Chapter 20: Obscurity
"Encore! Encore!" shouted the audience as the houselights came up. They stomped on the ground, causing the whole theater to rock. On the other hoof, Pinkie sat there, in silence, shedding a single tear.
Twilight had pride beaming from her eyes as stood up for her applause. "Final, that was- Final?" Twilight looked around when she realized that her beau was not where she left him. Looking down, she saw him in the gap between the front row and screen, shuffling to the tunes that played in other the closing credits. She just chuckled at the site. It wasn't the greatest movie in the world, but Cut had plenty to be proud of. They all did.
"TWI!" Twilight didn't have enough time to duck before Rainbow Dash charged into her. "THAT. WAS. AWESOME!"
"Yeah. It was, wasn't it?"
Rainbow helped her to her feet. "You were great. I can't believe we actually pulled this off."
"Me either. Rarity was- where is Rarity?"
The two turned to the isle, where Rarity was standing and waving to the ponies around her. "Thank you! Thank you! I couldn't have done it without my wonderful wardrobe!" Pinkie started throwing roses at the white unicorn (where the roses came from remains unknown).
"Let's just pray she doesn't win the Oscar. Who knows what she would do then?" the two shared a giggle. "Soarin' was fantastic. Why aren't you with him now?"
"Why do you think?" Rainbow pointed to the front of the theater, where Soarin' was shuffling with Cut. "He may have turned into a nerdy sap ever since we started making this movie, but he still knows when he did a good job."
"Hey girls," said Fluttershy as she joined her friends.
"Hey, Fluttershy. What did you think?" asked Rainbow with trepidation. Everypony remembered how vocal she was about the movie before.
"I... I liked it." Twilight and Rainbow stood slack jawed. "The violence wasn't to my taste, but I liked how nice Super-Stallion was and that the Mistress Mayhem lost. I know that's how it was going to end already, but it was still nice to see. You two were great. Really." That was probably the best praise the two world receive from the shy pony. The brought her in for a group hug. "I hope the princess enjoyed it."
"I think it's safe to say she did." Twilight brought their attention to the princes... who was shuffling between Soarin' and Cut.
"Up, up and away, mother buckers!" yelled Cut as he kicked in the door to the library. Twilight was in such a good mood that she was going until the next day before giving him the bill for the damage. Pouring in behind them was the rest of the cast and crew, filing up the library that Pinkie had taken the liberty of breaking in letting herself in and setting up a premier after-party.
"So what happens now?" asked Rarity.
"We get so drunk that we forget that opening weekend will either make or break us!" Cut poured himself a cup of cider, but before sculling it, he found himself gazing into its reflection. He dropped his smile and laid down the glass, hoping that somepony else would enjoy it for me.
"Something wrong, Final?" asked a concerned Twilight. She gently laid a hoof on his back. "This is probably the only time I'm going to let you get drunk in the library."
"Trust me, I will. It's just that I realized that I'm going to need my wits for a little longer."
"What for?"
"Firstly, I just remember some radio show wants to talk to me. After that, I want to speak to a few ponies. Just need to get some stuff off my chest."
Twilight turned Cut so that they were facing. "Is everything OK?"
"I guess we'll find out." He pulled her in and kissed gently. "That'll have to hold you over until I get back."
"Congratulations!" The unicorns shot around to find Celestia standing behind them. "I'm so happy for the two of you."
Twilight squeed and blushed. "Thank you, Princess."
"And Final, you did an amazing j-"
"We both know it wasn't amazing," he interjected, "but it was still awesome."
"It was pretty coo-"
"Hey, princess!" shouted Pinkie from the other end of the room. "We're doing cupcake shots!"
"That's my cue. You two have a great night," said the alicorn as she turned from them. Suddenly, she stopped and turned back around. "A mare-to-mare piece of advice Twilight, Cut may chew on your mane when spooning, so you'll need to get a special sort of conditioner to help with that."
Time stopped. Every muscle in Cut's body tightened. Twilight's pupils constricted, with a few hairs in her mane suddenly splitting out.
...
"Come again, your highness."
"PRINCESS!" screamed Pinkie, holding up what looked like cupcakes in shot glasses.
