Broken Strings and Bucked Apples

Chapter 4: First Show

A few days after your charade with Applejack, you keep feeling that awkward flutter in your chest every time your think about the gorgeous farmpony. You constantly find yourself drifting off into a pleasant daydream containing nothing but her. Her deep, green eyes. Her cute little freckles.

"HEY!" Your boss screams at the top of his lungs, breaking you from your trance.

The only downside to daydreaming about your new best friend, is that you always happen to do it at work. Just like your greasy stallion of a boss expected, you jump away from the broomstick you were resting your head on. It and you quickly fall to the ground noisily, followed by a loud cackle from your boss. You groan in disgust and roll your eyes before getting back up on your hooves and adjusting the apron around your midsection.

"Y-yes sir, how can I help you?" you reply, trying not to sound like you had just been daydreaming.

Your boss scowls and turns to his office, sad to see that his joke had ended so soon.

"You've got a visitor..." The stallion says, retreating into his office, most likely to look at suggestive pictures or something else that greasy bastards do in their spare time.

As he moves out of the way, there she is. The mare literally in your dreams. Applejack is standing in the doorway leading into the messy kitchen. She quickly scowls at your boss, but then looks to you with a bright smile, her green eyes shining brightly from the outside light. You quickly shift position as if to hide your apron and the fact that you've been mopping floors. You find it odd however, you've never been embarrassed of your job. Til' then, everypony could just go screw themselves, why now would you be ashamed of mopping floors?

"Well howdy pardner." She says, her smile still holding strong.

You smile shyly in return, still trying to hide the fact that you're wearing a stained-white apron.

"Hey, what's up?" you reply quietly.

"You got a sec? Ah've got some real great news for yah'."

You look to your bosses office and then back to your bucket and mop.

Then throw the broom on the ground in an attempt to look like a bad ass.

"Yeah." you say.

No need to explain yourself, you already look awesome enough.

Applejack shakes her head with a chuckle and turns around as you approach her. You make your way out of the building with her at your side, and stop at the corner of it.

"Alright, what's going on?" you ask, eager to hear the news.

Applejack smiles smugly and cocks her head upwards.

"Ah got'chu a show." She says.

You pause, your heart fluttering the most it has since you met her. If Pony-aids was going to take you, it was going to take you now.

Nope, still alive.

You smile widely and dive forward, wrapping your forelegs around the orange mare and squeezing her tightly.

"No way! Thank you!" you shout in pure happiness.

Applejack hugs you in return, her stetson shifting position slightly as your head brushes across hers. You retreat from your attack hug a few seconds later and look at her once more.

"Where is it?" you ask eagerly.

"My friend Pinkie Pie throws parties all the time. She said she'd love ta' have you play at the next one coming up at Sugar Cube Corner." She replies happily.

You quickly remember a pink pony greeting you when you first came to Ponyville. She seemed hyperactive and slightly annoying at first, but eventually grew on you after throwing you a welcome party. You nod in response.

"When is it?" you ask.

"Today." Applejack replies, still smiling.

Your smile fades instantly however and you swear your heart has dropped into your hooves.

"As in, today, today?" you ask, confirming her previous statement.

She nods.

"Eyup. Today, Sugar Cube Corner, 7 O'clock."

Your neck twitches to the right slightly and you feel one of your eyes follow the same motion.

"Somethin' wrong?" She asks, tilting her head slightly.

Without another word, you break off in a full sprint towards you and your band's house.

"I'll be there!" You shout back.

After several minutes of intense sprinting, you finally reach your house. Without thinking, you throw open the door as hard as equinely possible. It gives way to the intense force, and flies into the nearby wall, cracking it extensively. Trap-Set and Basswave instantly jump in shock, the blue unicorn nearly having an asthma attack and the clumsy drummer pony falling over the couch after a short yelp of surprise. Lyra however, remains perfectly still, her guitar between her hooves. After Basswave has finally caught his breath and Trap-Set climbs back over the couch, they both look to you quizzically.

"We need to practice, now." You say in a commanding tone.

"Why-?" Basswave tries to ask.

"Shut up! Nopony cares about the bassist!" You shout in return.

"Why do we need you practice?" Trap-Set asks.

"Applejack got us a show." you say quickly as you trot over to your amp and begin making preparations.

"Oh, sweet. When?"

"Tonight."

"HOLY HELL!" Trap-Set shouts, nearly teleporting behind his drum set.

"And you accepted this show on such short notice?" Basswave asks as he slowly trots over to his amp and instrument.

