Chapter 1: Friends and Competitors.
Mornings in Ponyville almost always start off pleasant. Typically; the glistening sunrise warms the streets, the birds are singing their happy tunes, and the colorful rabble of the townsfolk go about their merry ways shopping for their breakfast. While it may be too early for some, for the rest, they wouldn’t be in their right minds if they chose to stay inside.
Yes, it was turning out to be a beautiful day in the land of Equestria. Though, this sort of day, while adored by all, was surprisingly common. It got… boring to say the least. When the days get boring, ponies often will mix things up a bit with events like parties, competitions, plays, and grand celebrations. Sometimes… they’ll even organize-
“HEY MOONSHYY! WAKE UP YOU SLEEPY HEAD! THERE’S AN ARTS FESTIVAL TODAY!” Pinkie Pie screamed eagerly through a thick oaken door to the sleeping pegasus inside. She added several hyperactive knocks to grab his attention.
Moonshy opened his tired eyes. Looking around his darkened home, he noticed tiny rays of sunlight seeping through his curtains, and an unfinished painting looming over him.
Oh jeez… I was working on this late last night… I went rest my eyes for a minute and… I guess I dozed off, again. He thought, realizing he was lying in the middle of his living room floor.
There were more hyperactive knocks at his door, and a familiar high-pitched voice shouting: “HEY MOONSHY! YOU BETTER COME OUT, OR I’M COM’N IN!”
Knowing what Pinkie Pie meant when she said things like that, Moonshy jolted up from his spot and rushed over to his doorknob.
“I’M UP! I’M UP! Just please don’t break down my door! I just had that replaced yesterday! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW EXPENSIVE THOSE THINGS ARE!?”
The sun was like a blinding white camera flash as he opened the door. When the violent morning rays attacked his eyes, he cringed and staggered back like some sort of vampire. Pinkie only giggled at this.
“Of course I do silly! Now, are you going to hide in your house all day like a party pooper, or are you going to come to the art fair with me and the rest of the gang?”
“Th- This… early?” Moonshy asked, rubbing his eyes.
“Yup!” Pinkie grinned.
“Um…”
Pinkie lunged forward and lifted Moonshy off the ground with a super tight hug; making Moonshy grunt and feel almost as if his eyes were going to pop out of his skull. “I’M SOOOOO GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT!”
“Pinkie I… never said that I was-.” She dropped him like a rock, making his vison go wonky for a second as his mind recovered from whiplash. She then bounced away like the energetic pony she was, humming some lovely tune as she did.
Well… I suppose—sense I’m up—I might as well go. It’ll be fun, I hope.
When Pinkie said “Arts Festival”, Moonshy didn’t think she meant “ARTS FESTIVAL!” The fair grounds were surprisingly gargantuan for a town as small as Ponyville, and tarps lined the open farm fields around for miles, right up to the edge of Everfree. They were almost like a military encampment… except they weren’t quite as organized nor did they have any training grounds… where their might have been some were only more and more tarps.
“Hiya Moonshy!” Pinkies voice said from behind him “You made it!”
“Well… you didn’t really give me a choice in the matter.” He chuckled, noticing Fluttershy attempting to hide in Pinkie’s shadow. “H- Hey Fluttershy.”
“Hi…” Fluttershy squeaked, loosing a timid smile. For some reason, even though she’s been his friend for almost a year now, Fluttershy never can seem to get comfortable around him. But that was Fluttershy for him. After all “shy” is part of her name.
But “shy” is part of my name too… and that’s only because I don’t talk well with strangers. With friends I’m fine. Everypony is different I suppose. He thought as he gazed upon her for a short while. Hang on, pinkie said “with the rest of the gang” where are Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash?
“Um, Pinkie, where are the others?”
“Aww, they couldn’t make it. Twilight has some research to do, Applejack is away for a family reunion, and Rarity bit off more than she could chew.”
“Again?”
“A-GAIN! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?” Pinkie giggled. “Oh well, hanging out is still hanging out, even if it’s with only three ponies.”
“What about Rainbow?”
“I remember her saying something about teaching Scootaloo to fly. Don’t really know where she is though. HANG ON! Are we just going to stand here and talk all day? Though, that wouldn’t be too bad. Or are we going to see all that super amazing art down there!?”
“I vote art.” Moonshy raised his hoof and smiled.
Pinkie practically jumped into the air as she raised hers with unnatural speed. “OH OH! ME TOO!”
