An Imaginative Performance

Apple Bloom walked behind the set and found Ruby sitting down with a few of the other actors.

“I’m sorry. I really messed up,” Ruby said when she saw Apple Bloom. “I was fine when there was a bunch of us on stage, but once it was just the two of us... and then I started thinking about singing... and there were so many ponies watching us.”

“That’s okay. The important thing is you tried,” Apple Bloom said. The other actors nodded in agreement.

“How bad was it after I left?” Ruby asked.

“Not bad at all. Miss Cheerilee knew your lines. She even sang!”

Ruby sighed in relief. “That’s good, I was afraid I ruined everything. But, what about the next act? I’m supposed to sing in that one too! I... I don’t think I can.”

“Maybe Miss Cheerilee can sing again?” Sweetie suggested.

“I would prefer not to, if it can be avoided,” Cheerilee said as she walked up to the actors.

“But you’re so good at singin’,” Apple Bloom said.

“Thank you, but this is supposed to be your play. Also, it would be a bit hard to switch between narrating and singing during the next scene. Does anyone else know the lyrics to the next song and think they can sing it?”

“Ooh! Ooh!” Twist said, her face lighting up. She raised a hoof as far into the air as she could. “I know the lyrics!”

“Wonderful! That’s one problem solved, but we still have another. Has Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon come back yet?”

“I saw them walking around without their costumes,” Pipsqueak said. “I asked if they were still going to perform, but Diamond Tiara just called me a loser and walked away.”

Cheerilee frowned. “Oh dear... I’ll have to see if I can talk with them. Does anyone know Diamond Tiara’s lyrics for the end?”

Again, Twist raised her hoof into the air. “I do. I memorized the whole play!”

“Excellent!” Cheerilee said. “Let’s find you some villager clothes, an apron, and a cloak. Come on everypony, the show is not over yet!”

***

Apple Bloom took a sip of water from her cup and noticed Snips and Snails walking towards her. Snails had changed back into his villager clothes, while Snips still wore his Stone Knight costume.

“Hi, Apple Bloom,” Snips said. “Ready for our big scene together?”

Apple Bloom finished her water and set her cup down before replying. “Lookin’ forward to it. A little bit of sword fightin’ action will be fun.”

Snips and Snails snickered at each other. “Not that scene,” Snails said. “The one after that!”

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? Are you talkin’ ’bout the song at the end?”

“No,” Snips said while trying not to laugh. “Never mind. Break a leg!”

“Uh, you too.” Apple Bloom shook her head as the two colts walked away.

***

“Welcome back, everypony! It’s time for the third and final act of our play,” Cheerilee said as the curtains opened to reveal the stone walls of the inside of a castle.

“Blue Petal walked through the musty old castle and soon came across a large, open room. It was there that her third trial waited.”

Blue Petal walked down the musty hallway and into a large, open room. Much to her relief, this room appeared to be in a somewhat better condition than the rest of the castle and was therefore suitable for combat. As awesome as fighting in a building while it was collapsing may sound, she knew from personal experience that it was nothing but stress.

The room still had its problems, though. The glass windows came in two varieties: broken or covered in grime. The furniture lay in smashed heaps that cluttered the floor. The wall decorations had long since rotted away. Somepony had even left an old suit of armor standing in the middle of the room.

“I just can’t seem to get away from you today, can I?” the Stone Knight said as he turned around.

“Hey there, Mr. Stone Knight. I almost thought you were just a suit of armor, you were so still,” Blue Petal said.

“I guess you must be my opponent for the third trial. How fitting.”

“Wait, we’re supposed to fight each other? Isn’t there somepony else we could fight instead? Maybe even team up?”

“No! It is you two that shall fight!” a lisping voice said. Blue Petal and the Stone Knight turned to see the third trial giver—who must have been some kind of shapeshifter, as she now looked very much like the second trial giver—standing near the far wall. “This is a trial of swordplay. You may use your magic, but only to hold your weapon. The trial is confined to this room and lasts until one of you is defeated.”

