Season Z, Episode N: Mission Music

Season: Z

Episode: N

Mission Music

(By: Flame Runner)

“Come on Twilight…almost there!” encouraged a young purple dragon with green scales.

The dragon’s name was Spike and his entire body was tensed as his unicorn friend, Twilight Sparkle, was carefully placing the final card on her massive card house in the upper room of the tree library in Ponyville the two called home. Twilight’s horn was aglow with purple magic. The same type of magical glow surrounded the playing card that the unicorn librarian was levitating carefully into place.

Spike’s eyes were wide with excitement and his claws were clenched tightly shut. “Come on…come on…” he whispered.

The card was gently placed on top of the card house. “There,” sighed Twilight with relief.

A loud burp wrenched the air suddenly as Spike spewed forth a green fire. From inside the flame, a letter materialized and fell to the floor. Twilight shrieked and jumped into the air with all of her hooves spread out. During the scare, she accidentally moved the playing card a tic to far. It just barely bumped the top card on the house and the entire thing came crashing down in a messy pile.

“Whoa!” chuckled Spike as he patted his belly, “That was a good one!”

“Spike!” yelled an angry Twilight as she regained her footing.

“Wait! It’s a letter from Celestia!” The young dragon picked the sealed parchment off the floor and held it out to Twilight.

The purple mare with a deep blue mane, laced with shades of purple, glared at the message which she levitated into a reading position and then yanked the seal cleanly off. She began to read aloud, “Dear Twilight Sparkle, Today is the Canterlot Festival of Music and I have once again been invited to attend. I love to hear all of the high society music, but recently I have been curious as to what other kinds of music ponies all over Equestria listen to. I am hereby sending you out to learn about the music of Ponyville. I hope that this will be a fun bit of research as music is truly something wonderful. Good luck my faithful student, Signed Princess Celestia.”

(Insert Theme Music Here)

* * * * * * * * *

“The music of Ponyville?” queried Spike. “What does that mean?”

Twilight paced around her upstairs. “I don’t really know. In fact, I don’t even know what to think…or where to start.”

“Well, what about Pinkie Pie?” suggested the young dragon. “We all know how much she likes to sing.”

“Pinkie Pie, huh?” replied Twilight thoughtfully. Her front hoof came up and scratched her chin in thought. “Alright! Come along Spike! I’ll need you to write down everything we learn. If we learn anything from Pinkie that is.”

The purple unicorn levitated Spike unto her back and also magically yanked a scroll and quill to the little dragon. He snatched them up with both claws as they came to him.

“To Sugar Cube Corner!” stated Spike happily. “Hi ho Twilight! Away!” He pointed a claw in front of him and toward the door.

The unicorn twisted her head up to glance at Spike for a moment.

“Oops, I overdid it again,” apologized Spike as his cheeks began to blush.

Twilight giggled to herself and then trotted out the front door at an easy pace to Sugar Cube Corner, the finest bakery in Ponyville.

* * * * * * * * *

The smells and sights of the sugar coated pastries, cakes, and other sweets behind the counter were almost too much to bear. Mr. and Mrs. Cake had really outdone themselves this day. Mr. Cake, a yellow earth stallion with orange hair and green eyes who always seemed to wear a funny white and orange hat, stood behind said counter and warmly welcomed Twilight and Spike.

“Good morning you two! What can I help you with?”

“Morning Mr. Cake!” chirped Twilight happily. “Is Pinkie around?”

“Yep. She’s in the kitchen with Mrs. Cake.”

“Great! May I talk with her for a few moments?”

“Sure you can.” Mr. Cake smiled before turning around and calling into the kitchen, “Oh Pinkie Pie! Your friends are here!”

“Okie dokie! Just one sec!” came a muffled voice from the kitchen.

Mr. Cake, Twilight, and Spike looked back and forth for a few silent and awkward moments.

“Um…so…nice weather lately, huh?” said Spike as he twiddled his thumbs.

“Yep,” responded Mr. Cake.

More silence.

“I wonder what’s taking Pinkie so long,” mentioned Twilight.

“Uh…so can I offer you something to eat?” asked Mr. Cake nervously.

“Actually, now that you mention it…” started Spike before a voice cut him off.

“Hi Twilight! Hi Spike!” greeted a familiar high-pitched voice.

Pinkie Pie, the owner of the voice, was a pink earth mare with the poofiest pink hair in all Equestria. She was carrying a tray full of steaming hot and freshly frosted cupcakes in one of her hooves. She clacked it down on the display case that Mr. Cake was standing behind.

