//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Flurry Heart's Story: Fillie Jean 
// by AleximusPrime 
//------------------------------//

Spike escorted Flurry and Pumpkin to the Ponyville Center for Performing Arts that morning for their final lesson with Night Shade. They were nervous to meet him after yesterday’s revelations, but they insisted on being there for the last day.
“I hope he’s doing alright,” Pumpkin said. “I should be excited to meet him, but now I’m scared.”
“I’m scared too, Pumpkin, but remember, we just gotta act like we know nothing,” Flurry encouraged her friend. “Let’s act like yesterday didn’t even happen; like we just got out of his concert and we’re all excited.”
“You can do this, Pumpkin,” said Spike. “I’ll be waiting for you girls outside like usual if you need me.”
Just then, they arrived at the PCPA and saw Peachy Pie, Shutter Lens, and Allegra waiting outside the door.  There was a small note taped to it that they were reading.
“Hey guys.  What’s wrong?” Spike asked.
“Flurry, Pumpkin, Spike, we have terrible news:  Night Shade cancelled the last lesson!” Peachy exclaimed.
“WHAT?!” they shouted at the same time.
“He left this note behind,” Shutter Lens said as he read the note aloud.


Dear students,
I regret to inform you that matters of great importance came up yesterday.  Night Shade had to leave this morning with his crew. Allegra, Peachy Pie, and Shutter Lens, we hope to see you again some day.  Night Shade had great things to say about you all.
Sincerely,
Zeb (Night Shade’s manager)


“The…the note doesn’t mention us in it?” Pumpkin asked.
“Yeah, that was kinda weird,” said Allegra, looking carefully at the note.
“Maybe he wrote it in a hurry or something,” Peachy suggested.
“Well this is a real bummer,” said Shutter Lens, folding up the note. “I was really looking forward to that last lesson.  We only had introductory lessons on the first day and yesterday we only had half a lesson.”
“And to think I was just starting to get pretty good at singing.  I’ll probably just have to join a class or something,” Peachy said as she kicked her hoof around on the dirt.
“It’s okay, guys.  Night Shade’s next concert is gonna be this fall in San Horsé,” Allegra reminded everyone. “If we all go there, I’m sure Night Shade would recognize us in the crowd.  He’d probably even invite all five of us on stage to sing again!”
Flurry and Pumpkin had horrified looks on their faces and glanced at each other before Pumpkin smiled nervously and spoke.
“Yeeeeeeah.  Hehe. I’m sure he would…”
“And the note doesn’t say anything more than that?  It doesn’t give a specific reason for leaving so early?” Flurry asked.
“Nope.  That’s all it says,” Shutter answered.  “Well I’m sure he wouldn’t leave without a reason.  Night Shade’s a nice pony after all.” 
“Yeah, that’s just how it is with some of these artists: they’re always busy,” Allegra added.
“Well I guess this means I can go open the fruit stand early. I’ll see you guys later,” Peachy said, waving as they all started parting.
“Take care, girls!” said Shutter.
“Bye, guys!” Pumpkin and Flurry said to them, waving and wearing fake smiles.
After the other three were out of sight, Pumpkin and Flurry turned frantically to each other.
“He cancelled the class!  Flurry, I knew this would happen!” Pumpkin said, fanning herself and trying not to cry.
“Pumpkin, calm down,” Flurry said, holding her friend still. “Zeb wrote that note and cancelled that class, not Night Shade.  We can’t just assume everything just yet.”
“But how will we know?  He’s already left and we’ll probably never see him again!”
“Not exactly girls,” Spike spoke up. “The train doesn’t take off any time in the morning until nine o’clock.  We still have a few minutes left.”
“He’s right!  Come on, Pumpkin!  We might be able to catch him and at least say goodbye!” Flurry said as she took off flying with Spike.
“Oooooh, I hope he’s not with Zeb at the moment!” Pumpkin said anxiously as she followed them.



