"Ten minutes to Manehattan, fillies and gentlecolts. I repeat; ten minutes to Manehattan."
The wheels of the train were rapidly pulling its coaches down the miles of track from Ponyville to Manehattan. The locomotive had been on it for hours, and the time was taking its toll on the numerous passengers who were all on their way to the big city. Nearly every seat was occupied with ponies on their way to the big city. The most populous metropolis in the kingdom was constantly bustling with ponies of all sorts.
Be it a family going on vacation or an officepony on a business trip, everypony on board had plans for what they could do in the great, five-burrow city.
Silver Shill, however, didn't have much of a plan or a reason for his trip. The grayish-turquoise stallion sat alone in his seat, gazing at the passing landscape through his large glasses. Hours passed by as he tried to entertain himself with the passing scenery. But for somepony who had been on a train more times than he could count, there wasn't much entertainment to find outside. Sighing deeply, Silver Shill shifted in his seat to try to get himself comfortable.
"Sir?"
The startled stallion jolted as the unexpected voice hit him by surprise. Quickly adjusting his glasses, he turned to find that the mare speaking to him was a train stewardess with a beverage cart.
"Oh, my, s-sorry about that, ma'am.", the stallion stuttered, "C-can I help you?"
"That's what I was gonna ask you.", the mare huffily replied, "Ya want something to drink?"
"Y-yes, um, hmm, I'll have a, um, apple juice.", he embarrassingly requested. The stewardess' crabby expression did not change as she pulled out a juice box from her drink cart and gave it to the stallion.
"Four bits.", she demanded. The price confused Silver.
"Wait, four bits? Are you sure? I've gotten one for half a bit-"
"For pony's sake, ya think I make the prices here? I said, four bits!" The spooked stallion backed up against the window in fear while sweating profusely. Nervous breakdowns had become practically routine for the poor pony.
"O-okay, sorry, s-sorry, sorry, four bits it is! Heh, make that five!", he nervously started as he shakily pulled a wallet out of his bag. He had a lot of junk to rummage through to access his money, and the stewardess' obvious impatience wasn't helping him act less jittery. After clearing out his numerous business I.D.'s and cards, he finally pulled out five bits, which the stewardess less than happily snatched from his hoof. As she was about to walk to the next bench, Silver Shill's shaking in the corner of her eye stopped her.
"That's the problem with ponies like you. You're too vulnerable.", she unexpectedly stated as she returned the extra bit.
Before the stallion could even think of stuttering in reply, she moved up to the next row to offer drinks. She was gone, but her words wouldn't leave his head.
Too vulnerable.
It definitely wasn't the first time he had been called out for his vulnerability. His schoolmates and fellow workers would never let him hear the end of it. And don't even get him started on his mother...
The stallion looked around his seat at the mess he had made with the items from his wallet. There were at least twenty business I.D.'s and cards from his past that had fallen out.
Silver Shill, pet shop janitor.
Silver Shill, cashier.
Silver Shill, neighborhood lemonade stand worker.
Silver Shill, bounty hunter.
Silver Shill had lost every job he ever had. Whether he be laid off, be fired, or if he simply quit, he never stood out for being a confident worker.
Silver Shill always knew that he was a doormat and a weak stallion, but that never discomforted made him. That is, up until his last job in Ponyville where he realized just how vulnerable he really was. Through the wrongdoings of making the most honest mare in town lying and by listening to the false promises of his last employers, Flim and Flam, he was led to believe that honesty will not get you far in business or life alike. His vulnerability led him to another bead on the necklace of job losses.
From there, Silver had no real plan. He could not take losing another job. It would just remind him how helpless he was. His constant searches for jobs in the past and career losses did not exactly help him socially, either. Silver Shill had nopony that he felt comfortable to call his friend. And talking to mares was not even an idea for him.
But of all the places he'd ever worked, no job had ever brought him to Manehattan. He figured that as long as he doesn't know what to do next with himself, then the big city was his opportunity for something new.
At least he had himself to keep him company.
"Come on, Silver Shill, get it together! Make words! Why couldn't I stand up to that stewardess?' Granted, I've never been assertive enough to stand up to anypony. Would standing up to her have been too assertive? Yep, too assertive. I don't even know, why bother?"
Too bad that he is just as intimidated of himself as he is of anypony else.
Silver Shill sighed and sorrowfully leaned his head against the train window.
"Why have I lost all my jobs? Why do I have no friends, or special-somepony for that matter? I'm weak. Helpless. Vulnerable. Oh, Mom was right! And so was Dad. And Grandma. And all my counselors. And probably Celestia."
Silver couldn't seem to come to terms with himself.
"Now, what in Equestria am I going to do with my life? Definitely not joining royal guard. I've heard prison at least has toilets and shelter, but, um, I choose not to go there for obvious reasons. L-looks like I'm just gonna be a hobo-- err, no, um, vagabond, yes, that has a nicer, younger vibe to it-- vagabond, for the rest of my whole life. Heh, who'da thought?"
"Fillies and gentlecolts, we are now arriving in Manehattan. Please gather your luggage, the train will be coming to a complete stop in any moment now."
"Who'da thought?"
~
The loneliness of walking the streets of Manehattan on a chilly night was peaceful for Silver Shill. His destination? Nowhere. His motive? Nothing.
"Get used to it, Silver, you're gonna be all alone like this for quite some time. Well, not that I'm already used to being all that lonely…"
The lack of a grin helped the stallion blend in with the other walkers. It was better to be unnoticed that to be seen as a weakling, or at least according to Silver Shill.
After what seemed like miles, Silver felt that his hooves needed a long deserved rest. He had no desire to be seen by the public eye, even simply to take a rest. He found himself, rather, turning down an alley and plotting himself on the ground in there, leaning against an old dumpster. He was, finally, alone once more for himself to contemplate. Or so he thought.
"Hey there!", spoke a gruff stallion with a scruffy beard coming out from under his muzzle. Silver, once more, jumped in surprise and squealed.
"Woah, I didn't know stallions could squeal like that! My name's Fred! Hobo Fred!"
Silver Shill gazed at the stallion before him. He smiled at Silver, revealing an array of missing teeth. Silver was definitely not in the mood to speak with anypony, especially one who looks like he's been on the streets for all his life. He shakily raised a hoof up and waved.
"Hi,", he nervously started, "m-my name's (gulp) Silver Shill."
"Boy am I glad to meet you! Ya really don't know what it's like to live alone on the streets of this town."
"Heh heh, yeah, I r-really don't know…"
"First night on the streets?"
Silver nervously nodded, which resulted in Hobo Fred sitting right next to him against the dumpster.
"Yeah, I could tell. Say, um, what's your cutie mark supposed to be of?", Fred asked as he confusingly stared at Silver Shill's flank.
"Oh, my cutie mark? It's, uhh…"
"Hoofcuffs?"
"No, uh-"
"Glasses?"
"No-"
"Mine's a bindle!"
"Wow, um, ch-charming. Does that, um, mean that your special talent is, well, being a hobo?"
"Yep! I'm a hobo and I'm proud of it! I've been on the streets for years. I don't mean to brag or nothin', but I know every alley and stray cat in this town! It all started when my parents realized they were in debt and…"
Silver Shill wasn't exactly listening as realization struck him.
"Alright, Silver Shill, now's your chance! Become friends with this guy! Talk to him!"
"… how 'bout you, Silver?"
"Der- wha?", Silver Shill's mind raced as he tried to construct a likely answer to whatever Fred had asked him. "Um, griffons!"
"Really? My favorite is cherry!"
"What did he even ask me- oh, never mind. Go on! Talk to him, you little dormat!"
"Brown? Ha, no, it's actually yellow! Aw, heck, I guess I've been in the streets for longer than I thought."
Silver scooted away a little in disgust.
"So, um, I g-guess you haven't taken a shower i-in a while, then?"
"What's a shower?"
"I- uh, well, I, heh, gotta go! Bathroom! Now!", Silver Shill muttered as he galloped out of the alley.
"Okay! The coffee shop on 21st lets us hobos use their's, but none others do! Also, Hobo Bill on 12th street let's you use his alley!"
Silver Shill was now at least a block away from Hobo Fred, and was now stopped to catch his breath. An angry feeling got over him as he realized what he had done.
"Come on, Silver Shill, you fiend! Who cares if he was, well, different? You can't even keep a conversation going for one minute? One minute! Is that the least I can ask for! Well, at least that settles one thing; I am not gonna become a hob-VAGABOND!!", he frustratingly thought to himself. His only alternative was to keep roaming the dark, dirty streets. On his continued walk, Silver found himself outside of a shop with a bright sign for all to see, reading, "Ponytail Pub".
