For Whom The Bell Does Not Toll

by TundraStanza

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Other, Octavia, DJ P0N-3
Length: 4821

Having been fed up with ponies constantly mistaking her identity, Sun Glimmer decides to do the one thing that will make her stand apart from Rarity's sister: Sing a solo in front of a crowd. She might not have thought this through.

At first, the filly thought it was just Snips and Snails being Snips and Snails. However, some of the other ponies around Ponyville have started to make the same mistake, even when Sweetie Belle is in the exact same room just a couple yards away.
Well, Sun Glimmer has had it! She decides to take the most desperate action possible to show Equestria who she is. She's going to do the one thing that Sweetie Belle never had the guts to do: Sing at the next talent show.
Will the combined support of her sister and her musical tutor be enough to accomplish this task, or will she end up copying Sweetie Belle's stage fright?
---
The cover image is a (possibly permanent) placeholder until I can find a picture that captures Sun Glimmer's frustration and/or fear.
Rated "Teen" for a brief alcohol reference.
One-shot.
---
Edit: Here are the other two fics in which this interpretation of Sun Glimmer makes a cameo.
But... That's My Big Brother
Center of a Tootsie Flute

Published 2014-07-24 00:20:04 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-24 00:20:04 UTC

Not So Sweet

"Not this again!"

"Urgh! I've told those boys a thousand times. My name is Sun Glimmer. It doesn't even sound like Sweetie Belle. How can they possibly confuse the two?"

"I'm Sun Glimmer!"

"I'm Sun Glimmer... I'm Sun Glimmer..."

"Yo, Sun Glimmer!"

"Woah!" the filly yelped.

Tangled up in her blanket, she went rolling to the floor. Three rapid knocks were followed by the sound of her bedroom door opening. She squirmed around frantically, but the blanket wouldn't let her go. Suddenly, her blocked vision was engulfed by a cherry-colored light. Next thing Sun Glimmer knew, she was looking at the rather smug, white face of her big sister.

That sister chuckled. "Well, I can see that you and your invisible boyfriend are having a moment. If you want, I could come back later."

"That's so funny. I forgot to laugh." Sun deadpanned. Still, she hadn't forgotten who had just helped untie her from her otherwise immobile position. "Thanks, V."

"No problem, SG!" said V while keeping her enthusiastic smile. "Want a Pop-Sweet this morning?"

Sun shook her head. "No thanks. I'll just grab a Hay Bar and head in early today."

"Alright, suit yourself." V trotted out of the bedroom.

Sun Glimmer sighed and turned around. In a chartreuse aura, her blanket floated over before falling flatly onto her bed. Satisfied with how it was made, she turned around again to face her bedroom mirror. A smaller concentration of her magic pulled her hairbrush over. She proceeded to pull a few snags out of her mane before it took on her style more suited for a public appearance. Celestia only knew what would happen if Sun tried going out with her big sister's tactic of "all the bed hairs".

After brushing to her satisfaction, Sun Glimmer gathered her pack and books. A couple magical pulls secured her supplies. Nodding once at her preparations, she proceeded to step lively and exit her bedroom. As she passed through the dining area, V was sitting there munching a toasted Pop-Sweet. The big sister paused between bites to float over a partially unwrapped Hay Bar. Sun gladly accepted this into her own magic hold before taking a small bite.

"Have a good day," said V over a mouthful while waving a hoof.

"Sure will," said Sun with her own full mouth before trotting out of the house.

The filly arrived at school with plenty of time to spare. After dropping her bag next to her seat, she let out a yawn. She gently laid her head onto folded hooves on top of her desk. If luck was on her side, she could fit in a power nap before Ms. Cheerilee got started today.

"We're here!"

Luck was not on her side. Sun Glimmer's eyes snapped open when she heard the all too familiar colts' announcement of arrival. With the shenanigans that these particular boys would pull off before the bell rang, she wouldn't get a wink of extra sleep. She groaned at the inevitable noise that was about to blare.

