MLP: The Portal

Chapter 33: Pony Tones

"I'm so excited for you to meet the other Pony Tones members! I think you're really going to like them!" Rarity exclaimed as she lead Alex and Evan towards her boutique.

"I can't wait for you two to hear us all sing again. It's been a long time." Fluttershy said, inching closer to Evan.

"Well, I know I can't wait to hear how you all sound. Alex said just you two sounded good, so I'm sure all of ya'll together will sound even better." Evan replied with a smile.

"Oh trust me man, they're gonna sound good." Alex said confidently.

The four of them entered into the boutique, where three more ponies, two stallions and one mare, were waiting for them. They all lifted their heads and looked over upon seeing them enter, and greeted them with smiles.

"Rarity, you finally decided to arrive at your own gathering." The mare said with a giggle.

"Fashionably late as always." The blue stallion added to her comment. Rarity laughed.

"Oh you two, it's good to see you again. And I'm never fashionably late, darlings, simply fashionable. Fluttershy and I just had to make a quick stop to pick up our two friends here. This is Evan, and this is Alex.

"Alex, Evan, meet Toe Tapper," She gestured to the blue stallion. "Torch Song," She pointed to the mare next. "And have you met Big MacIntosh yet?" She asked them.

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting any of them." Evan said.

"Nope." Alex answered as well.

"Oh okay, well this is Big Mac, Applejack's older brother." She introduced him formally.

"Nice to meet you. Can I call you Big M?" Evan asked.

"Everypony calls him Big Mac." Fluttershy said.

"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded.

"Oh alright. Like the burger. Big Mac it is then." Alex said, shaking hooves with him.

"New friends of yours, Rarity?" Toe Tapper asked.

"Yes, indeed. They've expressed interest in our musical ensemble, so I thought it'd be nice to show them our talents." Rarity explained.

"Haha, it's been awhile, but I think I still remember our arrangement for Find The Music In You." Torch Song said.

"Excellent, because that's exactly what I planned on showing them." Rarity said with a grin.

"Well, let's not waste any time then." Toe Tapper said with a chuckle.

As the group began to gather and clear their throats, Alex and Evan took seats not far from them and began to converse while they waited for the Pony Tones to be ready.

"So, did you have that convo with Rainbow?" Evan asked quietly. Alex nodded.

"Yeah. It's official now, we're dating." Alex confirmed.

"Hey man, congrats. Kind of ironic too, kinda looking at her."

"I know what you mean," Alex chuckled. "The hair kind of threw me off a little, but turns out she's super cool and excited. It's kind of adorable."

"Great to hear, my man." Evan said, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Alright! We're ready." Rarity said in a sing-song tone. Alex and Evan redirected their attention back to the group.

"We're ready too. Lay it down on us." Evan clapped his hooves. The group nodded, and took a breath before beginning.

Big Mac led off the group, and one by one the members of the group built up off each other, and began to sing. Fluttershy and Rarity were the main leads, with the other members of the group accompanying them in the background and occasionally harmonizing as well.

Alex and Evan both nodded along to the song with smiles, listening to the pleasant and uplifting song. It wasn't exactly in line with either of their typical musical selections, but they both agreed that it sounded good.

Once they had finished, the two of them clapped for the group, and began to voice their opinions on how they sounded.

"Wow, you were right, it does sound MUCH better with the whole group together!" Alex said approvingly.

"Thank you, dear! I knew you would enjoy it." Rarity said.

"Yeah, all of you mesh together well." Evan chimed in.

"Thank you, Evan." Toe Tapper said.

"Alex actually made a wonderful section on how to improve what we already have so far." Rarity brought up.

"Oh really? What do you have in mind?" Torch Song asked Alex.

"Uhh… What are you talking about, Rarity?"

"Don't you remember? The beatboxing thing?" Fluttershy reminded him.

"Oh. Oh yeah! That! Yeah, I was just saying you could add a beat to that." Alex said.

"Beatboxing?" Toe Tapper asked curiously.

"You don't have beatboxing here?" Evan asked in surprise.

"Perhaps you could showcase it for us? Alex could provide some vocals, and Evan could provide the beatboxing?" Rarity suggested with a grin.

"Uhh, sure. We could do that." Alex shrugged.

"Got a song?" Evan asked, turning to Alex. Alex hummed in thought.

"Do you know Let Me Love You?" He asked.

"The one by Ne-Yo?"

"No, the one by Mario." Alex clarified.

"Uhh, it's been a while. How does it go?" Evan asked.

"Okay, just do this…" Alex said before demonstrating the beat that he wanted him to do. After doing it for a bit, Evan began to pick up on it, and mimicked it. Meanwhile, the others watched and listened with interest.

Alex nodded along to the beat as Evan provided for it, signaling to keep going. After a bit, Alex began to hum, and then he began to sing:

"Baby, I just don't get it. Do you enjoy being hurt? I know you smell the perfume, the makeup on his shirt. You don't believe his stories. You know that they're all lies. Bad as you are, you stick around and I just don't know why.

"If I was with you, baby, you'd never worry 'bout what I'd do. I'd be coming home back to you every night, doing you right. You're the type of lady deserves good things. Pile up of diamonds, holding the rings. Baby, you're a star, I just wanna show you you are.

"You should let me love you. Let me be the one to give you everything you want and need. Baby, good love and protection, make me your selection. Show you the way love's supposed to be. Baby, you should let me love you, love you, love you, lo-ove you. Yeah."

The Pony Tones all applauded, showing varying levels of impressed.

"Wow, I didn't realize you were bringing on new members." Torch Song said.

"New members?" Alex repeated.

"Yes. We'd like the two of you to join our group. Between your vocals, Alex, and your beatboxing, Evan, you'd be wonderful additions to the group. We'd be delighted if you'd join us even for just one show. What do you say?" Rarity asked. Alex and Evan looked at each other.

"I'm down. How about you, bro?" Evan asked.

"Uhh…sure. I'll have to work on my singing a bit, but I can do it." Alex agreed.

"You already sounded great just then." Fluttershy reassured him.

"Mhmm, I see why you brought them along now, Rarity. I was wondering." Torch Song giggled.

"So, what other songs do you guys have?" Evan asked curiously.

"Just a couple." Fluttershy answered.

"Ohhh. Um, I can add some more to that lineup." Alex offered.

"Right! I forgot you're a connoisseur of music, Alex." Rarity said.

"Well, connoisseur is a fancy word for it, but I have a ton of music, let's put it that way. I can find some songs that would translate well into a cappella, and then next time we meet up I can show you what I have. Sound good?"

"Perfect." Torch Song nodded.

"We're all in agreement then? Wonderful! Oh, this is so exciting!" Rarity giggled.

"You were planning this the whole time, weren't you, Rarity?" Alex asked, already knowing the answer.

"Why, of course, darling. I wanted you in our group, and now we have two new members. I think my plan went better than expected." Rarity beamed proudly.

"Haha, of course." Alex chuckled.