//------------------------------// // Meeting in the Dark // Story: Pony of the Theater // by Arondight2016 //------------------------------// As the ponies started to leave the Opera, Gale and Angel giggled with glee as they went to their beds. It had been a long day and their conversations would reach at a certain level. "I cannot believe that momma would hire us." "I cannot believe that I was able to perform." "Well, even if we can't work here permanently, we'll do our best." "Why?  Wouldn't mother allow you to work at the Opera all the time?" "She would, but since Father wouldn't let me stay with momma full time, it wouldn't work well with me here and school." "True." Gale smiles at her friend, but glanced outside, trying to ponder at a particular matter: The Theater Phantom. "Hey. Is something wrong?" "Hm? Oh, no. Nothing's wrong." she lied, "I'm just tired, that's all. Hey, would it be alright if I took a walk around the block? I would like to get some fresh air." "Just be careful." Angel warned, "there had been several bad ponies all around the area who would take any pony defenseless." "I will." As she walked near the area for some fresh air, Gale couldn't stop thinking about the Theater Phantom. Though she hasn't met him before,  it would be interesting to see this mysterious creature in real life. While walking, Gale noticed lights inside the opera. "Is Ms Melody working late hours at this hour? I must go and see for myself." She starts to walk towards the back entrance of the Opera house, checking to see what's going on. Little did she know at the exact time, when Gale entered inside, Melody Tune was leaving. She had locked up for good and walked towards her home. Though it was scary for a pony to be out at night without any supervision, Gale knew that she had to know no matter what the case may be. However, when she was close to the theater stage as before, she started to hear a voice that was different... and deeper than Melody's. "Insolent mare, Miss Slave of Fashion, basking in her glory. Ignorant fool, that brave young suitor, sharing in her triumph." Though she never believed of seeing an angel in her existence, Gale started to walk slowly towards the stage, without scaring this unfamiliar voice. "Wandering love you shall know me. See why in shadows I hide..." When Gale could get a peek towards the stallion, it was nothing she ever did see. He was a tall Pegasus with a cape which covered his scars. "Look at your face in the mirror. I am there inside!" When she was full view, she could tell in his face, lonely eyes. However, she couldn't tell if he was wearing a mask which may have covered his left side of the face due to his mane covered his side. As she continued studying the pony in question, Gale started to feel a bit of an asthma attack. She stared to stay still, but the attack took hold of her strongly. She started to fall towards the ground and passed out. Hours passed, she rose up, noticing that she was in a different room. All around her was several paintings of sceneries, ponies from the cast and music drafts which had been created before. Though she would've continued viewing, hooves were coming near her area. She pretended to fall back to sleep, but heard commotion from two different ponies. One voice sounded as a young stallion who was calm and gentle, while the second was as an adult stallion stern in his tone. "What brings her here in this dark hour?" "She was here to find Ms Melody. Why else would she be there while I was practicing." "Which I still don't understand why you need to practice anyways? You have been forbidden to perform in the theater." "I might have a chance if I work so hard." "And even if you did, what would the other ponies say to you due to your appearance?" "Well, I-" "The reason's why I allow you to practice was for you to get your inspiration forward. You haven't written an inspired work ever since that last performance." "It's hard to think of one, alright. I can't get a single one to work." "Is it because of her?" No response came from the young stallion. Gale couldn't believe her ears: a mare inside the Opera is either preventing this stallion creating scripts or is inspiring him to be an actor. "She should not be here. When she awakes, make sure she returns home at once." "But Master-" "That is an order. Don't you dare disobey me, is that clear?" In fear, he shook dreadfully. The pony in question knew what would happen if he did disobey. In defeat, he sighed deeply as he stared at the floor. "Yes sir..." "Good. Now, I'll return in the morning." The elder voice starts to leave as the young voice is walking towards his desk containing wood figurines he has created and attempt to get an inspired idea. Without him looking, Gale slowly started to rise and walk towards the exit, but when she turned aside, the pony disappeared. Suddenly, when she faced forward, the stallion in question stood in front of her. "It seems like you recovered." he responded with a straight face. "Y-yes. You see... I'm so sorry." "For what?" "For being such a burden to you." The pony glanced towards her confused as she starts to cry. "Why would you be a burden to me?" "B-because... I'm interfering with the most powerful pony in the theater." "Oh no, it's fine. I was trying to think of an inspiration." "Inspiration, sir?" "Yes, you see. What you were witnessing was just a simple work of my masterpiece I was trying to create, but I can't seem to get things right." "What's wrong with the script you were working on?" "Well, I'm not allow to show you, since Master would be furious if I let someone look at my work without his permission, but I haven't written it down yet. So, I can tell you." "Okay." "The story goes where a young princess has sung a song to her handsome prince, but the sister of the princess wants him for herself. When she does, she glanced at the mirror, seeing if the prince will see her on the other side of the mirror." "I don't think that the prince and princess would work well as a story concept." "Then what would?" Gale thought for a moment, until an idea appeared in her head. "Why not have a ballerina with a voice of an angel attracts a handsome suitor with her voice, but she also has a heart for another stallion: who taught her the concept of music. However, as she meets the teacher of music, she must choose which one shall she decides?" The pony thought about the concept. "You know, it may work. However, the stallion in question has a mysterious past which may effect his comrades through his life." "I can see it work." While he grabbed his papers to work his magic, Gale glanced at the figurines. They were little versions of the ponies working at the Opera Theater. However, out of all the ponies available, there was not one for her or Angel. "Is something wrong?" he asked as he stopped writing. "It's just- I don't see me or my friend Angel here." "Oh, well. I was working on them. They're right over there." She walked towards the workshop of where two ponies in wood were standing there. As he told her, there were two ponies still unfinished: Angel who was in the middle of being cut and herself who was waiting to be painted. While she was amazed at his work, he noticed something wasn't right. "I may need help. Would you come with me?" "Sure." He held out his hoof towards her. With her acceptance, the two ponies returned towards the stage from before. "Let's see. The scene shows where the ballerina would be able to perform her talent towards the crowd, but the suitor which will glance at a distance will feel the thought at first sight. He walks towards his lover and ask for dinner, but she refuses. Suddenly, as the night starts to dim, the mysterious pony would appear and ask if he can train her talent." "What seems to be a problem with that?" "I guess I don't understand if she should accept it or not." "Well, if he claims to be her angel that her father would tell her from his deathbed, then she would accept his request." "I might see that." While he started to write, Gale noticed the time by the window. "Oh dear." "What?" "It's been late. Ms Melody would be worried so much if I don't return." "Very well. Would you like to help me with this? Tomorrow at least?" "I don't know. I do have work tomorrow." "I can see you during my breaks!" "What about your Master or Ms. Melody?" "Let's meet at the roof of the theater." "Perfect! See you then." As she started to leave, but stopped dead in her tracks. "Thank you, monsieur." "Farewell, madam." With a smile on her face, she walked at the same direction she entered and left for the night. From what the two didn't know, their unexpected meeting at night would spark a beautiful friendship.