"Sorry, my little ponies. I'll see you soon!" she said as she trotted away.
Twilight slowly turned her pupils in the direction of the director. Cut had the biggest, nervous smile anypony had ever seen, letting sweat run down his face like a waterfall. "Final..."
"Rrrrrember when I said that Celestia chose me personally for this movie? Well... she may or may not have had a biased towards me..."
Twilight turned her whole body, making sure she was aimed at Cut like a gun. "When were you two-"
"Exit: stage left." Cut dashed out of the front door. "Don't want to keep the radio show waiting!" he shouted half way down the street.
Twilight ran up to the front door, glaring at the Cut colored blur. "The door was to your right!"
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS CIDER SHOT DRINKERS! YEAH!" The CMC raised their hooves, each on holding a jello shot that matched their coats. Watching in the doorway, was Rarity and Applejack. Using her magic, Rarity snatched the glasses out of their hooves. "Aww" groaned the girls.
"Now girls, you're lucky enough to be up past your bed time. Let's not push it," said Rarity as she put the glasses away.
"Sorry girls," interject Applejack. "Big and Ah will be in a lot a trouble if we were caught selling yall cider."
"But ah helped you make it!" moaned Applebloom. Applejack shook her head and left the room, taking the cider drinks with her. Before she closed the door, the girls inside could hear the princess shouting.
"Where do you think you're going from those?!"
Rarity turned back to the girls. "Besides, wouldn't you rather be sober when you give Cut your present?"
"Excuse me, Rarity," said Scootaloo, "but does it count as our gift when you're the one that made it for us?"
Sweetie Bell nudged the pegasus. "He doesn't have to know to that, dodo."
CRRKT~
Spike slowly pushed the door to the room open and stuck his head in. "Oh... don't worry. I'll come back later." He closed the door a lot faster than when he opened it.
Sweetie Bell looked up at her big sister with a pair of puppy dog eyes. Letting the guilt take over, Rarity ran out the door, following the baby dragon. "Spike! Wait!"
Against his better judgement, Spike stopped and turned to Rarity, sweating bullet. "Rarity, please, I didn't-"
"Spike. I'm sorry. I'm very protective of Sweetie Bell and I almost took it out on you. But you should know that I talked to her earlier, she regrets kissing you."
Spike looked away with a blank expression. "Gee, that's great."
Rarity put her foreleg around her friend, letting out a little giggle. "Spike, you're young. You've got plenty of time and there are plenty of ponies... or dragons just waiting for you."
"Didn't we cover this already?" asked the purple dragon.
"What do you say we just pretend this didn't happen and shake hooves... or claws?" The two friends awkwardly shaked their respective appendages before Rarity returned to the CMC.
Twilight, noticing Spike in his depressed (and somewhat confused) state, carried over a plate of cupcakes and brought them over to her young assistant. Taking a seat on the couch, the two casually snacked on their treats, sitting in silence as they watched everypony else enjoy the party. "Thank Twi."
"Anytime, Spike."
The following is a recording from the late night 'Horse S--T!' radio show. The show is hosted by Loud Mouth and his co-host 'Wise Crack'. Every Thursday at 11:00 pm, the two sit down with a special guest as they discuss local events and funny stories that have happened in the week prior in a crude manner. The stories often involve tangents and long segway's, many of which lead to the hosts forgetting the original topic. The following is a transcript from an extension of the previous episode that was recorded an hour previous.
Loud Mouth: We're still doing this?
Wise Crack: Apperintly.
L.M: Ponies, we're recording this little add on because we have an exclusive interview right here.
W.C: Somepony that we really shouldn't be having on.
L.M: We've done much dumber things on this show and you know it. Everypony, please welcome Final Cut!
[Silence]
Final Cut: Bitch, whatchu looking at?
[Laughter]
L.M: Hey! You can't talk to us like that on our own show!
F.C: Actually, since you broke into our theater and spoiled the movie with two ponies that worked on it, I think I'll say whatever I want. Thank you.
L.M: Y-you know about that?
F.C: Yeah, I saw you two in the theater. That and I found Octy and Vinyl, drunkenly singing in the other room.
W.C: I told you to move them!
L.M: Have you tried dragging two mares? The alcohol just makes them heavier.