“At last, a trial I can agree to,” the Stone Knight said. “Draw your sword, Blue Petal. I’m going to enjoy this.”

The Stone Knight grabbed his sword with magic and held it before him. Blue Petal didn’t want to fight but drew her sword for defense.

Scootaloo moved next to Apple Bloom and set a harness on her back. A long wire came off the harness and dangled in front of Apple Bloom’s face. Scootaloo bit onto Apple Bloom’s sword and attached it to the end of the wire, giving it the illusion of being levitated.

“Hold up, Mr. Knight,” Blue Petal said as her opponent advanced. “I don’t think this is the way two heroes should be acting.”

“A hero? A hero? Don’t you dare tarnish that name further by referring to yourself as such! Blue Petal, in the name of all true heroes, I will end you!”

The Stone Knight roared, and the invisible band played quickly. Blue Petal wished it had been a slow song. A fast tempo guaranteed a fight. The Stone Knight swung his sword and began trading blows with Blue Petal.

Stone Knight:

You’re a hero? Don’t make me laugh.

I have to say on your behalf,

You’ve forgotten everything a hero’s supposed to do!

I can’t believe my eyes.

You are something I despise.

You think that you act noble and behave true?

Somehow, you just can’t see,

Your own inability,

To do the right thing only just because it’s right!

Don’t you see how you act,

With all the fame that you attract?

Well, let me tell you that I find it a horrid sight.

I try to ignore and to be tough,

But I’ve finally had enough,

Of watching you stain our reputation and our name.

No more boasting, no more gloats,

And the displays that it promotes.

The honor of every true hero, I will reclaim!

Blue Petal fought, trading blow for blow, but found herself being pushed back. The Stone Knight definitely knew his swordplay. She could probably beat him if she gave it her all, but she didn’t want to hurt him. He had been right. She hadn’t been acting like a hero at all. She had let her fame blind her to the horrible path she had been walking. The problem was, she had already had this startling revelation in the forest, and apparently, he hadn’t been around to see it.

“Please stop, Mr. Knight,” Blue Petal said as she hopped over a broken chair to gain some ground. “We can talk this over, put aside our differences. Maybe even become friends. I’m sure we’ll be laughing about this by tomorrow. Yikes. You don’t seem ready to start laughing.”

The Stone Knight had stopped his attack. He breathed hard in and out, his body shaking. “Friends?” he spat. “Why would I want to be friends with you? I already know how you treat your friends! I’ve already been tossed aside by you!” The Stone Knight began undoing the straps on his helmet.

“What are you—” Blue Petal's voice caught in her throat when the knight had removed his helmet. She tried her hardest to keep herself from screaming.

The memories came pouring back. Every guilty thought she had chosen to push down deeper and deeper until she had finally forgotten them. Memories of her family. Memories of her home. Memories of everyone who had ever been important to her until she had left them all behind in her misbegotten attempt to become the greatest hero ever known.

Blue Petal remembered her best friend. His face. His name. Every moment they had shared together. She had completed her training at a very young age and set out into the world first. Before she had left, she had made a promise. She promised that she would return a hero and help her friend become just as great as her.

Blue Petal stared at the unicorn across from her with the light-gray coat and charcoal mane. “Palisade.” She could barely even whisper.

“So you finally remember me,” Palisade said.

“I’m so sorry.”

Palisade hesitated for a moment before resuming his attack. Blue Petal fought back her tears. She had to do something, say something, to get Palisade to stop attacking and listen to her.

Blue Petal:

I was a hero, but I can see,

There was something wrong with me.

I understand the way I’ve been actin’ has been wrong!

Let me tell it to you straight,

My own ego, I would inflate.

I was boastful, shameful, and more than a bit headstrong.

This can’t be how it ends.

I want to make amends!

I have learned much from this forest, magical and strange.

