The CMC's Terrible Kindergarten Graduation

The children backstage had heard the screaming from where they stood, as the soundproofing spell was only meant to keep the noise backstage. When Mick and Pinkie came around the corner, they all shrunk back in fear. Mick looked to each of them and smirked.

"So, who wants to go next?" No answer came. "Oh what's wrong?" He looked back to the tank. "Ah, I see. Don't you worry your ugly little heads, I'm sure the rest of you will do better. And if not, well... I'm sure the Sea Ponies could use the company." He finished with a chuckle and strode over to Sweetie Belle. He looked down to her and asked, raising an eyebrow, "Have you gone yet?"

"N-n-no sir, not y-yet." She answered, shivering from how close he was. She noticed that instead of natural body heat that ponies gave off, Mick seemed to carry a coldness with him. "Well then, I do believe we have a volunteer, correct?" He eyed her, not really leaving the impression that she had much of a choice.

"Yes s-sir." Sweetie Belle mumbled as she began to make her way towards the stage. She cast a glance behind her to her friends, who returned it with a reassuring nod, but Sweetie could see past their smiles, she could see the worry for their friend, and she began to question how this happened in the first place. Why was Mick like this, why was he so... evil? She had asked herself this a lot more recently, and she could never find a reason. At times, Mick would actually seem to act pleasantly towards the children, but any hope for normality with him was soon squashed as he would return to his "normal" self shortly after. But she also noticed that in those moments where he seemed to be nicer, there was a tone of regret residing in his speech.

She wasn't sure why things had to be this way with him, but she didn't have any time to dwell on it at the moment. She stopped when she reached the edge of the curtain, waiting to be called to come out. Lavender, which had been busy with the kids all night, was still as energetic as ever, obviously oblivious to what was happening backstage. Lavender had been Mr. Dagger's assistant for the year of course, but he had always found a way to remove her from the scene just at the right time in order to carry out his acts of violence. She had never been there to see him lash out at the class, to see him unleash the rage that had haunted their dreams for so long now. It was no wonder why she was able to be so light hearted all of the time.

She reminded Sweetie of another pony with the same bubbly personality, or at least, so she thought. She couldn't figure out why Pinkie had gone along with Mick and help him do what they did to Diamond Tiara. Sure, she and her friends weren't exactly fond of the spoiled brat, but nopony deserved the fate she met. Sweetie Belle was broken out of her trance by a nudge on her shoulder.

"Come on Sweetie, it's your turn." Lavender said in her normal cheery tone. Sweetie Belle took a deep breath and stepped out onto stage. She did what everypony else before her did, give a short speech about what she experienced and how glad she was to be getting out of kindergarten. But then came the part she was most scared of messing up on, she had to sing. She had never sung in front of so many ponies, and when she did at all, it was in front of just the small class, or her sister. She wasn't sure she could perform in front of so many eyes, staring at her, gaining all of the attention of everypony there.

She stood there, unmoving, and started to breath heavily. She hadn't expected this many ponies at all, and now that she had all of their attention, she couldn't even open her mouth. As she stared back at the crowd, she saw her sister Rarity sitting with the rest of her friends. Rarity smiled at Sweetie Belle and mouthed the words.

"I believe in you Sweetie."

Sweetie smiled back at her sister and faced the rest of the crowd, ready to show them what she was capable of. Before she was about to start, she glanced behind her and sure enough, Mick was watching from the shadows as always. She started to worry about failing again, before she realized that more panic wouldn't help in her current situation.

She took a deep breath, and began to sing.

Youtube Video

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle

Life is a maze, and love is a riddle

I don't know where to go

Can't do it alone

I've tried, but I don't know why

As she continued to sing, she noticed that the crowd was filled with smiles, entranced by the filly's voice.

Slow it down, make it stop

Or else my heart is going to pop

Cause it's too much, yeah it's a lot

To be something I'm not

I'm a fool out of love

Cause I just can't get enough

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle

Life is a maze, and love is a riddle

I don't know where to go

Can't do it alone

I've tried, but I don't know why

At this point, Sweetie Belle had forgotten all about her fears she once had, only to find that a new feeling had invaded her soul, happiness. She couldn't explain it, but she felt as if this was where she belonged, on stage with a microphone. As if it had been what she was born to do.

I'm just a little girl lost in the moment

I'm so scared but I don't show it

I can't figure it out

It's bringing me down

I know, I've got to let it go

And just enjoy the show

The sun is hot in the sky

Just like a giant spotlight

The people follow the signs

And synchronize in time

It's a joke, nobody knows

They got a ticket to the show

Yeah

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle

Life is a maze, and love is a riddle

I don't know where to go

Can't do it alone

I've tried, and I don't know why

I'm just a little girl lost in the moment

I'm so scared but I don't show it

I can't figure it out

It's bringing me down

I know, I've got to let it go

And just enjoy the show

Just enjoy the show

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle

Life is a maze, and love is a riddle

I don't know where to go

Can't do it alone

I've tried, but I don't know why

I'm just a little girl lost in the moment

I'm so scared but I don't show it

I can't figure it out

It's bringing me down

I know, I've got to let it go

And just enjoy the show

Dum De Dum, Duh Dum De Dum

Just enjoy the show

Duh Dum De Dum, Duh Dum De Dum

Just enjoy the show

I want my money back

I want my money back

I want my money back

Just enjoy the show

I want my money back

I want my money back

I want my money back

As she finished the last of the song, the crowd erupted into cheers, and then, all at once, gasped as a bright light flashed. Sweetie cocked her head to the side, wondering what they were all looking at, and then she heard more gasps from behind her. She turned to see what was happening behind her and saw Applebloom and Scootaloo standing there, mouths agape. "What is everypony staring at?" She asked, worried she had done something wrong, until Applebloom pointed to Sweetie Belle's flank.

"Huh? What are you-" She looked to her flank and added to the collection of gasps that had been started, as she gazed upon a heart with a microphone swirling around it. She couldn't believe it, she got her cutie mark! She couldn't wait to show her older sister, quite literally, as she turned to scan the crowd for her. But as she did, she really wished Rarity wasn't here, because she was trotting towards backstage, winking in Sweetie Belle's direction, coming to congratulate her sibling no doubt.

She glanced behind her once again, and saw that she wasn't the only pony to notice the incoming visitor. Mick glared at Sweetie Belle, before he walked backstage, preparing to meet his unwelcome guest. Panic began to flood Sweetie's mind as she realized what was about to happen. Her sister, the pony whom she had spent most of her life with, was about to come face to face with who she thought to be the most sadistic pony in Ponyville.

She didn't even want to think about what could happen if Rarity ran into Mick. Knowing him, it wouldn't be anything good. Then suddenly she remembered the tank, if Rarity saw that... She jolted off stage and ran to stop her sister, for if she saw what was backstage...

Mick would be sure to leave no witnesses.