"Oh, wowie! It's a flower cutie mark!" marveled Snips.

"Yeah!" cheered Snails. "Congratulations, Sw-!"

"If the next words out of your mouth sound remotely like 'Sweetie' or 'Belle', I can't be blamed for what I do to you two," hissed Sun Glimmer.

The young colts blinked in surprise. They then proceeded to slowly back away to their respective desks in the back of the classroom.

"Sheesh, Sweetie Belle sounds angry today," whispered Snips.

"Yeah," Snails whispered back, "You don't think the Crusaders are having another fight. Are they?"

The filly fought her tense muscles with some deep breaths. Quietly, she practiced Dad's old poem that he used instead of the calming method of counting to ten.

The sun shines. The sun does not. The sun shines. The sun does not. The sun shines. The sun does not.

"Um, Sun Glimmer?"

She let out a long, low exhale before looking up to the classmate in front of her.

"Yes, Tootsie Flute?" she responded.

"Well, I've been meaning to ask." Tootsie rubbed a hoof back and forth along her seat. "Do you... think that... Archer looks like a heavenly protector that glitters like pure water reflecting the gorgeous sky?" The words just tumbled out of her mouth.

Sun Glimmer blinked twice before raising an eyebrow. "Not really. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, um... no reason." Tootsie suddenly looked arbitrarily fascinated by the pencil resting on her desk.

Sometimes I worry about you, Tootsie, thought Sun Glimmer while shaking her head.

She turned in her homework at the front before latching her pack shut. Just as she was about to leave, she felt a hoof tapping her shoulder. When she turned to look, she had no idea how to react.

"Ready to do this, Sweetie Belle?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Uh, what's with the gigantic sunglasses?" Sun Glimmer asked back.

"What? I thought we were talking about that this morning." Apple Bloom tilted her head. She had to overcompensate her body by leaning the other way just to avoid falling over from the weight of the shades. "Don't tell me you forgot your own idea. Did you?"

A chartreuse aura surrounded Sun Glimmer's horn and the giant spectacles. She lifted them about three inches while staring deadpanned at Apple Bloom.

"Oops. Sorry, Sun Glimmer. I can't tell any colors apart through the sunglasses."

"Then why are you wearing them indoors?" Sun Glimmer asked flatly.

On the other side of Ms. Cheerilee's desk, Sweetie Belle exclaimed, "Scootaloo, watch out! You're going to hit the-!"

The other Crusader wearing shades tripped, sending crumpled paper balls everywhere.

"... waste basket," finished Sweetie.

"I'm okay... ow..." Scootaloo slowly picked herself up. Nearby, Cheerilee sighed sadly at another "benefit" of being a teacher.

"Maybe we should wait until the talent show to put these on," said Sweetie Belle as she rested her own pair of shades on her back.

"Aw, but that's not for three more weeks," complained Scootaloo, "I want to look cool right now!"

"You won't look cool if you break all your legs until they can't move," pointed out Apple Bloom as she copied Sweetie Belle's tactic of resting her sunglasses on her backside.

"Oh, alright," said Scootaloo with a reluctant sigh.

"Let's go practice the act itself," suggested Sweetie, "without the extra weight."

To that, Apple Bloom nodded fervently while Scootaloo slowly nodded once. With nothing left to be said, the Cutie Mark Crusaders scampered off to do whatever they did when no pony was supervising them.

I bet my sister would get a kick out of whatever those three have planned for the talent show, Sun Glimmer thought in amusement, if what they did last year was any indication.

"Hey, Glimmer!"

Sun Glimmer stopped in place as she turned in response to the colt's voice. The little brown pony was breathing pretty hard like he had run across town. He pulled off his hat to wipe away some sweat before putting it back on.

"The guys suggested you be our fourth for a game of Romario's Fiesta 3. You in?" he asked.

"Sure, Button," Sun answered with a nod. "I've got time."

"Cool!" Button exclaimed, "Let's get our game on!"