I’ve failed these trials, therefore,

A hero I am no more.

Please believe me when I say that I have change’d!

“What do you mean you failed?” Palisade asked, holding his sword at ready but not advancing.

“I have failed the first two trials, and I’m failing this one now. Trial giver! I give up! I am defeated,” Blue Petal yelled.

“Blue Petal... I don’t understand. You realize what this means, don’t you? Memories of everything you’ve done, good or bad, will be erased from the world. It’ll be like you’ve never existed.”

“After what I’ve learned about myself today, being forgotten would be a mercy." Blue Petal forced a smile and raised her chin. "I’ll start over. From the beginning. Do things right this time. My only regret is that, now, you’ll be the one to forget me.”

Blue Petal looked into Palisade’s eyes and saw that the malice in them had faded slightly. At least now, she might have a chance to talk to him and set things right. But then, laughter echoed through the halls. Blue Petal looked for its source and saw the trial giver now appeared to be made from swirling shadows. The music slowed and turned ominous.

Third trial giver:

Perhaps you don’t understand,

All the magics of this land

The spells that bind yourselves to these very halls.

If you wish to leave,

Then my blessing, you must receive,

Which I will not give until your opponent falls.

“Falls?” Blue Petal questioned.

The trial giver laughed once more. “In a word: dead. Now, get back at it. I’d prefer death by multiple stab wounds, but I suppose any type of death will do. Bonus points if you surprise me.”

“You’re crazy! I refuse to keep fighting,” Blue Petal said.

“A-as do I,” Palisade said.

“Do you now?” the trial giver said, turning her eyes on Palisade. “Do you really bear no more ill will towards Blue Petal? Have you forgiven her transgressions so easily?”

Palisade screamed as if he were in pain.

“Palisade?” Blue Petal asked, placing a hoof on his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

Palisade’s sword swung, and Blue Petal barely dodged in time. “Blue Petal... r-run!” Palisade said. “I... can’t stop... myself.”

“Leave him alone!” Blue Petal yelled at the trial giver but received only laughter in return. She tried to use her magic to hold Palisade down but found it blocked. A look behind her confirmed her next suspicion: the hallway she had come from had vanished. It appeared the trial giver wouldn’t allow her rules to be broken.

The music’s tempo picked back up as Palisade charged. His sword came down hard, but Blue Petal managed to deflect it. He attacked relentlessly, and she soon found herself only parrying while she retreated. She had several narrow escapes as she tried to find ways to disarm Palisade without causing him lasting harm. With each failure, her hopes of a peaceful resolution faded. She felt herself starting to tire and knew she had to do something soon. As much as she hated to admit it, she could only see one outcome to this fight: one of them would die.

Palisade’s eyes looked around wildly as his body fought without his control. He seemed to be trying to resist the trial giver’s spell but was having no luck breaking free. “Blue Petal,” he said.

Palisade:

Please take this fight seriously,

Or I’m afraid that it will be,

Your life that is taken from you this night.

It seems it is too late,

This trial is now our fate.

Who becomes a hero will be settled by this fight!

Blue Petal met Palisade’s eyes. She saw all his fear, regrets, loneliness, pain, and hatred. Whether she had meant to or not, she had done this to him. It was almost too much for her to bear. She gritted her teeth and blinked the water from her eyes, focusing with renewed determination. She knew of one way to save her friend.

Blue Petal:

Palisade, listen to me, please!

I know of your worries,

To bear your pain this long has been very brave.

Though the price may be steep,

A promise I will keep.

If only one of us can live, then it’s you, I save!

Blue Petal stepped inside Palisade’s reach and didn’t try to dodge his next sword thrust. She wrapped a foreleg over his back and pulled him into an embrace. He struggled for a moment until he realized what was happening. Then, the tension slowly faded from his body.

“Blue Petal,” Palisade said as he pressed his neck harder against hers. “I couldn’t stop. I—”

“Shh... I forgive you.”

