"I'M....GONNA ROCK'N'ROLL ALL NIGHT....AND GET FUNKY EVERY DAY!!!" and with that, they all put down their instruments and took a bow on the impromptu stage set up at Sweet Apple Acres. Pinkori's singing had really set them off, accompanied by Twilight Nail's smooth licks, Rainbow Spark's thrumming bass, and Caseyjack's drums. Rarity Crowley and Flutter Tesla were clapping softly behind them, caught up in the amazement of it all. Rarity still remembered how they had started all of this...

----

"So, you want a permit for what, girls?" Mayor Mare asked as she looked over the paperwork in front of her.

"A concert permit," Twilight Sparkle said matter-of-factly.

"But this is for Sweet Apple Acres...I'm not sure you need a permit for this..."

"Ya do if'n ya wanna hold a rock concert!" Applejack added.

"A...rock concert?" Mayor Mare asked worriedly, "who's going to play?"

"Um...we are...if that's okay with you, I mean..." Fluttershy said timidly.

"I see...well, I can't see the harm in that," Mayor Mare said, signing the paperwork, "you girls have a good time now."

"So...AWESOME!" Rainbow Dash blurted out.

-----

And indeed, they were awesome. They had most of Ponyville hooting and hollering at their performance. They bowed again, basking in the glow of their victory. A stallion came up to Twilight and whispered into her ear, handing her a slip of paper. Twilight looked it over and smiled. She collected the girls together and showed it to them. They all grinned, approaching the stage together.

"Thank you for coming!" Twilight started, "We have an announcement! Our next show will be held at the Appleloosa Saloon!"

With that, all of their friends cheered at the news.

"Woo-hoo!"

"We love you!"

"Bear my children!"

That last remarks drew blushes to their faces, and they quickly left the stage.

"Appleloosa, hoo-wee!" Caseyjack hollered.

"Do you think the buffalo will be there?" Flutter Tesla wondered aloud.

"I don't think they'll fit in the saloon..." Twilight said

"Who cares! We'll see them after the show!" Rainbow Sparks exclaimed.

-----

Appleloosa was, well...dusty. A tumbleweed rolled across the street.

"Well, we better get set up," Twilight said as they approached and entered the saloon. A stallion was wiping down glasses as he

eyed the motley crew.

"What'choo here for?" He asked roughly.

"We're the entertainment for tonight," Rarity intoned, "the Elements of Rock?"

The stallion looked them up and down, then grabbed a ledger. He looked at it, then his eyes widened. "Ah, here you are! You're performing tonight, with a guest act!"

"'Scuse me?" Caseyjack asked, "we weren't told nothing 'bout no guest act,"

"Here," the stallion said, showing her the book, "it says here ya's supposed to play with gart!"

Caseyjack looked at it, "That don't say gart! That says G.A.R.T.!"

Rainbow Sparks snorted, "Well, it doesn't matter who they are, cause we'll knock their socks right outta the park! Right girls?"

"Right!" They all said in unison.

"By the way," Twilight asked, almost as an afterthought, "why are there poles on the stage?"

The stallion smirked at that. "Oh, you'll see..."

----

Twilight saw that night why there were poles on the stage, wrinkling her nose in disgust at the mares pole dancing around them.

"Alright girls, what's our lineup for tonight?" She asked.

"Um, I'll do bass, if that's OK..." Flutter Tesla offered.

"I'll take the drums," Rarity mused, "doesn't look THAT hard..."

"And Ah'll sing," Caseyjack declared, "thinkin' they'd like somethin a little bit country."

"I call guitar!" Rainbow Sparks blurted out.

"All right, then it's settled," Twilight said, " have a good show, girls!"

The four of them went onstage, taking their positions. They were met with dead silence. Caseyjack stared at the crowd, then announced, "Ah figured y'all be sticks in that mud, so ah figure ah'd start out with onnea mah faverits, an' ah hope onnea yers, too. So here goes..." and Caseyjack's voice took on a low rumble...

Appleloosa queen, if ya know what I mean

Ponies perked up at that.

Appleloosa queen, she taught me everything

They started whooping and hollering. Caseyjack smiled inwardly, as Flutter Tesla kept the bass going.

----

Rainbows Sparks hammered in the last of the solo, the crowd spellbound by the creamy licks of the guitar. Caseyjack crowed

I've been waiting so long

To be where I'm going

In Celestia's sunshine of love...

Rainbow played out the song to a standing ovation, the crowd chanting "ELEMENTS! ELEMENTS! ELEMENTS!" as the quartet took a bow. Suddenly, a flash of stage smoke overtook the left side of the stage, leaving the four coughing. It cleared away to reveal a blue unicorn, wearing a wizard hat and cape.

"The Great and Rocking Trixie sneers at your attempts at rock! Bring Trixie Twilight Nails so that we may have a proper rock-off!"

Twilight facehooved.

