Always By Your Side

After Coloratura had performed her last beautiful song on the stage, along with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she went to Applejack and told her:

"Oh, Aj. Thanks so much for showing who I truly am! I feel like I’ve got back something I forget to bear: the real me." She said while she smiled at Applejack.

"Sure thing, Rara! I’m also happy we could’ve met again, ya know?" She replied and winked at Coloratura.

"Yes. It’s a pleasure that you are my friend, Aj." Coloratura said.

She looked at the sky. She kept thinking for a while. It was silence. You could've heard only the lovely voices of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. After some minutes, she turned to Applejack and said:

"Now that I don’t have a manager, it will be hard to continue my career. Everybody knows me as Countess Coloratura, and I don’t think that anypony will know me as Rara. But I finally know who I am. And I know that I am just a pony!" She looked quite worried.

"Don’t worry, sugarcube! I’m sure your career is not over yet, but it’s ‘bout to start." Applejack tried to calm her.

Coloratura was worried about her future. Everybody knew her as the Countess, and now she isn't anymore. Applejack was sure her fillyhood friend will have an even bigger career as the true herself.

Meanwhile, Moonstone was listening and heard everything. He was a light brown colored stallion, with dark brown stripes on his mane and tail. He felt sorry for Coloratura, and would’ve liked to help her somehow. He knew that her career would be even sparkling if she would have a manager, so he came up with an idea.

"I have to go back now to Sweet Apple Acres. I have a lot of things to do over there! See you later, Rara." Applejack said to Coloratura.

"Sure thing. Goodbye, Aj!" She replied with a kind and pretty voice.

After Applejack had gone back to Sweet Apple Acres, Coloratura sighed and walked away. While she was walking, Moonstone appeared in her way.

"Excuse me if I interrupted you, Ms. Coloratura. My name is Moonstone. Nice to meet you!" He said with a kind voice.

"It's my pleasure, Moonstone!" Coloratura replied.

"I heard many things about you. I love the way you sing. Your voice is indeed the best!"

"Oh, thanks so much!"

"Look, I know it’s hard for you now because you don’t have a manager who could help you with your career. " Moonstone said with a serious look.

"Well, I will try to do what my heart will tell me. I love singing, and I think, this is the only thing that matters right now."

"I would like to help you. I’m an experienced writer, but I’m doing much other stuff, too. Like advertising, organizing and whatever. So what do you think? Can I be your new manager?"

Coloratura was not sure what to do now.

"I believe, I have learned for a lifetime what means to have a manager. I don’t think I want to have more experiences like this." She replied.

Moonstone was thinking for a while. His only wish was to help Coloratura to have a great career with her new name. With her real name, actually. He knew that Coloratura is afraid to hire a new manager now. And he understood her. That's why he came up with an idea.

"You know what? I will be your manager. But I will never ask for money. That is yours. You are the singer." He said with much more determination.

"Don’t be silly. If I would ask you to be my manager, I’d surely pay you, don’t worry." Coloratura said.

"But I do not need money. I don’t want to do this for money. I want to do this for you! I can see your potential, and your name everywhere. I can see your popularity, and I want to see it! You deserve to be the most famous singer of all time!"

"You’re nice... But... Look... You can be my manager. But never think that I will not pay you."

"Hehe, we'll see," Moonstone said while he giggled.

A little moment of silence came upon our two ponies. They were both thinking about various things. Coloratura was thinking about her decision, Moonstone about his plans. After that, Moonstone's voice broke this silence.

"It’s sunset now. I’ll begin organizing the things tomorrow, as soon as the sun starts to shine!" He said with a happy voice.

"Thank you, Moonstone. I appreciate your contribution, and I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job. Have a great evening!" Coloratura said.

"You too!" The short reply came from Moonstone.

Moonstone started to go home, but after a few seconds of thinking, Coloratura stopped him.

"Wait!" She said with a louder, but a wonderful voice.

"Huh?" Moonstone was pleasantly surprised.

