The Rainbooms' first song began, and Twilight felt a warmth spread through herself as she sang. Free from the darkness. In a far better place than she was months ago. The happiest she had felt in recent memory. She projected her joy in each note, each movement, and each expression.
Twilight held nothing back, letting herself go all out with a passion she didn't know she was capable of until now. It was exhilarating. It was liberating. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before... and she relished in it.
Timber watched Twilight, in complete awe of her performance. His heart skipped a beat as she twirled around, belting out note after note. She reached the edge of the stage, making eye contact, then twirled again...
...and winked at him.
Timber froze up for a moment, then grabbed his chest and staggered backward a few steps.
Heat rose to both Timber and Twilight's faces almost immediately, and Twilight hurried back to the center of the stage, much to the visible amusement of her friends.
Gloriosa barked a laugh at the sight, and her anxiety eased slightly. She was impressed that the Rainbooms didn't miss a single beat during that little interaction. She allowed herself a small smile, thinking to herself how cute of a couple those two would make, then headed off to count the donations.
The first song ended, and the Rainbooms were met with applause as Timber replayed what had just happened in his mind over and over again. His heart raced, and it took him several moments to calm down. That seriously just happened... and he loved it. This only made Twilight more desirable to him.
The second song began, and Twilight was still surprised at herself for that sudden bit of flirting! As she sang, she wondered what else she could do that she was unaware of. She glanced back at her friends, then closed her eyes with a smile. The possibilities felt endless with those six girls having her back, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Another thought entered Twilight's mind. What would her parents and BBBFF think of all that happened here? She remembered how worried they all were when Dean Cadance told them everything that happened during the Friendship Games. They're going to be so relieved that she's doing much better, that's what they're going to think!
For Twilight Sparkle, life was good.
Time passed as song after song was played, and Timber suddenly blanched. He was so entranced by Twilight that he forgot the whole damned point of the Crystal Ball: to save Camp Everfree! How could he have forgotten?! He pulled himself away from the stage, then ran off to find Gloriosa.
"Timber Spruce!"
Timber stopped, gritting his teeth at the sound of Filthy Rich's voice. He slowly turned around, not even making an effort to fake a smile. He sighed. "What do you want, Filthy?"
Filthy grinned. "I wanted to thank you for 'sprucing' up the cave for me. I'm coming up with so many ideas for the spa when I take over!"
It took a great deal of restraint for Timber to not slug Filthy square in the jaw. He narrowed his eyes. "We'll see about that once all the money's been counted."
Filthy kept his smug expression. "Indeed we will, Timber. Indeed we will." He walked away, likely to schmooze with the investors.
"Asshole," Timber muttered under his breath, then hurried off to where Gloriosa was. He would let nothing get in his way. No matter what happens to Camp Everfree tonight, he needed to be with her. To celebrate... or to mourn.
Timber found the room he was looking for, and all but threw the door open. "Glory!"
Gloriosa turned around slowly, tears running down her cheeks. "T... Timber..."
Timber's whole body went cold with fear, and he rushed to her side.
Gloriosa sniffled, then hugged Timber tightly. "W-We..."
Timber returned the hug as a lump formed in his throat.
"W-We got enough m-money... we're gonna be okay..." Gloriosa broke, and Timber followed. Tears of joy and relief fell from their eyes. At long, long, last... their nightmare was over. Camp Everfree still had a future. They still had a future.
The Rainbooms' second to last song was almost over, and Twilight had started to worry. Timber looked like he was in such a panic before he bolted off to who knows where. It had been roughly half an hour since she had last seen him, and she hoped to the Universe that everything was okay.
Out of the corner of her eye, Twilight saw Timber and Gloriosa return to the audience. The siblings scanned the stage, then made eye contact with her. They shot her an enthusiastic thumbs up.
The song ended, and Twilight put her hand to her chest with a deep sigh of relief. Everything was okay... which meant all was right with the world. She smiled widely.
"One, two, three," Twilight shouted, and their final song began.
I used to think that stories were just that
Set in stone, concrete as a fact
It didn't dawn on me
That I could change history
Now I know I'm writing my own song
Fight my way to the ending that I want
I'll turn a tragedy into an epic fantasy
Hey, hey, hey
You can be a hero (hero) too
Oh-oh-oh
Take my hand, I'm here for you
Come away with me
Be the legend you were meant to be
You'll always be Everfree
Oh, oo-wah, ah-oh, oo-wah, ah-oh, oo-wah
To be the legend you were meant to be
Oh, oo-wah, ah-oh, oo-wah, ah-oh, oo-wah
To be the legend you were meant to be
There was a time when fear would hold me down
'Cause I let it chain me to the ground
Look at me now, I'm soaring high
It's never boring in the sky
When I know I've got friends on my side
Whatever trials, I'll take them all in stride
Together we will shine so bright
A radiant brilliance in the night
Hey, hey, hey
You can be a hero (hero) too
Oh-oh-oh
Take my hand, I'm here for you
Come away with me
Be the legend you were meant to be
You'll always be Everfree
Oh, oo-wah, ah-oh, oo-wah, ah-oh, oo-wah
To be the legend you were meant to be
Oh, oo-wah, ah-oh, oo-wah, ah-oh, oo-wah
To be the legend you were meant to be!
The song ended, and Gloriosa hurried up on stage with a giddy expression. "Thank you all so much for coming, and for helping us raise enough money to... save Camp Everfree!"
The audience cheered, and Gloriosa saw Filthy Rich walk out of the cave. Good fucking riddance, she thought, then turned to the Rainbooms. "Thank you," she said softly. "For everything. Oh, if I just asked for help in the first place..."
"Hey, don't sweat it," Rainbow said. "It's kinda what we do."
"And we're glad we could help," Twilight said.
A few minutes later, Gloriosa walked offstage after supervising logistics for the Rainbooms' instruments. She saw Timber eyeing Twilight from afar, then grinned.
"You know," Gloriosa said. "This just might the perfect moment to ask her out. The mood is right, Camp Everfree got its happy ending... you should get yours."
Timber took a deep breath, then heaved a sigh. "You know what? You're right."
Gloriosa giggled. "Then go get her, Tiger," she said as she pushed him forward, then watched as he walked towards Twilight, eager to see the outcome.