A New Lord of Chaos

‘Waiting always is the hardest part.’ I muse to myself as I wait for Rarity or Fluttershy to come into my line of sight I still had yet to see any of my opponents after they came into the palace. Therefore, I just sat there drinking slowly nursing my drink enjoying the light burn it left as I did so. I could feel my magic coming closer as I watched the crowd a few mares looked at me some questioning with their eyes not knowing who I was, wondering why I was sitting by myself, other interested in me and not hiding it. ‘Can a horse be a slut?’

As I pondered these deep thoughts close to ten minutes went by and for the last three the card had not moved. She was at ten o’clock just outside of my line of sight I had no doubt that at least one of them could see me. Not wanting to waste any more time, I got up and began a slow circle over to where she was. Passing the bar, I dropped off my empty glass and turned to start towards the card.

I was slowly closing in on my potential target. Thirty feet, twenty, at ten I really began looking at who was in front of me.
Three of the element bearers were there Pinkie, Rarity, and of course Fluttershy. Each was wearing a custom dress I suppose. ‘Can they be dresses if they don’t have a full skirt?’

Rarity was in shades of pale blue. Pinkie was well in pink. It seemed like Rarity had gone all out on Fluttershy. She was wearing green with silver accented by black. It was really cute on her.

Rarity spotted me first. “Darling it is simply wonderful to see you.”

I gave her a smile. “Who could deny themselves the pleasure of seeing some of the loveliest ladies in all of Equestria?” She was eating this up like candy as she and Fluttershy both started blushing and Pinkie just giggled. “Who is your rather bubbly pink friend?”

Rarity didn’t even get a word in edgewise. “I’m Pinkie Pie. Our bubbly friend is Ditzy.” She pulled a random gray pegasus with uneven eyes out of literally nowhere who just giggled before flying off at a diagonal.

I blinked. ‘What was in that martini? Did the bartender slip me a mickey?’

Rarity came back with. “Pinky, I believe he was referring to your personality dear. How has your night been so far my dear?”

I shook my head and gave them a small smile. “Rather slow so far, until I spotted the three of you.” I turned to Fluttershy and asked. “So tell me, have you saved me that dance?”

Fluttershy eeped and broke out into an enormous blush that all most made her look like Pinkie had grown wings. ‘That is so adorable she is so innocent and gentle … I must corrupt her. ’

I leaned in a little closer “If you aren’t up for it yet why don’t walk and pony watch for a bit?”

This seemed to calm her down and let me pull her away from the others. ‘Just like dad always said pick the weak one off from the herd.’ I lead Fluttershy away from the safety of her friends and back towards the main room where Celestia was. This served a dual purpose: a. I could monitor Celestia. Moreover, b. Find out information from Fluttershy through casual conversation.

As we entered the room, I looked for an unobtrusive vantage point. Somewhere I could see the whole room without really moving my body only my eyes. ‘I know were my past self will enter from now where is the past place to see this but stay away from it? That corner good view of the hall and the drink waiters pass by every once in a while.’ I slowly lead her over to the corner.
“Recognize anypony in the room?” I ask her hating myself for using the pony vernacular.

She looked around the room stopping and naming individuals as she went. “Over there is Fancy Pants talking with Orion and Lady Justice. Then over there is Misters Karabatsos, Walter, and Letrotski; I didn’t think they knew anyone here.”

I looked at the last three ponies she pointed out and couldn’t keep the smile off my face. They stood out; they looked like the main cast of The Big Lebowski. I turned to Fluttershy and said. “The Dude abides.” Before flagging down a waitress and telling her to give them, some white Russians.

Fluttershy merely shrugged and went on naming ponies. Finally she stopped. It seemed like she had named half the ponies in the room. “How did you know Mr. Latrotski’s favorite drink?”

I chuckled and shrugged. “Everyone knows the dude. As I said he abides.”

She just seemed to accept this. We kept watching the crowd. Every once in a while she would point out a pony give me a quick blurb. While she was doing that, I was watching the area around Celestia waiting for me to show. I saw the curtain move and knew I only had a few minutes.

“So are you ready for that dance now?”