“Fresh out of the oven! Go on, take one! Oh, just be careful, they’re really hot!” giggled the pink mare.

“Ooo! I love hot stuff!” Spike enthusiastically snatched up a cupcake and gulped it down in one bite.

Twilight was a bit more cautious in her approach. She gently levitated the treat in front of her face and blew on it a few times before venturing a small bite. Pinkie grabbed two, one in each of her front hooves, and tossed them into the air. They fell perfectly into her gaping mouth and she licked her lips contentedly.

“Uh Pinkie, if you and your friends want, there’s a table right over there that you can chat at,” Mr. Cake mentioned while pointing to a nice clean table.

The three moved over to the table.

“So what are you and Spike doing here?” asked Pinkie.

“Actually Pinkie, I’m here on behalf of Princess Celestia,” stated Twilight.

“Oh! Oh! Are they having another wedding? Have I been invited to help?”

“Well actually it’s…”

“Or maybe it’s another big, fancy party!”

“No, it’s not another party…”

“With all the singing and dancing and…wait, it’s NOT a party?”

“No, but it does have to do with singing,” Twilight finally got a sentence in.

“So singing…but no party? Sounds fishy to me,” stated Pinkie.

“Twilight’s just doing some research on music for Princess Celestia,” Spike intervened.

“Oh! Well, why didn’t you just say so, Silly!” giggled Pinkie.

Twilight moaned quietly before speaking. “I’m checking into the music of Ponyville. We knew that you enjoyed singing and thought that you might be a good place to start.”

“Of course I love singing! I mean, who doesn’t love to sing?” stated Pinkie.

“So…what kind of music do you sing exactly? And why?” questioned Twilight.

“What kind of music?” Pinkie responded as she thought.

Spike pulled up his paper and quill to scribble down the answer.

“I sing fun and happy music!” exclaimed Pinkie. “And why do I sing fun, happy music? Well, because it’s fun and happy! Duh. I mean, if it makes me happy and those who hear it happy, then why not sing it? I love it when other ponies are happy; it makes me feel all good inside and stuff.”

“…and stuff,” mumbled Spike as he wrote down the answer. “Got it!”

“Thanks Pinkie,” stated Twilight. “Ok Spike, where to next?” she asked her passenger.

“Ooo! Ooo! Pick me! Pick me!” squealed Pinkie as she raised a hoof above her head and waved it frantically back and forth.

“I choose Pinkie!” said Spike.

“Yessss!” Pinkie lowered her hoof into a little victory dance.

“Okay…Pinkie?” stated Twilight questioningly.

“You should check out Rarity. I’ve heard her humming as she works on her dresses. I’m sure that she can help you a lot!” replied Pinkie.

At that moment smoke began to pour forth from the kitchen and an alarm went off.

“PINKIE!” yelled the startled voice of Mrs. Cake from the kitchen.

“Oops, that’s me! Gotta go! Bye Twilight! Bye Spike!” The pink mare dashed off to the kitchen and left her friends to themselves.

“So Rarity then?” asked Spike to his purple ride.

“Rarity,” answered Twilight.

The two took off for Rarity’s beautiful dress shop, Carousel Boutique.

* * * * * * * * *

The door to the Carousel Boutique opened to the small tinkling of hanging bells.

“Just one minute!” Rarity’s elegant voice floated through the halls.

Twilight and Spike casually sauntered into the main room. Soon Rarity, a white unicorn mare with a beautifully swirled purple mane and tail, trotted out to meet her customers.

“Oh Spike! And Twilight! How are you today?” greeted the white mare.

“H-Hi Rarity,” stammered Spike as his cheeks began to blush. He wobbled a little uneasily on Twilight’s back and lazily waved at the lovely unicorn. A quick bump from Twilight soon knocked him out of his trance.

“Hello Rarity!” Twilight stated. “Spike and I are here doing research for Princess Celestia.”

“Oh, on authority from royalty? What could they want with little old me?” half joked Rarity with a playful brush of her front hoof through the air. “Did they get my dresses? Are they a hit?” she asked almost immediately afterward as she zipped close to Twilight and asked with sparkling eyes.

Twilight gently pushed her friend a short distance back. The purple mare then cleared her throat and spoke. “I don’t know about all that Rarity, but I’m here to find out about the music of Ponyville. Do you know anything about it?”

