//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The Belated Party // Story: The Case of Bright Spark And Stinger // by GroovyCrocodile //------------------------------// Bright Spark opened his eyes, his head was throbbing, and his eyes were squinted due to the blinding sunrays penetrating through his window. He stretched his wings and yawned before getting out of bed. As he put on his usual disguise, he couldn't help but wonder what the day had in store for him. He strolled out of his apartment and started to make his way to the theater, where he worked. It was a typical day, and the street was bustling with ponies going about their business. He kept his head low and avoided making eye contact with anyone, hoping that nobody would notice him. As he neared the theater, he saw a banner that read, "Welcome to Ponyville Party!" His heart sank as he remembered that Pinkie Pie had planned a party for him. He had been dreading this day for a few days now. He didn't want any attention on himself, and he certainly didn't want to be in the spotlight. He walked into the theater, and the atmosphere was lively. Streamers and balloons were everywhere, and the ponies were all dressed up in their party attire. He could see Pinkie Pie running around, making sure everything was perfect for the party. Bright Spark tried to make his way to the back of the theater, hoping to avoid any attention. But it was too late, Pinkie had already spotted him. "Hi there, Bright Spark!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, bounding up to him with a big grin on her face. "Isn't this party just the best?" Bright Spark plastered a fake smile on his face and nodded, hoping to make a quick escape. But Pinkie wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily. She grabbed him by the hoof and dragged him over to a group of ponies. "Everyone, this is Bright Spark! He's new in town, and we wanted to throw him a party to welcome him to Ponyville!" Pinkie announced. Bright Spark felt his anxiety building up as he saw the group of ponies staring at him with curious expressions on their faces. He didn't want to draw any attention to himself, but it seemed that Pinkie had other plans. "Come on, Bright Spark, tell us about yourself!" Rainbow Dash said, flying up to him and looking him in the eyes. Bright Spark stuttered, trying to come up with something to say. But before he could, Rarity spoke up. "I've never seen you around before, dear. What do you do for a living?" she asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity. Bright Spark felt a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He couldn't tell them that he was a changeling, but he couldn't come up with a convincing lie either. "I'm...uh...I'm an actor. Yes, that's it. I'm an actor," he said, hoping that they would buy it. "Oh, how fascinating! What kind of acting do you do?" Fluttershy asked, looking at him with wide, curious eyes. Bright Spark breathed a sigh of relief. He had managed to divert their attention away from his true identity. "I do...uh...stage acting. I've been in a few plays back in Canterlot," he said, trying to sound as convincing as possible. The ponies continued to ask him questions, and Bright Spark continued to answer them with vague responses, hoping to keep up the facade. But as the party continued, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He noticed that the Mane 6 were eyeing him suspiciously, and he couldn't help but wonder if they had figured out who he really was. He knew that he had to be careful if he wanted to keep his identity a secret. As the party went on, Bright Spark found himself loosening up a bit. The ponies were friendly, and he found himself enjoying their company despite his initial reservations. Pinkie Pie was especially entertaining, telling jokes and making everyone laugh. After a while, the ponies started to play party games, and Bright Spark joined in. He found himself having a lot of fun, forgetting his worries for a while. But as the party started to wind down, Bright Spark's anxiety started to creep back up. He knew that he couldn't let his guard down for too long, especially around these ponies who seemed to be very perceptive. He said his goodbyes and made his way out of the theater, hoping that he had managed to fool them all. As he walked through the streets of Ponyville, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being watched. He turned around, but there was nobody there. He shrugged it off and continued on his way. But the feeling persisted, and he couldn't help but wonder if he had made a mistake in revealing himself as an actor. He decided to be more careful from now on, making sure not to reveal too much about himself. He had to keep his true identity a secret, no matter what. Bright Spark breathed a sigh of relief as he arrived back at his Cottage. He closed the door behind him and let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of his secret identity pressing down on him. He knew that he had to be more careful from now on, especially around the Mane 6. They were clever and perceptive, and he couldn't risk them discovering his true identity. As he lay in bed, he couldn't help but wonder about the ponies he had met at the party. They were kind and welcoming, and he had enjoyed their company. He wished that he could be more open with them, but he knew that he had to keep his distance. He closed his eyes and tried to push his worries aside. Tomorrow was a new day, and he had to focus on his job at the theater. He couldn't let his anxiety consume him. With a deep breath, he fell asleep, hoping that he would be able to keep his secret safe for a little while longer.