"But, Mama!!!! Why can't I go to the carnival on Friday!!??!!" Melody Star whined.
"Because, we need you here to help with Starlight's birthday party. " Moondance replied simply as she was currently, trying to figure out what kind of birthday cake to get for the party. Starlight Sonata's first birthday was that Friday and Moondance and Rain Whip were going crazy with party preparations. Melody just sighed and went over to the carrier, where her baby sister was currently, chewing on a teething ring and trying to talk (as best as an 11 month old filly can) at the same time. Melody managed to get her out of her carrier and on her hooves, so she could walk around with her.
"Okay kid...what do you say we go to the ice cream stand over there." Mel said as she pointed to a stand with a mare selling ice cream. Starlight just giggled happily and tried to take off with her wings, but couldn't (due to the fact that she's a infant.) Before they left though, Mel let her mom know where they'd be as well as asking for some bits for ice cream. To which she obliged on the condition that Mel gets something small for Starry. As the siblings got their ice cream, Melody's friend, Dessert Wind came by.
"Hey dez, how's everything?" Melody greeted her best friend.
"Mel! Do I have news for you. You'll never believe what I just saw a flyer for!" Dessert said quickly.
"Well...don't you keep us in suspense...TELL!" Melody said.
Instead, Dessert just pulled out of her mane, a flyer for a talent show on that Friday; which was Starlight's birthday!
"Oh. My. Luna! This is gre-wait. Friday as in Friday the 10th, Friday..." Melody said.
"Yeah, why is that a-OHHHH! I see, I forgot that Friday..." Dessert started
"...Is Starry's first birthday, dang! Well then I don't know what I'm gonna do." Melody finished.
They both looked down at the (very messy) toddler as Dessert hoofed her some tissues to clean her off with. Then the girls, along with Moondance, headed out of the market and back towards Melody's house.
15 minutes later, back at the house...
Melody and Dessert quickly ran up to Mel and Star's room to try and figure out what to do about Friday. As they paced the room, Melody's auntie, Silver Song, came to check on them.
"Hey girls' how are y'all doing?" Silver asked kindly.
The girls just glanced up from their pacing to look up at her and respond in an automatic tone. Unfortunately, Silver saw through the little mask of deceit and came in fully to talk.
"Okay, drop the act you two." Silver calmly stated.
"Uuuuhhhh....what act, auntie Silver..." Melody asked nervously.
"The obvious 'trying-to-not-make-it-seem-like-there's-something-wrong' act." Silver Song laughed.
Dessert Wind sighed as Melody Star face-hoofed, and they began to explain their carnival/talent show problem.
"Well...it looks like you two fillies have a problem and a solution on your hooves." Silver said, with a tinge of wisdom in her tone.
"...Huh..." they said in unison.
Silver Song just laughed and looked at the flyer, then back at them and then smiled.
"Here's what I'm thinking girls. If Starlight's party starts at one 'o clock and ends at four 'o clock, that's three hours and the talent show's at seven. So, if you two want to try and persuade your parents to let you perform, and I know you two are already signed up, before you ask, I walked through the carnival this morning and saw Dessert Wind sign both of you up by the stage. Then I will certainly be one of the loudest ponies cheering for you out there." Silver Song explained.
Both fillies just looked at her and, after hearing her plan out how they could do this, nodded furiously in excitement.
2 days later...the day of the party...and the talent show
"Okay...if I stay real quiet, maybe I'll make it on ti-" Melody started.
"Waaaaaaahhhh!!!!!" Starlight started to cry and fuss, after waking up from her nap too soon. She fell asleep not long after her birthday party was done and she had a good time, so Melody Star was a little upset that she woke up, but not too upset to not help her.
"...Hold on Starry, big sisters' here...shhhh! it's ok..." Melody started to calm her down.'hmmm...I wonder if that lullabye that mama would sing to her would help... Mel thought to her self.
"Okay...now how did it go again.....Oh! yeah, now I remember..." Melody said before singing.
Stars and moons and air balloons. fluffy clouds to the horizon.
I'll wrap you in rainbows. and rock you to sleep again.
teddy bears of pink. ducks and lambs of white.
don't you cry dear, I'm here now. I'll be your nightlight.
As Melody sang, Starlight started to drift off, soon she was asleep. She then placed Starlight back in her crib, closed the door, and took off towards the town square.
Two hours, Fifty-five minutes later, at the talent show...
"Melody! I CAN'T DO IT!!!" Dessert Wind freaked out backstage.
Melody Star knew exactly what her friend meant, but there was no backing out now. So,she took a deep breath and talked.
"Dez. Listen, ok I know you're nervous, I am too, but we can't let it creep on us right now. The whole town's out there and what do you expect they're gonna see when we walk on stage?" Melody said/asked.
"Two blank-flank fillies with nothing but a guitar and a microphone-" Dessert started.
"-That are gonna ROCK the whole town apart with their skills! Do you hear me!?!" Melody yelled.
"Yeah! You're right, Mel! We're gonna kill it out there...but...I'm still nervous..." Dessert said.
Melody just smiled and reassured her friend before they were called out on to stage. They got in position and Dessert Wind began to play her guitar, while Melody Star sang.
I can almost see it,
The dream I'm dreamin'
But there's a voice inside my head sayin'
You'll never reach it
Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep tryin'
Gotta keep my head held high
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a up-hill battle
Sometimes were gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes it might knock me down
But, No, I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember Most, yeah
Just gotta keep goin'
And, I, I got to be Strong
Just Keep pushing, on
'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
Were always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a up-hill battle
Sometimes were gonna have to loose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's The Climb
Yeah
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an up-hill battle
Sometimes were gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
Keep on movin'
Keep climbin'
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith woah...
When they were finally done, the whole crowd gave a fierce round of applause. After many different acts and a slightly disappointing 2nd place, the two pegasus fillies were super happy to see how they did. When they went up to their families they were all smiles.
"Mama! Daddy! Starlight! Did ya see it? It was awesome!" Melody said excitedly.
"Which one, the performance, or your Cutie-mark, hon?" Moondance replied.
"My performance, duh! 'sides I don't even...have...my..."Melody started but couldn't finish because she looked down at her flanks and sure enough, a bright yellow star surrounded by music notes was there instead of bare flank.
"M-My CUTIE-MARK!" Both girls cried out happily, while Melody's was a star with music notes, Dessert Wind's was a guitar with wings on both sides. And both girls couldn't have been happier.
"Look, Starlight! I got my cutie-mark!" Melody Star told her sister.
"M-m-m-Meowdee!"Starlight Sonata said excited, to everypony's shock.
"Did- did she just say-" Rain Whip started.
"Meowdee tar!!!" Starlight Sonata said again.
"She said it! She said her first words....I'm her first words!" Melody Star yelled happily.
Everypony gathered around the three fillies as they now, from that day forward, faced a bright future before them...and couldn't wait to see what comes....
The End