"Wouldn’t you like to join a dinner? I’m not sure where could we take it, though. Things have changed since my last visit!" She replied.

"Thanks for the opportunity, Rara! Of course, I will join a dinner. I think we could go to that restaurant." Moonstone said while he showed a good place where they could take the dinner.

"Let's go then!" She said.

They went to the restaurant recommended by Moonstone, to discuss more things about being a manager, and more about themselves, as well. The dinner was served, and they were ready to discuss everything.

"It’s a stunning place and the music is also good." Coloratura started the conversation.

"Indeed it is! I used to visit this restaurant very often." Moonstone confirmed.

"So, let’s talk more about this management thing. You’re now my new manager. I would kindly ask you to help me not to get blinded by fame, just like I did in the past."

"I’m sure you will not. I’m not going to tell you what to do like Svengallop did. I’ll just let you be yourself!"

"I’m so ashamed that I was who somepony else wanted from me to be," She said in a quieter voice.

"You shouldn’t be. Everypony makes mistakes. The fact you threw out the veil was a glorious moment, not one that you should be ashamed about." He said to encourage her. "One thing is sure. Now that I’m your new manager, you shouldn’t be worried about anything. And to prove you that I’m doing my job only for you and your career, and not for money, I’ll work for free."

"Don’t start this again. I will pay you, no matter what. You seem to be a great manager." She said with a serious voice and facial expression.

"I will organize everything, I will do advertisements, I will make your name be the most popular name all over Equestria! I want to see your success, and I don’t care about money. It’s you who should be famous."

Coloratura stopped from eating for a while. She seemed to wonder about what is Moonstone about to do.

"And I’ll buy for you whatever you need. Just ask!" He continued.

"Look, even if you do not accept any payment from me, I’ll not let you pay for me. You would have nothing to earn."

"Seeing you in your highest fame is pretty enough earning for me," He replied.

Coloratura went to Moonstone and hugged him while she started to shed tears because of what he told her. She was really emotioned.

"Nopony was so kind to me... Why do you keep wishing to do so many things for me?" She asked.

"Well..." Moonstone replied while she giggled. He wasn't sure what to say.

"I will need to go back to Manehattan tomorrow. Would you also like to come?" Coloratura proposed.

"What kind of a question is that? Of course that I will!" The answer came with the highest level of determination.

They looked at themselves and continued to eat.

"Maybe it's only me, but I think this salad needs a bit more salt," Moonstone said. "Also, would you like to eat something else? I will order anything."

"No, thanks. I'm entirely pleased with everything!" She replied. "So what about you? You already know many things about me, but I would like to know you better."

"Trust me, I don't have many things to say. I'm just an ordinary unicorn who loves to write and to help others," He replied.

"What kind of things have you used to write?"

"I usually write books and poems. Books about nature, life, adventure or even history. I write whatever floats my imagination. My poems have the same subject. History is an exception. I can't write any poem with this."

"That sounds great!"

"Yeah. I'm not a famous writer, but almost everypony from Ponyville knows me. My name hasn't gone so far to be known in Manehattan or Canterlot, too."

"I'm sure you're great at writing! I would like to read your works once."

"Thanks! I will share some works of mine with you. They aren't perfect, but I'm trying to do my best."

"I have no doubt they are splendid! I can hardly wait to read them all."

"You're kind."

"No, you are!" Coloratura said while she smiled at Moonstone.

After a few minutes of talking, they noticed that it's quite late, and they should go to rest because they will have a rough day tomorrow.

"It’s late now. I think, we both should go to sleep," Coloratura said.

"Yes, that's right," Moonstone confirmed while he kept smiling at Coloratura. "It was a wonderful dinner, Rara."

"My pleasure, Moonstone! See you tomorrow!" Coloratura said.

They went to each other and gave a hug.

"Good night!" Moonstone said.

"Good night to you, too!" The singer mare replied.

They said goodbye and went home to get everything ready for the next day. Coloratura couldn't get out of her mind what happened in the last few days. Her entire life was changed completely in only one day.