MLP IS PROPERTY OF HASBRO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Twilight walked out of the kitchen, the table set with food for dinner. She wanted to give him his first meal while staying in Ponyville. Well, first real meal. Hospital food didn't count in her opinion as a meal. She opened the door to the basement, walking down the stairs and knocking on the doorway frame before entering. "Keith, Are you awake?" She called in, waiting for a response. When one didn't come forth, she peeked in, finding him in a very fitful sleep. She walked up to the bed, worried he may be ill. "Keith, are you ok?" she asked, shaking his back leg gingerly. Keith kicked out, backing further onto the bed while staying awake. Twilight shook him again, this time with magic.
Keith woke up in full terror of his surroundings. He opened his eyes wide and bared his teeth, grabbing the blade he had stowed in-between the mattress and frame. He threw the knife across the room, imbedding it four inches in the doorway frame. Twilight screamed, backing away to the wall and ducking behind a table. Keith stood on the bed, panting from the fit. He looked around, finding nothing there besides a dead wall. He began to calm down, slumping on the bed and holding his temples. "Damn war…" he sighed, massaging his temples now. "Why the hell did it have to do this to me. I can't even get a night's sleep because of it."
He got out of bed, walking over to the wall his blade was dug into and pulled it out, running a strand of hair over it to make sure it hadn't lost its edge. "What in the name of Celestia was that about!" Twilight yelled at him, having come out from behind her hiding place. Keith jumped three feet in the air, dropping the knife behind himself. The blade stuck in the floorboards, the thunk the loudest thing in the room. "Why did you throw that knife like that? What war were you in? There hasn't been a war in Equestria in over a thousand years!" Keith looked at the floor, letting the scolding he deserved take place. "Wh… Who are you really?" She asked, her voice heated and scared.
Keith sat down on the floor, tapping the boards with his hoof. "Are you going to stand there or you going to sit down so we can talk?" Twilight stood fast, not trusting him anymore. Keith sighed, rapping the board hard with his hoof in frustration. "Ok, But your legs are gonna get tired." Twilight laid back her ears, trying to seem intimidating to the pony that was twice her size and able to throw a knife deadly accurate. "I'm not really a pony," he began, causing her to give him a very confused stare. "Well I am… but I'm not… oh hell." Keith laid down on his stomach, covering hie muzzle with his hooves. "I am physically a pony, but mentally I'm something else. And before you go saying I'm crazy, listen to what I have to say."
Twilight sat where she was, ready to try and remove that assumption. "Alright," Keith began, sitting back up. "I should by all rights be dead as that doorframe," he said, picking up the knife and tossing it onto the mattress. "But by some miracle, I'm here instead. And I'm very glad I am, by the way." He pulled his bags closer, pulling out a charcoal stick and a piece of parchment. He set the stick in his hoof, drawing out Leonardo Davinchi's famous rendering of the human form. He passed it to Twilight, who stared at it for a long time. "That is what I am, only less white and with straight hair. I was a human, but now I'm a pony. I fought in a war on the human world. It gave me a condition called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When I sleep and dream of the war, I wake up scared for my life and ready to fight the first thing I meet to the death so I can run away." Twilight rolled up the parchment, sending it somewhere with magic.
"Ok, your argument seems valid." She said, surprising him. "The picture looks like a further evolved, fully upright ape. What out scientists believe would be the dominant species had ponies not discovered magic." She stood up, walking toward the door. "By the way, I thought I would make us all dinner tonight. If your hungry, come along." And with that she walked up and away. Keith sat there for a few moments more, feeling bad for not having told her beforehand.
"So what is it like?" Spike, a purple and green baby dragon asked across the table. he had to lean around a plate stacked high with gems to make himself seen. "Where you're from, I mean. What's it like?" Keith looked at him, chewing a bite of his salad. He looked directly across the table, finding Twilight still upset but also interested. He set his fork down and looked at them both in turn.
"Do you want to know the good, the bad, or the neutral?" He asked, getting the responses in a specific order from the baby dragon. Twilight nodded, confirming the order to her satisfaction. Keith sighed and thought for a moment, trying to break it down into digestible bits. "Either of you two squeamish?" he asked, getting noes from them both. "Ok then. Starting with the neutral. It's a lot like here. the same kind of animals and trees, but they're separated from each other by oceans and land formations. You don't find white tail deer and tigers in the same areas. As for magical creatures, we have no confirmed records of their existence. As for humans, their diet is about the same, but instead of eating iron rich vegetables they eat meat." Twilight let go of a shocked expression, while spike raised an eyebrow. "Their omnivores, like raccoons or chimpanzees. Now for the good about society. Human's as a whole are usually pretty peaceful. But that's mostly because not many are brave or dumb enough to try to overthrow a regime. And for the bad, humans are selfish, ego maniacal, get what's mine and screw the rest types of beings. They would rather stab their neighbor in the back for a little bit of money than do something honorable and worth while for a lot of it. They kill their own kind, sometimes by the millions at a time, and don't show a bit of remorse for it." Keith looked around the table, seeing the two shocked and slightly disgusted.
