The grey stallion cantered into the coffee shop, ordering a mocha latte and taking a seat at a table alone. He ran a hoof through his messy black mane as he sat back. He got the feeling he was being watched, so he turned around to see a set of indigo eyes staring at him. He tried to look away, but found himself staring right back at the brown pegasus with his own purple eyes. The other stallion got up and came over.
"Hello, my name is Blaxe J, it's a pleasure to meet you." the stallion said, holding out a forehoof.
"Dregon. Is there a reason you were staring at me?" the grey unicorn asked curiously,shaking the hoof.
"Yes." Blaxe said simply.
"Are you going to tell me why?" the unicorn asked impatiently.
"No." Blaxe stated.
"Why not?"
"Because if I told you, you'd think I'm crazy." Blaxe said, matter-of-factly.
"You're looking kinda crazy anyways." Dregon admitted honestly, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Yeah, well, that's unavoidable in my line of work." Blaxe scratched his head, lost in thought for a moment. "But enough about me for now. I know a few ponies you're going to want to meet."
"Why do you think I'd want to meet your friends?" Dregon was becoming annoyed by the lack of explanation.
"Because they need a lead singer." Blaxe grinned, knowingly. He turned around and started for the door. "You can continue what you're doing, not knowing when your next pay will come. Or you can follow me and get what you've been looking for."
Dregon couldn't understand it, but for some reason, he wanted to trust this pony. As farfetched as this seemed, Blaxe seemed very sincere, and Dregon couldn't stop himself from following the pegasus.
Blaxe rushed through the city, keeping just in Dregon's view. Blaxe entered a run-down looking apartment building, and Dregon followed as closely as he could, finding it difficult to keep up. He reached the top floor huffing and puffing from exhaustion. Blaxe knocked on the door and a dull red stallion with a gray and red mane answered the door.
"Hey, Blaxe! Good to see you again, how've you been?" the earth pony answered, smiling.
"Just fine, things get any better for you?" he asked, a sly look in his eyes.
"Not without lead singer no." the stallion's sea blue eyes noticed Dregon. "And who's this?"
"This is Dregon, you're new lead singer." Blaxe patted the unicorn on the back. "Dregon, this is Region Key. He's plays the keyboard."
"Please call me Key, I don't like it when others use my first name. With the exception of Blaxe that is." Key seemed to be holding back a lot of excitement.
"Nice to meet you, you seem to understand this more than I do, and I doubt Blaxe will explain this fully." Dregon said between breaths. "So will you please tell me what exactly is going on?"
"I'm a part of a band, but because none of us are very good singers, we haven't had too much luck with getting gigs." Key began. "So Blaxe here was looking for a lead singer for us. And he found you."
"How many others are there in your band?" Dregon asked, finally regaining his breath.
"Three, besides me. A drummer, a guitarist, and one on bass." he responded.
"A full package then, can I meet them?" Dregon asked, interested.
"Come on in." Key stepped aside and ushered the unicorn inside.
"This is Kick Start, we call him Kicks." Key pointed at a tall, muscular black stallion sitting on a drummer's stool behind a drum kit. His green mane was tied back in a black bandana. His piercing yellow eyes seemed to radiate with passion. "And these are the twins, Treble Clef, and Bass Clef." Key continued, gesturing towards two pale orange unicorn stallions. They were identical. from their ginger manes, to their electric blue eyes full of mischief, to their cutie mark of a string of notes.
"Ooh, who's this guy Key?" one of the twins asked, getting really close to Dregon.
"Is he going to join our band?" the other inquired, mirroring his brother.
"He might be his name is Dregon. Blaxe brought him here, so he has a chance." Key said, looking to Kicks.
"One word." he replied, cryptically.
"You have to pass his 'one word' test. Tell us, in one word, why we should let you in our band." Key explained to Dregon, waiting for his response.
Dregon thought about it, looking around at the ragtag group of musicians around him. "Outcast."
Key's eyes widened, and he looked back to Kicks. The pegasus nodded, and Key grinned giddily. "You're in! Welcome to our band. 'Outcast'."