"Oh, and I'm most definitely not gonna try to feel better by going into a bar!"
~
Silver Shill was trying to feel better by going into a bar.
The only other time that Silver had been inside a bar was when he worked as a janitor in a Fillydelphia pub, and he had next to no experience at the counter. Silver's worried expression did not exactly work to his advantage.
"What's the matta, bucko?", the bartender stallion asked Silver as he scooted down to him. His white mane and gruff voice reflected his old age, and he wore an eyepatch over his left eye.
"Oh, um, n-nothing! Nothing at all, good sir!", Silver quickly replied with nervousness overcoming his senses. The bartender stared at him with his revealed eye.
"Well, then order up!"
"M-most certainly! I'll, um, yes, I'll take the, um-"
"Yer an amateur, aren't ya?"
"Y-yes, I'm, um, not much of a drin-"
"I'll start ya off with some cider, how's that sound?"
"Works for me, sir!", said the young stallion.
"Okay, here we go, round two! Let's start this over, Silver. Talk to this stallion! Befriend him!", Silver thought to himself as he took a deep breath. Before he could exhale, a mug of foaming cider was set in front of him.
"Drink up.", the bartender said as he wiped his forehooves with an old rag.
"Okay, approach this, like, hmm, just act like you own the place, Silver Shill! Be as chill as possible! Hey, they should call you Silver Chill! Hahahaha! Oh, Mom was right, I'm not funny at all."
Silver Shill turned in his barstool towards the bartender as professionally as he could and leaned back. He smiled as rose one eyebrow above the other to look "chill".
"Sooo, Mr. Bartender stallion guy!", he started speaking in a loud voice. The bartender's unamused expression was enough to drive Silver Shill to finish speaking. His smile quickly disappeared and he leaned back forward towards the counter. He would not give up this easily, though, and cleared his throat to try again. "Well, um, h-how's business?"
The bartender, still looking unamused, finished staring Silver down as he moved further down the counter to wipe it down with his rag. "Well,", he replied, "business is good."
"F-fascinating, um, heh, sooo, um, you've got a p-pretty swell place here!", Silver nervously complimented as he looked around the building he was in. There was a small amount of other ponies there, with Silver being the only one at the counter. Old signs and curios hung around the walls.
The bartender, staring at Silver once more, slowly started to nod. It was pretty clear to that the bartender did not want to talk, but Silver was in a desperate need of friendship.
"Sooo, d-do you like flamingos?"
"Juss' drink yer cider, I ain't the social type of guy, understood?", the bartender said as he pointed right at Silver Shill, who was having another little panic attack.
"O-okay, cider it is! Cheers! Here I go!", he rapidly said as he fretfully chugged down half the mug. By the time he put the mug back on the counter, the bartender was staring at him once more, this time with an incomprehensible expression.
"Yer whacko, ya know that?"
"I, um, get that quite a lot, sir."
"Yeah, I figured.", said the bartender as he went back to the other side of the counter. Silver Shill sighed in exasperation.
"Whelp, you had a second chance to actually get a friend, and you've wasted it like a piece of, um, un-recyclable garbage! This cider's no consolidation for my condition! Where the hay are you gonna go in life? All I want is one more chance! Please! Just one more pony!"
"Oh, what a long day!", said the soft voice of a mare. Looking down the counter, Silver Shill saw that a mare had sat down on one of the barstools and nearly collapsed on the counter.
Silver could have sworn that his heart went, "Bye-bye!" at that moment.
"Sweet Celestia…", Silver thought with his jaw nearly detached.
"That mare…"
"…that mare…"
"…oh, man, that mare…"
"… that mare…is the most gorgeous piece of beauty I have ever laid my eyes on…"
"…ever…"
"…ever ever ever…"
"…ever."
"That mare is such a ten."
The pony had the most ingenious coat color of a mixture of amber and tan. Her cyan mane was cut in the most adorable way Silver had ever seen. Her collar and flower in her mane complimented her exterior beauty.
"Well, whatya want?", the bartender asked her as she sat.
"Oh, I really don't know, um-"
"Amateur?"
"Yes. I, um, don't drink an-"
"I'll start ya off with cider, 'kay?"
"Hmm, okay.", she said to the bartender.
Her sweet, soft, high-pitched voice was almost too much for Silver Shill to handle. Every second staring at her felt like 50,000 millenniums. She was even more adorable when tired.
"Look at her! That pony's gorgeous and you're just staring at her like a creep! C'mon, make your move, Silver Shill, this is your third chance! Talk! Talk! Talk!"
Silver's thoughts were polar opposite from his persona. He had never sweated so much in his life. Every muscle in his body was tensing up. He tried to make words with his mouth, but nothing came out. Finally, after staring long enough, Silver worked up the courage to share words with her.
Taking note of her tired condition, Silver Shill nervously started. "L-long day?"
The mare turned to face him.
"Ah, darn, I knew this would happen! Look at her! She probably thinks I'm such a vulnerable little weakling that's gonna become a hob- vagabond who doesn't deserve to be in the same room as her perfection and-"
"Oh, tell me about it! Designing costumes non-stop since morning sure is a chore.", the mare said in a high tone.
"W-wait, she doesn't think I'm vulnerable or- oh, for crying out loud, TALK!!! You have it in the bag!"
"Designing costumes? Ooh, what costumes?"
"Oh, you're not going to believe it! I get to design the costumes for Bridleway!"
"Bridleway?!?! She's in the big leagues! And you're actually talking to her! A girl! Don't screw this up, Silver, I'm begging you! Oh, wait, I am Silver. I'm just his personified thoughts presented here so that the reader can-"
"Wow, Bridleway? How did you ever get a job there?"
"A good friend of mine actually gave me her job! I didn't have one, and she ever so generously gave her's to me!"
"Really? She must be a great pony to be giving you something so once-in-a-lifetime!"
"She is, we still write! I'm working on costumes for the big play out now! You know, 'Hinny of the Hills'?"
"Hmm, 'Hinny of the Hills', yeah that's the popular one, correct?"
"Yes! Ponies are raving about it. I'll admit, I got to see it a couple of times, perks of my career, and I loved it!"
"You're actually talking to a girl!!!!! Keep it up keep it up keep it up…"
"So, what do you do for a living?", she asked Silver. Silver felt his ears drop.
"No no no, I can't tell her about all the jobs I've lost! J-just tell her about the last one!"
"Well, um, a-actually, I just quit my last job because my bosses were a bunch of liars and-"
"No way! Oh my gosh, that's exactly what I did! I quit my last job because my boss was a liar!"
"For real?"
"For reals! (Sigh) Suri was such a rude mare.", she chirped before she moved to the stool next to Silver and stuck her forehoof out to him to shake. "I'm Coco Pommel."
Silver could not believe what was happening before his eyes.
"OH MY GOSH SHE'S ACTUALLY INTRODUCING HERSELF!!!! THIS IS THE GREATEST AARGH"
He however, was struggling to make words due to his excitement. "S-S-S-Silver Shill.", he stuttered. The stuttering stopped once their hooves touched and shook. A smile popped up on Silver Shill's face. "Really nice to meet you!"
"Coco, oh what a name, Coco."
Coco chuckled. "You too! So, um, do you drink or-"
"No, actually, this is my second time ever going in a bar! I'm not that far past the legal age so-"
"No way, it's my first! I honestly have no clue what I'm doing, I'm not far past the age, either."
"Yeah, same! I don't know what half the stuff behind the counter tastes like."
"Me neither!"
"I do.", said the bartender. "I've tried it all, and I love it."
The two ponies at the counter confusingly stared at the smiling bartender.
"Anywayyys,", Coco started as they continued their conversation. They talked about a wide range of topics, from cutie marks to The Great Magic War. Coco was having a ball talking to Silver, and laughed at his awkwardness that she found adorable. Silver couldn't believe his luck. He was actually talking to a girl, and she did not think of him like most other ponies that knew him did. The two were just like each other from their career issues to social struggles. They talked for nearly four hours at that counter, and they practically forgot about their drinks.
"So,", Coco spoke, "how long have you been in Manehattan for?"
"Oh, I actually got off the train from Ponyville a couple hours ago. First time in the city!"
"Ponyville? I have friends there!"
"Ay, ponies, I'mma have to cut yer talk short. It's closin' time.", the bartender said to the two from behind his counter.
"Closing time? I thought the sign said it closes at midnight!", Silver started.
"Yer lucky I was a nice guy tonight. It's two in the darn morning, and I need my shut-eye."
