It is the night of the premier of The Unveiled Tour! Ponies from all across Equestria were arriving in Canterlot for Coloratura's all-new show. They all made their way to the amphitheater and took their seats. Fancy Pants confabulated with Fleur de Lis and his entourage (Swan Song, Golden Gavel, and Silver Frames) as they entered the house of the theater.

"I do say, I am quite delighted to see Coloratura's new show," said Fancy Pants. "'The Magic Inside' is such a heartfelt composition."

As the high society ponies took their seats, a group of familiar faces stood in the doorway, looking their best.

Before anypony could say anything, Rainbow Dash sped away leaving a rainbow trail in her wake.

"She does realize that we have tickets?" Rarity commented. "Nopony will be taking her seat."

Their mission not yet complete, the three S.M.I.L.E. agents arrived at the amphitheater. Lyra and Bon Bon were dressed nicely like everypony in attendance and Agent Bravo wore a concert security uniform.

"Are you certain he will be here?" Lyra asked in a low voice, referring to the Phantom.

"I've never been more certain of anything," replied Bon Bon. "The writing is on the wall. This is our chance to catch him. Let's get to our posts."

As Lyra and Bon Bon made for their seats, Agent Bravo headed backstage. Lyra sat toward the back of the house and Bon Bon sat near the center. They surveyed the house for any suspicious activity. Backstage, Agent Bravo looked for any trace of the Phantom and the cockatrice.

In the green room, Coloratura, DJ Pon-3, and Octavia Melody were preparing to go on stage. Octavia rosined up her bow and DJ Pon-3 looked through her box of records. Coloratura sat on the sofa, sipping a glass of water. Something was on her mind. Then there was a knock on the door.

Coloratura's ears perked up at the sound of Applejack's voice. "AJ!" she exclaimed.

"Rara, this is so excitin'!" Applejack said, holding her friend close. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, AJ. I really hope everything goes well. My new manager, Show Biz, was petrified and it kind of made me think of my show in Ponyville when Svengallop left."

"I'm sorry to hear about Show Biz, Rara, but I know you can do it. You did it in Ponyville and you can do it here. I believe in you, sugar cube. Don't tell me you stopped believin' in yourself."

"You're right," Coloratura replied. "I can do this. I just needed a little reassurance."

"Coloratura, dear," Octavia started, "DJ Pon-3 and I are on in five minutes. We must all get ready."

"Sounds like the show's about to start," said Applejack. "I best be gettin' back."

The lights of the amphitheater dimmed and a spotlight shown on the stage as the emcee walked out.

"Fillies and gentlecolts!" the emcee announced. "Opening for Coloratura, please welcome Octavia Melody and DJ Pon-3!"

Everypony stomped and clapped their hooves as Octavia picked up her cello, bow in hoof, and DJ Pon-3 stood at her turntables. Octavia played a solo before DJ Pon-3 dropped beats, leading into their duet.

In the audience, Bon Bon and Lyra remained ever alert while Agent Bravo, backstage, carefully looked around for any sign of the culprit. The Phantom could be anywhere in the audience or backstage.

After Octavia and DJ Pon-3's first song, Bon Bon spoke into her communicator watch, "This is Agent Sweetie Drops. Any sign of the Phantom? Over."

"No, Agent Sweetie Drops," replied Agent Bravo. "No sign of the Phantom yet. Over."

DJ Pon-3 and Octavia played a few more songs together, and after completing their set, introduced Coloratura.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, the moment has arrived!" Octavia announced with glee. "Please welcome to the stage, for the premier of her new Unveiled Tour, Coloratura!"

Wearing an elegant black gown, Coloratura walked out onto the stage to a roaring crowd. She gave a big smile and waved as she made her way across the stage. She held a hoof out to DJ Pon-3 and Octavia in a gesture of gratitude and appreciation, receiving a wave from the DJ and a bow of the head from the cellist.

