“So, you had to perform a solo in front of all of those ponies, even though there was such a big group performing?” Fluttershy asked, showing hints of fear in her eyes as she took another sip of tea.
“Yep. But the ponies of Trottingham appreciated it.” Boltsinger answered, placing his cup on the table. “Sometimes, even in a big ensemble performance, a single voice can make all the difference.”
“But… how did you face them all?” the mare wondered, the cup in her shaking hooves spilling some of its contents. “All of those eyes… I’ve only just gotten used to singing for my friends… How could you possibly face a crowd of hundreds of ponies?”
“It took me a while, even with what that lightning does to my brain, but I do have a bit of a secret.” He started.
Fluttershy’s ears perked up at the idea of a way to bypass her stage fright. She moved over next to the blue-maned stallion, putting her tea down and looking more closely. “What is it?”
Boltsinger put a hoof on her shoulder. “My secret is this...” He began. As he took a breath to continue, he felt a tingling in his wings, the pendant he wore glowing at the same time. “Uh-oh…”
“Uh-oh? What do you mean, uh-oh?” the pink-maned mare asked, her face fraught with worry. “Is it something bad?”
“How are you at handling supersonic speeds?” he queried, trying to pull his hoof away, but to no avail.
“Um… I don’t think I’ve ever gone that fast before…” She told him. “Why?”
Boltsinger responded by flapping his wings, taking the two of them outside. “Because there’s apparently a first time for everything!” He lead. “I can’t get my hoof off of your shoulder, so grab on and keep a hold until we land! This time, you’re coming with me!”
“What? You mean you’re about to take--” Fluttershy squeaked as the sudden takeoff interrupted her thought. She squealed in fear as the wind blew against her face, blowing her mouth back. Once she realized what was going on, she wrapped her forelegs around the stallion’s midsection, holding on for dear life. “Where are we going?!”
“I don’t know yet! But hopefully we won’t have to do much once we get there!” He informed her. “If you get hungry, I do have food!”
“That’s nice…!” She said with a whine in her tone. The two flew onward for several hours, Fluttershy refusing to open her eyes the entire time as the electricity surged through Boltsinger’s body and kept her clung to him. After a while, she heard what sounded like a breathing cello playing a low melody next to her. She opened her eyes, squinting to see where it was coming from, then feeling the rising and falling of Boltsinger’s chest as each breath took place, the vibration of his voice resonating inside. He was humming a slow and steady tune that slowly calmed the frightened filly as they flew. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes again, letting the music put her at ease.
After another hour of flying, the humming stopped. Their descent had begun. “I see where we’re going!” Boltsinger called out.
“Where is it?” Fluttershy asked, deigning to open her eyes and seeing a reasonably-sized city below them.
“Baltimare!” He confirmed, asserting a level of control over his wings and catching some wind on the way down. He slowed their descent to the point of righting himself before the two touched down just outside of a neighborhood theater. “And that, my friend, is the best landing I ever had!” He bragged, taking his hoof off of her shoulder. He looked at Fluttershy, seeing her still clamped tightly around his midsection. “Um… Fluttershy, you can let go now.”
Fluttershy looked around, finally noticing that they were on solid ground. Her hind legs and tail were sitting there on the ground beneath her while she clung to her friend. “Oh! Yes!” She released her grip, using her wings to right herself and land on all fours. “I’m sorry…”
“It’s okay. I imagine it was an… interesting flight.” He pulled two apples out of his mane, offering one to the mare. “And I wouldn’t blame you if you were hungry.” He took a bite of his own apple, nearly taking all of it in one go.
Fluttershy nodded and took the one offered to her, taking a small, dainty bite. “Thank you ever-so-much, Boltsinger.”
Boltsinger tilted his head, looking at his fellow Pegasus from the side. “For what? The apple? I get these all the time at the farm. No big deal.”
“Not just the apple.” She elaborated. “I wanted to thank you for helping me calm down while we were flying.”
“Oh, that. It’s no problem.” He responded. “I know first hoof just how terrifying it can be to suddenly be flying like that for such a long time. And considering how you and I share a tendency towards getting spooked by something new and potentially scary, I figured you would need a little extra push.”
Fluttershy smiled and took another bite. “So, where in Baltimare did we land?”
“Looks like a theater…” He walked over to the door, seeing a flier for a big choral performance. He leaned into the door, putting his ear directly up against it and hearing a horribly botched harmony inside. “And from the looks of it, there’s a choir that needs help.” He turned to face his friend. “Well, I guess I know why we’re here.”