At the train station, Night Shade, Zeb, and all the crew and backup dancers were packing crates and equipment into the train. There were a few executives that had come in from Hinnywood to assist them and ask Zeb about Night Shade’s interactions with the princess.
“Don’t worry, boys.  I’ve taken care of it,” Zeb assured them. “I got him to cut yesterday’s class short and he hasn’t seen either of those girls since then.”
“Girls?  There’s more than one of them?” asked an executive.
“Yeah, the second one is some random kid from town that is close to the princess and got her in this mess to begin with.  He’ll never see them again.”
“I hope so for all our sakes.  We were unsure about sending Shade into this dirty hillbilly town after what Svengallop said.  Well after this, we’re never coming back here again.  As of right now, Ponyville is officially on the blacklist for concert bookings.”
Night Shade stood at the station, reading a newspaper from his town about his first concert the other night.  Instead of having the picture the Ponyville-based newspaper used, this picture was taken before Pumpkin and Flurry were called on stage and the text didn’t mention either of them anywhere.  He overheard what the executives were saying about not coming back to Ponyville and his heart sank.  He was hoping he could say goodbye to all his students, but Zeb wouldn’t allow it. 
“Night Shade, are you ready?” asked Zeb as he walked over with the executives flanking him.
“I’m ready, Zeb,” he sighed as he put on his sunglasses.
Some of the handlers came over and took his suitcases for him as everyone began to file into the train.  The handlers went in first followed by a few of the executives. Suddenly, they all heard screaming behind them.
“NIGHT SHADE!  WAIT!”
They all turned around to see Flurry, Pumpkin and Spike rushing in onto the platform.
“Girls?” Night Shade said as he removed his glasses.
“Oh great,” Zeb grumbled.
“Is that them?” asked one of the executives.
“That’s them.  No idea how they knew we’d be here at this exact time.”
“Night Shade!” cried Flurry. “We saw your note!”
“We’re sorry we missed you.  Is everything okay?” asked Pumpkin.
“Uh…I…” Night Shade began to say before Zeb and the executives blocked him from view.
“Folks, I’m going to have to ask you to all stay back,” said one of them. “Night Shade isn’t taking any autographs or pictures right now.”
“Sir, we’re not here for that, we just wanted to say goodbye to him.  We didn’t get to after the last singing lesson was cancelled.” Flurry said.
“Look, Night Shade cannot speak to anypony right now,” Zeb said, looking down on Flurry. “We’re on a tight schedule, so I suggest you leave us be.”
Spike walked in front of Flurry with his arms crossed, causing Zeb to back away a few feet.  He looked angrily at the zebra for a few seconds, striking fear into him. He spoke in a stern voice.
“I just so happen to be the princess’s body guard; enlisted by her majesty herself, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and I say Flurry Heart and her friend Pumpkin Cake can talk to Night Shade before you leave.  Now please step aside unless you want to be reported to the Canterlot guard.”
Zeb wanted to bark back at the large menacing dragon, but being reminded how he can be arrested for doing this to the princess rendered him incapable of responding.  He grimaced at Spike and walked away, cursing under his breath.  Spike stepped aside and let Flurry and Pumpkin go to Night Shade.
“Night Shade, why did you cancel the class?” Flurry asked. “Is everything okay?”
“Girls, I…I just gotta leave early.  I’m sorry,” he said, nervously as he started to turn back to the train.
“Why though?  Could you have at least waited and said goodbye to us back there?” Pumpkin asked.
“I’m sorry, I wish I could-”
“Ahem!”
Night Shade looked off to the side to see Zeb clearing his throat and giving him a glare.  The executives all gave the same glare to warn him to not say anything nice to these girls.  They would have loved if he could just tell them to buzz off, but Night Shade couldn’t bring himself to do such a thing.  He did the best he could to just shrug it off and not be nasty.
“Girls… look, things just came up.  I don’t have time to explain.  I really gotta go.”
He put his glasses on and started walking into the train, but Flurry knew what was really happening and wasn’t about to let it end this way.  She stepped forward to speak.
“Is it because of me, Night Shade?”
Night Shade froze and everyone went silent until Flurry continued.
“Is it because I’m royalty and all these executives won’t let you talk to me because they hate me and my family and anyone who associates with us?  Is that why Pumpkin and I weren’t mentioned in the letter left on the door?”
There were several seconds of silence as Night Shade lowered his head.  Flurry’s voice got angrier as she spoke.
“Rara told us everything about you and Zeb, but I didn’t want to believe it.  You can be honest with me.  You care about your fans, don’t you?”
Night Shade trembled.  He wasn’t sure what he should do.  He wanted so much to apologize to them and say he hopes to see them again, but the gathering of executives around him would not permit that.  His entire career was on the line and there would be no way he could do it without losing everything the way Rara did.  He didn’t want to admit it, but Flurry already had said enough and he needed to be honest.  He swallowed hard and finally spoke.
“It’s true…all of it.  I can’t be with any royals or their friends.  That’s just the way it is.  It’s industry policies.”
“But, Night Shade…why?” Pumpkin pleaded.
“What I do is important to me, and I can’t let anything stand in my way.  Flurry Heart, Pumpkin Cake…I’m sorry, but I can never see either of you again.”
Zeb and all the executives smirked and nodded to each other. Spike stood with his arms still crossed and angrily watched Night Shade enter the train.  Pumpkin couldn’t take it any longer and burst into tears.  Flurry started crying too but couldn’t stop admonishing the pony she once idolized.
“How could you do this to us, Night Shade!?  You were such a good pony!” she hollered.
Zeb and the rest of the executives entered after him.  Night Shade turned around and saw his old friend Coloratura in the distance, watching all the while by the ticket booth.  She looked very disappointed in him.  He knew what he had done, but he had no choice. A few of the executives patted him on the shoulder and complimented him as they walked by.  Zeb stood by his side and smiled devilishly at the girls and Spike.
“Night Shade…” Pumpkin whimpered one last time.
“Good bye, girls.”
The door closed as the train hissed and lurched forward.  In a few seconds, the train had left the station and was headed for Gallopfornia.  Spike and the girls were left behind alone on the platform.  Pumpkin broke down and wept bitterly as Flurry joined her.  Spike knelt down to hug them both.  For about a minute, he let them cry into his shoulders until he saw someone out of the corner of his eye.  Rara had come out of hiding and walked over to meet them. Flurry and Pumpkin heard her hoofsteps and turned around to see her.  Rara had already started crying herself.  She then reached out and let them both hug her.
“I’m sorry girls,” she said. “I wish I could have stopped him.”
“It’s okay, Rara,” Flurry wailed.
“I just don’t understand!” Pumpkin wailed. “How could any singer live with themselves if they treat their fans like this?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand it either,” Rara replied.
“And to think I’ve been listening to him for so long and have all those CDs and stuff in my room!”
“Maybe it’s time we just let him go, Pumpkin,” Flurry said, trying to dry her tears.
“You’re right, Flurry…”
Pumpkin and Flurry continued to cry as Rara held them closer and Spike joined them.



That afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Cake and Flurry helped Pumpkin clear out her bedroom of all the Night Shade merchandise she had.  There was a dumpster outside her window that she used to throw it all away.  She took all her CDs and vinyl records and started a pile.  Next she found her hat she bought at the concert and any clothes with Night Shade on them.  She ripped the posters off her walls and crumpled them up.  Lastly, she opened her drawer and found a photo Spike had taken during the second concert of them singing with Night Shade.  She began to rip the photo by the top, but something stopped her.  She felt she might regret throwing away this unique piece of her memories with Night Shade as well as a picture she had with her friend.  She decided to keep it, but everything else had to go.  With Flurry’s help, she used her magic and tossed things out the window one-by-one right into the dumpster.  After they were done, Pumpkin sat down and dried her tears with a tissue. Mr. and Mrs. Cake walked in and sat down with their arms around her.
“Feel better now, sweetie?” Mrs. Cake asked.
“A little,” Pumpkin answered.
“I’m so sorry about all this, dear.  If I’d have known, I never would have bought those tickets.”
“It’s okay, Mom.”
“If throwing all that stuff out makes you feel better, Pumpkin, then there’s no trouble doing so,” Mr. Cake told his daughter. “There’s still plenty of other music you can listen to in this house.”
“Thanks Dad.  I guess I could’ve kept them, but I really can’t separate the art from the artist right now.  It’s hard to even hum his songs anymore.  At least we still have Melody’s CD.  We listened to her album last night at the castle.  It made me feel better.”
Flurry smiled as she watched Pumpkin hug both her parents. Spike then entered the room with Pound, Stormy, Chip and Annie.
“Hey, Pump,” Pound said, landing next to her. “Spike told us everything.”
“We’re so sorry, Pumpkin,” Annie said.
“That was really uncool of Night Shade,” Chip added.
“Thanks guys,” Pumpkin replied as she sniffled and rubbed her nose with her hoof.
“Hey Flurry and Pumpkin, sorry for what I said about him earlier,” Stormy said with his ears down. “I think I might have jinxed it.”
“It’s okay, Stormy,” Pumpkin said, giggling a little. “You just didn’t like his music.  Obviously there were other reasons to avoid him.”
“You know, Pumpkin, we’re unfortunately going to have to tell Trixie, Sunburst and Starlight about all this," said Flurry.
“Yeah, we probably should.”
“And I’m not looking forward to having to tell my mom either.  She’s going to be really disappointed in Night Shade, especially since she was the one who introduced me to his music.”
“What about Allegra, Peachy and Shutter?”
“We probably should leave them be.  They won’t take that news too well.  We’ll just let everyone we’re close to know.”
“Yeah, we probably shouldn’t spread anything.  Not like a lot of ponies are going to believe us anyway.”
“Besides, I feel there’s still some good left in Night Shade. He’s just in a really bad spot right now.  Maybe we’ll meet him again someday and he’ll be a whole new pony.”
“Hope so.”
“We’ve still got each other,” Pound said. “Night Shade can do whatever he wants, but we put friendship before fame and fortune.  Rara and Melody are still good artists who get it.”
“That’s right, bro.  Well I guess what they say is true: celebrities really are way nicer on TV.”
Everyone in the room laughed.  Spike then took out a quill and parchment.
“You girls wanna send Twilight a friendship report?” he asked.
“That’s a good idea Spike,” Flurry answered.
She cleared her throat and started reciting the letter, taking turns with Pumpkin.


