At the end of the recording session, Stewie went through the door without saying goodbye. During that whole time, the band had only recorded two songs... and both were bad-sounding Metallica covers. Rainbow Dash's legs were hurting from all the double-bassed chaos that was "Dyer's Eve". The other one was "All Nightmare Long", just to point that out.

  "Is he gone?", asked Fluttershy, really scared of all that loud noise.

  "Yeah...", said Twilight. "... finally. I give up. I think we'll have to break up the band."

  "No, we can't do that!", protested Rainbow Dash. "The band is just fine! Just kick that retarded poser out of here and get Pinkie Pie back. Sure, she can't play, but at least she has a good taste and a sense of humor."

  "Not to mention the widest creativity I've ever seen.", said Vinyl, drinking a glass of water. Rarity and Applejack nodded with a confirming look on their faces.

  "It's not that easy.", said Twilight, with Fluttershy shaking her head in confirmation. "Stewie is the son of Lincoln's boss. If we kick him out, we can get in big trouble, and Lincoln will surely get fired as well."

  "... seriously?", asked Rainbow Dash. "Here's my idea: we kick Stewie out, and if--"

  "When."

  "... fine. WHEN Lincoln gets fired, we pull a Hollywood and make his boss hire him again."

  As the ponies discussed the situation a little more, Spike came through the door with a happier face.

  "Hey, it's Spike!", said Twilight. "He looks like he has good news."

  "Girls, I've got some good news.", said Spike.

  "Yes?", said the whole band.

  "You're going to be an opening band tomorrow!"

  "Oh, that...", said Twilight, a bit frustrated, since she already knew about that. The rest of the band was happy, though.

  "Who are we opening for?", asked Rarity.

  "'Weird Al' Yankovic. Me and Lincoln talked to him about you... how your music was really innovative, and original. He got interested and signed us in. That's really good news, because he almost never has any opening acts."

  Everypony faded their smiles a little.

  "Pinkie Pie would have loved to hear this.", said Fluttershy.

  "Stewie doesn't even deserve a part in this.", said Rainbow Dash, as the whole band packed their instruments and walked out of the studio.

---------------------------------------------------------------

  Twilight and Spike decided to stop at the Sugarcube Corner to see how Pinkie Pie was dealing with the situation. It was almost night, but somehow, the sky has never felt so black. Stewie was pretty much all destroying the good reasons to have a rock band. It now felt like the worst job ever. It felt laboring and monotonous to put up with Stewie's horrible taste in music and his unfunny sense of humor. Not to mention his anger issues. Anyway, the Sugarcube Corner somehow felt lively and musical, for some reason, Apparently, Pinkie Pie was already over it.

  Twilight knocked on the door, to be greeted by an overly happy Pinkie Pie.

  "Hey, Twilight!", said Pinkie Pie. "How was the day with that new... bassist of yours?"

  "I don't want to talk about it.", said Twilight. "And, I didn't think I would see you like that for quite a few days. Looks like you got used to it way sooner than I expected."

  "Oh, that was inevitable anyway. Actually, I'm happy because of Weird Al's concert tomorrow! It's his first time in Ponyville, or in Equestria as a whole! I've been a fan of his music since... well... since I was aware of my own existence!"

  "Hehe... yeah... that's really nice."

  "You sound nervous. Anything wrong?"

  "No, nothing."

  "You know how good I am with secrets! Don't worry, I won't tell anypony!"

  "I don't want to spoil your happiness..."

  "Please!"

  "... fine. We're going to open for him."

  "... wait. You're opening for Weird Al?"

  Pinkie's mane felt unstable again.

  "I knew it.", said Twilight. "Pinkie, I didn't decide on this. I really wanted you to participate on this, and--"

  "No, Twilight.", said Pinkie Pie, putting a hoof to Twilight's mouth. "I'm not sad or angry at you."

  "You aren't?"

  "No. I'm still going to watch Al on stage anyway... of course, it would be an honor to open for him... and I've been wanting really bad to go back to the Mane 6... and... yeah, I shouldn't have insisted."

  "No, you shouldn't."

  "Anyway, have a nice evening. I think I'll sleep a little earlier tonight, so I'll be the first to arrive at the theater, and all that."

