//------------------------------//
// I Don't Know If I Can Do This 
// Story: Music Makes The Heart Grow Fonder 
// by Yzanburg 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 14


"I'm telling you, girls. This is the place." Twilight said, pointing to the sign hanging above the door. "I've seen signs all over town about this place for food and entertainment."
"Ah dunno, Sugarcube. This place seems a lil'.. Ah dunno.. Drab?"
"Applejack's right, dear. I mean, just look at the store front. It's so plain."
"Look, we don't have to stay here for long. We'll just get something to eat and start looking for Fluttershy again after, alright?"
"Fine, let's jus' hurry up then."
With a nod of her head, Twilight opened up the door to 'The Stall' and led the way as her friends followed suit in behind her. The inside of the establishment was considerably darker than outside so the girls had to wait a moment for their eyes to adjust to the lack of light. Once their eyes had adjusted to the light, they all took a look around before finally locking on one petrified yellow mare across the room.


***


Fluttershy stood on stage. her eyes darting back and forth between the six figures looming at the entrance, and myself as she contemplated what to do.
"David, I can't do this.. Not yet, it's too soon." Fluttershy pleaded as she looked in my direction. She was visibly shaking and her eyes screamed of fear for some reason. "How did they know we were here?"  She let out an adorable squeak as she hid her head beneath her forehooves and crouched down on the stage. I heard an audible gasp from the far end of the bar as I rushed to her side to console her.
"Shy, It'll be okay. They're your friends aren't they? I'm sure you've sung with them before, right?" I placed my hand on her back to comfort her. It seemed to work a bit as she uncovered one eye to look into mine.
"Well... Yes. But this is different. This is something personal. What if they don't like it?" She covered her eyes again as Lyra came over after putting her lyre back on it's stand.
"Come on, Fluttershy. They're your friends! They'll love it no matter what!" Lyra exclaimed with as much enthusiasm as she could, throwing her hooves in the air for emphasis.
"You.. You really think so?" She was sitting up now, looking back and forth between Lyra and myself. Lyra and I glanced at each other briefly before Lyra smiled.
"We know so. Now come on, Fluttershy, we got a show to play." Fluttershy looked down in thought for a moment before looking back up at us, a determined look in her eyes and a smile on her face.
"You're right. I can do this. Thank you, so so much." She gave us both a grateful smile before Lyra trotted over to her lyre. I stood up and turned to my guitar, mussing up her mane before making my way over. She let out a little giggle before turning back to the crowd and her friends who were now looking at her with smiles instead of worry. She took one more glance at both Lyra and myself before she addressed the crowd.

*Ahem* "Uhm.. Hello everyone. My name is.. Fluttershy" There were a hoots and hollers from the crowd and a very loud cheer from the back group which put a smile on my face and I could tell it gave Shy a boost of confidence as well.
"And this is Lyra" She said as she pointed in her direction. There was another round of hollers from the crowd as she directed their attention to me. "And this is David. He's a human." There were a few hushed murmurs in the crowd before I saw Rainbow Dash whistle and cheer from her table in the back. This was followed by the rest of the crowd letting out a few weak cheers of their own.
When the crowd had settled down yet again, Fluttershy glanced one last time at me. I gave her a nod and she turned to the crowd, cleared her throat and counted us in. 
It was a slower paced song with a lot of chord progression and melodic pieces from the lyre. It wasn't long before the time came and Fluttershy began to sing. it was soft at first, but it wasn't long before she really got into it and she let her self go.


I feel like, I would like
To be somewhere else doing something that matters
And I'll admit here, while I sit here
My mind wastes away and my doubts start to gather

Whats the purpose? It feels worthless
So unwanted like I've lost all my value
I can't find it, not in the least bit
and I'm just scared, so scared that I'll fail you

And sometimes I think that I'm not any good at all
And sometimes I wonder why, why I'm even here at all
But then you assure me

I'm a little more than useless
And when I think that I can't do this
You promise me that I'll get through this
And do something right
Do something right for once

So I say if I can't, do something significant
I'll opt to leave most opportunities wasted
And nothing trivial, that life could give me will
Measure up to what might have replaced it

Too late look, my date book
Is packed full of days that were empty and now gone
And I bet, that regret
Will prove to get me to improve in the long run

And sometimes I think that I'm not any good at all
And sometimes I wonder why, why I'm even here at all
But then you assure me

I'm a little more than useless
And when I think that I can't do this
You promise me that I'll get through this
And do something right
Do something right for once

I’m a little more than useless
And I never knew I knew this
Was gonna the day, gonna be the day
That I would do something right
Do something right for once

I notice, I know this
Week is a symbol of how I use my time
Resent it, I spent it
Convincing myself the world's doing just fine
Without me
Doing anything of any consequence
Without me
Showing any sign of ever making sense
Of my time , it's my life
And my right, to use it like I should
Like he would, for the good
Of everything that I would ever know

I'm a little more than useless
When I think that I can't do this
You promise me that I'll get through this
And do something right
Do something right for once

I’m a little more than useless
And I never knew I knew this
Was gonna be the day, gonna be the day
That I would do something right
Do something right for once


Yes, the song she sang was one off of my Ipod. When she listened to it, she immediately wanted me to teach it to her. Now, lacking any form of drums or bass I slowed it down and made it into an acoustic for her. When we showed it to Lyra, she wrote a part that fit the song perfectly. 
Later that day Fluttershy came to me and told me the song made her realize that she feels the same sometimes but her friends help her through it, and ever since I showed up she's been more confident than ever.

At first the crowd was silent. All eyes were on us as we looked out at them. Then all at once the place erupted into a round of cheers and hoof stomps. Fluttershy looked on in wonder at all the cheering ponies, then back at myself and Lyra with a smile on her face and a tear in her eye. She mouthed the words 'Thank-you' to us before she turned back to the crowd and began the next of our three song set.


***


As we finished up our set, the crowd was in hysterics as the yelled and cheered us on. All three of us walked up to the front of the stage and took a bow before exiting to the back of the building where a waiter was waiting with glasses of water for each of us. As we were congratulating each other and cooling off, we turned at the sound of someone clearing their throat.
"Fluttershy, that was amazing! why didn't you tell us you were singing in a band?" Twilight was beaming at her friend as she went on about how good she did. Then she noticed me. "So how long have you been hiding him, hmm?" She gave Fluttershy a knowing look which made her blush and turn away.
"Only about a month.. hehe"
"A month! How have I not seen you around town?"
"Oh, I can turn invisible on command." I said non-chalantly while I took a sip of my water.
*Gasp* "Really?" Twilight looked a little to eager as she leaned closer to me, stars shining in her eyes.
"I'm joking, sorry." I said with a smirk as she turned and blushed. "I'm David by the way, it's nice to finally meet you. Twilight, right?"
"It's nice to meet you too David, and hello again Lyra, you guys were amazing out there!"
"Hey Twilight, thanks. But how did you know we were playing here?" Lyra asked, still beaming from the show.
"Well, we didn't actually know what Fluttershy was doing in Trottingham. She just left a note saying she was coming here for a while so we thought something had happened and came here to help."
"Oh I see, cool cool. Well I'm glad you liked it!" Lyra gave Twilight a big grin as she turned to me and smiled.
"Anyways, why don't you three come join us at our table, I'm sure the others would want to congratulate you three."
"Oh, okay." Fluttershy said as she gave Twilight a hug. "Lead the way."