On The Wings of Wind

In the Carousel Boutique one late afternoon, Burst Mic was heading into his girlfriend's workroom with a cup of tea to help keep her focused. Knocking on the door he hears her tiredly say, "Come in."

Entering the room, Burst was saddened to see his girlfriend stressed out to this degree. "Rarity, you sound dead on your hooves. Is Sapphire Shores' order really that stressful for you?"

Receiving her cup from Burst, Rarity lets out a sigh. "Not normally, no. But... my little sister pleaded me to help her with costumes as well and... it's been an experience if nothing else..."

"While it is good of you to help your family, I don't want you giving too much of yourself when you have so little to give at the moment." Rarity was about to say something when he raises a hoof to stop her. "I say this both as a fellow artist... and as a worried boyfriend. Stretching yourself so thin helps nopony, least of all yourself."

Rarity lets out another sigh. "I... I know that... but I would feel even worse if I..."

After a moment of silence, Burst shakes his head. "I suppose this is another part of the reason why I fell in love with you: your work ethic and willingness to help. Very well, if stretching yourself too thin is the issue, then let me help add extra 'material' to work with." He winks at the word-play.

"I really appreciate the offer, but do you have an idea of how you'll help?" Rarity really did want the extra help, but she wanted to make sure her boyfriend knew what he was getting into.

"You forgot I had dipped my hoof into your world at Manehattan?" Burst chuckles at Rarity's blush. "I tease, but all the same I do have an idea. Plus, I can handle the more auxiliary tasks and imprecise work so you can focus on the finer details. I am a band leader after all, I can handle such things."

There was a moment of silence before Rarity smiles coyly at Burst. "You say I'm a mare of many talents, but you are a stallion of many talents as well. Thank you so much for your help, can I ask you to get started right away?"

"It would be a pleasure, my lady." That earned Burst a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, where are the costumes?!"

Cheerilee was antsy on the day of Sweetie Belle's performance with the late costumes being part of the reason. Scootaloo was more impatient than worried. "Where IS Rarity? She's not usually like this. Big bro always said she does her best to be punctual... whatever that means, unless she's held up or distracted."

Applebloom had a thought and glanced at Sweetie Belle with a flat look. "Sweetie Belle... please tell me you requested the costumes weeks ago?"

"I-I would have, but with everything today, I wanted to do as much myself as I could and that included the costumes. I really, REALLY wanted this to be my time to shine by doing as much of it myself! Is that so much to ask for?"

"Selfishness is unbecoming of an actress, Sweetie Belle." Everypony in the room gave a start as Burst walked in with the costumes. "Here you go, your sister worked herself to the bone to get these ready on time. All we ask is that you do your best."

Sweetie Belle beams at Burst. "Thank you! But... where's Rarity?"

"I had to convince her to sleep before it started affecting her work too much. I'll be watching in her place, even though we're more strangers than family." Burst smiles at the filly.

"Costumes, everypony!" Cheerilee said that out in a panic.

Applebloom shook her head. "Let's just do our best, okay?" Her friends agree with confident smiles.

The play went off without a hitch which earned a standing ovation from the audience. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, especially Sweetie Belle, were ecstatic that it was so well received. Going out into the lobby, Scootaloo noted that, while Zephyr was there, Rainbow Dash wasn't. "Huh, aren't we missing some ponies?"

"Rarity dropped by to request their help in finishing and packing a major order. She also asked me to apologize to Sweetie Belle for needing to sleep through her play." Zephyr got a curious look as Big Mac approached. "Actually... Burst looks tired too."

"Because I was helping Rarity with the costumes late into the night." Burst answered as he sipped a highly caffeinated tea to keep himself awake. "Mostly taking the burden of the smaller stuff off her shoulders and prepping materials for use."

Spike beams at Burst. "Thanks for helping her! Anyways, the show was great, you three! I'll grab some punch for you, so wind down for now!"

Sweetie Belle looks at the older stallions expectantly. "So how did you like the play? The directing--"

"Er... sorry, was paying too much attention to Scoots to really focus in on the finer details."

