//------------------------------//
// Climactic Things 
// Story: The Things Tavi Says 
// by shortskirtsandexplosions 
//------------------------------//

	An hour later...

The orchestra has finished their last performance.  After uproarious applause, the crowd winds down and begins to disperse.

Inside the backroom... behind the stage, everypony is a-buzz with the Cyan Saves set that transpired sixty minutes ago.

Beau and Harmonicide gesture wildly, reenacting the lights and stage effects with their forelimbs.  Simon and Capricorn compare notes on their music sheets.  Pinkie Pie cartwheels around in her dress while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy chat and giggle.  Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom hop and ramble on and on like excited foals while Applejack listens, smiling.

I sit on the couch, hugging myself, shivering slightly.

I gnaw on my bottom lip, staring at the doorframe leading into the ballroom.

I hear chatter.  Crimson coughs, amber breaths, and gold cheer.

Nothing purple.

I swallow a lump down my throat and I shiver harder.

Capricorn sees it... sees me.  She gently excuses herself from Simon Neighs and trots towards me.  However, before she even reaches the couch...

There's a crimson knock at the door on the other side.

Everyone's eyes dart towards it.  The whole room falls silent.

The knocking resumes.

Scootaloo blinks.  She gallops over and twists the knob.

The door swings wildly open.  Lyra and Bon Bon rush in, eyes wide and breathless.  They look at me... smiling crookedly.  Composing themselves, they step aside, revealing Rarity.

I stand up, holding my breath.

Rarity strolls gracefully towards me.  Pausing to smooth the folds in her dress, she locks eyes with mine.  "... ... ..."  A smile.

I blink.

She clears her throat daintily and leans forward.  "She's on the east balcony right now," she whispers.  A gulp.  "She's waiting, Vinyl."

My eyes twitch.

Rarity smiles.  She nods.

Sweetie Belle bites her lip hard, cheeks rosy to the point of bursting.

"Go... go!" Lyra insists as Bon Bon hugs her tightly, grinning at me.

I nod... then nod again.  I feel a warm pat on the shoulder.  I smile, sniffle, then nuzzle Beau back before composing myself and trotting forward.  As I leave the room, I glance aside at my friends.

Applejack winks.  She turns and looks at the little foals.  "Now... y'all know yer places, right?"

"Mmm-hmm!  Hmm-hmm!"  Scootaloo and Apple Bloom nod in one accord.

"Then take your places!"  Rarity gently pushes Sweetie Belle along.  "Everypony!  Quickly!"  She hikes up her skirt and skips across the room.  "Wait for Vinyl's signal!  We'll only have one shot at this!"

I hear their commotion trailing... fading...

For a brief, breathless moment, I am alone.  Navigating these black hallways.  The only sound is the persistent crimson thrump of my heartbeat as I limp towards the east wing of the Palace...

...and towards an open window.

A cool night breeze blows in through the wide open frame.  It smells of lavender... and it's filled with trailing, purple breaths.

I fight tears.  I fight shivers.

And soon...

...I fight nothing to fight at all.