"Enough! Bring Trixie the guitar of Twilight Nails!" Trixie announced to the band. They all look flummoxed by this turn of events.

"Ah...ah'll get 'er," Applejack finally sputtered out as she went backstage, "Twi, she just challenged ya to a rock-off!"

"I know," Twilight mumbled. She stood up and grabbed her guitar, walking onstage, "Here I am, Trixie! Do your worst!" Twilight knew how Trixie valued showmareship, plus it would reflect better on her and the band as a whole if she played along.

"Finally! Trixie was starting to think that you were not going to show..."

"Enough games! I accept your challenge, Great and Rocking Trixie!" Twilight said through clenched teeth.

"Fine," Trixie proclaimed, "then let us begin!"

Trixie started playing something out of her guitar that sounded more like record scratches than guitar notes. Twilight responded with a staccato phrase of high plinking notes. Trixie countered with more record scratches. Twilight again played more high staccato. Trixie then played something that sounded like she was shredding her guitar strings. Twilight then strummed out a descending phrase.

Trixe then surprised everypony by shredding a proper guitar sound. Twilight was still stuck on her staccato when she countered. Trixie kept up her shredding. Twilight added a wah sound to her staccato. Trixie was playing up a storm. Twilight wahed a couple of long notes. The crowd cheered.

Trixie kept up her aural onslaught, strumming staccato. Twilight kept up her wahs. Trixie then ramped up her staccato strumming, eliciting whoops from the crowd. Twilight glared as she ramped up her wahs. Trixie the switched into long, drawn out wahs. Twilight switched into a pointed staccato. Trixie started thrashing, Twilight following in kind. They kept trading thrashes around, until Trixie stopped, causing Twilight to follow in kind. Then the madness began.

They started playing astral arpeggios, quickly gaining speed into ethereal scales, jaws dropping across the crowd. The arpeggios and scales were blindingly fast, neither mare wanting to lose. Trixie then started wailing on her guitar, creating an insane distortion effect as she bent strings with her magic, making an unearthly sound come out of her axe. She dropped to the ground, panting. She then looked up in horror as Twilight Nails proceeded to create the same effect in staccato, trumping anything she might have done. Twilight's hoof then slid down the neck of her guitar, creating a lowering sound as she dropped to her haunches, held up by her guitar, panting.

"Did...I win?" Twilight said breathlessly.

"It's...customary to...ask the crowd...in these...circumstances...Trixie believes..." Trixie replied just as breathlessly.

"Alright, then," Caseyjack started, "If'n ya thought the Great and Rockin' Trixie won, give up a holler!"

The crowd cheered wildly.

"And if'n ya thought Twilight Nails won, give it a holler!"

The crowd erupted in cheering and applause, hooting and hollering like crazy.

"Well then," Trixie wheezed, "it appears you are the better mare," as she leaned on her guitar for support. She then felt a hoof on her shoulder. She looked up to see Twilight grinning.

"Play the encore with us?" Twilight queried.

Trixe nodded, smiling.

----

Quit it now!

Twilight and Trixie were rocking side by side as Caseyjack spat out the words.

Taurus on parade!

Taurus on parade!

Taurus on parade!

Twilight and Trixie played out the end of the song, all four made bowing at the end. The crowd went wild as the four mares went backstage.

"Twilight, that was amazing!" Trixie said, "You must meet my agent, Tom Dan! I know he'd love to sign you on!"

Rarity's ears perked up at that. "Did you say...Tom Dan? He wouldn't happen to be a rock, would he?"

Trixie looked confused, then said, "No, but he does rock! Here, let me introduce you to him!" and Trixie went into the crowd, pulling in what appeared to be a pony with a white beard.

"Tom Dan. I was particularly impressed by your performances, especially Twilight Nail's and Caseyjack's."

Twilight and Caseyjack blushed. Twilight started, "Thank you, Mr. Dan, but I couldn't have done it without my band-"

"Yes, yes," Tom cut her off, "Of course I'm signing all of you. Your musical versatility is unmatched." Tom sighed, then continued, "Now if you'll sign right here, you'll have all of my services available to you,"

Twilight, still on the high of the concert, signed without question. Tom grinned.

"Alright, ladies," he said, "music video time!"

The six ponies looked in awe at the stage in front of them. There was a train car and a backdrop of a dusty road. There was a fan just offstage.

"So, what's alla this fer?" Caseyjack queried.

"I suppose it's a stage of sorts, meant to represent careening down a railway..." Rarity mused.

"But how would that make sense?" Twilight asked.

"It doesn't have to, it's a music video," Tom said from behind them, "now I want Twilight Nails on guitar, Rarity Crowley on bass, Rainbow Sparks on drums-"

"Aw, come ON!"

"Them's the breaks, Rainbow," Tom informed, "and..." he grinned evilly, "Flutter Tesla on vocals,"

"Me!?" Flutter Tesla protested, "why would you want ME to sing!?"

