Chapter 4: Eyesight to the Blind

Riff stirred and mumbled as he heard the overly cheerful bird calls outside the motel window, tail flicking irritably behind him before he rolled over and slung out a foreleg, expecting to feel a familiar warm body to pull close. But his leg slapped only against fabric and he opened one eye grumpily to glare at the other half of the bed. “Uggggh, Graaaaaace? Dammit...” He winced, still sore and somewhat achy – “one more time” with his companion rarely meant only one more time. The pegasus had slept just fine, though his body still felt drained...in more ways than one. He mumbled again, shoving his face into the uncomfortable pillow with a muffled sigh. I'd never hear the end of it if I admitted it...but I just wanna cuddle. Don't wanna deal with worrying about this stupid festival. Who would pay to back a jazz duo, anyway...urgh.

He lifted his head a moment later, however, when he heard the door creak open. Twisting his neck about to peer over his shoulder, Riff watched Graceful slide neatly through the small crack between door and frame, a tray of three foam cups clutched in his jaws. The larger male smiled slightly as the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled his nostrils, pushing himself onto his side as his partner nudged the door shut again with his ample flank. He beamed at his awakening companion, pierced ears perking happily as he set the tray onto the miniature table. “Good morning, sweetie! How'd you sleep?”

Riffraff smiled slightly as he sat up a bit, running a hoof through his unkempt mane, several bangs falling back across his eyes. “Just fine once you actually LET me sleep. Dirty little pony.” He paused and swung his rear legs about to hang over the side of the bed. “Who's the third cup for? Don't tell me that you...”

“Espressooooooooo!” Grace replied brightly, grinning broadly as he bounced on his hooves, then cracked open one of the three cups – one filled to the brim with steaming black coffee. Riff watched morbidly as the slender male lifted it carefully to his lips, then took a long guzzle. Steam visibly rose back out of his nostrils, but not a drop was spilled as nearly a fourth of the tall cup disappeared down his throat. The larger male snorted softly in amusement as he let himself half-fall out of the bed and onto his hooves, sitting in the armchair and taking the other full container into his hooves. He opened the lid out of habit, but could already smell the cream and sugar -- as always, Graceful had ordered the coffee the way he always drank it. “D’ya want some?”

Riffraff secured the lid and then paused a moment in thought. “Uh. No, no. I’m. Good.” He smiled amusedly and leaned back in the armchair. “You go ahead. You’re often at your best when you’re hopped up on something.” He shook his head with a soft laugh as Graceful Melody giggled and then poured the even-darker espresso into his black coffee before trotting over to his partner with a smile. The masculine pegasus chuckled quietly and shifted slightly as the smaller male climbed up into his lap, the two sipping quietly at their coffees as the sun began to rise over Canterlot. There was no rush for them that morning, and neither pony felt like ignoring an opportunity to rest together with a bit of caffeine.

The two pegasi left their motel room an hour or two later, managing to keep themselves from falling into yet another messy situation, mostly thanks to Riff’s insistence that there would be plenty of stallions to gawk at while they took a stroll around the stone-walled city. Graceful glided slowly next to Riffraff as he walked down the street, both ponies glancing from side to side curiously. But nearly every storefront was closed and they’d only passed one unicorn -- rather, he had passed them in a near-sprint on the other side of the street, failing to answer Riffraff’s inquiry as to where he was running in such a hurry. But they’d only heard a snatch of his breathless words, something involving “Announcement” and “Temple”.

Grace shrugged and glanced down at Riff, who frowned a bit. “Wonder if that’s where everypony is?”

“I ‘unno, maybe. It sounds boring, though...maybe it’s like...a town hall meeting?” the slender pegasus said, pouting and throwing his head back. “Ugghhh I don’t wanna go to a boring meeting! You shoulda brought your guitar, at least we could be playin’ on the street for some money!”

Riff smiled slightly despite himself, shaking his head once. “I got my harmonica, at least. But...c’mon, Grace, let’s at least find out what’s going on. Aren’t you at least a little curious?” He began to walk in the direction the unicorn had been galloping and as expected, the feminine male fluttered reluctantly after him, despite his continued pouting.

“Noooo. Not unless there’s some big--”

“There are other things in life worth paying attention to, you know,” Riffraff interrupted hurriedly, rolling his eyes and then cocking his head as a faint crack sounded through the air. “Did you hear that?”

Graceful blinked and tilted his head slightly before his attempt at distracting his companion was cut off by the sharp cry that sounded a moment after. “Maybe...we should go see?”

But Riffraff had already begun to jog toward the sounds of a crowd murmuring, hearing a few ponies yelling inquiries to nopony in particular: “What’s happening?” and “When does the speech start?” He turned a corner and then found himself at the edge of a massive square, filled with hundreds of Canterlot citizens talking amongst themselves while staring and pointing up to the squat building that stood on one side of the square. Riff tilted his head, sensing his companion slowly gliding up to him and then dropping down to his hooves at his side. Their eyes drew across the immense crowd before inevitably turning to the gleaming staircases that flanked the enormous balcony overlooking the square. But no figure stood visible upon the massive stage. Riff frowned and found himself drawn forward toward the wide, elevated balcony, cocking his head and swearing he heard another crash from the covered section behind the broad stage.

Graceful Melody, however, continued to peer at the grumbling mob. His wings unfurled and he began to flutter a few feet above the heads of the milling ponies. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar flash of purple and he blinked before laughing and pointing. “Hey, Riff, look! It’s Trixie!”

But just as Riffraff began to turn his head to look, a louder crash rang out across the square and everypony present jerked their heads around to stare up at the top of the building. Even Grace blinked and dropped back to his hooves, stunned into a confused hush. Silence followed, broken only by the awkward shuffle of hooves on the cobblestone below. But the slender pegasus huffed a moment later when nothing followed and he jumped up and down a few times before yelling, “Hey, hey! Trixie! Trixie, you remember us, it’s me, Graceful Melody!”

Riffraff spun around to glare at his companion as multiple ponies nearest the two pegasi stared awkwardly at the cheerful stallion. The blood-red pony grumbled but glanced past the frowning townsponies, catching a glimpse of an all-too-memorable triangular hat through the crowd, purple and dotted with solid designs of crescent moons and stars. But before he could assure his feminine companion that they’d be able to go and greet the eccentric unicorn after the apparent gathering, a pained scream broke the uncomfortable silence and several ponies began to murmur loudly as all eyes turned back up to the balcony in confusion. Even Graceful furrowed his brow, nervously coming up to his companion’s side and glancing up at him for a moment before shifting his eyes to the balcony. His outburst long forgotten, everypony watched nervously before collectively flinching back as an anguished howl pierced the air.

Every murmur, every possible whisper of a conversation died down as an eerie stillness held the entire square captive. Everypony’s ears pricked as the distinctive sound of metal crashing together rang out from within the enclosure, just out of sight. Riffraff frowned slowly again as another crash echoed between the stone buildings before a furious roar filled their ears, the entire mob quailing before giving jagged cries of shock as a flash of gleaming gold burst through the domed ceiling and soared high into the crisp morning air. Graceful gasped and pressed against his companion’s side, hundreds of eyes all staring as the shining figure slowed, leaving a trail of black smoke behind its blinding form. The crimson pegasus dropped his jaw, fixated on the massive creature that unfurled ivory wings, golden armor sparking with blue lightning, much of it burnt and crumpled from some horrific impact...yet the suddenly-distinctive pony glared down, unharmed behind the massive kite shield attached to one armored foreleg. That’s...that’s the Princess...