Dear Twilight Sparkle,
 
My friend Pumpkin Cake and I learned a valuable lesson today about idolizing famous ponies.  It’s never a bad thing to look up to someone like a singer, musician, or actor, but you have to be careful whom you do it to.
Sometimes celebrities may appear nice and promise to be good to their fans, but you never know what could be happening behind the scenes.  Some famous ponies will take advantage of you or avoid you because their boss tells them to.
It’s a good idea to just enjoy what others make without getting too close to them.  You should instead look up to the ponies that really matter in your life that are worth admiring.  For every bad influence out there, there is always somepony who really cares about you.
 
Your niece and her friend,
Flurry Heart and Pumpkin Cake


Spike rolled up the scroll and burned it with his fire to send it by magic to Twilight.  The green flame flew out the window and made its way to Canterlot.
“Well, that wasn’t such a great start to our day, but I already feel a lot better,” Pumpkin said, standing up.
“We’re happy to hear it, sweetie,” Mrs. Cake said, patting Pumpkin on her head.
“Well, I dunno about you guys, but I’m in the mood for some horseshoe-tossing!  Wanna come?” asked Stormy.
“Yeah!  Let’s go, guys!” Chip responded as everyone got up and left the bedroom.
Spike led them downstairs and opened the front door to Sugarcube Corner. The kids followed him out to go make merry after a rough morning.  Pumpkin came out last and noticed a garbage worker who was rummaging through the dumpster. He picked up one of the vinyl records, excited to finally have a copy of his favorite Night Shade album.  Pumpkin walked over to speak to him.  She cleared her throat and he noticed the little filly below.
“I wouldn’t bother with him, buddy.  The guy’s a real phony,” she said with a smile on her face.
Pumpkin then turned around and trotted off, leaving the worker rather confused.