Blue Petal broke the embrace and looked into Palisade’s eyes. It hadn’t been enough. He still had some pain he wasn’t letting go of. She had been so close too. She smiled weakly before collapsing to the floor. Palisade stared down at his fallen friend and the sword protruding from her breastplate.

“No! What have I done?” Palisade said as he pulled his sword from Blue Petal and threw it away.

“You have passed the trial. Congratulations, hero,” the trial giver said with another laugh.

“I’m no hero!” Palisade yelled, looking about wildly. “What kind of hero slays his best friend? I’m a monster! I’m—”

“Palisade,” Blue Petal said weakly. She wasn’t about to let the trial giver undo her work.

Palisade sat down by Blue Petal. He turned her on her back and looked into her eyes. It pained her to see such grief. All the light faded from the room except for one beam shining on them.

Blue Petal sucked in air until it hurt. This could very well be her last breath; she couldn’t afford to waste any of it.

Blue Petal:

Do you know what I want?

What I’d really... like to do?
Palisade:

(Blue Petal, stay with me. I’ll find help.)
Blue Petal:

It’s to apologize... for...

Forgetting about... you.

I’ve... caused so much pain,

Even though I’ve... said sorry.

Can you... find it in your... heart,

To f-forgive... m-... me...?

Palisade wiped his eyes. “It hurt so much seeing what you had become, but it hurt more knowing you had forgotten about me,” he said. “I forgive you. I really do! It shouldn’t have ended this way. I went too far. I’m sorry.”

Blue Petal stared up with half-open eyes and saw the friend she remembered staring back. She smiled as her vision began to fade away into darkness. She had helped one last pony before she went.

Palisade wrapped one foreleg behind her neck and slowly lowered his mouth towards hers.

“Snips?” Apple Bloom whispered before his lips got too close. “I know in the stories that Blue Petal and Palisade went on to fall in love, but I swear, if you kiss me instead of huggin’, I will buck you so hard in the face that you’ll be eatin’ all your meals through a straw for the next month. Got that?”

Snips gulped. He loosely hugged Apple Bloom and pulled away in a hurry.

With one last hug, Blue Petal closed her eyes and waited to fade away. Much to her relief, it was apparently true that you stopped feeling pain when dieing. Good thing too. That sword had hurt a lot.

Blue Petal turned her thoughts to Palisade and her happiness for him. He would go on to be a great hero. Maybe she would get a memorial for this? Nothing big, though. Just a simple plaque that read something like, “Here lies Blue Petal, yadda yadda yadda. Died to save her friend, blah blah blah.”

How long did it normally take to die, anyway? Blue Petal felt she might have closed her eyes too soon. She would just feel silly if she opened them again, though.

“This is really touching, but you can both get up now,” a voice said.

Blue Petal gasped for air as she opened her eyes. She and Palisade were back in the forest with the keeper standing over them. Blue Petal rolled out of his forelegs and got up. Her hoof went to her breastplate, finding the puncture missing. “My wound is gone!” She turned to Palisade and hugged him harder than before.

“Congratulations, Blue Petal. Congratulations, Palisade,” the keeper said, smiling. “You have both passed the Trials of the Hero.”

“We did?” Blue Petal asked as she broke the hug. “But, I thought—Ooooh... it was one of those ‘say you’re testing one thing, but you’re actually testing another thing’ deals. Very clever, keeper.”

The keeper blushed and nodded. “Yes, I gave you trials to test for responsibility, compassion, and acceptance. With one extra lesson at the end. To teach forgiveness.”

“I’m... I’m a bit embarrassed that I had to be taught those lessons,” Palisade said.

“Me too,” Blue Petal said. “I can’t believe how selfish I became once I got famous. I won’t be makin’ that mistake again. You can count on it. There’s just one thing I have to say about this whole experience though." She turned her eyes innocently on the keeper. "Ow! Did I really need to get stabbed to learn a lesson?”

