The Belle and Bloom Show

We celebrated amongst ourselves backstage. Sweetie Belle had gone off to find Talent Scout; I couldn’t care less where he was. Our second show had packed the city center to its limits. What did we need him for anyways?

The flood gates had opened, and the ponies with passes came rushing backstage. I greeted several excited fans.

A sandy colored mare with puffy red eyes hugged me tightly, thanking me. “It-it’s the kind of thing I needed,” she said between heavy sobs.

I wasn’t sure how to react to the sudden attention. Ponies were thanking me, and telling me how much our show meant to them. We had set out to put on a good show, and insert a positive message, and I knew we’d be speaking to a lot of ponies who struggled with their image, but I didn’t expect this.It was surreal that we had actually moved several to tears.

Dos-à-Dos and Feather Step talked excitedly with a group of reporters. I edged my way out of the backstage pass ponies toward them. “Oh yes, The Equestrian Dancer would love to feature an article of you fillies,” one of the reporters said proudly. “We like to highlight talented dancing. We’d like to include the other dancer, Belle. She did the most incredible thing by dancing offbeat while singing on the beat and in key and everything.”

Feather Step and Dos-à-Dos exchanged excited grins. “I’m sure Sweetie will gladly give an interview. Should we plan it sometime tomorrow? At the Dance Academy?”

A unicorn reported levitated a pocket calendar out of his saddle bags, and gazed upon it for a few seconds. “Yes… I have noon open.”

“Aw shucks, Sugarcube, come here!”

“Wha—” Applejack had come behind me, hugging me tightly. “Hey, sis.”

“That was really good. I’m proud of ya. I heard them all talking as they left… lots of ponies out there really touched by the message.”

I had just escaped AJ’s clutches when Sweetie Belle returned, looking worried. “I can’t find him anywhere. I think he left.”

I knew he had something Sweetie was really wanting, and alluded she was going to get it after the show, but I felt at ease that he wasn’t here. But to keep things civil, I simply shrugged.

“Oh, Sweetie, some magazine wants to interview you tomorrow with Feather Step and Dos-à-Dos.”

Her eyes lit up. “Ooh!” was all she said as she ran off to talk with Dos-à-Dos.

Applejack chuckled. “You two are getting more and more famous as we go. Twilight had nothing but good things to say. Pinkie Pie is pretty much bouncing with how good it was. I think all of Equestria will know about this show by tomorrow, if I know Pinkie.”

I saw Scootaloo fighting her way through the crowd, and I waved her over to me.

“Okay, all I’m going to say is... awesome!” Scootaloo hovered in the air as her wings buzzed excitedly.

“Glad you liked it.” I smiled at her.

“That part where you twirled across the entire stage was super cool! You spun around so many times!” Scootaloo twirled, spinning around two full turns on the spot, then stopping herself facing me.

“Not bad…” I nodded approvingly. Scootaloo could be a good dancer without even trying if she was interested.

“Where’s Sweetie?”

“She’s over there.” I pointed to where she was standing with Feather Step and Dos-à-Dos as I started walking in their direction.

Scootaloo jumped over to Sweetie Belle once she was close enough, practically tackling her in a hug. Sweetie Belle squeaked, and then giggled when she realized who it was. “Oh, Scoots.”

“Awesome show! You were all great.”

Scootaloo went into a fan-crazed review of her favorite parts. Dos-à-Dos nodded her head to the left. I frowned, and she did it again, and I finally got the idea. I stepped out of the group.

“What’s up?” I asked quietly. “If it’s about Talent Scout, we can work on it tomorrow.”

She shook her head. “No—I mean yes tomorrow. I was going to ask if you could introduce me to your cute friend?”

I stared at her, mouth agape. “Y-you mean Scootaloo?” I asked quietly.

Dos-à-Dos nodded with a wry smile. “Yeah, she’s really cute, and I can tell… that filly swings both ways.”

“Ummm…”

“Hey, you had your chance to get this.” Dosie wriggled her butt. “Too late.” She smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll introduce you two. Scoots is a lot more… a lot more… well you’ll see. I think you’ll like her. She’s very direct,” I added.

“A filly who knows what she wants…” Dos-à-Dos shot a glance at Sweetie Belle.

