"We've got to do 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,'" Starling said to her cousins.
"But I wanted to do 'Home on the Range,'" whined Apple Jewel.
"Nuh-uh, 'Five Little Monkeys,'" commanded Screwball.
"'Frere Jacques,'" squealed Gemstone.
"But you're the only one who knows how to speak fancy," complained Jewel.
"Oooh, oooh, 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" exclaimed Cotton Candy. "I love that song."
The rest of the cousins paused, staring at her in confusion. "Huh?" they all said.
"How could you have not heard of that song?"
"Cotton, I don't know if we can even pronounce it," pointed Starling, "and I know tons of long words."
"What's the problem, girls?" asked Applejack as she opened the door to the cabin. Currently, the royal Canterlot cousins were on a ship to Marendelle with most of their parents. The family had received invitations to the Annual Marendelle Talent Show from King Button Mash and Queen Sweetie Belle, and this was the cousins' first time attending.
"Mama, we can't decide on a song to sing for the show," remarked Apple Jewel.
"Yeah, we all want to sing different songs," added Cotton.
"Alright, here's how we're going to settle this," declared Applejack, taking off her Stetson. "Y'all each get a slip of paper and write your name on it. Then, I'm going to stick them all in my hat, close my eyes, and pull out a name. Does that sound fair?"
The girls all agreed and put their name in the hat. Applejack closed her eyes and gingerly picked up a slip of paper with her mouth. She spat the paper on to her hoof and unfolded it.
"Well, Jewel, looks like you and your cousins are going to be doing your song," AJ announced, showing the paper to everypony in the room.
"Yes!" cheered Apple Jewel while her cousins groaned.
"Well," Starling shrugged, "we better start practicing."
Applejack left the girls to their devices as she headed back out onto the deck of the ship. Out on the deck, her nephews Fire Spark, Dignity, and Whirl Wind were practicing a fight scene.
"Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford/No better term than this: thou art a villain," Whirl choppily recited off a sheet of paper.
"Come on, Whirl," Fire Spark cried. "The show's in three days. You've got to have these lines memorized by then."
"How can you learn Commander Hurricane's lines so well but struggle learning Bold Blade's?" questioned Dignity.
"Commander Hurricane didn't talk in Shakespony," retorted Whirl Wind. "I wish Aunt Luna was here. She's good at talking Shakespony."
"Excited for the show, boys?" asked Applejack.
"Indeed," replied Dignity.
"I just wish Mom could have come," said Fire Spark sadly. Fire Spark and Starling's mother Queen Twilight Sparkle had also received an invitation to Marendelle but was unable to attend due to some important matters of state back home.
"Aw, don't you worry about that, Fire," comforted Applejack. "Your mom will still be able to see you through Uncle Discord's magic mirror, and she'll definitely love your act."
"You know what? Let's forget about the lines for now," stated Whirl Wind, throwing down his script. "Let's do some stage fighting."
"Y'all be careful now," warned Applejack. "This ship can get real pitchy, and we don't want y'all falling over."
Meanwhile in the Marendelle castle, Queen Sweetie Belle was showing her older sister Princess Sunset Shimmer of Canterlot and her friends Troubleshoes, Party Favor, Night Glider, Sugar Belle, and Double Diamond to their rooms.
"I can't believe that we're actually guests at the castle," squealed Party Favor.
"It's so nice of your sister to let us stay here like this," remarked Sugar Belle to Sunset.
"Oh, it's nothing really," Sweetie modestly replied. "Besides, we do owe you one for helping us with our pirate problem."
"Are the rest of the family coming for the talent show?" Sunset asked eagerly.
"Everypony except Twilight."
"Oh." Sunset could help but be a little disappointed that she won't be able to see her twin.
"Don't worry. From what I've heard, she'll be watching the show through Discord's mirror. So, are any of you interested in putting on an act for the show?"
"Just Party Favor, Night Glider, and Troubleshoes," replied Double Diamond.
"Remind me again why agreed to be part of your clown act," Night Glider groaned.
"Come on, Night Glider. Everypony's going to love it," Party Favor remarked. "It was a smashing hit in Appleoosa."
"Literally." Night Glider rolled her eyes.
"It was mighty fun," admitted Troubleshoes.
