Anarchy in the Equestrian Nation

I stepped out of my house dressed as a samurai, ready for my first Nightmare Night. Turntable and Black Bell joined me as I entered the town square, the two of them dressed in equally good costumes. Turntable was decked out in full DJ Vox regalia, while Black Bell was dressed as a vampire. We stood by the apple-bobbing cauldron, waiting for Princess Luna to arrive, as she did every year, or so I was told.

It wasn't long before the carriage arrived, pulled by two sinister bat-winged guards, and bearing its terrifying payload, the one and only Princess Luna, in disguise as Nightmare Moon. As her hooves touched the ground around the main fountain, everypony's heads dropped in a gesture of both fear and respect (mostly fear). Turntable, Black Bell, and I seemed to be the only ones who knew Nightmare Moon didn't exist, judging by the terrified expressions of the townsponies, but we bowed all the same.

"GREETINGS, CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE! WE HAVE GRACED YOUR TOWN WITH OUR GLORIOUS PRESENCE ONCE MORE!" Luna roared, obviously using the Royal Canterlot Voice. "BE GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO BE SO MAGNANIMOUS!"

I shivered at the sheer volume of her voice. As I started to stand, I noticed Black Bell had gone missing. "Where the hay is Black Bell?" I whispered to Turntable.

"She left before the Princess arrived. She's at the ticket booth, getting us a pair of tickets for the Nightmare Night concert." Turntable replied, barely audible over the Princess' Royal Canterlot Voice.

As Luna continued her genuinely frightening tirade, I asked "Concert? There's a concert? Where, and more importantly, who?"

Turntable grinned slyly. "Ever hear of a little punk band called Claws of Anarchy?"

I freaked out. "OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH." I replied, voice low enough so as not to alert Princess Luna. "Claws of Anarchy? THE Claws of Anarchy? As in, Gilda the Griffin's band?" My eyes widened at the thought. Claws of Anarchy had been my favorite band for years! "Here? In Ponyville?"

Turntable's grin expanded. "Yep. Black Bell's off getting tickets for the show as we speak." he said excitedly.

Luna finished her monologue, and Turntable and I stood up, ready to find Black Bell and head to wherever the hay the concert was.

Ten Minutes Later

We arrived at Sweet Apple Acres around ten minutes later, after learning that Applejack was hosting the concert in her barn. My eyes drifted to the sign outside the gates and my heart sank.

????? (and Claws of Anarchy), it read.

Are you serious? They're only the opening act? I thought grimly. Though, I do wonder who the main attraction is.

Turntable's eyes jetted to where the sign was. "What are you looking at?" He paused, reading over the sign. "Huh. I guess there's a secret show or something. Either way, we're still going to see Claws of Anarchy." he said optimistically, a smile on his face.

After exchanging our tickets with Big Macintosh, we made our way to the concession stand and paid for a couple of mugs of cider. The three of us managed to squeeze into the rather packed barn, eyes trained on the stage.

"Howdy. Tonight, I'd like y'all to welcome... Aw, shucks, I lost the page." Applejack said disappointedly. "Well, anyway, enjoy the shows!" As she said that, four very familiar shapes came on stage and my jaw dropped.

The entire crowd was stomping and hollering as the spotlight shifted to Gilda. "ARE YOU LAME PONIES READY TO HEAR SOME ROCK!?" she shouted over the excited crowd. "WELL YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!"

The band began to play Black Sheep, which was my favorite song by CoA. Must be my lucky night. I remarked in my head.