//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9: A 'Press'ing matter 
// Story: Silver Hooves; Life in Ponyville 
// by FlyinKitsky 
//------------------------------//

“Right, everypony, we’ve been assigned with the task of making this event great, so I want you all to put your very best into it, alright?” Presspass shouted to the few hundred or so ponies who he’d be working with the next few days. He couldn’t believe his luck, what better way to make an article on this whole thing than to be one of the ponies who made it happen? The other ponies cheered, and rushed off to where they’d be working. Press smiled. He was going to try to make this the greatest Talent Concert the entirety of equestrian has ever seen. Then he’d have the perfect article too.

It was a first for the entirety of Ponyville. Usually, talent contests were held on a small scale, for fillies and colts. But this year, everypony had agreed to one huge contest for all. That being said, it was all for fun really, but some may take it seriously, and because of this the prize winner would get a grand room in one of the fanciest hotels in Canterlot for a whole week. Press had heard about it, and eager as ever to get the best for the Trotter, he leapt at the chance to be one of the ponies to organize the whole event. He’d know every detail, perfect for any kind of article he’d write. Of course, he wanted the best concert too, but his work meant a lot to him. He began trotting around with his notepad, taking notes as to what everypony who had volunteered was doing, making suggestions and occasionally giving orders. The first, and biggest task, was constructing the venue. They had little over a week to create the entire thing, and ponies from all over Equestria had volunteered to make the task easier. Earth ponies carried the heavy duty materials around, pegasi flew around, working on the higher up construction, while the unicorns helped with their magic to slowly but surely create what would be a large stage. 

As the day went on and flowed into the next, Press slowly  became more and more stressed. The whole stage had taken longer than they had expected and because of that he was behind schedule. As Silver arrived on the scene to offer to help out, she watched, half worried, half amused, as he ran around willy nilly, setting tasks here and there in a desperate attempt to claw back time.

“Woah woah woah, Press, what in Celestia are you doing?”  She asked when she finally caught him.

“W-we’re behind... Need to finish the props for today... start decorations tomorrow” He panted as a sort of reply.

“You do realise that its all for fun, and doesn’t need to be-“ Before she could finish he’d rushed off again. Sighing, she picked up the equipment she’d brought and walked off in the direction of rehearsals.  Hopefully, he wouldn’t work himself to hard, she thought to herself.

Press carried on in his rushed manner, helping some of the earth ponies with moving props around, arguing with a few as they took the whole thing light-heartedly. It seemed everypony was doing the same, not really trying hard. Press was the only one panicking. He grumbled and rushed off to the next job, much to the bemusement of the ponies as they took a lunch break. As he arrived, he almost shouted in frustration as the materials he needed had not arrived. A grey, cross-eyed pegasis had offered to deliver them but it seems she may have gone the wrong way. Press spent the rest of the day dashing around, gathering up what he could for what would be the entrance.
Another few days passed, and the project was finally on schedule and nearly finished, but Press was still in a state of overwork. He’d spent the whole night at one point making sure everything was perfect. Silver and Cherry had arrived to finish up and try and talk to Press. They pushed him away from the site, much to his dismay, and sat him down at a local café.

“What in the world is making you so stressed, Press?” Cherry asked, looking rather worried. The same look was on Silv’s face.

“I just want everything to be perfect... It has to be... If it isn’t then...”

“Look, just relax. The concert isn’t meant to be Canterlot standard. The whole point of it was to be a community project for fun, and you’re acting like it’s the Grand Galloping Gala!” Silver reasoned.

“I don’t... If I made it as perfect as possible... Everypony in Equestria would come... Not only would that make it so special... I’d have the perfect article... and the perfect event for my friends” He sighed, looking up at the two of them with a glint in his eye.

“Awe... Look, Press, it doesn’t have to be perfect for that... I’ve read the Trotter, your articles are perfect as it is... As for everypony coming, that’s just crazy. We all just want a good time, and for you to have a good time.” Silver replied, feeling rather ashamed for not helping him.

“Press, you got all worked up because of the pressure, don’t worry about it. Me and Silver will help you finish up, then we’ll go down to Aloe’s spa and just relax, okay? I’m sure the mayor will have a reward for such a hard working pony too~” Chimed Cherry. Press smiled and agreed. They spent the rest of the day working as a team, chatting and laughing as they worked, relaxing after. Press pulled out his notepad, and scribbled out some of the notes he’d put before. In a mind map he’d made, he removed the word perfect with the word he should’ve done it for all along. “Fun”.