//------------------------------// // Bridleway Bolt! // Story: One Bolt, Spreading Harmony // by Boltsinger //------------------------------// “Brightling, allow me to be the first to welcome you to Manehattan!” Boltsinger exclaimed as he ran out of the train station. He stopped on the sidewalk below, gesturing grandly out to the cityscape behind him with an enormous smile. Out of the train station walked a bright yellow Pegasus stallion with a brown mane, tail, and eyes. His Cutie Mark showed a brilliantly lit light bulb, and his face showed a distinct level of disinterest. “I can’t believe you’ve never been here before!” “How is that so hard to believe?” the older stallion wondered, coming down the steps. “Not everyone gets whisked off all over Equestria. ‘Till now, Canterlot was the farthest east I’d been.” “Well, you’re in for a treat, big brother.” Boltsinger stated, looking out at the town. “The energy, the kinds of ponies you meet, the sheer amount of stuff to do! It’s awesome!” He pranced in place for a moment. “So, what do you want to do while we’re here?” Brightling joined his brother on the sidewalk, looking out at the busy street. “Well, Sparks was talking up Bridleway. Kinda the whole reason we’re here.” “Bridleway it is!” he declared, raising a triumphant wing to point at the sky. “I’ve helped Rarity out in this town so much I know it like the back of my hoof!” He brought a wing to his chin, letting an idea come to the surface. “Actually, she’s in town right now. We should pay her a visit!” At the station entrance, Twilight emerged next to a grey Unicorn mare with dark green eyes. She had a mane and tail that was white at the root, fading to black as it made its way down its medium length in a manner similar to that of Fluttershy, albeit significantly messier. They each had a fully stocked baby carriage, complete with colts, that they floated down the stairs while they descended. The grey mare cast a smirk at Twilight. “That husband of yours sure has come out of his shell over the years. I almost didn’t recognize him when we met up in Vanhoover.” She turned her gaze forward again, letting out a sad sigh. “You did a great job fixing all the damage I caused…” Twilight placed a wing on the mare’s shoulder, smiling warmly at her. “You’ve come a long way, yourself, Sparks.” She patted her back, then brought her wing over to the foal in Sparks’ carriage. He was a white-coated Unicorn colt with a messy black mane and tail and hazel eyes. He grabbed her wing, nuzzling it up to his muzzle. “You agree with me, don’t you, Oathsinger?” The colt babbled contentedly against his aunt’s wing, eliciting a small laugh. “Yeah, well, things change when it’s not just about you anymore.” She moved over to the stallions on the sidewalk, shaking herself out of her depression. “Anyway! Bridleway! I’ve been looking forward to some shows for weeks, now!” Twilight trotted over, taking a spot next to her spouse. “Are they still playing Hinnie in the Hills? I love that one!” “No, but I did score us some tickets to Winging In The Rain!” Boltsinger answered, holding out a set of tickets in his wing. Sparks looked quizzically at her brother-in-law, befuddled at the possibility. “You did? How?!” “You have no idea how many actors I’ve helped over the years.” he bragged, brushing his hoof against his chest. “I just talked to one of the ones I can actually remember, and she said she would be happy to have us!” “I suppose that’s a nice alternative.” The Alicorn teased, starting for their hotel. “I’ll get us checked in. Why don’t you all go see the sights? I’m sure you have a lot to get through!” “You sure you don’t need any help with the little Prince?” Boltsinger inquired, tickling the baby Alicorn in his carriage. “It is his first big trip outside of Ponyville, after all.” Twilight gave her husband a confident nod. “I’m sure. You all have fun, and we’ll catch up with you later. You know, family bonding!” “Well okay, then.” He gave each of the Alicorns a kiss on the cheek. “Catch up soon.” He flapped his wings, lifting himself to turn and face his remaining family members. “So who wants to see the city?” The Bridleway district of Manehattan was bustling like nothing the Vanhoover ponies had ever seen. Everywhere they looked, there were ponies. They ranged from tourists to business ponies to enthusiasts of all kinds, carrying cameras, briefcases, anything anypony would expect running all over the place. Brightling looked around, swallowing a lump in his throat as the feeling of the big city finally settled in. “So… how is this supposed to be ‘exciting’?” “You don’t feel the energy?” Boltsinger asked, taking a deep breath. “There’s something