"Big Bro, stop it!" Scootaloo bats her brother in the leg with a blush.

Zephyr chuckles at the reaction. "Sorry, the big brother bias is way too real. I'm sure Big Mac feels the same with Applebloom."

"Eeyup!"

That made Sweetie Belle roll her eyes, but she was willing to let it slide. "What about you, Burst? Since you're technically an unrelated party, what did you like about it?"

"... Do you want the truth or do you want me to lie to you?" Zephyr widened his eyes at that, knowing what was coming.

"Er, the truth?"

Burst let out a sigh. " Before I begin, how many plays have you made?"

"This is the first one I've managed to do almost everything in, including script writing, directing, and acting!"

"Hmm, I can adjust what I'm about to say then." Shaking his head, he levels a flat look at Sweetie Belle. "The direction was fine for a first timer, though you could use some general improvements... I'll hold off on the finer details for now. The acting, you could do with less stiff motions and actions because you looked like wooden puppets rather than actors. Scootaloo was the only one who looked natural at it." The sudden praise threw the Pegasus filly for a loop.

"As for the script... while you saying the lines was actually rather perfect, it was clear the script itself was holding you back. Too much fluff and repeating words, even for the style you were going for." Burst decided to hold off one tidbit for now by saying, "Ask around for more opinions, then I'll finish up what I was going to say."

Sweetie Belle looked nervous before doing so. She quickly switched to aggravation when the rest of the adults mostly praised the costumes. Returning to burst, she glares at him. "Let me guess, you were going to say the costumes were oh-so perfect--"

"Watch the tone, young lady." Sweetie Belle flinched at Burst's more stern voice, but didn't leave off the glare. "The costumes were actually what boosted your play and made it enjoyable for the audience. Ignoring my bias since I helped make them, I'm pretty confident in saying that a good chunk of your audience would've left mid-performance had they not been so well done."

The implications of Burst's words flew over Sweetie Belle's head as she clenched her teeth in frustration before storming out. Zephyr watched the scene and it reminded him of something. "Big Mac, wasn't there a story about a "Green-eyed Monster" that gets summoned by jealousy?"

Big Mac, while not knowing the story, still froze with a shocked expression. "Nnope!"

"Huh... I could've sworn I heard it as a colt. Gave me nightmares, I know that much." Scootaloo and Applebloom look at each other with worry. Burst knew what the Falconite was referring to and decided to head out as well.

At the Boutique, Sweetie Belle was reaming out Rarity for making the costumes "too perfect" to the point of overshadowing her play. Rarity, for her part, was baffled and concerned over her sister being so upset. When the filly brought up her fifth birthday party as an example, it only served to confuse the older sister. "Don't act like you don't remember. Or are you trying to prove you're a better actress than me too?!"

"I figured this is where you went." Burst entered the room with a level glare on his face. "Jealousy is not a good look for you, Sweetie Belle. Now sit down so we can discuss this properly."

"Of course you're just going to take my sister's side for--"

"Sit. Down." Sweetie Belle felt a massive shiver run down her spine at Burst's tone as she promptly sat on the floor. "Good, now let's start from the beginning. Why ARE you getting on your sister's case when she wasn't even there for your play?"

The filly's aggravation returned in full force. "WHY?! Because the costumes SHE made stole the show completely! That was supposed to be my time to shine-- to prove myself, yet once again Rarity just steals the spotlight!"

Burst's glare did not lessen. "You want to know why the costumes stole the spotlight? Because the rest of your 'play' was inherently selfish. You put it on to stroke your own ego, never giving what the audience or even your fellow actors might think a single thought."

"You're just saying that because-"

"Don't talk when I'm not done, young lady." Even Rarity was getting thrown off by Burst's unnaturally visceral tone. "Yes, I did help work on the costumes. So what? The reason they outshone the rest of your play was because they were made without any of the selfishness infecting it. Your sister was already working on a major order beforehoof, yet out of the generosity of her heart, she took your commission despite the setbacks it caused her. That is why I said they salvaged your play."