A moment later, a smaller, sapphire figure shot through the hole created by the first and as the ponies around him began to murmur Celestia’s name in shock, Riff squinted and then gasped in unison with at least half a dozen others within earshot. As both winged unicorns slowly began to circle one another, inaudible yells flung back and forth, a hesitant voice rose up in the crowd. “It’s...it’s Nightmare Moon!”

Grace whimpered and pressed closer to his partner’s side while Riff could only stare in numbed shock. He had never seen Princess Celestia in real-life, and certainly not her sister Luna, Princess of the Night...nor her supposed evil alter-ego Nightmare Moon. But now here they both were, circling high above the skyline, barely visible as the morning sun turned Celestia’s strange armor into a blinding conflagration of golden mirrors. “Is...is that really...N-Nightmare Moon?” Graceful whispered fearfully, trembling and staring up in horror before crying out in surprise as the smaller female shot forward, the last few words of her determined shout echoing down to Riff’s ears: “...look at thyself, at what thy have become!” He blinked, wrinkling his muzzle in confusion as the two royal sisters crashed against one another, even as the ponies around them cried out in shock again, some beginning to turn and run in terror with fearful shouts of “Nightmare Moon is trying to kill the Princess!” But something about the smaller female’s words concerned him, made the gears in his mind begin to slowly turn even as the violent confrontation high above unfolded before his eyes.

Celestia roared, their voices no longer audible as they twisted higher and higher but her fury more visible even at the great distance. Riff and Grace both winced as the enormous mare smashed into the other female with her gigantic shield, stunning her and then pressing forward with two more vicious bashes of the heavy shield. The remaining crowd gasped as the mare spontaneously crowned by the mob as Nightmare Moon crumpled and went into a limp plummet toward the ground. A few ponies immediately hissed when the injured mare flinched and then managed to twist her body around and enter a steep glide. But as the smaller pony flapped her wings and twisted back around to meet her sister, Celestia’s horn lit up and suddenly the already-bright sun seemed to explode with power. Graceful yelped in surprise and shoved his face against Riffraff’s shoulder to hide his eyes as the gathered crowd cried out as one, a wave of forelegs rising to cover blinded eyes as Celestia gave another infuriated roar, her armored figure burning with terrible radiance. Riffraff grit his teeth, staring up, unable to look away as the two females spiraled and soared even higher toward the blue skies that seemed almost white in the blinding rays of the sun. But just as the large pegasus was sure Celestia had secured her victory, the whole of Canterlot washed out with the amplified beams of sunlight...the crowd gasped collectively again and he forced himself to squint once more, focusing on the figure of Nightmare Moon even as he wrapped his leg protectively around the whimpering Graceful’s slender shoulders. A moment later, his jaw dropped.

The remaining mob of ponies froze in terror as a dark shape tore up from the distant horizon, the sapphire mare’s teeth grit and horn glowing with pulsing blue energy. It took Riffraff a moment to realize it...but as the great disc arced across the sky and then slowly slid into place in front of the blinding sun...She just moved the goddamn moon...during the day...

A stunned silence filled the square, every single pony still present gawking at the now-eclipsed sun, the city suddenly left in grey shadow as a fiery corona flared violently around the shape of the moon. For a few moments, not a word was uttered and their eyes dragged sluggishly back to the sisters as Celestia swung the shield viciously toward Nightmare Moon again, shouting something furious but far too high above the city to be heard any longer. Graceful finally tore away from Riffraff, trembling as he looked up with wide eyes, joining the townsponies in watching Celestia flap her wings powerfully to chase Luna after a firm kick to her side, Celestia’s ivory horn glowing dangerously gold again as she streaked after the smaller female, slowly gaining inch by inch...

But the sapphire mare suddenly twisted in mid-flight, her body looping back gracefully, horn glinting as she shot back toward the enormous Princess of the Sun before her frame straightened out like a winged harpoon, shifting at the last second to suddenly jab her deadly natural weapon straight up through a vulnerability in the golden armor to pierce directly into Celestia’s breast.

As the smaller female’s helm kissed almost gently against her sister’s breastplate, a hush overtook the crowd. All eyes were turned skyward, watching in horrified disbelief as the massive Princess Celestia twitched, staring up with a numb, instantly-weakened expression on her features. Her huge wings flapped once before her eyes slipped shut, armored body slowly sliding off of Nightmare Moon’s horn, almost moving in slow-motion as the smaller sibling stared in disbelief herself. Silence filled the air once again as Celestia began to plummet, a gleaming comet shooting back toward the squat building, rapidly picking up speed over the hundred or so feet between herself and the plaza below. Riffraff and Graceful Melody stared in horror as Celestia’s limp body became a golden meteor, whistling through the air and then smashing with a thunderous crack through the roof of the same building, almost immediately crashing into the unseen flooring with enough force that the cobblestone beneath Riff’s hooves trembled. For a few seconds, the only sounds were those of the ceiling crumbling around the second hole punched through it and the scratching of pebbles rolling down whatever impact crater had been undoubtedly formed beneath Celestia’s bulk.

Finally, a single voice cried out in a shriek of denial before the mass of ponies next to Riffraff and Graceful began to moan and yell in horror, many others stumbling away from the plaza in terror. Riffraff kept his eyes upward, watching as several pegasi in Royal Guard armor began to shoot around the square, circling the building as the sapphire mare remained high up above Canterlot, looking down at the panicking, horrified mob with what Riff could swear was a numb expression. That...that isn’t how I imagined Nightmare M--

His thoughts were interrupted by Graceful’s whimpering, feeling his companion pulling hard on his tail. “C’mon, Riff, c’mon, we gotta go, we...we gotta get outta here, what if...what if she comes down here, Riff, c’mon, let’s go!”

“But...” Riffraff stumbled to the side and tried to anchor himself as he watched the so-called Nightmare Moon, silhouetted by the still-eclipsed sun, begin to slowly spiral downward, her face blank, nearly devoid of expression. Cries of horror, shock and hysteria filled the air but the pegasus felt riveted by the tug in the back of his mind, insisting something was off, something wasn’t quite right... “Grace, wait...”

But the feminine stallion was surprisingly strong when he wanted something, and in this situation, he wanted to leave. His grip on Riffraff’s tail was unrelenting, the larger male gritting his teeth and then sighing as he finally tore his eyes from the red skies, glancing into Graceful’s eyes and seeing the very visible panic still gripping his partner. He softened and decided he’d save his hesitations for later, turning reluctantly and then grimacing as his companion nervously took the air and began to flap hard back toward their motel room, Riff unfurling his own wings and quickly following him over the cobbled roads of the stone city.

As the two companions flew silently back toward the motel, occasionally dodging the frightened pony running along the streets below, Riffraff silently debated with himself over the subject of telling Graceful what he’d seen. Or at least what I thought I saw. I know I’ve never even seen any of those famous mares with my own eyes but...it didn’t seem like...the legends Not like everypony says... He sighed and shook his head a bit, looking at the smaller pony gliding nervously next to him, then glancing over his shoulder back to the plaza. He’d heard some of the ponies referencing the building as the “Temple of the Sun” and realized that what he and Graceful had witnessed would likely already be echoing throughout Equestria.