"Well, I'm definitely looking forward to it," replied Sweetie Belle, graciously.
As they made their way through the halls, the group ran into an old friend of the Canterlot royal family.
"Oh my," gasped Sugar Belle.
"Is that…?" Double Diamond trailed off.
"COUNTESS COLORATURA!" squealed Party Favor, startling the pink-wigged noblemare. Before anypony could blink, Party Favor was suddenly shoving an autograph book into the countess's face. "I am such a huge fan. Please, please, please let me have your autograph."
"Party Favor!" Night Glider scolded as she dragged her star-struck friend away from the countess.
"Rara!" Sunset greeted. "What brings you here?"
"Hey, Sunny," Rara replied, giving her friend a hug. "Sweetie and Button Mash invited me to open for the talent show, and well, how could I refuse, especially when I heard that the rest of the family might be coming?"
"Wait," Party Favor gasped. "Your family KNOWS Countess Coloratura?!"
"Remember her story about her first Hearth's Warming with her folks?" Troubleshoes reminded him.
"Oh, Rara, these are my friends. The excited one is Party Favor, and everypony else are Troubleshoes, Double Diamond, Sugar Belle, and Night Glider," Sunset introduced, pointing to each of her friends.
"Nice to meet you," Rara replied, smiling graciously. "Are you all staying for the show?"
"Staying for? Three of us are in it," boasted Night Glider.
"But I thought you didn't like being part of the clown act," Sugar Belle revealed, causing Night Glider to blush.
"I can't believe it," Party Favor continued to gush, shaking Double Diamond vigorously. "We're going to be performing on the same stage as Countess Coloratura."
"Ow, ow," Double Diamond cried, clutching his head with his hooves. "You're making my head hurt."
Just then, Rumble flew into the hallway. "There you guys are," he panted. "We just got word that the ship is coming in. Come on."
Rumble flew away as quickly as he came, leaving two very excited sisters-in-law and one very excited family friend.
"Oh my gosh, they're here!" cried Sunset.
"We better go now," noted Sweetie Belle. "Will the rest of you be settled in alright?" Sweetie turned to the rest of her guests.
"Oh, don't you worry about us. We'll get settled in just fine," replied Sugar Belle. "You just go meet up with your family."
"Yeah, we'll get Party Favor under control somehow," ribbed Night Glider.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go," exclaimed Rara. Then, she and Sunset followed Sweetie Belle out of the castle.
"Land ho!" Discord shouted from the crow's nest, fully dressed in a sailing captain's outfit. Below him, the other family members cheered.
"Ooooh, I can hardly wait to see everypony," squealed Cotton Candy as she bounced up and down.
"I wonder if any of our other cousins are going to have acts for the show," inquired Dignity.
"Well, you can ask as soon as we get off the ship," answered Rarity as the ship docked in the harbor.
The family got off the ship and were welcomed by the Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and their families along with some unexpected ponies.
"Aunt Sunset!" cried Fire Spark and Starling as they raced to hug their aunt.
"Aunt Rara!" shrieked Apple Jewel.
"Whoa! I've got to call Twilight. She's going to want to be a part of this," Flash exclaimed as he pulled out a hoof mirror. "Twilight, honey, are you busy?"
His image dissolved, replaced by that of his tired-looking wife. "Your timing is impeccable," beamed Twilight. "I had just finished the last of the paperwork."
"There's two someponies that I think you're going to want to see," Flash sing-songed, turning the mirror towards Sunset and Rara.
"Hey, Twilight," greeted Rara.
"Hi, Twi-Twi," laughed Sunset.
"Oh my gosh," Twilight cried. "Sun-Sun! And Rara, too?"
"Yup, we got invited," answered Sunset. "Rara and some of my friends are even performing for the show."
"That's great," Twilight cheered before she sighed and groaned miserably. "Okay, life is officially not fair. I can't believe I'm going to miss out on so much."
"Now, Sparkle, don't be so hard on yourself," patronized Discord. "You're not going to miss anything. That's what my mirror is for."
"Well, if it makes you any better, I am quite overdue for a visit to Canterlot," Sunset replied while she glared at Discord. "Maybe I'll come over, and we can hang out then."
"That sounds great," agreed Twilight. "Well, I guess we have to say goodbye for now. I'm sure you all need to get yourselves and the kids settled in. Bye, everypony!"
