Being Juniper Montage

by Bookish Delight


12: Imitating Life Itself

Sunset pulled up to the entrance of Canterlot Central Park, and shut off her motorcycle's engine. "Here we are," she said. "As close as I can get without going off-road, anyway."

"No need." Juniper dismounted the rear of the motorcycle's seat, and took stock of her supplies. She nodded in satisfaction upon confirming that her bag, umbrellas, and tripod were all present and undamaged. "Perfect! Thanks so much for giving me a ride, Sunset."

"No problem. If you need a ride to Twilight's next weekend, just toss me a text."

"I may actually take you on up that."

Juniper looked over into the park, as far as her vision would allow. There were as many trees as people, and all of them looked completely at home. Several of the latter were laughing, playing, talking, and doing all sorts of social things that Juniper had seen in countless movies.

It all looked so easy. Even last night's slumber party required her pouring out her heart multiple times to get half of the smiles she was seeing right now.

"Juniper? Everything all right?" Sunset asked.

"Whoa!" Juniper snapped awake. "Oh, wow. Was I that out of it?"

"Oh, yeah. I've seen that look before. On Twilight, on me, heck, even on Rarity sometimes when she's close to a design deadline." Sunset dismounted her bike, and walked next to Juniper. "What's up?"

Juniper closed her eyes, shutting out the distractions of the noisy park and street, and looked into herself. It didn't take long for her to notice the rock band playing in her chest. "I'm still really nervous about this, Sunset. But I have no idea why."

Sunset nodded, but continued to listen.

"I know that what I'm about to do is something I can do. I've done it tons of times by myself. But now that I'm trying to do it for others, there's... something in me that's still scared that I might do more harm than good. Just because I'm me." Juniper scoffed. "Trust me, I know, this makes no sense. This is so dumb."

"Not necessarily," Sunset said.

"What do you mean?"

Sunset leaned against a nearby tree. "Back in Equestria, once upon a time, I was supposed to be Princess Celestia's prized pupil. Help Equestria, help the world. My life was written in the stars—metaphorically—and it was going to be a great one. Sunset rolled her wrist and huffed. "And then, jealousy and ambition took over. I wanted power and glory. Instead, I lost everything, and had to start from scratch."

She turned towards Juniper with somber eyes.

"After I came face to face with the worst side of myself, I had many of the same reactions you did. I was lonely, I was sad, I was scared. And I mean scared out of my mind. Trying to sleep was just the express train to seeing my fears larger than life. Seeing myself hated forever. Friendless forever. Even while, the whole time, I was trying to change. I had to face those fears head-on last winter, in a scandal that framed and turned the entire school against me. Technically, the truth set me free in the end, but..." Sunset sighed, and shuddered. "I felt absolutely exhausted afterwards."

Juniper stepped to Sunset, and put a hand on her shoulder.

"For a long time," Sunset continued, "I was scared that anything I tried in the name of being a friend would be doomed to failure. I felt it was just best to keep what knowledge and talents I did have to myself. That way no one would have to put up with... me."

Juniper gasped. "That's exactly how I feel! I'm not worthless, I'm not talentless, I know I can help, but I'm scared of screwing it up, because I have before. I've done so much worse, been so much worse. How did you get past that?"

"The only way anyone can," Sunset said. "I had to make peace with the fact that what happened did happen, and there was no taking it back—but nothing better would ever happen if I simply stayed where I was. The way to guarantee failure is to never try, and all that."

Juniper sighed. "I was afraid of that."

Sunset nodded. "So was I. But one day I just got tired of being afraid. So, I told myself that even if I couldn't erase it, I wouldn't let my past control me anymore, and then I threw myself towards things. Towards crowds of other people. Towards events. Towards authority figures I'd once defied for no good reason. And every minute of it was scary, until it suddenly wasn't anymore."

Sunset placed her hands on Juniper's shoulders. "The people who accept you are the ones who deserve your trust, and the ones who don't are easy to forget about once you have even one of the former. And if you're really lucky, you find a rock or two. Who knows that just because you get some nice words from someone doesn't mean that's that where supporting you ends. Someone who's willing to stick with you, because you're you."

Juniper thought back to the events of the past week. She was pretty sure she had some rocks—as did a few of her other friends. She smirked at Sunset. "Is that the real reason you and Twilight hang out all the time?"

Sunset smirked back. "It's one of them. But this isn't about me. Several months back, when I was in a similar place as you, something Fluttershy once told me stuck with me." She cupped Juniper's cheek with her hand. "'You're not a bad person. You just made some bad decisions.' They've had their consequences, but you've been working to balance them out ever since, and worrying about them besides.

"A bad person doesn't do that. A worthless person doesn't do that. And a monster doesn't care enough to say or share everything you have this week. You have all the pieces to be amazing, Juniper. You proved that to Sunny and Photo the other day, and to me, Twilight and Starlight last night. This is just, as Twilight would say, the experiment. The field test. And, as Twilight would also say, science doesn't give up."

