Time had seemed to fly by, recently. Midnight, Blueblood, and their friends Dr. Whooves, Techorse, and Stencil Guide had unveiled a new airship, Midnight had introduced the Silverbolts, the Council of Friendship had stopped a conspiracy against the crown, the boys had become the Knights of Harmony, and insured the reformation of the government, Blueblood and Rarity got married and become the godparents of the baby daughter of their good friends Fancy Pants and Fleur, and Big Macintosh finally figured out he was going to be a daddy, and even Celestia and Sombra had announced they were with foal.

After all that excitement, the Council of Friendship was glad things had slowed down in the past couple of months and now they could get back to their lives in Ponyville, and just enjoy the moment.

However, at the moment, things were quite busy. The Council of Friendship had decided to organize a charity concert called the Helping Hooves Music Festival, and Applejack had volunteered to oversee the organization of the event. She'd led the construction and detailing of the stage for the musical performances, made sure all the decorations were in place, and had plenty of help in keeping things running smoothly thanks to the assistance of Amethyst Star.

She looked to see Twilight and Midnight coming her way as Twilight asked, "Are you sure you've never organized a concert before?"

"Well, it turns out tha' doin' up a concert's a lot like settin' up a rodeo," Applejack shrugged but was glad to see things were going smoothly.

"Not to mention Pinkie's connections organizing the Ponypalooza Rock Concert and Cheese knowing practically every performer in Equestria," Midnight brought up while levitating a list, "we've got quuuuiiiiite a lineup. The Helping Hooves Music Festival is gonna be a blast!"

"Twilight! Midnight! Applejack! Thunderlane! Rainbow Dash! Soarin! Rarity! Blueblood! Big Mac! Fluttershy! Cheese Sandwich! Spike! Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie blinked and realized she was looking in a mirror after getting up in everypony's faces.
"Oh wait, that's me... EVERYPONY!!"

"I have the most amazing news ever!" Pinkie declared, "It is totally gonna freak your frizz!"

"It wasn't easy. in fact, it was terribly difficult," Pinkie stated firmly while marching back and forth in front of her friends, "But I have managed to book the biggest Pony Pop Star in all of Equestria as the main attraction of the Helping Hooves Music Festival!"

"Sapphire Shores?! Puh-lease!" Pinkie snubbed, "Sapphire Shores is merely the SECOND biggest Pony Pop Star in Equestria. I have booked: The One. The Only. COUNTESS COLORATURA!!!"

The immediate response were collective ooh's and ah's from everypony present in response to this big news, courtesy of Pinkie P-

Applejack shrank meekly as everypony helping set up the stage for the concert gaped at her in utter disbelief while Pinkie Pie's mane and tail popped upwards as she said, "My frizz has been freaked."

She sat down to fix her mane a bit as Applejack approached her, "Pinkie Pie, who is this... Countess Coloratura pony?"

Once her mane and tail were in their typical cotton candy bounciness, Pinkie Pie responded, "I just told you that she's the biggest Pony Pop Star in Equestria! How - How - How - How - HOW have you not heard of her?!"

"Dunno, though Ah did know a gal named Coloratura when Ah was just a filly," Applejack gave it a quick thought before chuckling with a soft snort, "Wouldn' it jus' be th' funniest thang if tha' Coloratura an' this Coloratura were th' same Coloratura?"

"do you mean to tell me that you actually know Countess Coloratura?" asked Pinkie with a raised brow.

"Well, Ah don' think it's th' same pony since mah friend wasn' any sort o' highfalutin' countess," Applejack shrugged.

"Sure do! It had this super colorful bunch o' musical notes tha' jus' shimmered in th' light," Applejack smiled at the memory.

"You mean... like this?!" Pinkie showed her rump where a photo was taped over her cutie-mark to show somepony else's rump with just the cutie-mark Applejack had described.

"Well, fancy that!" Applejack was surprised. "Tha' there's th' very same cutie-mark."