about seeing ponies in their element that supercharges me!” “That’s good for you…” the yellow stallion began, casting his gaze to the tall buildings above. “But I just feel out of place. What about you, Sparks?” He turned to look at his wife, finding Oathsinger’s stroller without anyone pushing it. “... Sparks?” “Just look at all this!” the grey mare called, prancing forward on the sidewalk. “I thought Canterlot was a big city, but this is something else entirely!” She trotted over to Brightling, letting an uncharacteristically wide smile onto her face. “How is it that we’ve never come this far east before?” “Because…” Brightling gulped down another throat lump, shakily smiling at her. “T-t-t-tall b-buildings… Can we stay on the ground, please?” Sparks chuckled, giving him a peck on the cheek. “Of course. It’s not like theatres go all that high up, anyway.” She wrapped her magic around the stroller’s handle again, starting down the sidewalk. “So, how about we go to the park? That’s nothing but ground! Plus it’ll give Oathsinger a place to play.” “You mean the one with the huge rock?” Boltsinger inquired. “Pinkie’s sister, Maud, has told me all about it. I mean, I’ve seen it plenty of times, but she sees it in an entirely different way.” Once again, Sparks shot Boltsinger a look of abject confusion. “Maud? What, is she obsessed with rocks or something?” “Well, she does have a rocktorate in rock science.” The performance pony pointed out. Another chuckle escaped the mare’s mouth as she accelerated her trot. “You have some weird friends, Bolt. But I guess that works for a weird pony like you.” Boltsinger pridefully puffed out his chest. “I’ll take that as a complement!” The ponies walked in silence for a short while, Brightling slowly calming himself down. He tapped his younger brother on the shoulder, moving to trot beside him. “So how is being a dad treating you?” Boltsinger looked back at the brunette, tilting his head. “Honestly?” Brightling nodded. “About the same as being a substitute professor.” “What are you talking about?” “My nerves are shot.” “How is that? From what I’ve seen, you’ve been doing great with Nova!” “Thanks, but I’ve had a lot of help. He’s a wing-full when he sets his mind to it.” the orange stallion laughed for a moment, remembering a particularly amusing scene. “Just ask Princess Celestia!” Brightling rolled his eyes, balling up his wing and lightly punching his sibling in the shoulder. “Quit your bragging, ‘Prince’. Not everyone can afford a royal babysitter.” The brothers shared a laugh, casting their attention forward as a shrill squee sounded in the distance. “Oh my gosh! Brightling, Bolt, come see this!” The stallions gave one another a panicked look, then broke into a gallop, weaving past a number of ponies until they skidded up next to Sparks. She was looking dreamily at a poster on the wall of the theatre, lifting her hind legs with Oathsinger looking over her head from atop her back. “What’s going on?!” “They’re holding auditions for ‘Luna Bay’! I love that one!” she announced, trotting in place. “Oh, I only wish I could audition… but I don’t know the first thing about being in a musical, and I probably live too far away…” “Luna Bay, huh?” Boltsinger repeated, looking over the poster. “I think I’ve seen that one before.” Sparks’ eyes lit up with realization as she slowly turned her head to her in-law. “Wait a minute… You’re a performance pony… Do you think you could audition?” Boltsinger shook his head with a hearty “Nnope. My life is a little too hectic to do something like this. Besides, I’m not good enough for Bridleway.” “Utter nonsense!” a Trottingham tenor called from behind. “I know for a fact that you’d do Bridleway proud!” Boltsinger’s ears twitched with familiarity. His eyebrows and ears went low as he turned to face the voice’s owner, a tall, brown Unicorn stallion with grey eyes and a short, black, messy mane and tail. He was covered in scuffs and dirt, with dust billowing off of him with every movement. He looked back at the Pegasus with an uneasy grin. “What are you doing here, Paradigm?” A sudden neigh came out of the other present Pegasus. Brightling reared up, turning around and stomping on the concrete below. “Paradigm? You mean the one that--" “Eeyup.” Boltsinger sternly confirmed. That was all the elder sibling needed to hear, he balled his wings to resemble fists and stomped forward while his wife returned the foal to his stroller, flaring her horn and taking aim. “How is it you have the nerve to approach my brother after what you did?! What the heck is your deal?!” Paradigm stepped back, raising a defensive hoof. “Wait a minute! I’m not here to harm anypony!” he