The keeper’s ears flattened as she took a step back. “Uh, well... s-sometimes pain is an excellent teacher?”

“I was dying!”

“Um... sometimes death is an excellent teacher?”

“Kinda hard to learn much when you’re dead. ’Cept maybe what you should have done differently, so that you didn’t wind up dead in the first place.”

“I'm sorry about what you two were put through,” the keeper said while shuffling a hoof, "but I really wouldn't have let either of you die."

After deciding she had teased the keeper enough, Blue Petal broke into a smile. “I know. I’m just giving you a hard time. Thanks, keeper. I mean that.”

The keeper looked relieved until she noticed Blue Petal squinting at her. “Is... everything alright?”

“I still can’t get over the feeling that I’ve seen you before.”

“Perhaps you remember my picture from the story books?”

“From the story books?” Blue Petal asked, then gasped. She bowed low and kicked Palisade when she noticed he wasn’t bowing too.

“What was that for?” Palisade asked, rubbing his foreleg.

“This is one of the First Heroes,” Blue Petal hissed. It took another kick for him to finally show some respect. She turned back to the spirit and lowered her head to the ground. “Thank you for returning from the great beyond to show us the way, Lady... oh no! I’m so sorry, hero. I can’t remember your name!”

“Nopony alive still remembers my name,” the spirit said. “I made sure of that. Besides, I would rather be remembered for my deeds. Now, stop bowing before me. It’s embarrassing. I’m not that special.”

“Not that special?” Blue Petal asked, rising. “You and your friends pushed back the darkness and saved the world!”

“Yes, Blue Petal, not that special, because we didn’t do a very good job of stopping the darkness. It is returning, and, in a few more years, it will be free. The spirits of the other First Heroes and I have been seeking out potential candidates to lead the fight. The others thought you and Palisade too far gone, but I had hoped to bring you back. I created this forest and these trials, then guided you to them, with hopes of redeeming you. I’m pleased that you both did an excellent job proving me right.”

Blue Petal looked at the forest around her. “So, is this place some kind of illusion?” she asked, kicking a small rock.

“Sort of. It’s actually a dream the both of you are sharing.”

Blue Petal smiled and nodded knowingly. “Now things make sense. The valley, the village, this forest. It was all a dream!”

“Actually, just the forest isn’t real. You really did come to the valley and stay briefly at Happy Village. I just had the villagers let you know about a Forest of Trials so that you would go looking for it. That way, I could more easily put you into an enchanted sleep.”

“Wait a second...” Blue Petal said, frowning. “I’m not zonked out in the middle of some field somewhere, am I?”

The spirit grinned sheepishly. “Uh...”

Blue Petal stared flatly at the spirit, who refused to meet her gaze. “I am, aren’t I?”

“Maybe...”

With a hoof on her forehead, Blue Petal sighed. The spirit at least had the decency to look embarrassed. “So long as I’m not in an embarrassing pose or covered in caterpillars, I guess I forgive you,” Blue Petal said.

“Don’t worry, you aren’t. Goodbye, you two. It’s time to wake up. Remember, the world will need you in a few years. So don’t slack off!”

The spirit waved goodbye as the world faded away to black.

***

Blue Petal woke from her sleep to find herself lying in an open field of tall grass. She grumbled as she rose to her hooves, squinting her eyes against the offending light of the morning sun. Happy Village stood off in the distance. Only a few minutes jog, by her estimates. A nearby noise got her attention. She turned to see Palisade lying near her, also waking up. They looked at each other, sharing a smile. Today was going to be a wonderful day. She could feel it. Judging by the light-hearted and inviting music coming from the invisible band, they could feel it too.

Blue Petal:

Palisade,

Come look and see!

All around you. I think you’ll agree.

It’s a wonderful day. I have never felt so aliiiive!

Come with me,

There’s much to do.

A brand-new day for us to pursue.

