//------------------------------// // Confidence is Key // Story: Stay with Me, Inspiration! // by FerociousCreation //------------------------------// Steam from my bathroom flushed out of the doorframe as entered into the hallway, pretending I was walking through smoke and strutting down a stage. My only audience member, my mother, took a simple glance at me before returning to her papers. Then she had to do a double-take. “Songbird Serenade!” Mother exclaimed. “You look wonderful!” “Well, I need to be ready for today’s performance,” I said as I pranced back to my room. “And I’ve got to look my best if I want to perform my best. Confidence is key.” Yes, the day to perform my poem had finally come. All week, Feather and I managed to sit down whenever we had time to help fix my musical notes. On the occasion, while he moved around a few notes, I looked over his song to see if the lyrics made sense. Of course, it was just as wonderful as every creation Feather had made and I could not find anything wrong with it no matter how many times I looked it over. To top off the wonderful Friday, Feather said he would play the piano for me while I sang. I hugged him when he offered to play along with me, but that only made him fall over again. Maybe my unicorn magic affected Feather alone. I hummed to the tune of my song as I stepped in front of a tall mirror. No more was I in that hot bathroom and, instead, in a much cooler atmosphere. My mane and tail was done in a square-like pattern and I almost laughed at myself for looking like a checkerboard. However, it only looked that way because of my natural hair color. The idea of being more square came from my mom’s old disco magazine issues I managed to sneak away. When mom was younger, she and the other ponies had a style of mane that was more frizzy and jagged. But instead of making myself look like I had been electrocuted, I wanted to be more blocky. More even. Even though my mane was thick and nopony would ever get to see my eyes, I was able to see just fine. The lowest hanging part of my hair almost blocked out the whites in my eyes, but it still wasn't fully grown to the preferred length. Unfortunately, my unicorn magic worked on Feather Wand and not on faster hair growth. I fanned out my wings and gave myself a little spin around, making sure my coat was spotless. But I still felt plain. Something was missing. My mane was obviously in great condition and I smelled like sweet pink roses. But what could compliment my simple cream and black color pallet? I sat down and rubbed my face, thinking about what to add. A hair clip with a flower? A necklace? A bracelet? I breathed through my nose in hopes an idea might stick and doesn’t end up a booger. Gross… The only thing I smelled was the same rose scent that clung to my fur. A possible poem idea did enter my brain and I wondered if trying to find an accessory might be something somepony would read. I thought against it but archived it in the back of my head in case something of it might come up. All I could think about was the sweet smell of roses. Sweet pink roses. Pink roses… Pink! I ran over to my dresser and almost pulled my drawer all the way out. An old bow my mother tried to force me to wear when I was a little filly rested at the bottom. It still held itself together and the pink didn’t seem to fade in the slightest. I walked back to the mirror to fuss with it a little before finally getting it into my thick mane. There I was. A star that reflected back at me. Nothing could weigh down the smile I held. I was ready for the day. My mother’s reflection entered from behind and froze at the entrance of my door. I turned around and fluffed my bow. “It still fits,” I said. Mother’s eyes began to water. “It looks great on you, Birdy.” *** “Wow, Songbird,” Feather Wand said with a slack jaw. “Y-you… are… did you… have-” “And you look handsome,” I finished for him. The poor stallion was unable to still himself because his bundle of rose smelling inspiration stood before him. It was hard to contain myself when I saw Feather all fancied up with his mane slicked back. “Are you ready for today?” Feather asked as he gestured me to walk alongside him. “Mmhmm,” I nodded, my checkered mane bouncing a little. The two of us walked down the hall, our normal talk absent. I couldn’t blame myself for behaving in such a way. It’s not every day somepony gets to walk with the one who inspires them, especially when that pony is beyond good looking. We entered our choir class