//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: The Setup // Story: Lights, Camera... // by Smoking Gun //------------------------------// Chapter 11: The Setup "Well, I think that you forgot to take the camera lens off!" Scootaloo's shouting could be heard over ponyville, no doubt annoying all the nearby ponies trying to get some sleep that night. "Well, ah think we just found out you couldn't render footage 'less it was ya cutie mark!" Applebloom's retort was almost louder. Sweetie Bell walked along side them, wearing a saddle bag that was clearly designed for a camera. "Umm, girls, I think our first movie is going to going to be 'Escape from Ponyville' if we keep shouting so loud. I think we're waking up other ponies." "What makes ya say that?" Asked Applebloom. CRASH! From the distance, a photo frame just barely missed Appleblooms head. "See! They're so mad, they're throwing junk at us." Scootaloo turned the frame over to find a picture under the shattered glasses. "Is... is that Rainbow Dash?" "Yeah... and that's Twilight," added Applebloom. Sweetie Bell looked up in confusion. "Where did it come from?" "Umm, Sweetie, I know that we gave up trying to be Cutie Mark Crusader Detectives, but my powers of deduction are telling me that it's coming from there!" Scootaloo pointed at the closest building to the three fillies; Twilight's library. The windows were pulsating purple, even the wood itself was starting to light up. Towards the side, they could see the window that the photo frame flew out. "Oh... yeah. What's going on in the library?" "We should film it!" Applebloom was always considered the genius of the Crusaders. "Final Cut would love that!" "Great idea!" Sweetie pulled the camera out of her saddle bad, carrying it in her mouth. The Crusaders began their approach. "RUN!" The girls were startled by the voice. "What are you waiting for?!" The shouting pony ran in front of them, it was Final Cut, except there was a loud huge scar stretching across his face with blood running down and dripping off his jaw. "Final Cut? What are you doing here? And why are you shouting? You're gonna get photo frames thrown at you!" "Also, why are ya bleeding?" Cut looked more fearful then ever before. "Did you not hear me?!" ... "What?" "RUN!" "From what?" KABOOM! The library exploded outwards, blowing pieces of wood and paper outwards as the top of the tree toppled backwards with nothing in the middle to support it. When Cut was blown back, he made it a point to shield the Crusaders from any wood that was blown their way, unfortunatly, that meant his back had the biggest, most painful splinters he had ever had. When the girls and Cut regained their wits, they saw a blue, purple and gold blur fly out of the remains of the tree. "TEN! SECONDS! FLAT!" Earlier that day... "I don't mean to disrespectful, but what the buck are you doing?" Twilight had awoken from her nights sleep on the train to find Final Cut in the main compartment, meditating. "I am trying to clear my mind and clear my soul of material desire," said the director without opening his eyes. "Remove the need of material desire?" "Eeeyup." "Said the blockbuster movie director sitting in a train cart that no doubt cost hundreds of thousands of bits!" ... "I never said I was good at this." Twilight trotted past him. "Want me to make you breakfast?" "That would be a material desire." "Have you ridden your mind of desire?" ... "Scrambled grass with a side of apples and some orange juice." While not opening his eyes, Cut did make a point of smiling. Too bad he didn't see Twilight's smile in return. She entered the food compartment, finding Taste. "Sparkle." "Taste." Twilight went to the fridge, pulling out the ingredients to Cut's breakfast. Taste reared up. "So, how are things with you and the Rainbow Wonder?" "Fine." "Sure. Sure." ... "What do you want?" "I want you to not date Final Cut." Twilight turned around in disbelief. "Come again?" "Look, after you and Rainbow had your little cat fight, the entirety of Equestria's young fillies are paying more attention to this movie then ever. They think you two are fighting over Soarin'." "Well, that's a shame, because we both know that's not true." "Who said it had to be true? All I'm saying is if you don't date Final Cut, we can milk this a little more. You and Rainbow won't actually have to fight each other, we get more money at the box office, Final Cut gets more good press and Soarin' is seen as a ladies man. It's a win for everypony." "Yeah, sounds great... except that sounds absolutely vile. I'd never play along with something like that. Neither would Rainbow or Soarin'. Now, let me make my breakfast in peace please. And try not sell somepony out on your way back to your cabin." There was that golden flicker again, this time it was bigger and brighter. "The Great and Powerful Trixie agrees." The two ponies turned to Trixie, who had entered the kitchen from the other side. "R... really?" "Doesn't matter, Sparkle. You're under contract, and I'll move heaven and Equestria to make this happen." Twilight leaned into Taste's face. Her golden shimmer starting to scare her. "Good luck...." Taste, too scared to say anything else, slowly backed out of the kitchen, closing