[Audio]

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

Okay, I just noticed that there are pegasii actually controlling the weather. Literally, they are moving clouds around to make it rain and things like that. That is so neat!

So can all horses do that? If I were to fly up there, could I kick the clouds away or make them shoot lightning? Because that would be the coolest thing.

Comments

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

[He watched 21 hop up onto the table, hoof outstretched to the sky. Wait. Was he singing? Was 24 having a musical number? Maybe not yet, but 21 suspected that he might do just that at any time.

And he wasn't sure if he wanted to stick around so that he could witness it or leave so that he wasn't forced to watch 24's shame. But 21 does neither of those things. Instead he lifts his hoof up as well, mirroring 24's gesture.]

In this world with no use for organized villany, there just is no place for you and me.

[As 21 puts his hoof down he realizes that whatever 24 has, he's just caught it.]

[buckleupforsafety]

[There is a part of him that is horrified. This incipient musical number is the kind of thing that would make him turn away in second-hand embarrassment, except it's happening to him.

Those feelings can't even begin to compare to the urge to express his thoughts in song.

Because it really is turning into a song now, rhythmic speaking drifting easily into a tune.]

So what are we to do with skills...

[24 takes two steps back and two steps forward.]

Like sneaking, stealing and silent kills?

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

[Oh no. Oh no. This was really turning into a song. 24 wasn't just doing some odd sort of rhyming speech anymore. Although there wasn't any music (yet) this totally was a song now.]

We've been down this road before. [Yes. Most definitley a song now. There was no doubt about that now.]

We just don't thrive outside The Monarch's corps! [21 reared up, arms spread wide as he trilled the last word. Even if he was in this song against his will, he wasn't going to let a chance to show off his natural showmanship pass him by. ]

Trying to strike it out on our own will be so much harder now that we're so very far from home.

[buckleupforsafety]

[There might not be music playing in the park, but there's music in his heart.

Oh god, now even his thoughts are starting to rhyme.

Again, not disturbing enough to counter the urge to sing.]

If it wasn't enough to be ripped away with nothing else to do

[Oh, so 21's trying to show off?]

We have to face it all from a pony point of viiiiiiiiieeeeeeew.

[24 does a spin before landing in an imitation of his pose, with arms also spread wide.]

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

[Seriously? Does 24 want to have a groove off? Because sure, he may have more natural rhythm but 21 tries so hard and that has to count for something, doesn't it?

Anyway: jazz hooves! Beat that, 24.]

Even though [And now the music cuts in, cutting 21 off. He frowns as he realizes he has been singing to a totally different beat than the music. And where did the music come from, anyway?] Oh, uh...

Even though our world was cruel,

[Hey, where did that dramatic lighting come from? 21 looks up, trying to figure out whether or not the weather ponies were having a joke at their expense. Nope. No weather ponies. Or hidden orchestras. He shrugged.]

And there are some parts of this one that are pretty cool,

These horses are just so happy that it's creepy.

I don't want to end up as a Stepford Pony!

[buckleupforsafety]

[24 stares around him as 21 takes his turn and the special effects kick in.

Constant cheerfulness may be creepy, but you know what's even more creepy? Music out of nowhere, like someone was watching and waiting for them to start singing.

And lights! Like they have their own personal dorky kid working backstage to make them look good. Except there's no backstage when they're outdoors!

Are they caught in some Truman Show thing? Candid Pony Camera?

It's still not enough to make him stop. That was his cue.]

How can we ever hope to make our mark

In a world that's so bright instead of dark?

Though smiles may be here in surplus.

It's just not natural for us.

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

You know, if we can't learn to cope,

With living in a Happy Girl Cartoon trope,

There is a possibility of a solution...

We could always start a

[Ooh. These are some sweet guitar licks that the invisible band is playing right here. 21 is totally going to take so much advantage of this sweet riff.]

REVOLUTION!

[His eyes are closed so tight as he wails out the last few syllables. Top that!]

[buckleupforsafety]

[OK, 24 is impressed. So impressed that he drops the singing.]

Yeah, it's easy when you get a perfect musical set-up like that.

[But he's not going to admit it.]

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

[Is it over? Aw. he doesn't want it to end. Seriously, once he gets past the creepiness of the magical music and even more magical lighting coming from nowhere, this whole thing is actually kind of cool.]

If I ever get some money and I find out who is playing that music, I'm going to tip that guitarist. That was freaking epic!

[buckleupforsafety]

It has to be magic. You can't tip magic.

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

What, like, the magic of song?

[buckleupforsafety]

Or the magic of friendship. Or the magic of grass in the park.

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

I didn't realize that this park had the magical kind of grass.

[buckleupforsafety]

Oh my god, can you imagine some of these ponies high?

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

Oh man. No, these ponies do not need marijuana. They're cheerful enough already.

[buckleupforsafety]

And they'll OD on sugar if they get the munchies.

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

And then we get to find out whether or not horses can develop type 2 diabetes.

[buckleupforsafety]

Do you think there's a horse Wilfred Brimley around to tell them how they can save money on their testing supplies?

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

Nah, that's not punny enough.

[buckleupforsafety]

Wilfred Hoofley?

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

That just... does not work.

[buckleupforsafety]

Whatever. I don't even like horse puns anyway.

[At least he'll always have Trotsky.]

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

You just peaked. It's okay 24, you don't have to be embarrassed.

[buckleupforsafety]

I'm not embarrassed.

[whywouldyoubuckleup]

Okay, you don't have to be pouty.