“It so turns out, Sweetie likes fillies too. I asked her earlier today.”

Dosie nodded and shrugged. “Yeah probably.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Look, Sweetie Belle is… pretty unaware…” she trailed off as a particularly loud fit of giggles erupted from the group. “Just don’t rush in at her is all I’m trying to say.”

“Apple Bloom! Come on! Celebration at Sugarcube Corner!” Sweetie’s voice shouted over the excited chatter.

I followed behind the group of over-excited fillies, my thoughts drowning out their banter. Once the post-show euphoria had worn off, I couldn’t get the nasty feeling out of my mind that TS was up to something… It was great he wasn't there in the moment… it bugged me more that I couldn’t really think of why he left. I mean what was his problem anyway? Even if he doesn’t like the show, we’re becoming pretty popular, which can only be a good thing, right?

“So, I’m thinking we should add the hip-hop dancers to our show,” said Sweetie Belle, trying to maintain an air of nonchalance.

“Oh wow, really?” asked Feather Stepp.

“Think of the possibilities,” Sweetie added enthusiastically, dropping all pretense that this was some off-handed idea. “What do you think?” Sweetie Looked back at me, grinning. I nodded and smiled.

“Wow, Sweetie Belle, that’s a really big offer,” said Dosie. “Thank you. That was a lot of fun, I think I’d love to do more.”

“Good! You can help us write our next show!”

“Me?” asked Dos-à-Dos.”I don’t think I can write music… I’ll help with choreography.”

“Done! You are now the choreographer.”

“Hold up,” said Feather Step. “I don’t want to leave the dance team. So I’m only in this if it doesn’t interfere with competitions.”

“Same,” added Dos-à-Dos.

“We’ll work around it,” said Sweetie quickly. “But if we go on tour…”

“We’re not a troupe, Sweetie,” said Feather Step with a hint of exasperation.

“Not yet,” Sweetie sang back. “As long as we’re doing Ponyville shows, I’d love to keep you all as part of the show.”

“Heck, with the way things are going, I’m not sure we’ll need to go anywhere. It seems ponies are coming from all over for this.” I called out from behind them.

The night dragged on at Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie did everything to keep everyone at top energy levels, and the sugary treats weren’t in short supply. I faked a smile, signed a few autographs, but I think we mostly annoyed the patrons with the excessive noise. Pretty soon it was just us in the shop.

“I, like, can’t wait to dance class tomorrow. We’re like so popular now!” exclaimed an excited Feather Step. Her voice seemed to carry over everyone else.

Dos-à-Dos and Scootaloo seemed to be deep in a side conversation and oblivious to the general commotion of Feather Step dancing on the table in front of them. I rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of it all, but smiled in spite of it.

“You’re awfully quiet,” said a soft voice. I looked over my shoulder to see Sweetie Belle sitting next to me. “Of course anyone would seem quiet with them around.”

I smiled at her, not meeting her eyes. “It was a pretty awesome show. We brought the house down.”

“Well don’t sound so miserable about it,” Sweetie said, her brow furrowed slightly. “What’s wrong?”

I sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s all overwhelming… but it just—gah!”

“What?”

“No. Later, I don’t want to ruin your party.”

Sweetie Belle patted my shoulder, “it’s our party,” Sweetie said, sounding slightly hurt. “If something is wrong…”

“Talent Scout!” I blurted out.

Sweetie Belle frowned.

“Where was he?”

Her eyes went wide as she looked at me. “Yeah I don’t know… he said he had something for us—”

“And that’s not all!” I cut across her. “I do not like the way he treats you! Or me.” I added the last part quietly.

“He’s always been that way,” Sweetie waved a hoof. “I’ll talk to him about treating you better.”

“We don’t need him!” I said far more aggressively than I intended.

Sweetie leaned back a little. “Yes we do,” she said flatly. It was clear she was trying to keep her cool. “We won’t get studio albums without him or someone like him.”

“He’s a jerk who won’t stop groping you and probably other fillies. Hang on, let me finish!” I held up a hoof as Sweetie opened her mouth to retort. “Let me finish,” I said softer. “We wrote this last one, the audience loved it. We packed the place! He didn’t do a damn thing.”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “We made a great show, but who do you think manages our funds? Who manages our PR? Who books our venues? We have name recognition now, but who do you think owns the Belle and Bloom Show?”