"Well yeah, when the hell else are we going to get this opportunity?!" you say, your eyes going wide in anger at Basswave.

Lyra trots between the two of you happily, nearly bouncing in excitement as her guitar levitates by her head. She quickly plugs it in and flips a switch on her amp, then looks to both of you happily.

"I'm so excited! What songs are we going to play?" She asks eagerly.

You look up in thought for a moment, readying your guitar around your neck.

"Uhh... Fucked if I know, we should just practice." you reply.

Lyra shrugs, the smile never leaving her lips. You honestly can't recall a time you haven't seen that mare smile.

"1, 2, 3 ,4!" You shout, beginning the practice session.

*  *  *

"Trap, calm down, alright?!" you shout, Trap-set breathing heavily in-front of you.

The brown earthpony shakes his head frantically, pointing out from behind the back of the stage.

"Do you see that?! That's like... A MILLION PONIES!" he replies in a frantic tone.

You roll your eyes and turn around to survey the crowd in front of the tall, black stage. It's a substantial amount of attendees for a First-Show, but nowhere near a million. With a sigh, you turn back around and shake your head.

"It's like, a hundred." you say.

"THAT'S CLOSE TO A MILLION!" Trap replies, biting at his hooves.

A few seconds later, Basswave makes his way to the back stage, his bass in his saddlebags, and notices Trap-set's demeanor.

"What's up with him?" Bass asks.

"He's afraid of going on." you say, rolling your eyes again.

Bass pauses and cocks his head to the right.

"Seriously?" he asks.

"YES! What if we screw up?! or like... Something catches on fire?! I'm flammable!" Trap shouts worriedly.

"Calm down, dude. Just... Imagine them in their underwear or something." Basswave replies.

"What?! Ponies don't wear underwear you jackass!"

"The weird ones don't!"

"Guys!" you shout, interrupting the two.

They look to you, instantly quieting.

"Ponies don't wear underwear, only you do... Because you're weird. Trap. Calm the fuck down. We don't have time for this." you say.

Completely breaking the laws of known physics, a bubbly, pink, earthpony appears next to Trap-set, causing him to scream and fall backwards.

"Hey guys!" Pinkie Pie says, a wide smile on her face.

"I think I'm dying." Trap says quietly.

"What's up?" you ask, ignoring Trap.

"You're going on in 2 minutes, thanks again so much for doing this on such short notice!" she chirps.

You nod with a smile.

"Thank you for giving us the opportunity to play a first show."

Pinkie's face brightens even more, which you didn't think was possible, but is.

"Oh my gosh! So like, when you guys get famous, you can tell everypony you played here first! OHHHHH THIS IS SO EXCITING!" she squeals happily, trotting out in front of the stage.

"Two minutes... Alright... Wait. Where's Lyra?!" you ask, looking around.

Just as you finish asking your question, a hoof softly taps you on the back. You turn hurriedly and notice Lyra standing behind you. She looks different. Her hair is stylized differently, but still has it's alluring colors. Her coat is literally glowing in the light on the stage behind her, adding to her amazing looks. You try to shove a quick flutter back down into your heart and swallow nervously.

"L-Lyra?" you ask.

The sea-green unicorn giggles and rolls her eyes.

"Well duh." she replies cockily.

"You look... Amazing..." you say absentmindedly.

"Well... Thanks! I just thought I might as well get dressed up for the show and-"

"Guys, can we just like... Get this over with already?! I want to throw up and fall asleep as fast as I can after this!" Trap replies, still breathing heavily.

You sigh, pissed that your bro has totally ruined the moment. You quickly discard the anger however, and smile as you throw your hooves in the air.

"YEAHHH!" you shout, charging up the steps to the stage.

The crowd of ponies cheers as you enter the stage, filling you with just enough confidence need to blow the freaking roof off of this cupcake stand. You smile and wave to the hundred ponies in the room, and proceed to the amp you had previously set up.

As you prepare your instrument, Trap-set, Lyra, and Basswave set up theirs.

"Now, the moment that you've all probably been waiting for... LIVE MUSIC!" Pinkie screams happily.

The crowd roars and stomps their hooves on the ground.

Looking to your bandmates for confirmation, you trot to the mic and pull it forwards.

"Hello... We're here to play music." you say.

"Oh, really?!"

"Shut up." you reply, getting a chuckle from the crowd.

