Dance the dance, part four; dance
"Twinkle Twirl, you can't do this!" Loop De Lah wailed, protesting as I organized the other dancers on the stage. "You can't possibly let her dance with us on stage for the number, she'll ruin everything!"
"Would you please lay off, it's out of my hooves!" I snapped back, scowling at the exasperated mare. "Thanks to that little show our dear 'friends' put on for Princess Wysteria, I have no choice but to put the filly on stage!"
We were at Queen Starcatcher's birthday luau, celebrating her highness's birthday with all of our Pegasus friends. Lit torches lined all the paths in the village, and Pegasus stallions juggling flame sticks for all the gathered ponies. Ponies of all ages and kinds dance before the great bonfire, clapping their hooves and moving in a great circle in time to the music.
My girls were running to and fro backstage, fusing about and giggling as they peeked out from the curtain. The five had done their best to learn the new, hula-based dance routine I had to throw together at the last minute to accommodate the little Polynesian pony that had been foisted on me. As I look over the chaotic scene of the ponies running around and stumbling into each other in front of me, I say a silent prayer to B'zkere that this whole thing doesn't explode right in my face.
"This is going to be a disaster, I just know it!" Desert Rose whined, as the other mares put on their leis. grass skirts, and flowers in their manes. "She's too young to be a decent dancer, she'll mess up the whole routine before the first five minutes are over!"
"Hey, I'm right here, ya big stupid-head! I can hear you!" Honalu scowled at Rose, turning away from her mirror in the dressing room. "You old mares think I canna keep up? I'll leave you all in de dust!"
And then, my dancer and the Honalu Loo proceeded to tear into each other, yelling about each other's poor dancing abilities, and both sides looking like they were ready to trample each other into the ground.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" I yelled in protest, pushing the two apart. "Look, we have to make the best of this situation, so let's all try to get along, okay? And listen kid, you had better be at the top of your game out there... or else!"
"Yes, Miss Twinkle Twirl." The little filly grumbles, looking away ashamedly. "I understand."
I don't mean to seem so condescending towards poor Hona, I am just really, really worried that she's going to mess this up not only for us, but that she's also going to embarass herself. I'm sure she can dance really well, I'm not denying that she can dance, but I've not had the time to give her the proper training, and she hasn't had time to practice with us and learn the timing to work as a unit.
But I don't have any time to worry about that now, as I hear Queen Starcatcher calling my dancers out onto the stage. With an audible gulp, I send the girls out there into the spotlight. The loud drums begin to play, and my ponies rise up on their back hooves, and began to slowly shake their hips to the music.
I was panicked at first, but... as they started to dance, I could see they had adapted to the new routine rather quickly. Hona moved perfectly to the music, and I hate to say it, but she was doing better than keeping up with my girls. Rather, her flying movements, shaking and moving above the stage while my dancers were limited to hopping across it, proved to be the very center of the entire performance. And it's then I realize just how foolish I've been.
It is said that these hula's tell a story, but I have no idea what the dance Hona haphazardly taught my girls means. But to me, this is a story of a couple of stubborn mares who thought they knew best, and could not even listen to the simple wisdom of a child. She fought hard to honor her mother's memory, and I'm sad to say my girls and I stood against her in trying to fulfill her dreams.
"Bravo! Bravo! Well done, my little ponies!" Starcatcher cheered, as all the ponies clapped their hooves in applause. "We have all done a wonderful job, and many this truly special birthday even more special!"
The curtain comes down, as my ponies take a final bow. When the party is over, I'll owe a little Pegasus pony one big apology. I just hope that Loop De Lah and the others will be as tolerant and understanding of the little filly, and what she was trying to do. My hopes are dashed, however, when I hear the bickering and yelling when the whole group came backstage again.
"Hey, that was so great! You were all so shaka out dere!" Hona told the other angry girls. "You should all try an' become hula dancers!"
But my dancers, I am sad to say, were having none of it.
"Showoff!" Loop De Lah snapped, scowling at the poor little filly. "What were you trying to do, make us all look bad?!?"
"Yeah, ya big hot dog!" Desert Rose sneered, as the other mares all ganged up on poor Hona. "You spoiled the whole number!"
But before I can intervene, the little filly ran away, crying her eyes out. "Honaloo, wait!" Angrily, I look back at the other mares. "Ohhhhh, you big dummies! What have you done this time!?"