Her blush was much more subdued this time and she nodded. I lead her back the way we came away from the action about to take place. We made our way to the dance floor we were almost on it when a thought crossed my mind.

I gave her a sly smile and asked. “Would you mind if I picked the music?”

She didn’t seem to understand what I meant and just gave me a small smile.

I gave her a real smile and had my horn light up with silver light and I cast my influence over the band.

----Fluttershy----

I had no idea what he meant by pick the song. The last time someone forced the orchestra to play something different was Pinkie and that did not go over well. I just stood there stunned as his horn lit up and with a silver glow; he drew a magic circle with four emblems.

When he was done he looked it over gave me a smile. The song that was playing ended and he cast the circle over them. As it flew, the circle grew larger until it covered the whole lot of them then fell over them.

With a smile, he drew me onto the dance floor as the nobles just stood there stunned as a member of the orchestra set down his trumpet and moved forward.

----Third Person----

All the brass players set down their instruments and sat watching. As a pony picked up a guitar. A slow strumming riff began simple and was quickly backed up by the woodwinds.

The Stallion who had set aside his trumpet moved to the front and began singing in a simple tenor. Only one couple was moving on the dance floor as everypony else had stopped to watch what had happened to the performers.

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.

There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure,
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who stand looking.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune,
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long,
And the forests will echo with laughter.

The music began picking up. Playing in a faster rhythm the guitar speed up and the drums joined in helping to keep the beat.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

The music began building to a crescendo. Playing louder, faster, and a little harder. The guitar began to howl out it's notes. The ponies had never heard anything like the noises and riffs this coming from such a simple instrument.

Some were just staring at the young couple dancing on the floor. As the stallion spun the mare around in his magic and hooves.

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

The music slowed to a stop and the last line was spoken.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

The nobles were stunned they had never heard any song like it. They sat stunned until one pony, the black stallion on the dance floor began stomping his hooves in applause.

----Delirium----

I kept clapping for a minute until several others joined in. I leaned over to Fluttershy who looked flushed and embarrassed. “Shall we get a drink?”

She just nodded stunned. So I lead her off the dance floor and over to an empty table and flagged down a waitress and ordered some drinks. As she scurried away, I turned and gave Fluttershy a small smile. She seemed to relax a little bit seeing me just sitting there.

She asked me. “What did you do to them?”

I gave a quick laugh and told her. “Simple musical compulsion. They could feel the song in their soul and had to let it escape. The only bad thing about using that spell is none of them will be able to remember how the song went.”

She cocked her head at my answer and asked another question. “A musical compulsion?”

“Now that is something I was sure you would know. Have you ever seen ponies breakout in song and dance?” She nodded and I went on. “Normally it would effect a larger group but I found a little spell in Twilight Sparkle's library the day we met that… well you saw the end results. The hard part is making them sing the song I want.”

The drinks arrived and so did three more of the elements of harmony. Pinkie, Rarity and Twilight, one looked excited and happy, another either seemed impressed or scandalized, and the other looked pissed. Three guess which is which and the first two don’t count. I just took a sip of my drink and waited.

Twilight just kept glaring at me so I used my magic to pull out a chair for Rarity, and Pinkie who sat down. Once they had been seated, I pulled in the chairs and kept ignoring Twilight. Flagging down a waiter, I ordered another drink and asked if Fluttershy wanted a refill and if the other girls wanted anything. While this went on Twilight fumed the waiter looked at her about to ask her if she desired anything. The look in her eyes sent the poor soul sprinting back to the bar.

Her rage seemed to have built to the point where it had to be released when from the main hall I heard a noise. The ponies started screaming and running every which way. One stallion galloped right up to the bar grabbed a bottle of whiskey and downed the whole thing in one go. A mare just started bawling and pulling out her mane. Guards were calling for order. I heard one order a member to go alert Luna. ‘Oh happy day.’

I smiled leaned over gave Fluttershy a quick peck on the check. She eeped and fell out of her seat. Seeing the anxiety of the crowds around us my smile grew wider and more sincere. Cracking my neck I shouted said. “It’s Show Time!” I made thunder crash to punctuate my exclamation.