Coloratura sat down at her piano, and to the audience extended a warm greeting, "Good evening, everypony! Weren't Octavia Melody and DJ Pon-3 amazing?" The crowd applauded and cheered. "I'm so glad you could come to the premier of my new show." She played a few notes. "You'll hear new songs and even a few familiar ones." She then began playing "The Magic Inside." Before she began to sing, she made a dedication, "Many thanks to all of you, and to my friends, old and new, for all of your help and support. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to come on this stage and let me be myself." The audience applauded as she began to sing "The Magic Inside."

Bon Bon sat uneasily during the concert. She knew that the Phantom would be here. Where is he? she thought to herself. He's here. I just know he's here. All of the evidence which the agents of S.M.I.L.E. had gathered pointed to the Phantom presenting his pièce de résistance tonight. Right here. Bon Bon rubbed her temples. Waiting for the Phantom was stressful. One wrong move could lead to disaster. She glanced down at her communicator watch. She considered calling Lyra and Agent Bravo for a status report...

The agent turned his head. There was the security pony, and there was the Phantom!

He was too late. The Phantom uncovered the cockatrice and petrified the security pony. The Phantom held the cockatrice up to Agent Bravo. Stopping dead in his tracks, Agent Bravo tried to look away, but had already made eye contact. As he was turning to stone, he activated his communicator watch.

The little lights on Bon Bon's communicator watch blinked as Agent Bravo's call tried to go through. She put the communicator watch to her ear to hear better. All she could hear was chirping sounds. Was this really the chirping of the cockatrice, or was she hearing the static of a faulty connection? She tapped the watch face and lifted it back to her ear. Realizing that it was the sound of the cockatrice, she jumped up and turned to look for Lyra.

"Sorry," Bon Bon apologized as she hurried out of the row. She contacted Lyra, "Agent Heartstrings, this is Agent Drops. I think Agent Bravo is in trouble. Hurry backstage. Over."

"Roger that," Lyra replied. "I got his call, but there was nothing. I tried calling him back, but he didn't answer. Over."

There came the sound of the cockatrice's chirping. Lyra and Bon Bon looked desperately around. The sounds seemed to come from all over.

The two agents hurried up the steps. The passageway was narrow so they ran single file. Using the narrow staircase to his advantage, the Phantom set the cockatrice loose.

She and Lyra quickly shielded their eyes. Fighting the cockatrice while trying not to look at it all while in a narrow staircase was no easy task. Lyra took off her blazer and covered the feisty bird-snake hybrid.

Bon Bon hurried after the Phantom. Standing at the top of the platform was the Phantom. He looked down at the stage below. Coloratura was singing and playing her piano. Directly above was a disco ball whose support reached up to the scaffolding where the Phantom stood. Bon Bon made it to the top and found the Phantom attempting to sever the supporting cables. As the cables snapped, the disco ball began to sway. The ponies in the audience noticed.

The disco ball swung as the last cable was cut. Although it happened in a matter of seconds, it felt longer, like time had suddenly slowed down. Bon Bon dove for the Phantom before he could cut the cable. She tackled him just as the disco ball fell for the stage. With nothing to grab hold of, Bon Bon and the Phantom plummeted to the stage. Seeing the disco ball's descent, a security pony standing just offstage rushed onto the stage and pushed Coloratura out of the way just as the disco ball, along with Bon Bon and the Phantom, came crashing onto the stage. In both shock and surprise, everypony gasped. The musicians nearly dropped their instruments. DJ Pon-3 scratched a record.

Bon Bon sat up, shaking off the fall. Lying on the stage in front of her, the Phantom groaned.

"It's the Phantom!" ponies cried as the cloaked culprit staggered to his hooves.

"Hold on, everypony," said Bon Bon. "You've got nothing to fear. His petrifying days are over. I give you your Phantom!"

"'Why?'" Svengallop repeated in spite. "You humiliated me and you ruined my career. You destroyed my reputation." As if it had been the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard, he repeated with a scoff, "'Why.'"

The security ponies apprehended Svengallop and escorted him out of the amphitheater.

"I just need a minute," Coloratura replied. She started off, but turned back saying softly, "Thank you."

As Coloratura walked offstage, the emcee announced a brief intermission during which the stage ponies cleaned up the debris from the disco ball.