"Your band is really called Outcast?" Dregon questioned, incredulous.
"It is, we are all outcasts. The twins are rejected by most ponies because of the mind games they like to play. I was never really understood, nopony ever took the time to get to know me besides these guys. And as for Kicks, he was disowned by his parents." Key said, a wild look in his eyes.
"Wow, that's insane. So, now what?" Dregon looked around questioningly.
"Now, we try to get a gig. I think there was a club near here that was looking for some talent." Key suggested.
"We auditioned for them last week. I don't think they'll take us just because we have one more pony." one of twins countered.
"Yeah, that won't go over well." the other added.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Key rose an eyebrow, and the twins looked down, shaking their heads.
"Um, I do." Dregon interjected. "The coffee shop I go to every morning is looking for a band to play at night. I couldn't get the job because I don't play any instruments. But I think we have a shot together."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Key said. "Let's go then."
"But, we haven't even practiced together yet." Dregon protested, stopping Key in his tracks.
"Oh, right. Well then, we'd better get the back alley's." Key corrected, grabbing a guitar case, handing another one to Dregon.
"Why? What's there?" he asked, wondering what Key was thinking.
"The pit. That is what's there." Key replied, as the twins levitated the drums.
"What?" Dregon was at a loss, he had mostly stayed within a few blocks of his apartment. Not venturing into the alleys at all.
"You have to see it to really understand it." Key scratched his head, unable to describe the place he's been going to for years.
"Alright, let's go then. I guess." Dregon put the guitar case over his head. Kicks grabbed the keyboard and they headed out of the apartment. "By the way, why do you carry each others instruments?"
"It's easier this way. Kicks doesn't have to carry a whole drum kit. And it builds trust between us, so be careful with that guitar." Key explained, trotting out of the building. Blaxe followed in silence, observing the ongoings from here.
The earth pony led the way through the alleys turning paths until they reached a more open area. It looked like a massive abandoned skate park, graffiti covering every surface except the rails. There were ponies all around on scooters, skateboards, roller skates. There were ponies adding new graffiti to the walls and floors. And there were a few small groups of ponies spread out, playing music.
"Wow, this is the pit?" Dregon looked all around, taking in the sights.
"Yup, quite a place huh? I found this place on accident one day." Key started thinking back to his foalhood. "I found a keyboard that nopony was playing and started pushing keys. It felt so natural, so right, and the sounds coming from the keyboard sounded so nice to me." Key smiled, remembering that day. "When the owner of the keyboard found me, he was angry at first, until he heard the music I was playing. He smiled down at me and told me to keep playing. When I finished, he gave me a smaller keyboard to take home. I was so excited to show my parents, that I didn't even realize I got my cutie mark while playing that instrument." Key grabbed his keyboard and set it up, handing the guitar case to Bass. "My parents had been worried sick, but they were happy to know that I found my special talent. And ever since then, I would sneak out every once in awhile, to play my keyboard here.
"That's a very interesting story. Did your parents ever find out about your sneaking out?" Dregon questioned, handing Treble his guitar.
"Yes, but that's a story for another time." Key waved it off nonchalantly.
The twins set down the drum kit and Kicks set it up. Treble pulled out a music sheet and handed it to Dregon. "This is the song we sound best on. We'll play it first."
Dregon looked over the paper, examining the composition and lyrics. "This is a pretty nice song, who wrote it?"
"It was collaborative, we all contributed to it. We're a team through and through." Bass answered, strapping on his bass.
"Seriously? Usually it's just one pony who writes the songs. Otherwise it's an unorganized hodgepodge of chaos." Dregon commented, surprised.
"Well, we aren't your usual band." Key said.
"So it would seem." Dregon took a mic from Kicks, and took another look at the music sheet.
"Ready?" Key asked after a few seconds.
"Yeah, let's do it." Dregon affirmed.
"On your beat Kicks." Key put on a pair of wraparound shades and glanced back at the pegasus.