F.C: You should have seen Octy in the recording room. She composed the dragon fight scene while doing a keg stand.
W.C: I had no idea that Octy was such a drunky.
L.M: Who would have thought Vinyl would be the more relaxed one.
F.C: She was high when she shot her scene.
[Laughter]
L.M: Are you serious?
F.C: She was so high that she brought that pimp costume herself. She was just supposed to be a normal mare.
W.C: Why did she bring it?
F.C: When I asked, she said was 'for the lol's.'
[Laughter]
F.C: I just said 'screw it' and wrote some new dialogue for her.
L.M: So, you knew we snuck into the movie?
F.C: I've been at this for a while. I'm fairly certain the damn thing has been leaked already.
W.C: You come prepared. Did you used to be a colt scout?
F.C: For about two weeks.
[Laughter]
W.C: Did they kick you out that quick?
F.C: No exactly.
L.M: What happened?
F.C: I had been going for a little while, but then they told me I needed to buy the uniform or else I couldn't come anymore. I told my dad that the uniforms were sixty bits. He told me "Well, better say goodbye to you friends."
[Laughter]
L.M: Dude, that's some cheap crap right there.
W.C: Did he lean into you and say "you know these green skirts are cheaper."
[Laughter]
W.C: And you can make your money back, by selling these cookies!
F.C: We're gonna sell them on the side and mark them up a dollar or two. That's how you make money! A stallion aint a stallion if he aint go no hustle!
[Laughter]
F.C: Didn't we have a movie to talk about?
W.C: Oh yeah. That thing.
L.M: Well, let me just say right now, we both enjoyed the movie a lot.
W.C: We really dug it.
F.C: Thanks guys. I'm really proud of everypony who worked on it. Even those two idiots out back.
W.C: I almost wish you were here for the first part.
L.M: You really should have seen those two.
F.C: Ah yeah. I hear they have a history.
L.M: You have no idea. There was this great bit where Octy said Vinyl played the skin flute in high school.
F.C: She was playing it on the set.
[Laughter]
F.C: If you listen really closely, during the big song at the end, you can hear Vinyl playing one in the background.
W.C: So when you actually play the song at the Oscars, will she be there?
F.C: Front and center.
[Laughter]
L.M: Back on topic, there's something about Super-Stallion that I've never been able to figure out.
F.C: What?
L.M: How does he fly at night?
W.C: Seriously, dude?!
L.M: I don't know!
F.C: It's fine. His skin cells store the energy. A few minutes of sunlight can keep him going for a while.
L.M: Oh, good. I was wondering, if he lost his powers, would he have to beg Celestia to get it back?
W.C: He'd look like a crack addict.
[Laughter]
F.C: That would put the movies rating up a notch.
L.M (Huggy Bear Voice): You got any of that U.V. s--t baby?
F.C: Hook a stallion up, Celstia!
W.C: Com on, baby! I'll suck your &%#@!!
[Laughter]
F.C (Celestia Voice): I was going to raise it in like, 10 minutes.
L.M: Can I do it, anyway?
[Laughter]
F.C: Maybe you guys should write the second movie.
W.C: That leads to my question. I know it's very early, but do you have plans for the sequel, should you get it?
F.C: You did stay till the end of the credits, didn't you?
L.M: No... we had to book.
[Silence]
F.C: You bucking idiots.
W.C: I told you that we should have stayed!
L.M: Whatever. Now we have an excuse to go back and watch it. In D-Box this time!
W.C: Now Cut, what was your favorite part of making Stallion of Steel?
F.C: Well-
L.M: Twilight?
[Laughter]
W.C: Com on, baby! I'll suck your &%#@!
[Laughter]
F.C: The funny thing was, that was me talking to her.
[Laughter]
F.C: In all seriousness though, the best part had to be the ponies. Meeting everypony her was a real trip. I met my girl, I made friends. I never had friends before this.
W.C: I still don't have friends.
L.M: Buck you, bitch.
F.C: That and Rarity getting rashes from her outfit.
L.M: Wait. What?
F.C: The costume took too much effort to put on, so she just kept it on for weeks while we shot her scenes. She even kept it on during the panel at triple c.
W.C: I remember seeing that.
