Cheerilee sighed as she sipped on her fruit juice. Maybe this wasn’t quite the most exciting aftershow party although it was quite rawcus in it’s own way, she thought watching the foals rush around excitedly. Once the majority of the audience had left she had brought out trays of drinks and snacks for the little actors and their families and they were partying within the tent. Of course she’d have to be up early tomorrow to help take the thing down again, it apparently had an appointment back in Canterlot by evening, but that was something to worry about tomorrow.
“Not a bad performance,” said Trixie resting on the seat next to Cheerilee.
“Nope, a few hiccups but nothing’s perfect. I’m quite proud of our little actors and actresses.”
“I might even get used to this backstage thing,” mused Trixie.
“Who are you and what have you done with Trixie!” gasped Cheerilee theatrically.
“I’m not that bad,” protested Trixie, “Well, not all the time. It’s not like I’m going to give up being the star, but it was sort of nice passing on my skills to the foals, watching their happy little faces,” she grinned.
“We’ll make a teacher of you yet, still thanks for all your help. I couldn’t have gotten it done without you, and the rest of my helpers as well.” She pointed towards Lyra, who was sitting off to one side strumming her lyre while a small group of foals looked on mesmerised, and then to Written Script who was standing near the buffet table feeding Carrot Top a choice of goodies from his aura. “I think most of the town helped in one way or another, delivering leaflets, putting up the tent, the costumes, even just by buying tickets. I’m really glad I live in such a close knit community.”
“Yeah, there is a certain something about Ponyville isn’t there. Maybe we can try another play next year, Rhomeo and Juliet? Waiting for Gallopdo? The Unicorn of Oz?”
“Well,” said Trixie clinking her glass against Cheerilee’s, “The whole world is a stage!”
“I’m sorry Momma,” said Dinky safely wrapped in her mother's wings.
“That’s alright muffin,” said Ditzy, “but if you’re ever worried about anything like this in future, you should tell me.”
“I know, but you were busy with work and I’m a big girl now,” she protested, “I should be able to do things by myself.”
“I’m never going to be too busy for you, and you’re always going to be my little muffin,” she gently kissed her daughter's cheek.
“I really did want to help the other foals with the play, but I ended up being all bossy and mean,” she sighed.
“There’s nothing wrong with helping others when you can, but you should make sure they’re having fun as well. You got a bit of a swollen head,” she gently tapped her foal on the head.
“Miss Cheerilee did say I was a good actor.”
“And you were, but just because you’re good at something that doesn’t make you better, or more important than anyone else. A play needs everypony to work together to be good, both the actors and those behind the scene’s, just like the post office need sorters and delivery mare’s, one without the other just doesn’t work.”
“I understand,” said Dinky nodding, she wiggled for a moment and her mother put her down on the floor. “I think I need to apologize to some ponies,” she said. Her mother nodded and Dinky trotted off.
She eventually found Snails sitting with Snips while their families chatted. “Hi Dinky,” he called as she approached. Feeling a little apprehensive she looked back at her mother who was now chatting to Big Mac, Ditzy looked back and gave her daughter a reassuring smile.
“Snails,” said Dinky, “Thank you for reminding me of my lines.”
“Hey, that’s alright,” he said with a big smile, “It was my job!”
“And you did it really well, better than I did, I was too busy trying to get everypony else to do what I wanted to remember my own lines.”
He seemed to think for a few moments before he replied. “Well some of us are good at getting other ponies to do things and some of us are needed to deal with things when they go wrong, but that doesn’t mean we’re any less important. We’re all needed to make sure everything works right. Somepony has to work behind the scene’s even if it might not be than exciting.”
Dinky blinked for a moment, surprised by the level of thought behind the words. “I’m sorry I was mean to you and said you weren't important, you are.” She stepped forwards and hugged the colt a little self consciously.
“I know I am,” said Snails with a grin, “My sister told me! Still maybe next time we have a play I’ll get to be on stage!”
“Diamond Tiara,” called Apple Bloom pushing through a crowd of foals.
“Yes, what do you want?” asked the pink filly, imperiously.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Ah was just coming to say you weren't half bad in the play today, and ah thought you’d like to meet some of my cousins,” she gestured back towards a small group of foals following her, “These are Crumble, Flora, Candy and Gringold, they’re staying with us up at the acres for the holiday.”
“Howdy!” called the little herd waving their hooves.
“And why would I want to meet more of your family?” asked Diamond.
“Well, you did say you didn’t have any cousins of your own, I thought you might like to play with some of mine for a bit?”
Diamond’s jaw dropped for a bit and she blinked a few times before she spoke. “I... well... I...” she cleared her throat, “well I suppose I could play for a bit, it would only be polite.”
“Good,” said Apple Bloom with a smile, “Hey folks, this is Diamond Tiara, she played Smart Cookie in the play!”
“Applebloom,” mumbled Diamond.
“Yeah?”
“Um, er... thank you, you were a good Puddinghead, and maybe you didn’t entirely steal my role.”
“Thanks.”
“As long as I get to play Puddinghead, next year,” she hastily added. “Maybe you’d like to come around to my place somewhen when it’s just me and my parents, I’m sure they’d like to talk to you, daddy is looking to deal with the Trust more and you might like, well, spending time with them.”
“Thats...” Apple Bloom swallowed hard, “That’s right neighbourly of you.”
“Well,” said Diamond looking down and running her hoof over the floor, “It is Hearth’s Warming after all.”