The first day of the Helping Hooves Music Festival was a success by all means. Coloratura's new friends had surpassed their profit goal, and it was only the first night! The past few years had been tumultuous, but in that moment gratefulness overcame her. Without her career, without her fame and fans, who knows how the festival would have fared?
Coloratura gazed at the reflection in the guest room's mirror, her eyes soft and contemplative.
Svengallop. Applejack.
Coloratura tilted her head, examining each midnight blue hair in her mane. After moons of that obnoxious dyed ponytail, the sight of her natural locks felt foreign.
How could I ever have been so blind as to not notice Svengallop's greed? she wondered, blinking.
The bedroom door creaked open, and Applejack's blonde head appeared in the doorway.
"Are ya findin' everythin' alright, Rara?" Applejack grinned.
"Yes, of course!" Coloratura beamed and embraced her friend in a brief hug. "Thanks so much for letting me stay here until I return to Manehattan!" Svengallop had taken Coloratura's backup dancers and trailer back to Manehattan faster than a cowpony chased by a rattlesnake. Coloratura had business to settle with him, but she'd deal with that when she returned home.
"Of course, Rara!" Applejack replied. "Anything to get you away from that dirty rotten Svengallop.
"By the way"—Applejack stepped back—"you have some visitors."
"Hi Countess Rara!" A marshmallow with a curly mane walked in.
The mishmash of aliases endeared Coloratura. A grin split across her face. "Sweetie Belle!"
"I had so much fun singing with you!" Sweetie Belle squeaked as she hugged Coloratura. "Scootaloo and I are sleeping over with Apple Bloom, but I wanted to talk with you first."
"I'll be downstairs." Applejack withdrew from the room.
Coloratura sat down on the edge of the quilt-covered bed. With a flick of her hoof, she motioned for Sweetie Belle to join her.
Once the filly was nestled beside her, Coloratura asked, "So, Sweetie Belle, what's on your mind?"
Sweetie Belle's warm green eyes peered up at Coloratura. "I overheard you and Applejack talking about how charity concerts are your favorite thing about singing. Why?"
I wasn't expecting that, Coloratura thought, masking her surprise. "Charity's about helping ponies! Shouldn't that be the most important thing to focus on?"
"Yeah," Sweetie agreed, "but what if your cutie mark is about helping ponies? Do you have time to be a singer?"
Coloratura's gaze fell on Sweetie Belle's cutie mark. "Is this about you, Sweetie Belle?"
"You caught me," Sweetie admitted, smiling sheepishly. "My friends and I, well, our cutie marks are about helping other ponies figure out their cutie marks."
"That sounds fun!" Coloratura chuckled.
"How could it not be fun?" Sweetie giggled. "If it's your talent, you should like it!"
"Agreed," Coloratura nodded. "So what's the problem, Sweetie?"
"The problem is that your talent is singing, and my talent is helping ponies." Sweetie hopped off the bed and began to pace. "I like to sing, and I've always loved your music!"
Coloratura flinched slightly. After being used by her manager, she was seeing her past music in a new light, one that didn't appeal to her.
Sweetie continued. "If I could, I would want to become a famous singer like you! But if I'm always traveling, how can I help ponies like I'm supposed to?"
Coloratura cocked her head. She's really overthinking this, isn't she?
"Sweetie," the pop star said gently, "if you're traveling, what do you get to do?"
Sweetie Belle tilted her head, thinking. "Jet lag?"
Coloratura giggled and hopped off the bed. "That, I suppose, but you get to meet so many fans! I've always loved seeing the look on little ponies' faces when I meet with them. It makes me feel good knowing I've inspired them."
Sweetie Belle perked up. Coloratura's smile widened. She could practically see Sweetie Belle's brain grasping the concept.
"So you're saying I should become an inspirational pop sensation?" Sweetie asked, her eyes lighting up. "'Be true to yourself' and all that mumbo jumbo?"
"And all that mumbo jumbo," Coloratura confirmed, hugging Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie Belle beamed, but after a moment her smile faltered. "What about Apple Bloom and Scootaloo? They're probably not interested in singing with me."
"I can't advise you on all your decisions," Coloratura told the filly gently. "You three will have to figure that out with each other. But whatever happens, I know you three are going to succeed."
Sweetie nodded thoughtfully. "I guess that makes sense."
Suddenly, they heard a tapping on the door. Apple Bloom's muffled voice called, "Sweetie! We can't start truth or dare without you!"
"I'll be there in a minute!" Sweetie promised.
Coloratura smiled. "Anything else you want to ask?"
Sweetie grinned shyly. "Can I record a song with you?"
"Applejack told me she and Rarity have a friend in Manehattan. Next time you visit her, maybe we can set up a time to record!" Coloratura winked.
Sweetie's horn ignited with a green aura, and she pulled the bedroom door open. "Thanks for talking with me, Coloratura!"
"You're welcome!" Coloratura replied as her visitor left the room to join her friends.
I need to make a note and get Sweetie's address from Applejack, Coloratura thought when she returned to her mirror. Having a pen pal is so much fun!