F.C: As it turns out, wearing skin tight leather for weeks on end isn't the smartest idea. When she finally got it off, she looked like relief map.
[Laughter]
W.C: She got stretch marks and she didn't even have a kid.
L.M: Sounds like making the movie was a blast.
F.C: And it was. It really was.
W.C: A very literal blast at one point.
[Silence]
W.C: Cut?
F.C: Yeah, yeah. I guess that did happen.
L.M: You OK, dude?
F.C: Sorry guys. It's still kind of a rough spot I guess.
L.M: We should move on. Wise, bring up the emails.
F.C: No, don't. I suppose I should put this out there while I'm here.
W.C: Put what out?
F.C: The studio told me not to say anything and to just agree with whatever public statement they put out. I don't care anymore. I know that all the damage has since been fixed and that nopony outside of the girls, Soarin' and me were hurt, but this still needs to be said by me. I'm sorry. I bucked up.
L.M: Dude, it wasn't your fault-
F.C: Yeah... it was. When I was trying to get everypony to a safe distance, this one stallion stepped forward and blamed me for everything. I'm certain he was right. I was going to announce this later, but I'll just do this now. Part of my contract includes that on top of my salary, I'm entitled to box office and home release royalties. All royalties I receive will go back into Ponyville. Every bit I make is going to make Ponyville that much better. Make the schools better, improve the hospital, etc. I hope it helps.
W.C: Wow...
L.M: That's very generous of you.
F.C: I should probably give more. But that's the best I can do for now. Now if you'll excuse me.
[Cut leaves his chair]
L.M: Cut! Where you going?
F.C: I've got a party to get back to. Thank you very much for having me.
"CUT!" screamed Octy as Cut left the recording room. "Where you going?"
Cut would have normally felt sad to just leave a drunk Octy on her own, but she did have her best friend with her (albiet, passed out). "I've got some friends to meet. I'll call you tomorrow, OK?"
"CUT!"
...
"Have a great night." Taking one last swig of her wine, she stumbled over to her unicorn friend and passed out, making sure she was cuddled up next to her.
"You too," said Cut with a smile. Cut trotted towards the door, extending his hoof towards the door.
"Those are two are adorable, aren't they?" The voice sent shivers down Cut's spine.
"Refined?" The director shot around and found the casting director step out of the shadows.
"You've always said my name the same way. Astonishment, mixed with a hint of dread... but with hopeful finish."
"Another cupcake shot," slurred Celestia as she threw down her empty glass.
Pinkie looked with concern at her princess. "Umm, your highness, I think you've had enough."
"I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I'VE HAD ENOUGH!" Celestia's rare use of the Canterlot royal voice was enough to send Pinkie running to grab more.
A wary Twilight took a seat next to her teacher. "Wow, I didn't even know you could get drunk."
"I can adjust my metabolism when I choose. I thought I'd enjoy myself tonight." The two waited for a moment, hoping the awkward silence would leave on its own. It did not. "Twilight, I'm sorry about Cut."
Twilight put on her best dumb face. "What do you mean sorry? We're quite-"
"Twilight, shut up." Celestia downed the cupcake shot that Pinkie placed in front of her. "I know you're angry at him for not telling you about us. If it's any constellations, we broke up years ago."
"But he said that you were biased towards him,"
"That's because we were still friends after the fact. I assume you don't know how we met?" Twilight shook her head. "It was back when he was a freshman in film school. He didn't have any friends, so he spent most of his time studying in the library. By 'study' I mean, watch movies on the projector. One day, I was in the library and I saw him staring blankly at this book he had. I lean over his shoulder and I saw that it was a Super-Stallion book." Twilight's face made it clear that the irony was not lost on her. "I remember which book it was; What Ever Happened to the Stallion of Tomorrow. He loved that book, but this time, he was just staring at the art. I take a seat at the opposite end of the table and start trying to talk to him about it. Have a friendly conversation, that type of thing."
"And that led to you dating?"
Celestia just started laughing. "You should have seen him. He was awkward enough around other students, seeing a princess turned into Mild Mannered. He was stammering, sweating and at one point he fainted." Twilight broke out into laughter. "He was such a loser. It was kind of cute in a way. When he came to, we started talking, getting to know each other and that's how I found out he had no friends. So, I took him under my wing and taught him how to make them."