pleaded, dropping his rump to the road. “I promise, I mean no harm! I just want to talk!” “Yeah… I hear talking is something you’re really good at…” Brightling spat, stepping forward and winding up his wing. “Please! I don’t want a conflict! I just need your help!” the Unicorn stressed, scooting backward. Brightling reared up, twisting his body and swinging his wing at the pony in front of him. “I’ll believe that when elephants fly!” Paradigm covered his face with his forelegs, bracing for the impact. As the balled-up wing was about to hit its mark, Brightling felt a tug on his tail, pulling him back just enough for him to only hit the air. He looked back to see what the source was, finding his little brother’s teeth clenched down on his tail. “What the heck, Bolt?” “You heard what he said, big brother. He’s just here to talk.” He patted his brother on the back reassuringly, easing his wing down. “Besides, if he wanted to fight, he wouldn’t have opened with a compliment.” He walked past the yellow pony to face the brown one. “What is it you need help with, and why do you need me for it?” Paradigm lowered his forelegs, rising to his hooves again. “Have you ever lived in squalor? Because that’s how I’ve been living ever since you and your friends defeated me.” “And why would we care about that?” Sparks wondered. “From the sounds of it, you got exactly what you deserved.” Boltsinger looked back at the grey mare with the flattest expression he could muster. “Really, Sparks? You’re not exactly one to talk.” Sparks raised a hoof, trying to find a point, but soon found her foreleg falling limp as the performance pony peered back at Paradigm. “Yes, well… Let’s just say it was a… humbling… experience.” the brown pony continued. “I’m not interested in some petty revenge, just as long as I can finally do something with my life again. And that… leads me here.” “Here as in to me or here as in to Bridleway?” Boltsinger inquired. “Well, initially it was just Bridleway, but then I caught a glimpse of you.” he explained, walking up to the poster. “You see, if there’s one skill I have that’s something I developed myself, it’s acting.” “Yeah, I bet years of leading a cult will do that…” Brightling muttered, only barely whispering. “Indeed.” Paradigm deadpanned. “If I may continue… It’s a skill that I thought I might put to use.” Boltsinger brought his hoof to his muzzle. “So you’re auditioning for Luna Bay… I get it.” Paradigm gave a definitive nod. “Quite. I was originally just going to wing it, but I saw you, and thought that if anypony could help me prepare for a performance, it would be you.” Boltsinger looked at Paradigm’s weak smile, then back at his siblings, eyeing the audition poster behind Sparks. He let a soft smile create his muzzle as he looked back at the tall stallion. “Okay.” Brightling tilted his head for a moment. “Okay?” Paradigm tilted his own head in kind. “Okay?” “Okay as in I’ll help you.” the royal Pegasus clarified. The black-maned stallion visibly lit up, running up next to Boltsinger and rapidly shaking his hoof with both of his forelegs. “Oh, thank you, Bolt! Thank you so much! With your talents I just know I can nail--" Boltsinger put his hoof over Paradigm’s mouth, stopping him in his ramble. “Under some conditions!” Boltsinger was met with a rapid nod. “Yes, of course! I’d be happy to do this your way! What do you have in mind?” “You’re allowed to reflect talents only as long as you are actively learning the skills you’re copying.” he clarified, returning his hoof to the floor. He looked Paradigm over once more, his face scrunching up slightly as the state of disrepair he was in made itself olfactorily known. “And you have to get cleaned up… Come with me!” he started down the street, pulling Paradigm along with him. “We’re gonna go see Rarity.” Beightling and Sparks watched the orange stallion as he trotted off, turning to look at each other. “You’re going to go with them, right?” Sparks suggested. “Of course. I’m not about to just trust somepony like that.” he replied. “Let Twilight know what’s going on. I’ll keep you posted.” He leaned in, giving her a swift kiss on the lips as he cantered after them. The bell at the boutique rang, signaling to Rarity that more customers had arrived. She peeked out of the back room, watching as one of her employees approached a pair of stallions that she instantly recognized. “Ah! Boltsinger, Brightling! How lovely to see you!” she greeted, trotting over to them. She waved her employee aside. “I’ll handle these customers personally, dear.” She put a hoof around each of them guiding them into the store. “So what brings you two to Saddle Row? I knew you were in