Looking down to your guitar, you get your hooves in position, ready to rock. The first note blares from the speaker, followed by possibly the smoothest riff you've ever written. As you continue, Trap-set cracks his sticks together, setting the tempo for the rest of the band. You strike one final note, letting Trap-set take over. His beat is confident, almost as if all of his nerves have just disappeared. Confused, you turn back and find the earthpony smiling widely, nodding his head to the tempo. A smile cracks across your own face as you shrug and look to Basswave and Lyra. You simultaneously strike a note that shakes the whole room, followed by three more. You clear your throat and step towards the microphone.

"Haven't seen the sun in weeks." you shout, in-key. "My skin is getting pale. Haven't got a mind left to speak, And I'm skinny as a rail."

As you continue your lyrics, Lyra moves her whole body with the beat, throwing herself into every note. Her mane swings wildly with every strike, and her eyes are shut tight.

"Conversations getting dull." you continue, throwing yourself with the rhythm as well. "There's a constant buzzing in my ears. Sense of humor's void and numb, And I'm bored to tears."

You repeat the line several times, swinging like a pendulum in-front of the microphone, lost in the moment. As you finish however, you strike a note as hard as your hooves will let you, and throw yourself away from it. Instantly, Lyra stomps towards the microphone as the song slows down.

"If you're looking for an accomplice!" she screams. "A confederate! Sompony that's helpless!"

The unicorn pulls away from the microphone and cocks her head up to the ceiling.

"You're gonna find, you'll find yourself alone!" she screams at the top of her lungs.

Lyra told you she could sing, but you never expected her to be this good. You watch as she sways her body with each strike of a chord, her vocal chords filling in all the empty spaces of your music.

The mare leans forward just over the stage to the watching crowd, and continues singing.

"You're gonna find, you'll find yourself alone!"

You watch, dumbfounded at her amazing stage-presence. The crowd just below her is cheering and clap their hooves on the ground as she continues harmonizing with Basswave.

"Looking for sympathy!"

"I can get you somethin'!

"Something good, something good to eat!"

Lyra quickly jumps away from the microphone just in time for you to continue your lyrics.

"Haven't had a decent meal."

"My brain is fried."

"Haven't slept a week for real."

"My tongue is tied."

"Lightbulbs are getting dim."

"My interests are starting to wane."

"I'm told it's everything a colt could want."

"And I shouldn't complain." you sing, your eyes shut tight.

You swing your body back and forth as you sing the chorus once more, the notes still shaking the room and the stage. The room shakes even more as you begin jumping up and down with the tempo of the song, readying yourself for the next part. A small light appears at the tip of your horn, followed by Basswave's following suit.

"I'm bored to tears, yeah!"

The rest of the song dies down as Basswave begins his own section. You know your horn is working, and a quick look to Bass shows that his is... But looking to Lyra, you notice nothing going on. Lyra shrugs and looks between you and Basswave frantically. You shake your head and narrow your eyebrows with a smirk.

Do it. you mouth.

As the song speeds up again, Lyra smiles wickedly and moves her hoof higher on the neck. A sharp squeal leaves the speakers as she begins her solo. She throws herself backwards onto the floor and continues savagely striking the notes while she thrashes around. As expected, her horn begins to glow just as bright as yours and bass's, causing a wide smile to crack across your face. You walk to the center of the stage as Lyra continues soloing, and close your eyes. The light at the tip of your horn slowly grows brighter, showering the room in bright-colored sparks that dance across the stage. The sparks spit in two directions, towards Lyra and Basswaves', and cause their horns to spark as well. A bright fountain of sparks erupts from the stage, creating a large canopy of magical energy over the stage.

Everything suddenly stops, leaving the audience completely dumbfounded while you play your final, calming riff. Most of their mouths are completely agape, and their eyes are as wide as their sockets.

After several seconds of silence, a massive roar of applause erupts from the room. You smile widely and throw your hoof into the air, and look between your bandmates. You stop at Lyra however, and examine her. She's crazy happy, bouncing around on the stage, her smile almost as large as the guitar she had just played. She's... Pretty. Not just because of her change in appearance, but you're actually realizing how amazing she looks, and the smile on her face is only making things better. You pause for a moment and feel the flutter in your chest more intense than you've ever felt it before. You feel like you want to sprint over to the ecstatic mare and just throw your hooves around her, and hold her for as long as you can. After several more seconds of applause, you slowly shake your head, trying to process what you had just been feeling. Settling to think about it later, you turn to your other bandmates.

"Gentlecolts... Let the games begin." you say, readying yourself for another song.