My heart sank like a rock. Dos-à-Dos was right, picking a fight with him would be the worst possible thing. He owned us. We wrote that show because he let us. “Sweetie…” I said softly. “Was your creative control of the show in the contract?”

Sweetie Belle looked down at the table. I knew the answer before she spoke. “We worked it out verbally.” She looked at me, the worry clearly written on her face. “Maybe he didn’t like our show, but that doesn’t matter because he’ll make money anyway, right?”

I gave her a blank look.

“Look, I’ll talk to him tomorrow and straighten things out. After all, he does need us to keep this venture going.”

The next morning, I ate breakfast quickly, and rushed over to the clubhouse. I was hoping Sweetie would be there before going to Talent Scout. I wanted to tell her not to just accept anything he gives her. I wanted her to make sure that any deal was fair and put some of the ownership of the show back to her.

The clubhouse was empty, however.

I paced the length of the room, thinking aloud. “I could run by the office, and see if she’s there…

“Or I could maybe catch her before she leaves her house… where is she though? Rarity’s or her parents? Rarity’s is closer—”

A soft knock on the door brought me out of my frantic mumbling and pacing. Frowning, I opened the door to be greeted by a sleepy looking Dos-à-Dos.

“Your sister said you’d be here… this is so cool!” Dosie took a moment to examine the small one-roomed treehouse. “I wish I had something like this when I was a filly. I wish I had something like this now.”

“You’re welcome to come hang out any time.”

“Yeah, I’ll stop by sometime.” Dosie took a deep breath. “Anyway, ready to go?”

She was giving me a serious look, and I couldn’t think of what she was talking about. Was I supposed to go somewhere with her?

“Remember,” said Dosie slowly. “We’re reporting that creep.”

“Oh yeah that,” I responded flatly. It seemed like so much had happened since the events right before the show. “I-I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Of course it is! We both saw it.”

I nodded. “He could totally wreck us. Sweetie says he owns the show completely.”

Dos-à-Dos sighed loudly. “Of course he does. We come forward, everything you two have done is ruined and gone, and he’ll make sure you have nothing.” She shook her head slowly. “I-I don’t know what to do.”

“Me neither,” I said, feeling a lump in my chest. “Sweetie said she’d talk to him—”

“Alone?”

My eyes met hers, and we were thinking the same thing. “Oh shit.”

“Come on, we better hurry—”

Right as I turned to leave the clubhouse I came face to face with a flustered looking white unicorn. “Sweetie!”

“I just talked to TS…” Sweetie Belle shook her head, taking no notice of me or Dos-à-Dos and throwing her saddlebags on the floor. “He wasn’t happy about our show. He didn’t get to view our arrangements before the show and the dancers—”

“Sweetie!” I yelled over her, causing her to cast an annoyed look. “Are you okay?”

“What? Yeah… maybe—”

“He didn’t… he didn’t hurt you or…”

“No?” Sweetie responded sharply.

“I mean he didn’t touch you—”

Sweetie frowned and shook her head. “He said—well he said he didn’t like our show. He’s mad. Real mad. We weren’t supposed to hire dancers, and he didn’t like them anyway. Leotards weren’t tight enough.” Sweetie Belle paced back and forth. “He’s trying to make another Filly-Tonix, I want to make something else…” Sweetie Belle shooker her head. “But that’s okay. We’ve reached an agreement of sorts. He’s temporarily taking over the show, provided a script, and given me a bunch of ghost written songs to sing.”

Sweetie Belle’s voice was uneven, her face was red, and she was taking shallow breaths.

“So, pretty much nothing then,” spat Dosie.

“I’m going to see if I can get dances back under my direction,” said Sweetie quickly, ignoring Dos-à-Dos’s comment.

“I don’t know about this. Why didn’t he like it? Everyone loved it. And now we have to do some other junk?” I asked. I freaking knew he didn’t like it, and that’s why he disappeared last night.

“Am I still the choreographer?” asked Dos-à-Dos with concern. “There seems to be a lot of changes all of a sudden.”

Sweetie Belle shook her head angrily. “He said I can’t have one. All the dances are pre-arranged in a book. Which is why I want to get dances back.”

