Mystery Mint snapped her eyes open. She sat up and yawned.
"Hello, morning," she murmured, climbing out of her comfy bed. She walked down the stairs to pour herself a bowl of haywheat cereal.
As she ate, a weird feeling settled at the bottom of Mystery's stomach. She felt like something exciting would happen today. Something new. Something different.
I could be imagining things, she thought as she finished off the last of her cereal. Now, where was that band practice schedule Cherry Crash had given her?
Mystery rummaged around the counter, looking for the bright purple book. When she found it, she brought it closer with her magic and eagerly flipped to a certain page.
Band practice, 10:00 latest, at Aria Blaze's basement, Mystery Mint read. She reread it.
How in Equestria did Cherry get Aria Blaze to lend us her garage? She wondered. Aria Blaze wasn't very friendly towards Mystery and Cherry Crash. In fact, she was downright mean. Still, Mystery knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Not that she could change where the practice was scheduled.
With a smile, Mystery trotted upstairs again to get her guitar.
"Hello, guitar! She exclaimed, raising it up from its case. Another thought suddenly occurred to her.
"Wait, why am I talking to it?"
Mystery giggled a little bit, then trotted back downstairs again. The clock read 9:30.
Did I really sleep in that late? She thought. Usually, I'm up at 7:00.
Mystery opened the door and stepped outside. It was a breezy autumn day in Ponyville, and the streets were already buzzing with ponies. The quiet morning she had been experiencing so far was gone.
"Hi, Berry Punch!" She called to the nearby mare. Berry waved back.
"Hi, Mystery Mint!" Berry answered. Mystery smiled and waved.
As Mystery walked to Aria's house, she was greeted by many ponies. Mystery always waved back. She loved having so many friends in Ponyville!
Mystery stopped in front of Aria's house and knocked on the door.
"Hi, Aria!" She exclaimed when Aria opened the door. "I'm here for band practice!"
"I know," Aria replied in her sharp voice. "Cherry Crash has been down there for the past hour showing off your new routine." She laughed. "I can't believe she decided to do that!"
"Do what?" Mystery asked, craning her neck to see around Aria. Aria shrugged.
"If you don't know, I'm not gonna tell you. Now follow me." She led Mystery through her house. Mystery was mostly focused on Aria's wild hair. She wore her green and purple hair in indescribably cool ponytails.
"Cherry Crash is down there," she told Mystery, pointing at the entrance to the basement.
"Thanks a lot, Aria," Mystery said as she began to walk down the stairs. Aria waved a hoof.
"Don't mention it," she replied.
"Hi Mystery!" Cherry Crash yelled, flying up to Mystery and hugging her.
"Hi Cherry!" Mystery replied. She stepped back. "Hold on- what are you wearing?" Cherry Crash had on a baggy blue sweatshirt, a big black hat, a pair of grey sweatpants and a gold pendant with a ruby center.
"Like it?" Cherry Crash laughed. "It's my new look for our new routine!"
"What new routine?" Mystery asked apprehensively. Cherry Crash flung her front hooves in the air.
"I'm going to rap!" She exclaimed. Mystery's mouth dropped open.
"You're going to... rap?"
"Yeah!" Cherry Crash confirmed. "And you can still do your guitar and everything and I figured you could sing the chorus!" Mystery looked around in confusion.
"Do you even have a rap yet?" She asked. Cherry Crash smiled.
"Yeah! You wanna hear it?"
Mystery, not wanting to hurt Cherry Crash's feelings, nodded. Cherry Crash took a deep breath.
"What up? I'm Cherry Crash and I'm here to rap and you better know I'm gonna blow your mind!" Cherry began, flapping her wings to the beat. "My partner here is Mystery Mint she plays the guitar..."
Mystery resisted the urge to run away as Cherry Crash continued her rap.
I hope I have a decent poker face, she thought. After several more minutes, Cherry finished.
"What did you think, Mystery?" She asked.
"Um," Mystery said, stalling for time.
"Yeah?" Cherry asked, leaning in.
"It was... interesting," Mystery finally answered. "But I think it would be better if we were to stick to what we normally do. Maybe, um, later, we can rap." Cherry Crash shook her head.
"Mystery, I kinda already said we'd perform on Saturday. For that Shoe Club down the street."
There's a shoe club down the street? Mystery thought right before she blurted out, "WHAT?"
"It's not that bad, actually. Although we might not want to tell Blueberry that Norman is Vice-president."
Mystery took a deep breath.
"Alright, we'll do this." She forced a smile. "Where are my lines?"
~
We are doomed, Mystery thought as she carried a banner into the Shoe Club. Cherry Crash had insisted on writing "My$tery M!nt and Cherry Cra$h" on it. Now, Mystery wore a pink sweatshirt with a pale grey hat in the same style as Cherry's.
The members of the Shoe Cult clapped for them.
"Alright! Here's our rap!" Cherry exclaimed, flapping her wings. "Shoes are the best! Yeah, shoes are the best! Let me count the ways..."
As Mystery strummed her guitar, she noticed several members inch out of the room. She inwardly groaned.
When it came for her turn to sing, Mystery sang, "I love to wear my shoes, they're my favorite wear! When I'm walking down the street, everypony will stare..." The verses for her part weren't to bad, actually.
When they were done, there was a polite applause.
"Thank you, Cherry Crash and Mystery Mint," one orange stallion with brown hair said. Mystery detected the force in his voice.
"Very welcome!" Cherry Chrash eplied. "Come on, Mystery! Let's blow this popsicle stand!"
Popsicle stand? Mystery giggled as she followed Cherry Crash out the door.
"Cherry?" She asked. "Can you promise me something?"
"Sure! What is it?"
"Promise me we'll never rap again."
