Music for the Masses

Never Let Me Down Again

Sweetie Belle sat comfortably in the little wagon that Rarity was pulling and giggled as Rarity ran her around the yard. Rarity laughed too, trotting around in circles as her little sister cheered. Rarity grinned happily, and approached Sweetie Belle's little red wagon.

"Uh oh," she said, distastefully. All the joy left her face.

"What is it?" Sweetie Belle questioned, her eyes filling with fear and worry. She could almost feel her sister's tension. Rarity paused for a second, looked Sweetie Belle in the eye, and slowly took a small step forward.

"EARTHQUAKE!!" she screamed, shaking the wagon furiously and screaming dramatically. Sweetie's stress melted away and she laughed gleefully. She laughed until her stomach hurt, and then she begged Rarity to stop shaking the wagon. Rarity began pulling her little sister around in circles again, all over their yard. Sweetie Belle had so much fun, and it almost made up for the fact that Rarity had missed her school play last night.

Almost.

Later that night, as Rarity was tucking Sweetie into bed, Sweetie Belle was reminded of that fact. She was snuggled into the covers, a soft pillow resting below her little head, and she gazed with wonder at her beautiful big sister. She was kind, interesting, and gorgeous. She was so lucky to have such a great big sister, and Rarity had proven herself before. That made apologies easier.

"I had a really great day..." Sweetie Belle yawned.

"Me too. Are you sure there's not another showing of your school play?" Rarity asked, just to be sure.

"No..." Sweetie Belle sighed, feeling disappointed all over again.

"I'm so sorry, darling," Rarity apologized once more, feeling her face flush with embarrassment. She had promised Sweetie Belle, and her cute little sister had played the lead role.

"It's okay, Rarity, but why weren't you there?" Sweetie Belle asked.

It was a good question.

***

Sweetie Belle was in bed, and Rarity's parents were in their bedroom. Rarity didn't know if they were asleep or not, but she didn't care. She stepped into the bathroom of the family's house and removed from the drawer a blue, short wig and gigantic purple glasses.

She had a gig tonight.

Rarity carefully pinned her gorgeous mane down flat on her head, careful to hide every purple strand. She covered it with the blue wig and looked in the mirror. She appeared to be an entirely different pony. The jaggedly cut blue strands were high quality, and it felt like a real mane was on her head. The lighter highlights were a fine touch, Rarity thought. Next she covered her tail with the same fake hair and pinned it carefully. Nobody could know of the fabulous tail hidden beneath. Finally, she covered her cutie mark with concealer, carefully drew a fake one on with eyeliner, and covered her sapphire eyes and brilliant lashes with gigantic purple glasses.

She was ready to roll! Vinyl Scratch ran down the hall, threw on a coat, and was out the door.

***

"I don't know about you, but I'm flying high!" Vinyl screamed. She didn't have to act refined or generous. Here she could be laid-back and as selfish as she wanted. She was the one in the spotlight, after all.

Vinyl Scratch tossed another vinyl record on, cranked up the volume, and laid back. The ponies were all dancing, and they loved her. The song was dark synthpop, exactly the kind of music no one expected ultra-poised Rarity to enjoy. All the excitement reminded her of when she was just a young thing and she knew how to party.

She was generous, alright. She knew how to throw a great party back in the day. So why should she stop now? Because she had a career to think about? Because she was grown up? Vinyl Scratch would not be stopped. She was too powerful, too cool.

"You're amazing!"

A clearly intoxicated mare neared Vinyl and kissed her promptly. Vinyl kissed back, hard. Unlike Rarity, she didn't have reservations. It was a sudden, passionate little affair; it smelled and tasted like sweet cider. When the kiss broke, Vinyl took a step back and looked up and down at her latest admirer. It was a sea-green mare with a slightly lighter mane and brilliant yellow eyes. A white streak ran through her hair, and Vinyl thought it added great flair.

"You're not bad yourself, cutie," Vinyl said smoothly, embracing the mare and kissing her again. She was soft and warm. The mare reached her hoof up, and crept it towards the glasses, preparing to remove them. Vinyl grabbed her hoof, and quickly shoved it away in a manner that was almost violent.

"Look babe, nobody touches the glasses," she said, and tossed another record onto her turntable. She smiled smugly, and dismissed the mare with a shake of her flank.

"Who do you think you even are?" the sea-green unicorn asked, clearly put off.

"Vinyl Scratch," she said simply, and continued her work by starting up another dark synthpop song.

I'm taking a ride with my best friend...

***

"Now where they hay is Rarity?" Applejack asked, scanning the auditorium around her. Pinkie Pie shrugged.

"I have no idea! I saw her earlier today, but I'm not sure where she is now!" Pinkie admitted.

"Isn't it strange that we're all here, but Rarity isn't?" Fluttershy said softly. The girls all nodded, and they'd arrived to support both Rarity and Sweetie Belle in their endeavors.

"Well, she made a promise. If she doesn't show up, she's going to personally offend me. So uncool," Rainbow Dash growled. She turned to look at her friends, who were all preoccupied by that time. Fluttershy was daydreaming, Applejack was still looking around for Rarity, Pinkie Pie was amazed by her own hooves, and Twilight Sparkle was engrossed by the program.

"Look Rainbow!" she cheered, pointing to the program, "There's Sweetie Belle! I like her bio, very well written. I wonder if she wrote that all by herself. Ha! She could have quite a career as an author, don't you think?"

"Sure," Dash sighed. The lights dimmed, and the stagelights lit up. Sweetie Belle was the first filly in Ponyville to read her poetry, and Rarity was missing it.

"See the stars, they're shining bright," Sweetie began, smiling as brightly as her description of stars, "Everything's alright tonight."

Rainbow Dash wished that everything was alright.

***

Rarity looked with shame at her little sister. It wasn't her fault! She'd simply watched the world pass her by, and she'd forgotten about Sweetie Belle's poetry recital.

"You keep doing this, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle whined, her lower lip quivering.

"I know, I know, but what more can I do? I apologized!" Rarity defended herself, ashamed but also frustrated.

"You could show up!" Sweetie Belle shouted, looking her big sister in the eye.

Rarity melted, the words striking her heart quickly. She sank to the floor and collapsed into a heap. She began to cry, sniffling and breathing in short huffs. Tears leaked from her eyes, and her nose began to run quickly. She could feel mascara already starting to drip down her face. Sweetie Belle sat down next to her sister, leaned over, and hugged her tightly. Rarity wondered if she could ever achieve redemption.

"Never let me down again," Sweetie Belle said softly to Rarity, embracing her warmly. Rarity swore in her heart that she wouldn't.