So much to make up for. I feel like I’ve been reviiiive’d!

Palisade got up and stood next to Blue Petal. He looked around with a sense of wonder on his face.

Palisade:

You are right,

I feel it too.

A brand-new beginning for me and you.

The weights have been lifted. I feel as if I have been freeeeed!

Here, we go.

Look at us now.

Thank you, spirit. You’ve saved us somehow.

We’ll remember your lessons. We’ll be sure to suceeeeed.

Both:

I can’t wait to let everyone seeeee,

The new hero who is meeee.

Today is going to beeeeeee! — A wonderful day!

Blue Petal and Palisade laughed as they ran through the grass. The fields rushed by like a painted background carried by a pair of ninja fillies, and soon they arrived in the middle of the village. They waved to all the ponies going about their morning business.

“Hello, Happy Village!” Blue Petal shouted.

“Well, hello again, big-time hero,” Village Greeter answered.

Blue Petal winced and hoped her cheeks weren’t too red. “Please don’t call me that. I wasn’t thinkin’ right when I made that title. Just call me Blue Petal.”

“As you wish, Blue Petal.”

Village Greeter:

I can feel it everywhere — it’s a wonderful daaaay!

No matter if things go wrong, it will be okaaaay.

Lady Blue Petal, you’re looking fair.

I must say you two make quite a pair.

I can feel it everywheeeeeeere — a wonderful day!

I hope you’ve enjoyed your time spent in this valleyyyy!

It seemed you had a lot stuck on your miiiind.

I know that we villagers may just be-sim-ple-folk,

But, we still know how to relax and to unwiiiind.

Blue Petal laughed. “It has been a long time since I relaxed. It felt good,” she said and then cast her eyes downward. “I’m sorry about before. I really am here to help if needed.”

“I need help!” a filly yelled as she ran up to the heroes. “My cat is stuck in a tree again!”

“I’ll handle this one, Blue Petal,” Palisade said. He walked off with the smiling filly.

Blue Petal continued trotting down the street until she came to the inn she had stayed at before. The innkeeper stood outside the door but no longer looked hostile. Instead, she waved to Blue Petal and gave a friendly smile.

Innkeeper:

What we have here — is a wonderful daaaay!

Let me know if you ever need a place to staaaay!

I’m glad your head is finally clear.

And I do mean that most sincere.

I know what we have heeeeeeere — a wonderful day!

I see now what it is that makes you speciiiaal.

Your ability to overcome the trials that you faaaace.

I was a little worried that you would-not-re-turn,

But, I’m glad you found the virtues that you misplaaaace’d.

“So am I,” Blue Petal said. “Thank you for telling me about the Forest of Trials. I needed that.”

“My pleasure,” the innkeeper said, walking back inside her inn.

“Bees! So many bees!” a panicked pony yelled.

Blue Petal rolled her eyes. How could one pony really have this much trouble with some lousy bees? She held up a hoof to stop the pony from running, walked to his side, and glared angrily into his mane.

“Hey, you bees!” Blue Petal yelled. “You get out of this pony’s mane this instant! Don’t you dare buzz at me! I’ll come in there and force you out myself if I have to!”

The pony stood rigid as the bees flew out of his mane. He carefully reached a hoof behind his neck, a smile spreading across his face. “Thank you. You don’t know h—”

“And as for you!”

The pony shut his mouth and gulped.

Blue Petal lowered her voice and spoke gently. “I know it might smell nice, but things like this wouldn’t happen if you stopped using a honey-based shampoo.”

“Right. Sorry to cause trouble,” the pony said before shuffling away.

Blue Petal:

Today is going to be — such a wonderful daaaay!

So much left to do, but it’ll be goin’ my waaaay.

It feels like my mind is finally free.

It took a while, but I can see,

Today is going to beeeeeee — a wonderful day!

Though I may have found what makes a heroooo.

I still have past actions to be undoooone.