*tap tap tap*
Kicks started them off, Key joining in after a few seconds. Then Treble and Bass began in unison. Dregon waited a couple more seconds before he started singing. They sounded great, considering it was their first time together as a band. A small crowd started to gather around the band, thoroughly enjoying the music. When the song was over the crowd cheered, applauding them. They all looked at each other in delight, having never received this much praise for their talents before.
Key stepped up, getting everypony's attention. "WE ARE OUTCAST!"
This brought up another round of cheers, and when it died down, the group went back to the apartment.
"That was insane! We've never gotten a response that great from the crowd before!" Key exclaimed, head still buzzing from excitement.
"They loved us!" Treble commented, practically bouncing with glee.
"And I thought I felt accomplished before." Bass added, giddily.
"Epic." Kicks said, his eyes seemed to glow with happiness, even though the rest of him was really relaxed.
"I never thought I'd find a band as amazing as this." Dregon smiled, glad to have met these ponies.
"I can't WAIT for Rocfest now!" Key stated, cantering over to the small balcony protruding from their apartment.
"Rocfest?" Dregon inquired.
"It's a huge festival celebrating rock music. There's a parade, streets lined with vendors, and a battle of the bands." Key elucidated, staring down at the streets. "And I think we should compete."
"When is Rocfest?" Dregon asked.
"In two weeks." he answered, turning back to the others.
"Are you sure we'll be ready by then?" Treble questioned, doubtful.
"That's not a lot of time to develope as a band." Bass said.
"We'll be ready, are first time all together as a band drew a bigger crowd than we've ever had before. With some more practice, we'll get thousands of ponies to cheer for us." Key said confidently. "I can see it now, performing in a stadium, packed to the brim with adoring fans. We'll become legends in rock." Key closed his eyes, picturing his visions of grandeur.
"First things first though. We need a gig to start us off." Dregon interrupted Key's thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, right." Key shook his head, his mind returning to Equestria. "Let's try out that coffee shop of yours. Then look for bigger work elsewhere."
"Sounds good. I'll see you all tomorrow. We should be there by six thirty in the morning." Dregon turned and headed for the door.
"Alright, goodnight Dregon." Key waved at him.
Dregon went back to his own apartment. On his way in, he passed a light gray pegasus mare. Her inky black and purple mane flowing down her shoulders. Dregon did a double take, to get a better look at her. She had emerald green eyes, a cutie mark that seemed to be a cross between a star and a flower. And she had freckles on her face that made her look that much cuter to Dregon. She left the building, and the unicorn shook his head, coming to his senses. He went back up to his room, collapsing on his bed to sleep for the next day.
The next morning Dregon woke up to the sound of his alarm clock. He got out of bed, took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and left his apartment. He arrived at the other apartment a short while later, knocking on the front door. Kicks opened the door this time, he simply extended a forehoof, inviting him in.
"Are you guys ready to go?" Dregon asked, looking at them.
"Yeah, just let us grab our instruments." Key replied, taking the bass and giving the guitar to Dregon.
They got to the coffee shop and cantered in, moving towards the door to the back.
"Hold it, what do you think you're doing?" said the security pony next to the door.
"What's it look like? We're going to audition to perform here." Key stated, confidently.
"Hmm." the pony looked over the group for a moment, sizing them up. "Alright, head on in."
"Thank you." Key said, pushing his way through the door.
"How're you so confident?" Dregon asked, incredulous.
Key merely shrugged, not sure himself. The band played a quick song for the store manager, and she was impressed enough to give them a shot. They went out on the small stage and set up their instruments, pulling out the same song they played at the pit. The crowd seemed to enjoy their music, a few ponies even gathered around the stage. Dregon looked through the different faces, and he spotted the light gray mare he saw leaving his apartment building last night. She was sitting at a table on her own, listening to the music. They finished the song and received a loud cheer from the store patrons. After the uproar died down, they went back behind the stage to get their pay.
"That was killer, we'll be ready for Rocfest when it comes." Key said, stoked for the festival.
"I hope so. I'll be right back, there's something I'd like to do." Dregon trotted for the door. He went back into the main store area, and searched for the mare from before. But she was gone. "Who is she?"