"But, then again. Even though war is a total chaotic hell, it is usually fought by a good power to take out an evil one for good. That was me when I was in." He spooned some of the dandelion soup into his mouth swallowing before continuing. "Though I didn't join to fight. I joined the army for the school money. What I really wanted to do was be a multi faith minister and a musician. I love music, I guess it's what kept me from going off the deep end a long time ago." Twilight pushed her plate away, having lost her appetite. Spike on the other hand shoveled gems in his mouth by the clawful as if he was watching a movie. "Well enough about me, what is this place like?"
The three of them talked into the night, at which point Twilight ushered spike off to bed. Through several complaints and arguments, she prevailed in getting him up the stairs and into his bed. Spike was asleep almost instantly, only keeping his eyes open long enough to locate his blanket. Twilight came down the stairs, quietly closing the door behind her. "He just too cute," she said with a short giggle. Keith smiled and walked with her to the rug in the center of the room, the unicorn pulling several books off of the shelves. "Alright," she said, opening a large tome and flipping through it to the page she wanted. "If you're truly here for good, I suppose you should be educated in our laws and customs. But first," she turned the book around, dropping it in front of him. it was a graph of the Greek alphabet. Only it was the old version. "This is our alphabet. Learn it before we can…" Twilight was cut off as Keith began to list off each letter by name, sound usage and meaning. When he stopped he gave her a smirk, amused that she was so surprised.
"I studied religion and music in college for six years Twilight," Keith informed her. "This alphabet is known on my planet at Ancient Greek." He took a piece of parchment and an inkwell with quill from the table, scrawling down some words and letters. "This is Modern Greek where I'm from," he said, turning it toward her. "It's a little more complicated than Ancient, but it seems you already use it daily from the books here. I'm literate, so just teach me." He gave her a kind smile, not meaning any disrespect towards her. Twilight overcame the surprise and smiled as well, giving him a book of common law and teaching him the standard of the land.
"So what you're saying," Keith said after they closed the book. "is that the law here is based off of the Good Samaritan principles and hospitality?" the unicorn nodded, bringing down a book of custom next. "This is much different than the normal society I was exposed to, but not so much from the society I grew up in." She gave him a sideways look, inquiring silently. "I am a native inhabitant of the land I'm from. My mother married an immigrant, giving me my green eyes. But they agreed to raise me among the tribal law and custom of the reservation. It's a lot like what's here, ponies helping ponies if they can."
"That's interesting," she commented, opening the book to the third chapter. She schooled him in custom next, teaching the ways and slang of the ponies to him. "Your custom is a lot like ours," she commented, closing the book and putting it away. "But your way of phrasing things are slightly different. Just use the things I've taught you and nopony will question you." She placed her hoof on his shoulder, smiling at him. Keith looked away out the window, staring at the moon.
"I would like to apologize," he said. looking back at her with a smile. "I really dislike deceiving anything, it isn't my way. I feel like I have to make it up to you some how." Twilight shook her head, declining the offer.
"You don't need to," She told him. "Just… don't sleep with the knife any more." She laughed nervously, remembering the near death fear she had during the earlier moment. Keith chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, apologizing again.
they got up from the rug, going back into the kitchen for coffee. "So what do you have planed for tomorrow?" Keith asked, taking the mug of steaming coffee Twilight offered him. She sat at the table with him, giving him a narrow eyed look.
"Why do you want to know?" She asked, letting the question rack his brain for as long as it would. Keith's eyes grew wide as he waved his hooves at her, stammering and swearing he wasn't asking for a date. Twilight giggled and set down her cup. "It's ok, I was just joking. Since it's the weekend tomorrow, me and the other girls had decided to go to the club for a night out." Keith gave her a strange look.
"You mean this place has a nightclub?" He asked, getting a nod. He hadn't thought a town this small would have one, but it wasn't the first time he was wrong. "What kind of club is it?" Twilight shrugged.
"A dance club," she explained. "It has a bar, dance floor, big stage. The usual things a club has, really. The music starts our upbeat with heavy bass and closes out slow and soft." She took a drink of her coffee before continuing. "There's a catwalk around the center room for ponies who want to just sit and sip their drinks, enjoying the music." She shrugged. "Or if you want to smoke and do other drugs. But I'm not much for that. I love dancing."
"Drugs?" Keith asked, surprised. "And everypony knows about the trade there?" Twilight nodded. "I'm surprised it hasn't been shut down. Where I'm from, if a club has drugs then they get canned." Twilight shook her head.
