Always By Your Side

Next day in the morning, Coloratura woke up to say goodbye to Applejack. She was happy because she could meet Applejack again after such a long time. She found Applejack in front of a fountain.

"Hey, Aj!" She greeted Applejack. She was happy she can see her friend again.

"Howdy, sugarcube! How was your day going? I’m sorry you need to go already. I’d wished to spend more time with ya!" She replied and sighed.

"I’m sure we will meet more often from now on," Coloratura said. "Guess what! I’ve got a new manager."

"Really? Who's that?" Applejack was interested in the matter. She looked both surprised and worried.

"I’m not sure if you know him. His name is Moonstone, and he is such a sweetheart."

"I’m okay with him if he will not act like Svengallop." Applejack interrupted Coloratura.

"Oh, trust me. He will not. He keeps asking me not to pay him for his work."

"Wow. Then what is he working for?" Applejack was even more surprised now. She looked with huge eyes and was waiting for Coloratura's answer.

"He said, his only wish is to see my career growing," Coloratura replied. Her fillyhood friend couldn't believe what she hears. She found this very kind and sweet, yet unbelievable. "But I will pay him, for sure." Coloratura continued.

"Look! He's there," She noticed that Moonstone was coming to them.

"I think I've already seen this stallion before," Applejack said.

Moonstone has arrived at the fountain where the mares were talking to each other. He looked ready for going to Manehattan.

"Hi, Rara. Hello, Applejack! I’m Moonstone, the new manager of Rara. I'm honored to meet you!" He said.

"So you are that Moonstone we were talking about! Nice to meet you too! Rara told me many good things about you." Applejack continued the conversation.

"Really?" He said. When Coloratura started to smile, he looked surprised, and he was blushing. "O-o-kay, I’m going now to prepare everything we need to go to Manehattan. See you later, Applejack!" He said and walked away. Maybe he was a bit too shy.

"He is taking the thing very seriously," Applejack said to Coloratura.

"Yes, he does. Maybe a bit too seriously," Her reply came shortly.

"Well, he has ambition, at least. I still hope you’ve made a good decision by hiring a new manager. I just do not wish the history to repeat itself." She wasn't sure if the things will go right.

"Trust me. I’ve made the best decision," Coloratura replied with confidence. After a little moment of silence, in which you could've heard only the song of the birds, she continued to talk to Applejack. "Well, Aj... I think, it’s already the time to go. It was wonderful to meet you again! I will visit you again, soon!"

The two mares gave a friendly hug to each other.

"Goodbye, Rara! Have a great success in your career!" Applejack said.

"Thanks, Aj! Good luck at the farm," The mare with the gorgeous voice replied.

Coloratura went to her chariot. Moonstone already prepared everything for their long trip to Manehattan. He was very excited. They thought it was the time to go now. For some reason, Coloratura wouldn't have liked to leave Ponyville. Was it Applejack, her best friend since she was a filly? Or the lovely voices of the Cutie Mark Crusaders? Or just the place itself, along with all the ponies who live there? Maybe all of these? She loved this place. It was something she could relate to. That's where she was growing and reformed, too.

After they had started their trip, she looked back to the way they already passed and said:

"Farewell, Ponyville!"

The trip was long, and luckily, it was flawless. Our ponies have arrived at Manehattan successfully. When they entered the town, Moonstone said:

"Wow! Manehattan is such a wonderful place. I was never here so far."

"Really?" Coloratura replied. "Well, it is a bit agglomerated. You will need to get used of this."

"Yeah. My friends told me a lot about Manehattan. I’m glad I can be part of it now," He was thinking a bit, and then continued. "Where exactly is the hotel I will live in?"

"You can choose any hotel you want. Although, you're more than welcomed to my house." She replied. She wouldn't have mind if Moonstone lived at her home.

"Thank you for the offer, but I don’t want to be a bother, so I will most probably search for a hotel," Moonstone said and smiled.

"Oh, come on! You're not a bother at all."

"I just don't want to enter in a more private sphere." Moonstone blushed.

"Well, it's up to you! I will help you to find a good hotel."