"Bye," everypony called as Twilight's image dissolved.
After everypony had settled in at the castle, the cousins got together to talk about their acts for the show.
"Just wait until you see the skating tricks, Roller Blade and I are going to be doing," gushed Skater. "We've been practicing ever since Aunt Sweetie and Uncle Button told us about the show."
"No fair," cried Gemstone. "We just barely picked out our song today."
"It's okay, Gem," reassured Starling. "If we practice extra hard, our act will be just as good as theirs."
"Snowy and I are going to be singing too, but we haven't pick a song yet," added Little Button.
"Hey, I found a bunch of old songbooks in the room where Grandma used to have her music lessons," noted Snow Pea. "Maybe we can pick a song from there."
"Are you doing anything for the show, Apple Butter?" Cotton asked her cousin.
"Well, I'm helping my parents with sets and props backstage if that counts," replied Apple Butter. "What are the boys going to be doing?"
"We're going to be acting out a scene from Shakespony's Romeo and Juliet," stated Dignity.
"Wow, never took you for a Shakespony stallion, Whirl," Roller Blade teased.
"All I heard was that we were going to be acting out a fight scene," Whirl Wind growled, defensively. "I didn't even know it was Shakespony until I read the script."
"Speaking of the script, you still need to learn your lines," pointed Fire Spark, causing Whirl to groan. Everypony laughed in response.
The night of the show was finally here, and the ballroom was quickly filling with ponies. Button and Sweetie waved to the audience from the stage. Back in Canterlot, Twilight was watching the show through a large wall mirror while communicating with her husband and sisters through the hoof mirror. She could hardly wait to see her children up on the stage.
"Welcome, ponies of Marendelle and esteemed guests, to the Annual Marendelle Talent Show," Button addressed the audience.
"As you all know, this will be our first year hosting the show, and I must say, we have a lot of great acts this year," Sweetie added.
"For our first act, please give a warm welcome to Countess Coloratura."
The audience clapped as Rara made her way to the stage. She signaled for the orchestra accompanying her to begin playing.
"In a perfect storybook the world is brave and good," Rara began. "A hero takes your hand, a sweet love will follow/But life's a different game, the sorrow and the pain/Only you can change your world tomorrow"
She smiled at her friends in the audience as she continued, "Let your smile light up the sky/Keep your spirit soaring high/Trust in your heart and your soul shines forever and ever/Hold fast to kindness, your light shines forever and ever/I believe in you and in me/We are strong"
"She sounds amazing," Little Button whispered to her sister backstage.
"Of course, she does," Snowy replied. She couldn't help but feel nervous about her and LB's act. They hadn't been able to practice as much as she would have liked.
"When once upon a time in stories and in rhyme/A moment you can shine and wear your own crown," Rara snuck a glance towards the two sisters and winked. "Be the one that rescues you/Through the clouds you'll see the blue/Trust in your heart and your soul shines forever and ever/Hold fast to kindness, your light shines forever and ever/I believe in you and in me/We are strong
"A bird all alone on the wind can still be strong and sing/Sing" The audience applauded as both the background music and Rara's voice swelled. "Trust in your heart and your soul shines forever and ever/Hold fast to kindness, your light shines forever and ever/I believe in you and in me/We are strong"
The audience leapt to their hooves and began cheering wildly as Rara held the last note. Rara gave a bow and exited as Button Mash and Sweetie Belle made their way back onto the stage.
"Well, that was certainly quite the opener," exclaimed Sweetie Belle.
"Yeah, it'll definitely be a tough act to top for sure," Button agreed. "And now, for your entertainment pleasure, presenting the royal twins, Prince Roller Blade and Princess Skater.
Apple Bloom and Pip pushed the twins' props onto the stage while Apple Butter turned on the fog machine and strobe lights and helped her parents pull open the curtains. Skater and Roller Blade rollerbladed onto the stage dramatically, wearing bright neon skate gear. The two of them performed all kinds of amazing tricks from low limbos to high leaps to dizzying spins to skillful grinds. The audience watched the twins in awe, growing more and more impressed with each trick. When their act drew to a close, the twins skidded to a stop and gave a bow as the audience cheered. Of course, nopony cheered louder than Scootaloo and Rumble.