"Not here," she explained. "Almost all drugs are legal except the really hard ones. Methanphetamine and PCP are among them." Keith was surprised they had those here. "But the princesses abolished the drug laws, save the synthetic ones. Back about two hundred years there was a big drug problem. Crime was rampant and foals were getting hooked quick. So they did the opposite of what everypony thought was best and made them legal. Crime literally fell away and the trade brought in extra revenue for the royal coffers."
They made small talk the rest of the night before turning in. Keith laid down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "Most likely another sleepless night," he mumbled to himself, taking the knife from between the mattresses and sliding it under his pillow. "Well, at least I will be able to fit in now without being arrested. I doubt I would do good in a dungeon." He rolled over, turning off the desk lamp before covering up with a thin sheet. He apprehensively fell into sleep, enjoying the nights dreams to his surprise.
"Twilight!" Keith called from behind the bathroom door. "Do you have any eyeliner?" She looked up from her book, a confused look on her face. Did he really just ask for makeup? Spike looked at her, Twilight nodding for him to go get the makeup she owned. He walked upstairs as she walked to the bathroom door, knocking twice. "Come in," Keith called out, giving her permission. She opened the door, finding him in front of the mirror cutting his mane to a more manageable length. It still reached his knees, but it was more level and neat.
"One question," She said as he brushed the hair on the floor into a manageable pile and putting it in a waste basket. "Why do you want makeup? I didn't take you as the type for anything less than studly." Keith laughed, running a comb through his mane until it was straight and then greasing it with petroleum jelly. 'Greased mane?' she questioned her mind, remembering a moment later he wasn't from Equestria. 'Probably goes with the makeup.'
"Where I'm from, the males wear eyeliner for parties sometimes." He explained, combing the extra jelly out and putting it in a separate jar. "The only ones who say anything against it aren't secure in their masculinity. Besides," He tossed his mane up and back, letting it fall in a heavy mess. "It goes with this." He gave her a smile, looking rather good in her opinion. It gave him a wild and untamed look. Spike came in and handed him the basket of cosmetics, complementing his hair.
"Nice do, brony," he said as Keith pulled down his lower eyelid and applied a light coating of liner to it. "That almost makes me wish I had a mane." Keith gave a chuckle as the dragon walked out, switching to the other eye. He blinked several times, letting his eyes moisten again. Keith turned his face in the mirror, checking for anywhere that wasn't even and fixing the ones he found.
"Perfect, just one more thing." He said, picking up a jar with a label on it. "Can I have a little of this?" He asked Twilight, getting another strange look. "Trust me, it works with the rest of it. and I also mean a very little, too much makes me look effeminate." She nodded hesitantly, passing a small brush to apply it with. She watched as he padded a small amount of glitter to his lower eyes and muzzle. She couldn't help but laugh at him, thinking he looked rather… well gay was the only word she could come up with.
"Are you trying to get a colt on your first night out?" she asked, getting a glare out of him. "I'm sorry, but you look really boy toy in that makeup Keith. Maybe you should take a little off. Like the glitter." She giggled behind a hoof as Keith rummaged in the bags in the corner, having gone out earlier for event clothing and other things he needed. He produced a flyer for the club, pointing to a line of words. "Open mic night?" She asked, getting a nod from him before looking at his flank. His cutie mark was a star in a circle outlined with five yellow flames. "Are you sure you can sing?"
Keith sighed and put away the flyer, picking up his bags and carrying them out. "You'd be surprised how much music goes into religion, Twilight." He put the saddlebags beside the basement door, sitting down and waiting until the other's were ready. "I also have six years of musical training, so I'm sure I'll do good." Twilight shrugged and walked up the stairs to her room, getting ready for the party. Keith sat there, mentally preparing for the stage until the door burst open and a pink pony barged in.
"Twiiiiiiliiiiiiight!" the pony yelled, bouncing around as four others followed her in. "Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready? Ooh, who are you!" She fired off rapidly, turning toward Keith as she finished. "I haven't met you before, and you know what that means!" Keith shook his head slowly, looking at the other ponies for an explanation. "That means I have to throw you a PARTY!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, bouncing around again. An orange pony grabbed her by the tail and pulled her back down, stuffing a hoof over her mouth.
"Sorry 'bout that," the pony said in a southern draw. "She's always like that, ya jus' gotta go with it." The pony held out her other hoof for a shake. "Ah'm Applejack." Keith shook her hoof, still confused. "This here's Pinky Pie," She said, pulling the energetic pink one over and letting her wave at him. "these mares are Fluttershy," She pointed to a yellow pegasus with a pink immaculate mane. "Rainbow Dash," She introduced next, a cyan pegasus with rainbow toned mane and tail waved and sat in a chair. "And Rarity," a white unicorn with a primped and perfected mane and tail waved at him with a wink. "Ah suppose y'all have already met Twilight, considerin' y'alls living here an' all." Pinky got away from Applejack, staring at Keith from the side.
