//------------------------------// // Stay with Me, Inspiration! // Story: Stay with Me, Inspiration! // by FerociousCreation //------------------------------// “Good luck, you two,” Four Eyes said as Feather and I stood up. “Thanks,” I said. I leaned toward my marefriend and whispered into her ear, “I give you permission to cry.” “O-okay.” I wasn’t expecting her to start sobbing right away and I quickly held her. “Not right now, silly,” I giggled, though I felt crying myself because of my new friend’s genuine care. With every step I made, my hoofsteps echoed throughout the hollow theatre. Feather followed right behind me in silence. The walkway to the stage stretched itself in an attempt to intimidate me. So I took flight instead of walking. When I touched down, my hooves sounded like a… like a… hammer… striking a nail… Well, it did! The analogy I was trying to come up with left my subconscious as I turned around to face the crowd. The club members were off to the side, not directly in front of the stage which proved to be distracting. At least there was something to occupy my mind from worry for a moment. Feather Wand touched down beside me with my song in his hoof. “You sure you don't need your lyrics?” he asked. I shook my head. “No. But I am sure you will need it.” My inspiration smiled, “Who's to say I already know it in my head?” “Then that means you really like what I have made.” We quietly laughed amongst ourselves as our audience waited patiently. “Well, let's do this.” “Yes.” I stepped toward Feather and pulled him close. “Thank you,” I whispered, my face heated with emotion. “You are the best friend and inspiration I could ever ask for.” As I kept Feather still from moving, the stallion did his usual nervous stuttering. “It's… I… thank-” “Your welcome,” I giggled and then motioned Feather to the piano. “Well, Songbird Serenade,” Mr. Aileron said from the crowd, “I am glad to see you take initiation by going so soon.” I looked back at Feather and saw him propped up on a stand, ready to perform. My throat cleared what nervousness was held in my throat. “I think it's time for me to express my words and let everyone know my creation. For too long have I kept quiet and been so worried about being terrible at poetry. I just want to write and sing!” Mr. Aileron clasped his hooves together. “Wonderful energy, Songbird Serenade! Keep that energy within you!” The instructor cleared his voice to simmer his excited mood. “Might I predict that your, I would presume, song will be a joyous one?” Part of me wanted to tell Mr. Aileron he was half correct but I kept myself from giving him and the audience something to expect. “I will be singing. That is all I will tell you.” It was impossible to tell but I had a strong feeling Mr. Aileron was smiling in his seat. “Keeping to your secret ways as always,” he said. “The stage is yours. Sing that voice so many others have told me about.” Everything felt so large as everypony looked at me. There was not large spotlight beaming on center stage, but the gravity of one was still there and it was heavy. Nopony made a sound as I started to count… One. Two. ...Three… It’s showtime. “The song I will be performing is named, ‘Stay with Me, Inspiration!” I announced. Ready to begin, I turned around and gave Feather a nod. The instant he began to press the keys, his style of playing made me sway in place. It moved my body, heart, and soul as Feather moved up and down the piano. There was a small amount of me that was proud of what I had created, considering I did attempt to add notes to my poem. But the song would not have been as perfect as it was if Feather hadn’t looked it over and gave it his bit of magic. The notes slowed down and my time of silence was up. My lungs took in as much oxygen as possible and I began to sing: “This surge in my chest Beats for you endlessly. Inspiration, please, Give me what I need. When you walk on the Land, so much comes to life. As you flap your wings, Every cloud changes course. The magic in your heart Is at my disposal. It is a blessing To be in your control. Inspire, inspire, inspire, inspire, Me, Inspiration. Breath fire, breath fire, breath fire, breath fire, Forge your creation. Inspire, inspire, inspire, inspire, Me, Inspiration. Breath fire, breath fire, breath fire, breath fire, Forge your creation.” Something was happening to me as I sang. It was not intentional or planned. My hooves carrying me around the stage and I couldn’t stop swaying my hips and torso in the hypnotic rhythm. And even though Feather was playing while my song had a break in lyrics, I still moved. I was possessed by my song. More had to be sung, so I recalled the lyrics and continued: “It's strange, so strange, Why do I feel this way? Inspiration tell me, Will you always stay? The clouds above us Are turning very gray. The sun is fading, An ending of our day. I cling on to you, Afraid of being alone. What did I do wrong? Did I sing a bad tone? Don't leave me, don't leave me, don't leave me, don't leave me, Dear Inspiration. I'm fearing, I'm fearing, I'm fearing, I'm fearing, Our separation. Don't leave me, don't leave me, don't leave me, don't leave me, Dear Inspiration. I'm fearing, I'm fearing, I'm fearing, I'm fearing, Our separation.” Feather’s hooves mashed the keyboard, each note playing louder and louder as I spun around the stage. I was in a dance with my own urge to be inspired. It threw me left and right, trying its best to throw me to the ground. But I held myself upright. Everything I had felt before, all the pain that plagued my soul, crashed into me and I knelt down, just as Feather stopped playing. Perfect timing. “You have stopped moving And look me in the eyes. Your mouth moves slowly But I hear nothing wise. The ground around you Is filled with nasty weeds. They grasp at your hooves Sapping all of my needs. Our magic is weak, You bond on me slipping. The world comes to see An end of a loved king.” The sound from the piano began to grow like an earthquake on the approach. Wow, I didn’t have to pause and think about a simile. Inspiration lifted me onto my hooves and I started to toss myself around. “I'm crying, I'm crying, I'm crying, I'm crying, Sweet Inspiration. You’re dying, you’re dying, you’re dying, you’re dying No celebration. I'm crying, I'm crying, I'm crying, I'm crying, Sweet Inspiration. You’re dying, you’re dying, you’re dying, you’re dying No celebration. No celebration! NO CELEBRATION!” I cried as loud as I could as I sang the last two stanzas. My eyes flooded with tears alongside my lyrics. The tragic beauty of my song being proclaimed to my audience felt so good. Deep down I knew I was afraid of losing my love for writing poetry and having my inspiration die out. I wanted somepony to hear me cry. I just wanted to relate to somepony. I already knew Feather was that one pony who understood the constant worry I felt. And for once, he and I played along with each other, glad we have somepony to inspire us. With the tragedy coming to a close, the notes and my steps began to subside. It was time to finish what I had started. “Feelings for you have reached to none. I guess it's safe to say we’re done…” The conclusion of my song did not cause anypony to clap. I spun around to Feather who looked back at me with the same confused look I was expressing. He stood up and walked to my side. “Maybe we... should bow,” Feather said as he offered a hoof to me. As I took hold of his hoof, my lips rose. “We should.” Ending our little performance, Feather and I rose each other’s arms and bowed our head to the audience. A roar like no other erupted from the club members. Four Eyes couldn’t contain her sweet unstable self and flew out of her seat, darting straight for the stage. I could see the tears on her smiling face and wondered what would have happened if I told her to not cry. My wings fanned out and I flew up to catch her. Four Eyes almost knocked me out of the air when she collided with me. “That was so amazing!” she cried and I almost didn’t hear her over the applause. Feather came up to greet us and we all held each other. “Thank you!” I said, lifting my bangs to show them my tear filled eyes. “Thank you, both!”