//------------------------------// // Act 4: Pride and Performance // Story: Friendship is Failure #5: Pride and Punishment // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// ACT FOUR The big night came, the stage was already prepped and ready, and the cast had already gone over their lines. As for the audience, they arrived as planned and made their donations, but as they were instructed, they hid will out of sight within the fields, but they could still see and hear everything that was about to happen. Applejack and her family were invited to do some stage work, and Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were taking donations. “Wow, we’ve risen so much already!” cried Pinkie as she showed Twilight the balance, and she was surprised, “Some pony pledged one-thousand bits?!” Everyone huddled around to see. That one donation alone was enough to help many starving ponies, but whoever it was didn’t leave their name. “Whoever did this must be the most generous pony ever.” said Fluttershy. Soon with was time for everyone to take their places for the play to begin. “Oh, the stars look so elegant!” Rarity cried as she gazed at the actors in all the beautiful outfits she had made for them. “Just one thing though…” Applejack pointed out, “What are we gonna do about the main star. Ya know, you-know-who?” “Oh, he’ll be here.” said Spike “Rainbow Dash and Ath-Lita have that covered.”   Talon-Ted was just coming home after a long day at work, especially covering two shifts. “What a day!” he groaned “It’s great to be home again.” He also noticed that Ponyville seemed to be rather quiet for this time of the night. “Where is every-pony?” he wondered. Suddenly, he was tapped from behind with a baseball bat and knocked unconscious, and then he was placed in a burlap sack by Rainbow Dash. “Did you really have to hit him so hard?” Rainbow asked. “Oh, it was just a little tap. He’ll be fine.” said Lita “Just go, get him to the show. I’ll see you there.”   Rainbow took off, and soon she was at the grounds. The play had already started, just as Talon began to awaken. “What’s going on!” he thundered. “Shh!” snapped Twilight “It’s a play rehearsal; their doing The Phantom of the Stage.” Hearing the name of the play did spark his interest, slightly. “Wait a minute! What’s all this about?” That’s when some of the actors who weren’t on stage approached him. Some of which Talon remembered form acting school… “Curtain Call…! Spot Light…! Star glow?” His former classmates nodded at him, and expressed their apologies. “We’re rehearsing for our big production for Canterlot Players, but our lead performer called in ill.” “We were hoping at least you could take his place, just for tonight.” “We’re sure he’ll be well to help us by then, but we do want to practice tonight. Please… please Talon. You’re the only one who can help us.” The others agreed, and insisted he do it. Talon never felt so irritated in his life. “You just never give up, do you?” he said. “Fine…! I’ll do this, just this once, since this isn’t some big show or anything.” Everyone was overjoyed, and soon Talon was dressed up and performing on stage with them all. The best part of the show was when he sang the show’s most special song, “Music of the Night.”     That song was so touching, many of the ponies cried softly. By the end of the show, there was a loud noise that sounded like wind over the fields, only, it wasn’t the wind at all, but the sound of an applauding audience that came rushing over the hills, praising the cast for a stupendous performance, especially towards Talon-Ted. Many were even throwing roses at him, some even threw money, and the best of it all was some ponies, whom were agents and producers that’s Twilight had personally invited. Many of them gave Talon many offers to consider. “You’re the most talented Pony we’ve ever heard.” “Please come and star in our movie.” “We’re looking for a star. You’d be perfect.” Talon seemed rather excited, but he still acted uncertain if whether or not he should take any of them. “Oh, come on!” snarled Ath-Lita “How can you not accept, after everything every-pony has seen you become.” Twilight and her gang agreed as well. “The reason is simple…” Some-pony said. Everyone turned and saw someone standing in the shadows by the curtain, “Because he’s not who you think he is.” The pony said, and he stepped forth revealing himself to be Talon-Ted. Everyone gasped, and the crowds and producers were in shock! That’s when the other pony removed a latex mask to reveal himself as a pony named Spotlight. He was another classmate from acting school and an aspiring actor. He had great talent, but sadly he was rejected from the school as the professors felt he didn’t meet their standards and expectations. Talon knew he was very talented, and decided to help him get some well-deserved recognition and payback. So he paid him to help him in his scheme, and paid a makeup artist to make him look just like Talon. Spotlight was easily able to fool everyone with his vocal talents, and Talon had coached him on just what to say. Many of the ponies were now outraged! “I can’t believe you!” said Twilight “You tricked us!” added Rarity. “Kind of like the way you all tried to trick me I suppose!” sneered Talon. Everyone fell silent. Talon did not let it slide that he learned this from Coin Case as he was trying to protect a friend. “I don’t get it!” said Lita “How… why would you do all this, after everything we tried to do for you. I care for you, and I wanted you to be happy!” Talon glared at his sister. “You wanted…” he said in a deep dark voice “You wanted… it was always about what YOU wanted. That’s exactly why I did this, Ath-Lita, to finally stand up to you and all the rest of the bigots and ignoramus from controlling the industry of acting!" More gasps followed and many felt insulted. Pinkie Pie tried to break up the squabble “Aw, come on. There’s no need to be angry. We’re all friends here.” But this only earned her a fierce snarl from Talon. “Or, maybe not…!” Pinkie whimpered as she slithered sheepishly away. Talon then narrowed his eyes at his sister, “I’m angry that none of you listen to me! You claim to be helping me, but are so incredibly selfish! I wanted to do things my way- MY way-- not yours…! I was already skilled and talented without the degree, and I could’ve been just as successful without it too. l could have proved there’s more than one way to get the job done, and give others who struggle more home. Who knows, maybe I could have been a pioneer and improved the acting industry... ...More actors could be born simply by being given the right chances and a fair play at a shot, instead of having to always do it the way others