As Maestro, Trixie, and Prism travelled towards Hoofington, Maestro couldn’t help but feel that somebody was following them. He looked back a few times, but nobody was ever there. This concerned Trixie, and she voiced as much. “Maestro, you’re looking back as if you think somebody’s following us. I know you’re famous and all, but nopony saw you come into town, right? You should be fine!”
Maestro wanted to believe her, but he just couldn’t shake the feeling. They reached Hoofington with little trouble, splitting up soon after they arrived. Trixie went to check in with the manager of the stage shows in town, while Maestro went on with Prism. The feeling did subside a bit, so maybe he had been a bit paranoid after all. He set his portfolio on the ground, and transformed it into his store. He went in, grabbed the props for Trixie, and came back out. He looked sternly at Prism. “Keep watch on the store. Don’t let anyone in until I return.” She nodded, and Maestro went off to give the props back to Trixie.
On his way, the feeling of being followed returned heavier than before. Somebody was there- he was sure of it. Yet, he didn’t know who would follow him quite like this. None of the paparazzi were this sneaky- they were more in his face, and bombastic. He tried to push down the feeling, and soon reached the stage where Trixie had set her wagon near. He approached, and handed over the props to her. “There you go. Pristine as the moment I acquired them from you.”
As Trixie started putting them away, one of the ponies working on the stage took notice. “Miss Lulamoon, you know Maestro Spectrum? Why didn’t you mention this sooner?”
Though a bit taken aback and nervous, Trixie kept herself together. “Well, he’s a friend. I didn’t want anypony getting the wrong idea.” She saved herself with that, and was dismissed until her curtain call later in the night.
She locked up her wagon, and was about to thank Maestro when a blur of burgundy yellow crashed between the two, scorching the ground a bit in the process. Her purple eyes were full of anger and desire, and her sunset orange mane and tail had an almost eerie look accentuated by the cinders that rose from the ground. Her Cutie Mark of a stylized sun with blocky rays of light coming off it was visible before her wings folded to cover it. She glared at Trixie angrily. “You stay away from Maestro! He’s mine!”
Maestro stared at the pegasus mare incredulously. “Um, who are you?”
The mare turned, blinking at the speaker before her eyes widened. She stumbled over herself a bit in her shock. “Maestro Spectrum! Wait, no that’s you! Um, hi! I’m a big fan, like the biggest! Wait, you were asking for my name, how silly of me!” She slapped herself lightly on the forehead with a wing, putting it to her side afterward. “I’m Brilliant Dawn, the most efficient weather captain this side of everywhere! I know how to best make it sunny every day, all day!”
Maestro looked at this mare, regarding her carefully. She was sneaky, a pegasus, had a talent for “sunny days” apparently, and if her demeanor was anything to go by, a bit bookish. He had an idea of what she wanted, but he had to make sure, just in case. “Right. So, why were you following my friend, my daughter, and I? It can’t have been to just say hello.”
A bit stunned, Brilliant turned a bit sheepish as one of her hooves circled in the dirt. “Um, well… y’see I… How do I…?” A blush started to grow on her face as her words became mutterings. “I was wondrinifmbyy’dgoutwit…”
Though Maestro had little experience with these things, he knew the signs. He sighed. “No.” Her eyes widened at this, and she looked like she was about to cry- But Maestro held up a hoof and continued to explain. “Really, I’m flattered that you like me. But… I just don’t have time for a relationship of that sort. I travel quite often, and I hardly do much outside of work on my art. You’d be better off with someone that has time for that sort of thing.”
Brilliant’s face was in shock for a moment. Maestro knew how she felt about him, and had just told her no. While his reasoning was sound, brilliant wasn’t one to give up that easily. Mustering her courage, she asked him one more time. “I-i know that you said you’re busy, b-but I just want one date! Tonight, I could accompany you to your friend’s show! O-or…. Maybe just a small dinner. Just give me this one, and I’ll leave you be.”