After the twins, several other ponies gave their performances, including the court magician Trixie. When Trixie's act ended, Party Favor, Troubleshoes, and Night Glider waited to be called backstage.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Night Glider muttered as she donned a pair of balloon bovine horns.
"Come on," urged Party Favor. "It'll be fun."
"This next act is for all the colts and fillies in the audience," announced Button.
"Please give a warm welcome to Party Favor, Troubleshoes, and Night Glider," continued Sweetie Belle.
"That's my cue," said Party Favor as he took his place on stage.
When the curtain opened, Party Favor was standing in a set made out of balloon sculptures that he had made the day before, wearing a clown costume and makeup. He pulled out some balloons, quickly inflated them, and twisted them into the shape of a barrel. He took the lid off the balloon barrel, reached in, and pulled out a string of balloon monkeys, causing the colts and fillies in the first row to squeal in delight. Party Favor put the barrel back the way that it was and made more barrels, which he stacked into a pyramid.
Troubleshoes walked onto the stage and halfway across, tripped on his clown shoes and crashed into the balloon barrels, causing them to pop. Troubleshoes burst out of the pile of deflated balloons with one miraculously intact barrel stuck on his head. Then, his pants fell down, and the audience laughed. Troubleshoes grabbed the barrel on his head with his front hooves and tried to pull it off. However, he kept tripping on his pants and, one by one, crashed into a number of balloon sculptures. The sculptures happened to be filled with colorful slime, which splattered all over Troubleshoes and the colts and fillies in the front row as the balloons popped. The colts and fillies shrieked in delighted surprise. Troubleshoes rolled to a stop next to Party Favor, who pulled out a pin and simply popped the barrel on Troubleshoes's face. By now, every foal and most of the adults in the audience was laughing hysterically.
Troubleshoes extended his hoof towards Party Favor in staged gratitude. Party Favor took it, causing both ponies to shock themselves. The two of them then held up their hooves, revealing the joy buzzers that they were wearing. The audience roared in response.
Troubleshoes looked over himself. Seeing the mess that he was in, he shook himself clean, getting slime all over Party Favor and the audience. Troubleshoes gasped in mock embarrassment and dumped a bucket on Party Favor. Instead of water, however, Party Favor ended up doused in feathers and proceeded to squawk and dance like a chicken, causing another wave of laughter to roll through the audience.
Just then, Night Glider flew in with a bucket of water, which she unceremoniously dumped on Party Favor, washing away the slime and the feathers.
"Moo," she uttered in a flat tone as Party Favor and Troubleshoes looked up at her.
"It's a flying cow," Party Favor gasped. "Let's catch it!"
Troubleshoes picked up a length of rope and twirled it into a lasso. Party Favor jumped on to his back and held on.
"High ho, Troubleshoes, away!" Party Favor shouted as his friend reared on his hind legs and pawed the air. "Ai-yeeeee!"
The two of them chased Night Glider all over the stage, crashing into more balloon sculptures and splattering colored slime everywhere.
"Yay!" all the colts and fillies cheered.
Then, one of Troubleshoes's hooves got caught in an empty bucket, causing him to trip. Party Favor was launched into the air heading straight towards Night Glider. He had just enough time to frantically signal Apple Bloom, Pip, and Apple Butter before he crashed into Night Glider. The three stage ponies quickly pushed a gigantic cream pie on to the stage just in time for Party Favor and Night Glider to crash into it with a splat, sending cream flying into the front row.
"Ta-da!" exclaimed Party Favor as he and Night Glider burst out of the pie.
Night Glider would never admit it, but she actually was having fun entertaining all ponies in the audience. She and Party Favor got out of the pie ready to take a bow. Troubleshoes got up to join them but tripped once again on the bucket that was still stuck to his hoof and landed face-first into the cream pie. When he pulled his head out of the pie, the cream stuck to his face and made him look like Star Swirl the Bearded.
"Um, ta-da?" said Troubleshoes, as the audience continued to laugh.
The three ponies joined hooves and gave a bow before leaving the stage.
"Wow!" Pinkie Pie chortled. "They're good."
"Yeah!" agreed Cheese. "We should invite them the next time we throw a party. They'd be a hit."
"I'm sure they'd like that," Sunset replied.