But as he gazed back at the Temple, he could only see a few pegasi still flitting back and forth, but otherwise no movement. He decided against trying to talk to Graceful for the time being, his choice further compounded by the fearful whispers rising up from the ponies below, wondering if Celestia was dead, if Nightmare Moon was preparing to sweep across the lands to attempt bringing permanent darkness upon all ponykind. The larger male grimaced, admittedly more than a little overwhelmed by his own thoughts. We’re just goddamn musicians...eternal night would probably give jazz a revival, anyway... He smiled slightly but then softened his expression when Graceful turned sharply at his side to quickly dive down to the front entrance of their cheap motel. He followed the slender male to the sidewalk and the two brushed past a small group of ponies crouching near a window in the lobby, staring out into the skies as if expecting the reign of terror to already begin overtaking the city.

Graceful trembled as he fumbled for the door key, having tucked it into the small pouch he often had secured beneath one of his wings much like his own companion's. His masculine partner rubbed soothingly along his spine, murmuring softly, “It’s alright, Graceful. Let’s get inside and...maybe see if there’s anything on the radio.”

The slender stallion nodded a bit and finally opened the door, seeming to calm as they entered and automatically sat down on the bed together. Graceful almost immediately pressed against Riff’s side, the crimson pegasus gazing down at him and then wrapping a foreleg around his shoulders. “Do...do you think she’s dead? Should we...turn on the radio?”

“I wouldn’t bother with that,” a dry, familiar voice interjected, both ponies staring up in surprise as a thick stream of black smoke quickly began to form a tall pillar. “Your precious Princess of Photosynthesis isn’t dead. And you, colt...” A toothy grin became visible first through the heavy smoke, fangs glinting as a muscular arm followed, holding out a pack of cigarettes, already opened with one poking out. “You’re gonna need one of these.”

Graceful whimpered and shrunk against his companion as Riffraff snarled, narrowing his eyes but already feeling the sharp pangs in his chest. “What the hell are you doing here, Amdusias? Here to celebrate the return of your dark princess?”

The rest of the demon’s scaled form came into sight as the haze about him faded into nothing, his amber eyes amused but his grin cruel. “Please. I bow to no creature. I honestly could care less about which ridiculous semi-mortal beast takes control of your pitiful nation.” He then soured and pulled the half-emerged cigarette free before flicking it toward Riffraff. The pony attempted moving his head but a slight glow surrounded the slender cylinder and it planted firmly into his muzzle. “You continue to resist, maggot, and I will take it out of your precious companion’s flesh.” The larger stallion stiffened up, then noticed Graceful’s nervous expression. He sighed, then grunted and dug in his jacket for his lighter, turning partially away for his partner’s sake as he lit the cigarette.

Amdusias watched with the same cold, satisfied grin, crossing his arms and watching as Riffraff inhaled deeply, eyes shut for a moment. As he blew out a slow plume, his eyes shot back to the demon before he gave the best retort he could muster: “And Photosynthesis, really? Does Celestia look like a plant?”

The reptilian male blinked and then pursed his lips. “Don’t test me, mortal. Your wit is infinitely pitiful compared to even the lowest of my minions. And furthermore --”

“What do you mean, she ‘isn’t dead’?” Graceful suddenly blurted, insistently clinging to the other pony’s foreleg despite Riffraff’s attempts to keep the smoke away from his partner.

Amdusias immediately glared at the smaller stallion, his sharp teeth gritting indignantly. He stepped forward threateningly with a snarl, one clawed finger shoving against Graceful Melody’s muzzle. “Do not interrupt me, you tiny cricket, your worthless guitarist may have protection, but you do NOT, do you understand?”

In a flash, however, Riffraff twisted his foreleg free of Graceful’s grip, shoving the demon’s arm away as his dark silver eyes glowed crimson for a moment. “Keep your goddamn hands off of him!” he growled, an unnatural glow shining through his clenched teeth that had nothing to do with the cigarette still burning in the side of his maw. Amdusias snarled again, backhanding Graceful hard enough to knock the smaller pony sprawling off the bed with a yelp before taking another step forward and swiftly grabbing Riffraff by the throat. He lifted the furious stallion up before slamming him firmly against the wall, ignoring the sudden agony that ran through his entire frame, his own windpipe immediately feeling constricted.

Amber eyes glowed, his cat-like pupils narrowed to slits as Riffraff gave a strangled cry at the sensation of his two front hooves suddenly burning. “You have no right to touch me, you parasite!” the demon rasped, essentially choking himself as the cursed pony squirmed and struggled against the tight grip around his throat. “Your soul belongs to ME, you WILL respect me and you will tell your whore to do the same!”

For a moment, silence fell upon the room as smoke drifted up from both pony and demon’s nostrils while Graceful whimpered quietly upon the floor, staring fearfully up at the two as tears of pain and shock rolled down his cheeks. Riffraff himself felt his eyes welling up, trembling a bit and feeling the helplessness overtake him once more. The half-smoked cigarette fell from his muzzle but halted in mid-air as Amdusias leaned down so their muzzles almost shoved together. “Do. You. Understand me?”

Riffraff glared fiercely despite his pain, taking a hint of bitter pleasure in the fact that the demon was experiencing at least twice the level of agony. But his fear for his companion, along with the overbearing power of the scaled male, gave him no choice but to relent. He dropped his head silently a moment later, feeling the smoldering butt slide into the corner of his muzzle again as he murmured: “I understand.”

Amdusias looked content, releasing the stallion and allowing him to crash down against the bedstand. Riffraff cursed in pain as he tumbled to the floor, the broken radio tinkering down around his bruised form, wincing but grimacing as he refused to give the demon any further satisfaction. Above him, Amdusias grunted, taking a step back in disgust as Graceful whimpered softly and crawled past him to hug the larger male tightly. The demon watched the two ponies press close, their heads bowed together and their attention focused solely on the other.

He took the moment to rub slowly at his neck, grimacing as his fingers roved up along the spikes lining his lower jaw before dropping his arm again. It was disgusting that this mortal creature had this much influence over him, making his usual methods all but useless and rendering even his mental abilities ineffective. He was still breathing shallowly, doing his best to stop his chest from heaving as the spikes poking out along his upper arms, back and tail flexed slowly. The demon closed his eyes and then shook his horned head briefly. He glanced down again and was relieved to find the two mortal ponies still pressing their foreheads together, neither one watching as he visibly shivered from the pain still lingering through his limbs and neck.

The reptilian male ground his teeth together, then finally muttered, “If you two disgusting creatures are finished...”

Graceful and Riffraff both pulled their heads back at the same time, the smaller pegasus closing his eyes and then pressing his skull silently into his companion’s chest. The larger stallion wrapped his free foreleg protectively around the shivering pony, then drew one last time on the cigarette before mashing it out against the carpet and glancing up at Amdusias, his eyes once more dark grey but filled with such fierceness that the demon took an unconscious step backward before meeting his glare with his own sharp gaze. “As I was saying. While you pitiful insects were buzzing back to your slovenly hovel, some other lowly mortal came to the plaza and made an announcement.” He paused and then visibly concentrated as his saxophone appeared several seconds later in his hands. His powers are diminished. He really did take a beating... “I heard that,” Amdusias muttered, embarrassed by his own obvious weakness as he slowly fingered the pads of the gleaming instrument. “To the mob of you ponies still assembled, obviously too stupid to flee, she made the grand proclamation that ‘Princess Luna is gone, and Nightmare Moon has come back!’.”

Graceful Melody sniffled and buried his face further into Riffraff’s chest, trembling and shaking his head slowly. But Riffraff only watched the tall demon with a thoughtful expression as he silently reassured the slender male. Amdusias looked back at him over his silver instrument, holding it up to his muzzle and starting to play a familiar tune, the notes streaming out softly and almost immediately bringing a sensation of calm to the tense trio. The demon himself seemed to relax and he continued into a delicate solo that Riffraff recognized, closing his eyes as the bruises began to fade both from his neck as well as the demon’s own, their pain steadily ebbing away. As the music gently came to an end, the demon’s voice uttered a soft string of words in the language of Helheim and Riffraff felt his companion’s whimpering quiet before the feminine pegasus slumped against him in a forced state of sleep.