town, but I figured you’d be staying closer to Bridleway!” “We’re actually here to help someone audition for Bridleway.” Boltsinger explained. “Plus, why not come visit?” “You have a friend auditioning on Bridleway?!” she repeated, showing the stars in her eyes. “Oh, you simply must tell me who it is!” “Um… That would be me.” a Trottingham accent announced. Rarity turned around to see who had called out, finding Paradigm standing in the doorway. The fashionista’s jaw dropped slightly, quickly using her hoof to close her mouth. “You can’t possibly expect…” “I understand if you don’t want to help me…” Paradigm interjected, making ready to leave. “No, no, no, let me finish, please!” she corrected, magically pulling him forward. “I was saying that you can’t possibly expect to land an audition looking like that! Come with me!” Paradigm took a panicked glance back at Boltsinger and Brightling as he was dragged across the floor. “What are you planning…?” “Oh, it’s nothing, dear.” she assured him, moving him to a room far in the back. “Just… this!” She lifted him into the air, plopping him into an already-filling bathtub. She floated a large number of brushes and sponges forward, squirting some body wash onto him. “First, we’re going to get you cleaned up, and then it’ll be time to upgrade your look!” Paradigm slouched over as the scrubbing began, going back and forth through his fur. “Do you really have to do the scrubbing? I think I can handle this much.” The scrubbing stopped as Rarity realized what she was doing. She floated the various cleaning tools in front of the stallion with a mild blush on her face. “Yes… Yes, I suppose you can. Sorry!” Paradigm took the tools, selecting to work and closing the curtain. “No problem.” He continued where Rarity had left off, scrubbing in silence for several moments. Eventually, a thought furnished the stallion’s mind. “So, why are you helping me? I’d have thought you’d drive me away after what happened when last we met.” “Oh, that’s all in the past, darling.” Rarity stated, looking through a number of garments. “Besides, if Bolt is willing to give you a hoof, then I can certainly give you the benefit of the doubt.” “Really? Just because of him?” “Well, not just him. I would have helped you if it were any of my friends vouching for you.” she clarified, lifting a pair of glasses to inspect them. “They’re all excellent judges of character, you know.” Paradigm turned to look at Rarity, putting the cleaning products aside. “Are you ready for what comes next?” Paradigm’s horn flared a little, prompting him to turn around and hide his face. Calm down, Paradigm, she’s just a mare! You’ve dealt with plenty of them! What makes this one any different? He doused his horn, facing her again. She was holding up a towel, a hair dryer, a bottle of shampoo, and a large number of mane care products. He gave her a playful smirk, climbing out of the tub. “Bring it on!” “You think Twilight would like this?” Boltsinger asked, holding up a dress from the hanger. It had been an hour since Rarity took Paradigm into the back room, and the restlessness had set in. The brothers had begun perusing the wares in the hopes that they might find something their respective spouses would appreciate. Brightling shook his head, looking back to his own selections. “Maybe we should check another section? Rarity’s organization… Well, really it’s Twilight’s organization… Anyway, the way things are organized here is confusing. How do you know if something is ‘chic’ and when it’s ‘trending’?” “Don’t you help her with all this stuff?” Brightling wondered, lifting up a white gown. “With a lot of help from Rarity, Sassy, or Coco.” he stated. “I can’t figure any of this stuff out by myself.” “Well, then, I’m happy to know how much you trust my judgement!” Rarity declared, commanding the attention of the Pegasi. They turned to look at her smiling in the doorway. “Gentlecolts, I present to you the newly refurbished Paradigm!” she stepped aside, revealing the brown stallion behind her with his mane swept to one side, wearing a burgundy scarf and sporting a pair of simple, wireframe glasses. “Well, fellows, what do you think?” he asked, adjusting his new eyewear. Boltsinger approached the mirror-marked pony, thoroughly looking him over. “Well, I may not know anything about fashion, but I know a thespian when I see one.” He patted Paradigm on the back, smiling over him at the shop’s proprietor. “Rarity, you’ve done it again!” Rarity beamed as her friend came to the counter, placing a number of bits next to the register. “Oh, think nothing of it, dear. You just make sure you nail that audition!” “Will do!” Paradigm confidently confirmed. He