"What does that even mean?" asked Sun.

Button shrugged. "I don't know. I just heard some guy say it once and thought it sounded tight."

Before the filly could ask for specifics, another passerby caught sight of her and galloped over.

"Oh, good. I'm glad I found you." The mare sighed in relief.

"The mayor?" Button asked aloud. "What are you doing here?"

But the mayor completely ignored him and looked directly at Sun Glimmer. "I know that the next talent competition isn't for three weeks, but I need to call the fire insurance ponies early if the answer is yes. Are you three going to be using any electrical equipment or fireworks of any variety this time?"

"Three?" Button did a quick head count. "Um, Mayor? Unless you're counting yourself, there are only two of us here."

The mayor shook her head before acknowledging Button's existence. "I'm referring to Sweetie Belle here and the other two crusaders, of course."

"Huh?" Button tilted his head. "But Sweetie Belle is way over there." He pointed a hoof to the small, white unicorn trotting lively further up the path. She was tailing what looked like a busy argument between Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

When she looked, the mayor performed a double-take. "Oh! I... I'm sorry. I completely mistook you for... never mind." She galloped in the direction of the actual crusaders. She turned back to look at Sun Glimmer and Button one last time. "Have a safe day, children!"

"Sheesh, how weird," commented Button, "I wonder how the mayor made such a mistake." He looked over to Sun Glimmer, expecting some small agreement. However, the filly had gone completely silent and was looking down. "Uh, Glimmer? Are you in there?" He waved a hoof in front of her face.

Sun Glimmer suddenly shook her head out of a stupor. "Huh? Oh, right."

"What's tripping, girl?" Button asked in concern.

Sun sighed. "Hey, Button, can I get a rain check on Romario's Fiesta? I'm not really feeling in the mood."

Button blinked. "You sure?"

Sun nodded.

"Um, alright," said Button in uncertainty. "Later." He trotted off.

The filly shook her head to regain her composure.

"It's nothing, really," she told herself, "The mayor has more important things to remember than every pony's name and face, like announcement locations or where the princess is."

"Apt-foo!" Twilight Sparkle rubbed her nose in confusion.

The taffy store's door squeaked upon opening. Sun Glimmer slowly trotted over to the counter. The shop manager looked busy with something behind the scenes. So, the filly lifted her hoof and patted the bell.

*Ding!*

That got the manager's attention real quickly.

"Oh, hello there," said Bon Bon with a gentle smile, "I haven't seen you in a while, Sun Glimmer."

Strange, thought Sun Glimmer, Her voice sounds Canterlot-ish today. I thought she had a more Apple family twang.

"Hi, Ms. Bon," she said, "Do you have any truffle-berry mix today?"

"Sure do, youngster," affirmed Bon Bon as she reached into one of her candy piles. "Here you go."

Sun Glimmer grabbed the taffy in her mouth. Her magic pulled out a bit from her pack pocket. Bon Bon graciously accepted the payment and made the register sing.

"Thank you and a have a sweet day!" waved Bon Bon as she resumed her shuffling behind the counter.

Sun Glimmer took the still wrapped candy in her hand. "By the way, Ms. Bon."

"Hmm?" The manager turned around.

"By any chance, do you think I look like a certain somepony else?"

"Huh," muttered Bon Bon with a thoughtful stare. "Now that you mention it, your mane does kind of remind me of that one time Sweetie Belle put edible glitter in her mane." She shrugged. "But aside from that, you look like Sun Glimmer to me."

The filly nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Ms. Bon." She turned around and began the jaw-aching process of chewing uncooperative taffy.

"No problem, youngster," said Bon Bon. "Farewell."

It was about ten minutes later when Sun Glimmer felt that she had chewed as much flavor as she was going to get from the sticky rubber in her mouth. She spat into a nearby dumpster and continued on her way.

"Hey, how are you today, Sweetie Belle?"

Sun gave the passing stallion a weird look.

"Stay out of trouble, Cutie Mark Crusader."

