, and none of the band mates had Cutie Marks, something really odd for ponies of Equestria.

After they finished the song, the lead singer introduced the next song, "Alright everyone, listen up. Without Christ, we are dead in our sins. We have a sickness. This sickness puts us into a Comatose state. We are asleep in our sin, and without Jesus... we will NEVER wake up..." They started playing Comatose by Skillet. The singer shouted, "LET'S TAKE THIS THING UP! LET ME SEE THOSE HOOVES! PUT 'EM UP IN THE AIR!"

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This sounded all too familiar to me... And he said, 'Jesus'. I had my theories of course, but I rocked out all the same.

...But I could have sworn that during the song that the rhythm guitarist looked directly at me. Her (Hey, we may have been far away, but I could still tell the difference between a mare and a colt) eyes grew wide as she continued to play.

After they finished Comatose, they played Sick of It, which was, again, originally by Skillet.

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My theories had started to take form, but my thought pattern was interrupted by Fluttershy's fangirlish screams, "OH MY GOSH!!!! THEY'RE DOING SICK OF IT!!! OMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOSH!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!"

I didn't blame her, because honestly, if she hadn't, I would've.

Just after the bridge, the singer did something I thought was amazing. He shouted, "How're ya feelin' Ponyville?" That was met with various woos and screams. He continued, "We all... have something in our lives that we are sick of! Maybe it's Loneliness." I had to glance at Fluttershy, giving the band her utmost attention. "Or Abuse. Or Addiction! Whatever it is that you are sick of tonight... I wanna tell you something that Jesus said. He said, 'I came to give Good News to the poor and to SET. YOU. FREE.'" Now I started fangirling along with many others in the crowd. The colt continued, "So tonight, WHATEVER YOU'RE SICK OF, I want you to put it in your hooves... and raise it up to Jesus to be set free!!! RAISE YOUR HOOVES IF YOU'RE SICK, IF YOU'RE SICK OF IT!"

Everyone in the crowd, including Fluttershy and myself, raised their hooves (well, for me, my hands) and we shouted, "RAISE YOUR HOOVES (I yelled 'hands', just assume that's what I continued to yell) IF YOUR SICK, IF YOUR SICK OF IT!"

The singer yelled back, "RAISE YOUR HOOVES IF YOUR SICK, IF YOU'RE SICK OF IT!"

We responded, "RAISE YOUR HOOVES IF YOU'RE SICK, IF YOU'RE SICK OF IT!"

He replied, "LIFT IT UP TO JESUS! RAISE YOUR HOOVES IF YOUR SICK, IF YOU'RE SICK OF IT! " This volleyed back and forth a couple times, until he finally yelled, "GIVE IT TO JESUS TONIGHT!!!"

They continued with the song as I continued to fangirl.

After they finished, my theories again began to form, This... This can't be... I thought. Nah. They're definitely not...

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The singer broke through my thoughts, "Are we having fun out here?" We all screamed. "I know I promised you I wasn't gonna talk tonight, but I wanna tell you one story about this next song. It's something I'm very passionate about. I wrote this song for a friend who wants... to end her own life..." The crowd grew silent.

"And she has been told, ever since she was a foal," The rhythm guitarist walked to the left of the stage and started playing a sad melody on a keyboard. "that she's a loser by her family... that she's never gonna be good enough... they wished she had never been born... she's a failure... And she finally thinks about it and she says, 'You know what, number one, I hate my life;'" This punched me in the gut. I had said that exact thing not too long ago for reasons I didn't really mean or even remember now. He continued, "'Number two, I hate going home at night; Number three, I hate what I see when I look in the mirror; And number four... I don't have a SINGLE reason worth waking up for tomorrow morning...' And she comes to me in this song, and she says, 'Look... I just wanna say goodbye...'

"And in this song, I get the chance to tell my friend... how special she really is. I get a chance to tell my friend that no matter what she has been told about her not being 'good enough', that her life is not a mistake." I screamed out a 'woo' and a 'yeah'. I think I even yelled out, 'Preach it!'

He continued. "And I'm telling you this story, not just so you know what this song is about, but I'm telling you this story because I meet ponies like her at every single concert that we play. And I know" he pointed out into the audience, "that there are ponies like her standing out here right now tonight. Some of you have given up on your life. Some of you have thought about suicide. Some of you have TRIED to commit suicide. Some of you cut yourselves. Some of you just say, 'You know what, my home life is SO bad, that I don't know how I'm gonna make it past tonight.'

"Whatever your story is, I wanna tell you how glad I am to see you here tonight. 'Cause I wanna tell you something that got me through my hardest nights growing up. Something that could change your life tonight. And this is a quote from my number one Hero. And His name... is JESUS CHRIST." I was screaming my head off at this point. "And this is what Jesus said. 'ANYONE who is weak... ANYONE who is heavy burdened... Come to Me, and I will give you rest!'" Some of the crowd, including myself, cheered.

"And some of you need rest tonight. Some of you need peace tonight. Or some of you are just like the mare in this song; you just need a reason to get out of bed tomorrow. Well, if that's you, then Skillet," My eyes grew wide and my jaw dropped literally to the ground. My theory was true. I had a hunch. I wasn't sure at first, but the singer just affirmed it. "is here tonight for one reason. And that is to say to you, no matter what you've done, and no matter what you're going through, no matter what your parents, or anyone else has said to you about you not being 'good enough'... There IS a God! His name is Jesus! And He loves you tonight just the way you are! And if you give Him one chance... This WILL BE the VERY LAST NIGHT you will EVER spend alone."

They started playing. "If you can relate to this song, then it is written for you! This is... THE LAST NIGHT!"

As they played, I just sat there, dumbfounded. Ha! No! HAHA! This... Could it be? How is my favorite band of like, ever, here in Ponyville? I thought. Nah, all realities have to be similar. It can't be the same Skillet from my world. But... this is TOO similar... details are NEVER this similar... And I KNOW the rhythm guitarist looked at me during Comatose.

I HAD to get backstage after the concert. And, if worst came to worst, they're not the same Skillet my world. It couldn't hurt to check.

But actually, before Fluttershy and I did that, she tugged on my shirt with her mouth and tears in her eyes as the band continued. Her face told me everything. This song spoke to her. She pulled me towards the stage. I didn't think we'd make it, due to the sheer mass of the crowd, but oddly, they let us through.

When we got to the stage, she whispered, "L-Lucas... I don't ever w-want to be a-alone ag-gain... You seem to know about this b-band... will... will you h-help me t-talk t-to J-Jesus?"

My eyes grew wide at this unexpected request. "O-of course!" I said. I gave a glance to the singer. I could have sworn I saw him nod his head. We bowed and closed our eyes. In that moment of the concert with the help of my favorite band ever, I led Fluttershy to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

BEST. MOMENT. EVER.

When we finished, we stood up and hugged each other (because, y'know, that's kinda what happens in a situation of that sort). I also noticed that A LOT of the crowd had done the same thing we did.

That sight... PWOOSH!

That was the sound of my mind being blown.