//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Sweetie-Belle's Sonata // Story: High School Musical // by Locomotion //------------------------------// As Sweetie-Belle readied herself for what could well be the moment of truth, she allowed herself a final quick glance in Lickety-Split's direction before turning back to the expectant crowd. She could feel her stage nerves starting to eat away at her again, threatening to break her will and send her running for the furthest reaches of Equestria; but this time, she didn't take the slightest bit of notice. This was her chance to shine, and there was no way in Tartarus that she would throw it away, she thought resolutely as Dinky levitated a gramophone out and began playing the music to accompany her lyrics. Fighting back what remained of her fears, the white-furred filly took a deep breath and nervously began; “The first time I have sung For an eager cheering crowd, It feels just like the lull Before the stormy thundercloud. I'm nervous and I'm scared, But I don't want you to see; To let you down is way too much for me...” Locomotion, Dinky and Pipsqueak listened with intrigue from the other side of the stage, visibly awestruck by how much emotion Sweetie-Belle was putting into the song. That she was using her vocal talents as a means of venting her feelings made perfect sense, but somehow, none of them had expected her to be anywhere near as brave as she seemed right now. “I should be prepared, But my work just isn't showing; But then you look with me With your faces that are glowing. No grumpy frowns in sight, Not a cloud in the skies; And that is when I start to realise... You lift my spirits And dispel my fears, You soothe my feelings And you dry my tears, You never leave me hanging Even when we're far apart; You bring out the music in my heart.” Secretly, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were a little taken aback themselves by Sweetie-Belle's choice of lyrics. The ones with which she had presented them prior to the talent show were of a reasonable standard, but somewhat mediocre compared to the lively serenade they were hearing at that very moment. It was almost as if those lyrics had completely vanished from her memory, and the words were coming straight from her heart instead of her mouth. Lickety-Split, on the other hoof, was so touched that he couldn't care less about the original composition even if he knew about it. All he cared about was that Sweetie-Belle was finally embracing her talent and rekindling her love for him. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice, feel it in the deepest recesses of his heart and soul as she sang the next verse; “I've been such a fool Thinking I could never sing, But now that I'm on stage, I can let my voice ring. How silly I have been To let my coltfriend go, So, Lickety, I want you now to know... You lift my spirits And dispel my fears, You soothe my feelings And you dry my tears, You never leave me hanging Even when we're far apart; You bring out the music in my heart.” Sweetie-Belle paused at this point to allow an instrumental break before her final chorus. Gazing out upon her audience once again, she noticed that virtually everyone in the auditorium was gazing back at her with eyes wide and mouths hung open. Even Tarquin and Lavender Rhapsody were visibly impressed with her improvisation. In that very instant, Sweetie-Belle came to a firm, brave decision – that Cutie Mark of hers had stayed hidden way too long, and now was as good a time as any to reveal it. Thus, without any further hesitation, she unzipped the lilac silk dress she was wearing and flung it clean off her barrel, prompting a collective gasp of amazement from the admiring crowd as she sang the final few lines; “You've helped me find my hooves, And you've shown me the way. You're everything to me; Oh, what more can I say? You've always supported me Right from the start; You bring out the music in my heart. You never leave me hanging Even when we're far apart; You bring out the music in my heart.” There was a brief pause after the music finished, and for a fleeting moment, Sweetie-Belle found herself growing nervous again. What if Scootaloo, Lickety-Split and Apple Bloom had been wrong about her song, she wondered? What if her audience didn't think as much of it as they made out? She had put way too much effort into that that song to simply fall at the last hurdle... But her anxiety was promptly swept aside as the crowd suddenly burst into raucous applause, nearly raising the roof. Even Tarquin and Lavender Rhapsody were practically crowing out for an encore, and in one of the middle seating rows, she could just make out her mother wiping a proud, joyous tear from her eye. Sweetie-Belle herself could only gape in amazement at all the praise and admiration she was receiving, even as the other performers lined up either side of her for the award ceremony. Indeed, such was her awe that the ceremony went by like a blur for the white-furred filly. Dinky and Locomotion were both awarded for the Best Magical Act despite theirs being a dramatic one, while the award for the best of the latter kind went to Apple Bloom for managing to assemble her chair in the time it took her tune of choice to play. Naturally, Diamond Tiara was still offended at having to play the mean-spirited stuck-up in “A Gypsy's Violin,” so it came as a relief to her when the Comedy Award went to Alula instead; whereas Scootaloo and Rumble were delighted to win Best Stunt Act. “And the final award goes to...” Quickly realising that she hadn't won anything yet, Sweetie-Belle snapped out of her stupor and listened anxiously for the result. Deep down, she was beginning to feel an inexplicable twinge of despair – surely