Chapter Nineteen
Nightfall had arrived in Canterlot City and at Canterlot City High in the auditorium, Toby was all alone sitting at the piano. He was delicately stroking his fingers along the ebony and ivory keys as he felt butterflies in his stomach. For tonight was his final night with the friends he came to call his second family and he just wanted it to be special for them.
He was dressed in a finely tailored tuxedo complete with black dress pants and dress shoes. Earlier in the day he asked if Rarity could make it for him and she obliged. For a moment he stopped stroking at the piano keys and reached up to lightly grasp at the heart-shaped pendant of his locket. He held in the palm of his hand and carefully opened it to look down at the picture of his mother with him in her arms.
Mommy, I’ll make you proud tonight when I play the piano for my friends tonight. They have been so caring and protective of me ever since I came to this strange new world. I want to play them the song you sang to me on the night before you left, because their friendship and love reminds me of that song. I’ll always love you Mommy and I miss you so much.
Tears formed in his eyes as he gently closed the pendant and held it close to his chest. Suddenly his ears caught the sound of the auditorium doors being opened and as he turned to look, he saw his friends coming down the aisle. He sniffled and prevented his tears from shedding as he gave them a wave of his hand in which they returned.
The girls were all dressed beautifully in their Fall Formal dresses they wore last year, except for Sunset Shimmer. She chose to wear a more casual, yet still elegant attire. It was an all black dress that reached down to her knees with a red, orange, and yellow flame design stitched into it. The design rose from the bottom of the dress with the the point of each flame stopping at the hip area. For her footwear, Sunset decided to wear her leather boots and also her leather jacket.
Applebloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Noi walked behind the girls, dressed elegantly as well. Sweetie Belle was slowly breathing in and out as she was asked by Toby to sing while he played the piano. She accepted the task, but she too felt the fluttering of butterflies in her stomach, because this would be the first time she sung on stage and in front of her family and peers.
Applebloom noticed this and placed a hand on her shoulder “Sweetie Belle, are ya alright?” She looked at her friend with concern.
Sweetie Belle nodded “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m just worried that I might mess up on the song Toby asked me to sing, because I don’t want to this special night to go wrong for the little cutie. If that happens, it would be all because of me.” She sighed heavily and gave a frown.
“Would you stop talking all that nonsense Sweetie Belle? It’s so uncool.” Scootaloo looked at the young teen and gave a soft smirk “You’re going to do great, and the little dude is going to be proud of you. We all will be proud of you.” She patted Sweetie’s back gently.
“They’re right Sweetie Belle, don’t you be nervous. Just get up there and sing with all your heart. You know Toby will be there right alongside you to help you if you become too nervous.” Noi gave a warm, reassuring smile.
Sweetie Belle blushed a shade of light pink and smiled at her friends “Thanks you guys. With you three, my sister, her friends, and my cutie of a little brother cheering for me, I know I will do great!” She beamed from ear to ear.
Everyone took their seats except for Sweetie Belle, who walked up onto the stage and behind the curtain to prepare for her performance. The girls looked up to see the child sitting quietly at the piano with his hands folded in his lap, looking a little nervous, but still held himself as a fine young gentleman. Each of them smiles at the boy as Rainbow Dash gives him two thumbs up.
“I just know the little guy is going to do awesome. I just wonder what he’s going to sing for us.” The cyan toned girl looked at the others curiously as they all shrugged their shoulders.
“Whatever song it is, Ah’m sure the little fella is going to do great.” Applejack tipped her hat and smirked proudly “Ah’m sure it’s going to be a good song he chose.”
Pinkie beamed happily and nodded vigorously “Yeppie yep yep! And after our sweet little cupcake of a nephew gets done, I’m going to throw him a ‘Congratulations On A Spectacular And Well Played Piano Performance’ party!” She giggled and randomly pulled out a party streamer and blew it.
The others simply rolled their eyes as Rarity smiled brightly “Oh, the little darling looks so handsome in his tux. I feel so honored and touched that he wanted to ask me to make it for him.” The fashionista felt a small tear trickle down her cheek as she was filled with pride and joy.
“He does look cute.” Fluttershy smiled warmly at the child, and then turned her head to look down a few seats at Noi. A single thought suddenly flowed through her mind Maybe Toby’s right. Maybe I should take her in and adopt her as my own. She is a sweet girl and she does need a mother in her life. She cleared her throat and got up from her seat and walked down to Noi’s.
She gave the girl a warm smile “Um… hi Noi … could I maybe sit with you for a moment?”
Noi nodded “Of course Miss Fluttershy.” She gave Fluttershy a warm smile in return as the timid older girl sat down beside her.
Fluttershy returned the smile and sat down beside Noi. She took in a deep breath and exhaled, and then looked at the girl “Um… Noi … Toby told me about how you are living at the orphanage and that your parents just abandoned you. Um… is that true?” She bit her lower lip, nervous about how Noi would react.