The larger pony sighed and stroked slowly through Graceful’s cerulean mane before glancing up at the scaled male once more. “So...that wasn’t Nightmare Moon, was it?”

Amdusias studied him silently, one claw tapping slowly against the neck of his saxophone before he lowered the instrument and then held it easily in one hand. “You aren’t as stupid as your kind tends to be, mortal. Why do you ask me, what hesitation do you have in your observations?” His eyes locked with the pony's, curiosity shining through despite his efforts to hide it.

Riffraff shrugged slowly as he quietly wrapped both forelegs around the snoozing stallion in his lap, glancing down at him for a moment. “Well, your reaction alone makes me figure that...it wasn't her, but...why...do you even want to know what I think?”

Amdusias wrinkled his muzzle. “I do not need to provide you with a reason for my questions!” he snapped, frowning at the pegasus. “Do not look beyond the surface, mortal. I'm merely interested in your apparent ability to process more complex thoughts than the average sack of flesh upon this dreary plane.”

“Alright, alright,” he replied quietly. “You put him to sleep, don't wake him up, ass.” Amdusias glared at him but only gestured with his saxophone before leaning back against the chipped wooden dresser. He began to play a quiet tune, not tinged with any demonic or magical effects – playing the music just to play it. Riffraff mumbled about rudeness but was used to this kind of behavior from the masculine creature. He himself was guilty on more than one occasion of strumming his guitar while holding on a conversation. “Anyway...just. Didn't feel like the actions of some evil pony of darkness, seeking to overthrow the Princess and take over. I couldn't hear most of what they said, they...were really high up there, but I heard the one everyone yelled was 'Nightmare Moon' say something about...I dunno, 'what you have become.' It was something you would think Celestia would say to HER.” The masculine pony shook his head as the other conscious male only glanced at him across his instrument, his eyes encouraging the pegasus to continue, the music from the saxophone uninterrupted. “Anyway, there was more than that...Celestia seemed kinda...well, I dunno what the hell a Princess is supposed to act like, but she sure wasn't being very...noble. And even after...Luna...moved the moon...” He hesitated, but Amdusias seemed to approve, the demon nodding once. “Just seemed like Celestia went insane. Something just snapped. And afterward, when Celestia fell...something was...” Riffraff frowned and Amdusias watched him intently as his gentle melody trailed into a fading halt. “Luna looked almost numb. Like she couldn't believe what she just did. That wasn't Nightmare Moon. I didn't feel...”

“You didn't feel her presence,” Amdusias replied quietly, his tone unexpectedly soft. The demon studied him and then grumbled something under his breath before setting the saxophone down on the bureau to cross his arms. “Two years. I've been breathing down your neck for two years, maggot.” Even his insult, however, was almost...tender. “Do not be mistaken – when you die, and you will die due to your little contractual obligation, I will be dragging you down to Helheim, kicking and screaming, and you will be tortured for...well.” He smiled coldly for a moment. “It will be for an excruciatingly long time. However...” The scaled male took a step forward and Riffraff instinctively winced, holding Graceful's form tighter. “You, unfortunately, have made life...difficult for me.” He grimaced as he stood over the two ponies, then rolled his eyes, dropping down to his knees to bring himself down closer to the crimson stallion's level. “And I still have been unable to entirely ascertain the extent of your damage, foolish pony. But I have figured out some things. And I've decided to share a thing or two with you, mortal.”

“I have a name,” the stallion mumbled, but Amdusias waved his hand dismissively. Riffraff muttered a few choice words about demons as the reptilian male awkwardly shifted from a kneel to a seated position, crossing his legs and looking somewhat embarrassed. The two now gazed nearly eye-to-eye and Riffraff found himself extremely curious about what it was the demon would be revealing for him to act so gentile.

“When you utilized those cheap tactics that night...you did more than protect yourself.” Amdusias paused. “You already know of one other benefit.” With a slight smile, he held out a hand, then breathed a gentle stream of flame from his muzzle into his palm, his own fire unable to harm him. “I should probably consider it a good thing that it at least harms you when you exert this ability,” he added dryly as Riffraff looked sour. “But there's more than that. As you unwittingly demonstrated to me, you're apparently also learning to sense things. Your mind, feeble and underpowered as it is, has started to become attuned to the supernatural.” When the stallion looked at him blankly, the demon sighed and leaned forward, elbows on his knees as he dropped his muzzle into his hands. “Come now, worm. It's not that difficult to fathom. Well, it is for me, seeing as your capacity for effective thought processing is somewhat depressing. But you already know what I say is true. You're going to be able to sense when something supernatural is about. You won't necessarily see them, I doubt your tampering will grant you that gift.” Amdusias sniffed but the gesture was hardly effective as an insult, considering the way he sat, cross-legged, muzzle in his palms. “Regardless. I do not know what other mental abilities you may gain. Perhaps you'll learn to form coherent sentences for more than thirty seconds, I'm not sure.”

Riffraff glowered at him, but the demon only shrugged, quickly rising to stand once more. His bare form once again towered over the ponies but Riffraff continued to look forward meditatively for a few seconds. Amdusias glanced over his shoulder as he retrieved his saxophone, tempted to make a comment linking the stallion's gaze and his own uncovered buttocks, but something convinced him to hold back for the time being. The demon wrinkled his muzzle and then glanced at himself in the mirror. And for the first time in many, many years...he felt displeased with the face that gazed back at him. I'm not going to make it. My acolytes will each abandon me, one by one. And the one soul I've contracted in over two hundred years fooled me and isn't going easy. He smiled grimly, silently gripping into the saxophone before looking down at the shining instrument as it disappeared a moment later. Then again...this world will not to last long. Not if those whispers are right. They search for Nightmare Moon...but that wasn't her. That was the Princess of the Night. Why do they want her? What purpose does she serve? It can't be that. No one is insane enough to pursue that.

“Amdusias.” The demon blinked, looking up at himself in the mirror again before glaring at Riffraff's reflection over his shoulder. “Amdusias!”

“What?” he snapped, turning around as his forked tail whipped irritably behind him. The pony shrunk back slightly again before looking at the reptile pointedly.

“What's wrong? You're being...weird,” Riffraff said slowly, rubbing a hoof slowly down his companion's spine as Grace continued to slumber in the larger stallion's arms. His eyes betrayed his concern, not knowing why he worried for the demon, other than the fact that if something happened to Amdusias, it would likely somehow come back to him as well.

Amdusias had a moment of mental panic, wondering if the stallion had somehow picked up his thoughts. But as the pegasus only continued to look up at him quizzically, he calmed somewhat. “Am I not allowed to...be kind to you mortals? It's difficult being as powerful and lordly as I am, sometimes I feel that my position, my abilities are...a curse.” He put a hand to his chest as Riffraff gave him a half-amused smile. “Do not mock me, little pony. I'm being very serious. It's difficult to be in my position. Sometimes, I...desire to lower myself to your level, pretend that there aren't enormous, universe-altering issues with which to concern myself.”

“Well...maybe it'd help if you shared those issues with us,” Riffraff said softly. The lizard-like male snorted and rolled his eyes, yet the pegasus only smiled a bit more. “I'm being serious. And on a similar note, I'm not...complaining. You should think about lowering yourself to our level more often.”