"Alright, we can respect that.", Coco said to the bartender with a smile. She then turned to Silver. "Silver, you said it was your first time in Manehattan, right?"
"Yep!", the young stallion replied.
"Well, we don't have to separate now! How would you like a tour of Manehattan from a Manehattan native?"
Silver Shill did not want this dream to end. Was it a dream? Heck if he knew, he was having the best time he's had in years!
"Wait, what, is this a date?"
"I'd love to!", Silver ecstatically replied. Coco squealed and grabbed Silver's forehoof.
"Wonderful! I know just where to start!"
"You're holding my hoof, Coco, you sly dog!"
Coco Pommel pulled the stallion out of the bar and they were now skipping throughout the streets of the city together. At two o'clock in the morning, the streets were vacant and all for Silver and Coco. Coco gleefully showed Silver all the sights of her hometown.
"This is my old apartment! I spent my whole fillyhood growing up there!"
"No way!"
"And here's our town park! Lemme tell you, it is huge!"
"The biggest park in Equestria, right?"
"Yes!"
Silver was not resistant to show Coco his new favorite parts of town as well.
"Coco! I'd like to introduce you to my good friend, Hobo Fred!"
"Oh, well, um, hello there, Hobo Fred."
"Hey hey hey! I missed you, man! You sure were in the bathroom for a long time, am I right?", Hobo Fred exclaimed.
Silver Shill could not have been happier. Coco had given him all the confidence and hope he needed. He was thankful for Coco. He loved Coco. He did not feel at all vulnerable or useless when with her.
The two ensued in all sorts of shenanigans throughout the city, such as balancing on the walls separated the land from sea or skipping around the sidewalks together. It was a shame that it had seemed so quickly. Silver had to take Coco back to her apartment. She needed as must rest as she could get for another day of hard work. The two were standing together in front of the door to Coco's apartment room.
"Oh my, Silver, in all my years of living here, I have not ever had as much fun as I did tonight!"
"I had a lot of fun too, Coco!", Silver happily said to her.
Coco sighed deeply. "Well, let's see here, four twenty-eight in the morning. Hmm, yeah, I sure hope that these three hours of sleep tonight sure will be wholesome!", she said with a lengthy yawn afterwards.
"Oh yeah! Good luck sleeping!"
Silver Shill could not let her go just yet. He had to ask her something, something he feared all mares thought of him. He felt it necessary to get it out of the way.
"Say, um, Coco?", he nervously started.
"Yes, Silver?", she curiously replied.
Silver was hesitant to speak, but eventually asked his question. "D-do you think that I'm, at all, vulnerable? Or weak?"
He cringed at what the upcoming answer may be. It's been the same for everypony he's ever talked to. He's weak. He's a doormat. He's vulnerable.
Coco was surprised at the question, and then started to giggle at the stallion. "Silver Shill, of course I don't think that! You were the most confident and social pony tonight! In fact, I hope you stay here in Manehattan.", Coco said with a sincere smile. Silver, too, had a large grin across his face. He knew that Coco needed her rest, but neither were ready to leave without locking lips together in a deep kiss.
"Wait, her face is moving towards mine, i-is she doing what I think she is- oh my gosh, I-I-I'm kissing a girl! Her lips, they're so, well, I don't know, warm and inviting, and, man this is great! An-wait, her tongue's in my mouth, why the hay is her tongue in my mou- wait, is this what 'making out' is? Well, outta the way, I'm putting my tongue in her's! And, an- YES! Yes! I am kissing a girl! I, Silver Shill, have finally kissed a girl! And I'm still going strong! Haha, nopony can stop me now! Oh, wait, she took her tongue out. And her lips. Oh, she's smiling at me! I guess I did it right for my first try!"
"That was my first.", she happily whispered.
"Mine too!", he whispered.
"That was amazing!", she whispered.
"Why are we whispering?", Silver Shill whispered.
"I have no idea.", Coco said as she yawned once more.
"You need your sleep, Coco, you really should go to bed."
"Yeah, I guess I should, heh. So, um, see you soon?"
"Yeah! Soon! Real soon! When are you free?"
A frown came across Coco's face. "Oh my, I never thought of that! I'm so busy with my 'Hinny of the Hills' work that I'm just not sure if I'll have any free time soon."
"Oh, well, I promise you; I will find time for you, 'cause I sure want to talk to you more!"
"Aww, you too!", Coco cutely replied. "Actually, I work at the Bridleway theatre! Here, the address is on this flyer. You should drop by sometime!", she said as she handed a flyer for "Hinny of the Hills" to Silver.
"Well, I hope to see you really soon, Silver Shill!"
"See ya, Coco! We'll write, right?"
"Heh heh, write right. Ha, oh, I kill myself sometimes!"
"Of course we'll write! Well, I honestly really need some sleep. See you later! I had the time of my life tonight!"
"Met too! This was one of the best nights in a while, Coco!"
After a long while of farewells, Silver Shill had finally walked out of the front door to the apartment building to try to find shelter for the night. He was sure there would be a motel or two open, and he couldn't stay with Coco because she needed her sleep.
"Man, who'da thought that my journey to Manehattan would turn out like this? Who'da thought?"
After several attempts to get at least a thorough conversation going, Silver Shill finally found a friend. Well, more than that. Oh, who was he kidding, Silver was smitten! Coco was the mare of his dreams, and even through his vulnerableness he was bake to get her all to himself. She was just what he was looking for in his time of despair. He now had a purpose to be in Manehattan. He now had a second chance in life thanks to Coco Pommel.
"Oh, what a night!", Silver said to himself as he hopped up and down like a colt on sugar, "What an awesome night! Coco's the greatest! And I finally kissed a mare! And to think it all started with, 'L-long day?' Man, if this was a Bridleway show, the audience would be cheering!"
Realization struck him.
"Oh yeah,", he said on a slightly more upset tone, "she's gonna be way too busy with her Bridleway job to fond time for me! Darn! Right when I thought I had this!"
Silver Shill was about to fall to the ground until he noticed the flyer Coco had handed him.
Bridleway presents a Quillhoof musical:
--------"Hinny of the Hills!"--------
Go out and smell the roses!
Shown nightly at 6:00, matinée Sundays at 2:00.
This was simply the best musical I've seen in ages!
-Trender Hoof
I want an encore of this play, honey!
-Sapphire Shores
It was a'ight.
-Rainbow Dash
Contact us or drop by the theatre for cast/crew information, all ponies welcome!
Silver stared at the flyer until a large grin popped up onto his face.
He came up with a way that he could spend more time with Coco. Much more time.
"I've got to join the cast of 'Hinny of the Hills'!"
The vibrant rays of the morning sun shone brightly through the windows of the "欢迎来到我的旅馆! Motel" in Chineightown, Manehattan.
Having to nearly crawl out of bed in the early morning with a different time zone is not exactly Silver Shill's cup of tea, especially when he had been up late the night before. Just finding a cheap motel in of itself was a challenge, but the low cost of the room came with a price.
The room's appearance itself was a clear sign that it was inside of the cheapest motel in all of Manehattan. The bed was nothing but a plank of wood with a yoga mat on it. And to Silver's dismay, the mat smelled used. Very used.
Also in the room was a candle, a small bedside table, and Chineighse memorabilia spread throughout. It looked almost as if it was some kind of Chineighse dungeon.
"Well, what did I expect from a place that charges less than a bit per night?", Silver asked himself as he stretched himself awake.
As much as he wanted to lay around and come up with more complaints for his stay, Silver had such a busy day ahead of him that missing out was certainly not an option for him.
"7:46 in the morning! Oh man, I gotta leave now if I wanna get to Bridleway in time for auditions!", he spoke to himself as he quickly refreshed and made himself presentable for the day ahead.
Silver brushed his teeth in the motel's only bathroom, which was at the end of the hallway and open for all guests. Rinsing his face off after taking care of his teeth, Silver Shill stared into the cracked, graffitied mirror at the identical stallion returning the stare in the reflection.
He took a long, deep breath before thinking about his plans.
The idea of even trying to get a job at Bridleway was far-fetched, but trying to join the cast was absolutely out of the question for him.
"What do I think I'm doing?", he regretfully asked his reflection, "I can't join the 'Hinny of the Hills' cast! This play is huge, and I can't even imagine somepony like me trying to join it. Me? Singing and dancing in front of th-thousands of ponies daily! I can't perform, I have absolutely no experience! Come on, what the hay was I thinking with this?"
The regretful stallion hunched over the sink as he tried to figure out another alternative. Theatre performance was most definitely not his strong suit. But then again, Silver himself was unsure as to what any of his strong suits even are.