"Come on, now, Flutter," Tom cajoled, "it's just a music video. The only ponies who'll see you sing are the crew,"

"Um, OK," Flutter Tesla said as she flew up with Twilight, Rainbow carrying Rarity to the top of the train car. They took their positions and waited.

"OK," Tom called out, "turn on the fan!"

The fan started whirring as it built up speed, eventually building up to a speed where it blew their manes about.

"Three, two, one, GO!" Tom called out.

The guitar picked up, playing a wistful melody, drums and bass backing it up. Flutter Tesla's cue came on.

You sit there in your heartache

Waiting for some beautiful mare to

Change you from your old ways

You play forgiveness

Watch it now...here she comes!

She doesn't look a thing like Luna

But she talks like a gentlemare

Like you imagined when we were young..

----

They say that Discord's water, it ain't so sweet

But you don't have to drink right now

But you can dip your hooves

Every once in a little while..

Tom Dan twitched.

----

What's the hook, the twist

Within this verbose mystery?

I would gladly bet my life upon it.

That the ghost you love, your ray of light

Will fizzle out without hope.

We're the empty set just floating through, wrapped in skin

Ever searching for what we were promised.

Reaching for that golden ring we'd never let go,

but who would ever let us put put our filthy hooves upon it?

Flutter Tesla's screaming was surprisingly good, given her soft spoken nature, Twilight thought as she strummed along, watching Flutter's hair thrash around.

Hey Miss Mareder can I?

Hey Miss Mareder can I?

Make beauty stay, if I

Take my life?

Whoah-oh-oh!

Hey Miss Mareder can I?

Hey Miss Mareder can I?

Make beauty stay, if I

Take my life?

Whoah-oh-oh!

Flutter Tesla's hair calmed down as she stopped singing, falling to her haunches as the band finished out their parts.

"Brava, all of you!" Tom cried as he applauded, "especially that bit when you dropped at the end! Pure showmareship!"

"Um, thank you," Flutter Tesla said weakly, "but I dropped because I'm tired of singing that way."

"Fine, then, I guess a little break would be fine for the encore..."

"ENCORE!?"

"Yes, Luna Black. Or did you not remember?"

Flutter Tesla groaned as she propped herself up on her mic stand. "Hit it, Tom."

"But maybe we-"

"I SAID HIT IT!" Flutter screamed scratchily.

Everypony stared, shocked at the sudden outburst.

"Threetwoonego!" Tom said hurriedly as Rainbow Spark's drums lead off, followed by Twilight's strumming and Rarity's rhythmic bass. Flutter Tesla started singing throatily, more from a lack of being able to sing anyway else.

I see a red door and I want it Luna Black

No colors anymore, I want them Luna black

I see the colts come by dressed in their summer clothes

I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I see a line of carts and they're all Luna black

With flowers and my love both never to come back...

----

"Great set, girls!" Tom cheered, "now after editing, it should take about three months to hit the market.

The girls all groaned.

"Three months!?" Rainbow Sparks shot out.

"We coulda done a concert with our time!" Caseyjack cut in.

"Oh, trust me, girls," Tom winked, "you girls will simply explode in popularity after this hits the airwaves..."

"Ok, but we're trusting you," Twilight warned.

3 MONTHS LATER

"We're all over the airwaves!" Pinkori squealed, "you know what this means!?"

"Nah, but I suppose you'll tell us," Caseyjack intoned.

"It means I get to throw a 'Congratulations-we're-popluar' party!"

Twilight walked into the treehouse. "Girls, I just finished talking to Tom." She looked giddy as all get-out.

"Twi, ya look as giddy as all get-out," Caseyjack said, "What's all the hoo-ah?"

"Well," Twilight said hurriedly, "Tom said that everypony loved it, and that even Princess Celestial loved it, and she wants us to perform in the Canterlot Philharmonic Concert Hall!"

The girls whooped at that.

"Canterlot, here we come!"

The girls got off at the train station, taking in the sights. Canterlot was a grand city, built into a mountain, like out of a storybook.

"Hoo-wee!" Caseyjack hollered, "That architecture gets me every time we come here!"

"No time to enjoy the sights, girls," Twilight reminded them, "We promised to meet with the Princess as soon as we got here, so let's get going!"

The girls nodded at that and headed towards the castle.

----

Princess Celestia was reading a novel whose contents...I'd rather not get into right now, when a guard came up to her.

"Princess Celestia, your visitors have arrived!" He announced.

Celestia sighed, then put that naughty book down like it was a farming report, then said, "Thank you. Would you please let them in?"

"Of course!" The guard said while bowing, then left, letting in the six mares.

"Hello, my little ponies, how is your experiment going?" Celestia asked them.

"It's going great, Princess," Twilight said with noted tension in her voice, "but I would say that it's more than an experiment. We have an agent!"

Celestia looked surprised at that. "When did you get an agent?"

