//------------------------------//
// TMP Prompt #149: Wings Under the Big Top [Humor] 
// Story: Tales of Little Consequence and Other Such Nonsense 
// by littlerobotbird 
//------------------------------//

The Prompt: Ponies attend a religious service.

“Get your hooves up in the air, ponies!” she shouted, one hoof on the microphone as the other led her flock. “Show your love! Your admiration! Show all that—!”

Whatever she had been about to say was swallowed up by a cacophony of explosions, pops and pows as the stage lit up with fireworks and sparklers forming the name of their deity.

“Keep those hooves up, ponies, and they will—”

“RAINBOW!”

Rainbow Dash froze mid prognostication, the lights behind her fading as her eyes lowered.

“Oh, hey, Applejack.”

“What the hay do you think yer doin’, Rainbow?” Applejack demanded, mane frazzled beneath her uncharacteristically askew hat. “You’ve got half the town about to come down here an’ string you right up 'cause this racket!”

“But we’ve got to practice!” Rainbow whined, dropping down from the stage to the dirt floor. “It's got to be absolutely perfect! Isn’t that right, Sister Scootaloo?”

“Amen, Sisther Dash!” Scootaloo replied in around the microphone cord held in her mouth, Rainbow's movements having left the little pegasus balanced precariously at the stage's edge, wings buzzing for balance.

“Fer cripes' sake, Rainbow! It's a school night!” Applejack cried out, pushing Dash back just far enough so that Scootaloo could get all four of her hooves down. “Now, jus' what’s this all about?”

“The Wonderbolts’ Jubilee, duh!” she stated matter-of-fact before cracking into an enormous smile. “It’s going to be the best thing ever!”

“All this,” Applejack began, waving a hoof towards the enormous tent packed full with speakers, rows of empty folding chairs, flower chains, hoof-woven tapestries, statues and, seemingly, enough fireworks to level Ponyville twice over, “jus’ fer a jubilee?”

“No, not for just a jubilee. The Wonderbolts jubilee! It only happens once a year!”

“I…” Applejack simply shook her head, grumbling. “Jus'...” she shook her head again before simply storming out of the tent. “Jus' wrap it up quicklike! Someponies have ta sleep!”

Rainbow just stood there for a moment, thoroughly flummoxed by her friend's reaction. 

"Ignore her, Miss Dash. With my expert planning and your… let's call it showmareship, this will surely be the greatest and most fantastic show the Wonderbolts have ever dared be a part of,” a voice reassured from just behind the stage.

“You really think so?” Rainbow asked excitely, her ceremonial robes swirling about her as she spun to face the voice.

“Naturally, Miss Dash,” the blue unicorn stated as she stepped from behind the stage. “Lulamoon Industries knows showmareship. You would do well to remember that,” she stated with a biting edge of irritation to her voice. “Now,” she called out with a sharp clop of her hooves, “Again! From the top!”

“Yes, ma’am!” Rainbow saluted before she took her spot at center stage once more, the tent filling up and the eyes of the Wonderbolts upon her.

It was going to be so awesome.

[Original]