"You weren't there to see everything I had to put up with all WEEK! Try finding a 'specific' red when they're all RED!"

"... Firstly, you clearly haven't been exposed to just how harsh the fashion industry can be, as such 'differences' can and will be scrutinized. The criticisms I gave you both earlier and now are delicate flowers compared to the razor sharp thorns fashion critics have. Secondly, what do you think I went through last night?" Burst shoots a wry smile at Rarity, who pouts at him indignantly.

Sweetie Belle, unable to get over the whole thing, rolled her eyes. "Can I go now? I want to go suffer in peace."

"Alright, since keeping you like this would be detrimental I guess we're done for today. Make sure you think on it... and don't do something you'll regret." With that Sweetie Belle leaves the room in a huff, which made Burst look at Rarity. "I hate to say it, but make sure you keep all your orders under lock-and-key to be safe. Foals tend to do drastic things when they're emotional like this."

Rarity looks at Burst with worry. "You seem... too familiar with what's going on right now. I've never heard you so upset like this."

"Let's just say... I've been there before and my regrets, though well-hidden, still linger in my heart."

While sleep didn't come easy to Sweetie Belle, the chill Burst gave her earlier did cool her temper enough to allow the filly to drift into dreamland. Sadly, it was a nightmare where a cloud bearing her sister's face ruined everything she had going as it tried to strike her down. Luna, having sensed the nightmare in progress, managed to eliminate it.

Acknowledging the filly's frustrations, Luna decided to explore it by bringing Sweetie Belle back to the fifth birthday party she tried to use against Rarity earlier. Both from her perspective and from Rarity's perspective, which blindsided her. What really threw her off, outside of the random dolphin imagery, was when she was shown Rarity's memory of just before she fell asleep. "S-should I helm the cloaks now or wait until Canterlot?"

"There's pros and cons to both... but I'd say do it after a good night's rest at the least."

"Oh right, Burst was here as well." Sweetie Belle looks at her sister's boyfriend, still somewhat shaken by how he acted earlier.

It was clear memory Rarity was as well because she gave him a worried look. "Burst... are you still thinking about..?"

"I... will admit, maybe I was being a bit too harsh on your sister so soon after the play. But if she intends to get into the performance arts, she needs to let go of her more selfish idealizations of what they are one day. While I would say the sooner the better... no, perhaps I'm not giving her enough credit."

Sweetie Belle didn't know what to say to that so Luna did for her. "He wasn't trying to be mean-spirited or preachy when he lectured you earlier." The filly sighed, only to lock up when she noticed Burst looking right at the two in the frozen memory, which made Luna shake her head. "Burst, please refrain from that."

Burst chuckled as he separated from his place in the memory. "My apologies, your highness, but thank you for at least showing Sweetie Belle that I genuinely meant no ill-will."

"Wha-- I thought this was my dream?!"

Luna smiles at Sweetie Belle. "In a way it is, but in the dreamworld, sometimes 'dream bubbles' can collide and mix. What you're witnessing this time isn't your sister's memory, but Burst's."

"As for my familiarity with Princess Luna, it's due in part to me being a full-on lucid dreamer: somepony always in control of their dreams. She often requests help either from me or other lucid dreamers in dealing with more... 'touchy' or 'fragile' dreamscapes." Burst shakes his head. "But I guess this time she's here to help the both of us..."

"Were... you having a nightmare, Burst?" Sweetie Belle quickly connected the dots. "There's no way you being here isn't relevant to my nightmare."

There was a pause before Burst's face turned into a painful and distant stare. "Because... you and I are more alike in this than you think..."

"When I saw the nightmare Burst was trying to stomp down, I helped dispel it by offering him the chance to share it with you." Luna's horn lights up and Burst's dream figure glowed a bit. "There, you are free to shape your dreamscape now. Though I intended to show her a potential future with her jealousy..."

Burst nodded at that. "It would be better if she had a more... 'real' example. Thank you, Princess Luna, I'll take it from here." Luna nods and vanishes into the now exposed moon. "Now before we start I can see a particular question gnawing at you, Sweetie Belle. What is it?"

