Chapter 11: First Light Shines

Music began building in the background, causing the audience to look around for a source. When none was found, they turned their attention to the stage and let the music rise. First Light came forward, dropping her cloak behind her and taking centre stage.
She took a deep breath. “W-When...” She coughed nervously. “When I wake up in the mornin', the sun rises up with me!” She shook slightly. There was no sound from the audience. Her heart sank, and she was overcome with an awkward feeling. Last time she had been in Ponyville, she had been so confident, and it was as if the music flowed from the very ground beneath her. The music was still there, but it seemed as if there was no spirit to it anymore.

Taking a deep breath, First Light was determined to continue with the act, no matter what. “When I'm walkin' down the street, everypony turns to see!” There was still no sound from the crowd. Her breath became heavy, and her heart beat heavy and fast in her little chest. First Light's eyes began to dart back and forth over the audience, looking for somepony, anypony who showed any sign of interest in her act. Her bottom lip began to quiver, as she almost panicked right then and there.

She thought to herself, I can't give up now. She did her best to steady her lip and continued almost immediately. “As problems come to town, I'm the best that there can be!”

The same, awkward silence fell over the crowd. As First Light's voice trailed off, the music which hung in the air seemed to falter slightly. First Light's cheeks flushed red as she looked hopelessly over the crowd. The silence was almost deafening. Suddenly, a few ponies remembered where they had heard this before, and joined in. “Best Pony, Best Pony! Best Pony, Best Pony!” The few who joined were enough to encourage First Light.

“In the evenin's when I sleep, when the night begins to creep. I see my bestie Luna, and help her raise the moon-a! 'Cause I'm-”

“Best Pony, Best Pony! Best Pony, Best Pony!” The ponies who had joined in were now smiling and getting into the song. A couple more joined in, while others were still sceptical. The music slowly died away and the crowd clapped. Some clapped politely, others were excitedly clapping and cheering.

First Light's face lit up like a candle. Her quivering lip turned into a wide grin from ear to ear as she took a quick bow to the audience. With not a second to spare, First Light adjusted her hat and quickly prepared herself for her next song.

She went on to near-expertly tell her bio to the crowd. First Light started with when she was born, the first Alicorn to be born in two thousand years. More amazingly, she was the link between the Pie's and the Apple's of Ponyville. She was raised at Sweet Apple Acres, becoming the best Apple-Bucker in the land. Best Pony had frequent play dates with Applejack and Pinkie Pie. While she was still young, she was quickly found by Celestia and taken in as her secret star pupil, before even Twilight Sparkle. Once she took on Twilight as her new student, Celestia discovered that there was no more for her to be taught, so Best Pony was sent out to learn all about everything in Equestria.

At that point, First Light sent sparks into the air in the shape of a map of Equestria.

While she was learning all about Equestria, she went to Cloudsdale, where she attended a camp for junior fliers. There, she met a young filly who she was able to teach her favourite aerobatic move to. The Sonic Rainboom.

First Light created a rainbow of sparks above the crowd as she let her words echo.

On the day of the big race, Best Pony went down to earth with Fluttershy, showing her how to expertly talk to animals.

Using magic, First Light made a flurry of butterflies spin around her.

After her stint with the animals, Best Pony took her time going around Equestria fighting evil dragons and helping ponies far and wide. Her reputation was legendary as the best sorceress in the country. That was where she met Trixie, somewhere along the road to victory, and the two of them became the best magical duo in the world!

As her story wound to a close, the crowd erupted into cheers. First Light blushed brightly, and took deep bows as her smile spread from ear to ear. The crowd slowly began to dissipate while First Light disappeared behind the curtains.

“That was AWESOME!” First Light squealed as she bounced around in the trailer after the show.

“You did great out there.” Trixie smiled as she watched First Light dancing around happily.

“Do you think so?” First Light asked, taking off her top hat. “Do you think they liked it?”

“No.” Trixie looked sternly at her. After a second, she cracked up. “I think they loved it!”

First Light squealed as she dropped onto the floor, rolling excitedly back and forth like a cat. She puffed her wings out, using them to cushion her as she lay on the hardwood floor. She stared at the ceiling, her eyes practically as starry as the sky itself.

“Hey...” First Light thought aloud. “Did you see... You know... Any of them out there?”

“Them who?” Trixie cocked her head, thinking for a moment. A look of realization crossed her face. “Oh... No, I didn't see any of them.”

“Oh.” First Light moped. “I wonder why not.”

“I dunno.” Trixie shrugged. “But did you see all of the ponies who were there? I haven't seen that many since... Well, since my first time here.”

First Light rolled her head back until her horn almost touched the ground so she could get a look at Trixie's face. Her face was a mixture of joy and sorrowful remembrance. First Light used her wing to roll herself over onto her belly and stood up.

“Something wrong?” Trixie asked as First Light pushed her hat back onto her head.

“I'm gonna go see where everpony is.” First Light replied, her mind still focused on where in the world the mane six could be. For some reason, it really bothered her, and she needed to know for sure why they had not been at the show. Sure, they had no idea that she was in town, but she had thought that all of the commotion would have attracted at least one of them.

As her hooves hit the cool ground of Ponyville, First Light felt the nostalgia as if for the first time again. The evening air was so familiar, and she took a deep breath of it before moving on to where she hoped she would find her friends.

Her first stop was at the Ponyville Library. She assumed that her best bet at finding answers quick would be the Library. All of the lights were off, and the sign on the door said 'closed'. Her ears drooped as her disappointment set in. Just as First Light was about to turn around and look for further answers, she noticed a piece of paper tacked to the door. Upon further inspection, First Light noticed that it read, “Out in Canterlot. Official business. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

First Light turned over the page and read six signatures on the back. A flowery signature was obviously Rarity's, a small one was definitely Fluttershy's, one was written very sharply, probably Rainbow Dash, a chicken-scratch was most likely Applejack's, Twilight's was most likely the one with a very official style, and one which stretched from one end of the page to the other and shakier than a camera held by a two-year old was definitely Pinkie Pie's.

Nodding slightly, First Light turned back to the trailer.