quiet and steady. Several mares noticed my change in style and were quick to compliment me. It felt good to be showered with attention, boosting the confidence within myself; however, it didn’t change how nervous I was for being around Feather. I returned the favor and complemented those who took notice of me as well. One mare in particular, Four Eyes, was taken so far back when I told her the glasses she wore looked were cute, started crying! I wasn’t wrong! Her large rounded glasses gave her a very charming and attractive appearance. If me dressing up was going to cause every mare to cry, then perhaps letting out my inner unicorn had to be shown every so often. Feather Wand and the other stallions were not as dumbfounded as me and the other mares when it came to complimenting good looks. Some of his friends gave him slaps on the back, one even hung on Feather’s neck and almost ruined his mane. Four Eyes, the sweet thing, finished her crying and told me that she loves my singing and wants to have a proud voice like mine. I cautiously gave Four Eyes a pat on the shoulder as a way of saying thank you, but not too hard; I didn’t want her to explode with emotions again. I told Four Eyes to use those tears of hers during practice and cry to the heavens. Class began with Feather and I sitting next to each other as we awkwardly exchanged glances on the occasion. Thankfully, I had Four Eyes sit beside me as a means of escaping Feather’s handsome exterior. I still didn’t understand why, that despite how Feather and I had been friends for five days, I couldn’t get over my stupid girl feelings. Was I in love with him? The thought alone made my face hot. Four Eyes took notice of my flush and was worried I had a fever, but I reassured it was nothing more than lovely inspiration in my cheeks. I didn’t know what I was saying, but Four Eyes ate it up. Class began as it normally did with our instructor by doing the ritualistic mouth warming up exercise.Then our practice began. While I practiced along with everypony, I put forth a little more effort in my singing than I normally did. Part of me was excited to sing my song, while the other half wanted to, as Feather put it, “wow the other classmates.” I didn’t do it for attention, no. I did it because my voice inspired Feather and the others. And I wanted to give what they liked to hear. Too bad Feather and his charming inspiration was quite a distraction when we sang in class. I got carried away when we started to practice Wonderful Grace. It was one of the few vocal pieces that made me want to fly into the stratosphere. Tears ran down my face and made my music sheet wrinkle a bit. Four Eyes was there to hold my hoof as I cried, which further fueled my singing fury. Together, she and I sang in beautiful succession. Feather was kind enough ask Four Eyes and I if we were okay once we finished, and I told him we music got in our eyes. The period ended faster than I would have liked, but at least lunch was the consolation prize for making through another class session. Feather went off with his friends, while Four Eyes and I sat beside each other, talking my performance I planned to do during poetry club. “I will be honest, I am a bit nervous,” I admit to Four Eyes. My bangs protected my eyes from the world, but I knew my brows were at a worried bend. “Then don’t,” Four Eyes said. Too bad for her, the light-brown pegasus’ glasses couldn’t hide her eyes as well as my mane did. “Sorry, I am not good with advice.” Four Eyes’ ears did hide very well in her wavy blonde mane, but that only made how she felt more obvious. I bat a hoof at her, “It’s okay. But it is a good nervousness.” “Then… be nervous?” I tried my best not to be amused with Four Eyes’ unsure nature, but my giggles escaped me. “Hey, you want to have lunch with me?” I ask, comfortable I had befriended a pegasus I could trust. Too bad my question made her flush and Four Eyes began to cry again. I noted to ask Feather Wand how many ponies I wowed for another time. My unicorn magic needed to be suppressed somehow... *** Four Eyes managed to finish her lunch in the time it took me to take my first bite of my sub. My appetite was being evasive while my nervous attitude was on the assault. The long sandwich was very tasty looking and longed to be consumed. However, I just couldn’t eat it. “Are you okay?” Four Eyes asked. I lightly bit my lip. “Just a bit more nervous than I was before.” “Was my advice earlier not helping?” Four Eyes, despite her very sensitive