"Well... Princess Luna mentioned 'showing me a potential future'. What did she mean by that?"

"Tell me and tell me true. Did the thought of sabotaging Rarity's work cross your mind?" Burst didn't need the verbal answer because Sweetie Belle's body language told him enough. "What she originally wanted to show you was a potential 'what-if' future if you went through with it. However, I offered to use my past... as a warning for your future, that my mistakes will never be made by anypony else. Are you ready?"

Sweetie Belle could feel the pain in Burst's heart, which made her scared. However, she wanted to see just why his reaction yesterday was so visceral. "I'm ready. I just hope it won't be too bad..."

"Sometimes reality can be worse than any nightmare... because you can never wake from it." With a glow from his own horn, the scene shifted to a city Sweetie Belle never saw before. "Welcome to Vanhoover, where I once lived. I was born and raised between my parents and my older brother."

"You had an older brother?!"

"Not even my band knows... because I wanted to leave my past behind, which you'll see why later." Burst brings the scene to a rewards ceremony for "Best Actor". While the rest of the ponies were greyed out, four were in color: A much younger Burst, a Mare and a Stallion who was his presumed parents, and a grey stallion with blond mane and tail on the stage.

"We knew Superb Act could do it!"

The younger Burst smiles at his older brother. "Maybe one day I can join him on the stage!"

"You still got a long ways to go before that. Perhaps consider getting your Cutie Mark first." Burst's father grunted in irritation. "Seriously, your brother got his when he was one year younger than you. What the hay is taking you so long?"

"Some ponies just grow up slower. A pity, too." The words from Burst's mother offered no comfort.

"That was... how my parents were. My brother, Superb Act, was a performance prodigy which was reflected in his Cutie Mark. Despite his youth, many productions wanted his talent with some even saying that merely having him show up is good for business."

Sweetie Belle glares at Burst's parents. "Let me guess, they constantly compared you to him?"

"Bulls-eye. Once he had a bout with success, they started seeing him as the golden foal... and me as the laggard who needs to try harder." Burst let out a sigh as he played a few other scenes, including:

-Getting his Cutie Mark, which represented his voice control, affinity for heat-based magic, and 'explosive' movement. His parents were unimpressed.

-Trying to get into performance arts himself, only to be stuck as a 'niche actor' in the industry which earned more ridicule.

-An attempt at getting advice from his brother. The only piece Burst got was "try harder, some ponies just aren't cut out for it".

As those and more played out, Sweetie Belle could see why Burst was chosen by Luna for what she was going through. "Your experiences... are just like mine..."

"To a point, yes. One day, I had enough and was consumed by hatred and jealousy towards Superb Act, who I saw as the one who ruined my career before it even began. Any attempt at trying to connect with him I felt was met with emotionless annoyance at best and dismissal of my attempts at worst." Burst looked sick as he shifted the scene again. "When... I finally had enough, I was old enough to strike out on my own... and the day after I announced my intent to move, I struck.

"There was an important screening for a major film that was said to be by somepony super important. If you got a role of some kind in it, you were basically set for your career."

"W-wait... don't tell me..."

Burst's sick look was replaced by sheer regret. "Superb Act had a copy of the script he was supposed to use... and an important prop for the screening. I managed to modify the script to be horribly off in a few places... and subtly damaged the prop so that it would fall apart once used. Right after I did that and before he left for the screening, I moved to Manehattan to try and make a name for myself."

"I... I remember Rarity mentioning a huge scandal involving a 'prodigy being exposed as a fake' due to how he flubbed his lines so badly and didn't properly take care of his designated prop..." Sweetie Belle, despite only being around five at the time, remembered the news. While Rarity wasn't into actors at the time due to her focusing on her own career, it didn't help her more neurotic side.

"It was... my brother who was ousted... had his entire life destroyed... by my petty act of jealousy. He may have acted cold with me, but he never once demeaned me and his criticisms of my acting, while brutally honest, were his own way of trying to push me to do better. And what did I repay him with? A destroyed dream and an inability to ever grace the stage again..."