"Do you have any idea the number of hoops I had to jump through to get her to perform at the festival?!" Pinkie got all up in Applejack's face, which shook no in response. "A WHOLE LOT OF HOOPS! That pony is very demanding!"

"We completely understand," Rarity spoke up.
"Yes, every artist requires certain things in order to bring out the best in their work," Blueblood added.

"This is clearly jus' some misunderstandin', cuz Rara was jus' as down home as me," Applejack stated.

"Even tha' big name was too fancy for her," Applejack went on, "So Ah shortened ColoRAtuRA to Rara."

She smiled warmly at the memories as she elaborated, "We had th' best time at Camp Friendship. Rara was jus' so easygoin'. We wer' like two apples from th' same branch. Rara an' Ah even prepared this song for th' Camp Talent Show, an' when we performed she belted it out, singin' in th' most colorful clear voice Ah'd ever heard. After camp, we wrote t' each other fer a bit, but... then we lost touch. But Rara always did wanna go t' Manehatten t' try an' make it big. But a demandin' diva?"

She shook off the very idea and stated, "Jus' you wait, Pinkie. Once Rara gets here, you'll see she's just a plain ol' pony like you `r me."

"I don't have to wait!" Pinkie smiled like the biggest fanfilly in the metaphorical room as she shrieked, "SHE'S HERE!!!!!!"

"Really?" Applejack looked where everypony else was looking... and it wasn't what she expected.

A large, geometrically-shaped golden... thing was carried by four earth pony stallions dressed in punk-rock styled clothes in the same manner of carrying somepony on a litter before they stopped and set it down. Immediately afterwards, steam hissed out of the edges of the big object as panels unfolded, speakers came out, and a light effect showed the silhouette of somepony lounging on a throne with a certain cutie-mark on it before that somepony slowly stepped out, revealing herself.

She was an earth pony with a pale aquamarine coat, she wore a purple jacket and jewelry on her legs, her mane and tail... somehow everypony knew it wasn't her real mane or tail. Both were too long and had a look to them that everypony figured meant they were a wig and tail extension. Over her face was some kind of black veil through which they could see her heavily makeup'd brows, lashes, and mascara surrounding her opal eyes.

It was her cutie-mark, so she knew it had to be her, but this was not the pony Applejack had been expecting as she confusedly uttered, "Rara?"

"AAAAAAH!!! COUNTESS COLORATURA!!!" Pinkie fainted on the spot when another pony came forward.

He had a white coat, wore a full blue business suit, his mane was curly and two-toned salmon pink, dark tangelo eyes behind a pair of spectacles on the bridge of his snoot, and he wore a look that said 'I'm better than you' as he approached (unknowingly or perhaps uncaringly stepping on Pinkie Pie) as he snapped, "Clear the way! Step back. Keep your hooves and tails to yourselves!"

Following him (and also stepping on Pinkie) were the punk dressed stallions and Countess Coloratura, whom they surrounded like bodyguards.

"No... tha' can't be her," Applejack whispered before she approached Coloratura, clearing her throat, "Uh, hi. Remember me? We met at Camp Friendship? Ah gave you th' nickname Rara?"

The name rang a bell as Coloratura gave it a thought before her eyes brightened up behind her veil and she turned to smile at Applejack, "AJ?"

"Yeah! Heh, howdy, Rara," Applejack was relieved to see her old friend remembered... when the snooty pony whispered something to Coloratura... who pressed her hoof to Applejack's cheek, leaving a red hoof and heart-shaped kiss mark, from a stamp she was holding.

"Hoovsies!" Coloratura exclaimed brightly before walking away, leaving Applejack bewildered.

"Ooh! You got Hoovsies from Countess Coloratura!" Rarity smiled at Applejack before levitating a hoofheld mirror to show her, "Look! Ooh, she clearly thinks you're very special!"