"Oh wow, that was a hoot!" said Button Mash from the stage. "I think my sides are still hurting."
"Like I said, we have a lot of great acts this year," remarked Sweetie Belle, still trying to control her giggles. "Now, how many members of the audience like Shakespony?"
Several ponies raised their hooves, including Rarity, Fancy Pants, and Sunset Shimmer. In Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle also had her hoof up.
"Well, then you folks are going to love this next act," continued Button Mash. "Please welcome the Canterlot princes Fire Spark, Dignity, and Whirl Wind."
The curtain opened to Fire Spark and Whirl Wind, both outfitted with fake swords, glaring at each other.
"Our story opens with Mercurial, friend of Romeo,—that's me—trying to pick a fight with Bold Blade, cousin of Juliet—that's him," Fire Spark addressed the audience. "Unbeknownst to them both, Romeo has secretly married Juliet and does not wish to continue the feud between the Maretegues and the Coltpulets."
"Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my colt," said Whirl as Dignity entered the stage.
"But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery./Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower./Your worship in that sense may call him 'colt,'" Fire retorted.
"Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford/No better term than this: thou art a villain," Whirl choppily recited.
"Bold Blade, the reason that I have to love thee/Doth much excuse the appertaining rage/To such a greeting. Villain am I none./Therefore, farewell. I see thou know'st me not," Dignity stated with calm and elegance.
"Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries/That thou hast done me," Whirl shouted fake, pausing awkwardly several times to remember his lines. "Therefore turn and draw."
"I do protest I never injured thee,/But love thee better than thou canst devise,/Till thou shalt know the reason of my love./And so, good Coltpulet—which name I tender/As dearly as my own—be satisfied."
"O calm dishonourable, vile submission!/Alla stoccata carries it away," Fire cried, drawing his sword. "Bold Blade, you ratcatcher, will you walk?"
"What wouldst thou have with me?" responded Whirl.
"Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives, that I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out."
"I am for you." Whirl Wind drew his sword, and he and Fire Spark began stage fighting.
Dignity drew his sword and beat down the swords of the two fighters. "Gentlecolts, for shame! Forbear this outrage./Bold Blade, Mercurial! The Prince expressly hath/Forbidden bandying in Veroana streets./Hold, Bold Blade! Good Mercurial!"
Whirl Wind stabbed Fire Spark from under Dignity's arm, causing Fire to pretend to collapse into Dignity's arms.
"I am hurt," Fire cried, clutching his nonexistent wound. "A plague o' both your houses! I am sped./Is he gone and hath nothing?"
"Courage, colt. The hurt cannot be much," Dignity replied, cradling Fire Spark.
"No, 'tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a barn door, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave colt. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both your houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat to scratch a colt to death! A braggart, a rogue, a villain that fights by the book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm."
"I thought all for the best."
"They have made worms' meat of me. I have it,/And soundly too. Your houses!"
Fire Spark went completely limp in Dignity's arms. Dignity set Fire gently onto the ground. From Canterlot, Twilight watched the scene uncomfortably. Although she knew it was only an act, she dreaded the possibility that she could end up watching her own son die like that for real, especially with all the terrible things that her family has already gone through.
"Alive in triumph—and Mercurial slain!" Dignity roared, glaring at Whirl Wind. "Away to heaven, respective lenity,/And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now./Now, Bold Blade, take the 'villain' back again/That late thou gavest me, for Mercurial's soul/Is but a little way above our heads,/Staying for thine to keep him company./Either thou or I, or both, must go with him."
"Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here/Shalt with him hence," Whirl spat. The two of them clashed swords for a bit before Dignity struck him down.
"Aaah!" Whirl screamed, startling both his co-stars. He pulled out a bottle of ketchup that he had been concealing and proceeded to spurt the sticky red substance all over himself. "Blood! Blood! Blood! And death!"
Whirl Wind dramatically fell to the ground with all six extremities outstretched. As soon as he landed on the floor, he crossed his eyes and lolled his tongue out. Upon seeing their son's admittedly ridiculous expression, Rainbow Dash and Soarin doubled over and fell on the floor laughing uncontrollably. Discord, Pinkie Pie, and Cheese quickly followed suit. Through the hoof mirror, Twilight glanced from her husband to her twin in confusion while both merely stared back and shrugged.