"Wh-where's your brother now?"

Burst slowly shakes his head. "Nopony knows. Not long after it happened, he vanished from Equestria's surface, never to be seen again. The day I realized the weight of my actions... I couldn't face myself and abandoned my own dreams of acting. I was scouted by the previous band leader for Three Night's Grace as a back-up singer and bassist. It suited me just fine.

"I never wanted to be center stage or in the main spotlight ever again. I didn't deserve it... not after I had become a 'Green-eyed Monster'." Burst looks at Sweetie Belle. "This is why I was so stern with you yesterday. I didn't want you making the same mistakes I did. Not because Rarity is my girlfriend... but because SHE'S your sister."

Sweetie Belle looked close to crying as she hugged Burst. "I'm... I'm so sorry for doing this to you..."

"I'm not the one you should apologize to... though I do genuinely appreciate the gesture. No, you should apologize to your sister and be clear with your insecurity surrounding her 'stealing your spotlight'. Please... for your sake as well as hers. I... already failed with helping Zephyr during his fallout with his friends and I don't think my heart can take a third hit like this..."

"About that..." Luna reappeared in the dream with a worried look. "I'm glad you two were able to reconcile, but I was monitoring the dreamscape and I saw something concerning. I haven't identified the dreamer, they woke up before I could, but the dream had laid out plans for sabotaging Rarity by destroying the headdress en-rout to Sapphire Shores."

"WHAT?!" Both Sweetie Belle and Burst were shocked and appalled by the news.

Luna grimaced at another detail. "Also, you two have been at this long enough... that she's already left Ponyville on the train. I will wake you up now!"

Sweetie Belle woke up with a cry of shock before rushing to her sister's room, confirming that she already left. When she rushed outside, Burst was there as well who quickly knew what the filly was going to say. "It's true... shoot! See if you can get assistance from Zephyr or Rainbow Dash, their speed might be our only option! I'll go in and pack your saddle bags with everything Rarity will need if the headdress really does get sabotaged!"

"I won't be able to run that fast-- hang on, I don't have to do this by myself!" Sweetie Belle noted Big Mac passing by and ran up to him. "Big Mac, I need Rainbow Dash or Zephyr immediately! This is urgent!" Big Mac was surprised, but nodded and rushed off.

When Burst came out holding Sweetie Belle's saddle bags in his magic, Rainbow Dash made a landing nearby. "I was told Sweetie Belle needed me?"

"Perfect! You need to take her and try to find the Manehattan-bound train from Centerlot with all due haste! Sweetie Belle can explain on the way!"

Rainbow noted the panic as Burst managed to quickly put the saddle bags onto the filly. "Consider it done! Ready for a wild ride, kid?"

"No, but I need to bear with it for my sister!" That got a smirk as Rainbow took off at high speeds, with a cry of surprise from Sweetie Belle. Burst prayed to Luna that she would make it in time to not only fix the headdress before giving it to Sapphire Shores, but also that Sweetie Belle would come clean about her insecurities. All I can do... is hope now...

Burst was resting in his own home a few days after the incident. According to Rarity, Sweetie Belle was launched into her car by Rainbow Dash which was quite the fright. After tearfully apologizing for losing her temper with her sister, the filly managed to warn Rarity of the danger of sabotage. While it was too late to prevent it they were able to quickly fix the headdress, with the added dolphin flourish, before they went to Sapphire Shore's studio.

When he recalled the time Sweetie Belle properly aired her insecurities with him by their side, Burst smiled with a slight amount of pain. While the two sisters reconciling did warm his heart, it also caused a pang of regret that he did his best not to show. That bridge has been burned for so long... all I can do is make sure others don't do the same.

There was a knock on the door, jarring him out of his thoughts. Wondering who would need him, he answers it. "Yes, may I help-- It... it can't be..."

Standing at the entrance was the grey and blond stallion he had shown Sweetie Belle in the shared dream. "So you were here... just like she said..."

"S-Superb..."