Pinkori cut in with, "Oh, it was awesome! We got introduced through Trixie after a rock off between her and Twilight!"

"A...rock off?"

"Yeah!" The pink pony replied excitedly, "Trixie was all like-" whereupon she proceeded to pull out a guitar from...somewhere and played Trixie's record scratches-"and Twilight was all like-" Pinkori then proceeded to replicate Twilight's high plinking-"Then Trixie was like-" as she recreated the record scratches-"and Twilight was like-" creating Twilight's high staccato-"Then Trixie was like-"

"I think I get the idea, Pinkie," Celestia said as she plucked the guitar away from-

"It's Pinkori in public! So, anyway, Twilight rocked Trixie's socks off, which is weird because Trixie doesn't wear socks, in fact I don't think I've seen anypony wear socks, I'm not even sure what socks are-"

"They're specialized lingerie, Pinkori." Rarity cut in, hoping to cut Pinkori off.

"Lawn-ger-what?" Pinkori asked amusedly.

Rarity thought carefully before she chose her next words, mindful that she was in the presence of Royalty. "They're...undergarments, designed to...entice a stallion in the bedroom." Rarity sighed, comfortable with her explanation. Celestia stifled a giggle, knowing that the mare was doing her best to avoid offending her delicate sensibilities. Oh, if only she knew what you were reading...

Pinkori nodded at the explanation, seemingly satisfied. She then went on with, "So, anyways, she introduced us to her agent, Tom Dan, and he's been great! He directed our music video!"

"Tom...Dan?" Celestia asked, "may I speak with him?" Just then a pony with a beard walked in, making small talk with one of the guards. He turned to Celestia and their eyes locked.

"Girls, I suggest you leave immediately," Celestia said authoritatively, "I'm sure Twilight's parents would love to meet you all."

Twilight nodded and led the girls out. Celestia then stared at the pony in front of her, "Discord, what manner of foul trickery are you planning!?"

Tom Dan smiled, paced around, then said, "What? Can't a poor draconequus have a little fun once in a while?"

"Your definition of fun is quite lacking in respect for others, if you recall,"

"Hey, come on, now, Tia," Tom said as he waggled his eyebrows at the sun princess, "You know I find this rock and roll trend rather amusing. And what's the harm if I make a few bits on the side signing acts-"

"Discord, you don't need bits, you can create anything out of thin air!"

"Aren't you the one that's always saying that hard work builds character?"

Celestia looked baffled at this, then quickly regained her composure. "Nevertheless, if I find that you're back to your old tricks, I'll gut you myself!"

"How melodramatic! That's what you get from reading those romance novels! Ta-ta, Tia!" Tom said as he waved and exited the throne room. Celestia glowered and picked up her book. Her dirty, dirty book.

----

The girls were collected backstage as they went over their assignments. Rarity was playing guitar, Pinkori on drums, Twilight on bass, and Rainbow had singing duty. They went onstage and bowed. Rarity and Twilight started strumming as Pinkori took up the drums. Finally, it was Rainbow Spark's turn to sing.

Finished with my stallion cause he couldn't help me with my mind

Ponies think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time

All day long I think of things but nothing seems to satisfy

Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to pacify...

----

Rainbow Sparks was really tearing it up onstage. She changed gears to something a little more sultry.

Kool thing sittin' with a filly

Now you know you're sure looking pretty

Like a lover not a dancer

Supercolt take a chance here

I don't wanna, I don't think so

I don't wanna, I don't think so

Kool thing let me play it with your radio

Move me, turn me on, baby-o

I'll be your slave

Give you a shave

I don't wanna, I don't think so

I don't wanna, I don't think so...

----

Woo...ah yeah...buck it up

Even flow, thoughts arrive like Fluttershy's

Oh, she don't know, so she chases them away

Someday yet, she'll begin her life again, yeah

Oh, whispering hands, gently lead her away

Her away, her away

Yeah!

Woo..uh huh...yeah yeah, daddy, daddy...

And with that, the four took a bow and walked off stage, whereupon Twilight noticed that Caseyjack was reading a letter with tears in her eyes.

"What's that?" Twilight asked innocently.

Caseyjack sighed, and showed Twilight the letter. Twilight read it, saddened by the content. She called the girls over and had them read it. They discussed the idea and decided to present it to Tom.

-----

"You want to perform WHERE!?" Tom asked the girls incredulously.

"Foalsom Prison, sir," Caseyjack replied matter-of-factly.

"And what provided this very entertaining lapse of logic?"

"Well, y'see, onnea that inmates wrote to me-alla us, act'lly-and told us how they ain't got no music to listen to...plus, Johnny Bits did it, so why can't we?"

Tom mulled it over in his head and decided to agree to it. "Well, I've mulled it over, and I'm inclined to agree to it on one condition,"

"Yessum?"

"You have to perform with a surprise guest act of my choice," Tom said, "See you at Foalsom, girls!"