“Sweetie, I don’t like this. Talent Scout is taking over your hard work to make some cheap show.” Dos-à-Dos said softly. “I think we should do our own thing.”

Sweetie Belle frowned, taking a step back. “I’m trying to get us a record deal and a live performance contract. It was nice while it lasted, but you have to play by the producer’s rules to get these things.” Sweetie Belle sighed. “It’s just the way the industry is. You’re either some avant-garde side show or you’re the main show!”

Sweetie Belle had been getting more agitated by the minute. Whether she realized it or not, but she was starting to yell.

“At the cost of giving up everything you like?” asked Dosie, her face growing a brighter shade of red.

“I have to compromise a little!” Sweetie Belle huffed getting face to face with Dos-à-Dos.

“A little?” Dos-à-Dos shouted, making me jump. “Are you really that blind, Sweetie Belle? There is no compromise!”

“Hey!” I yelled loudly, “let’s all calm down! Why don’t we just read the script and see what it is?” I suggested although I really didn’t like the idea of reading something TS wrote.

“I am calm!” Sweetie yelled. “You two just don’t get it!”

“I don’t,” I admitted. “Will you please settle down and explain it—”

“Look, it’s just how it works!” Sweetie screamed back. “No pony will go to vaudeville because it doesn’t sell!”

“What are you talking about? It did sell! We literally just did it! They just want fillies in tight spandex, shaking their tails on the stage!” Dos-à-Dos said forcefully, trying to keep her voice even. “It was never about the music! It’s about making a quick bit. I thought you were better than that!”

“Calm down you two—”

“You just don’t get it!” Sweetie Belle stomped. “This is the only shot we have! This is how we make it to fame!”

“You’ll be famous alright.” Dos-à-Dos said sadly. “At what cost? None of your music will be played, and with none of your friends by your side to enjoy it.” Dos-à-Dos shook her head. “You’re giving up everything you are, selling yourself, and for what? Sweetie Belle, you’re a great singer, song writer, you’re a great entertainer. You’re my friend. He’s using you! It’s not about artistry, it’s about control and money! You’re better than this! You don’t need to crawl under some creep’s desk for a few bits!”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Dos-à-Dos and Sweetie Belle were inches apart, both of their faces bright red, and they were breathing heavily.

“I’m sorry,” Dosie said softly and left the clubhouse swiftly.

Sweetie Belle sniffed, and then started sobbing softly. Dosie left me standing there shaking with rage, frustration, and sadness. I was more upset with myself, because deep down, I knew she was right. I would rather throw myself off the tallest mountain in Equestria than admit that Sweetie Belle was so desperate for this that she would sell out her values and herself even, to be a star. For that record deal. It was like she was trying to prove something to herself… prove that she could make it, that she had what it took to be topping the charts, topping Silver Serenade.

I put a foreleg around Sweetie Belle. I struggled to find the right words to comfort her. What could I say? ‘Hey she’s kinda right?’ Yeah that’d go over well.

“I made a mess of things,” Sweetie sobbed. “I-I really messed up.”

“Hey, it’ll be okay,” I said softly.

“No it won’t!” Sweetie sobbed harder. “This was all my-my fault-an-and—” Sweetie Belle was bawling by this point, and everything else was unintelligible.

I sat down and pulled her close to me, and let her cry it out. This morning I was scared we’d lose the show for reporting Talent Scout, but it turns out we never had the show to begin with.

After several minutes of intense crying, Sweetie managed to get herself under control, sniffling and rubbing her dry eyes, I began rubbing her shoulder. “I really screwed up,” said Sweetie in a hoarse voice. “I-I wanted to make that show a surprise. We went the extra mile getting dancers and backup vocals to put on a big show…

“Now? He pulled the funding. Everything goes through him including vocalists, dancers, and actors.”

I stopped rubbing Sweetie’s shoulder and looked in her reddish green eyes.

“The deal is so bad. I was wrong about everything. This whole thing was my idea, and he told me I could run it how I wanted... .” Sweetie Belle buried her face in her hooves. “I’m so stupid! I can’t believe I said we had to go along with this! I can’t believe I was willing to go along with it. Dosie was right! I would have done anything… unthinkable things. What is wrong with me!”