"Thanks, Rara!"

It was dawn already, and Moonstone has chosen a hotel. It was close to Coloratura's house, so they could've reached each other easier and quicker. He made many advertising campaigns in that evening. After he had finished doing this, he started to search for a team. Firstly, he searched for a recruitment manager, and he found Red Blossom, a mare with a vast experience in recruitment. She was a red colored earth pony with a long dark red mane and tail. Her cutie mark was a rose; similar to Roseluck's, but with a slight difference. He gave her 300 bits in advance.

Next day in the morning, Moonstone went to Coloratura, to tell her the news.

"Hi, Rara! How did you sleep?" He asked the former pop star.

"Hey, Moonstone! I was sleeping well. How about you?"

"Same here. But I've got some more important news now!" He was excited to tell her. "We will have a complete team. I just hired our recruitment manager, Red Blossom yesterday."

"Wow. That was fast. Thank you!"

"I think, you should make a song now while she will get more ponies to the team."

"Thanks for the idea! I already started to think of a song yesterday."

"I can hardly wait to see your great song!" He said and smiled. "I’m going to publish «The Magic Inside» now! If everything goes as I planned, in only two days, everypony from Manehattan will know about you. And maybe in a few weeks, the whole Equestria!"

"I'm amazed. Thank you so much, Moonstone. You're the best manager ever!" Coloratura said and hugged Moonstone.

Red Blossom came in their way. She wished to talk to Moonstone about some recruitment things.

"Hi, Moonstone. Sorry for interrupting. I’ve found some good artists for the banners and covers you planned." She said.

"Sounds amazing. Thanks!" Moonstone replied.

"Hi, Red Blossom! I’m Coloratura, but you can call me Rara." The most beautiful mare of all times has spoken.

"Hello, Coloratura! I’m honored I can work for you. Moonstone told me everything about you, and your previous manager."

"Yes, it's a long story. And I'm happy because it happened like this. Also, I'm sure you'll do a great job, just like Moonstone does."

"Okay, Rara. I'm going to make the first huge step now. See you later!" Moonstone said.

"Goodbye, Moonstone!" The mares replied.

Monstone went to his hotel and published the announcement of Countess Coloratura’s big change, along with the song performed by her in Ponyville. The media picked up the news very soon. It already got very popular in less than a day. Moonstone was both pleased and surprised with the results.

Later that evening, he got a message:

Hello, Mr. Moonstone.

My name is Star Shine, and I am a talent seeker. I’ve seen the announcement about the pop star Countess Coloratura. I’ve also seen the full recording from Ponyville you've attached. It was the best thing I’ve ever seen! I would be thrilled if you would accept my invitation to the Grand Voice Awards contest from Manehattan, this Saturday.

Be sure to contact me.

Regards.

Moonstone was quite shocked because Coloratura's career started to grow so quickly. She was super excited to tell her all these wonderful news next day. He couldn't sleep because of the excitement. He was already thinking of Coloratura's success. He knew she could win it.

Next morning, he went to Coloratura. You could've already read from his eyes what is he about to say.

"Hi, Moonstone. You seem to be jubilant today. What's up?" Coloratura said.

"Hi, Rara! I’ve got some very exciting news!" He replied with the same speed as Pinkie Pie usually talks. "Have you heard about the Grand Voice Awards contest?"

"Yes, I did. I was in the first place once."

"Well, you will be in the first place again! Yesterday evening, a talent seeker called Star Shine wrote me a message, where he invited us to the contest. He said, your performance was the best thing he has ever seen."

"Wow. Just wow. Moonstone, you’re really doing a wonderful job! I wrote my new song already. Red Blossom hired many team members, and the artists started to make the banners."

"Sounds great! May I ask you to sing the song, please?"

"Of course you can!" She said and started to sing.

The sunshine is way brighter now,

And the clouds keep singing aloud.

They showed me - it’s never enough

To be loved and share the love.

You know how much I feel for you,

The land where I was born into.

And no matter what, you’ll still remain,

I’ll never leave you again!

When I was blinded by fame

And forgot who I truly am

You showed me that I am wrong

And you made me feel strong!