“Music? But of course!” replied Rarity. “In fact not a few moments before you two came in, I was listening to some of my favorite music from the Canterlot Orchestra.”

Spike was busy scribbling down the information on his paper. “Remember, Rarity likes the Canterlot Orchestra.” He received another bump from Twilight.

“So tell me Rarity, why do you listen to the music you listen to?” asked Twilight.

“Why?” responded Rarity. “Well, it’s quite simple really. I like to listen to the Orchestra as I design my dresses. I find that it can be very…Oh, what’s the right word?…” she stomped a hoof as the word came to her, “inspiring!”

“So listening to music inspires you to create?” quizzed Twilight.

“Exactly!” chirped Rarity. “The way that the notes flow together so perfectly and elegantly helps me to design my wonderful dresses and reminds me of the quality that I’m striving for with every single one.”

“Wow, that’s pretty cool!” stated Twilight. “You got all that Spike?”

“Yep! I got it Twilight!” cooed Spike happily as he held up his quill and page.

“Spike! Freeze right there!” Rarity commanded suddenly.

The little dragon froze in place. “D-Did I do something wrong?”

“No, you did something right!” replied the fashionable unicorn. “That pose has given me inspiration for a new collection! I must draw this down at once!” she rushed off to her dress making studio, but just as soon turned a full 180 and came promptly back.

“I hope you got all the information you needed,” said Rarity.

“Yes, you gave us plenty. Thanks,” replied Twilight with a smile.

“Great!” cheered Rarity.

The white unicorn gave Spike one last look over before squealing happily and hastily making her way to her creation studio.

“Remember this pose,” Spike muttered as he wrote onto the paper.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Come on Spike, let’s see who else we can talk to.”

* * * * * * * * *

Spike and Twilight were walking around Ponyville and looking for somepony of interest to interview. Afternoon set in and the duo found themselves hungry for lunch. They had settled for a small café in town. Twilight got a daffodil sandwich while Spike was finishing off an order of hay fries. The day was warm and sunny while a few clouds hung lazily in the bright blue sky, until Rainbow Dash came by to remedy the situation.

Rainbow Dash was a cyan pegasus with a mane and tail that looked like a rainbow had thrown up on it. She was strong, athletic, and one of the many pegasus in charge of the weather in Ponyville. The cyan mare kicked at the fluffy white clouds and they puffed away to let the warm sunshine stream into Ponyville without hindrance.

“Hi Rainbow!” called Spike from his potion below the pegasus.

“Huh? Who said that?” asked Rainbow Dash as she twisted her head all around.

“Down here!” called the little dragon.

Rainbow Dash looked below and saw the waving dragon as he wolfed down the last of his fries. She flew down quickly and landed next to Twilight. Her landing kicked up some dust which floated onto what was left of Twilight’s sandwich. The unicorn took a look at it and plopped it back down on her plate.

“Hi guys!” opened Rainbow.

“Hi Rainbow Dash,” said Twilight. “What are you up to today?”

“Oh you know, just taking care of the weather.”

She flew into the sky, gave a might kick with her hind legs and then posed epically for the two to see.

“You’ve been napping all morning haven’t you?” asked Twilight.

The pegasus came back down to earth.

“It’s not like I’ve had much else to do. The weather control in this town is so boring. So then, what are you two up to?” she redirected the conversation.

“Me and Twilight are finding out about the music of Ponyville,” Spike chipped in.

“Music of Ponyville? What kind of music does Ponyville have?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” replied Twilight. “So far we’ve talked to Pinkie Pie and Rarity about what kind of music they like.”

“Oh and now you need to hear about some cool music from me, is that it?” Rainbow seemed enthusiastic.

“Well, I guess-” Twilight was interrupted mid thought.

“Alright, the kind of music I listen to is Rock and Roll. Oh yeah! It’s great for training and really gets my blood pumping. I tell you, that stuff is great for a work out and sometimes, when I actually want to get up early; I’ll wake up to it. Best way to start the day ever. Period.”

“Um, Spike did you get that?” asked Twilight.

Spike was fumbling around with the paper and quill, attempting to scribble down notes.

“Rock and Roll, workout, morning, ever,” he muttered. “Ok, I think I got it.”

“Good enough for me,” stated Twilight.

“Well, I’ve got to get back on weather patrol. See you later!” Rainbow Dash blazed back into the heavens, humming her favorite Rock tune and bobbing her head up and down with the unheard drum beat.