Juniper's smile widened. "I guess it's time for me to prove that pop culture doesn't give up, either." She reached out to hug her friend. "Thanks, Sunset."

"Anytime," Sunset said, hugging Juniper back. "Hit me up once you're done! I want to know how this went. Whatever happens, we can talk about it. Okay?"

The rock band in her heart had long since morphed into a serenading quartet. Juniper decided that she was just fine with this. "Okay," she said, waving as Sunset rode away.

It only took her ten minutes to reach the center of the park where they'd agreed to meet. She looked at the clearing around her. There was grass as far as her eyes could see, all of it beautiful and swaying in the light breeze. She could also just barely make out multiple scattered people in the distance, in all directions.

However, none of them looked like the people she was waiting for. She looked at her phone. It read 5:57 pm.

Okay, that's fine, Juniper reassured herself. They'll meet you. They said they would. They've still got three whole minutes. Nothing to worry about at all, right?

Juniper sifted through new photos to pass the time. Idle thumbing quickly brought her to her newest picture of herself with Twilight, Starlight, and Sunset. They'd slept in late, then gone out for a pancake brunch before parting ways. They'd talked and laughed, and barely convinced Twilight to not use her experimental insta-microwave gun on her eggs. For a few wonderful hours, she'd felt just like all the people in the park.

She let the memories wash over her until she was positively glowing inside. It had all been so perfect. She wished it was still happening. I guess it is pretty great to have friends. No one prepared me for the times when they're not around, though.

"Juniper!"

A voice snapped her out of her reverie. Juniper did her best to hide her relief as she saw Sunny Flare stride towards her. Thank goodness, they hadn't forgotten after all. She smiled and waved. "Hey! Glad you could make it!"

Sunny nodded. "Sorry I'm late."

Juniper looked at her phone, which read 5:59pm. She tilted her head. "Late? You got here with a full minute to spare."

Sunny huffed, and flipped her hair with one hand. "For Crystal Prep students, that's usually unacceptable. I should have been here before you."

Unable to choose the best one-liner from the long list that entered her mind, Juniper simply giggled it off. "Noted and filed. Either way, one down, Photo to go."

"Oh, she's on the way," Sunny said. "Believe me, you'll know when she shows up."

"What do you mean?" Juniper asked, before her ears—and the entire park—rang with the loudest of proclamations:

"I, Photo Finish, have arrived!"

A single beam of sunlight shone through the clouds above, majestically spotlighting Photo Finish a short distance away, as she pointed a finger to the heavens.

Juniper blinked twice. "Oh."

"Yeah." Sunny rolled her eyes. "I keep telling her to try out for theater."

"Photo is here, and she is ready!" Photo said, running towards the two. "And I have brought the makeup for the star attraction!" Without hesitation, she lifted a powder puff to Sunny's face, patting her cheeks.

Sunny recoiled. "Whoa, hey, easy with that, there!"

"Do not worry, Miss Flare, this is all you get. Mainly because I happened to check the weather report before coming all the way here." She looked at Juniper with a knowing smile. "I know what you are scheming, Miss Montage."

Juniper's grin went sheepish. "Heh. Looks like you got me."

"What do you mean, Juniper?" Sunny asked.

Juniper looked at her phone one last time. "Wait for it."

Drops fell from the sky, with a light summer drizzle following suit, much like last night. Juniper closed her eyes.

A studio materialized in her mind. It was still unkempt, but just a little less so. She saw herself picking up pieces of debris, and setting up fallen lights, and smiled. She looked to the whiteboard of movie releases. Where before it was cluttered with crossed-out scribbles and scrawls, it was now completely clean save for its title.

"Are you sure about this?" Juniper heard in her own voice. "It's not too late to try to find an easier way."

"There isn't one," Juniper wordlessly answered. "Besides, like I said, I have to know. But I could use your help. That way, we'll find our answers together."

"All right. Together it is."

Juniper opened her eyes. Her mind, heart, and vision were all clear. The way she felt right now, she could take on the full force of last night's fears if she wanted to. Not that she did.

Juniper raided her supply stash, taking out a video camera and a large umbrella. It wasn't climate-controlled, sadly, but it would still work just fine for the time being. She held the latter over the other two girls.

"Today," Juniper said, "We're gonna shoot a scene from The Other Side, a work in progress by Sunny Flare and Photo Finish." She looked at the two people she'd just named. "Are you two fresh and ready for this?"

Sunny chuckled. "Quality is always ready. Even after taking a day off, this script has been burned into my mind through repeat performances! I couldn't forget it if I wanted to." Her confident look wrinkled into inquisitiveness. "Though since it's raining, there's really only one scene you could have in mind, isn't there?"

Juniper smiled. "Maybe." She produced a small pin, which she attached to Sunny's lapel. "Waterproof mics. Also, waterproof video camera. Perks of being connected to the industry." She gave the camera to Photo before adding, "Once upon a time," forlornly, under her breath.

Photo turned the camera over in her hands, visibly intimidated. It was just as well, Juniper thought. It would have been expensive, had it not been a gift. "Wait a minute! Photo Finish cannot use this!"