Bon Bon went backstage to Lyra, the cockatrice, and their petrified comrade. She and Lyra made their last mission report to Agent Furlong.

"We've cracked this case wide open, sir. It turns out our Phantom was Svengallop and a cockatrice," reported Lyra.

"Well congratulations to the three of you. Svengallop isn't the kind of monster we normally deal with, but you've proven yourselves yet again. Good job, agents. The frozen hot cocoa's on me!"

"He's such a bully!" grumbled Pinkie Pie. "No! He's more than a bully. He's a mean, nasty, rotten, no-good, ne'er-do-well, bully. And that's the worst kind!"

"You have my word, Coloratura. I will make sure that Show Biz and all the petrified ponies will be cured," Twilight declared.

The stage had now been cleaned up. Twilight and friends gave cheers to Coloratura before returning to their seats so she could prepare for the remainder of her show. Starlight stayed behind for a moment.

"I don't want to keep you from your show, but I just wanted to say thanks. It's been quite a while since I've had any friends and it means a whole lot to me."

After the intermission, the emcee welcomed Coloratura back to the stage. The crowd went wild as she walked back out, happy to see that she was alright. She took her seat at her piano and adjusted the microphone.

"Well none of that was part of the show," she quipped. The ponies in the audience laughed along with her. Joking aside, she continued, "During the intermission, I had the chance to talk with my friends, and I even made a new friend." She glanced at Starlight. "I started thinking of the Magic of Friendship and how my friends have always been there for me in good times and in bad." She began to play her piano and the orchestra followed suit. "I really appreciate everyponies' staying. This is one of my new songs and I'm dedicating it to all of you and to all my friends. It's called 'A Beautiful Friendship.'"

Octavia Melody played her cello and DJ Pon-3 scratched her records and dropped beats as Coloratura sang her heart out. After, she was given a standing ovation.

"Thank you all so much," Coloratura said. "This has been such an amazing show, save for the mishap earlier, and it's all thanks to you, to Octavia Melody and DJ Pon-3, to my manager, Show Biz, and to all my friends. And now I'd like to invite some very special ponies to the stage to help me sing one last song. Please welcome my friends, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Spike, the Princess of Friendship herself, Twilight Sparkle, and my new friend, Starlight Glimmer. Come up here, you guys!"

Coloratura's Ponyville friends excitedly ran up onto the stage. They exchanged hugs and greetings. Coloratura was congratulated for a great show.

"If you know the lyrics, don't hesitate to sing along," Coloratura spoke into the mic. "My foalhood friend, Applejack, and I used to play this song at Camp Friendship when we were fillies. This is 'Equestria, the Land I Love.'"

Equestria, the land I love
A land of harmony
Our flag does wave from high above
For ponykind to see

Equestria, a land of friends
Where ponykind do roam
They say true friendship never ends
Equestria, my home

Just as she had done every time they played this song, Applejack struck a triangle at the end.

"Thank you, everypony! Have a wonderful night!" Coloratura took a bow, waved, and blew kisses to the audience.

Bouquets of roses and beautiful flowers were tossed on stage. Coloratura picked one up and breathed in its sweet aroma. The applause and whistles continued even after she walked off the stage. She was so happy for such a great new first show, minus Svengallop's interruption, of course. She only wished that Show Biz could have seen it, but she was relieved with Twilight's assurance that he would be himself again.

In her room at the Canterlot Suites, Coloratura's dresser was topped with vases of flowers, stuffed animals sat on the armchair, and letters and fan mail rested on the table. Tonight certainly was a dream come true. As Coloratura got ready for bed, she gazed intently at her pillow and reflected upon the many nights she lay dreaming of sharing her music and her voice with Equestria. She thought of the first time she stepped hoof on a stage. She was a little filly who had never performed live on stage. She always did have a knack for singing. It was that one fateful night when she realized that singing was her passion, and when she took a bow, she received her cutie mark. She climbed into bed and pulled up the sheets. As she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, she knew that she was that little filly again.

A Haunting in Canterlot

by Mr Movie Magic

Seven: The Premier