They looked to Fluttershy. Her eyes moved back and forth nervously. Blushing, she simpered and timidly rose her hoof as well.
“Okie dokie lokie, LETS GO!”
From the most extravagant and petite, to the most vulgar and crude, there was all sorts of art there. Sculptures, contraptions, paintings, gilded weapons, jewelry, poetry, music. There was something for just about everypony in the fair. As he became enthralled with the shear variety of it all, and amazed with the amount of ways ponies have found to express themselves; he couldn’t help but feel a tad bit of pride for the artistic community. He was proud to be a part of it. Though, at the same time, he felt like he had lost out on something. He completely forgot all about the fair, and hence failed to set up his own booth. Oh well, maybe he could set one up tomorrow. After all, the arts festival was going to be here all week right?
As he perused all the walkways, he visited all the sections. Even the clothing one, there he noticed the carousel boutique’s booth, run by Sweetie Belle in the absence of her sister. She was doing an amazing job at advertising her sister’s work, working with bits, and talking to people about the process Rarity went through to make her dresses; for a filly anyway. Over in the carpentry section, Apple Bloom had set up a little booth of her own where she showed off her cute little woodshop projects.
And yet she STILL hasn’t found her special talent… come on Bloom, it’s obvious! Moonshy thought with a chuckle. All this perusing sped up the time, and before Moonshy knew it, it was almost six-o-clock, the fair would be closing down in about an hour now. He had visited all the sections except one… the best one in his opinion. He had saved it for last so that he would have something to look forward to all day. The traditional art’s section. The form he practices.
Pinkie Pie let out an over-dramatic gasp, expressing that she had a very good idea of some kind. “I’LL BE RIGHT BACK!” She exclaimed before rushing off to who knows where. Now it was just him and Fluttershy, they looked at each other sheepishly and shrugged.
“Should we continue… or wait for Pinkie Pie?” He asked, unsure if her rushing off meant she was going to be gone for a while, or back in a jiffy.
“Oh, Um… I don’t know. Whatever you want to do is fine with me… Though, I would kinda, sorta, like to see what’s going on over there.” Fluttershy looked towards a booth that seemed to be more crowded than the others. The mass of ponies almost blocked out what was going on; but, seeing as that’s where Fluttershy seemed to want to go, he nodded gestured for her to fallow.
At the booth, there was a sky colored earth stallion with a light green and well-groomed mane. He was wearing a black beret which seemed to be stained with the brighter colors like red and green. It took a moment before Moonshy realized… that he was in the process of painting FOR THE AUDIENCE! For they watched intently as he turned a mesh of liquid colors into something, well, something that considered herself to have an extra 20% of coolness in her veins. It was a painting of Rainbow Dash herself.
Well… that’s odd, but I guess it was a request?
When he finished, he spun the painting around on some sort of pivot and stood aside as it came to a halt. The crowd seemed astonished, and the painting itself was incredibly good. His shading was incredible, the lines clean, the angling flawless. The Rainbow Dash on the picture so realistic… she looked almost like she would come to life and fly off into the sunset. Moonshy stood, shocked at what he was seeing. He had a hard time doing so… but when he was finally able to peel his eyes from the beautiful work of art, he looked up and saw this stallions other works. A lot of them involving rainbows, sunsets, and landscapes. There were a few more Rainbow Dash pictures mixed in with the rest, but none of them astounded Moonshy more than the one big one placed directly behind. It was an absolutely gorgeous painting of a waterfall during sunset. The sun rays shined through the mist and created yet another rainbow. Breathtaking… was all Moonshy could really determine his booth was.
This artist was so much better than he was… in every way! His lighting was perfect, his angleing was perfect, his perspective was perfect, EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT! Moonshy knew he wasn’t the best artist in the world, but after spending so many months as the best artist in Ponyville… this was a sort of reality check. The security of his position was now being challenged. It intimidated him to say the least, but, just like it would any good artist, it also inspired him to better his skill. Talking to other artists helps in that regard as well, because you get insight on their techniques and how they do things. Talking just… never was Moonshy’s strong suit.
Come on Moonshy, remember what you’ve learned. Twenty seconds of courage. That’s all it takes. I just need an opportunity.
“Alright,” Stated the sky colored earth pony “now that you all have seen how I do things. Any critiques? Questions? Comments?”
THERE’S ONE RIGHT THERE!
