//------------------------------// // Episode 29: This Is Me: Pt 6 // Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony // by Captain_Cosmos //------------------------------// Ponies were collecting around the stage. Getting ready to be soothed with music. On one of the many strings webbing in the sky, Flappy and Mina sat, having chosen that spot to watch the show. Mina smiled. “Ooh, this is gonna be exciting.” Flappy nodded. “Squawk! This is actually my first Ponyville Music Festival so this should be extra good. Squawk!” Mina giggled. “Feel like letting me in on what Sparkler’s going to do for her performance?” Flappy chuckled and shook his head. “Squawk! She’s the third act of the show so it won’t be long until you get to find out. But until then, my beak is sealed. Squawk!” Mina chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Alright. Fine. But it better be worth it.” Flappy nodded. “Squawk! It will be. Squawk!” And hopefully this doesn’t end with Sparkler being pelted with food. He casually glanced down at the crowd below them, checking to see if anypony had food with them. He did notice a few ponies with bags of popcorn in their grasp. He gulped. Least popcorn doesn’t leave a mess like eggs do. Down in the crowd. Twilight, her friends, and Celestia all took their seats. At that moment, they all heard a familiar voice. “Greetings my little ponies, and my dear sister. Are thou ready for the show?” They all turned to see Luna land on the seat next to her sister. Celestia smiled. “You actually made it. I was half afraid you would oversleep.” Luna chuckled. “And miss an event such as this? Never Tia.” Fluttershy nodded. “It’s good of you to sacrifice sleep to support the musical acts tonight your majesty.” Luna smiled and nodded. “Of course Fluttershy.” At that moment, they all notice the lights dim as a spotlight shined center stage. Everypony in the crowd settled down as Vinyl stepped into the spotlight with a head mounted microphone. “Hello everypony! Welcome to the annual Ponyville Music Festival! Who’s ready to shake their tails!” The crowd responded by going wild. Vinyl chuckled as she waited for the crowd to settle. Which it did after a few seconds. “As always I’m your host. Vinyl Scratch, AKA DJ-Pon3 and we got a lot of amazing acts tonight. The musical stylings of Airwave, the more musically gifted of our very own townsponies, even the God of Chaos himself is getting into the fray. I don’t know about you, but I’m pumped. Now, before we get into the action. For those of you who are just joining us this year. The Ponyville Music Festival started as a collection of musicians gathering every so often to share their creations with their peers...” Backstage, while Vinyl was giving a history lesson, Sparkler was pacing back and forth. Trying to remain calm. Remain calm, Remain calm, REMAIN CALM! You can do this. You can SO do this. She continually told herself. Airwave watched her from afar with a concerned look. After a moment, he walked up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. “Sparkler?” Sparkler jumped at the voice and contact and whirled around to see Airwave giving her a concerned look. She took a deep breath. “Airwave, it’s just you.” Airwave nodded. “Everything alright? You look tense?” Sparkler sighed and nodded. “I am about to walk out there and come out to everypony, including PRINCESS FREAKING CELESTIA, with my wings. My insecurity is yelling at me to run while I can, my heart and gut are telling me to stay and go through with it. I’m at a crossroads here and I have NO idea where to go!” “Hey!” Airwave grabbed Sparkler’s shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. “Sparkler, calm down. It’s going to be ok.” Sparkler’s eyes glistened as she let out a sniffle. “Is it?” Airwave nodded. “Yes. Look, forget about your wings, forget about the crowd, your past, forget all of it. Just focus on your routine. And once you get going I promise you won’t be thinking of stopping.” Sparkler closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She exhaled and opened her eyes again, letting a smile appear on her face. “Thanks Airwave, I needed that.” Airwave nodded as he pulled her in for a quick hug. “Anytime pal.” “Now. Let’s get on to the music! Our first act is a doozy indeed. You all know him as one of Ponyville’s newest residents. The local changeling not enrolled in the school of friendship. Here to kick off our show. The one, the only, AIRWAVE!” The crowd cheered wildly. Airwave shot Sparkler one last smile before starting for the stage. “You got this Sparkler. And remember. Just take a deep breath, and sing.” Sparkler nodded as Airwave stepped onto the stage level and trotted into the open, and into the cheering of the crowd. He smiled as he reached center stage. He cleared his throat to calm the crowd. “What up Ponyville!” The crowd cheered in reply and Airwave chuckled. “I just want to say it’s a real honor to be up here tonight. You’ve all been so welcoming and I’m proud to say I live in this town. This one’s from my latest album. And it definitely won't be an Illusion. Hit it!” While Airwave was rocking the song. Sparkler momentarily forgot about her own panic as she moved to the beat, the beat she helped create for the song. Ok, Not to toot my own horn, but maybe I do deserve the title of Master Mixer. “You did a good job mixing this one Sparkler.” Sparkler heard Lyrica say. She turned to find Lyrica dancing right next to her. “You really are a master mixer.” Sparkler chuckled. “Thanks. It’s what I do.” After a moment, the song hit its