"Can I help you?" He asked with a smile, looking at her. she stared at him, a small O on her lips. He leaned back, glancing at the others. "Yes Pinky Pie, what is it?" She cocked her head to the left, grinning at him.
"Your cute!" She exclaimed, smiling at him. Keith raised hie eyebrows, looking back at the others and seeing them giggling. "I mean like really cute. I bet Twilight is falling all over you." Keith blushed, glad his coat was red. Pinky bounced around the room. "I think you might even have Rarity looking at you!" Keith looked over at the white unicorn, seeing her turn away and cover her face. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were laughing at him and Rarity, finding humor in their embarrassment.
The door to the upstairs bedroom opened, drawing their attention. Twilight came down with her hair spiked up, Spike following in a small trenchcoat and shades. She stopped in the group of friends, Pinky popping up in front of her. "Hey Twilight, Are you letting Keith stay here because he looks good?" Keith's jaw dropped at the question, closing it before she looked at him wide eyed.
"No Pinky," She said, blushing from embarrassment. "I let him stay here because it's the right thing to do." She looked over at him, thinking he did look good in his get up. "I don't think He's that cute though." She lied, giggling as his ego took a blow. She looked at the clock. "Alright, we should get going if we don't want to stand in line for an hour."
Keith and the ponies stood near the front of the line, about sixteenth back from the rope. They had been making small talk until the bouncer pony came out. it was a large white pony, obviously a body builder type. The line moved much quicker, the ponies showing him their hoof and getting a stamp if they were under age. The Bouncer looked at Keith's hoof, obviously counting something and waving him on. He entered behind spike, who had gotten a stamp for being a baby dragon. The bass was thumping already, a white unicorn with violet shades and a two toned blue mane and tail spinning records for the growing crowd. The eight friends made their way to the bar, all but Keith and Rainbow Dash ordering Virgin drinks. Keith had about six shots of bourbon lined up before him, Dash sipping a gin martini. They sat and talked into the night, apparently more than one of them waiting to hear their new friend fly or fail on stage. "How do you all already know I'm performing tonight?" he asked, chuckling and tossing back a second shot.
"It's simple dear," Rarity said, obviously eyeing him behind his back. "You're done up in stage makeup. I doubt anypony would just wear that for a few drinks and a dance or two." Keith looked at her, not bothering to keep his hair out of his face. She blushed as he glared at her with a smirk, looking at her glass. "Maybe more obvious to me," She said, trailing off into a sip.
"So Keith," Rainbow Dash spoke up, already slurring her words from the drink. "When are you up on stage?" He looked at the pegasus, spying her wobble before spinning around on the stool and leaning against the bar for stability. "I'm dying to see you choke on the mic." Keith scoffed and shook his head, running over the lyrics out of nervousness. He had a small recording contract in high school for a pop group, but dropped out for college.
Just then, Vinyl dropped a record, setting the needle down. The stacks began to play a siren before she took the mic. "It's time to start the open mic event!" She yelled into the receiver, getting a roar from the club. "Our first singer is a newbie here, Give it up for Hart!" The spotlight panned over to the bar, resting on the chestnut pony. Keith picked up his fourth shot, turning around and throwing it back. He set the glass down and trotted up to the stage as Scratch set the track he had laid down backstage that day. Keith took the headset mic she offered him, standing behind the catwalk as the beat began, electronic songs playing in time. The room was dark, the strobes flashing with the beat and show lasers panning with the swooping notes.
Keith strutted down the catwalk to the beat. "So hot, out the box, can ya pick up the pace? Turn it up, heat it up, I need to be entertained. Push the limit, are ya ready, Baby don't be afraid. I'm ah hurtcha real good baby." The six ponies, especially Rarity and Twilight were shocked by how smooth his voice was. They followed his every move, watching in awe as the crowd ate up his performance. "Let's go, get the show, baby do what I say. Don't trip, off the bits, that I'm gonna display. I told ya, I'm ah hold ya down, until your ama-azed. Give it to ya till ya screamin my name." Keith hooked a hoof under a mare's chin as he said the line, sliding away with a flick of his mane. The mare melted under his tease, fainting into her friends hooves. Several of the ponies reached up to him as he walked down, begging for him to touch them also.
Keith pushed his voice higher, teasing the ponies as he strutted back and forth. "No escapin when I start. Once I'm in I own your heart! There's no way to ring the alarm. So hold on until it's over!" Twilight worked her jaw, searching for words but not finding anything. Rarity ordered a strong drink, sipping it as she enjoyed the stallion show. There was no doubt in her mind this was his night to shine above all the other ponies. "OH! Do you know what you got into? Can you handle what I'm 'bout to do? Cause its about to get rough for you. I'm here for your entertainment! OH! I bet you thought that I was awfully sweet. You though an angel swept you out your seat. But I'm about to turn up the heat. I'm here for your entertainment!"