She scoffed humorlessly at the mare that was watching her.

"Keep trying! You'll get there someday."

The upbeat sound of the jogging colt made her feel degrading instead of better.

"Sweetie Belle!"

Sun Glimmer looked around. Sweat began to drip from her pores.

"Sweetie Belle?"

Her ears flopped against her head, vainly trying to shut out the mistaken noise.

"Sweetie Belle!"

Sun Glimmer was on the verge of screaming as she galloped away from the calls.

"Hey, Sunny Glimmy!"

"What?!" the filly shouted just a few decibels short of Princess Luna's maximum volume.

Pinkie Pie literally leaned back, as if to avoid the force of air pressure.

"I was only saying, 'Hi'," she said with the best intention.

Sun blinked at her own outburst. She sighed before drooping her head to look at the ground.

"Hi, Ms. Pinkie," she greeted dejectedly while slowly trotting around the surprised pony.

"Was it something I said?" wondered Pinkie while scratching her head. "Hey! Wait up, Glimmy!"

Pinkie bounced backwards in front of the filly. Sun, however, kept to her slow pace.

"What's got you so downy-frowny?" asked Pinkie.

"Half of the town seems to think that I'm Sweetie Belle," Sun answered with a sigh.

"Well, that's silly!" Pinkie chuckled at the thought. "You're not Sweetie Belle. You're Sun Glimmer."

"I know." Sun groaned. "You know. My classmates know. Ms. Bon knows. Button knows. But the rest of the ponies that have seen me today immediately thought 'Sweetie Belle'."

"Huh? That doesn't sound like half of the town," Pinkie commented. "That sounds like an even larger portion... oh."

Pinkie scratched her chin and looked upward in thought. The look was out of place on her while she was constantly hopping backwards, but she still managed to hold it. Her head banged against a hanging lantern on one of the houses. Somehow, it instantly lit up without any fireflies or candles.

"Hey, I know!" she exclaimed. Her grin had returned. "Why don't you try doing something that Sweetie Belle won't?"

Sun Glimmer performed a dry spit-take. "What kind of idea is that? She does stuff with the Cutie Mark Crusaders all the time. Not to mention, she's getting magical lessons from Princess Twilight... from Princess Twilight! There's nothing I can do that she hasn't done already."

"Are you sure about that?" Pinkie Pie's smug look also looked out of place on a pony bouncing backwards.

Sun Glimmer looked at her with an eyebrow raised. "What? Do you know something that I don't?"

"A lot of things, actually," admitted Pinkie, "but let's focus on one of those things for now. Do you remember Sweetie Belle saying something about what she doesn't like to do?"

"Um..." The thoughtful look appeared much more appropriate on the slowly trotting filly. "There was that time where she yelled out at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon that she wouldn't be caught dead singing in front of a crowd. But she's already done that."

"But when?" asked Pinkie with a bit of an urging sense.

"At last year's talent show," answered Sun Glimmer. "The Crusaders were dressed up in these clashing colors and... wait. Hold on. It was Scootaloo that took the... lead... singing... role." Her eyes lit up with comprehension. "You mean that Sweetie Belle has never...?"

"Well, it was fun talking with you, Sunny Glimmy!" Pinkie Pie said enthusiastically before trotting forward the other way. "~La la la la la!~"

Sun stood there for the longest sixty seconds of her life. Right after that, her little hooves broke into a gallop.

V chugged three gulps from her bottle of Red Moon. She slammed it down loudly before letting out an equally loud belch. After that, she resumed her practice session of keeping the records spinning. Some ponies didn't like this mix of sounds, but she knew that this was real music.

~Love is in bloom (two hearts, two hearts)... Love... is in... bloom~

"Aw, yeah!" she whooped, "All the stallions will be tinkling their hind legs with how good these wubs are!"

"V..."

In spite of her amplifier being jacked up to eleven, V's ears perked upon hearing the whisper. She immediately muted her equipment and levitated her sunglasses a bit higher on her head.

