"Crimson Lionheart, nice to meet you." he said politely, eventually following Rockette through the store. "I'm the owner and founder of the Ponyville Cinema"
Rockette: Nice to meet you too. My name's Rockout and I co-own this store. I haven't gone by that name for a few months though. My sister tried a mane color spell on me and accidentally turned me into a girl. I was taking some medicine that could turn me back into a guy but my pet bat knocked it over. I've been stuck this way since then so you can call me Rockette. Rockette felt a little odd being so candid with a pony he had just met. Especially since he only knew a few other ponies in the same position. Rockette: So, how'd you get turned into a mare?
"Poison Joke" Crimson responded simply. "I was about sixteen and I was in the Everfree after performing an investigation for a school project. Me and my group was soon split from our teacher and we were returning back to her. I remained by myself and I told my friends that I'll catch up to them after, who they decided to leave back to return to the rest of the school group. About five minutes after I left, the ground seemed to collapse underneath me and I fell down into a large hole that was full of tainted Poison Joke flowers. The fall broke my back legs and I was in there for a couple of hours. By the time my friends and class found me, they found me as who I'am now" Crimson told Rockette before trying to remember some of the more vivid details. "While my parents and close friends know what happened, I was bullied for a while because of what happened. But that's to be expected in every school, I guess."
Rockette's eyes had started getting watery during Crimson's story. "I'm sorry. I can't get used to this crap either." Rockette dried his eyes and the two of them headed back out towards the shop area. Then, he got a glimpse of Crimson's cutie mark. "Wait a minute!" he shouted, his tears quickly dissipating, "I know where I've seen you! You directed all of those music videos for Metallicolt and Iron Mare, didn't you?"
"Oh, why yes. I've directed some of their music videos, but I've also directed plenty of different bands as well. About 40 artists actually." Crimson replied. "I even made a video of myself at some point, but that was just after I became a mare."
"Man," Rockette replied, "I didn't even wanna go out in public after I got swapped. My family didn't even find out until after my bat spilled my meds." The two still had not reached the retail area. "I didn't wanna go to work like this but my mom finally told me to 'man up and be a girl' so here I am... as Lil' Rockette."
"Lil' Rockette, eh? Nice name you've picked for yourself." Crimson replied. "I've just decided to use my own, it can work both ways for gender. My parents knew straight away, but they knew that it was an accident and they were cool with it. It was awkward for the first few weeks however, having to go to the mares room and all that type of stuff. I couldn't help but feel perverted in that room"
"I actually got arrested in Canterlot for going to the stallion's room. That was my 2nd day as a girl."
Crimson couldn't help but giggle at the end. "Yeah, that's happened to me more than once. Got away incredibly lightly however."
Rockette laughed as well. "Well, 20 minutes in a dungeon cell was enough to remind me to check my plot before I go to the pot." The two genderswapped stallions talked for a few more minutes before Roxy came back to the stock room. "Hey, bro... err, Rockette, do we have any kazoos?"
Crimson seemed to be enjoying to Rockette, it wasn't everyday that he happened to encounter another pony who was stuck in exactly the same position he was. Roxy soon came in asking about Kazoo's and the two ponies poked their heads up to notice her.
Rockette took a second to let Roxy's question register. "No, we don't. I've been on the supplier for a week but still nothing." Roxy nodded and returned to the storefront. As was Crimson's case, he had met very few other ponies who shared his condition. "But anyway, that's my sister. She was adopted and basically raised as an Earth pony so she's obviously not very gifted at magic."
"I was an only child in my family, although I do have cousins and nieces." Crimson replied, stretching slightly. "I was born in Canterlot and I lived in an alpine town that's hundreds of miles away from Ponyville called Snowville. Nice quiet place where all the ponies know each other. Never actually had a mother and father however, they both died when I was a few weeks old."
"Wow, that sucks. I grew up here in Flanksington. I lived with my mom and stepdad. This is a small town so everypony knows everypony so you can see why I use an alias."
"I was raised by my auntie, I sti-" Crimson was cut short for a moment as he felt something buzz in his saddlebag and play some music. He levitated the device out of the bad. "Sorry, I need to take this...." "Hello? This is Crimson speaking?" He said into the mobile phone. The conversation went for quite a while before he ultimately hung up and turned back at Rockette. "I need to head back home, nice talking to you Rockette.....say, have you been told about a contest that the EMA is doing?"
"Yeah, my best friend, my drummer sticks was telling me about it earlier. I'd really love the opportunity that would give me and the boys."
"I'm the one that is directing the music video." Crimson smiled at the end. "I'm even considering entering the contest myself just to see where I could possibly end up. Anyway, I'll be rooting for your band. Just a quick warning however, the competition is pretty serious, so you might need to bring you A game for every song."
Bone Vox, Ged Clef, and Strato Slide could not believe their ears! "A recording contract!" Ged nearly came out of his skin as he said those words. Strat, on the other hoof, did express a few concerns. "As excited as I want to be right now, and with absolutely NO disrespect to you, Rockette because you are every bit as good a guitarist as your cousin, I just feel like doing so would be betraying Rockout. I mean, he's been like a brother to us since we were in elementary school. Have you talked to him any?" Rockette held back his tears at Strato's kind words before responding. "I actually told him yesterday on the phone and I got this in the mail today." Rockette pulled out a rolled-up letter from his guitar case. To The Boys, I am very pleased at the news that I received from my cousin and would like to wish all of you the best of luck. As I am currently working through a lot of family and personal matters at the moment, I just want to ask that you allow Rockette to be a full member of Unstable. I don't think I have to tell you that she is a damn good musician and is fully capable of bringing out the best in the band. You are all my family and I hope to see you again soon. Sincerely, Rockout E. Stringer The band consulted for a moment before Bone Vox came forward. "Well, Rockette, since your cousin seems to think so and since all 4 of us seem to agree, we just wanna say how proud we are to have you as a member of Unstable. Welcome to the family, darlin'."