Unfortunately, no play meant no Coco Pommel. If silver was to actually get a role in the play, then he believed he and Coco would be able to work together and see each other everyday. If he did not get any role due to his lack of skill and experience, then he would have blown his chances of ever seeing Coco again. Not getting any part would also entail loosing, yet, another career.
Silver's dilemma nearly triggered another nervous breakdown as he sulked against the sink while contemplating.
Luckily, Silver perched up as he reached a sensible conclusion.
"Wait a minute, whoever said that I had to become an actor? There's a bunch of other jobs there I could try to get! I could be a janitor again, a stagehand, who knows? I could even make costumes with Coco! Boy, would that sure be great?"
Feeling a lot more relieved after coming to conclusions, Silver felt prideful enough to leave the motel and get moving to the theatre.
Silver trotted his way down to the motel lobby. The lobby shocked him when he entered, as he was too exhausted the previous night to take its appearance in.
Chineighse memorabilia was scattered all over the lobby. Lanterns hung from the walls, bamboo plants were growing out of pots, and dragon designs were presented all over most of the items.
"Huānyíng lái dào wǒ de lǚguǎn!", excitingly exclaimed the pony behind the counter. The pony, a smaller stallion with a crimson coat color and short black mane, gave Silver Shill a large, hospitable grin.
Silver was unsure as to what he should reply.
"What the…", Silver confusingly pondered to himself, "What in Equestria does that mean? I don't speak Chineighse! The closest I have was glancing at the menus when I was a busboy at that one Chineighse restaurant in Baltimare."
However, the pony at the counter did not seem to notice Silver's baffled expression, as he seemed to be clearly waiting for a response.
"Um, good morning,", Silver nervously started as he walked up to the desk, "how are you doing?"
It seemed as if the desk pony was trying to work a response as he pulled out a translation dictionary from one of the desk drawers.
"Er, ah, I… not… talk… um, speech!", he crudely yet confidently replied without his grin leaving once. His response took Silver by surprise at first, but Silver was soon to realized that the stallion had meant he could not speak his language.
Silver Shill couldn't help but wonder what the pony had said when he had walked in the lobby, and proceeded to ask the desk pony just that.
"Um, I hope you don't mind me asking, but what did you tell me when I walked into the room?"
However, the red desk pony seemed to be furthermore confused by Silver, only replied with more confusing Chineighse, "Shèmiǎn?"
Silver let out a sigh as he realized that this was going to be much more difficult than he had initially thought.
The stallion cleared his throat before speaking to the desk pony in a much more understandable and basic tone, using only key words.
"What… you… say… when… I … got… in… room?", Silver asked as clearly as he possibly could.
The desk pony seemed very anxious to figure out what Silver was trying to ask as he proceeded to pull his translator dictionary back out and look up the words that had just been told to him.
"What… you… say… when… I… got… in… room?", he clarified.
"What you say when I got in room!", impatiently repeated Silver Shill.
After a short while of flipping through pages of the book, the desk pony had an "aha" moment as he realized what Silver was asking him this whole time. After flipping around in the book a little while longer, the desk pony spoke up.
"When you got in room, um, I… said, 'Welcome to my motel!'", the pony confidently said as he pointed to the motel's logo on the wall behind him, which was made up of a cluster of Chineighse characters. He tapped on the logo, signaling that the phrase on it is what he had said to silver when he walked in.
"Wait a minute,", Silver started, "so you're saying that your motel is called the, 'Welcome to My Motel! Motel'?"
The desk pony enthusiastically nodded as if he understood what Silver had said. "'Welcome to My Motel!' is… all… me… understand… in… language! Only… talk… in Chineighse!"
Silver Shill had no choice but to eye the desk pony with a blank face. But then realization struck, and Silver realized that he had to leave if he wanted to get to Bridleway early.
"Well, um, nice to meet you, but, I, uh, gotta go."
The desk pony was confused until Silver walked out of the motel and waved, only for the desk pony to wave back.
Silver took a large gulp before making his triumphant march to the theatre.
The early morning found the streets of Manehattan cluttered with ponies in their rush hour to work. Hordes of ponies were going about in all directions to get started on their daily routine.
"Let's see here, 1681 Bridleway Street, Manehattan. Yep, this is it."
After an entire morning of trotting through town in search of the Bridleway theatre, Silver Shill had at last found it in the middle of a busy square.
The square truly was a spectacular part of town. The façades of the buildings were covered by countless oversized advertisements. The one ad that stole all of the others' attention from Silver was the large advertisement for "Hinny of the Hills" that was proudly set atop the theatre itself.
The ad portrayed a young mare with a yellow mane who was singing gracefully in a picturesque hilly setting, without a care in the world. Silver assumed that the pony in the picture was "Hinny".
Below the large ad was the entrance to the theatre, which was rather menacing for Silver Shill. As sure as he was that getting a job there would allow him to spend more time with Coco, he was unsure of what career he could take on there. There was always the chance of him getting fired once more.
As worried as he was, Silver was able to come to terms and instantly remember that he seemed to completely forget the bad memories of his past while with Coco. In fact, he was almost an entirely new pony when Coco was around.
"What am I even worried about?", he thought, "I'm absolutely certain that as long as I get to be with Coco while working, I'll be the best at whatever it is I'm doing!"
It was not long until Silver felt ready to make his grand entrance into the Bridleway theatre.
"Alright, Silver Shill, take two. Here's to hoping that this job's a keeper!"
With all the confidence he could muster, Silver marched right up to the doors, opened them, and made his way to the mare sitting at the front desk. He strangely found it easy to socialize with her.
"Good morning,", the pony at the front desk started, "are you here for auditions?"
"Auditions? Oh no no no, definitely not! I'm here for another job."
"Um, another job, sir?"
"That is correct, I'm just wondering if you needed a stagehand, a caterer, or even a costume designer!", Silver said with a beaming grin. However, the mare's sudden disheartened expression started to concern Silver Shill.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, sir, but we have no more job openings."
Silver gasped as his eyes opened wide and lips started trembling. He started to sweat as the room spun around him.
"No more openings? But, bu- no, th-this can't be.", he thought to himself as his eyes darted in all directions. "No job means, n-no Coco."
"Are you alright, sir?"
The pony's words took Silver Shill aback as he was lost in his own crushed thoughts.
"Oh, um, y-yes ma'am. I'll, um, yes, you know, heh, just a broken heart, that's all.", he gloomily replied. "Well, I mean, are you sure there's absolutely no opening for, like, a custodian, or ticket booth pony or anything?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but we've got a pony for everything.", the mare regretfully replied.
Silver lowered his head. "Thanks anyways.", he spoke as he turned towards the doors to carry on with wandering the lonely streets.
However, a smile soon popped up on the desk mare's face.
"Unless you want to join cast! Auditions are today, and from what I've heard, we're in need of some backup actors!"
The mare's words stopped Silver right in his tracks.
The stallion perked up and became relieved as he realized that the door to a job opening had just opened up to him, right after he thought he was done for. A job opening at Bridleway!
That's when it hit him.
"C-c-cast?!?!", he fearfully exclaimed aloud. "Woah woah, are you talking about cast as in, like, acting cast?"
"Yes, um, that's the only kind of cast we have here."
Silver begun a little panic attack. Of all the things he wanted to do while at Bridleway, cast was definitely the last thing on his list. He had no experience in theatre performing, and actually getting a part in the play was out of the question.
It all came down for him to choosing one of two difficult choices; try out for the cast and not make it, or just stop where he was and leave. Silver knew deep down that he had no chance of making the cast, which meant that having to leave Manehattan and forget about Coco was the only alternative no matter what decision he'd make. As far as Silver was concerned, Coco would be far too busy with her costume making job to find any time to spend with Silver.
Silver took a deep, anxious breath and perked his head up to the mare at the desk.
"Okay, Miss.", he assuredly spoke. "Sign me up for cast."
"Um, you kinda have to sign yourself up, sir."
"Oh, right, thanks!"
A satisfied grin popped up on the desk mare's face as she rummaged behind her desk and pulled out a clipboard.
"Great! Here, just sign in on this sheet and I'll give you the audition scripts."
Just staring at the sign-in sheet before him was enough to make him have second thoughts. By signing this sheet, he was joining the cast of a Bridleway production, something he never would have thought himself to do.
"Whelp, here I go,", Silver finally thought to himself, "this is for you, Coco."
Before he knew it, he had written out his name on the list of ponies trying out.
"Thanks. Now, what character or characters are you interested in auditioning for?", the mare asked him.
Silver had no idea who any of the play's characters were, and was not exactly sure as to how he should respond. "Umm,", he nervously started, "I'll be the main one."