Keith had even the DJ blindly letting the prerecorded track play, Staring at the stallion as he strutted around and teased every single pony in the club. He turned sharply, standing on his hind legs and dancing suggestively. "It's all right, you'll be fine, Baby I'm in control. Take the pain, take the pleasure, I'm the master of both. Close your eyes, not your mind, let me into you soh-oh-l! Ima work ya till your totally blown!" Keith hopped down into the crowd, walking around the club and inciting a dance. "No escapin when I start. Once I'm in I own your heart! There's no way to ring the alarm. So hold on until it's over!" He jumped into the air, landing in a full split and rising out of it using his legs.
"OH! Do you know what you got into? Can you handle what I'm about to do? Cause its about to get rough for you. I'm here for your entertainment! OH! I bet you thought that I was awfully sweet. You though an angel swept you out your seat. But I'm about to turn up the heat. I'm here for your entertainment!" He held the high note as the track played his recorded additional vocals and alterations. He touched several ponies, each falling in behind him as he strutted toward the bar. He gave Dash a smirk, taking Rarity by the hoof and leading her to the stage. Keith let her go and danced seductively before her, letting her composure melt into raw lust. "LOVE! Do ya like a-what ya see? WHO-AH-OAH! Let me entertain ya till ya SCREA-YEAH-YEAH-EAM!" He touched her on the chest before finishing the high note, causing her to waver before the ponies caught her.
a/n: Parentheses denote him singing actively during the recording. Back to the show then!
Keith began bouncing as the record repeated the chorus, enticing the club into a rave. "OH! Do you know what you got into? Can you handle what I'm about to do? (Woah!) Cause its about to get rough for you. (Rough for you!) I'm here for your entertainment! (Woah!) OH! I bet you thought that I was awfully sweet (BET YOU THOUGHT!) You though an angel swept you off your seat. But I'm about to turn up the heat (Heat)". I'm here for your entertainment! (I'M HERE FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT!)"
Keith panted and took off the headset, flipping his hair back over his left eye and tossing the headset onto Scratch's horn before returning to the stage with Rarity in tow. The crowd of ponies applauded and cheered him rabidly, demanding he comeback before the night was out. The spotlight fell on them as he helped the star struck unicorn into her seat, patting her lightly on the cheek and taking his spot between her and Rainbow Dash. "Fillies and Gentlecolts! Give it up for a spectacular performance by the newbie; Hart! And don't worry, he will be back before we all check out!"
Keith waved to the club as the spotlight left, turning back to the bar. "Hey Fizz," He called over to the bartender. "Pour me up a quart of dark lager, and give her something to fix that problem she has going on." The gray unicorn nodded, retrieving the tap hose and a quart Stein. Keith thanked him for the drink, adding the two shots into the drink. The bartender turned Rarity towards him, tipping a cup of lemon juice into her mouth. The Unicorn sprang back to life, spitting the sour juice back into the cup and shaking her head. "Welcome back," Keith said with a chuckle, quaffing his boilermaker as Dash laughed at Rarity. "Did you have fun in you little fantasy?" Keith asked her, getting a shy expression and a deep blush across nearly her whole face.
"That was not in the least funny, Keith," She scolded him, almost crying. Keith stopped mid gulp, almost choking after seeing the violent reaction his fun had on the mare. He set the stein down, preparing for the beating he deserved. "You used my emotions for a crowd pleaser!" She yelled at him, the rest of the room oblivious as Vinyl Scratch played a loud dubstep track. Rarity walked over to him, raising her hoof to slap him before hesitating. "You are the most…" She waved her hoof in the air, setting it on his cheek and kissing him deeply, slipping her tongue in before he could tell what was happening. She broke the kiss, giggling. "The most amazing stallion I have ever had the pleasure to meet," she finished, her tone husky and aroused.
Keith stayed in his stool, stunned and frozen as she returned to her seat and resumed her optical fondling of his form. AJ was the next one to talk. "Dad-gum Keith. Ah had no idea ya had such a voice!" Fluttershy nodded in agreement, hiding in her mane again. Keith looked at her out of the corner of his eye, slowly recovering from the stun of Rarity's kiss. "Y'all bout had me jumpin outta mah seat and rompin with the rest of 'em out there." She shook her head and took a sip of her whiskey and soda. "Ah never though I would wanna jump around ta that sortta music. And what y'all did with the crowd an' Rarity… Shew. That was a right good show you put on, partner." Dash nodded, punching him in the shoulder.