raised his head high, making his exit with a new spring in his step. The other stallions gave her a farewell, following suit back into the streets. Once they were a ways back towards Bridleway, the Unicorn looked back. “So… About Rarity…” “She’s spoken for.” Boltsinger interjected. “Don’t even bother right now.” “I never said anything about that!” he deflected, accelerating to a trot. Boltsinger smirked at his brother, matching Paradigm’s pace. “Please, I haven’t seen anypony so smitten since I saw the way Spike looks at Rarity!” Paradigm’s pupils shrank, snapping his head to look at the bluenette. “Who looks at her?!” Brightling smirked in kind, catching up to the two of them. “You know, Spike! Twilight’s assistant, really good friend, dragon…” The newly-bespectacled pony brought his hoof forward, thoroughly scratching his muzzle. “A dragon, eh? Is he the one speaking for her?” He looked back and forth between the siblings, seeing little more than their grins that nearly gave way to a laugh. “You know what? Never mind! We have an audition to prepare for!” Boltsinger and Brightling gave up a simultaneous guffaw, nearly having to slow down as they continued on their way. “He’s helping who to what?!” Twilight queried. She sat with Sparks on a blanket while the foals chased each other around. Sparks had recently finished explaining the encounter she had just been privy to, and the idea had taken root. “It’s just like I said. He’s helping Paradigm to audition.” the grey mare reiterated. “He just showed up and asked for help, and he just… went for it!” “And he wasn’t trying anything suspicious?” the Princess stressed. Sparks shrugged, shaking her head. “Not unless you think it’s suspicious to look pathetic.” Twilight pondered the consequences of her husband’s decision, taking a long look at the frolicking foals. “I don’t know if it’s such a good idea to let somepony like him so close, but…” she breathed a sigh, another strong memory coming to mind. “Things didn’t go very well when I tried to fight Starlight, and it doesn’t sound like he’s trying anything, anyway.” She approached the playing babies, scooping Nova up into her wing and kissing him on the forehead. “Maybe I’m overthinking this. Boltsinger has learned a lot about friendship and forgiveness over the years. I should trust his judgement!” Sparks rolled her eyes, floating Oathsinger over to her and tickling him on the nose. “I guess I’m not in much of a position to argue, but I’m just not so sure about that pony.” “Well, why don’t you ask what they think?” Twilight suggested, gesturing down the road. “They’re coming right now.” Sparks looked where the Alicorn had indicated, seeing the Pegasi heading up the path with Paradigm nowhere in sight. “Welcome back, boys! Where’s your new old friend?” “Got him set up at a hotel.” Boltsinger stated, coming forward and sitting with his family. “When he heard we were coming to see you, he said he was gonna work on his audition song without me for today, and we can pick it up proper tomorrow morning.” “He looked a little nervous when he learned you were here, though.” Brightling noted, pointing to the Princess. “Like he was deliberately avoiding you.” “Give him a break. He’s a little nervous around everyone.” Boltsinger retorted, his wingtip now firmly in his son’s mouth. “Can’t say I blame him, considering somepony tried to beat him senseless today.” Brightling raised a defensive hoof. “Hey, I thought he was doing something… sinister…” “And I appreciate that.” he assured. “But I’d like it if you didn’t try to punch them first in the future.” Brightling gave him a smile, shrugging and sitting on the blanket as Boltsinger turned to his wife. Twilight put her free wing on his back, giving him a worried look. “Are you sure about helping him? He wasn’t exactly forthcoming last time he was friendly to us.” “I can’t say I’m a hundred percent sure about it, but…” He freed his wing from his son’s mouth, wiping it off and placing it on her Cutie Mark. “I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t give him a chance.” He raised a hoof as if making a toast. “To renewed friendships, right?” In that moment, Twilight’s heart skipped a beat. Her face slid into a bright smile as she put both of her forelegs around him, pulling him into a hug that could rival Pinkie Pie’s. “You have no idea just how proud you’ve made me!” Boltsinger struggled to breathe for a moment, putting his hoof on her back. “I think I have some idea…” He forced his way to a more comfortable position, looking her in the eye. “But it’s your fault, you know. You’ve rubbed off on me in all of the best ways.” “I’ll take that with pride.” she declared, moving