The Grand Tour: Part One Tempers, Fillies On Scooters, And High Fashion

Cobalt Masquerade And Star Struck’s Tour Of Chaos

Chapter 4

The Grand Tour: Part One
Tempers, Fillies On Scooters, And High Fashion

By Dalton McQuay, AKA Cobalt Masquerade

It was finally happening. Cobalt was on stage, with his idol since foal hood, Dave Mustang, about to play a set with him. This, Cobalt knew, would be the greatest moment of his life.

“Are, you ready, Cobalt?” Dave asked him, the crowd cheering, ready and waiting for the performance.

“Y-yeah,” Cobalt choked out, the excitement overtaking him.

“Alright,” Dave said, “Let’s start off with Symphony Of Destruction.”

“Okay,” Cobalt managed to say, readying his hooves on the frets of his guitar. Dumb Bell clicked his drumsticks together four times, to count off the beat, and then all three guitarists played the power chords to start the song.

*HOOOONK!!!!*

Cobalt was startled awake, along with the rest of his band and Star Struck, by Discord.

“Damnit Discord! Couldn’t you have driven a little slower for once? I was having, like, the best dream ever!” Cobalt yelled at the snickering draconequis.

“Nope. Besides, we’re here, and even though the setup’s almost done because of the forward crew, there’s still some stuff that needs doing. Come on guys, get up, and let’s get the setup done so you can have a little break before the show starts!” Discord said.

After a few grumbles and some mane, tail, and coat brushing, everyone was out of the van and helping with the setup. Everyone except for Star Struck however.

She slowly wandered the stage, looking for something to do, but not knowing how to do anything.

“You okay Star?” Six String asked. “You look a little lost.”

“You can say that again, Six,” Star said. “I have no idea what I should be doing. I have no idea what the town is like, so I don’t want to wander into town and get lost, and I have no idea how to set up any of this electronic stuff.”

“Well, since you can’t work with the electronics, there’s no much that you can do around here...”

“Could you maybe make us something to eat, Star? It’s been a few hours since dinner...” Dumbbell said as he worked on setting up his drum set.

“Sure, it’s really the best I can do right now, isn’t it?” Star replied halfheartedly as she trotted into the bus.

Cobalt felt bad about her not feeling like she could be of direct help, but he needed to talk with the band about something more pressing first. “Hey guys,” he called out to the band members, “Could you gather around for a second? I need to talk to you guys about something.”

As the band members gathered around, he began the talk he had been planning in this head since earlier that day, when Six String yelled at Star Struck. “Guys, listen, we really need to get our act together.”

“What do you mean?” Octavia questioned.

“I think you all know what I mean,” Cobalt said, gesturing to the group. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you guys about this for a while, but Six’s freak-out earlier today made this much more urgent.”

“What are you talking about?” Six String asked cockily. “Our first concert went off without a hitch.”

“Yeah Six, it did,” Cobalt replied, irritation in his voice. “The concert was great. The music was amazing! But that’s not my point. We, as a band, are the problem. Six, your anger today scared all of us, not just Star. You can’t just flip out and yell like that all the time, and you need to get control of your temper.”

Six was the first to interject. “You have no right to lecture me on MY temper.”

“Six, you know as well as any of us that I have a temper. And I’m trying to gain control of it. And it’s not just you, Six. It’s everyone,” he said, turning to Octavia. “Octavia, I’m sorry, but please lighten up. When we talk about music, all you ever say is that you hate it. If you didn’t like it at least a little, you would have left already. So please, try to go with the flow.” Octavia just looked at the ground and kicked at it with a hoof. Finally, Cobalt turned to Dumbbell, an understanding look in his eye. “And Dumbbell, your only problem is your klutziness. And I know you can’t help that much. But please, at least try to be more careful?” Dumbbell just nodded slowly, because he knew nodding his head quickly would most likely throw him off balance.

When Cobalt had finished, the whole band hung their heads a little, for they knew every word Cobalt had said was true.

