//------------------------------//
// Just A Little Bit Harder 
// Story: Fluttershy's Voice 
// by Stratocaster 
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Chapter 4: Just A Little Bit Harder

The big night had come. Over at the Ponyville amphitheater, it seemed like the entire town had shown up to witness Stratocaster. The many ponies huddled around in front of the colorfully lighted stage conversing amongst each other in anticipation. Somewhere in the back of the crowd were Twilight Sparkle and her friends, minus a certain yellow pegasus.
“This is going to be so cool!” cheered Rainbow Dash. “We are so gonna have our faces rocked off!”
“Well that’s not the best way I would describe it,” said Twilight. “But I sure can’t wait for him to come out.”
“Have you girls seen Fluttershy?” asked Rarity. “I reserved a ticket for her.”
“Maybe she’s not coming at all.” Rainbow shrugged. “I told you guys she would chicken out on us.”
“Hush your mouth, Rainbow,” scolded Applejack. “Maybe a concert like this just isn’t for a pony like her.”
“Poor dear,” sighed Rarity. “I hope I didn’t make her too nervous to come.”
“I’m sure she’s fine.” Twilight replied. “We should get her something after the concert.”
“Ooh, we should get her one of Stratocaster’s albums!” suggested Pinkie Pie. “Like maybe L.A. Mare, or Dark Side of the Luna, or Lt. Salt’s Lonesome Hooves Gang Group, or”
“Pinkie, save it for when the show starts…please!” interrupted Twilight.

Backstage in a rehearsal room, Stratocaster was calmly tuning his prized electric guitar while a distraught Fluttershy was pacing back and forth in front of him not as calmly.
“You felling okay?” he asked her.
“How can I feel okay?” she replied. “There are so many ponies out there. What if I don’t do well?”
“We’ve been practicing all week, and you’re a real fast learner. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“I don’t know. Did you ever mess up onstage?”
“Nope, not once…well…there was one time in Baltimare when I broke a guitar string…then I tripped over the edge of the stage and broke my shin. And there was another show in Manehattan where I slipped on water and slid into and amp which electrocuted me and pretty much knocked me unconscious…but I’m positive that won’t happen to you.”
Fluttershy whimpered.
Five minutes before show time, the two stood behind a curtain offstage, looking out into the mass of eager ponies. Showing great anxiety, Fluttershy frantically stroked her pink mane in fear of stepping out into the sight of thousands of eyes. Stratocaster touched her shoulder.
“I can’t do it, Strat.” She said. “I’m an absolute wreck! You’re better off just performing without me.”
“No way, Fluttershy, you’re going to be great.”
“I’m sorry, Strat, but I just can’t bring myself to go out there. All this was for nothing.”
As Fluttershy turned her face away from Stratocaster, he pulled her close and wrapped his fore hooves around her in a hug. She was overcome with warmth and relief.
“Just remember what I told you,” he said keeping this embrace. “Look deep inside yourself and find that missing voice.”
He pulled away and she stared back with starry eyes. Then, as the announcer gave one minute to show time, Fluttershy smiled at her mentor.
“So, are you ready?” he asked.
“Let’s, um…rock.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“Mares and gentlecolts,” boomed the announcer revving the crowd into cheers. “Give a big Ponyville welcome to…STRATOCASTER!”
The ponies went into frenzy as the bold blue pegasus flew out onstage, did a single aerial loop, and struck a heroic pose in midair, guitar in hoof. This drew attention from the crowd, which helped Fluttershy get passed her stage fright as she walked meagerly onstage.

“Yeehaw, there he is!” yelled Applejack. “Hey wait, who’s that onstage next to him?”
“I don’t know,” answered Twilight. “It’s hard to tell from all the way back here.”
“I can’t believe these seats were fifty five bits each.” Rainbow sulked.

After making his eccentric entrance, Stratocaster landed stage left and approached a microphone on a stand. Fluttershy did the same on stage right.
“Hello Ponyville!” announced Stratocaster sending the crowd into another round of cheering. “It’s really great to be here tonight. I think you’re in for a real treat, because for this concert, I’ve hired a guest singer to help me along. Mares and gentlecolts please put your hooves together for the beautiful voice of…Fluttershy!”
The audience responded with a smaller applause and some supportive cheering. Fluttershy hid behind her mane.

