"Ugh, do I have to go too?" Blue Fire groaned as Red Flame dragged him off the couch.
"Yes!" Red Flame replied. "The Reaper's coming with me, so you should too! And besides, I already got your ticket!"
It was Red Flame's last day off work, and he wanted to go to Shooting Star's concert. Shooting Star was a popular performer, and everypony in Rainum knew his name. He was having a performance today, and Red Flame wanted to go.
"Now, let's go! You already have your coat on. It starts in 30 minutes, and it's a long walk!"
Blue Fire pulled the hood of his cloak over his head. He hadn't taken it off since Christmas. It was really comfortable, and Red Flame put a spell on it so that it wouldn't get dirty.
"Do you want to carry the Reaper?" Red Flame asked."It would be long walk to the coliseum for her."
"Sure." Blue Fire replied. He picked up Tia and put her on his back.
Blue Fire suddenly realized how small Tia was. She was like a doll compared to him (no wonder Red Flame was so easily able to throw Tia out the window). This was only the second time he had carried Tia; the last time he had, he was too busy thinking about where she had come from.
"I'll switch with you if your leg starts bugging you." said Red Flame, glancing at Blue Fire's bandaged left leg.
"Nah, it's fine."
"Let's go!" Red Flame exclaimed excitedly.
"Mares and stallions, fillies and colts!" the announcer boomed, the coliseum torches darkening. "Please welcome... Shooting Star!"
The crowd cheered, and a spotlight appeared on the stage, revealing a handsome stallion with a light pink coat and a deep, navy mane. He was wearing navy blue suit and pink tie.
"Welcome, my beloved fans!" Shooting Star beamed, blowing a kiss into the air. Several mares screamed in delight. "I would like the show to start as soon as possible, however, there seems to be something amiss…"
A murmur swept over the crowd.
"We are extremely honored to be in the presence of--"
Suddenly, bright lights shown down on Tia.
"A REAPER!"
The crowd gasped. Everypony turned their heads to face Tia.
"Did you know this was going to happen?!" Blue Fire seethed, sinking into his seat.
"Nope!" Red Flame replied nonchalantly, apparently delighting in the attention.
Shooting Star teleported Tia on stage. She didn't shy away, instead, she looked at him with ready eyes.
"My, my! Isn't she the cutest!"
The crowd aww-ed. However, Tia just stood there, her hooves glued to the stage, seeming to be getting ready for something. Blue Fire squirmed nervously in his seat.
"Before we get the show started, let me tell you all a little story!" announced Shooting Star. "Before I became a performer to all of my loyal, beloved fans' delight, I used to be part of our king's elite vanguard! And not just any soldier part of the vanguard, oh no! I was the Reaper specialist! My sole duty was to catch an Reaper that appeared in our fair kingdom of Rainum! And it just so happens that there is a Reaper standing right in front of me!"
Shooting Star glanced at Tia, smirking.
"And it is still my duty to capture any Reaper that dares step hoof on our grounds!" Shooting Star declared.
Suddenly, a forcefield surrounded the stage. Shooting Star lifted his horn into the air, and a rumbling sound filled the coliseum. A bright light filled the area, blinding the audience.
"Kid!" Blue Fire shouted, covering his eyes.
When the light had died down, there were thousands of stars hanging only a half a mile above the stage. The crowd ooh-ed. However, Blue Fire wasn't goggling at the stars. His eyes were on Tia and Shooting Star.
"Lights!" Shooting Star yelled.
More spotlights appeared on stage.
"Camera!"
Nothing happened.
"What is a camera, anyway?" Shooting Star mumbled. He cleared his throat.
"Action!"
Dramatic music started playing in the background, and a star came flying down toward Tia.
"No!" Blue Fire cried, his eyes locked on Tia.
The star created a bright flash of light as it crashed on the stage, engulfing Tia in the light. Blue Fire ran down to the stage as fast as he could. He tried to break the forcefield with a spell, it was to no avail.
The light dissipated, revealing Tia, who was still standing on the stage. Her hooves were shaking, and there was a gash on her cheek.
"Oh, still standing, are we?" Shooting Star taunted. "Well then, I guess I'll actually have to try."
He sent a barrage of stars crashing down on Tia, however, she did not fight back. When the lights cleared once again, she was laying on the stage.
"Stop!" Blue Fire yelled. Shooting Star ignored him.
Tia pushed herself back onto her hooves. She had sustained more injuries.
"Aren't you a little tough cookie!"
Shooting Star sent more stars attacking Tia, battering her left and right.
"No, stop it!" Blue Fire cried, trying once again to break the forcefield.
"If you knew why I was doing this, you'd stop resisting." Shooting Star whispered to Blue Fire from the other side of the forcefield.
Tia was beaten and bruised all over, however, she warmly smiled at Shooting Star.
"Oh, I see what you're doing, Reaper. You think that I'll just give up if you don't fight back. You think I'll have mercy on you." said Shooting Star bitterly, sending more stars crashing down on Tia.
"Well, unfortunately your wrong."
Tia forced herself to stand up, her right eye blackened.
"WHY WOULD I HAVE MERCY ON YOU IF YOUR KIND WAS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR INFLICTING SO MUCH PAIN US?!" Shooting Star shouted, his voice echoing throughout the coliseum.
Two stars sped toward Shooting Star, and he absorbed them. Shooting Star's horn starting glowing.
"Fight back!" Blue Fire yelled at Tia.
Tia shook her head, remaining stationary.
"He's going to kill you! You have to fight back!"
Tia shook her head once again.
"You foolish, little filly." Shooting Star sneered.
A huge beam of light shot towards Tia, causing the whole coliseum to shake.
"NO!"
However, when the light cleared, Tia was unharmed by the beam.
"W-what…?"
In front of Tia was the shield Shining Spear had given her. It was cracked.
"Oh, you smart, little filly."