The demon hesitated a moment, then shook his head quickly as both his tone and expression grew cold once more. “Forget not the relationship we have, mortal. I am the demon lord holding your soul in custody, and pretending to be my friend will not to make anything different.” He muttered and then held up a hand before the pony could respond. “Keep that disgusting muzzle shut, beast. Enjoy the chaos your worthless kind are so skilled at wreaking.” Riffraff blinked and with a mutter in his native language, the demon burst apart into a cloud of dark smoke to quickly dissipate into the air. Oh what the hell is his problem...

Riffraff sighed quietly and ran a hoof through his mane before shaking his head a bit. In his lap, he felt Graceful beginning to stir. The morning had long since become noon and the larger pony rolled his head back to slam it lightly against the wall a few times. He’d been hoping to spend the day exploring Canterlot with Graceful Melody, perhaps scoping out some of their competition as well as potential locations to snag a performance spot. But now he wasn’t even sure if the festival would still be held, and for some reason he felt that poking into various bars and nightclubs, looking for temporary work, wouldn’t settle well with the ponies of Canterlot for the next day or two.

“Is...is he gone?” The muffled voice floated up from his stomach and the crimson stallion tilted his head slightly before smiling a bit when Graceful shifted and sat up between Riff’s forelegs, refusing to leave his lap and pressing in to his embrace tighter. “Amdusias, what...what did he do?”

The masculine pegasus looked down at the smaller male, patting his cheek gently as his other foreleg wrapped tightly around his waist. “Well. He put you to sleep and...he...” Riffraff hesitated and met Graceful’s eyes. “You ain’t gonna believe this, but...he sat down with me. And we...talked.”

The periwinkle stallion blinked confusedly. “You guys...talked? Like...talked-talked? Like, you guys didn’t try to set each other on fire or kill each other or...and what do you mean that he sat down?”

“He...sat down. Like he did the night I summoned him. He...sat, right there, in front of us.” He nodded toward the spot where Amdusias had dropped down, smiling wryly. “I know. Weird. He’s been acting weird lately, though, so...whatever, right?”

“Yeah, whatever,” Graceful echoed softly. He rested his head against his companion’s chest, feeling the harmonica around Riff’s neck thrumming lightly into his cheek. “I wonder if he’s being weird ‘cause of what that creepy mare said to me in my dream.” He glanced up and the other pony looked down at him thoughtfully.

“Could be, I suppose,” Riff replied slowly, nodding once. “But no point in thinking too hard about this crap. Let’s get off the floor, though, maybe get a little bit of practice in, yeah?” His companion nodded quietly in return, the two rising together and then taking the time to unpack some of their gear, if only to check and clean it -- the last thing they wanted, after all, was being evicted from the motel for performing with live speakers in the room.

The two pegasi made a few feeble attempts at landing a show for one of the local bars, but even after Celestia had shown herself as alive while giving a speech to the town -- a speech that the musicians missed due to Riffraff spending most of that day in bed, brooding about the canceled festival -- it was clear that the ponies of Canterlot had other thoughts in their mind besides offering the pair any work. The blood-red stallion understood, but he was nonetheless disappointed and all of Graceful’s best attempts at comforting him and cheering him up inevitably ended in a discussion about their dire monetary situation. They’d been forced to check out of the motel four days earlier than planned, Riffraff insisting they save at least a few bits for an emergency. Their cart packed up and secured, the two left through the gates of Canterlot dejected, receiving only blank stares from the guards as they passed.

Riffraff figured their best bet was to head to Manehattan. The urban metropolis wasn’t his idea of a prime location in which to hunker down and try to recover some of their savings, but it seemed to hold the most potential for them to find a job. Graceful was considerably less upset about the idea -- he loved the city life and drank in the shops, the sights and of course the plentiful selection of curious stallions seeking a “new experience.” His companion hardly argued with him on the matter -- Riff was more worried about providing a much needed boon for their wallet, and if Graceful happened to score a bit of extra cash for something he already enjoyed to the point of clinical diagnosis, who was he to argue? He’d never doubted in his partner’s devotion, not once since the night they’d met and nearly simultaneously consummated their brand-new relationship. Graceful always found his way back to Riffraff at the end of the day. Well, sometimes at the end of the night, but who still follows those old sayings verbatim, anyway.

Their journey ended up being more difficult than they’d expected, with rumors spreading through Equestria like wildfire that Nightmare Moon could be lurking behind any tree, under any rock or within any shadow. Combined with the sweltering temperatures of the oncoming summer, they’d run across more than one disgruntled and paranoid pony throughout the tiny settlements scattered along the road to Manehattan. They were spending more and more nights camped out just to avoid the glares of the ponies living in the small towns -- there were some nights when Riffraff trusted Graceful Melody’s odd Phooka than the so-called civilized ponies that gave the non-local pair cold, searching gazes the moment their eyes fell upon them.

He felt less nervous of the wild creatures as their interactions became more common, Graceful sometimes disappearing for an hour or two at a time with a small group of the smoky equines only to return gleefully toting a bucket of edible berries or fruit. He’d even convinced the hesitant stallion to join him in performing small concerts for the curious creatures. Riffraff sometimes felt that they were wasting their time, but the Phooka seemed to genuinely listen...and besides that, it was at least a chance to practice for some semblance of a live audience as they approached the city.

“C’mon, Riff...one more, pleeeeeease?” The periwinkle pegasus bounced from hoof to hoof, looking over his shoulder at the larger pony with pleading eyes. “Look, they want more!” He gestured wildly at the gathering of Phooka, the five or six dark creatures flinching backward instinctively as one rumbled quietly.

Riffraff craned his neck slowly to the side to peer at them past the feminine stallion, tapping the ashes from his cigarette and commenting mildly, “They look more like they wanna eat your leg off.” He smiled slightly when Graceful huffed loudly, then shook his head amusedly. “Alright, alright. One more. And I’m devoting it to you.” He twisted a couple of the tuning knobs before starting to pick a steady rhythm, eyes flicking up playfully through the grey smoke forming a thin haze around his features.

His companion immediately laughed, sitting back on his haunches and winking at Riff before turning back to the curious gathering of Phooka. As one of Riffraff’s hooves began to tap against the stump upon which he sat, Graceful sang the first line with just a hint of a country accent in his voice: “Well I met her at the state fair last weekend...ridin’ the cannonball.” He leaned in closer to their “audience”, continuing smoothly. “She likes the roller coasters...I like her southern drawl. She’s got a new tattoo on her bottom line--” The pegasus slid one hoof sensuously along the other foreleg as he sang with a surprisingly low tone. “--a crescent moon an’ a turtledove. And by the time she got sick on the hurley-whirl...I was already in love.”

Riffraff laughed softly despite himself, closing his eyes and shifting keys as he began to strum the refrain powerfully, allowing his own baritone to provide a bar of the back-up lyrics: “So if I live through this...I won’t do no wrong. I’m swearin’ off brown whiskey...I’ll write a gospel song.” Graceful grinned toothily, continuing to belt the words cheerfully.

“If I live through this...yeah if I live through this, I’m gonna change my ways...” The slender pegasus moved easily to the firm rhythm kept perfectly in time by his companion, laughing warmly as the Phooka shifted slightly, but otherwise continued to watch as if enraptured as Graceful easily rolled into the next verse while Riffraff's small appendages resumed the well-defined picking. “She doesn't seem to need sleep, she's kept me up all week...I'm not sure if I'm alive...or dead!” A playful grin to a smiling Riff, Graceful's ample flank swinging back and forth in time. “Her furniture showed up here this morning...I thought it was a little too soooon...and this mornin' she mentioned that her coltfriend...gets outta prison this afternoooon!”