There are many ponies that need an a-po-lo-gy.

Starting with my hometown as number oooone.

After rounding a building's corner, Palisade shot past Blue Petal with a cat wrapped around his head. “Sharp claws! Sharp claws!” he yelled with a higher-pitched voice.

“Help!” the filly chasing Palisade yelled. “My cat is being stolen!”

Blue Petal stepped in front of Palisade as he came back around and blocked his path. She poked the cat gently with her horn, causing it to hop off into the filly’s waiting forelegs.

“Are you okay?” Blue Petal asked.

Palisade stopped panting and looked at Blue Petal. “I am now.”

What must have been every pony in the village gather around the heroes. It looked like this was the big finale.

All:

It’s so very true — this is a wonderful daaaay!

The heroes are back on the path, after being led astraaaay!

Blue Petal and Palisade (To each other):

There is so much to do.

Now that I’ve re-found you.

All:

Just watch and you will seeeee, (A Wonderful!)

With one hundred percent certaintyyyy, (A Wonderful!)

Today is going to beeeeeee!

A won-der-ful daaaaaaaaaay!

The final note cut off, and the curtain closed. Apple Bloom’s heart pounded as she grinned. They had done it. It was over. Sure, there had been a few mistakes, but the audience must have enjoyed it with how loudly they cheered.

Every filly and colt that had been part of the production came on stage and lined up in a row. They quietly congratulated each other on a job well done. Apple Bloom looked down the line at her friends, who smiled back at her. She noticed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon standing at the end as if they hadn’t abandoned the play in the middle. Apple Bloom decided to ignore them like always. They may have been jerks, but they still deserved credit for what little they did. Just so long as they didn’t try anything funny.

The curtains opened once more to renewed applause. The students bowed and smiled at the audience.

Cheerilee came up on stage. Her face beamed with happiness as she looked at all her students proudly. She held up a hoof, and the audience quieted.

“And so ends our story,” Cheerilee said. “Blue Petal and Palisade went on to have many more adventures, but always on their minds were the words of warning from the spirit. They knew they had to prepare for the return of the darkness. However, that is a story for another day.

“Thank you, everypony for your show of support! We hope you enjoyed this year’s performance. Now, let’s give another round of applause for our actors, stage crew, musicians, and everypony else that made tonight possible!”

The students bowed once more to the thundering sound of cheering and applause. Apple Bloom listened hard and then let her grin grow even wider when she made out the voice of her sister, who was hollering just loudly enough to be heard over the rest of the commotion. Apple Bloom felt like she could stand there for hours, but before she knew it, the moment had ended, and the curtains fell for the final time that night.

With the play finally over, all the nervous, excited energy released itself in a torrent of conversations. Several of her classmates came by to congratulate Apple Boom on her performance or compliment her on her singing. She congratulated each of them back, and slowly made her way off to the side to join up with her friends.

“It’s over. We did it!” Sweetie Belle announced with a smile.

“Yeah. We sure did,” Apple Bloom said, then reached up to slip off her plastic horn. “I’m just glad I can finally take this dress off.” She sat down and slid the caparison up over her head. Truth be told, the costume wasn’t as bad as she made it out to be. If she got to keep it, it might even make a decent Nightmare Night costume.

As Apple Bloom set her caparison, sword, and horn down on a table, she noticed that Scootaloo was still as ninja’d up as ever.

“Gee, Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom said, “with the way you went on tonight, I thought you’d be outta those clothes as soon as the curtain hit the floor.”

Scootaloo looked away and grumbled something.

“What was that?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I said I can’t take them off,” Scootaloo said and sighed. “I’ve sweat so much that it shrunk, and I think it might have also permanently bonded to my coat. I’m really hoping that scissors will be enough to get it off.” She must have noticed the smirk on Apple Bloom’s face since she added, “And don’t either of you even think about laughing. This is seriously uncomfortable.”