Twilight looked back at her dirt covered sandwich.

“Well I think I’m full,” she said.

“You gonna finish that?” asked Spike as he pointed to the sandwich.

“Knock yourself out.” Twilight tossed the half eaten sandwich to Spike who quickly gobbled it down.

“So,” Spike mumbled with a full mouth, “where to next?”

“We’ve already talked to Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and now Rainbow Dash,” Twilight recapped, “I guess we’ll go find out what my other friends have to say.”

“Great! Sweet Apple Acres it is then!” Spike stated enthusiastically. “I could do with some apple pie, I’m famished.” He said while licking off his fingers.

* * * * * * * * *

“Applejack!” called Twilight as she and Spike entered the farm known as Sweet Apple Acres.

Sweet Apple Acres was mostly an apple orchard, but had some other crops planted in it, like corn. A large red barn sat in the land as well as a nice farm house where Applejack and her family lived. Applejack was an orange earth pony with braided yellow hair. She always wore a cowboy hat atop her head, which suited her southern accent well.

Twilight spotted movement from one of the myriad of apple trees dotting the landscape. The plump apples fell from the tree as another powerful buck pounded into it. “Applejack,” stated Twilight as she tore off for the tree.

“Twilight wait up!” Spike shouted as his small body ran to keep up with the faster pony.

Spike had decided to get off Twilight’s back so he could walk for a while, but running wasn’t what he had in mind.

“Hi Applej-!” the unicorn stopped mid sentence. She had found not an orange mare, but a strong stallion with a red coat.

“Oh, hi Big Mac,” corrected Twilight, slightly embarrassed. “Is Applejack in the house?”

“Eeyup,” replied Big Mac.

“Thanks.” Twilight took off for the farm house just as Spike caught up.

Spike was huffing and puffing. He put his claws over his knees and got his breathing back under control. The dragon looked up and saw Big Mac looking him over curiously.

“Hey Big Mac,” greeted Spike. “Did Twilight just run off to the house?”

“Eeyup,” stated Big Mac definitively.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Thanks!” Spike took off running once again. “Twilight slow down!” He shouted as he chased after his purple friend.

Big Mac watched the little dragon for a few moments before resuming his job. He shot his back legs into an apple tree and the juicy, ripe apples fell into the buckets that had been placed around it.

* * * * * * * * *

Knock! Knock! Knock! Twilight pounded on the farm house’s front door. It soon opened to reveal the orange pony that Twilight had been looking for.

“Twilight! Well what a surprise! Come on in!” welcomed Applejack graciously.

The farm pony was in the process of closing the door when a call rang out.

“Wait! Hold the…door!” huffed Spike.

“Howdy Spike!” yelled Applejack. She waved a hoof at the distant, but ever closer, dragon.

Spike arrived at the door not too long afterwards. He entered, grabbed a chair, and then planted his face directly into the kitchen table with a thud.

“Well golly Spike, ya’ seem pretty tuckered out,” mentioned Applejack.

Spike breathed in and out with exaggerated breaths but didn’t move his head.

“Which is really too bad, considerin’ I just baked this here apple pie,” the orange mare turned around and picked up a delicious looking pie which she then placed in front of Spike.

Spike’s head shot up instantly and he eyed the pie hungrily, all sense of tiredness now gone.

“Ha ha,” chuckled Applejack. “Works every time,” she whispered to Twilight and winked.

Applejack began to slice up the pie and handed everypony a generous portion.

“So, what can I do ya’ for?” she asked.

“Well actually, we’re going around and asking about the kind of music found here in Ponyville,” Twilight managed to mumble between bites.

“Music, eh?” replied Applejack. “Well I’ll tell ya’, some of the best country music I ever heard has been at the Apple family reunions.” She paused to swallow a bite of pie before continuing. “We got some real talented musicians in the family and they up and start somethin’ and before you know it we’ve got a square dance goin’ on. And then somepony starts a hootin’ and hollerin’ and before long the whole family’s involved doin’ somethin’ fun. Yessiree, lot’s of fun at one of the Apple family reunions.”

“You got all that Spike?” asked Twilight, who had now finished her pie.

Spike’s eyes were closed and he was chewing on a bite slowly, savoring each flavor. “Mmm…mmm….” he murmured.

“You know, I’ll just write this one down,” said Twilight.

“Oh, would ya’ look at the time!” declared Applejack.

