//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Our Principal Is A Belly Dancer // by mayorlight //------------------------------// At last, the morning of the recital had arrived. Celestia and Luna arrived at Canterlot High School bright and early to begin setting up the gymnasium. As they walked from the faculty parking lot, Luna noticed a tiny bead of sweat on her sister's temple. Somehow, she knew it was not from the heat. "Nervous?" Celestia's voice wavered ever so slightly. "Just a little." "You'll do fine. At least we don't have any otherworldly arcane menaces to deal with." It was true. There were no demons, portals to different dimensions or giant carnivorous plants invading the school this time around. Still, while Celestia was no stranger to getting up in front of an audience, delivering a speech was much different from performing. As a teacher and a school administrator, she frequently had to choose her words with care. To just cut loose and "let her body do the talking" still seemed an utterly alien notion to her. Sure enough, the Rainbooms were already gathered by the gym entrance, waiting for them. With them was their occasional collaborator DJ Pon-3, who had volunteered to act as the sound engineer for the event. Once Celestia unlocked the doors, they all got to work. Celestia and Luna prepared the backstage areas - the dressing room and restrooms in particular. Using their geodes, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Twilight Sparkle were able to quickly set up all of the folding chairs. Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy began taping up the signs and banners they had made for the event. DJ and Sunset Shimmer proceeded to test the sound system, queuing up the music tracks that Chiffon Veil had provided. It was not long before Cadance arrived with a tall blue-haired young man in tow. From the way Twilight ran up and embraced him, he was without a doubt her brother, Shining Armor. Celestia walked up and extended her hand. "Shining Armor, I presume?" "Principal Celestia, pleased to meet you," said Shining as took her hand in a firm, yet gentle grip. "I want to thank you for all that you've done for Twilight. Her transfer to CHS has really done her a world of good." "Glad that we could help. We are definitely proud to have her." "Did I hear correctly that you'll be making your debut today?" Celestia's cheeks reddened ever so slightly. There was nothing remotely salacious in neither Shining's tone nor his demeanor, but his words still caught her off guard. "Why yes, I am!" Shining gave her an earnest smile. "Well, break a leg!" "Good morning, all!" Everybody in the gym glanced over to the entrance to find Chiffon Veil tugging a large wheeled suitcase. "I'll be right back, I've still got more in my car." Shining was quick to offer assistance. "Please allow me!" Two trips to and from the parking lot were all it took for Shining Armor to retrieve Chiffon Veil's five remaining suitcases packed to the brim with props and costumes. Celestia could see why Cadance adored him so - he truly was a modern-day gentleman knight. Now she could not help but wonder if Cadance had ever indulged him with an extra-special performance. Chiffon Veil handed Pinkie Pie and Rarity a small file box containing the tickets, a clipboard listing the names of the ticket holders, and a cash box. Applejack hauled a folding table and a couple of chairs over to the gym entrance for them to use as their ticket counter. The timing could not have been more perfect, as the members of Chiffon Veil's adult belly dance class began to arrive, many of them with their friends and family in tow. Celestia and Luna ushered their classmates backstage to begin preparing, as Pinkie and Rarity began handing out tickets. Before long, the girls from Crystal Prep Academy - Sunny Flare, Sour Sweet, Sugarcoat, Lemon Zest and Indigo Zap - arrived. When they had first arrived at CHS, it was as rival competitors in the Friendship Games. Now, they came as friends in every sense of the word, their newfound bonds strengthened even further by Sugarcoat and Lemon Zest's involvement in Chiffon Veil's junior belly dance class. The Crystal Prep girls went over to chat with Cadance, Shining Armor and Twilight. After several minutes, Sugarcoat broke away from the group to approach Celestia. "Principal Celestia, thank you for opening up CHS to host this event." She gave a solemn smile before adding "We'll be rooting for you and Vice Principal Luna as well." While Sugarcoat seldom displayed much outward enthusiasm, her words nevertheless bolstered Celestia's confidence. "Thank you so very much, Sugarcoat." It was now twenty minutes to showtime. After the last of the dancers had arrived, Sunset strode over to Celestia and Luna. "Why don't you go ahead and get ready. We've got this!" "Thank you again, Sunset," said Luna. Celestia waved over to Cadance, who then gave Shining Armor a quick peck on the cheek before following her and Luna backstage. *** Twilight and Fluttershy relieved Rarity and Pinkie Pie from ticket counter duty, allowing them to rest a bit before the show started. Although all of the reserved tickets had been claimed, they had all decided to take turns minding the entrance in case of any latecomers. The seating area was nearly full with friends and family members eager to see their loved ones perform. It was almost showtime, and the excitement in the air was palpable. Just then, they noticed somebody entering the gym. "Hi! Welco-" Twilight cut off as she found herself staring into the all-too-familiar face of Principal Abacus Cinch of Crystal Prep Academy! "Good morning, Twilight," said Cinch in a sweet voice that still managed to chill her very blood. "Was it too late to purchase a ticket?" Twilight's mind raced. Principal Celestia's instructions were to sell a ticket to all paying customers. But what were the chances of this woman - the principal of her former school, who, by all accounts, still held a grudge against Canterlot High - actually attending this event, of all things? Did Principal Cinch know about Dean Cadance? Vice Principal Luna? Principal Celestia? Did she also know about Sugarcoat and Lemon Zest? About her? No! You don't know any of that for certain. Get a grip, Twilight! After a moment, Twilight managed to find her resolve. "No, not at all, Principal Cinch." Cinch's inscrutable mask did not change as she handed Twilight