Chapter 2
Auditions
After getting the 'OK' from Mayor Mare to use town hall as an audition center, I gathered the rest of the cast and we prepared to welcome the auditioners. We put a big rectangular table to one side of town hall, put a few lights around and made a little make shift audition center. Me, Twilight and the rest of the girls sat at the table, as we called the first group in. Three small filly's trotted in. They were a yellow earth pony with a red mane and a pink bow, an orange pegasus with a short violet cropped mane, and a white unicorn with a pink and purple curled mane, almost like Rarity's. I smiled at the three fillies.
“Hi there. What are your names?” I asked. The yellow earth pony smiled.
“Ah'm Applebloom!” Then the orange pegasus smiled.
“I'm Scootaloo!” Then the white unicorn smiled.
“I'm Sweetie Belle!” Then all three said in unison,
“And we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” I grinned.
“Well, it's very nice to meet you three. Now, if you want to review the characters, I'll let you three see the character list,” I said. Spike came over with three sheets of paper and handed them to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They reviewed the lists then gave them back to Spike.
“So, who are you going to be reading for, girls?” I asked.
“Ah'm going to read for Samwise Gamgee,” Applebloom said. Applejack smiled.
“I'm going to read for Pippin,” Scootaloo said. Rainbow Dash smiled.
“I'm going to be reading for Frodo Baggins,” Sweetie Belle said. Rarity smiled. I nodded then realized that we had nopony for Merry. Spike handed the scene to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but before I could shout,
“Action!” , a small voice shouted,
“WAIT!” We all turned to the door and a small, light purple unicorn filly cantered in. Her gold eyes shined as she saw the CMC.
“Sorry I'm late, girls. My mom was baking muffins,” she said. The CMC nodded. I smiled at the filly.
“What's your name?” I asked. The filly smiled.
“I'm Dinky Doo. The CMC asked me to come down and audition with them,” she said. Smiling, I motioned to Spike, who walked over and passed Dinky a copy of the scene. She smiled and got into place with the CMC. I assumed that she was reading for Merry. I sat back with Twilight and the others and said,
“Action,” and the girls began. Dinky and Scootaloo slammed into Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. Scootaloo smiled down at Sweetie Belle.
“Frodo? Merry, it's Frodo Baggins,” she said. Dinky smiled.
“Hello, Frodo,” she said. Applebloom glared and pulled Scootaloo off of Sweetie Belle.
“Get off him!” she snapped. Scootaloo and Dinky pantomimed putting items into Applebloom's forelegs. Applebloom put on a perplexed face.
“What the...You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!” she said. The three other fillies broke into a gallop, leaving Applebloom alone. She then opened her forelegs and took off after the others.
“I don't understand why he's so upset! It's only a couple of carrots!” Dinky said. Scootaloo smiled.
“And some cabbages. And those three bags of potatoes that we lifted last week. And then the mushrooms the week before!” Dinky sighed.
“Yes, Pippin! My point is, he's clearly overreacting!” she said. The fillies stopped and bowed, as we all applauded. I smiled.
“Well, done, girls. I think we've found our Hobbits,” I said. The fillies beamed and ran out, giggling. I smiled at the other cast members.
“NEXT!” Twilight called. A chestnut brown stallion trotted in. He had a dark brown spiky mane, with bright blue eyes and what looked like a collar and tie. His cutie mark was by far the strangest. It was an hourglass. I hadn't the foggiest idea what his special talent was, but smiled at him.
“Hello. What's your name?” The stallion grinned, pearly white teeth shining.
“I'm the Do...um, I'm Time Turner,” he said. I was a little confused about the flub he'd made originally, but overlooked it. I smiled at Time Turner and asked,
“So, what part are you reading for?” He smirked.
“I'll be reading for Faramir,” he said. I smiled. This stallion's got guts. Spike passed the scene to him and when I gave the word, he began.
“I think at last, we understand one another, Frodo Baggins,” he recited, with the heart that was perfect for Faramir. I took the line said by Faramir's lieutenant.
“You know the laws of our country. The laws of your father. If you let them go, your life will be forfeit.” Time Turner smiled.
“Then it is forfeit. Release them,” he said. Twilight took Sam's line.