"What a drama king!" Fire Spark thought to himself as he struggled to stay in character.
"Oh, I am fortune's fool!" Dignity cried, throwing down his sword in real frustration as he darted off the stage.
Dignity returned to the stage as his "slain" comrades got up. The three of them held hooves and bowed as the audience gave them scattered applause.
"What was that?!" Dignity and Fire Spark yelled at Whirl Wind backstage.
"I thought it'd be funny," replied Whirl.
"Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy," explained Fire. "It's not supposed to be funny."
"Now, I love you when I say this, dear cousin, but I say that you've gone ahead and made fools out of us," scolded Dignity.
"You guys are making too big a deal out of this," said Whirl. "At least, the audience still clapped."
"Out of politeness, no doubt," snapped Dignity.
"Look, guys, I swear I'll make it up to you somehow. Cross my heart. Hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye."
While the boys were having their little spat, the girls were backstage getting ready for their own performance. There were still several acts before theirs, and they put their waiting time to use by making themselves presentable. They wore their best gowns and carefully styled their manes. They each even put on a bauble or two of jewelry.
"Hey, is that my necklace you're wearing?" Gemstone asked Starling, accusingly.
"I thought it looked good on me," replied Starling, defensively. "I'll give it back to you after the show."
"But I wanted to wear it for the show."
"Hey, you're already wearing four bracelets and a pair of earrings. You don't need more accessories."
"Give me my necklace, or I'll tell Screwy what you called her the other day."
"What did she call me?" Screwball chimed in.
"You wouldn't dare," Starling protested.
"Girls, we're up. Let's go," called Cotton, herding her cousins onto the stage.
"Presenting the Canterlot princesses Cotton Candy, Apple Jewel, Screwball, Gemstone, and Starling," announced Button Mash as the girls went on stage. Their parents, including Twilight, scooted to the edge of their seats and leaned forward.
"Oh give me a home/Where the buffalo roam, and the deer and the antelope play," sang the girls.
"Give me my necklace," hissed Gemstone at Starling.
"Where seldom is heard a discouraging word," the girls continued.
"Not on your life," Starling hissed back. Unbeknownst to the girls, the microphone had picked up on their angry whispers, allowing the audience to hear what they were saying.
"And the skies are not cloudy all day."
"If you don't tell me what you told Gemstone I'm just going to scream," Screwball butted in.
"Give me my necklace you jewel thief!" shrieked Gemstone, talking over Screwy.
"Home, home on the range"
"Give me my necklace," demanded Gem.
"No!" screamed Star, causing the microphone to feedback a little.
"Where the deer and the antelope play"
"Not until you promise not to tell her," added Star.
"What are you trying to do? Stifle my freedom of speech?" spat Gemstone.
"Where seldom is heard"
"Give me my necklace!" Gem shouted.
"A discouraging word"
"No promise no necklace!" retorted Star.
"And the skies are not cloudy all day."
"What necklace?" Screwy asked as she teleported the necklace from Star's neck into her hooves.
"No!" Star shrieked.
"Oh, give me a land—"
"Give me that necklace!" Star hollered as she snatched the necklace back.
"—where the bright diamond sand"
"Starling, that just isn't fair," Screwy complained.
"Sing!" Apple Jewel ordered, taking notice of her cousins' squabble.
"Flows leisurely down the stream"
"Why did you take Screwy's necklace?" Cotton asked, getting distracted.
"Augh!" Star screamed as she stormed off the stage.
"There the graceful, white swan goes gliding along"
"What did she call me?" Screwy asked Gem.
"Like a maid in a heavenly dream."
"She said, she said you were an enigma!" Gem answered.
"Home, home on the range"
"An enigma?" Screwy repeated.
"An enigma?" gasped Cotton
"Boy that makes me... What a terrible thing to call a... What's an enigma? Never mind!" Screwball sputtered before storming off herself.
"Where the deer and the—"
"What's an enigma?" Gemstone thought aloud.
"—Antelope—"
"What's an enigma?" asked Cotton.
"—Play"
"Hey! She's still got my necklace!" cried Gem, running off the stage.
"Where seldom is heard a discouraging word"
"And the skies are not cloudy all day," Jewel finished the song glumly before leaving the stage herself, too embarrassed to face the audience.