  "Good night to you then. Hope everything works out for you."

  "Nightie-night."

  As Twilight closed the door, Pinkie Pie's smile went away in the blink of an eye.

  "Who am I kidding..."

  System of a Down - Lonely Day

---------------------------------------------------------------

  In the next day, Twilight and Spike arrived at the studio, like they did every single morning. The day felt cloudy and sad, like it should feel since Stewie came in. Twilight didn't want to go. Stewie pretty much annihilated all the fun things in having a psychedelic polka-rock band. It was like... joining the military. Or something.

  When Twilight went to drop Spike at Lincoln's office, she could hear some rather chaotic noise coming from the studio. It sounded like arguing. Really heavy arguing.

  "What's happening over there?", asked Twilight to Lincoln, who looked kind of happy and sad at the same time.

  "I told Stewie about Al's concert tonight.", said Lincoln.

  "What's wrong with that?"

  "See for yourself. I tried to stop him from shouting, but he's just too stupid to listen."

  "Looks like you're in big trouble, Twilight.", said Spike, sounding worried and relieved at the same time.

  Twilight sighed as she went to the studio.

  "What the heck is going on here?", asked Twilight, slamming the door to the studio. Stewie and Rainbow Dash were having a battle of wits to the death, while the other band members were on the corner, looking scared. Nopony listened to Twilight, except for Vinyl.

  "I'll tell you what's going on.", said Vinyl, drinking another glass of water. "Stewie is a jerk. That's what's going on."

  "Well, even a retard can see that. I want to know what's happening right now."

  "Let's just say that, if Stewie wins, you won't be opening for Weird Al tonight."

  "Out of all the jerk moves my dad could pull off...", complained Stewie. "... this is, by far, the most ridiculous one! Put me in a girls' band. Fine. A baby dragon is my manager. Fine. But opening for one of the biggest losers of all time?! That's just idiotic!"

  "Well, what do YOU have against it?", said Rainbow Dash. "Pinkie Pie may be the leader of the band, but that doesn't give you the right to boss around! Geez, TWILIGHT over there is a better leader than you are."

  "You know, I don't give a shit about that pink-faced brain-lacker. Maybe she's the reason why you're all so retarded, and you keep whining all the time."

  "Well, look who's talking now, dirtface!", protested Rarity from the crowd of scared band members.

  "Dirtface? Seriously? Is that all you can come up with? I didn't even ask for your opinion. And you know what? I think--"

  "Fluttershy, what are you doing?!", said Twilight. That caught just enough of Stewie's attention.

  "... the hell?"

  WHACK.

  Stewie fell to the ground, unconscious.

  "Oh my god!", exclaimed Twilight.

  "I'm sorry!", said Fluttershy, knowing what she just did. "I'm terribly sorry! I just wanted him to--"

  "That was awesome!", said Rainbow Dash. "You just hit him with your guitar, just like in the movies! Bravo!"

  "Is... is he okay?"

  "I'm pretty sure you didn't damage his brain at all.", said Twilight. "It was already in critical state, anyway."

  That line managed to get a few chuckles from all the band members.

  "So...", said Applejack. "... wut shall we do now?"

  "In case anypony asks...", said Vinyl. "... tell them it was an accident."

  "Haha, ah'll just shut up then."

  "Vinyl, you just gave me a great idea!", said Twilight.

---------------------------------------------------------------

  A few minutes later, the Mane 6 were at Lincoln's office, along with Stewie and his father, who was signing a retirement waiver, written by Spike.

  "Come, son.", said Lincoln's boss, taking Stewie outside. "This ain't the place for you to hang around."

  "But, Dad, you don't understand!", protested Stewie. "It wasn't an accident! That pink-maned bitch hit me!"

  "Seriously? Look at her, she wouldn't hurt a single fly."

  "But... ugh, you know what? I'm happy to leave anyway."

  "Congratulations, girls.", said Lincoln, shaking Twilight's hoof. "Especially you, Fluttershy."

  "Please don't thank me.", said Fluttershy, looking embarrassed.

  "She's right.", said Rainbow Dash. "Thank Stewie, for being such a jerk."

  Everypony laughed.

  "Hey!", said Spike. "Can they hire Pinkie Pie back then?"