He began to sang the refrain again, his voice carrying easily without a microphone as Riffraff again provided background vocals, his rear hoof stomping firmly now as he thumped and strummed the guitar with renewed vigor, each twang and hum filling the small clearing with the melody of the lesser-known blues favorite.

“Well every time I walk out, she jus' turns me around. I feel like I'm up--” Grace slid neatly toward one of the Phooka, meeting its eyes fearlessly and rolling his body toward it teasingly. “--when I know that I'm down.” The dark creature seemed torn between sliding away and pressing back toward the sinuous pegasus, but Graceful had already moved past it and into the middle of the group. “She wants to party all night, she likes to do it all day, if I live through this I'm gonna change my ways!” He threw his forelegs around the two nearest Phooka with a laugh as they rumbled nervously but made no attempt to flee as the mortal pony sang the refrain as powerfully as ever, swaying with the creatures as Riff smiled despite himself, his flanged hooves ripping out an improvised solo beneath Graceful's repeated chorus. He closed his eyes and let his hooves move on instinct, the warm solo keeping in perfect key to the melody of the refrain as Graceful happily sang it over and over, drawing out the end of the song by nearly five minutes to allow his partner to ride the solo as long as he could maintain it.

Riffraff finally eased back into the song’s original rhythm, smiling as his companion immediately began to sing the end of the chorus. His hooves slowed on the strings, listening to Graceful and timing each final strum with the slender male’s drawn-out, drawling finale. Riffraff smiled and gave the guitar one last powerful strum before laughing despite himself as Graceful giggled and bowed before beaming at the Phooka as they all rumbled softly, one of the smoky creatures still swaying slowly. The slim pegasus looked around cheerfully and then all but shining with happiness as one of the Phooka hesitantly nuzzled his shoulder, his eyes bright as he compulsively hugged the semi-feral equine. It looked nervous, yellow eyes widening in shock, but did not attempt to pull away as its pack members all looked on curiously. “Thank you, you guys were wonderful!” Graceful said joyfully, smiling around the group again before gently releasing the Phooka and sitting back.

As he began to chat amiably with them about the “show”, oblivious to whether not the dark creatures understood him, Riffraff smiled again and reached into his jacket for the pack of cigarettes. But he hesitated when one of the Phooka approached him, looking at the shadowy creature awkwardly as it carefully strode up and then sat down only a few feet away, its hypnotic eyes gazing up into Riff’s own irises for a moment. Nervousness overcame the pegasus, but instead of any kind of trance, he instead found himself experiencing several visions in his mind. The Phooka continued to look up at him silently, but it was as if it was sharing its thoughts, its opinions with the blood-red stallion. Riffraff saw a flash of what might have been a massive Phooka gathering, at least a hundred of the mysterious creatures bunched together and speaking their strange language -- no, Riffraff realized they were singing. The pony blushed despite himself as he witnessed the foreign ceremony, half-aware he was being shown something that most ponies would likely never see or even believe. He closed his eyes but the shared experience continued for several minutes, seeing not only the gathering but flashes of other instances where Phooka had crept up and observed the musical rituals of other civilizations, from pony to minotaur, even strange hybrid creatures that Riffraff had never heard of or seen.

When he finally opened his eyes again, the Phooka had disappeared, along with its compatriots, and Riffraff suddenly felt embarrassed for all the times he’d insulted, feared and simply ignored the creatures, assuming them to be barely-evolved beasts that were merely drawn to the innocent, soothing nature of his periwinkle companion. Graceful Melody smiled at him as the smaller male returned to his side, resting his head against Riff’s shoulder and murmuring softly, “See? They really aren’t so bad.”

The crimson stallion blushed quietly again, nodding once and glancing over at Graceful. “Yeah. You were right. I...thanks, Grace. And I’m sorry for all the times I was a real douche about them.”

Graceful giggled softly and kissed the larger pegasus’s neck, making Riff squirm slightly in pleasure. “No worries, Riffy. I’m just glad you were able to see what I see.”

“I don’t think I could ever see what you see,” he replied mildly. “All you see are...well. We all know what you see.”

“I don’t see one now,” Graceful responded, half-lidding his eyes. “We should fix that.”

The masculine stallion smiled slightly and carefully placed his guitar back in its case. “What we should do is get you neutered. You’re worse than a colt going through puberty.” The instrument safely returned to its home, he sat down by the fire as his companion smiled back and immediately joined him once more, slowly nuzzling over his foreleg and up to his neck once more, nibbling lightly at the feathered mane. Riffraff shivered a bit, his wings fluttering briefly and hating himself even as he added slowly, “But. I suppose that isn’t...all bad.” He glanced over at the grinning male again before rolling his eyes amusedly and leaning back somewhat. “Well, I ain’t stoppin’ you.”

After departing their makeshift campsite the morning after their unofficial concert, the two ponies managed to reach Manehattan only two days later. They’d left late for...various reasons, but had traveled long past sundown the next day and ended up sleeping only a few hours in the back of the cart, not even bothering with a fire. As a reward, they reached the borders of the sprawling city early the next morning, both pegasi harnessed to the front of the transport to move faster. Graceful flapped his wings hard as they got within a mile or so, somehow managing to bounce excitedly in the air as his hooves flailed happily. “We’re almost there, Riffriff! We’ll be there soooon, are we gonna get a room first? Can we go shopping, oh please, please, pleeeeease? I wanna see if they have anything I could add to my wardrobe for the stage, my other three outfits are startin’ to get booooring!”

Riffraff snorted softly, watching as the feminine stallion bucked about, flying nearly a foot higher and making the entire cart rattle. “Chill out, queerpony, we so do not have the scratch for that.” Grace pouted and immediately dropped down again, his wings furling dejectedly as his hooves impacted the dirt road. Riffraff grunted before sighing and lowering himself as well, taking on the same pace as the deflated pegasus. “Oh, come on. You know I’m not even being mean. We don’t even have enough to get a cheap motel room tonight. We need to find a show, and then get a room and then...well.” He paused before glowering at the road ahead. “I guess I can take you to go window-shopping, at least. And you can try on a few things or something.”

The smaller male squealed happily, quickly brightening again and starting to skip. Riffraff blinked and sighed again, refusing to skip but increasing his own speed to a trot as his companion babbled cheerfully. “That would be wonderful, sweetie! Thank you, thank you. And oooh, we can do stuff in the dressing room, I know how you like the chance of being caaaaught.” He grinned, drawing out the last word as Riff glared over at him.

“I think I’m glad you’re such an outgoing nymphomaniac who enjoys sampling other stallions like a damn wine tasting. You might kill me otherwise through dehydration.,” he said dryly.

“Yep, that’s how I killed my last seven coltfriends,” Graceful replied, his tone so natural that his partner stared at him awkwardly. “Sucked ‘em aaaaall dry. They were like...skeletons when I was done. Nothin’ but skin an’ bones, true story!”

“You’re...you’re really weird and creepy,” Riff said slowly. He shook his head but snickered quietly. “And you’re making me jealous.”

“Well, if you wanna pull over and let me s--”

“No no no, that’s. That’s alright.” He cleared his throat, hating how easily even the most playful things Graceful said or did got him so innervated. “Let’s. Just get to town,” he added gently, then leaning over to share a soft kiss that the other male automatically turned into. “Besides, I know you’re my little slut-bucket. That’s all that matters.” He smiled and winked, and as always, Graceful smiled happily, almost proudly. “We’re pretty messed up, you know that?”