“Okay, okay,” Apple Bloom said, “I’ll try not to. But you hafta admit it’s a little funny.”

Sweetie Belle giggled, then quickly covered her lips. “I, uh, I think I remember seeing some scissors back by where the props were stored between sets. We should go check it out.”

However, before they could act on their plan, they heard the voice of Cheerilee saying, “Attention, everypony! I have some good news for all of you!”

The students stopped whatever they were doing and lined up in a semicircle around their teacher. Once everyone was accounted for, Cheerilee continued, “I’ve just finished speaking with a certain somepony, and she was so impressed with the wonderful job you’ve all done tonight that she’s decided to throw all of you an ice cream party at Sugarcube Corner!”

The news went over as expected with everypony chatting at once. Flavors were discussed and a few bets were made over who could eat the most, with Snips announcing that of course the Stone Knight would defeat any challenger. Cheerilee clearing her throat brought everyone’s attention back to her.

“However, before we leave,” she said calmly, “I believe we have two fillies that have something they would like to say to us all.”

Cheerilee stepped back to make room for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to walk forward. They both kept their heads down, and appeared to be trying their hardest not to glance at their fellow students. That is, except for one brief moment where Diamond Tiara met Apple Bloom’s eyes and instantly looked away.

They stood together as the center of attention under the scrutinizing stares of their peers. It took a few false starts, but they finally managed to get out a, “We’re sorry.”

“We shouldn’t have left before the play was over,” Diamond Tiara said.

“Sorry for any trouble we caused,” Silver Spoon added.

Apple Bloom looked around at her classmates. Some nodded and seemed to accept the apology while others just rolled their eyes. She then notice that somepony was approaching and turned to find Diamond Tiara in front of her.

Diamond Tiara bit her lower lip and didn’t make eye contact. She glance over her shoulder at Cheerilee, who smiled and nodded once, somehow both friendly and firmly at the same time.

“Apple Bloom? I...” Diamond Tiara began, then took a deep breath before blurting out, “I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have made fun of you. It was wrong of me.”

Apple Bloom stared back. She could feel every eye in the room on her, waiting for her response. There were several things she could have replied with—though, most of them she would never have said out loud since they would have gotten her in trouble—but there was one response that came to her mind that seemed more right than the others.

“Thanks for appologin’,” Apple Bloom said. “I forgive you.”

Diamond Tiara blinked and took a step back. She stared blankly for a moment and then stuttered, “Oh, w-well... good. Thank... thank you.”

With the apology over, the students began breaking off to complete their leftover tasks quickly in order to get to the party as soon as possible. Apple Bloom watched Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon as they walked towards the exit and talked loudly about how they were going to get to Sugarcube Corner first so they could get the best seats. Right before they went out the door, Diamond Tiara slowed her pace, glanced once at Apple Bloom, then hurried on.

“I can’t believe you let her off so easily,” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah, well...” Apple Bloom mumbled. She was a little surprised as well. “Maybe Dinky was right, and we should be listening to some of the lessons that were in the play.” She quickly shook her head and added, “I dunno, at least she’ll probably feel guilty enough that she’ll leave us alone for a couple-a weeks.”

“You got that right. Now come on. I need to find those scissors before this outfit gets any tighter!” Scootaloo yelled, then half-stumbled, half-trotted away in her shrunken outfit.

Sweetie Belle stifled another giggle and said, “You know what I think?” She glanced out the corner of her eye at Apple Bloom. “I think maybe a little bit of pretending to be Blue Petal has rubbed off on you.”

“Eh, maybe.” Apple Bloom shrugged, but still felt a little heat coming to her cheeks. “I guess I’ve just been inna heroic mindset tonight."

"Come on, you slow pokes!" Scootaloo shouted back. "Let’s hurry up and free me. You know Snips and Snails are going to end up eating themselves into an ice cream coma again, and we can’t miss that.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle laughed as they chased after their friend. This had already been a night to remember, and there was still more fun to come.