The gymnasium at Canterlot High School had always been decorated for special events. Dances like the annual Fall Formals and Spring Flings, concerts like the notorious Battle of the Bands, and special holiday celebrations, and tonight was no different. All the bleachers, save for one on either side of the gym where two spotlights were set up, had been collapsed to make room for the many folding chairs that had been set up in neat rows in front of the stage. Many seats had already been filled by the alumni, the current student body, and their families, and more passed through the doors in the minutes before the performance was about to start.
Spike the dog peeked his head out from the stage left wing. Only Derpy noticed, and she waved at him. He waved back and pulled his head backstage.
"Wow, it's a full house out there!" he said as he turned toward the rest of the cast and pulled the hood of his purple costume over his ears. He now resembled a quadruped version of his Equestrian counterpart, complete with a thick tail and green spikes running from his head to the tip of the tail. The seven girls known as the Rainbooms had opted to wear the winterwear of their costumes while remaining in their ponied up forms, while the others involved in the play had had costumes compiled and sewn by Rarity, whose designs were quickly gaining popularity in the fashion industry.
Fluttershy trembled a bit, and Applejack placed her hand on her yellow friend's shoulder. "That's hundreds of people. You gonna be all right, sugarcube?"
Fluttershy nodded. She wore a simple tan turtleneck over a long-sleeved floral purple shirt and white thermal sweatpants in addition to her usual green skirt and boots. "Mhm. I just need to pretend that everyone is you again, like when we performed Bedazzled. It'll only take a few minutes."
"Not to rush you too much, Fluttershy," Sunset Shimmer said as she approached everyone, "but places! We're on in five." Sunset wore a simple outfit of black jeans and a black t-shirt, and a headset with a microphone. Twilight, who wore a gray jacket and yellow scarf and earmuffs over her usual outfit, approached her friend.
"What about your nerves, Sunset?" she asked. "Will you be ready in time?"
Sunset took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "Is it that obvious that I'm nervous?" Twilight nodded. "I should be all right. We've faced a lot of stressful situations, but there's still nothing quite like the anxiety of premiering a musical I wrote and directed. Do you think everyone will like it?"
"Sunset, there's no one in this world who understands Equestria more than us. We'll be fine!" she said with a smile, and adjusted her glasses. "Oh, no! I forgot to put in my contacts!"
Sunset chuckled as Twilight started hyperventilating, and placed her hands on her friend's shoulders. "It's all right, Twilight," she said with a smile. "While the character was supposed to be Princess Twilight, it's not really that important. Now get to your place." Twilight nodded and hurried off to her position. Sunset glanced to the side where Micro Chips, the technical manager, stood and gave him the signal. He gave her a thumbs up and slid some knobs on his light and sound mixer board.