"Hey, Sun Glimmer," she greeted, "Welcome home."

"Vinyl," said Sun at normal volume.

V tensed up ever so slightly. Her little sister rarely called her by that name. The last time she had heard it, Sun was contemplating the very real option of...

Vinyl sighed put on her serious smile. "What can I help you with, Sun Glimmer?"

"I need you to help me find a tutor," answered Sun.

"A tutor, huh?" Vinyl walked around her turntables to stand directly in front of her little sister. "What's the subject?"

"Music."

"Oh?"

Sun nodded. "I'm going to take part in this year's school talent show."

"Really? That's awesome!" Vinyl tapped her chin. "Wait, if you need musical guidance, why can't I be your teacher?"

Sun shook her head. "Your style is DJ-P0n3's. That's great and all, but I want to find a style that speaks more to me."

Vinyl closed her eyes. "Heh, yeah. I guess you can't really stand out if you try to be me."

"It would still mean a lot if you could help," Sun added for clarification.

Vinyl opened her eyes and nodded resolutely. "Alrighty then, SG." She levitated her purple shades to their proper place over her eyes. "Let's go see what musical talent Ponyville has to offer!"

For the next couple of days after school hours, Sun Glimmer and V searched the town. The billboard at town hall had some ads for potential teaching sessions. The sisters even passed by some ponies that were accepting donations into hats.

A stallion strummed his acoustic guitar. Sun Glimmer shook her head. A dressed-down mare conjured the sound of country to her fiddle. Again, Sun shook her head. A rather mesmerizing tune played from the lyre of a mint green mare.

"Let's hold that option as a backup," commented Sun before she and V moved on.

On the third day of searching, their ears caught the sound of a gentle, yet firm set of strings. They followed the sound all the way to a solitary hill in Ponyville Park. When she saw who was playing, V froze in place before attempting to backtrack.

"Maybe we shouldn't..." Vinyl trailed off.

"Come on, Sis!" called Sun who was still scampering toward the hill. Her voice gave Vinyl a reluctant reason to follow along. She quietly placed her sunglasses into her side inventory. She then proceeded to follow her sister toward the pony holding up a cello and bow.

"Wow, that sounds beautiful," commented Sun Glimmer.

The gray mare nearly jumped due to the interruption. She let her hoof with the bow fall to her side as she looked down.

"Oh!" she said from being startled, "H-Hello there. Was I playing too loud?"

Sun shook her head. "Not at all. I really liked that classical sound."

"Thank you," said the mare. She let out a cough. "Forgive me. I seem to have lost my composure. My name is Octavia."

"I'm Sun Glimmer," said Sun, "and this is my big sister." She turned to look beside her. When she noticed the empty hill space, she turned to look behind her. "Hey! What's taking you so long, V?"

"V?" echoed Octavia as she looked up to where Sun was addressing. She let out a gasp at the slowly approaching unicorn. Sun's big sister walked up the hill and sighed upon arrival.

"Ms. Scratch," said Octavia evenly.

"Octavia," said Vinyl waveringly.

Sun looked back and forth between the two. "You know each other?"

"In a strictly professional relationship." Octavia's eyes looked like they wanted to bore holes into something.

"Y-Yeah." Vinyl's irises shifted to the side. "Strictly professional."

"Did... something happen?" wondered Sun.

"Never mind that," insisted Vinyl with a dismissive wave of her hoof. "Didn't you want to ask the nice mare something important?"

"Oh, right!" Sun snapped her attention to the cellist. "Ms. Octavia, could you please be my music tutor?"

Octavia's silent frustration shifted to surprise. "W-Well, I guess I could provide my services. But, why me?"

"Because something in your music spoke the loudest to me," said Sun, "I need that kind of resonance to know that I stand apart from Sweetie Belle in the school's talent show."

"And who is this Sweetie Belle?" inquired Octavia.

Vinyl popped in. "A lot of ponies have been confusing my little sister for one of her classmates."

