//------------------------------// // Tuning instruments, soundcheck. // Story: Show MUST Go On! // by Magenta Cat //------------------------------// -In the road leaving Canterlot, under the rain. It's one of those nights. You know which one, one of those when the rain is smoothly falling, like a heavenly lullaby that whispers in the ground. The soft sounds of the water hitting the stone road sing their song. It is the calm beat of nature, trying to bring peace to the world. At the same time it's a war drum, setting the pace of warriors to their battlefield. Playing the same song of the rain, a set of hooves is carrying a pony down the road. It's a mare, a unicorn around her twenties or so. She's wearing a single cover from the weather, a simple black cape that serves to cover her face too with a hood. A strong wind and a well-timed lightning reveal her body. A body worth mentioning. One of those bodies that would make a young cheerleader run into the library and rethinks her career choice. Her silvery mane an tail not succumbing to the water's pull, but instead calmly dancing with every soft push from the wind. Hanging her head low, she keeps her pace heading south. The glorious metropolis that is Canterlot at her back as she keeps walking, heading to a very specific place. Just some meters from the city's limit, there's a coffee shop. It isn't the happiest place in Equestria, but at least it has a roof and wall to shelter a pony from the rain. The azure unicorn puts a hoof over the main door, not really moving it. In a better day, she would have pushed both doors wide open with a flash of her magic, making sure that every single pony around would know her name by shouting it out loud to the four winds. In a better day, instead of an old black leather cape, she would be wearing a hat and cape combination, made out of enchanted silk, worthy of a magician. In a better day, she wouldn't be even near to here, but where she belongs. In a better day, she would be on stage, bringing hope and illusion to the world. In a better day, long lost beyond her memory, she would be motivated to do something more than just standing under the rain, too afraid of even entering a public place. She shakes her head, trying to get rid of that feeling. That cold thing happening in her stomach that tells her that it's not worth to even get out of bed anymore. She shakes the feeling and, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding, finally opens the door and slowly walks in. "There she is, right on time." The pony behind the bar greets her. It the first time in hours that someone says something at the silver manned pony. It's not precisely Shakespeare, but it's something. "Hi there Berry, got my order?" She replies, not wanting to say more that the strictly necessary. "The usual, dear, hay and carrots with a diet cola." 'Berry' handed her a plastic tray holding the meal. It was ready some minutes ago, waiting for the same pony who keeps ordering the same meal every single night at the same hour. "Hope you cleaned your hooves this time." "Yes ma'am." The azure unicorn playfully replies to the joke. She doesn't want to say more than necessary, but Berry is also one of the few ponies who she can speak to, and she values it. The azure mare tries to grab a ketchup bottle near to her. "Thank yo--" But the tiredness and the fact she’s not even looking, makes her miss and the bottle is pushed to the floor. The unicorn's horn briefly flashes, as if trying to cast a levitation spell. *krttch* But it isn't fast enough. It isn't strong enough. It isn't good enough. The bottle hits the floor and shatters, spreading the content on the floor. "I'm sorry." "Don't worry sweetie, Lucky will clean that. Lucky!" The mare lets Berry to fade from her attention. Something else is in her mind now. She looks around, finding another bottle over a table next to the windows. Balancing her tray on her back, she heads to the table, but stops once she sees there's a pony already sitting there. Hesitating for a moment, she finally asks. "Mind if I..." "Suit yourself." The stranger replies. "I could use some company after all." Her voice is from a mare. The unicorn sits down, taking the ketchup and pouring it over her sandwich. Not wanting to be rude, she talks to her new companion. "I think I've already seen you here, how many times? At least a dozen over the last two weeks." Pausing to take a sip from her drink. "Always at four A.M., my lunchtime." "Mine too." The other mare puts an ice cube on her coffee. "Night shift, eh? It can be a real killer." "It usually is." "It's making me unable to sleep in the dark, sunrise makes feel tired..." She stops herself. "Sorry, I'm only complaining." "Don't worry, it still beats no having a conversation at all. Do you have a name, lady?" "Trixie..." Yawning. "...Lulamoon. You can call me Lulamoon." "Lulamoon. I've heard that name before." The mare finally leans over in interest. "Are you some kind of celebrity?" "Barely." Trixie answers. "But now I'm mechanical for the Royal Guard." "He, and how's that?" "Terrible. I hate the hours, from eight at night to six in the morning, and the payment just doesn't worth it. But it was all I could get since... Well, it's a long story." "Don't cha worry, mate. I got a good hour before lunchtime is over and I like a good story." The other mare took a long sip of her coffee. "Go ahead, tell me everything." Trixie hesitated, she didn't want to share her tale. It was the last thing that still belonged to her. But this could her last chance to tell a tale, at all. One last story, one last audience. Trixie cleared he throat, took a deep breath and started.