"Wait wai-, wha- the main one!?!? What was I thinking? I'll never get the main character!"
"Well, the main character of our play is Hinny, and we kind of need a female to play her. But, on the other hoof, the lead male character is Hinny's father, Güntre. Is he who you meant?"
"Oh, um, yeah, sure."
"Great, here are the lines you need to recite if you're trying out to be Güntre, they're all taken straight out of the play."
Silver skimmed through the few pages of script handed to him, and then looked up to the pony at the desk. He felt that he was fully prepared for what was to happen.
"Alright, I'm off to auditions!", he triumphantly spoke as he marched down the hall, only to awkwardly walk in right after.
"Um, excuse me, sorry ma'am, but where exactly is the auditions room?"
~
Nearly every seat in the auditions room was occupied with ponies all in hope of getting a role in the musical. Everypony in the black box theatre room had their audition script set in front of them and were all thoroughly studying for their tryout.
If Silver Shill felt as if he was in a foreign land when stepping into the building's lobby, he felt like he was on a whole other planet entering the black box. The moment he entered and took a look at his unfamiliar surroundings, he knew that he was setting himself up for disaster. Aside from the difficulty of performing his lines as a professional actor would, he had to somehow outshine the other ponies in the room for a part.
Just looking at the other actors was enough to make Silver tremble.
"Oh-oh my, I-I have no chance of getting any role with these guys going up against me! Well, I'd have no chance without them, either, but, jus- (sigh), I need to study these lines."
Trying to isolate himself from the other actors, Silver shakily trotted over to a seat to go over his script.
"There's not all that many lines here. I mean, how hard can this be? It's nothing but saying words! Besides, I've done some kind of acting when I worked with Flim and Flam, I don't really see how different this is!"
Before Silver Shill could even read his first line, the loud sound of the opening black box door distracted him and everypony else. Standing in the middle of the doorway was a large, dark figure. As it drew the attention of everypony in the room, it walked inside to reveal itself as a navy blue unicorn. A very large navy blue unicorn, at that. The equine was at least two times the size of any ordinary pony, and his intimidating stare reflected his overbearing appearance. He even drew a few gasps from the crowd before him, including a big one from Silver. The stallion took a long, indifferent glance at the crowd before him.
"I am well aware that you all want to partake in my production.", he dauntingly started with a low tone, "Taking part in a Bridleway play, after all, is a role of great honor."
He moved himself to the center of the room to get a better look at the ponies seated around him.
"However, I am here to decide whether that will happen or if that will not. I happen to be the director of 'Hinny of the Hills', and I stress myself in making sure that my production is perfect. And I must guarantee that this production is absolutely flawless. I only accept the best of the best, and I can assure you that most of you out there are not the best of the best. In fact I am certain that many of you will leave today disappointed."
Silver anxiously gulped and nervously adjusted his glasses.
"I don't want you ponies to merely hit me with your best shot. I'm in search of ponies who can manage to impress me with their worst. I don't believe I will find many of you with that kind of mentality today, however. Let's see you prove just what kind of an actor you are."
"W-what Mr. Quillhoof means to say is, 'good luck, ponies!'", spoke a more high-pitched and jubilant voice from behind. Entering the room was a much quicker and leaner stallion with a sky blue coat and smoothly-gelled orange mane. "Now, now, no need to fret, anypony. Tryouts can be easy peasy as long as ya put your heart to it! Oh wait a minute, where are my manners, ahem, my name's Tidbit! And I'm the choreographer of the one-and-only 'Hinny of the Hills'! Oh, I know you're gonna love working on it!"
Tidbit's more optimistic outlook calmed Silver Shill.
"Now, now, here's how our audition process works. I'm sure you all signed up and got a little script when you came here, so I have a list of everypony that signed in right here with me! I'm also sure you've all reviewed your scripts in this lil' time we've given ya. So all you have to do is trot up to center stage where you perform the lines you've just rehearsed. D-don't worry, you'll get to keep the script up there while you perform!"
"Tidbit, one of our producers and I will be in charge of judging your performances today. You must recite your lines and sing a two minute song for us."
"W- hu- wha- ka- bu- wha- a-a two minute song?!?! I can't sing! I've never sung in my life!"
Silver had a slight panic attack upon Mr. Quillhoof's words.
Mr. Quillhoof dauntingly continued his spiel. "Just remember, ponies, that 'Hinny of the Hills' only deserves the best of the best-"
"Everypony here deserves a chance to shine!", Tidbit interrupted.
"The best of the best.", Mr. Quillhoof raucously spoke, getting an unamused glare from Tidbit. "Now, in no particular character order, we will first examine the ponies auditioning for the role of Schloff. The list of actors who make it into the backup cast will be posted here tonight. Let the audition process commence."
As Mr. Quillhoof walked away, Tidbit turned towards the crowd with a smile.
"Good luck, everypony,", he whispered, "I just know you're gonna do great!"
Soon enough, Mr. Quillhoof, Tidbit, and one of the producers sat behind a table with sheets placed in front of them, with Mr. Quillhoof sitting in the middle.
"The first name on our list of ponies for Schloff is, 'Swirlydaze'. Will Swirlydaze please come up for her audition."
A gold filly trotted up to center stage with her script.
"Hello young mare!", Tidbit welcomed, "What's your name?"
"Hi, my names Swirlydaze!"
"Why, hi there, Swirlydaze! So, tell me, why do you want to be in 'Hinny of the Hills'?"
"Because I love it! Schloff is one of my favorite characters."
"Oh really? She's one of my favorites too-"
"Perform.", Mr. Quillhoof interrupted.
Tidbit frustratingly turned to the unicorn.
"M-Mr. Quillhoof, I was talking to her!"
"We're here to cast backup actors, Tidbit, not to make friends. Miss Swirlydaze, perform for us."
Swirlydaze's smile disappeared as she pulled out her script and begun reciting her lines.
"Oh Hinny, dear sister, why the long face?", she read off the script as professionally as she could.
The producer mare read the other characters' lines of the script for the filly. "It's just father again, Schloff."
"Oh no, Hinny, not this feud again! Listen to what father tells you!", Swirlydaze continued. Before she knew it, she had finished reciting all her audition lines. Her two minute song was an older tune of Sapphire Shores, and she was able to sing it like a professional. By the time she had finished, she received applause from Tidbit and some other ponies in the room.
"My oh my, that tryout was amazing, youngin'! You were just like how I imagined Schloff to be!"
"Wow, thank you, Mr Bit-"
"Next.", Mr. Quillhoof indifferently interrupted. Earning another glare from Tidbit, the unicorn turned back to the paper. "Next on our list for Schloff is 'Dottie Drops', will Dottie Drops please come up to center stage."
A young, pink earth filly with a bouncy curled blue mane hopped up to center stage with a large grin on her face.
"Hello there, Miss Dottie Drops!", Tidbit began, "So, why do you want to be in 'Hinny'?"
"Because my mom's making me.", she spoke, oddly enough, in an optimistic tone. Tidbit seemed a bit surprised by her words.
"Oh, my, well, do you have any interest? You seem awfully excited.", Tidbit inquired.
"Yes I'm very excited for this role!", she said even more optimistically.
"Okay then, let's see whatcha got, youngin!", Tidbit spoke.
Dottie Drops began to recite her lines. The only problem was that her large grin remained and she spoke as excited and gleefully as she could, not matching Schloff's persona in that scene at all.
"Oh Hinny! Dear sister! Why the long face?!?!"
Mr. Quillhoof sighed deeply as he ran his forehoof up his face. "Next.", he groaned.
The young filly's smile disappeared in an instant. "Bu- bu- I wasn't finished yet.", she upsettingly spoke.
Tidbit shot a disgusted stare towards the large unicorn. "Mr. Quillhoof!", he exclaimed, "This poor filly wasn't even done with her first whole line, a-and you're just tossin' her aside like trash! Give her a chance to shine! Everypony here deserves-"
"I take only the best of the best, Tidbit."
"But these ponies want to perform so badly, don't you, Dottie Drops?"
Dottie rapidly nodded at Tidbit's question.
Mr. Quillhoof was frustrated by Tidbit, but he was capable of staying calm yet stern. "You should know fairly well by now that sympathy is no factor in our line of work."
Tidbit was at a loss of words. There was no way he could ever change Mr. Quillhoof's mind, and just trying would get him into more trouble.
"Okay, sir.", Tidbit regretfully said, "Sorry pumpkin, b-but you didn't make the cast."
Dottie Drops's jaw fell as tears welled up in her eyes. "O-o-okay,", she stuttered, "I'm sorry for wasting your time." She ran offstage in tears.