Cotton remained on the stage, grinning from ear to ear. She bowed, completely oblivious to how badly she and her cousins had messed up their performance. For a while, nothing but the sound of stunned silence could be heard. Then, somepony, or more accurately, somedraconequus, began to cheer.
"Bravo! Bravo!" applauded Discord.
"Nailed it!" cheered Pinkie and Cheese.
Cotton began to blow kisses at the audience in response to the few cheers. She bowed a few more times before skipping happily off the stage.
"I'm going to go backstage to see what's going on," Flash whispered as he got up from his seat. "Here, Sunset. Take the mirror."
"I'd better come, too," added Fancy, also getting up.
Backstage, all the girls, except Cotton, were still seething at one another. They sat in a circle glaring at each other in a tense silence.
"Here," Starling pouted, yanking off Gemstone's necklace and throwing it at her cousin's hooves.
"About time," Gemstone grumbled, putting the necklace on herself.
"Wow," deadpanned Fire. "I suddenly feel so much better about our performance."
"That was a total train wreck," laughed Whirl, earning him glares from most of the fillies.
"What are you talking about?" questioned Cotton, cheerfully. "Everypony loved it."
"If by everypony, you mean your parents and Uncle Discord," snapped Apple Jewel. "Everypony else was just staring at us like they couldn't believe what was happening."
"Maybe you can pass your act off as a comedy," Dignity attempted to mollify, earning him glares as well.
"Kids, what's going on back here?" asked Flash as he and Fancy stepped backstage.
"Gem and Screwy wouldn't stop bothering me!" yelled Starling.
"Well, you took my necklace," retorted Gem.
"I was going to give it back!"
"You also called me an enigma," pointed Screwball.
"You don't even know what that means."
"In my sister's defense, calling you an enigma is hardly offensive," noted Fire Spark.
"Fire, stay out of this," chided Flash. "And Starling, you know better than to borrow other ponies' things without asking first."
"And Gemstone, I thought your mother and I taught you how important sharing with your cousins is," Fancy admonished.
"We'll let you two off with a warning if you apologize to each other, but if this happens again, you're both grounded for three days."
"Okay," both fillies replied. The fillies apologized to each other, and their fathers returned to their seats.
"So, what's an enigma?" Screwball asked Fire Spark after her uncles left.
"It's a mystery," replied Fire.
"So, you don't know what it means?"
"I know what it means."
"So what is it?"
"It's a mystery."
"But you just said that you knew what it meant."
"Augh," Fire groaned, slamming both hooves to his face. "Enigma. Means. Mystery."
Snow Pea and Little Button were the very last act of the show, and if Snowy was wearing boots, she'd be shaking in them. As the last act of the show, she and LB had to be phenomenal, especially since she was the crown princess. If only they had been able to pick a song sooner. Two days just wasn't enough time to practice.
"Don't worry, Snowy, we'll sound great," LB reassured her.
"I hope so," Snowy replied uneasily.
"Hey, girls, it's almost your turn," Rara greeted them. "Break a leg out there."
"What?!" exclaimed Snow Pea, her eyes suddenly widening.
"It means good luck," explained Rara.
"Snowy's a little nervous," stated Little Button.
"Hey, you'll do great," Rara comforted. "You sounded wonderful when I heard you and your sister practicing."
"We did?" Snowy asked, surprised.
"When you love to sing as much as I do, you know the sound of a good voice when you hear one."
"But what if I mess up out there?"
"Well, don't tell anypony this, but I've messed up plenty of performances throughout my whole singing career."
"You have?"
"Mm-hm. I've never let it stop me. I just kept getting up and singing because it's what I loved doing, and I'm sure you'll sound great as long as you put your heart into it."
Snow Pea contemplated what Rara told her, and then, she smiled. "Okay. Come on, Lil. Let's go."
"Yeah!" LB cheered.
"Now, I don't mean to be biased, folks, but this next act may just be my favorite," announced Button Mash.
"Gee, it totally sounds unbiased when he says it like that," Apple Bloom sarcastically mumbled to Pip.
"We welcome to the stage our daughters Princesses Snow Pea and Little Button," introduced Sweetie Belle.