"If I can figure out my own identity," continued Sun, "I can at least start treading a path that doesn't constantly intertwine with Sweetie Belle's shadow." She patted a hoof against her chest. "I'm sure that the key rests somewhere in the way of the song."

Hmm, those intentions sound disturbingly familiar, thought Octavia, Still...

She nodded. "Okay, Sun Glimmer. I will do my best to help you." She held her bow (the stringed stick) off to her side while she dipped her head politely.

"Really?" Sun Glimmer looked up. Her eyes were lit up with hope.

"As long as you put forth your best efforts as well," added Octavia.

"Mm-hm!" Sun nodded vigorously. "You won't regret this, Ms. Octavia!"

Vinyl took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Let's start with a basic progression," said Octavia in a directing manner.

*Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!*

~If it's class you're looking for

Well, you've come to the right place

DJ P0n3, can't you see

Please stick around so you can watch your sister's pace~

"You're about an eighth of a sharp too high," commented Octavia. "Let's try to make these little adjustments."

~So put down that record

And keep track of that front row

Trying to hold back those tears

When you think about that bow~

Days passed by as Sun Glimmer's singing melody came closer in sync to that of Octavia's cello harmony.

~When you jump out of that gutter

Don't just chug another glass

A little fancy is no problem

To look for that class

Oh, for that class~

The night of the annual school talent show arrived. With it came the time for each of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to wear the most oversized sunglasses possible that they could still wear while moving. Sweetie Belle was having fun whacking a drum over and over. Apple Bloom was karate chopping her hoof to the beat. That left Scootaloo with the center stage job.

"Wonderbolts, yeah! Wonderbolts, unh!" Scootaloo shouted. "Wonderbolts, yeah! Wonderbolts, unh! That is our rapping history of the Wonderbolts!"

She dropped her microphone for an extra factor of coolness. All three of the fillies trotted off stage to leave in their prime. One of the curtains got in Scootaloo's way, but she ~~tripped~~ shrugged it off like it was nothing. The audience, however, was not so resolute. Aside from some stray chuckles, no pony said anything. Applejack pulled her hat down. Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her neck. Rarity caused her scarf to double as a blindfold.

"Thank you, Cutie Mark Crusaders for... whatever that was," said Cheerilee. "Now, please give a motivating round of applause for Tootsie Flute's 'Ode to an Arrow'."

As Tootsie Flute scampered up to take the stage, another filly was shaking in her little horseshoes. Octavia was busy applying rosin to her bow string, to prepare for her backstage accompaniment. That left Vinyl to take care of the moral support.

"I had no idea so many ponies would show up," said Sun Glimmer in worry. "I mean, I know I wanted most of them to see me as me, but I thought this town was a lot smaller. What if I mess up? I don't want them to remember me only because of a slip. I'd gladly take being called Sweetie Belle over a screw-up!"

"Sun Glimmer!"

Vinyl magically shoved a glass of water up to Sun's lips. Slowly, the little sister gulped down the liquid.

"Look at me," requested Vinyl. Sun's gaze turned to her with trepidation. Vinyl pulled the glass away.

"If you're nervous about singing to this crowd, then don't sing to this crowd."

"W-What?" stammered Sun.

"No, I'm not telling you to give up." Vinyl shook her head. "Just... find a few friends and sing for them. You can handle singing for your friends." She smiled lightly. "Right, Little Sis?"

After a moment of hesitation, Sun's lips mirrored her big sister's.

"R-Right," she replied with a nod.

"And now for her first time," introduced Cheerile, "please welcome to the stage... Sun Glimmer!"

Hooves stamped on the ground as a spotlight shone on the blonde filly standing dead center. She took a couple deep breaths. Looking around, she saw a few faces that she held dear to her.

"Find a few friends and sing for them. You can handle singing for your friends. Right, Little Sis?"

She heard the cello backstage playing through the chorus once before finding her voice.