“I like messed up,” the slender stallion announced, nodding firmly as they passed the first few outlying buildings outside the main city limits. His companion grunted softly in agreement, but otherwise remained quiet as both pegasi began to look around curiously. Manehattan did not possess the historical, stately air that Canterlot did, but the metropolis certainly still exuded a natural prowess and the draw of modernized grandiosity. A first glimpse from the two musicians also revealed that the townsponies out and about on the wide streets ahead did not seem to bow their heads with the weight of the events at Canterlot. After all, Celestia had shown herself to be alive and recovering, Nightmare Moon had fled...such political matters only concerned these city ponies when they affected the bustle and flow of daily life in the busy metropolis.

They passed the true city limits and continued to gawk at the massive buildings, some seeming to stretch all the way to the clouds. Pegasi, earth ponies and unicorns all rushed along them, some passing the two companions with a far sleeker mode of transportation, often pulled by an earth pony dressed in a neat suit. Riffraff frowned slightly at this, but shrugged and let his eyes wander before spotting an advertisement hastily pinned to a telephone pole on the side of the street. He nudged Graceful and the two pulled the cart over so the larger male could skim the ad. “Looks like there’s a new piano bar that opened up somewhere around here, they’re lookin’ for other musicians to fill in on some nights.” He paused, not quite trusting “some nights”, especially if it advertised itself as a piano bar, but figured it was a better bet than nothing for the time being. “Whaddya think, Grace? Worth checkin’ out?” He looked quizzically at the smaller male, who nodded fervently.

“Yeah! After all, a lot of our stuff sounds even better with a piano, so...that kinda works out, right?”

The larger stallion smiled. “Yeah, I guess it kinda does. Alright then, let’s go check it out, see what kinda deal we’re lookin’ at.” He peered at the address, then looked around lamely as he realized the two visible street signs were neither labeled with the name they needed. “Uh. Not sure where we’re going, though.”

“We could ask for directions!” Graceful chirped. Riffraff immediately looked sour, ears laying flat on his skull as he scowled.

“Directions are for mares,” he said pettishly before blinking as Graceful leaned over to the unicorn pulling an open wagon next to them.

“Heeeeey, how do we get to Redwood Plaza?”

Riffraff huffed grumpily, glaring as the unicorn blinked at them before responding slowly.

“Uhh. You’ll want to go down two streets, then make a right. It’ll be the next street over.” She tilted her head slightly. “Are you two...visiting?”

“We don’t work for Nightmare Moon, don’t worry, but thank you!” Graceful replied brightly, waving and then poking his companion. “C’mon, Riffy, I know the way!” The unicorn continued to look at them awkwardly as Riffraff morbidly turned his head forward before dropping it and pointing with a hoof.

“Then. Let’s go. Before someone strings us up,” he mumbled. His partner beamed and nodded, starting forward at a brisk trot as Riffraff sighed and quickly matched pace. “Were you fed crazy juice when you were a foal?”

Graceful Melody giggled quietly again. “If I was, then by that logic, I also woulda had like. A MILLION bottles of s--”

“Aaaaand we’re done with that conversation,” Riff said quickly, cutting off the smaller stallion with a groan as they passed several fancy restaurants and hotels, as well as the occasional clothing outlet. “I wonder if I can buy back that gag we sold last year.”

“There are plenty of things we can improvise with, hon, don’t worry,” the periwinkle male responded helpfully. He smiled as Riffraff mumbled but blushed all the same. “Besides, this is the city! You can do anything in the city, an’ no one will even care, honestly!”

“Except the police,” Riffraff shot back mildly. “I’m pretty sure public indecency and sodomy are illegal in these parts.” He paused as they came to the second intersection, glancing both ways and waiting for a group of ponies dressed in business suits to shuffle past on the crosswalk. “Just. Try and save most of your...”energy” for the show. At least then most of the ponies around you are drunk and won’t realize you’re hitting on them until they stumble out through the backstage door.”

“They sometimes get really mad at that backstage door,” Graceful commented, looking thoughtful as they steered their cart around the corner and toward Redwood Plaza. “I mean, I know I wear a dress a lot and stuff, and some ponies even think that I look like a mare sometimes, buuuut. I’d know the difference.”

“Yes, because your alarms would go off and you’d run screaming in the other direction,” his companion deadpanned before glancing down either direction at the next intersection. “Alright, now we’re looking for...88 Secrets.” He paused. “That’s kind of a dirty name.”

“Hopefully it’ll be a dirty bar, then,” Graceful replied. “Maybe they’ll have poles!”

“I. Well. I guess we’d be able to probably make more money that way,” Riffraff conceded, rubbing at his muzzle with a musing expression. “Anyway. I think I see a sign down that way, let’s go check it out.”

After about ten minutes of searching for a viable space to park their cart, the two ponies had reluctantly left their things unattended – save for Riff’s guitar case – and wandered into the bar. The hours of operation stated that it would not open for business for another five hours, but the front doors were unlocked and a few employees were inside, stocking the bar and vacuuming the carpets. The unicorn behind the bar glanced up absently as the door opened. “Sorry, we aren’t open until five tonight.”

“Oh, uh...we were here ‘cause of the ad?” Riffraff said nervously, not sure why the thought of an audition made him jittery. He and Graceful had done them numerous times and rarely suffered stage fright of any sort. His eyes shifted to the small stage, where a baby grand piano was positioned in front of a small bank of speakers. A gleaming microphone stood at the center of the stage and there was enough room to accompany two or three other musicians. “Are you guys still looking for a hoof or two?”

The bartender looked up again, then seemed to take notice of the guitar case strapped to the larger male’s back. “Oh. I think...hold on a sec.” He ambled around to the side of the bar, disappearing into the back as he called out somepony’s name. Riffraff sat down slowly and looked around again as Graceful pranced up to the stage curiously. A light-green pegasus with a cutie mark showing a pair of white theater masks was straightening the tablecloths throughout the dining area and she tilted her head and watched the slender male hop onto the stage, prowling around it slowly.

“So...you play guitar,” she said, glancing at Riffraff before looking back at the smaller stallion with the multiple piercings. “What...do you play?”

He giggled and grinned. “Uhhh, well...”

“Grace,” Riffraff warned, glaring up at the effeminate male as Graceful pouted and stood on his rear legs to take the microphone into his front hooves.

“Oh fiiiine. I’m the singer! I do the singing.” He nodded several times, blowing softly on the microphone and then looking disheartened to find the speakers off and unresponsive. “I like singing.”

“I...see,” replied the server slowly, looking softly amused as she folded a napkin without looking, placing it in the center of one of the tall cocktail tables spread around the expansive room. “You have...some very interesting...body art,” she added carefully.

Graceful beamed proudly as he turned slightly, showing off the bright yellow zig-zags forking down both his forelegs. “Thanks! And you know what, I had all these, even my tongue stud, before I met Riffraff! And he still became my coltfriend!”

The larger male looked mortified, widening his eyes slightly. “I...I...uh. Yes. Yes, I did, Graceful, thank you for telling everypony about things they’re all really anxious to hear.”

“You’re welcome, Riffy!” he said cheerfully, the multiple piercings along his jaws seeming to glint of their own accord as he hopped off the stage again. “I really like this place, I hope we c’n work here.”