the cash payment. She did, however, crack a faint smile as she took her ticket from a visibly nervous Fluttershy - the sort of smile a predatory animal would give its prey just before it devoured them. Neither of the girls uttered a word as Cinch unhurriedly walked over to the seating area. *** Principal Cinch did not spare another look at Twilight Sparkle or the pink-haired girl as she walked further into the gymnasium. Although she had effortlessly concealed it, she had been quite surprised to find her former prized pupil assisting with something which was clearly beneath her. The new transfer was no doubt making every effort to curry favor at her new school. Cinch came to a stop as she reached the back row and scanned the entire seating area. She had expected to see the audience dominated by lecherous men of various ages. Instead, nearly three-quarters of the seats were filled with women and children. Some of the women were old enough to be grandmothers and the two youngest children were a pair of elementary school age girls. Did these parents even know what they were taking their children to see? It was not long before she spotted five girls seated in the third row. She blinked incredulously. Even outside of their Academy uniforms, Cinch recognized those hairstyles anywhere. The girls were none other than Indigo Zap, Lemon Zest, Sugarcoat, Sour Sweet and her own niece Sunny Flare! After Twilight, these five were her best students, and would have won the Friendship Games for Crystal Prep had it not been for CHS's accursed magic! But what were they doing here? She then noticed that Indigo Zap was chatting with a tall blue-haired man seated right next to her. Her eyes widened as she realized the man was her former pupil Shining Armor! What would Cadance think to see him here, watching cheap, raunchy entertainment like some debaucherous rake? Regaining her composure, Cinch quietly took a seat at the very end of the back row. So far, there was no sign of Celestia and Luna, but they were both here. She was certain of it. Earlier, she had spotted both of their cars parked in their assigned parking spaces, after all. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Twilight scurrying backstage. To inform Celestia and Luna of my presence no doubt. As she waited for the show to begin, she laid her hand on her smartphone as though it were a holdout pistol. No matter. I'll have all my answers soon enough! *** It was now five minutes to showtime and all of the dancers were dressed and ready to begin their recital. Only Celestia, Luna and Cadance remained in the dressing room applying the last of their makeup. Luna had once again donned her favorite black and silver bedlah, and Cadance her favorite blue and gold. Celestia had selected a simple yet elegant champagne and gold bedlah for her debut. Each of them had supplemented their outfits with a beautiful array of jewelry - earrings, bracelets, armbands, and anklets. Still, Celestia could not help but wonder if she herself were missing something. "Silly question time." "Go ahead, shoot," said Cadance as she finished with her eye shadow. "Did either of you ever consider wearing one of those belly jewels?" Luna raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying your own belly button isn't cute enough?" Celestia squirmed as her sister suddenly prodded her in the navel. Cadance giggled. She could not remember the last time she had ever witnessed Celestia and Luna acting like a pair of schoolgirls. Luna then gave her sister a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Relax, sister. You look absolutely stunning!" Once Cadance had finished applying her makeup, she popped open a small velvet box containing a sparkling blue crystalline heart-shaped pin. "What is that now?" asked Luna. "A gift from my students," said Cadance as she fastened the pin to her bra. The three of them were now ready to join their classmates on stage. They had just exited the dressing room when Twilight Sparkle came running down the hall. "Twilight, what's wrong?" asked Celestia. Twilight caught her breath. "Principal Cinch is in the audience!" Celestia only heard the first two words. Principal Cinch? Here? She had never anticipated this! Was this what her dream was really warning her about? She crumpled to her knees. Luna cried out to her as she quickly knelt down to support her. Celestia could only stare off into space as all of the dread possibilities flashed through her mind: all three of them losing not only their jobs but the respect of their students, their peers and the community at large! Both Luna and Cadance were now kneeling beside her, trying to snap her back to reality. Alas, she could barely hear either of their voices, let alone meet either of their gazes. How could she have been so foolishly reckless? Not only had she doomed herself but both of them as well! Now she found herself truly wishing for some otherworldly portal or monster to appear! Any reason to evacuate the gym and call off the event! Twilight looked so helpless. She was probably wondering whether she had just done the right thing by telling them. For what seemed like an eternity, nobody uttered a single word. Then Cadance gazed down at the crystal heart pinned at her bosom and broke the silence. "I knew this day would come sooner or later. I don't care if Cinch does decide to fire me! I am who I am." Then Luna spoke. "Knowing Abacus, her mind is already made up. If she wants to take us to the School Board over this, so be it." Her voice seemed to reverberate as she added, "We will not cave to her!" Celestia finally looked up at Luna and Cadance. Their words had fanned the embers of her soul, allowing her to find her resolve once more. "We have no hope of swaying her, and we will make no attempt to do so." At this, she rose to her feet. "Instead, we will say our piece. No more. No less." Tears of joy welled up in Twilight's eyes as Luna and Cadance rose up alongside Celestia. It was as though she were looking upon a trinity of resurrected saints! Just then, Chiffon Veil's voice called down from the end of the hall. "Hey, are you ladies ready?" "Be right there!" called Luna. Cadance turned back to Twilight. "Where is she sitting?" "In the back row, all the way to the right. Your right," Twilight gestured for emphasis. "She'll be easy to ignore." "On the contrary," said Celestia. "That is exactly where we will focus our attention!"