“Alright dude, whatever you say,” Six String said as he and the others began to disperse.

Star Struck came out of the bus hovering a plate of snacks with her magic just in time to see the group dissipate as they went back to setting up their equipment. “Is something the matter?” she asked, placing the plate onto a nearby table, which Dumbbell and Six ate half-heartedly from.

“No,” Cobalt replied. “We just had a little talk is all. Anyway, thanks for the snacks and stuff. I wish there was a way I could repay you...”

“It’s ok. In fact, I should still be repaying you for taking me with you on this tour.”

“Still, I wish there was something I could do for you...” Cobalt said meditatively, scratching his chin with a hoof.

“Why don’t you take her on a tour of the town?” Six yelled from behind his speaker stack as he tweaked his tone through his amp head.

"What?" Cobalt shouted back at Six.

"Why don't you show Star Struck around Ponyville? It’s a new place for her to discover. Plus, between me, Tavi, Dumb Bell and Discord, we can get this done in time." Six String said.

"You sure Six?" Cobalt asked.

"Yeah, just make sure you two get back in time for the concert. It’s at eight, so get back here at about seven thirty. That still gives about an hour and a half."

"Alright. What do you say, Star? Wanna take the Ponyville Grand Tour?"

“That sounds amazing Cobalt,” Star Struck said excitedly.

"Alright then,” Cobalt said, grabbing his saddlebags and making his way off of the stage and out of the concert hall with Star Struck. “Let’s go to the town square first there’s bound to be a ton of ponies there. By the way, watch out for fillies on scooters in this town. They can be dangerous. And definitely be on the lookout for fast moving pink blurs. Those can be even worse. Especially if the blur smells like cupcakes."

“Um... What?” Star asked, confusion littering her face. “What you just said makes no sense.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. You'd be surprised how much crazy stuff happens in Ponyville. Remember all those hydra and manticore attacks from a few months ago? Ponyville was the center of all of them."

“Oh wow. I heard that those were some of the worst attacks of the century. Now that you mention it, I remember seeing a lot of crazy stuff about Ponyville in the papers. Is this town like a magnet for craziness or something?”

"I think so," Cobalt said with a deep chuckle, "Either that, or it's the people living here that cause the prob-"

Before Cobalt could even finish his sentence, there was a sole "WATCH OUT!" followed by two high-pitched screams. There was a crash, and Cobalt and Star Struck woke up in a pile of 3 fillies and a wrecked wagon attached to a scooter.

"What did I tell you Star Struck? Fillies on scooters are dangerous in this town."

Star just blinked and rubbed her head as she sat up. “Oh wow. You weren’t kidding at all." She said with a laugh. “Are you girls ok?”

“Yeah, we’re fine,” said a small yellow filly with golden eyes, a red mane and tail, and a large bow in her mane.

“Yup,” said an orange pegasus with a purple mane and eyes. “We’ve survived worse.”

“And I’m not too proud to say so,” said the third unicorn filly with green eyes, who was brushing dirt out of her white coat and two-tone white and purple mane.

“Not even going to ask if I’m ok, Star?” Cobalt asked jokingly. “That’s a little cold. Anyway, how are you girls?” he asked, looking at the three fillies. “It’s been a while.”

“MISTER MASQUERADE!” the girls shouted, immediately enveloping Cobalt in a big hug.

“It’s been too long!” the orange pegasus shouted.

“Yeah!” the other two shouted.

“Girls, I’m so happy to see you, even if it’s at the cost of a few bruises.”

All three of the Crusaders blushed and scratched the backs of their heads.

Star Struck just looked on confusedly at the scene before her.

“Oh, Star, I’m sorry. I haven’t introduced you guys yet! Star Struck, these three girls are the Cutie Mark Crusaders. This is Applebloom,” Cobalt said, pointing to the yellow filly. “This is Scootaloo,” he said, pointing to the orange pegasus. “And finally, this is Sweetie Belle,” he said with a smile, pointing to the small white unicorn. “Girls, this is an old friend of mine, Star Struck.”