“FLUTTERSHY?!” gasped five of the Mane Six.
“What the hay is SHE doing up there?!” blurted Rainbow.
“She’s singing for Stratocaster?!” added Twilight.
“There wasn’t anything about this on the ticket!” complained Pinkie.
“That pony’s crazy!” shuddered Applejack. “She’s not really gonna sing in front on an audience like this is she?”
They watched their yellow friend standing on the stage in shock. The thought of her singing for all of these ponies caused Rarity to faint.

“Now let’s get this show on the road!” Stratocaster finished and nodded to his band.
Ludwig and Gibson started off with a steady groove at 112 beats per minute; Stratocaster and Moog then joined in with a funk-like rhythm. Fluttershy’s knees shook as she stared out into the sea of faces staring back at her. Her cue came up and she spoke the first lyric.
“Try,” she began singing quietly.
“Try,” Stratocaster backed her up on the next measure.
“Try,” she repeated the third time.
“Try,” echoed Stratocaster.
“Try,” Fluttershy gave the fifth time a bit more flourish without raising her volume. She could see the front of the audience looking at her in confusion. Then the intro ended.
“Just a little bit harder,” the two sang in unison.
“So I can love, love, love him, I tell myself.” Fluttershy continued on her own still retaining her hushed tone. But the audience showed no change in reaction. Immediately, her cue to raise volume came but she hesitated and missed it. Fortunately, Stratocaster gestured to the band to give her a couple more measures for her to regain her composure. But Fluttershy felt it was hopeless; her eyes started welling with moisture as she took a step back from the mic. She looked over at Stratocaster with helpless eyes. As he strummed, he only responded with another trusting stare. Something in those big brown eyes reminded Fluttershy that the show must go on. She closed her eyes to wipe away the image of the audience and time seemed to slow down for her. As she kept her eyes sealed, she began to feel something swirling within her near her heart. It was as if fiery molten lava rising up through a volcano. She assumed it was vomit, but realized it was something else. Her throat swelled as this feeling crept up her windpipe and reached her lips. Right on cue, she opened her eyes and grabbed the microphone forcefully.
“I’m gonna TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY just a little bit harder, so I won’t GIVE, GIVE, GIVE, GIVE him to nopony else!”
The crowd jumped in surprise. Somehow, Fluttershy had managed to shout/sing into the microphone with an electric heart-racing vibe. She gawked briefly at how loudly she had just burst out and turned again to Stratocaster who met her with an elated smile. The ponies upfront wore the same reaction as they began to have new faith in this stand-in singer. Fluttershy’s face lit up and she went on.
“Well I’ve been waitin’ for such a long time, I ain’t gonna LOSE my chance, no I ain’t gonna lose it, ain’t gonna LOSE my chance to make you mine, all mine!”

“Sweet mother of Celestia!” exclaimed Pinkie. “I’ve never heard a mare sing like that!”
“Was that her?” gasped Rarity. “I had no idea Fluttershy could sing that loudly!”
“I don’t know about you guys, but she sounds amazing!” marveled Twilight.

As the song progressed, the audience went wild for Fluttershy who sang at the top of her lungs. In her mind, she was baffled: this new voice doesn’t sound like me. This can’t be me. Then who is it? Nopony else is singing. Could this really be my true singing voice? Oh to hay with it, just keep singing!
“Yeah, I’m gonna TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY just a little bit harder, so I can GIVE, GIVE, GIVE, GIVE him every bit of my soul!”
Fluttershy became swept over with joy. As she sang her heart out, she even shuffled a little around her spot on the stage. She even grabbed the microphone stand dramatically and slid across the floor. It was then that Fluttershy felt like a true rockstar. At the middle of the song, the music stopped leaving only the sound of Stratocaster, the band and the audience clapping and stomping their hooves to the beat. Fluttershy seized the mic from its stand and sang solo with the blue pegasus backing her up. She even leaped into the air, mouth wide agape, as she kept up her vocal cord straining streak.
“TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!”
“Just a little bit”
“TRYYYYYYyyyYyyyyyYYYYYyYYYyYYYyyyyyyYYYyyYYYY!” she added more flourish.
“Just a little bit”
“Oh darlin’, darlin’, darlin’, darlin’, I gotta trust, com on, I just gotta put my hooves around you, I said, I said I gotta hold my man, I said I gotta make you understand, WHOA BABY, I just gotta try, try, yeah, try, try, yeah, try, try, OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH, TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!”
“Just a little bit”
“TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!”
“Just a little bit”
“TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!”
After another minute of more relentless “TRY”s, the song finally reached its close and the band stopped altogether leaving Stratocaster to finish off.
“Try…just a little bit…”
The two harmonized the last word. “Harder…”
And just like that, the crowd cheered in an ecstatic applause. It was truly a sight to behold for the little pegasus who had just found her voice. Amongst the screaming ovation, she could hear her name being chanted.
“FLUTTERSHY! FLUTTERSHY! FLUTTERSHY CAN SING REAL HIGH!”
She took a courteous bow toward them and looked at her singing partner. Stratocaster ran up to Fluttershy and gave her a congratulatory hug. She squeezed him back then pulled away.
“I did it, Strat! I really did it! And you said I could!”
“I’m so proud of you, Fluttershy. You sounded exactly like Janis Cloplin. Now, do you think you have enough in you for the rest of the concert?”
Fluttershy gave him a cute smile. “The show must go on!”