Snow Pea and Little Button walked on to the stage. Thanks to the talk with Rara, Snow Pea was feeling a little less nervous, but the sight of all the ponies in the audience staring at her shook her up a bit. Snow Pea took a deep breath as the background music began to play.
"When you feel like you're ready to go/Somewhere you've never been," Snow Pea began.
"Make a wish and the dream in you grows/Shining as bright as day/Carrying you far away," continued Little Button.
"A story begins with the light in your heart/A fantasy, a dream, and a spark"
"Once you believe you are ready to shine/The princess inside you will show"
"You are the glow," the two sisters sang in unison. "You are the glow."
"Look around take in all that you see/You just might be surprised" LB continued.
"A world of enchantment and pure majesty/You'll be discovering/The princess that you're meant to be," sang Snow Pea.
"A story begins with the light in your heart/A fantasy, a dream, and a spark," the girls sang together. "Once you believe you are ready to shine/Bright as the world's ever known/You are the glow"
"Feel your strength," belted Snow Pea.
"You can face the world," chimed LB.
"Believe everyday"
"Anything is possible"
"A magical journey awaits," sang the sisters. As soon as they sang the words, Snow Peas horn glowed, and millions of delicate, shimmering snowflakes swirled all over the stage, casting the girls in an almost ethereal sparkle.
"A story begins with the light in your heart," Snow Pea sang, pouring all her passion into each word.
"A fantasy, a dream, and a spark," LB joined her sister. "Once you believe you are ready to shine/The princess inside you will show/You are the glow/You are the glow/You are the glow"
The sisters bowed after the last note was sung, and the audience gave them a standing ovation. LB began blowing kisses at the audience just like she had seen Cotton do.
"Hey, she stole my move," cried Cotton.
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," Fire pointed.
"I thought steamrollers were the sincerest form of flattery."
"You don't even know what he's talking about, do you?" Starling groaned.
"Pancakes?"
Starling and Fire Spark merely rolled their eyes and returned their attention to the rest of the show. Button Mash and Sweetie Belle had joined their daughters on stage and were about to say good-bye to the audience.
"Well, that concludes tonight's festivities, closed Button.
"We all hope to see you again next year," added Sweetie.
The family waved from the stage as a number of guests got up and made their way out of the ballroom. Soon the only ponies that were left were the Canterlot royals, the Marendelle royals, Sunset's friends, and Rara.
"Mom! Mom!" Starling and Fire Spark shouted when they saw Twilight through the mirror. "Did you see us? Did you like it?"
"Star! Fire!" Twilight called back. "I saw you two. You were both great."
"Even me?" Star asked guiltily.
"Well, you did your best under the circumstances," reassured Twilight. "Besides, I'm sure you'll do better next time."
"Great use of props, kid," Soarin praised, giving Whirl Wind a noogie.
"The ketchup blood," Rainbow Dash laughed, high-hoofing her son. "Classic."
Whirl gave Fire and Dignity a smugly satisfied smirk, causing both his cousins to roll their eyes at him. Elsewhere, the other family members were praising the other performers.
"Oh, don't be upset, Screwy," Fluttershy cooed. "Look on the bright side. At least your father enjoyed it."
"I did," Discord affirmed. "It was the most delightfully chaotic performance of the night. You really are your father's daughter."
"Thanks, Daddy," Screwy beamed.
"Hey, Party Favor, Night Glider, Troubleshoes," Pinkie exclaimed, cheerfully. "That clown act was sooooo GOOD."
"Yeah," added Cheese. "You've got to let us know the next time you're in Canterlot. We could book you for a party."
"Told you we'd be a hit," Party Favor bragged to Night Glider, who just rolled her eyes.
"Thank you kindly, your majesties," Troubleshoes bowed, removing his hat.
Button, Sweetie, and their daughters watched the happy scene and smiled.
"Not bad for our first talent show as hosts, huh?" Button smirked.
"Yeah, everything turned out wonderfully," replied Sweetie.
"Of course, next year's is going to be even better," Button chuckled.
"Obviously," Sweetie giggled, and Snow Pea and Little Button laughed along with their parents.
Regardless of the outcome of the individual performances, everypony agreed that the show was the most fun that they've had in a long time. Even Twilight from the distance of a thousand miles shared her family's joy, and everypony looked forward to the possibilities in store for the next show.