Twilight's eyes widened. "So... he was a-"
"Student of friendship. Just like you are, Twilight. After he built up some confidence, we started going out. It was fun for a while, but things just... didn't work out. We wanted different things."
"What did he want?"
Celestia took a deep breath and smiled at her pupil. "He'll never admit to this, but you can tell that he wanted somepony... 'down to earth,'" She laid a hoof on the unicorn. "He wants you, Twilight. He may have lied by omission, but don't hate him for it. I did the same thing by not telling you. But that was because I assumed he would have told you himself."
Twilight couldn't look at the princess. "I don't hate him. I guess I'm just frustrated."
"My advice: forgive and forget. You've been through so much, are you really going to let this ruin it for the two of you?"
"Shouldn't you be on Saturn's second moon by now?" Cut and Refined started circle each other like they were sizing each other up for a fight.
"Thankfully, negligence isn't a crime when you don't have any responsibilities. I'm just the casting director, remember?"
"Were."
Refined started chuckling at the sight of the overly-cautious director. "Cut, you can stop circling me. I'm not going to beat you up. Word on the street is that you've done enough of that yourself. The two ponies stopped, putting them on the opposite ends of the room. "Trixie on the hoof wasn't so lucky. I hear she's doing some kitchen work for the homeless."
"Considering that she nearly got several ponies killed, I'd say that she deserves a lot more." Cut's frustration and anger was starting to reach boiling point. "Same goes for you."
Refined's face didn't carry any positive emotion. She just stared at her former boss. "Look, Cut. I... I'm sorry."
Cut stared in disbelief. "Come again."
"I said I was sorry. I've been thinking about what Twilight said. And... I'm not proud of what I did. Unfortunately, the studios were." Cut seemed confused. "It turns out the uppers at the studios love mares that see an opportunity and go for it, regardless of the ponies involved. They've offered me a job with them back in Canterlot. My interview for the role is tomorrow morning. I've got to catch the train to Canterlot tonight so I can catch it."
...
"Heh... hehehahahahhahahahahh!" Cut tumbled onto his side, laughing his plot off. Refined did not look amused.
"What's so funny?"
"You... you can't be serious," he said whipping the tears from his eyes. "You come to me after everything is over and serve up the biggest cliché in the book? You have to make the train or go to the ponies that need you? That's bucking hilarious to me."
Refined's angry face started to twitch as she stepped towards Cut. "What do you mean 'go to the ponies that need me?'"
"That's your alternative. Either you can go to Canterlot or you can come to the party and make amends. If you're truly sorry, that should have at least passed through your head at one point."
Refined's eyes shifted back and forth. "I've apologized. I don't have to go."
"You apologized to me. Good first step. Now how about you apologize to the ponies you allowed to get drugged. And after that, apologize the citizens who nearly lost their homes."
"I- I- I need this job. I don't think I'm going to be able to get another job outside of this."
"OK, let me ask you something, have you given anything back to the community of Ponyville?"
"No."
"Have you sent Twilight, Rainbow or Soarin' a letter with an apology on it?"
"No."
"Does this new job of yours pay more then mine?"
...
"Yes."
Cut extended a hoof towards an empty corner of the room they were in. "In that case, please choose from one of the many bucks I have to give. You can have anyone you want. Except that one."
Refined stared with confusion at the blank wall, not certain what to say. Cut trotted past Refined, heading straight for the door. "Goodbye Refined." Closing the door behind him, leaving the casting director alone in the room with nothing but the sounds of the snoring musicians to keep her company.
"Girls! He's here!" shouted Scootaloo as she gazed out the window. In the distance, she saw Cut trotting up to the library. Grabbing a white box, the girls charged out the library, Applejack and Rarity following them at a distance.
"Hey! How are my little producers doing? Isn't it past your bed time?"
Once the girls came closer, Cut could make out the dark circles under their eyes. As energetic as they were, they were still fillies. "We wanted to stay up long enough to give you a gift!" Sweetie Bell laid out the white box in front of Cut. Engraved on the box was the Carousel Boutique logo. "It's chic, unique and minific!"