"For such a mild looking colt, you sure know how to party." She smiled at him, shaking her head. "And the whole teasing thing… I doubt we'll see another performer as good as you all night." She took a drink of her coffee, attempting to sober up before flying home. Keith found the compliments as quite a boost, until his gaze fell on Twilight. She looked shocked and surprised that he had that kind of ability over her friend. He asked her if she was okay, bringing her out of her suspense.
"Yeah," She said quietly, drinking her tea. "I'm fine. I just never thought you were going to be that good." She shook her head in disbelief that a human could manipulate other beings that easily. "you really surprised me there. I almost wanted to be the one you pulled on stage for a moment, that is until you left Rarity in absolute lockdown." She looked around him at the unicorn, causing Keith to look also. The pony was scanning him nose to hoof, lingering on his abs and chest longer than the rest. She didn't seem to care if anypony else was watching, as long as she could continue her silent observation. "Rarity?" Twilight called out, breaking her out of her trance. "Are you alright?" Twilight asked her, getting a nod.
"Yeah," She said, her voice seeming to be lost in a dream. "I'm only slightly distracted…" She let the consonant drift away, continuing to size Keith up. "I have and idea for an outfit that would fit your stage performance perfectly," She said, almost purring with delight. Keith blushed, hiding his face in his drink and grateful again that his coat was red. The music changed as another performance started, this time a rock and roll band played a party song with driving drums and guitar. Rarity continued to watch him, even after he left the bar to dance with Dash and Pinky Pie.
The night continued on in this fashion, the seven friends talking and drinking together. They occasionally left for a dance while a band or solo artist played their spot, returning to the bar and their drinks afterward to talk and laugh. Dash flew up to the catwalk around the club, coming back with a pipe and a few bits less in her purse. "I thought you might take a few hit's with me," She explained, filling the bowel with a herb Keith needed no help identifying. "Considering how rough your voice sounds right now and I'm sure you are going to get called up soon. I thought, since it kills pain, it might help." Keith laughed, glad that she had though about it.
"I can't take too much," He said, flipping his mane back out of his face and over his hair. "I don't want to get all goofy and mess up. Thanks for the thought though." He said, smiling as she handed him the pipe. He placed his hoof over the carburetor, inhaling to build up the smoke as she held the lighter to the weed. She let the flame go out, Keith still inhaling for another thirty seconds before emptying his lungs and letting go of the small hole. He inhaled again, taking in the smoke as deep as he could. He hand her back the pipe, holding his breath as she took her toke. He stared at the roof, watching the lasers and strobes flash as Scratch played another piece between shows. The ponies exhaled at the same time, feeling their heads rush from the THC releasing endorphins into their systems. Keith coughed and rubbed his mouth, blinking rapidly. "Oh gods…" He muttered, looking over at the pegasus. "What did you do, go cut this stuff yourself?" He suppressed a giggle, causing her to laugh and him lose his hold. They laughed together, feeling a bit higher than they though they would be. Keith gained control again just as Scratch finished the slowed trance track and letting the crowd give their applause.
"Thank you! Thank you all," She said into the mic, adjusting her headphones. "Alright then, we got three more performances before we close up for the night. But first, I would like to thank all of you for coming out and all the guest stars for playing for us." She motioned back stage for the performers that had finished their songs to come out. They all did, rearing up and joining hooves before bowing. The crown applauded them as they walked off stage, growing silent as Scratch brought out a guitar and a stool. She placed her mic in the stand and raising it to her height. "They've all been great, but I think I know why all of you haven't checked out already." The reply was deafening as they yelled his name. "That's right, you all fell in love with a certain nopony from out of nowhere. Give it up again for Hart and his slow song of the night!" The spotlight fell on Keith, causing his mind to clear instantly.
Keith walked onstage, picking up the electric guitar Scratch had agreed to reserve for him and plugging it into the amp. He lifted the mic stand to his height, sitting down on the stool. "How is everypony tonight?" He spoke into the mic, getting raised glasses and shouts of approval as Scratch led two other instrumentalists out. "This is a song that always reminded me of an ex-marefriend back home until I left. And last time I sang it on the road, I didn't feel a thing for her." He looked back as Scratch sat down at the drums, getting a ready nod. "This is my last song of the night, because I am high as a bucker right now." The club laughed as he chuckled, giving a few woots. "Alright then," he said, strumming the semi-acoustic guitar once. "This is called, Whattaya want from me. One, two, three…" Scratch hit the high hat and tom softly before he began singing, the other ponies falling into line.