nature, made me smile. “You are not the problem,” I reassured. My happy expression quickly lowered itself as I looked into the future. “It’s my song that I am worried about.” “I am most certain that it will sound amazing!” Four Eyes weakly beamed. Her shy smile was unstable, but I knew she was being genuine. However, my good friend corruption began to harden my heart and seeped its poison into my body. “But what if nopony likes my song?” Burdening my brown friend with questions was not my intention. If anything, I should be bottling it up so Four Eyes didn’t have to worry. I thought the old me hating my works was a part of the past. Then again, that was not even a week ago, so a sudden change of character may not be as instantaneous as I thought. “Do you like your song?” Four Eyes asked. “Yes,” I nodded. “But-” “Then you already proved yourself wrong.” I wasn’t sure why I was incorrect and I tilted my head. The pegasus fidgeted with her milk carton. “You said nopony would like your song, but you yourself do. So, you are somepony. That means somepony does like what you made already.” Four Eyes hunched down a notch. “I hope that might help in some way.” “I guess it is good to be wrong every once in awhile,” I smiled, cheered up by Four Eyes’ statement. However, my friend took it personally. “I’m sorry I was wrong…” “No, I meant me! You were right about somepony liking my poem and it was me all along.” Four Eyes straightened up. “Oh!” Then she sagged again, “Sorry for being wrong about being wrong…” I understood how much I inspired Four Eyes, but I wanted her to see me for me. “There is no need to be sorry or sad or scared. If you are worried about impressing me, don't. Just be you without the nervous part.” My words seemed to lift the sad furrow in her eyes. “I'll try. Being nervous is kind of a part of me. I wish I had your strong confidence.” “Not to put myself down, but I am not always confident,” I said. “Look at what I just did a second ago. I wasn’t sure if anypony would like my song, yet here you are, proving me wrong in the best way.” “But you really have nothing to worry about,” Four Eyes reassured. “I know you can stand up on stage and sing your heart out. I have seen it before.” “I understand, however-” Four Eyes held up a hoof and gave me a serious stare. Her cool blue eyes took me by surprise, and yet, I was glad to see a composed pegasus. “I know you are singing your very first song you wrote and I would be nervous, too. But do not worry. And if it makes you feel any better, and…” The squeaky Four Eyes returned with the blink of her eyes. “...if you don’t mind, I would like to see you perform if that is alright. I just… don’t want to invite myself, but I would really like to watch you sing.” A surge of confidence entered my cheeks and I smiled at Four Eyes. “You are right. Thanks, Four Eyes.” I hugged the brown pegasus, glad to have somepony fill me with determination. “I would love to have my friend come and watch me sing my song.” I parted myself from Four Eyes. Once again, I watched her brows writhe with the intention to cry. “I-I am your f-friend?” It was my turn to be stern and I was ready to use my unicorn magic to aid Four Eyes with my own eyes. My hoof lifted my thick bangs, which snatched up Four Eyes’ intention to cry. She stared back at me with bewilderment. I figured, just like everypony I inspire, Four Eyes has always wanted to see my iris’. So I gave her what she wanted. “Of course you are. And just like you said, there is nothing to worry about, specifically me.” Four Eyes looked away from me. I moved my head to where she was staring to re-obtain her attention. “I am a pony just like you. We both have emotions. And we both want somepony to treat us like a regular pony.” Four Eyes only nodded. So I upped the stakes. “How about this: when I am around you, I forbid you to cry. I know you appreciate me for my talent, but appreciate me for me.” I touched Four Eyes’ chin with my hoof and rotated it forward, testing her ability to fight the urge to overflow with tears. “Remember: confidence is key!” The exercise proved to be quite challenging for Four Eyes as her cheeks puffed with flush. Thankfully, my friend successfully avoided tearing up. “Great work!” I beamed. “Thanks,” Four Eyes sniffed, ready to explode. “Now on the occasion, I will allow you to cry.” “C-can I cry tears of joy right now?” Four Eyes squeaked. I didn’t expect Four Eyes to hold herself together the first time my rule was implemented, so I gave her the go. “Yes.”