Canadian Pacific 5-5

The next day required me and my friends to do several construction projects and as a result we weren’t able to meet up with the Mane 6 until supper. We had been near enough but not close enough for conversation.

“Would you girls like to come with us, to a bar, tonight?” I asked, “The rest of the Five and I were looking to get a little drink on and we were wondering if you’d like to come along. You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m just offering.”

“What kind of bar?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, nothing too rowdy,” John replied, “Just a little place with a karaoke machine. It’s not too far. We’ll be walking though.”

“Sounds like fun!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“I’m in,” Rainbow Dash said.

“A few drinks couldn’t hurt,” Applejack replied.

“I wonder what I could learn,” Twilight muttered before turning to me, “I’m in.”

“Well, if you’re all going…” Rarity said.

“If you don’t mind,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Alright then!” Brent grinned, “Let’s go!”

We walked the three blocks to the quaint little pub and ordered a round of light beer for our group. An hour or two later John, Andrew and I had each emptied two bottles and were starting to feel braver.

“Time to sing,” John said, “Who’s first? …Not Me!”

“Not me!” Andrew said just before me, leaving me to take to the karaoke machine.

“This one has WiFi!” I said when I got up there, “Sweet!”

I flicked through YouTube for a moment before finding the right song.

I laughed as I walked off stage, “Man. That felt good. You’re next John!”

“Fine,” he grumbled as he got up.

He fiddled with the machine for a moment or two before he belted out Great Big Sea’s ‘Consequence Free’.

“He’s singing right into my territory,” I told the ponies before I started singing along with the song. I was interrupted shortly thereafter by Fluttershy.

“Um, I was wondering why you sang that song,” she said, “Don’t you have a family? Not to sound rude or anything. I-I’m just curious.”

“Oh, that’s OK,” I replied, “I do have a family. And I really do love them. I just really like that song. That and it’s gotten a little truer recently. The rest of my family went pony and moved to Equestria about a month-and-a-half ago.”

“Oh,” Fluttershy said, eyes wide, “I’m sorry I…”

“No, it’s fine,” I said, “I miss them but I do have a feeling I’ll be able to find them when I get to Equestria.”

Just then Andrew started singing Allan Jackson’s ‘Mercury Blues’.

Not long after Twilight got curious.

“Why is he singing about mercury like that?” she asked, “Doesn’t he know it’s a toxic substance?”

“He’s not singing about the element,” I replied, “There used to be a car manufacturer named Mercury. They built very beautiful cars.”

I then showed her some photos of Mercurys on my iPod. It wasn’t too long after that Andrew finished and it was my turn again. I sang Toby Keith’s ‘Wish I Didn’t Know Now’

and found myself well applauded. I was surprised that anyone other than the Mane 6 and the Five had been paying attention.

I then made my way back to the table as John sang the Bellamy Brother’s ‘Let Your Love Flow’.

When I got there it was Applejack’s turn to ask a question.

“What ya’ll are singin’ sounds an awful lot like the country music we got,” she said, “Is that what this is? And why are all ya’ll singin’ it?”

“Yeah this is country music,” I replied, “Though I don’t know why we’re all singing it. Hey, Andy. How come you two are singing what I like?”

“’Cause you do the same for us almost every other time,” Andrew said, “High time we returned the favour.”

“Thanks,” I said, “Well there’s your answer.”

“You know I’m surprised you listen to this stuff,” Rainbow Dash said, “It’s all sappy and lonesome and melancholy. I figured you’d listen to music that’s as adventurous as you.”

“ ‘Melancholy’? I didn’t think you knew that word,” I joked, “Probably got it from a Daring Doo novel, eh? As for why I like the music…Andy! Mind if I take your place?”

“Go ahead,” he replied, “I’ve had one too many drinks now to sing again.”

“Thanks,” I said, “Rainbow, this one should answer your question.”

I made my way to the karaoke machine and hit up the one song I knew would be right. I belted out Trace Adkin’s ‘Songs About Me’.

“Does that answer your question?” I asked as I returned to the group.

“Yeah,” Dash said, “I can see why you like it.”

“We should probably be getting back,” Brent said, “It’s rather late.”

“You’re right,” John said, “We’ll likely be doing more of the same tomorrow. We’ll need the sleep.”

We then rounded everybody up and staggered our way back to the Bureau.