“HI MISS STAR STRUCK!” the three fillies cheered in unison.

“Hello girls. I’m glad to meet you.”

“Sweetie,” Cobalt’s said turning to the small white unicorn, “Is Rarity at the Boutique?”

“Yeah,” replied Sweetie Belle, with a hint of disappointment in her voice. “Just like she always is.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry girls, but Star Struck and I have to go now.” Cobalt said, pulling the girls into a big hug. “We don’t have a lot of time, and I’m giving her the Ponyville Grand Tour. Here,” he said reaching into his saddlebag and pulling out three tickets. “I want to see you girls singing along in the front rows tonight, okay girls?”

“YAY,” the girls shouted as they took the tickets. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS CONCERT GOERS!”

“We’ll be there Mister Masquerade!” Scootaloo said excitedly.

“I expect you to be,” Cobalt said with a smile. “Now get along with your crusading girls. I’ll see you at the show at eight.”

“Alright,” the girls said as they picked up their wagon and scooter. “Bye Mister Masquerade,” they yelled as they sped off into the distance.

“I told you, fillies on scooters are dangerous in this town,” Cobalt said as he turned back to Star Struck.

“You can say that again.” she replied with a laugh. “By the, who’s Rarity?”

“Oh, Rarity is one of the people I think you might know in this town. She was in our class back in kindergarten too. For a little while anyway. She switched to a different school after she found her special talent and got her Cutie Mark. Come on, follow me. It’s not that far to the Carousel Boutique. It’s her fashion shop.”

Cobalt was right, the shop wasn’t that far away, and it took the duo not five minutes to reach it. Cobalt walked through the door, to find Rarity working on a new dress, facing away from the door. Once she heard the doorbell ring, she began her usual drawl;

“Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where everything is sleek, chic, and magnifique! How may I-” as she turned around and noticed just who she was talking to, her eyes widened, and she immediately sped over and gave Cobalt a hug. “Oh my Celestia! Cobalt Masquerade, it’s been far too long since I’ve seen you! How have you been?” she asked, finally releasing Cobalt from the embrace.

“I’ve been fine Rarity. And you’re right, it has been too long.”

“Ahem,” Star Struck coughed.

“Oh right,” Cobalt blushed. “Rarity, this is Star Struck. She was with us when we were in Magic Kindergarten.”

“Hello dear,” Rarity replied, once again putting on her prim and proper façade. Her face then turned into a puzzled look, and she turned back to Cobalt. “Is she your marefr-”

“No, she’s not my marefriend,” Cobalt interrupted. “Everypony keeps asking that!”

“Okay, okay dear, calm down. It was just a question,” Rarity replied. “Anyway, Cobalt said that you were in Kindergarten with us. Were you by any chance in our little play?”

“Actually,” Star replied, visibly happy to finally be part of the conversation, “I was. I remember being dressed up as a giant, jewel encrusted apple. Definitely one of the highlights of my childhood.” Star said with a light chuckle.

“Ah yes,” Rarity reminisced, “It was actually I who made those costumes.”

“And your talent has only improved,” Star stated as she looked around the room and the multitude of dresses around the shop.

“Well Rarity, it’s been so nice to see you, but I’m afraid Star and I will have to take our leave. I’m giving her the Ponyville Grand Tour before my bands’ concert at eight tonight. Would you like to attend?” Cobalt asked, whisking a ticket magically out of his bag to give to Rarity.

“Oh Cobalt I’d love to attend. Thank you so much,” she said as Cobalt’s magical aura around the ticket was replaced by her own.

“Cool,” Cobalt said, turning to leave to shop as Star Struck followed him. “See you then.”

After they had left the shop, Star turned to Cobalt as they trotted along the streets of Ponyville. “Well, that was definitely interesting.”

“And the Grand Tour has only just begun...” Cobalt said mischievously.

Author's Note

Oh boy, new chapter! Sorry it took so long, school and writer's block has been taking its toll. More chapters to come eventually, sorry again for the long wait!