~I'm on the stage

And I hear the whispers in the day, oh

"Is that the bell of sugarplums?"

I feel the rage

But it's not worth losing my own head, no

Don't give into the Red Moon rum~

She shook her head. Meanwhile, Vinyl set her sunglasses to the side.

~I see you smile, but not for me

Coddling her, coddling her

Smells wrong, you try to hide

Bottling myrrh, bottling myrrh~

Bon Bon leaned into the pony sitting next to her.

~Look all you want. You won't find me

'Cause I'm unobtainium

You strike me but, I'll stay standing

I'm unobtainium

I'm unobtainium~

Button gazed at the stage in awe.

~It's kind of weird

He said the sun shines, but it doesn't either

Take a breath and find your love

I'm like a glass, but you can't see through me, no

Reflection of the sun above~

A trio of flower-related ponies huddled together with gentle smiles on their faces.

~Just try to strike. It won't break me

I'm unobtainium

You stay the search, but I pity

I'm unobtainium

I'm unobtainium~

Octavia moved with her bow as she played the next bridge of chords.

~Stay on course, avoid force

Be all that you can be on your own

Stay on course, even when it pours

Whoa, whoa, whoa~

Archer sat there with bated breath.

~Look all you want. You can't find me

'Cause I'm unobtainium

Just try to strike. It won't break me

I'm unobtainium

I'm unobtainium~

~Just try to strike. It won't break me~

A minute passed in complete silence. Vinyl broke it first with a hoof stomp. Button started hitting his hooves against each other. Bon Bon and the ponies sitting around her added their applause. Archer and Tootsie Flute applauded one after the other. Soon, every pony in the audience was stomping or clapping their hooves in approval. Pinkie Pie added a slide whistle to the mix.

Backstage, Octavia breathed out and smiled before she readjusted her bow tie.

"So you're Sun Glimmer, huh?"

"That was a lovely performance."

"Hey, Sun Glimmer! Great singing up there."

"Sun Glimmer!"

"Yeah, Sun Glimmer! Woo-hoo!"

The filly was getting overwhelmed with all the recognition from all of these ponies. She was almost embarrassed by how often her name was being said.

"Way to go, Glimmer!" Button patted her back.

"That was a marvelous performance," complimented Archer.

"Um, y-yeah," stammered Tootsie Flute while glancing at Archer every so often. "Marvelous."

"Thanks, everypony," said Sun Glimmer happily to her friends.

She cringed when she saw two particular colts approaching. However, that cringing immediately changed to curiosity when they walked right past everypony else.

"That was great up there, Sun Glimmer," said Snails.

"Yeah," said Snips with a vigorous nod. "Hey! What happened to your cutie mark?"

Sweetie Belle tilted her head in confusion. "Huh?"

Sun Glimmer planted her hoof against her face while the rest of the foals shook their heads in disbelief. Pinkie Pie played a 'wah-wah-wah' noise via harmonica notes.

Octavia prepared to leave with her instrument in its case. She halted while giving a slow, deadpanned look at the pony standing nearby.

"Thanks for helping my sister," Vinyl said graciously.

Octavia closed the last lock. "It was just a simple business transaction. There was no problem at all."

"Of course," said Vinyl with a hurt frown. "Later." She turned to leave.

"Was it you that gave my security guard a black eye on the day of my concert?"

Vinyl stopped mid-step. "Y...Yes?"

Octavia placed her cello onto her back. "I admire your sense of restraint, Vinyl Scratch."

"What?" Vinyl turned around.

"Personally, I would have aimed for his nuts." Octavia trotted away.

For the longest time, Vinyl stood there with a gaping mouth.

To all of the musicians out there that create wonderful songs, pieces, and voices for your community to enjoy

Thank you.

Author's Note

With my last two submissions, I was feeling a little guilty with how far I was taking my fun out on Sun Glimmer. I guess you could call this an attempt to atone for my previous transgressions.

I have looked this over about twenty times. I'm still not completely satisfied with the results.