Fluttershy took a few more bites, finally finishing her apple as she walked over to Boltsinger. “That sounds lovely! Should we go in?” She took a look at the flier, reading it carefully.
The ponies nodded to one another, opening the doors and making their way through the lobby. On the stage, a choir of approximately eighteen different ponies were singing loudly. Boltsinger stepped forward, turning an ear towards them. The sound was good, with solid harmonies, and good accompaniment by a nearby piano. But he could tell something was missing. This was a four-part harmony, and half of them weren’t quite up to par. The song ended as the two ponies approached. A dark purple unicorn mare with a long, curly black mane and tail stood in front of the choir. She had hazel eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a chord on a musical staff. She let out a sad sigh, closing her eyes and hanging her head.
“That was decent, but without everypony we can’t possibly get it perfect... Without those two... “ She told them. “We need a bass and a soprano, otherwise this just won’t work, and the fundraiser won’t reach its goal!”
Boltsinger cleared his throat, raising his wing. “Excuse me!” The mare jumped, looking at him. “I can sing bass, and my friend here sings a beautiful soprano!” Fluttershy jumped at her friend’s mention of her, backing up and hiding her face behind her mane.
“Really?” The mare ran over to the two Pegasi. “How are you at learning songs?”
“I can learn songs pretty easily.” He confirmed. “And Fluttershy, here, has broken into song with her friends more times than I can count.”
“Fluttershy?” the Unicorn repeated, looking at the cowering mare. “You mean the Fluttershy?”
“Yeah.” Boltsinger confirmed, looking back at the cowering mare. “Do you know her?”
“Why, she’s the whole reason we’re having our performance!” she exclaimed. “Her animal sanctuary has helped so many critters get healthy again and live happily that my best friend was inspired to do the same for all the animals around here!”
Fluttershy peeked out from behind her mane, her smile betraying all shyness. “Really?”
“Really!” she replied, taking Fluttershy’s hoof and shaking it rapidly. “My name is Chorus Plum! It’s an honor to meet you, Miss Fluttershy!”
“It’s… um… nice to meet you, too.” The yellow mare replied, her body moving with the hoof shake. “If there’s any way I can help, let me know!”
“We could use a soprano!” Chorus suggested.
“Oh, except that.” Fluttershy corrected. “I can’t do that.”
“Oh? Are you not a soprano?” the Unicorn wondered. “Your friend said you had a beautiful voice just a minute ago!”
“I just… have issues… singing in front of other ponies.” Fluttershy informed her.
Boltsinger placed a hoof on Chorus’ shoulder. “Don’t worry. I can help her with her stage fright.” He turned to his friend. “The performance isn’t for a couple of days. I’ll do everything in my power to help you with this... “ He looked at his crackling Cutie mark. “Besides, I can’t leave until the job is done.”
“All right, thank you!” Chorus said, lighting up her horn in a hazel aura. She floated several sheets of paper stapled into two stacks over to them. Once the stallion took hold of them, she leaned in next to him. “The soprano part she’ll be filling has a solo for one verse… Right at the high point of the song. You think you can get her to where she can do it?”
Boltsinger looked at the sheet music in his wing, letting out a sigh. “I make no promises on the solo, but I can try. Is there somewhere we can stay nearby?” Chorus nodded and told him the directions to the nearest hotel. Boltsinger turned to Fluttershy, tucking the music under his wing as he started towards the exit, turning to look back at the music director once more. “We’ll be in tomorrow for rehearsal.”
Chorus smiled and nodded. “Of course! Thank you for volunteering on such short notice!”
Fluttershy looked at her friend as the two left the theater, looking concerned. “I won’t really have to perform, will I?”
“You saw the size of the group.” He informed her. “They won’t be watching you exclusively, but the group. And I’ll be there with you.” He put his free wing on her shoulder. “No matter what we have to do, I promise you can do this. We’re gonna be working on the song once we’re checked into the hotel, so there’s plenty of time to get into it.”
“Are you sure I can’t just go and find somepony to take the part?” She continued. She began flapping her wings, taking to the air. “I can go look for somepony right now!” She flew off towards a large building in the distance as fast as she could. Boltsinger sighed and counted to himself, as the countdown came to a close, he braced himself, standing on his hind legs to make ready for an impact. He heard a loud yelp as the mare came flying backwards into him, sending him skidding back a few feet as he wrapped his forelegs around her to cushion the blow. She looked up at him as she got her bearings, her cheeks pink. “What happened?”
“It’s like when Discord came with me to Fillydelphia. When somepony comes with me for certain flights, it’s hard to leave my proximity until the job is done.” He patted her on the head. “Looks like you’re stuck with me for now. You alright?”