"I know what you're thinking, Burst. You forget I was the one who taught you how to hide your emotions while acting... though it's clear you've gotten better at it." Superb takes his glasses off, revealing orange eyes. "You think I hate you. That I despise you for ruining my career so long ago."

"Isn't... that what I did?" Burst looked away with a pained look. "What I did was inexcusable and I don't blame you for hating me. But then... why are you here?"

Superb observes at his little brother for a bit before nodding. "I came here... to forgive you." Burst gives him a shocked look. "Startling news, I know, and I'd be lying if I said there isn't a hint of bitterness towards you for what you did. But perhaps I should explain myself." He wanders into a stunned Burst's house and clears his throat.

"When your sabotage destroyed my career, certainly I had a feeling who did it and I was resentful. But when our parents disowned me for ultimately failing them, it was then I realized just why you lashed out like that. I at least had my 'natural' talent and the fleeting support of our parents. You, on the other hoof, only had hard work and a dream with everything punching down on you to make sure you couldn't succeed.

"The moment I could no longer rely on my natural talent or their support, I realized I had nothing. All the rewards I had gotten for acting were... worthless in the end, nothing but bragging rights when I didn't care for it even before then. My anger at you slowly diminished to bitter understanding... and that's when I made the decision." Superb looks at Burst.

"Former prodigy actor, Superb Act, chooses death. That was the message I left behind as I wandered Equestria under a different name, Fine Direction. It was under that new name that I eventually found a new calling in life: directing. I started with directing plays for foals... and it was in their reactions that I realized why my acting never felt... fulfilling. I was always "playing a role" for those who expected as much from me, yet foals never have that expectation."

Burst couldn't help but chuckle despite the pressure on his heart. "Foals do have very honest reactions and tend to speak without filter."

"And it was that innocence that taught me what it truly meant to be in the entertainment world." Superb allows himself a small smile. "Eventually, it was what led to the creation of 'Hinny of the Hills'."

"So it was you who created that... for some reason, that was one show I could not only stomach, but... found it nostalgic."

"Recently, I met the mare my costume designer constantly praised and she was with her little sister. In truth, you were the second pony to call me by my original name recently. Sweetie Belle was the first when she recognized me from your 'memory dreamscape'. And it was her who told me of your regret."

Burst gives Superb a worried look. "You already told me you came here to forgive me... why? I destroyed everything you worked towards."

"Because I know you, Burst, more than you realize. You always were hard on yourself and I never truly helped you back when the pressure was becoming too much. I came here to forgive you, not only to wash away what remains of my bitterness, but so you can move on from your regret and look towards the future. After all..."

Superb gives his little brother a knowing smirk. "You got yourself a beautiful girlfriend. Would be a shame if you couldn't forgive yourself enough to truly settle down with her, fearing your past would come to haunt you."

Burst could only do his best to hold back his tears. "I had... convinced myself that I would never hear those words..." Superb puts a foreleg around his shoulders. "Thank you... and I'm sorry I did that to you. I'm just glad to know you're still making the most of life."

"Fine Direction, there you are!" A fuchsia-colored mare with 3 smiling flowers as a Cutie Mark appeared at the door. "Glad to see you again! I guess this is your little brother you mentioned?"

"Indeed, Cheerilee. This is Burst Mic and... I owe my current career to him. But enough of that, you wanted to plan something for your foals at school? You do realized I'd only do this for my girlfriend?"

Cheerilee giggled. "That... and maybe spend some time with my boyfriend?" She bows to Burst with a smile. "Good to meet you, Burst!"

"You're... Sweetie Belle's teacher, no?"

"Right, you're dating her sister. Small world!" Cheerilee smiles at Fine Direction. "Shall we go?"

Fine Direction nods with his own smile. "After you, my dear. Good luck with your band, Burst. I think you really did find your own calling in life outside of acting." With that, the two leave Burst's house.

After a small while, Burst finally allowed himself a small smile as Luna watched over him from a distance, finally free of the guilt that plagued him. "Thank you... and thank you, Sweetie Belle..."