	 EPILOGUE


That night in the thriving metropolis of Hinnywood, Gallopfornia, Zeb and Svengallop sat in the top floor of a high-rise building, hob-knobbing and laughing about the incident at the train station.
“And then he said he could never see them again and boarded the train!  The little brats started crying!  HAHA!” Zeb laughed as he slammed his hoof on the table.
“HAHAHA!  I’ll bet that dragon Twilight has watching over them didn’t find it too amusing either!” Svengallop remarked.
“Nah, but what can that fat lizard do about it?  What can anyone do about it?  We’re way up here on top!”
Svengallop sat back in his chair and threw his head back, laughing in his shrill effeminate voice as Zeb continued pounding the table.
“Well, Zeb, I really wish I could’ve been there to see those brats get what they deserve, but with the way you described it, it sounds like Night Shade got close to pulling another Countess Coloratura on us.”
“Oh Night Shade will be fine.  Trust me.  I’ve got that kid eating out of my own hoof.  And if he does rat out on us like Coloratura did, I think I know of somepony who can replace him quite well.”
“Oh?  Who, might I ask?”
“One of the other kids that won the contest and got lessons. She was the only one of the other three that could actually sing.  The other two were rather sub-par, but I think Allegra would be a perfect artist to snag someday.”
“Allegra?  The name already sounds like it could catch on.  How old is she?”
“Probably as old as the princess and her friend, but she really wants to be a singer and she sounds like the type that would be easy to convince.  If I see her at another concert, I’ll try and get something set up.  The kid’s got talent.”
“Perfect.  The more we can take advantage of or use these little twerps, the better.  We’re getting more influence though the arts day by day and soon enough we’ll have the power to create a culture that will overthrow that impudent Twilight Sparkle!  I only regret that I might not be around when it happens, but I’ll do what I can to make sure it will happen eventually.”
“Well, Sven, I best get back to work.  Another day, another royal family member’s day ruined.”
“Take care, my friend.  And keep that Night Shade in line.”
“Oh I will.”
Zeb left Svengallop’s office and walked down the corridor to another one.  He closed the door and locked it behind him before pulling the shades to all his windows. Leaving one light on, he went to his desk and pulled out a drawer.  He picked up a thin, tall vase with ancient runic symbols written on it and placed it in the center of the table.  With both hooves in the air, he started tapping on the table and chanted in a strange foreign tongue.
“Om noni ubut.  Om noni ubut. Arogoth Erebus, om noni ubut!”
After the final tap, he clapped both his hooves together over his head and the inscriptions on the vase glowed orange and it began to shake. Out of the vase spewed thick black smoke.  It had an odor that smelled like ashes, but it didn’t bother Zeb.  It swirled itself above the zebra and started to form the shape of a creature with a face.  It had two orange eyes with fire trailing behind them and a skeletal face with razor-sharp teeth.  It slithered around Zeb like a snake and began to laugh in a deep raspy voice. For over a thousand years, this creature only existed in the tales of old Equestria.  His likeness had made its way into various entertainment and video games. He was treated more like legend than history now, but this was the real thing.  This creature was none other than Lord Erebus, the Shadow Demon.
“Hehehehehe…  Well done, Zeb.  Well done indeed,” said Erebus as he moved about the room. “You and Svengallop have fostered a cult following for Night Shade, and by continuing with this anti-Equestrian, anti-royalty sentiment, you’re making them a lot easier for me to control.”
“Erebus, when I first took your advice and came to Equestria to start working for you, I wondered why we couldn’t just control the royals too, but after meeting Flurry Heart, I think I know why.  Despite how much I mock the girl, she’s still got brains and she wouldn’t have fallen for any of this.  Somehow she knew about what we told Night Shade, but thankfully I got him to listen.  I only fear that she and her friends and these new wielders of the Elements of Harmony could be a problem for us.”
“I wouldn’t worry about them, my friend.  I’m growing more and more powerful each day.  The Elements of Harmony won’t stop us.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to just do it now, my lord?  While they’re least expecting it?”
“Patience, Zeb.  Patience. My time will come.  For now, I suggest we keep this Night Shade in our grasp.”
“And if Night Shade fails us like Coloratura?”
“Then we move for the little pegasus girl next.”
“Allegra?”
“Yes.”
“It will be done, my lord.”
“Keep up the good work, Zeboro.  Before you know it, Equestria will be ours.  HAHAHAHAHA!!”
The black demon swirled around in the air and entered the vase once again.  All the smoke in the room followed him and his laughter slowly faded out.  The sinister zebra put his hooves together in front of his face and smiled wickedly.
“The time is coming, princess,” he crooned. “You won’t stop us.  Hehehe…”


	THE END