They looked to see Coloratura was doing the same thing to other ponies lining up to get Hoovsies from the Countess! "Hoovsies! Hoovsies!"

"Yeah... real special," Applejack muttered while wiping the Hoovsy mark off her cheek while watching that snooty pony, whom she gathered must be Rara's manager, talking to the Countess.

The aforementioned pinky party pony pulled up a wagon full of stuff, saying, "I'm the pony Pinkie Pie, Mr. Manager, sir!"

"Do you have the water imported from Rainbow Falls that I requested from Countess Coloratura?"

"I have twenty glass containers full right here," Pinkie held up a wooden crate holding the imported water in glass bottles, all of them with a label showing Rainbow-colored falls.

"Did I not tell you to provide straws in all of Countess Coloratura's beverages?!" he snapped.

"I don't think so..." Pinkie Pie said warily while Applejack was a little put off by the manager's behavior.

"Hmph, well, let us confirm that you acquired the rest of the items Countess Coloratura requested before she performs her run-through, shall we?" the manager approached the wagon and listed off the items it carried.
"Floral arrangements from the Royal Canterlot Gardens, chocolate eclairs made by Gustave le Grande, a selection of crystals from the Crystal Empire, freshly picked cherries from Cherry Jubilee's farm separated red from yellow...?"

"Well, by some miracle, your requests have been reasonably met, So let us move on-"

Then, one of the stallions of Coloratura's entourage came over to whisper something into the manager's ear, "WHAT?! What do you mean the other two backup dancers didn't show?!"

There were several gasps among the volunteers, as well as Coloratura, as the manager griped, "Well isn't this just perfect!! How - I ask you - HOW is Countess Coloratura supposed to perform her rehearsal without her full team of backup dancers?! Somepony take a note, whoever those dancers are, I don't give a flying buck what their sad little excuses may be-"

"Uh, excuse me, Mister Manager, sir!" Cheese Sandwich popped up, interrupting the manager's rant, "I know it can be stinkier than old cheese when something like this goes wrong, but the rehearsal can still go on!

"Say what?!" chorused Midnight, Big Macintosh, Thunderlane, Blueblood, and Soarin.

"Hmm, the Knights of Harmony dancing with the Countess..." the Manager considered before perking up but covering his approval with a look of impatience.
"Well... it's last minute, but I suppose it'll have to do. I trust you already know the choreography?"

"No prob, just gonna have a quick word with the guys and then we'll be right with the Countess onstage," Cheese saluted before slipping over to the guys, who all looked reluctant.

"Cheese, what the hay?!" Thunderlane gave the orange party pony a 'for real?' look.
"Sandwich, sure the Countess is a faous celebrity," Blueblood added, "none of us know the dance moves to her music."
"Eeyeaahhh, Ah'm not real sure `bout this," Big Mac rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, guys, Cheese does have a point about one thing," Midnight raised a forefeather, "Countess Coloratura is the headliner for this concert, and remember what this concert's about."
"If she can't perform, then the concert and the charity might be ruined," Soarin agreed.

"Yeah! I mean, c'mon, guys," Cheese bounced like an excited colt waiting in line for a big carnival ride, "I'm sure we've got this! I mean, it wasn't that long ago we were going hoof to hoof with a crazy magically-armored politician!"

"And... I think I know a little spell that'll help us get the dance moves down to pat," Midnight brought up.

"O Knights of Harmony...!" the Manager called in a singsongy tone laced with his impatience, "Whenever you're ready! Oh, not unless it's an inconvenience to you all..."

"Coming!" Cheese smiled nervously to him before turning back to his friends, "C'mon guys, whattya say?"

"Well... it would be kinda awesome to dance with Countess Coloratura," Thunderlane smiled hesitantly.
"An' we gotta make sure th' concert works out," Big Mac sighed.
"All right Cheese. We're in," Blueblood nodded amicably.