The show went on, and without a hitch. During each song, Fluttershy rallied the crowd with her newfound electrifying voice and stage presence. They praised her as the night pressed on. When the concert came to a close, flowers were tossed onstage and camera flashes went off like fireworks. Fluttershy and Stratocaster took their final bows side by side and departed the stage. As they retired to their rehearsal room, the met a silver stallion earth pony wearing a snazzy business suit and sunglasses. Stratocaster made the introductions.
“Fluttershy,” he began. “I’d like you to meet my managing producer, Platinum.”
“Nice to meet you.” Fluttershy said once again in her soft tone.
Platinum shook her hoof. “Kid, that was spectacular!” he said to her in a suave manner. “Your voice is like none I’ve ever heard before. That’s why I want to make you a star. How would you like to team up with old Strat here and tour Equestria? You’ll be the biggest duo since Stallion and Garfunkel. We’ll make millions!”
“Um, well, that sounds nice.” She answered nonchalantly.
“Great, super, fantastic, excellent,” shot Platinum quickly. “You’re gonna make it big, kid. You’ll sell twice more albums with Strat than he ever did alone.”
“Hey.” Stratocaster glowered at him.
“Oh lighten up.”
“Fluttershy!”
The yellow pegasus turned around to see her five friends galloping toward her excitedly. Before she could react, Fluttershy was swept up into midair by a cyan blur and squeezed tightly.
“That was so awesome!” Rainbow exclaimed as she gripped her friend in a suffocating hug. “You literally rocked my face off!” She dropped Fluttershy back on the ground where she was surrounded by the rest of the group.
“Uh, thanks, Rainbow.” She said.
“Well paint me blue and call me Luna,” cheered Applejack. “Ah had no idea you could sing like that, sugar cube!”
“Yeah Fluttershy, that was a fantastic performance!” added Twilight. “You must have a real gift you never knew you had.”
“It was really nothing.” Fluttershy replied humbly.
“Nothing?!” shot Pinkie. “That was more than nothing! That was something! No, it was more than something! It was…a lot of things! I honestly couldn’t stop dancing while you were up there!”
“Thanks, Pinkie.” Fluttershy smiled. She then turned to Rarity who looked at her proudly.
“Oh darling, that was extraordinary!” the unicorn praised. “I nearly became weak at the resonant sound of you’re a capellas.”
“Rarity, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you or anypony else.” She replied. “I guess I was just too nervous. And I’m really sorry I made you waste a ticket for me.”
“Oh go on, dear, it was well worth it just to see you sing your heart out on that stage.”
“We’re really proud of you, Fluttershy.” Twilight hugged her along with the rest.
“Didn’t I tell you this would be a concert to remember?” Stratocaster nudged her.
Rainbow gasped loudly at the sight of him. “Oh…my…GOSH! It’s- it’s- it’s- it’s you! I am such a HUGE fan of yours! Can you sign my wing?!”
Stratocaster briefly stared bewildered at the fanatic pony then smiled. “Well sure.”
He grabbed a black marker pen as Rainbow unfurled one of her broad wings. He scribbled his signature across it; she gawked and sighed in astonishment.
“I will never wash this wing again!”
Rainbow grasped her rock idol in another suffocating embrace as Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie all crowded around him giving praise and asking fan questions at a frantic rate. Platinum smiled at Fluttershy.
“You see? That’s gonna be you very soon.”
“Yeah…I guess so.”
Fluttershy smiled with the future in her eyes. To her, it was looking bright.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you want to hear the real song, go to youtube and look up Janis Joplin singing Try live at Woodstock. And just imagine Fluttershy taking her place. AWESOME!