//------------------------------// // A Dream Come True... // Story: Light and Darkness – The Shadow of Midnight // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// With most of the students out for the weekend, the Cutie Mark Crusaders decided they deserved a very good rest, not only from their job at the academy, but also from their mission. They then went to Las Pegasus, going to a bar to take a drink. “Ah don’t know, Scoots” Apple Bloom said, while drinking her apple cider. “Ah think we shouldn’t have left tha academy. What if tha talent thief attacks again.” “Relax, AB” Sootaloo said. “That crook knows we’re on to him, after that last time in Leafgreen. He must have settle his eyes on somepony outside. Besides, we won’t be able to do our mission if we don’t clear our minds from time to time.” “We could have done that in Leafgreen” Apple Bloom replied. “Yeah, but I missed Equestria” Scootaloo said. “Don’t tell me you haven’t missed it too.” Apple Bloom was to replied to that, but then she didn’t, as Scootaloo was right. But, deciding to not give up her position, she turned to Sweetie Belle for back-up. “Sweetie, aren’t ya goin’ tah say something?” But she didn’t seem to be listen. Well, she was listening, but it was not her two best friends. “Ah, Sweetie?” Apple Bloom asked. “Are ya listenin’?” Sweetie Belle attention was to a young mare that worked as a waitress at that bar. She was an earth mare that had a light aquamarineish gray coat with a yellow star surrounded by five eighth notes (green, orange, red, purple and blue) as a Cutie Mark, a dark grayish indigo mane with dark indigo and moderate opal highlights and moderate opal eyes. While she was serving, she was singing, and very beautifully. “That voice…” Sweetie Belle said. “It’s… really something.” “Do you think she is a prodigy?” Scootaloo asked. “No, I can’t sense the Thirteenth Note, but that doesn’t mean it’s not perfect” Sweetie Belle said. “That pony… has a lot of musical talent.” “And perhaps a good target for the talent thief, right?” Scootaloo said, making a cocky look to Apple Bloom. She sighed and then said: “Jest ‘cause we may have found a potential target, it doesn’t make mah point less valid. But ya right, we need tah keep that girl under our watch.” Without them knowing, the same mysterious stallion they have chased in Leafgreen was there, watching everything, while keeping himself hidden. The young waitress was serving at the tables, while humming her song, but she got so carried away that she dropped the tray she was carrying. Fortunately, it was caught by a magic aura that levitated it and placed it on her back. “Oh, thank you so much” she said. It was then that she saw that the one that helped her was Sweetie Belle, that was soon joined by Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. “You’re welcome” Sweetie Belle said, with a smile. “Oh my Celestia…” she said. “But you’re… Sweetie Belle! Oh, I’m a great fan of yours!” “Thank you” Sweetie Belle said. “But, you know, I would like to talk with you, if it was possible.” “With me?” the young mare asked. “Yes” Sweetie Belle answered. “Tell me, what’s your name?” “Coloratura. But my friends call me Rara.” “Well, Rara, I just heard your singing and it was quite marvelous!” Sweetie Belle said. “You… You heard me?! But I wasn’t even singing that loud.” “Let’s just say I have a keen ear. But what I heard… Rara, you have a great potential and I can help you to groom that potential… that is, if you want to.” “Want to?” Rara asked. “That would be a dream come true!” “So let’s talk at your break” Sweetie Belle said. “We don’t want you to get you in trouble with your boss. We’ll be waiting at our table.” “And I’ll be there” Rara promised. And so that happened. When Rara was on her break, she went to talk with Sweetie Belle and the others at her table. “You don’t need to worry anything” Sweetie Belle said. “We’ll take of everything. I have a friend that owns a resort here in Las Pegasus and where I had already performed. He’s always looking for new promises to perform for his clients and I’m certain he would be glad to have you there.” “Wow, this is… happening so quickly!” Rara exclaimed. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this…” “You have the talent and the dream” Sweetie Belle said. “You can do this.” “Ya don’t have tah worry, Rara” Apple Bloom said. “Yeah, Sweetie Belle knows of this things” Scootaloo said. “I so do we. I don’t know if you know, but we are…” “The Cutie Mark Crusaders, yes, I already heard about you… everypony did” Rara said. “I know what you’re feeling, Rara” Sweetie Belle said. “I was already where you are. I was also too afraid of sharing my voice. But, believe me, once you let your talent shine, you’ll be great.” “Are you sure?” Rara asked. Sweetie Belle nodded with her head in an incentive way and so Rara said: “Well, I do have a song I’ve been working on.” “Great!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “So meet with me tomorrow and prepare yourself for your big premiere.” At the next day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders took Rara to the resort where the latter would perform. Getting in, they were soon greeted by the owner, an earth stallion with a grayish persian blue coat with three gold bits and three white four-pointed sparkles as a Cutie Mark, a light indigoish and light mulberryish gray mane styled in a pompadour and grayish chartreuse green eyes. He was wearing a flashy tuxedo. “Sweetie, darling!” he greeted, while approaching Sweetie Belle and kissing her hoof. “What brings my favorite singer to my resort. Don’t tell me you’re already tired of being a teacher and you want to break your break here. Uh-huh-huh.” “Actually, no, Gladmane” Sweetie Belle said. “But I can promise you that will happen once I return to perform. Allow me to introduce you to my old friends, the…” “The Cutie Mark Crusaders, yes I know!” Gladmane exclaimed, while approaching Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to hold their hooves. “It’s an honor to finally meet you two. Sweetie Belle talks a lot about you. Thank you for coming. Thank you very much.” “Wow, this is quite a greeting” Scootaloo commented, while she and Apple Bloom got their hooves back. “And this is Coloratura” Sweetie Belle introduced. “She’s an aspiring singer… a very talent one. And I was thinking if you could…” Gladmane looked attentively to Rara and then said: “Well, she does have a pretty face and, knowing you as I know, Sweetie, it’s clear she is talented… Very well, we can try it! Miss Coloratura, prepare yourself because you’re going to act on my resort.” “Really?!” Rara asked. “Thank you so much, Mr. Gladmane.” “Please, just Gladmane” he said. “Mr. makes me feel so old. And you don’t have to thank me. If Sweetie Belle is right about you, darling, then I’m the one that will have to thank you. My customers really like a very good show, so as long as you do that, you don’t have to thank me. Now, we have a lot to do if we want this premiere to happen today. Let’s do some magic!” And so the preparations began, with Sweetie Belle helping Rara with the warm-ups and also getting a beautiful dress and arranging her mane. When the night fall, Gladmane’s customers quickly filled the auditorium, with the stage now ready and waiting for the star. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were at the front seats, waiting for the show to start, while also attentive for the talent thief in case he appeared. Gladmane went to the stage and said: “Ladies and gentlecolts, I, Gladmane, vowed to bring light, music, and parties to all the ponies I host in my resort. And tonight is no different. Thanks to great friend of mine, I have the pleasure to introduce you a new talent that promises to let you astonished. With you, Coloratura.” And he moved away, while the curtains of the stage opened up, revealing a piano with a microphone. Rara was there, ready to start. Despite feeling very nervous, Rara took a deep breath and so started to play her music, while started to sing. It was a very beautiful song, where Rara expressed her true self. Her voice was inspiring and was reaching everypony that was watching her. The Cutie Mark Crusaders inclusive forgot for a moment about being attentive to the talent thief to admire her performance, but soon restarted their search. For some moments, they thought they saw him, but they were false alarms. When Rara ended the song, there was a few seconds of silence, where Rara thought they didn’t like it, but the crowd started to applaud her with great intensity. That caused Rara to be invaded by a great feeling of joy and happiness. “Look at that” Sweetie Belle said. “Rara’s dream has come true.” “And that’s all thanks to us” Scootaloo said. “Jest fer that, it was worth it comin’ here” Apple Bloom added. At that moment, the three mares were filled with a great feeling. It was like they could feel what Rara was feeling and that was a light that made them feel even stronger and at peace. But as fast as that feeling appeared, it also disappeared. “Did yall felt… what Ah jest felt?” Apple Bloom started. “Yes, it happened just after Rara’s dream came true” Sweetie Belle replied. “Do you think there’s a connection.” “Maybe…” Scootaloo said. Later, Rara was at her dressing room, recovering from her performance. She couldn’t believe the amount of happiness she was feeling. She had finally performed to a great public, her greatest and dearest dream, and more they loved her. Tears of joy came to her eyes. Suddenly, something strange happened, while she was getting ready to greet her new fans. A strange shadow appeared behind her for a moment and Rara noticed it through the mirror, and she got scared for what she saw. At that moment, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had a terrible presentiment. Sharing a look, the three of them understood what they had to do and got up from their seats and went to Rara’s dressing room. Getting there, they opened the door, with Sweetie Belle calling: “Rara! Are you here?!” But the dressing room was completely empty. “Oh no…” “We have to search for her” Scootaloo said, taking flight and getting out, followed by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. However, they couldn’t find her anywhere. “No sign of her” Apple Bloom said. “Do you think he got her?” Scootaloo asked, referring to the talent thief. “If he did, then it’s all my fault” Sweetie Belle said. “I was the one to push her to the stage.” “Don’t say that, sugarcube” Apple Bloom said, comforting her friend. “Ya did what ya had tah do. Ya help’d a pony have her dream come true. There’s nothin’ wrong on that. The fault is on this talent thief.” “Yeah, he’s the one who is kidnapping ponies” Scootaloo said. Those words coming from her best friends made Sweetie Belle feel much better. “Girls, there you are!” a voice said, revealing to be Gladmane. “I’ve been looking for you. Do you know where is our little star? The crowd is waiting for her.” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo tried to think of something to say, but it was Sweetie Belle who talked: “Well, you see, Gladmare, this performance of her really left Rara very ecstatic, but also very overwhelmed. You understand, right, Gladmare. I mean, she’s not the first singer to disappear after the first performance.” “That is true” Gladmare said. “But what will I now present to my costumers?” “Don’t tell me my favorite resort owner doesn’t have a plan b” Sweetie Belle said, with her seductive voice she had learned with her sister. “Well, of course I have” Gladmare said. “You know me, darling. Always prepared to any eventuality. Uh-huh-huh. I’ll get another performance in no time. And you mind tell Miss Coloratura to look for me when she is ready to really charge on her career.” “I will, don’t you worry” Sweetie Belle replied. “You’re a jewel, Sweetie darling” Gladmare replied, kissing Sweetie Belle’s hoof. And so he moved away. After he did, Sweetie Belle turned to her friends who were astonished with what they just watched. “What?” Sweetie asked. “That… was… awesome!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “You clearly owned him there!” “Ya look’d like yer sister usin’ her persuasive ability” Apple Bloom commented. “Well, I have to thank her for teaching me that, but also the fact Gladmare is a flirter” Sweetie Belle said. “That’s another reason why I try to avoid bringing Spike here. But now we have other things to think about, like finding out what happened with Rara.” Rara had just wake up, but she was now in what appeared to a forest, a dark one. She heard steps and looked, as the same shadow approached her. Fear appeared on her face, as she asked: “Who are you?! What do you want?!”