“Captain Faramir, you've shown your quality, sir. The very highest.” Time Turner gave the most sincere and heartfelt smile as he said,
“The Shire must truly be a great realm, Master Gamgee, where gardeners are held with the highest honor.” When he finished, we all were speechless. Turner was perfect for Faramir. I smiled and said,
“Welcome to the team, Faramir.” He grinned and nodded in thanks, then left without a word. As we all discussed how great Turner was, Rainbow Dash shouted,
“NEXT!” A grey pegasus trotted in, a small smile on her face. Her blonde mane was in the rigid, protruding style of Rainbow Dash, and her cutie mark was what looked like bubbles. But her eyes were the most striking feature. Her eyes shone with golden light, but were crooked. One hung up and the other hung down, giving her a cross eyed appearance. I smiled at the pegasus.
“Hi there. You are?” I asked. She smiled.
“My name's Ditzy Doo, but most ponies call me Derpy Hooves,” she said. I smiled.
“Alright, Ditzy, what part would you like to read for?” She looked down, blushing.
“Um, Eowyn,” she said. I smiled. Spike passed her the scene and I had Applejack read with her, as Aragorn was also in the scene. I gave the word and the two began.
“You have some skill with a blade,” Applejack said. Ditzy frowned.
“The women of this country learned long ago, those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain,” she said. Applejack nodded.
“What do you fear, my lady?” Ditzy sighed.
“A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.” Applejack smiled and took a step closer, saying,
“You are a daughter of kings, a shield maiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.” Ditzy smiled and then turned and bowed. We all grinned.
“Congratulations, Ditzy, you're Eowyn!” I said. She squeed and flew out, giggling happily. Rarity called,
“NEXT!” and a familiar face appeared. A white unicorn stallion with a dark and light blue mane and tail, blue hooves, light blue eyes and a cutie mark of a shield with a star and sparkles very similar to Twilight's. I smiled, and so did Twilight, as we knew this stallion well.
“Hello, Shining. Fancy seeing you here,” I said to Twilight's big brother, Shining Armor. He grinned.
“Hi, B.B.B.F.F!” Twilight called, waving. He waved back.
“Hey, Twily,” he said. I smiled.
“So, Shining, who are you going to read for?” He smiled.
“I'm going to read for King Theoden,” he said. Spike passed him the scene and Twilight stood up to read with him, as Gandalf had lines too. I gave the word and the siblings began.
“Simbelmyne. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebears. Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas, that these evil days should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should live to see the last days of my house,” Shining said, starting to make Rarity teary-eyed. Twilight sighed, trying to be as Gandalf as she could be and not cry.
“Theodred's death was not of your making,” she said. Shining stared at her and began to weep, saying,
“No parent should have to bury their child,” before completely breaking down. I could hear Rarity sobbing and inside smiled. Shining was perfect. Twilight composed herself and finished her lines.
“He was strong in life. His spirit will find the way to the halls of your fathers,” she said, then embraced her brother. I smiled. They both bowed and grinned, looking my way.
“Shining, you are our Theoden!” He bowed in reply and, after hugging Twilight once more, left. As the first day of auditions started to wind down, I called out,
“NEXT!” one last time. A dark grey mare entered, a humble smile on her face. Her mane was dark and almost black, with a bob in the front. Her tail was the same, though more wavy. She had a collar and bow tie around her neck, and her cutie mark was a purple treble clef. Her eyes were a bright purple, not unlike Twilight's eyes. I smiled at our last volunteer.
“Hi. What's your name?” She smiled.
“I am Octavia,” she said, in a very sophisticated accent.
“And what are you going to read for, Octavia?” I asked.
“I am going to read for the Lady Arwen,” she replied, a small smile on her face. I nodded and Spike passed her the scene. Applejack got up and read with her, as this was an Aragorn and Arwen scene. I gave the word, and the two began. In what could only be described as the voice of a breeze, Octavia said,
“Why do you fear the past? You are Isildur's heir, not Isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate.” Applejack sighed.
“The same blood flows in my veins. The same weakness.” Octavia approached Applejack and placed a hoof on her cheek.
“Your time will come. You will face the same evil, and you will defeat it.” Applejack nodded and, still in character, placed a small kiss on Octavia's hoof, causing the other mare to blush. I smiled. Our Arwen was secured. The scene finished, both bowed and I gave Octavia the news.
“Welcome to the team, Arwen.” She smiled, bowed her head in thanks and then left as quietly as she had come. We began to pack up the equipment and empty the Town Hall, but the auditions were far from over. I still didn't have a Saruman or a Grima, and those two are essential to the story. Perhaps Twilight would know two ponies who would be interested. We still had a lot more characters to cast, but we'd worry about that tomorrow. Tonight, we all retired to our homes and slept, eager for the next day.