she couldn't have done well enough for an award, could she? No, that final award was bound to go to somepony else – Shady Daze, Button Mash and First Base, perhaps? Or maybe Silver Spoon? Or could it be... “...Sweetie Belle – for Best Musical Act!” Sweetie-Belle was so overwhelmed with joy and disbelief that she almost fainted. This was the first time she had ever gone on-stage and sung her very own song – surely it couldn't have been that good? But from the moment Cheerilee hung the medal around her neck, the white-furred filly could no longer care less about how good it was; instead, she let out an ecstatic squeal as the audience stomped and cheered for the umpteenth time that evening. Even when she and the rest of the performers headed backstage for the final time that evening, the joyous grin never left her face. “Can you believe it?!” she squeaked happily. “They loved it! They actually loved my song!” Apple Bloom laughed heartily. “Never doubted it fo' one minute,” she asserted. “We all knew ya had it in ya – just a matter of time before it came out was all.” “Yeah, I've heard some songs in my time,” agreed Tootsie Flute, “but that was...brilliant!” “I'll say,” chimed in Lickety-Split with a fond smile. “I knew you'd bowl them over with your improvisation, Sweetie-Belle – I just knew you would.” Sweetie-Belle blushed with pride, but also with a far deeper affection than she had ever felt before. “I couldn't have done it without you, Lickety-Split,” she whispered, drawing ever closer to him. “You really did bring out the music in my heart. I don't know where I'd be without you.” The brown colt's smile widened. Knowing all too well what she was about to do, he plucked up his courage and closed the gap between them, his heart leaping for joy as their lips met. Locomotion looked on with a warm smile of his own, silently praising Lickety-Split for having mended his relationship with Sweetie-Belle, and congratulating himself, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, the two young lovers and the rest of the performers on a job well done. “Well, Loco,” said a voice from somewhere behind him, “mission accomplished, huh?” “So it seems, Diamond,” mused Locomotion. “But boy, was it an uphill struggle!” Diamond Tiara chuckled. “Yeah, I guess it was. Still, at least we've managed to help Sweetie-Belle out of her shell at last.” “Even if you did have to slip back into your old ways in order to set the ball rolling!” put in Locomotion cheekily. “But seriously, Diamond, I think I can safely say you've kinda earned my trust for all that.” “Thanks, Loco. No hard feelings?” Locomotion smiled appreciatively. “No hard feelings,” he affirmed, reaching out and shaking hooves with the pink-furred filly. Later that evening, Cheerilee, Tarquin, Lavender Rhapsody and the talent show performers were all gathered at Sugarcube Corner for the after-party. As expected, Sweetie-Belle seemed to have become the centre of attention thanks to her newly gained Cutie Mark and the runaway success of her song, with several other ponies eagerly congratulating her and commenting how smart her Cutie Mark looked. Even Pinkie Pie, who was hosting the party, was most excited to learn that she and Apple Bloom were no longer blank-flanks – so much so, in fact, that she instantly darted off to begin planning a double cute-ceañera the moment Rarity had told her about it. The white-furred filly herself was deeply humbled by her friends' support and praise, but at the same time felt a little self-conscious for how she had been behaving over the past fortnight. Looking back, it was almost impossible to believe that she had been so skittish over her own Cutie Mark as to try and hide it, especially after Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Locomotion, Diamond Tiara and Lickety-Split had gone out of their way to help her embrace her own destiny. If anything, she could no longer think of anything she would rather do with her life, as long as she could take her potential music career a few small steps at a time. She gazed over at the other side of the lobby, where Locomotion and Apple Bloom were eagerly catching up with Tarquin and Lavender Rhapsody on what they had been doing with their lives since “Battle of the Griffins”. At the very least, the white-furred unicorn decided, she owed the slightly older railway enthusiast an apology for what she had put him through. With that, she sidled quietly up to the group and cleared her throat to attract their attention. “Why, hello, Sweetie-Belle,” remarked Lavender Rhapsody, visibly pleased. “Long time no see, eh?” “Yeah, I guess it has been a long time.” “I'd just been saying to Loco and Apple Bloom how wonderful that song was that you performed this evening,” the lavender-furred unicorn went on. “Must have taken a lot of effort to throw that together.” Sweetie-Belle blushed modestly. “Oh...it wasn't anything really,” she observed, directing a grateful smile towards the yellow farm filly and the red-furred railway enthusiast. “It's what I do best, after all – and I couldn't have done it without the likes of you two.” “What are friends for?” chuckled Apple Bloom heartily. “And Loco,” added Sweetie-Belle meekly, “I'm really sorry I freaked you out like that. I guess I...just wasn't thinking clearly.” Locomotion chortled and gave Sweetie-Belle a brotherly pat on the back. “Never mind, Sweetie-Belle,” he soothed. “It happens to the best of us. Even I've been through self-confidence issues, and I'm a high-ranking employee of Equestrian National Railways!" “My sentiments precisely,” agreed Tarquin kindly. “But don't let it get you down, my dear filly; you've realised a great deal of potential in that angelic singing voice of yours, and that's all that counts.” “Yeah, I