Who Your True Friends Are

Back at Regal's house, I looked through his window, just to check to see if he was still home, and I saw him sitting in his bedroom, looking like he was about to cry. I wondered why he could possibly be feeling upset, so I knocked on the door, but he didn't respond. I tried opening the door anyway, and it was unlocked.

I let myself in, and walked over to him. He noticed me standing in front of him, and asked me,

"How long have you been here?"

"I just got here. Anyway, what's the matter, Regal?"

"Well, I was practicing for the solo I wanted to play for you, and my drumsticks broke." He pointed toward the split drumsticks, and I saw what happened to them.

"Can't you just go to the music shop and get another pair?"

"No, I can't. The shop doesn't open until the day after the Summer Sun Celebration." I found it strange that a music shop would close for such an occasion, when fanfare is a prominent part of the event.

"Have you tried using your magic to fix them?"

"Yeah, but I didn't have any luck. My magic is better suited for playing musical instruments, rather than fixing them." I was out of ideas for how I could help him, until the same familiar voice beckoned to me,

"Magic." I wondered if this voice was the same one that convinced me to get Aqua Flare to perform his comedy routine. I thought it made sense, since Aqua Flare seemed to awaken as an element after I enjoyed his jokes. I looked back at Regal, and said,

"Regal Shadows, I think your magic is stronger than you believe it to be. Try fixing the drumsticks again." He didn't seem very sure of himself, but it looked like he was out of ideas, so he got up, looked at the sticks, and his horn started glowing. The stick pieces rose, and came together, but they fell back apart.

"See, it's hopeless." I wasn't about to let him give up. We both agreed that he would give me an impressive drum solo, and I wasn't about to let him make a liar out of either of us.

"Try again, but with more feeling. I know you can do it. Plus, you told me you're proud of your species, so show me that a unicorn like yourself can do this simple task." Regal nodded, and tried it again. This time he concentrated more on the broken sticks. I tried to help by imagining myself using magic. Sure I'm an earth pony, but at this point he could use all the support he could get. This time, I heard the sticks fuse together. As his horn stopped glowing, the sticks dropped back down. This time, each stayed in one piece. Both of us were ecstatic.

"Well, now that this problem has been solved, how about I give you that solo I promised?"

"I thought you'd never ask!"

We both headed to the living room, and Regal took a seat by his drum set. I stomped my front hooves to act like a metronome, and as he got started, it was intense right off the bat. As I observed his skills, I couldn't help but imagine Paralyzed by As I Lay Dying in my head. Suddenly, Regal started giving off a magenta aura all around him, and as he used his magic for the big finish, his eyes gave off a rainbow glow. Regal then fell unconscious, just like Aqua Flare did. I immediately leapt towards him, and checked his pulse. He was still alive. He opened his eyes after a few minutes, and asked,

"Ugh, what happened to me?" I responded,

"How about the best drum solo I have ever heard?" It had happened. The second of our elements had awakened. Regal then asked me,

"Say, what's that sword you have on your back for?" I had totally forgotten that I was supposed to bring this sword back to Sabre as soon as I could. I was relieved that I still had it with me, and I replied to Regal,

"About that, I need to get going. A certain somepony is expecting me to get this sword to him. That was an amazing performance, Regal, and I'd be glad to watch you play another solo sometime, but for now I have to go."

"Oh. Well then get going, Source!" I waved goodbye, and left his house. As I got back on the road, I saw that there was a hot air balloon waiting there a few houses away. I ran towards it, hopped in, and untied the rope from its post. I was airborne.