Cut chuckled as he opened the box. "Oh I'm sure it-"
...
"Is this a cloak?"
"Not just any cloak," said Applebloom. "Pull it out."
Gently grabbing a red piece of fabric, he found that the cloak was red on one side, while the other side was sparkling gold. One the red side of the cloak, there was a small insignia towards the bottom that looked like a filly with a cape on. However, taking up the majority of the space on the red side was a black outline of the Super-Stallion logo.
"Now you're an honorary crusader!" Scootaloo proclaimed. "It took some intensive discussion, but we decided it was right to let you into- Cut? Don't you like it?"
Cut certainly didn't look happy at his present. In fact, he looked sad. His eyes were watering, his mouth was turned downward and it sounded like he was crying. He gazed up Rarity and Applejack who both gave him an approving nod. Without a seconds hesitation, he pulled the girls in, giving them the tightest hug he could.
"Cut... yer hurting us. Did we do somethin' wrong?" asked Applebloom.
"SWAG!" yelled Cut as he bursted into the library, draped in his new coat. The guests chuckled slightly, but Cut looked happier then he had been in a long time. "Ladies," he said turning to his crusaders, "you'll have to excuse me." The director trotted up to Twilight, he welcomed him with a warm smile. "Hey."
"Hey," she returned. "I don't suppose you'd like to talk?"
"I'd love too,but I've got one other pony to talk to first. Have you seen Soarin'?" he asked as he searched the room. Twilight pointed him towards the balcony on the upper level. Looking up, he saw the star gazing up at the stairs with Rainbow Dash, cuddled up next to her. "I'll be back soon."
Cut knocked on the side door that led to the balcony, grabbing the attention of the two pegasi. "Rainbow, mind if I borrow Soarin' for a minute?"
"Only if it's for that minute." Rainbow pecked her stallion on the cheek before entering the library. "So... what were you two up to?"
"I was showing Rainbow all the constellationsin the sky, telling her their names and who found them."
"Nice. Did she know that you were full of crap?"
"I certainly hope not," he said with laughter.
"Look at them," said Twilight as Rainbow joined her in the library. They two stood and watched Cut and Soarin' chat away like they had known each other for years.
"Sometimes I can't tell if we're the lucky ones, or if they are," pondered Rainbow.
...
"Them. Definitely them," joked Twilight. "So, what were you two doing out there?"
"Oh, he was showing me all the constellations and who found them."
"Really? Did you know he was fully of crap?" asked the unicorn with a smirk.
"He thought he was impressing me. I didn't want to ruin his fun."
Back on the balcony, Cut turned to Soarin'. "Mate, I just wanted to thank you for everything. I knew I made a right choice picking you."
"Didn't Refined pick me?"
"Don't spoil this. You saved a lot of lives, including mine and Twilight's. You were the best part of the movie for a reason. You are Super-Stallion. You are a hero."
Soarin' blushed. "Thank you. But you really should be thanking the girls. The two stallions looked back at the party, watching the mane six have a blast together. "Those six tend to have an impact on ponies. Friendship is magic, I guess."
"I don't know if it's magic, but it's definitely something special." The two shook hooves. "Thank you, my friend."
"Anytime. Hey, while you're here, I trust it's safe to say we'll all be back for the sequel."
"Contracts. If didn't come back, we'd be sued all the way to the moon."
"You still wanna talk?" asked Cut as he entered the library.
"Definitely. My room?"
"Anytime," he said with a wink. She playfully smacked him as she pulled him into the bedroom. "Sparkle, you already know how I felt about Ponyville when I came, so I'll just skip to the good part." He pulled her in and kissed her gently. "I love you. I love you more than anything. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. You've given me friends, a new lease on life and a kick ass movie. Thank you for everything."
Twilight hugged her new beau. "I love you too. Oh and you left something off your list."
"What?"
Twilight levitated a metal key over to Cut. Engraved on the handle was her cutie mark. "Now you won't have to kick the door in. You're paying for that by the way."
Cut's eyes widened in surprise. "Twilight... are you really letting me-"
"Duh!" Cut's face was one of pure joy. "We'll just have to get you your own futon to sleep on." And it was gone.
...
"Gotcha!" Cut didn't share Twilight's laugh.
