MLP: The Portal 2

Chapter 27: Music Of The Night

"What are you talking about?! How quickly can you get this all fixed?!" Rarity sounded distressed as she asked the technical ponies these questions. Alex, Evan, and Fluttershy heard her as they made their way back to join her, and quickened their pace to reach her.

"What's going on, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked with concern, being the first to step forward.

"Oh, Fluttershy, this is terrible! The staff has just informed me that the microphones for our performance are all duds! Only one works!" Rarity explained the situation to them frantically.

"What? Are you serious?" Alex said, looking almost frustrated as now his nervousness shifted.

"I'm afraid so. The staff ponies are all working on fixing them right now, but if they don't work or find replacements, then we will have to cancel the show!" Rarity explained the gravity of the issue. The three of them all gasped.

"But we can't!" Fluttershy said.

"Hold on. I'm pretty savvy with this stuff, let me take a look at what we got here." Evan said, heading over to look at the microphones that the staff ponies were holding.

"Oh goodness, this is not good at all. How could something so unprofessional happen?" Rarity said loudly enough for the staff ponies to hear.

"Woah, Rarity, just relax. Slip-ups happen. I'm sure they'll be able to get this handled." Alex said, trying to be reassuring while his own heart was beating faster as now the uncertainty of whether or not they would be able to perform at all was building.

"Yes yes, you're absolutely right. The situation will surely be resolved before the show begins." Rarity said, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself.

"I'll see if I can help Evan in any way with getting the microphones working." Fluttershy volunteered, stepping past them to join him.

"Okay. I'll advise the other members of the situation when they arrive." Rarity said.

"Don't you worry about a thing, Rarity. Evan's got a lot of technical knowledge. I'm sure he'll be able to fix those mics with time to spare."

"Guys, I wasn't able to fix the mics." Evan relayed to the other Pony Tones.

"What?!" They all exclaimed.

"But it's almost showtime! We only have a few minutes at most!" Rarity said, her stress beginning to build again now to the point where she was beginning to feel a little woozy.

"Does this mean that we'll have to cancel after all?" Big Mac asked, the disappointment apparent in his tone. The expressions of the other members were quite similar.

"They say that there should be some spare microphones in the back, but it could be awhile before they get back with them, because they have to make their way through the crowd out there." Evan explained the predicament they were in.

"Do we delay then?" Fluttershy asked, glancing at Rarity. Alex stepped forward.

"I can buy us some time." Alex said.

"How so?" Rarity asked.

"Um, there's still a working microphone, so…" Alex said. Rarity figured out what he was getting out.

"You want to do a solo?" Rarity asked.

"I mean, yeah, if it'll help us buy some time. Just play it off like a special showcase. I got a song that's like 5 or 6 minutes. While I'm doing that, the tech ponies can help the rest of you get set up with the new mics." Alex explained the plan.

The Pony Tones all looked at each other, seeing that there was no other solution besides what Alex was suggesting or delaying the show altogether. At least this way, the audience would be given something regardless.

"Okay. Let's get you set up." Rarity nodded.

"Okay. Fluttershy, I need Discord here right now."

"Right now?"

"Right now. Get him, please," He said. Fluttershy went to go grab him. "Evan, I'm gonna plug in my phone. Do you think that you can take out the vocals while leaving in the instrumental?" He asked as they made their way to the sound equipment.

"I'm not sure. I don't know if that's possible to mix. Plus, I'd have to figure it out and I don't know how long that will take." Evan explained as Alex plugged in his phone and a set of headphones.

"You have a minute." Alex said, passing it to him. Evan quickly set to work.

"What are you going to do, Alex?" Torch Song asked. Alex took a breath and shook his head a bit with wide eyes.

"Uh, improvise, I guess." Alex answered.

"Done!" Evan said, tapping Alex on the shoulder. Alex nodded in approval.

"Awesome. Now all we need is Discord." Alex said.

"You rang?" Discord asked, dropping down upside down from the ceiling. Alex jumped back in surprise, huffing a bit.

"Good, you're here! Discord, I need you to turn me into my character from Ogres & Oubliettes: Silent Song." Alex explained, quickly changing back into his black and white suit.

"Well, that's not a very nice way to ask." Discord said, crossing his arms.

"Please?!"

"Please, Discord, we need this right now." Fluttershy pleaded. Discord sighed and nodded, snapping his fingers and changing Alex into his Silent Song character.

"Thank you." Alex said with an exhale, putting on the microphone and heading over to Rarity.

"What is it that you have planned here?" Rarity asked, looking him over curiously.

"You'll see. Just speak in the mic and make an announcement for me. It's showtime." Alex said.

"What do you want me to say?" Rarity asked.

"Uh, I don't know, here lies a special showcase. Just make something up." Alex urged her frantically. Rarity nodded, taking a mic before leaning in and speaking into the mic.

"Ladies and gentlecolts, please now enjoy a special musical showcase from our very own Alex!" She said.

"Oh shoot, sorry, I forgot to turn the mic on." Evan said.

"Dude!" Alex groaned.

"Sorry sorry, I'm turning it on…now!" Evan signaled to him. Rarity huffed a bit and repeated herself.

"Ladies and gentlecolts, now please enjoy a special musical showcase from our very own Alex!"

As Alex could now hear the audience outside begin to talk amongst themselves in curious anticipation, Alex made his way to the set of steps leading up to the stage. He held his hoof out for a moment towards Evan, waiting a few second before signaling him to start the song. He began to sing:

"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defenses."

Now Alex made his way up to the stage, revealing his bat pony form to the audience. Many of them ooh'ed in intrigue. He glanced up towards Celestia and Luna, and saw that both of them were also looking, and Luna was leaning forward a bit.

"Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor. Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garish light of day. Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light…and listen to the music of the night.

"Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams. Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before. Close your eyes and let your spirit start…to soar."

Alex's eyes swept the audience once more as his note echoed softly even after he had stopped. The audience was watching him in awe. He continued:

"And you'll live as you've never lived before…

"Softly, deftly, music shall caress you. Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you. Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind in this darkness that you know you cannot fight. The darkness of the music of the night.

"Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world. Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long…to be!"

His voice came off much stronger this time, and the echo sustained for a lot longer. Many in the audience leaned back a bit in amazement, and Alex could see that even the princesses were completely engrossed in the tune. He took a breath and continued:

"Only then can you belong…to me…

"Floating, falling, sweet intoxication. Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation. Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in to the power of the music that I write. The power of the music of the night!"

As the music swelled now, Alex grinned a bit, opening his wings and flapping them to create a gust of wind across the audience. He slowly made his way off stage, sparing the audience one last glance before making his way off and then finishing the song:

"You alone can make my song take flight. Help me make the music of the…night."

The End