//------------------------------// // Serenade // Story: Sweet, Solemn, Sad // by Shingo //------------------------------// Carousel Boutique was empty save for a single table with a lit candle on top of it. Sitting at the table was a butter yellow pegasus. She had a martini glass full of a neon green liquid in front of her and a calm smile was on her face. A pair of spot lights turned on revealing a baby grand piano. At the piano’s keys was a pink earth pony mare with a poofy mane and tail. She had a bowler hat over her head that barely contained her wild mane. On top of the piano was a white unicorn mare wearing a sparkling red cocktail dress. The pink pony pressed a few keys on the piano causing the unicorn to smile. “Somebody loves me, I wonder who,” she sang. “I wonder who she can be? Somebody needs me, I wish that I knew. Who she can be worries me.” The unicorn slid off the piano. She slowly approached the pegasus while the pink pony continued playing. The pegasus blushed as their performance continued. “Every girl who passes by,” the pink pony sang. “I shout, ‘Hey, maybe you were meant to be my lovin’ baby.” “Somebody loves me,” they sang together. “I wonder who.” The unicorn placed a hoof under the pegasus’ chin. “Maybe it’s you.” The unicorn held the final note as the last of the piano’s keys were played. Both the pink pony and unicorn had doting smiles on their faces. “Happy Birthday, Fluttershy,” the unicorn said. “We love you.” “I love you too, Rarity,” Fluttershy said. She held onto Rarity’s hoof while the pink pony hopped out of the piano bench. She landed beside Fluttershy and nuzzled her. Fluttershy returned the nuzzle. “I love you too, Pinkie. Thank you both.” ~~~ Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie sat on a checkered blanket. A picnic basket sat beside them and the remains of their meal was scattered around them. The sun was nearly under the horizon as they sat in a comfortable silence. Crickets began to sing while fireflies flew around. The moon was beginning its ascent and stars slowly dotted the sky. Fluttershy turned to Rarity. What little moonlight there was seemed to make the ivory pony glow. The sight took Fluttershy’s breath away, and judging by Pinkie’s reaction, the same effect happened to her. They shared a brief gaze before nodding. Pinkie began humming a simple tune causing Rarity’s smile to grow. “Moonlight becomes you, it goes with your hair,” Fluttershy sang. “You certainly know the right thing to wear.” “Moonlight becomes you, I’m thrilled at the sight,” Pinkie continued. “And I could get so romantic tonight.” “You’re all dressed up to go dreaming, now don’t tell me I’m wrong,” Fluttershy and Pinkie sang in unison. “And what a night to go dreaming, mind if I tag along? “If we say I love you, we want you to know.” Fluttershy wrapped a wing around Rarity and Pinkie nuzzled her. “It’s not just because there’s moonlight. Although, moonlight becomes you so.” Their voices faded into silence. Pinkie kissed Rarity’s cheek before cuddling against her. Fluttershy mimicked Pinkie and kissed Rarity’s other cheek. Rarity stroked Pinkie’s mane and leaned against Fluttershy. The three of them sat in their silence as the moon continued its ascent. ~~~ “I hate being stuck like this!” Pinkie wailed. She lay in her bed underneath a series of thick blankets. A moist towel was on top of her forehead and a thermometer was in her mouth. Fluttershy sat beside her on one side while Rarity was on the other. “Lousy sickness. I wish it could go away.” Fluttershy pulled the thermometer out of Pinkie’s mouth. “Unfortunately sickness doesn’t work like that,” she said. “And judging by your temperature, you’ll be here for a while.” “Is there anything that we can do to make you feel better?” Rarity asked. A lewd smile stretched across Pinkie’s face. “Well there is one thing…” “You’re sick, darling,” Rarity deadpanned. “While I would be the first to accept that idea with open hooves on a normal day, I cannot, no matter how hard I try, do that while you’re sick.” “Resting is the best thing you can do right now, Pinkie.” Fluttershy removed the towel. She placed it in a nearby wash basin before returning it to her head. “Is there anything else we can do?” “Can you sing for me?” “As you wish, dear.” Rarity cleared her throat. “Somewhere, out there, beneath the pale moon light. Someone’s dreaming of me, and loving me tonight.” Pinkie’s smile shrank and her eyelids slowly drifted down. Fluttershy rubbed Pinkie’s foreleg through the blanket. “Somewhere out there, someone’s saying a prayer. That we’ll find one another, in that big somewhere out there.” Pinkie closed her eyes. Her smile was still fixed on her face as she gently snored. “And when the night wind starts to sing its lonesome lullaby,” Fluttershy and Rarity sang together. “It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath that same big sky.” They got off the bed and slowly made their way to the exit. Pinkie continued snoring. “Somewhere out there, if love can see us through,” they continued singing. “Then we’ll be together, somewhere out there, out where dreams come true.” They held the last note for a few moments. When they stopped, Pinkie was fast asleep. Fluttershy and Rarity smiled as they gently closed the door, leaving Pinkie to recover.