The orange pony walked over and opened the front door.

“Hey, Big Mac!” she roared out to the orchard. “It’s my turn! Why don’t cha’ come on in and take a break?!”

She turned back around to her friends.

“Well, the trees ain’t gonna’ buck themselves. See y’all later!”

Applejack gave a tip of her hat and then charged out to tackle the orchard.

“Ok, well that just leaves Fluttershy then,” stated Twilight. “Come on Spike!...Spike?”

Twilight turned to her dragon helper to find him caressing his half eaten piece of pie.

“So, what are you doing later tonight?” Spike asked the inanimate object.

Twilight shook her head then levitated Spike onto her back. She took off toward Fluttershy’s cottage.

“Wait for me my sweet!” called Spike from atop his friend’s back. “I shall return!”

* * * * * * * * *

Knock! Knock! Twilight pounded on Fluttershy’s door.

“Oh, just one moment!” Fluttershy called sweetly from inside.

The door to her cottage opened and a yellow pegasus with flowing pink hair and soft, kind eyes greeted the two.

“Hi Twilight! Hi Spike! How are you today?”

“We’re doing great!” replied Twilight. “Um…may we come in?”

“Oh sure! But I’m redoing all of the bird houses today so it might be a bit messy.”

The purple unicorn and dragon entered the quaint house and found it to be just as Fluttershy had described, messy. Wood and paint of all sorts lay strewn all over the floor and many birds and other little creatures were chatting and chirping from every corner of the room.

“So why are you remaking all of the birdhouses?” asked Spike.

“Well, most of the paint on this one was chipped off and this one here had a really squeaky window on it. I couldn’t just let the birds live in those kind of houses, so I decided to make new ones for them.”

“Sorry to interrupt you from your work then, but Spike and I were wondering if you could help us with something?” Twilight said.

“Oh sure! What do you need?” Fluttershy replied in her soft spoken voice.

“We’ve been going around all day trying to find out about the music of Ponyville and we were wondering what kind of music you like,” stated Twilight.

“That’s easy!” Fluttershy smiled broadly. “I love to listen to the sound of nature. Shhhhh…can you hear it?” asked the yellow pegasus.

Twilight and Spike became silent and strained their ears.

“I don’t know if I-” began Twilight.

“Shhh…” hushed Fluttershy.

Twilight became quiet again. Then, some of the birds began to chirp and Twilight could hear the pounding of a bunny’s foot. It almost sounded like the beat of a drum. Next, the clucking of chickens joined the fray and then some chatty squirrels. Soon the whole house was full of the beautiful sounds of nature and of little critters.

“Wow Fluttershy! That’s amazing!” Twilight was awestruck.

“But what about REAL music?” asked Spike sincerely.

Twilight gave him a nudge.

“Hey! Careful Twilight!” Spike said.

“Oh! Um…well…I guess I like lullabies. They’re always so soothing,” responded Fluttershy.

Spike wrote down what Fluttershy had said.

“Thanks Fluttershy,” replied Twilight gratefully. “We’ll let you get back to your birdhouses now.”

“No problem. And thanks for dropping by!” Fluttershy waved a goodbye as her friends left.

As the two left, Fluttershy could hear them having a hushed debate.

“Spike, that was uncalled for.”

“What? I wrote down what she said: ‘Lullabies are soothing’. Here, take a look.”

* * * * * * * * *

Spike and Twilight had gone all over town that day in search of the music of Ponyville. They were finally back in their beloved library house. Now it was time to share their findings with Princess Celestia.

“Ok Spike, ready to write a letter to the Princess?” asked Twilight.

“You know after all of this writing today I might have a claw cramp tomorrow. If I do then it’s your fault.” Spike shook out his writing claw before grabbing up a quill.

“Tell you what, if you have a claw cramp tomorrow I will personally make you breakfast in bed,” suggested Twilight.

“I can live with that. Ok, ready!”

“Dear Princess Celestia, Today Spike and I went all over Ponyville in search of its music. We interviewed many ponies and found that they all had different tastes. But that’s not really what I learned today. No, I learned about the power of music. Music is something special. It can motivate and inspire somepony to do something wonderful or it can bring friends and family closer together. It’s a lot of fun to dance to and can even lift somepony from the darkest of moods. Music is fun to sing and play. In fact, music is its own special type of magic. But, as magical as music is, it’s strongest when there’s good friends to share it with. Your faithful student, Twilight Spakle.”