"Next." Mr. Quillhoof spoke without a hint of sympathy in his voice.
Silver Shill did sympathize for Dottie Drops, but he was more worried about his own audition. He was just expecting him to meet the same fate as the poor filly, and felt even more intimated to perform for the judges.
Several rejected fillies later, the list of ponies trying out for Schloff had eventually wrapped up. Although he had much time to go over he script, Silver was still more worried than he had ever been.
"That puts an end to today's auditions for the role of Schloff.", Mr. Quillhoof dauntingly spoke. "The next character on our list is Güntre, so Güntre's, be prepared."
Silver calmed himself by taking continuous deep breaths. "Alright, Silver. Breath in, breath out. This will be easy, I know it."
"The first pony we'll have audition for Güntre is 'Silver Shill', will Silver Shill please make his way up to center stage."
The speed that Silver was breathing increased drastically once he heard that his name was first. "Okay never mind this is going to be impossible! Of all ponies, why me? Why me? Breath in breath out breath in breath out breath in breath ou-"
"Silver Shill, please come up to the front.", Mr. Quillhoof repeated himself. After he got nothing for a response, the producer joined in.
"Hello, Silver Shill? Do we have a Silver Shill here?"
Silver remained in his seat, sweating and shaking just as he was used to in these situations. This one, however, was unlike any other he had ever experienced. Sure, he could try to take on a small janitor job or even a conman, but a Bridleway performer? Silver knew he had no chance of making the play from the start. He wished he could just walk out of the theatre and carry on his life wandering around everywhere to be wandered around.
But then he remembered why he was there to begin with.
After taking a deep breath, Silver was able to overcome his nervousness.
"Do it for Coco.", he told himself.
Mr. Quillhoof rolled his eyes. "Last call for Silver Shill.", he groaned.
"Silver Shill is present!", Silver himself spoke as he stepped up out of his seat.
"And it took you that long to respond because…", the director asked.
Mr. Quillhoof's voice was enough to make Silver more anxious than before. "Oh, b-because, um, no reason.", he stuttered.
"Well, come on up here, Mr. Shill.", Tidbit warmly spoke.
"Y-yes sir, coming.", Silver spoke as he made his way up to the center of the room starting up an intense sweat and constantly adjusting his large glasses. He even still could not fully get over the fact that was actually auditioning for the biggest musical in the kingdom.
"Welcome, Silver Shill!", spoke Tidbit, "What made you want to join our play?"
Tidbit's warm words calmed Silver down a little. However, telling the ponies behind the show that he was joining to grow closer to a costume designer was out of the question.
"Oh, well, because I jus-"
"Perform for me.", spoke the director.
"Oh, well, um, okay!", he quickly spoke as he fretfully pulled out his script. Looking down at it and then back up at the judges, Silver could barely make coherent words.
"Stallion, we haven't got all day.", said Mr. Quillhoof. This drove Silver to clear his throat and start reading.
"Ahem, g-guten tag, family.", he crudely read off the script. "Uh, n-n-nothing like the smell of d-dinner after a long day at work."
He sounded like a broken record playing the most boring speech ever written. Even Tidbit seemed unimpressed. Mr. Quillhoof ran his forehoof up his face and groaned louder than he had at any other pony auditioning.
"Why even bother?", the director asked himself, "Next!"
Silver gasped at the stallion's words. There was no way Silver could leave that day without a role.
"H-h-hold on, there, Mr. Quillhoof sir!", Silver quickly started. He had no idea what exactly he could argue to let him stay, but he had to try.
"And why exactly do I need to 'hold on', sir? I've seen quite enough."
"Because I… uh, well, uh…"
"Think, Silver, think! What could I do to help me have a chance of staying? What else can I do?"
It then dawned on Silver that he still had a two minute song to sing.
"I s-still have the song to sing!", he exclaimed.
Tidbit smiled at the thought while Mr. Quillhoof rolled his eyes and nodded. "Sing for us."
Silver's eyes darted around the room. He knew that he couldn't sing, and whatever singing skill he had would certainly not help him. He still had no choice if he wanted to keep the part, however.
He gulped deeply and proceeded to sing the only song he had ever sung in his life.
"I won't need these crutches to dance out the dooooor!"
The one line he had in his previous bosses' song to sell their tonic did not seem to impress the judges. The producer and Tidbit looked confused, and Mr. Quillhoof motioned his forehoof for Silver to keep singing.
"Carry on, stallion.", he spoke.
The poor stallion had no choice but to awkwardly stand on stage, trembling as everypony's eyes were staring right at him.
"Th-that's all, s-sir.", Silver anxiously replied.
Tidbit's jaw dropped, and Mr. Quillhoof pointed his forearm towards the door to the black box.
"Get out of my theatre.", the director coldly spoke.
The room spun around Silver Shill as he started a rather large panic attack. He leapt up to the judges' table and knelt with his forehooves held together.
"No no no no, p-please keep me! Please put me on the cast! Please! I'll do anything for you ponies, j-just please put me on any of your casts!", Silver practically begged the judges.
Surprised by the timid stallion's unexpected reaction, the judges leaned away from Silver out of instinct. However, after hearing his words, Tidbit leaned forward and smiled.
"I can tell that you really wanna be in this play, Silver,", he started, "and I may just consider!"
"No, Tidbit.", Mr. Quillhoof interrupted. "It obvious that this pony has no experience, and absolutely can not act or sing."
"But he wants the part so badly! Just like that filly from the Schloff tryouts!"
Mr. Quillhoof completely ignored a Tidbit. "(Sigh) Goodbye, Silver Shill."
As much as Silver wanted to keep begging, arguing, whatever else he could do to try to get a part, he soon came to terms that there was no chance he would ever work at Bridleway. He proceeded to calm down and hang his head in defeat.
"Thank you for your time.", Silver quietly spoke to the judges as he slowly walked out of the black box room in defeat.
The empty hallway outside of the auditions rooms found Silver Shill standing alone, having had just lost his one chance at making the cast of his play.
The stallion collapsed against the wall as he shakily removed his glasses and ran his hoof up and down his sweaty face. Awful memories surged through Silver's head. Once more, even when he needed it more than any other time, he had let his weakness overcome him and lead him to loose his chance at keeping a job. The audition was like watching his life play before him.
But the fact that Silver's helplessness led him to loosing another job was the least of his worries. The main problem on Silver's mind was that his helplessness led him to loosing his chance at ever seeing Coco Pommel again.
"Whelp, that was it. What else can I say, that was it! I'm done for! ", he spoke, "I couldn't even try? Really? Even when I needed it the most, I let my weakness get in my way? Come on, Silver! Come on! How c-could I be so, b-be so…"
Silver Shill was finding it hard to concentrate as a single tear trickled from his eye.
"H-how could I be such a… s-such a vulnerable pony?"
Silver Shill froze at his own thought as a chill went through his body.
Having had enough of leaning alone in regret, Silver decided that it was about time to leave. With no idea of what to do now that he had blown his chances at turning his life around, he decided to simply take a walk. No destination, no company, just a lonely walk long enough for him to do some thinking. After standing back upright, Silver Shill stretched out, returned his large glasses to their rightful eyes, and ran his hooves through his face to try to hide his frustration.
After taking a deep breath, the stallion turned to make his way back to the lobby without even glancing back at the door to the auditions room. Without thinking, Silver Shill trotted up to the doors, opened them, and let whatever was to happen to him play out.
~
A cup and teapot were set on the table in the black box room.
Play auditions had long been finished, and the evening found Mr. Quillhoof sitting alone in the dimmed room. The job of deciding who was to make it onto his play's cast was not one he had particularly looked forward to. The auditioning actors put in their all and were able to surprise the other judges with their talent, but Mr. Quillhoof was only impressed with less than a hooffull of them. His own choreographer was supporting the bad actors and giving them encouragement, and the last thing Mr. Quillhoof wanted to see was amateur actors performing in a play. His play, to be precise.
The director glanced down at the teacup on the table. A cup of tea was just what he needed after evaluating ponies since the morning.
A gray magic aura from Mr. Quillhoof's horn levitated the teapot and filled half of his cup with steaming tea. This was followed with the cup being carefully brought up to Mr. Quillhoof's muzzle and with him taking a slow sip of it. He closed his eyes as he felt the warm liquid doing its work to soothe him so he could finally think straight.
His sip was cut short by the door to the black box slamming open, causing Mr. Quillhoof to loose concentration and drop his teacup. Before the cup could make contact with the ground, Mr. Quillhoof's used his magic to stop it without even moving an eye muscle.