Thankfully, Coloratura's entourage brought spare dancer outfits and her personal choreographer to show the guys the moves they had to do for the rehearsal, and Midnight's spell of adoptive muscle memory made learning the dance moves a cinch. Once they were ready, the manager, who by now they had learned was named Svengallop, called everypony to their places, and all the volunteers crowded in anticipation before the stage, as the lights went out, and before long, rehearsal began.

Time for the spectacle, time for the show
(The Countess descended down a stair case, whipping her head side to side as lights flashed on and off while a fog machine began to fill the stag with mist)

The lights are bright and the colors glow

I'm not just anypony, I think you know
(She reached the bottom of the stairs, neared the audience...)

The time is now, it's about to blooooooooowwwwwww
(...and threw her head back as lights flashed, lasers lit the place up, and fireworks blew the audience away)

Razzle Dazzle! Glitz and Glam!
(To the countess's left were Blueblood, Cheese Sandwich, and Soarin, who'd reared up to wave their forelegs, and on her right were Thunderlane, Midnight, and Big Mac doing a kickoff the ground before the stood up and waved towards Coloratura; all six of them wore sleeveless faux-leather jackets with metal studs and opened to reveal their chests, accessories and minor makeup, and their manes and tails were styled punkish or wild)

Turn it all up, it's a spectacle

Razzle Dazzle! Glitz and Glam!
(Coloratura continued to dance to the beat, as did her backup backup dancers, as everypony watched in jubileous awe)

Turn it all up, it's a spectacle

Give me more Razzle Dazzle

Glitter eyes, big surprise

Lights, camera

(At this point, Coloratura's choreographer and lead special FX expert channeled a beam of light to her necklace, creating a prismatic shine, while she vocalized)

Razzle Dazzle! Glitz and Glam!

Turn it all up, it's a spectacle

Hear the applause
(Coloratura walked towards the back ot the stage...)

Here to impress

Not just a pony, I am the Countess!
(...before whipping around to strike a pose between her backup dancers, all holding their hooves out to her in reverence)

The crowd of volunteers cheered and whoo'd, not only for Coloraturas, but for their friends who got this awesome chance to perform with her. But then, Svengallop came back.
"Alright, dancers, take five! And my shining star! Thanks to the sparkling costumes, dazzling choreography, and brilliant vocal effects that I designed, ha-heh, your performance was SPECTACULAR, Countess Coloratura."

As they stepped offstage and got out of their outfits, Soarin whooped, "Okay, is it just me or was that absolutely the very definition of AWESOME?"

Except for Applejack and Rarity, the guys took notice of their girls and Spike walking up to them, all looking wowed and excited.

"Totally! You all looked like you'd been dancing with Countess Coloratura forever!" Spike complimented.

"Speaking of, I gotta help Countess Coloratura with her schedule," Pinkie zipped away over to the Countess and Svengallop, whom they watched share a few words before Applejack stepped up and led Coloratura away.

Then, Fluttershy sighed, and Big Mac looked concerned, "Are you alright, darlin'?"

"Oh, I'm fine, Mackie," Fluttershy assured as she reached to her barrel, where she was finally beginning to show. "I suppose all that's going on is starting to wear me out a teeny bit."

"Well, dear, you simply must rest," said Rarity as she came over. "You and Macintosh are expecting, after all."

"But, I wouldn't want to leave everypony else to finish all the work for the concert and not do my part," Fluttershy protested softly.

"Oh Fluttershy, don't worry about it," Twilight assured, "You've already done plenty to help with the concert, and when you're feeling fresh as a daisy you can help again."

"C'mon, `Shy, howsabout we go an' get some grub?" Big Mac suggested to his wife, stepping over to nuzzle up to her, which she warmly reciprocated when her belly grumbled a bit.

"Alright, little one, mommy knows when she's outvoted," Fluttershy giggled, and everypony laughed and watched her and Big Mac walk off back to town.

Blaze the Pony Tale

by Wolven5

321. The Mane Attraction - Part 1