The girls got off at the intake wing of Foalsom Correctional Facility and were taken around back to where the stage was. It was a modest stage, as in it was a stage at all. The prisoners were kept behind a row of guards. They had decided beforehand that Caseyjack would do guitar, Twilight on vocals, Pinkori on bass, and Flutter Tesla on drums, surprisingly. They quickly set up.

"So," Twilight announced, "We understand you're here for a concert!"

Some cheering came from the crowd of felons

"I can't hear you!"

Cheering erupted from the crowd.

"Alright, that's better! Let's get ready to ROCK!"

The guitar started up, followed by the drums. Caseyjack played a short phrase, which led into Twilight's singing.

Get yourself frosty, lay yourself low

Coincidental foalnapping, with nothing to show

With the court, constipation will go to their heads

And his mare's aggravation, you're soon enough dead

It's the same old story, same old song and dance

Same old story, same old song and dance...

----

Now you can go where ponies are one

Now you can go where they get things done

What you need, my son:

Is a holiday in Zebrica

Where ponies dress in black

Holiday in Zebrica

Where you'll kiss flank or crack

And it's a holiday in Zebrica

Where you'll do what you're told

A holiday in Zebrica

Where the slums got so much soul!

The girls went to take a bow when, suddenly, a turquoise Pegasus landed in front of them, guitar slung behind her. "Hey, does anypony know where I can find Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow walked out, "It's Rainbow Sparks now...LIGHTNING DUST!?"

The turquoise Pegasus smirked. "Lightning Slash, now. Signed up with Horns'N'Roses. I heard you play guitar?"

"How'd she get in here?" Caseyjack whispered to Twilight.

"This is an earth-pony prison," she answered, "probably a skylight,"

"So...a band, huh?" Rainbow queried.

"Yeah, and I bet we rock harder than you!" Lightning Du-no, Lightning Slash boasted.

"Nuh-uh!" Rainbow replied.

"Yah-huh!" Lightning Slash countered.

Rainbow Sparks rubbed her chin, considering the apparently irrefutable logic presented to her. Suddenly, an idea planted in her mind."What do you say to a rock-off?"

"You're on!" Lightning Slash jumped at the challenge, "anything you can do, I can do better!"

"I can do anything better than you!" Rainbow Sparks retorted as she unslung her guitar.

Lightning Slash fired up a quick blues phrase, floating up slightly as she did so. Rainbow Sparks floated up with a blues phrase of her own. Lightning followed up with a slow bluesy tune, circling around Rainbow as she did so. Rainbow kicked it up a notch by circling Lightning and firing off a quick blues phrase. Lightning rose up with a drawn out blues tune. Sparks followed by rising to meet Slash with a quick rock tune. Slash proceeded to play the rock that Sparks led with, Rainbow following in kind.

Slash played quick-fire notes, Sparks following with a grandstand melody. Slash started playing rapid-fire notes, Sparks taking her lead spitting out rapid-fire notes of her own. They proceeded to trade bluesy phrase after bluesy phrase, seeing which one would break first. Their circling led into spinning, which was creating a wind-tunnel in between them. They didn't seem to be rocking off so much as playfully dueling guitars, trading off phrases until Lightning Slash started living up to her name and started playing like, well, lightning.

Rainbow Sparks took this as a challenge and ramped up the speed, unaware of the rainbow glow surrounding her hooves as she hammered at her guitar. Lightning Slash's hooves were surrounded in a similar lightning glow. They started playing quicker and quicker, their respective glows brightening as their speed increased. Finally, the air around their hooves could take no more as a rainbow shockwave collided into Lightning Slash while a lightning shockwave collided into Rainbow Sparks, knocking them to opposite ends of the stage.

The girls checked up on them, Rarity and Flutter Tesla on Lightning, Twilight and Caseyjack on Rainbow.

"Did..." Twilight started, "did you just perform a Sonic Rainboom with your hooves?"

Rainbow shook her head. "I guess I did," she said as she laughed weakly. "Call it a draw, Lightning?"

Lightning looked up. "Yeah, I'll go with that. I think we should give these ponies an encore!" Lightning said as she stood up.

Rainbow stood up as well. "You're on!"

----

You know where you are

You're in the Everfree, baby

You're gonna die

In the Everfree

Welcome to the Everfree

Watch it bring you to your

Knees, knees

In the Everfree

Welcome to the Everfree

Feel, my, my, my serpentine

In the Everfree

Welcome to the Everfree

Watch it bring it to your

Knees, knees

In the Everfree

Welcome to the Everfree

Watch it bring you to your

It's gonna bring you down-HA!

Twilight, Rainbow and Lightning collectively took a bow, basking in the adoration of their incarcerated fans. Caseyjack just smiled, a tear rolling down a cheek.

"So, this is Burning Pony," Twilight said with a grimace. She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Welp, it pays well, an' that's all that matters," Caseyjack mused, "right?"