last note and the song came to an end. The result was the crowd going wild and Airwave waving to the audience. “Thank you Ponyville! You’ve been a terrific audience! Enjoy the rest of the show, and stay cool!” The crowd continued to cheer as Airwave trotted off the stage. Lyrica immediately moved to his side and pecked him on the cheek. “Another flawless performance Wavy.” Airwave chuckled. “Let’s not forget the mare behind the music.” He turned to Sparkler. “That song came out beautifully Sparkler, thank you so much for your help.” Sparkler smiled and nodded. “It should be me thanking you for giving me the chance of a lifetime.” The three of them chuckled as Vinyl trotted passed them and back onto the stage. “Let’s hear it for Airwave everypony!” The crowd cheered and Vinyl continued. “Right. Let’s bring out our next act. This one I was a little shocked to see on the sign up sheet, but he says he’s worthy of being in the line up so we’ll just have to see. Hailing from whatever chaotic dimension he lives in, give it up for the Lord of Chaos himself, DISCORD!” The crowd clapped...cautiously as Discord slivered past an exiting Vinyl and onto the stage. He sprang up and smiled at the crowd. “Hello everypony! It is I, the Lord of Chaos himself! Now, I know what you’re all wondering. ‘Why is Discord up here? Can he really sing?’ The answer is, yes. Yes I can. And tonight. I’m here to serenade a very special somepony who I’ve grown to care for more than a friend.” He snapped his fingers and a guitar appeared in front of him, as well as a floating arrow sign, the sign flew into the crowd, and stopped when it reached... “Fluttershy! This one’s for you. Straight from my heart!” He strummed the first notes and started playing. As did Discord on the keyboard and Discord on the drums. Fluttershy’s eyes widened when the arrow pointed towards her. “Discord has feelings for me?!” Rainbow chuckled beside her and nodded. “Sure sounds like it. Way to go ‘Shy.” Fluttershy blushed like mad as she continued to listen to Discord’s song. Backstage, Sparkler had been listening for a few verses, but then she stopped as her mind began to spiral. This is it. It’s time. Run! Run while you can! You really think they’ll accept you? They won’t! They accepted Twilight. Because she’s a princess. She could have them all executed if she really wanted to. Sparkler’s breathing quickened as the voice in her head continued. They’ll just laugh at you. All of them. Just like they did in Saddle Arabia. You walk out on that stage and you will have ruined your life. Sparkler shook her head. “No. They won’t. I have to believe they won’t.” The voice in her head didn’t respond, instead, she just heard taunting laughter. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to tune it out, but it was loud and clear. Hahaha. Does the horned chicken want some seeds? Here’re you eggs back you overgrown chicken. They’re stale anyway. Images of being pelted with eggs played in Sparkler’s mind. Taunting her. Go back to the farm. That is, if you can even fit in the coup. Sparkler shook her head as her closed eyes began to glisten as the laughter continued, Sparkler started backing up. “Stop it.” The other performers had heard that and turned to see the state Sparkler was in. Airwave raised an eyebrow as he started to approach Sparkler. “Sparkler? You ok?” Sparkler shook her head, but made no indication that she heard him over the taunting laughter in her head. “No. Stop it. Please.” At that moment, the song came to an end, and a minute later, Discord had apparently flown off to sit with Fluttershy. Vinyl stepped out on stage. “Wow. Let’s hear it for discord everypony, and let’s also give a round of applause for the new couple.” The crowd cheered and applauded towards Discord and Fluttershy. Vinyl nodded and continued. “Now. This next performer is a first-timer here at the Festival...” While Vinyl talked, Sparkler had backed against the wall and to the outside observer, she looked like she was taking cover from something. “No. Stop laughing.” Airwave looked to his friend with concern and got on his haunches next to her. “Sparkler, nopony is laughing. Sparkler didn’t seem to hear him. Hearing instead the laughter, and the sound of egg shells. She shook her head. “No! Not the eggs! Anything but the eggs!” That was it. She couldn’t take it anymore. With a quick flash of her horn, Sparkler vanished. Leaving Airwave to cough out the smoke she left behind. Airwave looked to where Sparkler had been, and sighed. “Consarn it.” Lyrica approached him. “What happened to Sparkler?” Airwave stood up. “She had a panic attack and bailed.” He turned to walk out to let Vinyl know. On stage. “So, let’s give a warm Ponyville Welcome to our Resident Bugbear exterminator, the queen behind the beats. Sparkle—“ That was as far as she got before she saw Airwave rush to her and whisper something in her ear. She listened, and her eyes widened in absolute shock. “She bailed?!” She exclaimed. She heard her voice boom over the speakers and turned to see the crowd staring at her in confusion. She smiled nervously and cleared her throat. “Uhm. Intermission!” She quickly grabbed Airwave and hurried off the stage with him. From their position on the light strings. Flappy sat there with his beak open and eyes widened. “Squawk! No. Not again! Squawk!” Mina raised an eyebrow. “Again Flappy?” Flappy realized he said that out loud and shook his head. “Squawk! I’ll be back. Squawk!” With that, he launched into the air and turned for town. Leaving behind a very confused Mina. To be continued...