the door behind her. She trotted past the meditating director. "Cut." "Bitch." Back in the kitchen, Twilight gave a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness that's over. And.. thanks Trixie. I never thought I'd say that." "Do not mention it. The Great and Powerful Trixie may not consider you an ally... but she knows horse crap when she sees it." Twilight smiled. "Thanks." "I said don't mention it." Trixie walked past Twilight, grinning to herself. "But if Trixie says so herself; you are definitely prettier then Rainbow Crash." Trixie shut the door behind her, leaving Twilight in pause for a minute. Her eyes were a solid gold but eventually returned to their normal color. Twilight assembled the breakfast and rejoined Cut. He kept his eyes closed through his meditation. "Did you that Taste want-" "You and Rainbow to fight over Soarin'? Yeah. She told me herself last night." "Then why didn't you come and tell me?" "I wanted you to have the honor of telling her to stick it up her plot yourself." "Well... thanks. Hehe." "See, I am a generous pony. This meditation is working after all." "Yeah... about yesturday-" "You want to go out on a date?" ... "Well-" "Sure." ... "What?" "Come to my trailer tonight, I'll take you out to the restaurant district in Ponyville. You'll have to show me where it is, but I'll be able to take it from here." Twilight was stunned how casual he was. Needless to say, she wasn't exactly the most experienced pony when it came to this... subject matter. "Wow, that's very... welcoming? I don't know." "You're welcome." He smiled as he continued to meditate. ... "So... how's the meditation going? Gotten rid of those pesky desires yet?" "That depends..." "On what?" Cut's eyes opened with a cheeky grin. "What kind of desires are we talking about, Sparkle?" "I'm talking about being left alone!" Rainbow pouted in her bunk as Rarity and Fluttershy looked on. "Look, darling. We know that you don't want to talk, unfortunately, this isn't about what you want. Applejack made a point to us the other day; she said that this film is putting a lot of stress on us. If we don't talk, things are just going get out of hoof at some point. I'm sure if Applejack were capable of higher brain function at the moment, she would come and tell you that herself." Applejack was still dazed from her heat stroke yesterday. Pinkie was still in her bunk, recovering from her sun burn. "Rainbow, we're worried about you and Twilight." Fluttershy walked up to Rainbow in her bunk. "Please, we hate to see you like this." "If you're worried about both of us, why don't you get started on her?" Rainbow hopped out of bed and left the cabin, closing the door behind her. Once she shut the door, she sighed and banged her head against the window. "What's wrong with me?" "Nothing." "What do you want Trixie?" Trixie approached with caution. "The Great and Powerful Trixie simply wants to see you succeed in your conquests. All of them." "Yeah, right. Buzz off." "Before Trixie leaves, let her show you something." Trixie levitated a smart phone in front of Rainbow, the twitter app was open. All of the tweets where about nothing but 'Super-Wings' and 'Super-Meekly'. "The whole world knows that Sparkle is after your Colt. And Trixie believes that your smart enough to see that too. That's all. Have a great day." Trixie left Rainbow alone with her thoughts... and golden eyes. She shook her head, returning them to her normal color. "Have a great day, everypony! We hope you enjoyed your trip on the Friendship Express!" The movie ponies slowly hopped of the train. All of the having trouble looking at each other. Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash found the Crusaders waiting for them on a nearby bunch. "They're back," shouted Scootaloo. The three mares opened their hooves, ready to welcome their youngers... only for them to run past them, straight into the hooves of Final Cut. "Hey girls! Thanks for meeting me here." The three mares stood in shock and confusion. "Oh, right! I forgot to tell you girls, I promised to take the crusaders for the day to give them a private film school lesson." "Can we stay? Please?" The Crusaders had the cutest smiles in all of Ponyville and this time is was no exception. "Whatever. I'm not the one who has to worry if you're gone." Rainbow tossed her angry head as she took off into the sky, leaving Scootaloo hurt. "Just... just promise me you'll make it back to the boutique by eight." "Sure... and Rarity?" "Yes?" "Why are you still wearing the same outfit." Rarity looked down at herself, having forgotten she still had the silly suit on. "I should probably get around to removing this. I'll see you at home Sweetie." Rarity blew her a kiss and left the station. "Come on, Sis!" "You a... demon lemon... and dragon..." Applejack's heat stroke was still having a negative effect on her brain. Fluttershy and Pinkie caught her just before she collapsed. "We'll take her home for you. You have a great time girls!" Fluttershy waved as she and Pinkie carried A.J. out of the station. Twilight looked back at Cut before leaving. "See you tonight?" "Definitely!" "Oooh" The Crusaders started skipping around the two ponies. "Twilight and Final, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Twilight rolled her eyes, blushed and left. Spike following her. As the two left, they passed Trixie. "Hey Trixie... you have a good day." Trixie watched them walk off into the distance, allowing a massive grin to grow across her face. "It'll be the best." Cut put his hooves around the girls. "Now, who's ready for a real film course?" "Excuse me, Final?" "Yes, Scoot?" "What's a real film course?" "One where your money will actually go to good use." "But we're not paying you." Cut winked at them as they left the station. "Spike, I need to see your website." Twilight poked Spike on the shoulder as he edited posts on the blog. "Why?" "I need to see what ponies are saying after the panel." Spike started to sweat. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that... just a bunch of cool stuff about the trailer. People are really excited about it." Twilight turned Spike around so they were eye to eye. "Spike, we both know that's a lie." "But you said they would be talking about the... Twi? What's up with your eyes?" Without warning, Twilight shoved Spike out of the way, examining his monitor. Her suspicions had been correct. Every single post was something about her and Rainbow fighting over Soarin'. "I knew it! Everypony is hung up on this! I am not in love with Soarin'!" "Then why does it bother you so much? Also; ow!" Twilight steamed at the screen, her eyes flickering back and forth between their usual color and gold. "Hey, Twi... what's wrong with you? You seem... I don't know, out of it.... Twi?" "No, I'm not out of it at all, Princess. I had a great time last night." Soarin' and Celestia strolled down the palace corridors, letting the sun light warm them as it beamed through the stain glass windows. "I'm so glad to hear that. I haven't talked so much since I was in high school." "You went to high school?" "Well... no, but I did talk a lot at that age. Most fillies did." The two chuckled as they continued down the hall. "Princess, thank you again. I had a great time, but I should probably head back to Ponyville." "I agree, but before you do, I want to show you something." Celestia brought them to the end of the corridor, the sun was shinning directly through a new window; one of Soarin' as Super-Stallion. "Princess-" "What do you think? I thought I'd put it to... commemorate the trailer." Soarin' looked at Celestia with a cheeky smile. "Princess... you didn't watch the bootleg version of the trailer, did you?" Celestia looked around nervously. "... Maybe." The two started to laugh in the light of the new window. "Thank you, Princess. This is a true honor." "In that case, I don't suppose I could persuade you to star another few hours while we have some pictures taken? Maybe a few interviews?" Soarin' smirked. "You're beginning to sound like one of my fan girls." "... Maybe." "Maybe we could make one of those 'triple X' movies! I don't know what the X's mean, but they make it sound intense!" "Maybe you could shut up and listen to your teacher." Cut's words settled the crusaders as they took seats in front of Cut, inside his trailer. "Now, the first thing you need to understand is the first thing you need to understand about movies is that the single most important component is the story. If you don't have a good story, the whole thing fall apart." Applebloom raise her hoof. "I thought it was all those pretty explosions! Like the one in your trailer!" "Applebloom... you didn't watch the bootleg trailer online, did you?" "... Maybe." "Well, yes. Effects are important... sometimes. But the story is the key. Now, every story is broken into a three acts." Sweetie Bell raise her hoof. "Why do you need three axes? Wouldn't be one enough?" "He said 'acts', you dummy!" "Don't call me a dummy, dodo!" "Acts are the parts of a movie. Act one is where you set up the characters, the conflict and give the audience hints at what's coming. The best kind of hints are the ones that you put straight under their noses and yet, they still don't know they're hints." "What happen's in act 2?" Asked Applebloom. Cut looked around the room. "Do... do you guys mind if I swear?" "Umm... I don't see the harm." The crusaders did everything they could to contain their excitement that a grown up was going to talk like a grown up around them. "Act 2... that's when the horse $%@* hits the fan." "Don't talk like that, Twilight!" "But it's true!" Twilight's shouting bounced off the walls of the library. "Rainbow has seen these and she was dumb enough to think that I would actually want Soarin'! Why didn't I see this coming?" "Twilight, you do understand how stupid that sounds, right? Also, what's up with your eyes? They keep chan-" "She's going to do something rash. Something stupid... she always does." Spike ran up to his surrogate mother, looking into her ever changing eyes. "Please, Twi. Calm down. I know you don't act or talk like this... please... stop." Twilight shoved the little dragon aside and headed for the door. "Where are you going?" "For a walk... and then, I'm going to speak to the director." "All right girls, I think you're ready to be directors now!" The Crusaders jumped and high-hoofed in the air, warmed by the sunset. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADER FILM MAKERS GO!" "Now remember, the job is to tell a great story. Explosions mean nothing. Promise you'll remember." "We promise!" Cut leaned down to the girls, giving them one last hug. "But a couple of explosions never hurt anyone." He gave them a wink as they hopped on Scootaloo's scooter and rode off into the sunset. "Maybe we should have put a few explosions on the window." Celestia giggled at Soarin's lame joke as the press took photos of them standing in front of the Super-Stallion window. "Hehe. I'll have to have a talk with my designers." "Girls, we need to have a talk." Rarity (still in costume) had assembled a dazed Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie in the boutique. "We have to take matters into our own hooves. Twilight and Rainbow are going at each other like never before. And that doesn't make sense." "In what way?" asked Fluttershy. "We're the Wielders of Harmony. We're the best friends in all of Equestria. And all of a sudden, one stallion comes in and they're fighting? Does that sound like it makes any kind of sense?" "Hmmm...," thought Pinkie. "That does seem a little sussy. "What are ya proposin' we do?" Applejack had a little trouble standing up straight. "I'm proposing we have a talk with a certain pony. I couldn't help but notice that there was one pony always around when things got tense between those two." "Refined?" asked Fluttershy. "No. Call it a unicorn's intuition, but I think we need to have a word with The Great and Powerful Trixie." "You wanted to speak with The Great and Powerful Trixie, sir?" Trixie was standing outside of Cut's trailer, with him at the door. "Yeah, I'd like you to make a list of all the best restaurants in Ponyville. I... have a date tonight." "Trixie sees. She will do this... however, I wouldn't get too attached to your plans." Trixie began to trot off. "Why do you say that?" "Plans tend to change." "Change of plans, everypony! Let's head into the main foyer. I want to have a feast!" Celestia lead the press and Soarin' to the main foyer where a buffet was set up. Caught up in the excitement of the conference, nopony noticed strange, green crystals attached to the support pillars of a giant statue of Celestia and her sister, Luna. "I hope you're all hungry, we may be here a while." "Have a seat Trixie, we're going to be here a while." Staring Trixie down in her cabin on the other side of the studio lot, was the four members of the mane six. Trixie smirked. "Come in and pull up a chair." "I think we're comfortable standing up." "No. Once Trixie finishes explaining herself... you will need to sit down." "Wow... you look... angry. Why don't you have a seat?" On the opposite side of the studio lot, Twilight stormed into Cut's trailer. "I'm fine, thank you. I need to talk to you about Rainbow." "... What about her?" "Do you see her as the jeleous type?" ... "What?" "I realize now that she's insanely jealous. She has Soarin', she has the leading mare role and yet, she still jealous of me. Guess I shouldn't be surprise." "Sparkle...?" "What?" "What in the seven levels of Tartarous are you talking about?!" "I'm talking about the mind of The Great and Powerful Trixie, of course!" Trixie was now sitting on a chair in her trailer, with the four mares staring her down. "You see, Trixie didn't join the crew of the film until she heard you simpletons were involved. Then I knew there was a chance for what I deserve." "And what do ya think you deserve, exactly?" asked Applejack. "Revenge." "Revenge? You think Rainbow is looking for revenge on you?" "What other explanation is there?" "Any other!" Cut stepped towards her. "Sparkle, something is effecting you. I don't know what's gotten into you, but you're acting insane." Her eyes turned into a solid gold. "Are you doubting me?!" "I'm doubting you're in the right frame of mind." He laid a hoof on her shoulder for her horn to light up in his face. "Step... back..." "You need to calm down." He put the other hoof around her. "I SAID BACK OFF!" Twilight swiped her horn at the director, sending him back into the wall with a blast of magical energy. The attack scared him across the face and knocked him out cold. Twilight's eyes returned to there normal color. Seeing the director on the floor, she ran out the trailer an headed away from the studio lot. "Trixie knew that after her first experiment was a failure, she had to back off and re-examine." Pinkie raise a hoof. "What experiment, Ms Fany Cloak?" "In my travels, I learned a new spell. There are many names for it, but to sum it up, it's job is to take a pony's negative emotions and enhance them, making them an animal. Taking the smallest bit of anger and jealousy and magnifying it. All it takes, is a little push." "I swear, Rainbow has pushed me too far this time!" Twilight ran up to the front door of the library, busting in. "Spike! Get my- You." "Hey, egghead." Rainbow was sitting with Spike. "We need to talk." "Slow down and talk in English!" Proclaimed Pinkie! "Hmm. Trixie should have known that you would need help understanding. Trixie used a charm on herself that caused anypony Trixie interacted with or stood near would have their negative emotions charged as long as Trixie