suppose so,” conceded Sweetie-Belle. But then her face fell as another thought popped into her head; “I'm just sorry it means the end of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.” Apple Bloom frowned in agreement. “Y'all an' me both,” she mused. “It sure was fun tryin' new things an' playin' about with new ideas to try an' gain our Cutie Marks. Ah mean, it's good that we've completed the journey at last, but...it just feels la'k the end of an era.” “Well...it doesn't have to be,” ventured Locomotion. “I mean, okay, you're no longer the Cutie Mark Crusaders like you...well, used to be; but that doesn't mean you can't be friends anymore. Heck, the way you two and Scootaloo have been getting on since you started the group about...what, eight or nine years ago?” “Something like that.” “Yeah, the way you three have been getting on, it'd just be...wrong for you to end it just because you've achieved your goal.” Apple Bloom smiled faintly. “Well...Ah ain't sayin' it's gonna end. It's just...it won't be the same without a' the shenanigans we got up to as Crusaders. Ah mean, okay, maybe we were tryin' a bit too hard at times, but it...Ah really did feel a sense of pride fo' what we were tryin' ta do. We weren't just tryin' ta find our Cutie Marks – we were tryin' ta help others with theirs.” Tarquin smiled appreciatively. “Yes, my dear Apple Bloom, you most certainly were, and that's definitely something to be proud of. I've seen far too many blank-flank fillies and colts who suffer self-esteem issues because they lack their Cutie Marks – even become targeted for it, as I'm sure you three can understand. It's groups like yours that give them a sense of hope and ambition, a feeling that they actually mean something to this vast, fickle old world – which is why Lavender and I have been taking steps to ensure that your legacy continues for all time.” The two fillies perked up. “How so?” asked Apple Bloom. “By turning your Cutie Mark Crusaders movement into an organised nationwide charity,” explained Tarquin. “I've already been holding talks with Princess Twilight, and she's agreed to preside over the organisation and grant it more than enough money to set up branches in all the major population centres in Equestria – and she's also requested that the three of you continue to offer your services to the cause.” Sweetie-Belle and Apple Bloom exchanged delighted glances. “Really?!” they exclaimed in unison. “Well, it's only fair, seeing as you started the whole thing off in the first place,” observed Lavender Rhapsody sagely. “And you were the most dedicated members of the group,” added Locomotion. Apple Bloom beamed with pride and joy. “Ah'd consider it a real honour, Tarquin,” she replied. “Excellent! Oh, and while we're on the subject, Apple Bloom, I'd just like to offer my congratulations on gaining your own. You're truly an example to us all.” “Thanks, Tarquin. Boy, Ah can't wait ta tell Babs about this!” and Apple Bloom pranced eagerly over to the buffet table, still in raptures over her new Cutie Mark and Tarquin's proposition. “Hey, Sweetie-Belle.” Lickety-Split came trotting up to their table with a glass of punch. “What were you and Apple Bloom talking about just now?” Sweetie-Belle smiled knowingly. “You know how we said in that Cutie Mark Crusaders theme song of ours that 'we would never stop the journey'?” “Uh...yeah, 'not until you had your Cutie Marks'. What about it?” “Well, it seems that the journey's going to go on a lot longer than we ever thought it would,” explained Sweetie-Belle. “Tarquin and Lavender said they'd been making our group into a nationwide movement.” “Wow!” remarked Lickety-Split. “So...you get to carry on what you set out to do when you and Scoot first befriended Apple Bloom, huh?” “Yeah – and then some. Seems we'll be getting branches in all the big cities and towns in Equestria.” With a broad smile, Lickety-Split leaned in and hugged his beloved white unicorn tightly. “Aw, Sweetie-Belle, that's great news!” “I'll say,” sighed Sweetie-Belle, fondly wrapping her arms around the brown colt. “I genuinely thought it would be the end for our group, but I'm really glad we get to keep it up for the sake of other blank-flanks.” “Yeah, just as long as all those gigs and whatnot don't keep you busy,” mused Locomotion. Sweetie-Belle laughed and rolled her eyes. “You had to bring that up, didn't you?!” she teased, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder. “But no, even if I do grow as famous as Lavender or Sapphire Shores or whoever, I'll still try and make time for the CMC.” “Well, that's very noble of you,” said Lickety-Split approvingly. He then turned his attention back to Locomotion; “By the way, Loco, there's still one little loose end that I wanna tie up.” “Oh yeah? What?” “Well...most of us have already gained ourselves a fillyfriend or a coltfriend already,” explained Lickety-Split. “Me and Sweetie-Belle have each other, Scootaloo has Rumble, Apple Bloom's been dating Featherweight for about...three years now – then there's Dinky and Pipsqueak, Shady and First Base, Chip Mint and Cotton Cloudy...even Diamond Tiara has managed to find love. And yet you haven't, even though you're the biggest romantic in our age group.” “Uh...yeah? Cut to the chase?” “Well...don't you feel a bit...left out?” Locomotion shrugged. “Not really, Lickety. Okay, maybe it would be nice to have somepony to love me in the same way as you love each other, but...it's sort of...” “Yeah?” “...I guess I'm just...either not ready for it yet, or I just can't seem to find the right filly,” explained Locomotion. “Still,” he murmured, gazing wistfully out of the window, “no point in getting all wound up about it, I suppose – I'm sure that filly will come along someday...”