Stormy Songs
By The1Ryu
Sweetie Belle took a deep breath to steady herself, feeling the churning in her stomach and the tightness in her chest. Her hoof hovered between the two for several moments, swaying as it sought which needed a comforting touch the most. Finally it rose and pressed itself over her heart, seeking out and easing the pounding from deep within.
Before Sweetie Belle had thought these feelings were her fear, waiting to tear her apart if she dared open herself up. Now, however, she knew that they were not fear, they were her talent. A talent so big, so rare, that she had to open herself up completely, expose herself completely, if she wanted express it. And she had to express it, if it was to be fully realized and grant her a long desired cutie mark it could not be kept hidden.
She closed her eyes and could feel the ship sway under her hooves as the sailor ponies gather in awe, her performance had not yet started but already they watched with baited breaths not yet sure what to feel, or what to do.
Sweetie Belle let out a sigh, it was time. She opened her mouth summoning forth the music from within, it resonated through her and rang forth from her.
At first it was soft gentle voice that flowed over the sailor ponies like sweet honey. They all began to relax, the tension in their restless bodies carried off by the song as it flowed over them.
Around Sweetie Belle the world seemed to grow more hostile, more frightening as the wind whipped through her mane and the deck seemed to sway more violently beneath her. She steeled herself and kept the gates to her deepest, truest self open, she could not stop now. The song had begun and the music demanded she continue. It was frightening to loose herself to it like this, to feel like it controlled her instead of her controlling it.
Around her the air rumbled and lights flashed with each sudden turn of the song, a perfectly timed performance that few would think natural. But those caught by the power of her music thought of no such things. Closing their eyes in awe the flashes only made the beautiful images their minds conjured with the music come alive.
Sweetie had known of her true talent and the fear that had kept it buried deep inside before she ever met Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. She had felt ashamed at first, her lies mocking her friend true earnest desire to find what made them special. Despite this however, she was never happier then when she and her friends played, trying their hooves at everything they’re young minds could think of to summon forth their elusive cutie marks. Even if she was trying to evade hers.
Sweetie began to shake as her song built up in strength, water poured down her face and seemed to soak the whole deck. But it felt cold against her red flushed cheeks; it tasted salty like the sea beneath her.
First Scootaloo gained her cutie mark, then Apple Bloom, but Sweetie Belle’s, whose talent had been long since been discovered, continued to refuse to appear. It demand she conquer her fears and open herself up to it, but her courage failed each time she tried.
With her friends’ searching at an end, they continued to grow, and as happy as Sweetie Belle had been as a filly with her friends, that time came to an end. The lies that had once protected her then became a cage.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom tried to stand at her side, continuing to try new things for her sake, but by then it was too much of a lie. They never spoke of it, no accusations or judgement leveled against her, but their passion cannot survive her insincerity. Eventually, by no fault of their own and with no bitterness from Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo moved on with their lives.
The light around Sweetie Belle steadily dimmed until she stood upon her dark stage like the only light in the world. For the sailor ponies held captive by her song, she was the only light in the world. Her song brought them back to the greatest peace they had ever felt in their lives. Some played with friends, other sat with their wives, parents, children, siblings, and some watched the sun set into the clearest, bluest horizon they would ever see. Sweetie Belle felt these thing as well, reflected back on her through the power of her music. Somehow it only deepened her pain.
Sweetie Belle might not have hated her friends for leaving her behind, but the pain she felt at their loss ripped and tore at her like no other she had ever felt in her life. Each day it grew deeper and each day she tried wielding her sorrow against her fear, only to be defeated. Sweetie Belle’s cried and raged at her repeated failures and was desperate to understand why her pain, deep as it was, couldn’t conquer her fear.
Sweetie Belle’s song rose to its climax, thunderous and terrible, it felt like it would destroy her. The deck under her hooves began to spin, there was no stability, no control. It rocked, rose, dropped and lurched without care for those standing upon it, but the sailor ponies just contently listened to Sweetie Belle’s song.
It was as if she was the only one who could feel it, feel the danger and the swiftly approaching doom. She wanted her friends and her big sister to come and tell her it would be all right. She wanted it all to be over for this to be the hundredth time instead of the just the tenth. The boat tipped, the water rushed in around her, the waves pushed her to the rocks as the song finally ended.
Sweetie Belle eyes shot open and she panted, sitting upon her stage, safe once more. She sniffed and swallowed at the lump in her throat. There were no tears this time however, that was something at least. After a moment she managed to steady her breathing and look down at her audience.
“Of course I can help you Sweetie Belle,” Discord reassured in his crackling voice, it made Sweetie Belle’s skin crawl. “You just have to be forced to sing for an audience a few times, mmm, let’s say a hundred,” Discord nodded finding that to be the perfect number. “Then after doing so many times you would have any problems any more. Agreed?”
Sweetie Belle looked down from the tall stone pillar which she sat atop as the remains of the ship were dragged beneath the waves, wishing she still had it in her to cry and grateful that she didn’t.