concentrated. However, Trixie discovered that the spell only worked when she was around the ponies in question. So, Trixie realized, all she needed was a more effective method of delivery. Fluttershy took to the air. "We'll stop you before you have a chance to hurt them! You big bully!" "HA! Do you take The Great and Powerful Trixie for a cartoon super villain?" Trixie thought back to her serving the two mares the cider on the train. "She has done it already!" "You've already done your worst, Rainbow. Leave my house." Twilight and Rainbow began to circle each other as the nigh sky cover Ponyville. "Done my worst? You're the one who's trying to make everything about her!" "Hello Pot! I'm kettle!" ... "What?" "You're the biggest attention seeking, glory hound I've ever met. You have nothing! And now that you have Soarin', you feel the need to rub it in my face and show it off to all of Equestria!" "Oh listen to you on your high horse! You've been eye banging Soarin' ever since he got his powers! You always had to be the golden girl! The student to Celestia! The leader of the wielders of the elements! It always has to be you! Rainbow's eyes were getting closer and closer to becoming a full gold. The two mares's eyes flickered back and forth to the gold color they had before. Spike ran between them. "Guys! Please! Listen to yourselves! You're not making any sense! Somethings wrong with you!" "Back of you little freak!" Rainbow smacked Spike into the nearby bookcase. "You've had this coming for way too long, Rainbow..." "That's it! You've had this comin' for way too long!" Despite her state, Applejack knew she could buck the hay out of Trixie. "What does it matter? It's done. Nopony can stop it now. And you know what the best part of all this has been?" "You explaining your plan to us like an idiot?" "That... and the fact that in the end, Trixie didn't have to start anything. They had those feeling inside them the whole time. But no! You wielders of harmony just had to be so perfect and prim and proper, you'd never let things like jealous and pride take over. I just had to help them along. In the end, the best chaos, is not the chaos that you cause, but the chaos that you watch unravel in front of you." "I will unravel you if you try anything, you egghead." "What does that even mean?" "You want to find out?!" The two stared each other down, Twilight knew that no matter how angry she was, she was no match for Rainbow in a fight. She lowered her head, letting Rainbow float past her. "Heh. Ugly loser." Twilight's eye's turned a solid gold, hardening into what looked like a golden nugget. "Well, I think that you forgot to take the camera lens off!" Scootaloo's shouting could be heard over ponyville, no doubt annoying all the nearby ponies trying to get some sleep that night. "Well, ah think we just found out you couldn't render footage 'less it was ya cutie mark!" Applebloom's retort was almost louder. Sweetie Bell walked along side them, wearing a saddle bag that was clearly designed for a camera. "Umm, girls, I think our first movie is going to going to be 'Escape from Ponyville' if we keep shouting so loud. I think we're waking up other ponies." "What makes ya say that?" Asked Applebloom. CRASH! From the distance, a photo frame just barely missed Appleblooms head. "See! They're so mad, they're throwing junk at us." Scootaloo turned the frame over to find a picture under the shattered glasses. "Is... is that Rainbow Dash?" "Yeah... and that's Twilight," added Applebloom. Sweetie Bell looked up in confusion. "Where did it come from?" "Umm, Sweetie, I know that we gave up trying to be Cutie Mark Crusader Detectives, but my powers of deduction are telling me that it's coming from there!" Scootaloo pointed at the closest building to the three fillies; Twilight's library. The windows were pulsating purple, even the wood itself was starting to light up. Towards the side, they could see the window that the photo frame flew out. "Oh... yeah. What's going on in the library?" "We should film it!" Applebloom was always considered the genius of the Crusaders. "Final Cut would love that!" "Great idea!" Sweetie pulled the camera out of her saddle bad, carrying it in her mouth. The Crusaders began their approach. "RUN!" The girls were startled by the voice. "What are you waiting for?!" The shouting pony ran in front of them, it was Final Cut, except there was a loud huge scar stretching across his face with blood running down and dripping off his jaw. "Final Cut? What are you doing here? And why are you shouting? You're gonna get photo frames thrown at you!" "Also, why are ya bleeding?" Cut looked more fearful then ever before. "Did you not hear me?!" ... "What?" "RUN!" "From what?" KABOOM! The library exploded outwards, blowing pieces of wood and paper outwards as the top of the tree toppled backwards with nothing in the middle to support it. When Cut was blown back, he made it a point to shield the Crusaders from any wood that was blown their way, unfortunatly, that meant his back had the biggest, most painful splinters he had ever had. When the girls and Cut regained their wits, they saw a blue, purple and gold blur fly out of the remains of the tree. "TEN! SECONDS! FLAT!" Next: The Punchline!