"Hey, slow it down. Whattaya want from me? Whattaya want from me? Yeah, I'm afraid. Whattaya want from me? Whattaya want from me?" He strummed the guitar in the sound of the words. "There might have been a time when I would give my self away. Oh, once upon a time! I didn't give a damn! But now. Here we are. So whattaya want from me? Whattaya want from me?" He looked up as the song picked up a bit, finding the ponies al had their lighters out, swaying with the beat. "Just don't give up! I'm working it out. Please don't give in! I will let you down. It messed me up! I need a second to breathe! Just keep coming around! Hey! Whattaya want from me? Whattaya want from me? Whattaya want from me?" The song became quiet again, Keith finding the dance floor filed with ponies. Looking around, he didn't see a dry eye in the whole place. Even the bouncers were dabbing their eyes.
"Yeah. It's plain to see. Baby you're beautiful. And there's nothing wrong with you. It's me. I'm a freak. But thanks for loving me. Cause you're doin it perfectly. Well there might have been a time, that I would let you slip away! I wouldn't even try! But I think you could save my life!" Keith closed his eyes, fighting back memories of what almost was. "Just don't give up! I'm working it out. Please don't give in! I will let you down. It messed me up! I need a second to breathe! Just keep coming around! Hey! Whattaya want from me? Whattaya want from me? Whattaya want from me?" He played the guitar solo with the rhythm player, giving the song a sad tune.
"Just don't give up on me," He looked back at the crowd. "I won't let you down…. No, I won't let you down. Just don't give up! I'm working it out. Please don't give in! I will let you down. It messed me up! I need a second to breathe! Just keep coming around! Hey! Whattaya want from me? Just don't give up! I'm working it out. Please don't give in! I will let you down. It messed me up! I need a second to breathe! Just keep coming around! Hey! Whattaya want from me? Whattaya want from me? Whattaya want from me?" The ponies applauded, some dancing slowly as he played out with a few riffs. He saw several ponies crying with their friends, including Applejack and Pinky Pie at the bar.
"Thank you. Thank you all," He said into the mic, setting the guitar back on its stand and standing up. He took a bow with the back up band before walking off stage and back to his friends, getting several addresses and phone numbers handed to him as he passed the crowd. He sat down with the six ponies, getting a glare from Spike. "What's up with you?" He asked, raising an eyebrow and finding Rarity still staring at him. The dragon scoffed and shook his head, the glare never wavering.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" He asked, hopping down from his stool. Keith shrugged and followed the little reptile to the catwalk, finding it quite deserted now. He was about to speak but got cut off by the dragon. "What are you doing?" Spike asked, his voice surprisingly heated. "Why are you out there seducing half of the mares in Ponyville, Including Rarity?" The dragon loosed a huff of smoke, obviously pissed off. "you listen to me," He said, grabbing Keith by the mane and pulling him down to eye level. "She's mine, you got that pretty colt? She will be mine one day and if you get in my way I swear I'm going to beat you down to get to her." Keith couldn't help but think it was cute how the little kid was in love with the twenty four year old unicorn. Spike let go of him, walking back to the stairs and sitting down on a step. "you don't understand. I've been fighting to get noticed by her since I got here. then you show up and ever since she laid eyes on you I've been worse than ignored. He hasn't even heard or seen anything but you since we left the library." He snorted, another puff of smoke rising out of his nose.
Keith sat down next to him, chuckling as the dragon glared at him. "Well, I'm sorry bro. I never intended to steal you mare like that." Spike scoffed and looked down at the unicorn. She was stirring a fuzzy navel with a straw, talking to Dash and looking off into the distance. "But you want a little advice?" Spike looked up at him. "If a girl, mare or whatever you like doesn't take notice in you, she isn't just playing hard to get. She may actually think of you as just a friend." Spike was about to rebut but Keith stopped him. "Consider this before you get upset with me any more than you already are. Think of your age. How old are you?" Spike said three years since he hatched. "Ok. She's twenty four years old. I'm not sure how she thinks, but you may seem too young for her to see in a romantic light. I don't mean to be a bummer, but maybe your clawing up the wrong tree. I think of you as a friend, considering all you and Twilight have done for me so far. And I would hate to see you reach your goal of being able to ask her out, and fall after she turns you away. It's happened to me before, believe it or not, and I didn't get over it. I can still think back and see her face, and it still looks just a beautiful as the day I first saw it."
Spike looked up at the pony, seeing Keith lost in memory for a moment. Did he want to have that happen? If Keith was right and she did reject him, could he handle it even half a graciously as Keith did? It hurt to admit it, but maybe he was right. Maybe all of the nicknames and gifts Rarity had given him were just those and not tokens of affection like he though. "Maybe you're right," He said, standing up and walking a few steps down. "Maybe I should let her go and find a dragon my own age." His voice was somber and depressed, but slightly empowered by the advice Keith had given him. Keith stood up and picked the kid up by his spikes, setting him on his back and walking down the stairs.