Now that I am here again

You lead me to the brightest way

Equestria, ‘cause I love you much

You’ll always be in my heart.

You know how much I feel for you,

The land I was born into.

And no matter what, you’ll still remain,

I’ll never leave you again!

Moonstone started to shed tears. It was the most beautiful song he has ever heard.

"It was so amazing and touching! I’m sure we will win." He said.

"I still have to work on it a little bit." She grinned.

"I can admit - it’s already perfect!"

"Thank you, dear."

"Now I’m going to find Octavia and more instrumentalists to help out with the instrumentation."

"No. Don’t. Just take a nap. You’ve already done many things for me, and I don’t even know how to thank you all of them. You deserve a break now." Coloratura stopped him.

"You’re kind, but I’m not tired. I don’t want a break now when the things are about to go to the highest level."

"Okay. I just don't want you to be overloaded."

"Me?" Moonstone laughed. "You’re funny. Trust me, I’m not."

Coloratura went closer to Moonstone and gave him a hug.

"Thank you so much for everything!"

"It's my pleasure, Rara!" He said and held her more between his arms.

Later that day, Moonstone got in touch with Octavia Melody and many other instrumentalists to have an orchestra for Coloratura's song. They made the song sound much better. They practiced the song daily. Moonstone was happy. It was the greatest realization from his life.

It was Saturday already. They were ready for the biggest contest of their life. After the performances of many other musical ponies and bands, it was Coloratura's turn to do her best. She walked to the stage and looked to the public.

"Hello, fellow ponies. As many of you already knew, I had a manager who didn’t care about me and made Countess Coloratura from me only to acquire more fame and reputation. However, this broke the reputation of the true myself, Rara. Happily, I’ve found the best manager in whole Equestria who is also a very talented writer, and he helped me to restart my career. Thank you again, Moonstone." Coloratura said.

The public was clapping, and Moonstone was blushing.

"This song is something I made for Equestria, the place that will always stay strong in my heart and the one who thought me many things in my life." She continued.

Moonstone smiled and couldn’t resist without shedding tears of joy.

"You will do it, Rara. I’m sure you will." He said.

Coloratura started to sing the song she wrote. The public was amazed, and after she had finished singing, they clapped for minutes.

"Wow. It was a great song. Rara did her best. Thank you so much for participation!" The presenter pony said.

The contest has finished, and it was the voting time. After the jury had voted, the results were going to be finally announced.

"It was a great evening. We’ve heard many wonderful and touching songs! Now, it’s time to announce the winner of this year’s Grand Voice Awards." The presenter said.

The level of excitement was getting higher and higher both from the public's side and the contestants'.

"And the winner is..."

Everypony was looking with huge eyes at the presenter.

"Coloratura!" He finally said it!

Coloratura was happier than ever. She won the biggest singing contest as the true herself.

"Come here, Coloratura. Here’s your award." The presenter pony said and gave Coloratura the award.

"I’m so happy because I did it. It’s the first time I win a contest by my real name and the real myself. Thank you all! And most importantly - thank you, Equestria!" She said while she cried from happiness.

Star Shine went to Moonstone and said:

"I was more than sure she will have a great success."

"Me too. Her voice is the kindest to my ears," Moonstone replied. "I’m so glad I can work for her. She is amazing!" Star Shine smiled.

"Well, I guess it’s the time to make more songs, sell albums, have more concerts and so on." Star Shine said.

"I know. All of these are in my plans!" Moonstone stated and started to talk again after a few seconds. "Thank you, Star Shine. You also had an important role here."

"It was actually you who had the most important role."

"I doubt that. Rara had. Without her, I would be still in Ponyville, writing my stuff."

"That’s true, but without you, she wouldn’t have a manager and such a great success now."

"I’m doing this because I see she is worthy of success," Moonstone said and smiled.

In only a few days, Coloratura - or Rara, how she used to sign her albums - became the most famous singer in Equestria. She wrote many songs, had many albums and concerts, and won many prizes. She was very thankful to Moonstone. She felt like she had a way better career than when she had Svengallop as her manager.