The girls nodded in agreement, taking in the sights in front of them.

"Well, girls, have fun," Twilight said, "I'm gonna go set up. Be back by eight!" and the girls went off their separate ways.

----

Flutter Tesla trotted up to a group of ponies who appeared to be gesticulating in weird directions.

"Um, what are you doing?" Flutter Tesla asked mildly.

The pony she asked shifted positions, answering with, "Hot Yoga! Wanna join?"

"Um, ok," and Flutter Tesla did her best to copy the pony's positioning.

----

Rarity was wandering around when she spotted Trixie, of all ponies, near the base of the wicker pony. She appeared to be piling explosive charges there. Rarity trotted up to her.

"Excuse me, Trixie, what ARE you doing?" Rarity asked

Trixie turned in shock, then quickly composed herself. "Trixie has been asked to set the blaze that will result in the glorious conflagration of this pony!" Trixie said, a gleam appearing in her eyes, "Wanna help?"

Rarity, having never assisted in an explosion or holocaust before, mused for a bit. "Might as well! It's always nice to have new experiences under my belt!" and assisted Trixie in loading explosives.

----

Rainbow Sparks was in awe at the spectacle before her. Pegasus firedancers whipped flame about as if they were handling streamers. Fire jugglers were passing flaming torches as if they were balls.

"So...awesome..."

----

Twilight was setting up the equipment when she heard clopping behind her. She turned around to see Caseyjack supporting Pinkori, helping her walk towards the stage.

"What's going on?" Twilight asked alarmedly, "what's wrong with Pinkori..."

"Ah don't know! Ah was walkin' near tha buffalo grounds, an' I saw Pinkori stumblin' away!" Caseyjack said worriedly.

Pinkori muttered "bad...cactus..." and started gagging.

Caseyjack's eyes widened."Ah didn't do...what do ah do?"

Twilight took command, "Take Pinkori in your arms from behind and thrust your hooves into her stomach, quickly!" She ordered.

Caseyjack did as told, letting Pinkori projectile vomit...right onto Twilight. She started gagging, waving Caseyjack over. Caseyjack pointed Twilight away from Pinkori and repeated the process, leaving a trail of pony vomit on the sand.

Twilight fell to her haunches, holding out a hoof. "Peyote..."

"Pay-yo-tee?" Caseyjack queried.

"Peyote," Twilight corrected her, "A hallucinogenic cactus used in Buffalo religious rituals. I have NO idea how Pinkori got her hands on some..."

"Well, ya know Pinkori," Caseyjack assured her friend, "she's always gettin' her hand in things she don't have no right bein' in..."

"Well, we still have two subs for her part. Let's see how this goes..."

----

The stage was set, and Rarity was still nowhere to be found. Flutter Tesla took guitar, Twilight was on drums, and Caseyjack was on vocals. Rainbow Sparks was suffering second-degree burns along her arms, and the show was about to start. Where could Rarity be!? Making an executive desicion, Twilight strapped the bass to Pinkori and shoved her on stage. Pinkori wobbled a bit, Caseyjack giving a dirty look towards Twilight, Twilight waving her worried glance away. Caseyjack shrugged, Flutter Tesla starting her strumming as Caseyjack joined in.

Colt, what's come between you and me?

Look right through me

I won't let it go

I can't help this feeling anymore

I will go anywhere

Maybe you'll see

We are

We are the shaken(shaken)

We are the ghosties(ghosties)

Underneath your bed

Yeah

Believe what your read

We are

We are mistaken(staken)

We are the chaos(chaos)

Inside your head

Yeah

Believe what you see

Caseyjack looked back to Pinkori, who was keeping up with the demanding bass line. She was impressed. She kept singing.

It came as no surprise...

----

Who wants honey

As long as there is some money

Who wants that honey

Elements out

Elements out

Elements out

Elements out

Caseyjack stopped singing and the bandmates played out their parts. Caseyjack was about to say something, when she was cut off by an announcement.

"Excuse me, but it is time for the Great and Rocking Trixie-"

"-and Rarity-"

"Yes, and Rarity would like to present the Burning Pony! Behold, in awe!"

Just then, an explosion was heard as the pony effigy behind them burst into flame, the spectacle shining throughout the night. Cheering all around the desert roared as what they came to see was happening. Caseyjack stared in awe at the sight. Twilight motioned behind her whereupon she realized that they had a song left in their set! Caseyjack turned towards the crowd as the blues guitar started up, Flutter Tesla ripping through the riffs. Caseyjack started singing.

Well you've heard about love givin' sight to the blind

My filly's lovin' cause the sun to shine

She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy

She's my sweet little filly, and I'm her little lover boy...

----

The girls were packing up their things, talking about their previous night, when a familiar pony walked up to them.

"Tom!" Rarity exclaimed, "whenever did you get here?"

"Oh I came in last night," Tom explained, "and I've got great news for you girls! You're playing in Neighpon in a week's time...isn't that wonderful?"