Having not expected that, Maestro blinked, then smirked. It took guts for her to do that, and that was something he could admire. Maybe just one date wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Shrugging his shoulders, he relented. “Fine, one. Dinner, and then we’ll go to Trixie’s show. If nothing comes of it, we part as friends. Alright?”
Gasping with excitement, Brilliant nodded her head rapidly. “Gotcha! I just need to go get ready!” in the blink of an eye, Brilliant Dawn was out of sight.
At that, Maestro shook his head. “What have I gotten myself into…?” He smiled at Trixie. “I’ll see you at the show tonight, alright?” Maestro then went off back to where he set down his house, glad to see Prism had kept to her promise. The line outside was rather long, so when he approached the door, he spoke to the customers. “Sorry about the wait. I was taking care of something.” He then went inside with his daughter, made a few preparations, and then opened the doors for business. The atmosphere of his shop never failed to take his mind off troubling thoughts, or in this case- stressful ones. He’d never been on a date before, but he couldn’t call it off- that’d be rude. He would focus on that later, though- for now, his customers were top priority.
Time flew, and Maestro had to get the customers out of his shop so he could get ready for the date. Prism saw him getting ready and complimented him. “Looking good, pops! So, who’s the lucky lady?”
At that, Maestro rolled his eyes. “It’s just a prospective, alright? A fan who just wanted a single date. I was originally against it- but she just wanted the one, so I see no harm in it.” He adjusted the collar on his midnight blue tux he had on, and straightened his mane a bit. “After this date is over, it’ll probably go nowhere anyway- She’s a fan. Probably wants me for my money.” He sighed. “Oh well. C’est la ville.” There was then a knock at the door. Maestro went to it, calm and confident- though he was a bit jitterish. He took a breath, and opened the door. Brilliant was at the doorstep, now in a simple black dress. Her mane was tied back in a bun, and she had light makeup to accentuate her features. Maestro blinked. There was no doubt that she looked stunning- but that was all there was. There was something missing. Maestro shook his head, and went out. He gestured to a restaurant, and spoke. “Shall we?”
Brilliant nodded, and the two went for dinner. They chatted a bit, and made small talk during the meal, but Maestro wasn’t invested. The more time he spent on this date, the more he felt as if he was doing something wrong. Brilliant was a nice mare, sure… but there was something wrong here. When they got to Trixie’s show, Trixie’s entrance drew Maestro’s attention. She announced herself, much like last time, but something was different about her when she came onto that stage. Maestro had always known that Trixie had talent- but then he saw it. There was a bolder confidence and power to her than before. He was lost in his enthusiasm for her show, so much so that he didn’t notice the look on Brilliant’s face.
The moment lasted as he cheered Trixie on with each trick, but he was honestly surprised he was being so enthusiastic. He hadn’t been this vocal during her first show. The feeling ended when her show did, and Maestro turned to Brilliant- only to find that she wasn’t there. He went after her, calling her name- and he soon found her. He called out. “Brilliant! There you are! I was worried, you know.”
He started to approach, but he stopped when she addressed him. “You don’t like me, do you? I’m not your girl.”
He gently laid a hoof on her, a strained look on his face. “Listen, Bril. I do like you- just not like that. It’s not you- it’s me.” He lifted his hoof away, then smiled lightly “Though, I must thank you. I never had considered myself on the table for the dating scene because of how busy I was- but now, with this first one out of the way, I think I might actually try and make time for this sort of thing. So no moping.” He lifted her chin. “I may not be the one to love you for who you are- but I promise you, you will find him. Just gotta keep looking. Alright?” she nodded, and Maestro smiled. “Knock their socks off, okay? And remember- I’ll always have advice if you need it.” For the second and last time that day, Brilliant Dawn flew off. Maestro however, had his own thoughts to sort out. Today had been long- so he opted to go to sleep on all that had happened that day.