tell them too. But noooooo… It always had to be what YOU wanted, what made YOU happy! And if I refused to go along with you, you beat me senselessly with your sporting gear." Many gasps were heard, and eyes were focusing on Ath-Lita. Someone in the audience then recognized her. "I remember you now... you're that angry pony from grade school who pushed me in the mud because I didn't pass you the basketball, even though we won the game." Another pony recognized her, "I was delayed in helping you seek out a sports team to join, and you threateningly pointed a baseball at me, forcing me to change my entire schedule." Even Twilight and friends were horrified to hear this, especially the way Ath-Lita began to tremble with worry and fear, further incriminating herself. "You're nothing but a low-down blackmailing bully, sis-- caring for no one's satisfaction but your own. People either have to do as YOU tell them, or they get beat up, and even when they tried their hardest, you still threw a tantrum like a wild pony and got your bat, and beat them up! You claimed you were trying to help me get my dream job out of concern, when really you were only thinking about how it would affect your own public image and your own satisfaction! You're not showing love and care, you're showing selfishness, mental instability as well as a lust for power and control! While admittedly, I showed a little of it myself, but I had an excuse far greater than an overbearing bully like you would ever understand! I was trying to stand for Freedom and Rights, while you were opposed to this like some kind of war dictating sadist!" Ath-Lita finally snapped, and she began to charge at her brother roaring like a maniac, "I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!!" and she really looked ready to tackle him to the ground and lay waste to him... had Twilight not levitated her up high. "ENOUGH!!" she thundered. Finally fed up with Ath-Lita's true colors. Still, everyone was just as mad at Talon for his own attitude. “We were trying to help you see the fault of your ways." insisted Rainbow. "You had so many great opportunities, and you could have made your life better, but you were missing out on!” Talon looked ready to flip out as well. "Weren't you listening to anything I just said? Oh, of course you weren't, because you're just as bigoted and as stupid as the rest." More gasps followed. One of the producers tried to explain to Talon, “Sir, we did ask for you to join us, but you rejected every single time and why… simply because you have a degree in dramatic arts. I’d say it is you whom is selfish.” "Aha!" snapped Talon "Further proof and perfect illustration of my point." The producer stammered and tried to come up with an excuse. "Well... er... it's just-- It's just the way it's been! We prefer to seek Talented Poneis with Degrees as proof of their gifts and skills. They are the ones truly deserving!" “But wait a moment…" protested Spotlight "I don’t have a degree. I don’t have any fancy training, and yet just a moment ago you were amazed by my skills and talents, which you judged by actually viewing, and you were willing to give me the chances you never gave Talon. Matter of fact, I tried to audition, but just like Talon, I was denied even a chance because I had no degree. If you know I had no degree, you would've just kicked me out into, just like you did Talon many times.” The judge and producers, finally exposed as the bigoted scoundrels they were, felt every eye in the field squarely focused on the. "What?!" snapped the judge "It's simple common sense." "No sir..." insisted Twilight. She finally began to see Talon's point of view. "What you imply is neither common sense or good judgment, especially when you don't give ponies a chance. Every-pony deserves a fair shot, regardless of who you think does or doesn't." Many ponies in the crowd cheered her on for that, and Talon felt very pleased. “Looks like I proved my point.” said Talon “I never needed any silly degree. Talent isn’t written on a piece of paper, it’s what you have inside that counts. All I needed and wanted was a chance, and I never got it because you were all too formal and too pushy. It always had to be done your way. I wanted to be an actor WITHOUT getting a degree, and without fancy training. I wanted to prove there were other ways to get there, but because you all forced me against my pride, and made me get a degree... what else was I supposed to do? I HAD to reject offers when I got it, or I would’ve become a hypocrite, a laughing-stock. I’d have become the very thing I was scoffing at! Nobody wants a reputation or thoughts like that plaguing them. Would you like it people talked like that about YOU behind your back?” Now feeling convinced, Talon walked off, but Ath-Lita was still really upset, “So you’re saying you want to keep being a burden all your life huh? Fine, see if I care. I don’t want any part of your sloth and misery anymore…You selfish loser!” Talon stopped dead in his tracks. This was the last straw! His sister refused to listen to anything that was said to her, so he knew exactly what to tell her, “You call me "Slothful?" Why just because I don't get the job you want me to have? Even though I had job that did help the community and I still paid bills and taxes. I did try to become an actor, but nobody gave me the chance out of bigotry, and you have the gall, the absolute nerve to call me "A Sloth." No, Ath-lita, you're just proving that it's YOU who's the selfish loser, not me." The others realized that was true. His job, as small as it was seemed pretty useful to help parcels and shipments make it to their destinations. Talon then continued, "You think a selfish pony would donate one-thousand bits to a charity like yours?" Everyone gasped again. “Talon donated the money?” asked Fluttershy. “That’s right,” replied Talon “And that money came from my work at the loading dock, not from my cash settlement. True, I donated the money as part of spite for my sister and to help expose the bigotry in the industry, but what difference does it make. the whole point of a charity is to get money, not to judge the doner for their lifestyle! But I guess that's just not good enough for you. To you, I'm just selfish, slothful, and a burden, and it's all because you can't stand it when others don't do things your way worse than I ever do. You’re going to have a long time to think about that, Lita, but while you're at it... think about what else is coming your way.” he motioned at all the angry ponies who were glaring furiously at her; now seeing her for the disgusting, heartless, bullying criminal she really was. Even Twilight herself was not willing to let her off the hook.