Lightning of The Axe

Lightning of Royalty had been practicing for their first gig all week, if there was an open moment to practice they would, they wanted to play the best gig anypony had ever heard. Sun Storm had gotten more skill in guitar playing, same with the rest of the band on their designated instruments. By Monday the band knew they were ready to rock everyponys face more than it had ever been rocked before.

It was Tuesday or as Lightning of Royalty called it 'Gig Day', the band was setting up at Sugar Cube Corner, where the party was being held.

"Is there anything we can help ya with?" Mrs. Cake asked in the usual happy tone.

"No Mrs. Cake, we're fine, thanks for asking though." Sun Storm said smiling as he strummed his guitar or 'Axe' as enjoyed calling it.

"Well just tell us if you need anything!" Mrs. Cake said cheerfully.

Strummer gave a nod and the band carried on setting up.

"Man, I'm getting pretty anxious, when do we actually play? Steel Hoof asked.

"We don't go for another two hours but the party itself starts in about thirty minutes." Cloud Wave said.

"Well, in that case I'm going up to Sweet Apple Acres, see if I can't buy a nice mug of hard cider to calm my nerves." Steel said

"Don't get shitfaced man, we don't need a boozed up drummer playing inappropriate blast beats at random times throughout the show. Strummer, go with him, make sure he only has one mug." Sun Storm said, wishing Steel Hoof didn't drink to calm his nerves.

Strummer and Steel Hoof trotted out of the door, leaving Sun Storm and Cloud Wave to sit and talk as they finished the final preparations for the show. As the two finished they saw two ponies step into the establishment, one Sun Storm recognized as Thunder Lane, but the mare he was with neither Sun Storm nor' Cloud Wave knew.

"Hey Thunder Lane!" Sun Storm said.

"Hey guys! Where're your bass player and drummer at?" Thunder Lane asked.

"Our drummer, Steel Hoof, was getting anxious so he went to grab a drink from Sweet Apple Acres, I sent Strummer, the bass player, to go with him, y'know, to make sure he didn't get plastered." Sun explained.

"Ha ha ha! Well anyways, the party'll be starting pretty soon, you guys ready to play?" Thunder Lane said.

"Hell yeah, who all's gonna be here?" Sun Storm asked.

"Eh, primarily just some friends from the weather team, Pinkie Pie will obviously be here too." Thunder Lane explained.

"So you're the pony we're playing for?" Cloud Wave asked.

"Yep, name's Thunder Lane."

"Cloud Wave"

"Who's your friend?" Sun asked, directing his attention to the pegasus standing next to Thunder Lane.

"This is Flitter, a good friend of mine." Thunder Lane said.

The group talked as they waited for the party to start, meanwhile Steel Hoof and Strummer were on their way back from the farm.

"That cup o' booze put you at ease?" Strummer asked jokingly.

"Hell yeah. I love myself a good mug of hard cider, the way it slithers down my throat and how the foam accommodates it well." Steel Hoof was too busy fantasizing to realize Strummer was giggling like a school filly at him for what he just said.

Steel Hoof came to his senses and slugged Strummer in the side.

"Dude. You know what you just said sounded pretty gay? Right?" Strummer said before chuckling more.

"Yeah, yeah, shut up ya bastard. Let's just head back to Sugar Cube and not speak or that ever again." Steel Hoof said, rolling his eyes.

The two continued walking to Sugar Cube and talking about nothing of any real significance to themselves or the show they were gonna be playing.

The party was going well, the members of Lightning of Royalty were mingling among the guests, Strummer and Cloud Wave especially due to them being pegasi like the majority of the other guests. Steel Hoof and Sun Storm sat on the stage and chatted, Sun Storm was fingering or "hoofing", if you will, some notes and chords as they talked.

"So that drink do ya well?" Sun asked.

"Yeah, it was good." Steel responded.

"Wanna describe it to me?" Sun Storm asked, hoping Steel would get what he was doing.

"Yeah, it was... wait... Strummer told you about that?! Ah, what a dildo!" Steel Hoof said, laughing off the question.

The two laughed aloud at the whole exchange of dialogue and continued talking until Pinkie came onstage.

"Hey everypony! Is everypony enjoying the party?!" Pinkie said enthusiastically.

The crowd gave a loud YEAH! which everypony knew made Pinkie feel good.

"Well it's about to get better! We have some live music here for you! Let's give a warm welcome to... LIGHTNING OF ROYALTY!" Pinkie said.

A loud cheer was heard from the crowd and soon after Strummer and Cloud Wave took the stage.

"Thank you Pinkie Pie, for the amazingly enthusiastic introduction, we love it!" Cloud Wave said before continuing. "We're happy to be here for Thunder Lane's birthday, to honor his birthday and our first performance we are going to sing a metal cover of the 'Happy Birthday Song'!"

The crowd gave a loud cheer once again. Sun Storm looked into the crowd and saw Thunder Lane's face light up. Sun Storm began playing the song on The Axe and soon Strummer, Steel Hoof, and Cloud Wave joined in with their musical talents to form the most metal birthday song ever! By the end of the song everypony was cheering extremely loud and wanted the band to play more, lucky for the crowd the band did, they played all of their original music they wrote as a band and did a few covers of other songs they knew.

"Thank you all for being here to celebrate Thunder Lane's birthday and watch us play our music!" Cloud Wave said as it was the end of their show.

The crowd was ecstatic, what the band wanted achieved was achieved, they had rocked everyponys face.

While the band was putting away their equipment they were approached by Thunder Lane.

"Hey guys, thanks for playing, actually, I can't thank you enough. Take these bits." Thunder Lane said as he held out a hoof that held a little bag that contained forty bits.

Sun Storm, like the rest of the band, had never thought that they'd get payed for their musical services.

"Uh... you don't have to pay us, keep the cash." Sun said.

"I insist." Thunder Lane said, Sun Storm knew Thunder Lane wouldn't budge so he took the money.

"Thanks man." Sun said with a smile.

"No, thank you, you dudes rock hard! I hope to hear your stuff again! Your sound'll never get old to me!" Thunder Lane said, trotting out the door.

"Did we just get payed for playing music?" Steel Hoof asked.

"Ya know what, Steel? I think we did." Sun Storm said as a grin slowly came upon his face.

"How much'd we get?" Strummer asked.

Sun took the money out of the bag and counted it out. "Forty bits. Ten for each of us."

After all of the money was divided equally and the equipment was put away the four ponies split and went home. Sun Hoof was now aware he could make money playing music and now that he knew he liked it.