"Mr. Quillhoof, we need to-"
"I'm not letting those rubbish actors join my cast, Tidbit."
The director did not have to look at the doorway to figure out who was talking to him. His eyes were not even fixed in that direction.
Tidbit stuck a hoof out and took a breath about to speak, but Mr. Quillhoof had answered his question before he could even try to finish asking it. Tidbit would never get used to the director's quick wit. Dumbfounded and getting anxiously sweaty, the light blue stallion looked around awkwardly trying to think up a quick response.
"Umm, uh, y-yes you are!", was all he could come up with. "Oh c'mon, have a heart! Think about all these poor poor ponies leaving without a part."
"I'm thinking about them, alright." Mr. Quillhoof was probably the only pony in all of Equestria who could simultaneously sound sarcastic and stern so perfectly.
"Give them a chance! Why, when I didn't make my school's play in elementary school, I was heartbroken, just crushed! I even fell into a deep depression that lasted ten whole minutes! I don't want them to suffer the same that I have."
Tidbit sounded genuinely depressed while recalling his not-so traumatized past.
"It's their misfortune that they aren't capable of performing, Tidbit."
"Well, it's your misfortune that you aren't giving these actors a chance! They're here to improve on their acting to become the 'best of the best'." Tidbit said his last part in a low tone, imitating that of Mr. Quillhoof's.
"Do I have to spell it out for you? This is Bridleway, not daycare. If somepony cannot act, then they cannot act. No second chances.", the navy blue director snapped.
"What if I personally trained the worst of the worst from today? L-like a private tutor? I'm a theatre expert! My cutie mark is the comedy mask for cryin' out loud!"
Tidbit's cutie mark was indeed the smiling mask that represented comedy in theatre. Tidbit turned back to Mr. Quillhoof, who donned a cutie mark of the frowning tragedy mask.
"Do what you will, Tidbit, but I'm never letting any of today's actors participate in the professionalism of my play."
With that, the director lifted his teacup and pot and left the black box room, leaving Tidbit on his own.
~
What most ponies saw was a musky, overcrowded tourist trap of a town. What Silver Shill saw was a maze of streets to wander. Though the streets were significantly less crowded than during the rush hour, it was still packed enough to be considered a crowd. Silver didn't mind the extra company, however. In fact, what Silver thought to be aimlessly trotting around soon became curiously exploring the vast city.
Something about being alone and walking through every corner of the city was comforting for the stallion. The art of going on a walk alone was nothing new to Silver. He would always find himself going for walks before any job he's had, after any job he's had, and on whatever breaks he'd find himself on. The idea of being alone had been comforting for him for as long as he could remember.
The exciting city life and sights breathed life back into the distraught pony. The outdoor breeze opened his eyes to the streets that were now his to explore. Nearly everything seemed to intrigue Silver Shill, from the alleyways to the skyscrapers.
"Hooves down, this place is amazing. Heck, I forget why I'm even wandering in the first place!"
It wasn't before long when Silver Shill found himself trotting past the apartment of Coco Pommel.
"Oh, right, that's why I'm walking. I just lost my only chance at possibly ever being able to see the crush of my life again because I can't perform on stage and the only way to even try to get closer to her is through performing on stage which I physically can't do because I'm a nervous wreck and a weakling and a vulnerable pony susceptible to failure and I have no friends and-"
The stallion stopped in his thoughts as he realized that a nervous breakdown was coming on.
"Come on, I gotta stop thinking like that! If I like Coco so much, then, th-then I gotta go tell her everything. Everything! If she's the one who lifted me up enough to audition for a play, then she's gotta be the one for me! She'll understand. Boy do I sure hope she'll understand."
Without further ado, Silver Shill changed his direction to do the inevitable; return to the theatre.
The sun was just starting to set over the horizon as Silver returned onto Bridleway Street. He had absolutely no idea how the conversation with Coco was going to go, and his heart was pounding. Would it end well? Badly? Uglily? Even if he tried, he could not keep up a small grin on his face.
"Well, here we are. Bridleway theatre. Do I dare go back inside?", the stallion thought to himself as he stared at the exterior of the majestic building. As the sun went down, the lights of the building went up, showing off the ad for the play for all to see.
Silver Shill scoffed at the advertisement . "And who do you think you are, Hinny?", he spoke up, "Look at yourself, just spinning around and doing whatever in those hills as if there was nothing wrong with this world. Stop laughing like that! Don't you realize that you are the cause of my ultimate downfall? Oh, I hope you trip on that dress of yours and roll down your hills 'till you hit a rock or roll off a cliff at the bottom, are you listening to me?"
Silver would have continued if it weren't for the glances of stopping ponies standing around him, to which he blushed and cowardly gave a little wave to the briefly gathered crowd. A tourist even took a picture of his rant. "I swear, only in Manehattan.", were the words of one of the ponies turned to walk away. The others then followed suit, leaving Silver Shill on his own.
"Um, Silver Shill?"
The stallion froze at the voice, to which he recognized almost immediately. Turning around, Silver saw that Coco Pommel was standing right behind him.
"C-c-coco?!?!"
"Were, um, you just, well, yelling at the sign?"
"Well, um, look, you see, long story, I-"
Silver stopped speaking as a smile popped up on Coco's face.
"Oh, what am I saying? I bet you were just practicing on your acting. That was great! I almost thought you were actually angry for a second there."
At this, Silver's eyes widened behind his glasses and he tensed up.
"Um, wh- what ever are you speaking of, Coco?", he nervously spoke while trying to remain calm. Coco broke out into a giggle.
"Oh, Silver, why didn't you tell me you auditioned for cast?"
"What?!?!", he un expectantly exclaimed. As his eyes darted side to side, he started a sweat. "H-h-how-"
"When I saw the name 'Silver Shill' on the list of ponies who made it onto the cast, oh gosh, I nearly fainted. I knew it was you! You made it onto the cast!"
"…"
Silver Shill was speechless. He could barely even feel his jaw drop and his eyelids pop open. The shaking and sweating came to a halt.
Upon hearing this, Silver snapped out of his shock and trotted inside the theatre with Coco. A large list on a bulletin board contained each cast member that had made it. And sure enough, the name "Silver Shill" was clearly visible on the "Backup, Secondary, Last-Resort, Bottom-of-the-Barrel, Reserve Actors directed by Tidbit" list.
Silver was still in shock.
"Why would they want me? My auction was the worst, and I mean the worst of the worst!"
Feeling the poke of a hoof on his side, Silver turned to his left to see Coco staring at him with a glow in her eyes.
"Happy?", she asked.
"Happy? Happy?! I just made it onto the cast that I had absolutely no chance of making and I'm gonna be able to see you on a daily basis! Heck yeah I'm happy!"
With that, Silver Shill threw his forehooves around Coco and hugged the filly as tightly as he could, to which she did the same.
"So, anyways,", Coco started, "I was just outside 'cause I was on my way to grab a quick dinner, you know, so I could get back to the costumes ASAP. Would you like to join me?"
With a newfound happiness, Silver partially separated himself from the embrace to look down at Coco. "That'd be great.", he said with a grin. "That'd be great."
That said, the two ponies exited the building to eat together. As they were out on the sidewalk, Silver Shill turned back towards the advertisement with no more hard feelings towards the singing pony portrayed on it.
"I love you, Hinny!", he yelled out to the ad.
Coco looked up to him. "You're a natural Güntre!", she assured, comforting Silver furthermore. "First play practice is tomorrow at eight."
"Well, boy I can't wait to see you tomorrow. A-a-and practice! Yeah, um, I l-love theatre!"
~
The night found Silver Shill and his companion going for a dinner adventure. Silver's accomplishment was worthy of celebration, and a meal at a trendy Manehattan-style pizzeria with Coco was the perfect fit.
Silver had never been more relieved in his life. But, however, it seemed that Coco Pommel had never been so curious in her life. Everything she would say seemed to have to do with Silver Shill and acting.
"Oh goodness, Silver, I had no idea that you were an actor!", she gleefully spoke, eyes wide with curiosity.
On the other side of the table was the stallion, doing his best to keep his cool. "Oh yeah, heh, me neither.", he shrugged with a grin.
"Working around a stage all day, I can only wonder what it's like to be up there, performing in front of thousands.", Coco continued, "I mean, I'd never be able to do something like that! What's the appeal?"
"The what?"
"The appeal. I mean, why would you, or, well, anypony want to do something crazy like that?"
"Yeah, the appeal, really, is just the thought that you are, well, entertaining others, I guess."
"Yeah, that's what I'd think. So, anyhow, how long have you been acting?"
