//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Livestream // by bahatumay //------------------------------// Pipp stared at her phone. The numbers didn’t lie, but right now, she wished they did.  Sage Wisdom was now in the top 15, and she was closing in fast. She didn’t want it to get to her, but it definitely was.  And she wasn’t sure who to talk to. Sunny would try and help, but she wasn’t a streamer, so she just Didn’t Know. She would need somepony else. Somepony like… She chuckled darkly. It was a silly thought.  And yet… Well, it couldn’t hurt. But how would she do it? Zipp wouldn’t be caught dead streaming, so if she said it was her sister, it couldn’t be traced back to her. She smirked, proud of herself and her sneaky creativity as she submitted her question.  Sage Wisdom checked the screen. “Alright. WishIWasAnOnlyFoal says, ‘My sister recently took up streaming, and she’s getting numbers-’” She gave the camera a sideways look behind her towel. “Numbers aren’t everything. It’s about the friendships and connections you make. ‘-numbers faster than I am. It bothers me a bit. What should I do?’. That’s a great question. The nice thing would be to be happy for her. Streaming is hard work, and coming up with new ideas is difficult. If I didn’t have all of you, I would have run out of things to say a long time ago.”  There was a brief pause.  The chat seemed to wait with bated breath for the ‘fun’ response.  “But sisterly rivalry is a time-honored tradition dating back to before Celestia and Luna, and there’s no reason to stop now. If you figure out when they stream, you can go live a few minutes before, like a surprise stream. Do something that ponies will be talking about for weeks. A cutie mark reveal? Maybe your first age restricted stream? Did you bring your phone in the shower and ‘accidentally’ tap Go Live? Embarrassing… but what a way to draw attention.” She checked the chat again. “No, I like the towel,” she said with a titter. “I want to be known for my mind and my ability to help other ponies, not my shredded abs and my tight flank.” Pipp rolled her eyes. Amateur. The chat would not let that go.  Sure enough, the chat stream seemingly doubled in volume immediately, the text flying by. “Wait, no, stop! You’re flattering little old me,” she giggled. “No, no!” She rubbed her eyes under the towel. “Ok, I love you all, but I think we’ve lost it. Good night, friends. I’ll go live again soon.” But unlike she’d ever done before, she stood to adjust the camera to turn it off, giving a close look at those abs.  And they could very well be described as ‘shredded’.  Pipp’s ears drooped. Well, that didn’t make her feel better at all. Every once in a while, there was a new avatar trend. Cutie marks were always popular. Eye closeups for some reason. Manes worn as moustaches. Laser eye effects.  But when Pipp logged on, she noticed that quite a few ponies were using a screenshot of Sage’s abs as a profile picture.  Pipp didn’t have shredded abs or a tight flank. But she did have other options.  Pipp pulled the socks higher up her legs. Her heart pounded. She couldn’t believe she was actually doing this. What would her mother say? Zipp would probably make fun of her, or be supportive, or probably both.  And then the door opened. Pipp shrieked, covering herself, and without missing a beat, Izzy returned the greeting, shrieking right back.  “You’re good at that, Pipp!” Izzy said brightly, but she slowed to a stop when she saw Pipp’s outfit. Lacy socks pulled up high on her legs, tight straps around her barrel, her tail tied up. Pipp realized how silly it was to be worried about being seen when she was about to show all of Equestria, and so she straightened up. “Yes, Izzy,” she said. “I’m doing this.” “Oh. Uh, Pipp, this is just so sudden,” Izzy said hesitantly. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this kind of-” “It’s not for you,” Pipp said flatly.  “Oh. Ok. Good. Because I had no idea where I was going with that,” Izzy admitted. “But, uh, who is it for?” “The world. Equestria. I don’t know. Anypony other than Sage Wisdom.” “Oh,” Izzy said.  Pipp nodded, then raised her phone. And then her phone kept rising higher into the air, now bathed in a rainbow light. “Intervention!” Izzy yelled, and she started running away with her phone.  “No, no, no, give me back my phone!” Pipp wailed, chasing her.  Izzy dove under a bed and threw the blankets on Pipp, but her outfit had left her wings free, and she leaped over them. Izzy went underneath the mattress while carrying the phone above it, and they reunited when she made it out the other side. She tried to dodge, but Pipp flew into the air and was just as fast. So, with all the logic she could muster, Izzy jammed the phone in her mouth to hide it.  “Did you just put my phone in your mouth? Izzy, what’s…? And you’re choking,” Pipp said exasperatedly. She pushed Izzy over and hopped on her barrel with all four hooves close together, and with a sound like a cat expelling a hairball, her phone was forced out.  “Yeah, that was a mistake,” Izzy groaned.  “I’ll say,” Pipp said irritably, holding up the dripping phone. “What were you thinking?” “That you shouldn’t do it?” Izzy offered.  Pipp inhaled… and then broke down. “Oh, you’re right. I can’t do this.”  “Where did you even get this idea, anyway?” Izzy asked. “I… I submitted a question to Sage Wisdom.” Izzy blew a raspberry. “I’m trying not to care. It’s not working.”  Izzy gave her a hug. “This might come out wrong, but I think you’re making a mistake if you’re trying to get your numbers up by doing a gimmick instead of doing your own thing, especially if it came from listening to somepony like Sage Wisdom. And yeah, sometimes you might be alone, like, really alone, but I did, too, and I turned out ok. I found some great friends and I’ve never been happier. It’s kinda like growing a crystal. The solid ones take time, but they’re the shiniest.”  “That was good, Izzy. Why were you worried?” “Eh. I’m just used to things coming out wrong.”  Pipp had to giggle at that.  “Maybe we can go for a mega gulp smoothie,” Izzy suggested.  “I think I’d like that. But first, could you help me get this off?” “You got it!” Fifi approached the Crystal Brighthouse with a package. As she neared the door, she heard voices from within. “Does that feel better already?” Izzy asked. “It sure does,” Pipp responded. “You really know how to use that horn.” “Heh. You’re just saying that.” “I’m not and you know it. Slowly, gentle, now. Oh, yeah. Thanks for helping me with this.” “Of course. Anything for a princess.” Fifi backed away slowly.