  "I don't know.", said Lincoln. "You're the manager. Can they?"

  Spike cracked a huge smile.

---------------------------------------------------------------

  It was 7:30 p.m. The Mane 6's opening act at the Ponyville Music Theater would start in thirty minutes, and the place was pretty packed.

  Backstage, no whining or shouting could be heard. Everypony knew why.

  "Thank you so much again for letting me back in the band, Twilight!", said Pinkie Pie, hopping all over the place, as the band members were getting ready for the big time. "It really means so much to me. I mean, of course it would, I'm the band leader. But that doesn't mean we can't all be leaders! Anyway, thank you again and again and again and again and--"

  "Alright, Pinkie, that's enough.", giggled Twilight, as she put a hoof to Pinkie's mouth.

  "Sorry, I'm just that excited, you know! I mean... we're going to open for WEIRD AL! It's not a generic comedy rock band, like Tenacious D or The Offspring. It's WEIRD AL YANKOVIC! Not Yankovich, like most ponies would pronounce it. There's no H in Yankovic. Anyway..."

  "Sigh... I'll get used to it."

  "Girls.", said Vinyl, coming through the door. "You're up. Good show to you!"

  "Equally.", said Pinkie Pie. "Wait, what did I say again?"

  Twilight dragged Pinkie by her right arm.

  As the Mane 6 got on the stage, everypony in the crowd started cheering. Twilight had forgotten that the band was so well-known around Ponyville. She didn't have cases of stage fright... but it still felt kind of awkward to play for dozens of ponies who knew everything about her.

  "Ahem...", coughed Twilight, as she got to the microphone. "... hello?"

  Everypony cheered louder.

  "... this is, like... our first time playing live. I mean, not including talent shows, I mean... anyway..."

  "Screw that!", interrupted Rainbow Dash. "Are you guys ready to rock?!"

  Everypony cheered as loud as they could, while the first song began with Applejack's guitar solo.

  The opening act was great. It was even better than the talent show act. Pinkie's bass sounded much more profesional as well. The setlist was great as well. The song order, organized by Twilight Sparkle, of course, was perfect, with each song fading into another one. The costumes were the best part, though - Rainbow Dash wore a bandana on her forehead, Axl Rose, while Pinkie Pie wore a bunch of different shirts stacked into each other, as a homage to Weird Al's "You're Pitiful" performance, and she would take them off one shirt per song (the last one had the Mane 6 logo on it). Rarity's outfit looked almost exactly like Ruben's outfit in "The Saga Begins". Overall... it was a pretty good show.

---------------------------------------------------------------

  Backstage again, the Mane 6 congratulated each other through high-hoofs and friendly hugs. Rainbow Dash had never been so tired in her life, but she was still happy... along with everypony else, actually.

  "Twilight...", said Pinkie Pie, folding her shirts one by one. "... can I ask you a favor?"

  "Sure.", said Twilight, drinking a glass of water.

  "Could we watch Al's concert now? I've been waiting my whole life for this moment!"

  "... great idea! Do you girls feel like watching Al's concert now?"

  "Hell yeah!", said Rainbow Dash, as everypony else agreed.

  "We better get going then."

---------------------------------------------------------------

  "Weird Al" Yankovic - Polka Face

  "HELLO, PONYVILLE!", shouted Weird Al, like he did in every other show of his.

  Everypony cheered.

  "Wow... y'know, I've never played to a crowd of ponies before.", said Al. "I've played to human beings, farm animals, slime creatures from outer space... but never to ponies. Not to mention I had to pretty much break the laws of time and space to get here. As you can see, I have already suffered through enough inter-dimensional traffic, so I hope you enjoy every single stinking second of this show!"

  Everypony laughed as the show was starting for real.

  "Weird Al" Yankovic - Frank's 2000" TV

---------------------------------------------------------------

  Well, fillies and gentlecolts, that was Pony Rock 2 for ya. I think it's much better than the first one, don'tcha think?

  Anyway, thanks to everyone who actually bothered to read this to the end. You rock!

  Very special project coming soon. Really soon...

  Rate and comment, please. Actually, I couldn't care less about the ratings, just leave a comment down below and go enjoy your life... or something.