Til You Believe In Friendship

3| Music is Magic

Iris Chant got out of the wagon with her new friend. She had been thinking all the way to the party that they had met before, but she just couldn't remember. While they were going upstairs to the street, pushing her speakers and turntables in a cart, she thought of what Beat had just told her: "You are famous?!" She had taken for granted that everypony around his age knew about her. So they kept talking about Beat's foalhood until here, and Iris founded they shared lots of traits of their younger years: super-overprotecting parents, unable to socialize properly, a forced talent-finding attempt... so she told Beat if, since he had helped her so much, he wanted to go backstage during the concert. He was delighted with the idea.

—Wow! Really? Would you let me help you? Thanks!

—Sure, no problem! And perhaps you even find your cutie mark there and not in that school! —She said joking and blinking her eye.

They got into the street and saw the Cash's mansion in the outskirts of the city, as imposing as always.

Iris turned to Beat to joke a little about it, but saw that the little colt had a very anxious look on his face.

—Don't worry —she said —I'm here with you.

She offered him a hoof, and he took it with wish.

Iris knew that there was really no big issue with just going to a party, but she remembered how she was as a filly: the insecurity of not knowing what might come, the dread of what others may say, the fear of not fitting in... Man, he had a lot to learn! But still, she didn't want Beat to feel the same; he would at least have somepony to rely on.

They got to the doors and entered the vestibule, both of them pushing the cart. Far in the gardens everypony was watching a magic show in a huge outdoor stage.

—Fuck, I'm right after him!

Beat muted for a second.

—Oops! Sorry. Eh... don't say that word, alright? C'mon, we've gotta hurry!

She pulled him around the crowd and went backstage. Phonic was already there, talking with somepony.

—She'll be here at any moment, OK? Just give her some time.

Iris let Beat go and hurried to meet the stallions. The other one seemed really pissed off.

—Oh look, speaking of the devil! Are you ready? —he said seriously.

—Yes, of course. I just need some minutes to set up and I'll be OK to go.

—Alright then. You have two minutes.

The sire went with the crowd to wait for Iris and Phonic. He started to help her, setting up speakers and connecting them. Beat wanted to help too, but didn't seem like they needed any extra hoof; they both had almost a routine for these things. He stepped back and turned around, but was soon called back.

—Hey little thing, c'mon! Don't play hard to get! —Phonic screamed to him.

Beat smiled and rushed to assist. They got everything ready just in time.

—And now, what would a party be with no music? Presenting some exclusive material of their new duet album, please stomp your hooves and receive Iris Chant and Phonic Blast! —a female voice said through a microphone.

Beat went offstage just in time and sat in the grass, a bit away from everypony. The crowd stared when the curtain opened. He could see the excitement of all of them drawn in their faces. Then, Beat felt something he had never felt before. His ears rose in joy as soon as the sounds started, making him feel weightless. He realized he had been preparing all of this for something he wasn't even aware of; music! He realized he had never heard music this close. Never in his life he had been able to: with all what he had to study, who can afford music? Yeah, he may have overheard some on the radio or outside his room, but nothing like this. He thought he should've try and listen to some quite a long time before. The feelings this was bringing to him were mysteriously gorgeous! The ups and downs in the beat, the voice harmonies so well constructed, the rhythm pulsing in his chest: it all made him feel complete.

But he soon realized, with another sense, of something else happening. As the music grew in intensity, the lights show did too. But they seemed to move along the beat. He first saw some subtle beams of light, but they soon turned to water drops and waves. They were dancing and spinning all around in all the colors possibly known. It was like magic!

Beat didn't even realize he had stood up. With all of this happening at once, nothing else mattered. It seemed like all his worries had just vanished in the air filled with the moving shapes and colors.

When the song ended, the lights also did for a moment. But when the crowd started whistling and screaming, they returned, this time in a static, stiffly way, and with a lot less colors. When the next song started, they turned to something else. He was feeling renewed, like a mockingbird who has just found its whistling.

But in all of his charmingly confused state, one little part of his brain made some connections, and soon an enlightening thought came to his head, stunning him while he realized what was happening.

He had synesthesia.