“I’m fine.” She said, getting back to her hooves. “Are you sure we can’t just get somepony to take that last part?”
“I think that if we work together on it, you can pull it off.” Boltsinger assured her. “You remember how before this all started, I was telling you my secret for a big crowd?” Fluttershy nodded as they continued to the hotel. “So, there’s a few tricks, but I think the simplest one is this… Close your eyes.”
“Close my eyes?” She repeated, confused.
“Eeyup. Close your eyes.” He confirmed with a confident nod of the head. “It’s actually a lot easier when you can’t see the crowd. Nopony to judge you.” He raised a hoof in front of him as if gesturing to an imaginary audience. “Just listen to the ponies performing with you. Go with the flow of the song, do your part, and enjoy yourself.”
“Just… enjoy myself? Well, I do like singing with my friends…” She pointed out.
“Well, this time, you’re singing with me. So, there’s not much of a difference.” He looked over at the hotel. “That and eighteen other ponies all doing their own parts. But they’re not gonna judge you. They’re too busy for that.” He offered his free wing. “Now, come on, let’s go check in so we can go over this!”
Fluttershy took a good look at her friend, his Cutie Mark was crackling like it normally does when he flies off, but he seemed different to her in a different way. He had the same warm smile she was used to, and really didn’t seem off, yet there was something more… inviting… she couldn’t justify or explain. She put her wing in his as the pink returned to her cheeks, the two making their way to the hotel.
He pulled the music out again, looking it over as they walked. “Ooh! This is a good song! It’s by a group called Coltplay. You’re gonna love it!”
After two days of practice in the hotel and rehearsal with the main group, the night of the performance had arrived. Everything had gone relatively well so far, and Fluttershy had taken Boltsinger’s advice regarding performance before a crowd. The Pegasi had donned the same kind of outfit that the other members of the choir were wearing, making their way to the venue while looking once more at the music. They were to perform in a large park, where a stage had been set up for the event. There was a hope that several ponies would show up and donate, but the nervous mare hoped against hope that there wouldn’t be very many ponies showing up in a small part of her mind. The stage was large, and many lights lined the edge so as to provide a good spotlight on the performers. From what they had learned, the choir was the highlighting act, with several other local groups coming to perform as well.
From the stage, Chorus Plum trotted up to the two ponies, excited beyond reason. “Are you two ready?” She asked.
“Oh… I don’t know.” Fluttershy started, holding her mane with her forelegs. “It’s such a big stage, and I might get blinded by those lights… and… There’s just so much that could go wrong…”
“Fluttershy, if you sing half as well tonight as you’ve been doing at rehearsal, I promise it’ll be perfect!” Chorus assured her. “I swear I’ve never heard such a beautiful solo on this song!”
“A solo? What do you mean a solo?!” the yellow mare wondered, shrinking to the ground. “I thought I was singing with everypony!”
“Relax, Fluttershy. You are singing with everypony.” Boltsinger stated, putting his foreleg on his friend’s back, patting it repeatedly to help her calm down. “It’s like we discussed. Your part is different from the others in one part of the song, but we’re still singing together! It’s like that group you told me about from Ponyville that does the a capella music.” Fluttershy slowly got up, looking at the ponies in her company. “You’re not gonna be alone up there, and I’m gonna be just a few ponies in front of you. Remember, we’re lined up like a musical staff.”
Fluttershy’s face went from petrified to determined, looking at the stage. “Right. We can do this!”
The ponies continued on their way, going up the stairs to the backstage as the guests gathered. Boltsinger shot a glance at the flustered filly, wondering how he could further calm her down. There is that thing I’ve been thinking about. I’ve already got the okay from Twilight, so I might as well tell her about it. He mused. Who knows? It might psyche her out so that she can do her best! He looked more directly at her, seeing her standing with a poise that looked uncomfortable for her. She was demure and graceful, yes, but standing stiff like this looked unnatural. “Hey, Fluttershy!” He whispered as the first act began. Her face returned to normal as she leaned in to listen to him. “I want to let you in on something.”
“What is it?” She asked from her normal, quiet, speaking voice. “Can it wait until after the performance is over? I think I should really focus on this…”
“Trust me, it’ll help you focus!” He told her. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, and I asked Twilight about it a few weeks ago and got the okay… I just didn’t know when was a good time to bring it up to you!” Fluttershy gave a confused look, not quite sure what he was talking about. “I want to adopt a pet when we get back to Ponyville!”