I hated that I had no words of comfort for her. It was always Sweetie Belle who had the right things to say in the moment. When she needed me, all I could do was sit there like an idiot.

I opened her saddlebag and found a stack of papers bound by a single ring at the top left corner. The front page said ‘The Belle and Bloom Show’ in large block print.

“I’m not sure you’d want to read that,” Sweetie cautioned.

“Is it bad?” I asked, knowing full well it was.

Sweetie Belle shrugged. “He rushed me out before I could read it. But… knowing his taste I’d say it’s probably trashy at least.”

I didn’t get past the first page to see that it was far worse than even I could have imagined. I was to portray the worst hillbilly stereotype I’ve ever seen. My costume was to have buck teeth, a straw hat, and I was supposed to speak very slowly and sound just stupid.

Gosh Sweetie, ya sure are purdy good singar! Maybe ah I can sang too and my bruther will luv me the way he luvs mah sister—ah mean mother. He is a hunk of a stallion.

Annoyed, I flipped the page to another piece of dialog.

Why do you hang out with that country bumpkin, Sweetie?

She’s my friend.

Aw that’s so sweet. Sweetie is so nice to everyone. Why don’t you come over to my place this weekend and we can sing some songs. All of the popular fillies are invited.

I looked a little ways down the page for more of my lines.

I thought we was hanging out Sweetie.

That’s next weekend

Ya said that like eight days ago. Gosh, you know I can’t read calendars. How many days is next weekend so I can count it out?

Irritated, flipped to the end of the first act.

Wow I can’t believe I was ever friends with someone like her. You girls are way cooler and so popular.

A sharp pain stabbed into my chest. It was the most mean-spirited, disgusting thing I’ve ever read. The second act started with a note that my character would only appear occasionally as a running gag. I threw the script aside as I could feel heat on my face. I wanted to kick something very hard. I wanted to find Talent Scout and kick him with everything I had. Why did he hate me so much? Hating me was one thing, though. Take a crack at my family? How dare he!

Taking a deep breath I stood up. “He expects us to do this garbage? The first act makes fun of my family and you decide to ditch me to hang out with the popular fillies!”

Sweetie Belle shot me a surprised look. “No wonder he rushed me out… he knew I’d have a few things to argue over.” she picked up the script in her magical aura, and started reading. As she read her brow furrowed harder, and her cheeks grew redded. Her magical aura intensified a deeper shade of green until smoke started to ride from the pages. Her cheeks grew redder, and I swear I could hear her gritting her teeth.

“What the fuck!” she screamed.

I jumped back. Never in my life had I heard Sweetie Belle say a single curse word. If the situation weren’t so grim, I’d be cheering for her.

The pages blackened, and the air smelled of burnt paper. “No one does this to my friends!” The pages burst into a bright green flame before turning into a pile of ash that fell to the floor. “He wants to fuck around with bullshit like this! I’ll give him something to choke on!”

I watched in horror and admiration at a side of Sweetie Belle I had never seen before.

Sweetie forcefully opened her saddlebag, pulled a notebook out and slammed it on the floor all while muttering more curse words under her breath. “What did your sister call the music industry? The Machine?” she asked abruptly.

“Um… yeah.”

“I’ll show him a fucking machine,” she spat. She extracted a pencil and started writing fiercely. So fiercely her magic snapped the pencil, but she didn’t seem to have noticed.

I hesitated to ask, and I was a little scared she might set the clubhouse on fire, but I had to know. “Wh-what are you writing?” I asked as softly as possible.

She looked at me with a crazed expression. Then she smiled widely. “A surprise. I’m going to tell that stallion—” the point on her pencil snapped. She retrieved another pencil from her bag and started writing again. “I’m going to tell him I’ll do his stupid show. But he’ll be in for a big surprise!” she shouted the last two words.

I caught a glimpse of the notepad, but all I could make out were some very dark letters on the page. “Okay… I’ll um, I’ll leave you to it.”

“We’ll show the bastard,” Sweetie said sharply as I slowly walked out of the clubhouse. I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to see Sweetie overcome with reckless rage again. That was a side I don’t think anypony had seen or knew she was capable of. And while I wanted to stay with her, I felt it best to let her cool off before trying to talk to her about anything.