The female employee laughed despite herself, half-hiding her muzzle behind a hoof as she smiled amusedly between the two other pegasi. “I’m sure it won’t be too hard. Our last regular accompaniment left for some festival a couple weeks ago and we haven’t had more than a few temporary players since then. You’ll just have to learn to put up with Keyes.”

Before Riffraff could ask about 'Keyes' and what they'd have to put up with, the bartender returned with a grumpy-looking earth pony close behind. “Here they are, boss.” The unicorn gestured briefly to the two stallions before returning to behind the bar.

The owner approached the pair slowly, his pale blue eyes observing them critically. He was a somewhat overweight pony in a loose red vest pulled over a hide of dark amber. His mane and tail were a lighter brown and the emblem on his flank depicted a yellow sponge. Graceful stared at this awkwardly for a moment and the earth pony’s expression soured. “You better stop worrying about what the hell my cutie mark means and start showing me you’re worth my damn time,” he spat, glaring at the smaller pegasus. Graceful Melody shrunk back a bit and Riffraff withheld his growl, instead shaking his head quickly to clear his thoughts.

“Of course, sir, we’d be happy to.” He looked at his companion pointedly, jerking his head toward the stage. “Is there anything in particular you’d like for us to play?” he asked as politely as he could muster while placing his guitar case on the stage and then removing the ancient instrument and slipping the strap over his head and beneath one foreleg. The owner shifted his disapproving glare from the slender pegasus to his companion’s battered guitar, already appearing doubtful.

“Is that thing even going to play?” he asked incredulously, earning a sour glance from Riffraff. He snorted, then shrugged. “No, just make it fast. I have checkbooks to balance and expenses to budget.”

Riffraff mumbled something under his breath before looking over at Graceful, but the feminine stallion seemed unaffected by the attitude of the earth pony, standing calmly next to the microphone. The large pegasus smiled a bit, feeling himself loosen up as he glanced down at the guitar, and then strummed a gentle chord.

His companion winked across at him, immediately recognizing the song -- it was the first they’d played together, on that tiny balcony nearly two years ago. Riffraff felt his hoof give the recognizable tremble, shiver, then pang of agony, but he closed his eyes and felt himself blocking the pain out with the music. Even without the microphone and speakers active, Graceful’s voice floated easily through the bar, both employees halting their work to watch and listen intently as the owner grimaced but remained silent for the entire first verse and refrain.

When the larger pegasus began to pick the melody for the second verse, the amber earth pony lifted a hoof and said clearly, “That’s enough, thank you.” Both bartender and server looked at him expectantly, the female’s eyes all but pleading with the owner. He glanced across at her, then grumbled. “Fine. We’ll let you two play tonight. But get one thing straight. This ain’t the place to go out and start ripping fifteen minute solos, or for you, colt, to hog the spotlight on the microphone.” Graceful pouted and wrinkled his muzzle in response. “There’s no arguing that, understand it? This bar is a PIANO bar. And Keyes is the main attraction. Ponies come to see him play, not to see some street musicians we’re paying to provide a little extra noise, got it? If he says you’re singing too loud, your flank better cut the volume. He says you’re going too far with your 'creativity' on the guitar? You play the goddamn chord he’s on for the rest of the night, you got it?”

Riffraff frowned a bit, then nodded slowly as he looked at his companion for a moment. “Yeah. We got it.” Graceful Melody had a hurt expression on his muzzle but Riff knew they needed to take the jobs as they came. “Will...we get paid tonight, Mr...uh...” He looked blankly at the sour pony in the vest.

“Buck. Just. Buck. And why?

“Uh. Well. Welll need to get a room somewhere, we...just got into town,” Riff explained carefully. “Our cart is still sitting outside and...if the show isn’t until five...”

“Tough tack. No payment until after the show. What you make is based on what the folks bring in, got it?” The light brown pony studied them for a moment before grunting and turning to walk back to the offices behind the bar.

Riffraff sighed as the small appendages along his hoof slowly pushed back into hiding, wincing a bit. He laid his guitar to the side, then glanced at Graceful as the slender male came to sit next to him on the stage. “I dun really like this deal,” he murmured, reaching out to pluck at the guitar slowly with a hoof. “We don’t normally gotta be good little boys on the stage.”

“Yeah, I know, Grace...but...we gotta make some dough. Though it looks like we’ll be stuck finding a place to park the cart from now ‘til the show’s over tonight.” He mumbled and shook his head slowly. “At least we have a job for now.”

The female pegasus straightening the tables began to set the booth nearest the stage and smiled up at them. “Don’t worry. Buck’s kind of...always like that. But we usually have a pretty well-paying crowd in here, get a lot of...upper-class types. Real posh, like to think they’re being ‘retro’, coming in to listen to Keyes on the piano. You two should make enough between yourselves tonight to get a cheap room for a night or two.” She nodded reassuringly. “Name’s Delilah, by the way.”

The two musicians nodded back, Riffraff feeling a bit better as Graceful perked somewhat. Grace hopped off the stage as his larger companion put the guitar away, then both looked up as the muscular unicorn behind the bar tossed a few coins onto the lacquered surface, covered in the usual bevy of nicks and gashes. “Here. You two don’t need to stick around here looking dumb for the next four hours. Get yourself a cheap motel room somewhere, get some rest, you look like hell.”

Riffraff blinked in surprise, blushing and quickly shaking his head. “Aw, no, we couldn’t...we can just rest on the cart, it’s --”

“Just take the damn coins,” the bartender interrupted, kindly but firmly gesturing to the money. “You can pay me back at the end of the show tonight.” Graceful trotted over to the bar, smiling up at the unicorn gratefully as he quietly swept the coins into a hoof. “I’m Jet. You know that you two are gonna be miserable up there, right?”

The smaller pegasus tilted his head quizzically but Riffraff only shrugged and rubbed at his own shoulder. “Well, Jet, we don’t have a lot of options right now. But...out of curiosity, why do you say that?”

The ebony stallion gave a slight smile, shaking his head briefly to resettle the braid in his long, deep-blue mane. “Because you two seem to know how to play. And I don’t mean like little trained pets.”

Both ponies took it as a gracious compliment, Riffraff smiling back as Graceful replied cheerfully: “Thanks! We’ve played together for two years, but we usually kinda do our own thing on the stage, but...” His words trailed off before he mumbled, “I guess we’ll have to play it safe for now.” He paused, then looked between Delilah and Jet. “Are there any uniform requirements or anything? Do...you think I’d be able to get away with wearin’ a dress on stage?”

Delilah blinked and stared at the slender male for a moment as Riffraff only shook his head amusedly. “Uh...no, we...well, the servers are supposed to wear aprons and ties, but...otherwise...no. You...wanna wear a...dress?”

“I’m gonna say that might be frowned upon by Keyes,” Jet said delicately, starting to polish a massive row of variously sized glasses. “He isn’t one to enjoy being showed up in any way, whatsoever.”

Graceful Melody lowered his ears dejectedly and gave Riffraff a pitiful look. The crimson stallion raised a hoof quietly. “Sorry, Gracie. You know what I’m about to say again.”

“I know, I knoooow,” he replied with a mumble. “Gotta take what we can get.”

“At least you’ll be on stage naked,” Riffraff added. “You like being naked.”

“Yeah, but we’re like. Always naked. But alriiiiight, let’s go take a nap an’ take showers an’ stuff.” He nudged the larger pegasus firmly.

Riff nodded once, then looked back at the two employees. “Thanks, guys. And thank you, Jet, we...we really appreciate this.” He smiled and waved briefly before heading toward the door behind Graceful. “I guess we’ll see you guys in a couple hours.”