to rest on her fetlocks and bringing a wing towards Nova. “So. How can I help?” “Princess Twilight!” Paradigm nervously exclaimed as the mare in question appeared in the entrance to his hotel room with Boltsinger. “Why… are you here?” “You didn’t think I’d miss out on this, did you?” she asked him, trotting into the room. “Miss… what?” The Unicorn inquired, tentatively approaching her. “Is there something wrong?” “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just excited to see your progress!” She told him. “Bolt and Sparks have told me all about what you’re up to, and I’m here to help in any way I can!” There was a pause as Paradigm’s gaze drifted to the mare’s Cutie Mark. He shook his head free of any encroaching thoughts. “Are you sure? What about your time together with your family?” “Brightling and Sparks are taking care of our son for now. It’s no problem.” Boltsinger explained, joining the other ponies in the room. Paradigm recoiled slightly, not having been aware of the little Prince’s existence. “I see… Well, perhaps it’d be best if we began, wouldn’t it?” “Eeyup.” the Pegasus confirmed, heading to the table and taking a seat. He scooped up the papers that sat on top, looking them over. “So, you understand that you’re going to have to sing in this audition, right?” “Well, it is musical theatre, after all.” he affirmed, sitting at the table opposite him. Twilight sat at the table’s head, looking excitedly between them. “Is there anything specific I should perform?” Boltsinger squinted at the music in his wings, his performer’s senses taking over. “Hmmmmmmm… Nope.” He tossed one sheet away, looking at the next. “Not that one…” Another sheet was flung aside. He lingered for a minute, then placed the sheet he inspected on the table. “This one.” He put the remaining papers aside, sliding the selection forward. “If you can get two minutes of this song down, you’ll have a solid chance. But you need to have the acting portion of the audition down, too.” Paradigm pulled the sheet closer, looking it over. “I see… So, how do you read it?” Boltsinger facehoofed, turning to his spouse. “Well, Twilight, this is where you come in. I’ve never been all that great at music theory.” “It’s a good thing for both of us that I’ve studied it so much!” she agreed, pulling over a blank page and a quill. The next two hours consisted of an in-depth lesson on the musical staff, going over the rhythm, how measures work, and an explanation of each note that Boltsinger would demonstrate. From there, Boltsinger assumed control once more, standing up and moving to the center of the room. He took a deep breath, beginning to belt out a song from the musical in question about the value of a mare, and how the performers lamented the fact that none were around. He went through it as if he were playing every part, as if to show the diversity he had to offer. As the song came to a close, Paradigm’s jaw dropped. “You want me to sing that… by myself?” “It’s the best choice to show what you can do.” Boltsinger said, waving him forward with his wing. “Plus it’s a song from this production, which can earn you brownie points.” Paradigm looked at Boltsinger like he was insane, floating the music over to look at it some more. “And how do you expect me to learn it within two days?” “Oh, I don’t.” The orange pony deadpanned. “I expect you to have it down by day’s end.” Twilight and Paradigm simultaneously recoiled, looking at each other, then back at the serious stallion. “All right, then… How do you expect me to learn it in one day?” Boltsinger beamed, pointing his hoof at the mirror on the brown pony’s flank. “That would be where your Cutie Mark comes in!” He moved to stand directly next to him, pointing between himself and the music. “I know the song, and you have the ability to reflect skills related to Cutie Marks… Like my ability to sing and learn music!” “So you want me to reflect your talents?” Paradigm reasoned, taking a glance at his Cutie Mark. “But don’t you think that’s cheating?” Boltsinger shook his head, putting his hoof around the tall stallion. “Not at all. Remember the condition I gave you?” Paradigm put his hoof to his muzzle, thinking back to the previous day. “I’m allowed to reflect talents, but I have to learn the skills… Oh. I see.” “Exactly. Only reflect me half of the time. Then learn the song, and the singing in general, for yourself through repetition!” He flared the wing opposite the pony next to him, making as grand a gesture as he could manage. “And Twilight will give her notes while we do it, to make sure you have as good of a judge as possible.” Twilight nodded, putting her hoof over her heart. “You can count on me! I’ll