Several ponies raised their hooves and crowded him, cutting Moonshy off from any possible contact. Moonshy tried to push forward too, but too many were blocking the way. He found that he was forced to the back of the crowed away from this awesome person.
Or not… Doesn’t look like You’ll get through anytime soon. Perhaps you can catch him on the way out. The fair will be closing in a few minutes anyways. Perhaps you could… help him put his stuff away?
I think that’s an excellent idea… except… I don’t know how to start the-
TWENTY SECONDS OF COURAGE MOONSHY! Remember that!
Oh… fine…
It took a while for the crowd to clear; but when they finally did, Moonshy could see that the sky colored stallion was already putting his things away.
This is your chance to talk to him Moonshy, go on. You want to get better don’t you?
“Hey um… do you need any help, sir?” Moonshy asked nervously, forgetting some conversational courtesies such as the phrase: ‘excuse me’. He winced a bit and nearly bolted the other direction.
“Oh um… Sure! I would absolutely love a bit of help! Thank you.”
Trotting over to assist the sky colored pony, he began putting canvases and other pieces of art away in the appropriately sized boxes. It wasn’t until about the third object that Moonshy realized he forgot something. “Oh! Um… You’re welcome, by the way.”
The pony he was helping chuckled, noticing Moonshy’s embarrassment. “It’s alright. I know how intimidating strangers can be. My name’s Color by the way. Color Mixer.” Color held out his hoof, pausing for a moment as he waited for Moonshy to shake it.
“Um… OH! UM, Moonshy. Moonshy Art.”
“Well it’s nice to meet you Moonshy. So, what brings you to my humble little booth?”
Come on Moonshy, think of something. Give him a complement! Make sure he knows that you know what you’re talking about, that way, he’ll be more open to giving you artistic advice.
“Uh… Well. Your art’s beautiful. Your lines are so clean, your details so elegant. I especially like how you do your lighting. I mean, it’s so… well, it’s so good.”
“You sound like you know what you’re talking about.”
“Um… well yeah, I’m a bit of an artist myself. Not nearly as good as you bu-.”
“YOU’RE AN ARTIST TOO!? Oh wow! Where’s your booth? I didn’t see you earlier today.”
“Well, I kind of, sort of, forgot all about the art fair today… so um… yeah. I wasn’t able to set up my booth today.”
“Aww, that sucks. Hope you have better luck tomorrow. I would love to see some of your art.”
“Pssh, nah… My art isn’t nearly as good as your-.”
“HERE IT IS!” Pinkie came from seemingly out of nowhere with a wagon full of-.
MY PAINTINGS!? HOW THE HAY DID YOU EVEN GET INTO MY HOUSE PINKIE!?
“Hey Moonshy! I didn’t know which moon series you wanted to show off so… I BROUGHT ALL OF THEM!”
Moonshy barely acknowledged Pinkie’s presence, he was too surprised and rather embarrassed at this sudden intrusion.
“Um… Color Mixer, I am SO sorry for this. My friend is just... eager to-.”
Color Mixer looked right through Moonshy and to his art. His stare went blank with some form of amazement. “Oh Wow! These are so good!”
“Say what now?”
“These are so good! The color, the symbolism, the air of mystery they express… These are amazing!”
Moonshy had been staring at Color’s work all evening. When he looked at his… he couldn’t help but compare his paintings to Color’s paintings. Compared to Color’s his’ looked absolutely awful. Color Mixer simply HAD to be lying, he just had to! He was only sparing Moonshy’s feelings. That’s… that’s not helpful at all! Moonshy tried to interject Color several times. He wanted him to be completely honest, but Color continued to ramble on about how amazing Moonshy’s work was and didn’t let him get a word in.
“QUIET!” Moonshy finally shouted, despite all of his inhibitions to do otherwise. He knew in the back of his head that he was making some sort of mistake… but his emotions and unwavering drive to become better clouded that judgment and made him believe otherwise. Both Pinkie Pie and Color Mixer went absolutely quiet. They cocked their heads, utterly bewildered as to what was going on. They looked to each other, jaws wide open, then back at Moonshy, who was now biting his lip out of nervous remorse.
“Uh…” Moonshy looked back and forth between the two, trying to figure out a way to weasel his way out of this awkward situation. “GOODNESS! Where is that Fluttershy? It’s almost time for her evening tea and Discord might blow a fuse if I don’t get her back in home in time. … Uh, yeah. SEE YA!” He did not hesitate a single moment; he just dashed in the opposite direction and didn’t turn back.