All signs of worry or doubt left the mare’s face in that one instant. She reared up happily, spreading her wings and smiling with a quiet but excited squee of a laugh. “Oh my goodness! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Oh, now I can’t wait to get home so that I can help you find your very own furry companion to love and take care of!” As her hooves touched down again, she looked ahead with a new, genuine, determination. She was ready to give it her best!
After several more acts, Chorus stepped through the curtain. “Fillies and gentlecolts, thank you all so much for coming to our fundraiser! We appreciate every single bit and service you’ve all offered to help build our animal sanctuary! It has been our honor to entertain you tonight, and we have a special final act for everypony! Here they are, your Baltimare Twenty Notes Choir!”
The curtain in front of them opened. The lights seemed to white out the image of any onlookers, but the cheers were evident and everywhere. Fluttershy winced a little when she heard all the voices, but soon closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and muttering something to herself. Chorus turned around as the pianist took her position. She raised her forelegs, magically lifting a conductor’s baton above her head.
As she started moving her forelegs, the bass section began with two measures of a soft “Ooh” sound matching the notes. After that, Fluttershy closed her eyes, and the song proper began with the tenor section with piano accompaniment.
~When you try your best but you don’t succee-eed…
When you get what you want, but not what you nee-eed...
When you feel so tired that you can’t slee-e-eep…
Stuck in reve--e--erse…
And the tears come streaming down your face…
Or when you lose something you can’t repla-ace
When you love someone, but it go-oes to waste__…
Could it be-e wo--o--o-o-o-o-o-orse…~
The altos and sopranos joined in as the chorus began.
~Lights will gui-i-i-i-ide you home…
And igni-i-i-i-ite your bones…
And I will try___ to fix you.~
A measure of pure accompaniment went on, the bass, tenor, and alto sections moving to vocal accompaniment. Fluttershy took a deep, meaningful breath, and opened her mouth, eyelids still shut.
~And the high up above__ and down belo-ow…
When you’re too in love to let it go-o…
But if you never try, then you’ll never kno-o-o-ow…
Just what you’re wor--o--orth~
Boltsinger smiled in his notes as his friend’s part finished up, the chorus beginning again with the entire choir chiming in in harmony.
~Lights will gui-i-i-i-ide you home…
And igni-i-i-i-ite your bones…
And I will try___ to fix you~
The piano grew more intense, repeating harder notes in a soft succession that had a feeling of sympathy or remorse. The bass and tenor sections continued in vocal accompaniment as the mares in the group all took another breath.
~Tears stream… Down on your face___
When you lose something you cannot repla-ace…
Tears stream… Down on your face and I_______
Tears stream… Down on your face!
I promise you I will learn from my mista-akes…
Tears stream… Down on your face and I_______~
The song began to soften once more, the piano ceasing as just the voices were heard.
~Lights will gui-i-i-i-ide you home…
And igni-i-i-i-ite your bones…
And I will try___ to fix you~
Chorus lowered her forelegs and conductor’s baton, getting back on all fours as she turned to the crowd, the sound of uproarious applause drowning out everything else. She thanked the crowd repeatedly as the choir took bows of their own. Fluttershy, in her excitement to have the dreaded performance over with, dove forward into the friend just a few ponies in front of her.
“I DID IT!” She shouted, louder than the stallion had ever heard out of her. “I sang a solo in front of a huge crowd of ponies!”
Boltsinger smiled, reciprocating the embrace. “And you sang beautifully. I’m glad you came with me on this trip, Fluttershy. Even if it was something neither of us had a choice in.” His wings lost their rigidness as his Cutie Mark returned to normal, letting him know that his work there was done.
“I’m glad I came, too!” She agreed, looking him in the eye. “And now we can go and get you your new best friend!” She got up to her hooves, waiting for him to do the same and then ran towards the hotel.
Boltsinger chuckled at the sight of his excited friend. He turned around to see Chorus smiling at him. “So, how did the fundraiser go?”
Chorus beamed, stepping closer to the stallion. “We beat all of our expectations! Volunteers and funding abound!”
“That’s great!” he cried, making a thumbs-up with his wing. “I’m glad we were able to help you!”
“So, where is Fluttershy?” the Unicorn wondered, looking past the orange pony in front of her. “I was hoping to thank her, too.”
“She wanted to get ready for something we have planned once we get back to Ponyville.” He explained. “Speaking of which, I’ve got to get going. Keep us posted on the progress of your sanctuary! You can reach me at the Castle of Friendship!” He turned around and galloped off, hoping to catch up to Fluttershy soon.
Chorus tilted her head, looking puzzlingly at the Pegasus as he ran off. “Castle of Friendship? Wow… Some ponies are just full of surprises…”