Noi sighed heavily as she didn’t look at Fluttershy, but up at Toby. She gave a soft smile and shook her head slightly before turning her attention back to Fluttershy. She gave her a nod “Yes Miss Fluttershy it’s true. I’ve been living at the orphanage ever since I was an infant and I never knew who my parents were. I’m not surprised he told you, because he such a caring little boy.”
Fluttershy nodded in agreement as she looked up at him, and then back at Noi “Well … umm… he wanted to talk to me earlier this morning about maybe… um… me becoming your mom. Um… I know I’m just a teenager and I might not be old enough to be a mother… but… um I would like to try. What do you say?” She gave a hopeful smile.
Noi turned in her seat some and smiled brightly “Really Miss Fluttershy? Do you really want to be my mom?” She clasped her hands together excitedly.
Fluttershy let out a slight giggle at the girl’s excitement and nodded. She gently held Noi’s hands in hers “Yes Noi I would be more than honored to be your mother. I promise to love you unconditionally with all my heart.” She leaned in and gave the girl a tender kiss on her forehead “We’ll go to the orphanage tomorrow so I can sign the papers.”
The girls looked at the sight with warm smiles and gave a soft applause before turning back to the stage. Sweetie Belle calmly stepped out and walked over to Toby. She gave him a kiss on the cheek “Just play your heart out cutie and I will sing my heart out.” She gave him a wink.
“Okay Sweetie Belle. I know you can do it my big sister.” He replied with a smile then turned on the bench to face the girls. He cleared his throat “Sunset, girls, I wanted to play for you tonight, because it’s my last night here and I just wanted to let you know what you all mean to me. I want to thank you all for treating me with the same love that my mommy did. This song is the song she sung to me on the last night with me, and your friendship reminds me of that song. I hope you all like.” He gave a soft smile and turned to face the piano.
He looked at Sweetie Belle to see if she was ready and she gave him a firm nod. With a deep breath and exhaling, he placed his fingers on the keys and started to play.
(The song I’ll Be belongs to Reba Mcentire)
After the performance was over, each of the girls had tears rolling down their cheeks, but had smiles on their faces. They gave him a standing ovation and wiped away their tears, feeling proud of their friend. Toby smiled proudly after his showing on the piano and got up from his seat, and walked over to Sweetie Belle.
He wrapped his arms around her middle and looked up at her with a big smile “You sung great Sweetie Belle. Thank you for doing this for me.” He spoke happily.
She reached up with a hand and ruffled his hair “It was my pleasure sweetheart.” She leaned down and kissed the top of his head “Let’s go see our friends!” She beamed and gently took his hand in hers.
When they got down onto the floor everyone walked up to them and swallowed them up in a big, warm group hug. There were still tears shedding from everyone, but tears of joy and pride. After the hug was broken up they all congratulated Toby on playing the piano beautifully and Sweetie Belle for singing wonderfully.
Sunset crouched down to Toby’s level and placed a hand on his shoulder “That was so beautiful Toby, and you know that we all do love you unconditionally and truly.” She sniffled and wiped away her tears “If it’s okay Toby, I’ve decided to sing you a song as well. I did some research on songs from where you’re from, Earth and I think I found the perfect song that shows my feelings for you as not only my little brother, but my dear friend.” She gave him a warm smile and slowly stood up.
Toby looked up with a big smile and curiously asked “Oh really Sunset? What is it?”
She simply took both of his hands gently in hers and gave him a warm, teary smile. She then looked at the girls “Ready?” They all nodded and started to hum a soft, melodic tune. Sunset took a deep breath, and exhaled as she began to sing her own song.
(Angels Among Us belongs to Alabama)
After she got done singing, she looked down at Toby who had tears rolling down his cheeks this time. She gave him a warm smile and leaned down to give him a tender kiss on his forehead. She pulled him close to her and gave him a big, tight, warm hug.
Toby sniffled and he looked up at her proudly “That was a beautiful song Sunset, thank you.” He wrapped his arms around her middle and laid his head against her stomach.
The others were in tears once again until the sound of the city’s bell tower going off. It signified that midnight have arrived and everyone looked at the little boy. They knew that it was time for him to return home.
Sunset gently looked down at him “Did you hear that buddy? It’s time for you to go home!” She said softly as she ran her hand through his hair.
He smiled brightly “Oh, it is Sunset. I finally get to go home back to my family and friends!” He said excitedly, but the excitement died when he looked at frowns on the girls faces. He frowned as well as reality struck him that he won’t ever see them again.
Sunset gently grasped his hand “C’mon Toby, lets all go outside to say a proper goodbye.” Everyone nodded in agreement as they made their way back up the aisle way of the auditorium and to exit the school.
While they were walk outside, Sunset looked down at the child that have made an impact in her life. She smiled at him proudly and looked up at the star-filled sky.
Thank you for blessing me with such a wonderful and caring angel.