"Just go ahead and ask her," Keith told him as he walked toward the bar. "Knowing and finding out early could be a good thing. Maybe she'll tell you she might have said yes if you were more her age." Spike nodded, his face determined. The dragon readied himself to confront his love as Keith arrived at the bar. Keith stopped in front of Rarity, getting an intrigued look from her.
"Oh, there you are Keith," She said, setting her drink back down. "We were just getting ready to go and couldn't figure out where you two went." She got down off the barstool, giving him a half lidded gaze. "Maybe you could stop by the boutique so I could take your dimensions." She said in a bedroom voice. Keith had never heard clothier talk used for seductive purposes, but she pulled it off. Spike cleared his throat, getting her attention.
"Um, Rarity," he said, his voice wavering. "C-could we talk on the way home. In private?" The unicorn blinked, nodding afterward. Spike climbed onto her back as she left the club, Rarity rubbing Keith under the chin with her tail as she passed him. The ponies finished their drinks, Rainbow excusing herself and flying off on her own towards her house. The rest of them walked out of the club, finding Rarity and Spike standing behind the rope. Keith walked up to the dragon and tapped him on the shoulder. "She's all yours," The dragon mumbled, sniffling and climbing onto Twilight's back. Keith watched him go, Twilight carrying him to the library. Keith sighed, shaking his head slightly and he watched the dragon begin to sob.
"Poor little guy," He said, watching them turn down the road to the library. "I doubt he's ever had a broken heart before." Rarity looked down, hanging her head in shame. Keith turned around to ask her what happened, but decided against it as AJ and Fluttershy walked out of the club with Pinky.
"Well, Ah ought ta be getting home. Ah bet Big Mac's got his hooves full with those three fillies t'night." She waved to the remaining ponies, walking towards the orchard outside town. Fluttershy squeaked, following her quickly. Pinky looked at the two, smiling.
"Have fun! Good night!" She blurted, bouncing off toward her own home. Keith watched her as she bounded down the road, ever confused by her and not expecting an explanation for her randomness. She disappeared behind a building, having turned down a road. Keith leaned his neck to the sides, popping the stiff joints before standing up.
"I should probably be headed home also," Rarity said, standing up and looking around the area. "I have an order to fill at the boutique in the morning. So I should get an good night's rest." She walked past Keith, trying to hide her despair from him. It failed, and she knew it.
"What happened?" Keith asked, turning around and stepping on the fringe of her tail to keep her from running from the question. "I want to know, and I'll be a damned fool if you say nothing. You two are two downtrodden for nothing to have happened." Rarity sighed, turning around and looking at him for a moment before looking away.
"Would you walk me home while I tell you?" She asked, being honestly innocent in her intentions. Keith let her tail go, following her as they walked through the town. They continued in silence, slowly plodding down the road for a minute before she spoke up. "I had no idea, truly no idea that he felt that way." She said, shaking her head. "It just never occurred to me. Maybe it was because he was just a baby, but it still feels shameful to be that insensitive." She kicked a loose pebble in the road, sending it across the road. "Do you think I am a bad pony for not reciprocating his emotions? Do you think it wrong of me for turning him away at every advance?" He looked at Keith, finding him staring at the stars and moon. She stopped when he did, looking up also.
"I don't think you are at fault," Keith told her, staring at the stars still. "He was madly in love with you, and he had never thought he might be turned away. It didn't matter if you had gently nudged the idea into his mind or not. He would still be just as affected by that than if you had broken him down and screamed it at him." Rarity looked at him, finding his eyes lost in the past. "I understand how he feels, and I wish I had done the same before I had made such a commitment to my childhood crush. She knew I loved her, and she played me for anything I could get for her. Then she pushed me away like she didn't know me at all." Keith pulled his gaze away from the sky and past, staring at the ground and letting the tears that had accumulated fall from their perch. "You did what was right if you didn't share a mutual feeling Rarity. In the long run, he will thank you for it." Keith continued forward, Rarity hanging back as his words sank in.
She trotted to catch up to him, slowing down until she walked beside him. "Do you think he will forgive me? Do you think the two of us could still be friends?" She asked, receiving a shrug.
"That's completely up to him," Keith said, looking at her. "He had to let his heart heal before he can decide to be anything more than an acquaintance to you again." They walked in silence until they stopped in front of her house. It doubled as her shop to. Carrousel Boutique was world renown for its quality and care. "I hate to ask this of you," Keith said as they stopped on the porch on her house. "But I think Spike would be happier if I wasn't there tonight. Would you mind if I stay here tonight? I could sleep on the couch or even the floor. It wouldn't be the worst place I've slept, trust me." Rarity giggled and opened the door, inviting him in and closing the door behind them.
I just realized that I left spike out of MLZ completely… how careless of me…
Anyway the songs are For Your Entertainment and Whattaya Want From Me by Adam Lambert. Shut up, they're great songs! XD
PLEASE R&R! :)