"Sure, you can," Juniper said.

"No, I do not mean in terms of permission! I mean—"

"Neither do I." Juniper held the camera in her hands along with Photo. Don't worry about any of its special features today. I want you to point, shoot, and let Photo Finish take over—and I mean all of her. All her skills in finding the perfect angles. The perfect movements.

"Twilight and Sunset told me how you get your stills. I've seen CHS's Fall Formal and yearbook pictures. I've watched the winning Chance to Prance music video multiple times. And I've seen your passion for myself the other day. All that spirit? Bring it here now."

"All of myself." Photo's eyes widened as she visibly pondered the possibilities. "But will Photo's methods not result in odd footage?"

"Maybe at first. But I know you'll figure out how to adapt your style to cinema. Because I already know you're just that good."

Photo's expression was pensive for several moments, but then turned to a warm smile. "Photo understands," she said, then in a lower voice, added, "and she thanks you."

"Photo is welcome," Juniper said in her most sincere voice. "Here's a tripod, just in case." As Photo set things up, Juniper walked to Sunny, who was looking at the sky and examining a prop handbag. "Hey, Sunny. How are you feeling?"

"Oh." Sunny did a double-take, blinking. "Um. Okay, I guess. A little lost. I don't know..." she said, trailing off.

"Are you sure? You can tell me, you know. Like I said the other day, I'm totally here to help out however I can."

"Well..." Sunny sighed. "I have indeed had this scene in my mind for ages, but this is the first time I have absolutely no idea how I'll pull it off. They may say 'all the world's a stage', and it's something I emphatically agree with, but there literally is no stage here! We're just doing this in the middle of nowhere!"

"You're right. It's not a stage anymore. I'm guessing this feels a lot like a tightrope without a net, huh?"

Sunny slipped her voice low and soft, as if afraid of being heard. "Theater has its rules, Juniper, and I follow them. I'm good at following them. Thus, when I'm on a stage, I don't just feel mastery. I feel safe."

"Of course. Because it's your element. I have those too. And to be frank, none of those elements... involve me being out here." She put her hand behind her head. "I may do a good job of hiding it, but I'm scared out of my shoes right now just standing here."

Sunny gasped. "Oh, no, I'm so sorry! Is there anything I can do?"

Juniper smiled. "You're doing it right now just by being here and humoring me. I appreciate it."

"Well, of course. Photo and I appreciate you going through all of this, too. I mean, it's not like we're close friends. You barely know us."

Juniper gasped as an idea hit her. "That's it!" She snapped her fingers. "Friends! Sunny, when you're talking with your friends, do you worry about... well, how you look around them? How skilled an actress or conversationalist you are? You know, like you are on stage?"

Sunny fed Juniper a quizzical look. "Well, certainly nowhere near as much? But they know me. Also, they know how good an actress I am, and if I ever messed up, they'd be right there for me. Friendship has far fewer rules than theater. And friends are far less strict than an audience full of people who don't know you."

Juniper gestured around the park. "What audience?"

Sunny looked around, saw nobody around them for several hundred feet, and looked confused, for several moments. Then, her mouth and eyes opened wide. "Oh, my goodness."

Juniper's eyes glinted. "Welcome, my dear Sunny Flare, to a set. On a set, unless some people are visiting, whether it's a rehearsal or the actual take, the only people around are those who want to see you do well, and to see you do you well. But even if you don't, we're here to back you up. At my uncle's studio, he always treated the talent and crew right. He also made sure that they were always confident in their abilities and output before we wrapped any production up.

Sunny nodded. "As I would expect from the legendary Canter Zoom, honestly."

Juniper smiled. "In our studio, we have a saying: 'It's not a performance, it's life.' I've heard that theater has something sort of similar, but the meaning is that you're not projecting this scene to an audience. You're not debating it with anyone, you're not forcing its message across. You'll be living it, in the here and now. I've read this script, and I've seen what you're capable of after seeing some of your other performances via HoofTube. I already know you can knock this scene out of the park, but you and I both know it calls for some extreme lamentation. "Meaning..." Juniper hesitated, took a deep breath, then continued. "You really will have to find the sadness inside yourself. The kind of sadness that all of us can universally connect to."

Sunny's face softened. Her eyes remained wide as she remained silent. It was fine, Juniper noted. That face, those eyes, spoke wonders by themselves.

"If you're anything like me," Juniper said, "you have a lot of places to draw from. But it's okay. Remember, though—you have people willing to make the life you're about to live totally worth it. I mean, Photo's right over there, and for what it's worth? I believe in you too."

For a few seconds, Sunny still looked overwhelmed. Then understanding washed over her face, giving way to determination. "The opportunity is ours, then. Photo!"

Photo snapped to attention. "Y-yes, Sunny?"

Sunny's hair flapped in the light, misting breeze as she spoke with a soft, serene voice. "This will be our first and only take. No matter how it comes out. I promise. Are you ready?"

Photo reflected Sunny's determined look in moments. She took off her shades, placed them in her skirt pocket, and set herself behind the camera.

"We go," she said.