"Real funny, Sparkle." He waited for Twilight to finish laughing before opening his mouth again. "I suppose I'm obligated to tell you what was going on with Celestia and I."
I should probably let him tell his side of things, she thought. "Pray tell."
He cleared his throat. "Well, back in uni, I had to sneak into the library to keep the mares off me."
Oh this should be good...
"One day, I'm just readying a book on quantum physics, when all of a sudden she rears up on me. She's all over me but I'm playing it cool, right? One thing led to another and we were a couple."
Twilight used all of her strength to keep herself from exploding with laughter. "Go on."
"So, over time, she starts getting clingy and weird. Plus, I wanted to do other things, she wanted to be royal, so I broke it off. We're still cool though."
"I see."
...
"She already told you, didn't she?"
"Maybe."
Cut's head dropped. "Well, don't I look like an idiot."
"Cut," she said as she wrapped a hoof around him, "you looked like an idiot when you first showed up."
"Look, I just want to say one last thing to everypony, then I'm yours." Cut and Twilight entered the main hall of the library, which the party ponies had completely trashed.
"Cut, look!" Twilight pointed towards a large bean bag. Sleeping on top of the bag was the three crusaders. Cut pulled off his cape and draped it over the girls. Using his magic, Cut pulled a glass of crystal cider and fork over to him. Before he could ding them together, he and Twilight saw somepony slowly trot through the entrance. It was Refined.
Twilight stepped forward. "I'll handle this." The two ponies met in the hallway.
"I would have used the door, but it was broken."
Twilight extended a hoof to her guest, shaking it with a smile. Refined returned the expression until Twilight pulled her in close. "You're late."
"Shut up." As Twilight went back over to Cut, Rainbow offered Refined a mug of cider, which she gladly took.
Cut dinged his glass. "Everypony! I've got something to say!"
"Don't you always?!" heckled the wasted princess.
"I just wanted to let you all know that we did good! I can't say if we'll make any money, if we'll get a sequel- hell, they'll probably just reboot us!" The crowd chuckled. "But there is one thing I can say. I know that despite what happened, I can't think of any other time I've been this happy. I thought Super-Stallion brought out the best in all of us. Then I realized it was our friends. The ponies that we spend our time with are the ones that define us. They're the ones that shape us into who we are." He glanced over at sleeping fillies. "The ponies we take under our wings." He then turned to Refined, "The ones that we help back up after they fall." His gaze returned to Twilight. "The ones we love. Ponyville is where my friends are. Ponyville is where my heart is. It's not the most exciting town or the most glamorous, but with ponies like you, I can't think of anyplace I'd rather be. Thank all of you! You've made me better then I ever though I could be!"
Rainbow leaned into Soarin's ear. "Hey, you wanna get out of here? It's getting a little sappy for me."
"Yeah... just a little." The two trotted out the door and onto the front lawn.
"Race you back to Cloudsdale? We should be even now without your precious powers!" she said smirkingly.
Soarin' grew the cockiest expression he had since he joined the cast. "You're on!" Before taking off, the two looked back to see Cut and Twilight kissing in front of everypony, who clapped and cheered on. "Yep, definitely too sappy."
Releasing Twilight's lips, Cut chugged his bubbly. "So, any last words before we fade into obscurity?"
Rainbow and Soarin' nodded to each other before taking off into the beautiful nigh sky.
"UP, UP AND AWAY!"
The End
Author's Notes:
That was fun, wasn't it?
This was the story that inspired me to get off my ass and write something. Why you ask? Well, apart from the idea of the mane six making a movie being hilarious, it occurred to me one day that both Friendship is Magic and Superman have the exact same message behind them; be good people and make the world a better place. It's cheesy and the most generic message there is, but sometimes the simplest lessons are the ones that are the easiest to forget.
I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Despite my occasional errors (side effect of being a fast writer), I like to think I pulled off something decent here.
I want to thank all the people that kept up with me, commented and faved this story along the way. Special shout-outs to Possibly Dominator, my pre-reader, as well as Rainy Meadows, my wonderful, hard working artist.
I hope to see you all in comments for Club Harmony, and Only Human: A Lyra Heartstrings Production
Peace out!