Although Coco could not tell, the now sweating pony across her was now caught up in a dilemma.
"Hold it, Silver, you've got two choices here. You tell her the truth, or you come up with some kind of lie. Oh, telling the truth's always the right thing to do, I know that now. But if she finds out you're doing this just for her, she'll think you're following her around. And if she thinks you're following her around, she'll think you're some kinda weirdo, stalker guy. And if she thinks you're a weirdo stalker, she'll get creeped out and'll avoid you and never wanna talk to you again! Would she consider that weird? Oh, heck if I know. What do I know about girls? Nothing! Plus, it would seem better if you were doing the acting for your own well-being.", he thought to himself.
A concerned look came across Coco's face. She needed an answer.
"(Sigh) She's the one who gave you you're second chance. You can't screw this up, Silver."
"Yeeaah, I've, um, been doing a little acting every now and then. I mean, nothing too big.", Silver replied. He couldn't help but feel guilty about it.
Coco's interest only increased. "Really? Well, working for Bridleway, I've kinda familiarized myself with plays from all around. I might know some that you've been in!"
"Well, I mean, they weren't big at all, they were actually so small that I bet barely anypony ever heard of them."
"I wanna see if I know them, though! What was the last one you were in?"
"Y-y-yes, um." Silver mumbled.
"I, um, just wanna know what's it's called."
"Think, Silver, think! She's got to stop asking you these questions! Well, you can't get her mind off of it, she's way too interested. Hmm… aha, I got it! Well, um, technically you got it. I am just your thoughts, after all. Wait, where were you? You don't know, you digress. Ah, yes! The food'll be out soon. Just stall her until it's chow time."
"Oh, um, you want to know what it is?", the stallion nervously asked.
Coco chuckled in reply. "I've kinda been asking you that for the last minute. What was it?"
"Oh, yes." Silver was not particularly experienced in the field of stalling. "The play. Ah yes, um, the last theatrical production that I took part in the cast of. Yeah, hmm, what a play that was."
"Seriously, why aren't you telling me?"
"I'm telling you about it, am I not?"
"Oh, stop it, you! Please oh please just tell me what play it was!"
Silver's heartbeat was showing no sign of slowing down. If anything, it was speeding up. Luckily, if it weren't for the waiter trotting right towards their table, he might have panicked.
"No.", Silver said with a blank, sweaty face.
"Please?", Coco pleaded, putting her forehooves together.
Luckily, for Silver the waiter was so close to the table that he could smell his pizza. Relieved, he turned out to face him…
…only to see the waiter trot right past his table and to the one next to theirs'.
"Pleeaase?"
Nope, the conversation wasn't over yet. Silver could feel his eye twitching and his breathing becoming heavier. He turned to the mare at the table, to see her still pleading.
Though Coco was waiting for a reply, all Silver did in response was smile and nod. What else could he do? He was out of ideas. And as if just the pressure of stalling her was enough, Coco Pommel's facial expression whilst pleading made him nearly loose all his attention altogether.
"Hnnng, look at her! Sh-she's so adorable when she's curious! Oh, gosh, how could you refuse a face like that? That would be abuse, I say, udder abuse! "
Silver shook his head back into reality. "Okay, you got me there." Coco immediately grinned and leaned forward in anticipation. "Okay, sooo, the last play I was in, was called, um, well, it was called 'Miracle Curative Tonic'.", he nervously spoke.
Coco's eyes looked up as a forehoof was brought to her chin. "I, um, I'm sorry, but I can't say I've heard of that one."
Silver Shill smirked brought his forehooves out in front of him in a "What did I tell ya?" shrug.
"Okay, that's it. End of conversation. Phew, that was so much easier than I-"
"Did you play a lead?", Coco asked, her curiosity thriving once more.
"You have a habit of speaking too soon, ya know?"
"A l-lead?"
"A lead role? You have a pretty big part in 'Hinny of the Hills', so I'd guess you've played leads in the past."
"Uh, yeah. Well, all I did was be used for a short scene, do a can-can, and sing a line."
Coco's expression became one of confusion. "And, um, that was considered a lead role?"
"Th-there were only three ponies in the whole play!"
"Wait a minute, 'Miracle Curative Tonic'. Isn't that the knockoff cure-all that your last bosses made you sell? You told me about it last night." Coco was now sounding very skeptical. Silver was getting more panicked with each passing second, but was doing as best as he could to hide it.
"Well, um… yes. It is. The play was kind of a, well, advertisement fo- ooh, would you look at that, the pizza's here!"
Sure enough, and much to Silver Shill's relief, a waiter had arrived to the table and was now serving a pizza for two in the middle of the table. As he trotted away, Coco licked her lips in delight at the huge, cheesy pie in between her and Silver.
"Oh, goodness, it looks so tasty! You know, sometimes, I work so long with the costumes that I often forget how hungry I get."
Silver couldn't help but smile. "Okay, good, she's distracted! Now, just keep it up!"
"Oh, is that so?", Silver replied to Coco.
"Oh, almost every day. And, um, just between you and me,", she lowered her voice to a whisper.
"Sh-she's telling me her secrets?!?! N-no girl's ever told me a seceret!"
"What is it?", Silver replied in a whisper.
Glancing around to be sure nopony could hear, she leaned in closer to Silver. Silver at this point had his heart pounding in excitement.
"I was so hungry from work one time that I ate a whole pizza."
The stallion's eyelids rose a little in surprise, but he was nonetheless excited. "Really?", he asked whilst grinning all the way.
"Can you really blame me?", she embarrassingly replied. "I only had a coffee for breakfast and skipped lunch. I was just ravenous that day!"
"No, I can't blame you. Y'know, one time when I worked at a fast food restaurant outside Fillydelphia, I ate ten orders of hay fries.", Silver proudly spoke as his enthusiasm rose.
"Oh my goodness!"
"And how could I forget about the four oat burgers I had after that?"
"Okay, you win."
"Now, all this talk about grossly binge-eating is making me hungry. Let's eat!"
"Don't mind if I do!"
The two proceeded to eat their dinner together. Although, as fun as Silver was having for the remainder of the night, he could not get rid of the guilt he had for lying to her about being an actor.
~
"Welcome to my motel!"
The voice of the almost yelling desk pony welcomed Silver Shill back into his motel.
The stallion would normally cringe at the loud unexpected voice, but he was in too good of a mood to react.
"Hello, Mr. Desk Pony.", Silver cheerfully greeted as he made his way to his room.
"Go… to room?", the desk pony crudely asked.
"Yep, I'm hitting the hay. Heh, I've got a heck of a day tomorrow.", Silver told the pony. However, just like in the morning, the pony didn't move a muscle and just kept smiling. He couldn't understand anything out of Silver Shill's mouth. "Y-es.", Silver annunciated.
The desk pony smiled larger nodded. "I do a set of alarming clock?", he asked.
"Y-es, se-ven o-clo-ck, please."
As soon as Silver got to his room (who's lock was very old and ineffective), he plopped himself on the so-called bed. But he could care less what the bed was made out of, he had just had another wonderful night with Coco! Going to a popular Manehattan-style pizza parlor and walking together found the two ponies enjoying each other's company more than ever. Sure, Coco stayed up later than she should have and she was now further behind schedule with costumes, she would not have traded that night for anything else. And those were her own words.
Silver laid on the mattress, put his glasses aside, and relished in his success from that day. The existence of the "Backup, Secondary, Last-Resort, Bottom-of-the-Barrel, Reserve Actors directed by Tidbit" cast was still a mystery to the stallion, but he was at least relieved and thankful that he even got in. He did it! He can see Coco every day! He has a job and gets to stay in Manehattan.
That's when it donned on him.
"Bridleway.", Silver whispered in more of an afraid tone. Flashbacks from the auditions earlier that day flooded his mind, and he cringed at each of the hard memories.
"I can't act. Or sing, or stand on a stage without getting major stage fright or any of that jazz.", he told himself. "Well, think straight, Silver. Why are you in this cast again? Because of Coco. She's the one who gave me confidence, who appreciates me for who I am! Heck, she had the courage to kiss me the last night! I don't even think my own mother would have the courage to kiss me. Well, not in the way she did, but, well, I know what I mean."
He took a deep breath.
"Okay, Silver. You're doing this play for Coco. And only for Coco. I can tell right off the bat that it's gonna be torture tomorrow, what with all the acting and everything. Just, try to see Coco as much as possible, and you'll be fine. Got it, Silver?", he asked himself. "Yes sir, I got it, Silver.", he reassured himself. "Good!", he told himself once more. "Now get a good night's rest and tomorrow should be a breeze."