The girls stared speechless at him.

They got off of the boat and stared in awe at the sight before them. Neighpon, in all of its technological glory. Pinkori looked extremely happy, seeing as she based her entire stage persona around this mystical land.

"Oh my Celestia, this is super kawaii, girls!" She exclaimed. Ponies were staring at them, pointing as if they were the spectacle.

"What's going on! I'm hungry!" Pinkie shouted, going up to a couple, yelling "hentai harajuku, arigato!" The couple laughed nervously, covering their faces as they walked away. "What did I do!?"

"You're scaring them," Flutter Tesla explained, "let me try," she said as she approached another couple, saying, "Osoreirimasuga, watashi to watashi no yūjin wa, osoraku nani ka taberu mono o eru koto ga dekiru basho o shitte imasu ka?"

The girls stared at Flutter Tesla, shocked at what they just heard.

The male pony said, "Naze iesu, saiai no hinba, umaku anata no konomi ni awaserubekidearu tsuno o magatta tokoro ga arimasu!"

Flutter Tesla nodded and said, "Domō arigatō, yūjin," and the couple nodded as they walked away.

Twilight asked, "Where did you-"

"College, but there's a place to eat around the corner! Hurry!" Flutter Tesla exclaimed as she led her friends around the corner.

----

"Dodge Fried Tofu!?" Rainbow Sparks shouted exasperatedly, "I came here to get Neighponese food, not this!"

"Well, when in Neighpon..." Flutter Tesla reminded her friend. She then walked up to the counter.

" Watashi no yūjin to watashi wa, 6-yō no hyō o goran kudasai eru koto ga dekiru?"

The pony behind the counter looked up and said, "Tsumari, 5-jikan-machi, misu ni narimasu,"

Flutter Tesla then said, " No tame ni moshi nai Erements of Roku?"

The pony's eyes widened as he said, "right this way, I believe a table just opened up!" as he led them to a table.

Flutter Tesla smiled and said, "Eat up. It's on me."

----

"I can't go out there!" Flutter Tesla said, shivering in a corner back stage.

"But darling, you simply must!" Rarity argued, "they're chanting your name!"

"T-they are?"

"Why yes, can't you hear it?"

Flutter Tesla slowly got up and inched towards the stage. As she got closer, she heard cries of 'frutter tesra! Frutter Tesra!"

Emboldened, she went onstage to greet her adoring fans.

"FRUTTER TESRA! FRUTTER TESRA! FRUTTER TESRA!" and the cheers erupted as she took her place behind the microphone. Pinkori playing guitar, Caseyjack playing drums, and Twilight on bass were stoking the crowd. Flutter Tesla cleared her throat as the guitar and drums started up. Her cue came on.

You walk on like a filly in suffering

Won't even bother now to tell me why

You come alone, letting all of us savor the moment

Leaving me broken another time

You come on like a bloodstained Wonderbolt

Leave me alone, let me be this time

You carry on like a holy colt pushing Celestia

I don't want mention, the reason I know...

----

Come ride with me

Through the veins of history

I'll show you alicorns

So guilty and forlorn

And how can we win

When fools can be prince

Don't waste your time

Or time will waste you

Flutter Tesla's voice flowed like velvet.

----

The quartet bowed as Pinkori threw out the next song hook. Flutter Tesla's cue came on.

Look into my eyes, what do you see?

Cult of equinality

I know your anger, I know your dreams

I've been everything you want to be

I'm the cult of equinality

Like Celestia and Prince Shining

I'm the cult of equinality

Cult of equinality

Cult of equinality...

----

The quartet bowed once more and they went offstage. Tom Dan was there to greet them.

"That was wonderful, girls!" He said, "I'll see if I can get anything lined up for you,"

SIX MONTHS LATER

"You WHAT?" Caseyjack roared.

"I signed you up for the Surreal Life, girls," Tom Dan explained, "come on, it'll be fun, like a sleepover!"

"That show's for has-beens!" Twilight yelled, "we're at the top of our game!"

"Oh, are you, now?" Tom asked, his voice becoming more sinister as his body expanded, an antler and a goat horn popping out of his head. A bat wing and a dragon wing popped out of his back as his body grew more serpentine. His legs turned into a griffon claw, a lion paw, a reptile leg, and a goat hoof. His tail turned into a dragon's tail with a tuft of fur at the end. "Now what were you saying?"

Twilight stuttered, "D-d-discord!"

"How very observant," Discord noted, "and since you don't have your precious Elements, we play by my rules," Discord pulled out the contract, which seemed significantly longer this time, "ah, yes, here it is..."If the Elements of Rock refuse to complete a gig, Discord has the authority to throw Ponyville into chaos!"