be as fair and impartial as possible!” The smiling faces of the royal ponies poured a strange kind of light into the nervous stallion. For the past several moons, he had made a point of not using his talents, for fear that he might revert to the pony he was. The trust these two had shown him by simply offering that he use those talents for something different had thrown him off guard, sending him into another long look at the mirror over his haunches. “Well, okay. If you’re willing to trust me this much, I suppose I can do it.” He closed his eyes, lighting his horn with a flash of electricity. The lightning on his Cutie Mark crackled with a new kind of intensity as Boltsinger’s Cutie Mark appeared in his mirror. He stood tall, taking a deep breath… Paradigm stood onstage the next day, his foreleg extended as he belted out the final notes of his musical number. The previous day’s practice had paid off, as his horn and Cutie Mark were unchanged from their normal state as he let out a final low note. The directors of the production sat in front of the stage, utterly enraptured in their applause. They whispered amongst themselves for a few moments, finally facing him again. “Mister Paradigm, that was truly marvelous!” one of them informed him, spreading her forelegs for emphasis. “We’d like you to come back tomorrow for rehearsal. You’ve got a part in the show!” Paradigm’s jaw dropped as far as it would go. He stared, wide-eyed, at the smiling ponies in front of him. “I… Well… Thank you! I promise I won’t let you down!” He took a bow, leaping off of the stage and heading for the back where his friends awaited. “Boltsinger! Princess Twilight! I did it!” “We saw! You were amazing!” Twilight confirmed, putting her hoof on his shoulder. “I’m so glad that you’ve found a way to apply yourself!” “Thank you Princess.” The black-maned stallion said, putting his own hoof on the mare’s. “You’ve no idea how much that means to me.” Boltsinger stepped beside his fellow stallion, patting him on the side with his wing. “I think we’ve got at least some idea.” “You will be helping me through the rehearsals as well, right?” Paradigm asked, looking back at his new music coach. Twilight breathed a sigh, shaking her head. “I wish we could, but we have responsibilities in Ponyville. I’ve got a school to run, after all.” “And I’ve got friends and family that need my help.” Boltsinger added. “But I’ve sent a letter to a good friend of ours that really knows her music! She’s going to be coming down from Baltimare to pick up where we left off. You’ll do great, I promise!” The Unicorn’s head sank, the pout on his lower lip making itself as obvious as possible. “I guess that works… How long are you staying before you have to go home?” “Actually, we’re due at the train station, soon.” Twilight stated, moving towards the door. “Rarity is waiting outside with Nova if you want to say hi to her.” At the mention of Rarity’s name, Paradigm noticeably perked up. He immediately trotted out the door, prompting an eye roll from Twilight and Boltsinger as they followed him. As the winged ponies returned to the sidewalk, Paradigm was already laughing alongside the couturier, turning his attention to the foal below. “So… this is the little Prince I heard about yesterday?” “Oh, yes! This adorable little one is Prince Nova!” Rarity confirmed, picking the foal up with her forelegs and magically pinching his cheeks, getting a happy little giggle in return. “He’s just the most adorable little colt in Equestria!” “Yes, he’s certainly powerful…” Paradigm said, letting a smidge of hunger appear in his eyes. Rarity tilted her head, pulling the baby close with an intrigued expression. “Why, yes. He’s quite powerful… But that’s not what I said at all.” “It isn’t?” He queried, putting his hoof on his forehead. “I’m terribly sorry… I must have mixed my words up. He’s very cute. I can see why his family loves him so much.” “He’s easily the most important pony in our lives.” Boltsinger affirmed, patting Paradigm on the side as he stepped up to the stroller. The brown stallion remained still, his eyes continuing to peer at the dark orange foal. Boltsinger squinted slightly, nudging him a little harder. “And we’d do anything to protect him.” Paradigm snapped free of his apparent trance, nodding and looking at the Pegasus. “Yes! Yes, as you should!” He glanced between Rarity, Twilight, and Boltsinger, taking a bow. “Well, I’ve kept you fine ponies long enough. I thank you for all you’ve done, and I hope to see you when the show begins proper!” Boltsinger’s smile returned as he pulled the newly-established thespian into a hug. “Not even Celestia could tear me away, Paradigm.”