He snapped his fingers

Twilight and Caseyjack were floating inside of the Books and Branches library, courtesy of Twilight, because the library itself was tumbling end-over-end. They were looking for any loophole that would allow them out of their contract. They had to work quickly, because Rarity and the others were distracting Discord and they didn't know how long they would last...

----

Rarity played a song of wistfulness. Of things long past, of things yet to come. It spoke of trials and tribulations surmounted, of new challenges yet to be. But most importantly, it spoke of hope. Hope that they would defeat this foul creature, hope that they would return their humble town to normal. Hope that, someway and somehow, this too shall pass. Rarity exhaled, finishing the piece.

Discord clapped gleefully. "Oh, that was beautiful! Now do Raining Blood."

Rarity's pupils dilated as she began the fast and furious song, wincing when she approached the first truly quick part.

----

"Here!" Twilight exclaimed, "if Discord is defeated in a no wings no magic rock-off, the contract is rendered null and void!"

"Guess it's up to me, then," Caseyjack mused, "let's save Ponyville!"

----

Rarity dropped to her haunches as she finished the blistering song, dropping the guitar as well.

"No more," Rarity whined, "my hooves can't take any more..."

"Well, then, my little pony, I'm afraid you've just-"

"Hold on just a minnit there, pardner!" Caseyjack yelled as she approached with Twilight, "Ah challenge you to a rock-off!"

Discord raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah! No wings, no magic!"

Discord grinned evilly at that, producing a double-necked guitar out of thin air. Caseyjack produced her own guitar from her back.

"Then let us begin..."

Discord and Caseyjack started playing a familiar melody, Discord accentuating his part with a dropping sliding scale.

Discord went to Ponyville, looking for a soul to steal

Celestia said nay, but the line was grey, so he was willing to make a deal

He came across a young girl sawing on a fiddle and playing it hot

So Discord jumped up on a hickory stump and said, "Girl, lemme tell you what"

"I bet you didn't know it but I'm a fiddle player, too

And if you care to take a dare I'll make a bet with you

Now you play a pretty good fiddle, girl, but give Discord his due

I'll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul cause I think I'm better than you"

The girl said, "My name's Jackie, and it might be a sin

But I'll take your bet, you're gonna regret, cause I'm the best that's ever been!"

Jackie, rosin up your bow and play that fiddle hard

Cause chaos reigns in Ponyville and Discord deals the cards

And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold

But if you lose, then Discord gets your soul

Discord opened up his case and said, "I'll start this show,"

And fire flew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow

And as he pulled the bow across the strings, it made an evil hiss

And a band of demons joined in and it sounded something like this!

Caseyjack and Discord were neck and neck. Discord then thrashed something that would've likely broken a few strings on a regular guitar. Caseyjack responded with a rapid-fire phrase of her own. Discord then shredded staccato, his hands literally on fire at this point. Caseyjack followed with a thrashing of her own. Discord tore up the neck with his playing, where Caseyjack did some shredding of her own.

When Discord finished Jackie said, "Well, you're pretty good old son

But sit down in that chair right there and let me show you how it's done!"

Fire on Cantermount, run, boys, run

Discord's in the house of the rising sun

Chicken in the bread pan picking out dough

Granny does your dog bite?

No, child, no

Discord and Caseyjack were neck and neck yet again, Discord firing out a quick phrase. Caseyjack, getting the hang of this, shot out a rapid-fire riff. Discord and Caseyjack went on like this, trading riff after shred after thrash, Discord's sounding spacey at some point.

Discord then started playing at an improbable speed, glowering at Caseyjack as she cut him off, playing just as quickly. Discord cut off Caseyjack, cut off by Caseyjack. Their cut ins were shorter and shorter until it was down to a single note.

Discord-

Caseyjack-

Discord-

Caseyjack-

Discord-

And Caseyjack played the last note as the drums came back in.

Discord bowed his head as his better had been proved

He laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Jackie's hooves

Jackie said, "Discord, come on back now if ya ever wanna try again

Ah done told you once, you son of a bitch, I'm the best there ever been!"

Fire on Cantermount, run, boys, run

Discord's in the house of the rising sun

Chicken in the bread pan picking out dough

Granny does your dog bite?

No, child, no

Caseyjack played out the end of the song, then took her hat off and waved it in the air, whooping.

"Ah just beat your butt, Discord! Release us from that contract, pronto!"

Discord glowered. "Oh, fine. You win." and snapped his fingers, returning Ponyville to normal.

"You know, Discord," Flutter Tesla said, "if you wanted to play with us, you could have just asked..."

"Who said I wanted to play with you?" Discord growled.

"Because you could have just made us pay you a severance fee," Flutter Tesla replied, "but instead you created a situation where at least one of us had to play with you,"

Discord glared at Flutter Tesla, then looked down.

"Who knew that Discord would be a big softie!?" Pinkori exclaimed.

"Softie!? C'mere, you.." Discord roared as he leapt into Pinkori, the girls laughing as they wrestled in the grass of Sweet Apple Acres.